Gaston Franco
@gatofranco90.bsky.social
Chess puzzles Mondays and Fridays, random stuff (probably still chess related) the rest of the week
Same username on Twitter and Instagram
Same username on Twitter and Instagram
Monday Puzzle
Probably quite easy for most, but some funny patters show up on this one by Analotij Kirichenko (1991)
White to play and mate in 2
#chesspunks
Probably quite easy for most, but some funny patters show up on this one by Analotij Kirichenko (1991)
White to play and mate in 2
#chesspunks
November 10, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Monday Puzzle
Probably quite easy for most, but some funny patters show up on this one by Analotij Kirichenko (1991)
White to play and mate in 2
#chesspunks
Probably quite easy for most, but some funny patters show up on this one by Analotij Kirichenko (1991)
White to play and mate in 2
#chesspunks
Monday Puzzle
I took a few photos of my new neighbourhood during the weekend. More on my instagram!
Sharing a position by Fatyh Aitov (1970), where knowing some patterns will definitely help!
White to play and mate in 2
#chesspunks
I took a few photos of my new neighbourhood during the weekend. More on my instagram!
Sharing a position by Fatyh Aitov (1970), where knowing some patterns will definitely help!
White to play and mate in 2
#chesspunks
November 3, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Monday Puzzle
I took a few photos of my new neighbourhood during the weekend. More on my instagram!
Sharing a position by Fatyh Aitov (1970), where knowing some patterns will definitely help!
White to play and mate in 2
#chesspunks
I took a few photos of my new neighbourhood during the weekend. More on my instagram!
Sharing a position by Fatyh Aitov (1970), where knowing some patterns will definitely help!
White to play and mate in 2
#chesspunks
Friday Puzzle
I returned to the board this week, not playing very well. Won one and lost one.
Sharing a rather clever mate in 2 by Johannes Zukertort! (1869). Don't be fooled, this man knew how to play chess!
#chesspunks
I returned to the board this week, not playing very well. Won one and lost one.
Sharing a rather clever mate in 2 by Johannes Zukertort! (1869). Don't be fooled, this man knew how to play chess!
#chesspunks
October 31, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Friday Puzzle
I returned to the board this week, not playing very well. Won one and lost one.
Sharing a rather clever mate in 2 by Johannes Zukertort! (1869). Don't be fooled, this man knew how to play chess!
#chesspunks
I returned to the board this week, not playing very well. Won one and lost one.
Sharing a rather clever mate in 2 by Johannes Zukertort! (1869). Don't be fooled, this man knew how to play chess!
#chesspunks
Got a bit lucky with a tactic 😊
October 27, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Got a bit lucky with a tactic 😊
Monday Puzzle
I have a week off, and hope to return to the board and play some league matches for my club. Let's see how rusty I am!
Here is a mate in 2 by H R Burkill (1897), with a nice key move. White to play
#chesspunks
I have a week off, and hope to return to the board and play some league matches for my club. Let's see how rusty I am!
Here is a mate in 2 by H R Burkill (1897), with a nice key move. White to play
#chesspunks
October 27, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Monday Puzzle
I have a week off, and hope to return to the board and play some league matches for my club. Let's see how rusty I am!
Here is a mate in 2 by H R Burkill (1897), with a nice key move. White to play
#chesspunks
I have a week off, and hope to return to the board and play some league matches for my club. Let's see how rusty I am!
Here is a mate in 2 by H R Burkill (1897), with a nice key move. White to play
#chesspunks
Friday puzzle
I'm taking a week off so I'm racing to finish all my work today
Below is a position by Renato di Vincenzi (1998), with a fairly expected but satisfying first move
White to play and mate in 2
#chesspunks
I'm taking a week off so I'm racing to finish all my work today
Below is a position by Renato di Vincenzi (1998), with a fairly expected but satisfying first move
White to play and mate in 2
#chesspunks
October 24, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Friday puzzle
I'm taking a week off so I'm racing to finish all my work today
Below is a position by Renato di Vincenzi (1998), with a fairly expected but satisfying first move
White to play and mate in 2
#chesspunks
I'm taking a week off so I'm racing to finish all my work today
Below is a position by Renato di Vincenzi (1998), with a fairly expected but satisfying first move
White to play and mate in 2
#chesspunks
Monday Puzzle
Not particularly enjoying the weather lately, but the food has been good!
