This endgame was sent to me by the young and talented Eve Zhurbinskiy. She was Black and her opponent was Aleksandra Tarnowska from Poland. The game was played at the recent World Youth Championship (Girls under 10 section) in Batumi, Georgia. It is Black to move. Can you find a way for Black to draw this game?
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Hi Susan Can this realy be hold for black?
Yes, it is a draw with proper play.
..a5 2. f5 gxf5 3. exf5 Kd5
then the king captures the last pawn on g file.
white king walks down to kill the black pawns starting from a-pawn.
the black king can return just in time to save the c3 pawn and capture the c2.
black queens first and then captures the last pawn.
and it is k+q vs k+q.
or else something completely different happens…
Black has the advantage of a pawn on c3 against white’s pawn on a2.
Restrictions for Black:
(a) If h any, then gxh6.
(b) If f any, then gxf6.
(c) If K any, then Kxd4.
1. … a5
2. f5
Same restrictions for Black as above, plus:
(d) If a4, then bxa4.
2. … gxf5
3. exf5
Restrictions (a), (b), and (d) still hold.
3. … Kd5
4. h5 Ke5
5. g6 fxg6
6. fxg6 hxg6
7. hxg6 Kf6
8. Kxd4 Kxg6
9. Kc4 Kf5
10. Kb5 Ke4
11. Kxa5 Ke3
12. Kxb4 Kd2
13. a4 Kxc2
14. a5 Kb2
15. a6 c2
16. a7 c1=Q
17. a8=Q Qc3+
18. Kb5 Qxb3+ drawn
Not a bad task for an U10 girl.
The final result is that Eve lost to Aleksandra, for 9-10 years old girls is not easy to calculate 19 moves ahead to see that black can capture the last white pawn. My guess is she resigned before getting any closer to K+Q+p vs K+Q position.
What is counting is that both of those girls are real nice kids and very good players.
I played this agains my computer and drew with preety strait forward play – maybe my comp or I missed something but all the moves look easy to me …
1… a5 2. f5 gxf5 3. exf5 Kd5 4. h5 Ke5 5. g6 fxg6 6. fxg6 hxg6 7. hxg6 Kf6 8. Kxd4 Kxg6 9. Kc4 Kg5 10. Kb5 {(Kd3)} Kf4 11. Kxa5 Ke3 12. Kxb4 Kd2 13. a4 Kxc2 14. a5 Kd3 15. a6 c2 16. a7 c1=Q 17. a8=Q
D.K.
PxP e.p. looks good for Black.
Maybe 1… a5 2.f5 gxf5 3.exf5 Kd5 4.h5 Ke5 5.g6 fxg6 6.fxg6 hxg6 until 7.hxg6?? but better is 7.h7! and Black is lost.
We have to found a new solution…….
Sorry, i made a horrible mistake in my last comment, I apolozige ….
1… a5 2.f5 gxf5 3.exf5 Kd5 4.h5 Ke5 5.g6 fxg6 6.fxg6 hxg6 7.h6 Kf6 and so on. It’s still a draw, I hope….
o.l.,
Your suggestion was:
…6. fxg6 fxg6 7. h6?? Kf6
There should follow:
8. Kxd4 g5!
and now it is white who is lost. Black can scoop up the h-pawn while still protecting the g-pawn.
For example:
9. Ke4 Kg6
10. h7 Kxh7
11. Kf5 Kh6
or
9. h7 Kg6
10. h8=Q KxQ
11. Ke4 Kg7
12. Kf5 Kh6
with an easily won game for black in either case.
Meanwhile, white cannot attack the black a-pawn.
For example:
9. Kc5 g4!
if 10. Kb5 g3 and the g-pawn promotes easily.
if instead 10. Kd4 Kg6! wins the white h-pawn while preserving the black g-pawn, winning as above.
Kerry
Oops.
I made a typo. The second variation should be:
8. Kxd4 g5!
9. h7 Kg7 (not Kg6?? losing)
10. h8=Q KxQ
11. Ke4 Kg7
12. Kf5 Kh6
The result still stands:
After 1… a5 2.f5 gxf5 3.exf5 Kd5 4.h5 Ke5 5.g6 fxg6 6.fxg6 hxg6,
7.h6?? loses for white.