Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1931.

King-pawn Opening Series

Here are some chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1931
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.

Solutions are between the brackets under each puzzle.
Drag your cursor from one bracket to the other.

a)

White mates in 2.
Alexander Alekhine vs Vasic, Banja-Luka, 1931
r1bqk2r/p1pn1pp1/1p2pn1p/8/3P4/B1PB4/P1P1QPPP/R3K1NR w KQkq - 1 0
[ Qxe6+ ]

b)

White mates in 2.
Rudolf Spielmann vs Vasja Pirc, Bled, 1931
2r5/R1n5/1k2p3/1p2P2p/2qP3P/Q1p3p1/6P1/R6K w - - 1 0
[ Qa6+ ]

c)

White mates in 2.
Julio Lynch vs Isaias Pleci, Buenos Aires, 1931
1R3Q2/6pk/4p3/5pPp/3PpP2/rb1qP1KP/6N1/8 w - - 1 0
[ Qg8+ Kg6 Nh4# ]

d)

White mates in 2.
Gideon Stahlberg vs Endre Steiner, Prague, 1931
5k2/3bb1q1/p4pQp/4p2B/1P2PB1P/P7/5PP1/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Bxh6 ]

e)

White mates in 2.
Alexander Alekhine vs Asmundur Asgeirsson, Reykjavik, 1931
r4kr1/1p1b2pR/p2Np3/4P1Q1/1q6/8/PPP2PP1/2K5 w - - 1 0
[ Qf6+ ]

Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1931, pt. ii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)

White mates in 2.
Edgard Colle vs Akiba Rubinstein, Rotterdam, 1931
2b1rk2/4p1bp/1BQ1P1p1/p4p2/P7/8/4rPPP/3R2K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qxe8+ ]

b)

White mates in 2.
Salo Landau vs Akiba Rubinstein, Rotterdam, 1931
3r1r2/1R6/pN2q1nk/P2p2pp/1P2pp2/4P1PP/4QP1K/3R4 w - - 1 0
[ Qxh5+ ]

c)

White mates in 2.
Carl Ahues vs Ludwig Roedl, Swinemunde, 1931
8/p3r2p/1p2b1p1/5kN1/4R2P/P5K1/1Pr2PP1/3R4 w - - 1 0
[ Rf4+ Ke5 Nf3# ]

d)

White mates in 2.
Friedrich Saemisch vs Berthold Koch, Swinemunde, 1931
4r2k/1b2Nppp/1qN1n3/3R4/5P2/6P1/1PQK3P/7R w - - 1 0
[ Qxh7+ ]

e)

White mates in 2.
Stefano Rosselli Del Turco vs Federico Norcia, Milan, 1931
r3rk2/pppq2nR/4ppQ1/8/4NP2/3BP3/PPP5/2K5 w - - 1 0
[ Rh8+ ]

Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1931, pt. iii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)

White mates in 2.
Isaac Kashdan vs Max Euwe, Hastings, 1931
2k3r1/pppnQ1qp/3p4/3P4/2P5/5p1B/PP3PrB/R3R2K w - - 1 0
[ Qe8+ ]

b)

Black mates in 2.
Virgilio Fenoglio vs Enrique Falcon, Argentina, 1931
6k1/2p1bp1p/6p1/N1pP4/P3P3/7b/3Q3P/2Bqn2K b - - 0 1
[ ...Qf3+ ]

c)

Black mates in 2.
Enrique Falcon vs Jose Maria Cristia, Buenos Aires, 1931
3R4/P4pkp/R5p1/8/8/5PPK/4BP1P/2q3r1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qh6+ ]

d)

White mates in 3.
Enrique Ibanez vs Pedro Ipata, Argentina, 1931
r2qk2r/p2nb3/1p1ppP1p/2p3p1/2P5/2N3Pb/PPQ1NP1P/R1B2RK1 w kq - 1 0
[ Qg6+ ]

e)

White mates in 3.
Alexander Alekhine vs Geza Maroczy, Bled, 1931
4b2Q/1p1nkp1N/p2rp2p/5P2/Pq6/3r4/6PP/2R2RK1 w - - 1 0
[ f6+ if Nxf6 Qxf6+ or if Kd8 Qxe8+ ]

'Characteristic Puzzles in the Opening' series

Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1931, pt. iv.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)

White mates in 3.
Gosta Stoltz vs Geza Maroczy, Bled, 1931
8/1b6/1prq1kBQ/p2p4/3P1pp1/P7/1P3P2/4R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Be8+ Kf5 Qh5+ or Bd7+ ]

b)

