See 2, 3 or 4 moves ahead



Here are some chess puzzles from the best games of 2018.
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.
Nijat Abasov vs Gergely Kantor, Batumi, 2018
3q1r1k/p4Qp1/2R4p/4P1N1/1p6/6P1/1P2PbKP/8 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Rxh6+ ]

b)
White mates in 2.
Jonas Bjerre vs Allan Rasmussen, Svendborg, 2018
2r2r2/1b3pR1/p2pk1pP/3p4/1Pp1PP1B/1nP5/1n2B1K1/1N5R w - - 1 0
[ 1.Bg4+ f5 2.Re7# ]

c)
White mates in 2.
Egor Bykov vs Dmitry Kryakvin, Taganrog, 2018
6r1/4q3/p2p1R1p/2pP3k/1p2PR2/2B4K/PP4P1/8 w - - 1 0
[ 1.R4f5+ Rg5 2.g4# ]

d)
White mates in 2.
Konstantin Chernyshov vs Milan Pacher, Marianske Lazne, 2018
8/1kp4p/6b1/p1Q5/8/P3BP2/1Pn1B1Pq/2K5 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Ba6+ ]

e)
White mates in 2.
Jouri Goriatchkin vs Marin Bosiocic, Caleta, 2018
7k/1p1N1npp/pQp3b1/4P3/P7/8/1P1q2PP/5RK1 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Qd8+ ]

1e)
mate in 2
Jouri Goriatchkin vs Marin Bosiocic

Best chess puzzles of 2018, Part II.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
White mates in 2.
Mikita Harshkou vs Alexei Fedorov, Minsk, 2018
r5r1/1pR5/1p2b1pp/kB6/P3pPn1/6P1/1bNNK1P1/3R4 w - - 1 0
[ Rc4 if Bxc4 Nxc4# ]

b)
White mates in 2.
Krzysztof Jakubowski vs Lukasz Jarmula, Zgierz, 2018
2b2b1r/1p5p/6k1/1B1P3R/4N1p1/2PK2P1/r4PP1/7R w - - 1 0
[ 1.Be8+ ]

c)
White mates in 2.
Vasily Papin vs Stefan Beukema, Wijk aan Zee, 2018
5k2/pp5r/2qr1nR1/4Q2p/2B1RP2/1P4P1/2P5/1K6 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Qxf6+ Rxf6 2.Rg8# ]

d)
Black mates in 2.
Milovan Ratkovic vs Nikola Radovanovic, Zrenjanin, 2018
6R1/1Qp1n2k/2P5/3p4/P3p2p/1B5K/1P2nq2/1R6 b - - 0 1
[ 1...Nf4+ ]

e)
Black mates in 2.
P Karthikeyan vs K Rathnakaran, Chennai, 2018
3q4/pp6/6p1/3Pp2k/1Q3p2/4r2P/P5RK/6R1 b - - 0 1
[ 1...Rxh3+ ]

2c)
mate in 2
Vasily Papin vs Stefan Beukema

Best chess puzzles of 2018, Part III.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Black mates in 2.
Johan Salomon vs Rasmus Svane, Moscow, 2018
6k1/5pp1/1Q5p/3pPPn1/3P4/1P2r2P/6RK/4q1N1 b - - 0 1
[ 1...Rxh3+ 2.Nxh3 Nf3# ]

b)
White mates in 2.
Vlastimil Babula vs Nico Zwirs, Germany, 2018
qr1r1bk1/2pRn2p/3nP1p1/p3B3/N1B1PQ2/5PP1/6K1/5R2 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Qf7+ ]

c)
White mates in 2.
Milan Pacher vs Van Thanh Nguyen, Budapest, 2018
r3r2k/pp1n1R1p/2p3pB/8/P1BPn2q/2P5/6PP/4R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Bg7+ ]

d)
Black mates in 2.
Tamas Petenyi vs Lukas Cernousek, Czech Republic, 2018
5r1k/4b1p1/p6p/7Q/qp1Nb3/nP6/6PP/KRR5 b - - 0 1
[ 1...Nc2+ ]

e)
Black mates in 2.
Kulkarni Bhakti vs Jan Gustafsson, Cha-Am, 2018
3N3k/b4ppB/2b4n/1p2P3/5q2/6PP/1BQ4K/8 b - - 0 1
[ 1...Ng4+ ]

