Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
White to play and mate Black (with a twist)
-try to solve the puzzle, but also try to ‘cook’ it. There is a partial cook.
Terentiev v Radzenko, Sochi 1979
Solution
Like yesterday’s puzzle, a rook move interferes with Black’s pieces coordination. 1 Rd6! disconnects Black’s Qb6 from his Nf6. After 1…ed[] 2 Nf6+ Kg7
3 Neg4! and Black’s defences are breached.
Partial cook
However, my engine sees it differently. 1…Qb2!, after which its assessment is only +1.2. Its main line is 2 Nf6+ ef 3 Nd7 Rfd8
You then quickly get into the land of computer moves. 4 Rd2! Rd7! 5 Rd7! Nc3 6 Qc4 Ne2+! 7 Kh1[] Qa2! and Black is fighting. Certainly, I wouldn’t be confident of winning the position after 1…Qb2 if playing White vs Carlsen.
FEN
r4rk1/4pp1p/1q3np1/2p1N3/n3NQ2/8/PP3PPP/3R1RK1 w – – 0 1
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
Black to play and mate White
Starke v Okrajek, Leipzig 1979
Solution
Given it is a problem, 1…Rc3! has to be the initial move: 2 bc[] and the Qb3 is cut off, permitting 2…Be3! and Qh3-Qg2 can’t be prevented.
I would say it is an odd position, since Black is already a piece up, so really ‘anything wins’.
FEN
2r2rk1/7p/3p2nb/p2Pp3/1p2P2q/PQ3bN1/1P3N1P/R4RK1 b – – 0 1
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
White to play and mate Black
Fuller v Steedman, Chester 1979
Solution
Quite pretty today.
1 Ng6+ exploits the fact that 1…fg? 2 f7+ is terminal.
So 1…Kg8[] when 2 Ne7+ Kh8[] 3 Qh6 Rg8
And now the coup de grace 4 Qg7+!
4….Rg7[] 5fg is a very efficient mate.
FEN
r2q1r1k/1p3p1p/3n1P2/1p1pN2Q/3B4/1P6/P5PP/R5K1 w – – 0 1
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
White to play and mate Black.
Friker v De Vila, Catanzaro 1979
Solution
A nice one today, used some geometry. 1 Bb7+! deflects the black queen to b7, so that 2 Qe8+ forces 2…Ka7
Then 3 Bd4+ wins the Queen, and at the end the LPDO Ne1 drops off.
FEN
k1B5/5Q1p/6p1/4B3/2p1q3/b5PK/5P1P/4n3 w – – 0 1
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
Black to play and mate White
Aleksandrov v Jegircev, USSR 1978
Solution
Not too hard today. First, removal of a defender by 1…Rc4! 2 dc[]. Then 2…Ne3+ brings one more piece into the arrack, and after 3 Kh2[] Qg3+!
it is mate next move.
4 Kg3[] Be5 mate.
FEN
8/2q2rbk/4b1p1/2rn3p/2NpB2P/Q2P2P1/4P1K1/R3N2R b – – 0 1
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
White to play and mate Black.
Westerinen v Sigurjonsson, New York 1978
Solution
1 Qg7+! forced by Black’s dire threats, but winning. 1… Kg7[] 2 Bd8+!!
2…Kh8 (2…Kh6 3 Rh3 mate)
3 Rg8+!
3 ?..Rg8[] 4 Bf6+
and 5 Bg7+ 6 Bd4+ 7 Rg7+ 8 Bb2 +-
FEN
1r3rk1/3Q2pp/p3p3/6B1/3np3/6R1/PqP1B2P/3K2R1 w – – 0 1
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
White to play and mate Black.
Zek v Borcz, Warsaw 1978
Solution
1 Qh5! and 1-0: the Nf6 is tied to h7.
FEN
q1r2rk1/pb1nbNpp/1p3n2/2pp2N1/2P5/3BP3/PB2QPPP/2RR2K1 w – – 0 1
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
White to play and mate Black.
Brinck-Claussen v Johannessen, Denmark 1978
Solution
Check, check, check
1 Rh7+ Kh7 2 Rg7+ Ng7
3 Qh6+ and 4Qg7 mate.
FEN
1r2nr1k/6pp/pp1p4/2pPpN2/q1P1P3/5PR1/4K1P1/2Q4R w – – 0 1
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
Black to play and mate White.
Isakov v Pihelauri, SSSR 1978
Solution
Easy today.
1…Qg3 and after 2 Rg3 Rh2+ and 3…Rh1 mate.
FEN
6k1/p5pp/6qr/3p3r/1P6/2PQ1pB1/P4P1P/3R2RK b – – 0 1
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
White to play and mate Black.
Chalagan v Little, 1978
Solution
1 Qg6! and if 1…fg 2 Ng6; a rest day.
FEN
3qrk2/1b1pbpp1/p6N/1rp1N2n/p6B/6Q1/PPP2PPP/R3R1K1 w – – 0 1
allanbeardsworth 