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…Rc8, as played in the game

Solution

1..Rc8?? was a mistake: 2 Ra7! wins at least the Rd7, if not more. Alas, White missed the opportunity, and eventually lost the game.

FEN

1r4k1/1q1r1p1p/4pbp1/2R5/1P6/2P1BP2/R3Q1KP/8 b – – 0 32