King-pawn Opening Series
Here are some chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1935.
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.
J Vallve vs J Almeda, Mollet, 1935
3r1qk1/pbrn1p1p/1p2n1B1/8/2P3Q1/6N1/PB3PPP/3RR1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Bxf7+ Kxf7 Qxe6# ]
b)
White mates in 2.
Conel H O'D Alexander vs I Dobkin, Warsaw, 1935
r2k4/ppN2pbp/3Bp3/5b1q/3QP3/6p1/PP4PP/3R1K1R w - - 1 0
[ Be5+ ]
c)
White mates in 2.
Eero Boek vs Einar Andersen, Warsaw, 1935
r3Qbnr/1pp3pp/p1Bk4/4p3/2q1p1b1/2N1B3/PP3PPP/R3K2R w KQ - 1 0
[ Rd1+ ]
d)
White mates in 2.
Arthur Dake vs Timothy Cranston, Warsaw, 1935
r1bq2rk/pp3pbp/2p1p1pQ/7P/3P4/2PB1N2/PP3PPR/2KR4 w - - 1 0
[ Qxh7+ ]
e)
White mates in 2.
Miguel Najdorf vs L Laurentius, Warsaw, 1935
q5r1/3R3p/pB3p1k/6p1/P3P1Q1/1P6/5PP1/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qh3+ ]
Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1935, pt. ii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
White mates in 2.
Marcos Luckis vs Moshe Czerniak, Warsaw, 1935
k1n3rr/Pp3p2/3q4/3N4/3Pp2p/1Q2P1p1/3B1PP1/R4RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Qxb7+ Kxb7 a8/Q# ]
b)
White mates in 2.
Erich Eliskases vs Massimiliano Romi, Warsaw, 1935
2q5/1r1k3p/1p2r3/pPp3Q1/2P5/6P1/1P4KP/5R2 w - - 1 0
[ Rf7+ ]
c)
White mates in 2.
Mario Monticelli vs Giovanni Ferrantes, Firenze, 1935
5r1k/pp2r1R1/2pqpnQP/3p4/3P4/2NB4/PP6/1K4R1 w - - 1 0
[ Qxf6 ]
d)
Black mates in 2.
Glucksberg vs Miguel Najdorf, Warsaw, 1935
r4rk1/pp4pp/2p3n1/3p2N1/2P2PK1/3B2P1/PP5q/R1BQ1RN1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Ne5+ fxe5 h5# ]
e)
Black mates in 2.
Stefano Rosselli Del Turco vs Wolfgang Hasenfuss, Warsaw, 1935
6k1/1p4b1/2p1b1p1/8/4PPq1/4Q1N1/r6B/6RK b - - 0 1
[ ...Rxh2+ ]
Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1935, pt. iii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
White mates in 3.
Herbert Heinicke vs Ludwig Rellstab, Bad Saarow, 1935
5Q2/p4qp1/1p2pkNb/1b5B/3R1P2/7P/P5PK/5r2 w - - 1 0
[ Qd8+ ]
b)
White mates in 3.
Carlos Hounie Fleurquin vs Benito Villegas, Buenos Aires, 1935
4r3/1ppbqp2/7R/5kP1/p1P1np2/P1Q5/1P2B3/2K2N2 w - - 1 0
[ Bg4+ Kxg4 Qh3+ ]
c)
White mates in 3.
William Fairhurst vs Vera Menchik, Margate, 1935
1r6/5Rbk/p2Pb1pp/Pp1Np3/2q1P3/4Q1PP/1P4B1/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Nf6+ Kh8 Qxh6+ ]
d)
White mates in 3.
Samuel Factor vs S Kreznar, Milwaukee, 1935
q3k1r1/3n1p1p/4rp2/8/1bQpp2N/8/PP3PPP/2R2RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Qc8+ Qxc8 Rxc8+ ]
e)
White mates in 3.
Alexander Alekhine vs Perello/allies, Palma de Majorca, 1935
2r5/2k5/1p1R2pp/R7/2p2rq1/6P1/1PPQ3P/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Ra7+ Kb8 Rxb6+ ]
'Characteristic Puzzles in the Opening' series
Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1935, pt. iv.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
White mates in 3.
Savielly Tartakower vs J Cukierman, Paris, 1935
r1bqr3/pp1nbpp1/2p1p3/3pPk1P/3P4/2N1Q3/PPP2PP1/R3K2R w KQ - 1 0
[ g3 if Bg5 Qf3+ ]
b)
White mates in 3.
