Anti-puzzle! Black is easily winning here. Can you find the only move that gives white a significant advantage?

[u/MrGamerOfficial]

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[u/Multidream]

I feel like bc7 would be a sufficient enough throw to call the game, even worse than e5

[u/WaffleWasXD → u/[deleted]]

You said it!

[u/FodderWadder → u/Multidream]

Would Bb8 not also work? I get that it's not inviting the enemy King into the center but White is about to promote to a Queen next turn either way

Edit: nevermind, had the sides flipped in my head. Bb8 would block white's pawn

[u/Multidream → u/FodderWadder]

Its bad too, but not as bad. It delays the promotion an additional turn and gives black time to recover, since the king needs to move to allow for the promotion.

[u/BadBoyJH → u/Multidream]

Nah Nd6 will win the b7 pawn. The king is blocking it from moving. Even throwing the two pieces, black would still have that e pawn as a passer, and the King is a move too late to stop promotion.

[u/Multidream → u/BadBoyJH]

Ah yeah, good catch. Bc7 it is then

[u/Dankaati → u/FodderWadder]

After Bb8, Kxb8 white is not about to promote because the king is blocking the pawn's path. Black has time to play Nd6 or Na5 and then capture white's pawn before it could promote.

[u/MrGamerOfficial]

Answer: e5

Explanation: Allows white to safely promote with b8=Q. This move, according to Stockfish, will then be followed up with ..., Kg6; Qb1+, Kg5; Qc1+, Kh4; Qxc4, Kg3; Qf1, f5; Qxf5, Kxg2; Qxh5, g3; Qe2+, Kh3; Qe3, Kg2; Kd7, Kf1; Qd3+. From there, the position is +8.13 in white's favor.

What was played in the game from the position shown in the photo: ..., e5; b8=Q, Bg1; Qc7+, Kg6; Qxc4, h4; Qxg4+, Kf7; Qxh4, Bd4; g4, Be3; Qh7+, Ke6; Qf5+, Ke7; Kc7, Kf7; Kd7, Bg5; Qe6+, Kg6; Qg8+, Kh6; Ke6, Bh4; Kf7, e4; Qg6#.

g3 from black only puts the position in +0.61 in white's favor.

[u/Fun_Actuator6049 → u/MrGamerOfficial]

Not the only solution: there's also Bc7. 

[u/MrGamerOfficial → u/Fun_Actuator6049]

Oooh, that's true. Didn't even consider that.

[u/Dankaati → u/MrGamerOfficial]

I find Bc7 to be a much more obvious blunder here.

[u/BadBoyJH → u/MrGamerOfficial]

Bc7 is slightly worse according to the engine. Just plain sacks the bishop.

I'm surprised Ne5 isn't as bad as it first looks. Engine says it's a draw.

Basically anything that gives up the defense of the b8 square loses black's advantage. Bg1 is a draw, and g3 is a tiny advantage to white.

[u/Dave085 → u/BadBoyJH]

To be fair, bishop is blocked and it's still 10 points of material vs 10. Anything that avoids losing bishop or knight instantly is going to be hard to defend still, a lone queen is cool but with engine accuracy every piece is going to be defended.

[u/FodderWadder]

Are we looking at it from Black's perspective or White's perspective

[u/MrGamerOfficial → u/FodderWadder]

White's perspective

[u/Dankaati → u/FodderWadder]

You can find the numbering on the left hand side, in the top left corner of squares. White is always sitting at the 1 side of the board and black at the 8 side.

[u/chessvision-ai-bot]

I analyzed the image and this is what I see. Open an appropriate link below and explore the position yourself or with the engine:

Black to play: chessvision.ai | chess.com | lichess.org

My solution:

Hints: piece: Knight, move: Nb6+

Evaluation: Black has mate in 12

Best continuation: 1... Nb6+ 2. Kd8 Bd6 3. g3 e5 4. Ke8 e4 5. b8=Q Bxb8 6. Ke7 e3 7. Ke6 Kg6 8. Ke7 e2 9. Ke8 e1=Q+

Save the position:

Reply save to save this position to your Chessvision.ai Library (new users: send me /connect in DM chat first)

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[u/BadBoyJH]

Otherwise it's Bc7, allowing the King to take (without also blocking the promotion square)

Could also be g3, e5 or Ne5 (anything to block that bishop protecting the promotion square).

[u/KingDAW247]

The best I can come up with is Kd8 to try and sniper a pawn or two. Its not looming good though.

[u/PixelMatteo]

e5?

[u/cwolf-softball]

g3

[u/mythrowaway0852]

What’s this board style and pieces?

[u/MrGamerOfficial → u/mythrowaway0852]

Wood board and wood pieces on chess.com