DAY. 1
SOLUTION
It seems as though whites days are numbered. The B on f3 is controlling the a pawn excellently and the black king is ready to capture the h pawn and roll down his own pawn. In such a scenario, how do we begin our calculation?
We begin with the most natural move in the position. It would be incorrect to start with exotic ideas because we first need to knw why our normal moves dont work. So the most obvious moves is 1.Kb5 Kh2 2.Ka6 Kg1 of course this is the best place to remove the black king. 3.b5 h3 4.b6 h2 5.b7 Bb7 6.Kb7 h1=Q
(W)
Now if you know that a lone 'a' pawn on 7th rank draws against the queen, you will definitely try 7.f3 but if black isnt your friend then he will spurn this juicy pawn and continue with 7...Qh7-+ afer which you would have hoped that the treacherous f3 pawn never existed!
So we realise that f pawn is a main problem and we must force black to take it. how can it be possible? only if f3 comes with a check! and how can it come with a check? only if black king is on g4! and thus from the start we get the idea of
1. h3!! Kh2 2.Kb5 Kh3 3.Ka6 Kg4 (this is the only way. Kg2 would block the queens check.) 4.b5 h3 5.b6 h2 6.b7 Bb7 7.Kb7 h1=Q+
(W)
So whats the huge difference from the last diagram here? well as you can see the f pawn now moves ahead with the threat to kill the black king 8. f3!! Qf3 9.Kb8 and as we all know this is a theoretical draw!
Conclusion:
As you see a position, it is very necessary that you start your calculations from the most obvious move. Once you realise what is the problem with normal play, then you can improvise and only then find the first move h3!!. If you started your calculation with directly h3 then your approach isnt correct!
WHITE TO PLAY AND DRAW.
SOLUTION
It seems as though whites days are numbered. The B on f3 is controlling the a pawn excellently and the black king is ready to capture the h pawn and roll down his own pawn. In such a scenario, how do we begin our calculation?
We begin with the most natural move in the position. It would be incorrect to start with exotic ideas because we first need to knw why our normal moves dont work. So the most obvious moves is 1.Kb5 Kh2 2.Ka6 Kg1 of course this is the best place to remove the black king. 3.b5 h3 4.b6 h2 5.b7 Bb7 6.Kb7 h1=Q
(W)Now if you know that a lone 'a' pawn on 7th rank draws against the queen, you will definitely try 7.f3 but if black isnt your friend then he will spurn this juicy pawn and continue with 7...Qh7-+ afer which you would have hoped that the treacherous f3 pawn never existed!
So we realise that f pawn is a main problem and we must force black to take it. how can it be possible? only if f3 comes with a check! and how can it come with a check? only if black king is on g4! and thus from the start we get the idea of
1. h3!! Kh2 2.Kb5 Kh3 3.Ka6 Kg4 (this is the only way. Kg2 would block the queens check.) 4.b5 h3 5.b6 h2 6.b7 Bb7 7.Kb7 h1=Q+
(W)Conclusion:
As you see a position, it is very necessary that you start your calculations from the most obvious move. Once you realise what is the problem with normal play, then you can improvise and only then find the first move h3!!. If you started your calculation with directly h3 then your approach isnt correct!
Instructive.. Just how does one solve this without knowing that a pawn on 7rth vs queen a draw? I mean without that there would have been no way right?
ReplyDeleteThis rule is only with an a, c, f or h pawn. b,d,e and g are winning for the Q. If you don't know that before you do studies you should buy a basic endgame book
DeleteDo you have plans to continue with the studies? I am looking forward to them very much.. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat study! I calculated diagram 2 and saw it was a win for white so I started looking at idea of a8Q Bxa8 then f4 but quickly saw that didn't work. Only then did I see the genius h3 idea!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete3. ... Kg4 is not the only way; 3. ... Kg2, temporarily blocking the queen's check, works just as well:
ReplyDelete1. h3!! Kh2 2.Kb5 Kh3 3.Ka6 Kg2 4.b5 h3 5.b6 h2 6.b7 Bb7 7.Kb7 Kf2 8. a1=Q h1=Q(or B LOL)+
Indeed, Black has so much time that even 3. ... Kh2 is still a draw! But why would you take the risk?
Black is trying to win i presume...
DeleteVery nice selection. I like this one and day 2 so far.
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice, if you could give credit to the authors of the studies though (at least I could not find them). Some might recognize the study by this information, but most of us probably won't.
Very interesting, white with extra pawn looses! Basic knowledge of Queen Vs pawn on 7th/2nd rank is required, in rook's pawn and bishops pawn the side without Queen can draw by some stalemate ideas, but this study shows how that idea fails.
ReplyDeletealex:"The key is that in order to force the opp to capture ur piece, ur move must be a check, capture or threat"
ReplyDeleteI found this calculator for next chess move in my chess game.
ReplyDeleteAppreciaate you blogging this
ReplyDelete