White to move. Is this a win, draw, or loss for White?
7k/B6p/5K1N/8/8/p7/3b1p2/8 w – – 0 1
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Black wins easily.
Bd4 should win for white
eg
1. Bxh6
2. Kf7+ Bg7
3. Bxg7#
1. f1(Q)+
2. Ke6 Qf6
3. Bxf6#
1.Bd4!! 1-0
1.Bd4! Be3! 1/2-1/2
Draw.
1. Bd4 Be3
2. Bc3 Bd2 or
2. Be5 Bf4
(2. Ba1 f1Q+ wins for Black)
so White has no better than to move the B between d4, c3 and e5 for a draw.
If the a3 pawn were not there, then White wins by 2. Bb2 (if 2… Bc1, 3. Ba1)
I think it is a draw.
1. Bd4 is the only try for white as 1. Bxf2, Bxh6 2. Kf7, Bg7!
1. Bd4, Be3!
Now 2. Be5, Bf4 3. Bd4, Be3 (or similar) gives a draw.
I do not see anything better for white.
Without Pawn on a3 2. Bb2!!, Bc1 3. Ba1! would win.
In our line Ba1 is not a good idea as f1Q attacks the bishop and white cannot force black to interrupt the line f1-a1 by forcing the black bishop to c1.
Is there anything strong for white that I have overseen? Is there any possibility to get rid of a3!?
Draw
1.Bd4 Be3 etc
if Ba1 then Bc1 etc
Actually I’m pretty sure it’s a draw. Give it some time. It will come to you.
Think of it like this. If white plays Bd4 and threaten mate, black can reply with Be3. Now moving the white king away no longer results in mate because black can just take the white bishop to get out of check.
Keep in mind that obviously in that position white can’t take the black bishop with his own bishop because then black will just promote to queen.
White is also under a lot of pressure here because of those pawns threatening to promote. White’s only hope here is to keep his bishop lined up with his king to threaten mate, but his bishop is now under attack.
If white moves his bishop anywhere along that diagonal line, black will likewise respond by moving his bishop to attack whites bishop all over again to stop white from threatening mate.
For example, if white plays Bc3, black will just play Bd2. If white plays Bd4 after that, black will just play Be3. If white plays Be5, black will just play Bf4. And so on…
There is no winner here. The game will end in a draw.
Draw.
I agree with PdV, 1.Bd4! Be3! draws by repetition, any other move and black wins.
1.Bd4!