Test your chess: Reitstein problem 117

Introduction

Reitstein's rubric says that white tried the swindle 1 h4 ‘a move not without poison' whereupon black played the expected 1…Rg3, whereupon Wolpert immediately replied 2 Ng4, the point being that the Rg6 is now undefended. Reitstein then says that Black's reply was both pretty and lethal. The puzzle position in the book is as above, but I have shown the position after 2 Ng4 below.

Black to play and win

J Wolpert v AA Ponelis 1969

Solution

Reitstein gives the solution as 1…Bd3!!, a move I never even considered. The idea is that after 2 Qd3 R6g4, the f3 pawn is pinned: so, another example, if one is needed, of examine all biffs.

Whilst 1…Bd3!! is indeed startling and strong, even stronger is the 'normal' 1…R6g4, the first move I thought of (and, of course, it is also an examine all biffs move). After 2 fg[] Rg4, 3 g3 is forced, when after 3…fg white can only struggle on. For instance, 4 Rg2 Rh4+ 5 Kg1 Bd4+! wins, since the Qc2 is LPDO: the tactic works, or can be more easily seen, by using Purdy's notion of jump-checks: Qc7*Qc2 is a jump biff so that the c3 pawn is pinned.

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