3b)
mate in 2
Vlastimil Babula vs Nico Zwirs

Best chess puzzles of 2018, Part IV.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
White mates in 2.
Rao Srinath vs Toms Kantans, Stockholm, 2018
r6Q/3bkp2/p1pp3p/4P3/2Pb2rN/4R1P1/Pq3P2/3R2K1 w - - 1 0
[ 1.exd6+ Kxd6 2.Qe5# ]

b)
White mates in 2.
Emilio Cordova vs Pablo Salinas Herrera, Montevideo, 2018
8/7p/5Qbk/qp1B4/8/8/5R1K/2r5 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Qf4+ ]

c)
Black mates in 2.
Jaroslav Bures vs Jan Mikes, Ostrava, 2018
6r1/pp3k1p/3p4/1P1P3n/P2bPp1n/B4q2/R1Q2R1P/1N3K2 b - - 0 1
[ 1...Rg1+ ]

d)
Black mates in 2.
Tomas Kraus vs Richard Biolek, Ostrava, 2018
6k1/5p1p/1bP3p1/1P1pq2n/8/Q4P2/6PP/3R3K b - - 0 1
[ 1...Ng3+ ]

e)
Black mates in 2.
Tarvo Seeman vs Tomas Laurusas, Tallinn, 2018
4r1k1/5p1p/5b2/1P3N2/4nPK1/4R1P1/7r/5R2 b - - 0 1
[ 1...h5+ ]

4c)
mate in 2
Jaroslav Bures vs Jan Mikes

Best chess puzzles of 2018, Part V.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
White mates in 3.
Ismayil Shahaliyev vs Azar Gadimbayli, Baku, 2018
1r2r2k/1bp3Rp/p2p4/1p5P/3n3Q/2P2P2/PPP1q3/1K4R1 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Rg8+ ]

b)
White mates in 3.
Siegfried Baumegger vs Antoni Szustakowski, Graz, 2018
1rn1kr2/2q2p1Q/p4p2/1pb1pN2/2p1B3/2P3P1/PP1R1P1P/2KR4 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Bc6+ if 1...Qd7 2.Rxd7 or if 1...Qxc6 2.Rd8# ]

c)
White mates in 3.
Maksim Chigaev vs Daniel Fridman, Tallinn, 2018
2r2N2/p5r1/5Qpk/7p/2p5/7P/PP3PPK/n7 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Qf4+ g5 2.Qf6+ ]

d)
White mates in 3.
Arthur Gabrielian vs Roman Martynov, Batumi, 2018
4rnk1/r2R3p/pq2pBp1/2p2p1Q/4b3/6R1/PPP2PPP/5BK1 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Rxg6+ ]

e)
White mates in 3.
Maksim Schekachikhin vs Ottomar Ladva, Moscow, 2018
5k2/3Q4/4prP1/6K1/pp3P2/1Pb5/5P2/8 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Kh6 ]

5a)
mate in 3
Ismayil Shahaliyev vs Azar Gadimbayli

Best chess puzzles of 2018, Part VI.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
White mates in 3.
Nikita Afanasiev vs Andrey Drygalov, Moscow, 2018
1rb1r1k1/2pp1q1p/1np2P2/5B1Q/1bP5/pP4P1/PB3P1P/2R2RK1 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Bxh7+ Kf8 2.Qh6+ ]

b)
White mates in 3.
Jahongir Vakhidov vs Grzegorz Nasuta, Newcastle, 2018
7k/1p2q2p/4B1p1/pn1np1Q1/4P2N/1Pr3P1/7P/5RK1 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Nxg6+ ]

c)
White mates in 3.
Liam Vrolijk vs Lucas Van Foreest, Germany, 2018
7k/2R3pp/1n6/8/P2P1P2/B4QP1/P4PKP/1q2r3 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Qa8+ ]

d)
White mates in 3.
Milan Zajic vs Shah Fenil, Skopje, 2018
3r3k/ppp1n3/4Bb1B/3Pp3/PPP1Q3/1q6/6R1/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Bg7+ Bxg7 2.Qh4+ ]

e)
Black mates in 3.
Jonas Bjerre vs Mhamal Anurag, Roquetas de Mar, 2018
1k1r3r/1pp5/p7/5n1p/P1Q2p1P/2P1q3/1P2B1PN/R3K2R b - - 0 1
[ 1...Qg3+ 2.Kf1 Ne3+ ]

