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A puzzle of sorts

A puzzle of sorts

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venda
Dave

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There was an interesting "puzzle" in my newspaper this weekend.
It's from an actual game and the question is "white's best move" so it's not a "checkmate in n" type puzzle I could put in the puzzle section.
Apparently Stockfish found the "best move"eventually and a human came up with the same answer after several hours of analysing with the help of a computer!!.
I think some on here would be interested.
White to play
After the move there's still several moves before a checkmate or winning position situation as there's quite a few logical continuations.
I think I have got the "fen" right , after Russ told me how to do it and I could put the move as a "hidden" I think, but first I thought some of you experts might want a go without the temptation
Here goes:-

E

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@venda

I looked at this for 30 seconds and would play Qe1

venda
Dave

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@eladar said
@venda

I looked at this for 30 seconds and would play Qe1
You would be wrong

K

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your intro doesn't inspire confidence that I'll be able to solve this but how about

1. Bd7, threatening both the rook and a b5 push, with Ra1 to follow.

E

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@venda said
You would be wrong
Figured

E

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@KingMe

I considered that one too.

c

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I can't see an immediate winning position for white or black. White can try Bf5 then Qh3 to Qg4 but black will have Bxe2 and also black is threatening the b pawn and once black can get to c5 he can attack f2.

I don't like the position for either black or white i.e Queen on F1 or Queen on a8.

greenpawn34

e4

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@venda said
[fen]q2rr1k1/2R1bpp1/bp5p/3pB3/1P2n3/5NPB/4PP1P/3R1QK1 w - - 0 1 [/fen]


b5 and if Bxb5 Ra1 the BQ is short of squares with a few tactical shots on.

E

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@greenpawn34

Why not simply return the bishop to a6?

Seems Ra1 would do the same job without giving up the pawn.

E

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1.Bd7 Rf8 2.Bc6 Qb3 3.Re7

I think that looks bad for black

So 1.Bd7 Rxd7 1.Rxd7 wins the exchange for white and escapes a worse road for black.

greenpawn34

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HI Eladar,

The pawn sac gains a tempo. If White plays Ra1 right away it is Black's move.

If after Ra1 Black plays Ba6 it is White's move. (the most powerful thing
in chess is having the move. Bonstein said that.)

I may not be on the right track but is where I looking. The pawn sac is a forcing
move, it cannot be ignored, The BQ is short of squares. I tried to connect the two.

E

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E

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Looks like your line forces the discovered attack on the queen as white takes black' s bishop with his rook.

greenpawn34

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Hi Eladar,

Don't know If I am anywhere near close. Opening post indicates it is deep.
I just look for forcing moves, checks, pawn and piece sacs and go from there.
The clues hints it is not a tactical two move trick.

venda
Dave

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@kingme said
your intro doesn't inspire confidence that I'll be able to solve this but how about
[hidden] 1. Bd7, threatening both the rook and a b5 push, with Ra1 to follow. [/hidden]
Not correct I'm afraid

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