White mates in 3.
Larry Schmitt vs Stephan Fazekas, Brno, 1931
2rr4/p2RQ3/2p1P2p/1kb4q/4B3/2B3P1/P6P/7K w - - 1 0
[ Bd3+ Ka4 Rxa7+ ]

c)

White mates in 3.
Karoly Sterk vs Robert Pikler , Budapest, 1931
k7/1b5q/1QrN1R2/2n1p2p/p3P1p1/P1P2P1P/6P1/1R4K1 w - - 1 0
[ Rf8+ Rc8 Rxc8+ ]

d)

White mates in 3.
Etienne Vezer vs John O'Hanlon, Hastings, 1931
r1b1rk2/pp1nbNpB/2p1p2p/q2nB3/3P3P/2N1P3/PPQ2PP1/2KR3R w - - 1 0
[ Bxg7+ ]

e)

White mates in 3.
Johannes Addicks vs Mladen Gudjev, Prague, 1931
r1b1r1kq/pppnpp1p/1n4pB/8/4N2P/1BP5/PP2QPP1/R3K2R w KQ - 1 0
[ Bxf7+ Kxf7 Ng5+ ]

Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1931, pt. v.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)

White mates in 3.
Emil Richter vs Cenek Kottnauer, Prague, 1931
3rnrk1/pbpq2bp/1p4p1/n2NP1N1/3p1P2/1Q2B1P1/PP4BP/R4RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Ne7+ Kh8 Qg8+ Rxg8 Nf7# ]

b)

White mates in 3.
David Noteboom vs Lajos Steiner, Prague, 1931
1nrr4/p4pk1/1p1n4/3pN1BQ/1bPP4/8/P6P/3R2K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qh6+ Kg8 Bf6 ]

c)

White mates in 3.
H Christoffersen vs Stefan Erdelyi, Prague, 1931
3r4/1bq2pkp/pn5N/4N1P1/1p1Q4/5B2/PPP4P/3n1R1K w - - 1 0
[ Nd7+ ]

d)

White mates in 3.
Albert Becker vs Leonhard Metanomski, Vienna, 1931
r5k1/4rp1p/p4RpQ/1pq5/2p1b3/P1Bn3B/1P4PP/5R1K w - - 1 0
[ Rxg6+ fxg6 Be6+ ]

e)

White mates in 3.
Salo Flohr vs George Thomas, Hastings, 1931
1k6/ppr3p1/8/2b2Q2/2P5/3P2PB/Pq5P/5R1K w - - 1 0
[ Qf8+ ]

Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1931, pt. vi.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)

Black mates in 3.
Gyula Lovas vs Andor Lilienthal, Budapest, 1931
5rk1/p3b1p1/1p2p1R1/4r1B1/2P1q3/2Q2p2/PP4PP/R5K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...f2+ ]

b)

Black mates in 3.
Anthony Edward Santasiere vs Edward Lasker, New York, 1931
r5k1/1p5p/6p1/2nPp3/b5P1/1qB1PQ2/1P1R1P2/1K4R1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qa2+ Kxa2 Bc2+ ]

c)

Black mates in 3.
Leonhard Abramavicius vs Johannes Van Den Bosch, Prague, 1931
6k1/5pp1/Q3p2p/3b4/4nPPK/7P/1q6/5R2 b - - 0 1
[ ...g5+ if fxg5 hxg5+ or if Kh5 Ng3+ ]

d)

Black mates in 3.
Vladas Mikenas vs Hans Johner, Prague, 1931
5rk1/pppb3p/3p4/P1nPp2Q/2P1P3/2P5/R5KP/4q2N b - - 0 1
[ ...Qf1+ Kg3 Nxe4+ ]

e)

Black mates in 3.
Maurice Goldstein vs Charles Watson, Melbourne, 1931
8/pp3pk1/8/3p2P1/3Pq3/1P2r1p1/P2QP1R1/7K b - - 0 1
[ ...Qh7+ Kg1 Qb1+ ]

"Tactics in the Queen's Gambit" by wtharvey.com

Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1931, pt. vii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)

Black mates in 3.
Poul Hage vs Jens Enevoldsen, Denmark, 1931
5q1k/1r6/5pR1/3p1P2/3QP3/4P2P/Pr6/K5R1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rxa2+ ]

b)

Black mates in 3.
Vera Menchik vs Frederick Yates, Hastings, 1931
5r1k/p6p/2p1p3/2P5/2QP4/P3p3/7P/1q4RK b - - 0 1
[ ..Qe4+ Rg2 Rf2 ]

c)

White mates in 4.
Jose Maria Cristia vs Roberto Grau, Argentina, 1931
r1b2k2/ppr2p1B/1q1bpQ2/3pNn2/3P4/PP3N2/1BP2P1P/R3K3 w Q - 1 0
[ Qd8+ Kg7 Qg8+ ]

d)

