Top 7 Chess Puzzles from the Games of GM Fabiano Caruana
In late August, following his Bronze medal win at the 2023 World Cup, GM Fabiano Caruana became the official brand ambassador for Chessify. Fabiano, who's a two-time US Champion and a World Championship contender, stands out as one of the most formidable grandmasters of not only his generation but in chess history overall. With a peak rating of 2844, he boasts the third-highest rating ever achieved in the sport. His impressive performance at the World Cup added a few more rating points to his name, reinstating him as World No. 2 and USA's top player.
In honor of this exciting partnership with a chess great like Caruana, we have selected 7 exemplary puzzles from his games. These puzzles offer you a chance to challenge your own chess skills while experiencing the game from the lens of the young chess maestro.
1. Potkin - Caruana, 2010
See the solution | Black to mate in 2
30...Qc1+ 31.Qxc1 Nb3#
2. Caruana - Saric, 2020
See the solution | White to win
39.Rxg5+ hxg5 40.Rxf7+ Kh6 (if 40...Kf7 then 41.Ng5 wins the queen) 41.Qh8+
3. Neubauer - Caruana, 2008
See the solution | Black to win
21...Bxh2+ 22.Kxh2 Qh4+ 23.Kg1 Qxf2+ 24.Kh1 Qh4+ 25.Kg1 g3 and the checkmate via Qh2 is unavoidable.
4. Ilincic vs Caruana, 2007
See the solution | Black to mate in 8 or less
1...Nf1 2. Kxf1 (2... Re2 leads to the longest yet an easy checkmate after Rxg1+ 3. Kxg1 Rh1+ 4. Kg2 Qh3+ 5. Kf3 Qh5+ 6. Kg2 Rg1+ 7. Kxg1 Qh2+ 8. Kxf1 Qh1#) 2…Rxg1+ 3. Kxg1 Qh3 4. f3 Qh1+ 5. Kf2 Rh2# 0-1
5. Scalcione - Caruana, 2006
See the solution | Black to win
28...Qh3 29.Ne1 Rxg2+ 30.Bxg2 f3 31.Kf1 Rxg2 32.Nxg2 Qxg2+ 33.Ke1 Qg1#
6. Farago - Caruana, 2005
See the solution | Black to win
28...Qh3 threatening to take on f3. 29.bxa3 Qa2 threatening checkmate. 30.Kd1 Bf3+ 31.Qxf3 Rxf3
7. Aronian - Caruana, 2018
See the solution | Black to win
24...Ng3+ 25.fxg3 Qxg3 26.gxf3 Rg6 27.fxe4 Qg1# or if the bishop left the f1 square to protect the back rank with rooks, then Qg2 would checkmate.
You can check your solution by clicking on the arrow next to "See the solution" above each chess puzzle. If you like this format, try solving more puzzles from another brand ambassador of Chessify - Anish Giri.