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

Salminsch v Dage, corres 1963

Solution

1 Bf6! Bf6 2 Nh7!

was the solution given, and one I found, knowing it was a puzzle; also liking the less strong 2 Re8+ Re8 3 Re8+ Kg7[] 4 Nh7 with the same idea.

My engine prefers 1 Qh3 with the cruel point that 1…h5 is met by 2 Qf3: 2…Ne4 3 Qf7+ and 4 Re4 1-0; h5 undefends the Pg6.

FEN

2r3k1/1rq1Bpbp/pp1p1np1/2pP2N1/P1P1R3/1Q6/1P3PPP/4R1K1 w – – 0 1