White to move and draw.
Source: ChessToday.net
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White to move and draw.
Source: ChessToday.net
The idea is to prevent the promotion of the c3-pawn. This can be done by the knight on g1 hopping to e2.
So,
1.e4! Bxe4+
2.Ka7! Bd3 (not 1.Kb8?)
3.Bb1! BxB
4.Ne2 finally.
4…. c2
5.Nc1 Ke7
6.Ka6! Ke6
[If 6…Kd6 7.Kb6!]
7.Ka5 and so on.
The white king should maintain the opposition thus shouldering the enemy king off as they are moving down the board leading to draw.
Pharaoh
correction above,
(not 2.Kb8?)
I can’t see the difference between e4 and e3. Please let me know it!
I think e3 allows black to play Bd3 blocking white’s Ne2. White loses if he plays e3.
1.e3 Bd3
2.Bb1 Bxb1
3.Ne2 Be4+
4.Ka7 c2
5.Nc1 Bd5!
6.Kb6 Nb3
7.Na2 Bc4! (creating a wall against the white king)
8.e4 Ke7 –+
Pharaoh
1. e4! Bxe4+
2. Ka7 Bd3 (To prevent Ne2)
3. Bb1 Bxb1
4. Ne2 c2
5. Nc1 Ke7
6. Ka6 Ke6
7. Ka5 Kd5
8. Kb5
The beauty is that both the Black pieces are trapped and the King cannot penetrate without giving up one.
8… Nb3
9. Nxb3 Ba2
10. Nc1 Bc4+
11. Kb4 Kd4
12. Ka3 Kc3
13. Nb3!
And now 13…Bxb3 is stalemate!
13… Bf7
14. Nc1 Kd2
15. Kb2 Bd5
13. Ka1!
Now, 13… Kxc1 is again stalemate!
If the B moves out of the a2-g8 diagonal, W plays one of Nb3/Nc1/Kb2.
Nice problem!