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Thomas Witke vs Juraj Nikolac
/ (1986), ?
Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation (A55)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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Given 13 times; par: 37 [what's this?]

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Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 3 OF 3 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Jul-11-09  remolino: I got 29.Rxf6 Kxf6, 30.Rxe5 with ample possibilities given that rook cannot be captured. seems straightforward for a Saturday, so there must be something else?

Time to check

Jul-11-09  UnsoundHero: Black looks like he has a strong fortress built around his Kf7. But white surrounds it with his 4 main pieces.

But what struck me as so amusing is the fortress that's built around Black's QUEEN. It's almost as if Black is preserving it for next game. Perhaps Black's queen is still in contract negotiations.

Jul-11-09  crippledpawn: 29.Rxf6+ Kxf6 30.Bxe5+ Rxe5 31.Qxf8+ Ke6 32.Qg8+ Bf7 33.Qc8+ Kd6 34.Qf8+ Ke6 35.Qh6+ Kd5 36.Rd1+ Ke4 37.f3+ Kf5 38.g4# Here is how I sliced the pie today. Not my type of play or opening, but interesting.
Jul-11-09  moonrain: Interesting, was that a simultaneous game? Not so impressive records for the winner beating Nikolac who must have been GM that time.
Jul-11-09  lippizan: I found
29. Rxf6+ Kxf6
30. Bxe5+ Rxe5
31. Qxf8+ Ke6
32. Qg8+ Bf7
but I then resolved with 33. Rxe5+ Kxe5 34. Qxf7, trying to win the game with three kingside passed pawns, although Black's queenside pawns are more advanced. Is there a problem with this strategy?
Jul-11-09  Summerfruit: White has a rook for a bishop and a knight.

Black's queen is out of play and his king's position is vulnerable. All white pieces are well poised for attack:

29.Rxf6+! Kxf6 30.Qf4+ utilizing the pin by he bishop at b2.

Black has the following responses:

a) 30...Bf5 31.g4, white restores the material balance with attack.

b) 30...Ke6 31.Qxe5+ Kd7 (31...Kf7 32.Qg7#+) 32.Qg7+

b1: 32...Kc8 33.Rxe8+ Bxe8 34.Qxf8 pinning the bishop and threatning to capture it with check:

b11: 34...Qd8 35.Qxc5, white is two pawns up with three connected passed pawns and should win without difficulty.

b12: 34...Kd7 35.Bf6

Now the threat is 36.Qe7+ winning the bishop:

b121: 35...Qb8 36.Qe7+ Kc8 37.Qxe8+ winning.

b122: 35...Bg6 36.Qg7+ winning the bishop.

b123: 35...Bh5 36.g4 and the bishop is lost.

b13: 34...Kd8 35.Bf6+ Kd7 36.Qe7+ winning the bishop.

b2: 32...Kd8 33.Bf6+ Kc8 34.Rxe8+ Bxe8 35.Qxf8 winning the bishop.

b3: 32...Kd6 33.Rd1+ Ke6 34.Qf6#

c) 30...Ke7 31.Qxe5+ Kd8 (31...Kf7 32.Qg7# and 31...Kd7 tranposes to b)) 32.Qd6+

c1: 32...Kc8 33.Rxe8+ Bxe8 34.Qxf8 transposes to b1.

c2: 32...Nd7 33.Rd1

c21: 33...Re7 34.Bf6 winning.

c22: 33...Bf5 34.Qf6+ winning.

c23: 33...Qc7/b7/a7 34.Qxg6 winning.

d) 30...Kg7 31.Bxe5+

d1) 31...Rxe5 32.Qxe5+

d11: 32...Kg8 33.Qf6 and the threat 34.Re7 wins for white.

d12: 32...Kf7 33.Qe7+ Kg8 34.Qf6 transposes to d11.

d13: 32...Kh7 33.Qe7+

d131: 34...Kg8 35.Qf6 transposes to d11.

d132: 34...Kh8 35.Qf6+ Kg8(Kh7) 36.Re7(+) winning.

d133: 34...Kh6 35.Qh4+ Kg7 36.Re7+ winning.

d14: 32...Kh6 33.Qf4+ Kg7(Kh7) 34.Re7+ winning.

d2) 31...Kh7 32.Qh4+ Kg8 33.Qh8+ Kf7 34.Qg7+ Ke6 35.Bc7+ winning the queen.

d3) 31...Kg8 32.Qf6 threatning mate:

d31: 32...Qc7/Qb7/Qa7 33.Qh8+ Kf7 34.Qg7+ winning the queen.

d32: 32...Ne6 33.Qxg6+ Kf8 34.Bd6+ Re7 35.Rxe6 winning.

d33: 32....Rxe5 33.Rxe5, and the threat 34.Re7 cannot be parried, white wins.

