Chess Puzzles from the Games of Boris Spassky. (original) (raw)
'Best Chess Puzzles' series from wtharvey.com
Here are some chess puzzles from the games of Boris Spassky.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
Solutions are between the brackets under each puzzle.
Drag your mouse from one bracket to the other.
a) 
Black mates in 3.
Viktor Korchnoi vs Boris Spassky, Leningrad, 1952
3r3k/6pp/r3bB2/2R5/1q2p3/4Q3/1N5P/2K1R3 b - - 0 1
[
...Ra1+ Kc2 Rd2+ Qxd2 Qb3# ]
b) 
Boris Spassky vs Vassily Smyslov, Bucharest, 1953
3rr1k1/p4pp1/3Pq3/1pp1PN2/5R2/2P1R2p/P2Q2bP/6K1 w - - 0 1
[
Nxg7 Kxg7 Rg3+ if Kf8 Rxf7+ mates ]
c) 
Boris Spassky vs Vladlen Zurakhov, Leningrad, 1955
1r5k/6p1/p1pQ1p1p/1q6/1n2N3/1P6/1KP2PPP/3R4 w - - 0 1
[
Nxf6 if gxf6 Qxf6+ matesor if Nd5 Nxd5 ]
d) 
Black mates in 7.
Staf Somers vs Boris Spassky, Antwerpen, 1955
6k1/1pp2p2/p2p2q1/2PPb3/4r3/Pr4PK/2R5/2Q2NR1 b - - 0 1
[
...Rh4+ if Kxh4 Qh7+ Kg5 f6+ Kg4 f5+ Kg5 Kg7 or if Kg2 Qe4+ ]
e) 
V Sherbakov vs Boris Spassky, Moscow, 1955
5bk1/5ppp/4r3/N2n4/8/1p1B1P2/1Pr3PP/1R1R2K1 b - - 0 1
[
...Ne3 if Nxb3 or Rc1 Rxg2+ mates ]
1a) 
mates in 3
Viktor Korchnoi vs Boris Spassky
Boris Spassky puzzles, part II.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Georgy Borisenko vs Boris Spassky, Leningrad, 1956
2r1r2k/5qpp/p7/1p3p2/2b2BnP/2P3R1/P2Q1PP1/3BR1K1 b - - 0 1
[
...Rcd8 if Rxe8+ Qxe8 ]
b) 
Boris Spassky vs Lev Aronson, Moscow, 1957
2r1r2k/3n1p1p/3Pq1pQ/1pp1P3/1P4N1/5b1P/6PK/3RR3 w - - 0 1
[
Nf6 Nxf6 exf6 Qxf6 d7 ]
c) 
Boris Spassky vs Edmar Mednis, Reykjavik, 1957
5rk1/2Rb1p2/p3pQp1/3pP1Np/7P/3P4/1p3PPK/q7 w - - 0 1
[
Rxd7 b1/Q Nxe6 ]
d) 
Semyen Furman vs Boris Spassky, Moscow, 1957
5rk1/pp3r1p/2np2p1/3Np3/1PP5/3B1n1q/PB3R1P/2RQ3K b - - 0 1
[
...Ne1 if Qxe1 Rxf2 Qg1 Qf3+ ]
e) 
Boris Spassky vs Nikolay Kopylov, Rostov on Don, 1958
r2qk2r/pp2bppp/1n2p3/1N2P3/2b2R2/2N1B3/PP4PP/2RQ2K1 w - - 0 1
[
Qxd8+ Rxd8 Bxc6 ]
2d) 
Semyen Furman vs Boris Spassky
Boris Spassky puzzles, part III.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Boris Spassky vs Aron Reshko, Leningrad, 1959
7r/1pknN2p/3q4/1p4B1/2pp2Q1/3P3P/r5P1/1R4K1 w - - 0 1
[
Bf4 Ne5 Qg7 ]
b) 
White mates in 9.
Boris Spassky vs Stefan Witkowski, Riga, 1959
2q1k2r/3b3p/6p1/ppB2p2/3Rp3/7P/PQ3PP1/6K1 w - - 0 1
[
Rxe4+ if Be6 Qxh8+ Kd7 Qd4+ Ke8 Qf6
or if fxe4 Qxh8+ Kf7 Qxh7+ Kf6 Qe7+ Kf5 g4+ ]
c) 
Aivars Gipslis vs Boris Spassky, Riga, 1959
r4rk1/p1p3pp/1bpP1pq1/2nb4/3Q3B/2P2N2/PP1NRPPP/5RK1 b - - 0 1
[
...Ne4 if Qd3 Ng3 Qxg6 Nxe2+ or if Qa4 Nxd2 Rxd2 Bxf3 ]
d) 
Black mates in 3.
