10 Apr 08
Originally posted by Mephisto2Yes, this one is not so difficult, the moves towards the win are quite 'obvious' since there are no reasonable alternatives. Give it a shot.
I leave this one for others to solve (the 'pointe' is a simple opposition at the end). I don't know the author of the previous one, I picked it up a year or two ago, but can't remember where.
11 Apr 08
1 edit
Originally posted by heinzkatI assume that the other posters/solvers are being a bit lazy, since the solution is quite obvious. White's 'only' problem is the fact that his knight stands in the way of his own pawn to run for promotion. Luckily enough for him there is a way to make a transition to a won (with opposition) pawn endgame:
Since no-one has posted any attempt yet, Mephisto2 might post the right solution...
1.b4 Kc3 2.b5 Kc4 3.b6 Kc5 4.Nxd7+ (covering the pawn) Kc6 5.Ke4! Kxd7 6.Kd5 and white wins with opposition. If 6. ... Kc8 then 7.Kc6 and if 6. ... Kd8 then 7.Kd6.
11 Apr 08
Originally posted by Mephisto2Incorrect! (only a little mistake in the notation though)
I assume that the other posters/solvers are being a bit lazy, since the solution is quite obvious. White's 'only' problem is the fact that his knight stands in the way of his own pawn to run for promotion. Luckily enough for him there is a way to make a transition to a won (with opposition) pawn endgame:
1.b4 Kc3 2.b5 Kc4 3.b6 Kc5 4.Nxd7+ (covering the ...[text shortened]... 5.Kd5! and white wins with opposition. If 5. ... Kc8 then 6.Kc6 and if 5. ... Kd8 then 6.Kd6.
11 Apr 08
1 edit
Originally posted by heinzkatmate in 58? Wow, I didn't look at it that way. You don't need tablebases (I assume you got the 58 from there) to solve this one. Troitski created this in 1941!
Mate in 58? It must be very tough. I'll look at it tomorrow morning if I have the chance
12 Apr 08
2 edits
Originally posted by Mephisto2I asked because White has only 2 Knights left, which means that Black could just give up his Knight and White has to 'prove' he can win with 2 Knights vs. pawn (I'm not sure if I would be able to prove it, I've never had it on the board) - which can take a long time. The pawn is behind the 'Troitzky line' though!
mate in 58? Wow, I didn't look at it that way. You don't need tablebases (I assume you got the 58 from there) to solve this one. Troitski created this in 1941!
So here is my solution...
1. Kg6 Nf8+
2. Kf7 Nd7
3. Ne6+ Kc8
4. Kd7
[and Black loses the Knight: if
4. ... Nb8 5. Nd6 mate]
4. ... c5 5. Nd6+ '1-0' (although you still have to show the two Knights vs. pawn is a win)
after 1. Kg6 Nf8+ 2. Kf7 Nh7 the Knight gets shut in as follows...
3. Ne6+ Kd7
4. Nc5+ Kc7
5. Ne4 [with 5. ... K~ 6. Kg7, 1-0]
12 Apr 08
Originally posted by heinzkatThat's the line indeed. Black would lose if he doesn't safe his knight after 1.Kg6, for instance 1. ... c5 because he still has a pawn AND that pawn can be blocked high enough. The endgame is not difficult at all, white just needs a few more tempi once he caged the black king to re-direct one of his knights to mate.
I asked because White has only 2 Knights left, which means that Black could just give up his Knight and White has to 'prove' he can win with 2 Knights vs. pawn (I'm not sure if I would be able to prove it, I've never had it on the board) - which can take a long time. The pawn is behind the 'Troitzky line' though!
So here is my solution...
1. Kg6 Nf8+
...[text shortened]... ets shut in as follows...
3. Ne6+ Kd7
4. Nc5+ Kc7
5. Ne4 [with 5. ... K~ 6. Kg7, 1-0]
4.Kd7 is a typo, your diagram shows clearly that it was 4.Ke7. Here you should have continued because the mating line is not difficult at all, and is a good example of how to do it in general, and why you need the pawn tempi:
4.Ke7 c5 (so black gives up his knight since the alternative is mate)
5.Nd6+ Kb8 6.Kxd7 c4 7.Nd4 (or Nd8) c3 8.Nc6+ Ka8 9.Kc8 (or Kc7) c2 10.Nb5 (Nc4 or Ne8 work too) c1=whatever 11.Nc6#
12 Apr 08
Hmm I thought I had 'thoroughly' checked for mistakes in the notation (there were a few others as well). Apologies...
And indeed that end looks (!) simple if the pieces move in front of you, but I have never tried it/have had it in a game myself.
I liked this one:
White to move, mate in 15. (there are quite many shorter subvariations, give a few of them too). Bonus points can be earned for giving the game this position came from, I haven't found it myself.