Black to move. Is this a win or draw for Black?
8/8/pp6/8/8/PP1k4/8/K7 b – – 0 1
Here is the main solution: 1… Kc3 2. Ka2 b5 3. b4 Kc2 4. a4 a5 5. Ka3 Kc3 6. bxa5 b4+ 7. Ka2 b3+ 8. Ka3 b2 9. Ka2 Kc2 10. a6 b1=Q+ 11. Ka3 Qb3# 0-1
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
1. … Kc3
2. Ka2 b5
3. b4 Kc2
4. a4 a5
5. bxa5 b4
6. a6 b3
7. Ka3 b2
8. a2 b1=Q
9. a1=Q Qb3#
Well, lets see if the most obvious beginning gets us anywhere:
1. …..Kc3
2. Ka2 (this move is forced)
Continuing
2. …..b5 (a5 3.a4 draws, I think)
3. b4 Kc2
4. a4 a5
5. Ka3 Kc3
6. ba5 b4
7. Ka2 Kc2
8. a6 b3
9. Ka3 b2 and black will queen a move ahead of white and will mate on the very next move.
At move 3 above, white accomplishes nothing by playing
3. a4 b4!
4. a5 Kc2 and white is in zugzwang and loses both pawns after the forced 5. Ka1.
Kc2 looks like it wins.
1…Kc3! 2 Ka2 b5! 3 b4 (3 a4 b4 wins) Kc2! 4 a4! a5!! wins as black’s b pawn will queen first however White captures.
This is the only way to win for Black that I can see. Note that
1…Kc2? 2 Ka2 b5 3 b4 Kc3 4 a4! is a draw.
-Justin Daniel
Win for Black. 1… Kc3, and to avoid losing the b-pawn immediately White must play either
i) 2 b4 Kb3 losing both pawns;
ii) 2 Ka2 a5, after which retreating the White King loses both pawns; 3 a4 Kb4 with the same result; or 3 b4 axb4 4 axb4 Kxb4 and Black should win.
Kc3 followed by a5 wins easy
No, scratch that, changed my mind: Black’s best move is 1… Kc3, but after 2 Ka2 there doesn’t seem to be anything that can force the win for Black.
1… Kc2! 2 a4 Kxb3 and wins; 3 b4 Kb3 and wins.
2 Ka2 Kc3; then, 3 a4 Kb4 wins; 4 b4 Kb3 wins.
Kc3 wins – technique of opposition
White’s best move, no matter what Black does, is 2 Ka2. White can then force the draw after Ka3 or Kb2.
So Black can win with:
1 … Kc2 (2 a4 Kxb3; 2 b4 Kb3, both wins for Black)
2 Ka2 b5 (now any King move is win for Black)
3 b4 Kc3 4 a4 Kxb4 wins
3 a4 b4 (to prevent 4 Ka3); 4 a5 Kc3; and White’s only remaining moves are Ka1 and Kb1, both of which lose.
Nice and not easy endgame.
Black wins starting with 1.Kc3
At some stage white has a resource b4-b5-a4.
But then black plays a5!
1..Kc3 2 Ka2 b5
3 b4 Kc2
4 a4 a5!
There are two variant
5 Ka3 Kc3
6 Ka2 ab
7 ab Kc2!
8 b6 b3+
9 Ka3 b2 and so on
5 ba b4
6 a6 b3+
7 Ka3 b2
8 a7 b=Q
9 a=Q Qb3X
olimat
I am inclined to say that moving king to c3 will lead to victory for black – HH
Nice line! Somehow I have never seen this before.
Hello
I Think that the solution is mistaken
1. …., Kc3
2. Ka2 , b5
3. b4 , Kc2
4. a4 , a5
5. Ka3 , Kc3
6. bxa5, b4+
7. Ka2 , b3+
8. Ka3 Why???
8. Kb1 and white wins..
Black must move first
7. …., Kc2
8. a6 , b3+
9. Ka3 , b2
10. Kb4, b1=Q+ winning
Greetings from Spain
Well,Frederick,comments aren’t posted before moderator approval & there wasn’t any when I saw the puzzle. – HH