Gyozo Forintos vs Boris Spassky, Leningrad, 1960
2k4r/pp3pQ1/2q5/2n5/8/N3pPP1/P3r3/R1R3K1 b - - 0 1
[
...Rh1+ ]
e) 
Boris Spassky vs Robert Fischer, Mar del Plata, 1960
5r1k/pp2b1rp/8/6q1/3QR3/2pN4/P1P2RP1/6K1 w - - 0 1
[
Re5 if Rd8 Qe4 Qh4 Rf4 or if Bf6 Qd6 ]
3a) 
Boris Spassky vs Aron Reshko
Boris Spassky puzzles, part IV.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
White mates in 5.
Boris Spassky vs Marschalek, Leningrad, 1960
r4rk1/1bq1bppp/p2p2n1/5NQ1/Pp1Bn3/1N1B4/1PP3PP/R4RK1 w - - 0 1
[
Qh6 if gxh6 Nxh6# ]
b) 
White mates in 5.
Boris Spassky vs Purev Tumurbator, Leningrad, 1960
r5k1/2q2pp1/bn1R3p/2N5/1P3PP1/1BQ4P/p1P5/K7 w - - 0 1
[
Rg6 Kf8 Qxg7+ Ke8 Qg8+ Ke7 Qxf7+ ]
c) 
Boris Spassky vs Aivars Gipslis, Baku, 1961
b2r1r1k/R5bp/3p4/5p1Q/3p1P2/2q1B1PP/6BK/6R1 w - - 0 1
[
Rxg7+ Kxg7 Rc1 if Qa5 Bxd4+ ]
d) 
Boris Spassky vs Boris Vladimirov, Baku, 1961
r1bRnk1r/1p2q1b1/7p/6pQ/4Pp1B/1BP5/PP4PP/2K4R w - - 0 1
[
Bf2 if Ra5 Rxc8 or if Qxd8 Qf7# ]
e) 
White mates in 7.
Boris Spassky vs Ruiz Ortega, Habana, 1962
8/2r4k/p4P1p/q1N1Q1pb/4P3/1P1R4/PKP5/8 w - - 0 1
[
Qf5+ Bg6 Rd7+ Kh8 f7 Bxf7 Qf6+ ]
4b) 
mate in 5
Boris Spassky vs Purev Tumurbator
Boris Spassky puzzles, part V.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
White mates in 6.
Boris Spassky vs Larry Evans, Varna, 1962
r1b2kr1/2qnpp1R/p1p3p1/4Nn2/3PN3/1B6/PP4Q1/2K4R w - - 0 1
[
Rxf7+ Ke8 Qxg6 Nh6 Rg7+ ]
b) 
Boris Spassky vs Valery Bykov, Leningrad, 1963
5k2/pb5p/1n1p2P1/6q1/3B4/P1P1p3/6PP/1Q4K1 w - - 0 1
[
Qf1+ Ke8 Qf7+ w/Bf6+ ]
c) 
Boris Spassky vs Mario Bertok, Sochi, 1966
1r5r/k7/p2pBp2/2q5/1R2P2p/P1Q1b3/1P4P1/1K1R4 w - - 0 1
[
Rc4 if Qb6 Rc6 ]
d) 
Boris Spassky vs Tigran Petrosian, Moscow, 1967
6R1/kp2qp2/p4p2/P7/1P1Nr1P1/2PQb3/1K6/8 w - - 0 1
[
b5 if axb5 Nxb5+ mates or if Bxd4 Qxd4+ mates ]
e) 
White mates in 4.
Boris Spassky vs Christian Langeweg, Sochi, 1967
r1r2bk1/p4pBp/1p6/3q1N2/n1P5/4R3/P3QPPP/6K1 w - - 0 1
[
Nh6+ Kxg7 Qg4+ Kxh6 Rh3+ ]
5e) 
mate in 4
Boris Spassky vs Christian Langeweg
Boris Spassky puzzles, part VI.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
White mates in 3.
