See 2, 3 or 4 moves ahead
Here are some chess puzzles from the games of the 2012 European Championship.
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.
View the 'Print Edition' for this page.
a) 
White mates in 2.
Alon Mindlin vs Serban Porfireanu, Plovdiv, 2012
6rk/ppp2R2/6bb/3Pp1Np/2P5/6R1/PPq3Q1/K7 w - - 0 1
[ Rh7+ Bxh7 Nf7# ]
b) 
White mates in 2.
Aleksandr Shimanov vs Azat Sharafiev, Plovdiv, 2012
1r2q3/1p3R2/pN1p2nk/P2Pp1pp/3r4/6P1/1PQ4P/5RK1 w - - 0 1
[ Qxg6+ ]
c) 
Black mates in 2.
Dan Zoler vs Gawain Jones, Plovdiv, 2012
4R3/5pk1/8/1P6/3Nn3/4n3/1r6/6K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rg2+ ]
d) 
White mates in 3.
Nikola Djukic vs Dimitar Mogilarov, Plovdiv, 2012
3q2r1/r4pbk/p4p1p/1p1BpN2/4P2Q/3PP1RP/2P3P1/6K1 w - - 0 1
[ Rxg7+ ]
e) 
Black mates in 3.
Marko Nenezic vs Alexander Ipatov, Plovdiv, 2012
r3k3/1p6/p2p1RR1/2pPp3/P1P1q3/2KQ2p1/1P5r/8 b q - 0 1
[ ...Qe1+ ]
1d) 
mate in 3
Nikola Djukic vs Dimitar Mogilarov
2012 European Championship Puzzles, Part II.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Black mates in 3.
Claus Michael Andok vs Naim Sahitaj, Plovdiv, 2012
4r1k1/1R1b4/2p5/3p1ppQ/PB1P1b1p/4q2P/6B1/5K2 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qc1+ if Kf2 Bg3+ ]
b) 
White mates in 4.
Vladimir Bukal Jr vs Dmytro Kigel, Plovdiv, 2012
2rr2k1/pp3p2/q1bPpQ2/n3P2p/P1pRB3/6P1/5P1P/R5K1 w - - 0 1
[ Qg5+ Kf8 Bh7 ]
c) 
White mates in 4.
Emil Sutovsky vs Sergey Grigoriants, Plovdiv, 2012
1r1rR3/2p2ppk/6p1/2nqn3/1p4N1/2P2Q1P/1PB2PP1/6K1 w - - 0 1
[ Nf6+ if Kh6 Ng8+ Kg5 Rxe5+ or if gxf6 Qh5+ ]
d) 
Black mates in 4.
Adrian-Kalman Bach vs Antonios Xylogiannopoulos, Plovdiv, 2012
7k/8/p7/8/5r2/2Pp1r1P/PP3bK1/3R1R2 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rg3+ ]
e) 
White mates in 5.
Tamas Banusz vs Adriana Nikolova, Plovdiv, 2012
8/5q1p/p3p3/8/3Q4/2P2kP1/P1b2P2/2B3K1 w - - 0 1
[ Qe3+ Kg4 f3+ Kh3 Qh6+ ]
2e) 
mate in 5
Tamas Banusz vs Adriana Nikolova
2012 European Championship Puzzles, Part III.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
White mates in 5.
Laurent Fressinet vs Marian Jurcik, Plovdiv, 2012
5kr1/2R2p2/4r3/p3P3/1p1Q4/4R3/qP3PP1/6K1 w - - 0 1
[ Qd8+ if Kg7 Rg3+ Rg6 Qf6+ or if Re8 Qd6+ ]
b) 
White mates in 5.
Artyom Timofeev vs Vasif Durarbeyli, Plovdiv, 2012
5k2/5p2/5Np1/4Q2p/1P6/5PP1/5PK1/1qn5 w - - 0 1
[ Nd7+ Kg8 Qe8+ Kh7 Qxf7+ Kh6 Qf8+ ]
c) 
Black mates in 5.
