White to move. How should White proceed? Is this a win for White or draw?
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
King and Pawn endgame
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White to move. How should White proceed? Is this a win for White or draw?
white wins with 1.Kg6 and 2.Kh7 or Kf7, whatever is possible. Then 3.g6 and 4.h6!
Mmmm, white does win, but not the way me listed.
1. Kg6 Kh8
2. Kf7 Kh7
3. h6! gxh6 (…g6 loses immediately to Kf6)
4. g6+ Kh8
5. g7+ Kh7
6. g8-Q+ Kh6
7. Qg6++
-or-
1. Kg6 Kf8
2. Kh7 Kf7
3. g6+ Kf6
4. Kg8 Kg5
5. Kxg7 1-0
Well another fun puzzle. Enjoyed it.
Incredible Miss Polgar,
I’m playing chess for about 15 years and at my club game, last tuesday, i got the exact same position for the first time (in reversed colours). Nice coincedence to see it two days later on your website 🙂
I played like ‘me’ said, when my opponent resigned after 3. g6 Kh8 4. h6
hmmm, I mean incredible as incredible in this coincedence, not as incredible in you. sorry, my english is horrible.
“3. h6! gxh6 (…g6 loses immediately to Kf6)
4. g6+ Kh8
5. g7+ Kh7
6. g8-Q+ Kh6″
Kh6 is not possible since the black pawn is on h6 (from 3..gxh6)! Hence 6. g8=Q#
Kg6 and wins , depending on which side the black king goes u move either g or h pawn.
a small question.
at corus why isnt kosteniuk playing?? or is she with another id.
thks
Kg6 seems to force the king either way. seems like everyone got this one. these end game probems are good for game situations. one thing ive noticed is that with opening theory so advanced that theres no middle game sometimes. it just straight from opening theory for the first 30 moves then to end game. i suppose with the advance of computers opening theory has the possiblity of comprising the whole game but thats only in theory I doubt its ever gonna happen.
wolverine
White wins
kg6-kh8
kf7-kh7
Black cannot do anything..
White has several ways to win, it’s not that difficult. But nevertheless, it’s a good example to teach beginners.
You don’t have to know each position, just some basic principles. And one of them is that in a K+P vs. K ending you win if the king reaches the 6th row before the pawn. So, white wins if the position is wKg6,Pg5; position of black king doesn’t matter.
If you just know this, don’t think twice. Play Kg6 and h5-h6, exchange the pawn on g7 and the pawn g5 will reach g8 afterwards.
Just a good example that complicated endgames can be traced back to the easy ones.
Anonymous said…
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If you just know this, don’t think twice. Play Kg6 and h5-h6, exchange the pawn on g7 and the pawn g5 will reach g8 afterwards.
Just a good example that complicated endgames can be traced back to the easy ones.
Actually…. This is:
Just a good example of why you should always think twice, after:
1. Kg6 Kh8
2. h6?? (is a blunder into a draw)
2. … Kg8
A) 3. hxg7 (is stalemate)
B) 3. h7+ Kh8 (and black wins the h pawn next move, then doesn’t leave the defense of his pawn)
C)
3. Kh5 Kh7
4. hxg7 Kxg7 (is drawn if you know your theory)
D)
3. Kh5 Kh7
4. g6+ Kh8
5. h7 (yet another stalemate)
The theory provides shortcuts in your evaluations; this doesn’t mean you don’t need to evaluate.
Many of the earlier posts illustrate the correct idea of first forcing the black King out of the corner to win the g7 Pawn.
A King that stubbornly tries to hold the corner gets mated there; with the clever idea of giving up the h Pawn to create a passed g Pawn.
The g Pawn will be shepparded by the King on f7 (a recurring theme in K+P-K theory).