Cordingley puzzle 36

White to play and win

Solution

I enjoyed this one. I thought at first of 1 Bf7+, being almost the only check, but didn't think it worked, so looked elsewhere.

The other check, 1 Qf8+, was quickly ruled out. The geometrical alignment of the two LPDO queens was noticed, but 1 e6 is met by 1…Be6, winning for black. The only other biff, 1 Rf5+, achieves nothing.

Like Archimedes, the solution came to me in the bath. Combine e6 and Bf7, with in one line Rf5+.

So 1 Bf7+! Rf7 2 e6!! when three of black's four pieces are en prise, and the fourth is LPDO…so something falls. 2…Rd1 3 ef+ and 4 Rd1 +-. After 1…Kf7 2 e6! leads to pretty finishes ( 2 Rf5+? Qf5 3 Rd1 is just equal, probably).

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