Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from the March 1979 Chess magazine. I have hundreds (many hundreds) of magazines on my book shelves, and I thought I would dip into them; and thought I would start with this magazine from forty years back.

As is my custom, I only say 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

Skorpik v Vinklar, Czechoslovakia 1978

Solution

No prizes for the first two moves, but it is the follow which matters.

1 Bh7+ Kh7[] 2 Qh5+ Kg8[]

3 Re3! or 3 Re4! – the rook lift and decides. 3 Nf7 Rf7 4 g6 Bh4! is only +=.

FEN

2rq1rk1/pp1bbppp/4p3/4N1P1/1nPP4/3B4/P4P1P/R1BQR1K1 w – – 0 1