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.

Today’s problem comes from a photocopy I took of some long-forgotten book.

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: played 1…Rh1

Tal v unknown, simul, date unknown

Solution

1….Rh1 was met by 2 gf!! a point being that if 2…Rd1+ 3 Nd1!! wins.

If 3…Qd2 then 4 fg!!: the Queen and Rook can do no harm, and meanwhile g8(Q) mate is threatened: 1-0.

That’s Tal.

FEN

2r1k2r/1p1bppb1/p2p1np1/q3n1P1/3NP3/2N1BP2/PPPQB3/1K1R3R b k – 0 1