White to move and win. This is another very difficult puzzle (10 moves long). No computer lines please 🙂
7n/8/8/1p6/R7/6K1/Np5p/kr4b1 w – – 0 1
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Ra6 bf2+
Kf4?
1. Ra3!
1.Ra3 h1=N+ 2.Kg2 game over.
What am I missing?
I think you guys are missing the possibility of Bc5 as a prophylatic move for black.
You don’t N but check with bf2 and white has to avoid both r check and h1 checks.
So k prob have move something like kf4
then bg3 for example kg4
1. Ra3 (or Ra6) Bf2+ 2. Kf4 Ng6+ 3. Kf5 Ne7+ 4. Kf6 Bd4+ and after 5. K any there will be a rook check on the first rank and then both b1Q and Kb1 are enough for black to win.
In response to checks by the bishop, the white king must stay off the h1-a8 diagonal (else a1Q+) and must shelter behind the bishop on the file (else a rook check as above)
I don’t see it.
ra6 bf2+
kf4 be3+
ke5 bd4+
kd6 bc5+
kxc5 rc1
nc3++
The complication is Ra3 Bf2+
Black is aiming to queen the h or b pawn with check, possibly after giving his rook up with tempo (kxf2 rf1+), anywhere along the d-h files (checking from c1 is met by Nc3 mate).
This means white has to play Kcf4, and try use the bishop to shield his king while walking away. However, then
ng6+ kf5
ne7+ kf6
ng8+ kf7
nh6+ kf8
bd6+
would win for black, and I see no useful way to escape this sequence. If the rook is on A6, rather than A3, it avoids this B fork, but the black king is still exposed to a rook check after Bd6.
Anyway, this seems to be the difficulty, not that I can see an obvious way to resolve it.
mk
Obviously, it appears a rook move along the a-file has to come first, but which square?
1. Ra3 is an option. What must black now do? Obviously, the threat is a knight move with mate. Black can play the delaying move, h1(N), but after Kg2, the question is again raised, what to do? Bc5 and b4 are no good at this point because of Nb4#, and there are no rook moves due to Nc3#. What is left? I see only Bf2 with check.
1. Ra3 Bf2
Now the question is on white- do you take the pawn, the bishop, or do you try to find a safe square for the king so that you can play your mate? Kf3, Kh3, and Kg2 all lose to h1(Q). If you play Kf2, then black’s rook harrasses the king from rank 1 where it cannot be taken due to b1(Q) with check, and black can always play b1 at this point. White must avoid all rook checks or h1(Q) checks. I see only Kf4:
1. Ra3 Bf2
2. Kf4
From here, there is an identifiable theme- bishop checks, king retreats- the white king must find a square that is safe from checks on the a8-h1 diagonal, and rook checks along the first rank. One possible line is:
2. ….Be3
3. Ke5 Bd4
4. Kd6 Be5
5. Ke6 and, unless I am missing something, white will mate with either Nb4 or Nc3. I really need a board to find the longest sustainable line for black.
I think white can’t win here. All black needs to do is Move the rook on B1 to elsewhere. Once this is done he can easily promote to a queen. Nc3 check will not help because Kb2 . NxQ then KxQ or RxQ
To move the rook . Black needs to give a few checks.
e.g
1.Ra3/Ra6 Bf2+
2.Kf4(as somebody suggested) Ng6+
3Kf5 Ne7+
4. Kf6 Bh4+
5 .Now king has to leave his f file And soon Rb1 will give a check from e or g file.
How is this??
If Ra3 why not Bf2+
KxB Rf1+
KxR ph1 Q
I don’t see how to win
This comment has been removed by the author.
WEll, it is not so easy. After 1.Ra3 Bf2+! black might have a hell lot of checks to throw in. Moves like h1=N+ of course are easily thwarted…
I think that the main point is not to allow the black rook to move with a check so it should start like:
Ra6 bf2+
kf4 be3+
and so on….(I didn’t get it though)
i didnt found the solution yet, but here are some ideas:
1.Ra6(or Ra3?!) Bf2+
2.Kf4 Ng6+ (if Kxf2 Rf1+)
3.Kf5 Nh4+
4.Kf6 Bd4+ and the rook can check the white king
the puzzle is wrng if black wants draw he can take it anytime.
1. Ra3 Bf2
2. Kf4 Ng6
3. Kf5 Ne7
4. Kf6 Bd4
And I am damned if I see a way to prevent a rook check. In this line, I don’t see any first move for white that makes a difference, and after white’s second move is the only one as far as I can tell, and at that point, the knight check from g6 allows only moves along the f-file, and Kf3 loses to h1(Q), so Kf5 is it, but then the knight check from e7 allows only Kf4 again, or Kf6, and Bd4 check opens the way for a rook check.
I think the puzzle is in error.