Critical endgame improvement Difficult endgame, Puzzle Solving White to move. Is this a draw? What should White do? k1N5/2p5/8/1P6/8/8/7K/8 w – – 0 1 Presented by Andreas Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
1. Nb6
Nb6-c4 wins easily
I would think Ne7-Nc6-Nd4 wins for white.
Nb6 would lead to c7xb6
“I would think Ne7-Nc6-Nd4 wins for white.
Nb6 would lead to c7xb6″
But
1. Ne7 Kb7
2. Nc6 Kb6
3. Nd4 Kc5
is not winning for White.
Whereas
1. Nb6 cxb6
2. Kg3
and White will infiltrate, force the Black king away from b6 by zugswang, capture on b6, and then promote the b pawn.
1.Nb6+!
(1.Ne7 Kb7 2.Nc6 Kb6 3.Nd4 Kc5=)
1…cxb6
(1… Kb7 2.Nc4 c6
3.b6+-)
2.Kg3 Kb7 3.Kf4 Kc7 4.Ke5 Kd7 5.Kd5 Kc7 6.Ke6 Kb7
7.Kd6 Ka7
8.Kc6 Ka8 9.Kxb6 Kb8
10.Ka6 Ka8
11.b6 Kb8 12.b7 and white wins.
Pharaoh
Amazing