Test your chess: Reitstein problem 190

Black to play and win

B Kerr v K Hursky 1978

Solution

I was disappointed with myself on this puzzle. I chose 1…Ne3, which wins sure enough, but partly because if white returns the exchange, in any ending black has the better remaining pieces and more pawns. If white doesn't return the exchange, my plan was to advance Ph7-h5-h4. The engines show the resulting positions after 1…Ne3 as -3 or -4, depending on white's response, but 1…Nf2+! 2 Kh2[] Rd8! is cleaner, and stronger still. White can't prevent the rook entering the attack, and with one more piece, the game is over, the precise manner depending on how white tries to defend.

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