Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from an old edition of Chess Magazine. I don’t know which one, because, as is my habit, from time to time I photocopy a page to solve on walks or on trains etc; and my copy doesn’t show the magazine date.

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

K Kulaots v Gu Xiaobing, Hastings 6/1/2013

Solution

1 Bh6! is the key, the move you more or less have to play.  Black can’t capture it, so 1…Ne8 or 1…Nh5 are the only choices.

The lines are a true forest; I have spent a long while working through Black’s many defences (1…Ne8 2 Rg7! being best, but there is still a fight); one for any readers who are interested to self-study.

FEN

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