Daily chess puzzle: Check Mate # 91

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

White to play and mate Black.

Gruenfeld v Tarrasch, Baden-Baden 1925

Make sure you look beyond the first move, and find the best continuation.

Solution

When you notice that the Ne6 is tied to f8 (Qf8+) and the Qd7 is tied to defending the Ra4, and the King is in a mating net (the language of being tied and nets being CJS Purdy's), you look to bring more pieces to the party, and 1 Bh4! is natural.

I was lazy, and saw the win after 1…h5 (2 Bf6+ Kh7 3 Rg7+ Ng7 4 Qf8+ Bg8[] 5 Bg7+ Kh7[] 6 Bf6 with the idea of 7 Qh6mate), and didn't look at the more restrictive 1…h6.

But I should have, because Gruenfeld then played the lovely 2 Qf8+!! tightening the net. 2…Nf8 3 Bf6+ and mate follows easily.

Nice.

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