Daily Chess Puzzle: Bank Holiday puzzle

Today’s problem is from the new book “Let me ask you, do you know?”  which I got a flyer from New in Chess about recently. Today’s puzzle is from the sample page.

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.

Today is a Bank Holiday in the UK, and this puzzle will give enjoyment for the whole day.

White to play

J Marwitz, 1937

Solution

1 Bd3!! (add more exclamation marks if you wish)

Fantastic. The cruel point is that White threatens 2 Bc4, entombing the Nc1; then gobbling the g pawn before eating the Nc1, and then promotion the e pawn. So the N must capture the Bd3, when it is on the wrong track to stop the Pe5.

My engine spots 1 Bd3 instantly: but did it smile, as it solved the puzzle? If AI ever learns to smile, then the world will be a scary place.

FEN

k7/8/2p5/4P3/4B3/6p1/8/2n3K1 w – – 0 1