6c)
mate in 3
Liam Vrolijk vs Lucas Van Foreest

Best chess puzzles of 2018, Part VII.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Black mates in 3.
Nikolai Kabanov vs Dmitry Bocharov, Taganrog, 2018
6k1/5pb1/8/4p3/pnqPP1B1/2B3Q1/1P1KN1P1/7r b - - 0 1
[ 1...Bh6+ ]

b)
Black mates in 3.
Shahin Lorparizangeneh vs Parham Maghsoodloo, Bushehr, 2018
4r1k1/R1Q3p1/4rp2/1p1b2qp/3B4/2P3P1/7P/3R2K1 b - - 0 1
[ 1...Re1+ ]

c)
Black mates in 3.
Karol Motuz vs Jan Markos, Slovakia, 2018
2r4k/5p1p/3p1p2/N7/1Q2P3/R2q2P1/4nPKP/8 b - - 0 1
[ 1...Nf4+ 2.gxf4 Rg8+ ]

d)
Black mates in 3.
Pedro Gines Esteo vs Misa Pap, Roquetas de Mar, 2018
8/pB6/3rbk2/6pK/1P6/5N2/P7/8 b - - 0 1
[ 1...Rd8 ]

e)
Black mates in 3.
Alexander Hilverda vs H Raja, Villorba, 2018
8/4kp1Q/p2p2p1/3Pp2P/5qb1/1P4P1/2rN1P2/3RK3 b - - 0 1
[ 1...Qxd2+ ]

7e)
mate in 3
Alexander Hilverda vs H Raja

Best chess puzzles of 2018, Part VIII.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Black mates in 3.
Xiangyu Xu vs Allan Stig Rasmussen, Denmark, 2018
6k1/p4p1p/8/2PpN2p/1Q2b1qP/1P4B1/3R1PPK/4r3 b - - 0 1
[ 1...Rh1+ 2.Kxh1 Qh3+ ]

b)
Black mates in 3.
Alan Pichot vs Vitaly Shinkevich, Moscow, 2018
4r1k1/1bb2p2/p5pp/P1p5/1p1p2KP/3P2P1/1PPN1P2/R4R2 b - - 0 1
[ 1...Bg2 2.h5 f5+ ]

c)
Black mates in 3.
Justin Wang vs Luis Torres Rosas, Saint Louis, 2018
5k2/q4p1p/3pbp2/1P6/1P1pPP2/3B4/2KQ2PP/r1N5 b - - 0 1
[ 1...Qa4+ 2.Kb2 Bb3 ]

d)
Black mates in 3.
Timo Syvalahti vs Tomi Nyback, Finland, 2018
8/p4k2/2p5/5pp1/N1P2nb1/1P6/P2r3P/2B2R1K b - - 0 1
[ 1...Bf3+ if 2.Kg1 Nh3# or if 2.Rxf3 Rd1+ ]

e)
Black mates in 3.
Jan Szymanski vs Michal Olszewski, Zgierz, 2018
2k5/1bb2p2/1pp1p2p/2N1P3/1Q1P2r1/5N2/5qP1/6RK b - - 0 1
[ 1...Rh4+ ]

8a)
mate in 3
Xiangyu Xu vs Allan Stig Rasmussen

Best chess puzzles of 2018, Part IX.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Black mates in 3.
Cecile Haussernot vs Sundar Shyam, Cappelle la Grande, 2018
5rk1/2pp1ppp/4q3/4P3/n1PK3P/r5P1/3BQP2/3R1B1R b - - 0 1
[ 1...c5+ 2.Ke4 f5+ 3.Kf4 Qh6# ]

b)
Black mates in 3.
Florian Grafl vs Manuel Bosboom, Netherlands, 2018
1r2k3/Q1p2pp1/4p1p1/6b1/p1Pn4/qP3P2/P2P2BP/1K1R3R b - - 0 1
[ 1...Rxb3+ ]

c)
Black mates in 3.
Daniel Malek vs Rainer Buhmann, Karlsruhe, 2018
4r2k/7p/QPp4r/p1Ppp3/P5KN/BR4P1/5q1P/5R2 b - - 0 1
[ 1...Rg8+ 2.Kh3 Rxh4+ ]

d)
Black mates in 3.
Morteza Mehrabi vs Amirreza Pourramezanali, Shiraz, 2018
4r1k1/p4qpp/1p1p4/2pP1p2/2n1nP2/P1P2KP1/Q6P/3R3R b - - 0 1
[ 1...Qh5+ 2.Kg2 Ne3+ ]

e)
Black mates in 3.
Eskandari Safari vs Amirreza Pourramezanali, Shiraz, 2018
r4k1r/bpp2p2/p2p4/4p1q1/1PB5/2PP1K2/P4P2/R2Q1R2 b - - 0 1
[ 1...Qh5+ 2.Ke4 f5+ ]

