Test your chess: Reitstein problem 226

White to play and win

DA Walker v NJ de Jongh 1976

Solution

It took me a while to see this: I wouldn't have seen this in a game, unless I had been disciplined enough to be a Purdy player and remember:

Purdy on nets, pins and ties, Fine Art, vol 2, pg 205

Some things are hooey,

and most others lies;

But forks you mustn't miss,

nor pins, nets, ties

Here, the Bc5 is tied to the Qd4 because of the jump biff Qd2-d4 with the Bh7+ idea. So, examine all biffs and 1 Bd6! is a try. If 1…Rd8 2 Ne2 wins a piece (2 c3 does too, but at the cost of a pawn or two: 2…Nc3+). Black's best is to give up the exchange with 1…Bb6 or 1..Pb6 and fight on.

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