White to move. Can White hold? How should White proceed? No computer please. Have fun 🙂
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Friday morning brain teaser
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White to move. Can White hold? How should White proceed? No computer please. Have fun 🙂
The only idea seems to me trying to run to the b pawn with the king.
So 1. Kd3!
– 1. … f2 2. Rf8 holds
– 1. … b2 2. Kc2 Ke7 3. Ra7+ Ke8 4. Ra8+ with perpetual.
The king cannot leave the square f8 unattended: 3. …Kf6 4. Ra8
nano:
Interesting idea! 1.kd3!? b2 2.kc2 ke7! 3.ra7+ ke8 4.ra8+ =
My solution (main line) was 1.ra7+ kc6 2.kf3 b2 3.ra6 b1q 4.rxb6+ qxb6 5.ab kxb6 6.ke4=
Now lets combine
1.ra7+ kc8 .kd3 e5 3.rf7 e4+ 4.kc3 +-
1… kc6 2.kd3 +-
1… kc8 2 kd3+-
1… kd8 2. ke5! (kd3= see above) b2 3.kd6 kc8 4.kc6 kd8 (ke8 5. ke6 kf6 6kf6 ke8 re7 and re1 +-) 5.rd7+ ke8 6.rd1 ba 7.kc5 e5 8.kd5 +-
that’s it. nice puzzle
I don’t agree with “nano” December 21, 2007 9:37:00 AM CST on 1.Kd3 leads to a win for white, even though that was the line I analyzed for quite a while.
ex;
1.Kd3 b2!
2.Kb2 Ke7!
And I don’t see how can white win since black is threating 3….f2 next.
white could play
3.Ra7+ Kf6
4.Rb8 kg7! and it’s a draw since white can’t stop both the b-pawn nor the f-pawn from promoting.A perpatual is the only alternative.
3.Ra7+ Kf6
4.Ra8 b1(Q)+
5.KxQ Ke7!
and white has to settle with a perpetual
to stop black from playing 6….f2 7….f1(Q)+
So yes, I think 1.Kd3 is the a good move that saves the game in a draw!
1 Kd3 b2 2 Kc2 Ke7 3 ab!? f2 4 b7 f1=Q 5 Re8+!? (just throwing it out there) Ke8 6 b8=Q+ Kf7 7 Qb2 or Kb2 when the a-pawn looks dangerous even.
Also there is no perpetual…
3 Ra7+ Kf6 4 Ra8 Kg7! 5 Ra7+ Kg6! Black wins
@Drunknknite: The Black King is not forced to take the e8 Rook: so there is not check on queening and Black’s better.
I think 1.kd3!? b2 2.kc2 ke7! 3.ra7+ ke8 4.ra8+ = with perpetual is the best because if …Kf6 then Rd7 and the Rook goes to the first rank and prevents the black pawns from queening (could even capture them)
anon, 5…Ke8 is forced as 5…Kf6 is answered by 6 Rf8 winning the Queen and 5…Kd6 is answered by 6 b8Q+ and Kf7 or Kd7 would lead to more checks
There is a perpetual though. In my earlier note after Kg6 I was thinking the pawn was already on f2, since it’s not, Ra8 would force Kg7 with repetition
drunknknite:
>> 1 Kd3 b2 2 Kc2 Ke7 3 ab!? f2 4 b7 f1=Q 5 Re8+!?
now apply the same idea a bit earlier:
1 Kd3? b2 2 Kc2 Ke7 3 ab!? f2 4 b7 b1q! 5. kxb1 6 f1q+ kc2 7 qf2+ and 8 … qxa7 🙂
1 ra7+ wins (see my post, second from the top). Kb3 gives a draw
axel
i meant 7…qg2+ and q:b7 of course
Indeed, very nice puzzle.
White wins with 1.Ra7 (1.Kd3 leads to perpetual check)
1…Kc6 or Kd6. 2.Kd3! and easy win
king gets passing pawn on g and rook c-pawn.
1…Kd8. 2.Ke5!g2(or c2).3.Kxe6 Kd8. 4.Rd7+ and 5.Rd1 +-
1..Ke8. 3.Ke5! b2.4. Kd6 Kc8. 5.Kc6 Kb8. 6. Rb7+ Ka8. 7. Kc7! b1Q. 8. Rb8+ Ka7. 9. axb+ and black has to give away queen or get a checkmate on Ra8
Anonymus 3:13:00 PM:
I see your point with 1.Ra7+ : if black doesn’t keep his king close to the f7 squere (1.. Kc8, 1..Kc6, 1..Kd6), then white catches the b pawn with the king and the f pawn with the rook and wins.
I also understand your plan with 2. Ke5 : you want to play Rd7+ and Rd1 stopping both pawns with the rook.
However I don’t think the 2. Ke5 plan works:
For example in the variation u gave black can play 4.. Kb8 (rather then Kd8) and white doesn’t have the Rd7+ & Rd1 plan. There are other variations that contradict this plan, for example: 1.. Ke8 , or 2.. f2, etc.
In other words, the only way this plan can work is the variation u gave, and thus position is still a draw..