King-pawn Opening Series
Here are some chess puzzles from top rated games of 1997.
Solutions are between the brackets under each puzzle.Drag your cursor from one bracket to the other.
a)
White mates in 2.
Ilija Balinov vs Hermann Hamberger, Aschach, 1997
5kn1/1p1qppb1/3p2p1/3P1nNp/2P5/1PBB3P/5PP1/Q5K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qa8+ if Qe8 Nh7# ]
b)
White mates in 2.
Boris Spassky vs G Gilquin, Bastia, 1997
r3kb1r/q5pp/p1p1Bnn1/1p2Q3/8/2N2PBP/PPP5/2KRR3 w kq - 1 0
[ Bf7+ ]
c)
White mates in 2.
Hugo Spangenberg vs Vasilios Kotronias, Buenos Aires, 1997
6k1/1q5p/2nP2pB/8/4RP2/2Q3PP/r7/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qh8+ ]
d)
White mates in 2.
Humpy Koneru vs Thi Bao Tram Hoang, Cannes, 1997
6rk/1p2Q1pp/2p3b1/q7/pn6/1PB1b1P1/P5BP/2R2R1K w - - 1 0
[ Qxg7+ ]
e)
White mates in 2.
Roman Slobodjan vs Michael Mischustov, Germany, 1997
2r3k1/1p4pp/p3b3/4N3/3QpP2/P6P/1Pq3P1/3R2K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qd8+ ]
Puzzles from top rated games of 1997, pt. ii.
a)
White mates in 2.
Christopher Lutz vs Thies Heinemann, Gladenbach, 1997
3Q1rk1/2Q2p1p/6p1/p1q5/1bp5/7P/P1B1n1P1/5R1K w - - 1 0
[ Qxf7+ Kh8 Qdf6# ]
b)
White mates in 2.
Ferdinand Hellers vs Curt Hansen, Malme, 1997
2r2r2/p4p1k/1pn1pP1p/n2pPR2/q5PN/2p5/2PQ3P/4R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qxh6+ if Kxh6 Rh5# ]
c)
White mates in 2.
Pablo Ricardi vs Daniel Farace, Mar del Plata, 1997
1r5k/p5R1/4q2P/3pP1Q1/nppP4/2P5/2P2P1K/8 w - - 1 0
[ Rh7+ ]
d)
White mates in 2.
Anatoly Karpov vs Bidjukova, Voronezh, 1997
2r5/2R5/3npkpp/3bN3/p4PP1/4K3/P1B4P/8 w - - 1 0
[ g5+ hxg5 Ng4# ]
e)
White mates in 3.
Kevin Spraggett vs Guillaume Pelle, Andorra, 1997
r4q1k/p4p2/3pbNpp/2p4R/2p1P3/P2P2R1/2PQ1KPP/1r6 w - - 1 0
[ Rxh6+ if Kg7 Rh7+ ]
Puzzles from top rated games of 1997, pt. iii.
a)
White mates in 3.
Arik Braun vs Andreas Reischmann, Baden-Wuerttemberg, 1997
r1q4r/2p2p1p/p4kpQ/Pp1p4/3P2P1/2P2P2/2b2P1P/4RRK1 w - - 1 0
[ g5+ Kf5 Qh4 ]
b)
White mates in 3.
Arik Braun vs Raphael Staubach, Baden-Wuerttemberg, 1997
8/5p2/5p1p/3N4/p7/k1K1P3/4BPPP/8 w - - 1 0
[ Bc4 if f5 Nb4 h5 Nc2# ]
c)
White mates in 3.
Ulf Andersson vs Petar Popovic, Bar, 1997
4q3/7p/1p2pQpk/p2pP3/P2Pp1P1/4P2P/P5K1/8 w - - 1 0
[ g5+ Kh5 Qf4 ]
d)
White mates in 3.
Alexander Onischuk vs Gerald Hertneck, Biel, 1997
r1b2k2/pp4pp/8/2pn4/2B1pBq1/2P5/PP4P1/R4RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Bd6+ Ke8 Bb5+ ]
e)
White mates in 3.
