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

Pachman v Gunnatsson, 4/2/1967 Vrnjacka Banja

Solution

1 Rdd7+! Rd7[] 2 Qb5! 1-0

There is an optical illusion here: 1 Rcd7 looks just as good, with the same idea, 1….Rd7[] 2Qb5 but, oops!, 2…Re7! and the same pin-based trick doesn’t work. White would have to rely on winning the rook ending after exchanging queens, checking and capturing the Pb7.

FEN

3rq3/ppRr2kp/3Rp1p1/4Pp2/2Q2P2/1P6/P5PP/6K1 w – – 0 26