Games
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White to Play
A good many chess puzzle sites give mating challenges that are of a few moves. I do that, too. However, I also like to throw in one like today’s puzzle. This is what I call a “step back” puzzle. I take what could be a challenging mating attack and then go back some moves before that to challenge you to find how the first steps took place. ...
View solution![](https://resources.arcamax.com/newspics/cache/w200/326/32665/3266564.jpg)
White to Play
This is one pretty composition and one that is instruction as well with regard to promotions.
View solution![](https://resources.arcamax.com/newspics/cache/w200/326/32621/3262131.jpg)
White to Play
We stick with the sublime main line instead of the ridiculous hopeless defenses Black could offer.
View solution![](https://resources.arcamax.com/newspics/cache/w200/325/32598/3259826.jpg)
White to Play
You know Black is in trouble here. His major pieces are all gathered on the queenside. His castled position is very airy. White realized one other thing—the importance of the d8-h4 diagonal. Once you see why, you are about to produce a mating attack.
View solution![](https://resources.arcamax.com/newspics/cache/w200/324/32477/3247775.jpg)
White or Black to Play
A weekend bonus problem from 1846. Whether it is White or Black to move, it’s a mating attack.
View solution![](https://resources.arcamax.com/newspics/cache/w200/324/32459/3245967.jpg)
White to Play
This looks like a tough endgame, but there is even a chance for a mate and at least a way to win Black’s bishop.
View solution![](https://resources.arcamax.com/newspics/cache/w200/324/32430/3243025.jpg)
White to Play
In my Openings for Amateurs series of books, I wrote about isolated queen pawn attacking formations. I just ran across a game I hadn’t used in the books. It is White to Play and Win. What would your plan be?
View solution![](https://resources.arcamax.com/newspics/cache/w200/323/32393/3239302.jpg)
White to Play
King and pawn endings require planning. Here, White has a win, but the first two moves decide whether White wins, draws—or even loses!
View solution![](https://resources.arcamax.com/newspics/cache/w200/323/32358/3235882.jpg)
White to Play
Are you in the mood for some fun? It looks as though the Black king is personally leading his forces against the White king, who has his brave knights defending him. In fact, White has a forced mate.
View solution![](https://resources.arcamax.com/newspics/cache/w200/322/32291/3229157.jpg)
White to Play
Grandmaster Nick Rossolimo was one of my favorite GMs. His flair for attack was right there with the best of them. I was fortunate to meet him in the late 1960s in his chess studio in Greenwich Village. This game he played against an amateur in 1944 has a gem of a finish. My favorite move was his fourth move, which had to be one of the nastiest ...
View solution![](https://resources.arcamax.com/newspics/cache/w200/322/32258/3225873.jpg)
White to Play
One hint: you don’t have to be concerned about any rooks check on a1.
View solution![](https://resources.arcamax.com/newspics/cache/w200/322/32222/3222274.jpg)
White to Play
This is a very instructive position I found in Joel Johnson’s book “Formation Attacks”—a real classic of a book. The attack here combines several themes into one assault and well worth playing over.
View solution![](https://resources.arcamax.com/newspics/cache/w200/321/32191/3219186.jpg)
Black to Play
Considering the nature of White’s threat, you should figure out the first move. Can you see it all the way to the finish?
View solution![](https://resources.arcamax.com/newspics/cache/w200/321/32158/3215897.jpg)
White to Play
Viktor Korchnoi was famous for his counter-attacks; however, he could attack brilliantly as well. This is a game from the 50s against Zakharov.
View solution![](https://resources.arcamax.com/newspics/cache/w200/321/32129/3212992.jpg)
White to Play
A win by Spassky from the 60s. It’s a mating attack.
View solution![](https://resources.arcamax.com/newspics/cache/w200/320/32096/3209659.jpg)
White to Play
I reached this position in a five-minute game. I had about two minutes left, so now so do you. Well, OK, you can have 5 minutes!
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