Help needed to check/alter puzzle to go on Tactics Trainer

THIS THREAD IS CLOSED TO SUBMISSIONS.

Original text:

If you would like to submit a puzzle to http://www.chess.com/forum/view/more-puzzles/puzzles-needed-for-tactics-trainer but don't have a powerful computer to ensure the criteria are met, this is the place to post your puzzle and ask the chess.com community for help. Once you've checked/altered your puzzle then submit it to the above forum. This will speed up the rate at which puzzles can be added to tactics trainer.

I'll keep updating this first post, so it also provides a guide with links/ screenshots/ helpful suggestions.

To download the same free powerful chess program that I use go to :

http://www.playwitharena.com/ and download Arena 3.0 which now appears to come with several chess programs, although I use Houdini 1.5 which you can download for free at

http://www.chess.com/download/view/houdini15

You then start Arena 3.0 and import Houdini into it.

To be able to see more than the best move, click on 'engine' > choose an engine > configure > increase the multiPV number to eg.3 to see the best 3 moves.

Then check your puzzle ensuring that the next best moves are all given a value of <0.3 (up to 1 sometimes allowed). The puzzle must stop as soon as this isn't the case. 

If a tactic is very strong removing material from the winning side or adding to the losing side often helps. Understanding why certain alternative moves are possible, can also allow you to add an extra pawn here or there to prevent them.

If I want to alter a position I usually Click position > copy FEN to clipboard

(FEN is one line that describes the board position)

open up another copy of Arena 3.0 and click set up position > paste the FEN in the FEN box > load > make my changes to the position > click OK

Once you have a puzzle that works Click position > copy FEN to clipboard and paste the FEN as a simple one line submission with the first move for the computer on http://www.chess.com/forum/view/more-puzzles/puzzles-needed-for-tactics-trainer 

Here is my Smothered Mate Win ,Live Chess Game .. Can Someone plz check whether it meets the TT Puzzle Criteria, for me ?

http://www.chess.com/livechess/game?id=361759105

Tactic is from Move 24-27 .. Mat03

.. think it probably doesn't need checking tho coz they r all Forced Moves .

Tnx .

Can anyone think of a way to extend this puzzle unambiguously beyond 1 move, because I'd like to preserve this lovely move. The trouble is black seems to be in no rush to win the b5 knight once a4! has been played.

An attempt to make kikyo_sushi's puzzle longer here. I don't have a good engine so I don't know whether it works but I think it does.

yes good point. clearly my idea does not work then.

Thanks piphilologist, I was asking for help with a 1 move puzzle from the approver pool. I just love the move a4. I assume it wins white's knight so effectively that black can just take his time winning it. You've given me a great idea of trying to find a move that precedes a4. Unfortunately TT puzzles should have the hardest move first. I shall play around further when I have access to Houdini.

Simple defensive variation from your puzzle piphilologist http://www.chess.com/tactics/server?id=226519

You can just royal fork

I realize this is pretty silly, but I also think it's pretty cool. Of course, the last king move could be different, though to no avail.

Shadowfax90, a problem for you: your initial position after Nxe6 :

Black to move mates in 1!!

haha I saw the position, thought nice underpromotion, then I realised that wasn't your intended solution!

The underpromotion is awesome! Didn't notice it despite ilmago's comment...those are tough to see.

This one is a chess.com favorite...probably too easy.

I got something cooked up in a game on a different site. It goes like this:

I hope this is good enough to make TT. I look forward to a response soon!

I'm pretty sure you won't get a response since this is a 7 month old thread and I think it's dead.

That'd be a pity, but there's nothing I can do about that. But at least I tried.

As far as I know the thread died 7 months ago, and as you can see it was revived at least twice - once 5 months ago, and another 7-8 weeks ago. Not sure why though, as you have to actually search for this thread manually.

I have cheked this with the engine