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Here are some chess puzzles from top rated games of 1980.
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.
Marcel Sisniega vs Oleg Romanishin, Mexico, 1980
r7/4Qpnp/p2p2k1/2bb4/2p3P1/8/PPPK4/7R w - - 1 0
[ Rh6+ Kxh6 Qf6# ]

b)
White mates in 2.
Luben Popov vs William Hartston, Scara, 1980
r1q2r2/4bNk1/p2pb1p1/2pP4/2p2Q1P/2N5/PP5B/1K4R1 w - - 1 0
[ Qh6+ w/Qxg6# ]

c)
White mates in 2.
Petar Velikov vs Nathan Birnboim, Scara, 1980
3R4/pb2rp2/1pp2q1k/2b2B2/2P2PQp/1P2P3/P5PP/5RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Rh8+ Qxh8 Qg5# ]

d)
White mates in 2.
Gennadi Kuzmin vs Vladimir Tukmakov, Tashkent, 1980
4r3/1p2qN1k/p1p1n1p1/5P1p/1PP1p3/2Q4P/P4RBK/3r4 w - - 1 0
[ fxg6+ ]

e)
White mates in 2.
Lajos Portisch vs Mikhail Tal, Tilburg, 1980
b1r5/p4ppk/7p/4r2P/4N3/2n1P3/qPQ1BPP1/2R3K1 w - - 1 0
[ Nf6+ ]

Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1980, pt. ii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
White mates in 2.
Alexander Beliavsky vs Yuri Razuvaev, Vilnius, 1980
4r3/1p5Q/2b2p2/3k1Np1/1P6/6P1/q4P1P/4R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qf7+ ]

b)
/Black mates in 2.
Istvan Csom vs Artur Jussupow, Esbjerg, 1980
4r1k1/1p3pp1/pQ5p/8/1P6/P3NPPb/3q1P1P/3R2K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qxd1+ ]

c)
Black mates in 2.
Roberto Molina vs Marcel Sisniega, Mexico, 1980
2b1r1k1/1pp2ppp/1bnq4/1P6/2P3P1/3p1N1P/1B1P2B1/R1Q2n1K b - - 0 1
[ ...Qh2+ ]

d)
White mates in 3.
Jan Smejkal vs Franz Hoelzl, Baden-Baden, 1980
7k/4qr1p/1p6/p1pPpQ2/P1Pb2R1/1P3PP1/6K1/7R w - - 1 0
[ Rxh7+ Rxh7 Qc8+ ]

e)
White mates in 3.
Peter Hesse vs Andrzej Luczak, Leipzig, 1980
2qrrb1k/p6p/1pn3p1/2P1pN1Q/1P2R3/1BP4P/P4PP1/2B3K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qxh7+ Kxh7 Rh4+ ]

Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1980, pt. iii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
White mates in 3.
Jay Whitehead vs Michael Wilder, Lone Pine, 1980
2R5/p3rk1p/6pB/4p3/1pprN1P1/6P1/PPP3K1/8 w - - 1 0
[ Ng5+ Kf6 Rf8+ ]

b)
White mates in 3.
Nigel Davies vs Kick Langeweg, Manchester, 1980
1R1r3r/3kbppp/4pn2/1pq5/2B5/1QP1N1B1/1P3PPP/5RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Bxb5+ ]

c)
White mates in 3.
Fernando Braga vs Hector Rossetto, Quilmes, 1980
r1b4R/1p2r1k1/p1n1pNp1/2p1P1N1/nq3PP1/4B3/1PP5/2KR1B2 w - - 1 0
[ Rg8+ Kh6 Nf7+ ]

d)
White mates in 3.
Jon Arnason vs Vlastimil Jansa, Sochi, 1980
5r2/4Np1p/4pP1k/3p2p1/4q1P1/4Q3/7P/6RK w - - 1 0
[ Qxe4 dxe4 Rg3 ]

e)
White mates in 3.
Evgeny Sveshnikov vs Eugenio Torre, Sochi, 1980
5k2/4b2p/pN1pQp2/2p2Pp1/Pp3PPq/7P/1PP3K1/8 w - g6 1 0
[ Nd7+ ]

