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Endgame Corner
Columns 1‐165
Endgame Corner
Karsten Müller We hope you enjoy Karsten's new Chess Cafe column,
Endgame Corner...
Exercises
(Solutions next month)
Sources:
A.Chéron, Lehr-und Handbuch der Endspiele, Band 1, 2.Auflage,
Engelhardt Verlag, Berlin 1960.
M.Dvoretsky, A.Yusupov, Technique for the Tournament Player,
Batsford 1995.
J.Nunn, Secrets of Rook Endings, 2nd edition, GAMBIT 1999 (first
edition, Batsford 1992).
J.Emms, The Survival Guide to Rook Endings, Everyman 1999.
J.Speelman, J.Tisdall and R.Wade, Batsford Chess Endings, Batsford
1993.
ChessBase MEGABASE 1999.
Copyright 2001 Karsten Müller. All rights reserved.
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Bees of Opps
OPPOSITE-COLOURED BISHOP ENDINGS are even more drawish
than rook endings as both bishops live in different worlds. If the defender
manages to establish a firm blockade on squares the same colour of his
bishop this is usually the end of the matter (See Diagram):
2.01 H.Strobel - K.Müller
Hamburg 1983 =/=
White can win Black's h-pawn, but
not the game: 41...Bd3 42.Kf6 Be4
43.Kg5 Bd3 44.Kxh5 Be4 draw
Endgame agreed as the plan king-march to g1
followed by h2-h4 g4xh3e.p.
Corner Kg1-h2 leads to nothing after
Bd5(or e4)-f3 with the same
ironclad fortress as after 45.Kh4
Bf3 (45...Bg2!?) 46.h3 gxh3
Karsten Müller 47.Kxh3 Bg4+ 48.Kh4 Kd5
49.Kg5 Kc6 50.Kf6 Kd7 51.Ke5 Bh3 52.Kd5 Bg2+=
The next two positions represent the second main type of fortress (See
Diagram):
(See Diagram):
2.03 V.Kramnik - G.Kasparov
Braingames WCh London 2000
=/=
The players agreed to a draw as
Kasparov can’t make any progress:
1...Kg6 2.Bc7 Kf5 3.Kd4 Kg4
4.Ke3 Kh3 5.Kf2 =
Even two connected passed pawns
usually don't win (See Diagram):
2.04 =/=
White can't make any meaningful
progress as Black's bishop ties
White's king to the defense of the
e-pawn: 1.Ke4 (1.e6 Bd6=; 1.d6+
Bxd6 2.exd6+ Kxd6=)1...Bb8!
2.Kd4 Bc7=. The bishop has two
squares on the b8-h2 diagonal so
Black doesn't fall into zugzwang.
So usually the best strategy to win
with connected passed pawns is to
keep the king in front of them (See
Diagram):
Bc7 11.Be2 Ka4 12.Bd1+ Kb4 13.Bc2 Bf4 14.Kb6 Be3+ 15.Kc6 Ba7
16.a6 Ka5 17.b8Q Bxb8 18.Kb7 Kb5 19.Bd3++-) 2...Ke5 3.Kc4 (3.a5
Kd6 4.b5 Bd2 5.Ka4 Kc5 6.b6 Bg5 7.Bg2 Bd8 8.b7 Bc7=; 3.b5 Kd6
4.b6 Kc5 5.b7 Bf4=) 3...Kd6 4.Kb5 Bd2! keeping an eye on the
b-pawn 5.a5 Kc7 6.Ka4 Be1 7.b5 Bf2! (See Diagram)
it.) 62.Ba3 (62.g6 Kxh4 63.Be7+ Kg4-+ and Black wins as his bishop
can protect the b-pawn and stop the white pawns on one and the same
diagonal. This is an important principle in bishop endings !)
62...Kxh4 63.Kd3 Kxg5 64.Ke4 h4 65.Kf3 Bd5+ and Kotov resigned.
A possible finish is 66.Kf2 Kf4 67.Kg1 h3 68.Kh2 Be6 69.d5 Bd7
70.d6 Ke4-+
In very extreme cases even the bishop can be sacrificed (See Diagram):
E2.01 M.Dvoretsky
It looks pretty grim for White
doesn't it ?
Sources:
A.Soltis, GM Secrets: Endings, Thinkers Press 1997.
P.Benko, Chess Endgame Lessons, Volume 1, 1989.
J.Emms, The Most Amazing Chess Moves of All Times, GAMBIT 2000.
M.Dvoretsky, A.Yusupov, Technique for the Tournament Player,
Batsford 1995.
J.Awerbach, Läufer- und Springerendspiele, Sportverlag Berlin 1987.
E.Solozhenkin, Endspiele mit ungleichen Läufern, ChessBase CD-ROM,
Hamburg 2000.
100 Jahre Schach, ChessBase CD-ROM, Hamburg 2000.
Copyright 2001 Karsten Müller. All rights reserved.
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Alexei's start had not been very good. After two rounds he had only half a
point and in the third round his position against Lautier was very bad until
in the second time control. Joel was too greedy and had to seal a move in
the following position (See Diagram):
3.04 A.Shirov (2670) - J.Lautier
(2635), Munich 1993 /=
Black is three pawns up at the
moment, but he is nevertheless at the
brink of disaster because of White's
strong attack. After analysing the
position myself for a long time I
shared my thought's with the German
chess trainer and columnist Claus
Dieter Meyer and he wrote an article
for the German Schachmagazin 64
(12/1994). Alexei included it in his
book Fire on Board. So let's see what happened: 61...Kg8? Lautier had
indeed sealed the move we had expected, although in retrospect it seems
to be losing a drawn position. But - to be honest - at the time we also
thought that it would lead to a draw. Instead, there were two ways to hold
on: 61...Rh3 and 61...Rd3. I will only give some details for 61...Rh3:
62.Rxg7+ Kh8 63.Kg6 f4+ 64.Kg5 (64.Kf7? Rh7!) 64...Bf3 (64...Rd3? -
See Diagram -
is beautifully refuted by 65.Re7+ Rxd4
66.cxd4 g3 67.Rxe4 g2 68.Re1 f3
69.Kg6 f2 70.Re8#) 65.Kxf4 Bd1
66.Rxg4+ Kh7 67.Rg7+ Kh6 and
Black should be able to hold on.
62.Kg6 Bc6 63.Bc5!? Joel had
overlooked this tricky move in his
adjournment analysis and did not find
the strongest resistance. 63...Rd3?!
63...Kh8!? should have been played.
The main line runs: 64.Bd4! Kg8 and
we have reached the position after
62...Bc6 again. Now comes the stronger continuation 65.Rxg7+ Kf8
66.Rc7 Bd5 (66...Bg2!? comes into consideration as well: 67.Kf6 Ke8
68.Ke6 Kd8 69.Rc5 Bb7 70.Bf6+ Ke8 71.Rc7 Re3+ 72.Be5 Rxe5+
73.Kxe5 (See Diagram)
Sources:
A.Shirov, Fire on Board, Cadogan 1995
E.Solozhenkin, Endspiele mit ungleichen Läufern, ChessBase CD-ROM,
Hamburg 2000
ChessBase MEGABASE 2001.
Copyright 2001 Karsten Müller. All rights reserved.
This column is available in Chess Cafe Reader format. Click here for
more information.
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Bareev having only two seconds left resigned. But the position seems to be
tenable with more time on the clock: 44...Kc6! (44...Kb6? 45.Kc4 Kc6
46.a4+-) 45.Kc4 Kd6! 46.Kb5 Kd5 47.Kxa5 Ke4 48.Kb6 Kxf4 49.a4 Kg3
50.a5 f4 51.a6 f3 52.a7 f2 53.a8Q f1Q=
Sources:
A.Soltis, GM Secrets:Endings, Thinkers Press 1997
J.Emms, The Survival Guide to Rook Endings, Everyman 1999
ChessBase MEGABASE 2001
New in Chess 01/2001
Copyright 2001 Karsten Müller. All rights reserved.
This column is available in Chess Cafe Reader format. Click here for more
information.
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Bishop vs Knight
Part I
It is very surprising, that Bishop and Knight and are of almost equal strength on
an 8x8 board as they move in completely different ways. The Knight is a short
range piece. When it moves, it loses contact with all (!!) the squares it
controlled before and the colour of the square it occupies changes with each
move. The Bishop is a long range piece, which can visit only half of the
squares of the board. So depending on the given pawn structure, it can
dominate the Knight in an open position with play on both wings or look like
an overgrown pawn, if the pawns are blocked on squares of the same colour
and it has very limited scope. In the first part of my discussion I will look at
Endgame positions, in which the player with the Knight is behind on material and tries to
set up a fortress on squares opposite to the Bishop's colour:
Corner 5.01 L.Gutman (2533) - K.Müller
(2513) German Ch, Heringsdorf 2000
=/=
Karsten Müller White can't make any meaningful
progress so Gutman decided to call it a
day after 53.Kf3 Nd5 ½–½
The next fortress shows a curious special
case:
Sources:
The System, Hans Berliner, GAMBIT 1999
ChessBase MEGABASE 2001
ChessBase Magazin Nos.63, 73
Copyright 2001 Karsten Müller. All rights reserved.
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Bishop vs Knight
Part II
IN THE SECOND PART of my analysis of knight vs bishop I want to deal
with positions, where the knight feels at home. His manoeuvres in the first
example are quite common in a position with many of the defender's pawns
blocked on squares of the bishop's colour:
6.01 J.Gdanski (2435) - A.Volzhin
(2370), Oakham 1992
First White liquidates the kingside
pawns in order to penetrate there with
Endgame his king: 46.g5 hxg5+ 47.hxg5 fxg5+
48.Nxg5 Kf6 49.Nf3 Bh5 50.Ne5 Be8
Corner
Karsten Müller
In the next step, White breaks through to
the fifth rank as Black's king cannot
maintain the opposition because the
knight controls g6 51.Kg4! Ke6 52.Kg5
Ke7 53.Kf5! Kd8 54.Ke6 Kc7 55.Ke7
Bh5
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Rook vs Bishop
Richard Forster analysed a very interesting ending in his April 2001 Late
Knight column, which was reached in a game between Staunton and Horwitz
and asked me about my opinion. I answered his question (it was on the
ChessCafe.com Bulletin Board item no. 320–1) and promised to deal with the
subject in more detail. Now I want to keep my promise:
7.01 Staunton - Horwitz London match
1846 17th game +/-
"Since Staunton just says 'and wins', we
do not know whether Horwitz resigned
Endgame at this point or whether further moves
were played"(Forster). The position is
Corner winning for White in any case: 1...Kh6
2.Kb5!? The easiest way to win is to
transfer the king to a6 first. But 2.Rb2
immediately wins as well: 2...Kg6
Karsten Müller 3.Rxb6 Bd2 (3...Kf6 4.Rb2 Ke5
5.Rb5++-) 4.Rb2 Be1 5.Re2 Bb4 6.Rf2
Kg5 7.Kb6 Be1 8.Rf8 Bb4 9.Ra8 Kf6 10.Rxa5+- 2...Bc5 3.Ka6 Kh7 4.Rb2
Kg6 (4...Bb4 5.Kxb6 Kg6 6.Rf2+-) 5.Rxb6+ Kf7 6.Kxa5+-
The following classic shows, how
complicated this ending can be. My
discussion follows Averbakh.
7.02 Salwe - Rubinstein Prague 1909
1...Rf7 Maizelis showed the right path,
which is surprisingly not driving the king
into the open field, but attacking him
near the edge: 1...Kd3 2.Bf4 Ke2 3.Bg5
Rf3+ 4.Kg2 Ra3 5.Be7 Ra4 6.Bd8 Rg4+
7.Kh3 Kf3 8.Bc7 Rg1 9.Bh2 Rf1 10.Bg3
Rh1+ 11.Bh2 Ke4 12.Kg2 Rd1 13.Bg3
(13.Bg1 Kf4 14.Bc5 Kg4 15.Be7 Rd2+
16.Kf1 Kf3 17.Kg1 Kg3 18.Kf1 Rd4 19.Bg5 Re4 20.Bd8 Re6 21.Bg5 Re8–+)
13...Rd2+ 14.Kh3 (14.Bf2 Kf4 15.Kh3 Rd3+ 16.Kg2 Kg4–+) 14...Kf5
15.Bh2 (15.Be1 Rd3+ 16.Kg2 Kg4 17.Kf2 Rd7 18.Ke2 Re7+ 19.Kd2 Kf3
20.Kd1 Re4 21.Kd2 Re2+ 22.Kd1 Rh2 23.Kc1 Ke2 24.Bg3 Rh3–+)
15...Rd3+ 16.Bg3 Ra3 17.Kg2 Kg4 18.Bf2 Ra2 19.Kg1 Kf3 20.Bd4 Kg3
21.Bf6 Rg2+ 22.Kh1 Re2–+ 2.Bh6 Rf3+ 3.Kg2 Rd3? this let's White's king
out of the corner. But it must be stressed, that this plan was not known at
Rubinstein's time. 4.Bg5? 4.Kf2 was called for. 4...Kf5? 5.Kf2! I think, that
there are two ways of looking at this: 1) the modern view: now Salwe
escapes from the corner into the open field, which is the right plan.2) the
way valid at the time of the game: now Rubinstein has forced Salwe away
from his pawn 5...Kg4 6.Ke2 Rf3 7.Bh6 Kg3 8.Bg5 Rf8 9.Ke3 Re8+
10.Kd3 Kf3 11.Kd4 Re6
12.Kd5? the decisive mistake. Baranow
proved, that Black can't break through
after 12.Kd3 Rd6+ 13.Kc3! Rd7 14.Kc4
Ke4 15.Kc3 Rd3+ 16.Kc2! and Black
can't make meaningful progress.
16.Kc4? is wrong: Rg3 17.Bd8 Rg8
18.Be7 Rc8+–+ 12...Re4 13.Bf6 Kf4
14.Bd8 Kf5 15.Bg5 Rg4 16.Be7 Rg7
17.Bf8 (17.Bg5 Rxg5 18.hxg5 Kxg5
19.Ke4 Kg4–+) 17...Rd7+ 18.Kc6 Rd4
19.Be7 Ke6 20.Kc5 Rd5+ 21.Kc4 Rf5
22.Bd8 Kd7 23.Bb6 (23.Bg5 Rxg5
24.hxg5 h4 25.g6 Ke7–+) 23...Rf4+ and
Rubinstein won the game after a few more moves.
In the next game Rubinstein reaches his
aim again . This time he manages to
draw with the bishop.
7.03 A.Rubinstein - S.Tartakower
Vienna 1922
Black has to protect the g5 pawn, so one
of his pieces is tied down and he can't
break through: 68.Kf3 Kd4 69.Be3+
Kd3 70.Bc1 Rg7 71.Kf2 The brutal
71.Bxg5? fails: 71...Rxg5 72.Kf4 Rg8
73.g5 Kd4 74.Kf5 Kd5 75.Kf6 Kd6–+
71...Kc2 72.Be3 Rg8 73.Kf3 Kd3
74.Bc1 ½–½
5.Kd3 Bg7 6.Nd5+ Kxa4 7.Ke4 Kb5 8.Kf5 Kc5 9.Kg6 Bd4 10.Nf4 Kd6
11.h6 Ke7 12.h7 Bb2 13.Nh5 Bh8!=) 4...Kxa4 5.Ke4 Bh6 6.Nd4 Kb4
7.Ne6 Kb5 8.Kf5 Kc6 9.Kg6 Bc1 10.Ng5 Kd7 11.h6 Ke8 12.h7 Bb2 and
the game was drawn after some further moves.
S6.04 G.Vescovi (2526) - K.Sakaev
(2627) Istanbul ol 2000
This exercise was probably not so
difficult: 49...Ka5! and Vescovi
resigned. A possible finish is 50.Nd5
Bd4 51.Nf6 Kb4 52.Nh7 Kxb3 53.Nxg5
c4 54.Nxh3 c3–+
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59...Rh3+ 60.Kg5 f3
Again White has only two moves to save
his skin and the following king move is
essential in both lines: 61.Kg6!! 61.Rb1
is possible as well, but after 61...f2,
62.Kg6!!= has to be played anyway. All
other moves lose, e.g., 61.Kf6? f2
62.Rb1 (62.Rb2 Rf3+ 63.Kg6 Kg3
64.Rxf2 Rxf2 65.g5 Kg4 66.Kh6 Rh2+
67.Kg6 Rh5–+) 62...Rf3+ 63.Ke6 Kg3
64.g5 Re3+ 65.Kf5 Re1–+, 61.Rb2+? f2
62.Rxf2+ (62.Rb1 Rg3 63.Kh4 Rb3–+)
62...Kxf2 63.Kf6 Rf3+ 64.Ke6 Rg3
65.Kf5 Kg2 66.g5 Kh3 67.g6 Kh4
68.Kf6 Kh5 69.g7 Kh6–+ and 61.Kf4? f2 62.Rb1 Rf3+ 63.Ke5 Kh3 64.g5
Re3+–+ 61...f2 62.Rb1! 62.Rb2? loses in an instructive way: 62...Rf3 63.g5
Kg3 64.Rxf2 Rxf2 65.Kh7 Rh2+ 66.Kg8 Kg4 67.g6 Kg5 68.g7 Kg6 69.Kf8
Rf2+ 70.Kg8 Rf1 71.Kh8 Rh1+ 72.Kg8 Rh7–+ 62...Rh1 63.Rb2 Kg3
64.Rxf2 Kxf2 65.g5 Kg3 66.Kf7 Rf1+ 67.Ke7 Re1+ 68.Kf7 Rf1+ 69.Ke7
Kh4 in sharp contrast to the variation 62.Rb2? Black's king now chases the
pawn in vain: 70.g6 Rg1 71.Kf7 Kh5 72.g7 Rf1+ 73.Ke7 Rg1 74.Kf7 Kh6
75.g8R and King had his rook back 75...Rxg8 76.Kxg8 ½–½
Garry Kasparov had two instructive rook endings recently. In the first
example he won convincingly:
8.02 A.Morozevich (2749) - G.Kasparov
(2827), Astana 2001
Black's e4-pawn will cost white his rook:
47...Rc7 48.Rxe5 48.Kg3 doesn't help:
48...Rg7+ 49.Kh4 (49.Kh2 Kd2 50.Rxe5
e3–+) 49...Kd2 50.Rxe5 e3 51.Rd5+
Kxc2 52.Re5 Kd3 53.Rd5+ Ke4–+
48...Kf4! not allowing White any
counterplay 49.Rb5 Rxc2+ 50.Kg1 e3
51.Rxb4+ 51.Kf1 Rxa2 52.h4
(52.Rxb4+ Kf3 53.Rb1 Rh2 54.Kg1
Rg2+ 55.Kh1 e2 56.Re1 Rg8–+)
52...Kf3 53.Rf5+ Ke4 54.Rb5 Kd3 55.Rd5+ Kc4 56.Rd8 b3–+ 51...Kf3
52.Rb1 Rg2+ 53.Kh1 e2 54.a4 Kf2 55.a5 Rg5 56.Kh2 Rxa5 57.h4
E8.04
While preparing this column, one line of
my analysis reached this position. It is
White to move and draw.
Sources:
Chess Today 228
ChessBase Magazine 82
The Week in Chess
ChessBase MEGABASE 2001
Copyright 2001 Karsten Müller. All rights reserved.
This column is available in Chess Cafe Reader format. Click here for more
information.
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Rook + Knight
vs
Rook + Bishop
Following the underlying concept of this column it is now time to deal with
Rook+Knight vs Rook+Bishop. Although the ending rook and minor piece vs
rook and minor piece occurs very often in practical play, there is much less
literature about it than about pure rook endings. This is probably due to the
great complexity inherent in these endings. So I can only scratch the surface of
the ending rook+knight vs rook+bishop in this column, but I will try to stress
some very important points:
Endgame (1) The pawn structure is very important. If the knight occupies a strong,
secure outpost it can dominate the board.
Corner (2) Is there a weak colour complex (or weak pawns) on squares opposite to the
bishop's colour? This is a good sign for the knight.
Karsten Müller (3) The bishop likes to play on both wings. In open positions it can form a
very powerful duo of long range pieces. Robert James Fischer was especially
strong playing with rook and bishop. (for Fischer's endings with Bishop vs
Knight see an article by Hanon W. Russell in the ChessCafe.com Archives)
(4) Is the knight on a bad circuit or has limited scope? This is usually a very
good sign for the bishop.
Of course activity is almost as important as in pure rook endings and several of
the themes and motifs of the ending knight vs bishop are valid here as well. I
want to start with positions favorable for rook and knight:
e3. But it is very difficult to give a better defence for White, e.g., 30.Rb6
Ra1+ 31.Kh2 Kg7 32.Rxd6?! Nd3 33.g4 hxg4 34.hxg4 Nxf2 35.Rc6 Ra2
36.Kg1 Nd1 37.Rc1 (37.e5? f3–+) 37...Ne3 38.Re1 Kf6 and Black is clearly
on top. 30...Kg7! Kindermann brings his last unit into play, threatening to
penetrate White's position via f6-e5-d4. 31.Rc1 Kf6 32.Rc3 Nc4! Opening
the king's path and heading for e3 33.Bd7 Ra1+ 34.Kf2 Ra2+ 35.Kg1 Ne3
Now it is completely clear that Black is
winning. 36.g4 h4 Black doesn't want to
exchange pawns of course. 37.Rc7 Rg2+
38.Kh1 Rg3 39.Be8 Rxh3+ 40.Kg1
Rxf3 41.Rxf7+ Ke5 42.Re7+ Kd4 43.e5
Rg3+ 44.Kh2?! f3 and Herndl resigned
as he can't prevent mate: 45.exd6 Nxg4+
46.Kh1 Nf2+ 47.Kh2 Rg2#
The next example is favourable for the
knight again:
Exercises
(Solutions next month)
E9.01 Qin Kanying (2501) -
A.Stefanova (2514) FIDE World
Cup-B (Women) Shenyang 2000
White to move and win
E8.04
The solution runs: 1.Kd7! (1.a5? Kb7
2.a6+ Kxa6 3.Kd5 g2!–+) 1...Kb7 2.Rc6
h2 3.a5 a6 4.Rc7+=
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10.01 +/=
If White's king manages to advance to
the key squares of the e3-pawn (d5,e5
and f5), then Black is lost. But if White
is to move, he can't achieve that as
Black has the opposition: 1.Kf4 Kf6!
Endgame 2.Ke4 Ke6 3.Kd4 Kd6 4.e4 Ke6 5.e5
Ke7 6.Kd5 Kd7 7.e6+ Ke7 8.Ke5 Ke8!
Corner 9.Kd6 Kd8 10.e7+ Ke8 stalemate.
Black to move on the other hand is in
zugzwang and loses: 1...Kd6 2.Kf5! Ke7
Karsten Müller 3.Ke5 3.e4? Kf7!= (opposition) 3...Kf7
4.Kd6 Kf6 5.e4 Kf7 6.e5 Ke8 7.Ke6 (opposition, but in this exceptional
case with the pawn on the fifth rank and his king in front White would also
win, if it were his move) 7...Kd8 8.Kf7 Kd7 9.e6++-
The opposition is the main weapon in the fight for 3 adjacent key squares.
The next example shows more forms of the opposition:
Sources:
The Final Countdown, Willem Hajenius
and Herman van Riemsdijk, Cadogan 1997
Secrets of Pawn Endings, Karsten Müller and Frank Lamprecht, Everyman
2000
Bauernendspiele, Yuri Averbakh, Sportverlag Berlin 1988
The Seven Deadly Chess Sins, Jonathan Rowson, GAMBIT 2000
Chess Explorations, Edward Winter, Cadogan 1996
Chess Notes 2425 in New in Chess magazine 6/2000 by Edward Winter
Chess Notes 2458 in New in Chess magazine 8/2000 by Edward Winter
The Instructor by Mark Dvoretsky: Tragicomedies in Pawn Endings
[www.chesscafe.com/text/dvoretsky12.pdf]
The Miles Report by Tony Miles: Kings and Pawns
[www.chesscafe.com/text/miles25.pdf]
ChessBase MEGABASE 2000
ChessBase Magazines 79 and 82
The Week in Chess
Exercises
(Solutions next month)
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47.a4 Bd4
The raking bishop pair
(sometimes called Horwitz
bishops) dominates the board.
White is completely lost:
48.Ra2 Be3 49.Ra1 Nd2
50.Kg3 (50.Ra3 Bxf3+ 51.Kh3
Bxf4 52.Rxf3 Nxf3 53.Bxf4
Ng1+ 54.Kg2 Ne2 55.Be3 c1Q
56.Bxc1 Nxc1 57.a5 Nd3 58.a6
Nf4+ 59.Kf3 Ne6 60.a7 Nc7–+)
50...Bxf3 51.Bxd2 Bxd2 52.Kxf3 c1Q 53.Rxc1 Bxc1 54.a5
Ba3 55.a6 Bc5–+; 45.Rxd6? is a better practical try, but the
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 Bd7 6.Bxc6 Bxc6 7.c4 f5
8.Nc3 e5 9.Qd3 fxe4 10.Nxe4 Nf6 11.Nfd2 Be7 12.0–0 0–0 13.Nc3 d5
14.cxd5 Nxd5 15.Nxd5 Qxd5 16.Qxd5+ Bxd5 17.Nb3 Rac8 18.Be3 b6
19.Rac1 Rfd8 20.Rxc8 Rxc8 21.Rc1 Rxc1+ 22.Nxc1
Sources:
The Seven Deadly Chess Sins,
Jonathan Rowson, GAMBIT
2001
Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy, John Watson, GAMBIT
1998
Secrets of Minor-Piece Endings, John Nunn, Batsford 1995
ChessBase MEGABASE 2000
ChessBase Magazine 81
The Week in Chess
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Alexander Khalifman
demonstrated superb technique:
52...Kf5 53.Ke3 Kg4 54.Kf2 f5
55.Bb2 Be8 56.Bc3
Sources:
Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy, John Watson, GAMBIT
1998.
ChessBase MEGABASE 2000
No Regrets, Fischer-Spassky 1992, Yasser Seirawan and
George Stefanovic, ICE, Seattle 1992
The Complete Studies of Genrikh Kasparyan, John Roycroft
ed., Russell Enterprises 1997
ChessBase Magazine 31
The Week in Chess
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Bishop vs Pawns
Part 1
B) 83.f7 Be7 84.Kf4 Kf2 85.e4 Ke2 86.e5 Kd3 87.Kf5 Kd4
88.Ke6 Bf8 89.Kf6 Kd5 90.e6 Kd6= 81...Kh2! Onichuk
improves the slower king first, which is of crucial
importance. After 81...Bd2? 82.e4 Kh2 White can shoulder
Black's king away: 83.Kg4! Kg2 84.e5 Bc3 85.e6 Bf6 86.f5
Kf2 87.Kh5+- 82.f5 (82.e4 Kh3 83.e5 Kh4 84.e6 Bb4=;
82.Kg4!? was worth trying as Black's king now has to take
the long route through the centre: 82...Kg2 83.e4 Kf2 84.e5
file:///C|/Cafe/mueller/mueller.htm (2 of 13) [01/04/2002 8:01:43 AM]
Endgame Corner
C) Blocked Positions
Sources:
ChessBase Magazine 73
Chess Endgame Lessons Volume 2, Pal Benko 1999.
ChessBase MEGABASE 2001
The Week in Chess
The Ultimate Chess Puzzle Book, John Emms, GAMBIT 2001
E13.04 H.Shehab -
T.Moudallal ch-LIB Beruit
2001
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Bishop vs Pawns
Part 2
Sources:
Is Black lost?
E13.04 H.Shehab -
T.Moudallal ch-LIB Beruit
2001
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Ponomariov's Technique
Part 1
15.05 A.Miles -
R.Dzindzichashvili Tilburg
1978
Sources:
ChessBase MEGABASE 2001
The Week in Chess
Schach Magazin 64 No.1/2002
Mark Dvoretsky’s December 2001 Instructor column
Fundamental Chess Endings, Karsten Müller and Frank
Lamprecht, GAMBIT 2001
Läufer und Springerendspiele, Yury Averbakh ,
Sportverlag Berrlin 1988.
Averbakh (No.93).
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Ponomariov's Technique
Part 2
47...a5 with the idea to exchange queens was the right way
to proceed. White is defenceless, e.g., 48.Kf2 Qxa2+
49.Bxa2 Bc2 50.Ke2 a4 51.Bd5 (51.Kd2 Bb3 52.Bxb3
axb3 53.Kc1 Kg7–+) 51...Bb3 52.Bc1 Bc5 53.Kd3 Kg7
54.Bc4 g5 55.Bd5 Kf8–+ (Hübner in Schach 3/2002)
43...Bc5 44.Rd2
45.Rc2!? Bd4
45...Rg6 46.Kf1?
Sources:
ChessBase MEGABASE 2001
The Week in Chess
Schach No.3/2002
New in Chess magazine No.2/2002
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Readers Write
I have received several e-mails with interesting endgame
material from readers and friends. Now it is time to deal with
some of them:
II 58...Kf8 59.h6
59.Ke5
59...Kh6
IECG
42...Kf7? Centralizing the
knight immediately with
42...Nc7!? wins:
C2) 46...c4 47.Kg7 Nxc3 48.h5 Nd5 49.h6 Nf4 50.h7 Ng6
White's pawns are securely stopped and Black's triumph:
51.Bc5 c3 52.Be3 b4 53.Bd4 a4 54.Bc5 b3 55.Ba3 b2–+
Sources:
E 17.01 A.Feuerstein -
E.Mednis U.S. Championship, New
York 1957
E17.03 O.H.Meyer -
S.Puttfarken Hamburg Youth
Championship under 12,
Schönhagen 2002
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Rooks Revisited
In this column I want to look at some recent endings with at least one rook on
the board. I start with pure rook endings: Doug Schwetke from the USA has
sent me a very interesting game with his comments. My first ChessCafe
column dealt with Rook+h and f pawn vs lone Rook (see the ChessCafe
Archives) and Doug's endgame shows a battle with this material balance and
the notorious 4 pawns vs 3 pawns on the kingside:
54.h4
54...Ra5?!
37.Rb8+?!
30.Qxa4
30...h5?! The alternatives are
more dangerous, but I didn't
find a way for Black to win,
e.g.,
30...Rd3!?
D) 31.Rf4 Qb6+ 32.Kf1 Qe3 33.Rf2 and Fritz says, that the
position is equal. But this looks nevertheless very
dangerous.
Sources:
Fundamental Chess Endings, Karsten Müller and Frank
Lamprecht, GAMBIT 2001
ChessBase MEGABASE 2001
The Week in Chess
E18.02 H.Hebbinghaus -
T.Heinemann
Northern German Blitz Team
Championship Potsdam 2002
E17.01 A.Feuerstein -
E.Mednis U.S. Championship,
New York 1957
50...Rh4+ 51.Kg6
II 52.Rg1! e4 (52...Rh7+
53.Kg6 Kg8 54.Rd1 Rf7 55.Rd8+ Rf8 56.f7++-) 53.Rd1
Kg8 54.Kg6 Rc8 55.Rd7 e3 56.Rg7+ Kh8 57.Rh7+ Kg8
58.f7++-
52...e4?
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A) 56.Bd8? Bd4+
Sources:
E19.02 B.Raphael -
H.Kennicott USA–01.New
York 1857
58.Kf6?
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60.a5
60...g5? This race is lost. Black
had to play 60...Be4! 61.Kc4
Bd5+ 62.Kc5 Be4 63.Bxe4
fxe4 64.a6 d3 65.a7 d2 66.a8Q
d1Q 67.Qe8+ Kf6 68.Qxe4
Qc1+ 69.Kd4 Qa1+ 70.Ke3
Qe1+ 71.Kf4 g5+ 72.Kf3
Qh1+=
42...f6 43.h4
50...Bc5 51.Be1 Ba3 52.Bf2 Bb2 53.Be1 Ba1 54.Bf2 Bc3 55.Bg1 Be1
56.Bh2 Bf2 57.Ke2 Be3 58.Kd3 Kc5 59.g4 hxg4 60.Bg3 Kd5 0-1
Addendum
After I had finished this column I noticed the following very instructive
bishop endgame from the Einstein candidates tournament, Dortmund 2002.
It is not as amazing as the endgame Topalov and Shirov played in Linares
1998 (you certainly remember Shirov's incredible move 47...Bh3!!!). But it
is nevertheless worth analyzing:
A) 51...Bd7? 52.Ke3 g3
(52...Bb5?? 53.Bxb5 g3
54.Be2+-) 53.hxg3 h2 54.Bg2
Bc6 55.Kf2 h1Q 56.Bxh1 Bxh1
57.a6 bxa6 (57...b5 58.Ke3 Kc5
59.f5 Kb6 60.g4=) 58.Ke3 Kc5
59.Kd3 Kb4 60.Kc2=
55.Bc4!
55.f6? a5
58.Be2 f5
49...a4! 50.g6
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C) In Karpov's Hands
53.Bd2 Be7
I 53...Bb2 54.Bc3+-
53...Kb4! was the way to hold on, e.g. 54.Ke6 Kc3 55.Kf7 Kc2 56.Ba3
(56.Kxg6 Kxc1 57.Kxh5 Kd2 58.Kg6 Ke3 59.f5 Kf4=) 56...g5 57.fxg5
Bxg5 58.Kg6 Bd8 59.Kxh5 Kd3 60.Bc1 Ke4 61.Bg5 Ba5 62.Kg4 Be1=
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bb4 5.0–0 0–0 6.Bxc6
dxc6 7.d3 Bd6 8.Bg5?! 8.h3 was called for. 8...h6 9.Bh4
c5 Preventing d4 as Black is not yet ready for this opening
of the position and setting a trap into which William
Winter falls. 10.Nd5? Now the trap is sprung. 10.Nd2 or
10.h3 is better. 10...g5!
11.Nxf6+
If the bishop has all its tasks on one diagonal it can't fall in
zugzwang (if the diagonal is long enough) and can't be
diverted. So the attacker usually has to avoid such a set up:
21.04 C.Lutz (2644) -
J.Markos (2467) Mitropa Cup
Leipzig 2002
B) Firing at pawns
58.Bd5?
59...f3+ 60.Kg1
60.Kh1 f2 61.Bc4 g3
seems surprisingly to be
winning: 64...Kf4 65.Kc4 Bc5
(65...Be1 66.Kb5 Ke3 67.Bd1
Kd2 68.f4 Kxd1 69.f5+-) 66.a5
Ke3 67.Bd1 Ba7 68.a6 Bc5
69.Kd5 Kf4 70.Kc6 Ke3
71.Kb7 d5 72.Kc6 Kd4
73.Bb3+-
62...Bxb4 63.Kc2
64.Kb3 Bd2?
65.Kc4 Ke6
65...Ke5 66.Kb5 d5 (66...Kf4 67.a5 Kg3 68.a6 Be3 69.Kc6 Bc5 70.Kb7 Kf2
71.Bd1 Ke1 72.Ba4 d5 73.f4+-) 67.a5 Be3 68.Kc6 Ba7 69.a6 d4 70.Kb7
Bc5 71.a7 Bxa7 72.Kxa7 Kf4 73.Kb6 Ke3 74.Bd1 Kd2
Sources:
After 70.Bc7!? Bxb4 71.Bd6 Black has to be careful due to the closed nature
of the position, e.g. 71...Ba5 72.Be7 Kf7 73.Bd6 b5 74.cxb6 Bxb6 75.Bb4
Bd8 76.Kg4 Be7 77.Bd2 Ke8 78.Ba5 c5 79.Be1 Kd7 80.Kf3 Kc6 81.Ke4
55.Bd3! was called for, e.g. 55...gxh4 (55...g4 56.Be4 Ke5 57.Bb1=)
56.gxh4 Ke5 57.Be2 Ke4 58.Bb5 Kf3 59.Be2+ Kg3 60.Bxh5 Bxh5 61.Kd3
Kxh4 62.Kxd4 Kg3 63.Ke3= and White's castle can't be taken.
55...Kxg5 56.Be4
Addendum
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Winning Zones
The queen is so strong that it usually beats a whole horde of pawns, if they are
not too far advanced. But even a single pawn can draw if it has reached the
seventh rank. You certainly know that the queen normally wins against a
knight or central pawn (if not you can look it up in almost any endgame
reference work). With a rook or bishop's pawn, matters are completely
different as the defender has stalemate defences at his disposal. The attacker
only wins if the king is close enough to support the queen. I will now look at
several such cases. It is of course not necessary to know all these zones by
heart but I hope that you profit from studying the examples. Then you will be
able to deal successfully with such positions. I start with the rook's pawn:
Endgame
22.01 Queen vs a-pawn
Corner
Karsten Müller White to move only wins, if his
king is inside the zone: 1.Qf2+
Kb1 (1...Kb3?! 2.Qd4 Kc2
3.Qa1+- when the queen gets in
front of the pawn she wins
always.) 2.Kb4 a1Q 3.Kb3
Qe5 4.Qc2+ Ka1 5.Qa2#
After Grigoriev
e5 is just outside the zone, but
Black has to defend extremely
carefully to save himself:
1.Qd5+
Black has 5 moves now, but only one of them does the job:
1...Ke1! (1...Ke3? 2.Qg2 c1Q 3.Qg5++-; 1...Kc3? 2.Qd4+
Kb3 3.Qa1+-; 1...Kc1? 2.Qa2 Kd1 3.Kd4 c1Q 4.Kd3+-;
1...Ke2? 2.Qa2 Kd1 3.Kd4 c1Q 4.Kd3+-)
22.05B
22.05C
Sources:
E 22.02
84.Ba4 Ke7
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.Nc3 fxe4 5.Nxe4 d5 6.Ng3 e4 7.Ne5 Nf6 8.Bg5 Bd6
9.Nh5 0–0 10.Qd2 Qe8 11.g4 Nxg4 12.Nxg4 Qxh5 13.Ne5 Nc6 14.Be2 Qh3
15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.Be3 Rb8 17.0–0–0
Order
Fundament Chess
Endings
by Karsten Müller &
Frank Lamprecht
The BCF Book of the
Year!
II 19.bxa3?? Bxa3#
19...Qxa2
B) 22...Rxb4?! 23.cxb4
(23.Qg5? Rb2–+) 23...Bxb4
24.Qc2 Qa1+ 25.Qb1 Qc3+
leads to a draw.
François Le Guen suggested analysing the immediate 22...e3?, but this has
the big disadvantage that White's king has a clear escape route, after
23.Qxe3, via d2-e1, e.g,. 23...a5 24.Kd2 axb4 25.Ra1 Qb3 26.Rhb1 bxc3+
27.Qxc3 Bf4+ 28.Be3 Qxc3+ 29.Kxc3 Rxb1 30.Rxb1 Bxe3 31.Rb8 +- or
23...Bf5 24.Kd2 Be4 25.Rhg1 Rxb4 26.Bg3 +- as White's king finds a safe
shelter via e1-f2 or 23...Qa2 24.Qe8+ Bf8 25.Bd3 +-.
D2) 23.Rdg1 Bf5 (23...axb4? runs into the bolt from the
blue 24.Rxg7+! +-) 24.Be3 (24.Qg5 Bg6 25.Kd2 e3+
26.Bxe3 Qc2+ 27.Ke1 Qxc3+ 28.Bd2 Qa1+ 29.Bc1 Rf8–+;
24.Qh6 Bg6 25.Rxg6 hxg6 26.Qxg6 Qa1+ 27.Kd2 Bf4+
28.Be3 Qb2+–+)
and now 24...Bf4!! is the right move,
which I missed in my Skittles Room
article (Dennis Breuker had found a flaw
in my other line, so I had to look at it
again) 25.Bxf4 Qa1+ 26.Kc2 e3+
27.Qd3 Qa2+–+
26...Qa4 threatening a
combination of Ba3,b2,Bf5,e3
and Rb3xc3 or Qa5xc3, e.g.
27.Bg3 Ba3 28.Qa1 Bf5 29.Rhf1 Bg6 30.Rg1 b2 31.Qa2
e3+ 32.Bd3 Rb3–+
28.hxg3 Qxg3
and Black should be winning in
the long run.) 26...bxa3+
27.Ka1 Rb2 28.Rde1 Bf4
29.Rhf1 (29.Bg3 Bd2 30.Rb1
Bxc3 31.Rxb2 axb2+ 32.Ka2
Bxd4–+) 29...Bxh2 30.Bh4 g6
31.Be7
D3b42) 26.Be3
22...Bxb4!
23.cxb4 Rxb4+ 24.Qxb4 Qxb4+ 25.Kc2
e3 26.Bxe3 Bf5+ 27.Rd3 Qc4+ 28.Kd2
Qa2+ 29.Kd1 Qb1+ 0-1
Sources:
Euwe and Nunn, The Development of Chess Style, Batsford
1997.
New in Chess Magazine No.2/1992
ChessBase MEGABASE 2002
ChessCafe Bulletin Board, Thread 431, Nos. 431–1 to
431–14 The following sources were mentioned there:
Yakov Neistadt, Uncrowned Champions; Fred Reinfeld
and Andrew Soltis, Morphy Chess Masterpieces (First
Collier Books Edition 1974); Anatoly Karpov, Miniatures
from the World Champions (Collier Books 1985),
Karpov...acknowledges contributions by “Soviet masters
Gik and Rozenberg.” (M.Shibut)
Exercises (Solutions next month)
E23.01 P.C.Morphy -
C.Maurian New Orleans 1869
E23.02 P.C.Morphy -
W.Thomas Philadelphia 1859
E23.03 P.C.Morphy -
W.Thomas Philadelphia 1859
E23.04 P.C.Morphy -
H.Richardson New York
simul 1859
E23.05 P.C.Morphy -
J.Loewenthal London 1859
E23.06 P.C.Morphy -
J.Loewenthal London 1858
1...Kf4+ 2.Kf7=
E22.02
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3.Kb5 Rb8+ 4.Ka6 Rc8! 5.Kb5 After 5.Rd4 Black has the
important resource 5...Ke5! 6.Rd5+ Ke6 7.Rd4 Ke5 8.Rh4
Rb8 9.Rh5+ Kd6 10.Rb5 Rc8!= 5...Rb8+ 6.Ka5 Rc8
7.Kb4 Rb8+ 8.Kc3 Rc8 and we have reached the starting
position of 24.01 again.
49...Re6 50.Ra8
Now Black must shorten the checking
distance with his own rook. An
important technique to remember!
50...Kc4?
24.08B
1.g5 Rf1!
1...fxg5?!
71...Ra4
Addendum
Sources:
E24.02 R.Kasimdzhanov
(2704) - E.Sutovsky (2651)
EUR-ASIA rapid match
Batumi (4th round),
17.09.2001
E23.05 P.Morphy -
J.Löwenthal London match
1859
E23.06 P.Morphy -
J.Löwenthal London match
8th game 30.07.1858
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55.bxc4 Bxa3
55...Bf6
58.Nd4 b4 59.Nc2
Now the draw is clear as
Black's bishop can't free itself
without losing the b-pawn:
59...Ke6 (59...g4 60.hxg4 Kg6
61.g5 Kxg5 62.Kf3 Kh5
(62...Kf5 63.Nxb4 Bxb4
64.g3=) 63.Nxb4 Bxb4 64.g4+
Kg5 65.Kg2=) 60.Kf3 Ke5
61.g3 hxg3 62.Kxg3 Kf5
63.Nd4+ Ke4 (63...Kg6 64.Nc2
Kh5 65.Kf3 Kh4 66.Kg2=) 64.Nc2 Kd3 65.Nxb4+ Bxb4
66.Kg4! Of course not 66.h4??
Be1+ 67.Kg4 Bxh4–+ 66...Be7
67.h4 gxh4 68.Kh3 ½–½
30.Bd6 Nb4
E2) 63...Ne3!
E2c312) 72...Kd8
E2c333) 68...Ke7
F) 63.Ka6?
Nf5 69.Kc6+-
Addendum
c) The white bishop cannot leave the f1–a6 diagonal: 33. Bh5 (33.c6 Bxc6
34. Bg4 is similar) 33...Ba4+ 34.Ke1 Bxh4+ 35.Kf1 Bb5+ 36.Kg1 Bg3 and
...Bh2+.
Sources:
E25.03 T.Heinemann -
U.Kunsztowicz Glückstadt
rapid 2002
B) 75...Ra1=
78.Kg6? Rg1+
89...Kxh7? a mistake, as
White's h-pawn shielded
Black's king. (89...Rb2!=)
90.Rh4+ Kg6 91.Rg4+ Kh5
79...a2? 80.f6
B) 80...Kh6 81.Kf8+-
80.f6
80.Rxa3 Rb7+
B) 81.Kf6 Kh6=
80...Rb7+ 81.Ke6
81...a2 82.f7
62.h6+! Kf7
A) 64.g5?!
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This is a very important theme for the side fighting against a bishop as it can
control only half of the squares on the board (against a pair of bishops it is a
Endgame different matter of course). The following instructive example was analysed in
detail by Roberto Alvarez in Chess Base Magazine no.87:
Corner 26.01 A.Pankratov (2561) - A.Kozlowicz (2494) email
Karsten Müller ICCF XIV ol prel S1B2 CAISSA 2002
43.Kd3
43...b5!!
a very impressive sacrifice to
close the queenside 44.a5
(44.axb5 Kc7 45.b6+ Kxb6
46.Kc3 g5=) and a draw was
agreed as there is no way to
break through Black's walls,
e.g. 44...Ne8 45.g5 Nc7 46.Kc3
Kc8 47.Be2 Kb7 48.Kd3 Ka6=
(Alvarez)
81.e7
and Black has no defense:
81...Nf6 (81...Kf7 82.Kd7 Nf6+
83.Kd8 Ne8 84.Be5+-) 82.Be5
Ne8 83.Kd7 Kf7 84.Kd8 g4
85.Kd7+-
49.Ke5
54.Bc7
54...Nd4 (54...Kf6 55.Ke4
Nc5+ 56.Kf4 Nd3+ 57.Ke4
Nc5+= (57...a2?! is answered
by 58.Bb6 but it draws
nevertheless: 58...a1Q 59.Bd4+
Qxd4+ 60.Kxd4 Kxf5 61.Kxd3
Ke5=)) 55.b6 a2 56.b7 a1Q
(56...Nc6 57.b8Q Nxb8
58.Be5=) 57.b8Q Nxf5 ½–½
2...h4 3.Kg1
5.e6 Nxb2
5...Nxb2? 6.Ke3
B) 6...Nc4+ 7.Kf4+-
Bibliography
E25.03 T.Heinemann -
U.Kunsztowicz Glückstadt
rapid 2002
1.Kxf5?!
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Order
Fundament Chess
Endings
by Karsten Müller &
Frank Lamprecht
The BCF Book of the
Year!
(4.3), 17.11.2002
44...Kxa4
45.h4!?
45.Ka7 is playable as well, but White must act more precisely: 45...Bxh2
46.b8Q Bxb8+ 47.Kxb8 Kb5 48.Kc7 Kc5 49.Kd7 Kd4 50.Ke6 Ke3
53.Bg2!? 1-0
The following two examples reveal insights into the nature of opposite-
coloured bishop endings by showing an amazing motif that is not often
applicable:
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Black's main problem was that his king was firmly cut off
from the main drawing zone, which is in the corner farest
away: the south east corner (the squares g1,h1,g2,h2).
To understand that, please note that the endgame would be
an easy draw without the defending king as then the queen
would just pester White with checks forever. So much
hinges on its position. A good attacking technique is to
bring the attacking king to the same file or diagonal to
make counterchecks possible. To do this with Black's king
on h1 requires stretching White's forces to the limit. They
just can't make this work:
Sources:
Exercises
(Solutions next month)
E28.01 E.Bogoljubow -
F.Sämisch Bad Harzburg
1938
E28.03 K.Neporozhniy -
O.Vovk (2293) Independence
Cup op-B Kiev 2002
E28.04 M.Petursson -
G.Gunnarsson Reykjavik
1976
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Addendum
Sources:
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Dautov's Doubts
You certainly know, that the rook endgame, where both sides
have 3 pawns on the kingside and one has an extra outside a-
pawn is usually drawn. But you don't want to defend it, do
you? To help you a bit I will look at some examples in the
first part of my column:
45.f3?
50.Re5 a2 51.Re1 Kb3 52.h5 Kb2 53.Kh3 Rc1 54.Re2+ Rc2 55.Re1=
A3) 46...a3 47.f5 a2 48.Ra7 Rc2+ 49.Kf3 gxf5 50.Kf4 Kc4 51.Kg5 Kb3
(51...Kb4 52.Rb7+ Kc3 53.Rc7+ Kb2 54.Rb7+=) 52.Rb7+ Kc3 53.Ra7 Kb2
54.Rb7+ Kc1 55.Ra7 Kb1 56.Kxh5=
1.f3 Ra3+
7...Ra3+?!
8.Kd4 f6?!
13.a6 Ra2
(Leko at www.chessgate.de))
46...Ra4 47.Ke3 Rxg4 48.Kd3
f6 49.Kc3 Kf7 50.Kb3 Ke6
51.a6? (51.Rc5! Rg1 52.Kb4 gives
White very good winning chances as it is
very difficult for Black to create
counterplay on the kingside (compare
Timman's analysis in New in Chess
Magazine 3/2003, p.84f)) 51...Kxf5
52.a7 Rf4 53.a8Q Kg4
45...h4! 46.Rb6
I want to thank Rustem Dautov and Mark Dvoretsky for allowing me to use
their analysis and for proofreading this column.
Sources:
Addendum
better) 45.Kd1
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B2) 36...Kg7 37.Kxh3 Kg6 38.Kg4 Kg7 39.h4 Kh7 40.h5 Kg7=
as White's king can't leave the square of the protected passed
pawn
27...bxc4 28.h3
31.Kh6 Kf8!?
sets a trap 32.Kg6
Kf3=
Sources:
h2 81.Ra8+-
63.Kc6 Ra3
Addendum
I have already dealt with the famous pawn ending Hans Ree vs
Lubomir Ftacnik, Kiev 1978 in Endgame Corner 10 and 25 (see
the ChessCafe Archives). I quote EC 25 first to remind you of
the fascinating breakthrough:
Dr. Lubomir Ftacnik chose 1...g5??
and lost after the brilliant refutation
2.g4!+-. In Endgame Corner 10 I
proved together with Mark Dvoretsky
that Black can win after 1...Kd6 using
the technique of corresponding
squares. Mark has kindly informed
me
about the following easier win: "Later
I asked Hans Ree what he thought about all this and he has kindly
given permission to publish his response, indicating that Rob Nio
Bertholée had discovered the win based on the triangulation
process much earlier:
If this is correct then Black should avoid the Kantorovich position as it is probably
also lost with Black to move, e.g., 1....g5 2.Kd4! gxh4 3.gxh4 Ra5 (3...Rxf2 4.Rc7
Ra2 5.a7+-) 4.Kc4 Ke6 (4...Ke5 5.Kb4 Ra2 6.f4+!) 5.Kb4 Ra2 6.Kc5+-. But this
requires further investigation.
For a safe draw, Black should play 1...g5 in time instead, when White has the set up
Pa5, Ra7: 2.hxg5 (2.Kd4 gxh4 3.gxh4 Rxf2=) 2...Kxg5 3.a6 Kg4=. So Black's
defence is even more difficult than originally thought."
Mark Dvoretsky found further defensive ressources, but Steckner managed to deal
with them:
Amazing!
Mark Dvoretsky now even agrees that the Black to move case of the Kantorovich
position (30.02) is lost as well as claimed by Steckner (!!):
"...1...Ke5 - White replies 2.Kd3! Rxf2 3.Re7+! Kf6 4.a7 Ra2 (after 4...Kxe7 5.a8Q
Rf5 Black would make a draw with his king at g7, but with king at e7 it should be
lost - I considered it in the book - see Dorfman - Beliavsky) 5.Rc7 Kf5 6.Kc4! -
again with Steckner's position."
Steckner's latest analysis on the Black to move case of the Kantorovich position
(30.02) runs:
"The Kantorovich position appears to be winning for White even with Black to
move. I am not yet completely sure about everything, because the variations are
complex and some important lines are decided by highly clever subtleties.
A1) 2....Kd5 3.Kc3 Rxf2 (3....Kc5 4.Kb3) 4.Rc7 Ra2 5.a7 f6 (5....Kd6 6.Rxf7 Kc5
7.Kd3 Kd5 see line A2c after 5....Kd5) 6.Kb4 Kd6 (6....Ke6 7.Kb5+-) 7.Rg7!
(7.Rf7? Ke6 9.Rg7 Kf5=) Kc6 (7....Ke6 8.Kb5+-) 8.Rf7! (8.Rxg6? Rxa7 9.Rxf6+
Kd5=) f5 9.Rg7 Kb6 10.Kc4+-
A3) 2....f6 3.Ra8 Kf5 (3....Ra4 4.f3! (4.Kc3 Ke4!?) Ke6 (4....Kf5 5.a7!+-)5.Kc3+-)
4.a7 (not 4.f3? Ra3+ 5.Kc4 Rxf3 6.Kb4 Rf1 and Black?s counterplay is just in time)
Kg4 5.Rg8 Rxa7 6.Rxg6+ Kf5 7.Rh6+-
B) 1....Ke6 2.Kd4!
B1) 2....Rxf2 3.Rc7 Ra2 4.a7 and now both 4....Kf5 5.Kc4!+- and 4....f6 5.Kc5 Kf5
5.Kb5+- are known from the Kantorovich position with White to move.
B2) 2....f6!? 3.Kc5 Kf5 4.f3! (4.Ra8 Kg4; 4.Kb6 Rb2+) Ra3 5.Kb4 Rxf3 (5....Ra1
6.Ra8) 6.Rb7+- B3) 2....f5 3.Ra8! (threat 4.a7) Kf7 4.f4! and the white King heads
to a7, +-.
C) 1....g5!? 2.Kd4! gxh4 3.gxh4 Ra5 (3....Ke6 4.Kc5) 4.Kc4 Ke5!? 5.Kb4 Ra2
6.f4+!! Finally winning an important tempo, as we will see (6.Kb5? Rb2+ 7.Kc6
Rc2+ 8.Kb6 Rb2+ 9.Kc7 Ra2 10.Ra8 Kf4 11.Kb7 Rb2+ 12.Ka7 f5 and Black?s
counterplay is in time) Ke6 (6...Kd5 and 6....Kf6 is virtually the same; 6....Ke4
7.Re7+ and 6....Kxf4 7.Rxf7+ lose faster)
7.Kb5 Rb2+ 8.Kc6 Rc2+ 9.Kb6 Rb2+ 10.Kc7 Ra2 11.Ra8 Kf5 11.Kb7 Rb2+
12.Ka7 Kxf4 Compared to the line 6.Kb5, Black is a tempo down but a pawn up.
But here the pawn is not important, the tempo decides the day for White: 13.Rb8
Ra2 14.Rb5 f5 15.Kb6+-"
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Shirov's Surprises
At one of the Bundesliga weekends in Lübeck Alexei showed me
the following fascinating endgame:
Order 54...Nf4
Fundament Chess
Endings
by Karsten Müller &
Frank Lamprecht
The BCF Book of the
Year!
57...h5! 58.d6
58...Bxe4
60...Qa1+
61.Bb1
61...Qc3?
62.Qa8+ Kf7
65...Kg8 does not help: 66.Qe4! Qxb3+ 67.Bc2 Qc3 68.d7 Qa1+
69.Kd2! (69.Bb1? Qxa4+ 70.Kc1 Qxd7=) 69...Qc3+ 70.Kc1
Qa1+ 71.Bb1 Qa3+ 72.Kd2 Qb2+ 73.Kd1+-
66.Qe4
66...Qxb3+
I 66...Kf8
67.Bc2 Qc3 68.d7 Qa1+ 69.Bb1 Qxa4+ 70.Ke1 1-0 and Black
resigned due to 70...Qxd7 71.Qh7++-
Sources:
ChessBase Magazine
ChessBase MEGABASE 2003
The Week in Chess, weekly internet chess magazine edited by
Marc Crowther
Chess Today, daily internet newspaper by A.Baburin et al.
A Chess Omnibus, Edward Winter, Russell Enterprises 2003
I could only answer the second question: "White wins with 8.a7
Ra1 (8...Kxh4 9.Rc7 +-) 9.Rc7 Rb1+ 10.Ka3 Ra1+ 11.Kb3 Kf5
12.Kb4 Kf4 13.Rg7 +-" and Johannes Steckner had to admit that
6...Rf1! in the first line refutes his analysis:
"After 1....Ke6 2 Kd4 f6 3.Kc5 Kf5 4.f3 Ra3 5.Kb4 Rxf3 6.Rb7,
G. Mileto asks how White can win on 6....Rf1! As far as I can
see, this defence indeed holds the draw for Black, e.g. 7.a7 Rb1+
8.Kc5 Ra1 9.Rg7 g5 10.Kb6 Kg4 11.Rg8 Ra2 (I missed this
simple move) 12.Kb7 Rb2+ 13.Kc6 Ra1 14.a8Q Rxa8 15.Rxa8
Kxg3 16.Kd5 gxh4=. The careless 6.Rb7? must be replaced by
6.Rc7! and I do not see any defence for Black:
bad for Black. After 3...Kd6(d7) White can either get a winning
pawn endgame (4.a7) or play Rf8(g8) in a proper moment."
After 6...Ra2 7.Kb5 R:f2 White can try 8.Ra8 hoping to 8...K:g3?
9.Rg8+ Kf3 10.a7 Ra2 11.a8Q R:a8 12.R:a8 h4 13.Rh8 Kg3
14.Kc4+-.
But Black plays 8...Rb2+ 9.Kc4 Ra2 10.Rg8+ Kf3 11.Kb5 Rb2+
12.Kc6 Ra2 13.Kb7 Rb2+ 14.Ka8 f5 (or 14...Rb6 15.a7 f5
16.Rg5 Rb5 17.Rg7 f4=) 15.Rg5 f4 16.gf h4 17.f5 Kf4 18.Rh5
Kg4 19.Rh8 K:f5 20.R:h4 Ke6=.
In the line 2.f4 Steckner's suggestion 2...Ke6 looks most
convincing. But perhaps after 2...Ra3+?! 3.Kd4 it is still not too
late for playing 3...Ke6.
Position after 4.Kc5 f6 5.Ra8 Kf5 6.Kb4 Ra1 7.Kb5 Steckner
evaluated as lost, but I am not sure.
7...Rb1+ 8.Kc6 Rc1+ 9.Kb7 Rb1+ 10.Ka7 Rb3 11.Rc8 R:g3
12.Rc6 Rb3 13.Rb6 (13.Ka8 K:f4=) 13...Re3!, and the position
looks drawish."
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Shirov's Surprises
Part 2
Alexei Shirov is a very creative player who often gets highly
unbalanced positions and is capable of finding the most amazing
solutions. As his outstanding autobiography Fire on Board covers
his career until 1997 I decided to concentrate on his recent games
(for the first part see the ChessCafe Archives):
Endgame A mighty Queen
Corner
33.01 A.Morozevich (2678) - A.Shirov (2723) Amber Rapid
Karsten Müller Monte Carlo 2003
Qxg5+ 104.Kc6
104...a1Q!? I guess that this caught
Morozevich by surprise 105.Rxg5
Rolling Pawns
46.Rh1 was called for. I can't say if this saves White, but I did not
manage to find a way to win, e.g. 46...f4 47.Ke2 e5 48.b4 b5
(48...Kf5 49.b5 e4 50.Kf2 e3+ 51.Ke2 Ke4 52.Rh3) 49.Kd3
(49.a4? bxa4 50.Ra1 h3 51.Rxa4 g4 52.Rxa7 h2 53.Rh7 g3
54.Kf3 e4+–+) 49...Kf5 50.Rh2 e4+ 51.Kd4 e3 52.Kd3 and I
don't see a way for Black to make progress in either case. But I
am not completely sure. There may be surprises lurking...
36.Rxd4!
17...Rab8?
20.Nd4+ Kd7
and now comes the real brilliant point
of Shirov's combination: 21.Nf5!!
Rb1?! (21...Rb5 22.Ne3 Rd6 23.Ba3
Bf3 24.Bxf3 Rxd1+ 25.Bxd1 Bxa3
26.Ba4 a6 27.Nxc4± (Macieja))
22.Nxe7 Rxc1 23.Nxd5 Rxd1+
24.Bxd1 with a winning endgame,
which Shirov converted easily:
24...Rd6 25.Ne3 Rd3 26.Ba4+ Kd6
27.Nxc4+ Kc5 28.Ne3 Rxc3 29.Kf1
g6 30.Ke2 Kd4 31.Nc2+ Ke4 32.Bb3 f5 33.h4 f4 34.Ne1 Kf5
35.Nf3 Rc7 36.Kd3 h6 37.Kd4 g5 38.Bc4 Rd7+ 39.Bd5 Rc7
40.hxg5 hxg5 41.Be4+ Kf6 42.Ne5 Rc1 43.Nd3 Rc2 44.a4 Ra2
45.Bc6 Rc2 46.Kd5 g4 47.Nxf4 Rxf2 48.g3 Kf5 49.Bd7+ Kg5
50.Ne6+ Kh5 51.Nc5 Rf3 52.Ne4 Rd3+ 53.Ke5 Ra3 54.Be8+
1–0
40.Kh2 was called for, giving White some drawing chances, e.g.
40...h5 (40...Kg7 41.g4= (Kasimdshanow)) 41.g3 Rb2+ (41...Kg7
42.Kg2 g4 43.hxg4 hxg4 44.Kf2 Rf3+ 45.Kg2 b3 46.Rb4)
42.Kg1 Kg7 (42...b3 43.Kf1 Kg7 44.Ke1 Kf7 45.Kd1 Rh2
46.Rxb3 Rxh3 47.Ke2) 43.Kf1 Kf7 44.Ke1 Ke7 (44...Rg2
45.Rxb4 Rxg3 46.h4 g4 47.Kf2 Rh3 48.Kg2 Rxh4 49.Rb3
is a well known fortress.) 45.Rb5 g4
(45...b3 46.Rxg5 Rg2 47.Rb5 Rxg3
48.h4) 46.Rxh5 b3 47.hxg4 Rg2
48.Rb5 b2 49.Kd1 Kf6 50.Rf5+ Kg6
51.Rb5
Sources:
ChessBase Magazine
ChessBase MEGABASE 2003
The Week in Chess, weekly internet chess magazine edited by
Mark Crowther
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information.
1.Kc6!!
99...Kxe6 100.Kf4
Sources:
ChessBase Magazine
ChessBase MEGABASE 2003
The Week in Chess, weekly internet chess magazine edited by
Mark Crowther
Schachmagazin 64
A Chess Omnibus, Edward Winter, Russell Enterprises 2003
Fundamental Chess Endings, Karsten Müller and Frank
Lamprecht, GAMBIT 2001
Die Endspiel Universität, Mark Dvoretsky, Chess Gate 2002 (in
German). Mark's excellent and extremely instructive work will
soon appear in English.
Secrets of Pawnless Endings, 2nd edition, John Nunn, GAMBIT
2002
Exercise (Solution next month)
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information.
By the way: the longest win in the ending K+2N vs K+P lasts an
amazing number of 115 moves!
85...Nd5+?
B) 87.Kxa7 Kc7!
And now Black can deliver Stamma's
famous mate: 88.Ka8 Nd5 89.Ka7
(89.a7?! Nb6#) 89...Ne7 90.Ka8 Nc8
forcing White to nail his own coffin
91.a7 Nb6#
caught near the h8-corner then White has to force it into the a1-
or a8-corner to give mate.
Sources:
A. Troitzky, Collection of Chess Studies, 1937
Richard Forster, Late Knight column 24, www.chesscafe.com,
April 2000, Late Knights' Tango: The Troitzky Endgame
Balashov, Prandstetter, Basic Endgames, Prague Chess Agency
1992, p.55-65
Cheron, Lehr- und Handbuch der Endspiele, Band 2, 2nd edition,
Verlag Das Schach Archiv 1964, pp.220–250
Speelman, Tisdall, Wade, Batsford Chess Endings, Batsford
1993, pp.112–115
John Nunn, Secrets of Minor Piece Endings, Batsford 1995
1.Ng1 Ne3+
2.Kh3
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Losing a tempo
35.02 Triangulation
1...Ka1 2.Kb3 Kb1 3.Nb2 Kc1 4.Kc3 Kb1 5.Nd3 Ka2 6.Kb4+-
2.Kc2 Ka1
13.Kxa7?!
Practical Examples
Sadler also does not play badly in the next example, but
misses one subtle mate and then the 50–move rule recues
White:
Drawing Zones
When the attacking pawn has crossed the Troitzky line, there
is a drawing zone for the defending king. When it is not
within the zone, it perishes:
Kf6 117.Kh5 Kf5 118.Kh6 Nh4 119.Kh5 Ng6 120.Kh6 Nf4 121.Kg7 Kg5
122.Kf8 Ng6+ 123.Kg7 Ne5 124.Kf8 Kf6 125.Kg8 Nd7 126.Kh7 Nf5 127.d6
Kf7 128.Kh8 Kg6 129.Kg8 Nh6+ 130.Kh8 Ne5 131.d7 Nef7#
36.08
60.Ne3+
Sources:
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information.
Readers Write
The two fascinating articles by Mark Dvoretsky in his
November and December Instructor column have provoked
many responses. Mark has already included several in his last
column and will include all interesting finds in new edition of
his Endgame Manual. But he discusses a completely different
subject this month, so he had no space for IM Julen Luis
Arizmendi Martinez’s fascinating discoveries. So he
generously allowed me to publish them here (I have edited
Endgame them slightly). Many thanks also to IM Julen Luis Arizmendi
Corner Martinez for his kind permission to use his analysis here:
Karsten Müller 37.01 Analysis of Leko - Anand Linares 2003
14...Ke6
B) 16...Kd8 17.Rf7+-
B2) 62.Kb6 62...Rb8+ 63.Kc7 Rb1 the rook has been given a
more active position to fight against the a pawn. 64.a7
(64.Ra3 Rc1+ 65.Kd6 Rd1+ does not lead anywhere; 64.Rc5
h4; 64.Rc4 f6 there is no chack on c7, so this works. 65.gxf6+
Kxf6) 64...Ra1 65.Kb7 (65.Kb6 In contrast with some other
lines, now White’s rook cannot shelter the king on the fourth
rank. 65...Rb1+ 66.Ka5 Ra1+) 65...Rb1+ 66.Kc8 (66.Ka8!?
almost works. 66...h4 67.Rc8 h3 68.Rb8
B) 58...h4 59.Kb7
58.a7 h4
59.Rb4!
59...Ra8 60.Ka6 h3
61.Rb2! Again black´s problem is
his lack of useful moves. 61.Kb7
Rh8 62.a8Q Rxa8 63.Kxa8 h2
64.Rh4 f6 65.Rxh2 fxg5
22...Ra8 23.Kc6 f6
24.Kb7 Not helping the black king
come into play too quickly, but the
extra pawn will play an important
role. (24.gxf6+ Kxf6 25.Kb7
Rxa7+ 26.Kxa7 (26.Rxa7 h4
27.Kc6 g5 28.Kd5 Kf5 29.Kd4
Kf4 30.Kd3 Kf3=) 26...h4 27.Kb6
g5 28.Kc5 Kf5= is drawn as well.)
24...Rxa7+ 25.Rxa7 fxg5
26.Kc6+ Kf6 27.Kd5 Kf5 28.Kd4
(28.Rf7+ Kg4 29.Ke4 h4 30.Ke3 Kg3 31.Ke2 Kg2 32.Rf2+
Kg1
In this line the importance of the
g6 pawn can once more be seen: if
it were not there, 33.Rf5 would
win easily. 33.Ke3 g4 34.Rf4 h3
35.Rxg4+ Kf1 36.Rf4+ Kg2
37.Rf2+ Kg3 38.Rf6 g5=)
28...Kf4 29.Kd3 Kf3 White’s king
must not be allowed to reach the
kingside. 30.Kd2
30...Kf2! the key defensive move.
(30...h4? 31.Ke1 Kg2 (31...h3
32.Kf1) 32.Ra2+ Kg1 (32...Kg3
33.Kf1) 33.Ra4! Kg2 34.Ke2 Kg3
35.Ra6 g4 36.Rxg6+-) 31.Rf7+
Kg2 32.Ke2 (32.Rg7 h4 33.Rxg6
h3 34.Rxg5+ Kh1 35.Ke2 h2=)
32...h4 33.Rf2+ Kg1= The
difference is that white cannot
bring his rook to the fourth rank to
check on g4. A draw in inevitable.
file:///C|/cafe/mueller/mueller.htm (13 of 21) [01/04/2004 11:33:55 PM]
Endgame Corner
Dear Mark,
Thank you for your and J. Arizmendi Martinez's
analysis on Leko-Anand.
Dear Johannes,
I checked again a line 45...Rc4!? 46.Kf3?! Ra4
Dear Mark,
thank you for this analysis. I have to admit that in
both cases, you are right! This makes Arizmendi's
improvement 52.Ke2! even more valuable.
Thank you also for the analysis on Spassky-Zhu
Chen 1997. I am afraid I have no time for further
endgame studies in this year, but again in January.
Best wishes for your journey. Merry Christmas and
a Happy New Year also to you!
Johannes
Dear Mr Müller,
Regards,
Christian Sánchez
Rosario, Argentina
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38.02
with Black to move. White can
reach one of your proposed key
squares. So does he win? This has
to be calculated: 1...Kd6 (1...Kf6
2.Kf4 Kg6 3.Ke5 and White wins
as the pawn h5 falls: 3...Kg7 4.Kf5
Kh6 5.Kf6 Kh7 6.Kg5 Kg7
7.Kxh5+-) 2.Kd4! (2.Kf5? blows
it: 2...Kd5 3.Kg5 Kc4 4.Kxh5
Kxb4 5.Kg5 Ka3=) 2...Kc6
(2...Ke6
loses as well as White queens with
check after 3.Kc5 Kf5 4.Kxb5
Kg4 5.Kc4 Kxh4 6.b5 Kg3 7.b6
h4 8.b7 h3 9.b8Q++-) 3.Ke5 Kc7
4.Kd5 Kb6 5.Kd6 Kb7 6.Kc5
Ka6 7.Kc6+-
38.03
Black's king is on d8=7=d2 so the
first move is easy: 1.Kd2! Ke8
38.04
As usually in this theory you start
with the determination of the key
squares. b6 is obviously one, but
where is the other (is there any?)?
In a way d7 is the other, but you
can also look at it this way: if
White can meet 1...Kd8 with
2.Kd6 then he wins by reaching d7
after 2...Kc8 3.c7 Kb7 4.Kd7+-.
So c7=c5=1 and d8=d6=2 are
corresponding squares. From d5=3 White has access to both
of them, so c8=3 corresponds. I hear you asking: So far, so
good, but what now? Now you should just at other square
bordering the already numbered ones. So c4 and d4 come into
play. White's king can go to c5=1 and d5=3, so corresponding
square for Black must border c7 and c8. Only b8 and d8
satisfy this condition, but they are not connected! Black's king
can't fly from one to the other and the solution is found:
4...Kd8 5.Kd6 Kc8 6.c7 Kb7 7.Kd7 Ka7 8.Kc6 (Of course not
8.c8Q?? stalemate.) 8...Ka8 9.c8Q+ Ka7 10.Qb7#
White to move
Black to move
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information.
1.Ke3!
1...Kd7 2.Kd3 and Black can't keep the correspondence 2...Ke6 3.Ke4 Ke7
4.Kd5 Kd7 5.Kc5 Ke6 6.Kb5 f5 7.gxf5+ Kxf5 8.Kxa5 Kg5 9.Kb6 Kxh5
10.a5+-
Mined Squares
48.Kc3
48...Ke5 49.Kb3 Ke6 50.Ka4 Ke5 (50...Kd5 51.Kb4 Ke6 52.Ka5 Kd5
53.Kb6+-) 51.Ka5 Kd5 52.Kb6 Kc4 53.Kxc6 Kd3 54.Kd5 Kxe3 55.c6 Kf3
56.c7 e3 57.c8Q e2 58.Qc1 and Black resigned due to 58...Kf2 59.Ke4 e1Q+
A Complicated Case
Bishop Knight
● f2 c2
● c3 d3,b3
● f4 e4,c4,f7
● f6 c6,e6
● c5 d5,b5
● e5 e8,d8,a5,c5
● d4 b4,c7
● d4,e7 a7
● d6,e3 c3
A quick inspection reveals that the knight can never move "inside one
correspondence." Let’s look at e5 for example: e8, d8, a5 and c5 are all more
than one knight move away from each other, and that indicates that the position
is drawn, indeed the mighty knight can't defeat the brave bishop.
1.Be1! Nb3 2.Bc3 Nc5 3.Be5 Ne4 (3...Ne6 is met by 4.Bf6) 4.Bf4 Nf2 5.Bd2
Nd3 6.Bc3 and Black can't make progress.
That was really complicated, wasn't it? One last exercise: without the g5-pawn,
determine why example 39.04 is lost!
Addendum
Mark Dvoretsky has sent me the following discoveries that expand on his
November and December 2003 Instructor columns (see the ChessCafe
Archives), and has given his kind permission to publish them here:
39.05
3) But after 10.Rh8 Kd6 11.Rxh5 Black still can make a draw by 11...Rh2!!
(we considered 11...Kc7 as the main line, but after 12.Ka7! White wins in a
Johannes Steckner now adds: "thank you for this new analysis on 8....Rxf2
9.Ka8! Ke5! In the line 10.Rg5, your resource14....f2! indeed draws, as far as I
see. And I also agree that, for this reason, your suggestion 10.Rh8 looks more
accurate. But my impression is that, with the new improvements below, both
rook moves still win:
1) 10.Rg5 Ke4! (or 10....Rb2! 11.Rxh5 Ke4!) 11.Rxh5 Rb2! 12.Rh8! (The h-
pawn must run immediately! Not 12.a7, which is drawn as you have shown)
12....f4 (what else?) 13.h5! (But not 13.Rb8? Ra2 14.a7 f3 15.Rb1 (15.h5 f2
16.Rf8 Rd2!=) Kf4 16.Kb7 Kg4 17.Rb4+ Kg3=. Also not 13.a7? transposing to
12.a7 f4 13.Rh8, f3=) f3 14.h6 f2 (14....Rh2 15.a7+-; 14....Rb5 15.h7 f2
16.Rf8+-) 15.Rf8 Rb6 16.a7+-.
By the way: Helmut Conrady has written a very interesting article Was find ich
denn da - Teil 4. Endspielforschung mit den Tablebases for the German
magazine Computer, Schach und Spiele 1/04, p.42ff, which also explains the
Troitzky rule in the endgame 2N vs. P (see Endgame Corner 36 in the
ChessCafe Archives).
Sources
The Final Countdown, Willem Hajenius and Herman van Riemsdijk, Cadogan
1997
Secrets of Pawn Endings, Karsten Müller and Frank Lamprecht, Everyman
2000
Bauernendspiele, Yuri Averbakh, Sportverlag Berlin 1988
E38.01 Grigoriev
K novoj armii 1920
1...Kf3!?
1...Ke5?! 2.Ke3 Kd5 3.d4 Kc4 (3...Kd6 4.Ke4 Ke6 5.d5+ Kd6 6.Kd4+-) 4.Ke4
Kxb4 5.d5 Kc5 (5...Kc3 6.d6 b4 7.d7 b3 8.d8Q b2 9.Qd3++-) 6.Ke5 b4 7.d6 b3
8.d7 b2 9.d8Q b1Q 10.Qc7+ Kb4 11.Qb6++-
2.Kc2 Kf4 3.Kb2 Kf3 4.Kb3 and Black is in fatal zugzwang 4...Kf4 5.Kc2!
Ke5
6.Kd1! sidestepping the mined square d2
(6.Kd2?! Kd4 7.Kc2 Ke5 forces White to
find 8.Kd1!+-) 6...Kf5 7.Ke2 Kf4 8.Kf2
Ke5 9.Ke3+- and White has reached a key
square and so wins as in the line with
1...Ke5?! above.
E38.02 Grigoriev
Izvestiya 1921
1.Kh3!!
1.Kf2? Kb2 2.Ke3 Kc3 3.Ke2 Kc2 4.Ke3 Kd1 5.Kd3 Ke1 6.Kc4 Kf2 7.Kd5
Kxf3–+
3.Kg3? Kb1 and White's king can't leave the third rank: 4.Kh3 Kc1 5. Kg3 Kd1
6.Kf2 Kd2 7.Kf1 Ke3 8.Kg2 Ke2 9.Kg3 Kf1 10.Kh3 Kf2–+
3...Kb2 4.Kh2! Kc3 5.Kg3! Kd3 6.Kh3! Kd2 7.Kh2! Ke2 8.Kg2!= and Black
can't make progress.
A Fascinating Fight
My friend Merijn van Delft plays for BIS Apeldoorn and he had a very close look
at his game with Tom Middelburg (LSG Leiden), which was played September
27th during the first round of the Dutch Meesterklasse. Merijn included his
thoughts after a very brief analysis with me, and a few lines by his Amsterdam club
mate Rob Witt. I have also added a few remarks, which start with KM.
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Nf3 Nd7 7.h4 h6 8.h5 Bh7
9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 e6 11.Bd2?! (Critical is 11.Bf4) 11...Ngf6 12.0–0–0 Be7
Endgame Corner 13.Ne4 0–0 14.Kb1 c5 The equalizer. 15.dxc5 Nxc5 16.Nxf6+ Bxf6 17.Qxd8
Rfxd8 18.Be3 Na4 (Black also has other options, for example: 18...Rxd1+ 19.Rxd1
Rc8; 18...Rdc8; 18...b6) 19.c3?N (A very unfortunate move. The alternatives lead
Karsten Müller to equal play: 19.Rxd8+ Rxd8 20.c3; 19.Bd4) 19...Nb6? This misses the sudden
opportunity for 19...Rxd1+ 20.Rxd1 Bxc3! 21.bxc3 (21.Rd7 Bxb2 22.Rxb7 Bf6 and
Black stays a pawn up because of Nc3.) 21...Nxc3+ 22.Kc2 Nxd1 23.Kxd1 b6 (see
diagram)
followed by Rd8-d5 gives Black a clear
advantage. My teammate Sipke Ernst, who
has a lot of experience with the Open Spanish
variation where Black exchanges two pieces
against rook and pawn at f2, found it
incredible that I did not go for this line.
20.Bxb6 axb6 (see next diagram)
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of a scenario where the white knight is superior.) 26.Nd2 is comparable to the lines
examined next move.) 25...g5
26.Rxb6? A big mistake, after which the
black bishop becomes very strong, while the
white knight becomes very passive. It was
necessary to retain the coordination between
the white pieces with 26.Kd3! b5 27.Nd2!
with about equal chances: 27...Kg7 (27...Rxf2
28.Ne4 Rf5 29.Nxf6+ Rxf6 30.Rxb5 Rf2 leads
to a very sharp rook ending, for example:
31.a4 Rxg2 32.a5 Rg1 33.b4 Ra1) 28.Ne4
Rd5+ 29.Ke3 Kg6 and the position is more or
less balanced. 26...g4 27.Ne1 Rxf2+ 28.Kd3
Bg5! Now the black rook and bishop are
forming a perfect team. 29.a4 Rd2+ 30.Kc4
(see next diagram)
30...Be3? A superficial move which disturbs
the coordination between the black pieces. In
this critical position sharp calculation was
required. Black could have won with
30...Re2! 31.Nd3 Rxg2 32.a5 and now the a-
pawn is stopped by 32...Rg1! 33.a6 Ra1 after
which the g-pawn decides the game.
31.Rb5 (see next diagram)
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Endgame Corner Page 1 of 7
6...Nf6?
Endgame Corner
This is a serious error. As usual the move
order is very critical in the Open Sicilian.
Karsten Müller 6...a6 is correct, which leads to the game after
7.Bg2 Nf6 8.0–0 Nxd4 (8...Bc5 is an
important alternative.) 9.Qxd4 Bc5 10.Bf4 d6
11.Qd2.
7.Bg2?
13...Ke7 is the alternative here. Yet White's initiative is dangerous, e.g. 14.Bxc5
Qxc5 15.Na4 Qc7 (15...Qc6?! 16.f4 a5 17.Qd3 b5 18.Nc3 Be6 19.Qxb5 Qxb5
20.Nxb5 Bc4 21.Nxd6 Bxf1 22.Nf5+ Kf8 23.Rxf1±) 16.f4 a5 17.Qd3 b5 18.Nc3 Be6
19.Nxb5 Qc5+ 20.Kh1 Bc4 21.Qxd6+ Qxd6 22.Nxd6 Bxf1 23.Nf5+ Kf8 24.Rxf1
with compensation (Ribli in CBM 64) K.Georgiev-S.Dorobanov, New York Open
1998.
13...Bxe3? 14.fxe3 Ke7? (14...Be6 15.Qxd6 Qxd6 16.Rxd6 Rd8 17.Rxd8+ Kxd8
18.Nd5±) 15.Rxf6+-
13...Be6 14.Bxc5 dxc5 15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.exd5 Qd6 17.f4 is another move order to
reach the endgame. It was used in Adams-Anand, Corus Wijk aan Zee 2001.
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Endgame Corner Page 2 of 7
16.Rd2 has also been tried, but Black should be able to neutralize White's initiative.
15...Be6 16.Nd5
16.f4
A) 16...Rd8?! 17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.exd5 e4 19.Rfe1 (19.c4 0–0 20.Rfe1 Rfe8 21.Qc2
with compensation B.Kurajica-M.Franklin, Hastings 1971) 19...Rxd5 20.Rxe4+
Kd8 21.Qe2 Rxd1+ 22.Qxd1+ Qd7 23.Qxd7+ Kxd7 24.Re5 b6 25.Bf1 a5 26.Bc4±
was the very famous R.Fischer-M.Taimanov, Vancouver 1971, that Fischer
managed to win in very instructive fashion. See Endgame Corner 9 in the
ChessCafe Archives.
B) 16...0–0
18.f4!
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Endgame Corner Page 3 of 7
1992.
18...0–0 19.fxe5
19.Rfe1 exf4 20.Qxf4 Rfd8 21.Qxd6 Rxd6 22.Re7 b6 23.Rc7 Rad8 24.c4 R8d7
25.Rc8+ Rd8 26.Bh3 Rxc8 27.Bxc8 a5 28.Bb7 Ne4= (Ribli) P.Large-G.Fischdick,
London 1984
19...Qxe5
20.d6!?
20...Qxb2
21.c4!
23...Rfd8
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Endgame Corner Page 4 of 7
A) 24.Bd5!? comes strongly into consideration, e.g. 24...Nf6 25.Rb1 Nxd5 (25...b6
26.Bc6 is quite good for White as it’s not easy for Black to untangle his forces.)
26.Rxd5 b6 (see next diagram)
24.Rb1 b6!?
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Endgame Corner Page 5 of 7
27.Re1=
26.Re7 f6?!
26...Nf6 27.Bc6 Kf8 28.Ra7 Ng4 29.Re2 Rxd6 30.Bd5 with compensation.
27.Bd5+ Kh8 28.Be6 Ne5 29.Kf2 Nc6 30.Rc7 Nd4 (see next diagram)
31.Bd7
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1...Kf7
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A2) 4...Kg7!=
Another rule of this endgame suggests that the defending rook is usually well
placed on a1 or b1 to be able to deliver checks on g1, h1 or a6, a7 etc.,
whenever White's king leaves its shelter.
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6...Ra5
7.Re6 Kxh5 8.Re5 Ra7 9.Ke6 Kg5 10.f6+ Kg6 11.Re1 Ra6+ 12.Ke7 Ra7+=
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65.Rf8?
67...Rh7 68.Ra3+
70...Rd7 71.Ra8
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When the defending king is cut off on the e-file the attacker usually wins, but when
the pawns are very far back it is amazingly difficult:
1.Rf4 Rh1
5...Ke5
5...Rh8+ 6.Kg6 Rg8+ 7.Kh7 Rg2 8.Kh6 Rg8 9.Rg3 Ra8 10.Kg6 Rg8+ 11.Kh7 Ra8
12.Rf3 Ra4 13.Kg6 Ke7 14.Rf7+ Ke8 15.f4 Ra3 16.f5 Rxh3 17.Ra7
6.Kh6
7...Rh8+ 8.Rh7 Rg8 9.Rg7 Rh8+ 10.Kg5 Rf8 (10...Rxh3 11.Re7+ Kf3 12.Re3+ Kg2
13.Rxh3 Kxh3 14.f4+-; 10...Ra8 11.h4 Ra5+ 12.Kg4 Ra2 13.Re7++-) 11.Re7+ Kf3
12.Re6 Kxf2 13.h4+-
8.Kh7 Rg1 9.Rf3 Rg2 10.Rf8 Ke6 11.Kh6 Rh2 12.Rf3 Ke7 13.Kh5 Rg2 14.Rf4
Rg8
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(22...Kd5 23.Ra4 Rg8+ (23...Ke6 24.f5+ Kf7 25.Ra7+ Kg8 26.Kg6+-) 24.Kf6 Rg4
25.Ra5+ Kd6 26.f5+-) 23.Kf6 Kd5 24.Ra4 Rf8+ 25.Kg7 Rf5 26.Kg6 Rf8 27.f5+-
and the pawn has crossed the middle of the board. White is winning because he will
reach Lucena's position.
Two connected passed pawns usually win, but when the defending king occupies a
hole between them it can be quite difficult and even several fortresses exist:
52...Kc5 53.Rg5+
58.Rd4!! R
61.Kd6 Rh
64.Rd6+-)
diagram)
60.Re8 Rg7
61.Kc4 Rh7
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61...Rg4+ 62.Kd5 Rg5+ 63.Kd6 Rg6+ 64.Kd7 Rg7+ 65.Re7 Rg8 66.c7 Kb7 67.b6
Rh8 68.Re8+-
62.Rd8 Rh4+ 63.Kd3?! Rh7 64.Rb8+ Ka7 65.Re8 Kb6 66.Kc4 Rg7 67.Rh8 Rf7
68.Ra8 Rf4+ 69.Kd5 Rf5+ and Black resigned due to 70.Ke6 Rxb5 71.Kd6 Rh5
72.Rb8+ Ka7 73.c7+-
51.Rc5 Rg1 52.a6 Ra1 53.Rc6+ Kf5 54.Kb4 Kg4 55.Rxf6 Kxh5 56.f3 Ra2 57.Kb5
Ra3 58.Kb6 Rb3+ 59.Kc7 Ra3 60.Kb7 Rb3+ 61.Rb6 Rxf3=
Sources
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1...Rxe4 2.Rxd6+ Kf5 3.fxe5 Rg4+ 4.Kh3 Kxe5 and the game was soon drawn.
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Endgame Corner
Counterplay Counts
In rook endings activity is usually critically important, as in the following recent
examples:
57.Kd4?
58.Kc4! Rd1 (58...Rf8 does not work anymore due to 59.Rc5+-) 59.Rxa5 Ra1
60.Kb3 Rb1+ 61.Ka3 1–0
This strategy is, of course, also valid in other endings. Although sacrificing a
pawn for activity is more common in rook endings. The following position is a
classic example from a minor piece endgame:
B) 67.Kc6 Ke3
B1b) 70...Ke4 71.Nc6 d4 72.Kc4 d3 73.Kc3 Kd5 74.Nd8 Kxe5 75.Kxd3 Kf4
76.Nf7 e5=
B2) 68.Kd6 d4 69.Kxe6 d3 70.Nd6 Kd4 71.Kf6 d2 72.e6 d1Q 73.e7 Qf3+
74.Kxg6 Qc6 75.e8Q Qxd6+ 76.Kg7 Kc3 77.g6 Kb2= as Black's king is inside
the drawing zone.
63.Nb7 Kc6 64.Nd6 (imprisoning the bishop) 64...Bh7 65.Ka6 Bg8 66.Ka5
Bh7 67.Nf7 Bg8 68.Nh6 Bh7 69.Ka6 Kc7 70.Kb5 Kb7 71.Kc5 Kc7 72.Nf7
Bg8 73.Nd6 Bh7 74.Ne8+ (what a knight!) 1–0
67...Kb3 68.Kd3 Bg2 (68...Kxa3 69.Kc3+-) 69.Ne3 Bh3 70.d5 Kxa3 71.Kc3+-
46...Ra4 47.Ke3 Rxg4 48.Kd3 f6 49.Kc3 Kf7 50.Kb3 Ke6 51.a6 Kxf5 52.a7
Rf4 53.a8Q Kg4 (see next diagram)
Sources:
School of Chess Excellence 1 – Endgame Analysis, Mark Dvoretsky, Edition
Olms 2001
Modern Chess Analysis, Robin Smith, Gambit 2004
Chess Today – daily internet newspaper edited by Alexander Baburin
The Week in Chess – compiled and edited by Mark Crowther, which has
recently reached its 500th issue. Congratulations!
A) 56.Kd4
B) 56.Kd2 Rh3 57.Ke2 Rh2+ 58.Kf1 Kg3 59.Rg6+ Kf3 60.Kg1 Rh5 61.Ra6=
58...Kg4 0–1
53.Rb8? does not help either: 53...Ra4 54.Rb6 Kf7 55.Kc3 Ke7 56.Kb3 Ra1
57.Kb4 Kd7 58.Kb5 Rb1+=
53...Kf6
54.Kc3 Re4
54...Ra4 55.Ra8 Kf7 56.Kb3 Ra1 57.Kb4 Rb1+ (Black's king can't leave
squares g7 and h7 due to the trick 57...Ke7 58.a7 Kd7 59.Rh8+-) 58.Kc5 Rc1+
59.Kb6 Rb1+ 60.Ka7 Ke7 61.Rb8 Rc1 62.Kb7 Rb1+ 63.Ka8 Rc1 64.a7 Kd6
65.Kb7 Rb1+ 66.Kc8 Rc1+ 67.Kd8 Rh1 68.Rb6+ Kc5 69.Rc6++-
55.Rh7 Ra4 56.a7 and Shirov resigned due to 56...Ke6 57.Kb3 Ra1 58.Kb4
Kd6 59.Kb5 Rb1+ 60.Ka6 Ra1+ 61.Kb7 Rb1+ 62.Kc8 Ra1 63.Kb8+-
59.Ka3?
61.Ka5! and the king cannot be cut off on the 6th rank anymore, so White wins.
The steps are as follows: move the rook to a4, b4 or c4 and use it as bridge for
the king. When the king has reached an appropriate square (e.g. c7) the e4-pawn
can be sacrificed with Ra7. Dautov demonstrates this:
77...Rb6 78.Kc7 Rh6 79.Kd7 Rb6 80.Ra5+ Kf6 (80...Kxe4 81.Ke7 Rb7+ 82.Kf6
Rb6+ 83.Kg7 Rb7+ 84.Kg6+- another example for the strength of the
horizontal cut off.) 81.Kc7 Rb1 82.Ra6++-
78.Kc7 Rd1
78...Rh6 79.Kd7 Ke5 80.Ke7 Rh7+ 81.Kf8 Rh8+ 82.Kg7 Rh1 83.f6 Rg1+
84.Kf7 Rb1 85.Ra6+-
81.Kc8 (Of course not 81.f7?? Rf2=) and Black resigned due to 81...Rd1 82.f7
Rf1 83.Ra7 Ke6 84.Kd8 Rxf7 85.Rxf7 Kxf7 86.Kd7 Kf6 87.Kd6+-
88.Re7?? g2–+
89.Ra2 was called for, e.g. 89...Kd3 (89...g2 90.Rd2+! the saving
zwischenschach 90...Ke5 91.Rxg2=) 90.Ra3+ Kc2 91.Ra2+ Kb1 92.Rg2 Rf6
93.Rg1+ Kc2 94.Rg2+ Kd3 95.Ra2=
89...Kd3?
89...g2 was the way to go as the resulting pawn endgames are won: 90.Rd1+
(90.Rg1 Kd3 91.Rd1+ Kc2 92.Rg1 Kd2 93.Kf2 Rg3–+ zugzwang) 90...Ke5
91.Re1+ Kf5 92.Rg1 Rg3+ 93.Kf2 Kg4 94.Rxg2 (94.Ra1 g1Q+–+) 94...Kh3
95.Rg1 Rxg1 96.Kxg1 Kg3–+
90.Rd1+ Kc2 91.Rg1! (Here 91.Ra1? is wrong due to 91...g2–+) 91...Kd2 ½–½
So, when advancing connected passed pawns, you should be very careful to not
allow the defending king to block them. Here is a warning example:
80.g5?!
80...Kh5!?
81.Re4
81.Ke4?! Kg4 82.Rb3 Re6+ 83.Kd5 Re1 84.Rb4 Kf5 85.Kd6 is won (compare
44.01), but still quite difficult.
B) 85.Kg4+-
89.g7 Ra8?
90.Kf3?
White could seize his chance with 90.Rg3! Rg8 91.Kf3 Kf6 92.Ke4 Re8+
93.Kd5 Rd8+ 94.Kc5 Kf7 95.f5 Rc8+ 96.Kd6 Rd8+ 97.Kc7 Ra8 98.Rg6 Re8
(98...Kg8 99.f6 Kf7 100.Rh6+-) 99.Kd7 Rg8
65...c4+!
66...Ra8?
67.Kc5 Rd8 68.Kc6 Rd1 69.Re7? the right idea, but too early.
69.Kc5 Rd8 70.Ra4 zugzwang 70...Rc8+ (70...Rd7 71.Rd4 Rc7+ 72.Kd6 Rb7
73.Ke6 Rb8 74.Rd5 Rb6+ 75.Rd6 Rb4 76.f6 Kg6 77.g5 Re4+ 78.Kd7 Kf7
79.Kd8 Re8+ 80.Kc7 Kg6 81.Rd8 Re6 82.Rg8+ Kh7 83.Rg7+ Kh8 84.Rd7+-)
71.Kd5 Rb8 72.Ke6 Rb6+ 73.Kd7 Rb7+ 74.Kc6 Rb1 75.Rd4 Re1 76.Kc7 Re5
77.Kd7 Re1 now the rook can advance as White's king is better placed: 78.Rd6
Kxg4 79.f6 Rf1 80.Ke7+-
A) 66...f6 67.Kf4+-
66...Kh5 and a draw was agreed due to 67.Ke5 Kg4 68.h5 Kxh5 69.Kxf5 Kh6
70.Kf6 Kh5=
38...h3+
38...Kd6? 39.Kf2? Kc6? 40.Kg2? Kb6? 41.a3? Ka5? 42.b3? (42.h3! g3! 43.b3!
Kb6 44.Kf3 a5 45.a4!=) 42...Kb6 43.Kg1 a5 44.a4 Kc6 45.h3 Kd6 46.Kg2 Ke6
47.Kg1 Kf6 48.Kh2 Kg6 49.Kg2 Kg7 (49...gxh3+? 50.Kh2! Kh6 51.b4! and
White should be able to hold the draw.) 50.Kh2 (50.Kg1 gxh3 51.Kh2 Kg6–+)
50...Kh6 51.Kg2 gxh3+ 52.Kh2 Kg6! 53.Kxh3 Kh5! 54.b4 cxb4–+
38...a5 39.a4 (39.h3 a4–+) 39...h3+! 40.Kf1 Kf6 41.Kg1 Kg6 42.Kf2 Kh6
43.Kg3 Kh5 44.b3 Kh6 45.Kf2 Kg6 46.Kf1 Kh5 47.Kg1 (47.Kf2 Kh4 48.b4
axb4 49.a5 b3 50.a6 b2 51.a7 b1Q 52.a8Q Qc2+ 53.Ke1 Qc1+ 54.Ke2 Qxc4+
55.Ke3 Qe4+–+) 47...Kh4 48.Kf2 g3+ 49.hxg3+ Kg4–+
41.Kf2 Kb6 42.a3 Ka5 43.b3 Kb6 44.Kg3 a5 45.a4 Kc6 46.Kf2 Kd6 47.Kg3
Ke6 48.Kf2 Kf6 49.Kg3 Kg6 50.Kf2 Kh6 51.Kf1 Kh5 52.Kf2 Kh4 53.b4 axb4
54.a5 b3 55.a6 b2 56.a7 b1Q 57.a8Q Qc2+ 58.Kg1 Qc1+ 59.Kf2 Qxf4+–+
41...Kb6 42.b4 (42.Kf2 Ka5 43.b3 Kb6 44.Kg3 a5 45.a4 Kc6–+) 42...cxb4
43.axb4 a5–+
Karsten Müller
38...Kc6 39.Be2 no counterplay! 39...Kb7 40.Kd2 now the time is ripe 40...Bd7
41.Kc1 Be8 42.Kb1 (see next diagram)
42...Bd7?
56...Bf7
60...Kg4! is quickest: 61.Rxe3 fxe3 62.Kxg2 Kf4 63.Kg1 Kg3 64.Kf1 Kf3
65.Ke1 e2-+
76.Rh4?
Deceptive Simplicity
Pawn endings seem easy, don’t they? When only kings and pawns remain on
the board, very few possible candidate moves must be considered for both sides.
But don’t be deceived; they can be quite difficult to handle, as the following
recent examples show. First let’s look at some simplifications into pawn
endings:
60.Qc6 Qd4+ 61.Ke6 Ke1?! a step in the wrong direction. 61...Kg1 is better as
the defending king should head for the south east corner in the endgame Q+b-
pawn vs. Q, if it can’t get in front of the pawn. 62.Qd5
53.Kd3?
54.Ke3?
is a watertight fortress.
61...f4
42.h4?
42...Qc5 (42...Kc5 was even easier: 43.Kb3 b6–+) 43.Qb3 Qd4+ 44.Qb4 Qd1+
45.Ka3 Qxf3+ 46.Ka4 Qd1+ 47.Ka3 Qd3+ 48.Ka4 Qc2+ 49.Ka3 Qc5 the
decisive simplification 50.Ka4 Qxb4+ 51.Kxb4 Ka7 52.Ka5 b6+ 53.Kb4 Kb7
54.Kc3 Kc7 55.Kd3 Kd7 56.Ke3 Ke7 57.Kf3 f6 58.Kg4 Kf7
59.gxf6
39.Ke3?
John Colucci from Canada has found the following tough defense:
“Mr. Müller, I was wondering if you could answer a question I have about your
endgame article Bear in the Hole (R+2P vs. R). I really enjoyed this article even
though it was extremely complex. In the first diagram (44.01) Dautov vs.
Romanishin we arrive at a critical position after Dautov (White) played
69.Ra4!!.
Rc4 but that doesn’t seem enough to win after 74...Rb8+ or …Ra8. Am I
missing something here since I can’t beat Fritz and Fritz can’t beat me when we
switch sides in this position after 69...Rb7!! Anyway if you don’t have time to
respond I’ll understand but I just wanted to say that I really enjoy your column.”
69...Ra8+
58...Bc8# 0–1
58.b6+ 1–0
48.Rc4+?
48...Kxh3!
54.Re6+ Kxb7
55.Kc4
31...Rxa2+
32.Kg1
32...Rd2?
33.Nb6?! Ne3
33...Ne3
Their good cooperation in a dangerous attack against the enemy king is one of
Endgame the reasons for the fame of the Q+N duo.
Corner
Karsten Müller
46.b4! Speelman wants to fix the pawn on b7 to apply the principle of two
weaknesses. 46...Qc6 47.b5 axb5 48.axb5 Qc5 (48...Qxb5 49.Qxd6 Qd3+
50.Kg2 Qxe4+ 51.Kh2 Qf3 52.Kg1+- according to Speelman) 49.Kg2!
B) Bad Bishop
This classical theme is often dealt with in the literature, although the bishop is
seldom as bad as Hebden’s:
The last example shows the superb technique of the great Anthony Miles, who
died much too young:
44.c5!
44...Be7 45.f3 Bd8 46.Kf2?! again 46.c5 offered better winning chances, but is
less clear than before. 46...Ke7 47.Ke2?! Qe6= 48.Ng5 Qxc6 49.bxc6 Kf6
50.Kd3 Kf5 51.Ne4 Be7 52.Kc3 g5 53.hxg5 Bxg5 54.Nd6+
54...Ke6 55.Nb5 h4 56.gxh4 Bxh4 57.Kd3 Bg3 58.Ke4 Bh2 59.Kd3 Bg3
60.Nc3 1-0 and Black lost on time, but the position is completely drawn of
course.
Freeze!
Professor Ingo Althöfer from Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Germany)
has experimented with computer chess for a long time and he wanted to prove
that the machines were much stronger when a human was allowed to choose
from the best move options. As a rule he chose from the best options of two
different programs and with this so called “3-Hirn” (Triple Brain), he played
matches against international master Reefschläger (in 1989) and grandmasters
Lutz (1995), Timoscenko (1996), and Yusupov (1997). One endgame from the
Yusupov match especially caught his attention:
Eiko did as he was asked and kindly allowed me to use his work. In short, I set
the following rules for this endgame to prove my conjecture that it is drawn:
The pawns are frozen. Black wins, if the bishop or the white pawns are taken
or White’s king has to move on the b-file. Of course, with this method it can
only be shown that certain positions are drawn. It is not clear which are won.
The whole Freezer concept is especially good for positions where you already
have previous knowledge and a conjecture. And the result confirmed my
conjecture:
1...Kc5
2.Kd2 Kd4 3.Be2 Rf8 4.Bg4 Rf2+ 5.Ke1 Ke3 6.Be6 Rf8 7.Bd7 Kf3 8.Bg4+
Kg3 9.Ke2 Re8+ 10.Kf1 Re7 11.Bc8 Rc7 12.Be6 Rc2 13.Bg4 Rf2+ 14.Ke1
Kg2 15.Bd7 Rf7 16.Bg4 Re7+ 17.Kd1 Kg3 18.Kd2 Re8 19.Kd3 Kf4
20.Kd2 Re3 21.Kd1 Kg3 22.Kd2 Kf2 23.Bd7 Re5 24.Kc3! Rd5 25.Bg4 Ke3
26.Kc4 Rd8 27.Kc5 Ke4 28.Kc6 Ke5 29.Bd7 Kf6 30.Kd6 Kf7 31.Kc6 Ke7
32.Bg4 Rd2 33.Kc5 Kf6 34.Kc6 Ke5 35.Kc7 Rd6 36.Bd7 Ra6 37.Bg4 Kd5
38.Bf3+ Ke6
Kerteminde 1991
51...Ra3 52.Nc2 Ra2 53.Kd3 Ra4! forces White’s king to occupy the knight’s
post. 54.Ke3 Rc4 55.Nd4 Rc3+ 56.Ke2 Rc5 57.Nf3 Kh5 58.Ne5 Rc3 59.Kf2
Kh4 60.Kg2 Rb3 0-1
88.Qb3+ Kg6!
50.05
50.06
Please do not attempt to mate like this; use the well-known “W” maneuver
instead!
I want to thank Professor Dr.Ingo Althöfer and Eiko Bleicher for allowing me
to use their ideas and the Freezer program.
Sources:
Freezer program written by Eiko Bleicher
Building Chess Endgame Databases for Positions with many Pieces using A-
priori Information, E.Bleicher, downloadable here as a PDF file.
38.Kc2?
Again, it was better to improve the prospects of the knight: 38.Rg3 Rf1 39.e5!
dxe5 40.Nc5 and White is OK, e.g. 40...Bc4 (40...h5!?) 41.Rh3 Bg5 42.Rd7
Rf2+ 43.Ka1 Rf1+=.
38...Bc4?
45...Rxa3 46.Rc2+?!
54.Kd5?
54.g4!!
83...Rc6 84.Qd7+-.
83...Kg8 84.Qd8+,
A Knightmare
In his first Bundesliga season my friend Gernd Beckhuis almost managed to
defeat the German legend Dr. Robert Hübner. Now, a decade later, he has
taken a close look at their fascinating endgame and kindly allowed me to use
his notes.
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 b6 3.c4 e6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 Bb7 6.Bg2 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 a5 8.0–0
Endgame 0–0 9.Qc2 c5 10.Nc3 Na6 11.Rad1 d5 12.cxd5 exd5 13.Qb2 Qe7
Corner 13...Ne4? is answered with 14.Nxe4 dxe4 15.Ng5 Qe7 16.d5 Bxd5 17.Be3
Nc7 18.a3 and White is on top.
Karsten Müller 14.dxc5 bxc5 15.a3 d4 16.axb4 dxc3 17.Bxc3 cxb4 18.Be5
After 18.Bxf6 one sample line runs 18...Qxf6 19.Qxf6 gxf6 20.Nd4 Bxg2
21.Kxg2 Rfd8 22.e3 Nc5 23.Rb1 (23.Rc1?! Rxd4 24.Rxc5 Rd2=) 23...Ne6
24.Nc6 Rd3 25.Rfc1 Ra6 and Black’s queenside play gives him good drawing
chances.
20.Nf5? is incorrect: 20...Qe6 21.Nxg7 Kxg7 22.Rd6 (22.Kxg2 Rc6 23.f4 Re8
24.e4 Kg8–+) 22...Qxd6 23.Bxd6 Bxf1 24.Be5 Rc6–+.
23.Rd5! Nc7!
The immediate 23...a4?! is very risky: 24.bxa4 Rxe2 (24...Nc7 25.Rc5 Ne6
26.Rb5 Rxa4 27.Rb1) 25.Rc1 and White’s initiative is strong in both cases.
26.Rxc8+
28.Rxc7 Nxc7
29.Nd4!
36.Ke4?!
38...Ne6
39.h4??
41...Kc4 42.Ke3
42.f3 doesn’t help: 42...Kd4 43.Na3 Nc3 44.h5 b2 45.Kc2 b1Q+ 46.Nxb1
Nxb1 47.Kxb1 Ke3–+.
39.h4??
42...b2 43.Kd2 Nc5 44.f3 Kb3 45.g4 Ne6 46.Ke3 Kc2 47.Na3+ Kc1 48.Kd3
Nf4+ 49.Kc3 Ng2 0–1
In the next position, Black again has moderate winning potential, but this time
the rook prevails.
50.Kg1
54.Be5 h5
55.g4?
58.Be5 doesn’t help as the h2-b8 diagonal is surprisingly too short: 58...Rd1+
59.Kh2 Kf3 60.Bb8 (60.g5 Rd2+ 61.Kg1 Rg2+ 62.Kf1 Rxg5–+) 60...Rxd4
61.Kg1 Rd8 62.Bc7 Rc8 63.Be5 Ke4 64.Bd6 (64.Bf6 Rc1+ 65.Kf2 Rc2+
66.Kg1 Kf4 67.Bxh4 g5 68.Be1 Kf3–+) 64...g5 65.Kg2 (65.Be7 Kf3 66.Bd6
Rd8 67.Bc7 Rd7–+) 65...Rd8 66.Bc7 Rd2+ 67.Kg1:
In the following two examples I start a bit earlier to include some interesting
attacks.
44...Rf2
45.Rg1
45.h5? Kh7 46.Ra7+ Kh6 47.Rg1 e4! (Stellwagen) 48.Ra3 Bg7 49.Rxg3
Bd4–+.
45...Kf7?
46.Ra3
Upon 46.Ra7+? Black’s king runs to the queenside: 46...Ke8 47.Ra8+ Kd7
48.Ra7+ Kc8 49.Ra8+ (49.Rh7 e4–+) 49...Kc7 50.Ra7+ Kb6 51.Ra3 Rfb2
52.Ra8 (52.Rxg3 Bh6–+) 52...Bh6 53.Rb8+ Kc5 54.Rxb2 Rxb2–+.
46...Bh6 47.Rxg3
47.Rf3+? Rxf3 48.gxf3 Bf4 49.Rg2 Rc1 50.c5 (50.Rc2? Be3!! 51.Rg2
Bf2+–+) 50...Rxc5 51.Bc2 Kf6 52.Be4 Rc1+ 53.Ke2 Rh1:
50...fxg3 51.Bf3
51.Be2 Rb3–+.
51...Kf6 52.Kd3
55...Ke6?!
56.Nc7+ Kd7?!
56...Kd6 was again necessary. But the text move does surprisingly draw
despite losing another pawn.
57.Nxa6 Bxf3 58.Kxf6 Kd6 59.Kf5 Kd5 60.Kf4 Bh1 61.Ke3 Kc4 62.Nc5
Bc6 63.Nd3 Bg2 64.Ne5+ Kc3 65.Ng6 Kc4 66.Ne7
67.Nf5 Bg2?!
67...Kd5 was more tenacious, but Marin showed the road to victory: 68.Kd3
Ke6 69.Ne3 Bf3 70.Kd2 and White’s monarch will march all the way to f8
and win.
I want to thank Mark Dvoretsky for allowing me to use his ideas and analysis.
Sources:
Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manual by Mark Dvoretsky, Russell Enterprises 2003.
Fundamental Chess Endings by Karsten Müller and Frank Lamprecht, Gambit
2001.
Power Chess with Pieces by Jan Timman, New in Chess 2004.
Learn from the Legends by Mihail Marin, Quality Chess 2004.
51...Bc4! is much more tenacious: 52.Rf6 Ke5 after (52...Ba2 53.Rf1 Ke5
(53...Kc4 54.Kd2 Kb3 55.Kc1 b4 56.cxb4 cxb4 57.Rf3++-) 54.Rh1 Kd5
55.Kd3 Bc4+ 56.Kd2 Ba2 57.Rh5+ and White either reaches the desired cut
off or wins because of zugzwang: 57...Kc4 58.Kc1 Bb3 59.Rg5 Ba2
76...Bc8 77.Kc4 Kf5 78.b5 Ke6 79.Kc5 Bb7 80.Kb4 Kd5 81.Kc3 Ke4 82.Na3
Kd5 83.Nc4 Ke6 84.Ne3+-
76...Bg4 77.Kc4 Bd1 78.Na3 Kf5 79.Kd5 Bf3+ 80.Kd6 Ke4 81.Kc5 Kf5
82.d5+-
78...Bd5 79.b5 Ba8 80.Na3 Kf5 81.Nc4 Ke6 82.Kb4 Bd5 83.Ne3 Bb3 84.d5+
Kd6 85.b6 Kd7 86.Nc4+-
73...Kf5? 74.Nb6 Be8 75.Nd5 Bd7 (75...Bh5 76.Nc7 Be2 77.a4 bxa4 78.b5+-)
76.Kd3 Ke6 77.Nc3+-
74.Ne5 (74.a4?! bxc4=) 74...Be8 (74...Bb7? 75.a4 bxa4 76.Nc4 Kd5 77.b5+-)
75.Ng4 Kf5 76.Nf2 Ke6 77.Ne4 Bg6 78.Nc5+ Kd5=
65...g4 66.Kc4
In the next example, Black always faces the danger of White getting
connected passed pawns:
63...b4 64.Rb7 Rh2 65.Rxb4 Rd2+ 66.Ke3 Rc2 67.Rb8+ Kf7 68.Rb7+ Kf8
69.Re7 Rc6 70.Kf4+-)
62.Rb7 Rxe5 63.Kd4 Ra5 64.e5 Rd5+ 65.Ke4 Rd1 66.Rxb4 Re1+ 67.Kf4
Rf1+ 68.Kg5 Rg1+ (68...Re1!?) 69.Rg4 Rf1 70.Kg6
63...Ra7 64.Kf3 Rh7 65.Rb8+ Kf7 66.Rb7+ Kg6 67.Re7 and White prevails
as the pawn endgame is won (67.Rxh7? Kxh7 is only drawn as White’s king
can’t penetrate.): 67...Rxe7 68.fxe7 68...Kf7 69.Kg4 Kxe7 70.Kxg5 Kf7
71.Kh6 Kf8 72.Kg6 Ke7 73.Kg7 Ke8 74.Kf6 Kd7 75.Kf7+-.
64.Rb8+! Topalov enters on the 7th rank with tempo. 64...Kf7 65.Rb7+ Kf8
sad passivity, but the active 65...Kg6 loses as well: 66.Rg7+ Kh6 (66...Kh5
67.Re7 Kg6 68.Rxe6+-) 67.Rg8 Ra3+ 68.Kf2 Ra7 69.Kf3 Ra1 70.Kg3 Rf1
71.Re8+-. 66.Kd4 66.Kf3 was possible immediately. 66...Ra4+ 67.Kc5 Ra5+
68.Kd4 Ra4+ 69.Ke3 Ra3+ 69...Ra5 70.Kf3 Rxe5 71.Kg4 Rxe4+ 72.Kh5+-.
70.Kf2 Ra5 70...g4 71.Re7 Rf3+ 72.Kg2 Re3 73.Rxe6 Rxe4 74.Kg3+-.
71.Kg3 Rxe5 71...Ra4 72.Kg4 Rxe4+ 73.Kh5+-. 72.Kg4 Rxe4+
50.Kg1
counterplay with the d-pawn: 55.Kf3 g5 56.Be3 h5 57.d5 g4+ 58.hxg4 Rxg4
59.d6=.
