A young prodigy might be the main character. He is known for his quick thinking and amazing skills in chess. When faced with this special chess problem, he has to use all his talent and intuition to find a solution.
The short story might revolve around a group of chess enthusiasts who are challenged with a seemingly unsolvable chess problem. They each bring their own unique approach and knowledge to the table, leading to a series of interesting discussions and attempts at solving it, which in turn reveals a lot about their characters and relationships.
You could make the solving of the chess problem a key plot point that drives the story forward. Maybe the main character has to solve it to save someone or unlock a mystery.
For a chess problem short story to be interesting, it needs a combination of strategic chess moves and character development. Also, a twist or unexpected outcome can add excitement.
I don't know for sure since I haven't read it, but they could be the two players in the chess game.
Typically, the main characters are the chess players themselves. There could be a protagonist who is deeply involved in the chess world and maybe an antagonist who challenges the protagonist in the game.
The main character could be an office worker. At 12:02 pm, they might be taking a short break from their work. Maybe they overhear a conversation that makes them suspect some unethical behavior in the company. So they start to dig deeper, facing many obstacles along the way, such as colleagues who try to stop them and a lack of evidence. But they are determined to find the truth because of their sense of justice.
A businessperson could also be the main character. They are on a visit for work - related reasons, like meeting with clients or inspecting a new branch. And during this visit, they face various challenges and experiences that form the story.
It could be a young adult. Young adults often make great main characters as they are in a phase of life full of change and discovery, which can lead to many interesting plot developments.
The main character could be a young and ambitious journalist who is sent to Antarctica to report on the effects of climate change. She is full of energy and determination to expose the truth about what's happening to this frozen continent.
The main character could be a lonely old man. He uses the telephone as his only connection to the outside world. He might call his old friends, or wait for calls from his family members. His life revolves around the telephone and the conversations he has or hopes to have through it.