Nah, he means something that's usually over in a few moves that a person could solve as a problem. The good ones usually start with a move that is surprising or atleast not so obvious as say grabbing an unguarded piece. I remember checking them out years ago. The helpmates and selfmates I never got into much, but the regular mates in three or four were always ones to play with and even share with friends that knew how to play Chess. Gothic Chess should have many possibilities for composed problems. The newspaper here no longer has the mate problems and instead uses positions from actual games and will pose a question about what move to make at some critical juncture in the game. That's not the same thing as a Chess problem.

There's one I remember that involves a King and Rook against three Pawns and a King. I'll have to see if I can remember it and then I'll post it or ask how to post it as I don't know how to make these Chess board like you guys do. I suppose I could just list the pieces and squares that they're on and who's turn it is and any interested person could set up the problem on their own board.

Most problems look as if the were actually played. They generally have a middle game look to them, though the one I just mentioned is an endgame kind of problem.