White to move. Is this a win or draw for White? How should White proceed?
8/8/5k2/8/6p1/6P1/5P2/4K3 w – – 0 1
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Win
Take the opposition then force the king away from his pawn.
1. Kd2 Ke6
2. Ke2 Ke5
3. Ke3 Kf4
4. Kd4 etc….. Many possible variations obviously but ultimately all the same result.
1.Ke2? Ke6! =
1.Kd2! Kf5 2.Kd3! Ke5 3.Ke3 Kf5 4.Kd4 +-
A rather straightforward opposition exercise.
1. Kd2 maintains the opposition. Black can’t access f4 and h4. For example:
1. … Ke5
2. Ke3 Kf5
3. Kd4 Kg5
4. Ke5 Kh5
5. Kf5 Kh6
6. Kxf4
Another way:
1. … Ke6
2. Ke2 Kd6
3. f4 gxf3+
4. Kxf3 Ke7
5. Kg4 Kf8
6. Kg5 Kg7
7. g4 Kh7
8. Kf6 Kg8
9. Kg6 Kh8
10. g5 Kg8
11. Kh6 Kf7
12. g6+ Kf8
13. Kh7 etc.
1. Ke2 and easy win.
I am rather sure that 1. Kd2 is vial so as not to give the distant opposition. Black will play 1. … Ke6 so as not to make things too easy, but then white gets the opposition with 2. Ke2. However, the opposition is a tool for penetration.
2. … Kd5/6 is already win, 3. f4 gxf3+ 4. Kxf3 Ke5 5. Kg4 Kf6 6. Kh5 wins.
2. … Kf6 and 3. Ke3 and shouldering the king away from the defence of the pawn
2…. Kf5 and 3. Kd3 and doing the same.
The main thing to avoid is that black can gain the opposition and block the white king on the third rank.
Ah well, Kd5 and Kd6 are very different there, should have thought before writing, wanted to emphasise the d-file, though of course with Kd5 g4 creates problems by giving black the opposition, when white had the winning opposition without the pawn move.
In a speed game I’d play Kd2 without even thinking. Winning is easy when you have the opposition.
Nice game.LOL
Marquez vs Katsidis | Martinez vs Williams | Chavez vs Gomez | Pacquiao vs Mayweather
1.ke2 ke5
2.ke3 kf5
3.kd4!
1:0
1.ke2 kf5
2.kd3 ke5
3.ke3 kf5
4.kd4!
1:0
erik
if we exchange the f2-g4 pawns then its a draw if white king can’t reach f5,g5 or h5(the critical squares of a passed pawn). so white has to reach d4,e4 or f4(the critical squares of a blocked pawn) to take out the g4 pawn for free.opposition plays a key role here
1.Kd2! is the only move to win.
(1.Ke2? Ke6 and black has the opposition and draw)(1.Kd1? makes no sense due to 1…Ke5 and black draws)
1…Ke6
(1…Ke5 looses to 2.Ke3)(1…Kf5 looses to 2.Kd3 taking the opposition)
2.Ke2! opposition
(any other move gives black the opposition)
2…Kd6
(2…Kf6 looses to 3.Kd3 Ke5 4.Ke3 and white invades the critical squares of the blocked pawn and wins the pawn)
(2…Kd5 looses to 3.Kd3 as well as to 3.f4)
(2…Ke5 looses to 3.Ke3)
(2…Kf5 looses to 3.Kd3)
3.f4! gxf3+ 4.Kxf3 wins because white king reaches h5 and white queens the pawn.
Kd2 and black cannot prevent white getting the distant oppostion. White gets in amongst the pawns easily after this.
Ke2 by contrast allows black to get the distant opposition and stop white penetrating.
I had the first move, knowing at least which one would allow Black to draw at once. But then i got lost in the variations of the winning line. Then i turned on HIARCS, and i got what i was missing, but next time i’ll try to do it without any help!
d4, e4 are key squares. White will win. If white’s king get there.
1.Kd2 Ke6 2.Ke2
2…Kd5 3.Kd3
2…Ke5 3.Ke3
2…Kf5 3.Kd3
2…Kf6 3.Kd3 Kf5 4.Kd4 Kf6 5.Ke4 +-
1.Kd2 Kg5 2.Ke3 Kf5 3.Kd4 Kf6 4.Ke4 +-
1.Kd2 Kg6 2.Ke3 Kf5 3.Kd4 +-
1.Kd2 Ke5 2.Ke3
1.Kd2 Kf5 2.Kd3
1.Ke2 Ke6
Mate in 25!
Sorry cheating with a computer.