'Characteristic Puzzles in the Opening' series
Here are some chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1942.
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.
Rudolf Teschner vs Walter Loose, Bad Oeynhausen, 1942
1r1k1b2/5q2/p1QP1p2/2p5/8/2P5/P4KP1/4R3 w - - 1 0
[ Re8+ ]
b) 
White mates in 2.
Mogilevsky vs V Vulfson, Kuibyshev, 1942
5r2/n6k/p2p4/PppPrPQp/8/2P4P/1PB4K/8 w - - 1 0
[ f6+ ]
c) 
White mates in 2.
Theo Van Scheltinga vs Louis Stumpers, Leeuwarden, 1942
3r1r1k/ppnnp3/2p2ppN/5P1Q/3Pq3/1P5P/P5P1/3R1RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Nf7+ ]
d) 
White mates in 2.
Jiri Pelikian vs Sonja Graf-Stevenson, Mar del Plata, 1942
3qr1kb/ppp2p1n/2nprPbB/3Np3/3PP3/2PN2QB/PP6/R4RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Qxg6+ fxg6 f7# ]
e) 
White mates in 2.
F Duz-Hotimirsky vs Georgy Lisitsyn, Moscow, 1942
4k1r1/pp3p2/8/7Q/4p1r1/2P2qP1/PP1R4/4R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qe5+ ]
Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1942, pt. ii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
White mates in 2.
A J Wijnans vs Chris Vlagsma, Netherlands, 1942
4r2k/7P/p1b1r3/1pPp2Bq/8/2P3Q1/P1B3PP/3R2K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qe5+ ]
b) 
White mates in 2.
Heinz Helms vs Oscar Tenner, New York, 1942
r1bqk2r/bppp1ppp/8/PB2N3/3n4/B7/2PPQnPP/RN2K2R w KQkq - 1 0
[ Nxd7+ if Nxe2 Nf6# ]
c) 
White mates in 2.
Keilson vs Dirk Michael, New York, 1942
r5kr/1ppq2pp/p1pb2n1/8/3P4/5Q2/PPP3PP/RNB2RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Qb3+ ]
d) 
White mates in 2.
Hoit vs Ramsdell, corr., 1942
r1b2r1k/ppn2pp1/q2bpN1p/2p1N2Q/2P2P2/3P4/PP1B2PP/R4RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Qxf7 ]
e) 
Black mates in 2.
Rudolf Teschner vs Georg Klaus, Bad Oeynhausen, 1942
1k5r/pb2R3/4p3/1pP5/2p5/P2n2P1/1P1R1PP1/5K2 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rh1+ ]
Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1942, pt. iii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Black mates in 2.
Jiri Podgorny vs Cenek Kottnauer, Prague, 1942
R7/6pp/p4b2/3k4/1p6/1P1p1rP1/P2K2RP/8 b - - 0 1
[ ...Bc3+ ]
b) 
White mates in 3.
Friedrich Saemisch vs Jaroslav Sajtar, Chocen, 1942
3R1Q2/nq4pk/5p1p/1p6/1P2PP2/P5N1/1Br3PP/7K w - - 1 0
[ f5 ]
c) 
White mates in 3.
Adrianus De Groot vs Nicolaas Cortlever, Leeuwarden, 1942
2b1r2k/p2q1Qnp/1p1Pn3/2p5/8/PP2P1P1/1B4B1/3R1RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Bxg7+ Nxg7 Qf8+ ]
d) 
White mates in 3.
Ramon Rey Ardid vs Juan Manuel Fuentes, Madrid, 1942
5r1k/1p3p1p/5b1R/5N1Q/P2P4/2p1P2P/3q1PP1/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Rxh7+ Kg8 Rg7+ Bxg7 Ne7# ]
e) 
White mates in 3.
Pablo Michel vs Carlos Maderna, Mar del Plata, 1942
r5k1/2nr1bp1/1q2p1p1/p1bpP1B1/1p1N2Q1/P1P4R/1P2N1B1/R6K w - - 1 0
[ Rf1 if bxc3 Qh4 ]
Tactics you can use from wtharvey.com
Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1942, pt. iv.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
White mates in 3.
Andor Lilienthal vs Zamokhotsky, Moscow, 1942
r3r3/1p2ppQ1/p2pb1p1/6P1/4P2R/5k2/qPP5/2KR1B2 w - - 1 0
[ Qc3+ Kf2 Rh2+ ]
b) 
White mates in 3.
