allanbeardsworth

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

White to play and mate Black

Fuchs v unknown, 1955

Solution

Straightforward.  1 Qc6+ Qc6[] 2 Nd4+ Nd4[] 3 Re7 mate.

FEN

2b3r1/R4p2/2p1kBpp/2qpPn2/Qp4P1/5N2/5P1P/6K1 w – – 0 1

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

White to play and mate Black

Solution

FEN

r3nrk1/p7/1p2p1pQ/n1p1qp2/7B/P1P4R/4NPPP/6K1 w – – 0 1

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

Black to play and mate White

Aitken v Keller, Newcave 1954

Solution

I presume Newcave might be Newquay, but, anyway, a fairly standard finale, given the threat of back rank mate. 1…Qd1+ 2 Nd1 Nf3+ 3 Bf3 Re1 mate, or similar endings if White plays alternative defences.

FEN

1r2r1k1/p2q1pbp/6p1/4n3/5Q2/2N3Pb/PPP2PBP/R1BR2K1 b – – 0 1

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

White to play and mate Black

Abolsky v Rosso, Buenos Aires 1954

Solution

1 Rf7! is the pretty first move, though my engine says that 1 Ne6 is also 1-0.  If 1…Bf7 then 2 Rg6+ and mates.

If 1…Bh6, then 2 Ne6 Kf7 3 Bd5 is gruesome; or 2 Bd5 is Fritz’s choice.

FEN

r3rbk1/2R2p2/2R1b1p1/1p1p2Np/3B2n1/1P1P2P1/4PPB1/6K1 w – – 0 1

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

White to play and mate Black

Kostov v Bogdanovic, Belgrade 1054

Solution

I suspect I have seen this puzzle before, maybe in a Dragon book, maybe elsewhere, since 1 Rh8+! was my first thought.

The lines aren’t too hard: if 1…Bh8, 2 Qg6+, and if 1…Kh8 2 Bf7, with similar motifs: mate on the h file, likely.

The only line I will give is 1 Rh8 Bh8 2 Qg6+ Bg7 3 Qf7+ Kh8 4 Rh1+ Nh7 5 Rh7+ Kh7[] when I was pleased to find the best move, 6 Qf5+! disrupting Black’s defence.

FEN

r2r2k1/p4pb1/2bp1np1/qp2p1Q1/2BBP1P1/2N2P1R/PPP5/2KR4 w – – 0 1

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

Black to play and mate White

Meister v Grozdov, SSSR 1954

Solution

1…Rh3+ 2 gh[] Bf3+ 3 Kh2[] has to be tried:

3…Ng4+ 4 hg[] h5 and White can’t keep the h-file closed, so he is mated.

FEN

2k4r/pp3ppp/2p2n2/5PBb/P3P3/3r3P/1PB2bP1/R3R2K b – – 0 1

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

Black to play and mate White

Polvin v Krejcik, Vienna 1954

Solution

A single forced line: 1…Qh2+ 2… Ng4+ 3..Rh3+! and 4…Rh2: some echoes to Rubinstein, Roklewi.

FEN

3Q4/6pk/4N2n/2pPq3/p1P5/P1r5/4r1PP/3R2RK b – – 0 1

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

Black to play and win

Castaldi v Romano, S Benedetto dal Tronto, 1953

(Megabase has the game as being played in 1990: either might be correct: it could well be a veterans’ game, since Castaldi was active in the 1950s.

Solution

1..Nd3+! has to be played, and the N has to be captured, since it is a fork on the Q. So 2 cd Qd3+ and mates.

The game, in Megabase, seems wild: swinging both ways.

FEN

7k/pp6/7q/3p4/1B3Q2/P5P1/1nP1r2P/R1K5 b – – 0 33

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

Black to play and win

Solution

1…Qg5! (or 1…Qh6) breaks White’s defences. 2. Bg5 Ne2++ and 3…Rf1 mate.

If 2 Qf2, then 2…Qe3! is 0-1: 3 Qe3 Ne2+ 4 Ne2 Be3+ and 5…Rf1 mate.

FEN

5rk1/1pp3pp/p1p5/2b5/3n2bq/2NPB3/PPPQ2PP/R3N1K1 b – – 0 1