Trivial Endings - Revealing the Secrets - Book

FIDE Trainers’ Commission Trivial Endings Revealing the Secrets Efstratios Grivas

Trivial Endings - Revealing the Secrets

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First published in Greece by FIDE 2013 First Edition 1.750 copies Copyright © FIDE 2012 ([email protected] - www.fide.com)

The rights of Efstratios Grivas to be identified as the author of this work have been asserted in accordance with the International Copyright, Designs and Patents Act. All rights reserved. This book is distributed for free to the FIDE certified trainers, subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, sold, hired out or otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent owner. Limit of Liability and Disclaimer of Warranty: FIDE makes no representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaims any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose and shall in no event be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damage, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages. ISBN-13: 978-960-99379-4-8 Dedications To all past and present top-trainers.

Cover by Nicolas Sphicas 14,5x19 cm A chess game, 2009, aquatint, ([email protected] - www.chess.gr/sphicas

www.logicalchess.com/info/graphics/sphicas)

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Edited by Efstratios Grivas (www.GrivasChess.com) Typeset by Efstratios Grivas & Vassilios Vrettos Cover Image by Nicolas Sphicas Proof-Reading by Kevin O’Connell (www.kochess.com) Printed in Greece by ‘Apollon’ Ektipotiki O.E. (Georgios Mihailidis - [email protected])


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Contents Title-Description …………………………………………………………………………………… Colophon …………………..……………………………………………………………………….. Contents ……………………………………..…………………………………………….............. Bibliography ……………………………………………………………………………………….. Foreword - Kirsan Ilyumzhinov .…………………………...……………………………………. Symbols ………………………………………………………………………..…………............... FIDE Trainers’ Commission (TRG) .…………………… .………………………………...…... Rook & Pawn vs. Bishop & Pawn - Same Flank ……………………………………………. Rook & Rook-Pawn vs. Bishop & Rook-Pawn ………………………………………………. Rook & 3 Pawns vs. Bishop & 3 Pawns - Same Flank - Same colour-corner Bishop ……. Rook & 3 Pawns vs. Bishop & 3 Pawns - Same Flank - Opposite colour-corner Bishop Wrong Bishop vs. Pawn(s) ……………………………………………………………………… Training in Typical Endgame Motifs ……………………………………………………………. A Curious Queen Ending …………………………………………………………………………. Rook & 3 Pawns & a-pawn vs. Rook & 3 Pawns …………………………………………… Index of Games …………………………………………………………………………………….. Curriculum Vitae …………………………………………………………………………………...

1 2 3 3 4 4 5 6 22 36 52 67 89 93 95 125 128

Bibliography ◘

Chess Analytics - Training with a Grandmaster * Efstratios Grivas - Russell Ent. 2012

◘

Chess Today * Alexander Baburin - 2000-2012 ChessBase * Various Authors - MegaBase 2012 ◘ Informator * Various Authors - 1966-2012 ◘ NewInChess * Various Authors - Magazines/Yearbooks 1984-2012 ◘ Practical Endgame Play - Mastering the Basics * Efstratios Grivas - Everyman 2008 ◘

I feel obliged to especially thank ‘Russell Enterprises Ltd’ for allowing me to use material from my recent book ‘Chess Analytics - Training with a Grandmaster’ and GMs Alexander Baburin, Mihail Marin and Karsten Muller for their valuable contribution in the theory of chess endings (and not only!). 3 Trivial Endings - Revealing the Secrets

Foreword FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov Chess has existed as a sport played at a competitive level for centuries. The common code governing the Laws of Chess is relatively recent, and the foundation of Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE), in Paris in 1924, is even more modern. FIDE currently has 177 member federations in all continents. Titles for players were introduced by FIDE in 1950, and titles for Arbiters and Organizers followed. Now we are moving to a new phase, with titles for Trainers. Chess is on the increase in schools across the world. It is part of the mainstream curriculum in many countries. It is a goal of FIDE to make chess an educational tool, and generate worldwide popularity for the game. Examples of the many educational advantages of chess are: shows the need to make people realise the importance of advance planning; develops analytic and accurate thinking; shows the necessity for a combative spirit; teaches fair play and emphasises the need for preparation and hard work for success. However, with the increasing population of chess players, comes the need for trainers to assist with their development. This is a new TRG book written by the well-known author Efstratios Grivas; a manual for trainers, which fulfils a considerable need in modern chess literature, concentrating on the technical side of the game. Efstratios reveals ‘trivial’ knowledge mainly on the rook vs. bishop theme, and then continues with a very interesting section on the ‘wrong’ bishop and concludes with some rare endings. The most special part of it is the notorious ending of rook & 3 pawns & a-pawn vs. rook & 3 pawns! I am sure that this book will ensure that the next generation of players will be at a great advantage over those that have gone before.

Symbols + ++

Check double check

= ÷

# !! ! !? ?! ? ?? +–

Checkmate brilliant move good move interesting move dubious move bad move Blunder White is winning White has a large advantage White is slightly better

°

± ²


³ μ

–+ 1-0 ½-½ 0-1 (D) ○ ●

equal position unclear position with compensation Black is slightly better Black has a large advantage Black is winning the game ends in a win for White the game ends in a draw the game ends in a win for Black see next diagram White to play Black to play 4

FIDE Trainers’ Commission (TRG) Efstratios Grivas Concept We’re all born with a natural sense of curiosity. It’s what drives us to create new things and develop new ideas. At TRG, we’re committed to nurturing our members’ pursuit of advanced scientific and ‘technological’ knowledge through its many research initiatives. TRG is ‘partnering’ with leading global trainers in a variety of fields including seminars, training methods, publishing and research. The results of this cooperation can be applied in ways that benefit TRG intellectually and culturally by transforming it into a cutting-edge leader in the creation of human chess-knowledge. But most of all, TRG’s research aspirations aim to inspire the trainers, and the whole chess world, to discover new ways of unlocking their potential. The FIDE Trainers’ Committee, predecessor of the Trainers’ Commission (which was formed at the start of 2009) was created in 2000 during the Istanbul Olympiad and was chaired by GM Yuri Razuvaev (ex-Honorary Chairman). The Committee ‘created’ a real and decent training environment and established the guidance for its functioning for about eight years; its role is impossible to overvalue. Now, in our ‘second period’, we have to re-examine our position at the moment and to create new tasks for the future. The most important task of TRG was the introduction of a system of titles and licences, as demanded by the IOC. The main idea was that the titles will boost the importance of trainers’ positions in the chess world. Licences are necessary for keeping up the level of the trainers, but until the Sofia 2010 FIDE Presidential Board, these licences were not approved for worldwide use. Now we have instruments to improve the level of trainers, but we need cooperation from the Continental and National FIDE affiliated federations to implement the system correctly and effectively. Our important role is to protect trainers and to help them to conduct their duties effectively and with dignity. For further information see http://trainers.fide.com/trg-council.html and http://trainers.fide.com/trg-members.html.

Aims The FIDE Trainers’ Commission (TRG) is the official body of the World Chess Federation that deals with trainers worldwide. TRG is responsible for and operates the following subjects: 1) Deals with any subject concerning trainers (http://trainers.fide.com). 2) Keeps the record of the list of trainers (http://trainers.fide.com/fide-trainers-system.html). 3) Keeps the record of the financial status of the trainers (as above). 4) Awards the highest training title worldwide, that of FIDE Senior Trainer (FST). 5) Endorses and records FIDE Academies (http://trainers.fide.com/fide-academies.html). 6) Prepares and follows its annual Budget (http://trainers.fide.com/minutes.html). 7) Runs the annual FIDE Trainers Awards (http://trainers.fide.com/awards-hall-of-fame.html). 8) Draws up the necessary Guidelines and Rules and proposes them to FIDE PB and GA. 9) Organizes the worldwide Educational Seminars for FIDE titles. 10) Organizes and supports various Youth Camps (http://trainers.fide.com/seminars.html). 11) Organizes Informative Meetings in various events (http://trainers.fide.com/minutes.html). 12) Lists its Recommended Books (http://trainers.fide.com/recommended-books.html). 13) Supports trainers with monthly Surveys, free of charge (http://trainers.fide.com/surveys.html). 14) Cooperates with CACDEC, ECU (European Chess Union) and IOC/ARISF (International Olympic Committee / Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations), assuring sponsored FIDE Trainers’ Seminars (for CACDEC federations) annually (2009-2012). 15) Supports trainers with valuable general information (http://trainers.fide.com).


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Rook & Pawn vs. Bishop & Pawn - Same Flank Concept Rook & Pawn vs. Bishop & Pawn on the same flank (and with no passed pawns) is an already very well analysed case in modern chess. But still, chess players seem to ignore basic strategy and rules that govern this case. In this survey we will fully examine every-

Kosintseva Nadezhda Lomineishvili Maia Dresden 2008 ● □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + +k+( 7+ + t R + ' 6 + + +p+& 5+ +K+ z P % 4 + + + +$ 3+ v l + + # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

thing that should be known for both sides. Let’s start with the most basic - it is important to know by heart - which are the theoretical won positions and which positions should be drawn. Example 1 ●

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+L+ + + ' 6 + + +p+& 5+ + + + % 4 + + + +$ 3+ + m k z P # 2 + t r + +" 1+ + + m K ! xabcdefghy White, fully in accordance with the principle of economic defence, has maximized the efficiency of his pieces, keeping the black king away from the pawn. The white king controls f1 and f2, the bishop controls f3, g2, g4, h3 and the pawn covers f4 and h4. In this way, the black king cannot penetrate into White's camp, as the imaginary defence-line f1-f2-f3-f4-g4-h4 is strong. 1...g5 2. c6 f2 3. b7 g4 4. c6 The careless 4.Lc8? Kf3! 5.Lxg4+ Kxg3 would lose, as the white king is in the wrong corner. 4... f3 5. g2! Of course not 5.Lxf3? Kxf3 6.Kh2 Kf2, with a won pawn ending. 5... f6 6. b7 b6 7. a8 ½–½


This is a good piece of correct defence in a top game. Black had few troubles to hold the draw… 96... b2 97. e6 c3 98. d7 b2 99. e8 c3 100. f7 b2 101. f6 g7! 102. e7 c3 103. f3 b2 104. f7+ g8 105. f8+ ½–½ Fernandez Aransay Fernando Perez De Aranda Leonardo Madrid 2011 ● □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +k+ ' 6R+ + v lp+& 5+ + + + % 4 + +K+P+$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 48... e7? The bishop should be maintained on the long

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diagonal (a1-h8) at all costs. Now White can win. 49. e5 h4 50. a7+ f8 51. e6 g5 52. b7 h4 53. d7 g5 54. d5! The winning idea. 54... c1 54...Lh4 55.g5 allows the white king to enter the important f6-square: 55...Kg7 56.Rd7+ Kg8 57.Kf6. 55. f6 b2+ 56. xg6 e7 57. f5 1–0 The previous game was lost because Black didn’t follow the correct approach. Well, there are a handful of examples of bad defence and some of those can be seen in the next two games. In the first, Black failed but, in the second he defended well! Hatanbaatar Bazar Miton Kamil Dresden 2008 ● □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + +k+( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + +p+& 5+R+ v l z P % 4 +K+ + +$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy The position is drawn, but some accuracy is expected... Probably Black was feeling ‘safe’ and thought that every move leads to Rome… 101...Lg7? 101... a1 or 101...Lf4 are the only moves for Black to draw the game. 102. b6 f7 103. b7+ g8 104. xg7+! The trick - White wins the pawn ending. 104... xg7 105. d5 f7 And simultaneously Black resigned due to 106.Kd6. 1–0


Gelfand Boris Ivanchuk Vassily Monaco 2011 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + m k ' 6 + +K+p+& 5+ + + + % 4 + v l + +$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + + z P" 1+ + +R+ ! xabcdefghy 61. f7+ g8 61...Kh6 draws as well, but when you are not sure, go with the tested version! 62. f4 c3 63. g4 g7 63...Kh7? loses to 64.Kf7 Kh6 65.Rxg6+ Kh5 66.Rg3. 64. g2 f6 65. c2 a1 66. c7+ g8 67.h4 b2 68. c2 d4 69. d2 White should have tried 69. Rc4 as then Black can draw only with 69...Le3! (69...Lb2? 70.Rg4 Kh7 71.Kf7 Kh6 72.Rxg6+ Kh5 73.Rg2 +–) 70.Rg4 Kh7 71.Kf7 Kh6 72.Rxg6+ Kh5 =. 69... c3 70. d3 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + +k+( 7+ + + + ' 6 + +K+p+& 5+ + + + % 4 + + + z P$ 3+ v lR+ + # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 70...

e1!

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Only this draws (70...Lb2? 71.Rg3 Kh7 72.Kf7 Kh6 73.Rxg6+ Kh5 74.Rg2 +–) Black should attack the white pawn. 71. f6 xh4+ 72. xg6 f8 The black king is able to escape to the correct corner. 73. h3 d8 74. h7 e8 75. f5 f8 76. e6 g5 77. f7+ g8 78. d7 f8 79. d5 c1 80. d1 b2 81. f1+ g7 81...Ke8? 82.Rb1 is a 'usual' blunder! 82. f7+ g6 83. f2 c1 84. g2+ h5 85. f5 h4 86. c2 e3 87. e4 a7 88. a2 b6 89. f4 c7+ ½–½ Grivas Efstratios Minasian Artashes Debrecen 1992 ○

75.

White can win by bringing his king to e6, when Black will be forced into a defensive setup with his king on g8 and his bishop on the long diagonal a1-h8. Then, the advance h4-h5 will follow, breaking up Black's line of defence. 62.g4? fxg4+ 63. xg4 After 63.hxg4 Lf6, the position is a theoretical draw, as analysed above. Of course, 63.Kxg4 also leads to a drawn position, but a move had to be played! White tried for several more moves, but Black knew well what he had to do. 63... c1 64. f3 g5 65. d4 g7 66. e4 c1 67. d5 f6 68. d6 e3 69. e4 c1 70. d7 f7 71. e7+ f6 72. e8 a3 73. a7 c5 74. c7 a3


f3

d6 77.

f7 (D)

3+ + +R+P# 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

■

4 +P+$ 3+++++Kz P# 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

g5 76.

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +K+ ' 6 + v l +p+& 5+ + + m k % 4 + + + +$

□

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + +pm k& 5+ +R+pv l %

f7+

77... h4 78. xg6 g3 79. f5 xh3 80. e3 g2 81. g4 d6 82. e2+ g1 83. f3 c7 84. g2+ h1 ½–½

In the next example, Black didn’t blunder his position was simply not holdable… □ ■

Short Nigel Cheparinov Ivan

Wijk aan Zee 2008 ○

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + +k+( 7+ + + v l ' 6 + + +p+& 5+ + + +p% 4 + s n + +$ 3+ + v L +P# 2 + + +P+" 1+ + +R+K! xabcdefghy

47. g1 47.Lxd4? Lxd4 would lead to a draw, as Black has a fortress. But the presence of another pair of minor pieces makes the endgame won for White. 47... f5 48. c5 e5 49. e1 c3 50. e4 f7 51. f2 f6 52. a4 e6 53. e2 f7 54. f2 e6 55. d3 f7 8

56. a7+ e6 57. a6+ f7 58. e4 b2 59. c6 g7 60. e1 f6 61. c3 White is happy to exchange bishops, as the resulting ending would be easily won for him. 61... h4 62. e5 g5 63. a6 h4 64. f4 f6 65.g4 hxg4 66.hxg4 g7 67. e5 e7 68. d5 e8 69. a7 f6+ (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7t R + v lk+ ' 6 + + s np+& 5+ +Kv L + % 4 + + +P+$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 70.

xf6!

xf6 71.g5+!

f7 72.

xe7+!

And again the transposition to a won pawn ending is the easiest solution! 1–0 When the stronger side can exchange all pawns at the appropriate moment, then the win is in sight. Some examples will help: Example 2 ●

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + + +& 5+ p+$ p% 4 ++L+ + +z 3+ + m k z P # 2 t r + + z P" 1+ + + m K ! xabcdefghy This position looks similar to the position


we looked at beforehand - the difference is that there are pawns on the h-file. This allows Black to win: 1...h4! As Black threatens ...h3 with mating nets, White is obliged to capture on h4. 2.gxh4 gxh4 Now Black threatens to play ...h3 again. 3. e6 f3 4. d5+ f4 5. e6 e2 The black rook will try to eliminate the bishop's checks, allowing its king to penetrate safely on the light squares. 6. d7 d2 7. c8 d8 8. e6 f3 As the d5-square is covered by the rook, the king is allowed on the critical f3-square. 9.h3 White is forced to surrender the important g3-square. 9.Lb3 was clearly losing: 9...h3 10.Kf1 Rb8 11.Ld1+ Ke3 –+. 9... g3 10. g4 (D) The white king cannot escape anywhere: 10.Kf1 Rf8+! 11.Kg1 (11.Ke2 Re8) 11...Re8 12.Lc4 Re1+.

XABCDEFGHY 8 + t r + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + + +& 5+ + + + % 4 + + +Lz p$ 3+ + + m kP# 2 + + + +" 1+ + + m K ! xabcdefghy 10... f8! And as the white king is boxed, the win is

rather easy. 11. d7 f6 12. g4 f7 And White is in zugzwang. 13. h5 There is no salvation - White is busted: 13.Le6 Re7 14.Lc4 Re1+ 15.Lf1 Ra1 16.Kh1 Rxf1 #. 13... e7 14. f1 xh3 15. f2 g7 16. f3 f7 17. e2 g3 0–1 9

Mastrovasilis Athanasios Potapov Alexander Aix-les-Bains 2011 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + +k+( 7+ +R+ +p' 6 + + + +& 5+ + + z PK% 4 v l + + +$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy The following position was thought to be drawn until Noam Elkies proved in 1993 that White always wins: 75. g4! White must combine the following plans: 1. To invade with the king via f6 or h6. 2. Play the advance g6 to invade via g6. But first the bishop must be dominated. The immediate 75.g6? is too early as Black's king can leave the dangerous corner: 75...hxg6+ 76.Kxg6 Kf8! =. 75.Kh6 can now be met by 75... Lf8+. 75... c3 76. b7 d4 77. f5 c3 78. b3 d4 79. b8+ f7 80. d8 c3 81. d7+ g8 82. g4 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + +k+( 7+ +R+ +p' 6 + + + +& 5+ z P % 4 +++++K+$ 3+ v l + + # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 82...

b2


82...Lb4!? is more tenacious, but White will win in any case, e.g. 83.Kf5 La5 (83...Lc3 84.Rd3 Lb2 85.Kg4 +–) 84.Rd5 Lb4 85.Rd4 La3 (85...Lc3 86.Rd3 Lb4 87.Kf6 La5 88.Rb3 Ld8+ 89.Kf5 La5 90.Kg4 +–) 86.Rd3 Lb4 (86...Lb2 87.Kg4 Lg7 88.Rd8+ Kf7 89.Kh5 Lf8 90.Rd7+ Le7 [90...Kg8 91.g6!] 91.Kh6 +–) 87.Kf6 La5 88.Rb3 Ld8+ 89.Kf5 La5 90.Kg4 Ld2 91.Kh5 Lf4 92.Rb5 Ld6 93.Kg4 La3 94.Kf5 Ld6 95.Kf6 Lc7 96.Rd5 Lb6 97.Rd7 La5 98.Rg7+ Kh8 99.Kf7 +–. 83. d3 g7 84. h5 f8 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + v lk+( 7+ + + +p' 6 + + + +& 5+ + + z PK% 4 + + + +$ 3+ +R+ + # 2 1++++++++" ! xabcdefghy The text shortens the win by around 10 moves! More 'stubborn' was 84... Lb2 85.Rd8+ Kg7 86.Rd7+ Kh8 (86...Kg8 87.Kh6 Lc3 88.Rd8+ Kf7 89.Kxh7 +–) 87.g6! (87.Kh6?! is met by 87...Lg7+!) 87...h6 88.Kxh6 Lg7+ 89.Kg5 Lc3 and now 90.g7+ wins quickest as Black's king cannot leave the dangerous corner: 90... Kh7 91.Rf7 Ld4 92.g8Q+ Kxg8 93.Kg6 Lg1 94.Rf1 Lh2 95.Rf2 Lg3 96.Rg2 forces the bishop to leave the shadow of the kings. 85.g6! Finally everything is ready for this advance. 85...hxg6+ After 85...h6 White can exchange into the pawn endgame: 86.Rd8 Kg7 87.Rxf8 Kxf8 88.Kxh6 Kg8 89.g7 Kf7 90.Kh7 +–. 86. xg6 e7 87. c3 White wins: 87...Ld6 (87...Kf8 88.Rc8+) 88.Rc8+ Lf8 89.Ra8 - Black resigned. 1–0 10

Delemarre Jop Peralta Fernando Vlissingen 2007 ● □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+L+ + + ' 6 + + + +& 5+ + + m kp% 4 + + +p+$ 3+ + + z P # 2 +r+ + z P" 1+ + + m K ! xabcdefghy 73...h4 As usual, the stronger side must create mating threats or penetrate with his king. The main secret in these positions is that the rook vs. bishop plain ending is lost because we have the wrong corner case - same colour as the bishop. 74.gxh4+ White is 'obliged' to make this capture, as a waiting policy with 74.Lg2 doesn't help: 74...h3 75.Le4 Rd2 76.Lc6 Kf6 77.Lb7 Rc2 78.Le4 Rc1+ 79.Kf2 Ke5 80.Lb7 Rc2+ 81.Kg1 Kd4 and mate will follow. 74... xh4 And now we have the position of the previous example. 75. a6 g5 76. b7 f4 77. d5 c5 78. b7 f5 79. g2 b5 80. c6 b2+ 81. g1 d2 82. b7 e2 83. c6 e6 84. d5 e5 But here Black offered a draw! He wasn't familiar with the winning method: 85.Lc6

Re6 86.K Lb7 Rb6 87.Ld5 Rd6 88.Lb7 K g5 89. f1 Kh4 90.Kg1 Rd1+ 91.Kg2 Rd2+ 92.Kh1 (92.Kg1 Kh3 –+) 92...g3 – +. At least he could try for some more moves without the slightest risk by the way… ½–½ Zawadzka Jolanta Botsari Anna Maria St Petersburg 2009 ● □ ■


XABCDEFGHY 8 + + v l +( 7+ + + m kp' 6 + + + +& 5+ + + + % 4R+K+ + +$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + +P+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy This is a theoretical win for White, but not an easy one. 56... g6 57. a5 e7 58. d4 f6+ 59. e4 c3 60. d5 b2 61. f4 c1+ 62. g4 b2 63. d6+ f6 64. a6 g7 65. h5 d4 66. d6 c5 67. d7+ g8 68.g4 e3 69. e7 c5 70. c7 d6 71. b7 f4 72.g5 It seems that White rushed with g5. She first had to get her rook into the best position and restrict the movement of the enemy bishop. According to tablebases, the rook had to perform a strange 'dance' here: 72. Rb3 Le5 73.Rd3 Lb2 74.g5 Le5 75.Rd7 Kh8 76.g6 (76.Kh6 Lg7+!) 76...h6 77.Kxh6 Lf4+ 78.Kh5 Lc1 79.g7+ Kh7 80.Rf7 Le3 81.g8Q + Kxg8 82.Kg6 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + +k+( 7+ + +R+ ' 6 + + +K+& 5+ + + + % 4 + + + +$ 3+ + v l + # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy The black king is locked up in the 'wrong' corner and the end is nigh: 82...Lg1 83.Rf1 11

Lh2 84.Rh1 Lg3 85.Rh3 Ld6 86.Rd3 Lc7 87.Rc3 Ld8 88.Rc8. 72...

d6 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + +k+( 7+R+ + +p' 6 + v l + +& 5+ + + z PK% 4 + + + +$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 73.g6? The winning line is puzzling: 73.Kg4 Lf8 74.Kf5 Lc5 75.Rd7 Lb4 76.Rd4 La3 77.Rd3 Lb4 78.Kf6 La5 79.Rb3 Ld8+ 80.Kf5 La5 81.Kg4 Ld2 82.Kh5 Lf4 83.Rb5 Ld6 84.Kg4 La3 85.Kf5 Ld6 86.Kf6 Lc7 87.Rd5 Lb6 88.Rd7 La5

89.Rg7+ Kf8 90.Rxh7 +–. 73...hxg6+ 74. xg6 f8! 75. f6 e8? Black missed her only chance to stay in the game - 75...Lg3! =. 76. e6! f4 77. b4 c7 78. a4 1–0 Chernoukhov Alexandr Gusev Dmitriy Alushta 2011 ● □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + + +& 5+ + +pm k % 4 + + +p+$ 3+ + + z P # 2 t r +L+ z P" 1+ + +K+ ! xabcdefghy Trivial Endings - Revealing the Secrets

A much easier case, as the bishop is poorly placed. 55...f4! 56.gxf4+ 56.La6 Rxh2 (56...fxg3? 57.hxg3 =) 57.gxf4+ Kxf4 –+. 56... xf4 57. f2 g5 58. f1 h4 And White resigned due to 59. Kf2 Kh3 60.Kf1 Rxe2 61.Kxe2 Kxh2. 0–1 □

Mateo Ramon

■

Korchnoi Viktor ○ Donostia 2011

XABCDEFGHY 8 + t R + +( 7+ + +k+p' 6 + + + +& 5+ + + + % 4 + + + +$ 3v l + +K+ # 2 + + +P+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy A won position, but once more White didn't know how to handle it. 49. g4 g6 50. g8+ f7 51. a8 b2 52. f5 g7 53. a7+ g8 54. b7 c3 55. e6 55.g4 is 'well-known' and wins with the methods described in the previous examples. But of course the idea used by White wins as well. 55... d4 56. b4 c3 57. b3 e1 58. e3 f2 59. e4 g7 60. g4+ h6 61. f7 h5 62. g7 h6 63. e6?! Quick and efficient was 63.g3! Le1 64.Rg8 Lf2 65.Ke6 Le1 66.Kf5 Lf2 67.Rg4. Now the win takes much longer... 63... h4! 64. f5 h5! 64...Le1?! loses fast to 65.Rg4+ Kh5 66.Rf4. Korchnoi seems to know what to do and at least he takes his chances… 65. e4 g3 66. f3 b8 67. g8 c7 68. c8 d6 69. c6 b8 70. c5 d6 71. c4+ g5 (D) 12

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + v l + +& 5+ + + m kp% 4 +R+ + +$ 3+ + +K+ # 2 + + +P+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 72.g3? But now it's a draw, as the white pawn is an endless target on g3. An alternative such as 72.Ra4 was good enough. 72... a3 73. a4 b2 74. g2 c3 75. c4 b2 76. f3 a3 77. a4 b2 78. a5+ g6! 78...Kh6? loses to 79. Kf4 Lc1+ 80.Kf5. 79. f4 c1+ 80. e4 b2 81. c5 g7! It is curious that the text move and

92.Kg2! Kf6 93.Kh3. 92. f4 h6+! 93. e5 d2 94. c6+ g5! 95. c8 g4 95...Kg6 draws as well. 96. g8+ f3 97. f5 e1 98. h8 xg3 And the old fox gained the draw - he surely deserved it! ½–½ Of course, not every position is won for the stronger side. There are cases where possession of important squares is much more important than material: Miton Kamil Cyborowski Lukasz Wroclaw 2011 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + m k +( 7+ + +p+ ' 6 + + + +& 5+ + +Kz P %

81...La3! are the only moves for Black to draw - all others lose! Those two moves are the secret of defence in a lot of positions. 82. c8 g5 83. g8 f6 84. f4 h6+ 85. f3 c1 86. g2 f5 87. h8 g4 88. c8 b2 89. c4+ f5 90. f3 g7 91. c5+ (D)

4 +++t 3+ R+++$ # 2 v l + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + v l ' 6 + + + +& 5+ t R +k+p% 4 + + + +$ 3+ + +Kz P # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

This is a drawn position, as every time White exchanges the pawns, the black king will have the time to escape to the queenside. 73.g6 fxg6+ 74. xg6 d4 75. e4 c3 76. f5 f7 77. c4 e1 78. c1 g3 79. c3 d6 80. h3 e7 81. h7+ d8 82. e6 g3 83. d5 f4 84. c6 g3 85. d7+ e8!

91... g6! The only move to draw! 91... Le5 loses to


Black should not be dogmatic: 85...Kc8? is losing to 86.Rg7. 86. d3 f4 87. d4 g3 88. e4+ f7 89. e3 h2 90. h3 b8 91. d5 f6 92. h6+ e7 93. e4 ½–½ Sjugirov Sanan Nepomniachtchi Ian St Petersburg 2009 ● □ ■

13

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + m k ' 6 +R+ + z p& 5+ + + + % 4 + + m K +$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + + z P" 1+l+ + + ! xabcdefghy

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6R+ + +p+& 5+ + +lm k % 4 + + + +$ 3+ + +K+ # 2 + + +P+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

Here Black can defend as long he keeps the h5- and g6-squares out of the white's king influence. 51... d3 52. e5 b1 53. d6 c2 54.h4 b1 55. f6 c2 56. e6 b3+ 57. e7 c2 58. f2 b1 59. g2+ h7 60. f6 h8 61. b2 d3 62. b7 c2 63. e5 g8 64. f4 h8 65. d7 g8 66. g4 Forcing Black to make one precise move, which is, however, completely obvious.

1–0

66... g6! The white king cannot get to h5. 67. a7 h8 68. f4 c2 69. e5 70. f6 b1 71. g7+ h8 72. f7 73. f8 b1 74. c7 d3 75. c6 76. xh6+ ½–½

Example 3 g8 c2 h7

Of course, all the above cases have a meaning when we are dealing with a bishop of the same corner colour; the dark-squared one. When we have to deal with the lightsquared bishop, problems do not exist… Fridman Daniel Agasiyev Kamal Baku 2008 ○ □ ■

(see next diagram) In these cases, the win is rather easy, as the stronger side can easily penetrate to the important f6-square. 47. a5 f6 48.g4 e6 49. f4 c4 50. c5 d3 51. c6+ f7 52. c7+ e6 53. g7


Well, positions with just one pawn for each side come from positions with more pawns for both sides! So, we should be informed about such cases and how they can reach our already examined positions. The following position is rather important and has similarities with our very first one: ○

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+k+ + + ' 6 z pl+ + +& 5z p + + + % 4 + m K + +$ 3+ + + +R# 2Pz P + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy The principle of economical defence is also evident in this example. White cannot win, as Black controls all the vital entry squares of the white king (b5, c5, c6, c7, c8). 1. e5 c7 2. h7+ b8 3. d6 f3 4.a4 e4 5. f7 g2 6.b4 axb4 7. f4 b7 8. xb4 a6 9. c7 a5 ½–½ 14

Or 16...Ld6 17.Rd2 Lc5 18.Kf4 Le7 19.Rd7 Lf8 20.Kg3 Ld6+ 21.Kh3 Lf4 22.Rd5+ . 17. e4 h6 18. h2 g7 19. f4 f8 20. f3 a3 21. a2 e7 (D)

Example 4 ●

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + +k+( 7+R+ + + ' 6 + +K+p+& 5+ + + +p% 4 + + + z P$

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + v l + '

3+ v l + Pz # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy As we already know, this is a drawn position. But still some accuracy is needed. 1... d4? 1...La1! is the correct square for the bishop. The text move allows White to win a critical tempo. 2. b4! c3 3. c4 b2 Or 3...Le1 4.Kf6 Kh7 5.Rc6 Lxg3 6.Kg5 +–. 4.g4! hxg4 5. xg4 7. xg6+ h5 (D)

h7 6.

f7

h6

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +K+ ' 6 + + +R+& 5+ + + +k% 4 + + + z P$ 3+ + + + # 2 v l + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 8. g2! And White wins, although it is far from easy: 8... c3 9. h2 e1 10. f6 g3 10...Lxh4+ 11.Kf5 +–. 11. h1 f2 12. f5 e3 13. h2 a7 14. a2 b6 15. b2 c5 16. c2 e3


6 ++++++k% +& 5+ 4 + + + z P$ 3+ + +K+ # 2R+ + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy And now White shows his point, which is based on a beautiful zugzwang position: 22. e2 f6 22...Lxh4 23.Rh2 Kg5 24.Rh1 Kh5 25.Kf4. 23. 26. 29.

f4 d8 24. c2! d8 c3 27. g3 d5+ g6 30. g4

e7 25. d2 e5+ 28. h3

b4 f4 1–0

Leko Peter Beliavsky Alexander Istanbul 2000 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + m k ' 6 + +K+p+& 5+ + + +p% 4 P# $ 3++R+ + +++z 2 + + +P+" 1v l + + + ! xabcdefghy This is a good example of how to hold the position with accuracy. 15

72.g4!? hxg4 73. xg4 h6! This counter-attack against the weak h4pawn secures the draw. 74. g5 c3 75. f7 e1 76. xg6+ h5 77. g1 f2 77...Lxh4 is also a draw. 78. g2 e1 79. f6 xh4 79...Lc3+ draws as well. But 79... Lb4? loses! 80. f5 g3 81. c2 h3 82. c3 h4 83. c8 d6 84. c3 b8 85. c8 d6 86. g8 h3 87. e4 h4 88. g6 c7 89. f3 h5 90. c6 b8 91. b6 c7 g6 94. a7 f6 92. b7 d8 93. f4 95. a6+ e7 96. e5 c7+ 97. d5 g3 98. a3 f4 99. f3 c7 100. h3 f4 101. h8 g3 102. h6 f4 103. e6+ f7 104. b6 e7 105. e4 d6 106. f5 d7 107. b2 c7 108. g2 d6 109. g6+ d5 110. g7 d6 111. e4 c6 112. g6+ c5 ½–½ Zarkua Davit Malakhatko Vadim Dubai 2011 ● □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + m k ' 6 + +K+p+& 5+ + + +p% 4 + + + z P$ 3+ v l +R+ # 2 + + +P+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 74... d4? Black falls in the trap! He should have opted for 74...Lb2 75.Rf7+ Kg8 76.Rf4 Kg7 =. 75. f7+ g8 76.g4? And White immediately returns the favour. The 'well-known' 76.Rf4! Lc3 77.Rc4! (77.g4? hxg4 78.Rxg4 Kh7 79.Kf7 Kh6 80.Rxg6+ Kh5 81.Rg3 Le1 =) 77...Lb2 (77...Le1 78.Kf6 Kh7 79.Re4 Lg3


80.Kg5 +–) 78.g4 hxg4 79. Rxg4 Kh7 80.Kf7 Kh6 81.Rxg6+ Kh5 82.Rg2 +– was winning. 76...hxg4 77. f4 c3 78. c4 e1! That's the difference, as Black can avoid 78...Lb2?. 79. xg4 h7 80. f6 h6 81. xg6+ h5 82. f5 xh4 And it's a draw. 83. g1 a5 84. g4+ h3 85. f4 h2 86. f3 b6 ½–½ Vera Gonzalez Reynaldo Baburin Alexander Istanbul 2000 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + +k+( 7+ + +R+ ' 6 + +K+p+& 5+ + +p+p% 4 + v l + z P$ 3+ + +Pz P # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 80.g4? Tempting, but wrong! White had to play 80.f4 and then break with g4 - the winning plan in these cases! 80...hxg4 81.fxg4 fxg4 82. f4 c3! This is the problem with 79...Ld4?! - Black has no time to play 82...Kg7. Nevertheless, he can still draw. Apparently, 82...Lb2? would lose after 83.Rxg4 Kh7 84.Kf7 Kh6 85.Rxg6+ Kh5 86.Rg2 +–. 83. xg4 Now, after 83.Rc4, Black can go for 83...Le1! =. 83... h7 84. f7 h6 85. g5 e1 86. xg6+ h5 87. f6 xh4 And again a draw is in sight. 88. f5 d2 89. g2 e3 90. b2 g3 ½–½

16

I used to teach my trainees all the above (and much more) and I was hoping that it would prove to be a useful step in their chess education. And suddenly the chance arose in the European Team Championship 2011, at a critical stage of the match Turkey-Georgia, when the score was 1½:1½, with the following game remaining: □ ■

Can Emre Mchedlishvili Mikheil

Porto Carras 2011

○

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + t R +( 7+k+ + + ' 6 z pl+ + +& 5z p + + + % 4 + m K + +$ 3z PP+ + + # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy As we already know, this is a drawn position. But of course White can try his chances. 63. c4 c7 64. f7+ b8 65. g7 c8 66. d4 b8 67. e5 f3 68. f7 g2 69. f2 c6 70. d6 e4 71. f4 If the white a-pawn was already on a4, White would win here. 71... g2 72. h4 Now 72.b4 is not winning: 72...axb4 73.Rxb4 Kb7! (73...Ka7? 74.Kc7 +–) 74.a4 Ka6 =. 72... f3 73. h3 g2 74. g3 e4 75. h3 g2 76. h4 f3 77.a4 Sooner or later White will have to go for this. 77... b7! Black seems to know well his 'obligations' Wrong would be 77...Lg2? 78.b4 +–. 78. h3 e4 79. g3 (D) At this moment, I was watching the game next to my player and I was disappointed the draw is more obvious and the match would end in a draw 2:2 as well - not a bad result but who doesn’t hope for the best?


XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+k+ + + ' 6 z p m K + +& 5z p + + + % 4P+ +l+ +$ 3+P+ + t R # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 79... b8? A 'well-known' blunder. 79...Lh1! was the correct reply and Black could feel safe. 80. g4! f3 81. f4! g2 81...Ld1 82.Kc6 +–. 82.b4 axb4 83. xb4 a7 84. c7 a6 85. xb6+ a5 86. b2! This is the usual winning method - White will preserve his pawn by tactical means and then he will drive away the black king. 86... f3 87. a2 d5 88. a1 f7 88...Lb3 89.Kc6 Lxa4+ 90.Kc5 wins on the spot. 89. c6 e8+ 90. c5 f7 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +l+ ' 6 + + + +& 5m k m K + + % 4P+ + + +$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + + +" 1t R + + + ! xabcdefghy 91. a3 A bit quicker was 91.Rf1 Lh5 92.Rf2 Ld1 (92...Kxa4 93.Kc4 Ka3 94.Kc3 mates in 18 moves) 93.Kc4 Lg4 94.Rf4

17

Le6+ 95.Kc3 Lg8 96.Rf8 Le6 97.Ra8+ +–. 91.Kd4 Lh5 92.Kc3 Lg6 93.Ra2 Lb1 94. Rb2 Lg6 95.Rb4 is another alternative win. 91... e6 92. e3 g4 93. e7 a6 94. b4 f5 95. f7 g4 96. f6+ b7 97. a5 97.a5 Le2 98.Kc5 Ka7 99.a6! Ld3 (99...Lxa6 100.Rf7+ Lb7 101.Kb5 Kb8 102.Kb6 +–) 100.Rb6 Le2 101.Rb7+ Kxa6 102.Rb6+ Ka7 103.Kc6 wins as well - the black king is in the wrong corner. c7 99. b2 f1 97... e2 98. b6+ 100. b1 d3 101. d1 e2 102. d2 f1 103. b2 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ m k + + ' 6 + + + +& 5m K + + + % 4P+ + + +$ 3+ + + + # 2 t R + + +" 1+ + +l+ ! xabcdefghy 103... d3 A bit more stubborn was 103...Kc6 although White wins as well after 104.Kb4 Kb6 105.a5+ Ka7 106.Kc5 Ka6 107.Rb6+. 104. b4 c6 104...Kb6 105.Kc3+. 105. c3 f1 106. d4 And Turkey won against Georgia 2½:1½! 1–0

Well, but thewhat position we ifjust is drawn, happens the examined weaker side is not able to place his forces ‘correctly’? What happens if he is not in time to place his pawns on a5 and b6 (a4 & b3) and his bishop on the long diagonal? Well, the answer is simple; he is just losing: Peralta Fernando Aloma Vidal Roberto Sabadell 2010 ○ □ ■


XABCDEFGHY 8 m k + + +( 7+p+ + t R ' 6p+lm K + +& 5+ + + + % 4 + + + +$ 3z P + + + # 2 z P + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy Black wasn't able to play ...b6 and ...a5 in time, so White's task is much easier... 71. c5 a7 72. c7 a4 73. e7 73.Kb4 Le8 74.Re7 Lc6 75.Ka5 Ld5 76.b4 Lc6 77.a4 Lh1 78.b5 axb5 79.axb5 +– was good as well. 73... d1 74. f7 b3 75. h7 c2 76. d7 a4 77. f7 b3 78. g7 c2 79. c7 d1 80. g7 c2 81. g4 d1 82. f4 c2 83. d6 b8 84. f8+ a7 85. 88.

c7 h6

a4 86. b8 d1 89. b6

c6 87. f3 (D)

h8

a4

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7m kpm K + + ' 6pt R + + +& 5+ + + + % 4 + + + +$ 3z P + +l+ # 2 z P + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy White played many moves with his rook but he finally understands that he has to use his pawns as well! 90.b4! e4 91.a4 f3 92.b5 axb5 93.axb5 e4 94. e6 d3 94...Lg2 95.Re3 mates. 95. a6+! 18

And Black resigned due to 95...bxa6 96.b6+ Ka8 97.b7+ Ka7 98.b8Q #. 1–0 Efimenko Zahar Landa Konstantin Dagomys 2010 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ kl' 6 ++++pm +pv & 5+ +R+ + % 4 + + + +$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + z PP+" 1+ + + m K ! xabcdefghy 51. f1 Maybe here 51.g4!? is even better. 51...f5 52. e2 f7 53. d6 f4 54.


So, as we just observed, in the case that the stronger side has f- and g- pawns, the win is easier. It is even easier when the stronger side’s pawn structure is healthy! Let’s see why: Coenen Michael Polaczek Richard Roux 2011 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +k+ '

c6

e5 55. e3 f6 56. f4 h4 57. e5 d8 Or 57...Lxf2 58.Rc7+ Kf8 59.Kf6 +–. 58.f3 a5 59. f6+ g7 60. e6 c3 61. f7+ g8 62. b7 d4 63. c7 b2 64. d5 f6 65. e6 b2 Black has got the maximum out of his position, but he is still lost. 66. c2 d4 67. c4! b2 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + +k+( 7+ + + + ' 6 + +K+p+& 5+ + +p+ % 4 +R+ + +$ 3+ + +P+ # 2 v l + +P+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

68.g4! If we add pawns on h4 and h5, this plan won't work for White, but here it is best. 68...fxg4 69. xg4 And Black is losing his pawn, without even coming close to the enemy one. 69... g7 70.f4 f6 71.f5 71...g5 72.Rc4 Lb2 73.Ra4 Lc3 74.Ra7+ Kh6 75.f6 +–. 1–0

6R+++++pz & 5+ +p% 4 + +K+ +$ 3+ + +P+P# 2 v l + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 49.f4! White will break down Black's fortress by the f5 advance. 49... c3 50.h4 h5 51.f5 f6 52. a7+ g8 53.fxg6 xh4 54. h7 f6 55. f5 b2 56. xh5 And the rest is easy. 56... c3 57. h7 g7 58. h1 59. c1 b2 60. c7 a1 61.g7 62. f7 d4 63.g8 + xg8 64. g6 65. f1 h2 66. f2 g3 67. g2 1–0

c3 h7 g1

But the next game reveals that this case is not that easy as well: 19

Golubev Mikhail Minasian Artashes Yurmala 1985 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + +k+( 7+ + + z p ' 6 + + + z p& 5+ + + + % 4 +R+ + +$ 3+ + +P+ # 2 + v l +Kz P" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + +k+( 7+ + + z p ' 6 +R+ + z p& 5+ + +Pv lK% 4 + + + +$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + + z P" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

In this example the black g-pawn is still on his initial square, so there is no way that White could exchange it for his f-pawn without Black’s help. Now Black is threatening ...Lg5-f6 with equality. The black king will be placed on h7 and the bishop will just carefully move along the diagonal, be-

45... h7? Both sides were focused on the 'ultimate fortress' idea. Black's last move was a big mistake. After 45...Kf7! it is highly doubtful that White can win. For example, 46. Rc7+ Le7 (46...Kf6 47.Kg4 Le3!? is maybe sufficient too) 47.h4 (47.Rxe7+ never could win) 47...Kf6! 48.Kg4 Kf7 49.Kf4 Kf8 50.Rc8+ Kf7 51.h5 Lf6!? 52.Ke4 Lb2 and there seem to be no further ideas for

tween a1 and f6. And White can do absolutely nothing. 40.f4! It was also possible to prevent ...Lg5 by playing 40.h4!, but White's hopes lie with the eventual f5-f6 pawn advance. So he advanced his 'main' pawn first. 40... h7! 41. f3 a5 42. c6 d8 43.f5 It will be explained below that f5 has one inevitable drawback. But after, say, 43. Kg4 Le7, 44.f5 must be played anyway. Curiously, at this stage engines are not helpful. They do not understand the concept of fortress, and make absurd assessments all the time. At the very end, however, we will en-

White. Note that when the black king is on f7, it would be very nice for White to have the pawn still on f4 and the f5 square reserved for his king ( Kf5 and then a check by the rook from the 7th rank). But it was impossible for White to get something like this, because Black puts his king on f7 only after f5. 46.h4! Now White achieves critical progress. 46... e3?! 46...Lf6? is bad even here with the white king on h5: 47.Rxf6! gxf6 48.Kg4 Kg7 49.Kf4 Kf7 50.Ke4 Ke7 51.Kd5 Kd7 52.h5! Ke7 53.Kc6 and wins. The most

ter into the area of absolute knowledge (Nalimov 6-man tablebases), which is quite a different story. 43... g5 It is important to note that, 43... Lf6? here and on the next moves loses to 44. Rxf6! (otherwise it is a draw) with a winning pawn ending. So Black still may not place his bishop on the long diagonal. 44. g4 g8 45. h5 (D)

stubborn was 46...Le7 47.Ra6 (the idea is 47...Ld8 48.Re6! with zugzwang) 47...Lc5 and after 48.f6! g6+ 49. Kg4 Kg8 White hardly has anything quicker than 50.h5 (if 50.Kf4 Ld4! 51.Ke4?! Lb2) 50...Kf7 51.Rc6 Ld4 52.Rc7+! Kxf6 53.Rc6+ Kf7 54.Rxg6! (54.hxg6+? Kg7 is a draw according to tablebases) 54...Le3. This position is winning for White, but not


20

easily. 'Win in 38' according to tablebases. 47.f6! gxf6 Or 47...g6+ 48.Kg4 Kg8 49.Rc7 h5+ 50.Kf3 Ld4 51.f7+ and then the king goes to e6. 48. c7+ g8 49. g6 f8 50. xf6 d4+ 51. g6 e3 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + m k +( 7+ R+ ++Kz +p&' 6 +t 5+ + + + % 4 + + + z P$ 3+ + v l + # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy Here, with the white pawn on h4 (instead of h5 as it was in the 46...Le7 line) the victory

is simpler. The black bishop does not have access to the g5-square. 52. c8+ e7 53. c3 d2 54. c2 f4 55. f5 The bishop cannot go to e3 because of Re2, so it must leave the c1-h6 diagonal. 55... g3 56. g4! e5 57. c6 f6 58. h5 f7 59. c7+ f8 60. h7 g8 61. xh6 f7 62. h7+ g7 63. g5 1–0

Conclusion There are many positions that lead to a draw but there are many more traps and blunders waiting in the dark. Knowledge can reveal them and protect us from the evil darkness of ignorance.

