Here are some chess puzzles from the games of Boris Spassky.
White to move and win except where noted.
Solutions are between the brackets under each puzzle.Drag your mouse from one bracket to the other.
a)
Spassky vs Aivars Gipslis, Baku, 1961
[ Rxg7+ w/Rc1 ]
b)
White Mates in 5. Spassky vs Marschalek, Leningrad, 1960
[ Qh6 ]
c)
Spassky vs Alexander Tolush, Riga, 1958
[ Rd7 w/Qxe6+ ]
d)
Spassky vs Viacheslav Ragozin, Leningrad, 1956
[ Rc8 if Nxc8 Qd8+ mates ]
e)
White Mates in 5. Spassky vs Purev Tumurbator, Leningrad, 1960
[ Rg6 ]
Spassky vs Fischer, Game 11, 1972
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Spassky Puzzles, Part II. White to move and win.
a)
Spassky vs Harry Golombeck, Bucharest, 1953
[ Qxe6 w/Ne7+ & Nc6 ]
b)
Spassky vs Vassily Smyslov, Bucharest, 1953
[ Nxg7 if Kxg7 Rg3+ & if Kf8 Rxf7+ mates ]
c)
Spassky vs Vladlen Zurakhov, Leningrad, 1955
[ Nxf6 Nd5 (if gxf6 Qxf6+ mates) Nxd5 ]
d)
Spassky vs Abram Poliak, Leningrad, 1957
[ Rxf5 if gxf5 Qh8+ Kd7 Rg8+ (if Qxg8 Qe5+ mates) ]
e)
Spassky vs Lev Aronson, Moscow, 1957
[ Nf6 Nxf6 exf6 Qxf6 d7 ]
Spassky Puzzles, Part III. White to move and win except where noted.
a)
Spassky vs Efim Stoliar, Moscow, 1957
[ Bh6 ]
b)
Spassky vs Edmar Mednis, Reykjavik, 1957
[ Rxd7 b1/Q Nxe6 ]
c)
Spassky vs Nikolay Kopylov, Rostov on Don, 1958
[ Qxd8+ w/Bxc6 ]
d)
Spassky vs Aron Reshko, Leningrad, 1959
[ Bf4 w/Qg7 ]
e)
White Mates in 7. Spassky vs Mikhail Tal, Moscow, 1959
[ f6 dxe1+ Bxe1 Qd4+ Kh1 ]
Spassky Puzzles, Part IV. White to move and win except where noted.
a)
White Mates in 10. Spassky vs Stefan Witkowski, Riga, 1959
[ Rxe4+ Be6 Qxh8+ Kd7 Qd4+ Ke8 Qf6 ]
b)
Spassky vs Peter Gibbs, Leningrad, 1960
[ Bd3 w/Bf5 ]
c)
Spassky vs Robert Fischer, Mar del Plata, 1960
[ Re5 Rd8 Qe4 Qh4 Rf4 ]
d)
Spassky vs Boris Vladimirov, Baku, 1961
[ Bf2 ]
e)
Spassky vs David Bronstein, Moscow, 1961
[ Rd1 ]
Spassky Puzzles, Part V. White to move and win except where noted.
a)
White Mates in 5. Spassky vs Aleksandar Matanovic, Habana, 1962
[ Rxf8+ Qxf8 Rh8+ Kxh8 Qh2+ ]
b)
White Mates in 7. Spassky vs Ruiz Ortega, Habana, 1962
[ Qf5+ Bg6 Rd7+ Kh8 Qxg6 ]
c)
White Mates in 6. Spassky vs Larry Evans, Varna, 1962
[ Rxf7+ Ke8 Qxg6 Nh6 Rg7+ ]
d)
White Mates in 7. Spassky vs Yuri Nikolaevsky, Kharkov, 1963
[ Qf5+ Kg7 Qg4+ Kh7 Rxh6+ ]
e)
Spassky vs Mark Taimanov, Leningrad, 1963
[ Qxf6+ ]
Spassky Puzzles, Part VI. White to move and win.
