Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from my first ever Rook and Bishop v Rook ending, from either side. Fortunately I had the bishop, and fortunately I knew enough how to trick black, a Croatian IM, and win.

Since the start of 2018, I have decided to adopt the style of only saying which side is to play: and not giving an idea if the move wins or otherwise, unless on occasion I think signposting would be helpful. Instead, the problems are posed with the instruction to decide what you would play, as in a game.

White to play, after Black’s last move, Re1-e2??

Allan Beardsworth v Milan Franic, chess.com 2/10/18

Solution

1 Ke6 is a forced mate, as I recalled from studying a series of articles by Matthew Sadler whilst on summer holiday last year.

1…Kg8 2 Rg7+! Kf8[] (otherwise the rook hangs 3 Rh7 and Black resigned.

If say 3…Rg2, then the White rook swings to the queenside, 4 Rc7 and the best that Black can do is let his Rook be skewered by the worth-being-remembered manoeuvre 4…Kg7 5 Rc8+ Kh8[] 6 Rh8+ Kg6[] 7 Rg8 mate: one of the standard motif’s Matthew’s articles point out.

Matthew Sadler’s articles are here:

https://matthewsadler.me.uk/the-endgame/rook-bishop-vs-rook-part-i/

https://matthewsadler.me.uk/the-endgame/rook-bishop-vs-rook-part-ii/

https://matthewsadler.me.uk/the-endgame/rook-bishop-vs-rook-part-iii/

The articles are well worth reading, and his blog (which seems, alas, to have now become only occasional, is always excellent and interesting.

Post script

Since drafting this note, I suspect I know why Matthew has been less active on his blog: he has been writing a new book, due out next year, on Alphazero and the development of chess/AI.

And if you haven’t seen them, see Matthew’s three wonderful videos on Games 1-8 of Carlsen- Caruana here.  Three inspirational, wonderful videos, Matthew showing excellent presentation skills to go with her superb knowledge.

Prediction: it will be the ECF Book of the Year 2019.

Extra homework

In the initial diagram, it is worth:

-understanding why Black’s last move, Re1-e2, loses;

-and whether/why Re1-b1 would be a draw instead;

-and whether Re1-b1 is the only move to draw, if it does draw.

That’s homework for me, too!

FEN

5k2/2R5/3K4/4B3/8/8/8/4r3 b – – 0 3