17 Apr 08
Originally posted by !~TONY~!Winning the a-pawn seems logical enough, via:
Here's an interesting position from Charles Hertan's very new book "Forcing Chess Moves: The Key to Better Chess Calculation". It took me a very long time to solve this position, and humorously, both engines on my computer can't solve it. See if you can find the win for White here:
[fen]5rk1/2p2Rpq/p2p2n1/2pPpQPp/4P2P/3P2N1/PP6/6K1 w - - 0 1[/fen]
1. RxR NxR (forced, as the title would indicate)
2. Qc8 pins the Knight, which indirectly protects the h-pawn) g6 (the only move that saves the c-pawn, and therefore prevents black's pawns from completely crumbling, the key point from white's perspective is that the Black Knight is now shut out from g6, so White's k-side pawns are looking more solid. The downside is that White's Knight is also misplaced, and will need to dance a bit to find activity)
3. Qxa6 and white now has a very mobile a-pawn.
I'm sure that there is a much stronger line, but I'm also equally sure that I'd play this line in a game (and probably find out in a few moves what is wrong with it 🙁). I took a look at the very odd looking Rxc6, which I thought had some promise after RxQ dxR with back rank threats, but I think Black can navigate the dangers without too much difficulty and leave White busted.
17 Apr 08
One problem with this line is that White's queen can't stray to far from his king. So:
1. Rf8 Nf8 2. Qc8 g6! 3. Qa6 and now either 3...Qd7! actually leaves White with a lot of problems. For instance 4. Kg2 Qg4! and Black is actually better!
Give it another shot. 😀 I hope when I wake up in 5 hours someone has solved it!
17 Apr 08
1 edit
Originally posted by !~TONY~!I should have carried the analysis that I posted a bit further... What I looked at originally was:
One problem with this line is that White's queen can't stray to far from his king. So:
1. Rf8 Nf8 2. Qc8 g6! 3. Qa6 and now either 3...Qd7! actually leaves White with a lot of problems. For instance 4. Kg2 Qg4! and Black is actually better!
Give it another shot. 😀 I hope when I wake up in 5 hours someone has solved it!
1. Rf8 Nf8 2. Qc8 g6 3. Qa6 Qd7 4. Kh2 Qg4 5. Qa5 where it can keep pressure on the c-pawn, or swing to d2 to shut down the Black Queen's activities if needed. As White still has the passed a-pawn, I think he is still ok here. I've looked closer at Rc7, sac'ing the Q, but I'm pretty sure it is just simply losing. This is a frustrating position. I clearly need some more tactical study.
1. Rf8 Nf8 2. Qh7 doesn't look very promising either. Of course, by morning someone will undoubtedly point out what I'm missing here 😉
17 Apr 08
Originally posted by SquelchbelchI think 4... Qe7 and the pawn storm is over. If White elcts to trade Queens, then the Knight will be too strong, I think.
What about
1.Rxf8+...Nxf8 2.Qc8...g6 3.Nf5?!...gxf5 4.exf5
Does the pawn storm & pinned N achieve anything? It looks quite strong but maybe Black can hold out ok.
17 Apr 08
Originally posted by !~TONY~!engine can't solve it easily? heh, this is a first hint:
Here's an interesting position from Charles Hertan's very new book "Forcing Chess Moves: The Key to Better Chess Calculation". It took me a very long time to solve this position, and humorously, both engines on my computer can't solve it. See if you can find the win for White here:
[fen]5rk1/2p2Rpq/p2p2n1/2pPpQPp/4P2P/3P2N1/PP6/6K1 w - - 0 1[/fen]
either the variation is very long with many sacrifices...either there is some zwgzwang...
ok...on idea might be:
1 Qe6 and if Rxf7 Nf5 and black can not move any piece without loosing material or mate...and maybe the white with the King can grab all his pawns...(this looks like a line difficult to find for an engine)
if 1...Kh8 Nf5 and black looks soooo baddd
I have to recheck it but it seems valid...
the second line i was thinking was 1 Rxc7 Rxf5 but this looks more difficult...both white moves Nxf5 and pxf5 do not look like winning...(and anyway an engine would find them if indeed they are winning)
17 Apr 08
1 edit
Originally posted by vipiuI looked at both of those lines, and could not come up with a win. Of course, I didn't think of leaving the pieces static and using the King against the pawns in the Re6 line, which gives the whole idea new life. Edit- I don't think the White King can safely move to the Queenside because as soon as he steps on the f-file, Black can play Nf8 and White is busted.
engine can't solve it easily? heh, this is a first hint:
either the variation is very long with many sacrifices...either there is some zwgzwang...
ok...on idea might be:
1 Qe6 and if Rxf7 Nf5 and black can not move any piece without loosing material or mate...and maybe the white with the King can grab all his pawns...(this looks like a line difficult to fin ...[text shortened]... f5 do not look like winning...(and anyway an engine would find them if indeed they are winning)
Another idea I had was 1. RxR NxR 2. QxQ and regardless how Black recaptures, the White King can shift to the Queenside faster and obtain the better position.
17 Apr 08
Originally posted by Maxwell SmartBut I see now that white does not need to come with his King...black will soon finish his pawn moves and it will be in zwgzwang and will have to make a wrong step...as white can get tempos just by moving in the same place his King...
I looked at both of those lines, and could not come up with a win. Of course, I didn't think of leaving the pieces static and using the King against the pawns in the Re6 line, which gives the whole idea new life. Edit- I don't think the White King can safely move to the Queenside because as soon as he steps on the f-file, Black can play Nf8 and White i ...[text shortened]... k recaptures, the White King can shift to the Queenside faster and obtain the better position.