New Pawn Mower Books

Love puzzles and brain teasers? Ready for a new challenge?

Check out the two new Pawn Mower books for a unique and challenging puzzle.

The Combo Edition features over 300 puzzles from the first three Pawn Mower magazines, and the Deluxe Edition has over 200 of the most challenging puzzles.

You do not need to know how to play chess; however, you will learn the basic rules of chess as you play.

If you already play chess, solving these puzzles will improve your game.

Includes puzzle solving tips by Grandmaster Maurice Ashley.

The perfect gift for puzzle lovers of all ages.

Try Pawn Mower: Combo Edition or Pawn Mower: Deluxe Edition!

Blindfold finish

Ashley-N.N., New York 2013
9 board Blindfold Simultaneous Exhibition

White to move and mate in 3

X-Ray Vision

Ashley 2013, White to move and win (answer coming soon)

From the minds of babes!

Cohen/Ashley 2013, Black to move and mate in 3.

From the minds of babes!

Cohen/Ashley 2013, Black to move and mate in 3.

It’s not often that I see something in chess that I’ve never seen before. When it happens, it’s always a pleasant surprise that brings a smile to my face and reminds me how infinite the royal game really is. This mate comes by way of one of my top students, 10 year old Jameson Cohen, who recently pulled in off in an actual game. Once I saw it, I knew we had to make a puzzle out of it, so he and I sat down and co-created this mate in 3. Is Jameson a future Sam Loyd in the making?

1…Qf4+! 2.gxf4 Bxf4+ 3.Kh3 

3.Kh1 is a standard mate we’ve all seen after 3…Nf2#

3…Nf2#!

I cannot recall ever seeing this final position, either in a game or in a variation to a game. If anyone else has seen a game that in someway involves this rare gemstone of a set-up, please let us know! Until then, this might be dubbed “Cohen’s mate!”

Mating skills!

Lynch-Halstead 1986, White to move and win

Back support

Black to move and win

Ever backwards!

Smejkal-Hracek 1996, White to move and win

Knight’s Rock Tour (Part 2)

Ashley 2012, White to move and win

It’s hard to imagine the knight’s final resting place in this study. One thing for sure: when you see it, you will very impressed by the work ethic of the piece!

Knight’s Rock Tour (Part 1)

Ashley 2012, White to move and win

Can you guess where White’s knight wants to go? You will crack a smile when you see where.