White to move. Is this a win, draw, or loss for White? No computer lines please.
k7/7p/PP3p2/K7/4p1P1/2Rp4/2r5/8 w – – 0 1
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Mini brain teaser
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Hello Susan: I think white can win. Could be 1 Rc8+ Rc8 2 b7+ Kb8 (2 … Ka7 3 bc8Q wins easy) 3 Kb6 Rc6+!! 4 Kc6 and it seem black is lost: a) 4 … d2 5 Kb6 and mate. And the critical b) 4 … Ka7 5 Kc7 Ka6 (if 5 … d2 6 b8Q Ka6 7 Qb6++) 6 b8Q Ka5 7 Qb6 and 8 Qe3.
No computer line. I hope it’s correct! Yago Gallach (Spain)
1.Rc8+ Rxc8
2.b7+ Kb8
(2…Ka7 3.bxc8=Q h6 4.Qb7#)
3.Kb6 Rc6+
(3…d2 4.a7#)
4.Kxc6 Ka7
5.Kc7 Kxa6
6.b8=Q
It seems win for white, my own thinking, I started with a7, and Kb7 2. Rc7+ Rxc7 3. bxc7 d2 4. a8=Q+ Kxc7 5. Qa7+
White to move:
1. b7+ Kb8 2. Rxc2 dxc2 3. Kb6 c1 (Queen) 4. a7 ++
1. b7+ Ka7 2. Rc8
Now black rook has to either:
a) Take white rook. However, the resulting pawn to queen promotion threatens mate in 1 move with Qa8, or
b) Check white king. However, this is a losing position for black.
-prashanth-
Its a win for white
1.Rc8! Rxc8 2.b7!
if 2..Kb8 3.Kb6 followed by a7!
if 2..a7 3.bxc6 =Q and inevitable checkmate.
Win for white. Starts with Rc8+ Rxc8 b7+
Very old idea since Stamma!
1> Rc8+ RxC8 forced.
2> b7+ Kb8
3> a7+ Kxa7 bxc8(Queening pawn) OR
3> a7+ kc7 bxc8 Kxc8 a8+(Queening pawn)
Or
2> b7+ ka7
3> bxc8 (Queening pawn)
White should win:
1. Rc8+ Rxc8
2. b7+ Kb8
But not 1.b7+ Ka7!
3. Kb6! Rc6+ The only way to escape mate by a7#.
4. Kxc6 Ka7 Or else 5.Kb6 and 6.a7#
5. Kc7 Kxa6
6. B8=Q Ka5
7. Qb6+ Ka4
8. Qe3 WIth an easy win for White
Rc8+
Rc8+
I’m not thoroughly pleased to admit to possessing a mini brain, but OK, I’m a bass player…
White wins:
1. b7+
A. 1…Kb8 2. Rxc2 dxc2 3. Kb6 and mate next;
B. 1…Ka7 2. Rc8 Ra2+ (…Rc5+ 3. Rxc5 d2 4. Rc8 wins) 3. Kb5 Rb2+ (…Rxa6 4. b8Q#) 4. Kc6 Rc2+ 5. Kd7 Kxa6 6. b8Q wins
1. Rc8+ Rxc8
2. b7+ Kb8
3. Kb6! Rc6+ (otherwise a7#)
4. Kxc6 Ka7 (d2 Kb6 d1=Q a7#)
5. Kc7 Kxa6 (d2 b8=Q+ Kxa6 Qb6#)
6. b8=Q Ka5 (d2 Qb6#)
7. Qa8+ Kb4
8. Qxe4+ Kc3
9. Qc6+ Kb2
10. Qxf6 Kc2
11. Qf5 Kc1
12. Qxh7
1 – 0
I have seen 11 replies,most of them got the right move.I just want to elaborate.
1.Rc8+ Rxc8
2.b7+ Kb8
3.Kb6 Rc6+
4.Kxc6 Ka7
5.Kc7 Kxa6
6.b8=Q Ka5
7.Kc6 Ka4
8.Kc5 Ka3
9.Kc4 Ka2
10.Kc3 Ka1
11.Qb2#
Black’s pawns and white’s pawn on g file are irrelevant.
I think I can make the solution shorter.
1.Rc8+ Rxc8
2.b7+ Kb8
3.Kb6 Rc6+
4.Kxc6 Ka7
5.Kc7 Kxa6
6.b8=Q Ka5
7.Qb3 d2
8.Kc6 d1=Q
9.Qb5#
Still I prefer the earlier one white K chasing black K down and the newborn Q delivering mate on her next move.