Test your chess: Reitstein problem 11

White to play and win

DP Laurie v DF Dekenah, 1970

Solution

I found the move in the game, I think partly knowing it was a problem and therefore looking for flashiness: 1 Qe6! and if 1…Qe3+ 2 Kh1, black is lost, because of the twin threats of 3 Qe7 mate and Nf6+/Nd6+ discovering an attack on the LPDO queen: so 1-0.

However, whilst Stockfish agrees this is winning, it prefers the more prosaic 1 Qh5+!! g6 2 Qh3! when black is similarly helpless. White threatens Qe6+, if the bishop moves, or fe if it doesn't.

Posted with Blogsy