WE’RE ALL PAWNS, BUT SOME OF US GET PROMOTED
There are dozens of chess players in Chicago, ranging from hobbyists to grand masters, who are always on the lookout for the next challenge. They tend to hang out at Brewed Delight, a local coffeehouse that has outlets all over the city, or at the chess parks on the marina in the Loop and outside the Merlaut Hotel in the Mad Mile.
If you’re just after a plain game of chess, you can find games in the Wards, at Brewed Delight, or at either of the chess pavilions in the city.
Alternatively, you can visit 15 tables throughout the city to play one of four kinds of chess-based puzzles, intended to challenge your wits. These require you to have an elementary knowledge of how chess pieces work—rooks can only move in straight lines, bishops can only move diagonally, and so on—but are otherwise easy enough to pick up and play.
Each table features 10 different puzzles, and playing is free. Each puzzle awards up to a three-star rank depending on how quickly or efficiently you overcame the challenge at hand, but it’s strictly for bragging rights.
TOTAL / 150 puzzles
- Solve 10 total puzzles to count towards overall progression.
Capture
With the piece(s) you’re given, either capture all of the enemy pawns before they can make it to the other side of the board or otherwise prevent them from being able to move; either capturing all the enemy’s pawns or putting them in a position where they cannot move forward will result in a victory. Your opponent does get the chance to move his pieces in accordance to your actions, which makes this a difficult style of puzzle to provide a “walkthrough” for. Much as in the real game of chess, a great deal depends on being able to think a few moves ahead, and since the AI is unpredictable, it’s not really feasible to provide a list of solutions.
Capture Table 01 / The Loop // Chess Pavilion near the Marina
Puzzle 01
Puzzle 02
Puzzle 03
Puzzle 04
Puzzle 05
Puzzle 06
Puzzle 07
Puzzle 08
Puzzle 09
Puzzle 10
Capture Table 02 / Brandon Docks // Brewed Delight near Sienna Brick Factory
Puzzle 01
Puzzle 02
Puzzle 03
Puzzle 04
Puzzle 05
Puzzle 06
Puzzle 07
Puzzle 08
Puzzle 09
Puzzle 10
End Game
Force your opponent into checkmate within the set number of moves. The fewer moves it takes you, the higher your rating.
Keep in mind that although the enemy only has a king left on the board, a king can still capture any piece within one square of it. If you lose a piece to an ill-considered move, you’ve likely just given the game away.
End Game Table 01 / The Loop // Brewed Delight near South Tech University
Solve these puzzles in the following order:
|
1. Red |
5. Black |
|
2. Blue |
6. White |
|
3. Yellow |
7. Purple |
|
4. Green |
Puzzle 01
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 02
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 03
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 04
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 05
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 06
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 07
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 08
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 09
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 10
_opt.jpeg)
End Game Table 02 / Mad Mile // Brewed Delight near Taylor L-Train Station
Solve these puzzles in the following order:
|
1. Red |
5. Black |
|
2. Blue |
6. White |
|
3. Yellow |
7. Purple |
|
4. Green |
Puzzle 01
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 02
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 03
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 04
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 05
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 06
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 07
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 08
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 09
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 10
_opt.jpeg)
End Game Table 03 / The Loop // Chess Pavilion near the Marina
Solve these puzzles in the following order:
|
1. Red |
5. Black |
|
2. Blue |
6. White |
|
3. Yellow |
7. Purple |
|
4. Green |
Puzzle 01
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 02
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 03
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 04
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 05
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 06
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 07
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 08
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 09
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 10
_opt.jpeg)
End Game Table 04 / Mad Mile // Chess Pavilion near the Merlaut Hotel
Solve these puzzles in the following order:
|
1. Red |
5. Black |
|
2. Blue |
6. White |
|
3. Yellow |
7. Purple |
|
4. Green |
Puzzle 01
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 02
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 03
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 04
Puzzle 05
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 06
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 07
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 08
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 09
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 10
_opt.jpeg)
Path
Using the pieces you’re given, capture all of the pawns on the board in as few moves as possible.
The following solutions are for a three-star rank, but they should not be considered the only possible solutions. Several puzzles have more than one successful approach.
Path Table 01 / Parker Square // Brewed Delight at Riverside
You have a single queen.
Puzzle 01
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 02
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 03
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 04
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 05
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 06
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 07
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 08
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 09
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 10
_opt.jpeg)
Path Table 02 / The Loop // Brewed Delight near Western L-Train Station
This is a mixed-pieces table. Your available pieces will change with each puzzle.
Solve these puzzles in the following order:
|
1. Red |
5. Black |
|
2. Blue |
6. White |
|
3. Yellow |
7. Purple |
|
4. Green |
Puzzle 01
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 02
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 03
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 04
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 05
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 06
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 07
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 08
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 09
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 10
_opt.jpeg)
Path Table 03 / The Loop // Chess Pavilion near the Marina
You have a single rook for these puzzles.
Puzzle 01
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 02
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 03
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 04
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 05
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 06
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 07
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 08
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 09
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 10
_opt.jpeg)
Path Table 04 / The Loop // Chess Pavilion near the Marina
You have a single knight for these puzzles.
Puzzle 01
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 02
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 03
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 04
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 05
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 06
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 07
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 08
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 09
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 10
_opt.jpeg)
Path Table 05 / Mad Mile // Chess Pavilion near the Merlaut Hotel
You have a single bishop for these puzzles.
Puzzle 01
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 02
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 03
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 04
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 05
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 06
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 07
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 08
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 09
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 10
_opt.jpeg)
Path Table 06 / Mad Mile // Chess Pavilion near the Merlaut Hotel
Once again, you have a mixed set of pieces for this set of puzzles.
Solve these puzzles in the following order:
|
1. Red |
5. Black |
|
2. Blue |
6. White |
|
3. Yellow |
7. Purple |
|
4. Green |
Puzzle 01
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 02
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 03
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 04
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 05
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 06
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 07
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 08
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 09
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 10
_opt.jpeg)
Survival
Stay out of checkmate for as many turns as possible. Your other pieces, when available, are best used as cannon fodder or improvised blockades to keep the enemy away from your king. Almost no Survival puzzles can be solved by going on the offensive. At best, you end up with favorable short-term trades.
Survival Table 01 / The Loop // Brewed Delight near Vault Tower
Solve these puzzles in the following order:
|
1. Red |
5. Black |
|
2. Blue |
6. White |
|
3. Yellow |
7. Purple |
|
4. Green |
Puzzle 01
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 02
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 03
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 04
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 05
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 06
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 07
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 08
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 09
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 10
_opt.jpeg)
Survival Table 02 / The Loop // Chess Pavilion near the Marina
Solve these puzzles in the following order:
|
1. Red |
5. Black |
|
2. Blue |
6. White |
|
3. Yellow |
7. Purple |
|
4. Green |
Puzzle 01
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 02
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 03
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 04
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 05
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 06
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 07
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 08
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 09
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 10
Survival Table 03 / Mad Mile // Chess Pavilion near the Merlaut Hotel
Solve these puzzles in the following order:
|
1. Red |
5. Black |
|
2. Blue |
6. White |
|
3. Yellow |
7. Purple |
|
4. Green |
Puzzle 01
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 02
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 03
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 04
Puzzle 05
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 06
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 07
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 08
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 09
_opt.jpeg)
Puzzle 10
_opt.jpeg)
REWARDS
- Complete 10 Chess Puzzles: Maximized Focus (Skill)