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.

White to play

Ekburg v Martius, Copenhagen 1962

Solution

1 Nb8+ Kc7 2 Ke6! and White mops up two pawns for the N, following which he has three connected passed pawns: 1-0.

FEN

8/3k1K2/1pNp4/1PpPp3/2P1P2b/5P2/8/8 w – – 0 1