The Russian Endgame Handbook -- Ilya Rabinovich -- Revised ed , 2012 -- Mongoose Press -- 9781936277391 -- aaa45717a8033f5f98251d52ea1d2ee9 -- Anna’s Archive

I. Rabinovich THE RUSSIAN ENDGAME HANDBOOK Translated and Revised from the 1938 Edition English translation© 20 1 2 Mongoose Press All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the Publisher. Publisher: Mongoose Press 1 005 Boylston Street, Suite 324 Newton Highlands, MA 0246 1 info@mongoosepress.com www. MongoosePress.com ISBN 978- 1 -936277-39- 1 (paperback) ISBN 978-1-936277-4 1 -4 (hardcover) Library of Congress Control Number 20 1 2943803 Distributed to the trade by National Book Network custserv@nbnbooks.com, 800-462-6420 For all other sales inquiries please contact the publisher. Translated by: James Marfia Editor: Jorge Amador Layout: Andrey Elkov Cover Design: Al Dianov Printed in China First English edition 098765432 1 CONTENTS Editor's Preface Foreword Introduction 7 9 11 .................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................. ...................................................................................................... CHAPTER 1. The Simplest Mates A. Mate with the rook .................................................................... 13 ....................................................................................... 13 B. Mate with.the queen 18 C. Mate with two bishops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 9 ..................................................................................... CHAPTER 2. King and Pawn vs. King A. Winning without the king's help 22 22 B. Winning with the king's help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 a ) Rook's pawns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 b) Non-rook's pawns . 26 C. Addendum . 34 ............................................................... . .......................................... ......................... ....... ........................................................................... .......................................... ........................................................ CHAPTER 3. Queen vs. Pawn (or Pawns) . A. Queen vs. pawn on the seventh rank with the white king out of play B. Queen vs. pawn o n the seventh rank with a n active white king ........... .............................................. .. . ............ ....................... a) The rook's pawn ...................................................................................... b) The bishop's pawn ................................................................................... C. Queen vs. pawn on the sixth D. Queen vs. pawns ......................................................................... .......................................................................................... CHAPTER 4. King, Minor Piece, and Pawn vs. King (or King and Pawn) A. King+ minor piece+ pawn vs. king a) Knight+ pawn ............ ............................................................. . ............................................................................... ........ b) Bishop+ rook's pawn . ................................................ ............................. c) Bishop+ knight's pawn . ................................... ....................................... B. King+ minor piece+ pawn vs. king+ pawn . ................................................ a) Knight+ pawn vs. pawn ........................................................ ............ b ) Bishop+ pawn vs. pawn ............................................................... CIJ" DTER 5 . Mate wi"th B1"shop + Kn1"ght �· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · CHAPTER 6 . Mate with Knights (vs. Pawns) A Mate with two knights vs pawn · · ............. ........ ......... s: Mate with a single knigh� vs. p ��:::::::::::::::::::: a . · · · · · ....... . . ..... .......... . ... · · · · · · · · · · · · · · . . ....... ....................... · · · · .... · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · .............................. ............. 37 37 40 40 42 43 44 48 48 48 52 54 54 55 58 71 76 77 91 .. . . . . . 96 . . . .. . . 96 B. Knight vs. two pawns .................................................................................... 99 C. Bishop vs. pawns .. 1 05 CHAPTER 7. Minor Piece vs. Pawns A. Knight vs. pawn ..... . ............. ............ ... ....................... . ... ..... .. ... .......... ............................................. . ................... .. ............... ........................ ......................................... CHAPTER 8. Exploiting the Adwntage in Endings with a Large Nwnber of Pieces Aggressively placed pieces Queenside pawn majority Open file ............... . ................. .............................. . . . .. ..... .. .... . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................................... . . 109 109 . 1 13 ..... ............. .......... .. 115 Two connected passed pawns . 117 The meaning of the pawn structure . . . 11 9 Mobile pawn center . . . 122 Center vs. wings . . . . 1 24 Hemmed-in bishop . . :................... 1 25 The exchange (rook vs. minor piece) . . . 1 27 Extra piece (a piece for pawns) . . . . 133 Rook on the seventh rank................................................................................ 1 36 Passed pawn . . .. . . . 1 37 Kingside pawn majority . . . .. 1 40 Mobile pawn chain . . .. . . . . . 141 Isolated d-pawn . 1 46 Returning an extra pawn . . 1 48 Sacrifice of a piece or the exchange ................................................................. 1 50 Gradual siege . .. . . . .. . . . 1 52 Active defense ... . . .. 1 54 ........................................................................................................ ................................................. ........... .................................. ....................... .......... ....................... ...... ........ . . . . . ....... ....... ..................................... . . . . ....... ......... . .. ... .. ... ...... . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .......... .... ..... CHAPTER 9. Pawn Endings . . . .. . . . . a) Connected pawns . . .... ........... .... ................. . . ............. . . ......... . . .. ..... . . ... . ..... . .. ...... ........ ... .......... .. .. ....... . .. ..... .. . ... ............ .......... . . . . .... ............ .... ... . ...... ........ ............ . ............. .................... . . . . . .. . .. . ...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . ................... ......... . .... ................. . ... . . ... ......... ........ ........................... . ..... . . ................ ........ . ..... . . . c) Connected pawns, one of them passed .. .. . .. d) Connected pawns which are not passed, vs. an immobile pawn .. 1 57 1 57 1 57 1 58 1 59 .. 162 1 62 . 1 66 1 69 1 72 1 72 ................................. b) White's pawns are isolated, and one of them is passed ... .. ..... . ...................... ............... ...... ............ ... . . . .. . . ........................ ................................ ....................... . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... ................. . . .. . .......... .... .. ........ . ............................... .......................... . ... . ... ... .............. ...... ... . . . .. . . . . .. ................................ .. . .. . . . .... . .. . .. .. . . . . . . . . c) Doubled pawns . B. King + pawn vs. king+ pawn .. ... . . . . . ns . . . . . . . Passed paw a) . .. . . b) Pawns on the same file .... . . . c) Pawns on neighboring files . .. . C. King + two pawns vs. king+ pawn. ... .. . . . .. . a) Two passed pawns vs. one ..... b) Disconnected pawns ................ ........................ . .............................. .. .. ..................................... ....................................... ............. .. ..................... . . . ............ .................................... . ... A. King+ two pawns vs. king . . . . .. .... ................. ......... ........................................................ .................... ............. . . . . . ...................... ................................................... ................................................ ............. .............. ................................ .................... . . ........... ..................................... ............................................. ................................. .... .... ..... . . . . ..... . ..... . ........... . 1 73 1 77 1 85 1 94 . .............. ............... e) Connected non-passed pawns, vs. a mobile pawn . ............... . . . . ... . . . .. . f) Isolated pawns (none of them passed) o. Pawn endings with more than three pawns . .. .. ........................... ...................... a) Making use of the king's active position b) Exploiting an active pawn stance ..................... . ............... E. The king as a defensive piece F. Stalemate combinations .. ........... . ...... CHAPTER 10. Bishops of the Same Color A. Bishop+ pawn vs. bishop . ..... ......... . .......... . .............. ........................................ ............... .. . ..................... ........ ... .. ................. . . ...... ............ . . B. Bishop+ two pawns vs. bishop C. Bishop+ pawn vs. bishop+ pawn . D. Same-colored bishops with a large number of pawns .. . .. . . .. . . .......... ................................... ................ ....... . . ...................... . ......................... ............................................ .............................. ...... ................. . ...... .............. ......... . .... ................. ....................... . .... . ..... . ....... . ................. ................................... CHAPTER 11. Bishops of Opposite Colors . A. Bishop+ pawn (or bishop+ doubled pawns) vs. bishop 214 220 220 229 237 239 245 245 255 257 260 272 272 B. Bishop+ two connected pawns vs. bishop . . 273 a) Pawn on the sixth rank . . . 273 b) One pawn on the sixth rank, the other on the fifth .................................. 27 5 c) Pawns on the fifth rank . . . . 277 d) One pawn on the fifth rank, the other on the fourth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 80 .. . . e) Pawns on the fourth rank 28 3 f) Less-advanced pawns . . . 28 5 C. Bishop+ two isolated pawns vs. bishop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 8 6 D. Endings with more than two pawns . . . 29 1 ........ ...................... . ...................... ........................... ............................ ...... ...... ......... .. ....... ....... . . ............................... .. .............. . .... ..... ............... .................................... .. ... ................................................... ... . ............................................... ... . ................................. . ........ .. ...... ............. ...................... ...................... CHAPTER 12. Knight Endings . . .. . 303 A. Knight+ pawn vs. knight.. . ......................................................................... 303 B. Knight endings with a large number of pawns . . . . 306 ............. ......................... .. . ...... .................. ...................... .............. ... .... . CHAPTER 13. Bishop vs. Knight . 310 A. Endings with a small number of pawns ........................................................ 310 a) "Forcing" pawns 310 b) Exploiting a material advantage ............................................................. 3 1 2 c) Stalemate combinations ......................................................................... 3 1 9 . 323 B. Endings with a large number of pawns . . 323 a) Making use of the knight's power . . .......................................... ... . . .................... ................................................................................... ................................. .............. ..... ... .................. .................................... b) Making use of the bishop's power . 328 .. . 334 ................................................ .......... . c) Bishop+ rook(s) vs. knight+ rook(s) CHAPT ER 14. Rook Endings .... A. Rook+ rook pawn vs. rook . ............. . ................. . . . . ... . .. ..... ...................... B. Rook + non-rook pawn vs. rook . .. . ........ . ..................... ........... . ... . .. ................. .. . ... .. ... . ... ...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..... .... . . . .... ..... . . . .. ... .... .. . 337 . . 337 361 . . ......... ............ ... ................ .. .. .. a) Black's king stands in front of the pawn .................................................. b) Black's king is driven away from the pawn ........ . ..................................... c) Black's king is behind the pawn ............................. ................................. C. Rook+ two pawns vs. pawn a) Connected pawns ................................................... b) Disconnected pawns D. Rook vs. pawns a) Single pawn ........................................................ .......... . . . ............... . ..... ........................ ................................................................... .............................. ............................................................ ........................................................................................... b) Rook vs. two pawns ............................................................................... c) Rook vs. three pawns . ...... . .. . ..... ......... ....... . . ..... .............. E. Rook+ pawn vs. rook+ pawn F. Rook+ two pawns vs. rook+ pawn ........................ CHAPTER 15. Queen vs. Rook (or Rook + Pawns) CHAPTER 16. Queen Endings ....................... ............................................................ G. Rook endings with a large number of pawns A. Queen+ pawn vs. queen . ...... .............................................................. . ....................... ...... .................................... ........................................................................ ............................................................................. B. Queen endings with a large number of pawns .............................................. CHAPTER 17. Rare Endings . 362 369 393 404 404 409 417 417 426 436 44 1 447 453 47 1 482 482 484 D. Rook+ knight vs. rook 490 490 498 502 506 Solutions and Answers 509 ................................... A. Rook vs. bishop ............................................... B. Rook+ bishop vs. rook C. Rook vs. knight . ....................................... .......................................... ............................................................................... ................ . ........................... . ..... .. ...................................... ............................................................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . ................. .................... Editor's Preface [)ya Rabinovich's classic endgame manual was first published i n the Soviet Un n in 1927 and reissued in 1938 under the title of, The Endgame. We present here io translated and revised" edition, meaning that we gladly accepted Jim Marfia's excellent translation of the 1938 Russian text and then made slight alterations to the voice, to make the final result sound more natural to the mind's ear in our less formal times, yet without changing the meaning of any statement. a " Although this work was conceived as a teaching aid for group lessons, the indi vidual student can make good use of everything in it (except for the foreword). The book you are holding truly constitutes a complete course on the endgame, assuming little about the reader's knowledge of the final phase of the game but taking the stu dent to a high level of understanding. For this edition, we have dispensed with the more complex aspects of the author's discussion of the theory of "corresponding squares, " which we consider to be of diminishing value in these times of increasingly fast time controls and sudden-death play. On the other hand, for the reader's convenience we have added many new dia grams for the exercises and alternative positions. 7 Foreword This work is conceived chiefly as a method for advising instructors and teachers in group learning settings. Since the instructor must deal not only with skilled chess players but also with beginners, this book focuses on both elementary and complex endings, as well as on endings with middlegame features. In laying out the elemen tary themes, special attention is paid to the methodical side of the question, and in our treatment of more complex endings, to the illustration of the latest discoveries and, where possible, to a fuller elaboration of the theme. For group study, we recommend the study of separate endgame themes in the following order. First, study the first five chapters. Then, proceeding to the following chapters, we recommend that you rely on the "concentric" method of teaching them - that is, first acquaint your audience only with the basic positions in each chapter, delaying a deeper study of the given theme to the second ring. The toughest questions (chapters 9 and 1 4 - rook and pawn endings, for example) we recommend that you divide up into three concentric rings. In order to ensure that each theme is absorbed deeply enough, the instructor should pay special attention from the very first exercises to the members of the class learning to analyze independently the simplest positions and then generalizing from their own experience. Only in these circumstances, "from the particular to the gen eral," can you avoid piling up a list of ready-made particular results with no way to apply the techniques to other situations. T he present volume should present an argu ment against such a method of teaching. This second edition differs from the first not only in eliminating the defects and flaws that crept in, but chiefly in highlighting the achievements in endgame theory of the past decade and the ever greater closeness to the needs of the practical game. With this goal in mind, for example, chapters 8 and 1 4 were reworked and enlarged, and many of the illustrative games were replaced by new ones, chiefly from interna tional practice over the last decade. In putting together this book, the author also kept in mind those who study end ings on their own, and those wishing to refresh or touch up their endgame knowl edge. It is precisely for the sake of this rather large group of people, who seek to im prove their skills by self-instruction, that this book includes a considerable number of examples as well as explanatory games. 9 The answers to the examples are given at the end of the book. I wish to express my gratitude to M.M. Botvinnik, N. D. Grigoriev, G.Y. Lev enfish, M. M. Yudovich, A.A. Troitzky, and V.A. Chekhover, as well as to all those people who, by their efforts and research, collaborated to prepare the second edition of this work. IO Introduction The most extensively examined part of the game is the endgame; the hardest to analyze exactly is the opening, and the least comprehensively studied phase is the middlegame. Endgame theory, in its accuracy, can aspire to bear comparison with that most fully finished of sciences - mathematics. Opening theory has roughly the same authenticity as the physical and chemical theories. Middlegame play is the most complex part of the game, and therefore the least amenable to precise investi gation: here, creativity is given the greatest scope. As we set forth to lay out the best-researched stage - that is, the endgame - we consider our task to be primarily the connected, systematic presentation of all that has been given, and to give that presentation the greatest possible level of clarity. We consider it less important to require that checkmate be given in the fewest possible moves. Therefore, we will not necessarily seek the shortest path to victory, as much as the clearest and most easily remembered solution. 11 Chapter 1 The Simplest Mates (Mate with the rook, the queen, and the two bishops) The winning plan in all of these end ings is the same: The action of your own pieces (including the king) should be strengthened as much as possible , while the enemy king must first be hemmed in, and then driven into a corner or the edge of the board. However, you should not pursue this blindly: hemming in the op ponent must be done carefully so as to avoid stalemate. Below we see how this is all carried out i n practice. A. MATE WITH THE ROOK Before all else , you must have in mind a clear idea of the goal. What is the position that White wants to achieve? Generally speaking, is mate possible? Mate is possible only after the enemy king has been forced to the edge (or, bet ter, to the corner) of the board . Such mates are only possible when the enemy king is "in opposition" - that is, standing directly opposite the king (on the same file or rank) , with one square between them. In the top half of the diagram, mate is delivered to the black king standing in the corner. Here, we don 't need the white king to be in opposition* such as at h6. It is enough for the white king to (See Diagram I) In the bottom half of the diagram, the white king has been checkmated in the middle of the edge line of the board. • T his kind of o ppos it io n - tha t is , bot h kings on t he same fi le , wit h o ne s quare be twee n t hem - is a lso cal le d "direct opposi tion." 13 Chapter 1 We now switch to the general case*. be located on the sixth rank one knight's move away from the black king. 3 Now we must answer another ques tion: how to drive the opponent's king in the direction of the edge of the board? For example, where must the white king and rook be, in order to force the black king from d6 to the next-to-last (sev enth) rank? Again, the white king must be in "opposition" (that is, on d4) , and the rook must give check on the sixth rank. 2 Here the white pieces are not yet co ordinated, and the black king occupies its best possible position - in the center. The goal may be achieved in any one of several different ways. First, we shall show the "slow, but sure" method, which works in all cases. 1 .�e8 In order to drive the black king from the edge square a6 (or h6) to the seventh rank, it's not necessary for the white king to be in opposition (that is, on a4 or h4) ; instead, you can occupy the b4 square (or the g4 square) with your king, a knight's move away from the enemy king. This move hems in the enemy king, not allowing him to get to the right half of the board - the e-, f-, g-, and h -files. 1 . .. )i;>dS The black king maneuvers on the d file, preferring the center squares (d4, d5) . 2. � g2 To the second question, we can now give a short answer: in order to drive the king to the edge, it's enough to give check at the moment when the kings are in opposition. White's first task is to force the black king to go from the d-file to the c-file ; in • Us uall y, we shall conside r White to be the st ronge r side . Th is has noth in g to do with the gene ral appl icabilit y of o ur con cl usions . 14 The Simplest Mates order to achieve this, the white king must approach. Black's king aims for the center. 1 1 . <JiJe7 2 ... 'litd4 3. 'litf3 'litd5 4. 'ltff4 W d6! After 4 . . . W d4 (opposition) 5 . l::t d 8+! Black is driven off the d-file at once. White places his king, not in opposi tion, but a knight 's move away from the black king, letting his opponent take the opposition with . . . W c 7 . 5. 'ltt f5 Wd7 ll . . . \t>c5 12. W e6 W c4 13. We5 Wc3 Careful! Careful! 6. l:Ie l 14. l::td 8 W c4 The rook retreats to the opposite end ofthe board, as there it is less vulnerable to attacks. 6 <t>d6 7. l:e2 ••• A move typical in the endgame . The problem is that the opposition does not always favor White. It favors White only when he has the move. (And if White "took the opposition" with 7. W f6 , then Black would immediately break the op position by 7 . . . W d5 . ) Therefore , White makes a ''waiting move, " as if inviting Black to take the opposition himself. 7 ••. W d7 If 1 4 . . . W c2 , White approaches with the king by 1 5 . W e4; and if 14 . . . <JiJb4, then White cuts him off from the c-file by 1 5. I:tc8 . 1 5 . l::td 7! A waiting move . 15 W c3 16. We4 <JiJc2 17. We3 @cl 18. W e2 Wb2 (or any other move) 19. l::tc7! •.. Cutting off the c-file. 19 Wb3 20. W d2 Wb4 21. Wd3 <JiJb5 22. W d4 <t>b6 •.• If 7 . . . W d5 , then 8 . l::td 2+ . 8. W f6 W d8 9. <JiJn Now Black is forced to take the op position, or else go to the c-file himself. Either way, White moves his rook to d2. 9 ... \t.>d7 10. l::td2+ ! W c6! On 22 . . . W a6 , the simplest is 23. \t> c5 ! , and mate next move. 23. l:Icl Wb7 24. Wd5 \t>b6 25. l:c2! Wb7 26. <JiJd6 Wb8 27. Wd7 'litb7! If 27 . . . \t.>a7, then instead of the rou tine continuation 28. l:b2 White could play 28. Wc7! W a6 29. l:c5! , and mate 15 Chapter 1 next move. The closer we get to the end, the more possibilities there are! is frequently possible , and it shortens the solution considerably. 1 . J:t e8 'it> dS 28. l::tb 2+ And here we could shorten the end considerably by playing 28. l::t c6! ; on Black's best reply, 28 . . . Wb8!, we have mate on move 32. The first moves are the same as be fore. 2. W g2 W d4 3. Wf3 W dS 4. W f4 W d6 I leave it to the reader to check this. 28 W a6 29. Wc7 @ as 30 . Wc6 W a4 3 1 . @ cs Wa3 32. l::tb 8 Wa2 (for example) 33. W c4 Wa3 34. l::tb 7! Wa2 3S. W c3 Wal 36. Wc2 . •. Of course not 36. l::t h 2? , stalemate. 36 W a2 37. l::ta7# ••. The sole drawback of this system is the fact that there are too many moves (37 moves is not too far from 50 the maximum number of moves for this type of ending)* . Some notes to condense the solution are given in the notes to moves 27 and 2 8 . However, we can take this a step further. - For this, we return to the starting position (WKh 1, WRa8, BKd4), and try to get to the goal faster. In the above solution, White irresistibly and steadily forced Black from the right to the left and gave mate on the far left file . How ever, we shall see that a "change offront" Up to this point, White has driven his opponent from right to left; Black opposed this effort, preferring to leave the center rather than be driven left onto the c-file . The outcome was dragged out in the above example , because White decided that, come what may, he was going to checkmate his opponent on the left edge of the board. However, with 4 . . W d6 , Black has come too close t o the " front" edge , a8-h8 , and this circumstance should be exploited immediately. . S. l::te S! Change of front! Why should Black be driven as before , when the enemy must be knocked off four positions in all (the d-, c - , b-, and a-files)? Isn't it bet ter to occupy the fifth rank, thereby giv ing the opponent only three ranks (the sixth, seventh, and eighth), instead of the four he had before? S W c6 6. W e4 . •• * Accord ing to t he la ws of chess , if - o ver t he course of 50 mo ves - a p iece or pa wn has not bee n capture d a nd no pa wns ha ve move d , t he game is a dra w if a player calls it . 16 White's king goes into opposition with Black's, preparing to check him on the sixth rank. The Simplest Mates 6 ... W d6! If 6 . . . Wb7?, then 7 . l:te6, cutting off still another rank; while on 6 . . . W b6, White replies 7. W d4, and if 7 . . . rJdc6, then 8. l:te6 + , rapidly chasing Black's king to the next-to-last line (either the b-file or the seventh rank). 7. Wd4 \ti c6! If 7 . . . W d7(c7), then 8. rJdcS ! , pre venting Black from getting off the next to-last line. 8. kte6+ White holds off on his check until the moment the black king stands in op position, since in this position Black will have to go to the next-to-last line. 10 . . . rJdd7 On 10 . . . rJdb7 , the quickest way to reach the goal is 1 1 . I:Ic6! (compare the note to move 28). 1 1 . l:th7+ W e8 12. 'liid 6! 'liif8 13. 'lite6 'litg8 14. llt7! The strongest - it shortens the solu tion by one move. 14 W h8 15. Wf6 W g8 16. rJdg6 rJdh8 17. :C:f8# ••• Thanks to a new method - the "change of front" - the solution has been cut in half! We could have reduced it by one more move ; however, we think that for the sake of one little move, it's not worth burdening the reader's atten tion. 8 ... W d7 In reply to 8 . . . W bS , White once again would rapidly drive Black back to the left side by 9. l:th6! W b4 1 0. l:tb6 + . Example 1 - G. Fahrni : 9. W d5 Stronger than 9. l:th6, when Black could stretch out the game with 9 . . . We7!. In general , the position of the rook, protected by the king, is very strong, as it cuts off the black king in two directions. 9 ... W c7 10. l:th6 White mates in 3 moves. Show that in this position, any rook move leads to the desired goal. Now is the time . White offers to let his opponent take the opposition. 17 Chapter 1 B. MATE WITH THE QUEEN Like the rook, the queen can only give checkmate after driving the oppo nent to the edge of the board. Of course, it is easier for the queen to deliver mate, since: l ) the number of checkmating positions has grown ; and: 2) driving the opponent to the edge of the board offers no difficulties, as this may be achieved in many different ways. The first thing White needs to do is to set his pieces in attacking formation. The question of whether to move the queen or the king first looks immaterial to us. Ifwe need an extra move to achieve our goal, this should not faze our reader. Only in so called "chess problems" are you required to give mate in a certain number of moves. In such cases, this requirement is justified by the elegance of the author's solution. 1. �g3+ c;tie4 (for example) Along with the previous mating po sitions analogous to the rook mates (for example, WKdJ, Qgl, BKdl) , one may, for example, point out the following: WKdJ, Qd2, BKdl. In both positions, the white king is located in opposition. But even this circumstance (king in op position) is not required. The position WKdl, BKeJ, Qd2 shows that one may give mate also in the case where the kings are a knight's move apart. Theory shows us that even with the unfavorable placement of the attacker's pieces, only I O moves are needed to force mate. However, and without getting into all the "subtleties" of this ending, anything beyond 1 2 moves will hardly be necessary. Black approaches the center. 2. @ g7 @ d4 3. @ f6 Now Black may either go to the c file ( .. . <lftc4/c5 ) , or stay in the center ( . . . W d5/e4) . We shall look at both of these varia tions separately (see Variations I and I I ) . VARIATION/: (Black leaves the center) 3 @ c4 (for example) 4. <lfte5 ••• White occupies a central position willingly given up by his opponent. 4 4 ... 'it> c5 On 4 . . . W b4/b5, White increases the pressure with 5. @ d5 . 5. � b3 Or 5. �c3 + , driving the king to the next-to-last file (the b-file ) . 18 The Simplest Mates 5 ... W c6 6. �b4 W c7 If 6 . . . 'litd7, then 7. 'iHb7+ . 7. 'iHb5 The queen follows the retreating king. As we can see from the previous solution, we recommend that you give check only as an exception. O n the whole, in the endgame (in the great majority of cases) the gradual siege is more important than hand-to-hand combat. ( " It's more impor tant to cut him off than to attack him.") Example 2: 7 W d8 ••• On 7 . . . W c 8 , White can give mate in two moves after 8. '1td6. 8. Vi'b7 W e8 9. W e6 , and mate next. VARIATION II: (Black refuses to give up the center without a fight) In how many moves can White force mate ? 3 W e4 ••• On 3 . . . c;it d 5 , White can reply with 4. 'iHc3 'lit e4 (or 4 ... W d6 5 . Vi'c4 'litd7 6 . 'iHc5 , etc. ) 5 . °iHd2! 'lit f3 6 . Wf5, etc. 4. °iHd6! C. MATE WITH 'IWO BISHOPS Two bishops on neighboring diago nals hem the opponent in very much. In Diagram 5, the black king can only move about in the triangle a4-a8-e8: Forcing Black to give up the center. 5 4 W f3 ..• O r 4 . . . W e 3 5 . 'lii f5 W f3 6 . Vj'd2 ! , etc. 5. 'iHd4 W el (for example) 6. W f5 ®f3 7. 'iHdl! W g3 8. 'iHel 'liih 3! 9. W f4, and mate next. 19 Chapter 1 And so it is not difficult for White to hem in the black king. How is he going to be driven to the side of the board? The bishops may be compared to two lines of an army, herding the king in the direc tion of the c6-b7-a8 line. The first thing to do is increase the range of activity of the bishop standing in the rear - that is, to try to transfer the bishop at a2 to the a4-e8 diagonal. However, before we transfer it, we have to secure the rear - the a2-g8 diagonal , in other words. This task is fulfilled by the king. There fore the first thing we do is to bring the king from e l closer to a frontal position, for example: 1. W d2 \t>b S 2. Wd3 W a4 3. � ill W b 5 4. � b 3! The rear gets moving. 4 ... W c6 s. \t>d4 Now White repeats the previous maneuver. 9. @ e6 @ c7 10. � b S A breather. White uses i t to place the bishops in their most favorable po sitions - side-by-side. 10 . . . W b7 On 10 . . . @ d 8 , there would follow 11. �b6 + . l l . @ d7 @ b 8 Catastrophe draws nearer. Now White can drop the gradual siege in fa vor of a finishing attack. 12. � a6! After this move, Black has only two squares at his disposal: b8 and a8. It's not time for � a4+ yet. 12 . . . 'it> a8 13. @ c6! 5 ... W d7 5 . . . @bS would have simplified White's task, for instance: 6. @ dS @ as 7. @c5 @ a6 8 . � a4!, etc. 6. @eS! 7. �a4+ is threatened. " Careful with the turnabouts! " If 13. @ c7 , then it's stalemate! 13 @ b 8 14. @ b6 ••• The white king has occupied the very best position possible and freed the bishop on cS: king on b6 and bishop on a6 keep the black king trapped. 6 @e8 7. � cs W d7 8. � a4+! ••• 14 @ a8 15. �b7+ @ b 8 16. � d6# ••• Black has to retreat. The "triangle " narrows! 8 ... @d8 20 The Simplest Mates &ample 3: positions are as follows: the diagonals a2-g8 and a3-f8. Black's king will be driven back to the h l comer. From e7 , the bishop redeploys from the a3-f8 di agonal to the a l -h8 diagonal. The king takes over guarding the a3-f8 diagonal from the rear. Note 1. If the kings on the board have only one minor piece (with no pawns) , then mate is not possible. Two knights (and no pawns) also cannot force a mate. On the other hand, knight and bishop can force a win (see Chapter 5). What's the strongest move in this position? On which two adjoining di agonals should the bishops be placed? Should we play 1. Jlb4, 1. .ta3 , 1. JlgS , 1. .th4, 1. .ta4, 1. Jlb3 , l . Jlg4, or 1. i.hS? Answer: The strongest is l . .tb3 ! . The white king should be in the rear! The frontal Note 2. In the presence of pawns (even if they belong to the weaker side) , the note shown above may lose its force. Thus, for example , two knights (or even a single knight or bishop) can some times force mate if the opponent has a pawn (or pawns) . For details on this, see Chapter 6. 21 Chapter 2 King and Pawn vs. King A. WINNING WITHOUT THE KING'S HELP In some positions, the pawn promotes without the king's assistance. 6 Here, White simply advances his pawn: I . a5 'it' t7 2. a6 'it' e 7 3 . a7 , and the pawn promotes. Even if in the starting position it's Black to move , he cannot stop the pawn. For example , I . . . 'it't7 2. a5 'it'e7 3 . a6 'it' d7 4. a7, and wins. How do you know if the black king can stop the pawn or not? For this, we can use the "the rule of the square. "One side of the square is the path over which 22 the pawn has to travel. Thus, in the ex ample above, the pawn must traverse the path from a4 to a8, so on this side we construct the square a4-a8-e8-e4. The question now is whether Black's king can get inside that square or not. In the example given, Black's king cannot get inside that square , even ifhe moves first, so he loses. Now let's look at the position WKh I, pa3, BKg8. If it's White to move in this position, he will advance the pawn: I . a4. We now set up the square a4-a8-e8e4. Black can't get inside this square , so he loses. But if it's Black to move in the same position ( WKh l, pa3, BKg8), then he enters the necessary square a3-a8-f8-f3 just in time , and draws. In fact, after l ... W t7 2 . a4 'it' e7 3 . a5 'it' d7 4. a6 'it' c7 5. a7 'it' b 7 , Black picks up the pawn. In order to flawlessly make use of the "rule of the square , " the rule must be refined. The problem is that if the pawn hasn't moved since the beginning of the game (for example, a white pawn at a2 or a black pawn at c7) , it can move two King and Pawn vs. King squares on its first move (a2-a4 or ...c7c5) ; we establish the rule of the square for those pawns that can only move one 5. square at a time. In the examples given, a pawn on a2 is just as valuable as a pawn on a3, which can only advance one square at a time, and a pawn on c7 is just as valuable as a pawn on c6. Therefore, if we need to apply the rule of the square to a pawn that hasn 't yet moved, the pawn must be moved (in our minds) one square forward. 4: 6. Black to move. Can Black stop the pawn ? 7. Since the pawn at a2 hasn't moved yet, we have to construct, not the square a2-a8-g8-g2, but the square a3-a8-f8- f3. In this square Black cannot get in, so he loses. And in fact, after l...'.tig7 2. a4! \tiff) 3. a5 We6 4. a6 Wd7 5. a7 , Black should resign. Examples 5-12: Use the rule of the square for the fol lowing positions: 23 Chapter 2 8. 11. 9. 12. IO. Look at each position separately, and first assume that it's White to move, and then with Black to move. (The aforementioned rule of the square is set up for a "clean" board - that is, if there is nothing else on the board except both the kings and one pawn. But if there is something else on the board besides the kings and a pawn, then this rule may tum out not to be ap plicable.) For instance, in this position: 24 King and Pawn vs. King squares, and the pawn is not subject to immediate danger. Thus, for example, in the position below: with Black to move, Black can reach the square h3-h8-c8-c3 successfully, but he still loses! On l . . .�c4, there follows 2. h4. Now Black must get into the square h4h8-d8-d4. But after 3. h5, Black cannot get inside the h5-h8-e8-e5 square, since his own pawn gets in his way! So Black has to play 3 . . . 'itl xe4, when h5-h6 follows, and the pawn queens. (Nor does l . . .'itefc4 2. h4 'it>c5 help, since after these moves, Black's king is outside the h4-h8-d8-d4 square.) B. WINNING WITH THE KING'S HELP Now, let's tum to positions in which the pawn cannot advance to the promotion square without help from the king. In order to give an exhaustive answer to this question, first let's examine the rookpawns that is, the a- and h-pawns - and then tum our attention to the rest (in other words, the b- , c- , d-, e - , f- , and g-pawns) . - a) ROOK'S PAWNS* Here White only wins in those cases where his king can get to the b7 or b8 White wins if he has the move . The variation I . a4! 'itl c 5 2. a5 'it'b5 3. a6 shows that White manages to secure his pawn without worsening the posi tion of the king (see Examples 1 3 and 14). And ifthe b8 square i s inaccessible to White's king (while, as noted above, the pawn cannot queen by itself) , then the game will be a draw. Prove this. How can Black cut White's king off from the b8 square? For this, his own king must either be in the comer (on a8, a7, b8, or b7), or maneuver on the squares c7 and c8. (With an h-pawn, the black king should maneuver on the squares h8, h7, g8, and g7 or on f8 and f7.) * In o rde r to simpl i fy the position , we shall examine on ly the case of the white a pawn ; ou r con clusions a re the same also for a white h -pawn , and also for Bla ck's rook pawns. 25 Chapter 2 not necessarily keep him from losing in this case. Draw Draw I n the diagram on the left, Black draws easily by heading for the corner at the first chance. For example: 1 . a4 W b8 2. Wb6 @a8 3. a5 (if 3 . '3;c7?, then 3 . . . @ a7) 3 ... Wb8 4 . a6 W a8! 5. a7 - stalemate! In the diagram on the right, Black maneuvers along the squares fl and f8, and at the first opportunity heads for the corner. For example: In this ending, a lot depends on the placement of the kings - especially on the placement of the attacking side's king. This king should push forward: it should pave the way for its pawn. As Grigoriev keenly observed, the king should not "push the pawn forward, so much as carry it behind him. " The most favorable king position is out in front of its pawn. I n accordance with this, our state ment is once again divided into 2 cases: 1 ) the king is in front of its pawn; and 2) the king is behind or next to its pawn. 1. The king is in front of its pawn As we have already noted, you must strive to place your king ahead of the pawn - the further you can advance your king, the better! It's not necessary to get too caught up in this: you must only advance the king as far as will not put the pawn in danger. Thus, for example, in the position 1 . h6 'it>f8 2. 'it> h8 (if 2. Wg6, then 2 . . . Wg8!) 2 . . . @f7 3. h7 (or 3. Wh7 @f8) 3 W f8 , and White is stalemated! ••. b) NON-ROOK'S PAWNS These pawns - that is, the b-, c-, d, e-, f-, or g-pawns - are consider ably stronger than the rook pawn (in this ending) . Here the defense grows more complicated, and in some posi tions defeat is unavoidable, even with the best defense. The maneuver which secures the draw with the rook pawn (placing the king on one of the squares in front of the opponent's pawn) does 26 you should not play 1 . 'iii f6 ? in view of 1 . . . W e 3 . I nstead of 1 . W f6? you need to bring up the pawn by 1 . f4, and then in reply to l . . .W d5 advance the king, this King and Pawn vs. King way restoring the previous distance of two steps between king and pawn. Generally speaking, we may state that, "if the king is two steps ahead of its pawn (and the pawn is not immedi ately threatened), then it's always a win, regardless of where the enemy ki ng stands. " For example, the position If in this position it's Black to move, then play proceeds something like this: t . .. W g6 Black must give up the opposition. 2. W e5! @ f7 lf 2 . . . @ g5, then 3 . f4+ @ g6 4. W e6! and wins. 3. <i!tf5 White takes the opposition. 3 ... W e7 4. W g6 Wf8 If4 ... @ e6, then 5 . f4. 5. @ f6 @ g8 6. f4 is winning for White, regardless of whose move it is. Only in the case where the pawn is captured, then of course the game ends in a draw - for example, in the position WKe4, pj2, BKe2, with Black to move. But in the position WKd4, pj2, Bl(f4, the pawn is lost even with White to move. Now White brings his pawn closer, since in between king and pawn he maintains in all cases the required dis tance of two spaces. The continuation 6. W e 7 W g7 7. f4 W g6 8. W e6! Wg7 9. f5 , etc . , would have made the game longer. Let's look at that position more closely. 6 8 Or 7 . . . 'it>e8 8 . )f;g7. ••• <i!tf8 7.f5 <i!tg8 8.W e7 and the pawn goes through unmolested to queen. Let's return to Diagram 8 and sup pose that in this position it's White 's move. 27 Chapter 2 I. f3 Once again, Black is forced to give up the opposition, that he isforced to make a move is fatal for him. If Black could stand in place, White would achieve nothing. Such a position, where one is forced to make an unfavorable move , is called Zugzwang. 1 . 'iti'e6 (for instance) 2. 'iti'g5! @f7 3. @f5, etc. as we showed above. .• Now we have to investigate the posi tions in which the king is only one square ahead of the pawn. 9 Black to move - White wins; White to move - it's a draw White's king cannot penetrate for ward. So he has to advance the pawn. 4. f4 Now White's king is no longer in front of the pawn, but next to it, and he will be unable to go ahead of the pawn in the future. As we show below (see "The king is behind or next to its pawn " ) , the game will end in a draw. From this we may conclude that if the king stands immediately (one square) in front of its pawn, then the win is not always assured. Here the opposition plays a large role. In the example under consideration, White wins only when his opponent is forced to yield the opposition; in those cases where it is White who has to give up the opposition, the game will end in a draw. This rule has but one exception. We'll examine this exceptional circum stance in greater detail, and then, after a brief analysis of the position, "The king is behind or next to its pawn, " we will pick up where we left off above . 10 Here the only way White can win is if it's Black's move, for example: l . . .'iti'g6 2. 'it/e5 @fl 3. @ f5 , etc. If it's White to move in the starting position, the game ends in a draw, for instance: 1. 'iti'e4 We6! Black takes the opposition. 2. @f4 @f6 3. 'it/g4 'iti'g6 28 White wins King and Pawn vs. King Here , with the king on the sixth rank in front of the pawn, the win is always there, regardless of who's to move ( " re gardless of the opposition" ) . If it's Black to move, he loses immediately, for exam ple: l . . .We8 2. Wg7, or l . . .Wg8 2. W e7 . However, even i n the case where White is to move in the starting position, the win is there, regardless of the fact that it is he who must give up the opposition. The win is accomplished as follows: 1. W e6 White could also play 1 . �g6 @ g8 2 . f6, etc. White cannot win ifhe is to move (that is, if it's White's move). For instance, if I . W g5 �g7 2 . f5 � f7 3 , f6 , then 3 . . . W f8 ! (this move will b e explained below - see Diagram 1 1 ) 4. Wg6 Wg8 5 . f7+ @ f8 , after which we have stalemate. l. @e8 2 . f6! .. 2. The king is behind or next to its pawn Here White secures the win regard less of the fact that his king is next to the pawn. 2 @f8 3. rT ... The pawn arrives at the seventh rank without giving check! 3 ... '>t> g7 Here the winning chances decrease again. If the king is behind or next to its pawn, and cannot move out infront ofit, the game nearly always will end in a draw. Exceptions are possible only if the white king is on the sixth rank. For example, in the following posi tion: Black must abandon the pawn's pro motion square. 4. '>t> e7 and White wins. The combination we mentioned works only if the king is already on the sixth rank. In this position: 29 Chapter 2 White wins if it's Black to move: l . . . \ti f8 2. fl (the pawn reaches the seventh rank without a check!) 2 . . .'tlg7 3. ® e7. its pawn, then Black will always be able to get a draw. 11 To give a second example, consider the following position: Draw If it's Black to move in this position, play proceeds as follows: White to move (this position could be reached from the position we just saw) . Finally, we should remind you of a position derived from the first two. In the position below: 1 . '\t>f6! •• The only move. On 1 . . .'\t>g7 , there follows 2. 'lt>gS! , while on l . . . © fl , it's 2 . '\t>f5! . In either case , the white king ends up in front of its pawn, and Black will be forced to give up the opposition - in other words, he must allow the white king even further forward . . I f I . .:\it fl?, then 2. \t> f5 ( 2 . 'i!t hS will also do) and then 3. 'lfte6. 2. rs Moves by the king would only delay the inevitable. Black to move loses, despite the fact that the white king i s behind the pawn. But if White's king has not reached the sixth rank, and cannot get in front of 30 2 'i!t f7 •.• The simplest way for Black would be to maneuver so that he has the possibil ity oftaking the opposition. Following this King and Pawn vs. King rule, Black achieves the draw without any trouble. 7 ••. @f8 8. 'itif6, stalemate. 12 3 @ g5 . On 3 , 'iti f4, the simplest is 3 . . . 'iti f6 . 3 'iti g7 ! ••• The only move. Now it is necessary for Black to take the opposition. 4. f6+ 'itif7 5. wrs Draw A moment of great responsibility! Up to this point, Black could allow himself a few liberties; but now he has to abide strictly by the rule, " maneuver so that you have the chance to take the opposi tion." 5 Wf8! ... Black has to move so that in response to 6. W e6 , he has 6 . . . @ e 8 , and on 6 . 'it'g6, he can play 6 ... @g8. Let's suppose that it's Black to move in this position. He has to be able to an swer @g6 by taking the opposition with . . . @g8. Consequently, the only correct answer is, once again, l . . .W f8 ! . I nstead l . . .Wg8 would be a mistake , in view of 2. W g6! W h8 (for instance) 3. W f7 ! ; the same for l . . .W e 8 , because of 2. Wg6 'itif8 3 . f7 . An d we need t o keep i n mind the fol lowing position: The moves 5 ... W e8 and 5 ... �g8 lose, for example 5 . . . W e8 6. W e6! (now it's White who takes the opposition) 6 . W f8 7 . f7 @g7 8 . rt/e7 . .. 6. rt/e6 If 6. @ e s , then 6 . . . @ f7 ! is manda tory. " If the square in front of the pawn is clear, then it must be occupied. " 6 rt/e8 7. f7+ •.. The pawn reaches the seventh rank with check a good omen for Black. - Here, White wins independently of whose move it is. For example, if it's 31 Chapter 2 White to move, then l . @ cs @ d8 2. @ d6! @c8 3 . @ c6 @b8 4. b7. Putting together all of the above, we get the following rules: l . The attacking side's king must advance asfar as possible, since this goes along with the pawn's safety. 2. The defending side's king must strive to occupy a square located imme diately in front of the pawn (to cut off the pawn or to stop it in its tracks) . If possible, he should take the opposition. And finally, if this is also not possible, then the king must be maneuvered so that he has the possibility of later taking the opposition. c. If the white king is on the sixth, seventh, or eighth rank in front of its pawn. d. If the white king is located be hind or next to its pawn, and that pawn gets to the seventh rank without a check. e. If the white king is located be hind the pawn, and the black king does not manage to occupy one of the defensive positions noted in point 2. Examples 13-22: 13. 3. The a-pawn cannot win if: I ) Black's king succeeds in occupying the a8 square ; 2) with the white king on a7, the black king is on c8 or c7. Only when the white king succeeds in occupying the b8 or b7 square without risk to the pawn, is it a win. 4. A pawn other than a rook pawn which is secure from extinction may force the win only in the following cases: Black to move draws. 14. a. If the white king is more than one square ahead of its pawn. b. If the king is one square ahead of its pawn, and the opponent isforced to give up the opposition. • These rules a re set up for those cases when the pawn cannot p romote on its own . 32 Black to move; White wins. King and Pawn vs. King 15. Draw. ( "Doubled " o r "tripled "pawns, and also rook pawns, don 't win!) 17. 1 8. In Examples 1 6-22 the position must be evaluated (with White to move, and with Black to move): 16. 19. 33 Chapter 2 20. I nvestigate how Black wins in No. 16 after l . . .'itif f3 ? 2. 'ifif h2 ! . C. ADDENDUM 21. 22. The positions and examples given above illustrate well the great importance of the concept of the "opposition. " This concept will help you considerably to orient yourself in pawn endings, and will decrease to a minimum the amount of time needed to find the right move. An especially important concept is the di rect (or vertical) opposition. I n addition to this, we have already seen the horizon tal opposition. Some other expressions are also used, such as simple or distant opposition. We can establish more precise defini tions of these concepts. Under the gen eral concept of the opposition, we shall include the placement of the kings when between them there is an odd number of squares in a single line. As examples, we point out the following mutual king po sitions: f3/f5 , f3/d 3 , f3/d5, f2/f6, f2/b2, f2/b6, g l jg7, g l /a7, g l /a l , etc. From this, it is clear that kings in opposition always stand on squares of the same color. If there is just one square between the kings, then we have simple opposi tion; if there are three or five squares between them, then the opposition is called distant. Kings located in direct (vertical) op position stand on a line parallel to a l -a8. Direct horizontal opposition connects the kings along a line parallel to a l -h l . 34 King and Pawn vs. King Finally, the opposition is termed diago nal if there is an odd number of squares between the kings on a diagonal line . In the first of the aforementioned king positions, the kings stand in "sim ple direct" opposition; while in the sec ond, they stand in " simple horizontal" opposition. After that, we have "simple diagonal, " "distant direct, " " distant di agonal, " etc . , opposition. What is seen most often is "simple direct" opposi tion; and this is what we have in mind when formulating the rules for the sim plest of pawn endings (see above) . Now let us examine a position in which the kings stand in distant direct opposition, with White's king placed next to the pawn. possible , but erroneous would be either I . . .'it' d6 (because of 2 . 'it' d4) or l . . .'it' e6 (because of 2. 'it' e4 'it' d6 3 . 'it' d4 'it' c6 4. W c4, after which White 's king gets to the fifth rank) . It would be more interesting, ifin the position presented it were Black to move. As it turns out, only one move here leads to Black's goal. In order to discover it, Black must follow this line of reason ing: Where does the white king threaten to move? To d4 or c4. Consequently, it follows that Black must play such that on 2. c;!i d4 he can occupy the d6 square , and on 2 . W c4 he can play 2 . . . W c6. This means that right now he must go to a square from which he can move to either d6 or c6 - that is, it's necessary to play I . . . 'it' c7. Every other move loses. For example, if l . . .'it' c6, then 2 . 'it' c4; and if l . . .'it' d6, there is 2 . 'it' d4; while on 1 . . .'it> e7 , White answers 2. 'it' c4! followed by 'it'bS. 13 The old proverb, "You should maneuver so as to retain the possibility of taking the opposition, " is confirmed by the example we have just seen. Draw Moving the white king forward ac complishes nothing: if I . 'it' d4, then l . . .'it> d6, and on I . 'it' c4 there comes l . . .'it> c6. And if I . 'it' c2? or I . 'it' d2?, then Black even has a choice. Black has to show a little alertness only after I . 'it> e 3 . The simplest reply to I . 'it' e 3 i s I . . .'it' c6 ; I . . . 'it' c7 o r I . . .'it'e 7 are also In conclusion, let's look at a position for whose evaluation these rules are in sufficient. (See Diagram 14) Here the kings are quite distant from one another, and their positions make it impossible to bring the situation under the heading of any sort of "opposition. " The most natural move i s 1 . 'it' t2 , which i s answered by I . . .'it' e7 . I f now 2 . 35 Chapter 2 23. G . Lolli, 1 763 . 14 White to move White to move - draw; Black to move loses. 'it> f3 or 2. @ e 3 , then Black replies 2 . . . W f7 ! and gets a draw as shown i n Dia gram 1 3 . 24. Perhaps some readers will be in clined, on the basis of the variations we have presented, to rate the position in Diagram 14 as drawn. However, before aflixing so categorical a stamp, we should see if there are no other winning tries. It turns out that, if White does not play so straightforwardly, then he can win. White should play I . 'it> g2! 'it>e7 2. 'it>h3! 'it>f6 3 . 'it> h4! , after which Black can resign. We shall put off the explanation of such an apparently strange outcome for a little while. The point is that the expla nation of the " mechanism" of this end game requires more than the aforemen tioned rules: for that one must acquaint oneself with the "theory of corresponding squares " (see Chapter 9), which will help illuminate not only the given, rath er simple ending, but also considerably more complex situations. Examples 23-25: 36 Evaluate this position. 25. White to move wins. Chapter 3 Queen vs . Pawn ( or Pawns ) The queen does not always win against a pawn. A pawn which has ad vanced to the seventh rank often forces the draw. I n some positions, even a pawn taking the sixth rank can save the game even if the opponent has the move . A. QUEEN vs. PAWN ON THE SEVENTH RANK, WITH THE WHITE KING OUT O F PIAY If the stronger side 's king is far away, and the pawn has already reached the seventh rank and does not have to worry about an immediate death (that is, if it is supported by its own king) , then the a - , c-, f-, and h -pawns (the rook's and bishop's pawns) can force a draw; the rest of the pawns will lose in the major ity of cases. We begin with the center pawns. (See Diagram 15) Here, White manages to paralyze the opponent's threat ( . . . d2-d l � ) : he can drive the black king to d 1 . t . �es+ White to move wins White could also play I . �b2, para lyzing the pawn. I. .. W d3 Or l . . .W fl (f2) 2. �d4! W e2 3 . �e4+ W f2(fl ) 4. �d3! W e l 5. �e3+. 2. �d5+ W c2 Nor does 2 . . . We2 change things. I f 2 . . . W c3/e 3, Black threatens nothing, so White can bring his king one square closer. 3. �c4+ Wb2(bl) 4. �d3! 37 Chapter 3 Slowly but surely, the queen ap proaches her goal. 4 ... 'iil c l 5. �c3+ 'iil d l Forced. Now White brings the king closer, since nothing threatens it. In the example we have examined, White makes it his tum to move. In many positions, the win is achieved by the op posite method: giving the opponent the move. For example , look at this posi tion: 6. 'iil b 7 ! 'iil e2 Once again, Black gets aggressive . Once again, White must defend himself against . . . d2-d l � . 7 . �c2 Tying up the pawn. 7 . �e5+ and 7 . � c4+ are also good. White to move 7 . . . 'iil e l ! If the king retreats to e 3 , then with 8 . � d l! White effectively stops the pawn, and may approach with his king unhin dered. 8 . . . � e 4 + 'iil fl (fl ) 9 . �d3 'iil e l 1 0 . � e3+ 'iil d l I I. 'iil b 6, etc. I n the example just presented, it is not difficult to indicate the basic win ning idea: by a system of checks, tied in with close attacks on the pawn, White forces his opponent to occupy the square in front of the pawn, thereby gaining the time needed to bring his king closer. Such a gain of time is commonly referred to as winning a tempo. The opponent's threats are temporarily paralyzed, and White makes use of this pause to bring up his reserves. 38 Here White quickly achieves his goal by means of a waiting move: l . !la8 , for example. He gives his oppo nent the move, making him run into the jaws of death. Black has to make a move which is not good for him, as he is in Zugzwang. White does not win directly with I . :as, rather he loses a move in order to create the most favorable situa tion for himself. As we can see from the above , the winning methods in these two compara ble positions are completely different. In the first method, we have "won" a tem po, while the second method involves " losing" a move. We also call this latter method a waiting move, with the aim of giving the opponent the move. Returning to queen vs. pawn end ings, it's not difficult to see that the Queen vs. Pawn (or Pawns) knight pawn ( b- or g-) is just as helpless in the ending cited as a center pawn. For instance, in the following position: With a bishop pawn, Black has a dif ferent stalemate combination. For example, in this position: with 'i+'c3+ White can force Black to guard the pawn, winning a tempo to bring up the king. Black can retreat into the comer without fearing the loss ofthe pawn. Rook and bishop pawns enable Black to save himself by stalemate. For in stance, in the position below: White to move. Draw after I . . . @a I White cannot have his king approach, because of stalemate. White has no other plan, since forcing Black to head for the comer can only be accom plished with the check at b 3 , which we have already examined. Even in the position in Diagram 1 6 , Black gets a draw, i n spite o f the fact that his king goes to a less favorable position. For instance, I . ©b7 'it> d2 2 . 'i+'b2 © d i (of course not 2 . . . 'it> d3 ? because of 3 . 'i+' c l ) 3 . °i¥d4+ © e2 4. �c3! (or 4. � f4 © d i ) 4 ... © d l 5. �d3+ © c l (White now wins a tempo , which, however, proves insufficient to win the game) 6 . W b6 'it> b2 7 . �d2 39 Chapter 3 'it> b l 8 . �b4+ 'it> a2 9. �c3 'it> b l 1 0 . � b 3 + 'it> a l ! , etc . And so, if the white king does not suc ceed in participating in play, then a pawn (supported by the king) which has reached the seventh rank can force a draw if it is on the a-, c-, f-, or h-files; whereas the b-, d-, e-, and g-pawns lose. B. QUEEN vs. PAWN ON THE SEVENTH RANK WITH AN ACTIVE WHITE KING Moving on to positions in which the white king is closer to the action (and the black pawn stands, as before, on the seventh rank) , we need to point out right away that in some cases the king's role could be a negative one. An exam ple could be the following position by B. Guretsky- Komitz: Leaving aside such exceptions, the white king's increased activity can only improve his winning chances. Even in the fight against rook's or bishop's pawns (on the seventh rank) , a small improvement in the king's position will pay dividends. For greater clarity, we examine each of these types of pawns separately. a) THE ROOK'S PAWN Place the black king on b l , and its pawn on b2. Let the white queen take the g2 square. Now the question arises: where to place the white king, so he can force the win? For example, we show that with the white king on aS or on e4, it's a win with White to move ( Diagrams 1 8 and 19). 18 White to move and win White to move. Draw Here , White's king just gets in the way of giving check on the e-file; nor can White pin the pawn, either. The game will end in a draw, despite the fact that the black pawn is neither a rook's nor a bishop's pawn! 40 To achieve his goal , White need only bring his king to b3. 1 . 'it> a4! The less effective move l . 'it> b4 is just as strong. Queen vs. Pawn (or Pawns) 1. .. al�+ Forced, since after l . . .'iit> c l the pawn is lost, and after l . . .'iit> a l White mates in two moves. G. Lolli, 1763 20 2. 'it>b3! Despite the complete equality of forces, Black must resign. D. Ponziani, 1782 White to move and win! 19 Here the white king arrives just in time to get to the fifth rank with 1. 'it> b6! The king is already active! Block ing the queen, it acquires the ability to close . White to move and win Here, White cannot reach b3, but he has a more effective combination at his disposal. Playing l . 'iit> d3 forces mate! ( l ...a l � 2. �c2#). Now we can give an exhaustive an swer to that question: where should the white king stand in the starting position to win? It must be where it can reach b3 in two moves, or d3 in one . That means that White wins with his king on the following squares: a5, b5 , c 5 , e4, e3 or e2, not to mention closer squares. Even with the king at e l it's a win, since after l . '>t d l 'iit> a l (forced), White mates in two with 2. � d2 . 1 . .. 'iit> b2 2. 'it> a5 + Also strong is 2 . W c 5 + . 2 'it' c l •.. If 2 . . . 'iit> c2, then 3 . �g2 + ; while on 2 . . . W a l , White could repeat the combi nation by 3. 'it> b4. 3. � h t + 'it> b2 4. � g2+ Wbl If4 ... 'iit> b 3(a3 ) , then 5. �g7! followed by 6. � a l ; or if 4 . . . 'iit> a l , then 5. 'iit> b 4. 5. 'it> a4 Or 5 . Wb4, as in Diagram 1 8 . 41 Chapter 3 Lolli's study shows the following: if the black king stands in front of the pawn, or is in check, it will have to lose time on moves that do not make progress. In Lolli's study, Black must waste an extra two moves, which White employed to bring the king from the seventh to the fifth rank. 22 b) THE BISHOP'S PAWN Let us once again put the queen on g2 and the black king on b l , and trade the pawn at a2 for a pawn on c2. Where does the white king go now, and where can it stand at the beginning? As we'll soon see, the white king should occupy a square from where it can go in one move to either b3 or d2 (see Diagrams 2 1 or 22). White to move and win If l . . .'lt> a l , then 2. 'lt> d2! wins the pawn. On l . . . W c l , White can win in various ways, the most elegant of them being 2. �b4 and mate next move. 2. �b4+ 'lt> a l On 2 . . . 'lt> c l , White gives mate in two moves with 3 . W d 3 , 3 . �b5 , 3 . 'i¥b7 , or 3. 'lt> f2! . 21 3 . W d 2! and wins. The following position: White to move and win White wins simply with l . 'lt>b3 ! , since on l . . .c l 'i¥ there comes 2. �a2#. (See Diagram 22) Here the solution is a bit more com plex. t. �e4 'itlb2 42 is a curious one. The natural move 1 . Wb3 turns out to be a false start, since Black Queen vs. Pawn (or Pawns) replies to this by promoting to a knight! There are many ways to win, but we give the most interesting one: 1 . Wc3! . Now if l c l �+ then 2. Wb3, and on l . . . 'it> a l the quickest route i s 2. W xc2! . ... G. Lolli, 1 763 24 . Let's look at two more positions with this theme, but now let's place the black king on d 1 instead of b 1 . As was already pointed out in our discussion of Diagram 1 6 , this gives White another tempo. J. Berger, 1921 3 'it> d2 4. 'it> e4 23 ••• The simplest. The king moves to d3. 4 ... 'it> d l 5. 'it> d3 C. QUEEN vs. PAWN ON THE SIXTH White to move and win 1. �a4 @ d2 2. �d4+ W e2 3. �c3 'itt dt 4. �d3+ W e t In this case the queen almost always wins. The only exceptions are those in which the pawn's advance to the seventh rank cannot be prevented due to the un fortunate placement of the white king. In the following position ( The Chess World, 1 865) Here Black cannot sacrifice the pawn as he could with his king on b l . 5. @ d5, etc. (See Diagram 24) Even here, it's possible to win! t. �b3 'it> d2 2. �b2 'it> d t 3. 'it>fJ! A pretty move. If 3 ... c l � , then 4. �e2# . 43 Chapter 3 for example , there is no win. On I . � h i + , there follows l . . .W b2 2 . �b7+ W e i ! . If White rejects perpetual check, then Black advances the pawn. Nor does I . Wf6 c2 2. We5 W d l help. If you compare this position with Berger's position (Diagram 23), it's clear that White is late with W c4 by one tempo. For ex ample, ( l . Wf6 c2 2. W e5 W d l ) 3. �b3 W d2 4. � a2 ! (if 4. �b2 W d l 5 . �d4+? , then 5 . . . W c l 6. W e4 W b l i s a draw; and 4. �b2 W d l 5. W d4? is also an error, because after 5 . . . c l � White 's queen is attacked, which prevents him from playing 6. W d3) 4 . . . Wc3!! (4 . . . W d l ? loses in view of 5 . W d4! c l � 6. Wd3!) 5. �a3+ (or 5 . � a l +) 5 . . . Wd2, and White must either repeat moves or allow one of the above variations. If in the starting position we trans pose the king from g7 to a8 , we can achieve victory: I . � h i + W b2 (or l . . .Wd2 2. �g2 + , etc.) 2. �h8! (by oc cupying the a l -h8 diagonal, White now wins; but with the king on g7, the queen on h8 would not have the same action) 2 . . . Wb3 3. W a7 c2 4. �a l , etc. J. Berger, 1922 25 White to move and win h7-g6-h5-g4-h3 , after which Black, in view of the presence of the pawn at a4, will have to lay down his arms) 3. � d 3 + W g2 4. �e4+ Wg3! s . W c 5 ! a 3 6 . W d4 a2 7. � h i a l � + 8 . �xa l . White goes on to play the maneuver noted in the analysis for Diagram 1 9 , for example 8 . . . 'it> g2 9. �b2+ 'it> g l (if 9 . . . W g3 ?, then 1 0 . � b 7 and 1 1 . � h l ) 1 0 . W e 3 ! , and wins. D. QUEEN vs. PAWNS If Black has another pawn in addition to a pawn on the seventh, his chances for a draw are usually worse. (See Diagram 25) Here White secures the win by I . �g8+ W f2 ! (on l . . . W h l ? , White mates in three: 2. �g3 ! and then 3 . �f2 and 4. � fl #) 2. �h7 Wg3! (if the king, as usual , hovers over f2 and g2, then the queen approaches in zigzag fashion with 44 White to move and draw Here White cannot win, because the black pawn on h5 denies White access to the all-important g4 square. For ex- Queen vs. Pawn (or Pawns) ample, l . �e4+ W d l 2. �d3+ W e l 3 . � e3+ 'it fl 4. W d7 W g2 5 . � g 5 + W h2 6. �h4+ (or 6. � xh5+ W g2) 6 . . . Wg2, etc. ,with a draw. The position in Diagram 26 could have been obtained from the study from the first edition of Endspiel by V. and M . Platov ( 1 92 3 ) : 1 1 . a6 W e2 ! 1 2 . a7 f3 1 3 . a8� f2 , after which we get the drawn position from Diagram 26. If, in Diagram 26, we transfer the pawn from h5 to g5, then there still is no win. For instance , 1 . � e4+ W d l 2. �d3+ W e l 3 . �e3+ W fl 4. W d7 (nor does 4, �xg5 win; see Diagram 1 6) 4 . . . g4! 5 . W e6 W g2 , and the game ends in a draw, as after 6. �e4+ W g l the queen can occupy the necessary square g4 only by removing the pawn on that square . The drawn positions presented are , in fact, exceptions. In the great majority of cases, the queen wins against two (or a n even greater number of) pawns (see Example 35). This study is calculated mainly o n the following clever variation: 1 . W d 6 ttJc8+ 2 . W d7 tll b 6 + ! ( 2 . . . tll a7 loses because of 3. a4!) 3. 'it> c6 tll c8 (if 3 . . . lll a4, then 4. tll d l h 4 5 . W b 5 , etc . ) 4 . LD f5 W h7 ! ( o r 4 . . . h 4 5 . W b7 ) 5 . 'it> b 7 '.t>g6 6. tll h4+ ! W g 5 7 . tll f3 + ! W f4 8 . lll xc8 ! W xf3 9 . a4 h 4 1 0 . a 5 h3 1 1 . a6 h2 1 2 . a7 W h2 1 3 . a8� , and White wins (for example, 1 3 . . . W g l 1 4 . � a l + lt>g2 1 5 . �b2+ W h l 1 6 . � c l + W g2 1 7 . �d2+ W g l 1 8 . � e l + W g 2 1 9. �e2+ 'it> g l 20. �g4+ W f2 2 1 . � h 3 \t' g l 22. �g3 + , a n d if 2 2 . . . 'it> h l , then it's mate in 2 ) . H owever, as V. Chek hover pointed out , the study as pre sented has a serious flaw, since after 9. a4 (that is, in the position WKc8, pa4, BK/3, pf7, h 5) , instead of 9 . . . h4? Black could play better: 9 . . . f5 ! 