Endgame Survival Training #3
After this pawn ending we will move onto other themes.
Ending with few pieces on the board are often the hardest because a slight mistake results in the loss of a half- or full-point. In this position white has a chance to win this position, however there are subtleties and care must be taken or the full-point is lost. How does white proceed?
White to play and win!
White plays 1.kb1 now if 1….a3, then 2.b3 ke6 3.ka2 kd6 4.kxa3 kc5 5.ka4 kb6 6.kb4 wins. If 1….ke6 then 2.ka2 kd6 3.ka3 kc6 4.kxa4 kb6 5.kb4 wins. If 4….kc5 then 5.ka5 kc6 6.b4 kb7 7.kb5 wins.