Lets play a game of Chess

[XMRpromotions]

1 vote Qe1 dre1982
3 votes cxb5 languagehasmeaning, boolberry, xmrpromotions

[LucyLovesCrypto]

The second problem looks easier than the first one to me. Just play c7 and black cant stop you from queening. Black can give some checks, Rd6 check, Kb5, Rd5 check, Kb4, Rd4 check, Kb3, Rd3 check Kc2 and queen next move.

The hard part was seeing Rd6 check, Kc5 is a mistake because of Rd1 and c8=queen loses to Rc1 check. White can still make a draw with Kc6 or Kb6 instead of c8 = queen

The second problem looks easier to you because you think you solved it! You have not completed the problem.

"Kc2 and queen next move" is not correct with best play by black. Try to figure out why. After you play Kc2, black will play Rd4. Spend more time thinking about what will happen next.

The first problem touches on one of the most important ideas in king and pawn endgames (along with opposition) the square of the pawn.

Are you saying that I should be solving all the way to mate? I know that King and Queen against King and Rook is supposed to be enough to win. Eventually the person with the Queen can either win the rook or force checkmate.

[Foxpup]

29. cxb5 is best. 29. Qe1 loses a whole piece instead of just the exchange.

1 vote Qe1 (dre1982)
4 votes cxb5 (languagehasmeaning, boolberry, XMRpromotions, Foxpup)

[XMRpromotions]

The second problem looks easier than the first one to me. Just play c7 and black cant stop you from queening. Black can give some checks, Rd6 check, Kb5, Rd5 check, Kb4, Rd4 check, Kb3, Rd3 check Kc2 and queen next move.

The hard part was seeing Rd6 check, Kc5 is a mistake because of Rd1 and c8=queen loses to Rc1 check. White can still make a draw with Kc6 or Kb6 instead of c8 = queen

The second problem looks easier to you because you think you solved it! You have not completed the problem.

"Kc2 and queen next move" is not correct with best play by black. Try to figure out why. After you play Kc2, black will play Rd4. Spend more time thinking about what will happen next.

The first problem touches on one of the most important ideas in king and pawn endgames (along with opposition) the square of the pawn.

Are you saying that I should be solving all the way to mate? I know that King and Queen against King and Rook is supposed to be enough to win. Eventually the person with the Queen can either win the rook or force checkmate.

Read the clue I gave you again. If I say more I will give it away. Look at the position after Kc2 and Rd4.

[hermesesus]

I choose cxb5

1 vote Qe1 (dre1982)
5 votes cxb5 (languagehasmeaning, boolberry, XMRpromotions, Foxpup, hermesesus)

[hermesesus]

Easier
White to move and draw:

Kh7 Kb6
Kh6 Kxc6
Kxh5
King vs King: impossibility of checkmate

[dre1982]

Easier
White to move and draw:

Kh7 Kb6
Kh6 Kxc6
Kxh5
King vs King: impossibility of checkmate

you will have to move your king in the diagonal. So Kg7,Kf6.

[ObscureBean]

I've had time to look at the position some more and I have revised my assessment. After cxb5, Nc2 is a lot stronger than Bg5 for black.

29. cxb5  Nc2    30. Ra2  Bb4    31. Nb3  Qd3  

29. cxb5  Nc2    30. Nb3  Nxa1    31. Qxa1  Qc2    32. Qa2  Rxd2    33. Nxd2  Qxd2    34. b6  Bc5   


EDIT - actually 34. Qc4 is probably better but we're getting crushed whatever move we play so 

It'd be cool if people who've been looking at moves other than 29. cxb5 could post some lines. I've looked at quite a few other moves but could not bring myself to dig deep into the variations, it's hard for me to find the motivation to analyze a lost position, I would've already resigned a while ago if it was a one on one game.

[hermesesus]

Easier
White to move and draw:

Kh7 Kb6
Kh6 Kxc6
Kxh5
King vs King: impossibility of checkmate

you will have to move your king in the diagonal. So Kg7,Kf6.

Why? I have to prevent the black pawn to reach h1. And my pawn is condemned (he cannot escape from the black King).

[dre1982]

Easier
White to move and draw:

Kh7 Kb6
Kh6 Kxc6
Kxh5
King vs King: impossibility of checkmate

you will have to move your king in the diagonal. So Kg7,Kf6.