a)
Spassky vs Valery Bykov, Leningrad, 1963
5k2/pb5p/1n1p2P1/6q1/3B4/P1P1p3/6PP/1Q4K1 w - - 0 1
[ Qf1+ Ke8 Qf7+ w/Bf6+ ]
b)
Spassky vs Alejandro Espinoza, Tel Aviv, 1964
r4qrk/pb1pp1b1/1p2n2p/3N1p1Q/1PP2P2/3BB2R/P5PP/2R3K1 w - - 0 1
[ Qg6 if Bxd5 Bxf5 ]
c)
Spassky vs Eduardo Perez, Tel Aviv, 1964
r3k2r/1q1b1p2/2p1p2p/2PnR3/1p1PB2p/pP3Q2/P2B1PP1/4R1K1 w - - 0 1
[ Rxd5 exd5 Bxd5 if Kd8 Qf6+ mates ]
d)
Spassky vs Mario Bertok, Sochi, 1966
1r5r/k7/p2pBp2/2q5/1R2P2p/P1Q1b3/1P4P1/1K1R4 w - - 0 1
[ Rc4 if Qb6 Rc6 ]
e)
Spassky vs Tigran Petrosian, Moscow, 1967
6R1/kp2qp2/p4p2/P7/1P1Nr1P1/2PQb3/1K6/8 w - - 0 1
[ b5 if axb5 Nxb5+ mates or if Bxd4 Qxd4+ mates ]
Spassky Puzzles, Part VII. White to move and win except where noted.
a)
White Mates in 4. Spassky vs Christian Langeweg, Sochi, 1967
r1r2bk1/p4pBp/1p6/3q1N2/n1P5/4R3/P3QPPP/6K1 w - - 0 1
[ Nh6+ ]
b)
White Mates in 3. Spassky vs Victor Korchnoi, Kiev, 1968
8/5r1k/p3Npp1/4p3/3nP3/4QP2/PP2q1P1/1KR5 w - - 0 1
[ Qh6+ ]
c)
Spassky vs Yosef Porath, Lugano, 1968
r1bN2k1/1nq4p/p4pp1/1p2p3/8/Q4BP1/PPP2P1P/2KR4 w - - 0 1
[ Bd5+ Kg7 Bxb7 if Bxb7 Ne6+ ]
d)
Spassky vs Tigran Petrosian, Moscow, 1969
r2qrb1k/1p1b2p1/p3p1Qp/7n/3pN3/1B6/PPP4P/1K3RR1 w - - 0 1
[ Ng5 if hxg5 Qxh5+ Kg8 Qf7+ Kh8 Rf3 ]
e)
Spassky vs Bent Larsen, Palma de Majorca, 1969
6k1/1p3p2/p2prPq1/8/7p/2Q5/PP3RP1/6K1 w - - 0 1
[ Qc8+ Kh7 Qxe6 ]
Spassky Puzzles, Part VIII. White to move and win except where noted.
a)
Spassky vs Robert Fischer, Siegen, 1970
4R3/p1q2k1p/3r2p1/1p1N2P1/2nQ1P2/7P/P7/6K1 w - - 0 1
[ Rf8+ if Kxf8 Qh8+ ]
b)
Spassky vs Robert Zuk, Canada, 1971
2b5/5Nqk/pp4r1/2p1p3/P1Q5/6R1/1P4PP/6K1 w - - 0 1
[ Qh4+ Kg8 Nh6+ if Kf8 Qd8# ]
c)
White Mates in 5. Spassky vs Duncan Suttles, Canada, 1971
8/1p5k/6p1/3P1n1p/1p2Q3/8/PB3q1p/2R4K w - - 0 1
[ Rc7+ ]
d)
Spassky vs Borje Jansson, Goteborg, 1972
3r3k/1b1qrp1p/1p1p1Rp1/1p1P2Q1/3NP3/P6P/1P4P1/5RK1 w - - 0 1
[ Rxf7 Rxf7 Rxf7 Qxf7 Qxd8+ Kg7 Ne6+ if Kh6 Qh4# ]
e)
White Mates in 5. Spassky vs Igor Efimov, Moscow, 1972
r1br2k1/1p3pp1/p3p3/4P1N1/6Q1/3Bq3/PPP3PP/5R1K w - - 0 1
[ Qh5 ]
Spassky Puzzles, Part IX. White to move and win except where noted.
