Perfect Thrust

This game is a classic fought between the two giants on the chessboard. Bronstein-Geller (USSR, 1961)

White to play and win. Solution: 1. Qg6 fxQ 2.Rxg7+ Kf8 3.Ng6+ mate.

Tempo

Find the best move. Netto-Abente (Paraguay, 1983)

Black to play and win. Solution: 1. Rg1+ 2. KxR Qe1+ 3.Kg2 Qf1+ 4. KxQ Bh3+ 5.Kg2 Re1+ mate.

Blind Move

The attack of Michael Tal. Find the best move. Tal-NN

White to play and wins. Solution: 1. Nf5 Qg5 2. Qh5 QxQ 3. Ne7+ Kh7 4. RxQ + mate.

Triangle

In this position, I believe that the one who can spot black’s best move in seconds must have an eye of a GM. Now, let’s see what you’ve got. Pirrot-Hertneck (BRD, 1989)

Black to play and win. Solution: 1. Bg4! 2.RxB Qf1+ 3.Rg1 Ng3+ 4.hxN Qh3+ mate.

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.