White to move. Is this a draw or win for White?
Zepler, 1937, presented by Andreas
4b3/8/8/1B6/8/8/N6p/5K1k w – – 0 1
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draw
1.Bxe8 stalemate
1.Bc4 Bf7 2.Bd3 Bg6 etc.
1.Ba6 Bb5+ 2.Bxb5 stalemate
white loses as soon as he moves the king, and his knight is too far away to catch the pawn
This is an interesting study where you don’t calculate any variation but solve it by considering the structure of the position.
In the given position, observe that after white Kf2, we just need to get the white knight onto g3 mate. There is no way black can stop this irrespective of the sequence of moves.
1. Bd3 B anywhere
2. Kf2 B anywhere (e.c. Bxd3)
3. Nc3 and Zugzwang: the black Bishop cannot cover e2 AND e4
4. Ne2/e4
5. Ng3#
1. Bd3 B anywhere
2. Kf2 B anywhere (e.c. Bxd3)
3. Nc3 and Zugzwang: the black Bishop cannot cover e2 AND e4
4. Ne2/e4
5. Ng3#
1.Bd3 Bg6!
1. Bd3 Bg6
2. Nc3 Bxd3
3. Kf2 and so on
seems a draw
bd3 bb5
nc3 bxd3
kf2 and black’s bishop controls the white squares that would allow ng3
Bc6+ Bxc6
Nc3 Bb5+
Kf2 Bd3
Nd1 Bc4
Ne3 Be6
Nf1 bc4
Ng3#
Essentially just Bc6, Kf2, and then get the knight to g3.
{My first comment, hello all}
To Alseki…
1.Bc6 Bxc6
2.Nc3 Be4! =
not to beat a dead horse but black can play better, just control the white squares that lead to ng3, so instead of be6?, just bd3 =
“Anonymous said…
To Alseki…
1.Bc6 Bxc6
2.Nc3 Be4! =”
And white plays 3.Ne2, with mate 2 moves away.
At the risk of replying too many times, I see now I was wrong before.
{1.Bc6+ Bxc6
2.Nc3 Bb7}
I hadn’t seen 3.Ne2 doesn’t work due to the Ba6 pin.
So my line was totally flawed =)
It’s not a study, it is a mate problem. Erich Zepler didn’t do too many studies but many very good mate problems – which you can see in his great book (with Ado Krämer) “Im Banne des Schachproblems”.
This one is a mate in 5 if I remember correctly, and I am sure it starts with Bd3. This is a “Lenkungsrömer” (or anything similar).
Sorry for the many German words in this post. 🙂
Best wishes from Germany
Jochen
1. Nc3 B:b5+
2. Kf2 Bd3
3. Nd5 B move
4. Nf6 and Nh5 or Ne4, Ng3++
by stulzer
1. Bd3 with the threat of 2.Be4#
if
1…Bb5 (pinning the bishop
2.Nc3 Bd3+
3.Kf2 and the bishop at d3 (the only square from which it can guard e2 and e4) must move due to zugzwang, and mate follows in two moves.
if
1…..Bc6
2.Nc3 Bb5 (or anywhere along the long diagonal)
3.Kf2 and again the bishop can’t cover both e2 and e4
if
1…..Bg6
2.Nc3 Banywhere along the diagonal
3.Kf2 as before.
Yancey
i still don’t see a win after:
bd3 bb5
nc3 bc4 or a6 and white is in zug
Frenez – what about 1. Bd3, Bb5 2. Kf2 (the other way round?)?
Best wishes
Jochen
thanks jochen, now i see it!
Nice one! An excellent example of mutual zugzwang!
B is in zugzwang because he will lose the control of one square through which the WN can leap to g3. W can play K-f1-f2-f1, not letting BK out, but if the BB is on the a6-f1 diagonal and the WB is gone, he is also in ZZ.
W has 2 pieces – B on the long diagonal and N at g3 – to deliver mate. BB cannot prevent both.
So, 1. Bd3!!/Nc3/Ne4(e2)/Ng3 mates. If possible, the B will deliver mate on the LD.
1… Bb5 2. Nc3 Bxd3+ 3. Kf2, and B is in ZZ! Same with 1… Bg6. All other moves will be met with 2. Be4+.
What is interesting is, anything other than 1. Bd3 doesn’t win.
1. Nc3? Bxb5+! 2. Kf2 Bd3! =
1. Bc4? Bb5! 2. Nc3 Bxc4+ 3. Kf2 Bd3! = W is in ZZ this time.
Someone said this is not an endgame study. I am wondering why. Is it because W has two possible moves – Kf2 and Nc3 – on the second move?