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

Montell v Serrano, Spain 1962

Solution

1… Qh6! wins at least a piece: the Bd2 is LPDO: or so I thought, and so did Kurt Richter.

But 2 Re8+! Re8 3 cd is equal, as is 2 Re2!!, the latter because the Rc8 is LPDO after 2..Re2 3 Be2 Qd2 4 Qh3, so White escapes.

FEN

2r1r1k1/5ppp/3b4/1ppP3q/3p4/2PP2Pb/1P1B1PQP/R2BR1K1 b – – 0 1