Chess Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes: Fifty Tantalizing Problems of Chess Detection [Paperback]

Raymond Smullyan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 6, 1994

Here -- from philosopher/logician/puzzlemaker Raymond Smullyan -- are fifty elegant, witty, and altogether unique "chess mysteries." In each problem the solver has to deduce certain events in a game's past. For example: On what square was the White queen captured? or, Is the White queen promoted or original?

Since these problems involve the same sort of logical reasoning that lies at the core of the Sherlock Holmes stories, Raymond Smullyan has aptly set each one within its own Holmes-Watson dialogue. In each case Holmes, by his remarkable powers of deduction, is able to demonstrate to his awed admirers precisely what must have happened, move by move, at the "scene of the crime" -- the chess table. For example: what the missing piece is; what square it should be on; whether or not either side can castle.

In the second half, through a series of progressively more difficult (self-contained) chess problems, Holmes, with the reader's help, solves a mystery and a double murder -- perpetrated, of course, by Moriarty. And at the end of the book are ten bonus problems from Moriarty himself (four of them composed before the age of nine!).

Chess Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes is Smullyan's challenging and witty romp through the royal game.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The dazzlingly clever and always entertaining Raymond Smullyan takes an unorthodox approach to chess puzzles by treating them as mysteries--with Sherlock Holmes as guide and mentor. The key concept is retrograde analysis. Rather than figuring out how to achieve some end from a given arrangement of chess pieces, the game is to examine the board and deduce what has happened in the past: Which side is white? What were the previous moves? Prove that a promotion did or did not occur. Which piece has been replaced by a coin? These are just a few of the challenges Smullyan presents through the eyes of Holmes and Watson. He even manages about as passable an imitation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's style as can be expected from a tongue-in-cheek presentation. To enjoy these problems you need only know how chess pieces move. The first puzzles in the book teach all the concepts you need to know to decipher the later ones; the process prepares you to join Holmes in solving a baffling double murder--they keys to which reside in a series of devilishly clever puzzles. The chess game is afoot, and it's almost too much fun!

From the Inside Flap

Here -- from philosopher/logician/puzzlemaker Raymond Smullyan -- are fifty elegant, witty, and altogether unique "chess mysteries." In each problem the solver has to deduce certain events in a game's past. For example: On what square was the White queen captured? or, Is the White queen promoted or original?

Since these problems involve the same sort of logical reasoning that lies at the core of the Sherlock Holmes stories, Raymond Smullyan has aptly set each one within its own Holmes-Watson dialogue. In each case Holmes, by his remarkable powers of deduction, is able to demonstrate to his awed admirers precisely what must have happened, move by move, at the "scene of the crime" -- the chess table. For example: what the missing piece is; what square it should be on; whether or not either side can castle.

In the second half, through a series of progressively more difficult (self-contained) chess problems, Holmes, with the reader's help, solves a mystery and a double murder -- perpetrated, of course, by Moriarty. And at the end of the book are ten bonus problems from Moriarty himself (four of them composed before the age of nine!).

Chess Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes is Smullyan's challenging and witty romp through the royal game.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Random House Puzzles & Games (September 6, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812923898
• ISBN-13: 978-0812923896
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #987,002 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Retrograde analysis at its best, July 11, 2000

By 

Timothy Chow - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chess Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes: Fifty Tantalizing Problems of Chess Detection (Paperback)

Those who enjoy puzzles that require logical thinking but are bored by standard "logic puzzles" and chess problems will find this book a sheer delight. Each puzzle presents an innocuous-looking chess position and a seemingly impossible-to-answer question about it, such as, "What was White's previous move?" or "Is it legal for Black to castle now?" or "On which square must the White pawn be located?" The questions can all be answered by pure deduction; although some of the problems are in some sense "trick questions," there are no silly answers involving outright cheating of the kind commonly found in inferior puzzle books. The puzzles are fresh, original, entertaining, and deep. My only complaint is that in the first half of the book, there is no clear demarcation between the statement of the puzzle and the solution, so that the reader who likes tackling puzzles without any hints has to guess the point at which he should stop reading. This flaw does not occur in the second half of the book, however. Readers who enjoy this book may also want to buy the companion volume, "Chess Mysteries of the Arabian Knights," although as of this writing (July 2000) it is out of print.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice set of problems. I'm delighted it's back in print., November 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Chess Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes: Fifty Tantalizing Problems of Chess Detection (Paperback)

I am not a chess player, but I found this set of problems in "chess logic" thoroughly entertaining. To understand (and possibly to solve) these requires only an understanding of the rules of chess. "Sherlock Holmes" provides very thorough solutions and explanations for the early problems within the text. Later problems are merely stated with solutions provided at the end of the book. The problems range from relatively easy to quite challenging. The presentation is entertaining throughout. I hope that the publisher intends to keep this book in print -- and to consider re-publication of the companion volume on "Chess Mysteries of the Arabian Knights" (which I found equally enjoyable).

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating puzzles, but won't improve your chess, September 9, 2001

By 

Richard Schollar "rgsch" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chess Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes: Fifty Tantalizing Problems of Chess Detection (Paperback)

The other reviews given below cover the contents comprehensively - I wholeheartedly agree that it is a wonderful book for those that enjoy puzzles and have a knowledge of chess. However, lest anyone believe otherwise - this book will in no way improve your chess playing skills. The puzzles are all about what happened (ie the history of moves) to bring about the current chess position (given in a diagram) on the assumption that the laws of chess have been strictly observed. There is no assumption that either side played plausibly or well to bring about the current position. Thus, the puzzles do not concern a future sequence(s) of moves that would, for example, lead to mate for black/white. This is what sets it apart from most chess puzzle books.