1 0 . a5 f4 True, this win doesn't always come easily. For example, in this position: White can win only by the following far from-obvious method: 1 . iVf3 W e l 2. �e3+ @ fl 3 . �e4!! Wgl 4. �g4+ \t> h2 5. �f3 'it> g l 6 . �g3+ W fl 7. 'it>b3 e4 8. \t>c3 e3 9. \t> d3 e2 1 0 . �h3+ W e l ! 1 1 . �h4! and mate on move 1 3 . The posi45 Chapter 3 tion examined comes from the follow ing study by V. Chekhover, published in Journal No. l of Shakhmaty v. SSSR for 1 936: 27. How should Black play in this position ? 28. (after l . tll e6! e2! 2. �xd2 'it>xd2 3. tt::l d4 eS 4. tt::l xe2! 'iti xe2 5. c6 f4 6. c7 f3 7. c8� f2 8. �c4+ We i 9. �e4+ W d2). Examples 26-35: 26. Win. 29. J. Berger. Black to move and win. Show how White should continue after I. W c4 W a l!?. 46 Queen vs. Pawn (or Pawns) 30. G. Meyer, 1 884. 33. White to move and win. White to move and draw. 31. 34. Black to move and draw. 32. Evaluate this position: White to move. White to move and win. 35. V. Chekhover, 1 936. White to move and win. 47 Chapter 4 King, Minor Piece , and Pawn vs . King (or King and Pawn) A. KING + MINOR PIECE + PAWN vs. KI NG First, let's look at positions where Black is left with only the bare king, and White 's advantage consists of a piece and a pawn. Of course, in the overwhelming majority of cases such an advantage is enough to win. However - some po sitions do exist where this advantage proves insufficient: in some situations, the piece or the pawn perishes, and in others, one cannot win, despite the fact that White is secure against taking losses. The first case , for example , includes the following position: 27 a) KNIGHT + PAWN After l . . . W e3! (see Diagram 27), White loses either the knight or the pawn by force, and the game will end up a draw, as the following variations show: l ) 2.g4 W f4 3. g5 (or 3. tLl h6 W g5) 3 ... W f5 4. W c 5 W g6. 2) 2. tLl e5 W e4 3. tLi -any W f3 . 3 ) 2. tLl d6 W f3 3 . tLl f5 W g4. 4) 2. tLl h6 W f3 3 . g4 W f4 4. @ c s Wg5. 5) 2. tLlg5 Wf2! (here , the king may stray outside the boundaries of the square g3-g8-b8 -b3 , since the white pawn's advance to the queening square is blocked by the knight) 3 . tLl e4+ (or 3 . g4 Wg3) 3 . . . W f3 . In none o fthese variations does White manage to sacrifice the knight in such a way as to reach a winning pawn ending. Black to move and draw 48 Putting the knight in front of the pawn is unfavorable to White , since Black of ten succeeds in capturing the knight and then coming back for the pawn, taking up the necessary defensive position. King, Minor Piece, and Pawn vs. King The knight placed in front of the pawn can win only in exceptional cases: 1) if White succeeds in defending the knight; or 2) if he manages to sacrifice the knight such that after it perishes, a winning pawn ending is reached (see Diagram 28). 4. 'it1 b5 'it1f4 5. @ cs @ g3 6. \t> d5 @ xh4 7. W e5 and wins. Things are much simpler when the knight can defend the pawn "from below. " 29 28 White to move wins Black to move; White wins This position can be reached from Diagram 27 by transposing the kings, knight, and pawn one file to the left. 1 . lil b 2! The only winning move. For instance, if l . liJ b6, then l . . .Wb3 2. a4 Wb4 3 . Wg2 w as . White cannot win here, because his knight stands in front ofthe pawn. l. .. W d3 2. lilf5 'it1 e2! 3. lil h4! 1 ... '1tii b3 A similar move was not available in the previous example , since there was only one file to the right of the pawn. But now this move decides the game, since here Black will have to make an extended journey, during which White will be able to improve his position con siderably. 3 'it1 e3 .•• Black has to lose a move, as 3 . . . W f2? would be met by 4. f4. Still Black would lose even if he could take the shortest path from e2 to g3 (through f2). If l . . .Wb2?, then 2. a4, of course. 2. a4 N ow the win is simple. Knight and pawn defend one another. The knight de fends the pawn closely, while the pawn defends the knight indirectly. White brings the king closer without interfer ence and wins with no trouble. N ow let's look at a position of the second kind, in which the knight and pawn are completely safe. 49 Chapter 4 Returning once again to Diagram 30, we see that even the placement of the knight behind the pawn doesn't always ensure the win. Now there is one more kind of posi tion, in which the placement ofthe knight behind the pawn does not yield a win. 31 Draw Here White will not succeed in driv ing his opponent out of the corner. Only the knight can cut off the a8 square , and it can only do it from b6 or c7. H owever, before transferring the knight there , one must consider the pawn at a7, and defending this pawn can only be done by Wb6 or 'it'a6. And in ei ther case, it's stalemate! This example we have examined un derscores the drawbacks ofadvancing the pawn too far. The king should travel for ward, and only after driving off the op ponent should he advance the pawn! Black to move and draw Clearly, in this position Black has the choice ofjust two moves: . . . 'it' f7 or . . . W f8, and then to move back and forth between the two. Black can lose only ifhe is forced to cut short this metronomic motion. Now if 2 ... Wa8, then 3 . Wb6 Wb8 4, tLl d5! (the knight must be moved to this square, from where it can attack a8) 4 . . . Wa8 5. CZJ c7+ Wb8 6. a7+. How can White prevent this movement? Where, for instance, would it be good to leave the knight in answer to . . . 'i!tf8? It must be put on the square from which it would attack the f7 square (that is, on d8, d6, e5, g5, or h6). Then Black would have to make a move (Zugzwang.?, and could not prevent the move Wg7. And so, in answer to the king's moving to f8 (a dark square!), White must also occupy a dark square with his knight (d8, d6, e5, g5, or h6). And if 2 ... <;t>b8, then 3 . Wb6 W a8 4. tLl d5 'it'b8 5. a7+ or 5 . CZJ c7. We note that, if the knight succeeds (in reply to . . . W f8) in occupying some For instance , if in Diagram 30 the pawn is pulled back to a6, then White wins easily, for example, by 1 . tLlb4 Wa7 2. 'it> c6. 50 King, Minor Piece, and Pawn vs. King dark square, say b2, then White wins. Indeed, then, on . . . '\t> fl , it can occupy a light square, then on . . . 'it> f8 a dark one, etc . , while, eventually, in answer to . Wf8 it will occupy the necessary black square (that is, d8, d6, e 5 , g5, or h6) . 37. .. We can support this conclusion with variations. On l . . . '\t> f8 , White is just in time to occupy a dark square and con sequently wins, for instance, l . . . W f8 2 . Q:Jb2 (or any other move) 2 . . . W fl 3 . Q:J d3 '\t> f8 4. CiJ e 5 ! '\t> e7 5 . '\t>g7. L.. '\t> f8 loses. Let's see how things stand after l . . .'iil fl : In that case White can occupy only a dark-colored square, and on l . . . 'iit f8 , only a light-colored one. It was shown above that on 2 . . . 'it>f8 , White, in order to win, must occupy a dark-colored square. Here, he cannot do that, and so we rightly expect a draw after l @ fl . White to move and draw. 38. . . . Indeed, after l . . .'iif fl! 2 . CiJ e 3 @ f8 . Q:l f5 W fl 4. CiJ d6+ (the check i s not 3 disturbing, but a calming influence on Black!) 4 . . . 'it> f8 , etc . , we get a draw. White to move; Black wins. Examples 36-39: 39. 36. White to move and win. Assess this position. 51 Chapter 4 b) BISHOP + ROOK'S PAWN 32 For instance, if in Diagram 3 2 we trade the bishop on h3 for a bishop on h4, which can attack the h8 square, then the win is simply achieved by i. ffi + , fol lowed by advancing the h-pawn. White also wins ifthe black king can not reach the comer for any reason. 33 Draw Here, even the active position of White 's king doesn't help matters. Black's king cannot be evicted from the comer: the h8 square remains under the uncontested control of the opposing side. For example, if l . '1t> g6 (after l . i.e6, it's stalemate!) l . . .'1t>g8 2 . i.g4, then 2 . . . ® h8! 3. h 3 '1t>g8 4 . h4 '1t> h8 5 . rJil f7 rJit h7 6. '1t>f8 ® h8! 7. ®f7 rJit h7 8. i. f5 + <itt h8 9. '1t>g6 \t>g8 10. h5 W h8 1 1 . h6 'it> g8 1 2 . h7+ ® h8 , and i f 1 3 . W h6 , then it's a stalemate . From this we may conclude that a rook pawn plus a bishop does not win, if the bishop cannot attack the king located in the corner. It is curious that even the addition of one or two more pawns by White on the same file changes noth ing. However, one can obtain a draw against a bishop and rook pawn only un der the above circumstances. Black to move draws; White to move wins With Black to move , the draw is achieved simply by playing l . . . ® f8 ! . Now Black threatens t o reach the cor ner through g8 or through g7 . White succeeds in cutting off access to only one of these squares, so the draw is in evitable . If it's White's move in the starting position, then he wins by 1. h6! l . i. h7? would be a mistake because of l . . . '1t> ffi ! . If now 2. h6, then 2 . . . @g5!. And on 2. \t> g4, 2 ... \t/g7 follows. l 52 ... @ t7! King, Minor Piece, and Pawn vs. King With this move, Black could force a draw if the white king were one square further away - on g2, for example. 40. l . . . W ffi is weaker, as after this Black would still have to occupy the square fl. If l . . . W f8 , then 2. i. h7 ! , and Black has nothing other than 2 . . . W fl . 2 . i. h7 The opponent's access to the square h8 must be cut off. 2 ... wf6 White to move; Black to win. 41. Threatening 3 . . . Wg5!. If in this posi tion White's king were on g2, then the game would. end a draw, for instance 3 . .t b l <it> fl! , or 3 . i. g8 c;t> g6 4. h7 c;t>g7, followed by ... c;t> h8 . 3 . 'ito> f4(g4,h4) Now not only is the black king de nied access to h8, but the support of the pawn is also guaranteed. Later White , only by maneuvering his king, lands on g7 and then clears the way for the pawn, for example, 3 . . . 'ltt e6 4. 'itg5! c;t>fl 5 . 'ito>f5 Wf8 (on 5 . . . 'ito> e8 there could follow 6. 'ito> e6 W f8 7. W ffi W e 8 8 . 'itg7, o r 6. i. g 8 W f8 7 . i.. d5 W e 7 8 . h7) 6. 'it>ffi, followed by W g7 or i.. g8 . Draw. 42. Examples 40-44: Show that Black loses after 1 ... 'it h6?. 53 Chapter 4 43. D. Ponziani, 1782 34 Win. Draw 2 . . . W xb8 3 . W c6/a6 Black takes the op position. 44. The positions described above are exceptions. In all positions not referred to here (for instance, if the pawns are knight pawns or center pawns), a king, bishop and pawn against a lone king win easily (assuming that the pawn is not captured) . B. KING + MINOR PIECE + PAWN vs. KING + PAWN Black to move and draw. c) BISHOP + KNIGHT'S PAWN A knight pawn plus bishop nearly always win. Only in the case where the bishop has no moves is a draw possible. (See Diagram 34) 1. c;!ib5 @a8! If here 2. @ c6(a6), it's stalemate. Nor does 2. i.. b 8 help, because after 54 Of course, the presence of a black pawn increases the chances for a draw (the exceptions are dealt with in Chap ter 6). As an illustration, we present a posi tion from a game Nimzowitsch - Rubin stein from Karlsbad 1 9 1 1 , in which the pawn forces a draw against a knight and pawn. King, Minor Piece, and Pawn vs. King a) KNIGHT + PAWN vs. PAWN t . .. W g3! If l . . .'it'e4, then 2. tt.::l g 2! , and on l . . . g 5 there follows 2. @ f2 W e4 3 . tt.::l f5 and then tt.::l h6! . 2. W d l (el) Wf3! Here Black must maneuver so as to have the chance to take the diagonal opposition. The game concluded as follows: 1 . Cll t2 @g5 2 . W b4 e 5 3 . 'it> c4 e4. White must assent to the draw, as he is helpless against the maneuver . . . � f4, . . . e4-e 3 , and . . . Wxg4. Now let's look at a position from the 1 8 8 1 match between Blackbume and Zukertort: 2 . . . @ f2 would be a mistake, after which not Black, but White takes the di agonal opposition: 3 . 'it>d2! W f3 4. � d 3 � f4 5 . �d4. Now Black h as t o alter the position, but not in his favor, for exam ple: 5 . . . @f3 6. W e5! W xe3 7. g5 and wins, or 5 . . . g5 6. �d5! and wins. 3. W d2 Wf2! 4. Wd3 @f3 5. W d4 @ f4 Now let's try to sacrifice the knight (the only way to avoid a repetition of moves) . 35 6. � d5 Wxe3 7. We5 'i.tf3 8. W f6! After 8 . @g5 White even loses: 8 . . . � g4 9. W f6 � h5! or 9 . @ e4 'it> xg5, and Black wins. 8 �xg4, draw. ••• Black to move draws; White to move wins First we let the move be Black � in this position. The draw is not easy to achieve. If in the starting position (see Dia gram 3 5 ) , it is White to move, he wins simply by 1 . @f2 (preventing . . . � g3 ) . Now i f l . . .'it> e4, then 2 , tt.::l g2! . And on l . . .g5 White replies 2. 'i.t e2 W e4 3 . � d2 �f4 4. 'it> d3 'it> f3 5 . 'it> d4 � f4 6. W d5 ! (with the black pawn at g5 , this 55 Chapter 4 move wins) 6 . . . @ xe3 7 . @ e 5 @ f3 8 . @ f5 , etc . In Nirnzowitsch - Rubinstein, Black gained a draw thanks to the exchange of the last pawn; in Blackbume - Zuker tort, Black constantly avoided a position where he could be forced out. However, it must be said that both examples pre sented are exceptions to the general rule . In the vast majority of cases, the "ex tra piece" ensures victory - especially when the pawns are close to each other. Black's chances for a draw are some what increased when the pawns are on opposite wings (see Diagram 36) . N. Grigoriev, 1936 mistake, in view of I . . .@g8 2 . @ g6 (or 2. tll a2 @ h7 3 . @g5 @ h7 , and if 2. @ f6 , then 2 . . . tll a2 3 . @ g 5 @g8!) 2 . . . @ h8 3 . @g8. 1 ... @f8 After l . . .Wg8 2 . W g6 , the solution is shortened by one move. 2. @ f6! White cannot win with 2. @ g6? be cause of 2 . . . @ g8 3 . h7+ (3. W h5 @ h7 4. @g5 @ h8 ! ; while the continuation 3 . tll b4 @ h8 4. h 7 i s just a simple transpo sition) 3 . . . @ h8 4. tll b4 a2 , and the game ends in a draw, since White cannot get the knight to f'!. 36 2 . . . @ g8 3. @ g6 @ h8 4. tll b4 @ g8 5. h7+ I n the previous note, White gave this check with the knight back on a2, which meant that White was one move too late. 5 ... @ h8 6. tll d3 Win (adding a black pawn at b5 makes it a draw) 6. til c6 also wins. 6 . . . a2 7. tll e5 al'@' 8. tll f7# 1 . tll a2! The only move to win. As will become clear later on, Black achieves the draw only if he succeeds in taking the opposition with the knight on a2 , while if the knight is on b4 (or c3, or c l ) he gives it up. Therefore l . W f5 is a 56 If we add a black pawn on b5 to the starting position (see Diagram 36), then White will not be able to win, since now he can 't give check with the pawn with the knight standing on b4. For exam ple, l . tll a2 Wf8 2. @f6 @g8 3. @g6 b4! (forcing the knight to move prematurely to b4) 4. tll xb4 @ h8 5. h7 (the pawn ad- King, Minor Piece, and Pawn vs. King vances, with the knight on b4, without check; thus the game ends in a draw) 5 . . a2 6. tZ:lxa2 - stalemate! With the pawn on b5, I . W f5 W g8 2. W g6 W h8 3 . h7 a2 4. tZ:l xa2 b4 5 . tZ:l c l b3 6. tZ:ld3 b2 7. tZ:l e5? does not win either, a s Black queens with check. Smorodsky - Breitman Moscow 1 93 3 . 38 N. Grigoriev, 1933 37 White to move 1. tZ:l a3 I . tZ:l xb6? would have lost to l . . .a3. Draw with White to move; but adding a black pawn at b5 makes it a win 1 . . . W h4 On 1 . . c4 there would have followed 2. tZ:lbS! as in the game . . 1. tZ:lb4 a2 2. tZ:l xa2, stalemate. Adding a black pawn to Diagram 37 hurts Black's cause instead of helping: White wins with I . tZ:l b4 a2 2. tZ:l xa2 b4 3. lll c l ! b3 4. tZ:l d3 b2 5. tZ:l e S b I'@' 6 . l1Jf7#. 2. W g2 W g5 3. W g3 w rs 4. h4 W g6 5. W g4 W h6 6. h5 c4! This sacrifice was necessary to strengthen the black queenside pawns. 7. tZ:l b5! As Grigoriev points out in 64 (No. 8, 1 933), the studies we have examined were composed by him under the influ ence of the following endgame: 7. tZ:l xc4 was weaker in view of 7 ... b5 8 . tZ:l a3 b4 9. tZ:l c2 b3 1 0 . tZ:l a3 b2, after which the knight would be forced to keep an eye constantly on the b I square. 7 ••• a3? Black is sacrificing the wrong pawn. He should have held onto the pawn fur- 57 Chapter 4 thest from the kingside, the more so in that after it queens, this pawn would im mediately perform valuable work along the a l -h8 diagonal. As it turns out later (see the notes to moves 1 2 and 1 5) , therefore 7 . . . c3! would have given the draw. 8. tl'ixa3 c3 9. tl'i c2 b5 10. tl'ib4 W h7 1 1 . 'it' g5 'it' g7 12. h6+ 'it' fl Now we basically get the same posi tion, as in the modified Diagram 36 (af ter adding the b5-pawn); however, now the pawn is not located on a3 , but on c3. Black could have reached the required position had he played 7 . . . c3! on move 7. 13. wrs 'it'g8 14. 'it' g6 \t> h8 W h8 1 8 . tl'i d3 a2 1 9. tl'ie5 a l � 20. tl'i f7#) 16. h7+ W h8 1 7. tl'ic3 a2! 1 8 . tl'i xa2 b4 1 9 . tl'i c l b3 20. tl'i d3 b2, and now White is forced to take the pawn, since on 2 1 . tl'i e5? Black queens with check! 15 . . . c2 16. tl'i e5 c l� 17. tl'i fT + W g8 18. h7+ 'it' f8 19. h8� + 'it' e7 20. �d8+ 'it e6 2 1 . � d6# b) BISHOP + PAWN vs. PAWN Here, too, there are certain exceptional positions, in which you cannot win. In the first place, even winning the enemy pawn does not always guarantee victory (posi tions were given above in which the ad vantage of both a piece and a pawn proved insufficient) : and in the second place, the pawn capture itself may not be possible in view of stalemating combinations. As before, the pawn does not advance to the seventh rank with check, but none theless here White can force the win! 15. tl'i c6 Still more forcing was 1 5 . h7! c2 1 6. tl'id3! c l � (or 1 6 . . . b4 l 7. tl'i e5!) 1 7 . tl'ixc l b4 1 8 . tl'i d3 b3 1 9. tl'i e5 b2 20. tl'if7#. With the pawn on a3 (instead of c3), this variation would not work, for example 1 5 . h7 a2 1 6. tl'i c2 b4 1 7. tl'i a l b3 with a draw. With the pawn on a3, the variation chosen by White in the game also fails, since now on 1 5 . tl'i c6?, there follows 1 5 . . . a2! 1 6. tl'ie5 a l � 1 7. tl'i t7 + Wg8 1 8 . h7+ W f8 , and Black wins, since the h8 square is now attacked by the queen from a l ! And finally, if (with the pawn at a3) White plays 1 5 . tl'ia2, then 1 5 . . . Wg8! (not 1 5 . . . b4? in view of 1 6 . tl'ixb4 Wg8 1 7. h7+ 58 Draw In the given position, White cannot win, since he cannot attack the c8 square. Even were Black's king on c8 there is no win. True , we can drive the black king from c8 (and d7) , but in so do ing we have to give him the b8 square , King, Minor Piece , and Pawn vs. King and the comer square aS along with it. It's not hard to see that increasing the pressure (by bringing the king closer) in these examples would not achieve the goal because of stalemate. Ifwe added a white pawn on c5 and a black one on c6, this too would have no bearing on the result (we may add pawns concurrently at d4 and d5, e3 and e4, etc. , without changing the outcome). Let's go back once again to Diagram 39, and place the bishop on f3 instead of e3. Here too, there is no win, for ex ample l . @ ffi WbS 2. � e6 W aS 3. � d7 'it>bS 4. @ dS @ as 5 . .il c6 (the final try) 5 .. @bS! (of course not 5 . . . bxc6? in view of6. @ c7). N ow White must again back pedal with his bishop, since after 5 . . . @bS! Black does threaten to lop it off. . again White cannot win, since after sac rificing the bishop for a pawn, we get a drawn pawn ending. The ending of this game might go something like this: l . @ f7 'ltt bS 2. 'lite7 @ as 3. @ d7 @ bS 4. @ dS (on 4 . .il xb7 W xb7 5. 'lt> d6, Black could reply not only with 5 ... @bS, but even with 5 ... @ cS 6. @ c6 'lt>bS 7 . b7 'lt> a7 , since after S. @ c7 we have a stale mate!) 5 . . . @ aS 5. Si c6! @bS (5 . . . bxc6? loses to 6. W c7) 6. @ d7 bxc6! (compared to the position on the previous move , here this continuation saves the game , while 6 . . . � aS? loses after 7. @c7 or 7 . �cS) 7 . � xc6 WcS (here Black could play 7 . . . � aS too, since after s. @ c7 or S . b 7 + W a7 9. Wc7 it's stalemate) S . b7+ @bS 9. Wb6 is again stalemate . It is useful to note the following posi tion: And, if with the bishop on /3, we add a pawn each for White and Black (at c5 and c6) , then White wins, for example , by i.xc6 (it would be still simpler if we first brought the king to d6). On the other hand, ifwith the bishop on f3 we add pawns at a5 and a6 - that is, in the following position: Here Black could lose only if he played for a "self-mate " : l . . .W aS? 2. W c7#. But with the correct l . . .W cS ! the game ends in a draw. Many of the things presented in this chapter are contained in the following 59 Chapter 4 ending from a game Paulsen - Metger (Nuremberg 1 888). 40 What can Black do? On either of the two possible pawn moves ( . . . b7-b6 or . .. b7-b5) , White plays a5-a6 ! ; and in the other cases, White can make use of the c5 square under more favorable condi tions, and then go after the important square b5. For the sake of clarity, we will look at each of the possible replies in turn, in Variations I-VI I . VAR/A TION /: 1 . . . b6 2. a6 W c6 3. @ c4 @ d7 White to move wins Or 3 . . . @ c7 4. @ b5 @ d7 5. @ xb6, etc . Paulsen saw that the most natural move, l . Wc5, would lead, after 1 . . . b6+ , only to a draw: White could only prevent the exchange of his last pawn by playing either 2. i. xb6+ or 2. axb6+ . Ei ther way, the draw would be unavoidable (see Diagrams 32 and 34.) Therefore , Paulsen played l . W c4 ex pecting to counter l . . .b6 with 2. a6! and an easy win (see Diagram 33). However, on I . @ c4 there follows 1 . . . b5+ ! . By giving check, Black wins a tempo for the vital move 2 . . . @b7, with an easy draw. And so, neither l . @ c5 nor l . Wc4 lead to the goal. Instead of these , White ought to make a waiting move , intend ing to occupy the c5 square under more favorable circumstances. 4. i. xb6! After 4. Wb5 W c 7 ! , White would have to regroup. 4 . . W c8 5. i. a7, etc. . VARIA TION II: 1 ... b5 2. a6! @ c6 3. @ cJ! I f 3 . Wd3?, then 3 . . . b4! 4. @ c4 (or 4. i. g l @ c7!) 4 . . . b3 5. @ xb3 @ b5!, draw. 3 ... 'it> d6 4. @ b4 'it> c6 5. w as VARIA TION III: 1. . . 'it> d7 2. 'it> c5! t. Wd4! White waits, exploiting the fact that his opponent does not have a good move (Zugzwang). 60 Now 2 . . . b6+ is harmless, in light of 3 . Wxb6 or 3 . axb6 W c8 4. @ c6. 2 ... '>t> c7 King, Minor Piece, and Pawn vs. King If 2 . . . W c 8, then 3. Wb6, while on 2 . . . Wd8, there is 3 . il.b8! W c8 4. i. h2 followed by W b6. in Variation I I I after White ' s third move . VARIATION VII: 3. Wb5! t . . . 'it> d6 2. i.b6 \tic6 3. \ti c4 'it> d6 If now 3 . . . W c 8 , then 4. W b6, and on any other king move there comes i.b 8 ! , a s pointed out in the preceding note. Fi nally, if 3 . . . b6, then 4. a6. VARIA TIONS IVAND V.· I . .. 'it> d8( c8) Here White wins just as in Variation 1 1 1 , with 2. W c 5 followed by 'it> b5 and Sl b8 or 'it>b6. VARIA TION VI: l . . . 'it> c6 2. i. b6! Stopping the pawn. Otherwise , if 2. 't'c4? , then 2 ... b5 + , and on other moves there follows 2 . . . b6! 3 . a 6 'it>b5. Or 3 . . . 'it> d7 4. WcS. 4. 'it> b5 Once again, we have returned to a position we have already looked at (see Variation VI after White 's move 5). Now let us examine two positions by Kling and Horwitz ( 1 85 1 ) , which are the start of a whole slew of researches by gifted analysts (Berger, Karstedt, Teichmann, Troitzky, Rauzer, et al. ) on the theme of "bishop + wing pawn vs. pawn . " Kling and Horwitz, 1 85 1 41 2 ... 'it> d6 2 . . . 'it>b5? meets with 3 . W d5 'it> a6 4. 't'd6 Wb5 5 . \ti c7 \ti a6 6 . 'it>b8; if 2 . . . 't'd7, then 3 . W c5 W c 8 4 . i. a7! ctJ c7 5 . 't' b S , as i n Variation I I I . 3. 'it> c4 'it> c6 4 . W b4 W d6 If4 . . . Wd7, then 5 . W c5. 5. 'it>b5 W d7 6. W c5! W c8 7. i. a7! 't' c7 8. Wb5! Reaching the same position we had Win At first sight, this requirement looks strange, since the capture of the a4-pawn still does not guarantee White the game , for example l . Wc5 W a6 2. Wb4 W b7, 61 Chapter 4 with a forced draw. However, White has a maneuver at his disposal which will al low him to take the pawn at the precise moment when Black will be "at a very re spectful distance " from the a8 square. 7. i. b2 Preventing . . . W d4. On any Black move there now comes 8. WbS. Kling and Horwitz, 1851 1. '>t>b7! '>t>b5 2. i. b6! '>t> c4 3. '>t> c6 42 What move should Black pick now? If 3 . . . W c 3 , then 4. WbS Wb3 S. i.cS Wc3 6. W xa4 W c4 7 . i. f8 'it> dS 8 . WbS 'it>e6 9. 'it> b6 is an easy win, since the black king will not reach the comer. Nor is 3 . . . 'it> d3 any good , because of 4. WbS W e4 S.'it>xa4 WdS 6. WbS W d6 7. W a6 'it> c6 8. a4 @ -any 9 . Wb7. The best move , relatively speaking, is 3 ... Wb3 with an attack on the a3-pawn: 3 ... Wb3! 4. i. c5 W c4 5. i. eJ Now White's task is to drive Black from the fourth rank to the third. 5 . . . 'it> bJ If S . . . Wd3, then 6. 'it>bS! 'it> e4 7. Wxa4 WdS 8. 'it>bS, etc. White wins, regardless of who is on the move The authors considered this study to work only with White to move; however, Rauzer ( 1 928) showed that there was also a win with Black to move *. White to move drives the enemy king to the second rank, which simplifies the solution somewhat. 1. i. f4! W g2 S . . . Wc3 is weaker still, in view of 6. WbS Wb3 (or 6 ... Wd3 7. 'it> xa4 Wc4 8 . 'it>aS) 7. i. c l , followed b y 'it> xa4. 6. i. c l W c4 On 6 . . . Wc3, the simplest is 7. WbS 'it>d4 (if 7 . . . 'it>b3, then 8 . was or 8. i.b2!) 8 . Wxa4 WcS 9. 'it> aS W c6 I O . Wa6 Wc7 l l . i. f4+ etc. An d if 6 . . . W c2, then 7. Wb S Wb3 8. was or 8 . i.b2!. 62 Relatively best. Black's king plans an end-run maneuver to the right via the h3 square , which he will use if the white king goes immediately after the a4-pawn (for instance, 2. 'it> e4? 'it> h3 3 . W dS? Wg4 4. i. h2 W fS s . W c6 W e6 6. WbS • The analysis o f Diagrams 4 2 through 46 is aimed at more-skilled readers. King, Minor Piece, and Pawn vs. King � d7 7. Wxa4 W c6(c8) 8. @ -any Wb7 draws). 2. Wg4! @fl 3. i.. c l W e2 After 3 . . . Wg2 4. i.. e3 the following variations are possible . For example: l ) 4 . . . 'lii> fl s . 'it> f3 'iil e l 6. i.. f4 'it> d l (or 6 . . . Wfl 7 . 'it' e 3 'itl g2 8 . 'itld3 'itl f3 9. i h2 'itlg4 I O. 'itl c4 'itlf5 l l . 'itl bS 'itle6 12. 'it>xa4 \t> d7 13. 'itl bS! 'itl c 8 14. 'itl c6, and wins) 7. 'itl e3 'iil c2 8 . 'iil d4 'iil b3 9. i d6 and wins, as in 9 . . . 'iil c2 1 0. 'itl c4 lil d2 l l . 'itlb4 'itl d3 1 2 . 'itl xa4 'itl c4 1 3 . lila5 W dS 1 4 . 'it> b6 'itl xd6 I S . a4 W d7 16. 'itib7. 2) 4 ... W h l s . 'itlf3 c;i;i h2 6. i.. f2 (the winning plan consists in transferring the bishop to b8 or h2, but in order to carry out this plan the black king's end-run must be stopped) 6 . . . 'itl h3 (or 6 . . . � h l 7 . ig3 Wg l 8. i.. b8! 'iil h l 9 . 'itl e4! 'iil g 2 I O. lil d4 W f3 1 1 . 'itl c4 'it> e4 1 2. i.. h2! , after which Black cannot be saved, either by 1 2 ... W fS , in view of 1 3 . 'itlbS 'itl e6 14. �xa4 \t>d7 IS. 'it> bS 'itl c 8 1 6 . 'itl c6 ; or by l 2 . . . 'iil e3 , because of 13. 'it> b4 'itl d4 14. Wxa4 'itl cS I S . c;i;i aS 'it> c6 1 6 . 'itl a6 ! , etc.) 7 . .lt e l 'iil h2 8 . 'itl g4! (blocking the black king's right-hand maneuver) 8 ... W g l (the reply 8 . . . 'itl g2 would have simplified matters: 9. i.. g 3! 'iil g l I O . W f3 and 1 1 . .ltb8! and White wins as given above in the note to 6 . . . 'iil h3) 9. 'itlg3! � fl (on 9 ... 'iil h l there follows IO . .lt aS � g l 1 1 . i.. c7; if now 1 1 . . . 'iil h l , then 1 2.Jlb8! <;i;> g l 1 3 . <;i;> f3 , as above ; and on 1 1 . .. @ fl , White replies 1 2. \t>f3 'iil e l 1 3 . We3 <;ti n 1 4 . .ltb8! <;i;> g2 and now, once again, I S . 'iil d4 'iil f3 1 6 . 'itl c4 'itl e4 1 7. Jl h2 ! , etc .) I O . i.. b4 'itl e2 (if, here or later, the black king turns to the king side, White begins once more to shift the bishop to b8, for example, I O . . . 'iil g l 1 1 , .lt d6 'iil fl 1 2 . 'itl f3 ! W e i 1 3 . 'itl e 3 'iil fl 1 4 . .ltb 8 ! , etc.) 1 1 . W f4 'itl d 3 1 2 . <;ti es <;i;> c4 1 3 . <;i;> d6 'itlbS 14. <;i;> c 7 <;i;> a6 I S . i.. cS! 'itl b S 1 6 . .lt g l 'itla6 1 7 . <;i;> c6 'itl aS 1 8 . Wb7, etc . , as in the analysis for Dia gram 4 1 . 4 . 'iil f4 'iil d l If 4 . . . W d 3 , then S . .lie3 'itl c4 6. 'itl eS \t>b3! (6 . . . 'itlbS fails to 7. 'itl dS) 7 . .li e s W c4 8 . <;i;> d6 @ d 3 (or 8 . . . @ b S 9. @ dS W aS I O. <;i;> c6 \t> a6 1 1 . .lte3 @ as 1 2 . @b7, etc. ) 9. @ dS! @ c 3 I O . .lt d6 @ d 3 1 1 . @ cs 'itl e4 1 2 . @bS @ d S 1 3 . .lt h2 , and wins (see Diagram 44) . 5 .lt e3 'iil c2 . Or S . . . 'iil e2 6. 'itl e4 followed by trans ferring the bishop to b8. 6. 'itl e5 @ b3 7 . .lt c5 'itl c4 8. 'it> d6 'itlb5 9. @ d5 @ a5! After 9 . 'itl a6 the white king would have immediately taken off toward b7. . . 10. <;i;> c6 \t> a6 ll . .lt e3 W a5, and White wins with 12. 'it' b7 (see Diagram 4 1 ). Now let's look at the position dis played in Diagram 42 with Black to move. Rauzer showed that here White, by means of a clever maneuver, can wrest the right of the first move to achieve victory. l . . . 'lt> g3! 63 Chapter 4 Kling and Horwitz (as well as Berg er) considered this move to be enough to draw, but they did not take into account the five-move bishop maneuver given below. 2. i.r6 Wf3 The black king maneuvers along the third rank, since driving him to the sec ond rank leads to the same sort of win we have already looked at. 3. i.e5 'it> e3 4. i. b2!! This is the move Rauzer found! Here Berger had continued 4. i. b8?; on which then followed 4 . . . W d4! 5. W e6 W c 5 6. Wd7 Wb6 7. Wc8 W c5 , and White can't win, since he cannot get to the position where the kings are at b7 and b5 and the bishop is at b6. For example, 8. W c7 (or 8. Wb7 Wb5 9. i. c7 W c5 1 0 . i. a5 Wd5!) 8 ... W d5 9. 'it' d7 W c5 1 0 . i. c7 Wb5 l l . Wc8 W c5 1 2 . Wb7 W d5 ! , etc. The strength of 4. i.b2! consists chiefly in its continuing to watch the d4 square, so that it cannot be occupied by the black king. 5. W e5 W e3 Other moves don't help either: for example, if 5 . . . W c4, then 6. W d6 Wb5 (after 6 ... Wb3 7 . i. c l W c2 , the simplest is 8 . W c5! W xc l 9. W b4 W c2 1 0 . W xa4 W c 3 l l . Wb5) 7 . i. d4 W c4 (other moves meet with 8. W c6) 8. i. c5 Wb5 (or 8 ... Wb3 9. W c7 W c4 1 0. W c6) 9. W d5 and I O . W c6. 6. i.ct+ Wf3! 7. w rs W g3 8. i. g5 If now 8 . . . W h 3 , then 9. W f4, driving the king to the second rank. 8 . . . Wf3 The goal is achieved. We have the starting position, except that it's White to move! Rauzer, who made a special study of this endgame, gave what appeared to be an exhaustive analysis of this ending. He established the "drawing zone" a8-h8-h6g5-f4-e5-d4-a7 (see Diagram 43): with a white pawn at a3, White wins if the black king can be cordoned off from this zone. V. Rauzer, 1928 4 . . Wd3 . 43 After 4 . . . W f3 the king will be driven to the second rank with 5. i. c l Wg3 6. i.g5 W f2 (on 6 . . . W h3 , White plays 7. W f4 and 8. Wg4, driving the black king away from the third rank; and if6 . . . @ f3 , then White achieves his intent, which is to secure the move in the starting posi tion!) 7. W f4 W e2 8. W e4 W f2 9. i. f4 and 10 . i.b8 ! . 64 King, Minor Piece, and Pawn vs. King In Diagram 43, the black king is out side the indicated zone, and later on it can be completely cut off from it; thus, White must win. 3 ... W d3 4. We5 We3 5. i. c t + @CJ! 6. 'iif f5 W g3 7. i.g5 W O 8. i. r4 and White wins as explained in greater detail in our analysis of Diagram 42. With White to move, he wins as fol lows: Establishing the "drawing zone" makes it much easier to correctly evalu ate positions of the type we have exam ined, and simplifies finding the correct method of play. For example, in this po sition I. i. h2 W d4 Although the black king does enter the drawing zone, that doesn't save the game here, since on the very next move the king will be forced to leave the area. From this it follows that the black king's entry into the zone does not guarantee the draw; and when it cannot enter the zone, the win is assured. In other words, the win is forced: l) in positions where the black king can not enter at all into the drawing zone; 2) when the king is driven out of the drawing zone; and 3) in a few exceptional positions where the black king stands outside the zone (for example, see Diagram 44) . 2. W d6 W e4 Or 2 . . . W c4 3 . W c6 Wb3 4. i. d6 W c4 5 .tc5, etc. . 3. W c5, and wins. With Black to move, great effort must be expended to secure the draw (see Di agram 43). t ... Wf3! 2. Wf5 'it> e3 3. i. b2! Now we have the same position as in Diagram 42 (after 4. i. b2! ) ; therefore, after this we can limit ourselves to just the main variation. White must win, since the black king is cut off from the aforementioned zone . If Black here plays l . . . W h4, for ex ample, then it is met by 2. W f5 , with the following possible continuation: 2 . . . @ h5 3 . .t e l '>ii' h4 4. W g6 Wg4 5. i.g5 W f3 6. Wf5 , and wins (see Diagram 42 ,with Black to move). (See Diagram 44) This position proves once again that the black king's entry into the "draw ing zone " doesn't always protect him against defeat. 1 . 'lt>b5! 65 Chapter 4 not be ejected without clearing the path to the other comer, a8. "The drawing zone is none other than the path for the black king to the a8 and h8 squares, from which it cannot be driven away. " (V. Rau zer, Shakhmatny Listok, 1 928, No. 20) 44 Now let us turn to a position by Teichmann with a white pawn on a2 see Diagram 46) . White to move wins White undertakes decisive action without fear of the black king's further advance into the drawing zone. R. Teichmann 46 l. . .'it' dS 2. i. b2! 'it> d4 Or 2 . . . 'it> c6 3 . 'it> xa4 W d7 4. 'it' b5 'it>c8 5. ® c6 and wins. 3. 'it'xa4 'it> cS 4. @ as 'ltt c6 S. \t> a6 @cs 6. a4 'ltt b4(c6) 7. aS and wins. White wins 45 Here White's winning chances are even greater, since now White need have no fear of stalemating the black king; on the contrary, that circumstance is favo rable to him (assuming that the black king is not allowed access to a8) , since after the forced reply . . . a4-a3 he can at tack the black pawn with his bishop. White to move draws Here the draw is assured for Black, since if his king gets driven away from the center, it can approach the right-hand comer (h8-g7-h7) , from which it may 66 For a long time, Teichmann's study was considered "cooked, " a conclusion which, however, stemmed from an im proper evaluation of Kling and Horwitz's position ( Diagram 42) . Thanks to the re evaluation of this position published by Rauzer, the drawing zone was reduced, King, Minor Piece, and Pawn vs. King which in tum led to the complete reha bilitation of Teichmann's study. 8. W d6 W e8 9 . .ll a5 'it> t7 10 . .ll d8 'it> e8 1 1 . .ll h4 'it>t7 12. 'it> d7 'it> g6 13. 'it> e6 W h5 14 .ll e7 'it> g6! • In our analysis ofTeichmann's study, we will limit ourselves to Rauzer's most significant variations. Since the black king is unable to reach the a8 square, it can, after it is re moved from the center, aim for the h8 comer instead; however, with the pawn on a2 (rather than a3), White - as we have said already - can try to stalemate the black king, which in tum would en force the favorable . . . a4-a3 for him. In view of this threat, the black king must leave h8 and the drawing zone associated with it, and then White wins with a2-a3 and bringing the game to the aforemen tioned positions. 1. Wb6 W d7 2. W b7 W d8 If the black king does not retreat rightward, for example , but in the direc tion of the a2-pawn, then after it is driv en from the drawing zone , White wins by playing a2-a3 . (If 1 4 . . . 'it>g4, then l S . 'it> eS 'it> hS [else the black king will not get into the proper zone] 1 6 . 'it> tO , achieving the same position as in the main variation after White's move 23 I. R. ) - 15 .ll f6 'it> h6! 16. @f5 • 16. W fl also wins. 16 . . . 'it> h7 17 . .ll b2 White 's king breaks through to f6 (see White's move 23). 17 cot> g8 18. 'it> e6! .•• First we must cut off the black king's path to the a8 comer. 18 .. . 'it> f'S 19 .ll f6 Wg8! 20. 'it> e7 'it> h7 2 1 . 'it>t7 'it> h6 22 . .ll e7 'it> h5 23. 'it> f6! 'it> h6 • Or 2 3 . . . 'it> g4 24 . .il d6 'it> f3 2S. 'it> fS 'it> e 3 26. ii.cs+ 'it>d3 27. @es 'it> c4 2 8 . � d6 , etc. 3. Wc6! W e7! If 3 ... 'it> c8?, then 4 . .ll c7! a3 S . .ll d6 � d8 6 . .ll x a3 'it> c8 7 . .ll d6, and wins. 4. .ilc7 'it> e6 5 .ll d6 W f5 • For S . . . 'it> tO , see the Variation be low. 6. Wd5 'it> f6 7 . .ll b4 'it> t7 7 . . . ct> fs 8 . .ll c 3 . 24 .ll f'8+ W h5 • If 24, , , W h7?, then 2 S . W fl 'it> h8 2 6 . .ll h6 'it> h7 27 . .ll g7! . 2 5 . a 3 and White wins. (On 2S . . . Wg4, for example , there fol lows 26 . .ll h6, when Black is completely excluded from the drawing zone , after 67 Chapter 4 which White wins by using the methods indicated in our analysis of Diagram 42 - 1R) . a clever study by Duras on the theme we have been examining. . 0. Duras, 1908 VARIA TION: 47 ( l . 'it b6 'it' d7 2. 'it'b7 'it'd8 3 . 'it' c6 We7 4. li.. c7 'it' e6 5. Ji.. d6) 5 ... 'it' f6 6. 'it' d7 'it' f5 7. 'it e7 'it' e4 8. W e6 W d4 9. jt_ aJ 'it' c4 1 0 . 'it d6 'it' d4 On l 0 . . . 'it'c3 (with the threat of l l . . . 'it' c 2 1 2. li.. c5 a3! 1 3 . li.. xa3 \t> b l ) White replies 1 l . li.. c5. White to move and win 11. li.. b2+ 'ite4 Or l l . . .Wd3 1 2 . 'lt> d5 Wc2 1 3 . li.. d4, and if now l 3 . . . a3, then 14. W c4! 'lt>b l 1 5 . c;t>b3. 12. 'it' e 6 c;t> f4 13. li.. f6 'iti g4 If 1 3 . . . c;t> e4 1 4. li.. e5 c;t( f3 , then 1 5 . a3! Wg4 (after 1 5 . . . c;t> e4 White wins with 16. Ji.. h2, as in Diagram 43) 1 6 . W f6 'it h5 1 7 . 1 7. li.. f4. 14. 'it'e5 'it' h5 15. 'it' f5 'it' h6 16. Ji.. b2 'it'h7 17. 'it' f6! 'it' h6! (If 17 ... 'it' h8?, then 1 8 . 'it' g6+ 'it' g8 1 9. li.. g 7! a3 20. W f6 W h7 2 1 . li.. f8 ; while if 17 . . . Wg8?, then White can play, for example, 1 8 . li.. a3 , and then li.. a3-f8-g7 and 'it' g6 or 'it' fl - I. R. ) 18. Ji. c l + W h5! 19. a3, and wins. To conclude this chapter, we present 68 First let's try the least clever method: l . li.. c5, which is met by l . . . W fl (the black king must stay inside the square a3-a8-f8-f3) 2 . a4 W e6! (2 . . . W e8 doesn't work, in view of 3. a5 W d8 4. li.. d6 W c8 5 . a6! W d8 6. a7) 3 . a5 Wd5 4. a6 W c6 5 . Wg2! W c7 ! 6. li.. a7 W c6! and , thanks to the threat of . . . Wb5, Black can force the draw. Which leads to the question of whether we can improve on our first move. Did the bishop play any role on c5? Of course. In the variation shown above , White could win a tempo (after 4 . . . W c6) by playing 5. Wg2, only be cause from c5, the bishop cuts off the b6 square. However, this is not enough to win. Black can bypass the b6 square by using c7, which is no less valuable. This line of reasoning shows us the way to the proper solution. The bishop must stand such as to attack not only King, Minor Piece , and Pawn vs. King b6, but also c7 - that is, the bishop must stand on the a5-d8 diagonal. 46. A. Troitzky, 1 907. 1. k b4! With the aim of bringing the bishop later on to the aS-d8 diagonal. We sug gest that the reader persuade himself that other maneuvers aimed at the same result - that is, the maneuvers k a3-cS b6, k a3 -d6-c7, and � a3 -e7-d8 - fail to achieve the same result, since on b6, c7 and d8, the bishop's position is in sufficiently secure : Black makes use of this fact, and at the right moment wins a tempo by attacking the bishop. White to move and win. 47. 1. .. W f7 2. a4 W e6! On 2 . . . W e 8 , White answers as above with 3. as W d8 4. � d6 W c8 S . a6. 3. a5 W d5 4. a6 W c6 5. � a5! Now the black king is denied ac cess to b6 and c7; in the same way, other squares are denied to him too, since they are located outside the a6-a8-c8c6 square! Defeat can only be delayed a few moves, by S . . . dS 6. 'i!i g2 d4, etc. The upshot is that the black king must make a move (Zugzwang!), and then the a-pawn will queen. Black to move and draw. 48. A brilliant study, which answers the requirements of a practical game! Examples 45-52: 4S. Show, in Diagram 40, that the moves 1 . W e S and 1 . W e4 lead merely to a draw. White to move and draw. 69 Chapter 4 51. 49. Draw. Draw. 50. Win. Examine separately the moves I. . . 'ft/ h 7 and 1. . . <ti h5. 70 52. Black to move; White wins. Chapter s Mate with Bishop + Kni ght It is considerably harder to force mate with a bishop and a knight, than with a rook or the two bishops. The problem is that the knight cannot cut off two neighboring squares on a rank ( dS and e5, for instance) or on a file (for in stance , d5 and d6) ; and besides, it's not easy to coordinate the activities of the bishop and knight. As with other endings, we must force our opponent in the direction of the cor ner or the edge of the board. In this case , however, it turns out that it is possible to force mate only in the comers that can be controlled by the bishop. Therefore , in the presence of the following forces (see Diagram 48) , mate can only be forced on a8 or h l . 48 Black to move 1 Naturally, the best defense consists of staying, as much as possible, in the middle of the board, and if this is not possible , then to aim for the corners that the bishop can't control (a l or h8). W e4 2. W c5 In all endings featuring a small amount of material, the king plays a very important role. 2 First let us explain how to drive the king to the edge of the board. .•. ••. 'ftl e5 For 2 . . . We 3 , see the Variation. 3. � d3 Cutting off the centersquare e4; true , we could obtain the same result. with 3 . � dS . However, i t i s better t o occupy this center square with the king. And so, we 71 Chapter 5 must drive Black s king from his central post, trying at the same time to occupy the center with our own king. 3 ... Wf4! After 3 . . . W ffi 4. W d 5 , Black must re treat to the next-to-last rank. 4. W d5 W e3 If 4 . . . Wg5, then 5 . W e 5 ; and if 4. . . Wg3 , then 5 . W e4. 5. �e4 W f4 If 5 . . . Wd2, then 6. 8 b5 ! W e3 7. We5, followed by 9. W d4(f4). 6. 8 f5! Driving the king to the next-to-last rank. The same objective may also be achieved by 6. 8c2, but then the knight would be somewhat distant from the scene of the action. 6 ... W g5 If 6 . . . Wg4, then 7. W e5 Wg5 8. 8e3!, driving the king to the edge of the board. 7. We5 W g4 Nor can Black stay on the next-to last rank after 7 . . . Wg6 either, for exam ple 8. 8 d6+ Wg5 9 . .t f5 , or 8. 8d6+ Wg7 9. W f5. 8. 8 d4 W g3 72 Or 8 . . . Wg5 9. � f5 ! . 9. @ rs W f2 10. W f4 W e t t i . W e3 VARIA TION: 2 ... W e3 3. W d5! W f4 If 3 . . . W d2, then 4. 8 f5 ! (cutting off e3) 4 . . . W c3 5 . W c5! W d2 6. W d4, etc. 4 . � d3 W e3 After 4 . . . Wg5, Black's king would be on the next-to-last rank, and White locks in this advantage with 5 . W e 5 ; 4 . . . W g3 is also not good , because of 5 . W e4. It is still simpler to demonstrate the win after the move indicated, 4 . . . W e 3 ; the point i s that after this move we get the position corresponding exactly to the position we have already examined (see the main line 2 . . . . W e 5 following Black's fourth move) . Now we must answer the second question: Once we drive the king to the edge of the board, how do we push it into the comer we need ? Fo r this, we will examine a sam ple - the following position: WKf6, Ng5, Bf5, BKh 8 (see D i agram 5 1 ) . H oweve r, before embarking o n a d e tailed analysis of this position , we make note of two positions we should strive for. Having the king o n b 6 and I) bishop on a6 is most favorable to White with the black king on b8. Mate with Bishop + Knight 49 to place the white king on c7 and move the bishop to c 8 ) , thus attaining the po sition defined above. Now let us turn to the position in Diagram 5 1 . 51 Despite the fact that only two white pieces are currently taking part in the fighting, the black king here is nearly immobilized, and White doesn't even need the knight to secure what he has achieved; therefore the knight can be used to deliver the decisive blow. 2) The position of the bishop at b5 and knight at d5 with the black king at b7 is also nice. The black king must b e rousted out of the corner at h8 and driven to the cor ners a8 or h i . 1 . lll f7+ <t'g8 2. i.e4 (or d 3 , c2, b l , 50 g6) A waiting move. White moves the bishop along the g6-b l diagonal , so that on Black's forced reply 2 . . . 'it> f8 he can occupy h7 with the bishop, driving Black's king towards the a8 corner. 2 The point is that here too, two white pieces have the black king locked up (inside the confines of the trapezoid a8-d8c7-a7); in order to hem Black in further, it is enough to bring up the white king to b6, and then move the bishop to a6 (or ••• W f'8 3. i.h7 We8 4. lll e5 Here Black has two replies: 1) 4 . . . 'it> f8 (Variation I) and 2 ) 4 . . . 'it> d8 (Variation I I ) . Let's look at each variation in turn. VARIA TION I: 4 Wf8 5. lll d7+ W e8 6. W e6 Wd8 ••• 73 Chapter 5 Now the question arises: how should White continue? Does he play 7. ii.g6, cutting off the eS square, but opening up c7; or should he prefer 7. W d6, cutting off c7 but allowing the black king to get to eS? Of course, it's better to allow the square eS on the edge of the board the more so in that, from there, it's not hard to force Black to retreat in the desired direction. - 7. Wd6! \ti es Black tries to stay as far away as possi ble from aS. If7 . . . 'it> dS , then S. t'Llc5, and ifthen S . . . c;it dS , White plays 9. ii.g6 WcS 10. ii. es! c;it dS 1 1 . ii.b5, leading the game to the same position as after 7 . . . c;it eS . 8. ii. g6 + W d8 9. t'Ll c5 W c8 10 . .1l. e8! From its diagonal h5-eS, attacking eS, the bishop moves to the eS-a4 diago nal, where it not only hits the eS square, but also threatens the important squares d7, c6, and b5. 10 . . . c;it dS After 10 . . . WbS, White gets there quicker: he replies 1 1 . ii. d7, then Wc7! and ii.cs!, reaching the position depict ed above: the king from c7, joined with the bishop from cS, keeps Black locked up, while the knight delivers the decisive blow. For greater definition, we present an exhaustive analysis of the position after 10 . . . c;itbS. White replies 1 1 . ii.d7, after which Black has only two moves to choose from, l l . . .W a7 or 1 1 . ..WaS. On l l . . .c;ita7 there comes 12. Wc7! WaS 1 3 . AcS! W a7 14. t'Lld7 (for example) 14 . . . WaS 1 5 . t'Lle5 c;it a7 1 6. t'Ll c6+ WaS 74 1 7 . ii.b7#. Whereas if 1 1 . . .W aS , then 1 2. @c7! @ a7 1 3 . ii. cs! @ as 1 4. t'Ll d7 W a7 1 5 . t'Ll e5 W aS 1 6 . .1l.b7+ @ a7 l 7. t'Ll c6#. 1 1 . Abs @ cs 12. ii.d7+! Forcing Black back to bS. 12 ... @b8 13. @ c6 Another waiting move. Black must retreat to a7 or aS , after which White goes to c7 with his king and his bishop to cS, and then acts as indicated in the notes to White's move 1 0 . VARIA TION II: 4 ... @ d8 At first glance, the black king appears to be escaping from attack and winning through to freedom by approaching the a l comer. However, that impression soon dissipates. 5. W e6 W c7 If 5 . . . WeS, then 6. t'Ll d7 , bringing this ending to a position we have already discussed. 6. t'Ll d7! White takes the measures necessary to restrict the enemy king's movements. The knight at d7 cuts offb6 and c 5, while b5 and a6 are also off-limits to Black, since White brings the bishop over to d3 in timely fashion. 6 . . � b7 . Mate with Bishop + Knight This move gives White the greatest difficulties. For if 6 . . . W c8(d8 ) , then 7 . <;f;> d6, and i f 6 . . . @ c6, White replies 7 . .t d 3 ! and then 8 . .t b s . 7 . ..t d3! 'iit c6 White answers other moves with 8 . Wd6 o r 8 . .t b s . White brings his king to c7 and the bishop to c8. 16 ... 'it> a7 1 7 . .ll c8 Wb8 Now White makes a waiting move with the knight and then plays 'it> c7 . Examples 53-55: S 3. 8. .ll a6 Black is forced to retreat. 8... 'it>c7 9 . .ll b 5! With this move , White prepares an other position we've discussed before (see Diagram SO) , where he tries to achieve a situation with bishop at bS and knight at dS , since these two pieces with out the aid of the king hold Black within the trapezoid a8-a7-c7-d8. 9 ... 'it>b7! White answers other moves by bring ing the knight at once to the necessary square dS via ffi or b6. Mate in four. S4. Where should you place the bish op and knight so that, unaided by the king, they lock up the black king on h4? SS. Force mate from this position 10. 'it> d6 'it> c8 If l 0 . . . W a8? or l 0 . . . 'it> a7? , then 1 1 . W c7 with a quick win. Now White need only bring his knight to dS and then make use of his king to deliver the coup de grace. The concluding phase might go like this: n.lll f6 Wd8 12. ll:ld5! 'it>c8 13. �e7 Wb8 14. 'li7d8 Wb7 15. �d7 Wb8 16 . ..ta6! no later than the SO"' move. (With best play, 33 moves are enough to force mate with bishop and knight from any position.) 75 Chapter 6 Mate with Knights (vs . Pawns ) Mate with two knights and king against a king cannot be achieved, if the opposing king stays away from the cor ners and edges. Only if the defending king goes ofhis own free will into the corner, or the edge of the board, can he be mated - in the following position, for example: such that they are incapable of deliver ing the decisive blow. For instance, in the following position (after 1. . . cJJ h 1 ??) , or in this position: (See diagram next column) True, there do exist positions in which it is possible to force the opponent to head into the corner; however, in this case the position of the white pieces is 76 Mate with Knights (vs. Pawns) Black must play l . . . W h l , after which White lacks the tempo needed for mate: here he can deliver only stale mate. G. Bolton, 1840 53 A. MATE WITH 1WO KNIGHTS vs. PAWNS If we add a pawn to the positions we are examining, then the pawn, in the overwhelming majority of cases, will only harm its possessor. Thus, for ex ample, in the position described above Black loses if he also has a pawn on g5 (see Diagram 52). White to move and win In this example, the negative role of the black pawn is drawn in especially sharp relief: it deprives its own king of the h3 square, and besides that, it allows White to win a tempo at the decisive moment. 52 1 . tt:l t2! White wins After l . . .'it> h l 2. tt:l d l , Black loses because he has a pawn: on the forced reply 2 . . g4, there follows 3. tt:l f2 # . . This example shows us that there is a negative aspect to the pawn: its presence prevents Black from setting up the stalemate. Sometimes the pawn is also harmful in that it hinders its own king s mobility. White brings the knight from h l to g4, with the goal of preventing the black king from hiding at h5 or h6, which would at least delay the win. True , after l . tt:l f2 , the g3 square is freed, but this offers Black only temporary relief. Of course , l . 'it>g6 would be a mistake, causing stalemate. 1 ••• 'it> h5 Concerning l . . .Wg3 , see the Variation. 2. tt:l g4 'tt' h4 3. Wg6 '\t' g3 4. W g5 Now we can see that the black king cannot run through to freedom from g3 . 77 Chapter 6 4 . . . W g2 5. W f4 W h l O n 5 . . . W g l , White seizes the oppo sition with 6. Wg3 ! , after which comes 6 . . . \t> h l 7. tt:J f3 ! (this move deprives the black king of mobility, and with this frees the h3-pawn - the latter circumstance being fatal for Black as he must waste a tempo on an unproductive pawn move) 7 . . . h2 8. tt:Jf2#. 6. W f3! A delicate move , typical of such po sitions. If 6. Wg3, then 6 . . . W g l , after which not White , but Black takes the opposition. Therefore , White makes a waiting move, intending to go to g3 in more favorable circumstances; he gives his opponent the right of the move (the so called "loss of a tempo" - see Chapter 3 ) , so that he can then take the opposi tion. 6 ... \t> g l 7. W g3 W h l 8. tt:Jf3 h2 9. tt:Jf2# After 1. tt:J f2 W h5 2 . tt:J fg4 W h4 3 . W g6 Wg3 4. Wg5 W g2 5 . W f4 W h l , White does not move to the g 3 square at once, but takes two moves to do so. He deliberately delays his journey to g3 with the intention of getting to the des ignated spot just when the black king is on gl. From this, it is clear that White 's king prefers not to move from f4 to g3 directly, but via the indirect route f4-f3g3: the king utilizes two sides of the tri anglef4-f3-g3 instead of one. So what does White gain by slow ing his journey? He wishes to hand over the right to move to his opponent. See ing that the black king must swing from h l to g l and back again, White exploits the advantages of his position: it is in his power to occupy the g3 square with Black's king on either h l or g l . Mov ing along the contours of a triangle, he succeeds in reaching g3 at the right mo ment: with the kings on g3 and g l , Black has to give up the opposition! Let's move on to our next example. VARIA TION: Kling and Horwitz, 1851 l •.. W g3 2. tt:J g4 54 After this move , the game moves into positions already examined: for instance , i f Black replies 2 ... W h4, then we have a position from the main variation after Black's second move; and if 2 . . . Wg2, then after 3 . W f4 we get a position which exactly duplicates a position in the main variation after White 's move 5 . Let's return t o that main variation. 78 White to move and win Mate with Knights (vs. Pawns) First, let us take note of the following circumstance. If it were Black to move in this position, he would lose quickly: I . ..'iti h l 2.liJg3+ W g l 3. liJ f3 # . 2 . . . \t> g l 3. 'it> h3 ! , achieving the starting position, with the one significant difference that now it 's Black 's tum to move! 2. 'it> h4 But, in fact, in this position, it's White to move; which means that in or der to win, he must hand over the right to move to his opponent! We note also the following curious fact if it were Black to move in the starting po sition, then with 1 . . . 'it> h 1 he could take the opposition and lose quickly thereafter - which means that in this position hold ing the opposition is a curse rather than a blessing. Such an outcome should not sur prise us: true, in the pawn endingY examined above, taking the opposition was considered an advantage; in contrast, consider the rook mate, which to achieve required not gaining but yielding the opposition (compare also the analysis to Diagram 36). Now let's go back to Diagram 54. As we already explained above, the white king must maneuver so that it occupies h3 only after the black king occupies g 1 . In other words, it is desirable later, in reply to Black's . . . W g l , to occupy, not g3 (op position), but h3, located at the distance of a knight's move from the enemy king. l. W g4 A waiting move. He might also play l . 'it> h4. l. . . 'it> g2 If l . . . 'it> h l , then 2. 'it>g3 (occupying the square a knight's move away from h l ) Another waiting move. The black king has to return to the first rank, after which White will have a choice between the g3 and the h3 squares. 2 'it>gl ••• If 2 . . . W h l , then 3 . 'it> g 3 ! (occupying a square a knight's move away from the enemy king) 3 . . . Wg l 4. 'it> h3 ! W h l 5 . liJ g 3 + W g l 6. liJ f3 # . 3. 'it> h3! 'it> h l 4 . liJ g3+ and mate next move. If we note the first three moves for both White and Black, we see the fol lowing: in the main variation, the black king, located first on g 1 , returns to that square in an even number of moves; while the white king, starting on h 3 , comes back t o h 3 i n an odd number of moves. In this way, the white king se lects, not "the shortest distance between two points," but the sides of a triangle; thanks to this tactic the white king re turns to the h3 square a little later, but underfavorable circumstances. Giving up the opposition by means of the "triangle" has widespread use and is seen often in practice. For better ab sorption of this technique , we allow our selves to present here an example from a different genre. 79 Chapter 6 55 White to move This is a position from the game Reti - Marshall, Baden- Baden 1 925. If it were Black to move in this po sition, White would win without any trouble. Black is in Zugzwang: any move leads to a worsening of his position; for instance, I . . .'it'g6 2. d6, or l . . .b4 2 . tl'l xb4 'it' g6 3 . tl'l a2 @ f6 4 . tl'lc3 'it' g6 5 . tl'l e4. But how to achieve the win when it 's White to move ? For this, it's necessary to pass the move to one 's opponent - that is, White must maneuver his king so as to return to the original position, but with Black having the move ( " losing a tempo"). Let's see which squares the black king can use if the white king starts maneuvering. The g6 and g7 squares remain unusable for the black king, but the way to f5 is open. And so the black king may dance along the f5, f6 and fl squares (e8 is unavailable to him, since he must protect his pawn at g5 ; for more detail on this, see the notes to Black's first move). Black depends on maneu- 80 vering either on those three squares, or on only two of them; but in either case, he must occupy the intermediate square f6 every two moves. That's the whole point! White's king can go wherever he wants to, back and forth (g4-f3-g4-f3 , etc . , fo r instance) o r he can take a " lit tle stroll. " In the first case, White 's king returns to the starting square in an even number of moves, while in the second case , he walks along the sides of a g4f3 -g3 triangle, and therefore returns to the starting point in an odd number of moves. Meanwhile , the black king has to "wander" in narrower circumstances. His movements are strictly constrained: he must necessarily return to the starting square in an even number of moves. Wishing to change this conjunction, the white king, of course , will prefer the "triangle" - that is, the maneuver which cannot be duplicated by his opponent. VARIA TION /: I. 'it' g3! The beginning of a tour around the sides of the triangle g4-g3-f3. One can also begin the movement in the opposite direction (see Variation I I ) . l . . . 'it' fS I . . . 'it' fl changes nothing. In this case , too, Black's king must come back immediately. (If I . . . 'it' fl 2. 'it' f3 'it> e8?, then 3 . 'it' g4 'it> d7 4. 'it' xg5 'it> d6 5 . tl'l b4! W c 5 6 . Wf6 and wins.) 2. Wf3! 'it' f6 Mate with Knights (vs. Pawns) If2 . . . g4+ , then 3 . @g3 wins at once , since 3 . . . @g5 meets with 4. d6. 3. @ g4 The goal is achieved! We have the start ing position, but with Black to move! VARIA TION I/: t. @f3! @ f5 Or I . . . @ f7 2. @g3! @ ffi 3 . @ g4. number of moves. This circumstance can be expressed in the brief but not quite accurate formulation , "The knight can not lose a tempo . " The following ex pression would be more exact: " Maneu vering only the knight, one cannot give the move to one 's opponent, if he moves his king back and forth. " It's for this very reason that White cannot win in this po sition: WKh8, Ndl, ph 7, BKf7with White to move. The knight's movement cannot be put off for a single move : for example, one cannot get the knight from d l to b6 in four moves. 2. © g3 g4! One last try. If 2 . . . @ ffi , then White "closes the triangle" with 3. \t> g4. Along with the knight, an advanced pawn cannot lose a tempo - for exam ple, a pawn can only get from f3 to ffi in three moves, and from f4 to f8 only in four. But a pawn which has not yet made a single move in the whole game (a white pawn at f2, for instance) , can lose a tem po. For instance, in the position below - 3. @ g2! White makes use of another triangle. The continuation 3. \t> h4 @ f4 4. d6 g3 5. 'it> h3 @f3 6. tlJ d4+ @ f2 7. d7 g2! 8 . <1Je2! and wins, would b e less efficient. 56 3 ... @ f6 4. @ fl! @f5 5. 'it> g3! I n the above variations, the white king goes from g4 to g3. This operation required one move in the first variation and two in the second variation. This is the secret to " losing a tempo" ! It is only thanks to the fact that the king may go from g3 to g4 in either an even or an odd number of moves, that it doesn't matter whose tum it is to move . Not all the pieces have this capabil ity. For instance , the knight can go from e3 to c6 only in an odd number of moves, it can go from d3 to fl only in an even White always wins: if it's Black's move , then in reply to l . . .b5, White plays 2 . a3!. An d i f it's White's move , then White advances his pawn two squares: l . a4! . The judgment presented above shows us that the queen, rook and bishop may 81 Chapter 6 "lose a tempo" - for instance, the bish op may go from a8 to b7 in whatever number of moves is required. A. Troitzky 57 Let us return again to the two knights vs. pawn ending. Many analysts have busied them selves with this theme - among them we could name Chapelle ( 1 780) , Mendheim ( 1 832), Guretsky-Kornitz, Blok, Henri, Jan, and especially that celebrated rep resentative of the art, A. Troitzky, who brought much that was new to the theory of this ending and published, in the years 1 906- 1 9 1 0, detailed research into this theme of ours. Subsequently Troitzky deepened his investigations further, and put them together in his work, entitled "Two Knights vs. Pawn, " included in his collection of chess studies ( 1 934) . White to move and win "Abnormal Position V" A. Troitzky 58 We present some of the most impor tant parts of Troitzky's theory. First we examine the key positions, starting with those with the black king in the comer, a8, or near to it. A. Troitzky Black to move. White wins "Normal Position H" Black to move. White wins "Normal Position V" 82 Mate with Knights (vs. Pawns) A. Troitzky (since almost every "abnormal" position can be changed into a " normal " one). In Diagram 56 White wins rather simply: on l . . .'it' h8 there follows 2. tll c4 a3 (the pawn should br advanced at the first opportunity with the goal of getting rid of it; playing l . . .W h7? would only simplify the opponent's task) 3. tll e5! a2 4. tll g 6+ W h7 5. tll f8+ W h8 6. tll e7(h4) a l 'iY 7. tll eg6#. 59 White to move and win "Abnormal Position H" In Diagrams 56 and 5 7 the white pieces (the king and one of the knights) are placed on a single vertical file (V) , and in Diagrams 58 and 59, on the same horizontal rank ( H ) . In every position presented, the white king stands in op position to the black one , and in Dia grams 56 and 5 8 , Black is the one who must break the opposition, while in Diagrams 57 and 59 it's White. Further more, between the white king and one of its knights there is a distance of one square, with the other ( " reserve " ) knight holding the pawn back, occupying the square directly in front of it. The labels " normal" and "abnor mal" mean that every "abnormal" posi tion can be almost always converted into a "normal" position of its own kind; the reverse conversion is not possible (with out the aid of the reserve knight). There fore, if you have a win in a " normal " po sition, then as a rule it can be achieved in the corresponding "abnormal" position I n Diagram 57 White , in order for his reserve knight to land on g6 with check, must first convert the "abnormal " posi tion into a "normal" one - that is, he must pass the move to his opponent. This is done as follows: l . W f6! W h8 (after l . . .W g8 2. W e7 W h7, White first takes the opposi tion, and the solution is shortened by one move) 2. W e7! Wg8! 3. W e8 W h8 4. W f8 W h7 5. 'it' f7 , after which White wins as above. In Diagram 58, the win is somewhat more complicated: here it is first neces sary to convert Position H into Position V. This is accomplished as follows: I . . .W h8 2. Wf7! 'it' h7 3. tll g7! W h6! 4. Wf6 W h7 5. tll f5! (the knight takes up a position characteristic of Position V) 5 . . . W h8! 6. 'itt e7 Wg8 7. 'it> e 8 'it> h8 8. Wf8 ! (taking the opposition with the goal of creating the normal Position V) 8 . . . W h7 9. Wf7 etc., as in the analysis of Diagram 56. White's method does not change in its basic form in the variation ( l . . .W h8 2. Wf7! 'it> h7 3. tll g7) 3 . . . '.!.i h8 , since he now also continues 4. tll f5 ! W h7 83 Chapter 6 (we now have Position V, but with White to play) 5. <t'ffi 'it'g8 (or 5 . . . 'it' h8 6. W e7) 6. We7 Wh8 7. Wf8 W h7 8 . W f7 , etc. The win in Diagram 59 is still more complex. Here White's play breaks down into four operations: l ) converting Abnormal Position H into a normal po sition of the same type (giving over the move to the opponent) ; 2) converting Normal Position H into an Abnormal V (if Black wants to play that way, he can avoid this stage and go immediately into the Normal Position V; this does not change the overall number of moves; 3) changing the Abnormal Position V into a Normal Position V; 4) bringing up the reserve knight. Here is the basic varia tion (see Diagram 59): t . W f6 W h8! 2. W gS! White executes a maneuver similar to the one noted for Diagram 57. 8. CiJfS W h7 We have reached Position V, but with White to move . Once again, it is neces sary to yield the move to our opponent (stage 3). 9. W f6 'it> h8! 10. r.t> e7! <t' g8 11. W e8 r.t> h8 12. r.t> t8 r.t> h7 13. 'it> t7 'it> h8 Now the decisive phase begins (stage 4). 14. CiJ c4! a3 15. CiJ eS a2 16. CiJ g6+ r.t> h7 17. CiJt8+ r.t> h8 18. CiJ e7(h4) al� 19. CiJ g6# The methods presented for the a4pawn are also just as good for a pawn on e3 (for the layout of pieces described above). Further on it will be clear .that, for the placement of pawns on squares fur ther from the queening square (that is, on one of the squares between a5 and a7 or between e4 and e7) , the win is simpler. 2 ... W h7 3. W hS W h8 4. W h6 Wg8 5. W g6 The first operation is complete: White has passed the move to his op ponent. Now he has to change the hori zontal front of the white pieces to a ver tical one (stage 2). A. Troitzky 60 5 ... 'it> h8 6. Wt7! W h7 7. CiJ g7! W h8 After 7 . . . W h6 8 . W ffi W h7 9. CiJ f5 W h8 I O. 'it> e7! 'it>g8 1 1 . 'it> e 8 W h8 1 2 . Wf8 'it> h7 1 3 . 'it> f7 , play goes from stage 2 directly into stage 4; however, this does not affect the total number of moves played. 84 White to move and win "Abnormal Position V" Mate with Knights (vs. Pawns) A. Thoitzky 61 A. Thoitzky 63 White to move and win Black to move. White wins "Abnormal Position H" "Normal Position H" A. Thoitzky The analysis for positions 60-63 re veals the following curious phenom enon: here the abnormal positions tum out more favorably than the normal ones. For example, in abnormal posi tions 60 and 6 1 , the reserve knight enters right away and forces mate in four moves with l . lll g4! h2 2. lll f6+ � h8 , followed by bringing the other knight to g6 (in Diagram 60) or to fl (in Diagram 6 1 ) . 62 Black to move. White wins "Normal Position V" Moving to Diagrams 62 and 6 3 , again we are reminded that usually a normal position cannot be transformed into an abnormal one, and that therefore one can win here only with the aid of a new, previously unexamined combination. In Diagram 62, White achieves his goal as follows: t. . . 'iit h8 2. Wg6 White tries to transform the position into Abnormal Position H . 2 <ti g8 3. lll g7 �f8! •.. 85 Chapter 6 As opposed to Diagrams 56-59, here 3 . . . 'it>h8? loses, on account of 4. Cl:l e6! Wg8 5. Cl:lg4 h2 6. Cbf6+ (taking the f6 square with check decides the game) 6 . . . Wh8 7. Cl:lg5(d8) h t '@' 8. Cl:l t7 # . 4 . Wf6 W g8 5 . Cl:l e6 W h7 Once again, Black could not reply 5 . . . Wh8?, since here White declines to take the opposition, but again plays 6. Wg6, creating an abnormal position and after 6 . . . Wg8 forcing mate in four. achieved not only against the h3-pawn, but also against the g4- and f3-pawns (which we suggest that our reader prove for himself). With the pawn at d3, though, the last of these combinations does not work, and so here the win is possible only in an "abnormal" position (see Diagram 64). A. Troitzky 64 6. W g5 W g8 Once again, comes 7. W g6. on 6 . . . W h8? there 7. 'iii g6 'it> h8 White has achieved Position H , but he cannot force the abnormal position, which is better for him here than the normal one . 8. Wf7! The start of a new combination. It looks like the black king has been set free, but the reserve knight once again stands athwart his escape route. 8 'it> h7 9. Cl:l g4! h2 10. Cl:lf8+ Wh8 1 1 . Cl:lf6 ht'@' 12. Cl:l g6# ..• In Diagram 63, White can win still more quickly with ( l . . . W h8) 2. Wf7! Wh7 3 . Cl:lg4! , etc. By the methods pointed out in the analysis of Diagrams 60-63, the win is 86 White to move wins; Black to move draws! White to play wins easily by immedi ately moving the knight on d2 to f6 (or g5), followed by Cl:l f5-e7(h4)-g6#. And if in Diagram 64 it's Black to play, then White is just one move too late and there fore must content himself with a draw. Here neither the immediate appearance of the knight, nor the exchange of the vertical front for a horizontal one, nor, fi nally, the combination noted in the anal ysis of Diagram 62 and 63 will help. In the lower corners (a l and h 1 ) , White has a somewhat harder time win ning, since thanks to the presence here of the white king he must consider the possibility of a pawn advance with check (see Diagrams 65 and 66). Mate with Knights (vs. Pawns) A. 'Ifoitzky 65 White to move wins Therefore, in Diagram 65 he should play l . Wc3! W a l (after l . . .W a2 , the so lution is one move shorter: 2. W b4 W a l 3 . � a3 Wb l 4 . Wb3) 2 . � b4 � a2 3 . W a4 W a l 4. W a3 W b l 5 . W b3 W a l 6. W c2 W a2 7. tiJb2 W a3 8 . W c3 W a2 9. li:l c4! W a l 10. Wd2 Wb l 1 1 . W d l W a l 1 2. � c l W a2 1 3 . Wc2 W a l , and now the only move is 14. tiJb3+ W a2 1 5 . li:l c l + � a l 1 6 . CiJa5(d2) c5 1 7 . li:l ab3#. In Diagram 66, meanwhile , the win is achieved as follows: t . 