White to move. How should White proceed?
8/8/P7/7p/kpK4P/3N4/2p5/1r6 w – – 0 1
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Endgame challenge
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White to move. How should White proceed?
8/8/P7/7p/kpK4P/3N4/2p5/1r6 w – – 0 1
Nc1 Rxc1 b7 Rb1 a8Q (or a8R)#
I’d go with Nc1. Black doesn’t have time to promote the c pawn because of the threat a8=Q+.
1.Nc1 blocks the c2-pawn, and also blocks the black rook’s retreat to Black’s first rank. Also, the black king’s position in the diagram means d8(Q) is terminal: Black must take time to untrap the king.
So perhaps
1.Nc1 Ka5 2.a7 Rxc1 3.a8(Q)
Good for White.
I would try Nc5.
1.Nc1 and the White queens.
Actually Nc1 blocks the pawn long enough to queen the a-pawn.
Nc1 gums up the works for Black, and then White can Queen.
Hi Susan Polgar,
Ref : “Endgame Challenge” [ White has to move ]
Scenario 1 :
===========
1.Kc5 c1(Q)
2.N*C1 R*Nc1+
3.Kb6 Rf1
4.a7 Rf8
5.Kb7 Rf7+
6.Ka6 Rf6+
7.Kb7 Rf7+
Draw agreed : 0 – 0
Scenario 2 :
============
1.Nc5+ Ka3
2.Nb3 R*Nb3
3.a7 c1(Q)+
4.Kb5 Qc8
5.Kb6 Qd8+
6.Ka6 Rc3
7.Kb7 Q7+
8.Ka6 Rc6+
9.Kb5 Q6+ mate
Black wins : 0 – 1
Other Scenarios still favor the black.
By
Venky.
Nc1 & then white can get a queen pushing pawn to a8.
Can you please remove the word verification. Because any way you are going to manually moderate
1.Nc1
1. …, Nc1
Nc1
Nc1!
1. Nc1 –
2. a7
3. a8 (Q)+
1. Nc1 Rxc1 or Ka5
2.a7 Ra1 or Kb6
3.a8 (Q) mate or resigns
1. Nc1,
is an instant win: Black can’t do anything about the a pawn making it to promotion. Without Nc1 Black could get out of it with some checks and move the rook to the 8th line.
Nc1
One I’m able to find out !
1. Nc1
well… at least the beginning…
1… Rxc1
2. a7 – Ka3 (otherwise checkmate)
3. a8Q+ – Kb2
4 and… well… still some work to do to win ?
Nc1 is a good move, but what if the black king follows the white pawn to B6. White queens, black eliminates the knight (because the queen in A8 ain’t checking the king in B6). So you got a queen vs a rook+2 passed pawns for black. Kinda messy. There must be a better solution.
I just reconsidered the situation and yeah NC1 is the best move for white. All other moves are inferior.
Hi Susan Polgar,
Yeah, I have over looked the move Nc1.
Its good for White.
By
Venky
Yep! Overlooked 2. ..Ka3 that only prolongs the inevitable for black.
1. Nc1 Rxc1 2. b7 Ka3 3. a8Q+ Kb2 4. Qh8+ Ka3 5. Qxh5 Rb1 6. Qa5+ Kb2 7. Qxb4+ Ka2 8. Qd2 +-
The pawn is pinned and rook is of no use
8. .. Rh1 9. Qxc2 Ka1 10. Kb3 Rh3 11. Qc3+ Rxc3+ 12. Kxc3 Ka2 13. h5 1-0
or
8. .. Rb2 9. h5 c1Q+ 10. Qxc1 Rh2
black stretches a little in this R and Q+p ending where black K is far away from white pawn