SOLVING

Chess compositions are artificial chess positions created by composers to showcase creative logic, paradoxes, or aesthetic beauty rather than to reflect a natural game state. They present a specific task, such as “White to play and mate in two,” and act as a competition of wits between the composer and the solver. Compositions fundamentally differ from over-the-board play, as they are deliberately designed with thematic “rules” rather than emerging from a standard competitive struggle.

Solving a composition is more than finding the right move: it’s a chance to discover the ideas and themes that have shaped the art of chess composition throughout its history.

Solving championships and important yearly solving tournaments

World Chess Solving Championship (WCSC)

Once a year, usually summer-autumn

European Chess Solving Championship (WCSC)

Once a year, usually in spring

International Solving Contest (ISC)

Once a year, in January

🗓️Solving calendars and results presented on the Solving Portal:

Tournaments Calendar

World Solving Cup

Other solving tournaments

📜 Solving Rules

Rules of the official WFCC competitions

WSC – World Solving Cup

ISC – International Solving Contest

WCSC/ECSC – World (European) Championship

Rules of the official WFCC competitions

Solvers’ rating, rated tournaments, norms and titles

Guidelines for directors of rated solving tournaments

Solving Tournament Manager (STM)

Genres of problems in the rated solving tournaments

Each completely solved problem carries 5 points.

#2
Two-movers

Write only the first move of White.

#3
Three-movers

Write the first move, the threat (if any), and second moves of White replying to Black’s defences. Only full-length variations score.

+/-
Endgame Studies

All moves should be written until a clear win or draw. Only the main variation is scored, with points distributed throughout.

h#2, h#3, h#>3
Helpmates

Write all moves including the mating move in all intended solutions.

#n
Moremovers

Write the first move, the threat (if any), and all different white replies to Black’s defences except the mating move.

s#2, s#3, s#>3
Selfmates

Write the first move, the threat (if any), and all different white replies to Black’s defences up to White’s last move.

Solver’s Rating
Solving Portal

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