NOTES


21

Rook & Rook-Pawn vs. Bishop & Rook-Pawn Concept The ending of Rook & Pawn vs. Bishop & Pawn in general is an easy win for the side with the rook. However, the attacking side must be careful, avoiding certain exceptional cases that lead to a draw. Rook pawns (a and h) require the utmost attention. As here the concepts that apply to all other pawns are not in force, the king and the rook must cooperate in order to force and cut off the enemy king as far as necessary, to a file from which he will be unable to return to the battlefield in time to secure the draw. As there are a lot of drawing possibilities, the theoretical understanding of this particular ending is needed. We can create a table showing us the file on which the defending king must be cut off in order to employ the winning plan, according to the placement of his fellow pawn. Naturally, in several cases the win can be achieved by cutting the king off even on a file nearer to the pawns. Edge Pawn a2 / h2 a3 / h3 a4 / h4 a5 / h5 a6 / h6

Cut-off File e/d f/c g/b h/a h/a

In general, we should know that when the pawns are placed on a4/h4, a5/h5 and a6/h6, then the defending side's king cannot be forced across onto the appropriate cut-off file. And if he has escaped to the opposite flank of his pawn, then the position should be characterised as a draw. Of course, many secrets have to be revealed in this quite difficult ending… Let’s start with a basic example from my book Practical Endgame Play - Mastering the Basics (Everyman 2008), which can be really helpful in terms of understanding the various problems that both sides can face in their efforts to reach the desired result.


Example 1 ●

XABCDEFGHY 8 +r+ + +( 7+ + + + ' 6pv L + + +& 5z % 4Pm k++++++$ 3+ + + + # 2K+ + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 1... c2+ 2. b1 b3 3. a7 The only way not to lose the bishop. Black proceeds with his plan (3.Ld8? Rd2). 3... h2! 4. c1 c3? Black should not allow the white king to escape to the opposite flank of his pawn. A

simple win is on the cards with 4... Rh5! 5.Lb6 Rd5!. 5. d1! If 5. Kb1? Rb2+ 6.Ka1 (6.Kc1 Ra2!) 6...Kb3! 7.Lb6 Rh2!. 5... d2+ 6. e1 6.Kc1 Ra2! with a double threat. 6... d3 7. b6 h2! 8. d8 h1+ 9. f2 h8 10. b6 e8 11. f1 Wrong is 11.Kg1? Ke2! and the white king will be cut off in the undesirable h-file. 11... d2 (D) (see next diagram) 12. Whitec5? could hold the draw with 12.Kf2! (or 12.Kg2) 12...Rf8+ 13.Kg2 Ke2 14.Kg3! as Black cannot force the white king to move to the h-file. 12... e5! 13. b4+ The alternative effort 13.Lb6 Rf5+ 14.Kg2 Kc3! 15.Kg3 Kb4 16.Kg4 Rxa5 17.Lxa5+ Kxa5 18.Kf3 Kb4 19.Ke2 Kb3 20.Kd2 Kb2 would also be in vain.

22

XABCDEFGHY 8 + +r+ +( 7+ + + + ' 6pv L + + +& 5z P + + + % 4 + + + +$ 3+ + + + # 2 + m k + +" 1+ + +K+ ! xabcdefghy 13... d3 14. f2 b5! 15. e1 f5+ 16. g3 e2! 17. g4 Or 17.Lb4 (17.Lc3 Rf3+) 17...Rb5 18.Lc3 Rb3!. 17... c5! (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6p+ + + +& 5z P t r + + % 4 + + +K+$ 3+ + + + # 2 + +k+ +" 1+ + v L + ! xabcdefghy Winning either the bishop (18. Lb4 Rc4+) or the pawn (18.Lg3 Rxa5). 0-1 So, a mistake by the defending side handed the full point to the opponent; this is something that happens often in this ending, as the defence must be accurate, while the stronger side is often ‘allowed’ even to be ‘inaccurate’! This kind of ending either you know, or else you fail… Of course, this is the ‘right’ of the material-up side! Let’s see a second example:


Example 2 ○

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + + +& 5z pL+ + + % 4P+ + + t r$ 3+ + m k + # 2 + + + +" 1+ m K + + ! xabcdefghy This is an important theoretical position. The evaluation and the recommended methods of play have varied through the decades. Of course, things have been settled from the theoretical point of view since the creation of the six men tablebases, but in many cases one understands very little about the endgame by learning that a couple of moves draw, while all the others lose in 38 moves or less. A good source to rely on is Yuri Averbakh’s five volume endgame manual. His analysis does not contain real mistakes and although the tablebases sometimes recommend lines that win in one or two moves less (36 instead of 38, for example), it is more important to stick with the human lines, because they are easier to explain as a part of the same general plan. Computer lines sometimes rely on casual tactics, which are nice, but are more difficult to remember if you get this endgame over the board. To start with, the diagrammed position is drawn. Black's only winning chance consists of sacrificing the exchange for the a4-pawn, but he cannot achieve this under favourable circumstances. Things would be different if the pair of pawns was placed on any other file, but it is known that rook pawns offer additional saving chances in pawn endings. In order to reach the desired result, White has to avoid three (!) main situations: 23

1. His king has to avoid being pushed onto the b-file or further. 2. His king has to avoid being pushed onto the fifth rank or further. 3. His king has to avoid being trapped in the immediate neighbourhood of the pawn! The first two points are easy to explain. In case of an exchange sacrifice, the king has to be in time to reach the b1-square. However, the latter aspect is far from obvious and, for many decades, remained unnoticed by theoreticians. ½–½ But one main question remains: how does the rook win if it is able to capture the opponent’s pawn? Here is the solution: Rook pawns are an exception to what we know so far, assuming of course that the defending king occupies the promotion square. If this square is of the same colour as that on which the bishop moves, then the king is in the wrong corner and thus the side with the rook wins easily. If, however, the defending side has a bishop moving on the opposite colour, then the win is attainable only if the pawn has not crossed its 4th rank. Example 3 ○

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + m k( 7+ t R + + ' 6 + + + +& 5+ + +l+ % 4 + + + m K$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + + z P" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy The winning process is long and laborious. The first step is to force the defending king to the f-file. 1. g5 b1 2. h6 g8 Nothing is changed by 2...La2 3.Rh7+


Kg8 4.Rg7+. 3.

g7+ (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + +k+( 7+ + + t R ' 6 + + + m K& 5+ + + + % 4 +++++++$ 3+ # 2 + + + z P" 1+l+ + + ! xabcdefghy And now Black has two main options: a) 3... h8 4.h4 d3 5.h5 b1 6. b7 a2 7. b8+ g8 8. g5 g7 9. b7+ h8 Or 9...Kf8 10.h6. 10. g6 c4 The rook must follow the bishop's steps and move accordingly so as to prevent any checks until the very end. 11. h7+ g8 12. d7! h8 13.h6 a2 14.h7 b1+ 15. h6 1–0 b) 3... f8 4.h4 d3 5. g3 e4 6. g5! (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + m k +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + + m K& 5+ + + t R % 4 + +l+ z P$ 3+ # 2 +++++++" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy The white king must now free the path of his pawn by retreating via the h5-square, at the same time without allowing the opponent's king to return to h8. Here it becomes evident 24

why the pawn must not have crossed its 4th rank. 6... f7! The best defence, as 6...Ld3 7.Kh5 Le2+ 8.Kg6 Kg8 9.Rd5 Kf8 10.h5 is a simple win for White. 7. g3 c2 Or 7...Kf8 8.Kg5! Kg7 9.Kf4+. 8. h5 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +k+ ' 6 + + + +& 5+ + + +K% 4 + + + z P$ 3+ + + t R # 2 +l+ + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 8...

f6

Alternatively, 8...Lb1 9.Rg5 (intending Kg4-f4 and h5-h6) 9...Lc2 10.Kg4 Lg6 11.h5 Lb1 12.h6 Lg6 13.Kf4 Kf6 14.Rb5 Ld3 15.Rb7! and 16.h7 or 8...Ld1+ 9.Kg5! Kg7 10.Rc3 Le2 11.h5 Lf1 12.h6+ Kh7 13.Rc7+ Kh8 14.h7 and 15.Kh6. 9. g5 d1+ 10. h6 f7 11. g7+ f6 Or 11...Kf8 12.Kg6 Le2 13.Kf6 intending Rg5, h5-h6, Rg7 and h7. 12. g1 e2 13. g2 d3 14. f2+ f5 Or 14...Ke7 15.h5 Lb1 16.Kg7. 15.h5 e6 16. xf5! xf5 17. g7 1–0 At the start of 2008 I was playing the Corus C in Wijk aan Zee and I was lucky enough to watch the following game (that was played in the A section) in the flesh. I have to say that I was impressed by Radjabov’s excellent knowledge of the ending. The analysis of this game is made by the excellent GM and author Mihail Marin: □ ■

Radjabov Teimour Van Wely Loek


Wijk aan Zee 2008 ○

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + + +& 5z pL+ + + % 4P+ + + t r$ 3+ + m k + # 2 + + + +" 1+ m K + + ! xabcdefghy We have reached the diagram in Example 2. 46. c2 h7 47. a6 c7+ 48. d1! The only good move! 48. Kb2? is analysed in Example 4 (p.27). 48... c6 49. b5 c3 50. a6 a3 51. b5 a2 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + + +& 5z pL+ + + % 4P+ + + +$ 3+ + m k + # 2r+ + + +" 1+ +K+ + ! xabcdefghy 52. c1! We can notice an important element. Being a

long-range piece, the bishop, too, can act on both wings. Here, the control of the d3square is as important as the defence of the pawn. For instance, the careless 52.Lc6? would lose to 52...Rd2+! 53.Kc1 (53.Ke1 allows 53...Rc2 with a double [and deadly] threat) 53...Kd3 followed by ...Kc3. However, 52.Le8 is playable, too. After 52...Rd2+ 53.Ke1! the bishop is safe on e8, because the interposition of the black king 25

on the e-file prevents the double attack ...Re2+. 52... d4 53. d1 c3 54. e1 d2 55. a6 d4 56. b5 c2 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + + +& 5z pL+t % 4P+ r++++$ 3+ + + + # 2 +k+ + +" 1+ + m K + ! xabcdefghy Finally, Black switches plans. He will try to push the enemy king as far as possible. 57. e2 e4+ 58. f3 e7 59. f2 c3 60. f3 d4 61. a6 e3+ 62. f2! One important defensive method is the diagonal opposition. In case of 62. Kf4? Black achieves the situation from point 1 with 62...Re6 63.Lb5 Rf6+ 64.Kg3 when 64...Kc3 followed by the exchange sacrifice on a4 ensures an elementary win. 62... e4 63. b5 f4 64. a6 e4 65. b5 e6 66. c4 e4 67. b5 d4 68. e2 d6 69. d3 h6 70. b5 e4 71. d3+ d4 72. b5 h2+ 73. f3 a2 74. d7 a3+ 75. f2 d3 76. f3 d2+ (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ +L+ + ' 6 + + + +& 5z p + + + % 4P+ + + +$ 3t r + +K+ # 2 + m k + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy Trivial Endings - Revealing the Secrets

77. f4! The king has to approach the dangerous 5th rank in order to maintain the diagonal opposition. 77.Kf2? loses to 77...Rd3 78.Lb5 Re3 with zugzwang. If the bishop moves, it will be attacked by the rook, followed by a check on the c-file, while 79.Kf1 Rf3+ immediately drives the king into the forbidden zone. 77... e3 78. b5! Again, the control of the d3-square is essential. After a careless move such as 78.Lc6? Black establishes a frontal opposition with 78...Kd3 79.Lb5+ Kd4, forcing the king to go further up than he would have wished. 80.Kf5 (80.Ld7 is met by the familiar manoeuvre 80...Re7 81.Lb5 Rf7+) 80...Re4 81.Lc6 Re5+! 82.Kf6 (or 82.Kf4 Re6!) 82...Re3 83.Kf5 and now Black starts his decisive attack on the opposite wing with 83...Kc5 84.Lb5 Kb4 85.Kf4 Ra3 86.Ke4 Rxa4 87.Lxa4 Kxa4 88.Kd3 Kb3 winning. 78... e7 79. f3 c3 80. a6 d4 81. b5 e6 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + +r+ +& 5z pL+ + + % 4P+ m k + +$ 3+ + +K+ # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 82. f2! Radjabov deals correctly with the last dangerous moment for White in this game. 82.Ld7? loses to 82...Re3+ 83.Kf2 Kd3. 82... e5 83. f3 c5 84. f2 b6 85. d3 c5 And, having convinced himself that Radjabov knows 'everything' about this endgame, Van Wely resigned himself to the draw. ½–½

26

In 1954, Baranov discovered that Black can avoid being pushed too far and that the logical result would have been a draw. His conclusions are valid up to this moment, but only for the case when the defending king escapes the zone surrounding the pawns. Later, the renowned endgame expert Maizelis (who was one of Y.Averbakh's collaborators for the first edition of his books, published in the late 1950s), discovered the dangers facing the king in the neighbourhood of the pawns. Let’s return to the previous game after White’s ‘potential’ wrong 48th move: Example 4 ●

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ t r + + ' 6L+ + + +& 5z p + + + % 4P+ + + +$ 3+ k+++" # 2 m K++m 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy Here is a sample based on the analysis of the endgame expert Maizelis: 48... d2 49. b3 c6 50. b5 c3+ 51. b2 Black's pieces are not optimally placed yet. In order to win, he has to carry out a major regrouping. His king should reach b4, in order to restrict the bishop's mobility, but the enemy king should not be allowed to escape from the dangerous zone at the same time! 51... h3 52. d7 h4 53. e8 b4+ 54. a3 c3 Black has strengthened his domination, but the b4-square is not available yet. 55. f7 b1 56. a2 White stubbornly keeps his king on a3, keeping b4 defended, but his bishop will not be able to return to the b5-e8 diagonal under favourable circumstances. The voluntary


retreat 56.Ka2 leads to a crucial position after 56...Rc1 57.Le8 Kb4 58.Kb2 Rc5 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + +L+ +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + + +& 5z p t r + + % 4Pm k + + +$ 3+ + + + # 2 m K + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy Black has made his regrouping and White will get into successive zugzwang positions. It is typical for such endings that the rook restricts both enemy pieces at the same time. The next step is to push the enemy king onto the back rank: 59.Lb5 Rc8 and now, apart from king retreats, which is precisely what Black aims to provoke, White has only one move: 60.Ld7 but this places the bishop on a vulnerable square, allowing the rook to switch to lateral attacks, without letting the king escape from the corner: 60... Rd8! 61.Lb5 Rd2+ 62.Kc1 Kc3 and Black has made further progress and now the same method as on the previous step ensures him the win: 63.Kb1 Kb3 64.Kc1 Rd8 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + t r + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + + +& 5z pL+ + + % 4P+ + + +$ 3+k+ + + # 2 + + + +" 1+ m K + + ! xabcdefghy 27

White is in zugzwang again. The only move that maintains the pawn defended and avoids mate in one is 65. Lc6 but this loses the bishop to 65...Rc8. 56... c1 Avoiding the trap 56... Ra1? with complete domination and... draw by stalemate - this is one of the tricks to be alert for! 57. b3 a1+ 58. a2 d4 The king retreats in order to enable lateral attacks by the rook. With the a4-pawn vulnerable now, White cannot save the game. 59. b2 e1 60. f7 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +L+ ' 6 + + + +& 5z p + + + % 4P+ m k + +$ 3+ + + + # 2 m K + + +" 1+ + t r + ! xabcdefghy A desperate attempt to return the bishop to the b5-e8 diagonal. 60.Lb1 leaves the c4square undefended, allowing a relatively easy win after 60...Kc4 61.Lf5 Kb4 62.Ld7 Rd1 63.Lb5 Rd2+ 64.Kc1 Kc3 and so on, like in the variation starting with 56.Ka2 above. 60.Lb3 keeps the c4-square defended, but deprives its own king of the b3-square and places the bishop on a vulnerable square: 60...Kc5! 61.Kc3 Re3+! With the bishop on a favourable square, the white king could escape now to the right wing, but here this is impossible: 62.Kb2 Kb4 63.Ld1 Rg3 64.Lc2 Rg2 65.Kc1 Kc3 and it is all over. 60... e7 61. h5 Or 61.Lg8 Kc5 62.Kc3 Re3+ 63.Kb2 Kb4 with a familiar position. 61... c4 62. f3 b4 63. c6 Finally, the bishop has returned to the 'good' diagonal, but Black has carried out his es-


sential regrouping in the meantime. 63... c7 64. e8 c5 65. b5 c8 And we have reached a familiar zugzwang, so White has to give up sooner or later. 0–1 Here is an old and very famous example: Salwe Georg Rubinstein Akiba Prague 1908 ● □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + t r +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + + +& 5+ + + v Lp% 4 + +k+ z P$ 3+ + + m K # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy According to endgame tablebases Black wins with best play in 48 moves! 60... f7 61. h6 f3+ 62. g2 d3? Now, as we have seen in the previous examples, White should be able to survive! Rubinstein obviously wanted to push the enemy king away from the pawn and then sacrifice the exchange. This plan does not work against the best defence. The correct plan is pretty much the opposite: to keep the white king closer to the pawn, so his bishop won't be much help in defence. 63. g5? White missed the defensive idea with 63.Kf2! =. 63...Rf5? 63... f3! was again correct. Rubinstein managed to win the game, but only by a... mistaken method! He chased the king away from the dangerous zone and eventually succeeded in pushing it to the fifth rank, after which the win was relatively easy. 64. f2! Finally, White found the correct idea. 64... g4 65. e2 f3 66. h6 g3 28

67. 70.

g5 d4

f8 68. e6 (D)

e3

e8+ 69.

d3

f3

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + +r+ +& 5+ + + v Lp% 4 ++m K+k+ + z P# $ 3+ 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 71. d5? But not like that! White should have opted for 71.Kc4 Ke4 72.Kc3! (the only move) 72...Rd6 73.Kc2!! again, the only move White must keep diagonal opposition - this is the key idea in this ending. 71... e4! 72. f6 f4 73. d8 f5 74. g5 g4!

After White's wrong 71st move, Rubinstein plays nearly always the strongest moves. 75. e7 g7 76. f8 d7+ 77. c6 d4 78. e7 e6 79. c5 d5+ 80. c4 f5 81. d8 d7 82. b6 f4+ 83. d3 xh4 84. e2 e6 85. f3 g4 86. f2 f5 87. g3 h4 88. h2 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + + +& 5+ + +k+ % 4 + + +rz p$ 3+ + +K+ # 2 + + + v L" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy A position (similar) which we saw in our Example 3 (p.24).


88... b4? But here Black goes wrong. Correct was 88...h3! 89.Lg3 Rg7 90.Lf4 Rg2 91.Ld6 Rd2 –+. 89. g2! And now, according to databases, this is a drawn position! 89... g4 90. e5 a4 91. d6 a2+ 92. h1 h3 93. c5? And White returns the favour! 93.Kg1 Ra1+ 94.Kf2 = was good enough. 93... a1+ 94. g1 g4! This is the winning method already presented above. 95. h2 a2+ 96. h1 g3 97. c5 h2+ 98. g1 d2 99. h1 h3 And White was ‘forced’ to resign… 0–1

Mistakes are the salt and pepper of modern knowledge. The next four examples are quite instructive, as much ‘salt and pepper’ can be found! But the winning and defending methods are the same and one must study them: □

Mortensen Erling Baburin Alexander Copenhagen 1994 ● ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +k+ ' 6 +R+ + +& 5z p + +K+ % 4Pv l + + +$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy According to tablebases, this position is a draw. Indeed, the black king is in the right zone - not too close to the pawn. 71... e7 72. e5 d7 73. d5 a3 74. c2 b4 75. h2 c7 This move is still OK but conceptually it is 29

better to move away from the pawn: 75...Ke7!. 76. h7+ b6 77. h6+ (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 m k + + t R& 5z p +K+ + % 4Pv l + + +$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 77... b7? 77...Kc7! was the only move, but it wasn’t the only mistake in this game… 78. c4? Now White returns the favour. He had to cut off the black king with 78. Rc6!. Here is White's path to victory: 78...La3 79.Rc4

Lb4 80.Ke6 La3 81.Kd7 Kb6 82.Rc6+ Kb7 83.Re6 Lb4 84.Re5 Lc3 85.Rb5+ Ka6 86.Kc6 Ld4 87.Rd5 Lf6 88.Rd6 Le7 89.Re6 Lb4 90.Re8 Ka7 91.Kb5 Kb7 92.Rd8 Kc7 93.Rd1 Kb8 94.Rd7 Kc8 95.Kc6 Lc3 96.Rd1 Lb4 97.Kb6 the key position - White wins. 78... c7 79. b5 d2? Of course it is not easy to defend. Here 79...Kd7! = was correct. 80. c6+? White could achieve a winning position with the 'well known' 80.Rh1! Lb4 81.Rd1 +–. 80... d7 81. c4 b4 82. b6 d6 83. d4+ e5 84. d8 e6 85. c6 e5 86. d3 (D) (see next diagram) 86... e4? The black king moves to the undesired zone. Black could have drawn with a lot of other moves, e.g. 86...Ke6, 86...Kf5 and 86...Kf6. 87. d5! c3 88. h5?


XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 +K+ + +& 5z p + m k + % 4Pv l + + +$ 3+ +R+ + # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy Both players seem to ignore the basic rules of the ending. Correct was 88.Kc5 Lb4+ 89.Kc4 +–. 88... d4! Back to the draw! 89. h4+ e5! 90. h1 d4 91. b5 b4 92. d1+ e5 93. d8 e6 94. c6 e5 95. h8 c3 96. h5+ d4 97. h4+ e5 98. c4 b4 99. c1 e6 100. d1 e5 101. d3 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 +K+ + +& 5z p + m k + % 4Pv l + + +$ 3+ +R+ + # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

101... e4? Repeating the same mistake! 102. d5! c3 103. d6 b4+ 104. e6?! 104.Kc6 Lc3 105.Kc5 Lb4+ 106.Kc4 wins. 104... c3 105. d1 b4 106. d7?! The final 'mistake'. The correct continuation according to 'theory' was 106. Rd5! Lc3

30

107.Kd6 Lb4+ 108.Kc6, although Black could then claim a draw by threefold repetition! 106... e5 107. c6 e6 108. b5 e5 109. c4 e6 110. d5 e1 111. d4 c3+ 112. c4 e1 113. d1 b4 114. d3 ½–½ Aloma Vidal Roberto Cabrera Alexis Calvia 2007 ●

89. g5 e8+ 90. d4 f5 91. d3 g4 92. d4 f3 93. d5? White voluntarily leaves the safe zone. 93.Kd3 was correct. 93... e4! 94. f6 f4 95. d8 f5! Black has finally found the correct plan. 96. g5 g4 97. d8 g8 98. e7 g7 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + v L t r ' 6 + + + +& 5+ +K+k+p% 4 + + + z P$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

□ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + +r+ +& 5+ + + v Lp% 4 + m K +kz P$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + !

99. f8 d7+ 100. c6 d8 101. e8 102. g5 g8 103. e7

e7 e6

According to the endgame tablebases, this position is a draw. Interestingly, if the white king were on f2, Black would be winning! Black should try to get the white king closer to the h-pawn - and then attack it, forcing the white bishop to leave its post on g5. The other plan - to push the white king far away from the pawn and then sac the exchange does not work against best defence. 82... f3 83. d5? White had three moves which would draw with correct play: 83.Kc4, 83.Kc3 and 83.Kd3. 83... e4! 84. f6 a4?

104. c5 c8+ 105. b5 d5 105...Kf5 also wins. 106. a7 c2 107. b4 h2 108. b3 xh4 109. c3 e4 110. d2 f3 0–1

Only 84...R f4!88. 85. 86.L f6 K Kg1 Lb4 Rg4 LLe7d4RKg7f5 89. 87.Ld8 g4 90.Le1 Rf7 91.Kd4 Rf1 –+ or 84...Ke3! win - the former in 27 moves and the latter in 29 moves. 85. g5? 85.Ke5! =. 85... g4? 85...Re4!. 86. e5! b4 87. d8 b5+ 88. e4 b8

5+ 4 ++++++R% z p$ 3+ + + v lP# 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

xabcdefghy


Kuzmicz Krystian Musialkiewicz Jan Warsaw 2009 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + +k+( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + +K+&

White is winning, as long as he can keep the 31

enemy king in the right (‘wrong’) corner. 77. b5? But not like that! Correct was 77. Rf5! Lh2 78.Rd5 Kf8 79.Rd4 Lg3 80.Re4 and Black is in zugzwang. 77... f8! Black escapes from the box and finds salvation. 78. f6 e8 79. e6 d8 80. g5 c7 81. c5+ b6 82. d5 b7 83. c6 f2 84. h6 g3 85. h7+ b6 86. h6+ b7 87. g6 f2 88. e4 g3 89. f3 c7 90. e4 b7 91. d5 f2 92. g7+ b6 ½–½ Deszczynski Adam Bologan Viktor Warsaw 2009 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + +k+ +& 5+r+ + v Lz p% 4 + +K+ P$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy This is drawn, but White must know how to defend. As said, the key idea is to avoid the area close to the h-pawn. 79. d4 b4+ 80. d3 d5 81. f6 f4 82. g5 f3+ 83. e2 e4 84. e7 b3 85. f2 This doesafter not 85. lose, but it would be Kd2!. easiermove to defend 85... b2+ 86. g3? Now the white king gets locked up near the h-pawn. Black will create mating threats, forcing the enemy bishop to abandon the pawn. Of course 86.Ke1! = would do the job... 86... b7! 87. g5 f7 88. g2 b7? It is clear that even such a strong player as


GM Viktor Bologan isn't familiar with this endgame... 88...Kd3! 89.Kg3 Ke2 90.Kg2 Rd7 91.Lf4 Rd4 92.Kg3 Rc4 93.Lg5 Rg4+ 94.Kh3 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + + +& 5+ v Lp% 4 +++++rz P$ 3+ + + +K# 2 + +k+ +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 94...Kf3 95.Le7 Rg3+ 96.Kh2 Kg4 97.Lg5 Rf3 98.Kg2 Rf8 99.Le7 Re8 100.Lg5 Re2+ 101.Kf1 Kf3 102.Lf6 Re8 103.Lc3 (103.Lg5 Kg3 –+) 103... Kg3 104.Le1+ Kg4 105.Lf2 Kf3 –+. 89. g3? Missing 89.Kf2! =. 89... b2? 90. e7? 90.Lh6!. 90... b3+? 91. g2? f4? 91...Rf3!. 92. g5+ g4 93. f2! g3 95. e7 f5 96. g5 f3 98. d4 e1 (D)

f3+ 94. e2 e5+ 97. d3

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + + +& 5+ Lz p% 4 ++m K+ +v P$ 3+ + +k+ # 2 + + + +" 1+ + t r + ! xabcdefghy 32

99. d5? Only to mess it up again! As said, White (in general) should not go above the 4 th rank in such positions, so 99.Kc4 as a must. 99... e4! Finally, Black wins by the usual trick. 100. d6 Black's task would be much more difficult after 100.Ld8 but of course still wins: 100...Kf4 101.Lg5+ Kf5 102.Ld8 Rg4. 100... g3 101. d5 xh4 0–1

Although our first example had the pawns on a5 and a6 (h5 & h6), up to here we have seen games where the pawns were placed on the 4th and the 5th ranks. In this case the situation is slightly different, as the defending side has an advantage of space, due to the presence of pawns on the above mentioned ranks. Kramnik Vladimir Ponomariov Ruslan Moscow 2009 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+R+ + + ' 6 + + +k+& 5+ + + v l % 4 + + + z p$ 3+p+ + +P# 2 + + +K+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 58.

f3!

d2 59.

g4

e1 60.

xb3

From now on, the tablebases show the ending is winning for White. Although Kramnik doesn't always take the most straightforward path, he knows the basic principles of the winning method and he will never endanger his victory. If the black king could cross the e-file then apparently it would be a draw. 60... g3 Or 60...Kf6 61.Rf3+ Kg6 62.Re3 +–. 61. f3


61.Re3 +– is equivalent, but 61.Rb6+? Kf7 62.Kf5 Ke7 = allows Black's king to escape from the dangerous corner. 61... e1 61...Kh6 62.Rf6+ Kg7 63.Kg5 Lc7 64.Re6 Kf7 65.Re4 Lg3 66.Re3 Kg7 67.Rf3 Le1 68.Rf1 Lg3 69.Kh5 Kh7 70.Rf7+ Kg8 71.Kg6 Lh2 72.Rd7 Kf8 73.Rd4 Lg3 74.Re4 and zugzwang! We will see this method (and final position) in the game as well. 62. e3 f2 Similar is 62...Lg3 63.Re6+ Kf7 64.Kf5. 63. e6+ f7 64. f5 64.Re2! Lg3 65.Kg5 is slightly faster. 64... g3 65. e4 f2 66. g5 g3 67. e2 See the 64.Re2! line. 67... g7 68. e7+ f8 69. f6 f2 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + m k +( 7+ + t R + ' 6 + + m K +& 5+ 4 ++++++z p% $ 3+ + + +P# 2 + + v l +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 70. e6 70.Ke6! Le1 (70...Ld4 71.Rh7 +–) 71. Rc7 Lg3 72.Ra7 Lh2 (72...Le1 73.Kf6 Lc3+ 74.Kg6 Le1 75.Ra4! Lg3 76.Re4 +–) 73.Rf7+! Kg8 (73...Ke8 74.Rh7 +–) 74.Kf6 Lg3 75.Kg6 - 61...Kh6. 70... g3 71. g6 h2 72. e4 g3 We have already seen that White must achieve this position with Black to move, thus forcing zugzwang. 73. f6 f2 74. g6 74.Re7! Ld4+ 75.Ke6 Lc3 76.Rh7 Le1 77.Rc7 Lg3 78.Ra7 - 70.Ke6!. 74... g3 75. e2 d6 76. g5 g3 76...Le7+ 77.Kf5 Lc5 78.Re4 Lf2

33

79.Kf6 Lc5 (79...Lg3 80.Kg6) 80.Ra4 Le7+ (80...Ke8 81.Ke6) 81.Ke6 Lg5 82.Ra7 Kg8 83.Kf5 Le3 84.Ra3 Lc5 85.Ra5 Ld6 86.Ra4 Lg3 (86...Le7 87.Kg6) 87.Kg6 Kf8 88.Re4 +–. 77. f6 f4 78. e4 d6 78...Lc7 79.Rc4 Ld8+ 80.Kf5 Kf7 81.Rd4 Le7 82.Rd7 +–. 79. d4 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + m k +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + v l m K +& 5+ + + + % 4 + t R + z p$ 3+ + + +P# 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 79...

c7

More resilient, but equally hopeless is 79...Le7+ 80.Kf5 Kf7 (the king won't escape: 80...Ke8 81.Ke6 Kf8 82.Rf4+ Ke8 83.Ra4 +–) 81.Rd7 Kf8 82.Ke6 Lg5 83.Rb7 Ld2 (83...Kg8 84.Kf5 Ld2 85.Kg6 Kf8 86.Rb5 Lc1 [86...Le1 87.Rf5+] 87.Rh5 +–) 84.Rf7+! Kg8 (84...Ke8 85.Rh7) 85.Kf6 Le1 86.Kg6 Lg3 87.Re7 Kf8 88.Re4 +–. 80. g6 g3 81. e4 This is the position we saw above, after move 72 when White was to move. Now it is Black’s turn and he is in zugzwang, therefore he resigned. 1–0 If the king is free, the attacker has to push him one file further than in the previous examples, namely to the opposite edge of the board. In Kasparov's game against Pinter, the exWorld Champion managed to avoid this and achieved a draw. It looked like a very easy defence after all:


Pinter Jozsef Kasparov Garry Auxerre 1993 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + +R+& 5+ + + + % 4 + + + z p$ 3+ + + v lP# 2 + + m k +" 1+ + + +K! xabcdefghy 84. 87. 90. 93. 96. 99. 102.

g4 f1 85. g5 f2 86. g2 e4 88. f7 d5 89. e2 d5 91. f3 d6 92. f5 d6 94. e8 d7 95. e4 d7 97. d5 c7 98. f7 h2 100. f2 g3 101. c6 f4 103. c5 g3

f5+ e7 g4 e6 e7+ c2 104.

e3 d6 d7 c7 b6 b7 d5

f4 105. c2 g3 106. e6 b6 107. d7 b5 108. c6 h2 109. c2 g3 110. e6 b6 111. f5 b5 112. e4 b6 113. f3 b5 114. g4 ½–½

Of more interest is the next game. Just like in the lines above, the king was trapped in the surroundings of the pawns. Apparently, this should be less dangerous, because the king has more space available, but on the other hand the bishop's ‘good’ diagonal is shorter! □ ■

Kasparov Garry Jussupow Artur

Linares 1993 ○ (see next diagram) 91. b4 c5 The black king cannot escape the queenside, at least not before he puts his bishop on b3. 92. g3 b5 93. f4 b6 94. e3 a5 95. d4 e2 96. b1 h5 97. e1 f7 98. c5 b3 99. e8 a6 100. c6 a7 101. b5

34

101.Re7+ Kb8 (101...Ka6 102.Kc5 and the king is boxed) 102.Rc7 was rather simple.

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 +l+ + +& 5+ +k+ + % 4p+R+ 3z P + ++++$ # 2 + + + m K" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 101... b7! (D) 101...Ld1?! 102.Re7+ Kb8 103.Kb6 Kc8 104.Re4 Lb3 105.Rd4 creates a zugzwang.

XABCDEFGHY 8 + +R+ +( 7+k+ + + ' 6 + + + +& 5+K+ + + % 4p+ + + +$ 3z Pl+ + + # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 102. e7+? Letting the king out of the box. 102. Rd8 Kc7 103.Rd4 is secure. Now it's a draw... 102... c8 103. c6 d8 104. d7+ e8 105. c7 c2 106. d2 b3 107. e2+ f7 108. d6 c4 109. e7+ f8 110. e4 b3 111. d7 f7 112. f4+ g6 113. d6 g5 114. e5 g6 115. f3 g7 116. f6 c4 117. f5 b3 118. g5 c2 (D) And after all these ‘useless’ moves, the adversaries decided that they had seen enough and agreed to a draw.


XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + m k ' 6 + + t R +& 5+ + + m K % 4p+ + + +$ 3z P + + + # 2 +l+ + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy Curiously, the evaluation remains the same: the side with a rook should win by successive zugzwang positions. For a while, Kasparov conducted his technique in the best way, but then let the enemy king escape, with an inevitable draw... ½–½

Conclusion According to the excellent researcher and publisher of Chess Today, GM Alexander Baburin, the defending side should avoid two main situations: 1. His king is locked in the low right corner (f2/f7, f1/f8, g2/g7, etc) with the rook cutting it off along the e-file. 2. His king is above the 4 th (5th) rank and is left of the e-file (i.e. the white king is on d5, while Black has a rook on e4). So, in conclusion, we can create a detailed guide of important facts: 1. The stronger side wants to sacrifice the exchange back, when the defending king is too far away. 2. Therefore the defending side must not allow his king to be pushed away beyond the c- or f-file. 3. The defending side should not move his king past the 4th (5th) rank either. 4. Usually the defending side should place his king in diagonal opposition to the enemy king (i.e. Kc2 vs. Ke4). 5. The defending side does not want his king to be too close to his pawn either - there the king will be in real danger. 35

Rook & 3 Pawns vs. Bishop & 3 Pawns Same Flank - Same colour-corner Bishop Concept This particular type of ending (rook vs. bishop) is often met in practice:

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + v lk+( 7+ + +pz pp' 6 + + + +& 5+ + + + % 4 + + + +$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + z PPz P" 1+ + +Rm K ! xabcdefghy

squared bishop implies a weakening of the f2-square. Therefore, Black must: 1. Bring his king to e1, forcing White to push the f-pawn to f4 in view of the threat of ...Rb2. 2. Then, Black will prepare the ...g5 advance by placing his rook on g7. 46... e7 47. a2 h6 48. b3 c7 49. a2 d6 50. h3 e5 51. g4 a7 52. b3 b7 53. d1 53.La2 Ke4! is even simpler. 53... b2 54. f3 d4 55. e2 b3+ 56. g2 c3 57. f3 b5 58. c6 c5 59. e8 c7 60. f1 d2 61. a4 c1+ 62. g2 e1 63. b3 c7 64.f4 e2 Commencing the second stage of the plan. 65. d5 e3 66. a8 f6! 67. g1 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8L+ + + +(

Rook & three pawns vs. Bishop and three pawns, on the same flank and symmetrical. In this survey we will examine the case when the bishop is moving on the same colour squares as his nearest pawn-corner.

7+ r ++ z 6 +t p+ pz p&' 5+ + + + % 4 + + z P P$ z 3+ + m k z P # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + m K ! xabcdefghy

Speelman Jonathan Kasparov Garry Graz 1981 ● □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + m k +( 7+ + +p+p' 6 + + +p+& 5+ t r + + % 4 + + + z P$ 3+L+ + z P # 2 + + z PK+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy Such endings are easily won for the side with the rook. The presence of a light-


67... g7! 68. g2 g5 69.hxg5 hxg5 70.fxg5 xg5! White resigned in view of 71.Lc6 f5

72.Kh3 Kf2. 0–1 Of course this is an oft repeated winning motif and a trained chess player should know the pros and cons of these positions. Grischuk Alexander Carlsen Magnus Astana 2012 ○ □ ■

36

XABCDEFGHY 8 m k + + +( 7+ + t R + ' 6 z p m K + +& 5z p z p + + % 4 + + + +$ 3z P z P + + # 2 z P + +l+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + m k( 7+ + + z p ' 6 + +Lz p p& z 5+ t r + + % 4 + + z P P$ z 3+ + + z P # 2 + + +K+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

This is another, recent, example, which proves that specific knowledge of motifs counts... 49.b3 h1 50. e2 b7 51. b2! f3 52.b4! (D)

40...g6! Black slowly prepares the activation of his king and later on the application of the winning method. 41. g4 c2+ 42. g1 g7 43. f3 b2 44. d5 f8 45. e4 f7 46. d5+ e7 47. e4 f5! The ideal pawn structure is slowly formed! 48. d5 d2 49. c6 f6 50. f3 c2 51. d5 c5 52. f3 e6 53. b7 c2

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+k+ + + ' 6 z p m K + +& 5z p z p + + % 4 z P + + +$ 3z P z P +l+ # 2 t R + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy Here it is again! 52...cxb4 53.axb4 axb4 54. xb4! 55.c4 a6 56. c6 a5 57. b5+ 58. d5

e2 a4

1–0 Modern chess players tend to think that theory only applies to openings. This is a very wrong attitude, as logic and practice have proven that theory counts for every part of a game - see the next example as well: Wagner Florian Herning Jens Nuremberg 2009 ● □ ■


54. f3 d6 55. b7 b2 56. f3 57. g2 d4 58. f3 e3 And the king has arrived on e3 as well! 59. d5 d2 60. a8 (D)

c5

XABCDEFGHY 8L+ + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + +pz p& 5+ + +p+ % 4 + + z P P$ z 3+ + m k z P # 2 + t r + +" 1+ + + m K ! xabcdefghy 60... d8! The rook belongs behind the black g-pawn! 61. b7 g5 62.fxg5 hxg5 63.hxg5 g8 64. h2 xg5 65. c8 f2 66. xf5 xf5 67.g4 g5 0–1 37

Pavlovic Dej Solomunovic I. Kraljevo 2011 ○

Pap Gyula Sahu Sekhar Chandra Budapest 2010 ●

□

□

■

■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + m kp+ ' 6R+ + +p+& 5+ + z p + % 4 +K+P+ +$ 3+ + +Pz P # 2 + v l + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

XABCDEFGHY 8 + v l + +( 7+R+ + + ' 6 + +k+p+& 5+ + +p+p% 4 + m K + +$ 3+ + + +P# 2 + + z PP+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

An easily won position, as the black pawns cannot restrict the white king. 48. d5 e1 49. xe5 xg3+ 50. d5 e1 51.e5 c3 52. a7+ f8 53. c7 The simplest is 53.e6 fxe6+ (53...f5 54.Kd6 +–) 54.Kxe6 Kg8 55.Ra2 Kg7 56.Rg2 Ld4 57.f4, reaching a known winning posi-

46...g5 As 46...Lf6+ 47.Kc4 Le5 48.Rb6+ Kf7 49.Kd5 Lc3 50.f4 is known to be won, Black tries some alternative defence. But the text move fatally loses control over the f5square. 47.f3 h4 48. b4 c7 49. c4 d6

tion. 53... b2 54. c2 a3 55. c7 b2 56. e4 Obviously White wasn't familiar with the winning method. 56... a3 57. f4 e7 58. b7 e8 59. b8+ d7 60. e4 c5 61. d5 e3 62. b7+ e8 63.e6! Finally! 63...fxe6+ 64. xe6 d8 65. d7+ c8 66. d3 f4 67. f6 g5 68. d5 c7 Black resigned due to 69.Rxg5 Lxg5+ 70.Kxg5 +–. 1–0

50. a4 h2 51. b5 g3 52. c6 e5 53. b4 53.Ra2 Ke6 54.Re2+ Le5 55.Re1 Kf6 56.Kd5 Lf4 57.Re6+ Kf7 probably goes nowhere. White rightly tries to invade via Black's back rank. 53... e6 54. b3 e5 55. b5 d4 56. c7 f6 57. b6+ e7 58. a6 d4 59. c8 f6 60. b6 d4 61. b5 e6 62. d8 e5 63. e8 d6 64. a5 b4 65. a6+ d6 66. b6 Black is in zugzwang and must allow the way in to the white king. 66... e5 67. f7 g4 68. xd6! gxh3 69.gxh3 1–0

In this ‘simple’ ending there are many options for both sides, some good and others bad (depends of course on which is your side!), so we might examine some interesting cases, where something out of the ‘ordinary’ happened.


The following two examples indicate an alternative plan for the stronger side. Sometimes it is quite effective and sometimes, if not properly applied, can only cause ‘headaches’. I would surely prefer the tried and tested path… Espig Lutz Wagner Florian Germany 2009 ○ □ ■

38

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + +k+( 7+ + +p+p' 6 + + +p+& 5+ + + + % 4 v l + + +$ 3+ + + z P # 2 + + z P P" z 1+ + +Rm K ! xabcdefghy 37.g4 g7 38. g2 f6 39. b1 d2 40. b5! Preparing the h4-h5 plan. 40... c1 41. f3 g5 42. e4 d2 43.f4 h6?! This gives White an easy game. Black should hold his h-pawn back: 43... Kg7 44.h4 Kf6 45.h5 Kg7 when White can go for: a) 46.hxg6? hxg6 47.g5 Lc3 48.Rc5 Lb2

49.Kd5 Kg8 50.Kc6 Ld4 51.Rc4 Lb2 52.Kd7 f6! (52...Kg7? 53.Ke8 f5 [53...f6 54.Rc7+ Kg8 55.gxf6 Lxf6 56.Rc2 +–] 54.Ke7 Kg8 55.Rc8+ Kg7 56.Ke6 La1 57.Ra8 Ld4 58.Kd5 Lb2 59.Ra2 Lc3 60.Ra3 Lb2 61.Rb3 and Black loses: 61...La1 62.Rb7+ Kf8 63.Kc4 Kg8 64.Rb1 Lg7 65.Rb8+ Kf7 66.Rb7+ Kf8 67.Rxg7 Kxg7 68.Kd5+–) 53.gxf6 (53.Ke6 fxg5 54.fxg5 Kg7 =) 53...Kf7 =. b) 46.Rb2! Le1 47.Rh2 gxh5 (47...Lc3 48.h6+ Kf8 49.Rc2 +–) 48.Rxh5 (for the 48.gxh5 pawn structure see the next game) 48...h6 49.Rf5 Ld2 50.Ke5 Kg6 51.Rf6+ Kg7 52.Rc6 Le3 53.f5 Lg5 54.Kd6 Kf6 55.Kd7+ Kg7 (55...Ke5 56.Ke8 f6 57.Rc4 +–) 56.Ke8 +–. 44.h4 e1 45.h5 d2 45...gxh5 46.Rxh5 was examined above. But now White can achieve a passed pawn. 46. b6+ g7 47.hxg6! fxg6 48. e5 c3+ 49. e6 1–0 □ ■

Malakhov Vladimir Bologan Viktor


Sibenik 2010 ●

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + +k+( 7+ v l +pz p ' 6 + + + z p& 5+ + + + % 4L+ + + +$ 3+ + v L z PP# 2 t r + z PK+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 54...g5 With hindsight, I would have preferred 54...Lb6 55.Lxb6 Rxb6 56.h4 g6 –+. 55. d7 b6 56. xb6 xb6 57. f5 g7 58. e4 b3 59. c2 c3 60. b1 f6 61. a2 a3 62. c4 h5 63. e2 h4?! Although this must win, it gives Black some more problems to solve en route. The calm 63...Kg6 64.Ld1 Ra1 65.Lc2+ Kf6

66.Ld3 Ra4 67.Le2 h4 was fine. 64.gxh4 gxh4 Now Black should opt for exchanging the fpawns, reaching a won ending. 65. f3 e5 66. b7 d4 67. c6 a6 68. e8 f6 69. f1 d3 70. b5+ d2 71. c4 f5 72. b3 f6 73. e6 f3 74. d7 f4 75. e6 e4 76. d7 e7 77. c8 g7 78. e6 d3 79. f5+ d4 80. c2 e5 81. a4 c7 82. e8 e4 83. g6+ f5 84. e8 c8 85. h5 f8 86. e2 f4 87. f1 g8 88. f7 d8 89. h5 e4 90. g2 g8+ 91. f1 h8 92. d1 c8 93. g2 g8+ 94. f1 g7 95. c2+ f4 96. d1 c7 97. g2 (D) (see next diagram) 97... c3! After many useless moves, Black found the correct strategy; to cut off the white king and try to place his f-pawn on f3. 98. h5 e4 99. g6 c7 100. f1 g7 101. e8 d3 102. c6 d2 103. d5 c7 104. e6 f4 105. g4 c3! Going again in the correct direction after some 'tries'.... 39

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ t r + + ' 6 + + + +& 5+ + +p+ % 4 + + m k p$ z 3+ + + +P# 2 + + z PK+" 1+ +L+ + ! xabcdefghy

But why should the weaker side place his pawns on h5 and g6 (h4 & g3)? If we can borrow a financial term and think about the value of economy, we can easily understand that the pawns should be placed on the opposite colour of the squares of the bishop. Well, this is the best by test pawn formation and the following two examples can help to prove it. □

Reinecker Kai Ivaska Romas Germany 2010 ● ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +pz pk' 6 +K+ + z p& 5+ + v l + % 4 + + + +$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + z PPz P" 1+R+ + + ! xabcdefghy

106. g2 106.Lf5 f3 is curtains, so White must give ground to the black king. 106... e1 107. h5 a3 108. g4 a2 109. f3 xf2+ 110. e4 f1 111. f3 f2 112. xf4 b1 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ ' 6 +++++++& 5+ + + + % 4 + + m K p$ z 3+ + +L+P# 2 + + m k +" 1+r+ + + ! xabcdefghy A won ending has arisen - White has little to fight for. 113. c6 b4+ 114. e5 g3 115. d7 c4 116. e6 c1 117. g4 a1 118. c8 c1 119. g4 c7 120. d4 g7 121. e6 g2 121...Rg6! 122.Lc8 Rg8 123.Lf5 Rf8 124.Le6 Rd8+ 125.Kc5 Rd2 was good. 122. d3 e7 123. g4 f2 124. d4 e3 125. d5 g2 Rxh3 White resigned: 126.Kd4 127.Lxh3+ Kxh3 128.Ke3 Kg2. 0–1


33...f6 Weakening the light squares and placing the pawns on the same colour squares as the bishop's cannot be a correct strategy. Black had to fight with 33...g6. 34. d7 g5 35. e6 g6 36.h3 h5 37.g4 hxg4 38.hxg4 And now White, by some rook check, will win either the f5 or the f7-square for his king. 38... d4 39.f3 e5 40. c1 b2 41. c8 g7 41...Le5 42.Rg8+ Kh7 43.Kf7 Ld4 44.Rg6 +–. 42. f5 e5 43. d8 f7 44. d7+ e8 45. e6 And next comes the Rf7-xf6 continuation. 1–0 Fressinet Laurent Petrosian Tigran L. Paris 2009 ○ □ ■

40

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + z p p& z 5+ +r+ z p % 4 + + m kP+$ 3+ + + +P# 2 + +Lz PK+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy Again Black has an easy task, as White has given up important squares such as f4. 54. c4 d2 55. a6 b2 56. c8 e4 So, Black's plan should be to force White to move his f-pawn as well. Then the black king will have a party on the e3-, f4- and g3squares! 57. a6 d4 58. f3 b3+ 59. g2 c3 60.h4 d2 61.hxg5 hxg5 62. c4 c3 63. d5 e1 64.f3 e2 65. g3 e3 66. e4 0–1

c1 67.

b7

g1+ 68.

h2

f2

Some extra chances might arise from time to time - see the following two games: Croad Nicholas Bennett Hilton Petrie Queenstown 2009 ○

usual method. 46. g2 e7 47. f3 49. e4 c5 50. a6+

d4 48. a2 e6 d7 51.f4 e7 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + m kp+ ' 6R+ + +p+& 5+ v l + +p% 4 + +Kz P +$ 3+ + + z P # 2 + + + z P" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 52.f5! But here an extra chance is not kicked away! Usually this is a blunder when the black king is on g7 and the bishop on the long diagonal. Here we have an exception; Black is forced to capture and destroy his pawn structure. 52...gxf5+ 53. xf5

But now the white king will try to penetrate or simply attack Black's h-pawn. 53... e3 54. a2 h6 55. a7+ f8 56. f6 1–0

□ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ +k+pv l ' 6R+ + +p+& 5+ 4 ++++++p% +$ 3+ + + z P # 2 + + z P P" z 1+ + + m K ! xabcdefghy White has a won position and can go for the


Roktim Bandyopadhyay Swapnil S Dhopade New Delhi 2007 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + +p' 6 + + +p+& 5+ m k +p+ % 4 + + z P +$ 3+ + + z P # 2 +r+ +Lz P" 1+ + +K+ ! xabcdefghy 41

White is late to form a decent defence, so here we can see another winning motif: 39.h4 xg2! The pawn ending is clearly won for Black. 40. xg2 d4 41.h5 41.Kf3 Kd3 42.Kf2 h6 43.Kf3 Kd2 44.Kf2 h5 –+. 41...gxh5 42. h3 e3 43. h4 f3 44. xh5 xg3 45. g5 h5! 46. xf5 h4 47. g5 h3 48.f5 h2 49.f6 h1 0–1

Siebrecht Sebastian Brandenburg Daan Dieren 2010 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + +k+( 7+ + +p+ ' 6 + + +pz p& 5+L+ + + % 4 + + + z P$ 3+ + + z P # 2 + + z PK+" 1+ t r + + ! xabcdefghy

Obviously, the weaker side might have some problems in defending well. This can be exacerbated by numerous sporting problems: time trouble, ignorance, fatigue, etc. Carlsen Magnus Ponomariov Ruslan Moscow 2007 ● □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + v lk+( 7+ +R+p+ ' 6 + + +p+& 5+ + + +p% 4 + + + +$ 3+ + + z PP# 2 + + z PK+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 64... g7 65. f3 c5 66. d2 f6 67. e4 g7 68. c2 b6 69. d5 a7 70. d6 d4 71. d7 f6 A 'blitz' move that loses quickly. 71... Le5 72.Ke8 f5 73.f4 Ld4 74.Ke7 is also known to lose! 72. e8 e6 73. c6+ d5 74. c2 e6 75. e2+! f6 76. e7 And a pawn is gone as well. 76...g5 77. xf7+ e6 78.g4 hxg4 79.hxg4 f6 80. f8 e5 81. g8 e6 82. f8 e7 83. f5 83.Re8 Kf6 84.Rxe7 Kxe7 85.Kg7 +– was winning as well. 1–0


39.g4 A horrible move! White had to play 39.f4 and get his bishop to the long diagonal - but Black still wins. 39...g5 40.hxg5 hxg5 41. f3 e1 42. d3 g7 43. f5 f6 44. d7 e5 45. e8 f6 46. d7 a1 47. c8 a3+ 48. g2 f4 49. e6 Here Black found a quicker way to force the white pawn onto f3. 49... a8! 50. f5 h8 51. d7 h4 52. e6 52.f3 Rh7 53.Lf5 Rb7 –+. 52... xg4+! 53. xg4 xg4 54.f3+ f4 55. f2 f5 0–1 Recalde Augusto Britez Jorge Asuncion 2008 ○ □ ■

(see next diagram) 40.g4? White had no clue of the winning method, so he easily falls into a drawn position. 40...hxg4 41.hxg4 e1 42. b7+ f6 43. b6+ g7 44.f5 gxf5+ 45. xf5 45.gxf5 Ld2 is another drawn position. 45... c3 46. b7 f8 47.g5 e8 48. b8+ e7 49. b3 g7 50. h3 f8 51. h7 g8 52.g6 A last try...

