White to move. How should White proceed?
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White to move. How should White proceed?
Bf6 Rf3 Kg2 Kg4 Rd7 is the best I can see
What about
1. Rd7
I prefer 1. Bf6, too.
The idea is not just winning the knight (which black can’t rescue I think) but also mating the black king if black tries to counter by eating pawns.
1. Bf6 Rc2 (better than Rf3 I think)
2. Rd7 Rxf2
3. Rxf7
or
2. – Rxa2
3. Rxf7
In both cases it is B vs PP and it seems as if black could win a third pawn but 3. – Rxa2 (or Rxf2 in the second variation) loses directly to Bg5! and Rh7 (black can play rook to the first rank and check from h1 to rescue his king but at least two pawns will fall than (h6,g6)).
If black plays g5 (only maneuvre against Bg5, isn’t it?) white wins a pawn (Rxf5 if black’s rook is on a2 (Rxf5 defense f2!), Rxa7 (defedning a2) if he is on a2).
After having won that pawn it is an B vs P endgame and white should win easily.
Perhaps I’ve overseen something.
Greetings
Jochen
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Bf6 Rc2
g4++
Bf6 Rf3
Rd7 Ng5
Bxg5 hxg5
Rh7++
1. Bf6 is certainly the best move. The point is that the rook has to stay on the 3rd line, so only 1. .. Rf3 can be played.
Indeed 1. .. Rc2 (has proposed by Jochen) lead to 2. g4 mate!!
So the moves are
1. Bf6 Rf3 (forced)
2. Kg2 Kg4 (forced)
3. Rd7 winning the knight
Bf6
Oups I just didn’t see that mate in one. 🙂
Of course that is a bit more effective……
But is Kg2 after Rf3 really so much better than directly Rd7?
Greetings
Jochen
Jochen – you have some reason to wish to lose the f and possibly a pawn?
Banjanx
Hello Banjanx,
please look at my variation above.
After Rf3 2. Rd7 Rxf2 3. Rxf7 white has the threat Bg5! so black has to play g5 and then white captures a7 and defends a2 at the same time.
Only alternative to g5 is the variation Rxa2 4. Bg5 Ra1 (only move to prevent mate) 5. Rh7 Rh1+ 6. Kg2 and white is going to win h6 and g6 and the free h pawn should promote easily.
But you are right – Kg2 looks more solid and therefore is probably the better way to win this endgame.
I am a bit chess blind at the moment (not seeing that mate in 1 and many mistakes more) so for me the solid solution would be better in a real game. 😉
Greetings
Jochen
finally my two pence … ^^
1.Bf6 Rf3
2.Kg2…
[2.Rd7? Rxf2 3.Rxf7 g5! only move 4.hxg5
(4.Rxa7?? as proposed by jochen meets 4…g4# LOL)
4…hxg5 5.Bxg5 only move (5.Rf8?? g4#; 5.Rh7+? Kg6 –+) 5…Kxg5 6.Rxa7 =/+]
2…Kg4
3.Rd7 f4!
4.gxf4! only move!
[4.Rxf7? fxg3 5.fxg3 b5 6.Rf8 c4 7.bxc4 Rxg3+ 8.Kf2 after all a practical chance (8.Kh2 Rh3+ 9.Kg1 Rg3+ =) 8…Rf3+ 9.Ke2 bxc4 10.Be7 Rxf8 11.Bxf8 g5 12.hxg5 hxg5 13.Kd2 Kf5 14.Kc3 a5 15.Kxc4 with a tablebase draw]
4…Rxf4
5.Rxf7 Rf3
6.Rf8 h5
[6…b5 7.Be7 Rxf8 8.Bxf8+-]
7.Be7 Rxf8
[7…Rh3? 8.f3+ Rxf3 9.Rxf3 with mate in 2]
8.Bxf8 Kxh4
9.a4! +- with a win for white
greetings
“(4.Rxa7?? as proposed by jochen meets 4…g4# LOL)”
I should stop playing chess – again overseen mate in one by not moving a pawn to g4.
I’m not quite sure if that is funny or sad…..
Jochen
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wolverine said:
“Bf6 Rf3
Rd7 Rxf2
Rxf7 g5
g4+ fxg4
Kg3 Re2″
but 5… re2 deserves ???
5… rf3+! instead
6.kh2 (6.kg2 is even worse…)
6… gxh4
is an EASY win for black…!
so – after 3…g5; 4.hxg5 IS the only move, isn’t it? :))
greetings
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i could win with white esily in this position.