White to move. Is this a win or draw for White? No computer analysis please.
2kr4/8/1K5R/2N5/8/8/8/8 w – – 0 1
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1.Rc6+…Kb8
2.Na6+…Ka8
3.Ng4…Kb8 (if Rook moves along 8th rank the same moves follow; if Rook moves off 8th rank then Rc8 is mate)
4.Rc7 followed by Nf6+ and Ra7 mate
Why is this type of chess knowledge critical? Thank you.
R + N vs R = draw
Is this a trick puzzle?
I’m hopeless at this kind of thing but I’ll give it a partial try anyway and hope I’m not making an absolute fool out of myself!
White moves R to C6
Black moves K to B8 (as far as I can see, that’s the only move)
White moves Kn to C7
Black moves K to A8 (again, only move)
White Kn x R on D8
After that, it’s bare King v. King, Rook and Knight, should be a checkmate in there somewhere 🙂
Jan Newton
Goddesschess.com
Rook + Knight vs Rook is a draw most of the time.
But there are standard postitions where the extra Knight can force a win, usually when the Black King is already on the edge of the board, as here.
Ka7 seems to win
reply to my own post Ka7 seems to win… no it doesn’t.
Hello,
I think that a possible solution is
1. Rc6+ , Kb8
2. Na6+ , Ka8
3. Kc7 , Rg8
4. Nc5 , Rg7+
5. Kb6 , Rg8
6. Ka6 , Kb8
7. Nd7+ , Ka8
8. Rc7 , Rg6+
9. Nb6+ , Rxb6+ ( if Kb8 10. Rc8# )
10. Kxb6 winning
I think that the most important movement is the third…
Greetings from Spain
Yes, Jose!
The third move is the one i hadn’t found.
Great solution!
Saludos!
The first anonymous got it right it seems, if you replace Ng4 by Nb4. Jose Maria Lasso Frias’ solution seems to work as well, but is a lot more complicated. The point seems to be to shield off the king with the knight right next to it from checks on the 6th rank, hence the manoeuvre Na6-b4-c6. In the other solution happens something similar, but with the king on a6 and the knight on b6. So, guess that is why this is critical!
I couldn’t find Nb4, but I guess next time will be easier now I understand what the knight is supposed to do 🙂
Thanks!
PdV
(1)Rc6+ Kb8
(2)Na6+ Ka8
(3)Kc7
and now White can force a mate in 10 moves.
Anonymous 1 missed 4. Rb8+
Jose is correct if black’s rook stays on the 8th rank. So far no one has posted a solution for
3. … Rdl.
4. Kc8 threating Nc7+ and Rh6++
Black can try Ra1 or Ka7 when in either case White plays 5. Nc7 and 6. Ng5 followed by 7. Rg6 threating
mate in one, forcing … 7. Rc8+ then 8. Nc7+ wins