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: in the game, 1…Rc5?? was played: what should he have played instead?

Ott v Bozdoghina, 1962

Solution

1…R (either) e6 forces mate on h3 or h1.

FEN

4r1k1/p6p/2p5/2N1r1p1/1PP1p1P1/4Rp2/P4PbK/4R3 b – – 0 1