Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from the recent Aeroflot Open.

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

Esipenko v Salomon, Moscow 25/2/18

Solution

1 Qe7+!! wins immediately. The Nc6 is tied to defending the Rd8: so 1…Ne7 2 Rd8 mate.

Black’s last move was Rc8-d8. My engine says that instead a5 would have left White with a good edge. I suspect if I left the engine on for a while, it would give White a bigger advantage.

FEN

b2rk2r/p2R1p2/1pn1pp2/7q/4P3/QNP3P1/P4PB1/3R2K1 w – – 0 26