20 July is International CHESS Day! Solve a puzzle. Find training. Get chessy stuff.

In honor of International Chess Day, I give you a puzzle.

Black to move.  Mate in five.  Time yourself.

1… Qh1+ 2. Kf2 Rh2+ 3. Nxh2 Qxh2+ 4. Kf3 Bg4+ 5. Kxg4 Qh5#
NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.

Also, I am a chess.com affiliate. Join with my link and I will get credit.

If you are interested in learning, try Remote Chess Academy. 50% off for Chess Day!

Chess House.  I get stuff from them.

Nice people! Great service!

Have a look, for example, at this.

Some time ago, I bought a great travel set from Chess House (with which I have an affiliate program).  It is simply the best travel set I’ve seen.  It weighs hardly anything.  The pieces are magnetic.  The board has a pleasant leather backing.  It packages up into a little bag.  It looks nice.

9″ Milled Leather Travel Magnetic Chess Set with Wood Pieces

And you could treat yourself and play either online against a person or an engine but using a board and real pieces, or against another person with a similar board.

ChessUp 2 is an electronic chess board with wifi and a strong chess engine. You can adjust the level.  Squares light up to show you moves.  It has built in lessons.  You use a companion app to connect to Lichess and Chess.com or another player out there.

It is very cool.  HERE

And if you are getting started, but you’ve played a bit, try a puzzle book!  I use them when being online isn’t convenient.   This is a series I’ve benefited from, quite a few collections of various tactics each volume for a different level of player.  I spot this particular tactic much more easily now.  This is the first book for this tactic.  Each book gets harder.  Take a look

HERE