Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from the recent Grenke Classic.

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

Caruana- Hou Yifan, Baden-Baden 6/4/2018

Solution

Hou Yifan played 1…a5 and the game was eventually drawn.

However, White’s last move (1 Bc6-b7) was a losing mistake; White should have played 1 Kb2-c1, when I don’t know if the ending is a win for Black after 1..Ne2+2 Kb2 Kd2 3 Bb7 Nc3 4 Ba6 -looks likely it is a win)

But after 1 Bb7 Hou Yifan missed a truly beautiful win, which I wonder if anyone would spot in a game, especially after the hours played before. 1…Kd2 2 Ba6 Nd3+!!

3 cd and…now what? Solution tomorrow.

FEN

8/1B6/p7/1p1p4/2p2n2/P1P1k3/1KP5/8 b – – 0 64