Puzzle of the week #370

Submitted by eugen on Sun, 04/28/2019 - 23:34
Opening lines
Level
3-Bishop
Chess Diagram
[Event "Puzzle #370"][Date "2019.04.28"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "r4r2/1pq2p1k/2b1p3/p3P1Q1/PnB5/2N5/1P3PPP/R5K1 w - - 0 1"]
Black has a Rook for 2 pawns, while its own King is exposed. It is white to move. Your tasks:
a) What is the most likely reason for this material difference?
b) Analyse the position and decide what each side should do
c) Since it is white's turn to move, put together the best line you can think of

Total available points for this puzzle is 25. The answers will be published next time together with puzzle #371.

Puzzle #369 solution:
Game Pines – Gabis, 1956. This week's best answers are by the top players. There was no correct answer for "b":
a) Material: Equal
Kings: White's is very cramped, only has one square too go to. Black's king has three. So therefore Black's king is better since it has more mobility.
Rooks: Re3: Defends h3, a3, and e4. Other than that, the rook only plays a defensive role. I would say it is worth about 3 points. Or maybe even 2 points because the defensive role is doing a bad job. It is not needed. Rf2: Defends b2 and f5. Only plays a defensive role. Still worth about 2 or 3 points because it is not doing a good job. The role is not needed. Altogether white's rooks are only worth about 4 or 6 points. Not even as much as a knight pair, or a bishop pair. Rc7: Only plays a defensive role. It defends c4 and g7. But if c4 moves? Then a file might be open for the rook. Currently the role is only defensive, but that could change..... only 2 or 3 points. Rh8: Very well. The rook is in the corner. But it attacks h3 pawn that is defended and also controls a file. But remember, truly i say, that overloaded pieces can be taken advantage of. 5 points or maybe 4. If you argue. Black's rooks add up to 6 or 8 points.

b) Complex endgame = an endgame with many pawns and a few pieces still on the chessboard. The endgames with 4 Rooks are all complex because of many possibilities to play.
[Event "Puzzle #369"][Date "2019.04.21"][Result "0-1"][SetUp "1"][FEN "7r/2r3p1/1k3p2/1p1PpP2/pKp1P3/P3R2P/1P3R2/8 b - - 0 1"]1... c3 2. Rxc3 (2. bxc3 Rc4#) (2. b3 c2) 2... Rxh3 3. Rfc2 (3. Rxh3 Rc4#) (3. Rxc7 Rb3#) 3... Rc4+ 4. Rxc4 Rb3#

Correct solutions:
Eric - 20 points
Matthew, Joey, Zhengyu - 15 points
Aiden, Coby - 10 points
Lucas, Brian - 7 points
Glyn, Walter - 5 points

Standings:
Matthew - 221 points
Aiden - 220 points
Eric - 209 points
Joey - 175 points
Coby, Zhengyu - 162 points
Walter - 155 points
Glyn - 133 points
Brian - 119 points
Lucas - 117 points
Mengbai - 73 points
Lyvia - 70 points
Blake - 69 points