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

van der Wiel v Mateu, European Junior championships

Solution

1 Rg7+! (or 1 Ne7 and 2 Rg7+) Kg7[] 2 Ne7 (or 2 Rg1+, as in the game) and if 2…Qe4 3 Nd5 with a lethal pin; a point being 3…Qd5 4 Bf6+ picks up the Queen.

FEN

r1r5/1p2ppbk/p1qp1n1p/3N1P1P/3BP3/1P6/1PPQ4/2KR2R1 w – – 0 0