Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from the book of Andor Lillienthal’s games which I recently wrote about.

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.

Which game is the position on the book cover from?

I decided to use Chessbase’s search function to find the game. Using position search, I found out that it was from Lilienthal v Smyslov, Candidates match, game 1, Budapest 11/4/1950.

White to play

Lilienthal v Smyslov, Candidates match, game 1, Budapest 11/4/1950.

Solution

Examine all biffs means that 1 hg! has to be examined; it doesn’t win- Black can defend by 1…hg, and the game goes on. If instead 1…Qg4? then 2 Bf7+ and if 2…Kf8, 3 Bh6 mate; or 2…Kh8, 3 g7 is mate.

FEN

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