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Here are some chess puzzles from top rated games of 1981.
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.
Stefano Tatai vs Spyridon Skembris, Budva, 1981
r5k1/1b1pb1p1/p3p1Q1/q3npBB/8/7R/1PP2PPP/5RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Qh7+ Kxh7 Bf7# ]
b) 
White mates in 2.
Gennadi Sosonko vs Boris Kogan, Lone Pine, 1981
5k2/5p1p/p2R4/5p2/8/2q2PP1/3QP1KP/2r5 w - - 1 0
[ Rd8+ ]
c) 
White mates in 2.
David Bronstein vs Eduard Gufeld, Tallinn, 1981
r2nkb2/r1pN4/4BP1p/1p2PN2/p7/2P3p1/1P4K1/3R4 w - - 1 0
[ f7+ Nxf7 Nf6# ]
d) 
White mates in 2.
Pavel Zarubin vs Semen Dvoirys, Vladimir, 1981
3rn1k1/1p6/pN1p3p/Pb1P1N2/3BPQP1/1P3P2/6K1/4q3 w - - 1 0
[ Ne7+ Kh7 Qf5# ]
e) 
Black mates in 2.
Otto Borik vs Daniel Campora, Dortmund, 1981
4kb2/2Rr2p1/7r/3qB2p/Qp2P3/8/5PPP/6K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qd1+ ]
Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1981, pt. ii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Black mates in 2.
Jan Plachetka vs Attila Groszpeter, Keszthely, 1981
3r4/p5kp/1p4p1/5p2/8/P7/R3NPPP/2r2BK1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rxf1+ ]
b) 
White mates in 3.
Lajos Portisch vs Lubomir Kavalek, Amsterdam, 1981
3q2rn/pp3rBk/1npp1p2/5P2/2PPP1RP/2P2B2/P5Q1/6RK w - - 1 0
[ Rg6 ]
c) 
White mates in 3.
Dragoljub Velimirovic vs Bozidar Ivanovic, Budva, 1981
3r1b1r/3n1k1p/p2R1P2/n3pQP1/Np6/1P2B3/P1P4q/2K5 w - - 1 0
[ g6+ if Ke8 Qe6+ or if hxg6 Qe6# ]
d) 
White mates in 3.
Vlastimil Jansa vs Jonathan Mestel, Esbjerg, 1981
8/1b3p2/1pk4p/p2pQB2/3P2Pb/BP6/P2q1PKP/8 w - - 1 0
[ Qe8+ Kc7 Bd6+ Kxd6 Qd7# ]
e) 
White mates in 3.
Ivan Radulov vs Heikki Westerinen, Hamburg, 1981
r4rk1/5p1n/p1p2P2/1p6/3R4/5P2/PPP5/2K4R w - - 1 0
[ Rg4+ Kh8 Rg7 ]
Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1981, pt. iii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
White mates in 3.
Mikhail Tal vs Ricardo Calvo Minguez, Malaga, 1981
8/4Q1R1/p3p2r/qb2k2P/3p1N2/1p1Pr3/PP6/1K5R w - - 1 0
[ Qc5+ Kxf4 Qg5+ ]
b) 
White mates in 3.
Wlodzimierz Schmidt vs Aleksander Sznapik, Poland, 1981
r5k1/p2prNb1/1q6/3P1Q2/5R2/3B2P1/5P1P/5K2 w - - 1 0
[ Qh7+ Kf8 Nd6+ ]
c) 
White mates in 3.
Jan Smejkal vs Daniel Campora, Vrsac, 1981
6k1/4Q1p1/2p5/1q3PP1/4P3/1p4K1/5P2/8 w - - 1 0
[ Qd8+ Kh7 g6+ ]
d) 
White mates in 3.
Murray Chandler vs Ralf Hess, Wiesbaden, 1981
1n3q2/p4p1Q/5p1b/2pP4/6Pk/5P2/1P1B1K1P/8 w - - 1 0
[ Kg2 if c4 Be1+ ]
e) 
Black mates in 3.
