'Best Chess Puzzles' series from wtharvey.com
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Here are some chess puzzles from the games of Garry Kasparov.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
Solutions are between the brackets under each puzzle.Drag your mouse from one bracket to the other.
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Garry Kasparov' Checkmates
a)
Garry Kasparov vs Dmitry Kaiumov, Tbilisi, 1976
2rq1k1r/p3nppp/1p2pN2/nP1pP3/3P2P1/2R1QN2/5PKP/2R5 w - - 0 1
[ Rxc8 Nxc8 Rxc8 Qxc8 Qa3+ ]
b)
White mates in 5.
Garry Kasparov vs Aldyn Guseinov, USSR, 1976
3r1r2/4Qp2/1nqP2pk/p3p2p/1pB5/1P6/5RPP/5R1K w - - 0 1
[ Rxf7 Rxf7 Rxf7 if Rh8 h4 ]
c)
White mates in 3.
Garry Kasparov vs Adrian Negulescu, Cagnes sur Mer, 1977
8/2r1q2p/7k/2pR1Q2/4p2p/1P2P3/5PP1/6K1 w - - 0 1
[ Qg4 ]
d)
Garry Kasparov vs Evgeny Pigusov, Riga, 1977
r5k1/ppr2p2/6p1/3pP3/3P3Q/q2B1R1P/P5PK/8 w - - 0 1
[ Bxg6 ]
e)
Garry Kasparov vs Leonid Zaid, Leningrad Jr, 1977
2q5/3bb3/4B2k/2p1R3/7p/6rP/8/Q4R1K w - - 0 1
[ Qc1+ ]
1a)
Garry Kasparov vs Dmitry Kaiumov
Garry Kasparov puzzles, pt. ii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Garry Kasparov vs Guy West, Telex, 1977
r1bqkb1r/pp1n1ppp/3pp3/4P3/3N4/2PB4/P1PBQPPP/R3K2R w - - 0 1
[ Nxe6 if Qb6 Nc7+ ]
b)
Garry Kasparov vs Andrei Kharitonov, Leningrad, 1977
6k1/2R3pp/8/n3p3/P3P3/1p3KP1/1b3P2/8 w - - 0 1
[ Rc5 if Nb7 Rc8+ ]
c)
Garry Kasparov vs Dariusz Weider, Cagnes sur Mer, 1977
r5k1/pq1nR1pp/1p3r2/5p2/3P4/3B1b1Q/P4PPP/R5K1 w - - 0 1
[ Bxf5 ]
d)
Y Fedoruk vs Garry Kasparov, Tashkent, 1978
6k1/1p3pb1/4p1p1/2p2p2/2PP1P1q/1P5P/rB1Q2P1/R5K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rxb2 if Qxb2 Bxd4+ ]
e)
Elmar Magerramov vs Garry Kasparov, Baku, 1979
r3k2r/pp1b1ppp/1qn2n2/8/2Q1p3/2N1N1P1/PP2PPBP/R3K2R b KQkq - 0 1
[ ...Na5 ]
3b)
mate in 3
Milorad Knezevic vs Garry Kasparov
Garry Kasparov puzzles, pt. iii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Garry Kasparov vs Eduard Mnatsakanian, Moscow, 1979
6k1/p4n1p/3p1Bp1/2qb1p2/5Q2/3P2PP/5PB1/6K1 w - - 0 1
[ Qa4 ]
b)
Black mates in 3.
Milorad Knezevic vs Garry Kasparov, Banja-Luka, 1979
6k1/5pp1/8/1bBn1q1p/1P5P/5PP1/3Qp1B1/4K3 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qb1+ ]
c)
Garry Kasparov vs Algimantas Butnorius, Moscow, 1979
b4rk1/p1n3p1/1p1rpP1q/7p/1P2PR1B/P4R2/6PP/5QK1 w - - 0 1
[ f7+ w/Be7 ]
d)
White mates in 6.
Garry Kasparov vs Istvan Csom, Baku, 1980
r3r1k1/pp3nPp/1b1p1B2/1q1P1N2/8/P4Q2/1P3PK1/R6R w - - 0 1
[ Rxh7 ]
e)
Garry Kasparov vs Slavoljub Marjanovic, Malta, 1980
r4r1k/pbn1Nppp/np3q2/3p2N1/5B2/6PB/Pb3P1P/R2QR1K1 w - - 0 1
[ Nxh7 if Kxh7 Qh5+ Qh6 Bf5+ Kh8 Bxh6 ]
4c)
mates in 4
Garry Kasparov vs Zakharov
Garry Kasparov puzzles, pt. iv.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Vitaly Tseshkovsky vs Garry Kasparov, Frunze, 1981
2r3k1/1p4pp/p1n1p3/4q3/P4BP1/1NP4P/1P3bQ1/R4K2 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qxf4 if Qxf2 Qc4+ ]
b)
Vladimir Tukmakov vs Garry Kasparov, Frunze, 1981
6k1/4qp2/1B4pp/2R1b3/P2Nb3/1P2Q3/r4PPP/6K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qxc5 ]
c)
White mates in 4.
