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.

Today it is the finale of yesterday’s puzzle.

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

Korchnoi v Portisch, Berverwijk 1968

Solution

1…e3! bringing another piece to the party.

If say 2 Rg4 then 2…e2+! is a nice finish: 3 Re2[[ Qh1 mate.

In the game, Viktor played 2 Be3 and resigned after 2…Qh1+: after 3 Ke2[] Re3+!  4 fe[] Qg2 mate.

FEN

4r1k1/2pr1pbp/Q7/8/4pRn1/1P4P1/P1P2PPq/2B1RK2 b – – 0 31