Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from the current Stiges tournament; a postion seen on Twitter.

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.

Balck to play: resigned: should he have?

Dennis Wagner v Maxime Lagarde, Stiges December 2019

Solution

No!

1…Rh7 (with the idea of Rb7) 2 Bd5 (preventing it) 2…Rb7!! all the same! 3 Bb7 stalemate.

Of course, White doesn’t need to capture on b7, and depending on the 50 move count, could torture Black a while, but a nice example of imagination in defence.

FEN

8/8/4B2r/k1K5/4R3/8/8/8 b – – 0 1