Another puzzle for an easy Reitstein day

White to play and win

Solution

A thoroughly enjoyable puzzle.

I keep photocopies of 'stinkers'- hard problems- ready to take with me when walking the dog, or on family walks; on the latter, sometimes we walk in groups, sometimes we stretch out in a line, sometimes there is waiting time. And a beauty of chess is that, if you can memorise a position AND work on it at the same time, which I can (as most strong amateurs and I am sure all pros can) one can work on problems without anyone knowing.

Unless people can tell from your expressions. Such as my delight when I solved this one, right to the end.

One of the motifs is that black's Rh8 is tied to defending g8: hence 1 Bh6+ Rh6?? 2 Qg8 mate. So 1…Kh6[] and, alas, white has nothing.

So examine all biffs 2 Rg6+! is the most obvious try.2…Kg6[] (2…Kh7?? 3 Qh5+ and mate next move) 3 Qg2+! (again, examine all biffs) and once 3…Kf5 is disgarded (4 Qf3+ Ke5?? 5 Bf4+ and 1-0; 4…Kg6 reverts to the main line) 3..Kh7 (or 3…Kh5) 4 Qh3+ Kg6 (or 4..Kg7) 5 Qg4+! Kh7 reaching the critical position.

The critical position

At first I though Bd3+ f5[] Bf5+ Nf5 Qf5+ and the LPDO Rc8 drops off, but after Qg6 Qc8 Qe4+ Kg1 Qe1+ Kg2 Qe2+ and the h2 pawn drops off, after which the Rh8 enters the game.

But then I saw 6 Bg8+!! Rg8[] 7 Qh5+ Kg7[] 8 Bh6+ and Bf8 dis+/mate next move. The mate with Q and B is 'standard' but 6 Bg8+!! is pretty.

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