Show me what you've got! Take this puzzle on!

As Jeslin pointed out, this post has been long overdue. I apologise for the delay, having being caught up in a vicious cycle of schoolwork and sickness. (You would indubitably know that they are correlated!) Anyway, on a side note, I borrowed a chess book from the library entitled "Solving in Style", written by the legendary John Nunn. It is also long overdue, apart from the fact that it incurs a much higher cost. Up to date, it must have cost me 5 precious dollars. Nevertheless, I somehow feel that the opportunity cost of returning it is higher. How so, I cannot hope to fathom, as the book has been gathering dust on my study table alongside the other books such as Freakonomics and Yitiantulongji, probably waiting its turn to be picked up 5 minutes before I fall asleep.

However, it must be said that the book is of substantial, extraordinary quality. John Nunn gives the reader an insight into how to solve the extremely complex 2 or 3 mover mates puzzles, which IM Ashot has been showing a marked hinge for, never failing to supply a few for training. It is really enlightening when John Nunn analyses a position and explains the subtleties, eliminating move after move. Maybe I should read more of it and compete with Brandon for the title of "best puzzle solver", which Ashot has most graciously conferred onto him after he solved puzzles that even top grandmasters are at a loss to.

Moving on to the real purpose of this post, I have a puzzle to present. It is taken from Irving Chernev's 200 Brilliant Endgames, which I have currently taken a fancy to. Just a note: do note that it is no amateurish puzzle and I suggest that you do not attempt it unless you have loads of time to spare. Nonetheless, you should look at the solution and see for yourself how powerful the king really is in the endgame! =) Well, here goes.

Chekhover, 1937
White to play and win

Now, this is no fiasco even though white has 15 points on the board as compared to black's 11. It is certainly no easy win for white. Let me do a quick explanation. As you can see, white's pieces are not at liberty to move. Should the queen move anywhere along the h file, Black will simply move his light square bishop and promote his f pawn the following move. Should White's queen leave the h file, the rook will be left hanging and once lost, would be decisive in Black's favour instead. The rook can only move by taking the knight or the g pawn, which obviously leads to an immediate lost. As such, only the king is free to move.

On the other hand, Black is also stuck. His f and g pawns are immobilised by the king and bishop, and any attempt to move the bishop would lead to checkmate on g2. Also, any knight move would just be giving a free piece. As such, his only movable piece is the knight on h8. (if White promotes after Black moves his knight, Black simply sacrifices his knight and follows his plan of moving the light square bishop and promoting.)

So whats the plan! A decent player would then conclude: Move the King! Since Black's knight is only limited to the f7, g6, and h8 trio of squares, just march the king all the way to that corner and capture the knight and end this one- sided battle! But is it that easy? Do remember that White's king must tread carefully. Should it venture to step on the wrong path i.e. any white square, Black will take the opportunity to "fan3 bai4 wei2 sheng4", and snatch a win out of a lost position.

Consider- 1. Kb2 Nf7 2. Kc3 Nh8 3. Kd4 Nf7 4. Kc5 Nh8

(I apologise for the bottom squares being cut off, shall try and solve the problem) Well now if White just takes the direct approach and plays Kd6, Black can stop his advance by playing the precise Ng6! and White's King and advance no further as the dark squares are controlled by the knight and the light squares are taboo. (if 5. Kd6 Nf7+? 6. Ke7 1-0)

So how does White win this, with only a king to manoevre? Or will he be held to a draw by the persistent knight? The answer:

1. Kb2 Nf7 2. Kc3 Nh8 3. Kd4 Nf7 4. Kc5 Nh8 5. Kb6 Nf7 6. Ka7 Nh8 7. Ka8!!

This magical square allows white to win a move, and subsequently the game since black's knight would no longer be in tandem to defend the dark squares when the king marches in. (This is the only white square which does not allow a check from the enemy bishop) The rest is rather easy, though black still creates some problems for white.

7. ... Nf7 8. Kb8 Nh8 9. Kc7 Nf7! (preventing Kd6 and Kd8) 10. Kb6 Nh8 11. Kc5 Ng6 12. Kd4 Nh8 13. Ke5 Nf7+ 14. Kf6 Nh8 15. Kg7 Nf7

The last trap from Black. Now, should White be too hasty and takes the knight, or by sheer unluckiness touches the knight accidentally, Black saves himself with Bc4+and f1Q.

But with accurate play as follows, White wins- 16. h8Q! Nxh8 17. Kxh8 1-0 Black will be forced to move either bishop or knight after which the game is over.

Hope you enjoyed this puzzle- The march of the King! (Fritz couldnt solve it so you must be quite good if you can!)