Cordingley puzzle 152 #chess

Black to play and win

Solution

A lifetime of playing chess builds up a range of excuses: a player needs to be able to rationalise defeat by not feeling well, tired, opponent lucky, 'had to play for a win and so risk losing'..; in solving this puzzle I have an excuse: the diagram in the book was incorrect, with the g4 pawn shown instead as at f4.

But, as with excuses for losing, my excuse here doesn't really wash: the same pretty solution exists in it too. In solving 'the book' position, I played 1…f2+ 2 Qe4 Rg6; and this does indeed win, or at least Houdini assesses it as -2.

Instead, Rubinstein finished off a classy game in style.

This is one which will annoy me: I should have been able to solve it.

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