ken@alice.UucP (Ken Thompson) (09/09/85)
White to move: Adjudicate! WK-c7 WP-d5 BK-d4 BB-a7 BB-a8 Submitted on behalf of A. J. Roycroft (editor of EG magazine.)
dpb@philabs.UUCP (Paul Benjamin) (09/10/85)
> White to move: Adjudicate! > WK-c7 > WP-d5 > BK-d4 > BB-a7 > BB-a8 > > Submitted on behalf of A. J. Roycroft > (editor of EG magazine.) 1. d6 is forced, else lose the pawn and the game 1. ... Kc5 2. d7 Bb6+ if 3. Kb8 Be4 4. Kc8 Bf5 wins so 3. Kc8 Kc6 if 4. d8=Q Bb7+ 5. Kb8 Bxd8 wins so 4. d8=N+ Without my ending books handy, I'm just winging this response (I've never seen K+2B vs. K+N). It seems to me that White draws this position, but I'm not totally sure. For instance, if 4. ... Kd6 5. Nb7+ Kc6 6. Nd8+ or 4. ... Kd6 5. Nb7+ K(other than c6) 6. Kb8 draws. If Black's king goes around to a6 instead, then White's king gets away from the edge.
larry@cca.UUCP (Laurence Schmitt) (09/10/85)
> > > White to move: Adjudicate! > WK-c7 > WP-d5 > BK-d4 > BB-a7 > BB-a8 > > Submitted on behalf of A. J. Roycroft [by Ken Thompson] > (editor of EG magazine.) Don't look further if you don't want my answer... My analysis says it's a draw: 1. d6 Kc5 2. d7 Bb6+ 3. Kc8 Kc6 4. d8=N+! The key move. If instead 4. d8=Q, Black wins with 4...Bb7+ 5. Kb8 B:d8. I'm not sure what the general case is of 2 B's vs. a N (i.e., whether or not there are any tricks for the weaker side to beware), but the given position is completely drawn because of the plight of the Black B on a8: Try 4...Kd6 5. Nb7+ Kc6 (or 5...K other 6. Kb8) 6. Kb8 and Black either stalemates or loses his B. Similarly 4...Kb8 5. Nb7 Ka6 6. Kb8! -Larry Schmitt
halle@hou2b.UUCP (J.HALLE) (09/13/85)
How about 1. ... Bc5 Now black will win the pawn but lose the bishop, bringing the ending to one bishop vs. nothing. Again a draw.
ken@alice.UucP (Ken Thompson) (11/11/85)
belle's first problem: WK ?? WQ c5 WN c6 BK c8 BQ c7 place the WK anywhere and then white-to-move. white to win. with some help from AJ Roycroft and K Thompson.
ken@alice.UucP (Ken Thompson) (11/19/85)
belle's second composition: WK b8 WQ e8 WR b5 BK a6 BQ f6 this is a VERY unique position, why?