Curious chess December 28, 2002
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If you look carefully at the picture we showed you on our December 26 puzzle page you will that 15-year-old Nigel Short and the Finnish problem chess expert are looking at a book. It is Dr Karl Fabel's Kurioses Schach, which translates obviously to "curious chess".

I still own the book, which I bought second-hand at the chess tournament in which Nigel was playing. It bears a copyright from 1960 and has pencilled notes in it by a previous owner – in the old German "Suetterlin" handwriting. I actually learned to read this script and was able to decipher the letters I had inherited from my grandparent's generation.

Example of Suettelin handwriting

This 64-page book, and a number of subsequent ones by the same author that I purchased, contain a wealth of odd, entertaining and often bizarre chess ideas. There are many orthodox problems with unusual twists to them, and there are any number of non-orthodox variants. We have already encountered one in the December 25 puzzle page (third position by Karl Fable, in which you have to find the only move that does not mate).

Today I will give you a few examples of curious chess problems, nothing too bizarre, however, since I do not want to scare anyone away. You will need to activate your sense of humour if you want to enjoy these problems, though.

G. Bridgewater, Chess, 1936

White to play and mate in six moves

This is simply a fun position, which you have got to enjoy solving. If you have been reading our columns for a while it will remind you of problem by W. A. Shinkman which we had in last year's Christmas puzzles.

Dr Karl Fabel, Deutsche Schachblätter, 1950

White to play and win

Can you guess how many moves are required for White to win this position? In case you are unable to solve this problem here's a hint: White must somehow force Black to push the c-pawn.

Dr Karl Fabel, Deutsche Schachblätter, 1950

Insert the black king so White can mate in one

Here the black king is missing. You must place it somewhere on the board so that White can immediately mate in a single move. If you find two places then you will have to decide which one is correct. Think for a moment – only one is.

Samuel Loyd, Boston Globe, 16.08.1876

White to play and mate in three moves

This is a truly incredible position by the greatest problem composer of all times. We give you no hints, and the problem will become part of our special Christmas puzzle competition in which you can win a copy of Fritz autographed by a world champion. Details of the competition will appear after January 1st, 2003.

Solutions (of the first three problems)

Frederic Friedel