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…Ra7, as played in the game

Tal v Suttles, Sukhumi 24/8/1972

Solution

1…Ra7 was met by 2 Qf6+ Kg8[] 3 Ng5

White threatens 4 Ne6 or 4 Nh7, so 4…Qd7 is forced, but then 5 Rd8 and Black has no good reply. If 5…Qc7 then 6 Ne6 all the same.

Though my engine says 6 Rf8+ is mate in 9, and so it appears to be.

FEN

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