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 Ng6, as played in the game

van Wijngaarden v Karaklajic, 13/1/1967

Solution

1 Ng6?? is a blunder: 1….Rd1! and if 2 Nd1 Bb4; or if 2 Rd1 Kg6 wind.

FEN

3r3r/1bp1bpk1/p6p/1p2N1p1/8/1PN3P1/PP3PP1/3RR1K1 w – – 0 19