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: consider 1…e6 or 1…Re8

Starck v Muehlberg, DDR chmpships 1962

Solution

Black played 1…Qd8, and the game was a long fight. He avoided either of the two moves, say 1…e6, due to 2 Na4 Qc7 3 Nb6!!

An unusual concept, which took me a while to find. The point is that if 3..Qb6 4 Ba5 wins the queen.

The position isn’t entirely simple since if 3…ab 4 Qa8 Na6 the Queen is somewhat trapped. But after 5 Rc1 or 5 Qa7 I can’t see a way of trapping it, and in the lines I have looked at, the Queen eventually gets out, with a big advantange to White.

Position after 5 Qa7

FEN

rnb2rk1/pp2ppbp/1qp2np1/8/2BP4/Q1N1PN2/PP1B1PPP/R3K2R b KQ – 0 9