Rxe8?!

[Jack Lad]

[d] 4r1k1/ppBb2p1/3P4/6p1/2P3P1/7P/P1K5/4R3 w

Does Rxe8 win or can black now draw?

[Terry McCracken]

[d] 4r1k1/ppBb2p1/3P4/6p1/2P3P1/7P/P1K5/4R3 w

Does Rxe8 win or can black now draw?

It looks like Rxe8 is drawn.

[Jack Lad]

I agree but am I not sure if black can hold the draw.
E.g.
1. Re1xe8+ Bd7xe8
2. Bc7-d8 Kg8-f7
3. Bd8xg5 Kf7-e6
4. Bg5-f4 Be8-c6
5. Kc2-c3 Bc6-g2
6. h3-h4 Bg2-f3
7. g4-g5 b7-b6
8. Kc3-d4 g7-g6
9. a2-a4 Bf3-d1
[d] 8/p7/1p1Pk1p1/6P1/P1PK1B1P/8/8/3b4 w - - 1 10
10. a4-a5 b6xa5
11. c4-c5 Ke6-d7
12. Kd4-e5 a5-a4
13. Ke5-f6 Bd1-c2
14. Kf6-g7 a4-a3
15. Kg7-h6 a3-a2
16. Bf4-e5 Kd7-c6
17. h4-h5 g6xh5
18. Kh6xh5 1 - 0
[d] 8/p7/2kP4/2P1B1PK/8/8/p1b5/8 b - - 1 18

[Jack Lad]

However 10... Bf3! instead may still hold the draw though here.
[d] 8/p7/1p1Pk1p1/P5P1/2PK1B1P/5b2/8/8 w - - 1 11

[Terry McCracken]

However 10... Bf3! instead may still hold the draw though here.
[d] 8/p7/1p1Pk1p1/P5P1/2PK1B1P/5b2/8/8 w - - 1 11

It's drawn due to the fact of opposite coloured bishops and also due to White's pawn weakness on the K-Side.

Eventually there will be no progress made and drawn by the 50 move rule.

[S.Taylor]

[d] 4r1k1/ppBb2p1/3P4/6p1/2P3P1/7P/P1K5/4R3 w

Does Rxe8 win or can black now draw?

Wouldn't Re7 been any better?

And if it (re8) IS a draw, well, I know, these opposite bishops are very good for those trying to draw! You gain quite alot! 2 pawns up don't usually enforce the win.

[Terry McCracken]

[d] 4r1k1/ppBb2p1/3P4/6p1/2P3P1/7P/P1K5/4R3 w

Does Rxe8 win or can black now draw?

Wouldn't Re7 been any better?

And if it (re8) IS a draw, well, I know, these opposite bishops are very good for those trying to draw! You gain quite alot! 2 pawns up don't usually enforce the win.

Hi Stuart, Re7 is useless as well.

It's a draw.

Best,
Terry

[Jack Lad]

However 10... Bf3! instead may still hold the draw though here.
[d] 8/p7/1p1Pk1p1/P5P1/2PK1B1P/5b2/8/8 w - - 1 11

It's drawn due to the fact of opposite coloured bishops and also due to White's pawn weakness on the K-Side.

Eventually there will be no progress made and drawn by the 50 move rule.

I am still not sure black can hold the draw from the original position. There seem to be other lines where white can force the win but it is very difficult indeed.

[Terry McCracken]

However 10... Bf3! instead may still hold the draw though here.
[d] 8/p7/1p1Pk1p1/P5P1/2PK1B1P/5b2/8/8 w - - 1 11

It's drawn due to the fact of opposite coloured bishops and also due to White's pawn weakness on the K-Side.

Eventually there will be no progress made and drawn by the 50 move rule.

I am still not sure black can hold the draw from the original position. There seem to be other lines where white can force the win but it is very difficult indeed.

Who played it? What are those winning lines?

[hristo]

[d] 4r1k1/ppBb2p1/3P4/6p1/2P3P1/7P/P1K5/4R3 w

Does Rxe8 win or can black now draw?

Heave you looked at:
1. Re1xe8+ Bd7xe8
2. Bc7-b8(?!) a7-a6
3. Kd3 (?!)
with the possible
3. ... Kf7
4. Ke3

The idea being is to weaken the black Queen side while transferring the white king to the 'king' side. Winning the g5 pawn is hardly worth it if the black can activate their pieces without introducing weaknesses. Having the pawns on a7 and b6 is beneficial for black, it seems, where pawns on b7 and a6 seem to give white more room for maneuvering.

I haven't a clue whether this position is lost for black -- my guess would be that is probably a draw.

Regards.