Sharing a mate in 2 by Meindert Niemeijer (1963). Black's King is surrounded but how to finish off?
#chesspunks
Not particularly enjoying the weather lately, but the food has been good!
Sharing a mate in 2 by Meindert Niemeijer (1963). Black's King is surrounded but how to finish off?
#chesspunks
October 20, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Monday Puzzle
Not particularly enjoying the weather lately, but the food has been good!
Sharing a mate in 2 by Meindert Niemeijer (1963). Black's King is surrounded but how to finish off?
#chesspunks
Not particularly enjoying the weather lately, but the food has been good!
Sharing a mate in 2 by Meindert Niemeijer (1963). Black's King is surrounded but how to finish off?
#chesspunks
Friday Puzzle
No games for me this week, lots to do at work and a visit from my manager seemed to have been productive.
Sharing a mate in 2 by D. Lamouroux (1890), which should not be so challenging!
#chesspunks
No games for me this week, lots to do at work and a visit from my manager seemed to have been productive.
Sharing a mate in 2 by D. Lamouroux (1890), which should not be so challenging!
#chesspunks
October 17, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Friday Puzzle
No games for me this week, lots to do at work and a visit from my manager seemed to have been productive.
Sharing a mate in 2 by D. Lamouroux (1890), which should not be so challenging!
#chesspunks
No games for me this week, lots to do at work and a visit from my manager seemed to have been productive.
Sharing a mate in 2 by D. Lamouroux (1890), which should not be so challenging!
#chesspunks
Game analysis lecture last night by yours truly
October 14, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Game analysis lecture last night by yours truly
Monday puzzle
Busy day but taking a short break to post this! Plus later tonight I will analyse some internal games played by my clubmates at @hammerchess.bsky.social
Below is a tricky mate in 2 by Rudolf Zangger (1902), can you solve it?
#chesspunks
Busy day but taking a short break to post this! Plus later tonight I will analyse some internal games played by my clubmates at @hammerchess.bsky.social
Below is a tricky mate in 2 by Rudolf Zangger (1902), can you solve it?
#chesspunks
October 13, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Monday puzzle
Busy day but taking a short break to post this! Plus later tonight I will analyse some internal games played by my clubmates at @hammerchess.bsky.social
Below is a tricky mate in 2 by Rudolf Zangger (1902), can you solve it?
#chesspunks
Busy day but taking a short break to post this! Plus later tonight I will analyse some internal games played by my clubmates at @hammerchess.bsky.social
Below is a tricky mate in 2 by Rudolf Zangger (1902), can you solve it?
#chesspunks
Friday Puzzle
Very late at posting this, but I realised I never shared the news of my article being published on the ECF newsletter ChessMoves (back in June!). They were so kind to send me a printed copy as well
Here's today's mate in 2, by Johann Berger (1886)
#chesspunks
Very late at posting this, but I realised I never shared the news of my article being published on the ECF newsletter ChessMoves (back in June!). They were so kind to send me a printed copy as well
Here's today's mate in 2, by Johann Berger (1886)
#chesspunks
October 10, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Friday Puzzle
Very late at posting this, but I realised I never shared the news of my article being published on the ECF newsletter ChessMoves (back in June!). They were so kind to send me a printed copy as well
Here's today's mate in 2, by Johann Berger (1886)
#chesspunks
Very late at posting this, but I realised I never shared the news of my article being published on the ECF newsletter ChessMoves (back in June!). They were so kind to send me a printed copy as well
Here's today's mate in 2, by Johann Berger (1886)
#chesspunks
Monday puzzle
Quite a lot of work to do this week, and probably next too. Unlikely I will play any matches but we'll see how things go
Can you solve the below mate in 2? Not too hard once you see what needs to happen. By Emilio Battaglia (1996)
#chesspunks
Quite a lot of work to do this week, and probably next too. Unlikely I will play any matches but we'll see how things go
Can you solve the below mate in 2? Not too hard once you see what needs to happen. By Emilio Battaglia (1996)
#chesspunks
October 6, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Monday puzzle
Quite a lot of work to do this week, and probably next too. Unlikely I will play any matches but we'll see how things go
Can you solve the below mate in 2? Not too hard once you see what needs to happen. By Emilio Battaglia (1996)
#chesspunks
Quite a lot of work to do this week, and probably next too. Unlikely I will play any matches but we'll see how things go
Can you solve the below mate in 2? Not too hard once you see what needs to happen. By Emilio Battaglia (1996)
#chesspunks
Friday Puzzle
I didn't play this week due to a small logistical issue, but in any case I have been quite busy at work so it was probably for the best.
