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An Endgame Study

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29th May 2009, 12:50pm
#1
by Nytik
Southampton United Kingdom
Member Since: May 2008
Member Points: 5828

I have happened upon a kind of database full of endgame studies, and here I endeavour to share one with you. Feel free to post any comments and ideas below. It is intended to be a diagram, rather than a puzzle, to encourage active participation rather than people clicking 'hint' and then saying 'tricky puzzle' in a quick comment. Good luck!

30th May 2009, 01:41am
#2
by kco
Perth Australia
Member Since: Jun 2008
Member Points: 23226

1.h5  ....? not sure what black will do from here ?

I think 1.Nc4 is better ...Ng4
           2.h5 

30th May 2009, 12:51pm
#3
by kauka
Bucuresti Romania
Member Since: May 2009
Member Points: 2916

I think first move should be Knight's, most likely Nc3 rather than Nb5 (Nc4 is out of question, since the black can have his draw just by exchanging the knights).

However I can't see a clear win.

That's the spirit of a study - the most impressive move occurs at second or third move. :)

30th May 2009, 02:37pm
#4
by Nytik
Southampton United Kingdom
Member Since: May 2008
Member Points: 5828

Yes, Kauka, but you have to be able to reach the position with the spectacular moves! Try thinking your way through, also considering blacks best responses. In essence, what would YOU play in this position?

31st May 2009, 10:49pm
#5
by peterkirby
Fullerton, CA United States
Member Since: May 2008
Member Points: 160

I see this possibly happening:

1. Kd2 Ng4

Moving the White King closer to the right of the board where it is needed (not Kd4 which would disallow the King protecting f2 later in another move), Black saving and repositioning the Black Knight to a place where it can have some effect in the hot area of the passed pawns.

2. Bc6+

If the f2 square is reached by the Black Knight, it would attack the Bishop and protect the Queening square. (Result being either the win of the Bishop for the Black Pawn or, worse, the promotion of the Black Pawn to a Black Queen after the exchange of Knight for Bishop.) This move retreats the White Bishop to safety from that threat and buys some time by forcing a King move.

2. ... Kf7

Gets the Black King closer to the passed White Pawn.

3. Ke2

Protects the f2 square from being used by the Black Knight to protect the Queening square for the passed Black Pawn.

3. ... Kg6

Again the Black King gets closer to the passed White Pawn.

4. Be8+

Black threatens Kh5 and capture of the White Pawn. This moves prevents that.

4. ... Kf5

Allows the Black King to cover the Black Knight and get closer to the action.

5. Bc6

Forced at this point, to prevent the Pawn from Queening (another check just gives the Black King another move).

5. ... Kf4

The Black King once again gets closer to the pawns.

... well, I have far (by a mile) outstripped by analytical skills ... and I seem to be playing Black better than White ... if there is a win for White, I have failed to achieve it clearly in 5 moves. This is no surprise because I am not a strong enough player to do that. If I were to revisit this position, I would use a computer for help.

Here's what it looks like after my tomfoolery.

I was surprised by the amount of resources potentially

available to Black.

1st June 2009, 05:04am
#6
by Nytik
Southampton United Kingdom
Member Since: May 2008
Member Points: 5828

Matalino- There is a solution, the challenge is to find it. I have the solution along with the problem.

Peterkirby- The problem after 1. Kd2 is 1... Kf7 2. Ke3 Ng6 3. h5 Ne5 4. Kf4 Nd3+ 5. Kg3 Kg7 6. Kxh2 Nf4 7. Bf3 Kh6 with a draw:

1st June 2009, 05:14pm
#7
by peterkirby
Fullerton, CA United States
Member Since: May 2008
Member Points: 160

Perhaps 1. Nb5 or 1. Nc2. I really don't know. I had focused, as my comments indicated, on preventing the Black Knight from playing ...Nf2 and supporting the promotion of his Pawn. I would be interested in the solution that you saw.

1st June 2009, 10:29pm
#8
by yeres30
Waipahu, Hawaii United States
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 1349
Nytik wrote:

Matalino- There is a solution, the challenge is to find it. I have the solution along with the problem.

Peterkirby- The problem after 1. Kd2 is 1... Kf7 2. Ke3 Ng6 3. h5 Ne5 4. Kf4 Nd3+ 5. Kg3 Kg7 6. Kxh2 Nf4 7. Bf3 Kh6 with a draw:

REPLY:With no solution attached what you've got is not worth looking at.

 

 


1st June 2009, 10:31pm
#9
by kco
Perth Australia
Member Since: Jun 2008
Member Points: 23226

@Matalino if don't like this, then why are you responsing to this thread ?

2nd June 2009, 05:21am
#10
by Nytik
Southampton United Kingdom
Member Since: May 2008
Member Points: 5828

Matalino, would you please get off the thread? I'd say it was fairly clear that I was asking for people to attempt to find the solution, rather than me posting it myself. However, now that a few days have gone, I will post it tonight.

I didn't really see the point in just posting a study which people just look at and then leave, not learning anything.

3rd June 2009, 12:52pm
#11
by yeres30
Waipahu, Hawaii United States
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 1349
Nytik wrote:

Matalino, would you please get off the thread? I'd say it was fairly clear that I was asking for people to attempt to find the solution, rather than me posting it myself. However, now that a few days have gone, I will post it tonight.

I didn't really see the point in just posting a study which people just look at and then leave, not learning anything.

REPLY: I also said fairly clear that a chess study without a solution is not worth looking at.


3rd June 2009, 01:00pm
#12
by Nytik
Southampton United Kingdom
Member Since: May 2008
Member Points: 5828

Actually, it does exist. And here it is, as promised:

Looks like I win this round, Matalino. Wink
12th June 2009, 02:32pm
#13
by peterkirby
Fullerton, CA United States
Member Since: May 2008
Member Points: 160

Now I see the problem with what I was doing. A knight and rook pawn do count as a win for White, except in the case where the rook pawn has already advanced to the 7th rank. For some reason I assumed that applied to every rank.

12th June 2009, 02:35pm
#14
by Nytik
Southampton United Kingdom
Member Since: May 2008
Member Points: 5828
peterkirby wrote:

Now I see the problem with what I was doing. A knight and rook pawn do count as a win for White, except in the case where the rook pawn has already advanced to the 7th rank. For some reason I assumed that applied to every rank.


Ah, one of the many annoying nuances of endgames! I've always loved that fact- never silly enough to advance it to the 7th myself until the time is right, my opponents so often fall into this pitfall in such situations!!

 

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