Bible Chess

The Prophets Chess Puzzles: Mate in 4 and 5

World 10 of 10 · 50 puzzles · Mate in 4 and 5

Mate in 4 and mate in 5: long, forcing lines where you must see far ahead. Find the first move, then every answer, all the way to checkmate.

The Prophets, a world of Bible Chess
The story of The Prophets told with chess pieces, picture 1 of 3
God speaks through the prophets, who see far ahead.
The story of The Prophets told with chess pieces, picture 2 of 3
They wait for what God has promised, sure it will come.
The story of The Prophets told with chess pieces, picture 3 of 3
Now see far ahead too: four and five moves.

Here are 6 of the 50 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 4

God speaks through the prophets.

Gold: King c7, Shepherd b6, Shepherd c6. Stone: King a8, Prophet c8.

Show the solution
  1. Shepherd b6 to b7. Stone answers: Prophet c8 to b7, taking the Shepherd.
  2. Shepherd c6 to b7, taking the Prophet. Stone answers: King a8 to a7.
  3. Shepherd b7 to b8, and is anointed Judge. Stone answers: King a7 to a6.
  4. Judge b8 to a8. Checkmate!
God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways…
Hebrews 1:1 · WEB

Level 11 · Mate in 4

Then a gentle whisper.

Gold: Shepherd f5, King f4, Shepherd g4, Tower c2. Stone: Tower e7, Shepherd g2, King h2.

Show the solution
  1. Shepherd g4 to g3. Stone answers: King h2 to h3.
  2. Tower c2 to c1. Stone answers: Tower e7 to e4.
  3. Shepherd f5 to e4, taking the Tower. Stone answers: King h3 to h4.
  4. Tower c1 to h1. Checkmate!
After the earthquake a fire passed; but Yahweh was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a still small voice.
1 Kings 19:12 · WEB

Level 21 · Mate in 4

Those who wait for the Lord renew their strength.

Gold: Shepherd b3, King c3, Scout d2. Stone: King c1.

Show the solution
  1. Shepherd b3 to b2. Stone answers: King c1 to d1.
  2. Shepherd b2 to b1, and is anointed Judge. Stone answers: King d1 to e2.
  3. Judge b1 to d3. Stone answers: King e2 to f2.
  4. Judge d3 to f3. Checkmate!
He gives power to the weak. He increases the strength of him who has no might.
Isaiah 40:29 · WEB

Level 30 · Mate in 4

The bones come together, bone to bone.

Gold: Shepherd f4, Tower d3, King f3, Shepherd g3, Shepherd h2. Stone: Shepherd h6, King f5, Shepherd b4.

Show the solution
  1. Tower d3 to d6. Stone answers: Shepherd h6 to h5.
  2. Shepherd h2 to h3. Stone answers: Shepherd b4 to b3.
  3. Shepherd g3 to g4. Stone answers: Shepherd h5 to g4, taking the Shepherd.
  4. Shepherd h3 to g4, taking the Shepherd. Checkmate!
So I prophesied as I was commanded. As I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, there was an earthquake. Then the bones came together, bone to its bone.
Ezekiel 37:7 · WEB

Level 40 · Mate in 4

From little Bethlehem, a ruler will come.

Gold: King f7, Tower g7, Shepherd f4. Stone: Shepherd g6, King h6, Prophet f5, Shepherd h5.

Show the solution
  1. King f7 to g8. Stone answers: Prophet f5 to e6.
  2. King g8 to h8. Stone answers: Prophet e6 to g8.
  3. Tower g7 to g8, taking the Prophet. Stone answers: Shepherd g6 to g5.
  4. Shepherd f4 to g5, taking the Shepherd. Checkmate!
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, being small among the clans of Judah, out of you one will come out to me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings out are from of old, from ancient times.
Micah 5:2 · WEB

Level 50 · Mate in 5

The last move was planned from the first.

Gold: Scout f4, King f3, Shepherd g3. Stone: Judge e8, Shepherd e5, King g1.

Show the solution
  1. Scout f4 to e2. Stone answers: King g1 to f1.
  2. Shepherd g3 to g2. Stone answers: King f1 to e1.
  3. Shepherd g2 to g1, and is anointed Judge. Stone answers: King e1 to d2.
  4. Judge g1 to c1. Stone answers: King d2 to d3.
  5. Judge c1 to d1. Checkmate!
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
Revelation 22:13 · WEB

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