54.Be5 h5
55.g4?
58.Be5 doesn’t help as the diagonal h2-b8 is surprisingly not long enough:
58...Rd1+ 59.Kh2 Kf3 60.Bb8 (60.g5 Rd2+ 61.Kg1 Rg2+ 62.Kf1 Rxg5–+)
60...Rxd4 61.Kg1 Rd8 62.Bc7 Rc8 63.Be5 Ke4 64.Bd6 (64.Bf6 Rc1+ 65.Kf2
Rc2+ 66.Kg1 Kf4 67.Bxh4 g5 68.Be1 Kf3–+) 64...g5 65.Kg2 (65.Be7 Kf3
66.Bd6 Rd8 67.Bc7 Rd7–+) 65...Rd8 66.Bc7 Rd2+ 67.Kg1
58.01 Nunn
Due Alfieri, 1983
White to play and draw
The most famous switchback is probably the following amazing piece of art:
1.Kd6? is just too slow: 1...Bf5 2.Kc5 Ke4 3.Kb6 Bc8 4.Ka7 b5! (4...Kd5?
5.Kb8 b5? 6.Kxc8 even loses.) 5.Kb8 Bh3–+.
3.Ke6? is refuted by the bodycheck 3...Ke4! 4.c8Q Bf5+ 5.Kd6 Bxc8 6.Kc5
b3–+.
3...Bf5 4.Ke5! this attack wins back the decisive tempo 4...Bc8 5.Kd4 b3
6.Kc3 Be6 7.c8Q Bxc8 8.Kxb3=
B) 71...Kh6? 72.Kb7 Kh5 73.Kc6 Kg4 74.Kd5 Kf3 75.Ke5 g4 76.Ra3+ Kf2
77.Kf4+-.
To conclude this article I present a double body-check against the enemy king
and queen.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 Nc6 8.Be3
Endgame Be7 9.0–0 0–0 10.f4 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 b5 12.e5 dxe5 13.fxe5 Nd7 14.Ne4 Bb7
15.Nd6 Bxd6 16.exd6 Qg5 17.Qe2 e5
Corner
18.Rf2?!N
Karsten Müller
I wanted to avoid the well-trodden paths
after 18.Be3 but objectively this novelty is
unconvincing.
18...exd4!?
19.Qe7 Qxe7?
Playing with fire as White’s initiative based on the passed e-pawn and his
active rooks in the resulting endgame will be very dangerous. 19...Nf6! was
called for: 20.Qxb7 Qe3 21.Qf3 Qxf3 22.Rxf3 Rad8 23.Rd3 Rxd6 24.Rad1
Rfd8 25.c3 and Black has nothing to worry about.
20.dxe7
20...Rfe8
Acs and Hazai give 20...Rfb8 21.Bxf7+ Kh8 22.Re1 Nf6 23.Rf4 Bc6 as
Black’s best in Informant 89/221.
24.Bxe8
33.Re6?
93...Bd3 94.Kf6
94.g4 Kd4 95.Kf4 Kc5 96.Ke3 Bh7 97.g5 Bg6 and White is in fatal zugzwang.
94...Kd4 95.g4 Kc5 96.Ke5 Bh7 97.g5 Bg6 and White is in zugzwang and has
to try to enter the following race: 98.Kf6 Kb4 99.Kxg6 Kxa3 100.Kf7 c2
101.g6 c1Q 102.g7 Qf4+ 103.Kg6 Qg4+ 104.Kf7 Qf5+ 105.Kg8 Kb4
106.Kh8 Qh5+ 0–1
56.h4? Kxf4 57.h5 Ra3 58.h6 Ra6+ 59.Kg7 Kg5 60.h7 Ra7+ 61.Kg8 Kg6
62.h8N+ Kf6 and the knight is lost.
56...Rf3 (56...Rxh3 57.f5 Rf3 58.f6 Kf2 59.Ke6 Kg3 60.f7 Kg4 61.Ke7=)
57.f5 Kf2 58.f6 Kg3 59.Ke6 Kh4 60.f7 Kg5 61.Ke7=
Please note that this position did not occur in the game.
Without his h3-pawn White would be lost as Black’s king could circumvent
the bodycheck:
E58.02B
2...Ke4 3.b5
Corner
Karsten Müller
88...Kd6
60...Nd3 61.Rxa3 Nf4+ 62.Kg7 Nh5+ (62...Ke7 63.Ra4 Be5 64.Rxf4 Bxf4
65.h5+–; 62...Ng2 63.h5 Nh4 64.Ra5 Be5 65.f4+–) 63.Kh6 Nf4 64.Ra4 Bxf2:
68.Re3!? Ke8 (68...Kd6 69.Rxe5 Kxe5 70.Kg6+–) 69.Rxe5+ fxe5 70.f6 was
also possible.
79...h3 80.Bc5?
80...h2 81.Be3
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.c3 d5 5.exd5 Qxd5 6.cxd4 Bg4
Endgame 7.Be2
Corner 7.Nc3!? is also very interesting, as it gives
Karsten Müller Black the additional option 7...Bxf3, which
is recommended by Davies. (7...Bb4
usually transposes to the main line, but
gives White the additional option 8.a3, for
further details see Danish Dynamite, by
Martin Voigt and Karsten Müller, Russell
Enterprises 2003.) 8.Nxd5 Bxd1 9.Nxc7+
Kd7 10.Nxa8 Bh5 11.d5 Nd4 12.Bd3 Bg6
13.Bxg6 hxg6 14.Kd1 Nh6 15.Be3 Nhf5:
12...Ne7 13.Be3
14.Rac1?!
61.Kg5 Kf7 62.h5 gxh5+ 63.Kf5 Re8 64.Ra2 Rb7 65.Rg2 Kf8 66.Rh2 Rb1
67.Rxh5 Rf1+ 68.Kg6 Rg1+ 69.Bg5 Kg8 70.Kf5 Rf1+ 71.Kg4 Rg1+ ½–½
54.Re3 Kd8 55.Bc5 Kc7 56.e7 (56.Ke5 Rxe3 57.Bxe3 a3–+) 56...Kd7 57.c4
(57.Re1 g3 58.Rd1 g2 59.c4 b4 60.Ke5+ Rd3 61.Ra1 a3 62.Kf6 Bf3 63.Kg7
Ke8–+) 57...b4 58.Bxb4 (58.Re2 g3 59.Ke5 g2 60.Rd2+ Rd3 61.Ra2 Bc6–+)
58...g3 59.Be1 g2 60.Bf2 Rh1 61.Re2 Kxe7–+.
The following examples will help you to apply these principles in practice.
In the pawn endgame exercise, from the analysis of Leko vs. Kramnik, White
can draw by 51.Kd4! Kd8 52.Ke4=.
34.h6
32.Qd7!
31.Rb3?!
31...Qd5 32.Rcb1
38.Rf3?
50...Qf4 51.Rbb2
51.Rb3 Qg3+ (51...g5!?) 52.Kf1 Kxh3 53.Rxb4 Qd6 54.Rfb2 Kg3 55.Rg2+
Kxf3 56.Rb3+ Kf4–+.
51...g5 52.Kh1 Qd6 53.Rfd2 Qf4 54.Rf2 h5 55.Kg2 Qg3+ 56.Kh1 Qd6
57.Rfd2
65...Kg3 0–1
75...f3?
Kamsky's Comeback
Gata Kamsky’s comeback during the recent M-tel Masters tournament in
Sofia, Bulagria was really amazing. It seems as if he has lost nothing of his
former strength. I want to present his fine endgame victory over Viswanathan
Anand. The following notes are mostly from German FM Claus Dieter Meyer,
who has made a deep study of the subtleties.
Endgame 39...Rd6!
B) 42.Kd4 f5!
43.b4
40...Kd5
41.b3
41...Rf6+ 42.Kg2
42...Rc6 43.Re3 f5
46...bxa4 47.bxa4
47...Kf4
51.Kf3?
51.c4!? Ke5 (51...Rxc4 52.Rd6+ Kf5 53.Rxa6 Rc2+ 54.Kf3 Rc3+ (54...Rh2
55.Rh6=) 55.Kg2 Rg3+ 56.Kh2 Ra3 57.Kg2=) 52.Rd5+ Ke4 53.Rxg5 Rxc4
54.Ra5 f3+ 55.Kf2 Rc2+ 56.Kf1 Ke3 57.Re5+ Kf4 58.Re6 a5 59.Rf6+ Kg3
60.Rg6+ Kxh3 61.Rg5=.
53.Rxd6
56...Ke4!!
White resigned because of 58.Kf1 Kd3 59.Kf2 Kxc3 60.Kf3 Kb4 61.Kxf4
Kxa4 62.Ke3 Kb3 63.Kd2 Kb2–+.
Addendum
31...h5?
34.h6
32.Qd7!
33.Qe8+ Kg7 34.Qe5+ Kf8 35.Qh8+ Ke7 36.Qe5+ Kd8 37.Qd5+ Ke7
38.Qe5+ Kf8 39.Qh8+ Ke7 40.Qe5+ Kf8 41.Qb8+ Kg7 42.Qe5+ Kh7
43.Qe8 Kg7 44.Qe5+ Kh7 45.Qe8 Kg7 ½–½
48.g4
48.Rxg6? Rf2–+.
48...f4!?
Addendum
Deceptive Simplicity
One of the reasons why chess is so difficult is that pawn endings can be
extremely complicated, despite the reduced amount of material. In some cases
the queens may even reappear. The German chess instructor Claus Dieter
Meyer drew my attention to the following recent example and provided plenty
of analysis, which I have edited and expanded:
66...Qg3+?!
69...Rb1
70.Bd3
70.Bb5 Rb4 71.Bd7 Ke7 72.Bb5 Ke6 73.Bc6 (73.Kf3 Rxb5–+) 73...Kd6
74.Be8 Rb1–+.
70...Rb4?!
71.Bb5
71...Rxb5?
74.Kd4
Normal opposition.
Diagonal opposition.
81...Kg7 82.Ke5 Kh6 83.Kd4 Kh7 84.Kd5 Kg8 85.Ke4 Kf8 86.Kd4 Kf7
87.Kd5 Kf6 88.Kd4 Kg5 89.Ke5 ½–½
E66.01 Dedrle
Addendum
37...b5!? 38.cxb5?
43.Bg7?
56...Kc6!
59...Bc5! 60.Bxc5
63.Bh6!
77.Bf6?
Y.Yemets - E.Leonov
Sunny Pawn Open Illichevsk 2006
46...f4 47.gxf4?!
47...gxf4 48.Ke5?
This loses valuable time. 48.h4! was called for: 48...fxe3 49.fxe3 h5 (49...Kd3
50.Kxd5 Kxe3 51.Ke5+–) 50.Ke5 Kd3 51.Kxd5 Kxe3 52.Ke5 Kd3 53.Nb3
Kc2 54.Nc5+–.
E66.01 Dedrle
47...Nc6?
Endgame This gives away the win, as White is just in
Corner time in the upcoming pawn race. Black had
to play for zugzwang to win an all-
Karsten Müller important tempo: 47...Ke5 48.h3 (48.Kc5
Nd5 49.g5 (49.Kc6 h3 50.g5 Ne3 51.Kb6
Ng4–+) 49...Ne3 50.Kb6 Kf5 51.Kxa6 Nc4
52.Kb5 Nxa5 53.Kxa5 Kxg5 54.Kb4 Kg4
55.Kc3 Kh3 56.Kd2 Kxh2 57.Ke2 Kg2–+)
48...Ke6
48.h3
48.Kxa6 h3 49.g5 Ke5 50.Kb6 Nxa5 51.Kxa5 Kf5 52.Kb4 Kxg5 53.Kc3 Kf4
54.Kd2 Kf3 55.Ke1 Kg2 56.Ke2 Kxh2 57.Kf2=.
51...Nd3+ does not help, as White can chase the knight incessantly after
52.Kb6 Kxg6 53.Kxa6 Nb4+
62.a5?
62...Bf2 63.b6
67...Kd5?
Niggling Doubts
When reviewing Lars Bo Hansen’s excellent Secrets of Chess Endgame
Strategy (Gambit 2006) for New in Chess magazine (5/2006), Jonathan
Rowson hit on the following recent example and asked his friend Luke
McShane to supply his game notes:
38.Ne3?
38.Ke2! f5 (38...Ke8 39.f5 gxf5 40.Nf4=) 39.Ne3 Kf7 40.Nc2 Bc5 41.Ne1
Ke6 42.Nf3 Kd5 (42...Bd6 43.Ng5+ Kd5 44.Nf7, with the idea Nh8xg6 is also
far from clear.) 43.Ne5 Kd4 44.Nxg6 Kc3 45.Ne5
46.Nd3? Bf8–+;
Best is 46.Nf7!:
46...Bf8 (46...Kb2 47.Nh6 Kxa2 48.Nxf5 Kxb3 (48...a5 49.g4 hxg4 50.h5 a4
51.bxa4 b4 52.h6 b3 53.h7 b2 54.h8Q b1Q 55.Qg8+=) 49.g4 hxg4 50.h5=)
47.Nd8
40.b4!? Bd6 (40...Bxe3? 41.Kxe3 Ke6 42.Ke4 b5 43.Kd4 Kf5 44.Kc5 Kg4
45.Kxb5 Kxg3 46.Ka6 Kxh4 47.Kxa7 Kg4 48.b5 h4 49.b6 h3 50.b7 h2 51.b8Q
h1Q 52.a4=) 41.a4
40...Kf6 41.Nc4
48.Nc6!? was more tenacious, but Rowson refuted it: 48...a4 49.bxa4 bxa4
50.Ke2 (50.Ne5!? Bd4 51.Nc6 Bf6 52.Ke3 Kb2 53.Nb4 Ka3 54.Nd5 Kxa2
55.Nxf6 a3 56.Nxh5 Kb3 57.Kd4 a2 58.Ke5 a1Q+ 59.Kxf5 Qe1
29.Nd5?
29.Kf3! b5
70.01 Fortress
2.h4
2...Ba1=
52.Ke4 Bg5
55...Bc1?
56.Re2 Ka5
57.Kc3 Kb6 58.Kd4 Ka5 59.Rc2 Bh6 60.Rg2 Bc1 61.Rc2 Bh6 62.Rc7?
62.Rg2 Bc1 (62...Bf8 63.Kc3 Kb6 64.Rg6+ Kb7 65.b4+–) 63.Re2 Kb6
(63...Bh6 64.Kc3 Bg7+ 65.Kb3 Bf6 66.Re6 Bd4 67.Ka2 b4 68.axb4+ Kb5
69.Kb3+–) 64.Kd5 Bg5 (64...a5 65.Kd4 a4 66.Kd5 b4 67.Rc2 Be3 68.axb4
Kb5 69.Rc8+–) 65.Re6+ Kb7 66.Kc5 Bd8 67.b3 Bg5 68.Rb6+ Ka7 69.Kc6+–.
63...Bg5? 64.Re6+ Kb7 65.Kc5 Bd8 66.b3 Bh4 67.Rb6+ Ka7 68.Kc6+–.
65...Kb6?
I could not find a win for White after 65...Bg5!, e.g. 66.Kc5 Bh4 67.b3
(67.Rg2 Be7+ 68.Kd5 Bh4; 67.Re4 Bf2+ 68.Kb4 Bb6 69.Re7+ Kc6 70.Re6+
Kb7) 67...Kc7 68.Re6 Bf2+ 69.Kd5 (69.Kb4 Bb6 70.Rf6 Kb7 71.a4 bxa4
72.Kxa4) 69...Kb7. Can you do better?
66.Kd5 Bg5
69.b3 Bh4 70.Rb6+ Ka7 71.Kc6 Bf2 72.Rb7+ Ka8 73.Rf7 Bg1 74.Rf4 Ka7
75.a4 bxa4 76.Rxa4 Bf2 77.b4 Be3 78.b5 Kb8 79.Rxa6 1–0
Let’s look at the guidelines in practice (also please solve the exercises!):
58...R4a6?!
Allowing the undermining h5 eases
White’s task. 58...h5 was more tenacious.
65.Rd8+!
65...Ke7
66.Rg8 Rc6 67.Ncd5+ Kd6 68.hxg6 fxg6 69.Nb4 Rb6 70.Nfd5 Rbb7 71.
Rxg6+ Kc5 72.Rxh6 Rf7 73.Rc6+ Kb5 74.Rc2 Rad7 75.g4 1–0
52...Re5?
55...Bc5 56.Ke4 Kf6 (56...b4 57.c4 Kf6 58.Kd5+–) 57.Kd5 Bf2 58.b4 axb4
(58...e4 59.Bc6+–) 59.cxb4 Be1 60.Kc5+–.
57...Kf5 58.Bc8+ Kf6 59.Ke4 Bf4 60.g4 Ke7 61.c5 Kd8 62.Bf5 Kc7 63.Kd5
a4 64.Be4 Kd7 65.c6+ Kc7 66.Ke6+–.
58.Ke4 Ke6
62...Bb4 63.Kd5 e4 64.c6 e3 65.Bd1 Ke7 66.g5 Ba5 67.Be2 Bc7 68.g6 Kf6
69.Bd3!
66...Rg5 67.Kh2
Addendum
35...b4+ 36.Kc4 Bd6 37.Nb5 Be7 38.h3 h5 39.Nd4 Bd6 40.Kb5 Kf6 41.h4+–.
36.Nxb5 Kf3 37.Kc4 Bb6 38.Nd4+ Kxf2 39.Nxf5 Kf3 40.Kd5 Bxe3 41.Nh4
+ Kg4 42.Kxe4 Bb6 43.a4
44.Ng2
44...f5+ 45.Ke5 Bc7+ 46.Kf6 Bd8+ 47.Kg6 Kf3 48.Ne1+ Kg4 49.Nd3 Bc7
50.Nf2+ Kf3 51.Kxh5 Kxf2 52.Kg5 Ke3 53.Kxf5 Kd4 and Black survives.
This month I want to make a comparison between Chinese chess and Western chess with a
focus on endgame fortresses, but first an explanation of Chinese chess seems to be in order.
The Rules
Chinese chess is played on the intersections of a 9x10 board. The two sides are called red
and black. Each side has a king (general), two rooks (chariots), two cannons (or catapults),
two knights (horses), two elephants (ministers or bishops), two mandarins (guards or
assistants) and five pawns (soldiers). In the middle of the board there is a river. The pieces
that can cross the river (rooks, cannons, knights and pawns) are called attacking pieces.
The king and the guards are confined to the palace, the 3x3 square around the king (d1-d3-
f3-f1 for red).
Endgame Corner
The rook moves the same as in Western chess. The cannons move like a rook, but to
Karsten Müller capture it needs a frame (any other piece) to jump over in order to capture the enemy piece
behind the frame. This is similar to a cannon ball fired above the frame, which obliterates
the enemy by landing on it. The knights move one point vertically or horizontally and then
one point diagonally away from its former position, but they cannot jump. For instance, a
knight on b1 can move to a3, c3 and d2, but any piece on b2 would block the access to a3
and c3 and any piece on c1 blocks d2. So with pieces on b2 and c1, a knight on b1 cannot
move at all. The pawns move and capture in the same way. If they have not crossed the
river they can only move forward, if they have crossed the river they can move and capture
forward and sideways. If they reach the last rank they remain pawns and can then only
move sideways.
The king is confined to the palace and can move forward and sideways, but not diagonally.
It also has a special feature called telepotency, where the two kings may not face each other
directly on an otherwise open file. For example, a red king on e1 and a black king on e10,
with no other pieces on the e-file is an illegal position. This is especially important in the
endgame. The guards move diagonally to five different squares inside the palace: d1, d3,
e2, f1 and f3 (for a red guard). The ministers move two squares diagonally to seven
different squares: a3, c1, c5, e3, g1, g5 and i3 (for a red minister). Ministers cannot jump,
so a minister on c1 cannot move to a3 if any piece occupies b2. This is known as stuffing
the elephant’s eye.
The aim of the game is to checkmate the enemy king or to stalemate the opponent, which is
also a win for the side giving stalemate. If both sides do not possess any attacking pieces
(rook, knight, cannon and pawn) the game is a draw.
● A player may not put the opponent into check with the same piece more than three
times in a row without either side moving any other pieces.
● Continual chasing of a piece is not allowed, e.g. if a black piece moves from
position 1 to 2 to avoid being captured and the red piece moves from A to B to
chase black, then red is not allowed to chase continuously, if
● a) the black piece is not protected in position 1 and 2.
● b) black uses exactly two positions 1 and 2 to avoid being captured, and
● c) red uses exactly two positions A and B to chase black. If any of the three
conditions is violated continual chasing is allowed.
According to H.T. Lau in Chinese Chess (Tuttle Publishing 1985), the values of the pieces
are: rook 9, cannon 4½, knight 4, minister 2, guard 2, pawn 2 (after crossing the river),
pawn 1 (before crossing the river). And according to D.B. Pritchard in Popular Chess
Variants (Batsford 2000), they are: rook 12, cannon 6, knight 5, minister 3, guard 2, pawn
2 (after crossing the river), pawn 1 (before crossing the river).
One guideline is: losing one minister greatly endangers the king to the attack of a cannon,
while losing one guard opens the gates for an attack of the rooks. In the endgame the value
of the cannon decreases as there are fewer pieces that can act as a frame, and the value of
the knight increases as there are fewer pieces to block its legs.
72.01 Domination
Two knights are indeed a very powerful attacking force in Chinese chess. They can even
defeat two guards and two ministers (something a rook cannot do) if the defense is properly
coordinated:
B) Pin
72.02
53.Bxe3
53...Rxe3 54.Rxf7?
54.Nd5 (Kramnik) was necessary to protect the a-pawn with the knight from behind.
54...Re5?
55.a6+?
Kramnik has a piece and a pawn to his advantage, so he should win, shouldn’t he?
58...Rh1?
59.Kb2?
61...Kxa7
C) Incarcerated Piece
72.04 G.Zakhodiakin
Shakhmatny Listok 1930
1.Ke7!
1...c4
2.Ke6!! Kf8
I have received several queries from readers about rook endgames. In particular, Chi Minh
Nguyen sent me the following two examples.
Endgame Corner
Karsten Müller
White should first patiently improve the position of the rook, as shown by Chi Minh
Nguyen.
65.f6+?
Black is in fatal zugzwang: 67...Ke7 (67...Kg7 68.Ke6 Re1 69.f6++–) 68.Ra7+ Ke8 69.Rh7
Kf8 70.Kf6 Kg8 71.Rg7+ Kf8 72.Rg2+–.
65...Kg6 66.Rg4+ Kf7 67.Rg7+ Kf8 68.Rh7 Kg8 69.f7+
69...Kxh7?
The difficulty of seemingly simple rook endings is exemplified in the following example.
40...Kb3? 41.h4!=.
45...b4?
45...Rh4! 46.Kf3 (46.Kd3 b4 47.Rg1+ Kb2) 46...b4 47.Kg3 Rd4 48.h4 b3 49.h5 b2 50.
Rxb2 Kxb2
The cut off on the fourth rank is decisive, e.g. 51.h6 Rd6 52.h7 Rh6–+.
46.Kf4!
46...Rh7 47.Rg1+ Kc2 48.Rh1 Rh4+ 49.Kg5 Rh3 50.Kg4 Rd3 51.h4 b3 52.h5 b2 53.h6
Rd7 54.Kg5 ½–½
The next example is from my friend Hannes Langrock, author of The Modern Morra
Gambit.
Now the passed h-pawn is a constant source of worry. 48.gxh4 Rxh4 49.Kxb6 Rxf4 50.b5
is much easier.
53.Kb7?
53.g6! Rg3 (53...Ke6 54.Rh8+-) 54.g7 Kd5 55.Rxh3 Rg6+ 56.Ka7 Rxg7+ 57.Ka6 Kc5 58.
Rc3++–.
53...Rb3 54.b6
54...Ke6 55.Kc7 Kf5 56.b7 Rc3+ 57.Kd6 Rb3 58.Kc7 Rc3+ 59.Kd8 Rb3 60.Kc8 Rc3+
½–½
He writes, “this position is taken from the June 2002 Endgame Corner, Rooks Revisited. In
the game E. Berg - H. Kallio, after White’s forty-fifth move, Black resigned, because the
position is considered to be a theoretical draw, but I disagree.
5.Ra6!
The difference between this position and a well-known theoretical draw (Vancura’s
Defense) is the placement of White’s king on h5, as the white king is not usually in front of
the h-pawn in “normal” positions. After 5.a5?, Black can apply Vancura’s defensive
method: 5...Rc5+ 6.Kg4 Kh8 7.a6 Rc6 8.h5 Kg8 9.Kf3 Kh8 10.Ke4 Kg8 11.Kd5 Rf6 12.
Ra8+ Kh7 13.Kc5 Rf5+ 14.Kb6 Rf6+ 15.Kb7 Rf7+=.
5...Kf7
Black has to avoid the check. 5...Kh7 6.Rh6+ Kg7 7.Rg6+ Kh7 8.Rg4 Rc6 9.Rg5 Rh6+ (9...
Rc4 10.a5 Rd4 11.Rb5+–) 10.Kg4 Rd6 11.a5 Rd4+ 12.Kf5 Rxh4 13.Ke6 Rd4 14.Rd5+–
with an easy win; 5...Rc5+ 6.Kg6+–.
6.a5! Rc5+
6...Rd4 7.Rg6 Rd5+ 8.Rg5 Rd6 (8...Rd4 9.a6+–) 9.Rf5+ Ke7 (9...Kg7 10.Kg5 Rd1 11.h5
Rg1+ 12.Kf4 Ra1 13.Ke4 Kh6 14.Kd4+–) 10.Kg5+–.
7.Kh6!
7...Rc4
7...Rc8 8.Rg6+–.
10...Kf7 11.a6 Rc6+ 12.Kh7 Kf6 13.Rg8! Rc7+ 14.Kh6 Ra7 15.Rg6+ Kf5 16.Rb6
(zugzwang) 16…Ra8 17.Kg7+–.
11.Rg8 Kf4 12.a6 Ra5 13.Rg6+ (zugzwang) 13…Kf3 14.Rf6+ Kg4 15.Kg6 Rg5+ 16.Kf7
Rxh5 17.Ke7 Kg5 18.a7+– .”
I have decided to revisit a very important problem that was first discussed in February
2007. So let’s begin with a review of the following guidelines and add a couple new ones:
38.Rc7+?
38...Kd5 39.h8Q
39...b1Q+
41...Qe1+
45.Rd6+!?
48...Kxc5?
52...Bh5 53.Kg7+–.
53.Bxg6 1–0
C) Breaking a blockade
43...Bc5! 44.Bxc5
44...Kxc5 45.Rd2
46.Rd1
46...Rxd1 0–1
72...Re2!
74...Ke3?
75.g4?
75.g3 wins.
77.Bxd1 1–0
The defender can usually protect one weakness and survive. Yet if the attacker manages to
open a second front and create a second weakness, this can easily lead to insurmountable
problems.
32...Kd7?
33.Rh5!
33...Rf6 34.Kc2
50.a3!
56.Ra1!
B) The Initiative
1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nf3 d6 5.Bc4 e6 6.0–0 Nc6 7.d4 cxd4 8.cxd4 Be7 9.Qe2 0–0
10.Nc3 Nxc3 11.bxc3 dxe5 12.dxe5 Qa5 13.Qe4 Qa4 14.Bg5!? h6 15.Bxe7 Nxe7 16.
Rab1 Bd7 17.Bd3 Qxe4 18.Bxe4 Bc6 19.Bxc6 bxc6
20.c4!?
20...Rab8?!
34...Rxa2?
39...Ra4+ 40.Kd5 Ra5+ 41.Kd4 Ra4+ 42.Kc5 Ra6 (42...Ra5+ 43.Kb6 Rxe5 44.f4++–) 43.
Kd5 Ra5+ 44.Kd6 Ra6+ 45.Ke7 Ra7+ 46.Kf8 Ra8+ 47.Kg7+–.
40.e6 Ra1
41.Ke5 h5
41...Re1+ 42.Kd6 h5 43.Rf6 h4 44.e7 Kg5 45.Re6 Rd1+ 46.Kc7 Rc1+ 47.Kd7 Rd1+ 48.
Ke8 Ra1 49.Kf7+–; 41...Ra5+ 42.Kf6 Ra6 43.Rf8 g5 44.Kf7 Ra2 45.e7 Rxf2+ 46.Kg6+–.
42.e7 Re1+ 43.Kf6 h4 44.Rf8 Kf3 45.Kg5+ 1–0
The solution of the following exercise was published in Endgame Corner 72, but I forgot to
mention Sokolov’s fantastic winning line.
62.Ke3?
Sokolov’s plan allows Black to exchange too many pawns. After 65.Rf1, he has very good
winning chances.
65...Kg8!
66.Ne6 Nxe6 67.dxe6 Bxe6 68.Rd4 Kf7 69.Rxd6 Bxc4 70.Rxh6 b5!
71.axb5
71.Rc6 b3 72.Kc3 Be2 73.axb5 Bxb5 74.Rc7+ Kg8 75.Kxb3 Be2 76.h6 Bd3=:
34.Bb3!
34...gxf4 35.gxf4 Kd7 36.Rxb2 Ke8 37.Rb1 Kf7 38.Rg1 Bh8 39.Bc2 Bg7 40.Bg6+ Kg8
41.Rd1 1–0
35.Rdb1!
35...Rf8
After 37...Nc6, White can even sacrifice the exchange: 38.a6 Nxb8 39.Rxb8 Bc6 40.a7 Kf7
41.d7+–.
29...a5!
30.d6
30.Ra7 Rc8 31.f3 Rc1+ 32.Kf2 Bh6 gives Black a strong initiative.
30...Bf8 31.a4?
Now Black has everything under control. The best chance to fight for a draw was 31.Re4!
Rxd6 32.Rxd6 Bxd6 33.Ra4 Bc7 34.b4 (Krasenkow) and the passed a-pawn gives White
some hope, especially as he has managed to exchange one pair of rooks.
31...Rxd6! 32.Rxd6 Bxe7 33.Rd4 g5 34.Ke1 Bf6 35.Rc4 Bxb2 36.Kd1 Ba3 37.Rc8+ Kg7
38.Kc2 Nd5 39.Kb3 Bb4 40.Rd8 Nf6 41.Rb8 Be1 42.f3 h5 43.Rb7 g4 44.fxg4 hxg4 45.
Rc7 Bb4 46.Rb7 Nd5 47.Rb5 Ne3 48.Rxb4 axb4 49.Kxb4 Nd5+ 50.Kc5 Ne7 0–1
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Pawn endgame exercises are well suited to train your ability to calculate.
Black has two ways to draw. He can play 52...b6 or 52...Kf7. Calculate both lines to the
end until Black’s king has reached the saving c8-square, where it either imprisons White’s
king in front of its a-pawn or it reaches salvation on the a8-square!
47.fxg6?!
52.Ke3 Kg4 53.Kf2 Kf4 54.Kg1 g5 55.Kh1 g4 56.Kg1 Kf3 57.Kh1 Kf2 ½–½
63.Rb6+ Kxa7
63...Kc7 64.Ka6+–.
70.Kf6 Kd4
71.Kf5!! 1–0
The German chess trainer and analyst Claus Dieter Meyer has analyzed the following
struggle in detail. It sheds light on the case of rook plus three pawns vs. rook plus three
pawns on one wing, when the attacker has an additional passed a-pawn that is protected
from the side. He has kindly allowed me to use his insights.
43...Re2?
44.Ra6+ Kg7
48.Ke4?
B) 48...Ra2? is too slow, as White can now meet 49.Ke4 g5 with a check (for 49...Ke6 50.
f4 Ra1 51.Kd4+– see the game.) 50.Rc6+ Kg7 51.hxg5 Rxa3 52.Rh6 Ra4+ 53.Ke3 Ra3+
(53...Ra5 54.f4 Ra3+ 55.Kf2 Ra2+ 56.Kg1 Rb2 57.Rxh5 Kg6 58.Rh6+ Kg7 (58...Kf5 59.
Rf6+ Kg4 60.Rxf7 Kxg3 61.Kf1 Kf3 62.Ke1 Ke3 63.Kd1+–) 59.Rh2 Rb3 60.Kg2 Ra3 61.
Kh3+–) 54.Kf2 Ra2+ 55.Kg1 f5 (55...Ra1+ 56.Kh2 Ra2+ 57.Kh3 Ra1 58.Rxh5 Kg6 59.
Kg4) 56.f4+–.
49.a4 Ra1
B) 52...Rh3? 53.a5 Rxh4 54.Ra4 Rh8 55.a6 Ra8 56.a7 Ke6 (56...g5+ 57.Ke4 Kg6 58.Ra6+
f6 59.Kd5+–) 57.Ra6+ Kd5 58.g5+–.
53.Re4 (53.Rb4 Ra2 54.Re4 Rf2+ 55.Ke3 Ra2 56.Kd3 g5 57.h5 Kg7 58.Rb4 Kh6=) 53...
Rf1+ (53...g5+? 54.hxg5+ Kg6 55.Rb4 Rf1+ 56.Ke4 Kxg5 57.Kd5+–) 54.Ke3 Ra1 (54...
Rd1? 55.Rb4 Ke7 56.h5 gxh5 57.gxh5 Rh1 58.Rb5 Rh3+ 59.Ke2 Rh2+ 60.Kf3 f6 61.a5
Ke6 62.a6 Ra2 63.Rb6+ Kf5 64.Ke3 Kg5 65.Kd4+–) 55.Kd3 g5 56.h5 Kg7 57.Rb4 Kh6 58.
Kc4 f5!
48...Rg1?
49.hxg5+
49.f4
49...Ra1
45...Kf6!
46.Nxe5
46...Kxe5 47.Kg2 Ke4 48.f4 gxf3+ 49.Kf2 h4 50.g4 Kf4 51.Ke1 Ke4 52.Kd2 Kf4 53.Ke1
Kg3 54.Kf1 Kf4 55.Kf2 Ke4 56.g5 Kf5 57.Kxf3 Kxg5 58.Ke4 Kg6 59.Kf4 Kg7 60.Kg5
Kh8 61.Kh6 ½–½
50.Kd5!
Black resigned, as White queens with check: 54...Ka3 55.f6 b2 56.f7 b1Q 57.f8Q+ Ka4
(57...Ka2 58.Qa8#) 58.Qa8+ Kb5 59.Qb7++–.
47...Kc3!
50...Ke6!?
The German chess trainer Claus Dieter Meyer has made a deep investigation of Aronian –
Anand, Linares 2007, which I dealt with in May 2007. This time I start a bit earlier and
incorporate Meyer’s discoveries:
32...Nc6?
35.Rdb1!
35...Rf8
35...Be6 36.d7 Rf8 37.Rc7 Ne2+ 38.Kf1 Nf4 39.Rd1 Bh3+ 40.Ke1 Rd8 41.Rc8 Ne6 42.
Rd6 Kf7 43.Rxe6 Rxd7 44.Rec6+–.
36.Rb8?
Surprisingly this natural move is a mistake, as it allows Black to interpose a minor piece on
b3 to take advantage of the large drawing margin of rook endgames. 36.d7 Be6 37.Rc7 and
White must be winning because of his dangerous passed pawns.
36...Be8?
Black must interfere on b3 to make White pay a price for the exchange of a pair of rooks:
36...Bb3 37.Rxf8+ Kxf8 38.a5 Ne2+ 39.Kf1 Nd4 40.a6 Bc4+ 41.Ke1 Bxa6 42.Rb8+ Kf7
43.d7 Nc6 44.Rb6 Ke7 45.Rxa6 Kxd7
37.a5 Nf3+
47...Nc3 48.Rh7+–.
48.Rg3 1–0
29.b4!
Play through and download the games 32...f5 33.a5 Kg7 34.Ne5 f4 35.exf4 e3 36.fxe3
from ChessCafe.com in the DGT Nxe3+ 37.Kg1 Nd5 38.Kh1 Rb5 39.Nc6 1–0
Game Viewer.
In the following example, the German Under-12
The Complete Junior Champion uses his active rooks to draw a
DGT Product Line difficult position.
34.Rh4+?
34...Kg5 35.Rd4
35...Re8 36.f4+
The final example is from Adrian Mikhalchishin’s excellent ChessBase DVD Secret
Weapons of the Champions.
45.h4 Ke6
45...Bf2? 46.Rf8++–.
46.h5 Kf7
47.Kd5
52...Bh4 53.Rb2 Kf7 (53...Ke7 54.Rb5 Nc4 55.Kd5 Ne3+ 56.Kc6 Kf6 57.a5 Nc4 58.a6 Bf2
59.Rc5+–) 54.Rb6 Kg7 55.Rg6+ Kh7 56.Kd5 Be7 57.Rb6 Bg5 58.Ra6 Bd2 59.Kc5 Kg7 60.
Kb5 Nb3 61.Rd6 Be3 62.Rd3+–.
53.Rg2 Kf7
53...Ke7 54.Rg6 Bd2 55.Kd3 Bg5 56.Ra6 Nb3 57.Kc4 Nd2+ 58.Kd5 Kd7 59.Rg6 Be3 60.
Rc6+–.
55...Bg5
56.Rd5 Nc6
58...Bh4 59.Rb5 Kd6 60.Rb7 Be7 61.a7 Nxa7 62.Rxa7 Bg5 63.Kf5 Bc1 64.Rg7 Bd2 65.
Rg2 Bc1 66.Rg1 Be3 67.Rd1++–.
59.Rb5
59...Bg1?!
60.Rb1
63.Rh7
63...Kf6 64.Kf4
67.Rg6 1–0
Dr. Tarrasch’s old aphorism that all rook endgames are drawn is certainly true in many
respects, but sometimes even a small advantage in activity is decisive:
48.Rxf7?
48...Rxa6 49.Re7+?!
The Complete
DGT Product Line
80.02 P.Haba – D.Baramidze
Nürnberg 2007
1...Rc1! 2.Re1
2...Rc2+?!
3.Re2 e3+?
4.Kf3 Rc1
5.g3!
15.Ra3+!
15...Kf4
16.Ra4+ ½–½
The computer programs Rybka and Zappa played a match in Mexico City alongside the
human world championship in September 2007. It was won by Zappa 4½-3½. I want to
look at two instructive endgames that show fortresses are still a difficult theme for
computers (and humans too, of course).
57...Be1?!
Endgame Corner As fighting against the bishop-pair is always
Karsten Müller difficult, I prefer the exchange: 57...Bxe5 58.Kxe5
Bc2 59.Bd5 Kg7 60.g3 Bd3 61.f4 gxf4 62.gxf4
Bf1 63.h4 Bh3 64.Be6 (64.f5 Bxf5 65.Kxf5 Kh8
is an immediate draw of course.) 64...Bf1 65.f5
Bd3 66.f6+ Kf8
58.g4 Bc2
The Complete
DGT Product Line Now White’s bishops control better diagonals
than Black’s. This makes the difference to the
game and White wins, e.g. 63...Bf1
59.Ke6 h5 60.Bd5 hxg4 61.hxg4 Ba4 62.Be4+ Kh6 63.Kf6 Bb4 64.f4
64...Bd2!
65.Bg6
The immediate 76...Kh7!? comes strongly into consideration: 77.Be3 (77.Bc7 Kg8 78.Bd6
Bxd6 79.Kxd6 Kf8 80.Bg6 Be2 81.Bf5 Kf7 82.Ke5 Bd1 83.Be6+ Kg6 84.f7 Kg7 85.Kf5
Be2 86.Kxg5 Bd1=
77.Ke6
77...Bc4+?
78.Kf5 Bd3+
79.Ke5 Bb2+
79...Kh7 80.Be3 Kh6 (80...Bb2+ 81.Ke6 Bc4+ 82.Kf5 Bc3 83.Bxg5 Bd3+ 84.Ke6 Bc4+ 85.
Ke7 Bb4+ 86.Ke8 Bb5+ 87.Kd8 Bc3 88.f7 Ba5+ 89.Ke7 Bb4+ 90.Kf6 Bc3+ 91.Ke6 Bc4+
92.Kd7 Bb5+ 93.Kc8 Bb4 94.Bd2 Ba3 95.Kd8 Bc5 96.g5 Bd3 97.Bf4 Bb4 98.Kd7 Kg7 99.
Bd6+–) 81.Kd5 Be2 82.Bb6 Bd1 83.Bd8 Bb3+ 84.Ke5 Bc1 (84...Bb2+ 85.Kf5 Bc2+ 86.
Ke6 Bb3+ 87.Ke7 Ba3+ 88.Kd7+–) 85.Be7 Bf4+ 86.Ke4 Bc2+ 87.Kd4+–.
82.Be3 Bc2
82...Be2 83.Bxg5 Kg8 84.Bh6 Kh7 85.Bf4 Kg8 86.Ke6 Bc4+ 87.Kd7 Bb5+ 88.Ke6 Bc4+
89.Ke5 Be2 90.Kd5 Bd1 91.Ke6 Bb3+ 92.Kd7 Bd1 93.Ke8 Ba4+ 94.Kd8 Bd1 95.Bh6 Kh7
96.Bg5 Bb4 97.f7 Ba5+ 98.Kc8 Bb4 99.Bf6 Be2 100.Bc3 Bc5 101.Kd8 Bd1 102.Bf6 Be2
103.Be7+–.
86...Kg8 87.Bf4 Bd1 88.Ke8 Ba4+ 89.Kd8 Bd1 90.Bh6 Kh7 91.Bg5 Bf8 92.Ke8 Bc5 93.f7
Ba4+ 94.Kd8 Bb6+ 95.Ke7 Bc5+ 96.Kf6 Bd4+ 97.Ke6 Bb3+ 98.Kd7 Ba4+ 99.Kd6 Bc3
100.Be7+–.
87.Kd8 Bb4 88.f7 Ba5+ 89.Ke7 Bb4+ 90.Ke6 Bb3+ 91.Kf6 Bc3+
92.Kf5!
128.Qe8?
132.Qf8
132...Rf7 133.Qd8 Rb4 134.Qe8 Kf5 135.Qh8 Rb3+ 136.Kd4 Kg4 137.Qg8+ Kf3 138.
Qa8+ Kg3 139.Qg8+ Kf2 140.Qg5 Rb4+ 141.Kc5 Rff4
I begin with a pair of knight endgames to illustrate Botvinnik’s rule that “a knight ending is
really a pawn ending.” In both cases the importance of an outside passed pawn and
zugzwang play a role.
28...Rd6?
29.Rb1 Rd3+?!
30.Rb3 Rxb3+? 31.Kxb3 Kd7 32.Kc4 Kc6 33.g3 Ne2 34.Ng4 Nd4 35.Ne5+ Kb6 36.f4
gxf4 37.gxf4 g5 38.fxg5 hxg5
39.a5+?!
The Complete
40...Nb5 41.Nc6+ Ka6 42.Nd4 Nc3 43.
DGT Product Line e5 Kb7 44.Kd6+–.
41.Kc4 Nd2+
42.Kd3
42...Nf1
45.Nxh2 Kc5 46.Ke3 Kc4 47.Nf3 g4 48.Ne5+ Kc5 49.Nxg4 Kc4 50.
Kf4 Kd4 51.Ne5 Kc5 52.Nf7 Kc6 53.Ke5 Kd7 54.Ng5 Ke7 55.Nxe6
Ke8 56.Kd6 Kf7 57.Nc7 1–0
38...b5!
41...Na6!
52.Na3+ Kc5 53.Kxa2 d3 54.Kb3 (54.Kb2 Kd4 55.Kc1 Ke3 56.Kd1 Kf2
57.Kd2 Nc5 58.Nb1 Kxg2 59.Ke3 Kxh2 60.Kd4 Kg2 61.Kxc5 h5–+)
54...Kd4 55.Nc4 Nf4 56.g3 (56.g4 Ne6 57.h3 Ng5 58.Nd6 Ke3 59.Kc3
Nxf3 60.Nf5+ Ke2 61.Ng3+ Kf2 62.Ne4+ Ke3 63.Ng3 d2–+) 56...Ne6
57.h4 Nc5+ 58.Kb4 Nd7 59.Nd2 Ne5 60.f4
57.Nxd2
57...Kxd2 58.Kd5
Now a pair of bishop vs. knight endgames. The first is a race, which is
more difficult than it looks because of the relative slowness of the knight.
78.Kb8?
76...Bb4?
77.h5 Ba3
84...Kh8
1.Rf8!?
1.Rb8?! h3–+;
Play through and download
the games from ChessCafe.
1.Ke3?! h3 2.f4+ (2.gxh3 Rxh3+ 3.Kd2 (3.f3 f4+ (3...Rh2 4.f4+ Kf6 5.b4
com in the DGT Game
axb4 6.axb4 Rb2–+) 4.Ke4 Rh2 5.b4 Re2+ 6.Kd5 Re3–+ (6...axb4 7.axb4
Viewer. The Magic of
Re3–+)) 3...Rf3 4.Ke2 Rb3–+) 2...Kg4 3.gxh3+ Rxh3+ 4.Kd2 (4.Kd4 Chess Tactics
Rb3 5.Rxg6+ Kxf4 6.Rg2 Kf3 7.Rh2 Kg3 8.Rh8 f4 9.Rg8+ Kf2 10.Rh8 by Claus Dieter Meyer
The Complete
f3–+) 4...Rb3 5.Rxg6+ Kxf4 6.Kc2 a4–+. & Karsten Müller
DGT Product Line
The first question is: why does the natural 1...h3? spoil the win?
1...a4
2.Ra8 b5 3.Rf8
Black has finally completed the preparations on the queenside and has
secured the commanding outpost square b3 and can play:
3...h3! 4.Kg3
Now Black must win time with 4...f4+!.
7...Kg4 8.Rf6
8.f3+ Kg5 9.Rf8 Rh7 10.Rd8 (10.Rb8?! Rd7 11.Rxb5+ Kh4–+) 10...Rc7
11.Kh3 Rc2 (11...Rc5 also comes into consideration) 12.Rd5+ Kf6 13.
Rxb5 g5 14.Rd5 (14.b4 Rf2–+; 14.b3 Rf2 15.bxa4 Rxf3+ 16.Kg4 Rg3+
17.Kh5 Rh3+ 18.Kg4 Rh4+ 19.Kf3 Kg6–+; 14.Ra5 Rf2 15.Ra6+ Kf5 16.
Ra5+ Kg6 17.Rxa4 Rxf3+ 18.Kg2 Rb3–+) 14...Kg6 (14...Rxb2?? 15.
Rxg5=) 15.Rd6+ Kh5 16.Rd4
8...f3+
9.Kg1
12.Kh2
14.Kh4 Rg2 15.Rxb5 Ke2 16.b3 Kxf2 17.bxa4 Rg8 18.Kh3 Rh8+ 19.Kg4
Kg2–+.
14...Rg2 15.Rc5
15...Ke2 16.Rxb5
16.b3 Kxf2 17.bxa4 bxa4 18.Rc2+ Kf1 19.Rc3 Ke2 20.Rc2+ Kd3–+.
16.Rc2+ Kd1–+.
6.Ra6
6...f4! 7.b5
This month I present the solutions to the exercises from last month’s
column, which are very interesting in their own right. I will also include a
few more relatively easy exercises, the solutions of which can be found at
the end of the column. Again, much of the analysis for the Bernstein
study is from C.D. Meyer.
The Complete Kd5 11.Kg3 Kc5 12.Kh4 Kxb5 13.Kg5 by Claus Dieter Meyer
& Karsten Müller
DGT Product Line Kb4 14.Kxg6 Kb3 15.Kxf5 Kxb2
Dvoretsky's Endgame
Manual
by Mark Dvoretsky
111...Kf2?
115...Kf4 116.h7 Rb8 117.Rg3 Rh8 118.Rg7 Kf5 119.Kh5 Kf6 120.
Kh6 1–0
88...Rg5+?
94...Rg1?!
102.Rf8 1–0
56...Rh6?
45...Rh1?
45...Re1? 46.Kf4 Re2 47.Re5+ Kc4 48.Rxe4+ Kd3 49.Rd4+ Kxc3 50.Ra4
Rxf2 51.h4+–.
46.Re8
46.Kf4 Rxh3 47.Re5+ Kc4 48.Kxe4 Kxc3 49.Rd5 Kc4 50.Rf5 Rh8 51.
Kxf3 Kd4 52.Kg4 Ke4 53.f3+ Ke3 54.f4 Rg8+ 55.Rg5 Rf8 56.Re5+ Kd4
57.Ra5 Ke4 58.f5 Rg8+ 59.Kh5 Rf8 60.Kg6+–.
46...Rc1
47.Kf4 Rxc3 48.Re5+ Kd6 49.Rxe4 Rc8 50.Kxf3 Rf8+ 51.Ke3 Rh8 52.
h4 Kd5 53.f3 Kd6 54.Kf2 Kd5 55.Kg3 Rg8+ 56.Rg4 Rh8 57.Rg6 Ke5
58.Kg4 Rf8 59.h5 Rf4+ 60.Kg3 Rf8 61.h6 Kf5 62.Rg4 Rh8 63.Rh4
Kg5 64.h7 Kf6 65.Kg4 Kg6 66.f4 Kf6 67.Rh6+ Kg7 68.Kg5 Kf7 69.
Rb6 1–0
E 84.01: 16.Kg6!
42.Ne2?
Dvoretsky's Endgame
Manual
by Mark Dvoretsky
Amazing as it may seem Matanovic and
Kasparov think that White’s initiative
compensates for the pawns and they
seem to be right, e.g. 44...h5
45.Nxg5 Ba5 46.Nf3 Bc7 47.Rb2+ Kxa6 48.Kc4 Rb7 49.Rxb7 Kxb7 50.
Kb5
52.Ra7
B) 59.Rc7 Rb2+ 60.Kd3 Bb4 61.Rc2 Ka3 62.Re2 Ba5 63.Rc2 Be1 64.
Re2 (64.h3 Bb4 65.Re2 Bc3 66.Rc2 Be1–+) 64...Bf2 65.Rc2 Be3 66.
Rxb2 Kxb2 67.Ne2 Bf4 68.h3 Kb1–+ zugzwang.
59...Kb5 60.Rc7 (60.Rc2 Ba3 61.Nd3 Rh1–+) 60...Rb2+ 61.Kd3 Bc5 62.
Rb7+ Bb6 63.Rf7
52...Ba5
53.Rd7
59.Re6!
65...Rc2 66.Nb6+ Bxb6 67.Rxb6 Rf2 68.Rxf6 Kb4 69.Rc6 Rxf3 70.Kd2
Rxh3 71.Rc8 Rg3 72.Rc6 Kb5 73.Rc8 (73.Rxh6 Kc4 74.Ra6 Rg2+ 75.
Ke3 d2–+) 73...Rxg4 74.Kxd3
59...Ra1 60.Nxd4+
60...exd4 61.Kxd4 Rd1+ 62.Ke3 Bc5+ 63.Ke2 Rh1 64.h4 Kc4 65.h5
Rh2+ 66.Ke1 Kd3 0–1
35...Kh5 36.g4+
It is over.
82.Bc8! Kf4
85.Kg5!+–.
82...Nd3 83.Bf5+ Kf4 84.Bxd3 Kg3 85.
Bf5+–. 83.h4 Nf3 83...Ng4+ 84.Kg7
Kg3 85.h5 Kh4 86.Bxg4+–. 84.h5 Ng5
85.Bf5 Nf3 86.h6 Ng5 87.Kg6 Nf3 88.
h7 Nh4+ 89.Kf6 1–0
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6
Endgame 8.Na3 b5 9.Nd5 Be7 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.c3 Bg5 12.Nc2 0–0 13.a4 bxa4 14.
Rxa4 a5 15.Bc4 Bd7 16.0–0 Ne7 17.Ra3 Nxd5 18.Bxd5 Rb8 19.b4
Corner axb4 20.Nxb4 Qb6 21.Qe2 Bb5 22.Bc4 Rfc8 23.Bxb5 Qxb5 24.Qxb5
Rxb5 25.Rd1 g6 26.g3 Kg7 27.Nd5 Rc4 28.Ra7 Bd8 29.Rd7 Ba5
The ChessCafe
Karsten Müller White’s advantage is small but very Puzzle Book
stable. One of his plusses is that he can by Karsten Müller
activate his king in the long run, while
Black’s king must wait at home. First
Shirov activates his second rook.
30.Re1! Bb6
31.Nxb6
Play through and download
the games from Of course not 31.Rb7?? Bxf2+–+. The Magic of
Chess Tactics
ChessCafe.com in the
31...Rxb6 32.Re3 Rc8 33.Rf3 Rf8 by Karsten Müller
DGT Game Viewer.
The Complete
DGT Product Line Now comes the second phase: Shirov
activates his king.
Dvoretsky's Endgame
Manual
43...Kg8?
by Mark Dvoretsky
57...Rc8 does not help, as White’s rook g4 will come to the queenside
sooner or later, e.g. 58.Rh4 Kg7 59.Rh2 Kf6 60.Rb2 Ke6 61.g4 Kd7 62.
Rd2+ Ke7 63.Rd5 f6 64.Rc5 Rb1+ 65.Kc6 Rb4 66.Rb7 Rxe4 67.Rb8+–.
58.Kc5 Rc1+ 59.Kd5 Rc2 60.Ra6 Kh7 61.Rc6 Rd2+ 62.Kc5 Ra8 63.
Rh4 1-0
In the second example both sides were most likely in time trouble:
39...d3?
40.e6?
Missing 40.Kf6!, when the important f7-pawn will fall, e.g. 40...d2 41.Rb8
+ Kh7 42.Rd8 Rxb6+ 43.Kxf7 Rb7+ 44.Kf6 Rb8 45.Rxd2 Rf8+ 46.Ke7
Kg7 47.e6 Ra8 48.Rd8 Ra7+ 49.Rd7 Ra8 50.Kd6+ Kf8 51.Rh7+–.
40...fxe6?!
40...Rb5+ drew relatively easily, as after 41.Kf6? Rf5+ 42.Ke7, Black has
42...Re5.
43...Kh8?
44.Rg4
47.Kxe6?
First White must improve the position of his rook: 47.Rd8+! Kh7 48.Rd7
+ Kg8 (48...Kh6 49.g4 Rb5 50.Rd8 Kh7 51.Rxd3+–) 49.Kxe6 Rb6+ (49...
Kf8 50.g4 d2 51.Kf6 Rb6+ 52.Kf5 Rb5+ 53.Kg6 Rb6+ 54.Kh5 Rb2 55.g5
+–) 50.Kf5 Rb5+ 51.Kf4 Rb2 (51...Rb4+ 52.Kf3 Rb3 53.Rd4 Kf7 (53...
Kh8 54.Ke3 d2+ 55.Ke2 Rg3 56.Kf2+–) 54.Ke3 Rb2 55.Rf4+ Ke7 56.Rf2
+–) 52.g4 d2 53.g5 Kf8 54.Kf5 Ke8 55.Rd3 Kf7 56.g6+ Kg7 57.Rd7+
Kf8 58.Kf6 Rb6+ 59.Kg5+–.
47...Rb2?
A mistake in return. The king had to gain space first: 47...Kg7 48.Kf5 Rb5
+ 49.Ke4 Rb2 50.g3 Rh2 51.h4 d2 52.Ke3 Rg2 53.Kf4 Rh2 54.Kg5 Kf7
55.g4 Ke6 56.h5 Ke5 (56...Re2=) 57.Rd8 Ke6 (57...Ke4? 58.Kh6 Rg2 59.
g5 Kf5 60.g6 Kf6 61.Kh7 Rg5 62.Rd6+ Kf5 63.Rxd2 Rxh5+ 64.Kg7+–)
58.Kg6 Ke7 59.Rd3 Re2 60.Kg5 Rf2 61.Kh4 Kf6 62.Kg3 Re2=.
48.g4 d2
49.Kf6 Rb6+ 50.Kg5 Rb5+ 51.Kg6 Rb6+ 52.Kh5 Rb2 53.g5 Kf7 54.g6
+ Ke6
57.Kh7 1-0
42.Qh7+?
35...Rb4?
Corner 37...g5+!!
38.fxg5
38...Kg6!
A) 39...Kh7? 40.Rd8+–.
Now back to the main line 39...a2, which ends in a perpetual check: 40.
Qd5! (40.Qa4? Be7 41.Qc6+ Kh7 42.Qh6+ Kg8 43.Rc3 (43.Rd1 Qe3 44.
Ra1 Qxe4+ 45.g4 Qb1–+) 43...Bc5 44.Rd3 Bd4–+) 40...a1Q 41.Qc6+
Bd6 (41...f6?? 42.Qe8+ Kh7 43.Rd7+ Be7 44.Rxe7#) 42.Rxd6+ Kh7 43.
Rh6+ Kg7 44.Qc8 (44.Qe8 Qxg3+=) 44...Qxg3+ 45.Kxg3 Qe1+ 46.Kf4
Qf2+ 47.Ke5 Qg3+ 48.Kd4 Qg1+! (48...Qf2+? 49.Kd5 Qa2+ (49...Qd2+
50.Kc6+–) 50.Kd6+–) 49.Kd3 Qd1+ 50.Ke3 Qe1+ 51.Kf4 Qf2+=.
39...f6!?
40.Rd5!?
A) 42.Ra7 Kg6–+.
40...a2
41.Rf5
41...Qf4+
49...Kg6?
50.a5?
50.Rc6+ Kh5 51.g6 Kh6 (51...Ra1 52.g7 Ra2 53.Kf3 Ra3+ 54.Ke2 Rg3
55.Rxc2 Rxg7 56.Rc4+–) 52.h5 Ra1 53.Rxc2 Rxa4 54.Rc5+–.
50...Kh5 51.a6 Ra1 52.Rxc2 Kxh4 53.Rc6 Kxg5 54.Kf3 Kf5 ½–½
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3...g5!!
10.Ke2 Rf6–+.
22...Rg3–+
Speelman illustrated the way to win if the attacking king has not
advanced very far.
89.02 Speelman
Endgame Preparation 1980
3...Kc5!
4.Ba4
4...Rb6!
8.Kf2 Rc3 9.Be8 Ke4 10.Kg2 Rc2+ 11.Kh3 Kf3 12.Bxg6 Rg2 13.Bxf5
Rxg3+ 14.Kh2 Kxf4–+.
12.Kh2
89.03 Hübner
Twenty-five Annotated Games 1996
8.f5!
If the pawns are still fluid, the win can be achieved easier, as Lputian
showed in the following game.
26...Kh6 27.gxh5
27...gxh5
27...Kxh5 28.Kf7+–.
28.Kf5 h4 29.Rd2 Bc3 30.Rc2 Be1 31.Rc6+ Kg7 32.Kg5 Bg3 33.f4 h3
34.Rg6+ Kf7 35.Rh6 h2 36.Kg4 1–0
Knowing the following position is very helpful for solving the first two
exercises.
3...Bd4
62.f4!? gxf4
The Complete
DGT Product Line 66.Ke3! puts Black in fatal zugzwang
66...Bf7 67.Kf4 Be6 68.Kg5+–) 65.Kf3
Kg5 66.Ke3 f4+ (66...Bg6 67.Nd7 Kg4
68.Kf2 f4 69.Ne5+ Kf5 70.g4+ Kg5 71.
Nd7 Kxg4 72.Nc5+–) 67.gxf4+ Kf5 68.
Nd3 Bd7 69.Kf3 Bc8 (69...Be6 70.Ne5
Bc8 71.Ng4 Be6 72.Ne3+ Kf6 73.f5 Dvoretsky's Endgame
Bxf5 74.Nxd5+ Ke6 75.Nc7+ Kd6 76. Manual
Nxa6 Kd5 77.Nc5 Kxd4 78.a6+–) 70. by Mark Dvoretsky
Nf2 Kg6 71.Ng4 Bb7 72.Ne3 Kh5 73.
Kg3 Bc6 74.Nf5 Bb7 75.Nd6 Ba8 (75...
Bc6 76.Nf7 Bd7 77.f5 Bxf5 78.Kf4 Kg6
79.Ke5+–) 76.Ne8 Bc6 77.Nc7 Bb7 78.Ne6 Kg6 79.Kg4 Kf6 80.f5 Bc8
81.Kf4 Bxe6 82.fxe6 Kxe6 83.Kg5+– as White’s king has reached a key
square of the d5-pawn.
63.Nd3!!
This is an extremely dangerous winning
try. Black has to act very precisely to
avoid the infiltration of White’s king and
knight.
63...f3?
But not:
c) 73...Bb7? 74.Ng4 Kf3 75.Nf6 Kg2 (75...Ke3 76.Kxb5 Kxd4 77.a6 Bc8
(77...Ba8 78.Ng4 Ke4 79.Kc5 d4 80.b5 d3 81.b6 d2 82.Nf2+ Kf3 83.Nd1
Ke2 84.Nc3+ Kd3 85.Kb4+–) 78.a7 Bb7 79.Kb6 Ba8 80.Kc7 f3 81.Ng4
Kc4 82.Kb8 Bc6 83.Ne5++–) 76.Nd7 f3 77.Ne5 f2 78.Ng4
66...Bg6?!
67.Nc5 Be4
67...Be8 68.Ne6++–.
68.a6 Kg6
69.Nxe4 1-0
42...Nc6 43.Bb1
The Magic of
Chess Tactics
by Karsten Müller
Play through and download
the games from
ChessCafe.com in the
DGT Game Viewer.
43...Kf6?
The Complete
DGT Product Line Bronstein misses his chance. He should
have played 43...Na7!, but I am
uncertain if this is really drawn now.
Kasparov’s line is correct: 44.exd5 exd5
45.Ba2 b5! 46.a5 b4+ 47.Kd3 Nb5 48.
Be5 Nac7 49.Kc2 Kf7 50.Bxc7
(Botvinnik gives 50.Kb3?!) 50...Nxc7 51. Dvoretsky's Endgame
Kb3 Ke6 52.Kxb4 Kd6 53.Bb1 f4 54. Manual
Bxh7 Ne6 55.Kb5 Nxd4+ 56.Kb6 Nxf3 by Mark Dvoretsky
57.Kxb7 Ne5 58.a6 f3
59.a7 (I add that 59.Bf5 f2 60.Bh3 Nc6
61.Bf1 d4 62.h4 d3 63.Bxd3 Nb4 is
drawn as well.) 59...f2 60.a8Q f1Q 61.
Qb8+ Ke6 62.Bg8+ Nf7 63.Qe8+ Kd6=.
44.Bg3!
44...fxe4?
60.Bc1 (Smyslov)
60.d5 Ne5 61.Bxh5, as suggested by Winter & Wade, may win as well,
but Ken Thompson’s endgame database proved in 1983 that the bishop-
pair always wins the pawnless endgame against a lone knight, if the
knight can force no immediate draw: 61...b5 62.Be7 Nc8 63.Ba3 bxa4 64.
Kd4 Ng6 65.Kc5 Nxh4 66.d6 Nxd6 67.Kxd6
63.Bf4
63...Kd5 64.a6
The pawn endgame 64.Bxd6? Kxd6 is only drawn: 65.Kb4 Kc7 66.d5
cxd5 67.Kxb5 Kb7 68.Kc5 Ka6 69.Kxd5 Kxa5 70.Ke5 Kb6 71.Kf5 Kc7
72.Kg5 Kd7 73.Kxh5 Ke7 74.Kg6 Kf8=.
64...Nc8
Sources
1...gxh4?
The Magic of
Kasparov probably missed White’s next amazing winning shot. Chess Tactics
by Karsten Müller
Play through and download
2.Ng2!! hxg3+ 3.Kxg3 Ke6 4.Nf4+ Kf5 5.Nxh5 Ke6 6.Nf4+ Kd6 7.Kg4
the games from
Bc2 8.Kh5 Bd1 9.Kg6
ChessCafe.com in the
DGT Game Viewer.
The Complete
DGT Product Line
Dvoretsky's Endgame
Manual
by Mark Dvoretsky
9...Ke7!
10.Nxd5+?
Too greedy. Now the path of Black’s king through the center must always
be guarded by White’s forces. 10.Nh5! was called for: 10...Bxf3 11.Nxf6
Be4+ 12.Kg5 Bd3!
This position is the focus of this article. The main line of the analysis is
given in bold italics. Dvoretsky and Marin both discuss this position, but I
want to present my analysis here to remove any doubt that White is
indeed winning.
Some preliminary remarks: White always wins, if his king reaches one of
the key squares f6, e5 or f5, if Black’s king is passive. In that case he
even wins without his a3-pawn. Furthermore, White prevails if he wins
one of Black’s pawn. Winning the d5-pawn is sufficient in this case, as
White’s knight can jump back to c3, when White always wins.
First White transfers the knight to the kingside or enters with his king via
f8:
22.Nb8 Bc2
22...Ke6 23.Kf8 Bg6 (23...Kf5 24.Ke7 Ke4 25.Nc6 Bc4 26.Kd6 Kd3 27.
Kc5 Kc3 28.Ne7 Kb3 29.Nxd5 Kxa3 30.Nc3+–) 24.Nc6 Bh5 25.Ne7 Bf3
(25...Kd6 26.Nf5+ Kd7 27.Ng3 Bg6 28.Kg7 Bd3 29.Kf6+– and White
would even win without his pawn a3.) 26.Ke8 Bg4 27.Kd8 Kd6 28.Ng6
Bh3 (28...Bf5 29.Ne5 Bh3 30.Nf7+ Kc6 31.Ke7+–) 29.Ne5 Bf5 30.a4
bxa4 31.b5 a3 32.b6 Bc8 33.Kxc8 a2 34.b7 a1Q 35.b8Q+ Ke6 36.Nc6+–.
23.Nc6+ Kd7
23...Ke6 24.Kf8 Bg6 25.Na7 Bd3 (25...Kf5 26.Ke7 Ke4 27.Nxb5 Kd3 28.
Kf6 Be4 29.Ke5+–) 26.Ke8 Be2 27.Nc6 Kd6 28.Ne7 Ke6 29.Kd8 Kd6 30.
Nc8+ Kc6 31.Ke7+–.
24.Ne5+ Ke7
24...Ke6 25.Kf8 (25.Ng4 Be4 26.Ne3 Ke7 leads to the main line and wins
as well.) 25...Kf5 26.Ke7 Ke4 27.Nc6 Kd3 28.Kd6 Kc4 29.Ke5 Be4 30.
Na5+ Kc3 31.Nb7 Kb2 32.Nd6 Kxa3 33.Nxe4 dxe4 34.Kxe4 Kxb4 35.d5
Kc5 36.Ke5+–.
25.Ng4 Bf5
28...Bg6+ 29.Kg4 Bf7 30.Nd1 Be6+ (30...Be8 31.Nc3 Bd7+ 32.Kg3 Bc6
33.Kf4+–) 31.Kg3 Kg5 (31...Bd7 32.Kf4 Be8 33.Ne3 Bf7 34.Ng4+ Ke6
35.Kg5+–) 32.Nc3 Bd7 (32...Kf5 33.Kf2 Bd7 34.Nxd5+–) 33.Nxd5 Bc6
34.Nc3 Kf5 35.Kf2 Kf4 36.Ke2+–.
29.Kg5 Bd3
30.Ng4 Be4 31.Ne5 Bc2 32.Nc6 Be4 33.Nb8 Bd3 34.Na6 Ke7
White begins the first triangulation.
35.Kg4 Kf6
36.Nc7 Be2+
37.Kg3!! Kf5
37...Bc4 38.Kf4+– and Black either loses one of his pawns or has to allow
White’s king to enter one of the key squares e5 or f5.
38.Nxd5 Bh5
38...Bd3 39.Nc3 Bf1 (39...Ke6 40.Kf4 Kd6 41.Ke3 Bf1 42.a4 bxa4 43.
Nxa4 Kd5 44.b5 Bh3 (44...Bxb5 45.Nc3+ Kc4 46.Nxb5 Kxb5 47.Ke4
Kc6 48.Ke5 Kd7 49.Kd5+–) 45.b6 Kc6 46.d5+ Kb7 47.Kd4 Bg2 48.Kc5
Bf3 49.Nc3+–) 40.Kf2 Bc4 41.Ke3 Bf1 42.a4 bxa4 43.Nxa4+–.
39.Nc3
With the knight on c3 this constellation is always won for White, but
some care is still required.
41...Be8
41...Ke6 42.d5+ Bxd5 43.Kd4 Bc4 44.Kc5+–.
42.Ne4
The board is too small for Black’s bishop. With the knight forks
everywhere, White succeeds.
42...Bd7
42...Ke6 43.Kf4 (43.d5+? Ke5=) 43...Bc6 44.Nc3 Be8 45.d5+ Kd6 46.Ke4
+–.
43.Nc5 Be8 44.Na6 Bf7 45.d5 Ke5 46.Nc7 Kd6 47.Nxb5+ Kxd5 48.Kd3
+–.
10...Ke6?! 11.Nc7+ Kd7?! 12.Nxa6 Bxf3 13.Kxf6 Kd6 14.Kf5 Kd5 15.
Kf4 Bh1 16.Ke3 Kc4 17.Nc5 Bc6 18.Nd3
21...Bb7?
22.Nf5 Bg2?!
After 22...Kd5!?, White can transfer the knight to the key square c3: 23.
Kd3 Ke6
24.Ng7+! Kd7 (24...Kd6 25.Ne8+ Ke7 26.Nc7 Bc6 27.d5+–; 24...Kd5 25.
Ne8+–; 24...Ke7 25.Nh5+–) 25.Nh5 Bg2 26.Nf4! Bf1+ 27.Ke4 Kd6 28.
Ke3
Endgame
Corner
A Practical Guide
to Rook Endgames
Karsten Müller by Nikolay Minev
39.Kc4?
39.Bc5 Bxd4
The Complete
DGT Product Line
Dvoretsky's Endgame
Manual
by Mark Dvoretsky
(40...b6 41.Bb4 Ke6 42.Bf8 h5 43.Bh6 g4 44.Bf4+–) 41.Ke5! The king
must penetrate to prevent Black from creating a fortress. (41.b6? Ke6 42.
Bf8 (42.e5 Ng7 43.g4 Kd7 44.Kd5 Ne6=) 42...Nf6 43.Bxh6 Ng4 44.Bxg5
Nxh2
There seems to be no way to storm Black’s castle, e.g., 45.Bf4 Ng4 46.
Be3 (46.e5 Nf2 47.a5 Ng4 48.Ke4 Nf2+ 49.Kf3 Nd3 50.Kg4 Nc5 51.Kg5
Kf7=) 46...Ne5 47.Bf4 Nf7=) 41...Nf6 (41...axb5 42.axb5 h5 43.Bb4 h4
44.Bd2 hxg3 (44...Nc7 45.b6 Ne6 46.Kd6+–) 45.hxg3 g4 46.b6 Ke7 47.
Bb4+ Kf7 (47...Kd7 48.Bf8 Kc6 49.Ke6 Kxb6 50.Ke7 Nc7 51.Kd7+–) 48.
Bc5 Nf6 49.Be3 Ne8 50.Bg5 Ng7 51.Kd6+–) 42.Bb4 axb5 43.axb5
Black cannot stop the king, e.g., 43...g4 (43...Ng4+ 44.Kd6 Nxh2 45.Kc7
Nf3 46.Kxb7 Ne5 47.Kc7 Nc4 48.Kd7+–; 43...Ne8 44.b6 g4 45.Kd5 Kf6
46.Bf8 h5 47.e5+ Kf7 48.Bb4 g5 49.e6+ Kf6 50.Bc3+ Ke7 51.Ke5+–) 44.
Kd6 Nxe4+ 45.Kc7 Ke6 46.Kxb7 Nf6 47.Kc6 Nd5 48.Bc5 Ke5 49.b6
Nxb6 50.Bxb6 Ke4 51.Kd6 Kf3 52.Ke5 Kg2 53.Kf6+–.
41.Bc5!? was again worth trying, but this time Black seems to have
enough resources: 41...a6 (41...b6? 42.Bf8 h5 43.Bh6 Kf6 (43...g4 44.Bf4
+–) 44.Kd5 Nc7+ 45.Kd6 Ne6 46.h3 h4 47.e5+ Kf7 48.g4 Nc5 49.a5+–)
42.bxa6 bxa6 43.Bf8 h5 44.Bh6 g4 45.Kc5 Nd6 46.Kb6 Nxe4 47.Kxa6
Kd7 48.Kb6 g5 49.Bg7 Kc8 50.Be5 Nd2 51.Kc6 Nb3
41...g4!
42.a5 Nd6 43.b6 a6 44.Bc1 h5 45.Bf4 Nc8 46.Bg5 Nd6 47.Bf4 Nf7 48.
Bc7 ½–½
In the second case Russell missed his chance at the fortieth move.
93.02 Matlin, Anna (1836) – Russell, Hanon (2076)
U.S. Amateur, Somerset NJ, 26.05.2008
40...c5?
Now the position opens up and too many pawns are exchanged. This
allows White to draw comfortably.
40...Nc1 was called for, but it seems that White can defend: 41.Bc2
a) 41.Bh7? Ne2+ 42.Kxg4 Nxc3 43.Bc2 Kf6 44.Kf3 Ne4 45.Kg4 Nd2 46.
Bh7 Nc4 47.e4 Kg7 48.Bf5 Kh6–+.
Now White must be careful: 67.Kd5 (67.Kb5? Ng4 68.Kxa5 Ne3 69.Bb3
Kd3 70.Kb5 (70.Kb4 Nc2+–+) 70...Kc3–+) 67...Nd3 68.Kc4 Nb4 69.
Bb3=) 46.Bc2+ Ne4
a) 47.Kf3 Kf5 48.Bb1 g4+ 49.Ke3 g3 50.Kf3 Ke6 51.Bd3 Kd6 52.Ba6
Kc6 (52...Nc3 53.Kxg3 Nxa4 54.Kf3 Nc3 55.Ke3 Kc6 56.Kd2 Nb5 57.
Kd3 a4 58.Bc8 a3 59.Kc2 Nxd4+ 60.Kc3 Kc5 61.Bg4=) 53.Bd3 Ng5+ 54.
Kxg3 Ne6 55.Kf3 Nxd4+ 56.Ke3 Kc5 57.Bf1
White should be able to defend.
b) 47.Bd3? Kf6 48.Bc2 (48.Bb5 Nc3 49.Bc6 Ke6 50.Kxg5 Ne2 51.Be8
Kd6 52.Kf5 Nxd4+ 53.Kf4 Kc5 54.Ke3 Kc4 55.Kd2 (55.Kf4 Nc2 56.Ke5
Kc5 57.Bd7 Ne3 58.Kf4 Nc4 59.Be8 Kb4 60.Bf7 Nb6–+) 55...Nf3+ 56.
Kc2 Ne5 57.Bb5+ Kd4 58.Be8 Ke3 59.Kc3 d4+ 60.Kc2 Nc4 61.Bh5 Nb6
62.Kb3 d3 63.Bd1 Kd2 64.Bh5 Ke1–+) 48...Ke6 49.Bb3 Kd6 50.Bc2 Nc3
51.Kxg5 (51.Kf3 g4+ 52.Kf4 g3 53.Kxg3 Ne2+ 54.Kf2 Nxd4 55.Bb1
Nb3 56.Ke3 Nc5 57.Kd4 Nxa4–+) 51...Ne2
Now Black has won an all important tempo that allows his king to
penetrate decisively: 52.Bg6 (52.Bd3 Nxd4 53.Kf4 Kc5 54.Ke3 Nb3 55.
Bb5 Kb4 56.Kf4 Nc5 57.Ke5 Nxa4–+; 52.Bd1 Nxd4 53.Kf4 Kc5 54.Ke5
Nc6+ 55.Kf4 Kd4–+) 52...Nxd4 53.Kf4 Kc5 54.Bf7 (54.Ke3 Kc4 55.Kd2
Nb3+ 56.Kc2 Nc5 57.Be8 d4–+) 54...Nc2
White cannot prevent the invasion of Black’s king, e.g., 55.Kf3 (55.Ke5
Ne3 56.Kf4 Nc4–+; 55.Be8 Kd4 56.Bc6 Na3 57.Kf3 Kc5 58.Be8 Kc4 59.
Bc6 Kd4–+) 55...Kc4 56.Ke2 (56.Bg8 Kd4 57.Ke2 Na1 58.Bf7 Nb3 59.
Be8 Kc3 60.Kf3 Nc5 61.Bc6 d4–+) 56...Nd4+ 57.Kd2 (57.Ke3 Nb3 58.
Kf4 Kd4 59.Kf5 Nd2 60.Ke6 Kc5 61.Ke5 Nc4+ 62.Kf4 d4 63.Bg6 Nb2–
+) 57...Nb3+ 58.Kc2 Nc5 59.Be8 d4 60.Bb5+ Kb4 61.Be8 d3+ 62.Kd2
Kc4 63.Bg6 Kd4 64.Bh7 Nb3+ 65.Kd1 Kc3 66.Bg6 Nc5 67.Be8 d2 68.
Bb5 Ne4 69.Ke2 Kc2 70.Bd3+ Kc1–+; 47...Nf6+ 48.Kg3 Kf5 (48...Kh5
49.Bd1+ g4 50.Kf4 Kh4 51.Ke5 Kg5 52.Be2 g3 53.Bf3=) 49.Bc2+ Ne4+
50.Kf3 g4+ 51.Ke3 g3 52.Kf3 Ke6 53.Bd3 Kd6 54.Ba6 Ng5+ 55.Kxg3
Ne6 56.Kf3 Nxd4+ 57.Ke3
41.Kxg4 Kf6
Russell suggested 41...c4!?
But White can draw as well by activating his bishop: 42.Bh7 Nc1 43.Bg8
+ Kd6 44.e4 dxe4 45.Bxc4 Kc6 46.Kg3 Nd3 47.Kg4=.
42.dxc5
42.Bh7 draws as well: 42...cxd4 43.cxd4 Nd2 44.Bg8 Nc4 45.e4 Ne3+ 46.
Kf3 Nc2=.
And now White just exchanges another pair of pawns, when the draw is
clear.
44.e4 dxe4 45.Bxe4 Ke5 46.Bc2 Nc5 47.Kxg5 Kd5 48.Kf4 Kc4 49.Ke3
Kxc3 50.Bd1 Nd3 51.Be2 Nb2 52.Bb5 Kb4 53.Kd2 Nxa4 54.Bxa4
Kxa4 55.Kc2 Kb4 56.Kb2 a4 ½–½
Addendum
Charles Sullivan from the USA spent a lot of time analyzing the
Botvinnik-Bronstein ending featured in Endgame Corner #91 and has
found some new insights.
48...Nab8
His first point is that 48...Ne7 draws as well: 49.Bg5+ Ke6 50.Bxe7 Kxe7
51.Bg6 b5 52.axb5 Nc7 53.b6 Na8 54.Bxh5 Nxb6 55.Bf3 Kf6 56.Kb4
Kasparov stops here and claims that White wins. But Sullivan found a
rescue for Black: 56...Nc8 57.Bxd5 Nd6 58.Bf3 Nf5 59.d5 Nxh4 60.Bg4
Ke5 61.Kc5 Ng6 62.d6 Nf8
52...Nc8?
Only this seems to be the real losing mistake. Sullivan gives 52...Ne7! 53.
Be2 (53.Bc7 Ke6 54.Be2 Nf5 55.Bxb6 Nc8 56.Bd8 Nce7 57.Bxh5 Nxh4
And only pawns on one wing are left, so the knights should be able to
hold themselves.) 53...Kg6 54.Bg5 Nec6 55.Bd3+ Kf7 56.Bf1 Kg6 57.
Be2
Now it seems that Black is in fatal zugzwang, but Sullivan found the
amazing 57...Kf5!!, when after 58.Bxh5 b5 Black’s counterplay is
sufficient: 59.Bd1 bxa4 60.Bxa4 b5 61.Bc2+ Kg4 62.Bd1+ Kf5 63.Kd3
(63.Be3 b4+ 64.Kd3 Nb5 65.h5 Nbxd4 66.Bxd4 Nxd4 67.Kxd4 Kf6=)
63...b4 64.Ba4 Kg4 65.Ke3 Kf5 66.Bc2+ Kg4 67.Bb3 Nb5 68.Bxd5
Ncxd4=.
53.Be2 Kg6 54.Bd3+ Kf6 55.Be2 Kg6 56.Bf3 N6e7 57.Bg5 1–0
Is the last word on this fascinating battle now spoken or will there be new
surprises?
Endgame
Corner
A Practical Guide
to Rook Endgames
Karsten Müller by Nikolay Minev
Grivas managed to win in an instructive way, but can this position really
be called won already? I had my doubts and I sent him a few ideas. He
finally came up with a corrected version and with his kind permission I
now hand over the microphone to him.
Central pawns are almost always beneficial for the strongest side. In our
example White’s winning chances are much better than in the case where
he has e- and f-pawns against Black’s g-pawn. In my opinion there are
two reasons for this:
The Magic of
Chess Tactics
1. Black’s rook does not have at his disposal ‘enough’ files on the by Karsten Müller
Play through and download queenside to check White’s king.
the games from 2. White’s rook has at his disposal more files on the kingside to act
ChessCafe.com in the through. But still Black, with accurate play he can hold the draw.
DGT Game Viewer.
46.Kf4 Rd3
The Complete
DGT Product Line There is not much difference with 46...Kf7 47.Rh1, which transposes.
Dvoretsky's Endgame
Manual
by Mark Dvoretsky
48...Rd2?
The correct defensive method starts with 48...Ra3! 49.Rd1
49...Ra2! the rook must prepare checks from the a-file and from behind.
A typical defensive method in rook endgames! (49...Ke6? 50.Kf4 Kd6 51.
e4 Ra4 (51...Rb3 52.Ra1 Rd3 53.d5 Rd2 54.Ke3 Rh2 55.Ra6+ Ke7 56.
Ra7+ Ke8 (56...Kd6 57.Rf7+–) 57.d6 Rh5 58.Kd4 Re5 59.Rh7 Ra5 60.
Re7+ Kf8 61.Kc4 Rg5 62.Re6 Kf7 63.d7 Rg8 64.Kd5+–) 52.Kf5 Ke7 53.
d5+–) 50.Rd3 (50.d5 Rf2! 51.Kd4 f5! 52.Rd3 Kf6! (52...Ke7? 53.Ke5
Rf3 54.Rb3! Kd7 55.Ra3 Ke7 56.d6+ Kd7 57.Ra7+ Kd8
In this critical position, Black can defend: 56.Rc6 Ra5+ 57.Kc4 Ra4+ 58.
Kd3 Ra3+ 59.Kd2 Ra4 60.Ke3 Ra1! 61.d5 Rf1= .
49.Kd5
White has placed his king in front of the pawns, so he can assist with their
advance.
49...Ra2 50.Rc1!
50...Ra5+
Or 50...f5 51.Ke5 (51.Rc7+ Kf6 52.Rc6+ Ke7 53.Ke5 Rf2 54.Rc7+ Kd8
55.Kd6 Rf3 56.Ra7 Ke8 57.Re7+ Kd8 58.d5 also loses) 51...Rf2 52.d5
Rf3 53.Rc3+– .
51.Rc5 Ra3
52.Rc7+! Ke8
A better, but still insufficient try is 52...Kg6 53.e4 Ra5+ 54.Rc5 Ra7 55.
Rc6 Kf7 56.Kd6 Ra4 57.Rc7+ Kg6 58.Kc5 Ra5+ 59.Kb4 Ra1 60.Re7+–.
The defender must (nearly always) stay active.
53.Ke4
53...Rb3
54.d5!
Creating a stronghold for the white rook on e6, from where it will protect
its pawns and attack the enemy g6-pawn.
54...Ra3
54...f5+ 55.Kd4 Rb4+ 56.Rc4 Rb2 57.Rc3 Kd7 58.Ke5 Rd2 59.Ra3 Rd1
60.Ra7++–.
55.Kf4 f5
Alternatively, Black could have tried 55...Rb3, but White will still win:
56.e4! Rb1 57.Kf5+– .
56.Rc6 1–0
Black to move has two options to reach the safe heaven of a draw. Find
both!
In this column I will deal with cases relatively favorable for the attacker,
when the h-pawn has already reached h5, so that the best defensive setup
with pawns on f7-g6-h5 is not possible. One aim is the following famous
position.
Endgame
Corner
A Practical Guide
to Rook Endgames
Karsten Müller by Nikolay Minev
The Complete
DGT Product Line
Dvoretsky's Endgame
Manual
by Mark Dvoretsky
67...hxg5?!
In the next example Black’s pawn structure is broken, but he has an extra
a-pawn, so it should be drawn.
37.h5! g5?
38.Ra6 gxf4
42...Kg7?
46...a6
47...Rc1
47...hxg5 48.fxg5 Rc4+ 49.Kf3 Rc3+ 50.Kf4 Rc4+ 51.Ke3 Rc3+ 52.Kd4
Rc7 53.Ra8 Rb7 54.Rxa6 Rb4+ 55.Kd3 Rh4 56.Ra7+ Kg8 57.Ra8+ Kh7
58.g6+ Kg7 59.Ra7+ Kg8 60.Rh7+–.
53...Rh1 54.Ke5 Rxh5+ 55.Kxe6 Rb5 56.Rxb5 axb5 57.f5 b4 58.f6 b3 59.
f7 b2 60.Kf6 b1Q 61.g7#.
57.Ra6+ 1–0
But not 57.Rf7+?! Ke6 58.Re7+? (58.Rf8+–) 58...Kxe7 59.Kxe5 Kf8 with
a well known fortress draw. Black resigned because of 57...Re6 58.g7
Rxa6 59.g8Q Re6 60.Qf8+ Kg5 61.Qf7 Rf6 (61...Rb6 62.Qe7+ Kxh5 63.
Qc5++–) 62.Qe7 Kf5 63.Qe5++–.
35.h3?!
This is not good for the rook endgame. A better setup is 35.h4 Rc2+ 36.
Kf3 Be5 (36...Rc3+ 37.Kxf4 Rxa3 38.g3=) 37.Bc5 Ke6 38.g3
37.Kf3 is safer.
37...h4
Fixing the kingside so that an exchange into a rook endgame is more
dangerous.
38.Be3 Bd6 39.Ra5 Ke6 40.Rb5 Rc8 41.Ke4 Rc3 42.Rb6 f5+ 43.Kd4
43.Kf3? f4–+.
43...Rc2 44.Kd3
Of course not 44.Bxg5? Rxf2 45.Rb3 Rxg2 46.Bxh4 Rd2+ 47.Ke3 Rh2
48.Kd4 Be5+ 49.Kc4 f4 50.Bg5 Bd6 51.h4 Kf5–+.
46.Bc5?
This allows the king to be cut off on the d-file. 46.Rb3! was called for and
should be sufficient for a draw; e.g., 46...Kf6 47.Rb6+ Kf7 48.Rb3 e5 49.
Rb7+ Kg6 50.Rb6+ Kh5 51.Rb7 Bxe3 (51...e4+ 52.Kd4 Bxe3+ 53.Kxe3
f4+ 54.Kxe4 Rxf2 55.Kf5=; 51...Ra3+ 52.Ke2 Bxe3 53.fxe3 f4 54.exf4
gxf4 55.Re7 Re3+ 56.Kf2=) 52.Kxe3 Ra3+ 53.Ke2 e4 54.Rb6 f4 55.Rb1
f3+ 56.Kf1; 46.Bxf4? gxf4 47.Rb6+ Ke5 48.Rh6 Rxf2 49.Rxh4 Rxg2–+.
46...Rd2+ 47.Kc3
47.Kc4 g4 48.hxg4 (48.Rb3 Bd6 49.Be3 Rd1 50.Bg5 Rg1–+; 48.Kc3 Ra2
49.Rb1 g3 50.Rf1 Bd6 51.Kb3 Bxc5 52.Kxa2 gxf2–+) 48...fxg4 49.g3
hxg3 50.fxg3 Bxg3
47...Rd1 48.f3
Other tries include 48.Rb6+ Bd6 49.Bxd6 exd6 50.Rb2 Ke5 51.Re2+ (51.
Kc4 d5+ 52.Kc3 Rg1 53.Kd3 g4–+) 51...Kf4 52.Re3 Rg1 53.Rf3+ Ke5 54.
Re3+ Kf6 55.g3 hxg3 (55...g4 works as well.) 56.fxg3 Rh1 57.Rd3 (57.g4
f4–+) 57...Ke5 58.Re3+ Kd5 59.Rd3+ Ke4 60.h4 gxh4 61.gxh4 f4 62.Rd4
+ (62.Rxd6 f3–+) 62...Ke5 63.Ra4 Rxh4 64.Kd3 Rh2 65.Ra8 Kf5 66.Rg8
d5–+; 48.Be3 Bxe3 49.fxe3 Kf6 50.Rb8 (50.Ra5 e6 51.Rb5 Rg1 52.Rb2
Rh1 53.Kd2 Rh2 54.Ke1 g4 55.hxg4 h3 56.Kf1 Rxg2–+; 50.Rb2 e6 51.
Kc4 Ke5–+) 50...Rg1 51.Rb2 g4 52.hxg4 fxg4 53.Kd4 h3 54.gxh3 gxh3
55.Ke4 Kg5 56.Kf3 e5 57.e4 Kh4–+. \
48...Rd5?
This retreat is a mistake. The rook had to remain active. Simplifying into
a bishop ending with 48...Rd2? is also wrong: 49.Rb2 Rxb2 50.Kxb2 Kd5
51.Ba7 (51.Bxe7? Kd4–+ spoils it.) 51...Kc4 52.Kc2 e5 53.Bf2 e4 54.
fxe4 fxe4
Now White draws with 55.Bb6! (55.Ba7? e3 56.Bb6 Kb5 57.Ba7 e2 58.
Bf2 Kc4 and White is on the wrong end of the reciprocal zugzwang and
loses.) 55...e3 56.Ba7 e2 57.Bf2 Bg3 58.Bxg3 hxg3 59.Kd2=; But 48...
Be5+ 49.Kc2 Ra1 was the way to go, e.g. 50.Bxe7 (50.Kb3 Rc1–+; 50.
Rb6+ Kf7 51.Rb7 Ra2+ 52.Kd3 Bf6–+) 50...Ra2+ 51.Kd3 Rxg2 52.Bb4
Rg3–+.
Setting a trap.
52.Rb2?
52.Bb2 was forced and then it seems that White can hold.
Lars Bo Hansen showed the way to win in his excellent book How Chess
Games are Won and Lost (GAMBIT 2008). Can you do the same?
1...Ra1!
The rook must stay in the south-west corner to keep maximal checking
distance in both directions. 1...Rh2? 2.Rh5 Rg2+ 3.Kf5 Kg8 4.Rg5++–;
1...Rg2+? 2.Kh3 Ra2 3.h7 Ra8 4.Kg4 Rb8 5.Rh5 Rh8 6.Kg5 Kg7 7.f5
Kf7 8.f6+–.
2.h7
2...Rg1+ 3.Kf3
3.Kf5 Rh1=.
3...Rh1 4.Ra5 Kg7 5.Ra7+ Kh8 6.Ke4 Re1+ 7.Kf5 Re5+ 8.Kg6 Rg5+ 9.
Kf6 Rf5+=
56...Rxa7+
56...Kxh6 57.Rxe2 Rxa7+ 58.Re7 Ra8 59.Re6+ Kh7 60.f6 Kh6= is the
alternative.; But 56...e1Q? spoils it: 57.Rxe1 Rxa7+ 58.Kf8 Kxh6 59.Re6
+ Kg5 60.f6 Kf5 61.Rd6 Ke5 62.Rb6+–.
57.Kf6 Ra6+?
58.Kg5 Ra2
59.Re7+ Kg8 60.Kg6 Ra6+ 61.f6 Ra8 62.Rxe2 Kh8 63.Re7 Rb8 64.Rh7
+ Kg8 1–0
Addendum
Charles Sullivan from the USA, has some interesting insights regarding
Efstratios Grivas remarkable rook ending.
49.Kd5
49...Ra2?
Sullivan discovered that Black can still save himself with 49...Re2 50.Rh7
+ Ke8 51.e4 Re1. The fortress concept is as follows: Black’s king waits
on e8, e7, and sometimes f7 and Black’s rook stays on the e-file to force
White to defend the e4-pawn. For instance, 52.Rc7 Re2 53.Rc6 Kf7 54.
Re6 Ra2 55.Rb6 Re2=.
50.Rc1?
Sullivan gives 50.Rh7+ Kg6 (50...Ke8 51.Ke6 Ra6+ 52.Kf5 Rd6 53.Ra7
Kf8 54.Ra5 Ke7 55.d5+– Müller) 51.Re7 f5 52.Ke5 Re2 53.Re6+ Kg5 54.
Kd6+–.
50...Ra5+?
The final mistake. 50...Re2 still holds as 51.Rc7+ Ke8 52.e4 Re1 leads to
Sullivan’s fortress.
Corner
A Practical Guide
to Rook Endgames
Karsten Müller by Nikolay Minev
There was a long discussion after the game as to who was better in this
position. Rasmussen had prepared this and claimed to be better because of
the bishop-pair. Nielsen also claimed to be better. Hansen sides with
Nielsen and I agree with them. If anyone, Black is for choice. Black has a
strategic initiative on the dark squares, which is very difficult to counter
because Black has one more piece that can operate on the dark squares. In The Magic of
the long run his kingside majority is easier to mobilize than White’s Chess Tactics
by Claus Dieter Meyer
Play through and download majority on the queenside, where weaknesses may arise sooner or later.
& Karsten Müller
the games from And finally White’s light-squared bishop has problems finding a
ChessCafe.com in the meaningful role. It can reach the outpost c6, but White can not support it
DGT Game Viewer. in time as he must deal with Black’s counterplay. Let’s see how Nielsen
began his initiative:
The Complete
DGT Product Line 20...Rc8 21.Bf1 b4 22.Bb5 b3 23.cxb3
Dvoretsky's Endgame
Manual
by Mark Dvoretsky
27...Bf6
Hansen prefers 27...e4!? and I agree. Having more pawns on the board
keeps more winning potential in reserve.
31...Nd4!
Black exchanges his knight for White’s good bishop to emphasize his
superiority and initiative on the dark squares. Remember that opposite-
colored bishops favor the attacker!
33...h4!
36...Rh3
Hansen suggests the slow approach with 36...Kf6!?. I like his suggestion,
as White has difficulties finding a useful move. In the game Nielsen
rushes a bit, which makes it clear for White as to what to do and where to
defend. Here are just a few lines that illustrate White’s problems: 37.Rc2
g5 38.Bd7 Rd4 39.Be6 (39.Rf2 Rxd5 40.Kg2 Bc3) 39...Rb4 40.Rc8 f4 41.
Rf8+ Kg7 42.Rg8+ Kh6 43.Bf7 Rxb3 44.Rg6+ Kh5.
Quite slow. 39.Re7+ Kf6 (39...Kh6 40.Re6 Rd3 41.Be8 Kg5 42.Rxg6+
Kf4 43.Bf7) 40.Re6+ Kg5 41.Be8 is a better way to generate counterplay
against g6.
39...g5?
In time trouble Black rushes forward with his pawns. It was better to
coordinate the pieces first: 39...Bc5+ 40.Kg2 Rb3 41.Re7+ (41.Be8? f4
42.Rxg6+ Kf8 loses.) 41...Kf6 42.Re6+ Kg5 43.Be8 f4 44.Rxg6+ Kf5 45.
Rg8 (45.Rg7 Bd4 46.Rf7+ Ke4 47.Re7+ Be5 48.Bg6+ Ke3 49.Ra7 f3+
50.Kf1 Rc3 51.Ra1 Bxh2) 45...f3+ 46.Kg3 f2+ 47.Kg2 Kf6 48.Bh5 Rb1
49.Rf8+ Kg7 50.Rf7+ Kg8 51.Rxf2 Bxf2 52.Kxf2 Kg7 and in both cases
Black has better winning chances than in the game.
40.Be8 g4 41.Bg6?
41.Rg6+ Kf8 42.Bd7 Rf3 43.Kg2 Kf7 44.Rh6 (Hansen) was called for.
White should be able to defend.
Some sources claim that Black is winning, while other authors think that
White can draw with best defense. Bastian thinks that White should be
able to draw and I agree, but some work still has to do be done.
1...Kf8 2.Kf1 Ke7 3.Ke2 Kd6 4.Kd3 Kd5 5.h4 Bc8 6.Nf3 Ba6+ 7.Kc3
h6 8.Nd4 g6
9.Nc2?
This allows Kashdan’s king to penetrate one step further. 9.f3 was called
for to erect a barrier against Black’s king. Of course, Black can still try to
use zugzwang and an advance of his pawns to probe White’s fortress.
Here more work is needed to establish the correct assessment, but I think
that White can hold his own; e.g., 9...h5 10.g3 Bb7 11.Kd3 a5 12.Kc3 f6
13.Kd3 Ba6+ 14.Ke3 Kc5 (14...g5 15.Nf5) 15.g4 Bb7 16.gxh5 gxh5 17.
Kd3 Kb4 18.Kd2. Can a reader find a win for Black after 9.f3?
Finally one example that seems to be dead lost for the knight:
94...Kd8
94...Nc8 seems to draw as well; e.g., 95.Kc4 Kd6 96.Kd4 (96.Kb5 Kc7 97.
Bf3 Nd6+ 98.Ka6 Nc8 99.Be4 Ne7 100.Kb5 Nc8=) 96...Ne7 97.Ke4 Nd5
98.Kf5 Ne3+ 99.Kf4 Nd5+=.
96...Nb7?
97.Kc4 Kd6
98...Kc7 99.e7 Nd6+ 100.Ka6 Kc6 101.Bh5 Kd7 102.e8Q+ Nxe8 103.
Bxe8+ Kxe8 104.Kxb6+–.
99.h4 h5 100.Bh3 Ke7 101.a5 Nxe6 102.Kxb6 Nf4 103.a6 Nd5+ 104.
Kb7 Kd8 105.a7 Nc7 106.Bf1 Kd7 107.Be2 1–0
A repetition to gain time on the clock and show “who is the boss.”
55.Ra4
55...Rxb3 56.e4+
56...fxe4 57.Ke1 Rb2 58.Kf1 Rc2 59.Rb4 Ra2 60.Kg1 e3 61.Kf1 Rf2+
62.Kg1 Rc2 63.Kf1 Rc4 0–1
43.Rc8?
HHansen showed the way to win in his excellent How Chess Games are
Won and Lost (GAMBIT 2008): 43.e6 Kg8 (43...Ra1 44.Rxc2 Ra5+ 45.
Ke4 Kg6 (45...Ra8 46.Ke5 Kg8 47.Kd6 Kf8 48.Kd7 Ra7+ 49.Rc7+–) 46.
f5+ Kf6 47.Rc7+–) 44.g5 hxg5 45.Kg6 Kf8 46.fxg5 Re1 47.Rc8+ Ke7 48.
Rxc2 Re5 49.Rc7+ Kxe6 50.Rxg7+–.
43...g6+ 44.Kf6 Rf1 45.Rc7+ Kg8 46.Rxc2 Rxf4+ 47.Kxg6 Rxg4+ 48.
Kf6 Rf4+ 49.Ke7 h5 50.e6 Kg7 51.Rc8 Rf1 52.Rc4 Re1 53.Kd7 Kf6 54.
Rf4+ Kg5 55.Rf8 h4 56.e7 h3 57.e8Q Rxe8 58.Rxe8 Kf4 59.Ke6 h2 60.
Rh8 Kg3 61.Kf5 Kg2 62.Kf4 h1Q 63.Rxh1 Kxh1 ½–½
Endgame
Corner
Tactical Chess Endings
by John Nunn
Karsten Müller Only $9.95!
My feeling was that White is better, but somehow it should still be drawn
with best defense, as the drawish margin is quite large in opposite-colored
bishop endings. Yet Hansen managed to win, so I had to search for
improvements.
47.Rb6?
A Practical Guide
A surprising decision, as usually the attacker wants to keep the rooks on to Rook Endgames
the board. So 47.Bd4+ was necessary; e.g., 47...Kf7 (47...Ke7 48.Be5 by Nikolay Minev
Play through and download Rb7 49.f4 Kf7 50.fxg5 hxg5 51.Rd8) 48.Be5 now Rxe6 is threatened 48... Only $9.95!
the games from Ra8 (48...Rb7 49.Rd8 Ra7 (49...Be8 50.Rc8 with the threat Rc7+ as now
ChessCafe.com in the the pure opposite-colored bishop endgame is won.) 50.Rh8 Ra2+ 51.Kg3
DGT Game Viewer. Re2 52.Bd6 Rd2 53.Bb8 Bf1 54.f4) 49.Rb6 Ra2+ 50.Kg3 and White has
a strong initiative in all cases.
The Complete
DGT Product Line 47...Rxb6 48.Bxb6
The Manual of
Chess Endings
by Sarhan Guliev
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48...Bc6?
Black must act energetically to stop White’s plan. White wants to play f3-
f4 and after gxf4 Bxf4 put his king on h4 and play g4-g5 hxg5 Kxg5
followed by h5-h6. Then put his bishop to e3, where it protects h6 and
stops Black’s e-pawn (the important principle of one diagonal at work),
so that White’s king can march to the queenside to win Black’s bishop.
48...e5! 49.Bc5 (49.Ke3 Bc6 50.Bc5 Kf7 51.Bd6 e4 52.f4
52...Bd7! (of course not 52...gxf4+? 53.Kxf4 Bd7 54.Bc5+-) 53.f5 Bb5 54.
Kxe4 Be2 55.Be5 Ke7 56.Bg7 Bxg4 57.Bxh6 Kf6 58.b5 Bxf5+ and Black
draws.) 49...e4 50.fxe4 (50.Bf8 exf3 51.Kxf3 Bc6+ 52.Kg3 Bd7 53.Bxh6
Bb5 54.Bf8 Bc6 55.Bc5 Kg7 56.Be3 Kh6=
White can not make meaningful progress because of his weak pawn g4.)
50...Kf7
It seems that Black draws because of White’s weak g4-pawn; e.g., 51.e5
Bd7 52.Kf3 Bc6+ 53.Ke3 Bd7 54.Bd6 Bxg4 55.b5 Bd7 56.b6 Bc6 57.
Bb4 Ke6 58.Kd4 Bf3 59.Be1 Kd7 60.Bg3 Kc6=.
49.Bc5 Kf7
53...Kf7 54.f4 Be2 55.Bc1 Kf6 56.fxg5+ hxg5 57.h6 Bd3 58.Kf2 Kg6
Now White has 59.Bxg5 Kxg5 60.Ke3+- overloading the bishop.
54.f4 gxf4+
54...Be2 55.Bf6+-.
57.g5?! is less precise, but wins as well: 57...Be2 58.g6+ Kg8 59.Bd4
Bxh5 (59...Kf8 60.Ke5 Kg8 (60...Bxh5 61.b5 Bf3 62.Kf4 Be2 63.b6 Ba6
64.Kg4 Bc8 65.Kh5+-) 61.Bc3 Kf8 62.Kf6 Bxh5 63.b5 Bf3 64.Kxe6 h5
65.Be1 Kg7 66.Kf5 Bd5 67.b6 Kg8 68.Kg5 Bf3 69.Kh6 Kh8 70.Bc3+
Kg8 71.Bf6 Kf8 72.Kh7 Be4 73.b7+-) 60.b5 Be2 61.b6 Ba6 62.Kg4 Be2+
63.Kg3 Ba6 64.Kh4 Bb7 65.Kh5+-
White wins based on the principle of one diagonal. This time it is the
diagonal a1–h8.
The game was adjourned here and Black resigned. A possible finish is
61...Bb5 62.g5 hxg5+ 63.Kxg5 Be2 64.h6 Kg8 65.Kg6 Bd3+ 66.Kf6 Kh7
67.Bf4 Bc4 68.Ke5 Kg6 69.Kd4 Bf1 70.Kc5 e5 71.Be3 Kf6 72.b5 Bd3 73.
b6 Be4 74.Kd6+-.
There is only one move that wins for Black. Can you find it?
The point. Black must open a road for White’s king. 44.Rxf8+? Kxf8 45.
Ke3 Kg7 46.Bc2 Kf6 gives Black drawing chances.
44...b5 45.Rxf8+ Kxf8 46.Bc2 Kg7 47.Ke3 Kf6 48.Kd4 Nb7 49.Bd3 e6
50.dxe6 Kxe6 51.Bxb5 Nd6 52.Be2 Ne8 53.a4 Kd6 54.a5 1–0
51...Kc8 52.Bc6 Kb8 53.Kd6 Ka7 54.Kd7 Kb8 55.Be4 Ka7 56.Kc8 Nxb5
57.axb5 stalemate; 51...Kd8 is playable as well: 52.Bf5 Ne8 53.Bg6 Nc7
54.Kd6 Kc8 55.Kc6 Na8 56.Bf5+ Kb8=.
52.Bf5 1–0
3...Ke6?
53...Na6! 54.f5 (54.Kd5 Kg6 55.Kc6 Nxb4+ 56.Bxb4 Kf5 57.Bd2 b4=)
54...Ke7 55.Kd5 Kd7 56.Bc3 Nc7+ 57.Kc5 Ne8 58.Kxb5 Nd6+ 59.Ka6
Nxf5 60.b5 Nd6 61.b6 Kc8! 62.Bxf6 Nb7= (Larsen in Informant 31/415).
55...f5 56.Bd2 Kc8 57.Kd6 Kd8 58.Be3 Kc8 59.Bc5 Kb7 60.Ke5 Kc6 61.
Kxf5 Kd5 62.Kf6 Ke4 63.f5 Nd5+ 64.Kg6 Ke5 65.Kg5 Nc3 66.Bg1 Nd5
67.Bh2+ Kd4 68.f6+-.
56.Kc6 Ne8 57.Kxb5 Kd5 58.Ka5 Nd6 59.b5 f5 60.Ka6 Ne8 61.b6 Kc6
62.Ba3 1–0
53...Ne3?
Just waiting with 47...Ka7? is insufficient: 48.Kf4 Nh5+ 49.Kg4 Kb6 50.
Kh4 Nf6 51.Kg5 Ne4+ 52.Kf4 Nf6 53.g4 Nh7 54.Bf1 Ka7 55.Ke5+-.
48.Be2 Ka7
49...Kb6 50.Bf1 Ka7 51.Bd3 Kb6 52.Bc4 Ka7 53.Bb5 Kb6 54.Be2 Ka7
55.Bf1 Kb6 56.Bd3 Ka7 57.Bc4 Kb6 58.Bb5 Ka7 59.Be2 Kb6 60.Ke3
Ka7 61.Bc4 Kb6 ½–½
A Practical Guide
67...Kd7 68.Bg4+ Ke7 69.Bd1
to Rook Endgames
Play through and download
by Nikolay Minev
the games from 69.c4 Bf7 70.f5 Kf8 71.Be2 Kg7 72.Ke4 Kh6 73.Kf4 Bh5 74.Bg4= is Only $9.95!
ChessCafe.com in the better from a practical point of view. The strategy to restrict the enemy
DGT Game Viewer. bishop is often seen. As Black’s king cannot penetrate, no real progress
can be made.
The Complete
DGT Product Line 69...Kf7 70.Bc2 Ke6 71.Ke3 Bg2 72.Kd4 Bh3 73.Bd3 Bg4 74.Bc2 Bh5
75.Kc4 Be2+ 76.Kd4 Bg4 77.Kc4 Bf5 78.Bd1 Be4 79.Bg4+ Kf7 80.Bh5
+?!
After Black’s long march, the moment of truth has arrived. Now it must
be stopped.
88.Bc2?
This was a mistake. After 88.Be2, I could not find a win, but maybe you
can do better? For example, 88...Kg1 (88...Bb3 89.Bg4 Bxa4 90.Bc8 Bb3
91.Bxb7 Bd5 92.c4 Bf3 93.f5 Kg3 94.Kd4 Kf4 95.Bc8 Be4 96.Bd7) 89.
Bd3 again stopping the march. (After 89.Bd1? Black invades
successfully: 89...Kf1 90.Kd2 Kf2 91.Kd3 Ke1 92.Bf3 Bb3 93.Bg4 Bxa4
94.Bc8 Bb5+ 95.Kc2 Ba6 96.Be6 Ke2 97.Kb3 Ke3 98.f5 Bb5 99.Bc8
Ke4 100.c4 (100.Bxb7 Kd5–+) 100...Ba6 101.Kc3 a4 102.Kb4 Kd4–+)
89...Bb3 90.Bf5 Bxa4 91.Bc8 Bb3 92.Kd2 a4 93.Kc1 a3 94.f5 Kf2 95.
Bxb7 Bd5 96.Kc2 Ke3 97.Bc8 Ke4 (97...a2 98.Kb2 Kd3 99.Ba6+ Kd2
100.c4 Bg8 101.Bb7 Kd3 102.Bxc6 Kxc4 103.Bb7 Kxc5 104.Ka1) 98.
Be6 Ke5 99.Bd7
As Black’s bishop does not control a1 and the f6-pawn is not far
advanced, Black cannot win.
88...Kf1 89.Kf3
89.Bd3+ Ke1 90.Bc2 Bh3 91.Bb3 Bf5 92.c4 Bg4 93.Bc2 Bd1 94.Bxd1
Kxd1
White loses the pawn ending: 95.Ke4 (95.Kd3 Ke1 96.Ke3 Kf1 97.Kf3
f5–+) 95...Kd2 96.Kf5 Ke3 97.Kxf6 Kxf4 98.Ke6 Ke4 99.Kd7 Kd4 100.
Kc7 Kxc4 101.Kxb7 Kxc5–+.
The counterattack 93.Bf5 does not help: 93...Kd1 94.Bc8 Bb3 95.Bxb7 a4
96.Bxc6 a3 97.Bf3+ Kc1 98.c6 a2 99.c7 Be6 100.Bd5 Bf5+ 101.Be4 a1Q
102.Bxf5 Qb1+–+.
93...Kf2 94.Bf7 Kf3 95.f5 Kf4 96.Be6 Bd1 97.Bc8 Bf3 98.Kc3 Ke5 99.
Be6 Be4 0–1
40.Kxf7?
The typical fortieth move error just before the time control. Playing for
domination and zugzwang with 40.f5! was necessary; e.g., 40...Be8 (40...
gxf5 41.gxf5 Be8 42.Bd3 Kd7 43.Ke5 Ke7 (43...Kc6 44.Bc2 Kc7 45.Kd5
Kb6 46.Kd6+-) 44.f6+ Kd7 45.Kd5+-) 41.Bd3 g5 42.Bc2 Kd7 43.Kxg5
Ke7 44.Kh6 f6 45.Kg7 Bf7
Now White can start more drastic action: 46.g5 fxg5 47.f6+ Ke6 48.Bg6
Bg8 49.Be4 Ke5 50.Bd5 d3 51.Bxg8 d2 52.f7 d1Q 53.f8Q+-.
44...Ke5!
49...Kd4 50.Kd6 a4 51.Kc6 a3 52.Kd6 Kc3 53.Kxc5 Kb2 54.b4 Kxa2 55.
b5 Kb3 56.b6 a2 57.b7 a1Q 58.b8Q+ Kc2!=) 46...Ke6 47.f7 Bh5+ 48.
Kxh5 Kxf7 49.Kg5 Ke6 50.Kf4+-.
45.Ke7 Kd4 46.f7 Kc3 47.f8Q Kxc2 48.Qf5+ Bd3 49.Qf2 Kc1 50.Qxc5
d1Q 51.Qxa5 Kb1 52.c5 Qe2+ 53.Kd8 Bb5 54.a4 Qe8+ 55.Kc7 Qc6+
56.Kb8 Qe8+ 57.Kc7 Qc6+ 58.Kb8 Qe8+ 59.Kc7 ½–½
Peter Svidler resigned in a drawn position. He can just defend along the
diagonal a7-g1: 49...Bg1 50.Kxa5 Bf2 51.Kb5 Bg1 52.Bd5 Bf2 53.Ka6
Kc7 54.a5 Bg1 55.Kb5 Kd6 56.Kb4 Bf2 57.a6 Ba7 58.Kc3 Ke5= 1–0
Euwe won by breaking through with his king to the queenside: 44.Bf6
Bg2 44...Bf3 allows 45.Kf4 Bh1 46.Ke5+-. 45.h5 gxh5 46.Kf5 1–0
Yanofsky resigned, as Black’s king is cut off on the diagonal h4-d8 and it
cannot follow White’s in the race to the queenside.
