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

Perez v Najdorf, Costa del Sol 1961

Solution

1 Rf6+ Kd5

2 Nc3+!!

2…bc 3 Qb7+ and Black can’t interpose Rc6: so 3…Ke5 and 4 Qe7+ starts a check, check, mate sequence.

2…Rc3 3 Qg2+ Ke5

and White mates. How? – I will post tomorrow.

FEN

7r/6Q1/pB1pkn2/7q/1p6/1P6/P1r5/1N3RK1 w – – 0 34