White to move. How should White proceed?
8/8/1p1k4/4p2R/8/3P3p/pPK5/3B4 w – – 0 1
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Rh6+ Kc5
b4+ Kxb4
Kb2
Rh6+ Kd5
Bf3+ Kd4
Rh4+ Kc5
Ra4
Rh6+ Kc7
Rh7+ Kb8
Rh8+ Ka7
Bf3 a1
Ra8++
a few variations depending where the king runs..
Rh6+, then depending on the response, followed by b4+ (with the K getting to b2) or eventually Bf3 allowing the R to get to the a-file with effect, while also allowing enough time to stop the h pawn.
duh – Rh6 keep checking with everything until you can
cover a1 with a B, K or R
RH6+.
If K to 7th, then RH7+ and Ra7.
If Kc5, then b4+ and Kb2.
If Kd5, then Bf3+, etc.
This pattern is indeed funny.
1. Rh6+ *
*
if 1…. Kc5, 2. b4+ and 3. Kb2
*
or if 1. … Kd5 2. Bf3+ **
** now if 2…Kc5 3. b4+ and 4. Kb2
** or if
2… Kd4
3. Rh4+ Ke3
4. Ra4 Kxf3
5. Rxa2 h2
6. Ra1 Kg2
7. Kd2 h1(Q)
8. Rxh1 Kxh1
9. Ke3 wins
*
or if (after 1. Ra6+)
1. … Kc7
2. Rh7+ Kb8
3. Rh8+ Ka7
4. Bf3 a1(Q)
5. Ra8+ wins
b4 maybe?
1.Rh6+ Kd5 (1..Kc7 2.Rh7+ Kb8 3.Rh8+ Ka7 4.Bf3 , 1..Kc5 2.b4+ and Kb2 )
2. Rh8! a1=Q 2.Ra8! h2 3.Bf3+ winning
Very cute!
1. Rh6+ Kd5 (if …Kc5, 2. b4+ and 3. Kb2 mops up, if the king moves to the 7th rank, Rh7+ eventually gets the R to the a-file with the aid of Bf3+) 2. Rh8 a1Q 3. Ra8 Q:a8 4. Bf3+ and the resulting ending is an easy win for White.
1. Rh6+ is straightforward. But after 1 .. Kd5 wrong would be 2. Bf3+ at once. Better is Rh8.
Explicative line:
1. Rh6+ .. Kd5
2. Rh8 .. a1/Q (or Ra8 will snatch all balck pawns)
3. Ra8 .. Qxa8
4. Bf3
White can win by
1.Rh6+
if Kc5 2.b4+ Kxb4 3.Kb2 wins pawn a2
if Kd5 2. Bf3+ Kd4 3. Rh4+ Ke3 4. Ra4 wins pawn a2 and the endgame after 4 .. Kxf3 5. Rxa2 h2 6. Ra1 Kg2 7.Kd2 h1Q 8.Rxh1 Kxh1 9.Ke3 Kg2
10. Ke4
if Ke7, Kd7, 2.Ra7 wins pawn a2
if Kc7 2.Rh7+ Kb8 2.Rh8+ Ka7/Kb7 3.Bf3, followed by 4.Ra8
Ok, i’ll explain more thoroughly why Bf3 on the reply Kd5 doesn’t work:
1. Rh6+ .. Kd5 (Kc5 is just too simple)
2. Bf3? .. e4! and now what? The trick of bringing the rook on a8 doesn’t work anymore, ’cause the first rank now is free!
well consul after 1.Rh6, Kd5, 2.Bf3 is not playable. Neither 2.Rh8 as after 2…Qa1, 3.Ra8, Q should not have to take the a8 rook, it can easily escape. The correct way is to create a mating threat i.e. 2.Kc3 and now if 2…a=Q then 3.Bb3++ check mate.
shyamalram – after 1.Rh6+ Kd5 2. Rh8 a1Q 3. Ra8, just where would you suggest Black move his Q to?
Anywhere on the a-file except Q:a8 loses the Q to capture by the rook. The pawn b2 prevents the Q from moving on the diagonal, and the Kc2 not only guards the b-pawn but also the Bd1 which prevents the Q from moving farther along the first rank than White’s K can get to to capture it.
That is the true beauty of the position. Too bad you missed it.
1.Rh6+ Kd5
2.Bf3+? e4!
good answers, though.
(Tapionlinna, Helsingin Sanomat, 1929)