Author: Jorge Pichard
Date: 12:47:53 03/18/03
This is a very difficult position for most chess programs. [D]8/8/6k1/2p1p3/2P1P1K1/3N4/8/b7 w - - 0 1 This position was given by Pachman in the third volume of his "Complete Chess Strategy" trilogy to illustrate a position where a computer would have great difficulty finding the right idea. In fairness, it might be added that most humans would fail this particular test; indeed in the game Pachman grabbed the pawn. 1.Kxc5? This obvious, materialistic move throws away the win' "White's c-pawn cannot be advanced to the queening square without the help of the king, but this allows Black to counter by attacking the e-pawn"- Pachman. Supposing it were instead Black to move, the following variation is enlightening: 1... Bd4 2. Ne1 Bf2 3. Nf3 Kf6 or 3...Bd4 4. Kh4+ Kf6 5. Kf5 4. Kh5 Bg3 5. Nh4 Bf2 6. Nf5 Bg1 7. Nh6 Bd4 8. Ng4+ Ke6 9. Kg6 [D]8/8/4k1K1/2p1p3/2PbP1N1/8/8/8 b - - 0 9 White will now play Kf6-h7-g5+, etc and win easily. However, if there were no black pawn on c5, then Black would have sufficient counterplay to hold the draw, since his King could use the c5-square to attack White's pawns. Thus in our start position, White should NOT take the c-pawn, but instead make progress on the kingside by manoeuvering his knight. [D]8/8/4k3/2p1p1K1/2PbP1N1/8/8/8 b - - 0 9 Pichard.
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