Velizar Sofranov vs Artur Gabrielian, Plovdiv, 2012
4r1k1/5ppp/5R2/r7/1R3Q1K/4pPP1/4P2P/5q2 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rh5+ Kxh5 Qh3+ Kg5 h6+ ]
d) 
White mates in 6.
Michael Fedorovsky vs Boris Blaushtain, Plovdiv, 2012
r2r1k2/ppq3pQ/2p2pBp/2n1b3/2P1RP2/4P3/P5PP/5RK1 w - - 0 1
[ Qh8+ Ke7 Qxg7+ Kd6 fxe5+ fxe5 Qxe5+ Kd7 Rf7+ ]
e) 
White mates in 7.
Sergei Zhigalko vs Namig Guliyev, Plovdiv, 2012
r2q1b1k/5p2/p2p1n2/1ppb1NQ1/8/P2B3P/1PP2PP1/4R1K1 w - - 0 1
[ Re8 if Qxe8 Qxf6+ Kg8 Qg5+ Kh8 Qh5+ Kg8 Ne7+ or if Nxe8 Qh5+ Kg8 Ne7+ ]
3c) 
mate in 5
Velizar Sofranov vs Artur Gabrielian
2012 European Championship Puzzles, Part IV.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Black mates in 7.
Milan Novkovic vs Vlad-Cristian Jianu, Plovdiv, 2012
4r1k1/pp3pp1/8/3P3p/P4qP1/2r2B1P/4P1K1/1Q3R2 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rxe2+ Bxe2 Rg3+ Kh2 Rf3+ Kg2 Qg3+ ]
b) 
Robert Hovhannisyan vs Marco Codenotti, Plovdiv, 2012
r3r1k1/6pp/b3p3/p1qpP3/1pnN2P1/7P/PPP3B1/1KQRR3 w - - 0 1
[ Nxe6 if Rxe6 Bxd5 ]
c) 
Igor Khenkin vs Michael Fedorovsky, Plovdiv, 2012
8/5pk1/2Pq2p1/2QN1p1p/3P3P/6b1/r4PK1/2R5 w - - 0 1
[ Qxd6 Bxd6 c7 ]
d) 
Filip Pancevski vs Andrei Volokitin, Plovdiv, 2012
2rr4/3q1pk1/3p2p1/p1nP2P1/Pp3B1p/1Pb4P/2P1RQB1/5R1K w - - 0 1
[ Bxd6 Nb7 Be7 ]
e) 
Djakhangir Agaragimov vs Giorgi Khelaia, Plovdiv, 2012
r1b1r1k1/pp1p3p/2n2npB/q1pp2N1/2P3p1/2PBPP2/P1Q4P/R3K1R1 w Q - 0 1
[ Bxg6 ]
4a) 
mate in 7
Milan Novkovic vs Vlad-Cristian Jianu
2012 European Championship Puzzles, Part V.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Bartlomiej Macieja vs Alexandru Manea, Plovdiv, 2012
1rb2rk1/p2p1ppp/2nQp3/qp2P3/5P2/2NB4/PPP3PP/R3K2R w KQ - 0 1
[ Bxh7+ ]
b) 
Vladimir Akopian vs Valerij Popov, Plovdiv, 2012
1r1r4/p5k1/5p2/bpq2Bp1/4R2p/5Q2/P4PPP/5RK1 w - - 0 1
[ Qh5 if Qc7 Rfe1 ]
c) 
Dimitrios Balokas vs Hristo Katsarov, Plovdiv, 2012
3r2k1/p3qppp/1p2b3/3p4/2rQP3/6PP/PP1R1PB1/3R2K1 w - - 0 1
[ Qxc4 ]
d) 
Andrei Istratescu vs Antonios Pavlidis, Plovdiv, 2012
4rr1k/pbbnq1pp/2p5/2P1ppN1/2B5/8/PP1BQPPP/2KRR3 w - - 0 1
[ Nxh7 if Kxh7 Qh5# ]
e) 
Nikolai Kabanov vs Atanas Dimitrov, Plovdiv, 2012
