Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from one of my recent games.

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: evaluate 1….Be8

Reg Clucas v Allan Beardsworth, Bramhall 11/2/2020

Solution

I played 1…Re2+ and won, but I considered and decided against 1…Be8 because of 2 f7: White either wins the Bishop back, or queens his pawn.

But no: 1…Be8! is Komodo’s first choice and if 2 f7 Re2+!!

Either the rook is not captured, in which case 2…Kg7 and the Re2 guards e8 whilst the King guards f8; or the rook is captured, when the zwischenschach 3..Bb5+ wins since 4…Kg7 guards the now sole queening square.

Lovely. And it would have been impossible for me to have seen.

FEN

8/6Rp/5P1k/1b6/1P6/4K3/7r/8 b – – 0 46