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

Nepomniachtchi v Ding FIDE Candidates Tournament, Yekaterinburg, 23/3/2020

Solution

The first move White could play is 1 R6b2, but 1…Qb2! is an easy-to-spot tactic, since the Rb1 is tied to the first rank.

The second move I looked at for White is 1 Rb8, but then the fantastic 1…Re5! holds the balance, due to the back rank mate threat.

White has to play Rd8+ Rh8+! Qc8+ Qh3 wjem je jas a Carlsenesque advanntage:

FEN

3b2k1/5pp1/1RQ5/r7/3p4/3P2Pp/4qP1P/1R5K w – – 0 35