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Knight and Pawn Ending

Submitted by wizzifnab on Mon, 09/10/2007 at 7:41pm.

My nephew and I were looking over this position and wondering if it was a draw.  It seems like it to me.  If it is, I wonder if with a little variation it would be winable by white?

I just came across a post by likeforests, The Endgame Tactician: Knight vs Pawn and I'm wondering if he would have some insight so I'll post a link in his comments (for some reason I can't add a chess position to a comment).

» posted in wizzifnab's Blog
 

Comments:

by wizzifnab - 11 months ago
Little Elm, TX United States
Member Since: Sep 2007
Member Points: 69
It also doesn't look like there is any chance for black to cross-over his King and Knight.  It doesn't appear that black's King can get into the square of the 'a' pawn, without white having advanced his 'f' pawn too far for the black Knight to get over to guard any advance squares.  Guarding the corner wouldn't work for him, but I don't think he can even do that.
by likesforests - 11 months ago
United States
Member Since: May 2007
Member Points: 2942
A sample line:

1. a5 Nc5 2. Kg3 Kh6 3. Kh4 Kg6 4. Kg3 Kh5 5. Kh3 Kg6 =

by likesforests - 11 months ago
United States
Member Since: May 2007
Member Points: 2942

"My nephew and I were looking over this position and wondering if it was a draw"

 

It's a draw. Black's knight blockades the a-pawn, while Black's king protects his f-pawns and prevents infilitration by the enemy king.


White's king can't penetrate along the h-file because 1.Kg3 Kh6 2.Kh4 Kg6 and Black's king can shuttle back and forth between g6 and h6, but White only has the one h4-square. White king also can't cross over to the queenside for a couple reasons: a. The knight will find a way to fork the king and a-pawn. b. Black's king will have time to reach h4 and win White's f-pawn if the White king wanders too far away.

 

" I wonder if with a little variation it would be winable by white?"

 

If you remove either one of Black's f-pawns, it's still drawn. But if you remove both of Black's f-pawns, it's winnable. 

 

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