Originally posted by VanHussIt's a draw.
Can White Win? Or is it a draw?
[fen]8/8/8/p7/2k5/P7/2PK4/8 w - - 0 1[/fen]
I hesitated before answering the question, and potentially ruining the puzzle for everyone, but I figured you just want to know the answer, rather than set a fascinating puzzle, because I can't see what the hook is that makes it interesting. I checked the tablebases, and it is definitely a draw. In fact, every move white makes leads to a draw with subsequent best play.
Draw, but black needs to be careful. Assuming it is white's move
- c3 draws easily after Kb3
- on king moves, a safe way is to control the square in front of the c-pawn (here c3) rather than putting the king on c3. For instance:
1.Kc1 Kd4 (Kc3 would be good too, but just to show my point) 2.Kb2 a4! and the king can't make progress because b3 is unavailable. However 2. ... Kc4?? would lose after 3.c3 and black has to move his king away and loses (4.Kb3 but even better 4.Kc2 Kc4 5.a4!)
Originally posted by VanHussI should have clarified more that I was looking for an answer and that there was nothing spectacular about this position for it to be a puzzle, my apologies. Basically, the original scenario came after a terrible blunder of mine, and I wanted to figure out if there was any way to take this position besides black making a mistake.
Can White Win? Or is it a draw?
[fen]8/8/8/p7/2k5/P7/2PK4/8 w - - 0 1[/fen]
For the record I played
1.c3, Kb3
2.a4, Kxa4
3.Kc2, Ka3
4.c4, Kb4
5.Kb2, a4
6.c5,
Which lead us to this position and of course it was a draw.
Thanks for your help.
Originally posted by VanHusswww.lokasoft.nl/tbweb.htm
I should have clarified more that I was looking for an answer and that there was nothing spectacular about this position for it to be a puzzle, my apologies. Basically, the original scenario came after a terrible blunder of mine, and I wanted to figure out if there was any way to take this position besides black making a mistake.
For the record I play ...[text shortened]... 1[/fen]
Which lead us to this position and of course it was a draw.
Thanks for your help.
A database which can tell you the "answer" for any position with five or fewer pieces including kings.
There is one which does 6 but I can't find it immediately. Happy googling!
Originally posted by d36366Tablebases don't help you much in understanding the positions though, unless you use them together with studying.
www.lokasoft.nl/tbweb.htm
A database which can tell you the "answer" for any position with five or fewer pieces including kings.
There is one which does 6 but I can't find it immediately. Happy googling!
Originally posted by Mephisto2I agree. But sometimes it's just nice to know. For example, recently I reached a position where I had a lone rook v 2 pawns. I analysed it to the point where I was convinced it was drawn, and so I think did my opponent, and then we agreed a draw. After that, I definitely wanted to know if my analysis was right.
Tablebases don't help you much in understanding the positions though, unless you use them together with studying.
If you are trying to improve, I think the way to use the tablebases is to check your analysis (same with engines - not during the game, obv, in either case) after your analysis is complete, to see if you missed anything. It's so tempting to cut straight to the table base, but of course you get out what you put in.