Ilia Smirin vs Sahbaz Nurkic, Bratto, 1997
Q2rkr2/4n2p/1P4p1/2p5/2B2P2/8/P2q2PP/4R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Rxe7+ Kxe7 Qe4+ ]
'Characteristic Puzzles in the Opening' series
Puzzles from top rated games of 1997, pt. iv.
a)
White mates in 3.
Hikaru Nakamura vs Mohamad El Mikati, Cannes, 1997
r1b5/p1p3p1/1pQ4p/8/4R3/2P2kP1/PP3P1P/2K5 w - - 1 0
[ Rf4+ Ke2 Qh1 ]
b)
White mates in 3.
Veselin Topalov vs Manfred Schmid, Frankfurt, 1997
rn6/pp6/q3Pk2/2p5/4QP2/4P1B1/1P3K2/3R4 w - - 1 0
[ Qe5+ if Ke7 Bh4+ or if Kg6 Qg5+ ]
c)
White mates in 3.
Paul Van Der Sterren vs Vladimir Epishin, Germany, 1997
5b1k/p4Qpp/1q2np2/1pp2N2/4b1N1/1P4P1/PB3P1P/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Nfh6 gxh6 Nxf6 ]
d)
White mates in 3.
Vladimir Tukmakov vs Michael Schmid, Zuerich, 1997
5rrk/R5b1/3QR2p/2pP2q1/P1P2p2/3B1pP1/5P1P/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Rxh6+ Qxh6 Qxh6 Bxh6 Rh7# ]
e)
White mates in 3.
Jozsef Pinter vs Leighton Williams, Heraklio, 1997
6R1/pRnkr2p/5b2/2p2P2/2B1pP2/P7/1P5P/7K w - - 1 0
[ Bb5+ Kd6 Rd8+ ]
Puzzles from top rated games of 1997, pt. v.
a)
White mates in 3.
Jonathan Speelman vs Charles Cobb, Hove, 1997
6rk/pb3Rpp/np1pB2B/2pPp3/1PP5/6P1/P1Q3KP/4q3 w - - 1 0
[ Bxg7+ Rxg7 Rf8+ ]
b)
White mates in 3.
Vasilios Kotronias vs Konstantinos Mouroutis, Korinthos, 1997
2kr3r/1p1n1p2/p7/3P2p1/5B2/2Nb4/PP3PPP/2R3K1 w - - 1 0
[ Na4+ if Nc5 Nb6# ]
c)
White mates in 3.
Valery Loginov vs Andrey Gutov, Kstovo, 1997
6k1/pbR3pp/1n6/6q1/1b1r1P2/4R1PB/P3P2P/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Re8+ Bf8 Be6+ ]
d)
White mates in 3.
Konstantin Landa vs Karel Van Der Weide, Leeuwarden, 1997
r7/3R1Nkp/1pb3pb/4pp2/PP5P/1Q4P1/5P2/2q2BK1 w - - 1 0
[ Ng5+ ]
e)
White mates in 3.
Pablo Ricardi vs Cristian Dolezal, Mar del Plata, 1997
8/ppQ3pp/2p1krbq/3p4/5P2/1P3B1P/P6K/6R1 w - - 1 0
[ Bg4+ if Rf5 Re1+ ]
Puzzles from top rated games of 1997, pt. vi.
a)
White mates in 3.
Jure Borisek vs Mitja Potocnik, Maribor, 1997
1k4rr/6b1/BBn1pp2/3p3p/3P4/1RP5/5PPP/R5K1 w - - 1 0
[ Bd8+ Ka8 Bb7+ ]
b)
White mates in 3.
Nick De Firmian vs Robert Thora, New York, 1997
r3r1k1/ppp2ppp/5b2/3Q4/2B2P2/2N2K1R/PPP3P1/4q3 w - - 1 0
[ Qxf7+ Kh8 Rxh7+ ]
c)
White mates in 3.
