Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from the April 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 going 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.

Black to play

Alan Ludgate v John Littlewood, Blackpool 1979

Solution

1…Bh3!!; superb, by one of my childhood heroes.

2 Bh3 Rd8! 3 Qe1 Re2!

and White is in zugzwang.

e.g. 4 Rf2 Re2! 5 Re2 Nf3+ picks up the queen.

FEN

1rb2bk1/5p1p/p5p1/4n1qn/Np2P3/1P4PP/P3N1BK/2RQ1R2 b – – 0 0