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How can white save the game?
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.
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)
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).
IM dinesh501
i have seen similar position like that
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Loomis and what is the other move which also draws?
lizhenyang
The endgame is very instructive!!
Black has two pawn!!!
But it is A DRAW!!!
Thanks for the nice (but easy) endgame quiz!
The final move for white is not the only move that draws.
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!
AlexiShirov
And if Black plays Kf7 THEN B×g7!! .......... DRAW by force :)
F22Raptor
nice one. Good lesson in using famous drawing methods in practical pla.
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
George Santayana
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.
overlived
nice, i'm not so good setting up those draws. took me a bit, thanks. ^_^
LeeCooper78
Sweet one. Bishop of the 'wrong' color...
JuraldoSlovenia
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