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 Barnaul 1969

Solution

The end of the game featured in the last two days. 1 Qd7+! is the final petite combination and if 1…Qd7, 2 Nc5+ wins the Q: the Bd6 is pinned.

FEN

2k5/Q2r1p1p/3bp3/8/4q3/1P1N2P1/2P2P1P/3R2K1 w – – 0 29