Botvinnik created a second decisive passed pawn with the typical break
59...g5!! 60.fxg5 60.hxg5 h4 61.g6 h3 62.f5 Bxf5 63.g7 Be6 64.Bd6
Kxe3 65.Kxb3 d4+–+. 60...d4+ 61.exd4 61.Bxd4 Kg3 62.g6 Kxh4 63.g7
Kh3 64.e4 h4 65.Bf2 Kg4–+. 61...Kg3 61...Kg4? 62.d5 Bxd5 63.Bf2=. 62.
Ba3 Kxh4 63.Kd3 Kxg5 64.Ke4 h4 65.Kf3 Bd5+ 0–1
Endgame
Corner
Karsten Müller Essential Chess Endings
by John Donaldson
Only $9.95!
37...Re5?
As White has complete control, this exchange of a counterattacking unit A Practical Guide
is wrong from a practical point of view. Even former FIDE world to Rook Endgames
Play through and download
by Nikolay Minev
the games from champion Kasimdzhanov could not manage to save Black, if it is at all
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ChessCafe.com in the possible. I will not exclude this possibility, perhaps one of the readers will
DGT Game Viewer. find a way. 37...axb4! is called for; e.g., 38.cxb4 c6 39.Kd3 (39.a5 Bd6 40.
b5 bxa5 41.bxc6 Bb4 42.Rb5 Rc7 43.Rb6 Kg6 44.Ke3 (44.Kd3 f5 45.Nc3
The Complete Bxc3 46.Kxc3 fxg4 47.fxg4 Kg5=) 44...f5 45.gxf5+ Kxf5 46.Kd4 Rc8 47.
DGT Product Line c7 Be7 48.Rc6 h5 49.Kd5 Kf4=) 39...Ra7 40.a5 bxa5 41.Rxa5 Re7
Bishop v Knight
by Steve Mayer
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White can still press of course, but Black’s practical drawing chances are
higher than in the game.
38.Rxe5 Bxe5 39.bxa5 bxa5 40.Ke3 c6 41.f4 Bc7 42.Ng3 Kg6 43.Ke4
43...Bd6
43...f6!? with the idea 44.Nf5 h5 is very tenacious, but I think that I have
found a win: 45.gxh5+ (After 45.Nh4+?, Black always seems to find
counterplay: 45...Kh6 46.Kf5 hxg4 47.Kxg4 Kg7 48.Kf5 Kf7 49.Nf3 Ke7
50.Nd4 Kd6 51.Ne6
51...Bb6! (51...Bb8? 52.c4 gives White control and he wins; e.g., 52...Ke7
(52...Ba7 53.Kxf6 Bf2 54.f5 Be1 55.Kf7 Ke5 56.Kg6 Bb4 57.Nd8+-) 53.
Nd4 Kd7 54.c5 Ba7 55.Nb3 Ke7 56.Ke4 Kd7 57.f5 Bb8 58.Kf3 Bc7 (58...
Be5 59.Nxa5 Bc3 60.Nb3 Bb4 61.Kg4 Kc7 62.Kh5 Kb7 63.Kg6 Bc3 64.
Kf7+-) 59.Kg4 Ke7 60.Kh5 Kf7 61.Nd4 Bf4 62.Nxc6 Bd2 63.Na7 Ke7
64.Kg6 Bc3 65.c6 Be5 66.Nb5 Ke8 67.Kh5+-) 52.Kxf6 Kd5 53.f5 Bf2
Black’s activity is enough for the draw. But not(53...Be3? 54.Ke7+-)) 45...
Kxh5 46.Ne7 Kg4 47.f5 c5
48.c4
(48.Kd5? is met by 48...c4 and White loses his complete control.) 48...
Bd6 (48...Bd8 49.Nd5 Kg5 50.Nf4 Be7 51.Ne2 Bd8 52.Nc1 Bb6 53.Nb3
Kg4 54.Kd5 Kxf5 55.Kc6 Bd8 56.Nxc5 Ke5 57.Nb7 Be7 58.Nxa5 f5 59.
Nb3 Bb4 60.a5 f4 61.a6 f3 62.a7 f2 63.a8Q f1Q 64.Qb8++-; 48...Be5 49.
Kd5 Bd4 50.Nc6 Bc3 51.Kxc5 Kxf5 52.Kd5 Kg6 53.Ke6 Bb4 54.Nd4+-)
49.Ng8 Kg5 (49...Be5 50.Nh6+ Kg3 51.Nf7 Bc3 52.Nd6 Bb4 53.Ne8 Bc3
54.Kd5 Kf4 55.Kxc5 Kxf5 56.Kd5+-) 50.Kd5 Bf4 a) 50...Bg3 51.Ne7
Be1 52.Ke6 Bc3 53.Nc6 Kf4 (53...Bd2 54.Nd8+-) 54.Nxa5 Bxa5 55.Kxf6
+-; b) 50...Be5 51.Ne7 Bc3
The knight is just long legged enough to stop the pawn and help its king.)
51...Bd2 52.Ke6 Bc3 53.Nc6
44.Nf5 Bc5
a) 46...Ba3 47.c4! keeping control is the most important issue for White
(47.Nxc6? is surprisingly insufficient: 47...f5 48.g5 hxg5 49.fxg5 Kxg5
50.Nxa5 Kf6 51.Nc6 Ke6 52.Nd4+ Kd5 53.Nxf5 Bc5=
Black draws according to the Nalimov endgame tablebase, despite his two
pawn deficit.) 47...c5 48.Nf3 Kf6 (48...f5 49.Nh4+ Kf6 50.Nxf5 h5 51.
Ne3 hxg4 52.Ke4 g3 53.Nd5+ Ke6 54.Kf3+-) 49.Nh4 Bc1 50.Ke4 Bb2 51.
Nf5 Kg6 52.Nd6 Bc1 53.Nb7+-.
b) 46...c5 47.Nc6+-; 47.f5+ Kg5 48.Nb3 Ba3 (48...Kxg4 49.Nxc1 Kf3 50.
Nb3 h5 51.Nd2+ Kg2 52.Ke4 h4 53.Nf3 h3 54.Ke3 Kg3 55.f6 c5 56.c4
Kg4 57.Kf2 Kf5 58.Kg3 Kxf6 59.Kxh3 Kf5 60.Nd2 Ke5 61.Nb3 Ke4 62.
Nxa5 Kd4 63.Kg4 Kc3 64.Kf5 Kb4 65.Nc6++-) 49.Nxa5 Kxg4 50.Nxc6
White wins the race: 50...h5 (50...Kxf5 51.a5 Ke6 52.a6 Bc5 53.a7 Bxa7
54.Nxa7 h5 55.Nb5 h4 56.Nd4+ Kd5 57.Nf3 h3 58.c4+ Kc5 59.Kc3+-)
51.a5 h4 52.a6 Bc5 53.Kc4 Ba7 54.Nxa7 h3 55.Nc6 h2 56.a7 h1Q 57.a8Q
Qe4+ 58.Kb5 Qxf5+ 59.Kb6 Qf2+ 60.Nd4 Qb2+ 61.Nb5 Qf2+ 62.Kc7
Qg3+ 63.Kc8+-; 44...Bf8 45.c4 Bb4 46.Nd4 c5 47.Nf5 h5 48.gxh5+ Kxh5
49.Nd6 Kg6 50.f5+ Kf6 51.Kd5 Ba3 (51...Kg5 52.Nxf7+ Kxf5 53.Ne5
Kf4 54.Nd3+ Ke3 55.Nxc5+-) 52.Nb7 Kxf5 53.Nxa5+-.
45.Nh4+ Kg7?!
After 45...Kf6, White can implement the same plan, but Black gets more
counterplay: 46.Nf3 Ba3 47.Ne5 Bb2 48.Kd3 Bc1 49.Nxc6 Bxf4 50.Nxa5
Bc7 51.Nc4 Kg5 52.a5 Bxa5 53.Nxa5 Kxg4 54.c4 h5 55.c5 Kf5
White’s knight is just in time on the kingside: 56.Nb3 Ke6 57.Kc4 h4 58.
Nd4+ Kd7 59.Kd5 h3 60.Nf3+-.
46.Nf3 f6
Defending with the bishop with 46...Be7 47.Ne5 Bf6 does not help as the
pawn ending after 48.c4 Bxe5 49.Kxe5 is won for White: 49...Kg6 50.c5
f5 51.gxf5+ Kf7 52.f6 Kg8 (52...h5 53.Kf5 h4 54.Kg4 Kxf6 55.Kxh4 Kf5
56.Kg3+-) 53.Kd6 Kf7 54.Kxc6 h5 55.Kd5 h4 56.Ke4+-.
Black resigned because of 50...Kf7 51.c5 Bd8 52.Nd4 Be7 53.Nxc6 Bxc5
54.Nxa5+-.
A Practical Guide
to Rook Endgames
Play through and download by Nikolay Minev
the games from
ChessCafe.com in the
DGT Game Viewer. 57.Rh1
the computer confirms that 60...Kc4 is a lost cause. The line quoted in
Fischer’s book wins for White, as does, for example, 61.g6 Rg8 62.f5 c5
63.Kf4 Kb3 64.Rb1+ Ka2 65.Rg1 c2 66.Kg5 Rd8 67.g7 Ka3 68.Kg6 Rd1
69.Rg3+ Kb4 70.g8=QRb3 68.Rc1 Rg3+ 69.Kh6 Rh3+ 70.Kg5 Rg3+.
However, you may, with the help of your computer, find that all is not
hopeless for Black. After 60...Kb4! 61.f5 c5 62.g6 (Worth a try is 62.f6
but 62...Rf8 63.Rf1 (or 63.Kf4 c4
64.Kf5 (In this position I asked Charles Sullivan about 64.Ke5!?. He
answered: a (somewhat) “easy” draw is 64...c2! (A tricky draw follows
64...Re8+!? 65.Kf5 c2! 66.Rf1 (66.Rc1 Kc3 67.f7 Rf8 68.g6 Kd2 69.Rxc2
+ Kxc2 draws; for example, 70.Ke6 c3 71.g7 Rxf7 72.Kxf7 Kd2 73.g8Q
c2=) 66...Rd8! 67.f7 Kb3!! (67...Kc3? 68.Ke4!! wins; e.g., 68...Kb2 69.g6
c1Q 70.Rxc1 Kxc1 71.g7 c3 72.f8Q Rxf8 73.gxf8Q c2 74.Kd3 etc.) 68.g6
Rd1! 69.Rf3+ Rd3! 70.Rf4 c1Q 71.f8Q Rd5+ 72.Ke6 Rb5! 73.Rf3+! (73.
g7?? Qe3+ mates) 73...c3 74.g7 Qe1+ and Black has enough counterplay
to hold the draw; for example, 75.Kf7 Rb7+ 76.Kg8 Qe4, etc.) 65.Rc1
Kc3! (after 65...Kb3? Black has a mate in seventy beginning 66.g6 Kb2
67.Rxc2+ Kxc2 68.g7!, etc.) 66.g6 Re8+! 67.Kd6 (or 67.Kd5 Rd8+! 68.
Kc5 Rc8+! 69.Kd6 Rg8 transposes) 67...Rg8! 68.f7 (or 68.g7 Kd2 69.
Rxc2+ Kxc2=) 68...Rxg6+ 69.Ke5 (69.Ke7?? Rg7! wins) 69...Kd2 70.
f8Q Kxc1=) 64...c2 65.Rc1 Kc3 66.g6 Kd2 67.g7 Rxf6+ 68.Kxf6 Kxc1=)
63...c2 64.Ke4 Kc3 65.Kf5 c4! 66.g6 Rd8! 67.f7 Rd1! 68.Rf3+ Rd3!
draws) 62...Rg8! 63.Kf4
For example, 65.Rc1 (Black also has a draw after 65.Rxd8 c2 66.Rb8+
Kc3 67.g7 c1Q+ 68.Kf6 Qh6+ 69.Kf7 Qh5+:
The Black queen holds the game.) 65...Kb3! 66.f6 Kb2! (Wrong is 66...
c2? 67.f7 and White has a winning position) 67.Rh1 c2 68.f7 c1Q+ 69.
Rxc1 Kxc1 70.g7 c3 71.f8Q Rxf8 72.gxf8Q c2 is a book draw.;
Eventually, you (and your computer) find that the stunning resource of ...
Rd8!! can be played much earlier in the critical variation: 57.Rh7 c6 58.
Rd7+ Kc5 59.Rd1 c3 60.g5 and now 60...Rd8!! leads to a draw.
Here is a tricky line: 61.Rg1! Kd4! 62.g6 c2 63.Rc1! Rd6! 64.f5 (64.Rxc2
Rxg6=) 64...Ke5! 65.g7 Rd8 66.Kg4 Kf6 67.Rxc2 Rg8 68.Rxc6+ Kxg7=;
So 60.g5 is good for no more than a draw. Is 60.f5 any better? After 57.
Rh7 c6 58.Rd7+ Kc5 59.Rd1 c3 60.f5,
the trusty 60...Kb4!! saves the day: 61.f6 (61.g5 c5! 62.f6 Rf8! 63.Ke4 c4
64.Ke5 Re8+ 65.Kf5 c2! 66.Rh1 Rh8 67.Rg1 Rd8 68.f7 Kc3 69.g6 Rd1
70.f8Q c1Q=) 61...c2 62.Rc1 Kc3 63.g5 Rf8! 64.Kf4 c5! 65.Ke5 c4! 66.
g6 Re8+! 67.Kd6 Rg8! 68.g7 Kd2 69.f7 Rxg7 70.f8Q Kxc1 71.Qxg7
Kb1=; Once again, more research reveals that ....Rd8 can be played: 57.
Rh7 c6 58.Rd7+ Kc5 59.Rd1 c3 60.f5 Rd8! One interesting draw is 61.
Rc1 Kd4 62.Kf4 Kd3 63.f6 Kd2 64.Ra1 Ra8!
65.Rh1 Re8 66.f7 Re1!=; So now we have shown that in Petrosian’s main
variation, neither 60.g5 nor 60.f5 can win against perfect defense, which
we can be sure Fischer was anxious to prove. Believing that his position
had been completely lost – in such an important game! – must have galled
him. Fischer probably spent hours (days?) looking for a way to bust
Petrosian’s 57.Rh7. Not only did he examine the lengthy main variation,
he discussed two sub-variations after asking, “What if Black tries to
improve?” He gave 57.Rh7 c5 58.Rd7+ Ke6 59.Rd1 Rb8, which he
demonstrated is drawn after 60.g5, but Fischer himself then showed a
victory for White after 60.f5+:
60...Ke5 61.Re1+ Kd4 62.g5 c3 63.f6 c2 64.Rc1 Ke5 65.Kg4. Now here’s
the kicker to the story. Fischer was so close, I’m surprised that he did not
find the relatively simple 60...Kf6! 61.Kf4 c3 62.g5+ Kg7 63.Rc1 Rb3 –
this is a position that Black will draw without much difficulty. Perhaps
the finish would be 64.Ke5 Kf7 65.Kd5 Rb2 66.Rxc3 Rg2 67.g6+ Kf6 68.
Ke4 c4 69.Rxc4 Rg4+ 70.Kd5 Rg5 71.Rf4 Rg2 72.Rf3 Rg5, etc.
Poor Bobby never knew that he had the draw in hand.
The concluding moves to the actual game were 57...c3 58.g5 c5 59.Rd1+
Kc4 60.g6 c2 61.Rc1 Kd3 62.f5 Rg8 63.Kf4 Kd2 64.Rxc2+ Kxc2 65.
Kg5 c4 66.f6 c3 67.f7 ½–½
63...Kd8 64.Bc6! Ng4 65.h5 Nh6 66.Bb5 Ng4 67.Kf7 Ne5+ 68.Kg7 Nf3
69.Kf6 1–0
49.b3? Kg5=.
39.Nf6+ Kc7 40.e5 h5 41.Kxb4 Bf3 42.Kc5 Bd1 43.b4 Bc2 44.Ne8+
Kd7 45.Nd6 Kc7 46.b5 Bd3 47.bxa6 Bxa6 48.Nb5+ Kd7 49.Kb6 Bc8
50.Nd6 1–0
52...Ng5+ 53.Kf4 Nh3+ 54.Kg4 Nf2+ 55.Kf3 Nxd1 56.f6 gxf6 57.g7+-.
53.f6 gxf6 54.Bb3 c4 55.Bxc4 Kc5 56.Be6 Kb4 57.Kf4 Kc5 58.g7 Kb4
Endgame
Corner
Karsten Müller Endgame Workshop
by Bruce Pandolfini
70...Ke4?
This allows the activation of White’s rook. Black’s king had to invade via
f4. But not directly with 70...Kf4? because of 71.Rf1+ Kg4 72.Rf6=.
The Complete
DGT Product Line
The nest step is to bring the king to g4: 73...Rg3 74.Kf1 (74.Ra1 Kg4 75.
Rh1 Rh3 76.Rg1+ Kf5 77.Rg5+ Kf6–+) 74...Rf3+ 75.Ke2 (75.Ke1 Kg4
76.Ke2 Rf6 77.Ke3 Kg3 78.Ke4 Rf4+ 79.Ke5 Rxh4 80.Rg1+ Kf3 81.
Rxg6 Re4+ 82.Kf5 h4–+) 75...Kg4 76.Rg1+ Rg3 77.Rh1 ChessCafe Puzzle Book
by Karsten Müller
However, even with this aim achieved it is not easy. Black’s king will
invade while a counterattack of White’s king is too slow; e.g., 77...Rg2+
78.Ke3 Kg3 79.Kd3 Kf2 80.Ke4 Rg4+ 81.Ke5 Kg3 82.Kf6 Rxh4 83.Rg1
+ Kf3 84.Rxg6 Rg4–+.
71.Rb1!
71...Rg3
71...Ra2+ 72.Kf1 Kf3 73.Rb3+ Kg4 74.Rb6 Kf5 75.Rb5+ Kf6 76.Rb6+
Kg7 77.Rb7+ Kh6 78.Rb4=.
76.Re3+ Kf6 77.Rf3+ Kg7 78.Rh3 Rb4 79.Rh1 Kf6 80.Kg3 Rb3+ 81.
Kf4 Ra3 82.Rh2 Ra4+ 83.Kg3 Rg4+ 84.Kh3 Kf5 85.Ra2 Re4 86.Ra5+
Re5 87.Ra3 Kf4 88.Ra6 Re3+ 89.Kh2 Kf5 90.Ra5+ Re5 91.Ra4 Re4 92.
Ra5+ Kg4 93.Rg5+ Kxh4 94.Rxg6 Re2+ 95.Rg2 Rxg2+ 96.Kxg2 Kg4
97.Kh2 h4 98.Kg2 h3+ 99.Kh2 Kh4 100.Kg1 Kg3 101.Kh1 h2 ½–½
48...g6?
Only now White can win by a hair’s breadth. After 48...Rc1, he can reach
a watertight fortress: 49.Rc6 Rg1 50.Kc5 (50.a7 Ra1 51.Rc7
Black can begin to construct the fortress based on stalemate with 51...Kh6
52.Kc6 g6 53.Kd7 Rd1+ 54.Kc8 Ra1 55.Kb8 Rxa7 56.Kxa7 stalemate)
50...Rxg4 51.a7 (51.Kb5 Rf4 52.a7 Rf8 53.Ra6 Ra8 54.Kb6 g4 55.Kb7
Rf8=; 51.Kb6 Rf4 52.a7 Rf8 53.Kb7 g4 54.a8Q Rxa8 55.Kxa8 g3 56.Rc3
g5 57.Rxg3 Kg6 58.Kb7 Kf5 59.Kc6 Kf4=) 51...Ra4 52.Kb6 g4 53.Rc4
Rxc4 54.a8Q Rf4 55.Qd5 Rf6+=
The queen may be able to win the g4-pawn, but not the game.
49.Kd6?
White misses the study like 49.Rc6 Rg3 50.Kc5 Rxg4 51.Kb5 Rf4 52.a7
Rf8 53.Ra6 Ra8 54.Kc6 g4 55.Kb7 Rf8 56.a8Q Rxa8 57.Rxa8 Kh6
Now Black’s king must be cut off with 58.Ra5! (58.Kc6? runs into 58...
Kg5 59.Kd5 g3 60.Ke4 g2 61.Ra1 Kg4=) 58...g5 59.Kc6 Kh5 60.Kd5 g3
61.Ra2 Kg4 62.Ke4 Kh3
63.Ra8 and Black can promote, but the knight will not survive long: 63...
g2 64.Kf3 g1N+ 65.Kf2 Kh2 66.Rh8+ Nh3+ 67.Kf3+- (Ivanchuk).
49...Kh6 50.Rb8 Ra3 51.Ra8 Kg7 52.Kc5 Ra1 53.Kb6 Rb1+ 54.Ka7
Rb4 55.Rb8
55.Rc8 Kh6 (55...Rxg4? 56.Kb6 Rb4+ 57.Ka5 Rb1 58.a7 Ra1+ 59.Kb6
Rb1+ 60.Kc6 Rc1+ 61.Kd7+-) 56.Rc5 Rxg4 57.Kb6 Rf4 58.a7 Rf8=.
55...Rxg4 56.Rb5
56.Rb7+ Kh6=.
56...Ra4 57.Rxg5
57...Rb4 58.Rc5 Kh6 59.Rc6 Kh5 60.Rb6 Rf4 61.Rb5+ g5 62.Kb6 Rf6
+ 63.Ka5 Rf7 64.Kb6 Rf6+ 65.Ka5 ½–½
Alexander Baburin playing for the winning Wood Green team spotted the
way to draw for Black during the match. Can you do the same?
IM Lawrence Day pointed out that in the line 57.Rh7 (57.Rh1 was the
game continuation.) 57...c6 58.Rd7+ Kc5 59.Rd1 c3 60.f5 Rd8? 61.Rc1
Kd4 62.Kf4 Kd3 63.f6 Kd2 64.Ra1 the originally given 64...Ra8? loses
directly to 65.Rxa8+-. Charles Sulllivan then inserted the moves 64...c2
65.g5 to deal with this problem and continued analogously to the line
given in Endgame Corner 100 with 65...Ra8
66.Rh1? Re8! 67.f7 Re1!=. But now I asked Charles about 66.Rg1 with
the idea 66...Re8 67.f7 Re1 68.Rg2+ Re2 69.Kf3 Rxg2 70.Kxg2 c1Q 71.
f8Q
White wins according to the tablebase. Sullivan confirmed the line and
concluded that 60...Rd8? does lose - only 60...Kb4!! works. Furthermore,
IM Day wrote on chessgames.com: “In his 2007 notes Fischer takes the ?
away from 57.Rh1 claiming 57.Rh7 c5! 58.Rd7+ Ke6 59.Rd1 Rb8 60.f5
+! Kf6! (improving on 60..Ke5 in M60MG) 61.Kf4 c3 62.g5+ Kg7 63.
Rc1 Rb4+! 64.Ke5 Rb3 65.Rc2 Ra3 66.Kd5 Rb3!! is a draw because 67.
Kxc5? Rb2! 68.Rxc3 Rg2 collecting the pawns or 67.Ke4 Ra3 68.Kd3! c4
+! 69.Kxc4 Ra5! 70.f6+ Kf7 71.Rg2 c2! drawing. Having found the
elusive draw he then improves with 57..Ra8!! since 58.Rxc7?? [sic] Ra3+
cuts off the K drawing easily while 58.g5! c5 59.Rd7+ Ke6 60.Rd1 c3 61.
Re1+ Kf7 will draw (after two paragraphs of analysis) or 58.Rd7+ Kc6!
more easily.”
Corner
Karsten Müller Endgame Workshop
by Bruce Pandolfini
41.Ne1?!
43...Kh5 44.Kf3?!
44...Kxh4
45.Ne1?
Just waiting is not sufficient to hold the game as Black’s king will creep
into the position via the first rank. The last chance to draw is 45.Ke2! Kg4
(45...g5 46.fxg5 Kxg5 47.Kd3 Kg4 48.Kxc3=) 46.Kd3 Kf3 47.a4! Bd6 48.
Kxc3 Ke2 49.b4 axb4+ 50.Nxb4 Bc7 (50...Kxe3 51.a5 Bxf4! 52.a6 Bb8
53.Nc6 f4 54.Nxb8 f3 55.a7 f2 56.a8Q f1Q 57.Nc6=) 51.Nc2 Bb6 52.Kb4
Kd3 53.Kb3 Ba5 54.Kb2= (Sullivan).
48.a3 Kh4 49.b4 a4 50.b5 Bc7 51.Ne1 Kg5 52.Nc2 Ba5–+ (Smyslov).
48...Kh4! 49.Nc2 Kh3 50.Na1 Kh2 51.Kf2 Bg3+ 52.Kf3 Bh4 53.Nc2
Kg1 54.Ke2 Kg2 55.Na1
55...Be7 56.Nc2 Kg3 57.Ne1 Bd8 58.Nc2 Bf6 59.a3 Be7 60.b4
Now it is too late for 60.a4 Bd6 61.Ne1 e5 62.dxe5 Bxe5 63.Nc2 d4 64.
exd4 Bd6–+ (Smyslov).
60...a4!
Black can safely keep his a-pawn, which will be White’s undoing in the
end.
62.Nd3 c2 63.Kd2
62...Bf6 63.Kd3
63.b5 Bd8 64.Ne1 Ba5 65.Nc2 Kg4 66.Ne1 Bc7 67.Nc2 Bb6 68.Nb4 f4
69.exf4 Bxd4 70.Kd3 Bb6 71.Kxc3 Kxf4–+ (Smyslov).
63...Kf2 64.Na1 Bd8 65.Nc2 Bg5 66.b5 Bd8 67.Nb4 Bb6 68.Nc2 Ba5
69.Nb4 Ke1 0–1
The king has almost completed his long march, so Botvinnik resigned.
Lalic only looked at the queenside and played 53...Rb8? missing the
zugzwang after 53...Kg7! 54.h6+ Kh7 (Baburin in Chess Today) and
White must allow an immediate draw. 54.Kc3 Rb3+ 55.Kc2 Rg3 55...
Rb4 56.Rh3 Rf4 57.Kb1 Rb4 58.Ka2 Re4 59.Ka3 Rf4 60.Rg3 Kxh5 61.
Rg8+- (Baburin). 56.Rh1 Rf3 57.Rh4 a3 58.b3 Rf1 58...Rf2+ 59.Kc3 a2
60.Rh1+-. 59.Ra4 Kxh5 60.Rxa3 Kg6 61.b4 Rf2+ 62.Kb3 Kf7 63.Ka4
Ke7 64.Rd3 Ra2+ 65.Kb5 Ra8 66.Kc6 1–0
Endgame
Corner
Understanding
Chess Endgames
Karsten Müller by John Nunn
27.b4
White is clearly better because of his queenside majority, but it should still be
a draw with best play due to the drawish tendency of bishop endings and the
reduced material.
Power Play 11: Defence
27...Kf7 28.Kf3 Bf6 by Daniel King
Play through and download
Meier calculated 28...Bc7?! 29.h3 Ke7 30.Ke4 Kd7 31.Bd4 g6 32.Be5 Bd8 33.
the games from
Kf4, with the idea Bd4, Ke5 and concluded that his bishop is best placed on
ChessCafe.com in the
the diagonal h6-c1.; An alternative is 28...Be7 29.Bd4 without provoking g6
DGT Game Viewer.
White cannot make real progress 29...Bf8! a very original defense 30.Ke4
Ke8 31.h3 Kd7 32.Kd3 Kc7 33.Kc4 g6 34.Kd3 Kd7 35.Ke4 Bh6 with a
flexible defense: 36.Bh8 (36.c4 Bd2 37.b5 cxb5 38.cxb5 Bh6 39.Be5 Kc8 40.
Bg3 Bg7=) 36...Kd6 and Black holds; 28...e5? gives White an easily
accessible weakness; e.g., 29.Ke4 Ke6 30.c4 Be7 31.Bd2 Bf8 32.f3 g6 33.Bc3
Bd6 34.b5 cxb5 35.cxb5 Bc7 36.h3 Bb8 37.b6 Bd6 38.b7 Bb8 39.Bb4 Ba7 40.
Bc5 Bb8 41.h4 h6 42.Bf8 h5 43.f4 exf4 44.Bh6 f3 45.Kxf3 Kf5 46.Be3 Bc7
47.Bf2 Bb8 48.Bg3 Ba7 49.Bf4 Kf6 50.Ke4 Ke6 51.b8Q+-.
ChessCafe Puzzle Book
29.c4 g6 by Karsten Müller
Or 29...Ke8 30.Ke4 Kd7 31.Bd4 Be7 32.b5 (32.Bc3 Kc7 33.h3 Kd7=) 32...
cxb5 33.cxb5 Bd6 34.Be5 Bf8 35.Kd4 Ba3 36.Bg3 Bf8 37.b6 Kc6 38.Ke5
Bc5 39.Kxe6 Bxb6 with a draw.
30.Ke4 Bg7 31.b5 cxb5 32.cxb5 Ke7 33.Bd4 Bh6 34.Be3 Bg7 35.Bd4 Bh6
36.Be5
36.Ba7 Kd7 37.b6 Kc6 38.Ke5 Kb7 39.Kxe6 Bg7 40.Kf7 Bd4 41.f3 g5 would
have divided the board into two halves, but the equilibrium is not disturbed:
42.Kg8 h6 43.Kh7 Be3=.
43...Bc5?
44.Kf6!
But not 44.Kxe6?? because of 44...Bxb6 45.Kf7 Kd5 46.Kg7 Ke4 (46...Ke6
47.Kxh7 Kf5=) 47.Kxh7 Kf5=.
After 45...Kxb6 46.Kg8, White's king march decides: 46...h5 47.Kf7 Kc6
(47...e5 48.f3 Kc6 49.Kxg6+-) 48.Kxg6 Kd5 49.Kxh5 Bc5 (49...e5 50.Kg6+-)
50.Kg6 Bf8 51.h5 e5 (51...Ke4 52.Kf7 Bh6 53.Kxe6+-) 52.h6 Bxh6 53.Kxh6
Ke4 54.Bxe5! Kxe5 55.Kg5+-.
46.Kg7 e5
47.f3?
White wins the race: 50...e2 51.Kf5! (51.Kg5? Kd5 52.Be1 Ke6=) 51...Ba5 52.
h6 Kd5 (52...e1Q 53.Bxe1 Bxe1 54.h7 Bc3 55.Ke6 Bh8 56.f5+-) 53.h7 Bc3
54.Kg6 Ke4 55.f5 Kf3 56.Bh4 Kg4 (56...Be5 57.f6+-) 57.f6 Kxh4 58.h8Q+
Kg3 59.Qb8+ Kg2 60.Qb7+ Kf2 61.f7+-.
47...Kd5?
Now 52...Bd4! (52...g4? 53.h7 Bd4 54.Bh4 Bh8 55.Bf6 g3 56.Bxh8 g2 57.Bd4
+-) 53.h7 Kf3 54.Be1 g4 55.Bh4 g3=.
42.h4!?
The alternative 44...f5 also seems to hold, because of the possible counterplay
with the d-pawn; e.g., 45.Kf4 Bb5 46.Bf3 Ke6 47.h5 Ba6 48.Bc6 Kd6 49.Ba4
Bd3 50.b5 Kc5 51.b6 Kd6 52.Be8 Ba6 53.Bg6 Bd3=.
45.Kf4
45...Bd3?
Black cracks under the pressure and loses the all important d-pawn. 45...f6
was called for to try to erect a barrier, e.g. 46.Be4 (46.a6 Kc7 47.Ke4 d3 48.
Ke3 Kb6 49.Kd2 f5 50.b5 Be2 51.Bd5 f4 52.Bc4 Bf3 53.Kxd3 Kc5 54.Kd2
Kb6 55.Kc3 Kc5 56.Kd3 Ba8 57.Ke2 Bg2 58.Kf2 Be4 59.Be2 Kb6 60.Bf3
Bg6 61.Bc6 Bh5 62.Ke1 Bg4 63.Kd2 Bf5 64.Kc3 Bg4 65.Kd4 Be2 66.Ke4 f3
67.Ke3 Ka7 68.Bxf3 (Georg von Bülow (Rio de Janeiro) added the following
line to my analysis: 68.Kf2 Kb6 69.Kg3 Ka7 70.Bxf3 Bxb5 71.Bb7 Be2 72.
Kf4 Kb6 73.Kf5 Ka7 74.Kg6 h5 75.Kg5 Kb6 76.Kf4 Kc7 (but not 76...Ka7??
77.Bf3 Bxa6 78.Bxh5+- as the king is now too far away.) 77.Bf3 Bxa6 78.
Bxh5=) 68...Bxb5 69.Be2 Kxa6=) 46...Ba6 47.Bg6
Now a tactical trick gives Black counterplay: 47...f5!! 48.Bxf5 (48.Bh5 Kd5
49.Bf7+ Kd6 50.Kxf5 d3 51.Ke4 d2 52.Bh5 Kc6 53.Ke3 Kb5 54.Kxd2 Kxb4
55.Be2 Kxa5=) 48...Kd5 49.Bd7 Kc4 50.b5 Bxb5 51.Bxb5+ Kxb5 52.Ke4
Kxa5 53.Kxd4 Kb6=.
48...Bxa6 loses by one tempo: 49.Bxa6 Kxa6 50.Ke5 Kb5 51.Kf6 Kxb4 52.
Kxf7 Kc5 53.Kg6 Kd6 54.Kxh6 Ke7 55.Kg7+-.
49.Ke5 h5 50.Kf6 Bc4 51.Kg5 Be2 52.Bd5 f6+ 53.Kxf6 Kxa6 54.Bc6 1–0
The third endgame arose from the Berlin Defense of the Ruy Lopez:
40...Ba5?
Now White's king will penetrate successfully on the queenside. 40...bxc4 41.
bxc4 c6 was called for: 42.Bd6 Ba5 43.Bxc5 (43.e7?! Kf7=; 43.Kf6?! Bc3+
44.Be5 Be1 45.e7 Bh4+=) 43...Be1
I have not managed to find a way to breach Black's fortress; e.g., 44.Ke4 Bc3
45.Kd3 Be5 46.Kc2 (46.Bb4 Bf6 47.Kc2 Bh4 48.Kb3 a5 (48...Bg3? 49.Ka4
Bc7 50.a3+-) 49.Bxa5 Ke7 50.Bb6 Kxe6 51.a4 Kd7 52.a5 Kc8 53.a6 Kb8=)
46...Bf6 47.Kb3
Now Black should surprisingly play 47...a5! (47...Bd8? 48.Bd6 Ba5 49.Ka4
Be1 50.Bb4+-) 48.Bd6 (48.Bb6 Ke7 49.Ka4 Bc3 50.Bxa5 Bd4 51.Bc7 Bc3 52.
Kb3 Be1 53.Bb6 Kxe6 54.a4 Kd7 55.a5 Kc8 56.a6 Kb8=; 48.a4
White would win if he could transfer his king to the kingside. But Black can
prevent this by playing against the pawn e6: 48...Be7 49.Bf2 Bf6 50.Bb6 Ke7
51.Bxa5 Kxe6 52.Bb6 Kd7=) 48...Bd4 49.Ka4 Bc3 50.Bc7 Ke7 51.Bxa5 Bd4
52.Bc7 Bc3 53.Kb3 Be1 54.a4 Kxe6 55.a5 Kd7 56.Bb6 Kc8 57.a6 Kb8=.
41.Kf6 c6
42.e7 Be1 43.Ke6 Bh4 44.Kd6 Bxe7+ 45.Kxc6 bxc4 46.bxc4 Kd8 47.Bd6
Bh4
47...Bxd6 48.Kxd6 Kc8 49.Kxc5 Kc7 50.a4 Kb7 51.Kd6 Kc8 52.Kc6+-.
48.Bxc5 Kc8 49.Kb6 a5 50.Kxa5 Kb7 51.Kb5 Bg3 52.a4 Ka8 53.Be3 Bd6
54.Bd2 Kb7 1–0
Wang Yue resigned because of 55.Bb4 Bg3 56.c5 Be5 57.c6+ Ka7 [57...Kc7
58.a5 Kc8 59.Kc4 Bc7 60.Kd5+-] 58.Kc4 Kb6 59.Kd5 Bc7 60.Bc3 Bg3 61.
Bd4+ Ka6 62.Ke6 Bc7 63.Kd7 Bg3 64.Bc5+-.
In the exercises the attacker has already achieved a winning position and you
are asked to convert it.
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Endgame
Corner
Power Play 11: Defence
by Daniel King
Karsten Müller
47.Rxa6?
The pawn ending is lost despite Black's doubled rook's pawns. White had to
defend the rook ending; e.g., 47.Rd3 Rb6 48.Rg3+ Kf7 49.Re3 with good
drawing chances.
49.Kf5 does not help: 49...Ke7 50.Kf4 Ke6 51.Ke4 f5+ 52.Kf4
52...Kf6 (but not 52...Kd5? as White's king is in time: 53.Kxf5 Kc4 54.Ke4
Kxb4 55.Kd3 Kxa4 56.Kc2=) 53.Kf3 Ke5 54.Ke3 Kd5 55.Kd3 f4 56.a5 Ke5
57.Ke2 Ke4–+.
49...axb5 50.axb5 Ke6 51.Ke4 Kd6 52.Kf5 Kc5 53.Kxf6 Kxb5 54.Ke5 Kc4
55.Ke4 a5 56.Ke3 Kc3 0–1
In the following example, the exchange was correct, but Black missed the win
later.
56...Rxe4+! 57.Kxe4 Nc5+ 58.Kd4 Nxd3 59.Kxd3 Ke5 60.Kc4 Ke4 61.h5
61...Ke5?
The wrong way around. Black had to play 61...Kf4! first: 62.Kb5 (62.Kd4
Kxg4 63.Ke4 Kg5–+ body check!) 62...Kxg4 63.Kc6 Kf5 64.Kd7 Kf6 65.Kc7
Ke5 66.Kd7 Kxd5 67.Kxe7 Ke5 68.Kf7 Kf5 69.Kg7 Kg5–+.
62.Kb5 Kf4
62...Kxd5 is met by 63.g5 Ke5 64.g6 Kf6 65.Kc4 e5 66.Kd5 Ke7 67.Ke4 Ke6
68.Ke3 d5 69.Kd3= and Black cannot make further progress, as his king must
stay inside the square of the g6-pawn.
66...Kxd5 67.Kg6 Ke6 68.Kxh6 Kf6 69.Kh7 d5 70.h6 Kf7 71.Kh8 d4 72.h7
d3 is stalemate.
The last example is much more difficult. White made the right decision by
exchanging rooks, but probably underestimated the difficulty of the resulting
pawn ending.
40.h3?
White misses the moment for 40.b3! when he will always breakthrough on the
queenside: 40...g4+ (40...a6 41.h3 a5 42.a4 b4 43.Ke3 g4 44.hxg4+ Kxg4 45.
c3 bxc3 46.b4 axb4 47.Kd3+-) 41.Ke3 Kg5 42.Kd2 Kh4 43.c4+-.
40...a5 41.Kg3
Now it is too late for 41.b3, as Black stops the dangerous breakthroughs with
41...a4! and White cannot win; e.g., 42.b4 Ke6 43.Kg4 Kf6 44.c3 Kf7 45.
Kxg5 Kg7 46.h4 Kf7 47.h5 gxh5 48.Kxh5 Kf6 49.Kh6 Kf5 50.Kg7 Ke4 51.
Kf6 Kd3 52.Ke5 Kc4 53.Kd6 Kb3 54.Kxd5 Kxa3 55.Kc5 Kb3 56.d5 a3 57.d6
a2 58.d7 a1Q 59.d8Q Qxc3+ 60.Kxb5 Qxb4+=.
41...g4
This is possible, but the more direct 41...Ke4 might be more logical: 42.Kg4
Kxd4 43.Kxg5 b4 44.Kxg6 b3 45.cxb3 Ke4 46.h4 d4 47.h5 d3 48.h6 d2 49.h7
d1Q 50.h8Q Qg1+=.
42.h4
Black is also quick enough after 42.hxg4+ Ke4 43.Kh4 Kxd4 44.Kg5 b4 45.
Kxg6 b3 46.cxb3 Ke5 47.g5 d4 48.Kh7 d3 49.g6 d2 50.g7 d1Q 51.g8Q Qh5+
52.Kg7 Qg4+ with perpetual check.
Objectively White should enter the race: 45.Kg5 b3 46.cxb3 Ke3 47.b4,
which leads to a drawn queen ending after 47...d4 48.bxa5 d3 49.a6 d2 50.a7
d1Q 51.a8Q Qh5+.
The critical moment has come. Is Black in fatal zugzwang or does he have a
way out?
47...b3?
Now White's active king will decide the issue. Black had to activate his own
king with 47...d3 48.cxd3+ Kb3 49.d4 Kxb2 50.d5 b3 51.d6 Ka3 52.d7 b2 53.
d8Q b1Q+ when only Black can play for a win in the resulting queen ending.
48.cxb3+ Kxb3
55.b3+ 1-0
Finally one pure pawn ending to finish this column. How to evaluate this
position with White to move?
In the exercises the attacker has already achieved a winning position and you
are asked to convert it.
58...b4? Black must give a body check with 58...Kd3! when the pawn will
queen, as White's king cannot get around: 59.Bg7 b4 60.Bf6 b3 61.Bb2 Bd4
62.Ba3 Kc2 63.Ke2 Bc5–+. 59.Ke2 Bd4 60.Kd1 Kb3 61.Bf8 Be3 62.Bxb4
Kxb4 ½–½
In this typical endgame from the Berlin Wall Defense of the Ruy Lopez,
Jakovenko showed excellent technique. 53.Bf6! Bxf6 53...a4 54.Bxg7 axb3
55.axb3 Kxg7 56.Kh4 Kh6 57.g5+ Kg6 58.Kg4 Kg7 59.Kh5 Kh7 60.g6+ Kg8
61.Kh6 c6 62.Kh5 Kh8 63.Kh4 Kg8 64.Kg4 Kf8 65.Kh5 Kg8 66.Kh6 b5 67.
g7 b4 68.Kh5 Kxg7 69.Kg5+-; Avoiding the exchange does not help as the
pawns on the queenside are fixed on dark squares: 53...Bh6 54.Bd8 a4 55.
bxa4 Bd2 56.Bxc7 Ba5 57.Kg3 Kf7 58.Kf4 Kg6 59.g5 Kh5 60.Bd8 Bd2+ 61.
Ke4 Ba5 62.Kf3 Kg6 63.Kg4 and Black is in fatal zugzwang 63...Kg7 64.Kh5
Kh7 65.g6+ Kg8 66.Kh6 Bd2+ 67.Bg5 Bc3 68.g7 Bxe5 69.Bd8+-. 54.exf6
Kxf6 55.a4! Necessary precision. After the direct 55.Kg3?, Black can
undermine the queenside with 55...a4 56.bxa4 Kg5 57.Kf3 e5 58.Ke4 Kxg4
59.Kxe5 Kf3 60.Kd5 Ke3 61.Kc6 Kd4 62.Kxc7 Kxc4 63.Kxb6 Kd4=. 55...
Kg6 55...Ke5 56.Kg3 Ke4 57.Kh4 e5 58.g5 Kf5 59.Kh5 Ke6 60.Kh6+-; 55...
c6 56.Kh4 e5 57.Kg3 b5 58.Kf3 bxa4 59.bxa4 Kg5 60.Ke4 Kxg4 61.Kxe5
Kf3 62.Kd6 Ke4 63.Kxc6 Kd4 64.Kb5+-. 56.Kg3 Kg5 57.Kf3 e5 57...c6 58.
Ke4 Kxg4 59.Ke5 Kf3 60.Kxe6+-. 58.Ke4 Kxg4 58...Kf6 59.Kd5! (The
immediate 59.g5+? runs into 59...Ke6 60.g6 Kf6 61.g7 Kxg7 62.Kxe5 Kf7 63.
Kd5 Ke7 64.Kc6 Kd8 65.Kb7 Kd7=) 59...c6+ 60.Ke4 Ke6 61.g5 Kd6 62.g6
Ke6 63.g7 Kf7 64.Kxe5 Kxg7 65.Kd6+-. 59.Kxe5 Kf3 60.Kd5 Ke3 61.Kc6
Kd2 62.Kxc7 Kc3 63.Kxb6 Kb4 63...Kxb3 64.Kb5+-. 64.Kc6 Kxb3 65.Kb5
1–0
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White can always win by using the method of dominating the bishop and a
combination of the following plans:
2...Bf8
2...Bc5 3.Rb5 the domination game begins 3...Bd4 (after 3...Ba3 White can
use plan B as the bishop has no access to b2 4.Kf5 Be7 5.Rb8+ Kf7 6.Rb7+-
Black can not break this eternal pin, so White's king will now switch to plan
A and invade decisively via h6.) 4.Kh5 now plan A is right as after 4...Bc3
(4...Bg7 5.g6 h6 6.Rb8+ Bf8 7.Rxf8+ Kxf8 8.Kxh6+-) 5.Rb8+ Kg7 6.Rb7+
Kh8 White can switch to plan C with 7.g6 h6 8.Kxh6 Bg7+ 9.Kg5 Bd4 10.g7
+ Kh7 11.Rf7 Be5 12.g8Q+ Kxg8 13.Kg6+-.
3.Kf5 Bc5 4.Rd3 Bb4 5.Kf6 Ba5 6.Rb3 Bd8+ 7.Kf5 Ba5
8.Kg4
8...Bc7
9.Rb5
9...Bd6
10.Kf5 Bc7 11.Rd5 Bb6 12.Kf6 Bc7 13.Rd7 Ba5 14.Rg7+ Kh8 15.Kf7+-
95...Ke8 allows the direct realization of Plan A: 96.Kf6 Bd8+ 97.Kg7 Be7 98.
Rb8+ Bd8 99.Rxd8+ Kxd8 100.Kxf7+-.
96.Ke4
Again, White's king goes back to be able to realize Plan A and B quickly.
This allows Plan B, but Black only had a choice between two evils. He can
also try 100...Ba3 when White will realize a combination of Plan A and C:
101.Rc3 Bb2 (101...Be7 102.Rf3 Ke8
Now comes an important moment, when White can use plan C: 103.e6 f6 104.
Rc3 Kd8 105.Rc4 Bf8 (105...Ba3 106.Ra4 Be7 107.Kc6 Bf8 108.Ra8+ Ke7
109.Rxf8 Kxf8 110.Kd7+-) 106.Ra4 Ke7 107.Ra7+ Kd8 108.Ra8+ Ke7 109.
Rb8 Bh6 110.Rb7+ Ke8 111.e7 Kf7 112.Kd6+-) 102.Rb3 Ba1 103.Rf3 Ke7
(103...Kg7 104.Ke4 Kf8 105.Ra3 Bb2 106.Rb3 Bc1 107.Kf5 Bh6 108.Rb7
transposes.) 104.Ke4 Bb2 105.Rb3 Bc1 106.Rb7+ Kf8 107.Kf5 Bh6 108.Rc7
Bg7 (108...Kg8 109.e6 fxe6+ 110.Kg6 Bf8 111.Rc8 e5 112.Re8 e4 113.Rxe4
+-) 109.Rd7 Bh6
Now, because of Black's badly placed bishop, White can use Plan C with 110.
e6 fxe6+ 111.Kf6! Ke8 112.Kxe6 Kf8 113.Rf7+ Kg8 114.Kf6+-.
101.Kd6 Bd4 102.Rc8+ Kg7 103.Kd5 Bb2 104.Ke4 Ba3 105.Rc3 Bb4
105...Bb2 106.Rb3 Bc1 (106...Ba1 107.Kf5 Bd4 108.Rb7 Kf8 109.Kf6 Kg8
110.Rxf7 Bxe5+ 111.Kg6+-) 107.Kf5 Bh6 108.Rb8 Bd2 109.Rb7 Kf8 110.
Kf6+-.
106.Rb3 Bd2
106...Bf8 107.Rg3+ Kh7 108.Rf3 Kg7 109.Kd5 Kg6 110.Rf6+ Kg7 111.Kc6
Be7 112.Rf3 Kg6 113.Kd7 Bh4 114.Ke8 transposes to the main line.
After 109...Be7 110.Kc6 (it is also possible to use plan C with 110.Rf3 Ke8
111.e6+-) 110...Bg5 111.Kd6 Bh6 112.Rh3 Kg7 113.Rf3 Kg6 114.Ke7 Bg5+
115.Ke8+-, White wins similar to the main line.
After 112...Bd2 113.Kd7 Bf4 114.Rh5 Kg7 115.Rf5 Bd2, White even has the
shot 116.Rxf7+ Kxf7 117.e6++-.
113.Rf3
Plan B is realized. Now the next aim is to march with the king to e8 to force
Black's f-pawn forward. Thus, Black has to start counterplay, which will
prove to be one tempo too slow.
113...Kg6 114.Kd7 Bh4 115.Ke8 f5 116.e6 Kf6 117.Kd7 Ke5 118.e7 Bxe7
119.Kxe7 f4
Now White wins in similar fashion to a famous Réti study.
Opposition.
The following position on the other hand is a fortress, but it is not easy to
hold. At first Bu plays faultlessly.
79...Ba3! 80.Kf5 Kg7 81.Rg4+ Kh6 82.Rg3 Bc1 83.Rh3 Bb2 84.Rb3 Bd4
85.Ke4 Bc5 86.Rf3 Bb4 87.Rf5 Bd2 88.Kf3 Kg7 89.Kg4 Bc1 90.Rf3 Bd2
91.Kf5 Bc1 92.Ke5 Bd2 93.Kd6 Bc1 94.Ke7
94...Kh6?
This allows White's king to stay very well placed. 94...f6? is also wrong: 95.
Rh3 Bg5 96.Ke6 Bd2 97.Kf5 Bc1 98.Rg3+ Bg5 99.Rc3 Kh6 100.Kg4 Bd2
101.Rc6 Kg7 102.Kf5 Bg5 103.Re6 Kh7 104.Kg4 Kh6 105.Rd6 Kg7 106.Rd7
+ Kh6 107.Rf7 and Black is in fatal zugzwang.; 94...Bg5+! forces White's
king to leave its comfortable chair and draws; e.g., 95.Ke8 Kh6 96.Rh3 f5
(96...Kg7 is playable as well.) 97.Kf7 f4 98.Ke6 f3 99.Rxf3 Kxh5 100.Kf5
Kh4=.
95.Rh3 Kg7
95...f5 96.Ke6 f4 97.Kf5 Be3 98.Kg4 Kh7 99.Rf3 Kh6 100.Rf1 Kg7 101.Re1
Kh6 102.Re2 Kg7 103.Kg5+-.
96.h6+! Kh7
97.Kxf7 Bb2 98.Ke6 Bc1 99.Rh1 Bd2 100.Kf5 Be3 101.Kf6 Bd2 102.Rd1
Be3 103.Rd3 Bc1 104.Rb3 Bd2 105.Rg3 Bc1 106.Rg2 Be3 107.Rh2 Bf4
108.Rh1 Be3 109.Kf7 Bd2 110.Rh3 Bg5 111.Rc3 Bd2 112.Rc6 Be3 113.
Rg6 Bd4 114.Rd6
114...Be3 115.Rc6 Bd2 116.Rc2 Bf4 117.Rc6 Be3 118.Ra6 Bd2 119.Rb6
Be3 120.Rb3 Bg5 121.Rh3 Bc1 122.Ke6 Bd2 123.Kf5 Bc1 124.Rc3 Bd2
125.Rc6 Be3
126.Rf6
126...Bd2 127.Kg4! Bxh6 128.Kh5 Be3 129.Rf7+ Kg8 130.Kg6 Bg1 131.
Rf3 Bh2 132.Rh3 Bg1 133.Rh1 1–0
86...Qg5+? This allows the simplification into a lost pawn ending. The draw
is difficult to find over-the-board: 86...Qg8+ 87.Kd7 (87.Kc7 Qc4+ 88.Kd7
Qa4+ 89.Qc6 Qd4+=) 87...Qg4+ 88.e6 Kg6 89.Kd8 Qe4 90.Qxb6 (90.e7+
Kf7=) 90...Qd5+ 91.Ke7 Qg5+ 92.Ke8 Qd5 93.e7+ Kg7 and White's king
cannot break free; e.g., 94.Qg1+ Kf6 95.Qf2+ Kg7 96.Qf8+ Kg6 97.Qf4
Kg7=. 87.Qe7+ Qxe7+ 88.Kxe7 b5 89.e6 b4 90.Kf6 b3 91.e7 b2 92.e8Q
b1Q 93.Qf7+ Kh6 94.Qg7+ 1–0
Finally one pure pawn ending to finish this column. How to evaluate this
position with White to move?
White wins with 42.g4! and Black will have to allow White's king to penetrate
via d5 or f5: 42...a5 43.a4 Ke6 44.h4 Kd6 44...Kf6 45.Kd5+-. 45.Kf5! 45.g5?
hxg5 46.hxg5 Ke6 47.g6 Kf6=. 45...Kd5 46.g5 hxg5 47.hxg5 Kd6 47...e4 48.
g6 e3 49.g7 e2 50.g8Q++-. 48.g6 1–0
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Endgame literature generally considers this position to be lost for Black (and
this seems to be about right), but Charles Sullivan drew my attention to an
interesting defensive try:
45...Kd5 46.Bxc6+ Kxc6 47.Kc4 Kd6 48.Kb5 Kc7 49.Ka6 Kc6 50.c4 and
White wins by outflanking: 50...Kc7 51.Ka7 Kc6 52.Kb8+-.
46.Be8 Kd5 47.Bf7+ Kd6 48.Kc4 Kc6 49.Be8+ Kb7 50.Kb5 Nc8 51.Bc6+
58...Nf6 59.Bf7 Ne4 60.Bxg6 Nxg3 61.Be8 Ne2 62.Bxh5 Nxf4 63.Bf3+- and
the bishop is far superior to the knight, so it is over.
61...Kd8
As the knight cannot move, this is Black's best chance, but the bishop just
sacrifices itself.
62.Bxg6 Nxg6 63.Kxb6 Kd7 64.Kxc5 Ne7 65.b4 axb4 66.cxb4 Nc8 67.a5
Nd6 68.b5 Ne4+ 69.Kb6 Kc8 70.Kc6 Kb8 71.b6 1–0
And here comes the problem with the old analysis, which I noticed when
preparing for Amsterdam, when the English edition of the book was already
in print:
44.Kc4?
This looks very natural, but is surprisingly wrong. In this case the rook ending
is won 44.Bxc6! Rxc6 45.Kc4
Black is too passive. Such a simplification is easy to overlook as rook endings
tend to have a large drawish tendency and White is usually trying to prove
that his bishop is superior to the knight. 45...Rd6 46.Kb5 Kd7 (46...Rd2 47.
Kxb6 Rxb2+ 48.Kxc5 Kd7 49.Rd3+ Ke7 50.Rd6+-) 47.b3 Kc7 48.c4 Kd8
(48...Kb7 49.Re7+ Kc8 50.Rg7 Re6 (50...Rd3 51.Rxg6 Rxb3+ 52.Kc6+-) 51.
Ka6 Re3 (51...Kd8 52.Rb7 Re3 53.Rxb6 Rxg3 54.Kxa5 Kc7 55.Ka6+-) 52.
Rxg6 Rxb3 53.Rxb6 Rxg3 54.Rc6+ Kd7 55.Rxc5 Rg4 56.Kxa5 Rxf4 57.Kb6
Rf3 58.Rb5 Rf4 (58...f4 59.a5 Ra3 60.a6 f3 61.a7 f2 62.Rf5+-) 59.a5 Rxc4 60.
Rxf5 Rb4+ 61.Rb5 Rxh4 62.a6+-) 49.Ka6 Rc6 50.Kb7 Rf6 (50...Rd6 51.Re5
Kd7 52.Rd5 Rxd5 53.cxd5 b5 54.axb5 a4 55.bxa4 c4 56.a5+-) 51.Rd3+ Ke7
52.Kc7 Re6 53.Rd7+ Ke8 54.Rd6 Re3 55.Rxg6 Rxb3 56.Rxb6 Rb4 (56...
Rxg3 57.Rb5 Rf3 58.Rxa5 Rxf4 59.Rxc5+-) 57.Rb5 Rxa4 58.Rxc5+-.
106.01C
So I asked Charles Sullivan to have a deeper look at the problem and, after
analyzing with his computer, he confirmed that White should be winning in
any case. But matters are not completely clear:
46.Re8 Rd6 47.Kb3 Rf6 48.Bc4 Kd7 49.Rh8 Ne7 50.Rh7 Ke8 51.Kc2 Rd6
52.Rh8+ Kd7 53.Bf7 Nd5 54.Rg8 Ne7 55.Rg7 Kd8 56.Rh7 Rf6 57.Kd3
57...Nc8
Black plans to regroup his knight to d6. If he waits, then White's king will
invade with decisive effect.
Sullivan did a lot of work on this rook ending. I present only one beautiful
sample line here.
62...Rxg3 63.Kb5 Rg4 64.Kxb6 Rxf4 65.Kxa5 Rxh4 66.b4 cxb4 67.cxb4 f4
68.b5 f3 69.b6 f2 70.Rc7+ Ke6 71.Rc1 Kd7 72.b7 f1Q 73.b8N+!+-
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Caveney writes, "The other day I reached an endgame with bishop and a-, b-,
c-, f-, g-, and h-pawns vs. knight and a-, b-, e-, f-, g-, h-pawns. After making
several key mistakes in the endgame, I studied it and realized Fundamental
Chess Endings (FCE) includes an example of the same situation. Moreover it
is an old game between the two co-authors, Müller-Lamprecht, Hamburg
1986 (diagram 5.18, pp. 141–142). I think this is a very important and useful
Endgame practical situation, because this pawn structure is very common and can be
reached from many popular openings. Players with some endgame knowledge
Corner are aware of the fact that control of the d-file is usually critical for both sides
in such a position, so it makes sense that all the rooks and the queens will
Fundamental Chess Endings
move toward the d-file and be exchanged, and the best advantage White may
by Karsten Mueller
Karsten Müller hope to achieve is a bishop vs. knight endgame in the resulting open position & Frank Lamprecht
with many pawns on both sides of the board. In my game I achieved this
advantage by forcing Black to recapture with his bishop on d8 when the rooks
were exchanged, then exploiting this slight misplacement of the bishop to
force its exchange for my knight."
Chess Informant
5-99 Endings Section
by Chess Informant
Play through and download
the games from
ChessCafe.com in the
DGT Game Viewer.
22.Rxd8+ Bxd8 23.Qf3 Qxf3 24.Nxf3 Nd7 25.Kf1 Kf8 26.Ke2 Ke7?!
KM: This is an inaccuracy as it walks directly into White's next move. 26...
Ke8 is more precise, but the ending is unpleasant for Black in any case.
27.Nd4!
Bishop v Knight:
The threat of a "family fork" Nc6 attacking Ke7, Bd8, and a7 means Black the Verdict
must allow the exchange of his bishop for the knight. by Steve Mayer
KM: Jeff does not comment on this decision, but it is a very important
moment, as is any decision to make an exchange. White should keep his
active knight for the time being and increase the pressure with 29.Bd6 a5 (29...
Nf6?! 30.Be5 and; 29...Bf6?! 30.b4 are already highly unpleasant.) 30.b3 Bf6
31.Kd3 with pressure.
29...Kxd8
30.b4?
On the other hand, my bishop can attack the pawns on g7 and h6. If those
pawns move to g6 and h5, all the kingside dark squares are open for a king
penetration. FCE emphasizes the importance of Black seizing space on the
kingside in this endgame with ...f5 or ...g5. Against the dark-squared bishop, ...
g5 looks dubious, so ...f5 is the natural advance. Therefore, White should
have considered 30.g4!? to inhibit ...f5 and seize kingside space himself.
All this detailed analysis just to reach the simple conclusion that a pawn on
the bishop's color (b4) is bad and a pawn on the opposite color (g4) is good!
Karpov would probably play it in his sleep. The other move to consider is the
immediate 30.Bd6.
KM: But White does not want to play Bd6 here. 32.Kd4, to meet 32...Kc6
with 33.a4, is called for.
32...Kc6 33.Be7?
KM: This is a mistake for tactical reasons. Caveney concentrates on the
positional aspects in his remarks and misses 33...Ne5+!. The bishop should
retreat along the h2-d6 diagonal.
33...b5?
Exploiting the mistake 30.b4? by fixing the queenside pawns to the bishop's
disadvantage.
KM: 33...Ne5+ wins a valuable pawn: 34.Ke4 (34.Kd4 Ng6 35.Bd8 Nf4) 34...
Nxc4 35.Bf8 Nd6+.
34.Kd4
I rejected the protected passed pawn after 34.c5 because with 34...Kd5 Black's
light square blockade and king position are just too good.
KM: Caveney took the correct decision not to allow a strong blockade on the
light squares.
34...f5?!
Seizing space on the kingside, just like the doctor (FCE) ordered. Black
exploits my failure to play g4, and now threatens to drive the white king back
again with ...e5+. I couldn't tolerate this, so now I had to fix a key kingside
pawn on the same color as my bishop. Ugh.
35.f4?
KM: Caveney should exchange on b5 first for tactical reasons: 35.cxb5+ axb5
36.f4 and White is slightly better, but Black can defend.
35...bxc4
When I analyze my games I focus more on my own mistakes and how I could
have played better, rather than on my opponent's mistakes and how he could
have played better. But for the sake of analyzing this endgame, Black's
decision to exchange pawns on c4 here is an important moment. I think it was
a mistake. He relaxes his grip on the light squares, allowing a future a4 by
White. And simplifying White's pawn majority to two vs. one could give
White a huge advantage if the players exchange down to a king and pawn
endgame.
36.Kxc4
36...Nf6?
KM: Both players miss 36...Nb6+! 37.Kd4 Nd5 38.Bf8 Nxf4 39.Bxg7 h5 and
the game after 39...h5 is reached.
37.Bf8?
With five minutes on my clock for the game, I did not want to spend all of my
time trying to calculate the outcome of the pawn endgame after 37.Bxf6 gxf6.
But I should have gone for it, because in the pawn endgame White is winning
whereas in the bishop vs. knight endgame he probably isn't. The main line is
37.Bxf6 gxf6 38.g4 fxg4 39.hxg4
39...Kb6 40.a4 Kc6 41.b5+ axb5 42.axb5+ Kb6 43.Kb4 Kb7 (As long as the
white king is "in the square" of f5 - that is, not on the a-file or beyond the fifth
rank - ...f5 always loses. For example, 43...f5 44.g5 hxg5 45.fxg5 f4 46.Kc4
+-.) 44.Kc5 Kc7 45.b6+ Kb7 46.Kd6 f5 (With the white king on the sixth
rank, now is the time for ...f5, but now it loses to a different line.) 47.gxf5
exf5 48.Ke5 and White will capture the f- and h-pawns and escort his pawn to
the queening square before Black can get back over to stop it.
KM: Caveney is absolutely right. He should have entered the won pawn
ending.
37...Nh5 38.Kd4?
Losing the thread under the relentless pressure of the clock. I was still trying
to win, and rejected 38.g4 Nxf4 39.Bxg7 Nxh3 40.gxf5 exf5 41.Bxh6 =. Nor
did I see any point to 38.g3 Nxg3 39.Bxg7 h5. But I inexcusably remained
blind to the importance of the queenside light squares, and never even
considered 38.a4!. Before staking everything on the kingside, White must
make sure he will liquidate Black's last pawn on the queenside.
KM: 38.g4 or 38.a4 indeed seem to be easier ways to force a draw. But I can
understand that this was a difficult psychological moment. Caveney is still
playing for a win, which is not there any more. His move still draws, but from
now on he has to very careful.
40...Nxg2
41.Bh6?
The last chance and the final mistake. All together now: I inexcusably
remained blind to the importance of the queenside light squares, and never
even considered 41.a4!. Before staking everything on the kingside, White
must make sure he will liquidate Black's last pawn on the queenside.
KM: White had two much easier ways to draw: 41.Kxe6 f4 42.Bd4 Ne1 43.
Kf5 Nc2 (43...Kd5 44.Bg1 Nd3 45.a4 f3 46.b5 a5 47.h4 f2 48.Bxf2 Nxf2 49.
Kg5=) 44.Ba7 f3 45.a4 Nxb4 46.Ke4 Nd5 47.Kxf3=; and Caveney's 41.a4!?
Kd7 42.b5 axb5 43.axb5 Ne1 44.b6 Nd3+ 45.Kd4 Nf2 46.Ke5 Nxh3 47.b7
Kc7 48.Kxe6=.
41...Kb5
42.Bd2 Ka4
43.Kxe6?
KM: The final mistake. Because of the strength of the bishop in open
positions, White can surprisingly still hold the game by the skin of his teeth:
43.Bc3! Ne3 (43...f4 44.Ke4 Ne3 45.Bg7 Nd5 46.Bf8 Nxb4 (46...Kb5 47.a3
Kc4 48.Bg7 Kb3 49.Bf8=) 47.Kxf4 Nxa2 48.Kg5=) 44.Kxe6 f4 45.Be1 Nc2
46.Bh4 Kxb4 47.Kf5 f3 48.Bg3 Kc4 49.Ke4 Nb4 50.Kxf3 Nxa2 51.Bc7=.
43...f4 44.Bc3 f3 45.Bd4 Nf4+ 46.Kf5 Nxh3 47.Kg6 f2 48.Bxf2 Nxf2 49.
Kxh5 Kxb4 50.Kg5 Ka3 51.Kf4 Nd1 52.Ke4 Kxa2
Did I mention White must make sure he will liquidate Black's last queenside
pawn before staking everything on the kingside?
53.Kd3 a5 54.Kc2 Nb2 55.Kc1 a4 56.Kc2 a3 57.Kc1 Kb3 58.Kb1 Nc4 59.
Ka1 Ne3 60.Kb1 a2+ 0–1
I hope you and your readers will find this painful example of a misplayed
bishop vs. knight endgame with many pawns and opposite side majorities to
be as instructive as I did. I would be very interested to see some other
examples of this endgame in practice.
KM: Many thanks for your annotations and the permission to use them!
Comment on this month's column via our Contact Page! Pertinent responses
will be posted below daily.
Endgame
Corner
Fundamental Chess Endings
by Karsten Mueller
Karsten Müller & Frank Lamprecht
66...g4??
Played on the general principle that the more moves it takes White to win the
pawn g4 the more moves Black has to advance the pawns and attack the pawn
g3. But Black should be concerned about only one of the following, either
saving both a- and b-pawns, or winning White's g-pawn. Unfortunately, I'd
read only the first two pages of the chapter on knight endings in Dvoretsky's Chess Informant
Endgame Manual. On the fourth page he shows that when pawns are head-to- 5-99 Endings Section
head (like the g3/g4 duo are now) the knight can safely defend its pawn by Chess Informant
Play through and download
the games from without being attacked, because then the black pawn g4 prevents the
ChessCafe.com in the defending king from attacking both the knight h5/f5 and the pawn g3. On its
DGT Game Viewer. own, that would still make it a draw, but the tempo Black spent on ...g5-g4
allows White to win a queenside pawn and still get back to defend the pawn
g3.
67...b6 68.Nc6+ Kc4 69.Nxa7 Kd3 70.Nc6 Ke3 71.Ne7 (only move) Kf3 72.
Nf5+- the black pawn prevents the defending king from attacking both the
knight and the pawn, so on 72...Ke4 73.Ng7 Kf3 74.Nh5+-; 67...Kc5 68.Nxb7
+ Kc6 69.Nd8+ Kd5+- 70.Kd2 a5 71.Kd3+- the knight goes to h5 and the
king stops the pawn a5.
Either time pressure or White hasn't finished the chapter on knight vs. pawn
endings either.
69.Nxa7 b4 (69...Kd3 70.Nxb5 Ke3 71.Nd6 Kf3 72.Nf5 Ke4 73.Nh4 Ke3 74.
Ke1+-) 70.Nc6 b3 71.Kc1 (only move)+-.
69...b4= 70.Nxg4
Now the black king can attack the g-pawn or safely sit on the square in front
of it to hold the draw.
70...Kd3 71.Nh2 a5 72.g4 Ke4 73.Kc2 a4 74.g5 Kf5 75.Nf3 a3 76.Kb3 Kg6
77.Ka2 Kf5 ½–½
Many thanks to John for the instructive example and the permission to use it!
I had a similar endgame several years ago and even managed to blockade the
passed pawns with my knight, but they were just too far advanced:
46...Ke6!?
Usually the knight should stop the pawns. The other try with 46...Nc7?! also
leads to a draw, as in John Upper's case 108.01: 47.h6 Kf7 48.h7 Kg7 49.g6
b5 50.Kd4=.
47.h6
Of course not 47.g6?? Nf6+ 48.Kd4 Nxh5 49.Kc4 Kd6 50.Kb5 Kc7–+.
52.Ke4!
This active defense draws. But not 52.Kc3?? Kc5 53.Kd3 b4 54.Kc2 (54.Ke4
b3 55.Kf5 b2 56.Kf6 b1Q 57.Kg7 Qg6+ 58.Kxh8 Qf7 59.g6 Qf8#) 54...Kc4
55.Kb2 b3 56.Kb1 Kc3 57.Kc1 b2+ 58.Kb1 Ng6 and Black wins, since the
knight can act as a source of tempi.
52...Ke6 ½–½
Please take your time here and decide how to parry the mating threat h7+
followed by Ng6 mate. To play 48...Rg1 or 48...Rf6?
48...Rg1?
After 48...Rf6, White has nothing better than 49.Rb8+ Kh7 50.Rb7+ Kxh6 51.
Ng4+ Kg6 52.Ne5+ with a draw.
51...Rg2+
56.fxe5 Kg6 57.e4 Kf7 58.Kf3 Ke6 59.Kf4 Kd7 60.Kf5 1-0
Sometimes the knight even loses against passed pawns. Rook pawns are the
most dangerous:
49.h6? Ne6 spoils it, as the knight defends the kingside and the king the
queenside. White must prevent such a distribution of forces.
52.b4!?
This brings Black in some kind of zugzwang and takes away the opportunity
Nc5-d3-c1.
52.h7?! Nf8 53.h8N+ probably wins as well, but the game continuation is
much easier. But not 53.h8Q? Ng6+ when Black manages to defend.
52...Nd8 53.Kd6 Kg6 54.Kc5 Kxh6 55.Kxb5 Kg6 56.a4 Kf6 57.a5 Ke6 58.
a6 Kd7 59.a7 Ne6 60.Kb6 1-0
54.h4!
This incarcerates Black's king and starts a fascinating fight between the king
and the knight.
54...d5 55.Kg2 d4 56.Kf2 d3 57.Ke1 Nb7 58.Kd2
58...Nc5?
A leap in the wrong direction. The web could be destroyed by 58...Nd6 59.
Kxd3 Kxh4 as White's king is badly placed on d3: 60.f6 Kg5 61.f7 Nxf7 62.
b7 Ne5+ This check saves Black. 63.Ke4 Nc6 64.Kd5 Nb8 65.Kd6 h5 66.Kc7
Na6+ 67.Kb6=.
59.Ke3 Kg4
59...d2 60.Ke2! (Golubev in Chess Today #3310) and now White's king can
walk around the mine field: 60...d1Q+ 61.Kxd1 Nb7 62.Kd2 Nd6
Even here some care is required: (62...Nc5 63.Ke3+-) 63.Ke1 (63.Kc3? Kxh4
64.f6 Ne4+ 65.Kd4 Nxf6 66.b7 Nd7=; 63.Ke2? Nxf5 64.b7 Nd4+ 65.Kd3
Nc6=) 63...Nb7 64.Kf2 Nd6 65.Kg2 Nb7 66.Kg3 Nd6 67.Kf4 Nb7 68.Ke5+-.
Comment on this month's column via our Contact Page! Pertinent responses
will be posted below daily.
Endgame
Corner
Bishop v Knight:
the Verdict
Karsten Müller by Steve Mayer
[FEN "6k1/p2b1ppp/8/8/3N4/
1P5P/5PP1/6K1 b - - 0 1"]
Black's bishop is superior to the knight, but with best defense I am convinced
that White should be able to hold. Still, Burkhard Treiber from Germany
has thoroughly checked the analysis in Fundamental Chess Endings and
found that Frank Lamprecht and I overestimated White's defensive resources
in the later stage of the endgame.
Strategical Endgames
1...Kf8 2.Kf1 Ke7 3.Ke2 Kd6 4.Kd3 Kd5 5.h4 Bc8
by Karsten Müller
Play through and download
the games from
ChessCafe.com in the
DGT Game Viewer.
Power Play 8:
[FEN "2b5/p4ppp/8/3k4/3N3P/
Knights and Bishops
1P1K4/5PP1/8 w - - 0 6"]
by Daniel King
6.Nf3
White can try to build a barrier against Black's king directly with 6.f3 Ba6+ 7.
Ke3 Kc5 8.Nc2 Bf1 9.g3
[FEN "8/p4ppp/8/2k5/7P/1P2KPP1/
2N5/5b2 b - - 0 9"]
Usually the attacking side tries to break such set ups by zugzwang or by
opening a second front or a road for the king. But here it seems that White's
narrow front does hold: 9...Ba6 10.Nd4 Bb7 11.Kd3 Kb4 12.Kc2 Bd5 13.Kb2
g6 14.Kc2 a6 15.Kb2
[FEN "8/5p1p/p5p1/3b4/1k1N3P/
1P3PP1/1K6/8 b - - 0 15"]
Black is still far away from victory according to Averbakh in his famous
classic series on the endgame. I even think that he cannot win at all. Maybe a
reader can find a way?
[FEN "8/p4p2/b5pp/3k4/3N3P/
1PK5/5PP1/8 w - - 0 9"]
9.Nc2?
This allows Black's king to come one step closer and is probably the decisive
mistake. After 9.f3 Ke5 10.g3, Frank Lamprecht and I claim in Fundamental
Chess Endings that White can hold the position.
12.Ng4?!
In the following, the knight is floating around and plays no real part in the
fight. But 12.f3+ is probably insufficient as well; e.g., 12...Kd4 13.Nc2+ Kc5
14.Kc3 Bf1 15.Ne1 Kd5 16.Kc2 (16.Nd3? leads to a lost pawn endgame: 16...
Bxd3 17.Kxd3 a5 (17...Kc5? 18.Ke4 Kb4 19.Kxf4 a5 20.Ke4 Kxb3 21.f4 a4
22.h5=) 18.Kc3 Kc5 19.Kd3 (19.Kb2 Kd4 20.Ka3 Kc3-+) 19...Kb4 20.Kc2
Ka3 21.Kc3
[FEN "8/8/6pp/p7/5p1P/kPK2P2/
6P1/8 b - - 0 21"]
Now Black uses his spare move to invade with his king: 21...h5 22.Kc2 Ka2
23.Kc3 Kb1 24.Kc4 Kc2-+) 16...Kd4 17.Kd2 a5 18.Nc2+ Ke5 19.Ne1 Kf6 20.
Kc3 g5
[FEN "8/8/5k1p/p5p1/5p1P/1PK2P2/
6P1/4Nb2 w - - 0 21"]
Black should be winning, as his king will invade sooner or later: 21.h5 (21.
hxg5+ Kxg5 22.Kd4 Kh4 23.Ke4 Kg3–+) 21...Kf5 22.Kd4 g4 23.fxg4+ Kxg4
24.Ke4 Ba6 25.Ke5 Be2 26.Nc2 Bf1 27.Ne1 Kg3 28.Ke4 Be2 29.Nf3 Kxg2
30.Nh4+ Kh3 31.Nf5 f3 32.Ke3 Kg2 33.Nh4+ Kh2-+.
12...h5 13.Nf6+
13.Nh6 loses as well; e.g., 13...Bf1 14.f3+ Kd4 15.Nf7 Bxg2 16.Ng5 a5 17.
Ne6+ Ke5 18.Ng5 Bf1 19.Kc3 Bb5 20.b4 a4 21.Nf7+ Kd5 22.Ng5 Bc6 23.
Nh3 Ke5 24.Ng5 Bd5-+.
13...Kf5
[FEN "8/p7/b4Np1/5k1p/5p1P/1P6/
3K1PP1/8 w - - 0 14"]
14.Nd7?!
14.Nh7!? is much more tenacious and Frank and I thought that Black has
good chances to win, but that matters are not totally clear. Now Burkhard
Treiber has convincingly proved the win with the following analysis: 14...Kg4
15.Nf8 Kxh4 16.Nxg6+ Kg5 17.Ne5 Kf5
[FEN "8/p7/b7/4Nk1p/5p2/1P6/
3K1PP1/8 w - - 0 18"]
White's knight has many squares, but no really safe harbor: 18.Nf3 a) 18.Nd3
Bxd3 19.Kxd3 Kg4 20.Ke2 (20.Ke4 h4 21.b4 a6 22.Ke5 f3–+) 20...h4 21.b4
a6 22.Kf1 Kf5 23.Ke2 (23.Kg1 Ke4 24.Kh2 Kd4 25.Kh3 Kc4 26.Kxh4 Kxb4–
+) 23...Ke4 24.Kd2 f3–+; b) 18.Nc4 Bxc4 19.bxc4 f3 20.g3 Ke4–+; c) 18.Nc6
Bb7 19.Nxa7 (19.Nd4+ Ke5 20.Kd3 Be4+ 21.Kc3 Bxg2–+) 19...Bxg2 20.Ke2
Kg4 21.Nb5 h4 22.Nd4 f3+!!
[FEN "8/8/8/8/3N2kp/1P3p2/
4KPb1/8 w - - 0 23"]
21.Nc2 (Fundamental Chess Endings gives 21.Nf3 Bd5 and Black is only
clearly better, but this is an understatement. Black is winning, as the bishop is
superior in this open position and Black's king has penetrated too far.) 21...f3+
22.gxf3+ Kf4 23.Ne3 Ba6+ 24.Ke1 Kxf3 25.Nf5 Bd3 26.Nh4+ Kg4 27.Ng2
Bf5 28.Ne3+ Kf4 29.Nxf5 Kxf5-+.
14...Bc8 15.Nf8 g5 16.g3 gxh4 17.gxh4 Kg4 18.Ng6 Bf5 19.Ne7 Be6 20.b4
Kxh4 21.Kd3 Kg4 22.Ke4 h4 23.Nc6 Bf5+ 24.Kd5 f3 25.b5 h3 26.Nxa7 h2
27.b6 h1Q 28.Nc6 Qb1 29.Kc5 Be4 0-1
In the next example, the knight is trying to win, but the bishop should be able
to defend.
[FEN "8/8/4k3/2Pp2K1/3P4/
3N4/8/7b b - - 0 134"]
134...Kd7?
Now White's king can enter the winning zone. It had to be kept outside with
134...Be4 135.Nf4+ Ke7, when Black's walls cannot be stormed: 136.Nh5
Bc2 137.Kf4 (137.Nf6 Ke6 138.Ne8 Ke7 139.Nc7 Be4 140.Kf4 Kd7 141.Nb5
Ke6=) 137...Ke6 138.Ng7+
[FEN "8/6N1/4k3/2Pp4/3P1K2/
8/2b5/8 b - - 0 138"]
138...Kf7 (But not 138...Kf6? 139.Ne8+ Ke7 140.Nc7 Be4 141.Ke5+-) 139.
Nf5 Ke6 140.Nd6 Bg6 141.Kg5 Bd3 142.Ne8 Ke7 143.Nc7 Be4=.
135.Kf6 Kc6 136.Ke5 Kb5 137.Nf4 Kc6 138.Ng6 Kd7 139.Kf6 Bg2 140.Ne5
+ Kc7 141.Ke6 Be4 142.Nf7 Kc6 143.Nd6 Bg2 144.Nf5 Kb5
145.Ke5
[FEN "8/8/8/1kPpKN2/3P4/8/
6b1/8 b - - 0 145"]
145...Bh3?!
[FEN "8/8/2k5/2PNK3/3P4/8/
6b1/8 w - - 0 148"]
Now White's king has to make long marches in order to win: 148.Nb6 Bf3
149.Kf4 Bh5 150.Ke3 Bg6 151.Kd2 Bf7 152.Kc3 Kb5 153.Nd7 Bd5 154.Ne5
Be4 155.Kd2 Bb7 156.Ke3 Bg2 157.Kf4 Bd5 158.Kf5 Ka6 159.Kf6 Kb7 160.
Nd3 Kc7 161.Nb4 Bf3
[FEN "8/2k5/5K2/2P5/1N1P4/
5b2/8/8 w - - 0 162"]
162.Ke5+- This final action of the king is necessary, as 162.d5?? runs into
162...Bxd5 163.Nxd5+ Kc6=.
Comment on this month's column via our Contact Page! Pertinent responses
will be posted below daily.
Endgame
Corner
ECE: Rook Endings
by Chess Informant
Karsten Müller
58.Kf3!
The pawn b3 cannot run away, but Black's king can after 58.Rxb3? Bf4! 59.
Kf3 Kf5! (Golubev in Chess Today #3292) and the king has escaped from the
dangerous corner h8. White cannot win; e.g., 60.Rb5+ Be5 61.Ke3 Ke6 62.
Ke4 Bg3 63.Rb6+ Ke7 64.Kf5 Bf2 65.Re6+
ECE: Queen Endings
by Chess Informant
58...Bd2
Now 58...Kf5 can be met by 59.Rb5+ Kf6 60.Kg4 and Black's bishop is so
poorly placed that its king cannot escape.
60...Bg3
Trying to run away with 60...Kf6 does not help because of 61.Rf3+ Ke6 62.
Re3++-.
61.Rf3
Kramnik cuts Black's king off, so that he will win by using the sharp endgame
weapon zugzwang again and again.
61...Be1 62.Re3 Bf2 63.Re6+ Kf7 64.Kf5 Bg3 65.Re4 Bf2 66.Kg5 Bg3 67.
Re2 Kg7 68.Re7+ Kf8 69.Kf6 Bf2 70.Re6 Bg3 71.Kg6 Bh2 72.Re4 Bg3
This is the decisive zugzwang position, but at the moment White is to move.
So Kramnik has to lose a move in order to win.
Changing the defensive diagonal with 76...Be7+ does not help, as it is quite
short and the bishop has no safe anchor square:
77.Kf5 Kf7 78.Re4 Bf6 79.Rc4 Bd8 80.Rd4 Be7 81.Rd7 Kf8 82.Ke6 Bg5 83.
Rc7
[FEN "5k2/2R5/4K3/6b1/7p/7P/8/8 b - - 0 83"]
77.Kf6 Bf4 78.Re4 Bd6 79.Rd4 Bc7 80.Kg6 Bg3 81.Re4 1–0
In the next example Black's king must also run away directly:
68...Bc5?
Now White can imprison Black in the corner and win the a-pawn in typical
fashion. The king had to run away immediately: 68...Kc8! 69.Kc6 Kd8 70.Rf1
(70.Rd7+ Ke8=) 70...Bc5 71.Rd1+ Ke7
68...Bh6?
This is refuted by 69.Rf6! (The greedy 69.Kxb6? falls into Black's trap: 69...
a2 70.Rf1 Bg7=) 69...Be3 70.Rf3 Bc5 71.Kc6 Kc8 72.Rd3+-.
69.Kc6 Ka8
After 69...Kc8, 70.Rd7! stops the escape of Black's king: 70...Kb8 71.Rd8+
Ka7
72.Re8! puts Black into fatal zugzwang; e.g., 72...Bg1 73.Re4 Bc5 74.Ra4+
Kb8 75.Ra6+- (Baburin in Chess Today #3356).
The rook wins the domination game as follows: 71.Ra1 Bc5 72.Re1 Ka6 73.
Re8 Ka7 74.Re4+-.
Finally the decisive zugzwang is reached. First Black loses a pawn, later the
game.
In the last example, White's king must stay away from the dangerous a1-
corner.
54.Kb1?
The wrong direction. After 54.Kd1, Black cannot win.
This lets the king escape. Black wins with 56...Rd8 57.Bb5 (57.Bf3 Kb3 58.
Bd1+ Kb4 59.Bc2 Kc3 60.Kb1 Rb8+ 61.Kc1 Rh8–+) 57...Kb3
57.Kd1 Kb3 58.Bb5 Kb2 59.Ke1 Kc1 60.Bc6 Rd2 61.Bb5 Kc2
62.Kf1?
62...Rd6?
62...Kd1 wins; e.g., 63.Bc6 Rd6 64.Bb5 Rf6+ 65.Kg2 Kc2 66.Kg3 Kb3 67.
Kg4 Rf2 68.Kg3 Ra2 69.Kf3 Rxa4–+.
63.Ke2 Re6+ 64.Kf3 Kc3 65.Kf4 Kb3 66.Kf3 Re7 67.Kf4 Kb4 68.Kf3 Kc3
69.Kf4 Kd2 70.Kf3 Re3+
Hirschberg defends well and does not allow White to cut off his king very far
away.
71...Re7 72.Kf3 Rf7+ 73.Ke4! Kc3 74.Ke3 Re7+ 75.Kf4 Re1 76.Kf3 Kb3
77.Kf2??
Hirschberg blunders, probably because of fatigue after the long defense. After
77.Kf4, Black cannot win, as White's king is back in the corner just in time
after 77...Ra1 78.Ke3 Rxa4 79.Bxa4+ Kxa4 80.Kd2 Kb3 81.Kc1=. Chess
really is a deep and rich game. Sometimes the defending king must leave the
corner to breathe freely and sometimes it must be able to run into the corner
as quickly as possible.
White's king is near the dangerous corner. How did German endgame expert
Hecht convert his advantage?
Corner
ECE: Rook Endings
by Chess Informant
Karsten Müller
[FEN "r7/1p2k3/4p3/pP1nPp2/P4P2/
1N4R1/4K3/8 b - - 0 61"]
62.Kf3 Nd3?
Survival Guide to
Rook Endings
by John Emms
[FEN "2r5/1p2k3/4p3/pP2PpRn/P7/
1N3K2/8/8 w - - 0 64"]
This gives excellent drawing chances; e.g., 64.Nxa5 Rc3+ 65.Kf2 Nf4 66.Rg7
+ Kf8 67.Rxb7 Nh3+ 68.Ke1 f4 69.Rh7 f3 70.Rxh3 f2+ 71.Kxf2 Rxh3=.
65.Kf4 Nf7?!
66.Nc5?
This allows a tactical combination that leads to a drawn N+2P vs. R+P
ending.
With 66.Rc7!
[FEN "r4k2/2R2n2/4p3/pP3p2/P4K2/
1N6/8/8 b - - 0 66"]
White's active forces should win in the long run; e.g., 66...Rb8 (66...Kg7 67.
b6 Kg6 68.b7 Rb8 69.Nxa5 Nd6 70.Ke5+-) 67.Nc5 e5+ 68.Kxf5 Nd6+ 69.
Kxe5 Nxb5 70.axb5 Rxb5 71.Kf6!
71...Kg8 72.Ne6 Rb6 73.Re7 Rc6 74.Kg6 Rc8 75.Ra7 a4 76.Rxa4 Rb8 77.
Rd4 Ra8 78.Rd6 Rb8 79.Ng5 Kf8 80.Re6 Rb7 81.Nh7++-.
66...e5+ 67.Kxf5 Nd6+ 68.Kxe5 Nxb7 69.Nxb7 Ke7 70.Kd5 Kd7 71.b6
Rh8 72.Nc5+ Kc8 73.Kc6 Rh6+ 74.Kb5
74...Rh5!
The rook shows its power in active defense.
[FEN "r5k1/7p/4N1p1/p3Pp2/n4P2/
1R2K2P/6P1/8 w - - 0 38"]
38.Kd4 Re8?
[FEN "8/2r1k2N/6p1/p2KPp2/n4P2/
1R5P/6P1/8 w - - 0 42"]
This gives better chances to fight, as White's e-pawn is now under control for
the moment.
39.Nc7! Rc8
40.Rb7 Nb6
40...Rd8+ does not help either, as White's forces coordinate remarkably well
to support the e-pawn: 41.Kc4 Rd1 42.e6 Re1 43.Rb8+ Kg7
[FEN "1R6/2N3kp/4P1p1/p4p2/n1K2P2/
7P/6P1/4r3 w - - 0 44"]
[FEN "4rk2/3R2pp/p7/Pp3N2/2p4P/
2Pn1P2/1r4P1/R5K1 w - - 0 33"]
33.Rxg7?
Too greedy, as the knight will be too far away and completely helpless. 33.
Kh2 Ree2 34.Rg1 was the last chance to fight.
33...Re5 34.Rg5
[FEN "5k2/7p/p7/Pp2rNR1/2p4P/
2Pn1P2/1r4P1/R5K1 b - - 0 34"]
34...h6!
[FEN "5k2/8/p6N/Pp4P1/2p5/2Pn1P2/
1r4P1/R5K1 b - - 0 36"]
Now the queenside majority has the last word: 36...b4 37.cxb4 c3–+ (Shirov);
35.Rg6 Rxf5 36.Rxa6 does not help as Black's active forces will decide the
day sooner or later as the king escapes; e.g., 36...Nf4 37.Ra8+ Kf7 38.Ra7+
Kf6 39.Ra6+ Ke7 40.Re1+ Kd7 41.Ra7+ Kc6–+.
35...Nxf4 36.Nxh6 Rxg5 37.hxg5 Rxg2+ 38.Kh1 Rxg5 39.Rf1 Rh5+ 40.Kg1
Rxh6 41.Rxf4+ Ke7 42.Kg2
42.Kf2 allows the liquidation into a won pawn ending with 42...Rf6–+. So
White is lost in any case.
42...Rg6+ 0–1
[FEN "r2k3r/1p3ppp/p2p1n2/3Pp3/4P3/7P/
PP1N1PP1/R3K2R w KQ - 0 17"]
17.Rc1
White has a very pleasant initiative and Black has no counterplay. This makes
his task extremely unpleasant. Even the very talented wunderkind Anish Giri
is not able to hold it. One example of his technique can be found in Endgame
Corner 98.
17...b5?!
20...Rxc6?
Now White's initiative can not be stopped anymore because of the passive
rook a8. Black had to try to exchange all rooks by 20...Ng8! 21.a4 Ne7 22.
Rxc8 Rxc8 23.Rxc8 Kxc8 24.axb5 axb5 25.Kd3 Kc7 26.Kc3 Ng6 27.Kb4
Kb6! with excellent drawing chances as given by Anna Muzychuk.
21.Rxc6 Ng8
[FEN "r5n1/3k1ppp/p1Rp4/1p1Pp3/
4P3/7P/PP1NKPP1/8 w - - 0 22"]
22.a4!
22...Ne7
The knight comes closer to the queenside and the king and the pawns will
operate on the kingside.
29...Rc7 30.Nb4+/-.
33.g3!
White opens a second front, which will most likely overload the defense.
Opens lines for White. The guideline that one should not play on the wing
where the opponent is stronger or wants to infiltrate is valid here. But good
advice is very hard to give.
[FEN "8/3kn3/p2p2rP/Pp1Pp3/4P2K/
3N1P2/1P6/2R5 w - - 0 39"]
39.f4
39.Kh5!? wins easier, as Anna Muzychuk proves in her notes: 39...Rg2 (39...
Rg3 40.Nf2+-) 40.Rh1 Ng6 41.h7 Nh8 (41...Ke7 42.Rc1+-) 42.Rc1 Rg7 43.
Rc6+-.
39...Rxh6+ 40.Kg3 exf4+ 41.Nxf4 Ng6 42.Ne6! Ke7 43.Nd4 Kf6 44.Nf5
Rh5
[FEN "8/8/p2p1kn1/Pp1P1N1r/
4P3/6K1/1P6/2R5 w - - 0 45"]
45.Rc8!
46.Kf3 Rg1 47.Nxd6 Rb1 48.Re8 Rxb2 49.Re6+ Kg5 50.Nf7+ Kh5 51.Ke3
Rb3+ 52.Kd4 Rb4+ 53.Kc5 Rc4+ 54.Kb6 b4 55.Rxg6 1–0
[FEN "8/2R5/3n1kp1/7p/5P2/5NPK/
4r2P/8 w - - 0 59"]
The easiest solution is to liquidate into a pawn ending: 66.Rf7!? Ke8?! 66...
Kd8 more or less forces 67.Rxe7+-. 67.Ke6 Now this wins as well, and is
even quicker than 67.Rxe7+ Kxe7 68.Kc6 a5 (68...Kd8 69.Kb6 Kc8 70.Kxa6
+-) 69.bxa5 Kd8 70.Kb7+-. 67...Bxb4 68.Rb7! Ba5 69.Rb8+ Bd8 70.Ra8 a5
71.Kd6 a4 72.Ke6 a3 73.Rxa3 1–0
Surprisingly Black wins now: 44...h5! After 44...Ra2?, White is too active: 45.
Ke4 Rxa5 46.Kf5 Ra2 47.e4 Re2 48.Be8=. 45.a6 h4 46.a7 46.e4 Ke5–+. 46...
Ra2 47.a8Q Rxa8 48.Bxa8 h3 49.e4 Ke5! The point of Black's play. 49...h2?
50.e5+ Kxe5 51.d6+- 50.d6 0–1 White resigned because of 50...h2 51.d7 h1Q
52.d8Q Qd1+–+
White must keep the queens on the board to create counterplay: 44.Qg6+? 44.
Qb7 draws; e.g., 44...e3 45.Rxg7+ Qxg7 46.Qxf3 Qg1+ 47.Ka2 Kg7 48.Qe4
Kf6 49.Qf4+=. 44...Qxg6 45.hxg6+ Kg8 46.Kc1 e3 47.Rh1 Be5 48.Kd1 Bg3
0–1
White's king is near the dangerous corner. How did German endgame expert
Hecht convert his advantage?
White has the following two winning moves: 8.Re7!? is the elegant finish of
the game. 8.Re2 is the other winning move; e.g., 8...Kf5 9.Rg2 Bg7 10.Kf2
Kf4 11.Rg3 Kf5 12.Kg2 Kf6 13.Kh3 Bh6 14.Kh4 Kg7 15.Kh5+- and White
wins as in E110.04.
Comment on this month's column via our Contact Page! Pertinent responses
will be posted below daily.
Endgame
Corner
ECE: Rook Endings
by Chess Informant
Karsten Müller
Opposition. Black will be able to reach the key square g2 and win.
48...Nb6?
48...Ne5! 49.a7 (After 49.Rxc8 Kxc8 50.Kb6 Kb8 51.b5 Nc4+ 52.Kc6 Ka7
53.Kd7 Ne3 54.Kxd6
[FEN "8/k4p2/P2K1p2/1P1P2p1/
6P1/4n2P/8/8 b - - 0 54"]
[FEN"Q7/3k1p2/3p1p2/1K1Pn1p1/
1P4P1/7r/8/8 w - - 0 51"]
49.Kxb6 Rxc3 50.a7 Ra3 51.Kb7 Rb3 52.a8Q Rxb4+ 53.Ka7 Ra4+ 54.Kb8
Rxa8+ 55.Kxa8
[FEN"K7/3k1p2/3p1p2/3P2p1/6P1/7P/8/8 b - - 0 55"]
55...f5!?
A desperate attempt to create counterplay that fails by one tempo. But 55...
Kc7 loses due to the typical procedure 56.Ka7 Kc8 57.Kb6 Kd7 58.Kb7 Kd8
59.Kc6 Ke7 60.Kc7+-.
[FEN"8/5p2/2Kp1P2/3Pk1p1/8/7P/8/8 b - - 0 59"]
[FEN"8/6k1/7p/5p1P/1K6/5P2/8/8 w - - 0 67"]
[FEN"8/5p1p/5kp1/8/5PP1/1K5P/8/8 b - - 0 46"]
[FEN"8/8/4k2K/7P/1p4P1/8/8/8 w - - 0 51"]
[FEN"8/8/8/8/6p1/4k1p1/6Kp/8 b - - 0 82"]
[FEN"8/8/8/1R6/p2r4/P7/KPk5/8 b - - 0 42"]
[FEN "8/2R5/3n1kp1/7p/5P2/5NPK/
4r2P/8 w - - 0 59"]
59.Ng5!
Black resigned as he can not avoid a lost pawn ending. 59.Rc6 Ke7 60.Ra6
Re6 61.Ra7+ Ke8 62.Kh4 wins as well, but is not as convincing as the game
continuation.
59...Kf5 60.Rd7 Ne4 61.Rf7+ Nf6 62.Nh7 Re6 63.Kh4 Ra6 64.Rxf6+ Rxf6
65.Nxf6 Kxf6 66.g4 hxg4 67.Kxg4 Kf7 68.Kg5 Kg7 69.h3 Kf7 70.Kh6 Kf6
[FEN"8/2R5/3n1kp1/7p/5P2/5NPK/
4r2P/8 w - - 0 59"]
71.h4!
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will be posted below daily.
Endgame
Corner
Karsten Müller Endgame Fireworks
by Alexei Shirov
[Find us on Facebook.]
[FEN "8/8/4kpp1/3p1b2/p6P/2B5/
6P1/6K1 b - - 0 47"]
47...Bh3!!
The only move to win as White's defense on the diagonal a1–h8 must be
broken. 47...Be4? 48.g3 f5 49.Kf2 Kd6 50.Ke3 Kc5 51.Bf6 Kc4 52.Be5 Kb3
53.Kd2 Ka2 54.Kc1! Kb3 55.Kd2=.
48.gxh3
Practical Endgame Play:
Beyond the Basics
48.Kf2 Kf5 49.Kf3 Bxg2+!–+ does not change the outcome.
by Glenn Flear
[FEN "8/3kp3/8/4Pbp1/7p/1pK4P/
1B4P1/8 b - - 0 43"]
47.Kxb3?!
The tricky 47.Kb2!? was much more tenacious: 47...Kf5 48.Bh2 Ke4 (48...e6?
49.Kxb3 Ke4 50.Kc2 Kf3 51.Kd2 Kg2 52.Ke2 Kxh2 53.Kf2=) 49.e6
Now only 49...Ke3!! does the job. (Black's queen is dominated after 49...Kf3?
50.Bd6 Kg2 51.Bxe7 h2 52.Bxh4 h1Q 53.e7=)
50.Bd6 Kf3 and White is in fatal zugzwang: 51.Bxe7 h2 52.Bxh4 h1Q 53.e7
Qg2+–+.
White resigned because of 50.Bd6 Kg2 51.Bxe7 h2 52.Bxh4 h1Q 53.e7 Qd1+
54.Kc4 Qd7–+
[FEN "8/B4kpp/2pp4/P7/4P3/8/
1Pb3PP/6K1 w - - 0 1"]
1.Bc5! Bd3
1...dxc5?? 2.a6+-.
In principle it is good to force the pawns on dark squares and blockade them,
but here it costs too much time. 5...Ke6 is called for.
6.a7 Be4
7.g3?
Too slow. 7.g4!! is necessary: 7...hxg4 8.Kg3 Bf3 9.Kf4 Ke6 10.Bd4 g6 11.h3
g5+ 12.Kg3+- (Nunn in his excellent Understanding Chess Endgames,
Gambit 2009); By the way: 7.h4! wins as well. Burkhard Treiber had found
the move in an Internet forum and proved that it does the job. One line runs
7...g6 8.g4 hxg4 9.Kg3 Bf3 10.Kf4 Ke6 11.Kg5 Be4 12.Kxg4 Kd7 13.Kf4
Bg2 14.Kg5 Be4 15.a8Q Bxa8 16.Kxg6 and White wins, as his pawns are so
far apart from each other.
7...Ke6 8.Ke3
Too careless. 8...Kf5! defends: 9.Bf8 g6 10.Kd4 Ba8 11.Kc5 Ke6 12.Kb6
Kd7= (Averbakh).
Now White wins by preparing the transfer of his king to the queenside.
17.Bf6! Bg2
L'Ami most probably knew the previous example and applied the same
technique, but here it does not lead to a win:
71...Bf3 72.Ba1 h4 73.gxh4 Kf4! 74.Bb2 Ke4 75.Kf1 Ke3 76.Ke1 Bh5 77.
Bc1+ Kd3 78.Bb2 d4
78...Kc2 does not help, as White can liquidate all the pawns after 79.Bf6 Kb1
80.Kd2 a1Q 81.Bxa1 Kxa1 82.Kd3=] 79.Kf2! Bg4 [79...Kc4 80.Ke1 d3 81.
Kd2 Kb3 82.Ba1=.
80.Ke1 Be2 81.Kf2 Bd1 82.Ke1 Bh5 83.Kf2 Ke4 84.Ke1 Ke3
[FEN "8/8/8/7b/3p3P/4k3/pB6/4K3 w - - 0 85"]
Black has made as much progress as possible, but White still defends.
85.Bc1+!
[FEN"8/6k1/7p/5p1P/1K6/5P2/8/8 w - - 0 67"]
67.Kc5? allows Black counterplay. After 67.f4!, Black's king remains passive
and White wins: 67...Kf6 68.Kc5 Ke6 69.Kc6 Ke7 70.Kd5 Kf6 71.Kd6 Kf7
72.Ke5 Kg7 73.Kxf5 Kf7 74.Ke5 Ke7 75.f5 Kf7 76.f6 Kf8
Now White wins by triangulation: 77.Ke4 Ke8 78.Kf4 Kf8 79.Ke5 Kf7 80.Kf5
+-. 67...f4! 68.Kd5 Kf6 69.Ke4 Kg5 70.Ke5 Kxh5 71.Kf5 Kh4 72.Kxf4 h5
73.Ke5 Kg3 74.f4 h4 75.f5 h3 76.f6 h2 77.f7 h1Q 78.f8Q Qe1+ 79.Kf6 Qf2
+ 80.Kg7 Qxf8+ 81.Kxf8 ½–½
46...g5? Now White's king is just in time. Karjakin had to exchange the h-
pawns first: 46...h5! 47.Kc4 hxg4 48.hxg4 g5 49.f5 Ke5 50.f6 Kf4 51.Kd5
Kxg4 52.Kd6 Kf5 53.Ke7 Kg6–+. 47.f5 Ke5 47...h5 48.gxh5 Kxf5 49.Kc4
Kf6 50.Kd5 Kg7 51.Ke5 Kh6 52.Kf6 Kxh5 53.Kxf7 Kh4 54.Kg6=. 48.Kc4
Kf4 49.Kd5 Kg3 50.f6 Kxh3 51.Kd6 Kxg4 52.Ke7 h5 53.Kxf7 h4 54.Kg6
h3 55.f7 h2 56.f8Q h1Q 57.Qf5+ ½–½
[FEN"8/5p2/4k3/4P1RK/7P/6r1/8/8 b - - 0 109"]
[FEN"8/8/4k2K/7P/1p4P1/8/8/8 w - - 0 51"]
51.g5? 51.Kg7 b3 52.h6 b2 53.h7 b1Q 54.h8Q draws despite the unfortunate
position of White's queen. Without the pawn g4, Black would be winning. but
as matters are it shields the king. 51...b3 52.g6 b2 0–1 White resigned
because of 53.g7 Kf7 54.Kh7 b1Q+–+.
[FEN"8/8/8/8/6p1/4k1p1/6Kp/8 b - - 0 82"]
White's house was stormed by 82...Ke2 83.Kh1 g2+ 84.Kxg2 84.Kxh2 Kf1
85.Kg3 g1Q+–+. 84...h1Q+ 85.Kxh1 Kf2 0–1
[FEN"8/8/2k5/1p3K1p/7P/4P3/8/8 b - - 0 41"]
41...b4? Black plays this trump too early. First 41...Kc5! forces White's king
to make a longer march: 42.Ke4 (42.e4 b4 43.e5 b3 44.e6 b2 45.e7 b1Q+–+)
42...Kc4 43.Kf3 b4 44.Ke2 Kc3 45.Kd1 Kd3–+. 42.Ke4 Kc5 43.Kd3 Kd5 44.
e4+ Ke5 45.Kc4 Kxe4 46.Kxb4 Kf3 47.Kc3 Kg3 48.Kd2 Kxh4 49.Ke1 Kg3
50.Kf1 ½–½
[FEN"8/8/8/1R6/p2r4/P7/KPk5/8 b - - 0 42"]
Comment on this month's column via our Contact Page! Pertinent responses
will be posted below daily.
1.Rg7+
[FEN"8/1r6/5p2/1P6/8/4K2R/8/4k3 b - - 0 6"]
After 6...Kf1 7.Rf3+ Kg2 8.Rf5 Kg3 9.Kd4 Kg4= Black's f-pawn will provide
sufficient counterplay.; 1.Ke4 h4 2.Rg7+ Kf2 3.Rh7 NIC Magazine, 2009/5
by New In Chess
[FEN"1r6/1P5R/5p2/1P6/4K2p/8/5k2/8 b - - 0 3"]
3...h3 again hoping for counterplay with the f-pawn. But not (3...Kg3? 4.Kd5
h3 5.Kc6 h2 6.Kc7 Rxb7+ 7.Kxb7 f5 8.Kc6 f4 9.b6 f3 10.b7 f2 11.b8Q++-) 4.
Rxh3 Rxb7 5.Rb3 Rb6 6.Kd5 f5 7.Kc5 Rb8 8.b6 f4=; 1.Rh7 h4 2.Rxh4 Rxb7
3.Rh5 Rb6=; 1.Kf5 h4 2.Kxf6 h3 3.Rg7+
[FEN"1r6/1P4R1/5K2/1P6/8/7p/6k1/8 b - - 0 3"]
3...Kf2 (Of course not 3...Kh1? 4.Ke5 h2 5.Kd6 Rg8 6.Rh7+-) 4.Rh7 Kg2 5.
Ke5 h2 6.Kd6 Rxb7!=; After 1.Rh7 h4 2.Rxh4 Rxb7
[FEN"8/1r6/5p2/1P6/5K1R/8/6k1/8 w - - 0 3"]
The rook can not move to b4 which led me to the following version of the
study.
1...Kf2 2.Rh7 h4 3.Rxh4 Rxb7 4.Rh2+ Ke1 5.Rb2 Kd1 6.b6 Kc1 7.Rb5
Kd2 8.Ke4
[FEN"8/1r6/1P3p2/1R6/4K3/8/3k4/8 b - - 0 8"]
It seems that Black loses because of the bodycheck. But this is deceptive:
8...f5+!!
1.Kf5!
1.Ke3? h4 2.Rg7+ (2.Rxh4 Rxb7 3.Rb4 Kg3 4.b6 f5=) 2...Kf1 3.Kf3 h3 4.Rh7
[FEN"1r6/1P5R/5p2/1P6/8/5K1p/8/5k2 b - - 0 4"]
[FEN"8/1K5R/5p2/1P6/8/8/6kp/8 b - - 0 5"]
1...h4
2.Rxh4
4...Rxb7!=.
[FEN"8/8/1r3p2/1P3K2/1R6/8/6k1/8 w - - 0 4"]
4.Kf4
First the king has to go backwards to win time before returning to support his
pawn. 4.Rb3 Kf2 5.Ke4 Ke2 6.Rb2+ Kd1 7.Kd3 transposes.
4...Kf2 5.Rb2+ Ke1 6.Ke3 Kd1 7.Rd2+ Ke1 8.Rd5 Kf1 9.Rf5+ Kg2
[FEN"8/8/1r3p2/1P3R2/8/4K3/6k1/8 w - - 0 10"]
15...Kg5 16.Qg8+ Kh6 17.Qf7 Kg5 18.Qg7+ Kf5 19.Qg2 Re6+ 20.Kd7 Re5
21.Qg3 Re4 22.Qf3+ Rf4 23.Qd5+ Kg4 24.Qg2+ Kf5 25.Ke7 Ke5 26.Qe2+
Kd5 27.Qd3+ Ke5 28.Kf7 f5 29.Qe3+ Re4 30.Qc5+ Kf4 31.Kf6+-
Comment on this month's column via our Contact Page! Pertinent responses
will be posted below daily.
Endgame
Corner
Karsten Müller Capablanca: A Primer of
Checkmate
by Frisco Del Rosario
[Find us on Facebook.]
61...f4?
This violates the guideline, opens a road for White's king and weakens the f-
pawn.
61...g5 62.hxg6 (62.Bc3+ Kf7 63.h6 Kg6 64.Bb4 Bf4 65.d6 Bxd6 66.Bxd6 Jose Raul Capablanca
Kxh6 67.Kd3 g4=) 62...Kxg6 63.Be3 Kf6 by Isaak & Vladimir Linder
Capablanca
[FEN"8/8/p2b1k2/3P1p2/2K5/4BP2/8/8 w - - 0 64"] by Edward Winter
This draws, as the aggressive 64.Bc5?? even loses because of the distant
passed a-pawn: 64...Bxc5 65.Kxc5 Ke7 66.Kc6 Kd8–+.
62.Bc3+ Kg5
After 62...Kf7, White penetrates on the weakened light squares: 63.Kd3 Bc7
64.Ke4 a5 65.Kf5 a4 66.Bb4+-.
64...Kh4
64...Bc7 is met by 65.Bf2!, which stops the counterplay and White wins. (The
direct 65.Kc5? violates the endgame principle "Do not rush" and runs into 65...
Kh4 66.Kc6 Bd8=.) 65...Kg6 (65...Bd6 66.Bc5+-) 66.Kc5 a5 (66...Kf7 67.
Kc6 Bd8 68.Kd7 Bf6 69.Bb6+-) 67.Kc6 Be5 68.Kb5 Kf7 69.Kxa5+-.
65.Bc5 Bb8
[FEN"1b6/8/p7/3P4/2KB1p2/5P1k/8/8 w - - 0 68"]
This does not help because of 68.Kd3! and White's centralized forces will
dominate Black: 68...Kg3 69.Ke4 a5 70.Bc5 a4 71.d6+-.
[FEN"8/7p/5Bpb/3k4/P3p3/1PKp2P1/7P/8 b - - 0 42"]
44...Ke4 45.Ke2
[FEN"8/7p/5Bpb/8/P3k3/1P2p1P1/
3pK2P/8 b - - 0 45"]
At first sight, it seems that Wojtaszek has miscalculated. Yet his next move is
the point of his approach.
47...Bf8! 0–1
But not 47...e2? 48.Bc3 Kxc3 49.Kxe2 and Black's winning potential is
insufficient.
In the last example, the attacker also profits from the fact that the defender's
pawns can be attack by his bishop.
[FEN"8/8/1k2p1p1/2p1p3/2P1Pb2/
1P1KB3/5P2/8 w - - 0 43"]
43.Ke2!
43...Kc6
This does not help. White cannot go into a pawn ending, but he can win the
bishop ending by invading with his pieces: 45.Bd2 Kd7 46.Bc3 Kd6 47.Kf1
Ke7 48.Kg2 Kf6 49.Kh3 Kg6 50.Kg4+-.
44.Kf3 g5
45.Bxf4!
Now White can enter the pawn ending, as he has won several tempi.
45...gxf4
After 45...exf4
[FEN"8/8/2k1p3/2p3p1/2P1Pp2/1P3K2/5P2/8 w - - 0 46"]
White closes the road first with 46.e5+- and then wins the race. The direct 46.
Kg4 wins as well: 46...Kd6 47.Kxg5 Ke5 48.f3 Kd4 49.Kxf4 Kc3 50.Ke3
Kxb3 51.Kd3 e5 52.f4 exf4 53.e5+-.
[FEN"8/8/4p3/k1p1p3/2P1P3/1PK2p2/5P2/8 w - - 0 49"]
49.b4+! cxb4+
49...Kb6 is met by 50.b5+- followed by marching to the kingside. But not 50.
bxc5+?? Kxc5 51.Kb3 Kd4 52.Kb4 Kxe4 53.Kc3 Kf4 54.c5 e4=.
50.Kb3 Kb6 51.Kxb4 Kc6 52.c5 Kc7 53.Kb5 Kb7 54.c6+ Kc8
[FEN"2k5/8/2P1p3/1K2p3/4P3/5p2/5P2/8 w - - 0 55"]
57...Kc7 58.Kc5+-.
[FEN"8/6b1/8/6P1/2p2P1K/2P5/4k3/4B3 w - - 0 62"]
[FEN"8/Pb3p2/3p3p/4p3/2P1P2k/2KB4/8/8 w - - 0 45"]
Short found the shortest route to win. Can you do the same?
[FEN"2K5/8/1p3p1p/1B3kp1/3P4/8/8/8 w - - 0 72"]
[FEN"8/8/3K2k1/8/1p6/1P5P/P7/4b3 b - - 0 55"]
Comment on this month's column via our Contact Page! Pertinent responses
will be posted below daily.
Endgame
Corner
Karsten Müller Strategic Play
by Mark Dvoretsky
[Find us on Facebook.]
White has the clear plan to exchange the a5-pawn to reach a draw. Yet he
should also look at Black's options carefully, as White's king is exposed.
The idea is 70.Rf1+ Ke5 71.Rb1 Rg3 72.Rxb4 Kf6 73.h4 Rg6+ 74.Kh7 and
Black cannot win.
White's king must retreat, as 124.Kb3?? runs into 124...Rb2 mate. But where?
