I recently posted a similar endgame theme. Can you remember it? Black to move. How should Black proceed?
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Critical endgame review
About Author
I remember…. 😉
I remember…. 😉
pwn3d!
1.-Ke8!
Ke8
I remember…. 😉
pAwn3d!
Me too. I actually learned something. ; ) Susan, perhaps you could do this with other puzzles as well. It might help us remember ideas better.
please excuse my ignorance, but I am trying to learn and understand. Is the idea here for black to eventually be able to play Ke8 right after white has played e7 to force either a stalemate or a draw? I keep playing through this and I’m having trouble figuring it out. Could it go something like this: 1)…Ke8 2)Kf5,Ke7 3)e5,Kf7 4)e6,Ke8 5)Kf6,Kf8 9)e7,Ke8 Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Hello ano 2:08,
you need some basic knowledge about pawn endings here.
In your line both players do not play very well, black makes a horrible mistake (2.-, Ke7?? – Kf7 is right here and draws) white answers with another one (3. e5?? – Ke5 wins here).
Just take a look at this:
white: Ke5, Pe4
black: Ke7
(this is a position to that may easily be played from Susan’s one).
The position of the king’s is called “opposition” (ask Wikipedia or any good end game book about it if you want to know more).
Now look what happens if white or black are to move.
White to move:
1. Kf5, Kf7! or 1. Kd5, Kd7!
white king can’t go forward! So white’s only winning idea is to push the pawn but that gives a draw if black knows how to draw. That draw is similar to the end of your variation!
Black to move:
1. -, Kd7 2. Kf6! or 1. -, Kf7 2. Kd6 and the white king goes forward and (this is still a little work but figure out yourself) can help his pawn to promote.
Now you should see the clue of the “opposition” it’s not good having to move, because he mover has to give it up.
That is the clue to Susan’s problem:
1. -, Ke8! and now for example after 2. Kf5, Kf7! or 2. Ke5, Ke7! and black gets the opposition. (draw)
If black starts with 1. -, Kf7? for example it is white who gets it: 2. Kf5 (white wins).
Ke8 is just a waiting move that does not give white the chance to take the opposition.
There are several small things to figure out for you now. I do not want to post them all here (it never ends….).
Just take some time, you’re going to learn much about simple pawn endings which is a very thing for beginners.
Good luck and just ask if you have more questions!
Best regards from Germany!
Jochen
PS: btw., thanks Susan for posting this one
Once again….who are the players? If Anand is on either side of the board….this game can only get as far as a draw.
Anon –
We just had this over the weekend. You can find the gruesome details here.
Now let’s look at your suggested line:
1…Ke8
2.Kf5
So far, so good.
2…Ke7
This loses. Black has to play 2…Kf7!
3.e5
Returning the favor. 3.Ke5! would win.
3…Kf7
4.e6 Ke8
5.Kf6 Kf8
6.e7 Ke8
These moves are all okay.
Thanks Jochen! That helped tremendously!! (and thank you too Susan!).
And thanks to Anon 2:48 also. Any and all help is greatly appreciated.
Anyone who’s read My 60 Memorable Games will recall a similar position:
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1008390
(Position after 55.Kb3)
Anyone who’s read My 60 Memorable Games will recall a similar position:
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1008390
(Position after 55.Kb3)
Uh oh. Somebody doesn’t remember the earlier thread 🙁
Or didn’t read 🙂
I see Jochen covered the ground nicely.
Kf7 should be good for black.
Kf7 should be good for black.
1…Kf7? loses to 2.Kf5! Black’s only move to draw is 1…Ke8!