Here are some chess puzzles taken from the games of Judit Polgár. 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) Polgár vs Snorri Bergsson, Reykjavik, 1988 2b1kb1r/p2p3p/2pRp1p1/1rQBPp2/5B1P/1P6/q1P2PP1/1NK4R w - - 0 1 [ Rxe6+ if dxe6 Bxc6+ or if Kd8 Bg5+ & Rxc6+ ]
b) White Mates in 3. Polgár vs Pavlina Angelova, Thessalonika, 1988 r1b2rk1/pp1p1p1p/2n3pQ/5qB1/8/2P5/P4PPP/4RRK1 w - - 0 1 [ Qxf8+ ]
c) White Mates in 3. Polgár vs Jun Xie, Melody Amber Rapid, 1996 3r2k1/1b2Qp2/pqnp3b/1pn5/3B3p/1PR4P/P4PP1/1B4K1 w - - 0 1 [ Bh7+ ]
d) White Mates in 2. Polgár vs E. Bareev,
Kremlin PCA Rapid, 1996 5k1r/4npp1/p3p2p/3nP2P/3P3Q/3N4/qB2KPP1/2R5 w - - 0 1 [ Rc8+ ]
e) Polgár vs Predrag Nikolic, Linares SuperGM, 1997 8/1b1krp2/2n1pQ1p/4P3/2RpB3/3R3K/5P2/q7 w - - 0 1 [ Bxc6+ if Bxc6 Rdxd4+ ]
Judit Polgar Simul 1999
Judit Polgár Puzzles, Part II. White to move and win except where noted.
a) White Mates in 5. Polgár vs Lars Bo Hansen, Vejstrup, 1989 3r2k1/pR3p2/2n3pQ/2Bp4/P2P3K/5R1P/4r1q1/8 w - - 0 1 [ Qg7+ ]
b) Polgár vs Marcin Kaminski, Fond du Lac, 1990 2r1b1k1/1r3ppp/3n1P2/6P1/2pN4/2p3N1/1P2R2P/4R1K1 w - - 0 1 [ Ngf5 ]
c) Polgár vs Branko Damljanovic, Wijk an Zee, 1990 r2q2k1/1b3p2/p3r1nQ/3p2P1/Pp1pP2R/3B4/1PP3RP/6K1 w - - 0 1 [ e5 if Rxe5 Bxg6 mates ]
d) Polgár vs Annett Wagner-Michel, Novi Sad Ol, 1990 r2q2k1/p1b3pp/n4r2/3p1p2/3P1p2/BQP2N2/P5PP/R4RK1 w - - 0 1 [ Be7 if Qxe7 Qxd5+ ]
e) Polgár vs Michael Adams, Haifa-Tch-EUR, 1989 kr6/p3P1pp/2qPQ3/8/r7/4N1P1/p4P1P/R5K1 w - - 0 1 [ Qd5 ]
Polgár Puzzles, Part III. White to move and win except where noted.
a) White Mates in 5. Polgár vs V Epishin, Geneva, 1996 2r1rq2/pp3pkP/2b1p3/4N1p1/3Q1n1N/1B6/PPP2PP1/1K5R w - - 0 1 [ Nf5+ if exf5 Nd7+ ]
b) White Mates in 9. Polgár vs Junior, Budapest, 1996 5rk1/1p1bpp1p/p2p1n1Q/2r2pN1/Pq2P3/3P4/1P2N1PP/1R3R1K w - - 0 1 [ Ng3 ]
c) Polgár vs Anatoly Karpov, Melody Amber rapid, 1996 3rrbk1/3Rn3/p1p1R1p1/6Np/1Pp5/2B4P/1PK2P2/8 w - - 0 1 [ Rdxe7 if Bxe7 Rxg6+ mates or if Rxe7 Rxg6+ w/Bxg7 ]
d) Polgár vs Veselin Topalov, Leon, 1996 2r2rk1/1Q4b1/p2p2p1/4n2p/4N3/2BP4/q5PP/2R2R1K w - - 0 1 [ Bxe5 ]
e) Polgár vs Philippe Kerkhof, Brussels, 1987 1rb5/5Bkp/p2p4/P1pPpQ2/7q/1P2b2P/1B4P1/5R1K w - - 0 1 [ Bxe5+ if dxe5 Qxe5+ mates ]
Polgár Puzzles, Part IV. White to move and win except where noted.
