Bold sacrifices: like Esther going to the king uninvited, risk your strongest piece to reach a mate that would otherwise be out of reach.
Esther, an orphan girl, becomes queen of Persia.A proud enemy, Haman, plots against her people.Esther risks her life and goes to the king uninvited. Be bold.
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 3
The king of Persia gives a great feast.
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Gold: Shepherd f6, Shepherd g5, Judge h5, Tower g4, King g2. Stone: Tower g8, King h8, Shepherd h7, Tower g6.
Show the solution
Judge h5 to h7, taking the Shepherd. Stone answers: King h8 to h7, taking the Judge.
Tower g4 to h4. Stone answers: Tower g6 to h6.
Tower h4 to h6, taking the Tower. Checkmate!
When these days were fulfilled, the king made a seven day feast for all the people who were present in Shushan the palace, both great and small, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace.
Esther 1:5 · WEB
Level 9 · Mate in 3
Mordecai sits at the king's gate.
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Gold: Tower g5, Tower g4, Judge h4, King e2. Stone: Tower g8, King h8, Scout g7, Shepherd h7.
Show the solution
Judge h4 to h7, taking the Shepherd. Stone answers: King h8 to h7, taking the Judge.
Tower g4 to h4. Stone answers: Scout g7 to h5.
Tower h4 to h5, taking the Scout. Checkmate!
When the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai was sitting in the king’s gate.
Judge h6 to h7, taking the Shepherd. Stone answers: Scout f8 to h7, taking the Judge.
Tower h4 to h7, taking the Scout. Stone answers: King h8 to h7, taking the Tower.
Tower f4 to h4. Checkmate!
Now when Mordecai found out all that was done, Mordecai tore his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the middle of the city, and wailed loudly and bitterly.
Esther 4:1 · WEB
Level 24 · Mate in 3
Courage opens the door.
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Gold: King g8, Judge g5, Scout e4. Stone: Judge e2, Shepherd g2, Shepherd h2, Tower g1, King h1.
Show the solution
Scout e4 to g3. Stone answers: Shepherd h2 to g3, taking the Scout.
Judge g5 to h6. Stone answers: Judge e2 to h5.
Judge h6 to h5, taking the Judge. Checkmate!
Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or scared of them; for Yahweh your God himself is who goes with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6 · WEB
Level 32 · Mate in 3
That night, the king cannot sleep.
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Gold: Shepherd g7, King h7, Judge g4, Shepherd f3, Tower h2. Stone: Judge f7, Shepherd g3, Shepherd f2, King g1.
Show the solution
Tower h2 to h1. Stone answers: King g1 to h1, taking the Tower.
Judge g4 to h3. Stone answers: King h1 to g1.
Judge h3 to g2. Checkmate!
On that night, the king couldn’t sleep. He commanded the book of records of the chronicles to be brought, and they were read to the king.
Esther 6:1 · WEB
Level 40 · Mate in 3
Sorrow turns to joy: the feast of Purim.
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Gold: King c4, Judge h4, Tower d1. Stone: King g8, Shepherd f7, Shepherd g7, Prophet c5.
Show the solution
Tower d1 to d8. Stone answers: Prophet c5 to f8.
Judge h4 to e7. Stone answers: Shepherd f7 to f6.
Judge e7 to e6. Checkmate!
…as the days in which the Jews had rest from their enemies, and the month which was turned to them from sorrow to gladness, and from mourning into a good day; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending presents of food to one another, and gifts to the needy.
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Creation
Noah’s Ark
Exodus
Jericho
Gideon’s 300
David and Goliath
Wisdom of Solomon
Daniel
The Prophets