The Puzzle Path: Journey to 60 in 5
I started playing chess when I was 11 in 1985. Compared to all the vast possibilities available today, that was an entirely different era. As a student, I reduced my chess activities to focus on mathematics and physics.
In 2018, my interest in chess was rekindled, and I signed up on chess.com. Puzzle Rush immediately caught my attention because, as a mathematician, I am naturally drawn to solving problems.
I experienced a nostalgic flashback to my youth and was amazed by the new tools and opportunities for learning and improvement. A question arose in my mind:
“What can I achieve now with all these new opportunities?”
https://pixabay.com/de/illustrations/feuerherz-herz-feuer-liebe-symbol-961194/
The journey began, and I could write several pages about it, but I’d like to focus on the current chapter.
59 puzzles: Fair enough, but not quite there yet
www.chess.com/puzzles/rush/gejimayu/2F9dmp
I collapsed at the very end, which was a typical situation: becoming stressed and afraid as the counter approached 60, hoping for mercy and a bit of luck, as if the universe owed me something for separating waste and paying taxes.
https://pixabay.com/de/photos/ritter-geschlagen-mittelalterlich-321443/
My training is pointless if I can’t shed this attitude. There is a reason I chose my avatar. Whatever it is in my life, I have had to train extensively to improve, and that is fair because it doesn’t rely on luck. I want to be the artisan of my own fortune.
60 puzzles in 5 minutes: A different mind set
I faced my tendency to collapse and worked on my mindset. I am not harsh, but honest with myself: I do not have a title in chess, yet a title was not necessary to reach 59, and it won’t be necessary to reach 60. As a mathematician, I never relied on luck to solve a problem, and neither should I in Puzzle Rush.
Let’s bring it on! This is an early puzzle from the rush:
www.chess.com/puzzles/problem/1110860/practice
When you see this puzzle for the very first time, 1. Ne5+ is tempting but not as good as the correct solution. What is the best move?
Here comes puzzle #44:
https://www.chess.com/puzzles/problem/2665624/practice
All rooks and queens are on the board; there is no “loud” move or obvious attack. Pushing the passed a-pawn is the only interesting move. Black can then exchange the rooks, resulting in a queen ending. Do you see White’s setup to avoid perpetual check?
Can you solve #59?
www.chess.com/puzzles/problem/1804674/practice
A crucial aspect during Puzzle Rush is switching from repeating known puzzles to actually solving them live. So, I invested a few more seconds if a new puzzle appeared. Master Yoda said: “Do. Or do not. There is no try.” Just focus and solve it.
Here is #60
www.chess.com/puzzles/problem/2537834/practice
No fancy ideas here, just following fundamental principles. It's usually not advised to chase the opponent’s king in the open, and this rule of thumb is backed up by calculation. The strategy is to reduce his space, so let’s aim for a mating net. I solved it correctly and then my focus completely collapsed.
www.chess.com/puzzles/rush/gejimayu/66fv62
Reflection
I will avoid using the term 'sound barrier' in the future; it is too loud, too spectacular. A more accurate description is that I crossed a boundary line in a state of calm, barefoot, in simple attire, and having shed my burdens behind me. In the end, it is just a game, but all the training and reflection have helped me to grow.
Böhringer Friedrich, CC BY-SA 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5>
Time was not my enemy but my ally. We are alive as long we have dreams.
After reaching my goal of 60 puzzles in 5 minutes, I took some time to reflect on the journey and the effort it took to get here. It was not just about achieving a personal best, but also about overcoming mental barriers and refining my problem-solving skills. I was pleasantly surprised and encouraged by the congratulations I received from some my club mates from the Pro Puzzle Solvers Team.
