Below are some lists of chess problems that have been collected over the years. Beginners will probably find most of these to be too complex, so scroll down to the list of forced mating themes at the bottom for some slightly more relaxing puzzles. This list is by no means complete and is merely a collection of themes, problems and puzzles that have been extracted from a small number of chess books, video games, and website puzzle feeds.

Suggestions for the list are welcome, or you can just create a working URL to the problem yourself if you know the Forsyth-encoded position string. Be aware that only the Forsyth component is accepted, not the Forsyth-Edwards extension storing whose turn it is, castling rights or anything else. All positions specified in the URL must be with White to move, no castling future for either side, and no immediate en passant option.

White to play and checkmate:

• Paul Morphy, 1840s: White mates in 2 moves.
• Eduard Petsch-Manskopf, 1899: White mates in 3 moves.
• Giulio Polerio, 1585: White mates in 7 moves. (Black's first reply is a mistake.)
• Gustavus Charles Reichhelm, 1882: White mates in 64 moves...or less!

White to play and pull a draw out of his hat:

• Richard Réti, 1921: When the rule of the square fails you, use the rule of two squares.
• Lloyd, 1860: Why is that knight just hopping around in circles?
• Snallposten, 1924: The craziest rook ever.
• Hermann Mattison, 1931: Instead of forcing a stalemate, force your opponent to stalemate you.

White to play for the win:

• Zairab Katai, about 700 A.D.: Medieval chess men that still move the same today.
• Moravec, 1930: Smothered time and time again by pushed pawns.
• Richter, 1953: The most mobile of all pieces, trapped!
• Silaev, 1983: Tired of accidentally stalemating your opponent? Now you can be forced to do it.
• Pal Benko, 1984: STOP THAT PAWN!

Forced mating themes:

• Boden's mate, in 2
• Epaulette mate, in 2
• Boxed mate, in 3
• Réti's mate, in 3
• Lolli's mate, in 3
• Pillsbury's mate, in 3
• Arabian mate, in 3
• Suffocation mate, in 3
• Anastasia's mate, in 4
• Smothered mate, in 5
• Damiano's mate, in 6