White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
Daily Chess Improvement: Endgame Tactic!
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White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
1. B-b4ch, k x B
2. p-b6, p x p
3. p-a6
This fails.
1.Bb4+ Kxb4
2.b6 a6
Now 3.b7 is met by 3… Bd6 white will lose both Ps in addition to the B.
davey’s idea is correct but sequence of moves is wrong.
1.b6 seems to be the right move.
If 1…. axb6 2.Bb4+ is right as black has forfeited the right to play …. a6.
Black can not play 1….. a6 since white gets protected passed P without losing B. In fact he gets a P as bonus by 2.Bxh6. 2…. Kb5 attacking P at a5 b comes back to protect it by 3.Bd2
1 B6 seems intuitive, leaving black only a few options
If 1… Axb6, then black loses to 2. a6
If 1… Kd6, then black loses to 2 bxa7
If 1…kc6, then 2 bxa7 Kb7 3 Bxh7 should be losing for black, as the black king will be tied to defending against the a pawn, and black’s bishop won’t be able to simultaneously hold the remaining two pawns with a well p,aced white king sitting between them in a few moves
If 1…A5, then 2 Bxh7 (threatening to move 3 b7, Be6 4Bg8) forces the king off the black diagonal, and should proceed similarly to the prior scenario, with the Black King tied to the white kingside, and the white King free to decimate black’s center pawns
If 1…a6, then 2 Bxh7 (threatening to move 3 b7, Be6 4Bf8)
here I admire Brian’ idea of pinning B. I had not thought of it after getting the protected passed P and a free pawn at h6. However since there is black’s move in between this may not occur as Brian himself said.Black may play 2… Kc6 or 2… Kb5. Apart from that i was thinking whether we could get that situation even with black’s help as he has very few options. Black K has to remain at c5 and move B or “g” pawn
(1) 2…. Bd6 3.b7 g5 4.Bf8
(2)2… g5 3.b7 (In normal play white plays 3.Bxg5) Bd6 4Bf8
These are just flights of imagination (say “big mouth”) and nothing to do with our objective or puzzle.
“1 B6 seems intuitive, leaving black only a few options
If 1… Axb6, then black loses to 2. a6”
But, then, 2 … Kc6 and though the a pawn isn’t immediately at risk, things are not so clear cut as 2 Bb4ch!
Pb6
2 side lines
Pb6, Pa6
Be3+, Kc6 (forced)
Kd3, Ph5
Kc4, Bf8
Bd2, Be7
Bb4, Bf6
Pb7, Kb7
Kd5, …..
Pb6, Kc6
Pa7, Kb7
Be3, Ph5
Pa6+, Ka8
Kd3, …..