Black to Play
Pete Tamburro
on
Published in Chess Puzzles
Solution:
Pirc (pronounced “Peertz”) won this against Richter at Harzburg in 1938. Black’s first move certainly gets White’s attention—nothing like a mate threat!
1...Neg4 2.hxg4 [No better result comes from 2.Qg1 Nh5 (2...Re1is a dramatic alternative as well) 3.hxg4 Ng3+ 4.Kh2 Ne2+] 2...Nxg4 3.g3 [3.Qg1 Re1; 3.Qxg4 Re1#] 3...Qxg3 4.Qf1 g6 [Also devastating is 4...Qh4+ 5.Kg1 Re3 6.Rg2 Rh3] 5.Qg1 Qh3+ White Resigned here as 6.Rh2 Nxh2 7.Qxh2 Re1# A combination of bad piece placement, a weak back rank and weaknesses in the castled position allowed Black to take liberties with his knights.
Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.