White mates in 4.
Lajos Steiner vs Carl Ahues, Berlin, 1931
2r1r1k1/1ppQ2pp/p3R3/1q6/7P/1P3R2/P4PP1/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Rxe8+ Rxe8 Qf7+ ]

e)

White mates in 4.
Hermann Steiner vs Vladas Mikenas, Brno, 1931
4r2k/pp2q2b/2p2p1Q/4rP2/P7/1B5P/1P2R1R1/7K w - - 1 0
[ Rxe5 fxe5 f6 ]

Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1931, pt. viii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)

White mates in 4.
Alexander Alekhine vs Vardonenko, Paris, 1931
3r3r/1pp1k2p/p4p2/8/2qN1BQ1/8/PPP3PP/R6K w - - 1 0
[ Qg7+ if Qf7 or Ke8 Re1+ ]

b)

Janos Balogh vs Aristide Gromer, Prague, 1931
1n3brr/1kpbqp2/3p4/1B2p1P1/4P3/2PPB1p1/P2N1PP1/RR4K1 w - - 1 0
[ Bxd7+ if Ka8 Rxb8+ or if Ka6 Bc8+ ]

c)

White mates in 4.
Lajos Steiner vs Josef Lokvenc, Vienna, 1931
rr4R1/p1qkpp1B/3p4/1p1Pb3/3B3Q/2P5/PP5P/7K w - - 1 0
[ Bf5+ e6 Bxe6+ fxe6 Qh7+ ]

d)

White mates in 4.
Salo Flohr vs Edward Jackson, Hastings, 1931
2rk4/1b3p1R/1p1B2p1/pPn1p1P1/2P3N1/4PP2/5K2/8 w - - 1 0
[ Nf6 if Bc6 Rh8+ ]

e)

Black mates in 4.
Virgilio Fenoglio vs Saviely Tartakower, Buenos Aires, 1931
8/1p3p1k/4p2p/p3P1p1/3Q4/2P2qPK/PP5P/8 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qf1+ Kg4 Qf5+ Kh5 g4+ ]

Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1931, pt. ix.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)

Coria Valentin Fernandez vs Enrique Falcon, Argentina, 1931
2r1r1k1/p2b2p1/1q1bpnNp/2pp1p2/5B2/1QP2BP1/PP2PP1P/R4RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Qxb6 if axb6 Bxd6 ]

b)

Enrique Ibanez vs Roberto Grau, Argentina, 1931
6k1/p5pp/1r6/2pPp1r1/2q1Pp2/3R1P1P/4Q1P1/1R3K2 w - - 1 0
[ Rxb6 if axb6 d6 ]

c)

Savielly Tartakower vs Piro/Bensadon, Argentina, 1931
r3r1k1/1p3pbp/1q3B1p/p2B4/8/2P2Q1P/PP3PP1/R5K1 w - - 1 0
[ Bxf7+ if Kxf7 Bd8+ ]

d)

Gosta Stoltz vs Karl Helling, Berlin, 1931
1r4k1/p4n1p/6p1/3Q4/5pqP/3N4/PPP5/2KR4 w - - 1 0
[ Qxf7+ Kxf7 Ne5+ ]

e)

Alejandro Nogues vs Julio Lynch, Buenos Aires, 1931
3rr1n1/1p3pk1/pq1pb2p/4p1p1/2P1P3/P1R1N1PP/1P3QBK/5R2 w - - 1 0
[ Nf5+ ]

'Tactics in the Sicilian' series

Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1931, pt. x.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)

Luis Palau vs Enrique Falcon, Buenos Aires, 1931
6k1/4p2p/p4bn1/1p1p2p1/1P1P2P1/P1PQ2BP/3N2K1/4q3 w - - 1 0
[ Qxg6+ (if Bxe1 Nf4+) ]

b)

Fedor Bohatirchuk vs Vladimir Alatortsev, Moscow, 1931
4r1k1/p3npp1/1p2p1r1/2q1B2p/5P2/P4Q2/2PR2PP/3R3K w - - 1 0
[ Rd8 if Qb5 or Kf8 Qa8 ]

c)

Boris Verlinsky vs Alexander Ilyin-Zhenevsky, Moscow, 1931
5rk1/1p2qpp1/2p1n2p/8/4BP2/2P1Q1PP/rP6/2K1R2R w - - 1 0
[ Bb1 if Ra6 f5 ]

d)

Edward Lasker vs Israel Horowitz, New York, 1931
3r3k/pp1r2pb/4q2p/3NNp1Q/P3nP2/7P/1P1R2PK/3R4 w - - 1 0
[ Nc7 ]

e)

