Black to move. How can black save this game?
Source: ChessToday.net
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Black to move. How can black save this game?
Source: ChessToday.net
1…… f5+!
2. Nxf5 Bxh4!
3. Nxh4 Kd4
4. Nf5+ Kc3
5. Nd6 Kxb3
6. Nc8 Kxc4
7. Nxb6+ Kb4
and black just has to win the other white pawn to draw. c4 – Kc5 – Kb4 is one way to proceed.
I can’t see a win for black.
Can’t black save it with f5+?
1. …..f5+
2. Nf5 Bh4
3. Nh4
Here, Kh4 is a clear loss after black takes at f5 since the black king will win the white pawns before the white king can defend or win the black a-pawn. Continuing:
3. …..Kd4!
4. Nf5 Kc3
5. Nd6
No real difference with Ne3 or Kf4. All drawn lines I think:
5. …..Kb3
6. Kf4
White must maintain the guard on c4 for the clearest draw. To try an immediate Nc8 and Nb6 seems needlessly dangerous. Continuing:
6. …..Ka4
7. Ke3 Kb4
8. Kd3 a4
9. Ne4
Lots of possible draws. I would only stay away from Nc8 since Kb3 looks killer at that point. Ne4 seems clear cut to me:
9. …..Kb3 (or a3)
10.Nc3 a3
11.Na2!
The key position in this line. Black cannot win by taking at a2 since white will then trap him on the a-file and black cannot allow himself to get caught on a1 with the pawn at a2 since he would then be forced to play b5 and lose. Continuing:
11. ….Kb2
12.Kd2! and this is clearly a draw. If white takes at a2, white plays Kc2 and black will have to keep playing Ka2/Ka1 while white plays Kc2 and Kc1.
Black can draw by sacrificing the Bishop for the pawns
1.Ng7 f5+
2.Nxf5 Bxh4
3.Nxh4 Kd4
4.Kf3 Kc3
5.Ke2 Kxb3
6.Kd3 Kxa4
7.Kc3 b5
8.Ng6 bxc4
But I suspect there is a win there. But it needs a detailed study
1. … f5+
2. Nxf5 Bxh4
3. Kxh4 Kxf5
1. … f5+
2. Nxf5 Bxh4
3. Nxh4 Kd4
and the black king gets in and destroys the white queenside.
1. … f5+
2. Kf3 Bxh4.
2. Kh3 or Kh5 Ke4, then f4, f3.
2. Nxf5 Bxh4
3. Nxh4 Kd4 (then Kc3, Kxb3, Kxa4 and/or Kxc4 etc.)
1…f5 followed by 2…Bxh4 makes
a draw.
gi
f5Nf5 Bh4Nh4 Kd4Nf5 Kc3Nd6 Kb3Nc8 Kc4Nb6
1. … f5+ 2. Nxf5 Bh4 3. Nxh4 Kd4 and I think Black has al least good chances to draw.