Weyerstrass vs xprad

I was convinced Weyerstrass was heading for his first loss on this site in this game: Game 4304510
However xprad allowed a perpetual.

When I looked at the game some time before the end I saw the fairly obvious perpetual threat straight away and thought xprad could avoid it with 40. ... Qe4+, which allows the black queen to block checks on the h-file. E.g. 40. ... Qe4+; 41. Kg1 Rxg8 42. Rxa2 (not 42.Qe8+ Rg8; 43.Qh5+ Qh7)

Is Black winning after this, or is White's e-pawn too dangerous?

From the diagram position, how about Rf2?

* EDIT * nevermind - I was thinking Qxe5 Bxg7 Qxg7? with a perpet, but Rxg7 looks tough to beat.

Originally posted by DawgHaus
From the diagram position, how about Rf2?

* EDIT * nevermind - I was thinking Qxe5 Bxg7 Qxg7? with a perpet, but Rxg7 looks tough to beat.

Also its black to move in the diagrammed position.

Sorry, I mucked up the link to the game: Game 4304510

In the diagrammed position, a tempting but wrong plan for Black is 42. ... Qb1+ 43.Qf1 Qxa2? which allows a perpetual again after 44.Bxg7+ Rxg7 45.Qf8+ etc.

However Black must be winning after 42. ... Qb1+ 43.Qf1 Qxf1+ 44.Kxf1 b5

Originally posted by Fat Lady
E.g. 40. ... Qe4+; 41. Kg1 Rxg8 42. Rxa2 (not 42.Qe8+ Rg8; 43.Qh5+ Qh7)

In your line Rxc6 instead of Rxa2 and white threatens Rh6+.

I checked the 40…Qe4+ lines with Fritz8 and Black cannot do better than a draw by perpetual. Black’s first priority is to cover g7 and can do so two ways: by Rxg8 or Qxe5. If Black plays the latter white has Re2-e7 or Re2-f2-f4 resources depending on the line and has at least a perpetual in all lines.

So 40…Qxe5 warrants consideration and I have not yet find definitive winning lines for Black after Rxc6 Bb1 Bxg7+ Qxg7 Qxg7 Kxg7 Bxd5 Ra6 Rc1. I think this line is best and white's moves forced.

Black to move.



Playing through the lines, this looks like a draw.

I expect there are improvements to be found earlier in the game.

Originally posted by Yuga
In your line Rxc6 instead of Rxa2 and white threatens Rh6+.

I checked the 40…Qe4+ lines with Fritz8 and Black cannot do better than a draw by perpetual. Black’s first priority is to cover g7 and can do so two ways: by Rxg8 or Qxe5. If Black plays the latter white has Re2-e7 or Re2-f2-f4 resources depending on the line and has at least a perpetual in all li ...[text shortened]... es, this looks like a draw.

I expect there are improvements to be found earlier in the game.

A draw? I personally would definitely choose Black here, aiming to block the wPs with the bK and bB while attempting to push the a- and b-pawns. But I bow to your superior knowledge... for now. 🙂 Anyone spare a few minutes explaining why this won't work?