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: evaluate 1 Rd7

Schultz v Teschner, West Berlin 1955

Solution

1 Rd7 Rf2+ is the natural move; but 2 Kh1!! and if 2…Re6 3 Rdg7+ Kh8[] 2 Rg8+ Kh7[] 3 Rg7 mate.

But 1 Rd7 Qf2+!! is a draw. 2 Bf2[] Rf2+ 3 Kh1 Re6 and there is only perpetual.

FEN

5r2/2p3pk/1r2Q3/3RP2p/1bpPp2q/1P2B2P/1P3P1K/6R1 w – – 0 1