Queen first, lose (or draw) later 3

Question

What is the most economical pawn endgame position where Black queens first but White draws, White pawns no higher than 4th rank on time of Black queening?

I doubt there's a position like that without involving some stalemate tactic — David, Sep 22, 2022 at 14:42

Evargalo · Accepted Answer · 2022-09-23 08:58:37Z

1

Edit: Saving two pawns for an optimal solution

Black queens first but cannot win, no white pawn higher than the 4th rank, 1+1 pawns :

[FEN "8/8/8/6k1/8/7K/6pP/8 w - - 0 1"]

1...g1Q is stalemate and any other move draws as well

Funnily it is also possible with 0+2 pawns:

[FEN "8/8/8/6k1/8/6pK/6p1/8 w - - 0 1"]

1...g1Q/R stalemate

1...g1N/B 2.Kxg3=

1...Kf4 2.Kxg2=

Previous answer

An attempt with 2 pawns each:

[FEN "k7/8/8/7p/7P/7K/6pP/8 w - - 0 1"]

1...g1Q is an immediate stalemate. Other Black moves wouldn't win either:

1...Kb7 2.Kxg2=

1...g1R stalemate

1...g1B 2.Kg3 and the Ph5 will be captured

1...g1N 2.Kg2 Ne2 3.Kf3 Nd4 4.Kf4 and White is better !

answered Sep 23, 2022 at 6:37

Evargalo

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Ah, yes. David was right. Now that you posted it, I remember it as a well know study motif...and how to shave off another pawn :-) Feel free to find it yourself and edit the answer (which incidentally saves me from posting the other 4 similar draw questions, THX!)
– Hauke Reddmann
Sep 23, 2022 at 7:32

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