Garry Kasparov vs Zakharov, Moscow, 1981
5r1k/2q1r1p1/1npbBpQB/1p1p3P/p2P2R1/P4PP1/1PR2PK1/8 w - - 0 1
[ Bxg7+ ]
d)
Garry Kasparov vs Leonid Yurtaev, Moscow, 1981
3r2k1/p4p2/3qbPp1/3pR2p/1r1P4/2N1Q3/1P5P/5R1K w - - 0 1
[ Rxe6 w/Qh6 ]
e)
White mates in 3.
Garry Kasparov vs Elmar Magerramov, USSR, 1982
3r1r1k/1p3p1p/p2p4/4n1NN/6bQ/1BPq4/P3p1PP/1R5K w - - 0 1
[ Nxf7+ ]
5c)
Anatoly Karpov vs Garry Kasparov
Garry Kasparov puzzles, pt. v.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Garry Kasparov vs Victor Korchnoi, Herceg Novi, 1983
r4r1k/p1q3pp/3pBpb1/2nPpN2/2p1P3/P1P5/1R4R1/2BQ3K w - - 0 1
[ Rxg6 ]
b)
Garry Kasparov vs Cathy Forbes, London, 1984
2r2rk1/p1P2pp1/3Qp3/7p/8/6P1/P3qP1P/2RR2K1 w - - 0 1
[ Qxf8+ w/Rd8 ]
c)
Anatoly Karpov vs Garry Kasparov, Moscow, 1984
2rr2k1/6pp/5p2/p1n5/PbPpP1PP/5P2/2K2B2/1NRR4 b - - 0 1
[ ...d3+ Kb2 d2 Rc2 Nd3+ ]
d)
Garry Kasparov vs Mephisto 68000, Hamburg Blind Simul, 1985
2r3k1/1qr1b1p1/p2pPn2/nppPp3/8/1PP1B2P/P1BQ1P2/5KRR w - - 0 1
[ Rxg7+ ]
e)
Garry Kasparov vs Anatoly Karpov, Moscow, 1985
3r2k1/pb1r1pp1/1pn2q1p/3B4/6Q1/P4NP1/1P3PP1/3RR1K1 w - - 0 1
[ Qxd7 w/Re8+ Be4+ & Rxd7 ]
5e)
Garry Kasparov vs Anatoly Karpov
Garry Kasparov puzzles, pt. vi.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
White mates in 5.
Garry Kasparov vs Mephisto Exclusive, Hamburg Simul, 1985
rb3rk1/1b1q1ppp/1pn1p3/p1p1P2Q/2PpNP2/3P2PP/PP4B1/R1B1R1K1 w - - 0 1
[ Nf6+ ]
b)
Garry Kasparov vs Mephisto 68000, Hamburg simul, 1985
R3n1k1/7p/3prppB/1p2p3/1P2P2Q/7P/5PPK/1q6 w - - 0 1
[ Rxe8+ ]
c)
Garry Kasparov vs Stefano Tatai, Dubai, 1986
5k2/pp1b4/3N1pp1/3P4/2p5/q1P1QP2/5KP1/8 w - - 0 1
[ Qh6+ if Ke7 Qg7+ ]
d)
Garry Kasparov vs Matthias Wahls, Frankfurt, 1986
r2q1r1k/3n1pnp/p4NbQ/1p1Pp1p1/2p1N3/4P3/PP2B1PP/2R2RK1 w - - 0 1
[ Nxh7 w/Nxg5 ]
e)
White mates in 4.
Garry Kasparov vs Bent Larsen, Brussels, 1987
1qr2bk1/pb3pp1/1pn3np/3N2NQ/8/P7/BP3PPP/2B1R1K1 w - - 0 1
[ Nf6+ w/Qxg6+ ]
6a)
mate in 5
Garry Kasparov vs Mephisto Exclusive
Garry Kasparov puzzles, pt. vii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Robert Huebner vs Garry Kasparov, Brussels, 1987
r3r2k/6bp/6q1/2N5/1p1Pp3/5bQP/P4PB1/1R2R1K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qxg3 if fxg3 Bxd4+ ]
b)
Garry Kasparov vs Nigel Short, Brussels, 1987
5rk1/pbr1bppp/4nn2/3p1B2/8/P3PN2/1B1N1PPP/1R3RK1 w - - 0 1
[ Be5 if Rd7 Nd4 ]
c)
Black mates in 4.
