King-pawn Opening Series
Here are some chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1940.
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.
Arne Desler vs Ingrid Larsen, Copenhagen, 1940
4k1r1/3b3p/p3NQpP/2qp1p2/4r3/P3R1P1/2PR1P2/2K5 w - - 1 0
[ Qd8+ Kf7 Ng5# ]
b) 
White mates in 2.
Max Bluemich vs Ludwig Rellstab, Krakow, 1940
4r1k1/pp3R1R/2q3nB/3p4/8/2P3Q1/P3r1PK/8 w - - 1 0
[ Rfg7+ ]
c) 
White mates in 2.
Paul Mross vs Efim Bogoljubow, Krakow, 1940
r6r/1b3Q1p/p2N1p2/k7/q7/4B3/1PP3PP/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qc7+ ]
d) 
White mates in 2.
Andor Lilienthal vs Vasily Panov, Moscow, 1940
4rbk1/5ppp/p7/P3qN2/2p1Q1P1/B6n/2Br1P2/R3RK2 w - - 1 0
[ Nh6+ ]
e) 
White mates in 2.
H Howe vs W Beers, USA, 1940
4k2r/1pR3bp/p2P4/3P1KB1/8/8/PP5n/8 w - - 1 0
[ d7+ ]
Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1940, pt. ii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
White mates in 2.
James McCormick vs Walter Stephens, Ventnor City, 1940
r1b5/pp3Q2/2p2p1p/3q2k1/4R3/2P2p2/PP3PPP/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ h4+ ]
b) 
Black mates in 2.
Karel Hromadka vs Karel Opocensky, Rakovnik, 1940
8/kp6/8/p1b1nP1B/P3q3/1P1p2QP/8/4RK2 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qh1+ ]
c) 
Black mates in 2.
B Malksoo vs Paul Keres, Tallinn, 1940
6k1/2p3pp/4bp2/2qN4/2P4n/5P2/1Q2N2P/3R1K2 b - - 0 1
[ ...Bh3+ Ke1 Nxf3# ]
d) 
Black mates in 2.
Olaf Ulvestad vs Jeremiah Donovan, Ventnor City, 1940
3r2k1/p1p3pp/1p4r1/4p3/4N2P/BP1PnqP1/P3n2K/R1R4Q b - - 0 1
[ ...Ng4+ ]
e) 
Black mates in 2.
Henry Grob vs Hans Johner, Zuerich, 1940
4rr2/p5pk/5q1p/1RpB1b2/2P5/5P2/P2Q3P/2K3R1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qa1+ ]
Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1940, pt. iii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
White mates in 3.
Hanson Norman vs Jacob Gemzoe, Copenhagen, 1940
r5k1/7p/1p6/1Bb1Q3/1p1p1R2/8/q4PP1/7K w - - 1 0
[ Qg5+ Kh8 Qf6+ ]
b) 
White mates in 3.
A C Pritzel vs Ingrid Larsen, Copenhagen, 1940
rnb4k/1p2q2B/p3p1p1/2npP1PQ/8/2N5/PPP3PP/5RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Bxg6+ Kg8 Rf8+ ]
c) 
White mates in 3.
Vladimir Petrov vs Mark Stolber, Moscow, 1940
r2r1k2/p2n2qp/1pp1Q1pN/2P1p1B1/1Pp4P/6P1/P3PPB1/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Be7+ if Ke8 Bd6+ or if Qxe7 Qg8# ]
d) 
White mates in 3.
Reuben Fine vs Herbert Seidman, New York, 1940
2q5/1b2Q2p/1p4pk/pPnP1p2/P4P2/B5P1/6BP/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Bb2 ]
e) 
White mates in 3.
Georges Renaud vs NN, Prague, 1940
r3r1k1/p3Pppp/np4b1/2ppBN2/8/3PQ3/P1q3PP/1R3RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Qh6 if gxh6 Nxh6# ]
Tactics you can use from wtharvey.com
Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1940, pt. iv.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
White mates in 3.
Octavio Trompowsky vs Walter Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, 1940
3b2rk/4q1rp/1pp3P1/2p1pbBR/2PpB3/3P3Q/PP5P/5R1K w - - 1 0
[ Rxh7+ Rxh7 Bf6+ ]
b) 
White mates in 3.
Cayetano Netto vs Joao de Souza Mendes, Rio de Janeiro, 1940
5r1k/pb3r1p/2q5/4pR2/2BpP1Q1/8/P1P4P/6RK w - - 1 0
[ Qg7+ if Rxg7 Rxf8+ ]
c) 
White mates in 3.
