'Tactics in the Sicilian' series



Here are some chess puzzles from the games won by computers (1995-1999).
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)
"Chess System Tal" vs "Junior", Paderborn, 1995
1r4k1/pbq2p1p/4pb1B/2p5/2B1PP2/2P5/P5P1/2RQ1K2 w - - 0 1
[ e5 ]

b)
"Hiarcs X" vs "Cheiron", Paderborn, 1995
r5k1/1n5p/p4Rp1/1p1q4/2pB2b1/2P5/P1B1r1PP/1R3QK1 w - - 0 1
[ Bxg6 if Re7 Qf4 or if hxg6 Rxg6+ ]

c)
"Chess Genius X" vs Nico Kuijf, Hague, 1995
1r3rk1/1b3ppp/pp1q1n2/2pBb1B1/4P3/P4N1P/1P3PP1/R1Q1R1K1 w - - 0 1
[ Nxe5 if Qxe5 Bf4 ]

d)
White mates in 7.
"Chess System Tal" vs Henny Maliangkay, Hague, 1995
1Q6/3p1p1r/p4k2/q2b1P1r/Pp1pP1Rp/8/1PP3PP/3R3K w - - 0 1
[ e5+ Kxf5 Rf1+ if Kxg4 Qg8+ ]

e)
"Chessica" vs Erich Karstan, Hague, 1995
1br2rk1/p5p1/6p1/2p2pn1/2Pp1qP1/1P1P1N2/P1R2PB1/3QRK2 w - - 0 1
[ Nxg5 Qxg5 Bd5+ if Kh7 Kg2 w/Rh1(+) ]

1d)
mate in 7
"Chess System Tal" vs Henny Maliangkay

Computers Puzzles, Part II.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
White mates in 7.
"Chessmaster 4000" vs Anne Benschop, Hague, 1995
2b2rk1/pp2Q1p1/2p4p/5pqB/2P5/1P6/P4PPP/4R1K1 w - - 0 1
[ Qxf8+ Kh7 Bf7 if h5 Qg8+ ]

b)
"Gandalf" vs Wim Van Der Pol, Hague, 1995
r1bq1r1k/pp4bp/1np2pp1/4p3/3PPNn1/1BP1B3/PP1N2PP/R3QRK1 w - - 0 1
[ Nxg6+ hxg6 Qh4+ Nh6 Bxh6 if Bd7 Be3+ ]

c)
"Isichess" vs Bert Kieboom, Hague, 1995
6k1/p1r1q2p/1p2Pbp1/3Q4/4P3/4p2P/P3B1P1/5RK1 w - - 0 1
[ Rxf6 Qxf6 e7+ Kg7 e8/N+ ]

d)
White mates in 5.
"The King" vs "Dappet", Netherlands, 1995
2b2r2/p1Q2pkp/1p2p1p1/bq1PN3/4BP2/6P1/1B5P/R5K1 w - - 0 1
[ Nxf7+ if Qxb2 Ng5+ Kf6 Nxh7# ]

e)
White mates in 6.
"Socrates" vs Willem Wolthuis, Hague, 1995
7R/ppkr1r2/2p1bp2/6p1/2PP1p2/Q4P2/PP3KP1/8 w - - 0 1
[ c5 if Rd8 Qa5+ ]

2c)
"Isichess" vs Bert Kieboom

Computers Puzzles, Part III.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
"Deep Blue" vs "Cheiron", Hong Kong, 1995
1r3r1k/pqpb1ppp/2pp1n2/3P4/5N1Q/1P2PP2/P1PN3P/R3K1R1 w - - 0 1
[ Rxg7 if Kxg7 Qg4+ mates or if Rg8 Rxf7 Rg1+ Kf2 mates ]

b)
"Fritz 3" vs Rene Borngaesser, Katowice, 1995
3b4/8/2k3pn/p1n1Pp1p/2P2P2/1P1NKN1P/P7/8 w - - 0 1
[ Nd4+ Kb6 Nxc5 Kxc5 Ne6+ ]

