01 December 2007

Fox in the Chicken Coop

I created the position while reading Jeremy Silman's Silman's Complete Endgame Course and thinking about how I might teach his "fox in the chicken coop" idea to young chess novices.

It is White's move.

Of course, we are not just looking for White's best move because 75% of the legal moves from this position lead to a win. Rather, what is White's plan. What must be done, and what must be avoided? What action by Black could alter this plan?

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1 comment:

  1. AnonymousMonday, 13 October, 2008

    If i remember correctly this is a won endgame since 1. the diagnal (h2-b8) black has to run on with his king to be in time to stop the promotion of the pawn is to close to the pawn. White can stop black in his tracks with Kb6? 2. Secondly how higher the pawns (on the a-file) are on the board it favors white. The lower it gives black more chances to draw.

    1. Kg2 Kg4
    2. Kf2 Kg5
    3. Ke3 Kg4
    4. Kd4 Kxg3
    5. Kc5 Kf4
    6. Kb5 Ke5
    7. Kxa5 Kd6
    8 Kb6 (preventing white from going Kc7)
    And white wins since black cant stop the pawn from promoting to queen.

    However, it's a different story if black would be able to capture the pawn on g4 and then cross via the h3-c8 diagnal. So lets asume the following position: white: a4, g4 Kh2 black: a5, Kf6

    1. Kg3 Kg5 2. Kf3 Kg6 3. Ke4 Kg5 4. Kd5 Kxg4 5. Kc5 Kf5 6. Kb5 Ke6 7. Kxa5 Kd7 8. Kb6 Kc8 and the resulting endgame is a 100% draw.

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