'it' h l 2. tiJ hJ .. "Abnonnal Position H" In Diagram 65, the immediate ap proach of the reserve knight fails to achieve the goal, since after l . li:l a4? c5 2. l!Lic3+ W a l 3. lll e l , he does not get to cany out the threatened 4. lll c2# because ofthe check on c4. In order to achieve his goal, White must here give his opponent the move, then change the horizontal front to a vertical one, and only after wards make use of the knight in reserve. A. 'Ifoitzky The immediate 2 . CiJ e l d3 3 . li:l f3 d 2 4 . tiJ e2 (or 4 . lll h5) would be mis taken , in view of 4 ... d l li:l + ! . There fore , before mobilizing his reserve knight, White brings the other knight to g5 . The point of this maneuver soon becomes clear. 2 . . W h2 3. tiJ g5! 'it> h l 4. lll e l d3 5. li:lf3 d2 6. lll e4! . From here the knight threatens two decisive squares, g3 and f2. 6 dlli:l + 7. � g3! 66 ..• Black to move; White wins Reaching an original type of Zugzwang. Black has to make a move with his knight, releasing the pressure on f2 . If Black had no knight, it would be stalemate! ( ''And you accept death at the hands of your own knight! " ) The combination we have just seen was the conclusion of the following Troitzky study: "Nonnal Position V" 87 Chapter 6 Black to move. With White's best (!) play, 59 moves are required to bring this to the position shown in Diagram 66. Thus, the entire study is calculated to take 66 moves, and until move 63, not a single pawn move is made! The 50move rule, presented in the first chapter, should therefore be refined. A. Troitzky 67 White to move and win In the position in Diagram 67, the pawn is on the far right file (as in Diagram 53), and the knights keep the black king locked in, allowing him only the squares h4-h l and g l . Nevertheless, the win here is not yet so simple, and to achieve 88 it, it will be necessary to sacrifice one of the knights. White plays I . 'it' f4 'it' h2! (a pawn move would restrain the black king still more; after I . . . 'it' h4 2. tl:lg2+ c;t> h3 3. 'it'f3 'it' h2 4. 'it' t2 'it' h3 5. tl:l :ffi ! , followed by 6. tl:l f4, White wins without having to resort to the knight sacrifice) 2. 'it' f3 c;t> g J (clearing the way fo r the pawn) 3 . tl:lg5 h4 (now this is relatively the best chance, since otherwise the white king goes to f2) 4. W e2 h3 5. tl:l f3 + 'iii h l (threatening 6 . . . h2!) 6. tl:l h2!! (only by sacrificing the knight can White force the win now) 6 ... W g l (6 ... W xh2 would have only short ened the solution) 7. W e l c;t> h I 8. Wfl (8. W f2 also wins; compare Diagram 69) 8 . . . © xh2 9. wf2! '.it h l IO . tl:l fl h2 1 1 . tl:\g3#. Troitzky showed that, "on any place ment of the black king, White undoubt edly wins only against black- pawns standing on a4, b6, c 5 , d4, e4, f5 , g6, h4 or above (26 cases) " . Along with this, he demonstrated a great number of losing positions with further-advanced pawns; however, in the vast majority of such po sitions the win is forced only with very complicated maneuverings, the expla nation of which would take up too much space in this manual. I n conclusion, let's examine the end ing of the game Norman - Lilienthal from the Hastings tournament of 1 934 (see Diagram 68). Both players displayed in this en counter a very weak understanding of the ending we have been examining. Thus, for example, in this position from a previous stage of the game: Mate with Knights (vs. Pawns) 68 White, instead of forcing the draw with l . b4! tll d6 2. W xa7 (but not 2. b5? in view of 2 . . . ll'lc8! 3. Wb7 ll'l d4!) 2 . . . ll'lb5+! 3 . Wb6, etc . , played l W xa7? immediately, allowing his opponent to fix the pawn on b3 (instead of b4) with l . . .ll'l b4!. As we shall see from the further course of the game, this circumstance will be of deci sive importance. 1 . .. ll'l t7 ! That i s how Black should play. The point is that with the white pawn on b3 mate is forced only when the black king is on the a l square, and it can only be driven there via a roundabout route through the kingside. 2. W f8 ll'l d6 3. Wg7! The game continued: ( l . W xa7 ll'lb4) 2. 'it>b6 ll'l d4 3. Wc5 ll'l dc6 4. W d6 W f6 5. 'it>d7 We5 6. W e 8 '>t> e6 7. '>ii> f8 W f6 8 . W e 8 tll e5 9. W d8 W e6 I O. \t/ e8?. Here IO. Wc7 was somewhat better, tempo rarily refraining from going around the board via the king's wing. But after 1 0. We8, the game arrived at the following position: Norman - Lilienthal Hastings 1 934 (See Diagram 68) The path to victory shown below was basically shown by Troitzky in Shakhmaty v SSSR, 1 93 5 , No. 2. In fact, Lilienthal committed quite a number of errors, which resulted in a drawn game. After 3 . Wg8? Wf6, Black's task is simplified, since now he can force mate in the h8 comer. For example: l) 4. Wf8 ll'l c6! 5 . b4 ll'l d4 6. b5 ll'l e6+! 7. Wg8 Wg6 ( Position H!) 8. b6 W f5 9 . b7 ll'l h6+ 10. W h8 ll'l g5 1 1 . b8� ll'l gf7 # . 2) 4 . W h7 ll'l f5 5 . \t/ g8 W e7 6. W h8 \t/ f8 7. W h7 W f7 ( Position V!) 8 . W h8 ll'l c6! 9.b4 ll'l ce7 I O . b5 tll g6+ 1 1 . \t/ h7 ll'lf8+ 1 2. W h8 tll e7 1 3 . b6 tll eg6#. 3) 4. W h8 \t/ t7 5 . W h7 tll f5 , etc . , as i n the previous example. And so, 3 . W g7! was forced. Curi ously, White must get relentlessly closer to the c l square. If he turns away from 89 Chapter 6 this path, his king gets mated sooner (in the hl or h8 corner) . 3 ... c;i;>f5! 4. c;t> h6! Other moves lose more quickly; for example, 4. c;i;> h7? c;i;>g5 5 . <Jd g7 lli c6! (the variations given here show that, with the knight standing on d6, the reserve knight at b4 can go to c6 with the white king standing at g7 and the black one at g5 or, as in the previous note , with the two kings standing at/8 and/6, respectively) 6. b4 llid4 7. b5 lli e6+ 8. c;i;> h7 (on other retreats, there follows 8 . . . c;i;>g6!) 8 . . . lli e8 9. b6 (and now, on other moves, Black plays 9 . . . c;i;>g6!) 9 . . . llif6+ 1 0 . c;i;> h8 c;i;>g6! 1 1 . b7 llig5 12. b8� lli fl # . Once again , 8. W h2 would have only shortened the solution , in view of 8 . . . 'lil f3 9 . 'lil g l (or 9 . W h3 lli d3 1 0 . b4 QJ f4+ 1 1 . 'it> h2 'lii f2 , c reating Position V) 9 . . . lli e3 10. W h2 'it> g4!, etc . , leading to Position H . 8 • • . 'lil e3 9 . @ fl! If 9. 'it> h3 , then 9 . . . \t> f3 , a s above; while the variation 9. W h2 \t> t2 1 0. W h3 'lil f3 leads to the same position. Finally, on 9. 'ltt g l , there follows 9 . . . 'iit f3 I O. W fl lli d3! (not allowing White 's king to reach the a l corner) 1 1 . b4 lli e3 + 1 2. W g l @g3, etc. 9 . . . lli h4 10. W e t ! 4 . llie8! 5. W h5! . . After 5. W h7? Wg5 6 . 'iit g8 � f6 . Black can again force mate o n h8, for example: I) 7. 'iii f8 llig7! 8. 'lilg8 lli e6 9. Wh7 Wg5 and 1 0 . . . Wg6, creating the well-known position with a horizontal front of black pieces. 2) 7. W h7 llig7 8. W h6 (if 8 . 'iit g 8, then 8 ... lli e6! 9. W h7 'lii g 5, etc . ) 8 . . . lli c6! 9. b4, and now something like 9. , .. llie5 1 0 . b5 lli g4+ 1 1 . W h7 W fl 1 2 . b 6 llifS! 1 3 . b 7 llif6+ 14. 'lii> h8 lli e 7 1 5 . b8� llig6# . 5 llig7+! 6. 'ltt h4 .•. If 6. 'lil h6?, then 6 . . . Wf6 7. W h7 lli f5! 8. Wg8 We7, etc. 6 Wf4 7. Wh3 llirs 8. 'lt> g2! ... 90 White must inexorably g o t o the a l comer. I f 1 0 . W g l ? , for example, then 10 . . . 'lile2 1 1 . 'lil h2 W f3 ! 1 2 . 'it> g l (or 1 2. W h3 lli g2 1 3 . W h2 lli f4 14. W g l W e2, etc. ) 1 2 . . . lli g2 1 3 . W fl (on 1 3 . W h2, again we have 13 . . . lli f4!) 1 3 . . . lli d 3 , win ning quickly. 10 ... lli g2+ 1 1 . @ d l If 1 1 . @ fl ? , then l l . . . W f3 1 2 . W g l lli e 3 1 3 . W h2 W g4, etc. 1 1 . . . 'lil d3 12. @ c t lli e3 Now the crisis is nigh. However White plays now, Black will bring his king to d2, and the knight from e3 via c2 and a3 to b5; after this the b4-knight goes to d4, conclusively surrounding the white king. 13. 'lil b2 Mate with Knights (vs. Pawns) If 1 3 . c;i;>b l , then l 3 . . . c;i;>d2 first. 13 ... lll c2! 14. c;i;> c l c;i;> e2 15. c;i;> bt ©dl 16. c;i;>b2 c;i;> d2! 17.c;i;>bl tl:l a3+ 18. ©b2 lll b5! 19. c;i;>bt tl:l d3 20. b4 Or 20. c;i;> a2 c;i;> c 2 , followed by ... qjc l +. 20 lll c3+ 2 1 . W a l c;i;> c2 22. b5 tl:l c t 23. b6 lll b3# ..• if it's White to move, then 1 . tl:l b4+! (the only way to win; it would be mistaken, for example, to play 1 . tl:lc 1 + , in view of l . . . c;i;> a l 2. lll b3+ c;i;> a2 3. tl:l d4 c;i;> a l 4 . � c l c;i;> a2!!, with a draw) l . . . W a l 2 . W c l a 2 3 . tl:l c2#. The position under examination (WKc2, Nd3, BKa2, pa3) was known al ready in the thirteenth century. It comes from a position presented in the old manuscript Bonus socius. B. MATE WITH A SINGLE KNIGHT A. Salvio, 1634 vs. PAWNS 70 69 White wins, regardless of whose move it is White to move -mate in 3; Black to move. Draw If it's White to play, then victory is gained like this: Here, mate is achieved simply by l . ©c2 c;i;> a l 2 . c;i;> c l ! a2 3 . tl:lb3#. And if it is Black's move in the starting position, then he gets out with l . . .c;i;>b 3. Now let's change the position i n Diagram 6 9 a bit. Let's say that the white king does not stand on c 1 , but on c2. Then, the game is won regardless of whose move it is. If Black is to move, then l . . .c;i;> a l 2. tl:l c l a2 3 . tl:lb3#. And 1. tl:l f6 'iti b l On l . . .g5, White has mate i n three: 2. tl:l g4+ 'it> h l 3. 'iti fl ! h2 4. tl:lf2#. 2. tl:l g4 gs 3. wn h2 4. lll fl# I f in the starting position it' s Black 's move, then two variations are possible: 91 Chapter 6 VARIA TION /: 57. 1 ... g5 2. lLl f6 g4 Or 2 . . . W h l 3 . ltJ g4 h2 4. lLle3 g4 5 . Qj fl g3 + 6. ltJxg3#. 3. ltJxg4+ W h l 4. wn h2 5. lLl f2#. VARIA TION //: 1 ... 'itt hl 2. lLl f6 'itt h2 White wins, regardless of whose tum it is. If2 . . . h2, then 3. ltJg4 g5 4. ltJe 3 g4 5 . Qj fl g 3 + 6 . ltJ xg3#. 58. 3. lLlg4+ 'itt h t 4. wn g5 5. wa h2 6. lll e3 g4 7. ltJO g3+ 8. ltJxg3# While two knights win against a pawn in the majority of cases, mate with one knight (against pawns) is possible only in exceptional circumstances. Examples 56- 70: 56. White wins, regardless of whose tum it is. 59. White wins, regardless of whose tum it is. White wins, regardless of whose tum it is. 92 Mate with Knights (vs. Pawns) 63. 60. If White moves, he wins; ifBlack moves, it 's a draw. Black to move wins. 64. P. Stamma, 1 745. 61. Black to move wins. 62. White to move wins; Black to move draws. Troitzky deepened this study by plac ing the kings at e3 and h2. In this situa tion, how does White win (when he has the move)? White to move; Black wins. 93 Chapter 6 65. 67. K. Janisch, 1 83 7 . White to move and mate in JO. White wins. 66. In one of Kieseritzky's games (from about 1 850) , the following position occurred: 68. Y. Mendheim, 1 83 2 . White to move and mate in 9. 69. The game continued: 1 . tLlfS! g2 2. lll d6+ � d4 3. tLlb7! � xe4 4. ii.cs � f3 5 . W d2 g l ._, ! 6. i, xg l � g 2 7 . �e2, and White forced the wi n . How? White to move and win. 94 Mate with Knights (vs. Pawns) 70. A. Troitzky, 1 895. White to move and win. How does Black answer I. � c6 and I. � e4? 95 Chapter 7 Minor Piece vs . Pawn s I n the preceding chapter, we looked at positions where the knight forced mate against a pawn (or a few pawns) . There we presented a position in which a bishop wins against the pawns (see Ex ample 70; White must sacrifice a pawn to reach the goal). I n both of these cases, Black loses because of the exceptionally poor posi tion of his king. But usually in a minor piece 's struggle against pawns, the op ponent who has to stop the pawn needs to be careful. A. KNIGHT vs. PAWN Here the pawn is a serious danger to Black. He must take immediate steps against its possible advance. Of course , 1 . . . tt:J b7? does not work because of 2 . a6, after which the knight would be forced to retreat. ( Note that eve n if the white king were far away, on h l fo r example , Black would not be able to stop the pawn after I . . . tt:J b7? 2 . a6 . ) In order to save the game , it is necessary to get the knight to c7, from which it can survey the d5 and a8 squares. But how to do this? For instance, can we play l . . . @ f7 , and then 2 . . . tt:J e6 and 3 . . . tt:J c7? As we will see , l . . . @ f7 loses, since after 2. a6 tt:J e6 White can win with any of the following three (!) methods: ( l ) 3. @ c6 tt:J d8 + (or 3 . . tt:J d4+) 4. Wb6!. Now the white king cannot be caught: in order to check him, the knight must make four moves. Gener ally, in such endings it's recommended for the king to take close diagonal op position (in relation to the opposing knight) . . Black to move draws 96 Minor Piece vs. Pawns (2) 3 . 'it> d6 8 d4! (preventing 4. a7 , in view of 4 . . . 8b5+) 4. 'it> c5! 8b3(e6)+ 5. 'itb6. (3) Even 3. a7, which at first glance appears to be a mistake, leads to the win. If now 3 . . . <;t> e7 , then 4. <;t> c6 ! , and on 3. . . lll c7+ there follows 4. 'it> c6 8 a8 5 . lt> b 7 'it e 7 6. 'it> xa8 any 7. Wb7. Next we look at l . . .'it> e7 . This move leads to the goal, and this time there are two systems Black can use: ( l ) 2. a6 8 e6. If now 3 . 'it> c6 , then 3. .. 'itd8! 4. a7 8 c7 . While if 3 . a7 , then 3. . lll c7+ first, followed by 4 . . . 'lti d8 . (On 3. a7 , Black can also play 3 . . . 'it> d7! 4. a8� 8 c 7 + ; but more effective than this is 3. a7 8 c7 + ! 4. 'it> c6 8 a8! 5. 'it>b7 'itt d7 6. 'it> xa8 @ c7 , stalemate! ) . (2) 2. a 6 W d7 3 . a 7 8 e6! and . . . 8c7. We can generally establish the following rule: "If the knight succeeds in stopping a pawn which has not yet reached the next to-last rank, then the draw is assured. " For instance, in this position: . Thus, l . . .'it> e7 leads to a draw, and l . . . 'itt fl loses. We will now show that Black can also get a draw by l. . . 'itt e8. For exam ple, if White answers 2. a6, then 2 . . . 'it> d7! 3. a7 lll e6! , followed by . . . 8c7. In the example we have just exam ined, Black can only save the game be cause his king arrived just in time. So how do matters stand in those cases where a knight mustfight by itself against the opponent 's king and pawn ? It turns out that a knight alone can put up successful resistance only if it manages to occupy the square in front of the pawn; that is, to stop * the pawn. We find this expression to be better than "to blockade" "b/ockieren j . (from the German word Black obtains a draw easily enough, for example: 1 . 'it> a6 8 c5+ 2. Wb5 Or 2. 'it>a7 @g2. 2 8b7! 3. 'it c6 8d8+ .•• 3 . . . 8 a5+ 4. Wb5 8b7, etc . , is even simpler. 4. 'it> c7 8 e6+ 5. 'it d7 5 . 'it> d6 is met by 5 . . . 8 d8 6. 'it> d7 8b7, etc . ; 5 . 'it>c8 is weak because of 5 . . . 8 c 5 ; and if 5. 'it> c6, then even 5 . . . @ g2! i s possible. 5 ••• 8 c5+ 6. 'it> c6 8e6 6 . . . 8 a6 is also possible ; however, the text move is stronger still, since now the pawn cannot move one step forward. 97 Chapter 7 Let's try the rule mentioned above with a rook pawn. This must be done, since in a struggle with the knight, it is the rook pawn that is the most danger ous. Here Black gets an easy draw, for in stance: 1 . W h7 tll f6+ 2. W g6 tll g8 3. Wf7 tll h6+ , etc. Draw However, matters are quite different with a rook pawn. For example, in this position I. �b6 tll c8+ 2. 'itlb7 Or 2 . 'itl c7 tll a7! 3. 'iit b7 CZJ b5 4. 'itlb6 tll d6, etc. 2 . . tll d6+ 3. 'itlc7 . 3 . W c6 is answered by 3 ... tll c8; while 3. Wb8 meets with 3 . . . tll b5. Nor does 3 . Wb6 accomplish anything, since after that move, White does not threaten any thing. 3 tll b 5+ 4. W b6 tll d6! , etc . ••. Now the question arises: can a knight battle successfully against king and a pawn that has already advanced to the seventh rank ? Is stopping the pawn guaranteed in that case? To resolve that question, we focus our attention on the rook pawn first of all. With this in mind, we examine the following position, for example: 98 White to move wins simply with 1 . W e5 'itlb2 2. 'itl f6 'itl c3 3 . 'itl g7 'itl d4 4. 'itl xh8 'itle5 5. 'itlg7. Based on the above line , we can state the following: " If a pawn advanced to the next-to-last rank is stopped by a knight, then the draw is secured only if the pawn is not a rook pawn. With a rook Minor Piece vs. Pawns pawn, the outcome is determined by the placement of the kings . " 74 In positions where the knight i s un able to stop the pawn, the draw cannot be considered to be assured even with a knight's or bishop's pawn (see Diagrams 73 and 74) . 73 1 . . . t2l e7+! Black to move; White wins 1 ... t2l d7+ I . . .t2l c6+ does not help, in view of 2. <J;;; c7 t2lb4! 3 . W b6! t2l d5 + 4. W a5 t2l e7 5. ltib5! and White wins. 2. 'it>c8! Not 2. W c7? because of 2 . . . t2l c 5 ! , and draws. 2 t2lb6+ 3. W d8 and wins. ... Now let us move the position from Diagram 73 one file to the right ( Dia gram 74) . 1 . . .t2l d6+? loses in view of 2. W d7 t2l c4! 3 . W c6! t2le5+ (or 3 . . . t2l a5 + 4. W d5!) 4. Wb5 C2if7 5 . Wc5!. This vari ant is analogous to the line 1 . . .t2lc6+ in the preceding diagram. With l . .. t2le7+ now, Black saves the game (in contrast to l . . . C2i d7 + in the previous diagram) . 2 . W d8 Or 2. W d7 t2l d5 ! , draw. 2 t2l c6+ 3. W e8 t2l a7! ••• Here is the move which has become possible only thanks to moving the posi tion to the right. And this move would also have met 3 . W d7 . Draw. B. KNIGHT vs. 1WO PAWNS Here the outcome depends: ( l ) on the relative position of the king and knight; (2) on the quality of the pawns 99 Chapter 7 (connected, isolated, or doubled) ; (3) on how far the pawns are separated ; and (4) on the pawns' distance from pro motion. To consider all these factors in one general formula is not easy; besides, such a formula would be unavoidably heavy and difficult to remember. Instead of this, we choose a different method here: from the arsenal of eve ry possible position we select one definitive position, examine it, and then explain how some alteration in the position af fects the final outcome . To find the proper response, it is necessary to look a bit more deeply into the position. First we must see if White's threats are real or so strong. For instance, can we just allow b5-b6 (or c5-c6) and then prevent the further advance of the pawns? Framing this question provides us the key to the solution. In fact, Black can safely get his king closer as though nothing had happened - 1 . . .@ e2 ! , since on 2. b6 there follows 2 . . . Clle 7! (or 2 . . . Cllb4) followed b y 3 . . Cllc 6, while o n 2 . c6, Black replies 2 . . . Cllb 6. I n either case , the white pawns are paralyzed. . Delving even deeper into the posi tion, we can find additional solutions. For example , we can allow ourselves the "luxury" of losing a tempo by l . . .Cllffi . 75 After this move , the pawns are also held back - for example , 2. c6 Clld 5! 3 . c7 Cllx c7 (3 . . . Cllb 6 i s simpler still) 4. b6 Clla 6. And if White meets 1 . . .Cllb6 with 2. b6, then 2 . . . Clld 7!. White to move. Draw Another possibility is 1 . . .Cllb 4, for example 2. b6 Cllc 6 or 2. c6 Clld 5; if 2. @ h2 , then 2 . . . @ f2 . On l . c6?, Black replies not 1 . . . Cllxb4? but 1 . . .Cllb 6! , paralyzing both pawns, and gaining the possibility of quietly approaching with his king. Finally, Black can also play 1 . . .Clle 7, since neither 2. b6 (in view of 2 . . . Cllc 6) nor 2. c6 (in view of 2 . . . Cllc 8) fills Black with fear. White 's move l . b5 sets Black a more difficult task. He must find some way to prevent b5 -b6-b7. The reply 1 . . .Cllc 7 (counterattack!) suggests itself; however, this leads to defeat after 2. b6, for exam ple 2 . . . Clla6 3. c6! , or 2 . . . Clld 5 3. b7. Despite the apparent variety of the variations presented , they are all united by one overarching idea: in every case Black tries to create a position where his knight paralyzes both pawns. One pawn is stopped mechanically, and the other pawn is indirectly held up: the square 1 . b5 100 Minor Piece vs. Pawns through which the pawn must pass is at tacked by a piece. We return once again to Diagram 7 5 and make the following change there: This instructive ending shows that not every approach of a pawn to its pro motion square is an achievement: in many cases, the advance of the pawn only serves to weaken it. We must be es pecially careful of advancing the pawns when they stand side by side (on b5 and c5, for example). When pawns stand thus, they are hard to attack; but ad vancing one of them often leads only to the strengthening of the enemy piece. Now let's present a "small " change in the starting position: let's trade the kings' places. In other words, let the po sition become as follows: White's move. Here White again forces a win: 1 . b6, and whatever Black plays, 2. b7 (he could also play 2. c7, with 3 . b7! to follow, or 3 . c8\i' CiJxc8 4. b7! ) . And as expected, moving the en tire position one step forward increases White 's winning chances. In the position just examined, let us move the b5-pawn to a5. That gives the following position White to play. Here the white king is more active than its opponent; this fac tor plays a very important role, which is reflected in the game's outcome. After I. b5 'it' h2 (for instance) 2. b6 CiJ e7 3 . b 7 lllc 6, the white king comes onto the scene and swiftly decides the game: 4. 'it>f2 (the opposition!) 4 . . . 'it' h3 5. @ f3 ©h4 6 . 'it' e4 @ g5 7. 'it' d5 CiJ b 8 8 . c6. which again changes the outcome of the game. After 1 . a6 (or 1 . c7) , with l . . .CiJ c8 Black paralyzes both of White's pawns, 101 Chapter 7 and then comes over with his king, tak ing both pawns. The conclusion sug gests itself that connected passed pawns in this ending are stronger than isolated ones. However, this conclusion turns out to be too hasty. We can only say that connected passed pawns are more dan gerous than isolated pawns that are close to each other. tively less dangerous passed pawns (see Diagram 76) . 76 In order to demonstrate the power of isolated pawns distantly separatedfrom one another, let's look at the following position: Black to move. Draw l . . .f4 2. tllb 3! The only move. 2. tlle 2 loses to 2 . . . f3 3 . tllg 3 e3!. 2 f3 ... If 2 . . . e 3 , then 3 . tlld 4. 3. l'll d 2! f2 4. tlln , draw. White to move . Here the pawns are , for the moment, a good distance from the queening square , and the white king does not play a powerful role. Nonethe less, White forces the win! After l . a5 'iti d4 2. a6 tllc 8 (or 2 . . . tllb 5), White sac rifices a pawn with 3 . d6! , leading Black to resign: if 3 . . . tllb 6, for example, then 4. a7 'iti c5 5. d7 or 5. a8� . This example shows that the knight is helpless in a bat tle with "sufficiently separated" passed pawns. It's not always easy to find the knight's true way to struggle with rela1 02 In every position examined above, the black king was located somewhat offside; and so the defense proved dif ficult, if at all possible. The defender's task is simplified if the king manages to take up a position solidly in front of the pawns. With this, sometimes you can save a position that looks hopeless at first sight. For example , in the following position, Black plays to a draw, despite his opponent's threatening pawns on the sixth rank. Minor Piece vs. Pawns On 3 . W c8 or 3 . W c 7 , the reply 3 . . . tlJg4! clarifies the draw at once. And if 3 . 'it> d6, then 3 . . . tlJg6 i s simplest. 77 3 . . . tlJc6+ 3 ... tlJf7+ is simpler still. 4. 'it> c7 Black to move. Draw White 's main threat is 1 . 'it> d7 , with e6-e7 to follow. The most "natural " move is l . . .'it> e 8 , but it doesn't help in view of 2. f7+ 'it>f8 3 . e7+! '!ixf7 4. W d7. There is only one way to save the game: to allow the white king to get to d7, and then neutralize the threats resulting from this incursion. 1. .. tlJg6! After 4. 'it> d7 tlJe5+, once again we arrive at the old position ; while on 4. W c8 , there follows 4 ... tlJd4! as in the main variation. 4 . . . tlJd4 Forcing the draw. On 5. Wd7 or 5 . '!id6 there i s 5 . . . tlJxe6; and i f 5 . e 7 + , then 5 . . . '!ie8 followed by 6 . . . tlJfS! and 7 . . . tlJh6 (or 7 . . . tlJxe7) . 4 . . . tlJe5 is possible too, but not 4 . . . CiJe7?, i n view of 5 . W d7!. 1 . . . tlJfS+ is clearly bad, on account of2. 'it>d7. Examples 71-80: However, l . . . tlJf3 (with the same idea as l . . .tlJg6) also does not save the game, since here White answers, not with 2. Wd7 (because of 2 . . . tlJe5+ ! ) , but with 2. f7!. Black then loses as a result of Zugzwang. 71. 2. 'it> d7 If now 2. f7?, then 2 . . . tlJe7; and on 2. e7+, Black answers 2 . . . W e8 and then 3. . . tllh 8. 2 ... tlJeS+ ! 3. W d8 White to move and draw. 1 03 Chapter 7 72. 75. White to move. What result? 73. White to move draws; Black to move wins. 76. Black to move and win. Does the outcome change if the kings, knight, and pawn are moved one square to the right ? 74. 77. Black wins. 104 White to move - draw. White to move - draw. Minor Piece vs. Pawns C. BISHOP vs. PAWNS 78. As in the preceding section, we will first examine the struggles of the bishop against one pawn. White to move. Draw. 79. The defense in this case presents no difficulties. If the bishop is able to stop the pawn, or to attack the square in front of it, then this guarantees a draw, in every position without exception. Thus, the entire matter boils down to a single ques tion: can the bishop succeed in stopping the pawn, or at least take control of the square in front of it? 78 White to move wins. White to move. Draw 1. h6 i. c5 2. � d3 80. Preventing . . . i. d4. On 2. �c3 , Black has three ways t o force the draw: I) 2 . . . � d5 3 . h7 i. d4+; I I ) 2 . . . i.e3 3 . h7 i. f4! 4. h8� i. e5+; I I I ) 2 . . . 'it> e6 3 . h 7 i. d6 o r 3 . . . i. c7 . 2 . . . i. a3 2 . � d5 is even simpler. . Black to move draws. . 3. W c3 10 5 Chapter 7 On 3 . 'it>c2 there would follow 3 . . . .t c 5 again. After 3. @ c l Black gets the draw by the above methods: I) 3 . . . 'it>d5 4. h7 .t d6; I I ) 3 . . . 'it> e6 and then . . . .t d6 or . . . .t e7; I I I ) 3 . . . .t c l followed by . . . .t f4. Now let's look at a well-known study. 4 .t h4 5. 'iitf3 ! •.. Now the pawn advances unhindered to the queening square, as Black cannot cover a7 . Let's take further this bishop vs. two pawns ending. The outcome of the game is based on the same two factors as in the ending of knight vs. two pawns. G. Otten, 1892 Here, too, the active position of the king plays a frontline role. For example, in the position below: 79 White to move and win Here White has two pawns for the bishop. Victory is achieved by sacrific ing one of them. 1. a5 .tt'S 2. 'it> d5 .t h6 3. g5+! £i.xg5 White to move - the win is obtained simply by invading with the king: l . <;ti g6 .t d5 (or l . . . 'it>e8 2. 'it>g7) 2. f7! 'it> e7 3. 'it>g7. If 3 . . . 'it>xg5 , then 4. a6. 4. 'it> e4! It's interesting to compare the kings' respective positions. The white king pre vents the bishop from getting to the im portant e3 square; while the black king plays an exceptionally negative role: it restricts its own bishop, preventing the moves . . . .t d8 or . . . .te7. 1 06 Similarly, the game result could be influenced by the bishop � placement. (See Diagram 80) Here the bishop is unfavorably placed, which allows White to force a win as follows: l . c6! (not l . b6, in view of l . . . .i. d4! 2. b7 .i.e5) l . . . .i.e5 2. b6 and 3 . c7. It's not hard to see that with the bishop on/6 (instead of g7) in the starting Minor Piece vs. Pawns 81 80 White to move and win White wins position, Black would force a draw ( 1 . c6 id8 or 1 . b6 � d4) . In this position, White wins, regardless of whose turn it is to move (despite the favora ble position of the black king). For instance, ifit's Black toplay, the win is achieved as fol lows: l . . .�b5 or l . . .�e4 ('itie7 WdS threat ened; if l . . .'it>d8, then 2. c7+ 'itic8 3. d7+ @xc7 4. We7) 2. d7+ @d8 3. @d6!. The distance of the pawns from each other also plays a role in this ending. In this position: And so, in the position in Diagram 8 1 , White always wins. But if we change the position just a little by moving the bishop on d3 to d4, it makes a sea change in the outcome. With the bishop on d4, the favorable position of the black king matters more than the threatening posi tion of the white pawns. Let us examine , in detail, the follow ing position: with White to move, White wins easily with l . a5 'it> d4 2. a6 �b8 or 2 . . . �c5 3. d6. If, in the designated position, we move the pawn on a4 to b4 (that is, move the pawns closer together) , then the game will end in a draw. The pawns standing just short of the eighth rank is a significant factor here, too. 10 7 Chapter 7 If it is Black to move, then he can play 82. t. . . i. cs I . . .i.b6, intending . . .i.c7!, is not too bad, either; if, in reply to I . . .i.b6, White stops the threat with 2. We7, then 2 . . .i.c5. 2. c7 On king moves there follows 2 . . . i. xd6!; and if 2. d7+ , then 2 . . . ® d8 fol lowed by . . . i.b6. White to move wins; Black to move draws. 2 . . . i. b6 Leads to the quickest win; another decent move was 2 . . . i.b4. 83. 3. d7+ ® xc7 4. ®e7 ® c6, draw. If in this position it were White '.s move, the game would transpose into variations we have already seen: for instance, if l . W e7, then l . . .i.c5!, while on l . 'itt d 5 there follows l . . .i.b6, intending . . .i. c7! and . . . i.xd6. Finally, if l . c7, then l . . .i.b6 ( I . . .i.c5 is also possible, when 2. 'itt d5! i.b6! 3. ® c6 i. xc7! forces the draw). White to move wins. Examples 81-84: 81. White to move wins; Black to move draws. 108 84. White to move draws. Chapter8 Exploiting the Advantage in End ings with a Large Number of Pieces (Basic technical methods) In practice, endings with a large number of fighting units have an im portance of the first magnitude. Before we can reach a position with one or two pawns, the game necessarily must pass through a more complex endgame. The exceptions are: I ) games in which one may create an immediately decisive at tack thanks to a serious error by one's opponent; and 2) games devoid of any content, which do not reach even to the middlegame , in view of the players' ex cessive peacefulness (preferring a sure draw to the risks of complications) . We consider it possible to start with the examination of endings containing a large number of fighting units, now that in previous chapters we laid out all the steps necessary for this. In this chapter we shall deal with endings defined by a superiority either in position or in force. Next to the exploitation of such an advantage, "technique " alone is some times enough - that is, knowing a few methods which have been utilized previ ously in similar positions. Here is a clas sic example of this type. Spielmann - Rubinstein St. Petersburg 1 909 82 Black to move First let' s compare the position of the pieces. The strength of the black pieces is self-evident. His rook is at tacking the enemy pawns, and the white rook must defend these pawns; the black rook occupies an active posi tion, while White ' s is in a passive posi tion . Black's king is also more active than White 's: it will go to d 5 , where not only will it be completely safe , but it will bring pressure to bear on the d4pawn, and in some cases on the white rook (by . . . @ c4/e4). 1 09 Chapter8 Now let us tum our attention to the pawn structure. In this regard, too, Black must be preferred. White 's pawn position is "nothing but weaknesses" : all his pawns are broken up, isolated; it is true that Black's pawn position is also not perfect: the d6-pawn is isolated, and the g-pawns are somewhat restricted by their "doubled" state. If now we proceed from formal analysis to a deeper evalua tion, then White 's pawn structure does not come off any better: on the contra ry, we can see that the weakness of the black d6-pawn is only apparent, since that pawn is well-enough protected by its king. Further, the position of Black's pawns is such that White 's king cannot approach them, while Black's king is threatening to invade through either e4 or c4. other move , there follows 6. a5) 6. W d4 Wxa4 7. 'it' d 5 , etc. I n these variations, it is not White, but Black who must fight for the draw, Such is the power of the "outside passed pawn" in pawn endings! The "outside passed pawn" distracts the entire atten tion of Black's king and takes him away from the main theater of action of the battle. 2 . . . gS Exploiting the passive placement of the white pieces, Black is in no hurry to make the winning attack: first, he sets the kingside pawns in their most favora ble positions. 3. l:Ib3 f6 What can White put up against all these advantages? Only the presence of a passed (but stymied) pawn on a3 , and the faint hope that the loss of one pawn might not equal the loss of the whole game. l . . . W dS! 2. W e2 ! White makes skillful use of his only chance - the passed pawn. Now it would not be good for Black to take on d4, since after the trade of rooks the a3pawn acquires threatening power, for example , 2 . . . l:Ixd4? 3. l:Ixd4 W xd4 4. a4! (this pawn already has something to say: Black must send his king after it, allow ing White to go hunting in tum for the pawn at d6, and then after the kingside pawns) 4 . . . W c5 (or 4 . . . d5 5. a5 Wc5 6. Wd3 Wb5 7. W d4) 5. 'it'e3 'it'b4 (on any 1 10 Of course , not 3 . . . l:Ixd4, in view of 4. l:td3. cik But then, 3 ... @ xd4 is quite playable, a sample continuation being 4. l:Ib4+ l:Ixb4 5. axb4 W c4 6. 'it' e 3 d5!, when White loses on account of Zugzwang: he will have to abandon the e3 square , after which Black will be able to capture the b4-pawn . So the b4-pawn turns out to be insufficiently outside. Nonetheless, Rubinstein's con tinuation is to be preferred, since on 3 . . . 'it' xd4, White might reply 4. l:Ib7 f6 5. l:Ixg7 l:Ixa3 6. h4! , complicating the game. Rubinstein, quite reasonably, avoids complications in this position, since he has available a continuation which also wins a pawn, while simul- Exploiting the Advantage in Endings with a Large Number of Pieces taneously preventing White from trad ing his weak pawns at a3 and h3 for the stronger pawns at g7 and g5 . 4. We3! After this move, Black cannot take the d4-pawn in view of 5. i:td3 - or the even stronger 5. i:tb4+. 4 Wc4! .•• Now Black's plan becomes clear. He hems in the white pieces still further, preparing to win the pawn under even more favorable circumstances. 8. Wd2 On 8. We3, Black replies 8 . . . l::tb 7! , and now if 9. We2 (9. a4? i:ta7), then 9 . . . i:tb2+ 10. We3 (or 10. l::td 2 i:tb3!) l0 ... i:ta2! . After this maneuver, White is in Zugzwang and drops a pawn. It would be interesting to move the rook from a4 to a2 (via the b-file). On a2, the rook occupies a still stronger po sition than on a4, since with the rook at a2 not only would the pawn be re strained, but the white king would also be tied up. 8 . . . i:te7! 5. i:td3 d5 Every move by Rubinstein deserves an exclamation point. White is getting less and less air. Now White must lose a pawn. For example, if9. i:te3 , then 9 . . . l::tb7 10. i:td3 i:tb2+ l l . We3 i:ta2! ; and if9. W c2, then the simplest is 9 . . . i:te2+ 10. i:td2 i:txd2+ l l . W xd2 Wb3! (but not l l . . . W xd4?) . 6. Wd2i:ta8 9. :a.c3+ Wxd4 Black brings the rook to the e-file: after . . . i:te8 the move a4 will not be dangerous to him, as he can play either ... �b4 or move the rook back to a8 . Black has won the pawn, while still maintaining his good piece placement . 10. a4 The first result of the white pieces' being tied up now tells: Black can attack alternately one pawn, then the other; or he may, "for variety, " attack the king it self. Meanwhile , White can only submit meekly to circumstance, defending each of the attacked units in tum. 7. We2i:ta7 A waiting move. Black wants to seize One must certainly hand it to Spiel mann, as well: he finds the best move every time, which renders his oppo nent's task considerably more difficult. 10 Jh7 1 1 . i:ta3 i:ta5! •• A typical move in such positions. Black blocks the pawn, not allowing it to advance further. the e-file with the white king on d2. 111 Chapter8 12. :at W c4 13. W e3 d4+ 14. W d2 l::tf5! Having restrained the a-pawn long enough, Black has preserved for his rook enough freedom of action. the king up) 22 . . . W xa4 2 3 . W e6 W b4 24. W fl g4! 2S. W g6 (if 2S. W xg7? , then 2S . . .f5 26. W ffi f4 27. W fS g3 and wins) 2S . . . W c4 26. W fS W d3 27. W xg4 W e2 with an easy win, since Black is not only a pawn up, but his king's position is more aggressive (see Chapter 9). 15. W e i If I S . as , then I S . . . : xf2+ 1 6. W ei (after 1 6. W ei Wb3, White loses the rook, since on 1 7. :b l + there follows l 7 . . . Wc3) 1 6 . . . :b2! (on 1 6 . . . :h2? there follows 1 7. :a4+ WbS I S . a6!) 1 7 . a6 :bs I S . a7 :as , followed by . . . W c4-cS b6. 2t. . .:xa4 22. :e2 l::tf4 23. W e3 W b6 24. :c2 W b7 Preventing :cs. 25. :ct If 2 S . l::t d 2?? , then 2S ... W c7 26. i:a2 l:b4. 15 . . . W b4 25 Now the king takes over the rook's role: he is the one that will restrain the passed pawn. .•• i:a4 Preparing the maneuver . . . l: a6, fol lowed by . . ..l:.c6 and edging the king closer. 16. W e2 W a5 Not 1 6 . . . l::t a S? because of 1 7 . Wd3. 17. l:a3 l::tf4 18. l::ta 2 Nor does I S . W fl help, due to l S . . . l::t h4 1 9. Wg2 l: h S ! , followed by . . . l:dS or . . . W b4. 18 . . . l::th4 19. W d3 If 1 9. l::t a 3 , then 1 9 . . . W b4. 19 l::txh3+ 20. W xd4 l:lh4+ 2 1 . ®d3 ••• If 2 1 . W dS , then 2 1 . . .l::t xa4 22. l::t xa4+ (or 22. l::t b 2 l:t f4! and bringing 1 12 26. l:hl W c6 27. :h7 l:a7 28. W e4 W d6 29. W f5 g6+ He could also win with 29 . . . l: a4, fol lowed by . . . l::t f4 - for instance: 29 . . . l::t a4 30. Wg6 : f4 3 1 . l::t h2 w es 32. \tlxg7 W e4 3 3 . W g6 W f3 , and then . . . W e2. 30. W xg6 J:l.xh7 3 1 . W xh7 W e5 32. W g6 g4 0- 1 White resigned, since on 3 3 . W hS follows 33 . . . fS 34. W g5 ( 34. W g6? f4) 34 . . . W e4 3 S . \t> h5 'itff3 . The concluding position in Chapter 9 is broken down similarly. Exploiting the Advantage in Endings with a Large Number of Pieces Em. Lasker - Romanovsky Moscow 1 925 only after putting all your pieces (among them the king) in the highest state of battle readiness. 83 4 •.. l:tf7+ 5. 'it>g3 l:te7 In view of the threat of l:te6, Black must content himself with this humble position. 6. a5 'it> g5 7. b4 'it>h6 8. a6 Black to move White is two pawns up; however, only the extra pawn on the queenside, where White has 3 connected pawns against 2, has any significance. It will not prove difficult to exploit this advantage and create a passed pawn (by, for instance , a2-a4-a5 , b2-b4, and c3-c4 followed by b4-b5 and a5-a6) . The extra pawn in the center plays less of a role, since White cannot create a passed pawn with it. The role of White's e-pawns is purely defensive: they guard the central squares d4, dS, f4, and fS , making them inaccessible to the black king and rook. Despite White's material advantage , the win would not have been easy, if White did not also have a positional advantage, which was the clearly superior rook po sition. 8. c4, followed by b4-b5, would have been good, too: White would have made a passed pawn by exchanges. The goal of the move actually se lected was the same , but with the win of several tempi. 8 bxa6 9. l:txc6 l:ta7 10. l:tc5! •.• On IO. l:te6, Black could have ob tained some counterplay with IO . . . l:tc7!, when his rook position would have been improved considerably. 10 l:te7 1 1 . 'it>g4 l:te6 12. c4 l:te8 13. b5! ••• 1 3 . I:I c6 is weaker on account of 1 3 . . . l:tb8!. 1 3 . . . axb5 14. cxb5 ltt f2 Now White intends to occupy the most favorable position possible with his rook by 1 5 . b6 l:tb8 1 6. l:tbS!. In positions where the enemy is re it is recommended that you proceed with decisive action The rook placed behind the pawn sup ports its advance; in order to restrain that pawn, his opponent will have to 1 ... Wf6 2. l::td 6+ 'it> g5 3. a4! 'it> h5 4. duced to passivity, 1 13 Chapter8 place his rook in front of it - that is, to play . . . l:Ib7. After this, the difference in the rooks' placement becomes obvious: the white rook will be able to maneuver up and down the b-file , while Black's remains nailed to the spot by the threat of b6-b7. 14 •.• Now the difference in rook place ment tells: the white rook can maneuver freely, while the black rook can only ad just to circumstances. With 1 9 . llb l , White prepares the maneuver l:Ifl +, then l:If6 and winning the pawn at g6. l:Ie6! 19 . . . @ g7 20. l:Ib2! 1-0 Black extracts everything he can from his position. If White answers 1 5 . b6, then 1 5 . . . l::t xb6 1 6. lhe5, and the win is much complicated, while on 1 5 . l:Ic6, there would follow 1 5 . . . l:Ie7 1 6 . b6 l:Id7! , then . . . l:Id7-d2-b2, setting up the rook in a favorable position. The benefit of having the black rook on b2 (behind the pawn) consists in the fact that it restrains that pawn, while re taining some freedom of action. After this waiting move , Black resigned, since on 20 . . . @ h7 there follows 2 1 . @ f6 , and on 20 . . . @ f7 White wins the g6-pawn with 2 1 . l:If2+ @ g7 22. l:If6 . Marshall - Capablanca Match (23), New York 1 909 84 I f we compare this conclusion to the note to the previous move , one cannot help but agree with Tarrasch's laconic formulation: "The rook should stand be hind the passed pawn. " 15. l:.d5! Again, a waiting move typical of the endgame . Black is in Zugzwang: on king moves, there follows '1tig5 ; and if the rook retreats along the e-file, then the b-pawn moves forward, after which White's rook can take up the best possible position. 15 ... l:Ie7 16. b6 l:Ib7 17. l::t b5 rtlg7 18. @ gs @ n 19. l:Ibl! 1 14 Black to move Black has an extra pawn on the queen side; he threatens to create a passed pawn there, which will prove strong, since the white king is locatedfar away and there fore cannot take part in the fight against the advancing pawn. l . . . l:Id l + ! Exploiting the Advantage in Endings with a Large Number of Pieces Considerably stronger than l . . . a5 , in answer to which White would bring his king closer to the battlefield ( 2 . �fl !). 2. @g2 as 3. M c2 b4 4. axb4 axb4 5. if3�bl! And White resigned a few moves later: l l . Mc2.tf5 1 2. Mb2 Mc l l 3 , Mb3 .ll e4+ 1 4. W h3 lk2 1 5. f4 h5 1 6. g4 hxg4+ 1 7. W xg4 Mxh2 1 8 . �b4 rs+ 1 9. Wg3 :e2 20. Mc4 l::t xe3+ 2 1 . @h4 @g7 22. l::t c 7+ wffi 23. l::t d7 i.g2 24. l::t d 6+ @g7. Tartakower Reti Moravska Ostrava 1 923 - Restricting the white rook's freedom of action. 85 6. i. e2 On 6. i.e4, there would follow 6 . . . rs. 6 b3! .•. This move leads quickly to the goal. 6 . @g7 is weak in view of 7 . i. xc4 .ll xc4 8. l:txc4 �xb2, after which we get a rook ending in which Black's advantage (a passed queenside pawn , against White 's extra kingside pawn) might prove insuf ficient to win. .. 7. � d2 If 7. �c3 Mxb2 8. i. xc4, then 8 . . . :::ic 2!, winning a piece . 7 :ct .•• Threatening ... Mc2. 8. i. d l c3 9. bxc3 b2! Considerably l:l:xc3. stronger 10. Mxb2 �xd l 0- 1 than 9... Black to move In this position, there is just one open file - the d-file - for the rooks. It is only through this that Black can invade the enemy camp. l . . . liJ d3! On 1 . . . liJ a6 White could oppose the black rook with his own by 2. l::t fd l ! (stronger than 2. �cd l , as it opens up the fl square for the white king) . After 2. M fd I Black would not be able to double rooks on the openfile, since White would answer 2 . . . Md7 with 3. Mxd7 @ xd7 4. Md l +, after which White would take over the open file. With l . . .liJ d3 Black sets up a cover for his rooks and, thanks to this, man1 15 Chapter8 ages to set up both his own rooks on the d-file. lows . . . e6-e5 , followed by doubling the rooks with . . . ll d6 and . . . ll cd8 . VAR/ATJON II: 2.llc3 More natural was 2. llcd l , preparing to double his own rooks with lld2 and llfd l . However, this plan turns out to be unenforceable: on 2. llcd l there follows 2 . . . lld4! , and if now 3. lld2 llcd8 4. llfd l , then Black wins a pawn with the pretty 4 . . . ll:l xf2! 5. llxd4 li::lxd l ! . 2 c5 •.. Freeing the rook at c8. The signifi cance of this is made clear in the varia tion 3. llfd l ll:le5 4. llxd8? llxd8! . 4 . . . :i::Ixd 1 + (Black abandons the d file so as to start utilizing his advantage on the queenside and expecting to open the c-file) 5. llxd l (although White has occupied the open file, this offers him no advantage in the given situation, since the squares d7 and d6, through which the white rook could invade, are secure enough) 5 . . . c4! 6. bxc4 (White has to develop his opponent's rook, since on 6. l:Ic l there would follow 6 . . . cxb3! 7. llxc8 b2) 6 . . . llxc4. 3 I n addition, 2 . . . c 5 prevents 3 . b4, followed by llfd l and lldc l . 3. f4 White cuts off the d3-knight's re treat, expecting to create an attack on the "stray " knight. And if White had played 3 . llfd l ll:le5 4. llcc l (not wishing to surren der the open file to his opponent) , then Black would have a choice between two favorable continuations (see Variations I and II). VARIATION I: 4 . . . ll:l c6 (in order to set up the knight at d4 and, under its protection, double the rooks on the d-file) 5 . W fl li::ld 4. If now 6. b4, then 6 . . . c4! , with a powerful passed pawn, and on 6. ll b l there fol1 16 ... lld4! 4. l:Ibl White must temporarily give up his attack on the knight at d 3 , because on 4. l:Id l there follows 4 . . . ll:lxf4! 5 . l:Ixd4 ll:le2 + . 4 ll cd8 5. i. n e5! ••. A powerful move. Black continues to concentrate his forces in the center (centralization.�. If6. fxe5 , then 6 . . . W e6 ! , with . . . W xe5 or . . . ll:l xe5 to follow. Nor does 6. f5 work, in view of 6 . . . gxf5 7. exf5 e4, with over whelming pressure in the center. Finally, if6. l:Id l ( " an attack on the knight that's lost its way" ) , then 6 . . . ll:l xf4! 7. l:Ixd4 exd4!. 6. i. xd3 l:Ixd3 7. l:Ixd3 If 7 . l:Ibc l , then 7 . . . l:I8d4. Exploiting the Advantage in Endings with a Large Number of Pieces 7 . J:txd3 Euwe Alekhine World Championship (26) Netherlands 1 93 5 . - Now White cannot save the pawn. 8. wa exf4 9. gxf4 :xb3 t o. b4 86 Had White not played this move, then his rook would be tied to protecting the b3-pawn. t0 c4! t i . :ct c3 ..• Stronger than l l . . .b5, in view of 1 2 . a4 a6 1 3 . axb5 axb5 1 4 . : a l . 12. 'iite 2 'it> e6 t3. : n h5 1 . t'Dd8! It will be very difficult for White to fight two passed pawns. 14. :gt W f6 ts. l::tg 5 On 1 5 . : d l Black would have replied l5 . c2! 1 6 . :d6+ (or 1 6. :c l h4! 1 7 . l:ixc2 l:th2+, followed by the rook trade and . . . h4-h3) 1 6 . . . 'iite 7 1 7. l:tc6 l:t h l ! (sacrificing a pawn to enforce the rook trade) 1 8 . l:txc2 : h2 + 1 9 . W d l l::t xc2 20. Wxc2 h4. With this move, White clears the road for his pawns. Black cannot capture on e5, in view of 2. :xe5 and 3. t'Dt7+ . t . :a .. .. Despite being the exchange ahead, Black cannot resist the advancing pawn avalanche ; for example , if l . . .';t>g8 , then 2. t'Dc6, and then e5-e6 or d5-d6. 2. e6 :d2 1s. . :h2+ t6. 'it> d t l:I t'2! t7. es+ 'iJf7 t8. e6+ 'iitxe6 t9. l:Ixg6+ W d5! . The king goes after its own passed pawn, after which White cannot stand before the combined action of rook, king, and pawn. 20. :gs+ W c4 2 1 . :xbs W b3! 0- t The following endgames illustrate the power of two connected passed pawns. Temporarily holding back the d pawn. 3. t'Dc6 l:Ie8 4. e7 b5 Black cannot prevent the maneuver t'Dc6-d8-b7-d6; for example, if 4 . . . W g7 5. t'Dd8 'iitf6 , then 6. :e6+ ! , followed by t'Dd8-b7-d6. 5. t'Dd8 W g7 1 17 Chapter 8 If 5 . . . bxc4, then 6. lLlt7+ and 7 . ClJd6. 6. ClJb7! © f6 7. :e6+! © g5 8. ClJd6 :xe7 9. CLl e4 + 1 -0 Capablanca - Lilienthal Moscow 1 936 Another possibility was 7. e4 ii. h3 (if 7 . . . Jfi.g4, then 8. f3! ii. xf3 9. :d8) 8. f3 e5 (continuing 8 . . . h5 9. l:Id8 e5 would have led, after IO. g4! , to a mere transposition of moves) 9. g4 h5 IO. :d8 hxg4 1 1 . c81i' ClJ xc8 1 2 . l:Ixc8, and wins. 7 ••• e5 8. l:Ib8 lL'lc8 On 8 . . . CLld5 the simplest route is 9. c8'iY i. xc8 1 0. l:Ixc8 CLl xb4 1 1 . Mc7+ ©e6 1 2 . e4! , with an easy win. 87 9. b5 W e6 10. b6 Threatening 1 1 . b7. 10 . . . lLle7 White to move I. ctJxb7! In order to create two connected passed pawns, White gives up two pieces for a rook. 1 . . . l:xb7 2. i.xc6+ l:Id7 3. c5 © e7 3 . . . i.e4 would be met by 4. Mxd7 i.xc6 5. :d6; and if 3 . . . CLld5 , then 4. f3 (threatening e2-e4) 4 . . . f5 5. b5 ©e7 6. i.xd7 © xd7 7. : a t and wins. Of course , IO . . . lLl xb6 1 1 . :xb6 © xc7 also fails to save the game. 1 1 . l:If8! Now this is stronger than 1 1 . c8� ClJ xc8 1 2 . b7, which would still win. It is true that , by 11. l:If8 , White consigns his passed pawns to oblivion, but this way, he does eliminate Black's entire kingside. 11 •.• i. c8 Once again, 1 2 . b7 was threatened. 4. i.xd7 lL'lxd7 5. c6 lL'lb6 6. c7 i.f5 12. l:Ixt7 lLld5 In order to meet l:Id8 with . . . e6-e5. If Black plays 6 . . . e5 right away, then 7 . g4! prevents the bishop from getting to f5. 7.l:Id8 1 18 On 1 2 . . . g6, simplest of all is 1 3. l:Ih6+ ©d7 1 4 . h4! , with the impending approach of White's king. Exploiting the Advantage in Endings with a Large Number of Pieces 13. l:txg7 tLixb6 14. l::t h 7! tLl d5 1 5 . l:xh6+ Wxc7 16. e 4 tLie7 1 7 . f3 W d7 18. h4 \t>e8 19. l::t f6 tLl g8 This move hastens defeat, although in any case it was inevitable after 1 9 . . . id7 20. W f2 ; if now 2 0 . . . tLlg8 , then 2 1 . l::ig 6 l1Je7 22. l:tg5 tLic6 2 3 . h5, etc. 20. l::t c 6! 1-0 Black drops his last pawn. Samisch - Alekhine Dresden 1 926 If now 3 . . . l:txc4, then 4. l::ta 2, after which the a-pawn acquires great power. 3 . . . l::t a 3! 4. l::t b 7+ l::t d 7 5. l::t b 2 J:ha4 6. l::t xd7+ Wxd7 7. l::t b 7+ W c6 8. l:txg7 l::t xc4 9. l::t g6 White has recovered his pawn; still, the ending is lost for him, since his king will have to take up an unfavorable posi tion, whereas the passed c-pawn, oper ating in concert with the black pieces, is very strong. 9 . . . W d5 to. l::t xh6 l:tc2+ 1 1 . wn c4 12. l:t h8 c3! 88 An energetic finish. Black threatens .. J::tb 2, followed by . . . l::t bi+ and . . . c3c2. 13. h4 On 1 3 . l:.c8, Black answers 13 ... f4! (he would have met 1 3 . l::t g8 the same way) 1 4. exf4 � d4. Black to move In Diagram 8 8 , Black's advantage consists of his better pawn configuration: he has no weak points, while White's pawns at a2 and c4 are isolated and the pawn at e3 is insufficiently secured. 1 . .. ila3+ This move wins a pawn; for example, if 2. l::tb 3, then 2 . . . l::t da8 3 . I:l:xa3 l::t xa3 + 4.@e2 l::t c 3. 2. '>t>e2 l:::tc 3 3. a4! If now 1 5 . h4, then 15 ... W e3 16. W g l W xf4 1 7. h5 W g5 and then . . . d6-d5 . Two connected passed pawns win easily. And if 1 5 . l::tc 6 (after 1 3 . l::tc 8 f4 1 4. exf4 W d4), then 1 5 . . . d5! 1 6 . l::t xe6 l:Id2 1 7 . l:.e2 (or 1 7 . l::t c 6 c2 followed by . . .l::t di+) 1 7 . . . 'it> d3 ! 1 8 . l::t e 5 d4, and wins, for example 1 9. h4 c2 20. l::t c 5 W e3! 2 1 . 'itt g l l::t d i + 22. 'itt h2 c l '@°, etc. 13 . . . l::t d 2 14. 'itte l 14. l::t c 8 i s out, i n view o f 1 4 . . . c2 fol lowed by . . . l::t d I + . 1 19 Chapter 8 14 ... l:Ixg2 15. Mc8 Ifl5. Wdl, then 15 . ..W c4. 15...c2 16 . h5 l:Ih2 17. h6 l::txh 6! 18. l:Ixc2 l:rhl + 19. We2 l::th 2+ 20. 'it' d3 l:rxc2 0-1 Winning the pawn ending a pawn up with the black king so active is not tre mendously difficult, for example: 2 1 . 'it'xc2 'it' c4 22. 'it' d2 e5 2 3 . 'it' c2 d5 24. 'it'd2 d4 25. exd4 exd4 26. 'it' c2 d3+ 27. Wd2 'it' d4. The f3-pawn is defenseless. Em. Lasker Capablanca World Championship ( l 0) La Habana 1 92 1 - 2 •.. l:ta6! The rook redeploys to the strong est position possible - b2 (behind the passed pawn) . 3. g4 If3. tt:J c 3 , then 3 . . . l::t a l + 4. 'it' h2 l:tci 5. b4 l::t c2 6 . 'it' g l (6. f3 llJg3) 6 . . . l::t b2 7. b5 l::t b 4. 3 hxg3 4. fxg3 .•• 4. llJxg3 is answered by 4 . . . l::t a l + 5. @ g2 tt:J d6 and . . . l:tb l . 4 .•. l: a2 A rook on the next-to-last rank is al ways in a strong position. 5. tt:J c3 llc2 Threatening . . . tt:J xd4. 6. tt:J dl tt:J e7 Black to move Black's pieces are considerably bet ter placed than White 's. Besides, two of White's pawns (at b3 and d4) are isolat ed and weak. That the b3-pawn is passed plays no special role here, since it is very easily restrained. 1 . .. l::tb 6! 2. l::td3 If 2 . l:tb2, then 2 . . . l::t b 4. 1 20 The knight heads for c6, where it will not only attack d4, but also restrain the pawn at b3. 7. tt:J e3 7. b4 doesn't work because of7 . . . ll fl! followed by . . . l::t b 1 . 7 .•• l::tc t + 8 . c;t>a tt:J c6 9. tt:J d l l::t b l On 9 ... tt:Jb4 IO. l::t d2 l::t b l , which looks more energetic at first glance, there follows 1 1 . tiJb2 ! , and if l 1 . . .l::t xb2, Exploiting the Advantage in Endings with a Large Number of Pieces then 1 2 . l::t xb2 'lld 3+ 1 3 . 'it>e2 'llx b2 1 4. Wd2, and White wins the knight back. 10. W e2? If 1 0 . 'lt.ie3 , then 1 0 . . . 'll b 4 (stronger than 10 . . . tlla 5 1 1 . W d2). l::tb 3 or 24. I:If3, because of 24 . . . 'lld 2+; nor does 24. l:Id l work, because of 24. . . 'llg3+ 25. �e l l::Ig2!. And if 24. ®el, then Black proceeds as in the game that is, he brings his king to d6 and then creates a passed pawn by . . . e6-e5. 24 Wf7 25. l::t d3 'it> e7 26. l::t e3 'it> d6 27. l:.id3 l:.f2+ ••• Best was 1 0 . � e l ! tlla 5 1 1 . W d2! l::txb3 (1 l . . .'llxb3 + ? 12. W c2) 1 2. l:i:xb3. IO l::t xb3! II. 'it>e3 k:tb4 12. tll c 3 liJe7 13. 'll e 2 He could also have played . . . e6-e5 at once. ••• If 1 3 . g4, then 1 3 . . . g5 followed by ... tt:le7-g6-f4. 13 ... 'llfS+ 14. Wfl g5 15. g4 If White plays passively, then Black might bring the king to d6 and then cre ate a passed pawn with ...f7 -f6 and . . . e6e5. 15 . . . 'll d 6 16. 'llg l tll e4 + 28. W e i l:tg2 29. ©fl l::t a 2 30. l:.e3 es 3 1 . l:.d3 exd4 32. l:txd4 If 3 2 . 'lle 2, then 32 . . . l::t d2 33. J:lxd4 (or 3 3 . l::t x d2 'llx d2+ followed by . . . 'llb 3) 3 3 . . . 'llg 3 + ! . 32 . . . WcS 33. l':t d l d 4 34. l:. c l + 'it> d5 0- 1 On 3 5 . l':tdl (hoping to restrain the pawn), Black has 35 . . . 'llg 3+ 36. © e l J:lg2. White is subjected to unceasing pres sure from the black pieces. 11. wn l::t b l + 18. 'it>g2 :tb2+ 19. wn :a+ 20. Wei :ta2 21. \t>n Bogoljubow - Reti Moravska Ostrava 1 923 90 If 2 l . tllf3 , then 2 1 . . .'llf2 ; and on 2 1 . liJe2, there follows 2 1 . . . J:la l + 22. l':td l l:i:xd l + 2 3 . W xd l 'llf2 + . 21. . . 'it>g7 22. l::t e 3 'it>g6 23. l::t d 3 f6 24.l:te3 White has a very limited selection of moves. For example , he cannot play 24. Black to move 12 1 Chapter8 This position is harder to evaluate than previous ones. In this position, neither player has a tangible weakness or a clear superiority in the placement of his pieces. On the whole, if you let yourself be guided here by "static " signs - that is, look at this position on its formal features, without taking into account emerging conditions, then you cannot say that either side has a serious advantage , True , Black's king, being closer to the center, occupies a somewhat better position than its white counterpart. (This is why, in endings with a small number of pieces, they rarely castle! Castling, especially on the short side , draws the king away from the center!) However, "one swallow does not a summer make . " One advantage - in king position - is too insignificant a factor, hardly giving him the right to expect a win. If we now deal with the question of prospects, then it isn't hard to see rich possibilities in the center for Black. H is pawns, in taking up central positions, will advance without risk and restrict his opponent. On the whole , we must say that in this multi-piece endgame , it will be just as weighty a factor as in the other phases of the game. I hasten to make it clear that this applies to positions with a mobile pawn front, and not to the oc cupation of central squares by a single isolated , or two nearly immobile ("hang ing") pawns. l ...c5! 2. llle 2 Wf7 3. f3 ll:ld6 4. b3 And White has made two pawn moves. However, what a difference be122 tween the pawn moves made by White and Black! White 's moves, 3 . 0 and 4. b 3 , were forced by necessity (his first move drove the knight away from e4, while the second was made with the goal of developing the bishop. Each move also has its negative aspect: 3 . f3 weakened the e3 square , while after 4. b 3 , Black's threat of . . . c5-c4 gains in strength. Meanwhile , Black 's pawn advances have no dark sides to them! 4...e5! 5. �a3 l::I c 8 6. l::I d l d4! The assault takes place on a wide front. White cannot break up this front: for example , if 7. c 3 , then . . . lll f5 with ... ii.. b5 to follow, while on 7 . f4, there would follow 7 . . . W g7! (not 7 . . . e4, because of8. lll xd4!) . I n both cases, Black's position would only improve: he would obtain a powerful passed pawn! 7. 0icl lllf5 8. l::'t f2 llle3 9. l::'te l c4! 10. b4 Forced . White must prevent Black from doubling his rooks along the c-file, followed by . . . cxb3. I f I 0. il..b 2, then IO ... c3 l l . il..a3 il..f5 1 2. l::Ie e2 l:t hd8 ! , with the threat of l 3 . . . lll xc2! 1 4. :l:xc2 ii.xc2 1 5 . : xc2 d3. 10 ...ii.a4 1 1. l::Ie 2 l l . c3 is unplayable due to 1 1 . . . lll c2. 1 1 ...lll d l 12. :n CLic3 1 3. :a CiJbt 14. il.. b2 c3 15. lll b3! Exploiting the Advantage in Endings with a Large Number of Pieces A clever move - which does not, however, save the game. He could not play 15 . .ii.a l , in view of 1 5 . . . ctJd2 fol lowed by . . . i. xc2. 15... i.xbJ t6. axb3 If l 6. :l'.xb l ?, then 1 6 . . . i. xa2 1 7. l: a l cxb2 1 8 . :xa2 b l 'iV + . 16 ltJd2 t 7 . :l:e t :d8! ••. Preparing the central breakthrough with . . . d4-d3. 18 .ltc t d3! t9. cxd3 • If 1 9. i. xd2 cxd2 20. :l'.xd2, then 20 dxc2 2 1 . :l'.xd8 l::t x d8 , with . . . l:Id l to follow. ... 19 .llxdJ 20. � xd2 :xd2 2 1 . .!la t •.. If 2 l . @ fl , then 2I. . .:b2!. 21... 'it> e6 22. @ fl .llx fl+ Simplest. On the other hand, 22 . . . �b2 would also have led to a swift vic tory. 23. 'it>xfl c2 24. : c t 'lftd5 25. 'it> e3 �c3+ 26. 'it> d2 'it> d4! Black undoubtedly foresaw this pos sibility back on move 22. If 27 . .llxc2 , then 2 7 . . . l:xc2+ 2 8 . 'it> xc2 'it> e 3 . 27. h4 After 27. 'it> e2 , Black would have created a second passed pawn with . . . f6-f5 and . . . e5 -e4. And if White fore stalled that possibility with 27. g4, then 27 . . . .llxf3 28. 'it>xc2 (or 28 . .llxc2 .ll t2 + ) 2 8 . . . .llc 3 + . 27 ••• l:dJ+! 0- t This move made White lay down his arms, as 28. 'it>xc2 is met by 28 . . . :cJ + , while 28. 'it> e2 is answered by 2 8 . . . 'it> c 3 and . . . 'it>b2. *** This and the preceding examples show that, in multi-piece endgames, the center plays a large role. Controlling the center, it's not hard to parry blows on either flank. The strength of the center especially tells in livelier play. However, we must warn the reader against overestimating his position. The most important factor (in positions with approximate equality of forces) is not the center, but the activity of the pieces. With the pieces active , for example, an isolated pawn could be come a very valuable asset (see Dia gram 85, 5 . . . e6-e5 ! ) , while with poor piece placement, even a passed pawn could become helpless (see Diagrams 82 and 86) . It is only in the absence of a notice able difference in the activity of the pieces that the pawn configuration takes on great significance. Other things being equal, not only does an isolated pawn become weak, but also "backward" ones (that is, the ones that cannot be support ed by the pawns next to it - for instance , 1 23 Chapter 8 the b2-pawn in Diagram 84) or doubled pawns. Things are more complex when clarifying the relative power of central vs. flank pawns. Here we may note the following: if there are still a lot of pieces left on the board , with livelier play (as , fo r example, in Bogoljubow - Reti, see Diagram 90) , then central pawns are stronger than wing pawns; but if there are few pieces left, and the endgame assumes a quiet charac ter, then the possibility of creating an "outside passed pawn" on the wing plays a greater role than with a central pawn that can easily be restrained by the enemy king. Thus, for example, in the Marshall Capablanca endgame we examined (see Diagram 84) , the outside passed pawn allowed Black to enforce a rapid victory. On the other hand , this example could not completely convince the read er of the strength of wing pawns in simi lar circumstances. The point is that , in Marshall - Capablanca, Black had - in addition to his extra queenside pawn other advantages as well: (l) his piece position was considerably more active (compare, for instance, the rook posi tion after move 5); (2) Black's queenside pawns had already adopted a threaten ing stance , while the white kingside pawns had barely moved. In order to really clarify the power of wing pawns (in a position with a small number of pieces) , we need to exam ine the battle between wing pawns and center ones in circumstances equally 1 24 favorable to both sides. I n the follow ing example, the number of pieces is down to a minimum, and therefore we can rightly expect that here the wing pawns will prove stronger than the cen tral ones. 91 White to move A position like this one (the only difference being that there was a white pawn on b4, and there were no pawns at c4 and c5) , occurred in Tartakower - Reti, Marienbad 1 925. Here both sides are equal: in com pensation for the passed pawn in the center, White can create an outside passed pawn. Both sides' kings are re stricted, and the game should end in a draw, if White cannot create a passed pawn on the other wing. This goal White achieved by 1 . f3! h5 If 1 . . . \ti c7 , then 2. fxe4 fxe4 3. g4! (not 3. h4? because of 3 . . . h5!). In Ca pablanca's words, "one must push the pawn which has is no pawn facing it. " After 3 . g4, Black i s helpless, since he Exploiting the Advantage in Endings with a Large Number of Pieces cannot simultaneously stop the pawns on both wings, and his own pawns are "stopped. " 2. fxe4 fxe4 3. h3, l . . . a5 The beginning o f queenside operations. Black intends the maneuver . . . aSa4, followed by the transfer of his rooks to the b-file in order to pressure b2. and then g3 -g4. 2. a4 'it'f7 Winter - Capablanca Hastings 1 9 1 9 92 Making use of White 's helplessness, Black establishes h is pieces in their most favorable positions. 3. :ht White is unable to undertake any thing substantial, since his bishop is out of play. 3 . . 'it'e6 4. h4 l:tb8! . White to move White 's bishop is locked out of the game. In order to free it, White has to sacrifice a pawn, and more than that, spend a few tempi on (for example) the following maneuver: 'it'g2, Ji.h2, f3-f4, followed by f2-f3 and Ji.g l . During this time, Black may begin an assault on the wing where he is stronger. Black does not fear any illusory at tack, and concentrates all his forces on the side where he foresees there will soon be lively operations. 5. hxg5 hxg5 6. b3 c6 7. :a2 b5 8. :a t c4! Opening up the game. If9. bxc4 bxc4 1 0 . dxc4, then 1 0 . . . :b4. 9. axb5 cxb3 10. cxb3 :xb5 l.@g2 The attempt to free the bishop by c2c3 and d3-d4 is refuted as follows: I. c3 :ad8 2. :fd l :d7! 3. :d2 (if 3 . d4, then 3. exd4 4. cxd4 i. xg3) 3 . . . l:td8 4. l:. ad l ;t'f7, after which White once again can not play 5. d4 in view of S . . .exd4 6. cxd4 ixg3. .. White loses a pawn. For example , if l l . :b l , then l l . . .a4, followed by . . . a4a3 and . . . : ab8. 1 1 . :a4 :xb3 12. d4 :bs 13. :c4 l:tb4 14. :xc6 :xd4 0- 1 1 25 Chapter 8 Bogatyrchuk - Vygodchikov Leningrad 1 923 Black selects a misconceived plan. He contents himself with a waiting game, when in fact it was necessary to create counter-pressure against White's posi tion. Best was l . . .'it'g7, i.e. 2. lZ:lfl h5 3. lZ:lg3 :h8, with good drawing chances. 2. cz:in 'it't'8 3. lZ:lgJ 'it' e7 4. h4 Seeking to prevent . . . h6-h5. 4 : g8? ••. White to move The position of the black bishop on g6 and the backward doubled f-pawns remind one of the previous example. So here too, we have a question: shouldn't Black open the game on the queenside, making use of the fact that the bishop at g6 cannot go there? However, here it' s not s o easy t o execute this plan, since White 's queenside pawns are passively placed: the doubled pawns are held back by the knight on c5, and on a2-a4 meets with . . . a7-a5 . White cannot succeed in opening lines on the queenside. In this example, the only way to liv en up the game is to prepare a kingside break. To that end, White sets up his pieces in a position that is most favora ble for carrying out the break with h3-h4 and g4-g5. A colorless move. 4 . . . :h8 should have been played, intending . . . h6-h5. For example , if 5 . 'it' t2, then 5 . . . h5, threatening . . . hxg4. On 4 .. J::!:h 8, White would have prob ably played 5. h5, but this would have deprived him of the chance to open up the game with g4-g5. 5. 'it' f2! l:g7 Now 5 . . . l:h8 is not so strong any more , in view of 6. We3! h3 7. : hi! , cre ating the possibility of the g4-g5 break. 6. :gt :gs 7. l:el l:d8 8. 'it' e3 l: b8 9. :n :m 10. f4 Now it' s simple for White. If 1 0 . . . exf4, then 1 1 . : xf4, winning the f6-pawn. 1 . f3 10 . . . l:d8 1 1 . f5! Freeing the d2-knight. Locking up Black's bishop forever. 1 ... :ds? l l . . . ith7 12. lZ:lh5 126 Exploiting the Advantage in Endings with a Large Number of Pieces Thanks to the fact that White has man aged to do without h4-hS, the hS square may now be occupied by the knight, and the threat of g4-gS becomes quite serious. 12..J:tgs 13. :a :rs 14. :i::t h 3! tll b7 15. 'itt fJ tll c5 16. tll g3 tll b7 17. l::t g2 QJcs 18. :h2 tll b7 19. g5! The decisive break. 19 ..• fxgS 20. hxg5 l::t xg5 21. l::t xh6 �g8 If 2 l . . .l::t h S, then 22. l:gh2 l: hgS 2 3 . QJe2. 22. f6+! Winning a piece . 22 'iii dS 23. tt:Jrs l::t xg2 .•• If23 . . . l::t g6, then 24. kl: h S ! , threaten ing ( 1) 2S. l::t xg6 hxg6 26. f7 or (2) 2 S . i fl followed b y 'it> e3 a n d tll c7. 3. 'iii g 3 h4+ 4. 'iii xh4 g3 s. ti:l f5 g2 6. � xg7+ 'iii gS 7. � d4; or 2 . . . h4 3 . 'iii h3 g4+ 4. 'iii xh4 g3 s. �xg7+ @gs 6. � d4. Now let's look at the position WKj4, Rel, Bf5, p/6, d7, BKg8, Q/8, Ra8, pj7, h6. Here White wins with I. :cs!, nail ing Black's pieces to the eighth rank. The queen at f8 is pinned directly, and the aS-rook, indirectly. it is unable to leave the eighth rank, in view of d7-dS� . If I . . .l::t a4+ , then 2. 'it>e3! (not 2. �e4 l::t d 4!) 2 . . . l::t aS (not 2 . . . l::t a 3+ because of 3. 'iii d4 l::t a4+ 4. 'it>dS! l:aS+ S. 'it>c6 l:cS+ 6. 'it>b6 l::t d S 7. l:txf8+ 'it>xf8 S. 'it>c7 :cs+? 9. 'it> d6) 3. 'iii d4 hS (the alternatives 3 . . . l:bS , 3 . . . �dS, and 3 . . . 'it> hS change nothing) 4. 'it>dS h4 S. l::t xf8+ (he could also play S. 'it> c6 h3 6. 'it>b7 h2 7. �e4) S . . . @xf8 (if S . . . :xf8, then 6. 'iii d6 :as 7. 'it>e7 l::t a7 S. 'iii eS) 6. 'iii c6 and wins, for example 6 . . . 'it>gS 7 . 'iii b7 l:f8 S. 'it>c7 h 3 9 . �xh3 'iii h7 IO. dSV&' �xdS l l . @ xdS 'it>g6 1 2. 'it>e7. Now let's look at a few positions with an extra exchange (see Diagrams 94-9S). 24. 'it> xg2 tll c5 25. @ f3 ti:l d7 26. ixd7 'iii xd7 27. tll e7 1-0 In this and the previous example, Black's bishop couldn't get out of pris on, which lay at the root of his defeat. Of course, ifone succeeds not only in restrict ing one's opponent, but also in completely tying him up, then the win is even simpler. For example, in this position: WKh2, Rj7, Be5, Ng4, BKh8, Rg8, Bg 7, pg5, h 7, h5, White wins with I . l::t xg7! (not I . tll ffi in view of I . . .l::t f8 ) l . . .k:txg7 2. tll h6. The black pieces are all tied up, and a rapid demise is unavoidable, for instance 2 . . . g4 Vidmar - Tartakower Semmering 1 926 94 White to move 1 27 Chapter 8 I. :r6! .txa2! White could have won more easily after I. . .\te7 2 . .i::!: t2, followed by 'lt> f4 and a2-a3. 2. .i::!: xf7 + \tc6 3. l::t xa7 White has evened out the pawns, but the black king is now in a strong position. Cutting off the black king's path to the pawn at b4. 7 •. • Ji. c4 If 7 . . . 'lt> d 3 , then 8. b5! Si. a4 9 . .i::!: c 5 'lt> d4 IO. b6! . 8. \t f3! Both players conduct the endgame wonderfully, so it's very instructive. 3 ... Ji.b3 Leaving the c4 square available to the king. 4. 'it>f4 'it>b5 5 .i::!: b 7! • At first glance, Black ought to resign here, since on 5 . . . \t xb4 there comes 6 . .i::!: xb6+ \tc3 7 . 'it> e5 with .i::!: b 6-d6xd5! . 5 . . . \t c4! Instead of b4, Black wins the more important pawn. 6. l::t xb6 6. \t e6 would have been a mistake: 6 . . . b5! . 6 \t xd4 ••• Now the win is far from simple, since Black's king has taken up a central posi tion, and the d-pawn presents a serious threat. 7 .i::!: c 6! • 128 With 8. W O , White undertakes a lengthy trip with the goal of improving his king position. 8 . . . @ d3 Of course not 8 . . . \t c3?, in light of 9. b5 d4 (or 9 . . . 'it> b4 IO. b6 Wb5 l l . b7) IO. b6 d3 l l . b7 (even simpler is l l . W e3 d2 l 2. l::t xc4+) l l . . .d2 1 2. J:hc4+ ! W d3 1 3. l:td4+! W xd4 1 4. We2. 9. W f2 W d4 Forced. If 9 . . . W d 2 , for instance, then IO. l::t c 5! W d3 (or l 0 . . . W c3) l l . b5 \t d4 l 2 . b6. 10. W e t ! Ji.b5 1 1 . l::t c 5 A e8 White's next move would be the same in reply to l l . . .A d 3 . 12. W d2 Ji. a4 1 3 . W e i A e8 1 4 . W b2 .t a4 15. 