Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
White to play and mate Black
Trifunovic v Aaron, Beverwijk, 1962
Solution
A one move solution today: 1 Bg8 and the game is over.
FEN
3r1q1k/p5b1/1r3p1p/1ppBpQpP/4P3/2P3P1/PP1R1PK1/3R4 w – – 0 31
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
Black to play and mate White
Uhlmann v Dely, 1962
Solution
Quite nice, though not too hard: 1…Qg2! and 2 Rg2[] Re1+ mates.
FEN
4r2k/p1p3rp/1p3B2/8/2P2P2/PP1Q1P1q/7P/6RK w – – 0 1
Post Script
The game seems a bit harsh on Wolfgang Uhlmann. Megabase doesn’t include it, but does include his six, mainly short, victories against Peter Dely [though the 1964 23 mover seems odd, the final position being equal).
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
White to play and mate Black
Book v Kopenen, Finland 1961
Solution
Slightly harder than recent days, but not by much. 1 ef! is a move that begs to be analysed, even without Purdy’s mantra examine all biffs and after 1…Qe2, both 2 f7+ and 2 Rg7+ win, though 2 f7+ is cleaner.
FEN
1b2r1k1/pR4p1/1p2qn1p/4P3/7P/1P4P1/PB2Q3/1B4K1 w – – 0 1
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
Black to play and mate White
Bahtijar v Liang, Indonesia 1961
Solution
Quite a nice interference: 1…Re2!, and after 2 Ne2, 2…Qe1+ is a sneaky check mate.
FEN
4n1k1/4Q1pp/p7/q7/5N2/8/1r3PPP/2Rb2K1 b – – 0 1
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
Black to play and mate White
Bobotsov v Andric, Belgrade 1961
Solution
Easy today: 1…Rc3 destroys the threat to g7, so that on the next move Rc1+ or Qf3 happen, with carnage.
FEN
5rk1/pp3pp1/3R3p/8/P1pQR1q1/1rB3Pb/1P3P1P/6K1 b – – 0 28
A break for one day from my daily series from Matni Udar.
Today, one of my ICC games, where I was playing 3 minute blitz against a considerably stronger player, an IM living in Switzerland (per his details, but name unknown) rated at about 400 points above me. But Caissa was shining on me, in two ways: enabling me to win, and enabling me to win prettily.
Black to play and win
SirJohn v allanbeard, ICC 3-0 25/1/17
Solution
Not too hard, particularly because it is just check, check and check and mate!
1..Ng3+ 2 Kh2[] Nf1+ 3 Kh1[] Qh2+!
4 Nh2[] Ng3 mate.
One of my prettiest mates; and, maybe I have, but my first or one of my first smothered mates.
FEN
5nk1/B5pp/2Q5/1BP2p2/P3nq2/5N1P/1P3bP1/7K b – – 0 1
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
White to play and win
Vajnicka v Gross, 1961
Solution
The puzzle book I am using, Matni Udar, doesn’t show who is to play: the first part of each puzzle is to work out “who is it to play and win”. Here it took a moment or two, but as soon as I decided it was “White”, the solution came to me: 1 Rd7! is a decoy/deflection, after which either the Rd1 is lost, or it is mate by 2Qf6 etc.
FEN
6k1/R4p1p/2b3pB/1p1qp3/8/2P4P/P1P2QPK/3r4 w – – 0 1
A one day break from my series from Matni Udar. Today, my first little tictac of 2017 (played on 4th January, but over Christmas I got a long way ahead on my daily postings, hence the delay)
White to play and mate Black
Allan Beardsworth v Fabullous, ICC 4/1/7
Solution
The old ones are the best: 1 Qg6+! and Black complied with 1…hg, met with by 2 Rh8 mate.
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
White to play and mate Black
Bronstein v Geller, URS Chmpship, Moscow 1961
Solution
I found the win 1 Rf7, which apparently is mate in 7; but missed the prettier move played in the game, 1 Qg6!, which is even faster.
Geller resigned. 1…fg 2 Rg7+ and 3 Ng6 mate.
The game, which is in Megabase, is worth playing through: a 20 move victory by Bronstein in the Nimzo-Indian.
FEN
4r1k1/pR3pp1/1n3P1p/q2p4/5N1P/P1rQpP2/8/2B2RK1 w – – 0 20
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
White to play and mate Black
Vorobil v Marek, 1961
Solution
Clearly, 1 Rg7+! is the first move to be considered, and after 1…Kg7, how to break through? A little thought leads to 2 Rf7+! – examine all biffs would get there, if it weren’t obvious.
FEN
r1b2rk1/2q1bpp1/pp6/2pPN3/2P1Q3/P3B2P/1PP1KR2/6R1 w – – 0 1
allanbeardsworth 