Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from an old edition of Chess Magazine. I don’t know which one, because, as is my habit, from time to time I photocopy a page to solve on walks or on trains etc; and my copy doesn’t show the magazine date.

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

Samborski v Renkowski, Pokrzywna 7/9/2018

Solution

I would play 1..Kg3 or 1..Kg2 “at random”; in fact, I would likely play 1…Kg3 just to be “nearer” to the Pf4; and not 1..Kg2, the move played in the game.

Well, 1…Kg2 is a draw, the game result; whilst 1…Kg3 wins. The difference turns out to be that after 1…Kg3, 2 Nd3 is met by 2..f3, and the b-pawn is poisoned, since 2..f2 3 Ke2 Kg2 and the f-pawn promotes.

Whereas after 1…Kg2 2 Nd3 f3 3 Nb4! is possible.

3…f2 4 Nc2! or 4 Nd5! and a Ne3+ forks if the Pawn is promoted (other than to a N).

Chess is a very deep game!

FEN

8/8/8/2N5/1p3p1p/5k1P/3K4/8 b – – 0 63