Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from the 1972 book “Chess Combination as a Fine Art”, a book based on articles published in the 1950s-1960s by Kurt Richter.

Since the start of 2018, I have decided to adopt the style of only saying which side is to play: and not giving an idea if the move wins or otherwise, unless on occasion I think signposting would be helpful. Instead, the problems are posed with the instruction to decide what you would play, as in a game.

White to play

Katalymov v Mnazakanian, USSR 1959

Solution

Several moves win for White (e.g. 1 Be5) but 1 Rd7 is the strongest and most spectacular.

Then, if 1…Qd7, 2 Bd7 wins routinely. More interesting is 1… Bd7 when 2 Bh6!! deflects the Rf6. (If 2…Qe8, 3 Qg7 mate). And after 2..Rh6, 3 Qf8 concludes a pretty mate.

FEN

1rq1B2k/2p1Q1pp/pb2br2/5p2/1P3B2/6P1/5P1P/3RR1K1 w – – 0 1