Hidalgo vs Kline, New York, 1942
r1b2r1k/1pp1Nppp/p1p5/2q4Q/n3R3/8/PPPP1PPP/R1B3K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qxh7+ Kxh7 Rh4+ ]
c) 
White mates in 3.
Samuel Reshevsky vs Isaac Kashdan, Plattsburg, 1942
4QB1k/pprr4/q3p3/4Pp1P/3P4/8/P5P1/3R2K1 w - - 1 0
[ Be7+ if Kg7 Bf6+ or if Kh7 Qf7+ ]
d) 
Black mates in 3.
Alexey Ivashin vs Alexey Sokolsky, Kuibyshev, 1942
8/6pk/7p/p1Q5/P7/4qpPP/5r2/2R3K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rf1+ ]
e) 
Black mates in 3.
Jeremiah Donovan vs Sidney Bernstein, Ventnor City, 1942
5rk1/2pb1ppp/p2r4/1p1Pp3/4Pn1q/1B1PNP2/PP1Q1P1P/R5RK b - - 0 1
[ ...Qxh2+ Kxh2 Rh6+ ]
Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1942, pt. v.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Black mates in 3.
Andrei Malchev vs Veselin Popov, Sofia, 1942
6k1/4pp1p/PQN2bp1/8/8/2n1PKP1/5P1P/6q1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qh1+ if Kg4 h5+ ]
b) 
White mates in 4.
Hector Rossetto vs Carlos Guimard, Buenos Aires, 1942
6k1/3n2pp/2QpNn2/2pP4/2P5/P5B1/1rq3PP/5RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Qc8+ Kf7 Qxd7+ ]
c) 
White mates in 4.
Lev Abramov vs Rafael Kofman, Kuibyshev, 1942
5rk1/3R3p/p1p1RB1r/2p3p1/2P5/1P4P1/P4P2/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Rg7+ Kh8 Rg6+ Rxf6 Re8+ ]
d) 
White mates in 4.
Grigory Ravinsky vs L Sherbakov, Moscow, 1942
4rb2/pp1n1p1k/2p4p/q1np1PB1/2P1P2R/2N5/PP2Q2P/6RK w - - 1 0
[ Bxh6 if Bxh6 Rxh6+ Kxh6 Qe3+ or if Qd8 Qh5 ]
e) 
White mates in 4.
Paul Keres vs V Rootare, Tallinn, 1942
r3r1k1/ppp2p1p/1b3Bp1/4P3/3P1n2/2PB1N2/PP6/2KR3R w - - 1 0
[ Rxh7 Kxh7 Rh1+ Nh5 Rxh5+ ]
Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1942, pt. vi.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Black mates in 4.
Alexander Telegin vs Pavel Bidev, Sofia, 1942
1k1r4/1b2q3/pb5p/3P4/1pPNppr1/1P6/1PN2PP1/Q2R1RK1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rxg2+ Kxg2 Qg5+ ]
b) 
Black mates in 4.
Andrew Lewis vs Dayton, USA, 1942
r1b1k2r/ppp2ppp/8/2bBN3/3nn3/8/PPP2qPP/RNBQR2K b kq - 0 1
[ Qg1+ Kxg1 Ne2+ Kf1 N4g3+ ]
c) 
Black mates in 4.
Pavel Bidev vs Emit Karastoichev, Sofia, 1942
2r3k1/1p3ppp/p7/5b2/q2n4/PP2Q3/3NPPPP/3K1B1R b - - 0 1
[ ...Rc1+ Kxc1 Qxa3+ Kd1 Bc2+ ]
d) 
White mates in 5.
