Test your chess: Reitstein problem 133

How does white win after each of black's four possible queen moves?

J Flenieg v K Janovsky 1979

Solution

Not too hard, but the variety makes this a good exercise.

1..Qg8 2 Rh5 and the double threat of Ng6mate and Qc8 wins.

1..Qf7 2 Rh5 Rc7 (say, the rook is again threatened by Qg4) 3 Ng6+ Kg8[] 4 Rh7! (nice, but straightforward) and if 4…Kh7 5 Qh5+ and 6 Qh8 mate, or if 4..Qmoves, 5 Qh5 is 1-0.

1..Qe7 is similar to Qf7, except Ng6+ forks the queen.

1…Qd7 2 Ng6+! Kg8 (2…hg 3 Rh5+ and Qd7) 3 Rf6! is pretty, with 3..Qg4 being mated after 4 Rf8+ Rf8 5 Rf8 mate.

However, whilst Ng6+ and Rf6 was the line I found, and the line played in the game, Stockfish immediately shows an even better move: 1 Re5!.

Once again, the engines find something special.

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