9a)
mate in 3
Cecile Haussernot vs Sundar Shyam

Best chess puzzles of 2018, Part X.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
White mates in 3.
Zan Kavcic vs Peter Urbanc, Ljubljana, 2018
7r/8/R7/1p1q1k2/4pP2/3bQ3/P4KPP/3R4 w - - 1 0
[ 1.g4+ ]

b)
White mates in 3.
Nodirbek Yakubboev vs Akmal Faizulaev, Tashkent, 2018
5k2/5p1p/5Np1/4Q3/8/4P1P1/3n1PKP/3q4 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Nd7+ Kg8 2.Qb8+ ]

c)
White mates in 3.
Antoni Szustakowski vs Artur Frolov, Katowice, 2018
r6r/p1pb2bR/3p1k2/2pPp1p1/2q1Pp2/2N2P2/PP3N1Q/2K4R w - - 1 0
[ 1.Qh6+ if 1...Kf7 2.Rxg7+ ]

d)
White mates in 3.
Bilel Bellahcene vs Yuri Solodovnichenko, Brest, 2018
r3r2k/1qp1p3/p2p2pB/3nb1N1/2B3P1/7P/PPQ5/1K3R2 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Nf7+ if 1...Kg8 2.Qxg6+ or if 1...Kh7 2.Qxg6+ Kxg6 3.Bd3# ]

e)
Black mates in 3.
Jiri Lechtynsky vs Jiri Stocek, Ostrava, 2018
1Q6/5p1p/5Npk/3P4/2P2n2/1Br4P/P2n1qP1/6RK b - - 0 1
[ 1...Rxh3+ 2.gxh3 Qf3+ ]

10b)
mate in 3
Nodirbek Yakubboev vs Akmal Faizulaev

Best chess puzzles of 2018, Part XI.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Black mates in 3.
Lumir Mrazek vs Alexey Kislinsky, Ostrava, 2018
1r4k1/p3p2p/2p1b1p1/q2p2B1/8/P1b4P/K1P5/2Q1RB1R b - - 0 1
[ 1...d4+ 2.Rxe6 Qd5+ ]

b)
Black mates in 3.
Nikolai Looshnikov vs Sergei Lobanov, Sochi, 2018
4rr1k/6pp/8/p1Rb2q1/Pp6/1Q2N3/1P4PP/4R1K1 b - - 0 1
[ 1...Rxe3 if 2.Re2 Qxg2+ ]

c)
Black mates in 3.
Evgenija Ovod vs Natalija Pogonina, Sochi, 2018
4Q3/p1r2P1k/1p2p1p1/b2p2Pp/P2n3P/4R1Nq/5KR1/2r5 b - - 0 1
[ 1...R7c2+ 2.Re2 Rxe2+ 3.Nxe2 Qf3# ]

d)
Black mates in 3.
Peter Polyik vs Mate Bagi, Hungary, 2018
1r4rk/1p1b4/p2p3p/P1pP4/3bPp1q/R2N1P2/1PQB2B1/4RK2 b - - 0 1
[ 1...Rxg2 if 2.Be3 Qh1+ or if 2.Kxg2 Qh3# ]

e)
Black mates in 3.
Dejan Pikula vs Zdenko Plenkovic, Mali Losinj, 2018
8/1Q3prk/p6p/8/P2r3P/3N1RP1/1P3P1K/1q6 b - - 0 1
[ 1...Rxh4+ ]

11a)
mate in 3
Lumir Mrazek vs Alexey Kislinsky

Best chess puzzles of 2018, Part XII.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Black mates in 3.
Pablo Salinas Herrera vs Robert Hungaski, Montevideo, 2018
1r4k1/2p2ppp/p1Q1p3/4P3/1BKP4/PRP2Pn1/q7/8 b - - 0 1
[ 1...Qe2+ 2.Kc5 Rb5+ ]

b)
Black mates in 3.
Seshadri Srija vs Adam Tukhaev, Mumbai, 2018
8/7p/8/4bpk1/8/2P5/1P2QKP1/2q5 b - - 0 1
[ 1...Bg3+ 2.Kxg3 Qf4+ ]

c)
White mates in 3.
Vlatko Savicevic vs Marc Morgunov, Belgrade, 2018
1R1nr3/q1nb3k/3ppPNN/2pP4/4P2P/p1P5/P2Q2BK/8 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Qg5 if 1...Nf7 2.Nf8+ ]

d)
White mates in 3.
Stanislav Bogdanovich vs Vereslav Eingorn, Odessa, 2018
3r2k1/p2pQ1p1/4p2p/qP1b4/8/3B3P/PP4P1/2K2R2 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Qf7+ Kh8 2.Qf8+ ]

e)
Black mates in 3.
Artem Gogolev vs Maksim Vavulin, Yaroslavl, 2018
8/p2R3p/5p1k/Q3p1r1/4p3/6PK/P3B2P/1r4q1 b - - 0 1
[ 1...Rxg3+ 2.hxg3 Qh1+ ]

