White to move and win. How should White proceed? (This is quite difficult – No computer analysis please)
8/6p1/4P3/8/7N/4r2k/4B3/6K1 w – – 0 1
Janosi, 1976
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Thanksgiving Brain Challenge
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This is difficult! Ng6 will indirectly protect both the bishop and the pawn. If black captures either the knight fork on f4 will win. Can black strike back with Rg3+ and take the knight? I don’t think so. The pawn on g7 will prevent black from getting back to stop the pawn from queening.
So, my first move is Ng6. Let’s see if there’s a better one. Let the flaming begin!
i think the first move is obvious, but then i soon get lost. here´s what i figured out:
1. Ng2 Re4
2. Bf3 Re5
3. Kf2 Kh2
4. Bg4
this is a good position, but i can´t go further from here. exceeds my brain capacity. greets, jan
I guess the first move should be Ng2, not Ng6.
i would play Ng2, Ng6 is also good but Ng2 is a little bit better i think, because the white N threat the black R too
I think Ng2 is correct. The same fork protects the pawn, and if Rg3, Kf1. The knight is protected by the menace of e7, and I can’t see a better idea than Ra2 e7 Ra8 Bh5 and wins.
Wow susan,this is truly an incredible endgame.Just solved it on my chessboard now without no engines.I dont even have any,anyway here goes………/Ng2,Re4/ /Bh5,Kg3/ /Bf7,g5/ /Kf1,Kg4/ /Kf2,Kf5/ /Ne3+,Kf6/ /Nd5+,Kg7/ /Kg3,Rd4/ /Nc7,Rf4/ /Bh5,Re4/ /Bf3,Re3/ /Kg4,Re5/ /Kh5,Kf6/ Bg4,Ke7/ /Kg7,Kd6/ /Kf6!/ the win is easy for white from here as the pawn is unstoppable.
1.Ng6 is not correct … 1…,Rg3 and then Rxg6.
But, with the same idea, 1.Ng2.
Ng6 loses to Rg3+ and Rg6, so the only move left must be Ng2. Now if the R moves to g3, e7 wins as the rook cant stop the pawn from queening because, after Rg2+, the queen moves to f1 stopping the R taking the bishop and getting behind the pawn. After Ng2, if the R takes on e2 or e6 there is a fork on f4.
I posted a solution an hour ago.it still isnt up
Here is my solution for a second time………../Ng2,Re4/ /Bh5,Kg3/ /Bf7,g5/ /Kf1,Kg4/ /Kf2,Kf5/ /Ne3+,Kf6/ /Nd5,Kg7/ /Kg3,Rd4/ /Nc7,Rf4/ /Bh5,Re4/ /Bf3,Re3/ /Kg4,Re5/ /Kh5,Kf6/ /Bg4,Ke7/ /Kg7,Kd6/ /Kf6!/……. I hope its correct though.I really like your blog!
Ng6 doesn’t work due to Rg3+.
1. Ng2 Re4 2. Kf2 looks like wins the game.
A Ng6 je préfère Ng2 avec la même idée mais avec le cavalier protégé et attaquant la tour.
“A Ng6 je préfère Ng2 …”
I’m wondering: how came this position into existence? What was Black’s last move??
Both of White’s pieces are under attack, and there’s no way to protect both directly with one move. In addition, White’s pawn is under attack. Fortunately, White has a tactical shot:
1 Ng2!
This protects everything. If the Rook takes the Bishop or Pawn, White plays Nf4+, winning the Rook. White also attacks the Rook directly.
Black now has two ways to go:
MOVE 1 SIDE VARIATION:
1 …. Rb3
2 e7 Rb8
2… Rb1+ 3 Be1 Rb8 leads to the same thing.
3 Bb5! Rxb5
Else the pawn promotes next and forces the Rook to trade for the new Queen.
4 e8=Q Rb1+
5 Ke2!
5 Ne1 also wins, albeit a bit slower.
5…. Rb2+
6 Kf3
The point: Black can’t take the Knight because of Qh8#
6… Rb3+
7 Ne3
—-
MOVE ONE MAIN LINE:
1 …. Re5
Better than Re4, as the Rook can check the King along the f file
2 Kf2!
White gets her King into play and keeps Black’s King out.
Black now has two sensible lines:
MAIN LINE A:
2 …. Rf5+
Black maneuvers to the eighth rank via check.
Note that 2… Re4 also loses via 3 Be3 Rb4, 4 e7 Rb1, 5 Nf5+ K-any, 6 Bc6, winning the Rook for the pawn. While the resulting Bishop and Knight vs King ending isn’t trivial, it is a theoretical win for White.
