The July 2026 issue of CHESS magazine includes three minimal-unit construction challenges, reproduced below, which come from a larger puzzle set created by Dr Tim Paulden for the 50th Anniversary East Devon Congress in March 2026.
Using the smallest number of units (pieces and pawns) you can, create a legal chess position with White to move in which…
(i) White has fifteen or more legal moves, all of which are mate in one. Target: 8 units.
(ii) White still has all sixteen original White units, and each White unit has exactly one legal move (thus, White has sixteen legal moves overall). Target: 17 units.
(iii) White is in check and has exactly six legal moves – none of these moves is a capture, and all of them are mate in one. Target: 8 units.
There are, of course, many possible solutions for each puzzle! Sample solutions for the three puzzles can be found in the “Solutions” section below. The complete 16-challenge puzzle set, instructions, and associated solution document can be found further down, in the “Full puzzle set (16 challenges)” section.
Please email timpaulden@gmail.com if you have any queries regarding the puzzles, or would like to make use of the puzzle set (e.g. at an event).
Solutions
Click on the links below to see the solutions to the three CHESS magazine puzzles:
Solution page for Puzzle (iii)
Full puzzle set (16 challenges)
The full puzzle set (comprising 16 challenges) and supporting instructions can be accessed at the links below:
Puzzle Contest – It’s A Set Up! – The 16 Challenges (PDF, opens in new tab)
Puzzle Contest – It’s A Set Up! – Instructions (PDF, opens in new tab)
The full puzzle set was run as a special competition as part of the 50th Anniversary East Devon Congress (March 2026) – first prize was won by GM John Nunn, with Alex Fletcher finishing as runner-up.
The solutions obtained by Congress solvers, along with the sample solutions, can be accessed at the link below:
Puzzle Contest – It’s A Set Up! – The Solutions (PDF, opens in new tab)