Andrei Kovalev vs Leonid Basin, Belarus, 1981
5rk1/pp3p2/3pp2p/5qpK/6n1/P1PB1NQ1/6PP/7R b - - 0 1
[ ...Kg7 Qxg4 Qg6+ Bxg6 fxg6# ]
King-pawn Opening Series
Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1981, pt. iv.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Black mates in 3.
Zdenko Krnic vs Dragoljub Velimirovic, Borovo, 1981
1k4r1/1p6/2q5/2p2b2/P1Pp1P1P/1P1Pn3/3Q1K2/4NR2 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rg2+ Nxg2 Qxg2+ ]
b) 
Black mates in 3.
Gyozo Forintos vs Istvan Csom, Budapest, 1981
4rbk1/R4p1p/b1N3p1/4Bn2/8/2R2P1K/6rP/8 b - - 0 1
[ ...Bf1 ]
c) 
Black mates in 3.
Parik Stefanov vs Jan Plachetka, Hradec Kralove, 1981
q5k1/N4pb1/Qp4pp/4p3/5P1n/4B2P/PPrR1P2/5K2 b - - 0 1
[ ..Rc1+ Ke2 Qf3+ Kd3 e4# ]
d) 
Black mates in 3.
Bent Larsen vs Lajos Portisch, Tilburg, 1981
2r3k1/5p2/3p1P1p/3PpQp1/1P3b2/R2N4/P1r1RKP1/7q b - - 0 1
[ ...Rxe2+ Kxe2 Rc2+ ]
e) 
Black mates in 3.
Mihai Suba vs Ivan Farago, Tuzla, 1981
6k1/1b4p1/pQ6/6P1/1P1p1n2/6K1/P4P2/5B1q b - - 0 1
[ ...Nh5+ Kg4 Bc8+ ]
Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1981, pt. v.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Black mates in 3.
Evgeni Vasiukov vs Adrian Mihalcisin, URS, 1981
4r1k1/5p2/p7/1p2qp1R/4P1PQ/P2P4/1P3K1P/2r5 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qf4+ Kg2 Qf1+ ]
b) 
White mates in 4.
Jaan Ehlvest vs Sergey Nadyrhanov, Bukhara, 1981
6k1/5p2/7p/4Q2n/1p2PR1P/1P2N2r/q4P2/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Rg4+ if Kh7 Qf5+ Kh8 Qc8+ or if Kf8 Qd6+ ]
c) 
White mates in 4.
Johann Hjartarson vs Adam Kuligowski, Lone Pine, 1981
5k2/4q1p1/3Np1Qp/2p1B2P/1p6/1P1P2PK/5r2/8 w - - 1 0
[ Bxg7+ if Kg8 Bf6+ or if Qxg7 Qe8# ]
d) 
White mates in 4.
Mikhail Tal vs Rico Mascarinas, Lvov, 1981
4r1k1/2q1b1n1/5rP1/p2p1p2/1p6/5NN1/PPPQ1P2/1K5R w - - 1 0
[ Rh8+ Kxh8 Qh6+ ]
e) 
White mates in 4.
Vladimir Tukmakov vs Boris Kantsler, Nikolaev, 1981
2r1bknR/1p6/4P1p1/pPbP1p2/P2B1P2/1K6/8/7R w - - 1 0
[ R1h7 if Bxd4 e7# ]
Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1981, pt. vi.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
White mates in 4.
Garry Kasparov vs Yuri Sakharov, 1981
5r1k/2q1r1p1/1npbBpQB/1p1p3P/p2P2R1/P4PP1/1PR2PK1/8 w - - 1 0
[ Bxg7+ Rxg7+ Qh6+ Rh7 Qxf8+ ]
b) 
Black mates in 4.
Peter Korzubov vs Igor Novikov, Bukhara, 1981
2k2r2/R7/8/2pB4/P1P5/1P3n1b/1RK5/4rN2 b - - 0 1
[ ...Bf5+ if Kc3 Rc1+ ]
c) 
White mates in 5.
