Test your chess: Reitstein problem 81

White to play and win

J Glyn v A van Tets 1973

Solution

In the actual game, Reitstein tells us that white missed the win, and I can well understand why: it took me a long time to find the solution, which is optically hidden.

My solving process was something like:

-try to make 1 Qf7+ work

-see if Qg8 works

-see if Ng7+ or Ne3+ are any good

-repeat: -try to make 1 Qf7+ work

-look at Bh3; look at c4

-look if there is a clever place to move the bishops, perhaps h3 or f8

-repeat: -try to make 1 Qf7+ work

Alas, a typical but process for me, but not professional. A true professional Purdy player would look at Nd6+ as part of the process of examining all biffs. D6 is the key square, since knight then is hitting the Bf7.

Then, I put the problem aside for a while, looked at it for a second, and saw 1 Nd6+!, seeing instantly it was the solution. One nice line is 1…Kd6 2 Qf7 Rg4 3 Bf8 mate!

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