Daily Chess Improvement: Real Game Critical Endgame!
SusanPolgar
Black to move! Is this a win, draw, or loss for Black? PLEASE do not write a one-two move response. That would be a complete waste of your time. Think and calculate carefully!
No. 1-3
DaveCubby
1...Kf5!!, 2. Kc6 Kf4, 3. Ng1!? Kg3, 4. Kd5 Kg2, 5. Kxe5 Kxg1, 6. Kf4 Kf2! (6...Kg2?? loses), 7. Kg4 Ke3!, 8. Kxh4 Kf4 = draw (Black keeps the White King in the h-file so White cannot win)
Yancey_Ward
Editor
The key here is to recognize the draw that is available in the following critical line:
1.....Kf5! 2.Nxh4 Kf4 3.Ng2 Kg3 4.h4
Here, black can capture the knight.......
4.....Kxg2 5.Kc5 Kg3 6.h5 e4 7.h6 e3 and both players will get a queen.
The mistake one would make here is to think that there is either a win with 1....e4, or that after 1....e4, the e-pawn safely guarantees the draw, too. This is an illusion, and not one I could see through with ease. It is a problem within a problem.
Here is the FEN after 1....e4?? 8/8/1K3k2/8/4p2p/5N1P/8/8 w - - 0 1
Can you find the win for white? Not easy, let me tell you.
ArcticKnight
Draw ...kf5 2 Nxh4 Kf4 3 Ng6 Kg4 4 Ne5 Kh4
