Let’s look back at Saavedra Position, an old famous puzzle which recently posted by Andrew at his blog. (Yeah, he makes a video too on the solution! Nice effort!). So here we are, white to move and WIN:
When he published it, i looked at the position attentively. Looks familiar but could not recall anything. Anyone know that if black manages to capture the pawn, it will be a draw. So, 1.c7 is force since any King move will allow Rc5 and capture the pawn. Black has no direct way to stop the pawn from promoting so he has no option but to check, Rd6+.
So, i started visualize. Kb7 and Kc5 is no good. Kb7 is met by Rd7 while Kc5 by Rd1 and Rc1. I told to myself if King can move along B-files to c2 where black rook at d3 after its last check, then black rook has no more check without being captured and it cannot stop white pawn from queening. I could not believe i solve the problem so easily! So, 2. Kb5 Rd5+ 3. Kb4 Rd4+ 4. Kb3 Rd3+ 5. Kc2
So, happily i told Andrew at YM Messenger about the finding and asked what he would do after Kc2. I was like "what?!" at his reply: Rd4! (of course he knew the answer already lol!). Only then i realize that after c8=Q, black has Rc4+ and if queen takes, stalemate. I didn’t even see Rd4 (poor me!) which is a cute try! I asked Andrew to wait so i can look back at the position. Since i’m familiar with the idea that pawn isn’t necessary to be promoted to a queen, i directly told Andrew so and he answered: "Exactly!". So, let’s promoting the pawn to rook and no stalemate 6.c8=R
I still wonder for a while about K+R vs K+R. But it isn’t take long to realize that Ra4 to avoid mate by black will simply be refuted by 7.Kb3, attacking the rook and threaten to mate at c1. Fullstop.
You can find Andrew’s video on the solution here.
So, if you can calculate and visualize and see all this, especially Rd4! and c8=R! from the starting position, then, like what Seirawan said, you are improving!
Nice puzzle! And now, this is a good example! Haha!
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