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

Tal v a.n. other, USSR 1964

Solution

I missed Tal’s beautiful solution, but found a more prosaic one which Komodo says is just as good: 1 Qf8+ Kf6[] 2 Bd4+ and check, check, check and 1-0.

But 1 Bb6!!

1…ab 2 Qd8 mate;

1…Qb6 2 Qh4+ Rf6 (2…f6 3 Qh7+ ) 3 Qb4+! and mates: 1…Qb6 removes the Black Queen’s protection of the Bb4.

FEN

2R4Q/pp1bkp2/4p1r1/qN1p4/Pb6/4B3/1P3PPP/6K1 w – – 0 1