White to move. Is this a win for White or is it a draw?
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Dead draw.
White wins.
1. Kd4 Kc6(c7)
2. Ke5 Kd7
3. d4 and White takes both pawns.
Anon_2:51 said…
“White wins.
1. Kd4 Kc6(c7)
2. Ke5 Kd7
3. d4 and White takes both pawns.”
Yep. Not hard to find, but a fantastic example to show beginners to demonstrate the importance of pawn structure in chess. I will use this one when teaching my young niece to play.
P.S. Btw, winning the second pawn is a little tricky, and would have to be demonstrated to a beginner (a good exercise might be to let her find the solution all the way to mate from this position). This is how I would do it:
1 Kd4 Kc6
2 Ke5 Kd7
3 d4 Ke8
4 Kxe6 Kd8
5 d5 Ke8
6 e5 Kd8
7 Kf7 Kd7
8 e6+ Kd8 (or …Kd6 Ke8 Kxd5 Kxe7)
9 d6 exd6
10 e7+ Kd7
11 e8=Q+ (and mate soon follows)
An interesting question is: If is is Black to play: then can Black draw?
The statement “demostrate the importance of pawn structure” is not entirely true: the relative King position is also extremely important.
“and would have to be demonstrated to a beginner”
More interesting (for beginners) than winning this easy by Kf7 (after Kd8) or Kd7 (after Kf8) is the fact that just pushing the pawns (what a beginner might want to do!) does not win easily (but it wins in any case if played correctly).
This should be shown, too.
Let’s take a closer look:
After 3. d4 black can go to d8 or e8 so if white pushes the pawns (4. Kxe6, 5. d5 6. e5) we get one of these positions (with white to move):
[1] w: Ke6 e5d5 b: Kd8(f8) e7
[2] w: Ke6 e5d5 b: Ke8 e7
Position [2] is easily won by playing 7. d6 and after exd6 white may even decide if he plays Kxd6 or exd6, if not (black’s) exd6 8. d7 will decide.
So if black plays Kd8 (after 3. d4) THEN Kxe6 and pushing the pawns wins easily (where the king stands is a simple thing of counting – but that is, too, a thing a beginner has to learn).
But what about position [1]?
7. d6 (7. Kf7/d7 still wins easily) seems to be a draw here after Ke8!.
Beginners might only think of 7. -, exd6? after which 8. Kxd6! (exd6?? draw!) wins, but black must not take that pawn.
If white tries 8. d7+?, Kd8 it is draw (and some beginner might even lose it after 9. Kf7, Kxd7 10. e6+??, Kd6!).
Last exercise for the beginner is to find out how white can win this though (8. Kd5 with some easy variations to find).
Recapitulation:
* The maneuver with Kf7/Kd7 after the forced Kd8/f8 wins easily. This maneuver should be remembered in a game.
* “Blindly” pushing the pawns is rarely effective (but does not have to lead to draw in all cases). (*)
In some cases pushing the pawns may win though, in this exercise it wins in either case but the win get’s quite complicated if black defends well (and someone who doesn’t find the fundamental Kf7 maneuver probably won’t find the winning move Kd5).
(*) Here should be given an example where pushing the pawn draws. For example w: Kd4 e2 b: Ke5 is simply won after 1. Ke5 but 1. -, Kd7 must not be countered by 2. e4?? (=).
Yeah, this is a good beginner’s pawn endgame if you show all the finesses.
Anonymous hint with black to move is very good here, too, and will give some more finesses probably.
Greetings
Jochen
Hi Jochen
“But what about position [1]?
7. d6 (7. Kf7/d7 still wins easily) seems to be a draw here after [7… Ke8!].”
Actually, White is still winning with 8.Kd5! The trick is that Black can never capture on d6 because of Kxd6 followed by Ke6, which wins with either player to move.
8…Kd7 9.e6+ followed by 10.d7 wins.
8…Kd8 9.e6 and now White wins the opposition (9.Kc6 also works).
But your general point is well taken: amazing how hard these simple endings are.
KD4 definitely.
Jochen said…
“Yeah, this is a good beginner’s pawn endgame if you show all the finesses.
Anonymous hint with black to move is very good here, too, and will give some more finesses probably.”
Great analysis! I won’t be posting too much for a couple of weeks, as I have no internet service for a while and can only post when I’m not home, to let you know if I don’t reply. Your analysis is great and demonstrates how to use the king effectively.
http://www.wtharvey.com has 10,000 combinations from GM games. Have fun trying them!
Hi Bill,
take a closer look at my post and you will find this 8. Kd5 winning variation anywhere hidden in a big accumulation of variations. 🙂
That’s why I only say it “seems” to be a draw. [In the first moment I thought so and probably for a beginner that first impression won’t change. ;)]
Hello Tom,
you not posting so much gives us more time to find out all the finesses of the exercises ourselves. *smile*
But I am (and surely many more are) looking forward to reading now and then some of your detailed analysises (if you find the time!) or some short “hello”.
I wish you a good time without internet – that can be very relaxing sometimes.
Greetings and thanks for the compliments about the analysis,
Jochen
I must learn how to read, Jochen: sorry about that! (But I learned something because of my carelessness….)