Problem Chess Art

by Frederic Friedel
7/21/2025 – Last week Problem expert Werner Keym gave us some remarkable chess problems to solve. They were from his latest eBook, Problem Chess Art, which is available to everyone, free of charge. Here today are the solutions of the problems he selected for us. Were you able to solve them?
Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.

From Problem Chess Art

Here are the problems once again – with the diagram engines switched on (fan button):

Solutions

No.20: 1.Bg8! c2 2.Rf7 Ka2 3.Ra7#

No.21: The basic attack 1.Ne3? [threat: 2.Nf5#,Rg4#] is refuted by 1...Bd7! as well as 1.Ne7? [threat: 2.Nf5#, Ng6#] by 1...Bc2! So: 1.Rg2! [2.Ng6+ Kh5/Kh3 3.Ndf4#] 1...Bc2 2.Ne3 Bf5 3.N×f5# as well as 1...Be8 2.Ne7 Bg6 3.Ne×g6#.

No.4: 1.Qc6! 1... a6 2.Rxa6#; 1...a5 2.Ra6#; 1...a7xb6 2.Qa4#; 1...b7xc6 2.Rb8#; 1...c7xb6 2.Qxc8#; 1...Bxd7 2.Qxb7#.

No.27: 1.Kb2! a1Q+ 2.Rxa1 h1Q 3.Qxh1#

No.31: 1.Ra2! b3xa2 2.Bxa2 Kxg6 3.Bb1#

No.38: 1.Rg6! Kh7 2.Rg5 Kh6 3.Rg4 Kh5 4.Kg3#

No.52: 1.Qd5+! Kg1 2.Qh1+ Kxh1 3.Kf2 N any 4.Ng3#

No.46: 1.Bh4! Rd1 2.Bg3 Rc1 3.Bf4 Rc2 4.Bg5 Rc8 5.Bd2+ Rc3 6.Bxc3# or 4...B any 5.Bd8+ Rc7 6.Bxc7#

Here is a link to Werner Keym's eBook Chess Problem Art

Please tell us whether you enjoy solving problems like this on our live chess diagrams.

<< Freestyle Chess: Aronian conquers Las Vegas, Carlsen grabs third place
A six-time assistant in World Chess Championship title matches: A portrait of GM Wojtaszek >>
Editor-in-Chief emeritus of the ChessBase News page. Studied Philosophy and Linguistics at the University of Hamburg and Oxford, graduating with a thesis on speech act theory and moral language. He started a university career but switched to science journalism, producing documentaries for German TV. In 1986 he co-founded ChessBase.
Discussion and Feedback Submit your feedback to the editors

See also

Celebrating International Chess Day 2025: Every Move Counts

6/29/2025 – International Chess Day 2025 will be celebrated on 20 July under the theme "Every Move Counts", as FIDE continues its Year of Social Chess. This global initiative highlights the power of chess for inclusion, education and well-being. Celebrations include a 24-hour online blitz tournament, creative chess challenges and inclusive over-the-board events worldwide. Players of all levels are invited to take part and share how chess connects and empowers communities.
More...
 3

See also

Celebrating chess: The 52. International Dortmund Chess Days 2025

6/27/2025 – From 2 to 10 August, the focus in Dortmund will not be on football, but on chess. As part of the 52nd Dortmund Chess Days in the Alte Schmiede, the Sparkassen Chess Trophy will be held, featuring European champion Matthias Blübaum, among others, and an international women's tournament. | Photo: Dinara Wagner (left) and Elisabeth Pähtz (right)
More...
 1

Video

60m English surprising_your_opponents_with_the_lazy_sicilian

In just 60 minutes, you will be well-equipped with a surprise weapon, which will take most of your opponents out of book right from the start.

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register

Frits Fritschy Frits Fritschy 7/21/2025 09:34
I knew Kubbel's nice re-enactment of Marshall's golden coins move (against Lewitzky) and I liked Giegold's silent sacrifice at a2, where you think first of how to get the rook to h8 without stalemate.
However, both Grasemann's queen sacrifice and his introductory check move seem rather crude. Checks (certainly here) don't give black a chance to put up a fight. Okay, it's a miniature and it's 'easily understandable' (see Keym's Preface), but the two knights eyeing g3 give a bit more than a clue.
1