a)
White Mates in 5. Spassky vs I Ulmanis, Moscow, 1972
r4rkb/pppqpp1n/3n2p1/3P4/3PbNP1/1BN1B3/PPPQ4/2KR3R w - - 0 1
[ Qh2 if g5 Nxe4 or if Bxh1 Rxh1 ]
b)
Spassky vs Radolfo Tan Cardoso, Nice, 1974
r4bQ1/2qkrB2/p2p1p1p/8/8/8/PpP3PP/1K1RR3 w - - 0 1
[ Rxe7+ Kxe7 Re1+ Kd7 Be6+ if Ke8 Bf5+ mates ]
c)
Spassky vs Levente Lengyel, Tallinn, 1975
r4rk1/2q1b1pp/pp2pn2/4N1B1/Pn6/2N5/1P2QPPP/3RR1K1 w - - 0 1
[ Nd7 if Nxd7 Qxe6+ ]
d)
White Mates in 8. Spassky vs Robert Huebner, Solingen, 1977
8/2p1k3/2P3p1/3R2K1/5Rp1/4P3/5rrP/8 w - - 0 1
[ Rd7+ Ke8 Re4+ Kf8 Kxg6 ]
e)
White Mates in 6. Spassky vs Jean Hebert, Buenos Aires, 1978
2k4r/b4pp1/p1p1p1r1/B3Pn2/P1P3N1/1R4PP/3P2K1/1R6 w - - 0 1
[ Rb7 ]
Spassky Puzzles, Part X. White to move and win except where noted.
a)
Spassky vs Bent Larsen, Bugojno, 1978
2kr3r/pp1n2p1/2q2ppn/2bR4/2p2B2/2N2NP1/PPP1QP1P/2KR4 w - - 0 1
[ Rd6 Bxd6 Rxd6 if Qc5 Rd5 Qb6 Qxc4+ ]
b)
Spassky vs Anthony Miles, Bugojno, 1978
7k/p3p3/1bR3pp/6N1/2Pr4/6P1/P3K2P/8 w - - 0 1
[ Rc8+ Kg7 Ne6+ ]
c)
Spassky vs Francisco Sanz Alonso, Montilla, 1978
3q2kr/n1pbR1b1/p6p/P2P4/2P2p2/2NB1N2/2K2P2/Q7 w - - 0 1
[ Rxg7+ Kxg7 Ne4+ Kg8 Nf6+ w/Nxd7 ]
d)
White Mates in 4. Spassky vs Robert Huebner, Munich, 1979
r1n4k/p2pN1pB/bpp5/4B3/2P5/4nR2/P5PP/6K1 w - - 0 1
[ Bg6 if Nxe7 Bf7 ]
e)
Spassky vs Robert Huebner, Tilburg, 1979
5r1k/p5bp/1p3p2/2pq1Pp1/2nPN2r/2P2Q2/P5PP/2B1RRK1 w - - 0 1
[ Nxg5 if Qxf3 Nxf3 Rh5 g4 or if Qd6 g3 Rh6 Ne6 ]
Spassky Puzzles, Part XI. White to move and win except where noted.
a)
Spassky vs Bent Larsen, Tilburg, 1980
8/2R3p1/5pk1/p3prp1/3r4/PP1n2PP/3R1P2/3N1K2 w - - 0 1
[ Ne3 if Rf3 Nc2 w/Kg2 ]
b)
Spassky vs Vlastimil Hort, Germany, 1981
2r3k1/R5bp/3p1pp1/1b2r1P1/4P3/3P4/5BBP/5RK1 w - - 0 1
[ gxf6 if Bxf6 or Bf8 Bd4 ]
c)
White Mates in 2. Spassky vs Arnulf Westermeier, Germany, 1982
5R2/4r1r1/1p4k1/p1pB2Bp/P1P4K/2P1p3/1P6/8 w - - 0 1
[ Rf6+ ]
d)
Spassky vs Bernd Feustel, Germany, 1982
3kb2Q/2pq1p2/pr6/1p1B4/2P5/6P1/1P5P/4R1K1 w - - 0 1
[ c5 Rg6 c6 if Rxc6 Rxe8+ ]
e)
Spassky vs Karl Juhnke, Germany, 1983
7k/2p1r1b1/1pBnq3/p1p1p2P/8/5pR1/PPQ2P2/1K4R1 w - - 0 1
[ Rg6 w/h6 ]
Spassky Puzzles, Part XII. White to move and win except where noted.