'it> a3 .t e8 16. W b3 White's king takes up a strong posi tion, while Black's king cannot move from its post because of b4-b5 . Exploiting the Advantage in Endings with a Large Number of Pieces 16 � d7 17. I!cl � b5 18. I! d t + ••• 1-0, since 3 l . . .d3 meets with 32. b6 d2 33. b7. Now White drives the black king away from his pawn at d5 . Vidmar - Bogoljubow Nottingham 1 936 18 ... '>t> e5 19. '>t> c3 � d7 20. I!al 95 Another strong move is 20. I!e l + 'it'd6 2 1 . '>t> d4. If now 2 l . . . '>t> c6, then 22. l:te5, and on 2 l . . .� f5 White answers 22. b5, while if 2 l . . .� b5 or 2 l . . .� c6, then 22. I!hl followed by 2 3 . l:Ih6 + . 20 . . .� b5 If 20 . . . d4+? , then 2 1 . '>t> c4 � e6+ (else the pawn drops) 22. '>t>c5, followed by l::t c l + and b4-b5. 21. l:Ia5 � fl 22. I!c5 '>t> d6 If 22 . . . '>t> c4, 24.'it>d2. then 23. b5 d4+ 23. '>t>d4 Now the black pawn is stopped, and the white one forges ahead as Black's king is cut off. 23 ... � a6 24. b5 � b7 25. II c l � a8 26. l::t g l Intending to drive the enemy king back one more rank. 26 '>t> c7 27. '>t> c5 � b7 28. l::t g 7+ 'it'b8 29. W b6 � c8 30. I!g8 d4 3 1 . '>t> c6 .•• This leads to the goal faster than 3 1 . 11d8. Black to move Here Black could save the game with correct play, thanks to the strong posi tion of his king and the weakness of the pawns at a2 and b3. l .•• '>t> g3 2. '>t> c l � e4? The losing move . 2 . . . b5! , threaten ing . . . b5 -b4, should have been played, after which White 's pawns would have been paralyzed and his pieces tied down to the f2 square (he could not permit . . . f3 - f2 , with . . . � b 5 + or . . . �g2+ to follow) . If White answers 2 . . . b5! with 3 . a4, then 3 . . . bxa4 4. bxa4 � c4 5 . a 5 e 5 6 . l::t c2 � b5 7 . e4 � a6 8 . l::t a2 � c4, and the game peters out to a draw, since the black bishop maneuvers along the a6-fl diagonal , not allowing a5-a6 , and the white pieces, as before, must hold the f2 square. 3. a4! 129 Chapter8 In contrast to the variation above, White's pawns are now active: White threatens b2-b4-b5, followed by :t'!b2 and a2-a4-a5 , and (after the pawn trade) a6a7 and :t'!a2; in this variation, Black can no longer attack the rook with . . . i.d5, in view of a8� . 3 ..• i. c6 Now Black's passed pawn is ren dered harmless. 12 . . . e4 13. :t'!d6! i. c4 If l 3 . . . i. a4, then 1 4. :t'!b6 i. c6 1 5 . a6 or 1 5 . :t'!xc6. 14. l:1d4 i. b5 15. :t'!xe4+ W h3 16. :t'!e7 Not allowing b3-b4. 4. :t'!b2 e5 5. �d2 i. e8 6. @ fl ! White has i t in mind t o transfer the rook to f8; right now this would be pre mature , however, as 6. :t'!d8? would run into 6 . . . t2 + ! 7. @ fl i. f7 , threatening not only 8 . . . .t e6, but also 8 . . . i. xb3 followed by . . . i.c4+ . 6 . . . i. c6 16. W xf3 i. c6 1 7. W f4 was simpler still. 1 6 . . . � c6 1 7 . :t'!g7 @ h4 1 8 . :t'! g3 @ h5 19. �xf3 @ g5 20. �f4 it.ht 2 1 . @ e l 1 -0 Em. Lasker - Ragozin Moscow 1 936 96 6 . . . i.f7 is met by 7. :t'!d7 (thanks to 6. @ fl ! , the rook has acquired the ability to maneuver, since now Black doesn't threaten to advance his pawn with check) 7 . . . i. xb3 8. :t'!g7+ @ h4 9. a5 , after which we get the same general position as in the game (after move 1 1 ) . 7 . :t'!d6! The decisive maneuver. White will now attack his opponent in the rear, and to achieve this goal he will stop at noth ing, not even for a pawn sacrifice (see move I O) . 7 ... i.e4 8. �f6 i. d3+ 9. @ e l i. c2 10. a5! i.xbJ 1 1 . :t'!g6 + @ h4 12. Wfl 130 White to move Black has the exchange for a pawn here , but making use of this advantage is difficult in view of the weakness of his queenside. First he will have to take into account the threat of i. fl -d3, W g l -t2e3-d4, and then c2-c4! . Also rendering the win difficult is the fact that all of Black's pawns are on light squares, and Exploiting the Advantage in Endings with a Large Number of Pieces therefore can be attacked by the oppo nent's bishop. 9 . . axb5 10. b 3 .l:t e 5 + 1 1 . W f4 l:d5 12. � e4 t. i. d3 c;t> g7 2. c;t> a c;t> f6 3. @ e3 :ties! On 1 2 . W e4, there is 1 2 . . . f5+ 1 3 . W e 3 W e 5 , seizing more territory. . 12 . . . :d2 13. g4 :a2 14. h5 l:ha3 15. Preventing 4. W d4 and c2-c4. b4 4. g5! White's only chance. This advance temporarily paralyzes the black kingside; and in order to revive it, Black will have to exchange a pair of pawns - and every pawn trade increases White 's drawing chances. 4 ... 'it> d6 5. h4 h6? With this move, Black meets his op ponent halfway. 5 . . . l:te5+ 6. W d4 l:e l 7. c4 .i:td l ! was stronger; in this varia tion, the threats involving c2-c4 are no longer dangerous for Black, since his king will manage to move from g8 to d6. In the future, Black (after the prepara tory . . . 'it>d6-c6) will be able to attack the pawns at b2, g2 and h4 with the rook; and if White plays b2-b4, then he will weaken his pawn at a3. 1 5 . h6 l:xb3 1 6 . h7 is no use, due to 1 6 . . . :hJ; and after the actual move ( 1 5 . b4) Black can't play t o win a pawn be cause now on 1 5 . . . .l:tb3 there follows 1 6 . h 6 , and i f 1 6 . . . l:txb4?? then 1 7. h 7 , win ning. On the other hand, the move White played doesn't save the game either, in view of his opponent's clever - and ac curately calculated - reply. 97 6. gxh6 l:th5 7. g3 l:xh6 8. c4! l:th5 9. cxb5? Here White could apparently have gained a draw with 9. b4! , for example 9 .. l:.e5+ IO. W f4 f5 (forestalling g3-g4) 1 1 . cxb5 axb5 1 2. h5 gxh5 1 3 . i. xf5 l:t e l (or 1 3 . . . W d5 14. i. d7 W d4 1 5 . a4!) 1 4. ig6 'it>d5 (if 1 4 . . . l:t h l , then 1 5 . i. e8) 15 . .txh5 l: a l (or 15 ... W c4 16. g4!) 1 6. i e8 'it>c4 1 7. i. t7 + W c 3 1 8 . � e 8 ! . . Black to move 15 ••. f5! Ragozin plays the concluding phase of this game most accurately. If 1 6. gxf5 gxh 5 ! 1 7 . W g5 , for instance, then 1 7 . . . l:tb3 and Black has a n easy win. 16. i. b l 13 1 Chapter8 Nor do other moves help; for exam ple, 1 6 . j,, f3 l:txf3 + ! or 1 6 . j,, h l gxh5! 17. gxh5 l::t h3 18. i. f3 W e6! 19. j,, e2 Wf6 20. j,, xb5 l::t xh5 , with the irresistible threat of 2 1 . . .: h4+ , since on 2 1 . Wg3 there comes 2 1 . . .f4+!. Flohr - Capablanca Nottingham 1 936 98 16 gxh5! .•• Here 16 . . . l::t b 3 is weak in light of 1 7 . hxg6!. 17. gxh5 l::t h3 18. Wg5 We5! 19. W g6 White to move The last shot. 1 9. j,, xf5 loses at once to 1 9 . . . :xh5 + ! . 1 9 ... :g3+! 20. Wf7 l::t b3 2 1 . j,, c2 l::t xb4 22. h6 l::t h4 23. W g6 If23. Wg7 , then 23 . . . f4 24. j,, c l W e4 25. h7 f3 , and one of the black pawns goes on to queen. 23 ...b4 24. j,, dl On 24.i. xf5? Black has 24 . . . :xh6+!; while if24. h7, then after 24. . . f4 25. j,, d l l::t xh7 , we get the same position as in the game. As in the previous example , here the pawn is not sufficient compensation for the exchange - the more so because the pawn is soon lost, and the attack Black cooks up proves insufficient. I. j,, a2! Not 1 . l::t x d5? because of I . . .j,, b7. l .. . :c6 1 . . .:d8 2 . j,, xd5 ! :xd5 3 . l::t x d5 j,, b7 fails to 4. l::t cd l , followed by moving the king off the a8-h l diagonal. 24 . . . f4 25. h7 Or 25. j,, h5 l::t x h5 26. Wxh5 W f6 . 25 l::t xh7! . .• Necessary, since now White really did threaten 26. j,, h5. 26. ®xh7 ® e4 27. ® g6 f3 28. ® g5 ®e3 0-l 1 32 2. i. xd5 l::t g 6+ 3. W h l ltJ d3 4. l::t c2 l::t d 6 5. j,, f3! With this and the next move , White takes away his opponent's last hopes of drawing. From f3, the bishop protects d l and thereby prevents . . . ltJ xf2 + , while White has a strong reply to 5 . . . l:If6. Exploiting the Advantage in Endings with a Large Number of Pieces s ... :r6 Had Black forestalled the game vari ation with 5 . . . W f8 , he would have faced 6. 'it> g l :g6+ 7. Ji.g2 Ji. b7 8. f4 lLl c 5 9. W h l , with the complete consolidation of White's position. 6. ii. e4! ever, with every exchange, the value of the pawns grows, and in some cases even forces the win (see Diagrams 79-88). In the following position ( Diagram 99) , the win is still not simple, since the presence of the far-advanced protected passed pawn at f3 somewhat restricts the maneuvering capabilities of the white pieces. Clarifying the position completely: 6 . . lZJ xf2+? 7. : xf2 :xf2 8. :d8#; or 6 . l:xf2? 7. ii. xd3. . Botvinnik - Thomas . . Nottingham 1 936 6. .:d6 7. ii. xd3 ii. xd3 8. f3! 99 . Not 8. :cd2?, in view of 8 ... ii. c4+ 9. W g l :g6+ I O. 'iil fl Ji.f3 and then . . . l:tg6-g2-h2. But after 8 , f3 ! , White really threatens 9. l::t c d2. 8 . . ii. xc2 9. :xd6 . The outcome of the game is now clear. There followed: 9 ... b5 10. 'lt>_g2 Ji. b3 1 1 . l::t b 6 ii. c4 12. Wg3 ©f8 13. 'iil f4 'iil e7 14. W e5 ii. e2 15. f4 ii. c4 16. :b7+ W f8 17. f5 (threat ening 1 8 . f6; also 1 7 . W d6, threatening not only mate but also 1 8 . 'iil c5 followed by 1 9 . l::t xb5 , was good enough) 17 f6+ 18. 'it>f4 h5 19. c4 ii. e2 20. e5 fxe5+ 2 1 . \t>xe5 ii.c4 22. 'it> f4 h 4 23. 'iil g5 1 -0. •.• White to move 1. b5 axb5 2. axb5 'iil e7 White threatened 3. CLl xd5+! cxd5 4. c6 bxc6 5 . b6, while 2 . . . cxb5? was bad because of 3 . CLl xd5+ and 4. CL\ c 3 , fol lowed by 5 . CLl xe4. 3. b6 'iil d7 Let's stop and consider for a mo ment the methods of capitalizing on an extra piece. In the overwhelming majority of cases (see Diagrams 99 and 1 00) , a knight (or bishop) is stronger than two pawns. How- Once again, 4. CLl xd5+ was the threat. But now White , making use of the fact that the black king is tied down to the queenside , wins the h-pawn. 4. lLl h5 'lt> d8 133 Chapter s Nor does 4 . . . We7 help, due to S . CLlg7 transferring the knight via rs or es ' to d6 and forcing the black king to retreat to bS. After that, White's king would be free to go after the h-pawn. 5. tLl f6 h6 6. CLl g4 h5 7. tLl f2 Simpler than 7 . tLl f6 , when 7 . . . h4+ would ensue. 7 'iti d7 8. 'iti h4 W d8 9. 'itixh5 'iti e7 IO. W g4 W e6 1 1 . 'it g3 1 S . . . 'iti f6? 1 6. CLl eS + and 1 7 . CLl d6. 16. tLlf5 � c8 17. CLl d6 was threatened. 17. 'it> f4! \t> b8 1 8 . W e5 \t> c8 19. 'iti d6 � b8 Or 1 9 . . . @ dS 20. CLlg3 'iti c S 2 1 . 'iti e7, etc. ••• Freeing the knight. 1 1 . . . Wd7 12. CLl h3 ©d8 13. tLl f4 Another wi nning line was 1 3 . tLl g l , with a subsequent knight sacrifice on f3 : 1 3 . it::l g l We7 1 4. CLl xf3 exf3 l S . W xf3 W f6 1 6 . e4 dxe4+ 1 7 . W xe4 'iti e6 l S . d S + ! cxdS+ 1 9 . W d4 W e7 20. ©xdS 'iti d7 , and now not 2 1 . c6+? in view of 2 1 . . . 'iti c S ! , but 2 1 . 'iti e S ! 'iti c6 22. 'iti d4 'iti d7 2 3 . W dS ! , which was later pointed out in analysis of Dia gram 99. 13 'iti d7 14. CLl h5 •.• 20. 'iti d7 � a8 2 1 . CLl g3! The immediate 2 1 . 'iti cS? would have been a grievous mistake , in view of 2 l ... f2 22. CLlg3 fl � 23. l?i xfl , stalemate. 2 1 . . . 'iti b8 22. tLlfl Another possibility was 22. 'iti d8 @ as 2 3 . @ cs f2 24. 'iti d7 , etc. 22 . . . w as 23. 'iti c8 1-0 After the forced 23 . f2 there would follow 24. � d7 , going after the f2-pawn. . . Nimzowitsch - Alekhine New York 1 927 White's plan consists of bringing the knight to fS , followed by an assault with the king. Since White will always keep in reserve the moves of the knight (CLl hS g3-f5, etc .) , he will be able to drive the black king to aS , and leave it in a stale mated position there ; after this, Black will have to advance his f-pawn, doom ing it to a fatal end. 14 1 34 •.. @e6 15. CLl g7+ 'iti d7 White to move Exploiting the Advantage in Endings with a Large Number of Pieces White has an indisputable advantage here ; however, winning this game is still difficult: on the kingside Black threatens to create a passed pawn, while on the queen's wing he can, making use of his pawn superiority, make exchanges with the idea of removing the last of White 's pawns. 1. @e3 c5 On l . .. b5, there would have followed 2. l'Lld2, and if now 2 . . . h4, then 3 . g4! (White avoids exchanges as much as pos sible) 3 . . . h3 4. @f3 c5 5. ClJ e4 c4 6. b4! 'it' b6 7. @g3 @ c6 (forced, in view of the threat of 8. W xh3 followed by the return of the king; however, the black king's position on c6 allows White to carry out a combination typical of such positions; the preliminary 7 . . . a5 8. a3 axb4 9. axb4 doesn't improve matters) 8. tt'\ xg5 c3 9 . ill f3! © d 5 ( 9 . . . c 2 I O . til d4+) I O. ClJ e l and White wins, for example I O . . . � e4 1 1 . g5 ©e3 (or l l . . . © f5 1 2 . © xh3 © xg5 1 3. Wg3) 1 2 . ClJ c2+ © d2 1 3 . CiJ d4 © d3 1 4 . l'l:lb3, etc. tion, the knight destroys all the kingside pawns, while the white king watches over the queenside . For example, if 6 . . . © a5 , then 7 . © d 3 W b4 8 . W c 2 c 4 9 . CiJ xhS! cxb3+ IO. © b2 © c4 1 1 . CiJ f6 © d4 1 2 . ClJ xg4 © e4 1 3 . CiJ t2 + 'it> f3 1 4. g4. 6. g4! h3! 7. ©f3 b4 The final try. Black intends the break 8 . . . c4. 8 . ClJxg5 c4! 9. CiJ e4! Now the game is decided. If 9 . . . c 3 , then IO. CiJ f2 and 1 1 . CiJ d 3 , and o n 9 . . . cxb3 White can respond with I O. g5 , and if then IO . . . b2 he can hold Black's pawn with l l . CiJ d2. 9 . . . cxb3 1 0 . g5 b 2 1 1 . CiJ d2 © cs 1 2 . g 6 h2 13. \t> g2 © d4 14. g 7 © d3 1 5 . g8t\¥ '<ii xd2 1 6 . � a2 '>t> c2 1 7 . � c4 + 1 -0 Concerning the exploitation of the extra piece, see also Chapters 4 and 6. 2. a4 With this move , White allows a trade , but here this is dictated by his desire to liquidate the queenside as much as possible, in order to decide the battle on the kingside (on . . . h5-h4, White has in mind g3-g4 followed by an attack on the g5pawn). Turrasch Reti Vienna 1 922 - 1 01 2 ...b5 3. axb5 axb5 4. CiJ d2 © b6 5. lll e4 h4 If 5 . . . g4, then 6. CiJ f6. In this varia- White to move 1 35 Chapter s 1. l:.g7+ 'itl h8 2. l:.e7 Threatening not only l:.xe6 , but also i.g7+. 2 ... w g8 3. fJ! White is in no hurry to win the pawn, because he is trying to make use of the active position of his pieces. The move f2-f3 , cutting off the knight from access to e4, strongly restricts its movements. 3 . . . tt:J e8 If 3 . . . tt:J h5, then 4. g4 fxg4 5. hxg4 tt:Jg3? 6. 'itlf2 tt:J h l + 7. 'itlg2 l:. a l 8. :g7+ 'itl h8 9. :n. 1-0 in view of the threat of 1 l . �fl l::t g 8 1 2. l::t d 3!. If 1 0 . . . Wg8, then 1 l . :g7+ \t> h8 1 2. I?.b7! tt:J d6 1 3 . l:td7 tt:J b5 14. � f7 and l:td8!. Of course, one should not overesti mate the position of rooks on the seventh rank, either. In the following example, it is true that the rooks' position compen sates for White's pawn minus, but it still does not give him any basis for " playing for the win . " Euwe I. Rabinovich Leningrad 1 934 - No better is 3 . . . :e8: 4. :g7+ W h8 5. i:.f7 tt:J h5 6. g4 'itlg8 7. :a1 tt:J f6 8. l:.g7+ 'itl h8 9. :n. 4. 'itl h2! The king threatens to intensify the attack. 4 . . . tt:J d6 4 . . . tt:J f6 doesn 't work, in view of 5. l:.g7+ 'itl h8 6. : n . 5. :g7+ 'itl h8 6. l'.I d 7 ! tt:J b5 6 . . . tt:Je8 would be answered, as in the game, with 7. Wg3 and an incursion into the enemy camp. 7. Wg3! tt:Jxc3 8. W f4 tt:J b5 9. We5 i:.e8 10. 'itlf6! 136 Black to move l. .. l:.g4 2. tt:J d2 On 2. 1ha7 l:.xa7 3 . l:. xa7 there comes 3 . . . i. f5 , followed by . . . i. f5 -e4 and . . . l:.g4-g6. With the text move, White prepares to transfer his knight to c5. 2 . . . : g6 Exploiting the Advantage in Endings with a Large Number of Pieces Clearing a path for the bishop. If now 3. \t> f2 , then 3 . . . t!f6+ , while on 3. t!xa7 there is 3 . . . l:.xa7 4. t!xa7 .t h3 5. g3 t! f6 , after which White can only shore up his position with 6. l:. a3 ! , followed by :a3f3 and 'it'g l -f2. He ought to have played 9. @f2, and if now 9 . . . .tg4, then 1 0 . tt:J e 5 h5 1 1 . l:ta8+ r:Ji/ e7 1 2 . l:.a7 + , after which Black could not avoid repeating moves without dropping the g7-pawn. 9 ••• @ g8! 3. tt:Jf3 .t h3! 3 .. .t e6? is answered by 4. l:.xa7. . 4. tLlh4 Analogously to the variation given in the note to Black's second move, 4. g3 J::i f8 5. l:txf8+ 'it' xf8 6. l:.xa7 t!f6 7 . l:.a3 is possible here. 4 l:.g4 5. g3 The only proper move . If 9 . . . l:e2?, then 1 0. tLlg6+ 'it'g8 1 1 . tLl f4! l:.e l + 1 2 . @ f2 t!h l ! (after 1 2 . . . l:. fl + 1 3 . \t> e2 Black loses the exchange , at least) 1 3 . tLl xh3 l:. xh2+ 1 4. 'it' f3 l:txh3 1 5 . 'it'g2! l:.h5 1 6. l:.b7, with the better ending for White. 9 . . l:.xd4? would be even worse , in view of 1 0. l:.a8+ 'it' e7 1 1 . tt:J c6 + , winning the rook. . 10. tt:J c6 ..• The only move . 5 . 'it' h l would be bad in view of 5 . . . l:. e 8 ! , as would be 5 . lt> f2 , when there could follow 5 . . l:t f8 ! 6 . gxh3 t!xf7 + 7 . l:. xf7 l:. xh4 8 . l:. xa7 l:ixd4. . 5 J:.f8 •.. It was necessary to relieve White 's pressure along the seventh rank. 6. l:txf8+ 'it'xf8 7. tt:JfJ h6! Preparing 8 . . . ll e4. If 7 . . . t! e4? at once , then 8. tLl g5 :! e l + 9. 'it> f2 l:. h l IO. IO. tt:J xh7+ \t> g8 1 1 . tt:Jg5! favors White . 8. t!xa7 J:.e4 9. tt:J e5? White overestimates the strength of his rook on the seventh rank. Black wins by force after this move: 1 0. @ f2 , giving up the pawn on d4, was relatively better. 1 0 . . . Me2! Now it is Black who occupies his seventh rank with the rook, which in this case decides the game, in view of the presence of mating threats. 1 1 . tt:J e7+ \t> h7 12. tt:Jxd5 l:.g2+ 13. Whl I:tf2! 14. tt:J e3 l:.e2 0- 1 I n our next three examples (see Dia grams 1 03- 1 05 ) , White wins thanks to his more active pawn; he has or creates a passed pawn, to which Black can only oppose a pawn that is restricted in its movements. 1 37 Chapter 8 Kan - Botvinnik Moscow- Leningrad match, 1 930 1 03 2 ... d3! 3. ii. d i If 3 . fxe4, then 3 . . . dxe4 4. Itfe l (4 Itxf6? l:t d l +) 4 . . . It d2 5. tZ'l c 3 (5. Itxc5 loses immediately to 5 . . . It d l 6. l:t c l Itfl +) 5 . . . tZ'l d4 6. l:tb l 'it> h7 , and Black wins thanks to his opponent's lack of moves. For example, if 7. b4, then 7 . . . cxb4 8. l:txb4 l:k6, while 8. tZ'l d5 meets with 8 . . l:f8 threatening 9 . . . tZ'l c2. If White plays a waiting game, Black hems him in still further with the aid of the g and h-pawns, after which Black's king heads for the scene of battle to deliver the decisive blow. . Black to move l . . .d4 Black sets about immediately to real ize his passed pawn. 3... d2 4. Itxc5 .i. d3 5. Itt2 .i. xb5 6. Itxb5 Ite6! 7. Ito Nor does 7 . .i.b3 help, in view of 7. . .d l � + . 2. f3 7 Nor is 2. l:txc5 better, due to 2 . . . d3 3 . .t d l (or 3 . .t f3 .t xf3 4. gxf3 l:.g6+ 5 . W h l d 2 ; i f now 6. Itd l ? , then 6 . . . Ite8!, while on 6. tZ'lc3 there comes 6 . . . tZ'l d4! with a decisive edge) 3 . . . d2 4. Si e2 tZ'l b4! 5. tZ'lc3 (5. l:tc4? would also be followed by 5 . . . .i.d3) 5 . . . .i. d3 6. l:t d l (6. i. xd3 tZ'lxd3 7. l:tb5 tZ'l e l ) 6 ... .i. c2 7. Ita l (or 7. Itfl l:.fd6 8. tZ'l d l Ite8!) 7 . . . Itfd6 8. tZ'ldl (on 8 . .i. d l there also comes 8 . . . Ite8!) 8 . . . Ite8! 9. @ fl (if 9. tZ'l c 3 o r 9 . tZ'l e 3 , then 9 . . . d l � + ! ) 9 . . . i. d3! 1 0 . tZ'l c 3 Itde6 and Black wins. ••• l:tel 8. l:tc5 8. 'it>f2 l::t d e8 9. i.b3+ 'it> h8 1 0. l:td5 It 8e2+ 1 1 . 'it> g l Ite l ! , and wins. 8 . . . tZ'l b4! 8 . . . tZ'l d4 is a mistake here because of 9. @ f2 I:tde8 1 0 . l:.d5!, with the bet ter game for White. With the text move, Black is in time to defend the d5 square and therefore threatens 9 . . . It de8 fol lowed by . . . Itxfl + . 9. It c4 The presence ofafar-advancedpassed pawn, with the opposing king out ofplay, prepares the ground for all sorts of com binations. Other moves lose , too: if 9. Itb5, for instance, then 9 . . . Itc8! 1 0. Itxb4 It e l . 9 138 ••• tZ'l d5 10. l:t e4 Exploiting the Advantage in Endings with a Large Number of Pieces The most decisive retort to 1 0. : d4 is 10 . . . lll e3! 1 1 . :xd8+ W h7 1 2 . .ll c2+ (or 1 2 . .ll e2 :xe2, followed by the rook's return to e l ) 1 2 . . . g6 1 3 . Md7+ W h8 1 4. :ld8+ Wg7, etc . Black, on the queenside , an extra pawn appears, though it is doubled; here it will be considerably harder for Black to make a passed pawn, than for White on the kingside. 10 ... lll eJ 1 1 . Mxe3 :xe3 12. W t2 :\e8 13 . .ll a4 : e t 0- 1 On the other hand , recent practice has demonstrated that , in return for this advantage , in this opening Black has sufficient compensation in the form of two strong bishops, which make themselves felt significantly in an open game. Em. Lasker - Tarrascb World Championship ( 1 ) Diisseldorf 1 908 1 . :eJ! White 's pieces have occupied pow erful centralized posts: by threatening to invade the enemy position, at the same time they help create a passed pawn. t . . . M h l 2. lll g3 l:t h4+ 3. 'it> e5 l:th3 White to move There are no passed pawns - yet. However, it 's not hard to foresee that White will, in the far-off future , ad vance his f-pawn to f6 and create a passed pawn. Black will find it consid erably harder to make use of his extra queenside pawn, in view of the doubled state of his c-pawns. If 3 . . . .ll e8, then 4. f4! .ll xh5 5. lll f5 : h t 6. lll xg7. 4. f4! W d8 After 4 . . . .ll e8, White wins as follows: 5. f5! .ll xh5 6. W e6! l::I h2 (or 6 . . . Jl.g4 7. W f7 g6 8 . ffi; if 6 ... 'it> d8 , then 7 . 'it' d6) 7. fO gxfO 8 . gxfO Jl. g6 (8 . . . Jl. g4+ 9. 'it' e7 : t2 1 0 . f7) 9. :t f3! , and then 1 0 . f7. s. rs :h4 6. r6 gxf6 1. w xr6 The beginning of this game was in teresting: 1 . e4 e5 2. lll f3 lll c6 3 . .ll b5 a6 4 . .txc6 (the Ruy L6pez Exchange Vari ation) 4 . . . dxc6 5. d4 exd4 6. �xd4 �xd4 7. llJxd4. The idea behind this opening consists of preparing/or the endgame: for Considerably stronger than 7. gxffi , since, after 7. W xffi, the activity of the white pieces is further enhanced. 7 •.• .li es 8. lll f5! 1 39 Chapter8 White is in no rush to create his passed pawn, but first brings the activity of his pieces to the maximum. I.evenfish Flohr Moscow 1 936 - 1 05 8... �f4 Of course not 8 . . . l::t xh 5? because of 9. �xe8+!. And if 8 ... l:Ig4, then White has many different ways to win. For example, 9. �e7 it. xhS (or 9 . . J::tf4 1 0 . l::t xh7! it. d7 1 1 . l::t xd7+ Wxd7 1 2 . h6) 1 0. :xh7 i.e8 1 1 . ll'i d6, etc. ( l l . . .l::t f4+ 1 2 . 'it' e6 : rs 1 3 . l::t b7!). 9. g6 hxg6 IO. hxg6 l::t g4 11. l::t x e8+ Of course not 1 1 . g7 , in light of 1 1 . . . l::t g6+ and . . . it. f7 . 1 1 . l::t xe8+ wins a piece, which also could be achieved by 1 1 . l::t g 3. White to move As in the previous example too, White has here an active pawn majority on the kingside, while he can prevent Black's ad vance on the queenside from happening. I. i. e4! h6 2. it. d3! Aiming to forestall . . . b7-b6. I I ... 'it' xe8 12. g7 'it' d7 13. ll'i b4 2 ll'i b6 ••• Threatening 1 4. ll'ig6. 13 . . . :xg7 If 1 3 . . . :f4+?, then 1 4 . @g5 � fl l S . ll'ig6!. 14. 'it'xg7 W e6 15. ll'i f3 Keeping Black's king out o f e S . 15 . . . 'i!frs 1 6 . w f7 'it' e4 17. 'it1 e6! Wd3 18. 'i!f d6 © c3 19. 'it' xc6 @ xb3 20. Wb5 l-O 2 . . . ll'ib2 3. aS! (3 . . . b6! was threatened) 3 . . . ll'i d l + 4. @f3 @c7 was somewhat bet ter, after which the white king would find it difficult to reach the center, since on 5. @ e4 there would follow S . . . ll'i c3+ 6. Wd4 ll'i dS 7. @ c4 ll'ie3+, slowing the advance of the e-pawn. On the other hand, after the moves presented (2 . . . ll'ib2 3. aS ll'i d l + 4. @f3 @ c7), with S. e4! White would retain considerable winning chances, although in order to make good on his advantage he would have to consider some counter threats like . . . ll'i d l -c3-a2. 3. e4 1 40 Exploiting the Advantage in Endings with a Large Number of Pieces Now everything is ready for the white king to move to d4. 3 . tl:la8 4. 'it e3 Ci:Jc7 .. Threatens S . . . b6. 5 a5 ! @ e7 . On S . . . tl:l e6, simplest is 6. Ci:J xe6, fol lowed by @e3-d4-cS, ii. d3 -c4 and e4e5-e6-e 7 , crowding the black king away from c7 and, thanks to that, moving his own king down to b6. 6. i. c4 @ d6 7. 'it d4 Ci:J e8 and on 1 0 ... g6 White would reply 1 1 . ii. d3 'it f7 1 2. e6+! 'it ffi (or 1 2 . . . ii. xe6 1 3 . Ci:J xb7) 1 3 . tl:ld7+! �xe6 1 4 . Ci:Jb6 Ci:J d6 (or 1 4 . . . ii. d7) 14. ii.xg6 and White wins, since after the exchange of the knight on b6 or of the bishop on c8 he will threaten not just to attack on the queenside, but also to advance the kingside pawns. 1 1 . tl:l e4 ii. e6 If Black moves the knight back ( 1 1 . . . Ci:J e8), then White replies 1 2. WcS, with the decisive threats of 1 3 . Wb6 or 1 3 . Ci:J d6. And i f l 1 . . .tl:l e6, then 1 2. ii.xe6 and 1 3 . tl:l d6. The pawn ending after 7 . . . Ci:J e6 or 7 . . i.e6 is hopeless for Black. 12. tl:l d6! ii. xc4 13. �xc4 � e6 14. 'itc5 l-O 8. e5+ fxe5+ 9. fxe5+ 'it e7 10. h4! On 1 4 . . . 'iit' xeS l S . tl:l xb7 tl:ldS there would follow 1 6. tl:l d8. . A subtle waiting move. For now, 1 0 . tll e4 (in order t o let the king get t o b6) is still premature, in view of 10 . . . ii. fS l l . lll d 2 tl:l c7 1 2 . 'it c S ii. e6, threatening 1 3 . .. i. xc4 14. Ci:J xc4 Ci:J d S . Therefore, before okaying Ci:J e4, White induces ... CfJc7, and only afterwards does he play tll e4, so as to answer . . . ii.fS with Ci:J d6!. Now we present a position in which the pawns stand opposite one another, with the advantage lying with the more active side. Bogoljubow Reti Baden- Baden 1 92S - 10 . . tl:l c7 . Black is in Zugzwang: any move he makes will only make his position worse. For instance, if 1 0 . . . 'it d8 1 1 . tl:l e4 ii. fS , then 12. tl:l d6! Ci:J xd6 1 3 . exd6 'it d7 1 4 . WcS i.g4 l S. 'it b6 'itc8 1 6 . ii. t7 ii. d7 1 7 . i g 6 ii. e6 1 8 . ii. e 8 ! and 1 9. d7+ . Pawn moves also weaken Black's position: on 10 . . .gS there follows 1 1 . hxgS hxgS 1 2 tll e4 g4 1 3 'it cS and then tl:l d6 or W b6; White to move 14 1 Chapter s If you were to compare both sides' de velopment at the moment, you couldn't show any special advantage for White : most of his pieces are undeveloped; only the bishop at a3 occupies a strong diago nal, preventing Black from castling. But if we tum to the pawn structure , White 's advantage becomes obvious: the pawns at d4 and e5 restrict Black; besides which, those same pawns create support points for White's pieces - for example, the d6 square for the bishop. Finally, White can advance his kingside pawns later, restricting his opponent still more . In other words, thanks to his more active pawn chain, White controls more space: his prospects, in the sense of pos sibilities for developing his pieces, are better than Black's. Thus, an advantage in pawn structure results in an advantage piece development. bling rooks on the c-file, he would put pressure on the queen's wing, and on the king's wing his pawns might take up threatening positions. 5. h3 Ci:l c8 6. g4! Nailing down the g5-pawn in its place and thus preparing an attack on this point with h3-h4. 6 Ci:l e7 7. h4 gxh4 ••• Forced, as on 7 . . . �g8 there follows 8. hxg5 hxg5 9. �h5. 8. l:txh4 0-0-0 9. l:thl The weakness of a backward pawn on an open file already begins to make itself felt. 9 . . . �g8! I. b3 Ci:l b6 2. Ci:l f3 The time has not yet come fo r f2-f4: before then, he must complete his devel opment. A clever (though temporary) defense of the pawn. 9 . . . l:tdg8 would have been bad, because of 1 0 . g5. 10. �gt �h8 1 1 . Ji. d6! l . .. Ji. d7 3. Ji. d3 Ci:l c6 4. � d2 The best square for the king is e3: from there, he will protect the d4-pawn, while at the same time staying protect ed from attack and freeing up the f3knight. In this position, White comes up with a combined offensive. He attacks, not only on the kingside, but also on the queenside, where he creates the power ful threat of b3-b4! . 11 ••• Ci:l g6! 4 ... g5 Attempting to whip up a counterat tack. Quiet continuations might allow White to set up a combined attack: dou1 42 Black takes measures against that at tack: on b3-b4, he tries to prepare . . . b7b6, which he couldn 't do right away due to i. xa6# . Exploiting the Advantage in Endings with a Large Number of Pieces 12. i.xg6! White adapts to the changed situa tion: he's satisfied with the win of a pawn, since canying out the attack on the cas tled position involves great difficulties, for example l 2. l::l: h h l lLi f4 1 3 . i. fl (with the idea of preventing . . . b7-b6) l 3 . . . i. e8 ! , threatening counterplay with . . . f7-f6. 24 . . . i.c6 25. �b8 @ g6 26. tt.J f6 .l:Ic7 27. r:Jit d2 w n 28. l:1d8 Preparing f3-f4-f5 . 28 . . . b5 The last gasp. Black doesn 't want to sit by passively and watch White improve his position move by move . 12 ... fxg6 13. :i::t h l h5! 29. a5 b4 The loss of the pawn cannot be avoided. In giving it up, Black tries, by trading rooks, to lessen White's pressure and obtain some counterplay. If now 30. l::I b 8, then 30 . . . a6! 3 1 . l:1xb4? i.bS!, trapping the rook. 30. l::t h 8! 14. gxh5 gxh5 1 5 . l:txh5 llxh5 16. l':txh5 :ctg8! 1 7 . i::t h 4! The point of this elegant move is soon revealed. Preventing . . . :ctg8-g4. 30 . . . W g6 3 1 . :ctb8 a6 32. :ctb6! 17 . . . b6 18. W d3 �g7 19. Ci'l h2 White has shored up his position and again goes over to the attack; again, the drawback of . . .g7-g5 is highlighted: White threatens to occupy f6 with his knight. 19 . . . i. e8 To 19 . . . :ctg l , White would have re plied 20. ll:Jg4! :te l + 2 1 . W d2 :ct a l 22. lll f6 :ctxa2+ 2 3 . We3, followed by I:Ih7 or !:th8 + . In this variation, the whites pieces' combined action wins a piece. 20. �h8 W d7 2 1 . 13! tt.J e7 22. i. xe7 '!i xe7 23. ll:J g4 @n 24. a4! Hemming in the enemy bishop. Thanks to White 's inducing 30 . . . W g6, Black now loses a pawn with no compensation. 32 . . . ® rs On 32 . . .i. b S the strongest i s 3 3 . tt.J xdS. 33. :ctxa6 Wf4 34. l:1b6 W xf3 35. :ctxb4 :cta7 38. l::t b6 and wins. The example we have just looked at reveals a new factor which plays a big role in the evaluation of the pawn structure. It turns out that, along with our previ ous indicators (" isolated, " "backward, " "doubled, " "passed, " "center, " and 1 43 Chapter8 "flank" pawns, we must also consider the role played by the pawn configura tion, in the sense of whether it provides more or less space for the pieces. Alekhine - Yates Hastings 1 926 exclusively to the possibility of creating a passed pawn. The pawn array has mean ing also in the sense of creating support points for one's pieces and in the sense of keeping the enemy's pieces off important squares. The more active pawn configura tion (given that it's intact!) allows you to control more spacefor your pieces. 1 07 White to move Here is a position whose correct evaluation requires taking into account the above considerations. If we get dis tracted from them, then it is easy to fall into error; evaluating, for example, the pawn structure regardless of the position of the pieces, one could give Black for preference on the basis of his extra pawn on the queenside. Reasoning this way would be, in the words of the proverb, to "make a fly into an elephant" [e.g. , "a mountain out of a molehill " Tr.]. The advantage on the queenside is an important factor, it's true; but not only does it not give a complete impression of the position as a whole, it doesn't even form a decisive factor for the evaluation of the pawn structure. The point is that the role of the pawn con figuration should not be boiled down - 1 44 Therefore, while evaluating the strength of the pawn structure , it is necessary, in each individual case , to clarify, not only the possibility of creat ing a passed pawn , but also the influ ence the pawn configuration has on the pieces' activity and on their freedom of movement. Besides this, we must learn whether the pawn configuration is capa ble offurther development that is, can it restrict the enemy pieces even further and expand the sphere of influence of our own pieces? - If now we think again about the posi tion in Diagram l 07, then the evaluation of this position changes substantially. Although the creation of a queenside passed pawn plays a greater role in the endgame than creating a passed pawn on the kingside, in the current position this consideration recedes into the back ground. The point is, that here Black has no business thinking about creat ing a passed pawn, since his queenside pawns are not very mobile: moving the d-pawn is not very favorable to Black in view of t'll e4! , and under the right cir cumstances, t'll d6; the c-pawn is, on the whole , immobile , and on l . . .b5 comes 2. b4! , holding back the c-pawn for an ex tended period. As regards White � pawn Exploiting the Advantage in Endings with a Large Number of Pieces chain (on the kingside), it is consider ably more active : the f-pawn can imme diately advance two squares, after which the pressure may be increased further by f4-f5 or h2-h3 and g2-g4. 1. f4! kle8 A defensive move: Black hinders the further advance of the f-pawn. If instead of this Black playsfor the attack, with 1 . . . i. c 8 (threatening . . . c6-c5) fo r example , that move would tum out to be a loss of tempo in view of 2. ttd l ! . 2. 'it' tl Advancing the kingside pawns would expand the sphere of action of White 's pieces: among other things, 1 . f4 allowed White to improve the position of his king (for the king is an active piece in the end game). 2 ll:lf8 3. b4! .•• This move serves two purposes: first, it further restricts the black queenside pawns; and second, it also offers attack ing possibilities: b4-b5 followed by an exchange of pawns and klb l . White is creating an attack on both wings! 3... ll:l e6 4. g3 wrs 5. llet g6 6. b5! Clic5 7. bxc6 bxc6 7 � xc6 would have been met by 8. ll:l e2! with the threat to occupy a strong position at d4 in front of the isolated pawn; and if Black forestalls this by 8 . . . ll:l e6, then White responds with 9. g4! . . . . 8. llb l ! \t e7 9. l:tb4 h 5 1 0 . ll:l e2 W d8 1 1 . l'::t b 8+ \t e7 12. klxe8+ .1l xe8 13. W e3 ll:lxd3? Up to this point, White 's advantage has been microscopic. But after this trade, White can force the win. Black probably underestimated his opponent's move 1 5 . 14. cxd3 c5 15. d4! c4 Obviously, Black put all his hopes on his protected passed pawn on c4. Howev er, here this pawn turns out to be harm less, and in this position, the knight is considerably stronger than the bishop (see Chapter 1 3 for the comparative val ues of the knight and the bishop) . 16. f5 ! Lacking this move , White could hardly expect to win: for instance , if 1 6 . ll:l c 3 , then 16 . . . \t> e6, while on other moves Black could respond with 16 . . . 2l d7 , after which White 's pawn chain would be immobile . 16 . . . g5 After 6 . . . d4 7. bxc6 il. xc6! (7 . . . bxc6 8. CLie4!) too, the advantage lies with White: he replies 8. ll:l e2 ! , threatening 9. i. c4 or 9. g4. If 1 6 . . . gxfS, then l 7. ll:l f4, of course. 1 7 . h4! f6 145 Chapter 8 Or 1 7 . . . gxh4 1 8 . gxh4, followed by 1 7 . ll'i f4. 18. hxg5 fxg5 Now White has two connected passed pawns; Black could create a passed pawn on the h-file, after which he would have two distant passed pawns: such pawns would be strong in a pawn ending; but in this position they are completely harm less. 19. ll'i g l ! ..td7 23 ..t t7 24. ll'i f4 'it> d7 •.. Black has fallen into Zugzwang. The loss of a pawn is inevitable. 25. W e2! a5 26. 'it> e3! ..t g8 27. ll'i xhS ..t t7 28. ll'i f4 ..t g8 29. ll'i e2 i. e6 30. W f4 W e8 3 1 . 'it> g5 'it> t7 32. ll'i c3! 'it> f8 Zugzwang again! 33. 'it> g6 @ g8 34. t7+ The concluding combination. White threatened 20. ll'i h3! g4 2 1 . ll'i f4 i. fl 22. e6. 34 ... 'it>f8 35. 'it> f6 i. xt7 36. e6 ..t h5 37. ll'i xdS i. e8 38. ll'i c3 1-0 If 19 . . .h4, then 20. g4 and 2 1 . ll'i h3 . Capablanca - Teichmann Berlin 1 9 1 3 20. f6+ 'it> e8 2 1 . ll'ifJ g4 While the advance of White's pawns restricts the enemy, this forced move only leads to a weakening of his own pawn po sition. However, 2 1 . . .h4 22. gxh4 g4! is no better, in view of 23. ll'ig l ! ; now White succeeds in transferring the knight to c3 and the king to g3 , as Black is unable to advance his pawns. If23 . . . c3, for instance, then 24. 'it>d3, and 23 . . . g3 meets with 23. ll'ie2! g2 24. 'it>f2!, with ll'i c3 to follow. Black to move 22. ll'ih4 Black's pawns are finally rendered harmless. 22 . . . ..te6 23. ll'i g6 White brings his knight to the strong square f4. 1 46 White can pressure the isolated pawn, while his knight controls the cen tral square in front of it. This placement of a knight in front of the isolated pawn is both very strong and very solid: the knight exerts pressure on a lot of impor tant points (f5, c6 and c2, for instance), and driving it from this position is dif- Exploiting the Advantage in Endings with a Large Number of Pieces ficult, since it may only be attacked by a piece, and not by a pawn. 1 ••. l:tc8 2. ll:lf5! Now not 2 ... .t d8 (2 ... .tf8 fails to 3. ..lt xffi ) 3. ll:l d6 Mc7 4. ll:l xb7 .l::! xb7 5 . i. xf6 .t xffi 6 . l:txd5! .l::! c 7 7 . .l::! d 2. 2 � f8 3. ll:l xe7 � xe7 4. ll:l d4! ••• Black no longer has the bishop pair, and it's the more important half of it that has been removed: the bishop on b7 is still non-functional. Black's rook on the c-file also plays no serious role , since it cannot get into the enemy position ( c2 and c l being protected!) . White, o n the contrary, already h as the threat of5 . ll:lf.5+, and on 5 . . . 'it'f8, 6 . .t xffi followed by the knight's return to d4. 4 g6 ..• Black is forced to weaken still further the knight's position at f6. In order to free it, he has to sacrifice the h6-pawn. 5. f3 Threatening 'it> g l -f2-g3-f4-e5. 7. h4 Intending in the future to create a passed pawn by g2-g4 and h4-h5 . 7 ll:lc5 8. i. f4 ll:l e6 9. ll:l xe6 �xe6 10 . .l::! d2 l:th8 ..• Black strives to prevent (or at least delay) the creation of a passed h pawn. Somewhat better was 10 . . . b4 1 1 . 'it>f2 a5 12. g4! i. a6. 11 .l::! c 2! • A surprising move. Despite the pres ence ofopposite-colored bishops, White himselfforces the rook trade. 1 1 . . .Mc8 If l l . . .l::. xh4, then 1 2 . l:'k7 i. a8 1 3 . Ma7, etc . 12. l::t c8 .txc8 13. 'it>f2! Now White undertakes his long planned voyage . He threatens to oc cupy d4 with the king, in order then to skip to c5 or e5, regardless of circum stances. 5 . . . h6 13 ... d4 14. exd4 'it>d5 15. 'it> e3 .t e6 If 5 . . . .l::! h 8 , preparing h6 , then of course 6. I::t c I . 6. i.xh6 ll:l d7! The best move. Black must drive the white knight from d4. On l 5 . . . 'it>c4, White would probably answer 1 6 . g4 with iie5, 'it>f4, and h4-h5 to follow. 16. 'it> d3 'it> c6 17. a3 .t c4+ 18. W e3 .t e6 19 . .t h6! 1 47 Chapter s The immediate 1 9 . g4 would have been weaker on account of 1 9 . . . fS . 19 . . . 'iiti dS 20. i.. g7 White threatens 2 1 . g4 (2 1 . . .fS 22. 'it' f4). If20 . . . c;i; c4, then 2 1 . g4 'it>b3 22. c;i; f4! and White wins easily, since at the mo ment Black cannot take the pawn at b2. And if 20 . . . i.. fS , then 2 1 . c;i; f4 (threatening 22. h5) 2 l . . .i.. d3 22. c;i;gS c;i;e6 (22 . . . . i.. fl is no help) 23. g4 i.. c2 24. 24. f4 i.. d3 25. f5 + ! gxf5 (or 25 . . . 'it' d5 26. h5) 26. gxf5 + . If now 26 . . . i.. xfS , then 27. d5+, and on other replies there fol lows 27. h5. 1 -0 Alekhine Marshall New York 1 927 would land White in difficulties: for in stance, if l . W d3 , then l . . .b5! , threatening . . .b5-b4, and on l . @d2, Black could re ply l . . .8c4+ and then . . .b7-b5 or . . . :as. A question could arise: does White have any advantage in this position? Close examination would give a posi tive answer to the question. The point is, that along with the extra pawn, White has another trump: his king is closer to the center than the opposing king. Now, how to exploit this advantage? Alekhine finds the correct path: in order to jump ahead of his opponent in devel opment, he returns the extra pawn. Since Black must trade off a pair of rooks to get his pawn back, White 's king will be able, without risk, to take an active part in the game: the central position of his king will tell. - If now L . .:xc 3 , then 2 . :xc3 :xc3 3. :d8+! (stronger than 3. 8 d4, in view of 3 . . . :c4! 4. 'it' d3 l:tc7 followed by . . . :d7) 3 . . . W h7 4. 8 d4! , after which Black is in a difficult situation (see vari ations I - IV) : 1 09 White to move White is up a pawn, but in compensa tion Black outstrips his opponent some what in development and threatens to win back the pawn. Defending the pawn 1 48 1. :hd l ! Variation I : 4 . . . 8 c2? 5. c;i; d2 ! . Variation I I : 4 . . . a 6 o r 4 . . . b5 5 . :d7!. Variation I I I : 4 ... 8 c4 5 . l:c8! :c3+ (6. :c7 and 6. lbbS were the threats) 6. Wf2 :c3 7 . 'iiti g3! (threatening 8 . lbb5d6) 7 . . . a6 8 . a4! and 9. :c7 or 9. lb f5 . Variation IV: 4 . . . :c4 5 . : d7 (threatening 6. W d3!) 5 . . . 8 c2? 6. W d3! : xd4+ 7. :xd4 8 xd4 8. c;i; xd4, followed by marching the king to c7. Exploiting the Advantage in Endings with a Large Number of Pieces 1. .. lll b5 2. c4! If now 2 . . . l:Ixc4, then 3. I:txc4 l:hc4 4. l:td8+ 'ltt h7 5. l:Id7 l::t xc2+ (or 5 ... l:Ic7? 6. i:rxc7 lt:lxc7 7. lti d6) 6. \t>fl l:Ixa2 (6 . . . b6 7. a4!) 7. l:t.xb7, then l::I xf7 and l:Ixg7. 2 ... lt:l a3 3. lt:l e3! \t> h7 He could not play 3 . . . lt:l xc4 in view of 4. lt:ld5, followed by lt:le7+ or lt:l f6 + . l l . . .b3 Otherwise 1 2 . c7 with lll f5 or lt:l c6. 12. ltixb3 lll c2! Black does a pretty job of freeing his pieces; this doesn't save the game, how ever. 13. l:Ixa2 lt:lb4+ 14. 'ltt d4 lt:lxa2 15. l:Ic4! @ g6 16. Wc5 \t>f6 17. l:Id4 4 . l:Id5! l:I c6 5. @ d3 b 5 ! 6. c5 b4! Threatening . . . lt:l a3-b5-c3. 7. lt:l f5! Skillfully parrying the threatened ... lll b 5, which would be met by lti d4!. 7 .. J�g6! Now, besides . . . l::I xg2, Black is again threatening 8 . . . lt:l b5!. White wins more quickly with 1 7 . W d6 l:Ib8+ 1 8 . @ a7 l::t xb3 1 9. c 7 �a3+ 20. W b7 l:Ib3+ 2 1 . @c6 lll b4+ ! 22. 'ltt d7 (of course not 22. l::t xb4? in view of 22 . . . l:Ixb4) 22 . . . l:Id3+ 2 3 . 'ltt e 8!. 1 7 . . . lt:l c3 18. l:Ic4 lll e2 This move hastens rather than delays defeat. 19. @b6 l::t b 8+ 20. Wa7 l:Ixb3 2 1 . c7 l::t a 3+ 22. 'i:t>b7 l::. b3+ 23. Wc6 l-O 8. lll d4! I. Rabinovich Smorodsky Moscow 1924 - White once again sacrifices a pawn for position. 110 8 ... l:Ixg2 9. c6 This once weak pawn now forces the win. 9 ... l:Ixa2 10. l:Id7 l:t.c8 1 1 . l:Ixa7 Tying up Black's pieces. 1 1 . c7 would have been weaker in view of l l . . .b3! 1 2. lll xb3 (if 1 2 . l:Id8?, then 1 2 . . . b2!) 1 2 . . . l'll b 5. White to move 1 49 Chapter 8 Black is "attacking" at present. But he is a pawn down, with a fractured pawn structure. It is on this ruined pawn con figuration that White now turns his atten tion, and in order to improve the position of his own pieces, he returns the pawn. 1. f3! The beginning of a combination in volving a pawn sacrifice. 1 . II ab 1 would have been bad: I . . .l:.ta8 2. l:tt2 I:.txf2 3. W xf2 I:.ta3 ! . 9 .•• e4 10. fxe4! W f7 If l 0 . . . l: xe4, then 1 1 . l:txb3 J::t e 5+? 1 2. W g6, threatening mate. 1 1 . e5 l:e4 Black needs to do something before White brings up his reserves. 12. e6+ W e7 13. J::t xb3 J::t e 5+ 14. 'it' g6 l:xd5 15. h4 Preparing W xg7 . 1 . . .l:a8 2 . :a l:xfl 3 . Wxf2 l:a3! 15 . . . W xe6 16. W xg7 l: d2 If 3 ... b3 at once , then 4. a4 and l'.Ib l . I f 1 6 . . . W fS , then 1 7 . l::t b 4, with the threats of e3-e4+ and g2-g4+. 4. Mbl! Forestalling ... b4-b3 . 17. g4 l:g2 18. IIb4 c5 19. IIf4 llg3 20. h5 l:txe3 2 1 . h6 1-0 4 I:.txa2+ 5. W g3 lla4 Griinfeld - Michel Margate 1 923 ..• Now White' s advantage is evident. Not only his rook, but also his king, have taken up strong positions. 111 6. 'it' g4 e5! A clever move . After 7. dxe5, Black would have obtained connected passed pawns. 6 . . . lla2 was weak in view of 7. g3 llxh2 8. W xg5 followed by IIxb4. White to move 7. d5! b3+ 8. 'lt> xg5 llb4 9. J::t b2 Holding back the pawn. Now White threatens e3-e4! and 'it' f5. 1 50 Although the queens are off the board, this is still a middlegame. Making use of the restricted condition of Black's Ex ploiting the Advantage in Endings with a Large Number of Pieces forces, White can develop a blistering attack. If 1 3 . . . tll xf5 , then 1 4 . .t e5+ Cll hg7 (or 1 4 . . . tll fg7 1 5 . l::t c 6!) 1 5 . d6 @h7 1 6. d7 l::t d 8 1 7 . l::t c 8. 1.tll fxg5+ ! fxg5 2. Cll xg5+ 'lil g8 14. llc8+ llxc8 15. il.. xc8 1-0 On 2 . . . 'it> e6, there too follows 3 . l:t e6 + ! Bogatyrchuk - Zubarev Moscow 1 925 . 3. l::t e6 t'll d7 4 . .l:.g6+ il.. g7 5. Cll e6 rtirn 5 ... Cll f8 should have been preferred, after which White would have had to play very accurately in order to exploit his advantage: 6. Cll xf8 W xf8 7. g5! (7. ixd6+ would be a mistake, in view of l'll xd6 8. l::t xd6 il.. xb2 ! , with strong queenside threats) 7 . . . il.. xb2 8 . f6 a4 (if 8 <t>t7, then 9 . .t h4! and l::t h6) 9. l::t h6 h3 (if 9 . . . a3, then simply 1 0 . llh8+ fol lowed by l::t h 7+ and ll xb7) 1 0 . a3! (in tending not just 1 1 . ll h8+ but also 1 1 . ih4! , threatening mate in two) 1 0 . rtlg8 1 1 . l::t h 7! and wins. ... . . 6. Cll xg7 Cll xg7 7. llxd6 il.. c8 Forced. If 7 . . . W e7 , then 8. g5. 8. llc6 lll f6 9. g5! t'll h5 10. llc7+ \t> gs 11. f6! ii.rs If l l . . .t'll xg3 , then 1 2 . llxg7+ @ f8 13. l::I h7. 12. f7+! @ h8 On 1 2 . . . 'iitl h7? there would come 1 3 . ixf5+ lll xf5 1 4 . f8'fi' + . 13. il.. xf5 Cll xg3 White to move 1 . f4! A powerful move. White opens the f-file. l . . gxf4 . If l . . .g4, then 2. il.. e2 g3 3 . h4, fol lowed by Cll f3 and l::I h 3. 2. :m c5? A counterattack is not always the best defense. When our development is lagging, sharpening the contest will only benefit our opponent. The move 2 . . . c5 was a mistake, just like "accepting the gambit" with 2 . . . g 5 would be , followed as it would have been by 3 . Cll f3 l:tg8 4. h4! , breaking up Black's kingside pawn chain. 151 Chapter 8 In the current position, B lack should have contented himself with fortifying his position: it was necessary to take ex treme measures to protect the fl point by, for example 2 . . . � d7 3. l::l: xf4 ill c6 4. ill h3 '>!l e7 5. l:. hfl l:. af8 6. tll g5 tll d8. With such a defensive setup, it would be hard for White to make use of his advan tage . ment, in view of 1 4 . �b5 l::l: d 8 (unfor tunately, he can't castle: see his eighth move) 1 5 . W f4. Now the black pieces are totally tied down (he can only move the king back and forth) ; exploiting this, the white king wins first the c-pawn , and then the a-pawn. 3. l::l: xf4 � d7 4. ill h3 '>!l e7 s. :i::i: 1n � e8 6. tll g5! Alekhine - Theybal Baden- Baden 1 926 Now Black has no time to shore up fl, as 6 . . . l:.f8 would be met by 7. �g6. 13. � g6+ 1-0 1 13 6 ... l:.xh2 7. l:xt7+! This sacrifice gives White a decisive attack. 7 . . . �xf7 8. J::l: xf7 + '>!l e8 9. l::l: xg7 l::l: xg2+ 10. W e3 cxd4+ Black's position is also hopeless af ter 1 0 . . . J::l: xg5 1 1 . J::l: xg5 ® fl 1 2 . l:lh5! - for instance, 12 ... c4 1 3 . l::l: h 7+ Wg8 1 4. �g6. 1 1 . ® f4! l':l:xg5 1 2. �g6+ was threatened. 12. ® xg5 ill d7 After this, Black loses a piece. How ever, 12 . . . dxc3 would not have saved the game either, in view of 1 3 . l::l: xb7 . If now 1 3 . . . tll c6, then 1 4. �b5 l::l: c 8 1 5 . l::l: h 7, winning a piece; while if 13 ... a5, then 1 4. l::l: g7! , preparing 1 5. Wffi ( 1 5 . . . tll d7+ 16. W xe6) . 13 . . . tll d7 is no improve1 52 White to move The center pawn at d4 restricts Black: thanks to it, the points e5 and c5 are inaccessible to the black pieces, while White can occupy these squares and thus restrict Black still more. Because the freeing moves . . . e6-e5 and . . . c6-c5 are very difficult to execute , Black can only maneuver within the cramped limits of his current box. 1 . l::l: hd l � d7 After 1 . . .c5? Black would have lost a pawn. 2. ill e5 � e8 3. ® e2 @f8 4. f4! Exploiting the Advantage in Endings with a Large Number of Pieces Launching a kingside pawn storm. 4... g6 Pawns occupying passive positions ought to be advanced only with the greatest caution; therefore it was better to refrain for a while from . . . g7-g6 and play . . . :ac8 , with the goal of preparing . . . c6-c5. l l . . .cxd4! - l. R. ) l I . . .: xc5 1 2. :xc5 : xc5 1 3 . liJ e4 :c7 1 4. tLl d6 tLl c6 1 5 . tLl g4! , with a much better position for White ; 2) 1 0 . . . liJd7 1 1 . tLl xd7+ it. xd7 1 2. : xc5 :xc5 1 3 . dxc5 'it> e8 (if 1 3 . . . it. e 8 , then also 1 4. 'it> t2 ! , with 1 4 . . . :xc5 1 5 . tLl e4 :cs 16. tLlf6 'it>g7 1 7. tLl xe8+ I:1xe8 18. l:1d7 - 1. R. ) 1 4. 'it> t2! , winning a pawn. 5. 'it>f3! 10. liJ e4 .:!.d8 Preparing tLle2 and g2-g4. 5 :cs 6. it. b3 . .• l0 . . . f6? would greatly weaken the e6pawn. White would have exploited this immediately with 1 1 . liJc5!. Seeking to restrain . . . c6-c5 . 1 1 . tLl c5 6... :c7 7. tLl e2 tLl e7! See the previous note. 8. g4! l:c8 Now Black threatens 9 . . . c5. If Black's knight were on d5, White could allow this advance , as it would be met by e3-e4! and d4-d5. 9. liJ g3! A subtle move , aimed at preventing ... c6-c5. 9 ... liJ d5 Now if 9 . . . c5, then I O . g5!. Alekhine gives the following variations ( "Shakh maty, " No. 6, p. 1 9 . 5 ) : l) l O . . . tLl fd5 1 1 . dxc5 (consid erably stronger than 1 1 . e4, in view of White has occupied the central sup port points and threatens to increase the pressure still more by e3-e4 and h2-h4 or g4-g5 and liJ e5-g4. 1 1 . . .b6 The c5-knight must be driven from its post; but this weakens the c6-pawn, standing as it does on an open file. 12. tLl a6 :cs 13. e4! f6 White decides the game with a pretty combination in reply to this move . How ever Black's position is also quite joyless after 1 3 . . . tLlf6 (if 1 3 . . . liJc7?, then 1 4 . tLl xc7 l:t xc7 1 5 . d5!). 14. exd5! Considerably stronger than 14. tLl d 3 , which would b e met by 1 4 . . . liJc7 1 5 . 1 53 Chapter 8 11J xc7 llxc7, just in time to protect the e6-pawn, as the d4-pawn is under at tack. 14 . . .fxeS lS. d6! llxd6 If 1 5 . . . e4+ , then 1 6 . 'iil xe4 llxd6 1 7 . 'iil e5!, winning the e6-pawn. The strength of the king tells here , even with many pieces on the board! 16. fxeS l:.dS Otherwise he cannot defend the im portant pawn at e6. 17. �xdS i1l xdS Now White must drive out the black knight from its central position and then continue his attack on the kingside. If 26 . . . c 5 ? , then 2 7 . dxc5 ll xe5+ 28. 'iil f5 llxc5 29. ll xc 5 , with a quick win. 27. 'iil f4 l':td7 28. 'iil e3 Freeing up the rook on d 1 . 28 llb7 29. b4 a6 30. lln l:t a7 31. l:.f6 l:.e7 •.• The win still involves great difficul ties, given that White finds it difficult to break into the enemy camp. With his next two moves, White creates the best possible situation for a pawn sacrifice to break through. 32. a4! 'iil g8 33. as bS 34. dS! exdS If 34 . . . cxd5, then 3 5 . l:.c8-a8. 3S. e6! 18. a3! gS 19. CiJb4! CiJ e7 If 1 9 . . . CiJ f4, then 20. h4. 20. CiJ d3 CiJ dS 2 1 . h4! gxh4 After 2 l . . .h6 22. hxg5 hxg5, not only would the h-file have been opened for White , but the g-pawn, too, might have come under attack by the knight and rook. 22. CiJf4 CiJ xf4 23. 'iil xf4 l:.d8 24. 'it>gS 'iil g7 Stronger than 35. 'iil d4 - which, however, also wins. 3S .•. 'iil g7 On 35 . . . llg7 , there would follow 36. l:.cfl ! l:.e7 37. 'iit d4. And if 35 . . . i.d7, then simply 36. 'iit d4. 36. gS hS 37. 'iit d4 : c7 38. \tics llc8 39. 'iil b6 d4 40. e7 1-0 The threat is 4 1 . 'iil b7 i. d7 42. l:.d6 and lld8. White threatened 'iil f6. 2S. 'iil xh4 l:.dS 26. 'iil gS lld8 1 54 In conclusion, we present two exam ples which illustrate the necessity of ac tive defense in cramped positions. Exploiting the Advantage in Endings with a Large Number of Pieces Em. Lasker I. Rabinovich Moscow 1 93 5 - 5. b 4 tt:l b3 6. lt:J c2! Lasker defended outstandingly well, and with 6. lt:J c2! he thoroughly consoli dated his position. 1 14 6 Ji. b2 7. JI. e l h5 8. � fl lt:J c l 9. tt:J xc l 11. xc l 10. W e2 W f7 1 1 . Ji. d2 Yi-Yi . . . Em. Lasker Botvinnik Nottingham 1 936 - White to move 1 15 The b2- and d3-pawns constitute good targets for attack. In order to save the game , White must not only defend against the immediate threats, but also prepare a counterattack. 1. b3! He cannot play l . JI. c l in view of l . . . ib4! , with the decisive threat o f . . . lt:J a4c5. 1. tt:J c5 2. lt:Jcl lt:J d7! •. Threatening 3 ... Jl. a3 , with ... tt:J c5 to follow. 3. tt:l e l 11. aJ 4. tt:l a2! 4. lt:Jc2 loses to 4 . . . 11. xc l 5 . 11. xc l Ill es. White to move Here too, White must act quickly to improve his position, since Black threat ens, after . . . g6-g5 , to begin an immedi ate attack on the b4- and d4-pawns. 1. lt:J xf4! Jl.xb4 2. 11. dJ Forcing the exchange of the active f5-bishop. 2 . . . lt:J d2 3. Ci:lxd2 lt:J xd2 4. Jl. xf5 gxf5 4 .. tt:l c5 . I f 4 . . . Jl. xf4, then 5 . Ji. d7 . If 4 . . . b4? , in preparation for this, then 5. lt:J c2 lt:J c5 6. Jl. xb4! . 5. lt:J e6! 1 55 Chapter 8 The only move to save the game. 5 . tl:ld3 loses after 5 . . . .lt c3! 6. tl:l e5 (or 6. 'it> fl b4! 7. \t> e2 b3 8 . \t> d l .lt xd4 9. tl:l b4 c5! I O . tl:lxd5 @ fl , with the decisive threats of l l . . .c4! or l l . . . .lt xf2) 6 . . . b4 7. tl:lxc6 b3 8 . tl:l e7+r:Jdfl 9. tl:l xd5 .lt xd4. On the other hand, if against 5. tl:le6 Black plays 5 . . . .lt c 3 , then White suc ceeds in bringing his king over to stop the b-pawn, since now his d4-pawn is held and the black king cannot go to fl because of tl:l d8+ and tl:l xc6. 5 . . .lt c3! . Now it is Black who must play cir cumspectly, as on 5 . . b4? there follow 6. . 1 56 tl:l c5 and 7 . tl:lb3, with the better game for White. 6. r:J'JO Yz-Yz The game could still continue 6 . . . b4 7. W e2 b3 8. W d l , after which both sides' pieces would be tied down: White 's king must keep an eye on the b3-pawn , while his knight must de fend the d4-pawn; and the black bishop has to keep up the pressure on the d4pawn, while the black king cannot go to fl (because of tl:l d8 + ) , or to g6 (via h7) in view of tl:l f4 + ! followed by tl:le2, when the white king draws near to the pawn at b3 . Chapter 9 Pawn Endings A. KING + 1WO PAWNS vs. KING We begin our presentation with po sitions in which a lone king struggles against a king and two pawns. These pawns can be located either on neigh boring files (connected pawns) or one or more files apart (disconnected pawns) , or, finally, on one and the same file (dou bled pawns) . Let's look at each of three cases in tum. with White to move, White plays 1 . b6 (he could also start with I . c6, since I . . . 'lit xb5 would be met by 2 . c7) l . . .W a6 2 . W g2 Wb7 3 . W f3 W c6 4 . @e4 @b7 (the c5-pawn is indirectly defended) 5. 'it> d S , etc. An exception is only those positions in which one pawn/a/ls and the attacking king cannot support the other pawn. For instance , in this position a) CONNECTED PAWNS These pawns almost always win. For instance , in the position below Black to move draws: l . . .'it> c7 2. 'it> e4 W xc6 3 . 'it> d4 @b5 4. @ c3 'it> c S , etc. (in the starting position, if the white king were on e3, White would win). 1 57 Chapter 9 b) DISCONNECTED PAWNS Disconnected pawns (or, more ac curately, pawns located on non-adja cent files) also win in the majority ofcas es. However, exceptions here are more frequent than they are for connected pawns. First let's look at these excep tional cases. I) As with connected pawns, the game is drawn if one pawn perishes while the other cannot be adequately supported. For instance, in the following position with Black to move , the draw is reached. II) In some positions, a rook or a bishop pawn does not win, in view of the closed-in position of the king. For exam ple, in the following position: (See diagram next column) White on move cannot free his king from its prison. Note: If it is Black to move in this last position, then White wins, since on l . . .'iit> f8 there follows 2. W g6, and if l . . .'iit> xffi, then 2. Wg8. 158 I I I ) There are positions in which a rook pawn or a bishop pawn does not win because of the possibility of stalemate combinations. Black to move Draw! l . . . 'it' g7 2. 'it' e6 'it' f8 ! Now White cannot hold onto his f-pawn, since after 3. h6 or 3. 'iit> f6 it's stalemate! Note: in Diagram 1 1 6, if we move both pawns and the king an equal number of squares to the left, then the win may be forced by a pawn sacrifice. For instance, consider the position below: Pawn Endings in view of 4 . . . W a7, and 4. c6 in view of 4 . . . 'it> c7). c) DOUBLED PAWNS Here the win is more difficult yet than with distant pawns. For example , if White 's king is far away, then his dou bled pawns are helpless, since they can not defend each other. Black to move. On 1 . . . W fl 2. 'it> d6 'it e8 there follows 3 . 'it> e5 ! 'it> xe7 (or 3. .. 'it'fl 4. 'it> f5) 4. g6! , and White wins as he manages to take the opposition (4 Wf8 5. 'it> f6 ; 4 . . . 'it> e8 5. 'itt e6) . It's not difficult to see that in Diagram 1 1 6, this combination would not lead to the win, since the opposition plays no role when a rook's pawn is involved. . . . Two doubled pawns do not win in the following cases: I) If the front pawn dies and, af ter it dies, the king is unable to give the proper support to the remaining pawn. For example, in the position below In all other cases, distant pawns win. For example, in this position White to move, the draw is obvious. I I ) If the pawns are rook pawns, and their supporting king cannot take up the proper position (see Chapter 2, B). White to move wins as follows: 1 . c5! 'it a6 2. 'it>g2 W b7 3 . a5 ( 3 . Wf3 would be a mistake, in view of 3 . . . W c6) 3 . . . 'itb8 (not 3 . . . 'it> a6 4. c 6 , o r 3 . . . 'it> c6 4 . a6) 4. 'it>f3! (4. a 6 would b e a mistake, I I I ) If, in order to avoid stalemate, it is necessary to sacrifice a pawn, with an unfavorable king position. For example, in the following position 1 59 Chapter 9 The only correct move. Here too, the king maneuvers so as to be able to take the opposition. Let's consider it neces sary (see the analysis to Diagram S4) to warn the reader against being distracted by this rule: it is presented especially for the ending " K + P vs. K" , and therefore it is not necessarily applicable to other pawn endings. 2 . . . 'iil c8 would be a mistake because of 3 . 'it>c6 W b8 4. b7 W a7 S. b8� +!. with White to move the win is impossi ble, as the moves I . 'it>b6 and 1 . b6 lead to stalemate. Note: In the last position, ifit is Black to move then White wins by ( l . . .'it> a7) 2. b8� +! 'it>xb8 3. 'it>b6. IV) If the stronger side, to avoid the aforementioned cases, is forced to make relatively meaningless moves, then the game also will end in a draw. Let's suppose that in the position in Diagram 1 1 7 it is Black to move. The draw is obtained as follows: If now 4. b7+, then after 4 . . . lit'b8 we get the forced draw we have already examined, and on 4. @ c s there follows 4 . . . 'it> b7 , with the win of a pawn. Therefore, White refrains from both 4. b7+ and 4. \ti cs . 4. 'iii' d 5 'it> b7 5. 'it> cs 'it> b8! 6. lit'b4 W b7 7. W a5 c;!;b8! 8. @ a6 @ a8, etc. It's not difficult to see that, if the bS-pawn in Diagram 1 1 7 were moved to b4, we would have a winning posi tion. For instance , in the following position 1 17 Draw, regardless of whose move it is t . . . 'it>b7 2. 'iil c5 'it>b8! 160 3. W c6 W c8 Pawn Endings White to play wins thus: l . <:t; c6 <:t; c8 ( l . . 'it> a8 doesn't change anything) 2 . b7+ 'it>b8 3. b5 W a7 4. b8� + <:t; xb8 5 . <:t;b6. And if in the position under discussion it's Black to move, then after l . . .'>tt b7 2 . 'it> c5 't> a6 (2 . . . <it1b8 3 . � c6 leads t o the variation we have already examined) , White wins by 3 . b7! ® xb7 4. <:t;b5. 87. &amp/es 85-93: 85. White to move and win. 88. Black to move; White wins. Draw. 86. 89. Evaluate the position. White to move. Advance the pawn to the queening square without moving the king. 161 Chapter 9 93 . 90. White to move and win. Black to move; White wins. 91. B. KING + PAWN vs. KING + PAWN Here too, the character that the struggle takes depends largely on the pawn configuration. The pawns may be: l ) passed; 2) they may be located on one and the same file; or, finally, 3) the pawns may be located on two adjoiningfiles. a) PASSED PAWNS Evaluate the position. 92. If both passed pawns can be stopped, then the game , obviously, will end in a draw. The outcome is also evident in positions where one of the pawns is stopped and the other goes on to queen unhindered. Now let us turn to those positions in which both pawns encounter no obsta cles on their way. Here one may imagine some cases: Black to move - what result? 1 62 Both pawns go "painlessly" on to queen, for instance: Pawn Endings Here winning is out of the question for either side. Both pawns go on to queen, but one of the queens perishes. For example, -in this position White to move . Here the win is achieved as follows: l . g6 a3 2. g7 a2 3 . g8'iV a l 'iV 4. 'iVg2+ � c l (if 4 . . . W a3 , there comes 5 . '@' f3 + Wb2! 6. '@° e 2 + , etc . ; and if 4 . . . cJii> b l , then 5 . 'it> b 3 ! ) 5 . 'iV fl + cJii> b2 6 . 'iVe2+ cJii> c l (or 6 . . . � a3 7 . � d3 + W b2 ! 8 . �d2+ 'iii b l ! 9 . 'it> b 3 ! ) 7 . �e l + 'it>b2 8. �d2+ W b l (on 8 . 'it> b 3 , White has mate in two moves) 9 . 'it> b 3 ! . . . 4) One pawn queens, while the other is one tempo behind. This case is similar to the " queen vs. pawn" ending examined in Chapter 3. if it is White to play, then he wins, since after 1 . h8� b8� , he has 2. �h7+. Both pawns queen, but the difference in the kings 'positions is so substantial that the game can't be saved. For instance, let's look at the position below: Up to this point, the pawn either is stopped or advances unobstructed to queen. However, there are also some positions in which the queening of the pawn, although assured, still requires overcoming some difficulties. In order to remove these obstacles, we must either use up moves on it ("spend time " ) , or put our king in an unfavorable position. The following study shows this very well. 1 63 Chapter 9 H. Rinck, 1922 latter variation, White spends two tempi fighting the f-pawn. 1 18 3. 'itl g l ! After this move , White succeeds i n stopping the black pawn forever, while his own pawn marches on irresistibly to promotion. VARIA TION: 2 . . . 'it> c4 3. a6 'itl d3! White to move and win At first glance, the solution to this study seems very simple: the white pawn marches irresistibly forward to the queening square, while the black pawn is held back. However, let's examine the study a little more attentively. On 3 . . . c;t>b5, 3 . . . c;t> c 5 , or 3 . . . Wd5 there follows, of course , 4. a7; while if 3 . . . W d4, then 4. @g l ! with @ fl or @f2. While relatively best, 3 ... 'it> d3 does not save the game , since on d3 the king occupies an unfavorable position. 4. a7! f2 5. a8� fl� 1 . a4 'ltib3 2. as \t> c3 5 . . W e2 6. �a6+ 'it> e l 7. 'it>g2. . The alternative 2 . . . 'lt> c4 is examined below (see the variation) . But after 2 . . . 'lt> c 3 , White may appar ently win in two different ways, with 3 . a6 o r 3 . c;t> g 3 . But in fact, these "natural " moves are both wrong. Black answers 3 . a6 with 3 . . . c;t> d2! (not 3 . . . Wd3?, in view of 4. a7 f2 5. a8� fl � 6. �a6+) , after which the f pawn becomes of equal value to White's a-pawn; and if 3. Wg3, then 3 ... W d4! (threatening to increase the power of the f-pawn by 4 . . . 'lt> e 3 , for example 4. a6 'lt>e3! 5. a7 f2, and White cannot pre vent the f-pawn from queening) 4. c;tJ xf3 c;t>c5!, catching White 's pawn. In the 1 64 6. � a6 + ! and wins the queen. R. Reti, 1922 1 19 White to move and draw Pawn Endings At first glance, this task seems im possible . After all, for Black to stop the h-pawn, he would have to gain two tempi . Where can he get these tempi 0. Duras, 1905 1 20 from? 1. rtd g7 h4 l . . .Wb6 changes nothing, which the reader may verify after learning the main variation. 2. 'tef f6! The white king approaches the black pawn along the diagonal , enabling him to get near his own pawn. 2 ... W b6 Black "gives back" one tempo, the goal being to render the white pawn harmless. After 2 . . . h3 3. © e7 or 3. 'it/ e6 the c-pawn would be as srong as the h pawn. 3. We5! Once more , White threatens to in crease the power of the his pawn (with itd6) ; Black can't forestall this threat, since 3 . . . W xc6 (loss of a second tempo!) would allow White to take his h-pawn. White to play and win 1. W c5! We suggest that, after absorbing these variations, the reader verify the fact that only this move achieves the objective. 1 . . .g5 l . . .Wg6 is examined below (see the variation) . 2. b4 g4 3. 'tef d4! Now Black experiences difficulties: in order to support his pawn, he must ex pend a few moves, besides which his king must take up an unfavorable position. 3 3 ... h3 4. 'tef d6! h2 5. c7 bl� 6. c8� , draw. In Diagram 1 20, just as in the pre ceding study, the white king must fulfill a double task: to support his own pawn and to create difficulties for the oppos ing pawn. ... W g5 I f 3 . . . g3 , then 4. We3 Wg5 5. b5! (not 5. W f3? in view of 5 . . . Wf5!) 5 . . . W h4 6. b6 W h3 and so on, as in the main varia tion: 7. b7 g2 8. Wf2 W h2 9. b8i:V + . 4. b5! g3 Or 4 . . . W f4 5. b6 g3 6. b7 g2 7. b8°i¥ + . 1 65 Chapter 9 5. @e3 @ g4 6. b6 @ h3 Preparing . . . g3-g2. 7. b7 g2 8. 'it> f2 @ h2 9. b8� + . etc . The h2 square, occupied after great exertions, turns out to be insufficiently secure. VARIATION: 1 . . . @ g6 2. b4 @f7 2 ... @ f6 would only simplify White 's task: after 3. @d6! and mutual pawn pro motion, White plays �f8+ and �g8 + . 3 . b 5 @e7 4. @ c6! The only winning move. After 4. b6? Black holds the pawn: nor does 4. 'it>b6 give White anything, for in that case Black plays 4 . . . g5 5. <t/ a7 g4. with Black to move he cannot hold onto the pawn: on I . . .<t/ e6 there comes 2. <t/g5! (White's king goes forward). The king's entry onto the rank of the opposing pawn in this case, the fifth rank marks the end of the line for the pawn: 2 . . . @e7 3. WfS 'it> d6 4. 'lt> ffi <t/ d7 (or 4 . . . W c6 5. 'it> e5) 5. W e5 W c6 6. W e6. Now Black can no longer defend his pawn. However, losing the pawn here still does not mean losing the game. On 6. <t/ e6, there follows 6 . . . <t/ c7! 7. <t/ xd5 W d7!, forcing the draw. - - b) PAWNS ON THE SAME FILE It would be interesting to know what the win of a pawn is based on in such circumstances. The point is that while the pawn at d5 can be attacked /rom two neighboring squares ( e5 and e6) , it can be held only from c6 (since c5 is not avail able thanks to the d4-pawn, and the d6 square is controlled by the white king). Therefore, if the d5-pawn is defended for the time being, it is sufficient to bring the king from one attacking square to the one next to it, to pick up that pawn. In order to obtain winning chances in this ending, you must capture a pawn; how ever, this action too is insufficient to win. For instance, in the following position Let's go back to the starting position ( WK/4, pd4, BK/6, pd5) , but now sup pose that it's White s move. In that case there is nothing White can achieve , as I. 4 ... @ d8 After 4 . . . g5 White 's pawn marches inexorably on to queen. On the other hand , the king's position on d8 is not brilliant, either (see his ninth move). 5. <tlb7! g5 6. b6 g4 7. @ as g3 8. b7 g2 9. b8� + . 1 66 Pawn Endings <;f;ig4 would be met with l . . .�g6. The black king maintains the opposition, not allowing White 's king to reach the fifth rank. Now let's move both pawns and both kings one rank further up: The player whose turn it is in this position , wins the pawn (but not the game) ; however, in order to reach this goal , one must play correctly. Thus, for example, 1 . We5 not only doesn 't win the pawn, but even leads to defeat for White after I . . .'it> c4 with I . . . 'it> xd4 to follow. White should play 1 . 'it> f5 ! . After this move, Black must accept that he will lose the pawn, retreat his king to c6 or b6, and then aim for the d7 square, which he should occupy in answer to 'it> xd5 (but not before!). If, on I. @ f5 ! , Black tries to set up a counterattack, he loses: if l . . . W c4, for example, then 2. 'it> e 5 ; and i f l . . . W d4, 2. 'it>e6! (after 2. 'it> e5? it's White who loses) 2 . . . 'it>c4 3. 'it>e5. If it's White to move here , then he can't accomplish anything, because Black's king maintains the opposition, not allowing White 's king to reach the sixth rank. But if it's Black to move in this starting position, then he loses the pawn, just like before , because White 's king gets to the sixth rank in front of his pawn. Black is in Zugzwang here: he loses the pawn, and thanks to the unfortu nate placement of his king, the game with it. Kling and Horwitz, 185 1 1 21 N ow let's examine this position: White to move and draw If I . e4 W f8 2. e5, then after 2 . . . 'it> e 8 , the draw is obvious. 1 67 Chapter 9 Nor does l . e4 @ f8 2. 'itt d7 give White anything, due to 2 . . . e5! (but not 2 . . . @ f7 , because of 3 . e5! e6 4. 'itt d6). Finally, if l . e 3 @f8 2 . e4 'itle8 3 . e S @ f8 4. 'itt d 7 , then 4 . . . 'ift f7 ; now not Black, but White must play for the draw, although he has various ways to achieve it, for instance S. 'itt d8 (also possible are S . 'itt c 8 or S. 'iti c7 , but not S. e6+? in view of S . . . @ f6 ! ) S . . . @ e6 6. 'itt e 8 . N ow, let 's turn t o positions i n which the kings stand fa r from the pawns. We begin with a position reac hed in the game Schlage - Ahues, Berlin 1 92 1 . White to move and win This game concluded as follows: l . 'iti e6 'iti c 3 2 . 'itt d6 'itf d4 3 . 'iti c6 @ es 4. 'itt b7 'itt d6 S . 