'Tactics in the Sicilian' series
Here are some chess puzzles from top rated games of 1998.
Solutions are between the brackets under each puzzle.Drag your cursor from one bracket to the other.
a)
White mates in 2.
Thomas Luther vs Carlo Rossi, Aosta, 1998
1r2R3/k1qP4/ppQ4p/2p5/P3Bb2/8/1PP5/1K6 w - - 1 0
[ Qa8+ ]
b)
White mates in 2.
Emil Sutovsky vs Bogdan Grabarczyk, Koszalin, 1998
3q2r1/p2b1k2/1pnBp1N1/3p1pQP/6P1/5R2/2r2P2/4RK2 w - - 1 0
[ Nh8+ ]
c)
White mates in 2.
Zurab Sturua vs Jesus Baron Rodriguez, Groningen, 1998
6r1/2b5/p6R/2pkP3/P1Np1PP1/1p1P2K1/8/8 w - - 1 0
[ Nb6+ ]
d)
White mates in 2.
Alexander Rustemov vs Vladimir Stepovoj, Moscow, 1998
8/1p2r1p1/p1p5/2P4k/bP5r/3B4/1P1K2R1/7R w - - 1 0
[ Bg6+ ]
e)
White mates in 2.
Davorin Kuljasevic vs Thomas Steiner, Mureck, 1998
r1nq2r1/pp2p1nk/3pP3/2pP1p1p/b1P1BP1N/1PQ4P/1B5K/R5R1 w - - 1 0
[ Rxg7+ if Kh6 Nxf5# ]
Puzzles from top rated games of 1998, pt. ii.
a)
White mates in 2.
Drazen Sermek vs Srdjan Sale, Pula, 1998
r2R4/pkb2ppp/1p2r2n/8/Q1N1q2B/2P5/P5PP/1R5K w - - 1 0
[ Na5+ ]
b)
White mates in 3.
Gennadi Kuzmin vs Denis Eremeev, Alushta, 1998
8/1pRR4/1q2ppk1/p6p/8/6P1/6NK/8 w - - 1 0
[ Nh4+ ]
c)
White mates in 3.
Anatoly Karpov vs Federico Perez, Bastia, 1998
1r1qrb2/3b2kp/p2p1Np1/4nP2/3N4/1Q4BP/PP4P1/1R2R2K w - - 1 0
[ Qg8+ if Kxf6 Bh4+ ]
d)
White mates in 3.
Alexander Onischuk vs Chong Liang, Beijing, 1998
2r2k2/5p1p/p4P2/2P4p/2b5/6Q1/6PK/8 w - - 1 0
[ c6 ]
e)
White mates in 3.
Hichem Hamdouchi vs Blazimir Kovacevic, Cannes, 1998
3Q4/p4ppk/1p2P3/7P/3P1p2/1P3N2/P4n1K/2q5 w - - 1 0
[ Ng5+ Kh6 Nxf7+ ]
Puzzles from top rated games of 1998, pt. iii.
a)
White mates in 3.
Oleg Korneev vs Jordi Antigua Padros, Catalunya, 1998
5k2/1r1n1pp1/ppR4p/P7/2PN1PP1/1P6/5KP1/8 w - - 1 0
[ Rc8+ Ke7 Nf5+ ]
b)
White mates in 3.
Gennadi Kuzmin vs Alyona Malashenko, Decin, 1998
r1b5/ppp3Q1/8/3q3k/2n1p3/8/PPB3PP/5R1K w - - 1 0
[ g4+ Bxg4 Qh7+ Kg5 h4# ]
c)
White mates in 3.
Oleg Romanishin vs Gerhard Schmidt, Dresden, 1998
1r1rb3/p1q2pkp/Pnp2np1/4p3/4P3/Q1N1B1PP/2PRBP2/3R2K1 w - - 1 0
[ Bh6+ if Kxh6 Qf8+ ]
d)
White mates in 3.
Boris Avrukh vs Beat Zueger, Elista, 1998
5r1k/qbR3b1/7p/7Q/PP1p3R/6P1/3N1PnP/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qg6 ]
e)
White mates in 3.
Tomi Nyback vs Samu Ristoja, Finland, 1998
2r2rk1/4Q2p/p2p1pp1/1p1P4/3B1P2/4PK1B/8/8 w - - 1 0
[ Be6+ ]
'Characteristic Puzzles in the Opening' series
Puzzles from top rated games of 1998, pt. iv.
a)
White mates in 3.
