Test your chess: daily chess puzzle # 60

White to play and win

Black plays Kf6 in this position; a blunder, why?

D Isaacson v R Morris 1963

Solution

I think anyone can forgive black for playing the natural Kf6, and forgive white for replying (as he did) with Kd4, after which black retreated his king, never to return to f6, and a draw was soon agreed. Black should instead have just oscillated with his King between e7 and e8, and white can make no progress. If he were to move his king too far to the queenside to try to effect a breakthrough then the h pawn will promote, and white can't precede his king excursion with g5, since black would reply with h5, creating a defended passer.

But after 1…Kf6?? White has 2 g5+! forcing 2…hg. White then triangulates with his king, only playing Kg4 when Black's king is on f6, so the g pawns fall, and then it is trivial. White can also block the queen side with tempo, if needed.

Quite pretty, and a useful reminder of how tricky pawn endings can be.

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