Can you find the right continuation for White?
Source: ChessToday.net
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Can you find the right continuation for White?
Source: ChessToday.net
1.Be4 Bd5
2.Bxd5 KxB
3.Nxc7+ white’s two knights are left and as we know “Two Knight’s game” is a draw.
Is Aradhana Nigam a public sector unit?
About yesterday’s puzzle (Checkmate in 6):
Could you help me to determine if this alternative solution could actually be correct (if so there are 2 solutions):
1. Kxc5 Ka5 (other moves seem to be mated quicker than 6 moves)
2. Nc6+! Ka4
3. Kc4! (zugzwang) a5
Now white knight should have 3 moves to the mate (2 alternate paths) and black has 2 c pawn moves (exactly enough to avoid stalemate).
White’s plan is as follows:-
• Save and Release the Na8. Then 3 pieces can make short work of BB and BP. Black cannot play c6/5 as that would release the Na8.
• Exchange a WN for the BB. This again will be an easy text book win with B+N vs P
• Do not ever give up the WB for the BB as then it would be problematic win (practically impossible) for 2N vs P which has to be blockaded early enough to win. For example, the overly enthusiastic 1.Be4? would be met with 1….Bd5! and White has to give up the Na8 or give up the WB drawing. 2.Bxd5.Kxd5.3.Nxc7+ draw
• Protect the Na8, confine the BK to, and attack, the north east corner of the Board where the WB controls a8.
• In the process, Black will be forced to toe the line rather than create threats as N forks will ensnare the WB. Walk the King to d8 to win the c pawn, release the Na8 and win easily with 2 pieces up.
Here is a sample winning plan. The key move is 1.Ng5!.
1.Ng5!.Bd5 not wasting time in attacking the Na8.2.Ne4+
>A-2…Kd7?.3.Nf6+…4.Nxd5.. and 5.Nxc7+ wins easily for White
>B-2….Ke7/6.3.Nxc7 and white wins
>C-2….Bxe4.3.Bxe4 and white wins as BK cannot reach Na8, when he reaches Kc8, Bc6 simply closes out black.
>D-2…Kc6.3.Ke5.
>>D1-3…Bg8.4.Nf6.
>>>D11-4….Kb7.5.Be4+.c6.6.Nxg8.Kxa8.7.Kd6! and wins easily
>>>D12-4…Ba2/b3/c4.5.Be4+.Kb5/c5.6.Nxc7 and white wins easily with 2 pieces up.
>>D2-3…Bb3.4.Be8+.Kb7.5.Nc5+.Kxa8.6.Nxb3 and wins easily.
>>D3-3…Ba2.4.Nc3.Bc4.5.Be4+
>>>D31-5…Kc5.6.Nxc7. and wins easily.
>>>D32-5…Kd7.6.Nd5 and the c pawn is gone and Na8 freed. white wins easily. If black plays 6….c6.7.N5c6+.and Nxc4 winning easily.
>>D4-3…Bc4.4.Kd4!
>>>D41-4…Bd5?.5.Be8+.Kb7.6.Kxd5 wins
>>>D42-4…Bg8.5.Nf6.Be6.6.Be4+.Kd6.7.Ne8+.Kd7.8.Nexc7 and wins.
>>>D43-4…Be6.5.Nc5.Ba2.6.Be4+.Kd6.7.Na6!and the c pawn is gone and Na8 freed. white win easily
Harry
A truly difficult study- posted here 2.5 years ago according to my notes.
One has to note the distress of the knight at a8, and that white cannot exchange bishops to win. Bon appetit!
pht, in regards to yesterday’s puzzle:
You are overlooking the problem of black playing c5 instead of c6; or, in other words, black can have only one move the c-pawn if that will allow a stalemate.
Harry,
1.Ng5 will fail- you are overlooking black’s best reply 1. …Kc6!
Craig,
You are on the right path, but what if black plays 1. …Kc6?
There is a pretty position in the key line.
Yes, Yancey, you are right!
I noticed last night after my post that Kc6 rejoinder to Ng5. Then I tried everything, it was only a draw!
Regards.
Harry
Continuing from earlier post, the idea was to prevent BK from reaching b7 and a8. But I found last night that 1.Ng5 does not work due to the immediate Kc6!
I had a fresh look and got the solution!
The key is that we cannot stop the BK from reaching b7 (which he will) but ensure that we ensnare the BB when the BK captures a8! How?
For a B+N to ensnare a B in an open position there is only one way-discovered check! With this theme, a discovered check is possible when the BK is cornered at a8/b7 and the WB is on h1-d5 diagonal and the WN is on c6 and the BB is on the a2-g8 diagonal! Then the BB cannot escape being captured by the WN checks from Nb4,Na5,Na5,Nd8,Nd8,Nd7.
So the solution is
1.Nf2!.
If 1….Bd5.2.Ne4+ and white wins as shown in my yesterdays post.
Hence..the main line is
1. Nf2 Kc6
2. Nd3 Kb7
3. Be4+ c6
4. Nb4 Kxa8
5. Nxc6
Now if
5….Kb7.6.Ne7+ and 7.Nxg8
5….Ba2.6.Nb4+. and 7.Nxa2
5….Bb3/c4.6.Na4+ and 7. Nxb3/c4
5….Bd5.6.Bxd5.
5….Be6/f7.6.Nd8+ and Nxe6/f7
5….Bg8.6.Ne7+ and 7.Nxg8
In all above cases, white wins.
Now are there other variants for Black at move 2 to prevent 3.Be4+?
>A-2….Kd6/7 makes no sense giving white too many tempi.3.Nb4! then 4.Na6 and 5. Nxc7 winning
>B-2….Kd5.3.Nxc7+ wins
>C-2….Ba2/d4.3.Nb4+ and 4.Nxa2/d4 wins
>D-2…Bc4.3.Ne5+ and 4.Nxc4 wins
>E-2….Be6.3.Ke5.Bb3/c4/g8.4.Be4+.Nc5+ and wins
So white wins in all move 2 variants.
What about move 3?
If 3….Ka6/a7/b8/c8.4.Bc6 boxes up the BK and WK will saunter across and win the c pawn and mate while the Nd3 join the attack on c7. white wins easily.
Harry
There is also the following 4th move variant which is pretty!
1.Nf2.Kc6.2.Nd3.Kb7.3.Be4+.c6
4.Nb4.Bd5.5.Nxd5.cxd5.6.Bxd5+
winning.
Harry
I stopped analyzing looking at the wilderness of the position.But today I have some time and I started seeing the postings.I was surprised at Harry’s last variation.
1.Nf2 Kc6 2.Nd3 Kb7 3.Be4+ c6 so far O.K. but 4.Nb4 was unpalatable.What if black plays 4.Kxa8 Is there any mate in the offing? I don’t know.
I stopped analyzing looking at the wilderness of the position.But today I have some time and I started seeing the postings.I was surprised at Harry’s last variation.
1.Nf2 Kc6 2.Nd3 Kb7 3.Be4+ c6 so far O.K. but 4.Nb4 was unpalatable.What if black plays 4.Kxa8 Is there any mate in the offing? I don’t know.
Dear admistrator.
Please withdraw my last comment as it is erroneous.
the position arrived at by Harry is a beauty.
Below is the link to the comments from this puzzle’s previous posting here:
https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=13118012&postID=2306398792767429221