White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
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White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
Rxp rxr 2 pawn queens
Rxb2!
I think white can just capture at b2 since white’s king controls the key squares behind the c-pawn:
1. Rb2 Rb2 (alternatives later)
2. c7 Rb3 (what else?)
3. Kc2
Here, white will lose with the careless 3.Kc4 as black plays Rb1 intending the skewer if white queens, and will wait for the white king to reach d7 and then transfer the king to f4 via g5 to win the white e-pawn and then sacrifice the rook for the c-pawn. With 3.Kc2, white will queen the pawn. The game would continue:
3. …..Re3
4. c8Q Re4
And you will have to simply consult a tablebase if you want to know how this ending will proceed. The one I often consult says white wins in 38 more moves. White will first use the threats of double attacks on the rook and king to win the pawn, and then will have the difficult task of enforcing the mate in the Q+K vs R+K ending.
Now, black doesn’t have to capture at b2 on move 1:
1. Rb2 Rh8 (Rh7, 2.Kc4 still)
2. Kc4 Ke7 (what else?)
3. Kc5 Rh4
4. Rb8 Re4
5. c7 and black will have to give up the rook for the pawn by checking from c1, c2, or c3 on move 6. So, I don’t see how this line could really be better than the previous one.
i think
1. Rxb2 Rxb2
2. c7 Rb3+
3. Kc2
will stun the black army.
greets, jan
Probably wrong, but here goes:
1. c7 Rh8
2. Rb8 b1
3. Rxb1 Rc8
4. Rb7 Ke6
5. Kc4 Kd6
6. Kb5 Rxc7
7. Rxc7 Kxc7
8. Kc5 Kd7
9. Kd5 Ke7
10. Kxe5
I’d play Rxb2 Rxb2 c7 and the pawn queens. But there might be a better way to do it.
an addenda
Rxb2 Rxb2 c7 Rb3+ Kc2 and queening is imminent(not Kc4 Rb1 and the pawn is lost).