Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from an old edition of the British Chess Magazine

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, after Black plays 1…Rd6 here.

Gelfand v Ivanchuk, Sochi 11/8/2008

Solution

1…Bd6

2 Qh5! a lovely move, hitting f7.

2…Bd7 (2…Be6 3 Qg6+ Kh8 4 Qh7 mate).

3 e5! Be8[] 3 Qf3!

3…Rdd8 keeping the defence of the Pd5.

4 Qf5!  (4 e6 also wins) Bg7[] 5 Qg4! Bf7[] 6 e6!  1-0.

I presume, in awe, that Boris saw all the combination through to the end.

FEN

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