It’s Your Move: daily chess puzzle # 204

White to play and win

Georgescu v Urzica, Bucharest 1967

Solution

I failed with this puzzle, totally. I looked at every B move, or at least 1 Be3, 1 Bg5, 1 Ba3, before deciding on 1 Be3, which is a bit better for White, totally missing 1 Bf4!

Maybe I saw it, but instantly rejected it, but I should have looked more closely – examine all biffs- 1…Bf4[] 2 Re1 Be5 3 Ne5 and White is dominant.

One nice touch is what happens after 3…Ke7. Try to solve it yourself.

Solution

4 Nf7+!! and mates in a couple or so moves 4…Kf8, when 5 Nd6 seals Black’s fate.