Daily chess puzzle: Check Mate #57

Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.

White to play and win

Duras v Olland, Karlsbad 1907

Solution

It would be a crime not to play the first two moves: or at least the first move: 1 R1d5! ed[] 2 Qf6+ Kg7[] (2…Kg8?? 3 Rd8+ 1-0)

Then, several moves win, such as 3 Nf4, bringing more pieces to the party, or the even better, and just as obvious, 3 Bh6! noting that the Kh7 is tied to the Rh8, so the B can’t be taken: 1-0.

The game continued 3 Bh6! Rg8[] 4 Qh4

I will continue commenting on this puzzle tomorrow.