Chess problem

A chess problem, formally called a chess composition, is a puzzle set by somebody using chess pieces on a chess board, presenting the solver with a particular task to be achieved. For instance, a position might be given with the instruction that white is to move first, and checkmate black in two moves against any possible defence. A person who creates such problems is known as a "composer". There is a good deal of specialised jargon used in chess problems; see chess problem terminology for a list.

Further reading

• Andrei Frolkin and Gerd Wilts, Shortest Proof Games (1991) - a collection of 170 proof games (published in Germany, but in English)
• Michael Lipton, R. C. O. Matthews and John Rice, Chess Problems: Introduction to an Art (Faber, 1963)
• Jeremy Morse, Chess Problems: Tasks and Records (Faber and Faber, 1995, revised edition 2001) - concentrates on maximum tasks and records
• John Nunn, Solving in Style (1985) - problems seen from the point of view of the solver
• John Rice, Chess Wizardry: The New ABC of Chess Problems (Batsford, 1996) - a general overview of chess problems, including an extensive A-Z of themes and terms, and 460 problems. Widely regarded as the best single-volume work in English on the subject.
• Kenneth S. Howard, How To Solve Chess Problems (Dover, 1961) - A preliminary section of 30 pages is a useful introduction for novice solvers; then 112 problems with discussion