When your endgame brilliancy turns into disaster!

[Nick Burrows]

In the 6th round of the Isle of Man major, I was better throughout the game to reach the following position:

1n6/7p/p1p1pkp1/P1Pp1p2/3P4/3BP1P1/5PKP/8 w - - 0 49

I think the position is winning starting with one of my 2 candidates 49.h4 but haven't analysed it deeply yet. I chose another plan that led to the following position:

1n4B1/8/p1p2k2/P1Pp1p2/3K1P2/4P3/8/8 w - - 0 68

The only possible winning attempt is 68.Bxd5, and has been the culmination of a long plan to break into the position. The crucial question is does it win or lose? I calculated the line 68.Bxd5 cxd5 69.Kxd5 Ke7 70.c6 Kd8 71.Kd6 Kc8 72.e4 fxe4 73.f5 as a win. I had "turned off" the knight as it has no moves...

1nk5/8/p1PK4/P4P2/4p3/8/8/8 b - - 0 73

After 73..Nxc6! I am lost. Whoopsy.

When you calculate a line, always stop and look one move further!

[Roger de Coverly]

I think the position is winning starting with one of my 2 candidates 49.h4 but haven't analysed it deeply yet.

I'm not sure I really see how. If it's by a Bishop sacrifice as in the game, you won't want the resulting passed pawn anywhere near the Knight, as counter sacrifices become possible as in the game. Also once the Bishop is gone, the Knight isn't tied to the defence of a6. There isn't any obvious zugswang to force progress either.

[Nick Burrows]

I think the position is winning starting with one of my 2 candidates 49.h4 but haven't analysed it deeply yet.

I'm not sure I really see how. If it's by a Bishop sacrifice as in the game, you won't want the resulting passed pawn anywhere near the Knight, as counter sacrifices become possible as in the game. Also once the Bishop is gone, the Knight isn't tied to the defence of a6. There isn't any obvious zugswang to force progress either.

Idea is

49.h4 e5 (if ..h6 50.g4 fxg4 51.Kg3) 50.dxe5+ Kxe5 51.f4+ (51.Kf3!?) Kf6 52.h5!

[Roger de Coverly]

Idea is

49.h4 e5 (if ..h6 50.g4 fxg4 51.Kg3) 50.dxe5+ Kxe5 51.f4+ (51.Kf3!?) Kf6 52.h5!

I think Black's defence is not to do anything.

Suppose you reach this position with Black to move.

1n6/8/p1p1pk1p/P1Pp1p2/3P1K1P/3BP3/5P2/8 b - - 0 49

Black can play Ke7 and meet Ke5 with Nd7 check. The obvious plan for White now is to play f3 and e4. As more material comes off, the possibilities of sacrificing the Knight for a draw increase.

[Nick Burrows]

true, but after 1.h4 h6 2.g4 black doesn't have a 'pass' ..Kf7 loses to 3.h5

[IM Jack Rudd]

Why are you proposing pawn moves for black? What reason does black have to make pawn moves?

[Nick Burrows]

Why are you proposing pawn moves for black? What reason does black have to make pawn moves?

The king comes to f4, if blacks king is on f6 then the g4 f6 Kg3 wins.

[IM Jack Rudd]

Why are you proposing pawn moves for black? What reason does black have to make pawn moves?

The king comes to f4, if blacks king is on f6 then the g4 f6 Kg3 wins.

Again, you are proposing unprovoked pawn moves. Why not just have black drop the king back to f7?

[Nick Burrows]

then Kf3. If Kf6 Kf4

[Roger de Coverly]

1n6/7p/p1p1pkp1/P1Pp1p2/3P3P/3BP1P1/5PK1/8 w - - 0 49


Jack's idea is that you don't move any pawns and just shuffle the King.

So after h4, .. Kf7 2. Kf3 Kf6 3. Kf4

1n6/7p/p1p1pkp1/P1Pp1p2/3P1K1P/3BP1P1/5P2/8 w - - 0 49

If .. Kf7 4. Ke5 you have .. Ke7. White can pass with a Bishop move, but then 5. .. Nd7+. Perhaps there's a line there. White plays 6. Kf4 Nb8 7. Kg5 Kf7 8. Kh6 Kg8 and the Black King is in time. You can remove the g pawns, but I don't think it makes a difference.

[Nick Burrows]

If Kf7 4 Kg5! Kg7 5.h5 wins

[Roger de Coverly]

If Kf7 4 Kg5! Kg7 5.h5 wins

1n6/6kp/p1p1p1p1/P1Pp1pKP/3P4/3BP1P1/5P2/8 w - - 0 49

.. h6+ and .. g5+ or .. gxh5aren't going to work because the White King gets to e5 with the Black King on g7. But is it possible to just immediately take on h5 with the idea of meeting Kxh5 with Kf7 and Kh6 with Kg8 ? By not playing .. e5 earlier, the f5 pawn is still defended.

[Nick Burrows]

after 5..gxh5 6.Kxh5 Kf7 7.Kh6 Kg8 8.f3 Kh8 9.g4 we have

1n5k/7p/p1p1p2K/P1Pp1p2/3P2P1/3BPP2/8/8 b - - 0 57

when either the f5 or h7 pawn is falling.