Test your chess: daily chess puzzle # 54

White to play: how to defend?

M Keserovic v S Hirschowitz 1995

Solution

Such positions are tricky to calculate, and in the game, white chose 1 Rb3?? which loses. 1…Na4+ and 2 Ka1 (2 Kc1? Qe1 mate) 2…Qe1+

And it is mate after 3 Rb1[] Qc3+ and 4…Qb2+.

If instead either 1 Ka1 or 1 Kc1, it is a draw after 1…Qe1+ 2 Kb2 Na4+ 3 Ka3! and black needs to take care, but all there is is perpetual check.

Posted with Blogsy