White to move. Is this a win, draw, or loss for White?
8/K7/4P2P/8/8/3k4/B7/7r w – – 0 2
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Looks to me like 1. Kb8 wins. If 1… Rxa6 then 2. e7.
jMac, black has 2…Rh8+
I think the position is drawn. If only white king weren’t on 7th rank, white would win easily with 1. h7 or 1. e7 Re1 2. h7
1e7 Re1
2Bb1+
This gets white a queen at least.
Win for white
Bb1+ rxb1
Ka8 rh1
e7
if 2.. Ra1+
Kb8 etc and eventually black will run out checks
at Kd8
The only first move I see is Bb1. Nothing else has a chance of winning due to the king on the seventh rank, however, this is a won position if the rook isn’t behind either pawn, with or without a bishop. So, the bishop can be sacrificed.
1. Bb1 Rb1 (K anywhere 2.h7 wins)
And now, pushing either pawn loses since the rook can get behind it and capture as it queens, or captures with check if you push the other one. For example:
2. e7? Re1
3. h7 Re7+
4. Ka6 Rh7 wins for black, while moving the king to the sixth rank accomplishes nothing since Re1 or Rh1 also wins for black due to the capture with check, but now on the 6th rank. For example:
2. Ka6 Re1
3. h7 Re6+ wins for black. The correct line for white is to move the king to the 8th rank. In total:
1. Bb1 Rb1
2. Ka8! Re1 (Rh1 3. e7)
3. h7 and black cannot stop white from queening. The only other significant line is important only because it is a trick:
1. Bb1 Rb1
2. Ka8 Rc1 and now pushing either pawn loses since black plays the rook to the 8th rank and wins both pawns. White must play
3. Kb8! and there is not much black can do now- the 8th rank is unavailable. Rc6 loses to h7 and Rb1+ and the white king walks along the 8th rank to the d-file:
3. …..Rb1
4. Kc8 Rc1
5. Kd8 and it is over.
The key in this type of position is to gain a tempo by getting the rook from out from behind the pawns.
I think it’s drawn. Black rook sits on 8th rank and them gradually moves king up. Trading new queen for rook leaves insufficient material.
Bb1+ RxB
Ka8 and winning
I think h7 is a must, becasue of the squewer.
After that, e7 should win.
No, the previous is a mistake, go h7 immediately!
Ok, e7 covers the check;).
Forced mate in 40 from this position…. lol
White wins but not easily..
1.Bb1+ Rxb1 forced
2.Ka8! and a white Queen will appear !
There is no win for white – Only draw! or Atleast I couldn’t spot a win for white!
h7 – …
Bb1 – …
e7
White wins?
Looks drawn
e7 Re1 Bb1+ Kd4 h7 Rxe7+ the check here is the saving grace Kb6 Rxh7 draw
h7 Rxh7+ Kb6 Re7 Kc6 Rxe6 Bxe6 draw
please explain what does it mean by :
8/K7/4P2P/8/8/3k4/B7/7r w – – 0 2
Thanks alot.
draw.
1. e7 Re1 2.Bg8 Rxe7+ 3.Rb6 =
Bb1!! followed by Ka8! wins for white since then white cann’t stop/pin both the white pawns at the same time
draw because even if you promote, odds are you don’t know how to win queen vs rook endgame! 🙂
Hi Susan Polgar,
Well this game is most likely end in a draw if both the opponents are very good at the play.
One of the commenter John Diorio’s suggested moves are quick and purposive (1.e7 Re1 2.Bb1+ …gets queen )okay but what will happen if blacks second move was 2. .. R*e7 instead of expected 2. .. R*Bb1 .
If I have to represent White,I will try to trap the Black and win the game as given below moves [ Remember if both the player are good then Draw is most likely ..Now I am going to try to win the Black ]
1. Kb7 R*h6
2. e7 Rh7
3. Bb1+ Kd2
4. B*Rh7 Kc3
Black may resign but if continued,
5. e8(Q) Kd4
6. Qe4+ Kc5
7. Bg8 Kd6
8. Qd5+ Ke7
9. Kc7 Kf6
10. Kd6 Kg6
11. Ke7 Kh6
12. Bf7 Kg7
13. Qg5+ Kh7
14. Qg8+ Kh6
15. Qg6+ Mate
White Won : 1 – 0
By
Venky [ Chennai – India ]
Leopold Mitrofanov in Deceptive Simplicity(1992)gives: White Kh7, Bh2, pawns a5 and e6; Black Ke3, Rf1. After 1.a5 Ra1 2.Bg1 Rxg1 3.Kh8 its all over.
Hmmm. If h7 Rh7, Bb1 as some are suggesting, what about black responding with Rxa7
…
Hi Susan Polgar,
I could read just above my posting some Anonymous jovial person had posted “draw because even if you promote, odds are you don’t know how to win queen vs rook endgame! 🙂 ”
My reply to it : When queen gets life,rest will tail to its will – especially when opponent King is single – ha ha ha,so child’s moves not required in this valuable post space 🙂 “
By
Venky