Josef Dobias vs Salomon Flohr, Prague, 1935
5kr1/p3rp1p/2Q2Bq1/8/1P1p4/8/P1P2PPP/R5K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qc8+ Re8 Qc5+ ]
c)
White mates in 3.
Paul Keres vs Friedrich Saemisch, Tallinn, 1935
r2q1r1k/4R3/3p2Bp/1p6/p1p4P/P4b2/1P2QP2/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Rh7+ Kg8 Qe6+ ]
d)
White mates in 3.
Ejnar Andersen vs Heinz Foerder, Warsaw, 1935
2b2rk1/5r1p/3R2pQ/4Pp2/2B1p3/2P5/1q4PP/3R3K w - - 1 0
[ Bxf7+ if Kxf7 Qxh7+ or if Rxf7 Rd8+ ]
e)
White mates in 3.
Vladimir Petrov vs Brian Reilly, Warsaw, 1935
2rr2k1/pq1n1pbp/1pR3p1/3PN3/1P5P/5Q2/PB3PP1/2R3K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qxf7+ Kh8 Nxg6+ ]
Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1935, pt. v.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
White mates in 3.
Paul Keres vs Gideon Stahlberg, Warsaw, 1935
5k2/pp2n3/4R1B1/3p2NN/1q1p2p1/8/PPP2PP1/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Rf6+ Kg8 Bh7+ ]
b)
White mates in 3.
Leon Kremer vs Jakub Kolski, Warsaw, 1935
r2q2r1/p5k1/1p3p2/2npPPpQ/8/4P2R/PP4PP/5RK1 w - - 1 0
[ e6 ]
c)
Black mates in 3.
Victor Goglidze vs Mikhail Botvinnik, Moscow, 1935
1rr3k1/5p1p/p2Q2p1/N2b4/3Pp3/R3P3/4qPPP/5RK1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qxf1+ Kxf1 Rb1+ ]
d)
Black mates in 3.
Eduard Glass vs Lajos Steiner, Vienna, 1935
2r3k1/p4ppp/Bp2p3/2b5/6K1/2B2nP1/PP5r/R2R4 b - - 0 1
[ ...f5+ if Kxf3 Rf2# or if Kf4 g5+ ]
e)
Black mates in 3.
F Kibbermann vs Kazimierz Makarczyk, Warsaw, 1935
7r/pp3p2/3k1P2/3p4/3PpPK1/4P3/PPq2R2/4Q3 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qc8+ if f5 or Kg5 Qg8+ ]
Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1935, pt. vi.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
White mates in 4.
Josef Rejfir vs Jan Foltys, Luhacovice, 1935
1rb3k1/p4Rp1/1p2p2p/3rN1qQ/3P4/8/PP3PPP/4R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Rf8+ if Kh7 Qe8 or if Kxf8 Qf7# ]
b)
White mates in 4.
Rudolf Spielmann vs Vasja Pirc, Moscow, 1935
r7/ppkNQ1pp/2p1B3/8/8/2P5/P2rqPPP/4R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Nc5+ if Kb6 Qxb7+ or if Rd7 Qxd7+ ]
c)
White mates in 4.
Gideon Stahlberg vs Andor Lilienthal, Moscow, 1935
3kn3/p1p2Rp1/1p2q3/7p/7P/5QP1/P6K/8 w - - 1 0
[ Qa8+ Qc8 Qd5+ Nd6 Qg5+ ]
d)
White mates in 4.
Mikhail Botvinnik vs Vitaly Chekhover, Moscow, 1935
1q1r4/rb6/pp4P1/2kP1Q2/2P5/8/PB4PP/4R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Ba3+ Kxc4 Qe4+ Kc3 Bb4+ ]
e)
White mates in 4.
Salomon Flohr vs Michal, Prague, 1935
rn2k2r/ppq2ppp/n1pQB3/8/4N3/P7/1PP2PPP/R2R2K1 w - - 1 0
[ Bxf7+ Kxf7 Ng5+ ]
Tactics you can use from wtharvey.com
Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1935, pt. vii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
White mates in 4.
Janos Balogh vs Gyula Kluger, Tatatovaros, 1935
1r4k1/p7/3pp1P1/2p1b1qN/2PnP3/3P3Q/8/5R1K w - - 1 0
[ Nf6+ if Qxf6 or Bxf6 Qh7+ ]
b)
White mates in 4.