'itt xa7 'iti c 7 , draw. White 's error in this game was that he was too engrossed in his own plans and did not take sufficient measures to ward off his opponent ' s plans. Rightly seeing b7 as the final destination of his journey, White didn 't think about the route he ought to take there . He 1 68 could have approached b7 from f7 by various ways in four moves; therefore, he should have selected the route that would have maximally inconvenienced his opponent. As l . M . (a pseudonym of the au thor, who prefers to remain anonymous) notes in the magazine "64 " ( l 92 S , No. 6), the white king "should move accord ing to the most twisted, broken route , " since i n this way, " Black's whole defen sive method comes crashing down. " In fact, White forces the win as follows: I . 'itt e6 W c 3 ( Black too strives to incon venience his opponent, moving accord ing to the most twisted, broken line) 2. Wd5! 'itt b4 (what kills Black is that he cannot get from c3 to c 7 by the shortest route, that is, in four moves) 3 . 'it1 c6 @as (the squares c5 and bS are inaccessible) 4. 'itt b7 'itt bS (forced loss of tempo; up to here, it would seem as though Black has reached his goal: from the second rank he has gone to the third , from there to the fourth ; travelling from the fifth to the sixth will have to wait) S. 'itt xa7 'itic6 6. Wb8! (thanks to the fact that Black has lost a tempo, he does not manage to occupy c7 in time). Grigoriev, who has done a lot of work generally in the area of endgames, and of pawn endings in particular, presents (in "64, " 1 92S, No. 9) the following exam ple of the theme we have been working on. In one of the games of the Moscow championship, the following position arose: Pawn Endings Yates played I . W c4? in complete con fidence that after l . . .b l � 2 . �xb l + W xb l 3 . Wb4, the a4-pawn would fall and the f2-pawn would queen. However, after the moves above , Black replied 3 . . . W b2! (threatening . . . a4-a3) , and White had to take a draw in view of the forced continuation 4. Wxa4 Wc3. White failed to find the saving maneuver: I . W d7! W d4! 2. W e6 a3 3 . @f5! W c 3 4, W e4 W b2 5 , W d 3 , etc. ("the end-run: that's White 's watch word here!" N. G. ) . - Instead , t h e game ended a s fo l lows: I . W c7? W d3 ? (he should have played l . . . W d4 ! ) 2 . 'itl b6? ( 2 . W d6 or 2. W c6 was necessary) 2 . . . W c 3 3 . @ b5 a 3 4 . W a4 W b2 5 . W b4 (a fo rced loss of tempo) 5 . . . 'it' xa 2 , and White resigned. I nstead of I. Wc4?, a forced win was to be had after I. �c2 a3 2. W c 3 W a l 3 . �b3! b l � 4. �xa3 + �a2 5 . �xa2+ W xa2 6. f4. c) PAWNS ON NEIGHBORING FILES Here too, the positions of both kings play a critical role. Consider this position: Still more curious was the error com mitted by Yates in his game with Mar shall (from Karlsbad 1 929) . I n the fol lowing position Black's king has no moves, while White's has a commanding position. This is what underlies Black's defeat here: on I . W c8! he is forced to reply l . . .a6 or I . . . a5 , which are met by 2. b6 and 3. b7+ . If both kings and pawns are moved down one square, then we have a posi tion from C. Salvioli: 1 69 Chapter 9 One can win some positions despite the possibility of a sacrifice. In that type of position, we have the following: F. Dedrle, 192 1 1 23 in which Black can force a draw thanks to the improved position ofhis king. If it's White to move in Salvioli's position, then the ending unfolds thus: l . Wc7 W a8 (it would be premature to play l . . .a5 in view of 2. b5) 2. c;t;> b6 a5! (a timely pawn sacrifice) 3. c;t;> xa5 (3. bxa5 creates a rook pawn) 3 . . . c;t;> a7!, forcing the draw. In such endgames, one can frequent ly save the game by sacrificing a pawn. For instance, in this position: White to move and win 1 . c;t;> b l ! l . W c3 would b e mistaken on ac count of l . . .a3!. Whether White replies 2. bxa3 , 2.b4, or 2.b3, Black manages to take up the necessary defensive posi tion. 1. .. a3! On other moves White plays simply c;t;> b l -a2-a3 . 2. b3! The pawn takes just one step forward. This shortens the path the white king must take to end up infront ofthe pawn. White can save the game by 1 . g6! fxg6 2. We2! (the "distant opposition"!) 2 . . . c;t;> ff) 3 . W f2 ! . Now i f 3 . . . W e 5 , then 4. c;t;>e3; while on 3 . . . W f5 there follows 4. W f3; and if 3 . . . Wg5, then 4. Wg3. 170 2 ••• c;t;> es 3. W a2 W d5 4. W xa3 \ti cs 5. c;t;> a4 and wins. Pawn Endings E:xamples 94- 100: 97. J. Berger, 1 889. 94. Black to move and win. White to move and win. 98. N. Grigoriev, 1925. 95. Black to move and win. White to move wins; Black to move draws. Black to move and win. Black to move wins. 96. 171 Chapter 9 1 00. N . Grigoriev, 1925. power of "two passed pawns vs. one." Especially if one of them occupies one of the squares in front of the opponent's pawn. Q'Black '.Y pawn is held up, and White's pawns are not threatened by anything immediate, there's nearly always a win. An exception is a position of the follow ing type: White to move wins. C. KING + 1WO PAWNS vs. KING + PAWN Despite the insignificant amount of material, this ending allows a lot of combinations. The character of these combinations depends chiefly upon the pawn configuration ; of course , the position of the kings in this also plays a large role. First let's look at the simplest endings. a) 1WO PASSED PAWNS vs. ONE As we explained before (pages 1 571 59), two connected, as well as two distant passed pawns can independently (without the king's help) secure their positions; for this we need only ensure that l ) at the proper moment, one of the pawns moves forward, and 2) the two pawns work together - that is, that the distance between them, measured in files, is not too great. It is not difficult, in the majority of cases, to exploit the 172 White to move. Here White has to give up his f-pawn. Usually White wins easily, since one of his pawns is inevita bly strengthened, or the opponent has to sacrifice the pawn back. For instance, let's look at this positi on: Pawn Endings White to move. To achieve the win, it is necessary to give one's opponent the move, since Black must maneuver on two squares (f4 and g5) , while White can make use of the triangle e2-fl -e l . For example, 1 . 'it> e l (of course not 1 . 'it> d3?, on which comes l . . . W f3 ! , when it's Black who wins!) l . . .W g5 ( l . . .W e4 would be answered by 2. g5 W f5 3 . h4, etc.) 2. W fl ! W f4 3 . W e2. b) WHITE'S PAWNS ARE ISOIATED, AND ONE OF THEM IS PASSED Here the win is often achieved by means of the simple advance of the passed pawn; Black's king must chase after one of the pawns, and in the mean time White's king takes up a more active position. For example, in the following position I n this position ( 1 9 1 3) by I . Krum: White wins by offering his opponent ei ther of the pawns - his choice: 1 . W fl W d4 2. W f2 Wc5 3. e4 ! '.tib6 (on 3 . . . W d4 there comes 4. 'it> f3 , and if4 . . . \ti e 5 , then 5. 'it>e3 'it> e6 6. W d4 'iii' d6 7. e5+ W e6 8 . 'it' e4 'it' e7 9. 'it' d5 'it> d7 1 0 . e6+ 'it> e 7 1 1 . We5 'it'e8 1 2 . W d6 Wd8 1 3 . 'it> c6! 'it> e7 1 4 . Wb7) 4. e5!. If Black now takes the a-pawn, then the e-pawn queens; and to 4 . . . Wc6 White replies 5. <ti f3 , preparing to sacrifice the e-pawn. 1 24 White wins with 1 . d5+ W d6 2 . W d4 'it>d7 3 . W c 5 W c7 4. d6+ 'it' d7 5 . 'it> d5 (5. '.tib6 is premature because of 5 . . . 'it> xd6 6. 'it> xa6 'it> c7) 5 . . . W d8 6. W c6 Wc8 7. W b6! W d7 8 . 'it> xa6 'it' xd6 9. 'it>b7. White to move and win Here White also can achieve the goal via a pawn sacrifice: 1 . f6+ Wf8! (rela tively better than l . . . 'it1 ti, which would be met by 2. Wf5-e6) 2. t'7! (maneuvering 173 Chapter 9 the white king in triangular fashion also wins, for example: 2. W f4 Wg8 3. Wg4! 'it>f8 4. 'it>g5 Wg8 5. @g6 @f8 6. f7) 2 . . . @xf7 (on 2 . . . W e 7 or 2 . . . Wg7, there fol lows 3. f8� + '1tl xf8 4. Wffi) 3. wrs '1tle7 4. Wg6, etc. Sacrificing a pawn enabled White to occupy the sixth rank. In the position below It's not hard to see that it's impos sible to win here. Let us suppose that, for example , it's Black's move here. On l . . .W d8 , White must refrain from 2. d7 and stalemate; however, other moves also give White nothing, for example: 2. W d5 W d7 3. W c 5 (if 3 . W e 5 , simplest is 3 . . . @ c6) 3 . . . @ d 8 , etc. (4. d7 is pointless here). White can't save the pawn, but he still wins thanks to his better king position: 1 . d4+ W xf5 2 . d5! (if 2 . W c5?, then 2 . . . W e6 3 . W c6 W e 7 4. W c7 We6!, and on 2. W d5? there follows 2 . . . Wg4, and then . . . f6-f5) 2 . . . W g6 (or 2 . . . W e5 3. Wc5 f5 4. d6, etc . ) 3 . W c5! ( 3 . d6? W fl 4. Wc5 We8 5 . W c6 W d8) and wins, for in stance, 3 . . . Wfl 4. W c6! W e7 5. W c7. By way of a second example , we present a position by Salvioli: Now we present some positions in which White doesn 't succeed in making use of his outside passed pawn. The fol lowing position belongs among them: (See diagram next column) (If we transpose all the pawns and both kings one square back, then we get the winning position we have already ex amined. ) 1 74 Here White wins only if Black has the move ( l . . .\ti e6 2 . d4 followed by @ h6). If it's White 's move, on the other hand, then it is not possible to win, for exam ple: 1 . d4+ W xd4 2. W h6 W e 5 , after Pawn Endings which not Black, but White , must play for the draw ( 3 . Wg5!). Finally, there are some drawing posi tions which cease to be such upon trans posing all the pieces to the right or left an identical number of squares. For instance, let us examine the fol lowing position: 1 25 5. e6 c4 6. e7 c3 7. e8� c2 And now White can't move his queen back to c l , and his king is too far away. I ncidentally, here is where it becomes clear that moving the starting position (see Diagram 1 25) one file to the right or left changes the outcome: the c2-pawn against the queen draws, while pawns on b2 or d2 lose! Nor can White win in the next posi tion. N. Grigoriev, 1920 1 26 White to move and draw Here White cannot win, for exam ple: I. 'it> fJ Black to move and draw l . 'it f2 hardly changes the position: Black replies I... 'it e4 with repetition. 1 . � f7 ! •• 1 . .. We5 2. e4 'it> d4! 3. W f4 'it>xc4 4. e5 'itb3! The only correct move. If 4 . . . 'itl d 5 , then 5. � f5 c4 6. e6 c 3 (for example) 7 . e7 c2 8 . e 8 � c l � 9. �d8+ and IO. �c8+. And if 4 ... 'itl d 3 , then 5. e 6 c 4 6 . e7 c 3 7 . e 8 � c2 8 . �e l . l . . . 'itl h8? loses to 2. �g5! 'itl g8 3 . 'itl f5 @ fl (if 3 . . . h6? or 3 . . . h 5 ? , then White wins easily if only due to 4. W g6) 4. W e 5 ! , and however Black plays, he cannot hold the h 7-pawn in its secure defensive position. For example , 4 . . . � f8 5 . 'it> e6 � e8 6. f7 + '1i> f8 7 . 'itl f6 h5 (or 7 . . . h6 8. h4! h5 9. � g6) 8 . h 3 ! h4 9 . 'itlg6. 175 Chapter 9 2. W g5! We6 3. h3 For 3. h4, see the variation below. 3 . . . @f7 4. @ f5 @ e8! Advancing the h7-pawn would se verely weaken Black's position and lead quickly to defeat after 5. h4. So Black must retreat the king, and not to f8 in view of 4 . . . @ f8? 5 . @ e6 @ es 6. h4! @f8 (both 6 . . . h6 and 6 . . . h5 are as bad as ever) 7. h5 @ eS S. f7+ ©f8 9. © f6, and wins. 10. @ e6 @ es 1 1 . f7+ @ f8 1 2. @ ffi h6 1 3 . @ g6, as does 9 . . . h6? because of the white king's triangulation: 1 0. @ e s @ f8 1 1 . W e4 @ e s 1 2. @ f4 ! , and wins. Fo r example , 1 2 . . . @ f8 1 3 . W e5! @ eS (or 1 3 . . . @ f7 1 4. @ fS ) 1 4. @ e6 @ f8 1 5 . f7. 10. @ e6 @ f8 1 1 . f7 h6! Only now does the time come to ad vance the h-pawn. 12. W f6, stalemate. VARIA TION: In addition to 4 . . . W eS!, 4 . . . WgS! was also possible. 5. ©e6 ©f8! The h7-pawn is the anchor of the position, so Black must not move that pawn, short of dire necessity. 6. h4 On 6. f7 Black saves the game with 6 . . . h6! 7. @ffi (7. h4 doesn't work either) 7 . . . h5! S . @g6 h4, draw. ( l . . . W f7 2. Wg5 @ e6) 3. h4 @f7 4. @f5 @ f8 ! Had the white pawn stood on h 3 , this move would have lost , and 4 . . . @ eS(gS) would save the game ; but now (that is, with the pawn standing on h4) , we have the opposite picture : here only 4 . . . @ f8 ! saves the game, while 4 . . . @ eS? and 4 . . . @gS? lose ( 5 . W e6 @ f8 6 . h5, etc . ) . 5. @ e6 W e8 6. h5 6 . . . @ e8 7. h5 If 7. f7+ @f8 S . @ f6 , then S . . . h6! again follows: 9 . @g6 h5, with a draw. Or 6. f7+ @f8 7. @ ffi h6! S. 'it>g6 h5, draw. 6 . . . @ f8 7. f7 h6! , draw. 7 . . . @f8 8. @ e5 One last try. 8 .. . @f7 9. W f5 W e8 ! Once again, 9 . . . @ f8? loses in view of 1 76 Let's return now to winning posi tions. Pawn Endings A. Bauer, 1 9 1 1 8. a4! 'it>c8 9. a5, etc. - White also wins with the pawn starting out on a3 . In conclusion, let us look at a pair of positions in which the pawns are immo bile; in such positions, the game comes down chiefly to king maneuverings. c) THE THEORY OF CORRESPONDING SQUARES Fahrni White to move and win - Alekhine 1 28 1. 'it> d4 'it> d6 2. c5+ 'it> c6 3. 'it> c4 'll c 7 3 . . a6 or 3 . . . a5? would only simplify White's task. . 4. 'it> d5 'it> d7 5. c6+ rtl c7 6. \t> c5 � c8 7. 'it> d6 'it> d8 8. c7+ As V. Chekhover pointed out, White could also have won by 8. a4 'it> c 8 (on 8 .a6 or 8 . . . a5 there would come 9. WcS) 9. a5! 'it> d8 (9 ... a6 1 0. c7) 1 0. c7+ \t>c8 1 1 . 'it> c6 a6 1 2. 'it> b6. .. White to move and win Here we must pass the move to our opponent - that is, bring the game around to the starting position, but with Black to move. 8 ... 'it> c8 9. 'it> c6 If9 . . . a5 now, then 1 0 . a3! a4 1 1 . 'it> b6 \t>d7 1 2 . 'it> b7 , and on 9 . . . a6 there is 1 0 . a4! a5 1 1 . 'it> b6 'it> d7 1 2 . 'it> b7 . Ifwe start with the pawn on a 2 rath er than a3 , then the path shown in the main variation does not work due to 8. c7+ 'it>c8 9. 'it> c6 a5! 10. 'it> b6 a4, draw. However, following the path noted in the note to move 8 - that is, by playing In order to discover the proper solu tion, it is useful first of all to ask ourselves some questions. First of all, we find out what king positions are better for Black. Where, for instance, does the black king have to be , with the white king at c5? The only square from which he can stop the white king from invading on b6, and prevent the pawn from queening, is c7 (a7 is not such a square , since , with 1 77 Chapter 9 the black king at a7 , White wins easily with @ d6). So c5 "corresponds" to the c7 square. Now let us pose the following ques tion: where does the black king have to be with the white king on d6 - or, more accurately, what move must Black play in reply to @ d6? There is only @ d8. The d8 square corresponds to the d6 square . At first glance, it might seem that we are getting no closer, but further away from the solution: it would seem that Black now has some freedom of move ment. However, if we again tum our at tention to d4, then the picture changes at once: d4 is a square located also next to d5 and c5. So that means it also cor responds to squares adjacent to c8 and c7 - that is, to b8 and d8. We shall explain which square Black's king must occupy in answer to @d5 that is, which is the corresponding square to d5? Note that the white king, after land ing on d5, is next to the aforementioned squares c5 and d6, which means that, in reply to @d5, the black king must occupy the square from which it can get to c7 (to ward off the threatened @c5), as well as to d8 (to ward off the threat of@ c5). The only such square is c8. That means that the d5 square corresponds to the c8 square. This is the key to solving the prob lem! Black must occupy b8 or d8 either in reply to either @ c4 or @ d4. What kills him is the fact that White can, from the d4 square , land immediately on the square c4, while the black king cannot similarly "jump" from b8 to d8. So it's enough for White to, for instance, oc cupy d4 and then go to c4 to force Black to "break the correspondence. " If White makes use only of the squares c5, d5 and d6, he cannot win, since Black's king can always occupy the cor responding squares. For instance: 1 . @ d5 @c8! 2. @ d6 @ d8! 3 . @ c5 @ c7, etc. Black must occupy the correspond ing square. Now let's go further: we shall explain how Black must play if the white king oc cupies c4 (at the moment the black pawn on c6 is not attacked - for instance, after 1 . Wd5 @ c8). The c4 square is adjacent to c5 and d5, which means, in reply to @c4, Black must play so that he can later occupy the squares corresponding to c5 and d5 - in other words, c7 and c8. And next to c7 and c8 there are two squares - b8 and d8. The square c4 corresponds to the squares b8 and d8. 1 78 1 . 'itt d5 @ c8 2. @ c4 He could also play 2. @ d4. It's not important in which order he occupies c4 and d4; what matters is to touch on each one of them. 2 . . . @ b8 Or 2 . . . 'iti d8 . If 2 . . . @ c7 , then White immediately occupies the necessary square c5. 3. @ d4! Pawn Endings Now Black must break the symme try. The following example illustrates even more clearly the importance of correspondence . 3 <it> c8 .•• G. Walker, 184 1 If3 . . . <it' c7, then 4. <it> c 5 . Other moves are still worse, as is not hard to see. Now, how does White reply to 3 . . . lilc8? Black has broken the symmetry. How do we take advantage of this? We must do something similar to what we do after our opponent yields the opposi tion: having forced our opponent to yield the opposition, we take the opposition ourselves. We can act the same way here: having forced our opponent to break the correspondence , we can ourselves occu py the corresponding square, thus placing the opponent in a new dilemma. 4. <it> d5! Once again, Black is forced to break the symmetry. And the white king, hav ing reached the fourth rank, goes to the fifth rank, and is planning to get to the sixth. 4 ... <it' c7 1 29 White to move and win This example is more difficult than the preceding one. There, nothing threatened White , while here White must constantly be on his guard. One careless move is enough for Black to gain the opportunity to force a draw. For ex ample , if l . W c3?, then l . . . W a4! 2. W d3 W b4!, or 2. W c2? W a3! 3. W d3 (on 3 . W b l there follows 3 . . . 'it'b4) 3 . . . \t> xa2! 4. <it' e4 <it'b3. Now White must bring the king back, as 5. W d5? loses in view of 5 . . . <it' b4. Or 4 . . . W d8 5 . W d6. 5. W c 5, etc . As may be seen from the above, find ing the "corresponding squares" simpli fies the solution a lot. So the attention given this question by numerous well known theoreticians such as Berger, Tarrasch, Przepiorka, Zakman, Grigo riev, and others, is understandable. To find the correct solution, we explain which squares correspond to each other, or more distinctly: what square should White occupy i n reply to any move by Black ? To resolve this question, we remove the white kingfrom the board, and suppose that Black has gone ahead and played . . . ® b4. Now, what square should White ' s king oc cupy in order to win? The square d5 or 1 79 Chapter 9 d 3 , for instance ( l . . . W b4) 2 . W d3 W a3 3 . W e4 W xa2 4. W d5 W b 3 5 . W xc 5 . This means , that in response t o Black's . . . W b4, it is desirable for the white king to go to d5 or d 3 . With the black king on b4, W d5 or W d3 by White decide. Thus we say that , " the b4 square cor responds to d5 and d 3 . " Now let u s explain which square "corresponds" to the position of the black king at a4. At a4 the black king is next to the square b4. Therefore , in reply to . . . W a4 it is desirable to occupy a square from which White can move to d3, for example (therefore, a square corresponding to b4) . There are a lot of squares next to d3: e4, e3, d2, c2, c3. However, it 's not hard to see that only e4 and e3 are useful in this regard. For instance, if on l . . . W a4 White replies 2. Wc3, then Black forces the draw by 2 . . . 'it>a3; on the other hand, if on 1 . . . 'it>a4, White could reply 2 . 'lt> e 3 ! , then he wins, for instance 2 . . . W b4 3. @ d 3 ! , o r 2 . . . 'it> a3 3. @ e4 and @ d5. lfthe black king is on a4, the white moves W e3 and @ e4 will prove decisive. Now let 's examine which move by White will prove decisive with the black king at a5. The square a5 is adjacent to a4 and b4, already examined. These two squares correspond to the squares e3 (e4) and d3 (d5 ) . Therefore , a5 cor responds to that square located next to e3 (or e4) and d3 (or d 5 ) . There are many such squares: d 2 , e2, e 3 , e4, e5. It is sufficient to occupy one of these squares (if the black king stands on aS) to achieve our end . With Black '.s king on a5, White 's move W d2 (or W e2 , @e3, @ e4, or W e5) will prove decisive. In just this position, the black king stands at a5 ; the problem, however, is that the white king cannot go to d2 im mediately (to say nothing of the squares on the e-file). That means that the game cannot be decided immediately; for the time being, White can't occupy the de cisive squares. Continuing our researches, let's make sure that, for example, there is a square which corresponds to the square b6 (or a6) . From b6 (or a6) , Black threatens a5 , which corresponds, for instance , to d2; that means that in reply to I. . . '>ii b6 (or l. . . W a6) White should oc cupy a square where he will threaten to go to d2 in other words, c 3 , c2 or c l (to say nothing of the squares on the d- or e-files) . - Now, let's pull together all of our re sults. TABLE I 1 80 Position of the black king Decisive squares b4 d 3 , d5 a4 e3, e4 b6 or a6 c3, c2, c l (also d 3 , d l , e 3 , e2, e 1 , etc . ) Pawn Endings This table is not enough to find the solution, since the deciding squares are not yet reachable for White; for example , in this position he cannot occupy d2. And if he aims for d2 by the shortest route (via c3 or c2) , then Black gets a draw with the counterattack I . . . @ a4!. Now two questions arise: I) how do we manage to achieve occupation of the di square at the right moment, and: 2) how do we safeguard against surprises like the first variation ( 1 . @ c 3 @ a4!)? For this, we explain which squares (besides the decisive ones) White could occupy for any position of the black king. For example , with the black king on aS , where might the white king go ? As we have already pointed out, in answer to . . . 'it'aS it's not a good idea to reply @ c 3 , o r lii' c2, or @b2, while the moves @ a3 and @b3 are completely permissible. So if, in answer to . . . @ as , White can not occupy the decisive squares (d2 , e2, and so forth) , then to maintain winning chances he must occupy either aJ or bJ. Now we will explain which square (in addition to the decisive one) White can occupy with Black's king on b6 (or a6) . The b6 square stands right next to the aS square . Therefore if, in answer to . . . @ as , White wants to go to a3 or b3, then with Black 's king on b6 (next door to aS) he must occupy a square adjacent to a3 or to b3 (that is, one of the follow ing squares: b3, a3 , b2, a4) . Table I I shows which squares (be sides the decisive ones) could be oc cupied by White in reply to . . . @ as or . . . @b6. At last we are ready to present the solution. I . @ a3 ! The only move . Since White cannot occupy the decisive squares (d2 , e2, e 3 , e 4 , o r e 6 - see Table I ) , h e will have to content himself with a "permissible" square (Table I I ) . TABLE II The black king's position aS b6 or a6 l ... @ b6 ! . . . @ a6 does not change anything, since b6 and a6 are of nearly equal value (we may infer that at least on the basis of the table). "Permissible squares" a3 , b3 b3, a3 , b2, a4 2 . @ b2 2. @b3 and 2. @ a4 were also possi ble ; however, 2. @b3 would have led to the previous position, and 2. @ a4 would have been useless, since White could not break through to the left-hand wing. 181 Chapter 9 4 @ as 2 ... @ aS! ••. If 2 ... @a6, White could have occu pied a decisive square (c3 , c2, or c l - see Table I ) , since other moves would have allowed White to bring his king unop posed to dS - for example, 2 . . . @ c6 3 . 'it>c3 'it>b6 4. 'it> d3 @ as 5. 'it> e4 'it> a4 6. @dS! 'it> b4 7. a3 + ! . As this variation demonstrates, the placement of the white king on dS is decisive (despite the position of the black king) . 3. 'it>b3! Since White still cannot reach the decisive square , he occupies a " non-de cisive" one (Table I I ) . And we reach the initial position, with one difference - now it is Black to play. Whatever move Black now choos es, White can then occupy a decisive square. 3 @b6 4. 'it> c3 ••• He could also play 4. 'it>c2. If 4 . . . @ c6?, then 5. 'it> d 3 'it> d6 6. ..t> e4 W e6 7. a4, etc . 5. 'it> d2!! This hard-to-find move follows di rectly from Table I . 5 . . . @ a4 6. @ e3! @ a4 7. 'it> d3 'it>b4 8. 'it> e4 , etc. Later on in this chapter (see Dia grams 1 58 and 1 59), we will give many examples of correspondence. But now, with the aid of the concept of "corre sponding squares, " we examine a posi tion given before: WK/1, pg3, BKd8 (see Diagram 1 4 ) . Which squares must the black king occupy for any placement of the white king? The f6 square corresponds to the position of the white king on f4, so that is where the black king must go in reply to 'it> f4; we can also see that g6 corre sponds to g4, and h6 to h4. TABLE III The white king's position f4 g4 h4 Where should the black king go? fO g6 h6 Now let's see which squares cor respond to the king's position on f3, or, more precisely - where should the black king go in response to 'itt f3? He should go, such that after Wf3-g4 he could occupy the square g6, and after 'it> f3-f4 he will play . . . Wffi. This means that in response to Wf3 Black's king must occupy a square adjacent to both g6 and ffi. And there are many such squares: g5, f5, g7, fl. 1 82 Pawn Endings In the same way, we explain where the black king must go in answer to <It' h3. The h3 square is adjacent to h4 andg4; the h4 and g4 squares correspond to h6 and g6; that means that the h3 square corre sponds to squares adjacent to h6 and g6; that is, the squares g5 , h5, g7 , and h7. Now we can understand why moving the king to h3 decides the game , while moving the king to f3 allows Black to In this study, White achieves victory by a whole series of only moves. I. 'itt g3! I . @ g2? would be a mistake in view of l . . .'ltt e4! , and if 2 . W g 3 , then 2 . . . W e 3 ! , and on 2. Wf2 there follows 2 . . . @ f4! ; in both of these variations Black wins the pawn and draws without trouble. save the game. The point is that the white king can go from fl to h3 in two moves, while the black cannot go from d8 to any one of those squares corresponding to h3 (that is, none of these squares: g5, h5, g7 or h7) in two moves. t. . . 'it' e4! 2. Wg2! Here 2 . W f2? is wrong in view of 2 . cJJ f4! . . . 2 . . . 'it' e3 It's a different matter ifthe white king goes from fl to f3 : among the squares corresponding to f3, we have one (f7) which the black king can occupy in two moves. Let's conclude our analysis of the theme we have examined with the follow ing prize-winning study by Grigoriev. N. Grigoriev, 1936 I - I I prize, La Strategie magazine White wins more quickly after 2 . . . W f4 3. 'ltt f2 'ltt g4 4 . 'ltt e3 'ttt xh4 5. W f4 (compare the position after White's move 1 1 in the main variation). 3. @ n 'ltt e4! 4. W e i The only path t o victory; continuing with 4. @g2 'ltt e3! would have only in creased the length of the solution. 4 •.. cJJ e3 5. W d l Wf4 6. Wd2 'ltt e4 I f 6 . . . @ g4, then 7. We3 shortens our solution by one move. 7. e3 @ CJ 8. W d3 Wg3 9. W e4! W g4 10. 'iil e5! Just so, as White's king must occupy the square adjacent to f4 (so that . . . @ xh4 may be met by \t> f4). White to move and win 1 83 Chapter 9 10 . . . <.tixh4 1 1 <.il f4 <.il h3 12. e4 � g2 13. e5! • 103. Not 1 3 Wg5 because of 1 3 . . . W g3 ! , forcing the draw. · 13 . . . h4 14. e6 h3 1 5 . e7 h2 16. e8� hl = 'iOll 17 �e8-e2+, and mate in four . (see also Diagram 1 56). • Examples JO 1- 1 JO: What is the result ? 101. 1 04. What is the result ? 1 02. 1 05. White to move and win. 1 84 Pawn Endings 106. N. Grigoriev, 1 932. White to move draws. Show that 1. hJ? would be a mistake, and find the correct defensive line. 107. White to move loses; Black to move draws. 1 09. Black to move and win. 1 1 0. This position is from Alekhine - Reti, Vienna 1 922. Black to move draws. 108. d) CONNECTED PAWNS, ONE OF mEM PASSED White wins, no matter whose move it is. To exhaust all of the possible posi tions would be very difficult, so we will content ourselves with examining only the most important case in practice: one ofthe pawns is a ''protected passed pawn, " and the others arefvced. 1 85 Chapter 9 The protected passed pawn has a lot of strength in most cases. For instance , in the position below White can achieve a winning position only by the (well-timed) method of sac rificing his pawn, followed by driving the king away from the fO square . Finally, there are positions in which Black achieves the draw byforce. Among these positions we have, for example, the following: the protected passed pawn decides the game easily. Despite the fact that the white king is off to the side, the pawns at d4 and e5 are completely secure: the e5-pawn is di rectly and the d4 pawn indirectly defended (Black cannot attack the d4-pawn, since that would allow the e5-pawn to queen). So White may advance his king unhindered to a4, and after that win the d5-pawn. However, we do not always succeed in thus increasing our material advantage. In some positions, reaching the goal requires us to sacrifice the passed pawn. For instance, in this position 1 86 Here White cannot drive the black king from its position because of stalemate. The possibility of a stalemate combination is what saves Black in the follow ing position: 1 31 Pawn Endings For instance , if l . W g4, then l . . .W g8 2. 'it> f5 Wg7 3 . W e6 W g8 (3 . . . W h8 is possible, too; now 4. W f7 leads to stale mate, just like the continuation 4. W f6 i'g8 5 . g7 W h7 6 . W f7 ; nor does 3 . . . W f8 lose) 4 . 'lft ffi 'it> f8 5 . g7+ W g8 6 . W g6, stalemate. Now, if in Diagram 1 3 1 we move the kings and all the pawns three ranks down: down by the same number of squares) , White 's passed pawn is located on the g-file , and its pawn defender is on the h-file . Combining the results obtained, we conclude that a knight-file passed pawn , protected by a rook pawn, wins (against an immobile rook's pawn) when the passed pawn is located on the fourth orfifth rank *. Now let's move all the chessmen one file to the left. 1 32 then Black obtains the draw by counter attacking, i.e. l . W g l W f3 2. W fl W e3 ! 3 . 'it> c l 'it> f3 ! 4. W d2 \t> g2 ! , with . . . W xh2 to follow. The outcome doesn't change if we move all the chessmen in Diagram 1 3 1 one square up. But if we move all the pieces in Dia gram 1 3 1 one or two squares down, then White can win, since Black has available neither stalemating combinations nor a strong enough counterattack. In Diagram 1 3 l and arbitrarily gen erated positions (produced from Dia gram 1 3 1 by moving all the pieces up or Here White wins with a timely pawn sacrifice. This result differs from the one obtained from the analogous position in Diagram 1 3 1 . However, if we now move the position in Diagram 1 32 either up or down, then the results will be just the same as in the analogous positions from Diagram 1 3 1 . For example , by moving the entire position one rank up: • With every fonnulation of this para graph, it is assumed that the white king is capable of defending its rear pawn. 1 87 Chapter 9 or three ranks down: once again we get a drawn position. In order to get the draw, here Black plays the same as in Diagram 1 3 1 ; he need not fear the pawn sacrifice , since after accepting it he can take the opposi tion. A bishop-file passed pawn, defended by a knight's pawn, wins against an im mobile knight's pawn when the passed pawn is on the fourth, fifth, or sixth ranks. Now let us move all the pieces in Diagram 1 3 2 one more file to the left. 1 88 Here White's winning chances are still better. Now White wins not only with his passed pawn on the fifth or sixth ranks, but with it on the seventh rank as well, since in this position White has at his disposal an end-run to the right. With the passed pawn on the fourth rank, it is not always possible to force a win. For example, in the following position: (See diagram next page) all of White's attempts are doomed to fail, in view of the following variation: 1 . @e2 (or 1 . @ g2 @ f6 2. @ h3 @g5) l . . .@ d4! 2. @ d2 @ c4 3. @ c2 @ d4! 4. Pawn Endings an immobile bishop 's pawn. Only with such a pawn on the fourth or third rank does the outcome depend on the position of the kings. If we now move the pawns and kings in Diagram 1 33 one further file to the left ( WKe4, pd6, e 5, BKd7, pe6) , then the win is always guaranteed. As an illus tration, let's look at the most unfavora ble position of this kind. lt>b3 �e3 5. e5 @ xf3 6. e6 'ltig2 7. e7 f3 8. e8� f2, draw. 1 34 With the passed pawn on the third rank White wins Ifit is Black to play, then the win is very easy; for instance, I . . .'it>c3 2. W fl ! , or l . . . 'lt>e5 2 . @ d i @ f4 3 . \t>c2 \t>g3 4 . d4, etc. the win is only possible with Black to move, for example, l . . . 'it>d3 2. @g l ! 'it> e4 (2 . or 'lti c4) 3. 'lti h2!, or l . . .'lti f5 2. \t> e l ! with 3 . @f2, and crowding out the black king after that. For if it is White to move in that position, then the game will be drawn, since l . \t> e l is met by l . . .\t> d3 2. lt> d l 'it>c3! 3 . 'lit e 1 'iti d3 ! , while to 1. @ g l Black replies l . . .\t> f5 ! 2. 'lti h2 \t>g4. And if White is to play, then he wins as follows: l . W fl \t> e5 (or l . . . W c3 2. @g2) 2. 'ltig2! \t> f4 3. \t>h3!. . . A center passed pawn, protected by a bishop � pawn, almost always wins against A center passed pawn supported by another center pawn (facing an immobile pawn) always wins. In the positions we have just exam ined ( Diagrams 1 3 1 - 1 3 3 ) , the passed pawn was on more centralized files (the g-, f-, and e-files}, than the pawn protect ing it (h-, g-, andf-files). 1 89 Chapter 9 Now we will examine positions in which the file of the protecting pawn is closer to the center than that of the passed pawn (see Diagrams 1 35 and 1 36). 1 35 If it's Black 's move, then l . . .We3 2. W e l W d3! (not 2 ... Wf4 because of 3. W d2!) 3 . W d l We3, with a draw, for ex ample , 4. W c2 W f2 ! , etc. Here, too, White cannot win (even if he is on the move), for example: l . We3 W e5 (Black's proper maneuver may be set out by using the theory of correspondence, which will be explained later as regards to Diagram 1 36; it will become clear that in both cases Black can take the opposi tion - vertical, horizontal, or diagonal) 2. W d3 W d5 3 . W c3 W e5! (of course not 3 . . . W c5? in view of 4. h5) 4. W c4 We4! 5. Wc5 We5 (5 . . . W f3 loses) 6. Wb4 Wd4 7. 'iil b 5 W d5 8. 'iil b6 'iil d6 9. W a7 'iil e7! (here Black takes the distant opposition, since after 9 . . . 'itt c7? Black's king would be outside the boundaries of the quadrangle h4-h8-d8-d4) 10. 'iil b 8 'iil d8, draw. If all the pieces in Diagram 1 35 are moved upward two or more ranks, then Black can no longer save the game. For instance, in the position WK/], pg4, h5, BK/6, pg5, In the starting position, White cannot win even if it is his move. For instance, if l . We2, then l . . . W f4 2. W d2 'iil d4 3. h4 (or 3. W c2 W e3 ! ) 3 . . . W e4, etc. The result is the same if we shift the pieces up one rank. White wins even if it's Black's tum: 1 . . . W e5 2 . W e 3 '3J f6 ( 2 . . . 'iil e6 3 . W e4) 3 . W d4 W e6 4. W e4. A passed rook 's pawn, protected by a knight's pawn wins (against an immobile knight's pawn) , when the passed pawn is 1 90 Pawn Endings the fifth, sixth, or seventh ranks - the exception being the following artificial position: on 1 36 Black to move and draw If in Diagram 1 35 we move all the pieces one file to the left, the outcome does not change. For example, if in the position below: This position is hard to assess. For instance, it might seem that here White wins, since after l . . .Wd4 2. Wd2 \t> c4 3 . � c2 ® d4 4. � h3 ! 'it e 3 5. g 5 'itxf3 6 . g6, Black must resign: if, fo r example: 6 . . . �e2, then 7. g7 f3 8. g8@° f2 9. @°g2 W e i 1 0. Wc2!. It's not hard, however, to see that Black lost in this variation only because after 4. \t> h3! he was in too much of a hurry to play the "counterattacking" move 4 . . . 'ite3 : that move killed the game for Black. Instead, he had to continue his well-conceived waiting game. l . . . 'it d4 White plays I. 'iii d2, then l . . . 'lti d4 2. @c2 'ltic4 etc . , while on I . @ fl there comes I . . .@ f5 2. 'iii g l 'ltig5! 3. W h l @ f5 (if 3 . . . 'ltig4?, then 4 . 'iii h2 with 5 . @ h3 and 6. g4) 4. 'iii h2 'lti g4! , etc . Now let's move the last position up one rank. Then we get the following po sition: This move is quite satisfactory. Black need not fear 2. g5, since after the trade of the g-pawn for his f-pawn, Black can take the opposition. 2. \t> d2 \t> c4 3. \t>c2 'it d4 4. \t> b3 \t> d5! 5. 'it b4 'it d4! If now 6. 'itb3, then once again 6 . . . 'iitl d5; and on 6. ®b5, Black has two choices: he can play either 6 . . . 'iitl d5 or 191 Chapter 9 the sharper 6 . . . 'it> e 3 7. gS 'it> xf3 8. g6 W e2 9. g7 f3 1 0 . g8� f2 l l . �g2 'it> e l 1 2. �e4+ 'it> fl ! 1 3 . 'it> c4 � g l , draw. If we transport the entire Diagram 1 36 position up by one or a number of squares, it will be easy to see the win for White. A passed knight � pawn, protected by a bishop � pawn, wins (against an immobile bishop's pawn) if the passed pawn stands on the fifth, sixth, or seventh rank. But if we shift Diagram 1 36 one square to the left, then we get the fol lowing position: A "bishop-file "passedpawn, protected by a center pawn, will always win against an immobile center pawn. Examples 1 1 1- 1 19: 11l. It's not hard to see that White wins easily here. Even if we take Black's most favorable position of this sort - that is, a position like this: (See diagram next column) then here too, he will not be able to avoid losing, for example l . <t> e l <t> eS (or l . . .<t>c3 2. 'lt> fl 'lt> d2 3 . f4) 2. <t> fl 'lt>fS (or 2 . . . <t> f4 3 . <t>g2, with 4. <t>g3 and 5. f4 to come) 3 . 'iil g2 'iti f4 4. <ti h3 (or 4. "11' h2) , etc. 1 92 Black to move; White wins. Pawn Endings 1 1 2. 1 15. White to move; Black wins. 1 1 3. Draw. 1 1 6. Draw. 1 14. White to move wins; Black to move draws. 1 17. Draw. Draw. 1 93 Chapter 9 1 1 8. Draw Win. 1 1 9. Amateurs, 1 77 5 . Here White cannot win, since he has to avoid stalemate. Black's king goes to the comer, where he cannot be driven off. The result is the same no matter how many ranks down we move the position. For example, in the position that follows Black to move draws. Indicate the only correct move for Black with the kings placed on e2 and e6. e) CONNECTED PAWNS WHICH ARE NOT PASSED vs. AN IMMOBILE PAWN First, let's look at those positions in which the base of the pawn chain is on a more central file than the pawn it supports. For instance, let us look at an position in which the base of the pawn chain is on the g-file, while the support ed pawn is on the h-file. 1 94 White can't get more than a draw. If it's White to move, then after 1 . W e3 \t>e5 (he could also play l . . .'it>g4) 2. 'it>d3 there follows 2 . . . 'it> f5 ; and if it's Black to move in the starting position, then he plays l . . . 'it> e 5 , since he doesn't have to worry about g3 -g4. Now let's move the position in Dia gram 1 37 one file to the left. Pawn Endings If i t were White to move in the start ing position, then he could force the win as follows: I. w d5 'it> f6 If l . . .'.ti d7, then 2. ffi! '.tie8 3 . fxg7! , while o n l . . . '.ti f8 there follows 2 . ® d6, as in the variation above. 2. W e4 W e7 In this position , White can force the win, regardless of whose move it is. 1. . . @f8 On l . . .'.ti d8 there follows simply 2. ffi ltt e8 3. fxg7; if l . . .'.tie8, then 2. � e6, etc. If 2 . . . <Ji>g5, then 3. ®es followed by ® e6-f7. 3. W e5! White takes the opposition. 3 . . . <Ji> e8 2. '.ti d6! Or 3 . . . 'it> d8 4. ffi. White's king invades enemy territory. 4. 'it> e6 'it>f8 5. ® d7, etc. It would be a mistake to play the combinative move 2. ffi, the basic idea of which is contained in the variation 2 . . . gxf6 3. W xf6 , and wins. The problem is that after 2. ffi, Black has the surprising counter 2 . . . 'it>g8!. Since Black threatens to take the pawn, White would have to play 3. f7 + , after which we get a drawn position we already know. Now, moving all the forces in Dia gram 1 38 one square down, let's look at this position by Philidor: 2 '.ti e8 ••• After 2 . . . '.ti g8 we would have the same position as in the main line (after Black's fourth move). 3. 'it> e6 'it> f8 4. � d7 'it> g8 5. '.ti e7 ltt h8 6. f6! gxf6 7. ® fT Here the result depends on whose move it is. 1 95 Chapter 9 Ifit's Black turn in this position, then White wins, since on l . . . c;i;> d6 (or 1 . . . We7 2. W e5) there follows 2. f5! gxf5+ 3 . W xf5 We7 4. W g6. If in the starting position it's White to move, then the game ends in a draw, for instance: 1 . W d4 W d6! sented, White wins only if it is Black to move. In positions such as in Diagram 138, with Black to move it 's always a win; but if it 's White to move, then he wins only with Black 's pawn placed on its starting square. 1 39 l . . . W f5 would be an error in view of 2. W e3 followed by W e4. 2. W c4 W e6 3. W d3 W d7! Distant opposition. 4. We3 We7! The point behind this move is to maintain Black's freedom of action: if now 5. W d4, then 5 . . . W d6, while on 5 . W e4, there follows 5 . . . W e6. 5. ®f3 ®n!, etc . , draw. If in Diagram 1 38 we move all the forces not just one rank, but two or three ranks lower, then the additional change will have no effect on the outcome of the game : in all three positions we pre- This position was produced from the position depicted in Diagram 1 38 by transferring all the forces one file to the left. Compared to Diagram 1 38 , this po sition does not reveal (in its results) any thing new. Here too, with the black pawn on f7 , White gets the win every time, and in the derivative positions (produced by transferring the entire position by one, two, or three ranks down), the win is achieved only if it is Black to move. TABLE IV Black's pawn on the fourth , Black's pawn fifth, or sixth rank on the seventh rank White to move Black to move 1 96 Black pawn on the h-file Draw Draw Draw Black pawn on the g-file Win Draw Win Black pawn on the f-file Win Draw Win Black pawn on the e-file Win Draw Win Pawn Endings The same result (as in the original, just as in the positions presented) applies when we move Diagram 1 39 one file to the left. The results in the positions of this kind in Diagrams 1 37- 1 39 are com bined in Table IV. Note I. It should not be forgotten that this table (just like Tables V and VII) is constructed for any particular configura tion of the kings ' positions. Note II. The results in Table IV (just like Table V) can be taken for symmetri cal positions (for more on this, see Note II for Table VI I , p. 209) . Now let's go on to examine positions where the base of the pawn chain is on a more outside file than the pawn it sup ports. 1 40 ,,- then Black gets a draw b y other means: I . . .@ d6! 2. W d4 @ e6; and if now 3 . @ c5?, then after 3 . . . @ f5 , it's not Black, but White who must play for the draw by 4. W d5 @g4 5. @e5 � xh4 6. � f4, but not 6. � ffi? in view of 6 . . . � h5 ! . T h e outcome i s t h e same if we shift Diagram 1 40 two or three ranks down . Now let's move Diagram 1 40 one file to the left. 1 41 Draw In order to draw in the given posi tion, Black need only go to the comer - for instance, l . . . W f8 (not, of course, l . . .Wd7?, in view of 2 . h6) 2. @ d6 W g8 3. 'lt> e7 <ti h8 4. h6 @g8 ! ! . If we move the entire position one rank down: As in Diagrams 1 38 and 1 39, here White wins, regardless of who is to move. For instance , if it's White to move, he wins as follows: I . � e5 ! (not I . @c5? 1 97 Chapter 9 'it' e6) l . . . 'it' e8 2. W d6 W d8 (or 2 . . . W f8 3. 'it' d7) 3 . g6! <ti e s 4 . g7. And if we move all the pieces in Dia gram 1 4 1 one rank lower: 6 ..• <>ti f7 7. <>ti h4 <>ti g7 Here White cannot run around to the right of the pawns, since on that side he has only one file available for opera tions. 8. <li> h5 <li> h7, draw. If it's White 's move in the starting position, then while it's true that he can drive Black back one rank, still this will be insufficient to win. For example, I . W e4 W e7! (the only move; fo r example, if l . . . W c7 , then 2. W f4! W d7 3. g5!) 2. W d5 'it' d7 3. <ti c s wc7 4. <;i;>b5 Wb6, etc. then we get the following unexpected re sult: regardless of whose tum it is in the given position, the game is a draw. Of course , if we move Diagram 1 4 1 two o r three ranks down, then White's winning chances can only be decreased. For example, let's suppose that in the last position it is Black to play. And so, in positions like Diagram 141, the win is only achieved when the black pawn is in its starting position. t . . . \t> c6! The only move. For instance, if 1 . . . W e 7 , then 2. W c5 ! . 2. '>ll c4 W d6! 3. W d4 If 3 . W b4, then 3 . . . We5. 3 '>t> c6 4. W e4 W d6 5. W f4 ••• Threatening g4-g5 . 5 W e7 6. 'it' g3 ••• Or 6. g5 fxg5+ 7. <li>xg5 <li> fl . 1 98 This diagram was obtained by shift ing all the pieces in Diagram 1 4 1 one file to the left. Pawn Endings Here we achieve the win easily, re gardless of whose move it is. The win ning methods are the same as given pre viously. In moving this position one , two, or three squares down, we get a draw if it 's White 's move and a win if it 's Black 's move, For example , in this position with White to move we get a draw, but with Black to move, White wins, for ex ample: l . . .'it> b6 (or l . . . 'it> d7 2. @b5) 2. �d4 'it> c6 3. @ e4 @ d7 4. @ f3 @ e7 5 . \tlg4 @ fl 6. @ h5 ! , etc. I f we slide the position in Diagram 1 42 one square to the left, it main tains its character throughout , and the outcome remains the same (as in the main line , j ust as in the positions pre sented ) . The outcomes fo r positions similar to Diagrams 140- 142 are grouped in Ta ble V. Despite this detailed analysis, we should not imagine that all possible po sitions in the theme " non-passed, con nected pawns vs. immobile ones" have been exhausted. The only positions that would be exhausted would be the positions of the kind contained in Dia grams 1 3 7- 1 42 - that is, those obtained by shifting all the pieces an identical number of squares. Change the posi tion of one of the kings or a "lagging" pawn ever so slightly, and it could affect even the game 's outcome (see Diagram 143). TABLE V Black's pawn on the fourth, Black's pawn fifth , or sixth rank on the seventh rank White to move Black to move Black pawn on the g-file Draw Draw Draw Black pawn on the f-file Win Draw Draw Black pawn on the e-file Win Draw Win Black pawn on the d-file Win Draw Win 1 99 Chapter 9 I. Kling, 1848 view of White's ability to "win a tempo" with h2-h3? 1 43 Win B lack can play I . . . @ es, after which the position looks very similar to one of the positions presented from Dia gram 1 40 (in fact, the position WKeJ, pg4, hJ, BKe5, pg5) which we obtained from Diagram 1 40 by moving all the pieces down two ranks. The only dif fe rence would be in the pawn 's posi tion on h 2 ( i nstead of h3). This fact, howeve r, is quite significant, as if the pawn stood on h2, White would have two possibilities: I) he could advance the pawn to h4 Uust as he could if the pawn we re on h 3 ) ; and 2) he would have at his disposal the waiting move h2-h3, which he could make use of at the moment his opponent is in Zugzwang. The only question is whether the same king position can be obtained where one of the indicated threats will be decisive. For instance, can White play h2-h4 when his king is on g3 and Black's is on e6? Or perhaps the white king may be advanced to e4 or to d4, after which even the opposition won't help Black, in 200 To answer this question, we explain where the black king needs to be for any position of the white king. For instance, where does the black king go in answer to W f3 ? Only to e5. All other moves would lead to a quick loss, for example l . . .@e6 2 . W e4, or l . . .W d4 2. W g3, with h2-h4! to follow. And if in reply to 1 . Wf3 Black plays l . . . W d6, then White even has two ways to win: 1 ) 2. @g3; 2) 2. @ e4 @e6 3 . h3. Thus, in reply to @ f3 Black must an swer . . . W e 5 . If now White plays @jJ-eJ, then where will Black's king go? Only to d5, since otherwise the white king ad vances to the fourth rank. And if instead of W f3-e3 White plays Wf3-g3, then Black would have to answer . . . @e5-f6, since otherwise White would get to the right flank with h2-h4. Now we can see that the f3 square corresponds to e5, the e3 square to d5, and the g3 square to f6. Which square corresponds to f2? On f2, the white king threatens the squares f3, e3 and g3; therefore, with the white king on f2, Black must be on a square lo cated adjacent to the squares f3, g3 and e3 - that means that, in reply to W/2, Black must play . . . W e6!. It remains only to explain how Black must answer @g2. The g2 square is adjacent to the squares f3, g3, and f2. This means that, in answer to W g2, Black's king must occupy a square ad- Pawn Endings TABLE VI If the white king is on: f3 e3 g3 f2 Then the black king must go to: e5 d5 f6 e6 jacent to e 5 , f6 , and e6. However, the only such square (f5) is inaccessible to Black: after 'lt'g2! Black has no satisfac tory answer. On other moves Black could oc cupy the corresponding square , after which White would have to start all over again. The final phase of this game might proceed as follows, for example (with White to move): With 4. Wf2, White forces his op ponent to leave the only corresponding square. (If f2 corresponded not only to e6, but also a square adjacent to e6, then in response to Wf2 Black could go to that adjacent square from e6. ) l. 'lt'f3 Aiming for g2. 4 . . . 'iii f6 l. 'lt'e5! .. Forced (see Table VI) . 2 . 'lt> g3! 2. W g2 would be premature , in view of 2 . . . @ f4! , after which White would have play h2-h3. 2 'lt'f6! 3. 'itig2! 'itie6 .•. I f 3 . . . W e 5 , then 4. W f3 ! wins. Black loses because of the fact that he already stands on e 5 , and therefore cannot go to it; on the contrary, he must abandon it. 4.'lttt2! If 4 . . . 'lt'e5, then 5. W f3! (exploiting the fact that the square e5, correspond ing to the square f3, is already occupied) 5 . . . W d5 (not allowing White 's king to get to the fourth rank) 6. Wg3, followed by h2-h4. 5. 'itig3!'it'g6 5 . . . Wg7 doesn't change things: if 5 . . . 'it> e6 , then 6. h4. 6. 'itif3 Now Black cannot prevent the white king's appearance on the fifth rank. 6 . . . 'iii f6 7. 'it'e4'it'e6 8. h3! , etc . 20 1 Chapter 9 Examples 120 - 126: 1 23 . 1 20. Show that not only 1. © c5, but also 1. e6+ leads to a win. 121. Black to move draws; White to move, Black wins. 1 24. Draw. 1 22. A win, no matter whose move it is. 202 Draw. 1 25 . White to move; Black wins. Pawn Endings 1 26. I. Drtina, 1 907. White to move and win. e) CONNECTED NON-PASSED PAWNS vs. A MOBILE PAWN 144 l . 'it> f3 The king moves t o the opposite flank. I . W h4 would be useless on account of l . . .W h6!; if now 2. f5 , then 2 . . . 'it>g7. Although Black must give up the op position, it doesn 't do him much harm, since after retreating to the seventh rank he will again have the opposition - for example, 3. Wg4 Wfl 4. 'it> f4 'it> e7 5 . 'it> e3 W e 8 ! 6. Wd4 Wd8! 7. 'it>d5 'it> d7 8 . 'it>c5 'it> c7 9. W b 5 Wd6! 10. 'it> c4 'it> c6 ! , etc. l . . . @f7 l . . . fS would only make White's task easier, in view of 2. e5. 2. 'it>e3 'it> e6 3. 'it>d4 Wd6 4. f5! Now is the right time , as on 4 . . . 'it> c6 there follows 5 . e 5 ! , and o n other moves White has the opposition, forc ing Black t o retreat t o the seventh rank as well. White to move wins; Black to move draws Black to move forces a draw with l . ..fS+! 2. exfS+ @ ffi . The outcome does not change when we move Diagram 144 one file to the left or down by any number of ranks. For ex ample, in this position Ifit's White tum, then h e can prevent that combination. But not all preventive measures are equivalent. For example , after the " natural" move I . f5+ , Black can draw by playing 1 . . . W g7 ! . In order t o force the win, White must hold off on f4-f5, and first take up the best possible position for his king. 203 Chapter 9 with White to move - the win is achieved by 1 . @ fl f3 (if l . . . 'it' h3 2. @ e l @g2, then 3 . f3 ®g3 4. @ d2 @ g2 5 . W d3 @f2 6. @e4!) 2, e3 @ f5 3 . @ e l and 4. @ d2. fore, if the position in Diagram 1 44 is moved one file to the left (see Diagram 1 45), White can no longer win. 1 45 The outcome is unchanged even if we move the position in Diagram 1 44 (or the alternative positios just present ed) by one or two moves to the left. With this, White can win in one of two ways. One example - in the follow ing position Draw I n this position, Black obtains a draw, not just ifit 's his move ( l . . . c 5 + ) , but even if it 's White 's move. White to move - he can win, not only with 1 . @e3 @ e7 2. @ d3 @ d6 3. @ c4 W c6 4. es @ c7 (or 4 . . . @ b6 5. d5!) 5. W c5 @d7 6. @b6! as in Diagram 1 44, but also with 1 . @g4 Wg6 2. e5 @ h6 (if 2 . . . Wg7, then 3. Wg5 , or if 2 ... W f7(h7), then 3 . @ h5 and the white king invades at ffi) 3. W f4 Wg6 4. \t> e4 W f7 5 . W d 3 \t> e7 6. W c4 Wd7 7. Wb5! Wc7 8. \t> c5 W d7 9. 'it>b6. In the position under examination, a considerable role was played by the pos sibility of an end-run to the left (pay at tention to 6. W b6! in the first variation and to 7. WbS! in the second). There204 Now the white king's journey to the queenside is no longer any good - for example, 1 . W c3 W c7 2 . Wb3 W b6 3. W a4 � a6 , and if 4. c5, then 4 . . . �b7 5. 'itt a5 � a7 . Similarly, White gets nothing from the attempt to end-run to the other side - for example, 1 . @ e4 @ e6 2. � f4 @ ffi 3 . c 5 ( 3 . Wg4? � e 5 ) 3 . . . W e6 4. \i/e4 W ffi! 5. @ d4 (or 5 . W f4 � e6 6. W g5? W d5) 5 . . . 'it>e6 6. W c4 W d7 7. Wb3 ® c7 8. W a4 Wb7, and White must content himself with a draw, since he cannot now cross over to the fifth rank along the diagonal (left of the b4-pawn there is only one file). Transposing the pieces in Diagram 1 45 one or two ranks down has no effect on the outcome; if we move Diagram Pawn Endings 145 one rank up, though, then White can achieve victory if it 's his move by playing l . c6+ (see Diagram 1 4 1 ) . We get Diagram 1 46 out of Diagram 145 by sliding all the pieces onefile to the left and one rank up. Draw Black draws here too, except that with White to move, he must exercise a little caution. For example , if Black uses the meth od recommended for other positions, which is to put his king in the comer, he runs the risk of losing - for example, 1 . \t>d5 \t>b8 2 . \t> d6 \t> a8? 3 . W c7 W a7 4. a6! bxa6 5 . b6+ . In order to gain the draw after I . W d5, Black must not go into the comer, but take measures to protect the c6 and b6 squares. This may be done , for example, in the following manner: I . 'it>d5 W d7 2 . W e5 W c7 (he should avoid 2 . . . We7 because of 3. a6) 3. W e6 W c8 4. \t>d6 W d8 ! 5. W c5 W c7 ! , etc. This shows that Black should direct his king into the comer only after b5-b6, since then the b6 square will be inaccessible to White's king. If we move all the pieces in Diagram 1 46 one, two, or three ranks down, then achieving the draw will be simplified, since the white pawns will be less threat ening than in Diagram 1 46. For instance , examine the following position: White to move. Black answers I. W d4 with 1 . . .\t> d6 2. We4 W e6! (now this move, keeping the opposition, is possible) 3 . b5 (or 3. Wf4 '.t1d5) 3 . . . W d6 4. \t> d4 W e6!, etc. Consider the following position: 1 47 Here White wins only if it's Black to move. In this case Black must yield the op position, after which his king will be driv205 Chapter 9 en away, for instance l . . .'lt> b6 2. WdS, or 1 . . .Wd6 2. 'lt>d4 Wc6 3. W eS , and wins. And if in the starting position it's White to move, then he can take the op position only at the price of worsening his position, for example: 1 . 'It> d4 '1t> d6 2. \i/e4 'lite6 3 . as (if 3 . W f4, then 3 . . . @ dS) 3 ... \tr>d6 4. 'lt> d4 'lt> c6 S . W c4 W d6, etc . , and it's a draw. Black moves first. An analogous position occurred in the game I. Rabinovich Verlinsky ( Leningrad- Moscow match, 1 927). Let's move the position in Diagram 1 47 one rank up, so that we have the fol lowing position: Here, White forced a win by 1. 'lt>e2 @ es 2. 'lite3 W dS 3 . W d3 'lites 4. \i/e4! a4 S. b4+ W c4 6. W e 3 WbS (or 6 . . . Wb3 7. bS, etc.) 7. \tr>d4 W c6 8. W eS! (8. W c4 is useless, since after 8 . . . W b6 White can not play 9. bS? in view of 9 . . . '>t> aS ! 10. �cs, stalemate) 8 ... �b6 9. W d6 WbS 1 0 . 'ltc7! W c4 1 1 . W c6 <t> b3 1 2. bS , and Black resigned. Here this modification, contrary to the general rule , does not strengthen, but actually weakens White 's position. In this position on the whole, White can not win, because in order to ensure the draw Black need only head for the cor ner, for instance: l . . . 'lt>b7 2. Wa6 Wa8 3. Wc6 Wb8 4. Wd7 W a8 S. 'lt> c7 a6! , or 2 . . . Wb8 3. \t> c6 'lt> a8 4. b6! '1t>b8! s. b7 a6 6. 'lt>b6, stalemate. And if we shift the position in Dia gram 1 47 one rank down, then we get the outcome we had at the beginning: White to move draws; win for White if 206 If we transpose the position in Dia gram 1 47 two ranks down, then once again the draw is unavoidable. For in stance, in the position below Pawn Endings with White to move, after 1 . a3 @ d4 the draw is obvious, since White's usual ex ploitation of Black's unfortunate king position by 2. b3 or 2. b4 falls short here. White also gets nothing from 1 . 'it> d2 'it'd4 2. 'it>e2, in view of 2 . . . a3! (sim plest) 3 . b3 W c 3 . I f it's Black to move in the last dia gram, he plays l . . .'it>d4 2. 'it>d2 (or 2. b4 axb3+ ! ) 2 . . . 'it> c4! 3. 'it>e2 a3 (simplest) 4. b3+ 'it>c3 , etc. And so, in positions with a similar layout to that of Diagram 14 7 , we conclude that if it 's White 's move, it 's always a draw; if it 's Black 's move, then it's a draw but only when the Black pawn stands on the fourth or the seventh rank. We have examined positions similar to those in Diagrams 144 and 14 7 and established that moving the position one way or another affects the outcome. However, we should not general ize too much from the results obtained. We should note that the positions under examination do not exhaust all of the possibilities of positions of this type. For example , many positions exist which are apparently similar to the positions we have examined, but which on further in spection display particular qualities af fecting the game's outcome. In Diagram 1 46, for example, we need only move the black king from c7 to a7 for this to have a profound effect on the result. An apparent change in the position's appearance - - turns it into a win for White, no matter whose move it is. For instance, if it is White to move in the last position, he wins as follows: 1. 'iit d 6 'it> b8 After l . . .'it>a8 2 . 'it>c7 we get the same position as in the main variation (after White 's third move). 2. 'iit d7 'iit a8 On 2 . . 'iit a7 White wins with 3. 'iit c7 \t> a8 4. 'it>b6! (4. a6 would be an error, since after that Black replies, not 4 . . . bxa6?, but 4 . . . 'iit a7! , forcing the draw) 4 . . . 'it>b8 5. a6 'it>a8 (or 5 . . . bxa6 6. 'it>xa6) 6. axb7+ 'it>b8 7. 'iit c6 'iit a7 8. b8� + 'it>xb8 9. W b6. . 3. 'it> c7 'it> a7 4. a6 bxa6 5. b6+ Black also loses in the position WKc5, pa5, b5, BKa 7, pb 7, if it is his turn to move, as l . . .b6+ is met by 2. 'it>c6! bxa5 3. 'it>c7 ! . Now let's make the following change 207 Chapter 9 to Diagram 1 46: let's move the white pawns one square back, so that White '.s king is in front ofhis pawns. repositioning once again affects the out come of the game. White to move and draw White wins This is a very important factor. With Black to move, White wins thus: l . . .b6+ (king moves are answered by 2. �b6! and then a4-a5-a6, for instance l . . .@c8 2. Wb6 Wb8 3. a5 �c8 4. a6 �b8! 5. b5!) 2. @ d5 @ d7 3. b5!. As we can see from these variations, placing the king in front of the pawns is good for two reasons: 1 ) the king will be more active there ; 2) thanks to the measured advance of the pawns, White retains the possibility of "losing a tempo" (in the variations presented, note the moves 5. b5! and 3 . b5! ) . If it's White to move in Diagram 1 48 , then after 1 . W b5 h e wins in analogous manner. l . . .b6 is met by 2. @ a6 and then b4-b5 , while White can answer king moves with 2. @ b6, followed by advanc ing the a-pawn. Now let's move the black pawn in Diagram 148 one file to the left; this 208 If it's White to play here, then the draw quickly becomes clear, for instance 1 . �b5 � b7 2. a5 a6+ 3. 'iil c5 � c7; while if 1 . a5 , then l . . .a6. In both cases, Black maintains the opposition. 1 . b5 is also useless in view of l . . .�b7. If it's Black to play, it's a draw even though he must give up the opposition. For example: 1. 'iil b7 2. 'iil b5 'iil a8! •• This saves the game. 2 . . . 'iil b8 would be a mistake: 3. 'it> a6 'it> a8 4. b5 'iil b8 5. a5 'it> a8 6. b6 axb6 (or 6 . . . 'iil b8 7. b7) 7. axb6 Wb8 8. b7, and wins. 3. W c6 If now 3. � a6, then 3 . . . 'iil b8 4. b5 � a8 5 . a5 � b8 6. b6 axb6 7. axb6 � a8 is a draw. 3 Wb8 4. b5 'it> c8! .•. Pawn Endings 4 . . . @ a8 is bad due to 5. @ c7! a6 (or 5 .a5 6. @ b6) 6. b6. .. 5. a5 @ b8 6. b6 axb6 7. axb6 @ c8, draw. Shifting all of the pieces in Diagram 149 one or two ranks down is once again reflected in the outcome of the game. For instance , in this position may only be had with White to move; if it is Black to move, then he loses, since on 1 . . .@ b6 there follows 2. b4 W c6 (2 ... a5 3 . b5) 3. a4, after which the opposition decides the game (see Diagram 1 47); and 1 . . .a5 doesn't help because of 2. a4! . is defined not just by the pawns, but also by the location of the kings. Therefore, if the kings' positions differ from those in dicated in the table, then the outcome may change too; on the other hand, this may be established easily in each indi vidual case , if we take into account the conclusions offered in the text. Note II. Every case shown in Table VI I has three symmetrical positions, the result of which it is not difficult to show. For instance , if we take the following position a draw (which is a win only with White to move), then we may obtain another po sition, symmetrical as regards the middle file, that is, this position In all positions of this type (two con nected pawns vs. a single immobile one), we have , up to this point, set up the two white pawns side by side . To make it eas ier on the reader to orient himself on the material offered, we have grouped the results for such positions (see Table VI I on the following page) . Note I. When making use o f Table VI I, we should not forget that a position 209 Chapter 9 TABLE VII Placement of the white pawns a2, b2 Placement of the black pa wn White king's position Black king's oosition Result b4 c2 c4 Draw a2, b2 a4 c2 c4 Draw a2, b2 a5 c3 c5 Win only if B moves a3 , b3 b5 c3 c5 Draw a3, b3 a5 c3 c5 Win only if B moves a3, b3 a6 c4 c6 a4, b4 b6 c4 c6 Draw a4, b4 a6 c4 c6 Win only if B moves a4, b4 a6 c4 c6 Win a5 , b5 b7 c5 c7 Draw c5 c7 Draw " a5 , b5 a7 a5 , b5 b7 c5 a7 Win b2, c2 c4 d2 d4 Draw b2, c2 b4 d2 d4 Win b3, c3 c5 d3 d5 Draw b3, c3 b5 d3 d5 Win b4, c4 c6 d4 d6 Draw b4, c4 b6 d4 d6 Win b5, c5 c7 d5 d7 Win only if W moves c2, d2 c4 e2 e4 Win c2, d2 c4 b2 b4 Win only if W moves c3, d3 c5 e3 e5 Win c4, d4 d6 e4 e6 Win only if W moves c4, d4 c6 e4 e6 Win c4, d4 c6 b4 b6 Win only if W moves d2, e2 d4 f2 f4 Win d2, e2 d4 c2 c4 Win only if W moves d3, e3 d5 f3 f5 Win d4, e4 e6 f4 f6 Win only if W moves d4, e4 d6 f4 e6 Win d5, e5 d7 f5 f7 Win 210 Pawn Endings with the same result. I n addition, these two positions may also be turned around, changing the colors. In this manner, we get the following positions - l ): 1 50 White to move; Black wins For example , if Black answers I. 'iil hS with l . . .'iil f4 2 . 'iil g 6 'iit f3 ! ? , then after 3. 'iil fS! the draw is unavoidable. Equally after I. 'iilh S 'iilf4 2. @ g6 f5 3 . @ f6!, Black has t o play very carefully, for instance 3 . .. @ e4 4. @gS @ es S. @ hS! @ f6? 6. 'iil h4 '.t>g6? 7. f3 ! ! , with an obvious draw. and 2): And finally, besides 1 . @ hS , White could have played 1 . W h6 f5 (or I . . . @ f4 2 . 'it>g6) 2 . 'i?JhS , and if 2 . . . @ f4 then 3 . 'it>g6 @ e4 4. @ gS , after which we get the same position as in the preced ing variation following White 's fourth move . and in both positions it will be a win only if Black is to move. (See Diagram 150) In this position, Spielmann resigned to Rubinstein (see Chapter 8, Diagram 82). However, he might still have waited to resign, because the win still involves considerable difficulties. These variations show clearly enough the problems Black would have had to overcome had the game contin ued. In order to find the right solu tion, look at the position obtained in the variations indicated after White's fourth move - in fact, at the following position 21 1 Chapter 9 responding squares; here we limit our selves to those corresponding squares that are sufficient to find the right solu tion. For instance, explaining where the black king has to go in reply to 'iit g3, we indicate only the square e2, since after Wg3 We2 Black's win is self-evident (for example , if on . . . W e2 White replies Wg2, then . . . f5-f4-f3 ) . 151 Black to move Here the win is difficult only because it's Black's move; if one could lose a tempo, giving the move to White in this position , then the win would no longer be difficult, for instance , I. W h4 (or I. W h5) l . . . W f3 ; if I. Wf6(g6/h6) then l . . .f4 and then . . . g4-g3. Thus, if Black can respond to White 's W g5 (with the pawns placed on f2, g4 and f5) with . . . W e4, then his goal is achieved. In Diagram 1 5 1 , the square g5 corresponds to the decisive square e4. Let us set up for Diagram 1 5 1 the fol lowing table (explanations are offered below) : TABLE VIII Position of the white king Corresponding squares g5 e4 g3 e2 h4 d3 , f3, f4 h5 d4, f4, f3 Analyzing this position, we do not set ourselves the task of finding all cor212 We fi n d the square corresponding to h4 as follows: h4 is the square adjacent to g3 and g5 ; this means that h4 corre sponds to the squares adjacent to e4 and e2 - that is, d3 and f3. In addition, it's clear that in reply to 'iit h4, . . . 'iit f4 is very strong. Finally, the h5 square (adjacent to h4 and g5) corresponds to the squares adja cent to e4 and one of the squares d3, f3, or f4 - that is, the squares d4, f4, and f3. Now let's return to Diagram 1 50 and present the most likely course of the game. t. W h6! I. 'iit h5 would be answered by l...f5. If now 2. @g5 , then 2 . . . 'iit e4! , while on 2. 'iit h4, Black would respond 2 . . . 'iit f4. l . . .f5 First Black creates the necessary pawn configuration. 2 .'it> h5! 2 . 'it> g6 does not work, in view of 2 . . . f4; if 2 . Wg5 then 2 . . . 'iit e4! . Pawn Endings 1 28. 2 @ d4! ... The table shows that on 2. @ h5 , Black could move to either d4 o r f4; of these two we should prefer 2 . . . @ d4! , as 2 . . \!tf4 gets in the way of his own f pawn and would therefore allow White to block the road with 3. 'it'g6. . 3 W h4 . Or 3 . W g5 W e4!. 3 \!td3! Draw. 1 29. ••• Now White can indeed resign, since 4. 'it>g5 meets with 4 . . . \!te4!; whereas if 4. W g3 or 4. <it>h5 , then 4 . . . 'iile 2!. Examples 127- 134: 1 27. Black wins. 1 30. White t o move wins; Black t o move, White loses. Draw. 213 Chapter 9 134. This position is from the sixth game of the Em. Lasker - Steinitz match: 13 1. Black wins. White to move draws. 1 32. If in this position it were Black's move, would that have any effect on the game's outcome? f) ISOLATED PAWNS, NONE OF THEM PASSED Here the result depends mainly on the positions of the kings. Draw. 133. White to move wins; Black to move draws White to move wins. 214 If it's White's turn, then he wins by improving his king position. Pawn Endings I. \t> d4! The only way to win. If I . \t> c4, then l . . .d5 + ! 2. 'litd4 W d6, seizing the opposition. riment and allow the white king to get behind him. 6 <iite 6 7 .<iitd 8! 'iiif6 ••• Or 7 . . . W e5 8. W d7. 1...\t> c7 8 .'itt d7 W e5 9. 'itt e7 If I . . .<iitd 7, then 2. <iitd 5! W c7 (or 2 .. �e7) 3. c4 <iitd 7 4. e4 and Black los es, since on 4 . . . 'it' c7 there follows 5. c5! dxc5 6. 'itt xc5 ; while if 4 ... \t>e7, then 5. e5! dxe5 6. W xe5. . Finally, if l . . .d5, then 2. c4! . 2. <iitd 5! \t> d7 3 .c4 Another strong line is 3 . e4 \t>c7! 4. �e6!, after which the game runs just about as in the main variation. Now let's examine Diagram 1 52 with Black to move. l . ..d5 Depriving White of the "extra" moves e3 -e4 and c3 -c4, while also keep ing White's king out of c4 and e4. 2. \t>d4 If 2 . c4, then 2 . . . W c 5 (or 2 . . . W d6 3. \t> d4 dxc4). 3. ..\t> e7! 2 ...@ d6 3 ... \t> c7 loses immediately to 4. c5. Black takes the opposition. 4 . 'it'c6! 3 .'itt d3 <iii c6 White 's king moves still further forward. 4. e4, on the other hand, would be weak, since with 4 . . . W d7 the game would be drawn. 3 . . . 'it' d7 ! 4. W e2 W e6 ! , maintaining the distant opposition, is simpler. 4 .\t> e2 \t> d6 5 . Wf3 W e5, draw . 