Why? I have to prevent the black pawn to reach h1. And my pawn is condemned (he cannot escape from the black King).

just try it. you can't stop his pawn so you have to get closer. to your own pawn. if he walks with Gus pawn walk to your pawn and promote. If you goes for your pawn you get in the square of his pawn to capture it

[ObscureBean]

I found the solutions to both puzzles but the harder one was actually easier for me lol, I saw the plan as soon as I looked at the position. The easier one on the other hand had me scratching my head for a minute there    I know why though, it's because when you look at the white pieces separately, it just looks impossible, the white king can never catch up with black pawn and the white pawn can never queen 

[hermesesus]

Easier
White to move and draw

Kh7 Kb6
Kh6 Kxc6
Kxh5
King vs King: impossibility of checkmate

you will have to move your king in the diagonal. So Kg7,Kf6.

Why? I have to prevent the black pawn to reach h1. And my pawn is condemned (he cannot escape from the black King).

just try it. you can't stop his pawn so you have to get closer. to your own pawn. if he walks with Gus pawn walk to your pawn and promote. If you goes for your pawn you get in the square of his pawn to capture it

Something like this? (Forgive me if I sound silly: I'm a beginner )
Kg7 h4
Kf6 h3
Ke6 h2
c7 h1D
c8D+

OR

Kg7 h4
Kf6 h3
Ke6 h2
c7 Kb7
Kd7 h1D
c8D+

OR

Kg7 Kb6
Kf6 Kxc6
Kg5 h4
Kxh4

EDIT: But what to do in this case?
Kg7 h4
Kf6 Kb6

[dre1982]

Easier
White to move and draw

Kh7 Kb6
Kh6 Kxc6
Kxh5
King vs King: impossibility of checkmate

you will have to move your king in the diagonal. So Kg7,Kf6.

Why? I have to prevent the black pawn to reach h1. And my pawn is condemned (he cannot escape from the black King).

just try it. you can't stop his pawn so you have to get closer. to your own pawn. if he walks with Gus pawn walk to your pawn and promote. If you goes for your pawn you get in the square of his pawn to capture it

Something like this? (Forgive me if I sound silly: I'm a beginner )
Kg7 h4
Kf6 h3
Ke6 h2
c7 h1D
c8D+

OR

Kg7 h4
Kf6 h3
Ke6 h2
c7 Kb7
Kd7 h1D
c8D+

OR

Kg7 Kb6
Kf6 Kxc6
Kg5 h4
Kxh4

EDIT: But what to do in this case?
Kg7 h4
Kf6 Kb6

don't have a board here to check but you must play Ke5.

[hermesesus]

Easier
White to move and draw

Kh7 Kb6
Kh6 Kxc6
Kxh5
King vs King: impossibility of checkmate

you will have to move your king in the diagonal. So Kg7,Kf6.

Why? I have to prevent the black pawn to reach h1. And my pawn is condemned (he cannot escape from the black King).

just try it. you can't stop his pawn so you have to get closer. to your own pawn. if he walks with Gus pawn walk to your pawn and promote. If you goes for your pawn you get in the square of his pawn to capture it

Something like this? (Forgive me if I sound silly: I'm a beginner )
Kg7 h4
Kf6 h3
Ke6 h2
c7 h1D
c8D+

OR

Kg7 h4
Kf6 h3
Ke6 h2
c7 Kb7
Kd7 h1D
c8D+

OR

Kg7 Kb6
Kf6 Kxc6
Kg5 h4
Kxh4

EDIT: But what to do in this case?
Kg7 h4
Kf6 Kb6

don't have a board here to check but you must play Ke5.

I found the solution:
Kg7 Kb6
Kf6 h4
Ke5 Kxc6
Kf4 h3
Kg3 Kd7
Kxh3

Thanks for your help

[dre1982]

Easier
White to move and draw

Kh7 Kb6
Kh6 Kxc6
Kxh5
King vs King: impossibility of checkmate

you will have to move your king in the diagonal. So Kg7,Kf6.

Why? I have to prevent the black pawn to reach h1. And my pawn is condemned (he cannot escape from the black King).

just try it. you can't stop his pawn so you have to get closer. to your own pawn. if he walks with Gus pawn walk to your pawn and promote. If you goes for your pawn you get in the square of his pawn to capture it

Something like this? (Forgive me if I sound silly: I'm a beginner )
Kg7 h4
Kf6 h3
Ke6 h2
c7 h1D
c8D+

OR

Kg7 h4
Kf6 h3
Ke6 h2
c7 Kb7
Kd7 h1D
c8D+

OR

Kg7 Kb6
Kf6 Kxc6
Kg5 h4
Kxh4

EDIT: But what to do in this case?
Kg7 h4
Kf6 Kb6

don't have a board here to check but you must play Ke5.

