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!
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!
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)
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.
Draw ...kf5 2 Nxh4 Kf4 3 Ng6 Kg4 4 Ne5 Kh4