Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is something I saw whilst browsing through Jacob Aagaard’s Grandmaster Preparation: Calculation.

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

Berczes v Tikkanen, Stockholm 2010

Solution

Tikkanen played 1…Re2? and lost a long ending after 2 Nf3. He had the spectacular 1…Re1+!!

The idea is clear, as soon as the move is seen: 2 Re1[] Rd8 with the idea of Rd1 and promoting the pawn.

Jacob’s line doesn’t end there, and there are some fantastic further lines, which I will leave for readers of his book.

To my mind, yet another example of CJS Purdy’s examine all biffs mantra.

FEN

r3r3/5Rpp/p1k5/P1p5/7N/6P1/2p2P1P/2R3K1 b – – 0 1