2n2b2/8/8/8/8/2B2P2/B4K2/7k w – – 0 1
White to move. Can White win this? How should White continue?
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2n2b2/8/8/8/8/2B2P2/B4K2/7k w – – 0 1
White to move. Can White win this? How should White continue?
Too hard. Not possible to win.
I would try to checkmate the BK in the corner by moving Be5 and Be6-h3-g2#
1 Be5 …
2.Bd5 …
Go on moving bishops in top-left to bottom right so they wont get killed.
Once they are safe then move
3. Pf4+ mate
1.Be6 Bc5+ 2.Kf1 Bd6
(2…Ne7 3.Be5 Be3 4.Bg3 Ng6 5.Bh3 Nh4 6.Bxh4)
3.Bxc8 Bf4
Anonymous said…
Too hard…
Why bother posting that? Give it a shot. Perhaps 1. Be5 or Bd5 sets up a mating pattern. It’s worth a try.
A nice puzzle.
The essence is there could be a mate of the black king in the corner so not to let the king out but to avoid stalemate. It is a beautiful demonstration of control of the proper diagonals in the main line, but Line 2 is not as successful.
LINE 1.
1. Be5 (a must because W must obtain this key diagonal before black) …Bc5+ (logical to restrict the white king)
2. Kf1 Nd7 (N attacked and gains tempo)
3. Bg3 to stay on diagonal even if f4) …Nb3 (must control the key d6 square; as bonus vs Nf6 controls c4)
4. f4 (the other element; advancing the P can become a serious threat; clearly Black must defend against the WB going onto the h1-a8 diagonal so the N stayse).… Bd4 or Bg1: then
5. Bb1! and the square e4 cannot be defended so 6. e4 mate.
LINE 2 INVOLVES BETTER DEFENSE/ DEFENSE BY BLACK.
1. Be5 Nc6 (keeping a B check in reserve).
2. Bg3 Nb4
3. Bb1! (which also prevens Nd3 or even Nc3 and prepares a new diagonal) Bc5+ (transposing this line)
4. Kf1 Nd5! (so now potentially seting up e6+ forcing K not to f2 otherwise e.g. Nf5 exchanges a key bishop)
5. f4 Ne3+
6. Ke2 (leaves purch but threatens 7. Bf2 and wins a piece and ultimately the game as the N will have to be lost for the Pawn and 2 bishops win) Nc4
8. f5 (more options on the h1-a8 diagonal for lone White square bishop and also threatening P advances; not 8. … Bd4? 9. Kd3! so 8. … Bb6 (then f6 so black could stay on diagonal Be7
9. Bf2+ gets King near corner again. Kh2 ,White has good chances but it’s hard to analyze beyond this. My guesstimate would not be 10. Kf1 as N fork but first and 10. Bd5 to chase away the N d6 take the B off the key diagnonal so over the board this is difficult so maybe abandon the black king e.g 10. Kd3 and the pawn canno make progress.
White is definitely pressing but ? enough for a win?
Psyche
Black’s king is hardly allowed to remain on f2, must calculate with Kf1.
White shoud certainly avoid:
1. Be5? Bd6!
black should love to exchange bishops!
I suggest the idea:
1. Bd4!
(prevents Bc5+ and aims at g2.)
2. Be6
3. Kf1
4. Bg1
5. Bh3
6. Bg2#
But of course black’s knight is coming in between here.
1. Bd4 Ne7! (probably best)
2. Be6 Ng6!
Black wants to post a knight on f4!
No good now is Be3? Bd6! Bh3 Nf4.
So here, white must probably change his plan, somehow…