42

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + m kp+ ' 6 t R + +p+& 5+ + + +p% 4 + +Kz P +$ 3+ v l + PP# z 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 52...fxg6+? And Black falls into the trap. He could have drawn by 52...Kf8. 53. xg6 b2 54. b7 a3 55. a7 c5 56. a8+ f8 57. b8 1–0

A ‘rare’ case is that of doubled pawns. It shouldn’t be that much of a problem for the stronger side, but still… □

Stokke Kjetil Djurhuus Rune Bergen 2009 ○ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + v l + +( 7+ + +pm k ' 6 + + +p+& 5+R+ + z p % 4 + + + +$ 3+ + + z P # 2 ++ ++ z P z 1+ m KP" ! xabcdefghy In such endgames, the defender can often build up a fortress, placing his pawns on light squares and controlling the dark squares with his bishop. The pawn on g5 makes this position unusual though. 43. g2?!


White had to play 43.g4! fixing the pawn on g5. Then he needs to force Black to push the f-pawn, so the white king can get access to the e6-square: 43...Kf6 44.Kg2 Ke6 45.Kf3 f5 46.h3 Le7 47.Rb6+ Ld6 48.Ra6 Kd5 49.Ke3 Ke5 50.Ra5+ Ke6 51.Kd4 Lf4 52.Ra6+ Kf7 53.Kd5 Lh2 (53...fxg4 54.hxg4 Lh2 55.Re6 Lf4 56.Re4 Lh2 57.Kc6 Lb8 58.Kd7 Kf6 59.Re6+ Kf7 60.Re3 Lf4 [60...Lh2 61.Rf3+ Kg7 {61...Lf4 62.Rxf4+ gxf4 63.g5 +–} 62.Ke6 Lb8 63.Rf7+ Kg8 64.Kf6 +–] 61.Rf3 Kf6 62.Ke8 Ke6 63.Ra3 Ld2 64.Ra6+ +–) 54.Kc6 Lf4 55.Kd7 Lh2 56.Ra5 Kf6 57.Ke8 Lf4 58.Ra6+ Kg7 59.Ke7 and soon White will play Ke6 and Ra7+, getting access to the f6-square. 43...g4! 44. f1 Now White's only plan is to go to e6 with his king and then try to play f3. 44...f5 45. e2 f6 46. d3 a1 47. c4 f7 48. a5 b2 49. a2 e5 50. d5 c3 51. d6 d4 52. d7 c3 53. d6 d4 54. d5 c3 55. a3 b2 56. b3 a1 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +k+ ' 6 + + +p+& 5+ +K+p+ % 4 + + +p+$ 3+R+ + z P # 2 + + z P P" z 1v l + + + ! xabcdefghy

57.f3! gxf3 58. xf3 f6 59.h4? But this throws away the win. White should have opted for 59.Rf1 Kg7 60.Ke6 Lb2 61.Rb1 Ld4 62.Rb7+ Kh6 (62...Kg8 63.h4 +–) 63.Rb4 Le3 64.Kf6 Lg5+ 65.Kf7 Le3 66.Rb8 +–. 59... d8 60. c3 60.h5 gxh5 61.Rxf5+ Kg6 62.Ke6 Lg5 =.

43

60... a5 61. a3 e1 62. e5 g7 63. d3 Or 63.h5 Kh6 64.hxg6 Kxg6 =. 63... h6 64. f4 b4 65. d7 a3 66. d1 h5 67. f3 h6 68. e3 h5 69. f4 b2 70. d6 c1+ 71. f3 a3 72. c6 b4 73. c7 h6 74. d7 a3 75. b7 d6 76. b6 c7 77. c6 a5 78. a6 d2 79. e6 c1 80. e5 d2 81.h5 xh5 82.g4+ g5 83. xf5+ gxf5 84.gxf5 xf5 ½–½

So, by now we have concluded that, applying the methods examined, it shouldn’t be a great problem to convert the material advantage to a win. But there is still another case! Had the stronger side placed his h-pawn on h4 (h5) at some earlier stage, he would then be compelled to employ an alternative winning plan, one containing numerous tactical nuances and complicated lines. Hammar Bengt ■ Cebalo Miso Arco 2010 ● □

XABCDEFGHY 8 +k+( 7+++++pm ' 6 + + v lp+& 5+ + + +p% 4 t R + z P P$ z 3+ + t RKz P # 2 +r+ + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 55...

c3?!

It should be better Black to postpone the rook exchange as for long as he could. Now White has a free hand, as Black is lacking any counterplay. 56. xc3 xc3 57. b3 d4 58. e4 a1 59. d5 f6 60. d6 d4 61. e7 f5 Sooner or later, as White is threatening Ke8 and Rb7, Black will be forced to play this move. 62. e6 a1 63. b7+ g8 (D)


XABCDEFGHY 8 + + +k+( 7+R+ + + ' 6 + +K+p+& 5+ + +p+p% 4 + + z P P$ z 3+ + + z P # 2 + + + +" 1v l + + + ! xabcdefghy Here Black smartly offered a draw and White (wrongly) accepted as he could not ½–½ find out how to proceed... Example 1 ●

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+L+ + + ' 6 +p+& 5+++++p+p% 4 + + z P P$ z 3+ + m k z P # 2 +r+ + +" 1+ + + m K ! xabcdefghy Here is the way to do the job; the following breakthrough is the only way for the stronger side to prevail. 1...g5! The only way, as the pawn ending resulting from 1...Rc7 2.La8 Ra7 3.Lc6 Kd4 4.Kf2 Kc5 5.Lf3 Ra2+ 6.Kf1 Ra3 7.Kf2 Rxf3+ 8.Kxf3 Kd4 9.Kf2! is drawn. 2.hxg5 No help is offered by 2.fxg5 f4 3.gxf4 (3.g6 f3 4.g7 Rg2+ 5.Kf1 Rxg3) 3...Kxf4, when the white pawns will be lost. 2...h4 3.gxh4 44

Not 3.g6 Rc7!.

Example 2 - Study Moscow 1973 ○

3... c7! A very accurate move. 3...Rf2? seems to lead to a draw after 4.Lg2!! (4.Lc8 Rxf4 5.Kg2) 4...Rxf4 5.Lh3! Rxh4 6.Lxf5 Rh5 7.Ld7 Rxg5+, despite the fact that the white king is near the wrong corner. 3...Kxf4? also fails to achieve the aim: 4.g6 Rc7 5.h5! (5.Ld5? Kg3 6.Kf1 f4!). 4. d5 h7! 5. e6 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + +p+& 5+ +L+p+p% 4 + + z P P$ z

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + +r' 6 + +L+ +& 5+ + +pz P % 4 + + z P P$ z 3+ + m k + # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + m K ! xabcdefghy

3+ + m k z P # 2 t r + + +" 1+ + +K+ ! xabcdefghy

5... e4! 5...Kxf4 6.g6 Rxh4 7.Kf2 Rg4 8.Lf7 Ke4 9.Le8 Ke5 10.Kf3 is also fine. 6.g6 6.Kg2 Rxh4 7.Lf7 Rg4+ 8.Kh3 Kxf4 –+. 6... xh4 7. f7 xf4 8. g2 e3 9. h3 g4 10. e6 f4 11. f7 g3+ 12. h4 g1 13. h3 e3 (D)

This study by R.Kholmov & R.Huebner is also valuable. 1. c6 d2 2. g1 d6 3. b7 g5! 4.fxg5 4.hxg5 h4 5.Kg2 (5.gxh4 Kxf4 6. Kg2 Kg4 7.Lc8 Rg6 8.Kh2 Rc6 9.Ld7 Rc2+ 10.Kg1 Kg3 11.Kf1 f4 12.Ke1 f3 13.Lb5 f2+ 14.Kd1 Rb2 15. Ld3 Rb1+ – +) 5...hxg3 6.Kxg3 Rd4 7.Lg2 Rxf4 8.Lh3 Rf3+ 9.Kh4 Kf4 10.g6 Re3 11.g7

Rg3 12.Lxf5 Rxg7 13.Ld3 Rd7 14.Lg6 Rd8 –+. 4...f4 5.gxf4 xf4 6. f2 d2+ 7. f1 7.Ke1 Rh2 8.g6 Rxh4 9.Lc8 Kf3 10.Kd2 Rd4+ 11.Kc3 Rd1 –+. 7... g3 8.g6 d4 9. c8 f4+ 10. g1 c4 11. a6 c1+ 12. f1 c7 13. b5 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +L+ ' 6 + + +P+&

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ t r + + ' 6 + + +P+&

5+ % 4 ++++p+ + +$ 3+ + m k +K# 2 + + + +" 1+ + + t r ! xabcdefghy

5+L+ 4 + ++++p% z P$ 3+ + + m k # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + m K ! xabcdefghy

0–1


45

13... g7! 14. e8 e7 15. b5 xh4 16. f2 g5 17. d3 d7 18. b1 f4 19. g2 d2+ 20. h3 b2 21.g7 b3+ 22. h2 g3 White wins the pawn and should win the game. But his win isn't really trivial! Play might continue: 23. a2 xg7 24. e6 h4 25. h3 e7 26. c8 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 +L+ + +( 7+ + t r + ' 6 + + + +& 5+ + + + % 4 + + m k p$ z 3+ + + + # 2 + + + m K" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 26...h3!!

This is standard technique for such positions - Black gets rid of the pawn, but can then attack the enemy king from all directions (the pawn acted as a shelter for the white king!). 27. xh3 27.Kxh3 Rg7 28.La6 Rg3+ 29.Kh2 Kf3 30.Lc4 Kf2 31.La2 Rd3 32.Lb1 Rd1 33.Lc2 Rd2 34.Lf5 Rd5 35.Lg4 Rd6 36.Lh5 Rh6 –+. 27... e2+ 28. g1 f3! 29. d7 g2+ 30. f1 f2+ 31. e1 e3 32. e6 f6 33. d5 d6 34. f7 d7 35. e6 e7 36. h3 h7 37. g2 a7 38. d1 a1+ 39. c2 a2+ 40. b3 xg2 0–1 By now we have understood the motif that leads to the trivial win. Well, not that trivial, since the stronger side has to be careful to avoid some tactical ‘problems’ and some drawn positions. Surely, the defence is extremely difficult for the defender as well; this is not a picnic but on the other hand, he has nothing to lose but a lost position!


Radev Nikolai Pribyl Josef Tbilisi 1971 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + +k+( 7+ + + + ' 6 + +K+p+& 5+ + +p+p% 4 + + z P P$ z 3+ +R+ z P # 2 v l + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 52.g4! hxg4 A tougher defence is 52...fxg4 53.f5 gxf5 54.Kxf5 Kf7 (54...La1 55.Kg6 +–) and now White has two winning continuations: a) 55.Rd7+ Kf8 (55...Ke8 56.Rh7 g3 57.Rxh5 Lc1 58.Kf6 [58.Rh7? Lg5! =] 58...Kd7 [58...g2 59.Rh8+ Kd7 60.Rg8

+– ; 58...Lb2+ 59.Ke6 +–] 59.Rd5+ Ke8 [59...Kc6 60.Rd8 Le3 61.Rg8 +–] 60.Re5+ Kd7 [60...Kf8 61.Rc5 Lb2+ 62.Kg6 +–] 61.Re4 La3 62.Rg4 +–) 56.Kg6! (56.Rh7? g3 57.Rxh5 Lc1 [57...Kf7 58.Rg5 Lf6 59.Rg4 Ke7 60.h5 +–] 58.Kf6 Kg8 [58...Lb2+ 59.Kg6 Lc1 60.Rf5+ Ke7 61.Rf3 +–] 59.Rc5 Le3 [59...Lb2+ 60.Kg6 +–] 60.Rc7 [60.Rc4 Lf2 61.Rg4+ Kh7 62.h5 Kh6 =] 60...Lb6! [60...Ld4+? 61.Kg6 Kf8 62.Rc2 Ke7 {62...Lf2 63.Re2! +–} 63.Re2+ Kd6 64.Rg2 Lf2 65.h5 Ke5 66.h6 Kf4 67.h7 Ld4 68.Kh5 Kf3 69.Rd2 Lf6 70.Rd6 Le5 71.Rd3+ Kf2 72.Kg4 g2 73.Rd2+ Kf1 74.Kf3 +–] 61.Rg7+ [61.Rb7 g2 62.Rg7+ Kf8 63.Rxg2 Ld8+ = ; 61.Rc2 Kh7! 62.Kf5 Lf2 =] 61...Kf8 62.Rxg3 Ld8+ =) 56...g3 57.Rd5 Lc1 58.Rd8+! (an important intermediate check that prevents the bishop from accessing e3 in the future - 58. Rd3 Lf4 59.Rd8+! [59.Rf3? g2 60.Rxf4+ Kg8 61.Kxh5 g1Q 62.Rg4+ Qxg4+ 46

63.Kxg4 = ; 59.Rd1? Le3! =] 59...Ke7 60.Rd1 +–) 58...Ke7 59.Rd1 La3 (59...Le3 60.Re1 +– ; 59...Lf4 60.Kxh5 +–) 60.Rg1! (60.Kxh5? Lc5 =) 60...Ld6 61.Kxh5 Kf6 62.Kg4 Kg6 63.Re1 Lb8 64.h5+ Kh6 65.Re6+ Kh7 66.Rg6 Lc7 67.Kf5 Lb8 68.Rb6! +–. b) 55.Kg5 Le5 56.Kxh5 g3 57.Rd2 Kf6 58.Kg4 Kg6 59.Re2 Lb8 60.h5+ Kh6 61.Re6+ Kh7 62.Rg6 Lc7 63.Kf5 Lb8 64.Rb6! +– (64.h6 Lf4 [64...Le5 65.Kg5 Lf4+ 66.Kh5 +–] 65.Kf6 Lc1 66.Rxg3 Lb2+ 67.Kg5 Lc1+ 68.Kh5 Lxh6 69.Rc3 Ld2 [69...Lg7 70.Rc7 Kg8 71.Kg6 +– ; 69...Lf4 70.Rf3 Le5 71.Rf7+ Kg8 72.Kg6 +–] 70.Rc7+ Kg8 71.Kg6 Kf8 72.Kf6! Ke8 73.Ke6 Kf8 [73...Kd8 74.Rd7+ +–] 74.Rf7+ Kg8 [74...Ke8 75.Rf2 Le3 76.Re2 +–] 75.Kf6 +–). 53.h5 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + +k+( 7+ + + + ' 6 + +K+p+& 5+ + +p+P% 4 + + z Pp+$ 3+ +R+ + # 2 v l + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 53... g7 Or 53...gxh5 54.Kxf5 Kg7 (54...Lc1 55.Kg6 Kf8 56.f5 +–) 55.Rd7+ Kh6 (55...Kg8 56.Kg6 +– ; 55...Kf8 56.Rh7 +–) 56.Rd6+ Kh7 (56...Kg7 57.Kg5 Lc1 58.Rd3 +–) 57.Kg5 Lc1 58.Rh6+ Kg8 59.Rxh5 +–. 54.hxg6 xg6 55. d5 c1 Black cannot be saved by either 55...Kh5 56.Kxf5 Kh4 (56...g3 57.Rd1 +–) 57.Rd6! Lc1 (57...Kh3 58.Rh6+ Kg3 59.Rg6 +–) 58.Rh6+ Kg3 59.Rg6 +–. 56. xf5 xf4


Or 56...Kh6 57.Ke5 Ld2 58.Rg5 +–. 57. xf4 g5 58. e5 g3 59. e4 g2 60. f8 h4 61. g8 1–0 Svetushkin Dmitry Dreev Alexey Moscow 2009 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +p+ ' 6 + + m kp+& 5+ + + +p% 4 + v l + z P$ 3+ + +Kz P # 2 +R+ z P +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy White must first force Black to play ...f5. 59. e4 a1 60. c6+ e7 61. d5 f8 62. c4 e7 63. e4+ f8 64. d6 c3 65. d7 b2 66. a4 c3 67. a8+ g7 68. e8 d4 69. a2 f5 69...Kg8 70.Rd2 Lc5 71.f3 and Black must sooner or later play 71...f5. 70. e7 f6+ 71. e6 Back to the critical (for the white king) e6square. 71... d4 72. d2 c3 73. d7+ g8 74. d3 b2 75. d5 f7 76. b3 a1 77. c4 e5 78. d5 a1 79. b7+ f8 80.f3 c3 81. c7 b2 82. e6 g8 83.f4! After some 'checking' White proceeds with the correct plan. 83... d4 84. d7 c3 85. d3 b2 86. d8+?! From now on, White plays the endgame terribly badly, allowing Black to escape with a draw. After the correct 86.g4! Black's days would be numbered... 86... g7 87. d7+ g8 88.g4?! 88.Rd2! Lc3 89.Rd3 Lb2 90.g4! +–. 88...hxg4 89.h5?!

47

89.Rd1 Kg7 90.h5 was a better try, although it is not certain that White can prevail. 89...gxh5 90. xf5 g3! 91. d2 h4 92. g4 f6 And Black secured his pawns - White cannot win any more. 93. g2 ½–½

Zilka Stepan Fodor Tamas Jr Olbia 2008 ●

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +Lt r ' 6 + + +P+& 5+ + +p+k% 4 + + + +$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + + +" 1+ + +K+ ! xabcdefghy

□ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8L+ + + +( 7+ t r + + ' 6 + + +p+& 5+ + +p+p% 4 P z 3+ ++ +m k z z PP$ # 2 + + + +" 1+ + +K+ ! xabcdefghy 86...g5! 86...Rc2 87.Ld5 Rd2 88.Lc6 Rd6 89.Lb7 g5 is a well-known position already. But the text move is fine as well. 87.hxg5 87.fxg5 f4 88.gxf4 Kxf4 89.Ld5 Rg7 –+. 87...h4 88.gxh4 88.Kg2 hxg3 89.Kxg3 Rc4 –+. 88... xf4? 88...Rh7! is the correct way - the black rook should collect the pawns and then it should be placed behind the white g-pawn: 89.Ld5 (89.Kg2 Rxh4 90.Lf3 Kxf4 91.g6 Rh6 – +) 89...Rxh4 90.g6 Rxf4+ 91.Ke1 Rg4 – +. 89.g6! g7 90.h5 g4 91. d5 xh5 92. f7 (D)


And this is a theoretical drawn position Black cannot win with his trapped rook! 92... g5 93. g1 f4 94. f2 e4 95. e2 f4 96. f2 e5 97. f3 f5 98. f2 e4 99. e2 f3+ 100. f2 f4 101. f1 e3 102. e1 f2+ 103. f1 f3 104. d5+ f4 105. xf2 xg6 ½–½ □

Debashish Das

■

Himanshu Sharma Kolkata 2008 ○

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +pm k ' 6 + + +p+& 5+ + + +p% 4 +r+ + z P$ 3+ + w QPz P # 2 w q +Lm K +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy Black has won the exchange and he should now exchange queens, seeking the wellknown position. 65. d3 c2 66. e3 c3 67. e4 c5+ 68. e3 f6 69.f4 g7 70. xc5 xc5 71. d1 c3 72. f3 f6 73. d5 c5 74. b3 b5 75. c4 b4 76. d5 d4 48

77. b3 d2+ 78. e3 g2 79. f3 b2 80. c4 e7 81. d5 c2 82. e3 c3+ 83. f2 c7 84. g2 d6 85. e4 c5 86. a8 d4 87. g1 e3 88. d5 f6 89. g2 d7 90. c6 d2+ 91. g1 b2 92. d5 c2 93. b7 d4 94. a8 f5 95. b7 e3 96. d5 d2 97. c6 d6 98. b7 d1+ 99. g2 d2+ 100. g1 b2 101. d5 b5 102. c6 c5 103. b7 b5 104. c6 b6 105. d5 d6 106. b7 (D)

Accurate was 111...Rd8 112.Kh6 Rh8+ 113.Kg6 Rg8+ 114.Kf6 Rxg5 –+. 112. h6 b4 113. f3 f4 114. h5 a4 115.g6 f6 116.g7 a8 117. g6 g8 118. xf5 xg7 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+L+ + + ' 6 + t r +p+& 5+ + +p+p% 4 + + z P P$ z 3+ + m k z P # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + m K !

6 ++ ++L+ m k K& m 5+ % 4 + + + +$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

xabcdefghy

I have noticed that the winning method is applied when everything else has been tried already! This is probably due to the 'fear' of the passed pawns that the weaker side temporarily will have and a lack of enough time left to think about everything... Who wants to take a risk in this riskless position? 106...g5! 107.hxg5 107.fxg5 f4 108.gxf4 Kxf4 109.Kg2 Rd2+ 110.Kh3 Rd3+ 111.Kg2 Kg4 –+. 107...h4 108. h2 Maybe White should have tried 108.gxh4, although Black smoothly wins as well: 108...Kxf4 109.Kg2 Kg4 110.Lc8 Rg6! 111.Kh2 Rc6 112.Ld7 Rc2+ 113.Kg1 Rc7 114.Le6 Re7 115.Lc8 Kg3 (115...Rg7 116.Kf2 [116.Kh2 Rh7 Rxh4 118.g6 Rh6 –+] 117.Kg2 116...Kxh4 –+) 116.Kf1 f4 117.g6 f3 –+. 108...hxg3+ 109. xg3 d4! 110. h4 A last try of activity, as 110.Lf3 Rxf4 111.Lh5 Rb4 –+ was easy enough. 110... xf4 111. h5 e5?!


XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + t r '

White succeeded in exchanging all pawns, but the unfortunate position of the white king decides. 119. b1 119.Lh3 Rg3 120.Ld7 Rd3 121.Lg4

Rd2 –+.

119... g1 120. 122. h5 h2

e4

g4 121.

f3

h4+ 0–1

Hitzler Philipp Mons Leon Bayern 2009 ● □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + m kp' 6 + + +p+& 5+ + +p+ % 4 z P P$ z# 3+ +t r ++L+ 2 + +K+P+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 38...h5 Easier was 38...h6 and then Black would

49

transfer his king to e3 and his rook to g7, winning with ...g5. 39. d2 a3 40. e2 f6 41. f2 e6 42. c6 a6 43. e8 d5 44. f3 d4 45. f7 d3 46. e8 d2 47. f2 e6 48. f7 b6 49. e8 b4 50. f3?! This loses quickly. White should try 50.g3 Rb6 51.Lf7 Kd3 52.Ld5 (52.Le8 Ke4 53.Lf7 Rb2+ 54.Kg1 Kf3 55.Lxg6 Kxg3 –+) 52...Rb2+ 53.Kg1 Ke3, when Black will proceed with the ...g5 method. 50... e1! 51. g3 Or 51.g3 Kf1! 52.Lf7 Rd4 53.Ke3 Rd6 –+. 51... b6 52. f7 f1 53. h2 f2 54. e8 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + +L+ +( 7+ + + + ' 6 t r + +p+& 5+ + +p+p% 4 + + z P P$ z 3+ + + + # 2 + + m kPm K" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

Dobrovolskiy Konstantin Kravchenko Leonid Yuzhny 2010 ● □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +k+ ' 6 + + z p +& 5+ + z p z p % 4r+ +P+ +$ 3+ + +P+ # 2 + v L +P+" 1+ +K+ + ! xabcdefghy The more centralized structure is to the stronger side's benefit, as the bishop has fewer squares on which to manoeuvre. 44... e6 45. e2 d6 46. e3 a2+ 47. f1 c6 48.g3?! White should go for the well-known pawn structure with 48.g4 Kb5 49.Lf2 Kc4 50.Lb6. Then Black can win with: a) 50...Ra6 51.Ld8 (51.Lf2?! loses to 51...Ra1+ 52.Ke2 Ra2+ 53.Kf1 Rxf2+ 54.Kxf2 Kd3 and the pawn ending is easily won) 51...Kd3 52.Kf2 (D)

54... b4 A lot of moves win for Black, for example 54...Ke3 55.Kg3 (55.g3 Kf3 56.Kh3 Rb1 57.Kh2 Kg4 –+) 55...Re6 56.Lf7 Re7 –+. 55.g3 55.Lxg6 Rxf4 56.g3 Rf3 –+. 55... f3 56. c6+ 56.Lxg6 Kg4 57.Kg2 Rb2+ –+. 56... g4 0–1

XABCDEFGHY 8 + v L + +( 7+ + + + ' 6r+ + z p +& 5+ + z p z p % 4 + +P+P+$

If survey we move entire of our (all the pieces andstarting pawns) position one square to the left, then Black would have to apply another winning plan; the transition to a pawn ending. As the bishop is lacking a sufficient number of squares available to move along the g1-a7 diagonal, the king of the stronger side would not have to move away from the theatre of action. He can choose between two ways to win:

3+ # 2 ++k+P+ + m K +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy


And now Black should go for the white pawns: 52...Ra2+ (52...Re6 53.Lc7) 53.Kg3 Ke2 54.Lxf6 Ra3 55.Lxe5 (55.Lxg5 Rxf3+ 56.Kg2 [56.Kh4 Kd3 50

57.Kh5 Kxe4 58.Ld8 Rf1 –+] 56...Rf8 57.Kg3 Kd3 58.Lh6 Rg8 59.Kf3 Rg6 60.g5 Rg8 –+) 55...Rxf3+ 56.Kg2 Rf4 57.Kg3 Ke3 58.Ld6 Rxe4 –+. b) 50...Kd3 51.Lc5 Rb2! (here the 'usual' plan 51...Rc2 52.Lb6 Rc6 53.La7 f5? doesn't win: 54.gxf5 g4 55. Kg2 =) 52.La7 Kc4 53.Kg1 (53.Le3 Rb3 54.Ke2 Rxe3+ 55.Kxe3 Kc3 –+) 53...Rb7

54.Le3 Kd3 55.Lc5 Ke2 –+. 48... b5 49.f4 g4 50.fxe5 fxe5 0–1

Conclusion This ending is nearly always won. We just need to know the appropriate motifs and the way to handle them with accuracy.

NOTES


51

Rook & 3 Pawns vs. Bishop & 3 Pawns Same Flank - Opposite colour-corner Bishop Concept This particular type of ending (rook vs. bishop) is often met in practice:

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + +k+( 7+ + +pz pp' 6 + +l+ +& 5+ + + + % 4 + + + +$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + z PPz P" 1+ + +Rm K ! xabcdefghy Rook & three pawns vs. Bishop and three pawns, on the same flank and symmetrical. In this survey we will examine the case when the bishop is moving on the opposite colour squares to his nearest pawn-corner. Kunte Abhijit ■ Du Toit Stefan Ekurhuleni 2011 ○ □

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +p+k' 6 + +l+p+& 5t R + + +p% 4 + + + z P$ 3+ + m K z P # 2 + + z P +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

1. Will place his king on e7. 2. Will place his rook on f6. 3. Will push his pawn to f5. Let's see how all these can be applied: 58. e4 g4 59. e5 g7 60. d6 e2 61. e7 d1 62. b5 e2 63. b4 d1 64. f4 b3 65. f6 d5 66.f4 c4 67.f5 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + m Kpm k ' 6 + + t Rp+& 5+ + +P+p% 4 +l+ + z P$ 3+ + + z P # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy White's plan has been fulfilled. 67... d5 If Black captures on f5 with 67...gxf5, then White wins as follows: 68.Rxf5 Kg6 69.Rg5+ Kh6 70.Kf6 Lb3 71.Rg7 Ld5 72.Rxf7 Lxf7 73.Kxf7 +– . The occupation of the g5- and f6-squares is decisive. 68. d6 White can also win by 68.fxg6 fxg6, planning first to get his king to g5: 69. Rf4 Lb3 70.Kd6 La2 71.Ke5 Lf7 72.Ra4 Lb3 73.Ra7+ Kh6 74.Kf6 Ld5 75.Rd7 La2 76.Rd8 Kh7 77.Kg5 Lb1, and then win the black g-pawn as follows: 78. Rd7+ Kg8 79.Kf6 Lc2 80.Rg7+ Kf8 81.Rxg6 +–. Now, after 68.Rd6, White wins by placing his pawn on f6: 68... Lc4 69.f6+ Kh7, winning the f7-pawn: 70.Rd8 Lb3 71.Rf8 +–. 1–0

A typical won ending. White's plan can be summarised as follows:


52

This winning method (when the stronger side already has his h-pawn on his fourth rank) is crystal clear and the only really reliable one. It is good to know it by heart and apply it in no time – by this phase of the game, there is often hardly any time left! Here are some more similar examples where the winning method is applied: □ ■

Psaila Clarence Snape Ian

London 2011 ●

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + z p ' 6 + + z p +& 5+ + +k+p% 4 + + + z P$ 3+r+ v L z P # 2 + + z PK+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

The same formation, so the same plan can be applied: 38... e4 39. c5 g6 40. e7 f5 41. c5 c3 42. b6 e4 43. d8 c6 44. e7 e6 45. c5 d3 46. f3 e5 47. b6 f5+ 48. g2 e2 49. d4 f3 50. b6 Black has achieved 2/3 of the above mentioned plan, so the final stage of it is on the way: 50...f5! 51. c5 f4 52.gxf4 xf4 Note that if Black's g-pawn was on g4, we would have a draw, as the rook wouldn't be able to drive the white king away from the important 53. g3 f3-square. g4+ 54. h3 56. c7 xf2 Game over... 57. d8 f1 58. h2 60. g2 d3 0–1 □ ■

f3 55.

b6

g2

d1 59.

g5

g4

Kudrin Sergey Hungaski Robert Andrew


Philadelphia 2009 ○

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +p+ ' 6 + + +p+& 5t R +lm k +p% 4 + + + +$ 3+ + m KPz P # 2 + + + z P" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 44.f4+ e6 45. d4 b3 46.f5+ Here White applies the well-known method immediately. 46... f6 46...gxf5 loses to 47.Ra6+ Ke7 48.Rh6 Ld1 49.Ke5 Lg4 50.h4 +–. 47.fxg6 xg6 After 47...fxg6, White wins as follows: 48.h4 Le6 49.Ke3 Lc4 50.Kf4 Le6

51.Ra6 Kf7 52.Kg5 Lf5 53.Rf6+ Kg7 54.Rxf5 gxf5 55.Kxf5 +–. 48. e5 d1 Or 48...f6+ 49.Kd6 Ld1 50.h4 +–. 49. a6+ g5 50. f6 b3 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +p+ ' 6 + + t R +& 5+ + m K m kp% 4 + + + +$ 3+l+ Pz 2 + + ++ z P# " 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 51. f4! g6 52. d6 54.h4 a2 55. f6+ 57. g5+ h6 58. f6

a2 53. g7 56.

e7 f5

b3 g6 1–0

53

Mueller Rudolf Bodach Hans Finsterbergen 2009 ● □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +p+ ' 6 + +k+p+& 5+ + + +p% 4 t r + + z P$ 3+ + v LKz P # 2 + + z P +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

One must admit that this is a really easy winning ending - I do not understand how some people get away with it! 45. f3 a4 46. f4 c2 47. e3 d3 48. c1 a5 49. f4 f5 50.g4 White hadn't much of a choice, as the alternative 50.Kg2 Rxf4 51.gxf4 Ke4 52.Kg3 f5 quickly wins. 50...hxg4+ 51. xg4 g6 52. e3 e4 53. g3 f3+ 54. g2 xe3 0–1 Is there something that the stronger side should be aware of? Something that might cost the half point? See the next game: Carlsen Magnus Wang Yue Leon 2009 ● □ ■

An identical plan, as in the previous examples, was carried out here as well: 34... f5 35. g2 e4 36. g5 b3 37. e7 f3 38. d8 f5 39. e7 d3 40. d8 e2 41. b6 f3 42. c5 And now, as usual, the solution is provided by the black f-pawn:

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +k+ ' 6 + m K z p +&

42...f5 43. b6 f4 44.gxf4 xf4 45. g4+ 46. h3 f3 47. c5 g1 48. g2+ 49. h3 xf2 50. d6 f1 51. b1 0–1

5t +p% 4R+++++lz P$ 3+ + + z P # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

g3 h2 h2

Junge Wolfgang Klundt Klaus Berlin 2011 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + z p ' 6r+ + z p +& 5+ + + +p% 4 + + + z P$ 3+ + v L z P # 2 + +Kz P +" 1+k+ + + ! xabcdefghy Trivial Endings - Revealing the Secrets

This is a fortress - White can't get his king close to the f-pawn. This is very definitely a position to remember when advancing the fpawn to f5 - not to fall for it! 56... f8 57. a7 f5 58. a5 g4 59. a4 h3 59...Kf7? 60.Rxg4 hxg4 61.Kd5 +–. 60. c7 e7 61. e4+ f8 62. d8 63. e7+ f8 64. a7 g4 65. c7 66. c6 g4 67. c5 h3 68. d6 69. b7 h3 70. b4 f7 71. e4 72. c5 f7 73. d4 f8 74. e3 75. a4 f5 76. a7+ f8 77. a4 78. f3 h3 79. f4 g4 80. a5 81. a7 g8

f7 h3 g4 f8 f7 f7 f8

54

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + +k+& 5+ + +pz pp% 4 t r + + +$ 3+ + v LKz PP# 2 + + z P +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

½–½ When the f- and g- pawns of each side remain on the board, the stronger side can win as well, by exchanging the g-pawns and trivially win with the f-pawns. This is an alternative winning plan, when (usually) the h-pawn of the stronger side has not yet been placed on its fourth rank, but has stayed behind. Or simply when the hpawns and later the g-pawns as well can be exchanged: Kamsky Gata Savchenko Boris Moscow 2007 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +p+p' 6 + + m kp+& 5+ + +l+ % 4R+ + + +$ 3+ + + +P# 2 + + z PP+" 1+ + + m K ! xabcdefghy 36.h4 h6 37. a6+ e6 38.f3 g5 Black does not wish to remain passive - he knows that he is lost - so he tries to exchange some pawns. 39.hxg5+ hxg5 40. f2 f5 41. e3 e5 42. a5+ f6 43. e4 c8 44. b5 d7 45. b6+ e6 46.g3! With the simple idea of getting his f-pawn to f6, winning trivially. 46... g7 47. e5 d7 48.f4 gxf4 49.gxf4 g4 50.f5 e2 51.f6+ g6 52. b8 h7 53. d6 And Black resigned due to 53...Kg6 54.Ke7 Lc4 55.Rg8+ Kf5 56.Rg7. 1–0

Here are some more ‘identical’ examples: Richter Christian Schlosser Philipp Germany 2010 ● □ ■


41... f6 42. d2 c4 43. e3 h4! A good move. Black should only avoid 43...g4+? 44.hxg4 hxg4+ 45.Kg2 with a draw! 44.gxh4 Or 44.Lb6 hxg3 45.fxg3 Rc3+ 46.Kg2 Ke5 and the passed f-pawn will decide. 44... xh4 45. g2 g6 46. d2 h5 47. c1 c4 48. d2 c2 49. b4 g4! 50.hxg4+ xg4 51. a5 f4

And the remaining pawn goes to f3, as in the previous example. 52. b6 f3+ 53. h2 c6 54. e3 f5 0–1 Schlehoefer Ralf Heinzel Olaf Germany 2010 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 v L +kz pp+& 5+ + ++P+$ +p% 4 +r+ 3+ + + m KP# 2 + + z P +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 57.gxh5 g5!

55

XABCDEFGHY 8 t r + +k+( 7+r+ t Rp+p' 6 + + +pv L& 5+ + + + % 4 + + z P +$ 3+ + + +P# 2 + + +Pm K" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

57...gxh5 is not bad either, but this is clearer. 58. e3 f5 59. d2 h4 60. c3 xh5 61. b2 h4 62. c3 c4 63. a5 g6 64. d8 c3+ 65. g2 c8 66. e7 c7 67. d8 d7 68. a5 h5 69. c3 f5 70. f6 d2 71. g3 d3+ 72. g2 f4 73. e7 g4 74.hxg4+ xg4 75. c5 f3+ 76. h2 d5 77. e3 h5+ 78. g1 f5 And as the black king goes to e2 and the rook to g2, winning the white pawn, White resigned. 0–1 Jacobsen Bo Meins Gerlef Kallithea 2008 ● □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +pz p ' 6 + + + z p& 5+ v L + +k% 4r+ + + z P$

White's 'bad' pawn structure shouldn't drive him to exchange rooks. Of course White is lost anyway, but with the rooks left on the board, his bishop on h6 has a 'meaning'. 30. xb7?! xb7 31.g4 b3! The king is cut off - target is the f4-pawn. 32. g5 g7 33. e7 f6 34.g5 f5 34...fxg5 35.fxg5 Kf7 wins as well. 35. f6+ f7 36. e5 e6 37. f6 d5 38. e5 e4 39. d6 f3 40. e5 d3

3+ # 2 ++ ++Kz z PP +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

0–1

Another trivial, identical win. 44...g5 45.hxg5 hxg5 46. b6 f5 47. c4 48. a7 c3+ 49. g2 g4 50. c2 51. a7 f4 52.gxf4 gxf4 53. d4 54. h2 c7 55. e5 h7+ 56. g1 57. h1 d7 58. h2 d1+ 59. g1 0–1

Bennett Dominic Wells Peter Uplands Park 2011 ○ ■


Jovanovic Milos Ugrcic Zoran Belgrade 2010 ● □

c5 b6 f3+ h3 d2

Some other cases are easier due to the weaknesses of the weaker side’s pawn structure. Pawn weaknesses are important in every part of the game, but especially the endgame, which is invariably their fatal moment - the time when the truth will be revealed… □

Mishandling the ending is always an ‘option’ for the stronger side. Ignorance, time trouble, fatigue and other ‘weak’ moments can lead to a draw as well: ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + z pp+& 5+ + +k+p% 4 + v L + z P$ 3+ + + z P # 2r+ + z PK+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 56

The win is trivial, but Black wasn't aware of it... 71...g5? 72.hxg5 fxg5 73. e3 And now it's a draw - Black has no way to improve. 73... g4 74. c5 f5 75. e3 g4 76. c5 f5 Moving the h-pawn leads absolutely nowhere: 76...h4 77.gxh4 Kxh4 (77...gxh4 78.Le3 is a tablebase draw) 78.Le3 g4 79.Ld4 g3 80.Lc5 =. 77. e3 a5 78. f3 a3 79. g2 b3 80. d4 e4 81. f6 b5 82. e7 f5 83. d8 d3 84. b6 d2 85. e3+ 85...Ke2 86.g4 hxg4 87.Kg3 is simple. ½–½ Borgo Giulio Ghaem Maghami Ehsan Beijing 2008 ● □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + z p ' 6 + +rz p +& 5+ + + +p% 4 + v L + z P$ 3+ + + z P # 2 + +kz PK+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 57...g5? This was a blitz game, but this kind of excuse cannot stand - an educated player should play the ending with his eyes shut! I am sure that the experienced Iranian GM knows the correct procedure but somehow forgot it for the time being... 58.hxg5 fxg5 59. a7 f6 60. c5 f5 61. d4 d5 62. b6 f5 63. d4 d3 64. b6 e4 65. a7 f3 66. b6 h4 67.gxh4! 67.Lc5? hxg3 68.fxg3 Rb3 is curtains. 67...gxh4 68. a7 f4 And here White resigned, as he thought he was losing. But this is another theoretical


drawn position, where Black cannot improve: 69.Lb6 Kg4 70.Lc5 h3+ 71.Kh2 =. It must be noted that this is a drawn position even without the white f-pawn and White to move: 71. Ld6!, as the bishop should be preserved on the h1-b8 diagonal. 0–1 Solozhenkin Evgeniy Pohjala Henri Jyvaskyla 2010 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + t R + +( 7+ + +pm kp' 6 + +l+p+& 5+ + + + % 4 + + z P +$ 3+ + + +P# 2 + + +Pm K" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

43.g4 The 'obsession' with the g-pawn continues... 43... f6 44. g3 g7 45.g5? But this is too much! White could win by careful play: 45.Rb8 Kf6 46.Rb5 (stopping an eventual ...h5) 46...Kg7 47.Kf3 and so on. 45...h6! 46.h4 hxg5 47.fxg5 47.hxg5 Lb3 48.Kf3 Lc4 49.Ke4 Lb3 50.Ke5 Lc4 51.Kd6 Lb3 52.Ke7 Lc4 53.Rd6 Lb3 54.Rf6 Ld5 55.f5 gxf5 56.Rxf5 Lc4 leads to a theoretical draw. 47... c4 48. f4 b3 49. e5 c4 50. d6 b3 51. b6

No break and no plan any more… ½–½ As was easily noticed, the fifth square of the g-file (g5 or g4) is very important for the final assessment of the position. The stronger side should keep it empty in order to place his rook (or king) there after the …f5-f4 advance and the exchange on f4 by the weaker side. 57

Webb Simon Vukic Milan Skara 1980 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ +r+pm k ' 6 + + +p+& 5+ v L + + % 4 + + +pz P$ 3+ + + z P # 2 + + z PK+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy The doubled black g4-pawn occupies the important g4-square, which is needed for the black king/rook after the ...f5-f4 advance. Thus, the position is drawn. 64. e3 f6 65. c5 f5 66. e3 e4 67. g5 f5 68. e3 d3 69. f1 b7 70. f4 b1+ 71. g2 e2 72. e3 b3 73. d4 f3 74. c5 d3 75. d6 e2 76. c5 f4 77.gxf4 d3!? 78. d6 After 78.Le7 Ke4 79.Lg5 Kf5 80.Lh6 Ra3 81.Lg5 Rh3 White must continue with 82.Le7 and not with 82.Kg1 g3!. 78... e4 79. c7 f5 80. d8 xf4 d3 81. e7 f3 82. d8 e4 83. g5 84. e7 e2 85. c5 h3 86. e7 d3 87. d8 e4 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + v L + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + +p+& 5+ + + + % 4 + + +pz P$ 3+ +k+ +r# 2 + + z PK+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy Trivial Endings - Revealing the Secrets

88. f6 b3 89. g5 g3!? A last try, but a futile one nevertheless. 90.fxg3 b2+ 91. g1 f3 92. f4 a2 93. e5 g2+ 94. h1 xg3 95. xg3 xg3 96.h5! ½–½

In the previous example, Black hardly could do anything about his g4-pawn; it had been there for some time. But in the following example, Black completely mishandled the position, not knowing the ‘details’ of this notorious ending: Anton Teodor Nanu Ciprian Costica Cluj 2008 ● □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + z pp' 6 + + + +& 5+ v L +p+ % 4 + +k+ +$ 3+r+ + z P # 2 + + z PKz P" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 51...g5? Here 51...f4! would do the job in no time. And of course the known and trivial win is with 51...Kd3 - we have studied all these beforehand! 52. e7! h6 53.h4! b7 54. f6 g4 Black would be happy if, after 54...gxh4 55.Lxh4, he could exchange his h-pawn for the white g-pawn, reaching a winning position. But as this is only an illusion, the position remains drawn. 55. c3 h5 55...f4 56.gxf4 Kxf4 57.Ld2+ =. 56. d2 d3 57. e3 e2 58. f4 b3 59. d6 d3 60. c7 d4 61. e5 c4 62. d6 c3 63. b4 c2 64. a5 b2 65. c3 b3 66. d4 f3 67. c5 f4 68.gxf4 xf4 (D)

58

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + + +& 5+ v L + +p% 4 + + t rpz P$ 3+ + + + # 2 + +kz PK+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy Black succeeded in carrying out the wellknown plan (…Ke2, …Rf3 and ...f5-f4) but the position remains drawn as the black g-pawn on g4 occupies a very important square for the black win. 69. e3 a4 70. c5 a2 71. d4 a3 72. c5 b3 73. d4 h3 74. f6 d3 75. e7 e4 76. d8 f5 77. e7 b3 78. g5 e4 79. f6 h3 80. e7 d3 81. f6 g3 A last try as usual... 82.fxg3 f5 83. g5 g4 84. 85. d6 b3 86. e5 e3 87. 88. g1 f3 89. d6 g2+ 90. g4 92. g1 a2 93. 91. f4 94. g1 g2+ 95. f1 b2 96. 97. h1 f3 98. g1 b1+ b2+ 100. g1 g2+ 101. 102. e5 f1 103. f4 f2 xg3 105. xg3+ ½–½

f4 f3 f4 e2+ h1 c2 h1 h3 g1 g4 99. h2 h1 f2 104. e5

A weakened pawn structure is not necessarily a disadvantage. All details must be taken into account before we evaluate a particular ending. Analysing data is not only a job for computers, but also the job of a well trained chess player. In the next game, the doubled f-pawns help the stronger side to claim the win as well: Andreev Vladimir ■ Chepukaitis Genrikh St Petersburg 1998 ○ □


XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +pm k ' 6 t R + +p+& 5+ + +l+p% 4 + + z P P$ z 3+ + +P+ # 2 + + m K +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy In this position White can, if necessary, employ the f5 breakthrough twice; this eases his task. 62. e3 c8 63. d4 h3 64. e5 c8 65. f6 h3 (D) Black could not save himself with 65... Lb7 66.f5 Lxf3 67.fxg6 Ld5 68.gxf7 Lxf7 69.Kf5 either.

