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

Mustonen v Olsson, corres 1953-54

Solution

No prizes for the first two moves: 1 Qc4 dc 2 d5+ e5[]

3 Ng5!

Black now played 3…Rf5? losing to 4 Re5!, although after 4…c3, even though engine’s say White has mate in 15, it could still go wrong in practice.

But 3…h6 is the engine’s preference. 4 Be5+ Qe5 4 Re5 hg 5 Reg5 Be8 and the game goes on.

FEN

2n2r1k/3b3p/1p2p3/pP1p4/P1rPNq1P/8/2Q2PR1/B3R1K1 w – – 0 1