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

Radovici v Neamtu, Romanian chmps, 1963

Solution

Examine all biffs means you have to look at 1 Nf6+!; the N has to be captured, since the K and Q are forked, when 2 Bh7+ follows.

If the Bishop is captured, then Qh3+/Qg4+/Rh3 mate; otherwise 3 Qh3 and mates similarly.

FEN

rn3rk1/3q1ppp/p3p3/3b4/1b1NNP2/2RBQ3/1PP3PP/5RK1 w – – 0 19