6k1/p1r2pp1/3p3p/3q4/Q7/4bN1P/PP4PK/5R2 w - - 0 1
[ Qe8+ Kh7 Qxe3 Qxa2 Qd3+ g6 Qxd6 if Rb7 Ne5 Qxb2 Rxf7+ mates ]
5e) 
Nikolai Kabanov vs Atanas Dimitrov
2012 European Championship Puzzles, Part VI.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Tibor Kende Antal vs Alon Mindlin, Plovdiv, 2012
r7/5pbk/2bqN1pp/1p6/1P6/1B3p1P/P1Q2PP1/4R1K1 w - - 0 1
[ Rd1 if Qxd1+ Qxd1 fxe6 Qd6 ]
b) 
Marin Bosiocic vs Mateusz Bartel, Plovdiv, 2012
5rk1/p1R1p1qp/3p4/5rp1/5p2/1P3BPb/P2QPP1P/3R2K1 w - - 0 1
[ Bd5+ Kh8 Be6 ]
c) 
Vladimir Malakhov vs Ivan Salgado Lopez , Plovdiv, 2012
4rrk1/p1pq3p/1p1pb1n1/5p1N/2PR4/2Q2B2/PP3PPP/5RK1 w - - 0 1
[ Bc6 if Qxc6 Rxd6 ]
d) 
Antonios Pavlidis vs Ofir Aharon, Plovdiv, 2012
r3r1k1/pp2Pp1p/6p1/5b2/2BQn2q/2P1B3/P5PP/K1R4R w - - 0 1
[ g4 if Qxg4 Bh6 ]
e) 
Jorgen Henseler vs Konstantinos Mihopoulos, Plovdiv, 2012
r2q1rk1/1p3ppp/2ppbb2/p1n5/P1BQP3/2N2N2/1PP2PPP/3RR1K1 w - - 0 1
[ e5 Bg5 exd6 Bxc4 Qxc5 Bd5 Nxd5 ]
6b) 
Marin Bosiocic vs Mateusz Bartel
2012 European Championship Puzzles, Part VII.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Mikheil Mchedlishvili vs Peter Michalik, Plovdiv, 2012
5r1k/1pq2p2/1p4nP/2pp3r/8/2P2R2/PP2BQP1/R5K1 w - - 0 1
[ Rh3 if Rxh3 Qf6+ mates ]
b) 
Velizar Sofranov vs Nicolas Grandadam, Plovdiv, 2012
2r3k1/5pp1/3Rp2p/pp6/8/2qQ1PPK/P6P/8 w - - 0 1
[ Rd8+ ]
c) 
Artyom Timofeev vs Marin Bosiocic, Plovdiv, 2012
3q4/5Qbk/1p2p1p1/p3P2p/4NK1P/6P1/5P2/8 w - - 0 1
[ Ng5+ Kh6 Qxg7+ Kxg7 Nxe6+ ]
d) 
Daniel Hristodorescu vs Tamas Balla, Plovdiv, 2012
7k/p3q2p/7Q/2P1pp2/4p3/P3P2P/3r4/1R4K1 w - - 0 1
[ Rb7 ]
e) 
Viktor Laznicka vs Romain Edouard, Plovdiv, 2012
3r1rk1/4bp2/pqn3pp/1p1R4/5Q1P/5N2/PPB2PP1/4R1K1 w - - 0 1
[ Rh5 if gxh5 Qf5 ]
7c) 
Artyom Timofeev vs Marin Bosiocic
2012 European Championship Puzzles, Part VIII.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
David Navara vs Vlad-Cristian Jianu, Plovdiv, 2012
6k1/R6p/2p3p1/2Pbp1r1/3NP3/4KP2/7r/2R5 w - - 0 1
[ Rb1 if Bf7 Ne6 ]
b) 
Romain Edouard vs Daniyyl Dvirnyy, Plovdiv, 2012
3rq1k1/3n1pbp/p2P2p1/1pp5/4r3/1N2BQPP/PP3P2/R3RK2 w - - 0 1
[ Bg5 ]
c) 
Yakup Erturan vs Dmytro Kigel, Plovdiv, 2012
2R5/6p1/p6k/1p2pB1p/3r2n1/6P1/PP2KP1P/8 w - - 0 1