Gerard Kerlin vs JT Gerrard, Dublin, 1942
r1bq1rk1/pp2b1p1/1nn1p3/2ppP1P1/3P1N2/2P5/PP3PP1/R1BQK2R w KQ - 1 0
[ Rh8+ Kxh8 Qh5+ Kg8 g6 ]
e) 
Augustin Tikovsky vs Rudolf Keller, Chocen, 1942
r1b2rk1/pp2qp2/2p2bp1/4n1N1/2B5/P2QPN2/1P3PP1/2KR3R w - - 1 0
[ Nxe5 if Qxe5 or Bxe5 Qxg6+ ]
King-pawn Opening Series
Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1942, pt. vii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Vladas Mikenas vs Mogilevsky, Kuibyshev, 1942
5rk1/R1p3b1/3q2np/3Pp1p1/6P1/1N1Q1PB1/6KP/8 w - - 1 0
[ Ra6 ]
b) 
Pablo Michel vs Jose Canepa, Mar del Plata, 1942
8/4pk1p/p1b1n1pB/1p2P3/8/1P3r1B/P1P4P/3R2K1 w - - 1 0
[ Bg4 if Rc3 Rf1+ ]
c) 
Isaac Boleslavsky vs Zamokhotsky, Moscow, 1942
r4rk1/ppq2ppp/2nn4/2B5/8/3B1Q2/PbP2PPP/3R1RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Bxd6 if Qxd6 Bxh7+ ]
d) 
Ilya Kan vs F Duz-Hotimirsky, Moscow, 1942
3k3r/pp2b1p1/6p1/8/2r5/5NB1/PP4PP/1K2R3 w - - 1 0
[ Ne5 if Rhh4 Bxh4 Rxh4 Nxg6 ]
e) 
Ilya Kan vs Evgeny Zagorjansky, Moscow, 1942
r1b2rk1/1p3pp1/1qp2n1p/p2p4/1P1P4/b1PB1NP1/P2N1PP1/1R1QK2R w K - 1 0
[ Qa4 ]
Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1942, pt. viii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Paul Keres vs F Kibbermann, Tallinn, 1942
6k1/1p3ppp/1ppbp3/4q1P1/3rNRQP/P7/1PP2P2/5K2 w - - 1 0
[ Nf6+ if Kh8 or Kf8 Rxd4 ]
b) 
Paul Keres vs Johannes Turn, Tallinn, 1942
2rrb1k1/2q2pp1/6p1/p3R3/2B5/1P3R2/P3Q2P/1K6 w - - 1 0
[ Re7 if Qc6 Rexf7 Bxf7 Bxf7+ ]
c) 
Friedrich Saemisch vs Miroslav Katetov, Chocen, 1942
1k6/p7/1p2p1b1/1N1pP3/2r1q3/2P4R/PK1Q2P1/8 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qb1+ ]
d) 
Max Euwe vs Van Der Camp, Dieren, 1942
6k1/2p2pp1/2R1n2p/pp2P3/8/3r1NPP/PP3PK1/8 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rxf3 if Kxf3 Nd4+ ]
e) 
Frantisek Zita vs Klaus Junge, Prague, 1942
3n2k1/ppp1b2p/4bpp1/4p3/2P1N3/1P4P1/P3PPBP/4N1K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...f5 if Nd2 Bb4 Ndf3 e4 or if Nc3 Bb4 ]
Chess puzzles from top-rated games of 1942, pt. ix.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Klaus Junge vs Paul Keres, Salzburg, 1942
3r2k1/6pp/p2Nrp2/1pR1P3/8/P4bP1/1P3P1P/4R1K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rdxd6 ]
b) 
Klaus Junge vs Alexander Alekhine, Salzburg, 1942
4rbk1/pp3q2/2p4p/5pp1/2PP2n1/P2Q2B1/1P3NPP/1K1R4 b - - 0 1
[ ...Ne3 if Re1 f4 ]
c) 
Joao De Souza Mendes vs Paulo Duarte, Sao Paulo, 1942
2b2rk1/2R3pp/pB1Q1b2/3Pp3/8/5BP1/P3qPKP/8 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qxf3+ Kxf3 Be7+ Ke3 Bxd6 ]
d) 
Veselin Popov vs Andrei Malchev, Sofia, 1942
r1b1kb1r/pp2pppp/2n2n2/3q4/3N4/4BP2/PPP3PP/RN1QKB1R b KQkq - 0 1
[ ...Qe5 Qd2 Nd5 ]
e) 
Petar Petrov vs Yurij Benderev, Sofia, 1942
6k1/pp4p1/2p4p/3p2n1/3P1Q1P/2P1R3/P1PN2PK/3qr3 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rh1+ Kg3 Rh3+ if Kf2 Qxd2+ or if gxh3 Qg1# ]
f) 
Jacob Levin vs Chauvenet, Ventnor City, 1942
2rqr3/p4pkp/bpp3p1/3n4/P2PN3/6P1/1PQ2PBP/2R1R1K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Nb4 if Qd2 Nd3 ]
g) 
Arshavir Tanieljan vs Zahari Stanchev, Sofia, 1942
6k1/pp3p2/4r1r1/1p1q4/3P2R1/P3P1Q1/5KP1/4R3 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qf5+ if Rf4 Qc2+ or if Qf4 Qxg4 ]
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