5k2/8/5PP1/pp2K3/5N2/8/1r6/8 b – – 0 1
Black to move. How do you assess the position? Find the absolute best continuation for Black.
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White can resign. It’s hopeless. The pawns are too strong.
It’s not hopeless, it’s probably draw, as white pawns are strongers than black.
White wants to play Ne6+, f7+, f8=Q, so black must play :
1….Rf2
2. Ne6+ Kg8 (e8)
3. f7+ Rxf7
4. gxf7 Kxf7
And the black king + knight will easily stop black “strong” pawns.
It’s either a draw or a win. I’m not that strong to find absolutely best moves. I suggest to give many checks and try for three times repetition if he falls into this trap.
[at] ano 2:
Why should black take on f7?
After 2. -, Ke8!? 3. f7+ he can play Ke7 instead. This makes it a bit harder for white.
This is the moment where I better use a board.
After 3. -, Ke7 white has to find the tricky move 4. Ng5! which threats 5. g7. I think afther this move black hasn’t more than draw.
There seems to be only one alternative to 1. -, Rf2.
Of course in the start position white threats to play Ne6+ and f7+ 1:0.
The only other possible defense is 1. -, Ke8!?. Kg8 is much worse after 2. f7+.
1. -, Ke8 2. f7+?!, Ke7! looks like a won game for black.
So better 2. Ne6 and we are in the same variation above.
Re2+ does not help because of the simple Kd6.
My prediction for the result of that game is:
It is a draw but white has to play exactly if black does as well.
1. -, Ke8!? is the much more tricky alternative to 1. -, Rf2 because white can blunder with “the obvious” 2. f7+ now.
After 2. Ne6, Rf2 3. f7+ Rxf7 leads to a simple draw while 3. -, Ke7 forces white to find the hidden move Ng5.
I do not think black can win this after Ng5!
Opinions? Have I overseen anything?
Greetings
Jochen
Black can draw.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.ChessDiscussion.com
I think the idea would be to give up the rook and get both pawns… e.g. try Re2.
-AM
PS: I have been playing so many rapid games, that am just going by intuition, and hope it works its way out. I know its overall bad for my game 🙁
“Black can draw.”
That is the answer? Than we all definitely must have overseen anything because the fact that black can (at least!) draw seemed simple to us.
Is there any strong attack by white after (e.g.) 1. -, Rf2 that we haven’t found so far?
Susan, your last post really made me insecure…
Hmmm.
Greetings
Jochen
I meant
1. .. Rf2 so it attacks the f pawn
2. Ne6+ Kg8
3. f7 Rxf7
4. gxf7 Kxf7
but there would be other variations I haven’t considered…
AM
This is a draw even without the black pawns.