White to move. Is this a win or draw and how should White proceed?
8/p7/8/PP1k4/1K6/8/8/8 w – – 0 1
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Again there are too many variations to list, but the starting point is that white should not move either pawn unless there is a definite breakthrough, otherwise black will always defend, either by defending against the b pawn, or because the king cannot be driven out of the corner. The technique for winning this must be to have the pawns where they are and push the black king toward the corner with the white king from the centre.
An important thing is, that if it were black’s move in the starting position, white would easily achieve this. A triangulation is needed, but how to stop black from doing the same?
I can only see 1. Ka3 Kc5 2. Ka4 Kc6 and there is no way to avoid the repetition, 3. Kb4 Kd4!. Since any pawn move draws, at any stage of this, I conclude that the position is drawn. Were it black’s move, at the starting position, white would win.
1. a6
I think its a win.
1. a6
if Ke6/Ke5/Ke4/Kd4 then b6 and the king is too slow to stop the a pawn.
1… Kd6
2. b6 and white should win. ( abx6 a7 Kc7 a8=Q. )
Win.
1.a6 threat: b6
1… kd6 b6 and wins
1. b6 draws but,
1. a6 Kd6
2. b6 Kc6
(2. … axb6 3. a7)
3. bxa7 Kb6 (or Kc7)
4. a8=Q wins
White wins after a counter intuitive pawn move!
1.a6
black any
and 2. b6
should do it
1. a6 and 2. b6 shuld dio it
Well, playing a6 seems to be out of the question since it means that white will never win since b6 can never be played (winning with a rook’s pawn isn’t possible in this situation since the black king is closer to the corner.
1. a6 Kd6
2. Kc4 Kc7
3. Kc5 Kb8 and white is now stymied.
Moving the b-pawn:
Main Line A:
1. b6 ab6
2. ab6 Kc6
3. Ka5 Kb7 (any other move, 4.Ka6)
4. Kb5 Ka8? (Kb8 see below)
5. Kc6 Kb8
6. b7 Ka7
7. Kc7 wins
but,
4. ….Kb8
5. Ka6 Ka8
6. b7 Kb8 draws, and 5. Kc6 also leads to a draw.
Main Line B:
1. b6 ab6
2. a6 Kc6
3. Kc4 b5
4. Kb4 Kb6
5. a7 only move and it draws. So, by playing 1. ….ab6, Black seems to draw with proper play.
This seems to leave king moves for white:
1. Kc3 Kc5 (what else?)
2. b6 ab6
3. a6 Kc6 (only move)
4. Kb4 Kc7 will draw eventually.
1. Kb3 and 1. Ka3 are the same, in my opinion, since black can never play Kc4 in reply to Ka4:
1. Kb3 Kc5
2. Ka4 Kd6 (Kc4?? 3 b6 wins)
3. Kb4 Kd7
4. Kc4 Kc8
5. Kc5 Kb8
6. Kc6 Kc8
7. b6 ab6
8. ab6 Kb8
9. b7 Ka7
10.Kc7 wins. Now, this is my first time through this line, and I can’t be absolutely sure there isn’t a drawing line for black after the third white move, but I was careful to pick the right white move each time to prevent black from drawing, but I wasn’t careful to choose every possible black reply.
Here is the other main possibility for black in this line, and the one I was most concerned about that diverts at move 2:
1. Kb3 Kc5
2. Ka4 a6
3. b6 Kc6 (3. ba6 Kc6=, I think)
4. Kb4 Kb7
5. Kc5 Ka8
6. Kd6 Kb8
7. Kc6 Ka8
8. b7 Ka7 and I don’t see how white can win this since he can never accomplish the two things he needs to do without stalemating black- picking up the a-pawn or allowing black an escape hatch through a6 or b6.
All in all, I see a draw here. Maybe someone can point out a white win in the above line. If it is there, it is escaping me.
1. a6 kd6
2. b6 wins…
1.a6 wins
after black plays 1…Kd6, white wins with
2. b6 Kc6
3. bxa7
or 2…axb6
3. a7
1. a6, Kc4
2. b6! +-
And, as Capa always said, I leave the rest as an exercise for the student…
1.a6 Kd6
2.b6 axb
3.a7 and queens
Yancey:
1. a6 wins after 1. … Kd6 to 2. b6.
1. a6 Kd6
2. b6! axb6
3. a7 and white should win
1. a6 Kd6
2. b6! Kc6
3. bxa7 and white should win
Perhaps I am not looking at this correctly, but:
1. a6 Kd6
2. b6 Kc6
3. ba
This should win since the pawn will promote.
1. a6 Kd6
2. b6 appears winning, though I have to go now! Phil
Hello,
I think this game is for white
1. a6 , anyone
2. b6 winning
Greetings from Spain
1.a6 wins very easily
1.a6 kd6
2. b6! and if axb6, a7. if kc6 bxa7 and the black king cannot move in because the pawns would check.
1.a6 Kd6
2.b6 axb6
3.a7
How about
a6 Kd6
b6
if axb then a7
if kc6 then bxa7 and the King can not go to b7
a6 seems to be the right choice. Kd6 is followed by b6. If Kc7, then bxa7, and the pawn cannot be stopped. If axb6, then a7.
a6 any
b6 any
a7
a6 Kd4, b6 axb6, a7 Kd3a8=Q White will be winner easily.
if you play 1.b6??? then it’s an easy draw but after 1.a6! Kd6 2.b6! wins
I wrote a comment with the solution to this problem just a couple of minutes after it was posted, but it was never published.