Gilberto Milos vs James Mann De Toledo, Paulinia, 1997
3r1k2/pp1r2p1/5pq1/P2R1N2/7Q/5PP1/1PPp1P2/4R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qh8+ Kf7 Rxd7+ ]
d)
White mates in 3.
Alexander Lastin vs Viktor Varavin, Perm, 1997
5r2/3k2p1/R2p4/1P3Nq1/1K1NP3/6P1/3n1Q2/8 w - - 1 0
[ Ra7+ Ke8 Nxd6+ ]
e)
White mates in 3.
Alexei Fedorov vs Michele Godena, Pula, 1997
5R2/3kp3/p2p2Q1/2qP4/1p2P3/2p5/PPP1b1PP/1K6 w - - 1 0
[ Qe8+ Kc7 Qb8+ ]
Tactics you can use from wtharvey.com
Puzzles from top rated games of 1997, pt. vii.
a)
White mates in 3.
Rafael Vaganian vs Alexei Fedorov, Pula, 1997
r5q1/pbp2k1p/1p5Q/3n1pB1/2n5/6N1/PP3PPP/4R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Re7+ if Nxe7 Qf6+ ]
b)
White mates in 3.
Julian Hodgson vs Jonathan Rowson, Rotherham, 1997
1k5r/3R1pbp/1B2p3/2NpPn2/5p2/8/1PP3PP/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Rc7 ]
c)
White mates in 3.
Rainer Buhmann vs Holger Horn, Seckach, 1997
q6r/p4p2/k2rP3/p1Rp1p1p/P1pP1Pp1/2P5/2P1Q1PP/1R5K w - - 1 0
[ Rxc4 if Rb6 Rc7+ ]
d)
White mates in 3.
Valery Loginov vs Vladislav Vorotnikov, St. Petersburg, 1997
r4r2/1p5p/3b1Bp1/n7/2k2p1P/5B2/5PP1/1R2R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Rec1+ Kd3 Rc3+ ]
e)
White mates in 3.
Nick De Firmian vs Kari Nieminen, Stockholm, 1997
1r1r2k1/q2p2p1/p2P1pQp/2p1p3/4B2P/6P1/PP3P2/2R3K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qh7+ if Kf8 Bd5 ]
Puzzles from top rated games of 1997, pt. viii.
a)
White mates in 3.
Oleg Romanishin vs Aleksandar Wohl, Ubeda, 1997
8/7p/pp4bk/2pPQ3/PnP5/5R1P/1P4P1/1q3B1K w - - 1 0
[ Qf4+ Kh5 g4+ ]
b)
White mates in 3.
Friso Nijboer vs John Van Der Wiel, Wijk aan Zee, 1997
4r1k1/1pr1b1p1/pn4p1/4p3/bP2P1B1/P7/2P2R2/2BQ3K w - - 1 0
[ Be6+ ]
c)
White mates in 3.
Jan Markos vs Stefan Macak, Zilina, 1997
r3k2r/1ppnP1pp/p7/5pB1/2B5/8/P4P2/3QK3 w - - 1 0
[ Be6 if Nf6 Bxf6 ]
d)
White mates in 4.
Ivan Sokolov vs Vladimir Epishin, Groningen, 1997
7k/1p3p1B/p3P2Q/2P1n3/1P6/P2p4/5KPP/q7 w - - 1 0
[ Bg6+ Kg8 exf7+ ]
e)
White mates in 4.
Jeroen Piket vs Ivan Sokolov, Antwerpen, 1997
qr6/6k1/2P1Q1p1/p3N1N1/7n/P6P/5Pn1/4R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qd7+ Kh6 Nef7+ Kg7 Qd4+ ]
Puzzles from top rated games of 1997, pt. ix.
a)
White mates in 4.
Drazen Sermek vs Lexy Ortega, Arco, 1997
kbR5/ppr2pp1/8/3Q4/q2P2Pp/4B2P/1P3PK1/8 w - - 1 0
[ Rxb8+ Kxb8 Qd8+ Rc8 Bf4+ ]
b)
White mates in 4.