Igor Miladinovicvs Konstantinos Kordis, Chalkidiki, 1998
5r1k/pr1b4/3p1bQp/2pPpP2/2P1B2P/1P4R1/1KNq1P2/6R1 w - - 1 0
[ Qxf6+ if Rxf6 Rg8+ ]
b)
White mates in 3.
Xiaomin Peng vs Han Myint, Genting Highlands, 1998
6k1/4q1pp/3Nn3/2p1p1r1/4Pp2/2PP1P1P/Q5PK/R7 w - - 1 0
[ Qxe6+ if Qxe6 Ra8+ ]
c)
White mates in 3.
Davorin Kuljasevic vs Tomislav Music, Hvar, 1998
4q2r/2Q5/4pkp1/p7/3pP1P1/8/PP4K1/R7 w - - 1 0
[ Rf1+ Kg5 Qf4+ ]
d)
White mates in 3.
Anatoly Karpov vs Petr Virostko, Internet, 1998
3qr2k/1Q2N1Rp/3p2pP/p1p1p1n1/P3P1P1/8/1P6/1KN5 w - - 1 0
[ Nxg6+ hxg6 Rh7+ ]
e)
White mates in 3.
Aleksa Strikovic vs Joaquim Durao, Lisbon, 1998
4r1k1/ppn1q2p/6p1/2Pp4/1PP5/P1Q2BP1/4P1K1/B7 w - - 1 0
[ Qh8+ Kf7 Qg7+ ]
Puzzles from top rated games of 1998, pt. v.
a)
White mates in 3.
Evgeny Romanov vs Jesus Giner Borras, Marina d'Or, 1998
r1b4r/ppp3Qp/4k3/1N1p4/3P4/3qB3/PP4PP/2R1K3 w - - 1 0
[ Nxc7+ Kf5 Qg5+ ]
b)
White mates in 3.
Hichem Hamdouchi vs Thierry Gregoire, Metz, 1998
2rq1r2/3b2pk/p2p1p1n/Pp1NpP2/4P2Q/3P1N1R/1P5P/6RK w - - 1 0
[ Rxg7+ Kxg7 Qxh6+ ]
c)
White mates in 3.
Vladimir Malakhov vs Tomasz Markowski, Minsk, 1998
2b5/2r2r1k/ppn2Pp1/2p2pP1/P1B2P2/8/1PP2KP1/3RR3 w - - 1 0
[ Re8 if Rxf6 Rh1+ ]
d)
White mates in 3.
Veselin Topalov vs Ljubomir Ljubojevic, Monaco, 1998
r2k4/2R1r3/1nQ1pp1p/p5q1/P2P2p1/8/1P3PPP/2R2K2 w - - 1 0
[ Qd6+ if Nd7 Rxd7+ ]
e)
White mates in 3.
Mihai Suba vs Sergio Cetkovic, Mondariz, 1998
r2qr3/pb1nb1pB/1ppk1nQ1/8/2PP4/8/PP3PPP/R1B1R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qg3+ if Ne5 Qxe5+ ]
Puzzles from top rated games of 1998, pt. vi.
a)
White mates in 3.
Mladen Palac vs Blazimir Kovacevic, Porec, 1998
2r3k1/1p2Q1pp/p5b1/8/1P6/P1N5/1KP2R1P/7q w - - 1 0
[ Qe6+ ]
b)
White mates in 3.
Alexander Graf vs Kiril Georgiev, Recklinghausen, 1998
r4k2/3r1p2/3N2p1/3PQ2p/4P3/1PR4P/3q2PK/8 w - - 1 0
[ Rc8+ Rxc8 Qh8+ Ke7 Nxc8# ]
c)
White mates in 3.
Predrag Nikolic vs Sipke Ernst, Rotterdam, 1998
5Q2/5p1p/3Bpkp1/q2p4/3P4/1r2P2P/5PP1/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qh8+ if Kg5 Bf4+ ]
d)
White mates in 3.
Jan Krejci vs Jiri Kiss, Svetla nad Sazavou, 1998
1k1r3r/RBpnqp2/4p1p1/1PP4p/1p3P1P/4P1P1/2Q4K/2R5 w - - 1 0
[ Ra8+ Kxb7 Qg2+ ]
e)
White mates in 3.
Walter Arencibia vs Watu Kobese, Ubeda, 1998
4Q3/6bp/5kp1/8/2p5/p1q4P/P4PP1/4R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qe6+ Kg5 Qg4+ ]
King-pawn Opening Series
Puzzles from top rated games of 1998, pt. vii.
a)
White mates in 4.