Boris Spassky vs Victor Korchnoi, Kiev, 1968
8/5r1k/p3Npp1/4p3/3nP3/4QP2/PP2q1P1/1KR5 w - - 0 1
[
Qh6+ if Kg8 Rc8+ or if Kxh6 Rh1# ]
b) 
Boris Spassky vs Tigran Petrosian, Moscow, 1969
r2qrb1k/1p1b2p1/p3p1Qp/7n/3pN3/1B6/PPP4P/1K3RR1 w - - 0 1
[
Ng5 if hxg5 Qxh5+ Kg8 Qf7+ Kh8 Rf3 ]
c) 
Boris Spassky vs Bent Larsen, Palma de Majorca, 1969
6k1/1p3p2/p2prPq1/8/7p/2Q5/PP3RP1/6K1 w - - 0 1
[
Qc8+ Kh7 Qxe6 ]
d) 
Bent Larsen vs Boris Spassky, Belgrade, 1970
2kr3r/ppp1qpp1/2p5/2b2b2/2P1pPP1/1P2P1p1/PBQPB3/RN2K1R1 b Q - 0 1
[
...Rh1 Rxh1 g2 if Rg1 Qh4+ Kd1 Qh1 ]
6c) 
Boris Spassky vs Bent Larsen
Boris Spassky puzzles, part VII.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
White mates in 5.
Boris Spassky vs Duncan Suttles, Canada, 1971
8/1p5k/6p1/3P1n1p/1p2Q3/8/PB3q1p/2R4K w - - 0 1
[
Rc7+ if Kh6 Bc1+ ]
b) 
White mates in 5.
Boris Spassky vs Igor Efimov, Moscow, 1972
r1br2k1/1p3pp1/p3p3/4P1N1/6Q1/3Bq3/PPP3PP/5R1K w - - 0 1
[
Qh5 if f5 Qh7+ ]
c) 
White mates in 5.
Boris Spassky vs I Ulmanis, Moscow, 1972
r4rkb/pppqpp1n/3n2p1/3P4/3PbNP1/1BN1B3/PPPQ4/2KR3R w - - 0 1
[
Qh2 if g5 Nxe4 or if Bxh1 Rxh1 ]
d) 
Mathias Gerusel vs Boris Spassky, Solingen, 1974
4rrk1/ppnb2bp/3p2n1/2pP2P1/P1P1NpPq/2N4P/1P1BB1K1/R3Q2R b - - 0 1
[
...Bxc3 if Nxc3 f3+ ]
e) 
White mates in 8.
Boris Spassky vs Robert Huebner, Solingen, 1977
8/2p1k3/2P3p1/3R2K1/5Rp1/4P3/5rrP/8 w - - 0 1
[
Rd7+ Ke8 Re4+ Kf8 Kxg6 ]
7d) 
Mathias Gerusel vs Boris Spassky
Boris Spassky puzzles, part VIII.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
White mates in 6.
Boris Spassky vs Jean Hebert, Buenos Aires, 1978
2k4r/b4pp1/p1p1p1r1/B3Pn2/P1P3N1/1R4PP/3P2K1/1R6 w - - 0 1
[
Rb7 ]
b) 
Boris Spassky vs Anthony Miles, Bugojno, 1978
7k/p3p3/1bR3pp/6N1/2Pr4/6P1/P3K2P/8 w - - 0 1
[
Rc8+ Kg7 Ne6+ ]
c) 
Boris Spassky vs Francisco Sanz Alonso, Montilla, 1978
3q2kr/n1pbR1b1/p6p/P2P4/2P2p2/2NB1N2/2K2P2/Q7 w - - 0 1
[
Rxg7+ Kxg7 Ne4+ Kg8 Nf6+ w/Nxd7 ]
d) 
Svetozar Gligoric vs Boris Spassky, Bugojno, 1978
8/2r3k1/q5p1/1b1p1pRp/3P1P1P/2p1P3/2Q3PK/rBR5 b - - 0 1
[
...Bd3 Qb3 Rxb1 Rxb1 Bxb1 Qxb1 Qd3 ]
e) 
Boris Spassky vs Bent Larsen, Tilburg, 1980
8/2R3p1/5pk1/p3prp1/3r4/PP1n2PP/3R1P2/3N1K2 w - - 0 1
[
Ne3 Rf3 Nc2 Rd8 Ne1 ]
8e) 
Boris Spassky vs Bent Larsen
Boris Spassky puzzles, part IX.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Boris Spassky vs Vlastimil Hort, Germany, 1981
2r3k1/R5bp/3p1pp1/1b2r1P1/4P3/3P4/5BBP/5RK1 w - - 0 1
[
gxf6 if Bxf6 or Bf8 Bd4 ]
b) 
Bent Larsen vs Boris Spassky, Linares, 1981
8/p4bk1/3p3p/3P2p1/PP2B3/3PqQ1K/7P/8 b - - 0 1
[
...g4+ if Kxg4 Bh5+ ]
c) 
White mates in 2.
