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

Damjanovic v Hort Kecskemet 23/1/1964

Solution

Whte played 1 Nf2 and eventually won. But 1 Rh7+! would have been more efficient: 1…Rh7 2 Nf6 hits the Q, the R, and threatens 2 Qg6 mate. 1…Kh7 2 Nf6+ wins the Q.

FEN

7R/6rp/3pp2k/1p1qb2P/4NpP1/1P3P2/P1Q3K1/8 w – – 0 37