This is an old game from the late Grandmaster Miles. It is Black to move. What is the best continuation for Black?
5rk1/8/p4nP1/5PK1/8/P7/4p3/4R3 b – – 0 0
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Special endgame tactic
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Cool problem. Nd5+ would seem to be a quickly winning move.
Off topic (but I don’t know how else to find the answer): I want to take my 8-year-old daughter to the National Girls Championship this year (2009). Where and when is it? Why is it so hard to find out? Thanks!
I think you mean Ne4+, but I agree that Ne4+ (followed by Nc3, Kg7, etc.) wins.
and to charles about the girls championship, I’m pretty sure it’s in Dallas again (because of UTD’s scholarship deal). Try contacting someone at the Dallas Chess Club (www.dallaschess.com or just emailing dcc@dallaschess.com) or the UTD Chess program (chess.utdallas.edu).
I am not quite convinced if black can win this with these strong pawns always threatening to promote after 1. -, Ne4+ 2. Kf4, Nc3 3. Kg5, Kg7 4. Rh1! [threat of Rh7+ followed by Rh1 with repetition of moves]
e.g. Re8 5. Rh7+! and 6. f6 or 4. -, Rh8? 5. f6+ and white even wins.
My prefered move was Nh5 but while posting this I see what I missed.
1. -, Nh5!? 2. Kxh5, Rxf5+ 3. -, Rf2 should be won.
But I fear the second line after 2. Rxe2, Rxf5+ 3. Kxf5, Ng3+ only draws as black can’t keep his pawn. 🙁
Hmmmm, perhaps I missed anything simple in the line given by you posters above as I did not use a board and do oversee anything after Rh1.
So please tell me what do you exactly play in these lines?
Best regards from Germany
Jochen
Jochen –
What about 1…Ne4+ 2.Kf4 Nc3 3.Kg5 Kg7 4.Rh1 Ne4+ 5.Kf4 Rxf5+?
Thanks ano, 7:55 that really looks good. Same sacrifze to get the fork as in my line (1. -, Nh5?!) but of course much stronger with the pawn on e2 still alive.
After Rxf5+ white of course can try Kxe4 instead but then simply Re1 wins. Very nice!
I do not see any good alternatives to Rh1 maybe the waiting move 4. Rg1!? may make it a little harder for black but Re8 5. Rh1, Ne4+ 6. Kf4, Kf6 7. Rh7, Nd6 seem to be sufficient (and probably there are other winning lines).
Okay, you convinced me, the ‘simple’ Nf6-Ne4+-Nc3 maneuver seems to make black’s day. 🙂
Best regards
Jochen
1…Ne4 2 Kf4 Nc3 3 Kg5 Rd8 4 Rc1 Nd1 wins. I can not see any good defense for White.
-Justin Daniel