White to move. How should White proceed? Is it a win, draw or loss?
Bianchetti, 1925, presented by Andreas
8/8/K1p1p3/8/3k1P2/1P6/8/8 w – – 0 1
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
King and Pawn endgame
About Author
I think white wins:
1) Kb6 c5
2) Kb5 Ke4
3) Kxc5 Kxf4
and then white wins the “pawn-race” because of b8Q+
Yes, it is … a win for White.
1.Kb6 Kd5 2.Kc7 c5 3.Kd7
hmmmmm I think the magic move is b4…and black is in Zugzwang…
1) Kb6 c5
2) Kb5 Ke4
2…Kd5! =
hmmmmm I think the magic move is b4…and black is in Zugzwang…
After 1.b4 almost any Black move salvages the draw.
I would immediately think
1. Kb6 c5
2. Kc6
and I cannot white not winning.
However, because of 1. …Kd5,
perhaps correct is
1.Kb7 Kd5
2. Kc7 c5
2. Kd7 opposition and a position similar as in the first line,
and
1. Kb7 c5
2. Kc6 is of course the same position.
As far as I see, black cannot make further pawn moves, and if his kind moves to take either pawn, white’s king will either take the pawn of the other side first and queen with check, or take the pawn with opposition so that black will be unable to protect his remaining pawn or take white’s.
1. Kb6 c5
2. Kc6
and I cannot white not winning.
I’m stumbling over the double negative. Do you mean “White wins”?
1.Kb7 Kd5
…
1. Kb7 c5
1.Kb7 Kc5! =
I forgot why I thought Kb7 is advantageous over Kb6, however
1.Kb7 Kc5!
2. Kc7 and then b4 should win, in my opinion, at least the black king is unable to take the b pawn as long as the white king is ready to take the c pawn on the same move.
In my opinion the crucial thing is to prevent the black king from getting to d6, but instead winning one of this pawns by getting your own king on d7. Either Kb7 or Kb6 seem to work, so probably there is some subtlety to take into account.
Only 1.Kb6 works
1.Kb7? Kc5
2.b4 Kd5 etc. White can make no progress.
1.Kb7 Kc5!
2. Kc7 and then b4 should win
1.Kb7 Kc5!
2.Kc7 Kd5!
3.b4 c5! =
“White to move. How should White proceed? Is it a win, draw or loss?”
Hmmm, if you compose a study, and white it is (always) white to move, it would be weird if white not wins or draws!