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

Graf v Wurm, Augsburg 1953

Solution

1 Bc5! – a standard clearance sacrifice 1…bc[] 2 Qh6

2..Nd7 (say; others lose easily) 3 Rf7!!

and mates. One line being 3…Kf7 4 Qh7+ Ke8 5 Qg6mate (and not 5…Qg8+)

FEN

r5k1/4p2p/pp1qNnp1/2pPb3/2P1p1P1/4B3/PP1Q2P1/5R1K w – – 0 1