Daily chess puzzle: Check Mate #233

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

White to play and mate Black

Peter v Markus, Svicarska 1960

Solution

I failed with this puzzle, playing 1 Ng5+ hg 2 Qg5 with a dominating position, but not an immediate knock out.

But a move I didn’t think of wins beautifully.

1 Qh3!!

Once seen, you see that the Be6 is tied to defending f7.

Why, oh why, do I not always look for ties, even though my favourite writer, CJS Purdy, has told me often to do so, most memorably in this poem:

Purdy on nets, pins and ties, Fine Art, vol 2, pg 205

Some things are hooey,

and most others lies;

But forks you mustn’t miss,

nor pins, nets, ties.

FEN

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