Daily chess puzzle: Check Mate #324

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

White to play and win

Pelitov v Zonov, Bugarska 1966

Solution

Which opening? I presume this was from the Alekhin’s four pawns attack: I wonder if I am right, but the “shape” makes this my guess.

Anyway, either the prosaic 1 Rf3 or prettier 1Bg6! wins: after the latter, played in the game, 1…Qf1+ and 2…Bg6, and White wins slowly but probably surely. (Though if I were playing Carlsen, I wouldn’t be convinced I could beat him as White from here).

Not the best of puzzles today.

FEN

3r3k/ppp2Bpp/1nn1p3/8/2PP3Q/2NqB3/PPb3PP/5RK1 w – – 0 1