Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is a further look at yesterday’s game from the TCEC final.

As is my custom, I only say 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

Stockfish v LeelaZero 19/5/19

Solution

1 Rb7!!

Beautiful. It turns out that this is an exchange sacrifice.

1…Qb7 2 Qf8+ Rg8 3 Qh6

and the threats on f7, h7 and to promote the f-pawn meant Black had nothing better than 3…Be8 4 f7 Qf7, giving the Q up:

White won about 30 moves later.

Clearly, I have only given the game continuation: I think deep analysis is needed to understand Stockfish’s conception.

FEN

2q4k/p2b3p/2nQpPrn/3p1pN1/2pP4/2P5/2P1BPP1/1R4K1 w – – 0 27