En passant problems
Look at the adjacent board position Black to plays moves  a) 1.... a5 can White take this pawn en passant (so bxa6 e.p.)?  If instead Black tries  1.... c5 can White play  b) 2.bxc6 e.p. or  c) 2. dxc6 e.p. If instead White to play and tries  d) 1. h4 can Black play gxh3 e.p.?  If instead  White tries  1. f4 can Black reply  e).... exf3 e.p.? or  f)' ... gxf3 e.p. ANSWERS can be found here
For Beginners!
Many beginners often obtain a winning position e.g. a Q ahead but do not know how to give checkmate. The first thing to remember is that you cannot checkmate with just a Q versus a K, you need to use your K and Q together. The second point is you need to drive ('squeeze') the opponent's K to the edge of the board (use the Q to prevent the K from coming away from the edge and then try and move the K to the position shown above. With White to move there are 4 checkmates possible - can you find them all?		As with the example on the left when you checkmate with K and R versus a lone K then the K and R must work together to first drive the enemy K to the edge of the board and then use the R to pin the K to the edge and move your own K to the position shown. Sometimes you have to 'lose' move e.g. by moving the R a few squares to drive the opponent's K to move opposite your K. So with Black to move there is just one move to deliver checkmate.
Answer The checkmates are 1. Qc2# 1. Qh1# 1. Qg1# 1. Qf1# Note the last 3 are very similar in idea  TIP: when your opponent can only move his/her K be careful to avoid a position where he/her is not in check but his/her only moves would be into check. If you only have a K left this is a trick worth trying as you may convert a loss to a draw!		Answer The only checkmate is 1. Rh2# You will see this is a similar situation to the last 3 checkmates shown for the Q in the position on the left.   TIP: Practice giving these checks - start by putting the other K on the mioddle of the board and then driving it to the edge and setting up the right position to give checkmate.  This is important as there is nothing worse than winning against your opponent but not being able to give checkmate and having to  agree a draw!

This month's problems - Novice     Problem N7   Problem N8   N7) White to play - what is the winning move?     N8) Black is winning easily here - but what is the quickest move to finish the game?       N7) If it were Black to move how would he/she win the game?               This month's problems - Intermediate Problem I7    Problem I8                        I7) Black has just played the R from c6 to c5, thinking he will win either the Q or B with the pin. White finds a stunning reply that wins within a few moves  – what did White play?       I8) How does Black win?

 

Answer to last month's problems - Intermediate
Problem I5		Problem I6
I5a. A closely fought game with each side down to one P each. So it is White to play – is 1. a6  the best move? If not what should White play?		I6a. What is Black's killer move?
1. a6 is not the best move because although the a pawn is promoted (to a Q) first when the Black pawn reaches h1 the new Black Q will give check in a skewer and then win the new White Q and the game!   White K can reach g2 and take the Black pawn when it promotes. Black cannot catch the white pawn. So   1. Ke4 wins - if Black pushes the h pawn the White K moves to f3 (and g2 if necessary). If Black moves the K instead then the a pawn is just advanced.		1.....Rxg3+    If   2. fxg3  f2#   While   2. Ng2  Qxg2#
N5b. If Black to play first can he/she draw or win the game?
1....h3 wins for Black as the skewer along the h1-a8 diagonal following promotion to a Q will cover a8 and prevent White from gaining (or keeping) a Q

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