Test your chess: Reitstein problem 112

White to play

A Friedmanm v AW Paterson 1962

Solution

The purported solution is fairly straightforward, knowing it is a puzzle (provided readers noted the heading wasn't '…and win'.

1 Qh6+! Kh6 2 g5+ K any 3 Stalemate.

However, 1…Kg8 is considerably better. If 2 Qd2, then 2…Qa3, and black is probably winning, whilst if 2 Qc1, Qf2+ 3 Kg5[] Qd4 and one of the pawns drops off.

Reitstein's solution says that Friedmann has his moment of glory as a result of the stalemate: alas, that lasted fifty years, or so it seems.

Posted with Blogsy