Positions of the Day are chess compositions we share on ChessBase India's social media pages. In this course, these carefully curated problems and studies are brought together for ambitious solvers and players to work on interactively.

White to play and win. Try to calculate the full solution in your mind before you make the first move.

1. Nc6+ Kb7, find the best way to continue.

2...Ka8, the black king blockades the a7 pawn. What should White play now?

3. Kf7 Kb7 - keep going!

4. a8=Q+ Kxa8 - how does White continue?

5. Kg6 Kb7 - Black moves their king to b7 -  the only move in the position. How to continue?

6. Nd8+ Kb6 - keep going.

7. Nf7 Kb5 - how should White continue? Final few moves of the study.

8. Nxh8 Kb4 - White to play. Is Black going to capture the d3 pawn?

White to win | Mark Liburkin | Tchigorin Memorial Tourney, 1947

In order to ensure victory, White must win at least one of Black's minor pieces. How should White proceed?

1.Rb1 Kd2 - How do you continue?

2.Rb2 Kc1 - Keep going. Black isn't giving up as yet.

3.Rxc2+ Kb1 - Black is regaining the lost piece... What should White play? This requires precision!

4.Rc4 Bf2+ - Black plays this intermediate check before capturing on a1 as 4...Kxa1 directly runs into 5.Ra4+. How should White proceed?

5.Kg4 Kxa1 - keep going.

Black plays 6...Bb6. White to play. How does White win the bishop?

7.Ra4+ Kb2 - keep going!

8.Rb4+ Kc3 - final move?

White to win | Zinovy Birnov | Shakhmaty v SSSR, 1946

It's White to play. Before White pushes their passers, they must find a way to deal with b1=Q. So, how should White begin? 

1.Bd4 b1=Q - Black has queened the pawn. What should White do?

2.Rb2 Qxa1 - Keep going. White must capture the black queen now before it avails itself of too much freedom!

3.Rd2+ Kxd2 - Keep going.

4.Bxa1 Nd3 - How should White proceed?

5.c6 Nxb4 - Here's a critical moment in the game. What is the correct continuation for White?

6.Bc3+ Kxc3 -Keep going.

7.c7 Nd5 - final move?

White to win | Alexander Gulyaev, Nikolai Kralin, and Evart-Jan van den Berg | Friendship — 200, 1983

A double-edged position! Both sides are rolling their pawns down the board, and furthermore, Black has a queen. White to play!

1.b7+ Kb8 - keep going! White to play!

2.cxd7 Qh8! - Qg8 doesn't put up a fight and loses to Ne6. Moving the queen to h8 is an important decision. Now, how should White continue?

3.Be8 Qh4 - Black stops d8=Q. How should White continue?

4.Ne6 d2 - Critical moment in the game. If Black can't do much with the queen, they can certainly push their d-pawn. What should White play? 

5.Bh5 Qxh5+ - White to play.

6.Kb6 d1=Q - keep going. White to play!

7.d8=Q Qxd8+ - White to play. Keep going!

8.Nxd8 Qh6+ - White to play and win. Final move!

White to win | Mirko Miljanic | Politika, 2015

It's White to play. Careful, both sides have passed pawns marching down either direction of the board. White must take swift action to secure their initiative. 

1.Be4+ Kxd4 - What is White's best move?

1.Be4+ Kxd4 2.b7 a2 - How should White continue?

3.b8=Q a1=Q - Both sides have queens on board. What is White's best move?

4.Qb4+ Ke5 - White to play. Keep going.

5. Qe7+ Kf4 - How should White continue?

6. Qh4+ Ke5 - Final move of the study. What should White play?

White to win | M & V. Platov | Pravda, 1927 

Although White's e-pawn looks strong, you'd be surprised how stubborn a resistance Black can put up with their pieces. It's White to play now. What's the best move?

Black isn't letting the pawn queen as yet. They play 1...Ng2+. How should White continue?

2. Kd1 Bc2+ - Black is trying to complicate things. How should White continue?

2. Kd1 Bc2+ 3. Kxc2 Rc5+ - White to play. Keep going!

4. Kd3 Rc8 - White to play. Keep going.

5. e8=Q+ Rxe8 - White to play. Keep going.

6. Bxe8+ Kf5 - What is White's best move here?

7. Bd7+ Kxf4 - How should White continue?

8. Bc6 Ne1+ - What should White play? Here we have a thematic move.

8. Bc6 Nh4 - How does continue from here?

9. Be4 Ke5 - White to play. Keep going.

White to win | Yochanan Afek |  Quartz, 2005

An important clearance theme is exhibited in all its purity. It's White to play and force checkmate in four moves. What is the key?

1...Nf2 and 1...Rh2 allow 2.Qxf2# and 2.Qg8# respectively. But how do you continue after 1.Qa2 b4?

Once again, Nf2 and Rh2 run into Qxf2# and Qg8# respectively. But how do you continue after 2.Ba1 b3?

And now, what if Black plays 3...Rh2?

And what for 3...Nf2? How does White finish it off?