Salo Flohr vs Cenek Kottnauer, Prague, 1931
6rk/pp3Rrp/2p5/3qQ3/3PpR2/6PK/7P/8 w - - 1 0
[ Rxg7 if Qxe5 Rxg8+ or if Rxg7 Rf8+ mates ]

Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1931, pt. xi.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)

Efim Bogoljubow vs Endre Steiner, Prague, 1931
5rk1/pR3b2/Rb4B1/4pN1p/2r3p1/8/5P1P/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Bxf7+ Rxf7 Nh6+ ]

b)

Gosta Stoltz vs Salomon Flohr, Prague, 1931
1rbr4/p6p/1p2pkp1/5n2/3N3P/2P1R3/PPB2P2/1K2R3 w - - 1 0
[ Bxf5 if exf5 or gxf5 Nc6 ]

c)

Milan Vidmar vs Manuel Golmayo De La Torriente, Prague, 1931
r3rbk1/pQ4pp/1p2pp1q/4N2n/3PP3/5PB1/P3K1PP/1RR5 w - - 1 0
[ Qf7+ Kh8 Qxe8 if Rxe8 Nf7+ ]

d)

William Winter vs Karoly Sterk, Prague, 1931
5rk1/p4r1p/1pp1qRpQ/4p3/P2P4/2P5/6PP/5RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Qxf8+ ]

e)

Ojvind Larsen vs Valentin Marin Y Llovet, Prague, 1931
5bk1/1b1n3p/pn1q1pp1/1p2p3/4P1NN/1P5P/PB1Q1PP1/1B5K w - - 1 0
[ Nh6+ if Kg7 N4f5+ or if Bxh6 Qxd6 ]

Tactics you can use from wtharvey.com

Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1931, pt. xii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)

Vasja Pirc vs Hermann Steiner, Prague, 1931
r2qr1k1/1b3pp1/p3pn1p/1p2N3/7B/P1N1P3/1PQ2PPP/1B4K1 w - - 1 0
[ Bxf6 if Qxf6 Qh7+ Kf8 Nd7+ or if gxf6 Qh7+ mates ]

b)

Daniel Noteboom vs Aristide Gromer, Prague, 1931
4rr2/1b3p1k/p1R2Pp1/1p3R1p/4q3/PB5P/1P1Q2P1/7K w - - 1 0
[ Rxh5+ if gxh5 Bc2 or if Kg8 Rh8+ mates ]

c)

Gideon Stahlberg vs Oskar Naegeli, Prague, 1931
4r1k1/pp3p2/4bbpQ/3rNp2/1qp5/1B4P1/PP3PK1/3R3R w - - 1 0
[ Nxg6 fxg6 Qxg6+ if Bg7 Qxe8+ ]

d)

George Thomas vs Pedro Soler, Prague, 1931
3r1k2/pp5p/r4n2/2Ppp1p1/1P1N4/5P2/P2R2PP/3R2K1 w - - 1 0
[ b5 if Ra4 Ne6+ ]

e)

Carl Ahues vs Jacques Mieses, Swinemunde, 1931
r4k2/pp3p1p/2p2nr1/2q5/2Np1Q2/P7/1P4PP/4RRK1 w - - 1 0
[ Ne5 ]

Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1931, pt. xiii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)

Pedro Ipata vs Julio Lynch, Argentina, 1931
r3rnk1/pp2qpbp/3p2p1/2pPpN1n/2P5/1P2P1Pb/PB1N1P1P/1BRQ1RK1 b - - 0 1
[ ...gxf5 if Qxh5 Bg4 Qh4 Bf6 ]

b)

Rodolfo De Witt vs Luis Palau, Argentina, 1931
2r4r/pk5p/bp3b2/B2p4/q2P4/1N2PPQ1/PKN4P/3R3R b - - 0 1
[ ...Rxc2+ Kxc2 Qxa2+ ]

c)

Nikolay Sorokin vs Vsevolod Rauzer, Moscow, 1931
3r1rk1/4q1p1/p1N4p/1p6/2n1pp2/P1R1P3/1P2QPPP/5RK1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qd7 if Nxd8 f3 ]

d)

Stefano Rosselli Del Turco vs Abraham Baratz, Nice, 1931
5r2/2p2qbk/3p2p1/1PpPp1Pp/P3P2P/1P4R1/3QK2R/8 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qf1+ Ke3 Qf4+ Kd3 Qxg3+ ]

e)

Marcel Duchamp vs Paulin Frydman, Prague, 1931
5rk1/pb3ppp/1p2p3/8/2R1P3/P4PP1/1P2N2P/1K6 b - - 0 1
[ ...Ba6 Rc2 Bd3 ]

f)