White to play and checkmate

Problems 001 to 012

1

Checkmate in 5 moves

(Otto B. Wurzburg - The Pittsburgh Gazette Times, 3 Jun 1917)

Click to view solution

1. Rb7! [2. b4 waiting
2. ... h4 3. a4 waiting
3. ... h3 4. Rd7 [5. Rd6#]
4. ... Kb6 5. Rd6#
3. ... h3 4. Re7 [5. Re6#]
4. ... Kb6 5. Re6#
3. ... h3 4. Rf7 [5. Rf6#]
4. ... Kb6 5. Rf6#
3. ... h3 4. Rg7 [5. Rg6#]
4. ... Kb6 5. Rg6#
3. ... h3 4. Rh7 [5. Rh6#]
4. ... Kb6 5. Rh6#
3. ... h3 4. a5 ad lib 5. Rb6#]
1. ... Ka5 2. Ka7 [3. b3 waiting
3. ... h4 4. a4 ad lib 5. Rb5#]
2. ... Ka4 3. Ka6 waiting
3. ... h4 4. a3 ad lib 5. Rb4#
2. ... h4 3. b3 waiting
3. ... h3 4. a4 ad lib 5. Rb5#
1. ... h4 2. b4 waiting
2. ... h3 3. a4 waiting
3. ... h2 4. a5 ad lib 5. Rb6#

Date added: 9/3/2020

2

Checkmate in 4 moves

(Aleksandr Vasilyevich Galickij- La Stratégie, Dec 1900)

Click to view solution

  1. h3 - gxh4+

  2. Kf4 - g5+

  3. Kf5 - g4

  4. hxg4#


Date added: 9/3/2020

3

Checkmate in 4 moves ***

(Valenti Marin i Llovet - Deutscher Schachbund Hamburg, 3rd Prize, 1910)

Click to view solution

  1. Qd5 - Nf7

  2. Qh1 - Ne5

  3. Rg3+ - hxg3

  4. h4#


Date added: 4/1/2021

4

Checkmate in 4 moves **

(Wilhelm Karl Heinrich Massmann - Die Schwalbe, 1942-1943 1st Prize, 52th TT, Feb 1943)

Click to view solution

1.Nd8! Rd6 2.Bc6
2...Rd2+ 3.Qxd2 Kc5 4.Qd4#
2...Rxc6 3.Nb7
3...Ra6 (R~6,Rc5) 4.Qc5#
3...Rc8 (Rc7,Rc5) 4.Nd6#

Date added: 4/1/2021

5

Checkmate in 4 moves

(R. Dillmann - Frankfurter General-Anzeiger, 24 Apr 1937)

Click to view solution

  1. Qg7 - Ng5

  2. Qd4+ - Ne4

  3. Qg1 - Nf6

  4. Qg3#


Date added: 9/1/2021

6

Checkmate in 4 moves

(Samuel Loyd - Detroit Free Press, Centennial Tourney, 4 Feb 1877)

