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

Leenhouts v Van Wely, Amsterdam 5/7/2018

Solution

White missed the best move, but won after a melee anyway. But 1 Ra8+! is a standard tactic; either diverting the K (1…Ka8 2 Qa4+ 3 Qa7+ 4 Qb6 and mate) or putting the B on an unfortunate square (1…Ba8 2 Qa4 and either 2..Bb7 met as before, or Qa7+ Q*a8)

FEN

1k1r1br1/1b1p3p/1p2p1qP/1N4p1/2PP3n/1Q3p2/1P4PN/R1B2RK1 w – – 0 21