19 Jun 05
Hmmm, at first I thought of this well known motive, where white gives 2 pawns to free the way for the 3rd.
But that doesn't seem to work here. I think it has to be won on the queens wing though due to the kings positions and the fact that it's White's turn. Will have to try some more. There's aren't too many possibilities 🙂
20 Jun 05
Originally posted by THUDandBLUNDERIf I select the 'text' that includes the chessboard - you know, hold the left click and drag it over the chessboard - the Black King looks like the Overmind, the White King looks like a bug eyed alien or praying mantis or something, the White Pawns look like little duckies and the Black Pawns look like they are flipping me off.
[fen]5k2/8/pppppppp/8/PPPPPPPP/8/8/5K2[/fen]
20 Jun 05
Originally posted by AThousandYoungyou are a really strange person😲
If I select the 'text' that includes the chessboard - you know, hold the left click and drag it over the chessboard - the Black King looks like the Overmind, the White King looks like a bug eyed alien or praying mantis or something, the White Pawns look like little duckies and the Black Pawns look like they are flipping me off.
21 Jun 05
Originally posted by THUDandBLUNDERDoes White need to recapture on d5?
Yes, that's the first move.
I can find wins against all Black defences except
1. d5 cxd5
2. exd5 Kf7!
Why not try 2.a5!? bxa5 3.b5 axb5 4.cxb5 Ke7 5.b6 Kd7 6.g5, etc
I am not sure this works though 😉
21 Jun 05
5 edits
Originally posted by ilywrinFirstly, White can win only by forcing a passed pawn on each wing and queening one before Black.
Does White need to recapture on d5?
Why not try 2.a5!? bxa5 3.b5 axb5 4.cxb5 Ke7 5.b6 Kd7 6.g5, etc
I am not sure this works though 😉
After 1. d5 cxd5 White should play 2. exd5 (rather than cxd5) in order to keep 3 connected pawns on the queenside.
A typical winning line might be
1. d5 cxd5
2. exd5 exd5
3. a5 bxa5
4. b5 axb5
5. cxb5 Ke7
6. b6 Kd7
7. b7 Kc7
8. b8Q+ Kxb8.
9. g5 fxg5
10. h5 gxh5
11. f5 winning.
But if Black doesn't obligingly play 2.. exd5, what can White do about the pawn on e6 - which helps to prevent White from forcing a passed pawn on the King side.
Trying your suggestion:
1. d5 cxd5
2. a5 bxa5
3. b5 axb5
4. cxb5 Ke7 (because Black will lose the pawn race)
5. b6 and yes, it does seem to win!
(By P. Cathignol, 1981)
I remember reading that the position below is also winning for White (not sure if the Kings are on bishop's file or queen's).
But one would probably need a program like Freezer to prove it.
.
21 Jun 05
Originally posted by THUDandBLUNDERIn that winning line you posted Black will win, because his king can stop the f-pawn. But if you play the moves 9 to 11 before you play the moves 6-8, then it's still the idea you had and White will win.
A typical winning line might be
1. d5 cxd5
2. exd5 exd5
3. a5 bxa5
4. b5 axb5
5. cxb5 Ke7
6. b6 Kd7
7. b7 Kc7
8. b8Q+ Kxb8.
9. g5 fxg5
10. h5 gxh5
11. f5 winning.
Trying your suggestion:
1. d5 cxd5
2. a5 bxa5
3. b5 axb5
4. cxb5 Ke7 (because Black will lose the pawn race)
5. b6 and yes, it does seem to win!
In the 2nd suggestion I dont see how 5. b6 will win, because there is no pawn race. Black will just stop the pawn with his king, while his own pawn will promote.
So I'd go for the first winning line with swapped moves. However it's still the problem, that Black can play other moves in 1. and 2. Is there actually a forced solution for this for all variations? Somehow I'd like to see it now :-)