A Critical Position Exercise

What would you play here ... and why?

Parameters:

- You are playing Black

- White's last move is highlighted.

- Assume a time control scenario of 15 mins (using 5 second delay) left on both player's clocks.

I played black and took "some" time (about 3 mins) but botched the next move up really badly so was curious to see how more sensible players would tackle it. :)

I'd love it if you could put your analysis/thought process to words in your post (ala DeGroot) . It sure would help me as well as other players.

If possible, post your Federation rating (if you have one) and how much time you took to decide on a move.

Thanks in advance!

( If you're were planning to spit variations that you looked up on an engine, no thanks. I can do that as well :) ) 

Well, I'm not sure what I'd play but I know exd5 would be a total blunder.

Ok, here is a sample of my thought process - I used ~5 mins, but it's late, so make it 3'30" in a regular game

- first, the board looks like a chesstempo board, so I look for a tactic - I want to take d5 - I notice there's a # threat on g7 - exd5 is insteresting but Nf5 - Nf6 maybe - exd5 Qxc8+ oops ! - Nf6 Bxf6 Qxf6 is nothing special - cxd5 but Nxd5 Qc5+ Bd4 very unclear - move the rook - Rd8 dxc6 Rxd1+ but the Knight is protected - no attractive square for the rook - Rxd1 even Qxd1 possible - Ba7 interesting - Ba7 and cxd5 next as the Knight is pinned

to be honest i have no clue, it seems like a really annoying position

Thanks for participating, y'all.

@Hicetnunc : it is always a treat to read your posts ... and getting some insight into your thought process.

We both looked at the same list of  candidates but my fumbling brain rejected Ba7 very quickly as I felt I couldn't add enough compelling force to the pin before White protected it.  Is it laziness at calculation or should I be looking at other useful sign-posts to feel that such a move is the best to play, given a 3-5 min. time constraint?

Still hoping that another strong player can comment on why move X jumps out from the rest as I believe the forcing-lines bured in here require more work than your average "tactic puzzle" :)

Update:

How one deals with Critical/analytical positions like these without an "easy" one-two punch tactical prize at the end are what separates the men from the boys ... so always fun to see where I'm deficient when it comes to solving these :)

but bishop a7 still doesnt lead to anything special, black can still take the d5 pawn with the rook.

I believe the full line is 1...Ba7 2.Kf2 cxd5 3.Rxd5 Rc2 winning the b2 bishop and white has no active follow-up

1...Ba7 has to be on the candidates list : it's an active move attacking a piece and pinning at the same time ! The difficulty is actually to see this move in the first place Then the next moves are just the logical continuation of forced moves for both sides (taking material, checking...). But I agree this is not your usual easy 2-mover

totally missed that, thanks a lot for the lesson