King-pawn Opening Series



Here are some chess puzzles from top rated games of 1996.

Solutions are between the brackets under each puzzle.
Drag your cursor from one bracket to the other.

a)
White mates in 2.
Igor Stohl vs Karl Robatsch, Austria, 1996
k7/q6r/Q1b2pp1/1n1Pp3/N3P3/6P1/P7/1KR5 w - - 1 0
[ Nb6+ ]

b)
White mates in 2.
Alon Greenfeld vs Victor Mikhalevski, Beer-Sheva, 1996
5b1r/3R3p/Q4p1n/1q4p1/1k2P3/8/1PP2PPP/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qa3+ ]

c)
White mates in 2.
Sebastien Maze vs Fanny Gaudron, France, 1996
r4k2/ppp2r2/1b2R2p/6p1/8/1B3Q2/Pq3PPP/3R2K1 w - - 1 0
[ Re8+ ]

d)
White mates in 2.
Philipp Schlosser vs Ian Thompson, Groningen, 1996
1n1r1r1k/Q5Rp/2p5/pp1pN3/3P1b1q/P3p2B/1P5P/6RK w - - 1 0
[ Rg8+ Rxg8 Nf7# ]

e)
White mates in 2.
Ferenc Berkes vs Diana Nemeth, Hungary, 1996
rn3k1r/pp2b3/2p3Q1/8/1q3B2/8/PPP3PP/3RR2K w - - 1 0
[ Rd8+ Bxd8 Re8# ]

Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1996, pt. ii.
a)
White mates in 2.
Ferenc Berkes vs Diana Nemeth, Hungary, 1996
rn2k2r/pp2b2p/2p1Q1p1/5B2/1q3B2/8/PPP3PP/3RR2K w kq - 1 0
[ Rd8+ Kxd8 Qc8# ]

b)
White mates in 2.
Johann Hjartarson vs J Carbonero, Linares, 1996
3k3r/2q3n1/1NQp1b2/3P1p1p/1P1p4/P5PP/5PB1/4R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qa8+ ]

c)
White mates in 2.
Julian Hodgson vs Marc Narciso Dublan, Linares, 1996
3r4/3k1p2/5Q2/1p5P/2q5/1p3BP1/1Pb2P2/4R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qe7+ ]

d)
White mates in 2.
Judit Polgar vs Evgeny Bareev, Moscow, 1996
5k1r/4npp1/p3p2p/3nP2P/3P3Q/3N4/qB2KPP1/2R5 w - - 1 0
[ Rc8+ ]

e)
White mates in 2.
Gilberto Hernandez vs Praveen Thipsay, Ubeda, 1996
r5rk/2pq2pp/1p3p2/p1p1pP2/P2nP3/1PQPBPP1/2P2K2/4R2R w - - 1 0
[ Rxh7+ ]

Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1996, pt. iii.
a)
White mates in 2.
Vladimir Kramnik vs Judit Polgar, Vienna, 1996
4q1nk/4bRrp/1p1pP3/pP1Pp1PQ/2p1B2P/8/PB6/7K w - - 1 0
[ Qxh7+ ]

b)
White mates in 2.
Vladimir Tukmakov vs Vahe Alexanian, Yerevan, 1996
Q4nk1/p2P1ppp/4p3/BPp5/3b4/1P4P1/2q2P1P/5BK1 w - - 1 0
[ Qxf8+ ]

c)
White mates in 3.
Viktor Bologan vs Vadim Akhmadeev, Azov, 1996
2rk4/1qr2Q2/p3pP2/1p2P2P/3Bp3/2P5/PP6/1K3R2 w - - 1 0
[ Qf8+ Kd7 Qe7+ ]

d)
White mates in 3.
Edvins Kengis vs Normunds Miezis, Bad Godesberg, 1996
1r4Q1/3nk1p1/p6p/Pqb2R2/1p6/6P1/4PP1P/3R2K1 w - - 1 0
[ Rf7+ Ke6 Rf8+ ]

e)
White mates in 3.
Matthew Sadler vs Lucas Brunner, Bern, 1996
r6r/8/p3p3/1p6/3qB3/Pk6/1P3PPP/1QR3K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qc2+ Ka2 Ra1+ ]

