In theory endgames should be the easiest part of the game as there are few pieces left on the board.   In practice they can be very complex and require calculation of lengthy variations as well as the ability to come up with a winning “idea.”   Because of this they are often an area where humans have an advantage over computers if the length of the winning variation is beyond the horizon of the computer’s analysis.

I enjoyed last’s week’s puzzle where Tal came up with a cute stalemate idea that two other grandmasters had missed and I’ve used this position in a couple of my lectures at schools already.

This week I thought you might like a go at a “simple” position with only six pieces on the board.   To win White will obviously have to queen a pawn but Black seems to have them both covered.   Can you find a solution?

7K/8/8/P7/7B/4k3/4P2b/8 w KQkq – 0 1White to Play and win

ANSWER:

1.a6 Bb8 2.Bg3! Ba7 3.Bf2+! Kxf2 4.e4 and the Bishop cannot stop both pawns.