Cordingley puzzle 113 #chess

White to play and win

Solution

This was one I solved instantly: 1 Rh8+ is fairly routine, and even if it weren't, following Purdy's method of examining all checks would have found it. There is not much to say really, 3 f8(N)+ being a fairly obvious finish.

However, Houdini puts a small spanner in the works, but I can't say the problem is cooked: it tells me that 1 f7! Is even stronger, mate in 13, though it is not obvious: for what it is worth, and I don't think it is is worth much, the start is 1 f7 Qf7 2 Rh8+ Kg6 3 f4; but no-one would play like this, the chances of error in calculation are far too high, and simplicity is to be preferred.

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