John Van Der Wiel vs Garry Kasparov, Brussels, 1987
6k1/p2R1p1p/5bp1/8/Pn2R1K1/1r6/7P/8 b - - 0 1
[ ...h5+ ]
d)
Luc Winants vs Garry Kasparov, Brussels, 1987
8/Q1K2pk1/4q1p1/3p2Pp/1R6/P1p1P1P1/8/8 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qe7+ Kb8 Qxa7+ w/...c2 ]
e)
Black mates in 4.
Florin Gheorghiu vs Garry Kasparov, Salonika, 1988
6k1/1p5p/p2p1q2/3Pb3/1Q2P3/3b1BpP/PPr3P1/KRN5 b - - 0 1
[ ...Bxb2+ ]
7d)
Luc Winants vs Garry Kasparov
Garry Kasparov puzzles, pt. viii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Garry Kasparov vs Gorgui Gueye, Cannes, 1988
r3r1k1/pb4pp/nq1np3/1p1pNp2/3P1N2/QP2P1P1/P4P1P/R1R2BK1 w - - 0 1
[ Nd7 ]
b)
White mates in 7.
Kasparov vs Vasily Ivanchuk, Moscow,
r2n3k/pp2R1pp/2bp4/3B1PN1/2pP4/2P5/P6P/6K1 w - - 0 1
[ f6 Nf7 Nxf7+ Kg8 Nh6+ ]
c)
White mates in 6.
Garry Kasparov vs Stuart Rachels, New York, 1988
5rk1/7p/5p2/1b1PN3/1p3Q2/1n2R3/6PK/2q5 w - - 0 1
[ Rg3+ Kh8 Nf7+ ]
d)
Garry Kasparov vs Ilya Smirin, Moscow, 1988
2n3k1/6b1/1p1pR2p/1q1Pp3/2r1P3/6PB/8/5QK1 w - - 0 1
[ Rxh6 if Bxh6 Be6+ mates ]
e)
White mates in 6.
Garry Kasparov vs Anatoly Karpov, Lyon, 1990
r3Rb1k/8/p2p1q1p/3n1bN1/Pn5Q/6RP/1p3PPK/1B6 w - - 0 1
[ Nf7+ Qxf7 Qxh6+ Bh7 Rxa8 ]
8c)
mate in 6
Garry Kasparov vs Stuart Rachels
Garry Kasparov puzzles, pt. ix.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Garry Kasparov vs Iglesias, Galacia, 1991
4nr1k/4r2p/2B3n1/5p1N/8/3q2P1/Q6P/4RR1K w - - 0 1
[ Qa1+ Kg8 Rxe7 Nxe7 Bxe8 ]
b)
Viswanathan Anand vs Garry Kasparov, Paris, 1992
r5k1/1p3pbp/pqn2n2/5R2/P7/2N1R3/1PP2QPP/6K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Ng4 if Re8+ Rxe8 Qxb6 Bd4+ ]
c)
Nigel Short vs Garry Kasparov, London, 1993
3r4/p1b3k1/bp5p/2p1n1p1/P1P1Pp2/6Pq/1PQN1P1P/2BRN1K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rxd2 if Bxd2 Bxc4 ]
d)
Garry Kasparov vs We Barclays de Zoete, 1993
8/1Rr3k1/2pq2p1/4rp2/P1Q4R/6P1/5PK1/8 w - - 0 1
[ Qd4 if Qe7 Rxc7 ]
e)
Garry Kasparov vs Nigel Short, London, 1993
4q1k1/1b1rrp1p/p3n1p1/2p1P3/3P4/P1N5/B4QPP/2RR2K1 w - - 0 1
[ d5 if Ng5 h4 or if Ng7 Ne4 ]
8e)
mate in 6
Garry Kasparov vs Anatoly Karpov
Garry Kasparov puzzles, pt. x.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Garry Kasparov vs Lautier, Moscow, 1994
2b3rk/4np1p/p6P/2r1qpQR/1pP1p3/4N3/PPB2PP1/1K1R4 w - - 0 1
[ Ng4 if Qe6 Rd8 mates ]
b)
Garry Kasparov vs Rafael Vaganian, Novogorod, 1995
2r2r1k/pq2b2P/1p2pp2/4B3/1n2N3/P3P3/1PQ2PP1/1K1R3R w - - 0 1
[ Nxf6 if Bxf6 Bxf6+ Rxf6 Qc3 or if Nxc2 Nd5+ Bf6 Nxf6 ]
c)
Garry Kasparov vs Yasser Seirawan, Amsterdam VSB, 1996
r3kn2/5q2/r3p2p/4Pp2/1Q3N1B/5P1P/1P6/6RK w - - 0 1
[ Nh5 if Qc7 Rg7 ]
d)
Garry Kasparov vs Viswanathan Anand, Moscow, 1996
2b1rnkb/1q3p1p/pBrp1PpQ/1p1Np1P1/1P2P3/P2PR3/4N2P/5RK1 w - - 0 1
[ Bd8 if Qd7 Ne7+ Rxe7 fxe7 Ne6 Rh3 ]
e)
Tal Shaked vs Garry Kasparov, Tilburg, 1997
3rr1k1/pb2ppb1/1p4p1/q1pP2Bp/2n1PQ1P/2P2P2/P3N1P1/1BR1K2R b K - 0 1
[ ...Be5 ]
9b)
Viswanathan Anand vs Garry Kasparov
Garry Kasparov puzzles, pt. xi.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Garry Kasparov vs Pau Xavier Guerrero, Madrid, 1997
3k3r/pRb5/4ppr1/1Q1p2p1/1B1P1qP1/P4P1P/6K1/7R w - - 0 1
[ Rxc7 if Kxc7 Ba5+ mates ]
b)
White mates in 5.
