It’s Your Move: daily chess puzzle #241

Evaluate 1 Bc7

Tuk v Assenova, Lublin 1969

Solution

White probably thought that the threat of a back rank mate meant that he had won a clear pawn, but after 1 Bc7 Rc7 2 Rb4 and even Rc1+ Black survives. 3 Rc1[] ab and now I think the rook and pawn ending is level, despite White’s present extra pawn. Black’s rook gets sufficient activity, and White’s King is tied down. However, Black has even better, by 2…Rac8!! he unpins his a pawn, and threatens back rank mate: White loses his Rb4.

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