White to Play
Published in Chess Puzzles
Some chess players see composed problems as not being practical. Here’s one that certainly is and looks composed, but it tests a player’s ability to use some very practical themes from normal play. Here’s a mate in three that does a good job with that.
Solution:
In this composition by Wurzburger (1947), you find that the solution includes practical themes such as zugzwang, pins, discovered check and epaulette mates: 1.Rc6 b6+ [1...Nf5 2.Qxb7+ Rbxb7 (2...Kxb7 3.Rxc5# (a very unusual form of the epaulette mate: two of the king's escape squares are blocked by the rooks on his majesty's shoulders.); 2...Raxb7 3.Rxa6#) 3.Rc8#; 1...Rh8 2.Qc8+ Rxc8 3.Rxc8#]2.Rxb6+ Rbb7 3.Qc8#
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