It’s Your Move: daily chess puzzle # 199

White to play and win

Ek- Gaprindashvili, Goteberg 1967-68

Solution

I chose the unflashy 1 b4! which, on checking, my engine thinks it best- White biffs the Nc5, then plays 2 b5, biffing his friend on c6, and wins the Pe7.

Ek played the flashier 1 Be7! which I had not even considered:1…Kh8 2 Ne7 wins the same e7 pawn. Black can mess things up a bit with Ne4, which is untouchable, but a pawn in a pawn.

Despite having now seen the game continuation, I still prefer 1 b4.