A well-known position, but is it actually possible?

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Avatar of vincent_pang

99% Chance I am wrong! :P

I have seen this position in many places, and it has always stated the black to move is stalemate and that white to move was a win for white. But can it be white's move?

If it is white's turn to make a move, that means the black king must've made a move beforehand, but where would it have moved from? The white king can't check it and force it to move, and the pawn can't've been moved from a rank below it because that is where that king now resides.
Help??
Avatar of Martin_Stahl

I think most of the time I have seen that position it is actually with the white King one file over from that position. Then if it is White to move it is a draw and Black to move it is a win for White.

As that diagram stands, you are a correct.

Avatar of vincent_pang

Ah I see. That makes alot of sense now. :D

Thanks

Avatar of Ziryab

Black to move will reach the position given in the first post. White to move wins.

Avatar of vincent_pang

Sorry for having to ask this, but how? Even, if black and white are cooperating?

Thanks again,

Vincent

Avatar of crisy

vincent, are you asking how W wins from the position in #4? By playing e7, and B's K has to go to f7, and W's Kd7 enables the p to reach e8 and promote. The principle I read somewhere is 'quietly onto the 7th rank'. If W plays their p to the 7th and gives check, then B can get their K onto the queening square and draw. If the pawn move to the 7th doesn't give check, then W wins.

Avatar of marvellosity

People are misunderstanding vincent, who in turn is somewhat misunderstanding Ziryab.

vincent: in Ziryab's post, he is saying that from the position he posted White to move wins with 1.e7 Kf7 2.Kd7, while Black to move will reach the stalemate position after 1...Kd8 2.e7+ Ke8 3.Ke6 draw.

You are correct that in the position you posted in your original post that it cannot be White to move for the reasons you described.

Avatar of vincent_pang

Ah I see now.

Thank you very much Marvellosity,

Vincent

Avatar of PrawnEatsPrawn

Avatar of vincent_pang

Very nice! So, it is possible.

Thanks again,

Vincent

Avatar of AMcHarg
This position is totally won for white.
Avatar of Tyzer

Uh, that was exactly what he said in the first post. But yeah, it's a rather unlikely position if it's white to move.

Avatar of vincent_pang

Thanks, to all of you guys,

Vincent

Avatar of 64_block_square

hmm not very possible for a smart game

Avatar of Martin_Stahl

Well .... it is possible Surprised

Guess that's just one more proof that I need a lot of work on my chess. I never even thought of situations like those shown.

Avatar of vincent_pang

Thanks for the posts you guys. Is there a position like that where it was forced? Because if white didn't comply, it was a stalemate anyway?

Avatar of vincent_pang

If you type chess into google and click 'I'm feeling lucky' you get directed to Chess.com!

Avatar of mf92
vincent_pang wrote:

If you type chess into google and click 'I'm feeling lucky' you get directed to Chess.com!


genious!!

Avatar of PrawnEatsPrawn
Avatar of vincent_pang

I like it!