Tactics you can use from wtharvey.com



Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1980, pt. iv.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
White mates in 3.
Arshak Petrosian vs Vitaly Tseshkovsky, Yerevan, 1980
4r3/5p1k/b5RB/2p2pQ1/P7/1P6/4PpBq/1R3K2 w - - 1 0
[ Rg7+ Kh8 Rh7+ ]

b)
White mates in 3.
Vitaly Tseshkovsky vs Karen Grigorian, Yerevan, 1980
5r2/4bR1p/pB2Q1pk/4P3/1pB3P1/1P6/2q4P/7K w - - 1 0
[ g5+ if Kxg5 Be3+ or if Bxg5 Qh3+ ]

c)
White mates in 3.
John Grefe vs Nick De Firmian, Oakland, 1980
6rk/3P1Rnp/1q4p1/4Q3/2B5/6PP/1P6/7K w - - 1 0
[ Qxg7+ Rxg7 Rf8+ ]

d)
White mates in 3.
Dragoljub Velimirovic vs Vladimir Bukal, Skender Vakuf, 1980
1r4k1/1p5q/2n2rpQ/3p4/3P2P1/P3R2P/8/4R2K w - - 1 0
[ Re8+ ]

e)
Black mates in 3.
Franz Hoelzl vs John Nunn, Baden-Baden, 1980
4r2k/Q2n1p1p/7r/2pP1P2/3nP3/2N3q1/BP4R1/5RK1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qe3+ if Rff2 Nf3+ or if Rgf2 Rg8# ]

Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1980, pt. v.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Black mates in 3.
Frans Andre Cuijpers vs Marcelo Tempone, Dortmund, 1980
r4r1k/ppp3pp/8/3pPp2/5Kb1/1QPB2P1/PP1N4/R1B3q1 b - - 0 1
[ ...g5+ Kxg5 Qe3+ ]

b)
Black mates in 3.
Nikolai Andrianov vs Anatoly Lutikov, Krasnoyarsk, 1980
5r2/4Nqk1/p1Qp4/2p4p/2P3n1/RP4Pn/3N2K1/5R2 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qf2+ ]

c)
Black mates in 3.
Florin Gheorghiu vs Anthony Miles, London, 1980
8/1kp2p2/1p2p3/3p4/3P4/2P1P1q1/P3K3/2RQ2Nr b - - 0 1
[ ...Rh2+ Kd3 Qg6+ ]

d)
Black mates in 3.
Evgeny Sveshnikov vs John Van Der Wiel, Sochi, 1980
8/p1Q2Bbp/k5p1/6P1/7P/K1P5/P2r4/5q2 b - - 0 1
[ ...Bf8+ ]

e)
Black mates in 3.
Zurab Azmaiparashvili vs Smbat Lputian, URS, 1980
1r5k/p4Q2/2q4p/5P2/2p1R3/2P3P1/r6P/4R2K b - - 0 1
[ ...Qxe4+ Rxe4 Rb1+ ]

Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1980, pt. vi.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
White mates in 4.
Igor Foigel vs Igor Novikov, Kiev, 1980
1rb4k/1p5p/p2p2B1/2nNb3/P1q5/4B2P/5RP1/5RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Rf8+ Kg7 R1f7+ Kxg6 Ne7+ ]

b)
White mates in 4.
Vladimir Tukmakov vs Alexander Ivanov, Klaipeda, 1980
5n2/5RN1/1rkp3p/2p1r1q1/4P3/PQ1P4/6PP/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qa4+ Rb5 Qa8+ ]

c)
White mates in 4.
Julio Kaplan vs Vladimir Liberzon, Lone Pine, 1980
3r1k2/pbR3bQ/1p1r1q2/n5N1/1B1p4/8/P4PP1/5RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Ne6+ Qxe6 Qxg7+ Ke8 Qh8+ ]

d)
White mates in 4.
Gennadi Zaichik vs Elmar Magerramov, Riga, 1980
3r2k1/p5p1/5p2/6Np/1P4P1/3p1QP1/P3q2P/2R3K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qd5+ ]

e)
White mates in 4.
Aleksandr Veingold vs Alvis Vitolins, Riga, 1980
2r3r1/1nqn1p2/pp1pp1k1/7N/P1P1Pp1Q/1P3P2/3R2K1/3R4 w - - 1 0
[ Qg4+ if Kh7 Nf6+ or if Kh6 Ng7 ]

