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

Minic v Vukic, Vrnjacka Banja 1966

Solution

This position isn’t in CHOD’s book, but was seen in Megabase whilst trying to find the game played between these two players in 1967.

White played 1 Nf5 and drew.

But 1 Ne4! would have won: the same idea, of reaching d6, but with an additional threat of exchanging the Nd4 and Nf6: which gives the Queen access to d5.

For e

The double attack on the LPDO Ra8 and e8 (threat Re8+) is too great.

FEN

r1k2b1r/p2n1Np1/1p2Qn1p/2p5/qP3B1P/6N1/P1P2PP1/4R1K1 w – – 0 21