Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from the currently ongoing Batumi Olympiad. I am writing this message live as I watch the games, though it will be posted on my site in several days’ time, since I write my blogs some days in advance.

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

Radjabov v Sargissian, Ajerbaijan v Armenia, round 5 28/9/18

Solution

1 f5! and if

1…ef 2 Bg8+ Kh8[] 3 gf!

Black loses his bishop.

So Black instead played 1…Bf7 and lost an important pawn and soon converted.

FEN

3R4/ppr3pk/1np1p1bp/8/5PP1/1BN4P/PP6/6K1 w – – 0 28
wKg1,Nc3,Bb3,Rd8,Pa2,b2,f4,g4,h3/bKh7,Nb6,Bg6,Rc7,Pa7,b7,c6,e6,g7,h6