8/3k4/p6p/2P3p1/n1KN2P1/7P/2R5/3r4 w – – 0 1
White to move. How should White proceed?
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Rook and Knight endgame
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8/3k4/p6p/2P3p1/n1KN2P1/7P/2R5/3r4 w – – 0 1
White to move. How should White proceed?
Ra2–the knight is trapped
Go to bed!
Ra2 doesn’t win the knight coz black has Rc1+, Nxc5. So, need to guard c1 square by Nb3, then Ra2. CMIIW
1. Ra2 Rc1+
2. Kc2
And white wins the knight.
Was it just me that found this position kind of difficult?
If I were black I’d try this line for a defence where white could go wrong .
1. Nb3 Rf1
2.Ra2 Rf4+
3.Nd4! (notice if 3.ke3 or Ke5 then Rb4 saves the day)
3………NXP
4.KxP h5!
In this position black could play for a draw since white’s knight can’t move since its rook is jeopardy. If white takes the pawn with
5.gxh Rh4! and i think black should draw!
And if black does not take the h pawn and decides to take the a pawn and mate the black king in the bank rank as follow
5.Rxa6 hxg (what else is there?)
6.Rh7+ Ke8 (not 6….Kc8? 7. Kc6 Kb8 (7…Kd8 loses to.8.Ne6+ and black loses its rook. The same occurs to 6…kd8 7. Ne6+ and rook falls) 8.Rb7+ Ka8 9. Rd7 wins for white) 7.Ne6 (threating kd6 and mate follow so black rook must move down f-file to check king) Rf1! and I don’t think whit can mate black in this position.
Opps never mind my previous erroneous comment. white just simply plays
5.Rg2 and holds.
I found this too difficult for me, probably a breeze for a GM, right Susan?
Anyway, thanks to Fritz, mate in 50:
1. Nb3 Rb1
2. Kb4 Rb2
3. Rc1 Ra2
4. Rd1+ Ke8
5. Nd4 Nxc5
6. Kxc5 Ra3
7. Re1+ Kd7
8. Nf5 h5
9. Re7+ Kd8
10. Re3 Ra1
11. Kd6 hxg4
12. hxg4 a5
13. Nd4 Rd1
14. Kc5 Kd7
15. Ra3 Ke7
16. Nf3 Rf1
17. Nxg5 Rf4
18. Re3+ Kf6
19. Ne4+ Kg6
20. g5 Rf5+
21. Kc4 Rf7
22. Rb3 Ra7
23. Rf3 Kh5
24. Kb5 Re7
25. Re3 Re5+
26. Kc4 Kg6
27. Kd4 Re7
28. Rf3 Rd7+
29. Ke3 Rd5
30. Rf6+ Kg7
31. Rc6 Rb5
32. Kf4 Rb1
33. g6 Kh6
34. Ng3 Rb4+
35. Ke5 Rb8
36. Nf5+ Kg5
37. Ne7 Kh6
38. Kf4 Rb4+
39. Kf5 Rb1
40. Rc8 Rf1+
41. Ke6 Rf2
42. Rh8+ Kg5
43. g7 Kf4
44. Rf8+ Ke3
45. Nd5+ Kd3
46. Rxf2 Kc4
47. g8=Q Kb5
48. Qc8 a4
49. Rb2+ Ka5
50. Qa8# 1-0
There is a small inaccuracy in the fritz solution, if on 45…Ke2 then fritz does not mate until 53.
Here’s Rybka’s solution:
1. Nb3 Kc7
2. Ra2 Nxc5
3. Nxc5 Rc1+
4. Kb4 Rb1+
5. Nb3 Rh1
6. Rc2+ Kb6
7. Rc3 Rf1
8. Kc4 Rf6
9. Nd4 h5
10. Rf3 Rd6
11. Rf5 hxg4
12. hxg4 Rg6
13. Nf3 Rc6+
14. Kb4 Rc1
15. Nd2 Rd1
16. Nc4+ Kc6
17. Rxg5 Rg1
18. Rc5+ Kd7
19. g5 Ke6
20. Ka5 Kf7
21. Ne5+ Kg7
22. Rc7+ Kg8
23. g6 Rg2
24. Rd7 Ra2+
25. Kb6 Re2
26. Re7 Kf8
27. Rf7+ Kg8
28. Rf5 Ra2
29. Nc6 Re2
30. Kxa6 Re6
31. Kb5 Kg7
32. Ne5 Kg8
33. Kc4 Ra6
34. Rf3 Re6
35. Kd5 Ra6
36. Nc6 Kg7
37. Ne7 Ra5+
38. Kc4 Ra4+
39. Kb5 Ra8
40. Rf7+ Kh6
41. g7 Rb8+
42. Kc5 Ra8
43. g8=Q Rxg8
44. Nxg8+ Kg5
45. Kd4
Kg4 46. Ne7 Kg3
47. Ke3 Kg4
48. Rg7+ Kh3
49. Nf5 Kh2
50. Ke2 Kh1
51. Kf1 Kh2
52. Rh7# 1-0
Rob