31 Jan 07
Originally posted by BigDoggProblemActually, this is rather an interesting position, and I don't see a clear win for White! If white waits with his King (Kf2) and forces Black to move his bishops, once white takes both bishops it's stalemate! Of course, white can capture one bishop only, but after a line like 1.Kf2 Be7 2.Nxe7 Bb7 white can't capture the second bishop and black can start targeting white's pawns.
Then again, it's not always easy to get all 16 of those pawns off the board. Why, leave a few and the tables can turn:
[fen]2bb4/8/8/p1NN2p1/P4pP1/5P1P/7p/5K1k w - - 0 1[/fen]
White to play and win
This is just based on one look--other thoughts?
And yes, I know I may be taking this problem more seriously than intended, but it's still quite interesting to investigate.
31 Jan 07
Originally posted by castlerookAfter 1.Kf2! Be7 2.Nxe7 Bb7, I believe 3.Ne4 wins.
Actually, this is rather an interesting position, and I don't see a clear win for White! If white waits with his King (Kf2) and forces Black to move his bishops, once white takes both bishops it's stalemate! Of course, white can capture one bishop only, but after a line like 1.Kf2 Be7 2.Nxe7 Bb7 white can't capture the second bishop and black can star ...[text shortened]... this problem more seriously than intended, but it's still quite interesting to investigate.
3...Bxe4 4.fxe4 f3 5.h4! gxh4 6.Nf5 h3 7.Ng3#
3...Ba6 4.Nf5 and White mates on g3 again.
Somehow, I don't see Black having much time to harvest pawns, especially when White can relieve the stalemate with a well-timed h4 advance.