a)
Spassky vs Johann Hjartarson, Belfort, 1988
1rb5/p2pk2p/4p1p1/5Pq1/2p5/3P4/PPP1Q1BP/5RK1 w - - 0 1
[ Qe5 if Ra8 f6+ ]
b)
Spassky vs Sejer Holm, Nordwalde, 1988
r1b2k1r/6bp/2pNpnp1/p1pqN3/5B2/3P4/2PQ2PP/1R3RK1 w - - 0 1
[ c4 Qd4+ Kh1 w/Be3+ or Nxc6 ]
c)
Spassky vs Miguel Illescas Cordoba, Linares, 1990
r1b1rk2/bp3pp1/2pp1q1p/p1n4Q/2P2P2/P2BP1R1/1P1BN1PP/R6K w - - 0 1
[ Bc3 if Qe7 or Qe6 Bxg7+ or if Qd8 Rxg7 ]
d)
Spassky vs Eric Prie, Montpellier, 1991
1rr2b1k/1q1b1pp1/4p2p/3pP3/p2N1B2/1PP3R1/4QPPP/R5K1 w - - 0 1
[ Bxh6 if gxh6 Qg4 mates or if g6 Bxf8 Rxf8 Qf3 ]
e)
Spassky vs Robert Fischer, Sveti-Stefan/Belgrade, 1992
2b2bk1/5rrn/1p1p2nR/pNpPp1PQ/P1P1Ppq1/5N2/1P1BB3/2K4R w - - 0 1
[ Rxg6 if Qxh5 Rxg7+ ]
f)
White Mates in 2. Spassky vs G Gilquin, Bastia, 1997
r3kb1r/q5pp/p1p1Bnn1/1p2Q3/8/2N2PBP/PPP5/2KRR3 w - - 0 1
[ Bf7+ ]
g)
Spassky vs Viktor Korchnoi, Mainz, 2005
2rb1rk1/4nppp/p2R1n2/P1B1pP2/1p2P3/1N4P1/1q4BP/R2Q2K1 w - - 0 1
[ Rd2 Qc3 Rc1 ]
Spassky Puzzles, Part XIII. Black to move and win except where noted.
a)
Black Mates in 3. Viktor Korchnoi Viktor vs Spassky, Leningrad, 1952
3r3k/6pp/r3bB2/2R5/1q2p3/4Q3/1N5P/2K1R3 b - - id 0-1
[ ...Ra1+ w/Rd2+ or Bb3+ ]
b)
Black Mates in 7. Staf Somers vs Spassky, Antwerpen, 1955
6k1/1pp2p2/p2p2q1/2PPb3/4r3/Pr4PK/2R5/2Q2NR1 b - - id 0-1
[ ...Rh4+ if Kxh4 Qh7+ Kg5 f6+ Kg4 f5+ Kg5 Kg7 or if Kg2 Qe4+ ]
c)
V Sherbakov vs Spassky, Moscow, 1955
5bk1/5ppp/4r3/N2n4/8/1p1B1P2/1Pr3PP/1R1R2K1 b - - id 0-1
[ ...Ne3 if Nxb3 or Rc1 Rxg2+ mates ]
d)
Georgy Borisenko vs Spassky, Leningrad, 1956
2r1r2k/5qpp/p7/1p3p2/2b2BnP/2P3R1/P2Q1PP1/3BR1K1 b - - id 0-1
[ ...Rcd8 if Rxe8+ Qxe8 ]
e)
Semyen Furman vs Spassky, Moscow, 1957
5rk1/pp3r1p/2np2p1/3Np3/1PP5/3B1n1q/PB3R1P/2RQ3K b - - id 0-1
[ ...Ne1 ]
Spassky Puzzles, Part XIV. Black to move and win except where noted.
a)
Aivars Gipslis vs Spassky, Riga, 1959
r4rk1/p1p3pp/1bpP1pq1/2nb4/3Q3B/2P2N2/PP1NRPPP/5RK1 b - - id 0-1
[ ...Ne4 if Qd3 Ng3 or if Qa4 Nxd2 ]
b)
Black Mates in 3. Gyozo Forintos vs Spassky, Leningrad, 1960
2k4r/pp3pQ1/2q5/2n5/8/N3pPP1/P3r3/R1R3K1 b - - id 0-1
[ ...Rh1+ ]
c)
Semyen Furman vs Spassky, Moscow, 1961
2b3k1/1p5p/1r1p2r1/2pPnp2/P1P2n1q/5P2/3Q1R1P/R2N1BNK b - - id 0-1
[ ...Qg5 if Ne2 Ned3 ]
d)
Boisan vs Spassky, Varna, 1962
5r1k/3q1r1p/3pb1p1/p3p3/2PpP1P1/1P1Qb1NP/P5K1/1N2RR2 b - - id 0-1
[ ...Rf2+ Rxf2 Rxf2+ Kh1 Bxg4 if hxg4 Qxg4 mates ]
e)
Mikhail Kolpakov vs Spassky, Moscow, 1967
5rk1/5qpp/3p4/1QnPpn2/r3N3/2R2PP1/2R1N2P/6K1 b - - id 0-1
[ ...Ra1+ if Rc1 Rxc1+ Rxc1 Nxe4 fxe4 Ne3 ]
Spassky Puzzles, Part XV. Black to move and win.
