.... Is it a Convention for Mate Puzzles of this kind to Start with Check? Sorry if this a naïve question, I’m a beginner and not so familiar with puzzles yet. With every move being a check, it is probably generally easier to solve the puzzle because of the limited numbers of possible checks from most positions, but it seems a little unrealistic.
No, not all mate puzzles will start with checks.
Many start with check, and that's fine for learning patterns and practicing calculation and all that.
But it's considered poor form for a composition / study to start with check.
Your position is actually a pretty good example.
Many start with check, and that's fine for learning patterns and practicing calculation and all that.
But it's considered poor form for a composition / study to start with check.
Your position is actually a pretty good example.
That's what I thought. Thanks for your reply.
And if it’s the silliest looking move on the board, that’s a bonus!
I’ve been playing Zen Chess lately. Anyway, my question doesn’t relate to the game itself, but to conventions for puzzles of the check-in-X-move(/s) type. Obviously, if X=1, then the first move must be check with checkmate. But in all the puzzles in the game I’ve solved thus far where X=2, 3 or 4, all the moves leading up to the mate are also checks. I guess there will more real situations where one will have mate in X (where X>1) without every move being a check (?) (below is a puzzle I made, where black will have mate in 2 moves (regardless of who's turn it is), but cannot deliver check in the 1st move), so I wondered why there were no puzzles of this type. Is it a Convention for Mate Puzzles of this kind to Start with Check? Sorry if this a naïve question, I’m a beginner and not so familiar with puzzles yet. With every move being a check, it is probably generally easier to solve the puzzle because of the limited numbers of possible checks from most positions, but it seems a little unrealistic.