Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from the Candidates tournament.

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: Ding played 1 Rdd2 and lost; if instead 1 d4 cd, then what?

Ding v Wang FIDE Candidates Tournament, Yekaterinburg, 17/3/2020

Solution

1 d4! cd (1…Rd4 was considered yesterday) 2 Rc2!! a move I wouldn’t have seen.

FEN

3b4/3r2p1/1p2k1r1/pPp1Pp1p/P4P1P/3PNK2/R7/3R4 w – – 0 40