Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem was one seen on Twitter. A really tough puzzle, or at least it took me a good while, including setting pieces up on the board, and a few sitting and staring attempts until the lightbulb moment struck.

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

“Benji2 v IM Thomas Rendle, London November 2018

Solution

1….Bd4 is the unnatural, surprising, move which wins a pawn. It took me a while to see it, having tried and tried again to capture with a N on e5, or play Nd4, or …g5, or play ….f6.

I should remember to examine all biffs.

FEN

r1bqk2r/pppn1ppp/2n1p3/2bpP3/8/3P1NP1/PPPNQP1P/R1B1KB1R b KQkq – 0 7