[ h4 if g5 Rg8 gxh4 Rg6+ or if g6 Rc6 Kh7 Rxg6 ]
d) 
Eylon Nakar vs Emre Can, Plovdiv, 2012
3Rb1k1/p6p/5np1/1r2Np2/8/B4P2/6PP/6K1 w - - 0 1
[ Nd7 if Rb3 Nxf6+ Kf7 Bc5 ]
e) 
Martin Neubauer vs Adrian-Kalman Bach, Plovdiv, 2012
6k1/3p2b1/1p4p1/6Np/2P4P/Q5P1/4qP1K/8 w - - 0 1
[ Qa8+ Bf8 Qd5+ Kh8 Qf7 Bg7 Kg2 Qe5 Qxg6 ]
8d) 
Eylon Nakar vs Emre Can
2012 European Championship Puzzles, Part IX.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Veselin Pantev vs Vladimir Pogosian, Plovdiv, 2012
rqb1kb1r/1p1pppp1/2n2n2/1N5p/p7/1N2B1PP/PPP1PPB1/R2QK2R w KQkq - 0 1
[ Bb6 if axb3 Bc7 ]
b) 
Nikola Sedlak vs Artem Smirnov, Plovdiv, 2012
6k1/1R3pb1/2p3pq/P3p3/4P3/6Pn/7K/5Q2 w - - 0 1
[ Qxf7+ Kh7 Qxg7+ Qxg7 Rxg7+ Kxg7 Kxh3 ]
c) 
Artyom Timofeev vs Nils Grandelius, Plovdiv, 2012
8/p4k1p/1p2rpp1/3N4/P2Pp1Q1/4P2P/2qn1PPK/3R4 w - - 0 1
[ Nf4 if Re8 Qe2 ]
d) 
Ofir Aharon vs Vladimir Pogosian, Plovdiv, 2012
8/p2kPp2/np6/5Pp1/P1pP4/B7/2P5/2K5 w - - 0 1
[ Bd6 ]
e) 
Avital Boruchovsky vs Hannes Stefansson, Plovdiv, 2012
r3rbk1/1b3pp1/p6p/nppB4/4N3/P2P1N1P/1qP3P1/R2QR1K1 w - - 0 1
[ Ra2 ]
9b) 
Nikola Sedlak vs Artem Smirnov
2012 European Championship Puzzles, Part X.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Lucian-Costin Miron vs Marco Codenotti, Plovdiv, 2012
6k1/p1nR1rbp/1p2q1p1/2p1Pp2/5P2/2N1B2P/PP4P1/3Q2K1 w - - 0 1
[ Rxc7 Rxc7 Qd8+ ]
b) 
Dariusz Swiercz vs Davit Lomsadze, Plovdiv, 2012
r4bk1/3R3p/4p1pP/r1p1PpB1/1p6/1P4P1/P4P2/3R2K1 w - - 0 1
[ Rxh7 if Kxh7 Rd7+ Kh8 Bf6+ ]
c) 
Gabriel Voiteanu vs Dimitar Mogilarov, Plovdiv, 2012
Rn1r1k1b/7p/1p1pPp2/2p4p/8/2BB1P2/1P5P/6K1 w - - 0 1
[ Ra7 ]
d) 
Anton Korobov vs Bojan Vuckovic, Plovdiv, 2012
5r2/p5kp/1p1q1pn1/3B3R/5R2/6QP/P2r2PK/8 w - - 0 1
[ Rxh7+ Kxh7 Rh4+ Nxh4 Qxd6 if Ng6 Qc7+ ]
e) 
Mircea Parligras vs Lucian-Costin Miron, Plovdiv, 2012
r3r2k/p5pp/b2q1p2/1np5/5N1Q/1P6/PB3PPP/R3R1K1 w - - 0 1
[ Ng6+ Kg8 Qc4+ Re6 Rxe6 mates ]
10e) 
Mircea Parligras vs Lucian-Costin Miron
2012 European Championship Puzzles, Part XI.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Vladimir Pogosian vs Naim Sahitaj, Plovdiv, 2012
2b1qkr1/1p5Q/4pb2/r4p2/2Pn1N2/1p1P2P1/5BB1/1R2R1K1 w - - 0 1
[ Qc7 if Ra2 Qc5+ ]
b) 
