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…d4. Examine 2 g5 de

Blau v Kanko, Olympiad 11/11/1966

Solution

3 gf! Qf3[] and now 4 Rg7+ is only equal, but throwing one more piece into the party, 4 Nd5!, wins.

5 Ne7+ and if 5…Kh8 6 fg mate is threatened, so White regains the Q. No more needs to be calculated.

Note that 4 Rg7+ Kh8[] 5 Bd3 fails to 5…e4 and if 6 Be4, 6…Qf4+ 7 Kb1 Bf5 and Black wins. 6 Nd5 is level; and 5 Nd5 is advantage white, in this line.

FEN

r1b2rk1/1pq1bppp/p4n2/3pp3/4PPP1/2N2Q2/PPP2B1P/2KR1BR1 w – – 0 14