allanbeardsworth

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

White to play and mate Black

Denker v Gonzales 1945

Solution

I played 1 Nh7! which wins: 1…Kh7 2 Qh4+ Kg8 3 Qh6 and if 3…Nf5 4 Qg6+ exploiting the pinned Pf7. But 1…Nf5  prolongs (but 2 g4); Fritz says 1 Nh7 is mate  in 17.

Fritz gives 1 h4 as +19, whatever that means.

The engine’s preference is the move in the game: 1 Nf7+! “mate in 15”: 1..Rf7 2 Bf7 Nf7 3 Qh6 is all you need to calculate (3…Nh6 4 f7+ mating is the point); or similarly 1…Nf7 2 Qh6

FEN

rnbq1r1k/pppp1p1p/3n1Pp1/6N1/2B2Q2/8/PB3PPP/R4K1R w – – 0 1

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

White to play and mate Black

Bronstein v Goldenov, Kiev 1944

Solution

Easy today: 1 Rc8 Rc8 2 Rc8 when Black can hold out with 2..Kd7 but it is 1-0.

Surprisingly, Bronstein didn’t play 1 Rc8, instead playing 1 Qf4! Qd7 2 a4! 1-0 Maybe it is more efficient.

FEN

r2qk1r1/p4p2/bp2pQp1/1n1pP1Bp/7P/3P2N1/P1R2PP1/2R3K1 w q – 0 24

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

White to play and mate Black

Reinie v Steinburger Njemacka 1944

Solution

Fairly trivial today: given the clear theme of a smothered mate. 1 Qh7+ Nh7[] 2 Nf7+ Nf7 3 Ng6 mate.

FEN

r1b2nrk/pp3ppp/1q2p3/2bpn1N1/5N2/2PQ4/PP2BPPP/2B1RRK1 w – – 0 1

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

White to play and mate Black

Tolush v Flohr, Kiev 1944

Solution

Megabase tells me the puzzle is a variation from the game, not the game itself. In the game White played Kg1-f1 not Kg1-h1; the game was drawn.

I found this one difficult, finding it hard to choose between 1…Nf4 and 1…Ne3, until I realised that 1…Nf4?? is bad (losing) because when the Bc1 takes the N, it does so on f4, watching h2. So 1…Ne3! 2 Nc6

2…Nf3 and it is mate after a few spite checks.

FEN

2kr4/pp3p1Q/2q1p3/3nN3/3P3n/1P5P/P4Pr1/R1B1R2K b – – 0 23

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

White to play and mate Black

Horowitz v Stevens, SAD 19444

Solution

At first I thought it was a Black to play and win (the book doesn’t say which side it is to move) but if so, it is trivial. Slightly harder is White to play: 1 Rc8+! Bc8 (1…Kf7 2 Qc7+ Bd7[] 3 Qd7 mate) 2 Qe8+ Rf8

3 Rg7+ Kg7 4 Qg6+ and 5 Qh7 mate; if 3…Kh8 then 4 Qh5+ forces the same line to occur.

FEN

6k1/6p1/p3br2/1p1pQ3/5r2/1P1B2R1/1P3qPP/2R4K w – – 0 1

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

Black to play and mate White

Molinari v Cabral, Uruguay 1943

Solution

Pretty, but fairly standard motifs: 1…Bg1+! 2 Qg1 (2 Kg1 Qg3+ -+) Ng4+ 3 hg[] Qh6+ and mates next move.

FEN

6k1/5ppp/4p3/p1b1n3/PpP1Pq2/5bBP/4B2K/R3RQ2 b – – 0 1

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

White to play and mate Black

Kazic v Vuckovic, correspondence 1940

Solution

Fairly standard: 1 Ne5 is a typical sacrifice of the Qd1, and after 1…Bd1 2 Nd7! is the nice point of this particular combination.

If 2…Be7 3 Nef6+ Bf6[] 4 Re8+! and 5 Nf6 mate.

FEN

r2q2kr/p1p2p1p/1p3p1B/2b1n3/2ppN1b1/2P2N2/PP3PPP/R2QR1K1 w – – 0 1

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

White to play and mate Black

Rather v Belcher, 1940

Solution

A fairly standard line clearance/throw away the pieces to get the Queen to h7, position: but the precise move order needs careful calculation.

I chose 1 Neg5!, bur 1 Ba6! is identical, and transposes after 1…Bg5 2 Ba6!

Black’s best is to grovel with 2…f6 3 Bb7 Rcd8 and say 4 Rh5 and Rdh1 will be 1-0.

In the game, Black played 1..Ba6 2 Neg5 Rfd8 when 3 Rh8+! is a standard motif: 3…Bh8 4 Qh7+ and 5 Qh8 mate.

FEN

2r2rk1/pbpnqp2/1p2pb2/6p1/3PN1P1/2PB1N2/PPQ2P2/1K1R3R w – – 0 1