Daily chess puzzle: Check Mate #403

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

White to play and mate Black

Urzica v Ghinda, Bucharest 1975

Solution

It took me a short while to see that the way to break through was by deflecting the queen: examine all biffs again: 1 Bd8!

Black must move his Q to a6, to continue guarding e6, when 2 Rg7 breaks through. 2…Kg7[] 3 Qg5+

Kf8 (3…Kh7 4 Bf6 and if 4..Rg8, 5 Qh5 is mate) 4 Be7+ and 5 Bd6 and 1-0

FEN

r1b2k1r/p2n1pp1/1q2p3/2ppP1B1/1b1N1Q1P/2N5/PPP2P2/R3K1R1 w Q – 0 17