In part four of our Christmas Puzzle Week we had some seasonal chess problems – a candle and two Christmas trees. But we also included a helpmate in two, with a devilishly difficult retroanalytical part. Were you able to find the two solutions, and explain why one of them was illegal? Try and follow the analysis of our problem expert.
Today we provide you with a master-level lesson. Leonid Ivanovich Kubbel, born in 1891 in St. Petersburg, Russia, was one of the greatest composers in chess history. One of the greatest composers of our time was GM Pal Benkö, born in 1928, died in 2019. The latter shows us how he improved on one of the most famous studies of all time, composed by the former.
Problemists love to construct problems in shapes that symbolize something auspicious. The great composer (and World Championship candidate) Pal Benkö sent us a problem shaped like a candle. Today we bring you two problems shaped like Christmas trees. They are not too hard, which we cannot say about the third problem, which taxes the brain.
Jeremy Silman (1954-2023) got hooked on chess after the Bobby Fischer boom, discovered his writing talent, and went on to get paid handsomely for chess lessons. Last Thursday, the Californian bestselling author died after a long illness. Stefan Löffler sent us an obituary. | Photos: JeremySilman.com
In studying the classics, we get to know the elementary strategies and tactical motifs of the game, and thus we deepen our understanding of chess. At the same time, we gain an insight into chess history and chess culture. Dorian Rogozenco presents the most beautiful classics on his new FritzTrainer. Phillip Hillebrand has reviewed the training course.
The term "malyutka" - "baby" - is used for endgame studies with up to five pieces. The art of such studies is very old, but some modern composers extensively researched such positions. Obviously, endgame tablebases made composing such endgame studies easier in the late 20th century, and it seems that there can't be much variety with only three pieces apart from the kings. Yet, even with so few pieces, some interesting ideas can be found.| Photos: Pixabay