Those fifty-percent chances are often surprisingly difficult to deal with. Try to
decide this for yourself first before reading on.
124.Kb1?
124...b3?
This gives White another chance. 124...a2+ 125.Ka1 b3 126.Rg1 Kb4–+ is the
correct order of moves.
125.Rg1?
After 125.Rg5+, Black's king cannot hide from the checks and it is a draw.
76.Be3! Na8
77.Bc5+
The direct 77.Kxa8 Kc7 78.b5 Nxe3 79.b6+ Kxb6 80.Kb8 wins as well.
77...Kd7
[FEN "n7/PK1k4/8/2Bn4/1P6/8/8/8 w - - 0 78"]
78.Kxa8??
Too greedy. The b-pawn had to advance first to stop any counterplay
prophylactically: 78.b5 Nac7 79.b6 Ne6 80.Ba3 Nec7 81.bxc7 Nxc7 82.Bb4
+–.
78...Kc8 0–1
White can drum up an attack, but he must stop the defensive resources first.
50.Kf3?
Now comes the prophylactic point 51.Ke1!! (As the direct 51.Rh6? is met by
51...Nxc3+ 52.Ke1 Nxe4=) 51...Bxe4 (51...Be8 52.Rh6 Nxc3 53.Rxf6 Bf7 54.
Nxf4 Nxe4 55.Rb6 exf4 56.f6+–) 52.Rh6 Nxc3 53.Rxf6 Nd5 54.Rf8+ Kh7 55.
f6 Kg6 56.f7 Nf6
[FEN "5R2/5P2/4Nnk1/1p2p1p1/1Pp1bbB1/8/8/4K3 w - - 0 57"]
57.Nd8! and White wins; e.g., 57...Nh7 58.Rg8+ Kf6 59.f8Q+ Nxf8 60.Rxf8+
Ke7 61.Ne6+–.
[FEN"8/6b1/8/6P1/2p2P1K/2P5/4k3/4B3 w - - 0 62"]
62.f5! The pawns will beat Black's bishop. 62.Bg3?! wins as well, but is
extremely complicated: 62...Bxc3 63.f5 Bd4 64.f6 c3 65.f7 c2 66.Bf4 Be3 67.
Bxe3 Kxe3 68.f8Q c1Q and White mates in fifty-two moves according to the
Nalimov tablebase. 62...Kxe1 63.f6 Bh8 63...Bf8 64.g6 Kd2 65.g7+–. 64.Kh5
Kd2 65.Kg6 1–0 65.Kg6 Kxc3 66.f7+–.
[FEN"8/Pb3p2/3p3p/4p3/2P1P2k/2KB4/8/8 w - - 0 45"]
Short found the shortest route to win. Can you do the same?
45.Kd2! 45.c5 dxc5 46.Kd2 is also playable and will transpose. But not 46.
Kc4? Kg5 47.Kxc5 f5 48.exf5 e4=. 45...Kg5 46.Ke3 h5 47.c5!
Short's point, as now his king protects the e4-pawn. 47...h4 47...dxc5 48.Bc4
f5 49.Bd5+–. 48.Ba6 48.cxd6 Kf6 49.Ba6 wins as well. 48...h3 48...Ba8 49.
cxd6 Kf6 50.Bc4 h3 51.Kf3 Bxe4+ 52.Kg3 Bg2 53.Bf1+–. 49.Bxb7 h2 50.
a8Q h1Q 51.Qd8+ Kg6 52.Qxd6+ f6 53.Kd2 Qb1 54.Qb6 Qa2+ 55.Kd3
Qa3+ 56.Kc4 Qa4+ 57.Qb4 Qc2+ 58.Kb5 Qd3+ 59.Qc4 1–0
[FEN"2K5/8/1p3p1p/1B3kp1/3P4/8/8/8 w - - 0 72"]
72.d5? This allows Black to block the passed pawn. After 72.Bc6 Ke6 73.Kc7
+–, it can safely sail down the board to the eighth rank. 72...Ke5! 73.Bc6 Kd6
74.Kb7 b5 75.Kb6 b4 76.Ka5 b3 77.Ba4 b2 78.Bc2 Kxd5 79.Kb4 h5 80.
Kc3 h4 81.Kxb2 h3 82.Bd1 Ke4 83.Ba4 g4 84.Bc6+ Ke3 85.Bd7 h2 86.Bc6
g3 0–1
[FEN"8/8/3K2k1/8/1p6/1P5P/P7/4b3 b - - 0 55"]
Black's bishop must change diagonals: 55...Bh4! 55...Bf2 56.Kd5 Bh4 wins as
well. 56.Ke6 56.Kc5 Be7+ 57.Kb5 Kg5–+
White cannot make progress on the queenside, so Black's king has all the time
in the world. 56...Bf6 57.Kd5 Kg5 58.Ke6 Bd4 0–1 White resigned because
of 59.Kd5 Bb2 60.Kc4 Ba3–+.
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will be posted below daily.
Endgame
Corner
Karsten Müller Chess Endgames 7
by Karsten Müller
[Find us on Facebook.]
Black loses whatever he does, but one defense is definitely more tenacious
than the alternatives:
51...Kf4!
51...b5?! 52.Kc5 Kf5 53.Kxb5 Ke5 54.Ka6 Kd4 55.Kxa7 Kxd3 56.Kb6 Kc4
57.a4+-; 51...a5?! 52.a4 Kf4 53.Kd5 Ke3 54.Kc4!+-.
Chess Endgames 6
by Karsten Müller
52.Kd5 Ke3 53.d4
Now the moment has come, where Black missed his chance:
53...b5?!
After 53...a5!, White has to win a technically difficult queen ending: 54.a4
Kd3 55.Ke5 b5 56.axb5 (The direct 56.d5? runs into 56...bxa4 57.d6 a3 58.d7
a2 59.d8Q+ Kc2 60.Qxa5 Kb1
[FEN"8/8/8/Q3K3/8/8/p7/1k6 w - - 0 61"]
It is a draw, as White's king is just outside the winning zone.) 56...a4 57.b6 a3
58.b7 a2 59.b8Q a1Q 60.Qb3+ Kd2
[FEN"8/8/8/4K3/3P4/1Q6/3k4/q7 w - - 0 61"]
With optimal play White mates in seventy-two moves beginning with 61.Qh3
+-.
[FEN"K7/P4k2/8/8/1r6/8/8/4R3 b - - 0 1"]
1...Rb3!?
The only way to make real progress, as after 6.Ka6?! Ra3+ 7.Kb6 Rb3+ 8.
Ka5 Ra3+, White has to return with 9.Kb6.
Now it becomes clear why Black's rook had to go to the third rank:
The rook cannot be won by a series of checks and White must win the ending
queen vs. rook in a technical way.
[FEN"3K4/6Q1/8/8/5k2/7r/8/8 w - - 0 14"]
The king and rook join forces, forcing White to take the long route; e.g., via
breaking the third rank defense, the second rank defense, and finally winning
the Philidor position for this type of endgame.
In the following example, I had first thought that the defender had missed a
draw:
[FEN"8/4bk2/6p1/2p1p1Bp/
1pP1P1PK/1P5P/8/8 b - - 0 50"]
50...Bxg5+?!
50...hxg4! should be played first, but it does not hold in the long run: 51.Kxg4
(51.Bxe7? gxh3 52.Kxh3 Kxe7
[FEN"8/4k3/6p1/2p1p3/1pP1P3/1P5K/8/8 w - - 0 53"]
This is surprisingly still drawn, but makes no sense from White's point of
view of course: 53.Kg4 Kf7 54.Kh4 Kg8 55.Kg4 Kh7 56.Kg5 Kg7 57.Kh4
Kh6 58.Kg4 g5 59.Kf5 Kh5 60.Kxe5 g4 61.Kd6 g3 62.e5 g2 63.e6 g1Q 64.e7
[FEN"8/4P3/3K4/2p4k/1pP5/1P6/8/6q1 b - - 0 64"]
[FEN"5b2/5k2/6p1/2p1p1B1/
1pP1P1KP/1P6/8/8 b - - 0 52"]
White will open a path by h5 and invade sooner or later; e.g., 52...Ke6 53.h5
Kf7 (53...gxh5+ 54.Kxh5 Bd6 (54...Kf7 55.Bd8 Ke8 56.Bh4 Kf7 57.Kg5 Be7
+ 58.Kg4+-) 55.Kg6 Bc7 56.Kg7 Bd6 57.Bh4 Bc7 58.Kf8 Kd7 (58...Bd6+ 59.
Ke8 Be7
[FEN"4K3/4b3/4k3/2p1p3/1pP1P2B/
1P6/8/8 w - - 0 60"]
This is a nice trick, but White just answers 60.Bf2+-) 59.Kf7 Bd6 60.Bf6 Bc7
61.Be7 Bb6 62.Kf6+-) 54.Be3 Bd6 55.Bd2 Bf8 (55...Be7 56.Bh6 Bd6 57.Kh4
Be7+ 58.Bg5 Bd6 59.h6 Kg8 60.Bf6 Kh7 61.Kg5 Bc7 62.Be7 Bb6 63.Kf6
Kxh6 64.Kxe5+-) 56.Bg5
[FEN"5b2/5k2/6p1/2p1p1BP/1pP1P1K1/
1P6/8/8 b - - 0 56"]
The zugzwang White was aiming for: 56...Kg7 57.Bd8 Kh6 58.Bc7 gxh5+ 59.
Kf5 Bg7 (59...h4 60.Bxe5 h3 61.Bh2 Kg7 62.Ke6 Kg6 63.e5+-) 60.Bd6 h4 61.
Kg4+-.
51.Kxg5 hxg4
52.Kxg4
[FEN"8/6k1/8/2p1p2K/1pP1P3/1P6/8/8 b - - 0 56"]
[FEN"8/8/8/8/2B2k2/8/3r1K2/8 w - - 0 110"]
[FEN"8/8/8/P7/1KNpb3/1P6/2k5/8 b - - 0 59"]
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118.01 R. Réti
Kagan's Neueste Schachnachrichten, 1921
Endgame
Corner
Karsten Müller Chess Endgames 7
by Karsten Müller
[Find us on Facebook.]
At first sight it seems unbelievable that the h-pawn can be stopped, but this is
deceptive:
After 2...h3, White can already support his own pawn successfully: 3.Ke7 h2
Chess Endgames 6
4.c7 Kb7 5.Kd7=. by Karsten Müller
3.Ke5!!
[FEN"8/8/1kP5/4K3/7p/8/8/8 b - - 0 3"]
Now the double threat to enter the square of the h-pawn with Kf4 and to
support the c-pawn secures the draw.
3...h3
3...Kxc6 4.Kf4=.
[FEN"8/8/4K3/7p/1p1k4/6P1/P7/8 w - - 0 54"]
White's king must be on time on the queenside and on the kingside, so it must
stay equidistant.
54.Kd6?
Now White is too late on the kingside. Only the study-like 54.Ke7!! holds:
54...Ke4 55.Kf6 Kf3 56.Kg5 Kxg3 57.Kxh5 Kf4 58.Kg6 Ke5
[FEN"8/8/6K1/4k3/1p6/8/P7/8 w - - 0 59"]
And after 59.Kf7!, White is in time again: 59...Kd4 60.Ke6 Kc3 61.Kd5 Kb2
62.Kc4 Ka3 63.Kb5=; 54.Kf5? is wrong because of 54...Kc3 55.Kg5 Kb2 56.
Kxh5 Kxa2 57.g4 b3 58.g5 b2 59.g6 b1Q–+.
[FEN"8/8/4p3/p7/2k2K1p/P6P/6P1/8 b - - 0 4"]
6.a4
[FEN"8/8/8/p3p3/P6p/2k1K2P/6P1/8 b - - 0 6"]
6...Kc2!!
6...Kc4? 7.g3=.
7.Ke2
[FEN"8/8/8/p7/P3p2p/1k2K2P/6P1/8 b - - 0 9"]
Now, you probably guessed it: 9...Kb4!! (Vokarev) (9...Kxa4?! wins as well,
but Black does not want to play a queen ending of course: 10.g4 hxg3 11.h4
Kb3 12.h5 Kc2 13.h6 g2 14.Kf2 e3+ 15.Kxg2 e2 16.h7 e1Q 17.h8Q Qd2+–+)
10.Ke2 Kc4 11.Ke3 Kd5–+.
In the following example, from John Shaw's Quality Chess Puzzle Book, the
mysterious king move has another aim:
55...Kb2?
Only the prophylactic 55...Kc2!! does the job: 56.Nd5 Kb3 the king
dominates the knight 57.Kf2 (57.Nc7 b4 58.axb4 a3–+) 57...Kxa3 58.Ke3
Kb3 59.Kd2 a3 60.Ne3 a2 61.Nc2 Kb2 62.Kd3 b4–+.
56.Kf2 Kxa3
[FEN"8/8/8/1p6/p4N2/k7/5K2/8 w - - 0 57"]
56...b4 does not help because of 57.Nd3+ Kxa3 58.Ke2 b3 59.Kd2 Ka2
[FEN"8/8/8/8/p7/1p1N4/k2K4/8 w - - 0 60"]
57.Ke2?
As the king is not in time to deal with the a-pawn it head to go for the b-pawn:
57.Ke3! Kb3 58.Kd4 a3 59.Nd3 a2 (59...b4 60.Nc5+ Kb2 61.Kc4 a2 62.Nb3
Ka3 63.Na1=) 60.Nc1+ Kb2 61.Nxa2 Kxa2 62.Kc5=.
57...Kb3 58.Ne6
[FEN"6B1/8/3b1k2/pp1K1p2/4n1p1/8/PP2R2P/8 w - - 0 42"]
42.a4!!
Stevic wants to get access to the c4-square for his bishop, as the direct 42.
Rxe4? fxe4 43.Kxd6?? runs into 43...e3–+.
[FEN"8/8/3K4/p7/p1B1pkp1/8/1P5P/8 w - - 0 46"]
But now White loses an all important tempo, which will allow Black's king to
work wonders.
46.Be2?
[FEN"8/8/8/p1K4B/p3p3/8/1P3k2/8 b - - 0 49"]
49...Ke1
50.Kb5
50.Kd4 Kd2 51.Kxe4 Kc2=.
After 53.b3, Black just defends along the same lines; e.g., 53...Kc3 54.Ka4
Kc2 55.Be2 Kd2 56.Bc4 Kc3 57.Kxa5 e2 58.Bxe2 Kxb3=.
[FEN"8/8/8/1B6/p7/4p3/KP6/2k5 b - - 0 57"]
57...Kd2! 58.Kb1
[FEN"8/8/8/8/p7/8/1PK1k3/8 b - - 0 60"]
60...Ke1!
90.Bh5?
Now White's pieces get into the way of each other. 90.Be2 g4 91.Kg6 g3 92.
Bf1 f4 (92...Kf4 93.Bh3=) 93.Bg2 Kd4 94.Kf5 Ke3 95.Kg4 Kf2 96.Bf3= and;
90.Bf3 g4 91.Bb7 f4 92.Kg6 f3 93.Kg5= lead to a draw.
90...g4 91.Kg6
91...Kf4!? 0–1
[FEN"8/8/6K1/5p1B/5kp1/8/8/8 w - - 0 92"]
White resigned as the g-pawn will queen. 91...g3 wins as well: 92.Bf3 Kf4 93.
Bc6 Kg4! Body-check! 94.Kf6 f4 95.Ke5 f3–+.
[FEN"8/8/8/8/2B2k2/8/3r1K2/8 w - - 0 110"]
110.Ke1?
The d1–h5 diagonal is long enough after 110.Be2! Ke4 111.Kf1! Ke3 112.
Bg4=
[FEN"8/8/8/8/6B1/4k3/3r4/5K2 b - - 0 112"]
110...Ke3 111.Be6
[FEN"8/8/8/3B4/8/6k1/5r2/6K1 w - - 0 114"]
This reaches Tarrasch's well-known winning position; e.g., 114.Bg8 Rf8 115.
Bh7 Rh8 116.Bg6 Rh6 forces the bishop out of the shadow of the kings 117.
Bd3 Rd6 118.Be2 Rc6–+.
111...Rd6 112.Bf7 Rd7 113.Be6 Re7 114.Bb3 Rb7 115.Bc2 Ra7 116.Bd1
Ra1 0–1
[FEN"8/8/8/P7/1KNpb3/1P6/2k5/8 b - - 0 59"]
59...d3?
This follows the guideline that passed pawns must be pushed. But, as White
can push his a-pawn as well, this backfires here. First the a-pawn must be
stopped: 59...Bb7! 60.Ne5 Ba6 61.Nf3 d3 62.Ne1+ Kd2 63.Nxd3 Bxd3 (63...
Kxd3? 64.Kc5+-) 64.Kc5
[FEN"8/8/8/P1K5/8/1P1b4/3k4/8 b - - 0 64"]
Now Black's king is just in time: 64...Kc3 65.b4 Kb3 66.b5 Ka4 67.a6 Ka5 68.
a7 Be4 69.b6 Ka6=.
60.a6 d2
62...Kc3 does not help, as the king only sees the rear lights of the pawns: 63.
b4 Kb3 64.b5 Ka4 65.b6 Ka5 66.b7+-.
[FEN"8/P7/8/1PK5/4b3/1k6/8/8 w - - 0 66"]
66.Kb6!
The king must lead. After 66.b6? Ka4, Black is in time: 67.Kd6 Kb5 68.Kc7
Ka6=.
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Hollis – Florian
Endgame Correspondence Game, 1972
Corner
Karsten Müller ECE: Rook Endings
by Chess Informant
[Find us on Facebook.]
[FEN"8/1R3p2/1P2k1p1/7p/7P/2K2PP1/8/1r6 w - - 0 6"]
As Mark Dvoretsky has shown in his excellent Endgame Manual.
5.Rc7!
This wins important tempi as Black's rook has problems dealing with the b-
pawn now. In the game, Hollis played 5.Kc2? when Black could have
defended with 5...Re3. However, Black played 5...Rf5?, which allowed 6.Rc7
and Hollis went on to win.
5...Rb3
[FEN"8/2R2p2/1P3kp1/7p/7P/1K6/8/6r1 w - - 0 7"]
[FEN"8/2R2p2/1P3kp1/7p/6rP/8/1K6/8 w - - 0 8"]
(8...Rg2+ 9.Rc2 Rg4 10.Rc3 Rxh4 11.Ka3 Re4 12.b7 Re8 13.Rc8 Re3+ 14.
Kb2 Re2+ 15.Kc3 Re3+ 16.Kd2 Rb3 17.b8Q Rxb8 18.Rxb8 Kg5 19.Ke3 Kg4
20.Kf2+- (Averbakh cited by Yanvarev on Chesspro)) 9.Rc3! the rook will be
well placed behind the passed pawn 9...Rxh4 10.Rb3 Re4 11.b7 Re8 12.b8Q
Rxb8 13.Rxb8+-; 5...Ra3 6.b7! Rb3 7.Kc2 Rb6 8.Kd3+- (see the line 6...
Rb1).; 5...Ke6 6.b7 Rb3 7.Kc2 Rb6 8.Kc3
[FEN"8/1PR2p2/1r2k1p1/7p/7P/2K3P1/8/8 b - - 0 7"]
Now Black can again try a blocking defense with 8...Kd5!?, but White has
made too much progress: 9.Rxf7 Kc5 10.Rg7 Kd5 11.Kd3 Rb3+ 12.Kd2 Kd4
13.Rd7+ This check breaks Black's defense, as the white king can now make
progress on one wing. 13...Kc4 14.Ke2 Kc5 15.Rg7 Kd4 16.Rxg6 Rxb7
[FEN"8/1r6/6R1/7p/3k3P/6P1/4K3/8 w - - 0 16"]
[FEN"8/7r/8/6Rp/3k3P/6P1/6K1/8 w - - 0 19"]
Now surprisingly 20.g4!! wins because of the cut-off: 20...hxg4 21.h5 Ke4 22.
Kg3 Rh6 23.Kxg4 Rh8 24.Rg6 Ra8 25.h6+-.
6.b7
[FEN"8/1PR2p2/5kp1/7p/7P/1r4P1/3K4/8 b - - 0 5"]
Black has many different defensive options here, but he is not able to stop
White's plan to approach with the king.
6...Kf5
[FEN"1Q6/5p2/2r1k1p1/7p/7P/3K2P1/8/8 b - - 0 9"]
This is no fortress, as Black's king does not manage to reach g7.; 8...Kf5 9.
Rxf7+ Kg4 10.Rg7+-) 9.Kc4! Kd6 (9...f6 10.Rd7! Ke6 11.Kc5+-) 10.Rxf7
Rb1 (10...Ke6 11.Rg7 Kf6 12.Rc7+-) 11.Rg7! Kc6 12.Kd4+-; 6...g5 This was
even tried in a tournament game: 7.Kc2 Rb5 8.hxg5+ Kxg5 9.Rxf7 Kg4!? (9...
Kg6 10.Rc7 Kg5 11.Kc3 Kg4 12.Rc4+ Kxg3 13.Rb4 Rxb7 14.Rxb7 h4
[FEN"8/1R6/8/8/7p/2K3k1/8/8 w - - 0 14"]
[FEN"8/1P4R1/8/7p/8/2K2kP1/8/1r6 w - - 0 12"]
13.Kd4 (The direct 13.Rd7!? was already playable: 13...Kxg3 14.Rd3+ Kg4
15.Rd4+ Kg3 16.Rb4+-) 13...Rb5 14.Kc4 Rb1 15.Kd5 Rb6 16.Kc5 Rxb7 17.
Rxb7 Kxg3 18.Rg7+ Kf3 19.Rh7 and Black resigned in the game B.Socko
(2528)-A.Zubarev (2074), Polanica Zdroj 2000; 6...Rb6
[FEN"8/1PR2p2/1r3kp1/7p/7P/6P1/3K4/8 w - - 0 6"]
This is met by 7.Kd3!+- (But not the hasty 7.Rc6+?? Rxc6 8.b8Q Kg7! and
Black has a fortress like set up.) ; 6...Ke6 7.Kc2 Rb6 8.Kc3+-.
7.Kc2!
7...Rb6
7...Rb5 8.Kc3 Kg4 9.Rc4+ Kxg3 10.Rb4 Rxb7 11.Rxb7 Kxh4 12.Rxf7+-
(Yanvarev on Chesspro).
8.Rxf7+!
[FEN"8/1P4R1/1r3pp1/5k1p/7P/2K3P1/8/8 b - - 0 8"]
9...g5! 10.Kd4 Kg4 11.Kd5 (11.Kc5 Rb1 12.Kc6 Rc1+ 13.Kd7 Rd1+ 14.Kc8
Rc1+ 15.Rc7 Rb1=) 11...Kxg3 12.hxg5 fxg5 13.Rxg5+ Kf4 14.Rg7 h4=.
8...Kg4
[FEN"8/1P3R2/1r4p1/7p/6kP/6P1/2K5/8 w - - 0 8"]
9.Rg7!?
9.Rd7 wins as well: 9...Kh3 (9...Kxg3?! 10.Rd3+ Kxh4 11.Rb3! Rxb7 12.
Rxb7+- (Kantorovich)) 10.Rg7! Rb5 11.Kc3 Kxg3
[FEN"8/1P4R1/6p1/1r5p/7P/2K3k1/8/8 w - - 0 11"]
Here Micawber had made a mistake, but later corrected himself: 12.Kc4 (First
he had given 12.Rxg6+?, but Black defends after 12...Kxh4 13.Rg7 Kh3=)
12...Rb1 13.Rd7+-.
[FEN"8/1P4R1/6p1/7p/7P/2K3Pk/8/1r6 w - - 0 10"]
11...Kxg3
[FEN"8/1P4R1/6p1/7p/2K4P/6k1/8/1r6 w - - 0 11"]
Now comes the final deep point 11...Rb2 12.Kc5 Kxg3 13.Rxg6+ Kxh4 14.
Rb6+-.
12.Rd7!!
12...Kg2
12...Kxh4 13.Rd4+ Kg5 (13...Kg3 14.Rd3+ Kg2 15.Rb3+-) 14.Rd5+ Kg4 15.
Rb5+-.
13.Kc3!?
Finally the job is done. A really fascinating piece of work. Again many thanks
to Mr. Micawber for allowing me to use his analysis. Igor Yanvarev was the
first to give convincing proof that White wins and Micawber managed to
make a few points clearer.
Steckner, 2003
[FEN"8/P1R2p2/6p1/5k1p/3K3P/6P1/r7/8 w - - 0 1"]
1.Kc4!!
1.Kc5? Kg4 2.Kb5 Kh3 3.Rxf7 Kxg3 4.Kb6 Kxh4=; 1.Rxf7+? Kg4 2.Kc5
Kxg3 3.Kb5 Rb2+ 4.Kc6 Ra2 5.Kb7 Kxh4 6.Rf6 Rxa7+= (Kantorovich).
1...Kg4
1...Ra1 2.Kb5 Rb1+ 3.Kc6 Ra1 4.Kb7 Rb1+ 5.Kc8 Ra1 6.Rxf7+ Kg4 7.Rg7
Kxg3 8.Rxg6+ Kxh4 9.Kb7 Rxa7+ 10.Kxa7 Kh3 11.Kb6+-; 1...f6 2.Kb5 Rb2
+ 3.Kc6 Ra2 4.Kb7 Rb2+ 5.Kc8 Ra2
[FEN"2K5/P1R5/5pp1/5k1p/7P/6P1/r7/8 w - - 0 6"]
6.Rg7! g5 (6...Kg4 7.Rxg6+ Kh3 8.Rg7 Ra3 9.Kb8 Rb3+ 10.Rb7 Rxg3 11.
Rb4 Rg8+ 12.Kb7 Kg3 13.a8Q Rxa8 14.Kxa8 f5 15.Kb7 f4 16.Kc6 f3 17.Kd5
f2 18.Rb1+-) 7.Kb8 Rb2+ 8.Rb7 Re2 9.a8Q Re8+ 10.Ka7 Rxa8+ 11.Kxa8
Kg4 12.Rg7+-.
2.Kb3
[FEN"8/P1R2p2/6p1/7p/6kP/1K4P1/r7/8 b - - 0 2"]
6...f5 7.Kd2 g5 8.Ke2 g4 9.Kf2 Kg5 10.Rg7+ Kf6 11.Rg8 h4 12.Ke3 h3 13.
Kf4+-.
7.Kd2 h4 8.Ke2
[FEN"8/R4p2/6p1/8/7p/6k1/4K3/8 b - - 0 8"]
8...Kg2
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Endgame
Corner
Karsten Müller Fundamental Chess Endings
by Karsten Müller
& Frank Lamprecht
[Find us on Facebook.]
[FEN "8/4K1p1/8/8/4P3/8/7k/8 w - - 0 64"]
Translate this page
64.Ke6!!
The king moves backwards into the way of its own passed pawn. Chess really
is an amazing game. After 64.e5? g5 65.Kf6 g4=, all the king would see
would be the rear lights of the g-pawn.
64...Kg3
101.h4!
White must enter the race immediately as 101.Kf4? is met by 101...Kxc5 102.
Ke3 d4+ 103.Kd3 Kd5 104.h4 Ke5 105.h5 Kf6 106.Kxd4 Kg5=.
101...d4 102.Kf4!
Necessary, as the direct race 102.h5? ends in a drawn queen endgame: 102...
d3 103.h6 d2 104.h7 d1Q 105.h8Q Qd5+=.
102...Kxc5 103.h5!
[FEN"8/8/8/2k4P/3p1K2/8/8/8 b - - 0 103"]
White makes sure that Black cannot enter the square of the passed pawn.
[FEN"8/8/7P/8/2k5/3pK3/8/8 b - - 0 105"]
Black resigned as the h-pawn promotes with check after 106...d2 107.h8Q+
+–.
The following example is not a direct pawn race, as Black's protected passed f-
pawn has a head start.
120.03 Zickus, S (2320) – Sulskis, S (2562)
Open LTU Rapid Vilnius LTU (8), 27.11.2010
[FEN"8/8/5k2/8/4P1p1/3K1pP1/8/8 b - - 0 87"]
87...Ke6!?
87...Ke5 is less precise, but nevertheless winning: 88.Ke3 Kd6 89.Kd2 Kc5
90.Kd3 Kb4
[FEN"8/8/8/8/1k2P1p1/3K1pP1/8/8 w - - 0 91"]
88.Ke3
88.Kd2 does not help, as Black just tip toes around the square e5 with 88...
Kd6 89.Kd3 Kc5 90.Ke3 Kc4–+.
88...Ke5
[FEN"8/8/8/4k3/4P1p1/4KpP1/8/8 w - - 0 89"]
White is in zugzwang and Black wins by exchanging his f-pawn for White's e-
pawn followed by invading with the king.
92.Kf1 Ke3 93.Kg2 Ke2 94.Kg1 Kf3 95.Kh2 Kf2 96.Kh1 Kxg3 97.Kg1
[FEN"8/8/8/8/6p1/6k1/8/6K1 b - - 0 97"]
97...Kh3! 0–1
The last point, so Zickus resigned. After 97...Kf3?! 98.Kh2!, Black must
repeat the position with 98...Kf2 99.Kh1 Kg3 100.Kg1 and now 100...Kh3 in
order to win.
[FEN"8/pk6/3K2p1/5p2/2P2P2/7P/8/8 b - - 0 56"]
56...g5?
The direct race is lost, as White will win the queen ending because of his
centralized king. The monarch must first be diverted with 56...a5! 57.Kc5 (57.
c5?? Kc8 even wins for Black.; 57.Kd7 is answered by 57...Kb6 58.Kd6 Kb7)
57...a4 58.Kb4 g5 59.fxg5 a3 60.Kxa3 f4 61.g6 f3 62.g7 f2 63.g8Q f1Q 64.
Qe6 Kc7
[FEN"8/2k5/4Q3/8/2P5/K6P/8/5q2 w - - 0 65"]
The resulting queen ending is drawn according to the endgame tablebase; e.g.,
65.Kb4 Qf8+ 66.Kc3 Qf3+ 67.Kd4 Qf4+ 68.Kd5 Qf3+ 69.Ke5 Qe3+ 70.Kf6
Qh6+ 71.Kf7 Qh7+ 72.Kf8 Qh8+ 73.Ke7 Qh4+=.
[FEN"8/pk6/3K4/3Q4/2P5/7P/8/5q2 b - - 0 61"]
[FEN"4k3/8/p1R5/P2K2p1/1P6/8/8/2r5 b - - 0 68"]
Black can only choose between two evils, as White will always win the
resulting races.
68...Rxc6
69.Kxc6 g4
After 74...Kg6, 75.Qb5 cuts Black's king off in the losing zone:
[FEN"8/8/2K3k1/PQ6/8/8/8/6q1 b - - 0 75"]
(After 75.a6? Qg2+ 76.Kc7 Qh2+ 77.Kc8 Qh8+ 78.Kc7 Qg7+ 79.Kb8 Qe5+
80.Qc7 Qb5+ 81.Ka7, Black's king can leave the losing zone with 81...Kg5:
[FEN"8/K1Q5/P7/1q4k1/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 82"]
76...Kg8 is much more tenacious. If the defending king cannot leave the
losing zone, then it should head for the h8-corner.
77.a6 Qg2+ 78.Kc7 Qg7+ 79.Kc8 Qg4+ 80.Kb7 Qg7+ 81.Qc7 Qb2+ 82.
Ka8 1–0
Black resigned, but the road to victory is still quite long: 82...Qg2+ 83.Kb8
Qb2+ 84.Kc8 Qa3 85.Qc6+ Kf8 86.Kb8 Qb4+ 87.Ka8 Qa5 88.Qd6+ Kf7 89.
Kb7 Qb5+ 90.Qb6 Qd5+ 91.Qc6 Qb3+ 92.Kc8 Kg8 93.Qe8+ Kh7 94.Qd7+
Kg8 95.Qd8+ Kf7 96.a7 Qf3 97.Qc7+ Ke8 98.Qc5 Kf7 99.Kc7 Qg3+ 100.
Kb6 Qb3+ 101.Kc6 Qe6+ 102.Kb7 Qb3+ 103.Qb6 Qd5+ 104.Qc6 Qb3+ 105.
Kc8+–.
[FEN"8/8/8/4K2p/5P2/3k4/8/8 w - - 0 48"]
Both pawns will queen at the same time or will they? (White to move)
[FEN"8/5pk1/8/4PKP1/8/8/8/8 b - - 0 49"]
[FEN"7k/5q2/7P/5Q2/8/6PK/8/8 w - - 0 52"]
After Black's stalemate trick 51...Qf7, White has only one winning move.
Find it!
[FEN"1n6/4k3/6p1/3K1pP1/Bp1P1P2/8/8/8 b - - 0 57"]
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will be posted below daily.
Endgame
Corner
Karsten Müller Fundamental Chess Endings
by Karsten Müller
& Frank Lamprecht
[Find us on Facebook.]
55...Be6!
The only winning move. 55...Kd3? runs into a nasty surprise: 56.Kf2 Bf7 (56...
h4 57.g6 Ke4 58.g3 h3 59.g4 Ke5 60.Kg3=) 57.Kg3 Kxe3 58.Kh4 Kf4
57.g6 does not help, as the bishop takes control after 57...Ke5 58.g7 Kf6 59.
Kg3 Kxg7 60.Kh4 Bg4–+.
59.Kh4
[FEN"8/8/8/4k1Pp/4P1bK/8/6P1/8 b - - 0 59"]
59...Ke6!
Black acts according to the principle "Do not rush!". The greedy 59...Kxe4?
runs into 60.g6= and the bishop is overloaded.
Now Black will convert his extra piece by using the standard endgame
weapon zugzwang.
[FEN"8/pp6/4k3/PPP5/7p/2K5/3n2P1/8 b - - 0 49"]
49...Nf3!?
Very beautiful, but Black can also win by 49...Kd5 50.c6 Ne4+ 51.Kc2 b6–+.
50.b6 axb6
50...a6 51.c6 Ne5 52.cxb7 Nd7 53.Kd2 Kd6 54.Ke3 Kc6 is the alternative.
51.c6
[FEN"8/1p6/1pP1k3/P7/7p/2K2n2/6P1/8 b - - 0 51"]
[FEN"8/1k6/1P6/8/7p/2K2n2/6P1/8 w - - 0 54"]
[FEN"8/1k6/1P6/8/5n2/6Kp/8/8 w - - 0 58"]
The knight protects the last pawn from behind so White resigned.
[FEN"8/p7/6p1/2N5/3p4/7k/P4K2/8 w - - 0 43"]
White wins by precise play.
43.Ne6 Kg4
[FEN"8/p7/4N3/6p1/7k/3K4/P7/8 w - - 0 46"]
[FEN"8/p7/8/1K6/6kN/6p1/P7/8 w - - 0 51"]
46...g4 47.Kf2 Kh3 48.Kg1 Kg3 49.Nd4 Kf4 50.Nc6 a6 51.Nb8 a5 52.a4 Ke4
53.Nc6 Kd5 54.Nxa5 Kc5 55.Nb3+ Kb4 56.a5 Kb5 57.Kg2+–.
[FEN"8/8/6p1/N7/P7/2k5/5K2/8 w - - 0 50"]
50.Nb3! 1–0
The knight will protect the a-pawn from behind. 50.Nc6? is wrong because of
50...Kc4 51.a5 Kb5=.
In the last example the bishop sacrifices itself to get rid off the last pawns.
121.04 Eggleston, D (2307) – Pert, R (2464)
Hastings Masters 2010–11 (3.3), 30.12.2010
[FEN"2k5/8/2Pb2p1/8/ppKN2P1/8/P7/8 b - - 0 43"]
43...b3!?
[FEN"8/8/5kp1/8/5KP1/8/1p1N4/8 b - - 0 51"]
51...Ke6 52.Kg5 Kf7 53.Kh6 Kf6 54.g5+ Kf5 55.Nb1 Ke4 56.Kxg6 Kd3 57.
Kf5 Kc2=.
[FEN"8/8/3b2p1/3k4/1P4P1/1K6/2N5/8 b - - 0 49"]
At first sight it seems that White can not win as he is tied up. But this is
deceptive. White to move and win.
[FEN"8/5k2/8/8/6P1/2Bp1K2/1R2r3/8 b - - 0 79"]
[FEN"8/5k2/5P2/1PK1b2p/7P/8/8/8 b - - 0 50"]
[FEN"8/p1Pk4/8/6p1/8/4nK2/P5P1/8 b - - 0 46"]
[FEN"8/2N4p/2k5/K1P3P1/2B1b3/8/8/8 b - - 0 62"]
Both pawns will queen at the same time or will they? (White to move)
48.f5! 48.Kf5? h4 49.Kg4 Ke4 50.f5 h3=. 48...h4 49.Kf4! The decisive
bodycheck. 49...h3 50.Kg3 Ke4 51.f6 1–0
[FEN"8/5pk1/8/4PKP1/8/8/8/8 b - - 0 49"]
49...Kf8? 49...Kg8! was forced: 50.g6 (50.Kf6 Kf8 51.g6 fxg6 52.Kxg6 Ke7!
=) 50...Kg7 51.gxf7 Kxf7 52.e6+ Ke7 53.Ke5 Ke8! 54.Kf6 Kf8 55.e7+ Ke8
56.Ke6 stalemate. 50.g6? ½–½ 50.Kf6 wins by encirclement: 50...Ke8 51.
Kg7 (But not 51.e6? due to 51...Kf8! 52.exf7 stalemate.) 51...Ke7 52.Kg8
Ke8 (52...Ke6 53.Kf8 Kxe5 54.Kxf7+–) 53.e6 fxe6 54.g6 e5 55.g7 e4 56.Kh7
e3 57.g8Q++–.
[FEN"7k/5q2/7P/5Q2/8/6PK/8/8 w - - 0 52"]
After Black's stalemate trick 51...Qf7, White has only one winning move.
Find it!
52.g4? This allows Black to trade queens on his terms. The preparatory 52.
Qe5+! was called for: 52...Kh7 (52...Kg8 53.Kh4 Qc4+ 54.g4 Qf7 55.Qg7+
Qxg7 56.hxg7 Kxg7 57.Kg5+–) 53.Kh4 Kxh6 (53...Qc4+ 54.Kg5 Qc1+ 55.
Qf4 Qc5+ 56.Qf5++–) 54.Qh8+ Kg6 55.Qh5+ Kg7 56.Qxf7+ Kxf7 57.Kg5
+–. 52...Qxf5 53.gxf5 Kh7 54.Kg4 Kxh6 55.Kf4 Kg7 ½–½
[FEN"8/5Bp1/3k4/p4P2/5P2/rNK5/8/8 w - - 0 45"]
45.Bc4? White miscalculates the resulting pawn ending. One way to draw
was 45.Kb2 Ra4 46.Bg6 Rxf4 47.Nxa5=. 45...a4 46.Kb2 Rxb3+ 47.Bxb3
axb3 48.Kxb3 Kd5! 49.Kc3 Ke4 50.Kd2 Kxf4 51.Ke2 Kxf5 52.Kf3 Kg5 53.
Kg3 g6 54.Kf3 Kh4 55.Kf2 Kh3 56.Kf3 g5 57.Kf2 g4 58.Kg1 Kg3 0–1
[FEN"1n6/4k3/6p1/3K1pP1/Bp1P1P2/8/8/8 b - - 0 57"]
57...Nd7? Black's counterplay will be too slow. 57...Na6! was forced: 58.Kc6
(58.Bb3 Nc7+ 59.Kc5 Ne8 60.d5 Nd6 61.Bc2 Ne8 62.Ba4 Nd6 63.Kxb4
Ne4=) 58...b3 59.Bxb3 Nb4+ 60.Kc7 Na6+ 61.Kc8 Nb4 62.d5 Kd6 63.Kd8
Nxd5 64.Bxd5 Kxd5 65.Ke7 Ke4 66.Kf6 Kxf4 67.Kxg6 Ke4=. 58.Bxd7
Kxd7 59.Kc4 Kd6 60.Kxb4 Kd5 61.Kc3 Ke4 62.Kc4 Kxf4 63.d5 Ke5 64.
Kc5 f4 65.d6 1–0
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66.Rc3?
The wrong way to meet the check. The retreat 66.Ka2! uses White's rook
more actively: 66...Re8 (After 66...Rxf3 67.b6, the pawn can only be stopped Starting Out: Rook Endgames
by giving the rook: 67...Re3 68.b7 Re8 69.Rc8 Re2+ 70.Kb1 Re1+ 71.Kc2 by Chris Ward
Re2+ 72.Kd3 Re3+ 73.Kd4+–) 67.b6 Ra8+ 68.Kb1 Kg3 69.Rc3 Rb8 70.Rb3
Rb7 71.Kb2 Kf2
White's king marches to the pawn: 72.Ka3 Ke2 73.Ka4 Rxb6 74.Rxb6 Kxf3
75.Kb3 Ke2
[FEN "8/8/1R6/8/5p2/1K6/4k3/8 w - - 0 76"]
66...Kg3!
66...Rxc3+?? wastes an all important tempo 67.Kxc3 Kg3 68.b6 Kxf3 69.b7
Kg2 70.b8Q f3 71.Qg8+ Kh2 72.Kd2+–.
67.Kc4
69...Kg2!
White's king is inside the winning zone; e.g., 72.Qb5+ Ke1 73.Qb1+ Ke2 74.
Qd3+ Ke1 75.Kc2 f1N (75...f1Q 76.Qd2#) 76.Qf3+–.
70.b7 f3 71.b8Q f2
[FEN "1Q6/8/8/8/8/2K5/5pk1/8 w - - 0 72"]
The rook does not like to be passive; even two solid extra pawns can be
insufficient to win.
68...Kd6!
68...Ke6? 69.Rxg5 Rf8 70.Ka4 Rxf3 71.Ka5 Kd6 72.Kb6 Kd7 73.Rc5+–.
72.Ka4 Kb6 73.Rg6+ Kb7 74.Rg3 Kb6 75.Kb3 Kc6 76.Kc3 Kb6 77.Rh3
Kc6 78.Rg3 Kb6
[FEN "8/8/1k6/8/1P3r2/2K2PR1/8/8 w - - 0 79"]
79.Kd3!?
81.Ke4
81...Kc6 82.f4 Kd6 83.Kf5 Ke7 84.Kg6 Kf8 85.f5 Rb6+ 86.f6 Rb1 ½–½
[FEN "6k1/4R3/2r1p2p/3p2pP/3P2P1/
1K2P3/8/8 b - - 0 68"]
68...Rb6+?
After 68...Kf8 69.Rh7 e5!, Black will always be able to activate his rook in
time to profit from the large drawish tendency of rook endings:
[FEN "5k2/7R/2r4p/3pp1pP/3P2P1/
1K2P3/8/8 w - - 0 70"]
70.Rd7 (70.dxe5 Re6 71.Kc3 Kg8 72.Rd7 Rxe5=) 70...exd4 71.exd4 Re6 72.
Rxd5 Re4 73.Kc4 Rxg4=.
69.Kc3 Ra6
69...Kh8 does not help because of 70.Rf7 Rc6+ (Passive defense with 70...
Kg8 71.Rf6 Kg7 72.Rg6+ Kh7 loses to triangulation:
[FEN "8/7k/1r2p1Rp/3p2pP/3P2P1/
2K1P3/8/8 w - - 0 73"]
73.Kc2 Ra6 74.Kb3 Rb6+ 75.Kc3 and Black is in fatal zugzwang: 75...Rc6+
76.Kb4 Rb6+ 77.Kc5 Ra6 78.Rf6 Kg7 79.Rf3 Kg8 80.Kb5 Rd6 81.Rf1 Kg7
82.Rc1 Kf6 83.Rc7 e5 84.Rh7+–) 71.Kb4 e5 72.dxe5 Rc4+ 73.Kb5 Re4 74.
Rf5 Rxg4 (74...Rxe3 75.Kc5 Kg7 76.Kxd5 Ra3 77.e6 Ra7 78.Ke5 Ra5+ 79.
Kd4 Ra7 80.Kc5 Ra5+ 81.Kb6+–) 75.Kc6 Re4 (75...Ra4 76.e6 Kg7 77.e7 Ra6
+ 78.Kd7 Ra7+ 79.Ke6 Ra6+ 80.Ke5 Ra8 81.Rf6 g4 82.Ke6 Ra6+ 83.Kxd5
Ra8 84.Rf8+–) 76.Kd7
The easiest win, as the pawn e5 is White's main trump. 76...g4 77.e6 g3 78.
Rf1 Kg7 79.Rf3 g2 80.Rg3+ Kf6 81.Rxg2 Rxe6 82.Rg6++–.
70.Kb4 Kf8
[FEN "5k2/4R3/r3p2p/3p2pP/1K1P2P1/
4P3/8/8 w - - 0 71"]
White takes the distant opposition and infiltrates using the typical technique.
White managed to make a Houdini like escape. Can you do the same?
[FEN"8/8/8/8/1p6/1Pk1K3/3N4/8 w - - 0 52"]
At first sight it seems that White can not win as he is tied up. But this is
deceptive. White to move and win.
White has to sacrifice the knight: 52.Ke4! After 52.Ke2?! Kc2 53.Ke1 Kc3 54.
Kd1 Kb2, White can still not free the knight. 52...Kxd2 53.Kd4 The decisive
bodycheck. 53...Ke2 54.Kc4 Ke3 55.Kxb4 Kd4 56.Kb5 Kd5 57.b4 Kd6 58.
Kb6 Kd7 59.b5 Kc8 60.Ka7 1–0
Black manages to exchange the last pawn with 79...Rxb2 80.Bxb2 d2 81.Ke2
Kg6
[FEN"8/5k2/5P2/1PK1b2p/7P/8/8/8 b - - 0 50"]
Black chose the wrong way to capture: 50...Bxf6? 50...Kxf6! wins as White's
king does not manage to reach the corner in time: 51.b6 (51.Kd5 Kf5–+) 51...
Kf5 52.Kd5 Kf4 53.b7 Kf5 54.Kc4 Kg4 55.Kd3 Kxh4 56.Ke2 Kg3 57.Kf1
Kh2–+. 51.Kd5 Bxh4 52.Ke4 Kg6 53.b6 Bg3 53...Kg5?? would be very
unfortunate because of 54.Kf3+–. 54.Kf3 Bb8 55.Kg2 Kg5 ½–½
White is saved by the wrong rook's pawn h6: 58.Bxb4! 58.Bg7? Kc5 59.Bxh6
b3 60.Bg7 Kc4 61.g4 Kd3 62.Kg2 Bg5 63.Kf3 Kc2 64.Ke4 Bd2 65.Kf5 Bc3–
+; 58.Bb2? Kd5 59.g4 Bh4 60.Kg2 Ke4–+. 58...Bxb4 59.g4 Be1 60.h4 Bxh4
61.Kg2 Kd5 62.Kh1 Ke4 63.Kg2 Kf4 64.Kh2 Kf3 65.Kh1 Kg3 66.Kg1
Kh3 67.Kh1 Bf2 68.g5
[FEN"8/p1Pk4/8/6p1/8/4nK2/P5P1/8 b - - 0 46"]
Black wins by one tempo: 46...Nxg2!? 47.Kxg2 Kxc7 48.Kg3 Kb6 49.Kg4
Ka5 50.Kxg5 Ka4 51.Kf5 Ka3 52.Ke4 Kxa2 0–1 White resigned because of
53.Kd3 Kb3 54.Kd2 Kb2 55.Kd3 a5 56.Kc4 a4 57.Kb4 a3–+
The pawn is more important than the knight: 62...Kxc5! 62...Kxc7? 63.Kb5
Bc6+ 64.Kb4 Be4 65.Bb5 Bf5 66.Kc3 Be4 67.Bd3+–. 63.Bg8 Kd6 64.Kb6
Bf5 65.Nd5 Be6 66.Nf6 Bxg8 67.Nxg8
67...Ke5! Black's king must follow a narrow path 67...Ke6? 68.Nh6+–. 68.
Nh6 68.Nf6 Kf5 69.Nxh7 Kg6=. 68...Kf4! 68...Kd6? 69.Kb5 Kd5 70.Kb4
Kd4 71.Nf7 Kd5 72.Kc3 Ke6 73.Nh6 Ke5 74.Kc4 Kf4 75.Nf7 Kf5 76.Kd5
Kg6 77.Ke6 Kg7 78.Ne5 h6 79.g6 h5 80.Kf5+–. 69.Nf7 Kf5! 69...Kg4? 70.
Kc6 Kf5 71.Kd7 Kg6 72.Ke7 Kg7 73.Ne5 h5 74.Ke6 h4 75.Kf5 h3 76.Nf3+–.
70.Kc6 Kg6 ½–½
Comment on this month's column via our Contact Page! Pertinent responses
will be posted below daily.
Endgame
Corner
Karsten Müller ECE: Minor Piece Endings
by Chess Informant
[Find us on Facebook.]
[FEN "5b2/p1k5/4KP2/2p5/2P4p/8/
5N2/8 w - - 0 55"]
Translate this page
55.Nh3?
Now Black's rook's pawns, the most dangerous enemies of the knight, cannot
be stopped. After the direct switchback of White's king 55.Kf7 Bd6 56.Ke6,
Black's bishop cannot escape the hunt:
57...h3!?
This deflection of the knight is good technique. 57...a4?! wins as well, but is
much more complicated; e.g., 58.Ne4 h3 59.Nxd6 h2 60.Ke7 h1Q 61.Nb5+
Kb6 62.f7 Qh4+ 63.Ke8 Qxc4 64.f8Q Kxb5–+.
85.Kb6!
But not 85.Kb7? Kd5 86.a6 Kc4 87.a7
A draw was agreed as White can choose between the trivial 88.a8Q and the
eternal hunt 88.Kc7!? Ba8 89.Kb8 Bc6 [89...Kc6 90.Kxa8 Kc7 stalemate is
another possible finish.] 90.Kc7=.
67.Bb1!
Rubinstein uses the moment to win the decisive tempo in the following race.
Grünfeld had only expected 67.a7? Bxa7 68.Kxa7 Ke3 when his king will
hunt the bishop forever:
[FEN "8/K7/8/4p3/4P3/2pBk3/8/8 w - - 0 69"]
69.Bb1 Kd2 70.Kb6 Kc1 71.Bd3 (71.Ba2?? even loses because of 71...Kb2–
+) 71...Kd2=.
The game was adjourned, but Grünfeld resigned directly because of 70...Kd2
71.Kc5 Kc1 72.Kc4 Kxb1 73.Kxc3+–.
It looks unlikely but White can still save himself in this masterpiece by
Endgame Virtuoso Vassily Smyslov. Can you find it?
White must protect the pawn g4: 78.Rf4! 78.g5? Rf8= allows Black's king to
cross over in front of the g-pawn.; And 78.Kh5? Rh8+ 79.Kg6 Rg8+ leads
nowhere. 78...Rh8+ 78...Rf8 79.Rxf8 Kxf8 80.Kh5 Kg7 81.Kg5+–. 79.Kg5
Ke6 79...Rg8+ 80.Kh6+–. 80.Kg6 Ke5 81.Rf5+ Ke4 82.Rf6 Rg8+ 83.Kh5
Ke5 83...Rh8+ 84.Rh6 Rg8 85.g5 Kf5 86.Rf6++–. 84.g5 Rh8+ 85.Kg6 Rh1
86.Kg7 Rg1 87.g6 Ra1 88.Rf8 Ke6 89.Kg8 Ke7 90.Rf4 Rg1 91.g7 Rg2 92.
Rh4 Kf6 93.Rh6+ Ke7 94.Kh8 Kf7 95.Rh7 1–0
84.Ra3? The third rank is important, but this does not stop Black's rook from
occupying it. 84.Ke4! dominates Black's forces and draws: 84...Rd7 (84...Kf2
85.Rf8+=) 85.Ra2+ Rd2 86.Ra3=. 84...Rd4+?
84...Rd3! 85.Ra2+ Kf1 86.Ke4 Rb3 87.Ra1+ Kf2–+. 85.Ke5? Now White's
king is out of the game. 85.Kg3! Rd3 (85...Kd2 86.Ra2+ Ke1 87.Kf3 Rd3 88.
Re2+=) 86.Ra1! draws. 85...Rb4 86.Ra2+ Kf1 87.Ra8 e2 88.Rf8+ Kg2 89.
Rg8+ Kf2 90.Rf8+ Kg3 0–1
Black chose the wrong order of moves: 51...Rg4? 51...h2! wins: 52.Rg5+ (52.
g7 Rg4–+) 52...Kf2 53.Rf5+ (53.Rh5 Kg3 54.Ke2 Rg4 55.Kf1 Rxg6 56.Rh8
Rg4 57.Rh7 Rf4+ 58.Ke2 Rh4–+) 53...Kg3 54.Rh5 Rg4 55.Rh6 Kg2–+. 52.
Ke2 h2 52...Re4+ 53.Kd3=; 52...Rxg6 53.Rf2+ Kg3 54.Rf3+ Kg4 55.Kf2 h2
56.Rg3+ Kf4 (56...Kh4?? 57.Rxg6 h1N+ 58.Kg2+–) 57.Rh3=. 53.Rf2+ Kh3
54.Rf3+ Kh4 and we have reached the next exercise E122.04.
This runs into 55...Rg5!! 56.Rh7+ Kg3 57.g7 Kg2–+; 55.Rf1? Rxg6 56.Rf8
Rg1 57.Rh8+ Kg3 58.Rg8+ Kf4–+. 55...Rxg6 56.Kf2!
Black can promote, but not win: 56...h1N+ After 56...h1Q, 57.Rh8+= picks
up the new born queen. 57.Ke3 ½–½
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Endgame
Corner
Karsten Müller 888 Miniature Studies
by Genrikh Kasparian
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[FEN "8/8/6pp/4K3/6P1/5Pk1/8/8 w - - 0 56"]
Translate this page
56.g5!?
Probably the best solution. 56.f4 is also playable, because of 56...Kxg4 57.
Kf6 Kxf4 (57...g5 58.f5 h5 59.Kg6 h4=) 58.Kxg6 and the last black pawn
cannot be saved.
But the king moves lose: 56.Kf6? g5 57.Kg6 Kxf3 58.Kh5 Kf4 59.Kxh6
Kxg4–+; 56.Ke4? h5 57.gxh5 gxh5 58.f4 h4
Chess Informants 107 109
by Chess Informant
56...hxg5
56...h5?! 57.f4
[FEN "8/8/6p1/4K1Pp/5P2/6k1/8/8 b - - 0 57"]
55.Kf4! h6!?
55...Kxd6?! allows the direct invasion of White's king: 56.Kg5 Ke6 57.Kh6
Kf5 (57...Kf7 58.Kxh7 Kf6 59.g4 Kf7 60.g5+–) 58.Kxh7 g5 (58...Kg4 59.
Kxg6 Kxg3 60.h5+–) 59.h5 Kg4 60.Kg6+–.
56.h5?
White violates the important endgame principle "Do not rush." 56.Kg4! Wins,
as proved by Alexander Baburin in Chess Today #3824; e.g. 56...Kxd6 57.h5
B) 57...Ke6 58.hxg6 Kf6 59.Kh5 Kg7 60.g4 Kg8 61.Kxh6 Kh8 62.g7+ Kg8
63.g5 Kf7 64.Kh7+–.
White has reached a key square. Though he must still be careful as the edge is
very near: 60...Kf6 61.g4 Kg7 62.Kg5 Kh7 63.Kf6 Kh6 64.g5+ Kh7 65.Kf7
Kh8 66.Kg6 Kg8
67.Kh6! (67.Kf6?! Kh7 68.g6+?? Kh8 69.Kf7 stalemate.) 67...Kh8 68.g6 Kg8
69.g7 Kf7 70.Kh7+–.
André Nilsson sent the following instructive pawn endgame from one his
students.
[FEN "8/4k2p/3N1p2/2P1p1p1/3nP3/6P1/
5P1P/5K2 w - - 0 34"]
36.h4! h6
36...g4 37.f3! gxf3 38.g4 h6 39.g5 fxg5 40.f6 Ke6 41.c6+–; 36...gxh4 37.g4!
h6 38.Kg2 Kc6 39.Kh3 Kxc5 40.Kxh4 Kd4 41.Kh5 Ke4 42.Kxh6 Kf3 43.g5
fxg5 44.Kxg5 Kxf2 45.f6+–.
38...Kc6
41.Kh5! Kd5 42.Kg6 Ke5 43.g4! Kf4 44.Kxf6 Kxg4 45.Kg6 Kf3 46.Kxg5
46...Kxf2 47.f6 e3 48.f7 e2 49.f8Q+ Ke1 50.Kg4 Kd2 51.Qd6+ Kc2 52.Qc5
+ Kd1 53.Qd4+ Kc2 54.Qe3 Kd1 55.Qd3+ Ke1 56.Kf3 1–0
50.Kd7! This wins the decisive tempo, as the bishop must leave the diagonal
a5–d8. 50.Kd5? Ke3 51.c5 Kd3 52.c6 Kc3 53.Kc5 Kb3 54.Kb5 Bc7–+; 50.
c5? Ke5 51.Kd7 Kd5 52.Kxd8 Kxc5 53.Kc7 Kb4 54.Kc6 Kxa4 55.Kc5 Kb3–
+. 50...Ke4 50...Bb6 is met by the switch back 51.Kc6 Bf2 52.Kb5 Be1 53.c5
Ke5 54.c6 Kd6 55.Kb6
Now even Black has to be careful: 55...Bg3!=; 50...Bh4 51.c5 Ke4 52.c6 Bg3
53.c7 Bxc7 54.Kxc7 Kd5 55.Kb6 Kd6 56.Kxa5 Kc7=. 51.Kxd8 Kd4 52.Kd7
Kxc4 53.Kd6 Kb4 54.Kd5 Kxa4 55.Kc4 ½–½
It looks unlikely but White can still save himself in this masterpiece by
Endgame Virtuoso Vassily Smyslov. Can you find it?
White's king wins many tempi by hunting the bishop: 1.Kd7 Bb6 2.Kc8!! a5
3.Kb7 Bd8 4.Kc8 Bf6 4...Bg5? even loses:
6.Ke6! The hunt continues. 6...Bc7 7.Kf5 a4 8.g5 a3 9.g6 a2 10.g7 a1Q 11.
g8Q= ½–½
White draws by 78.Kc6 Bxc7 After 78...Bg3 79.Kc5 Be1 80.Kc6, Black
cannot make progress. 79.Kc5! Ba5 80.Kb5 Bc7 ½–½
Comment on this month's column via our Contact Page! Pertinent responses
will be posted below daily.
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[FEN "8/p5pp/2B3k1/2B2p2/P1p5/2P5/
2Pq3P/R6K b - - 0 32"]
32...Qxc3!
Kasparov gives this move a question mark in My Great Predecessors, Part My Great Predecessors
Four and I followed him in my book on Fischer's games. However, it seems by Garry Kasparov
that the real mistake comes later. Sullivan even suggests to attach an
exclamation mark to 32...Qxc3 and now I agree with him. Kasparov writes,
"The last mistake in this long-suffering game. The pawn should have been
saved by 32...a5." Nevertheless, it is not clear whether Kasparov believes that
Black can still reach a draw. He analyzes Timman's 32...a5 33.Bd4 Kh6 34.
Rf1 and eventually reaches two positions that are very troublesome for Black.
Writes Kasparov, "White would have remained the stronger side and,
knowing Fischer, there can be no doubt that he would have tried to squeeze
Play through and download the maximum out of this position! But by giving up his a-pawn, Larsen
the games from effectively resigned the game." Kasparov: "It is probable that better chances
ChessCafe.com in the of success are promised by 33.Bd4 (retaining the rook check as a threat and
ChessBase Game Viewer. not allowing the black king to escape to the centre)" 33...Kh6 34.Rf1
(Timman) Bobby Fischer:
His Approach to Chess
by Elie Agur
[FEN "8/6pp/2B4k/p4p2/P1pB4/2P5/
2Pq3P/5R1K b - - 0 34"]
Let's examine one of Kasparov's main variations: 34...g6 35.h4 Kh5 36.Bf6
[FEN "8/7p/2B2Bp1/p4p2/P1p3kP/2P5/
2Pq4/5R1K w - - 0 37"]
37.Rg1+?! (Kasparov missed a nice forced win: 37.Bg5! Qd6 38.Bf3+ Kh3 39.
Bf4 Qxf4 40.Bg2+ Kg3 41.Rxf4 Kxf4 42.Bd5 Kg4 43.Bg8! h6 44.Bf7 g5 45.
hxg5 hxg5 46.Bxc4+–) 37...Kh3 38.Bg2+ Kg4 39.Bf1+ Kf3 40.Bxc4 Qxc2 41.
Bd5+ Kf4 42.Bc6 "and Black's problems are obvious." (Kasparov).
[FEN "8/6kp/4q1p1/p4pB1/P1p4P/2P2B2/
2P5/1R5K b - - 0 40"]
40...h6! (Leading to a lost position is 40...f4? 41.Kg2 Qf5 42.Rb7+ Kg8 43.
Kg1 h5 44.Re7 Qxc2 45.Bxf4 Kf8 46.Re1 Qd3 47.Kf2 Kf7 48.Re2 Kf8 49.
Be5 Qd7 50.Kg3 Ke7 51.Bf4+ Kf7 52.Re3 Kg8 53.Be5 Kf7 54.Bd4+–) 41.
Rb7+ Kg8 42.Bxh6 f4! 43.Kg2 Qf5 44.Re7 Qxc2+ 45.Re2 Qc1 46.Bd5+ Kh7
47.Bg5 Qxc3 48.Bxf4 Qf6 49.Re4 Qxh4 50.Rxc4 Qg4+
[FEN "8/7k/6p1/p2B4/P1R2Bq1/8/
6K1/8 w - - 0 51"]
This position has drawish tendencies; for example, 51.Kf2 Qf5 52.Bf3 Qe6 53.
Re4 Qb6+ 54.Be3 Qb2+.
[FEN "8/7k/6p1/p7/P3R3/4BB2/
1q3K2/8 w - - 0 55"]
Remove all the pawns in this position, and the endgame databases tell us that
this is a draw.
By the way, Frank Brady, in Profile of Prodigy (1973), says that Larsen now
had only ten minutes to make the seven moves before time control.
[FEN "8/B5pp/2B2k2/5p2/P1p5/2q5/
2P4P/6RK b - - 0 34"]
34...g5?
Here is the losing move. With no pawns on the board, the rook and two
bishops do not (usually) win against the queen. And with Black having an
extra pawn, the draw seems even more likely. In fact, there are at least three
moves that should lead to a draw: 34...Ke5, 34...Ke6, and 34...g6.
34...Ke5!
[FEN "8/B5pp/2B5/4kp2/P1p5/2q5/
2P4P/6RK w - - 0 35"]
A) 35.Bc5 g5!
A1) 36.Rxg5 Qxc2 37.Rg1 (37.a5 Qa2 38.Rg3 Qxa5=) 37...Qd2 38.Bf3 Qa5
39.Bf8 c3 40.Rc1 Kf4 41.Kg2 Qb6 42.Re1 c2 (42...Qg6+ 43.Kf2 Qb6+ 44.
Kg2 repeats) 43.Ba3 Qg6+ 44.Kf2 Qb6+ 45.Kg2 Qg6+=.
A2) 36.Rd1 Qxc2 37.Re1+ Kf6 38.Bd4+ Kf7 39.Be8+ Kf8 40.Bh5 Qxa4 41.
Kg1 c3 42.Bxc3 Qa7+ is drawish.
B) 35.Bc5 f4 36.Rxg7 Qxc2 37.a5 Qa2 38.Rg5+ Kf6 39.h4 c3 40.Bd4+ Ke7
41.Bc5+ (41.Bxc3?? Qc4) 41...Kf6 repeats.
[FEN "8/4k1p1/1B5p/P4p2/q1p5/7P/
6B1/2R4K w - - 0 40"]
C1) 40.Rf1 c3 41.Rxf5 g5! 42.Bg1 g4! 43.Rc5 (43.Re5+ Kd6 44.Bh2 Kd7 45.
Rc5 c2 46.hxg4 Qb4 47.Rxc2 Qe1+ 48.Bg1 Qh4+ draws) 43...gxh3 44.Bb7 c2
45.a6 h2 46.Bxh2 h5 47.Bg3 Qd4=.
C2) 40.Bf1 Qc6+ 41.Kg1 c3 42.Bd3 f4 43.Bf2 Qd5 44.Rxc3 Qg5+ 45.Kf1
Qxa5 drawish.
At chessgames.com, "Dionyseus" on June 29, 2005, was the first one to find a
draw: 34...Ke6!
[FEN "8/B5pp/2B1k3/5p2/P1p5/2q5/
2P4P/6RK w - - 0 35"]
A) 35.Bc5 g5!
A1) 36.Rg2 Qe1+ 37.Bg1 g4 (also 37...Kd6= ) 38.h3 h5 39.Rf2 Ke5 40.hxg4
fxg4=.
A2) 36.Rxg5 Qxc2 37.a5 Qa2 38.Rg3 f4 (Also 38...c3= 39.Rxc3?? Qa1+) 39.
Ra3 Qb2 40.a6 c3 41.Rxc3 Qa1+ (41...Qxc3 42.a7 Qc1+ 43.Kg2 Qc2+ 44.
Kf3 Qd3+ 45.Kxf4 Qf5+ 46.Kg3 Qe5+ draws) 42.Kg2 Qb2+ 43.Kf1 Qa1+
draw.
A4) 36.Bb7 f4 37.a5 (37.Bb6 Qxc2 38.a5 Qb2 39.Re1+ Kf6 40.Bd8+ Kg6 41.
a6 Qf2 42.Rb1 f3 43.Rg1=) 37...Qxa5 38.Rxg5 h6 39.Rh5 Qc3 40.Rxh6+ Kf5
41.Rd6 Qxc2=.
C) 35.Bb6 Qxc2 (With two "extra" pawns, Black should draw) 36.a5 Qa2 37.
Re1+ Kd6 38.Bg2 f4 39.Rd1+ Ke7 40.Bb7 Qb3 41.Bc5+ Kf6 42.Rd6+ Ke5
43.a6 Qb1+ 44.Kg2 c3 45.Rb6
[FEN "8/1B4pp/PR6/2B1k3/5p2/2p5/
6KP/1q6 b - - 0 45"]
45...c2 46.a7 c1Q 47.Rxb1 Qc2+ 48.Kf3 Qd3+ and Black has a perpetual
check.
D) 35.a5 Qxa5 36.Bd4 Qd2 37.c3 g5 38.Bg2 Qe2 39.Rf1 f4 40.Rf2 Qd1+ 41.
Bf1 Kf5 42.Kg1 h5 43.Re2 g4 44.Re5+ Kg6=.
[FEN "8/B6p/2B2kp1/5p2/P1p5/2q5/
2P4P/6RK w - - 0 35"]
35.Bb6 Qxc2 36.a5 Qb2 37.Bg2 f4 38.Rf1 Ke6 39.Bh3+ Kd6 40.Rd1+
[FEN "8/7p/1B1k2p1/P7/2p2p2/7B/
1q5P/3R3K b - - 0 40"]
For example, 50.Kf5 (or 50.h3 g4 51.hxg4 hxg4 52.Kxf4 c2 53.Bxc2 Kb5 54.
Kxg4 Kxa5) 50...Kd4 51.a6 Kxd3 52.a7 c2 53.a8Q c1Q 54.Qe4+ , etc.
35.Bb6 Qxc2
35...g4 36.a5 Kg7 (36...Qb2 37.Bd8+ Kg6 38.a6+– (Kholmov)) 37.Rf1 Qf6
38.Bd7 Qh6 39.Kg1 f4 40.Bd4+ Kf8 41.Bb5 Qg5 42.Bxc4 Qxa5 43.Rxf4+
Ke7 44.Rxg4+–.
36.a5 Qb2
36...Qa2 37.Bd4+!
A) 37...Kf7 38.Ra1 Qd2 39.Bg1 f4 (39...Qd6 40.Bb7 Qe5 41.a6 Qxa1 42.a7
Ke6 43.a8Q Qxa8 44.Bxa8+–; 39...Qb2 40.Ra4 c3 41.a6 c2 42.Rc4 c1Q 43.
Rxc1 Qxc1 44.Bd5+ Kg6 45.a7+–) 40.a6 g4 41.a7 f3 42.Bd5+ Ke7 43.Bc5+
Kd7 44.Bc6+ Kc7 45.Rg1 Kxc6 46.a8Q+ Kxc5 47.Qc8+ Kb4 48.Qb7+ Kc5
49.Qc7+ Kb4 50.Qb6+ Kc3 51.Qb1 f2 52.Rc1+ Kd4 53.Rd1 f1Q+ 54.Rxf1+–.
B1) 39...Qb2 40.a6 Qxa1 41.a7 c3 42.a8Q Qxa8 43.Bxa8 Ke5 (43...c2 44.Be3
+–; 43...f4 44.Be4 h6 45.Bd4+–) 44.Bf3 c2 45.Be3 g4 46.Bc6 f4 47.Bd2 h5
48.Ba4+–.
[FEN "3B4/7p/P1B1k3/5pp1/2p5/8/
1q5P/6RK b - - 0 38"]
38...Qa3
A) Probably Fischer would have seen that 39.Bxg5? leads to a draw after 39...
c3! 40.Ra1 f4
[FEN "8/7p/P1B1k3/6B1/5p2/2p5/
5q1P/R6K w - - 0 41"]
A1) 41.Bxf4 Qxf4 42.a7 c2 43.a8Q c1Q+ 44.Rxc1 Qxc1+ 45.Kg2 Qd2+ and
Black has a perpetual check: 46.Kh3 (46.Kf3 Qc3+ 47.Ke4 Qe5+ 48.Kd3 Qf5
+ 49.Kd4 Qf6+ 50.Ke3 Qc3+ etc.; 46.Kg3 Qg5+ 47.Kf3 Qf5+ 48.Ke3 Qc5+
etc.) 46...Qh6+ 47.Kg4 Qg7+, etc.
A2) 41.Bh4 Qc5 42.Be4 c2 43.a7 Qxa7 44.Rxa7 c1Q+ 45.Kg2 Qb2+ 46.Bf2
Qe5 and Black's position is strong enough to hold.
B) The winning move is 39.Rb1! , but White still has to play very accurately
to bring home the victory:
B1) 39...c3 40.Bb6 Qa2 41.Re1+ Kd6 42.Bb7 c2 43.Bg1 Kc7 (43...Qb1 44.
Rxb1 cxb1Q 45.Bg2 Qa1 46.a7 Ke6 47.a8Q Qxa8 48.Bxa8+–) 44.Re8 Kd7
45.Rc8 f4 46.a7 g4 47.Rxc2 Qxc2 transposes to the main line beginning 39...
Qa2.
[FEN "3B4/1B5p/P2k4/5pp1/8/2p5/
q6P/4R2K w - - 0 42"]
42.Bb6! c2 43.Bg1! Kc7 44.Re8! f4! (44...Qb2 45.Rc8+ Kd6 46.Rxc2 Qxc2
47.a7+–; 44...Qb1 45.Rc8+ Kd6 46.Bg2 c1Q 47.Rxc1 Qxc1 48.a7+–) 45.Rc8
+ Kd7 46.Rxc2 Qxc2 47.a7 g4 48.a8Q f3 49.Bxf3! gxf3 50.Qxf3+–.
39.Bb7 Qc5
After 39...Qb3!
[FEN "3B4/1B5p/P3k3/5pp1/2p5/1q6/
7P/6RK w - - 0 40"]
one way for White to sidestep the Bxg5 swindle is 40.Re1+! (40.Bxg5? c3! 41.
Re1+ Kd6 42.Bf4+ Kd7 43.Rc1 c2 is drawish.; Another winning move was
40.Ba5!; for example: 40...Qb5 41.Bc3 Qc5 42.Ra1 Qa7 43.Rd1 Qc5 44.Bd4
Qb5 45.Ra1 c3 46.Bxc3 Qb6 47.Bd5+ Kxd5 48.a7+–) 40...Kd6
[FEN "3B4/1B5p/P2k4/5pp1/2p5/1q6/
7P/4R2K w - - 0 41"]
41.Ba5! (41.Bxg5? c3 and Black has drawing chances) 41...Qb5 (41...c3 42.
Bg2 Qa4 43.a7 Qxa5 44.Rd1+ Ke5 45.a8Q Qxa8 46.Bxa8+–) 42.Rd1+ Ke7
43.Bd8+ Kf8 44.Bxg5 (finally winning the g-pawn!) 44...Qb6 45.Ra1 Qb2 46.
Bh6+ Ke7 47.Re1+ Kd6 48.Rd1+ Ke7 49.Bg5+ Kf8 50.Rd8+ Kg7 51.Rd7+
Kg6 52.Be3 Qa1+ 53.Kg2 Qe5 54.a7+–.
After 39...Qb2 , it is safe to play 40.Bxg5 (Kasparov) 40...c3 41.Re1+ Kd6 42.
Bf4+ Kd7
[FEN "8/1B1k3p/P7/5p2/5B2/2p5/1q5P/
4R2K w - - 0 43"]
43.Rd1+! (It looks like Black draws after 43.Bg2? Qf2 44.Rd1+ Ke6 45.Rf1
Qb6 46.Re1+ Kd7 , etc.) 43...Ke7 44.Bg5+! Kf8 45.Bf6 h5 46.Bxc3!+– (46...
Qxc3? 47.a7+– ).
40.Rb1
In this position, 40.Bxg5 is not a bad move, since it wins with ease: 40...Qb5
(40...c3 41.Ra1 Qb4 42.Bf3 c2 43.a7 Qb1+ 44.Kg2 Qxa1 45.a8Q Qxa8 46.
Bxa8+–) 41.Ra1 Qb3 42.Re1+ Kd6 43.Be3 Qb5 44.Ra1 Qb3 45.Bg1 c3 46.
Bg2 Qb2 47.Rf1 Ke5 48.a7+–.
Many thanks to Charles Sullivan for the permission to publish his analysis.
Bobby Fischer went on to win all six games against Larsen, then defeated
Tigran Petrosian in the final Candidates match, and finally Boris Spassky in
Reykjavik to become the Eleventh World Champion.
White wins by 44.f4! But not 44.f3? because of 44...Ke8! 45.Kg7 Ke7 46.f4
Ke6 47.Kf8 Kf6 48.Ke8
48...Ke6 49.g5 f6 50.gxf6 Kxf6 51.Kf8 Kf5 52.Kf7=. 44...Kg8 44...Ke8 45.
Kg7 Ke7 (45...f5 46.g5+–) 46.f5 gxf5 47.gxf5 Ke8 (47...f6 48.Kg6+–) 48.f6
+–. 45.Ke7 Kg7 46.f5 gxf5 47.gxf5 f6 (47...Kg8 48.f6+–) 48.Ke6 Kg8 49.
Kxf6 1–0
Black must exchange pawns by 54...hxg4! 54...h4? runs into 55.Kh7! Kg5
(55...g5 56.Kh6+–; 55...Kf7 56.g5+–) 56.Kg7 Kf4 57.Kxg6 Kg3 58.g5 Kxh3
59.Kf5 Kg2 60.g6 h3 61.g7 h2 62.g8Q+
White's king is just inside the winning zone: 62...Kf2 63.Qd5 Kg1 64.Qd1+
Kg2 65.Qe2+ Kg1 66.Kg4 h1Q 67.Kg3+–. 55.hxg4 g5! But not 55...Kf7? 56.
g5 Kf8 57.Kxg6
White occupies a key square and wins. After 57...Kg8, the king must avoid
stalemate tricks by 58.Kh6!+–, as 58.Kf6?! can be met by 58...Kh7 59.g6+??
Kh8 60.Kf7 stalemate. 56.Kh5 Kf7! 57.Kxg5 Kg7
The king must advance first: 67...Kd5! and Black wins as his more active
king counts more than White's outside passed pawn: 67...c4? 68.Ke2 Kc5 69.
Kd2 Kb5 70.Kc3 Ka4 71.Kxc4 Kxa3=; 67...Kc6? 68.Ke2 Kb5 69.Kd3 Ka4 70.
Kc4=. 68.Ke2 68.a4 does not help because of 68...Kc4 69.Ke2 Kb4 70.Kd3 c4
+ 71.Kd4 c3 72.Kd3 Kb3–+. 68...Kc4 0–1 White resigned because of 69.Kd2
Kb3 70.Kd3 c4+ 71.Kd4 c3 72.Kd3 c2 73.Kd2 Kb2–+.
Black draws by 48...Kd3! 49.Kb5 Kd4 50.Kxa5 Kc5 51.Ka6 Kc6 52.a5 Kc7
53.Ka7 53.Kb5 Kb7! is only drawn according to Bähr's rule, which can be
applied in the standard version here:
White's a-pawn has advanced too far and crossed the diagonal. Bähr's rule can
be applied for blocked rook's pawns (I will use h-pawns here) and one passed
pawn on the a- through e-files. Let us assume that the kings occupy the
normal positions like in the diagram. If the attacking h-pawn has crossed the
middle of the board than the attacker always wins. If not, then draw the
diagonal from the defender's h-pawn to the f-file and a diagonal from there to
the a-file. If the attacking pawn is on or below the diagonal, then the attacker
wins otherwise it is a draw. The rule has a few exceptions; e.g., when a
counterattack is possible. 54.Kc5 Ka6 55.Kd5 Kxa5 56.Ke5 Kb6 57.Kf5 Kc7
58.Kg5 Kd7 59.Kxh5 Ke7 60.Kg6 Kf8!=. 53...Kc6! ½–½ But not 53...Kc8?
54.Kb6 Kb8
White wins according to Bähr's rule. Note that White's king has advanced one
square further so that we are in the first case of the rule, in which the attacker
always wins; e.g., 55.Kc6 Ka7 56.Kd6 Ka6 57.Ke6 Kxa5 58.Kf5 Kb6 59.Kg5
Kc6 60.Kxh5 Kd7 61.Kg6 Ke7 62.Kg7+–.
Comment on this month's column via our Contact Page! Pertinent responses
will be posted below daily.
Endgame
Corner
Karsten Müller The Ruy Lopez: Move by Move
by Neil McDonald
[FEN "4k3/R7/5Kp1/8/1P3PP1/8/
p4r2/8 w - - 0 52"]
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52.f5!
The greedy 52.Kxg6? Rxf4 53.g5 Rf2 is only drawn; e.g., 54.b5 Kd8 55.Kg7
Kc8 56.g6 Kb8 57.b6 Rg2 58.Kf6 Rf2+ 59.Ke6 Rg2 60.Kf7 Rf2+ 61.Kg8
Rg2 62.g7 Rf2 63.Kh7 Rh2+=.
52...gxf5 53.g5!!
Houdini 2 Standard
by Robert Houdart
The umbrella f5 must remain on the board. White could not stop the rain of
checks in a satisfactory way as he has no umbrella after 53.gxf5? Kd8 54.b5
Kc8 55.Kg6 Kb8 56.Ra6 Rg2+ 57.Kf7 Rf2 58.f6 Kb7 59.Kg7 Rg2+ 60.Kf8
Rf2 61.f7 Re2 62.Kg7 Rg2+=
57.Ra1
[FEN "4k3/6P1/5K2/8/1P6/8/5pr1/R7 b - - 0 57"]
57...Rg3
57...Rg1 is also met by 58.Rf1!! and Black is defenseless e.g. A) 58...Rxf1 59.
g8Q+ Kd7 60.Qd5+ Ke8 (60...Kc7 61.Qc4++–) 61.Qb5++–; B) 58...Rg2 59.
b5 Kd7 60.Kf7 Kc7 61.g8Q Rxg8 62.Kxg8+–.
58.Rf1 Rf3+
59.Kg6 Rg3+ 60.Kh7 Rh3+ 61.Kg6 Rg3+ 62.Kf6 Rf3+ 63.Ke6 Rg3 64.
Rxf2 Rxg7
65.Kd6 Rg6+
65...Rb7 66.Rf4+–.
66.Kc7!
Bodycheck!
66...Rg7+ 67.Kc6 Rg6+ 68.Kb7 Rg7+ 69.Ka6 Rg6+ 70.Ka5 Kd7 71.Rc2!
This cut off decides as White's pawn manages to cross the middle of the
board, when the checking distance is too short.
71...Re6
White's king has reached a key square after 71...Rc6 72.Rxc6 Kxc6 73.Ka6!
+–
71...Rg8 72.b5
The checking distance is only two squares. 72...Ra8+ 73.Kb6 Rb8+ 74.Ka6
Ra8+ 75.Kb7+–.
72.b5 1–0
Buhmann resigned. One sample line runs 72...Re8 73.Ka6 Ra8+ [73...Rc8 74.
Rxc8 Kxc8 75.Ka7+–] 74.Kb7 Ra1 75.b6 Ra3 76.Rd2+ Ke7 77.Kc7 Rc3+ 78.
Kb8 Rc1 79.b7 Ra1
Now White wins via Lucena's position by building a bridge: 80.Rd4 Ra2 81.
Kc7 Rc2+ 82.Kb6 Rb2+ 83.Kc6 Rc2+ 84.Kb5 Rb2+ 85.Rb4+–.
50.f6?
For example, 51...g4 (51...Rf1 52.Ke6 Re1+ 53.Kf5 Rf1+ 54.Kg6 Ke8 55.Rh8
+ Kd7 56.f7 Ke7 57.Re8++–) 52.Kf5 g3 53.Kg6 Ke8
Now not 54.Rh8+? (but 54.f7+ Ke7 55.Kg7 Rf1 56.Kg8 Ke6 57.Rg7
52...Bxf6 53.Rxh6 Kg7 and the game was drawn after some further moves.
In case of h- and f-pawn even two solid extra pawns are often not enough to
win, but the defender must exercises great care.
55...Kg7!
55...Kxh5? loses to the tactical trick 56.Ra8 Kh6 57.Rh8+ Kg7 58.Rxh1+–.
White threatens to cut Black's king off along the seventh rank, which usually
wins, after 55...Kh7? 56.Kg5:
56...Rg1+ 57.Kf6! Rb1 (57...Kh6 58.Ra8 Kh7 59.f5 Rb1 60.Re8 Rf1 61.Re5
Kh6 62.Kf7 Kxh5 63.f6+ Kh6 64.Re2 Kg5 65.Kg7 Rxf6 66.Rg2+ Kf5 67.Rf2
++–) 58.f5 Kh6 (58...Kg8 59.Ra7+–) 59.Ke7+ Kxh5 60.f6 Rb7+ 61.Kf8 Kg6
62.f7+ Kh7 63.Rf6 Ra7 64.Ke8+–.
56.Rg6+
56.h6+ should be met by 56...Kh7 Black king should usually head for h7,
when the h-pawn advances to h6.
56...Kf7
57.Rg5
57.Kg5 Rg1+ 58.Kh6 Rf1 59.Rg4 Kf6 60.Kh7 Kf5 61.Rh4 (61.Rg5+ Kf6=)
61...Kf6 62.h6 Ra1 63.Rg4 Ra7+ 64.Rg7 Ra4 65.Kh8 Rxf4 66.h7 Ra4=.
57...Rh2 58.Ke4 Re2+ 59.Kf3 Rh2 60.Re5 Rh1 61.Kg4 Kf6 62.Rf5+ Kg7
63.Rd5 Rg1+ 64.Kf5 Rh1 65.Ke6 Kh6 66.Re5 Ra1
[FEN "8/8/4K2k/4R2P/5P2/8/8/r7 w - - 0 67"]
The defending rook is usually best placed in the south west corner to be able
to give checks from both directions with a large checking distance.
67.Rg5 Ra6+ 68.Kf5 Ra1 69.Rg8 Kh7 [69...Ra2!?] 70.Rg6 Rh1 71.Kg5 Rg1
+ 72.Kf6 Rh1 73.h6 Ra1 74.f5 Ra2 75.Ke5 Re2+ 76.Kf4 Rf2+ 77.Ke4 Re2
+ 78.Kf3 Rh2 79.Kf4
79...Rf2+
80.Ke4 Re2+ 81.Kd5 Rd2+ 82.Ke5 Re2+ 83.Kd6 Rf2 84.Ke6 Ra2 85.Kf7
Ra7+ 86.Kf6 Ra2 87.Ke6 Ra6+ 88.Kf7 Ra7+ 89.Kf6 Ra2 90.Ke5 Re2+ 91.
Kd6 Rf2 92.Rf6 Ra2 93.Ke6 Ra6+ 94.Ke7 Ra7+ 95.Kf8 Ra8+ 96.Kf7 Ra7
+ 97.Kf8 Ra8+ 98.Kf7 Ra7+ 99.Ke6 Ra6+ 100.Ke5 Ra7 101.Re6 Ra5+ 102.
Kf6
[FEN "8/7k/4RK1P/r4P2/8/8/8/8 b - - 0 102"]
102...Ra1?
Kaisar has defended well for a long time, but now he commits a mistake.
102...Kxh6 was called for: 103.Kf7+ Kh7 104.f6 Ra8! 105.Ke7 (105.Re8 Ra7
+ 106.Ke6 Ra6+ 107.Kf5 Ra5+ 108.Re5 Ra8 109.f7 Kg7 110.Re8 Ra5+ 111.
Ke6 Ra6+=) 105...Kg6 106.f7+ Kg7 107.Re1 Ra7+ 108.Ke8 Ra8+=.
103.Re2?
And Black is defenseless; e.g., 105...Ra6 (105...Ra5 106.f6 Kxh6 107.f7 Kh7
108.Ke7+–; 105...Ra7 106.Re7+ Kh8 107.f6 Ra8+ 108.Re8 Ra7 109.f7+–)
106.Re7+ Kh8 107.Re6 Ra8+ 108.Re8 Ra6 109.f6 Rxf6+ 110.Ke7++–.
103...Ra3 104.Rd2
104...Ra1
Now Black's rook can just wait in the south west corner.
105.Rc2 Ra3 106.Rb2 Ra1 107.Re2 Ra3 108.Kg5 Rg3+ 109.Kf6 Ra3 110.
Rh2 Ra1 111.Kg5 Rg1+ 112.Kf6 Ra1 113.Rh4 Ra2 114.Rh1 Ra3 115.Kg5
Ra2 116.f6 Ra5+ 117.Kf4 Ra4+ 118.Kf5 Ra5+ 119.Ke6 Ra6+ 120.Ke7 Ra7
+ 121.Kd8 ½–½
[FEN "3K4/r6k/5P1P/8/8/8/8/7R b - - 0 121"]
White's king finds no shelter from the checks so a draw was agreed.
The importance of the south eastern corner for the defending rook is also
shown in the following example. It seems that the rook works wonders.
74...Rb1+! 75.Rb4?!
Makes it relatively easy for Fier. But Black holds in any case; e.g., 75.Kc6
Rh1
The rook just belongs in the south eastern corner to be able to deliver checks
from both directions. (75...Kxa6?? 76.Ra4#) 76.Rd4 Rg1 (76...Rh6+? 77.Kb5
Rh7 78.Rd5 Rh1 79.Rd7+ Kb8 80.c6 Rb1+ 81.Kc5 Rc1+ 82.Kd6 Rd1+ 83.
Ke7 Rc1 84.Rd8+ Kc7 85.a7+–) 77.Rd8 (77.Kc7 Kxa6! 78.c6 Rg7+ 79.Rd7
Rg8=) 77...Rh1
[FEN "3R4/k7/P1K5/2P5/8/8/8/7r w - - 0 78"]
The rook just waits in its corner. Black only acts when White's kings has
made a decision. 78.Kc7 (78.Kb5 Rb1+ 79.Kc6 Rh1=) 78...Kxa6! 79.Ra8+
Kb5 80.c6 Rh7+=.
A PDF file of this month's column, along with all previous columns, is
available in the ChessCafe.com Archives.
Comment on this month's column via our Contact Page! Pertinent responses
will be posted below daily.
Endgame
Corner
Karsten Müller Test Your Rook Endgames
by Daniel King
56...Kd5!?
While this should lose in the long run as well, it might be more tenacious
from the practical point of view and is not given in the rich literature on this
game as far as I know. Capablanca played the normal 56...h5, but this opens a
road for White's king via g5 57.Kd3 Kd5 58.Kc3 Kc5 ECE: Rook Endings
by Chess Informant
59.Ra2! Alekhine exploits the advantage that his rook is well placed behind
the passed pawn. Black's rook cannot make such waiting moves. 59...Kb5 60.
Kd4 Rd6+ 61.Ke5 Re6+ 62.Kf4 Ka6
[FEN "8/5p2/k3r1p1/P6p/5K1P/6P1/
R4P2/8 w - - 0 63"]
White now wins by invading on the kingside. The standard way to convert an
outside passed pawn. 63.Kg5 Re5+ 64.Kh6 Rf5
[FEN "8/5p2/k5pK/P4r1p/7P/6P1/
R4P2/8 w - - 0 65"]
A) 65.Kg7! wins easier: 65...Rf3 66.Rd2! (66.Kg8 Rf6 67.f4 Rf5 68.Kg7+–)
66...Kxa5 67.Rd5+ Kb4 68.Rd4+ Kc3 69.Rf4+–; B) 65.f4?! A slight
inaccuracy. 65...Rc5! Capablanca starts a counterattack, but White wins
nonetheless: 66.Ra3 Rc7 67.Kg7 Rd7 68.f5 (68.Kf6 Rc7 69.Rf3! Kxa5 70.f5
+–) 68...gxf5 69.Kh6 f4 70.gxf4 Rd5 71.Kg7 Rf5
[FEN "8/5pK1/k7/P4r1p/5P1P/R7/
8/8 w - - 0 72"]
72.Ra4 72...Kb5 73.Re4! Ka6 74.Kh6 Rxa5 75.Re5 Ra1 76.Kxh5 76...Rg1 77.
Rg5 Rh1 78.Rf5 Kb6 79.Rxf7 Kc6 80.Re7
[FEN "8/4R3/2k5/7K/5P1P/8/8/7r b - - 0 80"]
Capablanca resigned; thus, Alexander Alekhine won the match and became
the Fourth World Champion.
57.h5!
[FEN "8/5p2/r5pp/P2k3P/R7/4K1P1/
5P2/8 b - - 0 57"]
White uses immediately that Black has not played h5 as he must open an
inroad on the kingside. Furthermore, White's h-pawn is not such a valuable
winning potential as his f- and g-pawns.
57...Ke6!?
[FEN "8/5p2/r6p/P1k4P/R4K2/6P1/
8/8 w - - 0 60"]
White's king will invade on one of the wings; e.g., 60.Kf5 Kc6 (60...Kb5 61.
Ra1 Kb4 62.g4+–) 61.g4 Kd7 62.Rd4+ Ke8 63.Rd5 Kf8 64.Ke5 Ke7 (64...
Kg7 65.Kd4 Kf6 66.Kc4 Ra8 67.Kb5+–) 65.Kd4 Ke6 66.g5! hxg5 67.Rxg5
Kf6 68.Rc5 Kg7 69.Kc4+– ; 57...gxh5 58.Rh4!
[FEN "8/5p2/r6p/P2k3p/7R/4K1P1/
5P2/8 b - - 0 58"]
Black's kingside structure is too vulnerable; e.g., 58...Re6+ 59.Kd3 Kc5 (59...
Re5 60.a6+–) 60.Rxh5+ Kb4 61.Rf5 Re7 62.a6! Ra7 63.Rf6 h5 64.Ke4 Kc5
65.Kf5 Kd5 66.Kg5 Ke5 67.f4+ Ke4 68.Kxh5 Kf3 69.g4+–; For 57...Kc5 58.
hxg6! fxg6 59.f4! Kd6 60.Ke4 and; 57...Re6+ 58.Kd3! Ra6 59.hxg6 fxg6 60.
f4 Kd6 61.Ke4+– see the main line.
58.hxg6!
60...h5
60...g5 61.fxg5 hxg5 62.Ke4 Ke6 63.g4+– ; 60...Kc6 61.Rc4+! Kd6 (61...Kb7
62.Rb4+! Kc8 63.Rb6 Rxa5 64.Rxg6 h5 65.Rg5 Ra3 66.Ke5 Kd7 67.Kf6 Ra6
+ 68.Kf7+–) 62.Rc5 Ra8 63.Kc4 Ra6 64.Kb4 Ra8 65.Rb5 Kc7 66.Rb6 g5 67.
f5 h5 68.Rh6 Rf8 69.f6 h4 70.gxh4 gxh4 71.Kc5 h3 72.Rh7+ Kb8 73.f7 h2 74.
Kb6+–.
61.Ra3
61...Kc7
62.Ke5 Kb7
Now White regroups his rook. But there is no defense anyway: [62...Kd7 63.
f5! A) 63...g5 64.f6! Ke8 (64...h4 65.gxh4 gxh4 66.Kf5 h3 67.Rxh3 Rxa5+ 68.
Kg6+–) 65.Kf5 h4 66.gxh4 gxh4 67.Kg6 Kf8 68.Rb3 Ke8 69.Kg7+–; B) 63...
gxf5 64.Kxf5 Ke8 65.Kg5 Kf7 66.Kxh5+–.
63.Rb3+ Kc7
64.Rc3+
This forces Black's king to make a choice, which White then exploits and
wins on the wing that is deserted by the king.
64...Kd7
Now Black's king is cut off from the a-pawn. 64...Kb7 Now White wins on
the kingside: 65.Rc5 Kb8 (65...Ra8 66.Kf6+–) 66.f5! gxf5 (66...g5?! 67.f6
Ra7 68.Ke6 Ra6+ 69.Ke7 Ra7+ 70.Ke8+–) 67.Kxf5 Rd6 (67...Rh6 68.Kg5
Rh8 69.Kh4! Kb7 70.Rxh5+–) 68.Kg5 Rd3 69.Kh4+–.
65.Rc5
Now Black's king is cut off, so White's king helps his a-pawn.
70...Kc8
71.Rb6 Re4+
White used his rook as shield with 75.Rf6! Ra7+ 75...Rg1+ 76.Kf7 Ra1 77.h6
Ra7+ 78.Kg6 Rb7 79.Rf7 Rb6+ 80.Kg7 Rb1 81.h7 Rg1+ 82.Kf8 Rh1 83.Kg8
Ke6 84.Rg7+–. 76.Rf7 Ra1 77.h6 1–0
Wojtaszek won with the trick 59.Rc6+! Kf7 60.Rc8! 60.h7? runs into 60...
Kg7=. 60...Rh5 61.h7 Rxh7 62.Rc7+ Kg8 63.Rxh7 Kxh7 64.Kf3 Kg7
65.Kf4 After 65.Kg4?! Kh6, White must retreat with 66.Kg3!!+–. 65...Kh6
66.Kg4 Kg7 67.Kg5 Kf7 68.h5 1–0 Black resigned because of 68...gxh5 69.
Kxh5 Kf6 70.Kg4 Kg6 71.f3 Kf6 72.Kf4+–
Black's king must choose the right square: 70...Ke3! 70...Kd3? 71.Kd5 Rh6
72.Rc1 Kd2 73.Rg1 Kc3 74.Kc5 Kb3 75.Rg4+–. 71.Rc3+ 71.Kd5 Kd3!=. 71...
Kd2 72.Rb3 Kc2 73.Rb4 Kc3 ½–½
58.Kh5!! Kf7 (58...Ke6 59.g6 Rf1 60.Ra8 Rh1+ 61.Kg5 Rg1+ 62.Kh6 Rh1+
63.Kg7 Kf5 64.Re8+–; 58...Re4 59.g6 Kf6 60.Ra6+ Kg7 61.Ra7+ Kg8 62.
Ra4 Kg7 63.Kg5 Re7 64.Ra5 Rd7 65.Kf5 Kh6 66.Ke6 Rg7 67.Rxd5 Rxg6+
68.Kd7 Kg7 69.Rf5+–) 59.g6+ Kf6 60.Ra6+
Black is lost: 60...Kf5 (60...Kg7 61.Ra7+ Kg8 62.Ra4 Kg7 63.Kg5 Re4 64.
Ra7+ Kg8 65.Kf6 Rf4+ 66.Ke5 Rg4 67.Ra6 Kg7 68.Kxd5 Rg5+ 69.Kc4 Rg1
70.Re6+–) 61.Rd6 Rxd4 62.g7 Rd1 63.Rxd5+ Rxd5 64.g8Q+–; 58.Kh7 Kf8
(58...Rh4+ 59.Kg7+–) 59.Kh6 Kf7 60.Kh5 wins as well.
58...Ke6 59.g6 Kf5 60.Ra1 60.Kf7 Kg5+ 61.Ke6 Kxg6 62.Kxd5 Kf7 63.Kd6
Rf6+ 64.Kd7 Rf4=. 60...Rxd4 61.Kf7 Rg4 62.g7 d4 63.Re1 Kf4 64.g8Q
Rxg8 65.Kxg8 d3 66.Rd1 Ke3 67.Rxd3+ Kxd3 ½–½
49.Ke7! Re4+ (49...Kg6 is now refuted by the typical 50.Rf6+ Kg5 51.Rd6
+–) 50.Kd8 Rd4 (50...Kg6 51.Rd2 Kf5 52.Kc8 Ra4 53.Kb7 Rb4+ 54.Kc7+–)
51.Rf5 h4 52.Kc7 c4
Now 53.Rf4! does the trick: 53...Rxf4 (53...Rd3 54.Rxh4 c3 55.d8Q+–) 54.
d8Q Kg6 55.Qc8 Kg5 56.Kd6 Rf3 57.Qxc4 h3 58.Qe4 Rf4 59.Qe2 Rf5 60.
Ke6 Rf6+ 61.Ke5 Rf5+ 62.Ke4 Rf4+ 63.Ke3 Rh4 64.Qh2 Kf5 65.Kf2 Rh5 66.
Kg3 Rh6 67.Qf2+ Kg6 68.Kh2 Kg7 69.Qf3 Kg6 70.Qf4 Rh7 71.Qe4+ Kg7 72.
Qf5 Rh6 73.Qg5+ Kh7 74.Qg3 Rh5 75.Qg4 Rh6 76.Qg5+–.
49...Kg6! 49...h4? 50.Rh2 Kg6 51.Rxh4+–; 49...c4? 50.Rf4 Rxf4 51.d8Q Kg6
52.Qe8+ Kg5 53.Kd6 Kg4 54.Qg6+ Kh4 55.Ke5 Rg4 56.Qh6+–; 49...Rxd7+?
50.Kxd7 Kg6 51.Ke6 Kg5 52.Ke5 Kg4 53.Ke4 Kg3 54.Rf3+ Kg4 55.Ke3 h4
56.Kf2+–. 50.Rc2 Kg5 51.Rxc5+ Kg4 52.Kc6 52.Rc4?? Rxc4+–+. 52...Rxd7
52...h4?? 53.Rd5+–. 53.Kxd7 h4 54.Ke6 h3 55.Rc8 h2 56.Rh8 Kg3 ½–½
A PDF file of this month's column, along with all previous columns, is
available in the ChessCafe.com Archives.
Comment on this month's column via our Contact Page! Pertinent responses
will be posted below daily.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.Nc3 fxe4 5.Nxe4 d5 6.Ng3 e4 7.Ne5 Nf6 8.Bg5
Bd6 9.Nh5 0–0 10.Qd2 Qe8 11.g4 Nxg4 12.Nxg4 Qxh5 13.Ne5 Nc6 14.Be2
Endgame Qh3 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.Be3 Rb8 17.0–0–0
Corner
Karsten Müller ECE: Rook Endings
by Chess Informant
[FEN "1rb2rk1/p1p3pp/2pb4/3p4/3Pp3/
4B2q/PPPQBP1P/2KR3R b - - 0 17"]
Black has an extra pawn, but the position is quite sharp as the kings are on
different wings. Now Morphy started an amazing combination:
ECE: Queen Endings
by Chess Informant
17...Rxf2?!
"I raise my hat to the great chess artist, but the crude 17...Bg4! was
correct" (Kasparov in My Great Predecessors, Part 1, p.38, Everyman 2003).
18.Bxf2 Qa3!!
A beautiful, geometrical and paradoxical move from one end of the board to
the other. 18...Ba3? is met by 19.Qe3!.
19...Qxa2!
22.Kb2?
Bird crumbles under the pressure and loses quickly. This position makes a
good tactical exercise, which is solved by Morphy easily. 22.Kc1! is the only
move and, as it seems now, White cannot win; contrary to what I had claimed
in Endgame Corner 23.
22...Bxb4!
24...Qxb4+ 25.Kc2
25...e3 26.Bxe3 Bf5+ 27.Rd3 Qc4+ 28.Kd2 Qa2+ 29.Kd1 Qb1+ 0–1
A) "DrMAL's" Ace
[FEN "1rb3k1/p1p3pp/2pb4/3p4/qP1Pp3/
2P5/2KQBB1P/3R3R w - - 0 22"]
25.Kb1!!
An astonishing move! At first sight, White's king seems to walk into the line
of fire, but closer inspection reveals that now White forces are better
coordinated and often he can opt for c3–c4(-c5) to close the queenside. I had
mostly looked at Karpov's defense: 25.Qxa3? bxa3
[FEN "1rb3k1/2p3pp/2pb4/3p4/3Pp3/p1P5/
4BB1P/2KR3R w - - 0 26"]
A) 26.Bg3! it is not clear, if Black can win; e.g., 26...Be7 (26...a2? 27.Kd2
Ba3 28.Ra1 Rb2+ 29.Ke3 Rc2 30.Bxc7 Rxc3+ 31.Kd2 Bb2 32.Bf4 Ra3 33.
Bd6 Ra8 34.Bc5 Bf5 35.Kc2 Bxa1 36.Rxa1 e3+ 37.Bd3 g6 38.Bxf5 gxf5 39.
Kd3 Kf7 40.Kxe3 Ke6 41.Kf4 seems to be drawn.)
[FEN "r7/7p/2p1k3/2Bp1p2/3P1K2/
8/p6P/R7 b - - 0 41"]
A1a) 29.Ke3 Rb3 30.Ra1 Rxc3+ 31.Kd2 Bb4 32.Kd1 Ra3 33.Bd2 Bxd2 34.
Kxd2 e3+ 35.Ke1 Kf7
[FEN "8/2p2kpp/2p5/3p1b2/3P4/r3p3/
p3B2P/R3K2R w - - 0 36"]
Black has good winning chances. Same sample lines run 36.Rg1 (36.Rf1 Ke6
37.Rg1 c5 38.dxc5 Kf6 39.Rg3 Bb1 40.Bd1 Rc3) 36...Kf6 37.Bg4 Bd3 38.
Bd1 g5 39.Rg2 Bc4 and in both cases it is not easy to see how to stop Black's
mighty pawn mass in the long run.
[FEN "6k1/2p1b1pp/8/2pp1b2/3PpB2/
2P1K3/pr2B2P/R6R w - - 0 31"]
This also looks promising for Black, but it is no complete proof of course, as
in many lines the winning potential gets very reduced; e.g., 31.Rhc1 (31.Bd1
Kf7 32.Re1 cxd4+ 33.Kxd4 Bf6+ 34.Kxd5 Bxc3 35.Rf1 Be6+ 36.Kxe4 Rb4+
37.Ke3 Bd4+ 38.Kd2 Bc4 39.Bh5+ Kg8 40.Rxa2 Bxa2 41.Bxc7) 31...cxd4+
32.cxd4 Rb3+ 33.Kd2 e3+ 34.Bxe3 Ba3 35.Kd1 Rxe3 36.Rxc7 Bb1 37.Rb7
and in both cases White is still fighting.
[FEN "2b3k1/2B1b1pp/2p5/3p4/3P3P/
prP1p3/4B3/2K2R1R b - - 0 29"]
29...Rb2!? This promises Black the best chances, but I did not manage to
come to a definite conclusion. The alternatives look more likely to be tenable
for White: 29...Bxh4?! 30.Rxh4 Bf5 31.Rxf5 a2 32.Kc2 a1Q 33.Kxb3 Qb1+
34.Ka3 Qxf5 35.Kb2 Qf2 36.Rh2
[FEN "6k1/2B3pp/2p5/3p4/3P4/
2P1p3/1K2Bq1R/8 b - - 0 36"]
[FEN "6k1/4b1pp/b1p5/B2p4/3P3P/
p1P2R2/4r3/1K5R b - - 0 34"]
30.Rh2 (30.Bd3 Rd2 31.Bc2 Ba6 32.Rd1 Rf2 33.Kb1 e2 34.Rc1 Bc4
[FEN "6k1/2B1b1pp/2p5/3p4/2bP3P/
p1P5/2B1pr2/1KR4R w - - 0 35"]
This gives Black more than enough compensation for the material, because of
his activity and strong passed pawns.) 30...Rb7 31.Ba6 Rxc7 32.Bxc8 Rxc8
33.Kc2 c5
[FEN "2r3k1/4b1pp/8/2pp4/3P3P/p1P1p3/
2K4R/5R2 w - - 0 34"]
Black is for choice, but it is not clear if he can win or not, because of the
reduced remaining winning potential and the strength of the defending rooks.
B) 26.Be3? indeed seems to lose. But after 26...Rb3 27.Kd2 (27.Bg5 h6 28.
Bd2 e3 29.Bxe3 Bf5–+) 27...Rb2+ 28.Ke1 a2 29.Ra1 (29.Kf2 Ba3–+) 29...
Bd7 30.Kd1 (30.Kf2 Bg4 31.Rhe1 Be7–+) 30...c5 31.dxc5 Be7 32.h4
[FEN "6k1/2pbb1pp/8/2Pp4/4p2P/2P1B3/
pr2B3/R2K3R b - - 0 32"]
So far my main line in Endgame Corner 23. However, CCGM Rolf Knobel
(Switzerland) found 32...h6!–+ (see Endgame Corner 25), which wins much
more easily than my suggestion. White's heavy pieces make a very poor
impression.
[FEN "6k1/2p3pp/2pb4/3p1b2/3Pp3/p1P5/
1r2BB1P/K2R3R w - - 0 28"]
28.Rhe1!
28...Bxh2
28...Bf4 29.Bg3 Bd2 30.Rxd2 Rxd2 31.Bxc7 ("DrMAL") and White is not
worse.
29.Be3 Bg3 30.Rg1 Bh2 31.Rg2 Bd6 32.Rd2 Rxd2 33.Bxd2 Kf7 34.Ka2 c5
35.Bc1 g6 36.Bxa3 Bf4 37.Rg1
[FEN "8/2p2k1p/6p1/2pp1b2/3Ppb2/B1P5/
K3B3/6R1 b - - 0 37"]
As in the Karpov defensive line I did not manage to find a proof for a win, but
Black is better after 25.Qxa3? bxa3 26.Bg3! Be7 and I hope that something
can be found, I looked at alternatives to avoid "DrMAL's" defense which
looks totally convincing. But I did not manage to break White's set up.
[FEN "1rb3k1/2p3pp/2pb4/3p4/1p1Pp3/
q1P5/1Q2BB1P/1K1R3R b - - 0 25"]
27.Rhg1? Ba3 28.Qa1 (28.Rxg7+? Kxg7 29.Rg1+ Kf8 30.Qd2 Bc1–+) 28...e3
29.Bh4 Bf5+ 30.Bd3 e2 31.Bxf5 exd1Q+ 32.Rxd1 Qa4–+.
27...Bf4
[FEN "1rb3k1/q1p3pp/2p5/2Pp4/3Ppb2/
1p6/1Q2BB1P/1K1R3R w - - 0 28"]
28.Bg3? Bh6 29.Be5 (29.Qa1 Qb7 30.Qa5 Ra8 31.Qxc7 Qxc7 32.Bxc7 Ra2
33.Rhe1 Bh3; 29.Rhf1 Bh3 30.Rg1 Bf5 31.Be5 Ra8 32.h4 g6 33.Rdf1 Bd2 34.
Rxf5 Bc3) 29...Ra8 30.Rhg1 Bf5 31.Rdf1 Bg6 32.h4
[FEN "r5k1/q1p3pp/2p3bb/2PpB3/3Pp2P/
1p6/1Q2B3/1K3RR1 b - - 0 32"]
32...Bd2!! This shot is the point of Black's set up. 33.h5 Bc3 34.Qxb3 Rb8 35.
Kc2 Rxb3 36.Kxb3 Qa5 37.Rb1 Bf5 38.Rxg7+ Kf8 39.Rg5 Be6 with good
winning chances for Black in all cases.; 28.Be1? Ra8 29.Bc3 Qb8 30.Rdf1
Bh6 31.Bd1 Ba6 32.Bxb3 Qb7 33.Rd1 Rb8 34.Ka2 Be2 35.Rhe1 Bxd1 36.
Rxd1 Bf4 37.Rh1 Be3 38.Ba4 Qa7 39.Qa3 Ra8 gives Black a dangerous
initiative.
[FEN "r5k1/q1p3pp/2p5/2Pp4/B2Pp3/
Q1B1b3/K6P/7R w - - 0 40"]
28...Ra8
28...Bf5 29.Bh4 Bg6 (29...Ra8 30.Rgf1 transposes to the main line.) 30.Bg5 e3
+ 31.Bd3 Bxg5 32.Bxg6 e2 33.Bxh7+ Kxh7 34.Qxe2 Ra8 35.Qb2 Bf6 36.
Rgf1 Qa2+ 37.Qxa2 bxa2+ 38.Ka1 Ra4 39.Rf4 White seems to be able to
defend.
[FEN "8/2p3pk/2p2b2/2Pp4/r2P1R2/
8/p6P/K2R4 b - - 0 39"]
29.Bh4
[FEN "7k/2p3pp/b1p1B3/2Pp4/3Ppb1B/
1p6/r6P/1K1R2R1 w - - 0 33"]
30.Rgf1!
[FEN "r5k1/q1p3pp/2p5/2Pp1b2/3Ppb1B/
1p6/1Q2B2P/1K1R1R2 b - - 0 30"]
30...e3+ 31.Kc1 Bc2 32.Rxf4 Bxd1 33.Bxd1 Qa1+ 34.Qxa1 Rxa1+ 35.Kb2
Rxd1 36.Rf3 Rxd4 37.Be7!=
[FEN "6k1/2p1B1pp/2p5/2Pp4/3r4/
1p2pR2/1K5P/8 b - - 0 37"]
25...Qa4
[FEN "1rb3k1/2p3pp/2p4b/2Pp4/q2Pp3/
1p4B1/1Q2B2P/1K1R3R w - - 0 29"]
Now White can force the exchange of queens, which should save him.
[FEN "2b3k1/2p3pp/2p4b/2Pp4/3Pp3/
1K4B1/4r2P/R6R b - - 0 33"]
White is so active that I do not think that Black has real winning chances.
Another alternative is 25...Ba6 but again White just activates his rook and
does not care about his h-pawn:
26.Rhe1! Qxb2+
26...Bxe2 27.Rxe2 Qa4 28.Rg1 Bxh2 29.Rc1 b3 30.c4 Bd6 31.c5 Be7 32.Be3
[FEN "1r4k1/2p1b1pp/2p5/2Pp4/q2Pp3/
1p2B3/1Q2R3/1KR5 b - - 0 32"]
[FEN "1r4k1/2p3pp/2p5/3p4/3Pp3/8/
2K1RB1P/8 b - - 0 31"]
White's solid set up should give him the draw sooner or later.
Black can also take the c-pawn directly, but this should not give him an
advantage: 25...Qxc3 26.Rc1 Qh3 (26...Qa3 27.Bg3=) 27.Bg3 Bf5 28.Qb3=.
So it seems that 22...a5 does not win unless a reader can find an improvement
for Black against DrMAL's amazing defense in the line 25.Kb1!!.
[FEN "1rb3k1/p1p3pp/2pb4/3p4/qP1Pp3/
2P5/3QBB1P/2KR3R b - - 0 22"]
The natural developing move 22...Bf5!? has often been mentioned and
analysed as well. I think that White should be able to defend.
23.Be3
[FEN "6k1/p1p3pp/2p5/3p1b2/3Pp3/4B3/
1q2B2P/3RK2R b - - 0 28"]
Black has many pawns, but they are not very mobile. So it seems that
Morphy's amazing sacrifice does not win objectively. Is this the last word or
can another reader change the picture once again?
© 2011 ChessCafe.com. All Rights Reserved.
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available in the ChessCafe.com Archives.
Comment on this month's column via our Contact Page! Pertinent responses
will be posted below daily.
75...Qc5?!
77...Bd4
77...Bf8? loses to 78.h6 a5 79.Ne5 Bxh6 (79...a4 80.Nf7+ Kg8 81.h7#) 80.