Kirill Safronov vs Burhanudin Misini, Plovdiv, 2012
3r2k1/pp3p2/5n2/5Np1/3pQ3/P1q5/2P2PP1/4R1K1 w - - 0 1
[ Qe7 if Re8 Nh6+ Kg7 Qxf7+ mates ]
c) 
Artem Smirnov vs Julian Radulski, Plovdiv, 2012
5rk1/2q1pp1p/2p3pP/p1Q1b3/2P3b1/1P3NP1/P4PB1/3R2K1 w - - 0 1
[ Nxe5 Bxd1 Nxc6 Re8 Qd4 ]
d) 
Iulian Baltag vs Ofir Aharon, Plovdiv, 2012
5R2/p3r2k/1p1q2rp/2p5/P1PpP3/3P4/6RP/5Q1K w - - 0 1
[ Rf7+ ]
e) 
Daniel Hristodorescu vs Jorgen Henseler, Plovdiv, 2012
r5r1/p3b1pk/6Np/7Q/1q6/3p3P/PB3PP1/3R2K1 w - - 0 1
[ Qf5 Rge8 Nxe7+ Kh8 Bxg7+ mates ]
11b) 
Kirill Safronov vs Burhanudin Misini
2012 European Championship Puzzles, Part XII.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Burhanudin Misini vs Milan Pein, Plovdiv, 2012
r1b1kb1r/pp1p1p1p/1q4p1/2ppPn2/4N3/5N1P/PPPP1PP1/R1BQ1RK1 w kq - 0 1
[ Nf6+ if Ke7 Nxd5 or if Kd8 Ng5 ]
b) 
Axel Rombaldoni vs Stojan Ivanov, Plovdiv, 2012
r1q2rk1/6p1/1pp1pnp1/5bN1/P2PB2Q/R7/1P3P1P/4R1K1 w - - 0 1
[ Bxf5 if gxf5 Rh3 or if exf5 Re6 ]
c) 
Miodrag Perunovic vs Svetlana Cherednichenko, Plovdiv, 2012
1Qbq4/5rbk/p1pp3p/4npPR/2P2N2/4P3/PPp1BP2/K5R1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rb7 if Qa8 Qb6 Nd3 c1/Q+ Rxc1 Nxd3 ]
d) 
Michael Zaslavsky vs Viktor Bologan, Plovdiv, 2012
5r2/3qbk2/p2p2bR/3P2B1/1pN1p1P1/1P3r2/PP1Q4/K2R4 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rd3 if Qe1 Rxd1+ Qxd1 Bxg5 or if Rf1+ Kg7 ]
e) 
Adrian-Kalman Bach vs Petar Drenchev, Plovdiv, 2012
5rk1/R6p/1p3np1/4q3/7R/5P1b/1P1Q1P1P/6K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qf5 ]
12c) 
Miodrag Perunovic vs Svetlana Cherednichenko
2012 European Championship Puzzles, Part XIII.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Ido Ben Arzi vs Petar Arnaudov, Plovdiv, 2012
4r1k1/1q3ppp/1p2r3/RQ1n4/1BpP4/2P1P3/5PPP/4R1K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Nc7 ]
b) 
Hristo Katsarov vs Ivica Pantic, Plovdiv, 2012
r2q1rk1/p2nbpp1/3p1n1p/3Bp3/1p2P2B/5N2/PPP2PPP/R2QR1K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Nxd5 ]
c) 
Milan Novkovic vs Branko Damljanovic, Plovdiv, 2012
6k1/1p6/3B3r/3P4/3bPp2/PN6/1P4K1/8 b - - 0 1
[ ...f3+ if Kxf3 Rh3+ ]
d) 
Dragan Solak vs Mateusz Bartel, Plovdiv, 2012
