White to move. How should White proceed? Is it a win or draw?
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Endgame of the day
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White to move. How should White proceed? Is it a win or draw?
Very tricky, but I go it. I like these end game puzzles. Especially the ones where I can win being down material.:)
b4, has to be, shelter behind the pawns.
I played b4 also. My theory was to connect the pawns as fast as possible. Not sure if that’s why it works, but that’s my theory.
How about this:
1.b4 Ra1 2.b5 Kg6 3.b6 Ra6 4.b7 Ra5+ 5.Kc4 (5.-Kb6? 6.Ra1=) Ra4+ 6.Kc3 Ra3+ 7.Kc2 Ra2+ 8.Kb1 +-
Note sure if black has better moves than 1.-Ra1 or 2.-Kg6, otherwise it seems lost.
At first glance it seems that white has several ways to win, though Queen vs Rook is not trivial against a skilled defender.
1.b4 Kg6 2.b5 Ra1 and then what?
Is 3.b6 Rxa6 4.b7 followed by a King ladder march to b2 a good idea?
Answer to that question has already been posted to the forum. 🙂
But not in this thread–what did I overlook?
🙂
“1.b4 Kg6 2.b5 Ra1 and then what?”
3.Kb6 Kf5 4.Ka7 Ke6 5.b6
I don’t think b4 is the right path. How about 1. a7? This forces 1. … Ra1.
With the black rook now stuck on the a file, W plays 2. Kb6, then 3. Kb7 and finally 4. a8=Q.
Did I miss anything?
I think white b5 is the best move because it allows for you to advance your pawn.
1)if black plays h5+ then white plays a4 which allows for the b pawn advance.
2)if black plays b1 attacking the b pawn then b4 advances the b pawn and is protected by the king.
3)if blacks plays a1 then the king is also protecting the a pawn. white can then play b4 and advance the b pawn and protect against black a5.
wolverine
Jack, if a7, then the black king marches over to stop the b pawn. I don’t think a7 works.
With b4, the b pawn protects the a pawn on its second move. The white king then can sneak to a7. Try playing it out on the board.
“1.b4 Ra1 2.b5 Kg6 3.b6 Ra6 4.b7 Ra5+ 5.Kc4 (5.-Kb6? 6.Ra1=) Ra4+ 6.Kc3 Ra3+ 7.Kc2 Ra2+ 8.Kb1 +-“
the idea of a march to b1 is great, but black can improve his game significantly to hold it:
1.b4 ra1
2.b5 kg6
3.b6 ra5+!
e.g. 4.kc6 rxa6 with a draw
so, 3.b6 can not be the right move …:) so, what else?
IMHO the solution is
3.kb6! kf7
4.ka7! ke6
5.b6 and both white pawns will promote, won’t they?
I tried pushing the a pawn to promotion and it resulted in a draw.
Next I tried pushing the b pawn to promotion, which actually ended up promotiong the a pawn again and a resulting draw.
I believe it is a draw.
the rookery
1.a7 Ra1 (forced) 2.Kb6 Kg6 3.b4 Kf6 4.b5 Ke6 5.Kb7 Kd6 6.a8=Q Rxa8 7.Kxa8 Kc5 and black pawn is lost, thus draw.
Therefore : 1.b4 Ra1 2.b5 Kg6 (what else than Ra1/Kg6 ?) 3.Kb6
(3.b6? Ra5+! draws while 3…Rxa6? 4.b7 Ra5+ 5.Kc4 Ra4+ 6.Kc3 Ra3+ 7.Kb2+-)
3…Kf6 4.Ka7! (4.Kb7? Ke6 5.a7 and we are back to the line after 1.a7)
4…Ke6 5.b6 Kd7 6.b7 +-
just compiling (and checking) your analysis, guys !
vohaul’s line starting with 1 b4 wins. However, the 1 a7 line anonymous gives just above can be improved. Instead of 6 a8(Q)=, white can play 6 b6 to win. Black tries are:
6 … Rh1
7 a8(Q)+-, of course
6 … Ra2
7 Kb8 Kc6
8 b7 Rh1
9 a8(Q) Kb6 (threatening Rh8#)
10 Kc8+-
6 … Kc5 (best try)
7 Kc7 Rh1 (threatens 8 a8(Q) Rh7+ 9 Kb8 Rh8+ 10 Ka7 Rxa8 11 Kxa8 Kxb6 =)
8 b7 Rh7+
9 Ke8 Rxb7
10 a8(Q) and white should win Q v. R
As a practical matter, the 1 b4 line should be easier to win.
Chris Falter
@chris falter – and btw – it was much easier to calculate 5 moves than 10 moves ahead … 😛
sincerly, your Vohaul (i’m lazy!)
i think its a win a7 and if Rh6 kingb advances
I think a very similar position occured in a game Maroczy-Tarrasch. Is this the same game? Uncle Geza missed the winning line in that game. I can’t seem to find it in my database, anyone?
I’ve just worked over this a7 – line again – and i think it is a draw anyway, the “anonymous” line as well as the “chris falter” line:
1.a7? Ra1
2.Kb6 Kg6
3.b4 (3.Kb7 Kf5 4.b4 Ke4 5.b5 Kd5 6.b6 Kc5=)
3… Kf6
4.b5 Ke6
5.Kb7 Kd6
6.b6 (6.a8Q Rxa8 7.Kxa8 Kc5 =)
6… Kc5
7.Kc7 Kb5
(7…Rh1? 8.b7 Rh7+ 9.Kd8 Rxb7 10.a8Q +-)
8.b7 (8.a8Q Rxa8 9.b7 Ra7 =; 8.Kb7 Ra6 9.Kc7 Kc5 10.Kb7 Rxb6+ 11.Kc7 Ra6 =)
8…Rxa7
9.Kc8 Rxb7
10.Kxb7 draw
greetings