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: yesterday, the solution was given as 1 Ne6 fe 2 Rc7+, exchange on h8, and promote or win the exchange. What was wrong with that solution?

Szabo v Dozsa, Budapest 28/5/1962

Solution

1..Ne4! and the game is equal: 2 Rc7 Kg8 and White can’t progress.

The book doesn’t mention this cook, so I wonder if the players, or Richter, knew?

FEN

7r/5p1k/4N1p1/3Pp1P1/p3P3/Pp4n1/1P6/1KR5 b – – 0 38