12e)
mate in 3
Artem Gogolev vs Maksim Vavulin

Best chess puzzles of 2018, Part XIII.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Black mates in 3.
Dina Belenkaya vs Dinara Dordzhieva, Yaroslavl, 2018
4r3/p4rk1/8/3P4/3pn1BK/3p4/PP4P1/R6R b - - 0 1
[ ...Rf4 if Kh3 Rh8+ ]

b)
White mates in 3.
Valery Sviridov vs Dejan Antic, Heraklion, 2018
2Q5/4q3/1pnk1bRp/2p5/2P1Pp2/2P2r1B/1P5P/7K w - - 1 0
[ 1.Rxf6+ Qxf6 2.Qd7+ ]

c)
White mates in 4.
Alex Astaneh Lopez vs Matthew Turner, Dublin, 2018
4qrk1/p1r2Npp/4p3/2p1P2R/2p1nP2/P3P2Q/2K4P/6R1 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Rxg7+ Kxg7 2.Rxh7+ Kg8 3.Rh8+ Kxf7 4.Qh7# ]

d)
White mates in 4.
Branko Damljanovic vs Sinisa Drazic, Zrenjanin, 2018
rn1q2k1/3b3p/5p1B/7Q/p2P3N/8/1p4PP/1R4K1 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Qd5+ Kh8 2.Qf7 Qg8 3.Qxf6+ ]

e)
White mates in 4.
Nikola Djukic vs Constantin Lupulescu, Batumi, 2018
1r5r/1p1R4/p3P1p1/5b1p/3Nk2P/P4N2/1P3PP1/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Ne2 Rbd8 2.Ng5+ Ke5 3.f4+ Kf6 4.Rf7# ]

13e)
mate in 4
Nikola Djukic vs Constantin Lupulescu

Best chess puzzles of 2018, Part XIV.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
White mates in 4.
Alexander Fier vs Luis Paulo Supi, Rio de Janeiro, 2018
2b3kr/1p3p2/q1p1RPp1/8/PP2P3/3r3P/3Q3K/5B2 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Re8+ Kh7 2.Rxh8+ ]

b)
White mates in 4.
Dmitry Kryakvin vs Thorsten-Michael Haub, Vandoeuvre, 2018
2B4k/1p3Pbp/2b5/p7/3p3P/6BK/PP6/8 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Be5 ]

c)
White mates in 4.
Kjetil Lie vs Frode Urkedal, Drammen, 2018
5N2/p3p1k1/1n3bp1/3p3p/2qP4/3Q1BPP/5PK1/8 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Qxg6+ Kxf8 2.Bxh5 ]

d)
White mates in 4.
Nick Maatman vs Thomas Beerdsen, Netherlands, 2018
1k6/8/1PB4p/P2K4/3B1p2/8/r4P1P/8 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Be5+ Kc8 2.b7+ ]

e)
White mates in 4.
Vladimir Sveshnikov vs Ilmars Starostits, Riga, 2018
2n5/6bk/3pB1N1/1qpP2B1/p1b2Q2/8/6PP/7K w - - 1 0
[ 1.Nf8+ Bxf8 2.Qf7+ Kg7 3.Qh5+ ]

14a)
mate in 4
Alexander Fier vs Luis Paulo Supi

Best chess puzzles of 2018, Part XV.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
White mates in 4.
Valery Sviridov vs Dejan Antic, Heraklion, 2018
2Q3R1/4q3/1pnk3p/2p1b3/2P1Pp2/2P2r1B/1P5P/7K w - - 1 0
[ 1.Rg6+ Bf6 2.Rxf6+ ]

b)
Black mates in 4.
Nikita Maiorov vs Jose Rafael Gascon, Rochefort, 2018
1N6/2B2kp1/2P2p2/p4n2/5Pp1/R4bP1/7r/5K2 b - - 0 1
[ 1...Re2 if 2.Rxf3 gxf3 or if 2.Kg1 Nxg3 ]

c)
Black mates in 4.
Alexander Graf vs Maximilian Neef, Germany, 2018
6k1/2p5/n1Pp2p1/1p1Pp3/1P2P1q1/3QNrPp/5r1P/1R1R3K b - - 0 1
[ 1...Rxh2+ 2.Kxh2 Qxg3+ 3.Kh1 Rf2 ]