Kxh6 a4 81.Nc4 Kg8 82.Kg6+–
[FEN "6k1/8/6K1/8/p1N5/7P/8/8 b - - 0 82"]
78.h6
A) Even 80...a4 is playable: 81.Ng5 Bh8 (81...a3? 82.h7+ Kf8 83.Ne6+ Ke7
84.Nxd4 a2 85.h8Q a1Q 86.Nf5++–) 82.Ne6
82...Bf6!! The surprising point. (82...a3?? 83.h7#) 83.Kxf6 Kh7 84.Kg5 a3 85.
Nd4 (85.Nf8+ Kh8 86.h7 Kg7 87.Ne6+ Kxh7 88.Nd4 a2 89.Nc2=) 85...a2 86.
Nc2 Kg8=.
Now 82...Bh8 saves the day, but not 82...a4? 83.Ne6+ Ke7 84.Ng7+–.
80...a4?
Black rushes. The bishop has to fight the domination duel with 80...Be5! 81.
Nc4 (81.Ng4 Bg7=) 81...Bc7 82.Nd2 a4 (82...Be5 83.Ne4 Bf4=) 83.Ne4 Bf4
84.Nc5 Be5 (84...a3? 85.Ne6 a2 86.Nd8 a1Q 87.Nf7#) 85.Nxa4 Bd4!
Domination by corralling 86.h4 Bf2 87.h5 Bd4 88.h6 Be3 89.Nc3 Bxh6 90.
Nd5 (90.Kxh6 stalemate) 90...Bg5=.
81.Nc4 1–0
[FEN "7k/6bP/6K1/8/p1N5/7P/8/8 b - - 0 81"]
B) The Flight
In double rook endings mating attacks and perpetual check often play a role:
[FEN "4rk2/5ppp/1PR5/1R3P2/P7/1p6/
r5PP/6K1 w - - 0 38"]
38.h4!
Caruana prepares an escape for his king. After 38.h3? Ree2, White's king
cannot run away from the mighty black rooks:
[FEN "5k2/5ppp/1PR5/1R3P2/P7/1p5P/
r3r1P1/6K1 w - - 0 39"]
38...Ree2
This allows White's king to hide on the kingside: 44.Kg4 Rg2+ 45.Kh5 g6+
46.Kh6 Rh2 47.b7 Rxh4+ 48.Kg5 Rh5+ 49.Kf6+–; 38...b2 39.Kh2 Rxa4 40.
b7 Rb8 41.Rc8++–.
[FEN "5k2/5ppp/1PR5/1R3P2/P6P/
1p4K1/r6r/8 b - - 0 41"]
41...Rhg2+
After 41...Rag2+ 42.Kf4 Rxh4+ (42...Rf2+ 43.Ke5 Re2+ 44.Kd6 Rd2+ 45.
Kc7+–) 43.Kf3 Rgh2 44.b7 R2h3+, the king hides on a3:
[FEN "5k2/1P3ppp/2R5/1R3P2/P6r/
1p3K1r/8/8 w - - 0 45"]
45.Ke2 Rh2+ 46.Kd3 R2h3+ 47.Kd2 Rh2+ 48.Kc3 R2h3+ 49.Kb2 Rh2+ 50.
Ka3+–
[FEN "5k2/1P3ppp/2R5/1R3P2/P6r/
Kp6/7r/8 b - - 0 50"]
42.Kf4 Rgf2+
42...Rxa4+ 43.Kf3 Rgg4 44.b7 Raf4+ 45.Ke3 Re4+ 46.Kd3 Rd4+ 47.Kc3+–.
43.Ke5
[FEN "5k2/5ppp/1PR5/1R2KP2/P6P/
1p6/r4r2/8 b - - 0 43"]
43...g6
Opens a new route for White's king. After 43...Rfe2+, White hides on the
queenside: 44.Kd6 Rad2+ 45.Kc7 Re7+ 46.Kb8+–.
Hebden could still have saved himself. How to deal with White's wave of
pawns: 41...Re7 or 41...d2?
41...Re7?
Too passive. White's rolling pawns are now always one move quicker. 41...d2
draws, if Black's king navigates carefully:
46.Ke5 (46.Kg3? backfires completely: 46...Rf8 47.Rg8 Rf3+ 48.Kg2 d1Q 49.
h8Q+ Kg4–+) 46...d1Q 47.h8Q+ Kg4 48.Qc8+ Kg3 49.Qc7=.
A2) 44.h7 Re8 45.Rxd2 Kxh7 46.a5 c3 47.Ra2 Rc8 48.Rc2 Ra8 49.Rxc3
Rxa5=.
B) 42.Rd7+ Kh8!!
[FEN "7k/3R4/8/6PP/P1p2K2/8/
3pr3/8 w - - 0 43"]
The point. (42...Kg8? 43.g6 Rf2+ 44.Kg5 c3 45.h6 Rf8 46.h7+ Kh8 47.g7+
Kxh7 48.gxf8Q#) 43.g6 (43.Rd8+ Kg7! 44.h6+ Kh7 45.Rd7+ Kg6! 46.h7
Re8=) 43...c3 44.Kg5 (44.h6 Re8=) 44...Re8 (44...c2?? 45.Rd8+ Re8 46.Rxe8
+ Kg7 47.h6#) 45.h6 c2 46.Rh7+= (46.h7?? c1Q 47.Kh6 d1Q+–+).
43...Rc7
43...Re8 44.Kh5 Kh8 (44...Re5 45.Rd7+ Kh8 46.h7 d2 47.Kh6+–) 45.g6 (45.
Rd7? Rc8 46.h7? backfires because of 46...c3 47.Kh6 c2 48.g6 c1Q+–+) 45...
Re5+ (45...c3 46.Rxd3 Rc8 47.Rd1 c2 48.Rc1 Rc5+ 49.Kg4+–) 46.Kg4 Re8
47.Kg5 c3 48.h7 c2 49.Rc6 d2 50.Kh6 c1Q
[FEN "4r2k/7P/2R3PK/8/P7/8/
3p4/2q5 w - - 0 51"]
44.Kh5!
But not 44.Kf5?, as White's king has no safe shelter after 44...c3 45.Rxd3 Rc5
+ 46.Kf6 Rc6+=.
[FEN "7k/3R3P/8/2r3PK/P1p5/3p4/
8/8 b - - 0 46"]
Black resigned because of 46...d2 47.Kh6 Rc8 [47...Rxg5 48.Rd8+ Rg8 49.
hxg8Q#] 48.g6 c3 49.g7#.
D) Coordination is Crucial
[FEN "2R5/pp2q1kp/3R2p1/4p3/PP6/7P/
5PP1/6K1 w - - 0 31"]
31.Rcd8! Kh6
[FEN "8/ppR4p/3R2pk/4p1q1/PP6/7P/
5PP1/6K1 b - - 0 33"]
[FEN "5q2/pp1R3p/4R1pk/4p3/PP6/7P/
5PP1/6K1 b - - 0 33"]
33...Qf4?!
33...Qxb4?! 34.Rf7!
[FEN "8/pp3R1p/4R1pk/4p3/Pq6/7P/
5PP1/6K1 b - - 0 34"]
This uses the powerful rook in an optimal way 34...Qxa4 35.Ree7 Qd1+ 36.
Kh2 Qd6 37.Rxh7+ Kg5 38.Ref7 e4+ 39.g3+–
[FEN "8/pp3R1R/3q2p1/6k1/4p3/6PP/
5P1K/8 b - - 0 39"]
34.g3 Qxb4
35.Rxe5
[FEN "8/pp1R3p/6pk/4R3/Pq6/6PP/
5P2/6K1 b - - 0 35"]
[FEN "8/1p3R1R/6p1/p5k1/8/6PP/
5P1K/3q4 b - - 0 39"]
Black resigned; one sample line runs 39...Qd2 40.h4+ Kg4 41.Rf4+ Qxf4 42.
gxf4 b5 43.Rb7 b4 44.Rb5+–.
Pure opposite colored bishop ending have a large drawish tendency, but
matters are completely different, if both sides have an additional rook. Here
the guideline from the middlegame, that opposite colored bishops favor the
attacker, gains in importance. Usually blitz games should not be analysed, but
I found the following final so typical, that I just had to annotate it:
[FEN "6k1/5p1p/2B1p1p1/1Rp1P3/
1bP2PK1/2r3P1/7P/8 w - - 0 39"]
39.Rb7!
The right move, which hits Black's Achilles heel directly. 39.Kg5? Kg7 40.
Rb7 h6+ 41.Kg4 Kf8=; 39.Rb8+? Kg7 40.Rb7 h5+ 41.Kg5 Ba5 42.Be8?? Bd8
+ 43.Re7 Bxe7#.
39...Kf8
39...Rxc4 does not help, as after 40.Be8 Kf8 41.Bxf7 Rc2 42.Bxe6 Rxh2 43.
Bc4 Rc2 44.Bb5, White's e-pawn will decide the day:
[FEN "5k2/1R5p/6p1/1Bp1P3/1b3PK1/
6P1/2r5/8 b - - 0 44"]
40.Kg5! Ba5
[FEN "5k2/1R3p1p/2B1p1p1/b1p1P1K1/
2P2P2/2r3P1/7P/8 w - - 0 41"]
40...Kg7 41.Be8 h6+ 42.Kg4 Rxc4 43.Bxf7 Rd4 44.Bxe6+ Kf8 45.Bf7 Kg7
46.Be8++–.
41.Kh6!
41...Rxc4?
This allows a mate, but Black is lost in any case; e.g., 41...Rd3 42.Rb5 Bc7 43.
Rxc5 Rd8 44.Kxh7+–; 41...Bd8 42.Rb8 Rd3 43.Kxh7+–.
[FEN "8/r3p2R/6p1/p4k2/2p2P2/Ppn2KP1/
8/3R4 w - - 0 32"]
[FEN "2R5/8/8/2P2p2/4k3/3p1N1P/
5nPK/1r6 b - - 0 77"]
[FEN "2k5/p2R3p/2P5/2r5/2N5/8/
3K4/8 w - - 0 53"]
[FEN "1Q6/8/p2p2p1/P1pPpk1p/2q5/
4B3/3K1P2/8 w - - 0 51"]
A PDF file of this month's column, along with all previous columns, is
available in the ChessCafe.com Archives.
Comment on this month's column via our Contact Page! Pertinent responses
will be posted below daily.
Endgame
Corner
Karsten Müller Chess King Training:
Endgames
by Chess King
47...Kb6?
Golubev showed the way in Chess Today #3957: 47...Kc7! 48.Kc3 (I add 48.
b5 Kb6 49.Kb4 e3 50.Kc3 Kxb5 51.Kd3 Kb4 52.Kxe3 Kc3–+
48.Kb3?
Too passive. The active 48.b5! saves the day: 48...Kc7 (48...Ka5 49.Kc5 e3
50.b6 e2 51.b7 e1Q 52.b8Q= (Golubev)) 49.Kd4 Kb7 50.Kc3! Kb6 51.Kc4 e3
52.Kd3 Kxb5 53.Kxe3 Kc4 54.Ke2=
[FEN "8/8/6p1/5p1p/2k2P1P/6P1/4K3/
8 b - - 0 54"]
Diagonal opposition is when all corners of the rectangle around the kings
have the same color: in this case the light squares. The side not on move has
the opposition: here White.
[FEN "8/8/6p1/5p1p/5P1P/2k1K1P1/
8/8 w - - 0 52"]
Normal Opposition.
52.Ke2 Kc2
[FEN "8/8/6p1/5p1p/5P1P/6P1/2k1K3/
8 w - - 0 53"]
Opposition on the main line, which goes through the middle of the three key
squares e1, e2, and e3.
This cannot be improved to the opposition in the direction left to right: 54.
Ke2 Ke4 55.Kf2 Kd3 56.Kf3!=
53.Ke3
53.Ke1 Kd3–+.
53...Kd1!
54.Kf2
54...Kd2 55.Kf3
55.Kf1 Ke3–+.
55...Ke1
[FEN "8/8/6p1/5p1p/5P1P/5KP1/
8/4k3 w - - 0 56"]
Finally, the king has penetrated to a key square. This prooves that Black wins.
56.Ke3
After 56.Kg2 Ke2 57.Kg1 Kf3 58.Kh2 Kf2 59.Kh3 Kg1, White must throw
himself onto his own sword:
[FEN "8/8/6p1/1k1K1p2/4p1P1/7p/5P1P/
8 b - - 0 61"]
[FEN "2rk4/3p4/pR1Kp3/P1P1Pp2/4bP2/
3B4/2P2R2/1r6 w - - 0 33"]
[FEN "8/r3p2R/6p1/p4k2/2p2P2/Ppn2KP1/
8/3R4 w - - 0 32"]
Girish uncorked 32.Re1!, which weaves a mating net. Black can neither
escape nor bring in defenders. 32...g5 32...Kf6 33.g4 g5 (33...Rd7 34.g5+ Kf5
35.Re5#; 33...e5 34.Rxa7 e4+ 35.Ke3+–) 34.f5 e5 35.Rxa7 e4+ 36.Rxe4
Nxe4 37.Kxe4 c3 38.Kd3+–. 33.g4+ Kg6 33...Kf6 34.f5+-. 34.Reh1 gxf4 35.
R1h6+ Kg5 36.Re6 1–0
Black closed the escape road with 77...Kf4!, and White resigned because of
78.Ng1 (78.c6?! Rh1#) 78...d2–+.
[FEN "8/1B6/p1PRpk2/5b2/1Pr2P1K/
8/8/8 b - - 0 66"]
It was a blunder because of 66...Rc3! 0–1 When Rh3 mate cannot be avoided
in the long run.
[FEN "2k5/p2R3p/2P5/2r5/2N5/8/
3K4/8 w - - 0 53"]
Sokolov found a nice finish: 53.Nd6+ Kb8 54.c7+ 1–0 54.Rb7+ Ka8 55.c7
wins as well. Black resigned because of 54...Rxc7 55.Rd8+ Rc8 56.Rxc8#.
White wins in a direct attack: 51.Qc8+! The right way. Both 51.Qf8+? Kg4=
and 51.Qb1+? e4= lead to nothing. 51...Ke4 51...Kf6? 52.Qf8#. 52.f3+! 1–0
[FEN "2Q5/8/p2p2p1/P1pPp2p/2q1k3/
4BP2/3K4/8 b - - 0 52"]
[FEN "3Q4/8/6p1/1p3p1k/1q6/5PpP/
2Bb2K1/8 w - - 0 61"]
Bu uncorked the amazing shot 61.f4!! 1–0 Black resigned because of 61...
Qxf4 (61...Bxf4 62.Bd1+ Kh6 63.Qh8+ Kg5 64.h4#) 62.Bd1+ Kh6 63.Qh8+
Kg5 64.h4+ Qxh4 65.Qd8++–, as given in Chess Today #3953.
A PDF file of this month's column, along with all previous columns, is
available in the ChessCafe.com Archives.
Comment on this month's column via our Contact Page! Pertinent responses
will be posted below daily.
A) Kasparov's Breakthrough
Normally blitz games should not be analysed, but when Garry Kasparov plays
matters are different.
Corner
Karsten Müller Endgame Magic
by Efstratios Grivas
[FEN "2Rbk3/1p3p1p/p4P2/4P1PP/
3r4/3pNK2/P7/8 w - - 0 48"]
48.e6?
1000TN!!
A breakthrough is the right concept, but this is the wrong way. 48.g6! hxg6 49.
by Chess Informant
hxg6 fxg6 50.e6, as given in Chess Today #3966 wins:
50...Rd6 (50...d2 51.e7 d1Q+ 52.Nxd1 Rxd1 53.exd8Q+ Rxd8 54.f7+ Ke7 55.
Rxd8 Kxd8 56.f8Q++–)
A) The direct 51.e7?? runs into 51...Rxf6+ 52.Ke4 Kxe7 53.Nd5+ Kd7–+.
B) 51.Nd5? Rxe6 52.Rxd8+ (52.f7+ Kxf7 53.Rxd8 Re2 54.Nc3 Rb2 55.Rxd3
b5=) 52...Kxd8 53.f7 Re8 54.fxe8Q+ Kxe8 55.Ke3 Kd7 56.Kxd3 g5=.
C) 51.Nf5!! A very beautiful shot to close the f-file. 51...gxf5 (51...d2?! 52.
Nxd6+ Kf8 53.Rxd8#; 51...Rxe6 52.Ng7+ Kf7 53.Nxe6 Bxf6 54.Nc5 d2 55.
Ke2+–) 52.e7 d2 53.exd8Q+ Rxd8 54.f7+
[FEN "2Rrk3/1p3P2/p7/5p2/8/5K2/
P2p4/8 b - - 0 54"]
48...d2?
Vachier-Lagrave follows the rule that passed pawns must be pushed. But first
he had to deal with the threats on the kingside.
[FEN "2Rbk3/1p6/p3pPP1/8/3r4/3pNK2/
P7/8 b - - 0 50"]
50...e5! And Black can offer very tenacious resistance as White's rook and
knight do not cooperate well here; e.g., (50...d2? 51.Ke2+–)
A1) 52...d2? 53.Ke2 Rd6 54.Kd1 e4 (54...Rxg6 55.Rxd8+ Kxf7 56.Rd7+ Ke8
57.Rxb7+–) 55.Ng4 Rxg6 56.Rxd8+ Kxf7 57.Ne5+ Ke7 58.Nxg6+ Kxd8 59.
Kxd2 b5 60.Ke3 Kc7 61.Ne5 Kb6 62.Kxe4 Ka5 63.Kd3 Ka4 64.Kc2 b4 65.
Nc4 a5 66.Nd2 Ka3 67.Kb1 Ka4 68.Kb2 Kb5 69.Kc2 Ka4 70.Nb1 Kb5 71.
Kd3 Kc5 72.Nd2 Kb5 73.Kd4 Ka4 74.Nb1 Kb5 75.Kd5 b3 76.a3 Ka4 77.Kc4
b2 78.Kc3+–;
A2) 52...Rd6 53.Nc4 Rd5 54.Ke3 b5 55.Nd2 Rd6 56.Ne4 (56.Ke4 Rxg6 57.
Rxd8+ Kxf7 58.Kxe5 b4 59.Rd7+ Ke8 60.Rxd3 Rg5+ 61.Ke6 Rg6+ 62.Kf5
Rg2) 56...Rxg6 57.Rxd8+ Kxf7 58.Rd7+ Kf8 59.Rxd3 Rc6
[FEN "5k2/8/p1r5/1p2p3/4N3/3RK3/
P7/8 w - - 0 60"]
B) 51.g7 Kf7 52.Rb8 Rf4+ 53.Kg3 Rxf6 54.Rxd8 Kxg7 55.Ng4 Rb6
[FEN "3R4/1p4k1/pr6/4p3/6N1/3p2K1/
P7/8 w - - 0 56"]
And in all three cases it is not clear if White can win because of the reduced
winning potential.
[FEN "2Rbk3/1p2Pp1p/p4P2/6PP/8/
5K2/P7/3r4 w - - 0 51"]
51.h6!?
The immediate 51.g6 hxg6 52.h6 wins as well. Even 51.exd8Q+ Rxd8 52.
Rxd8+ Kxd8 53.Ke4 is playable; e.g., 53...Kd7 54.Kd5 b6 55.a3 b5 56.Kc5
Kc7 57.g6+–.
55...Rxe7 56.fxe7 Kxe7 57.Rb8 b5 58.Rb7+ Ke6 59.g6 fxg6 60.Rxh7 Bf6 61.
Ra7+–.
56.Ke4 b5 57.g6!?
[FEN "2Rbk3/4Pp1p/p2r1PPP/1p6/4K3/8/
P7/8 b - - 0 57"]
At first sight the following pawn ending looks dead drawn. But looks can be
deceptive.
[FEN "5k2/1p4p1/1P3pKp/4p2P/4P1P1/
5P2/8/8 w - - 0 55"]
55.g5!!
55.Kh7? Kf7 56.Kh8 Kf8= and 55.Kf5 Kf7 56.f4 exf4 57.Kxf4 Ke6 58.Kf3
Ke5 59.Ke3= are indeed dead drawn.
55...fxg5?!
[FEN "5k2/1p4p1/1P3pKP/4p1p1/4P3/
5P2/8/8 b - - 0 56"]
[FEN "8/1p3kp1/1P5p/4K1pP/4P3/5P2/
8/8 b - - 0 57"]
57...g6
57...Ke7 does not help either: 58.Kf5 Kf7 59.e5 Ke7 60.Kg6 Ke6 61.Kxg7
Kxe5 62.Kxh6 Kf6 63.Kh7 Kf7 64.h6+–.
60.e5 1–0
C) Mikhalevski's Majorities
[FEN "8/p6p/1p2k1p1/r3P3/8/5PP1/
P2R4/3K4 b - - 0 38"]
38...Rd5!?
Good technique! The resulting rook ending after 38...Rxe5 39.Rh2 h5 is most
probably won as well, but not as easy as the pawn ending.
This bodycheck is Black's point. Now his pawn majorities on both wings will
win.
42...g5? blows it: 43.Ke4 gxf4 44.gxf4 b4 45.f5+ Ke7 46.Kd5 a4 47.e6 (47.
Kc4? h5–+) 47...b3 48.axb3 axb3 49.f6+ Kxf6 50.Kd6 b2 51.e7 b1Q 52.e8Q
Qg6 53.Qe5+ Kf7+ 54.Kd5=.
43.Kd3 g5 44.Ke3
44.fxg5 Kxe5 45.Ke3 Kf5 46.Kd4 Kxg5 47.Kc5 Kg4 48.Kxb5 Kxg3 49.Kxa5
h5–+.
D) The Quartgriff
The formation with pawns e5, f4, g4, h5 against e6, f7, g7, h6 is also called
Quartgriff in German. White's space advantage gives him a dangerous option
to break through.
[FEN "8/5pp1/4p2p/3pP2P/3P4/1k2KPP1/
8/8 b - - 0 45"]
45...g6!
Here the typical 45...Kc3? 46.g4 Kc4? is wrong due to the coming typical
pawn breakthrough. (46...f6 is the last chance to fight: 47.exf6 gxf6 48.f4 e5
49.fxe5 fxe5 50.dxe5 d4+ 51.Ke2 Kc2 52.e6 d3+ 53.Kf2 d2 54.e7 d1Q 55.
e8Q Qd4+ 56.Kf3 Qc3+ with drawing chances.) 47.f4 Kc3 48.f5 Kc4 (48...
exf5 49.gxf5 Kc4 50.e6+–) 49.g5
[FEN "8/5pp1/4p2p/3pPPPP/2kP4/4K3/
8/8 b - - 0 49"]
And the typical Quartgriff breakthrough pawn formation is on the board 49...
Kc3 (49...exf5 50.g6 fxg6 51.e6+–; 49...hxg5 50.f6 gxf6 51.h6 fxe5 52.h7
exd4+ 53.Kd2+–) 50.f6 (50.g6+–) 50...gxf6 51.gxh6 fxe5 52.h7 exd4+ 53.Kf2
d3 54.h8Q++–.
[FEN "8/8/4p1pp/3pP3/3P2P1/1k2KP2/
8/8 b - - 0 47"]
47.f4? h5–+.
47...g5!
47...h5? 48.gxh5 gxh5 49.f4 h4 50.f5 exf5 51.e6 h3 52.Kf2+–; 47...Kc4? 48.
f4 Kc3 49.f5 gxf5 50.gxf5 exf5 51.e6+–.
[FEN "8/8/4p2p/3pP3/2kP1KP1/
8/8/8 w - - 0 50"]
50.g5!
[FEN "2k5/4b3/1pp2p1p/p3pP1P/P1P1NpP1/
1P1K1P2/8/8 w - - 0 42"]
In this blocked position the knight is obviously much better than the bishop.
But how to make progress?
42.c5!?
42.g5 wins as well: 42...fxg5 43.Nf2 Kd7 44.Ng4 Bf8 45.c5+–; 42.Nf2 is also
possible; e.g., 42...Bc5 (42...Bf8 43.g5 hxg5 44.Ng4 Bg7 45.h6 Bh8 46.c5
Kb7 47.Kc4 Kc7 48.cxb6+ Kxb6 49.h7 Bg7 50.Nf2 Bh8 51.Ne4 Bg7 52.b4
+–) 43.g5+–.
42...bxc5
42...b5 43.g5 fxg5 44.Nf2 Bxc5 45.Ng4 Bf8 (45...e4+ 46.Kxe4 Bf8 47.f6 Kd7
48.Kf5 Kd6 49.Ne5 bxa4 50.bxa4 Kd5 51.Nd7 Bd6 52.f7 c5 53.Nb6+ Kc6 54.
Nc4 Bf8 55.Ke4+–) 46.Nxe5 Kc7 47.f6 Bd6 48.Ng6 c5 49.axb5 Kb6 50.Kc4
g4 51.f7 gxf3 52.Kd5 f2 53.Kxd6 f1Q 54.Ne7 Qd3+ 55.Nd5+ Kxb5 56.f8Q
+–; 42...Kc7 43.g5 fxg5 44.f6 Bf8 45.cxb6+ Kxb6 46.Nd2 Kc5 47.Ke4 Kb4
48.Nc4 c5 49.Nxe5 Kxb3 50.Nd7 Bd6 51.Kd5 c4 52.Kxd6 c3 53.Nc5+ Kc4
54.f7 c2 55.f8Q c1Q 56.Qf7++–.
43.g5!!
[FEN "2k5/4b3/2p2p1p/p1p1pPPP/P3Np2/
1P1K1P2/8/8 b - - 0 43"]
And in the next step he opens the other wing. Very beautiful!
44...Bf6 45.Ng4 Bg7 46.Ke4 Kc7 47.f6 Bf8 48.Nxe5 Kd6 49.Ng6+–.
45.bxc4 Kd7 46.Ng4 Bf8 47.Nxe5+ Kd6 48.Ke4 Bg7 49.Ng4 Bf8
49...Ke7 50.f6+ Bxf6 51.Nxh6 Ke6 52.c5 Bh8 53.Ng4 Bg7 54.h6 Bh8 55.h7
Ba1 56.Nh6 Bb2 57.Nf5 Kf7 58.Kd3 Bf6 59.Nd6+ Kg6 60.Nc4 Kxh7 61.
Nxa5 Be7 62.Nb3 Bd8 63.a5 Bc7 64.a6 Bb8 65.Na5 Ba7 66.Kd4 g4 67.fxg4
f3 68.Ke3 Bxc5+ 69.Kxf3 Kg6 70.Nxc6 Kg5 71.a7 Bxa7 72.Nxa7+–.
50.f6 Ke6
[FEN "8/8/2N2k1p/p5pP/PbP1Kp2/
5P2/8/8 w - - 0 53"]
53.Ne5!
White keeps full control. Of course not 53.Nxb4? axb4 54.a5 b3 55.Kd3 b2 56.
Kc2 g4 57.a6 b1Q+ 58.Kxb1 gxf3 59.a7 f2 60.a8Q f1Q+–+.
53...Ke6 54.Ng4 Bf8 55.Kd4 Kd6 56.c5+ Kc6 57.Ne5+ Kc7 58.Kd5 Bg7 59.
Ng4 Bf8
60.Kc4 Kc6 61.Ne5+ Kc7 62.Kb5 Bg7 63.Ng4 Bf8 64.Kxa5 Kc6 65.Kb4
Bxc5+ 66.Kc4 Bf8 67.Kd4 Kb6 68.Kd5 Ka5 69.Ke6 Kxa4 70.Kf7 Bb4 71.
Nxh6 Kb3 72.Ng4 Kc2 73.h6 1–0
Black resigned because of 73...Bc3 74.Nf6 Bxf6 75.Kxf6 g4 76.h7 gxf3 77.
h8Q f2 78.Qh2 Kd2 79.Qxf2++–.
F) Deep Breakthrough
When exchanging into a pawn endgame always great care is called for. In the
following example, Tunik had calculated very far ahead.
[FEN "6k1/ppn2p2/8/2P2P1p/1P2K3/
2N5/P7/8 w - - 0 37"]
37.Nd5!! Nxd5
Staying in the knight ending with 37...Ne8 does not help as White's central
forces are dominating; e.g., 38.b5 f6 39.Kf4 Kf7 40.a4 Kg7 41.a5 Kf7 42.c6
bxc6 43.bxc6 Nd6 44.c7 Nc8 45.Kg3 Nd6 46.Kh3 Nc8 47.Kh4 Nd6 48.Kxh5
+–.
38.Kxd5 h4 39.Ke4
White is inside the square of the rook's pawn. But Black in the end not as
Tunik will show.
43.a5!
43...Ke6
44.c6 b6
After 44...bxc6, follows the typical breakthrough: 45.b6 axb6 46.a6+–, which
was planned by Tunik when he decided to exchange the knights.
45.axb6
45.a6? spoils it; e.g., 45...h2 46.Kg2 Kd6 47.Kxh2 Kc7 48.Kg3 Kd6 49.Kf4
Ke6 50.Kg5 Ke7 51.Kf5 Kd8 52.Kf6 Ke8=, as now 53.c7 Kd7 54.Kxf7 Kxc7
55.Ke7 Kb8 56.Kd7 Ka8 57.Kc7 leads to stalemate.
53.c7!
The pride of White's position is simply sacrificed to get at the pawn b6.
53...Kxc7 54.Ke7
54...Kc8 55.Kd6 Kb7 56.Kd7 Ka7 57.Kc7 Ka8 58.Kxb6 Kb8 59.Ka6 1–0
After 59.Kc6?! Ka7 White must retreat: 60.Kc7! Ka8 61.Kb6 Kb8 62.Ka6!+–.
G) Corresponding Squares
This theory is quite advanced and usually only occurs in its basic forms, when
the concepts of opposition and triangulation are all you need to master. But
sometimes the real deep theory is needed to really understand what is going
on:
[FEN "3k4/2p5/1p6/3Pp1p1/2P1PpPp/
K4P1P/8/8 b - - 0 70"]
In this case Black must be able to meet Kb5 with Kd6 and Kb4 with Kd7 to
answer 1.c5 with the counter-blow 1...c6! the point of the defense. So Ka4
must be met by Ke7 to be able to reach d7 and d6. So it seems to be drawn by
70...Ke8 but this misses one point. After Kb3 White threatens the pawn
advance c4–c5 so Black must be able to answer Kb3 with Kd6 which
completes the system of corresponding squares. As Black can not win the
fight for the correspondence he loses, whatever he does.
70...Kd7
71.Ka4?
71...c6?
71...Ke7! keeps the correspondence and draws because of 72.Kb4 (72.Kb5
Kd6 73.Kb4 c6 74.dxc6 Kxc6 75.Kb3 Kc5 76.Kc3 b5 77.cxb5 Kxb5 78.
Kb3=) 72...Kd7 73.c5 (73.Kb5 Kd6=) 73...c6!!
[FEN "8/3k4/1pp5/2PPp1p1/1K2PpPp/
5P1P/8/8 w - - 0 74"]
71...Kd6? 72.Kb5 Kd7 73.c5 bxc5 74.Kxc5 Ke7 75.Kc6 Kd8 76.d6 Kc8 77.
Kd5+–.
Black resigned because of 73...Kc7 74.Kb5 Kb7 75.c5 bxc5 76.Kxc5 Ka6 77.
Kd5 Kb5 78.Kxe5 Kc4 79.Kf5 Kd4 80.e5 Ke3 81.e6 Kxf3 82.e7 Kg2 83.e8Q
f3 84.Qe4+–.
[FEN "8/8/6p1/1k1K1p2/4p1P1/7p/5P1P/
8 b - - 0 61"]
61.g4 was a blunder because of the breakthrough 61...e3! But not 61...fxg4?
62.Kxe4 Kc4 63.Kf4 Kd4 64.Kxg4 Ke4 65.Kxh3 Kf3=. 62.fxe3 fxg4 By the
way 62...g5?! wins surprisingly as well. 63.e4 63.Ke4 g3 64.Kf3 gxh2–+. 63...
g3 64.e5 gxh2 0–1
Opposition is the right concept but it must also be applied in the correct way:
80.Ke3? The normal opposition is wrong here as White can not use all
squares to defend it. White must fight the duel as follows: 80.Kc3!
Distant opposition 80...Kf4 81.Kd4 Kf3 82.Kd3 Kg2 83.Kc2 Kg1 84.Kc1=;
80.Kd5? Kf3–+ Diagonal Opposition. 80...Kg4 81.Ke4 Kg5 And now White
can not maintain the vital normal opposition as e6 is not available for his king.
82.Kd4 82.Ke3 Kf5 83.Kd4 Kf4 84.Kd5 Ke3–+. 82...Kf4 Opposition 83.Kd5
Ke3 0–1 White resigned because of 84.Kc5 Ke4 85.Kd6 Kd4 86.Kxd7 Kxe5
87.Ke7 f5–+.
White must reach the reciprocal zugzwang position wKe6 vs bKg5 on the
right foot: 68.g4? 68.Kd6! Kh6 69.Ke7 Kg5 70.Ke6 Reciprocal zugzwang
with Black to move and so a draw results: 70...Kg6 71.Kd6 Kf7 72.Kd5=. 68.
Kd5? Kh5 69.Ke6 Kg5! Reciprocal zugzwang with White to move and lose:
70.Kf7 f5 71.exf5 Kxf5–+. 68...Kg5! 69.Kf7 Kxg4 0–1 White resigned
because of 70.Kxf6 Kf4 71.Ke6 Kxe4–+.
Pawn races must always be calculated carefully: 63...f4? Only 63...Kc8! saves
the day as both sides manage to queen: 64.Kxd6 (64.Kc6? f4 65.gxf4 h4–+)
64...h4 65.gxh4 f4 66.h5 f3 67.h6 f2 68.h7 f1Q 69.h8Q+ Kb7 70.Qd4 Qf8+=.
63...h4? 64.gxh4 f4 65.Ke4 Kc6 66.h5 Kxb6 67.h6+–. 64.gxf4 h4 65.Ke4 d5+
65...Kc6 66.f5+–. 66.Kxd5? This greedy capture loses the race. 66.Kf3! keeps
both black pawns under control just long enough: 66...d4 (66...Kc6 67.f5
Kxb6 68.f6+–) 67.f5 h3 68.b7 Kc7 69.b8Q+ Kxb8 70.f6 h2 71.Kg2 d3 72.f7
h1Q+ 73.Kxh1 d2 74.f8Q++–. 66...h3 67.b7 Kc7 68.Ke4 68.f5 h2 69.f6 h1Q
+–+. 68...h2 0–1
Black's king will invade, but one pawn move must come first: 56...h5! 56...
Kf5? 57.h5!=. 57.Kf3 57.Kf2 Kf5 58.Kf3 g6 59.Kg3 (59.Ke3 Kg4 60.Ke4
Kxh4 61.Kf3 Kh3 62.f5 gxf5 63.Kf4 Kg2 64.Kxf5 h4 65.Kg4 h3–+) 59...Ke4
60.f5 gxf5–+. 57...Kf5 58.Ke3 58.Kg3 Ke4 59.f5 Kxf5 60.Kf3 g6 61.Kg3
Ke4–+. 58...Kg4 59.f5 Kxf5 59...Kxh4 wins as well: 60.Kf4 Kh3 61.Kg5 h4
62.Kg6 Kg4 63.Kxg7 Kxf5–+. 60.Kf3 g6 61.Kg3 Ke4 62.Kg2 Kf4 0–1
E130.06 Kalmachevskikh, V (2293) – Kabanov, N (2520)
VII Ugra Governor's Cup Khanty-Mansiysk RUS (8), 07.09.2011
Surprisingly White can still defend: 54.Kf3? 54.Ke3! Kd5 55.h4 gxh4 56.g5
h3
[FEN "8/8/4k1p1/1p5p/3p1P2/P6P/
4K1P1/8 w - - 0 39"]
Both sides must be very careful as all spare tempi will count. 39.g4? This
gives away one valuable tempo. 39.Kd3 Kd5 (39...h4 40.Kxd4 Kd6 41.Ke4
Ke6 42.Kf3 Kf5 43.g4+ hxg3 44.Kxg3 g5 45.fxg5 Kxg5 46.Kf3 Kh4 47.Ke4
Kxh3 48.Kd4 Kg4 49.Kc5 Kf5 50.Kxb5 Ke6 51.Kc6 Ke7 52.Kc7+–) 40.g3!
[FEN "8/8/6p1/1p1k3p/3p1P2/P2K2PP/
8/8 b - - 0 40"]
Uses the g-pawn to win the tempo and so the game: 40...Kc5 41.g4 hxg4 (41...
Kd5 42.f5 gxf5 43.gxh5 Ke5 44.h6 Kf6 45.Kxd4 Kg6 46.Ke5 Kxh6 47.Kxf5
+–) 42.hxg4 Kd5 43.g5 Kc5 44.f5 gxf5 45.g6+–. 39...h4? 39...hxg4 40.hxg4
Kd5 41.Kd3 Kc5 42.f5 gxf5 43.gxf5 Kd5 44.f6 Ke6 45.Kxd4 Kxf6 46.Kc5
Ke7 47.Kxb5 Kd7 48.Kb6 Kc8=. 40.Kd3 Kd5 41.g5 1-0 Black resigned
because of 41...Kc5 42.f5 gxf5 43.g6+–.
White must give a bodycheck first: 52.Ke4!! 52.Kf5? Kd4 53.Kxg5 Kc3=.
52...Kd6 53.Kf5! But not 53.Kd4?! Ke6 54.Kc4? Ke5 55.Kxb4 Kf4 56.Ka5
Kxg4 57.b4 Kf5 58.b5 g4 (58...Ke6? 59.b6 Kd7 60.Ka6+–) 59.b6 g3 60.b7 g2
61.b8Q g1Q=. 53...Kd5 54.Kxg5 Kd4 55.Kf4 Kc3 56.g5 Kxb3 1–0 Black
resigned because of 57.g6 Kc2 58.g7 b3 59.g8Q b2 60.Qc4+ Kd2 61.Qb3 Kc1
62.Qc3+ Kb1 63.Ke3 Ka2 64.Qc2 Ka1 65.Qa4+ Kb1 66.Kd3 Kc1 67.Qc2#.
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Endgame
Corner
Karsten Müller Endgame Magic
by Efstratios Grivas
[FEN"8/R4p2/P4kp1/7p/7P/4K1P1/r4P2/8 w - - 0 1"]
Translate this page
"V. Kantorovich considered this position in 1989 as draw with two tempi to
spare. But 2003 J. Steckner came to the conclusion that White to play wins
with 1.Kd4. His analysis has been endorsed by such great endgame authorities
like M. Dvoretsky and K. Müller. Steckner's discovery has been regarded by
Dvoretsky as a revolutionary change in the theory of this portion of endgame.
But I think that with correct defence Black is able to reach a draw. In my
analysis I will refer to the 2. edition of the Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual
1000TN!!
(DEM, 2008), since it summarizes very well the main points of the theoretical
by Chess Informant
discussions of 2003."
1.Kd4 g5!!
[FEN"8/R4p2/P4k2/6pp/3K3P/6P1/r4P2/8 w - - 0 2"]
1...Rxf2? 2.Rc7 Ra2 3.a7 Kf5 4.Kc4 loses as Steckner proved in 2003.
2.Kd5
"Now 2... gxh4? loses (see the next example 132.02). The only move to draw
is 2...g4."
2.Kc5 gxh4 ("Black can draw also with 2...g4 See the variation 2.Kd5 g4.") 3.
gxh4 Ke5
[FEN"8/R4p2/P7/2K1k2p/7P/8/r4P2/8 w - - 0 4"]
[FEN"1K6/4R3/P4k2/5p1p/7P/8/r4P2/8 w - - 0 8"]
B) 4.Ra8 Kf4 5.Kb6 Rb2+ 6.Ka7 "( 1.. .g5!? (DEM p. 197; Kantorovich
Black to move) after 2.Kd4 gh 3.gh Ra5 4.Kc4 Ke5 5.Kb4 Ra2 6. Kb5 Rb2+
7. Kc6 Rc2+ 8.Kb6 Rb2+ 9.Kc7 Ra2 10. Ra8 Kf4 11.Kb7 Rb2+ 12.Ka7
(DEM, p. 197). This position is rightly considered as a draw but there are
some flaws in the analysis in DEM:"
[FEN"K5R1/8/P7/5p1p/5k1P/8/5r2/8 b - - 0 8"]
8...Ke3!! "New: Found by both Poghosyan, who published it first, and by
Micawber independently. DEM considers only ...Rb2? (DEM, p.197) and ...
Ke5? (DEM, p.198) which lose" (Micawber) 9.a7 f4 10.Kb7 (10.Re8+ Kd3 11.
Kb7 Ra2=) 10...Ra2 11.Re8+ Kd3 12.Re5 f3 13.Rxh5 f2 14.Rf5 Rb2+ 15.Kc6
Ra2 16.Rxf2 Rxa7=.
B2) "Not 6...Kg4? !? According to DEM, p.197, 7.Rb8 Rxf2 8.Rb4+ Kg3 9.
Kb6 Ra2
[FEN"8/5p2/PK6/7p/1R5P/6k1/r7/8 w - - 0 10"]
10.Kb5!! (DEM considers only Rb5 (DEM, p.197) which draws!)" (10.Rb5?=
(Dvoretsky)) 10...f5 11.Ra4! Rb2+ 12.Kc6 Rb8 (12...Rc2+ 13.Kd7 Rd2+ 14.
Ke7 Re2+ 15.Kf7 Rd2 16.a7+–) 13.a7 Ra8 14.Kb7 Re8 15.a8Q Rxa8 16.
Rxa8!+– (not 16.Kxa8? F4=).
B3) 6...f5= 7.Rg8 Kf3= (7...Rxf2! "? according to DEM" 8.Ka8 Ke3!! "is also
possible"; "Transposition to the line starting with 6...Rxf2" (Micawber))
Micawber continues the line with 8.Rb8 Rxf2 9.Rb5 (9.Rb4 f4=) 9...Re2!=; 2.
hxg5+ Kxg5 3.Kc5 Kg4 4.Kb5=
[FEN"8/R4p2/P7/1K5p/6k1/6P1/r4P2/8 b - - 0 4"]
"(transposition to 9.158 of DEM (p. 199-200) after 1... Ra4! 2. Kd3 g5! 3.
hxg5+ Kxg5 4.Kc3 Kg4 5. Kb3 Ra1 6. Kb4 Ra2 7.Kb5; Kantorovich position
Black to move Dautovs method)" 4...Rxf2 5.Ra8 Rb2+ 6.Kc4 Ra2 7.Rg8+
Kf3 8.Kb5 Rb2+ 9.Kc6 Ra2 10.Kb7 Rb2+ 11.Ka8 f5!
"Mueller/2003" (Micawber) 12.Rg5 f4! 13.gxf4 h4! 14.f5 Kf4 15.Rh5 Kg4 16.
Rh8 Kxf5 17.Rxh4 Ke6=
"(DEM, p. 200; "In this technical position Black reaches c7 just in time with
his king if White decides on a7–Rh8–Rb8" (Micawber); 2.f3 gxh4 3.gxh4 Ra5
4.Kc4 Ke5 5.Kb4 (5.f4+ Kxf4 6.Rxf7+ Kg4 7.a7 Kxh4=) 5...Ra2! (or 5...
Ra1=) 6.Kb5 Rb2+ 7.Kc6 Rc2+ 8.Kb6 Rb2+ 9.Kc7
[FEN"8/R1K2p2/P7/4k2p/7P/5P2/1r6/8 b - - 0 9"]
9...Ra2! (Micawber)
2...g4!
[FEN"8/R4p2/P4k2/3K3p/6pP/6P1/r4P2/8 w - - 0 3"]
"New. The only move to draw. After 2..g4! White can try different plans: 1.
the 1. Ra8–Ka7 setup, 2. exchanging the a6 pawn with the f7 pawn and trying
eventually to take the g4 and h5 pawns and 3. Kings transfer to h7 trying to
exchange the a-pawn for Black's kingside pawns. But Black has apparently
sufficient defensive resources."
3.Kd6
"Black has many ways to reach a draw – 3...Rd2+, 3...Re2 and 3... Ra3. Let's
take 3....Rd2+ as the main line." To make it shorter I will give only
Poghosyan's main line defense 3...Rd2+.
[FEN"R7/5p2/P4k2/3K3p/6pP/6P1/r4P2/8 b - - 0 3"]
A) But not 3...Kg7? "When the Black king is on g7 or f6, then the Ra8–Ka7
setup is effective, but not, when the Black King is on e7, e6 or nearer to the a-
pawn" 4.Kc6 Kf6 (4...Rc2+?! 5.Kb6 Rb2+ 6.Ka7 Rxf2 7.Rb8+–) 5.Kb7 Rb2+
6.Ka7! Rxf2 7.Rb8 Ke7 8.Rb5 Rd2 (8...f5 9.Kb7+–) 9.Kb7 Rd7+ 10.Kb6 Rd6
+ 11.Ka5 Rd2 12.a7+–.
C) 3...Kf5! 4.Kc6 (4.Rf8 Rxa6 5.Rxf7+ Kg6=) 4...Ke4 (4...Rxf2? 5.Rb8 Rc2+
Micawber: 6.Kb6 Rb2+ 7.Ka7 Ra2 8.Rb4+–) 5.Kb7 Kf3= "Transposition to
main line: sideline 8.Ra8 iso 8.Ke8".
3.Kc6 must be answered by 3...Ke6! 4.Kb6 (4.Kb7 Rxf2 5.Ra8 Rb2+ 6.Ka7
Rb3=) 4...Rb2+=. Not 3...Ke5? 4.Kb5 Rb2+ (4...Kf6 5.Rc7+–) 5.Kc4 Ra2 (5...
Rxf2 6.Re7+ Kd6 7.a7 Ra2 8.Rxf7 Kc6 9.Kd4 Ra5 10.Rh7 Kb6 11.Ke4 Ra4+
12.Kf5+–) 6.Rxf7 Rxa6 7.Rh7+–.
3...Rd2+ 4.Kc6
[FEN"R7/5p2/P4k2/7p/2K3pP/6P1/r4P2/8 b - - 0 7"]
B) 12...Kd6! 13.Rb5 Kc6 14.Rxh5 Rf3 15.Rh6+ (15.Rh8 Rxg3 16.h5 Rh3 17.
Rc8+=; 15.Rh7 Rxg3 16.Rxf7 Rf3 17.Rxf3 gxf3 18.Kb8 f2 19.a7 f1Q 20.a8Q
+ Kd6=) 15...Kc7 16.Rh7 Kc6 17.h5 Rxg3 18.Rxf7 Rd3= (18...Rf3=) 19.Rf6+
(19.h6 g3 20.h7 Rd8 21.Rf6+ Kb5 22.Rb6+ Kc5=) 19...Rd6 20.Rg6 g3 21.
Kb8 (21.Rxg3 Rd7+ 22.Kb8 Rd8+=) 21...Rxg6 22.hxg6 g2 23.a7 g1Q 24.a8Q
+ Kd7!=.
4...Rc2+
"Black draws also with 4...Ra2! 5.Kb6 Rb2+= See the main variation after 5...
Rb2+".; Not 4...Rxf2? 5.Rb7+–.
5.Kb6
5.Kb7 Rxf2= "Transposition to the main line 7.Kb7 Rxf2." Not 5...Ke5? 6.
Ra8! Rb2+ 7.Ka7 Rxf2 8.Rh8! Ra2 (8...f5 9.Rxh5 Rf3 10.Rh7 Rxg3 11.Kb8
Rb3+ 12.Rb7+–) 9.Rxh5+ f5 10.Kb7 Rb2+ 11.Ka8 Ke4 12.a7+–.
5...Rb2+ 6.Kc7
[FEN"8/R1K2p2/P4k2/7p/6pP/6P1/1r3P2/8 b - - 0 6"]
7.Kb7 Rxf2 8.Ra8 Rb2+ 9.Ka7 Rb3 10.Rh8 Rxg3 11.Rxh5 Ke6 (11...Rg1=;
11...Rh3=) 12.Rh8 (12.Rg5 f5 13.h5 f4=) 12...Rg1 13.h5 g3 14.h6 Rh1 15.h7
g2 16.Rg8 Rxh7 17.Rxg2 f5+=.
7...Ra2!
7...Rc6? 8.Ke8 Re6+ (8...Kg6 9.Kf8 Rf6 10.Ra8 Rxf2 11.Rb8 Ra2 12.Rb6+
f6 13.Ke7+–) 9.Kf8 Kg6 10.Ra8 (10.Rxf7? Rxa6!=) 10...Kf6 (10...Rf6 11.a7!
+– (Micawber)) 11.Kg8 Kg6 12.Kh8 Kf6 13.Kh7 Ke7 14.a7 Ra6 15.Rb8!+–
"see the variation 9...Ra3? after 14... Ke7."
8.Ke8
9...Ra3? 10.Ra8 Ra2 11.a7! Ra5 (11...Kf6 12.Kg8 Ra6 13.Kh8 Ke7 14.Kh7
Kf6 15.Kh6 Ra5 16.Rb8+–) 12.Kg8 Ra6 13.Kh8 Kf6 14.Kh7 Ke7
[FEN"R7/P3kp1K/r7/7p/6pP/6P1/5P2/8 w - - 0 15"]
15.Rb8! Rxa7 16.Kg7 Ke6 17.Rb6+!? Ke5 18.Rf6! Rb7 (18...Ke4 19.Kh6
Ke5 20.Kg5 Rb7 21.Rf4 Rb8 22.Rxf7+–) 19.Rxf7 Rb6 20.Rf4 Ra6 21.Rb4
Kf5 22.Rb5+ Ke4 23.Rxh5 Ra7+ 24.Kf6 Ra6+ 25.Ke7 Ra7+ 26.Kd8 Ra8+ 27.
Kc7 Ra7+ 28.Kb6 Rf7 29.Rg5 Rxf2 30.Rxg4++–.
10.Ra8
10...Ra2 11.a7
11.Ke7 Kf5! (11...f5=) 12.Kxf7 Ke4= (Micawber).
[FEN"R7/P3kp1K/r7/7p/6pP/6P1/8/8 w - - 0 15"]
[FEN"R6K/P3kp2/7r/7p/6pP/6P1/8/8 w - - 0 17"]
"The most simple defence. If the White king is on g7/g8 or h8, Black keeps
checking with his rook. If White plays Kh7 Black answers Ra6 and white is in
a kind of Zugzwang" (Micawber)Chess really is an amazingly rich game!
[FEN"8/R4p2/P4k2/3K3p/7P/8/r4P2/8 b - - 0 3"]
3...Rd2+
3...Kg6 4.Kc6 (4.Ra8? Kf5 5.Kc6 Kg4=) 4...Rc2+ (4...f5 5.f4 Rc2+ 6.Kd6 Rd2
+ 7.Ke7 Re2+ 8.Kf8 Ra2 9.Rg7+ Kf6 10.a7 Ke6 11.Rf7 Kd6 12.Rf6+ Kd5 13.
Rxf5+ Ke4 14.Rf7 Ra5 15.f5 Ra1 16.Kg7 Kf4 17.f6+–; 4...Re2 5.Rc7+–) 5.
Kb6 Rb2+ 6.Kc7 Rc2+ 7.Kb8 Ra2
[FEN"1K6/R4p2/P5k1/7p/7P/8/r4P2/8 w - - 0 8"]
A) 8.f3? is refufed by Dvoretsky's 8...Ra4! 9.Kc7 (9.Kc8 Rxh4 10.Rc7 Ra4 11.
a7 f5=) 9...Rxh4 10.Ra8 Ra4 11.Kb6 Kg5 12.Rg8+ Kf4=.
B) 8.Ra8! Rxf2 9.Ka7 f5 10.Rf8 f4 11.Kb7 Rb2+ 12.Ka8 Rb4 13.a7 f3 14.
Rxf3 Rxh4 15.Rb3+–; 3...Ra5+ 4.Kc6 (4.Kc4? Ke5= "transposition to DEM,
9.152 after 3...Ra5 4. Kc4 Ke5").
A) 4...Ra1 5.Ra8 Kf5 (5...Ke7 6.Kb7 Rb1+ 7.Ka7 Kd6 8.Rh8+–; 5...Ke5 6.
Re8+ Kf4 7.Kb7 Rb1+ 8.Ka8 Kf3 9.a7 Kxf2 10.Rb8 Ra1 11.Rb5 Kg3 12.
Rxh5 f5 13.Rh8 f4 14.h5 f3 15.h6 f2 16.h7+–) 6.Kb6 Rb1+ 7.Ka7 Kf4 8.Rb8
Ra1 9.Kb7 Rb1+ 10.Ka8 Ra1 11.a7 f5 12.Kb7+–.
B) 4...Ra3 5.Ra8+–.
C) 4...Ra2 5.Ra8
C1) 5...Kf5 6.Kb6 (6.a7? Kf4=; 6.Kb7 Rb2+ 7.Ka7+–) 6...Rb2+ (6...Rxf2 7.
Rb8 Rb2+ 8.Ka7 Rg2 9.Rb5+ Kf4 10.Kb6+–) 7.Ka7 Kg4 8.Rb8 Rxf2 9.Rb4+
Kg3 10.Kb6 Ra2 11.Kb5+–
[FEN"8/5p2/P7/1K5p/1R5P/6k1/r7/8 b - - 0 11"]
"See DEM, 9–153, variation A), 12...Kg4!? - White wins with 16.Kb5!";
C2) 5...Rc2+ 6.Kb7 Rb2+ 7.Ka7 Rxf2 (7...Rb4 8.Rb8 Rxh4 9.Rb6+ Kf5 10.
Kb7+–) 8.Rb8+–.
C3) 5...Ke5 6.Kb7 (6.Kd7? Kf4 7.a7 Kf3=) 6...Rb2+ (6...Kf4 7.Rb8 Rb2+ 8.
Ka8 Rxf2 9.a7 Kg3 10.Kb7+–; 6...Rxf2 7.Re8+ Kf4 8.a7+–) 7.Ka7 Rxf2 (7...
f5 8.Rb8 Rxf2 9.Rb5+ Ke4 10.Kb6 Ra2 11.Ra5+–; 7...Kd6 8.Rh8+–) 8.Rh8!
[FEN"7R/K4p2/P7/4k2p/7P/8/5r2/8 b - - 0 8"]
C3b) 8...Kd4 9.Rh6 (9.Rxh5? f5 10.Rh6 f4 11.Kb7 Rb2+ 12.Rb6 Rxb6+ 13.
Kxb6 f3 14.a7 f2 15.a8Q f1Q=) 9...f5 10.Kb7+–.
C3c1) 9...Kd4 10.Rh8 f4 11.h5 f3 12.h6 Rh2 13.Kb7 f2 14.Rf8 Rxh6 15.Rxf2
+–.
C3d) 8...Ra2 9.Rxh5+ f5 10.Kb7 Rb2+ 11.Ka8+–; 3...Kf5 4.Rxf7+ Kg4 5.a7
Kxh4 6.Rg7+–; 3...Rxf2 4.Rc7 Ra2 5.a7 Kf5
[FEN"8/P1R2p2/8/3K1k1p/7P/8/r7/8 w - - 0 6"]
7.Kb8
[FEN"1K6/R4p2/P4k2/7p/7P/8/2r2P2/8 b - - 0 7"]
7...Ra2
7...Rc6 8.Kb7 Re6 9.f4 Re1 (9...Re7+ 10.Kb6 Re6+ 11.Kb5 Re1 12.Rc7+–;
9...Kf5 10.Ra8 Re7+ 11.Kb6 Re6+ 12.Ka5+–) 10.Ra8 Rb1+ 11.Ka7+–.
8.Ra8 Rxf2
8...Ra4 9.Kb7 Rb4+ 10.Ka7 Rxh4 11.Rc8 Rb4 12.Rb8 Re4 13.Kb7+–; 8...Re2
9.Kb7 Re7+ 10.Kb6 Re6+ 11.Kb5 Re5+ 12.Kb4 Re4+ (12...Re2 13.Rh8 Rb2
+ 14.Ka3+–) 13.Kb3 Re1 (13...Re6 14.Rh8+–; 13...Re6 14.Rh8 Kg7 15.a7
Kxh8 16.a8Q+ Kg7 17.Qa5+–) 14.Rc8
[FEN"2R5/5p2/P4k2/7p/7P/1K6/5P2/4r3 b - - 0 14"]
A) 14...Rb1+ 15.Ka4
A1) 15...Ra1+ 16.Kb5 Rb1+ (16...Kf5 17.Rc5+ Kg4 18.Kb6+–) 17.Ka5 Ra1+
18.Kb6 Rb1+ 19.Kc7 Rc1+ 20.Kb7 Rb1+ 21.Ka8+–.
B) 14...Ra1 15.Rc6+
B1) 15...Ke5 16.Kc4 Ra2 (16...f5 17.Kc5 Kf4 18.Kb6+–) 17.Kc5 f5 18.Kb6
+–.
B3) 15...Ke7 16.Kb4 Kd7 (16...Kd8 17.Kb5 Rb1+ 18.Ka5 Ra1+ 19.Kb6 Rb1+
20.Ka7 Kd7 21.Rb6 Rc1 22.Rh6 Rb1 23.Rxh5 Rb4 24.Rh7 Ke6 25.h5 Rf4 26.
Ka8 Rxf2 27.a7+–) 17.Rf6 Kc8 18.Kb5 Rb1+ 19.Ka5 Ra1+ 20.Kb6 Kb8 (20...
Rb1+ 21.Ka7+–) 21.f4 Rb1+ 22.Kc6+–; 8...Kg7 9.Ka7 Rxf2 10.Rb8 Rf4 11.
Rb6+–; 8...Ke5 9.Ka7 Rxf2 10.Rh8+–.
9.Ka7
[FEN"R7/K4p2/P4k2/7p/7P/8/5r2/8 b - - 0 9"]
9...Rh2
A) 10...Rb2 11.Rb8+–.
B1) 13...Rh2 14.Rb4 Kc6 (14...Rh3 15.Rc4+ Kd6 16.Kb6+–) 15.Rc4+ Kd5 16.
Rf4+–.
B2) 13...f5 14.h5 f4 15.h6 Re2 16.h7 Re8 17.Rf6 Rh8 18.Rxf4 Rxh7 19.Rc4+
+–.
F) 10...Ra2 11.Kb7 Rb2+ 12.Ka8 Kd7 13.Rxh5 Rb4 14.Ka7 Kc7 (14...Kc6 15.
Rh8 Rd4 16.h5+–) 15.Rc5+ Kd6 16.Rf5 Ke6 17.Ra5 f5 18.h5 Kf6 19.h6 Kg6
20.h7 Kxh7 21.Rxf5+–; 9...Kf5 10.Rb8+–.
10.Rh8! Ke5
10...Kg7 11.Rxh5 Rb2 12.Ka8+–; 10...Kg6 11.Kb7 Rb2+ 12.Ka8 Rb4 (12...
Rh2 13.a7 Rxh4 14.Kb7+–; 12...f5 13.a7 f4 14.Rb8 Re2 15.Kb7+–; 12...Rb5
13.a7 Kg7 14.Rb8+–) 13.a7 f6
[FEN"8/PK6/5pk1/1R5p/r7/8/8/8 w - - 0 18"]
18.Kb6! The threat to interfere with Ra5 wins valueable time. A typical
theme. (18.Rb6? Rxa7+ 19.Kxa7 h4=) 18...Rxa7 19.Kxa7 f5 20.Kb6! Kg5 21.
Kc5!+–.
[FEN"K7/8/P7/4kp1R/7P/8/1r6/8 b - - 0 13"]
13...Ke4
13...Kf6 14.a7 f4 15.Rh8 Kg7 16.Rb8 Ra2+–; 13...Rb6 14.a7 Rb1 15.Rh8+–.
[FEN"K6R/8/P6P/8/4k3/8/1r3p2/8 w - - 0 17"]
17.Re8+
17.Rf8 Rd2 18.Kb7 (18.h7? Rd8+=) 18...Rd7+ 19.Kc6 Rh7 20.Rxf2 Rxh6+
21.Kb5+–.
17...Kd5
18.Rf8+–
This is a typical defensive method, when the attacking king has no shelter:
76...Rf8+?
Black plays the main trump too early. The king had to start the counterplay
with
[FEN"5r2/P7/8/8/5KP1/4R3/3k4/8 w - - 0 79"]
White's king cannot escape from the rain of checks without losing the rook:
79.Ke4 Re8+ 80.Kd4 Rd8+ 81.Kc5 Kxe3 82.Kc6 Rg8 83.Kb7 Rg7+ 84.Kb6
Rg8=.
Now 78...Kd3!? is just too late: 79.Ra5 Rf8+ 80.Rf5 Re8 (80...Rxf5+ 81.gxf5
e2 82.a8Q e1Q 83.Qd5+ Kc2 84.Qe4++–) 81.Rd5+ Kc4 82.Re5 Rxe5 83.a8Q
e2
[FEN"Q7/8/8/4r3/2k3P1/5K2/4p3/8 w - - 0 84"]
White will win: 84.Qa2+ Kc5 85.Qa5+ Kd6 86.Qe1 Ke6 87.Kf4 Kf6 88.g5+
Ke6 89.g6+–.
White has reached the ideal distribution of forces: the rook is behind the most
dangerous passed pawn and the king stops the enemy passer. So Black
resigned. One sample line runs 81...Rc8 82.Ra3+ Ke4 83.a8Q+ Rxa8 84.Rxa8
+–.
[FEN"3R4/8/3P4/4p3/7P/5k2/7K/3r4 b - - 0 63"]
63...e4?
This race is lost. Black had to play 63...Rd2+ 64.Kh3 Rd1 65.Rf8+ followed
by bringing his king back:
[FEN"5R2/8/3P4/4p3/7P/5k1K/8/3r4 b - - 0 65"]
A) 65...Ke4 draws as well: 66.Rf6 Rh1+ 67.Kg4 (67.Kg3 Rg1+ 68.Kf2 Rg7=)
67...Rg1+ 68.Kh5 Kd5 69.d7 Rg8 70.Rf1 Ke6 71.Rd1 Rd8 72.Kg6 Rxd7 73.
Rxd7 Kxd7 74.h5 e4=.
B) 65...Ke3 66.Rf6 (66.Rd8 Kf3=) 66...e4 67.Kg4 (67.h5 Kd4 68.h6 Ke5 69.
Rg6 Kf5=) 67...Kd4 68.Kf5 Kc5 69.Kxe4
[FEN"8/8/3P1R2/2k5/4K2P/8/8/3r4 b - - 0 69"]
69...Rd4+! The h-pawn must be taken. (69...Rxd6? 70.Kf5 Rd1 71.h5 Rf1+ 72.
Kg6 Rg1+ 73.Kf7+– The cut off decides.) 70.Ke5 Rxh4 71.d7 (71.Rf1 Rh5+
72.Ke6 Rh6+ 73.Ke7 Rh7+=) 71...Rd4 72.Ke6 Kc6 73.Ke7+ Kc7=.
64.d7! Ke2
66...Kf3 67.Rf8+ Ke4 68.d8Q+–; 66...Kd3 67.Re8 Kc4 68.d8Q Rxd8 69.Rxd8
e2 70.Re8+–.
67.Kg3!
[FEN"3R4/3P4/3r3P/8/8/4p1K1/4k3/8 b - - 0 67"]
67.h7? Rh6+ 68.Kg3 Rxh7 69.Kf4 Kf2 70.Kg5! Rf7 71.Kg6 Rxd7= (71...e2?
72.Kxf7 e1Q 73.Rf8+–)
67...Rxh6
68.Rg8! 1–0
Black resigned because of 68...Rd6 69.d8Q Rxd8 70.Rxd8 Kf1 71.Rf8+ Ke1
72.Kf3 e2 73.Re8+–.
[FEN"6r1/8/3P4/P7/5p1R/1P2k3/8/7K w - - 0 50"]
50.d7?
Now Black's king cannot be driven away.
50.Rh7!? uses the rook in a flexible way; e.g., 50...f3 51.Re7+ Kf2 52.Rh7
Kf1 53.d7 f2 54.Kh2! (54.a6? Ke2 55.Re7+ Kf3 56.Rf7+ Kg3–+) 54...Rg2+
55.Kh1=.
50...f3!
51.Rh6
51.Rg4 is met by 51...f2 52.Rxg8 f1Q+ 53.Kh2 (53.Rg1? Qh3#) 53...Qf2+ 54.
Rg2 Qh4+ 55.Kg1 Qd4–+; and 51.Rc4 runs into 51...Rh8+ 52.Kg1 f2+ 53.
Kg2 Rg8+–+.
[FEN"6r1/3P4/5R2/P7/8/1P4k1/5p2/7K w - - 0 54"]
White is defenseless.
54.d8Q
After 58.Kh2 Rh8+ 59.Kg3 Kg1 60.Rf6 f1Q 61.Rxf1+ Kxf1 62.Kf4 Rb8,
White is just too slow: 63.Ke5 Rxb3 64.Kd6 Ra3 65.Kc6 Rxa5–+.
58...Rf8 0–1
The drawish tendency of rook endings even shows itself in the following race,
but Black has to act very precisely:
[FEN"1K1R4/6kp/1P2p3/8/8/8/8/2r5 b - - 0 51"]
51...Rb1?
Black had to start the race directly with 51...h5 52.b7 h4 53.Ka7 (53.Rc8 Rb1
54.Rc4 h3 55.Rh4 Rb3 56.Kc7 Rc3+=) 53...Ra1+ 54.Kb6 Rb1+ 55.Kc6 Rxb7
56.Kxb7 Kf6 57.Kc6 Kf5 58.Kc5 (58.Kd6 h3 59.Rh8 Kg4 60.Ke5 Kg3 61.
Ke4 h2 62.Ke3 Kg2=) 58...e5 59.Kc4
[FEN"3R4/8/8/4pk2/2K4p/8/8/8 b - - 0 59"]
59...h3 The pawn marches on. 60.Kd3 Kf4 61.Ke2 h2 62.Rh8 Kg3 63.Kf1
e4= and the next one secures the draw by advancing.
52.b7 Kf6?!
52...Kf7!? closes the road via e8, but White wins in a tricky way nevertheless:
53.Rh8 e5 (53...Kg7 54.Rc8 Kf7 55.Kc7 Rc1+ 56.Kd6 Rd1+ 57.Ke5+–; 53...
Ke7 54.Kc7 Rc1+ 55.Kb6 Rb1+ 56.Kc5 Rxb7 57.Rxh7++–) 54.Kc7 Ke6 55.
b8Q Rxb8 56.Rxb8 Kd5 57.Rd8+ Kc5 58.Kd7 e4 59.Ke6 e3 60.Rd3+–.
53.Kc7 h5
After 53...Rc1+ 54.Kd7 Rd1+, the king escapes via e8: 55.Ke8 Rb1 56.b8Q
Rxb8 57.Rxb8 h5 and is just back in time: 58.Kd7 Kf5 59.Kd6 h4 60.Rh8
Kg4 61.Ke5 h3 62.Ke4 Kg3 63.Ke3 Kg2 (63...h2 64.Rg8+ Kh3 65.Kf2 h1N+
66.Kf3+–) 64.Ke2 h2 65.Rg8+ Kh1 66.Kf2 e5 67.Ra8 e4 68.Ra1#.
[FEN"1R6/8/3Kp3/6kp/8/8/8/8 b - - 0 56"]
56...h4
57.Ke5! 1–0
Black resigned because of 57...Kg4 58.Ke4 Kg3 59.Ke3 h3 60.Rg8+ Kh4 61.
Kf2+–.
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The attacking king often has problems finding shelter from the checks of the
defending rook.
Endgame
133.01 Muzychuk, A (2562) – Zatonskih, A (2506)
Corner SportAccord WMG Blindfold wom Bejing CHN (3), 15.12.2011
62.Ra6!
Chess Informant 113
by Branko Tadic
The right way to play for stalemate.
62.Ra4+? loses as Black's keeps both pawns; e.g., 62...Ke3 63.Ra3+ Ke2 64.
Ra2+ Kf1 65.Kg5 Rg3+ 66.Kh4 Rg4+ 67.Kh3–+. Of course not 62.Rf5+??
gxf5–+ (62...Kxf5?? stalemate).
62...g5+
66.Kg5?
70.Kg5!= Now the king can close the door. (70.Ra3+? Kh4–+)
68.Ra2+
68...Kh1 69.Kg4
After 69.Ra1+, Black's g-pawn will shelter the king: 69...Kh2 70.Ra2+ g2–+.
73.Kh5?!
73...Qe8+ 0–1
In the following example Black missed the way to give saving rook checks:
69...Re8?
Too passive.
After 69...Rb3+ 70.Ke2 (70.Kg2 Rb8 71.Kh3 Kg6 72.Rh4 Re8 73.Ra4 Rxe7
74.Ra6+ Kh5=) 70...Rb8, White's king is not quick enough:
A) 71.Ke3 Kg6 72.Rh4 Re8 73.Kf4 (73.Rd4 Rxe7+ 74.Kf4 Re6=) 73...Rxe7
74.f3 Ra7=.
B) 71.Kd3 Re8 72.Rh6+ (72.Kd4 Kg6=) 72...Kxe7 73.Ke3 Ra8 74.Kf4
Black draws with 74...Ra2 (but not 74...Ra5? 75.Kg5 Ra2 76.Rf6 Rxf2 77.
Rxf5+–) 75.f3 (75.Kxf5 Rxf2+ 76.Kg6 Rg2=) 75...Ra5 76.Rb6 (76.Kg5
Ra3=) 76...Rc5 77.Kg5 Rc3=.
70.Rh6+!
70...Kxe7
70...Ke5 71.Rh1 Kf6 72.Re1 Rxe7 73.Rxe7 Kxe7 74.Kf4 Kf6 75.f3 Kg6 76.
Ke5 Kg5 77.f4+ Kg4 78.Kf6 Kxg3 79.Kxf5+–; 70...Kg5 71.Re6+–.
71.Kf4 Ra8
72.Rh5!
The greedy 72.Kxf5? runs into the amazing defense 72...Rf8+ 73.Kg6 Rf6+!
Again rook checks save Black. 74.Kg7 Rf7+ 75.Kg8 Rf8+ 76.Kg7 Rf7+ 77.
Kg6 Rf6+ 78.Kg5
[FEN "8/4k3/5r1R/6K1/8/6P1/5P2/8 b - - 0 78"]
78...Rxf2 Only now! 79.g4 Kf7 80.Rh7+ Kg8 81.Kg6 Ra2 82.Rg7+ Kh8 (82...
Kf8? 83.g5 Ra6+ 84.Kh7+–) 83.Rf7 Ra8= Against a knight's pawn passive
defense is sufficient.
The defending king can sometimes even hide behind his rook:
73...Kb7?
Now Black's king can not approach the a-pawn and is caught in the middle of
nowhere.
73...Kb5 shortens the checking distance and wins: 74.Ra3 fxg3 75.Rb3+ Ka4
(75...Kc4? 76.Rb2=) 76.Rxg3 Rb1–+; 73...Kd7? is answered by 74.Ra4 fxg3
75.Rd4+ Kc6 76.Rd2= and White defends as in the game.
74.Ra3 fxg3
The pawn g3 acts as umbrella to shelter White's king from the check.
79.Kxg3 Ke3 80.Kg4 Kd3 81.Kg3 Kc3 82.Kg4 Kc4 83.Kg5 Kb3 84.Rg3+
Kc2 85.Rg2+ Kd3 86.Kg4 Kc4 87.Kg5! Kd4
87...Kb3 88.Rg3+ Kb2 89.Rg2+ Kb3 90.Rg3+ Kb4 91.Rg4+ Kc5 92.Rg2=.
88.Kg4 Ke4 89.Re2+ Kd5 90.Rg2 Ke6 91.Re2+ Kf6 92.Rf2+ Kg7 93.Kf5
Kf7 94.Ke4+
94...Ke6
95.Re2?
White is now too close to the queenside and caught in the middle of nowhere
as he can neither run to the queenside nor to the kingside.
95.Kf4 draws as Black's king finds no shelter when approaching his a-pawn:
95...Kd5 96.Kf5 Kd4 97.Kf4 Kd3 98.Kf3 Kc3 99.Kf4!
97...Kb5 98.Kd4
98.Rb2+ Kc5 (98...Ka4?! 99.Kc2 Rc1+ 100.Kxc1 a1Q+ 101.Kc2 Qa3 wins
but is bad technique of course.) 99.Rd2 (99.Kc2 Kc4 100.Rb8 Rh1–+) 99...
Kb4 100.Kd4 Kb3 101.Rd3+ Kc2 102.Rc3+ Kb2 103.Rd3 Rc1–+; 98.Kc3 Rc1
+–+.
98...Kb4 99.Kd3
90.c7?
Passed pawns must be pushed is another endgame guideline, but here 90.Rc4!
has priority: 90...f2 91.c7 f1Q 92.c8Q
White will win the fourth phase of the game as Black's open king can not find
shelter: 92...Qf7+ 93.Rc7 Qf2+ 94.Rc5+ This countercheck decides the day.
94...Kf4 (94...Kd6 95.Qc7+ Ke6 96.Qe5+ Kf7 97.Nd4
[FEN "8/K4k2/8/2R1Q3/p2N4/1r6/5q2/8 b - - 0 97"]
All White's pieces enter the attack according to the famous rule: "Invite
everyone to the party". 97...Qf6 98.Rc7+ Kg6 99.Qe4+ Kh5 100.Rh7+ Kg5
101.Qh4+ Kg6 102.Qh6#) 95.Qf8+ Kg3 96.Qd6+ Kg2 97.Nd4 Qf7+ 98.Rc7
+–
90...Rc3!
[FEN "8/2p1k2p/1p6/2p3PK/2P2r1P/
1P6/8/3R4 w - - 0 50"]
50.Rh1!
[FEN "6k1/2p4p/1p1r2PK/2p4P/2P5/
1P6/8/4R3 b - - 0 54"]
[FEN "2r3k1/2p4R/1p4PK/2p5/2P5/
1P6/8/8 w - - 0 59"]
59.g7!
59...Kf7 60.Rh8 Rg8 61.Rxg8 Kxg8 62.Kg6 c6 63.Kf6 b5 64.Ke6 bxc4 65.
bxc4 Kxg7 66.Kd6 1–0
Usually, activity is the order of the day in rook endgames, but in chess there is
no guideline without exception.
57...Kc5?
The passive 57...Kb7!? draws as the rook can be activated after 58.Rc3 (58.
Kxg4 Rd4+ 59.Kf5 Rxc4=) 58...Rc8 (58...axb5 59.cxb5 Rd4+ 60.Kg3 Ra4 61.
a6+ Kb6 62.Rb3 Ra1 63.Kxg4 Rf1 64.Ra3 Rf8=) 59.b6 Rc5
[FEN "8/1k6/pP6/P1r5/2P2Kp1/2R5/8/8 w - - 0 60"]
Usually this is most important in rook endgames: 60.Kxg4 Rxa5 61.c5 Rb5 62.
c6+ Kc8 63.b7+ Kc7 64.Kf4 a5 65.Ke4 a4 66.Kd4 a3 67.Rxa3 Kxc6=.
Even 57...axb5?! 58.cxb5+ Kb7 59.Kxg4 Rd4+ 60.Kf5 Ra4 61.a6+ Kb6 is
drawn:
Black's king is in the hole of the pawns; e.g., 62.Ke6 Rd4 63.Ra3 Rd8 64.Ke7
Ra8 65.Kd7 Kxb5 66.a7 Kb6 67.Rb3+ Kc5 68.Ra3 Kb6=.
58.b6 Kxc4
58...Rg8 59.b7 Rb8 60.Rb6+–; After 58...Rb8 59.b7 Kc6, White can enter the
pawn ending: 60.Kxg4 Rxb7 61.Rxb7 Kxb7 62.Kf5 Kc6 63.Ke4 Kc5 64.Kd3
Kc6 65.Kd4 Kd6 66.c5+ Kc6 67.Kc4 Kc7 68.Kd5 Kd7 69.c6+ Kc8
And finally win by the typical triangulation: 70.Kc4 Kd8 71.Kd4 Kc8 72.Kd5
Kd8 (72...Kc7 73.Kc5+–) 73.Kd6 Kc8 74.c7 Kb7 75.Kd7 Ka7 76.Kc6 Ka8 77.
c8Q+ Ka7 78.Qb7#; 58...Kc6 59.b7 Rb8 60.Kxg4 Rxb7 61.Rxb7 Kxb7 62.Kf5
+– transposes to 58...Rb8.
59.Rb1 Rg8
Rook endings have a large drawish tendency, but only when the defending
rook can be activated.
[FEN "8/4ppk1/pB1p1b2/1p1Pr3/6Pp/
P1PK3P/1P6/5R2 w - - 0 36"]
36.Bd4!
Volokitin's point. Now he wins as Black's rook is too clumsily placed and can
not be activated in time.
39...Rg6
39...Rxf5 can be met by 40.Kxf5+– (or by 40.gxf5 Kh6 41.b3 Kg5 42.c4 bxc4
43.bxc4 a5 44.a4+–) ; and 39...Kg6 runs into a fatal zugzwang after 40.b3
Rxf5 41.gxf5+ Kg5 42.c4 bxc4 43.bxc4 a5 44.a4+–.
40.Kd5 Rh6
41.Kxd6
41...Rh8 42.Kd7!!
[FEN "7r/3K1pk1/p4p2/1p3R2/6Pp/
P1P4P/1P6/8 b - - 0 42"]
43...f5 is met by the typical zwischenschach 44.Rg5+ Kf6 45.Rxf5+ Kg6 46.
Rh5+–.
Playing to enter a pawn endgame with 45...Kg6 46.Rh5 Re5!? runs into (46...
Re2 47.Kb6 Rxb2 48.Kxa6 Rb3 49.Rc5! The c-pawn is very valuable. 49...f5
50.gxf5+ Kg5 51.Ka5 Rxa3+ 52.Kxb5+–) 47.Kc6!? Rxh5 (47...Re2 48.b4
Ra2 49.Kb6 Rxa3 50.Rc5+– transposes to the game.) 48.gxh5+ Kxh5 49.Kd5
f5 50.b3 Kh4 51.Ke5 Kg5 52.c4 f6+ 53.Kd4 bxc4 54.bxc4 Kf4 55.c5 Kg3 56.
c6 f4 57.c7 f3 58.c8Q f2 59.Qg4+ Kh2 60.Qf3 Kg1 61.Qg3++–.
46.b4! Ra2
46...f5 47.gxf5 Ra2 48.Kb6 Rxa3 49.Rd4 Rxc3 50.Kxa6 Rc4 51.Rg4+ Kf6 52.
Kxb5 Rc3 53.Rc4 Rxh3 54.Rc5+–.
Dominguez desperately tries to create counterplay, but it does not work out.
Passively waiting with 49...Kg7 is also insufficient; e.g., 50.h4 Ra1 51.Rc8
Rh1 52.Kxa6 Rxh4 53.c4 bxc4 54.b5 c3 55.Rxc3 Rxg4 56.b6 Ra4+ 57.Kb5
Ra8 58.b7 Rb8 59.Kc6 f5 60.Kc7 Re8 61.Rc6 f6 62.b8Q Rxb8 63.Kxb8 Kg6
64.Kc7 f4 65.Kd6 Kf5 66.Kd5 f3 67.Rc2+–.
50.gxf5+ Kg5
[FEN "8/5p2/pK6/1pR2Pk1/1P6/
r1P4P/8/8 w - - 0 51"]
51.h4+!
51...Kxh4
51...Kf6 52.Rc7 Kg7 53.h5+–.
52.f6! Kg4 53.Rc7 Kf5 54.Rxf7 Ke6 55.Ra7 Kxf6 56.Rxa6 Rxc3 57.Kxb5+
Ke7 58.Rc6 Rb3 59.Ka5 Kd7 60.b5 Ra3+ 61.Kb6 Rb3 62.Ka6 Rb1 63.Rc2
1–0
[FEN "2r5/3k1p2/R4p2/2pP3p/5K1P/
4P1P1/5P2/8 w - - 0 42"]
A PDF file of this month's column, along with all previous columns, is
available in the ChessCafe.com Archives.
Comment on this month's column via our Contact Page! Pertinent responses
will be posted below daily.
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Endgame
Corner
Karsten Müller Vishy Anand:
World Chess Champion
by Viswanathan Anand
& John Nunn
Good technique! But 45.f4 also wins, as 45...Rg2 can be met by 46.Rh7 Rg3
47.h4 a4 48.f5+.
45...Rb2 46.f4 a4
After 46...Rbb6 47.Rc7 Kd8 48.Rcg7 Re6 49.f5 Re8 50.Rd7+ Kc8, White has
made so much progress, that he can trade down into a technical rook ending:
My Most Memorable Games
by Boris Gelfand
48...Rb5 does not help in the long run: 49.Kg5 a3 50.Rfg7 Kf8 51.Rc7 and
sooner or later the f-pawn will lend its helping hand: 51...Kg8 52.Rhd7 Rb8
53.Rg7+ Kh8 (53...Kf8 54.Rh7+–) 54.Rh7+ Kg8 55.Rcg7+ Kf8 56.f6+.
49.f6 1–0
[FEN "4k3/5R1R/r4P2/7K/7P/pr6/8/8 b - - 0 49"]
Nisipeanu resigned as White's reserves have entered the attack; e.g., 49...Ra5+
50.Kh6 Re3 (50...Rb8 51.Re7+ Kf8 (51...Kd8 52.Rh8#) 52.Rh8#) 51.Rb7+–.
[FEN "8/8/p3r1p1/pb1p2k1/5R2/
2R3KP/5P2/8 w - - 0 55"]
55.Rc7!
55...Kh6
55...Bd3 56.Rf8
[FEN "8/2R2R2/p5pk/pb1p4/4r2P/
6K1/5P2/8 b - - 0 57"]
In the following example the rooks even beat dangerous passed pawns:
[FEN "4r1k1/1R6/3p2P1/8/2pb2P1/
1p6/7P/5R1K w - - 0 42"]
42.Rf4! Re1+
42...c3 43.Rxd4 Rc8 44.Rd1 b2 45.Rf1 Ra8 46.Kg2 Ra1 47.Rf3 Ra2 48.Rf2
Ra7 49.Rb6
[FEN "6k1/r7/1R1p2P1/8/6P1/
2p5/1p3RKP/8 b - - 0 49"]
Now Black can only choose between a technically lost single rook endgame
and a mating attack: 49...Ra6 (49...Ra1 50.Rbxb2 cxb2 51.Rxb2+–) 50.Rb8+
Kg7 51.h4 Kxg6 52.h5+ Kh6 53.Kg3 Ra7 54.Kh4 Kh7 55.g5+.
43.Kg2 Re2+
43...b2 44.Rxd4 b1Q 45.Rxb1 Rxb1 46.Rxc4 leads to a technically lost single
rook ending:
Black resigned, as the threat Rb8 mate cannot be parried in a satisfactory way.
Sometimes the two rooks are stronger than the queen, but this depends of
course a lot on the position. The queen needs targets and the rooks stability.
[FEN "8/5pk1/p5p1/1p1q3p/1P3R1P/
5RP1/5P1K/8 w - - 0 47"]
47.Rf6!
47...Qa2?
The retreat 47...Kg8? is met by 48.Kg2 Qe4 49.Rxf7 Qxb4 50.R3f4 and Black
should also be lost despite her passed queenside pawns:
[FEN "6k1/5R2/p5p1/1p5p/1q3R1P/
6P1/5PK1/8 b - - 0 50"]
The only way to fight on was the direct 47...a5! 48.bxa5 b4, when White has
the choice between a queen endgame with an extra pawn or two rooks against
queen:
[FEN "8/5pk1/5Rp1/P2q3p/1p5P/
5RP1/5P1K/8 w - - 0 49"]
49.R3f4 (49.Rxf7+ Qxf7 50.Rxf7+ Kxf7 51.a6 b3 52.a7 b2 53.a8Q b1Q with
a queen endgame which should be tenable.) 49...b3 50.Rb6 Qxa5 51.Rxb3
Qd5 52.Rb6 f5 and White can fight on but Black has practical drawing
chances.
48.Kg2!
[FEN "8/5pk1/p4Rp1/1p5p/1P5P/
5RP1/q4PK1/8 b - - 0 48"]
Preparation for the simplification. Sasikiran wins an all important tempo for
the pawn endgame.
48...Kg8
Now it is too late for 48...a5 because of 49.bxa5 Qxa5 (49...b4 50.a6 b3 51.
Rxf7+ Kh6 52.Rb7 Qxa6 53.Rff7+–) 50.Rxf7+ and White's attack is too
quick:
[FEN "8/5Rk1/6p1/qp5p/7P/5RP1/
5PK1/8 b - - 0 50"]
50...Kh6 (50...Kg8? 51.Rf8+ Kg7 52.R3f7+ Kh6 53.Rh8#) 51.Rb7 Qa6 52.
Rff7 Qc6+ 53.Kh2 g5 54.Rh7+ Kg6 55.Rbg7+ Kf5 56.Rxg5++.
49.Rxf7! Qxf7
The pawn endgame is lost, but 49...Qd5 50.R7f6+ also offers no real hope.
50.Rxf7 Kxf7
[FEN "8/5k2/p5p1/1p5p/1P5P/
6P1/5PK1/8 w - - 0 51"]
51.Kf3!
The king comes first to stop Black's queenside counterplay based on the
breakthrough ...a6-a5. Afterwards, White's kingside majority will decide the
day.
51...Ke6
After 51...a5 52.bxa5 b4 53.Ke4+, White's king is in the square and Black's
king is not.
54...Kc7
55.gxh5 gxh5 56.f4 Kd6 57.f5 Kd7 58.Ke5 Ke7 59.f6+ 1–0
In the following game Harikrishna can even sacrifice a piece to get his rooks
into the attack:
21.Kd1?
Surprisingly, Black can not use the battery after 21.Kf1!! Rxb2+ (21...Rb8 22.
Bxa6 Bxa6 23.Nxa6 Rbxb2 24.Rg2 d3 25.a3 Rec2 26.Rd1) 22.Kg2 Nxc5
(22...Re8 23.Bxa6 Bc6+ 24.Kf1 Rxa2 25.Bd3) 23.Bxa8 Nd3 24.Rc8+ Kh7 25.
Be4+ g6 26.Ra1 Bd7 27.Rc7 Nxf2 28.Rc2 Rxc2 29.Bxc2 and White is for
choice in all cases.
Now Black's rook will rule the board in seventh heaven. 23.b3 Rxa2 24.Re1
offers better practical chances.
25.Rb8?! Rbd2+ 26.Kc1 Rxa2 27.Nc5 Rac2+ 28.Kd1 Red2+ 29.Ke1 Rxf2 30.
Nd7 h5+; 25.a4 is relativly best but still insufficient; e.g., 25...Rxf2 26.Rb8
Rxb8 27.Nxb8 Rb2 28.Re1 Rb1+ 29.Kd2 Rxb8 30.Re7 a5µ; 25.Rd8? Rxf2 26.
Kc1 Rxa2+.
[FEN "2R5/5ppk/7p/p7/1N1p4/P5P1/
1r3r1P/3K2R1 w - - 0 27"]
27.Nd5
27.Nd3 is met by 27...Rbd2+ 28.Kc1 (28.Ke1 Rfe2+ 29.Kf1 Rxh2 and White
is lost as 30.Ne1?! runs into 30...Rhf2#) 28...Rxd3+. Of course not 27.Nc2??
Rb1#.
27...Ra2 28.Re1
Now the d-pawn joins Black's rooks which decides the day:
28...d3 0–1
[FEN "2r5/3k1p2/R4p2/2pP3p/5K1P/
4P1P1/5P2/8 w - - 0 42"]
42.Rc6! This does indeed win. 42...Rxc6 43.dxc6+ Kxc6 44.g4 c4 45.e4! 45.
gxh5? is also better for White, but not nearly as clear as the game: 45...c3 46.
h6 c2 47.h7 c1Q 48.h8Q Qb2 49.Qh5 Kd6 (49...Qxf2+? 50.Qf3+ Qxf3+ 51.
Kxf3 Kd6 52.Kf4 Ke6 53.e4 f5 54.exf5+ Kf6 55.h5 Kg7 56.Ke5! Kh6 57.Kf6
Kxh5 58.Kxf7+–) 50.Kg3 Qb1 51.Qf3 Ke6 52.h5 Ke7 with still two results
possible: a white win or a draw. 45...Kd6 After 45...hxg4?! 46.h5+, Black's
king is not in the square of the h-pawn. 45...c3 46.Ke3+. After 45...Kc5,
White stops the counterplay first: 46.Ke3! Kb4 47.Kd2! Kb3 48.Kc1!+. 46.
f3!! Giri's brillant point. After 46.gxh5? Ke7, Black's running king is quick
enough: 47.Ke3 Kf8 48.Kd4 Kg7 49.Kxc4 Kh6 50.Kd5 Kxh5 51.Kd6 Kxh4
52.Ke7 Kg5 53.Kxf7 Kf4 54.Kxf6 Kxe4 55.Kg5 Kf3=. 46.Ke3? hxg4 47.Kd4
(47.h5 Ke7 48.Kd4 Kf8=) 47...f5 48.exf5 c3 49.Kxc3 Ke5=. 46...Ke6 47.Ke3!
Ke5 47...hxg4 48.fxg4 Ke7 49.Kd4+. 47...f5 48.gxf5+ Ke5 49.f4+ Kd6 50.
Kd4+. 48.gxh5 f5 49.h6 f4+ 50.Kd2 Kf6 51.h5 1–0
[FEN "8/5p2/5k1P/7P/2p1Pp2/5P2/
3K4/8 b - - 0 51"]
Black won with 58...g4! 59.hxg4 59.fxg4 Rxh3+ 60.Kg2 Rg3+ 61.Kh2 Rxg4
62.Rxf6 Rxe4+. 59...hxg4 60.fxg4 Kg5! Black must keep his very valuable f6-
pawn. 61.Rc2 Rxe4 62.Kh3 Re3+ 0–1
A PDF file of this month's column, along with all previous columns, is
available in the ChessCafe.com Archives.
Comment on this month's column via our Contact Page! Pertinent responses
will be posted below daily.
Endgame
Corner
Karsten Müller Slay the Sicilian!
by Timothy Taylor
[FEN "8/8/4p3/1p1pP1K1/1Pk5/4p3/
8/4B3 b - - 0 73"]
Translate this page
73.Kg5!? is called for, as now only White can play for win.
In the game White played the dubious 73.Kxe6?! d4 74.Kf5 d3 75.e6 d2 76.
Bxd2 exd2 77.e7 d1Q 78.e8Q, which is drawn, but difficult to defend over-
the-board. 78...Qd5+ 79.Kg6 Kxb4 80.Qe1+ Kc5 81.Qe3+ Qd4 82.Qc1+ Kb6
75.Kf3 e2
[FEN "8/8/4p3/1p2P3/1P1p4/3k1K2/
4p3/4B3 w - - 0 76"]
76.Kf2?
Now my mistakes cancel each other out. However, 76.Kf4! wins; e.g., 76...
Kc2 77.Ke4 d3 78.Ke3 Kd1 79.Bc3 e1Q+ 80.Bxe1 Kxe1 81.Kxd3 Kf2 82.
Kd4 Kf3 83.Kc5 Ke4 84.Kxb5 Kxe5 85.Kc6+-.
76...Ke4 77.Kxe2 Kxe5 78.Kd3 Kd5 79.Bh4 e5 80.Be7 e4+ 81.Kd2 Kc4 82.
Bc5 e3+ 83.Kc2 d3+ 84.Kd1 e2+ 85.Kd2= 0-1
The following example also shows the fight of a bishop against pawns:
[FEN "8/8/1Pk5/1bP1p3/1P2P1p1/8/
5K1P/8 b - - 0 54"]
54...Bd3?!
Fenwick gives 54...Ba6 55.Kg3 Bc8 as route to draw; e.g., 56.Kh4 Kb5 57.
Kh5 Bb7 58.Kxg4 Kxb4 59.Kf5 Kxc5 60.Kxe5 Kxb6 61.h4 Bc6 62.h5 Be8 63.
h6 Bg6 64.Kd5 Kc7 65.e5 Kd7=.
57...Kxb4?
58.h5?
Here Aarefjord (and I) missed 58.c6! "when Black will not be able to stop
both the b- and h-pawns" (Fenwick); e.g., 58...Bxc6 59.h5 e4 60.Kf4 Kc5
(60...Kc3 61.Ke3+-) 61.h6 Kxb6 62.h7+-.
58...Kxc5 59.b7??
In the next example the presence of knights makes matters more complicated:
[FEN "5n2/1N6/1n6/2p1k3/1p4B1/
1P1K3P/8/8 b - - 0 51"]
This is too early. 52...b3 53.c5 Nd5 is called for as given in Endgame Corner
#14.
The knight does not yet know where to go. 54.Kxb4 wins according to the
endgame tablebase.
54...Kf4 55.Kxb4
55.Bh5 "might be a better try but Black should be able to hold the draw with
55...Ne7." (Fenwick)
55...Kg5??
"This is not commented on, but is the real culprit. Black can hold the draw
with 55...Kg3 The point is that Black maintains control of f4 and will pick up
the h3-pawn." (Fenwick) 56.Ne4+ (56.Ne6 Nf4 57.Nxf4 Kxf4 58.Kc5 Ke5 59.
h4 Kf6=) 56...Kh4 57.Kc5 Nf4 58.Nf2 Nxh3 59.Bxh3 Kg3=.
56.Ne6+ Kh4 57.Kc5 Ne5 58.Bf5 Nf3 59.Kd5 Ng5 60.Nxg5 Kxg5 61.Ke6
Kh6 62.Kf6 Kh5 63.Kg7 Kg5 64.Bg4 1-0
In the following exercise, Fenwick found a much better solution then the one I
had given.
[FEN "8/1p6/5p1p/7P/bPk2PB1/
4K1P1/8/8 w - - 0 57"]
57.Bf5!
"In the game White played 57.b5? which is awarded an "!" but White may
encounter some difficulties after 57...b6!" (Fenwick):
A) In the game Black played 57...Kc5 58.Be2 f5? (58...b6 is still called for.)
59.Bd3 and lost after some further moves.
B) 57...b6! I continue Fenwick's analysis with 58.Be2+ Kd5 59.g4 Ke6 60.
Kd4 Bc2 61.Bd3 Bd1 62.Bf5+ Kd6
[FEN "8/8/1p1k1p1p/1P3B1P/3K1PP1/
8/8/3b4 w - - 0 63"]
57...Kd5
58.g4 b6 59.g5 fxg5 60.fxg5 Ke5 61.gxh6 Kf6 62.h7 Kg7 63.Kd4+- 1-0
[FEN "8/4k3/6p1/2bB1p1p/n4P1P/
p5P1/P1K5/4B3 b - - 0 72"]
72...Nb6!
"This moved is questioned with the comment 'Why not 72...Nb2?' In fact,
Lutz is correct because the knight will be forced to b6 anyway under less
favourable circumstances; for example, 73.Bg8 Kf8 74.Be6 Ke7 75.Bd5 Na4
76.Kb3." (Fenwick)
"This passes without comment. Correct was 75...Ke8! to meet 76.Bb4?! with
76...Bf2." (Fenwick)
76.Ka4?
76.Bb4! uses Black's mistake: 76...Kd6 77.Kxa3 Nxg3 78.Kb3 and it "looks
winning." (Fenwick)
[FEN "4k3/8/6p1/1K3p1p/2BbnP1P/
p5P1/P7/4B3 w - - 0 78"]
78.Kc6
"Now as noted Black could have played 78...Nc3 which should hold
easily." (Fenwick)
"Here a long analysis is given" (Fenwick) and I may add Bent Larsen famous
aphorism "long analysis, wrong analysis."
30...c4
[FEN "8/8/7B/5p2/Knk4P/2p5/P4PP1/
8 b - - 0 37"]
The position seems to be won for White, so in this respect I was right. But my
lines contain mistakes:
[FEN "8/8/7B/5p1P/2k1n3/8/1Kp2PP1/
8 w - - 0 41"]
Now 41.Be3!+- (In the original analysis 41.Bf4? was given but this allows
41...Nxf2! 42.Kxc2 Ne4 when Black must be close to drawing for example 43.
Bc1 Nf6 44.h6 Nh7 45.Kd2 Kd5 46.Kd3 Ke6; 41.Bc1! is also
good." (Fenwick))
38.h5?
Here I can add 38.Ka3, when White should win in the long run:
[FEN "8/8/7B/5p2/2k4P/K1pn4/P4PP1/
8 b - - 0 38"]
38...c2 (38...f4 39.Bg7 c2 40.Bb2 Nxf2 41.h5+-; 38...Nxf2 39.h5 Ne4 40.Be3
Kd3 41.Bf4 c2 42.h6 Nd2 43.Kb2+-) 39.Bd2 Kd5 40.h5 Ke6 41.Ka4 c1Q 42.
Bxc1 Nxc1 43.a3 Ne2 44.Kb4 Nf4 45.h6 Kf7 46.a4+-.
38...f4 39.Bf8
"Now 39...Nb2+!
40.Ka3 Kd3
41.h6
41...c2 42.h7 c1Q 43.h8Q Nd1+ 44.Kb4 Qc4+ 45.Ka5 Qxa2+= "(Fenwick)
56.Kd5!?
56...Kc7?
"As the text move seems to lose, Black needs an alternative 56...Ne2 seems to
be the best chance, for example 57.Kc5 Kc7 58.Bxg5 Nc3 59.Bf4+ Kb7 60.
Be5 Ne4+ 61.Kb5 Nf2 62.g5 Ne4 I haven't been able to find a win for White
in this line." (Fenwick); I can add that 56...Kc8 57.Bxg5 (57.Kc6 Ne4=) 57...
h5 draws as well.
57.Bxg5 Kb7 58.Bf4 Nh1 59.Be3 Ng3 60.Ke5 Ka6 61.Bd2 Ne2
62.Ke4!!
"This looks like a classic case of "do not hurry" which means that White
should prepare for the endgame by centralizing the king.
[FEN "8/pp6/4pk2/5pp1/7p/8/PP1K4/
5R2 w - - 0 46"]
46.Rh1
46.Ke2? was the move played in the game and Shirov won later.
[FEN "8/p7/8/1p2pkp1/1P3p1p/
3K4/P7/7R w - - 0 50"]
50.Rh2?
To survive White needs to play 50.Ke2! e4 51.Kf2=.
With the comment that Black cannot make progress. In fact, Black is winning
quite comfortably: 52...Kg4; for example, 53.Rg2+ Kh5 54.Ke4 h3 55.Rg1
Kh4-+" (Fenwick)
63.Ka6
63...Nc7+
64.Ka5 Nxb5
"With a win for Black as per the tablebase" (Fenwick). The f-pawn is
blockaded on the Troitsky-Line and in this case the attacker even always wins
with respect to the fifty-move rule. Many thanks to John-Paul Fenwick for
allowing me to use his analysis. He has found even more mistakes and I will
deal with them in a later column.
A PDF file of this month's column, along with all previous columns, is
available in the ChessCafe.com Archives.
Comment on this month's column via our Contact Page! Pertinent responses
will be posted below daily.
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A rook's pawn can be very difficult to deal with, as the knight is restricted
near the edge of the board:
Endgame
136.01 Blübaum, M (2407) – Tabatt, H (2296)
Corner German Championship Osterburg GER (1), 02.03.2012
65.Ke8 wins as well: 65...Kd6 (65...Kxe4 66.d6 Ng4 67.h6 Nf6+ 68.Ke7 Nd5
+ 69.Kf7+–
67.Kf6!
67...Nxd6
67...g4 does not help; e.g., 68.d7 g3 69.d8Q Ne3 (69...g2 70.Qa8++–) 70.h6
g2 71.Qg8 Kf3 72.h7 Ng4+ 73.Qxg4+ Kxg4 74.h8Q g1Q 75.Qg7++–.
68.h6
68...g4
Domination!
69.h7 Kf3
69...Ne8+ 70.Kg6+–
[FEN "4n3/7P/6K1/8/4k1p1/8/8/8 b - - 0 70"]
Domination!
70.h8Q
70...Ne4+
The queen always wins against a knight's pawn no matter how far away the
attacking king is: 74...Ke2 75.Qg3 Kf1 76.Qf3+ Kg1 77.Kg5 Kh2 78.Kh4
g1Q 79.Qh3#.
71.Ke5 Nf2
72.Qa8+ 1–0
65...Na6!?
Black's blockade cannot be broken: 68.Bf2 (68.bxc7 Kxc7 69.a6 Kb8=) 68...
Na6 69.Bg3 Nc5 70.Bh2 Na6 71.Bd6 Kxd6 72.Kb5 Nc7+!=.
B) 66.Bd6 Kb6 67.Kb4 Kb7 68.a5 Nd4 69.a6+ Kc8 70.Kc5 Ne6+ 71.Kd5
Nd8 72.b6+–.
66.Bd6
66.bxa6+?? blows it because of 66...Ka8= as the bishop does not control the
queening square of the a-pawn.
Besides the direct 70.b6+ Ka8 71.b7+ wins as well: 71...Ka7 72.Bf8 Nb8+ 73.
Kc7 Na6+ 74.Kc8 Nb8 75.Bc5+ Ka6 76.Kxb8+–
70...Nb8+
70...Ka8 71.Kb6 Nb8 72.Kc7 Na6+ 73.Kc8 Nc5 74.b6 Nb7 75.a6 Nd6+ 76.
Kd7 Nb7 77.Kc7 Nd6 78.b7++–.
72.bxa6?? Ka8=.
74.a6
[FEN "8/3b1pkp/6p1/3P4/pp1N4/
5P2/P4KPP/8 b - - 0 33"]
33...Kf6! 34.Ke3
This loses the d-pawn. However, the alternatives do no help either:
34.f4 Ke7 35.Ke2 (35.Ke3 Kd6 36.Ke4 can even be met by the beautiful
breakthrough 36...a3 37.Nb3 Bf5+ 38.Kd4 Bb1 39.Nc1
[FEN "8/5p1p/3k2p1/3P4/1p1K1P2/p7/
P5PP/1bN5 b - - 0 39"]
39...Bxa2 40.Nxa2 b3–+) 35...Kd6 36.Nc2 Kc5 37.d6 b3 38.axb3 axb3 39.
Ne1 Kxd6–+; 34.Ke2 Ke5 35.Nc2 b3 36.axb3 axb3 37.Ne3 Kd4 38.Nd1
Kxd5–+.
34...Ke5
35.Nc6+
This loses directly, but good advice is hard to give as 35.Nc2 runs into 35...b3
36.axb3 axb3 37.Na3 Kxd5 38.Kd3 Be6 39.Nc4 Kc5 40.Nb2 Kb4 41.Kd4
Bd7 42.Kd3 Ka3 43.Kc3 g5–+.
35...Bxc6!
Not the greedy 35...Kxd5? 36.Nxb4+ Kc4 37.a3 Kb3 38.Kd2 Kxa3 39.Kc3
[FEN "8/3b1p1p/6p1/8/pN6/k1K2P2/
6PP/8 b - - 0 39"]
When Black should probably win in the long run, but convincing proof will
not be easy to give.
The recapture 39...axb3? runs into the wall 40.Kxb3 Kd5 41.Kc3=.
40.Kc3
[FEN "8/5p1p/2k3p1/8/8/pPK2P2/
6PP/8 b - - 0 40"]
[FEN "8/8/6p1/k4p1p/5P1P/pPK3P1/
8/8 w - - 0 44"]
Black's point, which puts White in fatal zugzwang. Black's king really has
walked a long way from g7!
43...Ka5
[FEN "8/8/6p1/5p1p/5P1P/pk4P1/
8/K7 b - - 0 46"]
D) The Blockade
Knights are very concrete and tactical pieces and it is very easy to overlook a
fork:
60.e6?
A) 61...Nxe5 62.Kb3 Nc4 63.Nc3 Kb6 (63...b4 64.Kxc4 bxc3 65.Kxc3 Ka4
66.Kc2 Kb4 67.Kb1=) 64.Kb4 (64.Nb1? runs into the typical 64...b4 65.Kxc4
a2–+) 64...Kc6 65.Nxb5 a2 66.Nd4+ Kd5 67.Nc2 Ne3 68.Kb3 Nxc2 69.
Kxa2=.
Black can win the e-pawn, but not the game; e.g., 64...Kb5 65.Ka1 Kc5 66.
Kb2 Kd5 67.Ka1 Kxe5 68.Kb2 Kd4 69.Ka1 Kc3 stalemate.
60...b4+
[FEN "8/8/2n1P3/3N4/kp6/p1K5/8/8 w - - 0 61"]
61.Nxb4
Desperation, but the alternatives do not help either: 61.Kc4 a2 62.e7 Nxe7 63.
Nxe7 a1Q–+; 61.Kc2 Nd4+–+ (61...b3+? is met by 62.Kb1= and Black
surprisingly cannot win.)
61...Nxb4 62.Kd2
One last joke. The king tries to dominate the knight, but Black just wins by
stopping the e-pawn.
62...Nd5
Of course, Black does not fall for 62...a2?? 63.e7 a1Q 64.e8Q+=.
White resigned as the knight has the last word after 65.Ka1 a2 66.e7 Nb4 67.
e8Q Nc2#.
A PDF file of this month's column, along with all previous columns, is
available in the ChessCafe.com Archives.
Comment on this month's column via our Contact Page! Pertinent responses
will be posted below daily.
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E) Stamma's Mate
A lone knight cannot force mate, of course. But if the opponent still has a far
advanced rook's pawn, then matters can be different.
Corner
Karsten Müller Aron Nimzowitsch
by Per Skjoldager
& Jørn Erik Nielsen
68.Ne3+
The alternative approach 68.Kd4 wins as well; e.g., 68...Kg4 (68...Ke6 69.
Ne3 h4 70.h3+–) 69.Kxd5 Kh3 70.Ke4 Kg2 71.Kf4 Kxf1 72.h4 Ke2 73.Kg5 ChessBase Magazine 149
Kf3 74.Kxh5 Kf4 75.Kg6+–. However, not 68.Ng3+? Kg4 69.Ke3 Kh3 70. by Rainer Knaak
Nf1 Kg2 71.Ke2 d4=.
71...Kf4 72.Nf1 Kf3 73.Ke5 Kg2 74.Kf4 Kxf1 75.Kg4 Kg2 76.h3+–.
73...Ke2
This allows White to win the h-pawn. But taking White's h-pawn leads to
Stamma's famous mate:
73...Kg1 74.Kf3 When Black can choose between the following:
B) 74...Kxh2 75.Kf2
74.Ng4 1–0
I suggest calling endgames of rook and knight against rook and bishop, where
the knight has the advantage, The Andersson Endgame, because the Swedish
grandmaster handles the knight like no other. In this case, White has an extra
pawn and Black's bishop must passively protect the weak pawn g4.
Furthermore, White's strategic initiative on the dark squares cannot be
stopped in the long run.
58.Ng6!
The greedy 58.Nxg4? runs into the pin 58...Ra4 and White cannot win; e.g.,
59.h3 Rc4 60.Rh5+ Kg8 61.Kg5 Bxg4 62.hxg4 Kg7=.
58...Ra8!?
Both 58...Rxg5 59.Kxg5 Kg7 60.Ne5 Bc8 61.Nxg4+– and 58...Ra2 59.Nf8+
Kh8 (59...Kh6? 60.Rg6#) 60.Nxe6 Rxh2+ 61.Kxg4+– are weaker.
59.Nf4! Bc8
60.Rc5!?
[FEN "r1b5/7k/8/2R5/5NpK/6P1/7P/8 b - - 0 60"]
White prepares to attack Black's king and aims at the bishop to keep Black
passive.
60...Kg7
60...Kh6 61.Rc6+ Kg7 62.Nd5 Bf5 63.Kg5 Be4 64.Rc7+ Kf8 65.Ne3+–.
62...Bd7?! can be directly refuted by the amazing computer line 63.Rc7 Rg8+
64.Kf4 Ke6 65.Rxd7 Rf8+ 66.Nf6 Rxf6+ 67.Kg5 Rf8 (67...Rf2 68.Rh7+–) 68.
Rh7 Rg8+ 69.Kf4 Kf6 70.Rh4+–.
65...Kg8?! runs into the mating attack 66.Kh6 Bd7 67.Rxd7 Ra7 68.Ne7++–.
68...Rd5
A) 69...Kf8 70.Rf2+ Kg7 (70...Kg8 71.Nc6 Rc5 72.Ne7+ Kg7 73.Nxc8 Rxc8
74.Kxg4+–) 71.Rf7+ Kh6 72.Nxg4++–.
B) 69...Ra4 70.Nxg4+ Kf7 71.Rf2+ Kg7 probably offers more resistance, but
White should win after 72.Rf4 Ra2 73.h3 Ra6 74.Rc4 Be6 75.Rc7+ Kf8 76.
Ne5+–. Protecting the pawn with 68...Ra4 does not help in the long run as
White can often exchange rooks or minor pieces; e.g., 69.Re1 Be6 (69...Ra2
70.Nxg4 Bxg4 71.Kxg4 Rxh2 72.Kf5 Rf2+ 73.Kg6 Rf8 74.g4 Rg8+ 75.Kf5
Rf8+ 76.Kg5 Rg8+ 77.Kf4 Rf8+ 78.Kg3 Rg8 79.Re4 Kd7 80.Kf4 Rf8+ 81.
Kg5 Rg8+ 82.Kf6+–) 70.Kf6
A) 70...Bc8 71.Rd1+ Kc7 (71...Ke8 72.Nf7 Ra6+ 73.Rd6+–) 72.Rc1+ Kd8 73.
Rc4 Ra2 74.Nxg4 Bxg4 75.Rxg4 Rxh2 76.Re4+–.
B) 70...Ra6 71.Nc6+ Rxc6 72.Rxe6 Rc2 73.Kg5 Rxh2 74.Kxg4 Kd7 75.Rf6
Ke7 76.Kg5 Rh8 77.g4 Rg8+ 78.Rg6 Ra8 79.Kh6 Kf7 80.Rg7+ Kf8 81.g5
Ra1 82.Rb7 Rh1+ 83.Kg6 Rg1 84.Rb8+ Ke7 85.Rg8+–.
Black should indeed lose in the long run, but the resignation is quite early; e.
g., 71.h3 Bd7 72.Rf2 Ke7 73.Rf4 Rc8 74.Nh6 Rc3 (74...Rh8 can be met by 75.
Kg5! as 75...Bxh3 runs into 76.Rh4! Be6 77.Nf5++–) 75.g4 Ra3 76.Rf7+ Ke6
77.g5 Ra4+ 78.Kg3 Ra3+ 79.Rf3 Rxf3+ 80.Kxf3 Ke5 81.h4 Ba4 82.Kg3 Be8
83.Kg4 Bd7+ 84.Kh5 Be8+ 85.g6 Kf6 86.Ng8+ Kg7 87.Ne7 Kf6 88.Nd5+
Kg7 89.Nf4 Kf6 90.Kh6 Ba4 91.Nd5++-.
[FEN "8/2p2p2/p5pp/4k3/1PP1p3/3n3P/
2NK1PP1/8 w - - 0 42"]
42.f3!?
42...exf3
The simple 42...Nf4 wins as well and might be even easier; e.g., 43.Ne1 Kd4
44.fxe4 Kxc4 45.Ke3 g5 46.h4 Kxb4 47.g3 Nh5 48.Nd3+ Kc3 49.hxg5 hxg5
50.Ne5 a5–+.
43.Kxd3
43...fxg2 44.Ne1
[FEN "8/2p2p2/p5pp/4k3/1PP5/3K3P/
6p1/4N3 b - - 0 44"]
44...g1N!
[FEN "8/2p2p2/p5pp/8/1PP2k1P/
2KN1n2/8/8 b - - 0 47"]
47...Ke4
It was also possible to exploit the fact that the rook's pawn is the worst enemy
of the knight: 47...Kg4! 48.Nc5 g5 49.hxg5
[FEN "8/2p2p2/p6p/2N3P1/1PP3k1/
2K2n2/8/8 b - - 0 49"]
49...h5! That's it! Black just gives a pawn to get an unstoppable rook's pawn.
50.Nxa6 (50.Kd3 h4 51.Ke3 Nxg5 52.Nxa6 h3 53.Kf2 Ne4+ 54.Kg1 Kg3
[FEN "8/2p2p2/N7/8/1PP1n3/6kp/
8/6K1 w - - 0 55"]
White is now even mated! 55.Nxc7 h2+ 56.Kh1 Nf2#; 50.Ne4 h4 51.Nf2+
Kg3 52.Ne4+ Kg2 53.Nf6 h3 54.Ng4 Kg3 55.Ne3 Nxg5–+) 50...h4 51.Nxc7
h3–+.
[FEN "2k5/2p2p2/2N3pp/1PP5/7n/
2K5/8/8 b - - 0 53"]
53...Nf5?
Now Black runs into a knight fork and cannot win anymore against White's
active army.
