Sunday, 25 August 2019

Opposite Bishops Drama

ASSESS this ending from this afternoon's round five of the Northumbira Challengers.
White to make his 65th move in Spanton (1881/168) - Raj Bhopal (1931/202*)
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65.Ke4?
White wins with the attacking 65.Kd4, eg 65...Bb8 66.Kc5 Kf5 67.Kc6 etc (Komodo10), or 65...g5 66.a6 Bh2 67.Kc5 g4 68.fxg4 hxg4 69.b4 Bg1+ 70.Kc6 Ke5 71.b5 Ke4 72.b6 etc (Stockfish10).
After the text, the game should be drawn.
65...Ke7 66.a6 Bb8 67.b4?
But now White is losing. Correct was 67.f4, when Black seems unable to make progress. One line given by both engines runs 67...f5+ 68.Kf3 Kf6 69.Bc4 e5 70.fxe5+ Kxe5 71.Bf7 Kf6 72.Be8 h4 73.Kg2 g5 74.Kh3. If 67...f6 68.Kf3 g5, then 69.b4, and Black cannot make progress.
67...Ba7?
Winning is 67...f5+ followed by ...g5.
68.b5?
Again f4 draws, with lines similar to those at move 67.
68...Kd6?!
Simpler is 68...g5, followed by ...f5, but the text wins too.
69.Kf4
It is too late for 69.f4 to draw - after 69...f5+ 70.Kf3 e5 71.fxe5+ Kxe5, Black's remaining kingside pawns are unstoppable as there is no pressure from the rear from the white bishop.
69...f6 70.Ke4 g5 71.Bc4 f5+ 72.Kd3 h4 (0-1, 82 moves)
*Most recently published ECF grade - July 2017.

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