2kr2r1/Qpp2p2/2p4p/8/4P3/2q3Pb/P1PN1P1K/R3R3 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rxg3 if fxg3 Rxd2+ Kxh3 Qe5 or if Rad1 Rg2+ Kh1 Rxd2 ]
e) 
Milan Pacher vs Andrei Istratescu, Plovdiv, 2012
2k4r/pp1r3p/2n5/8/3q1Q2/8/P2B1P1P/2R1K1R1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Re8+ if Kd1 Qxf4 ]
13c) 
Milan Novkovic vs Branko Damljanovic
2012 European Championship Puzzles, Part XIV.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Bojan Vuckovic vs Michael Fedorovsky, Plovdiv, 2012
r5k1/3R1pn1/1q2pQp1/1N4P1/5P2/2P5/1P6/2K5 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qe3+ if Kc2 Qe2+ or if Kb1 Qe4+ ]
b) 
Vladimir Fedoseev vs Tigran L Petrosian, Plovdiv, 2012
2B5/4P3/7p/k4b1P/1p6/4K3/p3P3/8 b - - 0 1
[ ...a1/Q if e8/Q Qc3+ w/Bxc8 ]
c) 
Bartosz Socko vs Momchil Nikolov, Plovdiv, 2012
8/1p6/2b2p2/6pk/8/P1R1N1KP/2P5/5r2 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rf3+ Kh2 f5 if Nd1 Rf1 Nb2 f4 ]
d) 
Velizar Sofranov vs Milan Pacher, Plovdiv, 2012
3R4/2r2pkp/pq3p2/2n1pp2/7Q/1P4P1/P4PKP/R7 b - - 0 1
[ ...Ne4 if Rf1 Rc2 ]
e) 
Alex Yakimenko vs Axel Rombaldoni, Plovdiv, 2012
2rr2k1/pb2q1pp/1pp1p3/2b1Pp2/2P1pP2/1PQ1P3/PB2B1PP/2R2RK1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Bb4 if Qc2 Rd2 ]
14c) 
Bartosz Socko vs Momchil Nikolov
2012 European Championship Puzzles, Part XV.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Evgenija Ovod vs Valerij Popov, Plovdiv, 2012
4R3/1kpp3p/1p6/2n2p2/1N3P2/P3B3/6rr/1R3K2 b - - 0 1
[ ...Ne4 if Nd3 Ng3+ ]
b) 
Yavor Todorov vs Anastasios Pavlidis, Plovdiv, 2012
b2q1nk1/7p/3p2p1/2p2PN1/P2b3r/1nNB2QP/1P4P1/1R3R1K b - - 0 1
[ ...Qxg5 if Qxg5 Rxh3# ]
c) 
Erwin L'Ami vs Yuriy Kryvoruchko, Plovdiv, 2012
5rk1/5p2/2R1p2p/1pQ2q2/5P2/3r2P1/PP3PK1/7R b - - 0 1
[ ...Qe4+ if Kh2 Rd5 ]
d) 
Leon Lederman vs Sotirios Porfiriadis, Plovdiv, 2012
4r1k1/pp3pbp/1q4p1/4P3/2PQ2P1/1P5P/P6B/3R2K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rd8 ]
e) 
Dejan Marjanovic vs Evgenija Ovod, Plovdiv, 2012
2kr3r/ppq1b1p1/2p2pp1/3nn3/5B1P/2P3N1/PP1QBPP1/2KR3R b - - 0 1
[ ...Nxf4 if Qxf4 Nd3+ ]
15e) 
Dejan Marjanovic vs Evgenija Ovod
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