Basic chess problems
Problems derived from the statistics tables
- White checks in 1.5 moves (12 solutions)
- White checks by discovered check in 2.5 moves (6 solutions)
- Black checks by double check in 3.0 moves (46 solutions)
- White checks by double discovered check in 4.5 moves (10 solutions)
- Black mates in 2.0 moves (8 solutions) [Fool's mate]
- Black mates by discovered check in 4.0 moves (4 solutions) [Sam Loyd, 1866]
- White mates by double check in 4.5 moves (768715 solutions)
Problems using en passant captures
- Black checks in 3.0 moves by capturing a pawn en passant (30 solutions)
- White checks by double check in 3.5 moves by capturing a pawn en passant (4 solutions)
- White mates in 5.5 moves by capturing a pawn en passant (1054 solutions) [Hans Wilhelm Klüver, 1967]
- White mates by discovered check in 5.5 moves by capturing a pawn en passant (120 solutions)
Problems using castling
- White checks in 4.5 moves by castling queenside (132 solutions)
- White checks in 4.5 moves by castling kingside (36 solutions)
Problems using specific pieces
Number of plies to achieve a goal by playing a specific piece
| |
direct check |
discovered check |
double check |
direct checkmate |
discovered checkmate |
double checkmate |
| pawn |
5 (12 sols) |
5 (6 sols) |
6 (46 sols) |
8 (374 sols) |
8 (4 sols) |
10 (71 sols) |
| knight |
4 (10 sols) |
7 (54 sols) |
7 (36 sols) |
6 (72 sols) |
9 (288 sols) |
9 (768715 sols) |
| bishop |
3 (4 sols) |
8 (825 sols) |
8 (19 sols) |
5 (12 sols) |
10 (1510 sols) |
10 (314 sols) |
| rook |
6 (31 sols) |
9 (651 sols) |
9 (119 sols) |
9 (6798 sols) |
10 (1 sol) |
10 (31 sols) |
| queen |
3 (8 sols) |
n/a |
n/a |
4 (8 sols) |
n/a |
n/a |
| king |
n/a |
8 (3077 sols) |
n/a |
n/a |
10 (4245 sols) |
n/a |
Problems using specific pawn promotions
Number of plies to achieve a goal by promoting a pawn to a specific piece
| |
direct check |
discovered check |
double check |
direct checkmate |
discovered checkmate |
double checkmate |
| pawn=N |
9 (112611 sols) |
9 (1110 sols) |
11 (228168 sols) |
10 (7 sols) |
>12 (? sols) |
11 (4321 sols) |
| pawn=B |
9 (56175 sols) |
9 (1110 sols) |
11 (136477 sols) |
10 (8 sols) |
>12 (? sols) |
11 (24147 sols) |
| pawn=R |
9 (1843910 sols) |
11 (487672 sols) |
9 (1110 sols) |
9 (6086 sols) |
12 (305 sols) |
12 (198 sols) |
| pawn=Q |
9 (1894535 sols) |
11 (327048 sols) |
9 (1110 sols) |
9 (11636 sols) |
12 (671 sols) |
11 (26605 sols) |
Further reading
back to Chess Problems by Computer