Garry Kasparov vs Graham Lee, Oakham, 1997
1qrr1nk1/5p1p/1p5Q/pP1bpPP1/4N3/4B3/3R3P/5BK1 w - - 0 1
[ Nf6+ Kh8 Nh5 ]
c)
Black mates in 2.
Veselin Topalov vs Garry Kasparov, Sofia, 1998
8/p4pk1/6p1/3R4/3nqN1P/2Q3P1/5P2/3r1BK1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rxf1+ ]
d)
White mates in 6.
Garry Kasparov vs P Munch, Colmar, 1998
r3q3/p1Q1bk2/2p2pp1/4P3/8/4B3/PPP3P1/2KR1B2 w - - 0 1
[ Bc4+ Kg7 exf6+ Kxf6 Qf4+ ]
e)
Garry Kasparov vs Jean Netzer, Colmar, 1998
kb1r3r/pp3p2/3q1n2/1B5p/Q5p1/4B1P1/P4P1P/2R1R1K1 w - - 0 1
[ Rc6 if Qe5 Ra6 ]
12b)
mate in 5
Garry Kasparov vs Steven Brown
Garry Kasparov puzzles, pt. xii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
White mates in 5.
Garry Kasparov vs Peter Svidler, Internet, 1998
6r1/7k/p1pr1p1P/q1p1pP2/2P5/2bP3R/P7/2Q3RK w - - 0 1
[ Rg7+ Rxg7 hxg7+ Kxg7 Qh6+ ]
b)
White mates in 5.
Garry Kasparov vs Steven Brown, London, 1998
r3k2r/1pp1nqbp/p4Pp1/6B1/8/7B/PpP3PP/R2Q1RK1 w - - 0 1
[ Qd7+ Kf8 fxe7+ Kg8 e8/Q+ Qxe8 Be6+ ]
c)
Garry Kasparov vs Ismael Kharmadi, Besancon, 1999
r3k2r/ppp1b2p/4Qp2/3Pn3/5q2/P1N5/BP4PP/1K5R w - - 0 1
[ d6 if cxd6 Nd5 ]
d)
Garry Kasparov vs Malina Nicoara, Besancon, 1999
2r5/p4k1p/1pn1Rp1B/2p4n/P1N5/2Pr4/1P3PP1/2R3K1 w - - 0 1
[ Rd6 ]
e)
Garry Kasparov vs Vladimir Kramnik, Frankfurt, 1999
4kr2/2qr1p2/p3p1p1/3b3p/5Q1P/1P3P2/1KP1N1P1/3RR3 w - - 0 1
[ Rxd5 if exd5 Nd4+ Kd8 Ne6+ or if Qxf4 Nxf4 ]
13c)
Garry Kasparov vs A Ringel
Garry Kasparov puzzles, pt. xiii.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
White mates in 4.
