"It is not only for beginners, in fact it is probably more so for those who want to perfect their skills with moves from various countries and time periods." Francine in Nova Scotia, Canada
Here are some chess puzzles from the games of Leonid Shamkovich. White to move and win except where noted.
Solutions are between the brackets under each puzzle. Drag your cursor from one bracket to the other.
a) White Mates in 5. Shamkovich vs Alberic O'Kelly de Galway, Palma de Majorca, 1966 2b2r1k/r5bp/p4R2/1p2p1B1/1q1pP2Q/1B6/PP3P1K/7R w - - 0 1 [ Qxh7+ Kxh7 Kg2+ ]
b) White Mates in 5. Shamkovich vs Mato Damjanovic, Sochi, 1967 1qr2rnk/5p1p/p1bp1PB1/4p3/3B4/P1p3Q1/1PP3PP/4RR1K w - - 0 1 [ Bxh7+ Nxf6 Rxf6 ]
c) Shamkovich vs B Dimitrijewski, URS, 1967 4qr1k/pp2b3/4pnQ1/4N3/3P4/8/P4PPP/3R2K1 w - - 0 1 [ Rb1 b6 Rb3 Qxg6 Nxg6+ w/Nxe7 ]
d) Shamkovich vs J Ryts, Kislovodsk, 1968 4rr2/6qk/3p2np/p2P1pPQ/PnPppP2/7N/7P/3B1RRK w - - 0 1 [ gxh6 if Qf6 Rxg6 Qxf6 Ng5+ ]
e) Shamkovich vs Theodor Ghitescu, URS, 1969 4r2k/1p2b1p1/2p1Pp1p/p1q4P/P2r4/2B2BP1/1PQ2PK1/4R3 w - - 0 1 [ Qg6 if Rdd8 Be4 ]
Shamkovich Puzzles, Part II. White to move and win except where noted.
a) White Mates in 5. Shamkovich vs Atanas Kolarov, Varna, 1970 r4r1k/1R5p/3Q1np1/p5N1/8/P1q5/5PPP/5RK1 w - - 0 1 [ Qe7 ]
b) White Mates in 3. Shamkovich vs Roy Ervin, Lone Pine, 1979 5rrk/5pb1/p1pN3p/7Q/1p2PP1R/1q5P/6P1/6RK w - - 0 1 [ Qxh6+ ]
c) Shamkovich vs Brian McCarthy, USA, 1976 r1b2rk1/1p3p1p/p1nq1p2/2b5/3p4/1N1B1N1P/PP3PP1/R2Q1RK1 w - - 0 1 [ Qc1 if b6 Nxc5 w/Qh6 or if Bb4 a3 ]
d) White Mates in 4. Shamkovich vs Larry Chistiansen, Mentor, 1977 6r1/p5bk/4N1pp/2B1p3/4Q2N/8/2P2KPP/q7 w - - 0 1 [ Ng5+ hxg5 Qxg6+ ]
e) Shamkovich vs Bruce Leverett, USA, 1977 5b1r/Npkqpppp/8/8/1PP5/8/1P2QPPP/6K1 w - - 0 1 [ Qe5+ if Qd6 Nb5+ ]
Shamkovich Puzzles, Part III. White to move and win except where noted.
a) White Mates in 4. Shamkovich vs David Blohm, USA, 1977 r1b4q/pp1p4/3n1bQ1/8/5k2/1P4R1/P1PP1PPP/6K1 w - - 0 1 [ d4 ]
b) Shamkovich vs Johan Stopa, USA, 1977 1k5r/pp1q1ppp/1bpr2n1/6N1/PP1p1P2/3P3Q/1P1B2PP/4RRK1 w - - 0 1 [ f5 if Ne5 Rxe5 f6 Re4 fxg5 Bxg5 Bd8 Bf4 ]
c) White Mates in 4. Shamkovich vs George Botterill, Hastings, 1978 R4bk1/5p1p/5Pp1/1p6/3Q4/1P5P/1P2qrPK/8 w - - 0 1 [ Rxf8+ w/Qc5+ ]
d) Shamkovich vs Gerardo Lebredo, Mexico, 1978 4r1k1/p1p2ppp/2r2q2/8/2P2b2/1R2B2P/P1Q2PP1/5RK1 w - - 0 1 [ Qe4 if Be5 f4 ]
e) Shamkovich vs Pal Benko, Greenville, 1980 1r4n1/6kn/p2p2p1/2pPp1Pr/2P1P2p/2N1QN1q/P1K2R1P/6R1 w - - 0 1 [ Nxe5 if Qxe3 Rf7+ mates ]
Shamkovich Puzzles, Part IV. White to move and win except where noted.
a) Shamkovich vs Raymond Keene, New York, 1980 2r1n1k1/pp3Rb1/4p1Pp/2p1P3/4qN1Q/1P2p2P/1PP3PK/8 w - - 0 1 [ Qe7 if e2 Rf7+ mates ]
b) Shamkovich vs Lev Alburt, Reyjavik, 1986 8/4p1k1/3pq1r1/p1p3RQ/2P4P/1r4P1/3R3K/8 w - - 0 1 [ Re2 if Qf6 Rxg6+ ]
c) Shamkovich vs Lanka Ravi, London, 1987 r1b2k1r/pp3pp1/3qp2p/1B6/3N1n2/P7/1P3PPP/2RQ1RK1 w - - 0 1 [ Nxe6+ ]
d) White Mates in 2. Shamkovich vs Anatoly Trubman, USA, 1990 5r1k/pp1n1p1p/5n1Q/3p1pN1/3P4/1P4RP/P1r1qPP1/R5K1 w - - 0 1 [ Qxf8+ ]
e) Shamkovich vs Walter Shipman, Philadelphia, 1992 7R/6p1/5p2/1r2p1k1/4q2p/4P2P/3Q2PK/8 w - - 0 1 [ Qe2 ]