White to move. Do you know how to win this endgame? What is the winning plan for White?
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Important King and Pawn endgame
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White to move. Do you know how to win this endgame? What is the winning plan for White?
white simply advance his a pawn and wins in every variation. very hard to lose this one. i will post lines if anyone has doubts.
cheers
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A drawing line would be to advance the a-pawn two squares and the b-pawn one square. Then, black plays bxa6 and white responds with bxa6=.
a5 kb8
b5 ka8
kc7 ka7
a6 ba
b6
I got this one.
get the king to c8 and force the black king to a8
then sack the a pawn and let it go. move the b pawn up to queen.
a5 kb8
b5 Ka8
Kc7 Ka7
Kc8 Ka8
a6 bxa6
b6 a5
b7+ Ka7
b8Q+ resigns
Anonymous said…
white simply advance his a pawn and wins in every variation. very hard to lose this one. i will post lines if anyone has doubts.
cheers
Cheers thanks for the good laugh
plz show the line of just advancing the a pawn, i think that draws. thx
1.a5 Kb8
2.a6 bxa6
3.Kxa6 Kc8 (not good)
4.b5 Kc7
5.b6+ Kc6
6.b7 Kc5
7.b8=Q and white wins
However,
3….Ka8
4.b5 Kb8
5.b6 Ka8
6.b7+ Kb8
7.Kb6 draws
Also,
5.Kb6 Kc8
6.Ka7 draws
But,
5.Kb6 Ka8
6.Kc7!! Ka7 (forced)
7.b6+ Ka6 or Ka8
and white wins
Tought for me. Atleast a dozen attempts.
therookery
a5 kb8
a6 not axb but
ka8 draw
There is a good forcing line with the king:
1.Kc7 Ka7
2.b5 Ka8 (or … b6 3.a5)
3.a5 Ka7
4.a6 and black is lost.
The important thing is to control the b6-b7-b8 squares while taking care not to stalemate the black king, sacrificing the a pawn when appropriate.
Unless I am wrong, of course. 🙂
Anonymous said…
white simply advance his a pawn and wins in every variation. very hard to lose this one. i will post lines if anyone has doubts.
cheers
Cheers thanks for the good laugh
whats so funny
1.a5 1.Kb8
2.a6 2.Ka8
3.axb7+ 3.Kb8
4.Ka6 +-
if 2…bxa6
3.Kxa6 3.Kc7
4.b5+-
and once again cheers
cheers if u r a kind of person who prefers a draw in a winning position.
1. a5 Kb8
2. a6
a. if 2. … bxa6
3. Kxa6 Ka8
4. Kb6 Kb8
5. b5! and then if Ka8 white plays Kc7, if Kc8 white plays Ka7 and in both lines, pushing b pawn wins.
b. if 2. … Ka8
3. axb7+ Kb8
4. Ka6 Kc7
5. Ka7 wins
1.Kc7,Ka7 (1…b6 2.Kxb6 +-)
2.b5,Ka8 (2…b6 3.a5,bxa5 (3…Ka8 4.Kxb6 +-) 4.b6+ +-)
3.a5,Ka7 (3…b6 4.Kxb6 +-)
4.b6+,Ka8 (4…Ka6 5.Kb8,Kxa5 6.Kxb7 +-)
5.a6,bxa6
6.b7+ +-
The answer is:
1.b5 Kb8 2.a5 Ka8 3.Kc7 Ka7 4.a6 bxa6 5.b6+ Ka8 6.b7+ Ka7 7.b8=Q++
I agree with Tim and anons!
I have the same solution as that of jean-michel. The simplest and shortest way for white to win.
cheers
what is funny is that you gave no moves. This puzzle each day is all about giving moves. We are suppose to show the moves.
Susan,
I like this puzzle. You are forcing me to think and to learn basic end games. This is good for me.
cheers if u r a kind of person who prefers a draw in a winning position.
a 1000 rated player would have to work very hard to draw this won position. the line below your post is the same as mine, although his is a little cleaner. no cheers for you 🙂
The only trick is to advance the a-pawn, 1.a5 Kb8 2. a6, and if 2…bxa5, play 3.Kxa5, not 3.bxa5. If Black then tries to take the opposition with 3…Ka8, play 4.Kb6 Kb8 5.b5, and we have what my five-year old daughter knows as “The Winning Position” (because it is won no matter who has the opposition).
a5 Kb8
a6 Pxa6
Kxa6 Ka8
b5 Kb8
b6 Ka8
b7 Kb8
Kb6 Ka8
Kc7 Ka7
b8 promote
its just squeezing the king out of the corner.
wolverine
test
Strangely, I found it difficult to lose with white player EITHER 1. a5 or 1. b5. BOTH seem to win.
1. a5 Kb8 2. a6 bxa6 3. Kxa6
Ka8 4. b5 Kb8 5. Kb6 1-0
or
1. b5 Kb8 2. a5 Kc8 3. Ka7 Kc7 4. b6+ Kc6 5. a6 bxa6 6. b7 1-0
So… everyone can be happy (except black).
Brad Hoehne