Jul-11-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  sbevan: So I'll try this:
for Black, the black square B, with the R protect e5; for White
1. if the Q could play to h7, its mate. But the N on f8 and the B on g6 both protect the h7 square. What else? If the Q could take on f8, its also mate.
Check's the only forcing move so what check does W have that gives a forced sequence, such that the Q can take on f8?

How about:
29. Rxf6 Kxf6 (forced)
30. Bxe5 Rxe5 (also forced, as if the K moves to the e file, the move Bc7 discovery forces anyway)

31. Qxf8.

Time to check

Jul-11-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  sbevan: Don't know why Black didn't resign after Qxf8
Jul-11-09  TheChessGuy: Hmm. Missed yesterday, but got it today. Black's queen would need to get on a plane to get back into the game.
Jul-11-09  SpoiltVictorianChild: I saw the opening combo up to Qxf8, but not the following checks to set up mate. I figured the 3 passed pawns would win the game...
Jul-11-09  Nullifidian: The obvious feature here is that the Black queen is blocked in at the b6 square, so a series of forcing moves will keep it out of the game. The most forcing moves possible are checks, so here's my solution:

29. ♖xf6+ ♔xf6 30. ♗xe5+ ♖xe5 31. ♕xf8+ ♔e6 32. ♕g8+ ♗f7 (♔g5 33. g4+ and now the only move that doesn't lead immediately to checkmate is ♔f6, followed by 34. ♕h8+ when the rook will fall on the next move) and now 33. ♕g4+ to win the other rook:

33. ... ♔d5?? loses to 33. ♕d7#

33. ... ♔d6 is met by 34. ♕f4, pinning the rook and picking it up with 34. ♖xe5 on the next move.

33. ... ♔f6 is followed by 34. ♕f4+ and now the only reasonable move is to abandon the rook with ♔g6.

Time to check.

I see Witke played another move at 33, but I think mine was slightly better.

Jul-11-09  kevin86: Evidently this is a rerun-since it was commented on as a problem in Sept of 07.It was a good one-however.
Jul-11-09  Summerfruit: I missed the best line (after 29.Rxf6 Kxf6) 30.Bxe5+, and went for the second best (according to computer analysis) 30.Qf4+. Rybka 3 evaluates this line (best moves for both sides):

30...Ke6 31.Qxe5+ Kd7 32.Qg7+ Kc8 33.Rxe8+ Bxe8 34.Qxf8 Qd8 35.Qxc5 around +2.4.

Although I failed to solve today's puzzle I find some consolation in having found the second best line, which also wins.

Jul-11-09  agb2002: Black has B+N for one rook but his king is surrounded by all White pieces. The first idea that comes to mind is to destroy the defense with 29.Rxf6+:

A) 29... Kxf6 30.Bxe5+

A.1) 30... Rxe5 31.Qxf8+ Ke6 (31... Bf7 32.Qh8+) 32.Qg8+ Bf7 (31... Kf6 32.Qh8+; 31... Kd6 32.Qxg6+ Kd5 33.Rd1#) 33.Qc8+ Kd6 (33... Kd5 34.Qd7#; 33... Kf6 34.Qh8+) 34.Qf8+ Ke6 (34... Kd5 35.Qxf7+ Kd4(6) 36.Qf4(6)+) 35.Qh6+

A.1.a) 35... Kd5 36.Rd1+ Ke5 37.f3+ Kf5 38.g4#.

A.1.b) 35... Kf5 36.g4#.

A.1.c) 35... Bg6 36.Qxg6+ Kd5 37.Qf7+ Kd4(6) 38.Qf4(6)+ + -.

A.2) 30... Kf7 31.Qg7+ Ke6 32.Bc7+

A.2.a) 32... Kd5 33.Re5+ Rd4 (33... Rxe5 34.Qxe5#) 34.Rxe8+ + -.

A.2.b) 32... Kf5 33.Re5+ Rf4 (33... Rxe5 34.Qxe5#) 34.Qf6+ Bf5 35.Qxf5#.

A.3) 30... Kf5 31.Qf4+ Ke6 32.Bc7+ Kd7 (32... Kd5 33.Qd2+ Bd3 34.Qxd3#) 33.Rxe8 Qxc7 34.Qxf8 (or 34.Re7+) + -.

A.4) 30... Ke6 31.Bc7+

A.4.a) 31... Kd7 32.Qg7+ Kc8 33.Rxe8+ Bxe8 34.Bxb6 + -.

A.4.b) 31... Kd5 32.Qd2+ Bd3 33.Qxd3#.

A.4.c) 31... Kf7 32.Rxe8 Kxe8 (32... Qxc7 33.Qxf8#) 33.Bxb6 + -.

