Mark Babik

Chess problem for the week of May 11, 2026: Composed by Joseph Ney Babson and published in "The Boston Globe" in 1875. White to move and checkmate in two moves.

FEN: 8/1p6/1B2B3/PkPN1p2/4nR2/2p1pQ1p/2N1P2P/6K1 w - - 0 1
SOL: https://chess.w00tness.info/26/86.html
(1/3)
#ajedrez #chess #échecs #schaak #schach #chessproblem #schachproblem

May 10 at 7:20pmWeb
Show threadMark Babik1d ago
Joseph Ney Babson (1852 - 1929) was an American chess composer, known especially for his work in selfmate problems and conditional problems. He is primarily associated with the Babson Task, a chess problem in which the solution contains promotions to each of the four possible pieces. It is considered one of the most difficult and ambitious themes in chess composition. Babson initially proposed it for selfmate problems, publishing several examples including one as early as 1913. (2/3)
Show threadMark Babik1d ago
However, Babson never solved his task in the directmate form ("White to move and mate in N moves"). Creating a legal directmate Babson Task with all four promotions was considered impossible until in March 1983, Russian composer Leonid Yarosh composed the first complete Babson Task in a legal and economical position. (3/3)