Endgame Puzzle #2

hey guys,

here is the second puzzle from my book.

and, im gonna change the rules a bit: ALL anwsers have to be with white and im gonna post the anwser on the next puzzle, mkay?

A) For the draw, white has to play 1. Bb1

B) For the draw, white has to play 1. Bc4

C) Both moves loose

B

Well if we play Bb1 when the B K arrives @ b2 the bishop has nowhere to go.

Comparatively Bc4 saves a tempo and tempi are very important in this particular situation

Now the Black King eventually can get a tempo on the bishop, and it will need 5 moves to b2 

At the same time the White King uses four moves to get to d4 and White uses 2 bishop moves

so now Black push 6. ... a2 7. Bxa2 Kxa2 8. Kc3 draw

Looks like B to me.

ummm, you will have to give analysis to prove your anwser...

Um, 1.Bc4 Kf4 2.Kg7 Ke5 3.Bg8! (key move - White doesn't waste a tempo on a non-long-diagonal king move, and moves his bishop which will have to move next go anyway) 3...Kd4 4.Kf6 Kc3 5.Ke5 Kb2 6.Kd4 a2 7.Bxa2 Kxa2 8.Kc3 =

I follow you here... ( sorta ).  Haven't analyzed it fully 'cause all I see is that Black will always have the opportunity to get his king down to help one pawn get promoted.  I say both moves lose.

White Bishop could spend all the time in the world on that diagonal while Black King steps over to help out...perhaps once allowing himself to be checked during the pawn promotion.

Well the bishop really can retreat to any where from e6 to g8

Good puzzle and thanks.  White's best and I think he can do it is Bc4.

There are obviously many posibilities, but this is what white is going for.

Excuse me marvelosity, I felt like figuring it out before reading the posts.  It looks like I plagiarized you.

It ain't plagiarism if you came to the same conclusion with your own noggin, no worries :)

To contribute something unique for less strong players, the final position in the diagram above is a draw because (4 possibilities -- my or marvellosity's numbering)

#1 and #2

8...Ka1 or Kb1

9 Kb4 and takes pawn next move.

#3

8...a3

9Kb2 Ka1

10 Kb1 etc keeps black king blocking his pawn

#4

and you have stalemate.

I made the moves a bit redundant for clarity.

well, lots of responses here, but I would like you guys to write the anwsers in white color (highlight the word between in and color)

I see and sorry to have been among those to mess up your system.  Should I delete my posts?  It seems silly now, but will do so if requested.

no escapest pawn, dont worry...its only the second puzzle and so its acceptable :)