d)
Black mates in 4.
Sang Cao vs Alan Pichot, Hanoi, 2018
6k1/4bp1p/p4p2/8/5PK1/2Q3P1/PP5P/5q2 b - - 0 1
[ 1...h5+ if 2.Kf5 Qb1+ or if 2.Kh4 f5+ ]

e)
Black mates in 4.
Alexander Kochyev vs Vilka Sipila, Finland, 2018
2r3k1/6bp/8/Q2p2p1/pB2p1q1/P1n1Pp2/3N1P1P/6RK b - - 0 1
[ 1...Qxg1+ 2.Kxg1 Ne2+ 3.Kh1 Rc1+ ]

15e)
mate in 4
Alexander Kochyev vs Vilka Sipila

Best chess puzzles of 2018, Part XVI.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Black mates in 4.
Natalija Pogonina vs Rasmus Svane, Moscow, 2018
6k1/pp3p2/8/3P4/2p1PB1p/P4ppr/1P3P2/6K1 b - - 0 1
[ 1...Rh1+ 2.Kxh1 gxf2 ]

b)
Black mates in 4.
Marijan Petrov vs Alvaro Valdes Escobar, Dublin, 2018
2kr3r/pp3pp1/8/2bp4/4b1q1/2P2P2/PP1NQ2B/R3R2K b - - 0 1
[ 1...Rxh2+ 2.Qxh2 Bxf3+ ]

c)
Black mates in 4.
Diego Espineira Gonzalez vs Rodrigo Vasquez, Roquetas de Mar, 2018
8/5Qpp/3p2rk/p2P2r1/2P1Rp2/4pP1P/PP3qP1/6RK b - - 0 1
[ 1...Qxg1+ 2.Kxg1 Rxg2+ ]

d)
White mates in 4.
Aleksandar Indjic vs Vladan Rabrenovic, Novi Sad, 2018
3qr3/p3pr2/1p2Rb2/2pP2kp/2P5/1R4B1/P1Q2PK1/8 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Bf4+ if 1...Kxf4 2.Qe4+ or if 1...Kh4 2.Rh3+ ]

e)
White mates in 4.
Matej Sebenik vs Dominik Marczuk, Graz, 2018
1r1r1k2/1p1PNp1p/3p2p1/8/3QPN2/6PP/q4PB1/1n3RK1 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Qf6 Rxd7 2.Nxg6+ hxg6 3.Nxg6+ ]

16b)
mate in 4
Marijan Petrov vs Alvaro Valdes Escobar

Best chess puzzles of 2018, Part XVII.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Black mates in 4.
Dejan Dimitrov vs Krasimir Rusev, Kozlodui, 2018
7r/1p2kp2/p2pp3/P3n3/1PbNPb1q/2P2P1B/5QK1/3R3R b - - 0 1
[ ...Rg8+ Bg4 Rxg4+ fxg4 Qxg4+ ]

b)
White mates in 4.
Ilya Duzhakov vs Denis Pershin, St. Petersburg, 2018
2rr4/3Q4/p1n1ppp1/2k5/7P/1R1pqNK1/P3B3/7R w - - 1 0
[ 1.Rc3+ Kb4 2.Qb7+ if 2...Kxc3 3.Qb3# or if 2...Ka4 3.Ra3+ ]

c)
White mates in 4.
Anton Smirnov vs Irine Kharisma Sukandar, Cha-Am, 2018
2kr3r/1p1q4/BQ1p1pp1/2BR3p/4P1nP/2b5/PPP3P1/1K6 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Bxd6 if 1...Bd4 2.Rc5+ Bxc5 3.Qxc5+ ]

d)
White mates in 4.
R Praggnanandhaa vs Adam Taylor, Iraklio, 2018
r3r1k1/2p4p/5Qb1/p1p1p3/P1PbP3/1p1PN3/1P1B1P1P/1K6 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Nf5 Bxf5 2.Bh6 Re7 3.Qxe7 ]

e)
Black mates in 4.
Justin Sarkar vs Vitaliy Bernadskiy, Budapest, 2018
3r2rk/1p2qp1p/2p2n2/2Q2P2/1PP1P3/3B3P/P7/R2R3K b - - 0 1
[ 1...Rxd3 if 2.Kh2 Qxe4 3.Rg1 Qe2+ or if 2.Rxd3 Qxe4+ ]

