Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from the current European Team Championships.

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.

Black to play

Erwin L’Ami v Luke McShane European Team Championships, Batumi, Georgia, 27th October 2019

Solution

My move of the day from this round of the European Team Championships.

Luke played 1…Nf6! sacrificing the g-pawn, a move I wouldn’t ave considered. But, just like AlphaZero, the loss of a pawn equals an open line to attack: Black can put his R and Q on g7 and g8, bearing down on g2.

Erwin took the Pg5, and my engine says White is better, but very quickly Black was winning.

FEN

r2qn2k/p2bbr1p/1p1p4/3Pp1p1/P1PpN3/3B1P2/1P1B2PP/R2Q1RK1 b – – 0 27