Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem was posted on Twitter by Mikhail Golubev.

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.

“an easy chess puzzle”

“mate in three – from my internet blitz game”

posted on Twitter, diagram as above, November 29th 2018

Solution

After failing to make 1…Rb1+; 1…Qe3+; and many other tries work, in what was obviously a Sicilian Dragon by Golubev; and even knowing that it had to be check, check, mate because White can check and avoid a mate in three; I paused for a moment to look at White’s threats:

1 Qf7+! Kf7 (1…Kh8 2 Qe8+ and 3 Qf8 mate) 2 Bd5++ Ke8 3 Bc8 mate.

It is mate in three, but for White.

A trick by Mikhail Golubev; one where the smile exceeded the annoyance.

FEN

6k1/4ppbp/p1n3p1/4q3/2Q5/P3PB1P/1rP3P1/2KR1R2 b – – 0 1