White to move and win! No computer please! See if you can solve this own your own. It is a good one.
Lamoss, 1968, presented by Andreas
8/4kpPr/2P4n/4PR2/8/6K1/7P/8 w – – 0 1
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
An excellent puzzle
c7 wins.
c7 rxg1+ and?
I’m thinking:
1. Rxf7 then if:
1 … Kxf7
2. c7 and the pawn cannot be stopped
or if
1… Nxf7
2. g8=Q!
Brad H.
1. Rxf7 then if:
1 … Kxf7
2. c7 and the pawn cannot be stopped
After:
1.Rxf7 Kxf7 2.c7
… Black has not one but two ways to catch the c-pawn: 2…Rxg7+ and 3…Rg8, or 2…Nf5+ and 3…Ne7.
1.g8N+ Ng8: 2. c7 Kd7 3.Rf7:+ Rf7: 4.e6+ Kc7: 5. ef7: and queens or 4…Ke6: c8Q+ wins
I think 1.g8=N Nxg8 2.c7 Kd7 3.Rxf7
Rxf7 (3…Ne7 4.Rxh7 wins) 4.e6+ must win for white.
About the last two comments :
what if after 4. e6+, Black takes the pawn with its king?
I don’t think 5. c8=Q+ wins, it looks like a draw to me.
On the other hand, I am still looking for the good solution.
what if after 4. e6+, Black takes the pawn with its king?
I don’t think 5. c8=Q+ wins, it looks like a draw to me.
Hm. After:
1.g8=N+ Nxg8
2.c7 Kd7
3.Rxf7+ Rxf7
4.e6+ Kxe6
… I just assumed that 5.c8=Q+ was good enough to win. But tablebases say otherwise — 5…Kf6! draws. Nice catch, Daniel!
Have I overlooked something simple? Or is this puzzle perhaps not quite as excellent as advertised?
Hmm, you are right. This study seems cooked. Pitty!
Another try that doesn’t quite work:
1.Rf6 Rxg7+
2.Kh4 Ng4
3.c7 Kd7
4.Rxf7+ Rxf7
5.e6+ Kxc7
6.exf7 Ne5!
2…Kd7 and this study is busted! (Mario Garcia in 2008 (EG 174, 10.2008))