'Characteristic Puzzles in the Opening' series
Here are some chess puzzles from top rated games of 1995.
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.
Uwe Boensch vs Hao Yin, Beijing, 1995
4q3/5p1k/p4Qpb/2Pp4/3B3p/P4N1P/4bPP1/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Ng5+ ]
b) 
White mates in 2.
Semen Dvoirys vs Ioannis Nikolaidis, Cappelle la Grande, 1995
5k2/1p3r2/p5Rp/2p2Qp1/2Pq2P1/6P1/P4P1K/8 w - - 1 0
[ Qc8+ ]
c) 
White mates in 2.
Gyula Sax vs Slim Bouaziz, Catania, 1995
4k3/1q1p1r1p/2R1p1pP/1p2P1Q1/p1p2r2/P1P5/1PP5/1K1R4 w - - 1 0
[ Rxe6+ ]
d) 
White mates in 2.
Alexander Shabalov vs Lembit Oll, Chicago, 1995
6r1/1pq2N1k/4nQp1/1Pp1P2p/3n4/3B3P/1r3PPK/2RR4 w - - 1 0
[ Bxg6+ ]
e) 
White mates in 2.
Gregory Kaidanov vs Albert Chow, Chicago, 1995
1r3nk1/4prb1/3pp1p1/p5P1/1qPBP2Q/1PN2n2/P3B3/K2R3R w - - 1 0
[ Qh8+ ]
Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1995, pt. ii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
White mates in 2.
Thomas Luther vs Stefan Reschke, Germany, 1995
r2r2k1/pp2q2p/6pP/3p2P1/3Qn3/7B/PPP5/1K1R3R w - - 1 0
[ Be6+ ]
b) 
White mates in 2.
Markus Stangl vs Stephan Buchal, Germany, 1995
6nk/3r1Q1p/5p1P/p1n1qNp1/1r2P3/1P1B4/P1P2P2/1K1R3R w - - 1 0
[ Qg7+ ]
c) 
White mates in 2.
Jeroen Piket vs Liafbern Riemersma, Netherlands, 1995
4k3/r3pp1p/6pb/P1RPP3/2N5/6P1/6KP/8 w - - 1 0
[ Rc8+ ]
d) 
White mates in 2.
Alexander Goldin vs Larry Kaufman, Philadelphia, 1995
3bQ3/1p2r3/2p1kpN1/p2p4/P2P1B2/6P1/1q3P1P/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Nf8+ ]
e) 
White mates in 2.
Zurab Azmaiparashvili vs Nukhim Rashkovsky, Strumica, 1995
r4rk1/5p2/p1n1b3/4q1BQ/1p1p4/6R1/PPP3PP/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Bf6+ ]
Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1995, pt. iii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
White mates in 2.
David Navara vs Sergei Mahtesian, Verdun, 1995
2r4k/1b4pp/3P4/2q1P3/ppBR4/3Q1r2/PPP4P/2K3R1 w - - 1 0
[ Qxh7+ ]
b) 
White mates in 2.
Alexander Shabalov vs Dmitr Leykekhman, New York, 1995
5k1b/2Rn1p1r/pp1P4/2nR4/5PNp/2P4P/P1P5/2K5 w - - 1 0
[ Rc8+ Kg7 Rg5# ]
c) 
White mates in 3.
Igor Glek vs Alfred Kertesz, Bonn, 1995
r1n1qnr1/2p3k1/1pP1p1pp/bP1pPp2/3P1P1Q/BR3NR1/4BP1P/7K w - - 1 0
[ Qf6+ Kh7 Ng5+ ]
d) 
White mates in 3.
Julio Granda Zuniga vs Rafael Rodriguez Lopez, Cordoba, 1995
rq3k2/1b1Rbp1p/1p3p2/1p5N/6Q1/1P2P3/P4PPP/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qg7+ Ke8 Nxf6+ ]
e) 
White mates in 3.
Alexander Khalifman vs Matthias Wahls, Germany, 1995
r4k2/2Pr1p2/p1nqp3/1bN3p1/8/2R1Q3/1P3PP1/4K2R w K - 1 0
[ Rh8+ ]
King-pawn Opening Series
Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1995, pt. iv.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
White mates in 3.
Ivan Morovic Fernandez vs Manuel Rivas Pastor, Leon, 1995
5n1k/p5pb/1p5p/3Q4/2BBqP2/2P4P/6PK/8 w - - 1 0
[ Bxg7+ Kxg7 Qf7+ ]
b) 
White mates in 3.
Eduardas Rozentalis vs Martin Pribyl, Liechtenstein, 1995
r2q3k/1pp2r1p/p1p2b2/2Pb4/3B1P1Q/6R1/PP4PP/4R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Re8+ if Rf8 or Qxe8 Qxf6+ ]
c) 
White mates in 3.
