Chess Puzzles

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Unusual/funny chess puzzles and Sam Loyd

Here is an interesting chess problem:

How would you play if you are White ?
(Hint: At end of the story on Sam Loyd's chess puzzles ... scroll forward.)

Puzzle #1 (White to play):

The above reminds me of the following set of chess puzzles by Sam Loyd, the great American puzzlist of the 19th century. He created a story around it:

In 1713, Charles XII of Sweden was in a campaign against the Turks. One day, in between the battles, he played a chess game in the field against one of his generals. The following position was reached and Charles announced mate in 3.

Puzzle #2 (White to play):

Just when he was about to make his move, a stray bullet took the White Knight off the board. Charles was unconcerned, and said that was all right, he still had a mate in 4 without the Knight.

Puzzle #3 (White to play):

He was just about to make his move when another bullet shot off the White Pawn on the Rook file. Charles studied the position and said not to worry, he found a mate in 5.

Puzzle #4 (White to play):

Then the general remarked, "What a pity, Your Majesty, the first bullet didn't take the Rook off the board, rather than the Knight."

Charles replied with a smile, "Then I just have to declare mate in 6."

Puzzle #5 (White to play):

(Solutions: See Comment Section)


Back to Puzzle #1 ...
Hint to solve it: Use Sam Loyd's battle field analogy.
If a bullet had shot off White's Queen, White can declare mate in 4.
And if another bullet had shot off White's Bishop, White can declare mate in 2.

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