White to move
Black is up a piece, but all his guards except the f6-rook deserted the king. All the white pieces pounce on him to deliver checkmate in six.
SOLUTION: Kruta - Vasl (Czechia, 1962) 1.Qe8+ Kh7 2.Bf5+!! exf5 [2...Rxf5 3.Rxh6+!] 3.Rxg7+ Kxg7 4.Rg3+ [4..Rg6 5.Rxg6+ Kh7 6.Qg8#] 1-0
White to move
The position looks about equal. However, White's pawn on g6 is a real pain for Black. Surprisingly enough, it took White just one move to make Black capitulate.
SOLUTION: Botvinnik - Keres (Moscow, 1966) 1.Rb8! [1...Qxb8 2.Qxh4] 1-0
White to move White pieces are more active, but Black hoped to consolidate his position after the knight’s retreat. However, White did not give his opponent such a chance. The eighth World Champion rained down a few blows on the fortress of the black king and forced an elegant win.
SOLUTION: Tal - Matanovic (Moscow, 1963) 1.Nxf7! Rxf7 [1...Kxf7 2.Bxg6+ Kxg6 3.Rxc7 Rxc7 4.d6+-] 2.Bxg6 Qd6 [2...Qxc1 3.Bxf7+ Kxf7 4.Qh5+ Kg7 5.Qxe5+ Kg8 6.Rxc1 Rxc1+ 7.Kh2+-] 3.Bxf7+ Kxf7 4.Rxc8 Bxc8 5.Qc2 Bd7 6.Qh7+ Kf8 7.Re3 1-0
White to move
White has not castled yet, but his king feels safe and all other pieces occupy ideal positions for an assault on the black king. It is time to finish the game…
SOLUTION: Portisch - Berger (Amsterdam, 1964) 1.Nxh7! Kxh7 2.Rh5+ Kg7 3.Be5+ f6 4.Rg5! [4...Kh8 5.Qxg6] 1-0
Black to move
Material is equal, but the difference between the minor pieces is seen with the naked eye. Black's bishop is much stronger that White's knight. White hoped that the b2-c3 pawn barrier would save him from problems on the long diagonal...
SOLUTION: Kapengut - Vaganian (Dubna, 1970) 1...Rxb2! 2.Kxb2 Qxc3+ 3.Kc1 Rb8! [4.Rd3 Rb1+ 5.Kxb1 Qb2#] 0-1
White to move
White has a clear positional advantage, but now he has to decide how to save the e5-knight. With an elegant combination White managed not only to save his minor piece but also to win a pawn.
SOLUTION: Euwe - Alekhine (Zurich, 1934) 1.Nf7!! Qe8 [1...Kxf7 2.Qh5+ Ke7 3.Rxe6+ Kxe6 4.Re1+ Kd6 5.Qc5+ Kd7 6.Qf5+ Kd6 7.Qe6#] 2.Rxe6 Qxe6 3.Nd8 Qe4 4.Nxc6 + -
Black to move
White expects to pick up the c5 bishop after Black retreats the queen, but Black had other ideas.
SOLUTION: Maahs-Pajeken (Hamburg, 2001) 1...Qxe3! 2.Kxe3 Rxd4 3.Qb5 [3.Qxd4 Bxd4+ 4.Kf3 Nxe5+ 5.Kf4 g5+ 6.Kg3 h5 -+] 3...Re4+ 4.Kf3 Nd4+ 5.Kg3 Nxe2+ 0-1
