Only Chess
28 Mar 22
29 Mar 22
1 edit
@bigdogg saidJust curious. How would you suggest one goes about solving things like this? A. Set up your board, move the pieces, using the diagram as a starting position or B. Look at the diagram and try to visualize it? This is the basic difference between C.C and OTB.
Black has just played ...Kd6-c5. Surprisingly, this throws away a won position.
How does white punish this move?
[fen]8/1p6/p7/2kP4/2P2Bp1/3PK1P1/6r1/8[/fen]
29 Mar 22
1 edit
@mchill saidIf you're trying to work on visualization, do it in your head.
Just curious. How would you suggest one goes about solving things like this? A. Set up your board, move the pieces, using the diagram as a starting position or B. Look at the diagram and try to visualize it? This is the basic difference between C.C and OTB.
If you just want to solve the puzzle, it helps to put it on a board and move the pieces around.
When I solved this one, it was not excessively long, so I was able to do it in my head. If they go for 10 moves or more, I tend to need the board.
I usually use software like WinBoard, or the analysis board on lichess, rather than setting up a physical board. I find this a lot faster, although old-school players may prefer the physical board.
29 Mar 22
3 edits
@bigdogg saidD3 to D4 looks good. King takes C4, and pawn on D5 goes for the gold (pawn promotion). I would have to set up a board to see if that's right. Not sure if black rook can stop pawn, but I don't think so.
Black has just played ...Kd6-c5. Surprisingly, this throws away a won position.
How does white punish this move?
[fen]8/1p6/p7/2kP4/2P2Bp1/3PK1P1/6r1/8[/fen]
Edit: I think that's it. The black king isn't able to catch up to the pawn, and neither can the rook... correction, rook can get pawn but Bishop to g5 can take rook.
It looks like I will need to set up my board. But if this was an actual OTB game I'd just cross my fingers and go for it.
30 Mar 22
@kilroy70 saidAfter d3-d4, one needs to consider also whether White has an effective reply to ...Kb6 (instead of ...Kxc4).
D3 to D4 looks good. King takes C4, and pawn on D5 goes for the gold (pawn promotion). I would have to set up a board to see if that's right. Not sure if black rook can stop pawn, but I don't think so.
Edit: I think that's it. The black king isn't able to catch up to the pawn, and neither can the rook... correction, rook can get pawn but Bishop to g5 can take rook.
It l ...[text shortened]... need to set up my board. But if this was an actual OTB game I'd just cross my fingers and go for it.
Hint: I believe White does, but there is a subtle point.
30 Mar 22
2 edits
@fmdavidhlevin saidI suppose Kb6 could be good for black, but then white has 3 pawns to work with instead of 2.
After d3-d4, one needs to consider also whether White has an effective reply to ...Kb6 (instead of ...Kxc4).
Hidden content removed
And instead of the rook scooting up the h file it might want to position itself somewhere else on the 2nd rank, in which case the white king would need to come into play.
If I was playing black I wouldn't like my king being forced back into a corner with three pawns to deal with.. but it might be the only good move for black.
Right now the bishop appears to be more effective than the rook.
30 Mar 22
1 edit
@fmdavidhlevin saidIf ...Kb6 then pawn to c5 looks good.
After d3-d4, one needs to consider also whether White has an effective reply to ...Kb6 (instead of ...Kxc4).
Hidden content removed
30 Mar 22
@kilroy70 saidAfter 1.d4+ Kb6 2. c5+ Kb5, how should White continue?
If ...Kb6 then pawn to c5 looks good.
30 Mar 22
1 edit
@fmdavidhlevin saidI don't want blacks king to move to c6, so I'll leave the pawns where they are. Also should probably leave the bishop where it is. That just leaves the white king (something has to move) so K to d3 looks good... it prevents black king from moving to c4, and slightly limits where the rook can go.
After 1.d4+ Kb6 2. c5+ Kb5, how should White continue?
So I'll go with Kd3 for the next move.
The pawn on a6 could be a problem if it didn't have far to go, so I'll ignore it for now.
30 Mar 22
1 edit
@kilroy70 saidAfter 1. d4+ Kb6 2. c5+ Kb5 3. Kd3, 3...a5 seems to put White in a bit of a quandary. If 4. Kc3, then 4...Rf2 threatens either 5...Rxf4 followed by promoting the g-pawn or 5...Rf3+ to force White's king to the second rank.
I don't want blacks king to move to c6, so I'll leave the pawns where they are. Also should probably leave the bishop where it is. That just leaves the white king (something has to move) so K to d3 looks good... it prevents black king from moving to c4, and slightly limits where the rook can go.
So I'll go with Kd3 for the next move.
The pawn on a6 could be a problem if it didn't have far to go, so I'll ignore it for now.
White might appear to stand fairly well. Nonetheless, Black is ahead by the exchange for a pawn, and I think it behooves White to look to quickly exploit the central pawn mass before Black's rook and a-pawn become a real nuisance.
I've hidden a hint below.
I agree with not wanting to allow the Black king to c6. After 2...Kb5, is there a way to advance the White pawns such that the Black king is denied the c6-square?
30 Mar 22
@fmdavidhlevin saidI saw the problem with the rook and g pawn, and didn't think I had a choice but to deal with it.
After 1. d4+ Kb6 2. c5+ Kb5 3. Kd3, 3...a5 seems to put White in a bit of a quandary. If 4. Kc3, then 4...Rf2 threatens either 5...Rxf4 followed by promoting the g-pawn or 5...Rf3+ to force White's king to the second rank.
White might appear to stand fairly well. Nonetheless, Black is ahead by the exchange for a pawn, and I think it behooves White to look to quickly ...[text shortened]... a-pawn become a real nuisance.
I've hidden a hint below.
Hidden content removed
I'll take back the white king move and look for a way to bypass blacks king.
31 Mar 22
@kilroy70 saidI've found it beneficial to find and analyze all checks, captures, and moves that position a chessman to subsequently check, capture, or do something threatening.
... unless king moves to b6. 🤔?
After 1. d4+ Kb6 2. c5+ Kb5 3. c6 Kb6, does White have any moves that fall within one of the above categories?