Unusual and Challenging Chess Problems

Problems 025 to 036

25

What was the last move?

(Éric Angelini - Europe Echecs 433, Apr. 1995)

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It is not immediately apparent how the white king could have moved, since every adjacent square puts White in a seemingly impossible double check; on further examination it becomes apparent that if the white king moved from f5, then Black could have delivered the double check by playing f4xg3, capturing a white pawn on g4 en passant. Therefore, on the previous move, white must have played pawn g2-g4. But what did Black move before that? The white king on f5 was under check by the bishop on h3 and there was a white pawn on g2. The only possibility is that Black moved a knight from g4 to e5 with discovered check. Therefore, White's last move was king on f5 takes knight on e5. (The entire sequence of moves is 1...Ng4-e5+ (possibly capturing something on e5) 2.g2-g4 f4xg3+ e.p. 3.Kf5xe5.)

Date added: 16/11/2021

26

(White takes back his last move and mates immediately instead)

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The white pawn at g6, instead of capturing the the black bishop on h7 (no other piece could be at h7) must play g7 and mate


Date added: 13/12/2021

27

(Hieronymus Fischer - Deutsche Schachzeitung, Oct 1879 )

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Illegal position with 9 black pawns. Removing one pawn allows mate in 1

1.Qb6 [-a7]#

1.Nc6 [-b7]#

1.Qb4 [-c4]#

1.Qe4 [-d3]#

1.B×f2 [-e3]#

1.B×e3 [-f2]#

1.Ne6 [-f7]#

1.Rg4 [-g6]#

1.Rh4 [-h3]#


Date added: 5/1/2023

28

(Samuel Loyd - The Chess Monthly, May 1858)

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1. d4! [2. Qd2 [3. Qg5#]
2. ... Kg4/h5 3. Qg5#]
1. ... Kg4 2. e4+
2. ... Kh4 3. g3#
1. ... Kh5 2. Qd3 waiting
2. ... Kh4/g4 3. Qh3#


Date added: 5/1/2023

29

(Cyril Henry Stanley Kipping - Chess, 1943)

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1. c3! [2. b3, Qb3#]
1. ... Ba6/c6/d7/e8, d4 2. Qb3#
1. ... Nd3+ 2. exd3#
1. ... Nf3+ 2. exf3#
1. ... Bxd2+ 2. Nxd2#
1. ... Rb4/a3 2. N(x)a3#
1. ... Rxa2 2. b3#


Date added: 5/1/2023

30

(Cyril Henry Stanley Kipping - Chess, 1943)

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1. Rxf7! [2. Rxf8#]
1. ... Kxf7 2. N6g5+
2. ... Ke8 3. Bf7#
1. ... Nf6 2. Rxf8+
2. ... Rxf8 3. Nxg7#
1. ... Nh6 2. Rxf8+
2. ... Rxf8 3. Nxg7#
1. ... dxe6 2. Rxd8+
2. ... Kxd8 3. Rxf8#
2. ... Kxf7 3. Ng5#


Date added: 5/1/2023

31

(Composer)

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Date added: 2/6/2021

32

(Composer)

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Date added: 2/6/2021

33

(Composer)

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Date added: 2/6/2021

34

(Composer)

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Date added: 2/6/2021

35

(Composer)

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Date added: 2/6/2021

36

(Composer)

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Date added: 2/6/2021