White to move. What should be the correct result with best play:

a) White wins

b) Draw

c) Black Wins?

Solution: White is a piece up, but he is encountering problems defending his f-pawn, which is needed if he wants to win. Obviously Black can’t win, as he has only his king left! So c) is eliminated. However, White cannot stop Black from playing 1…Kf4 and 2…Kxf3, as his king is stuck on the edge of the board, and can’t help. The bishop can’t defend the pawn either, as it is on the wrong colour. So, draw? Is b) correct?

No! White has a fantastic resource – 1. Be5!! And suddenly Black realises he is lost! As he can’t go to f4 with the bishop covering the square, he has to take it. But after 1…Kxe5, White can play 2. Kg5!, saving his pawn. The variation would go: 2…Ke6 3. f4 Kf7 4. Kf5! Ke7 5. Kg6 Kf8 6. f5 Kg8 7. f6 Kf8 8. f7 Ke7 9. Kg7 and the pawn queens. So the answer is (a)!