Friday, December 18, 2009

A classic challenge


White to move and win. No computer analysis please.

8/4p3/1N1B3P/8/8/4b3/1K3k2/8 w - - 0 1

King Parks, 1907
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14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Bc5 Bxb
Kc5 wins

Brit-Mate

Anonymous said...

Bc5 Bxb
Kc3 (not Kc5) wins

Brit-Mate

Anonymous said...

So far it's only the beginning.

1.Bc5 Bxc5
2.Kc3
a)2.. e6
3.Nd7 and there's no way for the bsB to the long diagonal
b)2.. Ke3
3.Nd5+ Ke4
4.Nf6+ and now the way is one tempo too long for the bsB.

Globular said...

1. h6 Bd4 (Forced) 2. Be5! Bxe5 3. Nc4+ 1-0

Globular said...

Never mind... had the king's colors reversed in my head! :)

Anonymous said...

Bc5 is a nice idea......but the Kc3 does not end it....After e6 o5 5 the B gets back in to g7...the solution is not so simple.

Asbjørn said...

Seems to me that this is all about controlling the d4 square. How about:

1. Bc5 Bxc5
2. Kc3 Ke3 (or else the pawn queens)
3. Nc4+ Ke4
4. Nd2+ Ke3
5. Nf1+ Ke4
6. Ng3+ Ke3
7. Nf5+ (controlling d4) Ke4
8. h7 and
9. h8=Q

Anonymous said...

No correct solution so far I think.

jcheyne said...

Following up on Globular's confession, I tried it with the board reversed (accidentally), as if Black moved from the bottom, and got nowhere (obviously). Reminds me to read the directions ALL THE WAY THROUGH on Christmas Eve before trying to put presents together.

Once I got it straight, I had the same solution as Asbjørn through 4 moves, and then 5. Nf3 (to guard d4), where 5. … Kxf3 (or anything else) allows the pawn to promote.

Nice puzzle, once I actually read it.

Anonymous said...

Bc5 Bxb
Kc3 e6 (To get bishop to g7)
Nd7 wins (bishop stop from going to g7) and pawn promotes to h8)

Gavin Blaauw
Belhar knights CC
Cape Town, South Africa

Anonymous said...

i think both bc5 and h7 win in the long run

Anonymous said...

h7 Bd4
Bc5! (bishop pinned on King) BxB
h8=Q

Anonymous said...

Asbjørn shows the right solution. The key move is 5. Nf1+.

wolverine said...

Bc5 Bxc5
Kc3 Ba3
Nc4

that wasnt to diffcult.. you just trap that bishop. what can he do.