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: compare 1 Re6 fe and 1 Re6 Rc8 2 h3 fe

Olsson v Puig, Varna Olympiad Preliminaries, 25/9/1962

Solution

(a) 1 Re6 fe?? loses to 2 Rg7+ Kh8[] 3 Rg6

Black’s best is to lose his Q by playing 3…Qf6, since both 4 Qg7 mate and 4 Rh6+/5Qh7 mate were threatened.

(b)  1 …Rc8 2 h3 fe draws. 3 Rg7+ Kh8[] 5 Rg6 and now Black has 5…Qc7! spoiling White’s plans.

White’s best is perpetual check with Rh6+/Rg6+; or he could try Re6; if 6 Qd4+ e5 7 Qh4 then 7…Qc1+ and 8….Qf4+ and the Qs come off: the ending after a few pawns come off looks equal/unclear:

FEN

1r1q1rk1/Q3Rpp1/3p2bp/1p1B4/8/8/PP3PPP/4R1K1 w – – 0 25