Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is was seen on Twitter, posted my Mikhail Golubev. I felt it worth preserving.

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

Golubev v Feingold, 3-0 blitz, chesscom, December 2019

Solution

A nice one, and had Mikhail spotted the combination in a blitz game is beyond me. I tried various checks, none of which worked, until changing the order of the moves and playing 1 Rhg3!.

The nice point is that if 1…Rf6 then there is a smothered mate with 2 Rg8+ and 3 R3g7 mate; other tries by Black lose to discovered checks.

FEN

r1b2r1k/6R1/2p1pB1p/2np3q/4P3/1pN4R/PPP2P1P/2K5 w – – 0 1