White to move and win. Can you figure it out without computer help?
Daily Chess Improvement: Must know endgame!
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White to move and win. Can you figure it out without computer help?
The endgame every player must know.
I think the hard part that beginning players have with this ending is that they try to find a way to prevent black from queening the pawn. White wins this with a black queen on the board in the key line, and the other variation, black is forced to underpromote. If no one posts a solution before the end of the day, I will show the shortest variation.
1. Qh3+ Kg1 2. Kg3
A. 2… f1Q 3. Qh2#
B. 2… f1N+ 3. Kf3
B1 3… Nh2+ 4. Ke2 Kh1 5. Kf2 and White simply has to remember to take the N with the Q and not the K.
B2 3… Nd2+ 4. Ke2 and White will pick up the N via either a direct capture or Qf1+ or Qg4+
I also waited for somebody else to give solution.
1.Qf3+ Kg1
2.Kg3 f1=Q
(2…. f1=N+ 3.Kh3 Ne3 4.Qe2 black is in zwugzwang.
now if 4…. Kh1 5.Qh2#
if 4…. N any 5.qg2#)
3.Qe3+ Kh1
4.Qh6+ Kg1
5.Qh2#
Black can extend by 1 move by 4…. Qh3+
1.Qh3+ also works but takes longer time in under promotion version.
1.Qe2 Kg1 2.Kg3….
Oops! in variation B1, White must play 5. Qg3 since 5. Kf2 is a stalemate.
Here’s one that the chess engines don’t figure out. White to mate in 6…
n1N3br/2p1Bpkr/1pP2R1b/pP1p1PpR/Pp4P1/1P6/1Q1P4/8 w – – 0 1
Kg3 – f1(Q)
Qh8+ – Kg1
Qh2#
John,
Where has white hidden his K?
white K can not be at f4, d6 or e6.
If white k is at c5 ,1.Nxb6 cxb6+ 2.Kd6 d4 3.Qxd4 Nc7 4.Rg6#
If white K is at c4, d4 or e4 1.Kd3 d4 2.e4 d3 3.Rg6#
If white K is at h4 he is under check and may move to 1.Kf3 d4 2,Kg3 d3 3.Rg6#
If white K is at e5 1.Qa1 d4 2.Ke4 d3 3.Rg6#
If white K is at e3 1.Kf3 d4 2.kf2 d3 3.Rg6#
If white K is at e8 1.Rg6+ fxg6 2.f6#
If white K is at any other place 1.Rg6#
white k at e3 or e8 need not be discussed as above.they are covered under last line.
I looked at Qxf2, but that would be stalemate. But, 1.Qf3+ forces an immediate win. And, after 1…Kg1, white answers with 2.Kh3 since the K is confined to one square. After which, mate is soon to follow.
Ok, then the only thing I will add is that the position of white’s king is what makes this winnable. If the white king were two moves from reaching g3 rather than one move away, the position is the classically drawn case of the opponent having the queening pawn on the 7th rank and on the f/c file- the stalemate prevents white from capturing the pawn when the king goes to h1 in this case.
Nirmal,
1.Kg3? f1=N+
Karabo’s solution shortest.
If 2… f1=Q 3.Qh2#
If 2…. f1=N+ 2.Kh3 and mate next move.
John,
Where is white King.
n1N3br/2p1Bpkr/1pP2R1b/pP1p1PpR/Pp4P1/1P6/1Q1P4/8 w – – 0 1
My apologies. The queen is supposed to be a king. My oversight Here is the real position.
n1N3br/2p1Bpkr/1pP2R1b/pP1p1PpR/Pp4P1/1P6/1K1P4/8 w – – 0 1
John,
Now I can get mate in 8 only. this is done by moving R to h1,then c1 when black exhausts the moves d4 and d3. Then 3.Nd6 forces 3…. cxd6 and so on.
Take note that it’s a stalemate waiting to happen. Here’s a clue, sacrifice the rooks…
@ John vian
I have tried on a theme to give least freedom to black just to avoid stalemate.
1.Rh1 d4
2.Rc1 d3 Now black’s free moves are over and white has to release some.I have tried to do so with complete control over the position.
3.Nd6 cxd6
4.c7 Nxc7
(4…d5 5.c8=Q d4 /nc7 6.Qf8#)
5.Rxc7 d5
6.Rxb6 d4
7.Bf6+ Kf8
8.Rb8#
Assuming en passant for “a” P,(However there must be some provision for showing it in Forsyth notation)
1.bxa6 b5 2.a5 d4 3.d3 Nb6 4.Nxb6 cxb6 5.c7 bxa5 6.c8=Q a4 7.Qf8#
For the following position:
n1N3br/2p1Bpkr/1pP2R1b/pP1p1PpR/Pp4P1/1P6/1K1P4/8 w – – 0 1
White mates in 6.
1. Rh1 d4 2. Ra1 d3 3. Ra3 bxa3+ 4. Ka1 a2 5. Ba3 Kxf6 6. Bb2#
John,
it is not that I had not envisaged the mating position. I had moved the B to b4 or c5 and if black is forced to take the R it is mate by Bb3 or Bd4 but could not imagine bringing B to a3. Any way a good puzzle.
I meant mate by Bc3 or Bd4 but the B would be captured by black P.
Kg3!!…..if ……f8=Q. 2. Qh6+…Kg1. 3. Qh2++
Qh6+. 3.Kxh6…….white win
If ……Kg1. 2. Qc1+..f8=Q. 3.Qc5+……..if. Qc2. 4.Qxc2+. Kh1. 5. Qh2++
If. Kh1. 4. Qh6+. kg1. 5. Qh2++