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White to Play

Pete Tamburro on

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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