Daily chess puzzle: Check Mate #177

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

Korodj v Benko, Madarska 1951

1…Ne5! has to be the first move, since it is a puzzle- I probably wouldn’t have been able to wade through all the lines had it been a game, though I think I would have seen sufficient to ‘give it a go’: since the worst case for Black is the position hasn’t worsened.

2 Be3 Qd3 wins a piece, and likely more; and 2 Be4 Be4 changes nothing; so the main line is the other capture, 2 Nd4:

2 Nd4 Rg2+ 3 Kh1[]

and now 3….Rh2+!! 4 Kh2 Ng4+ 5 Kg1[] Bh2 mate.

r3k1r1/pb1n1p1p/3bpp2/1P6/3q4/3B1N1P/1P2QPP1/R1B2RK1 b q – 0 1