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Subject: Re: A difficult endgame to be solved by chess programs

Author: Robin Smith

Date: 11:34:09 06/09/01

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On June 09, 2001 at 13:20:52, Otello Gnaramori wrote:

>I have submitted the following position to various programs like Shredder, Fritz
>6 and SOS.
>
>Black should be able to play and draw :
>
>[D]8/7p/4k1p1/2BpPp2/1Pb2P1P/8/5KP1/8 b
>
>White has two passed pawns and threatens q-side penetration on black squares.
>
>Fritz 6 and SOS 2000 think that the right answer is 1...Bd3 2.Ke3 Bf1
>
>Shredder 5 goes for 1...Bb5 2.Ke3 Be8
>
>The score for the programs at the end of the 2nd move is about -1.5 pawns so it
>is not a clear draw.
>
>I'm not an expert chess player so I'm asking which program is right ?
>
>Thanks in advance.

Programs often struggle with bishops of opposite color endings like this one.
Black should set up a fortress (a hard concept for computers) to prevent white's
king from invading the queen side.  In this position I think giving up another
pawn with 1....d4! 2.Bxd4 h5 and then 3....Kd5 & 4.... Bb5 and black has set up
a nice fortress which white cannot break without giving back a pawn.  A good
indication when you have set up a successfull fortress is computer evaluations
will stay flat as search depth increases.  This game should be a draw.

Robin



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