King-pawn Opening Series



Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1980, pt. vii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
White mates in 4.
Sergey Makarichev vs Gennadi Zaichik, URS, 1980
2r1k3/p4pb1/1qRQ3r/7p/1P3Pb1/6P1/3R2BP/7K w - - 1 0
[ Re2+ if Bxe2 or Be6 Rxc8+ ]

b)
White mates in 4.
Vlastimil Hort vs John Van Der Wiel, Amsterdam, 1980
4r1k1/p2n4/3p1Pp1/1ppq1n2/4N1P1/PP3R2/5PK1/Q6R w - - 1 0
[ f7+ if Kxf7 Rh7+ or if Kf8 Rh8+ ]

c)
White mates in 4.
Aleksander Sznapik vs Rainer Knaak, corr., 1980
1r6/2kb2Q1/5R1p/pp1pp3/3Nq3/2P4P/PP4P1/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Rc6+ if Kd8 Qf8+ Be8 Qf6+ ]

d)
White mates in 5.
Semon Palatnik vs Efim Geller, Rostov on Don, 1980
r2q1rk1/pp3ppp/1nb2p2/8/3P4/P2BP3/3N1P1P/R2QK1R1 w Q - 1 0
[ Rxg7+ Kxg7 Qg4+ Kh8 Qf5 ]

e)
White mates in 5.
Jan Smejkal vs Ivan Radulov, Scara, 1980
2r3k1/p1r4p/2b1R1nq/2PpQp2/3B1P2/6R1/P5PP/5BK1 w - - 1 0
[ Qh8+ Kf7 Rf6+ Ke7 Re3+ ]

Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1980, pt. viii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
White mates in 5.
Slobodan Martinovic vs Enver Bukic, Yugoslavia, 1980
4r1qk/1p4p1/p1bR3p/4r3/7Q/P1B4P/1P4P1/5RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Rxh6+ gxh6 Qxh6+ Qh7 Bxe5+ Kg8 Qg5+ ]

b)
Black mates in 5.
Alexei Suetin vs Jose Luis Vilela, Leipzig, 1980
4r1k1/5ppp/p2B1b2/1p1P1b2/1q6/2r5/PP1RBQPP/K6R b - - 0 1
[ ...Rc1+ Rxc1 Qxd2 if Rb1 Bxb2+ Qc1+ ]

c)
White mates in 5.
Jesus Nogueiras vs Cicero Braga, Mexico, 1980
1R3bk1/5p2/3p1P1p/2pP2p1/8/q1P4P/6P1/4Q2K w - - 1 0
[ Rxf8+ Kxf8 Qe7+ Kg8 Qe8+ ]

d)
White mates in 5.
Mikhail Gurevich vs Alvis Vitolins, Riga, 1980
3k2qr/3b1R1p/n2P4/4p3/2Q1P3/4B1P1/1PP4P/7K w - - 1 0
[ Bb6+ Ke8 Re7+ Kf8 Qf1+ ]

e)
Dusan Rajkovic vs Orestes Rodriguez, Barcelona, 1980
br4k1/4qpbp/pp1Npnp1/2r1B3/2P5/PQ2P3/4BPPP/1R1R2K1 w - - 1 0
[ Nf5 ]

Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1980, pt. ix.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Ljubomir Ljubojevic vs Oscar Panno, Buenos Aires, 1980
r6k/4q2p/ppb1B1p1/3p4/3N1Q2/8/Pb3PPP/5RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Qe5+ Qg7 Qxg7+ Kxg7 Nxc6 ]

b)
Miguel Najdorf vs Jan Timman, Buenos Aires, 1980
5b1k/p5pp/8/1pp1B3/8/Pr4P1/5PKP/4R3 w - - 1 0
[ Bd6 ]

c)
Boris Kantsler vs Yuri Anikaev, Dnepropetrovsk, 1980
6k1/6p1/1qN1p2p/1prr1p2/5P2/1P2Q1P1/1bP1R2P/2R3K1 w - - 1 0
[ Ne7+ Kh7 Nxd5 if Qd6 Rb1 ]

d)
Jonathan Mestel vs Vladimir Savon, Esbjerg, 1980
3r4/5kpR/p4q2/1p2pPp1/2p1P3/2n1B3/2P4Q/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qh5+ if Ke7 Bxg5 or if Kf8 Bc5+ mates ]

e)
Anthony Miles vs Lars Karlsson, Gausdal, 1980
2rRB3/2P1k1pp/5p2/1p2Bb2/n7/6P1/7P/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Bd6+ Ke6 Bd7+ Kxd6 Bxf5+ ]