4 ...W e6 5 .W c7 W e7 If 5 . . . <iil e5, then 6. @ d7. An attack from the rear decides quickly! In the following position by Neus tadtl, White draws by making use of the distant opposition. 6 .e4! After this move, Black is in Zugzwang: he must change the position to his det215 Chapter 9 Kling and Horwitz, 1851 1 53 1 54 White to move draws; Black to move, White loses Black to move draws; White to move wins If in this position it is Black to move, then he wins as follows: l . . .'it' e2! 2. @g3 W f l ! (attack from the rear!) 3. W h3 W f2 4 . 'it> g4 'it>g2. If White is on the move, then he forces a draw with the distant opposition. If it's Black to move, he plays l . . .d6! 2. W c4 W c8 (he could also play 2 . . . Wc7) 3. Wb5 W b7 , etc. If it's White to move, then I. d6! I. 'it> h l ! l . Wg3 would be a mistake in view of l . . .'it> e l ! 2. Wg2 W e2 3. Wg3 W fl , etc. Nailing down the d7-pawn in its place and forcing Black to give up the opposition. l . .. 'itl c8 l . . . '>td2 Or l . . .W e8 2. W c4. If l . . .g4, then not 2. fxg4? in view of 2 . . . e4 3. g5 e3 4. g6 e2 5. g7 e l � + . but first 2. Wg2! , and if then 2 . . . W c2 , then 3. fxg4! e4 4. g5 e3 5. g6, etc. 2. 'it> e4! 2. 'it' c4 would have only resulted in a loss of time . 2. W h2! 2 W b7 3. W f5 W c6 4. W e5 Wb7 5. Wf6 W b6 6. 'ftle7 W c6 7. d4-d5+ , etc. ••• White continuously maintains the distant horizontal opposition (symmetrically along the file from fl to f8). 2 W d3 3. Wh3! W e3 4. W g3!, etc. ••• 216 Pawn Endings N. Grigoriev, 1935 3 •.• 'it' e8! 4. 'it'h5 ® f8 5. 'it> g5! The decisive waiting move: if now 5 . . . We8?, then 6. \tlh6 \t> f8 7. \tlh7. 155 5 . . . 'it' g8 White to move and win Achieving the win here takes very accurate play. What kills Black is the fact that there are no available squares on the f-file. If we move the entire position down one rank ( WKg4, p/J, /5, BKj7, pf6), then Black could draw with 5 . . . ® f8 ! 6. \tlf4 \t>e7 7. \t> e4 'it> d6! 8. \t> d4 \t> c6 9. \t>c4 \tld6, etc. 6. @f5 \t> h7 On 6 . 'it> f8 there would follow 7 . \t> e5 \t> e8 8 . \t> d6 \t> d8 9 . f5 , and wins. . 1 . W f5 l .Wg5? would be mistaken in view of l . ..We5!, as would 1 . @g4? because of l . . .We6!. l ... @ d6 If l . . .\t>d4, then 2. f4 @ d5 3. \t>g4! \t> d6 4. 'itihS! (threatening to bring hiskingto g7) 4. We6 5. @gS, with 6. W h6 to follow. . 7. \t>e4! N ow White moves in a roundabout manner toward e7; h e avoids the e 5 square in order t o occupy i t only in reply to . . . \t>g6. 7 . . . \tlh6 .. 2. f4 \t> d7 If we moved this position one rank down ( WK/4, p/J, /5, BKd6, p/6), the win would no longer be possible (see the note to Black's fifth move). 3. @ g4! Or 7 . . . @ g8 8. @ dS (he could also play 8. @ eS) 8 . . . @ f8 9. \t> d6!, winning. 8. @ d5! \t> g6 9. @ e5 @ -any 10. @ d6 and wins . We conclude our survey of these endings on the theme of "two pawns vs. one " with the following substantial study by G rigoriev. Again heading for h6 via a rounda bout way (avoiding g5, so as to occupy it only in reply to . . . @ e6 or . . . @ f8 ) . 217 Chapter 9 N. Grigoriev, 1925 1 56 a while before winning it: otherwise, Black not only deprives himself of all chances to win, he loses even the draw. For example, if l . . . W h6, then 2 . W f6 W h5 3 . 'i!lxf7, with a win /or White; the same result with I . . .ffi. l . . . W h4, it turns out, is the only move! 2. 'it> f4 White to move and draw White needs to do something about the threat of . . . W g5 followed by . . . f7-f5 . However, i t i s not easy t o mount a coun terattack: for example, if I . Wffi, then l . . .Wg4 2. W xf7 Wf5!, and on 1 . W d5, there follows l . . .f5 2. Wc6 f4 etc. Black wins in both of these cases. t.'it>f5! It turns out that White has an origi nal plan at his disposal. For the mo ment, he contents himself with defense: maintaining the diagonal opposition, he restricts the black king. But when Black, in an attempt to wrest the opposition, makes a move with the pawn, White abandons his waiting tactics and insti tutes a combinative attack. t . .. W h4! The main interest in this study lies in the mutual tension of the play. Both sides must carefully consider each of their moves. Setting himself the goal of winning the opposition, yet he must wait 218 White must maintain the diagonal opposition for as long as possible! Devi ating from this plan would lead to de feat, for instance 2 . 'iit> ffi? 'iit> g4 3. Wxfl W f5!, etc . 2 W h3 •.• Here too, 2 . . . ffi would be a mistake, which is not hard to prove . And if 2 . 'iit> h5, then 3 . W f5 leads to the previous position. .. 3. 'it> f3 'it> h2 Black must still act with great care: the move . . . f7-ffi he has prepared he must again postpone, since now it would be met by 4. 'it> f4 'it>g2 5 . 'it> f5 'it> f3 6. 'iit> xf6 W e4 7. W e6 with a win/or White. 4.'it>f2! Again the only move. For example, if 4. W f4 then 4 . . . 'iit> g2 5 . W e4 (or 5 . 'it'e5 Wg3!) 5 . . . Wg3! 6. 'iit> e5 'it> g4 7. 'iit> f6 (7. W d5 f5) 7 . . . W f4, with a win/or Black. 4 . . . f6! Pawn Endings At last this can be played. After 4 . . . 'it> h l 5. 'it> fl f6 6. 'iil f2 'iil h2 we would reach the same position as in the main variation. " However, there is a prophet in the country! " The long-forgotten counter attack on the queenside finally comes to pass. 7. W d5! 5. 'iil f3 White has to give up the opposition. Now the only thing that can save him is - the opposition! However, the waiting game also has a role to play: in order to avoid a repeti tion, Black needs to advance the f-pawn, which, as we shall see, will increase the power of White's counterattack. 5...'iii gl Black expects to mount an attack on the b-pawn. 6. 'it> e4! The time for a cautious waiting game has passed. Now we should carry out the attack with the utmost vigor! 6 'it>f2! ••• Up to this point, the counterattack would have failed on account of . . . f7-f5 . But now this move has lost its former power, since the f-pawn's movement is blocked by its own king. Only now can we evaluate the sub tlety of White 's play in sufficient depth: first he made the f-pawn advance, after which he would threaten to capture the pawn, and when Black finally protects the pawn, White will get the chance to mount an attack on the opposite wing. Warding off the attack on the kingside, Black must allow the queenside attack! 7 . . . f5 8. 'it>c6 f4 9. 'it>xb6 fJ 10. 'it>c7 'it> e2 1 1 . b6, draw. Examples 135-137: 1 35 . Jlandbuch, 1 843 . 6 . . . 'iil g2 would be a mistake, as this would be met by 7. 'it> f5 with a win for White! After 6 . . . 'iil f2, 7. 'iit f5 would also be bad, in view of7 . . . 'it>e3 with a win for Black. It would seem that now Black has achieved his goal: his king has broken into the clear, and the f-pawn is un touchable. White to move wins; Black to move draws. 219 Chapter 9 ly meets with great difficulties, since in many positions you have to go by vari ous considerations which sometimes contradict one another. 1 36. The positions examined under this heading we will examine not by their outward appearances, but by their inner meaning. a) MAKING USE OF THE KING'S ACTIVE POSITION White to move and win. In the following position (F. Thied, 1 885) 137. Black to move and win. D. PAWN ENDINGS WITH MODE THAN THREE PAWNS This vast topic cannot be studied in such detail as the previous ones. S o we will not try to give an exhaustive analysis of all possible positions of this kind: we wish only to illustrate the general principles which help you to orient yourself in this type of ending. Almost all of these considerations are well known to the reader; using them in practice frequent220 White to move wins: l. 'it>f7 , and if l . . .'it>h8 , then 2 . 'it>g6. True, if l . <tifl, Black does have l . . . hS! , but even this doesn 't help, since White has a counter combination: 2. h4! 'it>h6 3. W f6 ! gxh4 4. g5+ 'it>h7 5. 'it>f7! . In the position shown in Diagram 1 57, White wins this way: 1. 'it>f3 'it> f6 If l . . .eS, then 2. 'it>e4 'it>e6 3. e3 , while on l . . .e6 there follows 2. W e4 '>fif f6 Pawn Endings C. Salvioli, 1 887 157 The exact moves are : I. We3 Wd6 2 . '1tif4 '1tie7 3 . '1tig5 '1tif7 4. W h6! W f6 5 . c3 (a decisive " loss of tempo"!) 5 . . . W f7 (or 5 . . . W f5 6 . W g7) 6. W h7 W f6 7. Wg8!. The strength o f the king's active po sition is illustrated even better by the next two examples, in which the factor indicated is more important than having an extra pawn. White to move and win In this position by B. Horwitz ( 1 879) 3. e3 W f7 4. W e 5 W e7 5 . e4. The white king's more active position restricts the opponent, and with the aid of "reserve moves" he will win the game. 2. W e4 W e6 3. e3! W f6 4. @ d5 W f7 4 . . . e 6 + 5 . @ d6 @ f7 6. We5 leads only to a transposition of moves. 5. @es e6 6. '1t'd6 '1tif6 7. e4 '1tif7 8. es The win is achieved in similar fash ion also in the following position by G . Walker ( 1 84 1 ) : White wins by means of a pawn sacrifice: I . @ g7 ( I . e6 is premature on account of l . . . fxe6 2. W g7 W c7 ! , taking the distant opposition) l . . .W e8 2. e6! fxe6 3. Wg8 c;t>d8 ( 3 . . . e5 doesn't help) 4. Wf8! W d7 5 . c;t>t7 c;t>d6 6. '1t'e8 and wins. In another position by the same composer: (See diagram next page) White to move - here the extra pawn is also useless. For example: l . '1tid3 22 1 Chapter 9 Em. Lasker and Reichhelm, 190 1 1 58 Relatively better than l . @ f3. l . .. @ f4 2. @ d4 @ xg4 3. @ e3 @ h5! Curiously, after 3 ... Wg3 it would be Black who loses, in view of the break 4. e5!. 4. 'it>f3 'iil h 6! The first to show this move was G . Marco ( Wiener Schachzeitung, 1898). Horwitz himself considered the position drawn, in view of 4 . . . g4+ 5. Wg2! W h6 6. 'it> h2! \t>g5 7. \t>g3. In this variation, the g5 square corresponds to g3. 5. 'it> e3 'it> g7 6. 'it>d4 'it>f7 7. 'it>c4 rtie7 8. 'iii d4 If 8. 'it>d5, then 8 . . . g4. There follows 8 'it> d7 9. 'it>c4 'it> c7 10. 'it>d4 'it>b6 1 1 . 'it> c4 g4 12. 'it>d4 g3 13. 'it>e3 'it>c5 14. W e2 W d4 15. 'it>f3 g2 (but not 1 5 . . . 'it> d3 , in view of 1 6 . e5!) 16. Wxg2 Wxe4. .•• 222 White to move and win The pawns here are immobile ; only the kings can move. Black must protect the b5 square, and also defend himself against an end-run maneuver on the kingside, not allowing the white king to h5. White is in a more favorable posi tion, since (thanks to the extra pawn on d4) Black does not threaten to invade his queenside; in addition, Black must forego a kingside end-run of his own, as that would take a lot of time and allow White to decide matters on the queen side. In a few words - White's king takes up an active position, while Black's king is passive. White has more space for maneuvering, which enables him to keep Black off-balance; the question is whether Black will be able to prevent White's breakthrough on one wing or the other. For this, we determine where Black's king must go in answer to any move by White. First we establish which square cor responds to c4. Clearly, in reply to 'it>c4 Black must play . . . W b6. If, for instance, Black were to respond to l . 'it> c4 with Pawn Endings l . ..Wa6, then 2. 'it> d3 (the white king moves toward the h-file , since in that direction the black king will fall quite a distance behind) 2 . . .'iil b 6 3 . 'it> e 3 W c 7 4. 'it> f3 'it> d7 5. 'it> g3 'it> e7 6. W h4 'it> f6 7 . 'it>h5! . From this variation, i t i s clear that after Black's move, the distance between the two kings must not be greater than a single file. And so, W c4 must not be answered by . . . W a6, because after this move by Black the white king will be two files to the right, and he can increase (briefly) that distance to three files. The d3 square is next to the c4 square; therefore , in reply to W d3 , the black king will have to take up a square next to b6 - which is the square c7. When the white king reaches e3 or e2, then the black king must absolutely go to the d-file; if it is placed any further into the queenside, then the white mon arch will break into the kingside ; and if Black's king stands on the king's side of the d-file, then it will not reach the queenside in time to defend it. king runs to the kingside) 5. W c 3 Wc7 6. Wd3, and Black's king stands on the square it needs to move into. Or if l . . .W b6, then 2. W c2 ! Wb7 (2 . . . W c7 3. 'it> d3) 3 . 'it> c 3 , and again White 's king has used its extra space to outmaneuver Black's. l . . .Wb8 is no use either, in view of 2. r:Ji/c2!. 2. 'it>c l! 'it>c8 It is not difficult to find the right replies to other moves. For instance, if 2 . . . \t> a6, then 3. 'ltt d l or 3 . W d2, reach ing the h5 square . 3. 'lttd 2! W d7 4. \t> c3! It would be a mistake to play 4. W e3 or 4. We2, due to 4 . . . W d8 ; it would also be wrong to play 4. 'lttd l or 4. 'lttd 3 on account of 4 . . . W c7 . But then 4. W c2 or 4. W e i are pos sible, although they do involve a loss of time. 4 'it>c7 5. W d3 •.. Now let's go back to the starting po sition (Diagram 1 58) and see how White ought to play so as not to let the win slip away. The most natural move, I . Wb2, turns out to be mistaken: detailed analy sis shows that after I . W b2? W a8! White must settle for a draw. This is more energetic than 5. W b3. When White has a choice , then he should go to those squares which leave him the greater flexibility to go after the decisive squares b5 and h 5 . 5 ... Wb6 1. Wbl! Wb7 If now l . . .W a8 , then 2. W b2 Wb8 3 . lt>c2 Wc8 4. 'it> d2! W d8 (else the white I f 5 . . . W d7(d8/c8jb8), then 6. 'it>c4b5; and on 5 . . . Wb7 White answers 6. \t> e 3 . 223 Chapter 9 6. 'JJe 3, etc. After 6. \t> c4 \t>a6, the game would have dragged on a bit. Now let us look at this position: F. Zakman, 1913 On 2 . . . \t> c7? there follows 3 . \t> e7. 3. \t>f7 'JJb8 4. cJoie6! More decisive than 4. W f8 , which would only draw out White's solution. 4 ... \t>a7 Or 4 . . . �b7 5 . � d7 . 1 59 5. � e7 W a6 On 5 . . . Wb8, 5 . . . Wb7, or 5 . . . @b6 there would follow, respectively, 6. @d8, 6. 'it>d7, or 6. @ d6, maintaining the op position. White to move and win It's not hard to see that the only response to 'it>d7 is . . .'it>b7 ; to 'it>d6, ... W b6; and to 'it>d8 , ...'it>b8. I . W d6? or I . @f6? would be weak in view of l . . . W b6!. Instead, White must make a move that Black cannot answer by occupying a square that allows him to respond appropriately when White en ters one of those squares. We have such a move: I . @ f5 ! . 1 . \t>f5! \t>b6 Black cannot take the opposition, and must eventually yield. If 1 . . .\t>a6, then 2. W e6! \t> a7 3 . \t> e7 ! , etc . , just as in the main variation after 5. 'it>e7 . 2. \t>f6! \t>b7 224 6. @ d8! � b7 7. W d7 (the opposi tion) 7 W b6 ( Black must give way) 8. 'it' c8 and wins. .•• In the positions given above, the ag gressive position of the king was deci sive; in Diagrams 1 60 and 1 6 1 , we have situations where Black manages to avoid losing through accurate defense. Grob Nimzowitsch Ziirich 1 934 - 1 60 Pawn Endings l. . W d7! . Weaker is the "natural" move 1 . . . 'iild6, i n view of 2. f4 'litc6 3 . b4! cxb4 4. 'itxb4 W b6 (if 4 . . . 'litb7?, then 5. Wc5 Wc7 6. a5!, and if 4 ... W c7? there would follow 5. Wc5 W b7 6. a5 Wc7 7. W d5 'it>d7 8 . W e5 W e7 9.f5! and White wins) 5. a5 + W c6 6. W c4 W d6 7. W d4 W e6 (7 . . . Wc6 loses quickly to 8 . We5 W b5 9. Wffi c.t>xa5 I O. W xg6) 8 . W c 5 ! W f5 9. 'it>b6 W xf4 I O . W xa6 g5! l l. hxg5! (on 1 1. Wb5 comes, not 1 l . . .gxh4? , but 1 1 . . . g4!) 1 l . . .h4 1 2 . g6 h 3 1 3 .g7 h 2 1 4 . g8'i6 b l� 1 5 . W a7 , with winning chances. cause of 5 . . . Wb7 6. � b4 W c6, while 5 . a 5 ? even loses t o 5 . . . W d 5 ! ) 5 . . . a5 6. W d4 W d6 7. We4 We6!, draw. 3 a5 ••• If, instead of this, Black attempts to "play for the win" with 3 . . . Wd5 4. W e3 c4? , then this would be met by 5 . b4, when it would not be White, but Black who would be seeking the draw with 5 . . . c 3 6. W d3 c2! 7 . 'itxc2 'itc4 8. b 5 axb5 9 . a5! 'i!tc5 I O. Wb3 'ittd 5, etc. 4. 'iit c4 'iii'c6 5. 'itc3 Wd6 6. W c4 'iitlc6 Yz-Yz 2. f4 N. Grigoriev, 1932 White tries to steer the game to the above variation. If 2 . W xc5, then 2 . . . g5! (the same move would apply against 2 . 'it>d5) 3 . W d4! gxh4 4 . @ e3 a5 ! , after which Black, not White , would have to seek the draw with 5. @f2 @ e6 6. @ g2 'it> f5 7. W h3 W g5 8 . f4+ @ xf4 9. @ xh4 'it>e4 I O. W xh5 � d4 1 1 . @ g4 @ c 3 1 2. @f3 @ xb3 1 3 . W e2 @ xa4 14. W d l @ b3 15. 'itc 1 ! . 2. . . W d6! After 2 . . . W c6? 3 . b4! , White indeed would have moved the game into the above variation. But with 2 . . . @ d6! Black avoids all danger. Here again we have an example of the immediate triangulation ( . . . 'itc6-d7-d6, instead of . . . W c6-d6). 3 W d3 . If now 3 . b4 cxb4 4. W xb4, then 4. .. W c6 5. W c4 ( 5 . W a5 is useless be- 161 Draw In this position, White's direct king side attack is balanced by Black's queen side counterattack, i.e. I . W g7 W c2 2. W g6 Wc3 3. @xh5 W xb4 4. Wg6 @ c3 5 . h5 b4, etc. However, White has at his disposal the following plan, as well: he can maneuver with his king on a middle course, maintaining contact with both flanks. 225 Chapter 9 1. 'iti e7! Taking the midpoint - the e-file - between the pawns. Now it is not easy for Black to find the proper continuation. For example , if l . . .'iiid 2? , then 2. 'iii d 6! 'iii c3(e3) 3. @cs wins. l . . .'it>e2? also loses, thanks to 2 . 'iii e6! (taking the distant opposition and, at the same time , achieving mas tery of the e-file) 2 . . . @e3 (if 2 . . . @ d 3 , then 3 . 'iiid 5!, while o n 2 . . . @ f3 there follows 3 . W f5 ! ; these variations show that if White had left the center file to the black king, White would have won , b y sending his king to the same side as his opponent) 3 . 'iiie 5! (forcing Black either to retreat along the central file , or to leave this file altogether) 3 . . . 'iii e 2 4. W e4 @ e l 5 . 'it>e3 ! , and White wins, since after the forced retreat of the op ponent from the center file, White aims his king to the same side his opponent is going to. Regarding the possibilities l . 'iiie8 and I . 'iiifl, see Variations I and I I . 1 .. .@ e l ! The only correct move. After the at tacking white king's deployment in the middle file, Black must also go to that file, and with that he must occupy a square of the same color as the opponent (while maintaining the opposition) . Following the rule we indicated, Black keeps for himself this "commanding" position on the central file and later 226 squeezes his opponent entirely off the file . 2. 'it> e6 IfWhite leaves the center file, Black's defense will be easier, i.e. 2. W d6 'iiif2 ! or 2. W f6 W d2 ! , with an obvious draw. From this it is clear that the defending player must, in the event that his oppo nent leaves the central file, aim for the opposite side of the central file . The rules for conducting attack and defense are not always the same! 2 ... @ e2! 3. 'iii e5 'iii e3 By taking the opposition, Black has succeeded in defending the center file and has therefore achieved his goal - i.e. , the draw. 4. \t> f5 If4. W d5 , then 4 . . . W f4! , and after 5. W e6? \t> e4! (6. W e7 W e5 7. W e 8 We6) White will even lose. 4 . . . \t>d4! 5. \t>g5 \t> c4 6. \t> xh5'iiixb4 7. 'iiig5 'iiic4 8. h5 b4 , draw. This analysis has shown some gen eral considerations which should guide you in the position examined. From this it's clear that the methods for conduct ing the attack differ somewhat from the methods of defense (the king which is closer to the line of demarcation , or who first reaches that line , should be con sidered the attacker) . In order to bring complete clarity to the solution, let's look at Variations I and I I also. Pawn Endings VARIATION/: I. <;i;>e8? This move actually loses, since , by refusing to cross the line of demarca tion, White - for no reason at all - con signs himself to defense. As has already been explained, in such circumstances the opponent must try to hold the op position. If the attacking king (in this case, White's king) does not go to the central file, then the defending king (located on the opposite side of the central file) also should not occupy that file. If l . . .<;i;>e2? anyway, then 2. <;i;>e6!, while on l . . . W e l ? there follows 2 . @ e7! and White i n both cases. 2. <;i;>g6 @ b3, draw. Lisitsyn Alatortsev Moscow 1 935 - 1 ... <;i;>e2! 2. <;i;>e7 On 2. <;i;>fl there would follow 2 . . . lt>t3! . (If, with the kings o n the center file, the defending king leaves that posi tion, the win is obtained by moving the attacking king to the same side where the enemy king is headed. ) 2 ... <;i;>e3 3. <;i;>e6 W e4 4. W e7 Other moves also fail: if 4. <;i;>f6, then 4 . <;i;>f4!. .. Black to move 4 ... W e5 5. W e8 <;i;>e6! 5 W f6 would be premature: 6. <;i;>d7 with a draw. . . . 6. <;i;>f8(d8) W f5(d5), and Black wins. VARIATION II: t . wn Less energetic than I . <;i;>e7 ! , since Black here easily forces the draw. I. . . <;i;>c2(d2)! Here Black's king is more active than White 's; however, as Levenfish and Chekhover showed (Shakhmaty v SSSR, 1 936, No. 1 2) , such an advantage is not enough to win in this position (see the notes to moves 8 and 1 0 ) . l . . . @ c5! 2. W c3 a5 Securing the king's position at c5. 3. h4 h5 4. W d3 As a consequence of Zugzwang (a lack of good moves) , White must give 227 Chapter 9 way and allow the black king access to the b4 square. 4 . . . 'it>b4 5. \ftc2 b5 Black plans to approach the e3- and f3-pawns with the king. However, in or der to carry out these plans, he must pre vent, in timely fashion, his opponent's counterattack on the queenside, which is accomplished by liquidating all the pawns there. The temporary abandon ment of the square b4 that he currently occupies plays no significant role here. 6. axb5@xb5 7.@c3@c5 8.@d3 Levenfish and Chekhover recom mend 8. e4! , with the following varia tions: l) 8 . . . @bS ( Black waits until his opponent runs out of pawn moves) 9. f4 (White uses the break to create a pawn chain eS-f4-g3 -h4) 9 . . . @cs IO. eS! 'lt> bS 1 1 . @d3 @b4 (attempts with . . . '.t>bS cS-dS and . . . f7-f6 lead, after eSxfO g7xf6 and g3-g4! , to an advantage for White) 1 2 . '.t>c2 a4 (if 1 2 . . . '.t>a3? 1 3 . @c3 '.t>a2 , then 14. b4 and White wins, because his g3-pawn is harder to attack than Black's f7-pawn) 1 3 . bxa4 '.t>xa4 1 4. @c3 @bS l S. @ b3 @ cS 1 6 . @ c3 @dS 1 7 . @ d3 g6 1 8 . @ e3 '.t>c4 1 9 . '.t>e4 @c3 20. @e3, draw. 2) 8 . . . eS! 9. f4 f6 ( If now IO. fxeS? or IO. fS? then White loses, for example , IO. fxeS? fxeS 1 1 . '.t>d3 '.t>b4 1 2. @c2 a4! 1 3 . bxa4 @ xa4 1 4 . @ c3 @bS IS. @b3 @cs 1 6 . '.t>c3 g6! 17. 'it>d3 'it>b4 18. We3 'it>c3 1 9 . @f3 'it>d3 20. g4 W d4!; or IO. 228 fS? @ bS 1 1 . @d3 @ b4 1 2. '.t>c2 a4 1 3 . bxa4 @ xa4 1 4 . @ c3 '.t>a3 . This posi tion is winning for Black, as IS. @c4 is met by 1S . . . @ b2 1 6. @ dS @ c3 1 7. @ e6 @ d4 1 8 . @ f7 'it>xe4, while "the attempt to play for stalemate after 1 5. '.t>d3 '.t>b3 1 6. '.t>e3 '.t>c3 1 7 . '.t>f3 @d3 1 8 . g4 hxg4+ 1 9 . '.t>xg4 '.t>xe4 20. '.t>hS is refuted by 20 . . . @ f4! 2 1 . @ g6 e4, etc.") IO. @d3! (refraining from 1 0 . fxeS and IO. f5 , White keeps the pawn tension) IO . . . '.t>b4 1 1 . 'it>c2 a4 1 2. bxa4 @ xa4 1 3 . @c3 @ bS 14. 'it>b3 @ c s l S. @c3 g6 (after this move , White must give up the opposition; still, he manages to save the game) 1 6. 'it.'d3 @ b4 1 7 . @c3. Now Black has to play 1 7 . . . @ cS, tak ing the draw, since 1 7 . . . @ c4? loses on account of the following combination: 1 8 . fS! gxfS 1 9 . exfS @ dS 20. g4! @d6! 2 1 . gS! fxgS (on 2 1 . . .@ e7 there follows 22. gxf6+ Wf7 23. @ f3 ! @ xf6 24. @e4) 22. hxgS, and White wins, "since Black cannot force the advance of his pawns to the fourth rank without losing them, for instance, 22 . . . h4 2 3 . W f3 and then Wg4, W xh4 etc . " 8 . . .@b4 9. W c2 Wa3 10. '>t> c3? The losing move. Here also, IO. e4! fS (for instance) 1 1 . eS would have saved the game. 10 . . . 'iitla2! Now 1 1 . e4 is already too late , in view of 1 1 . . . @ b l 1 2. eS ® c l 1 3 . f4 @bl 14. @ c4 (after 14. b4 a4, Black queens with check) 14 . . . @ c2 lS. ® bS (if lS. b4, then 1 S . . . a4, and after the pawns queen, then . . . �a l -c3+ wins the queen) l S . . . Pawn Endings 'it'xb3 1 6. W xa5 W c4 1 7. W b6 W d5 1 8 . Wc7 ffi! 1 9 . exffi gxf6 20. g4 hxg4 2 1 . h5 g3, and after both pawns queen, then . . . Vig l -a7+ wins. In the following position (Salvioli, 1 887): The variations presented in this and the previous note were provided by Lev enfish and Chekhover. 1 1 . 'itic2 Here, not even 1 1 . b4 axb4+ 1 2 . 'it'xb4 helps: 1 2 . . . Wb2 1 3 . W c4 W c2 1 4. 'it'd4 'iti d2 1 5 . 'iti e4 'iti e2 1 6. W f4 ffi! 1 7. g4 g6 1 8 . gxh5 gxh5 1 9. \tie4 'itit2 20. 'it'f4 (or 20. f4 f5 + 2 1 . 'iti d4 'itif3! 22. Wd3 Wg3) 20 . . . Wg2, and Black wins. Nor is 1 1 . g4 satisfactory, in view of the following variation of Chekhover's: 1 l . . .hxg4! 1 2. fxg4 'it>b l ! 1 3 . g5 ( 1 3 . h5 ffi 1 4. e4 e5) l 3 . . . g6 1 4 . e4 e5, etc . 11 fS 12. W c3 'lt>b l ! 13 e4 .•. . 1 3 . b4 is now met by 1 3 . . . a4! . 13 fxe4 14. fxe4 e5 White to move - Black has an ex tra pawn, but after l . g5! his pawns are paralyzed, while White 's passed pawn remains in force . The game ends in vic tory for White , for instance l . g5! Wc5 2 . W b3 Wb5 3 . a4+ W a5 4. Wa3 \t> a6 5. W b4 W b6 6. a5+ Wa6 7 . W a4 W a7 8 . W b 5 W b7 9. a6+ (White also scores the point after 9. W c 5 W a6 1 0 . W d6 W xa5 1 1 . 'iti e7 '>tb6 1 2 . 'iti xfl W c6 1 3 . Wg7 'iti d6 14. '1tixh7 'iti e7 1 5 . '1tixg6) 9 . . W a7 1 0 . W a5 Wb8 1 1 . '>tb6 '>ta8 1 2 . a7! , and it's mate in 1 5 . . ••• White is out of useful moves. I n the following position b y Kling and Horwitz ( 1 85 1 ) : 15. 'itid3 'itib2 16. 'itic4 'itic2 17. W d5 \t>xb3 18. '>t xe5 a4 The game concluded: 19. Wf5 a3 20. Wg6 a2 2 1 . W xg7 al� +22. W g6 �e5 0- 1. b) EXPWITING AN AGGRESSIVE PAWN STANCE 229 Chapter 9 White to move - White is a pawn down but, as compensation, his king is in a strong position and Black's pawns can be restrained by 1 . f4! . This game ends in a draw, e.g. , 1 . f4 @ fl 2. @ d7! g5 3. fxg5 e5 4. @d6, etc. B. Horwitz, 1879 If 4 . . . 'it>g7 , then 5 . @ e6 h5 6. Wd5!, etc. 5. 'it> e7 h5 Or 5 . . . 'it>g7 6. \t> e6 h5 7 . 'it>d5 . 6. 'it>xf6 h4 7. g7 This is more effective than 7. W e7. 1 63 7 ... h3 8. 'it> g6 h2 9. f6 hl'fi' 10. 17# J. Berger J. Bauer Conclusion of a correspondence game 1 889- 1 89 1 - 1 64 Win Here White's advantage consists in that ( 1 ) his pawns defend each other; and (2) White's g6-pawn prevents the black king from leaving the e7-e8-h8-h7 rectangle. Let's suppose that it's White to move in the starting position. He wins as fol lows: I. W f4 W e8 If l . . . h5, then 2. Wg3 Wg7 3. 'it>h3!. 2. @ e4 '>it e7 3. @ d5 W f8 Forced, since 3 . . .@ e 8 meets with 4. @e6 threatening g6-g7; while if 3 . . . h5, then White's king returns to the kingside. 4. 'it>d6! 'it>g8 230 White to move and win I n this position White is ahead by a pawn, but his queenside pawns may not advance without doing serious harm to themselves. Berger finds a pretty path to victory: he sacrifices a pawn, intending to create an outside passed pawn. I. c4 bxc3 2. @ e3 @ gs 3. a4! The pawn advances two squares. If 3 . a3? , then 3 . . . @ xg4 4. b4 axb4 5 . axb4 \t> f5 ! . Pawn Endings 3 W xg4 4. b4 axb4 ••• If 4 . . . hS, then S. bxaS! h4 6. a6 h3 7. a7 h2 8 . a8�, holding h i . W d4 c;t> fs s . W xc4 'it' xf4 6. W b4 'it' e3 7. w as c;t d3 8 . 'it' xa6 W c4!) 4 ... @ f6 s . f5 c3 6. bxc3 aS 7. c4 a4 8 . W d4 W xfS, etc. t . . . c;t> d6 2. W c3 @ d5 3. fS! 5. W d3!! Only thus can White restrain the black pawns. 3 . @ b4 would be bad, due to 3 . . . 'it> e4!. 3 ... @eS 4. W xc4 S. a5 b3 6. Wd3 b2 7. Wc2 would be a mistake, in view of7 . . . <Jtf3! 8. a6 <Jte2 9. a7 bl�+! IO. Wxb l Wd2, with a forced draw. 5 . . . hS 6. a5 White wins, since after 9. a8� , the After 4. f6?, Black obtains a draw as follows: 4 . . . c;t> xf6 S. W xc4 W eS 6. Wc5 W e4 7. Wb6 c;t>d4 8. @ xa6 (or 8 . b4) 8 . . . W c4! . 4 'it' xfS •.• h I square is held. F. Prokop, 1926 1 65 I t would seem as though now the draw is guaranteed, because Black would respond to s. Wb4 with 5 . . . We4 6. w as @ d3 7 . W xa6 W c4. 5. W d4! White to move and win A most elegant waiting move . On S . . . W f4 White would win a vital tempo with 6. b4! , and then he would go after the a6-pawn; and if 5 . . . We6, then after 6. W cS, Black would find himself fur ther away from the pawn at b2 than after the immediate S. W cS. 5 ... @ e6 6. W c5 W e5 7. b4! Turning to Diagram 1 6S, here too, White has an outside passed pawn. White gains the victory as follows. 1. 'tti d2! l . W e2? is wrong in view of l . . .W d6 2. c;t>f3 W dS 3 . W e 3 W e6 4. W e4 (or 4. A final bit of elegance. 7. Wb6 is pre mature because of 7 . . . Wd4! 8. Wxa6 Wc4. But now Black cannot parry White 's threatened 8. @ b6. Now that you ' re acquainted yourself with the main idea of Prokop's study 23 1 Chapter 9 (S. W d4! ) , it is useful to go back to the "false lead" I . W e2? and show why, after this move, we cannot play the main idea of this study. The problem is that, after I . 'it>e2? 'it>d6 2. 'it>f3 'it>dS 3. 'it>e3 'it>e6 4. 'it>d4 'it>fS s. 'it>xc4 'it>xf4 6. 'it>d4!, we have a position, generally speaking, that is the same as the one in the main variation after White 's fifth move , with the difference that here the black king stands on f4 instead of fS. This detail is very important, as it allows Black to save the game: 6. Wd4 @ f3 7. b4 (or 7. 'it>cS W c 3 8. W b6 Wd3 9. 'it>xa6 'it>c4!) 7 . . . 'it>e2 8. @ cs W d3 9 . Wb6 'it>c4, draw. consists of setting up obstacles on these highways. A. Troitzky, 1913 Black begins moving along Route Two. 1 . f6 Black must take this pawn, after which there is a roadblock (his own pawn! ) on the h4-gS-f6-e7-d8 route. t . . .gxf6 2. 'it> xg2 He must liquidate Black's threat of . . . 'it>g3 . 2 'it>g5 ••. 1 66 3. a4 bxa3 4. bxa3 @ rs 5. a4 @ es Now White sets up another road block on Route Two. 6. d6! cxd6 White to move and win Or 6 . . . c6 7 . aS W dS 8. a6 , and White wins, since c6 is no longer accessible to Black's king. 7. c6! dxc6 8. a5 White can't exploit his outside passed pawn immediately, since I . a4 would be met by I . . . bxa3 2. bxa3 Wg3! 3. a4 hS, while after l . Wxg2 WgS 2. a4 bxa3 3. bxa3 Wffi, the black king intercepts the a-pawn. Although Black's king can now enter the square aS-a8 -d8-dS, he can't catch the a-pawn along either eS-dS-c6-b7 or eS-d6-c7-b7 . In order to win, White prevents Black from moving along the route h4-gS-tO e7-d8-c8-b7 , and also interferes with his movement along the route h4-gS-fS-eS dS-c6-b7. The main idea of this study In the last three diagrams ( 1 641 66), White forced a win thanks to his outside passed pawn. The power of this pawn is that it allows us to distract the enemy king from the main theater of the 232 Pawn Endings fighting. However, we should not over estimate the power of passed pawns (see Diagrams 1 67 and 1 68 , for example) . After 3. b4 b5!, White would not be able to get in. 3 ... f6 4. h4 h6 5. g3 g5 Pirc - Alatortsev Moscow 1 935 167 Although Black will not be able to create a passed pawn, still he advances his pawns on the king's wing, with the idea of weakening the f4-pawn. 6. 'it> e3 gxf4 7. gxh4 h5 8. W d3 Yz-Yz Here White is practically a pawn to the good, since Black is unable to create a passed pawn on the kingside. On the other hand, Black's king can take up a powerful post at d5, which reduces his opponent's maneuverability considerably. Here the game was declared a draw, in view of 8 . . . b5 ! . If now 9. W c3 ? , then 9 . . . W e4! 1 0. W b4 W xd4 1 1 . axb5 axb5 1 2. W xb5 W e4 1 3 . W c5 W xf4 14. b4 'it>g4, and after mutual pawn promotion, it is Black who wins. On the other hand if, after 8 . . . b5, White plays 9. axb5 axb5 1 0 . W e 3 , then 1 0 . . . W d6 1 1 . W d2 (on 1 1 . � d3 W d5 1 2. W c3 there follows 1 2 . . . W e4!, a s in the above variation) l l . . .b4 ( l 1 . . .'1t> c6 or l 1 . . . '1t> e6 are also possible) 1 2. W c 3 W e6, and the game will end in a draw, since Black will occupy d5 only in reply to W d3 . 1. . . 'it' d5 2. a4 White's plan consists of playing for Zugzwang. He waits until Black runs out of pawn moves, in order to advance his own king to c4; then he 'll play d4-d5 and @d4, and then move the king to e5 and to the queenside , in some variations. Ilyin-Genevsky I. Rabinovich Leningrad 1 926 1. .. a6 Here and next move Black shores up b5 and e5, thus impeding his opponent's advance of the king. 2. b3 White to move and draw 233 Chapter 9 Here Black has, not one , but two outside passed pawns (not counting the one on b6) . However, balancing this, White can stir up a kingside counterattack to restrict the black king. Stoltz - Nimowitsch Berlin 1 928 1 69 I. g4! \t> f6 l . . .b3 would be useless, simply drop ping this pawn. 2. f4! Not allowing Black's king to get to gS or es (after . . . b4-b3, for instance) . 1 . . .f4! 2. gxf4+ 2 . . . d5 3 . 'itid4 h6 4 . 'iti d3 W e7 5. 'iti d4 W d 6 6. h4 Yz-Yz Now the black king is not active enough, as he must prevent the break through g4-gS with fS-f6 to follow. He cannot accomplish anything with just the pawns - for example, 6 . . . b3 7 . Wc3 d4+ 8 . W xb3 b S 9. � b4, and then once again Wb3. In Diagram 1 68 , the black pawns did not acquire decisive force , since the white king was able to impede their advance. Such freezing of the pawns by the king is possible only when the passed pawns are close to one another - that is, located on neighboring files, or separat ed from one another only by one inter vening file. In Diagram 1 69, Black cre ates passed pawns two files apart, which decides the game. On 2. aS or 2. b6 there would follow, as in the game, 2 . . . W d6!. 2 W d6! ••• Now the black pawns can promote on their own, unaided by the king. The white pawns lag somewhat behind. 3. a5 g3 4. a6 'iil c7! 5. 'iil e2 d3+ 6. Wxd3 g2 7. W e4 gl � The game concluded with 8. Wf5 �b6 9. 'it> g5 W d7 10. rs 'iil e7 0- 1 . I n the following example ( Sarwatt, 1 808): (See diagram next page) White to move - the queenside pawns are so active that they force the win: I . b6! axb6 (or l . . .cxb6 2 . a6 bxa6 3 . c6) 2. c6 bxc6 3. a6. The position shown offers a rare case 234 Pawn Endings Colle - Griinfeld Karlsbad 1 929 1 70 in which a breakthrough is possible de spite pawns being even. The breakthrough is interesting in the following position by Kling and Horwitz ( 1 85 1 ) : White to move and win Here the f4-f5 advance suggests it self - the more so, because other moves lose for White . However, in order for this advance to have decisive effect, White needs to play accurately. 1 . f5! gxf5 2. g6 f4+ 3. \ti g2!! White wins with l . g3+ txg3 + (if l . . . W h 3 , then 2 . gxf4! exf4 3 . e5 dxe5 4. d6, while after l . . .� g5 the simplest is 2. Wg2) 2. W g2 W h5 3 . W xg3 W g5 4. f4+ exf4+ 5. W f3 , etc . M istaken would be 3 . W h2? in view of 3 . . . f3 4. g7 f2 5. g8� fl � , af ter which not even the queen trade - which would be possible after 6. �b3+ \ti e2 7 . � c4+ W e l 8 . �xfl + W xfl - would be hazardous to Black's health. White 's advantage in this pawn ending would not suffice to win, as the following main l ine shows: 9. Wg3 We2 10. \ti f4 \ti d3 1 1 . \ti g5 \ti e4! 1 2 . Wxh5 \ti f5 1 3 . \ti h6 \ti f6 1 4 . h5! (or 1 4. W h7 \tJ fl 1 5 . h5 W f6 ; if now 1 6. h6? , then 1 6 . . . W fl , or if 1 6 . Wg8, then 16 . . . Wg5 1 7 . W fl W xh 5 1 8 . W e6 W g6, with an obvious draw) 1 4 . . . W fl 1 5 . Wg5 Wg7 1 6. <iil f5 W h6 1 7 . � e5 � xh5 1 8 . W d5 (now White 's king outdistances his op ponent's king considerably; still, the 235 Chapter 9 game is drawn) 1 8 . . . W gS 1 9 . ® cs ® f6 , etc . the outside passed pawn a t a7. So White plays for the breakthrough as a last resort. 3 ... ®e2 1 . c4! dxc4? Forced, in view of the threat of 4. ® fl . 4. g7 f3+ 5 . ® g3! Here too, the tournament book's recommended S. ® h2? is wrong, because of S . . . f2 6. g8� fl �, with a continuation similar to the one in the note t o White's third move. 5 ... f2 6. g8� n v:.v 7. V:.Vc4+ ® e l 8. v:.vxn + ® xn Compared to the variations examined previously ( 3 . '.it> h2? and 3. '.it> h2?), White has won an important tempo, as his king already stands on g3 instead of h2. 9. \ii> f4 1 -0 171 The character of the game is changed noticeably after this mistaken reply. 1 . . . 'it' fS ! 2. cxdS \ii> xg6 would have won. 2. h4! Now Black can no longer play 2 . . . @ fS because of 3. hS ®gS 4. dS @f6 5 . h6! . 2 a5 •.• Trying to make use of his mass of pawns. 3. h5 a4 4. ® d2! b5 5. d5+ ® d7 Relatively best. If now 6. ® c3?, then 6 . . . a3 7. h6 b4+! . 6 . h6! a3 7 . ® c2! b 4 8 . hxg7 b 3 + 9. '.it> b l O f course not 9. 'it>c3?, i n light of 9 . . . a2 1 0. '.it> b2 c3+ 1 1 . W a l c2 1 2. ®b2 a l �+ . 9 a2+ 10. ® a l ! c 3 1 1 . g8� 1 -0 • • . This position came up in a casual game between Stahlberg and Tartakower ( 1 934) . White is lost because Black has 236 The more active pawn chain was ex ploited in a curious manner in the fol lowing encounter between Zubarev and Grigoriev ( Leningrad 1 92S): Pawn Endings which would be met by 4. bxc4 a4 S. © d6 a3 6. cs+. 4. bxa4 c4 5. f4 d3 6. cxd3 cxd3 7. f5 d2 8. f6 dl'@' 9. f7 '@'d8 10. Wf5 '@'d6 0- 1 Black to move. Black won like this: Still another example of the exploi tation of a more aggressive position is shown in the analysis of Diagram 248 (see Variation I). E. mE KING AS A DEFENSIVE PIECE 1. .. b5 2. axb5+ © b6! The only winning move. If2 . . . W xbS, then 3. W e6 c4 4. bxc4+ W xc4 S. f4 a4 6. fS a3 7. f6 a2 8. f7 a l '@' 9. f8'@' '@'e l + 1 0 . W d7 ! , and the position is drawn. 3. © e6 We have presented a number of positions in which the favorable defensive position of the king saved the game: one frequently succeeded in saving the draw (even facing a n extra pawn) thanks to the opposition, not allowing the enemy king to advance. In the Philidor following example by Nor does 3 . W e 7 help, in view of 3 . . . a4! . G rigoriev gives the following variation (64 magazine, 1 92S, No. 20) : 4. bxa4 c4 S. f4 d3 6 . cxd3 cxd3 7 . f5 d 2 8 . f6 d l 'iV 9 . t7 '@' e 2 + 1 0 . 'it' d7 �f3 1 1 . 'lt> e8 '@' e4+ 1 2 . W d7 '@' fS+ 1 3. rj;; e7 '@' e s + 1 4 . 'it' d7 �f6 l S . as+ (or 1 5 . rj;; e8 �e6+ 16. Wf8 © c7 , etc . ) 1 5 . . . rj;; xbS! 1 6 . W e8 'iV e 6 + 1 7 . W f8 W c6 1 8 . a 6 rj;; d7 1 9. a 7 �dS 2 0 . <:t/g7 �g2 + , followed by ... �a8 ( + ) and ... W c 7 . 3 a4! ..• Considerably stronger than 3 . . . c4, White to move can defend against the black king's incursion and save the game , despite being two (!) pawns down. 237 Chapter 9 The entire art of the defense consists in not occupying e3 unless he needs to: White 's move 'i!i e 3 must come in reply to . . . 'tite5 and not before. So now White should play, not 1 . W e3?, but I . 'i!i e2! 'i!ie5 (if 1 . . .e3 2 . 'i!i xe3 'i!ie5, then 3 . 'i!id3, after which Black could not get into White's position) 2. 'i!ie3! 'i!i f5 3 . 'i!i f2 (he could also play 3. 'i.t d2) 3 . . . @ f6 4 . 'it' e 2 ! , etc. Now let 's take a look at a somewhat different position by Carrera. 2. \t> g3 f5 3. 'it' g2! The only move. If, for example, 3. 'i!i f4? , then 3 . . . h4 4. <;.t>e3 h3 5 . 'i!if2 h2 6. 'i!ig2 g3 7 . 'i!i h l f4 8 . 'i!i g2 f3 + 9. W h l f2, followed by 1 0 . . . h l � + and Black wins. 3 . . . h4 Or 3 . . . f4 4. @ f2 (he could also play 4. W h2). 4. 'i!i h2 f4 P. Carrera , 1617 Not 4 . . . g3+ 5 . 'i!i h3 ! f4 6. 'i!ig2. On 4 . . . h3 there would follow 5. 'i!ig3 f4+ 6. 'i!i h2! f3 7. 'i!ig3. In both of these vari ations, White first wins the pawn and then the game. 1 72 5. '.t> g l ! f3 Or 5 . . . g3 6. 'i!ig2. If 5 . . . h 3 , then 6. � h2 f3 7 . �g3. White to move and win Both kings occupy defensive posi tions: the black king, however, has no moves (for example, if . . . 'it'c8 or . . . 'i!ic7, then a6-a7) ; while White's king is in a more favorable position, since he is able to maneuver. Here is how White wins: 1. Wf4 f6 After 1 . . . f5 , 2 . 'titg3 clarifies matters at once. 238 6. 'iii fl h3 7. 'i!i g3 White wins, since after 7 . . . f2 we have 8. 'i!i xf2 h2 9. 'i!i g2 g3 1 0 . 'it' h l , forcing the black king to play a suicidal move. An example of original maneuver ing by the king in order to defend itself is given in, among others, the analy sis for Flohr - Capablanca ( Diagram 245) . Pawn Endings F. STALEMATE POSITIONS A. Selezniev, 1918 J. Berger, 1 889 1 74 173 White to move and draw White to move and draw 1. 'it> c6 W d8 2. W d5 'it> xd7 3. W e4 ... If 3 . W e 5 , then 3 . . . W e7 , followed by 'ift f6 and . . . g5-g4. 3 . . 'iit d6! . 3 . . . W e7 would have simplified White's task in view of 4. \t> f3 'iii fl 5 . 'itg3 , etc. 4. 'iit f3 � es s. � g4 � f6 6. W h5 'itxf5, stalemate. White finds an interesting draw in the following study. (See Diagram 1 74) 1 . f4 Mistaken would be l . h4 (or l . g3 Wc7) l . . .gxh4 2. f4, in view of 2 . . . � c7 3. f5 �d7!. 1 . . \t> c7 . If l . . . a5? then White breaks through on the kingside with 2. f5 gxf5 3. h4, etc . , while on l . . .gxf4 he of course plays 2. h4. 2. fxg5! If 2. f5 or 2. h4, then 2 . . . � d7!. With 2. fxg5 ! White prepares to play an un stoppable stalemate combination. 2 . . . as On this or any other move, White plays W h2-g3-h4, followed by g2-g3!, stalemate! With a stalemating combination (pointed out by Mar6czy) , Chigorin could have saved his game against Tar rasch (Ostend 1 905) , had he played (See diagram next page) l . �g4 � e4 2 . g6! h6 3 . W h5!. Only this combination leads to the draw: if l . gxf6 gxf6 2. ®g4, then 2 . . . ®e4 3. W h5 W xf5 4. � h6 �g4 5 . � xh7 W h5 ! . 239 Chapter 9 Forcing the draw. If Black promotes to queen or rook, it's a stalemate! Proper evaluation of the pawn end ing is necessary before starting to trade off all the remaining pieces on the board. An excellent illustration of this is Game 24 of the 1 935 World Championship match between Euwe (playing White) and Alekhine: 1 76 Stalemate also saves White in the fol lowing example. L. Kubbel, 1922 1 75 I. Jlxf8 + ? White to move and draw I. '1t d4 d6 2. '1t c3 d5 3. '1t d4 b4 4. @ xd5! If4. '1t d3 ? , then 4 . . . @b8. 4 . . .b3 5. 'it> c6 'it> b8 6. a7 was threatened. Playing for exchanges is most appro priate here, despite Black's sizable edge on the queenside. However, instead of the i ncorrect sequence of moves that White chooses, he should have played l . Jl xf3 ! '$'xg5 2 . :xrs+ @ xf8 3 . hxg5 , after which there is no win for Black: 3 . . . b5 4. f4! a5 5. W f2 a4 6. '1t e 3 c5 (or 6 . . . b4 7. '1t d4 c5+ 8. '1t c4 '1t e7 9. e4, followed by g3 -g4 and f4-f5 or e4-e5) 7. '1td3 @ e7 8. e4 '1t d6 9. g4 and then f4-f5 . I. . . 'it> xf8 2. '$' f4+ '$' t7 3. '$' xf3 '$' xfJ 4. exf3 e5! 6. 'it>b6 b2 7. a7+ ..ti a8 8 . ..ti a6! Now White must lose, since his king240 Pawn Endings side pawn mass is paralyzed (f3-f4 is not playable) . 5. @ n b S 6. @ e2 aS! This is how Black had to play. But in fact he played 6 . . . c5?, to which there ensued 7. @ e 3 ! with the unstoppable threat of 8. f4 exf4+ 9. @xf4. The game ended in a draw. The move 6 . . . a5 in the variation pre sented was pointed out by Alekhine . B lack uses triangulation ( . . . d5-e6d6-d5) with the idea of playing . . . b5-b4 with White 's king on d3 or on the sec ond rank (l.R.). 13. @ d3 @ d6 14. @ c3 @dS! 15. @ d3 b4 16. axb4 cxb4 17. @ c2 @c4 18. @b2 On 1 8 . h5 Black would once again transfer his king to the other wing: 1 8 . . . 'it' d 5 , etc . 18 •.• a3+ 19. @ a2 @ c3! 7. @ d3 7 . @ e3 a4 8 . f4 exf4+ 9 . @ xf4 no longer works, given the obvious reply 9 . . .b4 IO. @ e 3 b3 l l. axb3 a3!. 7 ... a4 8. @ c3 cs 9. g4 rtl e7 10. @ d3 with the decisive threat of 20 . . . b3+ 2 1 . <ti xa3 b2 2 2 . <ti a2 <tic2. In Game 6 of the same Euwe - Alekhine match, the following position arose: IO. g5 would be met by 1 0 . . . 'itt e7-e6f5-g6-h5 ; and if 1 0. h5 , then I0 . . '1li> e7f6-g5 , followed by ... e5 -e4. . 10 . . . @ d6 1 1 . @ c3 For the reason already given, White cannot here (or in the future) advance the kingside pawns. 11 •.• @ dS Now Black threatens to improve his position with 1 2 . . . b4+ and then 1 3 . . . c4, 14 .. @d4, 1 5 . . . b3, etc. Since during that time White could not push his own pawns, he would soon have to resign. (l. R.) . Despite his two-pawn advantage , Black is unable to win, since the ex change of rooks that's possible on this or on the following move leads only to a draw. This is how the game ended: 1 . 'itt fS •. 12. a3 'itt e6 24 1 Chapter 9 If l . . J::t g6, then 2. l::t xg6+ ! @ xg6 3. Wxg4 Wf6 4. f4! \t> e6 (4 ... e3 doesn't work because the e5-pawn is captured with check) 5. Wg3! (losing here is 5 . fxe5? W xe5 6. @g3, in view o f 6 . . . W d4 7. @ f2 W d3) 5 . . . W f5 6. fxe5 W xe5 7. Wf2 W d4 8 . We2, draw. 2. l::t ts + \!l e6 Here again, 2 . . . l::t f6 is useless due to 3. I:Ixf6+! W xf6 4. \t>xg4 @g6 5. f4 e3 6. f5+ ! \t> f6 7. @f3, draw. 3. @xg4 l::t d3 The game continued 4. l:e8+ W f6 5. f4! exf3 (after 5 ... l:td5, 6. Wg3, threaten ing 7. l::t xe5 or 7. fxe5+!, is the simplest) 6. l::t f8 + W e6 7. li:l:xf3 l:td2 8. l:tts l:td3 9. :a l:tdl to. W g3 e4 1 1 . l:tts l:td2 12. l':te8+ @rs 13. l:te7 l:ta2 Yz-Yz. Interestingly, not only in the end game of Game 24, but in Game 6 also, Alekhine (a few moves before the above position was reached) had serious win ning chances, but then let these chances slip by prematurely simplifying the posi tion. This position Black evaluated as win ning for himself. However, the continu ation was: 3. W b2 W c4 4. � a3! b2 If 4 . . . � c 3 , then it's stalemate! How ever, in reply to 4 . . . b2 White also has a study-like variation. 5. W a2! This move was not considered in time by Black; apparently he only expected the variation 5. W xb2? W xb4, winning. But after 5. @ a2! Black had to con sent to the draw, in view of 5 . . . b l �+ (or 5 . . . W c3 6. @ b l ) 6. W xb l W xb4 7. W b2 . These games show clearly the need to analyze carefully whether to simplify the position. Examples 138- 14Z· 1 77 Black to move; White wins. 242 Pawn Endings Win, no matter whose move it is. White to move draws. Show that 1. rtl a5? leads to defeat. 1 43 . Alatortsev - Kirov Factory (corr. 1 934-35) White to move and win. 1 4 1 . N. Grigoriev, 1 932. White to move wins. Black intends to play d5-d4. Find the only winning move. . . . White to move draws. Prove that White should not move the b2-pawn. 243 Chapter 9 144. H . Rinck, 1 9 1 2 . White to move draws. White to move and win. 1 4 7. K. Lokoka. White to move draws. 244 White to move and win. Chapter 1 0 Bishops of the S am e Color A. BISHOP + PAWN vs. BISHOP This ending was so thoroughly ex amined in the mid-nineteenth century ( 1 847- 1 856) by L. Centurini, that these days we need only to flesh out his analy sis a bit. an impregnable position in front of the pawn). If it's White to move, then the first thing he needs to do is to prevent I . . . Wg8 with 1. 'it' h7! We begin our survey with an exami nation of two won positions; these posi tions show what elements constitute an advantage in this type of endgame. The king goes in front ofthe pawn, in order to: I) prevent Black from playing . . . Wg8, and: 2) prepare the pawn's ad vance. 178 1 . . . ii. b2 The bishop must guard the g7 square. I nstead of l . . .ii.b2, he may, with equal "success, " play l . . .ii. d4 or l . . . ii. f6. 2. ii. f4 ii. d4 3. ii. h6+ W e8 4. ii.g7! White to move wins; Black to move draws Driving Black's bishop off the a l -h8 diagonal. 4 ii. c5 ••• Black to move forces the draw very simply with l . . .Wg8 (the king occupies Black's only move. For instance, if ii. 4 . . . e3, then 5. ii. a l followed by g6-g7. 245 Chapter 1 0 Black must make a move that allows his bishop to land in timely fashion back on the h6-f8 diagonal , in order to pro tect g7. 1 79 5 . .tes .tt'B The pawn cannot move yet (6. g7 .1xg7); but there is a significant change in the black bishop's positioning: from the spacious long diagonal it has been forced to go to the short diagonal h6-f8. Here its movements are very restricted, since it has only two squares available (g7 and h6) to move to, and those are at tacked by White's king, while the third (f8) could be attacked by the enemy bishop from e5. 6 . .t d6! This move clarifies the whole mat ter at once , whereas 6. @ g8 .1 h6 7 . .1 d6 (with the threat of 8 . '>it h7 ) would have allowed Black to p u t u p a longer resistance ; on (6. @ g8 .1 h6) 7 . .1 d6 , Black could have abandoned the shorter diagonal for a little while (for example , by 7 . . . .1 e 3 ) , since there would be no reason to fear 8 . g7? for the time being. Besides 6 . .1 d6!, White can also win with 6 . .1 f4 '>t> -any 7 . .1 h6. Win Here Black must guard e7, at the in tersection of the a3-f8 and d8-h4 diago nals. Both of these diagonals are spacious enough; nonetheless, here too Black los es, because his king is badly placed. 1 . .t f6 + 'lil c8! The king must avoid the dark squares, because l . . .'>t> c7 would allow White to win a tempo with a check. on l . . .'>t>c7, there follows 2 . .1 e7 .1 d4 3 . .1 d6+! and then e6-e7 . 2 . .1 e7 .1 e3 3 .t b4 .1 g5 • If now 4 . .1 e7, then again 4 . . . .1 e3. However, White has a move allowing him to drive Black away from both di agonals (a3-f8 and h4-d8) . 4 . .1 c3! The example we have presented demonstrates the power of the king in front of the pawn, as well as the great significance of the length of the shorter diagonal. 246 The decisive move. Black is helpless against the threat of .t ffi ! . The threat o f .1 f6 turned out t o be stronger than .1 e7 . This is not difficult to explain : on e 7, the bishop blocks its Bishops of the Same Color pawn, in view of which Black man ages to move his bishop from one diago nal to the other. own The ending we have examined also allows us to explain where the black king must stand in order to get the draw: It must be where it can ward off the threat of .t fO - that is, on /5. two by the king, and one by the bishop; 2) White does not have, in this position, the combination depicted in Diagram 1 79 meaning that here White cannot drive the black bishop off the d8-h4 diagonal with i./6; in order to drive the bishop off the indicated diagonal, here he would have to take up the less useful position at e7. If we take another look at Diagram 1 80, then we can see exactly which posi tion is most favorable for Black's king: Black's king should stand behind the pawn, holding the vertical opposition. 1 80 If we shift Diagram 1 80 one file to the right - in other words, if we look at this position Draw The only difference in this position from Diagram 1 79 is the black king's position. 1. i. f6 i. b4 2. i. e7 i. d2 Black could also play 2 . . . i. aS, 2 . . ..tc3, or 2 . . . i. e l , since after any of those moves, the black bishop could reach the h4-d8 diagonal. . 3. i.c5 i. g5, draw. The black bishop had to abandon the long diagonal for a shorter one. However, this is not very important here, since: l ) the shorter diagonal also in this case has sufficient length: it has 5 squares, of which only 3 squares can be interdicted: the shorter diagonal gets even shorter. However, Black still obtains a draw since the shorter diagonal has just enough room: it consists of four squares (e8 , fl, g6, h5) , and White can only deny access to three of them. Moving the position we are examin ing one further file to the right, then the shorter diagonal grows still shorter, and this is reflected in the game's result. 247 Chapter 1 0 I n the position below the win may be forced thus: l . .i h6 j_ d4 2. j.,g7 j.,c5 3. j.,c3 .i f8 4 . .i d2 (4. j., b4 .i. h6 5 . .i.c5! \t>g5 6 . .i. e 3 + is strong, too) 4 . . . 'it>g4 5. j., h6 . And so, i f the king stands behind the pawn, and the bishop driven to the shorter diagonal has access to at least one square, then the game is a draw. Less favorable for Black is the di agonal (rather than vertical) opposition. Thus, for example, in the diagram be low, Black's king has the diagonal oppo sition, with the game's outcome hinging upon whose move it is. If it is Black to move in this posi tion, he gets a draw, as he manages to exchange the diagonal opposition for the vertical. He plays l . . . 'it> e4! (not l . . .� e5 in view of 2 . .i. e 7 followed by j., f6+ or .i. d6 + ) 2 . .i. e7 .i. d2 3 . .i.a3 .i. g5 4. j.,b2 � f5 ! , and he 's just in time to prevent j_ f6. But if it is White to move in the posi tion under discussion, he wins this way: l . .i. e7 .lli. d2 2 . .i. a3 .i. g5 3 . j., b2 and then ii f6. White 's extra tempo turns out to be enough for victory. From this we conclude that the di agonal opposition ensures the draw only in cases where: l ) there is time to trade the diagonal opposition for the vertical opposition; and 2) if after taking over the vertical opposition, the shorter diagonal is not too "short . " If the kings are in horizontal oppo sition (see Diagram 1 82), then Black draws when his king takes the opposi tion from the short diagonal and guards two squares on that diagonal. 181 Draw (win, if the kings trade places) White to move wins; Black to move draws 248 Bishops of the Same Color Here the short diagonal has only three squares; however, even this is enough to gain the draw, since in this situation the white king can cut off access to only one of the squares on the short diagonal, the bishop - one more , and the third square isn't under attack. Nor does this waiting move help, since Black has this sort of moves too. 6 @ cs 7 .t n i. b7! 8 .t hJ 'it' d6 9. i. c8 .t e4 10. i. a6 i. f5 , draw. ••. . • If we switch the kings in the starting position - that is, if we get this position The black bishop is, at the moment, at the intersection of both diagonals. Before anything else , it must be driven onto the shorter of the two, which will be accomplished by i1. e4-c6-d7. After this, the white bishop will retreat along the c8-h3 diagonal, and his king can go from d7 to d8. This is precisely when the crucial moment comes for Black: he should not forget the strength of the ver tical opposition, which he should acquire at the first opportunity. For instance, the ending might pro ceed thus: 1. i1. c6 i1. a6 2. i.. d7 � b7 3. i1. h3 the situation changes radically. Now the white king penetrates to b8 , where it will attack two of the squares on the short di agonal (c8 and b7) . .lta6 4. 'it' d7 'it' c5! The king heads for d8; therefore, Black should strive to take the vertical opposition on d6. 5. 'it' d8 'it' d6! Now Black has every reason to ex pect a draw, since 1 ) he has taken the ver tical opposition, and 2) the white bishop can cut off all the squares along the short diagonal only from the square c8, where it hinders its own pawn. 6. i. g2 In fact, in this position White wins with I . i1.f3 ( I . i1.b7 would be premature in view of l . . . 'it' d7, forcing White to go back) l . . . 'it' e5 ( I . . .i1. h 3 2. 'it'b7!; or I . . . i. a6 2. Sl b7) 2 . Sl b7 Sl h3 3 . .ii. a6 'it'd6 4. 'it' b7! 'it' c 5 (4 . . . i1.g4 5 . 'it' b8 Sl h3 6. .ii. c8 Si. fl 7. Slg4 .ii. a6 8 . .ii. e2) 5. 'it'b8 'it' b6 6 . .ii. c8 Sl g2 (or 6 . . . .ii. fl 7. Slg4 .ii. a6 8 . Sl f3 and wins, as 8 . . . 'it' c5 is met by 9. i1. b7) 7. Sl g4 i1. b7 8. i1. e2! 'it'c6 9. Sl f3 + . Generally speaking, we have already spoken of four types of drawn positions. There are four cases in which Black can get a draw: 1 ) if his king occupies a 249 Chapter 1 0 square in front of the pawn which he can not be driven from; 2) if it is behind the pawn and holds the vertical opposition; 3) ifthe black king is in diagonal opposition and succeeds in making it vertical; or 4) if it takes the horizontal opposition from the side of the short diagonal. In order to guarantee the draw in those circum stances, the short diagonal must not be too short (that is, once the white bishop goes on that short diagonal, there must be at least one square open there). Center pawns in this ending are less dangerous than wing pawns, since with center pawns, there is enough space on both diagonals. Centurini ( 1 856) pointed out an other interesting case of a draw. In the following position Most curious of all is the fact that, with the bishop in its starting position on g3 , f4, or e5 (instead of h2), White wins. He plays 1 . e7 .ll d8! 2. e8.ll ! (he could also play 2. e8llJ , when, on the other hand, the win would not be simple) 2 ... .ll a5 (if 2 ... .ll h4, then 3 . .ll c7! , while on 2 . . . .ll c7 there would follow 3 . .ll d7+!) 3. .ll d7+ and 4 . .ll h4(g5/f6)#. This varia tion shows why White falls short if the bishop is at h2 in the starting position. The five cases shown above exhaust nearly all of the possible drawn posi tions. In positions not belonging to one of the types indicated, the win is usually attainable. L. Centurini, 1847 Win Black can draw despite White � having the move by using the following study-like method. On 1 . e7 he replies l . . . .lid8!, when White cannot promote either to a queen or a rook, due to stalemate! Nor does 1 . .li c7 help, since that would be met by l . . . .ll b 4! (of course, not l . . . .ll xc7 in view of 2. e7). 250 This classic example shows that Black must lose if the short diagonal contains only two squares. Even the vertical op position is of no avail here! Nonetheless, forcing the win here is not so easy: a lot of effort must be ex pended in order to drive Black from the long diagonal. For instance, if I . .lih4 Bishops of the Same Color (having in mind il. h4-f2-a7-b8) , then l . ..Wb5 2. il.f2 W a6, preventing il. a7. Cutting off the important square d6. 3 i.g3 ..• As we can see from this try, White cannot win by using immediate threats. Now we will try to win by Zugzwang. That means, after 1 . il. h4 Wb5 2. il. f2 W a6, making some sort of waiting move with the bishop - 3. il. d4 for instance. Now the black king cannot move (because of .ta7), so Black has to make a bishop move. However, not all such moves are equivalent; for instance, if 3 . . . il. f4, then White wins as follows: 4. il. ffi (threaten ing i. ffi-d8-c7) 4 . . . Wb5 5. il. d8 W c6 6. .tg5! il.g3 7. il. e3 and then il. a7. The proper answer to ( 1 . il. h4 Wb5 2. i. f2 W a6) 3 . il. d4 is 3 ... il. d6!. If now 4. Jl. ffi , then 4 . . . Wb5 5 . il.d8 W c6 6. .tb7! il. h2! (all other moves simply lose ; for instance, if 6 . . . il.g3, then 7. Si. h4! followed by il. f2-a7). H aving occupied the e7 square with tempo, White still can not transfer the bishop immediately to the a7-g l diagonal . On 3 . . . il. f4 or 3 . . . il. e5 , White wins much as in the main variation; while if 3 . . . Wb5?, then 4. il. a7 at once. 4. il. e7 Wb5 5. il. d8 W c6 6. il.h4! il. f4 7. il.12 il. e5 8. il. a7 il. d6 9. il.b8 il. c5 10. il. h2 il. a7 1 1 . il. g l In the next three examples ( Dia grams 1 84- 1 86), the short diagonal con sists of three squares, but in contrast to Diagram 1 82, here Black's king cannot cut off three squares on this diagonal. That circumstance in Diagrams 1 84 and 1 85 leads to a loss; and it is only in Dia gram 1 86 that Black manages to save the game , since here the white king does not manage to penetrate to fl. L. Centurini, 1847 As you can see from these variations, the best squares for Black are d6 and h2. I n the former case, the move il. e 7 brings no joy to White, since after the black bishop retreats, White cannot move over to the a7-g l diagonal; in the latter case, White cannot even attack the bishop on h2. The whole question comes down to whether the black bishop can be driven from both of its positions, d6 and h2. Now it is not too difficult to absorb Win 1 . il. g7 il. g5! the solution itself. I. il. h4 Wb5 2. il. t2 © a6 3. il. c5! The win is simpler after other moves, for example I . . .il. d2 2. k h6 il.b4 (or 25 1 Chapter 1 0 2 . . .Ac3 3 . Ag5 Ag7! 4 . A e7!) 3 . Ag5 Af8 4. A f6 'it> f4 5. Ag7 . 2. Ah6 Af6 Or 2 . . . Ae7 3 . A e3 A f8 4. A d4 'it> h4 (on 4 . . . 'it> f4 there follows 5. i.g7) 5. Ae5! 'it>g4 6. Ji. f6 , after which we get the same position we had in the main varia tion (after White's fifth move). the restricted position of the black king. If the black king were on d7 and the white bishop on a3 , the win would not be possible, since the white king could not get to fl (see Diagram 1 86). First let us suppose that in the posi tion depicted in Diagram 1 85 , it is White to move. t . A g5! 3. A e3 A g7 White threatened h5-h6. l. A f6 would be useless in view of l . . . @ h6. 4. ii. gs! ii. rs s. i. r6 l...i.f8 Black loses because of Zugzwang. For instance, if 5 . . . 'it>f4, then 6. Ag7. L. Centurini, 1847 If l . . .i. d4 or l . . .i. h8 , then 2 . Jif6. 2. 'it> f6! The king forges ahead. White need not fear the reply 2 . . . A e7+ thanks to 3. 'it> fl ! A f8 4. A e 3 . 1 85 2 . . . 'it> g4 3. i. e3 Of course not 3 . 'iil fl? now, in view of 3 . . . @ xg5. 3 A a3! 4. Ji d4! ••. Win The win is more complicated here , since the white king isn 't yet partici pating in the struggle for the diagonal . In order to win , White needs to get the king to fl, where it will be attacking two important points, f8 and g7 . This transfer can be carried out because of 252 The shortest route to victory. 4 . . . Ji f8 s. �fl wrs If 5 . . . A h6, then 6. A e 3 . 6. A e3! Zugzwang - Black loses. Bishops of the Same Color If it is Black to move in the starting position, then play proceeds in roughly the same manner. The only thing that re quires special attention is 1 W h6, which was impossible in the first variation. I . . .<;t> e8? loses here and on the next move because of 2. ii. d6 ! , followed by .1l. e5 and Wf6. ... l. .. W h6 2 .1l. f6 .t fB 3. ii. es .t e7 • In order to hinder 4. W f6 (which would be possible after 3 . . . .Jt c 5 , for ex ample) ; if 3 . . . .tg7, then 4 . .Jt f4+ W h5 5. i.g5, which leads us to the same posi tion as in the first variation (after White 's first move). As long as the white king is not leav ing f5 , the black king must remain on d7, to prevent the maneuvers ii. b4-d6e5 and .Jtb4-e7-f6. 2 .tf8 .1l.c3 3. W g5 W e8! • Now this is timely, and even neces sary, since the white king threatened to go to h7, forcing a win (see Diagram 1 78). 4. ii.d6! 4. g7! A pretty combination! At first glance, this move would appear to be an error, since Black can play . . . W h7 with the threat of . . . Wg8. 4 . W h7 5. 'it' e6! .. A decisive win of tempo. Black must remove his bishop and allow White to play 6. W fl . 4 . .1l. c5 is not dangerous for Black, in view of 4 . . . ilg7 5. W h5 (or 5. W f5 W d7!) 5 . . . W d7 6. ile3 We8, and if now 7. ii. h6? then 7 Wf8!. . . . But after the move 4 . .1l. d6, White not only threatens 5. W h6, but also 5 . W f5 ! , followed by 6 . i.e5. 4 Wd7!, draw. •.• We need to point out one more ex ception, concerning the rook s pawn. 1 86 Draw 1 . .t b4 .tb2 White to move; draw! 253 Chapter 1 0 This position differs from Diagram 1 84 only in that the black king stands on e6 rather than g4. This distinction is reflected, however, in the game's out come , since now Black does not fear the exchange of bishops (either on gS or on h6) . To conclude our theme o f "bishop and pawn vs. bishop of the same color, " let's look at one more study by Grigo riev, which requires very accurate play from White. N. Grigoriev, 1931 bS, followed by moving the king to a7; White would execute this plan unhin dered after 3 . . . .ll f3 , for instance. 4. b5 'iil f6 If now s . 'it' b4 'it' e7 6. w as , then 6 . . . .ll c8!, preventing the white king's in vasion (7. W b6? .ll d7!). 5. b6! .Il es Or 5 . . . .ll f3 6. W d4 W e7 (6 . . . .ll b7 is no better, in view of 7 . .ll dS .ll c8 8 . Wc5 @ e7 9. @ c6) 7 . .ll dS! .ll xdS 8 . W xd5 W d7 9. 'it' cS W d8 1 0. W d6 ! , and White wins. 6. 'iil d4 'iil e7 7. 'iil c5 W d7 8. Jl b5+! The only move to win; 8. Jl fl , for instance, would be mistaken because of 8 . . . Jl b7! 9. Jl h3 + (the threat was . . . W d7-c8-b8) 9 . . . @ e7 , when White can no longer win. White to move and win I. b4 .ll e2 Regarding l . . .W gS , see the Variation below. 2 . .ll d5! 2. 'it'd4 does not win: 2 . . . \t'gS 3 . JldS @f6 4. k c4 .ll f3 , etc. 2 @ g5 3. Jl c4 Jl g4! •.• He has to do something about b4254 8 @ d8 9. 'it' c6! ••• Again, the only right move ; for if 9 . 'it' b6, then 9 . . . .ll b7! 1 0 . Jl d7 Jlg2 1 1 . .ll e6 .ll b7! ( Black is saved in this variation by the fact that now his op ponent has to move ; compare the note to move 1 3 ) 1 2 . Jl dS Jl a6 ! , and thanks to the threat of . . . 'it' c8 Black forces the draw. 9 Jl d7 + ••• Other moves would be met by 1 0. Wb7 or 1 0 . r:tlc7 and White wins as in Diagram 1 78 . Bishops of the Same Color 10. @ d6 .t c8 1 1 . .t c6 .t a6 12 . .t d7 ! .ib7 13 . .t e6 7 . .t a6 .t g2 8 . .t c8! @ e7 9. @ a6 and wins. Now Black loses because of Zugzwang: for instance , if l 3 . . . .t f3 , then 14 .td5!. B. BISHOP + 1WO PAWNS vs. BISHOP . 13 .t a6 14. 'lii c6 .t c8! •.. Only this way can the invasion of White's king to b7 or c7 be prevented for a single move . 15 . .ll c4! ii.rs Or l 5 . . . @ e7(e8) 16. @ c7 . This is nearly always a win - with the following exceptions: l) If the pawns are doubled, then you can't count on a win. 2) If White 's pawns are on squares of the same color as his bishop , and the black king is on a weak square between the pawns, a draw is also pos sible. 1 6 . @ b7 and wins. For example , in this position VARIATION: 1...@g5 2. b5 .t c2 If 2 . . . .t g4, then 3. b6 .t c 8 4. © d4 'it> f6 5 . @c5 @e7 6 . .t f3 , and the white king goes to c6, after which White forces the win much as in the main variation (after White 's move 9). 3. b6 .ll a6 4. @b4! Now after4. � d4? 'it> b6 5 . 'it> c5 'it> e7, the black king could threaten to pass via d8 to c8 (since now the c8 square is not taken by the black bishop, as above - see the previous note). 4 © f6 5. © as .t c8 6 .tb5! .t b7 .•• • Or 6 . . . © e7 7 . .t a6 © d8 8 . .t xc8 'it> xc8 9. @ a6 @ b8 I O. b7. White cannot win. 3) If White pawns. loses one of the 4) If Black can profitably sacrifice the bishop, then the win also is not a sure thing. For example, in the position 255 Chapter 1 0 h6+ @g6(g8) 4. h7+ W g7 5 . h8� + . and White wins. 2. rJi1 e7 i. e2 3. ii. g6 If 3 . e6? , then 3 . . . i. g4 or 3 . . . i.c4 and 4 . . . i. xe6. 3 ... i. g4 4. @ d8 �h6 5. i. e8 @ g7 Black to move Black can force a draw with l . . .ii. a3!. The same idea applies in the follow ing example: Goglidze Kasparyan Tbilisi 1 929 - 1 89 Another possibility is 5 . . . i. e6 6. W e7 il.. g 4! 7. <;if f6 ! (or 7. 'it> d6 @gs 8 . ii. d7 i.xhS, etc . ) 7 . . . i. h3 8 . i. f7 ! (if 8 . ii.g6 i.g4! 9. i. fS , then 9 . . . ii.xhS 1 0 . e6 ..te8 1 1 . e7 ii.bS 1 2. ii. h3 il.. a4 1 3 . @f7 @g5!, draw) 8 . . . il.. g4 (or 8 . . . ii. d7 9. ii. e6 i.b5 1 0 . i.g4 i. c4) 9. i.g6 ii. d7 1 0. i. fS i.b5 (if 10 . . . i. e8?, then 1 1 . i.g4 and 1 2. e6) 1 1 . i.g4 (on 1 1 . e6 there would follow 1 1 . . .@ xhS 1 2. e7 i. c6 1 3 . i. e6 i. bS 1 4. @ f7 @gS! 1 5 . @ f8 @ f6 , with a draw) 1 1 . . .i. c4 1 2. i. f3 i.b3 1 3 . @ e7 @g5 14. @ d6 ( 1 4. @rs @ h6!) 1 4 . . . il.. c4 1 5 . i. d S i. e2 1 6. i. f7 i. g4, etc . , drawing. The method Black chooses in the game, however, is simpler and more certain. 6. @ e7 i. d l Black to move. Draw! 1 ... i.g4+ ! Black plans to give up the bishop for the e-pawn, after it would be impossible to win (for example, see Diagram 32). On the other hand, l . . .ii.b3+ 2 . rt; e7 ii.xfl? would be a mistake, owing to 3 . 256 As far as possible, Black keeps his bishop on the d l -hS diagonal, so that if the white bishop leaves the e8-h5 diagonal, he can take off the hS-pawn right away. At the moment (with the white king on e7), he is not even obligated to hold back the e pawn, as in reply to 7. e6?, Black will attack the pawn and then sacrifice his bishop. 7. i. r7 If White intended t o maneuver @e7d6-d5-e4-f5-g5 , then Black could pre- Bishops of the Same Color vent this maneuver by (7. \tid6) 7 . . . i.g4 8. W d5 W h6! 9. 'lt> e4 'lt>g5!. the following play is recommended: 1 . h4 7 i. e2 8. b6+ 'lt> xh6 9. �f6 i. g4 10. i.g6 ••• Now Black can no longer stop i.g6f5 and the pawn's advance to e7; however, this does not win yet, since l ) the "short" diagonal e8-h5 is rather long, and 3) in the case of White "forcing" the pawn throu� (with the help of 'lt>ffi-f7-f8 and i.f7), Black would put his king on ffi just in time. 10 i. e2 ••• Giving up e6 voluntarily, since after 1 1 . i. f5 White's pawns would move for ward anyway. 1 1 . e6 i. c4 12. e7 i. b5 13. 'lt> f7 <t>g5! Yi-Yi These examples are, essentially, ex ceptions. In most cases, the win is forced. In order to achieve it, White should avoid the positions indicated in the sec ond point - that is, he should lay out his pawns either side by side, or on squares on the opposite color from the enemy bishop. For example, in this position After this move , the pawns attack the dark squares, and the bishop on e2 at tacks the light ones. 1. 'lt> g6 2. \t>f4 .• Of course not 2. g4 in view of 2 . . . i. xg4. Before advancing the g-pawn, White must drive away the black king. 2 <it>b6 3. i. g4 i. c4 4 .ilf5 i.e2 5. i. e4 i.dl 6. i.f3 i.b3 7. g4 'lt> g6 8. g5, followed by h4-h5+ , etc . ••• • C. BISHOP + PAWN vs. BISHOP + PAWN Here , of course , the win is very rarely forced: there are winning chances only if Black's position is very bad and his pawns are inactive. For instance , in this position by Hor witz ( 1 880) White wins with I . i.f3+ 'lt> h6 2. g4 W h7 (forced) 3 . g5 W h8 4. i. e4. In this 257 Chapter 1 0 example, the black pawn played an ex ceptionally negative role: because of it, Black was unable to develop the bishop. In this position (from a game Duras - Herdingsveldt, 1 9 l l ) White's king occupies a central posi tion: its influence is felt both on the king side and on the queenside. Meanwhile, Black's king is somewhat hemmed in. At the same time , White 's pawn is much more active than Black's. I. a5 ..t h4 On l . . .Wg3 there follows 2. Wf5! ..t f4 3 . ..t h2 + ; and on I . . . ..td8, White answers 2 . ..tb6!. Rgarding l . . .Wg4, see the Variation. 