Click to view solution

1.Qh8! ~
2.Qxd4 ~
3.Kb3+ Kb1
4.Qb2#
4.Qg1#
4.Qd1#
3.Kc2+ Ka2
4.Qb2#
4.Qa7#
4.Qa4#
2...Kb1 3.Qb6+
3...Kc1 4.Qg1#
3...Ka1 4.Qb2#
3...Ka2 4.Qb2#
2...Ka2 3.Qf2+
3...Ka3 4.Qa7#
3...Ka1 4.Qb2#
3...Kb1 4.Qb2#
2.Kb3 ~
3.Qxd4+ Kb1
4.Qb2#
4.Qg1#
4.Qd1#
3.Qh1+ Rd1 4.Qxd1#
2...Kb1 3.Qh1+ Rd1 4.Qxd1#
2.Kc2 ~
3.Qxd4+ Ka2
4.Qb2#
4.Qa7#
4.Qa4#
3.Qa8+ Ra4 4.Qxa4#
2...Ka2 3.Qa8+ Ra4 4.Qxa4#
1...Kb1 2.Qxd4 ~ 3.Qb6+
3...Kc1 4.Qg1#
3...Ka1 4.Qb2#
3...Ka2 4.Qb2#
2...Ka1
3.Kb3+ Kb1
4.Qb2#
4.Qg1#
4.Qd1#
3.Kc2+ Ka2
4.Qb2#
4.Qa7#
4.Qa4#
2...Ka2 3.Qf2+
3...Ka3 4.Qa7#
3...Ka1 4.Qb2#
3...Kb1 4.Qb2#
1...Ka2 2.Qxd4 ~ 3.Qf2+
3...Ka3 4.Qa7#
3...Ka1 4.Qb2#
3...Kb1 4.Qb2#
2...Ka1
3.Kb3+ Kb1
4.Qb2#
4.Qg1#
4.Qd1#
3.Kc2+ Ka2
4.Qb2#
4.Qa7#
4.Qa4#
2...Kb1 3.Qb6+
3...Kc1 4.Qg1#
3...Ka1 4.Qb2#
3...Ka2 4.Qb2#
1...Rd1
2.Qa8+ Kb1
3.Qb7+
3...Kc1 4.Qb2#
3...Ka1 4.Qb2#
3...Ka2 4.Qb2#
3.Qb8+
3...Kc1 4.Qb2#
3...Ka1 4.Qb2#
3...Ka2 4.Qb2#
2.Kc2+
2...d4 3.Qa8#
2...Ka2
3.Qa8#
3.Qb2#
2...Rd4
3.Qxd4+ Ka2
4.Qb2#
4.Qa7#
4.Qa4#
3.Qa8+ Ra4 4.Qxa4#
1...Rd2 2.Kb3+
2...Kb1 3.Qh1+ Rd1 4.Qxd1#
2...Rb2+ 3.Qxb2#
2...Rd4
3.Qxd4+ Kb1
4.Qb2#
4.Qg1#
4.Qd1#
3.Qh1+ Rd1 4.Qxd1#
2...d4 3.Qh1+ Rd1 4.Qxd1#
1...Rd3+ 2.Kc2+
2...Ka2 3.Qb2#
2...Rc3+ 3.Qxc3+ Ka2
4.Qb2#
4.Qa5#
2...Rd4
3.Qxd4+ Ka2
4.Qb2#
4.Qa7#
4.Qa4#
3.Qa8+ Ra4 4.Qxa4#
2...d4 3.Qa8+ Ra3 4.Qxa3#
1...Ra4
2.Qh1+ Ka2
3.Qg2+
3...Ka1 4.Qb2#
3...Ka3 4.Qb2#
3...Kb1 4.Qb2#
3.Qh2+
3...Ka3 4.Qb2#
3...Ka1 4.Qb2#
3...Kb1 4.Qb2#
2.Kb3+
2...Rd4
3.Qh1+ Rd1 4.Qxd1#
3.Qxd4+ Kb1
4.Qb2#
4.Qg1#
4.Qd1#
2...Kb1
3.Qb2#
3.Qh1#
2...d4 3.Qh1#
1...Rb4 2.Kc2+
2...Rd4
3.Qxd4+ Ka2
4.Qb2#
4.Qa7#
4.Qa4#
3.Qa8+ Ra4 4.Qxa4#
2...Ka2 3.Qa8+ Ra4 4.Qxa4#
2...Rb2+ 3.Qxb2#
2...d4 3.Qa8+ Ra4 4.Qxa4#
1...Rc4+ 2.Kb3+
2...Rc3+ 3.Qxc3+ Kb1
4.Qb2#
4.Qe1#
2...Kb1 3.Qb2#
2...Rd4
3.Qxd4+ Kb1
4.Qb2#
4.Qg1#
4.Qd1#
3.Qh1+ Rd1 4.Qxd1#
2...d4 3.Qh1+ Rc1 4.Qxc1#
1...Rh4 2.Qxh4 ~ 3.Kb3 ~
4.Qe1#
4.Qh1#
2...Ka2 3.Qf2+
3...Ka3 4.Qa7#
3...Ka1 4.Qb2#
3...Kb1 4.Qb2#
1...Rg4
2.Kb3+
2...Rd4
3.Qxd4+ Kb1
4.Qb2#
4.Qg1#
4.Qd1#
3.Qh1+ Rd1 4.Qxd1#
2...Kb1 3.Qb2#
2...Rg7
3.Qxg7+
3...Kb1
4.Qb2#
4.Qg1#
3...d4 4.Qg1#
3.Qh1+ Rg1 4.Qxg1#
2...d4 3.Qh1+ Rg1 4.Qxg1#
2.Kc2+
2...Rd4
3.Qa8+ Ra4 4.Qxa4#
3.Qxd4+ Ka2
4.Qb2#
4.Qa7#
4.Qa4#
2...Ka2 3.Qb2#
2...Rg7
3.Qxg7+
3...Ka2
4.Qb2#
4.Qa7#
3...d4 4.Qa7#
3.Qa8+ Ra7 4.Qxa7#
2...d4 3.Qa8#
1...Rf4
2.Kb3+
2...Rd4
3.Qxd4+ Kb1
4.Qb2#
4.Qg1#
4.Qd1#
3.Qh1+ Rd1 4.Qxd1#
2...Kb1 3.Qb2#
2...Rf6
3.Qxf6+
3...Kb1
4.Qb2#
4.Qf1#
3...d4 4.Qf1#
3.Qh1+ Rf1 4.Qxf1#
2...d4 3.Qh1+ Rf1 4.Qxf1#
2.Kc2+
2...Rd4
3.Qxd4+ Ka2
4.Qb2#
4.Qa7#
4.Qa4#
3.Qa8+ Ra4 4.Qxa4#
2...Ka2 3.Qb2#
2...Rf6
3.Qxf6+
3...Ka2
4.Qa6#
4.Qb2#
3...d4 4.Qa6#
3.Qa8+ Ra6 4.Qxa6#
2...d4 3.Qa8#
1...Re4
2.Kb3+
2...Rd4
3.Qxd4+ Kb1
4.Qb2#
4.Qg1#
4.Qd1#
3.Qh1+ Rd1 4.Qxd1#
2...Kb1 3.Qb2#
2...Re5
3.Qxe5+
3...Kb1
4.Qb2#
4.Qe1#
3...d4 4.Qe1#
3.Qh1+ Re1 4.Qxe1#
2...d4 3.Qh1+ Re1 4.Qxe1#
2.Kc2+
2...Rd4
3.Qxd4+ Ka2
4.Qb2#
4.Qa7#
4.Qa4#
3.Qa8+ Ra4 4.Qxa4#
2...Ka2 3.Qb2#
2...Re5 3.Qa8#
2...d4 3.Qa8#

