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.

Black to play

Molinari v Cabral, Uruguay 1943

Solution

The obvious try 1…Ng4+ 2 h3 Qh6+ fails to 3 Qh3; so something more is needed, and 1..Bg1+! both diverts the white queen from looking at h3, and blocks an escape square for the king. After 2 Qg1 Ng4+! now works.

FEN

6k1/5ppp/4p3/p1b1n3/PpP1Pq2/5bBP/4B2K/R3RQ2 b – – 0 1