Daily Chess Puzzles

[NewKidOnTheBlock]

On 29. 12. 2025 at 1:13 AM, integral said:

Puzzle 8

White to move and win.

I think the only foreseeable line in sight of us, mortal non GM players, would be white pawn to D8, followed by a black queen to A8 (the only way to prevent instant backrank checkmate), then white queen to A3 attempting to get rid off the black queen. Black queen would then go to D8 most likely, blocking our pawn from promotion and taking it on next turn. However, we'd go white queen to A7, tactically winning a black bishop, and this might be enough to eventually win an end game, since we'd mantain a significant material advantage over the black. I've analyzed this game in stockfish and indeed, after 2 Magnus Carlsens duking it out, white should come out on top of that exchange, after like 46 moves

[integral]

5 hours ago, NewKidOnTheBlock said:

I think the only foreseeable line in sight of us, mortal non GM players, would be white pawn to D8, followed by a black queen to A8 (the only way to prevent instant backrank checkmate), then white queen to A3 attempting to get rid off the black queen. Black queen would then go to D8 most likely, blocking our pawn from promotion and taking it on next turn. However, we'd go white queen to A7, tactically winning a black bishop, and this might be enough to eventually win an end game, since we'd mantain a significant material advantage over the black. I've analyzed this game in stockfish and indeed, after 2 Magnus Carlsens duking it out, white should come out on top of that exchange, after like 46 moves

Nice not bad if you figured this out without a engine.

The key concept is black is forced to run back to stop the pawn and the bishop is trapped so you can win it. 

[Leo Gura]

7 hours ago, NewKidOnTheBlock said:

I think the only foreseeable line in sight of us, mortal non GM players, would be white pawn to D8, followed by a black queen to A8 (the only way to prevent instant backrank checkmate), then white queen to A3 attempting to get rid off the black queen. Black queen would then go to D8 most likely, blocking our pawn from promotion and taking it on next turn. However, we'd go white queen to A7, tactically winning a black bishop,

That don't work.

Black will not lose that bishop. The bishop just moves to A8 to be safe.

Edited December 30, 2025 by Leo Gura

[AtmanIsBrahman]

On 12/28/2025 at 7:13 PM, integral said:

Puzzle 8

White to move and win.

D7 Qa8 Qa3, black has to move the queen. Qb8 is probably best because Qa7 is a threat, but Qa7 anyway and white wins.

[AtmanIsBrahman]

54 minutes ago, Leo Gura said:

That don't work.

Black will not lose that bishop. The bishop just moves to A8 to be safe.

True, this is a more resilient line for black. I think white wins with Qa6 (threatening Qc8) Ne7 Ba3. White loses at least a piece.

[NewKidOnTheBlock]

1 hour ago, Leo Gura said:

That don't work.

Black will not lose that bishop. The bishop just moves to A8 to be safe.

That's a good point and I've missed that lol however I'm sure there's a line in here somewhere in which you will either tactically win a knight or a bishop, just need to harass both at the same time long enough for the opponent to make a mistake

[Leo Gura]

1 hour ago, AtmanIsBrahman said:

True, this is a more resilient line for black. I think white wins with Qa6 (threatening Qc8) Ne7 Ba3. White loses at least a piece.

White queen at c8 is the killer move that breaks black.

Good find.

[LastThursday]

I do wonder if white Queen c3 works and ignore everything black does after. That gives you enough tempo to queen the white pawn on d6 and back rank mate black.

[integral]

Puzzle 9

Black to move and win.

Edited December 31, 2025 by integral

[NewKidOnTheBlock]

1 hour ago, integral said:

Puzzle 9

Black to move and win.

This position looks like it's losing but if we take the queen with the rook on B7, then the pawn takes our rook and we'll check the king on the 1st rank with the queen to B1, king would likely move to G2, then we'd move our king to F8 preventing promotion of the E6 pawn, we are up a queen and it's queen vs rook play so it should be GGs

[integral]

NO ENGINES

[Jannes]

6 hours ago, integral said:

Puzzle 9

Black to move and win.

B: Take the Queen with the Rook on b7.

W: White Pawn takes back.

B: Then Queen to b1 buys a turn as

W: white King needs to retreat to g2 or h2. 

B: Black King to f8.

W: white Pawn to e7.

B: Black King to e8.

The b7 white Pawn can be taken and the Rook cant protect it. Queen vs Rook is winning for Black. 

[NewKidOnTheBlock]

My head is an engine