Bible Chess

David and Goliath Chess Puzzles: Promote to win

World 6 of 10 · 40 puzzles · Promote to win

Promote to win: march a Shepherd (pawn) to the far rank, where it is anointed a Judge (queen) or another figure, and use the new piece to mate. The small one becomes king-maker, as David did.

David and Goliath, a world of Bible Chess
The story of David and Goliath told with chess pieces, picture 1 of 3
Samuel anoints the youngest son, a shepherd boy named David.
The story of David and Goliath told with chess pieces, picture 2 of 3
Every day the giant Goliath mocks Israel’s army.
The story of David and Goliath told with chess pieces, picture 3 of 3
With a sling and a stone, David faces the giant. Small pieces can rise.

Here are 6 of the 40 puzzles from this world, from first to last. Your pieces are gold and you move first; your side is at the bottom of the board. Missing squares are water: no piece can stand on them, the Tower, Prophet and Judge can’t cross them, and only the Scout jumps over.

Level 1 · Mate in 2

Samuel comes to Bethlehem with a horn of oil.

Gold: Judge e8, King g8, Shepherd d2. Stone: Shepherd g2, Shepherd h2, Tower d1, King g1.

Show the solution
  1. Judge e8 to e1. Stone answers: Tower d1 to e1, taking the Judge.
  2. Shepherd d2 to e1, taking the Tower, and is anointed Judge. Checkmate!
Yahweh said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite; for I have provided a king for myself among his sons.”
1 Samuel 16:1 · WEB

Level 9 · Mate in 2

Anointed for this battle.

Gold: Shepherd c7, Judge d6, King g1. Stone: Tower c8, King h8, Shepherd g7, Shepherd h7.

Show the solution
  1. Judge d6 to d8. Stone answers: Tower c8 to d8, taking the Judge.
  2. Shepherd c7 to d8, taking the Tower, and is anointed Judge. Checkmate!
Then one of the young men answered, and said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and Yahweh is with him.”
1 Samuel 16:18 · WEB

Level 17 · Mate in 2

Saul's soldiers are afraid.

Gold: Shepherd g7, Judge f3, Tower f1, King h1. Stone: Tower e8, King g8, Shepherd h7, Judge e6.

Show the solution
  1. Judge f3 to f8. Stone answers: Tower e8 to f8, taking the Judge.
  2. Shepherd g7 to f8, taking the Tower, and is anointed Judge. Checkmate!
When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
1 Samuel 17:11 · WEB

Level 24 · Mate in 2

The Lord who saved me then will save me now.

Gold: King g8, Judge e4, Shepherd f2. Stone: Shepherd b2, Shepherd c2, King c1, Tower f1.

Show the solution
  1. Judge e4 to e1. Stone answers: Tower f1 to e1, taking the Judge.
  2. Shepherd f2 to e1, taking the Tower, and is anointed Judge. Checkmate!
David said, “Yahweh who delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go! Yahweh will be with you.”
1 Samuel 17:37 · WEB

Level 32 · Mate in 2

The battle belongs to the Lord.

Gold: Shepherd c7, King d5, Shepherd h4, Shepherd g3. Stone: Shepherd g6, King f5.

Show the solution
  1. Shepherd c7 to c8, and is anointed Judge. Stone answers: King f5 to f6.
  2. Judge c8 to f8. Checkmate!
…and that all this assembly may know that Yahweh doesn’t save with sword and spear; for the battle is Yahweh’s, and he will give you into our hand.
1 Samuel 17:47 · WEB

Level 40 · Mate in 3

One day the shepherd boy will be king.

Gold: Tower d7, Shepherd c6, King e6, Shepherd g6. Stone: King c8, Tower d8, Shepherd c7.

Show the solution
  1. Tower d7 to d8, taking the Tower. Stone answers: King c8 to d8, taking the Tower.
  2. Shepherd g6 to g7. Stone answers: King d8 to e8.
  3. Shepherd g7 to g8, and is anointed Judge. Checkmate!
So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron, and king David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Yahweh; and they anointed David king over Israel.
2 Samuel 5:3 · WEB

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