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1. Kc3 Rc5+
2. Bc4+ Ka1
3. Rb4 Rxc4+
4. Rxc4 Ka2
5. Ra4+ Kb1
6. Ra3 Kc1
7. Ra1#
1. Kc3 Rc5+
2. Bc4+ Ka1
3. Rb4 Rf5
4. Ra4+ Kb1
5. Bd3+ Kc1
6. Ra1#
👍
White can win with two moves from this position- the rest should allow black to force a draw. Alena’s is the shortest and clearest route to victory. With 1.Rb4, white still has a winning a position, but will have to find the significantly longer path to victory.
A bad move here that an inexperienced player might well play in this position is the check from a8:
1. Ra8? Kb3 (even Kb2 will draw)
2. Rb8 Ka4
And the king will escape the net……
3. Kc3 Ka5
And white has let the king get away too far. White can try to get the king to c5 and the bishop on line to d5 for the shield, but black no longer has to allow this arrangement……
4. Kd4 Rg5
5. Be4 Rb5
And white can’t keep the king corralled long enough. There are variations to these, and black has several moves to choose from after the move 1 mistake, but this is enough to illustrate the necessity of getting the white king to c3 long before the black king can get to a4 and a5.
I did a thorough analysis a few months back on a similar, but tougher ending which I will repost later tomorrow that should allow someone to understand the nature of this ending and the means of enforcing the win if it arises- even in situations where the win isn’t forced, an opponent will often make a mistake allowing it, and it is good to be able to recognize these.
I will be waiting for your tough ending.
Susan posted this problem last Summer 2k5/8/2K5/2B5/8/8/7r/2R5 w – – 0 1
Just to summarize variations:-
1. Kc3. Threatening 2. Ra8# which can be parried only by
A–1…….Rc5+. 2. Bc4+. Ka1. 3. Rb4.
A1- 3….Rxc4+. 4. R/Kxc4 wins.
A2- 3…..Re/f/g/h5. 4. Ra4+. Kb1. 5. Bd3+. Kc1. 6. Ra1#
A3- 3…..Ra5. 4. Kc2!
A31- 4……Ra2+.5. Bxa2. Kxa2. 6. Ra4#
A32- 4…..Rb5…h5. 5. Ra4#
A33- 4…..R any other 5. Rb1#
A4- 3…..Rc6…c8. 4. Kc2!.
A41- 4….Rxc4+. 5. Rxc4. Ka2. 6. Ra4#
A42- 4….any other move. 5. Rb2/a4#
B- 1…..Ra5. 2. Bc4+. Ka1. 3. Kc2! Wins as in A3 above.
1. Bc4+ Ka1 2. Rg8 Rh2+ 3. Kc3 Rh3+ 4. Bd3 Rh1
5. Ra8#