Here are some chess puzzles taken from the games of Veselin Topalov.
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)
White Mates in 6. Topalov vs. Jonathan Speelman, Moscow, 1995
[ e7+ Kxe7 Qxg7+ Kd8 Qf6+ Ke8 Bf7+ ]
b)
Topalov vs. Ariel Sorin, Benidorm, 1992
[ Nd5 if Qe8 Qc3 ]
c)
Topalov vs. Carlos Lozano, Oviedo, 1992
[ Bxg6 exd4 Bxd4 hxg6 c5 ]
d)
Topalov vs. Artur Jussupow, Novgorod, 1995
[ Nf5 Qc7 (if gxf5 Qxh5 w/Rxf5 or Rg1+) Rg1+ ]
e)
Topalov vs. Alfonso Romero Holmes, Leon, 1993
[ Rdg1 ]
Topalov vs Kamsky, 2006
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Topalov Puzzles, Part II. White to move and win.
a)
Topalov vs Marc Santo-Roman, Las Palmas, 1991
r1b3k1/q2n2pp/pp2pr2/8/1PN5/4Q3/P1B2PPP/R1R3K1 w - - 0 1
[ Nd6 if Bb7 Nxb7 w/Be4 or if Nf8 Nxc8 w/Bxh7+ ]
b)
Topalov vs Yury Piskov, Star Dojran, 1991
5rk1/pp2R3/3p1rqp/5b2/2P3p1/P2n2PP/5PBN/3Q1RK1 w - - 0 1
[ Bd5+ if Kh8 hxg4 ]
c)
Topalov vs Stephen Boyd, Alicante, 1992
6k1/1B3r1p/p5p1/2Q5/1rb5/2b3P1/7P/3R3K w - - 0 1
[ Bxa6 if Bxa6 Rd8+ ]
d)
Topalov vs A Pomata, Alicante, 1992
8/p2brn1k/1p4pp/3pBp1P/P2P1PP1/2P5/2B2K2/R7 w - - 0 1
[ hxg6+ Kxg6 gxf5+ Bxf5 Rg1+ ]
e)
Topalov vs Ivan Manolov, Burgas, 1992
8/p5kp/6p1/2pP4/2p1N1Pb/7P/PP4K1/1B1b4 w - - 0 1[ Nc3 ]
Topalov Puzzles, Part III. White to move and win except where noted.
a)
Topalov vs Alexei Shirov, Oviedo, 1992
r3k1r1/4bpP1/p2p4/1p1qp2Q/7P/3B4/PPP5/1KB2R2 w - - 0 1
[ Qh7 w/Be4 ]
b)
White Mates in 3. Topalov vs Elizbar Ubilava, Palma de Majorca, 1992
r1b1r3/qp1n1pk1/2pp2p1/p3n3/N1PNP1P1/1P3P2/P6Q/1K1R1B1R w - - 0 1
[ Nf5+ if gxf5 Qh6+ or if Kf6 g5+ ]
c)
Topalov vs Pablo Glavina, St Cugat, 1992
8/8/8/pp1p2k1/6P1/4R1KP/6N1/6q1 w - - 0 1
[ Re6 ]
d)
Topalov vs Juan Mellado Trivino, Terrasa, 1992
r3rbk1/1p1q2pp/5p2/pNpnP3/P2p1PP1/1P3Q1P/1P1B4/R3R2K w - - 0 1
[ Nd6 w/Qxd5 or Nxe8 ]
e)
White Mates in 7. Topalov vs Igor Gazik, Budapest, 1993
1r4k1/p1q3r1/6Q1/3pp2p/1p5P/1P1B1PR1/2P1K1P1/8 w - - 0 1
[ Qh7+ Kf8 Qh8+ Rg8 Rxg8+ ]
Topalov vs Levon Aronian, Morelia, 2008
Topalov Puzzles, Part IV. White to move and win except where noted.
a)
Topalov vs Vladimir Tukmakov, Groningen, 1993
3r4/2Rr2pp/pP2ppk1/5q2/7Q/P3B2P/5PP1/6K1 w - - 0 1
[ b7 if Rxc7 Qg3+ or if e5 g4 ]
b)
White Mates in 6. Topalov vs Evgenij Ermenkov, Burgas, 1994
4qrk1/QR1N2p1/2p1p2p/3pPp1b/3P1P2/2P3P1/7P/6K1 w - - 0 1
[ Nf6+ Rxf6 Rxg7+ Kf8 exf6 ]
c)
White Mates in 4. Topalov vs Garry Kasparov, Moscow, 1994
4k2r/1R3R2/p3p1pp/4b3/1BnNr3/8/P1P5/5K2 w - - 0 1
[ Rfe7+ Kd8 Nc6+ Kc8 Na7+ ]
d)
Black to move and win. Lazaro Bruzon vs Topalov, Wijk aan Zee, 2005
[ ...Qg3+ w/...Rh6 ]
e)
Topalov vs Rustam Kasimdzhanov, Linares, 2005
r4r1k/p2n3p/1p1N1ppq/3Q4/4RP2/P1P5/4B1PP/6K1 w - - 0 1
[ Nf7+ Rxf7 Qxf7 if Nf8 Re7 ]
Topalov Puzzles, Part V. White to move and win except where noted.
