It’s Your Move: daily chess puzzle #271

White to play and win

Planinc v Gerenski, Varna 1970

Solution

Examine all biffs quickly leads to 1 Nc7+! being considered.

Firstly, considering the capture 1…Qc7: 2 Rc5! at least restores material equality, because of 2..Qc5 3 Qd7+ Kf8[] 4 Rf1+ 1-0; but it is stronger than that, since 2…Qe7 is met with 3 Re5! with the same motif.

So, 1..Ke7, when 2 Rf7+! forces 2…Kf7[] 3 Qd7+ and mates.