Viktor Korchnoi vs Nigel Short, Madrid, 1995
6r1/5k2/1n1p1P1Q/2pP2p1/4P3/2P3NP/6PK/3q4 w - - 1 0
[ Qh7+ if Kxf6 e5+ Kxe5 Qf5# ]
d) 
White mates in 3.
Judit Polgar vs Vassily Ivanchuk, Monaco, 1995
2r1r1k1/1p2bR2/p5p1/P5Np/2Q3P1/8/1PP4P/4qB1K w - - 1 0
[ Rf8+ if Kg7 Qg8+ Kh6 Nf7# ]
e) 
White mates in 3.
Ildar Ibragimov vs Slavko Cicak, Moscow, 1995
r2r4/pp3Q1R/2p2pp1/6k1/3Pp1P1/3R4/1PPK4/q7 w - - 1 0
[ Rh5+ gxh5 Qxh5+ ]
Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1995, pt. v.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
White mates in 3.
Nick De Firmian vs Steven Mayer, New York, 1995
5k2/1b1RrpRp/p3p2B/7p/1P2n3/2p2N1P/P1B3PK/5q2 w - - 1 0
[ Rg8+ ]
b) 
White mates in 3.
Jordi Magem Badals vs Liuben Spassov, Berga, 1995
1b1qrk2/pp2nppQ/6n1/2rp2N1/3N4/2P4P/PP3PP1/R3R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ N(d or g)e6+ fxe6 Nxe6+ ]
c) 
White mates in 3.
Branko Damljanovic vs Slavoljub Marjanovic, Nis, 1995
3q2Q1/r2rk3/pp1p4/3P2p1/1P6/4P3/P2K4/B5R1 w - - 1 0
[ Bf6+ Kxf6 Rf1+ ]
d) 
White mates in 3.
Zdenko Kozul vs Gerhard Boehm, Oberwart, 1995
r1bk2nr/pp1n3p/2pBp1p1/8/5Q2/2P2N2/P1P2KPP/R7 w - - 1 0
[ Qf7 if c5 Ng5 or if b6 Ne5 ]
e) 
White mates in 3.
Viswanathan Anand vs Predrag Nikolic, Paris, 1995
1nrr3k/3qpR1p/p2B2p1/3B1p2/2pP1P2/1Q4P1/5P1P/4R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Be5+ Kg8 Rg7+ ]
Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1995, pt. vi.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
White mates in 3.
Georgy Timoshenko vs Radovan Brajovic, Tivat, 1995
1r6/1p5k/p1n3R1/2q1rp2/8/2Q4B/2P4P/6RK w - - 1 0
[ Bxf5 if Qxc3 Rg7+ ]
b) 
White mates in 3.
Michail Brodsky vs Luc Winants, Wijk aan Zee, 1995
r3r3/2PqkpBp/1p2n3/8/6Q1/bP4P1/5PKP/2R1R3 w - - 1 0
[ Qh4+ Kd6 Be5+ Kd5 Qe4# ]
c) 
White mates in 3.
Aleksander Wojtkiewicz vs Merlijn Donk, Zwolle, 1995
r3r3/p4pkp/1p6/2bbp1B1/4R3/5QP1/Pq4BP/5R1K w - - 1 0
[ Bh6+ if Kh8 Qf6+ or if Kg8 Rg4+ ]
d) 
White mates in 4.
Alexander Morozevich vs Judit Polgar, Amsterdam, 1995
3q4/1br3k1/p3QNp1/np2P1p1/3pB2r/P2P4/1P3PP1/2R1R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Rxc7+ if Qxc7 Qg8+ or if Kh8 Qf7 ]
e) 
White mates in 4.
Petar Popovic vs Zlatko Ilincic, Cacak, 1995
4rbk1/1bq4p/p2p2p1/6P1/8/1P6/1BPQ2BP/5R1K w - - 1 0
[ Qd5+ if Bxd5 Bxd5+ ]
Tactics you can use from wtharvey.com
Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1995, pt. vii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
White mates in 4.
Andrei Maksimenko vs Alexander Filipenko, Lvov, 1995
r2b4/pp2qp1Q/2nnbkp1/3p4/8/1NPB4/PP3PPP/4R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qh8+ Kg5 g3 Kg4 h3+ ]
b) 
White mates in 4.
Matthew Sadler vs Ivan Sokolov, Malme, 1995
8/p3k2p/3p4/7r/PQ1Bq3/1P2P3/3R4/4K1R1 w - - 1 0
[ Rg7+ if Ke6 Qc4+ d5 Qc8+ ]
c) 
White mates in 4.
Jordi Magem Badals vs Aurelio Vila, Matalascanas, 1995
1r2rk2/p1N1p2R/3p2Q1/1p2q3/2b5/3B1P2/PP4P1/1K6 w - - 1 0
[ Qh6+ Kg8 Bxc4+ bxc4 Qg6+ ]
d) 
White mates in 4.
