Knight’s Clockwork

Black has the upper hand in the given position. A knight move by black will guard the perimeter of white’s king. Rodriguez-Olafsson (Las Palmas, 1978)

Black to play and win. Solution: 1. Qg2+! 2.RxQ Nf3+ 3. Kh1 Rd1 White resigns.

Double Rook Aggression

Black should deliver a mating attack otherwise he will put his hat down. Can you find the right move? Ouslokov-Nedobora (USSR, 1990)

Black to play and win. Solution: 1. Qh4! 2.gxQ Re3+ 3.Bf3 Bxe6+ 4.QxB RxB+ mate.

Magnificent Taimanov

Mark Taimanov is a great Russian player that never became a world champion. The game that follows is a masterpiece that demonstrates his superiority over the reigning world champion at that time Anatoly Karpov. Karpov-Taimanov (Leningrad, 1977)

Black to play and win. Solution: 1. Ng3+! 2.hxN (2.QxN RxR) Ra8!! White resigns. Rh8+ mate is unstoppable.

Bolt

The position looks balance for white however black’s next move is a bolt that he can’t handle. Lederman-Pytel (Le Havre, 1977)

Black to play and win. Solution: 1. Qf3! White resigns. (2.QxQ RxR+ mate) (2.NxB QxQ 3.bxQ RxR+).

Ultimate Attack

This game demonstrates the role of the black’s king in aid of attack. Mastilovich-Belic (Yugoslavia, 1976)

Black to play and win. Solution: 1. Kg7+! 2.RxR Kh6 3. White resign. BxN+ mate follows.

Connecting Assault

White is threatening Qc8+ mate with a double attack to black’ unprotected knight. Find a connecting assault to break white king’s quite solid defense. Inchenko-Siusina (USSR, 1971)

Black to play and win. Solution: 1. Qg1+! Surprise (2.RxQ Nf2 mate) 2. KxQ Rgg2+ 3.Kh1 Rh2+ 4. Kg1 Rbg2+ mate.

Narrow Road

In the given position, the idea of black’s bishop penetrating the narrow road via Bg5-h4 makes this game wonderful. Yudovich-Katalimov (USSR, 1968)

Black to play and win. Solution: 1. Bg5! (Threatening h4+, Qh1+ mate) 2.h4 Bxh4+ 3.KxB Qh1+ 4.Kg3 h4+ mate. Fantastic!.