It’s Your Move: daily chess puzzle #255

(i) White to play and win

and (ii) evaluate 1 Ra6

Lehmann v Cordovil, Malaga 1970

Solution

Second part first: 1 Ra6? loses to 1…Qg1+[] 2 Kg3[] h4+!

3 Kh4 Qg2![] defending the Pg6 and giving Black sufficient time to follow up with Rh1/ Rg1/Qf2.

The key point in Black’s winning line is Ph4+! so the way White wins is 1 h4!. There is the threat of mating with Qg8+ Qg7+! e6+! Rh8 mate, and Black is powerless against it.