Friday 22 March 2019

Win, Lose or Draw?

IN ROUND seven of Bad Wörishofen U2000 I met a player I lost against in 21 moves in 2016 and in 14 moves in 2017.
This year's game lasted considerably longer, but take a look at the critical endgame position reached with White to make his 48th move in Spanton (1890) - Michael Walda (1913).
Is this position a win for White, a draw or a win for Black?
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48.Bxc5??
The game is easily drawn after 48.Ke2 as the try 48...e4?? loses to 49.fxe4 Kxe4 and now 50.Bxc5. The text is an attempt to win, but only succeeds in losing.
48...Kg3 49.Be3 Bxe3 50.Kxe3 a5
Black wins because White's queenside pawns are not fast enough.
51.c5
51.b4 comes to the same thing.
51...Kxg2 52.c6 bxc6 53.b4 Kxh3 54.b5 cxb5 55.axb5 a4 56.Kd3 a3 57.Kc3 a2 58.Kb2 a1=Q+ 59.Kxa1 Kg2 60.b6 h3 61.b7 h2 62.b8=Q h1=Q+ 63.Ka2 Qe1 (0-1, 76 moves)

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