Sidney Bernstein vs Walter Stephens, Ventnor City, 1940
r1bq1rk1/pp5R/2p1p1B1/3pP1b1/2P5/2N1P3/PPQ2P2/3RK3 w - - 1 0
[ Bf7+ Rxf7 Qg6+ ]
d) 
White mates in 3.
Jeremiah Donovan vs Walter Stephens, Ventnor City, 1940
4Q3/pp4R1/7p/3q4/3P3k/8/PPr3P1/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qe1+ if Kh5 g4# ]
e) 
White mates in 3.
Bozidar Kazic vs B Vukovic, Yugoslavia, 1940
r2q2kr/p1pNbp1p/1p3p1B/8/2ppN3/2P5/PP3PPP/R2bR1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Nexf6+ Bxf6 Re8+ Qxe8 Nxf6# ]
Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1940, pt. v.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Black mates in 3.
Herbert Heinicke vs Karl Gilg, Bad Oeynhausen, 1940
6k1/pb4pp/1p2p2q/4P3/2Q2P2/P5P1/1B6/1B2R1K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qh1+ Kf2 Qf3+ ]
b) 
Black mates in 3.
Amos Pokorny vs Vilem Olexa, Rakovnik, 1940
8/3R1pk1/6p1/3Pr1P1/6Kp/6bP/8/8 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rf5 ]
c) 
Black mates in 3.
H G Blok vs Theo Van Den Tol, Rotterdam, 1940
5r1k/1p5p/1p6/4PrbK/6p1/1P1Bn1P1/PB5P/1R5R b - - 0 1
[ ...Be7+ Bxf5 Rxf5+ ]
d) 
White mates in 4.
Alexander Alekhine vs Joao Mario Ribeiro, Estorial, 1940
r3R3/pb4kp/1p3qp1/5P2/2PQ4/8/PP4PP/5RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Re7+ Kh6 Qxf6 ]
e) 
White mates in 4.
Grigory Goldberg vs Vitaly Chekhover, Kiev, 1940
5rk1/6p1/p7/8/1P6/P1q5/2B3Q1/1K5R w - - 1 0
[ Qd5+ Rf7 w/Rh8+ or Bh7+ ]
Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1940, pt. vi.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
White mates in 4.
Abraham Kupchik vs Reuben Fine, New York, 1940
5rk1/3b1p1p/1q1r2pQ/4R2P/p1B5/8/P1P2PP1/4R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Bxf7+ Rxf7 Re8+ ]
b) 
White mates in 4.
Rudolf Spielmann vs E Wadling, Vasteras, 1940
k1r1b3/pp4pp/1R1Q1p2/5P1q/4P3/6B1/P1P3PP/5B1K w - - 1 0
[ Rxb7 if Kxb7 Qa6+ ]
c) 
White mates in 4.
Weaver Adams vs Walter Stephens, Ventnor City, 1940
2r1r2k/6pp/5n2/2N1N3/1q1P1P2/2p5/Q5PP/4R2K w - - 1 0
[ Nf7+ Kg8 Nh6+ Kh8 Qg8+ ]
d) 
Black mates in 4.
Isaac Boleslavsky vs Peter Dubinin, Moscow, 1940
3r4/1p6/p5kr/2PpB1p1/1P1Pp3/P3n1K1/B7/2R5 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rf8 ]
e) 
Black mates in 4.
Milton Hanauer vs David Polland, New York, 1940
4r3/6Q1/p7/1p5k/8/1P2qpK1/1PP4B/8 b - - 0 1
[ ...f2+ Kg2 Qf3+ or f1/Q+ ]
'Characteristic Puzzles in the Opening' series
Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1940, pt. vii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Black mates in 4.
Murdock vs J Soudakoff, New York, 1940
4r1k1/6pp/p4P2/n7/3P1P2/2p3qb/PPB2R2/R1BKQ3 b - - 0 1
[ ...Bg4+ Re2 Bxe2+ Qxe2 Qg1+ ]
b) 
Black mates in 4.
Vsevolod Rauzer vs Peter Dubinin, Kiev, 1940
r7/2r1kp2/4p1p1/3pR1P1/BK1n1P2/1P5R/P7/8 b - - 0 1
[ ...Nc2+ Kb5 Rb8+ ]
c) 
Black mates in 4.
