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7 World’s Most Famous Chess Combinations

Yury Markushin

05.28.2014

20

Category: Problems

Today we present the list of 7 world’s most famous chess combinations. You may ask why are these combinations are the most famous? Well, some of these games were played as early as in the 9^th century. If we still study them today there is definitely something special about them. Enjoy and don’t forget to comment with your solutions!

Combination #1: Abu Naim

7 world's most famous chess combinations

White to move and mate in 3

Combination #2: Abu Naim

7 world's most famous chess combinations

White to move and mate in 5

Combination #3: Lucena

7 world's most famous chess combinations

White to move and mate in 5

Combination #4: Damiano

7 world's most famous chess combinations

White to move and mate in 5

Combination #5: Stamma

7 world's most famous chess combinations

White to move and mate in 5

Combination #6: Ponziani

7 world's most famous chess combinations

White to move and mate in 7

Combination #7: Lolli

7 world's most famous chess combinations

White to move and mate in 7

Please, don’t leave this page without sharing your solutions

Solve more tactics:

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Solutions:

#1. 1.Nh5+ Rxh5 2.Rxg6+ Kxg6 3.Re6# 1–0

#2 1.Rh7+ Kg8 2.Nf6+ Kf8 3.e7+ Nxe7 4.Rf7+ Nxf7 5.Ne6# 1–0

#3 1.Qe6+ Kh8 2.Nf7+ Kg8 3.Nh6+ Kh8 4.Qg8+ Rxg8 5.Nf7# 1–0

#4 1.Rh8+ Kxh8 2.Rh1+ Kg8 3.Rh8+ Kxh8 4.Qh1+ Kg8 5.Qh7# 1–0

#5 1. Qg8+ Kxg8 2. Ne7+ Kh8 3. Nf7+ Rxf7 4. Rc8+ Rf8 5. Rxf8# 1-0

#6 1.Bd8+ Ka7 2.Rxa6+ bxa6 3.Qd7+ Kb8 4.Qc7+ Ka8 5.Qc8+ Ka7 6.Bb6+ Kxb6 7.Qb8# 1–0

#7 1.Qf6+ Kh6 2.Qh4+ Kg7 3.Qd4+ Kg8 4.Qd5+ Kg7 5.Qe5+ Kh6 6.Rh5+ gxh5 7.Qf6# 1–0

Updated 11.10.2023

Comments:

Don Fortier:

You mean after Ka7, not Kh6 (that's the other problem :-) Yes, the "solutions" now show the quick force 1 Bd8+ rather than 1. Rxa6 which was likely a wrong entry.

Don Fortier:

There are actually three winning lines (mate in 7 or 9). The whole trick is getting the Queen on the left side of the Rook to force a pawn capture.

Don Fortier:

If Black waits to be FORCED to g8, yes, the Rook dies and it is still a mate.

Don Fortier:

See Yury above. You missed Q-f4+ where Black is two sacs to losing.

Don Fortier:

Ah. I missed Q-f4+ which also gets the Q to d5(see below) But so did the Chess Computer.

Don Fortier:

Why isn't Game 7 simply a draw? Even when the Queen goes out to d4, the King can still just move back to h6, not to g8. There is no back row check because of the black rook. Black is better or even after Rf2 exf2 QxQ Rf8 so white simply has a perpetual. Did no one notice this?

handafew:

isn't question 7 mate in 9?1.Qf6+ Kh6 2.Qh4+ Kg7 3.Qd4+ Kg8 4.Qd5+ Kg7 5. Qe5+ Kg8 6.Qxb8+ Kg7 7.Qe5+ Kg8 8.Qe8+ Kg7 9.Qf8#?

Yury:

Hi there, there is a mate in the line you've provided, but in 6 not in 7 :1. Bd8+ Ka7 2. Rxa6+ Kb8 3. Qf4+ Qe5 4. Qxe5+ Rd6 5. Qxd6+ Kc8 6. Ra8# 1-0 ;-)

Yury:

Hello Ed, you're right this is mate in 5 problem, not mate in 6. I have changed the description and the solution. Thanks for you feedback!

issi:

#6 cant be solved. What if1. Bd8+ Ka72. Rxa6+ and now Kb8! (not bxa6?)and there will be no combination to mate the Black king

Ed Rogers:

