White to move. How should White proceed?
8/p2np2p/2PPk2p/1P6/8/1N4K1/8/8 w – – 0 1
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White to move. How should White proceed?
8/p2np2p/2PPk2p/1P6/8/1N4K1/8/8 w – – 0 1
How about 1.Nc+, then if 1…Nxc5 2.c7. If 1…K-any then 2.Nxd7.
Nc5
N-c5ch wins
Nc5+! Nxc5
c7 Kd7
dxe7
and black can’t stop one of the pawns from queening.
1. Nc5+ ! Nxc5 2. c7 Kd7 3. dxe7 and white wins since black cannot stop both pawns.
I think I got this one.
But a real hard endgame.
I had to combine a lot of variations to arrive at the solution.
1. Nc5+! Nxc5
(I have to substantiate my 1.Nc5 with this variation as white can go wrong here with 2.Nxd7 a6! when I feel that black can hold on or atleast white would have to work too hard in the endgame.)
1….. Kxd6
2. cxd7! Kc7
3. Kf4! h5
4. Ke5 h4
5. Ke6 Kd8
6. Nb7++- )
2. b6!! (It is just unbelievable that such a pawn move – a pawn sacrifice to be precise – wins the position. Indeed a new year treat. Thanks for that Susan.)
2……. axb6
(2……. cxd6/Kxd6
3. bxa7+- )
(2…… a5
3. b7 Na6
4. c7+- )
3. d7! Nxd7
4. c7!
and the pawn queens.
Really wonderful.
Hope there isn’t a flaw.
1.c7 what else??
1 Nc5+ nc5 2 b6 ab6 3 d7 nd7 4 c7 win
1. Nc5+ NxN
2. b6! a7xb6
3. d7 Nxd7
4. c7 and no stopping!!
1. Nc5+
1. c7 fails to 1. … Nb6
Nc5+ looks good.
Kxd6 Nxd7 winning N
Nxc5 c7 Kd7 dxe7 and one of the pawns queens.
nc5 nc5 b6 ab6 d7 nd7 c7
What else?
3.c7
1.c7? Nb6
So…
1.Nc5+ (decoy) Nxc5
2.b6 (forgotten this very important move, obstruction of b6 square, else the b pawn queen via a7 or b7) 2…axb6
3.d7 Nxd7
4.c7 and Nb6 is no longer possible, Kd7 is not possible too, pawn c queens and the win is easy.
1. c7? is met by Nb6. The knight must be deflected from its post first:
1. Nc5+! Nxc5
1. … Kxd6
2. cxd7 tilt.
2. c7 Kd7
3. dxe7 and one of the pawns will queen.
I think Nc5+
I think Nc5+
1. Nc5+ Nxc5 (forced or else its clear victory for white)
2. c7 Kd7
3. dxe7 Kxe7
4. C8=Q
or if
3. … Kxc7
4. e8=Q
White Wins! 1-0
jMac December 31, 2011 2:32:00 PM CST
kibitzer December 31, 2011 8:04:00 PM CST
chesstiger December 31, 2011 8:32:00 PM CST
Anonymous January 1, 2012 7:07:00 AM CST
Fajac January 1, 2012 8:41:00 AM CST
vignesh iyer January 1, 2012 9:23:00 AM CST
There was a hidden trap in this position.
The overhasty 1. Nc5+ Nxc5 2. c7 forfeits the win: 2…Kd7 3. dxe7 Ne4+!! followed by 4…Nd6 or even stronger the immediate 2…Ne4+ and black wins.
Why this move was several times missed in analysis?. I see two reasons:
1) White king is far-off from the heat of the battle, so, all threat against him are mentally dismissed.
2) The possibility …Ne4+ is not present in the starting position.
Knights endings are very tricky because, although a knight is not as fast as a bishop, checks (and, above all, forks) possibilities can save the day…
I see Cortex has already been here. I remember this puzzle well. Rather than cover old ground, I will just post the link to the previous apparition of a comments section for this particular puzzle for the curious:
Link