G Littman vs Milton Hanauer, New York, 1940
7k/p3q3/3p4/Qpp1bbp1/2P4p/1P1p4/P2r3P/1KN1R2R b - - 0 1
[ ...Rb2+ Ka1 Rxb3+ ]
d) 
Ludwig Rellstab vs Heinz Nowarra, Berlin, 1940
1b1rrnk1/1b2q1pp/pp2p3/3nN3/2P4Q/3B2N1/PB4PP/3R1RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Rxf8+ Kxf8 Ng6+ if hxg6 Qh8+ mates ]
e) 
Alexander Alekhine vs A Correia Neves, Estorial, 1940
6k1/p5p1/7p/1p1nqN2/2p5/P2Q3P/1P3PP1/5K2 w - - 1 0
[ Qxd5+ ]
Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1940, pt. viii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Genrikh Kasparian vs Mark Stolberg, Kiev, 1940
3r2k1/2q1bpp1/5n1p/1pp1p3/2n1P3/4NNP1/1PQB1PKP/R7 w - - 1 0
[ Nxc4 bxc4 Ba5 ]
b) 
Kurt Richter vs Georg Kieninger, Krakow, 1940
3nk2r/1pq1pp1p/p1p3p1/4N3/8/4Q3/PPP2PPP/3R2K1 w k - 1 0
[ Rd7 if Qc8 Qc5 ]
c) 
Arnold Denker vs G Littman, New York, 1940
5rk1/ppBrnpp1/2p4p/8/2BbP3/8/PP3P1P/3R2RK w - - 1 0
[ Be5 if c5 Rxg7+ ]
d) 
Herbert Seidman vs Weaver Adams, New York, 1940
r6k/2q1b2p/2b1QppB/4p1P1/2p1n3/1pP4P/1P2BR1K/r1N2R2 w - - 1 0
[ Qf7 Rg8 gxf6 if Bd8 Bg7+ mates ]
e) 
Albert Simonson vs Philip Woliston, New York, 1940
3r4/pp5p/5kp1/8/5P2/1P1p1KP1/P2R1N1P/5n2 w - - 1 0
[ Rd1 if Nxh2+ Kg2 ]
'Tactics in the Sicilian' series
Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1940, pt. ix.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Brustle vs Matthias Rotsch, New York, 1940
r3k2r/p1qn1ppp/1p1bp3/3pNb2/Q2P4/2N1P3/PP3PPP/R1B1K2R w KQkq - 1 0
[ Nb5 if Qb8 Nc6 ]
b) 
Jiri Podgorny vs J Bubenik, Prague, 1940
r3kb1r/pp1b1p1p/4p1p1/1BPpqnB1/6Q1/8/PPP2PPP/RN3RK1 w kq - 1 0
[ Bxd7+ Kxd7 Qa4+ if Kc7 Bf4 or if Kc8 Qe8+ ]
c) 
Mount vs Huffell, Australia, 1940
4k2r/prp1bppp/2pqbn2/3pP3/8/P1N1QN2/1PPB1PPP/2KRR3 b k - 0 1
[ ...Qxa3 ]
d) 
Werner Kunerth vs Kurt Richter, Berlin, 1940
r3r1k1/5pbp/p4qp1/8/P1N2n2/P7/5PPP/1BRQR1K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qg5 if g3 Rxe1+ Qxe1 Ne2+ or if Qf3 Ne2+ ]
e) 
NN vs Evangelos Beis, Germany, 1940
B2qkb1r/p1pb1ppp/5n2/8/4pP2/8/PPPP2PP/RNBQK2R b KQk - 0 1
[ ...Bg4 ]
Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1940, pt. x.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Georgy Lisitsyn vs Paul Keres, Moscow, 1940
6k1/3r1p1p/4b1p1/1P6/4B3/1q1p2P1/5P1P/1R3QK1 b - - 0 1
[ ...d2 Rxb3 Bxb3 ]
b) 
Vlacheslav Ragozin vs Vasily Panov, Moscow, 1940
5rk1/1pq2p1p/4p1p1/1R6/8/PP3QP1/5P1P/2rR2K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qc6 ]
c) 
Philip Woliston vs Weaver Adams, New York, 1940
r1b2rk1/pppq1ppp/6n1/4n1B1/2P5/P2P1NP1/1PQ2PBP/3RK2R b K - 0 1
[ ...Nxf3+ Bxf3 Qf5 ]
d) 
Milton Hanauer vs Albert Pinkus, New York, 1940
3r2k1/p1r2qpp/5p2/4n3/2NR4/3QP2P/P5P1/2R3K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rxd4 Qxd4 g6 ]
e) 
Josef Dobias vs Jiri Podgorny, Rakovnik, 1940
7k/2p3pp/pn3R2/7q/1P3P2/PQ4Pb/1B1r3P/2R3K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rg2+ if Kf1 Rxb2+ or if Kh1 Rxh2+ Kxh2 Be6+ ]
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