Test your tactical skill
Svetushkin’s Winning Tactics
A treat for you today! The late grandmaster Dmitry Svetushkin was one of the most feared tacticians in the world. Below are some 21 blow-away tactics from his tournament games, ranging from easy to very difficult.
Try to find the winning continuation. Good Luck! (PGN can be downloaded at the end, and contain some analysis of the winning variations.)
Let’s get started!
Of course White must have a few ways to win, but your task is to win the beauty prize in the process! White to play and CRUSH!
A tactic that you either see or you don’t see. White did not see it! Black to play and force mate!
Palma de Majorca 2008
White’s last move was his Knight to g4. Looks reasonable, but loses immediately! Black to play and CRUSH!
Dresden ol 2008
Black is tied up over on the Queenside. How can White exploit this advantage? White to play and win!
Alushta 1999
Once again the same theme:Black is focused too much on the Queenside, ignoring his Kingside! How should White proceed?
Palma de Majorca 2008
White had just captured the pawn on d5, thinking that he had figured everything out. What id White overlook?
Reythemno 2011
White to play and CRUSH!
Greece 2017
White has misplayed the opening. Now the time for punishment…Black to play and CRUSH!
Linares 1999
Black has sacrificed some material for the initiative. But he overlooked something…White to play and CRUSH!
Hungary 1999
A really complicated fight! With all of White’s pieces so actively placed, it would be surprising if a tactic did not exist. White to play and win!
Hungary 1999
Something looks very wrong inside Black’s camp. No coordination of the pieces. How should White exploit this?
Bucharest 2001
An exciting race! Black on the Queenside; White on the Kingside. White is faster…How?
Dubai 2005
Black had just played the rash c4, attacking the Bishop on d3. Now White can win. How?
Bucharest 2000
Black was doing so well just the move before he needlessly captured White’s Knight on e4. White to play and win!
Bucharest 1998
White’s Queen Bishop is magnificently posted. White to play and win material!
Greece 2011
White to play and CRUSH!
Noyon 2010
Black had just played his Bishop to g5, giving White an unexpected opportunity to win the game immediately! How?
Plovdiv 2008
A curious position. All of Black’s pieces are having fun over on the Queenside!How can White take advantage of this?
Linares 2015
A curious position. Should White retreat, or not?
Cetinje 2016
Often, in attacking positions the only thing that matters is the attack.White to play and win!
Moscow 2016
One of Svetushka’s immortal concepts! White to play and win!