allanbeardsworth

Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.

Black to play and mate White

Steinheimer v Kallinger, Linz 1963

Solution

I hope White didn’t have a heart attack after 1…Nf5! 2 gf h6+!!

and mate next move: 3 Kh6 Qh5mate or 3 Kg4 gh+!!

Pretty.

FEN

5rk1/p3Rp1p/5Qpn/6KN/6P1/1P3P2/P6q/8 b – – 0 1

Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.

Black to play and mate White

Bulan v Petrov, USSR 1962

Solution

An easier one today, after two tough days, chop. check, check and mate:

1..Rf3! 2 gf Bb3+! 3 ab[] Qc1+! 4 Rc1[] Rd2 mate.

FEN

2kr1r2/p7/1p2p1pb/2pbQ2p/8/qPP2N1P/P1K3P1/1B1R3R b – – 0 1

Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.

White to play and mate Black

Kholmov v Bannik, Minsk 1962

Solution

A gruesome finish, and one which it is just about possible to see as a puzzle, but I am not sure if I would have had the guts to play the line in a game, since there are lots of lines.

1 Be6! (my engine says 1 Bh6, 1Bg5 and 1 Qf2 are also winning- 1 Bg5 being the flashiest- 1…Bg5 2 Be6) 1…Kg7 2 Bh6+ (engine says 2 Nf5+ is +- too); 3 Nf5+ 4 Qd2+ or 4 Rh3+.

FEN

r1q1r1k1/3npp2/bp1p1bp1/p2P4/P1PN2B1/2R1B3/1PQ3PP/5R1K w – – 0 24

Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.

Black to play and mate White

Gurgenidze v Sergijevski. , Minsk 1962

Solution

A far meatier problem today, after several fairly easy ones in recent weeks.

Because it is a problem, I found the first move fairly quickly, but doubt I would have in a game, unless I had remembered to examine all biffs, as one should do.

White must capture, else the Nb4 falls, after which 2…Ne4:

The N can’t be taken, so mayhem will happen by a discovered check, either on d2 or g5: the latter better, looking at h3.

White played 3 Qe3 and resigned after 3…Qg5+ 4 Qg5 Ng5+ 5 Kg3 Rh3+

and mate in a couple of moves: the hyenas jump in: Bf3+ and Rh5+ snaffle the king.

FEN

3rk2r/1b2qpp1/p4n2/1p2pPb1/1N2P3/3B4/1PP2BKP/R3QR2 b k – 0 26

Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.

Black to play and mate White

Varady v Lengyel, Budapest 1962

Solution

By chance, only this morning I had been solving some puzzles from one of Mosalenko’s training books, and in the particular chapter, there were a few skewers and clearances.

1…Re4! clears the way for 2…Qh7 mate.

FEN

6k1/6p1/6K1/3P2P1/7r/4QB1q/4N3/8 b – – 0 1

Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.

Black to play and mate White

Solution

A nice forcing line: 1…Nf2+ 2 Rf2[] and now 2…Bg2+!! and mates.

FEN

4r1k1/pB3ppp/2N3r1/8/2P2Pn1/1P6/PB1R1P1P/5b1K b – – 0 33

Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.

Black to play and mate White

Estrada v Gligoric, Varna 1962

Solution

I suspect I have seen this puzzle before, because the solution was “known to me”: 1…Rd6! and after 2 Qd6 Rd8! 0-1.

FEN

3r1rk1/pp2qp1p/3N2p1/2pQP3/b1P2P2/8/PP4PP/2K2B1R b – – 0 19

Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.

Black to play and mate White

Mann v Pap, 1962

Solution

Easy today: 1…Rf3+ and after the forced 2 gf, 2…Bf1 is mate.

FEN

8/7k/b2N1r2/p3Rpp1/7p/2P4K/1P1R2PP/5r2 b – – 0 1

Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.

White to play and mate Black

Skuja v Rozenberg, Riga 1962

Solution

A pretty one, slightly harder than recent days’ puzzles.

1Qf8+! Rf8[] 2 Rh7+!

and mate on the h file with Rh1+

FEN

1rb2n1k/5r1p/2pp1PpQ/4P3/p3P3/qBP2P2/P1P1N3/1K1R3R w – – 0 1

Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.

White to play and mate Black

Stephenson v Brine, England 1962

Solution

Not too hard today: a deflection of the Queen is all that is needed, and either 1 Rd8+ or 1 Qc5 does the trick.

1 Rd8 is flashier, when 1..Qd8[] 2 Qe5

Then 2…Qd7 (defending g7) but then 3 Qh8+! and 4 Rf8 mate.

FEN

r1b3k1/1p2q2p/p5pP/4p3/1PP3r1/4Q1P1/P3N3/3RKR2 w – – 0 1