By now you'll have realised that the holiday puzzles I've presented are just that, apart from #1 which is a simpler example of the 'proof game' genre, the others are really Chess jokes. But a funny thing happened on the way to the theatre... while I was scouring my book collection and the Internet for suitable material I came across a couple of web sites that are outstanding introductions to understanding how compositions work.
The first of these will already be familiar to many and is penned by Tim Krabbe. It is an eclectic mix of historical Chess records, Chess oddities, and compositions - from the sort of jokes I have presented to serious and studious compositions from tournaments. Yes indeed, problem composers have their own tournaments for composing and solving, and Master titles are bestowed independently of 'over-the-board' titles.
The real find however, was the blog of Greek problem composer Alkinoos. The first major obstacle to penetrating the world of compositions is knowing their language. Just as in regular Chess we can identify within a position various strategic and tactical motifs, compositions too have their themes. Do you know what a Grimshaw Intersection is? Pawn Albinos and Pickaninnies? The difference between a pure mate and an ideal mate? Understanding these things gives you an insight into the mind of the composer, so you're not simply trying moves at random until you stumble onto the key.
In practical Chess we talk about mainlines and side variations, in compositions too there are phases of play which may or may not be present, and these help guide us through the tricks and traps the composer is illustrating in the position.
Where compositions have little practical value to the player of Chess - aside from encouraging the habit of thinking laterally - studies can have immense value. Composition positions are often quite irrational; ideally it can be shown they could arise from a series of legal moves but usually it's highly improbable that they would. Studies on the other hand, look like normal endgame positions. The task is usually given as "White to win / draw" without a set number of moves, and the solution will frequently unlock some secrets of that type of endgame.
If you have an interest in Chess problems, or (and especially if...!) you never have but would like to expand your horizons into this fascinating field, you can do far worse than to start at Alkinoos' "Hello" page and click through the "newer post" links at the bottom of each page for the best tutorial on problem solving I have seen.
Reti, 1921White to play and draw
This study is a classic - famous to the point of being a cliche, but it is still about the best example of how Kings work in a Pawn ending.
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