cheap draw

Originally posted by Thomaster
Huh? Why not -h5 -h4 -h3 -h2 -h1Q?

The OP's board is upside down. The pawn is on the a-file, moving towards the top of the board.. At least, that was my assumption. You're right, though, if the pawn were on the h-file and moving towards the bottom of the board, it would have been a trivial win for Black, and the OP would never have asked the question.

Originally posted by Thomaster
[fen]8/6RK/5k1P/4q3/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1[/fen]

Is this a draw? (I've tried it and I think it is)

Yes, it's a tablebase draw. (Interestingly, regardless of whether it's from White's or Black's point of view, and regardless of whose move it is.) But what does this have to do with the OP's question?

Originally posted by clandarkfire
Today I played in a tournament, and after a two and a half hour game (against some one rated 300 points higher than me), the following position uccured. I was not able to win, especially with two minutes left. Is it possible for black to win? [fen]7K/8/7p/3b2k/8/8/8/8[/fen]

If board is turned from black view then its dead draw. If corner square is not the same as square of bishop then its impossible to win.

Originally posted by Korch
If board is turned from black view then its dead draw. If corner square is not the same as square of bishop then its impossible to win.

(unless the opposing King can't reach the corner in time - there are some interesting (study) examples)

Originally posted by heinzkat
(unless the opposing King can't reach the corner in time - there are some interesting (study) examples)

Of course. But I did mean positions (like this one) where king is on corner.

I misquoted indeed. I wanted to quote only the part

"If corner square is not the same as square of bishop then its impossible to win."

i.e. I played this in a game three years ago:



1. Nxa6+!?

Is this enough for a draw?

Quite interesting, more examples:

Fernhout (1960): White to move and win

Kuznetsov and Pogosyants (1965): White to move and draw

Mockel (1962): White to move and draw

Koranyi (1962): White to move and draw

Note: all diagrams have White's pawns moving upwards and Black's pawns moving downwards.

Originally posted by heinzkat
Quite interesting, more examples:
[fen]8/8/5k1P/8/6B1/2K5/8/8[/fen]
Fernhout (1960): White to move and win

I assume that would be Bh5, followed by h7

Originally posted by clandarkfire
I assume that would be Bh5, followed by h7

1. Bh5 is correct, the 'seduction' of the position is
1. Bf5? Kf7
2. Bh7 Kf6! with 2. ... Kg5 draw, or if the Bishop moves, 2. ... Kf7 again and the King can reach the corner.

Another one then



White to move and draw

Originally posted by heinzkat
Another one then

[fen]8/8/1b1k4/1P6/P6p/8/8/4K3[/fen]

White to move and draw

This one looks fun. I'm guessing 1.Ke2, then 2.Kf3. Then White can either capture the a-pawn, or if Black protects the a-pawn with the bishop, then White can maneuver his king to the h1 square, securing the draw.