I found the solution:
Kg7 Kb6
Kf6 h4
Ke5 Kxc6
Kf4 h3
Kg3 Kd7
Kxh3

Thanks for your help

You're welcome. This are great ending studies. I got also a few nice ones in some books. Gotta search for them.

[LucyLovesCrypto]

The second problem looks easier than the first one to me. Just play c7 and black cant stop you from queening. Black can give some checks, Rd6 check, Kb5, Rd5 check, Kb4, Rd4 check, Kb3, Rd3 check Kc2 and queen next move.

The hard part was seeing Rd6 check, Kc5 is a mistake because of Rd1 and c8=queen loses to Rc1 check. White can still make a draw with Kc6 or Kb6 instead of c8 = queen

The second problem looks easier to you because you think you solved it! You have not completed the problem.

"Kc2 and queen next move" is not correct with best play by black. Try to figure out why. After you play Kc2, black will play Rd4. Spend more time thinking about what will happen next.

The first problem touches on one of the most important ideas in king and pawn endgames (along with opposition) the square of the pawn.

Are you saying that I should be solving all the way to mate? I know that King and Queen against King and Rook is supposed to be enough to win. Eventually the person with the Queen can either win the rook or force checkmate.

Read the clue I gave you again. If I say more I will give it away. Look at the position after Kc2 and Rd4.

Ok. I added a few more moves to the end to complete my answer.

Just play c7 and black cant stop you from queening. Black can give some checks, Rd6 check, Kb5, Rd5 check, Kb4, Rd4 check, Kb3, Rd3 check Kc2 and queen next move.

Based on your comment of Kc2 Rd4 from my solution above I add a few more moves: c8 = queen, Ra4 (to stop Qa8 checkmate) then Kb3 threatening Kxa4 and Qc1 checkmate. Black can't save both the rook and checkmate.

[languagehasmeaning]

The second problem looks easier than the first one to me. Just play c7 and black cant stop you from queening. Black can give some checks, Rd6 check, Kb5, Rd5 check, Kb4, Rd4 check, Kb3, Rd3 check Kc2 and queen next move.

The hard part was seeing Rd6 check, Kc5 is a mistake because of Rd1 and c8=queen loses to Rc1 check. White can still make a draw with Kc6 or Kb6 instead of c8 = queen

The second problem looks easier to you because you think you solved it! You have not completed the problem.

"Kc2 and queen next move" is not correct with best play by black. Try to figure out why. After you play Kc2, black will play Rd4. Spend more time thinking about what will happen next.

The first problem touches on one of the most important ideas in king and pawn endgames (along with opposition) the square of the pawn.

Are you saying that I should be solving all the way to mate? I know that King and Queen against King and Rook is supposed to be enough to win. Eventually the person with the Queen can either win the rook or force checkmate.

Read the clue I gave you again. If I say more I will give it away. Look at the position after Kc2 and Rd4.

Ok. I added a few more moves to the end to complete my answer.

Just play c7 and black cant stop you from queening. Black can give some checks, Rd6 check, Kb5, Rd5 check, Kb4, Rd4 check, Kb3, Rd3 check Kc2 and queen next move.

Based on your comment of Kc2 Rd4 from my solution above I add a few more moves: c8 = queen, Ra4 (to stop Qa8 checkmate) then Kb3 threatening Kxa4 and Qc1 checkmate. Black can't save both the rook and checkmate.

You are missing the most important part of the problem. Black has a better move than Ra4 after your c8(Q) move.

[letsplayagame]

I choose cxb5

1 vote Qe1 (dre1982)
5 votes cxb5 (languagehasmeaning, boolberry, XMRpromotions, Foxpup, hermesesus)

Your move bitcointalk. You have the white pieces

The current position is updated below:

29.cxb5   Nc2



Good job solving the first study by Richard Réti.  Several of you seem to have solved the second problem (based on your comments and hints) by Rev. Fernando Saavedra but since I do not see the solution posted yet I will let the rest of you solve it before posting another problem.

Remember the concepts from the first problem. They will save you calculation time in king and pawn endgames.

[Foxpup]

30. Nb3, giving up the exchange to prevent 30... Nd4 31... Nf3+.

[jjacob]

30. Nb3, giving up the exchange to prevent 30... Nd4 31... Nf3+.

Nb3 looks good, supporting the bishop as well

Nb3:  2 votes (foxpopup, jjacob)