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Raymond M. Smullyan
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Chess Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes: Fifty Tantalizing Problems of Chess Detection Paperback – September 6, 1994

by Raymond Smullyan (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 91 ratings
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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.
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  1. Print length
    192 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Random House Puzzles & Games
  4. Publication date
    September 6, 1994
  5. Dimensions
    5.25 x 0.5 x 8.75 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0812923898
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0812923896
  8. See all details
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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

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 mu

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Random House Puzzles & Games; 2nd Print edition (September 6, 1994)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 192 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0812923898
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0812923896
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.5 x 8.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 91 ratings

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Raymond M. Smullyan

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4.6 out of 5 stars
91 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Timothy Chow
    5.0 out of 5 stars Retrograde analysis at its best
    Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2000
    Verified Purchase
    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.
    23 people found this helpful
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  • glashoppah
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating intro to retrograde analysis
    Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Even if you don't know a thing about logic, this book is very fun, and especially fun and interesting for chess enthusiasts. Like many books of this type, you will be really surprised by what you can *know* about a situation given seemingly very little information and a fat dose of rigorous logic. Highly recommended.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Chris Poole
    5.0 out of 5 stars AceBook Review
    Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent condition and arrived earlier than promised- thank you
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  • Jason Kirkfield
    4.0 out of 5 stars Far from elementary, but great fun
    Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2010
    While it may have been a foregone conclusion that I would sing the praises of any book offering a confluence of Sherlock Holmes and chess, this is nonetheless a volume that can appeal to many readers: chess enthusiasts, puzzle aficionados, amateur Sherlockians, really anyone who enjoys crime novels or mysteries. One need not be a chess expert to appreciate the book. Indeed, the type of chess problem presented (retrograde analysis, i.e., discerning what happened *before*, instead of solving in the other direction, i.e., White to Move and Mate) is unique and thus even very good chess players will benefit from Holmes' elucidation.

    Chess Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes is the perfect match: Holmes here is detective at the chessboard instead of the crime scene, although that comes later. Smullyan gets the timbre of the Holmes-Watson dialogue right. This is, at minimum, an enjoyable pastiche. Even Moriarty makes an appearance, and, as it turns out, leaves a legacy of ten retrograde problems. Solutions (sometimes exceedingly lengthy!) are included for all puzzles at the end of the book.

    The Chess Mysteries of the Arabian Knights was a subsequent effort (1981 vs 1979), and is not readily available here, having been published by Oxford University Press. For the record, I did not enjoy that quite as much, probably due to my own dovetailed interests here.

    Painfully, I must dock one star for the typos (enumerated at the Web site provided in the Comments section below) which, while not diminishing from this very unique book, may frustrate would-be solvers.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Midwestern guy
    5.0 out of 5 stars This book of problems of retrograde analysis in chess is fun and good mental exercise for those who enjoy that ...
    Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I'm a fan of Smullyan's books. This book of problems of retrograde analysis in chess is fun and good mental exercise for those who enjoy that sort of thing. Could be a horrible experience for those who do not like chess or logic problems. Best or worst of both domains.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Nishant
    5.0 out of 5 stars This was a really fun book to read
    Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    This was a really fun book to read, and a nice change of pace compared to usual chess puzzles. The plot itself wasn't that enticing, but the fun problems made up for it. I especially enjoyed the 2-3 "troll" problems near the end of the first section.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Eric B. Platt
    5.0 out of 5 stars First of 2 books on Retrograde Analysis
    Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    The second is 'The Chess Mysteries of the Arabian Knights'

    This one is much easier than the second.

    The use of chess puzzles to demonstrate deductive and inductive logic is quite the feat. Great read for those who like chess or logic.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars It was like Christmas came early
    Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Bought this for my father who loves Sherlock and chess. It was like Christmas came early! He is very happy with it!
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • xyz
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of fun!
    Reviewed in Canada on October 25, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This is a great collection of retrograde chess puzzles, and such a fun idea to frame them in a Holmes & Watson story! Don't forget to also get the Arabian Nights companion volume, it's equally great!
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  • G A Devlin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fun
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 15, 2024
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    I enjoyed the chess puzzles
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  • Joel Medici
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enxadrista
    Reviewed in Brazil on January 28, 2021
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    Sensacional
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  • What I say three times is true
    5.0 out of 5 stars Pour les amateurs d'échecs... et de Sherlock Holmes !
    Reviewed in France on January 26, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Un excellent ouvrage de Raymond Smullyan, autorité reconnue dans les domaines de la logique et de l'analyse rétrograde aux échecs. Jadis publié en français sous le titre "Sherlock Holmes en échecs" (chez Dunod, je crois). Pour les amateurs, on peut recommander - du même auteur - "The Chess Mysteries of the Arabian Nights" (traduit en français sous le titre "Les énigmes de Shéhérazade", chez Flammarion), qui propose des problèmes similaires situés dans le contexte des Mille et Une Nuits.
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A non conventional chess book by Raymond Smullyan
    Reviewed in India on September 10, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I will not comment on the contents of this book, purchased it after going through the ebook. Enough reviews have been written on the contents. I purchased & returned 2 copies of this title. I fail to understand the deterioration in binding quality by Dover. The moment I open the book, I see the pages coming out loose. This coming from a reputed international publisher is totally unacceptable. I purchased & returned 4 Dover titles within a span of 2 months, all facing the same quality issues.
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