c)
"Junior" vs Ilia Smirin, Nir-Galim, 1995
2rr1k2/1b3p1p/4p3/1B2b1N1/3p2R1/6PP/1PP5/1K1R4 w - - 0 1
[ Rf1 if h5 Nxe6+ ]

d)
"Ant" vs "Morphy 1.3", Netherlands, 1995
2b1kb1r/1pB1pppp/r1n5/p7/4q3/8/PPPQNPPP/R3KB1R w KQk - 0 1
[ 0-0-0 if e6 Nc3 ]

e)
"Goldbar 95" vs "Schaakmeester 3X", Netherlands, 1995
r3k2r/pppqbppp/2n5/3p1b2/3P4/2PB1N2/P1P2PPP/R1BQR1K1 w kq - 0 1
[ Ne5 Nxe5 Bxf5 Qxf5 Rxe5 Qd7 Ba3 ]

3b)
"Fritz 3" vs Rene Borngaesser

Computer Puzzles, Part IV.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
"Kallisto" vs "Bionic", Netherlands, 1995
r3k1nr/pp3ppp/2n1p3/2P5/5B1P/6P1/PqPQB1P1/3RK2R w Kkq - 0 1
[ Qd7+ Kf8 Bd6+ if Nge7 Bxe7+ Nxe7 Qd8+ mates ]

b)
"Doctor X" vs Bert Kieboom, Hague, 1996
1qr1nrk1/1b2R1bp/2p1P1p1/pp4p1/8/PBN5/1PP1QPPP/4R1K1 w - - 0 1
[ Rxb7 Qxb7 e7+ Kh8 exf8/Q+ Bxf8 Qe6 ]

c)
"Doctor X" vs Peter Van Wermeskerken, Hague, 1996
1rrq4/kp1n1pn1/p2p3p/2pPp1pP/4P1P1/2NR4/PPPQBP2/1K1R4 w - - 0 1
[ Nb5+ if axb5 Ra3+ mates or if Ka8 Nxd6 w/Nxf7 ]

d)
"NOW" vs Henk De Kleynen, Hague, 1996
3rk1nr/p3bppp/1p2p3/1N2n1B1/8/P4N2/1P3PPP/2R2RK1 w k - 0 1
[ Nc7+ if Kf8 Bxe7+ or if Kd7 Nxe5+ ]

e)
"The King" vs "Rajah", Netherlands, 1996
r1b2rk1/pp2Q1pp/8/3N1p2/2pRn3/5N2/PqP3PP/4R1K1 w - - 0 1
[ Nc7 Rb8 Ne8 Rf7 Qe5 Ra8 Nf6+ gxf6 Rd8+ Kg7 Qxb2 ]

4e)
"The King" vs "Rajah"

Computer Puzzles, Part V.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
"Isichess 2.6" vs Friso Nijboer, Hague, 1997
2k3r1/3p4/p3p3/5p2/8/5RPp/PnP1N2P/6K1 w - - 0 1
[ Rc3+ if Kd8 Rb3 w/Rb8+ ]

b)
"Tasc R40" vs Jeroen Blokhuis, Hague, 1997
2r1rbk1/5p1p/p1n1pPp1/1p2P3/1P1N4/P6Q/qB1R2PP/4R1K1 w - - 0 1
[ Nb3 w/Ra1 ]

c)
"Virtual Chess" vs Loewenthal/Wiarda, Hague, 1997
2rq2k1/pb3pp1/1p1b1n1p/1N1pNQ2/Pn1P4/6P1/1P1B1P1P/4R1K1 w - - 0 1
[ Nxf7 if Kxf7 Qe6+ Kg6 Nxd6 ]

d)
White mates in 4.
"Hydra" vs "XXXX II", Paris, 1997
r1b3R1/pp3Q2/3k4/3pN3/3p4/1q1P4/3RKPP1/8 w - - 0 1
[ Qf8+ Kxe5 Qe7+ Kf5 g4+ ]

e)
"Hydra" vs "Dragon", Paris, 1997
2r1rk2/pp1nppb1/2bp2p1/3N2Bp/2PqP3/1P5B/P2QRPPP/5RK1 w - - 0 1
[ Qc2 if Bxd5 Bxd7 or if Red8 Rd2 Qc5 b4 ]

