Test your chess: Reitstein problem 204

White to play and win

Position after Ka7-b8

RF Griffiths v J Wolpert 1963

Solution

Reitstein tells the reader that the position was an adjournment one, though not clear if the sealed move was black's Kb8-a8 or white's reply.

I found white's first move by elimination, or by comparison: 1 Rc3! must be best, putting the question to black.

If black defends the e5 pawn, by for instance 1…Qb5, then white takes the a3 pawn, and should eventually win. So, instead, 1…a2 when white does a series of checks until his Q is on d6: 2 Qe5+ Ka7[] (2…Ka8 3 Rc8+ Ka7 4 Qa5 mate; or 3..Rb8 4 Qb2 1-0) 3 Qa5+ Kb8 [] 4 Qd8+ Ka7 5 Qd4+ Kb8 6 Qd6+ Ka7 7 Ra3+ 1-0.

Position before Rc3-a3+

Stockfish tells me that 3 Qc5+! is faster, and that is the move Reitstein gives. However, my line is fine: the engine gives 5…Qb6 as a better defence, but after 6 Ra3+, 7 Qb6, 8 Ra2, white is three pawns up.

A nice exercise.

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