allanbeardsworth

Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from the 1972 book “Chess Combination as a Fine Art”, a book based on articles published in the 1950s-1960s by Kurt Richter.

Since the start of 2018, I have decided to adopt the style of only saying 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

Unknown players, England, 1962

Solution

1 Qg5+ is a move that has to be tried, and does indeed win. 1…Bf6[] 2 hg+ Kh5[]

3 Rh8![] (when solving this puzzle, I got it wrong, playing 3 Rg7 with the same idea, but 3…Qc8+ refutes it).

It is mate either by 4 g4 or 4 Rh7, unless Black desperadoes his Queen.

FEN

6R1/5p1p/5bpk/8/5PQP/1pq3PK/8/8 w – – 0 1

Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from the 1972 book “Chess Combination as a Fine Art”, a book based on articles published in the 1950s-1960s by Kurt Richter.

Since the start of 2018, I have decided to adopt the style of only saying 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.

Black to play: analyse 1..Bc5, as played in the game.

Miszto v Kloza, USSR v Poland 1955

Solution

1…Bc5?? loses, but only to a beautiful move. My engine tells me that 1…Re5 was equal, and that does indeed look likely after the fairly forced 2 Be5 Qe5 3 Rg7 Rg7- or zwischenschach 3…Qf6+, to prevent 4 Qd8+, not that it needs to be prevented).

2 Qh7+!! is a lovely finale.

2…Kh7[] 3 Rg7+ Kh8 (3…Kh6? 4 R1g6 mate)

And then check, check, check…mate.

FEN

4rb1k/1p4r1/2p5/p2q3p/3B4/P2Q2R1/5K2/6R1 b – – 0 1

Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from the 1972 book “Chess Combination as a Fine Art”, a book based on articles published in the 1950s-1960s by Kurt Richter.

Since the start of 2018, I have decided to adopt the style of only saying 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.

Black to play: analyse 1..Qf6, as played in the game.

Taimanov v Milic, USSR v Yugoslavia 1966

Solution

Black is lost anyway after e.g. 1 … Ng3+, but 1… Qf6 loses to an under promotion. 2 e7! and after 2..Qd6, 3 e8[N)+ forks king and queen.

FEN

8/5pk1/3QP1pp/p1p4n/8/2q4P/3NK1P1/8 b – – 0 1

Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from the 1972 book “Chess Combination as a Fine Art”, a book based on articles published in the 1950s-1960s by Kurt Richter.

Since the start of 2018, I have decided to adopt the style of only saying 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.

Black to play: analyse 1…Rg5+

Bannik v Cherepov, USSR 1961

Solution

1…Rg5+ 2 Rg2 Qc5+ 3 Qf2 is the ‘main line’

Then 3…Ree2! Is the very pretty key.

After 4 Qc5 Rgg2+ it is smothered mate in 2.

White has plenty of other defences, and I spent a happy while finding the precise move orders to defeat them. My readers might enjoy the same exercise; White does need a modicum of care to ensure neither a back rank mate or a simplification.

FEN

4r2k/6p1/2q4p/p3r3/2P5/1P6/P1Q2R2/5RK1 b – – 0 1

Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from the 1972 book “Chess Combination as a Fine Art”, a book based on articles published in the 1950s-1960s by Kurt Richter.

Since the start of 2018, I have decided to adopt the style of only saying 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.

Black to play

Volvo v Sherwin, USA 1964

Solution

Not a great puzzle today, since 1…a5 2 Qc5 Rd2 is winning, but ‘clearly’ the book included the game because of 1…Qh4! which is very ‘spectacular’. After White’s best 1 Qa3 (White played weaker in the game) Black plays 1…Rf2 and is much better, winning, but not immediately.

White is tied down and Black’s passed pawns roll.

FEN

8/1pp1kp1p/p2r1p1q/4pb2/1Q6/8/PPP3rP/1K1RNR2 b – – 0 1

Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from the 1972 book “Chess Combination as a Fine Art”, a book based on articles published in the 1950s-1960s by Kurt Richter.

Since the start of 2018, I have decided to adopt the style of only saying 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, played 1 Qc5; examine

Castagna v Marcus, Berne 1965

Solution

1Qc5? is a mistake since 1…g5! diverts the Bishop, breaking its pin of the d6 pawn. In the game White played 2 Re8 met with 2…Qb1+ after which White resigned.

FEN

1q2nrk1/5pbp/3p2p1/p1pP4/2Q2B2/2P3P1/P4PBP/4R1K1 w – – 0 1

Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from the 1972 book “Chess Combination as a Fine Art”, a book based on articles published in the 1950s-1960s by Kurt Richter.

Since the start of 2018, I have decided to adopt the style of only saying 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.

Black to play: played 1…Re8. Analyse

Böök v Koponen Helsinki 1961

Solution

Black’s position is lost anyway, but 1…Re8 is met by 2 ef! and after 2…Qe2 3 f7+ Kf8 4 Bg7+! wraps the game up.

FEN

1br3k1/1R4pp/pp2qn2/4P3/P7/1P4P1/1B2Q2P/1B4K1 b – – 0 1

Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from the 1972 book “Chess Combination as a Fine Art”, a book based on articles published in the 1950s-1960s by Kurt Richter.

Since the start of 2018, I have decided to adopt the style of only saying 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.

Black to play

Kleist v Wilke Saarbrücken 1958

Solution

1…Qf4! and after say 2 gf, 2…Bg8 traps White’s Queen, and Black emerges material up.

For instance, the final position after exchanges could well be as below, when Black mops up, for instance by …d4.

FEN

r3rk2/p4bbQ/6Bp/3pq3/2p2R2/4PPP1/Pp3P2/1K5R b – – 0 1