XABCDEFGHY 8 +k+( 7+++++pm ' 6 + + t Rp+& 5+ + m K +p% 4 + + z P P$ z 3+ + +P+l# 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 66.f5!

g2

TheKcontinuation 66...Lxf5 67.Rxf5 gxf5 68. xf5 f6 69.Ke6 Kg6 70.f4 leads to a won pawn ending. 67.fxg6 fxg6 68.f4 h3 69. a6 f5 70. a7+ h6 71. f6 e4 72. d7 c2 73. d8! And as usual, it is curtains!

73... h7 74. g5 76. a7+ g8 77. h8 79. xg6

f5 f6

75. a8 d3 78.

e4 g7+ 1–0 59

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + +k+( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + +p+& 5+ + t rp+p% 4 + + + z P$ 3+ + v LPz P # 2 + +K+ +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

As it seems that the defence with placing the pawns on the same colour squares as those of the bishop is not of real help, an alternative strategy, of placing the pawns on the opposite colour squares of the bishop, might be applied. Practice has proved that the weaker side has better chances to hold the draw, although everything depends on the full placement of the pawn structures: □

Meszaros Gyula Schlager Thomas Germany 2009 ● ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +p+ ' 6 + + +p+& 5+r+ +k+p% 4 + + v L P$ z 3+ + +Pz P # 2 +++K+ 1+ + ++" ! xabcdefghy White has applied the ‘ultimate’ defence, but Black can still win with the correct plan: 49... b3 50. c7 e6 51. f4 d5 52. g5 a3 53. f4 d4 54. g5 a2+ 55. f1 e5 56. f4+ f5 57. c7 f6! The easiest plan to prevail. 58. d6 g5 59.hxg5 fxg5 60. g1 g4 61.fxg4+ hxg4 Now that the critical f3-square is prepared to host the black king, the win is trivial. 62. c7 e4 63. d6 f3 64. c7 g2+ 65. f1 h3 0–1

xg3 66.

xg3

xg3 67.

g1

But what happens if the f-pawn of the stronger side has already moved too far away? Jorgensen Jorgen Rukavina Josip Condino 2009 ○ □ ■


If any of the black f- and h-pawns was further back, then Black could play ...g5 and after an eventual exchange on g5 he could go ...g4, gaining the critical f3-square. But here Black's pawns are 'crippled' and White's bishop is well placed to restrain them. 65. f2 f7 66. f4 b5 67. h6 b3 68. g5 e6 69. h6 d5 70. g5 d4 71. e2 b2+ 72. e1 d3 73. f4 e2+ 74. f1 e6 75. f2 a6 76. f1 c2 77. e2 e6+ 78. f2 d3 79. f1 a6 80. f2 a2+ 81. f1 There is no way for Black to improve, therefore a draw was agreed. ½–½ Khasin Alexander Filipenko Alexander Moscow 1985 ● □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + m kp+ ' 6 + +l+p+& 5+R+ + +p% 4 + + z P P$ z 3+ + m K z P # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 60

Here again, the white pawn structure is no help and Black can defend: 51...f6! 52. d4 h3 53. b6 g4 54. c5 h3 55. d6 g4 56. c6 f3+ 57. c7 g4 58. b6 h3 59. d6 g4 60. d3 h3 61. e3+ f7 62. d6 g4 63. e7+ f8 64. a7 h3 65. a5 f7 Draw agreed, as even the following attempt with 66.f5 doesn't prevail: 66... Lxf5 67.Rxf5 gxf5 68.Kd7 Kg6 69.Ke6 Kg7 70.Kxf5 Kf7 =. ½–½ Some more ‘difficult’ cases will be examined in the coming examples. But the truth is that the weaker side should try to place his pawns on squares of opposite colour to his bishop - the rule of economy is important here as well. Steingrimsson Hedinn Navara David Reykjavik 2010 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 t R + + +( 7+ ++ ++ z ' 6 p+ k+& 5+ + + z pp% 4 + +K+ +$ 3+ + +Pz Pl# 2 + + + z P" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy This position is more difficult to win than it looks at first sight. 45. h8 g2 46. e3 h3 47. f2 d7 48. g2 c6 49. c8 d5 50. c5 e6 51. a5 Here 51.h4! gxh4 52.gxh4 would lead to a winning position for White, as can be seen below. But White tried to 'check' Black first... 51... d7 52. d5 c6 53. d6 b7 54. f2 c8 55. d8 h3 56. h8 d7 57. e3 h3 58.f4?! This is a mistake - as usual, the stronger side


shouldn't push/exchange his f-pawn so quickly. White should opt for 58. Ra8 Kg7 59.Kd4 Lg2 60.Ra3 Kg6 61.Kc5 Kf7 62.Kd6 Lh1 and now 63.h4 is good: 63...gxh4 (63...Lg2 64.f4 Kg6 65.Ra5 gxf4 66.gxf4 Lh3 67.Ke7 Lg4 68.Ra6 Kf5 69.Rxf6+ Ke4 70.Kf7 Lf5 71.Rb6 Kxf4 72.Kf6 +–) 64.gxh4 Lg2 65.f4 Le4 66.Ra5 Lf3 67.f5 +–. 58... g7 59. b8 g6 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 t R + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + z pk+& 5+ + + z pp% 4 + + z P +$ 3+ + m K z Pl# 2 + + + z P" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 60.fxg5? This early exchange allows Black to obtain a theoretically drawn position. White should have played 60.Rb5! and then exchanged on g5. 60...fxg5? Black should have opted for a similar position to the game Carlsen,M-Wang Yue, Leon 2009, playing 60...Kxg5! 61.Kd4 Kg6 62.Kd5 Kf7 63.Rb7+ Kf8! (63...Kg6? 64.Kd6 Lg2 65.Rb2 Lh3 66.Ke7 +–) 64.Ra7 Lg4 (in the mentioned game, here the white h-pawn was already on h4) 65.Ra4 Kf7! (65...Lh3? 66.Rh4 Lg4 67.Rxg4! hxg4 68.Ke6 +–) 66.Rb4 Ke7!

(66...Lh3? 67.Rh4 Lg4 68.h3 Lf3+ 69.Kd6 Le2 70.Rb4 Lf1 71.Rb7+ Kf8 [71...Kg6 72.h4! +–] 72.Ke6! +– [72.h4? Lh3! =]) 67.Rb7+ Kf8 68.Ra7 Lh3 69.Ke4 Lg4 70.Kf4 Lh3 =. 61. h8 g4 62. e4 g7 63. b8 h3 64. e5 g4 65. b5 h3 66. b7+ g6 67. b6+ g7 68. a6 g4 69. a8 Now the winning plan with 69.h4? is not 61

good yet: 69...gxh4 70.gxh4 Kf7! = and not 70...Lh3? 71.Rf6! +–. White can win only if he has boxed the black king. A sample line is 69.Rb6 Lh3 70.Rf6! Kh7 71.Kd6 Kg7 72.Ke7 Lg4 73.h4! gxh4 74.gxh4 +–. 69... h3 70. d6 f6 71. f8+ g6 72. e7 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + t R +( 7+ K+k+& + ' 6 +++m 5+ + + z pp% 4 + + + +$ 3+ + + z Pl# 2 + + + z P" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 72...h4!? Black understood that he must change his policy, as he cannot stay put any more:

93. g5+ h6 94. g8 e6 95. g1 h7 96. e5 g8 97. f6 h8 98. g6 h7+ 99. f7 c2 100. g8+ h7 101. b8 d3 102. f6 c2 103. c8 b1 g8 106. g6 104. c1 a2 105. h1+ f7+ 107. f6 a2 108. f1 h7 109. f2 c4 110. f3 a2 111. h3+ g8 112. h2 b3 113. b2 c4 114. f2 h7 115. d2 b3 116. d7+ g8 117. g7+ h8! 117...Kf8? 118.Rb7 +–. 118. g6 c2+ 119. h6 b3 ½–½ Socko Monika Malik Jan Ostrava 2009 ● □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +kz p ' 6 + v L z p p& z 5+ + + +P% 4 +r+ +P+$ 3+ + + m K # 2 + + z P +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

72...Lg4 73.Rf6+ Kg7 74.h4 gxh4 75.gxh4 +–, is a well known (at least according to the above analysis) winning position. 73. h8? And again White misses the road. 73.gxh4! gxh4 74.Kd6 +– is a tablebase win. 73... g7 74. h5 g6 75. h8 g7 76. b8 hxg3 77.hxg3 g6! The only move to draw! - the black king can efficiently attack White's last pawn. 78. b5 h5 79. f6 g4 80. xg5+ f3 81. e5 g4 82. g7 h3 82...Kxg3 is drawing as well: 83.Ke4 Kh3 84.Kf4 Le2! (84...Le6? 85.Rg3+ Kh4 86.Rg6 +–) 85.Ke3 Lg4 =.

The white bishop's targets on the kingside are serious (g7, h6), so Black should think of exchanging both the h- and g-pawns, reaching winning positions with only the f-pawns, as in the previous examples. 44... e6 44...g6! would do the job: 45. Lf4 (45.hxg6+ Kxg6 46.f3 h5 47.gxh5+ [47.Lb8 hxg4 48.fxg4 Kg5 –+] 47...Kxh5

83. d4 g4 A theoretical drawn position. White tried to win but in vain. 84. d3 h3 85. g5 g4 86. g8 f5+ 87. d4 h3 88. g7 g4 89. f7+ xg3 90. e3 c8 91. g7+ h4 92. f4 h5! Going for the 'correct' corner. 92...Kh3? would lose to 93.Rg3+ Kh2 (93...Kh4 94.Rg8 +–) 94.Kf3 Le6 95.Kf2 +–.

48.Lf4 f5 49.Le5 Kg5 –+) 45...Rc3+ 46.f3 (46.Kg2 gxh5 47.gxh5 Rc5 –+) 46...Kg7 47.Ld6 Rd3 48.Lc7 Rd5 49.Kh4 Rd1 50.hxg6 Kxg6 51.Kg3 h5 52.Lf4 Rd3 53.Kg2 Rc3 54.Kf2 Rc4 (54...h4 55.Kg2 h3+ [55...f5? 56.gxf5+ Kxf5 57.Ld6 =] 56.Kg3 h2 57.Kxh2 Rxf3 58.Lc1 Kf7 –+) 55.gxh5+ Kxh5 –+. 45. f8 f5?!


62

The 'wrong' pawn exchange. Black should go for the previous (easy) lines with 45...Kf7 46.Ld6 g6 –+. With the text move he makes his life more difficult. 46.f3 And of course, not the naive 46.gxf5+?! Kxf5 47.Lxg7? Rg4+ –+. 46... c7 Looks like 46...f4+? wins, but after 47. Kg2 Kf7 48.Ld6 g6 49.hxg6+ Kxg6 50.Kf2 h5 51.gxh5+ Kxh5 52.Kg2!, it's a draw! 47. b4 fxg4 More accurate was 47...Rc8! (defending against the threat Lf8) 48.Ld2 Rc2 49.Lf4 fxg4 50.fxg4 (50. Kxg4 Rc4 51.Kg3 Kf5 52.Le3 Ra4 53.Ld2 Ra1 54.Lc3 Rh1 55.Kf2 Rxh5 56.Lxg7 Kf4 –+) 50...Rc3+ 51.Kg2 Kd5 52.g5 (52.Lb8 Ke4 53.Ld6 Rc6 54.Lb8 g6 55.hxg6 Rxg6 56.Kh3 Kf3 –+) 52...hxg5 53.Lxg5 Ke4 54.h6 Rc5! –+. 48.fxg4 e5 Also good was 48...Rb7 49.Lf8 Ke5 –+. 49. f3 c4 Again best was 49...Rc8! 50.Ld2 Rc4 51.g5 hxg5 52.Lxg5 Kf5 –+. 50. d2 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + z p ' 6 + + + z p& 5+ + m k +P% 4 +r+ +P+$ 3+ + +K+ # 2 + v L + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 50... d4? 50...Rc6 51.Lf4+ Kd5 52.Ld2 Kd4 53.Le3+ is not a real improvement for Black. But 50...Rc2! seems to do the job: 51.Lf4+ Kd4 52.Le3+ Kd3 53.Lf4 (53.g5 hxg5 54.Lxg5 Rh2 55.Kg4 Ke4 – +) 53...Rc5 54.Ld6 Rc1 55.Lg3 Rf1+


56.Kg2 Rf7 –+. 51.g5! Now, as the black king is far away and the black rook not properly placed, White finds the time to exchange the pawns. 51...hxg5 51...Rc6 is not good enough: 52.Kg4 Ke5 53.Lf4+! Ke4 54.gxh6 gxh6 55.Lxh6! Rxh6 56.Kg5 =. 52. xg5 c6 53. f4 d5 54. f5 e6 55. d2! Targeting the g7-pawn. 55... e2 56. c3 g2 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + z p ' 6 + + + +& 5+ +k+K+P% 4 + + + +$ 3+ v L + + # 2 + + +r+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 57. xg7! xg7 58.h6 g8 59. f6 g1 60.h7 f1+ 61. g7 g1+ 62. f7 ½–½ Kotsur Pavel Guliev Sarhan Dubai 2009 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + m k +( 7+ t R + pz ' 6 + + z p p& z 5+ + + + % 4 + +K+Pz P$ 3+ + +P+ # 2l+ + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 63

White can win here as his pawns are not exposed and the well timed breakthrough g5 will do the job. 51.f4 e6 52.f5? But not like this. 52.g5! is good: 52...hxg5 53.hxg5 Lg4 (53...fxg5 54.fxg5 La2 55.Rb7 Lf7 56.Rb8+ Ke7 57.Kf5 Le8 [57...g6+ 58.Ke5 Lc4 59.Rb7+ Ke8 60.Kf6 Ld3 61.Rg7 +–] 58.Rb7+ Kf8 59.g6 +–) 54.gxf6 gxf6 55.f5 Kg8 56.Ra7 Kf8 57.Rh7 Kg8 58.Rh4 Ld1 59.Kd5 Lb3+ 60. Kd6 Kf7 61.Rh7+ Kf8 62.Rb7 Lc4 63.Rb4 La2 64.Kc5! Ke7 65.Rb2 Lf7 66.Rb7+ Kf8 67.Rxf7+! Kxf7 68.Kd6 +–. There is little sense in providing targets for the enemy bishop... 52... f7 53. c8+ e7 54. f4 e8 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 +R+l+ +( 7+ + m k z p ' 6 + + z p p& z 5+ + +P+ % 4 K+Pz P$ 3+ ++ ++ m # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 55.g5 The text move leads to a draw, but White hardly had anything better: 55.Rc7+ Kf8 56.Ke4 (56.g5 hxg5+ 57.hxg5 fxg5+ 58.Kxg5 Lf7 59.f6 Kg8 =) 56...Lf7 57.Kd4 Lb3 58.Rc1 Ke7 59.Kc5 Lf7 60.Ra1 Lb3 61.Rb1 Lc2 62.Rb7+ Kf8 63.Kd6 Ld1 64.Rb4 Kf7 =. Also 55.Rb8

Lf7 56.g5 fxg5+ 57.hxg5 hxg5+ 58.Kxg5 allows Black to draw with 58...Kd7! but not with 58...Le8? 59.Rb7+ Kf8 60.f6 +–. 55...hxg5+ 56.hxg5 fxg5+ 57. xg5 f7? But this loses. Black had to play 57... Lf7! 58.Rc7+ (58.Rh8 Le8 59.Rh7 Kf8 60.f6 gxf6+ 61.Kxf6 Kg8 =) 58...Ke8 and White has no way to improve. 58. c7+ g8 59. e7?


White returns the favour. 59.Ra7! Lc6 60.Re7 Kf8 61.Rc7 Lb5 (61...Le8 62.f6! +–) 62.Kg6 Le8+ 63.Kh7 +– was good enough. 59... f7! 60. a7 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + +k+( 7t R + +lz p ' 6 ++++Pm +K+& 5+ % 4 + + + +$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 60... e8? 60...Kf8! reaching the right set-up (see the notes on Black's 57th move), was necessary. 61. c7 f7 62. e7? Again, White doesn't ‘want’ to win!

62.Rc8+! Kh7 63.Ra8 Lg8 64.Ra7 Kh8 65.Rc7 Lh7 66.Rc4 Lg8 67.Rh4+ Lh7 68.Kf4 +– was the winning method. 62... f8! 63.f6 g8 63...g6 is another tablebase draw, but 63...gxf6+? 64.Kxf6 loses. 64. c7 gxf6+ Now this capture is fine - and the only move as well! 65. xf6 d5 66. c5 a2 67. c8+ h7 68. c2 d5 69. c7+ g8 70. c5 a2 71. g5+ h7 As the corner is the right one for the bishop, Black has an easy task. He only has to avoid continuations like 71...Kf8? 72.Ra5 +–. 72. g7+ h8 a2+ 75. f8 e4 78. e3 g6 81. d2 h7 84. d7 b3

73. g6 b1+ 74. f7 b1 76. g1 c2 77. g3 g6 79. e2 d3 80. f2 h7 82. f7 g8+ 83. f6 c2 85. d8+ h7 86. d2 ½–½

Ipatov Alexander Berg Emanuel Warsaw 2008 ○ □ ■

64

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + z p ' 6 + m k z p p& z 5+l+ +P+P% 4 + +R+P+$ 3+ + + + # 2 + m K + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

XABCDEFGHY 8 + m K m k +( 7+ + t R z pl' 6 + + z p p& z 5+ + +P+P% 4 + + +P+$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

Here there is no winning method, as Black's bishop cannot be restrained from reaching the a2-g8 diagonal and he can even accept a passive position on h7. Also, with the g5 breakthrough, White cannot reach a winning position. 66. e6+ d7 67. e3 c4 68. e4 f7 69. d4 d6 70. e3 g8 Black can also opt for 70... Kd7 71.Ra3 Ke7 72.Ra7+ Kf8 73.Ra8+ Ke7 74.Kc5

83.h6 xf5 The alternative 83...Kg8 loses to 84.Rxg7+ Kh8 85.Rg6! (85.Ke7? Lxf5 86.Kxf6 Lc2 87.Kxg5 Ld3 =) 85...g4 (85...Lxg6 86.fxg6 g4 87.Ke7 +–) 86.Rxf6 (86.Ke7? g3 87.Rxg3 [87.Kxf6? Lxg6 –+] 87...Lxf5 88.Kxf6 Le4 =) 86...g3 87.Rf8+ Lg8 88.Re8 +–. 84. xg7 g4 84...Le4 loses to 85.Re7 Lg6 86.h7 +–.

Lb3 75.Ra7+ Kf8 76.Ra1 Lf7 77.Ra3 Ke8 78.Ra8+ Ke7 79.Rb8 La2 80.Rb7+ Kf8 81.Kd6 Lc4 and there is nothing that

85. c7! e6 86. g6 86.Kd6 Lf5 87.Kd5 wins as well. 1–0

White can do to improve his position – the g4-pawn is weak as well. 71. a3 e7 72. a7+ f8 73. a8+ f7 Now the black bishop is restricted to only two passive squares: h7 and g8, but there is still nothing that White can do. 74. c5 h7 75. d6 g8 76. d7 h7 77. d8 g8 78. d7 h7 79. e8 g8 80. d8 h7 81. e7+ 81.Rh8 Lg8 82.Kd7 Kf8 =. 81... f8 (D) (see next diagram) It is time for White to play his last card... 82.g5 hxg5? And immediately Black blunders. He could have drawn with 82...fxg5! 83.f6 Lc2 84.Rxg7 (84.fxg7+ Kg8 85.Kc7 Lb3 86.Kd6 Lf7 =) 84...Ld1 85.Kd7 Lxh5 86.Ke6 Lg4+ 87.Ke5 Le2 88.Rg6 h5 89.Rxg5 Lg4 90.Rg7 Le2 = but not with the naive 82...Lxf5? 83.g6! +–.


More rooks on the board is not helpful. But there is a solution to every problem: Krush Irina Grivas Efstratios Wijk aan Zee 2008 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 m k + +r+( 7z pp+ + t rR' 6 +p+ + +& 5+ + + + % 4 + m K + +$ 3z P + + + # 2P+P+L+ +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 65

The ending is of course theoretically lost for White, but some care is needed. If Black succeeds in exchanging a pair of rooks, then his king will deliver the final blow by entering White's camp - but White will surely not cooperate! 42. h6 c7 43. c3 a5 44.a4 g3+ 45. b2 b6 46. c4 8g6 47. h7 g7 48. h8 3g4 49. b3 c5 The naive 49...c5? leads to a drawn position: 50.c4 Rg2+ 51.Ka3, as Black cannot break down White's fortress! So, ...b5 is prepared. 50. a8! b6 51. f8 7g5 52. a8 h4! (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8R+ + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 z pp+ + +& 5z p m k + rt % 4P+ + + t r$ 3+L+ + + # 2Pm 1+KP+ + ++++" ! xabcdefghy Black finds the correct plan: to double his rooks on the h-file, threatening ... Rh8 and ...Rh7. This will force the white rook to retreat, allowing the ...b5 advance. 53.a3?! White 'loses' the drawing possibility noted in the comments on Black's 49th move. A bit 'tougher' was 53.Ra7 Rgh5 54.Rg7 (54. Ra8 Rh8 55.Ra7 R4h7 –+) 54...b5 –+. 53... g6 The plan mentioned above was still fine, but as White self-destroyed her potential fortress, Black decided to go for ...c5 finally. 54. a7 hg4 55. a8 g7 56. c3 h7 57. b2 gh4 58. g8 7h5 59. f8 e5 60. a8 d6! 61. d8+ c7 62. g8 (D) (see next diagram) 62...c5! Now it's all over. 63. g7+ d8 64.

g8


XABCDEFGHY 8 + + +R+( 7+ m k + + ' 6 z pp+ + +& 5z p + t r + % 4P+ + + t r$ 3z PL+ + + # 2 m KP+ + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy Or 64.Rb7 c4 65.La2 Re6 66.Rf7 (66.Kc3 Kc8 67.Ra7 Re3+ 68.Kb2 c3+ 69.Kb3 Kb8 70.Rg7 b5! –+) 66...Re7 –+. 64... xa4 65. b7 65.c4 Re3 –+. 65... g4 66. xb6 c7 67. e6 xe6 68. xe6 g3 And now, after the exchange of a pair of rooks, the black king will march. 69. c4 d6 70. e2 Or 70.Lb5 Kd5 71.c3 Rg1 72.a4 c4 –+. 70... d5 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + + +& 5z p z pk+ + % 4 + + + +$ 3z P + + t r # 2 m KP+L+ +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 0–1

Conclusion The win in this ending is more or less not that difficult. Still, there are winning methods, things to know how to apply and many positions to avoid. 66

Wrong Bishop vs. Pawn(s) Concept Bishop and pawn against king wins in almost all cases. One typical drawing exception occurs when the pawn is on a rook file, the promotion square is of a different colour than that of the bishop and the defending king controls it. The following example may prove to be illuminating: Example 1 ●

XABCDEFGHY 8k+ + + m k( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + + +& 5+ + + + % 4P+ v LK+ z P$ 3+ + + + # 2 +++++++" 1+ ! xabcdefghy Since White has a dark squared bishop, the a-pawn will only draw while the h-pawn wins. In the first case, White cannot expel the black king from the promotion square. There are some exceptions to this rule, involving the presence of pawns of the defending side. But of course, there are some cases where common knowledge and ‘logic’ are left behind in favour of a more advanced ‘logic’ and, of course, knowledge as well! The concept always remains the same: he who knows will succeed - he who doesn’t know is preparing to fail… Here come the assets of concrete calculation and zugzwang methods, things that usually dominate endgame thinking… Short Nigel Kasparov Garry Belgrade 1989 ● □ ■


XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6p+ + + +& 5+l+ + + % 4 z P + + +$ 3+ + + + # 2 z P + + +" 1+ + m K m k ! xabcdefghy The doubled b-pawns condemn White to defeat. Black's plan is to put the white king in a stalemate position, so as to force White to push the b4-pawn. The presence of the b2-pawn is necessary to this plan, so that after the capture of the front b-pawn, a stalemate doesn't occur. If White had no pawns, or if these were on a different part of the board, the position would be drawn. 93... g2 94. d1 f3 95. d2 e4 96. c3 e3 97. c2 e2 98. c1 d3! 99.b3 e1 100. b2 d2 101. a1 c2 102. a2 c1 103. a1 Or 103.Ka3 Kb1 104.Ka4 Kb2. 103... b1! Requiring resignation in view of the forced 104.b5 axb5 105.b4 Ld3. 0–1 Of course, the above example is just an exception to the general rule, but it does exist and should be known. Before we move to more complex examples, we should know the basics; where we are heading for and what we are looking for… ‘Trivial’ knowledge is an important step to the higher titles… A very interesting and difficult case we will examine in the next four examples. A bishop of the ‘wrong corner’ tries to win against one or two opposing pawns: 67

Example 2 ○

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + + +& 5+ + +Kv L % 4p+ + + +$ 3z P + +k+ # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy White must keep the black king away from his pawn's promotion square, as otherwise the game will be drawn. The win can be achieved if White succeeds in confining the black king inside an imaginary prison, the borders of which are outlined by the squares a6, b5, c4, d3, e4, f3, g4, h5. The winning process is as follows: 1. f4 If the move belongs to Black, White can bring about the diagram position with him to move anyway, as follows: 1...Kg3 2.Lf6! Kf3 (2...Kh3 3.Kf4 Kh2 4.Kf3 Kh3 5.Lg5 Kh2 6. Kg4 Kg2 7. Lf4 as in the main line) 3.Le5 Ke3 4.Lb2!! (4.Lb8? Kd4! 5.Ke6 Kc5 6.Kd7 Kb6 with a draw) 4...Kd3 (4...Kf3 5.Lc1 Kg3 6.Lg5 Kf2 7.Kf4 Ke2 8.Ke4 Kf2 9.Lf4) 5.Ke5 Ke3 (5...Kc4 6.Kd6 Kb5 7.Ld4 Kc4 8.Lc5 Kb5 9.Kd5) 6.Lc1+ Kf3 7.Kf5! Kg3 8.Lg5 Kf3 (8...Kh3 9.Kf4) 9.Lf4. 1... g2 2. g4!! A draw occurs after 2.Ke4?! Kh3! 3.Kd5 Kg4 4.Lh2? (4.Ke4!) 4...Kf5 5.Kc6

Ke6.

2... f2 3. c1 e2 Or 3...Kg2 4.Le3 Kf1 5.Kf3 Ke1 6.Lf4 Kd1 7.Ke3 Kc2 8.Kd4 Kb3 9.Ld6. 4. f4 d1 Or 4...Kd3 5.Le3 Kc4 6.Ke5 Kb3 7. Lc5 Kc4 8.Kd6 Kd3 9.Kd5 Kc3 10.Ld6 Kd3 11.Kc5 Ke4 12.Lh2. 5. e3 c2 6. e5 b3 7. c5 c4


8. d6 11. e3 14. c6 17. c1

b5 9. d5 a5 12. b7 b3 15. c5 c4 (D)

a5! 10. b5 13. c4 16.

c6 b6 e3

a6 c4 b3

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 +K+ + +& 5+ + ++++$ % 4p+k+ 3z P + + + # 2 + + + +" 1+ v L + + ! xabcdefghy 18.

b2!

b3 19.

b5!

Example 3 - Rauzer Vsevolod 1928

1–0 ○

XABCDEFGHY 8 +k+ + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 +K+ + +& 5+ + + + % 4pv L + + +$ 3z P + + + # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy The famous theoretician Vsevolod Rauzer did considerable analysis on this situation. White cuts off and then drives the king away from the corner; yet still, he cannot win. The defensive method is simple: just keep the king in the upper half of the board. Then, any attempt to remove the a4-pawn will allow Black's king to get back to the safe corner a8. If, in Rauzer's starting position, we move the pawn on a3 back to a2, the evaluation changes. White will try to stalemate the enemy king (while still keeping him away 68

from the corner, of course), in order to force the move ...a3, after which the bishop can pick off the pawn. If Black tries to avoid this scenario, then he must move his king into the centre, which will allow White, by playing a3 at the right moment, to obtain the 'bad' black king situation we have already seen. 1. d6 d8 2. b7 d7 3. c7 e6 4. c6 e7 5. b6 e6 6. c5 e5 7. f8 e6 If the king goes into the lower half of the board instead with 7...Kd4? then after 8.Ld6! (8.Lg7+? Ke4! [8...Kc4? 9.Lb2 Kb3 10.Kb5! +–] 9.Kd6 Kf5 10.Le5 Kg6 = [10...Ke4? 11.Ke6 Kf3! 12.Kf5 Ke3 13.Lb2!! {13.Lb8? Kd4 14.Ke6 Kc5 15.Kd7 Kb6 16.Kc8 Kc6 17.Lc7 Kd5 18.Kd7 Kc5 19.Ld8 Kd5 20.Le7 Ke5 =} 13...Kd3 {13...Kf3 14.Lc1 Kg3 15.Lg5 Kf2 16.Kf4 Ke2 17.Ke4 Kf2 18.Lf4 Kg2 19.Kd4! Kf3 20.Lh2 +–} 14.Ke5 Ke3 {14...Kc4 15.Ld4 Kb3 16.Lc5 Kc4 17.Kd6 Kb3 18.Kc6 +–} 15.Lc1+ Kf3 16.Kf5 Kg3 17.Lg5 Kf3 18.Lf4 Kg2! {18...Kf2 19.Ke4 Kg2 20.Kd4 Kf3 21.Lh2 +–} 19.Kg4! {19.Ke4? Kh3 20.Kd4 Kg4 21.Lh2? Kf5 =} 19...Kf2 20.Lc1! Ke2 21.Kf4 Kd1 {21...Kf2 22.Le3+ Kg2 23.Kg4 Kh2 {23...Kh1 24.Lf4 Kg2 25.Lg3} 24.Lf4+ Kg2 25.Lg3 Kg1 26.Kf3 Kh1 27.Lb8! Kg1 28.Ke3 Kg2 29.Kd3 Kf3 30.Kc4 Ke4 31.Kb5 Kd5 32.Lh2 +– ; 21...Kd3 22.Le3! Kc4 23.Ke5 Kb3 24.Lc5 Kc4 25.Kd6 Kb5 26.Kd5 Ka5 27.Kc6 Ka6 28.Lg1 Ka5 29.Kb7 Kb5 30.Lb6 Kc4 31.Kc6 Kb3 32.Lc5 +–} 22.Le3 Kc2 23.Ke5! {23.Ke4? Kb3 24.Lc5 Kc4 25.Le3 Kb3 26.Lc1 Kc4 =} 23...Kb3 24.Lc5 Kc4 25.Kd6 Kb3 26.Kc6 Kc4 27.Ld6 {27.Le3 Kb3 28.Lc1 Kc4 29.Lb2 Kb3 30.Kb5 +–} 27...Kd4 28.Kb5 Kd5 29.Lh2 Ke6 30.Kxa4 Kd7 31.Kb5 Kc8 32.Kb6+–]) 8...Ke4 (8...Kc4 9.Lc5 Kd3 10.Kb5) 9.Kb5 Kd5 10.Lh2 Ke6 11.Kxa4 Kd7 12.Kb5 Kc8 13.Kb6 +–. From this variation we can see how vital the h2-b8 diagonal is to the bishop. However, the only way the


bishop can occupy it is if the black king gets too frisky. If he follows the above-cited rule of defence instead, then White will be unable to keep the bishop on the necessary diagonal and keep the king out at the same time. 8. d6 f7 9. d7 f6 10. h2 f7 10...Kf5 11.Ke7 Kg5 (11...Ke4? 12.Ke6 +–) 12.Ke6 Kg6. 11. e5 g6 But not 11...Kg8? 12.Kc6 Kf7 13.Kb5 Ke6 14.Kxa4! +–. 11...Kf8 = is good as well. 12. e6 g5 13. b2 g6 14. f6 h6 15. f7 h7 16. e5 h6 17. g7+ h7 18. f8 g6 19. g8 f5 20. f7 g5 21. f8 f5 22. e7 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + v LK+ ' 6 + + + +& 5+ + +k+ % 4p+ 3z P ++++++$ # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy White has managed to drive the king closer to the centre; but now he has to keep him from returning to a8. The way is once again open to the upper half of the board. 22... e5 Planning ...Kd5-c6-b7, with a draw. 23. e8 e6 24. f8 f6 25. b4 g7 ½–½ Korchnoi Viktor Karpov Anatoly Baguio City 1978 ● The position is similar to the previous examples, except of course that there is an extra black pawn on b5. If White would continue as in the previous example with 100.Kg4 then a draw will occur after 100...Kf2 101.Lc1 Ke2 102.Kf4 Kd3 □ ■

69

103.Le3 Kc4 104.Ke5 (104.Ld2 b4 105.axb4 a3 106.Lc1 a2 107.Lb2 Kxb4) 104...b4.

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + v L + +& 5+p+ +K+ % 4p+ + + +$ 3z P + + + # 2 + + +k+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 100... 103. g4 108. g8 113. h7

f3 101. h2 g2 102. c7 f3 d6 e3 104. e5 f3 105. d5 106. c5 f5 107. xb5 e6 c6 f6 109. d7 g7 110. e7 111. e6 g7 112. c5 g8 f6 h7 114. f7 h8 115. d4+ 116. b2 h6 117. g8 g6

118. g7 f5 119. f7 g5 120. b2 h6 121. c1+ h7 122. d2 h8 123. c3+ h7 124. g7 ½–½ Vovk Yuri Bobras Piotr Cappelle la Grande 2007 □ ■

○

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + + z p& 5+ + + v lP%


XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + + z p& 5+ + + v lP% 4 + + +P+$ 3+ + +K+ # 2 + + + +" 1+ + m k + ! xabcdefghy 63. e4! d2 64. f3 d3 65. f2 66. f3 e1 67. e4 e2 68. d4 69. c3 e3 70. d3 c5 71. d2! The only move. 71... b4+ 72. d3 a5 73. c2 74. b3 d3 75. b2 d2 76. b3 77. a3 c2 78. a4 d2 79. a3 80. a4 c4 81. a3 c1+ (D)

d2 f3

e2 c3 c3

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + + z p&

4 3++++++P+$ + # 2 +K+ + +" 1m k + + + ! xabcdefghy As already mentioned, this is a draw. 58. d1 b2 59. e2 c2 60. e1

61. f2 d2 62. f3 e1 (D) The white king must leave the dangerous zone near the pawns, where he can get in zugzwang: 63.Kg2? Ke2 64.Kg3 Ke3 65.Kg2 Lf4 66.Kf1 Lg3 67.Kg2 Kf4 68.Kf1 Kf3 69.Kg1 Le1 70.Kh2 Lf2 71.Kh1 Le3 72.Kh2 Kf2 73.Kh3 Lg5 74.Kh2 Lf4+ 75.Kh3 Kf3! (75...Lg3?? 76.g5 hxg5 77.Kg4 Lf4 78.h6 =) 76.Kh4 Lh2 77.Kh3 Lg3 78.g5 hxg5 79.h6 g4 # .

d3

5+ + ++P+$ +P% 4 +k+ 3m K + + + # 2 + + + +" 1+ v l + + ! xabcdefghy 70

82. a4! Again the only way. 82.Ka2? is losing to 82...Kc3 83.Kb1 Lb2 84.Ka2 Kc2. 82... b2 83. a5 a3 84. b6! 84.Ka6? Kc5! 85.Kb7 (85.Ka5 Lb4+ 86.Ka6 Kc6 87.Ka7 La5 88.Kb8 Lb6 – +) 85...Lb2 –+. 84... b4 85. c7? Finally White breaks down. He had to play 85.Kc6! Lc5 86.Kb7! Kd5 87.Ka6! with a draw. 85... c5! 86. d7 d5 87. c7 e4 88. c6 f4 89. d5 xg4 90. d4 c5+! The last detail, which White forgot about and he had to resign due to 91. Kxc5 (91.Ke4 Lb6 92.Kd3 Kxh5 93.Ke2 Kg4 94.Kf1 Kf3 –+) 91...Kxh5 92.Kd4 Kg4 93.Ke3 Kg3 94.Ke2 Kg2 –+. 0–1 Perdek Miroslaw ■ Grivas Efstratios Kallithea 2007 ● □

XABCDEFGHY 8 7++++++++( ' 6p+ +lm k +& 5z P + + + % 4 + + + +$ 3+ + + m K # 2 z P + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy Another drawn position. 73... e5 74. f3 d4 75. e2 c4 76.b4 f5 77. d2 e4 78. e3 g6 79. d2 f5 80. d1 c3 81. e1 g4 82. f2 d2 83. g3 d1 84. f4 d3 85. e5 f3 86. f4 h5 87. e5 f7 88. f4 g6 89. f3 f5 90. f4 e4 91. g3 e3 92. g4 h1 93. g3 f3 94. h4 e4 95. g3 f3 96. h4 f2 97. h3 h5 98. h4 e2 99. h3 f3 100. h2? With 100.Kh4! White would save the draw,


although he will have to find some more accurate moves, which makes his task in a practical game more difficult. 100... f1! 101. g1 g2 And White resigned as he will find himself in a deadly zugzwang after 102. Kh2 Kf2 and he will have to opt for 103.b5 axb5 104.a6 b4 105.a7 b3 106.a8Q Lxa8. 0–1 It is obvious that the drawing mechanism is not that simple at understood all! The defending side should have deeply all the pros and cons of this position and he should be able to apply them in a short time, as playing in the 30 second range should be a fact nowadays! Let’s see a final example: Huschenbeth Niclas Grover Sahaj Chennai 2011 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6p+ + m K +& 5z P + +l+ % 4 z P + m k +$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 95. e7? As White's king can not safely retreat into the drawing zone (c2-c3-c4-d5-e6-f7-g6-h5h4-h3-h2-g1-f1-e1-d1), he had to run along the edge of the board: 95.Kg7! Ke5

(95... f7! Laxb5 g4 97. e7 c5K=) f5 KK 98.KK d6g5K96. e4 K99.b5 100. K K K K L 96. h6! (96. h8? f6 97. g8 g6 98.Kf8 [98.Kh8 Kf7 99.b5 axb5 100.a6 Le4 –+] 98...Lf7 99.b5 axb5 100.a6 Ld5 – +) 96...Kf6 (96...Kd4 97.Kg5 Kc4 98.Kxf5 Kxb4 99.Ke4 Kxa5 100.Kd3 Kb4 101.Kc2 =) 97.Kh5 and he has reached the drawing zone, so he should be safe: 97...Ld7 98.Kh4 (98.Kh6? Le8 –+) 71

98...Kf5 99.Kg3 Ke4 100.Kf2 Kd4 101.Ke2 Kc4 102.Kd2 Kxb4 103.Kc2 =. 95.Kf7? loses as well after 95...Ke5 96.Kg7 Kd5 97.Kf6 Lh7 98.Kg5 Kc4 99.Kf4 Kxb4 100.Ke3 Kxa5 101.Kd2 Kb4 102.Kc1 Kc3 –+. 95... e5 96. f7 h7 97. e7 White cannot be saved either after 97. Kg7 Kd4 98.Kxh7 (98.b5 axb5 99.Kxh7 Kc5 – +) 98...Kc4 99.Kg6 Kxb4 100.Kf5 Kxa5 101.Ke4 Kb4 102.Kd3 Kb3 103.Kd2 Kb2 104.Kd3 a5 –+. 97... d5 98. f6 c4 99. e5 xb4 100. d4 g6! (D) A deadly zugzwang! Black should avoid 100...Kxa5? when by 101.Kc3 White's king reaches the saving corner. And he should avoid as well the alternative bad option 100...Lg8? 101.Kd3 when the white king reaches Rauzer's drawing zone (all squares covered by the line a2-b3-c4-d5-e4-f5-g4h3) safely: 101...Kb3 102.Kd2 Lh7 103.Kc1 Kc3 104.Kd1 Kb2 105.Kd2 Lc2 106.Ke3 Kc3 107.Kf4?! Kd4 108.Kg5?! Ke5 109.Kg4 with a draw, but not 109.Kh6? Kf4 110.Kh5 Ld3 111.Kh4 Lf5 112.Kh5 Kg3 113.Kg5 Lg4 114.Kf6 Kf4 115.Kg6 Lf3 116.Kf6 Lc6 117.Ke6 Lb7 118.Kd6 Ke4 119.Kc5 Kd3 120.Kb4 Ld5! 121.Kc5 Lg8 122.Kb6 Lc4 123.Kc5 Kc3 124.Kd6 Kb4 125.Kc6 Kxa5 126.Kc5 Lg8 –+.

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6p+ + +l+& 5z P + + + % 4 k+m K++++$ 3+m # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy Now White cannot defend: 101.Ke3 Kxa5 102.Kd2 Kb4 103.Kc1 Kc3 –+. 0–1


With two pawns for the ‘wrong’ bishop it looks like lessening the defender’s task. But certain difficulties, mechanisms and plans do exist. Adams Michael Anand Viswanathan Wijk aan Zee 2001 ● □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + t r m k +( 7+ + +pz p ' 6 + s n + z p& 5z P z pR+ + % 4 + + + +$ 3+ + + z P # 2 + + + z P" 1+ + +Lm K ! xabcdefghy 29... b7! An excellent piece of defence, resulting in a drawn ending. 30. xd8+ xd8 31. g2 31.a6? Nc6 and Black is OK. 31... e6 32.a6 c7 33.a7 e7 Now White will win the black knight, but the ending is drawn. 34. f2 d6 35. e3 c4 36.a8 Of course not 36.Kd4? Nb5+ =+. 36... xa8 37. xa8 e5 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8L+ + + +( 7+ + +pz p ' 6 + + + z p& 5+ + m k + % 4 +p+ + +$ 3+ + m K z P # 2 + + + z P" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 72

White has no time to stop the pawn exchanges, as he has also to win the black cpawn. 38. f3 f5 39. e2 g5! 40. xc4 f4+ 41. f2 41.gxf4+ gxf4+ = as White remains with the 'wrong colour' on h8. 41...fxg3+! 42.hxg3 g4 And now comes ...h5-h4, with an easy draw. 43. f7 f6 44. e8 g5 45. e3 h5 46. xh5 xh5 47. f4 h6 48. xg4 g6 ½–½ Bacrot Etienne Anand Viswanathan Nanjing 2010 ● □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + +k+( 7+ + +p+p' 6 + +p+p+& 5+ t R + + % 4 + + + +$ 3+ p+K+Pz +L+P"# 2 +z 1+r+ + + ! xabcdefghy The c-pawn is lost and Black has to choose his line of defence. There is no big theory on this endgame, but by keeping the rooks on the board Black should have an easy draw. 35... c1?! Precise was 35...Rh1! 36.h3 Rc1 37.Kd3 Kg7 38.Rxc3 Rxc3+ 39.Kxc3 f5 40.Kd4 Kf6 41.Le2 h5 42.Ld1 h4 43.Le2 g5! 44.Ld1 g4! 45.hxg4 Kg5 46.gxf5 exf5 47. f4+ 48.with h3!wrong and a pawn; draw, his as Ke3remains Kf3 the White light-squared bishop is no longer useful! 36. d3 g7 37. xc3 xc3+?! As explained beforehand, Black should preserve the rooks on the board. Then there is probably no way for White to triumph. 38. xc3 Of course now Black would be very happy to trade all his pawns for the white g2-pawn,


but that isn't easy to do. 38...f5 Black will be forced to move his pawns at some point; for example: 38...Kf6 39.Kd4 Ke7 40.Kc5 Kd7 41.Lc6+ Ke7 42.La4 f5 43.Lb5 e5 44.Kd5 Kf6 45.Lc4 e4 46.Kd4, with a similar position as in the game. 39. d4 f6 40. d1 The bishop has no better diagonal: 40. Lb7 h5 41.La6 h4 42.Lc8 e5+ 43.Kd5 e4 44.Kd4 Kg5 45.Ke5 h3 46.g3 Kg4 with a draw, as the king infiltrates. 40...h5 41. f3 h4 42. e2 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + +pm kp+& 5+ + +p+ % 4 + m K + z p$ 3+ + + + # 2 " 1++++L+Pz + +P! xabcdefghy 42...g5? It seems that this natural-looking move is a serious mistake. Black could have played 42...e5+! 43.Kd5 e4 44.Kd4 Kg5! 45.Ke5 and then 45...f4!! 46.h3 (46.Kxe4 h3 47.g3 [47.gxh3 f3 48.Lxf3 Kh6 49.Kf4 g5+ 50.Kf5 Kh7 =] 47...fxg3 48.hxg3 h2 49.Lf3 h1Q 50.Lxh1 Kg4 =) 46...f3 47.gxf3 (47.Lxf3 exf3 48.gxf3 Kh6 =) 47...exf3 48.Lxf3 Kh6 49.Kf6 Kh7 50.Kf7 Kh8 (for the time being, Black

should keep his king on h7-h8 and his pawn should remain on g6) 51. Ld5 Kh7 52.Lc4 Kh8 53.Kf8 Kh7 54.Le6 Kh6 55.Kg8 g5 56.Lg4 (56.Kf7 g4! 57.Lxg4 [57.hxg4 Kg5 =] 57...Kh7! [57...Kg5? 58.Kg7 Kf4 59.Kf6 +–]) 56...Kg6 57.Kf8 Kf6 58.Ke8 Ke5! and this is a draw, as you cannot stalemate the black king, forcing the advance of his g-pawn - see the previous ex73

amples. 42...h3? is simply losing to 43.g3 g5 (43...f4 44.g4 Kg5 45.Ke5 Kh4 46.Kxf4 g5+ 47.Kf3 e5 48.Lb5 e4+ 49.Kxe4 Kxg4 50.Le8 Kh4 51.Kf3 g4+ 52.Kf4 g3 53.hxg3 #) 44.Lf3 g4 45.Lh1 e5+ 46.Kd5 f4 (46...e4 47.Lxe4 fxe4 48.Kxe4 +–) 47.Le4 +–. 43. a6! An important change of diagonal. Bad would be 43.Lf3? due to 43...e5+ 44.Kd5 e4 45.Le2 g4 46.Lxg4 fxg4 47.Kxe4 g3 48.h3 Ke6 49.Kf4 Kd5! 50.Kg4 Ke4 51.Kxh4 Kf4 52.Kh5 Ke3 =. 43...g4 44. b7 The bishop always dominates the pawns! 44...e5+ 44...h3 45.g3 e5+ 46.Ke3 f4+ 47.Ke4 fxg3 48.hxg3 h2 49.Ke3 +– ; 44...f4 45.Le4 f3 46.g3 +–. 45. d5 f4 45...e4 46.Kd4 Kg6 47.Ke3 Kg5 48.g3 +–. 46. e4 1–0

As Black is lacking any counterplay, White has an easy task. 77. e4! g8 78. e7 xe7 79. xe7 Microplan 1 fulfilled! 79... f7 80. c5 h5 Black has no real options. If he doesn't push his kingside pawns, then White will enter the kingside, winning further material. 81. f2 g5 82. e3 g6 83. e4 h4 84. e7 h5 85. f5 g4 86. f4 h3 87.gxh3 gxh3 88. g3 Microplan 2 fulfilled! 88...h2 89. xh2 g4 90. c5 f5 91. g3 e6 92. f4 d7 93. e5 c8 94. d6 b8 95. d7 a8 96. c7 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8k+ + + +( 7+pm K + + ' 6p+p+ + +& 5z P v L + + % 4 z P + + +$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

Kamsky Gata Leko Peter Nice 2009 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + m k( 7+p+r+ z p ' 6p+p+ + z p& 5z P v L + + % 4 z P + t R +$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + +P+" 1+ + + m K !

