I asked you to guess how many pawns in the goldfish bowl.
The answer was (and Russ will confirm) 71 pawns and the winner
was Contenchess who came closest when he guessed at number 72.
Next for your instruction and entertainment we have this piece of art.
It was composed by K.A.L. Kubbel, USSR 1936
White to play and win.
Clue:
Reveal Hidden ContentSacrifice things.
[FEN "8/7p/4pK1k/5R2/8/1b2r1P1/8/5B2 w - - 0 1"]
1. Rf2 {Threatening Rh2 mate.} 1... Bd1 2. Rh2+ Bh5 3. Be2 {Threatening 4.Rxh5 mate.} 3... Rxe2 {The win with 3...Rf2 (next) is just as instructive.} 4. g4 {Threatening 5.Rxh5 mate.} 4... Rxh2 5. g5 {Checkmate.}
Before leaving this wonderful wee puzzle we can squeeze another idea tuck away inside it..
[FEN "8/7p/4pK1k/5R2/8/1b2r1P1/8/5B2 w - - 0 1"]
1. Rf2 Bd1 2. Rh2+ Bh5 3. Be2 Rxe2 4. g4 {Instead of 4...Rxh2 we look at learn at...} 4... Rf2+ 5. Rxf2 Bxg4 {A Rook v a Bishop and two pawns if very often a draw. but here...} 6. Rh2+ Bh5 {Only move, now White picks up the e-pawn whilst keeping the Black King imprisoned.} 7. Rh3 {Not 7.Rh4 which would be a draw. White must time the move Rh4 just right.} 7... e5 {Now is the time for Rh4.} 8. Rh4 e4 9. Rxe4 {This way White picks up the pawn and the Black King is till stuck in the mud.} 9... Bd1 {It does not matter where this Bishop goes...} 10. Rh4+ {...after this it has to go back to where it came from.} 10... Bh5 {Careful, do not stalemate Black.}11. Kf5 {Black has only one legal move.} 11... Kg7 12. Rxh5 {Now it's a simple White win.}
As I said earlier, a Rook v Bishop and two pawns is usually drawn. Any
winning chances are usually with the Bishop and two pawns player.
mig21 - suicidebishop RhP2021
[FEN "8/8/5R2/1pk5/5K1p/b7/8/8 w - - 0 56"]
56. Rf5+ {In the game White lost the Rook with Rh6 Bc1+ and 0-1.} 56... Kc4 57. Rxb5 {The easiest way to draw.} 57... Kxb5 58. Kg4 Be7 {And Black has the wrong Bishop for h1. A known draw since Noah floated the Ark.}
Red Hot Pawn players are losing drawn games by not realising that the wrong
Bishop for the Rooks pawn is a draw. Here is another example from last year.
inukjuak - fsmontenegro RHP 2021
[FEN "8/8/6R1/4r2p/2pbNp1k/5P2/6PK/8 w - - 0 51"]
51. g3+ fxg3+ 52. Rxg3 {White is threatening Rh3 checkmate.} 52... Rxe4 {Stops the checkmate and if fxe4 then Be5 pins and wins the Rook.} 53. Rh3+ Kg5 54. fxe4 {This is a draw. Black has the wrong Bishop for the h-pawn pawn.} 54... Be5+ 55. Kg2 c3 {White just has to play Rxc3 and it's a draw.} 56. Rh1 Kg4 57. Rc1 h4 {White just has to play Rxc3 and it's a draw.} 58. Rc2 h3+ 59. Kh1 Kf3 {White just has to play Rxc3 and it's a draw.} 60. Rc1 Kxe4 61. Rc2 Kd3 {White just has to play Rxc3 and it's a draw.} 62. Rf2 c2 {White just has to play Rxc2 and it's a draw. Instead White resigned. 0-1}
I was strolling through RHP games looking for an idea and happened upon a good
one but before we see this game I’ll slip in a study by D. Joseph from BCM 1922.
White to play and win.
[FEN "1k1K4/1p5P/1P6/8/8/8/p7/8 w - - 0 1"]
1. h8=Q {The recurring White threat is discovering a checkmate by moving the King.} 1... a1=Q {If 2.Qxa1 then it is stalemate.} 2. Qg8 {Now we witness some crafty moves by White to get the Black King to a8.} 2... Qa2 {1f 3.Qxa2 then it is stalemate.} 3. Qe8 Qa4 {If 4.Qxa4 then it is stalemate.} 4. Qe5+ {White forces the King to a8 so the stalemate trick is removed.} 4... Ka8 5. Qh8 {Back to the original square with the original threat, a discovered checkmate.} 5... Qa1 {There is no other move and this no longer works because} 6. Qxa1+ {That is a check and it is checkmate next move.} 6... Kb8 7. Qa7 {I told you.}
So you get the defensive idea to watch out for a Queen sac allowing stalemate.
mikenay - Wiabj RHP 2007
[FEN "8/8/1Q6/8/K7/Pp6/kq6/8 w - - 0 57"]
57. Qb4 Qc2 58. Qc5 {If Qxc5 stalemate.} 58... Qe4+ {Black does not fall for it and is now 'apparently' alert to stalemate tricks.} 59. Kb5 b2 60. Qf2 Qe5+ 61. Ka4 {White moves back to the stalemate nest, It is the best chance,} 61... Ka1 62. Qc2 {Black should play Qd4+ and the promote the b-pawn.} 62... b1=Q {OOPS!} 63. Qc3+ {And if Qxc3 then it is stalemate.} 63... Qb2 64. Qe1+ Ka2 {If Qb1 then White checks on c3 once more.} 65. Qb1+ {Black has no choice either KxQ or QxQ is stalemate.} 65... Qxb1 {Stalemate. That is how the game ended.} 1/2-1/2
The thread accompanying this blog is
Thread 192244
