Daily chess puzzle

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

Volvo v Sherwin, USA 1964

Solution

Not a great puzzle today, since 1…a5 2 Qc5 Rd2 is winning, but ‘clearly’ the book included the game because of 1…Qh4! which is very ‘spectacular’. After White’s best 1 Qa3 (White played weaker in the game) Black plays 1…Rf2 and is much better, winning, but not immediately.

White is tied down and Black’s passed pawns roll.

FEN

8/1pp1kp1p/p2r1p1q/4pb2/1Q6/8/PPP3rP/1K1RNR2 b – – 0 1