Viktor Korchnoi vs Artur Jussupow, Lone Pine, 1981
8/2q2p1p/1n4p1/1p4k1/1B1Q4/1B2P2P/4KPP1/2r5 w - - 1 0
[ Be7+ if Kh6 Qh4+ Kg7 Qf6+ or if Qxe7 Qf4+ Kh5 g4+ ]
d) 
White mates in 5.
Aldo Haik vs Spyridon Skembris, Vrnjacka Banja, 1981
r1bq1n1k/pp2r2p/3p1N1Q/2p5/2PPP3/P1PB4/6PP/5RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Ne8 if Rxe8 Rf7 Qg5 Qxg5 Ne6 Qh6 ]
e) 
Black mates in 5.
Lev Alburt vs John Fedorowicz, Lone Pine, 1981
5q1k/3R2p1/1p2Q2p/p5r1/P2p4/3P2NK/1P2Pr1P/8 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rxh2+ Kxh2 Qf2+ if Kh1 Qe1+ ]
'Tactics in the Sicilian' series
Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1981, pt. vii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
John Nunn vs William Hartston, England, 1981
4BR2/2rb2kp/p2r4/3p3R/7P/1P6/2P5/2K5 w - - 1 0
[ Rf7+ Kg8 Rg5+ Rg6 Rxg6+ hxg6 Rxd7 ]
b) 
Amador Rodriguez vs Marcel Sisniega, Bayamo, 1981
2b2rk1/p2q1p1p/5Pp1/p3P1Q1/3P4/2Pp4/1r1B3P/R4RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Rf4 ]
c) 
Predrag Nikolic vs Zlatko Klaric, Borovo, 1981
6rk/5pp1/7p/4qN2/7Q/3p3P/1n3PP1/1R4K1 w - - 1 0
[ Nxh6 if g5 Nxf7+ Kg7 Nxg5 ]
d) 
Miso Cebalo vs Bozidar Ivanovic, Budva, 1981
5r2/5qk1/p1Q3p1/4p3/2p1P1P1/3nN3/PP6/1K5R w - - 1 0
[ Nf5+ if gxf5 Qh6+ or if Kg8 Nh6+ ]
e) 
John Nunn vs Yehuda Gruenfeld, England, 1981
r4k2/4p1bQ/p2pq1p1/1p6/8/3PB3/PP4PP/R5K1 w - - 1 0
[ Bh6 if Bxh6 Qh8+ Kf7 Rf1+ ]
Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1981, pt. viii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Viktor Kupreichik vs Alexander Beliavsky, Frunze, 1981
8/pp3rpk/2q4p/2b5/4NP2/3R1Q1P/PP5K/8 w - - 1 0
[ Rc3 if b6 Ng5+ ]
b) 
Oleg Romanishin vs Evgeny Sveshnikov, Frunze, 1981
r1br2k1/p4ppp/1pn1pn2/7q/2PP4/P2B1N2/2QB1PPP/RR4K1 w - - 1 0
[ Rb5 if Qg4 h3 ]
c) 
Jiri Lechtynsky vs Uwe Boensch, Halle, 1981
r3r1k1/1p1n1p1p/p2p1qp1/P1pP1b2/5P2/2N1P3/1P2B1PP/R2Q1RK1 w - - 1 0
[ g4 if Be4 Ra4 ]
d) 
Nigel Short vs Petar Velikov, Hamburg, 1981
3r4/p1Nn1k1p/P1b1Rp2/6p1/2p5/2N3P1/2r2P1P/3R1K2 w - - 1 0
[ Rxc6 if Rxc3 Ne6 ]
e) 
Vlastimil Jansa vs Jan Plachetka, Hradec Kralove, 1981
b4bk1/p4pqp/1pp3p1/5p2/7Q/2PB4/P1P3PP/5RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Qd8 if Bb7 Qb8 ]
Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1981, pt. ix.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Yuri Razuvaev vs Zvonimir Mestrovic, Keszthely, 1981
R1R2rk1/6p1/5r1p/4p1N1/8/3n3P/5PP1/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Nh7 if Kxh7 Rxf8 or if Rxc8 Nxf6+ ]
