Unwinnable Game?

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Avatar of tfeledy

White to move - can this game be won by either side?

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Avatar of Martin_Stahl

Black is up a knight and should be able to convert it to a win I would think.

Avatar of tfeledy

I would think so, too. But the question is how?

Black seems unable to get at White's King, guarded by those 3 pawns, without risking attack on the Black King. What Knight attack can Black launch that would not result in immediate loss of the piece?

Avatar of StarlightFantasy

Doesn't matter if black can't get at the king--the white rooks are pinned down to prevention of the pawn being pushed to promotion. Getting the knight over while holding the white king should probably end in black's promotion.

Avatar of Martin_Stahl

The basic idea would be to trade off the rooks and the win one or more of the pawns with the knight after activating the king. It may even be possible to force a beneficial exchange utilizing the knight to threaten to push the b-pawn.

 

It is always possible white has enough resources to hold a draw but I certainly would look for a win if I was playing black.

Avatar of blueemu

Move the Knight across to guard the Pawn. Then play the Rook down from a6 to a7. Then push the Pawn to b7. Then move the Knight to kick the enemy Rook off of b8. Then promote the Pawn.

Avatar of Areliae

The answer is simply to get the knight over to the queenside to help push the pawn. White has no active plan unless black moves his rooks needlessly. This is a 100% win.

Avatar of Areliae

For example, my plan is to go Nd4 Nf5 Nh4 g2 Rh1 if they move their other rook to the back rank I play Rxg1 and after recaptures I play Nf3 followed by g1=Q.

Avatar of pfren

Yes, this game may not be won by Black.

But to achieve this a great effort (...by Black, White cannot do much) is required.