Sharing the below position by Goran Forslund (1996), with some nice patterns.
White to play and mate in 2
#chesspunks
I didn't play this week due to a small logistical issue, but in any case I have been quite busy at work so it was probably for the best.
Sharing the below position by Goran Forslund (1996), with some nice patterns.
White to play and mate in 2
#chesspunks
October 3, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Friday Puzzle
I didn't play this week due to a small logistical issue, but in any case I have been quite busy at work so it was probably for the best.
Sharing the below position by Goran Forslund (1996), with some nice patterns.
White to play and mate in 2
#chesspunks
I didn't play this week due to a small logistical issue, but in any case I have been quite busy at work so it was probably for the best.
Sharing the below position by Goran Forslund (1996), with some nice patterns.
White to play and mate in 2
#chesspunks
Monday Puzzle
Now that the League Season started again (see my last post), I can resume with these. Sharing a mate in 2 by Hermann Pollak (1897)
It took me a little while to understand the position, but then the first move I looked at just worked!
#chesspunks
Now that the League Season started again (see my last post), I can resume with these. Sharing a mate in 2 by Hermann Pollak (1897)
It took me a little while to understand the position, but then the first move I looked at just worked!
#chesspunks
September 29, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Monday Puzzle
Now that the League Season started again (see my last post), I can resume with these. Sharing a mate in 2 by Hermann Pollak (1897)
It took me a little while to understand the position, but then the first move I looked at just worked!
#chesspunks
Now that the League Season started again (see my last post), I can resume with these. Sharing a mate in 2 by Hermann Pollak (1897)
It took me a little while to understand the position, but then the first move I looked at just worked!
#chesspunks
I played the first game of the season for my club last night.
I was nervous and had already lost to my opponent in the past, but I got a decent position with better development and a sudden chance to strike appeared, how did I win as White?
#chesspunks
My team won 5.5-0.5!
I was nervous and had already lost to my opponent in the past, but I got a decent position with better development and a sudden chance to strike appeared, how did I win as White?
#chesspunks
My team won 5.5-0.5!
September 26, 2025 at 11:57 AM
I played the first game of the season for my club last night.
I was nervous and had already lost to my opponent in the past, but I got a decent position with better development and a sudden chance to strike appeared, how did I win as White?
#chesspunks
My team won 5.5-0.5!
I was nervous and had already lost to my opponent in the past, but I got a decent position with better development and a sudden chance to strike appeared, how did I win as White?
#chesspunks
My team won 5.5-0.5!
Throwback to when my team won a prize at the 2024 Global Chess League, which we received from Kateryna Lagno!
September 15, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Throwback to when my team won a prize at the 2024 Global Chess League, which we received from Kateryna Lagno!
Friday Puzzle
A famous classic today, no hints or introduction needed
White to play and mate in 2, by Sam Loyd (1877)
#chesspunks
A famous classic today, no hints or introduction needed
White to play and mate in 2, by Sam Loyd (1877)
#chesspunks
September 12, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Friday Puzzle
A famous classic today, no hints or introduction needed
White to play and mate in 2, by Sam Loyd (1877)
#chesspunks
A famous classic today, no hints or introduction needed
White to play and mate in 2, by Sam Loyd (1877)
#chesspunks
Monday Puzzle
I'll share a mate in 3 this time. Not too difficult since Black has very few moves available!
White to play and mate in 3, by Rudolf Goette
#chesspunks
I'll share a mate in 3 this time. Not too difficult since Black has very few moves available!
