White to move. Is this a win, draw or loss for White?
3N4/8/1p6/1k6/1P5p/P7/8/1K6 w – – 0 0
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In my oppinion it’s a draw. Ne6 h3 Nd4+ And the the knight gets the h pawn with Nf3, but I can’t see how to save the white pawns…?
1.Ne6 h3
2.Nd4+ Kc4
3.Nf3 Kb3
4.Kc1 Kxa3
… is a draw, as you correctly point out. And yes, a key issue for White — if he is to win — is to hang on to his pawns.
So it seems as though he must, somewhere along the line, play either Ka2 or Kb2. But how can he possibly have time for such shenanigans? Black’s h-pawn is sprinting toward the end zone, and it seems like every tempo is needed to bring the knight back to catch it.
But things are not always what they seem ….
Maybe
1. Nf7 h3
2. Nd6 Kc6
3. Ne4 h2
4. Nf2
(Not 2. … Ka4 because of
3. Kb2 h2
4. Ne4 h1=Q
5. Nc3++)
I think white can draw, but the white knight
has trouble stopping the pawn, so it might be a loss.
David said…
Maybe
1. Nf7 h3
2. Nd6 Kc6
(Not 2. … Ka4 because of
3. Kb2 h2
4. Ne4 h1=Q
5. Nc3++)
but 4. … Kb5
(instead of 4. … h1=Q)
is still a draw
5. Nb3 (or Nf2)
5. … Ka4
6. Ka2 h1=Q
7. Nxh1 b5
(will be stalemate)
winning is:
1. Nf7 h3
2. Nd6+ Ka4
3. Ka2!
3. … h2 (forced as 3. … b5 4. Ne4 is mate)
4. Ne4 (threatening mate again with 5. Nc3)
4. … Kb5 (forced)
5. Nf2 Ka4
6. Kb2 h1=Q
7. Nxh1 b5 won’t be stalemate because of…
8. Kc3 (or Kc2)
and white will guard is b-pawn, grab the black b-pawn and queen!
I think the move is 1.Nb7
If 1…Kc4 2.Kb2 h3 3.Nd6+ Kmove 4.Nf5 and Ng3 wins
If 1…h3 2.Nd6+ Ka4 3.Kb2 h2 4.Ne4 followed by Ng3 or mate on c3.
Well… I cannot have an answer to 1…Kc6!
1.Nf7 is the correct move!