b) 
Gert Ligterink vs Paul Van Der Sterren, Leeuwarden, 1981
4r3/2q3pk/p3rb2/1p6/4p1QP/4B3/PPPR4/5RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Rxf6 if Rxf6 Rd7 or if gxf6 Qh5+ Kg8 Rg2+ Kf8 Qh6+ ]
c) 
Juan Bellon Lopez vs Zoltan Ribli, Linares, 1981
5r1k/2b3pp/3p1p2/pq1Br3/4P1Q1/4B2R/1PP3PP/7K w - - 1 0
[ Qg6 if h6 Rxh6+ mates ]
d) 
Andrew Soltis vs Dmitry Gurevich, Lone Pine, 1981
r1b2rk1/4bppp/p1qp3Q/4p1P1/3BP3/1Pp5/PP3P1P/2KR2R1 w - - 1 0
[ Bxe5 if dxe5 Qxc6 or if cxb2+ Kxb2 or if gxh6 gxh6+ mates ]
e) 
Vladimir Antoshin vs Alexey Vyzmanavin, Moscow, 1981
1r4nk/2qn2pp/4p3/3p2P1/NBpPpP2/Pr2P2P/8/2RQ1RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Qxb3 ]
"Tactics in the Queen's Gambit" by wtharvey.com
Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1981, pt. x.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Carsten Hoi vs Carlo D'Amore, Rome, 1981
5rk1/1q1n1rb1/p3N1Qp/1p4p1/8/6P1/PP4PP/1K1R1R2 w - - 1 0
[ Rxf7 Rxf7 Qxf7+ Kxf7 Nd8+ ]
b) 
Slobodan Martinovic vs Axel Ornstein, Smederevska Palanka, 1981
8/1Q1Rbpkp/p1r1q1p1/8/4r3/PNP5/KP4P1/7R w - - 1 0
[ Rxe7 ]
c) 
Dimitar Trifunov vs Nikola Spiridonov, Sofia, 1981
6k1/1Q2b2p/5pp1/P7/8/6P1/4q1BP/3r1R1K w - - 1 0
[ Qb3+ ]
d) 
Evgeny Sveshnikov vs Evgeny Vladimirov, URS, 1981
3r4/p3qp2/1p1pb1k1/2p1n2N/2P1P1P1/2P5/P2QBK2/7R w - - 1 0
[ Nf4+ if Kg7 Nd5 Bxd5 Qh6+ mates ]
e) 
Mikhail Tal vs Iivo Nei, URS, 1981
5rk1/p5p1/1q1Qpn1p/2N5/1p6/1P2P3/P5PP/5RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Qxf8+ Kxf8 Nd7+ ]
Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1981, pt. xi.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Yasser Seirawan vs Sergey Kudrin, USA, 1981
2r2k1r/pp3p2/5p1p/2b1p3/1PPn4/5B2/q2BQPPP/3R1RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Bxh6+ ]
b) 
Stefan Djuric vs Dragan Barlov, Vrnjacka Banja, 1981
r3r3/p1R5/1p2pkp1/2p2b2/2P5/1P3N2/P4PP1/2K3R1 w - - 1 0
[ g4 if Bd3 g5+ mates ]
c) 
Cicero Braga vs Antonio Carlos Resende, Sao Luis, 1981
r1bq1rk1/p1p1bppp/1p2pn2/6B1/3P4/3B1N2/PPP1QPPP/R3K2R w KQ - 1 0
[ Bxf6 if gxf6 or Bxf6 Qe4 ]
d) 
Lev Gutman vs Mihail-Viorel Ghinda, Bagneux, 1981
2b2rk1/1pq2pp1/r2N1n1p/4Q3/p5P1/2P4P/P1P2PB1/2KR2R1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Ne8 ]
e) 
Miso Cebalo vs Enver Bukic, Banja-Luka, 1981
r3k2r/pp1qppb1/2n1b2p/2p3p1/1n2Q3/P1NP1NP1/1P1BPPBP/2R2RK1 b kq - 0 1
[ ...f5 Qe3 Bd4 ]
Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1981, pt. xii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Josip Rukavina vs Georgios Makropoulos, Budva, 1981
2r3k1/p2r4/q3b2p/2b1Bpp1/2p2Pn1/2N2QP1/PP2P1BP/R4R1K b - - 0 1
[ ...Nf2+ if Rf2 g4 or if Kg1 Nh3+ Kh1 g4 ]
b) 
Jingxuan Qi vs Raymond Keene, China/Philippines, 1981
r6k/5n1p/2bpqP2/4p3/4N3/4B3/6PP/1Q3RK1 b - - 0 1
[ Qd5 ]
c) 
Gennadi Kuzmin vs Gennadij Timoscenko, Frunze, 1981
5rk1/1pp3pp/4b3/8/Q1NPP2q/4R2P/6P1/6K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qf2+ Kh2 Qf4+ if Rg3 h5 or if Kg1 Qf1+ w/Bxc4 ]
d) 
Gennadij Timoscenko vs Lev Psakhis, Frunze, 1981
5r1k/p6p/5q2/2p1p1r1/R2bQ3/1P2N1P1/P3RPK1/8 b - - 0 1
[ ..Qf4 if Qxf4 exf4 Nc2 f3+ or if Rxd4 cxd4 Nc4 Qxe4+ ]
e) 
Mircea Pavlov vs Wolfgang Uhlmann, Halle, 1981
2rr2k1/pp4pp/2nB4/8/8/PP6/3R1PPP/2K4R b - - 0 1
[ ...Nd4+ if Kb2 Rxd6 ]
'More tactics in the Sicilian' series
Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1981, pt. xiii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Paul Littlewood vs Jonathan Speelman, Hastings, 1981
3r2k1/5p2/6p1/2p1Pn2/2P2P1p/1RB5/4K1PP/2r2R2 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rc2+ if Ke1 Ne3 or if Kf3 Rd3+ ]
b) 
Karl Burger vs Ron Henley, New York, 1981
2r3k1/p1q3pp/3pp3/1P1b1p2/1Q1Bn3/P3PN1P/5PP1/2nR1BK1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qc2 Qe1 Bb3 ]
c) 
Orestes Rodriguez vs Stefano Tatai, Rome, 1981
2Q2bk1/3r1p1p/p3q1p1/1p6/1Pn1P1P1/P2N1R1P/4P3/2B3K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rxd3 if Qxe6 Rd1+ ]
d) 
Javier Campos Moreno vs Miguel Quinteros, San Pedro de Jujuy, 1981
r1b2rnk/1p3pnp/p2p2p1/q1pP2B1/P2bPPP1/R1NB2NP/1P4K1/3Q3R b - - 0 1
[ ...f6 Bh4 g5 fxg5 fxg5 if Bxg5 Rf2+ ]
e) 
Yuri Averbakh vs Alexander Kochyev, URS, 1981
4b3/4kp2/1rp2n2/4N1p1/1P1RB1P1/p5K1/P4P2/8 b - - 0 1
[ ...c5 if bxc5 Re6 or if Rc4 Bb5 ]
Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1981, pt. xiv.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Georgy Agzamov vs Mikhail Tal, URS, 1981
4rrk1/pp5p/5qpQ/3P2p1/3n4/6P1/1P1R1PBP/3R2K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Nb3 if Rc2 Qf5 ]
b) 
Marcos Paolozzi vs Cicero Braga, Sao Luis, 1981
3r2k1/5pp1/6P1/pp2qP2/4n3/1B3Q2/P1P4P/4R2K b - - 0 1
[ ...Rd2 if Qh5 Ng3+ mates or if Re2 Rxe2 Qxe2 Ng3+ ]
c) 
Eric Prie vs Mihai Suba, Val Thorens, 1981
5bk1/6pp/5p2/3qp3/1PQ5/P2r2P1/1B5P/2R2K2 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rd1+ if Kf2 Rd2+ ]
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