2. a6 Sl g3+ 3. W e4 ..t b8 4. Wf3! W h4 If 4 . . . h4, then 5 . ..t f2 . even with White to move Black succeed ed in obtaining the draw, as his king was able to participate. On I . ..t xh3 there followed I . . . ..t a8! 2 . ..tg2 W c5! 3 . ..t xa8 Wb6. 5 . ..t e3! W h3 6 . .t a W h2 On 6 . . . h4, simplest would be 7 . ..t g l . 7 . ..t g3+ The following study by Troitzky is elegant: A. Thoitzky, 1913 1 90 VARIA TION: 1 . a5 W g4 2. a6 ..t f4+ 3. W d5! ..t b8 4. W c6! W g3 5. W b7 W g2 6. W xb8 W xgl 7. a7 In another study by the same author, White achieved his aim, in spite of his opponent's trickery. White to move and win 258 Bishops of the Same Color A. Thoitzky, 1925 The best retreat, leaving Black the widest choice after 8 . 'iYg2 + . 8. 'iYg2+ W f4 If 8 . . . W b4, then 9. �f2+ �g4 (on 9 . . . Wg5, there follows 1 0. "iVg3 + , as in the main variation; if 9 . . . W h5 , then 1 0. � f3 + '\t;g5 and now again 1 1 . 'iVg3+) 10 . .ll d7+ '\t; h5 l l . 'iY h2+ or 1 1 . �f3+, forcing mate. White to move and win 9. 'iVfJ+ W g5 I f 9 . . . �e5, then 1 0 . �f6#. 1 . a6 c4 2. a7 c3 3 .ll h l ! • 10. 'iVg3+ w rs 11. 'iVg6+ W f4 The only move to win, whose strength tells in the variation 3 . . . .ll g 6+ 4. W e7 c2 5. a8'iY c l 'iY 6. 'iYg2#. Forced. 12. �h6+, winning a piece. 3 ... ..t a4 + Black must derail the aforementioned combination; for this purpose, he transfers his bishop to c6. 3 . . . ii. e4 would not achieve this, in view of 4. ii.xe4 attacking c2. 4. '\t; f7 ! An i nteresting win was the one achieved by Marshall ( Black) in a game against Teichmann ( Diagram 1 92 ) . Teichmann - Marshall San Remo 1 930 As will become clear in seven (!) moves, it is only this retreat to f7 that wins. 4 Si. c6! .•. The alternative reply 4 . . . i. b3+ would only have simplified White 's task after 5 . W f6 Sl d5 6. Sl xd5 and s o o n , a s i n the main variation. 5 . .ll xc6 c2 6. a8� cl� 7 . �a2+ <t>g3! Black to move 259 Chapter 1 0 1 . . .lt c8 2 . W e3 il.d7! • Here 2 . . . .ltb7? does not win because of 3 . .ltc4! i. xg2 (3 . . . W xg2 doesn't change anything) 4 . .lt e6, and White draws (see Diagram 1 82 ) . 3 . 'it' e4 3. We2 is met by the same continua tion as in the game; and if 3. Wd2, then 3 . . . Wf2! 4. i. c4 W xg2 (threatening . . . h4h3) 5. W e l W g l ! (not 5 . . . h3? immedi ately, due to 6. i. fl +) 6. i. fl (if 6. <� d5, then Black immediately pushes his pawn to h2 and then brings his bishop to g2) 6 . . . i. e6! 7. i. b 5 (7. rtJe2? i. c4+) 7 . . . h3 8. i. c6 h2 9. i.e4 Ji. h3 and IO . . . .ltg2. 3. .i. c6+ 4. @ eJ .lt xg2 0- 1 . Indeed , in the actual game White resigned after 2 . . . i. d7! . There followed 1 . W h2 (if 1 . @ fl , then l . . .f5 2 . W e2 i.g2!) 2 . . . f5 3 . gxf5 (the threat was . . . f5-f4 and . . . f7-f5) 2 . . . il. xf5 3 . W g3 f6 (preparing . . . i. f5 -g6-f7) 4. W h4 (if 4. h4 .lt g6 5. W g4, then 5 . . . h5+ first and then 6 . . . il. f7) 4 . . . .lt g6 5 . 'it'g4 f5+ 6. 'it' h4 'it' f6 7 . .lt c2 f4 8 . il.b3 .ltt7! 9 . i. xf7 'it' xf7 IO. W g4 W g6, and White resigned, since after 1 1 . f3 h5+ 1 2 . 'it> h4 there would follow 1 2 . . . Wf5! 1 3 . W xh5 e4. In the game we have just seen, the win did not prove especially difficult, since the weakness of the a2-pawn in duced White to trade the bishops. Mar6czy Griinfeld Vienna 1 920 - .. 1 93 D. BISHOPS OF THE SAME COWR WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF PAWNS Other things being equal, an extra pawn usually decides here. For instance , in the following position ( Reti - Tarta kower, Hastings 1 926) White to move White to move could not save the game. 260 As a matter of fact, White in this po sition has an extra pawn; on the other hand, exploiting this advantage involves surmounting some obstacles, as it will be difficult to penetrate the enemy's position here. However, Mar6czy, the "grandmaster of the breakthrough, " solves the problem set before him with relative ease. He cleverly combines two Bishops of the Same Color threats: ( 1 ) a king invasion via a6 and b6; and (2) the maneuver i. a5-e l -g3 followed by e5-e6 and i. d6. Eliskases - Breuer corr. 1 933 1 . i. d2 i. d8 2. e6! i. f6 3. <;t> as White skillfully parries the coun terattack of his opponent; on 3 . . . i. xd4 there would follow 4. W b6!. 3 ... Wb7! 4. i. e l ! After the black king was forced to move away from the passed pawn, the latter acquired new powers, among them pinning the enemy bishop to the d8-f6 diagonal . Black cannot take on d4; in addition, he must defend against the threatened � e l -g3 -d6 followed by e6-e7. 4 i. d8+ 5. W a4 W c8 6. it g3 it f6! •.. Threatening . . . i. xd4, of course . If White moves to protect the pawn, then his task grows more complex: on 7. i. t2 Black answers 7 . . . Wb7; whereas i f 7. il e5?, then 7 . . . i. xe5 8 . dxe5 Wd8. 7. W a5! i. xd4 7 . . . W b7 does not help in view of 8 . .id6 i. d 8 + 9. W a4 W c 8 1 0. e 7 ; nor 7 . . . i.d8+, in light of 8 . W a6!. 8. Wb6 i. f6 9. ©xc6 d4 IO. i. eS! 1-0 We present some more examples of the exploitation of achieved advantages (see Diagrams 1 94- 1 97). White to move The pawns on b7, d5, and h5 are weak and subject to attack. However, be fore attacking these pawns, White must ward off the threats of . . . W g6-f5-e4 and . . . @ g6-f5-g4. 1. g3! A powerful move , to which Black cannot reply 1 . . . W f5 because of2. i. h3+ W e4 3 . i. xd7 fxg3 + 4. W xg3 W xd4 5. W f4! W xc5 6. W e 5 ! , and White wins, for instance 6 . . . b5 7. A e8 b4 8. i.xh5 b3 9. A g6, or 6 . . . d4 7. i. e 8 d3 8. i. xh5 b5 (8 . . . d2 is no better) 9. i. d l b4 1 0. h5 W c4 1 1 . W e4! d2 ( l l . . .b3 1 2 . i. xb3+) 1 2 , W e3 ! W c3 1 3 . h6 . Nor is l . . . fxg3 + any improvement: 2. W xg3 W f5 3. i. h3 + W e4 4. i.xd7 W xd4 5. W f4!, transposing to the varia tions we have just seen. l. . . i. g4 If I . . .i. e6, then not 2. gxf4 (in view 26 1 Chapter 1 0 of 2 . . . W f5 3 . i. h3+ '>ot> :ffi ! 4 . i. xe6 W xe6 5. Wg3 W f5 6. Wf3 W :ffi 7. W e3 W f5 and draws) , but 2. W g2! W f5 (or 2 . . . i.g4 3 . W f2 ; i f now 3 . . . W 5 , then 4. i. g 2 ; o r if 3 . . . i. e6, then 4. W f3 !) 3 . W f3 fxg3 4. i.d3+! W f6 5. W xg3 i. 5 6. i.b5 i.g6 7. W f4, with the irresistible threats of i. b5-d7-c8 or (if the black king retreats to 5) i.b5-e8. No better is l . . . fxg3+ , as a result of 2. © xg3 W f5 3. i. h3+ or 3. i.d3+ and 4. W f4. Finally, if l . . . f3 , then 2 . Wgl i. g4 (2 . . . 'lt> f5 3. i. h3+) 3. W f2 W f5 4. W e3 with a winning position for White, since at g4 the bishop is pinned to the f3pawn. 2. i. g2! On 2. gxf4? there follows 2 . . . W f5 3. i.g2 (3. Wg3? W e4!) 3 . . . W xf4 4. 12. xd5 it.. c8 5. i.. g2 (parrying the threat of 5 . . . Wg4) 5 . . . c;t> e3 6. d 5 � d7! 7. d 6 (or 7. c6 bxc6 8. dxc6 k xc6! , with a draw, since the black king reaches the h8 comer) 7 . . . W d4 8 . .Xi. xb7 © xc5, draw. 2 . . . f3 If instead Black plays 5 . . . i. f5 , then 6. i. b 5 , threatening 7. i. e8 and 7. W f2 . 6 . W f2 W c6 Thanks to his fine play, Eliskases has shored up his position completely and created yet another weak pawn in his opponent's camp, at f3. Now White launches the decisive attack. 7 . i. c2 ! Threatening 8 . ii. d I or i. b 3 , not fearing the reply 7 . . . W b 5 because of 8. Ji. b 3 Ji. e6 9 . W e3 ! W b4 10 . .it. d i ! Wc3 1 1 . Ji. xf3 Ji.f7 1 2 . g4! . In this varia tion (7 . . . W b 5 8 . Ji. b3 Ji. e6 ) , 9. W xf3?? would be a blunder i n view of 9 . . . W b4!; if now 1 0. i. d l ? , then 10 . . . i. g4+, while on 1 0 . il. c2 there follows 1 0 ... © c 3 ; 1 0 . i. a2 is not much better in view of the same reply 10 . . . W c 3 , after which Black not only threatens to win a paw n , but also I I . . . © b 2 ! , winning a whole piece! 7 . .b6 8. cxb6 W xb6 9. �di j( e6 . Or 9 . . . W b5 1 0 . 1l xf3 � xf3 1 1 . W xf3 W c4 1 2. W e3 Wc3 1 3 . g4! hxg4 1 4. h5 g3 1 5 . h6 g2 1 6. W f2 , and wins. . If now 2 . . . Ji. e6, then White would play 3. gxf4! , considering that on 3 . W f5 White would have the reply 4. :;t'g3 ( Black cannot go to e4) 5 ... \t' f6 5 . � f3 ! , i ntendi ng 6. '.ii e3 and �.g2-f3-d I with �·- a4 to follow (either at once , or after a preli minary ::.. b3 ) . . . 3 . ill. fl W fS 4 . .it d3+ ;:i/ e6 5 . ;t> g I W d7 262 10. 1i.. xf'3 .'il.... f7 1 1 . W e3 WbS 12. © f4 Wb4! 13. \!? es W c4 Now White needs only to pass the move to his opponent , which he accom plishes via "triangulation " with .l£ f3 h l -g2-f3, since the enemy bishop only has two squares: f7 and g8. Bishops of the Same Color 14 . .i. h l .i. g8 15 . .i. g2! .i.f7 16 . .i. f3 1t'd3 17 .i. xd5 and wins. sition. With this sacrifice , Black ensures the draw! Em. Lasker - Bogatyrchuk Moscow 1 935 2 . .i. c4 .i.b7 3. \t' g5 .i. c8 4. \t'f4 \t' d7 5. \t' f3 .i.b7 6. \t' e2 .ii. cs 7. \t' d3 .,t b7 8. \t' xd4 .i.c8 9. We3 .i.b7 Yz-Yz • 1 95 White to move Here White has not only a mate rial edge , but a positional one as well. Black's pawns are subject to attack, whereas White 's pawns are not , even in the distant future. The white king is also considerably more aggressive than its counterpart. A draw was agreed here in light of the following line: 1 0. \t' f4 .i. c8 1 1 . \t'g5 \t'e7 1 2 . \t' g6 .i.b7 1 3 . \t' g7 i.. c8 1 4. 'i:t' g8 .i. b7 1 5 . .i. xe6 'i:t' xe6 1 6. \t' f8 'i:t' xe5 1 7 . 'i:t' e7 � xe4 1 8 . 'i:t'd7 \t'd4 1 9. 'i:t' c7 .i. a8! 20. 'i:t' b6! (after 20. '.t b8? 'i:t' c4 2 1 . 'i:t' xa8 'i:t'xb4 22. '.t b7 '.tb5!, White even loses) 20 ... \tc4 2 1 . Wxa6 'i:t' xb4 22. \t' b6 \t' c4 23. a6 '.t b4 24. a7 (if 24. 'i:t' a7? then 24 . . . \t' b5! and Black wi ns) 24 . . . W c4 25. \t'c7 \t' xc5 26. 'i:t' b8 '.i? b6 27. \t xa8 '<tlc7, stalemate! N ow let 's look at how White should have played from Diagram 1 95 . The variations presented are the result of analysis by G rigoriev and both play ers. 1. 'i:t'g5 1 . e4? White brings his king to d4. White sees the proper plan , but he overlooks his opponent ' s reply. Before advancing the pawn to e4, he should have brought his king to d4 (see be low) . 1 . . . d4!! Already a pawn down, Black sacri fices a second one! This way, he: ( l ) pre vents an unfavorable exchange on d5; (2) takes away the square e4 from the white bishop; and (3) closes up the po- 1. .. '<tlf7 2 . .i. g6+ 'i:t' e7 2 . . . '<tl g7 is no use : 3 . i. e8 .i. b7 4. 'i:t' g4 \t'f8 (4 . . . \t' h6? 5. i. d7) 5 . ii. h5 '<tl g7 6 . '<tl f3 .� c8 (on 6 . . . r;t> h6? now, there follows 7. ii. t7 .i. c8 8 . ii. e s .i. b7 9 . .i. d7) 7 . .i. e8! .i. b7 8. 'i:t' e2 'i:t' f8 9. ii. h5, etc . By repeating this maneuver, White gains time to bring his king to d4, and at the same time he hi nders the black king's end-runs from the right flank. 263 Chapter 1 0 3 . W g4 i.b7 4 . W f3 W f8 5 . W e2 W g7 6. i. e8! 'it' f8 7. i. h5 'it' g7 8. 'it' d3 Wf8 9. W d4 W e7 10. e4! Only now is the time right for this move. IO dxe4 .•• If 1 0 . . . @ d7 1 1 . i. e 2 © e7 , then 1 2 . exd5 exd5 (or l 2 . . . cxd5 1 3 . c6!) 1 3 . i.g4! , with a decisive gain of space on the king's wing, for example l 3 . . . W f7 1 4 . i. f5 © g7 1 5 . © e 3 'it' h6 1 6. @ f4 Wg7 1 7 . W g5 W t7 1 8 . 'it' h6! W e7 1 9 . 'it'g6. Now any king move leads t o 20. @ffi and 2 1 . e6; if 19 . . . i. a8 , then 20. i.c8; and finally, 19 . . . d4 doesn't help, in view of 20. 'iit> g 5. II. @ xe4 i. c8 12. @ f4 Now White brings his king over to the right flank. He played I . i. h5? i. xg2 2. i.g4 'it' d6 3 . W xg5 , and ran up against 3 . . . @ e5 ! 4. 'iit> xh4 'it' d4 5 . 'it'g5 'it' e3 ! 6. h4 i. xf3 , when Black got the draw. Instead , he could have won eas ily with I . @ xg5 i. xg2 2. 'it' g4! @ d6 3. i. e4! W e 5 4. @ xh4 @ d4 5 . 'iit> g4! @ e3 6. h4. Riumin - Kan Moscow 1 936 12 . . . i. b7 13. 'it' g5 i. c8 14. 'it' g6 i.b7 15. 'it' g7 i. c8 16. i. f3 i. b7 17. i. e4! i. a8 18. b5! axb5 19. a6 and wins, as Black is in Zugzwang. In that game White did find the cor rect plan , but when executing it he over looked his opponent's counterchance , letting slip a well-deserved win. Alekhine, in the third game of his 1 929 match against Bogoljubow, com mitted a still more grievous error in this position: Black to move In this ending, Black has the fol lowing advantages: ( I ) he can create a 264 Bishops of the Same Color passed pawn on the kingside , while at the same time his opponent's pawns on the queen's wing are stymied; (2) his king occupies the unassailable center square e5, and threatens to advance fur ther should the bishop on f3 be driven off the long diagonal ; and (3) the pawns at e3 and h3 are isolated and in need of defense. Alatortsev - Levenfish Leningrad 1 934 1 97 2 . ..t c6 rs 3. a4 If White continues to stick to passive tactics, Black will advance his kingside pawns with . . . g6-g5 and . . . h7-h5 , then by . . . ..t b3-d5 he will either force the ex change of bishops or break into the en emy camp through e4. 3 . . . g5 4. h4? This move eases his opponent' s task. Black to move If the wing pawns are stronger than the center pawns, it is only because they are further advanced and Black's king delays the opposing pawns to a lesser de gree than does White's king. Let's look at a few of the main variations (Varia tions I - I I I were given by Alatortsev) . VARIATION /: 4 . . . gxh4+ 5. ®xh4 f4! 6. ® g4 After 6. exf4+ 'iil xf4, Black's king would head for b2. 6 ... ..t d l + ! 7. ® h3 fxe3 If now 8. ®g3, then 8 . . . ..tb3 fol lowed by 9 . . . ..t d5 and IO . . . ® e4. l . . .e4 2 . ..t a6! 'ii7 d8 On 2 . . . ® d7 there would follow 3 . .tbs+ ® c8 (3 . . . ..t c6? 4. b7!) 4. c6! ®b8 ( 5 . ..t a6+ was the threat) 5. g5! , and Black, in Zugzwang, loses in short order. 3 .t bs gs . 8. 'iitl g2 @ f4 9. b4 ..t b3 0- 1 in view of the threats of . . . ..t b3e6 and . . . h7-h5-h4-h3, after which one of the black pawns will queen. If 3 . . . e3+ 4. 'iitl e2 ..te4 right away, then 5 . g5 and White wins as in Varia tion I I I ; 3 . . . h6 is also pointless, because of 4. h4 at least. For 3 . . . \t> e7, see Varia tion I I . 4. c6 265 Chapter 1 0 Here again, the black pieces are "stalemated; " for example , if 4 . . . i. e6, then 5 . c7+, and if 4 . . . W c8 , then 5. i. a6+. 4 ... h6 5. h3 e3+ 6. W e2 i. e4 VAR/ATION IV: l . . . g5 This and the next few moves took place in the actual game. 7. c7+ W c8 8. i. a6+ i.b7 9. i. d3! i. c6 10. i. f5 + i. d7 1 1 . 'iil d 3 and wins. 2 . .ll a6 W d8 3. i. b5 '>it e7 4. c6 Wd6 5. c7 ..tb7 6. i. d3 'it' c5 7 . .t rs 'it> xb6 8. c8'@' .ll xc8 9 . .ll xc8 e4 e4 10. Sirs e3+ 1 1 . '>it fJ h6 12 . ..t d3 1-0 VARIATION II: L. Kubbel, 192 1 Nor does 6 . . . i.g2 change anything. l . . .e4 2. i. a6 'itl d8 3. i. b5 W e7 Instead of 3 . . . g5, as in Variation I . 4 . g5! 'it> d8 If 4 . . . d3 then, analogously to Vari ation I , 5 . c;t> e 3 c;t> d8 6. c6! ; while on 4 . . . e3+ there follows 5 . c;t>g3-f4-e5; and finally, if 4 . . . 'it' e6?, then 5. ll c4! e3+ 6. c;t>g3! and wins (6 ... c;t> e5 7. Si xd5 W xd5 8. b7 e2 9. W f2 ) . White to move and draw 5. c6 1 . W d6! Threatening to move the king to e5. Threatening W e7-f8. 5 . . .e3+ 6. W g3! i. e4 7. W f4 e2 8. c7+ W c8 9. i. xe2 and wins. I . W d7 (with the same threat) loses: Black replies l . . .gxh6 2. W e6 W g7! and then . . . e4-e3. VARIA TION III: l. . . gxh6! l . . . W d7 2. i. b5+ 'it> c8 3. c6 'iil b 8 4. g5! i. e4 5. c7+ 'it> c8 6. i. a6+ i. b7 7. i. c4! i. c6 8. i. e6+ i. d7 9. b7+ W xb7 10 . .1L. xd7 W xc7 1 1 . i. e6 W d6 12. i. g8 'itl e7 13. 'itlf3 '>it f8 14 . .ll c4 \it g7 15. W e4 h6 16. h4! and wins. 266 If l . . .e3? then 2. W e7 ! Wg8 (if 2 . . . e2 or 2 . . . .ll xa8 , White plays 3. W f8 ! ) 3. .ll xg2 gxh6 (or 3 ... e2 4 . .il d5+) 4. W f6! and then .il d 5 + . Bishops of the Same Color 2. \t> e5! This is the difference between l . \t>d6 and I . \t> d7!. an ending in which the insignificant amount of material does not lessen the sharpness of the combination. Romanovsky Dus-Khotimirsky Moscow 1 924 2 ... e3 3. i. xg2 e2 If 3 . . . h5, then 4 ..t o and \t> e4, drawing easily. . 1 99 4. \t> f6 At first glance, it seems that White must lose despite all his cleverness. 4 . . . el� Not 4 ... e l M ? 5. W f7 ! . White to move 1. g4 c4 Although this move does not lose the game , it does make Black's task more complicated. Simplest was l . . . i. e l , after which the game would end in a draw. 2. g5! 5. g7+ \t> h7 6 . i. e4+! � xe4 7 . g8� + \t> xg8, stalemate! This kind of position was reached earlier, bur the basic idea of the study - the stalemating combination - is masked skillfully: this combination ap pears on the scene only after lively play from both sides. Now it becomes clear the dangers Black has thrust himself into: White threatens 3 . \t> t7 i.d2 (or 3 . . . i.e l ) 4. h5!. 2 . . . \t> g8 Forced. For instance, if 2 . . . c3, then 3. \t> t7 c2 4. h5 gxh5 5. i.g7! , and mate next. To conclude this chapter, we present 267 Chapter 1 0 I n the same way, on 2 . . .k d2 there would also follow 3. W f7 ! , with the threat of 4. h5! . And i f 2 . . . k e l , then 3 . h 5 ! , and if now 3 . . . gxh5? or 3 . . . k d2?, then 4. W f7! and wins. 3. W xg6 .fl e l ! 3 . . . .i d2? loses to 4 . .i tO! c 3 5 . h 5 c2 6. h6 c l � 7. h7+ 'iit> f8 8. h8�#. And if 3 ... c3?, then 4. h5 c2 (or 4 . . . il b4 5 . h 6 k a5 6 . h7+ W h 8 7 . 'iit> t7!) 5 . kb2 k d2 6 . h6, and again White wins. 4. h5 Sl d2? The decisive error. Here he should have played 4 . . . c3! 5. h6 ( 5 . W tO? loses in view of 5 . . . c2 6 . .i b2 .i c3 + ! ) 5 . . . kd2!, with the following possibilities: ( I ) 6. W f6 c5! and Black draws, as noted in the note to Black's sixth move (6 . . . c6); (2) 6. h7+ W h8 7. W h6 (7 . . . 'iit> t7 8 . Sl xg5 il xc3 + leads to a draw) 7 . . . c5 8 . Wg6 c4 9. W h6 k xg5 + I O. W xg5 W xh7, draw; (3) 6. W h5 c2 7. W g6! ( 7 . g6 loses to 7 . . . .ixh6!) 7 . . . c l � 8. h7+ W f8 9. h8� + W e7, with apparently enough of a defense ( I O. k tO + W d7). 5. h6? White fails to exploit his opponent's carelessness. 5 . Sl f6! c3 6 . h6 leads to 268 a forced loss. After the move played, the game should again have ended in a draw. 6. W f6 The continuations 6. h7+ and 6. Wh5 also draw (see comments to the fourth move). 6 c6? •.. Once again, Black complicates his task. Still , it was not easy for him to find the strongest line here. For instance , 6 . . . W h7? loses t o 7. g6+ W xh6 (or 7 . . . W h8 8 . h7!, with a subsequent transfer of the king to the queenside) 8. g7 c2 9. g8�, threatening mate. Nor does 6 . . . .i xg5+? help Black's position , in view of 7. 'it> xg5 c2 8 . kb2, followed by 9. Sl c l and I O. 'it> f5 . Correct was 6 . . . c5!, after which Black draws, for example 7. Wg6 c4 8. W ffi (regarding 8. h7+ and 8. 'it> h5, see again the notes to move 4) 8 . . . c2 9. 'it>g6! (not 9 . .ib2? in view of 9 . . . .ic3+) 9 . . . c l � IO. h7+ Wf8 1 1 . h8�+ 'iit> e7 12 . .tffi+ Wd7. 6 . . . c2 7. Wg6! c l � . with analogous variations, was also possible. 7. W g6 c5 8. 'iti f6 c4? With this move, Black ruins his po sition definitively. Here, too, he could have brought the game into variations given above with 8 . . . c2 9. 'it> g6 c l � , etc. 9. 'iit> g6 'it> h8 Bishops of the Same Color Or 9 . . . ii.. e l 1 0 . h7+ W h8 1 1 . '>t> f7 ! . 1 50. 1 0 . h 7 ! ii. e l Forced, a s 1 0 . . . Ji.. xg5 allows mate in two. 1 1 . 'itt t7! .t h4 12. g6 Ji.. f6 13. '>t>:xf6 c2 14. �f7+ c3 15. ii.. xc3# Examples 148- 162: Draw. 148. 151. White to move and win. What is the result ? 1 49. 1 52. White to move and win. Draw. 269 Chapter 1 0 1 56 . 1 53 . Win. 1 54. 1 57. Win. 1 55 . White to move; draw. 1 58 . L . Centurini. Win. 270 Evaluate this position. White to move and win. Bishops of the Same Color 1 59. Win. 1 60. A. Herbstmann, 1 926. White to move and win. Win. 1 62. Em. Lasker. White to move and win. 27 1 Chapter 1 1 Bishops of Oppos ite Colors A. BISHOP + PAWN (OR BISHOP + DOUBLED PAWNS) vs. BISHOP If there are bishops of opposite colors, not even two connected passed pawns always win; and a single pawn or two doubled pawns win only under ex ceptional circumstances. For instance , in the position below - the win is now unattainable. If, for in stance, I . a6, then 1 . . .5l f52. 'lt> e3 il h3 3. Wf2 il f5 4. @f3 il d3! ( Black could also play 4 . . . Ji. b l or 4 . . . Ji. c2) 5 . a7 .il. c4 6. a8� �d5+. J. Berger, 1889 200 White wins with I . a6 .ilg4 2. 'lt> f2 , since Black's bishop i s unable t o stop the pawn. If we shift the kings a bit (one square up along the diagonal) - in other words, if we examine this position by J. Berger: 272 Win or draw ? Bishops of Opposite Colors 1 . 1l. g5 1l. g4 2. c7 Berger gives this move an exclama tion mark, on the basis that after 2. Wc7 .t f3 ! 3 . '>t b7 1l. e4 4. W b6 .t f3 5 . c7 W d7 the game peters out to a draw. However, as we shall see, after 2. c7 Black can also force the draw. 2 . . . Ji. h3 3. c6 If 3 . W c6, then 3 . . . Ji. g2+ 4. W b6? lifd7 and 5 . . . W c 8 . B. BISHOP + 1WO CONNECTED PAWNS vs. BISHOP In most of the cases examined be low, the white king is located behind his pawns, and the black king in front of them. So the position will define itself mainly according to the pawn configu ration. The more advanced the pawns are , the greater the winning chances. Pawns on the sixth rank are particularly dan gerous. We begin our discussion with these . 3 ... W f7 ! a) PAWNS ON THE SIXTH RANK This move escaped Berger's atten tion. He limited himself to presenting the following variation: 3 . . . .ll g4 4. Wc5 .t h3 5 . W b6 Ji. cs 6. W a7 .ll -any 7. Wb8, and White wins. 20 1 4. W c5 Nor do the preliminary 4 . .ll d8 or .t f4 change anything. 4 . . . .ll c8 Win Setting the stage for the next move. 5. W b6 W e6! 6. '>t a7 W d5! 7. '>t b8 .t f5 Still simpler was 7 . . . .ll a6 8 . W a7 Wxc6. 8. W b7 i. g4 , draw. With opposite-colored bishops, one must, where possible, place the white pawns on squares of the opposite color of those attacked by the white bishop. Therefore , in this position, one must strive to advance , not the d-pawn, but the e-pawn. However, for now the move to e7 is not possible because of . . . i.xe7; we will be able to push the pawn to e7 only when the white king stands at d7 or f7. 273 Chapter 1 1 Now the win becomes obvious. We must give check on the first move, and jump either way, depending on Black's reply, to d7 or to fl. For example, 1 . i. hS+ '.t' f8 2 . 'iit c6 i. h4 3 . W d7 . Now let's take the black bishop i n Diagram 20 1 , and move i t t o f8 - that is, we will look at the following position: White may win: ( l ) by means of an end run, for example 1 . ii.cs+ 'it'e8 2. 'itif.5, running to g7; and if, on l . ii.cs+, Black plays l . . .Wg8, then 2. @ d6 etc.; or (2) with Zugzwang, for example l . Ji.cs+ Wg8 ( 1 . . .\t> e8 2. @f.5) 2. \t>f.5 i.e8 3. @gS. In the following position by S . Tar rasch If now 1 . Ji. hS+, then after 1 . . . \t> d8 White cannot win by the above method, since his king has to defend the d6-pawn - for instance ( 1 . i. hS + '.t' d8) 2. WeS i.g7+ 3 . W fS i.f8!, forcing the white king to return. However, the black bishop's position on f8 has its own drawbacks. The prob lem is that, on f8, the bishop is too re stricted in its movements. That circum stance may be exploited with Zugzwang: after 1 . i. hS + <lt d8 , any waiting move will force the opponent t o lay down his arms. In some positions, one may win with either of the two ways indicated - that is, either by an end-run or by Zugzwang. For instance, in the following position 274 White can win only with an end-run: I . i.b3+ W h8 2. Wg4 i. h6 3. Wf.5 i.f8 4. 'it>e6 i. h6 S. @f7; he cannot win by playing exclusively for Zugzwang, as on l . i.b3+ W h8 2. i. c4 there follows 2 . . . i. h6!. Especially difficult are bishop endings with a knight pawn and a rook pawn. Bishops of Opposite Colors Here, the win is not always possible: if the color of the squares attacked by the defending bishop is the same as the color of the comer square, then the normal outcome of the game is a draw. For example , in this position with correct play Black gets a draw: on I . i. d5 + he should reply l . . . 'lt> f8 ! (not l . . . 'lt> h 8 , in view o f 2 . \t> f7 ) , af ter which White cannot win, since an end-run on the right flank is impos sible , and hoping for Zugzwang is un realistic in view of the black bishop ' s great mobility. In the same way, Black obtains a draw in the following position Black to move. However, the draw may be obtained here only with l . ..i.f8! threatening . . . � xh6! . If the black bishop attacks squares opposite to the color ofthe corner square, then the win is achievable with a knight pawn and a rook pawn, for example, in this position b) ONE PAWN ON THE SIXTH RANK, THE OTHER ON THE FIFfH Moving to pawns arranged diago nally, we will stipulate that the color of the squares they occupy is opposite to the color of the squares attacked by the white bishop. Only with this kind ofpawn configuration is there any one hope for a win. However, even with this disclaimer, the pawns on the diagonal are weaker than pawns placed next to each other. In some cases, Black may even force the draw despite the apparent closeness of White's king. For example, in the fol lowing position 275 Chapter 1 1 1 . . . 'lfi e6 If Black does not make this move, then White puts the king on f5 and wins easily. 2. <t> h5 i. b4 If 2 . . . 'lft f5 , then 3 . i. h3 + 'itle5 4. f7! i.b4 5. 'lfi h6 i.f8+ 6. <t> h7 , and then @g8 and g5-g6. 3. i. h3+ 'lfi e5 4. 'lfi h6 i. d2 Black to move forces the draw with 1 . . . @ f6 2. 'lft e4 i.c2+. And if in the given position we move White's king from d4 to h3, then the game will end in a draw even with White to move, since on 1 . 'ltt g4 there follows l . . .i.b3! 2. i. h4+ 'it> d6! 3 . e 7 ( . . . i. xe6 was the threat) 3 . . . 'lft d7 , and then . . . i.f7 and . . . 'it>e8. If White can prevent similar combi nations (and neither of his pawns is lo cated on a rook file), then he wins. Let us examine one of the most difficult po sitions of this type: If 4 . . . 'lfi f4, then 5 . g6, and on 4 . . . i. f8 + there follows 5 . 'lfi h7. 5. f7! This is an exception to the general rule to bring up the lagging pawn; leav ing the front pawn on the square the color of the enemy bishop should only be done with great caution. 5 i. b4 6. g6 'lfi f6 7. 'it> h7! .•• This move is the entire point! White's king takes up a dominating position in front of its pawns, a maneuver which could not be prevented. 202 If the white king at this moment stood on h5, then Black could simply gain the draw with . . . i. f8 or . . . 'it>g7. 7 i. f8 8. i. f5 .•• Black to move Followed by � g8! and f8 � (or g6g7) . Here White wins, although it's not easy. To win, White only needed the h-file - to the right of his pawns. On 276 Bishops of Opposite Colors this basis we could guess that moving Diagram 202 to the right would make White unable to win. Indeed , in the po sition below M. Henneberger, 1916 203 White to move and win with Black to move the draw would be forced by l . . . \t> f6 ! 2. i. d4+ (or 2. "1/g4 .1e2+) 2 . . . W fS ! If now 3. g7 , then 3 . . . .tc4, after which White's king cannot support its advanced pawn. And so, if one of the pawns is a rook pawn, then the win is not always as sured. This result might be expected, since the rook pawn and a knight pawn even standing on the sixth rank do not always win. Moving one of those pawns back to the fifth rank, winning chances are reduced still further. c) PAWNS ON THE FIFfH RANK In the first place , we need to refute the widely held (and sometimes encoun tered even in some handbooks) belief, that pawns on the fifth rank supported by the king always win. For instance, in Diagram 203 Black need only bring his bishop to c8 in order to obtain a clearly drawn position. The point is that, with the bishop on c8, Black would get his king to fl and White would not be able to prepare e5-e6, since his king would be tied to the pawn at fS , and an immediate e5-e6 would be met by . . . i. xe6. Now let's go back to the position de picted in Diagram 203. How does White play here? Does he start with a check on gS or on b4? If we give check from b4, the black king retreats, not to d7 (when \t> e4-f4g5-f6 would ensue) , but to fl. The idea is that after l . it. b4+ \t>fl the white king could not run around the left flank, since on 2. \t> d4, Black would force the draw with 2 . . . it. c2! 3. e6+ (or 3. f6 it.b3) 3 ... 'itiff6. This last (3 ... 'itif f6) would not be possible had White given check on the first move from g5 , instead ofb4. There fore, White plays 1. it. gs + ! 'lt> d7 277 Chapter 1 1 If now l . . . © t7 , then 2 . © d4 £2. a2 (or 2 . . . ii.. c2 3. e6+ and 4. @ e 5 ; on 2 . . . ©g7?, 3 . e 6 works again) 3 . © c5! ii. b l 4 . e6+ and 5 . f6. 2. @f4 ii.. a2 3. il h4 White also wins after 3 . ii.. f6, for ex ample : 3 . . . ii.. c4 4. \t> g5 �f7 5. © h6!, etc . 3 . . . �J7 . Or 3 . . . .sl c4 4. Wg5 ©e7 5 . ©g6+ and 6. W f6. 4. © g5 � e7 5. © h6+! ©d7 6. © g7 ii. d5 7. @f6 Before anything else , we will show that the usual system here does not win. For example, if I . ii.. h5+ , then I . . . © e7! (not l . . .©g7 because o f 2. © e4, working around to the left) 2. ii.. g6 Sl b2 3. ©g4 i. c3 4. © h5 ii.g7! (now the in sufficiency of the one h-file tells for the successful White operations on the right flank) 5. il h7 W f7 . Now let's look at a different White attacking system. 1 . © g4 ii.. b2 2. © h5 © g7 Forced. For instance , if 2 . . . ii.. g 7, then 3. ii.. c4+ and 4. @ g6. And if 2 . . . .Jl c 3 , then 3 . © h6! ii.. g 7+ (on 3 . . ii.. b2 or 3 . . . .Jl d2 , White gives check with the bishop and enters with the king at g6) 4. @ h7 and then 5 . .Jl c4+ or ii.. h5+. . As may be seen from the variations, in order to win White needs the h-file ( 5 . © h6!), located two files t o the right of the pawns. 3. il b5 .Jl c3 Therefore we can expect that by moving the entire position to the right, White would not be able to win, since he would not have a move analogous to \t>g5-h6 in the variations under discus sion. Black can only move his bishop along the long diagonal , since he has to pre vent f5 -f6 and forestall the white king's invasion on the sixth rank. 4. Si. es .Jlb2 5. ii.. g6 ii.. d4 6. © g4! 204 Preparing 7. ii.. h5 followed by @g4f3-e4-d5 -e6; however, since White does not currently threaten f5-f6+, Black can make use of this to set up his bishop in the more favorable position indicated in the note to Diagram 203 . 6 ... ii.. b6! ! White to move. Draw 278 The bishop shifts over t o the d8-g5 Bishops of Opposite Colors diagonal. (He could also play 6 . . . Si.cs with the same idea. ) 7. Si. h 5 Si. d8!, draw. Some readers might be inclined to pay too much attention to the result we obtained: for instance, it might seem that knight and bishop pawns on the fifth rank generally cannot force a win in such positions. However, such gen eralizations would be premature . The point is that a typical sign for Diagram 204 is not only the presence of pawns on knight and bishop files (on the fifth rank) , but also the fact of the pawn that is slated to advance. In Diagram 204, White must pre pare for the advance of his f-pawn, since Black's bishop covers the dark squares; in Diagram 205 Black's bishop covers the light squares and thus it is necessary to pre pare the g-pawn's advance. This circum stance is reflected in the game's outcome. 205 Win 1 . A c3+ W f7 If l . . .W h8 , then W f4-e5-f6. 2. Si. d4 and then g5 -g6. When the knight pawn is designated for advancement, then White wins even if Black's bishop succeeds in taking the most favorable position. For instance, if in Diagram 205 we move Black's bishop to h7, arriving at this position - - then it turns out that Black cannot save the game , since his bishop has no moves. White wins here by means of Zugzwang: I . .ll c3+ W t7 2 . .ll d4. Before going to the wing pawns, let's recap what has gone before. Center pawns on the fifih rank do not win when Black's bishop succeeds in occupying the most favorable position (in front of the pawns, while attacking the one which is not intended to advance) , If the pawns stand on the fifth rank on the f and g-files (or the b- and c-files) , then the win is assured only if the knight pawn is markedfor advancement. As regards rook pawns, they win still more rarely than those on the sixth rank. In positions analogous to those we have already examined, edge pawns on the 279 Chapter 1 1 fifth rank don't win even with the help of the bishop, attacking the corner square . 206 Here Black gets a draw by l . . . i.e8 2. W d4 i. f7 ! (if White advances the epawn now, we get the drawing position we already looked at: Black takes the d7 square with his king and the bishop shuttles between f7 and g8) 3. W e5 i.g8 4. i. b4+ 'iti> d7 5. i. c 5 i. t7 6. 'iti> f6! 'iti>e8! (6 . . . i.g8 would be a mistake , owing to 7. Wg7, and so would 6 . . . i. h5 because of 7. e5) 7. W g7! i. h5 ! . Now this move is playable , since on 8 . e5 there follows 8 � f3 9. d6 i.g4 and . . . W d7 . . . . Black to move. Draw If it is White to move in the given po sition, he wins easily with l . i. d4+, fol lowed by g5-g6, etc. Black to move can save the game with l . . .i.d3 2. i.d4+ W h7 (2 . . . Wf7! is even simpler) 3. Wg3 i. e2! 4. g6+ (or 4. W h4 i. d3!) 4 . . . W h6, etc. d) ONE PAWN ON THE FIFTH RANK, THE OTHER ON THE FOURTH We begin once again with the center pawns. Here too, the outcome of the game (as with center pawns on the fifth rank) depends on whether the black bish op can occupy a favorable position. 207 Black to move. Draw 280 If in Diagram 2 0 7 the black bishop stood on b3 instead of d7, then the game would end in Black's defeat, since he would have been too late in transferring the bishop to the g8-d5 diagonal. For ex ample, l . . .i. d l 2. e5 i. h5 3 . i. b4+! (3. e6 would be mistaken in view of 3 ... i.g4! 4. Sl b4+ W f6 , and also 3. W d4, when 3 . . . i. f7 ! would be the answer) 3 . . . Wd7 (if 3 . . . W f7 , then W e 3-d4-c5-d6) 4. e6+ ! and W d4. Now we will move the position shown in Diagram 207 first to one side, then to the other. Ifwe move the position one file to the left (Black to move ) : Bishops of Opposite Colors there is no significant change: here too, Black gets a draw with I . . .i. d8 2. 'ift c4 i.e7 3. 'itt d5 'ift c7 4. 'ift e6 'iftd8 5 . 'itt fl � h4! , etc. It also doesn't change the outcome if we move the position in Diagram 207 two files to the left. But if we move the position in Dia gram 207 one file to the right, then we have the following situation: .il.h8 (if 5 ... .il. f8 or 5 ... Wg4, then 6. f6) 6. 'itt d5 .il.g7 (or 6 ... 'ift f4 7. f6) 7 . ..t> e6 and f5-f6. 4. 'it>fS! After 4. f5? the game ends in draw. 4 i. h6 ••• Trying to prevent 5. Wg6. 5. 'it>g4! Gradually the role of the pawns at f4 and e5 is becoming clear: they restrict the enemy bishop considerably. Black is already in Zugzwang-. for instance , if 5 . . . Wd7 or 5 . . . W f8 , then f4-f5-f6. 5 ... i.f8 6. 'itt g5 .il. g7 7. 'it> g6 'it> f8 If7 . . . i. f8 , then 8 . f5 , and o n 7 . . . i. h8 there follows 8. W h7 ! . Black to move. Win White now has a new combination which was not possible when both pawn stood on the fifth rank. Here we have the rare case when pushing the second pawn to the fifth rank turns out not to be good! � l...i.f8 Black hurries to occupy g7 with his bishop, as it will secure him the draw if the f-pawn advances. 2. 'itt e4 ii. g7 3. ii. c4+ 'ift e7 If 3 . . . ..t>g6, then 4. f5+ 'itt g5 5 . .il. d3! 8 . 'itt h7 and wins. Black lost because of the closed-in position of his bishop. If the reader com pares the position reached here with the one reached in the main variation of Di agram 207 after White's seventh move it will aid his understanding of this end � game even more. There, in a similar po sition, Black was saved by 6 . . . i. h5 ! ; here the black bishop cannot move rightward three squares. Now let us move Diagram 208 by one more file to the right, reaching this position (Black to move): 28 1 Chapter 1 1 First let us postulate that it's White 's move here . At first glance it looks as though White could place his bishop at c4, and then bring up his pawns to g5 and h6, and finally, play @ h7 with a lat er g5-g6-g7 , forcing the win. However, Black can interfere with this plan. I. .t c4 If l . @ h7, then I . . .Ji. d2 ! , inhibiting the g-pawn. Here again, White wins, since af ter I . . . .tg8 2 . @ f4 .t h7 , the black bishop is i n a very tight situation, while on I . . . .t e8 2 . @ f4 il d7 , there comes simply 3 . .t d4+ @ f7 4. g5 and then g5 -g6 . To complete our survey of endings with pawns on the fourth and fifth ranks, we must again stop at the edge pawns. We saw above that edge pawns, even af ter advancing to the sixth rank, do not always win. Naturally, with pawns on the fourth and fifth ranks, the winning chances are even smaller. l . .. .t d4 2. g5 $i. e3! The only correct move . For instance, if2 . . . .tb2, then 3. @ h7 ! , followed by g5g6, h5-h6, and g6-g7 . 3. h6 The threat was 3 . . .t xg5, followed by 4 . . . @g7 with a draw. . 3 . . . .t d2 4. @ h5 .t e3 5. g6 .t d4! Afterwards, Black will only need to move his bishop. C. Salvioli, 1887 Now let's have the bishops trade places - that is, the position below: 209 Draw, no matter whose move it is 282 Bishops of Opposite Colors Here White wins easily after I . W h6 <tlfl 2. g5 'it> g8 (If 2 . . . 'it> e6, then 3 . <tlg7 <tlf5 4. i. f6! and h5-h6) 3 . g6 i. e4 4. rtlg5, etc . It would be very tempting to make the following generalization: "Wing pawns win, if the bishop of the attacking side can control the corner. " However, as we have seen, such a generalization would be inaccurate. The win in the last position was based not only on the white bishop's activity, but also on the power ful position of White's king. That piece needs only to go from g6 to h4 - which would be to examine the following posi tion: white pawns advance Black will be able to set up his bishop in the most favo rable position (in front of the pawns, while attacking one of them and re straining the other from advancing thanks to the possibility of sacrificing the bishop for it) . U sually, the ques tion comes down to whether or not Black can set up his bishop in the most favorable position. A detailed analysis of every possible position here would take up too much space, so we will restrict ourselves to a few illustrations. S. Tarrasch, 192 1 210 Black to move. Draw - for the outcome of the game to be radically altered. For example: I . Wg5 i. e2! 2. W f5 .t'g8 , etc . ; or l . g5 W fl! 2. Wg3 � c2! (not 2 ... A e2 , on account of 3 . g6+ ) 3. ?t· f4 J,, b l 4 . � e5 � c2 , etc . , draw. If Black could move his bishop to c6 here , then he would have achieved his desired position at once. But since this is impossible , he must content himself with the advance of the white pawns to d5 and e5, and taking steps against their further strengthening. e) PAWNS ON THE FOURTH RANK Here , the number of drawing po sitions grows still further, since as the H ow should Black place his bishop and king, so that those pawns at d5 and e5 don't win? Bishop and king should 283 Chapter 1 1 stand where they prevent the further ad vance e5-e6 and in addition restrict the freedom of the white king by pressur ing the d5-pawn. In other words, Black must strive to place his bishop on fl or g8 , and his king on d7. And now a question arises: how is this to be done? For instance , is 1 . . . il. a4 all right , having i n mind . . . 3i. a4e8-fl and . . . @ d7? This question gets a negative answer, since on l . . .il. a4 there follows 2 . ii. a3 + ; and if now Blac k ' s king occupies its intended d7 square , then it interferes with its own bishop, which must be transferred via e8 to fl. Instead of I . . .il. a4?, he should choose a different move , one allowing Black's king to retreat from the check to d7, without interfering with his own bishop . 1 ... ii. d l ! 2. ii. a3+ @ d7 3. d5 Nor does 3 . 'it> f4, intending 'it> e 5 , change matters. 3 . . . Si. h5 4. @ f4 S. Thrrasch. 192 1 21 1 Black to move. Draw This position differs from the previ ous one only in the bishops' placement. However, the draw is considerably more difficult here than in Diagram 2 1 0. The end result here, too, is: for the king, the d7 square ; for the bishop, the fl square . 1 . . . ..ll c4! Black can 't play l . . .� b5 , on account of 2 . Si. b4+. If 2 . . . 'it>d7 now, then 3. d5 and 4. e 5 . If 4. e5, then 4 . . . il fl ! . 4 il. g6! ••. Black carries out his plan. Now he even facilitates the pawn's advance to e5, since after that he achieves the draw easily enough. 5. \ti es il. h7! 6. 'it> d4 .1i. g6 7. es il.t7!, draw. 284 Nor d o 2 . . . 'it> e6 o r 2 . . . 'it> c6 work, since White would reply 3 . d5+ and then bring his king to d4 and get time to play e4-e5-e6. Finally, if 2 . . . 'it>c7, then 3 . d5 il. e8 4. e5 ii.fl 5 . e6, etc . It's useful also to note that, after 1 . . . Sl b 5 , White wins only after 2 . .1i. b4+ ! , since o n 2 . il. g 3 + ? there follows 2 . . . 'it> e7! 3 . d5 ii. e8 4. e5 ii.fl 5 . 'it> d4 'it> d7. Bishops of Opposite Colors 2. Ji. g3+! 'iii c6! The only right move. If2 . . . 'iii d7, then 3. d5 ; and on 2 . . . 'iit e6, White moves his king to c5 and advances his pawns before Black can occupy the necessary defensive position, e.g. , (2 . . . 'iit e6) 3. 'iii d2 Ji.b3 (if 3 . . . 'iit d7, then 4. d5!, stopping the c4bishop from going to f7) 4. 'iit c3 Ji. d i 5 . d5+ 'iit d7 6. e 5 ! (not 6. 'iit d4, in view of 6. . . Ji.h5 7. e5 Ji. t7!) 6 . . . Ji. h5 7. e6+! , etc. 3. 'iit g4 Ji. g7 4. Wf5 'iii e 7 5. e5 Now the win will present no difficul ties for the reader (see Diagram 208). f) LESS-ADVANCED PAWNS Here the chances of winning are ab solutely minuscule ; we may avoid a draw only in exceptional circumstances - for instance, in the following position by Tarrasch 3. @f4 Ji. g8 4. 'iil e5 'iii d7 5. d5 Ji. f7 6. 'it' f6 'iii e8, etc. S. Tarrasch, 1 92 1 212 White to move plays 1 . f3! and 'it'g l . Black to move; White wins 213 l . . . ii. c3 2. Ji. h3+ Since the e-pawn is slated to ad vance, White defends the f5 square in timely fashion, and therefore gives check from h3 and not from c4. 2 'iii d6 •.. If 2 . . . @ ffi , then White brings his king over to d5 and plays e4-e5+ at the first opportunity. Draw, regardless of whose move it is If it is Black to move, then the draw is easy: l . . . Ji. t2 2. g4 ii.e3 3. f5 'iit e5. 285 Chapter 1 1 If it's White to move, then the game might proceed as follows: 1 . 'it> d3 'lt> e6 2. 'lt>e4 i.e7! 3. g4 Wffi 4. g5+ @g7 5. @fS i.d8 6. 'iil e6 (or 6. @g4 i. e7 7. f5 i.d8) 6 . . . c;ft f8 ! 7 . Wd7 (7. g6 c;ftg7) 7 . . . i.e7 8. i.d3 i.b4!, forcing the king to go back in order to beat back the threat of i. d2. Draw. C. BISHOP + 1WO ISOLATED PAWNS vs. BISHOP Ifthe pawns are only one.file aparlfrom each other, the game usually ends in a draw: ifthe pawns are separated from each other by two or more.files, then in the ma jority of cases they will decide the game. In support of this conclusion, Berger presents the following two positions: In the first position, White cannot win, e.g. , I . @ e6 i. b4 2 . i. e4 @d8 3. @ fl i. a3 4. e6 i. b4. White does win in the second posi tion: 1 . i.f3 'it' d8 2. W e6 i. b4 3. ffi i. a5 4. fl i. b4 5 . 'it' ffi i. c3 + 6. \t>g6 i. b4 7. @g7. So it seems that, in opposite-colored bishop endgames Gust as in pawn end ings) , outside passed pawns are stronger than connected ones. However, outside passed pawns don't always win: if one of the pawns is a rook pawn, then often the defender can force the draw by sacrific ing his bishop for the other pawn. Examples 163- 189: 163. Black to move and draw. 286 Bishops of Opposite Colors 1 64. Black to move and draw. 1 65 . White to move wins; Black to move draws. 168. Black to move and draw. Draw. 1 66. 1 69. Win. White to move and win. 287 Chapter 1 1 1 73 . 1 70. Draw. Black to move and draw. 1 7 1 . Amateurs, 1 775. 1 74. Black to move and win. Win. 1 72 . 1 75. White t o move a nd win. 288 White to move a nd draw. Bishops of Opposite Colors 1 79. 1 76. White to move and win. Draw. 1 80. 1 77. Black to move and draw. Draw, regardless of whose move it is. 181. 1 78 . White to move and win. Win. 289 Chapter 1 1 1 85 . 1 82. Black to move and draw. 1 83 . S. Tarrasch, 1 92 1 . White to move - draw; Black to move - win. 1 86. Black to move and win. 1 84. 1 87 . White to move and win. 290 White to move and win. Draw. Bishops of Opposite Colors As an example of the draw we will ex amine the following position from Bo goljubow - Rubinstein, Berlin 1 926: 1 88 . Win. 1 89. Draw only if it 's White 's move. D. ENDINGS WITH MORE THAN lWO PAWNS As we have pointed out before , the attacker must situate his pawns such that they extend the bishop's actions. Thus, if White has an advantage in position, and his bishop stands on b6, then in order to maintain winning chances, he should place his pawns on dark squares. And if he can't do this, the game fre quently ends in a draw, despite the one or two-pawn advantage. Here White threatens to win the b4pawn, with significant winning chances (three connected passed pawns for a bishop) . However, Rubinstein finds the following route to the draw: he re turns the piece and winds up two pawns down, but enters an endgame with op posite-colored bishops! The game con cluded as follows: l . . . b3 2. 'it' b4 i1. a7 3 . W xb3 i1. d4 4. W a3 i1. a6 5. b 3 il.xc4! , draw. The following ending illustrates well the idea of exploiting the advantage with opposite-colored bishops. Vidmar Spielmann St. Petersburg 1 909 - (See Diagram 214) Black has an extra passed pawn on the queenside. However, this fact alone could not decide the game in these cir cumstances. I n order to achieve the goal, Black must carry out a combina tive attack on both flanks. 29 1 Chapter 1 1 .lt e7 @ h3! 8 . @ f2 (8 . .lt xgS a3) 8 . . . .lt d3 9. @ g l b5! 1 0 . .lt f8 ( 1 0 . .lt xg5 @ g4! and then . . . @ f3-e2) 1 0 . . . .lt g6 1 1 . .lte7 @g4 1 2. @ f2 @ f5 1 3 . @ e2 ( 1 3 . @ e3 @ e6! 14 . .lt xg5? a3!) 1 3 . . . @ e6! 1 4 . .lt xgS @ d5!, penetrating to b3. Black to move With 4. c4, White takes away dS from Black's king (see move 1 4 in the above variation), but in the process he puts his c-pawn in danger. 4 ... @ h5 5. 'iil f6 He must hurry with the kingside at tack, because otherwise White secures his position by h2-h4! . 1 . .. .lt hJ! With this move , Black nails down the h2-pawn in place , creating the threat of a king invasion (after . . . g6-g5) via g6 and hS to g2 . l . . .gS is bad because of 2 . @ fS h6 3 . White is counting on the counterat tack. 5 ... @ g4 6 .lt aJ .lt g2 7 . .lt d6 • Black would probably have replied to 7 . .lt b4 with 7 . . . @ f3 8. @ xgS @ e3! 9 . @ h6 .lt e4 10. h4 @ d4 1 1 . c S @ c4, etc . 7 . . � fl . h4! . 2 .lt aJ • White cannot prevent the threat of . . . g6-g5 with 2. W d4, because Black would have replied 2 . . . @ e6, threaten ing to penetrate on the queenside with his king. 2 gS 3 . .lt b4 @ g6 4. c4 .•• A waiting game doesn't seem to save White either; for example, 4 . .lt a3 @hS 5 . @ e4 (threatening @ h5-g4f3) 5 . . . @g4 6. @ e 3 (defending against . . . .ltg2+ followed by . . . W h3 ) 6 . . . .t fl 7. 292 In this position, this move i s even stronger than 7 . . . 'it' f3 . The fact is that after 7 . . . JL fl it would be wrong for White to answer 8 . c5, in view of 8 . . . a3 , and if 9. c6?, then 9 . . a2 , threatening to queen with check. . s. @ g7 @ rs 9. cs If 9. @ xh7, then 9 . . .lt xc4 1 0. h4 gxh4 1 1 . gxh4 .lt e2! 1 2 . @ h6 b5 1 3 . hS @ e6 14 . .lt f8 @ d5 . Here Black wins eas ily: he sends his king over to his pawns, giving up the bishop for the h-pawn. . 9 a3! 10. c6 a2! 1 1 . g4+ ••. Bishops of Opposite Colors If 1 1 . cxb7, then 1 1 . . . a l '@' + and wins, since 1 2 . W xh7 runs into . . . '@'a7. ll W e4 12. i. e5 bxc6 13 .ll a l c5 14. \t'xh7 c4 15. W g6 Wd3 16. W xg5 c3 0- 1 ••. • With 4. c4, White clearly eased his opponent's task. Nimzowitsch - Capablanca Riga 1 9 1 3 3. Wel White has to avoid 3 . .ll c7, in view of 3 . . . b5! 4. axb5 (if 4. @ e l , then after 4 . . . bxa4 Black wins quite simply, as he obtains passed pawns on both flanks) 4 . . . a4 5. c4 (the only way to hold back the pawn; for instance, if 5. $1. a5, then 5 . . . W d 5 ! , while on 5. b6 Black replies 5 . . . £l f3 !) 5 . . . a3 6. ii. as a2 7. li. c3 @ d6! and then . . . � e6, picking up the c4- and b5-pawns. 215 3 @ d5! •.• With this Black protects both pawns, while White 's a4-pawn can no longer be defended. 4. W d2 If 4. ii. c7, then 4 . . . @ c6! 5. _t xa5? b6. Black has an extra pawn, besides which he threatens to win another pawn with . . . � f5 . l . a4 After this move, Capablanca manag es to finish the game brilliantly. But af ter other replies, White 's position is also unenviable, for example 1 . W e l i.f5 2. @ d2 @ e6 3 . ilb8 a6 , threatening to en ter through d5 to c4 or e4 with the king. l. .. 'itt e6! 2. i. b8 a5! Considerably stronger than 2 . . . a6 - which, however, would also have won, according to Capablanca. 4 .i. d7 5. !ti. c7 W c6! 6. � d8 b6 7. c4 @b7 8. 'it> c3 ilxa4 ••. The game ended: 9. 'it> b2 i. d7 1 0 . W b3 t e6 1 1 . W c 3 a 4 12. @ d3 W c6 13. W c3 g4 14. il h4 h5 1 5 . i. g3 a3 16. 'it> b3 Si xc4+ ! (if now 1 7 . @ xc4, then 1 7 . . . a2 1 8 . il e5 h4 1 9 . 'it> b 3 g3 20. hxg3 h 3 ! 2 1 . g4 h2 or 2 1 . . .a l '@' ) 1 7 . 'it> xa3 b5 18. c3 W d5 1 9 . i. f2 i. e2 20. 'it> b3 !ti. d i + 2 1 . W b2 W c4 22. W e t !ti. f3 23. W d2 b4 24. cxb4 cxb4 25. iL h4 .ll e4 26. iL f6 Ji. g6 27. Jli. h4 b3 28. Jli. f6 (if 2 8 . W c l , then 28 . . . W d3 29. @b2 iL f7 , and a transfer of the king to g2 followed by . . . h 5 - h4) 28 h4! 29. W e3 g3! 30. hxg3 ( 3 0 . h3 iL f5 ! ; or 30. Wf3 .ll e4+ !) 30 h3! 3 1 . W f2 iL f5! (it was neces•.. .•• 293 Chapter 1 1 sary to prevent g3 -g4) 32. g4 .ll xg4 33. 'iii g3 'iii d3 0- 1 . I n the next two examples, White mainly wins thanks to the aggressive placement of his king, which enters un molested into the enemy camp. Nimzowitsch - Tarrasch Bad Kissingen 1 928 er due to 2 . . . .ll c6!) 2 . . . f3 3. g4! and then .ll e 3, 'lt> h2-g3-f4 (or 'lt> h2-g3-f4-g5h6) , and h3-h4-h5. 2. 'lt> g3 'lt> c8 3. 'it> f4 'it> d7 4 .ll b4 'it> e6 5. i. c3 i. d7 6. g3 b5 7. 'it> g5 Wf7 8. h4 .Il es 9. 'it> h6 'lt> g8 10. b3! • After bottling up his opponent on the kingside , White starts exploiting his pawn majority on the queenside. 216 10 cxb3 •.• On 1 0 . . . i. e6, there follows 1 1 . a4! , creating a passed pawn. l l . cxb3 Here White not only has an extra queenside pawn, but also an attacking position for his king on the kingside. If now l 1 , . . .ll d7, then 1 2 . .ll e 5 ! , af ter which Black loses the game through Zugzwang. For example, 1 2 . . . i. e6 1 3 . a4 b4 1 4. a5 i. xb3 1 5 . i. d6 ! , or 1 2 . . . i. e8 1 3 . 'it>g5 i. d7 1 4 . 'it> f6 'it> f8 1 5 . i. d6+, followed by 1 6 . 'lt>g7 or 1 6. We7. l l . . .f4 1. 'iil h2! c4 The final shot. White threatened to bring his king to f4 or h6, which would drive the op posing bishop to a passive position. Then White could start an attack on the queenside as well, for example with c2c4, a2-a4, and b2-b3 , tying down the black king to the defense of the b6- and c5 -pawns. With I . . .c4, Black shores up his queenside a bit. He cannot prevent the attack on the kingside, since on l . . . f4? there would follow 2. i.g5 (2. f3 is weak- 294 12. gxf4 .ll d7 13. 'it> g5 'lt>rT l.C. f5 .ll c6 15. <it' f4 <it' e7 16. W e5 Black's position is hopeless. The game ended 16 i. e8 17. 'lt> xe4 i. c6+ 18. W e5 i. e8 19. 'it> d5 .ll f7+ 20. W c5 i. e8 2 1 . .Il es .ll d7 22. 'it> b6 W f7 23. f6 i. e8 24. f4 'lt> e6 25. W a6! (prepar ing a decisive queenside breakthrough) 25 . . . 'lt>rT 26. b4 W e6 27. a4! bxa4 28. h5 1 -0. .•• Bishops of Opposite Colors I. Rabinovich - Romanovsky Leningrad 1 934 Or 7 . . . ..t h5 8. g6 (simplest) 8 . . . @ fS 9 . @ f7 ! ..t xg6+ 1 0 . � e7 and 1 1 . @ d7 . 217 8. @ f8 1 -0 The pawn on c6 must go. In the position depicted in Diagram 2 1 8 , White gets the draw in spite of his opponent's great superiority. Maroczy - Pillsbury Munich 1 900 White to move 21 8 Here also, White threatens to get into the enemy camp via f4 and e5. To this end, however, he must render harm less . . . e6-e5 , which would have led, af ter d4xe5 , to a weakening of the white pawns and some enlivening of Black's pawn position (thanks to the eventual possibility of . . . d5-d4) . l . ..t g3! In order to meet 1 . . .e5 with 2 . ..t xe5, leaving e5 available to the white king. 1 . . . e5 Black sacrifices a pawn to at least free the e6 square for his king. l. e6! A brilliant move : White sacrifices a third pawn. 1 . . .fxe6 2. fxe6 ..txe6 3. @ es ..tb3 4. @d6 c4 5. '>t> c5 '>t>f5 6. '>t> b4 a2 7. '>t>a3 '>t>e4 8. @ b2 '>t> d3 9. W a l ! Yi-Yi 2 . ..t xe5 @ f7 3. 'lt> h4 Now White 's king breaks into his opponent's left wing. White maneuvers his bishop along the c3-h8 diagonal and after . . . c4-c3 he takes the c-pawn. 3 '>t> e6 4. @ g5 ..t e8 5. '>t> h6 ..tf7 6. Wg7 ..t e8 7. g5 '>t>f5 •.• 295 Chapter 1 1 Reti - Tartakower Semmering 1 926 Winning the h-pawn. 9 @ d6 10. @ g4 @ cs 1 1 . i. e2 i.d8 12. <t>xh4 <t> d4 13. @ hs <ti es 14. g6 1-0 ••• 219 In this last example, the importance of the outside passed pawn was para mount. The possibility of creating such a passed pawn is also the primary theme of our next position. Rubinstein - Griinfeld Karlsbad 1 923 White to move 220 1 . @ e4 h4 On l . . .<t>g7 there might follow 2. h3! .t d6 3 . g4! hxg4 4. hxg4 ii.cs s . @ dS .t a7 (if S . . . i. e7, then 6. @ d4! .ll g S 7. · b4) 6. b4 <t>g6 7. bS @gs 8 . .t e 2 @ f4 9. @ c6. 2. g4! @ e7 White to move l f 2 . . . h3, then 3 . it. fl @ e7 4. @ fJ . 1. W g4 i. e3 2. i. a4! 3. @ dS! N ot 3 . @ fS , in view of 3 . . . h3! 4. @ e4 (4 . .t fl i. d6 S . @ e4 leads to the same thing) 4 . . . .t d6 S. @ xe3 .itxh2 6 . .t fl .tg 1 + 1. @ o h2. 3 . . . .t a7 Before starting the decisive opera tion, Rubinstein improves his position. With 2 . .ll a4! , he induces the c6-pawn to advance, and then holds this pawn on a dark square, thus restricting the oppo nent's bishop (see the note to the eighth move). If 3 . . i. d6, then 4. h 3 , with the threat of S . @ d4. 2 cS 3. i. b3 i. d2 4. i. c4! @ g7 S. a4 @f8 6. @f3! 4. h3 @ d7 S. b4 i. b8 6. @ e4 i. d6 7. bS ii. cs 8. @ f4 .tb6 9. gS! White moves his king to the center, not fearing the reply 6 . . . i. e 1 ? in view of . 296 ••• Bishops of Opposite Colors 7. We2, indirectly protecting the pawn at h4. Nothing comes of 6. hS in light of 6 . . . gxhS+ 7. 'it> xhS 'it>g7. 6 W e7 7. W e2 ii. as 8. W d l ••. White had another tempting move here: 8 . i. d S ! , the basic idea being the threat 9. W d3 ii. e l !? 1 0 . W c4! and White wins, since l 0 . . . � xh4? is met by 1 1 . aS! . However, after 8 . �dS, Black has the following defense: 8 . . . � b4 9. Wd3 c4+ ! , ridding himself o f the pawn that blocks the a7-g l diagonal. Let us examine the variations which follow these moves: l) 1 0 . il. xc4 ii. e l 1 1 . il. d S i. xh4! (this move is playable now that the a7-g l diagonal has been cleared) 1 2 . as ( 1 2 . 'it> e2? 'it> d6! 1 3 . as 'it> cs 1 4 . a 6 W b6 l S . i.b7 i. xgS=) 1 2 . . . i. f2 ! , with insufficient advantage t o White , for example 1 3 . W c4 W d6! 1 4 . WbS (or 1 4 . ii.t7 ii. e3 ; if now l S . a6 , then 1 S . . . 'it> c6 , while on l S . WbS there fol lows 1 S . . . W c7 1 6 . il. xg6 il. xgS with a draw) 14 . . . il. e 3 l S . a6 (or l S . W a6 @ c7) 1 S . . . W c7 , and then 1 6 . . . W f8 ! and 1 7 . . . i. xg S , draw. 2) 1 0. W xc4 i. e 1 1 1 . W bS i. xh4 1 2. as i. xgS 1 3 . a6 i. e 3 14. 'it> c6 'it> f6! l S . Wb7 WgS 1 6 . a7 il. xa7 1 7 . W xa7 � f4 1 8 . W b6 gS 1 9 . W c S g4, and now it is White who must force the draw (for example , with 20. il. e6 g3 2 1 . ii. h3 W xe4 22. ilg2+ and 2 3 . W dS ) . 1 0. W e2 (threatening il. xc4) 3) IO . . . c3 1 1 . W d3 ( Black could answer 1 1 . i.b3 with 1 1 . . .i. aS , and if l 2 . W d 3 , then 1 2 . . . c2! as in the main variation) l l . . .c2! 1 2. W xc2 il e l 1 3 . Wd3 i.xh4 (ofcourse not 1 3 . . . W d6? at once , because of 1 4. hS!) 1 4. aS W d6 l S . a6 ii. fl , draw. 8 � b4 ... 8 . . . W d6? loses to 9. hS! gxhS 1 0 . g6. 9. i. e2 W d6 This move became possible once the white bishop retreated from the a2-g8 diagonal , since now after l 0. hS gxhS 1 1 . g6? W e7, the pawn is arrested , and af ter the further moves 1 2 . � xhS W f6 1 3 . Wc2 c4 14. i. e2 W xg6 l S . .11l xc4 W f6 1 6 . Wb3 i. e l 1 7. il d S W e7 1 8 . 'it> c4 W d6 1 9 . WbS Wc7, the game ends in a draw. 10. h5? Rubinstein has played outstandingly well up to this point, but here he fails to see a small tactical finesse. 1 0. W c2 ! , winning a n important tempo relative to the game continuation , was stronger. After the correct move , 1 0 . W c2!. Black would most likely have lost in all variations. For example: 1) 1 0 . . . i. e l 1 1 . hS gxhS 1 2 . i. xhS We7 (White threatened to queen the gS pawn) 1 3 . W d 3 , and if now 1 3 . . . i.h4, then 1 4. g6, threatening not only l S . g7 or l S . aS , but also l S . W c4. 2) IO . . . c4? 1 1 . il. xc4, with the powerful threat of 1 2 . hS gxhS 1 3 . g6 'it>e7 1 4. g7 . 3) I O . . . W e 7 1 1 . Wb3! i. e l 1 2. hS gxhS 1 3 . il xhS, threatening Wb3-c4bS. 297 Chapter 1 1 10 . . . gxhS l l . .itxh5 � e7 12. 'it> c2 c4! Now this move, followed up prop erly, ought to have led to a draw. 13 . .it e2 c3? Black returns the favor for White's error on move IO. He should have played l 3 . . . W f7! , when if 1 4 . .it xc4+ , then 1 4 . . . W g6, after which the game would have ended in a draw. For example, 1 5 . .it dS ( 1 5 . .it d 3 changes nothing) 1 5 . . . 'it> xgS 1 6 . Wb3 .iii. e l ! 1 7. W c4 'iii> ffi 1 8 . 'it>b5 @ e7 19. a5 W d8 20. W b6 (20. a6 W c7) 20 ... c;ifc8! 2 1 . a6 .itt2+ 22. @ c6 @ c 8 , draw. After l 3 . . . W f7 , White cannot win with 14 . .it hS + either, since in that case Black would return to the previous po sition with 14 . . . @ e7 and then would arrange for the bishop's transfer to the a5-e l diagonal. If in this variation White removes his bishop from the h5-e8 di agonal, then once again, Black plays . . . 'it> t7 ! . <Joi b2!) 26 . . . <itd2, with a mutual repeti tion of moves. 22 .iii. b l ! • The decisive move. Black must lose a move to open up e3 for his king. 22 .t d4 23. a7 .it xa7 24. W xa7 @ e3 25. @ b6 l-O ..• On 25 ... @ d2 there follows 26. @ cs 'it> c l 27. 'it> c4 @ xb l (27 . . . 'it> b2 28 . .itd3 c2 29 . .it xc2) 28. W xc 3 , and wins. Now let us look at some endings from tournament games, in which, besides bishops of opposite colors, both sides retained a rook or a minor piece. The winning chances are thus greater than in endings with the bishops alone. The following two examples show that mating and stalemating combina tions are encountered in more than just problems and studies. 14. 'lt>b3 'lt>f7 15 . .it d3! .iii. as 1 6 . 'it' c4 Now White wins the bishop and gets back just in time to reach the pawns at e4 and e5. Yates - Rubinstein Moscow 1 925 221 1 6 <it g6 17. 'it> b5! ••• Wins by force. 17 .it d8 18. a5 .it xg5 19. a6 .it e3 20. @ c6 @ g5 2 1 . \t> b7 @ f4 ••• Now if 22. a7?, Black gets a draw with 22 . . . .it xa7 23. W xa7 \t> e3 24 . .iii. b l � d2 25. 'it> b6 W e i 26 . .it d3 (26 . .it a2? 298 Black to move Bishops of Opposite Colors Rubinstein, who had been playing for the win all along, failed to notice the danger hanging over him. 1 . . .l:td2? • This "natural" move turns out to be the decisive error. Instead, Black had to force the draw with l . . . � e l ! 2. l:tb2 (not 2. W fl ? , in view of 2 . . . �c3+ 3. '>t>g2 � d4! followed by 4 . . . l:td2) 2 . . . l:td2 (or 2 . . . l:ta l ) . If 5 . . Jk2, then 6. '>t> fl ! and 7. l:txd6. 6. l:c4! Threatening 7. :e4 l:e l 8. lle6! , as after 8 . . . :xe6 9. dxe6 the black d6-pawn is free to move. 6 l':tel 7. l:te4 ••• I n view of the looming 8 . l:le6! , Black must trade rooks now, with a lost pawn ending. 2. � g4! 7 ... :xe4 8. fxe4 Wxg4 9. e5! fJ+ An unexpected move. White threat ens 3 . .l:th7, and Black can't take the bishop. 2 . . . � b6 Nor does 9 . . . W f5 help, in view of I O . e 6 and l l . 'it> f3 . 1 0 . 'it>gl \£7f5 1 1 . e 6 1 - 0 Forced. Nimzowitsch - Wolf Karlsbad 1 923 3. l:txb6 hxg4 4. hxg4 222 And now, once again, Black must defend against mate. If 4 . . Jhd5, then mate in two. 4 l:tb2! ••• Black plays his last card: he attempts to play for stalemate. 5. l:tc6! 5 . l:txd6 would be a mistake because of 5 . . . llb6! 6. lld7 l:tb7 7. l:td8 l:tb8 8 . l:td6 l:t b 6 9. ll c 6 ( o r 9 . : e 6 ) 9 . . . l:txc6 I O. dxc6 (or, again , I O. dxe6) , stalemate! 5 l:.bl ••• White to move Despite the bishops of opposite colors, White has a winning position: the bishop at e5 and pawn at d6 are very powerfully placed, and the black king is pinned to the comer. 299 Chapter 11 1. h4! 13... i.g4 14. f6+ ® h7 15. �xc6 1-0 Preventing l . . .gS and 2 . . .'iit g 6. Marshall Nimzowitsch New York 1 927 - 1 .. .<� g8 223 If l . . .�b7?, then 2. Mb3! l::t d 7 (or 2 . . . �xb3 3. axb3) 3. l':tb8 gS 4. hS. 2. � b3 � d7 3. � b8+ @n 4. � c8 i. e4 Of course not 4 . . . Mb7, on account of S. �c7 + . 5. ® g3 h5 He could have delayed this advance until after White played �h8; but there's no avoiding ... h6-hS. 6. ® a i.ds 7. ® e3 The a2-pawn is protected indirectly. Black to move The win in this game was simpler than in the previous one. 1 ... ® a3 Threatening 2 . . . lllb S 3. lllb l i. d3 4. a4 lllx d4. 7 ... i.g2 8. ® d4 i. f3 9. i.h8! 2. fx gS fx gS 3. 'it>fl i. hS! Threatening a stalemating attack by IO. ®es followed by i. h8-f6-gS -h6. If, after IO. ®es and i. h8-f6-gS , Black prevents i.h6 with . . . ®g7, then White replies �c8-c7. On 3 . . . i.c4 White gains some coun terplay with 4. lllf3 h6 S. ii. e s , with 6. i.g7 to follow. 4. ii.es g4! 9 ..eS+ 10. 'it>xeS i.dS 11. i.f6 i.f3 12. i.g5 ® g7 . Preventing the counterattack g2-g4 followed by lllf3 or i.f6. 1 3 . i. h6 was again threatened. 5. hxg4 i.xg4 6 . 'it> e 3 i. fS 13. fS! 6 . . . i.e6 a t once was simpler. Preparing 1 4 . 'iite 6. 1 3 . 'it> e6 right away fails to 1 3 . . . i.g4+ . 300 7. i.g7 i. e6 Bishops of Opposite Colors Preparing . . . CZ'ib5 . However, it would have been more decisive to play 7 . . . CZJ b5 at once; if now 8. c4 dxc4 9. CZ'ixc4 i.e6 10. 'iil d3, then IO . . . i.xc4+ 1 1 . 'i!lxc4 c6! , and Black easily wins the knight vs. bishop ending, as on 1 2 . d5? there fol lows 12 . . . CZ'id6+ ( 1 3 . W d4?? CZ'if5+ ) . 8 . i.18 On 8 . 'i!ld3 , Black could choose the above variation 8 . . . i.f5+ 9. 'i!le3 CZ'ib5 10. c4 dxc4 1 1 . CZ'ixc4 i.e6 1 2. 'i!ld3 Jl.xc4+ 1 3 . 'i!lxc4 c6! . After 8. i.f8 , Black loses a pawn. 8 CZ'ib5 9. CZ'ib l •.• most forceful line is 1 7 . . . 'i!lb5! 1 8 . i.xc7 'i!lxc4! 1 9. i.xb6 a4, followed by . . . 'i!lb3 and . . . a4-a3) 17 ... i. e4 18. g3 'i!lb5 19. 'it>cl 'i!lc4! 20. 'i!lb2 (if 20. i.d8 , then 20 . . . 'i!lxc3 2 1 . i.xc7 a4 22. i.xb6 a3 23. i. a5+ 'i!lb3) 20 ...c5! 21. i.e5 (or 2 1 . i.d8 cxd4 22. cxd4 'i!lb5 , followed by . . . 'i!la6 and . . . b6-b5) 21. .. cxd4 22. i.xd4 b5 23. i.b6 (nor do other moves help, for example 23. i.e5 a4 24. 'i!la3 i.f3 if now 25. 'i!lb2, then 25 . . . d4! 26. i.xd4 b4! , while on 25. i.f6 there follows 25 . . . i.d l 26. i.e5 d4! 27. i. xd4 b4+) 2 3 a4 24. i.a5 (if 24. i.d4, then 24 . . . b4! with the threat of 25 . . . bxc3+ 26. i.xc3 a3+) 24...d4 25. cxd4 b4! (after 25 ... 'i!lxd4? 26. 'i!la3 the position is drawn) 26. i.b6 a3+ 27. c;t>a 2 c;t>b5 28. i.c5 Wa4 0- 1. • • . 9. 'i!ld3 fails to 9 . . . i.f5+ . 9 . . . a5 Another winning line was 9 . . . i.f5 IO. a4 i.xb l 1 1 . axb5 i.a2 1 2 . 'iil f4 i. c4 1 3 . We5 'itid7 14. i. -any c6! 1 5. bxc6+ 'i!lxc6, followed by relocating the king to b3. Now let's go to a game between Spielmann and Romanovsky, and ex amine the position when there were still queens on the board. Spielmann - Romanovsky Moscow 1 935 10. 'i!ld2 On IO. 'iil f4 Black wins with 1 0 . . . Ji.f7! 1 1 . a4 ( l l . 'i!le5 i.g6 1 2. a4 i.xb l 1 3 . axb5 i.a2 transposes) l l . . .i.g6 1 2. axb5 i.xb l 1 3 . 'i!le5 i.a2 1 4. 'i!le6 i.c4, intending 1 5 . . . 'i!lb7 and 1 6 . . . c6 as in the preceding note. 10 i.f5! 11. CZ'ia3 CZ'ixa3 12. i.xa3 i.bl! 13. i.18 i. xa2 • • . Black's task is simplified. There fol lowed 14. i.g7 i.bl 15. 'i!le3 'i!lb7 16. i. f6 'i!la6 17. 'i!ld2 (on 1 7. i. d8 the White to move If you take the major pieces off the board in this position, then the game 301 Chapter 11 would have to be a draw, in spite of White 's extra pawn. However, it is pre cisely because the major pieces are still on the board - and the presence of mat ing combinations - that the bishop on d4 increases in strength. Moreover, the fact that they are bishops ofopposite color just increases the power of the attack, since Black cannot oppose White along the long diagonal . (much stronger than 6. l:tg3 winning the queen for rook and bishop) 6 . . . 'V/lih6 (other moves are also unsatisfactory: if, for example, 6 . . . V/lie6, then 7 . :bs+ i.e8 8. 'i¥g3 ! g6 9. h4, threatening IO. h5; and if 6 . . . 'i¥h5 7 . 'V/lid8+ � h7 , then 8 . VJ/if8! V/lig6 9. l:tg3) 7. '@'d8+ 'it' h7 8 . l:tg3 i.g6 9. V/lid6!, with the decisive threat of IO. h4! followed by h4-h5. 5. V/lixh6+! gxh6 6. l:tb7 �g8 1. 'V/lic7 'it'g8 2. l:tb3 Threatening, with 3 . i.e5 , to cut the black rook off from the kingside. 2 •.• 'it' h7 3. 'i¥d8 White declines to continue 3 . i.e5 , i n view o f 3 . . . d 4 4. l:t b 7 dxe3 5 . VJ/ixf7 'i¥xf7 6. l:txf7 l:txe5! 7 . fxe5 e2, and it is Black who wins. On the other hand, this variation could be improved by 4. l:tb6! (instead of 4. l:tb7? ) . 3 •.. l:te8 Now White threatened 4. i.e5 d4 5. l:tb8 ! . 4. 'i¥h4+ 'i¥h6 Black must offer to trade queens, de spite the fact that this exchange worsens his pawn structure considerably. If Black declines to exchange queens by play ing 4 . . . �g8?, then 5. e4! l:he4 6. i.e5! 302 If 6 . . . 'it'g6?, then 7. g4! l:tf8 8 . Wg3! h5 (after 8 . . . fxg4 9. hxg4 White wins much as in the game) 9. gxf5 + � xf5 IO. i.g7 l:tg8 l l . l:txf7+ �g6 1 2 . :d7 l:txg7 l 3 . l::t xg7+ � xg7 1 4. fS , etc . 7. g4! fxg4 No better is 7 . . . i.e6: 8 . 'it'g3 might follow, threatening to advance the king to h5. 8. hxg4 l:tc8 9. \t>g3 l:te8 10. l:td7 l:te6 11. i. e5 l l . f5 :es (or l I. . .:e4) 1 2 . l:td6 'it' h7 1 3 . :f6 saves a few moves. 11 . . . :es 12. :d6 i. e6 13. i. d4 'it'h7 14. f5! i.f7 15. :r6! i.g8 16. l:tg6 l:te7 17. �h4 1-0 There is no adequate defense against the threat of 1 8 . g5! hxg5+ 1 9. \t> xg5 and 20. l:th6+. Chapter 12 Knight Endings A. KNIGHT+ PAWN vs. KNIGHT In some positions, it is possible to get the opponent so tied up that his pieces are helpless against the advanc ing pawns. It's especially hard to defend against advancing rook or knight pawns: wing pawns in this ending (as also in i. +[\ vs. i. endings) are more danger ous than center pawns. Even if Black's king stands on one of the squares in front of the rook's or knight's pawn, one should not consider the draw secure. The power of the flank pawn in this ending will become clear as we examine the following positions. J. Kling, 1867 I. l'Z:lg6 With the threats of l'Z:le5+ and l'Z:lf8 . l . . .@d5 Relatively best. If l . . .Wc7, then 2. l'Z:lf8 l'Z:lb8 3 . l'Z:le6+, and on I. . . 'lt> c 5 , White replies 2. l'Z:l f8 l'Z:le5! 3 . 'lt> a8 l'Z:lc6 4. l'Z:le6+ and 5 . l'Z:ld8. 2. l'Z:lf8l'Z:le5! 3. Wb6 l'Z:lc6 lf 3 . . . l'Z:lc4+ ?, then 4. 'lt>a6. 4. l'Z:ld7 'lt>d6 5. l'Z:le5! l'Z:lb8 6. Wa7 Wc7 7. l'Z:lc4! l'Z:lc6+ If 7 . . . l'Z:ld7 , then 8 . l'Z:lb6 l'Z:lb8 9. l'Z:ld5+ . 8 . 'lt>a8l'Z:lb8! A king move would be met by 9. l'Z:le5 or 9. l'Z:la5 . 9. l'Z:lb6! l'Z:la6 White to move and win On 9 . . . l'Z:lc6 , White replies l 0 . l'Z:ld5+ and 1 l . l'Z:lb4. 303 Chapter 12 10. tZ'idS+ 'it>-any 11. W a7 This example still does not illustrate sufficiently the power of wing pawns: the point is that when you move all of the pieces in Diagram 225 one square to the right, White still gets the win, by the same means. The following position by Kling and Horwitz ( 1 8 5 1 ) shows this more clear ly: tZ'idS 4. c8'@' tZ'ib6+) 2 . . . W b6 3 . tZ'idS+ @ a7 ! , and if now 4. tZ'ic7 , then 4 . . . tZ'id4. In the following example, once again the superiority of the knight pawn over the bishop pawn is evident. In the posi tion below White to move . Here White can win in a number of ways. The simplest is l . b6 tZ'ib7 2 . tZ'ie6, and if now 2 . . . tZ'id8 , 2 . . . tZ'icS , or 2 . . . tZ'iaS , then 3 . W c8! (the variation was presented by Vasquez in 1 889). If we move the position by Kling and Horwitz one file to the right, Black s position improves: he now has the a-file for his operations. This circumstance af fects the outcome of the game. In fact, in the following position: (See diagram next column) with White to move Black obtains a draw. He responds to 1 . c6 with l . . . W a7! 2. tZ'ie7 (if 2. tZ'ic3 , then 2 ... CZJxc3! 