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What a wonderful puzzle! Who invented it? Is it maybe from someone’s game? I can’t find the solution yet, I will try later again.
I think White can draw after Rd4+ and Bg4. WHite King can hide around the three pawns on the KingSide.
1. Ra5+ Ke4 (if 1… b5 2.Rb5 Qb5 3.c4 winning)
2.Rf5 and black will allow a mate or a lost endgame.
1. Ra5+ and wins. Santi is 100% correct. 2.Rf5!! is crushing.
1 Ra5+ b5 2. Rb5+ Kc6 3. Ba4! Qc7! only move 4. b4!! black has no moves
1 Ra5+ b5 2. Rb5+ Qb5 3. c4+ Qc4 4. Bb3 Qb3 5. ab3 Ke4 6. b4 +-
Very ingenious lines above, but unless I’m missing something basic (a distinct possibility) this looks like a draw with best play by Black:
1. Ra5+ b5
2. Rxb5+ Qxb5
3. c4+ Qxc4
4. Bb3 Qxb3
5. axb3 Ke4
And now White has to capture the Black a-pawn so his pawns can advance, and can’t leave the Black d-pawn or it will advance. But by capturing both, White will give Black time to capture the h-pawn and return in time to capture the b-pawns, I think. E.g.,
6. h4 Kf4
7. Kd3 Kg4
8. Kd4 Kxh4
9. Kd5 Kg4
10. Kxd6 Kf4
11. Kc7 Ke4
12. Kb7 Kd4
13. Kxa7 Kc5
14. Ka6 Kb4 =
Alternatively,
6. b4 Kf4
7. Kd3 Kg3
8. Kd4 Kxh3
9. Kd5 Kg3
10. Kxd6 Kf3
11. Kc7 Ke3
12. Kb7 Kd3
13. b3!
13. Kxa7 Kc4 =
13. … Kc3
14. b5 Kb4!
15. Ka6!
15. Kxa7 Kxb5 =
15. … Kc5
16. Ka5 Kd4!
The final trick. If 16. … Kd5? 17. b6 axb6 18. Kxb6 and Black can’t approach the final pawn in time.
But now White can’t make progress.
16. … Kd4
17. b6
17. Ka6 Kc5 repeats
17. … axb6
18. Kxb6 Kc3 =
OK, I must be missing something in this line. May have to break down and use the computer.
Bob, I have no computer but I think the trick is to force blacks a-pawn to b-line.
So in your line beginning with 6.b4, you should not play 10.Kxd6. Istead, 10.b5 axb6 11. b4 Kf3 12. Kxd6 Ke4 12.b5 Kc4 13. Kc6 etc.
Sorry, the previous line should have been more like this:
10.b5 Kf3 11. b6 axb6 12. b4 Ke3 12.b5 Kd3 13. Kxd6 Kc4 14. Kc6 etc.
This is definetly a GM puzzle lol Im lost!
TFK