This is an actual position played against a computer program (latest version of crafty). White is Crafty. Black to move. Is this a win, loss or draw for Black?
Hint: This is a s strategic endgame
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Special endgame
Damn … a computer beating Susan …
Black is complelty lost and must resign.
Well done Crafty
Hmm. The first line I though was
1.Re1+ Kf2
2.Rxe3 RxR
3.Rb3
where whitehas to give back the material with
3…..Bd3 (3…Rh8 4.RxR threating 5.Rxh3++ and winning the rook )
4.RxB Re1
5.Ra3! (going for the a pawn and still mantaining the pin)
And I think black has a win in here (note:white is in zugzwang ). White’d have to play 5…Kf3 if he want to get off the pin where black will just simply exchange his bishop for the rook and capture white’s a4 pawn next , hence getting two passed pawns. The game could continue
5…..Kf3
6.BxR Rxb
7.Rxa4 Rb3!?
8.Rb4! RxR
9.PxR Kd3
10.g5! PxP
11.Kg6 and black simply collects all white pawns.
The other line was 1.Rc1 with the idea of 2.Rb2+ Ex;
1.Rc1 Re5!? (white is in some kind of zuzwzang trying to protect his bishop and the pinned e3 pawn so I don’t think there is much he can do; of course 1.Re5 is not the only move white could play)
2. RB2+ Kf3 (2…Kd3 3.Rf2 wins a bishop)
3.Re1!? (threating 4.Rb3 and 5.Rb3xe3+)
And i don’t know if white can do anything to prevent that.Anyone?
In conclusion: I’m not sure which line is better 1.Rc1 or Re1+, although 1.Re1+ is all forced.
Anyone has any recoomendation?
It took me a while but 1…Re1 2Kf2Re3 wins. For some odd reason, it took me a couple minutes to realize that black could capture with the rook first. Henryk beat me to it.
It’s Black to move.
1…b5 to free the a-pawn looks natural. White is tied in knots.
Hi susan, I am a great fan of u.. I am Vamsi From Bangalore,India. That u recently visited place…..
Anyway come to this part… I think.. its win for Black….
Just 1….-B*e3
2.K*e3 – Re1+ wins the black rook….
2.KF3 – R*f1+ wins the white bishop
So, my openion its win for black…..Congrats Susan…..Hope i can chat with u for some time…
Regards,
Vamsi Krishna,
vamsi.683@gmail.com
http://chesscool.blogspot.com
Very odd habit – this printing the board upside down when it is Black to move.
Might have been more understandable in the days of Descriptive Notation, but algebraic I think suggests that the board is printed in one orientation only.
Like HenryK, my first inclination was 1. … Re1+.
Then, I think:
2. Kf2 Rxe3
3. RxR Rb3
4. Ke2?! RxR+
5. Kd2 Ra3 (not Rxh3??, gxR, BxR with opposite-colored bishops)
6. Rh1 Rxa4
7. Bd3
With this line, black is only two connected, outside, passed pawns up, umm, easily winning. But white has a rook and bishop to throw at the situation, whereas 4. Bd3 leaves white no possibility of a swindle. At least, that’s my opinion.