Test your chess: Reitstein problem 209

Black to play and win

PG van Breda v AJA Cameron 1910

Solution

This position shows the difference between human and engine chess. I chose 1…e4!, as played in the game, and white is simply winning after 2 Rd7 Be5+ 3 Kg1[] ef; the Be5 protects g7, and all is secure. The only other point to note is that 2 Qe8 loses to 2…ef.

Stockfish though says 2 f4, when white can grovel on, but it is hopeless; so it prefers 1…Bf4+!, giving it as mate in nine. All it does is prevent f4: so 2 Kg1 e4! 3 Rd7 Bh2+ 4 Kh1[] Be5+ and so on: so, of course, the engine is more accurate.

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