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

Samisch v Koch, Berlin 1930s

Solution

1 Rd5! Qd5[] 2 Qe7 Qf7[] 3 Bc4! deflecting the Rc8 3…Rc4[] 4 Qd8+ 1-0

FEN

2r3k1/1p1q3p/p5pB/3bPpQ1/PP2p3/2p4P/4B3/3R2K1 w – – 0 1