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

Nick Pert v Ravi Haria, Newport Pagnall 5/11/2016

Solution

This one took me a while, to get the moves in the right order, making it “work”, but it was nice when it all clicked.

1 d5! ed[] 2 Re8

2..Re8 3 cb! ab[] 4 Nd4!

and White is dominating. Black chose 4…Ne5 which was met by 4 Be5 de 5 Nc6 ba 6 Qa4

FEN

2r1rbk1/1q1n1ppp/p1bppn2/1p6/PPPP4/3B1N1P/3N1PPB/2RQR1K1 w – – 0 19