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 Ng4 Qd8: what is White’s best move

allanbeard v J Honido, Playchess.com 3min blitz 8/7/18

Or, below,  I have given the position after 1 Ng4 Qd8

Solution

My engine suggests 2 Bd5!!; a move I would never have thought of, and I needed its assistance to understand.

2…ed 3 Nh6+ Kf8[] 4 Qh8+ Ke7[] 5 Ng8+ Kf8 6 Nf6+! Ke7[] 7 Nd5+!

The point of 1 Bd5!!: the N can capture the d5 pawn

7…Ke6[] 8 Qe5 mate.

Lovely.

FEN

6k1/1p1bqp1p/p2np1p1/3pN3/1P3P2/P2P2PP/1Q2PKB1/8 w – – 0 1