BtM 16A: Knights and pawns

October 1988, Position H

Black to play

Godena - Seirawan, Lugano 1988

Contributions to the comments box are welcome. I’ll reply with what the Masters have to say about their choice to anybody who suggests a move.

Scroll down to see some commentary from me and the Masters’ feedback.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

For today’s position the first question to ask is going to be, "why can’t Black just promote the h-pawn". The answer: "Well you can, but …." Then it’s a case of what you’re going to do about the "but". White’s mating threat means Black’s analysis has to be accurate.

Shirov once said that his favourite phase of a chess game was the ending since that was where he could use his powers of calculation to their fullest. I think he might have enjoyed today’s problem.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

POINTS

10: … Nc6

7:  … Nb5

2:  … Nc8

1:  … h2

MASTERS

… Nc6: Kosten, Conquest, Davies, Flear, Norwood, K. Arkell, P. Littlewood, Botterill

… Nb5: Howell, Pein 

SOURCE

1 … h2, Godena - Seirawan, Lugano 1988