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White to Play

Pete Tamburro on

Published in Chess Puzzles

Welcome to the third week of chess summer school. This week is devoted to scary king and pawn endings. Why are they scary? It’s because one little mistake and you lose or draw instead of win. Our third example looks too easy for White. It’s not rare for a player to underestimate his opponent’s resources. This deceptive position is one of those. Be alert!


Solution:

I’m sure you all got the first move. Gain the opposition with 1.Kf7. If you figured that after 1…Kh8 you would gobble up the pawns and win and also wonder why I would pick something so simple, then you missed this: 1.Kf7 h5! 2.h4! [2.gxh5?? and it's drawn...can't force the h-pawn through.] 2...Kh6 [2...hxg4 3.hxg5 g3 4.g6+ Kh6 5.g7 g2 6.g8Q; 2...gxh4 3.g5 h3 4.g6+ Kh6 5.g7 h2 6.g8Q h1Q 7.Qg7#] 3.Kf6 gxh4 4.g5+ Kh7 5.Kf7 h3 6.g6+ Kh6 7.g7 Kg5 8.g8Q+ Kf4 9.Qg1 and the king can’t hide in the corner.

 


Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.

 

 

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