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

Crisovan v Naef, Lucerne 1953

Solution

1..Nd4! and if 2 Qf1 Rc1, and then 3 Qc1 Ne2+ forks the K and Q.

So, 2 ed Rc1 and if say 3 Qb2, Ng3+! prepares the same fork on e2:

(White could struggle on by 1 ed Rc1 2 Qf1 Rf1+ but it is a hopeless R v B ending).

FEN

2r2rk1/p4ppp/2nB4/3p4/8/1P2P3/P3QPPP/2R2nK1 b – – 0 1