Microplan 3 fulfilled as well and Black resigned: 96...b5 97.axb6 a5 98.b7#. 1–0

□

xabcdefghy

Black has only got two pawns for his missing piece and his prospects don’t look rosy. Here White's plan seems rather simple: 1. Exchange the rooks. 2. Create weaknesses on the kingside, eventually exchanging/winning a pawn on that flank. 3. Create a zugzwang position on the other flank.


■

Khalifman Alexander

Leko Peter New Delhi/Teheran 2000 ○ One pawn for the bishop doesn’t look like good news for the defending side. Still, due to the problem of the wrong colour bishop, difficulties do exist and should be taken care of, in order to avoid nasty surprises… Here Black has just a weak c-pawn to compensate for his missing piece, so the end should not be far away. 74

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + +p' 6 + + +p+& 5+ + +pm k % 4 +r+ + +$ 3t R z p KP+P# m 2 +L+ +P+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 42. a4! f4+ 42...Rxa4 43.Lxa4 Kh4 44.Kf4 +–. 43. f2 xa4 If the rook retreats, then 43...Rc7 44.h4+ Kxh4 45.Rxf4+ Kg5 46.Rg4+ Kf6 47.Ke3 +– is the simplest way. 44. xa4 h4 45. c2 g5 46.g3! Sooner or later, this exchange should be offered. White reduces material but he wins more ground, forcing the black king to re-

treat and not threatening any more the active ...Kh4-g3. 46...fxg3+ 47. xg3 h5 48.f4 48.h4 is good as well: 48...g5 49.hxg5 Kxg5 50.Lxh7 +– ; 48...Kh6 49.Kg4 Kg7 50.h5 gxh5+ (50...Kf6 51.hxg6 hxg6 52.f4 +–) 51.Kxh5 h6 52.f4 +– ; 48...h6 49.Lb3 g5 (49...c2 50.Le6 c1Q 51.Lg4 #) 50.Lf7 #. 48... h6 49. g4 g7 50.h4! Threatening 51.h5, as in the previous note. 50...h6 51. f3 f7 52. e4 f6 53. d4 g5 54.hxg5+ hxg5 55.f5 g4 56. e4 Resigned, due to 56...Kg5 57.Ke3 +–. 1–0

A more difficult case appeared in the next game, which has been extensively analysed in various sources and many have called Carlsen's escape 'magic'. Well, there is nothing magical; just pure logic and plain calculations, which White failed to show...


□ ■

Kramnik Vladimir Carlsen Magnus

London 2010 ○

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + z p ' 6 +ks n + z p& 5+ t r + + % 4 + + + +$ 3z p s N + Pz # 2L+ + +P+" 1+ +R+ m K ! xabcdefghy 62. xd6+ 62.Rd3 would have been a good practical decision, and would probably have been answered by Carlsen's resignation. The latter said so at least, but such a remark must be a part of some psychological warfare. It goes without saying that he would have continued

regardless. In view of White's doubled pawns, his technical job will not be so easy... But on a 'scientific' approach, the text move is the best! 62... xd6 63. e4+ c6 64. xc5 xc5 Kramnik 'carelessly' entered into the endgame, which is not winning easily. But from such outstanding players, the low rated audience has its own demands... 65. f2 d4 66. f3 Garry Kasparov had just arrived at the Olympia playing hall and proposed 66.Ke2 because Black anyway does not have time to go with his king to b2: 66...Kc3 67.Ke3 Kc2 68.Lf7 Kc3 69.g4 Kc2 70.Kd4 Kd2 71. (guarding c2) 71...Ke2 72.Kc3 Lb3! L Kf2 73. d5 which wins, for example 73...g6 74.g5 h5 75.Kd4. But of course there is nothing wrong with White’s ‘natural’ choice after all. The problem is that later, White seemed not to know how to win the game; he missed the details… 66... d3 67.g4 d2 68. e6 Black's big hope is the position after 68.Kf4? Ke2 69.g5 hxg5+ 70.Kxg5 Kf2! 75

71.g4 which is a draw: 71...Kf3 72.Kf5 g6+! 73.Kg5 Kg3 74.Ld5 Kh3 75.Kf4 Kh4 76.g5 Kh5!. 68... d3 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + z p ' 6 + +L+ z p&

77. e6 e3 White is unable to activate his king without losing the g4-pawn, so the draw is evident. 78. h2 f2 79. c4 e3 80. g1 f4 81. e6 (D) 81.Kf2 Kxg4 82.g3 Kf5 83.Kf3 g4+ 84.Ke3 h5 is also drawn.

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +(

5+ + % 4 +++++P+$ 3z p +k+K+ # 2 + + +P+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 69. g3? 69.Lf7? was bad as well after 69... Kd2! (instead 69...g5? 70.La2 Kd4 71.Le6 Kd3 72.Lf7 Kd4 73.Ke2 Ke4 loses to 74.g3 Kd4 75.Kd2 Ke4 76.Kc3 Kf3 77.Lh5! +–) 70.Ke4 Ke2 71.Kd4 Kf2 72.Ld5

Kg3 73.g5 but now Black escapes: 73...h5! (not 73...a2? 74.Lxa2 Kxg2 75.g6 +– ; 73...Kf4!? 74.g6 h5 =) 74.g6 (74.Ke5 Kg4! 75.g6 Kg5! 76.Lf7 h4 =) 74...Kf4 75.Kc3 h4 76.Kb3 Ke5 = and White cannot win because Black later goes with his king to f8 and White cannot achieve progress. But 69.g5! wins. The main idea is after 69...hxg5 (69...Kd4 70.Kf4!) to play 70.g3! and later White will capture the g5pawn, having his own pawn already on g3 (so, Black cannot force White to play g4 early!), and it is gradually winning afterwards, as tablebases confirm: 70... Kd4 71.Kg4 Ke5 72.La2 Ke4 73.Kxg5 Kf3 and now 74.Kh4! is the killer, e.g. 74...g5+ 75.Kh3 Ke3 76.Kg4 Kf2 77.Ld5! +–. 69... e3 70. h4 Or 70.g5 Ke4! (70...hxg5? 71.Kg4 Kf2 72.g3 g6 73.Ld5 +–) 71.Kg4 Ke3 =. 70... f2 Unfortunately for Kramnik, now it is a draw. 71. d5 g6 72. h3 g5! 73. h2 f1 74. e6 f2 75. c4 e3 76. g3 d4!


7+ + +z 6 +++L+ p' & 5+ + + z p % 4 + + m kP+$ 3z p + + + # 2 + + +P+" 1+ + + m K ! xabcdefghy 81... e5 82. b3 84. b3 f4 85. e6

f4 83. e6 e5 e5 86. b3 ½–½

An interesting case one with 3:2 pawns on one side for isthethedefender. There are many difficulties and the win (if any) is more hidden than someone might expect. Highly important is the placement of the rook pawns. Portisch Lajos Stein Leonid Sousse 1967 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ +L+p+p' 6 + + m kp+& 5+ + + + % 4 + + + +$ 3+ + + z PP# 2 + + m K +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 76

It seems that White would have an easy task... 49. e8! Every tempo counts here; we will see why. 49... e7 50. b5 f5 50...Kf6 51.Lc4 or 50...Kd6 51.Lc4! f5?! 52.Lg8 doesn't change much. 51. e3 f6 52. d4! White has managed to get his king to d4, but the win is still quite tricky. 52...h5 52...Kg5 leaves White with the hardest task: 53.Ke5 h5 54.h4+! (54.Le2? h4 55.g4 fxg4 56.Lxg4 Kh6 57.Kf6 Kh7 =) 54...Kg4 55.Kf6 Kxg3 56.Kg5 f4 57.Le8 f3 58.Lxg6 f2 59.Ld3+–; while not much different is 52...Ke6 53.Lc4+ Kf6 54.Ld5. 53. e3 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + m kp+& 5+L+ 4 + ++p+p% + +$ 3+ + m K z PP# 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 53...h4 Black is helpless: 53...g5 54.Kd4 f4 55.g4 +– or 53...Ke5 54.h4 +– or, finally, 53...Kg5 54.h4+ Kg4 55.Kf2 Kh3 (55...f4 56.Ld7 #) 56.Lc6 +–. 54.g4 e5 55. f1 f6 56. f4 g5+ 57. e3 1–0

e5 58.

a6

In order to better understand the pros and cons of this ending, it is essential to know the next two studies and how the drawing and winning mechanisms are applied. I found both of them to be quite instructive. Believe it or not, the first one is a drawn position!


Example 4 - Averbakh Yuri 1972 ●

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ +L+ + ' 6 + + + +& 5+ + m kpz p % 4 + + + +$ 3+ + +Kz P # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 1...f4! 1...Kf6? is a blunder 2.Ke2 Ke5 3.Kd3 Kf6 as now the white king can come to d4: 4.Kd4 Kg6 5.Ke5 +–. We should note here that even if White had an extra pawn on h3 or h5 and Black one on h6, still the text move was good enough to draw! 2.g4 d4 3. e2 c3! Black should keep his king in/near the cen-

tre, as long as it is needed. 4. b5 d4 5. a6 c3 6. 7. d2 (D)

d3

d4

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + + +& 5+ + + z p % 4 + m k z pP+$ 3+ +L+ + # 2 K++++" 1+++m ! xabcdefghy That's the best that White can do... 7... e5! 8. c3 f3! Forced, but good enough to draw. 9. d2 f4 10. f5 f2! 11. e2 g3 12. f1 f3 And Black keeps his king on f3/g3. ½–½ 77

Example 5 - Speelman Jonathan 1981

○

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + + +& 5+ + v Lp+ % 4 +k+pz P +$ 3+ + m K + # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy If we move everything one file to the left, then White wins as his king has room to get round on the kingside: 1. d4 d5 2. a7 c4 3. f2 d3 4. g3 e3 5. h4 e2 6. f2 e4 7. g5 1–0 If now we place a rook on the board for each side, then we have a completely different mission for both players. Typical positions and plans need to be known in depth – time trouble would never allow us to discover them… Grivas Efstratios Georgandzis Konstantinos Athens 1986 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 t R + + +( 7+ s n kp+p' m 6 + + +p+& 5+ 4 z P+++++z P% $ 3+ + + z P # 2 + +rz PLm K" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 40.b5?


It is not easy at all to win the resulting ending, so White should preserve his f-pawn with 40.f4 +/– or, even better, 40.Rb7 Kd6 41.b5 Rxf2 42.b6 Na6 43.Ra7 +/–. 40... xf2 41.b6 a6 42. a8 c5 43.b7 xb7 44. a7 The point of White's 40th move. 44... b2!? The position that can arise after 44... Kf6 45.Rxb7 Kg7 46.Kg1 Rf5 47.Le4 Re5 48.Lc2 h5 49.Lb3 Rf5 (D) should be extensively examined.

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+R+ +pm k ' 6 + + +p+& 5+ + +r+p% 4 + + + z P$ 3+L+ + z P # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + m K ! xabcdefghy

White has no easy plan at his disposal, as Black's position is rock solid and has only one weak spot on f7, which is well guarded. Also, the presence of the white h-pawn on h4 doesn't allow White to exchange rooks (in most of the cases), as shown below and furthermore, it doesn't allow the winning plan which is shown in the next example. Play might go: 50.Kg2 Rf6 51.Ld5 (51.Rb4 Rd6 [Black should change his way of protecting his f-pawn, as 51... Rf5? loses to 52.Rf4 Rxf4 53.gxf4 +–] 52. Rf4 Rd2+ 53.Kh3 Rd7 [it is too early for 53...f6 54.Rc4 g5 55.Rc7+ Kh6 56.hxg5+ fxg5 57.Rc6+ Kg7 58.Lc2 Rd5 59.Lg6 h4 60.g4 Ra5 61.Lf5 Kf7 62.Rg6 and White should win: 62...Ra3+ 63.Kh2 Ra2+ 64.Kg1 Ra1+ 65.Kf2 Ra2+ 66.Ke3 Ra3+ 67.Kd2 Ra2+ 68.Kc3 Ra3+ 69.Kb2 Ra8 70.Rh6! {70.Rxg5? Rh8 71.Ld3 h3 72.Rf5+ Kg7 73.Rf1 h2 74.Rh1 Kf6 75.Kc3 Kg5 76.Lf5 Kf4 78

77.Kd3 Rd8+ =} 70...Kg7 71.Rb6 Rh8 72.Kc3 h3 73.Rb1 +–] 54.Lc4 Ra7 55.Kg2 Rd7 56.Kf3 Ra7 57.Ke4 Re7+ 58.Kd4 Ra7 59.Rf3 Rc7 60.Ld5 Ra7 61.Kc5 Ra5+ 62.Kd6 Ra6+ 63.Ke5 Ra7 64.Rb3 Re7+ [64...f6+ 65.Ke6 Ra6+ 66.Ke7 Ra7+ 67.Rb7 Rxb7+ 68.Lxb7 g5 69.hxg5 fxg5 70.Lf3 g4 =] 65.Kf4 Re1 and White has made no progress) 51...Rf5 52.Le4 Rf6 53.Lf3 Rf5 54.Kf2 Rf6 55.Ke3 Rd6 56.Le4 Kf6 57.Lc2 Re6+ 58.Kf4 Kg7 59.Lb3 Rf6+ 60.Ke4 Kg8 61.Ld5 Kg7 62.Ke5 Rf5+ 63.Kd6 Rf2 64.Ke7 Rf5 65.Rd7 g5, and the best White can hope for is to end with rook & bishop vs. rook, which is of course drawn, but in a practical game the chances to win are many. 45. xb7+?! A bad move, leading to a quick draw, due to the presence of the white h-pawn on h4. White should have tried 45. Kh3 h5 46.Lxb7 Rf2 47.Ld5+ Kf8. 45... xb7 46. xb7 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+L+ m kp+p' 6 + + +p+& 5+ + + + % 4 + + + z P$ 3+ + + z P # 2 + + + m K" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 46...f5?! And Black immediately returns (in a way)

the favour! He could easily draw with a well-known mechanism: 46...h5! 47. Ld5 f6 48.Kg2 Kf8! 49.Kf3 Kg7 50.Kf4 Kh6 51.Lf7 g5+ 52.hxg5+ fxg5+ 53.Kf5 g4!, and ...h4 is next, while 54. Lxh5 Kxh5 55.Kf4 Kh6 56.Kxg4 Kg6 is easy as well. 47. g2 Now, as the pawn structure favours White, Black should be very careful...


47... f6 48. f3 g5? This loses. White must be ready to answer 48...h5? with 49.Kf4, not allowing ...g5, but Black could draw with 48...h6! because the white king cannot reach d4 in time: 49.Lc6 (49.Ke2 h5! 50.Ke3 g5 =) 49...g5 (49...Ke5 50.Lb5 g5 51.h5 [51.hxg5 hxg5 52.Ke2 f4! {52...Ke4? 53.Ld7 Ke5 54.Kd3 +–} 53.g4 Kd4 =] 51...f4 [51...Kd4 52.Ld7 Ke5 53.Ke2 Ke4 54.Lc8 Ke5? 55.Kd3 +–] 52.g4 Kd4 =) 50.h5 f4! 51.g4 Ke5 52.Ke2 Kd4 53.Lb5 Kc3 54.Ld3 Kd4 55.Kd2 Ke5 56.Kc3 f3! =. 49.h5! 49.hxg5+? Kxg5 50.Lc8 h5 =. 49... e5 49...f4 now loses to 50.g4 Ke5 (50...h6 51.Ke4 +–) 51.h6! +–. 50. c8? A comedy of errors - 50.h6! wins: 50...Kf6 51.La6 Kg6 52.Ld3 Kf6 53.g4! +–. 50... f6? Black once more missed the well-known 50...f4! 51.g4 h6 =. 51. e2! The correct concept! White must keep in mind to avoid the e3-square at all costs: 51.Ke3? f4+ =. 51...h6 51...f4 here doesn't help: 52.g4 Ke5 53.Kd3. 52. d7 e5 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ +L+ + ' 6 + + + z p& 5+ + m kpz pP% 4 3++++++z P+$ # 2 + +K+ +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 53. 56.

d3! e8

f6 54.

d4 g4 55.

e3!

g5 1–0

79

Kindermann Stefan Adams Michael Garmisch Partenkirchen 1994 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +k+ ' 6 + + v lp+& 5+ + + +p% 4 + + + z P$ 3+ + +Rz P # 2 + t r z PK+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy As has already been mentioned, this is a drawn position. Of course Black tried to push White into making a mistake - he had nothing to lose! 41. f4 d4?! Too naive - Black did not know… 42. f3?! Simple was 42.Rxd4! Lxd4 43.f3 =. 42... d5 43. e4 e5+ 44. f3 45. a4 b5 46. g2 b2 47. f4 48. f8 d4 49. f4 e5 50. f8 51. f7 b6 52. e7+ d3 53. a7 54. a2 c5 55. f1 b6 56. g2 57. a8 f6 58. a2 c3 59. f1 60. a8 e1+ 61. g2 e2 62. f8 63. f7 a2 64. f1 (D)

e6 e5 e4 f6 d4 e6 d4

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +R+ ' 6r+ + +p+& 5+ + + +p% 4 + v l + z P$ 3+ +k+ z P # 2 + + z P +" 1+ + +K+ ! xabcdefghy Trivial Endings - Revealing the Secrets

It is too early for 64.g4?, as after 64...Ke4 65.gxh5 gxh5 66.Kg3 Le5+ 67.Kg2 Ra5 68.Rf8 Ra6 69.Rf7 Lf6 White will not hold - rooks are still on the board! 64... a6 65. b7? This loses on the spot. Correct was to adopt a waiting policy with 65.Kg2 as after 65...Rf6 66.Rxf6 Lxf6 67.g4! (67.f3? Ke3 –+) 67...hxg4 68.Kg3 White draws. 65... f6 66. b3+ c4 0–1 In the previous two examples, the stronger side’s rook pawn was already on its fourth rank and the win could not be achieved, as after the exchange of the rooks, the drawing mechanisms were obviously effective. It is also obvious that handling such positions is beyond human understanding in many cases. But let’s see what happens when the pawn is not yet on the fourth rank: Example 6 ○

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + +k+( 7+R+ +p+ ' 6 + + t rp+& 5+ + + +p% 4 + + + +$ 3+L+ + z P # 2 + + +Kz P" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy Here White can win, as his h-pawn is not on h4. First, he should centralize his king and then push his g-pawn (with h3 first) to g5. Then he will return the extra material on f7, achieving a winning pawn ending. 1. d5 g7 2. f3 a6 3. f2 a2+ 4. e2 f6 5. e3 a3+ 6. d3 g7 7. d4 a5 7...Ra2 8.Rxf7+ +– or 7...h4 8.g4 Kf6 9.h3 +–. 8. c4 f5 9. e4 f2 10.h3! f5 (D) 80

Of no help is 10...Kf8 11.Ke3! (11.g4? hxg4 12.hxg4 f5+! =) 11...Rf5 12.g4 hxg4 13.hxg4 Rf6 14.Ke4 g5 15.Ke5 Rf4 16.Ld3 (16.Le2 +–) 16...Rxg4 17.Kf6 +–.

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+R+ +pm k ' 6 + + +p+& 5+ + +r+p% 4 +L+K+ +$ 3+ + + z PP# 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 11.g4 hxg4 12.hxg4 f2 13.g5 f5 14. xf7+! xf7 15. xf7 xf7 16. d5 1–0 Jussupow Artur Boensch Uwe Germany 2001 ● □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + m k +( 7+ + +p+p' 6 +L+ +p+& 5+ + + + % 4 + t r + +$ 3+ + + z P # 2 +R+ + z P" 1+ + + m K ! xabcdefghy A typical winning position for White. The winning method is already known... 34...h5 35. f3 d7 36. b2 g7 37. f2 d6 38. b7 d2+ 39. e2 d6 40. c4 f6+ 41. e3 f8 42.h3! The preparations are beginning! 42... g7 43.g4 hxg4 44.hxg4 f8 45. c7 g7 46. e4 f2 47.g5 f5 48. xf7+! xf7 49. xf7 xf7 50. d5 1–0


Hansen Curt Kasparov Garry Thessaloniki 1988 ● □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7t R + +p+ ' 6 + + m kp+& 5s n + + +p% 4 + + + +$ 3+ + + z PP# 2P+ +rz PLm K" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 32... xa2! Black tries to be 'smart' and get a known drawn position, as after the natural 32... Nc4 White would be on top: 33. Lf1! (33.Ld5? Rxf2+ 34.Kg1 Rc2 35.Rxf7+ [35.Rc7 Rc1+! {35...Ne3? 36.Rxc2 Nxc2 37.a4 Nb4 38.Lc4 Nc6 39.Kf2 +/–} 36.Kf2

Rc2+ =] 35...Ke5 36.Lxc4 Rxc4 =) 33...Rxf2+ 34.Kg1 Rc2 35.Rc7 Ne3 36.Rxc2 Nxc2 37.a4 Ke7 38.a5 Kd6 39.Lc4! +–. 33. d5! xf2+? Black should have opted for 33... Ra3! 34.f4 (34.h4 g5 ±) 34...Kg7 35.Rxf7+ Kh8 ±. 34. g1 f5 35. xa5 g5 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +p+ ' 6 + + +p+& 5t p% 4R++L+rm + +k+$ 3+ + + z PP# 2 + + + +" 1+ + + m K ! xabcdefghy 81

36.h4+? Time trouble and ignorance gave birth to such an ugly move! After 36. Rb5! Kh6 (36...h4 37.g4 Re5 38.Lc4 Rxb5 39.Lxb5 f5 40.Ld7 Kf4 41.Kf2 Ke4 42.Lc6+ Kf4 43.Lf3 fxg4 44.hxg4 h3 45.Ld1 +–) 37.Lc4 Rxb5 (37...Rf6 38.Rb7 Kg7 39.Kg2 +–) 38.Lxb5 Kg5 (38...f5 39.Kf2 Kg7 40.Kf3 g5 [40...Kf6 41.Le8] 41.Ke2 Kf6 [41...f4 42.g4 hxg4 43.hxg4 +–] 42.Le8 +–) 39.Kf2 f6 (39...f5 40.Kf3 Kf6 41.Le8 +–) 40.Kf3 Kh6 41.Kf4 Kg7 and now: a) 42.Le2 Kh6 43.Ke4 Kg5 44.Ld1 Kh6 45.Kd5 Kg5 46.Ke6 h4 47.g4 f5 48. Kf7! fxg4 49.Lxg4 Kh6 50.Kg8 Kg5 (50...g5 51.Kf7 Kh7 52.Lf5+ Kh6 [52...Kh8 53.Lg6 g4 54.hxg4 +–] 53.Kf6 Kh5 54.Ld3 g4 55.Lg6+ Kh6 56.hxg4 h3 57.g5 #) 51.Kg7 Kf4 52.Kf6! Ke4 (52...g5 53.Le6! Ke4 54.Kxg5 Kd4 55.La2! Ke5 56.Lb3! Kd6 57.Kxh4 Ke7 58.Kg5 Kf8 59.Kf6 +–) 53.Ld7 Kf4 54.Le6 Ke4 55.Lb3 Kf4 56.Kxg6 Kg3! 57.Le6 Kf4 58.Kf6 Ke4 59.Kg5 Ke5 60.Lb3 +–. b) 42.Ld3 Kh6 43.Lc2 Kg7 44.Ke4 Kh6 45.Kd5 Kg5 46.Ke6 f5 (46...h4 47.g4 f5 48.Lxf5 +–) 47.h4+!! Kg4 48.Kf6 f4 (48...Kxg3 49.Kg5 +–) 49.gxf4 Kxf4 50.Ld1! +–. 36... h6 And now it is drawn! 37. b5 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +p+ ' 6 + + +pm k& 5+R+L+r+p% 4 + + + z P$ 3+ + + z P # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + m K ! xabcdefghy 37...f6?


A very early action, which is dangerous for Black. Of course he could opt for 37... Kg7 and just wait... When White tries to unpin the rook with 38. Lc4, then he will go for the known method: 38... Rxb5 39.Lxb5 f6 40.Kf2 Kh6 =. 38. g2 g5 39.hxg5+? A blunder. White would be on top after 39.Ra5 Re5 (39...Kg7 40.Ra7+ Kh8 41.Le4 +–) 40.Kf3 Rf5+ 41.Ke3 Re5+ 42.Kd4 gxh4 (42...Rf5 43.Ra7 gxh4 44.Le4 +–) 43.gxh4 Rf5 44.Ke3 Re5+ 45.Kf4 +–, as the rooks are still on the board and in this case the wrong bishop case is not that important. 39... xg5 40. h3 e5 And now White can make no progress, so... ½–½ In the next example, Black obviously knew the winning method, but somehow he did not apply it correctly… Totsky Leonid Gyimesi Zoltan Budapest 1996 ● □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + t R +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + + +& 5+ + m k z p % 4 + v l + +$ 3+ + + z P # 2 t r + z P +" 1+ + +K+ ! xabcdefghy 67...g4?! Although winning, Black could go for the 'safer' 67...Ke4 68.Kg2 Lc5 69.Rf7 Ke5 70.g4 Ke4 71.Rf5 Le3 –+. 68. e8+! Or 68.Rf4 Rxf2+ 69.Rxf2 Lxf2 70.Kxf2 Kd4 –+ as usual! 68... f5 69. f8+ e4? Although the text move wins, 69... Lf6 was a 'must'. Humans are not computers...

82

70. f4+ d3 71. f3 73. f4 (D)

xg4

xf2+ 72.

e1

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + + +& 5+ + + + %

Tseitlin Mark Finkel Alexander Beersheba 1996 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + +p+& 5+ v l +r+p% 4 + + + z P$ 3+ +k+ z P # 2R+ + z PK+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

4 ++k+rz v l t RP +$ 3+ # 2 + + + +" 1+ + m K + ! xabcdefghy 73... xg3? Leading to a drawn position, while 73...Lc3+ 74.Kd1 Re3 75.Rf1 Ld2 76.g4 Re2 would have mated in 22 moves! 74. f1 e3 75. h1 e5 76. f1 f3+ 77. g2 77.Ke1? Kd3 78.Kd1 (78.Rg1 Rf5 79.Rh1 Lg3+ 80.Kd1 Rb5 81.Kc1 Lf4+

82.Kd1 Rb1 #) 78...Lf4 79.Re1 Ld2 80.Rg1 Rf2 81.Rg3+ Le3 82.Ke1 Rf4 83.Rh3 Ra4 84.Kf1 Rg4 85.Rh1 Kd2 86.Rh2+ Kd1 –+. 77... f2+ 78. h3 f3 79. h4 f4 80. h3? 80.Kh5! =. 80... f5! 81. h4 f4? 81...Rf3! 82.Kh5 Rd3 83.Kh6 Rd7 84.Rh5+ Kf6 85.Rh4 Rd8 86.Kh7 Kf7 – +. 82. h3! g2 83. h1? 83.Ra3 =. 83... a2! 84. h3 g5 85. g1+ h5 86.Rg2 Ra3+ –+. 0–1 A trick to be remembered can be seen in the next example. A theoretical drawn position doesn’t always lead to the desired draw - the human factor has an important role to play and unfortunately humans tend to err… Well, nobody is perfect in this ‘ugly’ and cruel world - it’s a blunderful world by any means!


A drawn position but not all moves lead to Rome... 69. f1? 69.Kg1 was good enough. 69... xf2! 70. g2 Black won an important pawn as White could hardly go for 70.Rxf2 Ke3! 71.Rxf5 gxf5 72.Kg2 Ke2 –+. 70... b6 71. b2 d4 72. a2 73. e2+ e3 74. a2 d5 75. a4+ 76. f3 d4 77. a3 e5 0–1

e4 f5

Leko Peter Topalov Veselin Dortmund 2002 ● □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8R+ + + +( 7+ + +kz p ' 6 + + z p +& 5+ + z p +p% 4 + + t r P$ z 3+ v L +Pm K # 2 + + +P+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 83

In this example, the bishop is the ‘correct’ one, nonetheless the technique of winning such endings is perfectly shown by P.Leko. White should recruit his king by any means, to attack and capture Black's only real weak spot - the g7-pawn. 53... c4 54. d2 White's position is technically winning, but P.Leko plays cautiously not to spoil the deserved point. 54... g6 The rook exchange almost always favours the stronger side. If Black defends his 2nd rank with 54...Rc7, then follows 55.Le3 Rd7 56.Ra7 +–. 55. a7 d4 56. e3 c4 57. b7 c3 58. d2 c2 59. a5 a2 60. d8 a8 61. b6 c8 62. c7 b8 63. c5 Now Black should always guard the f8square, so his rook must stay passive, allowing the white king to enter the battle. 63... e8 64. f2 h8 65. e3 a8 66. d3 a4 Also there is no rescue after 66... Ra5 67.Lf8 (67.g4 hxg4 68.fxg4 Ra4 69.Lf8 Rxg4 70.Rxg7+ Kh5 71.Rh7+ Kg6 72.Rh6+ +/–) 67...Ra8 68.Lxg7! (68.Rxg7+?! Kh6 69.Rg3+! [69.Rg8+ Kh7 70.Rg7+ Kh6 71.Rf7+ Kg6 =] 69...Rxf8 70.Ke4 +/–) 68...Rd8+ (68...Rg8 69.Ke4 Rxg7 70.Rxg7+ Kxg7 71.Kf5 Kf7 72.g3! Kg7 73.g4 hxg4 74.Kxg4! Kg6 75.h5+ Kh6 76.Kf5 +–) 69.Ke3! Rg8 70.Ke4 Rxg7 (70...Ra8 71.Lxf6 Kxf6 72.Rc6+ Kg7 73.Kxe5 +–) 71.Rxg7+ Kxg7 72.Kf5 Kf7 73.g3 +–. 67.g3 67.Lf8 Rxh4 68.Rxg7+ Kf5 69.Rh7 seems good, but there is no need for exchanges. 67... a8 67...Ra1 loses to 68.Ke4 Rc1 (68...Re1+ 69.Kd5 Rf1 70.Ke6 Rxf3 71.Lf8 +–) 69.Ld6 Rd1 70.Lf8 Rd8 71.Rxg7+ (71.Lxg7 Rg8 72.g4 +–) 71...Kh6 72.Kf5 Rxf8 73.Rg6+ Kh7 74.Rxf6 Rg8 75.Rf7+ Kh8 (75...Kh6 76.g4) 76.g4 e4 77.g5! exf3 78.g6 Rg7 79.Rf8+ Rg8 80.Rf6 Re8 81.Kg5 +–. 68. e4 h8 69. d5


69.f4 exf4 70.gxf4 Ra8 71.f5+ Kh7 72.Ld4 is an alternative win. 69... d8+ 70. e6 White has achieved his purpose. The end is near. 70... a8 71. d6 e8+ 72. e7 a8 73. b7 a6+ 74. d6 a8 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8r+ + + +( 7+R+ p ' 6 + v L+ Kz pz k+& 5+ + z p +p% 4 + + + z P$ 3+ + +Pz P # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 75.f4! With the aim of winning the f7-square for his king. 75...exf4 76.gxf4 a6 76...Ra5 77.f5+ Kh7 78.Lf8 Re5+ 79.Kf7 Rd5 80.Re7! +– and not 80.Lxg7?? Rd7+ 81.Rxd7 =. 77. d7 a8 77...f5 78.Ke7 Ra8 79.Le5 +–. 78.f5+ h7 79. f7 a4 80. f8 g4 81. xg7! The final touch: 81...Rxg7+ 82.Ke6 Rxd7 83.Kxd7 (distant opposition) 83...Kg8 84.Ke7 Kg7 85.Ke6 +–. 1–0

Bareev Evgeny Morozevich Alexander Monte Carlo 2002 ● Finally, a nice example which once more proves that the king is an important piece and should be recruited in the battle. Black correctly attacked with all his pieces White's □ ■

84

most vulnerable spot, the g2-pawn and he is about to harvest...

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + +R+( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + + +& 5+ + +p+ %

Exercises To complete this research into this very interesting subject, here are eleven related positions which will help you to practice the knowledge that was just presented. The reader already has got an enormous

4 ++l+P+ + z p P$ z 3+ # 2 + + m kPm K" 1+ +r+ + ! xabcdefghy

training from the previous 25 examples, so it shouldn’t be that difficult to try to solve the next 11! If it is still difficult, the solutions will be enough to help enlighten!

80... f1?! 80...Rg1! was immediately decisive: 81.h5 Lf1 82.h6 Lxg2 –+. 81. g5 There is also no way out for White after 81.h5 Rd6 82.Kh3 Rh6 83.Kh4 (83.Rg5 Ld3 84.Kh4 Rh7 85.Rg6 Lf1 –+) 83...Lxg2 84.Kg5 Rh7 85.h6 Kxf3

8 +R+ + +( 7+L+ +pm kp' 6 + + +p+& 5+ + + + % 4 + t r + +$ 3+ + + +P# 2 + + +Pm K" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

86.Kg6 Rd7 87.h7 Rxh7 88.Kxh7 Kf2 89.Kg6 Le4 90.Kg5 f3 –+ or after 81. Ra8 Rd6 82.Ra2+ Le2 83.Kh3 Rg6 –+. 81... d6 82.h5 h6 0–1

Conclusion The ending is more difficult than it seems at first sight and can cause headaches to the stronger side. Some advice can be generated after the examination of the above examples: 1. The king of the superior (sometimes of the weaker as well!) side should play an important role, assisting the rest of his army. 2. The placement of the rook pawns is of great importance (in general). 3. The defending side should try to preserve the rooks on the board, in order to try to achieve counterplay by attacking the enemy pawns. 4. But of course, when the rook pawn of his opponent has moved, then he should most often exchange them and go for the drawing mechanisms.


1ABCDEFGH○

2ABCDEFGH●

8 + + + m k( 7+ + + z p ' 6 + + +Rz p& 5+ 4 v l+ ++ z P+P% +$ 3t r + + z P # 2 + + +K+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 85

3ABCDEFGH●

6ABCDEFGH●

8 + + + +( 7+ + + z pk' 6 + + + +& 5+ + + t R % 4 + + + z P$

8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + +p+& 5+ + +k+ % 4 +r+l+R+$

3+r+ PK# 2 + ++ v lz +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 4ABCDEFGH● 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + +p+& 5+ + + +p% 4 + + z P +$ 3+ + +kz PK# 2 +r+ v l P" z 1t R + + + ! xabcdefghy

3++++++Pm +P# 2 K" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 7ABCDEFGH● 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 t r + + z p& 5+ + + + % 4 + m k + +$ 3+ + +R+P# 2 + v l z PK+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

5ABCDEFGH●

8ABCDEFGH●

8 + + + +( 7+ + + m kp' 6 t R + + +& 5t r + +P+ % 4 + + +K+$ 3+ v l + + # 2 + + + z P" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy Trivial Endings - Revealing the Secrets

8 + + + +( 7+R+ +pm k ' 6 + + +p+& 5+ + + +p% 4r+ + + +$ 3+ + m KL+P# 2 + + +P+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 86

9ABCDEFGH●

Solutions

8 + + + +( 7+ + t R z p ' 6r+ + + z p& 5+ + + + % 4 + v l + z P$

Exercise 1 (Page 85): Kasparov GarryShirov Alexei Linares 2000 Solution: 35.g4?! 35.Rc7 +–. 35...h5! 36.g5? 36.gxh5 gxh5 37.Kg3 +–. 36...h4 37. c7 f4 37...Rd2+ 38.Lg2 Ra2 39.Rc4 Ra5 40.Rg4 Rf5 41.Le4 Ra5 42.Kg2 Rc5 43.Kf2 Ra5 44.Ke3 Ra3+ 45.Ld3 Ra5 46.Kf4 Ra3 47.Lf1 f6 48.gxf6+ Kxf6 49.Ke4 +/–. 38. c8 f2+ 39. g1 f4? [39...Rf3 = ; 39...Re2 40.Rc4 Re5 =. 40. g2 f8 41. g4 g7 42. c5 f8 43. f3 g7 43...Ra4 44.Kf2 Ra3 45.Ke2 Kg8 46.Rc4 Ra5 47.Rg4 Kf8 48.Ke3 Kg7 49.Rg1 Ra4 50.Rh1! Rb4 51.Le4 Ra4 52.Kf4 Rb4 53.Re1 Rb3 54.Kg4 +–. 44. f2 a4 45. e3 a3+ 46. f4 a4+ 47. e5 a3 48. d5 e3+ 48...Rxh3 49.Rc7 Re3+ 50.Kf4 Re2 51.Rxf7+ Kh8 52.Lf3 Rb2 d3 53.Kg4 Rb4+ 54.Kh3 +–. 49. f4 50. c4 d7 51. c6 e7 52. f6 52...Rc7 53.Ld5 Rd7 54.Ke5 Ra7 55.Rxf7+ Rxf7 56.Lxf7 Kxf7 57.Kd6 Kf8 58.Ke6 Kg7 59.Ke7 +–. 1–0

3+ ++k+ P # 2 + z Pz K+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 0ABCDEFGH○ 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + v l + +& 5+ + + +p% 4 + + +kz P$ 3+ + + z P # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + m K ! xabcdefghy 1ABCDEFGH○

8 + + + +( 7+ + +pm k ' 6 + t r +p+& 5+R+L+ +p% 4 + m K + +$ 3+ + + z P # 2 + + + z P" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

Exercise 2 (Page 85): Polugaevsky LevPortisch Lajos Portoroz 1973 Solution: 42... e1 43. h3 g8 44. g2 f7 45. h3 e3! 46. g2 e6 47. g4 47.Rxe6 Kxe6 48.Kf3 Kd5 49.g4 Ld2 – a2+ 49. h3 f2 +. 47... a6 48. h4 50. g4 a5 51. g2 d4 52. h4 f6 53. h1 a1 54. h3 54...Ke6 55.Kf3 Kf5 56.g4+ Ke6 –+. 0–1 Exercise 3 (Page 86): Padevsky NikolaErmenkov Evgenij Varna 1973 Solution: 1... a7 2. g2 b8 3. h2 b6 4. h5+ h6 5. b5 d6 5...Rxh4+? g6 7. b3 g8 8. f3 6.Kg2 =. 6. h3 f6 9. b3 f7 10. b7+ e7 11. a7 e6 12. b7 f3 13. b5 d3 14. a5 f6 15. a4 d4 16. a6+ f5! 17. a4 d1! 18. a5+ e5 19. a3 h1+ 20. g2 c1 21. a4 c3 22.g4+ e6 23.h5 g3+ 24. f2 d3 25.g5 h3 0–1 Exercise


4

(Page

86):

Kenez

Pal-

87

Meleghegyi Csaba Hungary 1973 Solution: 1...h4!! 2. a3+ 2.gxh4 Kxf4 3.Ra6 Kf5 4.Ra5+ Lc5 –+ ; 2.Ra6 hxg3 3.hxg3 Rc5 4.g4 Rc8 –+. 2... e3 3. xh4 c5! 4.g4 xf4 5. h3 5.Ra4+ Kf3 6.Ra3 Rc2 7.h3 Rc5 –+. 5... f3 5...Kf3 6.Ra8 Rc7 7.Rh8 Lf4 8.Kh4 Rc2 9.h3 Rc5 10.Rf8 Rh5+ 11.gxh5 g5 #. 0–1 Exercise 5 (Page 86): Thorsteins KarlDreev Alexey Kiljava 1984 Solution: 41... a4+ 42. h5 f6 43. b7+ g8 44. b8+ f7 45. b7+ e7 46.f6 xf6 47. b3 g7 48. g3+ h8 49. h3 e4 50. h6 e5 51. f3 c5 51...Re6+ 52.Kh5 Re4 53.Rh3 Rf4 54.Kh6 Rf5 –+. 0–1 Exercise 6 (Page 86): Timoscenko Gennadij-Beliavsky Alexander Tbilisi 1978 Solution: 56... c3 57. g1 e5 58. h2 f5 59. h4 c2 60. g1 b2 61. f1 g5! 62. a4 d3+ 63. g1 e4 64. a5+ f4 65.g3+ e3 66. a3+ e2 0–1 Exercise 7 (Page 86): Cebalo MisoMikhalchishin Adrian Ptuj 1995 Solution: 57... e4 58. a3 g6+ 59. g3 f4 61. a3 g6+ 62. f1 c6 60. f3 e5 63. e3+ f4 64. g3 d6 65. g2 f5 66. f3+ f4 67. a3 g6+ 68. f1 h2 69. e2 g1 70. d3 g5 71. d1! xd1 72. xd1 f4 73. e2 h5 74. f1 f3 75.h4 ½–½ Exercise 8 (Page 87): Mukhitdinov Akmalkhon-Krogius Nikolai Soviet Union 1957 Solution: 1... a1 2. d5 f1 3. e4 f6 4.g4 hxg4 5.hxg4 f2 6. c4 g5 6...Rf6 7.g5 Rf2 8.Rxf7+ Rxf7 9.Lxf7 Kxf7 10.Kd5 Ke7 11.Ke5 Kf7 12.Kd6b+–. 7. e3 f4 8. e6 f1 9. f5 f6 10. b5 f4 11. c5 a4 12. e4 1–0

66. f7 f2 67.f4 f3 68. c7 c2 69. d7 d2 70. c7 d4 71. b7 d1 72. b3+ e3 73. h2 e1 74. b7 f2 74...Lg1+ 75.Kh3 Lb6 76.Kh2 Rb1 77.Rxg7 Rb2+ 78. Kh3 Lg1 –+. 75. xg7 g1+ 0–1 Exercise 10 (Page 87): DombrowskaLissowska Anna Warsaw 1988 Solution: 72. g1? 72.Kh2! Kf3 73.Kh3 Lc5 74.Kh2 Ld4 75.Kh1! = (75.Kh3? Lg1 76.g4 hxg4 #). 72... h3! 73.Kf1 (73.Kh1 Lc5 74.g4 hxg4 –+) 73...Kh2 or 73...Lc5 –+. 0–1 Exercise 11 (Page 87): Suba MihaiGurevich Dmitry Eksjo 1982 Solution: 45. b3 45.Rb7 Rf6 46.h3 Rf1 47.Ke4 Rf6 48.g4 hxg4 49.hxg4 Rf1 (49...g5 50.Ke5 Rf4 51.Le6 Rf6 52.Lf5 Ra6 53.Rb5 Rc6 54.Le4 Rf6 55.Kd4 Kh6 56.Rf5 Rd6+ 57.Ld5 Kg6 58.Kc5 Rd7 59.Kc6 Re7 60.Lb3 Ra7 61.Lc4 Re7 62.Ld5 Ra7 63.Kd6 Ra6+ 64.Ke7 Ra7+ 65.Kf8 f6 66.Le4 +–) 50.Lc4 Rf6 51.g5 Rf5 52.Rxf7+ Rxf7 53.Lxf7 Kxf7 54.Kd5 +–. 45... a6 46. f3 a7 47. f2 d7 48. c5 a7 49. c6 f5 50. d6 f6 51. e2 g5 52. e6 g7 53. e5 g4 54. a6 h3 54...Kg5 55.Ra4 Re7+ 56.Le6 +–. 55. a2 h4 56. f6 c7 57.gxh4 xh4 58. xg6 c5 59. e6 c1 60. xf5 f1+ 61. e5 e1+ 62. f6 1–0

Efstratios Grivas

Exercise 9 (Page 86): Honfi Karoly-Gufeld Eduard Kislovodsk 1968 Solution: 59... f6 59...Ra2! 60.Rf7 g5 – +. 60.f3 f5 61. d7 b5 62. e7 e5 63. d7 e2+ 64. h3 e3 65.h5 c3


88

Training in Typical Endgame Motifs Concept The vast majority of opening books concentrate on the first 15-20 moves (if you are lucky enough to remember them!), trying to show the right handling of the opening in question. But then comes chaos, as the reader is not really well armed on how to handle the typi-

f5 8.

cal middlegame motifs or, even worse, the endgame pawn structure types and typical endgame motifs. In my opening book Beating the Fianchetto Defences, I started the presentation of each opening with an examination of typical endgames, then I went on to present typical middlegame ideas and only then did I discuss the opening ‘theory’. In this way I believe that the reader would be fully armed for the coming lengthy battle. Many low-rated players are trying to win in the opening, believing that their chosen opening variations are ‘strong’ or simply that their opponent has no good answers…

5+ P+ n++$ % 4 +++z 3+ s N +N+ # 2Pz PP+ z PPz P" 1t R v L +Rm K ! xabcdefghy

xd8+

xd8 9.

c3

e8 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8r+l+kv l r( t 7z ppz p +pz pp' 6 +p+ + +&

10. e2 This is considered to be a side line. More common is 10.h3, for example: 10...h5 11.Lg5 Le6 12.Rfd1 Le7 13.g3 f6 14.exf6 gxf6 15.Lf4 Rc8 16.Kh2 Kf7 17.Rd2 Rcd8 18.Rxd8 Lxd8 19.Rd1

Well, the truth is that many things in chess theory, as in life, are relative and a matter of taste. Actually there are no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ openings. There are openings that you know and understand, and openings that you do not know and do not understand. In this chapter we will examine an endgame of the very popular ‘Berlin Wall’ of the ‘Ruy Lopez’. The game was played in the semi-final phase of the FIDE Women World Championship 2010, and it gave Hou Yifan the ticket to the final, where she was able to win it, becoming the FIDE Women World Champion.

