Wednesday, 31 October 2012

Could you win this?

White to play
Taken from a game played at the ANU Chess Club earlier this evening. It looks pretty straight forward, but could you win this position, taking only 10 seconds per move?

5 comments:

  1. Yes.

    This is still easy. Play Ne4, Nc5 and so block the a7-g1 diaognal. Then play b6 and a7.

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  2. Sorry that should be Kb6.

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  3. Shortest win is 1.Nc8 and wins in 11. The suggested 1.Ne4 wins in 13.

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  4. What a position! Maybe Nc8+ followed by Kd7, then try for Ne7-c6#. Bishop will have to trade for knight, then a theoretical win with light squared bishop and light squared queening square.
    If Ne4-c5, black just keeps his king on a7 then Kb6 cannot be played.

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  5. A straightforward winning strategy is 1 Kd7, aiming for c8 and then the N goes to c6. Black can delay this with 1...Kb8, but then the king has to return to a7 or else Nc6 will be mate. With the W king on c8, Nc6 forces ...Kb6 then a7 wins. I was trying for something like this in the game, but rushed it with the 10 sec increment. MP

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