Date added: 18/1/2021

7

Checkmate in 4 moves

(William Anthony Shinkman - The Corsair, 29 Feb 1904)

Click to view solution

  1. Ka8 - Kd8

  2. e7+ - Kc7

  3. e8=B - Kd8

  4. Ne6#


Date added: 18/1/2021

8

Checkmate in 4 moves

(2021)

Click to view solution

1. Qc3! [2. Qc2#]
1. ... Qe1 2. Rxe1+
2. ... Kf2 3. Rd1 [4. Qe1#]
3. ... e2 4. Qc5/d4#
3. ... Ke2 4. Qc2/e1#
2. ... Kf2 3. Rc1 [4. Qe1#]
3. ... e2 4. Qc5/d4#
3. ... Ke2 4. Qc2#
2. ... Kf2 3. Rb1 [4. Qe1#]
3. ... e2 4. Qc5/d4#
3. ... Ke2 4. Qc2#
2. ... Kf2 3. Ra1 [4. Qe1#]
3. ... e2 4. Qc5/d4#
3. ... Ke2 4. Qc2#

Date added: 22/1/2021

9

Checkmate in 5 moves

(Andre Cheron - Feuille d'Avis de Lausanne, 1934)

Click to view solution

1.Bc5! ~ 2.Ba7#
1...Be3 2.Bxe3 ~ 3.Ba7#
2...c5 3.Kb6 ~ 4.Bxc5 ~ 5.Bd6#
3...Ne5 4.Bf4 ~ 5.Bxe5#
2...c6 3.Kb6 ~ 4.Bc5 ~ 5.Bd6#
3...Ne5 4.Bf4 ~ 5.Bxe5#
1...c6 2.Bd6#

Date added: 26/1/2021

10

Checkmate in 5 moves

(Vladimir Viktorovich Morozov - Ideal-Mate Review, 2004)

Click to view solution

1.Kd4! ~ 2.Kc3 Ka5 3.Kxc4 ~ 4.Bb4#
3...b5+ 4.Kc5 ~ 5.Bb4#

Date added: 26/1/2021

11

Checkmate in 5 moves

(Alois Johandl - Deutsche Schachblätter Comm., Dec 1966)

Click to view solution

1.Ka1! ~ 2.Nc7+ Kb8 3.Nxd5+
3...Ka8 4.Nxb6#
3...Kc8 4.Qc7#
1...Ba5 2.Nc7+ Kb8 3.Nxa6+ Ka8 4.Qb8+! Rxb8 5.Nc7#
1...Rc8 2.Nc7+
2...Kb8 3.Nxd5+ Rc7 4.Qxc7+ Ka8
5.Qd8#
5.Qc8#
5.Nxb6#
2...Rxc7 3.Qxc7 ~
4.Qd8#
4.Qc8#
3...Be6 4.Qd8+ Bc8 5.Qxc8#
1...Rd8 2.Nc7+ Kb8 3.Nxd5+ Rd6 4.Qxd6+
4...Kc8
5.Qc7#
5.Ne7#
5.Nxb6#
4...Ka8
5.Nxb6#
5.Qd8#
1...Re8 2.Nc7+ Kb8 3.Nxd5+ Re5 4.Qxe5+
4...Kc8 5.Qc7#
4...Ka8 5.Nxb6#
1...c4 2.Nc7+ Kb8 3.Nxd5+ Bd6 4.Qxd6+
4...Ka8 5.Nxb6#
4...Kc8
5.Qc7#
5.Ne7#
5.Nxb6#

Date added: 3/2/2021

12

Checkmate in 4 moves

(P. A. Orlimont - Münchner Zeitung, 1931)

Click to view solution

1.Rb7! ~ 2.Rxa5 Kxh2
3.Rh7#
3.Rh5#
1...Nb3 2.Rxb3 Kxh2 3.Rh5#
1...Nc4 2.Rxc4 Kxh2 3.Rh7#
1...Nc6 2.Rxc6 Kxh2
3.Rh7#
3.Rh6#
1...Nxb7 2.Rd5
2...Nd8 3.Rxd8 Kxh2 4.Rh8#
2...Kxh2 3.Rh5#
2...Na5 3.Rxa5 Kxh2 4.Rh5#
2...Nc5 3.Rxc5 Kxh2 4.Rh5#
2...Nd6 3.Rxd6 Kxh2 4.Rh6#

Date added: 4/2/2021