Siegbert Tarrasch vs. Max Kurschner

This is the endgame between two strong German chess players, Siegbert Tarrasch and Max Kurschner, in Nürnberg, 1893. With a surprising sacrifice, white won in two moves. Can you find Siegbert’s moves?

diagram of Siegbert Tarrasch vs. Max Kurschner chess puzzle

Play and solve this chess puzzle online

Roll over to see the solution: 1. Qg6+ hxg6 2. Bxg6#

FEN: r2qk2r/pb4pp/1n2Pb2/2B2Q2/p1p5/2P5/2B2PPP/RN2R1K1 w - - 1 0

About the players

Siegbert TarraschSiegbert Tarrasch (1862-1934) was one of the strongest German chess players and an influential chess teacher. A doctor by his medicine studies made in Halle he is also called Praeceptor Germanie due to his chess studies and articles and his brilliant activity as a chess player.

9 Responses

  1. Avatar
    Dr. M. Sivuni at

    1. Qxh7, Rf8
    2. Qg6+, Rf7
    3. Qxf7++

    Reply
  2. Avatar
    Sudipto Shekhar at

    Where is the sacrifice in this move you suggested? Also, the description says 2 moves and a sacrifice, you are suggesting 3 moves!

    Reply
  3. Avatar
    Sphamandla at

    White will have to give a check with the queen ? and let the pawn ♟ take it then it a checkmate with the white bishop taking the pawn that took the pawn. Another way is through taking the castle ? with the queen having started by sacrificing a white bishop

    Reply
  4. Avatar
    Michael at

    The instructions were pretty clear. “With a surprising sacrifice, white won in two moves”. Doesn’t says “and”. Why don’t folks pay attention.

    Reply
  5. Avatar
    marco at

    1.Qg6+ hxg6 ( sac the queen, black only move is take the queen with pawn
    2. Bxg6#

    Reply
  6. Avatar
    DIGVIJAY NEGI at

    NICE WIN

    Reply
  7. Avatar
    dr. chessstrangelove at

    1. Qf5xh7 Qd8-d6
    2. Bc5xd6 Rh8xh7
    3. Bc2-g6+ Ke8-d8
    4. Bg6xh7 Bb7-d5
    5. Bh7-g8 Bd5-c6
    6. Re1-d1 Nb6-c8
    7. Bd6-c5+ Kd8-c7
    8. Nb1-d2 Nc8-b6
    9. Bg8-f7 Nb6-d5
    10. Nd2-e4 Nd5xc3
    11. Bc5-d6+ Kc7-b6
    12. Ne4xc3 Bf6xc3
    13. Ra1-b1+ Kb6-a6
    14. e6-e7 a4-a3
    15. Rd1-c1 Bc3-b2
    16. Rc1-c2 Bc6-e4
    17. Bf7xc4+ Ka6-a5
    18. Rb1xb2 a3xb2
    19. Rc2xb2 Be4-c6
    20. Bc4-f7 Bc6-e8
    21. Bf7xe8 Ra8xe8
    22. Bd6-c7+ Ka5-a4
    23. Rb2-e2 Ka4-b5
    24. Bc7-d8 Kb5-c6
    25. Re2-d2 a7-a6
    26. Rd2-a2 Kc6-b7
    27. Ra2-b2+ Kb7-a7
    28. f2-f4 Ka7-a8
    29. f4-f5 Re8-h8
    30. h2-h3 Rh8-g8
    31. g2-g4 Rg8-e8
    32. h3-h4 Ka8-a7
    33. g4-g5 Ka7-a8
    34. h4-h5 Re8-g8
    35. Kg1-f2 Rg8-h8
    36. f5-f6 g7xf6
    37. g5xf6 Rh8xh5
    38. e7-e8=Q Rh5-h2+
    39. Kf2-e3 Rh2xb2
    40. Qe8-c6+ Ka8-b8
    41. Bd8-c7+ Kb8-a7
    42. Qc6-c5+ Ka7-b7
    43. Qc5-d5+ Kb7xc7
    44. Qd5-e5+ Kc7-d7
    45. Qe5xb2 Kd7-e6
    46. Ke3-d3 Ke6-f7
    47. Kd3-c4 Kf7-g6
    48. Kc4-b4 a6-a5+
    49. Kb4xa5 Kg6-f7
    50. Qb2-e5 Kf7-g6
    51. Qe5-e7 Kg6-h5
    52. f6-f7 Kh5-g4
    53. f7-f8=Q Kg4-h3
    54. Qe7-g7 Kh3-h2
    55. Qf8-h8# well… I finally did it!

    Reply
  8. Avatar
    Ram at

    1. Qf5-g6+ h7xg6
    2. Bc2xg6#

    Reply
  9. Avatar
    Mukundh Iyer at

    1) Qg6+ hxg6
    2) Bxg6#

    Reply
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