[FEN "8/1kp1Np2/2P4p/1P4p1/7n/2K5/
8/8 b - - 0 55"]
A) It is not too late to spoil matters with 55...Kb6? 56.Kb4 Ka7 (56...f5?? 57.
Nc8#) 57.Kc5 g4 58.Nd5 Kb8! The only move to draw. (58...g3? 59.Nxc7 g2
60.b6+ Kb8 61.Na6+ Kc8 62.b7++–) 59.b6 cxb6+ 60.Kxb6 Ng6 61.c7+ Kc8
62.Kc6 Ne5+ 63.Kd6 Nc4+ 64.Kc6 Na5+=.
B) 55...Kb8! 56.Kd4 h5 57.Nd5 Ng6 58.Nf6 h4 59.Ke4 Ka7 60.Kf3 Kb6 61.
Kg4 Kxb5 62.Kxg5 Kxc6–+.
54.Ne5! g5 55.Nxf7
[FEN "2k5/2p2N2/7p/1PP2np1/8/2K5/
8/8 b - - 0 55"]
55...Kd7
Now White's queenside majority gives him the draw. The last practical chance
was 55...g4 56.Kd3 g3 (56...h5 57.Ne5 Ng7 58.Ke4 Ne6 59.c6 Kd8 60.Ng6
Ke8 61.Nh4 Kf7 62.Kf5=) 57.Ke2 h5 58.Kf3 h4 59.Ng5 Nd4+ 60.Kg2 Nxb5
61.Nf3 Kb7 62.Nxh4 Kc6 63.Kxg3 Kxc5 with a tablebase draw.
56.Kd3 Ke6 57.b6 cxb6 58.cxb6 Kd7 59.Ne5+ Kc8 60.Ke4 Nd6+ 61.Kd5 Nf5
62.Ke6 Nd4+ 63.Kf6 Nf3
A last joke.
H) Petrosian's Pawns
I started with the theme that a rook's pawn is the worst enemy of the knight
and in a way I also end with it.
[FEN "8/5n2/2N5/4pp2/2Pk3P/5KP1/
8/8 b - - 0 54"]
54...Kxc4?
This greedy capture runs into a hammer-blow, as Black's king is just too far
away.
54...Kc5!! saves the day, since Black's king is back in time now: 55.Nxe5 (55.
Ne7 Nd6! 56.h5 Kxc4 57.h6 Nf7 58.Nxf5 Kd5 59.Kg4 Ke6 60.h7 Kf6 61.Nd6
Nh8 62.Kh5 Kg7=) 55...Nxe5+ 56.Kf4
[FEN "8/8/8/2k1np2/2P2K1P/6P1/8/8 b - - 0 56"]
56...Nxc4 (56...Kd6 draws as well: 57.c5+ Ke6 58.Kg5 Nf3+ 59.Kg6 f4=) 57.
Kxf5 Kd6 58.Kf6 Nd2 59.h5 Ne4+ 60.Kg6 Ke6 61.h6 Nf6 62.g4 (62.h7 Nxh7
63.Kxh7 Kf5 64.Kh6 Kg4=) 62...Nxg4 63.h7 Ne5+ 64.Kg7 Nf7=.
Black cannot save himself despite having a knight against a pawn. Really
amazing!
58.h5 Nf7
59.Kf6!
A PDF file of this month's column, along with all previous columns, is
available in the ChessCafe.com Archives.
Comment on this month's column via our Contact Page! Pertinent responses
will be posted below daily.
Endgame
Corner
Karsten Müller What It Takes to Become
a Chess Master
by Andrew Soltis
Complete Slav I
by Konstantin Sakaev
[FEN "6b1/8/1p3K2/3p3p/2kP3P/5P2/
2B5/8 w - - 0 65"]
Play through and download
the games from The retreat 65.Ke5? is surprisingly too slow.
ChessCafe.com in the
ChessBase Game Viewer. The direct and greedy 65.Kg7! wins, as Fenwick demonstrates: 65...Be6 (65...
Kxd4 66.f4!+-) 66.f4 and even after Black sacrifices his bishop for the f- Capablanca: Move by Move
by Cyrus Lakdawala
pawn, White has enough time to collect the h-pawn. For example, 66...Kxd4
67.f5 Bd7 (Or 67...Bxf5 68.Bxf5 Ke5 69.Kg6
[FEN "8/8/1p4K1/3pkB1p/7P/8/8/8 b - - 0 69"]
I continue the line as follows: 69...b5 70.Bc2 b4 71.Kxh5 Kf6 72.Kh6 Kf7 73.
Kh7 d4 74.h5 Kf8 75.h6 Kf7 76.Bb3+ Kf8 77.Kg6+-) 68.f6 Be6 69.Bd1 Kc3
70.Bxh5 d4 71.f7 Bxf7 72.Kxf7+-.
[FEN "8/5b2/8/3pKP2/3P3P/2k5/
1p6/1B6 b - - 0 71"]
71...Kd2?!
Fenwick gives "71...Be8! with the idea 72.Kxd5 (White can't make progress
after 72.f6 Kc4=) 72...Ba4 73.f6 Bc2 and Black survives."
This is correct, but over-the-board not easy: 74.Bxc2 Kxc2 75.f7 b1Q 76.f8Q
72.f6
[FEN "8/5b2/5P2/3pK3/3P3P/8/1p1k4/
1B6 b - - 0 72"]
72...Ke3?
The direct 72...Kc1? is also wrong because of 73.Bh7 Bg8 74.Bf5 Bf7 75.h5
Bxh5 76.Kxd5+-.
But the amazing 72...Kc3!! still holds the draw: 73.h5 Bxh5 74.Kxd5 Bf7+ 75.
Kc5 (After 75.Ke5, the black king returns to help the defense with 75...Kc4=)
75...Bc4 76.d5 Bd3
Black's counterplay saves the day: 77.f7 (77.Ba2 is met by 77...Bc4=) 77...
Bxb1 78.f8Q Bd3 79.Qf6+ Kc2 80.d6 b1Q 81.Qf2+ Kb3 82.d7
Black's queen returns just in time: 82...Qc1+ 83.Kd6 Qh6+ 84.Kc7 Qg7=.
73.h5 Bxh5 74.Kxd5 Bf7+ 75.Ke5 Bc4 76.d5 Bd3 77.f7 Bxb1 78.f8Q Bc2
79.Qa3+ 1-0
[FEN "r3r1k1/3R1p1p/4np2/p7/1p5N/1P4P1
4PPKP/2R5 b - - 0 25"]
25...Rec8
[FEN "2r3k1/3R1p1p/4np2/p4N2/1p6/
1P4P1/4PPKP/8 b - - 0 27"]
27...Rc7?
[FEN "6k1/5p1p/5p2/N7/1p2K3/1P4P1/
5P1P/2n5 b - - 0 33"]
In the game Hübner later even managed to win (see Endgame Corner 53).
I annotate the following example without regard to the threefold repetition
rule, as Black did not claim it.
71...Rxg2?
After 71...Kh6 72.Ke6 Kh7 73.Rg5 Ra2, White has all the fun, but Black
should be able to save the draw.
72.Ke6 Ra2 73.Kf5 Ra6 74.Rg5+ Kh6 75.Ng4+ Kh7 76.Nf6+ Rxf6+ 77.
Kxf6 Kh6 78.Rg6+ Kh7 79.Rg7+ Kh6 80.Rg6+ Kh7 81.Kg5 Bf2
82.Re6?!
It is more precise to keep Black's king confined to the north east corner: 82.
Rc6!? Bg3 83.Rc7+ Kg8 84.Kf6 h3 85.Rg7+ Kf8 86.Rh7 wins quicker.
For example, 86...Kg8 87.Rxh3 Bf2 88.Rh5 Be3 89.Rd5 and Black is in
zugzwang: 89...Bc1 90.Rg5+ Kf8 91.Rc5 Bb2+ 92.Kf5 Bd4 93.Rc8++-.
82...Bg3 83.Re7+ Kg8 84.Kf6 Kf8 85.Rh7 Ke8 86.Ke6 Kf8 87.Kf6 Ke8 88.
Re7+ Kf8 89.Re5 Bf2 90.Rh5 Ke8 91.Rh7 Bg3 92.Re7+ Kf8 93.Rb7 Ke8
[FEN "4k3/1R6/5K2/8/5p1p/5Pb1/8/8 w - - 0 94"]
"We have now reached a critical position, but what is remarkable is the
neither player recognised that Black could have claimed triple repetition twice
– the position is the same after Black's eighty-fifth, eighty-seventh, and ninety-
first moves; and also after Black's eighty-fourth, eighty-eighth, and ninety-
second moves!
94.Ra7
Here the comment is made that "Black will inevitably fall into zugzwang," but
I'm not so sure about this. Black's next move is a clear error as once the pawn
is forced to h2, the bishop can't move.
94...h3?!
94...Kd8 95.Ke6 Bf2 96.Rd7+ Ke8 97.Rd2 Bg3 98.Kf6 h3 99.Rd5 h2 100.Rh5
+-.
"It is not clear to me how White can make progress after 94...Bf2" (Fenwick)
It is difficult, but White can make progress; e.g., 95.Ra2 Bg3 96.Rd2 h3 97.
Rd5 h2 98.Rh5 Kd7
Now an amazing dance of the kings starts: 99.Ke5 Kc6 100.Ke6 Kc7 101.Ke7
Kc6 102.Ke8 Kd6 103.Kf7 Kd7 104.Rh6 Kc8 105.Ke6 Kc7 106.Ke7 Kb8 107.
Kd8 Kb7 108.Kd7 Kb8 109.Kc6 Ka7 110.Rh8+- and finally Black has indeed
fallen into zugzwang. But I admit that I should have elaborated on my
comment in Endgame Corner 54.
95.Re7+ Kd8 96.Rh7 h2 97.Ke6 Kc8 98.Kd6 Kb8 99.Kc6 Ka8 100.Kb6 Bf2
+ 101.Ka6 Kb8 102.Rxh2 Be3 103.Rc2 1-0
"Remarkably, according to EC and the databases, Black put his rook en prise
with 30...Rf3?? and White failed to notice! More likely is that White's twenty-
ninth move was 29.Qb5 rather than 29.Qb7"
The following exercise was flawed, as the game move wins as well:
75...f3
"This move is questioned, but the real error looks to be just before the draw
was agreed." My solution of the exercise went 75...Qg2+ 76.Kc1 (76.Ka1
Qxh3 77.Rb5+ Kg4 78.Rg1+ Qg3 79.Rbb1 h3 80.Kb2 h2 81.Rh1 f3-+) 76...
Qxh3 77.Rb5+ Kg4 78.Rg1+. Now 78...Qg3! 79.Rxg3+ fxg3 80.Kd2 g2 81.
Rb8 Kg3 82.Rg8+ Kh2 83.Ke2 g1Q 84.Rxg1 Kxg1-+.
76.Rh1 f2 77.Kc3 Qe3+ 78.Kc4 Kf4 79.Rbd1 Qe2+ 80.Kc3 Kf3 81.Rd3+
Kg2 82.Rdd1
[FEN "8/8/8/8/7p/2K4P/4qpk1/3R3R b - - 0 82"]
82...Qe4!
"Black's plan has to involve pushing White's king far enough away from the
kingside and then exchange the queen for a rook and the h-pawn or queen for
rook followed by winning the other rook for the f-pawn. In the game a draw
was agreed after 82...Qe3+?! 83.Kc4."
83.Ra1 Kf3! 84.Rac1 Ke2 85.Rc2+ Ke3 86.Rcc1 Qd4+ 87.Kb3 Ke2 88.Rc2
+ Kf3 89.Rcc1 Kg3
A PDF file of this month's column, along with all previous columns, is
available in the ChessCafe.com Archives.
Comment on this month's column via our Contact Page! Pertinent responses
will be posted below daily.
Corner 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.Nc3 fxe4 5.Nxe4 d5 6.Ng3 e4 7.Ne5 Nf6 8.Bg5
Bd6 9.Nh5 0-0 10.Qd2 Qe8 11.g4 Nxg4 12.Nxg4 Qxh5 13.Ne5 Nc6 14.Be2
Qh3 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.Be3 Rb8 17.0-0-0
Karsten Müller Paul Morphy
by Geza Maroczy
17...Rxf2?!
"I raise my hat to the great chess artist, but the crude 17...Bg4! was
correct." (Kasparov in My Great Predecessors, Part 1, p.38, Everyman 2003)
18.Bxf2 Qa3!!
Play through and download
the games from A beautiful, geometrical, and paradoxical move from one end of the board to
ChessCafe.com in the the other. 18...Ba3? is met by 19.Qe3!.
ChessBase Game Viewer. Paul Morphy:
19.c3! Genius and Myth
by ChessBase
The only defense. 19.Qg5? Rxb2 20.Qd8+ Kf7 21.Bh5+ g6-+; 19.bxa3??
Bxa3#.
19...Qxa2!
22.Kb2?
Bird crumbles under the pressure and loses quickly. This position makes a
good tactical exercise, which is solved by Morphy easily.
22.Kc1! is the only move. Whether Black can win against best defense or not
has been hotly debated. My try in Endgame Corner 23 to win with 22...a5 was
convincingly refuted in Endgame Corner 128. Beim based his argument on
the alternative 22...Bf5.
22...Bxb4!
24...Qxb4+ 25.Kc2
25...e3 26.Bxe3 Bf5+ 27.Rd3 Qc4+ 28.Kd2 Qa2+ 29.Kd1 Qb1+ 0-1
[FEN "1rb3k1/p1p3pp/2pb4/3p4/qP1Pp3/
2P5/3QBB1P/2KR3R b - - 0 22"]
22...Bf5!?
23...e3!? (Beim gives 23...Qa1+ 24.Kc2 Qa3, which is also good for Black.
Though I am not sure if he can really win after Beim's main line 25.Qc1 e3+
26.Rd3 Qa2+ 27.Kd1 a5 28.Qc2 Qa3 29.Rf1 Be4
[FEN "1r4k1/2p3pp/2pb4/p2p4/1P1Pb3/
q1PRp3/2Q1B2P/3KBR2 w - - 0 30"]
Beim ends here and gives Black good winning chances, but after 30.Qc1
matters are not completely clear.) 24.Qb2 a5 "gives Black dangerous play," as
I stated in Endgame Corner 128.
[FEN "1r4k1/2p3pp/2pb4/p2p1b2/qP1P4/
2P1p3/1Q2B2P/2KRB2R w - - 0 25"]
Black should be able to win because of his activity. Some sample lines run 34.
h3 (34.h4 Kf7 35.Rf1+ Ke6 36.Re1 Kd5 37.Rxe2 dxe2 38.Bxb4 Qd1+ 39.Ka2
Qxd4-+) 34...Kf7 35.Rf1+ Ke6 36.Re1 Kd5 37.Rxe2 dxe2 38.Bxb4 g5 39.
Qc3 Qd1+ 40.Ka2 Qxd4-+.
B) 25.Rf1 Be4 26.Bd3 axb4 27.Bg3 Bxd3 28.Rxd3 Qa6 29.Qb1 Bxg3 30.
hxg3 b3 31.Kb2 Ra8 32.Qa1 Qb7 33.Rxe3 Ra2+ 34.Qxa2 bxa2+ 35.Ka1 h6-+
[FEN "6k1/1qp3p1/2p4p/3p4/3P4/
2P1R1P1/p7/K4R2 w - - 0 36"]
Black's queen should be able to defeat the rooks here, as Black can play for ...
c5 or mobilization of his kingside majority.
C) 25.Rg1 axb4 26.c4 b3 27.c5 Bxh2 28.Rg2 Bf4 29.Bc3 g5 30.Rf1 Bg6-+
[FEN "1r4k1/2p4p/2p3b1/2Pp2p1/q2P1b2/
1pB1p3/1Q2B1R1/2K2R2 w - - 0 31"]
After 23.Qe3?, I think that Black has a choice between 23...a5 and Beim's
attacking approach 23...Qa2.
The endgame after 23...a5 24.Kd2 axb4 25.Ra1 Qb3 26.Rhc1 bxc3+ 27.Ke1
c2 28.Qxb3 Rxb3 29.Rxc2 e3 30.Rxc6 exf2+ 31.Kxf2 Rb4 32.Ke3 g5 should
give good winning chances:
[FEN "6k1/2p4p/2Rb4/3p1bp1/1r1P4/
4K3/4B2P/R7 w - - 0 33"]
[FEN "1r4k1/2p3pp/2pb4/p2p1b2/qP1Pp3/
2P1Q3/2KRBB1P/6R1 w - - 0 27"]
I agree with Beim's claim that Black's attack is strong. One sample line runs
27.Kb1 axb4 28.Rb2 b3 29.Bd1 g6 30.Qg5 Kf8 31.Be3 Ke8 and Black's king
is safe, which cannot be said about White's.
I now think that 23.Be3! is forced: 23...Bxb4 24.cxb4 Rxb4 25.Qc2 Qa3+ 26.
Kd2 Rb2
[FEN "6k1/p1p3pp/2p5/3p1b2/3Pp3/
4B3/1q2B2P/3RK2R b - - 0 28"]
Here I stopped in Endgame Corner 128 with "and Black has many pawns, but
they are not very mobile. So it seems that Morphy's amazing sacrifice does
not win objectively. Is this the last word or can a reader change the picture?"
Valeri Beim thinks that Black is winning or has at least very good practical
winning chances. I agree that Black is playing for two results and has
practical winning chances, but "computer-like defense" should hold for
White.
So let us go into even more detail of this fascinating endgame with queen and
many pawns against two rooks and bishop.
28...Qb4+ 29.Kf2 Qd6
[FEN "6k1/p1p3pp/2pq4/3p1b2/3Pp3/
4B3/4BK1P/3R3R w - - 0 30"]
White has a choice. The rook moves 30.Rc1 and 30.Rb1 look most logical,
but 30.Ke1!? might also be interesting.
30.Rb1
[FEN "R7/2p2kpp/2pq4/3p1b2/3Pp3/
p3B3/4BK1P/7R w - - 0 34"]
Now 34.Rc1!? to defend actively on the queenside first and then come back to
the kingside; e.g., 34...Qxh2+ 35.Ke1 Qg3+ 36.Kd2 Qd6 37.Rc5 Qh2 38.Rc1
Bg4 39.Rf1+ Bf3 40.Rf2 Qg3 41.Rxa3 g5 42.Rc3 h5 43.Rc1, and White
should be able to hold:
[FEN "8/2p2k2/2p5/3p2pp/3Pp3/
4Bbq1/3KBR2/2R5 b - - 0 43"]
30...c5 31.dxc5 Qf6 32.Rhd1 Bg4+ 33.Ke1 Bxe2 34.Kxe2 Qf3+ 35.Kd2
Qh3
[FEN "6k1/p1p3pp/8/2Pp4/4p3/4B2q/
3K3P/1R1R4 w - - 0 36"]
Intuition suggets that White should be able to defend with his active army.
Valeri Beim gives Black good practical winning chances, which also has a
point of course. Nevertheless, computer-like defense should hold in my
opinion.
36.Bd4!? Qxh2+ 37.Kc1 Qa2 38.Rd2 Qc4+ 39.Kd1 h6 40.Rb8+ Kh7 41.
Rf8 Qb3+ 42.Ke1 Qg3+ 43.Kd1
[FEN "5R2/p1p3pk/7p/2Pp4/3Bp3/
6q1/3R4/3K4 b - - 0 43"]
Here I ended the draft of my analysis with the evaluation that White's active
defense holds. I sent it to Valeri Beim, and he continues the line as follows:
43...Qg5! 44.Rdf2
44...Qg4+! 45.Re2
45...Qg6!
[FEN "5R2/p1p3pk/6qp/2Pp4/3Bp3/
8/4R3/3K4 w - - 0 46"]
46.Ref2
[FEN "5R2/p1p3pk/7p/2q5/3p4/8/
3B1R2/4K3 w - - 0 51"]
"It looks like Black still can hope for success." (Beim) So the mystery still
remains, yet my intuition still suggests that Black cannot win the endgame
after 28.Ke1. Many thanks to Valeri Beim for allowing me to share his
analysis!
A PDF file of this month's column, along with all previous columns, is
available in the ChessCafe.com Archives.
Comment on this month's column via our Contact Page! Pertinent responses
will be posted below daily.
Endgame
Corner
Karsten Müller Beating 1.d4 Sidelines
by Boris Avrukh
[FEN "2k5/8/6Bp/1p1p4/p1pP2bP/
P1P5/1P6/2K5 w - - 0 1"]
Translate this page
This is won for White, as Remy Heimers claimed in his analysis in
Schachmagazin 64, February 2012, p.36f, but matters are more complicated
than they seem. At first I thought that Black can draw by activating his
bishop, but White can prevent that:
3.Bxb5? Bd7 even loses as Black will invade in the pawn ending: 4.Bxd7+ Chess Endgames 11
Kxd7 5.Kd2 Ke6 6.Ke3 Kf5 7.Kf3 h5–+. by Karsten Müller
3...Bd7
[FEN "8/8/2b2k1p/1p1p3B/p1pP1K1P/
P1P5/1P6/8 w - - 0 8"]
8.Bg4?
This allows Black to activate his bishop. After 8.Bf3 Ke6 (8...Bb7 9.Bg4 Ba8
10.Bd7+–) 9.Bg4+ Kf6 10.Bc8+–, White wins by zugzwang, as in the game.
8...Be8 9.Bh3 Bc6?
[FEN "8/8/5k1p/1B1p4/p1pP1K1P/P1P5/
1Pb5/8 w - - 0 12"]
White cannot invade with his king; e.g., 12.Bd7 (12.Bc6 Ke6 13.Kg4 Bd1+=;
12.Ke3 Kf5 13.Bd7+ Kf6 14.Bc6 Ke6 15.Kd2 Bb3 16.Bb7 Kd6 17.Ke3 Ke6
18.Kf4 Bc2 19.Bc8+ Kf6 20.Bg4 Bg6 21.Bd1 Be8=) 12...Bd1 13.Bf5 Bh5 14.
Bc2 Be8 15.Kg4 Bd7+ 16.Kh5 Kg7 17.Bd1 Kh7 18.Bf3 Be6=.
10.Bc8
10...Be8
[FEN "4b3/1B6/4k2p/1p1p4/p1pP2KP/
P1P5/1P6/8 b - - 0 12"]
39...Re6?
It is wrong to exchange the active rook, as the dark squares in Black's camp
are too weak.
[FEN "8/5p2/1kp1b3/7R/1PPK1pp1/
3B4/5PP1/4r3 w - - 0 42"]
40.Rxe6 Bxe6
40...fxe6
[FEN "8/8/1kp1p3/3b2p1/1P1K1p2/
3B4/2P2PP1/8 w - - 0 41"]
This runs into 41.f3 and Black's bishop is almost caught; e.g., 41...Ba2 42.c4
Bb3 43.Ke5 c5 44.b5 Bd1 45.Kxe6 g4 46.Be4 g3 47.Kf5 Be2 48.Bd5 Bf1 49.
Kxf4 Bxg2 50.Kxg3+– In this case, White put all his pawns on light squares
to restrict Black's bishop. In the game, White will put them on dark squares to
complement his bishop.
41.Ke5
[FEN "8/5p2/1kp1b3/4K1p1/1P3p2/
3B4/2P2PP1/8 b - - 0 41"]
44...g4 45.Ke5 f3 (45...g3 46.f3 Bh3 47.Bf1+–) 46.g3 Kc6 47.Bf5 Bc4 48.
Bxg4 Be2 49.Bh5 Kb5 50.Bxf7 Kxb4 51.g4+– (Heimers).
46...Bd5
A) 47...Ke7 48.b5 Bh3 49.Kg5 Bd7 (49...f6+ 50.Kg6 f5 51.Bd3+–) 50.b6 Kd6
51.Bd5+–.
B1) 50...f5 51.Bd3 Ke6 (51...f4 52.Be4+–) 52.b6 Kd6 53.Bxf5 Bg2 54.Bc8+–.
B2) 50...Bg2 51.f4 Be4+ 52.f5 Bf3 53.b6 Bb7 54.Bb5 Bc8 55.Bc6+–
(Heimers).
47.Ke5 Be6
48.f4 Kd8 49.Kd6 Bc8 50.Be4 Ba6 51.Bd5 Ke8 52.Bc6+ Kd8 53.b5 Bc8 54.
b6 Ba6 55.b7 Bxb7 56.Bxb7 Ke8 57.Bd5 Kf8 58.Ke5 Ke7 59.Bxf7 Kxf7 60.
Kf5 Kg7 61.Ke6 Kg6 62.f5+ Kg7 63.Ke7 1–0
[FEN "8/p5p1/1p1kb2p/2p3P1/4KP1P/
P7/1P2B3/8 b - - 0 37"]
37...Bg8?
The bishop should stay on the other diagonal with 37...Bd7 and White cannot
win: 38.h5 (38.gxh6 gxh6 39.f5 Bc6+ 40.Kf4 a5 41.Bg4 Bd5 42.f6 Bf7=; 38.
f5 hxg5 39.hxg5 b5=) 38...b5 39.f5
[FEN "8/p2b2p1/3k3p/1pp2PPP/4K3/P7/
1P2B3/8 b - - 0 39"]
This try to break through is dangerous, but Black can defend: 39...Bc6+ (But
not 39...hxg5?? 40.f6 gxf6 41.h6 f5+ 42.Ke3 f4+ 43.Ke4 Be8 44.Kf5+–) 40.
Kf4 (40.Ke3 Ke7 41.f6+ Kf7 42.fxg7 Kxg7 43.g6 Kf6 44.Bf3 Bd7=) 40...hxg5
+ 41.Kxg5 Ke7 42.Kg6 Kf8 43.f6 Be4+ 44.Kg5 c4 45.fxg7+ Kxg7 46.Kf4
Bc2 47.Ke3 a5 48.Kd4 Kh6 49.Kc5 Bd3=.
38.gxh6 Bh7+
After 38...gxh6, White's king invades directly with 39.Kf5 Bh7+ 40.Kf6+–.
40...Ke7
40...a6 can be taken, as the escape of the black bishop can be stopped by 41.
Bxa6 (41.Kf4 b5 42.Be6 wins as well.) 41...Bg8 42.Kd3!
[FEN "6b1/8/Bp1k3p/2p2P2/7P/P2K4/
1P6/8 b - - 0 42"]
B) 42...Bb3 but White can invade nevertheless. 43.Bc4 Ba4 44.f6 Bc6 45.Ke3
b5 46.Bg8 c4 47.Kf4 Bd7 48.Ke4+–.
Black's bishop is kept under lock and key; e.g., 41...a5 42.b3 a4 43.bxa4 bxa4
44.h5 Ke7 45.Ke5+–.
Black resigned due to 42...Ke8 43.Bd3 (43.Be6!?) 43...Kf8 44.h5 Bg8 45.Kg6
+–.
While the last one is about building a fortress:
[FEN "8/p4k2/1pb2p2/3p1Bp1/3P3P/
P3K1P1/1P6/8 w - - 0 39"]
39.h5
But 39.b3!? is a better chance to fight against Black's bishop before White's
king tries to invade: 39...a5 40.Ke2 (40.Kf3 a4 41.b4 Bb5=) 40...a4
[FEN "8/5k2/1pb2p2/3p1Bp1/p2P3P/PP4P1/
4K3/8 w - - 0 41"]
Now White has a choice: 41.b4 (41.bxa4 Bxa4 42.Kd2 Kg7 43.h5 Kh6 44.g4
Bc6 45.Kc3 Bb5 46.Kb4 Be2 47.Be6 Bc4 48.a4 Kg7 49.a5 bxa5+ 50.Kxa5
Kh6 51.Kb4
[FEN "8/8/4Bp1k/3p2pP/1KbP2P1/
8/8/8 b - - 0 51"]
Now Black is saved as White's pawns are blocked on light squares: 51...Be2!
52.Kc5 Bf3 53.Kd6 Kg7 54.Ke7 Bh1 55.h6+ Kxh6 56.Kxf6 Be4 57.Ke5
Bf3=) 41...Bb5+ 42.Kf3 Bc4 43.Bb1 Bb3 44.Kg4 Bd1+ 45.Kf5 Bh5!
[FEN "8/5k2/1p3p2/3p1Kpb/pP1P3P/
P5P1/8/1B6 w - - 0 46"]
The point of Black's defense. White's bishop will be dominated and Black
draws: 46.Ba2 Bf3 47.hxg5 Be4+ 48.Kf4 b5!
[FEN "8/5k2/5p2/1p1p2P1/pP1PbK2/
P5P1/B7/8 w - - 0 49"]
Black closes the cage. 49.gxf6 Kxf6 50.g4 Ke6 51.g5 Bg6 52.Kg4 Be4 53.
Kh5 Kf7 54.Kh6 Ke6 55.g6 Kf6 56.g7 Kf7 57.Bxd5+ Bxd5 58.Kh7 Ke7 59.
g8Q Bxg8+ 60.Kxg8 Kd6 61.Kf7 Kd5 62.Ke7 Kxd4 63.Kd6 Kc4 64.Kc6 Kb3
65.Kxb5 Kxa3 66.Kc4 Kb2 67.b5=.
39...Kg7
[FEN "8/p5k1/1pb2p2/3p1BpP/3P4/
P3K1P1/1P6/8 w - - 0 40"]
40.g4
This is met by 41...Ba4 42.Bc8 Bd1+ 43.Kf5 Bxh5 44.Bb7 Bf7=; not 41...
Kh6? 42.Be6 Bxh5+ 43.Kf5 Kg7 44.Bxd5 Bg6+ 45.Ke6+–.
[FEN "8/6k1/2b1Bp2/pp1p2pP/
1P1P2P1/P1K5/8/8 b - - 0 44"]
44...a4!
Karpov closes all inroads and can now just wait with his king forever.
45.Kd3 ½–½
A PDF file of this month's column, along with all previous columns, is
available in the ChessCafe.com Archives.
Comment on this month's column via our Contact Page! Pertinent responses
will be posted below daily.
Endgame
Corner
Karsten Müller World's Most Instructive
Amateur Game Book
by Dan Heisman
[FEN "6k1/1B2pp1p/6p1/R7/P2r4/
Translate this page 3n2P1/1P3P1P/6K1 w - - 0 35"]
35.Rd5?!
This move makes the win extremely difficult, as only pawns on one wing
remain. After 35.b3! Rb4 36.Bd5, White must be winning because of his
connected passed pawns on the queenside.
This endgame must be won for White. But matters are not easy, as Black does
not have many weaknesses.
39...h6 40.h4
[FEN "8/4ppk1/6pp/1r6/8/1B3RP1/
5PKP/8 b - - 0 43"]
[FEN "5k2/4pp2/1R4pp/8/7P/r2BK1P1/
5P2/8 b - - 0 47"]
47...Kg7!
Black just stops the threat without moving a pawn. After 47...Ra2?, Treiber
had planned 48.Bxg6 (The undermining 48.h5 is also very strong.) 48...fxg6
49.Rxg6 h5 50.Rg5+-.
48.Ra6 Rb3!
Of course not 48...Rxa6? 49.Bxa6, as Black will fall into zugzwang sooner or
later; e.g., 49...g5 50.h5 Kf6 51.Ke4 Ke6 52.g4 Kf6 53.Kd5 Kg7 54.Kc6 Kf6
55.Bc4 e6 56.Kd6 Kg7 57.Bxe6 fxe6 58.Kxe6+-.
[FEN "8/4ppk1/6p1/3R3p/7P/r2BK1P1/
5P2/8 w - - 0 53"]
53.f4?
This changes the pawn structure in such a way that further advances are
difficult and the pawn g3 needs constant protection. White should provoke e6
first; perhaps starting with 53.Kf3 Rb3 54.Kg2 and then regroup his rook to f3.
53...e6!
Now Black plays this advance to, of course, prevent the undermining blow f4-
f5. Waiting with 53...Rc3? loses to 54.f5 gxf5 55.Rxf5+-.
54.Rd8
The direct 54.Rd7 leads to critical positions for Black, but it seems that his
defense is always just in time; e.g., 54...Rb3 55.Kd4 (55.Kf2 Rb2+ 56.Kf3
Rb3 57.Kg2 Rb2+ 58.Kh3 Rd2 59.Bb5 Rc2 60.Rb7 Kf8=) 55...Ra3 56.Rc7
Kf6 57.Bb5
[FEN "8/2R2p2/4pkp1/1B5p/3K1P1P/
r5P1/8/8 b - - 0 57"]
54...Kf6 55.Kf2
55.Rd7 Rb3
[FEN "8/3R1p2/4pkp1/7p/5P1P/1r1BK1P1/
8/8 w - - 0 56"]
One radical try is 56.f5!?, but Black should be able to defend: 56...exf5 (56...
gxf5 57.Kf2 Kg6 58.Be2 Rb2 59.Rd8 f6 60.Rg8+ Kf7 61.Rh8 Kg7 62.Ra8
(62.Rxh5 Rb8 63.Bf3 Kg6) 62...Kg6 63.Ke1 f4 64.gxf4 Rb4 65.Kf2 Rxf4+ 66.
Kg3 Rb4 and both cases are probably drawn.) 57.Kf4 Rb4+ (Of course not
57...Kg7?? 58.Rxf7+ Kxf7 59.Bc4++-) 58.Kf3 Rb3 59.Kg2 (59.Ke3 Rb4 60.
Rc7 Rb3 61.Kd4 Ra3 62.Rc6+ (62.Bc4 g5=) 62...Kg7 63.Ke3 Rb3 64.Rd6
Ra3 65.Rd4 Kf6 66.Kf4 Kg7=) 59...Rb2+ 60.Kh3 Rb4 61.Rc7 f4 62.Bc4 fxg3
63.Rxf7+ Ke5 64.Rc7 g2 65.Kxg2 Kd6 66.Rc8 Kd7 67.Ba6 Rxh4=.
57.Ke3 Rg2 58.Kf3 Rd2=. 57.Be2!? was the last real chance to continue the
fight for the full point.
57...Rd2! 58.g4 hxg4+ 59.Kxg4 Rg2+ 60.Kh3 Rd2 61.Kg3 Rd1 62.Kh2 Rd2
+ 63.Kh3 Rd1 64.Kg2 Rd2+ 65.Kh3 ½-½
After this endgame Treiber and his student made a deep investigation of the
whole complex. They started with the plan f2-f3 and g3-g4. But this plan, like
f2-f4, also seems to be inadequate, if applied directly.
[FEN "r7/1R3pk1/4p1p1/1B5p/5K1P/
6P1/5P2/8 w - - 0 38"]
38.f3?
38...Rc8 39.Ke4 Kf8 40.Ra7 Rc5 41.Rb7 Rc3 42.Kf4 Rc5 43.g4 hxg4 44.
fxg4 Rd5 45.Bc6 Rc5 46.Be4 Kg7 47.Ra7 Rc1 48.Bd3 Rc5 49.g5
[FEN "8/R4pk1/4p1p1/2r3P1/5K1P/
3B4/8/8 b - - 0 49"]
White has now reached one target position of the plan f3, followed by g4, but
with an active rook, Black should be able to defend.
49...Kf8 50.Rb7 Rd5 51.Be4 Rc5 52.Ra7 Rb5 53.Ke3 Rb3+ 54.Kf4 Rb5 55.
Rc7 Ra5 56.Bd3 Rd5 57.Be2 Rd4+ 58.Kg3 Rd5 59.Rb7 Rc5 60.Rb5 Rc2
61.Bf3 Rc3 62.Kf4 Rc4+ 63.Be4 Rc1 64.Ke5 Kg7
[FEN "8/5pk1/2B1p1p1/4K1P1/5R1P/
8/3r4/8 b - - 0 67"]
67...Rd8?
After the active 67...Re2+ 68.Kd6 Kf8!, Black is probably able to defend:
[FEN "5k2/5p2/2BKp1p1/6P1/5R1P/
8/4r3/8 w - - 0 69"]
69.Be4 (69.Ra4 Rh2) 69...Rd2+ 70.Ke5 Kg7, but matters are not completely
clear.
68.Rf3!
71.Kc7
71...Ra7+
71...Kf8 72.Ra4+-.
71...Ra3 72.Bd7 Kg8 73.Kb6 Rb3+ 74.Kc6 Rc3+ 75.Kd6 Ra3 76.Be8 Ra7 77.
Kc6 Kf8 78.Kb6 Re7 79.Bc6 Kg7 80.Kc5 Ra7 81.Ra4+-.
[FEN "6k1/1r1BKp2/4p1p1/6P1/R6P/
8/8/8 w - - 0 76"]
Now White wins by the amazing 76.Kf6 Rxd7 77.Ra8+ Kh7 78.Rf8 e5 79.
Rxf7+ Rxf7+ 80.Kxf7 e4 81.h5+-; 73.Kd8 Kg8 74.Be8 Ra7 75.Ra4 Rb7 76.
Kc8 Re7 77.Bd7+-.
72.Kd8
72...Kf8
[FEN "3K1k2/r4p2/2B1p1p1/6P1/5R1P/
8/8/8 w - - 0 73"]
A defense with the king on e7 and an active rook should be playable as well,
but care is required because of possible mating motifs.
[FEN "2R5/4kp2/4p1p1/6P1/2BK3P/8/
7r/8 w - - 0 78"]
78.Ke5! Kd7?
[FEN "5k2/2R2p2/4p1p1/4K1P1/2B4P/
8/2r5/8 w - - 0 82"]
Black is probably able to hold. Treiber compares this whole endgame to the
pawnless case rook and bishop against rook, where the theoretical result is
often a draw, but the attacker has practical winning chances.
79.Rh8 Rb2
79...Ke7?! 80.Bb5+-.
[FEN "7R/3k1p2/4p1p1/4K1P1/2B4P/
8/5r2/8 w - - 0 80"]
80.Bxe6+ fxe6 81.Rh7+ Ke8 82.Rg7 Rh2 83.Kxe6 Kf8 84.Kf6 Rxh4 85.Kxg6
+-.
80.Kf6 1-0
So White should bring his king to d6 first and only afterward touch his
kingside pawns, as the analysis of Treiber and Gentemann proves.
[FEN "8/r4pk1/4p1p1/7p/7P/5BP1/5PK1/
5R2 w - - 0 0"]
1.Rc1 Ra3 2.Be2 Ra2 3.Bc4 Ra3 4.Kf1 Kf6 5.Ke2 Kg7 6.Bd3 Ra2+ 7.Rc2
Ra3 8.Ke3 Ra4 9.Bc4 Kf6 10.Kd4 Ra5 11.Rb2 Kg7 12.Bb5 Kf6 13.Kc5 Ra1
14.Rd2 Rc1+ 14...Ke7 15.Rd7+ Kf6 16.Bc4 Ra3 17.Rd3 Ra5+ 18.Kd6 Ra7
19.Bb5+-.
15.Kd6
[FEN "8/5p2/3Kpkp1/1B5p/7P/6P1/
3R1P2/2r5 b - - 0 14"]
[FEN "8/5p2/r1BKpkp1/7p/3R3P/6P1/
5P2/8 b - - 0 17"]
18...Ra2
18...Ra7?! 19.Rf4+ Kg7 20.Ra4+-; 18...Kg7 19.Ra4 Rb6 20.Ra7 Kf6 (20...
Rb2 21.f3 Rg2 22.Be8+-) 21.Rb7 Ra6
[FEN "8/1R3p2/r1BKpkp1/7p/7P/6P1/
5P2/8 w - - 0 21"]
White can finally advance his pawns: 22.f3 Kg7 23.Rc7 Kf6 (23...Kf8 24.Kd7
Ra3 25.Rc8+ Kg7 26.Ke8+-) 24.Kd7 Rb6 (24...Kg7 25.Ke8+-) 25.Bb7 Rb1
(25...Rb2 26.Ke8+-) 26.Ke8 Rg1 27.Rxf7+ Ke5 28.f4+ Kd4 29.Bc8 Rxg3 30.
Bxe6 Rg1 31.Rf6 Ke4 32.Kf7 Rh1 33.Kxg6 Rxh4 34.f5+-.
[FEN "6k1/r2BKp2/4p1p1/7p/5R1P/6P1/
5P2/8 w - - 0 21"]
And only now can White set his pawns into motion.
22.f3
[FEN "6k1/r2BKp2/4p1p1/6P1/5R1P/
8/8/8 b - - 0 24"]
With White's king already on e7 there can be no doubt about the final result.
30.Kb7 Rd8 31.Kc7 Ra8 32.Bc6 Ra1 33.Be8 Ra7+ 34.Kb6 Re7
[FEN "4B1k1/4rp2/1K2pRp1/6P1/7P/
8/8/8 w - - 0 34"]
35.Bc6
35...Kg7 36.Rf1+-
Many thanks to Burkhard Treiber and his student Moritz Gentemann for
allowing me to use their analysis!
[FEN "8/2R2pk1/6p1/6P1/5K2/3B4/
6r1/8 b - - 0 65"]
65...Rd2?
Only the amazing step to the edge 65...Kh8!! saves the day: 66.Rc2 (66.Bc4
Rf2+ 67.Ke4 Rf5 68.Rxf7 Rxg5=) 66...Rg1 67.Rc8+ Kg7 68.Bc4 Rc1!
[FEN "2R5/5pk1/6p1/6P1/2B2K2/8/8/
2r5 w - - 0 69"]
Now the rook must pin White to prepare the following defense. 69.Rc7 and
again only 69...Kh8! Works; e.g., 70.Ke5 Rc2 (70...Rg1? runs into 71.Kf6+-)
71.Kf6 Rf2+ 72.Ke7 Rf5 73.Kf8 (73.Bd3 Rxg5 74.Kxf7 Rg3 75.Be2 Rb3 76.
Kxg6 Rb6+=) 73...Rxg5 74.Bxf7 Rf5 75.Rc1 Kh7=.
However, John-Paul Fenwick remarks correctly: "I have just read through the
interesting Endgame Corner 141 and I think there is a correction to be made
in the analysis of 141.05 Friedel – Troff. From the first diagram you give 65...
Kh8 as saving, but after 66.Rc2 Rg1 67.Rc8 Kg7, instead of 68.Bc4, White
simply plays 68.Rc7, taking advantage of the fact that the black rook can no
longer move to the f-file. If 68...Rg2, then White transposes back to the game
with 69.Bc4 Rf2 70.Ke4 etc."
[FEN "8/2R2pk1/6p1/5rP1/2B1K3/
8/8/8 w - - 0 68"]
68.Rxf7+!
Diagonal opposition.
70...Kg7 71.Ke6
But not 75.Kf6?! Kh7 76.g6+?? (Repeating the position with 76.Kf7 Kh8 77.
Kg6 Kg8 and then 78.Kh6 still wins.) 76...Kh8 77.Kf7 stalemate.
Solutions to last month's exercises
104...Bc4? Black's king must cross over to protect g6: 104...Kf4! 105.Bf7
(105.Kf8 can be answered by 105...Bc4 106.Ke7 Ke5=) 105...Bf3 106.Bc4
Bh5 107.Bd3 Kg5!=
As both stopping diagonals have at least four squares the position is drawn
according to Centurini's rule. 104...Kf5? runs into 105.Bf7 Bf3 106.Bg6++-;
104...Bg8? 105.Bf7 Bh7 106.Ba2+-. 105.Bf7 Be2 106.Bb3 Bh5 107.Bc2 1-0
Black resigned as he can not prevent Bg6.
[FEN "6B1/4k1P1/2b4K/3p4/3Pp3/
p3P3/8/8 w - - 0 61"]
61.Bh7? This misplaces the bishop, which is needed as a shield for the king.
61.Be6!! a2 (61...Kxe6 62.g8Q++–) 62.g8Q a1Q 63.Bg4 wins, as Black's king
cannot escape:
[FEN "6Q1/4k3/2b4K/3p4/3Pp1B1/4P3/
8/q7 b - - 0 63"]
White's king is not only safe, but also participates in the attack: 63...Qh1+
(63...Kd6 64.Qd8+ Bd7 65.Qxd7#) 64.Kg7 Qh4 65.Qf8#; Against 61.Bf7? a2
62.g8Q a1Q 63.Qg6 Black defends with 63...Qc1 64.Qe6+ Kd8 65.Qd6+ Kc8
66.Kg7 Qc4 67.Qe6+ Kb7 68.Qxe4 Qa2 and Black should be able to survive.
61...a2 62.g8Q a1Q
[FEN "6Q1/4k2B/2b4K/3p4/3Pp3/4P3/
8/q7 w - - 0 63"]
A PDF file of this month's column, along with all previous columns, is
available in the ChessCafe.com Archives.
Even when play is only on one wing careful defense is often called for:
[FEN "1r4k1/3Rn1p1/5p1p/5P2/5NP1/
7P/7K/8 b - - 0 42"]
42...Re8?
Passive defense will not do. The active 42...Rb2+ 43.Kg3 Rb3+ holds; e.g., 44.Kh4 (44.Kf2 Rb2
+ 45.Ke3 Rb3+ 46.Kd2 Rb2+ 47.Kc3 Rf2 48.Ne6 Kf7 49.Nxg7 Rf3+=) 44...Re3=.
44...Rc8
44...h5 is met by 45.Nf4! hxg4 46.Ng6 when the knight dominates: 46...gxh3 47.Kxh3 Kg8 48.
Rxe7+-.
47.Rxe7+ Kg8 48.Kh5 Rxh3+ 49.Kg6 Kf8 50.Rf7+ Kg8 51.Rb7 Kf8 52.Kxf6 Ke8 53.Rb8+ 1-0
Black resigned because of 53...Kd7 54.Kg7 Rg3 55.Rb4 h5 56.f6 Rxg4+ 57.Rxg4 hxg4 58.f7 g3
59.f8Q+-.
In the next example world champion Vishy Anand shows how to do it:
The alternatives also do not win: 55.e6 is met by the exchange sacrifice 55...Kxf6 56.e7 Ra8 57.
e8Q Rxe8 58.Rxe8 Kxf5 and Anand's active army cannot be defeated:
55.Ng4!? is a dangerous try, but Black can defend: 55...Ra1 (55...Ra4? runs into 56.e6 fxe6 57.
fxe6 Ra8 58.e7 Re8 59.Ne3 Nb4 60.Rb2 Nc6 61.Nd5 Nxe7 62.Rb7 Kf8 63.Rxe7 Rxe7 64.Nxe7
Kxe7 65.Kh3 Kf6 66.Kxh4 Kg6 67.Kg4+-) 56.Re3 Nf4 57.e6 fxe6 58.fxe6
[FEN "8/6k1/4P3/8/5nNp/4R3/6PK/r7 b - - 0 58"]
58...Ra8 (Even 58...Nd5 is playable: 59.e7 Nxe3 60.e8Q Nxg4+ 61.Kh3 Nf6 62.Qe7+ Kg6 63.
Kxh4 Ra4+=) 59.e7 Re8 60.Re4 Nd5 61.Ne3 Nxe3 62.Rxe3 Kf6 63.Kh3 Kg5 64.Re2 Kf4=.
55...Nc5 56.Nxc5
As rook endings have a very large drawish tendency it is an idea to keep the knight on the board
with 56.Nb6!? but Black should be able to hold; e.g., 56...Nd3 57.Nc4 (57.e6 fxe6 58.fxe6 Re5
59.Rxe5 Nxe5 60.Nd5 Nd3 61.Kh3 Ne1=) 57...Ra1 58.Nd6 Nf4
[FEN "8/5pk1/3N4/4PP2/5n1p/8/
4R1PK/r7 w - - 0 59"]
59.Re4 (59.Rd2 Re1 60.Rd4 Rf1 61.Re4 Nd3 62.g3 hxg3+ 63.Kxg3 Rd1) 59...Nd3 60.Ne8+ Kf8
61.Nc7 Rf1 62.f6 Rf4 63.Rxf4 Nxf4 64.Nb5 Nd3 65.Kh3 Nxe5 66.Nd6 Nd7 67.Ne4 Nb6 68.
Kxh4 Ke8 and in both cases White's extra pawn can probably not be converted.
58.e6
58.Rxh4 is parried by 58...Re3 59.Rg4+ Kf8 (59...Kh6 60.e6 Re5 is playable as well.) 60.f6 (60.
Ra4 Rxe5 61.g4 Re3=) 60...Rxe5 61.Kg3 Ra5=.
61.Rh8+ Kg7!
62.Re8 Kf6 63.g3 Re4 64.Kg2 Re3 65.Kh3 Re4 66.g4 Re1 67.Rf8+ Kg7 68.Re8 Kf6 69.e7 Kg7
70.Kh4 1/2-1/2
C) Kramnik's Knight
In the following case the attacker is winning, but matters are tactically tricky:
42.h5+?!
Kramnik's solution probably wins in the long run as well, but makes it very complicated because
of the reduced winning potential. He had two better options:
The direct simplification into a winning knight ending with 42.Re6 Rxe6 43.f5+ Kh5 (43...Kf7 44.
fxe6+ Ke7 45.Kxe4+-) 44.fxe6 Nd6 45.gxf6 gxf6 46.Kf4 and Black cannot defend:
[FEN "8/7p/3nPp2/7k/3N1K1P/
4P3/8/8 b - - 0 46"]
46...Kg6 47.Nf5 Ne8 (47...Nxf5 48.h5++-) 48.Ne7+ Kg7 49.Kg4 Kf8 50.Nf5 Nc7 51.e7+ Kf7 52.
Kh5 Ne8 53.Kh6 Kg8 54.e4 Kh8 55.Nd4 Kg8 56.Nc6 Kh8 57.Nd8 Kg8 58.Kh5 Kg7 59.Kg4 Kg6
60.h5+ Kg7 61.Kf5 Kh6 62.Ke6 Kxh5 63.Kd7 Ng7 64.Ne6+-.
Or Oliver Reeh's suggestion to start a mating attack with 42.f5+ Kh5 (42...Kf7 43.Ne6+-) 43.Ne6
Nd2+ 44.Kf4 Kxh4 (44...Rb7 45.Nxg7+ Rxg7 46.Rxf6+-) 45.gxf6 gxf6 46.Ra2
[FEN "8/4r2p/4Np2/5P2/5K1k/4P3/
R2n4/8 b - - 0 46"]
46...Rd7 47.Nd4+-.
46.Nd6? runs into the amazing 46...Kg4!! 47.Kxd2 Kf3= as given in Chess Today 4237.
46...Kg4 47.Nh6+ Kg3 48.Rf8! Ne4 49.Rg8+ Kh3 50.Ng4! Kh4 51.Ne5 Ra7
[FEN "6R1/r6p/8/4N3/4nP1k/4P3/
4K3/8 w - - 0 52"]
52.Nf3+?
Now White seems to be one tempo too slow in his advance. The maneuver 52.Kf3! Nd2+ 53.Kg2
Ne4 54.Rg4+ Kh5 55.Kf3 Nd2+ 56.Ke2 Ne4 57.Rg1+/- gives him excellent winning chances.
52...Kh5 53.Kd3
53.Rg1 should be tenable for Black as well; e.g., 53...Ra2+ 54.Kd3 Nf2+ 55.Kd4 Ra4+ 56.Kd5
Nh3 57.Rh1 Ra5+ 58.Kd4 Ra4+ 59.Kc5 Kg4 60.Ne5+ Kg3 61.f5 Kg2 62.Rd1 Ng5=.
53...Nf2+ 54.Kd4 Ra4+ 55.Kd5 Ra5+ 56.Ke6 Ng4 57.e4 Ra6+ 58.Ke7 Ra7+ 59.Kd6
59...Ra6+
The stalemate trick 59...Nf6 60.Rg5+ Kh6 61.Ke5 Nxe4!! 62.Kxe4 Ra4+= is easier, as given in
Chess Today 4237.
62.Rd8
62.exf6 can even be met by the beautiful 62...Rc6+ (62...Rxf6 draws as well.) 63.Kd7 Rd6+ 64.
Ke7 Re6+ 65.Kf7 Rxf6+ 66.Kxf6 stalemate.
62.Rf8 Nh7 63.Rh8 Nf6 64.f5 Nd5+ 65.Kd7 Kg4 66.Nd4 Kf4 67.e6 Ke5=.
64.Kb8 Rd7 65.Kc8 Kxf4 66.exf6 Rf7 67.Rd6 Ke5 68.Re6+?! Kxd4 69.Kd8 Kd5 70.Ra6 Ke5=.
67.e6
67...Rc7+ 68.Kd3
[FEN "3R4/2r5/4P2p/8/3N1k2/2nK4/8/8 b - - 0 68"]
68...Ke5?
Exhausted from the long fight Tomashevsky blunders. 68...Na4 saves the day as the knight will
return in time after 69.Rf8+ (69.Rd5 Nc5+=) 69...Ke5 70.Rf7 Rxf7 71.exf7 Nc5+ 72.Ke3 Nd7=.
69.Rd7!
69...Nd5
70.e7 Rc3+
70...Nxe7 71.Rxc7+-.
74.e8Q+ Kxd5 75.Kd3 Re6 76.Qb5+ Kd6 77.Kd4 Ke7 78.Qf5 Rf6 79.Qh7+ Kf8 80.Ke5 Ra6
81.Qb7 Rg6
82.Qh7!
Necessary precision as Black is closer to the draw as it might seem; e.g., 82.Qd7? leads to a
known fortress after 82...Kg8 83.Kf5 Rg5+ 84.Kf6 Kh8=.
An attack on two wings is often successful when the defender is tied down:
30.g4!
32...Kf7?!
The king is not safe here. But good advice is hard to give; e.g., 32...Nd8 33.Nd4 Nc6
[FEN "R7/2r1k1p1/2n1p2p/3pP2P/
1p1N2P1/4K3/1PP5/8 w - - 0 34"]
34.Rg8 Nxe5 (34...Kf7?? 35.Rxg7+ Kxg7 36.Nxe6+ Kf7 37.Nxc7+-) 35.Rxg7+ Nf7 36.Rg6 e5
37.Nc6+ Kd7 38.Nxb4+- (Baburin in Chess Today 4337); 32...Ra7 33.Rc8 Nd8 34.Nd4+/-.
33.g5!
[FEN "R7/2r2kp1/2n1p2p/3pP1PP/1p6/
4KN2/1PP5/8 b - - 0 33"]
33...hxg5
33...b3 34.c3 Ra7 35.Rc8 Ra6 36.g6+ Ke7 37.Rc7+ Kf8 38.Rf7+ Kg8 39.Kf4 Ra4+ 40.Kg3 Ra6
41.Rc7 Kf8 42.Rc8+ Ke7 43.Rg8+-.
34.Nxg5+ Ke7 35.Rg8 Nxe5 36.Rxg7+ Kd6 37.Rxc7 Kxc7 38.Nxe6+ Kd6 39.Nf4 Kc6 40.Nd3
Ng4+ 41.Kf4 Nf6 42.Kg5 1-0
E) Aronian's Attack
48...Rb2?
48...h5! gives Black more counterplay; e.g., 49.Rxa6 g4 50.hxg4 hxg4 51.Kf1 (51.Nxg4 Rxb4 52.
Ne3 Rb5 53.c6 Kd6) 51...Rb1+ 52.Kf2 Rb3 53.g3 Nd5 with practical drawing chances in both
cases.
The knight will not be able to pose real problems, so 51...Kd8!? was called for; e.g., 52.h4 g4
(52...gxh4 53.Rxh4 Ne6 54.Ke1+/-) 53.Rd6+ Ke8 54.Nxg4 Rxb4 55.Ne3+/-; Of course not 51...
Rxb4?? 52.Nc6++-.
52.Rd6!
[FEN "8/4k3/p2R3p/2P1N1p1/1P3n2/
1r5P/6P1/6K1 b - - 0 48"]
52...Ne3+
52...Nc3 53.Nc6+ Kf7 54.Rd3 Na2 (54...Nb5 55.Rd8 Nc3 56.Ne5+ Ke7 57.Rb8+-) 55.Rg3 Nxb4
56.Nxb4 Rxb4 57.Rxg5+-.
52...Nxb4?! runs into the deadly pin 53.Rb6 Rb1+ 54.Ke2 Rb2+ 55.Kf3 Rb3+ 56.Ke4 Rxh3 57.
Rxb4 Rh4+ 58.Kd5 Rxb4 59.Nc6++-.
54...Na3 55.Rd2 Rb1+ (55...Rxb4? 56.Nc6++-) 56.Ke2 Nb5 is more tenacious but still
insufficient of course.
55.Rb6!
A deadly pin.
55...Kf8
After 55...Rc2 56.Nc6+ Ke8 57.Nxb4 Rxc5 58.Ke2 Rc3 59.Nd3, White takes control and will
win in the long run.
Kamsky resigned, as the tactics work Aronian's way: 58...Rd3+ 59.Ke2 Nxc6 60.Rb7++-.
F) Passed Pawns Must be Pushed
[FEN "8/p6r/4N2k/5p1n/8/KP6/
2P5/7R w - - 0 42"]
42.c4!
The direct liquidation 42.Nf4? Kg5 43.Nxh5 Rxh5 44.Rxh5+ Kxh5 45.c4 spoils it: 45...f4 (45...
Kg6 draws as well.) 46.c5 f3 47.c6 f2 48.c7 f1Q 49.c8Q Qa1+=.
42...Rh8
Unfortunately, the only way to escape the bind. 42...Kg6?? runs into 43.Nf8++-.
44...Kg5!
The best way to continue the fight as rook and knight do not cooperate well in the resulting
endgame so White still has a lot of technical work to do.
48...Re2 49.Rf1 Re5 50.Nf2 Kg3 51.Nd3 Re3 52.Nf4 and White should win in the long run.
47.Ne2 f4 48.Kb4
The direct 48.Nxf4? violates the endgame principle do not rush and spoils it because of 48...Kxf4
49.Rh7 Ra5+ (But not 49...a5? 50.Ka4 Ke4 51.Ra7+-) 50.Kb4 Ra1=.
48...Re5?!
An inaccuracy as White now gains time with checks. But Black should be lost anyway in the long
run; e.g., 48...Rc7 49.Nd4 Kg3 50.Rf1 Rf7 51.Rf3+ Kg4 52.Kc4 Rc7+ 53.Kd3 Rf7 54.Rf1 Kg3
55.Ke4 Re7+ 56.Kd5 Rf7 57.Rf3+ Kg4 58.Kc6 Rf6+ 59.Kc5 Rf5+ 60.Kc4 Rf8 61.b4 White is
making slow but steady progress. 61...Rc8+ 62.Kb5 Rb8+ 63.Ka5 Rb7 64.b5 Rd7 65.Rd3 Rf7
(65...f3 66.Nxf3 Rxd3 67.Ne5++-) 66.Ka6 Re7 67.Rc3 Re4 68.Rc4 Re7 69.Nc6 Rh7 70.Ne5+
Kg3 71.Rc3+ Kh4 72.Ng6+ Kg5 73.Nxf4 Kxf4 74.Rc8 Ke5 75.Ra8 Kd6 76.Rxa7+-.
50...Ke3 51.Kc4+-.
51.Ra1! Re7
52.Ra2+!
[FEN "8/p3r3/8/8/1K1N1p2/1P6/
R4k2/8 b - - 0 52"]
An important zwischenschach.
52...Kg3?!
A tactical blunder, but Black is lost in any case; e.g., 52...Kf1 53.Kc4 Rf7 54.b4 f3 55.Nxf3 Rxf3
56.Rxa7+-.
53.Nf5+ 1-0
[FEN "1r5k/2R4p/4N3/1p6/1P6/
3n4/6PP/6K1 w - - 0 36"]
Copyright 2013 Karsten Müller and BrainGamz, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Endgame Corner by Karsten Müller
Tricky Pawn Endings
Despite the reduced material pawn endings are by no means easy to handle, as any small mistake
is often fatal. So simplifications into pawn endings are a very important theme and I will also
deal with a few cases in the following.
A) Karjakin's King
Rook endings have a large drawish tendency, but in pawn endgames a small advantage can be
decisive:
[FEN "5kr1/5p1R/6p1/p2pPpP1/
5P2/2P1K3/P7/8 w - - 0 35"]
35.e6!!
36.Kxd5 (36.Rh1 Rc8 37.Rb1 Rc4+ 38.Kxd5 Rxf4 39.Rb7+ Kf8 40.e6 fxe6+ 41.Ke5 Re4+ 42.
Kf6 Ke8 43.Kxg6 f4 44.Rf7 Ra4 45.Kg7 Rxa2 46.Rxf4 a4 47.g6 a3 48.Kf6 Kf8 49.Ra4 Rf2+ 50.
Kxe6 a2=) 36...Rd8+ 37.Kc4 Rc8+ 38.Kd3 Rd8+ 39.Kc2 Rc8 40.Kb3 (40.Rh3 Rc4 41.Rf3 Ke6
42.Kb3 Kd5 43.a4 Rc6 44.Re3 Rb6+ 45.Kc2 Kc4=) 40...Ke6 41.a3 (41.c4 Rb8+ 42.Kc3 Rb1 43.
Rh8 Rf1=; 41.a4 Rc7 42.c4 Rb7+ 43.Kc3 Rb4=) 41...a4+ 42.Kb4 Kd5 43.Kxa4 Rxc3 44.Rxf7
Rc4+ 45.Kb5 Rxf4 46.a4 Rf2 47.a5 Rb2+ 48.Ka4 Ra2+ 49.Kb4 Kxe5 50.Rf6 f4 51.Rxg6 f3 52.
Rf6 f2 53.Rf8 Rd2 54.g6 Rd4+ 55.Kc5 Rf4 56.Rxf4 Kxf4 57.g7 f1Q 58.g8Q Qf2+=.
35...fxe6
35...Ke7 is met by 36.exf7 Rf8 37.Kd4 Ke6 (37...Rxf7 38.Rxf7+ Kxf7 39.Kxd5+-) 38.Rg7 Rc8
39.f8Q Rxf8 40.Rxg6+ Ke7 41.Kxd5+- and with two extra pawns the rook ending is winning.
36.Kd4
36...Rg7
B) Bai's Knightmare
Usually a bishop is stronger than a knight on an open board, but sometimes miracles do happen.
52...Kd8?
There are many ways to draw among them is 52...Kb7 53.d6 Bh6 54.d7 Kc7 (Baburin in Chess
Today #4363) 55.Nc6 Bg5 56.Ne7 Kd8=.
53.d6! 1-0
Suddenly Black has no way to deal with White's d-pawn and so he resigned:
53...Bxe7
53...Bh6 54.Nc6+ Kc8 55.d7+ Kb7 56.d8Q+-; 53...Ke8 54.d7+ Kd8 55.Nc6+ Kc7 56.d8Q++-.
54.dxe7+ Ke8
[FEN "4k3/4P3/4K3/8/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 55"]
C) Timman's Timing
Pure bishop endings have a large drawish tendency so a simplification into a pawn ending must
be calculated carefully:
[FEN "8/8/4b3/p1p1k1P1/P7/4P3
/2B2K2/8 b - - 0 56"]
56...Bf5!?
The position is drawn anyway, but this activation is strong as Timman's timing is just right.
57.Bxf5
57.e4 is met by 57...Bh7 (Of course not 57...Bxe4?? 58.Bxe4 Kxe4 59.g6 c4 60.g7 c3 61.g8Q c2
62.Qg6++-) 58.Kf3 c4 59.Ke3 Bg6=, and White cannot make any progress.
59...Kg4!
Timman's point. Now his king will always be just in time. However, not 59...c4? 60.Kd4 Kf5 61.
Kxc4 Ke4 62.Kb5 Kxe3 63.Kxa5 Kd4 64.Kb6+-.
60.Kd5 Kf3 61.Kxc5 (61.e4 c4=) 61...Kxe3 62.Kb5 Kd4 63.Kxa5 Kc5 64.Ka6 Kc6 65.a5 ½-½
Usually, passed pawns must be pushed, but the following case is an exception.
143.04 Bauer, Ch (2664) – Milliet, S (2421)
Trophee Karpov Preliminary 2012 Cap d'Agde FRA (11), 31.10.2012
56...a5?
Now the race is drawn as both sides will queen at the same time.
56...Kc5!! wins as Black's pawn will queen with check and then Black will always be able to
exchange queens:
A) 57.g5 Kd6 58.Kf5 a5 59.Kf6 (59.g6 Ke7 60.Kg5 Kf8 61.Kh6 Kg8-+) 59...a4 60.g6 a3 61.g7
a2 62.g8Q a1Q+ 63.Kf5 Qe5+ 64.Kg4 Qe6+-+.
White cannot escape and must allow the exchange of queens sooner or later; e.g., 62.Kf5 Qf1+ 63.
Ke5 (63.Ke4 Qc4+-+) 63...Qe2+ 64.Kf6 Qf2+ 65.Ke7 Qh4+ 66.Kd7 Qa4+ 67.Ke7 Qe4+ 68.Kf6
Qf4+ 69.Ke7 Qd6+ 70.Kf7 Qd5+-+.
57...a5 (57...Kd7 58.Kf6=) 58.g5 Kd7 (58...a4 59.g6 a3 60.g7 a2 61.g8Q a1Q+ 62.Ke4=) 59.Kf6
Ke8 60.Kg7 a4 61.g6 a3 62.Kh7 a2 63.g7 a1Q 64.g8Q+ Ke7=; Finally 56...Kc4?? even loses
because of 57.g5 Kd5 (57...a5 58.g6 a4 59.g7 a3 60.g8Q++-) 58.Kf5 Kd6 59.Kf6 Kd7 60.g6 Ke8
61.g7+-.
57.g5 a4
[FEN "8/8/1p6/1k4P1/p4K2/8/8/8 w - - 0 58"]
Both kings cannot reach the square, so a drawn queen ending will result. White's square must be
drawn from g6 as it is his move.
63.Qd5+ ½-½
E) Chernyshov's Counterblow
61.c4!
61...bxc4 62.Kd4
[FEN "8/8/3kp3/5p2/1PpK2p1/6P1/
5P2/8 b - - 0 62"]
62...c3!
Chernyshov's counterblow.
62...e5+? runs into 63.Kxc4 f4 64.Kd3 Kd5 65.b5 f3 66.b6 Kc6 67.Ke4 Kxb6 68.Kxe5 Kc5 69.
Kf4 Kd4 70.Kxg4 Ke4 71.Kh3 Kd3 72.g4 Ke2 73.Kg3+-.
The right advance. However, not 65...e4? 66.Kd2 Kc4 67.Ke3 Kxb4 68.Kf4 Kc4 69.Kxf5 Kd3 70.
Kf4! Ke2 71.Kxe4 Kxf2 72.Kf4+-.
66.gxf4
Surprisingly, 66.Kd3? even loses to 66...f3 and Black's far advanced pawns will win:
[FEN "8/8/8/3kp3/1P4p1/3K1pP1/
5P2/8 w - - 0 67"]
A) 67.Kc3 e4 68.Kd2 (68.b5 e3 69.fxe3 f2-+) 68...Kc4 69.Ke3 Kxb4 70.Kxe4 Kc3 71.Ke3 Kc2-+.
B) 67.b5 Kc5 68.Ke4 Kxb5 69.Kxe5 Kc4 70.Kf4 Kd3 71.Kxg4 Ke2 72.Kh5 Kxf2 73.g4 Ke3 74.
g5 f2 75.g6 f1Q 76.g7 Qf7+-+.
F) F for forward
In the following example, one white f-pawn should advance, but which one?
56.f5! wins the resulting fight for the opposition: 56...gxf5 (56...b4 57.fxg6 fxg6 58.Kc4 Ka5 59.
Kb3 Kb5 60.f4 Ka5 61.f5+-) 57.f4 b4 (57...Ka5 58.Kc5 b4 59.d5 b3 60.d6 b2 61.d7 b1Q 62.d8Q
+ Ka4 63.Qa8+ Kb3 64.Qb7+ Kc2 65.Qxb1+ Kxb1 66.Kd6 Kc2 67.Ke5 Kd3 68.Kxf5 Ke3 69.
Ke5+-) 58.Kc4 Ka5 59.d5 b3 60.Kxb3 Kb5 61.Kc3 Kc5 62.d6 Kxd6 63.Kd4
Now White has the opposition and will penetrate to the key squares. But matters are still not
easy; e.g., 63...Ke6 64.Kc5 f6 (64...Kd7 65.Kd5 Ke7 66.Ke5 f6+ 67.gxf6+ Kf7 68.Kxf5+-; 64...
Ke7 65.Kd5 Kf8 66.Ke5 Kg8 67.Kxf5 Kg7 68.Ke4 Kg6 69.Ke5 Kg7 70.f5 f6+ 71.Ke6 fxg5 72.
Ke7+-) 65.g6 Ke7 66.Kd5 Kf8 67.Ke6 Kg7 68.Kxf5+-.
58.Kb3 Kb5 59.f5 gxf5 60.f4 Ka5 61.d5 Kb5 62.d6 Kc6 63.Kxb4 Kxd6
58...b3 59.Kxb3
59.d6 Kb6 60.Kxb3 Kc6 61.Kc4 Kxd6 62.Kd4 Ke6 63.Ke4 f5+=.
59...Kb5 60.f5 (60.Kc3 Kc5=) 60...gxf5 61.f4 Kc5 62.d6 Kxd6 63.Kc4 Kc6! 64.Kd4 Kd6=
[FEN "8/5p2/3k4/5pP1/3K1P2/8/8/8 w - - 0 65"]
In endgames with rook and knight against rook and knight often a small initiative weighs heavily:
[FEN "1r5k/2R4p/4N3/1p6/1P6/
3n4/6PP/6K1 w - - 0 36"]
How to exploit White's activity?
36.Nc5!
White has good chances to convert his extra pawn because of his activity.
36...Nxb4?
36...Nxc5 37.Rxc5 should be lost in the long run as Black's rook is doomed to passivity.; 36...
Ne5!? was probably the best practical chance, but White is clearly for choice after 37.h3!+/-.
37.Nd7!
37...Na6
37...Nd5 is refuted by 38.Rc5 Rd8 39.Rxd5 b4 40.Nb6+-, as given in Chess Today #4293.
38.Ra7! Rd8
38...Rc8!? sets a trap as 39.Nf6? can be met by (But 39.Rxa6 wins easily of course.) 39...Rc1+ 40.
Kf2 Nc7=.
39.Nf6
[FEN "3r3k/R6p/n4N2/1p6/8/8/6PP/6K1 b - - 0 39"]
[FEN "1r5k/2R4p/4N3/1p6/1P6/3n4/
6PP/6K1 w - - 0 36"]
35...Rf8!!
Not the only way to win but certainly the most beautiful and best. Black threatens 36...Rxa2+ and
so
36.Rxc2 is forced.
After 36.Rf6+ Ka5 37.R6f2 Black can improve with the collinear move 37...Rf3!! 38.g5 Rcxf2
39.Nxf2 d3 40.Kb2 d2-+.
36...Rxf1+ 37.Kb2
37.Rc1 is met by 37...Rf3 38.Nb2 Rf2 39.h4 (39.a3 Rxh2 40.g5 Rg2-+) 39...b4 40.g5 d3 41.g6
(41.Nxd3 Rxa2#) 41...d2 42.Rb1 Nxb1 43.Kxb1 Rh2 44.g7 Rg2-+; and 37.Nc1 runs into the
promotion trick 37...d3 38.Rxc3 d2 39.Kb2 d1Q-+.
37...Rb1+ 38.Ka3 a5
[FEN "8/8/1k6/pp1p4/3p2P1/K1nN4/
P1R4P/1r6 w - - 0 39"]
There is no escape as 39.Nb2 is answered by 39...b4+ 40.Kb3 Ne4 41.g5 d3 42.g6 (42.Rg2 Nc5#)
42...a4+ 43.Kxb4 dxc2 44.g7 c1Q 45.g8Q Qxb2+ 46.Kxa4 Qxa2#.
White resigned as after 42.Ne5 Nb1#, the monster knight has the last word.
Copyright 2013 Karsten Müller and BrainGamz, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Endgame Corner by Karsten Mueller
Tablebase Revolution
Compared to opening theory, endgame theory is relatively constant. Old fortresses are not often
broken. Yet with help of six-man tablebases one old fortress can indeed be broken in a very
surprising way. This seems incredible to the human eye. I have already dealt with this theme in
Endgame Corner 70 and followed the old wisdom that it is a fortress:
Yet White can win. Either by invading with his king to c6 (this winning aim was known to
human theory) or, and this is truly amazing, by exchanging pawns with a3-a4 at the right moment:
45.Ke4 Bf2 46.Rf5 Bg1 47.Rf1 Bc5 48.Kd5 Be3 49.Rf7+ Kb6 50.Rf3 Bg1 51.Rf1
51.Rf6+ Kb7 52.Rf4 Kb6 is more direct. Now White should amazingly exchange pawns:
[FEN "8/8/pk6/1p1K4/5R2/P7/1P6/6b1 w - - 0 53"]
53.a4!! bxa4 54.Rxa4 Be3, when White's rook wins a very long domination duel; e.g., 55.Ra1
Bf2 56.Rf1 Be3 57.Rf6+ Kb7 58.Rf3 Bg1 59.Kd6 Bh2+ 60.Ke6 Kc6 61.Rf1 Bg3 62.Kf5
This is truly amazing! White's king moves to f5 to win the domination fight. Chess really is a rich
game! 62...Bd6 63.Rc1+ Kb6 64.Ke4 Bc5 65.Kd3 Kb5 66.Ra1 Kb6 67.Kc4 Be3 68.Ra3 Bg1 69.
Rg3 Bf2 70.Rf3 Bg1 71.Kb4 Bd4 72.Rb3 Be5 73.Ka4+ Ka7 74.Ka5 Bf6 75.Kb4 Kb6 76.Ka4+
Ka7 77.Rb4 Be5 78.Kb3 Bd6 79.Rg4 Be5 80.Re4 Bg3 81.Kb4 Kb6 82.Rg4 Bd6+ 83.Kc4 Bb8 84.
Rg6+ Kb7 85.Kd5 Bf4 86.Rg4 Bb8 87.Kc5 Ba7+ 88.Kd6 Bb8+ 89.Kd7 a5 90.Ke6 Kc6 91.Rc4+
Kb5 92.Kd5 a4 93.Rc5+ Kb6 94.Kc4 Bf4 95.Rb5+ Ka6 96.Kc5 Be3+ 97.Kc6 Bc1 98.Rb8 Ka5
99.Kc5 Be3+ 100.Kc4 Ka6 101.Ra8+ Kb6 102.Rxa4+-.
51...Be3 52.Ke4 Bg5 53.Rf5 Bc1 54.Rf2 Bg5 55.Kd4 Bc1 56.Re2 Ka5
56...Bg5 57.Re6+ Kb7 58.Kc5 Bd8 59.b4 Bh4 60.Rb6+ Ka7 61.Kc6+-.
57.Kc3 Kb6 58.Kd4 Ka5 59.Rc2 Bh6 60.Rg2 Bc1 61.Rc2 Bh6
62.Rc7?!
62.Rg2 wins quicker: 62...Bc1 (62...Bf8 63.Kc3 Kb6 64.Rg6+ Kb7 65.b4+-; 62...Ka4 63.Rg6
Bc1 64.Kc3+-) 63.Re2 Kb6 (63...Bh6 64.Kc3 Bg7+ 65.Kb3 Bf6 66.Re6 Bd4 67.Ka2 b4 68.axb4+
Kb5 69.Kb3+-) 64.Kd5 Bg5 (64...a5 65.Kd4 a4 66.Kd5 b4 67.Rc2 Be3 68.axb4 Kb5 69.Rc8+-)
65.Re6+ Kb7 66.Kc5
63...Bg5 64.Re6+ Kb7 65.Kc5 Bd8 66.b3 Bh4 67.Rb6+ Ka7 68.Kc6+-.
Even 65.Kc5 is playable: 65...Bxb2 66.Re7+ Kb8 67.Re3 (67.Kb6? Bd4+ 68.Kxa6 Bc5=) 67...
Kc7 68.Rf3 Kb7 69.Rh3 Kc7 70.Rh7+ Kb8 71.Kb6+-.
65...Kb6?!
65...Bg5!? 66.Kc5 Bh4 was more tenacious; e.g., 67.a4 bxa4 68.Kb4 Bg3 69.Kxa4 Bc7 70.Kb4
Bb6 71.Kc4 Kc6 72.Re6+ Kb7 73.Kd5 Bf2 74.Rf6 Bg1 75.Rf1 Be3 76.Rf3 Bg1 77.Kd6 Bh2+ 78.
Ke6 Kc6 79.Rf1 Bg3 80.Kf5
[FEN "8/8/p1k5/5K2/8/6b1/1P6/5R2 b - - 0 80"]
White wins as shown above.; 65...Bf4?! 66.Re7+ Kb6 67.Re6+ Kb7 68.Kc5 Bg5 69.Rb6+ Ka7
70.Kc6+-.
66.Kd5 Bg5
66...a5 67.Kd4 a4 68.Kd5 b4 69.Rc2 Be3 (69...bxa3 70.Rxc1 axb2 71.Rb1 a3 72.Kc4+-) 70.axb4
Kb5 71.Rc8+-; 66...Ka5 67.Rc2 Be3 (67...Bf4 68.Rc6+-) 68.Rc6 b4 69.axb4+ Kb5 70.Rc8 Bf4
71.Rc5+ Kb6 72.Kc4+-.
71...Bf2 72.Rb7+ Ka8 73.Rf7 Bg1 74.Rf4 Ka7 75.a4 bxa4 76.Rxa4 Bf2 77.b4 Be3 78.b5 Kb8
79.Rxa6 1-0
Since finishing this column, Burkhard Treiber brought to my attention that Jonathan Hawkins
indicated the white win in Amateur to IM, Mongoose Press 2012 on page 105.
The following position is indeed a fortress, but the winning chances of the rook are larger than
they seem at first sight.
54.Rc2
54.h4
A) 54...Bd4? is a typical mistake, which often occurs in practical play: 55.Rc4 Bb2 56.g4 hxg4
57.Rxg4 Kh7 58.Kf7 Kh6 59.Rxg6+ Kh5 60.Rg2
White wins the domination duel; e.g., 60...Bc3 61.Rh2 Be1 62.Kf6 Bg3 63.Rh1 Bf2 64.Kf5 Be3
65.Rh2 Bg1 66.Rg2 Bb6 67.Rb2 Bc5 68.Rc2 Be3 69.Ke4 Bh6 70.Rh2 Bg7 71.Kf4 Bf8 72.Kf3
Ba3 73.Ra2 Be7 74.Re2 Bf6 (74...Bxh4 is met by 75.Rh2 Kg5 76.Rh1+-
B) 54...Ba1=.
54.h3 Ba1 55.g4 hxg4 56.hxg4 Bb2 57.g5 Ba1 58.Rf7 Bb2 59.Rf6
54...Ba1 55.Rg2 Kg7 56.g4 hxg4 57.Rxg4 Bc3 58.Rc4 Ba1 59.Rf4 Bb2 60.Rf1 Bd4 61.Rf7+
Kg8 62.Rf4 Bc3 63.Rg4 Kg7! (63...Kh7? 64.Kf7+-) 64.Rg2 Bf6 65.Rc2 Ba1 66.Rc7+ Kg8 67.
h4 Bb2 68.Rc2!?
Now this is the only move. Black must indeed by very careful, when defending this fortress.
69.Rd2
69.Rg2 Kh7 70.Kf7 Kh6 71.Rxg6+ Kh5 72.Rc6 Bf2 73.Kf6 Kxh4!=.
69...Bc3 70.Rd3
70.Rg2 Kh7 71.Kf7 Kh6 72.Rxg6+ Kh5 73.Rg3 Be1 74.Rg1 Bxh4=.
70...Be1!
70...Bb2? 71.Rg3 Kh7 72.Kf7 Kh6 73.Rxg6+ Kh5 74.Rg2 loses as seen in the line 54.h4 Bd4?.
71.Kf6
71.Rd4 Kg7 72.Rg4 Kh6 73.Kf6 Kh5 74.Rxg6 Kxh4 75.Kf5 Bd2=.
71...Bxh4+ 72.Kxg6 Kf8 73.Rh3 Bd8 74.Rh7 Ke8 75.Kf5 Kf8 76.Ke6 Bg5 77.Rf7+ Kg8 78.
Rd7 Kf8 79.Rd5 Bc1 80.Rd1 Bb2 81.Rf1+ Kg7 82.Rf7+ Kg6 83.Rf2 Bc1 84.Rg2+ Kh5 85.
Kf5 Kh4! 86.Rc2 Be3! 87.Ke4 Ba7 88.Ra2 Bb6 89.Kf4 Bc7+ 1/2-1/2
In the next case case Eiko Bleicher's program Freezer found the solution:
66...Kb6?
67.Rh5?!
67.Rc5 wins quicker.
67...Kc6 68.Rh8?!
68...Kb7 69.Re8?!
69...Be6?!
The bodycheck 69...Kc6! is better, but White will win nevertheless as Freezer proves:
70.Ke5 Kd7 (70...Bf1 71.Rd8 Kc7 72.Rd2 Bc4 73.Kf6 Be6 74.Ke7 Kc6 75.Rd4 Bc4 76.Rd6+
Kc7 77.Rf6 Bd5 78.Rh6 Be6 79.Rh5 Bc4 80.Rc5+ Kb6 81.Kd6 Kb7 82.Re5 Kb6 83.Re8 Kb7 84.
Kc5 Kc7 85.Re7+ and White wins as in the game.; 70...Kc7 71.Re7+ Kc6 72.Ra7 Kb6 73.Rd7+-)
71.Ra8
A) 71...Kc7 72.Ra6 Kd7 73.Rb6 Kc7 (73...Ke7 74.Rb7++-) 74.Rd6 Bb3 75.Rd2 Be6 76.Kf6 Bc4
77.Ke7 Kc6 78.Rd6+ Kc7 79.Rh6 Be6 80.Rh5 Kc6 81.Rc5+ Kb6 82.Kd6+-.
74...f5
74...Kb8 allows White to cut the king off in the dangerous corner: 75.Rc7!?
75...f5 76.Kc6 Bd5+ (76...f4 77.Re7 f3 78.Re8+ Ka7 79.Kc7 f2 80.Re3 f1Q 81.Ra3#) 77.Kb6
Be4 78.Rc5 Bb1 79.Rxb5 Kc8 80.Rd5 Be4 81.Rd6+-.
75.Rc7+ Kb8
76.Rc5
76...Kb7
76...Bd3 is refuted by 77.Rd5 when Black loses a pawn: 77...Be4 78.Rxb5+ Kc8 79.Re5 Kb7 80.
Kc5 Kc7 81.Re7+ Kd8 82.Rh7 Kc8 83.b5 Kd8 84.Rf7 Kc8 (84...Ke8 85.Rc7 f4 86.Kd6 f3 87.Re7
++-) 85.Kb6 Kd8 86.Ka7 Ke8 87.Rh7 Kf8 (87...f4 88.Rh4+-) 88.b6 Kg8 89.Rc7 Kf8 90.b7 Bxb7
91.Kxb7 f4 92.Rc4 f3 93.Rf4++-.
77.Rxf5 Kb6 78.Rf8 Kb7 79.Re8 Bf1 80.Kc5 Bc4 81.Re7+ Kc8
After 81...Ka6?!, Black's king is even caught in a mating net: 82.Kc6 Bf1 83.Re3 Ka7 84.Kc7+-.
Solomon's Surprise
A rook is usually much stronger than a bishop in the pure endgame, but in the race of dangerous
passed pawns care is always required:
58.Rd7?
White should play the domination game with 58.Kd6 Bb5 59.Kc5 Ba4 60.Rc8 Bd7 61.Ra8
(Baburin in Chess Today 4322) 61...Kb3 62.Kd6 and the diagonal is too short because of 62...
Bb5 63.Rb8+-.
60.e8Q c3 61.Qe5
After 61.Kd6 c2, White's king is just outside the winning zone, which is quite large as the
defending king is on the wrong side of his bishop's pawn.
61...c2 62.Qb2 Kd1 63.Qd4+ Ke2 64.Qc3 Kd1 65.Qd3+ Kc1 66.Kc6 Kb2
67.f3?
Only after 67.Kxh6 Kf6, (67...Kf4 68.Kg6 g4 69.h4 Kf3 70.Kg5 Kxf2 71.Kxg4+-; 67...Kf5 68.
Kg7 g4 69.h4+-) can she play 68.f3
[FEN "8/8/7p/4k1pK/8/7P/5P2/8 w - - 0 67"]
With a win by encirclement, the typical method to exploit the opposition in this case: 68...Kf5 69.
Kg7 Kf4 70.Kf6 Kxf3 71.Kxg5+-.
67...Kf5!
Now Black takes the opposition and draws as White has no spare tempo.
Of course not 67...Kf6? 68.Kxh6+-; 67...Kf4? is also wrong because of 68.Kxh6 Kxf3 69.Kxg5+-.
But not 70...Kg6? 71.Kg8 Kf6 72.Kf8 Kg6 73.Ke7 Kg7 74.Ke6 Kg6 75.Ke5
[FEN "8/8/6k1/4K1p1/8/5P1P/8/8 b - - 0 75"]
White wins, as Black cannot keep the opposition; e.g., 75...Kg7 76.Kf5 Kh6 77.Kf6 Kh5 78.Kg7
Kh4 79.Kg6 Kxh3 80.Kxg5+-.
Copyright 2013 Karsten Mueller and BrainGamz, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Endgame Corner by Karsten Mueller
Rooks and Races
Even a single pawn has drawing chances against a rook, if the attacking king is far enough away,
so great care is often required in such pawn races.
When a passed pawn can queen, it is often worth taking a second look as to whether this can be
done in even more favorable circumstances.
53.f8Q?
53.Re5!? Rb8+ (53...c4 54.f8Q Rb8+ 55.Kf7 Rxf8+ 56.Kxf8 c3 57.Re3+-; 53...Kd6 54.f8Q+
Kxe5 55.Qxc5+ Kf6 56.Qd6+ Kg7 57.Qf8+ Kg6 58.Qf7++-; 53...Rf3 54.f8Q Rxf8+ 55.Kxf8
Kd6 56.Rh5+-) 54.Ke7 Kb5 55.Kf6 wins the all important tempo in the following fights:
[FEN "1r6/5P2/5K2/1kp1R3/8/8/8/8 b - - 0 55"]
(55.f8Q? is still too early because of 55...Rxf8 56.Kxf8 Kc4 57.Ke7 Kd4 58.Kd6 c4 59.Rd5+ Ke3
60.Kc5 c3 61.Kb4 c2 62.Rc5 Kd2 63.Kb3 c1Q 64.Rxc1 Kxc1=) 55...Rf8 56.Re8 Rxf7+ 57.Kxf7
Kc4 (57...c4 58.Ke6 c3 59.Kd5 Kb4 60.Kd4 c2 61.Rc8 Kb3 62.Kd3+-) 58.Ke6 Kd4 59.Rd8+
Ke4 60.Kd6 c4 61.Kc5 c3 62.Kb4 c2 63.Rc8 Kd3 64.Kb3+-.
53.Re6+ Kd5 54.Rd6+ Kxd6 55.f8Q+ Kc6 56.Qf6+ Kb5 57.Kd7 wins as well, but is more
complicated.
55...Kd5!
The right way to proceed. Black's king prepares to give the white king a bodycheck.
And 55...Kb5? runs into 56.Kf7 Kc4 57.Ke6 Kd4 58.Rd7+ Ke4 59.Rc7 Kd4 60.Kf5 c4 61.Kf4
Kd3 62.Kf3 c3 63.Rd7+ Kc2 64.Ke2 Kb2 65.Rc7 c2 66.Kd2+-.
56.Rd7+ Ke4
57.Ke7
The usual zwischenschach 57.Re7+ does not help here because of 57...Kd3 58.Rd7+ Ke3 59.Rc7
Kd4 60.Ke7 c4 61.Kd6 c3= Bodycheck!
62.f8Q?
White rushes. The typical 62.Rb5! wins as White saves a lot of time:
62...Rxf7 (62...Ka1 63.Rf5 Rxf5 64.Kxf5 a2 65.f8Q Kb2 66.Qb4+ Kc2 67.Qa3 Kb1 68.Ke4 a1Q
69.Qxa1+ Kxa1 70.Kd4+-; 62...Re2+ 63.Re5 Rf2 64.Rf5+-) 63.Kxf7 Ka1 64.Rb4 a2 65.Rxc4
Kb2 66.Ra4 Kxc3 67.Rxa2+-.
However, not 62.Rb4? Ka1 63.Rxc4 a2 64.Ra4 Kb2 65.c4 a1Q 66.Rxa1 Kxa1 67.c5 Re2+ 68.
Kd7 Rf2=.
54.Kc5?
This loses an important tempo. The passed pawn must advance immediately: 54.b4 Re4+ 55.Kc5
Rf4 56.Re8+
A) 56...Kd3 57.Rd8+ Kc3 (57...Kc2 58.Rh8 Kc3 59.b5 Rf5+ 60.Kc6 f2 61.Rh1 Kc4 62.Rc1+=)
58.b5 f2 59.Rd1 f1Q 60.Rxf1 Rxf1 61.b6=.
B) 56...Kd2 57.Rh8 f2 58.Rh1 f1Q 59.Rxf1 Rxf1 60.b5 Rc1+ 61.Kd6 Rb1 62.Kc6 Kc3 63.b6
Kb4 64.b7 Ka5 65.Kc7=.
54...Re5+ 55.Kc4
The valuable f-pawn must be preserved, as 55...f2? runs into 56.Rxf2 Kxf2 57.b4 Ke3 58.b5 Ke4
59.b6 Re8 60.Kc5 Rc8+ 61.Kd6=.
60.Kc6 is met by 60...f1Q (60...Kc3 wins as well: 61.Rf1 Kxb3 62.Kd6 Kc3 63.Ke6 Rf8 64.Ke5
Kd3-+) 61.Rxf1 Rxf1 62.b4
Now the typical zwischenschach 62...Rc1+ 63.Kd6 Rb1 64.Kc5 Kc3 65.b5 Kb3 66.b6 Ka4 67.
Kc6 Ka5 68.b7 Ka6-+.
The rook again belongs behind the passed pawn: 62...Rb1 63.Kc5 (63.Kc4 Ke3 64.b5 Ke4 65.
Kc5 Ke5 66.Kc6 Ke6 67.b6 Rc1+-+) 63...Kc3 64.b5 Kb3 65.b6 Ka4 66.Kc6 Ka5 67.b7 Ka6-+.
63.Kc5 Kc3 64.b5 Rf5+ 65.Kc6 Kc4 66.b6 Rf6+ 67.Kc7 Kc5 68.b7 Rf7+ 69.Kc8 Kc6
[FEN "2K5/1P3r2/2k5/8/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 70"]
70.b8N+!
The knight draws despite the restricted space as it can stay near its king.
70...Kd6 71.Na6 Ra7 72.Nb8 Rc7+ 73.Kd8 Rc4 74.Nd7 Ra4 75.Kc8 Rc4+ 76.Kd8 Rc7 77.Nf8
Ra7 78.Ke8 Re7+ 79.Kd8 Rg7 80.Ke8 Ra7 81.Ng6 Ke6 82.Nf8+!
After 82.Kd8?, Black can separate the knight from its king with 82...Ra8+ 83.Kc7 Ra4:
And the rook will catch the steed sooner or later; e.g., 84.Nf8+ (84.Kd8 Kf6 85.Nf8 Ra8+-+) 84...
Ke7 85.Ng6+ Kf6 86.Nf8 Ra7+ 87.Kc6 Ra6+ 88.Kb7 Rd6 89.Nh7+ Ke6 90.Ng5+ Kf5 91.Kc7
Rh6 92.Nf3 Ke4 93.Nd2+ Kd5 94.Nb3 Ra6 95.Nd2 Ra2 96.Nf3 Rf2 97.Ng5 Rf5 98.Nh3 Ke4 99.
Kd6 Ke3 100.Ke6 Rh5 101.Ng1 Rh1-+.
82...Ke5 83.Nd7+ Kd6 84.Nf8 Re7+ 85.Kd8 Re1 86.Nd7 Rh1 87.Ke8 Rh8+ ½-½
51.Ke7?
White's king must hide on the queenside and start the march with 51.Ke5! Re2+ (51...bxa4 52.Rg6
+ Kb5 53.Rf6 Rxf6 54.Kxf6 a3 55.f8Q a2 56.Qa3+-) 52.Kd5 Rd2+ (52...Rf2 53.Rg6+ Kb7 54.
Ke6 Rxf7 55.Kxf7 bxa4 56.Ke6+-) 53.Kc6 Rc2+ 54.Kd7 Rd2+ 55.Kc8 Rc2+ (55...Rf2 runs into
56.Rg6+ Ka7 57.axb5 Rxf7 58.Ra6#) 56.Kb8
[FEN "1K6/5PR1/k6p/pp6/P7/8/2r5/8 b - - 0 56"]
Finally, White's king has arrived. The pawn b5 shields it from the rain of rook checks. 56...Rf2 57.
Rg6+ Rf6 58.Rxf6#.
51...Re2+?
The pawn f7 had to be eliminated immediately: 51...Rxf7+! 52.Rxf7 bxa4 53.Kd6 Kb5 54.Kd5
a3! (54...Kb4? 55.Kd4 Kb3 56.Kd3 a3 57.Rb7++-) 55.Kd4 a2 56.Rf1 Kb4 57.Kd3 Kb3 58.Rh1
Kb2 59.Rh2+ Kb3 60.Rh1=.
After 51...bxa4? 52.Rg6+ Kb5 53.Rf6 Re2+, White's king can seek shelter in the shadow of
Black's king: 54.Kd7 Rd2+ 55.Kc7 Rc2+ 56.Kb7+-.
54...bxa4 55.Rf6 Re2+ 56.Kd6 Rd2+ 57.Kc5 Rd8 58.f8Q Rxf8 59.Rxf8 a3 60.Rf3 a2 61.Ra3+-.
58...a3 59.Kd3 a2 60.Rg1 Kb4 61.Kc2 Ka3 62.Rh1 h5 63.Rh3+ Kb4 64.Kb2+-.
Bodycheck!
60...a3
61.Rb6+! Ka2
After the opening, middlegame, and endgame comes the fourth phase of the royal game: when
both sides have queened. The most important guideline is that whoever gives the first check wins
as king safety plays an extremely important role:
53...Rd6!?
The rook belongs behind the passed pawn. 53...d2? spoils it because of 54.Rd7 Rh2 55.a6 Kc2 56.
a7 Rh8 57.Rc7+=.
56...d2!?
White resigned because of 61.Kh4 Rh6+ 62.Kg4 Rg6+ 63.Kf3 (63.Kh4 Qh2#) 63...Qe3#.
88...f1Q
89.Re1!
89.Qf7? Qh3+ 90.Kf4 Rh4+ 91.Ke5 Qe3+ 92.Kd6 Rd4+ 93.Kc7 Qc3+ 94.Kb8 Rd8+ 95.Ka7 Qa5
+ 96.Kb7 Qb5+ 97.Kc7 Qb8+ 98.Kc6 Rd6+ 99.Kc5 Qb6+ 100.Kc4 Rd4+ 101.Kc3 Qb4+ 102.
Kc2 Rd2+ 103.Kc1 Qb2#.
89...Rh3+!
90.Kg4 Qxe1
Copyright 2013 Karsten Mueller and BrainGamz, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Endgame Corner #146 by Karsten Mueller
The Last Pawn Revisited
In pawnless endings usually a very large material superiority is needed to win. So the last pawn is
often worth its weight in gold. I continue the discussion from Endgame Corner 121.
37...g5!? 38.hxg5?
38.Ke2 is called for: 38...gxh4 (38...Kg6 39.Be4++-) 39.Bg2 Kg6 40.Bh3 White has reached a
more active blockading set up and wins; e.g., 40...Kg5 41.Kd3 Kf4 42.Kxd4 Kg3 43.Bxe6 h3 44.
Bd5+-
38...Kg6 39.Ke2
43.Bf1 h3 44.Bxh3 Kxh3 45.Kc5 Kg4=; 43.Bh1 Kf4 44.Bd5 exd5 45.e6 h3 46.e7 h2 47.e8Q
h1Q=.
43...Kf4 44.Bd7 Kf5 45.Bb5 h3 46.Bf1 h2 47.Bg2 Kf4 48.Be4 Kg3 49.Ke3
As two knights alone can't force mate difficult problems can arise:
White must be winning of course, but it is an amazingly long way to prove this:
63.Kf6
63...Kc5 64.Nh4 Kd4 65.Nhf5+ Kc5 66.Ke5 Bd3 67.Nd6 Bg6 68.Nd5 Bh7 69.Nf6 Bc2
70.Nfe4+ Kc6 71.f5 Bb3 72.f6 Bg8 73.Ng5 Kd7 74.Nf5 Bc4 75.Ng7 Bg8 76.N7e6 1-0
76...Kc6
77.Nf8
One amazing line after 77.Kf5 runs 77...Kd5 78.Kg6 Ke5 79.Kg7 Kf5:
80.Nf3 and Black is dominated or will fall into zugzwang sooner or later: 80...Kxe6 (80...Bxe6
81.Nd4++-) 81.Ng5+ Ke5 82.Nf7+ Ke6 (82...Kf5 83.Nh6++-) 83.Nh6 Bh7 84.f7+-.
77...Kb7 78.Ng6 Kc7 79.Ne7 Ba2 80.Nd5+ Kd7 81.f7 Bxd5 82.f8Q+-.
69.Nc6?
And 69.Nb4? runs into 69...Nc3 70.Nbc6 (70.b7 Nxb7 71.Kxb7 Ne4 72.Nd5 Nf2 73.Ne3 Nxg4=)
70...Nd5+ 71.Kd6 Nxb6 72.Nxa5 Kf4 73.Nac6 Nc4+ 74.Ke6 Ne3=.
There is essentially only one way to win the domination dance: 69.Ne3! Nc3 (69...Nc5 70.N3c4
Nxc4 71.Nxc4 Kxg4 72.Kc6 Ne6 73.Na5 Kf5 74.Kd6 Nd8 75.Ke7+-; 69...Kf4 70.N5c4 Nb3 71.
Kc6 Nbc5 72.Nd2 Kxe3 73.Nxe4 Nxe4 74.b7+-) 70.Nc6 Nb3 (70...Nb5+ 71.Kd7 Nb7 72.Nd8
Nc5+ 73.Kc6+-) 71.Kd6 Ne4+ 72.Ke7
[FEN "8/4K3/1PN5/6k1/4n1P1/1n2N3/
8/8 b - - 0 72"]
White's king has left the sphere of influence of the knights and White wins, e.g. 72...Nbc5 (72...
Nec5 73.Nd8 Kf4 74.Ne6+ Kxe3 75.Nxc5 Nxc5 76.g5+-) 73.Nd4 Nb7 74.Ne6+ Kg6 75.Nc4 Kh6
76.Kd7 Kg6 77.Kc6 Kf6 78.Kxb7 Kxe6 79.Kc6+-; 69.Nd7 is playable, but after 69...Nf2 (69...
Nd2 70.Ne3 Nb1 71.Ne5 Nc3 72.Nc6 Nb3 73.Kd6+-; 69...Kxg4 70.N7f6+ Kf3 71.Nxe4 Kxe4 72.
Nb4 Kf5 73.Nc6 Nb3 74.Kd6 Nd2 75.b7 Nc4+ 76.Kc5 Ne5 77.Nxe5 Kxe5 78.b8Q++-; 69...Nd6
70.Kxd6 Nc4+ 71.Ke6 Nxb6 72.Ne5 Na4 73.Kd6 Nb2 74.Ne3 Kf4 75.Kd5 Kxe3 76.g5+-) 70.
Ne5 Ne4 White must play 71.Ne3+- anyway.
The draw was agreed as 71.b8N Kxg4 72.Nd4 should be drawn as given by Baburin in Chess
Today 4472; e.g., 72...Ne5 73.Kd6 Ncd3 74.Na6 Nf3 75.Nb5 Nh4 76.Nb6 Nf5+ 77.Ke6 Kf4 as
three knights against two should usually be defendable. But three knights against one is won for
the three knights, if a direct draw cannot be forced.
Typical problems also arise, when the attacker has rook, bishop and a few pawns against rook and
pawns (see also Endgame Corner 141):
58.Kd5?
After 58.Kf3 Rb8 (58...Bd6 59.Rd4 Be7 60.Kg4=) 59.Rg3 Bd6 60.Rh3 Rf8+ 61.Kg4 Rf4+ 62.
Kg3, Black has no way to exploit the battery, so the position is theoretically drawn. But practical
winning chances remain of course after 62...Bc7 63.h5 gxh5 64.Rxh5 Kg6 65.Rh4=.
58...Be1! 59.Ra4
59...Rd8+!
The refutation of White's concept, which was based on 59...Bxh4?? 60.Ra7+=; 59...Rxh4?? 60.
Ra7+=.
63.Rh7!? is more tenacious, but Black will win in the long run, as the ending rook and bishop and
wrong rook's pawn against rook is winning; e.g., 63...Rd2+ 64.Ke5 Bg3+ 65.Ke4 Rh2 66.h5 gxh5
67.Kf3 (67.g6 h4 68.Kf5 Rf2+ 69.Kg5 Kg8 70.Kg4 Rf6 71.Kg5 Rf4 72.Ra7 h3 73.Ra8+ Rf8-+)
67...Be5 68.g6 Kg8 69.Ke4 Bf6 70.Rf7 Re2+ 71.Kf3 Re1 72.Kf2 Re6 73.Kg2 Bg5 74.Kh3 Rxg6-
+.
63...Kf7 64.Rf4+ Kg7 65.Ra4 Bf2 66.Rb4 Re7 67.Rf4 Be1 68.Ra4 Rb7
[FEN "8/1r4k1/6p1/3K2P1/R6P/8/
8/4b3 w - - 0 69"]
69.Rc4
One sample line after 69.Re4 runs 69...Bg3 70.Rg4 Rb3 71.Ra4 Rb5+ 72.Ke6 (72.Kc4 Rb1 73.
Kd5 Rd1+ 74.Ke6 Rd6+ 75.Ke7 Rd5 76.Rg4 Re5+ 77.Kd7 Bxh4-+) 72...Re5+ 73.Kd7 Bxh4 74.
Rxh4 Rxg5 75.Ke6 Ra5 76.Rf4 g5 77.Rf5 Ra6+ 78.Ke5 Kg6 79.Rf8 Ra4-+.
69...Ra7 70.Ke6 Bg3 71.Rg4 Ra3 72.Re4 Rd3 73.Ra4 Rd6+ 74.Ke7 Rd5 75.Ra7
75...Re5+ 76.Kd8+
76.Kd6+ Kf8 77.Ra3 Re3+-+.
78...Rd6?
Amazingly Burg's king is now just in time to reach his safe castle in the south east corner.
78...Kf7 79.Ra7+ Ke6 80.Rg7 (80.Ra6+ Rd6-+) 80...Kf5 81.Rf7+ Kg4 82.Rg7 (82.Rf6 Rd6-+)
82...Rd6 83.Rh7 Bxh4-+.
81...Bxh4 82.Kf6=.
Preserving the h-pawn with 84...h4 does not help as White's king reaches the saving corner in
time: 85.Kg4 Bg3 86.Kh3=.
58...Bc2?
58...Bh1! wins; e.g., 59.Rh6 (59.Kd3 Re4 60.Rh6 Bf3 61.Rh4 Be2+ 62.Kd2 d4 63.Rh6 Bc4-+)
59...Re4+ 60.Kd3 (60.Kf2 Rxf4+ 61.Ke3 Rf1-+) 60...Bf3 61.Rf6 Be2+ 62.Kd2 Bb5
[FEN "8/4k3/5R2/1b1pP3/4rP2/8/
3K4/8 w - - 0 63"]
Black's d-pawn is now ready to advance sooner or later: 63.Rb6 (63.Kc3 Rc4+ 64.Kd2 Rc6 65.
Rf5 d4 66.e6 Bc4-+) 63...Bc4
A) 64.Rb7+ Ke6 65.Rb6+ Kf5 66.Rf6+ Kg4 67.e6 d4-+ (67...Rxf4-+).
B) 64.Rf6 d4 65.Rc6 d3 66.f5 Re2+ 67.Kc3 Rc2+ 68.Kb4 d2 69.Rd6 Be2 70.Re6+ Kd7 71.Rd6+
Kc7 72.f6 d1Q 73.Rxd1 Bxd1 74.f7 Rf2 75.e6 Kd6-+.
59.Rd6 Re4+
63...Bd3 64.Rd6 Be4+ 65.Kg4 Rg1+ 66.Kh5 Bf3+ 67.Kh6 Re1 68.Kg5=.
[FEN "8/4k3/3R4/3pP3/2b2P2/3r4/
5K2/8 b - - 0 66"]
66...Ra3
The alternatives are also insufficient: 66...Rd1 67.Ke3 Ke8 (67...Rf1 68.Rf6=) 68.Kf2 d4 69.f5 d3
70.f6 Kf7 71.Rd7+ Kg6 72.Rg7+ Kh6 73.Rd7 Rd2+ 74.Kg3 Re2 75.Rd4 d2 76.Kf3 Rh2 77.
Ke3=; 66...d4 67.f5 Rd1 68.f6+ Kf7 69.Rd7+ Kg6 70.Kg2 d3 71.Kf2 d2 72.Ke3=.
67.f5 Ra6?!
After the rook exchange the draw is clear, but Black can not win anyway: 67...Ra1 68.f6+ (68.
Kg3 Re1 69.f6+ Kf7 70.Rd7+ Kg6 71.f7 Kg7 72.Kf4 Kf8 73.Kg5 Rg1+ 74.Kh5=) 68...Kf7 69.
Rd8 Rh1 70.Ke3 Rh4 71.Kf3 d4 72.Kg3 Re4 73.Kf3 Rxe5 74.Rxd4=.
73...Kd7
73...Kf7 is met by 74.Kd4 (74.Kd6? d4 75.e6+ Kf6 76.e7 Bc6 77.Kxc6 Kxe7-+) 74...Kg7 75.Kc5
Kh6 76.e6 Kg7 77.e7 Kf7 78.f6=.
74.Kd4!
74...Kc6
74...Ke7 75.Kc5=.
75.f6 Kd7
Black's only defense is 73...Kg4! when White can force a draw, but not more.
74.g8Q+
74.Rxh2 Rxh2+ 75.Kg6 Kf4 76.g8Q Rg2+ 77.Kf7 Rxg8 78.Kxg8=; 74.Rh6 Kf3 75.g8Q Rxg8 76.
Kxg8 Kg2=.
74...Kxh3 75.Qe6+ Kg3 76.Qe3+ Kg4 77.Qe4+ Kh3 78.Qf3+ Rg3 79.Qf1+ Kg4 80.Kg6?!
82.Kh6?
The king should hide with 82.Kf6 h1Q and White draws by perpetual check: 83.Qh7+ Kg3 84.
Qc7+ Kf2 85.Qc2+ Kg3 86.Qg6+ Kf3 87.Qd3+ Kf4 88.Qf5+ Ke3 89.Qc5+ Kd2 90.Qd4+=.
Black must use a lot of tricks to win the resulting fights rook against pawn.
55...Kb3!
55...Rc4? 56.e4 Kb3 57.Rd1 c2 58.Rc1 Kb2 59.Rxc2+ Kxc2 60.e5 Kd3 61.e6 Re4 62.Kf6 Kd4
63.e7 Kd5 64.Kf7=.
56.Rd1
56.Rd3 Ra1 57.e4 (57.Ke4 Kb2 58.Rd8 c2 59.Rb8+ Kc3 60.Rc8+ Kd2 61.Kd4 c1Q 62.Rxc1
Rxc1 63.e4 Ke2 64.e5 Kf3 65.e6 Re1 66.Kd5 Kf4 67.Kd6 Kf5 68.e7 Kf6-+) 57...Kc4 58.Rd8
Now Black uses his rook as shield in typical style: 58...Ra5+ 59.e5 c2 60.Rc8+ Rc5-+.
56...c2 57.Rh1
57.Rc1 is refuted by 57...Kb2 58.Rh1 Ra1 59.Rh2 Kb3 60.Rxc2 Kxc2 61.e4 Kd3 62.e5 Kd4 63.
e6 Kd5 64.e7 Re1 65.Kf6 Kd6-+.
57...Ra5+?!
57...Rc4 wins quicker; e.g., 58.e4 c1Q 59.Rxc1 Rxc1 60.Ke6 (60.e5 Kc4 61.e6 Kd5 62.e7 Re1 63.
Kf6 Kd6-+) 60...Kc4 61.e5 Kc5 62.Kd7 Rd1+ 63.Ke7 Kd5 64.e6 Re1-+.
58.Ke6
[FEN "8/8/4K3/r7/8/1k2P3/2p5/7R b - - 0 58"]
58...Rc5?
Then White's counterplay is just in time. Black must win one tempo first: 58...Ra4 59.Kd5 Ra8
60.e4 Rd8+ 61.Kc5 Rd1 62.Rh3+ Ka4 63.Rc3 c1Q 64.Rxc1 Rxc1+ 65.Kd6 Kb5 66.e5 Kb6 67.e6
Rd1+-+.
59.Kd6?
This loses valuable time. The e-pawn should advance as quickly as possible with 59.e4 c1Q 60.
Rxc1 Rxc1 61.e5 Kc4 62.Kd6 Rd1+ 63.Kc6 Re1 64.Kd6 Kb5 65.e6 Kb6 (65...Rd1+ 66.Kc7=) 66.
e7=.
61...Rd1+!
62.Kc6 Re1 63.Kd5 Kb4 64.e5 Kb5 65.Kd6 Kb6 66.e6 Rd1+ 67.Ke7 Kc7 68.Kf7 Rf1+ 69.Ke8
Kd6 70.e7 Re1 0-1
64.Kf6?
Only 64.Kd6! draws: 64...Kb5 (64...Kb3 65.e5 Rc4 66.e6=; 64...Rd2+ 65.Kc6 Kb3 66.e5 Re2 67.
Kd6 Kb2 68.e6 a1Q 69.Rxa1 Kxa1 70.e7=) 65.Kd5!
[FEN "R7/8/7p/1k1K4/4P3/6P1/p1r5/8 b - - 0 65"]
The point. (65.e5? Rc6+ 66.Kd7 Ra6-+; 65.Rb8+? Ka6 66.Ra8+ Kb7 67.Ra3 Rc6+ 68.Kd7 Ra6-
+) 65...Rc5+ (65...Rd2+ 66.Ke6 Rc2 67.Kf5 Rc5+ 68.e5=; 65...Kb4 66.Rb8+ Kc3 67.Ra8 Kb2 68.
e5 a1Q 69.Rxa1 Kxa1 70.e6=) 66.Kd4 Rc4+ 67.Kd5 Ra4 68.Rb8+ Ka6 69.Ra8+ Kb5=.
64...Rc6+?
64...Kb3! with the idea 65.e5 (65.Rb8+ Kc3 66.Rc8+ Kb2 67.Rb8+ Kc1 68.Ra8 Kb1 69.e5 a1Q
70.Rxa1+ Kxa1 71.e6 Rf2+ 72.Kg6 Rg2 73.e7 Rxg3+ 74.Kxh6 Re3-+) 65...Rc4 wins:
66.Rxa2 (After 66.e6 Ra4 67.Rxa4 Kxa4 68.e7 a1Q+-+ Black queens with check.) 66...Kxa2 67.
e6 Re4 68.e7 Re3 69.g4 (69.Kf7 Rf3+ 70.Ke6 Rxg3 71.e8Q Re3+-+) 69...Re4 70.Kf7 Rf4+ 71.
Ke6 Rxg4 72.e8Q Re4+-+.
65.Kf7 Rc7+ 66.Kg6 Kb3
67.Kxh6 Rc4 68.Rxa2 Kxa2 69.g4 Rxe4 70.g5 Kb3 71.g6 Kc4 72.g7 Rg4 73.Kh7 Kd5 74.g8Q
+ Rxg8 75.Kxg8 1/2-1/2
67...Kd3?
Now Black can't use his rook directly against the g-pawn.
This deadly cut off was given by Golubev in Chess Today 4156. As White cannot advance his g-
pawn his king must start a long march on the kingside, which just lasts too long: 69.Kg3 (69.g5
Kd2 70.Ra1 c1Q 71.Rxc1 Kxc1 and Black wins because of the cut off no matter, where his king
is: 72.Kg3 Kd2 73.g6 Rd6 74.g7 Rg6+-+) 69...Kd2 70.Ra1 c1Q 71.Rxc1 Kxc1 72.Kh4 Kd2 73.
Kg5 Ke3 74.Kf5 Rf4+ 75.Kg5 Kf3-+.