17d)
mate in 4
R Praggnanandhaa vs Adam Taylor

Best chess puzzles of 2018, Part XVIII.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Black mates in 4.
Alireza Mozaffari vs Masoud Mosadeghpour, Shiraz, 2018
8/1p1P3k/4P1pp/5p2/2r1P2K/3r4/P7/7Q b - - 0 1
[ 1...Rxe4+ 2.Qxe4 g5+ ]

b)
White mates in 4.
Andreas Heimann vs Harutyun Barseghyan, Brest, 2018
r1b2rk1/pp3pp1/4p2B/3pP2Q/q4n2/P1pB3R/2P1n1PP/R6K w - - 1 0
[ 1.Bh7+ if 1...Kxh7 2.Bxf4+ or if 1...Kh8 2.Bxg7+ Kxg7 3.Qh6+ ]

c)
White mates in 4.
Michal Matuszewski vs Piotr Brodowski, Poland, 2018
r3r3/pp2PQ2/5N1k/1b6/7p/8/P1q2PPP/1R4K1 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Ng4+ Kg5 2.Rxb5+ if Kxg4 f3# ]

d)
White mates in 4.
Tautvydas Vedrickas vs Toms Kantans, Palanga, 2018
8/2r2p1k/2b2Q2/ppqrR1P1/2p5/2P2B2/P7/4R2K w - - 1 0
[ 1.Qh6+ Kg8 2.Re8+ ]

e)
Black mates in 4.
Filip Haring vs Florian Jenni, Le Castella, 2018
1r4k1/6pp/pr4b1/4P1P1/q2N1P2/3p4/nP1Q1B2/1K1R3R b - - 0 1
[ 1...Rxb2 2.Qxb2 d2+ 3.Ka1 Nc3+ ]

18a)
mate in 4
Alireza Mozaffari vs Masoud Mosadeghpour

Best chess puzzles of 2018, Part XIX.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Black mates in 4.
Akhilesh Nagare vs Adam Tukhaev, Bhubaneswar, 2018
1r3b1k/7P/4b3/p1p1P3/5Pp1/1P5r/N3q1BB/2Q2R1K b - - 0 1
[ 1...g3 if 2.Qd2 Rxh2+ 3.Kg1 Rxg2+ ]

b)
White mates in 4.
Sergei Ovsejevitsch vs Piotr Nguyen, Ceske Budejovice, 2018
r1bq1r1k/2pnb1Rp/p3pn1B/3pN3/3P1P2/2pBP2P/PPP5/R2QK3 w Q - 1 0
[ 1.Qg4 Nxg4 2.Rxh7+ Kg8 3.Rg7+ Kh8 4.Ng6# ]

c)
White mates in 5.
Andrey Gorovets vs Evgeny Shtembuliak, Saint Louis, 2018
3rqr2/1bp1bpkp/p6R/1p1PPpP1/2p5/Pn2B2B/1P5P/3RQ1K1 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Rxh7+ Kxh7 2.Qh4+ Kg7 3.Qh6+ ]

d)
White mates in 5.
Jergus Pechac vs Emre Can, Batumi, 2018
5q1k/6Rp/4Q2P/3pPrp1/3P2p1/2P5/4b1B1/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Rg8+ Qxg8 2.Qxf5 ]

e)
White mates in 5.
Samvel Ter Sahakyan vs Alan Tate, Batumi, 2018
r2nr1k1/1p5q/p1p1b2p/P2pPNp1/1P1P1R2/3Q1RP1/2B2P1P/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Ne7+ Qxe7 2.Qg6+ Kh8 3.Rf8+ ]

19b)
mate in 4
Sergei Ovsejevitsch vs Piotr Nguyen

Best chess puzzles of 2018, Part XX.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Black mates in 5.
Everaldo Matsuura vs Krikor Sevag Mekhitarian, Rio de Janeiro, 2018
1r4k1/2p2q1p/p4BpQ/2p1P3/P2n2R1/3P4/8/2K5 b - - 0 1
[ 1...Rb1+ if 2.Kd2 Qa2+ 3.Ke3 Qe2+ or if 2.Kxb1 Qb3+ ]

b)
White mates in 5.
Jose Ibarra Jerez vs Bernat Serarols Mabras, La Roda, 2018
r1b2r1k/pp1q2p1/3PppQp/3n4/1P5R/P4N2/1B3PPP/4R1K1 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Ng5 fxg5 2.Rxh6+ Kg8 3.Qh5 ]

