Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from the recent Shamkir tournament

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: what would you play?

Ding v Mamedov, Shamkir 27/4/18

Solution

Mamedov had 9 minutes left on his clock to reach move 40: White has just played 37 Ra7+. Black only has three choices:

1…Rf7

If I were Black, I would rule out

1…Rf7 because of 2 Rf7+ Kf7[] 3 Re4

I don’t know if White is winning, but I wouldn’t like to defend. I don’t know enough about R+P endings to know if any of the simplified R+2P v R endings will be drawn or lost.

1..Kf6

I might play this, but I might not.  On 50% of days I would play it, and go for “king in the centre” and on 50% of days, I would go for “king in the corner for safety”.

1…Kf6 happens to be best: the game goes on, with the Pf2 falling.

1…Kh6??

Is the move played, and now it is 1-0.

I will go through some of the lines tomorrow.

FEN

4R3/R5k1/6p1/8/3Ppr2/7P/1r3PK1/8 b – – 0 37
wKg2,Ra7,e8,Pd4,f2,h3/bKg7,Rb2,f4,Pe4,g6