Daily chess puzzle: Check Mate #60

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

White to play and mate Black

Bernstein v unknown, Petrograd 1909

Solution

The game continuation is pretty forced, given that Black’s king is in a net and the juxtaposition of the two Ns.  It is mate by zugzwang.

1 c5 b5 2 a3 zugzwang Ne6 3 Nb7 mate; or 1…bc 2 Nc4+ Kb5[] 3 a4 mate are the two main lines.