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.

Black to play: evaluate 1…Bg8

Burzlaff v Starck, Oschatz 1958

Solution

1..Bg8 loses to the pretty 2 Qh6+! (examine all biffs) 2…gh (2…Bh7 3 e6) 3 e6+ Kh7 4 Be4+ and mate.

FEN

3r1r1k/pp4pb/4Q2p/q1bRP3/8/1P4P1/PB3PBP/R5K1 b – – 0 1