Alexander Alekhine vs I Strazdins, URS, 1935
r1bqkb1r/1p3ppp/p7/3N4/8/3Q1N2/PP3PPP/3R1RK1 w kq - 1 0
[ Nf6+ Ke7 Qxd8+ Ke6 Nd4+ ]
c)
White mates in 4.
Laszlo Szabo vs Fritz Gygli, Warsaw, 1935
n1q3k1/1p3p2/p2p1pnQ/3P4/3N4/2P5/PP2R1P1/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Nf5 if Qf8 Re8 ]
d)
Black mates in 4.
Hermann Steiner vs Arthur Dake, Santa Barbara, 1935
6rr/bQp2p2/p2p1k2/3PpP2/q3Bpn1/2P2N2/1P2RPR1/5K2 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rh1+ if Ng1 Qd1+ Re1 Nh2+ or if Rg1 Nh2+ Ke1 Rgxg1+ ]
e)
Black mates in 4.
Victor Winz vs Gosta Danielsson, Warsaw, 1935
r1b2rk1/pp1n2bp/3p2p1/3P4/2PnB2q/PPN5/3KN1PP/R1BQ3R b - - 0 1
[ ...Bh6+ if Kd3 Nc5+ Kxd4 Qf6# ]
Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1935, pt. viii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
White mates in 5.
A N Towsen vs S Kreznar, Milwaukee, 1935
r2b4/1pq3k1/1np2rBR/p7/Pn1PP1P1/1QN2P2/1P2K3/7R w - - 1 0
[ Rh7+ if Kxg6 Qg8+ or if Kf8 Rh8+ Ke7 R1h7+ ]
b)
White mates in 5.
N Rjumin vs Peter Romanovsky, Moscow, 1935
4rr1k/pbp1q1pp/1p6/3Pp3/2P1P3/P2B1pQ1/1B5R/6RK w - - 1 0
[ Qg6 h6 Rxh6+ gxh6 Bxe5+ ]
c)
White mates in 5.
Fritzis Apsheniek vs Mario Monticelli, Warsaw, 1935
3r1bk1/1p2np1p/p5p1/3p2P1/1P1B1q2/2PBR2Q/1P5P/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qxh7+ Kxh7 Rh3+ ]
d)
Salomon Flohr vs George Koltanowski, Barcelona, 1935
r6k/p1p2pn1/1p1p3N/n6q/2b4Q/2P2P2/P1B3PP/1R4K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qe4 ]
e)
George Thomas vs Maristany, Barcelona, 1935
2r3k1/4qp1p/1n1p2p1/1ppPn1P1/4P1N1/rPQ3NP/2R2P2/6RK w - - 1 0
[ Nh6+ Kf8 f4 ]
Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1935, pt. ix.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Luis Palau vs Jacobo Bolbochan, Buenos Aires, 1935
r1b1r1k1/pp3pp1/1bq1pn1p/8/4P3/3B1N2/PPQN1PPP/2R2RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Qb3 if Qd7 or Bc5 Bb5 ]
b)
Roberto Grau vs Mariano Castillo Larenas, Buenos Aires, 1935
2q3k1/pp2p2p/1n4p1/N1rPP3/2pQ4/2P3P1/P6P/5RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Nc6 if Nxd5 Qxc5 ]
c)
Juan Vinuesa vs Roberto Grau, Buenos Aires, 1935
6r1/p1p2p1k/1p5P/4R3/2qr4/P3QP2/5P2/1K4R1 w - - 1 0
[ Rxg8 if Kxg8 Qg5+ mates ]
d)
Gideon Stahlberg vs Ludwig Rellstab, Germany, 1935
r1b1k2r/pp3ppp/2p1p3/6B1/1bBP4/q1n1PN2/3Q1PPP/2R2RK1 w kq - 1 0
[ Ra1 if Ne4 Qe2 Qc3 Rfc1 ]
e)
Vera Menchik vs Brian Reilly, Margate, 1935
r3r1k1/p2n3p/1p2p3/3qBpp1/2pP4/2P1P3/P2Q1PPP/R4RK1 w - - 1 0
[ e4 if fxe4 or Qxe4 Qxg5+ mates ]
'Tactics in the Sicilian' series
Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1935, pt. x.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
John Belson vs F Rathman, Milwaukee, 1935
r2qr1k1/pp5p/2b1ppp1/2p1N1b1/2PP1nP1/2P3Q1/P1BB3P/3RR1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Nxc6 if Qc7 Re4 ]
