The final position with the Black King on c8 instantly looks to me like a win. And 1 minute of calculation seems to verify it – see below. Perhaps it doesn’t look so simple to a stronger player.
1. Rxd5 cxd5 2. Kxd5 …
If 2… Kd7 3. c6+ Kd8 4. Ke6 Ke8 5. b5! +-
More promising is 2… Kb7! 3. b5 c6+ (otherwise White gets 4. c6 +- as in the previous line) 4. bxc6 Kc7 = oops!
So try 4. Kd6! cxb5 5. Kd7 +-
We lesser mortals would at least have played it out to check our analysis, since worse case is a draw.
Oops, I copied the position down wrong (without the b5 pawn!) I’m still not so sure it isn’t winning and would definitely have played the capture to find out.
Nakamura is best.
Carlsen-Aronian.
The final position with the Black King on c8 instantly looks to me like a win. And 1 minute of calculation seems to verify it – see below. Perhaps it doesn’t look so simple to a stronger player.
1. Rxd5 cxd5
2. Kxd5 …
If 2… Kd7
3. c6+ Kd8
4. Ke6 Ke8
5. b5! +-
More promising is 2… Kb7!
3. b5 c6+ (otherwise White gets 4. c6 +- as in the previous line)
4. bxc6 Kc7 = oops!
So try
4. Kd6! cxb5
5. Kd7 +-
We lesser mortals would at least have played it out to check our analysis, since worse case is a draw.
Oops, I copied the position down wrong (without the b5 pawn!) I’m still not so sure it isn’t winning and would definitely have played the capture to find out.