Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
White to play and mate Black.
Dutka v Schwojnicki, Swiebodzin, 1977
Solution
Not too hard today, just a case of putting some checks in order. 1 Ng6+! hg[] 2 Qh6+ Kg8
3 Be6+! Qe6 (or Qf7) 4 Rf8+ and 5 Qg7 mate.
FEN
r3rb1k/ppp1q1pp/8/3P2Q1/5N2/1P4PB/PB2b2P/R4RK1 w – – 0 1
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
White to play and mate Black.
Karpov v Csom, Bad Lauterberg 1977
Solution
1 Nf5! is an automatic decision, referring once again to Jacob Aagaard’s excellent new book, ‘Thinking inside the box’.
If e.g. 1…Nd7 then 2 Qh2+! and 3 Qg3+
followed by 4 Qg7 mate. And on other moves then Rh7+ and Qg7 mate follow.
FEN
q3rn1k/ppQR4/4pp2/8/P1P5/1P4N1/6n1/6K1 w – – 0 1
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
Black to play and mate White.
Jurjev v Tischler, Moscow 1977
Solution
1…Qf5! exploits the pinned Be4 and LPDO Qc2. Then say 2 Nc3 Rfe8 adds to the pressure, 3 Re1 Re4! 4 Ne4 Re8 and control is complete.
5 g4 Re4! is a cute finale: 6 gf Re1 mate.
FEN
r4rk1/pb3ppp/1p3q2/1Nb5/2p1BP2/P5P1/1PQ4P/R1B2R1K b – – 0 1
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
Black to play and mate White.
Jones v Horner, Seul 1977
Solution
A nice one today. And a special one for any chess player in NW England, especially those like me who have known and liked Jeff Horner (in my case, for all my chess life).
When I saw this position, I saw “Horner” and instantly think “Jeff”; and also see “Jones” and think “another British name”; but when I see “Seul” I think “Seoul, Korea” and don’t think of Jeff. So I contacted Jeff, and whilst he doesn’t recall the game, thinks it must be his game vs Brian Jones; he and Brian both played in a tournament in Sale, near Manchester, in 1977.
IM Jeff Horner, one of the finest NW players of my lifetime
So, with a fair degree of confidence, I think this position is from Brian Jones v Jeff Horner, Sale, Manchester, 1977.
Now to enjoy Jeff’s finishing moves:
1…. Ne3+! 2fe (2Ke1 Qd2 mate) 2…Qa6+!
3 Qd3! Rc5! 0-1.
FEN
2r3k1/6b1/3qp1Qp/2Nn4/1P6/4PP2/r4P2/2R2KR1 b – – 0 1
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
White to play and mate Black.
Casper v Grottke, Hungary, 1977
Solution
Again not too hard today. 1 Ne8! is a standard interference. 1…Bh6 2 Qf8+! and mates, since the Ne8 controls g7; and if 1…Qe8, 2 Qg7 or 2 Bg7 are both mate.
FEN
r2q1n1k/pp1b1QNp/7B/2p1p1b1/3pP3/1P1P2P1/1PP4P/5RK1 w – – 0 1
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
White to play and mate Black.
Kleisch v Epilinius, Wittstock 1977
Solution
Easy today. 1 Qh5 and the Queen can’t be taken, else 2 Bh7mate, so 2…Bg5[] when it is mate on the Black squares after 2 Qg5 and a later h6, g7.
FEN
4rrk1/ppq2p1p/1nb1pBpb/3pP1N1/3P4/2PB3P/PP2Q1P1/R4RK1 w – – 0 1
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
White to play and mate Black.
Zimmerman v Hübner, Koblenz 1977
Solution
The first move is easy, 1 Qe5+, since the Nd7 is tied to preventing Rd8 mate.
Then 1….Qe6 when after a little thinking, 2 Nf6+! deflects the g pawn and is followed by 3 Qe6+ and 4 Bh5mate.
FEN
2b1kb1r/1r1n1ppp/p1N4q/1p2p3/4N3/6Q1/PPP1B1PP/1K1R3R w k – 0 1
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
White to play and mate Black.
Zeubchel v Sprenger, Rostock 1977
Solution
Easy today. 1 Nc5 is an automatic decision (using the language of Jacob Aagaard’s excellent recent book ‘Thinking Inside the Box’).
If the N is captured, then 2 bc or 3 dc are both mate. Otherwise, smothered mate follows e.g. by 1…Rb8 2 Rd7+! Nd7[] 3 Re6mate, or by 2 Re6+ and 3 Rd7.
FEN
r4n2/p5R1/1ppk2p1/3p2p1/NP1P2Pr/8/P1P3P1/2K1R3 w – – 0 1
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
Black to play and mate White.
Karpov v Taimanov, Leningrad 1976
(Although ChessBase says 1977)
Solution
Part of my chess education. I would have been 13 or 14 when this game was played, and would have seen the position in BCM, so knew the solution instantly. Perhaps because Karpov lost it was lodged in my mind.
1…Ra1! 2 Rb1 Ng3+!!
3 hg Ra8!! and mate by Rh8+.
Very pretty, even after more than 40 years.
There is though a slight catch. 1 Qe2 is better, and then Black’s best is 1…Qd5, hitting the LPDO Rb3: but the game goes on. Black is winning, of course, if he is an engine. Note that 1…Qd2 is ?? : 2 Qb5 and the engine’s evaluation swings to 0.0.
FEN
r7/6k1/1P1p2p1/3Ppn2/3q4/1R6/6PP/4QB1K b – – 0 1
434 14/9
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
White to play and mate Black.
Arhipov v Ajnhorn, USSR 1976.
Solution
A fantastic one: a lovely main line. Black can grovel (e.g. 1…Be7 and 2…Qg6) but the main line is
1 Re6+!
1… fe
2 Bh5+ Ke7
3 Nc6+!!
which is a very unusual motif: either capture leads to a different mate. 3…Nc6 4 Qd7mate, or 3…Bc6 4 Nc8 mate.
Very nice.
FEN
1n2kb1r/rb3p1p/pN2pp2/1p4q1/3N4/5B2/PPP3PP/R2QR2K w k – 0 1
allanbeardsworth 