c)
White mates in 5.
Navendra Priasmoro vs W Medina, Surakarta, 2018
r1b1r1k1/1p4pp/p7/3pNp2/1q1p1Q2/3B4/PPP2K1P/R5R1 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Rxg7+ if 1...Kh8 2.Rxh7+ Kxh7 3.Qh4+ or if 1...Kxg7 2.Qg5+ ]

d)
Black mates in 5.
Alicja Sliwicka vs Karina Szczepkowska, Warsaw, 2018
6rk/1RQ2p1p/p3q3/4p1r1/P2p4/3N1P2/1P4nP/2R4K b - - 0 1
[ 1...Ne1 2.Rxe1 Qh3 ]

e)
Black mates in 5.
Rongguang Ye vs Xiongjian Peng, Tianjin, 2018
2k3r1/pp6/2pQ1p2/3b1p2/P2P1Nr1/4PqP1/5P1R/R5K1 b - - 0 1
[ 1...Rxg3+ 2.fxg3 Rxg3+ 3.Ng2 Rxg2+ ]

20b)
mate in 5
Jose Ibarra Jerez vs Bernat Serarols Mabras

Best chess puzzles of 2018, Part XXI.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Black mates in 5.
Paolo Vezzosi vs Renier Castellanos, Forni di Sopra, 2018
5r2/5pk1/1pB3p1/p3p3/1P2P2p/P1PQ1PnK/R5P1/4q3 b - - 0 1
[ 1...Ne2 2.Kh2 Qg1+ 3.Kh3 Qh1+ ]

b)
White mates in 5.
Mikhail Golubev vs Pavel Vavric, Odessa, 2018
3rrk2/p3ppb1/1q4pN/3bB1Q1/1p2n3/1B6/PPP3P1/2K2R1R w - - 1 0
[ 1.Bxg7+ Kxg7 2.Nf5+ Kg8 3.Rh8+ ]

c)
White mates in 6.
Brandon Jacobson vs Justin Wang, Saint Louis, 2018
5rk1/5qpR/1pP5/p7/1b1rB1Q1/6P1/PP3P1P/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Rh8+ Kxh8 2.Qh4+ Qh5 3.Qxh5+ Kg8 4.Bh7+ ]

d)
Black mates in 6.
Timo Tuomala vs Michele Godena, Walbrzych, 2018
r3r1k1/1pN2ppp/5n2/3pn3/8/1P3PPb/PB2Bq1P/2RQ2RK b - - 0 1
[ 1...Neg4 if 2.fxg4 Rxe2 ]

e)
White mates in 6.
Cemil Ali Marandi vs Levy Rozman, Chicago, 2018
3r3k/R5pp/8/1pq5/4Q3/1Bp3P1/5PKP/8 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Bc2 if 1...g6 2.Rxh7+ or if 1...Qh5 2.Ra8 g6 3.Rxd8+ ]

21b)
mate in 5
Mikhail Golubev vs Pavel Vavric

Best chess puzzles of 2018, Part XXII.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Black mates in 6.
Abdimalik Abdisalimov vs Javokhir Sindarov, Tashkent, 2018
2q3k1/8/3p1Qp1/3P4/2p1PP2/r7/r5P1/5RK1 b - - 0 1
[ 1...Rxg2+ 2.Kxg2 Qh3+ if 3.Kg1 Rg3+ or if 3.Kf2 Ra2+ ]

b)
Black mates in 6.
Guntis Jankovskis vs Oleg Krivonosov, Riga, 2018
r1b1r1k1/p1p2ppp/1q6/3P4/3P2n1/2P5/PP4PP/RNBQ2KR b - - 0 1
[ 1...Qf6 if 2.Be3 Rxe3 3.Qd2 Rd3 or if 2.Qd2 Ba6 ]

c)
White mates in 7.
Gergely Antal vs John Ludwig, Charlotte, 2018
r4k1r/pp3pp1/2p2Pp1/3pN3/3P4/2b4P/PqP1QP2/R4K1R w - - 1 0
[ 1.Nxg6+ Kg8 2.Ne7+ Kf8 3.fxg7+ Kxg7 4.Nf5+ ]

d)
Black mates in 8.
Andres Rodriguez vs Diego Flores, Montevideo, 2018
3rq1k1/pQ4pN/8/5p2/1p6/P1b1BP2/4KP1n/RB6 b - - 0 1
[ 1...Rd2+ 2.Ke1 Ra2+ 3.Kd1 Qa4+ 4.Kc1 Qxa3+
5.Kd1 Qb3+ 6.Kc1 Qb2+ 7.Kd1 Qe2+ 8.Kc1 Qe1#
]

22d)
mate in 8
Andres Rodriguez vs Diego Flores


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