Daily chess puzzle: Check Mate #421

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

Black to play and mate White (with a twist: try to find the twist)

Schneider v Graz, Zalaegerszeg 1976

Solution

An unusual position for there to be a win: likely a typical Sicilian opposite side castle race. But knowing it is a problem, the only move has to be 1…Nc3+! forcing 2 bc[] when 2…Nd5 can be seen to be dominant.

The game concluded swiftly: 3 Kc1 Qa3+ 4 Kd2[] Qc3+ 5 Kc1[] Qa3+ 6 Kd2[] Qb4+ 7 Kc1 7…Nc3 0-1

The above is fairly convincing, and the line despite being long is forcing, check, check, check.

However, there is a flaw. 3 Qf3! Qa3 4 Bh7+! Kh7 5 Rd3

White has scrambled together a playable position. He ‘threatens ‘  c3-c4, so a Q move, say 5…Qc5 6 Kb2 and at top GM level, Black no doubt is winning, but at my level, the game goes on.

FEN

3r1rk1/5pp1/p3pn1p/1pqnN3/5P2/3B2P1/PPP1Q2P/1K1R3R b – – 0 1