White to move. What is the most accurate continuation for White?
7K/8/8/8/8/p1R5/1p6/1k4N1 w – – 0 1
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
A clever endgame
About Author
White to move. What is the most accurate continuation for White?
7K/8/8/8/8/p1R5/1p6/1k4N1 w – – 0 1
Rxa6!! +-
Obviously the wN is needed…
1.Nf3 Ka2
2.Nd2 b1Q
3.Nxb1 Kxb1 or Kb2
4.Rxa3
1.Nf3 Ka1
2.Rxa3+ Kb2
3.Rc3 confining the bK for Nd2
No anon 12 35 Rxa3 leads to a draw.
But 1.Nf3 wins:
1…a2 2.Nd2+ Ka1 3.Nb3+ Kb1 4.Rc8 a1=Q 5.Nd2+ Ka2 6.Ra8#.
1…Ka2 2.Nd2 1-0
1…Ka1 2.Nd2 a2 3.Nb3+ is the same variation as the first one in which 6.Ra8 mates.
Nf3
– .. Ka2
Nd2 wins
– .. a2
Nd2 gives perpetual check
This took me a while to see.
The most probable beginning was quite obvious to find:
1. Nf3, a2 (should be the main line here) 2. Nd2+, Ka1 3. Nb3+, Kb1 4. Nd2+, Ka1 5. Nb3+, Kb1 (no perpetual, just checks for the gallery) 5. Rc6!! (or Rc7!, of course not Rc8?? – reminds me of the anecdote of one strong player not sacrifizing his bishop as his arms were to short to reach h7), a1~ 6. Nd2+, Ka2 7. Ra6#
Other lines may be like
1. -, Ka2 2. Ne2, b1~ (Ka1?? 3. Rxa3#) 3. Nxb1 +-
1. -, Ka1 2. Rxa3+, Kb1 3. Nd2+, Kc2 4. Rb3 +- (or 2. Nd2 transposing into other lines should be possible, too)
Best wishes
Jochen
1. Nf3 Ka2
2. Nd2 … resign ^^
NF3/ND2
1.Nf3 a2
2.Nd2+ Ka1
3.Nb3+ Kb1
4.Rc8 a1=Q
5.Nd2+ Ka2
6.Ra4++
1.Nf3 Ka2
2.Nd2 b1=Q
3.Nxb1 Kb2
4.Rxa3
1.Nf3 Ka1
2.Rxa3+ Kb1
3.Ne1 Kc1
4.Nd3 Kc2
5.Nxb2
susan this is amazing, wanted to share it with you and all others
white:
Kb3 Rd6 Rh8 pe6 pg2
black:
Kb1 Rd1 pe2
Let’s start with Knight to f3. My teacher said to me : “optimize the worse placed piece…”. Its your turn now…
c4 (from Paris)
I regret to say that there is no forced win for White in this problem. Black can force a draw.
R:a3 Kc2
Ra2 Kb1
Ra6 Kc2
Rc6+ Kb1
Nf3 Ka1
Ra6+ Kb1
Ne1
and so on until knight is on d3
Then Rock takes the pawn.
If King leaves the pawn white wins immediately
Rxa3? Kc2
Ra2 Kb3!
and now?