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs Boris Bruned, France, 1998
1r2r3/pp1qRp1k/2p2p1p/2Pp4/3P3N/6Q1/PP3PPP/4R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qg6+ if Kh8 Qxf7 ]
b)
White mates in 4.
Alexander Baburin vs Josep Basas Gamazo, Andorra, 1998
2q1r1k1/4b1n1/p5Q1/2pPp3/2P3N1/P5PP/5PB1/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Nh6+ if Kh8 Be4 ]
c)
White mates in 4.
Oleg Korneev vs Davor Komljenovic, Andorra, 1998
1R3bk1/7p/p2pqP2/2p5/4B2r/2P4P/3r2P1/1Q3RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Bxh7+ if Rxh7 Qg6+ ]
d)
White mates in 4.
Alexander Khalifman vs Holger Grund, Bad Wiessee, 1998
r3k3/ppq5/2p1PQ2/2b5/P1b1P3/2N5/1P4PP/n4R1K w q - 1 0
[ Qh8+ Ke7 Rf7+ if Kd6 e5+ ]
e)
White mates in 4.
Miroslav Markovic vs Milan Drasko, Belgrade, 1998
r5rk/p4p2/1pq1b3/n4pNP/2pP1Q2/P5R1/5PP1/5RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Qe5+ if Rg7 Nxf7+ ]
Puzzles from top rated games of 1998, pt. viii.
a)
White mates in 4.
Hichem Hamdouchi vs Charles Lamoureux, Cannes, 1998
r3r1k1/P1qb2p1/2n2p1Q/3ppn2/P7/B2B1NR1/2P2PPP/R5K1 w - - 1 0
[ Rxg7+ Nxg7 Bh7+ Kf7 Ng5+ ]
b)
White mates in 4.
Oleg Korneev vs Jose Basas, Corte Ingles, 1998
r4r2/1b1nbk1p/p3pB2/qp2Q3/7P/2N2PR1/PPP3P1/2K2B2 w - - 1 0
[ Rg7+ Ke8 Rxe7+ Kd8 Re8+ ]
c)
White mates in 4.
Sergei Movsesian vs Viacheslav Dydyshko, Czech Republic, 1998
4k3/3r3R/2p1pPp1/3nP3/p3B3/r2P1K2/2R5/8 w - - 1 0
[ Rh8+ Kf7 Bxg6+ Kxg6 Rg2+ ]
d)
White mates in 4.
Lars Bo Hansen vs Nick De Firmian, Denmark, 1998
r1b2b1r/1p2kppp/pq1Np3/2n1n3/Q4B2/2N3P1/PP2PPBP/R3K2R w KQ - 1 0
[ Nd5+ if Kxd6 Bxe5+ Kxe5 Qf4# or if exd5 Qe8+ Kf6 Qxe5+ ]
e)
White mates in 4.
Sarunas Sulskis vs John Rodgaard, Elista, 1998
3Q4/1rr2kb1/1p2p2p/pPp1Pp2/P2p1P2/3P4/1q1BK2P/2R3R1 w - - 1 0
[ Rxg7+ Kxg7 Rg1+ if Kf7 Qg8+ ]
Puzzles from top rated games of 1998, pt. ix.
a)
White mates in 4.
Mikhail Gurevich vs Charles Kennaugh, England, 1998
1rb2r2/1p1p3p/1R1N2p1/2P1kp2/4p1P1/4B3/1P1KPPBP/8 w - - 1 0
[ Nc4+ Kd5 Kc3 ]
b)
White mates in 4.
Vladimir Epishin vs Frank Reinemer, Eupen, 1998
5r2/p1pp2bk/1pn5/3QP1P1/3P1p2/q1PR4/P1P2P1P/1K4R1 w - - 1 0
[ g6+ Kh8 Rh3+ ]
c)
White mates in 4.
Alexei Fedorov vs Nino Khurtsidze, Krasnodar, 1998
r3r1k1/1b6/p1np1ppQ/4n3/4P3/PNB4R/2P1BK1P/1q6 w - - 1 0
[ Bc4+ Nxc4 Qh8+ ]
d)
White mates in 4.
Ruslan Sherbakov vs Viktor Takhirov, Minsk, 1998
8/3R1R2/4k1p1/r3p3/1p2K2P/1Pb5/6P1/8 w - - 1 0
[ g4 if Bd2 g5 ]
e)
White mates in 4.
