White to move. Can White hold this game?
Platov M. & V., 1908, presented by Andreas
8/Pk6/4K2P/8/6p1/8/8/r4B2 w – – 0 1
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Endgame trick
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I think White can win with the following plan :
1. a8=Q+ Kxa8 (note that 1. … Rxa8 is not an option for Black because of 2. Bg2+ which should win quite quickly)
2. h7 Re1+
3. Kd7,
then Black goes on with checking White on the 1st row until Rc1+ when White sacrifies its bishop, Bc4, the rook takes it, the white king goes back to Kg7 (while the black rook still checks it on the way), then the Black king wants to come into play with Kb7, and White promotes to queen, after which White seems to be in a winning position.
Without words :
3. Kd7 Rd1+
4. Kc7 RC1+
5. Bc4 Rxc4+
6. Kd7 Rd4+
7. Ke7 Re4+
8. Kf7 Rf4+
9. Kg7 Kb7
10. h8=Q
However, I suspect that, as usual, I’ve missed some better options for Black…
Yes, you missed that after 5.Bc4 black just goes 5…Rh1 and picks up the h-pawn or queens his g-pawn.
”Yes, you missed that after 5.Bc4 black just goes 5…Rh1 and picks up the h-pawn or queens his g-pawn.”
After,
5.Bc4 Rh1
6.Bd5+ and take the rook on h1.
However, I suspect that, as usual, I’ve missed some better options for Black…
I suspect that you haven’t missed a thing 🙂
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No, 1.Bg2+ does not win, buddy. The above solution is the correct one. Following your move 1..Kxa7 and the white pawn does not go through due to Ra6+, followed by Rh6. Sorry…