White to move and win. Can you find the winning plan for White?
8/3p1p2/3k1P2/3p1p2/8/7K/p2P2R1/b3B3 w – – 0 1
Kubbel 1934
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d4 Bd4
Ra2 Bf6
Ra6+
K moves and Bishop checks and rook picks up bishop
To Fielding:
d4 is met by Bb2 and white has to give his Rook for the pawn and will get a draw at best
Bg3 then Be5 then d4 should do it
hi!
1 d4 Bb2
2 Bg3 Ke6
3 Rb2 a1Q
4 Rb6 and 5 Rd6#
if 2-Kc6
3 Rc2, Rb2 and Ra2.
Oh, wow. This is beautiful!
1. d3 Bb2
2. Bb4+
A. Ke6
3. Re2+ K:f6
4. R:b2 a1Q
5. Bc3+ and whatever Black does, white moves the R with check and picks up the Q.
B. Ke5
3. R:b2 is the same trap
C. Kc6
3. Rc2+ Kb5
4. R:b2 a1Q
5. Bc3+ (now we see another reason to have the d-pawn on d3)
5. K any
6. R checks by moving along the b-file and the B+2P vs. 4P ending must be a win.
1. d3 Bb2
2. Bb4+ Kc6
3. Rc2+ Kb5
4. Rxb2 a1(Q)
5. Bc3+ Qxb2
6. Bxb2 Kb4
7. Kg3 Kb3
8. Be5 Kc2
9. d4 Kd3
10. Kf4 d6
11. Bxd6 Kxd4
12. Kxf5
White’s bishop will stop the pawn while the king ushers the pawn to promotion.
2. … Ke6
3. Re2+ Be5
4. Bc3 d4
5. Bxd4 d6
6. Ba1 Kxf6
7. d4 Bf4
8. d5+ Be5
9. Bxe5+ dxe5
10. Rxa2 e4
11. d6 Ke6
12. Rd2 etc.
1 d4 Bb2
2 Bg3+
does not work because
of 2. … f5+!! and there is no more mate threats
2. … f5+
3. Bxf4 Ke6
and the Black King will be safe of f5.
The win is:
1. d3 Bb2
2. Bb4+ Kc6 (Kc7 is similar)
3. Rc2+ Kb5
4. Rxb2 a1=Q
5. Bxc3+
now anywhere the Black King goes, the White Rook give discovered check and pick up the Queen or
5. …Qxb2
6. Bxb2
the question is why d3 and not d4 ?
It is because with the pawn on d3, Black can not play 5. … Kc5, and get out of the discovered checks, because he can take the bishop on c3.
But what about:
1. d3 Bb2
2. Bb4+ Ke6
then…
3. Re2+ Kxf6
4. Rxb2 a1=Q
5. Bc3+
and White still gets the discovered check, picking up the queen. Again, if the pawn was on d4 this would not be possible.
1. d4 Bb2
2. Bg3+ f4
3. B:f4+ Ke6
4. R:b2 a1Q
5. Rb6+ Kf5 and Black wins.
This is a most wonderful puzzle.
The question one should ask is what the difference between 1.d3 and 1.d4 is, as it’s pretty clear that one of them is the right answer.
1.d4 Bb2 2.Bb4+ Kc6 3.Rc2+ Kb5 4.Rxb2 a1=Q 5.Bc3+ Kc4. But if 1.d3! is played instead 5…Kc4 becomes impossible.
1.d3! Bb2 2.Bb4+ Kc6 3.Rc2+ Kb5 4.Rxb2 a1=Q 5.Bc3+ Kc5 6.Rb5+ Kxb5 7.Bxa1 wins.
to anon 4:48
i had the same idea but your lines dont work because of
2…f4!!
1.d4 Bb2!! 2 Bg3!!!
i 2…Kc6 3. Rc2+ Kb5 4.Rxb2+ and 5. Rxa2 +-
ii 2…Ke6 3.Rxb2 (Threatens Rb6 and mate!) ! +-
iii 2…Bxd4 3. Rxa2 Bxf6 ?? 4. Ra6 etc.. +-