User manual

A SACRIFICIAL BREAKTHROUGH FOR PROMOTION

Here White has a very neat way to win. The idea is to force through one of

his pawns to promotion before the black king can rush back to the queen’s

side. Can you see how?

1 b5-b6!! a7xb6

If Black tried 1 ... c7xb6 then 2 a5-a6!! sacrifices a second pawn to decoy the

black pawn on b7 away from its defense of c6: 2 ... b7xa6 3 c5-c6, followed by

4 c6-c7 and 5 c7-c8=Q, winning.

Black sees what is about to happen and rushes back to try to stop White from

p r o m o t i n g .

2 a 3 - a 4 K g 8 - f 8

3 b 4 - b 5 a 6 x b 5

4 a4-a5!!

The only good move. If White recaptures on b5 Black can catch the passed

pawn in time: 4 a4xb5 Kf8-e7 5 b5-b6 Ke7-d7 6 b6-b7 Kd7-c7, and the

white pawn will be captured so the game will end in a draw.

4 ... b 5 - b 4

5 a 5 - a 6 b 4 - b 3

6 K e 4 - d 3

and White’s king prevents the black b-pawn from promoting so White will be

able to promote his own a-pawn for an easy win.