White to move. Can White hold this position?
8/P7/8/1pK5/1P5p/5b2/5P1P/6k1 w – – 0 1
N. Ryabinin 1991, presented by Andreas
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
- About Us
- Chess Improvement
- Chess Puzzles
- Chess Research
- College Chess
- General News
- Home
- Major Tournaments
- News
- Polgar Events
- Privacy Policy
- Scholastic Chess
- SPICE / Webster
- Susan’s Personal Blog
- Track your order
- USA Chess
- Videos
- Women’s Chess
- Contact Us
- Daily News
- My Account
- Terms & Conditions
- Privacy Policy
I think White draws with 1 h3. If White plays 1 Kxb5 immediately we reach a position where White plays b7 (with WK on a6). Black plays …Bxb7+ and h1/Q+. Then using a series of checks he forces the position with BQ on b6 and WK on b8. White has to play Ka8 and then Qc7-c8 mates, as White still has moves with the f-pawn.
If White plays 1 h3 however, after Black takes it he cannot go …Kg2 as then h1/Q would not be with check. So he has to go …Kg4 but then on the eventual b7 Bxb7+ Kxb7 h1/Q+, White has f3+! If Q takes the stalemate defense draws, if any other move White queens.
Sorry, but I didn’t follow that at all. Could you please elaborate with some concrete variations?
I followed it, probably because I came to the same conclusion. The lines are long, but pretty simple.
The descriptive solution given by anon [September 21, 2008 9:37:00 PM] is absolutely correct.
1.h3! so as later white can rid of the f-pawn (by giving check) thus leading to a drawish position.
Pharaoh
For the benefit of anon (September 22, 2008 3:39:00 AM CDT) here are the actual variations I left out:
First, 1. Kxb5 loses because after 1… Kxh2 2. Ka6 Kg1
3. b5 h3 4. b6 h2 5. b7 Bxb7+ 6. Kxb7 h1=Q+ there is no stalemate defense: 7.Kb8 Qh8+ 8. Kb7 Qh7+ 9. Kb8 Qg8+ 10. Kb7 Qd5+ 11. Kb8 Qb5+ 12. Kc7 Qa6 13. Kb8 Qb6+ 14. Ka8
Qc7 15. f4 Qc8#
So White instead plays 1. h3 Kh2 2 Kxb5 Kxh3 3. Ka6 Kg4
(3… Kg2 blocks the diagonal: 4.
b5 h3 5.b6 h2 6. b7 Bxb7+ 7. Kxb7
h1=Q is not with check so 8. a8=Q)
Now back to the main line: 4. b5 h3 5. b6 h2 6. b7 Bxb7+ 7. Kxb7 h1=Q+ and now 8. f3+! Qxf3+ is drawn because of the stalemate defense; this time White has no extra pawn moves.
(8… Kxf3 9. a8=Q also drawn)
Much clearer now, thanks!