a)
Topalov vs Ilia Smirin, Polanica Zdroj, 1995
5r2/1bNkb2p/p7/3p4/1PN2B2/8/1n4PP/2R4K w - - 0 1
[ Nb6+ Kd8 Ne6+ ]
b)
Topalov vs Jan Timman, Amsterdam, 1996
r7/1p3k2/7Q/p2p2r1/5q2/1P1B1P1P/P4P2/4R2K w - - 0 1
[ Bg6+ ]
c)
Topalov vs H Pollmann, Frankfurt, 1997
rnbq1rk1/pp2bppp/4pn2/2pP4/4PB2/2NB1N2/PPQ2PPP/R4RK1 w - - 0 1
[ d6 Bxd6 Bxd6 Qxd6 e5 ]
d)
Topalov vs Predrag Nikolic, Monte Carlo, 1997
3rk2r/R2bb1p1/1p6/4Pp1p/3N3P/1R2B1P1/5PK1/8 w - - 0 1
[ e6 if Bc8 Nc6 ]
e)
White Mates in 6. Topalov vs Anatoly Karpov, Wijk aan Zee, 1998
5qk1/p5bR/r3n1p1/4P1N1/1pp2P2/6K1/1P1Q4/7R w - - 0 1
[ Rh8+ Bxh8 Rxh8+ Kxh8 Qh2+ ]
Topalov Puzzles, Part VI. White to move and win except where noted.
a)
White Mates in 6. Topalov vs Ljubomir Ljubojevic, Monaco, 1999
3R4/1b4rk/4B1p1/qp2Qp1p/4p3/1P2P1P1/5P1P/6K1 w - - 0 1
[ Bg8+ Rxg8 Rd7+ Kh6 Qf4+ g5 Qd6+ ]
b)
Topalov vs Loek Van Wely, Monaco, 1999
2r1k2r/1p1n1p2/p2p1np1/4p1B1/4P1bP/2N3R1/PqPQ1P2/R3KB2 w - - 0 1
[ Rb1 Qa3 Nxf6+ w/Nd5 ]
c)
White Mates in 5. Topalov vs Anatoly Karpov, Monaco, 1999
8/1p5p/5Q2/p3N2k/P2r4/6Pp/5P1K/5q2 w - - 0 1
[ g4+ Rxg4 Qf5+ Kh6 Nxg4+ ]
d)
Topalov vs Loek Van Wely, Wijk aan Zee, 1999
2r4k/7p/p1nQN1r1/1p3N1b/2q5/2P3P1/PPB4P/4R1K1 w - - 0 1
[ Ne7 Nxe7 Qe5+ Kg8 Bxg6 ]
e)
White Mates in 4. Topalov vs Artur Jussopow, Frankfurt, 2000
8/P3k3/6R1/3pNK2/b2P1PP1/8/r7/8 w - - 0 1
[ Rg7+ Kd6 a8/Q ]
Topalov Puzzles, Part VII. White to move and win except where noted.
a)
Topalov vs Giovanni Vescovi, Moscow, 2001
r4bk1/5bp1/p2pq2p/1ppnN3/P7/2B3RP/1P3PP1/1B2Q1K1 w - - 0 1
[ Qe4 ]
b)
Topalov vs Evgeny Bareev, Dortmund, 2002
r6r/k4pp1/2q1p2p/1R1n4/7P/8/PPP1QPP1/2KR4 w - - 0 1
[ Rdxd5 if exd5 Qe3+ ]
c)
White Mates in 6. Topalov vs Ljubomir Ljubojevic, Monte Carlo, 2003
r1b1k3/3p1r2/p2Rp1Q1/5pB1/1p2q3/8/PPP3PP/1K1R4 w - - 0 1
[ Rxe6+ Qxe6 Qxe6+ ]
d)
Topalov vs Evgeny Bareev, Monte Carlo, 2003
1r3r1k/pb2bpp1/1p2p2p/2q3N1/4BQ1P/8/PPP2PP1/1K1R3R w - - 0 1
[ Bxb7 Rxb7 Qe4 ]
e)
Topalov vs Vassily Ivanchuk, Monte Carlo, 2004
Q4n2/2q2k1p/2p2bp1/1pP1p3/1P2P3/3N1NP1/5PK1/8 w - - 0 1
[ Qxc6 if Qxc6 Nfxe5+ ]
f)
Topalov vs Peter Leko, Monte Carlo, 2004
7k/7p/4n2q/2b5/2P1Q2P/4pRP1/8/7K w - - 0 1
[ Qe5+ ]
Topalov Puzzles, Part VIII. Black to move and win except where noted.
