Black to move. How should Black proceed?
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Knowing your endgame
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Black to move. How should Black proceed?
…b6+ , axb6 …Kb7 forces draw.
Nice to have an endgame that you can solve in your head in one go 🙂
Xargon,
1. … b6+
2. Kb4 bxa5+
3. Kxa5 Kb7
is an easy draw. E.g.,
4. b6 Kb8
5. Ka6 Ka8
6. b7+ Kb8
7. Kb6 stalemate
4. Ka4 Kb6
5. Kb4 Kb7
6. Ka5 Ka7
7. b6+ Kb7
8. Kb5 Kb8
9. Kc6 Kc8
10. b7+ Kb8
11. Kb6 stalemate
Just be prepared to maintain the opposition. I don’t see any way for White to prevent that unless Black is careless.
it seems that 1…Kb8 (followed by Ka8) also draws (even though less forcing than 1..b6) :
1…Kb8(?) 2.Kb6 Ka8 3.a6(?) Kb8 4.a7 (4.axb7 pat) Ka8 5.Kc7 Kxa7 draw
but in fact it will lose after 3.Kc7(!) Ka7 (3…b6 4.Kxb6) 4.b6 Ka8 (4…Ka6 5.Kb8 and 6.Kxb7) 5.a6! bxa6 6.b6
Stephane
1…Kb8 2.Kb6 Kc8 3.Ka7 and White controls the promotion square for the b-pawn and will be able to exchange a5 for b7.
1…b6+ is the only move that draws.
of course 1…b6+ holds a draw – i refuse to give a detailed analysis of this inside out elementary endgame…
^^