Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from the Octoer 1979 edition of Chess Magazine. I’ve gone back down memory lane, and enjoyed reading about the then stars, and future ones such as Short and Kasparov.

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

Andrew Law v van Dijk, Lloyds Bank Masters 1979

Solution

Andrew played 1 Bf4+! and Komodo tells me it is mate in 11; I think equally good, though Komodo says is only +26, was the move I decided upon, 1 h3. Both have the same idea, of preventing …Qg4 (though 1 h3 does permit the suicidal …Qd4-g4).

FEN

1r4k1/3bpp1p/p1R5/4PPB1/1r1q4/6Q1/P5PP/2R4K w – – 0 1