a) Polgár vs Singh, Hastings, 1988 2r3k1/1R5p/p1q1rnp1/3p1p2/P7/2Q2B2/1P4PP/2R3K1 w - - 0 1 [ Bxd5 ]
b) Polgár vs Zurab Azmaiparashvili, Amsterdam, 1989 r3r1k1/pp3pbp/3P1Bp1/1R2n3/2bqNQP1/3B3P/2PK4/4R3 w - - 0 1 [ Bxe5 w/Nf6+ ]
c) White Mates in 13. Polgár vs Andrew Muir, Haifa, 1989 6k1/2rq2bp/p3pQB1/1p1pP3/3P4/2n1B2R/P4PP1/6K1 w - - 0 1 [ Bxh7+ w/Bf5+ ]
d) White Mates in 7. Polgár vs Hans Ree, Amsterdam, 1989 r4r2/qp2BBkp/p5p1/4p1P1/4P3/7b/PPP4P/R2Q1R1K w - - 0 1 [ Bf6+ w/Qd5+ ]
e) White Mates in 3. Polgár vs H Winfridsson, Goteborg, 1989 r4r1k/1pqb1B1p/p3p2B/2bpP2Q/8/1NP5/PP4PP/5R1K w - - 0 1 [ Bg7+ ]
Polgár Puzzles, Part V. White to move and win except where noted.
a) Polgár vs Miroljub Lazic, Dortmund, 1990 2R5/4r2k/7P/p4Kp1/Pb4N1/8/8/8 w - - 0 1 [ Nf6+ w/Rg8 ]
b) White Mates in 7. Polgár vs Peter Popovic, Novi Sad, 1990 3q2k1/1p3pp1/p2p4/3NrP1Q/1P4R1/8/P1r2b1P/3R3K w - - 0 1 [ Qh6 ]
c) Polgár vs Oscar De la Riva, San Sebastian, 1991 3q3r/5b2/1pp4k/p3RB1p/P4P1Q/8/1P4P1/6K1 w - - 0 1 [ Re7 if Kg7 Be6 ]
d) White Mates in 7. Polgár vs F Hellers, Biel, 1991 2r5/4kp2/1q2pNr1/p2RP3/1p3P2/1P6/P1P5/2KQ4 w - - 0 1 [ Rd7+ w/Rxf7+ ]
e) Polgár vs Lev Polugaevsky, Aruba, 1991 5b1k/5Pp1/p2q1rPp/3pp3/b3P3/3P2Q1/1P6/1KR4R w - - 0 1 [ Rcg1 ]
Polgár Puzzles, Part VI. White to move and win except where noted.
a) Polgár vs Pal Benko, Aruba, 1992 r3nqk1/1p1b4/p3ppp1/4B3/P2P1Q2/2P1R3/2B2PP1/6K1 w - - 0 1 [ Bxg6 if fxe5 Bh7+ mates or if Qg7 Rg3 ]
b) Polgár vs Oscar Panno, Buenos Aires, 1992 6r1/4k3/4prbn/pp1p4/2pP1RPN/P1P1K3/2P1B3/7R w - - 0 1 [ Rxf6 w/g5+ & Nf3+ ]
c) Polgár vs Jorge Rubinetti, Buenos Aires, 1992 1r4k1/1b3pp1/1n1N1b1p/2p5/1n1PP3/1P3N1P/3Q1PP1/qB2R1K1 w - - 0 1 [ e5 w/Bh7+ ]
d) Polgár vs J Uria, Oviedo, 1992 k3r3/p7/1pb1P1pp/3n1p2/R2Q1P2/KPN1B3/P5qP/8 w - - 0 1 [ Nxd5 if Bxa4 Nxb6+ Qxa4+ & Qxe8 ]
e) White Mates in 4 (2 solutions). Polgár vs Jose Fernandez Garcia, Dos Hermanas, 1993 2R5/p4pkp/3p2p1/3Pr3/1q1r2nQ/1P6/P1P3BP/1K3R2 w - - 0 1 [ Qxh7+ or Rxf7+ ]
Polgár Puzzles, Part VII. White to move and win except where noted.