a)
Bent Larsen vs Spassky, Belgrade, 1970
2kr3r/ppp1qpp1/2p5/2b2b2/2P1pPP1/1P2P1p1/PBQPB3/RN2K1R1 b Q - id 0-1
[ ...Rh1 Rxh1 g2 if Rg1 Qh4+ Kd1 Qh1 ]
b)
Lazaros Vizantiadis vs Spassky, Siegen, 1970
5r2/1p1bq1k1/p1pb2p1/3Pp2p/P1B1P3/5N2/1P3rPP/R1Q3RK b - - id 0-1
[ ...R8xf3 if gxf3 Rxh2+ mates ]
c)
Mathias Gerusel vs Spassky, Solingen, 1974
4rrk1/ppnb2bp/3p2n1/2pP2P1/P1P1NpPq/2N4P/1P1BB1K1/R3Q2R b - - id 0-1
[ ...Bxc3 if Nxc3 f3+ ]
d)
Svetozar Gligoric vs Spassky, Bugojno, 1978
8/2r3k1/q5p1/1b1p1pRp/3P1P1P/2p1P3/2Q3PK/rBR5 b - - id 0-1
[ ...Bd3 ]
e)
Bent Larsen vs Spassky, Linares, 1981
8/p4bk1/3p3p/3P2p1/PP2B3/3PqQ1K/7P/8 b - - id 0-1
[ ...g4+ if Kxg4 Bh5+ ]
Spassky Puzzles, Part XVI. Black to move and win except where noted.
a)
Jan Timman vs Spassky, Hilversum, 1983
3r1bk1/1b2qp2/4n1p1/4P2p/N2p4/3Q1NP1/1R3PBP/2rR2K1 b - - id 0-1
[ ...Qa3 if Qf1 Rxd1 Qxd1 Bc6 ]
b)
Bent Larsen vs Spassky, Bugojno, 1984
b3r1k1/p4pp1/3q4/2p4p/N1Rb4/1P4PP/PB3P1K/3Q4 b - - id 0-1
[ ...Qd5 if f3 Bg1+ mates ]
c)
Black Mates in 5. Gilles Andruet vs Spassky, Bundesliga, 1988
4r1k1/3b1p2/5qp1/1BPpn2p/7n/r3P1N1/2Q1RPPP/1R3NK1 b - - id 0-1
[ ...Qf3 if gxf3 Nexf3+ Kh1 Bh3 ]
d)
Lorinczi Retek vs Spassky, Nordwalde, 1988
r7/1pb2kp1/2p2pr1/2Pnp1p1/pP1p4/P2P1PPq/1BR2P1P/1R1Q1NK1 b - - id 0-1
[ ...Nf4 gxf4 gxf4+ Ng3 Rh8 ]
e)
Claude Adrian vs Spassky, France, 1991
4r1k1/p1q4p/bp4p1/2rR1p2/4n3/PQP1PNP1/5PBP/4R1K1 b - - id 0-1
[ ...Qf7 if Red1 Bc4 ]
Spassky Puzzles, Part XVII. Black to move and win except where noted.
a)
Estremera Panos vs Spassky, Oviedo, 1991
6r1/1p1b2r1/p1p5/2P5/PP1kpN1p/2R4P/3K2P1/5R2 b - - id 0-1
[ ...Rxg2+ ]
b)
Zsuzsa Polgar vs Spassky, Prague, 1995
6k1/3r1p2/2Q3pp/1N4n1/1pp1P3/5Bq1/1P4P1/5RK1 b - - id 0-1
[ ...Nxf3+ Rxf3 Rd1+ Rf1 Qe3+ ]
c)
Zhu Chen vs Spassky, Marbella, 1999
3r1rk1/p4pp1/1p2q2p/4P2Q/2p1RB2/Pn5P/1P3PP1/3R2K1 b - - id 0-1
[ ...Qg6 ]
d)
Marc Santo-Roman vs Spassky, Paris, 2002
4r1k1/2p3pp/1n1b4/1pp1N3/5P2/1PB3P1/r1P1R1KP/R7 b - - id 0-1
[ ...Nd5 ]
Other World Champions
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