Tactics: The King is an Attacking/Attacked Piece
Today's Canadian Tactic comes from a Rook ending at the 2015 Gatineau Open.
Black is up a pawn with a better structure, but it's a Rook ending and White has an outside passed pawn and his centralized King keeps the Black King passive. What can Black do?
Hint: The King is an attacking piece...
Spoiler: Highlight to view
...and which King is better placed?
Solution:
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36...Ra6!!
One "!" for being a good move, a second "!" for being unstereotypical: Black's Rook seems perfectly placed on a4, blocking White's passed pawn and controlling the 4th rank. But the move played has two threats: preventing Kd6 puts White's King in danger and forces White to allow Black to bring his own King into the game.
What should White play after 36...Ra6?
White should respond...:
Spoiler: Highlight to view
In the game, White missed Black's threat, but even with best defence Black should win:
After 37.Kf4! Kf6-/+ Black's King will cross the board to assist his passed c-pawn.e.g. 38.a4 e5+ 39.Kf3 Ke6 40.Ke2 c4 Black should win.
The game ended:
Spoiler: Highlight to view
36...Ra6 37. a5? Kg5! and the Black King sets a mating net:
38.f4+ Kg4 39.h3+ Kg3
There is nothing to do against ...f6#.
0-1
From the game:
David Forget (1938) - Adam Adriaanse (2132)
Gatineau Open
2015.03.07
You can see photos from the Gatineau Open on the CFC facebook page and on John Upper's Google photos page.