Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
White to play and mate Black
Suetin v Nielsen, J ; Copenhagen 1965
Solution
A technical one today: which order to play the biffs: but 1 Bh6! is natural, and wins after 1…gh 2 Rd7! deflecting the Nf8 from defending the Ng6.
Then, the Ng6 is captured, then Ph6, then Ng5 mates or wins too much material.
FEN
r3rnk1/4qpp1/p5np/4pQ2/Pb2N3/1B5P/1P3PP1/R1BR2K1 w – – 0 28
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
Black to play and win
Hesse v Franz, German championship 1965
Solution
1..Bf3! has to be played, and after 2 ef[] Rf3+ it is check/check/check and win: but lots of variations, depending on where White moves his King. The game continuation was:
FEN
8/5rpk/1p6/p1p4P/2n2rb1/1N3P2/P3PK2/B2R3R b – – 0 30
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
White to play and mate Black
Keres v Bronstein, Zurich 1965
Strangely, this game isn’t in Megabase: or at least I couldn’t find it.
Solution
I chose 1…Nc2!, which Komodo gives as -3.5: If 2 Rb1 then 2..Rab8 3 Qd5 Rb4+! is the “point”.
But Bronstein played 1..Qb6! assessed as -15: same idea, after the Qs are exchanged, Nc2+ forks the king and LPDO Ra1.
FEN
r4rk1/pQp2p1p/5p1b/2q5/K2nPp2/2PP4/PP5P/R1B2B1R b – – 0 1
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
White to play and win
Kirjakov v Zuravljev, Riga 1965
Solution
The game move, 1 Rf1! is spectacular, but I chose the more prosaic 1 Qh6! which Komodo says is equally strong, both +5: Check/check/check and a black rook falls off.
FEN
5r2/p6p/1p3k2/2p1rq1Q/3pR3/8/PPPK4/7R w – – 0 1
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
White to play and mate Black
Braskin v Njihajev, correspondence 1964/65
Solution
Not too hard today: 1 Rf7+! and if necessary 2 Rh8+! to force a capture on the f or h lines, after which Qf2+ or Qh2+, and the Q comes to f6 or h6 with mate following.
FEN
2r1r3/pb4k1/1p1p2pR/q2P2P1/2n1p3/P1NB4/1Q6/4KR2 w – – 0 1
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
White to play and mate Black
Jaselette v Kumur, correspondence 1964/65
Solution
A rest day today: 1 Rf7+! forces 1…Nf7, when 2 Ne6 is mate.
FEN
r2n1k2/p3n2R/3ppNp1/1pp3N1/4pP2/3P4/PPPK2B1/8 w – – 0 1
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
White to play and mate Black
Antoshin v Rabar, Baku 1964
Solution
After trying 1 Qh5+, 1g5+ and 1 Rh3+, none of which succeed, next try was 1 Ne6! which instantly wins: Black resigned.
FEN
2r2rn1/pp3p1p/5qpk/2p1Q3/3pPNP1/3P1R2/PPP4P/R5K1 w – – 0 21
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
White to play and mate Black
Walter v Bhend, Zurich 1964
Solution
1 Rd8+! is fairly obvious, noting that the Nc6 is tied to the Be7, so 1…Kd8[] is forced, when the pin on the Be7 by the Bg5 means that the Rf8 is LPDO; but more importantly the Qg4 is also LPDO so 2 Be7+ wins the Queen.
FEN
4kr2/1p2b1Qp/p1n5/4p1B1/2p1N1q1/8/PPP3PP/3R2K1 w – – 0 1
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
Black to play and mate White
Wheeler v Hall, England 1963
Solution
Harder today: to get the order right. Eventually it all clicked: 1…Rc1+ first (though 1…Ra3+ first also wins) 2 Qc1 (else the Q drops) Ra3+
and if 3 Kb1, then 3…Ra1+! and 4..Qa8+/5..Qa2 mate.
FEN
r5k1/5pbp/2rp2p1/8/3N1PP1/Pp6/1P1Q2qP/K2R3R b – – 0 1
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
Black to play and mate White
Gligoric v Porat, Amsterdam Interzonal 1964
Solution
White’s rook is tied to the first rank, because of the threat of mate
FEN
3rr1k1/ppp2pp1/7p/5Q2/2R3PP/5q2/PPP2P2/2K3R1 b – – 0 19
allanbeardsworth 