A.4.d) 31... Kf6 32.Qh8+ Kf7 (32... Kf5 33.g4+ Kg5 34.f4#; 32... Kg5 33.f4+ Kf5 34.g4#) 33.Rxe8 + - as in A.4.c.

A.4.e) 31... Kf5 32.Qf4#.

B) 29... Ke7 30.Qg7+ Kd8 31.Rd1+ Kc8 32.Rxf8 + -.

C) 29... Kg8 30.Rxf8+ Rxf8 31.Qxg6+ Kh8 32.Bxe5+ Rf6 33.Bxf6#.

Jul-11-09  stacase: I departed from the play line with 33 Rxe5 which leaves White with three passed pawns. And Queen against Queen. I think I'd win with that.
Jul-11-09  stacase: And after I read through the comments I found that lippizan wrote:

"... but I then resolved with 33. Rxe5+ Kxe5 34. Qxf7, trying to win the game with three kingside passed pawns, although Black's queenside pawns are more advanced. Is there a problem with this strategy?"

Looks good to me!

Jul-11-09  WhiteRook48: I got the first two moves
Jul-11-09  goodevans: We teach our kids to tuck their king away behind a barrier of pawns and get the queen out there in the open with the other pieces. Looking at the position at move 20 you'd think black just got these two ideas confused!
Jul-11-09  David2009: <dzechiel> and other solvers have developed the excellent habit of writing out their analyis before consulting the solution. I shall emulate them.

White is material down in the original position. Passive defence won't work: Black is threatening to mobilise his Q side majority supported by the two Bishops.

A tactical line leaps out of the position: 29 Rxf6+ Kxf6 30 Rxe5 and now (A) ... 31 Rxe5 31 Qh8+ Ke7 (31 ... Kf7 leaves Black vulnerable to long diagonal checks) 32 Qxe5+. Alternatively (B) 30 ...Kf7 31 Qh8 probably transposes.

Time to take stock. No immediate forced win, but White has 3 passed K side pawns for a N and Bishops of opposite colours. Black has an exposed King. The Nf8 and Bg6 are vulnerable. All in all, White has good practical chances in the ending.

So from a practical point of view the tactical line seems forced. I don't know if it wins or not: the point is it is the best pragmatic line. Time to check. ==============

Egg on my face. The game line is clearly better. My line is absurd: my final position is


click for larger view

but Qxf8+ as in the game is better that Qh8+. Better luck next week.

Jul-11-09  David2009: I have now had tinme to read the kibitzes from more successful players. Interestingly <dzechiel> and I both found the same (wrong) line. Is this a case of "Great minds run in the same channels" or "Fools think alike"?
Jul-11-09  vajeer: What if black plays 32....Kf6 then I guess white can only respond by playing 33.Rxe5 Kxe5 34.Qxg6
I am not sure if this is clearly won endgame for white
Jul-11-09  Marmot PFL: I must be tired this week. For me this looked harder than some of the sundays.
Jul-11-09  Artar1: I solved the problem. I feel good about my efforts. I have been working on 20 or more tactical problems a day, and it has helped.
Jul-11-09  butilikefur: <29. Rxf6+ Kxf6 30. Qf4+ Ke7> 30...Kg7 31. Bxe5+ Rxe5 (31...Kg8 32. Qf6 Rxe5 33. Rxe5 with 34. Re7) 32. Qxe5+ Kg8 33. Qe7 followed by 34. Re3 and 35. Rg3

Another defense is 30...Bf5 31. Bxe5+ Kg6 32. Qg3+ Kh5 33. Qg7 Ng6 34. g4+ Kg5 35. Bf6+ Kf4 36. Qh6+ Kf3 37. Re3+

<31. Bxe5 Kd8 32. Bf6+ Kc8 33. Qg4+ Kc7> 33...Nd7 34. Rd1 (34. Rxe8 Bxe8 35. Qe6 Bg6 36. Bh4 Bh7 37. Qe8+ might also be winning) Qc7 35. Qxg6

<34. Rxe8 Bxe8 35. Qg8 Nd7 36. Qxe8 Nxf6 37. Qe5+> leaves White with a winning endgame.

Here are some other interesting combinations that unfortunately don't work:

29. Bxe5 Rxe5 30. Rxf6+ Kxf6 31. Qxf8+ Ke6 (31...Bf8 32. Qh8+) 32. Rxe5+ Kxe5 33. Qe7+ Kf5 (33...Kf4 34. Qf6+ Bf5 35. g4; 33...Kd5 34. Qg5+) 34. g4+ Kf4 35. Qe3+ mate but there is no good continuation after 29...Bxe5 30. Rxg6 Nxg6 31. Qh7+ Kf6

29. Qf4 exf4 30. Rxf6+ Kg8 31. Rxg6+ Nxg6 32. Rxe8+ Kf7

Jul-11-09  tivrfoa: 29 is not very difficult. 30 is xD
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