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Spark & Whetstonethe grown-up commons

The Problem Page

Six moments from the great games where a forced mate was on the board, and the player found it. Try the first move. If it is not the one, the board shows you the defence that holds, so you can look again. Below them, a studio for setting your own.

Board view Large board and pieces High contrast Staunton pieces About the shapes

The Opera Game · 1858

White to move: mate in 2

Your move: tap a piece, then a square.

See it in the game

The Opera Game · 1858

White to move: mate in 1

Your move: tap a piece, then a square.

See it in the game

The Evergreen Game · 1852

White to move: mate in 2

Your move: tap a piece, then a square.

See it in the game

The Evergreen Game · 1852

White to move: mate in 1

Your move: tap a piece, then a square.

See it in the game

Réti’s Queen Sacrifice · 1910

White to move: mate in 2

Your move: tap a piece, then a square.

See it in the game

Réti’s Queen Sacrifice · 1910

White to move: mate in 1

Your move: tap a piece, then a square.

See it in the game

Compose your own

Pick a piece, tap a square to place it (tap again to clear). Choose who moves and how many moves the mate takes, then ask the board. It looks at every defence. A good problem has exactly one first move that works, called the key.

To moveMate in

Position as text (FEN), to copy or paste

Promotions are tried as a queen. The check runs on your device and can take a few seconds for a mate in two.