Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem was one I saw on Twitter, re=posted by Simon Williams, being a composition by Yochanan Afek.

I’ve just come home from my first visit of 2018 to London; for me, no trip there is complete without popping into Malcolm’s Pein’s shop and buying some books. This time, amongst those I bought were two by Yochanan. If I find the date of composition of this study I will update my blog.

Since the start of 2018, I have decided to adopt the style of only saying which side is to play: and not giving an idea if the move wins or otherwise, unless on occasion I think signposting would be helpful. Instead, the problems are posed with the instruction to decide what you would play, as in a game.

White to play

Composition, Yochanan Afek

Solution

After trying more obvious moves (1 Ka2? Rb2+! and 2 Kb2 stalemate; or 1 Nb8 stalemate; and tries such as 1 Ka1/ 1 Nb6+….I turned to a move I had seen immediately, but just as immediately rejected. But, for want of others, it merited looking at again:

1 Bb5+!

1…Kb5 frees the king from its stalemate nest, so 1..Rb5+[] 2 Ka2 and then the point is revealed: Black has no none-losing rook moves: zugzwang, 1-0.

FEN

1r6/3N4/8/p5p1/k5P1/P7/1K2B3/8 w – – 0 1