....I played this one earlier today. I was White.
Help !!....Can White force a Win ?
Ne2 seems to take care of things for white and secure the win. If black throws bb5 in, white can always just immediately play kg1 (if needed). Looks like an easy win to me unless playing speed chess.
The line you give is interesting, but white seems to retain a winning advantage after the fireworks. In your final position, ke2, nxq (black's queen is pinned so there is really nothing else), qxq, nxq, kxr and white is up an exchange in a relatively routine type of endgame. Black does have a passer, but it doesn't look dangerous enough to compensate for the material.
I was looking for a nice in-between move for black somewhere to send me packing. But right now ?....I can't find it.
Also, isn't Black just losing after 1...f2 2.Qb8?
For example: 2...Kd7 (2...f1=Q+ 3.Rxf1 Rxf1+ 4.Kd2 +-) 3.Qxc8+ Rxc8 4.a8=Q Rxa8 5.Rxa8 f1=Q+ 6.Rxf1 Nxf1 7.Rh8 and the h-pawn falls, not only putting White up the exchange, but a pawn as well!
I'll hafta look at that one TF. I thought of Qb8 (after the game) but gave it the heaveho 'cuz I thought it was slower than a8(Q).
Now I'll hafta go over your stringa moves starting w/ 2....Kd7.
Thanx !
I'll hafta look at that one TF. I thought of Qb8 (after the game) but gave it the heaveho 'cuz I thought it was slower than a8(Q).
Now I'll hafta go over your stringa moves starting w/ 2....Kd7.
Thanx !
There are other follow-ups to look at, but I do see how Black can hold on to the pawn, but it forces his King to the back rank I believe if he tries to.
After the line given in post 9, Black has 7...h6 8.Rh7 (8...Rxh6?? drops the rook to a Fork as the Knight has moved from e3) and now White threatens 9.Kd1 and 10.Rxh6. The Bishop is pinned, so it can't go to g5, and of course Black can't advance the pawn as White will just take it. So the only way to salvage the pawn is to unpin the King via going to the back rank. If he goes to the 6th rank, White can take on h6 because it's with check! He as time to avoid the fork.
That said, I still thing White wins fairly easily, just takes a little work to win the h-pawn, and if the King goes towards the Rook, White can go after the weak c-pawn and/or d-pawn and transfer the King to the h-file.
At first I was considering blocking the pawn with the rook, but that looks like it resolves into a close endgame - so I think the better continuation might be 1. ... f2 2. Nd2 rather than queening the pawn.
1. ... f2 2. Rf1 Bg5 3. a8=Q Nc4+ 4. Kd1 Nxb6 5. Qxc8+ Nxc8 6. Ke2 Bh4 7. Nc5 Ke7 8. Nd3
or, rather:
1. ... f2 2. Nd2 Bg5 (2... f1=Q+ 3. Rxf1) (2... Qa8 3. Qb8+ (3. Qc7) 3... Kd7 4. Qg3) 3. Kb1 (3. Qxc6+ Qxc6 4. a8=Q+ Qxa8 5. Rxa8+ Kf7 6. Rxf8+ Kxf8 7. Kb1)
This all started when Black resigned to me after I moved a7, but I thought they still had lotsa counterplay left for both of us to work out.
Altho' a quick look after the game was over seemed like White was better. I just don't know how they figured that they were lost so fast. I mean the decision was almost instantly after I played a7.
And that's why I made this thread - to see if someone saw a way to turn it around for Black.
@ thegreatauk, actually your line is losing for white after 3 Qb8?? Kd7, whereas 3 a8=Q is still winning.
2 Nd2 has been proposed above and is the best and most logical move. I just want to remove the new queen on f1 by returning the lowest amount of material possible and then queen on a8.
Well, you guys are starting to go past me now. But I encourage anyone to keep going on the analysis....
....it seemed pretty rich yesterday. Now it feels even richer !
I'm really interested in chinnu_k's #12. IOW's, what Stockfish says (since I don't have it).
And a special TYVM for #15....and #16 too !
Something tells me that maybe an ultraquiet move like Kb1 after ....f2 should be looked at....& using the Kn at b3 to do a block.
It's that darn escape square for Black's King at f7 that I'm trying to cover. But it could be done w/ the hyperresourceful Rxh7+.
Something tells me that maybe an ultraquiet move like Kb1 after ....f2 should be looked at....& using the Kn at b3 to do a block.
It's that darn escape square for Black's King at f7 that I'm trying to cover. But it could be done w/ the hyperresourceful Rxh7+.
So, we are awaiting your analysis. At least you should participate in analyzing your game instead of just pointing people to a direction and let them do the job for you.
Btw, the poor engine slaves might have a problem with the position as you posted the FEN with white to move....
Black resigned here, but I think they can hold stuff w/:
....f2
a8(Q)....f1(Q)+
RxQ ....RxR+
Kd2 ....Nc4+