ArcaMax

Register for your free account:

Subscribe to any feature and receive your newsletter directly in your inbox.
Easy email subscription management.
Claim your rewards from the Reader Perks section!

White to Play

Pete Tamburro on Dec 20, 2024

This is one of the most famous positions in chess. William Steinitz defeated von Bardeleben at Hastings in 1895. His opponent resigned after the fifth move of this attack by just leaving the tournament hall, when Steintiz then showed the next eight moves. As a challenge try and figure it all out as Steinitz did—right to the mate.

1.Rxe7+ Kf8 1...Kxe7 2.Re1+ Kd6 3.Qb4+ Kc7 4.Ne6+ Kb8 5.Qf4+ Rc7 6.Nxc7 Qxc7 7.Re8# 2.Rf7+ Kg8 3.Rg7+ Kh8 4.Rxh7+ Kg8 5.Rg7+ Kh8 6.Qh4+ Kxg7 7.Qh7+ Kf8 8.Qh8+ Ke7 9.Qg7+ Ke8 10.Qg8+ Ke7 11.Qf7+ Kd8 12.Qf8+ Qe8 13.Nf7+ Kd7 14.Qd6 mate

Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.

More Chess Puzzles

White to Play

Chess Puzzles / December 18, 2024

I love the third move that forced Black’s resignation.

White to Play

Chess Puzzles / December 16, 2024

At first glance, White’s position might not seem to promising with a rook and queen under attack, the White king in an odd place and a pawn less to boot. However, that bishop on b3 changes things.

White to Play

Chess Puzzles / December 13, 2024

I like to, from time to time, use Fridays as “drop back” days. I take a forced mating position and then go back to earlier in the game to make it a bit more challenging. When you know there’s a forced mate, it’s ...Read More

White to Play

Chess Puzzles / December 11, 2024

Quite often in chess, we talk about “holes” in an opponent’s camp that you can occupy to create an attack. In this position, Black gifted White with two holes on d6 and f6. Of course, mate follows.