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Qc4…
1. … Bc3
and the file is closed.
Black has two passed connected pawns on the 6th and 7th rank, and will only have to resist to few checks from the queen.
1. … Qc4 should do the job.
Qc4 may do it?
A tough puzzle. Unfortunately for me, I spent a lot of time studying 1. …Qf7 late last night and again this morning. The idea behind this move is to provide a shield for the black king after 2.Rc8+, and to support the f-pawn’s promotion at f1. However, I am pretty sure this can only draw at best, and may well lose:
1. …..Qf7
2. Rc8 Kg7
3. h6!
Surely the only move that doesn’t lose for white. Continuing:
3. …..Kg6
I looked at all the alternatives, and white should win them all. Continuing:
4. Rc6
Again, this has to be the only move for white. Continuing:
4. …..Bf6! (only move for black)
5. Qb5
Again, I don’t see how white holds with any other move here- the f1 square must be guarded, and the rook can’t return to the first rank because the white queen is hanging. White is threatening Qf5. Now, white can take the h6 pawn right now, but white could still play Qf5 anyway, and I could never convince myself the ending wasn’t won for white. A better move black at move 5 looks to me to be….
5. …..Qd7
At first glance, it appears bad by allowing a discovered attack on the queen, but white can’t win material enough to be clearly decisive, though I do think white needs to play Rxf6:
6. Rf6 Kf6
7. Qd7 f1Q (with check)
8. Ka2 Qc4
9. Kb1
Only try for a win. Continuing:
9. …..Qe4
10.Ka1
Or: [10.Kc1 Qe3 11.Kd1 Qf3 12.Kd2 Qf2 with a sure perpetual since the white king will need to remain near the passed g-pawn and the black king will need to remain near the h-pawn]. Now, interesting in this side line is where black takes the h-pawn at move 11: [10.Kc1 Qe3 11.Kd1 Qh6?! 12.Qd6 Kg7 13.Qg3 Kf8 14.Qb8 Kg7 15.Qa7 Kg8 16.Qa4 and white will win the game in another 38 moves mininum, according to the Nalimov Tablebases.] Continuing from 10.Ka1 above:
10. ….Kg6
I think this is an only move, but am not even sure this can hold, but the alternatives look worse: [10. …Qe3 11.Qg7! Kf5 12.Qf7 Kg4 13.h7 g2 14.h8Q g1Q 15.Ka2 Qb3! 16.Qb3 ab3 17.Kb3 and the tablebase confirms this position is lost for black.]; or [10. …Qh1 11.Ka2 g2 12.Qg7 Kf5 13.h7 g1Q 14.Qg1 Qg1! 15.h8Q Qe3 16.Qh5 Kf6 17.Qh4 and black loses the a-pawn and the game again.]. Continuing from 10. …Kg6 above:
11.h7 g2 (any better?)
12.h8N! Kh6
13.Nf7 Kg6!
And, I think, white must take the repetition draw here by playing Nh8 again, but I am not completely sure there isn’t a way for white to win this, but I can’t find it for either player winning.
No, I completely missed for a long time the right plan on the first move, and will allow others to cover the ideas of 1. …Qc4!! since I am too exhausted to work out all the details, but it looks clearly winning in just the first few minutes of study to me.
Bc3 and g2
To save himself, and win, black has to
= first prevent back rank mate
= secondly weather the white checks and mating net
= thirdly prevent white check
= liquidate WQ even at the cost of BQ + BB
= then even though rook down advance f/g pawn to queen
Easiest would be to hope for
1…. Bxb2+.2.Kxb2.Qb3+3.Qxb3.axb3.4.Kxb3.g2! To win but 2.Qxb3! Dashes black’s hopes!
The right move is 1…..Qf7!!! It accomplishes the first 2 objectives!
>A-2.Qc8+.Kg7.3,Qg4+.Kh7! And wins!
>B-2.Rc8+.Kg7.3.h6+!.Kg6!
>>B1-4.Qc6+.Kh7! And wins!
>>B2-4.Rc6+.Bf6!.no more useful checks! 5.Rxf6+.Kxf6 is useless for white, while the worst is 5.e5?.f1=Q+.6.Rc1.Q1xc1#
So almost forced is 5.Qxf7+.Kxf7 and white is lost!
Finally, Tempting would be 1….Qe7? But white wins quickly due to the exposed BK and the h5 pawn! 2.Qc8+!.
>C-2…Kg7.3.Qg4+
>>C1-3….Kf6/Kh6.4.Qg6#!
>>C2-3….Kh7.4.Qg6+.Kh8.5.Rc8+.Qe/f8.5.Rxe/f8#
>>C3-3….Kf8.4.Rc8+.
>>>C31-4….Kf7.5.Qg6#
>>>C32-4….Qe8.5.Rxe8+.Kxe8.6.Qf3!!
White now wins easily by
= WK sauntering over to f1 to free the queen.
= advance h pawn to queen!
>D-2…Kf7.3.Qf5+.Kg7.4.Qg4+ as in C and white wins!
Harry
Black’s position is so superior that one threat of Rc8+ hardly matters.He takes bull by the horn by
1… Rc4
(A) 2.Rxc4 f1=Q+
3.Ka2 Qxc4+
4.Kb1
(4.Ka1 Qc1+ 5.Qxb2+ wins)
4…. Qd3+
5.Kc1 Qxe3+
6.kb1 Qd3+
7.Ka1
(7.Kc1 Bf4#)
(7.Ka2 Qb3+)
7…. Qf1+
8.Ka2 Qf8+ exchanges Qs and wins.
(B)
2.Qc8+ Qxc8
3.Rxc8+ kg7
4.Rc1 g2
(C)
2.Qa8+ Kg7
3.h6+ Kh7
4.Qb7+/Qa7+ Bc7 stops all checks.
5.kb1 and now 5… g2 or 5… f1=Q or 5… Qxc1+ can be played.
In choosing these variations I have not thought of what is theoretically best but only clarity.
It is logically clear after 1… Qc4 white by giving checks can not place his Q such that it will have additional control on c4 simply because black Q will capture white Q in such poaitions.Black has to take care that white Q should not be allowed on f file.
Consul and Kosmos,
1…Bc3. Does not work as white has the advantage. Black has to take the perpetual.
2.Qb8+.Ke7!.3.Qxg3!.Bxb2+!.4.Kxb2.Qb3+.5.Ka1.Qxa3+. 6.Kb1,Qb3+.7.Ka1 etc.
Harry
I like Qe7 which threatens Qxa3, forces towards queen exchange and prevents mates 🙂
Please correct my first move as 1…Qc4
Dear Anonymous,
1….Qe7 loses for black due to 2.Qc8+!and so on.
Please see my previous post for alternative detailed variations under C and D.
Harry
I spotted 1… Qc4 instantly after having look at f2 and g3 pawns but had tough problem facing Q checks by white.In some cases white got hold of f5 square after which he could capture Q at c4.Only after hard struggle I could arrive at 4.Bc7 to avoid check.After going through Yancey’s deep analysis with 1… Qf7 I could understand the misfortune of not getting the first move right.