Test your chess: Reitstein problem 150

Black to play and win

RF Griffiths v K van der Meyden, 1963

Solution

I got a B grade on this one. After quickly examining Qf1+ and Rd4, and ruling them both out, I knew the answer had to be to get the Bf8 out, and then play Rge8+. So I tried 1…Bb4! 2 Qb4 (2 Nc3 little different) 2…Rge8+ 3 Kd2 (3 Be3?? Rd1 mate) and when I saw 3…Rd4+! 4 Qd4[] Rd8, I turned to the solution. That was poor of me: whilst it wins, I should know that when a good move has been found, look for a better one. This is particularly the case for this daily Reitstein puzzle exercise, where part of the point is to be careful, to pretend, as much as it is possible, that it mattered as much as in a game.

So 1…Bc5! is stronger: one point being that (e.g.) in the line 2 Bc5 Rge8+ 3 Be3 Re3+! and after 4 fe Rd2 5 Nd2 Qe2 mate. Similar, if 2 Qc1 Rge8+ 3 Be3 Re3+ 4 fe Qe2mate- alas, Purdy taught me to look for jump checks, and in the original position there is the jump check Qe2, the result being that the f2 pawn is pinned.

P.S. To add insult to injury, Stockfish actually prefers 1…Qg4, simplicity itself; though by leaving it a long time it does suggest Bc5 as well, but both these moves are given astronomically high negative evaluations.

Posted with Blogsy