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

Kofman v Volovich, Tallinn 1965

Solution

1…Re3!! disrupts White’s coordination.

2 fe Qe3 and Black wins: Qg3+ Be3+ or Be4 follow (the latter after 3 Kh2.

Position after 2…Qf3

2 Ra8+ is therefore best, and after 2…Kg7[] 3 Qa7 Qf3 4 Qb7+ Kg6

5 Rg8+ Kh5[] 6 fe Be3+ and White resigned.

After  7 Kh2[] Qf2+ 8 Bg2[] Qg1 mate.

But, Houston we have a problem : something is wrong with the last line, starting 2 Ra8+; something not spotted by the book’s authors. Finding the error will be tomorrow’s problem.

FEN

4r2k/Rp5p/1Pp2p1b/2Pp1b1q/3P4/Q4NP1/5P2/5BK1 b – – 0 1