5a)
"Isichess 2.6" vs Friso Nijboer

Computer Puzzles, Part VI.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
White mates in 5.
"LChess" vs "ZZZZZZ", Netherlands, 1997
4R3/qpp2rkp/p1nr1pp1/P7/1P1p3N/2P2Q2/5PPP/R5K1 w - - 0 1
[ Nf5+ gxf5 Qg3+ Kh6 Rg8 ]

b)
"MChess 7 0" vs Tom O'Donnell, Ottawa, 1997
r3r1k1/3R1ppp/pqp3n1/1pN5/8/2Q5/PPP2PPP/4R1K1 w - - 0 1
[ Ne6 ]

c)
"Dark Thought" vs "Techno Chess", Paris, 1997
r3r1k1/bpp2q1p/p1p1b1p1/6R1/PP6/2BB4/2P1QPPP/5RK1 w - - 0 1
[ Bxg6 if hxg6 Qh5 ]

d)
"Fritz 5" vs "Schredder 1 0 P75", Debrecen, 1998
2r2r1k/5p1p/3Rbp2/ppq1p3/4P2Q/2P3P1/3R1PBP/6K1 w - - 0 1
[ Rxe6 if fxe6 Rd7 mates ]

e)
"Fritz 5" vs Tamas Borsavolgyi, Debrecen, 1998
2rn4/1pN2pkp/6pn/8/p1b5/5N1P/PPB2PP1/3R2K1 w - - 0 1
[ Ne8+ Kf8 Nd6 if Rc5 Nxc4 Rxc4 Rxd8+ ]

6e)
"Fritz 5" vs Tamas Borsavolgyi

Computer puzzles, pt. vii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
White mates in 4.
"MChess 6" vs Lajos Kovacs, Debrecen, 1998
5rk1/5ppp/5r2/2Qb3q/8/2P1BP1P/PP4P1/R3R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qxf8+ Kxf8 Bc5+ ]

b)
"Nimzo 99" vs Gerhard Streich, Senden, 1998
q5k1/5pb1/5rp1/p1r3N1/Pp6/1P3R2/4Q1PP/3R2K1 w - - 1 0
[ Qe7 ]

c)
"Fritz 5" vs Andreea-Teodora Sasu-Ducsoara, Frankfurt, 1998
r6r/pp1nkppp/4p1q1/5b2/2B5/5N2/PPP1QPPP/2KR3R w - - 1 0
[ Rxd7+ Kxd7 Ne5+ ]

d)
"Cilkchess" vs "Alexs", Netherlands, 1998
7Q/1k1rp3/1p1pq3/p7/8/2R4P/PP4P1/7K w - - 1 0
[ Qc8+ Ka7 Rc7+ ]

e)
White mates in 4.
"Rebel 8 P75" vs Tamas Borsavolgyi, Debrecen, 1998
2Q5/p3kp2/Pq2n3/2pRp1b1/2B1P3/8/1P3P2/7K w - - 1 0
[ Rd7+ Kf6 Qg8 Nd8 Rxf7+ ]

