Go back
The Most Obvious Move Loses.

The Most Obvious Move Loses.

Only Chess

Vote Up
2
Vote Down

From a recent O.T.B. game in England (players unknown)

Black to play.


Black played the most obvious move and resigned after White's reply.

Over the next few days I'll look for an RHP example that has the same theme.

Vote Up
Vote Down

@greenpawn34
Well, the first move I thought of for black was

1. ... Ke4 2. f3+ gf 3. Kf2 and black cannot both stop the h pawn and defend his (her) queenside pawns?

1 edit
Vote Up
Vote Down

Correct Deep Thought, and yet Ke4 looks so natural and winning.
I have already found a handful of RHP K4P's v K4P's upsets for the blog.

Vote Up
Vote Down

@deepthought said
@greenpawn34
Well, the first move I thought of for black was [hidden]1. ... Ke4 2. f3+ gf 3. Kf2 and black cannot both stop the h pawn and defend his (her) queenside pawns?[/hidden]
I saw this immediately, but only because I've been reading Euwe's Endgames part 8, pawn endgames. Two weeks ago I'd have played the wrong move, and in a month or two I probably will again. (Such lessons never stick, with me.)

Even now I can see that the wrong move is wrong and why, but I still can't be sure about the right one. In pawn endgames and rook endgames even less than in other ones. Let me guess...
Ke5
?

Vote Up
Vote Down

@greenpawn34
I alos try a guess

I probably would try to move f3+ after the King moves Ke7 I would try to get the h-pawn with my King…