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: White played 1 Rd5, hitting the q and two bishops: examine

Danielsson v Blomberg, Sweden 1967

Solution

1 Rd5? is a losing mistake. 1…Rae8 or (as in the game) 1…Rfe8 wins; 2 Qf1 Qf2+! is the point.

3 Qf2 Re1 mate since the Q is pinned.

FEN

r4rk1/pppb1ppp/8/2b1R3/3q4/2N5/PPPP1PPP/R1B1Q1K1 w – – 0 1