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1…Rf8; 2 c7 Rf2+; 3 Ke1 d2+; 4 K:f2 d1=Q; 5 Re6+ Kd3; 6 c8=Q Qd2+; 7 Kg1 Qc1+!! Very nice
I don’t have a lot of time for this this morning, but Rf8 is the move I would look to first so that black can use the threats of a mating attack and threats of pushing the blocked d-pawn. Why this move? Because white has two passed pawns with the possibility of creating another on the a-file, and stopping just two of them with the black rook alone is hopeless. Let’s see where 1. …Rf8 might lead:
1. …..Rf8 (threatens Rf2+)
2. c7
If I have time, I will consider other options below, but c7 or h6 are the two logical choices. Continuing with move 2 above:
2. …..Rf2
If there is any other continuation for black that doesn’t lose, I am not seeing it. If black retreats with Rc8, white puts his on c6 and starts pushing the h-pawn. If black moves his king, white plays Rb8 and wins. Continuing:
3. Kc1
We can now see how complicated this is. White has Ke1, Kd1, and Kc1. If white plays Kd1, white will still play Rf1 as we see below. I will consider Ke1 briefly in
just a moment. Continuing:
3. …..Rf1
4. Kb2
On Kd2, black just plays Rf2 again. Continuing:
4. …..d2
I am not sure that Rf2 isn’t a better move here for a more sure draw, but the line is too complicated for me to give full justice to. d2 seems straight forward to me, and should give black a draw by repetition if necessary. Continuing:
5. c8Q
I don’t like the line Re6+ for white: [5.Re6 Kd3 6.c8Q d1Q 7.Qa6 Kd2 and suddenly white has no effective check and his own king is in deep trouble starting with blacks next move of Qa1+/Qc1+. Continuing:
5. …..d1Q
6. Qc2
Too many lines for me to analyze this morning. I have to believe white’s best shot here is to exchange queens and try to win with his passed h-pawn and the one he will create on the a-file. Continuing:
6. …..Qc2 (d3 7.Re6 Kf3 8.Qd1)
7. Kc2 d3
8. Kd2 Rf2 (anything better?)
9. Kd1 and can either player make progress here? The black king cannot make for the g-pawn since white will check from f6 skewering the king and black rook. If black tries playing Rg2, white takes at a6 and should be able to hold a draw or better.
Back at move 3 in this line, white could try Ke1, but black has an effective reply. Starting from the top:
1. …..Rf8
2. c7 Rf2
3. Ke1 d2!
4. Kf2
Forced. If white tries Kd1, he will probably lose: [4.Kd1?? Ke3! 5.Kc2 (or 5.Re6 Kd3!-+; or 5.c8Q Rf1 6.Kc2 d1Q+! 7.Kb2 Qa1! 8.Kb3 Rb1! 9.Kc4 Rc1-+) 5. …d3! and no matter where the white king goes, black queens with check on the next move and wins]. Continuing form move 4 above:
4. …..d1Q
5. Re6
On 5.c8Q, white will not be able to escape the checks from the black queen since there are no blocks available. Continuing:
5. …..Kd3
6. c8Q Qd2
7. Kf1 Qd1
8. Rf1 Qf3 and again, we see that white can’t escape the checks.
There are a lot of holes I have left here. Especially at white’s 6th move in the first main line where he forces the exchange of queens. I don’t know for sure he didn’t have something better. I will look in on this thread later tonight after family festivities and see other’s analyses and will add to it if I can.
Way too difficult.
The position is too vague for me to calculate. In a serious game, I would go for
1…….. Rf8!?
2. c7 Rf2+
3. Kd1
( 3. Kc1 Rf1+!
4. Kb2 d2
5. c8Q d1Q and I cant evaluate this position although material is equal. )
( 3. Ke1 d2+
4. Kd1 Ke3!-+ and the black king can take shelter behind his d4 pawn for any rook check. )
3….. Rf1+!
4. Kd2 Rf2+
This is the only draw I can see.
I tried stalemate traps, but without any success.
A classical stalemate position is
White Kd3, Ra6, pawn d4
Black Kd5
a situation that occured even in OTB games, e.g in Garay Murua-Redolfi, Cordoba, 1968
Fen: r7/P3k3/7R/5P2/5K2/8/8/8 b – – 0 75
Black grabbed the “poisoned” a-pawn with
75…Rxa7! A blunder? No, a combination, because the skewer played in the game
76.Rh7+ Kf6!!
77.Rxa7 doesn’t work, because of stalemate!
After 75…Rxa7!, the ending is draw.