Vladimir Kramnik vs Jaan Ehlvest, Riga, 1995
Q1rk3r/p2b1p2/5P1b/q1p3B1/1pp5/6P1/PP3P1P/2KRR3 w - - 1 0
[ Rxd7+ Kxd7 Qd5+ Kc7 Re7+ ]
e) 
White mates in 4.
Michael Roiz vs Ovidiu Bodnar, Sao Lourenco, 1995
2r2k2/1b4R1/1p1npBBp/p1b5/8/P1N1P3/1P3PPP/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Rh7 Nf7 Rxf7+ Ke8 Rh7+ ]
Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1995, pt. viii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
White mates in 4.
Ildar Ibragimov vs Miklos Kaposztas, Szekszard, 1995
6rr/1q3p2/pp4kp/8/3Q2N1/8/PP3PPP/4R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qf6+ Kh5 Qf5+ Rg5 Nf6+ ]
b) 
White mates in 4.
Alexander Riazantsev vs Mateusz Bartel, Verdun, 1995
1r2q1k1/1p2p3/p1p1Pb2/2Pp1Qp1/6P1/4P2R/PP5P/3R3K w - - 1 0
[ Qh7+ Kf8 Rf1 ]
c) 
White mates in 4.
Igor Khenkin vs Darius Zagorskis, Weilburg, 1995
2Q5/6kp/pp2pNp1/8/3qP3/6PP/P2n1P1K/8 w - - 1 0
[ Qg8+ Kxf6 Qf8+ if Kg5 Qf4+ ]
d) 
White mates in 4.
Krunoslav Hulak vs Loek Van Wely, Wijk aan Zee, 1995
R7/5pkb/1p3p2/3p3P/1q1PpQP1/4P1K1/1r3P2/3B4 w - - 1 0
[ h6+ Kg6 Qf5+ Kxh6 Qxf6+ ]
e) 
White mates in 5.
Vasilios Kotronias vs Sergei Beshukov, Agios Nikolaos, 1995
2r3k1/6p1/3pPb2/pp1P2PQ/3qB3/3N4/PPr4P/4R2K w - - 1 0
[ Bh7+ Kh8 Bg6+ Kg8 Qh7+ Kf8 e7+ ]
Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1995, pt. ix.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
White mates in 5.
Anthony Miles vs Angel Martin Gonzalez, Benasque, 1995
6r1/pp5R/4p1k1/5p2/7R/1B2P1P1/PqP2P2/5K2 w - - 1 0
[ R4h6+ Kg5 f4+ Kg4 Kg2 ]
b) 
White mates in 5.
Vereslav Eingorn vs Juergen Salzmann, Berlin, 1995
3q2k1/pp5p/5RpP/4Q3/8/6PB/b1r1P2K/8 w - - 1 0
[ Be6+ Bxe6 Rxg6+ Kf8 Qg7+ Ke8 Rxe6+ ]
c) 
White mates in 5.
Julian Hodgson vs J Trevelman, , 1995
2rr3k/pbn2Qp1/3qpb1p/1p2N3/3P4/P2B2P1/1P3PP1/2R1R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Ng6+ Kh7 Ne7+ Kh8 Qg6 ]
d) 
White mates in 5.
Andrei Kharitonov vs Mikhail Vershinin, Briansk, 1995
r5b1/pp3qQ1/3pk3/5N2/8/2P2P2/2P3P1/2KR4 w - - 1 0
[ Rxd6+ Kxf5 Qg4+ Ke5 Qd4+ Kf5 Qe4+ ]
e) 
White mates in 5.
Lars Bo Hansen vs Giovanni Vescovi, Copenhagen, 1995
2rr4/pbqn2kp/1p1bQ1p1/8/3P3R/5N2/PP1B1PPP/R5K1 w - - 1 0
[ Rxh7+ Kxh7 Ng5+ Kh6 Qh8+ Kg7 Qh7+ ]
f) 
White mates in 5.
John Nunn vs Alik Vydeslaver, Leeuwarden, 1995
2r2r1k/4q2B/p1b2p1Q/3p4/1p6/2N5/PPP3P1/1K1R4 w - - 1 0
[ Bf5+ Kg8 Be6+ if Qxe6 Qg6+ or if Rf7 Rh1 ]
g) 
White mates in 5.
Miguel Illescas Cordoba vs Anthony Miles, Linares, 1995
1q1r3r/3N1p1p/2p1k2b/4pp2/p5P1/Q6P/PPP2P2/1K1R4 w - - 1 0
[ gxf5+ Kxf5 Qf3+ if Kg6 Rg1+ Bg5 Qf6+ or if Bf4 Qg4+ Ke4 Nf6# ]
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