King-pawn Opening Series



Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1980, pt. x.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Gert Ligterink vs Paul Van Der Sterren, Groningen/Amsterdam, 1980
8/1p1q4/6k1/pP2r1p1/P2Rp3/3Q2P1/5P2/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Rd6+ if Re6 Qxe4+ or if Kf5 g4+ ]

b)
Peter Lukacs vs Ventzislav Inkiov, Lodz, 1980
3q1rk1/3b2pp/1N1p2n1/1npP1p2/4PP2/2PB4/2Q2R1P/2B4K w - - 1 0
[ Nxd7 Qxd7 Qa4 if Rb8 Rb2 fxe4 Bxb5 ]

c)
Jay Whitehead vs Arthur Bisguier, Lone Pine, 1980
r2BQrk1/pq4pp/2p5/1p6/8/2P5/P1b2PPP/3RR1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Rd7 if Qa6 Qe7 mates ]

d)
Larry Christiansen vs Javier Campos Moreno, Malta, 1980
1qr2rk1/pb2bppp/4pn2/1p1nN3/2NP4/1P5R/PB2QPPP/1B2R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Nd7 if Nxd7 Bxh7+ Kh8 Bc2+ Kg8 Rh8+ ]

e)
Jan Smejkal vs Lev Polugaevsky, Malta, 1980
2rr2k1/5p1p/p2p1npQ/1q1Pp3/Np1nPP2/1P4PB/P2R3P/5R1K w - - 1 0
[ fxe5 ]

Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1980, pt. xi.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Smbat Lputian vs Elmar Magerramov, Riga, 1980
rn1r2k1/pp4bp/1nqB2p1/2p3N1/5N2/8/PP4PP/R2Q1R1K w - - 1 0
[ Qb3+ c4 Qh3 h6 Qe6+ mates ]

b)
Jan Plachetka vs Gyula Sax, Scara, 1980
5k2/R7/6K1/2r5/3N2P1/P3r3/8/8 w - - 1 0
[ Ra8+ Ke7 Nf5+ ]

c)
Boris Spassky vs Bent Larsen, Tilburg, 1980
8/2R3p1/5pk1/p3prp1/3r4/PP1n2PP/3R1P2/3N1K2 w - - 1 0
[ Ne3 Rf3 Nc2 if Re4 Kg2 or if Rc8 Ne1 ]

d)
Sergey Dolmatov vs Valery Chekhov, Vilnius, 1980
4r2k/1pR3pP/2b5/p4Q2/8/8/P4P2/2q2NK1 w - - 1 0
[ Qg6 if Qh6 Rxc6 ]

e)
Evgeni Vasiukov vs Efim Geller, Vilnius, 1980
1r6/1n4k1/p2N1p2/P1P1p2p/7R/2P1B1P1/5PKP/3r4 w - - 1 0
[ Rb4 ]

Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1980, pt. xii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Adam Kuligowski vs Aleksander Sznapik, Warsaw, 1980
2r3k1/1p1bR2p/pB4p1/P2q1p2/8/3r1P2/6PP/3RQ1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Rxd3 Qxd3 Qa1 if Qc3 Qxc3 Rxc3 Rxd7 ]

b)
Leon Lederman vs Michael Stean, Beer-Sheva, 1980
1rr3k1/1b3pb1/p2p1pp1/P3n1N1/3qP2Q/1BN5/1P4PP/R1B4K w - - 1 0
[ Bxf7+ if Kf8 Ne6+ or if Nxf7 Qh7+ mates ]

c)
Anatoly Karpov vs Miguel Quinteros, Buenos Aires, 1980
2r4k/2q3bP/bp2p3/3pP3/p2P2B1/P5Q1/1n2NBK1/7R w - - 1 0
[ Nf4 ]

d)
Bent Larsen vs Anatoly Karpov, Amsterdam, 1980
4rnk1/pb3ppp/1p1Q1b2/3P4/3N4/4B1P1/P3qPBP/2R3K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Bxd4 Bxd4 Qd2 if Qf4 Re1+ Rxe1 Qxe1+ Bf1 Ba6 ]

e)
Karen Grigorian vs Alexander Beliavsky, Baku, 1980
2r5/2r2pk1/1p2p1p1/1q1p3p/3P3P/bN1RP1P1/P4PK1/1Q1R4 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rc1 ]