Bassem Amin vs David Larino Nieto, Marina d'Or, 1998
r4k1r/2b5/1p2b3/p1p3QB/P2p4/3P2P1/1P3P2/4R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qf6+ Kg8 Qxe6+ Kg7 Qg6+ ]
Tactics you can use from wtharvey.com
Puzzles from top rated games of 1998, pt. x.
a)
White mates in 4.
Andrei Kharlov vs Ilya Mironov, Minsk, 1998
3r1k2/Q4bpp/2p3q1/2NpR3/3P1p2/1P3PP1/P6P/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qe7+ Kg8 Qxd8+ Be8 Rxe8+ ]
b)
White mates in 4.
Bart Michiels vs Juhana Siljander, Mureck, 1998
r1b1kb1r/1pp3pp/p1p5/q7/4N3/8/PPP2PPP/R1BQR1K1 w kq - 1 0
[ Nd6+ Kd7 Nf7+ Bd6 Qg4+ ]
c)
White mates in 4.
Hikaru Nakamura vs Lewis Zemanian, New York, 1998
6R1/2p4p/6pk/pp6/5PP1/P4K1P/1Pr5/8 w - - 1 0
[ g5+ Kh5 Rh8 ]
d)
White mates in 4.
Larry Christiansen vs Christopher Ward, Reykjavik, 1998
3b2k1/pp4r1/2n1R2p/5R2/6q1/P1PQ4/1P4PP/7K w - - 1 0
[ Re8+ Kh7 Rg5+ ]
e)
White mates in 4.
Yuri Razuvaev vs Gabriele Just, Rhein an Main, 1998
2r1k2r/4qpQp/1p4n1/p2R4/P7/8/1P2B2P/5R1K w k - 1 0
[ Bb5+ if Qd7 Qxf7+ ]
Puzzles from top rated games of 1998, pt. xi.
a)
White mates in 4.
Leonid Kritz vs Matthias Duppel, Schierke, 1998
1r3nr1/5qpk/1n1p2R1/1ppPpN1P/4P3/5P2/PP4Q1/2K4R w - - 1 0
[ h6 if Nxg6 hxg7+ ]
b)
White mates in 4.
Leonid Kritz vs Andre Oberhofer, Stennweiler, 1998
7r/3RR2p/ppr4k/2p3p1/5PP1/2P5/PKP4P/8 w - - 1 0
[ f5 if Rf6 Rd3 ]
c)
White mates in 4.
Mikhail Ulibin vs Torstein Bae, Stockholm, 1998
2b5/1p2qn1p/4N3/3k2p1/p5P1/P1Q5/1P3P2/1B4K1 w - - 1 0
[ Ba2+ if Kd6 Qc5+ Kd78 Qb5+ ]
d)
White mates in 4.
Thien Hai Dao vs Nirosh De Silva, Teheran, 1998
2q1r1k1/1b3Rpp/pn2p3/np2P3/2pP4/B1P1P3/2Q3PP/5RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Rxg7+ Kxg7 Rf7+ if Kxf7 Qxh7# or if Kh6 Qxh7+ ]
e)
White mates in 4.
Alexander Morozevich vs Konstantin Garagulya, Tomsk, 1998
8/1R6/r2k1p1r/3P4/3K2p1/pP4P1/P7/5R2 w - - 1 0
[ Re1 if f5 Re8 ]
Puzzles from top rated games of 1998, pt. xii.
a)
White mates in 4.
Anatoly Karpov vs Brian McCarthy, USA, 1998
r1b2nR1/1p2b3/p5p1/3B1p2/2NPpPk1/1PP3P1/4K3/R7 w - - 1 0
[ Kf2 if Bf6 Ne3+ Kh5 Rh1+ ]
b)
White mates in 5.
Michal Krasenkow vs Rafal Przedmojski, Lubniewice, 1998
r1b1r3/ppb5/2p5/3pNp1k/P2Pn3/4Q1PP/1P6/5RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Rxf5+ Bxf5 g4+ Kh4 Kg2 ]
c)
White mates in 5.
Alexei Fedorov vs Mikhail Kobalia, Maikop, 1998
r5r1/1b2b1kp/p2p4/q1nBn1PQ/4P3/2p1BR2/PPP2P1P/2KR4 w - - 1 0
[ Rf7+ Nxf7 Qxf7+ Kh8 Bd4+ ]
d)
White mates in 5.
Mladen Palac vs Branko Rogulj, Porec, 1998
2bB3r/1rpp1p2/4k1p1/pp2P3/5P1p/2P4P/PP1R1KP1/3R4 w - - 1 0
[ Rd6+ cxd6 Rxd6+ Kf5 Ke3 ]
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