Problem 5 appears to be a mate in 5, not 6 starting with 1.Qg8+. I think the solution listed for this problem is not correct as it starts with 1. Rh4 which is not a possible move.Otherwise these are great problems.

filmar:

Sorry I only solved 3/7. Just an amateur.. Thanks

Yury:

Hello my friend and thanks for your comment. We're providing the solutions in pgn for some problems. However, if we provide the problem itself in pgn format that would be too tempting for most players to shuffle pieces around instead of thinking and visualizing the variations. The point of solving tactics is to train your tactical vision and ability that can be used in real games. :-)

nitehawk005:

About time "the chessworld.com start providing us with pgn file for every quiz and problem they feature. you look at the quiz and say.. I am not gonna set up this position on my chess program. and move on regardless how tempting it is to solve.

Venkateswaur Polasa:

solution 1: 1.Nh5+ Rxh5 2.Rxg6+ Kxg6 3.Re6#

Chessica:

I'm proud that I found all of them, especially Lolli. :)But I have a different solution to number 6: First Bd8 and after Kh6 you play Rxa6. This is what I thought, because if you play Rxa6 first, the king can run to c7.Greetings from The Netherlands.

Costello:

#7 LOLLI was amazing...

Costello:

Fantastic selection ! Thanks a lot !

k1 moazzemi:

roblem 1. 1.Nh5+ Rxh5 2.Rxg6+ Kxg6 3.Re6#problem 2. 1.Rh7+ Kg8 2.Nf6+ Kf8 3.e7+ Nxe7 4.Rf7+ Nxf7 5.Ne6#problem 3. 1.Qe6+ Kh8 2.Nf7+ Kg8 3.Nh6+ Kh84.Qg8+ Rxg8 5.Nf7#problem 4. 1.Rh8+ Kxh8 2.Rh1+ Kg8 3.Rh8+ Kxg8 4.Qh1+ Kg8 5.Qh7#problem 5. 1.Qg8+ Kxg8 (1..Rxg8.2Nf7#) 2.Ne7+ Kh8 3.Nf7+ Rxf7 4.Rc8+ Rf8 5.Rf8#problem6. 1.Rxa6+ bxa6(1...Kxa6 2.Qa5#) 2.Bd8+ Kb7 3. Qd7+ Kb8 4. Qc7+ Ka8 5.Qc8+ Ka7 6.Bb6+ Kxb6 7.Qb8#problem 7. 1.Qe7+ Kh6(1...Kh8 2.Qe5+ Kg8 3.Qxb8+ Kh6 4.Qf8#) 2.Qh4+ Kg7 3.Qd4+ Kh6 (3...Kg8 4. Qd5 Kg7 5.Qe5+ Kg8 6.Qxc8+ Kg7 7.Qf8#)4.Qf4+ Kg7 5.Qe5+ Kh6 6.Rh5 gxh5 7.Qf6#

gopsychess:

problem 1. 1.Nh5+ Rxh5 2.Rxg6+ Kxg6 3.Re6#problem 2. 1.Rh7+ Kg8 2.Nf6+ Kf8 3.e7+ Nxe7 4.Rf7+ Nxf7 5.Ne6#problem 3. 1.Qe6+ Kh8 2.Nf7+ Kg8 3.Nh6+ Kh84.Qg8+ Rxg8 5.Nf7#problem 4. 1.Rh8+ Kxh8 2.Rh1+ Kg8 3.Rh8+ Kxg8 4.Qh1+ Kg8 5.Qh7#problem 5. 1.Qg8+ Kxg8 (1..Rxg8.2Nf7#) 2.Ne7+ Kh8 3.Nf7+ Rxf7 4.Rc8+ Rf8 5.Rf8#problem6. 1.Rxa6+ bxa6(1...Kxa6 2.Qa5#) 2.Bd8+ Kb7 3. Qd7+ Kb8 4. Qc7+ Ka8 5.Qc8+ Ka7 6.Bb6+ Kxb6 7.Qb8#problem 7. 1.Qe7+ Kh6(1...Kh8 2.Qe5+ Kg8 3.Qxb8+ Kh6 4.Qf8#) 2.Qh4+ Kg7 3.Qd4+ Kh6 (3...Kg8 4. Qd5 Kg7 5.Qe5+ Kg8 6.Qxc8+ Kg7 7.Qf8#)4.Qf4+ Kg7 5.Qe5+ Kh6 6.Rh5 gxh5 7.Qf6#