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

Gumprich v Hodakowsky, Bad Neuenahr, 1958

Solution

White played 1 g4? amd eventually won, but 1 Nf4! is stronger (as is 1 Nf6). If 1…c6 2 Ne6! and Black’s position caves in. So 1…fg 2 b4 or even 2 Ne6 and the e pawn decides.

FEN

b2n3k/2p5/3p2BP/1p1P3N/3P4/5p2/1P4PP/6K1 w – – 0 41