a) Polgár vs Lubomir Ftacnik, Budapest, 1993 bk2nr2/3qbp1p/3pp1p1/1N4P1/4PP2/3P4/1Q5P/1KR1R3 w - - 0 1 [ Nd4+ Bb7 Nc6+ & Ne5+ ]
b) Polgár vs Pastor Manuel Rivas, Seville, 1993 r1br2k1/p1q2ppp/1np2n2/2b5/3N1P2/2NQ2P1/PPP4P/2KR1BBR w - - 0 1 [ Ndb5 ]
c) White Mates in 6. Polgár vs Ilya Smirin, Groningen, 1993 7k/5R2/pp1p3p/4r1bP/4r2q/1B6/P1Q5/1K1R4 w - - 0 1 [ Qc7 if Be7 Qb8+ Bd8 Qxd6 ]
e) White Mates in 4. Polgar vs Leon Pliester, Aruba, 1992 q3r3/4b1pn/pNrp2kp/1p6/4P3/1Q2B3/PPP1B1PP/7K w - - 0 1 [ Bh5+ Kxh5 (if Kf6 Nd7#) Qf7+ ]
Polgár Puzzles, Part VIII. White to move and win except where noted.
a) Polgar vs Oscar Panno, Aruba, 1992 5bk1/pN3p2/7p/1pPnr1pP/8/P5PB/r4P2/2RR2K1 w - - 0 1 [ Rxd5 if Rxd5 c6 ]
b) Polgar vs Magem Badals Jordi, Madrid, 1992 rqb5/pp4pp/n3pk2/1N3p2/8/P3QBP1/1P3P1P/3R2K1 w - - 0 1 [ Rd8 ]
c) Polgar vs Bent Larsen, Monte Carlo, 1992 8/5R2/2p4p/2Pk1pp1/1n1r4/8/3N1P2/6K1 w - - 0 1 [ Rd7+ ]
d) Polgar vs Evgeny Bareev, Hastings, 1993 r2r1n2/2p2N1k/p1P1pq1p/1p1b1p1Q/3P1P1b/3BB3/PP5P/2K3R1 w - - 0 1 [ Nxh6 if Qxh6 Qf7+ ]
e) White Mates in 4. Polgar vs Viktor Moskalenko, Oviedo, 1993 8/2Q5/8/8/8/p7/1p1K4/1k6 w - - 0 1 [ Qb6 Ka1 (if a2 Qh1#) Kc2 Ka2 Qb3+ ]
Polgár Puzzles, Part IX. White to move and win.
a) Polgar vs Zsuzsa Polgar, Oviedo, 1993 4r3/pp3k1p/4n2r/3b2p1/1R4BB/2P3K1/1P5P/4R3 w - - 0 1 [ Bxg5 if Rg6 Bh5 or if Nxg5 Rf4+ ]
b) Polgar vs Boris Gulko, Dos Hermanas, 1994 4k3/8/1R2P3/4KN2/1p4b1/8/8/3r4 w - - 0 1 [ Rb8+ Rd8 Nd6+ if Ke7 Rb7+ ]
c) Polgar vs Carrillo San Segundo, Madrid, 1994 5rk1/2b4p/PQ4p1/8/4p2q/4Bp1P/2r2P2/R2R2K1 w - - 0 1 [ Qe6+ if Rf7 Rd7 ]
d) Polgar vs Julio Granda Zuniga, Amsterdam, 1995 r6k/5Qpp/3N1bn1/2B1p3/2P5/8/4q1PP/5RK1 w - - 0 1 [ Qd5 if Rf8 Nf7+ ]
e) Polgar vs Alexei Shirov, Amsterdam, 1995 r5nr/3Bkpb1/b4npp/p3p1B1/2p1N3/P4Q2/1P3PPP/4K2R w - - 0 1 [ Qd1 if hxg5 Qd6+ Kd3 Bb5+ mates ]
Polgar Puzzles, Part X. White to move and win.
a) Polgar vs Vassily Ivanchuk, Monte Carlo, 1995 3rr1k1/1p2bR2/p5p1/P1p3Np/6P1/7Q/1PP4P/4qB1K w - - 0 1 [ Qb3 if Bxg5 Re7+ or if c4 Qxc4 Rc8 Rf8+ mates ]
b) Polgar vs Vassily Ivanchuk, Monte Carlo, 1996 4rb2/1b3p2/q4Nkp/6p1/2p5/2Bp2NP/1P3PP1/2Q3K1 w - - 0 1 [ Qd1 ]
c) Polgar vs Nigel Short, Dortmund, 1997 2r5/1b1r1pkp/p3R1p1/1p1p2R1/1P1N3Q/q2B4/2PK3P/8 w - - 0 1 [ Nf5+ if Kg8 Ne7+ ]
d) Polgar vs Alexei Shirov, Tilburg, 1997 1rb2rk1/2R2p1p/3q1Pp1/2pN4/1p1n4/8/1PP2QPP/2B2RK1 w - - 0 1 [ Ne7+ Kh8 Bh6 ]
e) Polgar vs Boris Spassky, Hoogeveen, 1998 r5k1/1bb1Bn1p/p3Q3/1p1p3p/1P6/2q4P/P1B1RPP1/6K1 w - - 0 1 [ Bf6 ]
Polgar Puzzles, Part XI. White to move and win except where noted.
