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, after 1…Qh6, yesterday’s puzzle

Examine why 2 Re8+ is equal (or at least, lets the game go on)

Montell v Serrano, Spain 1962

Solution

2 Re8+ Re8 3 cd Qd2 4 Qh3 Re1+ 5 Kg2[] and I saw that after 5..Rd1 6 Qc8+ Black had Bd6-f8 and no back rank mate.

However, examine one move further: the Black Q and R aren’t coordinated, there are no good checks, so 6 Qc8+ Bf8 7 Ra8! changes the picture.

White wins.

So 5…Rd1?? would have been a blunder, hence it is level

FEN

2r1r1k1/5ppp/3b3q/1ppP4/3p4/2PP2Pb/1P1B1PQP/R2BR1K1 w – – 0 2