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: how to meet 1…Bf4, as played in the game?

Paravyan D v Golubov S, St Petersburg Korchnoi Memorial op 20/8/2018

Solution

1…Bf4 2 Qc7!!

If 2…Bc7 then 3 g5 smothered mate; if 2…Be6 then 3 Qf4+; so 2…Bh6 was played, met with by 3 Qe5+ Kg5[]

4 Rg3! or 4 h4+ and mates.

White, David Paravyan, is the winner of the recent Gibraltar 2020 tournament.

FEN

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