Level
3-Bishop
Chess Diagram
[Event "Puzzle #169"][Date "2011.08.30"][Result "0-1"][SetUp "1"][FEN "8/8/8/8/k3p3/4P3/1K6/8 b - - 0 1"]
Is this position a win for either side, or is it a draw? Of course this is the main question any Kings and pawns position needs an answer for. We have developed a nice and simple plan to look at such positions; following it step by step could lead you to the proper solution. This is a good practice puzzle for all of you before the end of the year exam. Your tasks:
a) Decide what type of endgame we deal with, analyse the position using your knowledge and choose the right idea
b) Black to play and win
Total available points for this puzzle is 20. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #170.
Puzzle #168 solution:
Study by Troitzky, 1913. I was very happy to see you guys understood the rule of the square properly. It is an important rule which is going to save you lots of points in future. The best answer came from James, together with a very logical explanation; well done James!
My plan is to promote the a-pawn and win the game. However, if I try to promote the a-pawn without moving any other piece, the Black King will come to g3 and push the h-pawn toward promotion. This one is faster than the a-pawn and White will lose the game. See below line.
Secondly, if there is no block in the g5, f6, and e7 square, the Black King has a chance to catch the a-pawn in time. See below line.
What I should do starts with 1. f6 ... below.
My only observations would be: the second try has a different reason: White saw how dangerous the g2-pawn is and wanted to get rid of it right away.
[Event "Puzzle #168"][Date "2011.08.30"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "8/2pp2pp/8/2PP1P2/1p5k/8/PP4p1/6K1 w - - 0 1"]1.f6!! (1.a4?? Kg3 2.a5 h5 3.a6 h4 4.a7 h3 5.a8=Q h2#) (1.Kxg2 Kg5 (1...Kg5 2.a4 bxa3 3.bxa3 Kf6 4.a4 Ke7 5.a5 Kd8 6.c6 dxc6 7.dxc6 Kc8 8.Kg3 Kb8 9.Kf4 Ka7 10.Ke5 Ka6 11.Ke6 Kxa5 12.Kf7! {Draw})) 1...gxf6 {Cutting the path for the King to catch the a-pawn} 2.Kxg2 {Stopping Black from advancing the h-pawn and delivering checkmate} 2...Kg4 3.a4 bxa3 4.bxa3 Kf4 5.a4 Ke5 6.d6 cxd6 7.c6 {Cutting the path for the King to catch the a-pawn} 7...dxc6 8.a5 Kd5 9.a6 Kc5 10.a7 {White wins}
Correct solutions:
James, Leo, Ziyao, Harmony - 30 points
Daniel, Alex - 25 points
Leroy - 20 points
Philip - 15 points
Derrick - 2 points
Standings:
Ziyao - 429 points
Harmony - 425 points
James - 381 points
Philip - 357 points
Alex - 315 points
Leo - 285 points
Daniel - 232 points
Leroy - 227 points
Derrick - 224 points
Jeffrey - 168 points
Frank - 136 points
Kevin - 102 points
Eric - 29 points
Danny - 19 points
Karl - 13 points
a) Decide what type of endgame we deal with, analyse the position using your knowledge and choose the right idea
b) Black to play and win
Total available points for this puzzle is 20. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #170.
Puzzle #168 solution:
Study by Troitzky, 1913. I was very happy to see you guys understood the rule of the square properly. It is an important rule which is going to save you lots of points in future. The best answer came from James, together with a very logical explanation; well done James!
My plan is to promote the a-pawn and win the game. However, if I try to promote the a-pawn without moving any other piece, the Black King will come to g3 and push the h-pawn toward promotion. This one is faster than the a-pawn and White will lose the game. See below line.
Secondly, if there is no block in the g5, f6, and e7 square, the Black King has a chance to catch the a-pawn in time. See below line.
What I should do starts with 1. f6 ... below.
My only observations would be: the second try has a different reason: White saw how dangerous the g2-pawn is and wanted to get rid of it right away.
[Event "Puzzle #168"][Date "2011.08.30"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "8/2pp2pp/8/2PP1P2/1p5k/8/PP4p1/6K1 w - - 0 1"]1.f6!! (1.a4?? Kg3 2.a5 h5 3.a6 h4 4.a7 h3 5.a8=Q h2#) (1.Kxg2 Kg5 (1...Kg5 2.a4 bxa3 3.bxa3 Kf6 4.a4 Ke7 5.a5 Kd8 6.c6 dxc6 7.dxc6 Kc8 8.Kg3 Kb8 9.Kf4 Ka7 10.Ke5 Ka6 11.Ke6 Kxa5 12.Kf7! {Draw})) 1...gxf6 {Cutting the path for the King to catch the a-pawn} 2.Kxg2 {Stopping Black from advancing the h-pawn and delivering checkmate} 2...Kg4 3.a4 bxa3 4.bxa3 Kf4 5.a4 Ke5 6.d6 cxd6 7.c6 {Cutting the path for the King to catch the a-pawn} 7...dxc6 8.a5 Kd5 9.a6 Kc5 10.a7 {White wins}
Correct solutions:
James, Leo, Ziyao, Harmony - 30 points
Daniel, Alex - 25 points
Leroy - 20 points
Philip - 15 points
Derrick - 2 points
Standings:
Ziyao - 429 points
Harmony - 425 points
James - 381 points
Philip - 357 points
Alex - 315 points
Leo - 285 points
Daniel - 232 points
Leroy - 227 points
Derrick - 224 points
Jeffrey - 168 points
Frank - 136 points
Kevin - 102 points
Eric - 29 points
Danny - 19 points
Karl - 13 points
Opposition (2)