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: analyse 1..Bc5, as played in the game.

Miszto v Kloza, USSR v Poland 1955

Solution

1…Bc5?? loses, but only to a beautiful move. My engine tells me that 1…Re5 was equal, and that does indeed look likely after the fairly forced 2 Be5 Qe5 3 Rg7 Rg7- or zwischenschach 3…Qf6+, to prevent 4 Qd8+, not that it needs to be prevented).

2 Qh7+!! is a lovely finale.

2…Kh7[] 3 Rg7+ Kh8 (3…Kh6? 4 R1g6 mate)

And then check, check, check…mate.

FEN

4rb1k/1p4r1/2p5/p2q3p/3B4/P2Q2R1/5K2/6R1 b – – 0 1