What is your favorite endgame position

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n9531l
Trexler3241 wrote:
 

[Solution attempt for #51]

This line draws after 3...bxa4.

Trexler3241

The black king should not move to the 2nd rank, therefore we can move the king.

(White text)

3.Kg7 Kd4 4.Kf6 Kc3 5.Ke5 b4 6.a4

n9531l

Correct. What happens after 2...Kxc2 3. a4 b4 4. a5 Kxb3 5. a6 Kc2?

Trexler3241

This is not a rook pawn, neither does taking it possibly result in stalemate.

 

n9531l

Correct. The lesson for the beginner from this position is that to win, White must arrange for Black's pawn on the 7th rank to be a knight pawn, not a rook or bishop pawn.

(You could have saved some typing after the promotion by simply saying, And White has a book mate in 21.)

Trexler3241

 

n9531l
Trexler3241 wrote:
 

[A 5-man ending]

Before the 3rd move, White had a mate in 20 going. 3. Ba6+ makes the mate two moves longer. It wouldn't really matter, unless the stipulation had been White to play and mate in 20.

Trexler3241

I’m not sure if all B+N vs P endgames are a win for the Bishop and knight...

Trexler3241

I mean not the pawn on the second rank.

n9531l
Trexler3241 wrote:

I’m not sure if all B+N vs P endgames are a win for the Bishop and knight...

Not all are, but in this one, White to play can mate in 34.

Trexler3241

 

fried_liver-attack

La Bourdonnais' picnic

n9531l
Trexler3241 wrote:

[Example of poor play by White]

4. Kc4 draws.  4. Rd8+ wins easily.

n9531l
rychessmaster1 wrote:
[P vs B+N]
Some could even be a win for the pawn

 

True, but it could take a while. In your position, with White to move and best play by both sides, Black will mate in 39.

Trexler3241

What would black do next to prolong mate?

n9531l
Trexler3241 wrote:

What would black do next to prolong mate?

All three of Black's legal moves draw. Does that count as prolonging mate?

blueemu
ThrillerFan wrote:

Epilette Mate

Epaulette mate. Epaulettes are those shoulder-tabs worn with a uniform. The chess term comes from the arrangement of obstructing pieces, one on each of the mated King's "shoulders".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epaulette

GMPatzer
 
Rook Pawn White to move and no Stalemate?

 

n9531l
GMPatzer wrote:
 
Rook Pawn White to move and no Stalemate?

 

I like to put the black king at h2 and ask my friends if Black to play can win. They usually misguess it's a draw.

FuzzleOIL

What is your favorite endgame position?

A winning one. trophies.png