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.

Black to play: choose from 1…Kf8 or 1…Kg7; 1…Kg7 was played in the game

Gelfand v Adams, Israel v England Batumi Round 8, 2/10/18

Solution

Mickey played 1…Kg7, the better move, and as I write this blog, the game goes on, with him having the worst of an ending, which I am hoping he can hold.

1..Kf8 would have been a blunder. 2 a5 and if 2…Bb5, 3 Bf7 and whichever way Black recaptures, the Bb5 falls to a check with fork. e.g. 3…Qf7 4 Qc5+, which is the difference between the two first moves: after 1…Kg7 there is no forking Qc5-+.

Note that the Ne4 guards f2, and the Qb5 guards b1, so there is no Qa2+-Qb1+ Q*e4. White consolidates.

After both 1…Kf8 or 1…Kg7, after 2 b5 Bb5 3 Bf7 Kf7? loses to 4 Qb3+. The difference between the moves is the Qc5+ after 1…Kf8.

FEN

4b1k1/p3qn2/6p1/1P1Bp2p/P3N3/4Q1PP/7K/8 b – – 0 38
wKh2,Qe3,Ne4,Bd5,Pa4,b5,g3,h3/bKg8,Qe7,Nf7,Be8,Pa7,e5,g6,h5