Here’s a little atomic endgame problem. White to move.
FEN: 8/p7/P1p1p2k/4P3/2Pp4/3P3b/3K4/1R6 w – – 0 1
What’s the evaluation of this position? Is there a winning move?
Basic evaluation
White wins. But he has to find the only winning move right now in this position.
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Solution
White only wins with 1. c5!!
The other moves will bedeclined by blacks 1…c5 and the position is a draw. Like 1. Rb7? c5!! 2. Rxa7 Bg2 and the bishop easily stops the a-pawn.
But after 1. c5!! the position of the bishop is really bad. The long diagonal h1-a8 is closed now and the bishop is to slow to stop the a-pawn. One variation is 1…Bf1 (spite check) 2. Kc1 Be2 3. Rb7! Bd1 (3…Bh5?? 4. Rh7+ Kg6 5. Rxh5#) 4. Rxa7 Ba4 5. a7 Bb5 6. a8Q +- The new queen wins easy against the bishop.
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Black can simply exchange the rook and then move toknowing that he has a draw. But in order to do so, he should know that position after exchange is drawish.
How can he simply exchange the rook?