White to play and checkmate. From this position it will take a minimum of 28
moves to checkmate! And it could only be more moves if you slip along the way.
It could take more or less number of moves if the position is different with the
same pieces. Let us assess the position. 1. White needs to check 50 moves rule.
Check when the rule starts applying and how many moves are left with to force a
win. 2. If White loses one of the pieces, the game will be declared as draw due
to'insufficient' material to force checkmate! 3. With the present set of
available pieces, it is impossible to force a checkmate in the centre. 4. The
Black king would like to stay in the center as long as possible to avoid or
delay checkmate. 5. White should try to force the Black king to one of the two
corners where the corner square can be attacked by the bishop. 6. The
combination of the White pieces must be creating a virtual wall to force the
Black king to the desired corner.
1.Kb2
Kc7
2.Kc3
Kd6
3.Kd4 Driving away from
center
3...Kc6
4.Bf4
Kb5
5.Ne3
Ka5 [5...Ka4
gives away 5 moves advantage to White!
6.Kc5
Ka5
7.Bb8
Ka6
8.Kc6
Ka5
9.Nc2 driving in the right
direction.]
6.Nc4+
Kb4
7.Bd6+
Kb5
8.Kd5 forcing into the
back rank
8...Ka6 Heading towards
the corner square of opposite colour to that of bishop to avoid or delay
checkmate.
9.Kc6
Ka7
10.Nb6
Ka6
11.Bb8
Ka5
12.Nd5
Ka4 Getting the option
of coming out of the edge! [12...Ka6
13.Nb4+
Ka5
14.Kc5
Ka4
15.Kc4
Ka5
16.Bc7+
Ka4
17.Nd3
Ka3
18.Be5
Ka4
19.Bc3
Ka3
20.Bb4+
Ka2 (If
20...Ka4
21.Nb2# Checkmate!)
21.Kc3
Kb1
22.Kb3
Ka1
23.Kc2
Ka2
24.Nc1+
Ka1
25.Bc3# ]
13.Be5
Kb3
14.Ne3 Do you see the
wall?
14...Kb4
15.Kb6
Ka4
16.Bc3
Kb3
17.Bd2 The wall is
closing in..
17...Ka4
18.Kc5
Kb3
19.Kd4
Ka4
20.Kc4
Ka3
21.Nd1
Ka4 Trying to run away?
22.Nb2+ [If
22.Bb4 Stalemate and draw!!]
22...Ka3
23.Kc3
Ka2
24.Nc4 The Black king is
forced to the right corner and left with 3 squares to move around!
24...Kb1
25.Kb3 occupation of the
vital square and cutting down Black's option
25...Ka1
26.Be3 [If
26.Na3 Stalemate and draw!]
26...Kb1
27.Na3+
Ka1
28.Bd4# What do we learn
from this? If the game is going to be lost on material, finish off your
opponents pawns even if you have to hand over a couple of pieces like these! It
is not easy for most people. And be prepared to face an opponent who could do it
to you! It may take several hours or days of practice to figure out how the wall
is applied to force the opponents king to the right corner. 1-0