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

Simagin v Furman. Sochi 1961

Solution

Simagin played 1 Qh8+ and won a long game. Instead,

1 Rg6! would have concluded the game immediately: it protects g3, and if 1…Kg6, 2 e8(Q)+ queens with check.

1 Qe5 is also a prosaic way to win. If then 1…Qc4 (eyeing f1) then 1 Rd1; and if 1…Qb1 (eyeing f1 and h1) then now 2 Qh8+! wins.

FEN

6k1/2p5/1p1p4/3P2Pb/r1P5/P1RKP1R1/1Q6/5r1q b – – 0 1