Garry Kasparov vs Joao Rebelo, Lisbon, 1999
r3r3/pppq1p1k/1bn2Bp1/3pPb2/1P1P4/P4N2/2BQ1PPP/R3R1K1 w - - 0 1
[ Qg5 Bg4 Qh4+ ]
b)
Garry Kasparov vs Oriana Reynolds, Lisbon, 1999
3r1rk1/ppp1qpp1/1bnp1n1p/6B1/2bPP3/2N2N2/PPB2PPP/R2QR1K1 w - - 0 1
[ Nd5 if Bxd5 exd5 or if Qd7 Bxf6 gxf6 Nxf6+ ]
c)
Garry Kasparov vs A Ringel, Frankfurt, 2000
4qnk1/2Q2p1p/p3p1pP/1p2P1N1/1P6/P7/5PP1/6K1 w - - 0 1
[ Ne4 if Nd7 Qxd7 ]
d)
Garry Kasparov vs Peter Hayes, Internet, 2000
r5n1/pp6/2pqbkP1/3p1p1P/2PP1P2/3BQ3/PP6/2K1R3 w - - 0 1
[ c5 if Qd7 Qe5+ Ke7 Qg7+ ]
e)
White mates in 5.
Garry Kasparov vs Jamie Hillman, Internet, 2000
3r2k1/4Rb1p/p1q2p2/5Qp1/2pB3N/Pr5P/5PP1/4R1K1 w - - 0 1
[ Rxf7 ]
e)
mate in 5
Garry Kasparov vs Jamie Hillman
Garry Kasparov puzzles, pt. xiv.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
White mates in 3.
Garry Kasparov vs Alexander Karman, Internet, 2000
r3rk2/5pn1/pb1nq1pR/1p2p1P1/2p1P3/2P2QN1/PPBB1P2/2K4R w - - 0 1
[ Qf6 ]
b)
Garry Kasparov vs Raphael Kruse, Internet, 2000
2k1r1r1/ppq2pp1/2pb1n1p/3n1P2/3P4/P2B1Q1P/1PPB2R1/2KN1R2 w - - 0 1
[ c4 if Ne7 c5 ]
c)
Garry Kasparov vs Alexei Shirov, Linares, 2000
1rn3k1/R1R2p1p/6p1/8/3PB3/7P/3r2PK/8 w - - 0 1
[ Rab7 if Ra8 Rb4 ]
d)
White mates in 4.
Garry Kasparov vs Alexei Shirov, Astana, 2001
2r5/pp1b4/4p3/3pPk2/5P2/8/1K6/3R2R1 w - - 0 1
[ Rd4 ]
e)
Black mates in 4.
Vladimir Kramnik vs Garry Kasparov, Moscow, 2001
8/5p1k/4r1p1/2PP1p2/1Q6/1p3bbP/1B2pqP1/R5RK b - - 0 1
[ ...Bxg2+ Rxd2 Qf1+ Rxf1 exf1/Q+ ]
e)
mate in 4
Vladimir Kramnik vs Garry Kasparov
Garry Kasparov puzzles, pt. xv.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Garry Kasparov vs Evgeny Bareev, Cannes, 2001
5k1r/1p6/2b1pNpp/2q1P2N/5P1Q/pPp5/Pn4PK/4R3 w - - 0 1
[ Nd7+ if Bxd7 Qf6+ mates ]
b)
Garry Kasparov vs Olavur Simonsen, Torshavn, 2001
R7/1bp3rk/1pNp1nq1/3P1p2/1PP1pPp1/4N1P1/7P/Q5K1 w - - 0 1
[ Rf8 if Rf7 Rxf7 Qxf7 Nd8 or if Nd7 Ne7 Qh6 N7xf5 ]
c)
Garry Kasparov vs Viktor Korchnoi, Zurich, 2001
1rr5/pp3kp1/1n2p1Np/nB1pP1p1/3P4/1PP4R/P4PP1/R3K3 w - - 0 1
[ Rf3+ if Kg8 Ne7+ or if Kxg6 Bd3+ mates ]
d)
White mates in 6.
Garry Kasparov vs Ronaldo Abud, Sao Paulo, 2004
3rnr1k/2q1bppb/p1pp3P/6B1/3NPQ2/2N5/PPP2P2/2K3RR w - - 0 1
[ hxg7+ if Nxg7 Rxh7+ or Bf6 mates or if Kg8 Bxe7 mates ]
e)
Garry Kasparov vs Eduard Kocisky, Bratislava, 2011
4rbr1/pp1k1p2/2p2p1p/3n3P/3PNPP1/1P2NK2/P7/2R4R w - - 1 0
[ Nxd5 cxd5 Nxf6+ ]
f)
Black mates in 4.
Nigel Short vs Garry Kasparov, Saint Louis, 2015
6r1/7k/7p/5p1q/5P2/1P1Pp3/P6Q/5R1K b - - 0 1
[ ...e2 if Rg1 e1/Q Rxe1 Qf3+ ]
15f)
mate in 4
Nigel Short vs Garry Kasparov
More Russian GMs
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