Chess Composing

This text is great inspiration for tactics training. Imagine spending days on a problem, it is almost unheard of in these blitz days, but it is what one could do instead of guessing within 10 seconds after problem is presented. The longest I spent on any problem is around 30 minutes. Typically I spend 5 to 10 minutes on each problem. Different days then and now. More stress and fast paced lifestyles and information overflow today. Not always to the better.

And this problem I failed.

 Thanks. 

Chess Problems are probably the most artistic side of chess.  Personally, I'm not very adept at solving them, but I do like *trying*  to understand them.  Composed problems are very different from tactical puzzles which are fun but less satisfying - like fast food vs a gourmet meal. 

 I think composed problems might possibly have been more popular before the advent of modern entertainment but that's just a hunch.

from "How to Solve Chess Problems" by Kenneth Howard; 1961.

It's a bit of a shame that the Buchwald and Hassberg one has two solutions. There is the given and also the slightly more prosaic Kg5 followed by promoting to a queen and mating on f4

The "Shine!" thread brought me here. Interesting articles and that's a great way to describe how composed problems differ from tactical puzzles!

There is a typo in the third puzzle, post #6. Once you have solved the puzzle and can see all the variations, it says:

(1... Nf5 2. Qxc5+)

It should say:

(1... Nf5 2. Qe5#)

If you’re interested in chess compositions, you should check out strateGems.net. The site is devoted to composed chess problems. They have a few books for sale, including one of Julius Buchwald’s compositions.