Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from the recent Aeroflot Open.

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.

White to play

Pranesh M v Savchenko B, Aeroflot Open, Moscow, 20/2/2020

Solution

White is 13 years old, 2425, but beat Boris Savchenko in 21 moves.

The gutsy move was here, 16 d5!: a move I hope I would have played if I had this position, and yet, at my level, a pawn is a pawn is a pawn. But it opens lines, to d4 and b5, and also blocks out Black’s queen.

FEN

r3kb1r/pp1nppp1/2p1b3/5qP1/3P1B1p/5N1P/PPPQ1PB1/R3R1K1 w kq – 0 16