Tactics you can use from wtharvey.com



Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1996, pt. iv.
a)
White mates in 3.
Zoltan Almasi vs Viktor Korchnoi, Budapest, 1996
5n1k/2r1Rr1p/1p3P1B/pPqp4/P1np2Q1/3B4/2P3PP/R5K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qg7+ Rxg7 fxg7+ Kg8 gxf8/Q# ]

b)
White mates in 3.
Ivan Sokolov vs Jaan Ehlvest, Cap d'Agde, 1996
5b1k/5P1n/4q3/8/4p3/7R/P5PP/5Q1K w - - 1 0
[ Qa1+ Bg7 f8/Q+ Qg8 Qaxg7# ]

c)
White mates in 3.
Alexander Shabalov vs David Filipovich, Chicago, 1996
4r1k1/ppQ3p1/4b1Pp/3p2nP/3q4/3P4/P4RBK/5R2 w - - 1 0
[ Rf8+ ]

d)
White mates in 3.
Ivan Morovic Fernandez vs Amador Rodriguez, Cienfuegos, 1996
3R4/p3Qppk/5n2/1p3b1p/8/P1P4P/2P2q2/1K4R1 w - - 1 0
[ Rh8+ Kxh8 Qf8+ ]

e)
White mates in 3.
Michal Krasenkow vs Stellan Brynell, Copenhagen, 1996
r2q3k/5R1p/p2Np1p1/1p1bP3/3P1Q2/6P1/5P1P/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Ne8 if Qxe8 Qf6+ ]

Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1996, pt. v.
a)
White mates in 3.
Sebastien Maze vs Severin Launiau, France, 1996
1k6/r7/p7/3R1P2/2Q3pp/2P1q3/6PP/3R3K w - - 1 0
[ Rd8+ Kb7 Rb1+ ]

b)
White mates in 3.
John Nunn vs Martin Pribyl, Germany, 1996
6rk/1ppr4/p3R2B/3p3Q/8/3q3P/PP3PP1/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Bg7+ Kxg7 Qh6+ ]

c)
White mates in 3.
Markus Stangl vs Willi Dintheer, Germany, 1996
4nr1k/q1r2pp1/1nbp1P1p/1p2pBPQ/1P1bP3/2R1B3/P2N3P/3NRK2 w - - 1 0
[ fxg7+ ]

d)
White mates in 3.
Vladislav Tkachiev vs John Emms, Isle of Man, 1996
3R1bk1/3rr3/p5B1/npp1ppp1/8/2P4Q/PP3PPP/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Rxf8+ ]

e)
White mates in 3.
Ilia Smirin vs Michael Oratovsky, Israel, 1996
5r2/5pbk/pp1p2n1/3bnNQ1/8/1P1B2P1/P6P/5RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Qh5+ Kg8 Ne7+ ]

Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1996, pt. vi.
a)
White mates in 3.
Joerg Hickl vs H Ardiansyah, Jakarta, 1996
6rk/1p4qp/3b4/p2P1bn1/8/1PQ3PP/PB4BK/4R3 w - - 1 0
[ Qxg7+ ]

b)
White mates in 3.
Oleg Romanishin vs Alexander Baburin, Linares, 1996
r6r/1p2R1pp/p4k2/2n2N2/5B2/2N5/PP3PPP/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ g4 if Rad8 Be5+ or if Rhg8 Nd5+ ]

c)
White mates in 3.
Judit Polgar vs Jun Xie, Monaco, 1996
3r2k1/1b2Qp2/pqnp3b/1pn5/3B3p/1PR4P/P4PP1/1B4K1 w - - 1 0
[ Bh7+ Kxh7 Qxf7+ ]

d)
White mates in 3.
Simen Agdestein vs Jon Kristian Roeyset, Oppvisning, 1996
4r2q/P3nQr1/2Pp4/2b1k2p/4Pp1N/2P3P1/5P1P/R4R1K w - - 1 0
[ gxf4+ Kxe4 Qc4+ ]

e)
White mates in 3.
Aleksa Strikovic vs Juan Mario Gomez Esteban, Pamplona, 1996
r5kr/pp2R2p/5p1B/1QpP2p1/6q1/8/PP3PP1/1K6 w - - 1 0
[ Rg7+ Kf8 Qxc5+ ]

