White to move. How should White proceed?
k7/8/3R4/8/8/1b6/3K4/8 w – – 0 1
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White to move. How should White proceed?
k7/8/3R4/8/8/1b6/3K4/8 w – – 0 1
Hello
1. Kc3, Bf7
If Ba2 or Bg8, Rook do check and Bishop is captured
If Bd5 or Bd6 Rook captures Bishop If Bc4 or K moves, white King captures Bishop
2. Rd8+ , Ka7 or Kb7
3. Rd7+ and Bishop is captured.
Greetings from Spain
simple win 🙂
A rather artificial situation that actually does highlight a sometimes useful technique in R vs B endings. In this situation, the bishop has trouble getting to his king for protection since the transfer point at d5 is covered by the white rook. This makes the bishop particularly vulnerable to skewers and double attacks. Kc3 makes life unbearable for the prelate.
Kc3 Bf7
Rd8+ Kb7
Rd7+ K-whatever
RxB
1. Kc3, then the bishop has no safe square.
1. Kc3! Bf7 2.Rd8+ Kb7 Rd7+ winning the Bishop
Kc3 and the bishop has no field to go without being captured
The bishop is at a poor place and can be trapped
1.Kc3 Bf7
(1…Ba2 2.Ra6+)
(1…Bg8 2.Rd8+)
2.Rd8+ Kb7
3.Rd7+ Kc6
4.Rxf7
Kc3 wins.
No matter where the bishop goes, the rook or king will win it within a move or two.
Is this a puzzle?
1. Kc3 Bf7 (Ba2 Ra6, Bg8 Rd8)
2. Rd8
Game over, since Rd7 next grabs bishop.
1. Kc3 and the bishop has no safe square:
1. … Ba2/a4 2.Ra6+
1. … Bg8 2.Rd8+
1. … Bf7 2. Rd8+ Kb7 3. Rd7+
1.Kc3! Any move. Bishop will be captured eventually by the Rook.
1.Kc3 Bishop has no safe square to land, will be captured by the Rook.
The White king should head to either dark square corner, and the rook should be on the nearby dark square. That will be sufficient to defend against the Black bishop.
White wins the bishop after 1.Kc3. If the bishop moves to a2, a4, f7 or g8, then it will be lost to a double attack. For example, 1…Bf7, 2.Rd8+ Kb7 3.Rd7+. All other flight squares are covered.
Kc3. Ba2 or Ba4 or g8 wins Bishop with check on a6 or d8. 1….Bf7. 2. Rd8+, 2….K on 7th Rank. 3. Rd7+ wins the bishop.
1Kc3
1Kc3
1.Kc3 Bf7
2.Rd8+ Ka7
3.Rd7+ White wins the bishop and the game.
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