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White to move and Win - The Saavedra position.
Saavedra Position Solution

The study was long thought to be a draw until
a Spanish Priest Fernando Saavedra spotted the winning method in 1895 - including the critical under-promotion to a rook.

The winning line is as follows. 


1. c7 Rd6+
2. Kb5 
(2. Kc5? allows the draw as Black can play Rd1 and then  3...Rc1 capturing the pawn. 
Likewise 2. Kb7? would allow Rd7 pinning the pawn and again forcing a draw)
2...Rd5+
King and pawn now march down the board together
3. Kb4 Rd4+
4. Kb3 Rd3+
5. Kc2!
Now Black cant follow the king any further.
5..Rd4!
Black's best move. Now if White promotes to a queen then W plays Rc4 check and Q x R is stalemate.
6. c8=R!  White underpromotes to a rook threatening Ra8 checkmate.

This is one of the most famous examples of under promotion in chess.

​Black is now threatening Ra8 checkmate.

6...Ra4 - the only move to block the check mate threat
7.Kb3  - winning the rook.

If the rook moves away to avoid capture then black plays Rc1 checkmate. Kb3 therefore wins the rook and the game. 


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