Ado Kraemer & Erich Brunner - Mate in 4 - Basel News, 1928

Black's a2 pawn is about to queen. But it is White to play now. What should be White's best play?

1. Bh7+ Kh8 - How should White continue?

2. Rd1 b3 - the bishop on h7 is en prise, and Black is also threatening to push b3-b2. What is White's only move to keep the advantage?

3. Kb4 b2 - How should White continue? There is no stopping Black from queening one of the pawns! (Note that 3. Kb4 Kxh7 can be met with 3...Kc3 now, which stops the pawns definitively!)

4. Bb1 a1=Q - Black has queened. What is White's winning move? This is the final move of the exercise!

White to win | Frantisek Richter | Revista Romana de Sah, 1948

White to play & mate in 6: There's a picturesque solution that's well-concealed; only when you think you've spotted it make your first move.

1.Rh8 f4 - Now that the e3 bishop is en prise, how should White continue?

2.Rh2 fxe3 - How should White proceed from here? (Note that 2...f3, instead of fxe3, runs into the trivial 3.Rh3 f2 4.Bf4#)

3. Re2 exd2 - Now what should White play?

4. Re8 Kxc3 - keep going. White to play!

5. Rb8 Kd3 - Final move of the exercise. How does White finish off?

Lothar Kalski | Mate in 6 | Freie Presse, 1985

Black is threatening to queen their f-pawn, but it is White to play now. Can you find the best move?

1.Kc7 f1=Q - Black has a queen now. It's White to play. How should White proceed?

1...f1=Q 2.Rf8 Qxf8 - How should White continue?

3. b8=N+ Qxb8+ - White to play. Keep going.

4. Nxb8+ Ka5 - White to play. Keep going.

5. Nc6+ Ka6 - we are at an important crossroads here. How should White proceed?

6. Nc2 Bxc2 - White to play. Now that the c-file is closed, what is White's idea?

7. b4 Rc1 - Final move. White to finish Black off. 

White to win | Martin Minski | Ceskoslovensky Sach, 2019

A lucid more-mover that shows a popular thematic combination. It's White to play and mate in 6. What is the key move?

 1. Rf1 g3 - How does White continue?

2. Nf5 Kg2 - White to play. Keep going.

3. Ne3+ Kh1 - And now comes the thematic move of the solution. What would you play here as White?

4. Rc1 g2 - White to play. Keep going.

5. Nd1 Ne2 - Final move. White to deliver the coup de grace! 

Janis Betins - Mate in 6 - Latvis, 1927

A picturesque Epaulette checkmate awaits at the end of an attractive stratagem! It is White to play and mate in 5. Find the key move.

Of course, 1...f5 runs into 2.Qg7#. But 1. Qg5+ Bf5 - Now, how does White continue?

In view of the threat Rxc5+, Black plays 2...Ra5. How does White continue?

3. Qe7+ Be6+ - White to play. The king on a2 is under check. What should White do?

4. Rd5+ Kxd5 - And now, it is White to move and mate in 1!

Volker Zipf | Mate in 5 | Troll, 1995

White is heavily down in material, but there's an uncommon drawing sequence hidden in the position. Can you see it? It's White to play.

1.Nd6 Rb6+ - How should White continue?

2.Kc5 Bg6 - Black has e8 under control now. How should White proceed?

3. Nf7+! Bxf7 - Keep going. White to play.

What happens after 1.Nd6 Bg6? It is White to play. This is the second variation of the study.

2.Nf7+ Bxf7 - White to play. Keep going!

3.e8=Q+ Bxe8+ - What is White's only drawing move?

White to draw | Frederic Lazard |  L'Italia Scacchistica, 1923

White to play and mate in 5. What is the key move? Pay close attention to the knights on c6 and e6. They are the centrepieces of the combination we are looking for!

1.Kh3 Nxg5+ The white king is under check. How do you continue? It's White to play.

2.Nxg5+ Bxg5 - How should White proceed?

3.Nd4+ Ke3 - Keep going. White to play.

4.Ne6+ Kf3 - White to play.

1.Kh3 Bxg5 - Black takes the queen on g5 with the bishop, stopping Qxh5#. How should White continue?

2.Ne5+ Ncxe5 - How should White continue? (Note: 2...Nfxe5 runs into 3.Nxg5#)

3.Nd4+ Ke3 - Keep going. How should White proceed?

4.Nb3+ Kf3 - White to play. Final move?

Stefan Sovik | Mate in 5 | Pravda, 1988

A sparkling study with energetic flow! It is White to play. White is trailing direly in material but has a dramatic save in the position.

1.h7 Nh2+ - How should White proceed?

2.Kg2 h3+ - Keep going. It's White to play.

3.Kg3 Rg4+ -  How should White continue?

4.Kxh3 Nf3 - White to play. Keep going.

5.Kxg4 Ne5+ - How should White continue?

6.Kf5 Nf7 - Black seems to have stopped the pawn. Is Black winning? How should White proceed?

7.Kxf6 Nh8 - White to play.

