Test your chess: Reitstein problem 100

White to play and win

R van Kemenade v V Huang 1968

Solution

This is one of those positions which I can't see to the end in every line, but can enough to know that 1 Rd6+! has to work, or, if it doesn't, white's might have a perpetual bail out.

After 1…Kd6 (other K moves are trite) 2 Rd3+ Kc7 the question is 'how to proceed‘. I felt 3 Qe7+ Kb8 4 Nd5! but Stockfish says 3 Nd5+! is even stronger, and of course the engine is right. 3 Qe7+ still wins! but 3 Nd5+ gives black fewer options.

Alternatively, if 2…Kc5 then 3 Na4+ and mates somehow: I am not sure that it is necessary to look at all lines, only to see that white has three or four pieces in the attack against a sole king.

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