White to play and draw

White to play and draw by A. & K. Sarychev, 1928



1. c8=Q Bf5+ 2. Kd8 Bxc8 3. Kxc8 b5 wins for black, but white can draw here. The first move is the most important.

A famous and incredible problem.

The solution is 1. Kc8

The most interesting line is:
1. Kc8 b5
2. Kd7 b4
3. Kd6 Bf5
4. Ke5 Bc8
5. Kd4 b3
6. Kc3 Be6
7. c8=Q Bxc8
8. Kxb3

Originally posted by zzyw
White to play and draw by A. & K. Sarychev, 1928

[fen]8/1pPK3b/8/8/8/5k2/8/8 w - - 0 1[/fen]

1. c8=Q Bf5+ 2. Kd8 Bxc8 3. Kxc8 b5 wins for black, but white can draw here. The first move is the most important.

what's wrong with just c8=Q Bf5+ Kc7
that looks drawn to me.

Edit: no, that's wrong, because, even with as long as I've been playing, I forgot the b-pawn could get to b5 in one move...
wow.

then follows Bxc8 Kb6 and the king comes in, and its a forced win, since the bishop's on the queencolored square...
I was wrong in my last post.