Puzzles!

Here are a few puzzles! Post your own if you want.

Hi, I think there's an error in puzzle number 3...after the 8th move "Kh3" of Black, white move should be Rh6#

The mistake in number 3 came much earlier. Correct for White is 2.Kg3, winning the black rook immediately. (This is the finish of the Saavedra study.)

Good combi! If white plays Bh7+ prematurely, black saves face with ..Kf8!

Nice mate in 5!

Can black promote a pawn?

White to play and draw.

Black to play and win.

@Strangemover Great endgames! Unfortunate that the puzzle interface won't allow correct alternatives to 3. .. Bb8.

Cheers, yeah other bishop moves also win in the same fashion of course. These kind of puzzles remind me that there may be a winning/drawing resource in the most unlikely scenario. 'If a player believes in miracles sometimes he can perform them'. I forget whose quote that is but it is very true!

Actually, that's the reason I'm a "problemist". We believe in never ending miracles which serves us well in the universe of composition. It also explains why many of us are not great game players. Just observe our expressions of unbelief when we have to admit there is no miraculous escape from a challenge presented by an opponent. That is unheard of! By the way. Alekhine admits it as one of his weaknesses as well. He would lose games by being over-confident in his ability to perform a Houdine act in any situation and trained to discipline himself against this superstition (which is really a bit of ego arrogance)!

Well if you are as good as Alekhine it would be easy to believe you can do anything! I will leave you with one more lengthy puzzle. White to play and mate in 16!