7e)
mate in 4
"Rebel 8 P75" vs Tamas Borsavolgyi

Computer puzzles, pt. viii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
"Comet" vs "Gandalf", Paderborn, 1998
4rrk1/ppq1n2p/4P1pQ/3p1p2/b2N4/P1PB2R1/2PK1P1P/4R3 w - - 1 0
[ Bb5 Bxb5 Nxb5 Qc5 Rh3 ]

b)
"Mephisto Challenger" vs Roman Staruch, Koszalin, 1998
r1r3k1/1pq2pp1/4b2p/8/1Q6/P1b3N1/2R1BPPP/3R2K1 w - - 1 0
[ Rxc3 Qxc3 Rd8+ Kh7 Qxc3 ]

c)
White mates in 4.
"Virtual Chess P75-SR" vs Laszlo Mate, Debrecen, 1998
7r/1p3r1p/pR6/2p2p2/P3kP2/6P1/1Pp4P/3R2K1 w - - 1 0
[ Re6+ Kf3 Rf1+ Kg4 Rh6 ]

d)
"Mephisto Advantage" vs Hanna Erenska-Barlo, Koszalin, 1998
r2b2k1/1pn2p1p/p2p2p1/1q1P4/1PQB1P2/3B3P/P5P1/2R4K w - - 1 0
[ Qxc7 ]

e)
White mates in 5.
"Fritz 6" vs Judit Polgar, Frankfurt, 1999
R7/1pk1pr2/2n1p1q1/3p4/3PnPP1/2PQ3P/1R4K1/8 w - - 1 0
[ Rxb7+ if Kxb7 Qa6+ or if Kd6 Rc8 Rxf4 Rxc6+ ]

8b)
"Mephisto Challenger" vs Roman Staruch

Computer puzzles, pt. ix.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Black mates in 3.
"Mato Grosso" vs "Bionic", Netherlands, 1995
3rr1k1/pp3ppp/2p4P/8/7K/4B3/P2N1Pq1/R7 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rxe3 fxe3 Rd6 ]

b)
Michael Reuter vs "Mephisto Genius", Muenster, 1995
1r2r1k1/1pp2pp1/p2b1n1p/2qPRQ2/1P6/P1BB3P/5PP1/2R4K b - - 0 1
[ ...Qxc3 Rxc3 Rxe5 if Qf3 Re1+ mates or if Qxe5 Bxe5 ]

c)
"Dragon" vs "Schach 3", Paderborn, 1995
5k2/1N2b2p/pr2b1p1/1p3p2/3R1P2/1P2KBP1/P6P/8 b - - 0 1
[ ...Bc8 Na5 Bc5 ]

d)
Ilya Gurevich vs "Chessmaster 4000", New York, 1995
3r3k/p4p1p/2b1pPpb/q1p1P3/2PrN1P1/3P2KP/P3Q3/B2RR3 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rxd3+ if Kh4 Bxe4 or if Rxd3 Rxd3+ Qxd3 Qxe1+ ]

e)
Black mates in 3.
Ed Voortmeijer vs "Junior", Hague, 1995
r1bq1rk1/ppp3pp/4p3/2b1np2/2P2P2/2N4P/PP1P2P1/R1BQKB1R b KQ - 0 1
[ ...Qh4+ ]

9b)
Michael Reuter vs "Mephisto Genius"

Computer puzzles, pt. x.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Black mates in 5.
"Ananse 2.0" vs "Nightmare", Paderborn, 1995
1r4k1/p4ppp/2pb4/3p4/P2P2b1/2P3P1/3R1P1P/R1B1rBK1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Bh3 if Bb2 Rxa1 Bxa1 Rb1 ]

b)
Alon Greenfeld vs "Junior", Nir-Galim, 1995
6k1/4pp1p/R5p1/8/2B2B2/1P2KPPb/4P2P/3rb3 b - - 0 1
[ ...Bd2+ if Kd4 Bxf4+ or if Ke4 Bf5+ Ke5 Bc3# ]

c)
Karsten Wanie vs "Mephisto Genius", Muenster, 1995
2r2rk1/pp4pp/3bp1p1/3p2Pn/3P1P1Q/4PN2/PPq2R1P/R1B4K b - - 0 1
[ ...Qd1+ if Kg2 Rxc1 ]

d)
Peter Varga vs "Chess Genius", Budapest, 1995
1r1r2k1/pq3ppp/3Np2n/4P3/P1pQP3/8/1PK3PP/R6R b - - 0 1
[ ...Nf5 if exf5 Qxg2+ Kc3 Qxb2+ mates or if Nxb7 Nxd4+ ]

e)
Black mates in 4.
"Ananse" vs "Nightmare", Jakarta, 1996
2r3r1/Qp2b2k/1n2P2p/1p1pNp1q/3P4/1P3N2/P4P2/R3RK2 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rc2 if Ng1 Qh2 ]

