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Subject: Interesting pawn ending

Author: Gerrit Reubold

Date: 14:27:05 11/19/99


The following position was reached during analysis of the game Matanovic -
Botwinnik, 1969. The key move was found by Geller.

White to move, find the only drawing move:
8/8/8/p4p2/P6k/3K3P/8/8 w - - 0 1

There are only two moves to be considered: Ke3 and Ke2, all other moves lose
immediately.
Although there are only kings and four pawns, it is not simple. I would be
surprised if any program would find the solution (solution means: sensible main
variation and draw score).

The variations are:
A) 1. Ke2? Kg3 2. h4 (2. Ke3 f4+) ... Kxh4 3. Kf3 Kg5 -+ (the black king
captures a4, and the white king won't reach c1 in time)
b) 1. Ke3!! Kg3 2. Ke2 f4 3. Kf1 Kxh3 4. Kf2 Kg4 (the black pawn at f4 draws
(pawn at f5 wins!), white will reach c1 just in time!)

I am sure that many programs will find Ke3!! by chance (as does my program,
Bringer), but is there any program that scores this as a draw?

Greetings,
Gerrit



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