Black to move. This is an actual position from a game between an amateur (white) and a GM and former World Junior Champion (black). Is this a win, draw, or loss for Black?
8/8/3p1k2/2p5/1pP2P2/1P3K2/8/8 b – – 0 58
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Aha! Black plays 1. ….e2 and wins!!
Just kidding.
FEN is erroneous.. must be
8/8/3p1k2/2p5/1pP2P2/1P3K2/8/8 b – – 0 58
Black moves..
Greetings from Spain
It looks like, after 1…d5 2.cd c4 3. Ke3 white can hold even after 3…. c3. The pawns on f4 and d5 act like connected passers – white can’t take the rear one, and can’t switch his attack from one to the other fast enough. For example 3…. c3 4. Kd3 Ke7 5. f5 and next advancing whichever pawn black does not attack.
Your FEN has White to move….
The “obvious” move to me is:
1. …..Kf5
2. Ke3 Kg4
3. Ke4 and it is over for black as all three pawns are toast.
Will have to try something else.
If Black does nothing it should be lost because of White outside passed pawn.
So you need immediate action 1…d5! of course!
A)If White doesn’t play 2.cxd5, say, 2.Ke3 dxc4! 3.bxc4 and now it’s -+ because of Black protected passed pawn
B)if White plays 2.cxd5! taking the challenge then 2..c4 3.Ke3 forced (3.bxc4 b3 -+) 3…c3!!! a very subtle move giving an outside passed pawn and a positionnal draw because after 4.Kd3 then 4..Kf5 and white can’t move his two pawns without losing them and White can’t bring his King So both players will keep on playing Kf5-f6 and Kc2-d3 Draw!!
1…d6 to d5! 2.c4xd5 both are “only” moves…c5 to c4! and now
a)b3 xc4 & Blk queens and wins
b)Wh K to e4 or e3 Black moves pawn
at c4 to c3 and black will win because white king must not let c3
pawn queen and regarding the white
pawns at f4 and e4: they are close enough for the black King to stop from mating and eventually the Black King will help queen the c3 pawn
Black wins
1…d5 draw, I think
I was initially excited as I thought black can breakthrough with his pawns and promote. But thats not to be. Also, 1..Kf5 loses as it allows white’s king to breakthrough.
I think the best black can hope for is a draw by creating counter pressure by creating its own passed pawn.
1..d5! 2. cxd5 c4! 3. Ke3 c3! (Not cxb3? +-)
This way black ties down the white king and he himself is tied down because of the passers. 1/2-1/2
Maybe a draw. Black can’t do anything to the f-pawn. If it was the only pawn it would fine, but if black moves forward white’s king goes around and it’s over.
d5 cxd5 c4 d6 (and white would queen with check) Ke6 f5+ Kxd6 and black can still block the f pawn. White’s king has to go stop blacks passer
Well, the only move that doesn’t seem to lose to me is:
1. …..d5
2. cd5 c4
and white cannot take since b3 wins
3. Ke2 c3 (bc3 4.Kd2 Ke7 5. f5!)
4. Kd3
and I think this is drawn. White’s king must maintain the watch on the passed c pawn, and black’ king moves between f6 and f5 which holds up white’s pawns. If black tries something else:
4. …..Ke7
5. f5! Ke8 (Kd6 6. f6! drawn?)
and this still looks drawn (at least, I haven’t found a way for either player to make progress).
I may be missing something here, but I think this is draw with best play by black, but d5 seems absolutely necessary.
1..d5 2.cxd5 c4 3.Ke2 c3! 4. Kd3 KF5 =
d4 d4
f5 f5
g6
d4 d4
c5 c5
e6
1…d5(else black loss!)
2.PxP c4
3.Ke3 c3
4.Kd3
DRAW
The connected passed black pawns and split white pawns hold each king at bay.
white wins anyway, the split white pawns force a promotion like craigb said
white wins, craigb is right
Somebody said:
“It looks like, after 1…d5 2.cd c4 3. Ke3 white can hold even after 3…. c3. The pawns on f4 and d5 act like connected passers – white can’t take the rear one, and can’t switch his attack from one to the other fast enough. For example 3…. c3 4. Kd3 Ke7 5. f5 and next advancing whichever pawn black does not attack.”
I dont beleave that White is winning:
5. f5 Kd6
6. f6 Kd7
and now:
a)
7. d6 Kxd6
8. f7 Ke7 is obviously not winning
b)
7. f7 Ke7
8. d6+ Kxf7
9. d7 Ke7 is not winning
c)
7. Kc2 (waiting)
… Kd6
8. f7 (what else?)
… Ke7 as before
Cant see a win.