Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem was seen in a Youtube video by Var Akobian; I was impressed with Akobian’s style of lecturing in his recent Gibraltar 2018 Masterclass, and have since looked him up on Youtube.

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.

Black to play

White threatens Ba6-d3, and then winning the N; with a likely win. What to do?

Psakhis v Speelman, Hastings 1987

Solution

Jon played the wonderful 1…g5 2 Ba6 f4! 3 Bd3 Rd3! 4 ed Rd3 5 Ke2

5…Rd5 the point being 6 Rd1? f3+!

A really imaginative way to save the stranded N.

FEN

3r4/1B2k2p/1p1r2p1/p1p2p2/P7/1P4P1/4PP1P/1R1nBK2 b – – 0 29