Daily chess puzzle

Today’s puzzle is from the penultimate round of the British Chess Championships. The blog was prepared live during the round, and as is my custom, is posted in arrears.

White to play

Stephen Gordon v Justin Tan. British Championships, Torquay, 3rd August 2019

Solution

1 Nc6! a move which involves a lot of calculation.

Justin played 1…Kf8, but if instead he had played 1…Rc6, which seemingly wins a piece, then 2 bc Qd4 3 Qb8+ Qd8 4 c7! and the pawn promotes.

Importantly, Black doesn’t have a perpetual check, either.