a) Polgar vs James Thinnsen, Kona, 1998 r3r1k1/pp1nbp1p/1q2p1p1/6B1/3P3P/1PNQ4/1P3PP1/3RR1K1 w - - 0 1 [ Bxe7 if Rxe7 Nd5 ]
b) Polgar vs Viswanathan Anand, Wijk aan Zee, 1998 1R6/3q4/3r2pk/p2N2bp/1p2Pp2/1P2Q1P1/1P4K1/8 w - - 0 1 [ Rh8+ Kg7 Qd4+ Bf6 Qxf6+ if Rxf6 Rh7+ ]
c) White Mates in 3. Polgar vs Artashes Minasian, Batumi, 1999 4R3/p2r1q1k/5B1P/6P1/2p4K/3b4/4Q3/8 w - - 0 1 [ g6+ ]
d) Polgar vs Sergey Volkov, Batumi, 1999 2kr2r1/1b1nbp1p/pp2p3/qNp2p2/P2P4/2PB1NP1/1P2QP1P/R3R1K1 w - - 0 1 [ Nd2 if Bd5 Bc4 w/Nb3 ]
e) Polgar vs Dirk Krueger, Frankfurt, 1999 rn1r2k1/pp3pbp/4pnp1/3pN1B1/2bP2P1/R1N5/1P2PPBP/2R3K1 w - - 0 1 [ Nxc4 if dxc4 Bxb7 ]
Polgar Puzzles, Part XII. White to move and win.
a) Polgar vs W Walbers, Frankfurt, 1999 r1bq2k1/1p2rpp1/p1n4p/3p4/3Nn3/1N1B4/PPP2PPP/R2QR1K1 w - - 0 1 [ Nxc6 bxc6 Bxe4 ]
b) Polgar vs Gilberto Milos, Buenos Aires, 2000 1r4k1/1b1q1p1p/p5pb/1p1p4/3N1P2/1P2Q2P/PB4P1/4R1K1 w - - 0 1 [ Qe5 w/Nf5 ]
c) Polgar vs Aung Aung, Istanbul, 2000 8/4rk1p/1p1R2p1/1N2p3/nP2P3/8/6PP/6K1 w - - 0 1 [ Rd2 w/Ra2 ]
d) Polgar vs Gilberto Milos, Buenos Aires, 2001 4r1k1/5p1p/p5p1/1p5q/1P2P3/1BQ2PPn/P3R1K1/8 w - - 0 1 [ Re1 if Ng5 Rh1 ]
e) Polgar vs Vadim Milov, Moscow, 2001 3r2k1/4bpnp/2Q1p1p1/4B1P1/p3NP2/Pq5P/1P1R4/1K6 w - - 0 1 [ Rxd8+ Bxd8 Nf6+ if Kh8 Qd7 ]
Polgar Puzzles, Part XIII. White to move and win except where noted.
a) Polgar vs Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Bled, 2002 r4b1r/2p1k1pp/p1nqb3/1pn2Q2/3p4/1BP5/PP1N1PPP/R1B1R1K1 w - - 0 1 [ Bxe6 if Nxe6 Ne4 ]
b) Polgar vs Jozsef Horvath, Halkidiki, 2002 r1br2k1/1p4pp/p7/1n2Rp2/8/qP2B3/2P3PP/1K2QB1R w - - 0 1 [ Bc4+ if Kf8 Bxb5 w/Bc5+ or if Kh8 Bd2 h6 (Bd7 Bb4) Re8+ Rxe8 Qxe8+ mates ]
c) Polgar vs Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Benidorm, 2003 3R4/pr2k2b/7p/4pPpN/6P1/5K1P/P7/8 w - - 0 1 [ Rh8 Kd6 Nf6 ]
d) White Mates in 9. Polgar vs Jose Fernandez Garcia, Santurtzi, 2003 2k1rb1r/1p3p2/1Q5p/2p1Pp2/2P3q1/1P2BpP1/P4P1P/R2R2K1 w - - 0 1 [ Rd7 if Kxd7 Qxb7+ Kd8 Bd2 ]
e) Polgar vs Jan Timman, Wijk aan Zee, 2003 1r4k1/5p1p/p3p1p1/2n2q2/5P2/1P6/P2QB1PP/2R3K1 w - - 0 1 [ Qd6 if Rc8 b4 ]