b)
Anthony Santasiere vs R Ratke, Milwaukee, 1935
8/p3q1k1/bp1r2p1/2pPn2r/4B3/2B1P3/PP3RQ1/5RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Rf7+ Qxf7 Rxf7+ Kxf7 Qg3 if Nc4 b3 ]
c)
Barnie Winkelman vs R Ratke, Milwaukee, 1935
1r2n1k1/Rp2qpbp/1Qr1p3/2P2p2/3P4/4B1PP/4PP1K/1R6 w - - 1 0
[ Qxc6 bxc6 Rxe7 Rxb1 Rxe8+ mates ]
d)
Alexander Chistiakov vs Andrey Orlov, Moscow, 1935
2r3k1/8/1pbRp3/2n2RB1/6rP/1B6/1KP5/8 w - - 1 0
[ Rxc5 if bxc5 Bxe6+ ]
e)
Rudolf Spielmann vs Vitaly Chekhover, Moscow, 1935
b1q1kr2/4b2p/2p3p1/1p6/4PnB1/7Q/1B3PPP/3R2K1 w - - 1 0
[ Bd7+ if Kd8 Bxc8+ or if Kf7 Qxh7# ]
Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1935, pt. xi.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Grigori Levenfish vs Vladimir Alatortsev, Moscow, 1935
2r5/p4k1p/1pn1p1p1/5q1r/3PRQ2/2P5/P4PPP/4R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ g4 ]
b)
Lajos Merenyi vs Kornel Havasi, Tatatovaros, 1935
r5k1/pp2rppp/2pp1b2/q7/4PPQ1/1P1B1R2/2P3PP/5R1K w - - 1 0
[ e5 if h5 or dxe5 Qf5 ]
c)
Jaime Sunye Neto vs Maristany, Barcelona, 1935
r4rk1/ppp1bppp/5n2/8/2Bq4/P1Q3B1/5PPP/RN2K2R b KQ - 0 1
[ ...Bb4 axb4 Rfe8+ Be2 Rxe2+ Kxe2 Re8+ ]
d)
Ivan Rohacek vs Vilem Olexa, Luhacovice, 1935
4rrk1/p4ppp/1p6/4nQ2/2Pq4/1P1B2P1/P4P1P/R2R2K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Nxd3 Qxd3 Re1+ ]
e)
Edmund Nash vs Reuben Fine, Milwaukee, 1935
r1r3k1/2q1bppp/p3p3/1p1bn3/3N4/P1PBBP2/1PQ3PP/R4R1K b - - 0 1
[ ...Nxd3 Qxd3 Bc4 ]
Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1935, pt. xii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Victor Goglidze vs Emanuel Lasker, Moscow, 1935
2r5/5p1p/p4kp1/1p2p3/1Pb5/P1R1PP2/2RrNKPP/8 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rcd8 if e4 Bxe2 or if Ke1 Rd1+ Kf2 R8d2 ]
b)
Amateur vs Esteban Canal, New York, 1935
r3kbnr/ppp2ppp/8/q2Ppb2/1n6/2N5/PPPBNPPP/2RQKB1R b Kkq - 0 1
[ ...Bxc2 if Rxc2 Nd3# ]
c)
Gyula Lovas vs Gyula Kluger, Tatatovaros, 1935
2r2rk1/1p1qbppp/p1n2n2/3pp3/Q7/2P1P3/PPN1BPPP/R1B2RK1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Nd4 ]
d)
J Creevey vs Mario Monticelli, Warsaw, 1935
1q3rk1/pb3ppp/1p2p3/8/1P4n1/1Q2PN2/P3BPPP/2R3K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Bxf3 ]
e)
Matibet Betbeder vs Frank Marshall, Warsaw, 1935
r1bq1rk1/pp3p1p/2n2bpB/4p3/4Q3/2PB1N2/PP3PPP/R4RK1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Bf5 if Qe3 Qxd3 Qxd3 Bxd3 ]
f)
Stefano Rosselli Del Turco vs Gosta Stoltz, Warsaw, 1935
3rkb1r/1bq2ppp/p1n1p3/1p6/3PN1n1/P2B1N2/1P2QPPP/R1BR2K1 b k - 0 1
[ ...Nxd4 if Nxd4 Qxh2+ mates ]
g)
Jose Raul Capablanca vs Juan Manuel Fuentes, Madrid, 1935
8/p2bk3/8/1p1pP1p1/1P1Pp1Pp/1N2K2P/P7/8 b - - 0 1
[ ...Bxg4 hxg4 h3 Kf2 e3+ ]
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