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.
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.
