King and pawn v King

[davieddy]

Win or draw?
I realise that chess is not everyone's "cup of tea",
but this simplest of end games is delightfully non-trivial
and entertaining.
I present this "puzzle" in honour of the late (even if not particularly lamented)
Bobby Fischer.

David

[retina]

Don't you need to show a board position or something? I would imagine the specific arrangement would be somewhat important.

[davieddy]

Originally Posted by retina

Don't you need to show a board position or something? I would imagine the specific arrangement would be somewhat important.

It is.

[xilman]

Originally Posted by davieddy

Win or draw?
I realise that chess is not everyone's "cup of tea",
but this simplest of end games is delightfully non-trivial
and entertaining.
I present this "puzzle" in honour of the late (even if not particularly lamented)
Bobby Fischer.

David

The standard answer is that if the pawn is on the a or h files and the lone king can get ahead of it on the same file, the game is drawn. Otherwise the pawn can be promoted and the game won by the superior force.


Paul

[davieddy]

Originally Posted by xilman

The standard answer is that if the pawn is on the a or h files and the lone king can get ahead of it on the same file, the game is drawn. Otherwise the pawn can be promoted and the game won by the superior force.


Paul

That is the answer I knew and asserted to Paul Seymour. With a book
or (more likely) without, he showed how to achieve stalemate
against a pawn in the middle of the board.

Appropriately enough circa 1970

[davieddy]

Originally Posted by davieddy

That is the answer I knew and asserted to Paul Seymour. With a book
or (more likely) without, he showed how to achieve stalemate
against a pawn in the middle of the board.

Appropriately enough circa 1970

If someone can show the critical position I would be gratfeul.
One of the required moves is counter-intuitve.

[davieddy]

Originally Posted by xilman

The standard answer is that if the pawn is on the a or h files and the lone king can get ahead of it on the same file, the game is drawn. Otherwise the pawn can be promoted and the game won by the superior force.


Paul

OK if truth be told, I was hoping for an answer like
this from an esteemed correspondent.
Ernst?
David
Sorry Paul. Just couldn't resist.

[davieddy]

Originally Posted by xilman

The standard answer is that if the pawn is on the a or h files and the lone king can get ahead of it on the same file, the game is drawn. Otherwise the pawn can be promoted and the game won by the superior force


Paul

OK. "getting ahead on the same file" is close enough for me.
Sorry for any embarrassment
But you meant "or" instead of "and".

[Jay]

Reubin Fine did an excellent book/study on End Game Tactics. He covers the lone king+pawn as well as numerous other common endings.

My advice is to pick up a copy of his book.

[davieddy]

Originally Posted by Jay

Reubin Fine did an excellent book/study on End Game Tactics. He covers the lone king+pawn as well as numerous other common endings.

My advice is to pick up a copy of his book.

THX but I'm getting too old to learn new tricks

[davieddy]

Originally Posted by davieddy

But you meant "or" instead of "and".

OR perhaps you didn't. Don't ypu just hate Logic