Ulf Andersson vs Marc Geenen, Athens, 1997
8/p3R2R/6p1/6k1/3q4/5BP1/5P1P/3n2K1 w - - 1 0
[ h4+ Kf5 Rhf7+ Qf6 g4+ ]
c)
White mates in 4.
Rustem Dautov vs Joshua Waitzkin, Bad Wiessee, 1997
3r1r2/1p1b1p1k/p3pB1p/q7/8/4Q1R1/1P1b1PPP/4R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Rg7+ Kh8 Rg6+ Kh7 Rxh6+ ]
d)
White mates in 4.
Drazen Sermek vs Tomasz Markowski, Cannes, 1997
4r2k/pp2r2p/1qn3p1/6N1/P6Q/1P5P/5RP1/5R1K w - - 1 0
[ Rf8+ Rxf8 Rxf8+ Kg7 Qxh7+ ]
e)
White mates in 4.
Lajos Portisch vs Michael Tischendorf, Frankfurt, 1997
6rk/1p4rp/8/5q2/8/6R1/1Q3PPP/3R2K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qxg7+ ]
'Tactics in the Sicilian' series
Puzzles from top rated games of 1997, pt. x.
a)
White mates in 4.
Zurab Azmaiparashvili vs Michal Krasenkow, Groningen, 1997
3r3k/3Q1P2/4pq1p/2P2p2/8/3p1P2/P6P/6RK w - - 1 0
[ Qe8+ ]
b)
White mates in 4.
Walter Arencibia vs Philipp Schlosser, Habana, 1997
r2q1k1r/3nb3/1np1p2p/p2p3Q/1pp2P2/P1N1B2B/1P3P1P/2K3R1 w - - 1 0
[ Bxe6 if Qe8 Qxh6+ ]
c)
White mates in 4.
Roeland Pruijssers vs Leonie Beck, Hengelo, 1997
1rb2r2/p1p1qkpQ/2p2p2/3pP3/5P2/2PB2R1/P1P3PP/R5K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qh5+ if Kg8 Bh7+ ]
d)
White mates in 4.
Aloyzas Kveinys vs Robert Kempinski, Krynica, 1997
8/4P1bk/6pp/3BB3/2p1Q1K1/6P1/4Pq2/r7 w - - 1 0
[ Qxg6+ Kxg6 e8/Q+ if Kh7 Be4+ ]
e)
White mates in 4.
Ognjen Cvitan vs Drazen Cvorovic, Makarska, 1997
2rr4/pq2n1b1/bp2B1k1/2pp2Np/P2P4/2P3P1/1P3P1P/R2QR1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Bf7+ if Kxg5 Qxh5+ or if Kf6 Re6+ Kf5 Qf3+ ]
Puzzles from top rated games of 1997, pt. xi.
a)
White mates in 4.
Leonid Yudasin vs Eugenia Chasovnikova, Mariehamn, 1997
1q1rkb1r/2R3pp/4b3/1N1pp3/8/P2B4/5PPP/3Q1RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Qh5+ ]
b)
White mates in 4.
Yuri Balashov vs Dmitrij Ikonnikov, Perm, 1997
6rk/1p6/p2p1ppB/2pP3Q/P1P5/2qP4/6RP/6bK w - - 1 0
[ Bg7+ Kxg7 Qxg6+ Kf8 Qxg8+ ]
c)
White mates in 4.
Michael Rohde vs Hikaru Nakamura, Saratoga Springs, 1997
3Rn1k1/pp2r1b1/8/2p2QN1/1nP5/5P2/PP4PP/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Rxe8+ Rxe8 Qf7+ Kh8 Qxe8+ ]
d)
White mates in 4.
Alexei Fedorov vs Valeri Yandemirov, St. Petersburg, 1997
6k1/5pbp/p3b3/4P3/P1r2P2/3Q4/2p2K1P/2R5 w - - 1 0
[ Qd8+ Bf8 Rg1+ ]
e)
White mates in 4.
