Even the simplest of endgames can be a bit tricky: #1

Here is an endgame puzzle I composed. This totally could happen in an actual game.

This is not a hard puzzle from my view, but it is something everyone should know.

 I think by the end of the puzzle, you will understand what's the point of the puzzle.

I guess wrong bishop is the point.

Nah, the point is to pervent the king reaching a1, while collecting the b-pawn.

Well, the king reaching a1 wouldn't matter if black had the right bishop.

Yes, that would be a trivial win.

RM, did you verify your solution using the Endgame Tablebase?  I think you will find that there are several improvements available.

For instance, 4.Be4 is fastest.

did you read the PGN?

You created this as a puzzle, but leave the BEST solution as a note in the PGN?

Actually, the print is too small for me to read the pgn, so I've copied it here:

[Date "????.??.??"]

[Result "*"]

[FEN "8/p6b/2k5/8/8/8/1P1K4/8 b - - 0 1"]

1...Kb5! { if Kc5, white plays Kc3 followed by b4, black draws since he can now go in the corner. } 2.Kc3 Ka4 { this puts white in a tight spot, Ka4 is forced because white was threatening b3 followed by going to the corner. } 3.b4 { b3 doesnt change much, and Kc4 loses to a pretty line. } ( 3.Kc4 Bg8+ 4.Kc3 a5 5.Kc2 Bh7+ 6.Kc3 Bd3! { and white loses. } ) 3...Ka3 4.b5 { Kc4 is a bit shorter and easier for black. } ( 4.Kc4 a6 5.Kc3 Be4 6.Kc4 Kb2 7.Kd4 Kb3 8.Kc5 Kc3 9.Kb6 Bd3 ) 4...Bg8 { Black has other ways to win, I just pick the prettiest line. } ( 4...Be4 5.Kd4 Bf3 6.Kc4 Bg2 { black just gives white free moves. } 7.Kc5 Ka4 8.Kc4 Bf1+ 9.Kc3 Ka3! 10.Kc2 Ka2 { a very fitting end to this line. } ) 5.Kc2 Ba2 { and the idea...you may say? } 6.Kc3 Bb3 7.Kd3 Bd1 { a very pretty move, notice Ka4/Kb4 is met by Kc3 and white has to go back. } 8.Kc4 Bf3 9.Kd4 Kb3 { everything wins now bascically. } 10.Kd3 Bg2 { wasting one more move. } ( 10...Kb4?? 11.Kc2 { white draws, reaches the corner. } ) 11.Kd2 Be4 12.Kc1 Bd3 13.Kd1 Bxb5 14.Kc1 Bd3 { and the a-pawn promotes. } 

*

Okay mr.sphinx >…<

Randomemory nothing personal BUT the best solution should be given as the main line. Alternate, longer or incorrect moves are always shown as "sidelines" in every endgame book I've seen. Anyways...it's good you did your own analysis even if it wasn't perfect!

Your puzzle illustrates an endgame motif known as "the impotent pair" namely K+B+RP vs K when the Bishop doesn't control the queening square. It's important to be able to recognize the potential for this occuring even with several more pieces/pawns on the bd, esp if you're losing! I actually salvaged a tnmt game being a piece down by recognizing this possibility in a USCF Team CH Tnmt many moons ago.

Very nice puzzle, RM. tricky one.