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 Rd4, as played in the game

Uhlmann v Malich, Berlin 1968

Solution

1 Rd4? was met by 1…Rf2+! and after 2 Kf2 Bc5 was an unbreakable pin; or, at least, breaking it loses the rook, leading to an opposite colour bishop ending, which Black held.

1 Bd5 Rb2 2 Rb7 would presumably have been stronger. I suspect White would be winning, though am not sure.

Also, 2 Kg1 might have maintained winning chances, given two passed pawns: though, again I am not sure, and suspect Black has good chances to defend.

FEN

5k2/3Rbp2/2B3p1/1P4p1/3p4/3P2PP/2r2PK1/8 w – – 0 53