Friday’s puzzles
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

Troitzky 1866-1942

3
Makogonov vs Paul Keres, Moscow, 1940
WHITE TO MOVE AND WIN
4
Makogonov vs Salomon Flohr, Moscow, 1942
WHITE TO MOVE AND WIN
5
Solomon Rozental vs Makogonov, Moscow, 1936
BLACK TO MOVE AND WIN
6
Vladimir Andreevich Makogonov born 1904 and died in 1993; was awarded the IM title in 1950 and an Honorary GM title in 1987. Many times Champion of Azerbaijan he played in eight USSR Championships between 1927 and 1947. He shared 5th place with Mikhail Botvinnik in 1927, was 4th in 1937, 4th= in 1939 and 5th in 1944. In tournaments he was 3rd= at Leningrad-Moscow 1939 and 2nd at Sverdlovsk 1943. Perhaps he is best known for his contributions to Opening theory in the King’s Indian Defence and the Queen’s Gambit.
Makogonov was also very well known as a chess coach. He helped Vasily Smyslov prepare for his 1957 World Chess Championship match against Mikhail Botvinnik . He trained Vladimir Bagirov and Genrikh Chepukaitis ,and on Mikhail Botvinnik ‘s recommendation, became one of the young Garry Kasparov ‘s first teachers. Kasparov was 10 years old at the time,and under Makogonov’s training Kasparov was taught the Caro Khan and the Tartakower variation of the Queen’s Gambit, both important openings in Kasparov’s path to the world championship.
Are you a good calculator? Can you see a position 5 moves in advance? Can you visualize small changes in the placement of pieces after 5 moves without having to check and double-check all the time?
A master level player develops his concentration thru practicing problems and puzzles, and in this way visualization comes easily. Some consider this an art. Botvinnik wrote that this aspect of the game is indeed the essence of a master’s skill. Perhaps this is so.
Today’s Troitzky composition requires calculation. Good calculation! But I am certain , by now, that you can solve it in less than half an hour! White to play and win. Good luck!


TODAY’S CHESS COMBOS
(FROM THE GAMES OF GM V.MAKOGONOV)
1

Makogonov vs Vsevolod Rauzer, Moscow, 1927
WHITE TO MOVE AND WIN
2
WHITE TO MOVE AND WIN
3

WHITE TO MOVE AND WIN
4

WHITE TO MOVE AND WIN
5

BLACK TO MOVE AND WIN
6
BLACK TO MOVE AND WIN
Vladimir Makogonov (1904-1993)
Vladimir Andreevich Makogonov born 1904 and died in 1993; was awarded the IM title in 1950 and an Honorary GM title in 1987. Many times Champion of Azerbaijan he played in eight USSR Championships between 1927 and 1947. He shared 5th place with Mikhail Botvinnik in 1927, was 4th in 1937, 4th= in 1939 and 5th in 1944. In tournaments he was 3rd= at Leningrad-Moscow 1939 and 2nd at Sverdlovsk 1943. Perhaps he is best known for his contributions to Opening theory in the King’s Indian Defence and the Queen’s Gambit.
Makogonov was also very well known as a chess coach. He helped Vasily Smyslov prepare for his 1957 World Chess Championship match against Mikhail Botvinnik . He trained Vladimir Bagirov and Genrikh Chepukaitis ,and on Mikhail Botvinnik ‘s recommendation, became one of the young Garry Kasparov ‘s first teachers. Kasparov was 10 years old at the time,and under Makogonov’s training Kasparov was taught the Caro Khan and the Tartakower variation of the Queen’s Gambit, both important openings in Kasparov’s path to the world championship.
His brother, Mikhail Makogonov (1900-1943), was also a chess master; they tied for first in the first Baku chess championship in 1923