V. & M. Platov 1911, presented by Andreas
White to move. How should White proceed?
8/1P5P/8/3b4/6B1/1r6/K2k4/8 w – – 0 4
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1.h8:Q Rh3+
2.Ka1 Rxh8
3.b8:Q Rxb8 is Stalemate without the White Bishop
Then 1.Be6 seems the solution because K+R vs K+B is draw
Is it an habit or what?
Truncated study (for tactical purposes, I guess), wrong and incomplete source…
So I must restablish the whole picture:
Platov & Platov, Shakmatnoye Obozrenye, 1910, third prize
FEN: 8/7b/1P5P/8/6B1/3r4/KP1k4/8 w – – 0 1
ASCII: wKa2,Bg4,Pb2,b6,h6/bKd2,Bh7,Rd3
draw
The solution runs like this
1.b7 Bg8+! (the only way to draw. Otherwise, Black loses, even after the cunning 1…Rd4 2.Ka3!! (2.b8Q?? run into Black’s trap 2…Ra4+ 3.Kb3 Bc2#)) 2…Bc2 3.b3 and Black has no way to avoid promotion.)
2.b3 (else 2…Rb3 wins) 2…Rxb3! 3.h7 Bd5!
–And now, Mr.Bond? would say Blöfeld…
That is the very question.
Obviously bad moves are:
1. h8=Q?? Rh3+ 2. … Rxh8
1. b8=Q?? Rxb8+
A bishop move can also be excluded, the very best you could get from it was:
1. Bf3? Rxb7+!
2. Bxd5 Rxh7.
with R vs. B endgame, favour black.
So it definitely has to be:
1. Ka1!
Black has nothing but grabbing b-pawn, h-pawn queens, and white is clearly better, though it is still a way to go here.
The move 1. Ka1 could hardly be called difficult to find, I guess, it rather seems all enforced…
Nice tactical shot for you from a game on FICS. Black was a computer, white a human.
r4rk1,pp2b1pp,2n1q3,2ppp3,8.3P2Bb,PP2B2R,RN1QN1K1
The solution is, of course, 1…Qg4 with annihilation to follow.
I remember this one well. The discovered check threat means white can’t queen either pawn. For example:
1. h8(Q) Rh3
2. Ka1 Rh3 wins for black.
There is also a mate threat if white moves the king on move 1:
1. Ka1? Kc1! with mate by Ra3 to follow in another 1 or 2 moves.
On any bishop move, but one, black captures at b7 with check and then plays Rb8 to win.
However, white can parry these various threats with Be6:
1. Be6 Rb7 (Be6 is below)
2. Bd5 Rh7 (Ra7 is no better)
This R vs B ending is drawn. A more interesting line is:
1. Be6 Be6
2. h8(Q)Rh3
3. Ka1! Rh8
4. b8(Q)Rb8 stalemates.
My notes include this reference to the full problem (probably thanks to Cortex) which is much more interesting than this truncated study:
Platov, V & Platov, M; Shakhmatnoye Obozrenye, 1910, third prize
FEN: 8/7b/1P5P/8/6B1/3r4/KP1k4/8 w – – 0 1
Sometimes the first crazy move one tries just happens to work out.
1. Be6 Bxe6 2. h8=Q Rh3+ 3. Ka1 Rxh8 4. b8=Q Rxb8 stalemate.
I accidentally tried Be6 and it causes a king – rook & king – bishop ending which can be drawn or otherwise it is a stalemate
1.Be6 Rxb7+
(1…Bxe6 2.h8=Q Rh3+ 3.Ka1 Rxh8 4.b8=Q Rxb8)
2.Bxd5 Rxh7
1. Ka1 Kc1 (avoiding Kc2 (threatening Ra3#) 2. Bc1+! Kxc1 3. h8=Q) and white is lost due to Ra3# threat. So 1. h8=Q Rh3+ 2. Kb2 Rb3+ perpetual check to avoid b pawn becoming Q.
It’s a shame that i didn’t see:
1. Ka1?? Kc1!
and of course white looses this.
Since pawn moves are out of question, it has to be attacking B with B going for a draw.
1. Be6 looks nice.
I mentioned
1. Bf3
as a drawish line. I don’t think black can afford to take on f3 with either piece, and in that case it should be R vs B endgame after black 1. … Rxb7 etc.
Sorry about all this nonsence.
1. Bf3?? Rxf3+
2. Kb2 Rb3+
3. Ka1 Kc1
4. h8=Q Ra3#
This leaves the brilliant stalemate idea Be6 to be only possibility.