The Problem Corner #2
This week's problem is another endgame composition this time with White to move and win. Black is angling for a draw but White's pawns will prove decisive. The solution will be posted shortly. Good luck!
The Solution:
It is certainly tempting to play 1. g5+?, hoping for 1. ... Kxg5? 2. a5 Bf8 3. Kd5 and the White a-pawn cannot be stopped from queening. However, Black can play 1. ... Ke6!, entering the square of the a-pawn. With the king stopping the a-pawn, Black will be happy to exchange the bishop for White's remaining pawn and call it a draw.
Instead, White plays 1. a5! With the Black king outside of the pawn's square, only the Black bishop can stop the pawn, by reaching the a7-g1 diagonal. 1. ... Bf8 2. Kd5 (White cannot allow the bishop onto the critical diagonal) 2. ... Bh6. Now 3. Ke4 Bf8 repeats the position, so White needs something more: 3. g5! After 3. ... Kxg5 4. a6, the Black king blocks the bishop from getting to e3, so Black responds 3. ... Bxg5 4. Ke4 (the Black king is still in the way!) 4. ... Bh4 5. Kf3 wins. Play might continue 5. ... Be1 6. a6 Ba5 7. a7 Bb6 8. a8=Q Bc5 9. Qc6+.
Comments
O.K., I think I've got this one. White plays a5. Blacks only chance is to stop the pawn at a7 so Bf8 is forced. White plays Kd5, Black must play Bh6. White plays g5+, if king takes, White queens his pawn, if bishop takes, then White plays Ke4, and since Black's king blocks his own bishop Black cannot catch the pawn.
Posted by: Curt Brock | April 11, 2010 11:13 AM
a5 Bf8 Kd5 Bh6 g5+ Bxg5 Ke4 etc.
Posted by: John Ellison | April 10, 2010 9:31 PM