White to move. Can White win this? No computer please 🙂
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Endgame Challenge
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White to move. Can White win this? No computer please 🙂
It looks like a draw. 1.a6 Kb8 2.a7+ Ka8 3.c6 bxc6 4.Kxc6 (1/2-1/2) or 3.Kc7 Kxa7 (1/2-1/2) or 2.axb7 (1/2-1/2) or 2.c6 bxc6 3.Kxc6 (1/2-1/2). White only wins if Black makes a mistake: 1.a6 bxa6 2.Kxa6 (win!)
Wait, it’s a win! 1.Kc7 Ka7 2.Kc8 Ka8 3.a6 bxa6 4.Kd7 or 2…Ka6 3.Kb8 Kxa6 4.Kxb7.
Amusing variation : 1.Kc7 b5!? 2.Kd7 (not a(c)xb6 pat) b4 3.c6 b3 4.c7 b2 5.c8Q+ and wins
I think the main line must be:
1. Kc7! Ka7
2. Kc8! Ka6 (other moves clearly lose)
3. Kb8! and wins
(Kxb7, followed by coronation of one pawn or the other, is unavoidable.)