Daily chess puzzle: Check Mate #245

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

Black to play and mate White

Reichman v Ulrich, Berlin 1961

Solution

I found today’s puzzle hard to visualise, and indeed, didn’t find the beautiful win in the main line.

The first move is easy: 1…Nf3+ is the only reasonable check. My engine tells me it is the only move not to lose, too.

So, 1…Nf3+[]

White has three K moves.

2 Kd1 Ng1+

3 Ke1 Qd1+!!

The move I missed.

4 Kd1[] Rf1+ 5 Qe1[] Nf2 mate.

Very pretty.

If instead 2 Ke2, then 2…Ng1+ is the same after 3 Ke1; or if 3 Kd3 Nc5+  4 Kc3 Ne2+!

5 Qe2[] Qd4 mate.

Finally,  2 Kf1 Nh4+ (or 2…Ng3+ is the more human move) 3 Kg1 (3 Ke1 Ng2 mate)

3…Rf1+!!

4 Kf1 (4 Kh2 Rh1+ and 5…Qh3+ 0-1) Qd1+ 6 Qe1[] Qf3+ 0-1

FEN

2k2r1N/ppp3p1/8/3Pp3/3nn1q1/N3Q1PP/PPPP4/R1B1K2R b KQ – 0 1