Bible Chess

Wisdom of Solomon Chess Puzzles: Quiet moves

World 7 of 10 · 40 puzzles · Quiet moves

Quiet moves: the winning move is not a check or a capture but a calm move that takes away the king’s last squares. Wisdom sees what the loud moves miss.

Wisdom of Solomon, a world of Bible Chess
The story of Wisdom of Solomon told with chess pieces, picture 1 of 3
Solomon is the new king. In a dream, God asks what he wants.
The story of Wisdom of Solomon told with chess pieces, picture 2 of 3
Not riches, not a long life: Solomon asks for wisdom.
The story of Wisdom of Solomon told with chess pieces, picture 3 of 3
Here the wisest move is often the quietest one.

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

David grows old, and Solomon becomes king.

Gold: Shepherd e7, King e6, Shepherd d4. Stone: King e8, Shepherd b6.

Show the solution
  1. Shepherd d4 to d5. Stone answers: Shepherd b6 to b5.
  2. Shepherd d5 to d6. Stone answers: Shepherd b5 to b4.
  3. Shepherd d6 to d7. Checkmate!
Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the Tent, and anointed Solomon. They blew the trumpet; and all the people said, “Long live king Solomon!”
1 Kings 1:39 · WEB

Level 9 · Mate in 3

God gives him wisdom, and riches too.

Gold: Tower d6, Shepherd c2, Prophet d2, King b1. Stone: Shepherd a7, King a3, Scout c3.

Show the solution
  1. Prophet d2 to c3, taking the Scout. Stone answers: King a3 to a4.
  2. Tower d6 to d5. Stone answers: King a4 to a3.
  3. Tower d5 to a5. Checkmate!
I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you for all your days.
1 Kings 3:13 · WEB

Level 17 · Mate in 3

The true mother cries: let the child live!

Gold: Tower f2, Shepherd h2, Tower g1, King h1. Stone: King h7, Shepherd f6, Tower c5, Shepherd e5.

Show the solution
  1. Tower f2 to f3. Stone answers: Shepherd e5 to e4.
  2. Tower f3 to h3. Stone answers: Tower c5 to h5.
  3. Tower h3 to h5, taking the Tower. Checkmate!
Then the woman whose the living child was spoke to the king, for her heart yearned over her son, and she said, “Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and in no way kill him!” But the other said, “He shall be neither mine nor yours. Divide him.”
1 Kings 3:26 · WEB

Level 24 · Mate in 3

He teaches about animals, birds and fish.

Gold: Tower e6, Tower f6, King f3. Stone: Tower h7, Shepherd g5, King h5, Shepherd f4.

Show the solution
  1. Tower e6 to e1. Stone answers: Shepherd g5 to g4.
  2. King f3 to f4, taking the Shepherd. Stone answers: Shepherd g4 to g3.
  3. Tower e1 to h1. Checkmate!
Go to the ant, you sluggard. Consider her ways, and be wise…
Proverbs 6:6 · WEB

Level 32 · Mate in 3

The ark is carried into the temple.

Gold: Tower g5, Shepherd e4, Tower g2, King h2. Stone: Tower f7, King h6.

Show the solution
  1. Tower g5 to g3. Stone answers: Tower f7 to f5.
  2. Shepherd e4 to f5, taking the Tower. Stone answers: King h6 to h5.
  3. Tower g3 to h3. Checkmate!
The priests brought in the ark of Yahweh’s covenant to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, to the most holy place, even under the cherubim’s wings.
1 Kings 8:6 · WEB

Level 40 · Mate in 3

Wisdom is better than gold.

Gold: Scout h5, Shepherd a2, Shepherd b2, King f2. Stone: Shepherd a5, Scout f5, Shepherd c4, Shepherd h2, King h1.

Show the solution
  1. Shepherd a2 to a4. Stone answers: Shepherd c4 to c3.
  2. Shepherd b2 to b3. Stone answers: Scout f5 to h4.
  3. Scout h5 to g3. Checkmate!
How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
Proverbs 16:16 · WEB

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