White to move and win.
8/8/8/8/p7/1R6/p4pB1/k4K2 w – – 0 1
This is a VERY hard puzzle. However, it will teach you a very important endgame pattern. No computer analysis please. Enjoy!
Kovalenko, 1971
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
A very difficult puzzle
1.Rb8 a3
2.Bb7 Kb1
3.Be4++ Ka1
4.Rf8 Kb2
5.Rxf2+ Ka1
6.Bd5 and win
I cannot see how king takes f2 does not win the game for white.
1. Rb8 a3
2. Bb7 Kb2
(2… Kb1 3. Bd5+ is one and the same!)
3. Bd5+ Ka1
4. Bb3 Kb2
5. Bf7+ Ka1
6.Rd8 Kb1
(6… Kb2 7. Rd2+)
7. Rd1+ Kc2 8. Ra1 will capture the pawn! and win the game!
Regards
Niri
http://www.chessindia.blogspot.com
Thanks for such a puzzle! 🙂 It really helps!
1) Rb8 a3
2) Rd8 Kb1 (2)…Kb2 4) Rd2+ Kb1 5)Be4+ Ka1 6) Bda +-)
3) Rd1+ Kc2
4) Ke2 Kb2
6) Rd2+ Kb1
7) Be4+ Ka1
8) Bd5 +-
I think the solution is :
1.Rb8 a3 2.Bb7 Kb2 3.Bd5+ Ka1 4.Bb3 Kb2 5.Bc4+ Ka1 6.Rd8 Kb1 7.Rd1+ Kc2 (Kb2 8.Rd2+) 8.Ra1 winning
I don’t see the difficult part.
Only a straightforward win.
1.Rb8 a3 2.Bb7 Kb2
3.Bd5 Ka1 4.Bb3 Kb2
5.Bc4 Ka1 6.Rd8 Kb1
7.Rd1 Kc2 8.Ra1 Kb2 9.Ra2 +-
If I may suggest, please don’t describe any puzzle beforehand as very difficult. It discourages some of us average players to even try. Allow us to find out for ourselves how hard it is. Thanks.
This comment has been removed by the author.
My previous solution is too long and has an error. The following is an improved version.
Very useful endgame, showing the coordination R+B.
It start with a small trick:
1. Rb8-a3 (it is important to block the a3 square so that the black King cant escape there)
2. Rd8.. (better than Rf8) and now Black has 2 legal moves Kb7 and Kb8
A:
2.. Kb7
3.Rd7+, Kb1 (Kb3 and Bd5+-, notice that, without the a3P black King should go to a3 and draw, so is the importance of
the 1st move)
4. Be4, Ka1 5. Bd5 wins
The remark is that Black lose if they allow White Rook check in the 2nd rank. This motive will occure several time in the 2.. Kb8 variant
B: 2..Kb8
3. Rd1-Kc2 (Kb2 lose to R-check)
4. Bf3
white control the a1 square (..Kb2 loses to the R-check), and winning by White King: K f2-..-a3-a2
what do you mean this is a really hard puzzle unless i am missing something sneaky then i will say (Rb8! a3 bb7! kb1 or b2 bd5+ ka1 bb3 kb1 or b2 bf7+ ka1 and rd8 and black is as good as resigning. chess endgames by lászló polgár is the best book of the decade!
1.Rb8 a3
2.Bb7 Kb1
3.Bd5+ Ka1
4.Bb3 Kb1
5.Bg8+ Ka1
6.Rd8 Kb1
7.Rd1+ Kc2
(7…Kb2 8.Rd2+ and 9.Rxa2)
8.Ra1 and white is winning
very tough to solve
By
Mshine
http://daretosolve.blogspot.com/
1.Rb8!! a3 2.Bb7!! Kb2 3.Bd5+! Ka1
4.Bb3!! Kb2 5.Bc4+!! Ka1 6.Rd8!!
a)6….Kb2 7.Rd2+! Kc3 8.Rxa2!
b)6…Kb1 7.Ra1 Kc3 8.Rxa2 +-