V. & M. Platov 1909, presented by Andreas
White to move. How should White proceed?
8/7p/5B2/7P/3p4/3Pk1K1/p7/6N1 w – – 0 2
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1. Ne2 a1Q
2. Bxd4+
either QxBd4 or Kd2, either way Q is lost and white K can nurture H pawn to promotion
pj, if :
1. Ne2 a1Q
2. Bxd4+? Qxd4
3.Nxd4 Kxd4 this leads to draw.
1. Ne2 a1Q
2. Nc1! Qa5 ( only move)
3. Bxd4+ wins
If white moves Ne2, why are we assuming that black promotes a1Q? If I’m black countering Ne2, I’m taking Kxd3 and forcing an issue with the Knight, likely forcing him sacrifice the Knight and compelling white to push the Bishop to d4 to protect him from a1Q. Either way, I doubt black would be interesting in queening his pawn, only to lose it immediately on a skewer.
”If white moves Ne2, why are we assuming that black promotes a1Q? If I’m black countering Ne2, I’m taking Kxd3…”
1.Ne2 Kxd3
2.Nc1+ K moves
3.Nxa2 then sacrifice the Bishop for the black d-pawn and wins.
That sounds a bit more reasonable to me…either way, Ne2 is the sensible first move, but black is screwed in multiple angles.
“pj, if :
1. Ne2 a1Q
2. Bxd4+? Qxd4
3.Nxd4 Kxd4 this leads to draw.”
This doesn’t lead to a draw
4. Kf4 Kd3
5. Kf5 Ke3
6. Kf6 Kf3
7. Kg7 Kg4
8. h6 Kh5
9. Kh7 Kg5
Anonymous at 12:40: study your pawn endings! Black draws by heading for the f7 square, not for the white pawn. After 4.Kf4 Kxd3 5.Kf5 Ke3?! (imprecise, as 5…Kd4! is a dead draw) 6.Kf6 Ke4! still draws: 7.h6 Kd5! 8.Kg7 Ke6 9.Kxh7 Kf7 =
After 4.Kf4 Kxd3 5.Ke5!? might be a slightly stronger (practical) try than 5.Ke5, as 5…Ke3?? now loses. But it’s still a dead draw.