10a)
mate in 5
"Ananse 2.0" vs "Nightmare"

Computer puzzles, pt. xi.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Black mates in 3.
"Morphy" vs "Goldbar", Netherlands, 1996
6k1/2p2Rpp/ppq5/8/2np1r2/2PQ2KP/P1P4P/1RB1r3 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rg1+ Kxf4 g5+ Kf5 Qg6# ]

b)
Bert Kieboom vs "Cheiron", Hague, 1996
5bk1/ppp1pp1p/6p1/1Pr1P3/1n3P2/6PP/1Rn3K1/1NBR4 b - - 0 1
[ ...Nd3 if Ra2 or Rb3 Nxc1 Rxc1 Ne3+ ]

c)
Jeroen Blokhuis vs "WChess", Hague, 1996
r4rk1/2p2ppp/6b1/2bpP3/BP5Q/8/4qPPP/R1B2RK1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rxa4 Rxa4 Bd3 ]

d)
Black mates in 3.
"Diogenes" vs "Francesca", Jakarta, 1996
8/ppp2bk1/6r1/2P2p2/5p1K/1P6/P2r4/2R2B1R b - - 0 1
[ ...Kf6 if Kh5 Rg8+ ]

e)
"Junior 5.0" vs Peter Horvath, Debrecen, 1998
r1bq1rk1/pp2ppbp/2np2p1/8/2PNP1n1/2N1B3/PP2BPPP/R2Q1RK1 w - - 0 1
[ Bxg4 if Bxg4 Nxc6 ]

11a)
mate in 3
"Morphy" vs "Goldbar"

Computer puzzles, pt. xii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Black mates in 4.
Richard Oranje vs "Novag Diamond", Hague, 1996
8/pR4pp/2p1pk2/2P1p3/P2pPr2/B5q1/6Q1/6K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qe1+ Kh2 Rh4+ Qh3 Qf2+ ]

b)
"Ananse" vs "The Turk", Jakarta, 1996
r1b2rk1/pp3pbp/2p3p1/4q3/P3B3/2P1BQ1P/1P3PP1/R3K2R b KQ - 0 1
[ f5 if Bc2 f4 or if Bxc6 bxc6 Qxc6 Be6 0-0 Bd5 ]

c)
Joose Norri vs "MChess Pro 5 0", Helsinki, 1996
1r4k1/5p2/4p2p/1Bn1P1p1/8/3p2P1/PR1R1PPK/2r5 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rc2 ]

d)
Black mates in 4.
"Bionic" vs "Dappet", Netherlands, 1997
6k1/7p/2p3p1/B3b1r1/P6K/3N1r2/2R2P2/5R2 b - - 0 1
[ ...Bf6 Rxc6 Rg2+ Rxf6 g5+ Kh5 Rh3# ]

e)
"Diep" vs "Virtual Chess 2", Paris, 1997
5rk1/2p5/pp1p3b/3P3p/1PP3nP/P1N3P1/4RpK1/3RrN2 b - - 0 1
[ ...Bg7 Rdxe1 fxe1/Q Rxe1 Rf2+ Kg1 Bxc3 ]

12d)
mate in 4
"Bionic" vs "Dappet"