White to play and mate in 3, by Rudolf Goette
#chesspunks
September 8, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Monday Puzzle
I'll share a mate in 3 this time. Not too difficult since Black has very few moves available!
White to play and mate in 3, by Rudolf Goette
#chesspunks
I'll share a mate in 3 this time. Not too difficult since Black has very few moves available!
White to play and mate in 3, by Rudolf Goette
#chesspunks
Happy to have been picked as Player of the Season for my Club!
It truly was a great season for me with +104 ECF rating and a score of 18.5/23 in League Matches (+16 =5 -2)
And I got my award from GM King himself!
It truly was a great season for me with +104 ECF rating and a score of 18.5/23 in League Matches (+16 =5 -2)
And I got my award from GM King himself!
September 1, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Happy to have been picked as Player of the Season for my Club!
It truly was a great season for me with +104 ECF rating and a score of 18.5/23 in League Matches (+16 =5 -2)
And I got my award from GM King himself!
It truly was a great season for me with +104 ECF rating and a score of 18.5/23 in League Matches (+16 =5 -2)
And I got my award from GM King himself!
No Monday puzzle today, just a pic of my new neighbourhood 🤩
August 25, 2025 at 7:08 PM
No Monday puzzle today, just a pic of my new neighbourhood 🤩
Glad to be a part of the best club of the year! ⚒️
August 19, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Glad to be a part of the best club of the year! ⚒️
Monday Puzzle
Had some nice steak on the weekend. Now getting ready to give a lecture at my club tonight - might have a GM in attendance, since there is a blitz tournament taking place at the same venue!
Hope you can solve this mate in 2 by J Wartemberg (1993)
#chesspunks
Had some nice steak on the weekend. Now getting ready to give a lecture at my club tonight - might have a GM in attendance, since there is a blitz tournament taking place at the same venue!
Hope you can solve this mate in 2 by J Wartemberg (1993)
#chesspunks
August 18, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Monday Puzzle
Had some nice steak on the weekend. Now getting ready to give a lecture at my club tonight - might have a GM in attendance, since there is a blitz tournament taking place at the same venue!
Hope you can solve this mate in 2 by J Wartemberg (1993)
#chesspunks
Had some nice steak on the weekend. Now getting ready to give a lecture at my club tonight - might have a GM in attendance, since there is a blitz tournament taking place at the same venue!
Hope you can solve this mate in 2 by J Wartemberg (1993)
#chesspunks
Friday puzzle
Things look quiet at work but I still have a lot to do at my new home
Sharing a mate in 2 by Edward Courtenay (1870). Just be a little careful...
#chesspunks
Things look quiet at work but I still have a lot to do at my new home
Sharing a mate in 2 by Edward Courtenay (1870). Just be a little careful...
#chesspunks
August 15, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Friday puzzle
Things look quiet at work but I still have a lot to do at my new home
Sharing a mate in 2 by Edward Courtenay (1870). Just be a little careful...
#chesspunks
Things look quiet at work but I still have a lot to do at my new home
Sharing a mate in 2 by Edward Courtenay (1870). Just be a little careful...
#chesspunks
Monday puzzle
I've been slow with these posts due to moving to a new place, hope to eventually go back to posting 2x a week
White to play and mate in 2, with a follow up question: what if the pawn was white?
By Werner Speckmann (1962)
#chesspunks
I've been slow with these posts due to moving to a new place, hope to eventually go back to posting 2x a week
White to play and mate in 2, with a follow up question: what if the pawn was white?
By Werner Speckmann (1962)
#chesspunks
August 11, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Monday puzzle
I've been slow with these posts due to moving to a new place, hope to eventually go back to posting 2x a week
White to play and mate in 2, with a follow up question: what if the pawn was white?
By Werner Speckmann (1962)
#chesspunks
I've been slow with these posts due to moving to a new place, hope to eventually go back to posting 2x a week
White to play and mate in 2, with a follow up question: what if the pawn was white?
By Werner Speckmann (1962)
#chesspunks
Nice day to remember I once played the now 9x British Champion Mickey Adams! 🏆👏
August 11, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Nice day to remember I once played the now 9x British Champion Mickey Adams! 🏆👏