2026/05/09 DPA: "And The Kitchen Sink!"

White to move:

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This is going to be a sheer calculation solution.

I know that a King can hold off 3 connected passed pawns on the 3rd rank:  if it's an inverted V formation [pawns on e2/f3/g2], the King can plant itself in the hole at f2 and wait for the opponent to move a pawn.

If it's a V formation [pawns on e3/f2/g3], the White King waits on f1 and captures either wing pawn that moves.

What the solo King can NOT stop is the V formation with a pawn or King or Bishop on f3 because then all escape squares are covered and checkmate will come with ... e2# or ... g2#.

Let's say White captures Black's Rook [it doesn't matter for now whether he uses the pawn or the Rook].

Let's also say that Black gets 3 moves:  he'll play 1. ... f2, 2. ... f3, and 3. ... e2# or ... g2#.

I think capturing with the Rook loses because the pawn is two squares from promotion vs 1 if the pawn captures.

1. Rxg7 f2. 2. Rg4 [hoping to capture the f4 pawn, which will win] Kf5. 3. Rxf4 Kxf4. 4. h7 Kf3. 5. h8(=Q) e/g2#.

If 3. h7 Kxf4. 4. h8(=Q) f3:  I'm not sure White can win this.

And would this be a candidate puzzle solution since it would either take several more moves to get closure or it would have to end about here and lack closure?

Let's look at the alternative:  1. gxh7, which brings the pawn 1 square from promotion:

• A) 1. ... Kf7 [to prevent safe promotion but which draws the King away from his pawns]  2. Rh4 and the critical f4 pawn will fall and if Black pushes ... f2, White can gain a tempo with Rxf4+
• B) 1. ... f2   2. g8(=Q) f3 and now either Rook or Queen check on the f file will win the f3 pawn.
• C) 1. ... g2+ [1. ... e2 will be symmetrical]. 2. Kg1:
  • 1) 2. ... f2+. 3. Kxg2
  • 2) 2. ... e2. 3. Kf2
  • 3) 2. ... Kf7. 3. Rh4 Kxg7. 4. Rxf4
    • a) 3. ... f2+  4. Kxg2 f3+. 5. Kf1 [not 5. Kf3 f1(=Q)+] and White's King can hold the fort.

I think the puzzle will feature C3a since it gives White more chances to err.

This seems a lot more straightforward so unless I can find a flaw, this must be it even if I can't definitively prove 1. Rxg7 does not win.

Yeah, the only chance for Black is the f2 + f3 push for checkmate.  Using a flank pawn [e or g] allows the King to block that pawn and wait for the Rook.

No, I was wrong:  the King cannot hold off the inverted V if the pawns are on the 2nd and 3rd rank [the pawns must be further away from promotion].  Terrible oversight on my part.  I did foresee everything after move 1 [the puzzle used the e pawn rather than the g pawn but the idea is the same].

And, using the analysis tool, I see why 1. Rxg7 f2 works but it didn't come until the 4th move.

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The key for me would have been A) to realize the King could not stop the inverted V formation when it's this far advanced; and B) to correctly calculate how 1. ... f2 could be stopped [saccing the Rook for the g3 pawn, not the f4 pawn].  I didn't do either although I did calculate how to win after a check by either e or g pawn.

1. Rxg7 e2+ [see analysis at the end for 1. ... f2 <the more difficult idea to refute, in my opinion>] wins the Rook but allows Black's pawn mass to mobilize.

2. Ke1 blocks the e pawn but 2. ... f2+ continues the attack.

3. Kxe2 since the pawn is now undefended.  3. ... f3+, the crux of this variation.

4. Kf1! and now the pawns cannot progress.  4. Kxf3?? f1(=Q)+ and Black wins.

5. Kxf2 and the threat is over.

Challenging puzzle by @D_Jinny!