8 Truly Remarkable Chess Puzzles

Black: Has 100 queens and a very good defense White: Has 1 pawn and 1 king Chess players: Now, who do you think is winning here

Number 8 is the definition of “If you see a checkmate, look for a better one.”

The idea that those pawns in the last one turned from king escort to prison made it 100% the best puzzle I've ever seen.

The last one was so much better than checkmate in one lol

The last puzzle really brings a new meaning to "if you see a good move, look for a better one"

Nakamura would like #7 The five knight checkmate, an essential technique for every chess player before they can ever imagine converting positional advantages

In puzzle 3, the idea that white will take the bishop with the rook doesn’t seem to make sense. Black will simply capture the rook with the pawn on a7, right? What am I missing?

In #5, the hidden motive of White's first move is truly remarkable.

The last one is the epitome of “if you see a checkmate, look for a better one.”

Two of the first books I read were "The Chess Companion" and "Practical Chess Endings" by Irving Chernev. I was really lucky to come to those first, because they were both filled with amazing studies like this. They give a feeling for what is possible even in the simplest positions! Thanks for a great video! I had not seen any of these. Put up some sui-mates! Where one side forces the other side to give checkmate against his will!

7. 15:11 Black defends better with bK moves which allow wQ checks (in that they force White to take longer) rather than those which allow wN checks. 2 g8=N+ Kg5 is better than 2 g8=N+ Kh7 #13 4 Nxg4+ Kh7 allows #4 as you showed, but 4 Nxg4+ Kg5 makes it #10.

I very recently started getting into chess thanks to your videos, great stuff, love your explanation of all the puzzles and making the info accessible

Hey Nelson! These are my favorite of your videos. I know it's a little more work but could you post pgns for puzzle videos like this in the future in the description? I'm just not good enough at visuslization for some of the harder moves and remaking the position is a chore especially when there are 8 of them! Thanks so much and keep making puzzle/endgame study videos!

That last one would just be a cruel way to end the game.

Counterplay idea for black in position 4 (note: it may be just a slight hope in hell due to the trashy position for black but with the right counterplay there’s a chance that black can win) So I’ll go from the start of the puzzle: 1. c6, kb8 2. kd8/kd7, b2 3. c7+, ka7 (this move is critical as it let’s black promote on the next move giving him a small chance to use some counterplay or causing problems for white as one opening and black brings their queen into the game) 4. c8=Q (idk, what else would he play), b8=Q And bam both have queens, white can probably force a the mate mentioned above with continuous checks but it does better the position for black if it’s even the slightest bit.

Wow! Some of those really blew my mind! Fantastic stuff. I feel like I’m going to be on the look out for that double pin idea. Slim chance, but it “could” turn up in a game.

Your pick of studies and compositions are amazing. Though that line of "Want to be 1500+ to read this book" made me go. "Welp never getting that book then."

The last puzzle is my favorite

The last puzzle was the first puzzle I remember ever from all the way back to I was 8 years old. Just amazing and inspiring. Love this video very much!!😊👍

Puzzle 2 starting at 4:20 gets even more neat if you look at the plays by white not centered on the black rook. W Qe3, takes the threatening knight, but leaves the pawn mate on board for black W Nd4, similar result, protects that same square but pawn mates W pawn b3, would normally give king an escape path from the pawn mate, except that cleverly placed rook is now actually doing something and blocking that escape path