White to move. How can White save this game? No computer lines please.
k1K5/pp6/4p3/4P3/4p2p/4P2p/N1P5/3B4 w – – 0 1
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Nb4 h2
Na6 bxN (otherwise Nc7++)
Be2 h1Q
Bxa6 followed by Bb7++
1. Be2 h2
2. Ba6 bxa6
3. Nb4 h1(Q)
4. Nax6 Q/any
5. Nc7#
or if
1. Be2 a6 (or a5)
2. Bf1
and all black pawns are stopped. white will slowly pick up some of the pawns, promote the e5 pawn to queen, and win.
ez one, there are few options, under thirty second.
Be2 h2
Ba6 ba6
Nb4 h1=Q
Na6 any
Nb7 bedtime
Arctic Knight
Be2 h2 (any other move Bf1 stops the pawns)
Ba6 bxa6
Nb4 any
Na6 any
Nc7 mate
1..Be2!
2.h2 (Or else 2..Bf1 wins)
2..Ba6! 3.gxa6 Nb4
4.h1Q Nxa6
(And Nc7# next move) 1-0
1) Nc3, h2
2) Nd5,
If
2) ….; a5
3) Nb6; Ka7
4) Kc7; Ka6
5) Be2; Ka7
6) Nc8; Ka8
7) Nb6 =
If
2) …; e:d5
3) e6; h1 = Q
4) e7; Q:d1 [4) …Qh3 5) Kd8]
5) e8 = Q; +-
My solution:
1.Nb4! h2 2.Na6 (the threat is 3.Nc7#)
2..bxa6 (only move) 3.Be2 h1Q 4.Bxa6 and Black is defenceless against the check-mate coming from the lone bishop. (The new queen can’t even give a check.)
White should be able to save the game by threatening mate, because the black king is in a very bad position.
1. Nb4 h2
2. Na6 bxa6
3. Bh5 h1=Q
4. Be8
Bc6# is inevitable due to the pawns on both a7 and a6.
So black has to react earlier:
3. Bh5 a5
4. Be8 a6
5. Bc6+ Ka7
6. Bxe4
White is now controlling h1. But has he enough time to stop all of black’s pawns?
6. … a4
7. Kd7 a3
8. Kxe6 a2
9. Kd7 a1=Q
Not like this. So let’s try something different:
6. … a4
7. Bd5 exa5
8. e6 h1=Q
9. e7 Qh3+
10. Kd6 Qc8 or Kd8 Qe6
Neither. Ok, something completely different is called for:
4. Bf7 a6
5. Bxe6 h1=Q
6. Bd5+ Ka7
7. e6 Qh3 pinning the pawn
8. Kc7 Qh2+ black has few options
9. Kd7 Qh3
10. Kd6 Qh2+
11. Kd7 Qh3
12. Kd6 Qxe6+ otherwise it’s a draw
13. Kxe6 a4
14. Ke5 a3
15. Kxe4 a2
16. Bxa2 h3
17. Kf3 h2
18. Kg2
Not sure if this works, though, I have most probably overlooked something.
1) Be2! h7
2) Ba6! PxB
3) Nb4 h8=Q
4) NxP and Nc7++
if 1) …a6 then 2) Bf1 h7, 3) Bg2
1. Nc3 h2
2. Nd5! a6
3. Nb6+ Ka7
4. Kc7 h1=Q
5. Nc8+ Ka8
6. Nb6+ draw with perpetual check.
1. Nc3 h2
2. Nd5! a5
3. Be2! h1=Q
4. Nb6+ Ka7
5. Kc7 Qb1
6. Nc8+ Ka8
7. Nb6+ draw with perpetual check.
1. Nc3 h2
2. Nd5! exd5
3. e6 h1=Q
4. e7 Qh3+
5. Kc7 White wins as black has no more checks.
This looks pretty easy, because there’s only one possible try.
1 Be2 h2
2 Ba6 b:a
3 nb4 h1=q
4 na6 any
5 nc7#
Hoember is back…
1.Nb2 doesn’t seem good now because Black is not obliged to move with his h-pawn.
He can even go 1..a5 and then it is “-+”… (The knight-move helps only in giving checkmate.)
Therefore, the only good start is 1.Be2. (which is a two-aim move)
The solution:
1.Be2 (threatens with 2.Bf1, 3.Bg2, controllong h1, in response to other moves than 1..h2)
1..h2 (otherwise the bishop cathes up with the h-pawn)
2.Ba6 (threatens with 3.Bxb7#)
2..bax6 (only move)
3.Nb4 h1Q (what else?)
4.Na6 and Black has no defence against 5.Nc7#. (White delivers checkmate)
Well, my first analysis was:
1 Nb4! and then:
1…h2 2 Na6!! ba6 (forced due to 3 Nc7 mate) 3 Bg4!! (not 3 Be2?? h1=Q 4 Ba6 Qb1 -+) h1=Q (3…a5 4 Be6 a6 5 Bd5 Ka7 6 Be4 +-) 4 Be6 Qd1 5c4! and Black will have to give up his queen and White will have the advantage.
1…a5 2 Nd3! ed3 (2…h2 3 Nf2 +-) 3 cd3 h2 4 Bc3 a4 5 d4 a3 6 d5 ed5 7 e6 a2 8 e7 a1=Q 9 e8=Q with advantage to White
There is a flaw in this line.
1 Nb4 a5!! 2 Nd3 and black just laughs and play 2…a4 3 Nf2 a3 and the a pawn can not be stopped.
1 Be2!! as per other commenters is correct.
-Justin Daniel
Rarchinio, in your line 4. … Qb1 covers the b7 square.
1.Be2!! threatening Bf1! 1..h2 2.Ba6!! bxa6 3.Nb4!!
A)3…h1:Q 4.Nxa6 and there’s no remedy to Nc7 mate
B)3..a5 4.Na6!!and this is the nicest variation with Nc7 mate to follow.