Test your chess: Reitstein problem 155

Black to play and win

R van Niekerk v G de Villiers 1964

Solution

This position looks frightening for black, with his queen in a net. After looking at 1…Qb2? 2 Nf6+, 1…Qd5??, 1…Nf2+ (examine all biffs) I found 1…Rd5[] 2 Bd4 Rh5+! and then 'knew' the problem had been solved.

If 3 Kg2 4 Rh2+ Kf1 5 Re2, whilst if 3…Kg1 4 Bd4+ and the queen is lost anyway (rather than just picking up the LPDO Ra1).

Therefore, white's best is 2 ed Qb2, when black wins the endgame.

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