White to move. How should White proceed?
(Note: This is a refresher)
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obviously the first move is b5. If not, instant loss. 🙂
1. b5
If black takes, then c6. If black takes on c6, then the a pawn promotes.
Second variation would be
1 … Kb4
2.a6 and white wins.
🙂
1st scenario:
1.) b5 cxb5
2.) c6!
2nd scenario:
1.) b5 Kb4
2.) a6!
3rd scenario:
1.) b5 b6
2.) cxb6 cxb6
3.) a6!
CONCLUSION: The key move of white is b5.
b5 is pretty obvioius……same trick as the three vs three problem…with the kinds at the other end of the board.
Thought that looked familiar. Simple, but I am constantly amazed how the simplest positions foil even experienced players in the heat of battle. God knows I blow easy positions like this all the time.
1 b5 is forced, the only way to break through (after 1 a6, black simply captures b7xa6 and white has nothing further).
1 … Kb4
2 a6 and now after b7xa6 white can recapture with b5xa6 and the king can’t stop the pawn. So:
1 … cxb5 (the only other try)
2 c6 and whether black plays b7xc6 or b7-b6, white responds with a6 and the pawn queens.
Pawn to B5
then,
Pawn to C6
1. b5 and everything is over!
1… cxb5 2. c6! (1…Kb4 2. bxc6 bxc6 3. a6! ) bxc6 3. a6 +/-
1. b5 cxb5
2. c6 bxc6
3. a6 b4
4. a7 b3
5. Kb1 …
Now Black doesnt have much to do while White can promote his pawn and win the game.
1.b5 if (1… cxb5 then c6 and once black takes on c6 the passed a pawn queens)
if (1… Kc4 then white proceeds with bxc5 and the a passed pawn queens.
1.b5!
As the Doors would have said, White should “break on through to the other side” with 1.b5! (threatening 2.a6) cxb5 2.c6! bxc6 3.a6 and wins.
Have not seen it before, but fairly obvious b5 is the answer. Robin
b5 !! wins the game !
1. b5 cxb5
2. c6 and white should queen
1 b5!
If 1… cxb, then 2. c6, and White’s pawn queens.
If 2… Kc4(b4), then 2. a6 and the pawn queens.
1. b5! cb
2. c6!+-
1. … Kb4
2. a6+-
1.b5 cxb5
2.c6 bxc6
3.a6 and the a-pawn queens before
black can force through any
of his pawns. If black tries
2. …b6
3.a6 and queens in two moves, or
3.axb6 cxb6
4.c7 and then Queen on next move.
The king might try to attack the
pawns from the back via b4 or c4,
but white answers by either bxc6
or a6 and the black will not be able
catch up to the pawns to stop their
promotion.
Black might try some trickery and answer
…b6 to 1.b5. White must take care not to
play 2.bxc6 because black will then turn
the tables by 2. …bxa5 and will be able
to pick up the pawns on c6 & c7 and cover
the a5 pawn before the white King can reach
a5. Then black will have no problem moving
the a & c pawns forward with the King’s
support.
But white has better replies to 1. …b6,
axb6, cxb6, and a6 all lead to pawn
promotion and a white win.
White wins in all variations after b5!
b5! and win, idea cb5 2.c6!. 1…Kb4 2.a6! win.