Endgame analysis

[Arpad Rusz]

I propose a permanent topic for endgame analysis. So if you have some nice endgames maybe this is the place to show us.

1.R.Petrak, Ceskoslovensky Sach, 1991
[D]4k3/8/7p/p3p1pP/Pp1pPpP1/1PpP1P2/2P5/3QK3 w - - 0 1

It's a draw or white wins?

2.P.Cathignol, Themes-64, 1981
[D]5k2/8/pppppppp/8/PPPPPPPP/8/8/5K2 w - - 0 1

Another position with 16 pawns. White wins!

[Arpad Rusz]

3.O. Bláthy, Vielzügige Schachaufgaben, 1890
[D]1k6/1P3ppp/P1p5/1pP5/p1p3p1/2P1K1P1/1P3P1P/8 w - - 0 1

White wins

This is easy to solve... by the human players.

[Tom Barrister]

Are we supposed to let the engines try to solve these, post the solutions ourselves, or solve them silently and let others try them as well?

[Damir]

Draw maybe ?

[Arpad Rusz]

Probably the best would be to give a few hours for the others to try to solve the positions. After that anybody is free to post the solutions.
The first three positions were already posted last night, so now it's time for solutions.

(Hint1) The first position is not a draw!

[Damir]

I meant the last, not the first...

[Arpad Rusz]

All three endgames are wins for white!

[Jouni]

2. is easy for SF 2 (if correct ):

Analysis by Stockfish 2.0 JA 64bit:

1.d5 cxd5 2.a5 bxa5 3.b5 axb5 4.cxb5 Ke7 5.b6 Kd7 6.b7 Kc7 7.g5 hxg5 8.f5 gxf5 9.exf5 exf5 10.h5 Kxb7 11.h6 Kc7 12.h7 Kd7 13.h8Q Ke7 14.Qa8 d4 15.Qxa5 Ke6 16.Qa7 d3
+- (8.80) Depth: 30/42 00:05:47 874mN

Jouni

[Arpad Rusz]

Yes, that's the solution for the second puzzle. It seems like only 1.d5! wins. Stockfish has a good solving time!

[Tom Barrister]

I can't find a way for White to win the first game.

1 d5 is correct for position 2.

The third position is one of Otto Bláthy's specialties. White creates a rut in the floor, walking back and forth from b1/a1 to b4, until Black's waiting (pawn) moves are exhausted.