Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from one of my collection of chess cuttings. For perhaps 20 years I have been cutting articles out to read later, and rarely get round to it. The pile is (or the piles are) now embarrassingly large, so for part of the time I have available for chess I am reading through them, and will blog about interesting things or positions from them.

Where known, I will say where the cutting was from. Normally I will be able to tell this. Sometimes, though, I for example only cut out the puzzle and might not know.

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.

Black to play: evaluate 1…Nb6, with the idea 2…Ra8

Tal v Suttles, Sukhumi 24/8/1972

Solution

1…Nb6 is met by 2 Qf6+ Kg8[] 3 Ng5 and if 3…Ra8 then 4 Ne6! wins.

Either the queen falls, or Black is mated by 5 Qg7+, the Bf8 being pinned by the Re8.

Very nice.

FEN

4Rb2/1pq2pkp/4p1p1/r1p1P1Q1/n1P5/P4N1P/1P3PP1/6K1 b – – 0 31