TeX User Group >> PracTeX Journal >> Issue 2007/1 >> Square Concepts

Solution for: Task G

The greedy Rxb5 is definitely the wrong road to take. After Black's reply Qe2+ the rook is lost in the next move.

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The best thing White can do in the starting position is to exchange rook and bishop for the queen and a pawn with 1. Rxg7+ Qxg7 2. Bxg7 Kxg7. The resulting diagram...

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...is now examined further to show that it is, in fact, a draw!

We try to decompose the problem into smaller ``chunks'' by blending out the pieces that do not affect the current part we look at. This is not always possible, but here we can subdivide the board into three main areas of interest:

We have a passed pawn on the b-file (good for Black),
two blocked pawns on the d-file and
two against one on the g- and h-file (good for White).

Let us neglect the block on the d-file and see if we can still intercept the b-pawn.

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If you try to catch a single pawn with your king, there is a simple rule that goes as follows: ``Starting at the pawn, the diagonal to the last rank spans a square. If your king gets into this square with his next move you can get the pawn.''

Here, the square b1-b5-f5-f1 shows that White's next move has to be something like 3. Kf3.

Next, we take a look at the right side of the board. White's goal here is to reach the following pawn structure:

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It ensures that we can create a passed pawn at any time with g4 and this is what ``keeps Black busy'' and guarantees the draw.

Now we blend in all pieces again and look at the actual moves that have been played.

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3. Kf3 Kf6 4. Ke3 Kf5 5. h3 and the white pawns to the right are ready to give Black something to think about.

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Now what is Black to do? He can not get through on the right flank and when he tries to support his b-pawn

he will give White enough time to block it and
is moving further away from the threat g4.

Feeling the pressure, he decides to make for a change and wants to give White some work with 5. ... b4 6. Kd3 b3 7. Kc3 Ke4.

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Both kings are ready to capture a pawn, but can White stop the d-pawn once it is free? Yes, after 8. Kxb3 Kxd4 9. Kc2 Ke3 10. Kd1

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his way is blocked. Now the ``keep busy'' pattern shows up again and with 10. ... d4 11. g4 hxg4 12. hxg4 the game ends with the final position

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which is a draw. Do not worry too much about all the moves that have been played or could have been played. Try to focus on patterns and memorize how the decomposed pawn structures blend in with the ``keep busy'' theme. That's all this task is about in first place.

Finally, a short word to all you advanced players out there. I did not go into very much depth for this task, so there may be better sidelines and deep and thoughtful variants around somewhere...not to speak of faults and errors.

On purpose, I tried to pick out a single certain aspect-like in the tasks before-in order to present what I designed ChessTask for: as an aid in teaching basic chess concepts to beginners.

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