@gatofranco90.bsky.social
Chess puzzles Mondays and Fridays, random stuff (probably still chess related) the rest of the week Same username on Twitter and Instagram
Not quite checkmate!
10.11.2025 19:35 β π 0 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0
Monday Puzzle
Probably quite easy for most, but some funny patters show up on this one by Analotij Kirichenko (1991)
White to play and mate in 2
#chesspunks
Meanwhile Alexei Shirov is visiting my country and playing in an Open tournament.
In the first round he got paired against a guy called Svidler π
lichess.org/broadcast/xx...
@polborta.bsky.social
Monday Puzzle
I took a few photos of my new neighbourhood during the weekend. More on my instagram!
Sharing a position by Fatyh Aitov (1970), where knowing some patterns will definitely help!
White to play and mate in 2
#chesspunks
Tromp?
01.11.2025 21:30 β π 0 π 0 π¬ 1 π 0And then Ng7 Qh2!
01.11.2025 21:29 β π 2 π 0 π¬ 1 π 0I saw lots of more similar ones to that one when I was looking for a puzzle to post. Very famous indeed
01.11.2025 16:28 β π 0 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0
Friday Puzzle
I returned to the board this week, not playing very well. Won one and lost one.
Sharing a rather clever mate in 2 by Johannes Zukertort! (1869). Don't be fooled, this man knew how to play chess!
#chesspunks
Follow up question: what was my opponent supposed to do in the previous move, instead of Bd6-e7?
27.10.2025 23:04 β π 0 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0
Got a bit lucky with a tactic π
27.10.2025 22:51 β π 1 π 0 π¬ 1 π 0Yes 2. Qg7 is the one I was looking at!
27.10.2025 13:53 β π 1 π 0 π¬ 1 π 01. Rh7 or 1. Qh7?
27.10.2025 13:45 β π 1 π 0 π¬ 1 π 0Right!
27.10.2025 13:26 β π 1 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0Be7 was my first try too
27.10.2025 12:57 β π 0 π 0 π¬ 1 π 0White is meant to castle first!
27.10.2025 12:38 β π 2 π 0 π¬ 1 π 0
Monday Puzzle
I have a week off, and hope to return to the board and play some league matches for my club. Let's see how rusty I am!
Here is a mate in 2 by H R Burkill (1897), with a nice key move. White to play
#chesspunks
Friday puzzle
I'm taking a week off so I'm racing to finish all my work today
Below is a position by Renato di Vincenzi (1998), with a fairly expected but satisfying first move
White to play and mate in 2
#chesspunks
Monday Puzzle
Not particularly enjoying the weather lately, but the food has been good!
Sharing a mate in 2 by Meindert Niemeijer (1963). Black's King is surrounded but how to finish off?
#chesspunks
My win against Bodhana last year might already be the best result in my career!
19.10.2025 22:07 β π 2 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0
Friday Puzzle
No games for me this week, lots to do at work and a visit from my manager seemed to have been productive.
Sharing a mate in 2 by D. Lamouroux (1890), which should not be so challenging!
#chesspunks
Game analysis lecture last night by yours truly
14.10.2025 19:12 β π 5 π 1 π¬ 0 π 0
Monday puzzle
Busy day but taking a short break to post this! Plus later tonight I will analyse some internal games played by my clubmates at @hammerchess.bsky.social
Below is a tricky mate in 2 by Rudolf Zangger (1902), can you solve it?
#chesspunks
Friday Puzzle
Very late at posting this, but I realised I never shared the news of my article being published on the ECF newsletter ChessMoves (back in June!). They were so kind to send me a printed copy as well
Here's today's mate in 2, by Johann Berger (1886)
#chesspunks
Monday puzzle
Quite a lot of work to do this week, and probably next too. Unlikely I will play any matches but we'll see how things go
Can you solve the below mate in 2? Not too hard once you see what needs to happen. By Emilio Battaglia (1996)
#chesspunks
Friday Puzzle
I didn't play this week due to a small logistical issue, but in any case I have been quite busy at work so it was probably for the best.
Sharing the below position by Goran Forslund (1996), with some nice patterns.
White to play and mate in 2
#chesspunks
Monday Puzzle
Now that the League Season started again (see my last post), I can resume with these. Sharing a mate in 2 by Hermann Pollak (1897)
It took me a little while to understand the position, but then the first move I looked at just worked!
#chesspunks
I think I remember you posting about it now. Good luck this season!
26.09.2025 13:15 β π 1 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0Cool, which league/team is that?
26.09.2025 12:07 β π 0 π 0 π¬ 1 π 0
I played the first game of the season for my club last night.
I was nervous and had already lost to my opponent in the past, but I got a decent position with better development and a sudden chance to strike appeared, how did I win as White?
#chesspunks
My team won 5.5-0.5!
We have 20 more League games today plus a few extra rated ones!
Hammersmith faces Hendon in 2 Middlesex League matches, and we have a Juniors vs Adults internal match!
First team will be live here lichess.org/broadcast/ha...
