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 Rc7, the move played in the game

unknown players, Yugoslavia 1949

Solution

1 Rc7 is a blunder due to the pretty 1…Rc5! and White loses his Q for a rook. 2 de isn’t possible due to the back rank mate.

FEN

8/pQ1q2pk/4p2p/3r1p2/3P4/4P3/PP3PPP/2R3K1 w – – 0 1