White to Play and Draw

Pete Tamburro on Nov 14, 2008

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The last of our weekly theme of stalemate possibilities. White is again in deep trouble as his rook on h8 is about to go, yet White can construct a saving plan here as Baidasarinya did when composing this challenge.

Solution:

1.Rd1 Qxh8 Not much choice: [Mate follows: 1...Qxd1+ 2.Bd5#; 1...Qa7+ 2.Kxd8 will just lead to perpetual check.] 2.Rxf1+ Kxg8 [No alternatives are promising: 2...Qf6 3.Rxf6+ exf6 4.Kxd8 Kxg8 5.Ke7 f5 6.e3 Kh8 7.Ke6 Kg8 8.Kxf5 Kf7 9.e4 will win for White.; 2...Nf7 3.Bxf7 Qc3 4.Bc4+ Qf6 5.Rxf6+ exf6 6.e4 f5 7.e5 f4 8.e6 Kg8 (8...f3 9.e7#) 9.e7+ Kh8 10.e8Q#] 3.Ke8 Threatening mate on f8! 3...Ne6 [3...Qf6 4.Rxf6 exf6 5.Kxd8 Kf7 6.Kd7 f5 7.e3 Kf6 8.Kd6 Kg5 9.Ke6 Kxh6 10.Kf6 Kh5 11.Kxf5 wins.] 4.Rg1+ Ng7+ 5.Kxe7 Black is stalemated! My not so sincere apologies if you thought White had to get stalemated...that’s why these things are puzzles!

Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.