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



Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1980, pt. xiii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Yasser Seirawan vs Anatoly Lein, Hastings, 1980
2n1r3/1p2p1kp/1qbp1ppn/pNr5/P1PQPP2/1PN3P1/6BP/3R1RK1 b - - 0 1
[ ...e5 if Qf2 Ng4 or if Qd3 Rxb5+ ]

b)
Zvulon Gofshtein vs Vladimir Malaniuk, Kharkov, 1980
1n3rk1/pQq2ppp/B1p1p3/2Pp1b2/5P2/2P5/P4PPP/R3K2R b KQ - 0 1
[ ...Qa5 ]

c)
Vladimir Tukmakov vs Yuri Balashov, Klaipeda, 1980
1rb5/1B2k2p/2R5/p1N1ppp1/4n3/6P1/PP2KP1P/8 b - - 0 1
[ ...Bd7 if Nxd7 Kxd7 or if Rc7 Nxc5 ]

d)
Eduard Gufeld vs Igor Foygel, Krasnoyarsk, 1980
b4rk1/2Nn1ppp/3p4/1Q2p1q1/4n3/1N6/1PP1BPPP/5R1K b - - 0 1
[ ...Nc3 ]

e)
Liuben Spassov vs Robert Bellin, Lodz, 1980
r1bq1rk1/1pp4p/2np1b2/p4pp1/2PPp3/PPQ1PPP1/3N2BP/R1B1R1K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Nxd4 exd4 c5 if Qf2 Bxd4+ ]

Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1980, pt. xiv.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Florin Gheorghiu vs Jonathan Speelman, London, 1980
r7/1kp5/1p5p/1QR1p3/6P1/q5B1/P2r2PP/2R3K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qe3+ ]

b)
John Peters vs Jon Arnason, Lone Pine, 1980
3r1rk1/1p4p1/1pn5/p5q1/PbNP1p1p/1P2P3/2Q1NP1P/3R1R1K b - - 0 1
[ ...h3 if Rg1 Qh5 ]

c)
Kevin Spraggett vs Igor Ivanov, Quebec, 1980
r2q4/p2rkp1B/1pp1pp2/8/P1P2P1Q/P1b1P1RP/6P1/1R4K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rd1+ Rxd1 Qxd1+ Kh2 Be1 ]

d)
Miguel Najdorf vs Miguel Quinteros, Quilmes, 1980
1nrr2k1/5ppp/2qpp3/1P2P3/R3nP2/3RN1PP/3Q2B1/7K b - - 0 1
[ ...Qc1+ Qxc1 Rxc1+ if Kh2 Nc5 or if Rd1 Nf2+ ]

e)
Gert Iskov vs Lars Karlsson, Silkeborg, 1980
4r1k1/Q4p1p/6p1/2p2q2/8/2P3P1/Pr1R1P1P/3R2K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rxd2 Rxd2 Qf3 ]

'Tactics in the Sicilian' series



Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1980, pt. xv.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Alexander Chernin vs Vladimir Malaniuk, Dnepropetrovsk, 1980
r2r2k1/1p3ppp/2p5/p7/1PB1q2P/P3P1P1/R2nQP2/2R3K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Nf3+ if Kf1 Nd4 ]

b)
Jon Arnason vs Yuri Balashov, Sochi, 1980
2r3k1/3n1ppp/pn3q2/1p6/3NB1P1/1P5P/P4P2/R2Q2K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Nc5 if Bf3 Rd8 Qc2 Ne6 or if g5 Qf4 Bf3 Rd8 ]

c)
Jaan Ehlvest vs Valery Salov, Sochi, 1980
5k1r/1q3pb1/3p3p/1NrRp3/1p6/3Q2P1/PP3PKP/3R4 b - - 0 1
[ ...e4 if Qxe4 Rxb5 ]

d)
Maia Chiburdanidze vs Nukhim Rashkovsky, Tashkent, 1980
r7/5k2/P1bRp1p1/2P1qp2/p3n3/P4B2/4Q1PP/2R4K b - - 0 1
[ ...Rh8 if h3 Ng3+ or if Bh5 Ng3+ hxg3 Qxe2 ]

e)
Alexander Ivanov vs Oleg Romanishin, Tashkent, 1980
4r2k/2p1rpp1/7p/R7/3qNn2/1P1PR2P/P2Q1PP1/6K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rxe4 ]

Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1980, pt. xvi.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Istvan Csom vs Jonathan Mestel, Esbjerg, 1980
8/8/p3p1Q1/1p1k1p2/3p1P1q/1P6/P1rB4/3R2K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rxd2 Rxd2 Qe1+ ]

b)
Tamaz Giorgadze vs Lev Psakhis, Vilnius, 1980
r4rk1/1p1bqp2/p2p2n1/2pP1P2/P2bP1p1/2N3Q1/1P2B2P/1RN2R1K b - - 0 1
[ ...Bxc3 if bxc3 Qxe4+ ]

c)
Nukhim Rashkovsky vs Lev Psakhis, Vilnius, 1980
4q3/p4r1k/1pbQ4/5p1p/2PB1R2/2P3P1/P7/6K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qe1+ Rf1 Qe4 if Kf2 f4 ]


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