Test your chess: Reitstein problem 224

Black to play and win

BE Siegheim v J Schumer 1905

Solution

Reitstein gives the solution (which was the game continuation) as 1…Bf1, so at first I thought the move I found, 1…Nf1+, must have been a mistake, but in fact it is the engine's first choice too.

Dealing briefly therefore with 1…Bf1, which also wins, white could struggle on (albeit in a lost position) by 2 Qf4 Ne2 3 Re2 ( Reitstein gives 3 Qe3?? Qg2 mate) fe 4 Qg3 hopeless, after say 4…f4, but not immediate.

Instead, 1…Nf1+! is both more obvious and stronger.

Firstly it is a biff, and Purdy exhorts us to examine all biffs: and not just any biff, but a double attack on king and queen, so has to be looked at. I have circled most of the LPDOs in the attached.

2 Rf1 is forced, when 2…Qg3+ follows, with 3 Kh1 being the only move.

Position after Kh2-h1

My 'eye' or 'hand' wanted to play 3…Bg2+, but it is no more than a perpetual ( in fact, I am wrong there. Stockfish showed me 4 Kg1 Bf1+! 5 Kf1[] Qh3+! 6 Kg1 Kh8! winning the house- I missed 6…Kh8!, seeing instead 7Re6!= . Then I saw 3…Qg2+!! which again exploits the two LPDO pieces, Qd2 and Rf1, and after 4 Qg2[] fg+ 5 Kh2 gf(Q) 1-0.

Posted with Blogsy