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A quick puzzle

How can white save the game?

Comments


  • 2 years ago

    LaskerFan

    Some people will criticize even Mona Lisa, saying her smile is defective!

    The puzzle has NO alternative solution:

    1.Re8+ Rf8 (forced) 2.Rxf8+ Kxf8 (forced) 3.Bh6!! (if black does not play 3...gxh6 white will play 4.Bxg7)

    and the game is drawn. People who cry about the next move just expose their ignorance of the game! The next moves are inconsequential.

  • 2 years ago

    browni3141

    "Puzzles are only good when the answer is the only move." -Loomis

    I must say I strongly disagree with that. Puzzles with alternate solutions are usually no good, but there are exceptions, and I think this puzzle is one of them, (as long as the composer allows for the alternates in the puzzle)

  • 2 years ago

    IM Juraldo

    @Loomis: There was a misunderstanding with the move numbers. I agree Kh1 is not the only move, but i wanted to underline the importance of square h1 ( black is not able to attack it).

  • 2 years ago

    IM dinesh501

    i have seen similar position like that

  • 2 years ago

    Loomis

    Juraldo, sorry, you numbered the moves starting with 0 instead of 1. So you have the solution as 0. Re8+ Rf8 1. Rxf8+ Kxf8 2. Bh6 gxh6 3. Kh1

    Forget the numbers, the move Kh1, the last move of the puzzle, is not a unique solution, Kh2 at this point also draws.

  • 2 years ago

    IM Juraldo

    Black is easily winning if white does not play 3.Bh6. Check with computer. The h1 square is crucial. Black can check whites king on h2 and g1 squares when he forces pawns to h3 and g2.

  • 2 years ago

    Loomis

    Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. Further, white can continue to defend the h1 square by playing Kh2 or Kh3, Kh1 is not the only move that draws. It's a reasonable move, and an instructive move, but it's not the only move. Puzzles are only good when the answer is the only move.

  • 2 years ago

    IM Juraldo

    The point of the final position bishop+h pawns is that black cant force white king to leave the defence of the h1 square (g1,g2,h1,h2) but with two passed pawns black is winning (g2 will later force white to leave h1) and black is easily winning.

  • 2 years ago

    Loomis

    Any third move by white maintains the draw. 3. Kh2 for example, black still can't get the white king permanently off the h-file. Since black's pieces are so far away, the white king isn't in any hurry. 3. Kf3 the white king still has time to go to the h-file.

  • 2 years ago

    IM Juraldo

    Loomis and what is the other move which also draws? 

  • 2 years ago

    lizhenyang

    The endgame is very instructive!!

    Black has two pawn!!!

    But it is A DRAW!!!

  • 2 years ago

    LaskerFan

    Thanks for the nice (but easy) endgame quiz!

  • 2 years ago

    Loomis

    The final move for white is not the only move that draws. 

  • 2 years ago

    diagonal

    The end game maneuvering strategy of sacrificing to gain pawn or doubling pawns on rook file that is opposite of opponent's bishop is key drawing maneuver, which is often not discover by players at all rating in opposite bishop ending. Nice!

  • 2 years ago

    AlexiShirov

    And if Black plays Kf7 THEN B×g7!! .......... DRAW by force :)

  • 2 years ago

    F22Raptor

    nice one. Good lesson in using famous drawing methods in practical pla.

  • 2 years ago

    NimzoRoy

    Very instructive for anyone who has never heard of the "impotent pair" ie K+B+RP vs K when the B doesn't control the queening square. In this case it is an "impotent trio" but the principle still applies

    Man is as full of potentiality as he is of impotence

     George Santayana

  • 2 years ago

    AnlamK

    Interesting puzzle. Note that Bh6 pins the pawn at g7 so if Black does something else instead of ...gxh6, White will just play Bxg7 and still setup a draw.

  • 2 years ago

    overlived

    nice, i'm not so good setting up those draws. took me a bit, thanks. ^_^

  • 2 years ago

    LeeCooper78

    Sweet one. Bishop of the 'wrong' color...

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