'Characteristic Puzzles in the Opening' series



Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1996, pt. vii.
a)
White mates in 3.
P Harikrishna vs Vlad-Cristian Jianu, Paris, 1996
7k/5p1p/p1pp2rP/4pR2/1pP4Q/1P4P1/q1b1N1BK/8 w - - 1 0
[ Qd8+ ]

b)
White mates in 3.
Michal Krasenkow vs Klaudiusz Urban, Poland, 1996
3q3k/1p3Qb1/3p4/4p3/2PpB3/6P1/5P2/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qh5+ Kg8 Bd5+ ]

c)
White mates in 3.
Bogdan Lalic vs Krunoslav Hulak, Pula, 1996
3q3r/1rbn2pp/pp3nk1/2p1p1N1/P2P4/1Q4P1/1P2PP1P/R1B1K2R w KQ - 1 0
[ Qf7+ if Kh6 Nf3+ or if Kf5 e4+ ]

d)
White mates in 3.
Radoslaw Wojtaszek vs K Simonjan, Rimavska Sobota, 1996
4rqk1/p6p/1pprb1p1/4Qp2/8/2B1PN1P/PP3PP1/R5K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qh8+ ]

e)
White mates in 3.
Gadir Guseinov vs Alexander Areshchenko, Rimavska Sobota, 1996
2br1k2/1r3p2/5P2/4Q3/p1Pp3p/1P5P/P5B1/2R3K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qh5 if Kg8 Qh6 or if Ke8 Bc6+ ]

Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1996, pt. viii.
a)
White mates in 3.
Nidjat Mamedov vs Michal Cervinka, Rimavska Sobota, 1996
r2qk3/p1nb3Q/1n3p1B/1p1pPp2/2pP4/2P2N2/PPB4P/R6K w - - 1 0
[ Qg6+ Ke7 Qxf6+ ]

b)
White mates in 3.
Igor Novikov vs Michall Brodsky, Yerevan, 1996
r4r2/pp1n2k1/2p3p1/5pP1/1qBP2Q1/1P6/P4P2/4RK1R w - f6 1 0
[ Rh7+ Kxh7 Qh4+ ]

c)
White mates in 3.
Dibyendu Barua vs Hugo Spangenberg, Yerevan, 1996
4r3/7R/1p1b1pp1/p5k1/4r1P1/1PPKNRP1/1P6/8 w - - 1 0
[ Rf5+ gxf5 Rg7+ Kh6 Nxf5# ]

d)
White mates in 4.
Alexander Shabalov vs Vinay Bhat, Alexandria, 1996
r3r1k1/pp3pb1/3pb1p1/q5B1/1n2N3/3B1N2/PPP2PPQ/2K4R w - - 1 0
[ Qh7+ Kf8 Qh8+ Bxh8 Rxh8+ ]

e)
White mates in 4.
Vassily Ivanchuk vs Alexander Morozevich , Amsterdam, 1996
1q2b2k/1p2b3/1pn1N1Br/3RP2p/1P3P2/P5Q1/2P4P/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Bf7 ]

Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1996, pt. ix.
a)
White mates in 4.
A Jeannelle vs J F Marcel, Auxerre, 1996
r2q1rk1/1pp2p2/p3b1N1/6Qp/3P4/1PB3P1/P4P1P/1R2R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Ne7+ Kh7 d5 f6 Qg6+ ]

b)
White mates in 4.
Sergey Dolmatov vs Vladimir Onoprienko, Azov, 1996
r1qn2k1/pp2p1b1/3p4/5N1Q/1P3P2/P2Bn2P/6PK/5R2 w - - 1 0
[ Qe8+ if Kh7 Nxe3+ or if Bf8 Nxe7+ Kg7 Qg6+ ]

c)
White mates in 4.
Gerald Hertneck vs Artashes Minasian, Baden-Baden, 1996
5b2/7k/3q2p1/p1nB1p1p/2Q2P1P/1PB3P1/5P1K/8 w - - 1 0
[ Qd4 if g5 Qh8+ Kg6 Qg8+ ]

d)
White mates in 4.
Konstantin Landa vs Yuanming Tong, Beijing, 1996
2r1k3/4pr2/3pN1Q1/2pP1p1p/6p1/6PP/P2q1P2/BR2n1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qg8+ if Kd7 Rb7+ ]

e)
White mates in 4.
Bogdan Lalic vs Petr Haba, Berlin, 1996
6R1/p4k2/2q2P2/1pP2Q2/8/P3K3/1r4PP/8 w - - 1 0
[ Qh7+ if Kxf6 Rg6+ or if Ke6 Qe7+ Kd5 Qe4+ ]

