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

Estrin v Katalymov, Barhaul 1969

Solution

The position arose from yesterday’s puzzle, after 1 Re6+ de 2 Qf6 Bd6[] 3 Qh8+ Kd7

Here 4 Nb8+! saves the Nc6, since after 4…Kc7 5 Qd4! and the best Black can do is simplify to a lost Q+R ending, since his king is to exposed.

FEN

2r4Q/3k1p1p/p1Nbp3/8/1p6/1P6/q1P2PPP/3R2K1 w – – 0 22