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: examine 1 Re5+, as played in the game

Batuyev v Simagin, Riga 1954

Solution

1 Re5+?? loses ( 1 Ra8 instead) after 2…Kf2 and White’s king is in a mating net.

If say 2 a4 then 2…Rh1+! 3 Bh1[] Nf1 mate.

FEN

8/8/8/R7/7p/1P2k1nP/P5BK/3r4 w – – 0 1