Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from the C.H.O’D. Alexander’s 1973 book”The Penguin Book of Chess Positions”, a book I devoured (and loved) as a child.

I thought I would use it for more of my daily training.

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.

White to play

Lewis v Rubin, South Africa 1962

Solution

1 Qd7! double attacking the LPDO Qe7 and LPDO Rc8; 1…Rc7 2 Qc7!

2…Qc7[] 3 e7 is another double attack, 1-0.

Or 1…Qd7 2 ed Rb8 (2..Rc7 3 Re8+ Kf7 4 Rd8 Ke7 5 Rg8 wins) 3 Re8+ Kf7 and Black is in zugzwang. White will promote a pawn, slowly.

Black can never move his N, since if ..Nc6, then Rb8 Nb8[] d8(Q)

FEN

2rn2k1/4q1p1/p3P3/1ppQ4/8/1PP5/P4PPP/4R1K1 w – – 0 1