70.Kf4? is refuted by 70...Kd3 71.g5 Kd4 72.Kf5 Kd5 73.Kf6 Kd6 74.g6 Rf1+ 75.Kg7 (75.Kg5
Ke7 76.g7 Kf7-+) 75...Ke7 76.Kg8 Rg1 77.g7 Kf6 78.Kh8 Kf7-+.
70.g5?? runs directly into the cut off 70...Rd4 71.g6 Rd6 72.g7 Rg6-+.
74...Rf1+ is met by the bodycheck 75.Ke7= (However, not 75.Kg7? Ke6 76.Kh7 Rh1+ 77.Kg8
Kf6 78.g7 Rg1 79.Kh8 Kf7-+).
Copyright 2013 Karsten Mueller and BrainGamz, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Endgame Corner #147 by Karsten Mueller
Good Knight, Bad Bishop Redux
A) Socko's Octopus
With blocked pawns a knight often wins against a bad bishop. However, the following position should be drawn
because of the very reduced winning potential.
100.Ba2?
As now White's counterattack is always just in time. (Not 101.Kb3? Kd4 102.Bc6 Nd2+ 103.Ka4 Nxc4 104.Kb5 Ne3-
+) 101...Kd4 102.Bb5 Ng3 103.Kb3 Ne4 104.Kc2 Ng3 105.Kb3 Kd3 (105...Nf1 106.Kc2 Ne3+ 107.Kb3 Kd3 108.Ba6
Kd4 109.Bb5=) 106.Ka4 Ne4 107.Ka5 Nd2 108.Kb6 Nxc4+ 109.Kc6 Kd4 110.Bxc4 Kxc4 111.Kxd6=.
And the knight will dominate the bishop sooner or later: 104.Bf1 (104.Be2 Nf4 105.Bf1 Ke3 106.Kb3 Kf2 107.Ka4
Kxf1 108.Kb5 Ke2 109.Kc6 Kd3 110.Kxd6 Kxc4-+; 104.Kd2 Nf4 105.Bf1 Ke4 106.Kc3 Ke3 107.Kb3 Kf2-+)
104...Nf4 105.Kb3 Nd3 106.Kc2 (106.Be2 Nc1+-+) 106...Ne5 107.Kb3 Ng4 108.Be2 Ne3 and White is in fatal
zugzwang; e.g., 109.Ka4 Nxc4 110.Kb5 Ne3 111.Kc6 Ke5-+.
100.Bc2? runs into 100...Ne2+ 101.Kb2 Kd4 102.Kb3 Nc1+ 103.Kb2 Nd3+ 104.Kb3 Ne5-+.
100...Ne2+ 101.Kc2
Now it is over anyway as White cannot start counterplay with 101.Kb3, because of 101...Nc1+ 102.Kb2 Nxa2
103.Kxa2 Kd3 104.Kb3 Kd4-+.
101...Kd4
102.Bb3
102.Kb2 Nf4 103.Kb3 (103.Bb1 Kxc4 104.Be4 Nxd5-+) 103...Nd3 104.Ka4, and now 104...Nc1 decides: 105.Kb5
Nxa2 106.Kc6 Kxc4 107.Kxd6 Nb4-+.
102...Nf4 103.Kb2 Nd3+ 104.Ka3 Nc1 105.Bd1 Kxc4 106.Bf3 Nd3 107.Ka4 Nb4 0-1
Remy Heimers sent me the following two examples, together with a detailed analysis, and kindly allowed me to use
his work.
147.02 Heimers, Remy - Rapp, Hubert
Club Championship SK Villingen 2012-13 (6), 08.02.2013
[FEN "2kr4/ppp4p/5b1P/7R/4Np2/
1P1K1P2/P1P5/8 w - - 0 31"]
31.Ke2
This was a very difficult decision. I guess that 31.Kc4!? Be7 (31...Rd4+? 32.Kc5 only helps White.) 32.Rf5 is even
slightly stronger.
31...Rf8?!
31...Be7 32.Rf5 Bf8 33.Rxf4 Bxh6 34.Rh4 Bc1 35.Rxh7 Rf8 is more tenacious.
32.Rf5!
The following simplification into a minor piece endgame should win in the long run as Black loses a pawn.
[FEN "2k5/ppp4p/5N1b/8/5p2/1P3P2/
P1P1K3/8 w - - 0 35"]
35.Nxh7?
This violates the important endgame principle do not rush. Albert Rait has found that White should improve his king
first with 35.Kd3! Kd8 36.Ke4 and, as 36...Ke7? now runs into 37.Ng8+!+-, White wins the pawn f4.
35...Kd7
36.Nf6+!?
Otherwise it is in danger of being trapped: 36.Kd3?! Ke6 37.Ke4 b5 38.b4 c6 39.a3 a6 40.c3 Ke7 41.Kd4=, but White
still holds as 41...Kf7?! can be met by 42.Kc5 Kg7 43.Kxc6 Kxh7 44.Kb6 Bg7 45.Kxa6 Bxc3 46.Kxb5 Kg6 47.a4 Bd4
48.a5 Kg5 49.a6 Kh4 50.Kc6 Kg3 51.b5 Kxf3 52.b6 Bxb6 53.Kxb6 Ke2 54.a7 f3 55.a8Q f2=
B) 39.Nf6+ Ke6 40.Ng4 Kd5 41.c4+ Kc5 42.Nf6 Bd6 43.Nd5 a5 (43...c6?? 44.b4#) 44.Ke4 b6 45.Nxf4 Kb4 46.Nd3+
Ka3 47.Kd4 Kxa2 48.Kc3 Kb1 49.c5 Be7 50.cxb6 cxb6 51.Kc4 Kc2=.
C) 39.a4 c6 40.Nc3+ Ke5 41.Kc4 b6 42.b4 a6 43.b5 axb5+ 44.axb5 cxb5+ 45.Nxb5 Bc5= (Heimers).
39.Nc3!
[FEN "5b2/p1p5/4k3/1p6/5p2/1PNK1P2/
P1P5/8 b - - 0 39"]
39...a6?!
39...b4 is more tenacious, but after 40.Ne2! White should win in the long run. (However, not 40.Nb5? c6! 41.Nxa7?
Kd7 and the knight is caught (Heimers).) 40...Ke5 (40...Kf5 41.Kd4 c6 42.Kc4 Kg5 43.Nd4 Kh4 44.Kd3 c5 45.Ne2
Kg5 46.Ke4 Bd6 47.Kd5 Be7 48.Ke5 Bd8 49.Kd6 a5 50.Kxc5 Bc7 51.c4 bxc3 52.Nxc3 Kh4 53.Ne2 Kh3 54.Kd5 Kg2
55.Ke4+-) 41.Kc4 a6 (41...c6 42.Nc1 Kf5 43.Nd3 Kg5 44.Ne5 c5 45.Nd3 Be7 46.Kd5+- (Heimers); 41...a5 42.Nc1
Kf5 43.Kd5 Bd6 44.Ne2 Kg5 45.Nd4 Kh4 46.Nf5+ Kh3 47.Ke4+-) 42.Nc1 Kf5 43.Nd3 Kg5
[FEN "5b2/2p5/p7/6k1/1pK2p2/1P1N1P2/
P1P5/8 w - - 0 44"]
And now the second front is opened with 44.c3! bxc3 (44...c5 45.cxb4 cxb4 46.Kd5 Kf5 47.Ne5 Bg7 48.Nc6 Bc3
49.Kc4 Kg5 50.a4! This pawn is White's trump. 50...Kh4 51.Kd3 Kg3 52.Ke4 Bd2 53.Nb8 a5 54.Nc6+-) 45.Kxc3 Bd6
(45...Kh4 46.Nxf4 Kg3 47.Nd5 Bd6 48.Nb4 a5 49.Nc6 Kxf3 50.Nxa5 Ke4 51.Kc4+- (Heimers)) 46.Kd4 Kh4 (46...Kf5
47.b4 c6 48.a4 Ke6 49.Nc5++- (Heimers)) 47.Ke4 Kg3 48.b4 c6 49.a4 Bc7 50.a5 Bd6 51.Nc5 Bxc5 52.bxc5+-
(Heimers).
41.Kxf4 Kc5 42.Ke4 should win as well, as 42...Kb4?! runs into 43.Nd5+ Ka3 44.Nxc7 Kxa2 45.Nxa6+- (Heimers)
41...a5
41...Bg7 42.Nxf4 Bc3 is met by 43.Ne2 Bh8 44.Nd4 and White wins in the long run.
42.Nxf4 c5?!
This makes White's job relatively easy. Yet, White wins in any case as he can keep full control; e.g., 42...Bg7 43.c4
bxc4 44.bxc4 a4 45.Nd3
[FEN "8/2p3b1/3k4/8/p1P1K3/3N1P2/
P7/8 b - - 0 45"]
White controls all inroads and will win in the long run: 45...Bc3 46.f4 a3 47.Nc1 Kc5 48.Kd3 Bb2 49.Nb3+ Kb4
(49...Kd6 50.Ke4 Bc3 51.Kf5 Bb2 52.Kg6 Ke7 53.f5 Be5 54.Nd2 Bb2 55.Ne4+-) 50.Nd2 Kc5 51.Ne4+ Kc6 52.Nc3
Bc1 53.f5 Bg5 54.Ne4 White has dominated Black and now his king can invade: 54...Bf4 55.Kd4 Kd7 56.Kd5 c6+
57.Kc5 Be3+ 58.Kb4 Bc1 59.Ka5+-.
43.c4!
[FEN "5b2/8/3k4/ppp5/2P1KN2/1P3P2/
P7/8 b - - 0 43"]
Heimers stops all counterplay and fixes the weaknesses on Black's queenside.
43...Kc6 44.a4! bxa4 45.bxa4 Kd6 46.Kf5 Bg7 47.Nd5 Bd4 48.f4 Kd7 49.Nf6+ Ke7 50.Ne4 Be3 51.Ke5 Bd4+
52.Kd5 Be3 53.f5 Bg1 54.Nxc5 Kf6 55.Nb3 Kxf5 56.Nxa5 Kf6 57.Nc6 Kf7 58.a5 Ke8 59.a6 1-0
C) Counterplay Counts
[FEN "8/2b5/p1N1pkp1/7p/3PK3/1P5P/
1P4P1/8 b - - 0 33"]
33...g5?
This closes the roads for counterplay and makes it easy for White.
White should also be winning against 33...Kg5, but I have not managed to construct fully convincing proof. A few
sample lines run as follows: 34.Nb4 a5 35.Na6 Bd6 36.Nc5 Kf6
[FEN "8/8/3bpkp1/p1N4p/3PK3/1P5P/
1P4P1/8 w - - 0 37"]
37.Kf3!! This preserves White's valuable winning potential and keeps all options open.
A) 37...Be7? 38.Ne4+ Kf7 (38...Kf5?? runs into the beautiful 39.g4+ hxg4+ 40.hxg4#) 39.g4 Bb4 40.Ke3 Ke7 41.Kf4
hxg4 42.hxg4 Be1 43.Kg5 Kf7 44.Nd6+ Ke7 (44...Kg7 45.Kf4 Kf6 46.Kf3 Bb4 47.Nc4 Kg5 48.Ne5 Bd2 49.Nd3 Kf6
50.b4 axb4 51.Ke2 Bg5 52.Nxb4+-) 45.Nc4 Kf7 46.Kf4 Kg7 47.Kf3 Kf6 48.Ne5 Bd2 (48...Kg5 49.Nd3 Bd2 50.Nc5+-
) 49.Nd3 Ke7 (49...Bg5 50.b4+-) 50.Ke2 Bh6 51.Ne5 Kf6 52.Nc6 Kg5 53.Kf3 Bg7 54.Nxa5 Bxd4 55.b4 Kf6 56.b5+-.
B) The pawn ending is lost after 37...Bxc5? 38.dxc5 Ke5 39.h4 Kd5, as White has 40.b4 axb4 41.c6 Kxc6 42.Ke4 Kc5
43.b3 Kd6 44.Kd4 e5+ 45.Kc4 e4 46.Kxb4+-.
C) 37...Ke7 38.Nd3
[FEN "8/4k3/3bp1p1/p6p/3P4/1P1N1K1P/
1P4P1/8 b - - 0 38"]
C1) 38...Kf6? 39.g4 hxg4+ 40.hxg4 Be7 (40...Kg5 41.Nc5+-) 41.Kf4 Bd6+ 42.Ne5 Bc7 43.g5+ Kg7 and now again the
strong retreat 44.Kf3 Bd8 45.Kg4 Bb6 46.Nc6 Kf8 47.Kf4 Ke8 48.Ke4 Bc7 49.b4 axb4 50.Nxb4 Bd8 51.Kf4 Bc7+
52.Kg4 e5 53.Nd5 Bd6 54.Nf6+ Ke7 55.d5 Bb4 56.Ne4+-.
C2) 38...Kd7 39.Ne5+ Bxe5 40.dxe5 Kc6 41.Kf4 Kd5 42.h4 Kd4 43.g3 Kd5 44.Kg5 Kxe5 45.Kxg6 Ke4 (45...Kd4
46.Kxh5 e5 47.g4 e4 48.g5 e3 49.g6 e2 50.g7 e1Q 51.g8Q) 46.Kxh5 e5 47.g4 Kf3 48.g5 e4 49.g6 e3 50.g7 e2 51.g8Q
e1Q and both queen endings are much better for White, but it is not totally clear, if he is winning.
34.Nb4
36.b4 axb4 37.Nxb4 Ke7 38.d5 Bg3 39.dxe6 Kxe6 40.Nc2 Bd6 41.b4 Bf4 42.Nd4+ Kf6 43.b5 Bc7 44.Nf3
[FEN "8/2b5/5k2/1P4p1/4K2p/5N1P/
6P1/8 b - - 0 44"]
44...g4?!
This just loses a pawn. But Black is lost in any case; e.g., 44...Ba5 45.Ne5 Ke6 46.Nc4 Bc7 47.b6 Bf4 48.Nb2 Bh2
49.Nd3 Bg3 (49...Bd6 50.b7 Kd7 51.Kf5 Kc7 52.Kxg5 Kxb7 53.Kxh4+-) 50.b7 Kd7 (50...Bh2 51.Nc5+ Kf6 52.Na6+-)
51.Kf5 Kc6 52.Kxg5 Kxb7 53.Nf4 Kc6 54.Ng6+-.
D) Fridman's Fortress
[FEN "8/8/5p2/p2k1p2/PbNP2p1/1P2P3/
4K3/8 w - - 0 64"]
64.Kd3?
Passive defense will not do, as Black can open roads on the kingside with help of zugwang and the well timed advance
...f5-f4.
But counterplay with 64.Nb6+! Ke4 65.Nd7 Be7 holds the draw:
[FEN "8/3Nb3/5p2/p4p2/P2Pk1p1/1P2P3/
4K3/8 w - - 0 66"]
(65...f4 66.Nxf6+ Kf5 67.Nd5 f3+ 68.Kf1 g3 69.Nxb4 axb4 70.d5 Ke4 71.d6 Kxe3 72.d7 g2+ 73.Kg1 Ke2 74.d8Q f2+
75.Kxg2 f1Q+ 76.Kh2 Qf2+ 77.Kh1 Qf3+ 78.Kh2 Qxb3 79.a5=)
B) 66.Nb6? f4 67.exf4 f5 68.Nc4 (68.d5 Bb4 69.Kf1 Kd4 70.Kg2 Kc5 71.Nc4 Kxd5 72.Kg3 Ke4 73.Ne5 Be1+ 74.Kg2
Bc3 75.Nf7 Kxf4-+) 68...Bb4 69.Ne3 Bc3 70.d5 Bb4 71.Nc2 Bc5 72.Ne1 g3 73.Ng2 Bd6 74.Ne3 (74.Kf1 Kxd5
75.Ne3+ Ke4 76.Nc4 Bxf4 77.Nxa5 Kf3-+) 74...Bxf4 75.Nc4 Bb8 76.d6 f4 77.Nd2+ Kd5 78.d7 Bc7 79.Kf3 Kc6
80.Ne4 Kxd7-+.
C) 66.b4!! This holds the draw: 66...f4 (66...axb4 67.a5 Kd5 68.a6 Kc6 69.a7 Kb7 70.Nb6 Kxa7 71.Nc8+ Ka6
72.Nxe7 b3 73.Nd5 b2 74.Nc3=; 66...Bxb4?? 67.Nxf6#) 67.bxa5 (67.Nc5+? Kd5 68.exf4 axb4 69.Nb3 Bd6 70.f5 g3
71.Kf3 Kc4 72.a5 Kxb3 73.a6 Bb8 74.d5 Kc2 75.d6 b3 76.d7 b2 77.d8Q b1Q-+) 67...f3+ 68.Kf1 g3 69.a6 Kxe3 70.a7
g2+ 71.Kg1 Ke2 72.a8Q f2+ 73.Kxg2 f1Q+ 74.Kg3 Qf2+ 75.Kg4 Qxd4+ 76.Kh5 Qxd7 77.Qe4+ Kd2 78.Kg6
And, amazing as it may seem, Black cannot convert his large material advantage; e.g., 78...Qe8+ 79.Kf5 Qc8+ 80.Qe6
Qc2+ 81.Qe4 Qc5+ 82.Ke6 Qd6+ 83.Kf7 Bd8 (83...Qe5 84.Qb7 f5 85.Qxe7 Qxe7+ 86.Kxe7 f4 87.a5=) 84.a5 Bxa5
85.Qg2+ Kc3 86.Qf3+ Kb4 87.Qxf6=.
64...g3 65.Ke2
[FEN "8/8/5p2/p2k1p2/PbNP4/1P2P1p1/
4K3/8 b - - 0 65"]
65...Ke4?
Caruana's king will be forced back. So he had to advance the kingside pawns first to open more roads:
65...f4 66.exf4 (66.Kf3 fxe3 67.Kxe3 g2 68.Kf2 Kxd4 69.Kxg2 Kc3 70.Kf3 Kxb3 71.Nxa5+ Bxa5 72.Ke4 Kxa4
73.Kf5 Bc3-+) 66...Kxd4 67.Kf3 Kc3 68.Kxg3 Kxb3 69.Nxa5+ Bxa5 70.Kg4 Kxa4 71.Kf5 Bc3-+.
65...g2 wins as well; e.g., 66.Kf2 f4 67.Kxg2 (67.exf4 Kxd4 68.Kxg2 Kc3 69.Kf3 Kxb3 70.Nb6 Bc5 71.Nd7 Be7
72.Nb6 Bd8 73.Nd7 Kxa4-+) 67...fxe3
A) 68.Nxe3+ Kxd4 69.Kf3 (69.Nc4 Kc3 70.Kf3 Kxb3 71.Nxa5+ Bxa5 72.Ke4 Kxa4 73.Kf5 Bc3-+) 69...Kc3 70.Nd5+
Kxb3 71.Nxf6 Kxa4 72.Ke2 Kb3 73.Nd5 Bc5 74.Nf4 a4 75.Nd3 Be7 76.Kd1 a3 77.Nc1+ Kb2 78.Nd3+ Kb1 79.Nc1
Bb4 80.Nd3 a2 81.Nxb4 a1Q-+.
B) 68.Kf3 Kxd4 69.Nxe3 Kc3 70.Ke4 Kxb3 71.Kd3 Kxa4 72.Kc4 (72.Kc2 Kb5-+) 72...Bd6 73.Nd5 Be5 74.Nb6+ Ka3
75.Kb5 Bc3 76.Kc4 Bb4 77.Nd5 f5 78.Nf4 a4 79.Ne2 Ba5 80.Kb5 Bc7 81.Kc4 Kb2 82.Nc3 a3 83.Nd1+ Kc2 84.Ne3+
Kb1-+.
66.d5!
The passive retreat 66.Kf1? is refuted by 66...Kf3 67.d5 g2+ 68.Kg1 Be1-+.
And 66.Nb6? runs into 66...f4 67.exf4 Bc3 68.Nc4 Bxd4 69.Kf1 Kf3 70.Nd2+ Kxf4 71.Kg2 Bc3 72.Nf3 f5 73.Ng1
Kg4 74.Nf3 f4 75.Ng1 Bb4 76.Nf3 Kf5-+.
66...Kxd5
66...f4 is too late now because of 67.exf4 Bc5 68.Kf1 (Even 68.d6 g2 69.d7 g1Q 70.d8Q is playable.) 68...Kf3
69.Nd2+ Kxf4 70.Kg2 Ke5 71.Nc4+ Kxd5 72.Kxg3 Bb4 73.Kf4=.
67.Kf3
[FEN "8/8/5p2/p2k1p2/PbN5/1P2PKp1/
8/8 b - - 0 67"]
67...Be1
67...g2 also does not win, because of 68.Kxg2 Ke4 69.Kf2 Kd3 70.Kf3 Kc3 71.Kf4 Kxb3 72.Nxa5+ Bxa5 73.Kxf5 Bc3
74.a5=.
Now White's knight is always in time to deal with Black's active options. But Black cannot win anyway; e.g., 73...Ke4
74.Nd6+ Kd5 75.Nc4 Kc5 76.Kd3 Bb4 77.Ke4 Bc3 78.Kf5 Kb4 79.Ke6 Kxb3 80.Nxa5+ Bxa5 81.Kxf6=.
After 76...Kg3 77.Nxa5 f4 78.Nc4, White's knight is back in time: 78...f3 79.Nd2 f2 80.Ne4+ Kg2 81.Nxf2 Bxf2=.
77.Ne3 Bd6 78.Nc4 Bc7 79.Ne3 Bd8 80.b4!? axb4 81.Nd5+ Kg3 82.Nxb4 f4 83.Ke2 Kg2 84.Nd3 f3+ 85.Ke3 Kg3
86.Ke4 Bb6 1/2-1/2
[FEN "b7/k7/5p1p/5K2/4p1N1/6P1/
7P/8 w - - 0 46"]
How to exploit the absence of Black's king? White to move and win.
[FEN "8/8/8/2p5/4P3/k3Knp1/8/
5B2 b - - 0 77"]
[FEN "8/3N4/3K1p2/5P2/3b2P1/3k4/
8/8 w - - 0 67"]
White has only one move to win. Can you find it?
Copyright 2013 Karsten Mueller and BrainGamz, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Endgame Corner #148 by Karsten Mueller
The Andersson Endgame
Endgames with rook and knight against rook and bishop, where the knight has the advantage are sometimes called
Andersson endgames because of the many famous victories of the Swedish grandmaster with this material
configuration. The knight wants full control to have time for its slow maneuvers. Further good signs are if the bishop
is bad or hits upon air, a broken pawn structure with good outpost squares for the knight, or a weak color complex that
the bishop cannot control.
A) In Andersson's hands
[FEN "1b2k3/1p6/3r2p1/1Pp2p1p/2P1p2P/
2N1P1P1/R3KP2/8 w - - 0 52"]
White is better as Black's bishop has no real targets and Black has no really quick counterplay. The only option is
...g6-g5, but this is difficult to organize as White always threatens to invade on the queenside.
[FEN "1b1r4/1p3k2/6p1/1PpN1p1p/2P1p2P/
4P1P1/R1K2P2/8 b - - 0 54"]
54...Re8?!
Padevsky prepares to start counterplay with g5, but he does not have time for this.
The direct 54...g5!? is more dangerous, but should not defend: 55.hxg5 Kg6 56.Nf4+ Bxf4 57.exf4
[FEN "3r4/1p6/6k1/1Pp2pPp/2P1pP2/6P1/
R1K2P2/8 b - - 0 57"]
White should win the rook ending, but matters are not totally clear: 57...h4 (57...Rd4 58.Ra7 Rxc4+ 59.Kd2 Rd4+
60.Kc3 Rd7 61.Kc4 h4 62.gxh4 Rh7 63.Kd5 Rxh4 64.Ke5 Rh7 65.Ra8+-) 58.gxh4 Rh8 59.Kd2 Rxh4 60.Ke3 Rh3+
61.Ke2 Rf3 62.Ra7 Rxf4 63.Rxb7 Kxg5 64.Rc7 and White should win.
[FEN "3r4/1p1k4/3b2p1/1Pp2p1p/2P1pN1P/
1K2P1P1/5P2/3R4 b - - 0 58"]
White's strategical initiative is long lasting: 58...Rg8 59.Rd2 Ke7 60.Nd5+ Ke6 61.Ra2 Be7 62.b6 g5 63.Ra7 Rb8
(63...gxh4 64.Rxb7+-) 64.Nxe7 Kxe7 65.Ka4 gxh4 66.gxh4 Ke6 67.Kb5 Kd6 68.Ra1 Rg8 69.Rd1++-.
55.Kb3 g5 56.b6?
The direct 56.hxg5 wins as White is much quicker on the queenside than Black on the kingside: 56...Kg6 57.Ra8 Kxg5
58.Ka4 Rc8 59.Ka5 Bc7+ 60.Nxc7 Rxc7 61.Kb6 Rd7 62.Rb8 Rd2 63.Rxb7 Rxf2 64.Kxc5+-.
56...gxh4 57.gxh4
[FEN "1b2r3/1p3k2/1P6/2pN1p1p/2P1p2P/
1K2P3/R4P2/8 b - - 0 57"]
57...Be5?
57...Bh2 was called for to organize counterplay quicker; e.g., 58.Rd2 (58.Ra7?! Rb8 59.Ka4? spoils it because of
59...Bg1=)
A) 58...Bg1 59.Ka4.
B) 58...Be5 59.Ka4 Rd8 60.Kb5 Bf6 61.Rd1 f4 (61...Bxh4 62.Rh1 Bxf2 63.Rxh5 Kg6 64.Rh2 Be1 65.Kxc5) 62.Rh1 f3
63.Kxc5.
C) 58...Rg8 59.Nc3 Ke6 60.f4 Bg1 61.Rd5 Bxe3 (61...Rf8 62.Nd1) 62.Re5+ Kd6 63.Rxf5 Rg6 64.Nxe4+ Ke7 65.Rxh5
Rxb6+ 66.Kc2 and White has good winning chances in all cases, but matters are not totally clear of course.
58.Ra7 Rb8
[FEN "1r6/Rp3k2/1P6/2pNbp1p/2P1p2P/
1K2P3/5P2/8 w - - 0 59"]
61.Nf4
61.Nc3!?+- with the idea Na4 is also very strong.
[FEN "8/1p3k2/1P6/1Kp2p2/2P1pN1b/
4P3/R4P2/3r4 w - - 0 65"]
65.Nd5!
Strong central power play. Now Black is lost as White's rook will invade with decisive effect.
The direct invasion 65.Ra7? Rb1+ 66.Kxc5 Be7+ 67.Kd5 Rxb6 68.Ke5 Bh4 69.Kxf5 Bxf2 70.Nd5 Rb1 71.Kxe4 is still
better for White, but not as good as the game of course.
65...Rf1
65...Ke6 66.Kxc5+-.
65...f4 can even be met by 66.Ra7 f3 67.Rxb7+ Kg6 68.Nc3 Rf1 69.Nxe4 Bxf2 70.Nd2+- White's knight is really
mobile!
Black resigned as White's b-pawn will decide the day: 69...Bxe3 70.Nxe3 f4 71.Nd5 f3 72.Ra2 Kg5 73.b7 Kg4
74.Nb6+-.
When the color complex that the bishop cannot control is weak and the bishop just hits the air, the knight can often
win in the long run.
46.Rd2!
White has a large most probably winning advantage as Black has no real counterplay and the weaknesses on b7 and e6
will be exploited sooner or later.
46...Rf7
Golod activates his rook as passive defense will not hold; e.g., 46...Be8 47.Rd6 Bf7 48.Rb6 Bg8 49.Kd4 Bf7 50.g5
hxg5 51.hxg5 g6 52.Rb1 Be8 53.Rf1 Bf7 54.Ne4+-.
White is just too active in the rook ending after 48...Bxe6 49.Rxe6; for example, 49...Rc7 50.Kd4 Rf7 51.Kd5 Rf4
52.Re8+ Kd7 53.Rb8 Rxg4 54.e6+ Kc7 55.Ra8+-.
49.Nc5
[FEN "2k5/1p1br1p1/p2R3p/P1N1P3/
2P3PP/4K3/8/8 b - - 0 49"]
49...Bxg4
49...Rxe5+?! is met by 50.Kd4 Re7 51.Rxd7 Rxd7+ 52.Nxd7 Kxd7 53.Kd5 and White wins the pawn ending: 53...g5
54.h5 Kc7 55.Kc5 Kd7 56.Kb6 Kc8 57.c5 Kb8 58.c6 bxc6 59.Kxc6 Ka7 60.Kc7 Ka8 61.Kb6+-.
50.Kf4 Be2
50...Rc7 51.Rd5 Be2 (51...Bh3 52.e6+-) 52.Ne6 Rxc4+ (52...Rd7 53.Ke4 Bxc4 54.Rc5++-) 53.Ke3+-.
50...Bh3 51.e6 Bf1 52.Rd4 Kc7 53.Ke5 Bh3 54.Rd6+-.
52...Bxc4?? 53.Nb6++-.
55...Rxd6 56.exd6 Bh3 57.h5 Kc8 58.c5 Kd7 59.Ne3 Ke6 60.Kg3+-.
[FEN "1k6/1p1r2p1/p2Rb2p/P1P1P3/
1N3K1P/8/8/8 b - - 0 57"]
57...Rf7+
59...Bc8 60.e6 Rf5+ (60...Rf1 61.Ke5 Re1+ 62.Kf5 g5 63.hxg5 hxg5 64.Nd5 g4 65.Rd8 Rxe6 66.Rxc8+ Kxc8 67.Kxe6
g3 68.Nf4+-) 61.Kd4 Rf4+ 62.Ke3 Rxb4 (62...Rf5 63.Nd3 Rf6 64.e7+-) 63.e7 Rb1 64.Kd2 Rb2+ 65.Kd3 Rb3+
66.Kd4 Rb4+ 67.Kd5+-.
60.e6!
62...Re4
White's king escapes after 62...Rf3+ with 63.Kd2 Rf2+ 64.Kd3 Rf3+
[FEN "1k6/1p4p1/p2RP2p/P1P5/1N4bP/
3K1r2/8/8 w - - 0 65"]
65.Ke4! and the tactics work in White's favor: 65...Rb3 (65...Rf1 66.e7 Re1+ 67.Kf4 Rxe7 68.Nd5+-) 66.Nd5 Bf3+
67.Ke5 Bxd5 68.Kxd5 Rd3+ 69.Ke4 Rxd6 70.cxd6 Kc8 71.h5+-.
63.Nd5 b5
63...Rxe6 runs into the attack 64.Rd8+ Ka7 65.Nb6+- and Ra8 mate will follow.
65...Bh5
65...Bf3 66.Rd8+ Kb7 67.e8Q Rxe8 68.Rxe8 Bxd5 69.Re7+ Kc6 70.Rxg7 Kxc5 71.Rg6+-.
C) Bad Bishop
Rook and knight can form a dangerous attacking combination, when they coordinate well.
148.03 Zoler, Dan (2553) - Postny, Evgeny (2635)
ch-ISR 2013 Acre ISR (3.3), 08.04.2013
[FEN "B7/p1k5/P1P2p2/5n2/8/4p3/5r2/
1R4K1 b - - 0 60"]
60...Nd4 61.Rb7+
61...Kc8!
Against 61...Kxc6?, White can defend by 62.Rb3+ Kd6 63.Rxe3, and he should probably be able to hold, as now the
bishop is very strong.
[FEN "B1k5/p6R/P1P2p2/8/8/4pn2/
5r2/7K b - - 0 63"]
63...Rh2+!!
Postny's point.
63...Rc2? runs into 64.Bb7+ Kd8 (64...Kb8?? 65.c7+ Rxc7 66.Rh8+ Rc8 67.Rxc8#) 65.c7+ Rxc7 66.Rh8+ Ke7
67.Bxf3=.
65...Kc7! 0-1
[FEN "B7/p1k5/P1P2p2/8/8/4p3/
6Kn/8 w - - 0 66"]
A beautiful final move! White's bishop is imprisoned forever, so that Postny's passed pawns will decide the day.
D) Counterplay Counts
The dangerous outside passed a-pawn can compensate plenty of material here.
63...Bb2?
The passed a-pawn must advance immediately with 63...a4! 64.g7 a3!? (64...Bxg7+ draws as well; e.g., 65.Kxg7 Ra8
66.Ng5 a3 67.Nxe6 a2 68.Ra1 Ra7+ 69.Kg6 Kd5 70.f5 Kc4 71.f6 Kb3 72.f7 Rxf7 73.Kxf7 Kb2=) 65.gxh8Q Bxh8
A) 66.Rc1+ Kd5 67.Kg6 (67.Rc2 Bb2=) 67...Bb2 68.Rd1+ Kc4 69.Nf6 a2=.
B) 66.Kg6 and now 66...Bb2! (as 66...a2? runs into 67.Nf6+-) 67.Ng5 a2 68.Nxe6 a1Q 69.Rxa1 Bxa1=.
64.Rd2!
64...Ba1
Now it is too late for 64...Bf6 65.g7 Bxg7+ (65...a4 66.gxh8Q Bxh8 67.Kg6 a3 68.Nf6 Kc5 69.Rh2+-) 66.Kxg7 Ra8
67.Ng5 a4 68.Nxe6 a3 69.Ra2 Ra4 (69...Kd6 70.Kf6+-) 70.f5 Kd5 71.Kg6 Ke5 72.Kg5 Ra8 73.Nf4 Kd6 74.f6 Kc5
75.f7 Kb4 76.Nd3+ Kb3 77.Nc1+ Kb4 78.Rf2+-.
66...Kd5
66...Bc3?! 67.Rc4++-.
67.Rxa5+ Ke4
[FEN "7r/7N/4p1PK/R7/3bkP2/8/8/8 w - - 0 68"]
68.Kg5!
Of course not 68.g7?? Bxg7+ 69.Kxg7 Rb8 (69...Rxh7+? 70.Kxh7 Kxf4 runs into 71.Ra4+! Kf5 72.Kh6 e5 73.Kh5 e4
74.Kh4 Kf4 75.Kh3 Kf3 76.Ra8 e3 77.Rf8+ Ke2 78.Kg2+-) 70.Ra4+ Kf5 71.Ng5 e5 72.fxe5 Kxe5=.
Black resigned because of 69...Ke4 69...Ke2 70.Nf6 Rh1 (70...Rf8 71.Nh5 Rf5+ 72.Kg4 Rf8 73.Ra6+-) 71.Rg3 Kf2
72.Rg4+-. 70.Nf6+ Bxf6+ 71.Kxf6 Kxf4 72.Ra4+ Ke3 73.Kxe6+-.
[FEN "b7/k7/5p1p/5K2/4p1N1/6P1/
7P/8 w - - 0 46"]
How to exploit the absence of Black's king? White to move and win.
46.Kf4!
46.Kxf6? is met by 46...Kb6 47.Ke5 Kc5 48.Ne3 h5 49.h4 Bc6 50.g4 Be8! (50...hxg4? 51.h5 Be8 52.h6 Bg6
53.Nxg4+-) 51.g5 Bg6
[FEN "8/8/6b1/2k1K1Pp/4p2P/4N3/8/8 w - - 0 52"]
A) 53.Ng2 Bh7 54.g6 (54.Kg7 Bf5=) 54...Bg8 55.Kg5 e3 56.Nf4 (56.Kxh5 e2 57.Kg5 Bd5 58.Ne1 Kc3 59.g7 Kd2=)
56...Ke5 57.g7 Bc4=.
B) 53.Kxg6 Kxe3 54.Kxh5 Kd2 55.g6 e3 56.g7 e2 57.g8Q e1Q 58.Qd5+ Kc2 59.Qc4+ Kb2=
Black's king has reached the main drawing zone in the corner, which is furthest away from the queening square h8.
47...Kc7 48.Nxe4 Kd7 49.Nf6+ Ke6 50.Ng8 h5 51.Kg5 h4 52.Kxh4 Kf7 53.Nh6+ Kg6 54.Ng4+-.
50...Bf3 51.g4 Bd1 52.h4 Bb3 53.h5 Ke3 54.Kg6 Kf4 55.Kxh6 Ke5 56.Kg7+-.
77...Nh4?
Deviatkin deviates from the central track and runs into an amazing refutation.
The blockading 77...Ne5! wins as Black's pawns will win all races: 78.Kf4 (78.Kd2 Kb3-+) 78...c4 79.Kxe5 (79.Bxc4
g2-+; 79.Kxg3 c3-+) 79...c3 80.Kf4 c2-+.
However, neither 80.Ke4? Nh4 81.Kd5 Kb4 82.e6 Ng6-+, nor 80.Kd3? Kb3-+.
80...Nf4
81.Kc3!
[FEN "8/8/8/2p1P3/5n2/k1K5/8/8 b - - 0 81"]
81...Ne6 82.Kc4 Ka4 83.Kd5 Kb3 84.Kxe6 c4 85.Kf7 c3 86.e6 c2 87.e7 c1Q 88.e8Q Qc4+ 89.Qe6 Qxe6+ 1/2-1/2
[FEN "8/3N4/3K1p2/5P2/3b2P1/3k4/
8/8 w - - 0 67"]
Far advanced connected passed pawns are very dangerous and often allow for combinations.
67.Nxf6!!
67.Ke6? Ke4 68.Nxf6+ Kf4 (Baburin in Chess Today 4426) 69.Kf7 Kg5=; 67.Kd5? Ke3 68.Nxf6 Bxf6 69.Ke6 Bc3
70.g5 Kf4 71.g6 Kg5=.
67...Bxf6
67...Ke3 does not defend because of 68.Ne8 Kf4 69.f6 Bb2 70.Ke6 Ba3 71.Nd6 Bb2 72.f7 Bg7 73.Nf5 Bf8 74.Kd7
Kxg4 75.Ke8 Bb4 76.Ne7+-.
68.Ke6 Bg5
[FEN "8/8/4K3/5Pb1/6P1/3k4/8/8 w - - 0 69"]
69.f6?
The amazing retreat 69.Ke5!! gives Black a bodycheck, which wins the all important tempo: 69...Ke3 70.f6 Kf3 71.f7
Be7 72.Kf5 (Baburin) 72...Kg3 73.g5 Kh4 74.g6 Bf8 75.Kf6 Kh5 76.g7+-.
69...Ke4! 70.f7 Bh6 71.Kf6 Kf4 72.Kg6 Bf8 73.g5 Be7 74.Kh5 Kf5 75.g6 Bf8 1/2-1/2
Copyright 2013 Karsten Mueller and BrainGamz, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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[FEN "8/1p3k2/p3p1p1/P3P1Kp/
1PB2P2/6P1/2b5/8 w - - 0 54"]
The Complete Kalashnikov
54.g4! by Matthieu Cornette
& Fabien Libiszewski
Exchanging the pawns shortens the path of White's king from kingside to queenside
and vice versa.
54...hxg4 55.Kxg4 Be4 56.Kg3 Ke7
56...Bd5 57.Bd3 Kg7 58.Kg4 Kh6 59.Kh4 Bf3 60.Bc4 Bd5 61.Bxd5 exd5
62.Kg4+-.
57.Kf2 Kd7 58.Ke3 Bf5 59.Kd4 Kc6 60.Be2 Bb1 61.Bf3+ Kc7
Encyclopedia of Chess
Combinations
by Chess Informant
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Now White's king can invade on the kingside. Full Service Auto
Repair
61...Kb5 62.Kc3 b6 63.Be2+ Kc6 64.Bxa6+-. …
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62.Ke3 Bc2 63.Kf2 Bd3 64.Kg3 b6 65.Kf2 Bc4 Rd. Ste. B
After 65...Bf5 66.Be2 Kb7 67.Kg3+- (Baburin in Chess Today #4567), White's Sue McFadden
king will continue his march: State Farm
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[FEN "6k1/6P1/2p1bp1P/p5p1/4P3/
8/2BK1P2/8 w - - 0 34"]
34.Ke3?
This is the wrong way.
The queenside option must be kept open: 34.Kc3!
A) 34...Bf7 35.Ba4 Kh7 36.Bb3 Bg8 (36...Kxh6 37.Bxf7 Kxg7 38.Be8 c5
39.Kc4 Kf8 40.Ba4 Ke7 41.Kxc5 Ke6 42.Kd4+-) 37.f3 c5 38.Bd5 a4 39.Kc4
a3 40.Bxg8+ Kxg8 41.Kb3+-;
B) 34...g4 35.Ba4 Kh7 36.Bb3 Bg8 37.Kc2 c5 38.Bd5 Kxh6 39.Bxg8 Kxg7
40.Be6+-;
C) 34...c5 35.e5 fxe5 36.Be4
[FEN "6k1/6P1/4b2P/p1p1p1p1/4B3/2K5/
5P2/8 b - - 0 36"]
Black will fall in zugzwang sooner or later: 36...g4 (36...c4 37.Kb2 Bf7 38.Ka3 Be8
39.Bf5 c3 40.Kb3+-) 37.Kb2 c4 (37...a4 38.Ka3 Bb3 39.Bf5 Kf7 40.Bh7 Kf6
41.g8Q Bxg8 42.Bxg8 e4 43.Kxa4+-) 38.Ka3 c3 39.Ka4 c2 40.Bxc2 Bd5
41.Kb5 a4 42.Kc5
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[FEN "6k1/6P1/7P/2Kbp3/p5p1/8/2B2P2/
8 b - - 0 42"]
White's king is always just in time: 42...Bb3 (42...a3 43.Kxd5 a2 44.Bb3 a1Q
45.Ke4+ Kh7 46.g8Q+ Kxh6 47.Kf5 Qb1+ 48.Kf6+-) 43.Bf5 Kf7 (43...e4
44.Bxe4 a3 45.Kb4 a2 46.Kxb3 a1Q 47.Bd5+ Kh7 48.g8Q+ Kxh6 49.Qf8++-)
44.Bh7 Kf6 45.g8Q Bxg8 46.Bxg8 a3 47.Kb4 Kg6 (47...e4 48.Kxa3 e3 49.fxe3
g3 50.Bd5+-) 48.h7 a2
[FEN "6B1/7P/6k1/4p3/1K4p1/8/p4P2/
8 w - - 0 49"]
[FEN "8/6Pk/2p1bp1P/p3P1p1/8/4K3/
2B2P2/8 b - - 0 35"]
35...f5
35...Kxh6 draws as well; e.g., 36.Bf5 (36.exf6 a4 37.Bxa4 Kg6 38.Bxc6 Kxf6
39.Bd7 Bg8=) 36...Bg8 37.e6 Kxg7 38.e7 Kf7 39.Be6+ Kxe7 40.Bxg8 a4
41.Ke4 Kf8 42.Ba2 Kg7 43.Kf5 Kh6 44.Kxf6 Kh5 45.Kf5 Kh4=.
36.Kd4 Kxh6 37.Bxf5 Bd5 38.Bc2
38.e6 Kxg7 39.Ke5 a4 40.e7 Bf7 41.Be6 a3 42.f3=.
38...Kxg7 39.Kc5
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[FEN "8/6k1/2p5/p1KbP1p1/8/8/2B2P2/
8 b - - 0 39"]
The king continues his long march, but Black will managed to exchange all the
pawns.
39...g4 40.Kd6 Kh6 41.e6 Bxe6 42.Kxe6
42...g3
Karjakin manages to exchange the last pawn.
42...Kg5 is also playable, e.g. 43.Ke5 Kh4 44.Kf4 Kh3 45.Bf5 Kg2 46.Ke3 g3
47.Be4+ Kh3 48.f4 a4 49.f5 a3 50.f6 a2 51.f7 a1Q 52.f8Q=.
43.fxg3 Kg5 44.Bd1 a4 45.Bxa4 Kg4 46.Bxc6 Kxg3 ½-½
In the next case roads must be opened first.
149.03 Bacrot, Etienne (2705) – Tiviakov, Sergei (2659)
German Bundesliga 2012-13 Schwetzingen GER (14.3), 06.04.2013
[FEN "8/1p6/p1p2kp1/P1P4p/1PB2K1P/
8/2b2P2/8 w - - 0 55"]
55.b5!!
Bacrot uses his b-pawn as battering ram.
55...axb5
55...cxb5?! runs into 56.Bxb5 Bf5 57.Bc4 Bd7 58.f3 Bc6 59.Bb3 Kg7 60.Kg5
Bxf3 61.Bc2+-.
56.Bxb5
[FEN "8/1p6/2p2kp1/PBP4p/5K1P/8/
2b2P2/8 b - - 0 56"]
56...Bf5!
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Relatively best as otherwise the pawns will queen; e.g., 56...cxb5? 57.c6 bxc6
58.a6+- or 56...Ke6? 57.Bxc6 bxc6 58.a6+-.
57.Bf1 Bd7 58.a6 bxa6 59.Bxa6 Be6 60.Bf1
[FEN "8/8/2p1bkp1/2P4p/5K1P/8/
5P2/5B2 b - - 0 60"]
60...Bc8?!
60...Bd5!? is more tenacious, but still insufficient; e.g., 61.Bd3 Bg2 62.Bc2 Bf1
(62...Bd5 63.Ba4 Ke6 64.Kg5 Be4 65.Bb3+ Ke7 66.Bd1 Ke6 67.f3 Bf5
68.Bb3+ Ke7 69.Ba4+-) 63.Be4 Bb5 64.Bh1 Ba4 65.Ke4 g5 66.hxg5+ Kxg5
67.Ke5 Kg6 68.Be4+ Kg7 69.f4 Kf7 70.Kf5 h4 71.Kg4+-.
61.Bg2 Bd7
61...Bb7 62.Bh1 Ba8 63.Be4 Bb7 64.Kg3 g5 (64...Kf7 65.f4 Kg7 66.Kf3 Kf6
67.Ke3 Kf7 68.Kd4 Kf6 69.Kc3+-; 64...Ke5 65.Bxg6 Kd4 66.Kf4 Kxc5
67.Ke5+-) 65.hxg5+ Kxg5 66.f4+ Kf6 67.Kh4 Ba6 68.Kxh5 Be2+ 69.Kh4 Bb5
70.Kg3 Ke7 71.Kf2 Kf6 72.Ke3 Ke7 73.Kd4 Kf6 74.Kc3 Ke7 75.Kb4 Kd7
76.f5 Be2 77.Kc3+-.
62.Bf3 Be8 63.Be4 Bd7 64.Bg2 Be8 65.Bh3 Bf7 66.Bd7 Bd5 67.Be8
[FEN "4B3/8/2p2kp1/2Pb3p/5K1P/8/
5P2/8 b - - 0 67"]
Deadly zugzwang. Black must open a way for White's king sooner or later.
67...Kg7
67...Bg2 68.f3 Bh3 69.Bxc6 Bc8 70.Bd5 Bd7 71.c6 Bc8 72.c7 Ba6 73.Bc4 Bc8
74.Bf1 Kf7 75.Ke5 Ke7 76.Bc4 Kd7 77.Be6+ Kxc7 78.Bxc8 Kxc8 79.Kf6+-.
68.Kg5 Be4 69.f4 Kh7 70.Kf6 Kh6 71.Ke5 Bg2 72.Kd6 1-0
In the following example pawn breakthrough is the major theme.
149.04 Berkes, Ferenc (2679) – Piorun, Kacper (2520)
German Bundesliga 2012-13 Eppingen GER (10.1), 24.02.2013
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[FEN "8/1p6/p1p2k1p/P1P1p3/1P4PP/
4KB2/b7/8 w - - 0 76"]
76.b5!! cxb5
76...axb5 is met by the typical 77.Bxc6 bxc6 78.a6+- and 76...Bd5 runs into the
breakthrough 77.Bxd5 cxd5 78.c6 bxc6 79.bxa6+-.
77.Bxb7 b4 78.Bxa6 Bd5
[FEN "8/8/B4k1p/P1Pbp3/1p4PP/
4K3/8/8 w - - 0 79"]
79.Bd3
79.Bb5!? is easier; e.g., 79...b3 80.Kd3 e4+ 81.Kc3 e3 82.a6 Ke5 83.a7 Kf4
84.Kb2 Kf3 85.c6 e2 86.Bxe2+ Kxe2 87.a8Q+-.
79...b3 80.Bb1 Bb7 81.Kd3 e4+
[FEN "8/1b6/5k1p/P1P5/4p1PP/1p1K4/
8/1B6 w - - 0 82"]
82.Kd4?
White does not have time for this retreat. The direct 82.Kc3+- wins analogous to
the game.
82...Ke6?
82...b2! saves the day because of 83.Kc3 e3 84.Kxb2?? e2-+.
83.Kc3 Kd5
83...e3 84.Bd3 (84.Kd3? Be4+ 85.Kxe3 Bxb1 86.Kd2=) 84...Bf3 85.Bc4+ Bd5
86.Be2+-.
84.h5!?
[FEN "8/1b6/7p/P1Pk3P/4p1P1/1pK5/8/
1B6 b - - 0 84"]
Berkes prepares the second breakthrough. 84.g5 wins as well; e.g., 84...hxg5
converted by Web2PDFConvert.com
85.hxg5 Kxc5 86.Kxb3 e3 87.Kc3 Kb5 88.Kd4 Kxa5 89.Kxe3+-.
84...Kxc5
84...Ke5 85.Kxb3 Kf4 (85...Kd4 86.g5 e3 87.Kc2 Be4+ 88.Kd1 Bxb1 89.c6
hxg5 90.c7 Bf5 91.a6+-) 86.Kc3 Kxg4 87.Ba2 Kxh5 88.Bc4 Bc6 89.a6 Kg4
90.a7 e3 91.Be2+ Kg3 92.Kb4 Kf2 93.Bh5 e2 94.Bxe2 Kxe2 95.Ka5 h5 96.Kb6
Bf3 97.c6 Bxc6 98.Kxc6 h4 99.a8Q h3 100.Kc5+-.
85.g5 Bd5
85...hxg5 86.h6 e3 87.h7 e2 88.Kd2+-.
86.gxh6 e3 87.h7 1-0
Lastly, one example with additional rooks.
149.05 Aronian, L (2809) - Vachier Lagrave, M (2722)
Alekhine Mem Paris/St Petersburg FRA/RUS (9), 01.05.2013
[FEN "8/R3Bpkp/3P2p1/2p5/2r5/2b5/
P5PP/6K1 b - - 0 34"]
Levon Aronian won the Alekhine Memorial as he found a shelter for his king.
34...Rd4?
Vachier Lagrave wants to give perpetual check, but Aronian can prevent it.
34...Re4! draws as the queen can not win after 35.d7 (35.a4 c4 36.Kf1 Rf4+
37.Ke2 Re4+ 38.Kd1 Bb4 39.Rc7 Re1+ 40.Kc2 Re2+=; 35.Ra8 Rd4= (Golubev
in Chess Today #4558)) 35...Rxe7 36.d8Q Rxa7 37.Qd5 Bf6 38.Qc4 Bd4+
39.Kf1 Ra3=.
35.d7 Rd1+ 36.Kf2 c4
[FEN "8/R2PBpkp/6p1/8/2p5/2b5/P4KPP/
3r4 w - - 0 37"]
37.g3!!
Now Aronian's king can escape the rain of rook checks.
37.d8Q?? runs into 37...Rxd8 38.Bxd8 Bd4+ and 37.Rc7? is met by 37...Rd2+
38.Ke3 Rd3+ 39.Ke4 Rd4+ 40.Ke3 Rd3+=.
37...Rd2+
37...Bd4+ 38.Ke2 Bxa7 39.Kxd1+-; 37...h5 38.Kg2+-.
38.Kf3 Rd3+ 39.Kg2 Rd2+ 40.Kh3 Bf6 41.d8Q Rxd8 42.Bxd8 Bxd8 1-0
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Order Endgame Corner #149 (Ebook)
by Karsten Müller
In ChessBase, PGN, and PDF formats. Viewable in Ipad, Itouch, Kindle,
ChessBase and other PGN and PDF viewers.
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[FEN "r5k1/p1rq1ppp/1pp1bn2/8/Q2PPN2/
P5P1/1P4BP/2R1R1K1 w - - 0 22"]
22.d5!
Magnus Carlsen directly heads for a very favorable Fischer endgame.
22...cxd5 23.Qxd7 Rxd7 24.Nxe6 fxe6 25.Bh3!
Online Bachelor's
Degree
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UMUC advisor.
The point. Now Anand's defense is very difficult, as all White's pieces are active and
the e-pawn can take on d5 or advance to e5. Furthermore, it is not easy to construct
a solid blockade.
25...Kh8?!
25...Kf8? runs into 26.e5 Ng8 27.Bxe6 Re7 28.Bxd5 Rd8 29.Rf1++-.
Most tenacious is 25...Re8!? 26.exd5 Rdd8! 27.Bxe6+ Kh8
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[FEN "3rr2k/p5pp/1p2Bn2/3P4/8/P5P1/
1P5P/2R1R1K1 w - - 0 28"]
[FEN "3r2nk/p3r1pp/1p6/3BP3/8/P5P1/
1P5P/2R1R1K1 w - - 0 29"]
29.Bb3 g6 30.Rcd1 Rxd1 31.Rxd1 Kg7 32.Rd5 Rc7 (32...Nh6 33.h3 Kf8
34.Rd8+ Kg7 35.e6 Nf5 36.Kf2+/-) 33.Kf2 Ne7 34.Rd1 Rc5 35.Rd7 Rxe5
36.Rxa7+/-.
28.Rc7 d4 29.Bd7 1-0
Anand resigned because of 29...Ne7 30.Re4 d3 31.Rd4 Ng6 32.e6 Ne5 33.Kf2
Nxd7 34.e7 Rg8 35.Rcxd7 Rae8 36.Rxa7+-.
B) The Most Dangerous Passed Pawn
The following case also results in a dangerous passed pawn, which can be well
supported by rook and bishop.
150.02 Giri, A (2727) – Morozevich, A (2758)
Renova FIDE GP Zug SUI (5), 23.04.2013
[FEN "6k1/p5b1/5p2/1p1P3p/1P3p1P/
5PP1/r4N2/4R1K1 b - - 0 39"]
39...f5!
This both frees the bishop and restricts White's knight.
converted by Web2PDFConvert.com
39...fxg3? 40.Ne4 f5 41.Nxg3 Bd4+ 42.Kf1 Rf2+ 43.Kg1 Rxf3+ 44.Kg2 Rf2+
45.Kh3 and 39...Bf8? 40.Rb1 are also better for Black, but White can offer more
resistance.
40.Rd1
This is too slow, but the alternatives do not help either.
40.gxf4 is met by 40...Bd4 and the pin decides; e.g., 41.Rf1 Kf7 42.Kg2 Ke7
43.Kg3 Bxf2+ 44.Rxf2 Rxf2 45.Kxf2 Kd6 46.Ke3 Kxd5 47.Kd3 Kc6 48.Kd4
Kb6-+; 40.d6 fxg3 41.Re8+ Kf7 42.d7 Bf6 43.d8Q Bxd8 44.Rxd8 Rxf2-+.
40...fxg3 41.Nh3
41.Nh1 f4 42.d6 Ra1 43.Rxa1 Bxa1 44.d7 Bf6-+.
41...Bc3 42.d6 Bxb4
[FEN "6k1/p7/3P4/1p3p1p/1b5P/
5PpN/r7/3R2K1 w - - 0 43"]
43.Rd5
43.d7? runs into 43...Bc5+ 44.Kf1 (44.Kh1 Rh2#) 44...g2+ 45.Ke1 Bf2+ 46.Nxf2
g1Q#.
43...Ba5 44.d7 Bb6+ 45.Kf1 (45.Kh1? Rh2#) 45...g2+ 46.Ke1 Bd8 47.Rxf5
[FEN "3b2k1/p2P4/8/1p3R1p/7P/5P1N/
r5p1/4K3 b - - 0 47"]
47...Ba5+
Morozevich chooses the check from the queenside. He can also opt for the check
from the kingside: 47...Bxh4+ 48.Kd1 Ra1+ 49.Kc2 Rh1 50.Rxh5 Bd8-+.
48.Kd1 Rd2+ 49.Kc1 Rxd7 50.Rxb5 Bb6 51.Rxh5 (51.Rg5+ Rg7-+) 51...Rg7
51...g1Q+ is also possible immediately because of 52.Nxg1 Bxg1 53.Rg5+ Rg7-+.
52.Kd2 Rg3 53.Rg5+ Rxg5 54.hxg5 Kg7 55.Kd3 g1Q
Finally Morozevich cashes in.
56.Nxg1 Bxg1 57.f4 Kg6 0-1
Giri resigned, as he will fall in zugzwang sooner or later; e.g., 58.Ke4 Bb6 59.Ke5
Bc7+ 60.Ke4 Bb8 61.Kf3 Kf5-+.
C) Karjakin's Knightmare
Nakamura's passed d-pawn decides the issue.
150.03 Nakamura, Hikaru (2784) – Karjakin, Sergey (2782)
converted by Web2PDFConvert.com
8th Tal Memorial Moscow RUS (3.4), 15.06.2013
[FEN "7r/p1nP4/1p3k2/2pB2p1/P1P3Pp/
5P2/7K/4R3 w - - 0 45"]
45.f4!
Nakamura opens the gates forcefully.
45.Bc6 Ne6 46.f4 works as well.
45...gxf4
45...Nxd5?! runs into 46.Re8+-, while 45...Rd8?! is met by 46.Bc6 gxf4 (46...Ne6
47.fxg5+ Nxg5 48.Re8 Nf7 49.Kh3 Kg5 50.Bb5 a6 51.Bc6+-) 47.Re8+-.
46.g5+!
[FEN "7r/p1nP4/1p3k2/2pB2P1/
P1P2p1p/8/7K/4R3 b - - 0 46"]
46...Kg6
After 46...Kxg5, Nakamura planned the shot 47.Bg8!!
[FEN "6Br/p1nP4/1p6/2p3k1/P1P2p1p/
8/7K/4R3 b - - 0 47"]
(47.Bc6? Rd8 48.Re8 Nxe8 49.dxe8Q Rxe8 50.Bxe8 Kf5 is only drawn.)
47...Rxg8 48.Rg1++-.
47.Re5!
Necessary precision, as 47.Kh3? is met by 47...Rd8=.
47...Rd8
47...Nxd5?! again runs into 48.Re8+-.
48.Be4+ Kf7
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[FEN "3r4/p1nP1k2/1p6/2p1R1P1/
P1P1Bp1p/8/7K/8 w - - 0 49"]
49.Bf5
The direct 49.g6+ wins as well: 49...Kf6 50.Rf5+ Kg7 51.Rf7+ Kg8 (51...Kh6
52.Rh7+ Kg5 53.g7 Ne6 54.Rh8+-) 52.Kh3+-.
49...Rh8
49...f3 50.Kg1 Rg8 51.Kf2+-; 49...Rg8 50.Kh3 f3 51.Re3 f2 52.g6+ Kf6
53.Rf3+-.
50.Kg2 a5
A slight concession, but Black's position is hopeless in any case; e.g., 50...Rg8
51.Kf3+-.
51.Kf2 f3 52.Re1 1-0
Karjakin resigned because of 52...h3 53.Kxf3 h2 54.Kg2 Rg8 55.Kxh2+-.
D) The Knight Wants Control
The knight needs control to have time for its slow maneuvers.
150.04 Georgiev, Kiril (2645) – Marin, Mihail (2583)
ESP-chT Div 1 final 1 Barbera del Valles (2), 14.08.2009
[FEN "r7/2b1k3/4p1pp/2p5/1p3PNP/
1P4P1/P2RK3/8 b - - 0 53"]
53...e5!
A strong dynamical solution.
After 53...h5? 54.Ne3 (Marin in CBM131 Extra), White has full control:
[FEN "r7/2b1k3/4p1p1/2p4p/1p3P1P/
1P2N1P1/P2RK3/8 b - - 0 54"]
converted by Web2PDFConvert.com
53...c4!? 54.bxc4 Ra3 55.Kf2 g5= is also playable.
54.Nxh6?
This capture is too greedy.
The rook endgame after 54.Nxe5! Bxe5 55.fxe5 Ke6= (Marin) is clearly drawn.
54...exf4 55.g4
[FEN "r7/2b1k3/6pN/2p5/1p3pPP/
1P6/P2RK3/8 b - - 0 55"]
55...Be5?
This slow moves gives White time to save himself.
The dynamic 55...c4! 56.bxc4 Ra3 gives Black good winning chances; e.g., 57.c5
f3+ 58.Kf2 Bf4 59.Rb2 Bxh6 60.Rxb4 Be3+ 61.Kxf3 Bxc5+ 62.Rb3 Rxa2.
56.Kf3 c4!?
[FEN "r7/4k3/6pN/4b3/1pp2pPP/1P3K2/
P2R4/8 w - - 0 57"]
57.Re2!
57.bxc4? Ra3+ plays into Black's hand.
57...Ke6 58.g5?
White should again head for the drawish rook ending. This time with 58.Nf7! Kxf7
59.Rxe5 c3 60.Re4 Rc8 61.Re1=.
58...c3
Marin builds a positional bind. As with the previous example, the two passed pawns
will decide the issue, since the knight cannot establish a solid blockade. The tactical
solution 58...cxb3!? 59.axb3 Ra3 60.Ng4 Rxb3+ 61.Kf2 (61.Ke4 f3-+) 61...Rb2-
+ (Marin) is even better.
59.Ng4 Ra5 60.Rc2
60.Re4 c2 61.Re1 Rc5 62.Nxe5 Rxe5 63.Rc1 Kf5 64.Rxc2 Re3+ 65.Kf2 Rc3
66.Rd2 Kg4-+.
60...Rd5 61.Re2 Kd6 62.Nf2
62.Ke4 Rd4+ 63.Kf3 Rd3+ 64.Ke4 Rd5 65.Kf3 Rc5 66.Rc2 Kd5 67.Re2 Bd4
68.Rc2 Bh8 69.Kxf4 Kd4 70.Ne3 Re5 71.Nc4 Re1-+.
62...Rd4 63.Rc2
63.Ng4 Rd3+ 64.Ke4 Rd5 65.Kf3 Rc5 66.Nxe5 Rxe5 67.Rc2 Rd5 68.Kxf4 Rd2
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69.Rc1 Rxa2-+.
63...Ke6 64.Ng4
64.Kg4 Kd5 65.Kf3 Bc7 66.Re2 Bd6 67.Rc2 Ke5 68.Kg4 f3+ 69.Kxf3 Rxh4-+.
64...Bg7 65.Re2+ Kf5 66.Nf2 Be5 67.Rc2 Rd5 68.Re2 Rd8 69.Rc2 Rd7
70.Re2 Rd5 71.Rc2
[FEN "8/8/6p1/3rbkP1/1p3p1P/1Pp2K2/
P1R2N2/8 b - - 0 71"]
[FEN "2k1r3/pp6/2Pb1N1p/1p3R2/8/8/
PP1r2PP/2R3K1 b - - 0 27"]
27...Re5!
The resulting ending is winning for Black.
After 27...Ree2? 28.cxb7+ Kxb7 29.Rxb5+ Ka6 30.a4
[FEN "8/p7/k2b1N1p/1R6/P7/8/1P1rr1PP/
2R3K1 b - - 0 30"]
30...Rxg2+ 31.Kf1, Black has nothing more then the draw by perpetual check.
28.Rxe5 Bxe5 29.Ne4 Rxb2 30.cxb7+
30.a3 Re2 31.cxb7+ Kb8 32.Nc5 Bd4+ 33.Kf1 Rf2+ 34.Ke1 Rxg2-+.
30...Kxb7 31.Nc5+
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[FEN "8/pk6/7p/1pN1b3/8/8/Pr4PP/
2R3K1 b - - 0 31"]
31...Ka8!
Vachier Lagrave's point. Now Black wins the resulting races.
32.Rd1
32.Nd3 Bd4+ 33.Kf1 Rxa2 34.Rc6 a5 35.Rxh6 Kb7-+.
32...Bc7
[FEN "k7/p1b5/7p/1pN5/8/8/Pr4PP/
3R2K1 w - - 0 33"]
converted by Web2PDFConvert.com
[FEN "k7/2b5/7R/1pN5/p7/8/3r2PP/
6K1 b - - 0 39"]
39...Rd6! 40.Rh8+
40.Rxd6 Bxd6 41.Ne4 Bb4 42.Kf2 a3-+.
40...Ka7 41.Kf1 Rc6 0-1
White resigned. One sample line runs 42.Nd3 a3 43.Nb4 Rc4 44.Na2 b4 45.Rh3
Ba5 46.Rb3 Kb6 47.g3 Kb5 48.h4 Ka4 49.Rb1 b3-+.
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Racing Pawns
When both sides have or can create passed pawns in a pawn ending sharp
calculation is required.
Endgame
A) Kasparov's King
Corner
The rule of the square is often helpful in such races.
Garry Kasparov, Part II:
Karsten Müller 151.01 Kasparov, S (2470) – Carnic, S (2341) 1985-1993 (Ebook)
6th ch-Cent SRB Int 2013 Paracin SRB (2.11), 06.07.2013 by Garry Kasparov
Chess Developments:
The Grünfeld (Ebook)
by David Vigorito
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[FEN "8/8/8/2kp1P1K/8/6P1/8/8 b - - 0 71"]
White will queen with check; e.g., (71.Kg4? Kc4 72.Kf3 Kc3 73.Ke2 Kc2
74.Ke3 Kc3 75.f5 d4+ 76.Ke2 Kc2 77.f6 d3+ 78.Kf2 d2 79.f7 d1Q 80.f8Q is
theoretically drawn.) 71...d4 (71...Kd6 72.f6 Ke6 73.Kg6 d4 74.f7 Ke7 75.Kg7
d3 76.f8Q++-) 72.f6 d3 73.f7 d2 74.f8Q++-.
71.Kg4 Kd5 72.Kf3 Kc4 73.Ke2 Kc3 74.Kd1 1-0
51.Kc5!
White must enter the race.
51...Kf4 52.Kb6
52.Kd6? is met by 52...Kf5 53.Kc6 Kxe5 54.Kb6 Kd4 55.Kxa5 e5 56.Kxa6 e4
57.b4 e3 58.b5 e2 59.b6 e1Q 60.b7 Qe5-+.
52...Kxe5
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[FEN "8/8/pK2p3/p3k3/8/1P6/8/8 w - - 0 53"]
53.Kxa6?
Fantin takes the wrong pawn first.
53.Kxa5
A) 53...Kd5 54.Kxa6 Kc5 (54...e5 55.b4 e4 56.b5 e3 57.b6 e2 58.b7 e1Q
59.b8Q Qa1+ 60.Kb7=) 55.Ka5 e5 56.b4+ Kc4 57.b5 e4 58.b6 e3 59.b7 e2
60.b8Q e1Q+ 61.Kb6=.
B) 53...Kd4 54.Kxa6 Kc3
Now White has the amazing retreat 55.Ka5!! Kxb3 (55...e5 56.b4 e4 57.b5 e3
58.b6 e2 59.b7 e1Q 60.b8Q Kc4+ 61.Kb6=) 56.Kb5 Kc3 57.Kc5 Kd3
58.Kd6=.
53...Kd4 0-1
White resigned because of 54.Kxa5 e5 55.b4 e4 56.b5 e3 57.b6 e2 58.b7 e1Q+
59.Kb6 Qe5 60.Ka7 Qa5+ 61.Kb8 Kd5 62.Kc8 Qa6 63.Kc7 Qa7 64.Kc8 Kc6
65.b8Q Qd7#.
C) Race of the Kings
Sometimes the kings must come back to fight against the passed pawns.
151.03 Kalinitschew, S (2433) – McGowan, D (2091)
Werner-Ott-Open 2013 Berlin GER (4.3), 09.07.2013
61...h4!
61...Kxa4? 62.f5 h4 63.Ke4 gxf5+ 64.Kf3+-.
62.Ke4
The king must come back, as 62.f5? runs into 62...h3 63.f6 h2 64.f7 h1Q+-+.
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62...Kc4
Black's king must come back as well.
62...Kxa4? runs into 63.f5 gxf5+ 64.Kf3+-; and 62...h3? into 63.Kf3 Kc5 64.f5
gxf5 65.g6+-.
63.Kf3 Kd5! 64.Kg4 Ke4!
65.f5!
White must break through and the resulting queen ending is a direct draw by
perpetual check.
65...h3 66.fxg6
66.Kxh3? Kxf5 67.Kh4 Kf4-+.
66...h2 67.g7 h1Q 68.g8Q Qf3+ 69.Kh4 Qh1+ 70.Kg4 Qf3+ 71.Kh4 Qh1+
72.Kg4 Qf3+ ½-½
D) Bujisho's Breakthrough
When both sides can create dangerous passed pawns precise calculation is called
for.
151.04 Bujisho, B (2381) – Dussol, P (2181)
19th JCL Summer Masters 2013 Montpellier FRA (2.5), 06.07.2013
43...d4?
Black advances his pawns the wrong way around.
43...a4! wins: 44.Kb2 (44.g5 Kd6 45.Kb2 Ke6 46.Ka3 Kf5 47.Kxa4 Kxf4
48.Kb5 Kg3 49.Kc5 Kxh3 50.Kxd5 Kg4 51.c4 h3 52.c5 h2 53.c6 h1Q+-+)
44...d4 45.cxd4+ Kxd4 46.Ka3 Ke4 47.f5 gxf5 48.gxf5 Kxf5 49.Kxa4 Kf4
50.Kb3 Kg3 51.Kc2 Kxh3 52.Kd2 Kg2-+.
44.g5 Kd5
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[FEN "8/8/6p1/p2k2P1/3p1P1p/2P4P/2K5/8 w - - 0 45"]
45.c4+!?
The best winning try.
45.cxd4? runs into 45...Ke4! when Black is even winning because of 46.Kb3 Kxf4
47.Kc4 a4 48.d5 a3 49.d6 a2 50.d7 a1Q 51.d8Q Qc1+ 52.Kb5 Qb1+ 53.Ka4
Qe4+ 54.Kb5 Kg3-+.
After 45.f5 gxf5 46.c4+ Ke6 47.c5 a4, both sides queen and a draw results upon
48.g6 a3 49.c6 d3+ 50.Kxd3 a2 51.c7 Kd7 52.g7 a1Q 53.c8Q+ Kxc8
54.g8Q+=.
45...Ke4!
45...Kxc4? runs into 46.f5 Kd5 (46...d3+ 47.Kd2 a4 48.fxg6 a3 49.g7 a2
50.g8Q++-) 47.f6 Ke6 48.Kd3 a4 49.Kxd4+-
46...Kd5?
Now White's pawns will win the race.
After 46...a4, the resulting queen ending is tenable: 47.c6 d3+ 48.Kd2 a3 49.c7 a2
50.c8Q a1Q
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[FEN "2Q5/8/6p1/6P1/4kP1p/3p3P/3K4/q7 w - - 0 51"]
White cannot win because of Black's counterplay; e.g., 51.Qe6+ Kf3 52.Qg4+
Ke4 53.f5+ Ke5 54.fxg6 Qb2+ 55.Kxd3 Qb3+ 56.Ke2 Qc2+ 57.Kf3 Qd3+
58.Kf2 Qxg6 59.Qxh4 Qc2+ 60.Kg3 Qd3+ 61.Kg2 Qd2+=.
47.f5! a4
47...Kxc5 48.fxg6+-; 47...d3+ 48.Kxd3 gxf5 49.g6 Ke6 50.c6+-.
48.fxg6 Ke6 49.c6 1-0
Black resigned as White will queen with check: 49...a3 50.c7 Kd7 51.g7 d3+
52.Kxd3 a2 53.c8Q+ Kxc8 54.g8Q++-.
Exercises (Solutions next month)
The exercises deal with pawn endings in general not only pawn races.
E151.01 Andersen, Alf (2202) – Todorovic, Radisa (1960)
6th ch-Cent SRB Int 2013 Paracin SRB (2.43), 06.07.2013
converted by Web2PDFConvert.com
[FEN "6k1/5p2/5P2/6K1/7P/8/8/8 w - - 0 78"]
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Comment on this month's column via our official Chess Blog!
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Fighting Chess:
Move by Move
by Colin Crouch
83.Bg6!
The route of Black's king must be cut. 83.Bc2? can even be met by 83...Kf7
84.Kxg5 Bc1+ as the pawn g5 is not important.
83...Bb2
83...Ke7 84.Kg7! Garry Kasparov, Part II:
1985-1993 (Ebook)
by Garry Kasparov
Lewis
Chessmen
sets
www.NorseAmerica.com…
Chess set cast from
the original pieces
from 1100 AD. Buy
[FEN "8/4k1K1/6B1/6pP/6P1/b7/8/8 b - - 0 84"] online.
Invading with the king is more important than the pawn. (84.Kxg5? Bc1+ 85.Kf5
Kf8 86.g5 Kg7 87.h6+ Kf8 88.Kg4 Bd2 89.Kh5 Bc1 90.Bf5 Bd2 91.g6 Bc3=)
84...Bb2+ 85.Kg8+-.
83...Bf8+ is met by 84.Kh7 Bg7 (84...Ke7 85.h6 Ke6 86.Be8 Ke7 87.Kg6 Bxh6
88.Kxh6 Kxe8 89.Kxg5 Kf7 90.Kh6+-) 85.h6
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Free Arc Flash
Handbook
72...Kf4?
A step in the wrong direction. 72...Kd6 draws because of the counterplay on the
queenside: 73.Kg4 Kc5 74.Bd7 Kxd5 75.h5 Ke5 76.h6 Kf6 77.Kh5 Bc5=.
73.d6!!
Kamsky seizes the moment to break the blockade forcefully.
73...Bxd6
73...Bd8 is met by 74.Bc8 Ke5 75.d7 Kd6 76.Kg4 Ke5 77.Bb7 Kf6 78.h5 Kg7
79.Kf5 Kh6 80.Bf3+-.
74.Kg6 Ke5
75.Bh3?
This loses one all important tempo.
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75.Bc8! wins; e.g., 75...Kd4 (75...a5 76.bxa6 Bb8 77.h5+-; 75...Bc5 76.h5 a5
77.bxa6 b5 78.h6 Kd6 79.h7 Bd4 80.a7+-) 76.h5 Kc5 77.Ba6 Now Black's
counterplay is stopped for good. 77...Kd5 78.h6 Ke6 79.Kg7+-.
75.Bc4? is also insufficient because of 75...Kd4 76.Bf1 Be5 77.h5
77...Kd5! (After 77...Kc5? 78.h6 Kd6 79.Kf7 Bd4 80.h7 Be5 81.Kg8 Bd4
82.h8Q Bxh8 83.Kxh8, White wins as the bishop has everything under control on
the all important diagonal f1-a6.) 78.Kf7 Bf4 79.Kg7 Be5+ 80.Kg6 Ke6=.
75...Bc5 76.h5
76.Bc8 Kd6 77.Kf7 a5 78.bxa6 b5 79.h5 Kc7 80.Be6 Kb6=.
76...Bd4 77.h6 Kd6 78.Kf7
Black's king is now in time after 78.Bc8 Ke7 79.h7 Kf8=.
78...a5!
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Now White's bishop cannot protect the a-pawn and stop Black's b-pawn on one
and the same diagonal.
81...Kb6? 82.Bxb5 Kxb5 83.a7+-.
82.Ke6
82.Kg8 Kb6 83.h8Q Bxh8 84.Kxh8 b3 85.Bd3 b2 86.Kg7 b1Q 87.Bxb1 Kxa6=.
82...b3 83.Kd5 b2
84.Bd3
84.a7 also does not win because of 84...b1Q 85.a8Q Qxh7 86.Kxd4 Qd7+=.
84...Bh8 85.Kc5
85.Ke6 Kb6 86.Kf7 b1Q 87.Bxb1 Kxa6=.
85...Bg7 86.Be4 Kb8 87.Kb6 Bd4+ 88.Kb5 Ka7 ½-½
C) Jakovenko's last pawn
Pawns are very valuable winning potential, when the material is reduced:
152.03 Paragua, Mark (2565) – Jakovenko, Dmitry (2724)
FIDE World Cup Tromso NOR (1.28), 11.08.2013
52...a5!!
This pawn must be preserved. It will win the game in the end.
52...axb5? 53.Bxb5 Bxa3 is only drawn; e.g., 54.Kf3 f5 55.Bd3 Kg5 56.Bc2 Kf6
57.Bd3 g5 58.Bc2 g4+ 59.Kg2 f4 60.Bd1 Kg5 61.Be2= And play has reached a
well known book draw.
53.a4 Kg5 54.Ke3 f5 55.Be2 Be5 56.b6 Kh4
56...Kf6 wins as well.
57.b7
Black is also quicker after 57.Bd3 Kg4 58.Bc4 g5 59.Be6 Bd6 60.Kd4 (60.b7
Bb8 61.Bd7 Ba7+ 62.Ke2 Kf4 63.Kf1 g4 64.Kg2 Kg5-+) 60...Kf4 61.Kd5 Bb8
62.Kc6 g4 63.Kb7 Be5 64.Ka6 g3 65.Bd5 Ke3 66.Kxa5 f4 67.Kb5 f3 68.a5 g2
69.a6 g1Q-+.
57...g5
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[FEN "8/1P6/8/p3bpp1/P6k/4K3/4B3/8 w - - 0 58"]
58.Bd3
Passive defense with 58.Kf2 g4 59.Kg2 f4 60.Bd1 is broken by 60...Bb8 61.Be2
Kg5 62.Bd1 f3+ 63.Bxf3 gxf3+ 64.Kxf3 Kf5 65.Ke3 Ke5 66.Kd3 Kd5 67.Kc3
Kc5 68.Kb3 Kb6 (68...Kd4-+) 69.Kc4 Kxb7 70.Kb5 Bc7-+.
58...f4+ 59.Ke4 (59.Kf2 g4-+) 59...Bb8 60.Be2
60.Kf3 g4+ 61.Kg2 f3+ 62.Kf2 Ba7+ 63.Kf1 g3-+.
60...g4 61.Bb5 Kg3 62.Kf5
62.Bd7 f3 63.Ke3 f2 64.Bb5 Kg2-+.
62...f3 63.Bc4 f2 64.Be2 Ba7 65.Kg5 (65.Bf1 Kf3-+) 65...Kg2 66.Kxg4 f1Q
67.Bxf1+ Kxf1 0-1
One possible finish is 68.Kf3 Ke1 69.Ke4 Kd2 70.Kd5 Kc3 71.Kc6 Kb4 72.Kc7
Kxa4 73.b8Q Bxb8+ 74.Kxb8 Kb5-+
[FEN "8/5pk1/R6p/p1rB1P1P/P3K3/
1Pb5/8/8 b - - 0 73"]
converted by Web2PDFConvert.com
73...Rc7?
Amin should keep the position static with 73...f6! 74.Ra7+ Kh8 75.Be6 Re5+
76.Kd3 Rc5 and Black should be able to hold.
74.f6+!
[FEN "8/2r2pk1/R4P1p/p2B3P/P3K3/
1Pb5/8/8 b - - 0 74"]
[FEN "8/1R3pk1/P6p/1K1B4/1P1b4/
8/8/5r2 w - - 0 87"]
87.Kc4! Bg1
87...Be3 88.Re7 Bg1 89.a7+-.
88.a7 Rc1+ 89.Kb5 Ra1 90.Rxf7+ Kg6
[FEN "8/P4R2/6kp/1K1B4/1P6/8/8/
r5b1 w - - 0 91"]
91.Rf1!! 1-0
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Safarli's second strong shot.
Kaidanov manages to drum up a mating attack in the following example:
152.05 Kaidanov, Gregory S (2577) – Zhou Weiqi (2616)
Yinzhou Cup CHN-USA Ningbo CHN (5.3), 23.07.2013
[FEN "6R1/1r3p2/3bpk2/pB1p2p1/P2P2P1/
4P3/4KP2/8 w - - 0 41"]
41.f4! Rb8
41...gxf4 is also playable because of 42.g5+ Kf5 (42...Ke7?? 43.Re8#) 43.Kf3 e5
44.dxe5 Kxe5 45.exf4+ Kf5 46.Rd8 Bxf4 47.Rxd5+ Be5 48.Bd3+ Ke6 49.Rxa5
Rb4 and Black should be able to defend.
42.fxg5+!?
After 42.Rxg5?! Rh8, White's rook cannot break free anymore.
42...Ke7 43.Rg7 Kf8 44.Rh7
[FEN "1r3k2/5p1R/3bp3/pB1p2P1/P2P2P1/
4P3/4K3/8 b - - 0 44"]
44...Kg8?
As this defense cannot prevent the invasion of White's rook, it is better to play
44...Rb6! 45.g6 fxg6 46.Ra7 Bb4 and Black should be able to hold.
45.g6! Rb7?
Mistakes always seems to come in pairs. 45...Rf8 46.g5 Bb4 47.Be8 or 45...fxg6
46.Ra7 Rb6 47.Be8 are preferable, but White's attack continues in both cases.
46.Be8!
[FEN "4B1k1/1r3p1R/3bp1P1/p2p4/P2P2P1/
4P3/4K3/8 b - - 0 46"]
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48...Bb4 49.Bf7+ Kf8 50.Bxe6 Ra2 51.Rf7+ Ke8 52.Bxd5 Rxa4 53.Rg7+-.
49.Bf7+ Kf8 50.Bxe6 Bg1 51.Bxd5 Rf2+ 52.Ke4 Rg2?!
52...Rf1 is more tenacious, but also insufficient in the long run: 53.Ra7 Re1 54.Rf7+
Ke8 55.Rf3+-.
53.Kf3?!
White can repeat the position first, but ultimately he should opt for 53.Ke5! when his
attack crushes through; e.g., 53...Rxg4?! (53...Rb2 54.Kf6 Rb6+ 55.Be6+-)
54.Kf6 Ke8 55.Bc6+-.
53...Rf2+ 54.Ke4 Rg2 55.Kf3?
55.Ke5+- was the last chance to win with a direct attack.
55...Rf2+ 56.Kg3 Re2?
This runs into a tactical refutation.
56...Rf6! was called for: 57.g5 Rf1 58.Kg2 Re1 59.Rf7+ Ke8 60.Rf6 (60.Ra7
Bxe3 61.Be4 Bxd4 62.Bxg6+ Kf8 63.Rxa5 Bb6 64.Rf5+ Kg7 65.Bh5 Rg1+
66.Kf3 Rf1+ 67.Kg4 Rg1+ 68.Kf4 Ra1) 60...Bxe3 61.Re6+ Kd7 62.Kf3 Bf2
63.Rxg6 Bxd4 and in both cases it is not clear if White can win.
57.Rf7+ Ke8 58.Rf1!
[FEN "4k3/8/6p1/p2B4/P2P2P1/4P1K1/
4r3/5Rb1 b - - 0 58"]
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66...Kd6? 67.Kd4 Ke6 68.Kc5 Ke5 (68...f5 69.gxf5+ Kxf5 70.Kxb5 Kg5
71.Kc4 Kxh5 72.b5+-) 69.Kxb5 Kf4 70.Kc5 Kxg4 71.b5 f5 72.b6 f4 73.b7 f3
74.b8Q+-.
67.Kd4 Kd6 68.Ke4 Ke6 69.Kf4 Ke7 70.Kf3 Kd6 71.Ke4 Ke6 72.Kd4 Kd6
73.Ke4 Ke6 74.Kf4 Ke7 75.Kf5 Kf7 76.Ke4 Ke6 ½-½
E151.02 Abel, Dennes (2437) – Zwanzger, Johannes (2326)
Bundesliga 2012-13 Schwetzingen GER (13.4), 05.04.2013
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[FEN "8/6k1/4Pp2/3p2p1/5PPp/7P/6K1/8 b - - 0 48"]
Only now!
48...gxf4
48...f5 49.e7 Kf7 50.Kf3 fxg4+ 51.Kxg4 gxf4 52.Kxf4 Kxe7 53.Ke5=.
48...Kf8? 49.f5 Ke7 50.Kf3 Kd6 51.Ke3 Kc6 52.Kd4 Kd6 53.Kc3 Kc6 54.Kb4
Kd6 55.Kb5 d4 56.Kc4 d3 57.Kxd3 Kc6 58.Kc4 Kd6 59.Kb5 Ke7 60.Kc6
Ke8 61.e7 Kxe7 62.Kc7+-.
49.Kf3 Kf8 50.Kxf4 Ke8
50...Ke7 51.Kf5 d4 52.Ke4 Kxe6 53.Kxd4 f5 54.g5 f4 55.Ke4 f3 56.Kxf3 Kf5=.
51.g5 Ke7 52.gxf6+ Kxf6
52...Kxe6 53.Kg5 Kf7 54.Kxh4 Kxf6 55.Kg3=.
53.e7 ½-½
E151.04 Gomez Esteban, J (2462) – Illescas Cordoba, M (2613)
33rd Benasque Open Benasque ESP (6.7), 09.07.2013
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[FEN "8/8/8/5n1N/6p1/5k2/8/5K2 w - - 0 65"]
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Domination Distance
There are many typical configurations, where one piece dominates another. They are
very important and can easily be remembered because of their specific geometry. Yet
Endgame many of them have no name. Johan Hellsten calls such configurations "magic
distance" in his excellent recent work Mastering Endgame Strategy (Everyman
Corner 2013). I like the idea to coin a term for this important phenomenon, but I like
domination distance even more because of the alliteration and the more direct
relationship to the domination configurations. I even want to suggest coining more Magnus Force (Ebook)
Karsten Müller terms in that direction. by Colin Crouch
When the king is two squares away from the knight a typical configuration is on the
board. As the knight needs at least three moves to give check it sounds good to call
it knight check shadow.
84.Rf3+! Kg4 The Nimzo-Larsen Attack:
Move by Move
84...Kg2 85.Rc3 Na5 86.Kd5+- (Karpov in Informator 46/38). by Cyrus Lakdawala
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[FEN "8/8/8/n2K4/8/2R5/6k1/8 b - - 0 86"]
B) Karpov Distance
This typical domination configuration, when the knight is three squares away from the
king, could be called Karpov Distance, as Karpov was a real expert in knight
hunting.
85.Rd3! Kg5
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85.Rd3! Kg5
Brain Training
85...Nb2 86.Rd2+- (Karpov). Games
86.Kd5 Nb6+
86...Nb2 87.Rd4
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[FEN "8/n2K4/8/6k1/3R4/8/8/8 b - - 0 93"]
And finally Karpov's king is in the Karpov Distance and so Ftacnik resigned.
D) Corralling
Another very important domination distance is the so called corralling of a knight by
a bishop.
153.02 Brunello, S (2587) – Caruana, F (2767)
TCh-ITA 2012 Arvier ITA (3), 28.04.2012
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[FEN "8/2R5/1n6/5K2/8/8/5k2/8 w - - 0 82"]
converted by Web2PDFConvert.com
[FEN "2rN2R1/5p2/8/5kp1/8/1K6/8/8 w - - 0 70"]
How to get rid off the annoying pin? With 70.Nxf7 or with 70.Rxg5+.
E153.07 Gopal, G.N (2566) – Vallejo Pons, Francisco (2705)
11th Aeroflot Open A Moscow RUS (7.30), 13.02.2012
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[FEN "8/4k3/8/n2B1p2/5P2/2P1K3/8/8 w - - 0 51"]
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How did Black exploit the poor position of White's knight? The Panov-Botvinnik Attack:
Move by Move
102...Bc4 0-1 by Lorin D'Costa
White resigned as the bishop corrals the knight: 103.Kd1 Kc3 104.Ke1 Kc2-+.
E153.02 Sponheim, M (2073) – Holm, S (2256)
22nd ZMDI Open 2013 Dresden GER (9.30), 18.08.2013
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Become
Ordained
Today
Free Death
Records
Search
[FEN "8/2R5/1n6/8/3K4/8/4k3/8 b - - 0 83"]
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[FEN "8/8/2K5/8/3kP1p1/6N1/8/8 b - - 0 81"]
The king dominates the knight by moving into the knight check shadow and gives a
bodycheck.
80.Kb3 Be5 0-1
Black resigned; e.g., 81.Na3 f5 82.Nc4 Bd4 83.Nd6 f4 84.Nf5 f3 85.Ng3 f2
86.Kb4 Be5 87.Nf1 Ke2-+.
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E153.06 Tesik, C (2299) – Chernyshov, K (2564)
XXX Zalakaros Open Zalakaros HUN (9), 28.05.2011
How to get rid off the annoying pin? With 70.Nxf7 or with 70.Rxg5+.
70.Nxf7? runs into a beautiful refutation.
70.Rxg5+!? Kxg5 71.Nxf7+ Kf6 72.Nd6!
Saves the day as the knight joins forces with its king. (But not 72.Nh6? Ke5!
73.Nf7+ Kd5
The king moves into the knight check shadow and the dominated steed will be
caught sooner or later; e.g., 74.Kb4 Rf8 75.Ng5 Rf5 76.Nh3 Kd4 77.Ng1 Ke3
78.Nh3 Rh5 79.Ng1 Rh1-+) 72...Rc6 73.Nc4=.
70...Rxg8 71.Nh6+ Ke6 72.Nxg8 g4
A tragicomical picture. White's king is just outside of the square and his knight is just
not in time to catch the pawn.
73.Nh6 g3 74.Ng4 g2 0-1
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E153.07 Gopal, G.N (2566) – Vallejo Pons, Francisco (2705)
11th Aeroflot Open A Moscow RUS (7.30), 13.02.2012
Knight check shadow 63.Ne5 g3 64.Nf3 g2 65.Kc2 Kc4 66.Kd2 g4 67.Ng1 d3-+
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[FEN "2k5/8/N7/2P3p1/3p2p1/8/1K6/8 w - - 0 63"]
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[FEN "1R6/5p2/2P1n3/8/7k/4K2p/8/8 b - - 0 79"]
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[FEN "8/4n2B/2k5/5p2/2K2P2/2P5/8/8 w - - 0 55"]
Now the knight dominates the bishop, which occurs only very seldom.
55.Kd4 Kd6 56.c4 Nc6+ 57.Kc3 Ne7 58.Kd4
58.Kb4 Kc6 59.c5 Nd5+=.
58...Nc6+ 59.Kc3 Ne7 60.Kd4 Nc6+ ½-½
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Endgame Corner
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meantime enjoy this month's Endgame Corner. Please support this
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Corner The knight is a tactical piece, so concrete calculation is often called for to
avoid unpleasant surprises.
Grandmaster Preparation:
Karsten Müller A) Morozevich's Miracle
Endgame Play
by Jacob Aagaard
A rook is usually much stronger than a knight in a pure endgame.
Grandmaster Preparation:
Attack & Defence
by Jacob Aagaard
[FEN "8/1k2N3/8/6P1/2p5/6K1/8/r7 w - - 0 50"]
50.Nf5!?
The best chance to fight, as 50.g6?! runs into the direct 50...c3 51.g7 c2
52.g8Q Rg1+ 53.Kf2 Rxg8 54.Nxg8 c1Q-+.
50...c3 51.Ne3
Nimzowitsch: Move by Move
by Steve Giddins
[FEN "8/1k6/8/6P1/8/2p1N1K1/8/r7 b - - 0 51"]
51...Rg1+?!
51...Ra2!? is much easier; e.g., 52.g6 c2 53.Nxc2 Rxc2 54.Kf4 Kc7 55.Ke5
Kd7 56.g7 Rg2 57.Kf6 Ke8-+.
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Endgame Corner
[FEN "8/8/3k2P1/5K2/8/2p1N1r1/8/8 w - - 0 55"]
55.Nc2
55...Rg2! 56.Ne3
[FEN "8/8/5KP1/8/3k4/8/2p3r1/2N5 b - - 0 59"]
And now 59...Rg1 60.Ne2+ (60.g7 Rxc1 61.g8Q Rf1+ 62.Ke6 c1Q-+; 60.Na2
Ra1 61.g7 Rxa2 62.g8Q Ra6+ 63.Kf5 Ra5+ 64.Ke6 Re5+ 65.Kf6 c1Q-+)
60...Ke3 61.Nxg1 c1Q 62.g7 Qxg1-+.
D) 56...Kd7 57.Kf6 c2
[FEN "8/3k4/5KP1/8/1N6/8/2p3r1/8 w - - 0 58"]
56...Rf2+
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Endgame Corner
[FEN "8/8/3k2P1/5K2/8/8/2N3r1/8 b - - 0 57"]
57.Ke4
[FEN "8/8/3k2P1/8/4K3/2p1N3/5r2/8 b - - 0 57"]
57...Ke6?
White's passed pawn is not really dangerous anyway, so 57...c2! was called
for: 58.g7 c1Q 59.g8Q
[FEN "6Q1/8/3k4/8/4K3/4N3/5r2/2q5 b - - 0 59"]
59...Qb1+! 60.Kd4 Rd2+-+ and Black wins the fourth phase of the game, as
given in Chess Today #4758.
[FEN "8/6k1/8/8/3K4/2p1Nr2/8/8 w - - 0 61"]
61.Nc2
The miracle has occurred. Black cannot free his rook, as he has to keep his c3-
pawn.
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Endgame Corner
[FEN "8/8/8/8/3N1k2/1Kp4r/8/8 w - - 0 71"]
This is met by 71.Kc2 (Of course not 71.Ne2+? Ke3 72.Nxc3 Kd4-+) 71...Ke4
72.Nb5=.
70.Kb3 Re3 71.Nb5 Kf4 72.Nxc3 Ke5 73.Kc4 Rh3 74.Nb5 Rh8 75.Nc3
Rc8+ 76.Kd3 Rd8+ 77.Kc4 Rd4+ 78.Kc5 Rd3 79.Kc4 Rxc3+ 80.Kxc3 ½-½
[FEN "8/8/8/8/NK3k2/1p4r1/8/8 w - - 0 93"]
[FEN "8/8/8/8/1K1k4/1p3r2/1N6/8 w - - 0 96"]
96.Na4!
B) Maxime's Miracle
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Endgame Corner
In endgames with rook and knight against rook and knight usually a slight
initiative weighs heavily.
[FEN "1R3Nk1/5np1/8/6PP/8/6K1/8/7r b - - 0 57"]
57...Rg1+!
The first check is right, as 57...Rxh5? 58.g6+- and 57...Nd6? 58.g6 Rg1+
59.Kh2 Rc1 60.Ne6+ Rc8 61.Rb6 Nf5 62.Rb7 Re8 63.Kg2 Kh8 64.Kf3 Nd6
65.Rf7+- are both insufficient.
58.Kf4
The best try, as 58.Kf2?! runs into 58...Rxg5 59.Ne6+ Kh7 60.Nxg5+ Nxg5
61.Kg3 (61.Rb6 Ne4+ 62.Kf3 Nf6=) 61...Ne4+ 62.Kh4 Nf6 63.Kg5 Ne4+=.
58...Rf1+?
But the second check is wrong, as the checks will run out soon.
59.Ke3 g6
59...Nd8 60.Ne6 Re1+ 61.Kf4 Rxe6 62.Rxd8+ Kf7 63.g6+ Ke7 64.Rg8 Kf6
65.Rf8+ Ke7 66.Rf7++-; 59...Re1+ 60.Kf2 Rd1 61.Nd7++-.
60.hxg6!
60...Kg7
60...Nd8 61.Nd7 (Of course not 61.Rxd8?? Rxf8 62.Rxf8+ Kxf8 63.Kf4 Kg7
64.Kf5 Kg8!=) 61...Kg7 62.Rxd8 Kxg6 63.Rg8+ Kh7 64.Rf8 Rxf8 65.Nxf8+
Kg7 66.Ne6+ Kg6 67.Kf4+-.
61.gxf7 Kxf7
[FEN "1R3N2/5k2/8/6P1/8/4K3/8/5r2 w - - 0 62"]
62.Ke4?
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Endgame Corner
Now White's pieces are too clumsily placed and Kramnik's king has no good
shelter. Thus, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave can make a Houdini-like escape.
Surprisingly the only move to win for White is 62.Nd7! Rf5 63.Rf8+ Kg6
64.Rg8+ Kf7
[FEN "6R1/3N1k2/8/5rP1/8/4K3/8/8 w - - 0 65"]
65.Ke4! The point, which was missed by Kramnik. 65...Ra5 66.Rf8+!? The
smooth solution. (In this position the clumsy 66.Nf6 wins as well, e.g.
66...Ra1 67.Rd8 Kg6 68.Rd5 Re1+ 69.Kf4 Rf1+ 70.Ke3 Re1+ 71.Kf2 Ra1
72.Ne4+-)
62...Re1+ 63.Kf3 Rf1+ 64.Kg3 Rg1+ 65.Kf4 Rf1+ 66.Ke3 Re1+ 67.Kf3
Rf1+ 68.Kg2 Rf5 69.Nh7 Kg6 70.Rb7
[FEN "8/1R5N/6k1/5rP1/8/8/6K1/8 b - - 0 70"]
70...Rf4
73.Kxg4?! stalemate.
73...Ra4 74.Rb7 Rh4 75.Nf6 Kxg5 76.Ne4+ Kf5 77.Re7 Rh8 78.Ke3 Rd8
79.Rf7+ Ke6 80.Rh7 Rd1 81.Nc5+ Kf5 82.Rf7+ Ke5 83.Nd3+ Ke6
84.Ra7 Rh1 85.Ke4 Rh4+ 86.Nf4+ Kd6 87.Ra6+ Kc5 88.Rg6 Kc4 89.Rc6+
Kb5 90.Rc1 Rh8 91.Ke5 Rh4 92.Rc8 Rh1 93.Ne6 Rh5+ 94.Kd6 Rh6
95.Rc1 Kb4 96.Kd5 Rh5+ 97.Ke4 Rh4+ 98.Nf4 Kb5 99.Ke5 Rh8 100.Rc2
Rh4 101.Rf2 Kc4 102.Ke4 Rh8 103.Rc2+ Kb5 104.Ng6 Rh1 105.Ne5 Re1+
106.Kd4 Rd1+ 107.Nd3 Kb6 108.Rc3 Rb1 109.Kd5 Rb5+ 110.Nc5 Rb1
111.Nd7+ Kb5 112.Rd3 Rb4 113.Ne5 Rb1 114.Nc4 Kb4 115.Nd2 Rb2
116.Kc6 Rc2+ 117.Kb6 Rb2 118.Kc6 Rc2+ 119.Kb7 Rc3 120.Rd8 Rc5
121.Ne4 Rc4 122.Re8 Rc2 123.Kb6 Re2 124.Kc6 Re1 125.Nd6 ½-½
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Endgame Corner
10th European Teams w Warsaw POL (2.9), 09.11.2013
[FEN "8/4N3/p7/P3np2/1P1K1pkp/
8/7P/8 b - - 0 45"]
45...f3!!
A) 46.Kc5 Nxh2 47.b5 axb5 48.Nd5 (48.a6 f3 49.a7 f2 50.a8Q f1Q-+) 48...f3
49.a6 f2 50.a7 f4 51.a8Q f1Q-+.
[FEN "8/8/P7/1p3p2/5k1p/4N3/
3K1p1n/8 b - - 0 51"]
B1) Of course not 51...f1Q?? 52.Nxf1 Nxf1+ 53.Ke1 Ng3 (53...h3? 54.Kxf1
h2 55.Kg2+- even backfires completely.) 54.a7 h3 55.a8Q h2=.
B2) 51...Ng4! 52.Nf1 Ne5 53.a7 Nc4+ 54.Ke2 Nb6 55.Ne3 Ke4-+.
46.Kxe5
46.Ke3 also does not defend; e.g., 46...f4+ 47.Kf2 Nd3+ 48.Kg1 Nxb4 49.Kf2
Nd3+ 50.Kg1 Ne5 51.Nd5 h3 52.Nc3 f2+ 53.Kxf2 Nf3 54.Nd5 Nxh2 55.Nb4
Kf5 56.Nxa6 Ng4+ 57.Kg1 f3 58.Nc5 h2+ 59.Kh1 f2-+.
46...f2??
Black rushes and overlooks the coming knight fork. A real knightmare.
[FEN "8/4N3/p7/P3K3/1P3pkp/5p2/
7P/8 w - - 0 47"]
47.b5 (47.h3+ Kxh3 48.Kxf4 f2-+) 47...f2 48.bxa6 f1Q 49.a7 Qa6-+.
47.Nxf5!
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Endgame Corner
[FEN "8/8/p7/P3KN2/1P4kp/8/5p1P/8 b - - 0 47"]
47...Kh3
47...f1N does not help because of 48.b5 Nxh2 49.bxa6 Nf3+ 50.Kf6 h3 51.a7
h2 52.a8Q h1Q 53.Qg8+ Kf4 54.Qc4+ Nd4 55.Qxd4+ Kf3 56.Qd5++-;
47...f1Q 48.Ne3+ Kh3 49.Nxf1+-.
D) The Breakthrough
[FEN "8/8/8/7N/3n1pp1/5kPp/7P/5K2 b - - 0 74"]
74...Nf5?
The direct way does not work as White can sacrifice her knight.
74...Ke4!! wins, as Black can always create at least one dangerous passed
pawn:
B) 75.Kg1 Nf3+ 76.Kh1 Nxh2 77.Kxh2 f3 78.Kg1 Kd3! 79.Nf6 (79.Nf4+ Kd2
80.Nd5 Ke1 81.Ne3 f2+-+) 79...h2+ 80.Kxh2 f2 81.Kg2 Ke2-+.
[FEN "8/8/8/8/4kNp1/6Pp/5K1n/8 w - - 0 77"]
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Endgame Corner
In the next step Black's king wants to invade to f3 or f2. This cannot be
prevented in the long run, as the passed pawn h3 is very dangerous: 77.Nh5
Kf5 78.Nf4 Ke5 79.Nd3+ Ke4 80.Nc5+ Kf5 81.Nb7 Nf3 82.Nd6+ Ke5
83.Nc4+ Kd4 84.Nd6 Ne5 85.Nf5+ Ke4 86.Nd6+ Kd5 87.Nf5 Nd3+ 88.Kg1
Ke4 89.Nd6+ Kf3 90.Nf5 Ne5 91.Kh2 Nc4 92.Kg1 Nd2 93.Kh2 Kf2 94.Kh1
Nf1-+.
75.gxf4
75...g3
[FEN "8/8/8/5n1N/5P2/5kpp/7P/5K2 w - - 0 76"]
76.hxg3?
[FEN "8/8/8/8/8/5k1p/4n2P/6K1 w - - 0 80"]
80.Kh1!= (However, not 80.Kf1? Ke3 81.Ke1 Ng3 82.Kd1 Nf1 83.Ke1 Nxh2
84.Kd1 Nf3-+).
76...h2 0-1
[FEN "3r3k/6bp/6p1/8/1BP1npP1/
7P/7K/1R1B4 b - - 0 47"]
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Endgame Corner
[FEN "8/3k3p/6p1/1P1b4/p2p3P/
B2B1PP1/6K1/3n4 b - - 0 44"]
Is Black's knight the best or worst minor piece on the board? Black is to move.
Order
Endgame Corner #155 (Ebook)
by Karsten Müller
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redesign. In the meantime enjoy this month's Endgame chess shop help keep
Corner. Please support this column with a purchase from ChessCafe.com freely
our
chess shop. accessible:
Grandmaster Preparation:
Karsten Müller
Endgame Play
by Jacob Aagaard
[FEN "8/2k5/2P1K3/6p1/5p2/2b2B1P/6P1/8 b - - 0 1"]
Young Najdorf
a simultaneous display in 1977. He analyzes it in detail in his by T. Lissowski
excellent Secrets of Practical Chess, 2nd edition, Gambit 2007
and I use his analysis in the following:
1...Be1 2.Kf6 Bh4 3.Kf5 Kd6
Yelena Dembo's Chess Quiz:
Bishop Endings 1
by Yelena Dembo
[FEN "8/8/2Pk4/5Kp1/5p1b/5B1P/6P1/8 w - - 0 4"]
4.g3!! fxg3
[FEN "3k4/5BQ1/2P3K1/b7/8/8/8/5q2 w - - 0 18"]
5.Bg2
[FEN "8/8/2Pk4/5Kp1/7b/6pP/6B1/8 b - - 0 5"]
5...Kc7 6.Ke5
6...g4
7.hxg4+-
following example:
[FEN "5k2/8/1p4p1/bKp2p2/P1B2P1P/
1P4P1/8/8 b - - 0 53"]
53...Ke7?
[FEN "8/8/1pK2kp1/b1p2p2/P4P1P/
1P1B2P1/8/8 b - - 0 55"]
55...Kf7?!
Black falls into zugzwang time and again: 58...Kg7 59.Kb5 Kf6
60.h5 g3 61.Kc6 Kg7 62.f5 Kg8 63.Bd5+ Kg7 64.Kb5 Kf6
65.h6+-.
56.h5! gxh5
57.Bxf5 Kf6
64...Kg7
[FEN "8/5B2/1p5k/bKp4p/P4P2/1P4P1/
8/8 b - - 0 66"]
Decisive zugzwang
37...Qe3?
[FEN "5k2/7p/1p1PBp2/p1p3p1/2P5/
1P2b1P1/P5KP/8 b - - 0 39"]
39...Bd4
[FEN "3k4/2bP4/1pK5/p1p3p1/2P3Bp/
1P6/P7/8 b - - 0 49"]
Even Black's extra pawn does not save him because of the fatal
zugzwang.
40.Kf3 Be5
44...a4 45.bxa4
B) 45...h6 White can blow open the door with 46.d8Q+ Kxd8
47.Kc6 Bc7 (47...h5 48.Bf5+-) 48.Bf5
[FEN "3k4/2b5/1pK2p1p/2p2Bp1/P1P5/
6P1/P6P/8 b - - 0 48"]
47.Kd6
[FEN "3k4/3P4/1p1K1p1p/p1p3p1/
P1Pb2B1/1P4P1/7P/8 b - - 0 47"]
47...Bg1
48.h4! gxh4
49.gxh4 h5
[FEN "3k4/3P4/1p1K1p2/p1p2B2/P1P4b/
1P6/8/8 b - - 0 52"]
52...Be1
57...Bd2
[FEN "8/2kP4/2P2p2/pK3B2/P7/1P6/
8/4b3 w - - 0 62"]
62.d8Q+
[FEN "3k4/1K6/2P2p2/p4B2/PP6/
6b1/8/8 b - - 0 65"]
A) Arnaudov's Attack
Mating attacks do occur in the endgame.
[FEN "3r3k/6bp/6p1/8/1BP1npP1/
7P/7K/1R1B4 b - - 0 47"]
47...Bc3!
48.Bf3
48...Rd2+ 49.Kh1
Black must get his passed pawns going quickly or White's bishops
will secure the draw.
[FEN "8/3k3p/6p1/1P1b4/p2p3P/
B2B1PP1/6K1/3n4 b - - 0 44"]
44...Bc4!!
45.Bxc4
45.Be4 Bxb5
[FEN "8/3k3p/6p1/1b6/p2pB2P/B4PP1/
6K1/3n4 w - - 0 46"]
White's king needs too much time because of the cut off: 46.f4 d3
[FEN "8/3k3p/6p1/1PB5/p1n4P/3p1PP1/
5K2/8 w - - 0 48"]
Now Black's mighty knight dominates the whole board and Black
is always just in time to win the pawn races. A real knightmare
for White.
48.g4 a3 49.Bd4
49...a2 50.f4
50...Ke6
50...h5 wins as well; e.g., 51.gxh5 gxh5 52.b6 Nd6 53.Ke1 Nf5
54.Ba1 Kc6 55.Kd2 Nxh4 56.Kxd3 Nf5 57.Ke4 h4 58.Kxf5 h3-+.
51.Bg7
51.Ba1!? runs into 51...h5! 52.b6 Nxb6 53.f5+ gxf5 54.gxh5 Nd7
B) 55.Ke3
[FEN "8/3n4/4k3/5p1P/7P/3pK3/p7/B7 b - - 0 55"]
B1) 55...f4+? plays this trump too early because of 56.Kxd3 Kf5
57.h6 Nf8 58.Kd2 Kg4 (58...Kg6 59.Ke2 Kxh6 60.Kf3 Ne6
61.Kg4=) 59.Bd4 f3 (59...Kxh4 60.Kc2 f3 61.Kb2=) 60.Ke1 Kg3
61.Kf1 Nh7 62.Be5+ Kxh4 63.Kf2 Kg4 64.Bg7 Kf5 65.Kxf3 Nf6
66.h7 a1Q 67.h8Q=.
B2) 55...Kf7!
[FEN "8/3n1k2/8/5p1P/7P/3pK3/p7/B7 w - - 0 56"]
Black's king must take the long way to Rome: 56.Kxd3 Nc5+
57.Ke3 (57.Kc2 f4 58.Kd1 f3 59.Ke1 Ne4 60.Kf1 Kg8-+)
57...Ne6 58.Kd2 Kg8 59.Kc2 f4 60.Kd3 Kh7 61.Ke4 Kh6 62.Kf3
Kxh5 63.Bf6 Nc7 64.Be5 Nd5 65.Ba1 Kxh4-+.
51...Kd5
[FEN "8/6Bp/6p1/1P1k4/2n2PPP/3p4/
p4K2/8 w - - 0 52"]
52.Kf3
52.Ba1 also does not defend; 52...Ke4 53.b6 Nxb6 54.f5 gxf5
55.gxf5 Nc4 56.f6 Nd6 57.Bb2 Nf7 58.Bc3 Nh6 59.Ke1 Ke3
60.Bd2+ Kd4-+.
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The queen and knight duo can be very strong when they cooperate well.
[FEN "8/2q2p2/p1k1p1p1/1pp1Pn1p/
2P1NP2/PK1QP2P/5P2/8 w - - 0 42"]
42.Nc3!?
Magnus increases his pressure on the light squares to provoke the opening of inroads.
42...bxc4+?
Now Black cannot stop the invasion of the queen. After 42...Qa5! it is more or less equal, as the following sample line
illustrates: 43.Qe4+ Kb6 44.Qa8 bxc4+ 45.Kxc4 (45.Kb2 Kc7 46.Qa7+ Kd8 47.Qb7 Ne7=) 45...Qxa3 46.Qb8+ Kc6
43.Qxc4
[FEN "8/2q2p2/p1k1p1p1/2p1Pn1p/
2Q2P2/PKN1P2P/5P2/8 b - - 0 43"]
43...Qb6+?!
43...Qb7+ 44.Kc2 Kd7 might be more precise, but White is still much better after 45.Qe4+/-.
Black does not have time for this advance. 46...Kd7! was called for, but White keeps good winning chances after
47.Qb7+ Ke8 48.Qb8+ Kd7 49.Kb3 c4+ 50.Kb2+/-.
47.Qf8!
[FEN "5Q2/2k2p2/p3p1p1/q3Pn1p/
2p2P2/P1N1P2P/2K2P2/8 b - - 0 47"]
This invasion is stronger than 47.Qa7+? Kd8 48.Qxf7?, which is answered by 48...Qxa3 49.Qb7 Ne7! and Black has
practical drawing chances.
47...Kd7?!
47...Nh6! was much more tenacious, but still insufficient because of 48.Qe7+ (48.Qxh6? Qxa3 49.Qg7 Qb3+ 50.Kd2
Qb2+ 51.Kd1 Qxc3 52.Qxf7+ Kb8 53.Qxe6 Qd3+ 54.Ke1 Qb1+ 55.Ke2 Qd3+ 56.Kf3 c3 57.Qb6+ Kc8 58.e6 Qb5
59.Qd4 Qc6+ 60.Ke2 Qxe6 61.Qxc3+ Kd7 is not so clear.) 48...Kb8 49.Ne4 Qa4+ 50.Kd2 Qa5+ 51.Ke2 c3 52.Nd6
48.Ne4!
[FEN "5Q2/3k1p2/p3p1p1/q3Pn1p/
2p1NP2/P3P2P/2K2P2/8 b - - 0 48"]
[FEN "1Q6/8/pkqNp1p1/4Pn1p/
2p2P2/P3P2P/5P2/2K5 b - - 0 54"]
B) King safety
The following example also illustrates the guideline that a slight initiative weighs heavily.
31.Qf3
White spotlights the insecure position of Black's king. 31.h5!? was strong as well.
31...Qb7?
Exchanging queens would be good for Black, but Bruzon Batista can avoid it. The centralising 31...Qe5! almost
equalises.
32.Qc3!?
[FEN "8/1q3k1p/pp2p1p1/2n5/2P2N1P/
2Q3P1/P4P2/6K1 b - - 0 32"]
Bruzon values his initiative in this endgame higher than the extra pawn in the knight ending after 32.Nd5+ Ke8 33.Nf6+
Kf7 (33...Ke7? 34.Qf4+-) 34.Nxh7+ Qxf3 35.Ng5+ Kf6 36.Nxf3 Ne4 37.a3 This is remarkable.
32...Nd7?
32...Qa8 was called for, but after 33.Qd4 Qf8 34.h5 White's initiative is still difficult to deal with.
