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Inside the Solver's Mind: Bringing the Joy of Solving Chess Compositions to Everyone

by Satanick Mukhuty - 01/06/2026

In a bid to promote the culture of chess solving in the country, we at ChessBase India have been organising regular solving contests across India. Yet one challenge has become increasingly apparent: many enthusiasts are eager to solve, but few have had the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of chess composition and the techniques that experienced solvers employ. Before we can build a thriving solving culture, this knowledge must become more widely accessible. It is with this goal in mind that we are launching Inside The Solver's Mind — an online learning programme designed to bring the joy and art of solving chess compositions to everyone. In this article, we take a closer look at the initiative and what participants can expect from it.

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Chess composition remains one of the most beautiful and intellectually rewarding corners of the chess world. Yet for many, it can seem abstruse and forbidding — a world inhabited by specialists and cloaked in obscure terminology that appears to have little connection to practical play. A few years ago, when we began conducting chess-solving events at the Phoenix ChessBase India Chess Club in Mumbai, we realised that there was a real vacuum in people's understanding of chess problems and studies. Even seasoned players were often unsure of the fundamentals: what it meant to identify the thematic variations in a mate-in-3, or what constituted the main line of a study. In many cases, they were unable to attempt a question simply because they did not know what they were supposed to be looking for. This was, of course, compounded by the challenge of grappling with two largely unfamiliar genres: the helpmate and the selfmate.

We will continue to organise more events in Mumbai and across the country. But it is equally clear that we need to foster a sound understanding of the art of solving; otherwise, these events will never achieve their full potential. Participants may spend a few hours wrestling with unfamiliar positions, only to leave confused — or worse, put off from ever attending another solving event. It is precisely for this reason that we have launched Inside the Solver's Mind, an online programme led by Satanick Mukhuty, long-time Chess Composition Editor at ChessBase India. It gets underway on 7 June as part of a broader collaboration between ChessBase India and the World Federation for Chess Composition (WFCC) to promote greater awareness and understanding of chess composition in India.

Objectives

The focus of the sessions will not be on memorising themes or mastering technical jargon. Instead, participants will be taken inside the thought process of a solver. How does one approach an unfamiliar problem? Where do the clues lie? How can seemingly impossible positions be untangled through logic and imagination? These are the questions that lie at the heart of the programme. But of course, as with any craft, improvement ultimately comes down to deliberate practice. That is why we will also be sharing curated exercises for participants to solve at their own pace and reinforce what they learn during the sessions.

Accessibility

One of the most important goals of this programme is accessibility. The sessions will be conducted online, allowing participants from every corner of India to join from the comfort of their homes. There is no need to travel, no need for specialised equipment, and no need for prior experience in chess composition. Moreover, to keep things as affordable as possible, the fee has been fixed at just ₹50 per session, roughly the cost of a hearty plate of Mumbai's vada pav! The idea is simple: financial considerations should never become a barrier to learning. If someone finds it difficult to pay this amount but is keen to attend, they need only write to us. We will waive the fee and share the meeting link. No questions asked.

Registration

We have set up a Razorpay registration form for the inaugural session of Inside the Solver's Mind, scheduled for 7 June at 8:00 pm IST. Click here to reserve your spot. We will share the Google Meet link with registered participants one day before the session.

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