Re8 20.Nd4 Nxd4 21.Rxd4 Lf5 22.Rd2 Le7 23.Nd1 Rd8 24.Rxd8 Lxd8 25.Ne3 Le4 26.g4 hxg4 27.hxg4 Le7 28.Lxc7 Lc5 29.c3 Lxe3 30.fxe3 Ke6 31.Kg3 a6 32.Kf4 Lc2 33.e4 Ld1 34.a3 Le2 35.Lb6 Ld1 36.Ld4 Le2 37.Le3 Ld1 38.Ld4 Le2 39.Le3 Ld1 ½–½ Anand,V-

□ ■

25.g3 g6 26.Kg2 Re7 27.f4 Ke8 28.f5 gxf5 29.Rh6 c6 30.Nxc6 Re6 31.Rxe6+ fxe6 32.Rd6 Lc7 33.Rxe6+ Kd7 34.Rh6 Re8 35.Kf3 Re6 36.Rxe6 Kxe6 37.Kf4 a5 38.Nd4+ Kd5 39.Nf3 Ke6 40.Kg5 Ld8+ 41.Kh6 Kd5 42.Kxh7 Ke4 43.Kg6 1–0 Gashimov,V-Carlsen,M Nice 2010 or for 10...Ne7 11.h3 Ng6 12.b3 h6 13.Lb2 c5 14.Rad1 Le6 15.Nc3 Le7 16.Nd5

Hou Yifan Koneru Humpy C67 Antakya 2010 1.e4 e5 2. f3 c6 3. b5 f6 The 'Berlin Defence' is quite the fashion at the moment. Black was hoping to gain a more or less easy (or difficult) draw with the black pieces and then try her chances with the white ones. 4.0–0 xe4 5.d4 d6 6. xc6 dxc6 7.dxe5


Kramnik,V London 2010. 10... e7 Black has also gone either for 10...c5 11.Nf4 b6 12.Nd5 Kd7 13.Ng5 Kc6 14.c4 Le6 15.Rd1 Nd4 16.Le3 Lxd5 17.cxd5+ Kxd5 18.Rac1 Le7 19.Nf3 Ld8 20.Lxd4 cxd4 21.Rxd4+ Ke6 22.Rc6+ Ke7 23.Rd5 Re8 24.Nd4 Kf8

89

Ld8 17.c4 a5 18.a4 c6 19.Nc3 Le7 20.Ne4 Rd8 21.Rfe1 Rxd1 22.Rxd1 Nf4 23.La3 b6 24.Nd6+ Kf8 25.Kf1 g5 26.Lc1 Kg7 27.Lxf4 gxf4 28.Nd2 Lxd6 29.exd6 Rd8 30.Ne4 f5 31.Nc3 Kf6 32.Ke2 Lf7 33.d7 Lh5+ 34.f3 Ke6 35.Ke1 Lf7 36.Ne2 Ke5 37.Nc1 Le6 38.Nd3+ Kf6 39.Nxf4 Lxd7 40.Kf2 Ke7 41.Ng6+ Ke6 42.f4 Rb8 43.g4 Le8 44.Nh4 fxg4 45.hxg4 b5 46.Nf5 bxa4 47.bxa4 Rb4 48.Rd6+ Kf7 49.Rxh6 Rxa4 50.g5 Kg8 51.Nd6 Lf7 52.Nxf7 Kxf7 53.f5 Rxc4 54.Kf3 Rb4 55.Rh7+ Kg8 56.g6 1–0 Efimenko,Z-Malakhov,V Khanty Mansiysk 2010. Black's choice seems more solid. 11.b3 a5 12.a4 12.Lb2 a4 13.Nf4 h5 14.Rfe1 Le6 was probably not much, as in Oll,L-Dautov,R Tbilisi 1985. 12... e6 13. b2 h5 This is a novelty. Previously 13... Rd8 was seen: 14.Rad1 (14.Nf4 h5 15.Rad1 Rxd1 16.Rxd1 g5 17.Nxe6 fxe6 18.Lc1 += Sokolov,A-Salov,V Bukhara 1981) 14...Ld5 15.Nfd4 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 Rg8 17.Rfe1 Lb4 18.c3 Lc5 19.c4 Lxd4 20.Rxd4 Le6 21.Red1 ½–½ Marini,LMaderna,C Mar del Plata 1950. But probably the assessment of the position doesn’t change much… 14. fd4 xd4 15. xd4 d8 16. xe6 fxe6 17. ad1 f7 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + t r + t r( 7+pz p lkz v p ' 6 +p+p+ +& 5z p + z P +p% 4P+ + + +$ 3+P+ + + # 2 v LP+ z PPz P" 1+ +R+Rm K ! xabcdefghy This is a notorious endgame, where Black


usually holds the draw, as it is not easy for White to benefit from her healthy kingside pawn majority. A good analysis of this ending (in general) can be found in FIDE/TRG Yearbook 2010, by Alexander Beliavsky. 18.g3 b4 19. g2 The white king must be activated on e4... 19... d2 20. f3 d5 21. e2 But first has to defend some vulnerable spots! 21... hd8 22.c4 5d7 23. c1 c3 23...Lxc1 is good enough for the draw: 24.Rxd7+ Rxd7 25.Rxc1 Kg6!. 24. xd7+ xd7 25.f4 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+pz pr+kz p ' 6 +p+p+ +& 5z p + z P +p% 4P+P+ z P +$ 3+Pv l + P z # 2 P"! 1++ v L+K+ +R+z xabcdefghy 25...g6? This is really passive. With the active 25...Kg6! Black would have limited trouble to hold the draw: 26.h3 Kf5 27.g4+ hxg4 28.hxg4+ Ke4. 26. f3 b4 27. d3! xd3 28. xd3 e7 Koneru thought that this position was solid enough for a draw, but White has a kingside majority, more space, and a more active king. Keeping the king passive with 25...g6?

was not a good idea. 29. e3 c5 29...b6 looks solid enough and although Black will suffer for a long time, her chances to draw seem to be rather good. But this is not the case! After 30.c5! Ld8 (30...b5 31.b4! +–) 31.h3 Ke8 32.g4 hxg4 33.hxg4 Kf7 34.Ke4 Ke8 35.f5 gxf5+ 36.gxf5 exf5+ (36...Kf7 37.f6 Kg6 38.Kf4 90

Kh6 39.Kg4+ Kg6 40.Ld2 +–) 37.Kxf5 b5 (37... Kd7 38.e6+ Ke8 39.Ld4 b5 40.b4 +–) 38.Ld2 b4 39.Lxb4! axb4 40.Ke4 Kd7 41.Kd4 Lg5 42.a5 Kc8 43.Kc4 +– White wins as well. 30. e4 b6 31. f3 f8 32.g4 White makes her life more difficult! Good training means to know well how to win technical positions: 32.h3! Le7 33.g4 Lf8 34.Ke4 and now: a) If Black refrains from capturing on g4 with 34...Le7, then White wins by 35.gxh5 gxh5 36.f5 c6 37.Lc1 Lh4 38.Lh6! (a position from the game Howell,D-Parker,J Nottingham 2005) 38...Ke7 (38...Le1 39.Lg5 +–) 39.Kf4 Kd7 40.Lf8 Le1 41.Kg5 Lg3 42.Kf6 +–. b) 34...hxg4 35.hxg4 Le7 36.Lf2! (36.f5? gxf5+ 37.gxf5 Lh4 38.Kf4 Le1! gives Black counterplay) 36...Ld8 37.Kf3 Le7 38.Kg3 Ld8 39.Kh3 c6 (39...Le7 40.Lh4 +–) 40.Lh4 Lc7 41.Lf6 Kg8 42.Kh4 Kf7 43.Kg5 b5 44.Kh6! (a winning plan that was first seen in Dominguez,C-Visconti Buenos Aires 1959) 44...Lb6 45.Kh7 Lc7 46.Lh4! Lb6 47.Lf2 bxa4 48.bxa4 La7 49.g5 Lb6 50.Le3 La7 51.f5! exf5 52.Lf4 Lb6 53.e6+ Kxe6 54.Kxg6 +–. 32... e7 33. g3 c6 34. h3 d8 35. f2! The typical plan; the white bishop must occupy the h1-d8 diagonal in order to attack the black queenside pawn base on b6. 35... c7 36. h4 hxg4+ 36...Ke8 37.Lf6 Kf7 38.Kh4 makes no difference. 37. xg4 g7 38. f6+ f7 39. h4 g7 40. f6+ f7 41. g5 b5 The only move. If the black king moves, she loses the g6-pawn and if the bishop moves, then 42.Ld8 follows. Black has now at her disposal the moves ...Lb6-c7, but the black queenside pawns become vulnerable. 42. h6 bxa4 43.bxa4 b6 (D) (see next diagram) 44. e7? Correct idea but wrong execution! Before she goes for this trick, she should have inserted 44.h4!, an important tempo as can be seen by the analysis: 44...Lc7 45.Kh7 Lb6


46.Le7! Kxe7 (46...La7 47.Ld8 +–) 47.Kxg6 Kf8 (47...Ld8 48.Kg7 +–) 48.h5 Ld8 49.h6 Kg8 50.h7+ Kh8 51.Kf7 Kxh7 52.Kxe6 Kg7 53.Kd6 +–. 44... c7?

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +k+ ' 6pv lz p+pv pm K% & 5z p z P L+ 4P+P+ z P +$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + + z P" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy And Black immediately returns the favour! She should have captured the bishop and then some precise moves guarantee the draw: 44...Kxe7! 45.Kxg6 Ld8 46.h4 Kf8 47.h5 Kg8 48.h6 (48.f5 exf5 49.Kxf5 Kg7 50.Ke6 Lc7 =) 48...Lh4 49.h7+ Kh8 50.Kf7 Kxh7 51.Kxe6 Kg7 52.Kd7 Kf8 53.e6 (53.f5 Lg3 54.e6 Lh4 55.Kxc6 Kg7! [55...Le7? 56.Kb5 Ld8 57.Kxc5 Ke7 58.Kd5! Kf6 59.c5 +–] 56.Kxc5 Le7+ 57.Kb5 Kf6 =) 53...Lf6 54.f5 Le7 55.Kxc6 Kg7 56.Kb6 Kf6 57.Kxa5 Kxf5 58.Kb6 Ld8+ (58...Kxe6? 59.Kc7! +–) 59.Kxc5 Kxe6 60.Kb5 Kd7 61.a5 Lxa5 62.Kxa5 Kc6 =. 45. xc5 White won a pawn and now, with some precise technique, the game. 45... d8 46. f2 e7 47.c5! f8+ 48. g5 e7+ 49. g4 e8 50. e1 xc5 Black has no real option. The alternative 50...Ld8 loses to 51.Lh4 Lc7 52.Lf6 Kf7 53.Kg5 Lb8 54.Ld8 La7 55.Lb6 +–. 51. xa5 e7 52. f3 52.h4 Kf7 53.Ld2 Ld8 54.a5 Lc7 55.h5 Kg7 56.hxg6 Kxg6 57.f5+! exf5+ 58.Kf4 Ld8 59.a6 Lb6 60.Lc3 also wins. But White is in no hurry; she can afford to play 91

around! 52... d7 53. e4 c5 54. d3 c6 55. c4 h4 56. d2 f2 57.h3 g1 58. c1 58.f5 is another tactical win: 58...gxf5 (58...exf5 59.e6 Lh2 60.a5 +–) 59.h4 Lh2 60.h5 Lxe5 61.h6 f4 62.a5 f3 63. Le3 +–. 58... f2 59. d2 g1 60. d3 f2 61. e3 e1 62. c4 b4 63. f2 b6 64. e3 c6 65. g1 b6 66. f2 c6 67. h4 d2 68. g5 e1 69. e7 f2 The alternative 'defence' was 69...Lb4 when White wins by 70.Lf8! (70.Ld8 Ld2!) 70...Kb6 71.Ld6! Kc6 72.Le7 Kb6 73.a5+! Kxa5 (73...Lxa5 74.Ld8+ +–) 74.Lxc5 Ld2 75.Ld4! Lxf4 76.Kc5 +–. 70.a5 e3 71. g5 f2 72.h4 g3 73.a6 f2 74.h5! gxh5 75.f5 exf5 76.e6 g3 77.e7 d7 78.a7 1–0 I am sure that Hou had a good knowledge of the two mentioned games. Maybe she couldn’t remember exactly the moves, but… Howell David Parker Jonathan Nottingham 2005 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +k+ ' 6 z pp+p+p+& 5z p z p Pz +p% 4P+P+ z PPv l$ 3+ + +K+P# 2 z P v L + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 31. e4 e7 Black retains the h-pawns, trying to prevent the white bishop’s penetration on d8, since the white king cannot get to g4. It does not work anyway. 31...hxg4 32.hxg4 Lf2 33.f5 gxf5+ 34.gxf5 Lh4 35.Kf4 Lf2 36.b3 Lh4 37.Kg4 Ld8 38.Lg5 Lc7 39.Kf4 (zugzwang) 39...exf5 40.Kxf5 Ke8 41.e6 Kf8 42.Lf4 Ld8 43.Ld6+ Ke8 44.Ke4


(zugzwang) 44...Lh4 45.Lc7 Ke7 46.Kf5 +–. 32.gxh5 gxh5 33.f5 f7 34.b3 e7 35. h6 f7 36. f4 e1 37. e4 h4 38. e3 e7 39. g1 g3 40. e3 h4 41. c1 f7 42. h6 e7 43. f4 d7 44. f8 e1 45. g5 g3 46. f6 exf5 47. xf5 h4 48. f6 e8 49. d6 d7 50. f7 d8 51. b8 c8 52.e6 xb8 53.e7 c7 54.e8 1–0 □ ■

Dominguez Christobal Visconti Buenos Aires 1959 ●

XABCDEFGHY 8 + v l + +( 7z pp+ +k+ ' 6 +p+p+p+& 5+ z p Pz + % 4 + + z PP+$ 3+ + +K+ # 2Pz PPv L + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy This is one of the oldest examples of this type of endgame in the databases. 26...a6 27.c4 Common sense was honoured in the year 1959. 27...b5 28.b3 b4 Black prevents the white king from travelling to a4 after an eventual trade on c4; he had little choice… 29. e3 b6 30. f2 e7 31. h4+ f7 32. f6 c7 33. g3 b6 34. f2 f8 35. f1 f7 36. g1 f8 37. h2 f7 38. h3 f8 39. h4 Black resigned: 39...Kf7 40.Kg5 Lc7 41.Kh6 Lb6 42.Lh4 Lc7 43.Lf2 Lb6 44.Kh7 La7 45.g5 Lb6 46.Lg1 La7 47.f5 exf5 48.e6+ Kxe6 49.Kxg6 Lb8 50.Kh7 Le5 51.g6 f4 52.g7 Lxg7 53.Kxg7 f3 54.Kf8 Ke5 55.Ke7 Ke4 56.Kd6 Kd3 57.Kxc6 Kc2 58.Kxc5 Kb2 59.Kxb4. 1–0 92

A Curious Queen Ending Concept Queen endings are among the most difficult and at the same time interesting types of ending. The difficulty lies in the usually immense number of variations and moves that occur due to the corresponding mobility of the most powerful chess piece, the queen.

Black has an extra pawn. In any other type of ending (e.g. a rook ending) his win would be in serious doubt. In a queen ending, however, a material advantage of one pawn can prove decisive. 43.f3 h5 44.h4 White cannot really do without this move. If instead he follows a waiting policy, after

The rules that govern queen endings are many and significant. The side with the advantage, either a material or a positional one, has several ways in which to seek victory, such as a direct attack aiming at checkmate, the exploitation of a passed pawn, the constant pressure on a weak pawn structure or, finally, the conversion of a material plus. The defending side mainly has one single aim, perpetual check, although it is not necessarily unique. In this specific type of ending, we encounter certain special characteristics, brought to the fore by the great power of the queen. Thus, the problem of the defending side delivering perpetual check is

44.Qb2 g5 45.g4 h4 46.Qb1 Qc5 Black will penetrate to the important f4- and g3squares, while his king will assist as well. 44... c5 45. d2 f6 The black king must assist the ...d5 advance. 46. g5+ e6 47.g4 A logical push. White seeks pawn exchanges, hoping to eventually reach a drawn queen & pawn vs. queen ending. Although it gives Black a future king path to the kingside, if White refrains from this advance, then Black will organize a future ...f5 break. 47... c2+ 48. f1 hxg4 49. xg4+ e7 50. g5+ e8 51.h5 Otherwise the h-pawn will remain weak.

not the only one facing the attacker. In this chapter, we will examine a notoften-met queen ending; 5:4 on the same side with a backward extra pawn! It is difficult to solve these at the board…

51...gxh5 52. g8+ e7 53. g5+ d7 54. f5+ e8 55. xh5 White has managed to keep the game close to a draw, but there is still a long way ahead in order to achieve this result. It is of great importance that Black's remaining pawns are central. If we move all the pawns two files to the right, then a draw would be most natural, as the black king has entrance squares only from one side. 55... d1+ 56. f2 d2+ 57. f1 e7 Black will try to infiltrate White's lines with the king, initially via the kingside. Then he will exchange one more pawn (his d-pawn for the white e-pawn). Finally, the decisive

Rajkovic Dusan Skembris Spyridon Sofia 1986 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +pm kp' 6 +qz p +p+& 5+ + z p + % 4 + +P+ +$ 3+ + + z PP# 2Q+ + z PK+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy Trivial Endings - Revealing the Secrets

invasion will be accomplished via the queenside. This whole plan appears simple in its conception and fully realizable. Besides, Black is risking nothing, as it is impossible to lose. In contrast, White must be constantly vigilant. 58. h4+ d7 59. g4+ c7 60. g8 If 60.Qf5 then 60...Qa2!, but not 60...Qf4? 61.Qxf4 exf4 62.Ke2 Kc6 63.Kd3 Kc5 93

64.Kc3 f5 65.exf5 Kd5 66.f6 Ke6 67.Kd4 Kxf6 68.Kd5 =. 60... f4 61. e2 d5! The backward d-pawn is finally exchanged. 62.exd5 c4+ 63. e3 xd5 64. e8 d6 65. d8+ e6 66. e8+ f5 67. c8+ e6 68. c2+ g5 69. g2+ f6 70. b2 f5 71. b6+ g7 72. c7 f4+ 73. e2 g6 Black is on the right path. The black d-pawn has been exchanged, the queen's placement has been improved and the black king now sets off on its journey to the g3/g2 squares. 74. d6+ g5 75. f8 h4 76. g8 76.Qh8+ Kg3 77.Qg7+ Kh3 78.Kf2 f5 79.Qg6 Qd4+ is possible as well. 76...f6 77. h7+ g3 78. g7+ h3 79. g6! No help is provided by 79.Qh7+? Kg2 80.Qg6+ Qg3! 81.Qxf6 Qf2+!, as Black would win the resulting pawn ending. 79... c4+ 80. e3 c1+ 81. e2 f4 82. g7! It is important for White to keep the white king away from the vital g2-square. 82...f5 83. f2? White could defend with 83.Qg6! Qc4+ (83...Qg3 84.Qxf5+ Kg2 85.Qg4 =) 84.Kf2 Qd4+ 85.Ke2 Qf4 86.Kf2 Qd2+ 87.Kf1, when there is no way to improve... 83... d2+! 84. f1 c1+? Black wrongly tries to repeat the position in order to gain some time. He should directly go for 84...Qe3!. 85. f2? d2+ 86. f1 e3! (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + w Q ' 6 + + + +&

Now Black 'found' the correct way and slowly but steadily improves the placement of every one of his pieces. 87. g2+ h4 88. h2+ g5 89. g3+ f6 Since now the white queen is very passive, protecting her last pawn, Black commences the last stage of his plan: the infiltration of his king via the queenside. 90. h4+ e6 91. h5 91.Qc4+ Kd6 92.Qb4+ Qc5 93.Qd2+ Qd4 94.Qg5 Qd3+ 95.Kf2 Kc5. 91... d3+ 92. e1 d6 93. f2 d2+ 94. f1 c1+ 95. f2 c2+ 96. f1 f4! White's queen must now keep an eye on the f-pawn to prevent its loss. But how can a queen simultaneously protect a pawn, prevent mating threats and try to give perpetual check? Even for a queen this is too much to ask. 97. g4 h7 98. e2 b1 99. h5 c2+ 100. f1 d3+ 101. f2 e3+ 102. f1 c5 103. h3 b4 103...Qd3+ 104.Kf2 Qd2+ 105.Kf1 Kd4 is an easier line. 104. g4 c3 105. c8+ d2 106. a8 d3+ 107. f2 d4+ 108. g2 e3 Or 108...Ke1 109.Kh3 Kf2. 109. a3+ e2 110. a6+ The standard discovered check could occur after 110.Qa2+ Qd2 111.Qa8 Qc2! 112.Qa6+ (112.Qe8 e4) 112...Ke3+. 110... d3 111. c6 111.Qa2+ Ke1 112.Qf2+ Kd1 113.Qg1+ Kd2 and White has no useful move left. 111...e4! And White had to resign, due to 112.fxe4 f3+ 113.Kh2 f2. 0–1

5+ p+ p++$ % 4 +++z 3+ + w qP+k# 2 + + + +" 1+ + +K+ ! xabcdefghy Trivial Endings - Revealing the Secrets

94

Rook & 3 Pawns + a-pawn vs. Rook & 3 Pawns Concept Rook endings with three pawns on the same flank for each side and one extra passed a-pawn for one of the two players is often encountered in practice. There are many possible cases, but certain rules can be formulated to help us understand the finer points. The evaluation of the

Plans Basically, the superior side can choose between two plans in this type of endgame: 1. To move his pawn to a6 (a3) and then to move the king to the queenside, rescuing it from checks at a7 (a2). 2. To move his pawn as far as a7 (a2) and to try winning the opponent's pawn on the

position (won or drawn) depends first of all on the placement of the rooks and then on that of the pawns. Here we will look at cases where the 'Passive Rook' (in front of the pawn) of the superior side is to the fore. This is the most difficult category, as there are many sub-cases. In general this ending is considered drawn, but great care is required of the inferior side. It will usually conclude in an ending of rook vs. pawn(s), as the superior side succeeds in winning the enemy rook, but the opponent has already managed to capture at least one pawn on the kingside (other side).

kingside, using zugzwang. The latter plan may be efficient if the pawn structure is locked or the opponent’s king is misplaced. The former concept works if the weakest side does not succeed to eliminate, in timely fashion, one or two of the superior side's pawns on the kingside and to create a passed pawn, supported by its own king.

Some basic guidelines are as follows (referring to Black as the inferior side): 1. The inferior side must seek to create weaknesses in the opponent's pawn structure, so as to create counterplay by attacking them or creating a passed pawn. 2. The inferior side, if it cannot follow the above guideline, must keep its pawn structure healthy (pawns on f7, g6, h5). 3. The inferior side's rook must be permanently aimed at the pawn it will capture as soon as the enemy king abandons the kingside to head for the queenside. 4. The defending king must move on the squares e6, f6, f5, so as to be ready to attack the enemythe pawns. 5. When king of the superior side abandons his kingside pawns to assist his a-pawn, the defending rook must immediately (exceptions always exist!) capture the targeted pawn, so as to give its king enough time to achieve the draw.


Introduction Some basic knowledge must be gained: Example 1 - Study 1957 ● Levenfish Grigory & Smyslov Vassily

XABCDEFGHY 8R+ + + +( 7+ + + m k ' 6P+ + +p+& 5+ + +p+p% 4 + + z P P$ z 3t r + + z P # 2 + + m K +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy Here Blackeven is faced quite problems: after with gaining theunpleasant g3-pawn, he cannot activate his king, and creating a passed pawn is difficult, too. In addition, each initial move harms his position in some way, so he has to choose the least evil. Black nevertheless manages to hold by a correct defence. 1... f7! An attempt to force matters loses: 1...Ra2+? 95

2.Ke3 Ra3+ 3.Kd4 Rxg3 4.Rc8 Ra3 5.Rc7+ Kf6 6.a7 Ke6 7.Kc5 Ra1 8.Kb6 Rb1+ (8...Kd5 9.Rc5+ Ke4 10.Ra5) 9.Kc6 Ra1 10.Kb7 Kd5 11.a8Q Rxa8 12.Kxa8 Ke4 13.Rg7 Kxf4 14.Rxg6 Ke3 15.Rg5 +–. 1...Kh7?! is also dubious, as after 2.Ra7+! Kh6 3. Ke2 Rxg3 4.Rb7 Ra3 5.a7, the black king is poorly placed on h6. 2. e2 2.a7? Kg7 =. 2... g7! Black has to lose a tempo, because 2...Rxg3?? 3.a7 Ra3 4.Rh8 +– is bad. a3 5. b7+ f6 3. d2 xg3 4. b8 6. b6+ In case of 6.a7, the black king breaks loose: 6...Ke6 7.Kc2 Kd5 and if 8.Kb2 Ra6 9.Kb3 then 9...Kc5! =. 6... g7 7. c2 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + m k '

8...g5! A pawn sacrifice to create a passed pawn, Black's only resource, but a sufficient one. 8.fxg5 f4 9. d2 f3 10. b7+ g6 11.a7 a2+ 12. e1 f5 13. f7+ f6+


16... a4 17. xh5 a6! Forever imprisoning the white rook! ½–½ Example 2 - Study 1988 Kantorovich Vadim

○

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +(

6Pt R+++p+p% +p+& 5+ 4 + + z P P$ z 3t r + + + # 2 +K+ + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

13.Rg7 Re2+! 14.Kf1 Ra2 =. 13... g6 14. xf3 xa7 15. 16. h6 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7t r + + m k ' 6 + + + t R& 5+ + + z Pp% 4 + + + z P$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + + +" 1+ + m K + ! xabcdefghy

g7

7t R + ++p+ ' 6P+ m kp+& 5+ + + +p% 4 + + + z P$ 3+ + + z P # 2r+ + z P +" 1+ + m K + ! xabcdefghy This study by V.Kantorovich (1988) provides an illustration of this ending. White cannot cross the 3rd rank with his king (Black replies to Kf1-g2 with ...Ra3!) and is therefore obliged to immediately give up his f-pawn. 1. d1 xf2 2. b7 a2 3.a7 f5 4. c1 g4 5. b1 a6 6. b2 f5 Black can also play 6...Kxg3 7.Rb3+ Kxh4 8.Ra3 Rxa7 9.Rxa7 Kg3 10.Rxf7 h4 with a draw. 7. g7 h3! 8. b3 a1 8...f4 also leads to a draw: 9.gxf4 Kxh4 96

10.Kb4 Ra1 11.Kb5 Kh3 12.Kb6 Kg4 13.Rxg6+ Kxf4 14.Rg8 h4. 9. c7!? a6! And not 9...Kxg3? 10.Rc3+! Kxh4 11.Rc4+ and 12.Ra4, with immediate victory. 10. b4 a1 11. b5 xg3 12. c3+ g2 13. b6 f4 14. c5 xa7 15. xa7 f3 16. g5+ h3 ½–½

Basic Positions The J.Steckner & V.Poghosyan discoveries must be studied carefully: Example 3 - Study 2003 ○ Position: Steckner Johannes

XABCDEFGHY 8R+ + + +( 7+ + +p+ ' 6P+ + +p+& 5+ + +k+p% 4 + + + z P$ 3+ + m K z P # 2r+ + z P +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy The white king's position is clearly improved in comparison with the previous example, but the win is elusive. This position is very instructive and encompasses all the appropriate defensive methods. Note that Black's pieces are optimally placed: the rook holds the f-pawn in the cross hairs, while the king occupies the most active available square. 1. a7 An interesting try as after 1. Kd4 Rxf2 2.Rf8 Ra2 3.Rxf7+ Kg4; or 1.f3 Ra3+ 2.Kd4 Rxf3 3.Rf8 Ra3 4.Rxf7+ Kg4


5.Rf6 Kxg3 6.Rxg6+ Kxh4 7.Kc5 Kh3 8.Kb6 h4 the draw is quite near. 1...f6! 1...Kf6 has been considered a prelude to an easy draw for many years. However in 2003 the evaluation of this position was radically changed due to an excellent fifth move suggestion by J. Steckner: 2.Kd4 (2.Ra8? Kf5 3.f3 Ra3+ 4.Kd4 Rxf3 5.Rf8 Ra3 6.Rxf7+ Kg4 7.Rf6 Kxg3 8.Rxg6+ Kxh4 9.Kc5 Kh3 10.Kb6 h4 =) 2...Rxf2? (but then in 2011 V.Poghosyan proved that 2...g5!! draws as well!!) 3. Rc7 (3.Kc5 Rc2+ 4.Kb6 Rb2+ 5.Kc7 Rc2+ 6.Kb8 Ra2 7.Ra8 Ra3 8.Ka7 Kf5 9.Rf8 Kg4 10.Rxf7 Kxg3 =) 3...Ra2 4.a7! (4.Rc6+? Kf5 5.Kc5 Kg4 6.Kb5 Kxg3 7.Rc4 f6 [7...f5 8.Ra4 Rb2+ 9.Kc6 Rb8 10.a7 Ra8 11.Kb7 Rxa7+ 12.Kxa7 f4 =] 8.Ra4 Rb2+ 9.Kc6 Rb8 10.a7 Ra8 11.Kb7 Rxa7+ 12.Kxa7 g5 13.hxg5 fxg5 14.Ra5 h4 15.Rxg5+ Kf2 16.Rh5 Kg3 17.Kb6 h3 18.Kc5 h2 19.Kd4 Kg2 20.Ke3 h1Q 21.Rxh1 Kxh1 =) 4...Kf5 5. Kc4!! (5.Rxf7+? Kg4 6.Kc5 Kxg3 7.Kb5! Rb2+! 8.Kc6 Ra2 9.Kb7 Kxh4 10.Rf6 Rxa7+ 11.Kxa7 Kg5! 12.Rf8 h4 13.Kb6 h3 14.Kc5 Kg4 15.Kd4 h2 16.Rh8 Kg3 =) (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7z P t R +p+ ' 6 + + +p+& 5+ + +k+p% 4 +K+ + z P$ 3+ + + z P # 2r+ 1+ ++++++" ! xabcdefghy and now: a) 5...f6 6.Kb5! Rb2+ 7.Kc6 Ra2 8.Kb7 Rb2+ 9.Kc8 Ra2 10.Rg7! Kg4 (10...g5 11.Kb8!) 11.Rxg6+ Kh3 12.Rg7 Ra3 13.Kb8 Rb3+ 14.Rb7 Rxg3 15.Rb4 +–. 97

b) 5...Ra1 6.Kb5 Rb1+ 7.Kc6 Ra1 8.Kb7 Rb1+ 9.Kc8 Ra1 10.Rxf7+ Kg4 11.Rg7! Kxg3 12.Rxg6+ Kxh4 13.Kb7 Rxa7+ 14.Kxa7 Kh3 15.Kb6 +–. c) 5...Kg4 6.Kb3! Ra6 7.Rc4+ Kxg3 8.Ra4 Rxa7 9.Rxa7 Kxh4 10.Kc3! (10.Rxf7? Kg3 =) 10...Kg3 (10...f5 11. Kd3 g5 12.Rf7 f4 13.Rf5!! Kg4 14.Ra5 h4 15.Ke2 +–) 11.Kd3 h4 12.Ke2! +–. 2. a8 Threatening to transfer to a winning position with a pawn on the 7th rank that we can see in the game Unzicker,W-Lundin,E Amsterdam 1954, which follows. 2.Kf3 g5 3.hxg5 fxg5 4. Ra8 g4+ 5.Ke3 Kg6= is not dangerous. 2... g4! 2...Ra4? 3.f3! Ra3+ 4.Ke2 Ra2+ 5.Kd1 Ra3 6.a7 +–. 3.a7 f5 4. g8 4.Kd4 Kf3!. 4...f4+! 5.gxf4 5.Ke4 Ra4+ 6.Ke5 Ra5+ =. 5... a3+ 6. e4 6.Ke2 Rxa7 7.Rxg6+ Kxf4 =. 6... a4+ 7. e5 a5+ 8. e6 a6+ 9. f7 xa7+ 10. xg6 a6+ 11. f7+ xf4 ½–½ Example 4 - Study 2011 ○ Position: Poghosyan Vardan 1

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7t R + +p+ ' 6P+ + m kp+& 5+ + + +p% 4 + + + z P$ 3+ Kz P +" # 2r++ +m Pz 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy V.Kantorovich considered this position in 1989 as drawn with two tempi to spare. But in 2003, J.Steckner came to the conclusion that White, to play, wins with


1. d4 His analysis has been endorsed by such great endgame authorities as M.Dvoretsky and K.Muller. J.Steckner's discovery has been regarded by M.Dvoretsky as a revolutionary change in the theory of this endgame. But V.Poghosyan from Armenia has found an amazing way to save Black, which was first presented in 2011. Many additions were made by K.Muller and W.Micawber in 2012 as well. Here are the main points. 1...g5!! That this draws is V.Poghosyan's discovery. 1...Rxf2? 2.Rc7 Ra2 3.a7 Kf5 4.Kc4! loses, as J.Steckner proved in 2003. 2. d5 White doesn't do much with the other options either: a) 2.hxg5+ Kxg5 3.Kc5 (3.f3 h4 4.gxh4+ Kxh4 5.Kc5 Kg3 =) 3...Kg4 4.Kb5 Rxf2 5.Ra8 Rb2+ 6.Kc4 Ra2 7.Rg8+ Kf3 8.Kb5 Rb2+ 9.Kc6 Ra2 10.Kb7 Rb2+ 11.Ka8 f5! 12.Rg5 f4 (12...Rb6 13.a7 f4 14.gxf4 h4 =) 13.gxf4 h4 14.f5 Kf4 15.Rh5 Kg4 16.Rh8 Kxf5 17.Rxh4 Ke6 =. b) 2.Kc5 gxh4 (Black can also draw with

2...g4 which transposes to 2.Kd5 g4) 3.gxh4 Ke5 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7t R + +p+ ' 6P+ + + +& 5+ m K km +p% 4 + + + z P$ 3+ + + + # 2r+ + z P +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy b1) 4.Kb6 Rb2+ 5.Kc7 Ra2! (5...Rc2+? 6.Kd8! +–) 6.Kb8 f6 (6...f5? 7.Re7+ Kf6 8.Rh7 Kg6 9.a7! Kxh7 10.a8Q Rxa8+ 11.Kxa8 f4 12.f3 +– ; 6... Ke6 =) 7.Kb7 Rxf2 8.Ra8 Rb2+ 9.Ka7 Kd6 =. b2) 4.Ra8 Kf4 5.Kb6 Rb2+ 6.Ka7 (D) 98

XABCDEFGHY 8R+ + + +( 7m K + +p+ ' 6P+ + + +& 5+ + + +p% 4 + + m k P$ z 3+ + + + # 2 t r + z P +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy b21) 6...Kg4? 7.Rb8 Rxf2 8.Rb4+ Kg3 9.Kb6 Ra2 10.Kb5! (10.Rb5? Kxh4 =) 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 +– but not 16.Kxa8? f4 =. b22) 6...f5 7.Rg8 Kf3 (7...Rxf2 8.Ka8 Ke3 =) 8.Rb8 Rxf2 9.Rb5 (9.Rb4 f4 =) 9...Re2! =. b23) 6...Rxf2 7.Rg8 f5 8.Ka8 Ke3! (8... Rb2? 9.a7 +–) 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 =. c) 2.f3 gxh4 3.gxh4 Ra5 4.Kc4 Ke5 5.Kb4 (5.f4+ Kxf4 6.Rxf7+ Kg4 7.a7 Kxh4 =) 5...Ra2 6.Kb5 Rb2+ 7.Kc6 Rc2+ 8.Kb6 Rb2+ 9.Kc7 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7t R K m +p+ ' 6P+ + + +& 5+ + k m +p% 4 + + + P z$ 3+ + +P+ # 2 r t + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy Trivial Endings - Revealing the Secrets

9...Ra2! 10.Kb8 (10.Ra8 Kf4 11.Rf8 (11.Kb7 Kxf3 =) 11...Rxa6 = ; 10.Kd8 f5 11.Re7+ Kf4 =) 10...f6 11.Re7+ Kd6 12.Rf7 Ke6 13.Ra7 Ke5 =. 2...g4! 2...gxh4? loses - see next example. After the text move, White can try different plans: 1. The Ra8-Ka7 setup. 2. Exchanging the a6-pawn for the f7-pawn and trying eventually to take the g4 and h5 pawns. 3. King's transfer to h7, trying to exchange the a-pawn for Black's kingside pawns. But Black has apparently sufficient defensive resources. 3. d6 Against 3.Ra8 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8R+ + + +( 7+ + +p+ ' 6P+ + m k +& 5+ +K+ +p% 4 +++++pz $ 3+ z PP# 2r+ + z P +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy Black has two options: a) 3...Kf5 4.Kc6 (4.Rf8 Rxa6 5.Rxf7+ Kg6 = ; 4.Rh8 Kg6 5.Rg8+ Kf6 6.Rg5 Rxa6 7.Kd4 Ra2 8.Ke3 Ra3+ 9.Ke2 Ra2+ 10.Kf1 Ra1+ 11.Kg2 Ra2 12.Rxh5 Ke6 = ; 4.a7 Kf6 5.Kd6 Rd2+ 6.Kc7 Rc2+ 7.Kd8 Ra2 [7...Rd2+? 8.Ke8 Ra2 9.Kf8 Ra1 10.Kg8 Kg6 11.Kh8 Kf6 {11...Kh6 12.Rb8 Rxa7 13.Rb6+ f6 14.Rxf6 #} 12.Kh7 Ra2 13.Kh6 Ra5 14.Rg8 Rxa7 15.Kxh5 Ra2 16.Rxg4 Rxf2 17.Kh6 +–] 8.Ke8 Kg7 =) 4...Ke4 (4...Rxf2? 5.Rb8 Rc2+ 6.Kb6 Rb2+ 7.Ka7 Ra2 8.Rb4 +–) 5.Kb7 Kf3 =. b) 3...Ke7 4.Kc6 Rc2+ 5.Kb7 Rb2+ 6.Ka7 Rxf2! 7.Rb8 Kd6 8.Rb5 Kc6 9.Rxh5 Rf3 =. 99

But he has a third option which can lose!: c) 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 c7, 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 +–. 3.Kc4 is met by 3... Ke6! = but not 3...Ke5? 4.Rxf7! Rxa6 5.Rh7 +–. 3... d2+ It seems that Black has many ways to draw here, such as 3...Re2 or 3...Ra3. To make it shorter, we will follow V.Poghosyan’s main lines. 4. c6 4.Kc5 is the main alternative: 4... Rc2+ 5.Kb5 Rb2+ 6.Kc4 Ra2! 7.Ra8 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8R+ + + +( 7+ + +p+ ' 6P++ ++ m k+p% +& 5+ 4 +K+ +pz P$ 3+ + + z P # 2r+ + z P +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 7...Ke6! (7...Kf5? loses to 8.Kb5 Rb2+ 9.Kc6 Rc2+ 10.Kb7 Rb2+ 11. Ka7 Rxf2 12.Rb8 +–) 8.Kb5 Rb2+ 9.Kc6 Rc2+ 10.Kb7 Rb2+ 11.Ka7 Rxf2 12.Rb8 (12.Rh8 Rf3 13.Rxh5 Rxg3 =) a) 12...Kd7 13.Ka8 (13.Rb3 Rf3! =) 13...f5 14.a7 Kc7! 15.Rb7+ Kc8 16.Rb5 Kc7 17.Rc5+ Kd6 18.Rc3 (18.Kb7 Rb2+ 19.Kc8 Ra2 20.Rc7 f4 21.gxf4 g3 22.Kb8 g2 23.Rg7 Rb2+ 24.Kc8 Ra2) 18...Rb2 =. b) 12...Kd6! 13.Rb5 Kc6 14.Rxh5 Rf3 15.Rh6+ (15.Rh8 Rxg3 16.h5 Rh3 17.Rc8+ Kd7


= ; 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... c2+ (D) Black also draws with 4... Ra2! 5.Kb6 Rb2+ (but not 5...Rxf2? 6.Rb7 +–) - see the main variation after 5...Rb2+.

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7t R + +p+ ' 6P+K+ m k +& 5+ + + +p% 4 + + +pz P$ 3+ + + z P # 2 +r+ z P +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 5. b6 White can also try 5. Kd7 Ra2! (5...Rxf2? 6.Rb7 Ra2 7.a7 +–) 6.Ra8 Ke5! = or 5.Kb7 Rxf2! (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 +–), which transposes to the main line after 7.Kb7 Rxf2. 5... b2+ 6. c7 c2+ 6...Ra2 draws as well. 7. d8 7.Kb7 is another 'useless' try: 7...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... a2! Black should avoid the losing 7... Rc6? 8.Ke8 Re6+ (8...Kg6 9.Kf8 Rf6 10.Ra8

100

Rxf2 11.Rb8 Ra2 12.Rb6+ f6 13.Ke7 +– ) 9.Kf8 Kg6 10.Ra8 (10.Rxf7? Rxa6 =) 10...Kf6 (10...Rf6 11.a7! Ra6 12.Kg8 +–) 11.Kg8 Kg6 12.Kh8 Kf6 13.Kh7 Ke7 14.a7 Ra6 15.Rb8 +–, which transposes to 9...Ra3?. 8. e8 After 8.Ra8 Black is quick: 8... Kf5! (8...Rxf2? 9.Rb8! Ra2 10.Rb6+ Ke5 11.Kc7 f5 12.Rb5+ Ke4 13.Kb6 f4 14.Ra5 Rb2+ 15.Kc7 Rc2+ 16.Kd7 Rd2+ 17.Ke7 Rc2 18.a7 +–) 9.Kc7 Ke4 10.Kb7 Kf3 11.Rh8 Rb2+ 12.Ka8 Kxf2 13.Rxh5 Kxg3 14.a7 Kh3 15.Rh7 g3 16.Rxf7 g2 17.Rg7 Kxh4 =. 8... g6! 9. f8 9.Ra8 Rxf2! =. 9... xf2! Black should be accurate (and a little bit greedy!) and avoid 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 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8R+ + + +( 7z P + m kp+K' 6r+ + + +& 5+ + + +p% 4 + + +pz P$ 3+ + + z P # 2 + + z P +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 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. a8 10.Rb7 dosen't help: 10...f5 (10...f6 =)


11.Rb6+ (11.Kg8 f4 12.Rg7+ Kf6 13.Rf7+ Ke5 14.gxf4+ Ke4 15.a7 Ra2 16.f5 g3 17.f6 Kf5 18.Kh7 g2 19.Rg7 Kxf6 20.Rxg2 Rxa7+ =) 11...Kh7 12.Rf6 (12.a7 Ra2 13.Rb7+ Kg6 14.Kg8 f4! =) 12...Ra2 13.Kf7 (13.Rxf5 Kg6! 14.Rg5+ Kh6 =) 13...f4! 14.gxf4 Ra5 15.f5 g3 16.Ke7 g2 17.Rg6 Rxf5 18.Rxg2 Ra5 =. 10... a2 11.a7 After 11.Ke7 Black can once again be quick with his king: 11...Kf5! (11...f5 =) 12.Kxf7 Ke4 =. 11... a3 12. g8 a6! 13. h8 f6 14. h7 e7! 15. g7 g6+ 16. h8 There is no real alternative winning try: 16.Kh7 Ra6 =. 16... h6+ The simplest 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. ½–½ Example 5 - Study 2011 ○ Position: Poghosyan Vardan 2

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7t R + +p+ ' 6P+ + m kp+& 5+ + + +p% 4 + + + z P$ 3+ + m K z P # 2r+ + z P +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

1. d4 g5!! 2. d5 gxh4? This loses, while 2...g4! draws. Let's see how. 3.gxh4 d2+ Black's alternatives are: a) 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+

101

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 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 m K + + +( 7t R + +p+ ' 6P+++++k+& 5+ +p% 4 + + + z P$ 3+ + + + # 2r+ + z P +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy a1) 8.f3? Ra4! 9.Kc7 (9.Kc8 Rxh4 10.Rc7 Ra4 11.a7 f5 =) 9... Rxh4 10.Ra8 Ra4 11.Kb6 Kg5 12.Rg8+ Kf4 =. a2) 8.Ra8! Rxf2 9.Ka7 f5 10.Rf8 f4 11.Kb7 Rb2+ 12.Ka8 Rb4 (12...Rb6 13.a7 Rb4 14.Rb8 Ra4 15.Kb7 Kf5 16.a8Q Rxa8 17.Rxa8 +–) 13.a7 f3 14.Rxf3 Rxh4 15.Rb3 +–. b) 3...Ra5+ 4.Kc6 (4.Kc4? Ke5 =) (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7t R + +p+ ' 6P+K+ m k +& 5t r + + +p% 4 + + + z P$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + z P +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy b1) 4...Ra3 5.Ra8 +–. b2) 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 [13.Rxf5 Kxh4 14.Kb7] 13...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 +–. b3) 4...Ra2 5.Ra8 Ke5 (5...Rc2+ 6.Kb7 Rb2+ 7.Ka7 Rxf2 [7...Rb4 8.Rb8 Rxh4 9.Rb6+ Kf5 10.Kb7 +–] 8.Rb8 +– ; 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 +–) 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! (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + t R( 7m K + +p+ ' 6P+ +& 5+ ++m k++p% 4 + + + z P$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + t r +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy b31) 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 +–. b32) 8...f5 9.Rxh5 Kd4 (9...Ke4 10.Rh6 f4 [10...Rb2 11.Rb6 +–] 11.Kb7 +– ; 9...Rb2 10.Ka8 +–) 10.Rh8 f4 11.h5 f3 12.h6 Rh2 13.Kb7 f2 14.Rf8 Rxh6 15.Rxf2 +–. b33) 8...Ke4 9.Rxh5 f5 10.Rh6 f4 11.Kb7 Rb2+ 12.Rb6 Rxb6+ 13.Kxb6 f3 14.a7 f2 15.a8Q+ +–. b34) 8...Ra2 9.Rxh5+ f5 10.Kb7 Rb2+ 11.Ka8 +–. 102

c) 3...Kf5 4.Rxf7+ Kg4 5.a7 Kxh4 6.Rg7+–. d) 3...Rxf2 4.Rc7 Ra2 5.a7 Kf5 6.Kc4! (similar to J.Steckner’s move Kc4, but in better circumstances because White has already exchanged the g3–pawn against the g6-pawn) 6...Kg4 (6...Ra1 7.Kb5 Rb1+ 8.Kc6 Ra1 9.Kb7 Rb1+ 10.Kc8 Ra1 11.Kb8 Kg4 12.Rc4+ Kg3 13.a8Q Rxa8+ 14.Kxa8 +– ; 6...f6 7.Kb5 Rb2+ 8.Kc6 Ra2 9.Kb7 Rb2+ 10.Kc8 Ra2 11.Kb8 +–) 7.Kb3 Ra6 8.Rc4+ Kg3 9.Ra4 +–. 4. c6 c2+ 4...Rxf2 5.Rb7 +–. 5. b6 b2+ 6. c7 c2+ 6...Ke5 7.Rb7 +– ; 6...Ra2 7.Ra8 +–. 7. b8 a2 Or 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. a8 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8Rm K+++p+ + +( 7+ ' 6P+ + m k +& 5+ + + +p% 4 + + + z P$ 3+ + + + # 2r+ + z P +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 8... xf2 A waiting policy doesn’t help either: a) 8...Ra4 9.Kb7 Rb4+ 10.Ka7 Rxh4 11.Rc8 Rb4 12.Rb8 Re4 13.Kb7 +–. b) 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 Kg7 15.a7 Kxh8 16.a8Q+ Kg7 17.Qa5 +–) 14.Rc8 Ra1 (14...Rb1+ 15.Ka4 Ra1+ [15...Kf5 16.Rc3 +–] 16.Kb5 Rb1+ [16...Kf5


17.Rc5+ Kg4 18.Kb6 +–] 17.Ka5 Ra1+ 18.Kb6 Rb1+ 19.Kc7 Rc1+ 20.Kb7 Rb1+ 21.Ka8 +–) 15.Rc6+ Ke7 (15...Kf5 16.Kc4 +– ; 15...Ke5 16.Kc4 Ra2 [16...f5 17.Kc5 Kf4 18.Kb6 +–] 17.Kc5 f5 18.Kb6 +–) 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 +–. c) 8...Kg7 9.Ka7 Rxf2 10.Rb8 Rf4 11.Rb6 +–. d) 8...Ke5 9.Ka7 Rxf2 10.Rh8 +–. 9. a7 h2 Black can also try 9...Ke6 10.Rh8 (10.Rb8 +–) a) 10...Kd5 11.Rxh5+ Kc6 12.Rh6+ Kc7 13.Rb6 f5 (13...Rh2 14.Rb4 Kc6 [14...Rh3 15.Rc4+ Kd6 16.Kb6 +–] 15.Rc4+ Kd5 16.Rf4 +–) 14.h5 f4 15.h6 Re2 16.h7 Re8 17.Rf6 Rh8 18.Rxf4 Rxh7 19.Rc4+ +–. b) 10...Kd7 11.Rxh5 f5 (11...Rf4 12.Kb6 +– ; 11...Kc6 12.Rh6+ f6 13.h5 +–) 12.Rh8 Kc7 13.h5 Re2 (13...f4 14.Rf8 f3 15.h6 Rh2 16.Rxf3 Rxh6 17.Rc3+ +– ; 13...Rh2 14.h6 f4 15.Rh7+ Kc6 16.Kb8 +–) 14.h6 Re6 15.h7 Re7 16.Rb8 Kc6+ 17.Rb7 Re8 18.Rb6+ Kc7 19.Rf6 Rh8 20.Rxf5 Rxh7 21.Rc5+ +–. c) 10...Kd6 11.Rxh5 f5 (11...Rc2 12.Kb6 Rc6+ 13.Kb7 Rc7+ 14.Kb8 +–) 12.Rh6+ Kc7 13.h5 f4 14.Rf6 Kd7 (14...Rh2 15.h6 f3 16.Rxf3 Rxh6 17.Rc3+ +–) 15.h6 Ke7 16.Rf5 Rh2 (16...Ke6 17.Rh5 +–) 17.Rxf4 Rxh6 18.Kb7 +–. d) 10...f5 11.Rh6+ Ke5 12.Kb7 +–.

