White to move. Can White hold this game? How should White proceed? No computer lines please.
k7/p7/B2pp3/1K1Np3/1p2p3/1P2P3/2Pp4/8 w – – 0 1
Lobanov, 1964
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I am thinking..
1. Kc6 d1= Q 2. Bb7+ Kb8 3. Nxb4 which threatens mate on a6. Black could defend but ends up losing his queen for a minor piece.
OR
1. Kc6 Kb8 2. Bb7 d1= Q 3. Nxb4 with the same explanations as above.
1.Kc6 d1=Q (1…Kb8 2.Be2! exd5 3.Kxc7 and all pawns will fall … stil a pawn in a4 after d4-d3 and a5-a4 for black but it’s the good bishop for queening in a8 !!! ; 1…exd5 2 Kc7 and 3.Bb7 mat)2.Nxb4 Kb8 (to avoid 3.Bb7+ and 4.Na6 mat) 3.Kd7!! (if Bb7 a5!!-+) Qh5 4.Nc6+ Ka8 5.Kc8!! Qe8+ 6.Nd8 ! +- impossible to avoid Bb7 mat whitout losing to many material. Gorgeous!!! What a task!!!!! I search about 40 minutes to find Kd7!!
1Kc6 d1Q 2.Nxb4 Qa1 3.Bb7 Kb8 4.Na6 Qxa6 5:Bxa6+-
@ Lawrence- If black plays Kb8 after 1. Kc6 then Nf6(!) forces mate.
After
1. Kc6 d1Q
2. Nxb4 Kb8
3. Kd7! draws (if Bb7 black surprises with a5! creating an escape square and licking that knight)
3… Qa1
4. Bc8 (threatening Nc6 Ka8 Kc7)
4… Any move and white has perpetual checks! Very nice puzzle, gave me a bit of an headache!
Not easy endgame,
1.Kc6 d1=Q
2.Nxb4 (2.Bb7+? Kb8 3.Nb4 a5, now threat is Bb7+ and Na6#)
2… Kb8 3.Kd7 (threatens Nc6+ , Kc8 and Bb7#)
3… Qh1 4.Nc6+ Ka8 5.Kc8 Qh7 6.Nd8 d5 7.Bb7+ (7.Ne6 Qg8+ 8.Nd8 is draw, but white can play for win)
7… Qxb7+ 8.Nxb7 d4 9.Nc5 (threat is Na6 and Nc7#)
9… a5 10.exd4 exd4 11.Nxe4 and white wins after 11…Ka7 12.Kd7 Kb6 13.Kxe6 etc.
1.Kc6? d1=Q, 2.Bb7 Kb8, 3.Nb4 a5-+ (what are you thinking?)
1.Kc6? d1=Q, 2.Nb4 Kb8, 3.Bb7 a5-+
1.The Answer seems to be 1.Nc3 bc3, 2.Kc6 (idea Be2) d1=Q, 3.Kc7 (idea Bb7#) Qd5, 4.b4+- winning for White
1. Kc6?, d1Q 2. Kc7, Qxd5 and black can check on c5 and wins.
Better seems to be
1. Nc3, bxc3 2. Kc6, d1Q (if Kb8 3. Be2 should win) 3. Kc7, Qd5 4. b4!
To discover this line did not take me much time so it may be wrong completely. But the main idea should be right I think.
Wonderful zugzwang position.
Jochen
No win for white, guys. You miss that black can move his a-pawn. It’s a draw. Try again.
1.Nc3! bxc3 2.Kc6 Kb8 (Kc7 had to be prevented) 3. Be2! and White should be able to win this
1.Nxb4 must happen to prevent 1.Kc6 exd5 2.Be2 d4 3.Kxd6 d4, meaning black forces enough pawn trades to draw (or some such line).
So,
1.Nxb4 d1Q 2.Kc6, threatening 3.Bb7+ Kb8 4.Na6 mate, forcing 2… Qd5+ 3.Nxd5 exd5 4.Kxd5, a winning endgame for white.
Thanks belonging to Michael,