ArcaMax

Won by Levy in 1969

A weekend bonus problem from 1846. Whether it is White or Black to move, it’s a mating attack.

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.

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?

King and pawn endings require planning. Here, White has a win, but the first two moves decide whether White wins, draws—or even loses!

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.

This one is a WOWSER!!

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 ...

One hint: you don’t have to be concerned about any rooks check on a1.

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.

Considering the nature of White’s threat, you should figure out the first move. Can you see it all the way to the finish?

Viktor Korchnoi was famous for his counter-attacks; however, he could attack brilliantly as well. This is a game from the 50s against Zakharov.

A win by Spassky from the 60s. It’s a mating attack.

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!

In case you celebrated too hard on New Year’s Eve, you can be assured you’re not seeing double. There are two sets of two knights, and it’s a mate in 5!

If it were Black’s move, he would have a decisive position after Qxf2+, but it isn’t. What should White do?

Note: the previous puzzle was supposed to have read--Bishops and pawn endings are often drawn because the weaker side bishop can sacrifice itself for the draw, but here White can win—Sorry for the confusion. Here we have a brilliant finish by Rossolimo in 1944.

Bishops of opposite color endings are generally considered drawn, but here White can win.