R

K

R

K

K

e) 10... b7Ka7b2+ 12. (14... a8 Kd7 Kc7 13.R xh5 a2R11. b4 14. c6 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 +–. f) 10...Rb2 11.Rb8 +–. 9...Kf5 also loses to 10. Rb8 +–. 10. h8! e5 Again here Black can try alternative defences: 103

a) 10...Rxh4 11.Kb6 Rh1 (11...Ra4 12.Rxh5 Re4 13.a7 Re6+ 14.Ka5 Re8 15.Rb5 +–) 12.a7 Rb1+ 13.Kc5 +–. b) 10...Kg7 11.Rxh5 Rb2 12.Ka8 +–. c) 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 14.Rb8 (14.Rg8+ Kf5 15.Rb8 Rxh4 16.Rb5+ Kg6 17.Kb7 Ra4 18.Kb6! [18.Rb6? Rxa7+ 19.Kxa7 h4 =] 18... Rxa7 19.Kxa7 f5 20.Kb6 Kg5 21.Kc5 +–) 14...Rxh4 15.Kb7 Ra4 16.a8Q Rxa8 17.Rxa8 +–. d) 10...Kf5 11.Rxh5+ Kg4 12.Rg5+ Kxh4 13.Rf5 +–. 11. xh5+ 11.Kb7? Rxh4 =. 11...f5 11...Kd6 12.Kb6 +– ; 11...Kf4 12.Ka8 Kg4 13.Rh8 f5 14.a7 f4 15.Kb7 +– ; 11...Ke4 12.Rb5 +–. 12. b7 b2+ 13. a8 e4 13...Kf6 14.a7 f4 15.Rh8 Kg7 16.Rb8 Ra2 17.Kb7 +– ; 13...Rb6 14.a7 Rb1 15.Rh8 +–. 14. h8 f4 15.h5 f3 16.h6 f2 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8K+ + + t R( 7+ + + + ' 6P+ + + z P& 5+ + + + % 4 + +k+ +$ 3+ + + + # 2 t r + z p +"

18. f8 e2 19. b7 e7+ 20. 21. b5 xh6 22. xf2 And White wins. 1–0

b6

e6+

The Pawn on the 7 th Rank If a pawn advance to a7 makes no sense, White leaves the pawn on a6 and brings his king to the queenside, where a refuge against checks from the rear exists. But it is a long way to go; the black rook has enough time to killbe onesacrificed or two pawns. Thereafter it will for the passed pawn, and the resulting rook versus pawn(s) endgame is usually drawn. If the rook of the stronger side is placed in front of the pawn and the hostile rook is behind the pawn, a pawn advance to the 7 th rank absolutely chains the opponent's forces. However, if there are no vulnerable points in his camp, the game is still drawn because the king's march to the pawn is useless: no refuge from rook checks from behind is available. The pawn position on the 7th rank has sense in the following situations: 1. When it can be traded for the enemy's pawns, achieving a winning endgame with pawns on one flank; 2. When a rook can be gained for it. As a rule, a passed pawn on the opposite wing is required for this purpose; it will push the hostile king away from a safe square. A reminder: an advance of a bishop pawn can do the job, while a knight or a rook pawn is mostly useless; 3. When we can give the passed pawn away in order to exchange the rooks (by means of a check along the 7th rank), transposing into a winning pawn endgame.

1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 17. e8+ 17.Rf8 Rd2 18.Kb7 (18.h7? Rd8+ =) 18...Rd7+ 19.Kc6 Rh7 20.Rxf2 Rxh6+ 21.Kb5 +–. 17... d5 Or 17...Kd3 18.Rf8 Rb6 19.a7 Rxh6 20.Rxf2 +–.


Unzicker Wolfgang Lundin Erik Amsterdam 1954 ● □ ■

104

XABCDEFGHY 8R+ + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6P+ + z pp+& 5+ + + +p% 4 + +k+ z P$ 3t r + + z P # 2 + +Kz P +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy Black has 'spoiled' his pawn structure, without getting any activity in return. 48.f3+! The direct 48.a7? would be a grave mistake: 48...Ra2+ 49.Kd1 Kf3 =. 48... f5 49.a7! Black is now restricted to rook moves only. The position is instructive, as White can win by transferring his king to h6. Then, with the help of his rook, he will be able to capture the black pawns. When Black's pawn stands on f7, his king can return to f6 or g7 with an absolutely drawn position. 49... a2+ (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8R+ + + +( 7z P + + + ' 6 + + z pp+& 5+ + +k+p% 4 + + + z P$ 3+ + +Pz P # 2r+ +K+ +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 49...Ra6 50.Kd3 Rd6+ 51.Kc4 Rd7 52.Kc5 Re7 53.Kd6 Re6+ (53...Rb7 54.Rb8! Rxa7 55.Rb5 #) 54.Kd7 Ra6 55.Ke7 is not really any different. 50. d3 a1 51. d4


51.g4+? would give Black the chance to survive after 51...Kf4! = but not with 51...hxg4? 52.fxg4+ Kxg4 53.h5! +–. 51... a5 52. c4 a3 53. c5 a1 In case of 53...Rxf3, the simplest solution is 54.Rf8 Ra3 55.a8Q Rxa8 56.Rxa8 Kg4 57.Ra3 g5 58.hxg5 fxg5 59. Kd4 h4 60.gxh4 gxh4 61.Ke3 Kg3 62.Ra8 +–. 54. d6 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8R+ + + +( 7z P + + + ' 6 + m K z pp+& 5+ + +k+p% 4 + + + z P$ 3+ + +Pz P # 2 + + + +" 1t r + + + ! xabcdefghy 54...

a3?!

Nor would 54...Ra6+ 55.Ke7 Ra5 56.Kf8! Ra6 57.Kf7! (57.Kg7?! g5 58.hxg5 Kxg5 59.Kf7 Kf5 60.g4+? (60.Ke7! +–) 60...hxg4 61.fxg4+ Kf4) prevent White's plan, but it had to be preferred. 55. e7?! After 55.Rc8! Ra6+ 56.Rc6 Rxa7 57.Rc5 # provides a spectacular finish. 55... a6 55...Ra2 is the 'toughest' defence: 56.Kf8! (56.Kf7?! Ra6 57.Kg7 g5 58.hxg5 Kxg5 59.Kf7 Kf5 60.g4+? (60.Ke7! +–) 60...hxg4 61.fxg4+ Kf4 = with an important circumstance: the f6-pawn is protected by the rook. The squares a6 and f7 are corresponding.) 56...Ra6 57.Kf7 Ra3 58.Kg7 +–. 56. f7 a3 57. g7 a1 With the black rook not standing on a6, 57...g5 here doesn't help: 58.hxg5 Kxg5 59.Kf7 Kf5 60.g4+! hxg4 61.fxg4+ Kf4 62.Kxf6 +–. 58. h6! (D) White's plan is complete and the black 105

pawns are doomed. The rest of the game was rather easy…

XABCDEFGHY 8R+ + + +( 7z P + + + ' 6 + + z ppm K& 5+ + +k+p% 4 ++++Pz +Pz P# $ 3+ 2 + + + +" 1t r + + + ! xabcdefghy 58... a6 59. b8 xa7 60. 61. xg6 a8 61...Ra3 62.Rf5 +–. 62. xh5 g8 63.g4 h8+ 64. 1–0

b5+

e6

g6

The Pawn on the 6 th Rank The most usual case, when the superior side has real practical winning chances. Some tips to remember are: 1. Quick activation of the king is a high priority for the weaker side. 2. In case of a standard pawn structure, posting the rook on a6, with the idea of confining the black king to g7, is no less dangerous in a practical sense than a pawn advance to a6. 3. The weaker side has a rather good counter-plan at his disposal: …f6 followed by …g5. Svidler Peter Akopian Vladimir Kallithea 2002 ● □ ■


XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7t R + +p+ ' 6P+ + +p+& 5+ + m k +p% 4 + + + z P$ 3+ + m K z P # 2r+ + z P +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy Black can bring about the already analysed theoretical draw with 52...Ke6 or 52...Kf6, but the text move is not bad either. 52... a3+ 53. d2 a2+?! Black missed an 'easier' draw with 53...f5! 54.Kc2 f4 55.Kb2 Ra5 56.Kb3 fxg3 57.fxg3 Kf5 58.Kb4 Ra1 59.Kb5 Rb1+! (59...Kg4? 60.Rd7! [60.Rc7? Rb1+ 61.Kc6 Kxg3 62.a7 Ra1 =] 60...Rb1+ [60...Kxg3 61.Rd4 +–] 61.Kc5 Kxg3 [61...Rc1+ 62.Kb6 Rb1+ 63.Kc7 Ra1 64.Rd4+ Kxg3 65.Kb6 +–] 62.Rd4 Ra1 63.Kb6 Rb1+ 64.Ka5 Rb8 [64...Ra1+ 65.Kb5 Rb1+ 66.Rb4 Ra1 67.Ra4 +–] 65.a7 Re8 66.Rb4 +–) 60.Kc6 Rc1+ 61.Kb6 Rb1+ 62.Kc7 Ra1 63.Ra8 Kg4 64.Kb7 Kxg3 65.Rg8 Kxh4 66.Rxg6 Kh3 =. 54. c3 xf2 55. b7! (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+R+ +p+ ' 6P+ + +p+& 5+ + k m +p% 4 + + + P z$ 3+ K m + P z # 2 + + r t +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 106

The familiar move! The great difference in this position is that the white king is already on the c-file (instead of the d-file) when Black captures the white f-pawn. 55... a2 56.a7 f6? Black could not play 56...Kf5? 57.Rxf7+ Kg4 58.Kb3! Ra1 59.Rf4+! Kxg3 60.Ra4+– but he could still draw with 56...f6! 57.Kb4 (57.Kc4 Kd6 58.Rg7 Kc6 59.Rxg6 Ra4+ 60.Kd3 Rxa7 61.Rxf6+ Kd5 62.Rf5+ Ke6 63.Rxh5 Ra3+ =) 57...Kd6 (57...Rb2+ 58.Kc5 Rxb7 59.a8Q Rc7+ 60.Kb6 +– ; 57...Kf5 58.Rb5+ Kg4 59.Ra5 +–) 58.Rf7 (58.Rg7 Kc6 59.Rxg6 Rxa7 60.Rxf6+ Kd5 61.Rf5+ Ke4 62.Rxh5 Rg7 =) 58...Ke6 59.Rg7 g5 60.Kc5 Kf5 61.Kb6 Kg4 62.hxg5 fxg5 63.Rg6 h4 (63...Rxa7 64.Kxa7 Kxg3 65.Rxg5+ Kh4 66.Rg8 Kh3 67.Kb6 h4 68.Kc5 Kh2 69.Kd4 h3 70.Ke3 Kh1 71.Kf3 h2 72.Kg3 Kg1 73.Kh3+ Kh1 74.Ra8 +– ; 63...Kxg3 64.Rxg5+ Kh4 65.Ra5 +–) 64.gxh4 Kxh4 65.Kb7 Rxa7+ 66.Kxa7 g4 67.Kb6 Kg3! 68.Kc5 Kf3 69.Rf6+ Ke3 =. 57. c4! (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7z PR+ +p+ ' 6 + + m kp+& 5+ + + +p% 4 +K+ + z P$ 3+ + + z P # 2r+ + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

57... a1 The alternatives do not help: 57... Kf5 58.Rxf7+ Kg4 59.Kb3 Ra6 60.Rf4+ Kxg3 61.Ra4 Rxa7 62.Rxa7 Kxh4 63.Kc4 Kg3 64.Rg7 h4 65.Rxg6+ Kf3 66.Rh6 Kg3 67.Kd3 h3 68.Ke2 h2 69.Kf1 +– or 57...g5 58.hxg5+ Kxg5 59.Rxf7 Kg4 60.Rg7+ Kh3 61.Kb5


Rxa7 62.Rxa7 Kxg3 63.Kc4 h4 64.Kd3 h3 65.Ke2 h2 66.Rg7+ Kh3 67.Kf2 h1N+ 68.Kf3 Kh2 69.Rg8 +–. 58. b5 b1+ 58...Kf5 59.Rxf7+ Kg4 60.Rf4+ Kxg3 61.Ra4 +–. 59. c6 c1+ 60. b6 b1+ 60...Ra1 61.Kc7 Kf5 62.Rb5+ Kg4 63.Kb6 Rxa7 64.Rg5+ +–. 61. c7 a1 62. b8 f5 63. b4 1–0 Bacrot Etienne Robson Ray Khanty Mansiysk 2011 ● □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7t R + +p+ ' 6 + +k+p+& 5z P + + +p% 4 + + + z P$ 3+ + m K z P # 2r+ + z P +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy On the board, there's a typical position with an extra rook's pawn for White, with the rook of the weaker side positioned in the rear behind the passed pawn, and a standard pawn structure on the kingside. We shouldn't be too hard on the players' subsequent actions, bearing in mind that they only had their incremental seconds left. Although we're probably still justified in drawing some conclusions about their endgame abilities, and contemplating how thorough knowledge and understanding of theory might have influenced the players' actions, even in such extreme circumstances. But the main purpose of investigating the game is to inform (or remind) readers about some typical ideas in this kind of ending. 58... f6?! In such situations, White sends his king towards his passed pawn at the appropriate 107

moment, sacrificing one or two pawns on the kingside. His opponent has to give up his rook for the passed pawn, and the outcome of the battle depends on whether or not Black succeeds in his counterplay on the kingside. In the coming race, every tempo may be decisive. Direct pursuit of the pawn loses: 58...Ra3+? 59.Kd4 Rf3 60.a6 Rxf2 61.Rc7 Ra2 62.a7 Kf5 63.Kc4! - we'll have more than one reason to come back to this important variation later. At the same time there's no point in Black waiting passively. Any move that is useful for the future race must be made. 58...f6! 59.a6 Kf5 60.f3 (60.Ra8 Kg4 61.a7 Ra3+) 60...Ra3+ 61.Kd4 Rxf3 62.Rc7 Ra3 63.a7 Kg4 gave an easy draw. 59.a6 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7t R + +p+ ' 6P+ + m kp+& 5+ + + +p% 4 + + + z P$ 3+ + m K z P # 2r+ + z P +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

As the Swiss player Johannes Steckner proved, the king has to move forwards with the rook specifically on a7, but not on a8. The main variation is 60. Kd4! Rxf2 61.Rc7 Ra2 62.a7 Kf5 63.Kc4!! Kg4 64.Kb3! Ra6 65.Rc4+ Kxg3 66.Ra4 Rxa7 67.Rxa7 Kxh4 68.Kc3, and so on the rook turns out to be stronger than the three pawns. Black can defend differently, the position contains quite a few subtleties, but he won't find a way to save himself anywhere. 60... f6? Ray Robson is not only unaware of the latest theoretical discoveries, but apparently is completely unfamiliar with the ideas in this kind of ending - probably because of his youth, he just hasn't had time to study them. Of course, he should have positioned his king more actively at the first opportunity: 60...Kf5!. An 'educated' player would have made this move automatically, regardless of how much time he had left. Robson's blunder clearly wasn't accidental: as we already saw this kind of mistake on the fifty-eighth move, and we'll see more of them. 61. f3?! This move, and the following unsuccessful one, by White was provoked by severe time trouble. Bacrot had obviously decided to tread water in order to carve out a little time to think. 61... a4 62. e2?! a3 63. a7 e6 64. d2 (D)

59... e6? If on the previous move, the right decision could be made based on common sense and an understanding of the general principles of this kind of ending, then here even a very strong grandmaster would hardly be capable of making a choice without precise knowl-

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7t R + +p+ ' 6P+ +k+p+&

edge of the theory, and besides that the theory is very complicated and comparatively new, having been worked out only in 2003. The draw can only be achieved with 59...g5!, or to be even more precise: 59...Ra4! 60.Kd3 g5!!. The move in the game should have led to defeat. 60. a8? Etienne Bacrot doesn't know or doesn't remember the conclusions of modern theory.

5+ 4 ++++++p% z P$ 3t r + + z P # 2 + m K z P +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy


64...

a2+?!

108

Why let the king advance? The situation reminds me of the one with which we began our analysis of this endgame (see the fiftyeighth move). It's dangerous to pursue the pawn: 64...Rf3? 65.Rc7 Rxf2+ 66.Kc3 Ra2 67.a7, but it was worth playing 64...f6!. 65. e3 In time trouble, White doesn't go for 65. Kc3 Rxf2 66.Rc7 Ra2 67.a7. 65... f6 66. a8? Bacrot repeats the same mistake as on the sixtieth move. 66.Kd4 is correct. M.Dvoretsky in his Endgame Manual, from an identical position, wrote that the proposed move wins. However, Vardan Poghosyan from Armenia recently proved that, instead of 66...Rxf2?, Black is saved by 66...g5!! 67.Kd5!? g4!!. 66... a3+? A move that, even if it isn't losing, is still deserving of condemnation for two reasons. First, Black again misses a chance to activate his king: 66...Kf5! =. Second, it pointlessly takes the attack off the f2-pawn - now taking it with the rook will entail the loss of a tempo. 67. d4 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8R+ + + +( 7+ + +p+ ' 6P+ + m kp+& 5+ + + +p% 4 + m K + z P$ 3t r + + z P # 2 + + z P +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

How to start counterplay in this position? 67... a2? This takes too much time and allows White's rook to activate itself powerfully. The king must come anyway, so it should advance immediately: 67...Kf5! 68.Ra7 (68.f3 Rxf3 69.Rf8 Ra3 70.Rxf7+ Kg4 71.a7


Kxg3 = ; 68.Kc5 Kg4 69.Kb5 Kf3 70.Rf8 Kxf2 71.Rxf7+ Kxg3 72.Rg7 Kxh4 73.Rxg6 Kh3 74.Rg5 h4 75.Kb6 Kh2 76.Ra5 Rxa5 77.Kxa5 h3 78.a7 Kg1 79.a8Q h2 =, when White's king is out of the winning zone (d1-d2-d3-d4-e4-e5-f5-g5h5) 68...Kg4 69.Rxf7 Rxa6 70.Ke5 g5 71.Rg7 (71.hxg5 Ra5+ 72.Kf6 Ra6+ 73.Ke7 Kxg5 =) 71...Kf3 72.Rxg5 Kxf2 73.Kf4 Ra4+ 74.Kf5 Ra6! 75.Rxh5 Kxg3 =. R.Dautov's defence 67...g5? comes too late in this position: 68.hxg5+ Kxg5 69.Kc5 Kg4 70.Kb6 Rb3+ 71.Ka7 Kf3 72.Rb8 Ra3 73.Rb5 Kxf2 74.Rxh5 Kxg3 75.Rf5 +–. 68. c5 xf2 68...Kf5 is refuted by 69.f3 f6 (69...Ra3 70.Kb4 Ra2 71.Kb5 Rb2+ 72.Kc6 Rc2+ 73.Kd6 Ra2 74.Ke7 f6 75.a7 +–) 70.a7 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8R+ + + +( 7z P + + + ' 6 +m z pp+& 5+ K ++k+p% 4 + + + z P$ 3+ + +Pz P # 2r+ + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy Normally this advance is not recommended as it destroys the shelter of White's king on the queenside, but here the king can invade successfully on the kingside. There's an important theoretical position in the diagram that is famous from the game W.UnzickerE.Lundin Amsterdam, 1954. White wins easily by transferring his king to h6 and then playing 1.Rb8 Rxa7 2.Rb5+: 70...Ra6 71.Kb5 Ra1 72.Kc6 Rc1+ 73.Kd6 Rd1+ (73...Ra1?! allows the short cut 74. Rc8 Ra6+ 75.Rc6 Rxa7 76.Rc5 #) 74.Ke7 Ra1 75.Kf8 Ra6 76.Kf7 Ra1 77.Kg7 Ra3 78.Kh6 Ra6 79.Rb8 Rxa7 80.Rb5+ 109

Ke6 81.Kxg6 +–. 69. d8 As Muller pointed out, 69. Rb8! Rc2+ (or 69...Ra2 70.Kb6 +–) 70.Kb6 Rb2+ 71.Ka7 Re2 72.Rb5 +– is more precise. 69... a2 70. b6 b2+ 71. c6 The direct 71.Ka7! leads to 73.Ka7! +– (see below). 71... c2+ 72. b7 b2+ (D) Another critical but very important position has arisen. Keep in mind that both players are in great time trouble…

XABCDEFGHY 8 + t R + +( 7+K+ +p+ ' 6P+ + m kp+& 5+ + + +p% 4 + + + z P$ 3+ + + z P # 2 t r + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

This time Robson guessed the right move. 73...Rb3? 74.a7 Kf5 75.Rb8 Rxg3 loses to 76.Rb5+ Kf4 (76...Kg4 77.Rg5+) 77.Rb4+ Kf5 78.Kb7 Ra3 79.a8Q Rxa8 80.Kxa8 f6 (80...g5 81.Rb5+ Kg4 82.hxg5 h4 83.Kb7 h3 84.Kc6 h2 85.Rb1 Kxg5 86.Rh1) 81.Kb7 g5 82.Kc6! +–. 74.a7 74.Rb8!? is met by 74...Ra2! 75.Rb5+ (the pawn is under fire, so there's no time to put the rook on b4) (D), but is more dangerous for his opponent, and it should have been tried:

XABCDEFGHY 8K+ + + +( 7+ + +p+ ' 6P+ + +p+& 5+R+ +k+p% 4 + + + z P$ 3+ + + z P # 2r+ + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

73. a8? Leaves the a-pawn unprotected for one decisive moment. In time trouble, any knowledgeable player would put his king specifically on a8 - so as not to prevent the pawn from taking a step forward. In the overwhelming majority of similar situations this logic is justified, but not here! Only with time to think would you manage to recognize the necessity of leaving the a-pawn under the defence of the king, which makes itself plain in the variation 73.Ka7! Kf5 (73...Re2 74.Rd5 Rb2 75.Rd6+ Kf5

a) In the variations that arise with 75...Ke4? 76.a7 Kf3 77.Rb3+ Kg4 78.Kb7 Black lacks precisely one tempo to save himself: 78...Ra1 (on 78...f6 or 78...f5, there follows 79.Rb6! [threatening 80.Ra6] 79...Rxa7+ 80.Kxa7 +–) 79.a8Q! (79.Rb6? Rxa7+ 80.Kxa7 Kxg3 =) 79...Rxa8 80.Kxa8 +–, and, with a pawn on f7, Black's counterplay comes too late. b) A draw can only be achieved by means of 75...Kg4! 76.Rg5+ Kh3 and Black survives: 77.Kb7 (77.a7 Rb2 =) and now the

76.Rb6 Re2 77.Rb4 +– ; 73...Rb3 74.Rb8 Rxg3 75.Rb5 Re3 76.Kb6 Re6+ 77.Ka5 Re7 78.Rc5! [the rook prepares to shelter the king from both directions] 78...Ke6 79.Kb6 Re8 80.a7 f5 81.Ra5 f4 82.a8Q Rxa8 83.Rxa8 Kf5 84.Kc5 Kg4 85.Kd4 Kxh4 86.Ke4 Kg3 87.Rg8 +–) 74.Rb8! Re2 75.Rb4! +–. 73... f5!

white rook, which is able to protect the king from vertical checks, doesn't help it against the horizontal checks. So Black plays 77...Rb2+ 78.Kc6 Rc2+ 79.Kb6 Re2 80.a7 Re6+ 81.Kb5 (81.Kc7 Re7+ 82.Kb8 Re8+ =) 81...Re8 =. 74... g4 75. b8 a2 76. b3 (D) 76.Kb7 doesn't help: 76...Kxg3 77.a8Q Rxa8 78.Rxa8 Kxh4 79.Kc6 Kg3


110

80.Kd5 h4 =.

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + + t R& 5+ + + + % 4 + + + +$ 3+ + m K m kp# 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

XABCDEFGHY 8K+ + + +( 7z P + +p+ ' 6 + + +p+& 5+ + + +p% 4 + + +kz P$ 3+R+ + z P # 2r+ + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 76...f6 76...f5 77.Kb7 f4 78.gxf4 Kxh4 79.a8Q Rxa8 80.Kxa8 Kg4 = isn't bad either. 77. b6 77.Kb7 g5 =. 77...g5 Or 77...Kxg3 78.Rxf6 Kxh4 =. 78. xf6 gxh4 79.gxh4 xh4?! With his flag hanging, Black doesn't manage

to work out that besides the planned pawn capture, he had another candidate move at his disposal, a stronger one: 79...Rb2!. The h4-pawn is still lost, but White only manages to free his king from confinement with a substantial loss of time: 80.Rf8 Kxh4 81.Rb8 Ra2 82.Kb7 Kg3 =. 80. b7 xa7+! Public enemy number 1 must be eliminated as after 80...Kg3? 81.Ra6 the a-pawn will queen: 81...Rb2+ 82.Kc7 Rc2+ 83.Kd7 +–. 81. xa7 g3 82. g6+! The zwischenschach is good technique, but in this case insufficient to win. 82... f3 83. h6! An interim check to win a tempo is a standard method in a rook versus pawn battle. Bacrot is familiar with it, and so he successfully uses it even in severe time trouble. True, the position still remains drawn but some accuracy is needed. 83... g4 84. b6 h4 85. c5 h3 86. d4 g3 87. e3 (D)


87...h2? Too hasty. An important position has been created that should be included in the arsenal of every player's endgame knowledge. If Robson had known it, he would automatically have played 87...Kg2! (Black must play for body-checks) 88.Rg6+ (88.Ke2 h2 89.Rg6+ Kh1! =) 88...Kf1! (body-check!) (88...Kh1? 89.Kf3 h2 90.Re6 Kg1 91.Re1 #) 89.Rh6 Kg2 90.Ke2 h2

91.Rg6+ Kh1 =. 88. g6+ h3 89. f2! h1 + 89...h1Q 90.Rh6+ Kg4 91.Rxh1 +–. 90. f3 h2 91. g7 1–0 Lerner Konstantin Dorfman Josif Tashkent 1980 ● □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8R+ + + +( 7+ + +pm k ' 6 + + +p+& 5z P + + +p% 4 + +K+ z P$ 3t r + +Pz P # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 58...

a4+?

111

The rook was placed ideally, while the king's position could be improved. After 58...Kf6! 59.a6 (White could also try 59.Ra6+ Kg7 60.Kd5 Rxf3 61.Rb6 Rxg3 62.a6, leading to a position which occurred in the game, but with White to move. With a tempo less, he could hardly have expected to win) 59...Ke6 60.Kd4 Kf5! Black would have had no problems: 61.Kc4 Rxf3 62.Rd8 (62.Kb4 Rf1 63.Rc8 Rb1+ =) 62...Ra3 63.Kb5 Kg4 64.Rd4+ Kxg3 65.Ra4 Rb3+ 66.Kc6 Rb8 67.a7 Ra8 68.Kb7 Rxa7+ 69.Kxa7 f6 70.Kb6 g5 =. 59. d5 a3 60.a6 Black has not placed his king in the appropriate triangle (e6, f6, f5) and now there is no longer any salvation. 60... xf3?! Black's king will be cut off along the 6th rank now. 60...Kf6!? was the alternative try, when White has to be quite accurate: a) 61.Kc6? a1) 61...Kf5? 62.Kb5 Rxf3 63.Rc8 Rb3+ 64.Ka4 Rb1 65.Rc4! (65.Rc3 Rb8 66.Rc4! [66.Ka5? Kg4 67.a7 Re8 68.Rb3 {68.Kb6 f6 69.Kb7 g5 70.Rc8 Re7+ =} 68...Ra8 69.Ka6 f5 70.Kb7 {70.Rb8 Rxa7+ 71.Kxa7 Kxg3 =} 70...Re8 71.Ra3 Rf8 72.a8Q Rxa8 73.Rxa8 Kxg3 =] 66...f6 67.Ka5 g5 68.a7 Re8 69.Kb6 +–) 65...Rb8 (65...Ke6 66.Ka5 Kd5 67.Rb4 Rxb4 68.Kxb4 +– ; 65...Ke5 66.Ka5 Rd1 67.a7 Rd8 68.Kb6+– ; 65...f6 66.Ka5 +–) 66.Ka5 f6 67.a7 Rd8 68.Rb4 +–. a2) 61...Rxf3! 62.Rb8 Ra3 63.Rb6 Kf5 64.Kb7 Kg4 65.a7 Rxa7+ 66.Kxa7 Kxg3 67.Rb4 f6 (67...f5 68.Kb6 f4 69.Kc5 Kxh4! [69...f3? 70.Kd4 f2 71.Rb1 Kxh4 72.Ke3 Kg3 73.Ke2! {73.Rf1? h4 74.Rxf2 h3 75.Rf3+ Kg2 76.Rf6 h2 77.Rxg6+ Kf1 =} 73...h4 74.Kf1 g5 75.Rb3+ Kh2 76.Kxf2 g4 77.Rb2!! {77.Rb1? g3+ 78.Kf3 h3 79.Ra1 g2 80.Kf2 g1Q + 81.Rxg1} 77...g3+ 78.Kf3+ Kg1 79.Ra2 Kh1 80.Ra4 g2 81.Rxh4+ Kg1 82.Rg4 Kh1 83.Kf2 +–] 70.Kd4 [70.Rxf4+ Kg3 =] 70...Kg3 71.Ke4 h4! 72.Rb3+ Kg4 73.Rb1 Kg3! 74.Rg1+ Kf2 =) 68.Kb6 g5 69.Kc5 gxh4


=. b) 61. Kc5! Kf5 (61...Rxf3?! 62.Rd8 Ra3 63.Kb5 Ke5 64.Rd7 f6 65.a7 Ke4 66.Rc7! +–) b1) 62.Kb5 Rxf3 63.Rc8 Rb3+ 64.Ka4 Rb1 65.Rc3 Rb8 66.Ka5 Kg4 (66...Ra8 67.Kb6 Kg4 68.Kb7 Re8 69.a7 f5 70.a8Q Rxa8 71.Kxa8 f4 72.gxf4 Kxh4 73.Kb7 [73.Rf3 Kg4 74.Rf1 Kg3 75.Kb7 Kg2 76.Ra1 Kg3! 77.Ra4 h4 78.Kc6 h3 79.Kd5 h2 =] 73...Kg4 74.Rc4 h4 75.Kc6 h3 76.Kd5 h2 77.f5+ Kg3 =) 67.a7 Re8! (67...Ra8? 68.Kb6 f6 69.Kb7 Rxa7+ [69...Re8 70.Rc8 Re7+ 71.Kb8 Rxa7 72.Kxa7 Kxg3 73.Rg8 +–] 70.Kxa7 g5 71.Kb6 +–) 68.Kb6 f6 69.Kb7 g5 70.Rc8 Re7+ 71.Rc7 Re8 72.Rg7 Kxg3 73.hxg5 fxg5 74.Rxg5+ Kh4 75.Ra5 Kg4 =. b2) 62.Ra7 f6 63.Kb4 Rxf3 64.Rb7 Rf1 65.Rb5+ (65.a7 Rb1+ 66.Kc5 Ra1 67.Rg7 g5 68.Kb6 Kg4 =) 65...Kg4 66.Ra5 Rb1+ 67.Kc5 Rb8 68.a7 Ra8 69.Ra3 g5 =. b3) 62.Kb4! (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8R+ + + +( 7+ + +p+ ' 6P+ + +p+& 5+ + +k+p% 4 m K + + z P$ 3t r + +Pz P # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 62...Ra1 63.Kb5 Rb1+ 64.Kc6 Ra1 (64...Rc1+ 65.Kd7! [65.Kb7? Rb1+ 66.Ka7 Rb3 67. Rb8 Rxf3 68.Rb5+ Kg4 69.Kb6 Re3 70.a7 Re8 =] 65...Ra1 66.Ke7 +–) 65.Ra7! (65.Kd7? Ra3!) 65...f6 (65...Kf6 66.Kd7! followed by 67.Ke8 ; 65...Ke6 66.Kb6 Rb1+ 67.Kc7 Ra1 68.Kd8 +–) 66.Ra8! Ra3 67.a7 +– reaching a well-known winning position from 112

Unzicker,W-Lundin.E Amsterdam 1954. 61. b8! a3 62. b6! Now the black king is cut off. 62... xg3 63. c6 a3 64. b7 (D) By placing his king on b7, White has reached an ideal position, having also prevented the black king from being activated. So now there isn’t much hope for Black… 64...g5 Black tries to quickly create a passed pawn. 64...f6 65.a7 Rxa7+ 66.Kxa7 g5 67.Rb4 Kg6 68.Kb6 Kf5 (68...gxh4 69.Rxh4 Kg5 70.Rh1 h4 71.Kc5 Kg4 72.Kd4 h3 73.Ke3 Kg3 74.Rg1+ +–) 69.Kc5 g4 70.Rb1 (70.Kd4 Kf4 71.Kd3+ +–) 70...Kf4 (70...g3 71.Rf1+ Kg4 72.Rxf6 Kxh4 73.Kd4 Kh3 74.Ke3 Kg2 [74...h4 75.Kf3 Kh2 76.Rg6 Kg1 77.Rg4 Kf1 78.Ra4 +–] 75.Rh6 Kf1 76.Ra6! Kg2 77.Ra2+ Kh3 78.Kf3 h4 79.Ra4 g2 80.Rg4 +–) 71.Kd4 g3 72.Rf1+ Kg4 73.Rxf6 would not help him. 65.hxg5 h4 66.a7 h3 67.a8 67.Ra6? h2 =. 67... xa8 68. xa8 h2 69. h6 f6 70. xh2 fxg5 (D)

The Pawn is not yet on the 6 th or 7 th Ranks Usually these cases transpose to the above mentioned types. But of course there are many tricks that we should be aware of:

XABCDEFGHY 8K+ + + +( 7+ + + m k ' 6 + + + +& 5+ + + z p % 4 + + + +$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + + t R" 1+ + + + !

35.Rf4+ Ke6 36.a4 but he could play 36...f6! then, followed by ...g5, driving the rook back from its comfortable position on f4 where it has been protecting all the white pawns. 35. a6 a2 36. a4 a1?! As 'usual', Black does not care about the activation of his king. 37. a6! a2 38.a4 a3+?! The same pernicious strategy is usually fatal. Here the a-pawn is still two steps away from a6 but White does not need extra time for bringing his rook from the 8th rank to the 6th. Black should have performed the useful pawn advance 38...f6!, followed by 39...g5;

xabcdefghy

then a draw could have been achieved relatively easily. 39. d4 f6! The other option was 39... Ra2. The position is also difficult after 40.a5!? (40.f4? Ra3 41.a5 Rxg3 42.Rb6 Rf3 43.Ke4 Ra3 44.a6 Ra5 = ; 40.f3 Ra3 arose [with reversed colours] in the game Krakops,MDautov,R Batumi 1999): a) 40...Rxf2? 41.Rc6! (D) 113

71. f2! The winning move. By cutting off the black king, White secures victory. The rook prevents the shouldering manoeuvre that was possible after 71.Kb7? Kf6 72.Kc6 Ke5! =. 71... h6 72. b7 g4 73. c6 g5 74. d5 g3 75. f8! g4 76. e4 1–0


Akopian Vladimir Georgiev Kiril Las Vegas 1999 ● □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +pm k ' 6 + + +p+& 5+ + + +p% 4R+ + + z P$ 3z P + m K z P # 2r+ + z P +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 34... a1?! Perhaps Black rejected 34...Kf6! in view of

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +pm k ' 6 +R+ +p+& 5z P + + +p% 4 + m K + z P$ 3+ + + z P # 2 + + t r +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy a1) 41...f5 42.a6 (42.Ke5 Rf3 or 42.Kc5 f4 43.gxf4 Rxf4 followed by 44...Rxh4, is not dangerous for Black: he will give up the rook for the passed pawns in time and achieve the draw) 42...f4 43.a7 Ra2 44.Rc7+ Kf6 45.gxf4 Kf5 46.Kc5 Kg4 (46...Kxf4 47.Kb5 Kg3 48.Rc3+ Kh2 49.Rc2+ Rxc2 50.a8Q Rg2 51.Kc5 +–) 47.Kb5! Rb2+ (47...Kxh4 48.f5! +–) 48.Kc4! (48.Kc6? Ra2 49.Kb7 Rb2+ [49...Kxh4] 50.Kc8 Ra2 51.Kb8 Kxh4 =) 48...Ra2 49.f5! Kxf5 50.Kb5 +–. a2) 41...Rg2 and now: a21) 42.a6? Rxg3 43.Kc5 (43.Rc3 Rg4+ 44.Kc5 Ra4 [44...Rxh4? 45.Ra3 Re4 46.a7 Re8 47.a8Q Rxa8 48.Rxa8 +–] 45.Kb5 Ra1 46.Rc4 g5 47.hxg5 f6 48. gxf6+ Kxf6 49.Ra4 Rb1+ 50.Kc6 Rc1+ 51.Kb7 Rb1+ =) 43...Ra3 44.Kb6 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +pm k ' 6Pm KR+ +p+& 5+ + + +p% 4 + + + P z$ 3t r + + + # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy Trivial Endings - Revealing the Secrets

and now he must be careful: a211) 44...f5? 45.a7 f4 46. Rc8! (46.Rc7+? Kf6 47.Rc5 Rxa7! [47...f3? 48.Ra5 Rxa5 49.Kxa5 f2 50.a8Q f1Q 51.Qf8+ +–] 48.Kxa7 f3 49.Rc3 Kf5 50.Rxf3+ Kg4 51.Rf6 g5! [51...Kxh4? 52.Rxg6 Kh3 53.Kb6 h4 54.Kc5 Kh2 55.Kd4 h3 56.Ke3 Kh1 57.Kf3 +–] 52.hxg5 Kxg5 =) 46...Kf6 47.a8Q Rxa8 48.Rxa8 Kf5 49.Kc5 +–. a212) 44...f6? 45.a7 g5 46.Kb7 Rxa7+ 47.Kxa7 gxh4 (47...Kg6 48.Kb6 Kf5 49.Kc5 Kg4 50.Kd4 Kxh4 51.Rxf6 Kg3 52.Rf5 Kg4 53.Rf1 +–) 48.Kb6 h3 (48...Kg6 49.Kc5 Kf5 50.Kd4 Kf4 [50...h3 51.Ke3 +–] 51.Rxf6+ Kg3 52.Ke3 +–) 49.Rc3 Kg6 50.Rxh3 Kg5 51.Kc5 Kg4 52.Rh1 h4 53.Kd4 Kg3 54.Ke3 +–. a213) 44...g5! 45.hxg5 (45.Rc5 gxh4 46.Rxh5 [46.a7 Rxa7 47.Kxa7 Kg6 48.Kb6 h3 =] 46...h3 47.a7 Ra1! 48.Rxh3 [48.Ra5 Rb1+ 49.Kc7 h2 50.a8Q h1Q =] 48...Rb1+ 49.Kc7 Ra1 50.Kb8 Rb1+ 51.Ka8 f5 52.Rc3 Kf6 53.Rc8 Ke5 54.Rb8 Ra1 =) 45...h4 46.a7 h3 47.Rc3! (47.Rh6 Rb3+ 48.Kc7 Rc3+ 49.Kb7 Rb3+ 50.Rb6 h2 51.Rxb3 h1Q+ 52.Kb8 Qh2+ =) 47...Rxc3! (47...Ra1? 48.Rxh3 Rb1+ 49.Kc6 Rc1+ 50.Kb7 Rb1+ 51.Ka8 Kg6 52.Rh8 Kxg5 53.Rb8 Ra1 54.Kb7 f5 55.a8Q Rxa8 56.Rxa8 f4 57.Kc6 f3 58.Rf8 +– or 47...h2? 48.Rxa3 h1Q 49.a8Q +– are losing; in the last line, the white king finds asylum on the kingside, on h2) 48.a8Q Rg3 =, as White can eliminate the h-pawn only at the cost of his g5pawn; thereafter the black rook will be placed on g6 with an easy draw: 49.Qc6 Rxg5 50.Qc3+ Kg8 51.Qxh3 Rg6+ =.

R

R

R

R

a22) c3!Kc4 a2 c5b5 K a3!? Ke643.45.K (43...K42. f6 44. d6 46.Kb6 +– ; 43...f6 44.Kc4 g5 45.hxg5 fxg5 46.Rxg5+ Kh6 47.Rc5 Ra3 48.Kb5 Rb3+!? [48...Rxg3 49.a6 Rg8 50.a7 h4 51.Kb6 h3 {51...Rf8 52.Kb7 Rf7+ 53.Kb8 Rf8+ 54.Rc8 +–} 52.Rc3 Rg6+ 53.Kb5 Rg5+ 54.Kb4 Rg4+ 55.Kb3 Rg8 56.Rxh3+ +–] 49.Kc6 [49.Ka4? Rxg3 50.a6 Rg7 51.Kb5 h4 52.Kb6 114

Rg6+ 53.Kb7 h3 54.Rc3 Rg7+ =] 49...Ra3 [49...Rxg3 50.a6 h4 51.a7 Ra3 52.Kb6 h3 53.Ra5 +–] 50.Kc7 Kg6 51.Kb6 Rb3+ 52.Rb5 Rxg3 53.a6 +–) 44.Kc4 Rxg3 45.a6 Ra3 46.Kb5 f5 (D) (46...f6 47.Kb6 Kh6 48.Ra5 Rb3+ 49.Kc7 Rc3+ 50.Kd7 Rd3+ 51.Ke7 Re3+ 52.Kf7 +–)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + m k ' 6P+ + +p+& 5+Kt R +p+p% 4 + + + z P$ 3t r + + + # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

on the f2-pawn does not save Black. b) After 40...f6! 41.f4!? Ra3 42.Ra7+ Kh6 43.a6 g5 (D) (43...Rxg3? 44.Rf7 f5 45.a7 Ra3 46.Kc5 +–)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7t R + + + ' 6P+ + z p k& m 5+ pp% 4 ++m K+ z Pz P$ z 3t r + + z P # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

47.Rc7+!! (47.Kb6? f4 48.a7 f3 49.Rc7+ [49.Rc3 Rxc3!? {49...Ra1 =} 50.a8Q f2

we have: b1) 44.hxg5+ fxg5 45.f5 h4 46.gxh4 gxh4 47.Ra8 h3 =. b2) 44.f5 Rxg3 (44...gxh4 45.gxh4 Ra4+ 46.Kc5 Rc4+ [46...Rxh4? 47.Ra8 Ra4 48.a7 Kg5 {48...Kg7 49.Kb6 Rb4+

=] 49...Kh6 50.Rc3 Ra1 51.Rxf3 Rb1+ 52.Kc7 Rc1+ 53.Kb7 Rb1+ 54.Ka8 g5 55.Rf6+ Kg7 56.hxg5 h4 57.Rh6 Rb4 = ; 47.Rc4? g5! 48.Ra4 Rb3+ 49.Kc6 Rc3+! [49...Rb8? 50.a7 Ra8 51.Kb7 +–] 50.Kd7 Rd3+ 51.Ke6 Rd8 52.a7 Ra8 53.Kxf5 gxh4 =) 47...Kh6 (47...Kf6 48.a7 Ke5 49.Rc5+ +–) 48.Rc4 g5 (48...f4 49.Rxf4 g5 50.Ra4 Rb3+ 51.Kc6 Rc3+ 52.Kd5 +– ; 48...Kg7 49.Ra4 Rb3+ 50.Ka5 Rb8 51.a7 Ra8 52.Kb6 g5 53.Kb7 Rf8 54.a8Q Rxa8 55.Rxa8 gxh4 56.Kc6 Kf6 57.Kd5 Kg5 58.Kd4 Kf4 59.Ra3 Kg4 60.Ke3 Kg3 61.Ke2+ Kg2 62.Ra8 +–) 49.Ra4 Rb3+ 50.Kc6 Rb8 (50...Rc3+ 51.Kd7 Rd3+ 52.Ke7 Re3+ 53.Kf7 +–) 51.a7 Ra8 52.Ra6!! (52.Kb7? Rxa7+ 53.Kxa7 gxh4 =) 52...Rxa7 (52...gxh4 53.Kb7+ +– ; 52...Kg7 53.hxg5 +–) 53.hxg5+ (53.Rxa7 gxh4 54.Kd5 Kg5 55.Kd4 +–) 53...Kxg5 54.Rxa7 h4 55.Kd5 Kf4 56.Kd4 h3 57.Rh7 Kg3 58.Ke3 +–. This extremely complicated analysis brings us to conclude that the attack

50.Ka5 +–} 49.Rg8+ Kxf5 50.a8Q Rxa8 51.Rxa8 h4 52.Kd4 Kf4 53. Rh8 Kg3 54.Ke3 f5 55.Rg8+ Kh2 56.Kf3 +–] 47.Kd6 Rxh4 48.Ke6 Ra4 [48...Rb4 49.Kxf6 h4! {49...Rb6+? 50.Ke5 Rb5+ 51.Kf4 Rb4+ 52.Ke3 Rb3+ 53.Kd2 Rb2+ 54.Kc3 Ra2 55.Ra8 Kg7 56.a7 h4 57.f6+ +–} 50.Ra8 Kh7 =] 49.Kxf6 h4 =) 45.Ra8 Ra3 46.a7 Ra4+! (46...Kg7 47.hxg5 fxg5 48.f6+ Kf7 49.Rh8 Ra4+ 50.Kc3 Ra3+ 51.Kb2 Rxa7 52.Rh7+ Kxf6 53.Rxa7 h4 54.Kc3 Kf5 55.Kd3 +– ) 47.Kd5 Ra5+ 48.Kc6 gxh4 49.Kb6 Ra1 50.Rh8+ Kg5 51.a8Q Rxa8 52.Rxa8 Kxf5 =. b3) 44.Ra8 gxh4 45.a7 (45.gxh4 Kg6 =) 45...Ra4+ 46.Kd3 Kh7 47.gxh4 Kg7! (47...f5? 48.Kc3 Kg7 49.Kb3 Ra1 50.Kc4 Ra5 51.Kb4 Ra1 52.Kc5 Ra2 53.Kd6 Ra6+ 54.Ke5 Ra5+ 55.Ke6 +–) 48.Kc3 Kh7 =. 40. a7+ h6 41.a5 g5 Again, the attack on f2 with 41... Rf3 is not working: 42.a6 Rxf2 43.Rc7 (43.Rf7?


