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

Galeb v Cornelis, Varna Olympiad 26/10/1966

Solution

1..b4 and Black breaks through to c1, or the pawn promotes: the game continued 2 Rd5 bc 3 Rc5 cb and the pawn queens next move.

White now played 4 Qh5, whereas 4 Rf5 would have limited Black’s advantage, at least according to my engine. White’s king can get to g3, and might be safe. After 4 Qh5, the black rook swings to b8 and down to the first or second rank, winning.

FEN

5rk1/6pp/p7/1pqb1p2/4p3/2N1P2Q/PP1R2PP/6K1 b – – 0 28