'Tactics in the Sicilian' series



Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1996, pt. x.
a)
White mates in 4.
Vladimir Tukmakov vs Janez Barle, Bled, 1996
5rk1/p1R5/4p2R/6K1/1P2B3/1r3PP1/1P6/5b2 w - - 1 0
[ Rg6+ Kh8 Kh6 ]

b)
White mates in 4.
Julio Granda Zuniga vs Ariel Sorin, Buenos Aires, 1996
5rk1/2p3pR/1p1n4/p3R3/3Q1r2/PP2P3/1KB2q1P/8 w - - 1 0
[ Rxg7+ Kxg7 Re7+ Kh6 Rh7+ ]

c)
White mates in 4.
Alexander Graf vs Abhijit Kunte, Calcutta, 1996
2Q5/4ppbk/3p4/3P1NPp/4P3/5NB1/5PPK/rq6 w - - 1 0
[ g6+ Kxg6 Nxe7+ if Kh7 Qg8+ ]

d)
White mates in 4.
Alexander Graf vs Andrei Kovalev, Cappelle la Grande, 1996
5bk1/5p2/3p1P1p/1q1Pr1pQ/2p5/1p5P/1P4P1/1B3R1K w - - 1 0
[ Bh7+ if Kxh7 Qxf7+ Kxg8 Qxf8+ or if Kh8 Qxf7 Qxd5 Qxf8+ ]

e)
White mates in 4.
Alexander Shabalov vs Eugene Martinovsky, Chicago, 1996
5k2/pp3b2/2rp2p1/6q1/3BQ3/PP6/1KP4R/8 w - - 1 0
[ Rh8+ Bg8 Rxg8+ Kxg8 Qe8+ ]

Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1996, pt. xi.
a)
White mates in 4.
Diego Flores vs Carlos Schuster, Chivilcoy, 1996
7k/pq1nr3/1p1p2R1/3P1Bp1/2p1p3/2P5/PP5P/5Q1K w - - 1 0
[ Bxd7 if Kh7 Qf6 ]

b)
White mates in 4.
Stuart Conquest vs Renieo Gonzales, Cienfuegos, 1996
3rk3/3n3Q/3ppr2/p1q5/1pP5/1P4R1/P5PP/5R1K w - - 1 0
[ Rg8+ if Nf8 Rxf6 or if Rf8 Qf7# ]

c)
White mates in 4.
Vladimir Tukmakov vs Jens Ove Fries-Nielsen, Copenhagen, 1996
2Q5/3B2p1/2b3kp/1pP1p3/1P5q/8/6PP/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qe8+ if Kh7 Bf5+ or if Kg5 Qxe5+ ]

d)
White mates in 4.
Garry Kasparov vs I Gountas, Corfu, 1996
r5k1/ppqr2p1/4RpNp/2p4P/2Pb1PQ1/3P4/P1P3P1/4R2K w - - 1 0
[ Re8+ if Rxe8 Rxe8+ or if Kh7 Nh4 ]

e)
White mates in 4.
Viswanathan Anand vs Peter Leko, Dortmund, 1996
2q5/5p1p/p3p3/4kpQ1/7P/1P4P1/r1P2P2/3R2K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qg7+ if f6 Qh6 or if Ke4 Qd4+ ]

Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1996, pt. xii.
a)
White mates in 4.
Oleg Korneev vs Sergej Djachkov, Elista, 1996
r2kq3/pp1b3R/n1pQ2p1/6N1/6P1/P7/1P2B3/1K6 w - - 1 0
[ Rxd7+ Qxd7 Ne6+ ]

b)
White mates in 4.
Manuel Apicella vs Didier Collas, France, 1996
r1bqr1k1/6pR/p2ppbQ1/1p6/N1nNP3/4BP2/PPP5/2KR4 w - - 1 0
[ Rdh1 if Kf8 Nc6 ]

c)
White mates in 4.
Andrei Sokolov vs David Anderton, Gausdal, 1996
1rk2q1r/3p3p/3R1p2/QpPBp3/8/6P1/1P3P1P/2K5 w - - 1 0
[ Rc6+ dxc6 Be6+ Kb7 Qb6+ ]

d)
White mates in 4.
Igor Glek vs Gerald Hertneck, Germany, 1996
r6r/pQ6/4kp2/1P3R2/P2P2qp/2PB2p1/7P/7K w - - 1 0
[ d5+ Kd6 Rxf6+ Ke5 Qe7+ ]

e)
White mates in 4.
Lajos Portisch vs Gabor Kallai, Hungary, 1996
1R6/p1r2bpk/R6p/3p4/3B1PP1/2P3KP/P3r3/8 w - - 1 0
[ Rxh6+ if gxh6 Rh8+ Kg6 f5+ or if Kxh6 Rh8+ Kg6 f5+ ]

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



Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1996, pt. xiii.
a)
White mates in 4.
Igor Novikov vs Ilias Kourkounakis, Isle of Man, 1996
r3r3/p4R2/4p2k/np1b1p2/3P3B/2P3R1/2B2PPP/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Rgg7 Rh8 Bg5+ Kh5 Bd1+ ]

b)
White mates in 4.
Michael Adams vs Patrick Burkart, London, 1996
2r3k1/p4p2/1p2P1pQ/3bR2p/1q6/1B6/PP2RPr1/5K2 w - - 1 0
[ exf7+ if Bxf7 Re8+ ]

c)
White mates in 4.
Murray Chandler vs Paul Littlewood, London, 1996
1r6/p5r1/5b1p/2R4n/3pk3/1P1N1N2/P4PP1/R4K2 w - - 1 0
[ Re1+ Kxd3 Re2 ]

d)
White mates in 4.
Vereslav Eingorn vs Georg Fuchs, Oberwart, 1996
R4R2/6p1/1qp4k/3pN2p/3P4/4P1P1/1p3PKP/8 w - - 1 0
[ Rh8+ Kg5 Raf8 ]

e)
White mates in 4.
Igor Khenkin vs Roland Schmaltz, Recklinghausen, 1996
2r4k/1p1RB3/p5Bp/1n2P3/5PK1/6PP/4r3/8 w - - 1 0
[ Bf6+ Kg8 Rh7 ]

Chess puzzles from top rated games of 1996, pt. xiv.
a)
White mates in 4.
Manuel Apicella vs V Orlov, St. Petersburg, 1996
3b1r1k/p5pp/1p1NQ3/P3Pp2/1P3q2/7P/5PK1/2R5 w - - 1 0
[ Nf7+ if Kg8 Nh6+ Kh8 Qg8+ ]

b)
White mates in 4.
Andres Rodriguez vs Ariel Sorin, Villa Ballester, 1996
4q3/R7/2pp1n1p/1p5k/4PPr1/2P3P1/4Q3/4KN2 w - - 1 0
[ Qh2+ Kg6 f5+ ]

c)
White mates in 5.
Ruslan Sherbakov vs Alexej Gorbatov, Decin, 1996
5rk1/2RR3p/1p2p1bP/2r1p1p1/4P1N1/pP3P2/P5P1/1K6 w - - 1 0
[ Nf6+ Rxf6 Rd8+ if Rf8 Rg7+ ]

d)
White mates in 5.
Vladimir Epishin vs Igor Piven, Seefeld, 1996
2r1qrk1/pp3p2/6pQ/3Np1b1/2B1P3/5P2/PP3P1P/R6K w - - 1 0
[ Nf6+ Bxf6 Qxg6+ Kh8 Qh6+ Kg8 Rg1+ ]

e)
White mates in 5.
Dibyendu Barua vs J M Costa Fernando, Ubeda, 1996
r1bbrn1k/5ppp/pp1p2n1/3N1NPQ/P2BP3/1P5R/2q3BP/5R1K w - - 1 0
[ Qh6 if Bf6 Qxg7+ Bxg7 Bxg7+ ]


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