8.Kg7 Ke7 - White to play

9.Kxh8 Kf8 - Here is a critical detail in the solution. Be careful. White to play!

10.f3 a4 -White to play.

11.f4 a3 - Keep going. White to move.

12.f5 a2 and now for final move. White to play.

White to draw | Alexander Herbstman | Shakhmaty v SSSR, 1936

White to play and mate in 11. How do you begin?

1. Ne7+ Ke5 - Keep going. White to play.

2. Nc6+ Kf5 - Keep going. White to play.

3. Ncxd4+ Ke5 - Keep going. You're on the right track...

4. Nc6+ Kf5 - White to play. Keep going. You're on the right track.

5. Ne7+ Ke5 - And now what should White do?

6. d4+ cxd3 - How should White proceed? 

7. Nc6+ Kf5 - What should White do now? A pivotal moment in the solution.

8.e3 fxe3 - White to play. Keep going. 

 9. Ncd4+ Ke5 - White to play. Keep going.

10. f4+ Ke4 - White to play. Final move?

White mates in 11 | Nijat Abasov & Evgeny Fomichev | Şahmat bəstəçiliyi-15 JT, 2018

In this clever problem by Orlimont aka Ernst Krieger, it is White to play and mate in 3. Can you find the cheeky first move?

1.Rh8 Rxf7 -  What should White do?

2.Ra8+ Ra7 - and now?

What should White do if 1.Rh8 Rxb8?

2.Rxb8 Bf6 - and now? 

1.Rh8 Bxh8 - What should White do here?

2.Rxf8 Bf6 - and now?

Now, for the final and most important variation. How should White continue if 1.Rh8 Rxh8?

What if 2.Rg8 Rxg8?

Well done, keep going! What if 2.Rg8 Rxh2? 

Finally, what if 2.Rg8 Bf6?

P.A.Orlimont | Mate in 3 | Deutsches Wochenschach, 1910

This one  features a striking blend of line opening and zugzwang. It's White to play and mate in 5. What is the key move?

1.Re3 fxe3 (Black stops the threat of Rexe7#) - How does White continue?

2.Ne5 fxe5 (Black prevents Bc6#) - How does White proceed?

3.Be6 f1=Q - How should White play?

4.Rxf1 e2 - Final move?

3.Be6 g3 - What should White play?

4.Rf3 f1=Q and now?

3.Be6 e4 - What should White play?

4.Rf4 g5 - And now?

What if 3.Be6 g5? What should White play?

4.Rf5 f1=Q and now?

P.A. Orlimont & Josef Halumbirek | Mate in 5 | Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1940

A step-by-step logical more-mover—White to play & mate in 5. First move?

1. Rb7 Bg3 - how should White proceed now?

2. Rb5 Rc2 - Black prevents Rxc5#. How can White make progress?

3. Ra5 Bf1 - Black stops Ra6#. What should White play? This is the critical/thematic move of the problem!

4. Bc4 Rxc4 - How does White finish off the game?

And what if Black captures on c4 with the bishop - 4. Bc4 Rxc4 - How does White finish it off?

Andreas Schönholzer | Mate in 5 | Schweizerische Schachzeitung, 1973-74

White to play. Find the best move in the position.

1. g7 Bb5+ - How should White continue?

2. Kc5 Rxg7 - Black's bishop is en prise but so is the knight on g5. How should White proceed?

3. Ne6 Rb7 - Black seems to have everything defended and they have also won a pawn. What is White's best move here?

4. a6 Bxa6 - How should White proceed?

5. Kc6 Ra7 - What is White's best move now?

6. Kb6 Re7 - What should White play? Final move!

White to play & draw | Daniel Keith & Martin Minski | International Solving Contest, 2018

A problem of nimble manoeuvres leading up to a simple but elegant checkmate - it is White to play. Find the key move.

1. Ree6 Kc4 - Black has escaped the threat of Rc6#. How should White continue?

2. Rg3 Kc5 - Once again Black escapes the threat of Rc6#. How should White proceed?

3. Rd3 Kc4 - White to play. What's White's best move now?

4. Rf3 Kc5 - How should White proceed?

5. Rf4 f1=Q - Final move? White to play.

Stefan Schneider | Mate in 6 | Deutsche Schachblätter, 1974

It is White to play. Find the best move in the position.

1. e6 Ne3 - How should White proceed?

2. e7 Bb4+ - White to play. Keep going.

3. Kxb4 Nd5+ - White to play. Keep going!

4. Kc5 Nxe7 - Black picks up the passser! Can White still win? White to play.

5. Kd6 Nc8+ - White to play. What's White's best move now?

6. Kc7 Ne7 - How should White proceed?

7. Kd7 Nd5 - White to play. Final move?

White to win | Ernest Pogosyants | Ryazan Komsomolets, 1980

Black is about to go a1=Q, but it's White's turn to move now. Find the best move for White.

White to draw | Eduard Aleksevich Asaba | Canadian Chess Chat, 1980

Positions of The Day

Course - Positions of The Day