33.Qh8
[FEN "7Q/1q1n1k1p/pp2p1p1/8/2P2N1P/
6P1/P4P2/6K1 b - - 0 33"]
33...Nf6?
Black cracks under the pressure. 33...Nf8! was forced: 34.Nh3 Ke8 35.Ng5 Qd7 36.Qc3 Qd1+ 37.Kh2 h6 38.Ne4 Qe2
39.Qe5 Qd3 40.Kg2 and White has winning chances, but matters are not completely clear.
34.Nh3! 1-0
[FEN "7Q/1q3k1p/pp2pnp1/8/2P4P/
6PN/P4P2/6K1 b - - 0 34"]
In this exceptional case the knight on the rim is not dim, but gives White the win.
38.Qc1+!? is more precise: 38...Kg7 39.Ng5 Nf8 40.Qb1 Qa7 41.Qb5 Qe7 42.Qb8 Qd7 43.Qa8 Qe7 44.Qc8 Kf6
45.f4+-.
39...Qa7! was forced; e.g., 40.Qb5 Kg7 41.Qc6 Qd7 42.Qb6 Kf8 43.Qb8+ Ne8 44.Ne6+ Ke7 45.Kf3 and White is
better, but it is not clear if he can win.
40.Ne6
[FEN "8/7n/q2pN1pk/2pPp2p/
4P2P/6P1/5PK1/1Q6 b - - 0 40"]
45.Qxh5+ Kg8 46.Qg5+ Kh8 47.Qh5+ Kg8 48.Qg6+ Kh8 49.Qxd6 c3 50.Qxe5+ Kg8 51.d6 c2 52.Qd5+ 1-0
C) The exchange of queens
[FEN "5k2/3q1p2/1p4p1/pP5p/P2Nn2P/
4PQP1/5P2/6K1 b - - 0 55"]
55...Nc5?
This runs into a direct blow. 55...Qg4! is forced, when Black is not worse: 56.Qe2 (56.Qg2 Qd1+ 57.Kh2 f5 58.f3
Nc3=; 56.Qxg4 hxg4 57.Ne2 Ke7 58.Kg2 Nd2 59.Nd4 Ne4 60.Ne2=) 56...Qxe2 57.Nxe2 Ke7 58.f3 Nc5 59.Nc3 Kd6
60.Kf2 Nd3+ 61.Ke2 Nb2 62.Kd2 Kc5 63.Kc2 Nc4 64.Kd3 Nb2+ 65.Kc2 Nc4=.
56.Qf6!
[FEN "5k2/3q1p2/1p3Qp1/pPn4p/
P2N3P/4P1P1/5P2/6K1 b - - 0 56"]
56...Nxa4
56...Qc7 57.e4 Ke8 58.Qh8+ Ke7 59.Nc6+ Kd7 60.Qf8 Ke6 61.Qe8+ Kf6 62.Qh8+ Ke6 63.Qd4 Nd7 64.Qd5+ Kf6
65.Qg5+ Kg7 66.Qe7 Qc8 67.Nd8+-.
[FEN "2KQ4/5p1k/3N2pp/4P3/7P/
1q1n2P1/1P6/8 w - - 0 55"]
[FEN "8/2Q2ppk/1p3n1p/1P2p3/8/
2N1P1PP/5PK1/2q5 b - - 0 35"]
Aronian solved his problems with one precise move. Can you do the same?
[FEN "6k1/p1q1pp2/PpNp2p1/1PnQ3p/
5P2/4P2P/6P1/6K1 w - - 0 34"]
[FEN "8/4Qnk1/2q3p1/ppN1p1P1/
8/1P3P2/4K3/8 b - - 0 55"]
Copyright 2014 Karsten Mueller and BrainGamz, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Endgame Corner #158 by Karsten Mueller
Race of the Passed Pawns
Races and pawn breakthroughs should always be calculated carefully and sometimes a retreat is the real point.
55.Bxg6!
56.Kxd3 (56.cxd3? b3-+) 56...Kxf5 57.c5 Nxf4+=; 55.Kxd4? cxb3 56.cxb3 Kxf5 57.Kc4 Nxf4 58.Kxb4=.
55...d3
56.Ke3!!
[FEN "8/8/5kB1/8/1pp2P2/1P1pK3/2P5/8 b - - 0 56"]
56...Kxg6
56...dxc2 57.Bxc2+-.
57.bxc4
57.cxd3? cxb3 58.Kd2 Kf5 59.Kc1 Kxf4 60.Kb2 Ke3 61.Kxb3 Kxd3 62.Kxb4=.
58...b3 is met by 59.c5 Kf5 60.c6 Ke6 61.f5+ Kd6 62.f6 Kxc6 63.f7+-.
52.Ke3!!
This surprising retreat is not only the only move to win, but also the only move that does not lose.
In the direct races Black is quick enough: 52.g6? c2 53.g7 c1Q 54.g8Q+ Ka7 55.Qf7+ Kb6 56.Qe6+ Qc6+ 57.Qxc6+
Kxc6 58.Ke3 Rd6 59.h5 Kd7-+; 52.f4? c2 53.Bxc2 Rxc2 54.g6 b3 55.g7 Rc8-+.
52...Rb2
White's passed pawns also prevail after 52...Rd8 53.g6 for example 53...Rc8 54.Kd3 (54.h5?! c2 55.Bxc2 Rxc2 56.g7
Rc8 57.h6 b3 58.h7 b2 59.g8Q b1Q 60.Qxc8+ Kxc8 61.h8Q++- wins as well, but is very bad technique of course.)
54...c2 55.Bxc2 Rd8+ 56.Ke4+-.
53.g6 c2
54.Kd2! 1-0
55.Nxf7!
55...Qc4+
56.Qc7 Qa6+
56...Nxb2 57.Nd6+ Qxc7+ 58.Kxc7 Nd3 59.e6 Nb4 60.e7 Nd5+ 61.Kd8 Nxe7 62.Kxe7+-.
58...Qa5+ 59.Qc7 Qa8+ 60.Ke7 Kg7 61.Nd8 Qe4 62.Ke8+ Kg8 63.Qf7+ Kh8 64.e6 Ne5 65.Qf4+-.
59.Kxc8 Kg7 60.e6 Kf6 61.Kd7 Nc5+ 62.Kd6 Nxe6 63.Nxh6 Nd4 64.b4 g5 65.h5 1-0
Aronian solved his problems with one precise move. Can you do the same?
35...Ne4!
This forces White to give perpetual check. 35...e4? 36.Qe5 Qc2 37.Nd5 Nxd5 38.Qxd5 Qd3 39.Qc6 Qd8 40.Qxe4++/-.
36.Qxe5 Nxc3 37.Qf5+ Kg8 38.Qc8+ Kh7 39.Qf5+ Kh8 40.Qc8+ Kh7 ½-½
38.Qh1! Qg7
38...Nf6 39.Qh8 Kf7 40.Qxf6+ Qxf6 41.Nxf6 Kxf6 42.Kf2 Ke5 43.Ke3+-; 38...Nf8 39.Qh6+-.
39.Qh2 e5 40.Ng3 Qg6 41.Nf5+ Ke6 42.Qh1 e4 43.Qh2 exf3+ 44.exf3 Kd7 45.Kf2 Nf8 46.Qe5!
[FEN "5n2/3k4/1p4q1/p1p1QNp1/P5P1/1P3P2/5K2/8 b - - 0 46"]
34.Qg5! Kf8?
Now the undermining f4-f5 is very strong. 34...Kg7! is more tenacious, but White's initiative remains strong; e.g., 35.f5
Ne4 36.Qf4 Nc5 (36...Nf6 37.e4) 37.Qh4
35.f5 gxf5 36.Qxh5 Ke8 37.Qxf5 Nxa6 38.Qh7 Nc5 39.Qg8+ Kd7 40.Qxf7 Kc8 41.h4 e5 42.Qe8+ Kb7 43.Nd8+ 1-0
55...Kg8!
56.Ne6 Qc2+ 57.Ke1 Qc1+ 58.Ke2 Qc2+ 59.Ke1 Qc1+ 60.Ke2 ½-½
57...Nd5! 58.Qh4?
58.Qd3 is the lesser evil, but Black has a solid extra pawn after 58...Qxe5.
Heinrich Rolletschek has made an amazing discovery regarding the famous bishop ending Pinter-Alterman, Beersheba
1991, and he has kindly allowed me to publish his findings. I also want to thank Harald Grafenhofer for his help. Now
159.01 Diagram 1
[FEN "8/8/2B2k2/1p3p2/1Pb2P2/8/6K1/8 w - - 0 99"]
Diagram 1 shows a position from the game Pinter-Alterman, Beersheba 1991, which had previously been analyzed by
the winner, Pinter, in Encyclopedia of Chess Endings, in Nunn’s Chess Endings, and in Fundamental Chess Endings by
Müller and Lamprecht. All these authors conclude that Black could have drawn with correct defense. The goal of this
article is to show that Diagram 1 is already winning for White. In fact White always wins with the white king on d4, the
black king on d6, and bishops on light squares, unless of course Black to move can capture the white bishop. (In
Diagram 1 the kings will immediately move to d4 and d6, respectively.)
159.02 Diagram 2
[FEN "8/8/B1bk4/1p3p2/1P1K1P2/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
In order to consider the most complex case, we start with Diagram 2, where the white bishop is temporarily trapped in
the upper left corner region, and where some effort is needed to set it free. Once this is accomplished, it is clear that
White can reach Diagram 3, which is actually a natural starting point for the analysis.
159.03 Diagram 3
[FEN "8/3b4/3k4/1p3p2/1P1K1P2/3B4/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
If it is Black to move in Diagram 3, then he loses a pawn right away, but at first White can reach this position only with
White to move. As preceding analysis by Nunn and others shows, White wins if he manages to get his bishop to the
central square d5; in this case Black cannot prevent the loss of a pawn, no matter where his bishop is placed. Black’s
best defence is to answer the move Bd5 by Bd7, reaching Diagram 4.
159.04 Diagram 4
[FEN "8/3b4/3k4/1p1B1p2/1P1K1P2/8/8/8 b - - 0 125"]
In the game Alterman resigned when the loss of a pawn was imminent, and Nunn says nothing as to how White should
go about realizing the extra pawn. Indeed, at this point it is justified to assess the game as won for White on general
grounds; after all, the pawns are sufficiently far apart, and Black’s remaining pawn is still blocked on a white square.
Even so, it seems that the win is still not entirely trivial and that it is worthwhile investigating how play may continue.
(Of course, this ending is also covered by the recently constructed tablebase for seven-piece endgames.)
159.05 Diagram 5
[FEN "8/3b4/3k4/1p6/1P1K1P2/3B4/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
Consider Diagram 5. (If Black gives up the Pb5 rather than Pf5, the winning procedure is similar.) We will describe a
winning method which is certainly not the only one but absolutely reliable. White starts with the move f5, then moves
the king towards g5 and threatens to support the passed pawn. This forces the black king to move in front of the Pf5,
allowing White to break through to the pawn b5 and reach a position akin to Diagram 6.
159.06 Diagram 6
[FEN "8/3b4/8/1pK1kP2/1P6/3B4/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
Here White still has to work a little bit, since 1.Bxb5? Bxf5 does not win. However, after an appropriate preparation a
pawn exchange does win. As a matter of fact, the main variation starting from Diagram 2 does not lead to Diagram 6,
but to a related position which is reached from Diagram 6 after the moves
The preceding discussion indicates that the winning procedure in Diagram 2 consists of the following five stages:
Stage 1: White gets the bishop out of the upper left corner region and reaches Diagram 3, first with White to move.
Stage 2: White gets the bishop to the central square d5. (This is the intermediate goal which, according to earlier
authors, White is unable to accomplish.)
Stage 3: White forces the win of a pawn, typically after reaching Diagram 3 with Black to move.
Stage 4: After winning the Pf5, White makes a bypass maneuver, threatening to support the passed pawn, and thus
forces a breakthrough to the Pb5.
Stage 5: White exchanges the Pf5 for Black’s Pb5 such that a winning endingB+P v˙B is reached.
Stage 3 is dealt with in detail by previous authors, and there is no need to repeat their analysis; we will give only one
main line for this part of the winning procedure.
Stages 1 and 4 are fairly straightforward and may be dealt with without considering many different lines; it is not hard to
establish that White can always achieve the respective intermediate goals.
Stage 5 is not complicated either, but it involves the kind of play where concrete analysis is called for.
Not surprisingly, the central part of our analysis concerns Stage 2. As noted, previous authors claim that White cannot
achieve the specified intermediate goal, so what about it? Nunn writes: "You will often find attempts in endgame books
to analyse such positions based on the kind of corresponding-squares analysis we saw in ...In this type of analysis, the
various positions of the bishops are examined to see which form reciprocal zugzwangs. The trouble with this method is
that play is often not restricted to bishop manoeuvres; for example, in ... a triangulation by the white king played a
crucial role in one line and without this White would not be able to win. Therefore the assumption that king
manoeuvres will play no part may not be justified and can give rise to incorrect conclusions."
With this remark Nunn refers to his analysis of Stage 3, but, as it turns out, it also provides the hint for Stage 2! For this
stage earlier analysis did not consider a temporary retreat of the white king, but with bishop manoeuvres alone White is
indeed unable to achieve his goal.
At first glance it may seem surprising that a temporary king retreat is the key to White’s success during Stage 2. Given
that bishop manoeuvres are not sufficient, it may appear that Black can defend himself by the following strategy:
answer any bishop move by a bishop move as if the kings remained on d4 and d6.
answer a retreat of the white king by a retreat of the black king.
when the white king moves in the background, then move the black king in the background while keeping contact
with the square d6.
when the white king moves back to d4, then move the black king back to d6.
However, this defence strategy fails for a subtle reason. The point is that whenever the black king moves to a white
square, it causes some damage to the defence: sometimes the black bishop is obstructed, and sometimes the black king
is exposed to a bishop check, which may likewise upset the balance. On the other hand, if the black king only moves on
black squares, then he can return to d6 only in an even number of moves, and this allows White to apply triangulation.
In spite of the above remark by Nunn, we feel that it makes sense to consider corresponding squares in this ending, as
applicable for Stage 2. Of course, the meaning of corresponding squares has to be defined appropriately; they are
characterized as follows. Suppose that the white king is on d4, the black king on d6, the white bishop on a square X,
and it is White to move. Then the following assertions hold:
(1) If the black bishop is not standing on one of the squares corresponding to X, then White can at least finish Stage 2
with bishop moves alone; in some cases White can even directly win a pawn or reach some position which occurs
(2) If the black bishop is standing on one of the squares corresponding to X, then White cannot achieve any of the goals
specified under (1) without a temporary retreat of the king.
With kings on d4 and d6, it is always Black’s best defence to move his bishop to a corresponding square. Similarly, with
kings one move away from d4 and d6, respectively (and not on d5), Black should either move the bishop to a
corresponding square or else play Kd6, otherwise White achieves his goal after playing Kd4, forcing Kd6. Thus
knowledge of corresponding squares provides valuable help for the analysis. Moreover, we may immediately stop
analysis in any secondary line as soon as a position is reached with kings on d4 and d6, White to move and Black’s
bishop not on a corresponding square, provided that assertion (1) above has been established for the case in question.
The following are the most important pairs of corresponding squares:
d3 v. d7
e2 v. c6
f1 v. e8
f3 v. c4
g2 v. f7
h3 v. g6
During Stage 2 the white bishop will not move to any square other than d3, e2, f1, f3, g2 and h3 until d5 is occupied,
except for one line where a pawn is won directly. This is not a coincidence: for every other position of the white bishop
there exists more than one corresponding square, and moving the bishop to such a position is not the right way to
challenge the defence. A complete list of all corresponding squares may be used for a proof of assertion (2) above, but
this plays no role for our analysis. Let us now prove assertion (1) for the corresponding squares in our table.
Trivially, d7 is the only square corresponding to d3. Next, assume that the white bishop is on g2. In order to keep it from
d5, the black bishop must be on the diagonal a2-g8, but if it is not standing on f7, then White can win a pawn
immediately. For instance, with the black bishop on c4 there follows 1.Bh3 Be6 2.Bf1 Bd7 3.Bd3.
With the white bishop on f1, it is clear that a corresponding square can only be c6 or e8. However, with the black bishop
on c6 there follows 1.Be2 Be8 2.Bf3 Bf7 3.Bg2, and the black bishop must leave the corresponding square. This line
also shows that c6 is the only square corresponding to e2. With the white bishop on f3, c4 is clearly the only square
where the black bishop covers d5, is ready to answer Bg2 by Bf7, and where it prevents the move Be2. If the black
bishop were on a2, b3, e6 or g8, then 1. Be2 would win a pawn right away.
Finally, consider the white bishop on h3. The black bishop must be on d7 or g6, in order to protect the Pf5 and answer
Bf1 by Be8. However, with the black bishop on d7 there follows 1.Bg2, and Black must let the bishop to d5, since
1...Be6?! would lose a pawn after 2.Bf1 Bd7 3.Bd3. Let us now turn to a detailed analysis of the ending, starting from
Diagram2.
159.02 Diagram 2
[FEN "8/8/B1bk4/1p3p2/1P1K1P2/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
At this point White can only make progress by means of a king maneuver, of course, since the bishop can only return to
a6. The idea is simple: by making a little round tour and returning to d4 in an odd number of moves (namely five),
White passes the move to Black, assuming that the black king moves between d6 and e7 so as to keep the white bishop
trapped in the upper left region.
At move four Black will also have the option of moving the king to d5, threatening to penetrate White’s camp, but here,
too, he will be forced back to d6 immediately. Otherwise every other move by Black allows the white bishop to get free
more quickly. At the moment Black cannot play 2...Kd5?, of course, since the resulting pawn ending would be lost
immediately (3.Bb7+ Kc4 4.Bxe4 fxe4 5.f5 Kd5 6.f6 Ke6 7.Kxe4 Kxf6 8.Kd5).
Instead of the text move, 2.Kc3 would be less accurate, as after 2...Ke7 3.Kd2 Kd6 White cannot play 4.Ke2?? Kd5.
Instead White can transpose to the main line by 4.Ke3.
5.Kc3 Kd6
Obviously, any bishop move would be answered by 6.Bb7+, and 5...Kc6 by 6.Be6.
6.Kd4 Kc7
After 6...Bc2(b1) 7.Bb7 the white bishop also gets free, while other moves would even lose the Pf5 right away.
[FEN "8/8/3k4/1p3p2/1P1KbP2/1B6/8/8 b - - 0 8"]
8...Bb7
Black already has to play accurately: the text move is the only one which forces White to go through Stage 2 of the
winning procedure. After 8...Bb1?!, the white bishop can already occupy d5, while other moves along the diagonal a8-
h1 allow White an immediate win of a pawn: 8...Bc6?! 9.Bc2 Bd7 10.Bd3, or 8...Bf3?! 9.Bc2 Bg4 10.Bd3.
Now Diagram 3 has been reached. At this point we regard Stage 1 as finished, although the white bishop actually got
free four moves ago.
11.Bf1 Be8
It was shown above that e8 is the only square corresponding to f1, and how White gets through Stage 2 after 11...Bc6.
Now a suitable moment has arrived for White to apply a king maneuver in the rear.
12.Kd3!
[FEN "4b3/8/3k4/1p3p2/1P3P2/3K4/8/5B2 b - - 0 12"]
12...Kd7
All things considered, this is the most tenacious defence for Black. There are numerous alternatives, but they all prove
insufficient:
(a) After 12...Bg6 or Bh5, there follows 13.Ke3 Be8 14.Kd4. White has successfully applied triangulation, and the black
bishop must leave the corresponding square.
(b) After 12...Bf7?!, White can again proceed as in line (a), but in this case he can win even more quickly by 13.Bh3
Be6 (13...Bg6? 14.Kd4 Bh7 15.Bf1) 14.Kd4 Bd7 15.Bg2, and Black must let the white bishop to d5, since 15...Be6?
(c) After 12...Bc6 13. Bh3 Be4(d7) 14.Kd4 the black bishop cannot get to g6.
(d) 12...Bd7 is the most tenacious of the bishop moves, but again White answers 13. Bh3, intending to win with 14.Kd4
as in line (c). Black can prevent this only by 13...Kd5, but after 14.Bg2+ Kd6 15.Kd4 he must let the white bishop to
d5, as in line (c). If he plays 14...Ke6 instead of 14...Kd6, then the white bishop also reaches d5 after 15.Kd4.
(e) 12...Kd5(c6) 13.Bg2+ Kd6?! 14.Bh3 loses a pawn after 14...Bg6 15.Kd4 Bh7 16.Bf1 or 14...Bd7 15.Kd4 Be6 16.Bf1
Bd7 17.Bd3. Therefore it is better for Black to move the king to a different square on move thirteen (13...Kd5-e6 or
Kc6-c7), but this allows the white bishop again to reach d5.
(f) 12...Ke6 is again answered by 13.Bg2, intending to get the bishop to d5 after 14.Kd4. Black can be prevent this only
by 13...Kd6, which leads to line (e), or by 13...Bf7, which also loses a pawn after 14.Bc6. This is yet another example
where a black king move to a white square obstructs the bishop.
(g) 12...Kc7 or 12...Ke7 is answered by 13.Kc3!, putting Black in zugzwang. Black can no longer play 13...Kd7, and
after 13...Kd6 14.Kd4 or 13...Bd7(c6) 14.Kd4 Kd6 White has successfully applied triangulation: the black bishop must
leave the corresponding square or has left it already. It remains to consider 13...Kc7-c6 or 13...Ke7-e6, but these moves
lead to lines (e) or (f), respectively; here the fact that the white king is placed on c3 rather than d3 plays no role.
13.Be2
White takes advantage of the fact that the black bishop cannot move to the corresponding square c6.
13...Kd6
This is now the only move which requires further consideration. In every other case there follows 14.Kd4, and after
14...Kd6 the black bishop would be on the wrong square. Now, however, Black would be fine after 14.Kd4?! Bc6.
14.Kc3
White tries to apply triangulation, taking advantage of the fact that the black king has already returned to d6 in two
moves. After 14...Bc6 15.Kd4 or 14...Kc6 15.Kd4 Kd6 the goal has been achieved: the black bishop has left or must
leave the corresponding square.
14...Bd7
Black tries to respond by bishop triangulation: after 15.Kd4?! Bc6 White would have to start over again. After 14...Bc6
or any king move other than 14...Kd5 there follows 15.Kd4, as shown in the preceding note. Thus it only remains to
consider 14...Kd5, which is answered by the obvious reply 15.Bf3+. Now 15...Ke6 16.Kd4 allows the white bishop to
reach d5, while after 15...Kd6 16.Kd4 the black bishop cannot move to the corresponding square c4.
15.Bf1!
[FEN "8/3b4/3k4/1p3p2/1P3P2/2K5/8/5B2 b - - 0 15"]
The bishop returns to f1 so as to frustrate bishop triangulation by Black. Now 15...Bc6 is answered by 16.Bh3 Bd7(e4)
17.Kd4, and the black bishop cannot bet to g6.
15...Kd5
This allows White to finish Stage 2 as in line (e) in the note on move 12. However, Black has no better alternative. After
any other king move there follows 16.Kd4 Kd6 17.Bd3, and any bishop move other than 15...Bc6 is likewise answered
by 16.Kd4, whereupon the black bishop cannot move to e8.
18.Bd5 Bd7
We have reached Diagram 4, so Stage 3 of the winning process begins. As noted earlier, this stage was analyzed in
detail by previous authors, so we only show one main line.
19.Bb3 Bc8 20.Bf7 Bb7 21.Be8 Ba6 22.Kd3 Ke7 23.Bc6 Kd6 24.Bf3 Bc8 25.Kd4 Bd7 26.Bd1 Be8 27.Bc2 Bd7
28.Bd3
[FEN "8/3b4/3k4/1p3p2/1P1K1P2/3B4/8/8 b - - 0 28"]
The end of Stage 3 is reached, and Black cannot keep his pawns any longer. We only consider a line where Black gives
up the Pf5, for in the other case the winning procedure is similar.
28...Be8
Obviously it would be worse to play 28...Kc6, since after 29.Ke5 White gains not only a pawn but also an active king
position.
29.Bxf5 Bc6 30.Bd3 Bd7 31.f5 Bc6 32.Be2 Be8 33.Ke4 Bd7 34.Kf4
[FEN "8/3b4/3k4/1p3P2/1P3K2/8/4B3/8 b - - 0 34"]
34...Be8
There was hardly any need to consider other options for Black during the preceding moves: clearly White can always
move the king to g5, threatening to support his passed pawn, which ensures an easy win unless Black can get his king
to f8 in time. The only thing White has to watch out for is a counterattack against the Pb4, and indeed, after 34...Kd5
(instead of 34...Be8) Black threatens 35...Bxf5 36.Kxf5 Kd4, eliminating White’s last pawn. However, in this case there
follows 35.f6, when 35...Ke6 36.Bg4+ or 35...Be8 36.Bxb5 loses immediately, while 35...Kd6 36.Kg5 is also hopeless.
35.Bf1
This is a waiting move: after 35.Kg5 Ke7 White finds it more difficult to make further progress. In this case 36.f6+ Kf8
leads to a position similar to the well-known endgame Santasiere-Kashdan (Boston 1938), where minor details decide
about win or draw. Generally speaking, White can win more safely if he leaves the pawn on f5, where the white bishop
can protect it and at the same time attack the Pb5. After the text-move a counterattack is again insufficient for Black,
for instance 35...Kd5 36.Kg5 Kd4 37.f6 Kc3 38.Bxb5 Bf7 39.Be8 Bxe8 40.b5, and one of the white pawns will
promote. This line shows why White played 35.Bf1 rather than 35.Bd3. The bishop sacrifice 39.Be8 is not the only way
to win, but the quickest one. If in this line Black plays 36...Ke5 (instead of 36...Kd4), then there follows 37.f6 Ke6
38.Bd3! Kd6 39.Kf5, and Black no longer has any reasonable move.
35...Ke7
Black’s retreats the king and gives up the square e5, but this is now his best course. The alternative 35...Bd7?! also does
not prevent White from breaking through with the king to the Pb5, this time by threatening to support his passed pawn:
36.Kg5 Ke7 37.Kg6 Kf8 38.Kf6. With the king marching along the sixth rank, the win is straightforward: 38...Be8
39.Ke6 Bc6 40.Bd3 Be8 41.Kd6 Kf7 42.Be4 Kf6. In the main line this position will be reached two moves later, and
the win requires one more slight subtlety.
39...Be8 40.Kd5 leads to the position which is reached three moves later in the main line.
39.Kd5 Be8
[FEN "4b3/4k3/8/1p1K1P2/1P2B3/8/8/8 w - - 0 40"]
Now Black has reached the best defensive setup against the current arrangement of White’s pieces. White has to pass
the move to Black by means of triangulation with the bishop.
40.Bd3 Bd7
After 40...Kf6 White can transpose to the main line by 41.Kc5, when Black must reply 41...Bd7, but slightly quicker is
41.Kd6 Bh5 42.Bxb5 Kxf5 43.Bd7+ or 41...Kf7 42.Be4 Kf6 43.Bc6. In both cases the main line is again reached, but
41.Bc2 Be8
Again Black has nothing better: 41...Kf6 42.Kd6 Be8 43.Bd3 or 41...Kf7 42.Kd6 Be8 43.Be4 leads to the preceding
note.
42.Be4 Bd7
After 42...Kf6 43.Kc5, the move Bd7 just leads to a transposition, while in the case of 43...Ke5 44.Bc6 Bh5 45.Bd7!
White wins the Bb5 without giving up the Pf5. However, in the latter line White must avoid 45.Bxb5? Kxf5 46.Bd7+
Kf6, and even though White can advance his last pawn, Black draws. The reason is that the white king is not placed
well enough on c5; with the king on d6 White would win easily, as it ultimately happens in the main line.
43.Kc5 Kf6
[FEN "8/3b4/5k2/1pK2P2/1P2B3/8/8/8 w - - 0 44"]
Black is again in zugzwang. Other king moves are also answered by 44.Kd6, followed by Bc6 or f6, while in the case of
43...Be8 there follows of course 44.Bc6.
44.Kd6 Be8
No further analysis is needed: by pushing the pawn White wins without any further problem.
A really amazing piece of work by Rolletschek! I want to end the column with the actual game.
Beersheba, 1991
[FEN "8/8/3kb3/1p3p2/1P1K1P2/5B2/8/8 b - - 0 122"]
99.Bb7 Bd3 100.Kf2 Ke7 101.Bc8 Kd6 102.Ke3 Be4 103.Kd4 Kc7 104.Be6 Kd6 105.Bf7 Bc6 106.Bh5 Bd5 107.Bd1
Bb7 108.Bb3 Be4 109.Bd1 Bb7 110.Be2 Bc6 111.Bf1 Be8 112.Bg2 Bf7 113.Bf3 Be8 114.Bd5 Bd7 115.Bg8 Bc6
116.Bh7 Bd7 117.Bg6 Be6 118.Kd3 Bd7 119.Bh5 Be6 120.Kc3 Kd5 121.Bf3+ Kd6 122.Kd4
[FEN "8/8/3kb3/1p3p2/1P1K1P2/5B2/8/8 b - - 0 122"]
122...Bf7?!
123.Bg2 Be8 124.Bb7 Bd7 125.Bd5 Be8 126.Bb3 Bd7 127.Bd1 Be6 1-0
[FEN "8/8/8/4P3/2b5/5kpp/2R5/6K1 b - - 0 79"]
Usually a rook is stronger than a bishop in a pure endgame, but here Black is too quick.
79...Be2! 80.Rc3+
80.e6 h2+ 81.Kh1 Kf2 82.Rxe2+ Kxe2 83.Kg2 h1Q+ 84.Kxh1 Kf2 85.e7 g2+ 86.Kh2 g1Q+ 87.Kh3 Qg3#; 80.Rxe2
Kxe2 81.e6 h2+ 82.Kg2 h1Q+ 83.Kxh1 Kf2 84.e7 g2+ 85.Kh2 g1Q+ 86.Kh3 Qg3#.
80...Kg4!
[FEN "8/8/8/4P3/6k1/2R3pp/4b3/6K1 w - - 0 81"]
82.Kh1 Bf3+ 83.Rxf3 Kxf3 84.e7 Kf2 85.e8Q g2+ 86.Kxh2 g1Q+ 87.Kh3 Qg3#.
82...Bf1+!!
[FEN "8/8/4P3/8/6k1/2R3p1/6Kp/5b2 w - - 0 83"]
83.Kh1
83.Kxf1 h1Q+ 84.Ke2 Qe4+ 85.Re3 Qc2+ 86.Ke1 Qf2+ 87.Kd1 Qxe3-+.
83...Kh3 0-1
Andreas Huss suggested to coin the term anti-bodycheck to describe the bodycheck avoidance of the attacking king:
57.Kf5?
Now White's king will be caught between a rock and a hard place.
57.Kg5! was the only way to draw: 57...d1Q 58.Rxd1+ Kxd1 59.g4 Kd2 (59...Rf2 60.Kh6 Ke2 61.g5 Kf3 62.g6 Kg4
63.g7 Rh2+ 64.Kg6 Rg2=) 60.Kf6 (Baburin in Chess Today 4908) 60...Rf2+ 61.Ke6 Rg2 62.Kf5 Ke3 63.g5 Kd4 (Here
Black's try to play for anti-bodycheck (to avoid White's bodycheck) with 63...Kf3 64.g6 Kg3 is too slow because of
65.g7 Kh4 66.Kf6 Kh5 67.Kf7=) 64.g6=
[FEN "8/8/6P1/5K2/3k4/8/6r1/8 b - - 0 64"]
57...Rf2+! 58.Ke5
After 58.Kg5 d1Q 59.Rxd1+ Kxd1 60.g4 Ke2 (Baburin), White's king is cut off and can not give a bodycheck.
[FEN "8/8/8/6K1/6P1/8/4kr2/8 w - - 0 61"]
61.Kg6 Ke3 62.g5 Ke4 63.Kg7 Kf5 64.g6 Rg2-+; 58.Ke4!? is most tenacious: 58...Rg2 59.Kf3 Rg1 60.Re8+ Kd1
61.Kf2 (61.g4 Kc2 62.Rd8 d1Q+ 63.Rxd1 Kxd1 64.Kf4 Ke2 65.g5 Kf2!-+ transposes to the game with the only
difference that Black's rook is on g1, which does not change matters.) 61...Rh1 62.Rc8 Re1! 63.g4 Re4 64.g5 Re5 65.g6
Rf5+ 66.Ke3 Ke1 67.Rd8 d1Q 68.Rxd1+ Kxd1 69.Ke4 Rg5-+.
[FEN "8/8/8/6P1/5K2/8/4k1r1/8 b - - 0 62"]
62...Kf2!
Black's king prepares the anti-bodycheck. 62...Kd3? runs into the bodycheck 63.Kf5 Kd4 64.g6=.
71...Kb3!!
A) 73...Kd6 74.Kf6 c3 75.e7 c2 (75...Kd7 76.Kf7 c2 77.e8Q++-) 76.e8Q c1Q 77.Qd8+ Kc5 78.Qc7++-.
B) 73...c3 74.e7 c2 75.e8Q c1Q 76.Qd7+ Kc4 77.Qc6++-; 71...Kd3? 72.e6 c4 73.e7 c3 74.e8Q c2 75.Qe3++-.
White can not exploit that Black's king is still on b3 and his own king is just outside the winning zone.
After 74...Kb2?? 75.Ke3 c2, White's king would be just inside the winning zone:
[FEN "4Q3/8/8/8/8/4K3/1kp5/8 w - - 0 76"]
75.Qe1 Kb2
[FEN "8/8/8/8/5K2/8/1kp5/4Q3 w - - 0 76"]
[FEN "8/7P/4R1K1/3p4/3P2r1/4p3/1k6/8 w - - 0 85"]
85.Kh5 Rg1
86.Rxe3 Rh1+ 87.Kg6 Rg1+ 88.Kf7 Rh1 89.Kg8 Rg1+ 90.Kh8 Rg4 91.Re5 Rxd4 92.Kg7 Rg4+ (92...Rh4 93.Rxd5+-
) 93.Kh6 1-0
Aronian resigned as Carlsen can use his rook to shield his king from the rain of rook checks.
Download Endgame Corner #159 (Ebook) in ChessBase, PGN, and PDF formats. Viewable in Ipad, Itouch, Kindle,
ChessBase and other PGN and PDF viewers.
Copyright 2014 Karsten Müller and ChessEdu.org. All Rights Reserved.
Endgame Corner #160
by Karsten Müller
It is a coincidence that not only FM Dr Heinrich Rolletschek has sent me a deep analysis of a same colored bishop
ending, which was published in
Endgame Corner #159, but also GM Efstratios Grivas and Harald Fietz. I want to thank
them that they have given permission to publish it in my column. I want to start with another example:
[FEN "8/1b4k1/3p3p/p1pP4/PpP2PK1/1P1B4/7P/8 w - - 0 51"]
White's extra pawn can be converted, but care is required as White's king can not invade easily:
51.Bf5!?
The direct 51.f5? violates the endgame principle do not rush because of51...Bc8 52.Kh5 Bd7 53.f6+ Kxf6 54.Kxh6 Bh3
55.Kh5 Ke5 56.Kh4 Kd4 57.Bg6 Bf1 58.Kg5 Bh3 59.Kh4 Bf1=.
51...Kf6 52.Be6?
A very unfortunate square for the bishop. 52.Bd7! wins as White's king can invade sooner or later, e.g. 52...Ba6
(52...Kg6 53.Kh4 Ba6 54.Bg4 Kf6 55.Kh5 Kg7 56.h4 Bb7 57.f5 Ba6 58.f6+ Kxf6 59.Kxh6+-) 53.Kh5 Kg7 (53...Bxc4
54.bxc4 b3 55.Be8 b2 56.Bg6+-) 54.Bf5 (54.f5? Kf6 55.Kxh6 Bxc4-+) 54...Kf6 55.Bg4 Kg7 56.Bd7 Bb7 57.Bg4 Ba6
58.f5 Bb7 59.f6+ Kxf6 60.Kxh6 Ke5 61.Kg5+-.
52...Ba6!
[FEN "8/8/b2pBk1p/p1pP4/PpP2PK1/1P6/7P/8 w - - 0 53"]
53.h4
53.Kh5 Bxc4 54.bxc4 b3 55.Bg8 Kg7 56.Be6 Kf6=; 53.Bd7? Bxc4 54.bxc4 b3 55.Bf5 h5+-+.
53...Kg6
54.Kg3 Kf6 55.Bh3 Bb7 56.Bd7 Ke7 57.Be6 Kf6 58.Kg4 Ba6 59.Bd7 Ke7 60.Bf5
61...Bb7? 62.Kh5 Kg7 63.f5 Ba6 64.f6+ Kxf6 65.Kxh6 Bb7 (65...Bxc4 66.bxc4 b3 67.Bg8+-) 66.h5 Ba6 67.Bd7 Ke7
68.Bh3 Kf6 69.Bg4 Bb7 70.Kh7 Kg5 71.h6 Kxg4 72.Kg7 Bxd5 73.cxd5 c4 74.h7 cxb3 75.h8Q b2 76.Qh7+-.
62.Kf3 Kf6 63.Ke3 Ke7 64.Ke4 Kf6 65.Bd7 Ke7 66.Bh3 Kf6 67.Kf3 Bb7 68.Bd7 Ba6 69.Kg4 Ke7 70.Bf5 Kf6
71.Bc2 Bc8+ 72.Kh5 Kg7 73.f5 Bd7! 74.Kg4 1/2-1/2
The following example is by Efstratios Grivas from his forthcoming book The Grandmaster Program. I hand the
microphone over to him:
Athens, 26.02.2007
[FEN "6k1/2b2pp1/7p/p3p3/Pp2P3/1P6/1B3PPP/6K1 w - - 0 1"]
This type of endgame is always very pleasant for White. Black's bad bishop and his weak a5- and e5-pawns make his
life miserable and put him in long defensive duties. White is not risking at all losing (only if he overdoes it!) but of
course the main question is if he can win. In such endgames it is 'hard' to claim that White is better; it must be proved
that he either wins or draw. In my opinion White has good chances, following a four-step plan:
1. Activate his king and place him in c4-square, from where he will threat to penetrate Black's camp, through the
weak lightsquares.
2. Activate his bishop.
3. Move his king to the kingside, trying to penetrate.
4. Use his kingside pawns to breakthrough in the kingside.
1.Kf1 Kf8?
The first two versions of this ending was published back in early 2007 (February & May). But in July 2014, GM
Gilberto Milos was kind enough to support the ending with some extra and very valuable analysis. Here he proposed
1...f6! , with the idea is to prevent the coming white f4 advance. The main, joined analysis, runs as: 2.Ke2 Kf7
[FEN "8/2b2kp1/5p1p/p3p3/Pp2P3/1P6/1B2KPPP/8 w - - 0 3"]
Now it looks like the white king will penetrate: A) 3.Bc1 is not doing much: 3...Ke6 4.Be3 Kd6 5.Kd3 (5.f4 exf4
6.Bxf4+ Kc6=) 5...Kc6 A1) 6.h4 h5!=; A2) 6.g3 g5 7.Kc4 Bd6 8.f3 h5 9.h3 Be7 10.f4 exf4 (10...g4=) 11.gxf4 g4
12.hxg4 hxg4=; A3) 6.Kc4 Bd6 7.g4 g5 8.f3 Be7 9.Bf2 Bd6 10.h4 Bf8 11.h5 Bd6 with a draw. If White becomes too
optimistic with 12.Bb6? , he loses after 12...Kxb6 13.Kd5 Bc5! (13...Bf8? 14.Ke6 Kc5 15.Kf7 Bd6 16.Kg7 Kd4 17.Kxh6
Kc3=) 14.Ke6 Kc6 15.Kxf6 Kd6; B) 3.Kd3! Bb6! 4.Kc4! (4.f3 Ke6 5.Kc4 Be3! (the point of Black΄s defence) 6.Kb5
Kd6 7.Kxa5 Kc5= as White cannot improve his position; his bishop is out of play...) 4...Bxf2 5.Kb5 Bd4 6.Bc1 f5!
(Black is obliged to get active: 6...Ke6? 7.Kxa5 Bc3 8.g4+-) 7.exf5 e4
[FEN "8/5kp1/7p/pK3P2/Pp1bp3/1P6/6PP/2B5 w - - 0 8"]
12.Kd3 h5 13.Be5 Ke7 14.h3 h4 15.Bf4 Kf6=) 9...g6! (9...Ba7? 10.Bb2 Bg1 11.h4+-) 10.fxg6+ Kxg6 11.Bf4 B2b1)
11...Bg1
B2b11) 12.h4 h5! 13.gxh5+ Kxh5 14.Bg5 (14.Bc7 Kxh4 15.Bxa5 Kg3 16.Bxb4 e3 17.a5 e2 18.a6 Kg2=)
14...Bf2 15.Bd8 Kg4 16.Bxa5 Bxh4 17.Bxb4 e3 18.a5 e2 19.a6 Bf2 20.Kd3 Kf3 21.Be1 Be3=; B2b12)
12.h3 Bf2! is
just transposing - the black bishop should stand on f2 - its only good square!; B2b2) 11...h5 12.h3 (12.gxh5+ Kxh5
13.Kd5 e3 14.Ke4 e2 15.Bg3 Kg4 16.Be1 Bc5 17.h3+ Kxh3 18.Kf3 Bb6 19.Kxe2 Kg4 20.Kd3 Kf3 21.Bh4 Bc7 22.Kc4
Ke4 23.Kb5 Kd3=) 12...hxg4 13.hxg4 B2b21)
13...Ba7? 14.Bc7 Kg5 15.Bxa5 Kxg4 16.Bxb4+-; B2b22) 13...Kf6?
14.Kb5 Bf2 (14...Bd8 15.Kc5! Ke6 16.Kd4+-) 15.Kxa5 e3 16.Kxb4 e2 17.Bd2+- .; B2b23) 13...Bf2!
[FEN "8/8/6k1/p7/PpK1pBP1/1P6/5b2/8 w - - 0 14"]
And White cannot improve: B2b231) 14.Kb5 e3 15.Kxa5 e2 16.Bd2 Be3! (16...e1Q? 17.Bxe1 Bxe1 18.Kb5+-) 17.Be1
Kg5 18.Kxb4 Kxg4 19.Kc4 Kf3 20.a5 Bf2 21.Bc3 Kg2! 22.b4 Kf1 23.b5 Be1 24.Bxe1 Kxe1 25.a6 Kd2 26.a7 e1Q
27.a8Q Qf1+=; B2b232) 14.Bc7 Kg5 15.Bxa5 Kxg4 16.Bxb4 e3 17.a5 Kf3 18.a6 e2= . So Black can achieve a draw,
after many only-moves and just for a tempo... Obviously the white b2-bishop is not in its ideal position.
2.Ke2 Ke7
It seems that 2...f6 is too late now because of3.Kd3 Bb6 4.Kc4 and White wins..
[FEN "8/2b2pp1/2k4p/p3p3/PpK1P3/1P6/1B3PPP/8 w - - 0 5"]
Forced. Allowing the white king to enter the queenside is an instant lose: 4...g6 5.Kb5 f5 6.Bc1 f4 7.f3 Kd7 8.Bd2 Kd6
9.Be1 Kd7 10.Bf2+-.
5.f4!
The first breakthrough. It is important for White to create some more weakness in Black's camp. This can only be the
g7-pawn, so White planned f4-f5 to fix it as a target of his darksquared bishop.
5...f6
5...exf4 loses in a 'quick' fashion: 6.Bxg7 h5 7.e5 Bb6 8.Bh6 Be3 9.Bg5! Bb6
(9...Bd2 10.Bd8) 10.Bxf4 Bc7 11.Kd4 .
Then White will create a passed pawn on the kingside.
6.f5
Fixing the new weakness, the black g7-pawn, as well the light square weaknesses in the kingside. Now all the black
pawns are placed as potentional targets of the darksquared white bishop.
8...h5 is the proposal of Karsen Müller. But after 9.g4 hxg4 10.hxg4 Bf2 11.g5 we have a transposition to a position
below - see (TP1).
9.g4
9...Bc5
[FEN "8/6p1/2k2p1p/p1b1pP2/PpK1P1P1/1P5P/8/2B5 w - - 0 10"]
Black cannot keep his bishop in the e1-h4 diagonal: 9...Bg3 10.Be3 Bf4 11.Bc5+- , as Black cannot protect his a- and g-
pawns at the same time..
10.Kd3!
It is too early to advance the kingside pawns with 10.h4? Bf2 11.g5 and now:
A) 11...fxg5? 12.hxg5 hxg5 (12...h5 13.f6 g6 14.f7 Bc5 15.Bb2+-) 13.Bxg5 Bb6 14.Be7+- .; B) b. 11...Bxh4? 12.gxh6
gxh6 13.Bxh6 Bg3 14.Bg7 Bh4 15.Bf8 Bg5 16.Be7 Kd7 17.Bc5 Kc6 18.Bf8 Bh4 19.Kd3 Kd7 20.Ke2 Kc6 21.Kf3 Kd7
22.Bg7 Ke7 23.Bh6 Kd7 24.Be3 Kc7 25.Kg4 Be1 26.Kh5+- .; C) 11...hxg5? 12.hxg5 (TP1) C1) 12...Bh4 13.g6 Bf2
14.Bh6+- or; C2) 12...Bg1 [the most stubborn defence] 13.Bd2! Bf2 (13...Bd4 14.Kd3 Kd7 15.Ke2 Ke7 16.Kf3 Kf7
17.Kg4 Bf2 18.Kh5 Bg1 19.Be1 Be3 20.Bh4 transposes to the main line) 14.Kd3 Kd7 15.Ke2 Bg1 16.Be1 Ke7
17.Bh4+-; C3) 12...Bc5 C3a) (now, as there is not much hope in the queenside, the white king starts his journey in
trying to enter the critical g6 square. After 13.g6? Black is holding as there is no entrance for the white king in the
kingside. The same applies for; C3b)
13.gxf6? gxf6 14.Bh6 C3b1) 14...Be7? 15.Bg7 Bd8 16.Bf8+- or; C3b2) 14...Bf2?
15.Bf8 Bh4 16.Kd3 Kd7 17.Ke2 Bg5 18.Kf3 Bh4 19.Bc5! (19.Kg4? Bf2 20.Kh5 Ke8 21.Bd6 Kd7 22.Bf8 Ke8=)
19...Kc6 20.Be3 Be1 21.Kg4 Kb7 22.Kh5 Kc6 23.Kg6 Bh4 24.Kf7 Bg5 25.Ba7 Bh4 26.Ke6 Bg5 27.Bf2+- .; C3b3)
14...Bd6! 15.Bg7 Be7 . White should avoid an early exchange in f6 at any cost; C3c) 13.Kd3! Be7 14.Ke2
C3c1)
14...fxg5 is not helping: 15.Kf3 Kd7 16.Kg4 Ke8 17.Bxg5 Bc5
(17...Bxg5 18.Kxg5 Kf7 19.Kg4 Kf6 20.Kh5 Kf7 21.Kg5
Ke7 22.Kg6 Kf8 23.f6+-) 18.Kh5 Bb6 19.Kg6 Kf8 20.f6 gxf6 21.Kxf6 Bd4 22.Ke6+- . The same goes on for; C3c2)
14...Kc5 15.Be3+ Kc6 16.Kf3 Kd7 17.Kg4 Ke8 18.Kh5 Kf7 19.Bb6; C3c3) 14...Bc5 (Karsten Mueller) 15.Kf3 Kd7
16.Kg4
(16.Be3? Bxe3 17.Kxe3 fxg5 18.Kf3 Kd6 19.Kg4 Kc5 20.Kxg5 Kd4 21.Kg6 Kxe4-+) 16...Ke8 17.Bd2 Ke7
18.Kh5 Kf7 19.Be1 is also analysed below - (TP2); C3c4) 14...Kd7 15.Be3 Bd8 16.Kf3 Ke8 17.Kg4 Kf7 18.Kh5 Bc7
19.Bc5! Bd8 20.Bd6 Bb6
[FEN "8/5kp1/1b1B1p2/p3pPPK/Pp2P3/1P6/8/8 w - - 0 21"]
White succeeded in entering with his bishop in the critical a3-f8 diagonal. Why this diagonal is so critical? Because
from there the white bishop can attack the weak g7-pawn (in case the black king goes to the queenside) and in the same
time the d6-pawn (in case of a future ...fxg5) or the a-pawn (in case the black bishop leaves the a5-d8 diagonal). This
means that the white king is free to act: 21.Kg4! (returning to the queenside!) 21...Ke8 ((alternatives as 21...g6 22.gxf6
Kxf6 23.fxg6 Kxg6 24.Bxe5+- or; 21...Bd8 22.Kf3 g6 23.gxf6 Bxf6 24.Bc7+- are easily losing))
22.Kf3 Bd8 (22...Kd7
23.Bf8 fxg5 24.Bxg7) 23.Bc5!
(putting Black into zugzwang. Wrong would be the 'attractive'
23.g6? Be7 24.Bc7 Bd8=)
23...Bc7
[FEN "4k3/2b3p1/5p2/p1B1pPP1/Pp2P3/1P3K2/8/8 w - - 0 24"]
(unfortunately for Black he cannot go on with the bishop's exchange: 23...Be7 24.Bxe7 Kxe7 25.Kg4 and the pawn
ending is won for White, as now his king can enter the g6 square) 24.gxf6! gxf6 25.Ke3 Kd7 26.Kd3 Bd8 (26...Kc6
27.Be7) 27.Kc4 Kc6 28.Bf8!
[FEN "3b1B2/8/2k2p2/p3pP2/PpK1P3/1P6/8/8 b - - 0 28"]
And Black is in zugzwang. Either he will lose his f6-pawn or he will allow the entrance of the white king. In both cases
White will easily win. It must be noted that even if it was White's turn to play, Black could not avoid defeat: 29.Bh6
Bc7 30.Bg7 Bd8 31.Bf8. The above analysis is very important, as it will guide us to the winning process, used in the
correct line with 10.Kd3.; D) d) 11...h5! the alternatives are: (this saving resource cannot be underestimated. The white
king loses his entrance in the kingside) 12.g6 Bc5 13.Bh6 Bf8 14.Be3 Be7= . But now, after 10.Kd3, the white king
intents to enter h5-square, from where he will help the advance of his kingside pawns.
10...Be7
[FEN "8/4b1p1/2k2p1p/p3pP2/Pp2P1P1/1P2B1KP/8/8 b - - 0 14"]
14...Bc5
The key to this ending lies in controlling the important g1-a7 diagonal. If White gets it, he is winning. So, Black's try is
understandable.
15.Bf2!
[FEN "8/6p1/2k2p1p/p1b1pP2/Pp2P1P1/1P4KP/5B2/8 b - - 0 15"]
15.Bd2 seems also to be winning: 15...Kd7 (15...Bd4? 16.Kh4 Kd6 17.Kh5 Ke7 18.Kg6 Kf8 19.h4+-) 16.Kh4 Ke7
17.Kh5 Kf7 18.h4 Bd4 19.g5 hxg5 20.hxg5
A) 20...fxg5 21.Bxg5 Bb6 22.Bh4 Bc7 23.Bf2 Bd8 24.Be3 Bc7 25.Bc5
Bd8 (25...Kf6 26.Ba7 Kf7 27.Kg4 g6 28.Bf2 Bd8 29.Kf3 Bc7 30.Bh4 Bb6 31.Bg5 Bc7 32.Ke3 Bb6+ 33.Kd3 Bc7
34.Kc4) 26.Bd6 Kf6 27.Kg4 and the white king comes back to c4, entering the queenside; B) 20...Bc5 (TP2) 21.Be1
Be3 22.Bh4 Bc5 23.Kg4 Ke7 24.Kf3 Bb6 25.Ke2 Bd8 B1) 26.gxf6+? gxf6 B1a) 27.Bf2 Kd6 B1a1) 28.Kf3 Bc7
29.Kg4 Ke7 30.Kh5 Kf7 31.Bc5 Bd8 32.Kg4 Ke8 33.Kf3 Kd7 (33...Be7 34.Bb6 Bd8) 34.Ke2 Be7 35.Bb6; B1a2)
28.Kd3 Kc6 29.Kc4 Be7 30.Be3=;
B1b) 27.Ke3 Kd7 28.Kf3 Ke7 29.Bf2 Bc7 30.Bc5+ Kd7 31.Ke3 Bd6=;
B2) 26.Ke3!
[FEN "3b4/4k1p1/5p2/p3pPP1/Pp2P2B/1P2K3/8/8 b - - 0 26"]
putting Black into zugzwang: (26.gxf6+? gxf6 27.Ke3 (27.Bf2 Kd6 28.Kd3 (28.Kf3 Bc7 29.Kg4 Ke7 30.Kh5 Kf7
31.Bc5 Bd8 32.Kg4 Ke8 33.Kf3 Kd7 (33...Be7 34.Bb6 Bd8) 34.Ke2 Be7 35.Bb6) 28...Kc6 29.Kc4 Be7 30.Be3=)
27...Kd7 28.Kf3 Ke7 29.Bf2 Bc7 30.Bc5+ Kd7 31.Ke3 Bd6=) 26...Kd7 27.Kf3 Ke7 28.Bf2 and we get one of the well-
known winning positions, examined previously..
15...Bd6
Black cannot keep his bishop in this diagonal anymore: 15...Bd4 16.Kf3 Kc5 17.Be3 Kc6 18.Ke2 Bc3 19.Kd3 Bb2
20.Kc4 Bc3 21.Bc5+- or; 15...Kd6 16.Kf3 Bd4 17.Ke2+- ..
And White wins. I have to thank GMs Gilberto Milos & Karsten Müller for their kind contribution to this very difficult
endgame.
The last example is from a correspondence game and was sent by Harald Fietz:
[FEN "8/p1p1k3/8/2pPpb2/8/P1P1K3/4B3/8 w - - 0 41"]
41.Bb5
41.Ba6 is more tenacious and for some time this even looked like a way to draw. But German correspondence expert Dr.
Egon Erker from Osnabrück showed the way to win in 2000: 41...c4!!
[FEN "8/p1p1k3/B7/3Ppb2/2p5/P1P1K3/8/8 w - - 0 42"]
Now White has two options. He can take the pawn or try to play around it.
A) 42.Bxc4 Kd6 A1) 43.Bb3 a5 44.a4 Bg6
45.Kf3 Bf7 46.Ke4 Bg8 47.Ba2 (47.Bc4? c6!-+) 47...Bh7+ 48.Ke3 Bc2-+; A2) 43.a4 a5 44.Bb3 Bg6 45.Kf3 Bf7
46.Ke4 Bg8 47.Ba2 Bh7+ 48.Ke3 Bc2-+; B) 42.Bb7 "Black can only win with great difficulty. " (Dr. Erker) 42...Kd6
43.Ba8 Bc2 44.Bb7 White fights against Black's winning idea to transfer the king to a5 and the bishop to a4. 44...Kc5
45.Bc6 Kb6 46.Kd2 Bh7 47.Ke3 Ka5 48.Kd2 Bg6 49.Bd7 Kb6 50.Ke3 Kc5 51.Bc6 Bc2 52.Ba8 Kb5 53.Bc6+ Ka5
54.Be8 a6 55.Bd7 Ba4 56.Bg4 Be8
[FEN "4b3/2p5/p7/k2Pp3/2p3B1/P1P1K3/8/8 w - - 0 57"]
A critical position for the final stage of Black's plan. B1) 57.Bd1 Bg6 58.Kf2 Be4 59.Ke3 Bxd5 60.Bc2
[FEN "8/2p5/p7/k2bp3/2p5/P1P1K3/2B5/8 b - - 0 60"]
Black can also break this set up by precise manovering, e.g. 60...Bg2 61.Kf2
(61.Bd1 Kb5 62.Bc2 Bf1 63.Bd1 Bd3
64.Kd2 Ka5 65.Kc1 e4 66.Kd2 Bb1 67.Ke3 Ba2 68.Kxe4 Bb3-+) 61...Bc6 62.Ke3 Ba4 63.Be4 Kb5 64.Kd2 Bb3 65.Kc1
Ka4 66.Kb2 Bd1 67.Bc6+ Ka5 68.Kc1 Kb6 69.Bd7 Bf3 70.Ba4 Ka5 71.Bc2 Be2 72.Be4 Ka4 73.Kb2 Kb5 74.Kc1
Bd3-+; B2) 57.Be2 Ka4 58.Bxc4 a5 59.Ke4 Kxa3 60.Kxe5 Kb2 followed by a4.; B3) 57.Ke4 Ka4 58.Kxe5 Kxa3
59.Kd4 Bb5 60.Be2 Kb3 61.Bd1+ Kb2 62.Be2 a5 63.Kc5 Ba6 64.Kc6 a4 65.Kxc7 a3 66.d6 a2 67.d7 a1Q 68.d8Q
[FEN "3Q4/2K5/b7/8/2p5/2P5/1k2B3/q7 b - - 0 68"]
Black can convert his initiative with 68...Qa5+ 69.Kd7 Qd5+ 70.Kc7 Qc5+ 71.Kd7 Bb5+ 72.Ke6 Qe3+-+.
41...Kd6 42.c4?!
42.Bc6 is more tenacious, but Black wins with 42...c4 analogously to the 42.Ba6 lines by Dr Erker.
42...a5 43.Ba4
43.Bc6 Ke7 44.Bb7 Kf6 45.Bc6 Kg5 46.Bb7 (46.Kf3 Bd3 47.Bb5 e4+ 48.Ke3 Kg4-+)
46...Kg4 47.Bc6 Kg3 48.Bb7
Bc2 49.Bc6 e4 50.Kd2 Kf2 51.Kxc2 e3-+.
47.Kf3 Bd3 48.Ke3 (48.Bh1 Kg5 49.Ke3 Bxc4 50.Ke4 Kf6-+) 48...Bxc4 49.Ke4 Kg3 50.Bh1 Kf2 51.Kxe5 Ke3 52.Ke6
Be2 53.Kd7 c4 54.Kxc7 c3 55.d6 Bg4-+.
49.Bd1
49.Be4?! Bxe4 50.Kxe4 Kf2 51.Kxe5 Ke3-+; 49.Bh5 Kg2 50.Ke2 Bb1 A)
51.Ke3 Kf1 52.Bg4 (52.Be2+ Ke1 53.a4
Bc2-+) 52...Ke1 53.Bh5 e4 54.Bg6 Bd3 55.Bxe4 Bxe4 56.Kxe4 Kd2-+; B) 51.Bf3+ Kg1 52.Bg4 (52.d6 cxd6 53.Bd5
e4-+) 52...Ba2 53.Ke3 Bxc4 54.Ke4 Kf2 55.Kxe5 Be2 56.Bf5 Ke3 57.Ke6 c4 58.Kd7 c3 59.Kxc7 Bd3 60.Bxd3 Kxd3
61.d6 c2 62.d7 c1Q+-+; 49.Bh1 Bc2 50.Kd2 (50.Bf3 Bd3-+) 50...Bb3 51.Ke3 (51.Kc3 Bd1 52.Kd3 Bf3-+) 51...Bxc4
52.Ke4 Be2 53.Kxe5 Bf3-+; 49.d6 cxd6 50.Bd5 Bc2 51.Bc6 e4 52.Bd5 Bd3 53.a4 Kg2 54.Bxe4+ Bxe4 55.Kxe4 Kf2
56.Kd5 Ke3 57.Kc6 Kd4 58.Kb5 d5 59.cxd5 Kxd5 60.Kxa5 Kc6-+.
49...Kg2 50.Ba4
[FEN "8/2p5/8/p1pPpb2/2P5/P3K3/8/3Bk3 w - - 0 52"]
52.Ba4
52.Bh5 Bb1 53.Bg4 e4 54.Bf5 Bd3 55.Bxe4 Bxe4 56.Kxe4 Kd2 57.d6 cxd6 58.Kd5 Kc3 59.Kxd6 Kxc4-+.
White resigned. Hans Berliner gave the following line in his letter: 56.Ba4 Bxc4 57.Kxe4 Kd2 58.Ke5 Ba2! 59.d6
cxd6+ 60.Kxd6 c4 61.Kc5 c3 62.Kb6 Bb1 63.Kxa5 Bc2 64.Bd7 Bd1 65.Bf5 Be2-+.
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Tarrasch's Tempo
Ronald Wieck wrote in to say, "I believe you will be interested in a discovery by IM Bernard Zuckerman." Of course I
was very interested, as an old and famous rook ending was concerned. He had talked to Bernard Zuckerman on the
phone: "Bernard and I were talking about rook endings and right before we hung up, he asked me if I was familiar with
Rubinstein's draw with Tarrasch at San Sebastian, 1911. Proudly, I announced that I was. He pressed on with, "but did
you ever wonder what happens if Tarrasch gains a tempo?" And indeed Zuckerman, who did not use a computer, seems
to be right. Tarrasch could have won:
[FEN"8/7p/1R6/5pk1/4p3/2P5/PP1r1P1P/5K2 w - - 0 35"]
35.Ke1?!
35.a4 f4 (35...Kg4 36.Ke1 Rc2 37.a5 Kf3 38.a6 Re2+ 39.Kd1 Kxf2 40.Rf6 Rxb2 41.Rxf5+ Ke3 42.Ra5 Kd3 43.Kc1 Rb8
44.a7 Ra8 45.Ra3 Ke2 46.Ra2+ Kd3 47.Rd2+ Kxc3 48.Rd7 h6 49.Kd1 Kc4 50.Ke2 Kc5 51.Ke3 Kc6 52.Rh7 Kd5 53.h4
Ke5 54.h5+-.
35...Rd1+ 36.Ke2 Ra1 37.Rb4 Kf4 38.c4 Ke5 39.Rb5+ Kd4 40.a5 f4 41.f3 Kxc4 42.Rf5+-) 36.Ke1 Rc2 37.a5 f3 38.a6
Re2+ 39.Kd1
[FEN"8/7p/PR6/6k1/4p3/2P2p2/1P2rP1P/3K4 b - - 0 39"]
A) 39...Rxf2 40.a7 Rf1+ 41.Kd2 Ra1 42.Rb7 Kf4 (42...f2 43.Rf7 Rxa7 44.Rxf2 Kg4 45.Ke3+-) 43.Rf7+ Ke5 44.Ke3 h6
45.Re7+ Kd6 46.Rxe4+-.
B) 39...e3 40.fxe3 Rxe3 41.h4+ Kxh4 42.Kd2 Re2+ 43.Kd3 Re1 44.Rf6 Kg3 45.b4 f2 46.b5+-.
35...Rc2 36.Rb5?
[FEN"8/7p/1R6/5pk1/P3p3/2P5/1Pr2P1P/4K3 b - - 0 36"]
Black has difficulties to organise his counterplay. 39...Rc1 (39...h5 40.c4 h4 41.c5 Rc1 42.Rb5 Rc2+ 43.Kd1 Rxf2 44.c6
Rf1+ 45.Kc2 e3 46.c7 e2 47.c8Q e1Q 48.Qxf5++-)
40.Rd4 Ra1 41.h3 h5 (41...Ke5 42.Rb4 Kf4 43.c4 Ke5 44.Rb5+
Kd4 45.a5 f4 46.f3 Kxc4 47.Rf5 Kd4 48.Rxf4 Rxa5 49.Rxe4++-) 42.h4 Kg4 (42...Ke5 43.Rb4 Kf4 44.c4 Kg4 45.c5 Rc1
46.Rb5 f4 47.Kd2 Rc4 48.b3 Rd4+ 49.Ke1 Rd3 50.a5 e3 51.Rb7 Rc3 52.fxe3 Rc1+ 53.Kd2 Rxc5 54.b4 Rd5+ 55.Ke1
fxe3 56.a6 Kf3 57.a7 e2 58.Rf7+ Ke3 59.Re7++-)
43.f3+ Kf4 (43...Kg3 44.fxe4 f4 45.Rd3+ Kxh4 46.Rd7 Rxa4
47.Kf3+-) 44.fxe4 fxe4 45.Rd1 Rxa4 46.Rf1+ Kg3 47.Ke3 Kxh4
[FEN"8/8/8/7p/r3p2k/2P1K3/1P6/5R2 w - - 0 48"]
Now Black's king is too badly placed: 48.Kf4 e3+ 49.b4 Kh3 50.Re1+-.
39.Rf4
39.a4 Kg4 40.Rf7 h5 41.a5 Ra2 42.Ra7 h4 43.a6 h3 44.Rg7+ Kf4 45.Rh7 Kg4 46.a7 e3 47.fxe3 Kg3 48.c4 h2 49.Rg7+
Kf3 50.Rf7+ Kxe3 51.Re7+ Kf3 52.Rf7+=.
[FEN"8/8/8/7p/2P4R/8/2r2Pk1/4K3 b - - 0 43"]
43...Kf3!
The king must come back into the action. Of course not 43...Rxf2?? 44.Rh2+ Kxh2 45.Kxf2+-.
Lasker found the only way to draw. Can you do the same?
[FEN"4k3/1R6/5K2/1p2P3/8/8/8/6r1 b - - 0 73"]
Was the game continuation 73...Rh1 a good choice? What would you play with black?
[FEN"8/2kP4/8/8/1P2K3/8/8/8 w - - 0 81"]
[FEN"R7/7r/P7/8/4k3/2K5/8/8 b - - 0 55"]
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Endgame Corner #161 (Ebook) in ChessBase, PGN, and PDF formats. Viewable in Ipad, Itouch, Kindle,
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[FEN "6k1/5pp1/R6p/8/7P/P5P1/r4P2/5K2 b - - 0 39"]
39...g6?!
40.g4!
40...Kg7 41.Kg2 Ra1 42.a4 Ra3 43.g5 h5 44.Ra7 Kg8 45.a5 Ra4 46.Kg3 Rg4+ 47.Kh3 Ra4 48.a6 Kg7 49.f4 Ra3+
50.Kg2
[FEN "8/R4pk1/P5p1/6Pp/5P1P/r7/6K1/8 b - - 0 50"]
Now only a miracle can save Black.
50...Ra2+?
Black will end up on the wrong side of the reciprocal zugzwang due to this check. [After 50...Ra4 51.Kf3 Kf8 I could
not find a win, e.g. 52.Ra8+ (52.Ke3 Kg7 53.Kd3 Rxf4 54.Re7 Rxh4=) 52...Kg7 53.Ke3 Kh7 54.Kd3 Rxf4 55.Rf8 Kg7
56.a7 Kxf8 57.a8Q+ Kg7 58.Qa1+ Kg8 59.Qe1 Rg4=
[FEN "6k1/5p2/6p1/6Pp/6rP/3K4/8/4Q3 w - - 0 60"]
[FEN "8/R4pk1/P5p1/6Pp/r4P1P/4K3/8/8 b - - 0 52"]
[FEN "8/5pk1/P5p1/6Pp/RK6/8/8/1r6 w - - 0 63"]
63.Kc5?
The king had to move into the shadow with 63.Ka5! Rb8 64.Rc4 Rh8!? (64...f5 65.Rc7+ Kg8 66.a7 Ra8 67.Rb7+-;
64...f6 65.a7 Ra8 66.Rc7+ Kg8 67.gxf6 h4 68.Rb7+-; 64...h4 65.Rxh4 f6 66.Rb4+-) 65.a7 h4 66.Rxh4 (66.Rb4? Ra8
67.Ka6 h3 68.Rb2 Rc8 69.Rb8 h2 70.Rxc8 h1Q 71.a8Q Qa1+=) 66...Rxh4 67.a8Q
[FEN "Q7/5pk1/6p1/K5P1/7r/8/8/8 b - - 0 67"]
This time the fortress does not hold, e.g. 67...Rf4 68.Qd8 Rf5+ 69.Kb6 Rf1 70.Qd4+ Kg8 71.Kc6 Rf5 72.Qe3 Kg7
73.Kd6 Rf1 74.Qc3+ Kg8 75.Ke7 Rf5 76.Qc8+ Kg7 77.Qf8+ Kh7 78.Qxf7++-.
63...Rb8 64.Rf4
[FEN "1r6/5pk1/P5p1/2K3Pp/5R2/8/8/8 b - - 0 64"]
64...Rb1?
This gives White another chance. [64...h4! 65.Rxh4 f6 66.Rb4 Rc8+ 67.Kb6 fxg5= draws.
65.Ra4?
The rook does not belong behind the pawn yet. This guideline leads to many mistakes in practical play. The passed
pawn must be pushed with 65.a7! Ra1 66.Kb6 and Black is lost:
[FEN "8/P4pk1/1K4p1/6Pp/5R2/8/8/r7 b - - 0 66"]
66...h4 (66...Ra2 67.Rc4 Ra1 68.Rc5 Rxa7 69.Kxa7 h4 70.Kb6 h3 71.Rc3 f6 72.gxf6+ Kxf6 73.Rxh3 Ke5 74.Kc5 g5
75.Re3+ Kf4 76.Kd4 g4 77.Re8+-) 67.Rxh4 f6 68.gxf6+ Kxf6 69.Rh8+-.
65...Rb8 66.a7
66.Rd4 h4 67.a7 (67.Rxh4 f6 68.Rb4 Rc8+=) 67...Ra8 68.Kb6 h3 69.Kb7 Re8 70.a8Q Rxa8 71.Kxa8 h2 72.Rh4 f6
73.Rxh2 fxg5 74.Kb7 Kf6 75.Kc6 Ke5!=.
71.Kxa7 does not help due to 71...h3 72.Ra3 Kxf6 73.Rxh3 g5 74.Kb6 Ke5 75.Kc5 g4 76.Rh8 g3=.
[FEN "8/R7/2K3p1/4k3/7p/8/8/8 w - - 0 73"]
Bodycheck.
73.Rg7 Kf4 74.Rxg6 h3 75.Kd5 h2 76.Rh6 Kg3 77.Ke4 Kg2 78.Rxh2+ Kxh2 1/2-1/2
Lasker found the only way to draw. Can you do the same?
Lasker played 119...Rb3! and as Black has reached Szen's draw (see Fundamental Chess Endings 8.13), the point was
split, e.g. 120.Rg8 [120.Rg4+ Kh3! 121.Rg8 Ra3=] 120...Rf3+ 121.Bf4 Kh3 122.Ke4 Ra3 123.Be3 Kh4 124.Kf3
Ra5!= 1/2-1/2
[FEN "4k3/1R6/5K2/1p2P3/8/8/8/6r1 b - - 0 73"]
Was the game continuation 73...Rh1 a good choice? What would you play with black?
73...Rh1?
Was not a good choice due to 73...Re1 74.Ke6 Kf8 75.Rb8+ Kg7 76.Rxb5 Kf8 77.Rb8+ Kg7 78.Re8 Ra1 79.Rd8 Re1
80.Kd6 Kf7=; 73...Rf1+ 74.Ke6 Kf8 75.Rb8+ Kg7 76.Ke7 Ra1=; Even 73...b4?! is playable due to 74.Rb8+ (74.Rxb4
Re1 75.Ke6 Kf8 76.Rb8+ Kg7 77.Re8 Ra1=) 74...Kd7 75.e6+ Kd6 76.Rd8+ Kc5 77.e7 Rf1+ 78.Kg5 Re1 79.e8Q Rxe8
76.Rd8+ Kc5 77.e7 Re1 78.e8Q Rxe8 79.Rxe8 b4 80.Ke5 Kc4 81.Ke4 Kc3 82.Ke3 b3 83.Rc8+ Kb2 84.Kd2 Ka1
85.Kc3 b2 86.Ra8+ Kb1 87.Rb8 Ka1 88.Kc2 b1Q+ 89.Rxb1+ 1-0
[FEN "8/8/8/5P2/r5P1/4K3/1k6/8 w - - 0 80"]
80.g5? can be met by 80...Rg4 81.g6 Kc3 82.Kf3 Rg1 83.Kf4 Kd4 84.f6 Rxg6 85.Kf5 Rg1 86.f7 Kd5 87.Kf6= and
80.Kf3?? even loeses due to 80...Kc3 81.f6 Kd4 82.Kf4 Kd5+ 83.Kf5 Kd6 84.g5 Kd7 85.Kg6 Ke6 86.Kg7 Ra7+-+.
80...Ra1
83.Ke5 Kc4 84.g6 Re1+ 85.Kd6 Rd1+ 86.Ke6 Re1+ 87.Kf7 1-0
White wins the fight for the key squares of the b4-pawn with 81.Ke5
81.Kd4+- wins as well.; 81.Kd5? Kxd7 82.Kc5 Kc7 83.Kb5 Kb7=; 81.d8Q+? Kxd8 82.Kd4 Kc8 83.Kc4 Kb8!=.
[FEN "8/1k6/8/1K6/1P6/8/8/8 b - - 0 84"]
84...Kc7 85.Ka6 Kb8 86.Kb6 Ka8 87.b5 Kb8 88.Ka6 [88.Kc6?! Ka7 89.Kc7! Ka8 90.Kb6 Kb8 91.Ka6+-] 88...Ka8
89.b6 Kb8 90.b7 Kc7 91.Ka7+-.
[FEN "8/6K1/8/ppp2k2/8/1P6/1P5P/8 w - - 0 40"]
Amazingly White's king is in time on the queenside: 40.h4 Kg4 41.Kg6!! Kxh4 42.Kf5 Kg3
42...c4 43.bxc4 bxc4 44.Ke4 c3 45.bxc3 Kg5 46.Kd3 Kf5 47.Kc4 Ke4 48.Kb5 Kd3=.
43.Ke4 Kf2 44.Kd5 Ke3 45.Kxc5 Kd3 46.Kxb5 Kc2 47.Kxa5 Kxb3 1/2-1/2
[FEN "R7/7r/P7/8/4k3/2K5/8/8 b - - 0 55"]
Black's king hides with 55...Kd5 56.a7 Rc7+ 57.Kb4 Kc6 1/2-1/2
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At first it seems to be paradox that a player, who can not move anymore is rewarded with half a point. Indeed there are
many other games, where this leads to a loss like Nin Men's Morris or Checkers. But in chess it makes sense as it adds
another valueable element to the game. Many defensive techniques are based on this motif and the attacker must be
careful to the end:
[FEN "8/8/p7/P2K4/k1p5/1p6/1P6/4B3 w - - 0 59"]
59.Kd6
After 60...c3 61.Bxc3 Ka4 62.Kb7 Kb5, White wins by giving up the bishop:
[FEN "8/1K6/p7/Pk6/8/1pB5/1P6/8 w - - 0 63"]
63.Bb4 Kxb4 64.Kxa6 Kc4 65.Kb6 Kd3 66.a6 Kc2 67.a7 Kxb2 68.a8Q+-.
[FEN "8/8/K7/P7/k7/1pp5/1P1B4/8 w - - 0 64"]
64.Bc1! 1-0
[FEN "8/r4KP1/8/5k2/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 73"]
73.Kg8!?
Against a knight's pawn this stalemate defense is the easiest. 73.Kf8?! Kf6 74.g8N+= is much more difficult.
[FEN "8/8/4k1KP/8/8/8/8/5r2 w - - 0 70"]
70.Kg7!
70...Rg1+ 71.Kf8!
[FEN "7K/8/4k2P/8/8/8/8/6r1 b - - 0 71"]
74.Kd8!? Kd5
75.Ke7 Ke5
[FEN "8/2R1K3/2b4r/2k5/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 76"]
76.Kd8 Kd6 77.Rd7+ Kc5 78.Rg7 Re6 79.Re7 Rd6+ 80.Kc7 Bd5 81.Rd7 Ra6 82.Re7 Be6 83.Kd8 Kd6 84.Rd7+
Bxd7 1/2-1/2
67.Qxe6?
Now Black's rook can act as desperado and force a draw. 67.Qd8+ wins, e.g., 67...Kg7 68.Kg2 Kg6 69.Kg3 Kf5 70.Kf3
Rf6 71.Ke3 e5 72.Qd5 Rg6 73.Qf3+ Ke6 74.Ke4 Rf6 75.Qb3++-.
70...Rg7+ 71.Kh5
[FEN "5k2/6r1/4Q2K/8/8/8/8/8 b - - 0 73"]
The most famous draw is a rook's pawn and a bishop, which can not control the queening square:
72.Kh1!
72.Kh3?? leaves Rauser's drawing zone for the white king: 72...Bg3 73.Kg4 Kg2 74.Kf5 Kf3 75.Kg6 Bf4 76.Kf5 Be3
77.Ke5 Kg4 78.Ke4 Bb6 79.Kd3 Kxh5 80.Ke2 Kg4 81.Kf1 Kf3-+.
72...Kf3 73.Kg1 Kg4 74.Kh1 Bg3 75.Kg1 Bh4 76.Kh1 Kxh5 77.Kg1 Kg4 78.Kg2
[FEN "8/8/7p/8/6kb/8/6K1/8 b - - 0 78"]
78...h5 79.Kg1 Bg3 80.Kh1 Kh3 81.Kg1 Bc7 82.Kh1 Kg3 83.Kg1 h4 84.Kh1 h3 85.Kg1 Kf3 86.Kh1 Ke2 87.Kg1
Bg3 88.Kh1 Kf3 89.Kg1 Kg4 90.Kh1 Kh5 91.Kg1 Kh4 92.Kh1 Bf2 93.Kh2 Kg4 94.Kh1 Bg1 95.Kxg1 Kg3 96.Kh1
Kf3 97.Kh2 Kg4 98.Kh1 Kg3 99.Kg1 h2+ 100.Kh1 Kh3 1/2-1/2
75th Tata Steel GpB Wijk aan Zee NED (8), 20.01.2013
[FEN "2B5/5p2/6p1/3p4/5k1p/8/3K2PP/8 b - - 0 39"]
39...g5?!
I want to look at the following variation: 39...f5!? 40.Ke2 d4 41.Ba6 Kg4 42.Kf2 Kf4 43.Be2 Ke4 44.Bf3+ Kf4 45.Ke2
Ke5 46.Kd3 Kf4 47.Bd1 Ke5 48.Be2 Kd5 49.Bf3+ Ke5 50.Bb7 h3 51.g3 f4 52.g4 Kf6 53.Kxd4 Kg5 54.Bf3 Kh4
55.Kd5 g5 56.Bd1 f3 57.Ke4 Kxg4 58.Bxf3+ Kh4
[FEN "8/8/8/6p1/4K2k/5B1p/7P/8 w - - 0 59"]
And the extra pawns are Black's undoing: 59.Bd1 g4 60.Kf4 Kh5
[FEN "8/8/8/7k/5Kp1/7p/7P/3B4 w - - 0 61"]
A) Of course not 61.Bxg4+? Kg6= (61...Kh4? 62.Bf5 Kh5 63.Ke5 Kh6 64.Kf6 Kh5 65.Bxh3 Kh6 66.Bf5+-).
B) 61.Ba4 The hunt begins. 61...Kg6 62.Be8+ Kg7 63.Kg5 Kf8 64.Bh5
[FEN "5k2/8/8/6KB/6p1/7p/7P/8 b - - 0 64"]
64...Kg7 (64...Ke7 is met by 65.Kg6 Kf8 66.Kh7 Ke7 67.Bxg4 Kf6 68.Bxh3+-)
65.Bg6 Kg8 66.Kf6 Kh8 67.Kf7
[FEN "7k/5K2/6B1/8/6p1/7p/7P/8 b - - 0 67"]
45.Bc8 Kf6
45...h3 46.g3 f4 47.Bxg4 fxg3 48.hxg3 h2 49.Bf3 Kf5 50.Ke3 d4+ 51.Kf2 d3 52.Kg2+-.
[FEN "8/6pk/4Q2p/p7/P2pN1P1/3Pbq2/8/4K3 w - - 0 33"]
[FEN "7R/6k1/p1r5/Kp3p1P/1P6/8/8/8 w - - 0 47"]
[FEN "8/5k2/5P2/8/2p5/bb2B3/2p5/K1N5 w - - 0 71"]
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Endgame Corner #163 (Ebook) in ChessBase, PGN, and PDF formats. Viewable in Ipad, Itouch, Kindle,
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Zwischenschach is German for in-between-check, which is an important technique in the rook endgame.
[FEN "8/8/8/5K2/8/6P1/r7/1k6 b - - 0 52"]
But not the other check 52...Ra5+? 53.Kf6 Kc2 54.g4 Kd3 55.g5 Ke4 56.g6 Ra6+ 57.Kf7 Kf5 58.g7 Ra7+
[FEN "8/r4KP1/8/5k2/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 59"]
And now the stalemate defense 59.Kg8!? Kg6 60.Kh8 Rxg7 stalemate is the best technique.
54...Kc2 55.g4 Kd3 56.Kf5 Kd4 57.g5 Kd5 58.Kf6 Kd6 59.g6 Rf2+ 60.Kg7 Ke7 0-1
Black resigned because of 61.Kg8 Kf6 62.g7 Rg2 63.Kh8 Kf7-+ 0-1
[FEN "8/8/K7/1R3p2/4k3/8/8/8 w - - 0 90"]
90.Rb4+ Ke3!
91.Rb3+ Ke2 92.Rb2+ Ke3 93.Rb3+ Ke2 94.Kb5 f4 95.Rb2+ Ke3 96.Kc4 f3 97.Rb3+ Ke2 98.Kd4
98...f2 99.Rb2+
[FEN "8/8/8/8/3K4/8/1R2kp2/8 b - - 0 99"]
99...Kf3!?
[FEN "8/8/4K3/3R4/3p4/p7/Pk6/8 w - - 0 56"]
56.Ke5?
a) 56...Kxa2 57.Kd5 d3 58.Kc4 d2 (58...Ka1 59.Kc3 d2 60.Rd5 a2 61.Rxd2 Kb1 62.Rd1#) 59.Rd5 Kb1 60.Rxd2 a2
61.Kb3 a1N+ 62.Kc3+-.
b) 56...Kc3 57.Rb3++-.
57.Kd5 d3
[FEN "8/8/8/1R1K4/8/p2p4/P1k5/8 w - - 0 58"]
58.Rc5+! again only the zwischenschach wins: 58...Kb2 (58...Kd1 59.Kc4 d2 60.Kb3+-)
59.Kc4 d2 (59...Kxa2 60.Kc3
d2 61.Kxd2 Kb2 62.Rb5+ Ka1 63.Kc3 a2 64.Rd5 Kb1 65.Rd1#) 60.Rd5 Kc2 61.Kb4 d1Q 62.Rxd1 Kxd1 63.Kxa3 Kc2
64.Kb4+-; 56.Rxd4? is too greedy: 56...Kxa2 57.Rb4 Ka1 58.Kd5 a2=.
56...Kxa2 57.Kxd4 Kb2
57...Kb1?? 58.Kc3+-.
58.Rb5+ Kc2 59.Ra5 Kb2 60.Rb5+ Kc2 61.Kc4 a2 62.Ra5 Kb2 63.Rb5+ Kc1 64.Rh5 a1Q 65.Rh1+ Kb2 66.Rxa1
Kxa1 1/2-1/2
[FEN "8/6PK/R7/5k2/7p/8/6r1/8 b - - 0 85"]
85...h3?
The dangerous g-pawn must be eliminated immediately with 85...Rxg7+! 86.Kxg7 h3 87.Ra4 Kg5= (Baburin in Chess
Today 5144).
86.Ra5+!
86...Kf4
87.Ra4+!
[FEN "8/6PK/8/8/R4k2/7p/6r1/8 b - - 0 87"]
87...Kf3
88.Ra3+ 1-0
The following deep study is really a festival of zwischenschachs. It is based on ideas Herbert Bastian developed together
with Philipp Schlosser in 2000. He worked on it in 2008 and finally it was published in Die Schwalbe, Heft 266, Band
XXXI, April 2014, No. 15891. I want to thank Herbert for allowing me to publish it with his annotations, which I have
translated and shortened.
164.05 Bastian,Herbert
[FEN "1K6/R2P3p/6k1/8/8/8/8/3r4 w - - 0 1"]
1.Kc7!!
Only like this, which threatens a cut off with Ra5. Not 1.Kc8? Only 1...Kf5!! draws:
a) 1...h5? 2.Ra5! Rc1+ 3.Kb7 Rd1 4.Kc7 Rc1+ 5.Kd6 Rd1+ 6.Rd5+-.
b) 1...Kg5? runs into 2.Ra1!! Rxd7 (2...Rxa1?! 3.d8Q++-; 2...Rd2 3.Rg1+! Kf5 4.Rh1! Rc2+ 5.Kd8 Kg6 6.Re1 Kf7
7.Re7+ Kg6 8.Ke8 Rd2 9.d8Q Rxd8+ 10.Kxd8 h5 11.Re5!+-) 3.Kxd7 h5 4.Ke6 h4 5.Ke5 Kg4 6.Ke4 Kg3 7.Ke3 Kg2
8.Ra2+ Kg3 9.Ra8+-; 2.d8Q (2.Ra5+? Kg4 3.Ra4+ Kg3 4.Ra1?? Rxa1 5.d8Q Ra8+-+)
2...Rxd8+ 3.Kxd8 h5 4.Ra5+
Kg4=; Another false track is 1.Ra6+? Kf5! (or
1...Kg5) 2.Kc7 to use the rook as shield:
[FEN "8/2KP3p/R7/5k2/8/8/8/3r4 b - - 0 2"]
But Black defends with 2...Rxd7+! 3.Kxd7 h5 4.Ra5+ (4.Rh6 Kg4 5.Ke6 h4 6.Ke5 h3 7.Ke4 Kg3 8.Ke3 Kg2! 9.Ke2
(9.Rg6+ Kf1!=) 9...h2 10.Rg6+ Kh1 11.Kf2 stalemate.) 4...Kg4 5.Ke6 h4 6.Ra4+
[FEN "8/8/4K3/8/R5kp/8/8/8 b - - 0 6"]
6...Kg5!! This saving idea is known from a study by Mitrofanov (Shakhmaty (Riga) 1990). (The automatic 6...Kg3?
loses to 7.Kf5 h3 8.Ra3+ Kg2 9.Kg4 h2 10.Ra2+ Kg1 11.Kg3 h1N+ 12.Kf3+-) 7.Ke5 h3 8.Rb4 h2 9.Rb8 Kg4=.
1...Kf5!
1...h5? runs into 2.Ra5+-; and 1...Rxd7+? is met by 2.Kxd7 Kf5 3.Ra5+ Kg4 4.Ke6 h5 5.Kf6! h4 6.Ra4+ Kg3 7.Kg5
[FEN "8/8/8/6K1/R6p/6k1/8/8 b - - 0 7"]
White always wins when the king has contact to the pawn. 7...h3 8.Ra3+ Kg2 9.Kg4 h2 10.Ra2+ Kg1 11.Kg3 h1N+
12.Kf3+-; Finally 1...Rc1+ is refuted by 2.Kd8! Kf5! 3.Ra5+! Kf6 4.Ra6+ Kf7 5.Rh6 Kg7 6.Re6 Kf7 7.Re7+ Kg6
8.Ke8+-.
2.Ra5+!!
2...Kg4
[FEN "8/2KP3p/8/R7/6k1/8/8/3r4 w - - 0 3"]
3.Ra4+!!
3...Kg5
3...Kg3 4.Ra1!? (4.Ra6! h5 5.Rd6 wins as well.) 4...Rxa1 (4...Rxd7+ 5.Kxd7 h5 6.Ke6 h4 7.Kf5 h3 8.Ra3++-) 5.d8Q
[FEN "3Q4/2K4p/8/8/8/6k1/8/r7 b - - 0 5"]
There is a drawing configuration in this endgame with Black's pawn on h6, rook g5, king g7 and White's king in the
rectangle a1-f1-f4-a4, but Black can not reach this here, e.g. 5...Rc1+ 6.Kb6 Rh1 7.Qg5+ Kf2 8.Qf4+ Kg2 9.Qe4+ Kg1
10.Qf3! Rh2 11.Kc5 Rf2 12.Qg3+ Kf1 13.Kd4 Rd2+ 14.Ke3 Re2+ 15.Kd3 Ra2 16.Qh3+ Kg1 17.Qf5! Ra3+ 18.Ke2
Ra2+ 19.Ke3 Ra3+ 20.Kf4 Ra4+ 21.Kg5 h6+ 22.Kh5 Ra1 23.Qc5+ Kg2 24.Qd5+ Kh3 25.Qb3+ Kg2 26.Qb2+ Kf3
27.Qxa1 Ke3 28.Qe5+ Kd2 29.Qc5 Kd3 30.Kxh6 Ke4 31.Kg5 Kd3 32.Kf4 Kd2 33.Ke4 Ke1 34.Qc2 Kf1 35.Kf3 Ke1
36.Qc1#; 3...Kf5 4.d8Q! (4.Rh4! wins as well but is longer.) 4...Rxd8 5.Kxd8 h5 6.Ke7 Kg5
[FEN "8/4K3/8/6kp/R7/8/8/8 w - - 0 7"]
7.Ra5+!! This zwischenschach is neccessary to give the king access to f6. (7.Ke6? h4=) 7...Kg4 (7...Kg6 8.Ke6 h4
9.Rb5!?+-) 8.Kf6 h4 9.Ra4+ Kg3 10.Kg5+-]
4.Ra1!!
[FEN "8/2KP3p/8/6k1/8/8/8/R2r4 b - - 0 4"]
4...Rd2!?
9...Kf8 10.Rxh7+-.
[FEN "3K4/8/6k1/4R2p/8/8/8/8 b - - 0 13"]
Finally the horizontal cut off decides. A really magnificient festival of zwischenschachs.
[FEN "8/6pk/4Q2p/p7/P2pN1P1/3Pbq2/8/4K3 w - - 0 33"]
[FEN "7R/6k1/p1r5/Kp3p1P/1P6/8/8/8 w - - 0 47"]
47.Rh6?
White should get rid off the h-pawn first and only then use his desperado rook, e.g., 47.Rd8!? Rf6 (47...f4 48.h6+ Kh7
49.Rd7+ Kxh6 50.Rd6+ Rxd6 stalemate)
48.h6+ Kh7 (48...Kxh6 49.Rh8+ Kg5 50.Rg8+ Rg6 51.Rf8 Rg7 52.Kxa6 f4
53.Kxb5=)
49.Rd6
[FEN "8/7k/p2R1r1P/Kp3p2/1P6/8/8/8 b - - 0 49"]
49...Rxh6 50.Rd7+ Kg6 51.Rg7+ Kh5 52.Rg5+= (Baburin in Chess Today 4945); 47.h6+?? Kxh8 48.h7 Rc4-+.
47...Rf6! 0-1
[FEN "6k1/8/3p3P/3P1p2/rp2pP2/2R5/p7/K7 b - - 0 41"]
One sample win is 41...Kh7 42.Rc7+ Kxh6 43.Rc6 e3 44.Rxd6+ Kh5 45.Re6 b3 46.Rxe3 b2+-+.
71.Nxb3
[FEN "8/8/5k2/4b3/2p5/1bN5/1Kp5/2B5 b - - 0 74"]
Black can break it by marching round with his king, e.g., 74...Ke6 75.Bd2 Kd6 76.Be3 Kc6 77.Bd2 Kc5 78.Be3+
(78.Kc1 Kd4 79.Ne2+ Kd3 80.Nf4+ Ke4 81.Ne2 Bd6 82.Bh6 Ba3+ 83.Kd2 Bb4+ 84.Kc1 c3-+) 78...Kb4 79.Bd2 c1Q+-
+.
71...cxb3 72.Bc1!
White's point.
72...Bxc1 1/2-1/2
72...Bd6 73.Kb2=.
57...Ke7
58.fxe6
58.Kc4 Ng7 59.Kd5 Ne8 (59...Kf6? 60.Kd6+-) 60.g5 Nc7+ 61.Ke5 Ne8 62.f6+ Kf8 63.Ke6 Ng7+=.
[FEN "8/6k1/6P1/5KP1/8/8/8/8 b - - 0 62"]
62...Kg8!
64.Kf7 stalemate.
In a pure endgame the knight is usually better than the bishop if it has full control. Then the knight has time for its slow
maneuvers.
[FEN "2k5/1pp2b2/p4Ppp/2p5/6P1/1PN4P/P1P5/3K4 w - - 0 30"]
30.h4?! allows 30...Kd7 31.g5 hxg5 32.hxg5 Ke6= and Black is too active and draws easily.
30.Ne4 gives Black the additional option 30...g5 31.Nxc5 b6!? 32.Nxa6
(32.Ne4 Kd7=) 32...c5 33.Kd2 (33.b4 Kb7
34.b5 Bxa2=) 33...Kb7 34.Nxc5+ bxc5 35.Ke3 Bg6 36.c3 Kc6 37.b4 Bf7 38.a4 Bd5 39.b5+ Kd7 40.a5 Ke6 41.b6
Bb7=
30...h5?
Now White should be winning as the configuration on the kingside is too advantageous. 30...hxg5! is forced. I have not
managed to find a win for White, e.g., 31.Ne4 Kd8 32.Nxg5 (32.Nxc5 Bd5 33.c4 Bf3+ 34.Kd2 Ke8 35.Ne6 g4 36.Ng5
a5 37.c5 Kd7 38.Ke3 Bd1 39.Kf4 gxh3 40.Nxh3 Bc2 41.Kg5 Ke8 42.Nf4 b6 43.cxb6 cxb6 44.Nd5 Bb1 45.a3 Ba2
34...Kf8 (34...b6? 35.Kd2 Kf8 36.Ke3 Be8 37.Kf4 Bd7 38.h4 Bf5 39.h5+-) 35.Kd2 Be8 36.Ke3 Bd7 37.Ke4 Bf5+
38.Kd5 Bc2 39.Kxc5 Bxb3 40.Kb5 Ke8 41.c5 b6 42.cxb6 cxb6 43.h4 Bc2 44.Kxb6 Bxa4 45.Kxa5 Bd1= and the
winning potential is so reduced that this is drawn.
32...a5 33.Kf4 c4 34.Ne4 cxb3 35.cxb3 b6 36.Nd2 a4 37.Nf3 axb3 (37...Ke8 38.bxa4 Bxa2 39.Ne5 Bb1 40.h4 Bc2
41.Ke3 Bb1 42.Kd4 Bc2 43.Kd5 Kd8 44.Kc4 Ke8 45.Kb4 Bf5 46.a5 c5+ 47.Kb5 bxa5 48.Kxa5+-) 38.Ne5+ Ke8
(38...Ke6 39.axb3 Be8 40.h4 c6 41.Nc4 b5 42.Na5 c5 43.Nb7 c4 44.bxc4 bxc4 45.Nd8+ Kd5 46.f7 Bxf7 47.Nxf7+-)
39.axb3 Bxb3 40.Nxg6 b5 41.Ne5 b4 42.g6 Bd5 43.f7+ Ke7 44.Kg5 b3 45.Kh6 Bxf7 46.gxf7 b2 47.Kg7 b1Q 48.f8Q+
Ke6 49.Qe8+ Kd5 50.Qxh5 Qa1 51.Qf7+ Ke4 52.Qf3+ Kd4 53.Qf6 Ke4 54.h4+-
32...Ke6 33.Kf4 b6 34.h4 a5 35.Ne4 Bg8 36.Nd2 Bf7 37.Nc4 Be8 38.a4 Bf7 39.Ne5 Be8 40.c4 Bf7 41.Nxf7 Kxf7
42.Ke5+-
33.h4
[FEN "8/1ppk4/p3bPp1/2p3Pp/7P/1PN2K2/P1P5/8 b - - 0 33"]
33...Bg4+
33...Bf5 can even be met by 34.Kf4 as White's knight is so powerful: 34...Bxc2 35.Nd5 Ke6 36.Nxc7+ Kd6 37.Nd5 Ke6
38.Nb6 Kd6 39.Na4 c4 40.Nc5 cxb3 41.Nxb7+ Kc7 42.axb3 Bxb3 43.Nc5 Bc4 44.Ke5 Kd8 45.Kd6 a5 46.Nb7+ Ke8
47.Nxa5 Ba2 48.Nc6 Bb1 49.Nd8 Kf8 50.f7 Bf5 51.Ke5 Ke7 52.f8Q+ Kxf8 53.Kf6+- And White wins the pawn g6
first and the game later.
33...a5 34.Ne4 b6 35.c4 a4 36.Nc3 axb3 37.axb3 Bf5 38.Kf4 Bc2 39.Nd5+-
34.Kf4 Ke6
[FEN "8/1ppk1b2/p4Pp1/2pNK1Pp/7P/1P6/P1P5/8 b - - 0 36"]
36...Bg8 (36...b5 37.c4 bxc4 38.bxc4 Bg8 39.a3 Bf7 40.Nf4 Kd8 41.Ne6+ Ke8 42.Nxc5 Bxc4 43.Kd4 Be2 44.Nd3 Bg4
45.Ne5 Bf5 46.Kc5 Kf8 47.Kb4 Ke8 48.Ka5+-; 36...b6 37.c4 a5 38.a4 Kd8 39.Nf4 Ke8 40.Nd3 Kd7 41.Ke4 Ke6 42.Ne5
Be8 43.Kf4 c6 44.Ke4 b5 45.Kf4 b4 46.Ke4+-) 37.Nf4 Bf7 38.c4 b5 39.Nd3 bxc4 40.Nxc5+ Kc6 (40...Ke8 41.bxc4
Bxc4 42.a3 Kf7 43.Kd4 Bf1 44.Nd3+-) 41.Nxa6 cxb3 42.axb3 Bxb3 43.Nb8+ Kb7 44.Nd7 Kc8 45.Nf8 Bf7 46.Nxg6
Bxg6 47.Ke6 c5 48.f7 Bxf7+ 49.Kxf7 c4 50.g6 c3 51.g7 c2 52.g8Q++-
35.Nd5 c6
35...Kxd5?! 36.f7+-
38.a3 Bc2
44...Ba4
44...Bxc4 runs into 45.f7 Kxf7 46.Nd6+ Ke6 47.Nxc4 Kf5 (47...a4 48.Ke3+-)
48.Nxa5 Kg4 49.Nxc6 Kxh4 50.Ne5
Kxg5 51.a4 h4 52.a5 h3 53.a6 h2 54.Nf3++-
B) The breakthrough
[FEN "3b4/8/5p1p/p1k4P/5PP1/1P6/2K2N2/8 w - - 0 63"]
63.g5!!
The direct breakthrough is strong as the resulting passed pawn is very far advanced.
63...fxg5
64.fxg5 Kd5
64...Bxg5 65.Ne4+ Kd5 66.Nxg5 hxg5 67.h6+-
After 64...hxg5 65.h6 the h-pawn can not be stopped: 65...Kb4 (65...Bf6 66.Ne4++-; 65...Kd5 66.Ng4 Bb6 67.Nf6+ Ke6
68.h7+-) 66.Ng4 Bb6 67.Kd3
[FEN "8/8/1b5P/p5p1/1k4N1/1P1K4/8/8 b - - 0 67"]
65.g6
69.Ke4 Bg7 70.Ne3 Bc3 71.Nf5 Bd2 72.Nd4+ Kf6 73.Kd5 Be3 74.Ne6 Bd2 75.Nd4 Bc3 76.Ne6 Bb2 77.Kd6 Ba3+
78.Kd7 Bb2 79.Kd6 Ba3+ 80.Nc5 Bb2 81.Kd5 Kf5
[FEN "8/8/6Pp/p1NK1k1P/8/1P6/1b6/8 w - - 0 82"]
82.Ne6?! 1/2-1/2
Not most precise, but the position is still won, so maybe the result should be 1-0?
82.Nb7!? wins quicker, e.g., 82...Kg5 83.Ke6 Kxh5 84.Kf5 Kh4 85.Nxa5 Kg3 86.b4 h5 87.b5 h4 88.b6 h3 89.b7 Be5
90.Kxe5 h2 91.g7 h1Q 92.g8Q++-
82.Ne6?! Kf6 83.Nd8 Bc1 (83...Kg5 84.Ke6 Kxh5 85.Kf5 Kh4 86.Nc6 Bg7 (86...h5 87.Ne5+-) 87.Nxa5 Kg3 88.b4+-)
84.Nc6 Bd2 85.Kc4 Be1 86.Kd3 Kg7 87.Nd4 Kf6 88.Nf5+-
If the knight has full control long maneuvers can take place:
[FEN "8/1p2k3/2b5/2P1p2p/p3P2P/2N1K3/1P6/8 w - - 0 47"]
47.Ne2!?
White plans to regroup the knight to g3 and then to invade with the king on the queenside.
47...Kf6?
47...Ke6 48.Ng3 Be8 49.Kd3 Kd7 50.Kc4 Kc6 defends: 51.Kb4 Bf7 52.Nf5 Be8 53.Ne7+ Kd7 54.Nd5 Kc6 55.Nb6 Bg6
56.Nc4 Bxe4 57.Nxe5+ Kd5 58.Nc4 Kd4 59.Nd6 Bc6=
48.Ng3 Kg6
48...Be8 is also met by a king march to the queenside, e.g., 49.Kd3 Ke7 50.Kc4 Ke6 51.Kb4 Kd7 52.Kxa4 Kc6 53.Kb4
b6 54.cxb6 Kxb6 55.Nf1 Bg6 (55...Bc6 56.Nd2 Ba8 57.Kc4 Bb7 58.b4 Bc6 59.b5 Ba8 60.Kb4 Kc7 61.Kc5 Bb7 62.Kc4
Kb6 63.Kb4 Ba8 64.Nc4+ Kc7 65.b6+ Kc6 66.Kc3 Kc5 67.Kd3 Bc6 68.Nxe5 Bb5+ 69.Ke3 Kxb6 70.Nd3+-) 56.Nd2
Kc6 57.Kc4 Bf7+ 58.Kc3 Bg6 59.Kb4 Kb6 60.Kc4 Bf7+ 61.Kc3 Kc5 62.b4+ Kb5 63.Nf3 Bg6 64.Kd3 Kxb4
65.Nxe5+-
49.Kd3
[FEN "8/1p6/2b3k1/2P1p2p/p3P2P/3K2N1/1P6/8 b - - 0 49"]
52...Ke7 is also met by 53.Kb6 Kd8 54.Nf5 Bxe4 55.Nd6 Bg2 56.Nxb7+ Kd7 57.Na5 and White should be winning.
53.Kb6 Kd7?!
Now White wins easily as the h-pawn just falls. 53...Kf7 was more tenacious: 54.Nf5 Ke6 55.Nd6 Kd7 56.Nxb7 Bxe4
57.Na5
[FEN "8/3k4/1K6/N1P1p2p/p3b2P/8/1P6/8 b - - 0 57"]
White is winning, but matters are more complicated as Black has some counterplay, e.g., 57...Ke6 58.c6 Bf5 (58...Kd5
59.Nb7 Bf5 60.Nc5 e4 61.Nxa4 e3 62.Nc3+ Kc4 63.Kb7 Kb3 64.c7 Bg4 65.c8Q Bxc8+ 66.Kxc8 Kxb2 67.Nd1+ Kc1
68.Nxe3 Kd2 69.Nf5 Ke2 70.Kd7 Kf3 71.Ke6 Kg4 72.Kf6 Kf4 73.Nh6+-) 59.Nc4 e4 (59...Bh3 60.Kc5 e4 61.Ne3 Kf6
62.c7 Ke5 63.Nc4+ Kf4 64.Kd4 Bc8 65.Nb6 Bb7 (65...e3 66.Nd5+ Kf3 67.Nxe3 Kg3 68.Ke5 Kxh4 69.Kf4 Ba6
(69...Kh3 70.Nf5 h4 71.Nd6 Bd7 72.Kf3+-) 70.Nf5+ Kh3 71.Nd6 Kg2 (71...h4 72.Kf3 Kh2 73.Kf2 Kh1 74.Ne4 Kh2
75.Nc5 Bc8 76.Nxa4+-)
72.Kg5 Kf3 73.c8Q Bxc8 74.Nxc8 Ke4 75.Nb6 Kd3 76.Nxa4 Kc4 77.Nc3 Kb3 78.Nd1+-)
66.Nxa4 e3 67.Nc3 Kf3 68.b4 e2 69.Nxe2 Kxe2 70.b5 Kf3 71.Kc5 Kg4 72.Kb6 Bc8 73.Kc6 Kxh4 74.b6+-) 60.c7 Ke7
61.Kb7 Be6 62.c8Q Bxc8+ 63.Kxc8 Ke6 64.Kc7 Kf5 65.Kd6 Kf4 66.Kc5 Kg4 67.Kd4 Kxh4 68.Nb6 Kg3 69.Ke3 h4
70.Nxa4 h3 71.Nc3 h2 72.Nxe4+ Kg2 73.Nf2+-
54.Nxh5 Ke6
54...Bxe4?! 55.Nf6++-
55.Ng3 Kd7 56.h5 Ke6 57.Kc7 Kf6 58.Kd6 Be8 59.h6 Bc6 60.Nf5 1-0
[FEN "8/1p6/2bK1k1P/2P1pN2/p3P3/8/1P6/8 b - - 0 60"]
D) The fortress
At first sight the following position seems to be an easy win for Black, but closer inspection shows that matters are
much more difficult:
[FEN "3B4/4n3/8/5p1p/4p1pP/1k2P3/3K2P1/8 b - - 0 62"]
62...Nd5
63.Bg5?
63...Nc3 (63...Nb4 64.Bf6 Nd3 65.Bg7 Nf2 66.Ke2 (66.Bd4? Nh3 67.Be5 Ng1 68.Bf6 Nf3+ 69.Kd1 Kc4 70.Kc2
(70.Ke2 Nh2 71.Be5 Kb4 72.Kd1 Kb3 73.Bd4 Nf1 74.Ke2 Nxg3+ 75.Kf2 f4 76.Be5 Nf5-+) 70...f4 71.exf4 e3-+)
66...Nh3 67.Kf1=) 64.Bf6 Nb1+ 65.Kc1 Na3 66.Kd1 Nc4 67.Bd4 Nd6 Black can try to maneuver first. (The direct
67...f4 is met by 68.exf4 Nd6 69.f5 Nxf5 70.Be5 Kc4 71.Ke2 e3 72.Bf6 Kd5 73.Kd3 Nxg3 74.Kxe3=) 68.Kd2
[FEN "8/8/3n4/5p1p/3Bp1pP/1k2P1P1/3K4/8 b - - 0 68"]
But now I see nothing better than 68...f4 69.exf4 Kc4 70.Bf2 Nf5 71.Ke2 e3 72.Bxe3 Nxg3+ 73.Kd2 Nf5 74.Bf2 g3
75.Bb6 Nxh4 76.Ke2 Nf5 77.Kf3 h4 78.Kg2 Kd3 79.Kh3 Ke4 80.Bc5 Kxf4 81.Bb6=
b1) 71.Bf6 f4 72.exf4 (72.gxf4 Nd6 73.Bc3 Nf5 74.Bf6 Kc4 75.Kd2 g3 76.Ke2 g2 77.Kf2 Kd3 78.Kxg2 Kxe3-+)
72...Nd6 73.Bd8 Nf5 74.Bb6 Nxg3+ 75.Kf2 Nf5 76.Bd8 e3+ 77.Ke2 Ke4-+
71...Ne5 72.Bg7 Nf3 73.Kd1 Kc4 74.Ke2 Nh2 75.Bf6 Kb3 76.Be7 Kc2 77.Bc5 Nf3 78.Bb4 Ne5-+
63...Nb6 64.Bh6
[FEN "8/8/8/5p1p/4pBpP/4P1P1/3k4/3n1K2 b - - 0 75"]
75...Kd3! 0-1
Black avoids the last trap and now e3 will finally fall. Of course not 75...Nxe3+?? 76.Kf2+-
[FEN "6b1/8/pk2p1p1/1pNpPp1p/1P1K1P1P/P2P2P1/8/8 w - - 0 49"]
49.Nxa6! Kxa6
Refusing the gift 49...Bf7 does not help due to 50.Nc5 Kc6 51.Nb3 Be8 52.Nd2 Bd7 53.Nf3 Be8 54.Ng5 Bd7 55.Nh7
Be8 56.Nf6 Bf7 And White has an improved pawn ending, e.g., 57.Kc3 Kb6 58.Kb3 Ka6 59.a4+-
50.Kc5 Bf7
After 51...Kb6 52.Ke7 the bishop is hunted with 52...Bg8 53.Kf8 Bh7 54.Kg7+-
52.d4 Kb7 53.Kxe6 Kc7 54.Ke7 Bc6 55.e6 Kc8 56.Kf6 Kc7
[FEN "8/2k5/2b1PKp1/1p1p1p1p/1P1P1P1P/P5P1/8/8 w - - 0 57"]
57.e7?
57.Kf7+-
57...Kd6?
Black misses the moment for a study-like draw with 57...Be8! 58.Kg7 Kd6 59.Kf8 Kd7
[FEN "4bK2/3kP3/6p1/1p1p1p1p/1P1P1P1P/P5P1/8/8 w - - 0 60"]
60.a4 bxa4 61.b5 g5 62.b6 Bg6 63.hxg5 a3 64.Kg7 Be8 65.Kf8 Bg6=
58.Kf7 Bd7 59.e8Q Bxe8+ 60.Kxe8 Ke6 61.Kf8 Kf6 62.Kg8 g5 63.hxg5+ Kg6 64.Kf8 1-0
In the last example the f-pawn is used as battering ram in typical style:
[FEN "8/5kp1/7p/b4K1P/5N2/6P1/5P2/8 w - - 0 57"]
57.Nd3 Bc3?!
57...Bb6!? is much more tenacious, e.g., 58.f3 Bg1 (58...Bd4 59.Ne5+ Kg8 60.Nc6 Bf2 61.g4 Kf7 62.Ne5+ Ke7 63.Kg6
Kf8 64.f4+-) 59.Ne5+ Kg8 60.Ng4 Kh7
[FEN "8/6pk/7p/5K1P/6N1/5PP1/8/6b1 w - - 0 61"]
61.f4 (The direct 61.Ke6 Kg8 62.f4? rushes matters too much due to 62...Bb6 (62...Bd4? 63.f5 Kf8 64.f6 gxf6 65.Nxf6
Kg7 66.Ne8+ Kf8 67.Nd6 Be3 68.Kf6+-) 63.f5 (63.Ke7 Bc5+ 64.Ke8 Bg1 65.f5 Bc5 (65...Bd4? 66.f6 gxf6 67.Nxh6+
Kh7 68.Nf5 Bb2 69.Kf7 Bc3 70.g4 Be5 71.Ne7 Kh6 72.Kg8 Kg5 73.Nf5 Kxg4 74.h6 Kxf5 75.h7+-) 66.f6 gxf6
67.Nxh6+ Kh7 68.Nf5 Kg8=) 63...Kf8 (63...Bc7? 64.f6 gxf6 (64...Bxg3 65.f7+ Kf8 66.Ne3 Bf4 67.Nd5 Bd6 68.Nb6+-)
65.Nxh6+ Kh7 66.Nf5 Be5 67.g4 Bc3 68.Kf7 Be5 69.Ne7 Kh6
[FEN "8/4NK2/5p1k/4b2P/6P1/8/8/8 w - - 0 70"]
70.Kg8 Kg5 71.Nf5 Kxg4 72.h6 Kxf5 73.h7+-) 64.f6 gxf6 65.Nxh6 Bd4 66.Nf5 Ba1 67.g4 Bc3 68.Nd6 Kg7 69.Ne8+
Kh6 70.Kf5
[FEN "4N3/8/5p1k/5K1P/6P1/2b5/8/8 b - - 0 70"]
White can win the pawn f6, but not the game, e.g., 70...Be1 71.Nxf6 Bd2 72.Ne4 Bc1 73.Nd6 Ba3 74.Nf7+ Kg7 75.Ke6
Bc1 76.g5 Bxg5 77.Nxg5 Kh6=) 61...Bb6 62.Ne5 Bf2 63.g4 Be3 64.Nd3 Bd4 65.Ke6 Kg8 66.Ke7 Bc3 67.Ne5 Bb4+
68.Ke8 Bc5 69.Ng6 Be3 70.Ne7+ Kh7 71.f5 Bg5 72.Kf7 Bf6 73.Ng6 Bd4 74.Nf8+ Kh8 75.Ne6 Bc3 76.Nxg7 Bxg7
77.f6+-
58.f4 Bd4 59.Ne5+ Kf8 60.Kg6 Bc3 61.Nd3 Bd4 62.f5 Kg8 63.g4 Bf6 64.Nf4 Bg5 65.Nd5 Bd2
[FEN "6k1/6p1/6Kp/3N1P1P/6P1/8/3b4/8 w - - 0 66"]
66.f6
66...gxf6 67.Nxf6+ Kh8 68.Ne8 Be3 69.Nd6 Bd2 70.Nf7+ Kg8 71.Nxh6+ Kh8 72.Nf7+ Kg8 73.h6 1-0
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