White to Play
Pete Tamburro
on
Published in Chess Puzzles
Solution:
It’s always useful to remind beginners that in king and pawn vs. king endings, a pawn check on the 7th rank is a surefire draw. The solution here has useful mini-lessons: 1.Kf7 Kh8 2.Kg6 [2.Kf8 Kh7 3.Kf7 and you’re back where you started; stalemate comes from 2.g6] 2...Kg8 3.Kh6 [This also works:3.Kf6 Kh8 4.g6] 3...Kf7 4.g6+ Kg8 [4...Kf8 5.Kh7 (Bad is 5.g7+ Kg8—the drawing pawn check!) ] 5.g7 and the pawn reaches the 7th without check. The king will escort it in.
Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.