End Game

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5th January 2009, 05:57pm
#1
by RWBal
Pittsburgh United States
Member Since: Nov 2007
Member Points: 74

Can anyone possibly offer insight as to who should win this game, or at least who has the advantage, had we each been strong end game players?

Thanks for your help.

5th January 2009, 06:06pm
#2
by RyanMK
Iowa United States
Member Since: Jun 2008
Member Points: 2241

I like white's chances, however with good play by both i think it's a draw.

5th January 2009, 06:15pm
#3
by KillaBeez
Kansas United States
Member Since: Jan 2008
Member Points: 4047

This is a really easy win for White.  Ke3 forces the rook to move and then White plays f4+ with getting the pawns rolling with a discovered attack on h5.

5th January 2009, 06:16pm
#4
by DimKnight
Connecticut United States
Member Since: Mar 2008
Member Points: 344

This is a tough call. White has some immediate resources that look to bring an advantage: 1 Ke3 drives away the rook and allows 2 f4+ with some simplification. Consider this line, which seems natural enough:

Unfortunately, the resulting position (according to the tablebases) is a draw, and not surprisingly. White's king is cut off from the promotion drive, and it will be almost impossible for the single-color bishop to advance the pawns on his own.

5th January 2009, 06:24pm
#5
by bondiggity
United States
Member Since: Jun 2008
Member Points: 1515
KillaBeez wrote:

This is a really easy win for White.  Ke3 forces the rook to move and then White plays f4+ with getting the pawns rolling with a discovered attack on h5.


That line leads to a draw:

 

5th January 2009, 06:32pm
#6
by KillaBeez
Kansas United States
Member Since: Jan 2008
Member Points: 4047

Wow.  It looks like a win and it looks like Fritz is giving White a decisive edge here, but apparently White can't break through with accurate play.  Although if you are playing a human, you should definitely play on.

6th January 2009, 03:28am
#7
by DimKnight
Connecticut United States
Member Since: Mar 2008
Member Points: 344
KillaBeez wrote:

if you are playing a human, you should definitely play on.


Yes, clearly white has all the winning chances here, and there is little risk in playing on (unless you blunder away the pawns--in which case hold onto that bishop for dear life).

As a quick addendum I was wondering what would happen if instead of the Kf2 retreat white jumped ahead of the rook with Kd4. The result is still, according to the tablebases, a draw. The checking power of the rook is simply too much to overcome:

6th January 2009, 04:28am
#8
by RWBal
Pittsburgh United States
Member Since: Nov 2007
Member Points: 74

Thanks for the info all - based on what I have read I feel comfortable with my draw decision.

 

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