3 Bf3 Rf8
Nothing is gained by such as 3… Rb4, as 4 b7 Rb8, 5 Bh5 wins the Rook for the pawn.
4 Nf4+!
The simple 4 e7 also wins.
4… Kh2
The Knight is out of bounds. If 4… Rxf4, 5 e7, and the Rook has no way of stopping the pawn.
Of course, 4… Kh4 loses the Rook to Ng6+.
5 Ng6
Followed by e7 and Bc6.
MAIN LINE B:
2… g5!
Black stops the Knight from checking at f4.
3 Ne3!
White again foils Black’s plan to take the Pawn as the Rook would fall to a Bishop fork at g4.
3 …. g4!
The best of the lot. If Black’s Rook leaves the file, White plays e7, followed by Nd5 and Bb5 or h5. 3….Rf4+ is met simply by 4 Bf3. The waiting 3…. Re5 is answered by 4 Bg4+ Kh4 (4… Kh2, and Black is in a mating net by Nf1+ and Bg3#!) 5 Kf3!, and Black can only stop Ng2# by sacrificing his Rook for the Knight. 3… Kh2 and Kh4 are both met by Bg4, with lines similar to those discussed.
With the given move, Black gets his pawn out of the way so that his King can get into the game.
4 Bxg4+ Kh4
Not 3… Kh2, and Black is mated by Nf1+ and Bg3#.
5 Kf3 Rf4+!
Hoping for a hasty 6 Kxf4 and stalemate.
If 5… Ra4, 6 Nf5+ Kg5, 7 e7 Ra8 (or 7… Ra3+ 8 Ne3 Ra8, 9 Bd7) 8 Nd6.
6 Ke2 Kg5
The point of 3…. g4 earlier: Black’s King can get closer to the pawn.
7 Kd3!
White keeps the Rook off of the e-file.
7…. Rf8
black’s best chance. If 7… Kg6, 8 Bh5+! Kf6 (The Bishop is taboo because of 9 e7 and the pawn promotes), 9 e7! Kxe7, 10 Nd5+, winning the Rook.
8 Ke4
And not the hasty 8 e7? Re8, and White can’t protect the pawn without giving up her Bishop.
8 …. Rb8
9 Bf5
Keeping Black’s King off of g6.
9 …. Rb4+
10 Ke5!
And not 10 Kd5 Kf6.
10 …. Rb8
10… Rb5+, 11 Nd5 changes nothing.
11 e7 Re8
Stopping the threat of Bd7 briefly, and giving White the chance to make a mistake.
11 Nd5
If 11 Ke6?? (or Kd6) Rxe7+!, 12 Kxe7 Kf4 winning one piece or the other.
11 ….Rb8
Or 11… Kh6, 12 Bd7, and Black must finally give up the Rook for the pawn.
Black, if he knows his opponent is familiar with the K+B+N vs K mate, deliberately plays to b8 in order to lure White’s Knight to c7, which stops the Rook check on the
12 Bd7
Note that White can get too cute for her own good here, by such as:
12 Nc7 Rg8
13 e8=Q Rh8
One last shot, preferably with a panicked look at the clock, and a hasty, fumbling move and rapid push of the clock’s button.
14 Qxh8??
Of course 14 Qg6+ mates next. With the given move, the game is also over, but not as White would like it, as Black is stalemated.
1.)Nf5 Rxe6 2.)Bf1+ mate
my first analysis was wrong..please dont post it..thanks..hehe
I agree…Ng2 is the key move and not my first bluder analysis which was Nf5 nor Ng6…
1.) Ng2… Re4(the only logical move since white’s rook is under attack,so definitely not Kg3)
2.) Kf2 (to protect the bishop and at the same time avoiding the white king to depart from the corner)… g5 (so that white can capture the pawn w/o fear of being checked by the knight,thus avoiding rook capture)
3.)Ne3 (whit cannot capture because because black can fork whites rook at Bg4+)…Kh2
4.)Bg4 (forcing black’s king to stay or go to the corner and protects the pawn as well)… Kh1 (forced move)
5.) Nf1+…Kh1
6.) Bf3+ mate…
Hope I got this right this time…=)
or instead of 4.)Bg4, it must be Ng4+ (So, Kh2 was a blunder)…black could move Re4 or pawn to g4.either way black loses.If Re4, white can play Bf3.If black plays 5.)…g4 6.)Bxg4+…Kh2 7.)Nf1+…Kh1 8.)Bf3+mate…