a)
Zahari Zahariev vs Topalov, Sofia, 1989
1rr3k1/2q1bppp/3pb3/4p1P1/ppn1P2P/3N1P2/PPP1NQ2/K1BRR3 b - - 0 1
[ ...Na3 if bxa3 Qc4 or if Rf1 Qxc2 ]
b)
Veselin Pantev vs Topalov, Pazardzik, 1991
r6r/pp3pk1/2p2n2/2P1qbp1/PPR1p2P/4P1P1/5QB1/4R1NK b - - 0 1
[ ...Ng4 if Qc2 Qxg3 Bh3 Nf2+ ]
c)
Jesus Baena vs Topalov, Benidorm, 1992
2r2rk1/p3b1p1/1pn1p1qp/3pP3/3B1P1P/1Q1P1K2/PP2NP2/R4R2 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qh5+ Ke3 Qxe2+ Kxe2 Nxd4+ ]
d)
Igor Stohl vs Topalov, Burgas, 1992
8/pp2pkr1/2p2n2/3p3r/PP1P1Q2/3qPP2/5RB1/4R1K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qh7 if Kf1 Rh2 ]
e)
Alon Greenfeld vs Topalov, Burgas, 1994
4r1k1/q4ppp/p4n2/1pN1n3/3r4/1P3BP1/P3QP1P/2R1R1K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Nxf3+ Qxf3 Rxe1+ Rxe1 Qxc5 ]
Topalov Puzzles, Part IX. Black to move and win.
a)
Vassily Ivanchuk vs Topalov, Las Palmas, 1996
r3qbk1/2R3p1/p2pNR2/4n3/NP2b1r1/1Q2B3/PP4BP/6K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rxg2+ Kf1 Qb5+ ]
b)
Loek Van Wely vs Topalov, Antwerpen, 1997
2r4k/N6p/3p2p1/1Q1Pb3/Pq2Pr1P/R1p2P2/1P6/1KR5 b - - 0 1
[ ...c2+ if Ka2 Qd2 Qf1 Qd4+ or if Ka1 Qxa3# ]
c)
Predrag Nikolic vs Topalov, Linares, 1997
r1q3k1/2n1pp1p/3p2p1/2pP4/1r1bPPn1/1PN2QPP/PB4N1/1R3R1K b - - 0 1
[ ...Ne5 ]
d)
Jeroen Piket vs Topalov, Madrid, 1997
3r1r1k/1Qn1q1bp/6p1/3n4/4p1B1/R2p3P/1P1B1PPN/2R3K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rb8 if Qa7 Bxb2 ]
e)
Ljubomir Ljubojevic vs Topalov, Monte Carlo (blindfold), 1997
4RB2/2q2p1k/1p4pp/8/3n1PP1/2b2B2/6KP/3R4 b - - 0 1
[ ...Nxf3 Kxf3 Qc6+ Re4 f5 ]
Topalov Puzzles, Part X. Black to move and win except where noted.
a)
Black Mates in 3. Loek Van Wely vs Topalov, Wijk aan Zee (blitz), 1998
5bk1/5pp1/7p/1P5Q/5q2/7P/B2r2R1/6K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Bc5+ ]
b)
Loek Van Wely vs Topalov, Wijk aan Zee, 1999
2rqr1k1/1b1n1pbp/pp2p1p1/3n4/1P6/P1NRPN2/1B2QPPP/1BR3K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Nxc3 if Bxc3 Be4 ]
c)
Mikhail Gurevich vs Topalov, Sarajevo, 2000
4q1k1/1pp2rbp/6r1/p1Pp1b2/3B1p2/Q1P2P2/P3PRBP/3R1K2 b - - 0 1
[ ...Bxd4 w/Rfg7 & Bh3 ]
d)
JC Dominguez vs Topalov, Villarrobledo, 2000
4r1k1/pB3ppp/4rnq1/1P1p4/1RbP1B2/2P1RQP1/7P/6K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rxe3 if Bxe3 Qd3 ]
e)
Ljubomir Ljubojevic vs Topalov, Monte Carlo (blindfold), 2003
5rk1/1p1b3p/p2p2p1/3P3r/P3Pq2/2NQ3P/1P3PKR/5R2 b - - 0 1
[ ...Bg4 if f3 Bxf3 Rxf3 Rg5+ ]
f)
Black Mates in 4. Teimour Radjabov vs Topalov, Wijk aan Zee, 2003
6k1/5p2/6p1/8/p2b1P2/P2q3p/3p3P/3Q1R1K b - - 0 1
[ ...Qe4+ if Qf3 d1/Q or if Rf3 Bf2 ]
g)
Jan Timman vs Topalov, Wijk aan Zee, 2003
5k2/pQ6/4q3/4b3/4P3/P5p1/1P3p2/K1R5 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qc4 ]
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