White to move and win. Can you figure it out without computer help?
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Must know endgame
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White to move and win. Can you figure it out without computer help?
1. Qc1+ Kg2 2.Qc2 Kg1 3.Kg3 f8Q 4.Qh2#
I think the only way to win this is play kg3, let black queen, then play the queen to d2, after qg1+ and kh3, black has no good moves
Anon 5:15:00 PM
1. Qc1+ Kg2 2.Qc2 Kg1 3.Kg3 f8Q 4.Qh2#
Black can play 2…Kh1
oh oh oh …. i close my eyes… because it hurts to keep them open…
i know it, but won’t tell it … 🙂
@i
1.Kg3 f1=N
The correct answer is…not mentioned here yet 😛
J
ok – a hint: think about mating patterns …
^^
Spoiler..
1.Qf3+ Kg1 2.Kg3 f1=Q 3. Qe3+ Kh1 4.Qh6+ Kg1 5. Qh2#
I like Qh3+ Kg1 Kg3 f1Q Qh2#
Underpromotion to a knight is futile too.
-Andrew
1.Qh3+ Kg1
2.Kg3 f1=Q
3.Qh2#
or
2 … f1=N+ and white has won Q vs N endgame.
I think. 🙂
1. Qh3+ Kg1
2. Kg3 f1=N+
3. Kf3 Nh2+
4. Ke2
If 4. …Kh1, then
5. Ke3 Kg1
6. Qg3 Kh1 (Kf1 = # in 1)
7. Kf2 and Black is finished.
If 3. … Nd2+, then
4. Ke2 Ne3
5. Qg4+ Kh2
6. Kf3 Kd2+
7. Kf2 and the game is over for black.
-Eric
I like
1. Qe2 Kg2
1. … Kg1 2. Kg3 leads to the same conclusion
2. Kh4 Kg1
2. … Kh1 3. Qf1+
3. Kg3 f1=Q 4. Qh2#.
Wow, I think I got this one!
1. Kg3 f1=Q
2. Qh6+ Kg1
3. Qh2#
@blogjam – oh oh oh … 1.Kg3?? f1=N+ with a draw, by loss of the queen (be more careful, please!) 🙂
Sorry blogjam, but 1. Kg3? f1=N+! draws for Black.
In the vein of “must know” endgames, this one doesn’t require a lot of calculation.
Q v. BP on the seventh rank is a draw; unless the stronger side’s K is close enough. Then if the pawn queens, it’s mate.
It’s easy to figure out if you know what to look for.
Qe2 Kg1 Kg3 f1=N+ (f1=Q Qh2 mate) Kh3 and Mate next move.
1. Qf3+ Kg1 2.Kg3 Kf1 3. Qf2#
1. Qf3+ kg1 2. Kg3 f1=Q 3. Qe3+ Qf2+ 4. Qf2+ kh1 5. Qg2++ or Qh2++ or Qf1++
1. Qf3 Kg1 2. Kg3 f1=Q 3. Qe3+ kh1 4. Qh6 Qh3+ 5. Qh3+ Kg1 6. Qg2++
1. Qf3 Kg1 2. Kg3 f1=Q 3. Qe3+ Kg1 4. Qh6+ Kg1 5. Qh2++
Obviously 1.Qf3+! (1.Kg3 would have worked were it not for 1…f1N+!)
1…Kg1 [all else loses quickly]2.Kg3 f1Q [or 1…f1N+ 2.Kh3 Ne3 3.Qxe3+ +-] 2.Qe3+ Kh1 3.Qh6+ [also possible and more geometrically appealing though longer Qe4-d4-d5-c5-c6-b6-b7-a7-h7+]
3…Kg1 4.Qh2#
Certainly not a ‘study’ and hardly difficult with 8 moves to win and lots of obviously-drawing moves – but maybe ‘instructive’ …
1.Qh3+ is quickest in ‘conversion terms’ forcing Kg1 which is followed by 2.Kg3 f1=N (or otherwise 3.Qh2#)
1.Qf3+ is quickest in ‘mate terms’ Kg1 2.Kg3 f1=Q 3.Qe3+ Kh1 4.Qh6+ wins
But Qe2+, Qc1+, Qf4, Qd3, Qe4+, Qh3+ and Qh6+ all win.
thus, is there anything we can learn from this must know endgame? or should we memorize one or even all of the various winning lines? as paul serrano pointed out… you need to know and keep the winning IDEA – not some forced lines… oh oh oh …
greetings
PS: i’m quite sure, chess engines do not help building up an appropriate “chess pattern” set in a chess player’s brain… that is, what this lesson ought to teach us…
Generally if the Pawn is on c2 or f2 and White King is far away then it is draw.
Does anyone know whether there is any rule as to where should the White King be in order to win?
Qf3 then Qg3 and Kf3 followed by Qx etc.
“Does anyone know whether there is any rule as to where should the White King be in order to win?”
In the diagram position:
First you have to put the Queen on the second rank, example: e2.
Then you can apply a rule: the king has to be near enough to g3 so it can move there inmediately after the pawn is queened. So it has to be initially on h5, g5, f5, e5 or nearer g3.
This allows to remember a “pattern”.
A.
An easy one: Qf3, Qg3+, Kf3, Qxf2 and black is dead.