Black to move. How can Black save this game? How should Black proceed?
8/5ppk/7p/1pRb4/3P1PPP/Pp2K3/8/8 b – – 0 39
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
More endgame improvement
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I have a headache from trying to solve all these puzzles.
Probably 1… b4. Then if 2. axb4 b2. If 2. Rc1 bxa3, etc.
1. … b4
Black’s only chance is the b3 pawn marching to b1, but white’s rook is threatening to cover this with Rb5- for example:
1. …..b2??
2. Rb5 and black can save his bishop, but the pawn falls and with it the game. My first and only thought is to play b4 first:
1. …..b4
And white cannot take:
2. ab4? b2 and the pawn can’t be stopped. At move 2, white has two realistic options, bring the king over to stop the pawn, or play the rook to c1, but they both look like losers:
2. Kd2 ba3
3. Kc1 Be4! (threatens b2+)
4. Rb5 b2
5. Rb2 ab2
6. Kb2 but the extra piece is decisive in black’s favor. At move 3, white does no better with
3. Rd5 a2 (b2 loses to Kc2)
4. Ra5 b2 and black will get a queen regardless of what white plays. Or
3. Kc3 b2
4. Rb5 Be4 and white will have to give up the rook for both pawns. Or
3. Ra5 b2
4. Rb5 a2 and black gets a queen. And, finally, back at move 2, white had the option of
2. Rc1 ba3 and the rook is as helpless against the connected pawns from in front as he was behind them. Or
2. a4 b2 and it is over.
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1…b4!
A) 2.Rxd5 bxa3 winning for Black
B) 2.axb4 b2 also winning
C) 2.Kd2 bxa3 (3.Ta5 b2!) 3.Kc3 b2 etcc…
it looks hopeless. 1…Bc4 and the King gets back. 1…b2 and the rook simply takes the pawn.
Black does have a cute saving resource, though. 1…b4 (interference). Two connected passed pawns on the 3rd are stronger than a rook, so 2. Rxd5 bxa3 3. Kd2 a2. 2.axb4 b2 – the rook no longer can stop the pawn.
I’m not sure what to make of the queen versus rook endgame; still, Black has at least a draw, which is rather better than what she started with!
black should proceed to kick lafferties buttt
Black has to push his pawn: …b4. The pawn queens if white stops to take either the bishop or the pawn, so he can only move his king, and then b4xa3 and the two connected passed pawns will be impossible for white to stop.
1…b4
2. Kd2 Be4
3. axb4 b2 queens
3. Kc1 b4xa3
If this is right,
Black actually wins.
1..b4
2. Rc1 b2
3. Re1
3… bxa3
4. Kd2 a2
5. Kc2 a1=Q
wins or 5..b1=Q +
6. Rxb1 Be4+ followed 7..axb1=Q
1…b4!! crushes White.
1…b4 and White can’t stop the pawn on b3.
1…Bc4 looks tempting but 2.Rxc4 bxc4 3.Kc2 and the White King can just sit there and guard the two passed Black pawns and Black can’t stop the a pawn.
B4!
Can white save this game after 1…b4! ?
1. … b4 wins for Black. It is quite easy to find, as soon as one discover that the board is flipped to Blacks’s perspective …
After 1…. b4, how can White save this game?
only active move 1. g5 will cut off black’s easy access to the g6-pawn. Only Rf8 or Ke7 will stop the immediate g6-g7-g8Q. But then 2. g5xh6 gives white connected passers on the 6th rank and that will at least cost black the rook, but probably white will queen anyway.
greets, jan
1…. b5-b4
Hi!
b4 and easy win.
axb4 b2
kd2 bxa3
As I told you a long time ago, I love solving this puzzles.
Thanks.
1…b4
1… b4 seems to do the trick, if 2. Rc1 ba creates two connected passed pawns on the 6th rank, one of which must queen.
If instead 2. ab then 2…b2 and the pawnqueens.
For a while, I thought c1Q was a good move, but I think actually the board is reversed, and the b pawns are the key. Push the second pawn and the rook can’t stop your pawn anymore.