Computer puzzles, pt. xiii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Lajos Kovacs vs "Genius 5", Debrecen, 1998
4r1k1/Q4ppp/4rq2/8/8/8/P4PPP/R4RK1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qxa1 if Rxa1 Re1+ ]

b)
Istvan Mede vs "Genius 5", Debrecen, 1998
r2r4/2p3k1/5Npp/ppB1P3/5nP1/2P1R3/bPQ3qP/2KR4 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qxc2+ Kxc2 Bb3+ ]

c)
V Bessarab vs "Mephisto Challenger", Koszalin, 1998
3r2k1/3r1ppp/1pp2qb1/p7/P1P5/1Q2B3/1R2BPPK/3R4 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rxd1 Bxd1 Rd3 if Qxb6 Qh4+ mates ]

d)
Ramon Mateo vs "Hiarcs 6.0", Dominican Republic, 1998
rnbq1r1k/4b1pp/2p5/p2nQ3/PppPN3/6P1/1P1N1PBP/R1B2RK1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rf5 ]

e)
Tibor Leviczki vs "Rebel 8 P75", Debrecen, 1998
2rr2k1/1p3ppp/pq6/3RQ3/b7/7P/BP3PP1/4R1K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Re8 ]

13c)
V Bessarab vs "Mephisto Challenger"

Computer puzzles, pt. xiv.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Black mates in 2.
M Malyszko vs "Mephisto Challenger", Koszalin, 1998
1r4k1/p1p2ppp/8/4r3/1P2p3/P1N3q1/2PB1b1Q/1R2R2K b - - 0 1
[ ...Qf3+ ]

b)
Black mates in 6.
Gabor Molnar vs "Fritz 5", Debrecen, 1998
r1b1k2r/pp3ppp/1qn5/3n4/2P5/PN3Pb1/1P1KB1P1/R1BQ3R b kq - 0 1
[ ...Qe3+ Kc2 Ncb4+ axb4 Nxb4+ Kb1 Bf5+ ]

c)
Black mates in 6.
Ramon Mateo vs "CM6000", Dominican Republic, 1998
2b3k1/2p2pp1/7p/1B1P3Q/8/4R3/3q1PPP/r3rRK1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rxf1+ Bxf1 Rxf1+ Kxf1 Ba6+ ]

d)
Laszlo Serfozo vs "Chessmaster 6000", Debrecen, 1998
r1bqk2r/pp3p1p/2n2np1/3pp3/1b2P3/2NB1N2/PPPB1PPP/R2QK2R b KQkq - 0 1
[ ...Bxc3 Bxc3 dxe4 ]

e)
Black mates in 6.
"Averno" vs "Ruy Lopez", Barcelona, 1999
2rr2k1/1p3p1p/p1P3p1/q3R3/B1K5/1P1NPb2/P7/R7 b - - 0 1
[ ..b5+ Bxb5 axb5+ Rxb5 Rxc6+ Rxc5 Rxc5+ Nxc5 Be2+ Nd3 Bxd3# ]

14e)
mate in 6
"Averno" vs "Ruy Lopez"

Computer puzzles, pt. xv.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
White mates in 8.
"Shredder 3 0" vs Tamas Dani, Debrecen, 1999
2b2rk1/5ppp/p1P5/2QN4/8/2p2N2/1q3PPP/q3R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Ne7+ Kh8 Ng6+ hxg6 Qxf8+ Kh7 Ng5+ Kh6 Nxf7+ ]

b)
"Morphy 3 1" vs "Chessica", Leiden, 1999
2krr3/ppp2pbp/8/2Pn2P1/8/1P1b1P2/P2BB1RP/2RN1K2 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rxe2 Rxe2 Re8 if Nc3 Bxc3 ]

c)
Black mates in 4.
"Xinix" vs "Ant", Leiden, 1999
r1b2rk1/pp2ppbp/2n3p1/2P5/4pB2/2P1P2P/1PKQ1PP1/q2RNB1R b - - 0 1
[ ...Nb4+ Kb3 Qa2+ Kxb4 a5+ ]

15a)
mate in 8
"Shredder 3 0" vs Tamas Dani


Computers of The 80s; 1990-94

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