115

Ra2 44.a7 g5! 45.Kc5 Kg6 =) 43...Ra2 44.a7 g5 45.Kc5 is quite hopeless for Black: 45...gxh4 (45...Kg6 46.Kb6 +–) 46.gxh4 f5 47.Kb5 (threatening Rc6-a6) 47...Rb2+ 48.Kc6 Ra2 49.Kb7 Rb2+ 50.Kc8 Ra2 51.Rc6+ Kg7 52.Kb7 +–. 42.

c5 gxh4 43.gxh4 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7t +k& ' 6R ++ ++ z p m 5z P m K + +p% 4 + + + z P$ 3t r + + + # 2 + + z P +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 43... a4? A completely illogical move; it makes sense only in connection with a capture on h4, but

Black cannot take this pawn. White also wins after 43...Ra2? 44.f3 Ra3 45.Kb4 Rxf3 46.Rc7!, but it seems that 43... Kg6! saves the day: 44. Kb4 Rh3! (44...Rf3? 45.a6 Rxf2 46.Rd7 +– ; 44...Ra2? 45.Rc7 Kf5 46.Rc3 +–) 45.Rc7 Rxh4+ 46.Rc4 and now: a) 46...Rh1? 47.a6 h4 48.Kb3! (48.Kb5? h3 49.a7 Ra1 50.Ra4 Rb1+ 51.Kc5 [51.Ka5 h2 52.a8Q h1Q 53.Qg8+ Kh6 54.Qh8+ Kg6 55.Rg4+ Kf5 56.Qc8+ Ke5 57.Qe8+ Kd6 =] 51...Rc1+ [51...h2? 52.a8Q h1Q 53.Qg8+ Kh6 54.Qh8+ Kg5 {54...Kg6 55.Rg4+ Kf5 56.Qc8+ Ke5 57.Qe8+ Kf5 58.Qd7+ Ke5 59.Qd6+ Kf5 60.Rf4+ +–} 55.Qg7+ Kh5 56.Qh7+ Kg5 57.f4+ Kg4 58.Qg6+ +–] 52.Kd6 [52.Kd4 h2 53.a8Q h1Q =] 52...Rd1+ 53.Ke7 Re1+ =) 48...h3 49.a7 Ra1 50.Ra4 Rb1+ 51.Ka2 h2 52.a8Q (52.Rh4 Rb4 53.a8Q Rxh4 54.Qh1 +/–) 52...h1Q 53.Qe8+! Kh6 54.Qe3+ Kg7 (54...Kg6 55.Qd3+ Kh6 56.Qxb1 +–) 55.Qg3+! (55.Ra7+? Rb7 =) 55...Kf8


(55...Kf7 56.Ra7+ Rb7 57.Qb3+ +–) 56.Qd6+ Kf7 57.Qd7+ Kf8 58.Qc8+ Kf7 59.Ra7+ +–. b) 46...Rh2! 47.Rc2 (47.Rf4 Kg5 48.a6 Kxf4 49.a7 Rxf2 50.a8Q h4 =) 47...Rh4+ (47...h4? 48.a6 Rh1 49.Rc3! +–) 48.Kb5 Rh1 49.Ra2 Rb1+ 50. Kc6 h4 (50...Rc1+ =) 51.a6 Rc1+ 52.Kb6 Rb1+ 53.Ka5 h3 54.f3 Rb8! (54...Re1? 55.a7 Re8 56.Kb6 Kg5 57.a8Q Rxa8 58.Rxa8 Kf4 59.Rh8 Kxf3 60.Rxh3+ Ke4 61.Kc5 f5 62.Rh8 f4 63.Kc4 Ke3 64.Kc3 f3 65.Re8+ +–) 55.Rh2 (55.a7 Ra8 56.Kb6 Kg5 =) 55...Re8!! (55...Rh8? 56.a7 +–) 56. Rxh3 Re5+ 57.Kb4 Re6 =. 44.a6 a2 Capturing the last pawn with 44...Rxh4 does not help: 45.Ra8 Ra4 46.a7 Kh7 (46...Kg7 47.Kb6 Rb4+ 48.Ka5 +–) 47.Kb6 h4 48.Rd8 Kg6 (48...h3 49.a8Q Rxa8 50.Rxa8 h2 51.Ra1 +–) 49.a8Q Rxa8 50.Rxa8 Kg5 51.Kc5 Kg4 52.Rh8 +–. 45. a8 g6 46. b6 b2+ 47. a7 xf2 48. b8! The thematic continuation, allowing the white king to extricate himself. 48... f4 49. b5! Cutting off the black king. White now wins by transferring the game into a winning rook vs. knight ending. 49... xh4 50. b6 e4 51.a7 e8 52. a5 h4 53.a8 xa8 54. xa8 g5 55. c5 h3 56. h8 g4 57. d4 g3 58. e3 g2 59. e2! h2 60. g8+ h3 61. f2 h1 + 62. f3 h2 63. g2+ h3 64. g6 h2 65. xf6 g1 66. g6+ 1–0

116

Krakops Maris Dautov Rustem Batumi 1999 ● □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8R+ + + +( 7+ + +p+ ' 6 + + m kp+& 5+ + + +p% 4p+ + + z P$ 3t r + + z P # 2 + + z PK+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy A drawish position, but Black can try! 43... e5 44. a7 d5 45.f3! The best defence, as the a-pawn is not far enough advanced. It would be wrong to play 45.Rxf7? Rc3 and now: a) 46.f4 a3! (46...Ke4? 47.Rf6 a3 48.Rxg6 a2 49.Ra6 Rc2+ 50.Kh3 = ; 46...Kc4? 47.f5 gxf5 48.Rxf5 a3 [48...Kb4 49.Rxh5 Rc5 50.Rh6 a3 51.Re6 a2 52.Re1 Ra5 53.Ra1 Kb3 54.g4 Kb2 55.Rxa2+ Rxa2 56.h5 =] 49.Rxh5 Kb4 [49...a2 50.Ra5 Kb3 51.h5 Rc4 52.Rxa2 Kxa2 53.Kf3 Kb3 54.g4 =] 50.Re5 a2 51.Re1 Kb3 52.h5 Kb2 53.Kh3 Rc1 54.Re2+ Rc2 55.Re1 =) 47.f5 a2 48.Ra7 Rc2+ 49.Kf3 Kc4 51.Kg5 Kb4! gxf5 50.Kf4 (51...Kb3? 52.Kxh5! = [52.Rb7+? Kc3 53.Rc7+ Kb2 54.Rb7+ Ka3! {54...Kc1? 55.Ra7 Kb1 56.Kxh5 =} 55.Ra7+ Kb4! 56.Kxh5 f4!! 57.gxf4 Rc5+ 58.Kg6 Ra5 – +]) 52.Rb7+ Kc5 53.Ra7 f4! 54.Kxf4 Kb4 –+ as the threat ...Rc4+ and then ...Rc5+ or ...Rc3+ is decisive. b) 46.Rg7 Rc6! 47.Ra7 Rc4 and Black wins because of his active rook: b1) 48.f3 Kc5 49.g4 hxg4 50.fxg4 Rxg4+ 51.Kh3 Rc4 52.Ra6 Kb4 53.Rb6+ (53.Rxg6 a3 54.Rg1 a2 55.h5 Kb3 56.h6 [56.Rf1 Kb2 57. Rf2+ Kb1 58.Rf1+ Rc1 –+] 56...Rc6! 57.Rg3+ Kb4 58.Rg4+ Kb5 59.Rg5+ Kb6 60.Rg1 Rxh6+ –+)


53...Kc3 (53...Ka5? 54.Rxg6 a3 55.Rg2 Kb4 56.h5 Kb3 57. Rg3+ Kb2 58.h6 Rc6 59.Rg2+ =) 54.Ra6 (54.Rxg6 a3 55.h5 a2 56.Ra6 Kb2 57.Rb6+ Ka3 58.Ra6+ Ra4 –+) 54...Kc2! (zugzwang!) 55.Kg3 Kb3 56.Rb6+ Rb4 57.Rxg6 a3 –+. b) 48.Kf3 doesn't help as the pawn endgame after 48...Kc5 49.Ke3 Kb4 50.Kd3 Kb3 51.Rb7+ Rb4 52.Rxb4+ Kxb4 is lost for White due to Black's distant passed a-pawn. b3) 48. Ra6 Kc5 49.Rxg6 a3 50.Ra6 Kb4 51.f4 (51.f3 Kb3 52.Kh3 Ra4 53.Rb6+ Kc2 54.Rc6+ Kd2 55.Rd6+ Ke2 56.Re6+ Kf2 –+) 51...Rc2+ (an important check to force White's king to a bad square. Such subtleties occur quite often in rook endings. Watch out for them!) 52. Kh3 (52.Kf3 a2 53.Ke4 Rc4+! 54.Ke5 Rc5+ 55.Ke4 Ra5 –+) 52...Rc5 53.g4 (53.f5 Rxf5 54.g4 Ra5 55.Rb6+ Kc3 56.Rc6+ Kd4 –+ ; 53.Kg2 Ra5 54.Rb6+ Ka4 55.Rb1 a2 56.Ra1 Kb3 57.g4 hxg4 58.Kg3 Kb2 –+) 53...Ra5 54.Rb6+ Kc3 55.Rb1 (55.Rc6+ Kd2 56.Rd6+ Ke2 57.Re6+ Kf2 –+) 55...a2 56.Ra1 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + + +& 5t r + + +p% 4 + + z PPz P$ 3+ m k + +K# 2p+ + + +" 1t R + + + ! xabcdefghy 56...Ra3!! 57.Rxa2 (57.Kg2 hxg4 58.f5 Kb2 59.Re1 a1Q 60.Rxa1 Kxa1 61.h5 Rh3 –+) 57...hxg4+ 58.Kxg4 Rxa2 59.h5 Kd4 60.h6 Rh2 61.Kg5 Kd5 62.f5 Kd6 63.Kg6 Ke7 64.f6+ Kf8 –+. 45...f5!? An interesting try, as 45...Ra2+ 46.Kh3 Ra1 47.Rxf7 a3 48.Ra7 = looks easy. 46. a6 a2+ 47. h3 a3 117

47...Kc4 doesn't help after 48.g4! (48.Rxg6? Rf2 –+) 48...Ra1 49.Rxg6 (49.gxh5? is nicely refuted: 49...gxh5 50.Kg3 Kb5 51.Ra8 Rg1+ 52.Kf4 Rg6 53.Kxf5 Ra6 54.Rb8+ Kc4 55.Rb1 a3 56.Kg5 Ra5+ 57.Kg6 a2 58.Ra1 Kb3 59.f4 Kb2 60.Rxa2+ Rxa2 61.Kxh5 Kc3 62.Kg6 Kd4 63.h5 Kd5 64.h6 Ke6 65.h7 Rg2+ 66.Kh6 Kf7 67.h8N+ Kf6 –+) 49...fxg4+ 50.fxg4 Rh1+ 51.Kg2 Rxh4 52.g5 Rg4+ 53.Kh2! (53.Kh3? a3 54.Ra6 Kb3 55.g6 a2 56.Rb6+ Ka3 57.Ra6+ Ra4 58.Rxa4+ Kxa4 59.g7 a1Q 60.g8Q Qh1+ 61.Kg3 Qg1+ –+) 53...a3 54.Ra6 Kb3 55.g6 a2 56.Rb6+ =. 48.g4 48.Rxg6? Rf2 49.f4 a2 50.Ra6 Kc4 –+. 48...f4!? Black can hardly improve: 48...hxg4+ 49.fxg4 f4 50.h5 gxh5 51.gxh5 Ra1 52.h6 = or 48...Ra1 49.gxh5 and now: a) 49...a2 50.Kg2 (50.Ra5+ Kd6 51.Kh2 [51.Ra6+ Ke5 52.Kg2 gxh5 53.Ra4 Kd5 54.Ra5+ =] 51...gxh5 52.f4? [52.Kg2! =] 52...Kc6 53.Kg2 Kb6 54.Ra8 Kc5 55.Ra4 Kb5 56.Ra8 Kc4 57.Ra7 Kd3 58.Ra3+ Ke4 59.Ra4+ Ke3 –+) 50...gxh5 and Black's king has no hiding place on the queenside, so it is a draw. b) 49...gxh5 50.Kg3 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6R+ + + +& 5+ +k+p+p% 4 + + + P z$ 3z p + +Pm K # 2 + + + +" 1t r + + + ! xabcdefghy b1) 50...Ke5 51.Ra5+ Kd4 52.Kf4 Kc3 53.Kxf5 Kb3 54. Rb5+ Ka4 55.Rb8 Rg1 56.Ra8+ Kb3 57.Rb8+ Kc3 58.Ra8 Kb2 59.Rb8+ Ka1 60.Rb5! (60.f4? a2 61.Kf6 Rb1 62.Ra8 Kb2 63.Kg6 a1Q 64.Rxa1


Rxa1 –+) 60...a2 61.Kf6 Rb1 62.Rxh5 Rb 6+ 63.Kg7 Rb4 64.Re5 Rxh4 65.Rb5 =. b2) 50...Kc4 51.Kf4 Kb3 52.Rb6+ (52.Kxf5 Rc1 53.Rb6+ Ka4 54.Ra6+ Kb4 55.Kg6 Rc5 56.f4 Ra5 57.Rb6+ Kc3 58.Rb1 a2 59.Ra1 Kb2 60.Rxa2+ Rxa2! 61.f5 Kc3 62.f6 Rf2 63.Kxh5 Kd4 64.Kg6 Ke5 –+) 52...Ka4 53.Ra6+ Kb4 54.Rb6+ Ka5 55.Rb8 Rc1 (55...Rf1 56.Kxf5 Rxf3+ 57.Kg6 = ; 55...Rh1 56.Kg5 Rh2 57.f4 Ka4 58.Ra8+ Kb3 59.Kxh5 Rg2 60.Rb8+ Kc2 61.Rc8+ Kb1 62.Rb8+ Ka1 63.Rb5 =) 56.Ra8+ Kb4 57.Rb8+ Ka4 58.Ra8+ Kb3 59.Rb8+ Kc2 60.Rc8+ Kb2 61.Rb8+ Ka1 62.Kxf5 Rg1 63.Rb5 a2 64.Kf6 Rb1 65.Rxh5 Rb6+ 66.Kg7 Rb4 67.Re5 Rxh4 68.Rb5 =. 49.gxh5 49.Rxg6 is also possible: 49...Ra1 50.Ra6 a2 51.Ra5+! (51.Kg2? hxg4 52.fxg4 f3+ 53.Kf2 Rh1 54.Ra5+ Kc6 55.Ra6+ Kb7 56.Rxa2 Rh2+ 57.Kxf3 Rxa2 58.h5 Kc6 59.Kf4 Kd6 –+) 51...Kd4 (51...Kc4 52.gxh5! Rh1+ 53.Kg4 a1Q 54.Rxa1 Rxa1 55.h6 =) 52.Ra4+ (52.gxh5? Rh1+ 53.Kg4 a1Q 54.Rxa1 Rxa1 55.Kxf4 [55.h6 Ke3 –+] 55...Ra5 –+) 52...Kc3 (52...Kc5 53.gxh5 Kb5 54.Ra8 = ; 52...Ke3 53.Ra3+ Ke2 54.gxh5 = ; 52...Kd3 53.gxh5 = ; 52...Ke5 53.Ra5+ Kd6 54.Ra6+ Kc5 55.gxh5 =) 53.gxh5 Kb3 54.Ra8 Rh1+ 55.Kg4 a1Q 56.Rxa1 Rxa1 57.Kxf4 =. 49...gxh5 50. a5+ c4 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 +& 5t R++++++p% 4 +k+ p z P z$ 3z p + +P+K# 2r+ + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 118

51. xh5? The decisive mistake. White must first force the black king to the d-file or the first rank, with the help of stalemate tricks: 51.Rc5+! Kd3 (51...Kb3 52.Rb5+ Kc2 53.Rc5+ Kb1 54.Rxh5 Rb2 55.Ra5 a2 56.Kg4 =) 52.Rxh5 Ke3 and now T.Stark indicated the saving resource: 53.Ra5! (53.Rb5 as well: 53...Kxf3 54.h5 [54.Rb3+? Ke4 55.Rb4+ Kf5 56.Rb5+ Ke6 57.Rb6+ Kd7 58.Rb7+ Kc6 59.Ra7 Ra1 60.Kg2 a2 61.h5 f3+ –+] 54... Ra1 55.Kh2 =) 53...Kxf3 54.h5 Ra1 55.Kh2 =. 51... a1 52. a5 a2 53. g4 53.Kg2 Kb3 54.Rb5+ Ka4 –+. 53... g1+ 54. xf4 a1 55. xa1 xa1 56.h5 d5 57. f5 h1 58. g6 e6 59.f4 g1+ 60. h7 White resigned as after 60... Kf6 Black mates in just 5 moves! 0–1 Kashtanov Ruslan Inarkiev Ernesto St Petersburg 2004 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7t R + +p+ ' 6p+ + m kp+& 5+ + + +p% 4 + + + z P$ 3+ + +Kz P # 2r+ + z P +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy A 42.drawish a8?! position. 42.Ke3 would have been 'much better'. In such situations, the rook should keep an eye on the f7-pawn, and be ready to capture it as soon as the black king moves toward the opposite wing. But mainly, the text move allows Black to drive back the white king. 42... f5! 43. a7 a3+ 44. g2 e6 45. a8?!


White will eventually have to advance his kingside pawns, and every tempo could prove decisive. This is why it makes sense to start active operations there as soon as possible. The standard plan in such positions would be 45.f3!, followed by 46.g4. 45...a5 46. a7! The obvious 46.Ra6+? Kd5 leads to a position from the game Akopian,V-Georgiev,K Las Vegas 1999, with colours reversed. The complicated analysis given in this example shows that White's counterplay comes too late, so his position is lost. 46...a4 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7t R + +p+ ' 6 + +k+p+& 5+ + + +p% 4p+ + + z P$ 3t r + + z P # 2 P+ K+" 1+ ++ ++ z ! xabcdefghy 47. a5? How many times can White make the same double blunder? Again, he takes his rook off the seventh rank, and postpones his kingside counterplay. After 47.f3!, it appears that the position would still have been drawn. 47... a2? The advance of the black king, sacrificing the f7-pawn, is very dangerous for White, either with the rook on a3 and White's king on g2 (as in the above cited endgame

Akopian,V-Georgiev,K Las Vegas 1999), or with the rook on a2 and the pawn on a3. Inarkiev decided to play the second of these lines. Objectively speaking, 47...Kd6!, was stronger, and should have won. 48. f3 a3 49. a7? The concluding error, although a most excusable one. According to prior theory, the text move assures White an easy draw. Only in 2011 was it discovered that White's only 119

chance to save himself is 49.g4!! (V.Poghosyan). 49... d5! Of course; Black's f-pawn has to be sacrificed in order to improve! 50. e3 The main line is 50.Rxf7 Rc2 51.Ra7 a2 52.Kf4 Kc5!! (J.Steckner) 53.Kg5 Kb6 54.Ra3 Rc5+ 55.Kxg6 Ra5 56.Rxa2 Rxa2 57.Kxh5 Kc6! –+. 50... c4 51. xf7 c2! And Black instructively wins. 52. c7+ b3 53. b7+ c3 54. a7 a2 55.f3 b3 56. b7+ a3 57. a7+ b2 58. b7+ c1 59. a7 b1 0–1 Fernandez Garcia Jose Luis Kotronias Vasilios Dubai 1986 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + +k+( 7+ + +pz p ' 6R+ + + +& 5+ + + +p% 4 + + + +$ 3+ + + z P # 2P+ + z PKz P" 1+r+ + + ! xabcdefghy 34. c6! White avoids 34.a4 Ra1, when the draw is not that difficult. 34... b2! The only move, as after 34... Ra1? 35.Rc2,

the transfer of the white king to b2 would ensure victory for White. 35.a4 a2 36. c4 g6 37.h4 g7 38. f4! White keeps his pawns (a4, f2) covered by the rook, thus freeing his king. It is obvious that Black will have to proceed with ...f6 and ...g5, evicting the white rook from its superb post. 38... a3 39. f1 a2 40. g2 a3


41. f1 a2 42. e1 f6! 43. f1! White retraces his steps, aiming to exploit the negative side of ...f6. 43... f7 44. e4 b2 45. g2 a2 46. f1 f8 47. g2 a3 48. b4 f7 49. b7+ e6 Compulsory, as 49...Kf8? 50.Ra7 Kg8 51.Kf1 Ra2 52.Ke1 Kf8 53.a5 Kg8 54.a6 Kf8 55.Kd1! would win for White: 55...Rxf2 56.Rb7 Ra2 57.a7 and 58.Rb8. 50. a7 f5 Here 50...f5! (threatening 51...f4!) should be OK: 51.f4 Kf6 52.a5 Ke6 53.a6 Kf6 54.Kf2 Ke6 55.Ra8 Kf7 56.Ke2 Kg7! 57.Kd2 (if the black g-pawn was on g4, White would win here with 57.a7! and then, making use of zugzwang, the capture of the f5-pawn by his king) 57... Rxg3 58.Rb8 Ra3 59.Rb7+ Kf6 60.Rb6+ Kg7 61.Kc2 g5!! 62.fxg5 (62.hxg5 h4 63.Kb2 Ra5 64.Kc3 h3 65.Rh6 h2 66.Rxh2 Rxa6 =) 62...f4 63.Kd2 f3 64.Rb7+ Kg6 65.a7 Ra2+ 66.Ke1 Kf5 67.Rf7+ (67.Rg7 Re2+ 68.Kf1 Ra2) 67...Kg6 68.Rxf3 Rxa7 and Black would have achieved a theoretically drawn position after the further 69.Rf6+ Kg7 70.Rh6 Ra4! 71.Rxh5 Ra6!. 51. a8 a2 52.a5 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8R+ + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + z pp+& 5z P + +k+p% 4 + + + z P$ 3+ + + z P # 2r+ P+ K+" 1+ + ++ z ! xabcdefghy 52... a3? Also playable was 52...Ke6!? 53.a6 Kf7 54.Kf3 (54.Ra7+ Ke6) 54...Kg7 =, but the most accurate was 52...g5! 53.hxg5 fxg5 54.a6 Kg6 55.Kf1 g4 =.

120

53.a6 a2 Here 53...g5 is of no help: 54.hxg5 fxg5 55.a7 Kg4 56.Rf8 Rxa7 57.f3 #. 54.a7! a3 Or 54...Kg4 55.Rf8 Rxa7 56.Rxf6 +–. 55.f3! (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8R+ + + +( 7z P + + + ' 6 + + z pp+& 5+ + +k+p% 4 + + + z P$ 3t r + +Pz P # 2 + + +K+" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy Reaching approximately the same position as in Unziker,W-Lundin,E Amsterdam 1954. 55... a2+ 56. f1 a1+ 57. f2 a2+ 58. e1 a1+ 59. d2 a6 60. d3 a3+ 61. d2 a6 62. d3 a3+ 63. d4 a5 64. c4 a1 65. c5 a6 66. d5 a3 67. d6 a6+ 68. e7 a3 69. f7 a4 70. g7 g5!? A last 'try' as the waiting method is a wellknown losing one: 70...Ra1 71.Kh6 Ra3 72.Rb8 Rxa7 73.Rb5+ Ke6 74.Kxg6 +–. 71.hxg5 xg5 72. f7 f5 73.g4+! Winning a second pawn, as the black king dare not expose himself to a check from the white rook. 73...hxg4 74.fxg4+ f4 74...Kxg4 75.Rg8+ +–. 75. xf6 a6+ 76. f7 g3 77.g5 1–0

Some Interesting Cases Weaknesses in the inferior side's pawn structure can be proven lethal, as the next example demonstrates: Leko Peter Anand Viswanathan Linares 2003 ● □ ■


XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +pm k ' 6 + + + z p& 5z P + +Rz pP% 4 + + +P+$ 3+ + + m K # 2 + + z P +" 1+ t r + + ! xabcdefghy The white rook is ideally placed on f5, supporting both a5 and f2 while safely protected from harassment. Of course, Black offered a lot of 'help', as he refrained from the (fundamental) move ...h5 on several occasions, practically giving away the half point that his position merited. 45... a1?! Although the result will not change, Black should have continued with 45...Rc4! (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +pm k ' 6 + + + z p& 5z P + +Rz pP% 4 +r+ +P+$ 3+ + + m K # 2 + + z P +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy

a) 46.f3? Rc2! 47.f4 (otherwise 47... Ra2, and the king will never get out of g3) 47...Rc3+! 48.Kf2 gxf4 49.Rxf4 Ra3 50.Rf5 f6 51.Rb5 (51.Ke2 Kf7 52.Kd2 Ke6 53.Kc2 Rg3 =) 51...Kf7 52.Rb7+ Ke6 53.Rb6+ Ke5 54.a6 Kf4! 55.Rxf6+ Kxg4 56.Rxh6 Kg5 57.Rb6 Kxh5 58.Ke2 Kg5 59.Kd2 Kf5 60.Kc2 Ke5 61.Kb2 Ra5 62.Rh6 (62.Kb3 Kd5 121

63.Kb4 Ra1 64.Rh6 Rb1+ 65.Ka5 Kc5 =) 62...Kd4 63.Rh4+ (63.Kb3 Ra1 =) 63...Kd3 64.Rh3+ Kc4 65.Ra3 Rb5+ 66.Kc2 Rb8 =. b) 46.Kf3! Ra4 b1) 47.Ke3? Rxg4 48.Kd3 f6!? (48...Ra4 49.Kc3 f6 50.Kb3 Ra1 51.Kb4 Kf7 52.Kb5 Ke6 53.Rc5 Kd7! [53...Ra2? 54.a6 Rxf2 55.a7 Ra2 56.Rc6+ Kf5 57.Ra6 +–] 54.Kb6 Rb1+ 55.Rb5 Rxb5+ 56.Kxb5 f5 =) 49.Kc3 Kf7 (49...Ra4 50.Kb3 Ra1 51.Kb4 Kf7 52.Kb5 Ke6 53.Rc5 Kd7! [53...Ra2? 54.a6 Rxf2 55.a7 Ra2 56.Rc6+ Ke5 57.Ra6 +–] 54.Kb6 Rb1+ 55.Rb5 Rxb5+ 56.Kxb5 f5 =) 50.Kb3 Ke6 51.Rc5 (51.a6 Kxf5 52.a7 Rf4 53.a8Q Kg4 54.Qe8 Rxf2 55.Qg6 f5 56.Qxh6 Rh2 57.Qe6 Kxh5 58.Qxf5 Rh4 =) 51...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.Ka8 (61.Rb6 Rxf3 =) 61...Ra3 62.a7 Rb3 =. b2) 47.Rd5! Kf6 48.Ke3 Ke6!? (48...Rxg4?! 49.Rd4 Rg1 50.Ra4 +–) 49.Rb5 Rxg4 (49...f6?! 50.f3 +–) 50.Rb6+ Kf5 (50...Ke5 51.Rxh6 Ra4 52.Ra6 +–) 51.Rxh6 f6 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + + + ' 6 + + z p R& t 5z P + +kz pP% 4 + + +r+$ 3+ + m K + # 2 + + z P +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy and now: b21) 52.Rh8 Re4+ (or 52...Ra4 53.Ra8 Re4+ but not 53...g4?! 54.a6 Kg5 55.a7 +– ) 53. Kd3 Ra4 54.Ra8 Rh4 55.a6 Rxh5 56.Rc8 (56.a7 Rh3+ 57.Kd4 Ra3 =) 56...Rh3+ 57.Kc4 Ra3 58.Kb5! (58.Rc6?


Ke5 59.Kb4 Ra1 60.Rc5+ Kd4! = - putting his king directly in front of its opponent, Black wards off the threat of blocking the afile by 61.Ra5) 58...Ke5 59.Rc5+ Kf4 60.Kb6 +–. b22) 52.Rh7 Re4+ 53.Kd3 Ra4 54.Ra7 Rh4 55.a6 Rxh5 56.Rc7 Rh3+ (56...Kf4?! 57.a7 Rh8 58.Rc6 f5 59.Ra6 Ra8 60.Kd4 +–) 57.Kc4 Ra3 58.a7 Ra1 59.Kb5 Rb1+ 60.Kc6 Ra1 61.Kb7 Rb1+ 62.Kc8 Ra1 63.Kb8 Kf4 64.Rc5! (64.Rc3 Rb1+ = ; 64.a8Q Rxa8+ 65.Kxa8 Kf3 66.Rc2 g4 67.Kb7 f5 68.Kc6 f4 =) 64...g4 65.a8 Q Rxa8+ 66.Kxa8 +–. 46. g2! (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + + +( 7+ + +pm k ' 6 + + + z p& 5z P + +Rz pP% 4 + + +P+$ 3+ + + + # 2 + + z PK+" 1t r + + + ! xabcdefghy And of course not 46.f3? Ra2! with a draw. White now wins easily, as Black is unable to dent White's pawn structure. 46... e1 46...Ra4 47.f3 Ra2+ 48.Kf1 Kf8 49.Ke1 Ke7 50.Kd1 Ke6 51.Kc1 +–, was hopeless as well. 47.f3 e6 48. f2 f8 49. b5 g7 On 49...Ke7 50.Rb7+ Ke8 51.Rb6 +– . 50. f5 Here, Leko could have brought his rook around behind the passed pawn by 50. Rb3 Ra6 51.Ra3 +–. 50... f8 51. c5 g7 52. b5 f8 53. b6 e5 54.a6 g7 55.a7 a5 56. b7 a3 57. e2 The white pawn structure has become ideal and now the white king starts his journey. 122

57... f6 58. d2 e6 59. c2 f6 60. a4 61. b3 a1 62. b4 d6 63. e5 64. b5 a2 65. b6 1–0

b2 h7

Saving a difficult position by transferring to such an ending could be a valuable option: Grivas Efstratios Hadzidakis Mihail Ermioni 2005 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8r+ t r +k+( 7+p+ +pv lp' 6 + s N +p+& 5z p z Pl+ + % 4 w q s N + +$ 3+ + + + # 2P+ w Q z PPz P" 1t R +R+ m K ! xabcdefghy

White didn't handle his superior middlegame with accuracy and he had ended up in a dangerous position. Here I thought for a long time, trying to figure out where I should seek salvation. 26. ab1!? xc5 27. 4f5! gxf5?! Black would be better off trying 27... Lc6 28.Nxg7 (28.Ne7+ Kf8 29.Nxc6 bxc6 30.Rbc1 [30.Qf4 Rd7 31.Nc4 Rxd1+ 32.Rxd1 Re8 33.g3 Le5 34.Nxe5 Qxe5 35.Qf3 Qe2 36.Qxe2 Rxe2 37.Rc1 Rxa2 38.Rxc6 Ke7 39.Ra6] 30...Qb6 31.Qf4 Rd7 =+) 28...Kxg7 29.Qf4 Rd7 30.Rbc1 Qh5 (30...Qb4 31.Rd4 Qa3 32.Rxc6 bxc6 33.Nf5+ gxf5 34.Rxd7 Qxa2 35.Qg5+ =) 31.Rd3, where he has won a pawn, but White has got ample compensation for it. 28. xd5 xd5 29. xd5 f8 29...Ra6 30.Nxf5 Rxd5 31.Ne7+ Kf8 32.Nxd5 Rd6 33.Rb5 b6 34.Kf1 Ld4 35.Ke2 =. 30. bd1 xd6 31. xd6 xd6 32. xd6


The resulting rook ending is drawish as Black's many weaknesses represent a major hindrance. 32... c8 33.g3 c2 34. b6 xa2 35. xb7 g7 36. b6 a4 37. a6 a3 38. g2 f6 ½–½ Doubled pawns in general can be useful for the superior side, as then it is harder for the inferior side to create a passed pawn: Grivas Efstratios Gelashvili Tamaz Porto Carras 1998 ○ □ ■

XABCDEFGHY 8 + + m k +( 7+ + +p+ ' 6p+ +p+ +& 5+ + +p+ % 4 + + + +$ 3z P + + z P # 2 z P t rPz PK+" 1+ t R + + ! xabcdefghy White has a tough choice to make, as both of his options (31.e3 and 31.b4) seem attractive. During the game I toyed with both moves, but finally I played what my intuition guided me to. It wasn’t that difficult, as I was always thinking that I was quite educated and well trained by my trainers! 31.e3! White's decision is justified, as the black pawns are doubled and, consequently, unable to create a passed pawn easily. Moreover, as a general remark, the black pawns will be closer to the white king when he heads for the queenside. Finally, Black does not have the squares e6 and f5 at the disposal of his king, which implies that he will be 'slow' when the time comes to become active. 31... xb2 32. c6 a2 33. xa6 g7 34.a4 f6 35.a5 g7 36. a8 f6 37.a6 123

a1 White was threatening 38.Kf1. 38.f4! a2+ 39. f1 g7 40. e1 g2 41. d1 xg3 Black has, as usual, won a kingside pawn, but he is still unable to obtain a passed pawn because of his doubled pawns. 42. d2 g2+ 43. c3 a2 44. b4 f6 45. b5 e7 (D)

XABCDEFGHY 8R+ + + +( 7+ + m kp+ ' 6P+ +p+ +& 5+K+ +p+ % 4 + + z P +$ 3+ + z P + # 2r+ + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 46.

c8?

46.Ra7+! Kf6 (46...Kd6 47.Rxf7 Rb2+ 48.Kc4 Ra2 49.a7) 47.Rc7 gives an easy win. 46... b2+ 47. c6 c2+ 48. b7 b2+ 49. a8 a2 50.a7 White cannot win anymore, but he should try 50.Rc6 when Black has to find a number of accurate moves: 50...Rb2! (50...Kd7 51.Kb7) 51.Ka7 Kd7 52.Rb6 Rc2! (52...Ra2 53.Kb7) 53. Rb3 (53.Rb7+ Kc8 54.Rxf7 Rc7+ 55.Rxc7+ Kxc7 =) 53...Kc7 =. 50... d7! The game is drawn, as Black's king can control the critical c7-square. 51. f8 c7! 52. xf7+ c8 53. f6 a6 54. h6 d6 55. h1 c6! 56. b1 c7 57. b8 c3 58. b7+ c8 59. b6 c7! 60. xe6 (D) White won a second pawn, but there is no win in sight. This is because the white king is unable to participate in the battle. 60... d3 61. e7+ c6 62. e8 c7 63. e7+ c6 64. e6+ c7 65. e8 d7


66. b8 d8+ 69.

d3 67. b8 (D)

b7+

c6 68.

b2

XABCDEFGHY 8Kt R t r + +( 7z P + + + ' 6 +k+ + +& 5+ + +p+ % 4 ++ +z P+ +$ 3+ P z # 2 + + + +" 1+ + + + ! xabcdefghy 69... d3? Time pressure has created excellent conditions for the 'cultivation' of small - and great - errors! 69...Rd7! is sufficient for a draw, but now White could have won. 70. c8+! b6 71. e8? 71.Kb8 +– is not that difficult! 71... c7 ½–½

Conclusion The ending is drawn, but in practice it appears quite difficult for the inferior side. Knowledge and concrete ideas can make it even harder for the defender...

Contributors We must mention that in this ending a lot of study and discoveries been made W. by Mark Dvoretsky, Vadimhave Kantorovich, Micawber, Karsten Muller, Vardan Poghosyan and Johannes Steckner. I am sure that many other respected researchers worked hard as well, but unfortunately I do not know who they are! Without their deep and excellent research we wouldn't be able to draw correct conclusions. I would like to thank them all. 124

Index of Games When a player’s name appears in bold, that player had White. Otherwise the first-named player had White. A total of 147 games, examples and exercises are analysed in this book. Adams Michael Adams Michael Agasiyev Kamal Akopian Vladimir Akopian Vladimir Aloma Vidal Roberto Aloma Vidal Roberto

- Anand 72 - Kindermann 80 - Fridman 14 - Svidler 106 - Georgiev 113 - Cabrera 31 - Peralta 18

Anand Viswanathan Anand Viswanathan Anand Viswanathan Andreev Vladimir Anton Teodor Baburin Alexander Baburin Alexander Bacrot Etienne Bacrot Etienne Bareev Evgeny Beliavsky Alexander Beliavsky Alexander Bennett Dominic Bennett Hilton Petrie Berg Emanuel Bobras Piotr Bodach Hans Boensch Uwe

- Adams 72 - Bacrot 73 121 - Leko - Chepukaitis 59 - Nanu 58 - Mortensen 29 16 - Vera - Anand 73 - Robson 107 - Morozevich 84 - Leko 15 - Timoscenko 86 - Wells 56 - Croad 41 -64 Ipatov - Vovk 70 - Mueller 54 - Jussupow 81

Bologan Viktor Bologan Viktor Borgo Giulio Botsari Anna Maria Brandenburg Daan Britez Jorge Cabrera Alexis Can Emre Carlsen Magnus Carlsen Magnus Carlsen Magnus Carlsen Magnus Cebalo Miso Cebalo Miso Cheparinov Ivan Chepukaitis Genrikh Chernoukhov Alexandr Coenen Michael Croad Nicholas Cyborowski Lukasz Dautov Rustem Debashish Das Delemarre Jop Deszczynski Adam Djurhuus Rune Dobrovolskiy Konstantin Dombrowska Dominguez Christobal Dorfman Josif

- Deszczynski 32 - Malakhov 39 - Ghaem Maghami 57 - Zawadzka 11 - Siebrecht 42 - Recalde 42 - Aloma31 Vidal - Mchedlishvili 17 - Grischuk 36 - Kramnik 75 - Ponomariov 42 - Wang Yue 54 - Hammar 44 - Mikhalchishin 86 - Short 8 - Andreev 59 - Gusev 12 - Polaczek 19 - Bennett 41 - Miton 13 - Krakops 117 - Himanshu 48 - Peralta 11 - Bologan 32 - Stokke 43 - Kravchenko 50 - Lissowska 87 - Visconti 92 - Lerner 111


Dreev Alexey Dreev Alexey Du Toit Stefan Efimenko Zahar Ermenkov Evgenij Espig Lutz Fernandez Fernando

-

- Svetushkin 47 Thorsteins 86 Kunte 52 - Landa 19 - Padevsky 86 - Wagner 38 - Perez 6

Fernandez Garcia Jose - Kotronias 120 Filipenko Alexander Khasin 60 Finkel Alexander Tseitlin 83 Fodor Tamas Jr - Zilka 48 Fressinet Laurent - Petrosian 40 Fridman Daniel - Agasiyev 14 Gelashvili Tamaz Grivas 123 Gelfand Boris - Ivanchuk 7 Georgandzis Konstantin. - Grivas 78 Georgiev Kiril - Akopian 113 Ghaem Maghami Ehsan Borgo 57 Golubev Mikhail - Minasian 20 Grischuk Alexander - Carlsen 36 Grivas Efstratios - Georgandzis 78 Grivas Efstratios Krush 65 Grivas Efstratios - Minasian 8 Grivas Efstratios Perdek 71 Grivas Efstratios - Hadzidakis 123 Grivas Efstratios - Gelashvili 123 Grover Sahaj Huschenbeth 71 Gufeld Eduard - Honfi 86 Guliev Sarhan Kotsur 63 Gurevich Dmitry Suba 87 Gusev Dmitriy Chernoukhov 12 Gyimesi Zoltan Totsky 82 Hadzidakis Mihail - Grivas 123 Hammar Bengt - Cebalo 44 Hansen Curt - Kasparov 81 Hatanbaatar Bazar - Miton 7 Heinzel Olaf - Schlehoefer 55 Herning Jens Wagner 37 Himanshu Sharma - Debashish 48 Hitzler Phillip - Mons 49 Honfi Karoly - Gufeld 86 Hou Yifan - Koneru 89 Howell David - Parker 92 Hungaski Robert Andrew - Kudrin 53 Huschenbeth Niclas - Grover 71 Inarkiev Ernesto Kashtanov 119 Ipatov Alexander - Berg 64 Ivanchuk Vassily - Gelfand 7 Ivaska Romas - Reinecker 40 Jacobsen Bo - Meins 56 Jorgensen Jorgen - Rukavina 60 Jovanovic Milos - Ugrcic 56 Junge Wolfgang - Klundt 54 Jussupow Artur - Boensch 81

125

Jussupow Artur Kamsky Gata Kamsky Gata Karpov Anatoly Kashtanov Ruslan Kasparov Garry Kasparov Garry Kasparov Garry Kasparov Garry Kasparov Garry Kasparov Garry Kenez Pal Khalifman Alexander

- Kasparov 34 - Leko 74 - Savchenko 55 - Korchnoi 69 - Inarkiev 119 - Hansen 81 - Jussupow 34 - Pinter 34 - Shirov 85 67 - Short - Speelman 36 - Meleghegyi 86 - Leko 74

Musialkiewicz Jan Kuzmicz 31 Nanu Ciprian Costica - Anton 58 Navara David - Steingrimsson 61 Nepomniachtchi Ian Sjugirov 13 Padevsky Nikola - Ermenkov 86 Pap Gyula - Sahu 38 Parker Jonathan - Howell 92 Pavlovic Dej - Solomunovic 38 Peralta Fernando - Aloma Vidal 18 Peralta Fernando Delemarre 11 Perdek Miroslaw - Grivas 71 Perez Leonardo - Fernandez 6 Petrosian Tigran L - Fressinet 40

Khasin Alexander Kindermann Stefan Klundt Klaus Koneru Humpy Korchnoi Viktor Korchnoi Viktor Kosintseva Nadezhda Kotronias Vasilios Kotsur Pavel Krakops Maris Kramnik Vladimir Kramnik Vladimir Kravchenko Leonid Krogius Nikolai Krush Irina Kudrin Sergey Kunte Abhijit Kuzmicz Krystian Landa Konstantin Leko Peter Leko Peter Leko Peter Leko Peter Leko Peter Lerner Konstantin Lissowska Anna Lomineishvili Maia Lundin Erik Malakhatko Vadim Malakhov Vladimir Malik Jan Mastrovasilis Athanasios Mateo Ramon Mchedlishvili Mikheil Meins Gerlef Meleghegyi Csaba Meszaros Gyula Mikhalshishin Adrian Minasian Artashes Minasian Artashes Miton Kamil Miton Kamil Mons Leon Morozevich Alexander Mortensen Erling Mueller Rudolf Mukhitdinov Akmalkhon

- Filipenko 60 - Adams 80 -54Junge -89 Hou - Karpov 69 - 12 Mateo - Lomineishvili 6 - Fernandez 120 - Guliev 63 - Dautov 117 - Carlsen 75 - Ponomariov 33 - Dobrovolskiy50 - Mukhitdinov87 - Grivas 65 - Hungaski 53 - Du Toit 52 - Musialkiewicz 31 - Efimenko 19 - Beliavsky 15 - Kamsky 74 - Khalifman 74 - Topalov 83 - Anand 121 - Dorfman 111 - Dombrowska 87 - Kosintseva 6 - Unzicker 104 - Zarkua 16 - Bologan 39 - Socko 62 - Potapov 10 - Korchnoi 12 - Can 17 - Jacobsen 56 86 - Kenez - Schlager 60 - Cebalo 86 - Golubev 20 -8Grivas - Cyborowski 13 - Hatanbaatar 7 -49 Hitzler - Bareev 84 - Baburin 29 - Bodach 54 - Krogius 87

Pinter Jozsef - Kasparov 34 Pohjala Henri - Solozhenkin 57 Polaczek Richard Coenen 19 Polugaevsky Lev - Portisch 85 Ponomariov Ruslan - Carlsen 42 Ponomariov Ruslan Kramnik 33 Portisch Lajos - Polugaevsky 85 Portisch Lajos - Stein 76 Potapov Alexander - Mastrovasilis 10 Pribyl Josef - Radev 46 Psaila Clarense - Snape 53 R & 3P +aP vs. R & 3P - Example 1 95 R & 3P +aP vs. R & 3P - Example 2 96 R & 3P +aP vs. R & 3P - Example 3 97 R & 3P +aP vs. R & 3P - Example 4 98 R & 3P +aP vs. R & 3P - Example 5 101 R & 3P vs. B & 3P - P1 - Example 1 44 R & 3P vs.B & 3P - P1 - Example 2 45 R & P vs. B & P - Example 1 6 R & P vs. B & P - Example 2 9 R & P vs. B & P - Example 3 14 R & P vs. B & P - Example 4 15 R & RP vs. B & RP - Example 1 22 R & RP vs. B & RP - Example 2 23 R & RP vs. B & RP - Example 3 24 R & RP vs. B & RP - Example 4 27 Radev Nikolai - Pribyl 46 Radjabov Teimur - Van Wely 25 Rajkovic Dusan - Skembris 93 Recalde Augusto - Britez 42 Reinecker Kai - Ivaska 40 Richter Christian - Schlosser 55 Robson Ray - Bacrot 107 Roktim Bandyopadhyay - Swapnil 41 Rubinstein Akiba Salwe 28 Rukavina Josip Jorgensen 60 Sahu Sekhar Chandra - Pap 38 Salwe Georg - Rubinstein 28 Savchenko Boris Kamsky 55 Schlager Thomas Meszaros 60 Schlehoefer Ralf - Heinzel 55 Schlosser Phillip Richter 55 Shirov Alexei Kasparov 85 Short Nigel - Cheparinov 8 Short Nigel - Kasparov 67 Siebrecht Sebastian - Brandenburg 42 Sjugirov Sanan - Nepomniachtchi 13


126

Skembris Spyridon Snape Ian Socko Monika Solomunovic Igor Solozhenkin Evgeniy Speelman Jonathan Stein Leonid Steingrimsson Hedinn Stokke Kjetil Suba Mihai Svetushkin Dmitry Svidler Peter Swapnil S Dhopade

- Rajkovic 93 - Psaila 53 - Malik 62 - Pavlovic 38 - Pohjala 57 - Kasparov 36 - Portisch 76 - Navara 61 - Djurhuus 43 - Gurevich 87 - Dreev 47 - Akopian 106 - Roktim 41

Thorsteins Karl Timoscenko Gennadij Topalov Veselin Totsky Leonid Tseitlin Mark Ugrcic Zoran Unzicker Wolfgang

- Dreev 86 - Beliavsky 86 - Leko 83 - Gyimesi 82 - Finkel 83 - Jovanovic 56 - Lundin 104

Van Wely Loek Radjabov 25 Vera Gonzalez Reynaldo - Baburin 16 Visconti - Dominguez 92 Vovk Yuri - Bobras 70 Vukic Milan - Webb 58 Wagner Florian - Espig 38 Wagner Florian - Herning 37 Wang Yue - Carlsen 54 Webb Simon - Vukic 58 Wells Peter - Bennett 56 Wrong B vs P(s) - Example 1 67 Wrong B vs P(s) - Example 2 68 Wrong B vs P(s) - Example 3 68 Wrong B vs P(s) Wrong B vs P(s) Wrong B vs P(s) Zarkua Davit Zawadzka Jolanta Zilka Stepan

- Example 4 77 - Example 5 78 - Example 6 80 - Malakhatko 16 - Botsari 11 - Fodor 48

G e o rg ie vKiril

NOTES


127

Curriculum Vitae Efstratios Grivas is a highly

▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

experienced chess trainer and chess author Has been awarded by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) the titles of: International Chess Grandmaster FIDE Senior Trainer International Chess Arbiter International Chess Organizer His main successes over the board were:

Silver Medal Olympiad 1998 (3rd Board) Gold Medal European Team Championship 1989 (3rd Board) 4th Position World Junior Championship U.20 1985 5 Balkan Medals (2 Gold - 1 Silver - 2 Bronze) 3 times Winner of the International ‘Acropolis’ Tournament 28 times Winner of Greek Individual & Team Championships Winner of Various International Tournaments Rating Record in 1999 *2528* (equal to today 2630 ~) An opening variation has been named after him. The ‘Grivas Sicilian’ is characterized by the moves 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6. ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

What he did/does nowadays: Secretary of the FIDE Trainers’ Commission Head Trainer of the Turkish Men’s National Team (2006-2012) Winner of the FIDE Boleslavsky Medal 2009 (best author) Winner of the FIDE Euwe Medal 2011 (best junior trainer) Trainer of Various GMs & IMs - In 2009-2011 alone, he formed 5 GMs! Worked over 14.000 hours on training! Lecturer at FIDE Seminars for Training & Certifying Trainers Author of Various Books Co-operating with the World’s Most Important Magazines www.GrivasChess.com Chess Analytics: Training with a Grandmaster (August 2012) by Efstratios Grivas Russell Enterprises Inc. (320 pages - 240 mm by 170 mm) http://www.russellenterprises.com/


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Trivial Endings - Revealing the Secrets - Book

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