Pablo Ricardi vs Alejo De Dovitiis, Villa Ballester, 1997
2rr2k1/1p3p2/2bppPp1/p7/2P3Q1/8/PP4PP/3R3K w - - 1 0
[ Qh4 if Bxg2+ Kg1 g5 Qh6 ]
See 3 or 4 moves ahead
Puzzles from top rated games of 1997, pt. xii.
a)
White mates in 4.
Mikhail Gurevich vs Gorik Cools, Vlissingen, 1997
3br2k/r6B/p6R/1pnN3R/5P2/3p4/PP1n4/2K5 w - - 1 0
[ Bf5+ if Kg7 Rh7+ ]
b)
White mates in 4.
Anatoly Karpov vs Mikhail Peschansky, Voronezh, 1997
r1rnq1k1/2p2ppn/ppP2b2/3Pp3/P3N3/B6R/5PPP/3QR1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qh5 if Bh4 Rxh4 f5 Qxe8+ ]
c)
White mates in 4.
Friso Nijboer vs Alberto David, Wijk aan Zee, 1997
2Q5/prq2pkp/5bp1/8/1p2P3/3R4/P5P1/1K5R w - - 1 0
[ Rxh7+ Kxh7 Rh3+ ]
d)
White mates in 4.
Julian Hodgson vs Dale Haessel, Winnipeg, 1997
r2r4/1bp2pk1/p3pNp1/4P1P1/2p2Q2/2P5/qP3PP1/2K4R w - - 1 0
[ Rh7+ Kf8 Nd7+ Rxd7 Rh8+ ]
e)
White mates in 4.
Vladimir Baklan vs Levente Vajda, Zagan, 1997
6k1/6r1/p2P1Q2/2p1pR1p/1P2q3/6PP/7K/8 w - - 1 0
[ Qe6+ if Rf7 Qxf7+ or if Kh8 Qe8+ ]
Puzzles from top rated games of 1997, pt. xiii.
a)
White mates in 5.
Boris Alterman vs Jinrong Liang, Beijing, 1997
r1b3k1/1p3qb1/p4nQ1/6R1/5p2/P1N1P3/1P3PP1/2K4R w - - 1 0
[ Rh8+ Kxh8 Qxf7 Bh6 Qxf6+ ]
b)
White mates in 5.
Alexander Khalifman vs Oleg Romanishin, Lucerne, 1997
1q2rnk1/5pb1/p2p2p1/3P2P1/3BNP2/1p1n1P2/1P6/1K1R3R w - - 1 0
[ Nf6+ Bxf6 Bxf6 if Nh7 Rxh7 ]
c)
White mates in 5.
Jeroen Piket vs Loek Van Wely, Monaco, 1997
qr3k2/1b2rNb1/4p1Q1/p1p2pN1/2P5/1P6/P4PPP/3R2K1 w - - 1 0
[ Nh7+ if Ke8 Ne5+ or if Kg8 Nf6+ Kf8 Nh6 ]
d)
White mates in 5.
Garry Kasparov vs Graham Lee, Oakham, 1997
1qrr1nk1/5p1p/1p5Q/pP1bpPP1/4N3/4B3/3R3P/5BK1 w - - 1 0
[ Nf6+ Kh8 Nh5 Ne6 fxe6 Rg8 Qf6+ ]
e)
White mates in 5.
Alexander Morozevich vs Petr Kiriakov, St. Petersburg, 1997
6rk/1bpR1pp1/1p2p2p/p1q1P3/2P2QRB/P4P2/P3n1PP/7K w - - 1 0
[ Qxh6+ gxh6 Bf6+ if Kh7 Rxf7+ or if Rg7 Rd8+ ]
f)
White mates in 5.
Gennadi Kuzmin vs Alexander Motylev, Swidnica, 1997
5rk1/R4b1p/6pP/8/5Qp1/2q5/5PB1/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qxf7+ Rxf7 Ra8+ if Rf8 Bd5+ ]
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