Boris Spassky vs Arnulf Westermeier, Germany, 1982
5R2/4r1r1/1p4k1/p1pB2Bp/P1P4K/2P1p3/1P6/8 w - - 0 1
[
Rf6+ ]
d) 
Jan Timman vs Boris Spassky, Hilversum, 1983
3r1bk1/1b2qp2/4n1p1/4P2p/N2p4/3Q1NP1/1R3PBP/2rR2K1 b - - 0 1
[
...Qa3 if Qf1 Rxd1 Qxd1 Bc6 ]
e) 
Bent Larsen vs Boris Spassky, Bugojno, 1984
b3r1k1/p4pp1/3q4/2p4p/N1Rb4/1P4PP/PB3P1K/3Q4 b - - 0 1
[
...Qd5 if f3 Bg1+ mates ]
9d) 
Jan Timman vs Boris Spassky
Boris Spassky puzzles, part X.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Boris Spassky vs Johann Hjartarson, Belfort, 1988
1rb5/p2pk2p/4p1p1/5Pq1/2p5/3P4/PPP1Q1BP/5RK1 w - - 0 1
[
Qe5 if Ra8 f6+ ]
b) 
Black mates in 5.
Gilles Andruet vs Boris Spassky, Bundesliga, 1988
4r1k1/3b1p2/5qp1/1BPpn2p/7n/r3P1N1/2Q1RPPP/1R3NK1 b - - 0 1
[
...Qf3 if gxf3 Nexf3+ Kh1 Bh3 ]
c) 
Lorinczi Retek vs Boris Spassky, Nordwalde, 1988
r7/1pb2kp1/2p2pr1/2Pnp1p1/pP1p4/P2P1PPq/1BR2P1P/1R1Q1NK1 b - - 0 1
[
...Nf4 gxf4 gxf4+ Ng3 Rh8 ]
d) 
Boris Spassky vs Miguel Illescas Cordoba, Linares, 1990
r1b1rk2/bp3pp1/2pp1q1p/p1n4Q/2P2P2/P2BP1R1/1P1BN1PP/R6K w - - 0 1
[
Bc3 if Qe7 or Qe6 Bxg7+ or if Qd8 Rxg7 ]
e) 
Boris Spassky vs Eric Prie, Montpellier, 1991
1rr2b1k/1q1b1pp1/4p2p/3pP3/p2N1B2/1PP3R1/4QPPP/R5K1 w - - 0 1
[
Bxh6 if gxh6 Qg4 mates or if g6 Bxf8 Rxf8 Qf3 ]
10b) 
mate in 5
Gilles Andruet vs Boris Spassky
Boris Spassky puzzles, part XI.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a) 
Claude Adrian vs Boris Spassky, France, 1991
4r1k1/p1q4p/bp4p1/2rR1p2/4n3/PQP1PNP1/5PBP/4R1K1 b - - 0 1
[
...Qf7 if Red1 Bc4 ]
b) 
Estremera Panos vs Boris Spassky, Oviedo, 1991
6r1/1p1b2r1/p1p5/2P5/PP1kpN1p/2R4P/3K2P1/5R2 b - - 0 1
[
...Rxg2+ ]
c) 
White mates in 2.
Boris Spassky vs G Gilquin, Bastia, 1997
r3kb1r/q5pp/p1p1Bnn1/1p2Q3/8/2N2PBP/PPP5/2KRR3 w - - 0 1
[
Bf7+ ]
d) 
BlaZhu Chen vs Boris Spassky, Marbella, 1999
3r1rk1/p4pp1/1p2q2p/4P2Q/2p1RB2/Pn5P/1P3PP1/3R2K1 b - - 0 1
[
...Qg6 ]
e) 
Marc Santo-Roman vs Boris Spassky, Paris, 2002
4r1k1/2p3pp/1n1b4/1pp1N3/5P2/1PB3P1/r1P1R1KP/R7 b - - 0 1
[
...Nd5 if Bd4 cxd4 Rxa2 Nc3 ]
11e) 
Marc Santo-Roman vs Boris Spassky