Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from an old edition of Chess Magazine. I don’t know which one, because, as is my habit, from time to time I photocopy a page to solve on walks or on trains etc; and my copy doesn’t show the magazine date.

As is my custom, I only say 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.

Black to play and draw

K Arkell v K Toma, Hull 30/7/2018

Solution

In the game, Black played 1…Kf7 and lost; a typical Arkell endgame grind.

I struggled (failed) this one: trying to make 1…Be4 or 1…g5 a draw, without success.

But 1…Ke7 is a draw: I don’t really know how/why, but having played around with a few lines, can just about see that it is. The engines are their unhelpful best selves, showing 0.00 as tablebase outcomes.

(Having spent a good while on this puzzle, I am not much the wiser. It seems to be just a matter of calculation; after 1…Ke7, 2 e5+ can be met by 2…Bc6+ pushing the k away; whereas if 1…Kf7 2 e5+ then 2…Ba6+ is met by 3 Kd6).

FEN

8/8/5kp1/3K4/3NPP2/8/8/1b6 b – – 0 54