Software for handling chess problems

This article covers <a href="/facts/Computer_software/RP79lVSW">computer software</a> designed to solve, or assist people in creating or solving, <a href="/facts/Chess_problem/jVyYlAXs">chess problems</a> – <a href="/facts/Puzzle/jHj94E7b">puzzles</a> in which pieces are laid out as in a game of <a href="/facts/Chess/47ykvkHF">chess</a>, and may at times be based upon real games of chess that have been played and recorded, but whose aim is to challenge the <a href="/facts/Chess_composer/8ynqUbjX">problemist</a> to find a solution to the posed situation, within the <a href="/facts/Rules_of_chess/qjw2lFA9">rules of chess</a>, rather than to play games of chess from the beginning against an opponent.
This is usually distinct from actually <a href="/facts/Computer_chess/2wE8AU5d">playing and analyzing games of chess</a>. Many chess playing programs also have provision for solving some kinds of problem such as <a href="/facts/Checkmate/0TrSapPq">checkmate</a> in a certain number of moves (<a href="/facts/Chess_problem/jVyYlAXs">directmates</a>), and some also have support for <a href="/facts/Helpmate/8VP7thnj">helpmates</a> and <a href="/facts/Selfmate/aA9rDuwy">selfmates</a>.
Software for chess problems can be used for creating and solving problems, including checking the soundness of a concept and position, storing it in a <a href="/facts/Database/VYcpkevb">database</a>, printing and publishing, and saving and exporting the problem. As such they can not only solve direct mates, helpmates and selfmates, but at times even problems with <a href="/facts/Fairy_chess_piece/eCFMrkJa">fairy pieces</a> and other <a href="/facts/Fairy_chess/bn6xGT7y">fairy chess</a> problems. There have also been some attempts to have computers "compose" problems, largely autonomously.

Software for handling chess problems open-in-new

Software for handling chess problems