Symbols of chessmen

The positions of the problems may be given with a diagram, with algebraic notation, or with Forsyth notation.

In diagrams, the eight columns (files) are named from left to right : a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h. The eight rows (ranks) are named from bottom to top: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

There are 32 squares white and 32 squares black. Two adjacent squares in a column or in a row differ in colour. Every diagonal line has squares of the same colour. The lower left square is named a1 (column-a row-1) and is black.

The white have started from rows 1 &amp; 2 and play upwards. The black have started from rows 8 &amp; 7 and play downwards.

Symbols of the chessmen

Let us see now the problem_1 so we can visualize all this. It is a direct-mate problem. White plays and mates in 12 moves. It is not difficult. There is a repeated pattern with moves of the white queen (wQ) and the black king (bK).