3 . c7 304 White wins as follows: 1 . b7+ @b8 2. tZ'ie4! (not allowing the black knight on c5 and threatening, after the a4-knight retreats, to maneuver tZ'ie4-c5-d7; if Black replies 2 . . . @ c7 , then 3 . 'it> a7) 2 . . . tZ'ib6! 3. tZ'if6! @ c7 4. tZ'idS + ! tZ'ixdS 5. @ a7 . If we shift the position under examination one file to the right, the win becomes impossible , since in that case - Knight Endings The win in the following position in volves a lot of complications: on l . c7+ W c8 2. tl:if4 there follows 2 . . . llla6! , with a forced draw. Now we present some positions demonstrating the power of the rook pawn in knight endings. A. Selezniev, 1922 White to move (von Scheve - Estorch, 1 905). The game finished as follows: 1. tl:ib5 CZJe7! 2. Wb7 CZJc6 If2 . . . CZJc8 , then 3. CZJa3! (pointed out by Berger) 3 . . . CZJd6+ (3 . . . Wd8 4. tl:ic4!) 4. Wb8 CZJc8 (or 4 ... CZJa8 5. tl:ib5) 5. tl:ic4 Wd8 6. @b7 @d7 7. tl:ib6+ tl:ixb6 8. @ xb6 @ c8 9. a7. 226 3. CZJd4 CZJa5+ 4. @b8 tl:ic4 5. a7 tl:ib6 6. @b7 CZJa8 White to move and win If7. @xa8 here, then 7 . . . W c7! forces the draw. 7. CZJe6! The solution here may not be complicated, but it is pretty. The move l. tl:ie4! clarifies the position immediately: Black cannot answer 1 . . .llt>xe4 or 1 . . .llt>e5 because of 2 . h6; whereas if 1 . . .W e6, then 2. 'it>fl catches the knight. This pretty move forces Black to lay down his arms. In the following position (from a study by S. Kaminer, 1 925) 305 Chapter 12 The loss of a pawn is inevitable. White seeks salvation in counterattack. 1. Clle4 Cllxc2 2. llld 6 Clle 3! With this move, Black defends the b7-pawn indirectly: on 3 . Cllxb7 , there follows 3 . . . Cllc 4. 3. a4 Clld 5! a center pawn forces through the win thanks to the exceptionally unfortunate position of the black king. The win is achieved thus: l . d6 Cllc6 2. d7 Wh4 (2 . . .g5 changes nothing, since the black king can't occupy the g6 square because of llle 5+) 3. W h2! (3. Wg2 would be a mistake; there would follow 3 . . .g5 4. 'lii h 2 g4 5. @g2 g3, etc.) 3 . . .g5 4. @g2 g4 5. 'lii h2 g3+ 6. @g2 'it> h5 (6 . . . 'it>g4 7. Clle 5+) 7. Wxg3 \ttg6 8. Clle 5+. B. KNIGHT ENDINGS WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF PAWNS Stronger than 3 . . . b6 , to which White would reply with 4. Cllc 8. 4. Cllxb7 Or 4. g3 b6 5. Cllc 8 a5. Also insignificant is 4. f5 because of the same reply, 4 . . b6. . 4 . . . Cllxf4 5. b4 The only chance. 5. 'it> g l meets with 5 . . . \tff8 6. g3 (6. 'iil f2? llld 3+) 6 . . . Clld3 7. b3 'it> e7 , and Black wins easily, since he has not only an advantage in mate rial, but also the better position. 5 ... llld5 6. b5 Cllc 3! Marshall - Capablanca New York 1 927 If now 7. Cllc 5 , then 7 . . . 'it> f8-e7-d6. 7. Clla5 White's plan becomes clear: in ex change for the a4-pawn, he will get the a7-pawn. Nonetheless, his position re mains weak, since in order to win that a7-pawn he must spend several tempi. 7 White to move 306 • . . Cllxa4 8. Cllc 6 \t>f8 9. Cllxa7 'it> e7 White's position is now hopeless, since his king is considerably less active than Black's. Knight Endings 10. lllc 6+ Wd6 11. Wgl f6 Before beginning the assault on the b5-pawn, Black sets up his own pawns in their most favorable positions. 12. Wtl eS 13. l'lld8 Wd7! 14. lllb7 If 1 4 . lllfl , then l 4 . . . We7 1 5 . l'llh 8 g5! , after which White's knight will play no part in the game. 14 . . . Wc7 1S. lll aS lllc 3 1. .. llld 3! 2. l'llb3 On 2. lllx d3 comes, naturally, 2 . . . a2 3. Wb2 W xd3. And if 2. llla 2, then 2 . . . W e2! 3. Wb3 W d2 4. Wxa3 W c2!, with a pretty win of a piece. 2 . . . lllel + 3. Wdl Wd3! 4. Wxel Wxc3 S. lllal! Wxd4 5 . . . Wb2 would be met by 6. W d l ! , and if now 6 . . . Wxa l , then 7. Wei Wa2 8. Wc2. The game continued: 6. lllc 2+ Wc3 7. \ttdl 16. W f3 lllxbS 17. We4 llld 6+ 18. @dS Wd7 19. lllc 6 li:lf5 20. lllb 8+ We7 21. lllc 6+ W f7 22. li:ld8+ (also after 22. \tle4 llle 7, White 's position is hopeless) 22 .. 'it>e8 and 0- 1, given that he loses another pawn. . If 7 . lllxa3 , then 7 . . . Wb2. 7 . . . a2 8. Wcl d4 9. lllal d3 10. lllc2! cS 0-1 Now let us examine a position from a game Marco - Mar6czy, in which Black exploited his advantage brilliantly. The presence ofan outsidepassedpawn on an edge file (with an equal number of pawns) assured Nimzowitsch of a win over Lasker in the following game. Marco - Mar6czy Paris 1 900 Em. Lasker - Nimzowitsch Ziirich 1 934 Black to move Black to move 228 307 Chapter 12 The game proceeded: 1 rJi;rT 2. rJi;cl rJ;;f6 3. rJi;d2 rJi;eS 4. rJi;e3 hS S. a3 aS 6. Cllh3 Cllc 2+ 7. rJi;d3 Clle t+ 8. rJi;e2 Ci:lg2 9. rJ;;f3 Cllh4+ 10. @e3 Cllg6 11. Ci:lgS rJ;;f6 12. Cllh7+ @e7 13. CllgS ClleS 14. rJi;d4 rJi;d6 lS. Cllh3 a4 16. Ci:lf4 h4 17. Ci:lh3 b6! (stronger than l 7 . . . b5 at once , when there might follow 1 8 . Ci:lf4 Cllc 6+ 1 9. rJi;d3, and if now 19 . . . W c5 , then 20. Clle 6+! and 2 1 . Ci:lf4) 18. Ci:lf4 bS 19. Cllh3 Cllc6+ 20. We3 WcS 21. Wd3 b4! 22. axb4+ rJi;xb4 23. rJi;c2 Ci:ld4+ 24. rJi;bl (nor does 24. 'it>d3 help, in view of 24 . . . Clle 6 2 5 . W c2 W c4) 24 Clle6 2S. 'iita2 (after 25. rJi;c2 the retort 25 . . . rJi;c4 would have led to a much simpler win) 2S . . . Wc4! 26. rJi;a3 rJi;d4 27. Wxa4 Wxe4 28. b4 Wf3 29. bS 'iitg2 and 0-1, since on 30. b6 rJi;xh3 3 1 . b7 there follows 3 1 . . .Cllc 5+, and in other variations Black takes the knight off and then brings his own knight to d8, for example 30. Cllg 5 Cllxg5 3 1 . b6 Clle 6! 32. 'it'b5 Ci:ld8 . ••• .•. l. . . e6 On I . . . 'it> f8 , White plays 2. Cllb 6 as in the game ; and if 1 . . .:as, then 2. l::k 8+! winning two pawns. 2. Cllb6 Ci:lf6 3. aS l::tb8 4. :cs+! Stronger than 4. a6 l:txb6 5. a7 l:ta6 6. :cs+ W g7 7. a81/i' :xas 8 . :xa8 , af ter which Black could have resisted for a long time. 4 ... :xc8 S. Cllxc8 Clle8 The threat was 6. a6 , followed by 7. a7 and 8 . Cllb 6. 6. a6 Cllc7 7. a7 Clla8 8. Ci:lxd6 @f8 9. es 'it>e7 10. 'it>e3 f6 11. @f4 h6 12. CiJ c8 + ! 'it> f'1 If 1 2 . . . @ d 7 , then 1 3 . exf6 ! . Now let's look a t a n endgame which quickly turned into a knight ending. 1 3 .@e4@g7 14. Wd4 Cllc 7 lS.@cs 1-0 Botvinnik - Lilienthal Moscow 1 936 We conclude this chapter with a final study by J. Villeneuve- Escaplon ( 1 9 1 0). Black to move White to move and draw 230 308 Knight Endings I. b6+ 'iii>xb6 If l . . .Wb7, then simply 2. tt::lb 5, with tLlc3 or tt::la 3. 2. tt::lc 8+ tt::lxc8 3. 'iii>e 6! b2 4. g7 btiY 5. g8._, ._,b3+ 6. Wd7 ._,xg8, stalem ate! Examples 190-192: 1 90. J. Kling, 1 867. White to move and win. 1 92. White to move and win. We present the main variation: l . tLlb4 We6 2 . tt::ld 3 W d5 3 . tt::lf 4+ W c6, and so forth, as in the analysis to Dia gram 225. Examine the similar varia tions. Black to move and win. 309 Chapter 13 Bishop vs. Knight A. ENDINGS WITH A SMALL NUMBER OF PAWNS Here we deal with those endings in which both sides have no more than two pawns apiece; and we arrange the mate rial, not by the external characteristics of the positions, but by their inner content. maneuver: I . ll:le7 .Jlc2 (or I.. ..td l 2. ll:lc6! .to 3. ll:le5+) 2. ll:ld5! ..te4 3. ll:lffi+ . . In another study b y the same author, Black manages to stop the pawn only by sacrificing a piece. L. Kubbel, 1909 a) "FORCING" PAWNS There are some positions in which the pawns queen by force. For example, in this study by L. Kubbel ( 1 9 1 0) � � � ,�-�!�!� �� -�' �-· � �� •;·0�� the a6-pawn acquires decisive strength owing t o the following interesting 3 10 White to move and win 1. d6 Wb8(b6) 2. W e t ! ..td3 2 . . . il.e4 doesn't change anything; and if 2 . . . ..tg6 (or 2 . . . ..th7) 3. d7 W c7 4. ll:le6+ W xd7 5. ll:lf8+ . 3. d7 Wc7 4. ll:le6+ Wxd7 5. ll:lc5+ Bishop vs. Knight Despite the b l -h7 diagonal's great length, Black's bishop has not a single safe square. In the next study, the knight, standing on the bishop's diagonal, shortens its range. VARIATION: 2 ... W d2 2 . . . Wb2 and 2 . . . W c2 amount to the same thing. 3. <t>f8 ..th7 4. t'l\g5 ii.d3 V. Koshek, 1921 If 4 . . ...tg6, then 5. rtJg7 ii.es (or 5 . . . .tbs 6 . Wh6 ii.es 7. t'l\e4+ and tiJd6) 6 . t'l\e4+, and then tiJd6 and W h6 . 233 5 . t'l\e6 ii.g6 On 5 . . . iHS there follows 6. W e7 ii.g6 7. tl\f4. 6. t'l\f4 ii.cl White to move and win Or 6 . . . i.h7 7. <tJg7. 7. <ot?e7 ii.b3 8. t'l\e6 1. t'l\g5 Threatening 2. t'l\e6. In the above positions, the knight held the pawn back; while in the follow ing study by Troitzky 1. . . ..tg8 2. tl\rT ..th7 Regarding the king's movements, see the Variation. 3. t'l\h6 ii.g6 Having occupied the short diagonal eS-h5 , the bishop finds itself in a re stricted position. 4. t'l\rs '1itd2 5. t'l\h4 ..th5 6. t'l\g2 and 7. t'l\f4. the bishop holds back the pawn. 311 Chapter 13 b) EXPWITING A MATERIAL ADVANTAGE Romanovsky - Verlinsky Moscow 1 925 W e6 CiJ e4, etc. I n order to drive the king from g6, White has to push his h-pawn; however, this involves weakening the g4 square , and the move h4-h5+ will only weaken White 's pawn structure. Let us return now to Diagram 234. 234 1. We3 W g5 2. g3 ..ta4 2 . . . W g4 makes no great difference: 2 . . . W g4 3. W f2 ..te4 4. h3+ Wg5 5. We3 .lfi.c6 6. CiJ e6+ W f6 7 . CiJ d4! ..tg2 8 . h4 W e 5 9. CiJ f3 + and then 1 0. W f4. 3. CiJ hJ+ Wg4 4. CiJf2+ W g5 5. h3 White to move The enemy king must be driven from fO, and after this White must occupy ei ther e5 or g5 with his king. Black does not threaten anything; therefore , pro tracted maneuvers are possible here. It is precisely in such positions that the knight demonstrates its power! It can attack an y square. True, the knight exercises its in fluence only at a short distance, but this doesn't mean much in this situation, because all the play takes place within a limited area. In order still further to emphasize the knight's power in such positions, let us suppose that on the square f4 there is a white bishop, and on c6 a black knight. This swap has an immediate effect on the outcome of the game: now the black king will find itself in complete security on g6, which means that Black will easily achieve a draw, for instance: l . W e3 W g6 2. h3 CiJe7 3 . W d4 CiJg8 4. W e5 CiJ f6 5 . 312 5. h4+ is simpler yet. 5 ... ..tc6 6. h4+ Wf6 7. Wf4! ..te8 8. CiJdl ii.d7 9. CiJe3 ..te6 10. CiJc2! White brings the knight to d6, after which he can drive Black's king out of f6. At first sight, it seems like it was sim pler to play 1 0. h5 ii. d7 1 1 . h6 W g6 1 2. CiJ xf5! ii.xf5 1 3 . h7. But in fact, on IO. h5 ii. d7 1 1 . h6, Black does not reply l l . . .Wg6?, but l l . . .ii.e6!, and draws. 10 . . . ..tf7 Black doesn't try to prevent the maneuver shown in the previous note (transferring the knight to d6) , which makes his opponent's job easier. On the other hand, even with more stubborn resistance , Black apparently could not save the game . Bishop vs. Knight For example, l 0 . . . .tc8! (in order to answer 1 1 . tZ:la3 with l l . . . .ta6) 1 1 . tZ:ld4 i.d7 1 2. tZ:lb3 .tc8! (White wins more simply after 1 2 . . . .te6 - see the Varia tion) 1 3 . tZ:lcS @ g6! 14. @ es @ hS l S . tild3! @ g4 1 6. tZ:lf4 .tb7! (if 1 6 . . . .ta6, then 1 7. @ ffi @ xg3 1 8 . @gS and then h4-hS , while if 1 6 . . . .td7 , there follows 17. � f6! .te8 1 8 . hS!!) 1 7. \tiff) @ xg3 18. hS @ xf4 1 9. h6 @ e3(g3) 20. h7 f4 2 1 . h8'iV , with enough of an edge to win. SUBVARIATJON B l S . . . @ffi (bishop moves are met by 1 6 . @gS) 1 6 . tZ:ldS+ @ e6 (after 1 6 . . . @g6 play goes just as in the Variation) 1 7. hS! .te4 (if 17 ... i.d3, then 1 8 . h6 @f7 1 9. @gS; and on l 7 . . . @ f7 , there follows 1 8 . @gS first) 1 8 . tZ:lc3 and 1 9 . @gS. 13. tZ:ld6 i.d7 14. h5 .te6 15. tZ:le8+ 'it>t7 16. tZ:lc7 i.c8 17. @ g5 .td7 18. tZ:ld5 @g7 19. tZ:le3@h7 20. tZ:lxf5 1-0 VARIATION: ( l 0 . . . .tc8 1 1 . tZ:ld4 .td7 1 2. tZ:lb3) 1 2 . . . .te6 1 3 . tZ:lcS .tdS (preventing 1 4. tilb7-d6; if l 3 . . . .tc8 , then 1 4 . hS, enter ing gS with the king) 1 4. tZ:ld7+ @ e7 (if 14 ... @g6, then l S . hS+!) l S . @ e s , etc . 11. tZ:la3! .td5 Black cannot simultaneously cut off both c4 and bS. 12. tZ:lb5 .te6 This ending will convince us that in positions where there are no passed pawns and where play on the whole proceeds slowly, the knight is usually stronger than the bishop. Things change when there are passed pawns - especially on both flanks; here the bishop acquires great importance, as it can simultaneously attack the opponent's pawns on both wings. Generally speaking, play gets livelier as the bishop's power increases. 235 Defending the pawn along the b l f5 diagonal also fails to save the game , for example: 1 2 . . . .ta2 1 3 . tZ:ld6 .tb l 1 4. tile8+ @ f7 l S . tZ:lc7 ! . Now there are two possible lines, Subvariations A and B. SUBVARIATJON A 1 S . . . @ g6 1 6. tZ:ldS .llc 2 1 7 . @es 'it>hS 1 8 . tZ:lf4+! @ h6 (if 18 ... @ g4, then 19. @ffi @ xg3 20. hS, etc.) 1 9 . @ ffi .tb l 20. tZ:le6 @ hS 2 1 . @g7! @ g4 (if 2 l . . .f4, then 22. tZ:lxf4+ @ g4 23. hS! @ xg3 24. tilg6! @ g4 2S. h6 @ gS 26. h7) 22. tZ:lf4 \tlxg3 23. hS, etc. White to move In this position from Monke - Hein richs, Westphalia Hauptturnier 1 926, it is true that play is restricted to a small space (which speaks in the knight's fa313 Chapter 1 3 vor) , but Black does have a passed pawn, which allows him to liven up the game (and this speaks in favor of the bishop). The deciding factor in this position is the strong position of Black's king. 1. Llle 2 ..te3! Black finishes off the game elegantly. White cannot take the bishop, for af ter 2. 'ltt xe3 'ltt g2, the pawn goes on to queen. 1 . . . ..th4!. It's not hard to see that all oth er moves lead to a draw: if, for instance, 1 . . . ..tb4, then 2. Lllg 3+ 'it> g l 3. Llle 2+ 'it> fl 4. Lllg 3+ 'it> e l 5. 'it>g2. The reply 1 . . . ..th4 is a typical waiting maneuver, giving the move to his opponent (losing a tempo). The same sort of waiting move decid ed the game in the following position: 2. Lllg3 ..td2! The bishop moves to the powerful e 1 square. 3. Llle2 If3. Lllfl + , then 3 . . . 'ltt g l 4. Lllxd2 h2, while on 3 . 'ltt t2 Black replies 3 ... ..te l + . 3 ..tel 4. Llld4 'ltthl 5 . Llle 2 h2 . • . Now White is in Zugzwang-. he must free either the g 1 or the g2 square for the king. 6. Llld4 'ltt gl 7. Llle 2+ 'ltt n 8. Lllg 3 + ..txg3 9. 'it> g3 hll:t! Naturally, not 9 . . . h l � , due to stale mate. 0-1 Returning to the position after Black's fifth move in the game we just examined, let us suppose that it's Black's move in that position. There is a win in that situation too, but in one way only: 314 White to move (Tartakower - Spiel mann, Karlsbad 1 923). White played I. e4, after which Black was in Zugzwan g-. on l . . . . @ e 7 there would follow 2. Llle 5!, and if 1 . . .Wg7, then 2. W e6 with e4-e5 and 'lti d7 . Finally, if 1 . . . ..tf4, then 2. Llle 5+ W g7 3. W e6! ..tg3 4. tll f3 , etc . The following circumstance is nota ble. If, in the above position, after 1 . e4 it were White's move, then he could not "win a tempo" and the game would end in a draw. From the juxtaposition of these last two examples, it is clear that in many situations losing a tempo is necessary in order to exploit a material advantage. In the position below, Black cannot win Bishop vs. Knight a tempo, and as a result White gets a draw. We will present a number ofpositions in which a material advantage cannot be exploited. M. Gerbhaus, 1926 The simplest example i s the following: 236 White to move and draw 1. �f3tl:if4 2. �ht! All other moves lose to 2 . . . tl:ig2+ . 2 tl:ig2+ . • • Here White cannot win, because he can't deny all the squares (b5 , c4, e4, f5 , fl , e 8 , c8) to the knight. In the following position, it's some what harder to get a draw. If 2 . . . W xh l , then 3. W f2 ! . F. Gay, 1913 3 . 'lt>e2tl:ih4 237 If 3 . . . W xh l now, then 4. W fl ! . 4. � e l tl:if5 5 . �as tl:ih4 6 . �ht! lllg6 7. �astl:if4 s. �ht! Repeating a previous position (see the position after White's second move). If it were White to move here , then he would have to resign. The whole problem is that Black cannot give the move to his opponent, because "the knight cannot pass the move . " Black to move and draw White's only serious threat is to move the knight to fl ; with this, we must 315 Chapter 1 3 bear in mind that, before reaching fl , the knight will have to occupy one of the following dark squares: d8, d6, e5, g5, or h6. Now the question arises: can the bishop cut off access to all of these squares in timely fashion? In order to answer that question , we make use of the "theory of corre spondence , " worked out in our study of pawn endings. Here this theory may be utilized, because in this position there will only be two pieces maneuvering: the bishop and the knight (in pawn endings, it was the kings maneuvering) . So we set up a "correspondence table " (the expla nation is given below) . This time we limit ourselves to pre senting only part of the table . For com plete assurance that White cannot win, we would have to set up a table of all squares (except b4) . TABLE IX Position of the white knight Where the black bishop needs to go d 8 , d6, e5, g5, h6 b7 c6 c4 e6 e4 f5 f3 g4 d4 c7 c7 c7 e7, h4 e7, f4 f3 , f4 f4 f4, g7 d6, g3 The corresponding squares for posi tions in the above table are to be deter mined as follows. 316 First we see that, if White manages to occupy the squares d8, d6, e5, g5, or h6 just when that square is not under attack by the bishop, then Black will have to lay down his arms. Having occupied his position at b7, the knight threatens two of these squares (d8 and d6) , as well as the pawn at a5; therefore, after lllb 7 Black can only ward off all of these threats by playing . . ..?i,c7. From the c6 square , the knight threatens d8, e 5 , and a5, which can only be defended by the bishop from c7. On c4, the knight threatens d6, e5, and a5. Therefore , after lllc 4, Black also has to reply . . . i. c7. The squares corresponding to e6, e4, f5 , f3, and g4 are also found this way: each time we see how the knight threatens to go tof7. Finally, the square corresponding to d4 is found as follows. From d4, the knight threatens the squares c6, e6, f5 , and f3. Consequently, in answer to lllc 4, Black must make a move with his bishop that controls the following squares: ( I) c7 (the square corresponding to c6) , (2) e7 or h4 (corresponding to e6) , (3) f8 or f4 (corresponding to f5 ) , and (4) f4 (cor responding to f3 ) . There are two squares meeting all four of these conditions: (I) d6 (from this square , the bishop attacks c7, e7, f8, and f4) , andgJ(attacking c7, h4, and f4) . Bishop vs. Knight In Diagram 237 the knight is on d4, with the bishop in the correspond ing position. Fortunately for Black, the d4 square corresponds not only to g3 , but to d6 also. From this we conclude that the only correct move for Black is I.. .ii.d6!!. I: 1. .. Cllg4 For l . . .g4+ , l . . .Cllg 6, and l . . .Cllf3 , see I I , I I I , and IV, respectively. 2 . .ild7? B. Horwitz, 1880 This move leads to defeat. 2. Jla6! was correct (see the Variation). 238 2 ...Cllf2+ 3. 'lt>g2 If 3. 'it> h2, then 3 . . . g4. 3 Clld3! • • • This move, pointed out by Karlstedt , wins the game. Black to move. Draw! At first sight, it seems strange that, according to Horwitz, in this position there is no win despite the connected passed pawns. And the variations pre sented by the author are not wholly ex haustive. Later on, many researchers, in cluding such renowned analysts as Karlstedt and Berger, went to work on this position. Many new combinations were found. As a result of all of these investigations, however, the author's opinion was affirmed: White defends against all of the combinations and cleverness! Let's look at the most important combinations in detail. 4. 'it>h3 It's imperative to prevent the g pawn's advance. If White play s 4. Ji. b5 with the same idea in mind, then 4 . . . 'lt> e3 5 . Ji.d7 (or 5. 'it> h3 Cllt2 + 6. W g2 g4 7. Ji.d7 g3! , and then . . . @ f4 and . . . h4h3+!) 5 . . . Cllf4+ 6. 'it> h2 'it' f3 ! 7. i.c6+ 'it> g4 8. i.d7+ (the threat was 8 . . . h3 followed by . . . 'it> h4) 8 . . . 'it' h5 9. i.e8 + @g6 and then . . . g5-g4. 4 .. 'it>f3 5. Jlc6+ . If 5. Jl.g4+, then 5 . . . @f2 6. Ji. d l (on 6 . Ji.d7 there follows 6 . . . Cllf4+; if now 7. 'it> g4, then 7 . . . h3! 8. 'it' xg5 h2 9. .i. c6 Cllg 2; while 7 . 'it' h2 is followed by 7 . . . 'it> f3 8 . .i. c6+ @ g4 9 . .i. d7+ 'it> h5 10. i. e8+ Cllg6 , as above) 6 ... Cllf4+ 7. 'it> h2 (on 7. @g4 there again follows . . . h4-h3) 317 Chapter 1 3 7 . . .CiJe2 8 . W h3 W f3 ! , and White loses because of Zugzwang. 5 W fl 6. 'lt>g4 CiJe5+ 7. 'it>xg5 Wg3! 8 . .tg2! • • • I f 3 . . .CiJ g4 4 . W h3 CiJ h6, then 5 . ii. fl (5 . .tc8 would be a mistake in view of 5 . . . tiJf5 followed by . . . g5-g4) 5 . . . CiJ f5 6. .te2 CiJ d4 7 . .11.g4 CiJ f3 8 . .td7 , etc. 4 . .tc8! CiJd3 Trying to forestall . . . h4-h3. On 8 . .11.h l Black wins with ... CiJ e5 g4-e3-g2, . . . h3-h2, and . . . Wg3-f2-g l , which isn't hard to see. If 4 . . . g4, then 5 . .txg4! CiJ xg4 6. 'it h3 . 5. @h3 CiJ f4+ 6. 'it g4 h 3 7. @xg5 bl 8 .tb7 , draw. • Here White can't play the combina tion analogous to that depicted in our analysis of Diagram 236. II: l. .. CiJg6 2 .te2 @e3 3 .ta6 Wfl 4. Wg4 tiJe5+ 5. <tixg5 c;t.igJ • 8 CiJg4 9. Wh5 CiJe3 10 .thl h3 11. <tig5 CiJg2 12. @rs Wf3! ..• • Not 1 2 . . . W f2? , in view of 1 3 . \t> g4 h2 1 4. @ h3 . • If 5 . . . h 3 , then 6. W f4! h2 7 . .11.b7 CiJ d3 + 8. W g4 CiJ e l 9. 'lti h3 . 6 . .tc8 , draw. 13. Wg5 III: If 1 3 . 'it>e5, then 1 3 . . . W f2! (not 1 3 . . . Wg3 o n account of 1 4. W f5 @ h2? 1 5 . W g4!) 1 4. w f5 W g l 1 5 . W g4 h2 1 6 . w f3 W xh l and Black wins, as White cannot reach fl in time. 13 . . . h2 14. 'liif5 'itt fl 15. @g4 @gl 16. @f3 Wxhl 17. © fl CiJe3 and Black wins. t. .. g4+ 2. W xh4 CiJf3+ 3. Wh5 g3 4. .tn 'it>e3 5. 'it>g4 @ fl 6 .th3! • Not 6. 'it> h3 , given 6 . . . CiJ e l 7 . Wg4 (7. W h4 CiJg2+ 8 . W h3 CiJ e3) 7 . . . CiJg2 8. W h3 CiJ e 3 , when White loses. 6 . . • CiJgl 7 .tm, draw. • VARIATION: 2 .ta6! • Now we understand the point of this move: White hinders . . . CiJ d 3 . 2 ... CiJfl+ 3. @g2 <tie3 318 IV l CiJ j3 2 .1i.d7 CiJd4 3 . .tg4 /1jf5 4. .te2, draw. ••• • Bishop vs. Knight c) STALEMATE COMBINATIONS White lost the knight but not the game. G. M attison, 1924 Back in 1 880, Horwitz had this posi tion: White to move and draw The white knight is lost, after which Black can pick up the a2-pawn. At first glance , White's position appears hope less. 1. 'it>dS Now, 1 . a4 \t> c 8 2. a5 '>t>b7 3. tl:lb6 would be a mistake because of 3 . . .ii.xb6! 4. axb6 axb6, followed by . . . W a6! White to move. White is saved thanks to the possibility of stalemate: 1 . tl:lg3! ii.e5 2. lllfl 'lii e2 3. 'lttg2 ii.f4! 4. '>t>h l ! <it f3 5. tl:lg3! .te3 6. 'ltlh2 ii.f4 7. 'lt> h l . An interesting stalemate combina tion occurs in the following position by Kubbel: l. . '>t> d7! . If l . . . 'lt> c8 , then 2. W c6 ii. h2 (or 2 . . 'litb8 3. tl:lc7) 3. tl:lb6+. . 2. a4 a5 Now White is in Zugzwang: his king must retreat, after which Black wins a "clear" knight (in otherwords, White does not even get a pawn for that knight). 3. \t>c4 'lt>c6 4. tl:l c7! '>t> xc7 5. Wb5 i.b6 6. 'it>a6! 'it>c6, stalem ate! This ending goes: 319 Chapter 1 3 I. e7! � xe7 (of course not l . . .h2 in view of 2. \t> e6; and if l . . .� d7? then 2 . .te6+) 2. \t> e5 h2 3 . .td5 h l 'iV 4 . .txh l ll:lxh l 5 . @ f5 @ fl 6. @ g4! (threatening @f3 and @g2) 6 . . . ll:Jf2+ 7. @ h5 @ g7 - stalemate! Nor does 5. f8l:t + lead to success, in view of 5 . . . @ g7 6. il.. fl (or 6. il...d 3 ll:Jg8 + 7. 'it> e8 ll:lf6+) 6 . . . ll:Jf5 + 7. @es ll:Jd6 + . The following study by S. Filaretov, with its cleverly masked stalemating combination, is quite nice . If 5 . . . ll:Jg8+ , then 6. 'it' e6 wins the knight. S. Filaretov, 1925 240 5. f8.t! ll:Jg4 After 5 . . . ll:Jg4 White has various ways to win - for example , 6 . .tf5 ll:Je5 (6 . . . ll:Je3 7 . .te6 'it' h7 8 . 'it' f7 ! , etc . ) 7 . .th6 'it'g8 (or 7 . . . ll:Jc6 + 8 . 'it' f8 ! ; and if 7 . . . ll:Jf7 , then 8. il...e 3 ! with il...d4 or .te6) 8. @ f6 ll:Jf7 (if 8 . . . ll:Jc6 , then 9 .te4! followed by 'it' g6) 9 . .te6 'it' h7 1 0 . .tf8 ! ll:lh8 (on 1 0 . . ll:Jd8 , White answers 1 1 . .td5 - e 7 ; while on 1 0 . . . @g8 there follows 1 1 . .ta3 ; and if 1 0 . . . ll:lh6, then 1 1 . <;i;>g5 ll:Jg8 1 2 . .tf5 + <;i;>h8 1 3 . <;i;>g6) 1 1 . il.. f5 + <;i;>g8 1 2 . .tb4 ll:J f7 1 3 . .te6 . . . White to move and win 1. f6! ll:lfl 2 .txrT ll:Jg4 • On 2 . . . Ci'\e4, 3 . ilg6+! decides at once. 3 .tg6+! • If 3 . .tg8+ , then 3 ... @ h8! 4. f7 ll:Je5 5. f8'iV ll:Jg6+ . 3 . . . @ h8! 4. f7 ll:Jh6! ! If now 5 . f8'iV + , then 5 . . . ll:Jg8+! and White, in order to avoid stalemate, must give up his queen for the knight. 320 Concluding the survey o f this small number of pawns, we present yet anoth er study and one position from a practi cal game . In the following well-known study by Troitzky - Bishop vs. Knight White wins thanks to the cramped posi tion of the black pieces. This is how the win is attained: l. W h6 W h8 2. lll h 4 W g8 (forced) 3. t'llf3 W h8 4. llle 5 W g8 5. lllc 6 W h8 6. llle 7. V. Ehser - J. Kusnik Ludwigshafen 1 927 241 2 ... 'it> g6 Black gets nothing out of the maneu ver . . . Wf7-e8-d8 , since he cannot break in with the king along the eighth rank. Also insufficient is 2 . . . W e6 (or 2 . . . Wf6 3 . c 7 ilxc7 4 . lllx c7 a 3 5 . llld 5+!, and then tllb4 and c5-c6) in view of 3. c7! ilxc7 4. tllxc7+ Wd7! 5 . lll d 5 W c6 6. lllc 3 a3 7. Wxg3 'it>xc5 8 . W f3 W b4 9. tlla2+, etc. These variations force Black to re frain from playing . . . W e6 or . . . W f6 . Therefore he attempts t o invade the en emy camp via g6. 3. Wf3 Wh5 Black to move Here the chances lie with Black, since White cannot play l. c7 on account of l . . . ilxc7 2. lllx c7 a3 . The question is whether the king on g8 can break into the queen's wing. t. . wn . On 1 . . .W g7 or 1 . . . W f8 , Whiteforces the draw as follows: 2. c7! i. xc7 3. lllx c7 a3 4. llle 6+ ! . Thanks to this tempo gain, White manages to stop the a-pawn. 2. Wg2 If 2. llld 6+? , then 2 . . . ii.xd6 3 . cxd6 'it>c6 and Black wins. With its transfer from the seventh rank to the sixth, the black king was al ready restricted in its movements; but after moving to the fifth rank, it has even fewer squares. Thus, for example, here Black must refrain from 3 . . . Wg5 because of 4. c7 i.xc7 5. lllxc7 a3 6. llle 6+ ! . Similarly, 3 . . . W f5 also allows White to force the draw: on 3 . . . W f5 there could follow 4. c7 i.xc7 5. tllx c7 a3 6. lllb 5 a2 7. tlld4+! We5 8. lllb 3 W d5 9. W xg3 , and now if 9 . . . W c4, then 1 0. c6!. 4. tlla3 Wh4 5. Wg2 W g4 6. tllb5 ii. es On 6 . . . W f5 or 6 . . . W g5 there is 7. c7, as noted in the previous note; similarly, after 6 . . . W f4, White also plays 7. c7! ilxc7 8. tllx c7 a3 9. lll d 5+ . 7. c7 32 1 Chapter 1 3 Even with the black king on g4 White succeeds in winning a valuable tempo. 7 il..c7 8. l?Jxc7 a3 9. l?Jd5 a2 10. tt::l e3+ ! � f4 U. l?Jc2 � e5 •.. l l . . .� e4? would lead, after 12. c6, to Black's defeat, as is not hard to see. 12. � xg3 'iitd5 13. l?Jb4+ Yz-Yz The game continuation differs some what from that given above; on the other hand, this did not affect the final result. Examples 193-196: 1 93. White to move and win. The basic variation is: I . �e7 � h7 (examine l . . .il..a 3+ and l . . .il..f8 ) 2. fl il..a 3+ 3 . We8 �g7 (so as to meet 4. l?Jc6 with 4 . . . �f6) 4. l?Jc3 il..b 4 (examine 4 . . . il..c 5) 5. l?Je3 ! (preventing 5 . . . � f6) 5 . . . il.f8 6. l?Jd5 and 7. l?Je7 . White to move and win. White to move and win. 322 Bishop vs. Knight 1 96. A. Selezniev, 1 9 1 0. the king from getting to d6 and f6. Black is paralyzed in the center, since his own pawns restrict the bishop; on the flanks, also, he cannot undertake anything sub stantial; meanwhile, White threatens to occupy the d4 and cS points, from which Black will be unable to remove him. 1. @ f2 @ e7 White to move and draw. B. ENDINGS WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF PAWNS a) MAKING USE OF THE KNIGHT'S POWER First we present two positions, where the knight wins ( Diagrams 242 and 243). Zubarev - Aleksandrov Moscow 1 9 1 S On l . . .@f7, White has various con tinuations to choose from. Best is the continuation pointed out by Grigoriev in 64, 1 926, Nos. 9- 1 0: 2. 'it?e2 'it?g6 3. t'Ll e3 @gS 4. g3!, and then @ e2-d3-d4-cS . 2. @eJ 'it'd8 3 . Wd4 'it?c7 4 . Wc5! ii.cs Black cannot start anything: his king is held in place, since he must defend d6 and b6; and the bishop may not abandon a6 and e6 in view of the threats of tLl b4 ort'Lld4. 5. Ci:lb4 il.b7 6. g3 White intends to bring his knight to the kingside via d3, to attack the pawns on g7 and h7. In order to protect these pawns, Black will have to advance them, weakening his position. 242 White to move With 6. g3, White prepares that knight redeployment; if 6. t'Lld3 at once, then 6 ... d4! , which not only frees the bishop, but also gives counterchances on the kingside (two pawns against one). 6 il.c8 7. Ci:ld3 il.d7 8. t'Llf4 g6 ••• The pawn at eS restricts Black: it holds back the e6-pawn and prevents Forestalling 9. Ci:lhS g6 1 0 . Ci:lf6. 323 Chapter 13 9. tbh3! h6 10. ltJf4 g5 11. ltJh5 i..e8 12. tbf6 i..f7 13. ltJg4! h5 Black's position becomes looser and looser with every move. the bishop also which has no moves; in order to win, White need merely play some waiting move . The game ended 23. b4 'it'd7 24. 'it'b6 i..f3 25. 'it'xa6 'it'c6 26. ttJxe6 1-0. 14. ttJe3 i..g6 Botvinnik - Eliskases Moscow 1 936 On 1 4 . . . h4, of course , there follows 1 5 . gxh4 gxh4 1 6 . tilg2. 243 15. h4! Taking the f4 for his knight. 15... gxh4 Now Black has three weak pawns - at a6, e6, and b5. 16. gxh4 i..e4 White to move Stopping 1 7 . tbg2 . 17. Qjfl The knight gets to f4 by a roundabout route: first, it goes to d4 attacking e6; this maneuver restricts Black's bishop, after which he can move the knight via e2 to f4. Here , Black's bishop is undoubt edly inferior to the knight, in view of the nearly immobile pawn configuration; moreover, the pawns on e4, f5 , and g4 stand on white squares, limiting their own bishop. And the dark squares are firmly under the control of his oppo nent. 17 ... i..fJ 18. ltJd2 i..e 2 If 1 8 . . . i..d l 1 9. tbb3 ! i..g 4, then 20. tbd4, after which Black loses due to Zugzwang: his king is tied down, and on 20 . . . i..h 3 there follows 2 1 . tbe2-f4. 19. tbb3 i..g4 20. ltJd4 i..h3 2 1. ttJe2 i..f5 22. ltJf4 i..g4 Now it's not just Black's king, but 324 However, it's not easy for White to find the correct means of attack ing Black, the more so in that his d5pawn can sometimes be attacked by the bishop. 1. 'it'c3! Here Botvinnik presents a variation he demonstrated immediately after the Bishop vs. Knight game. With I. 'it> c 3 ! , White has in mind 2. c6 and 3. 'it> d4 (or these same moves in reverse order) , after which not only would the knight be attacking the f5pawn, but it would also be threatening e6 and b5 (in the event that Black re plied . . . i.c8) . This is the plan White ex ecuted in the actual game , but he chose the wrong move order. He played l . c6? , after which Black improved his posi tion with l . . .i.d3 ! 2 . Wc3 b5!, threaten ing 3 . . . i.c4! in tum. After these moves, Botvinnik was forced to take the draw, in view of the absolute i mpregnability of his opponent's position: for instance, if White brings his knight to b7, then Black can ward off the threat oflt:Jb7-d8-e6 by playing . . . W e 7 . Not 4. lt:Je6? because of 4 . . . c6! . 4 c4 5. lt:Jd4 �fl 6. lt:Jb5 We7 7. lt:Jxc7! Wd6 8. lt:Je8+ Wxd5 ••• 8 . . . We7? 9. lt:Jg7 Wf6 1 0. d6! . 9. CfJg7 and White wins. The advantage of knight over bishop proved insufficient to win in the follow ing position. Flohr Capablanca Moscow 1 935 - l. ..i.d3 Nor does l . . .i.b7 save the game , in view of 2 . c6! ilc8! (after 2 . . . it.a6 3 . 0Jd4, White has the decisive move 4 . tt'le6 , since 4 . . . i.c8 runs into 5 . lt:Jb5) 3 . t2Jd4 W e7 4. W b 3 ! (nor does the study like maneuver 4. lt:Jb5 W d 8 5. lt:Ja7 i.a6 6. b5 i.c8 7 . W d4 win here, since after 7 . . . W e 7 ! 8. lt:Jxc8 + W d8 White cannot win in spite of his extra piece) 4 . . . Wd8 5. W a4 W e7 6. W b5 followed by relo cating the knight to c4 and sacrificing it on b6. 2. lt:Jd4! Choosing this move order (involving a temporary pawn sacrifice), White pre vents 2 . . . b5 in view of 3 . lt:Je6. 2... dxc5 3. bxc5 bxc5 4. lZJ b3! Black to move Until analysis of this game it was supposed that the white knight on d4, occupying an impregnable position in front of the isolated pawn on d5, must overcome the bishop in the endgame. However, by subtle play, Capablanca obtains a draw here; thus forcing us to reexamine established opinion. t. ..We7 2. Wd2 The white king heads for d4, from which it will threaten both flanks. 325 Chapter 1 3 2 @d6 3. Wc3 b6 . . • On the queenside , Capablanca sets all his pawns on dark squares, with the idea of guarding aS , cS, and (to some degree) b4; while bS is sufficiently pro tected by the bishop. Black from setting up the f6-g7-h6 pawn triangle; so Black instead creates the pawn front f6-g6-hS, establishing the g- and h-pawns on light squares. In light of this, 1 0 . . . hS at once was more accurate . 11. g3 h5! 12. b4! 4. f4 .ltd7 5. tZ'lf3 f6! 6. @d4! a5! 7. tZ'ld2 .ltc8 8. tZ'lb l i..e6 9. tZ'lcJ c;tic6 10. a3 h6 On the king's wing also, Black ap parently intends to keep his pawns on dark squares, letting the bishop defend the light squares. However, on this wing the situation is more complicated: here, for instance, White can prepare f4-fS or g2-g4, and also e3-e4. On the other hand, all of these continuations involve the exchange of the weak pawn at dS, and therefore are not yet dangerous to Black. However, White also has the fol lowing tempting possibility: in the event of passive play by his opponent, he can ( l ) bring his knight to h4; (2) advance his pawn from f4 to fS , and reinforce this pawn with g2-g4; (3) after this, move the knight from f4 to h4, tying down the bishop to fl in order to protect dS and hS, and thus forcing the black king to maneuver be tween d6 and c6; (4) with the black king on c6, he plays tZ'ld4-e6 ! , with the following vari ation: I. tZ'le6! i..xe6 2. fxe6 @ d6 3. e7! c;tixe7 4. @xdS @ d7 S . b4, winning the pawn ending. Now the knight's journey to h4 would not accomplish anything, since in the meantime Black would play . . . g7-g6 and . . . .lte6-f7. 1 2. b4! contains the following threat: 1 3 . bS+ 'it> d6 1 4. fS ! . If now 1 4 . . . .ltxfS or l 4 . . . .ltd7 , then l S . tZ'lxdS winning the b6-pawn, and if 1 4 . . . i..fl , then White brings the knight to f4 with decisive threats against the dS- and hS-pawns. 12 axb4 13. axb4@d614. b5! g6 • . • Aimed at preventing f4-f5, which plays a significant role in White's onslaught. 15. f5! Anyway! With this pawn sacrifice, White breaks into the enemy camp. 15 gxfS .•. Forced, since on l S . . . i..xfS there follows 1 6 . tZ'lxdS .ltd7 1 7 . tZ'lxffi! .ltxbS 1 8 . tZ'ldS , winning a pawn ( l 8 . . @ c6 19. tZ'le7+ ) . . 16. tZ'le2 Finally, as White carries out his plan of attack (again, in the event of passive play by his opponent) , he can prevent 326 Now White brings the knight to the dominating f4 post. Bishop vs. Knight 16 �d7 • • • In the end, this move is enough to draw. However, the retreat with 1 6 . . . .ig8! 1 7 . tt:lf4 �fl was more exact, so that only after 1 8 . h3! would the bishop attack the b5-pawn ( 1 8 . . . � e8). This, in general, would create the same position as in the game, the only difference being that the pawn would be on h2 instead of h3, so White would have at his disposal one less tempo, which would lessen his winning chances (see the notes to moves 26 and 29). Having exhausted all other possibili ties, White brings the game down to a favorable pawn ending. 24 . . .�xd3 25. �xd3 245 17. tt:lf4 �e8! Not l 7 . . . � xb5 in view of 1 8 . tt:lxh5! , followed b y 1 9. tt:lxf6 (or 1 9. tt:lf4) and the advance of the h-pawn. 18. tt:lxd5 �xb5 19. tt:lxb6! Of course not 1 9 . ttJxffi ? because of 19 . . . � e2 followed by . . . b6-b5 , which it's White who would be forced to play for the draw. 19 • • . �c6 To forestall tt:lb6-d5-f4. 20. tt:lc4+ �e6 21. tt:lb2 �b5 Ifthe knight makes it to f4, then White obtains serious winning chances. There fore Black maneuvers the bishop so that it guards the access squares (in this case, d3 and e2) to the sacred square f4. 22. tt:ldl �e2 23. tt:lf2 �fl! 24. tt:ld3! Black to move 25 'lt>e5! ..• The only correct reply. 25 . . . ©d5 would lose to 26. �d2!, with the fol lowing variations, indicated by Grigo riev: 1 ) 26 . . . h4 27. gxh4 f4 28. exf4 � e4 29. h5!. 2) 26 ... ©e4 27. ©e2 ©d5 (or 27 ... h4 28. gxh4 f4 29. h5! @ f5 30. exf4) 28. 'it> f3 W e 5 , and now White wins with two(!) extra tempi: 29. h3! 'lt> d5 30. W f4 W e6 3 1 . h4! . 3) 2 6 . . . \t> e5 27. 'it> e l ! (White must maneuver carefully, at each step taking the proper corresponding square with his king: only in reply to . . . 'it>e4 should White occupy the e2 square) 27 . . . 'it> d5 28. 'iil f2! 'it> e4 29. 'it>e2, and so on, as in the (second) variation presented above after 27. 'it> e2. 26. 'it>e2! 327 Chapter 13 If now 26. W d2 , then, as Capablanca indicated, 26 . . . h4! (the only move: 26 . . . W e4 loses i n view of 2 7 . W e2, as given above) 27. gxh4 f4 28. h5 fxe3 + , and it is only thanks to this check that Black makes the draw. 246 26 ... �e4! Once again, the only correct move. White to move 27. h3 After 27. W f2 , Black is saved again by 27 . . . h4, when if 28. gxh4 f4 29. h5, then once more Black takes the pawn with check. With 27. h3 White forces the black king back, but he cannot win the game , since now he has only one spare tempo. 27 ... WdS! 28. Wf3 W e5 Now 29. h4 is useless, in view of 29 . . . W d5 30. Wf4 �e6. Yz-Yz b) MAKING USE OF THE BISHOP'S POWER Now we present positions in which the bishop is stronger than the knight. You can see from the above that Black's advantage is based mainly on his better pawn structure . In addition to this, in this position, the bishop is stronger than the knight, since it can perform important tasks in the up coming lively play in the center and on the wings. I. lLlel We7 2. We3 We6 Threatening to enter the opponent's camp via f5 and g4. In order to prevent this, White must weaken his own pawn structure somewhat. 3. g4 Nor is 3. h3 better, because of 3 . . . h5 followed by . . . @ ffi and . . . £t.d7 . 3 . . . Wd6 4 . h 3 g6 5. Wd2 Reti - Rubinstein Goteborg 1 920 (See Diagram 246) Here Black enjoys more space; his pawn structure is also preferable; and finally, he attacks the c2-pawn. 328 White has defended his queenside; therefore, Black now throws his bishop over to the other side. It is chiefly in the possibility of this kind of rapid sh ift from one flank to the other that the power of the bishop lies in such positions. Bishop vs. Knight 5 . . . �d7 6. tt:lfJ <Jile7 The point of this retreat is the re grouping of his forces for immediate attack: Black is preparing for . . . h7-h5 ! . If 6 . . . h5 a t once , then 7 . g 5 ! �xh3 8 . gxf6 , with threats such a s 9. tt:l e 5 or 9 . lLigS . fxg5 fxg5, followed by the black king's invading via e5 and f4. White cannot prevent this maneuver, since his knight has to defend the g4-pawn, while his king is tied to the c2-pawn . 10 ... cxd4 1 1 . 'it' d2 Black threatened . . . @d6-c5 followed by . . . 'it'b4. 7.®e3 h5! Now White can't respond with 8. g5; and if 8. gxh5 gxh5 9. h4, then the black king enters via f5 and g4. 8. tt:l h2®d6 Again, Black improves his king's po sition. White 's situation grows increas ingly difficult: he must defend on both flanks, protecting the pawns at c2 and g4. 9.®e2 Zugzwang! The knight is tied down to the spot, and pawn moves would weaken White 's position still further. 9. @ f3 was also unappealing, since after 9 . . . d4! 1 0 . cxd4 cxd4 1 1 . W e4 ® c 5 , Black threatens mate! 9 . . . d4 Preventing . . <Ji; e3 and preparing to attack the king's wing. . 10. cxd4 If 1 0 . c4, then 1 0 . . . hxg4 1 1 . hxg4 (or 1 1 . tt:lxg4 <Jile6 1 2. tt:lh6 f5) 1 1 . . .gS! 1 2 . 1 1 ... hxg4 12. hxg4 ilc6 13.®e2 If 1 3 . c3, then 1 3 . . . dxc 3 + 1 4 . Wxc 3 ilg2! , after which Black wins the same way as in a simple pawn ending: on the queenside , he creates an " outside passed pawn , " deflecting the white king away from the center and king side . 13 .•• .lt dS 14. a3 This forced move turns out to be the decisive weakening of White's position: as will shortly be seen, the move a2-a3 simplifies the creation of a passed pawn on the queenside. 1 4 b S 15. lLin as •.. Also winning is 15 . . . gS followed by the incursion of the king to f4, or of the bishop to b l . 16. tt:ld2 a4! 17. tt:le4+ There is no defense against the threats of . . . b5-b4 and . . . g6-g5 . 17 �xe4 18. dxe4 b4! 19. 'it' d2 bxa3 20. 'it'cl g5! 0- 1 • • . 329 Chapter 1 3 Bogatyrchuk I. Rabinovich Leningrad 1 923 - To hold the a2-pawn. s . . . 'lit e6 247 Now Black has a clear advantage: his king is very active, while White cannot hold onto his extra pawn. 6. exdS+ @ xdS 7 . lllf3 cS! 7 . . . @ e4 would be premature here, in view of 8 . llld4 c5 9. lllc 6 a5 1 0. c4! , pre paring an attack on the b6-pawn. Black to move Here. too, Black's game deserves to be preferred, since after . . . '\t>b8-c7-d6 and . . . e6-e5, play gets livelier, which makes the bishop more active than the knight. 1 . . .@ c7 2. e4 A clever counterattack: White an swers 2 . . .dxe4? with 3. lllxe4 f5 4. lll f6 ; whereas if 2 ... W d6, then 3 . e5 + ! , creat ing a position favoring the knight (im mobile pawns!) . However, Black's reply makes clear that 2. e4 favors only his opponent. White needed to adopt a passive stance and brought his king into play. 2 . . . eS! The only proper response. To achieve his goal of sharpening the game, Black even sacrifices a pawn. 3. fxeS fxeS 4. dxeS 'it> d7 5. b3 330 8. Wd2 @ e4 9. � e2 h6! Preparing . . . .i. f7-h5. 10. lll d2+ After 1 0 . @f2 .i. t7! 1 1 . @ g3 .i. h5, the e5-pawn falls too, since 1 2 . e6 fails to 1 2 . . . .i. xf3 1 3 . e7 .i. h5 . 10 . . . @ xeS 1 1 . @ eJ .i. dS 1 2 . lllb l White i s short o f moves here: for instance , if 1 2. lllf3 + , then 1 2 . . . W f5 threatening 1 3 . . . @ g4. 12 WfS 13. lll a3 a6 14. lll c2 @g4 15. Wf2 Wf4! • • • Now the outcome of the game is clear: Black's king takes up a powerful position anew, threatening both flanks. 16. lll e3 .i.f7 17. @ e2 bS 18. @fl .Jl e6 19. @ e2 White is reduced to making colorless moves. Bishop vs. Knight 19 . • • 'it> e4 20. tt:lg2 Zugzwang. On 20. W d2 there follows 20 . . . W f3; and on 20. W f2 , Black replies 20 . . . 'it> d3 . 20 �g4+ • • • 36. We3 i.. d5 37. tt:ld3 i.. c4 38. tt:lf2 @ g3 39. tt:le4+ 'it>g4 40. tt:lf6+ @ gs 4 1 . tt:le4+@f5 42. tt:lg3+ @ g4 4 3 . @ f2 i.. d3 44. tt:lht 'it> f4! 45. tt:lg3 i.. g6 46. tt:ln @ e4 47. We2 i.. f7 48. tt:l d2+ @ f4 49. Wfl i.. c4 50. Wf3 We4 5 1 . tt:l e l �e6 52. @ e2 i.. g4+ 53. Wd2 h4 54. tt:l d3 h3 55. tt:lf2+ Wf3 56. Wet h2 0- 1 Simpler was 20 . . . c4! at once. 21. W d2 �e6 22. tt:le l Marshall - Nimzowitsch Berlin 1 928 Intending 23. tt:ld3 . 22 • • • c4! 23. bxc4 If 23. b4, then 23 . . . � g4 and . . . W f3 or . . . W e 3 . 2 3 �xc4 24. a 3 a 5 2 5 . tt:lc2 a 4 26. lll d4 • • . On 26. tt:le3 , Black would respond 26 . . . W f3 ! . And if26. tt:le l , then 26 . . . W f4 followed by . . . W f4-g4-h3 . 26 • • . hS Zugzwang again! Black's pressure grows with every move. 27. tt:lc2 'it> f3 28. tt:le3 'iil f2! 29. QJ rs �g2 30. h 4 'it> f3 3 1 . tt:le7 'it> g3! Black to move In this position, White's knight is cut off from its camp, and for this reason is threatened with immediate death; at least Black would be able to enforce the trade of this knight for his bishop, after which he gets a pawn ending with an ac tive black king and static white pawns. l . . . @dS After 3 l . . .W g4 32. tt:lg6, Black could not have answered 32 . . . �t7. 32. tt:l g6 fd7 33. tt:l e5 i.. d5 34. tt:l g6 ..te4 35. tt:le5 W xh4 The game concluded: Not allowing the white knight to reach c5, and threatening 2 . . . i.. a2! win ning the knight owing to 3 . . . @ c6 4. tt:l d8+ (or 4. tt:l a5+ 'iil b 6) 4 . . . @ c7 . In order to exhaust all the basic pos sibilities of this position, we shall look 33 1 Chapter 1 3 at three variations: ( l ) 2 . t'Ll d 8 , with the subsequent return of the knight to b7 and a general exchange of pieces; (2) the same order of moves, but with White declining to trade pieces; and (3) what actually took place: 2. <;if h2 followed by a knight sacrifice . As we shall see , Black wins in all of these variations. VARIA TION /: 2. t'Ll d8 W d6 3. t'Llb7+ W c6! 4. t'Ll a5+ W d5! Stronger than 4 . . . Wb5, which would be followed by 5. tLl b7!, forcing the black king back to c6 (to prevent 6. t'Ll d6!). ®e2(t'2) wrs 12. W f3 ® gs 13. ®e3 W g4 14. W f2 f6, and Black wins. VARIA TION II: 2. t'Ll d8 W d6 3. t'Ll b 7 + W c6! 4. t'Ll a5+ W d5 5. W h2 5. tLl b7 would be met (similarly to the continuation in the text) by 5 . . . i. a2!, af ter which White loses the knight for no compensation, for example ( l ) 6. W h2 W c6! 7 . t'Ll d8+ W c7 or 7 . t'Ll a5+ Wb6; (2) 6. t'Lld8 W d6 7. t'Ll b7+ W c6 and then 8 . . . W c 7 or 8 . . . W b6; (3) 6. t'Ll a5 W c5 7 . t'Ll b 7 + W c6, etc . 5 . . . i. a2! 6. W h3 W c5 7. t'Llb7+ W c6 8. t'Ll a5+ 5. t'Ll xc4 Regarding 5. W h2 or 5. t'Llb7, see Variation I I . Or 8 . t'Lld8+ W c7 . 8 W b6, winning the knight and the game . • • • 5 . . . W xc4 6. W fl If 6. f3 ? , then 6 . . . e3! 7 . W fl W d3 8 . W e i f5 9 . g4 ( o r 9 . f4 h 5 IO. W d l e2+ l l . W e i We3 1 2 . g4 hxg4 1 3 . g3 W f3 ) 9 . . . f4 1 0 . W d l e2+! l l . W e i W e3 , and Black wins. 6 . • . W d3 7. W e l Black threatened 7 . . . W d2, gradually squeezing out the white king. 7 • . • h5 8. W d l e3! If now 9. f3 or f4, then 9 . . f5 and 1 0 . . . e2. . 9. fxe3 W xe3 10. Wei W e4 1 1 . 332 VARIATION III: 2. W h2 This is what Marshall played - not trying to defend his knight at all, but try ing to gain time to develop the king, fol lowed by an exchange of pawns. 2 ... i. a2! 3. g4 f6 Before taking the piece, Black takes measures to preserve the f7-pawn, pre ferring to give up the e4-pawn instead. This might be more to the point than the immediate 3 . . . W c6, after which, for ex ample , there might come 4. t'Lld8+ Wc7 Bishop vs. Knight 5. lll xf7 il.. xf7 6. @g3 @ d6 7. @ f4 @ d5 8. f3 il.. g 6? (after this " natural" move White forces the draw; the correct line was 8 . . . exf3! 9. gxf3 @ e6! 1 0. g5 hS) 9. fxe4+ il.. xe4 (nor does 9 ... @ d4 win, be cause of 1 0. @g3 W xe4 1 1 . @ h4 W f4! 12. g3+ @f3 1 3 . gS hS 1 4. g4!! hxg4, stalemate ; and if 9 . . . W e6, then 1 0 . gS hS l l . g4! h4 1 2. @ f3 , followed by bringing the king to h3, with a draw) I O. gS! hS l l . g6! il.. xg6 1 2. @gs il.. e8 1 3 . g4! , trad ing off the last pawn. 4. @ g3 @ c6 5. tt::l a5+ @b6 6. @ f4 Wxa5 7. @ xe4 Although the black king stands quite far from the theater of action, still he ar rives just in time: for instance, if instead of the text, White plays 7. \ii> f5 , then 7 . . .@b4! 8. @ xf6 @ c3 9. gS! (or 9. @ g6 Wd2! 1 0 . @ xh6 @ e2) 9 . . . hxgS 1 0 . @ xgS Wd2 1 1 . @ f4 ii. b l ! (not 1 1 . . .il.. dS in view of 1 2 . @ cS! il.. c6 1 3 . g4 @ e2 1 4. gS W xf2 I S . g6, draw) 1 2 . g4 @ e 2 1 3 . @g3 ( 1 3 . gS? @ xf2 1 4. g6 e3) il.. a2! 1 4. gS ( 1 4. W f4 il.. dS! l S . @ eS? @ xf2!) l 4 . . . il.. f7 1 S. Wg2 il.. g6 1 6 . @gl (or 1 6 . @g3 @ fl !) I6 . . . @ f3 1 7 . W fl @ f4 1 8 . 'it> e2 il.. hS+ and wins. 7 . . . il.. e6! 8. @ f4 W b4 9. @ g3 @ c5 10. W h4 il.. t7! 1 1 . f4! @ d6 12. g5 hxg5+ Here 1 2 . . . fxgS? 1 3 . fxgS hS would be a grievous error, because of 14. g4. 13. fxg5 f5 Now on 1 4. g4? there would, of course, follow 1 4 . . . f4! l S . g6 il.. xg6 1 6 . W g S f3 . 1 4 . g6! If 14. @g3 @e7 l S . @ f4, then 1 5 . . . il.. e6! (preventing g2-g4) 1 6 . @ e s il.. d7 1 7 . g6 il.. c8 1 8 . g3! il.. d7 1 9 . g7 @ f7 20. @d6 il.. c8 2 1 . @ c7 il.. a6 22. @ d6 il.. e2! 23. 'it> e5 Ji.g4! and Black wins. 14 ... il.. e6! Not l4 . . . Ji. xg6?, in view of l S . 'it>g5 Ji. h7 16. g4! . 15. 'it> g5 l 5 . g4 would be met, not by I S . . . fxg4? (in view of 16. g7), but by I S . . . f4! . 15 .. 'it>e5 16. 'it> h6 'it> f6! . After l 6 . . . 'it>f4? 1 7 . @ hS! @g3? ( 17 . . . 'it> es returning to the previous po ' sition, is better) 1 8 . 'it> gS f4 1 9 . g7 il.. g8 20. 'it>f5 ii. h7+ 2 1 . 'it>gS, the game ends in a draw, for example 2 I . . . ii.g8 22. 'it> fS .i. a2 23. 'it>gS .i.e6 24. 'it>f6!, etc. 17. g3 Now 1 7 . 'it> hS would run into I 7 . . . 'it>g7!, etc., as i n the game ; while i f 1 7 . 'it> h7, then 1 7 . . . WgS!, with the threat of 1 8 . . . f4!; finally, on 1 7 . g7 Black has 1 7 . . . .i.g8! 1 8. 'it> hS (if 1 8 . g3 , then l 8 . . . il.. f7 1 9. 'it> h7 'it>gS) 1 8 . . . 'it> xg7 1 9 . g4 (or 1 9 . 'it>gS il.. e6!) l 9 . . . f4! and wins. 17 il.. d7 18. @ h5 ••• 1 8 . 'it> h7 would once again be met with 1 8 . . . WgS 1 9 . g7 (or 1 9 . @g7) 1 9 . . . .i. e6; and i f 1 8 . g7 , then 1 8 . . . il.. e6 first. 333 Chapter 1 3 1s • • . @ g1 19. @ gs Now Black must pass the move to his opponent, which he achieves by moving the bishop along the unique "triangle " d7-e6-c8-d7. 19 .Jt e6 20. @ h5 .it c8! 2 1 . @ g5 .Jt d7 22. @h5 @ f6! •.. Of course , not 22 . . . .il e8 23. @gS .Jt xg6? right away, due to 24. g4. White is ahead by a pawn; however, here it will be hard to turn this advan tage to account, since the black knight can occupy a strong position at c5. t . . . Cl'i a4! 2. @ a g6 This move turns out badly. 2 . . . h6 ought to have been played. 3. l::!: b l b6 4. l::!: b4 Cl'i c5 5. a4! Threatening 6. a5! bxa5? 7. l::!: b 5. 23. @ h6 .Jt e8! 24. g7 .it f7 0- 1 5 . . . w rs On 25. @h7 there comes 25 . . . @gS. An endgame classically executed by Black! O n 5 . . . Cl'i b 7 , White answers 6. a5! Cl'i xa5 7 . c5! bxc5 8 . l:tb5. 6. a5 l::!: b8 7. 'it> e3 @ e7 8. © d4 ©d6 9. l:tbl l::!: b 7 10. axb6 axb6 c) BISHOP + ROOK(S) vs. KNIGHT + ROOK(S) Here we limit ourselves to a few com binative endings. If IO . . . l::!: xb6?, then 1 1 . l::!: a l l::!: a6 (or l l . . .a6 1 2 . J::l: a5) 1 2 . l::!: e l , threatening 1 3 . �e8. 11. �a l l::!: e 7 Tartakower - Yates New York 1 924 On 1 1 . . .hS, White has the choice of two alternatives: ( I) 1 2. g4 hxg4 1 3 . fxg4, followed by l:tfl ; and (2) 1 2. @e3, in tending <ite3-f4-g5 followed by fJ-f4-f5. 12. g4! Threatening 1 3 . g4-g5 . 12 . . . f6 13. l::!: b l l:tb7 Black to move 334 If 1 3 . . . Cl'i d7 , then 14. l::!: xb6+! Cl'i xb6 1 5. c5+ @ c 7 1 6 . d6+ , or 1 6 . cxb6+! W xb6 1 7 . c4. Bishop vs. Knight 14. f4 :b8 15. g5! Beginning a brilliant concluding combination. 15 . . . f5 If 1 5 . . fxgS 1 6 . fxg5 li:l d7 , then 1 7. l:te l ! li:\c5 1 8 . : m . . l 6 . . . n h 8 i s clearly bad because o f 1 7 . :h6! ® c7 ( 1 7 . . . W e7 1 8 . Ji. xf5! gxf5 1 9 . :xb6!) 1 8 . W e 5 , etc. 1 ... I:Ig3! If now 2. Itxf7+, then 2 . . . W h6 3 . Ji.e2 Ith3!. 17. Ji.xf5! l:lf7! l. Itbl Itxc3 3. Itel Wh6 4. Ji. el On 17 ... gxfS , White planned 1 8 . :h6+ © e7 (or 1 8 . . . © d7 1 9 . nxh7+ Wc8 20. g6! ) 1 9 . :xh7+ 'it>f8 20. I:txb7 t'Ll xb7 2 1 . \ti e s . 18. l:tbl! 'it>c7 If 1 8 . . . li:\ a4, then 1 9 . Ji. e4 :xr4 20. :b4! b5 2 1 . :xb5. If 4. Ji. xfl, then 4 . . . l:tg3! (threaten ing 5 . . . t'Ll f3+) 5. 'it>t'2 l:If3+. 4 ... \t>g5 5. w r.z 'it>f4 6 . Ji.d 3 :C:a3 7. l:tal f6 White has no good move. For in stance, if 8. l::t e l (threatening 9. e5 fxe5 10. l:te4+), then 8 ... li:l f3 ! . 19. d6+ ! @ d8 If 1 9 . . . W xd6 20. :xb6+ @ c7 , then 2 1 . :ffi!, while on 1 9 . . . W c6 there follows 20. Ji. e4+ li:\ xe4 2 1 . 'it> xe4 W xd6 22. Itxb6+ 'it>c5 23. :C:ffi l:Id7 (or 23 . . . l:e7+ 24. W d3) 24. I!f8! 'it> xc4 25. 'it>e5, etc. 10. Ji. h3! l:txf4+ 11. @ d5 li:l d7 ll. Ital Wc8 13. : a7 1-0 Black carried out a clever attack in the following position ( Spielmann Bogoljubow, Moravska Ostrava 1 923): 8 . Ji.el Ith3! 9. l:tdl l:th l 10. c4 'it>xe4 11. Ji.d3+ On 1 1 . c5, simply 1 1 . . .l:xd l 1 2. Ji.xd l 'it> d5. n ... \t>d4! 11 . .t o + 'it>c3 13. l:td3+ Wxc4 14. Ji.xg2 l:thl 0-1 The following example shows the kinds of consequences that might follow "playing for the brilliancy" without suf ficient preparation. 335 Chapter 1 3 Griinfeld Simisch Baden- Baden 1 925 - 250 To conclude , we bring up the game Vidmar - Alekhine , New York 1 927, in which Black sacrificed two pawns to gain a draw. In the position WKh2, Rf4, Bg2, pa3, b4, c5, h3, BKg6, Ra2, Ne4, pa 7, b 7, g 7, h 4, Alekhine played 1 . . t2l g5, when there followed 2. a4! (of course not 2. l::t xh4? because of 2 . . . t2i f3 + ) . The game continued as fol lows: . 2 . . . t2l e6! Not 2 . . . l::t xa4, in view of 3 . .il xb7. White to move 3. l::t xh4 W f5 4. l::t g4 Here White wins easily with 1 . d7+ W c7 2. l::t e 8! l::t g 2+ 3 . W h l l::t d 2 4. :.cs+. However, in pursuit of a "brilliancy" he chooses the wrong move order: 4. Wg3 simply transposes. And if 4. W g l , then 4 . . . l::t a l + and 5 . . . l::t a2. 4 ... g5 5. W g3 tLl f4! 6 .il xb7 l:.a3+ 7 .itfJ l::t a 2! • 1. l::t e 8+? W b7 Of course not 1 . . .t2l xe8, on account of 2. d7+. 2. d7 llg2+ 3. Whl tLl f5! Threatening mate. 4. l::t b8+ ! W a7! 5. l::t a 8+ W b7 Yz-Yz 336 • Threatening mate . Black's positional superiority bal ances his material deficit: on 8. h4, Black gives perpetual check, whereas bishop moves are met by 8 . . . l::t a 3+ anew. Yz-Yz Chapter 14 Rook Endings A. ROOK + ROOK PAWN vs. ROOK One cannot always exploit a pawn advantage , by a long shot. Only when, in addition to the extra pawn, you also have a serious advantage in your pieces' position, may the win be considered a sure thing. For instance, in the following position black king) 4 . . . @d6 5. @ b7 Il'. h7+ 6. @b8 Il'.h8+ 7. Il:c8. The win is not too difficult in this position, for the following reasons: ( I ) Black s rook is placed passively (in front of the pawn) , while White s rook is active (behind the pawn) ; (2) Black s king is far away from the pawn, while White s king offers it con siderable support. Now let us examine this position: with White to move the win is possible , though only by I . a7 'it' d? 2. Wb5 W c7 3. W a6 l::t h8 (if 3 . \t> c6 , then 4. Il:c l + and 5 . 'lt> b7) 4. �c I + (driving off the . . White to move. Here the black king is somewhat more active than in the previous example; however, the complete 337 Chapter 1 4 immobility ofthe rook a t a 7 i s a harbinger of defeat for Black. The simplest win for White would start with the waiting move l . l!g8 , forcing the black king to retreat to d6 or d7 (Zugzwang!) and therefore al low 2. Wb6 and 3. a7 . We now begin the systematic analysis of the endgame I: + 8 vs. ll . First, we look at positions with the pawn on the seventh rank ( Diagrams 25 1 -255), then on the sixth, etc. D. Ponziani, 1782 Before we proceed to the systematic exposition of the themes laid out in the heading, we will first focus on this posi tion: 25 1 Black to move; White wins Black to move . Here the black rook is very active , while the white rook cannot escape its imprisonment , since after the white king's forced retreat it will have to protect the a7pawn. The indicated difference in the rooks' positions allows Black to fo rce a draw, which is accomplished thus: l . . . l::I b 2+ 2. 'lii c 5 (if White wants to avoid the second-rank checks, then he must bring his king toward the rook) 2 .. J k2+ 3. W b4 Ila2! (of course not 3 . . . llb2 + , in light of 4. \t> a3 with the decisive threat of 5 . llg8 + ; see Chapter 1 5) . The white rook is tied down again and cannot break free , as the white king has nowhere to hide for example , 4. \t>b5 l:t a l 5 . 'it> b6 l::t b l + ! , etc . - 338 Here the win presents no diffi culties: the pawn, supported by a mo bile king 'Jrom above " and already on the seventh rank, is too strong! To l . . . llb2+ , White replies 2 . 'it> c8 ! (2 'it> a8 ? leads only to a draw; compare Diagram 2 5 8 ) 2 . . . ll a2 3 . llg6 + ! (an other way to win is 3. ll c 7 + , with the decisive threat of 4. \t> b 8 , 5 . l:tb7, and 6. a8'i¥ ) 3 . . . 'iii' c 5 (if 3 . . . 'lii d 5 , then 4. 'it> b7 l::t b 2+ 5 . l::t b 6) 4. 'lii b7 llb2+ 5. 'lii c7 lla2 6 . l:t g5 + ! (6. l:k6+ would be a mistake in light of 6 . . . 'it> d5 ! 7 . 'it>b7 llxa7 + ) 6 . . . \t c4 7. 'it> b7 llb2+ 8. 'it> c6 (simpler still is 8 . 'it> a6 l:::t a2+ 9 . l:t a5) 8 . . . ll a2 9 . l:.g4+ W c 3 IO. 'it> b6 l:tb2+ ( 1 l . llg8 was threatened) 1 1 . W c5 lla2 1 2 . llg3+ and 1 3 . llg2 + . Rook Endings A. Thoitzky, 1896 White wins Here , in spite of the poor place ment of the rook on a8 (in front of the pawn) , the win is achieved thanks to the insecure position of the black king on g2 (while with the black king on g7 it would not be possible to win; see below) . were on g7 and the black king were on g5. In that case (after l . 'it> t7 @ f5 2. 'it> e7 'it>e5 3. 'it>d7 'it>d5 4. W c 7 Wc5), the move 5. l::t c 8 indicated earlier would not have achieved its end, in view of the re ply 5 . . . �xa7+ 6. 'it>b8+ Wb6! . White also could not win if the black king were at g7, and the white king at g5. I n that case, Black would only need to shuttle his rook back and forth between a l and a2, and should the white king ap proach it, he could move his rook to a6, and back to al at the first opportunity. And if the white king approaches his pawn (at b6 or b7) , the rook gives check, and again returns to the a-file . Let us look at two more positions where the white rook is placed unfor tunately on a8 (see Diagrams 253 and 254). t . \t f4 N. Grigoriev, 1934 Intending 2 . .tlg8 + . l . . . 'it> f? The black king uses his opponent's king as a shield. 2. \te4 'ite2 3. 'itd4 'itd2 4. 'it'c5 'it>c3 If 4 . . . J::t c l + , then 5. 'it> b4 l:tb l + 6. \t>a3 l::t a l + 7 . 'it> b2 and wins. For the same reason, checks would have been useless on the first or later moves. 5. l::tc 8! l::txa7 6. 'it>b6+ As Berger rightly points out, White could not win, if in Diagram 252 his king Black to move; draw It is more difficult for Black to draw this position than in the above place ment of his pieces (Wg7 and l:Ia l ) . The problem is that here he cannot move the 339 Chapter 1 4 rook off e 7 (in light o f kte8+ ) , while the king on e6 can maneuver only with great care, avoiding checks from the eighth rank (for instance , if l . . .'it> f7+ ? , then 2. @ f5 threatens 3 . l:t f8 + ! W xf8 4. a8� + , and wins) . l . . . l::t t7 + More accurate than l . . .l::t d 7, on which White could play 2. W e4 imme diately. 2. W e3! 1 . . . wf6+! l . . . W d6+ loses to 2. W d4 l::t d7 (2 . . . W e6 3 . Wc5 W e5 is n o better, since this runs into 4. W c6 and then - depending on Black's reply - 5 . 'it> d6, 5 . 'it' d7 , or 5 . Wb6) 3. W c4 l::t c 7+ 4. 'it>b5! (not al lowing 4 . . . W c6) 4 . . . l::t d7 (or 4 . . . .l:tc5+ 5. 'it>b4) 5. 'it>b6 and wins. 2. W d4 l::t f7 ! 3. 'it> c5 'it>f5! 4. W b6 l::t f6+ 5. Wb5 l::t t7 6. 'it' c6 � f4 The tempting 2. 'it> e4 would have been an error in view of 2 . . . l::t d 7 ! , af ter which White would have fallen into Zugzwang, since on 3. 'it> d4 there would follow 3 . . . W c6 + , and on any other king move , 3 . . . W d5 with a draw. For instance, 3 . 'it> f4 W d5 4. W f5 k:tt7+! and 5 ... l:td7=, or 3 . \t> f4 W d5 4. W e3 l:! e 7 + ! 5 . W d3 l:::t d7 6. W c 3 k:t c 7 + ! 7. W b4 'it> c6=. 2 . . . l::t d 7 3. 'it> e4! He could also play 6 . . . l::t f6+. Now it's Black who is in Zugzwang. 7. 'it> b6 l::t f6+ 8. 'it> c5 l::t f7 ! 3 8 . . . :f5+ would be a mistake , because of 9. W d6 l::t t7 1 0 . W e6 ! . 9. W d6 W f5, draw. • • • l::t e 7+ 4. 'it> d4 l::t d 7 Or 4 . . . W e6 5. W c 5 W e 5 6. W c6 \t>e6 (if6 . . . I:!.e6+, then 7. W d7 l::t d6+ 8 . 'it> c7; and on 6 . . . W e4, there follows 7 . W d6) 7. Wb6 and wins. N. Grigoriev, 1934 5. W c4 l::t c 7+ 6. 'it> b5! l:Id7 7. 'it>b6 and wins. Analyzing the position in Diagram 254, Grigoriev points out further that, " moving the white king in the diagram position from f4 to f5 would render the win impossible, since by checking on the first move ( 1 . . . i:l t7 + ! ) , Black forces White 's king prematurely to go to e4. " Black to move; White wins 340 Rook Endings G. Zeiboth, 1899 Black to move and draw In this position, Black's rook is pas sively placed, but his king is fairly active , which is enough to get a draw (but only with exact play) . 1 . . .�c5! 2. \t> d7 �b6 3. l:tbl+! �c5! Not 3 . . . W xa7?, in view of 4. � c7. Also 3 ... � a6? would be bad because of 4. \t>c7! l:txa7+ 5. � c6 and wins. 5 ... l::!. a 8! Black doesn't have a lot of choices. For example, 5 . . . l:tg8 loses to 6. l:tb l l:tg7+ 7. �b8 l::!. g 8+ 8 . �b7 l:tg7+ 9. Wa6 :g6+ (9 ... l::!. g 8 IO. l:tb8) IO. WaS l:tg2 (on 1 0 . . . l:tg8 there could follow 1 1 . l:tb8 l:tgl 1 2. l:tc8+, transposing to the main line) 1 1 . l:tc l + W -any 1 2. l:ta l ! l:tg8 1 3 . 'itib6, and wins. On the other hand, 5 . . . l:th7+ was a possibility: 6. � c8 l:th8+ 7. 'iti d7; but now, as in the main variation, 7 . . . l:ta8! was necessary (not 7 . . . :h7+?, in view of 8. W e6!). 6. �d7 l:th8!, draw. In Diagram 255, Black managed to draw thanks to the fact that his king was so near. However, the closeness of the king doesn't always prevent defeat; con sider for instance, the following position by Dr. Puder ( 1 887): 4. !.Ib7 l::t h 8! 4 . . . � dS? loses to 5. l:tbS+ � c4 6. llaS W b4 7. Ila l (in comparison with the starting position White has won a tempo, since his king is already on d7) 7 . . . �bS or 7 . . . � c5 8. � c7 . 5. �c7 5. l:tc7+ would of course be met by 5 . . . Wb6; and 5 . l::t b 8 doesn't work be cause of 5 . . . l::t h7+ ; if 5. W e6 (preparing 6. l::t b S ) , then 5 . . . l:t a8 ! , after which the white king would have to return to d7 (to meet the threat of 6 . . . 'it> c6). White to move . White wins as fol lows: 1. a7! If l . l:tb8? , then l . . .l:tb I + 2. \ti a8 l:tc l , and Black gets his draw, thanks to 34 1 Chapter 1 4 the threat o f . . . W d7-c7(c8) , and shut ting in the white king. 2 :bt+ 2. W a6 l:t a l + • • • O n 2 . . . Wc7 White plays 3 . � c 8 + ! . 3 . c;t> b6 : b l + 4. 'it' c5 : c t + 5. W b4 :bt + 6. W c3 : a t 7. :h8! and wins. The examples we have presented show that a rook pawn on the seventh rank wins most of the time (particu larly when supported by the king from in front, as in Diagram 25 1 ) . Excep tion are positions in which: ( 1 ) Black's king is near the pawn, or can approach it without danger (for an example , see Diagram 255); (2) White 's king, in sup port of the pawn , could be restricted in its actions or even shut in (as, for in stance, in Puder's position after I . l:.b8? l:.b l + 2. W a8 l:. c l 3 . a7 W c7 ! ) ; ( 3 ) with the passive placement of White 's rook in front of the pawn , if Black's king is sufficiently safe (see , for instance , Diagram 2 5 3 , or D iagram 252 with the kings placed at g7 and g5) . White to move wins However, thanks to the great differ ence in the kings' positions, White forc es the win. t . W b6 By protecting the pawn, White frees up the rook. Along with this, the king will strive to take up the most favorable position: ahead of the pawn. (Compar ing this statement with the preceding one , we see that just the king must forge ahead, while the rook's place is in the rear) . 1 . . . I::t b l + Now let's examine the position with a rook pawn on the sixth. In the previ ous example (by Puder) , we dealt with this kind of pawn ; there it advanced at once . Usually, this advance must be prepared, as for example in the follow ing position: (See Diagram 256) Black's rook here is in an active po sition (in the rear, behind the pawn) , while White's rook is passive. 342 O n I . . .li:ta2, White carries out his plan without difficulty: he gets his rook out of prison with 2. l:.b8 and along with that prepares the pawn advance. On the other hand, after I . . .li:ta2 , play proceeds approximately as in the main line. Here we must remember that ad vancing the pawn immediately with 2. a7? (in answer to 1 . . .l:. a2) would be a serious error, allowing Black to force the draw (as we already saw) . Rook Endings 2. 'i!t a7! This is where the king finds shelter! 2 . . . \t>f7 3. l:Ib8 l:Iet 4. 'i!tb7 He could also play 4. 'i!7 a8 right away. But the text move is even better. 4 . . . l::t b l + Forced. If 4 . . . W e7 , then 5 . a 7 l::t b l + 6 . '&t c6 It e l + 7 . W d5 l:t d l + 8 . W e4 l:te l + 9. '&t f3 l:tfl + 1 0 . '&tg2. 5. 'it> a8 l:tel with Black to move. As was shown above, this position is winning for White . Now let's move the black king to e7. Nor does 5 . . . l:t a l change things. 6. a7! Now this move is strong, since the white rook is free and the black king far away. 6 l:te7 . • • Preventing 7. W b7. I f 6 . . . l:t a l , then simply 7. W b7 l:tb l + 8. W c6, etc. Black to move; White wins 7. l:tb6 Here we present the general winning plan for such positions. In this position (that is, with the black king on fl ) , 7. ilb7 leads to the win more quickly. 7 . . . W g7 8. 'i!t b8 l::t e 8+ 9. 'i!tb7 l:Ie7+ 10. ® a6 l:te8 11. .l:tb8, etc. Starting from Diagram 256, after White's third move we get the following position Here White must expend more ef fort, in order to win. l ... l:tct 2. 'i!tb7 l:l.bt + 2 . . . Wd7 is weaker because of 3. a7 l:tb l + 4. Wa6 l::t a l + 5. Wb6 l:tb l + 6. 'it>c5, etc. 3. W a8 l:tal 4. a7 ..ti d6! If 4 ... W d7 , then 5 . Wb7 l:tb l + 6. 'it> a6, etc. 343 Chapter 1 4 5 . W b7 l:I b l + 6 . <t> c8! The move 6. W a6 doesn't give White anything anymore , in view of 6 . . . l:Ia l + 7 . Wb6 l:Ib l + ; in order to win he must bring his king to c8. C. Salvioli, 1887 258 6 l:I c l + 7. W d8 l:I h l ! 8. l::t b 6+ <ti cs! . • • On 8 . . . WdS, White queens with check; if 8 . . . W e5 , then 9. l:!.a6 wins easily. It might seem that after 8 . . . @cS! White must accept the draw, since af ter 9. l:Ia6 there ensues 9 . . . l::t h8+ 1 0. W d7 l::t h7+! 1 1 . W e8 (of course, not 1 1 . 'iit e6? I! h6+) l l . . .I!h8+ 1 2 . @ fl l::t a8! followed by . . . WbS. Black to move and draw Here the black king has come so close to the field of battle that it paralyzes the strong position of the opposing king. All of White's attempts prove useless here: his attacks are rebuffed, as a result of which the game ends in a draw. 9. l::t c 6+! 1 . . . l::t c l This move overturns all of Black's calculations. If now 9 . . . WbS, then 1 0 . I! c 8 I! h 8 + 1 1 . W c7 l::t h7+ 1 2. W b 8 ; and on 9 . . . W dS there follows 1 0 . l::t a6 l:Ih8+ 1 1 . W c 7 Mb7+ (or l l . . .l:Ia8 1 2 . Wb7) 1 2. 'iit b6 l:!. h6+ 1 3 . W b S , and White wins. Note: In this last example, instead of 8. l::t b 6+ , White can also play 8. W e8 W e6 9. l::t b 6+ W e5 (9 . . . W dS 1 0. a8� +) 1 0 . l:ta6 l::t h8+ 1 1 . W d7 l::t a8 12. W c7. Now let's move the black king in Diagram 257 one more square to the left - that is, we examine the following position: 344 Simplest. Black now threatens to occupy c7 with his king, after which the draw is obvious: White will not be able to check the king along the c-file ; and if there is a check along the seventh rank, then Black replies . . . � c 8 . And so, if White 's king is in front ofhis pawn (on a7 or a8), we recommend that Black place his king on c 7 (or c8) and his rook on the c-file - in the rear, ifpossible. 2. W b7 On 2. l::t b 2 or 2. l::t b 6, Black replies 2 . . . 'ltt c7; and if 2. l::t b 7+ W c8 3. Wb6, the most straightforward approach is 3 . . . Rook Endings i:tb l + 4. 'it.7 c6 (or 4. 'it.7 a7 l::t c l ) 4 . . . l::t xb7! 5. axb7+ 'it.7b8, draw. 2 J:Ib l + 3. 'it.l as l::t c l , draw. •• All that's left for White is either to repeat moves, or allow Black's king on the c-file . Reviewing the results o f our studies, we can see that if the white king is posi tioned on a7, the white rook on b8, and the pawn on a6, while the black rook is on b l , then Black can draw if his king can reach the d7 square (and it is Black's turn); if the black king is to the right of the d-file, defeat is unavoidable. b7; however, this would allow the king to reach the necessary square d7 from e7 (see Diagram 2 5 8 ) , or even to the c file . Thus, here Black gets his draw, in spite of the fact that there are three (!) files between the pawn and the black king. On the other hand, if we move the black king and white rook one file to the right Now let's take the position in Dia gram 257 (or 258) and move the white rook to d5 and the black king to e7. White wins by advancing his king and c pawn with l::t e 5-c5-c8-b8 , as in I . 'it.7 a8 l:Ib3 2. a7! l::t b l 3. l::t c 5 'it.7 e7 4. l::t c 8 'it.7 d7 5. l:Ib8 , sheltering later on from checks with 'it.7a8-b7-a6-b6-c5, etc. Draw (but if the black king and the white rook are moved the same number of squares to the right, then White wins) Black gets a draw here by the sim ple method of shuttling the rook up and down the b-file; White can only stop this by moving his own rook to b8 or Comparing Diagrams 257 and 259, we see that only in the latter case does the fact that Black's king is on e7 ensure the draw. These analyses show that White should not always send his king to a7. For example, if we move the white king in Diagram 259 to c6, then in reply to 1 . . .l::t c l + 2. 'it.7b6 l::t b l + he should re- 345 Chapter 1 4 frain from playing 3 . W a7?, and play in stead 3. l::t b 5!, achieving the win without unnecessary tribulations. Nor should the king head for a7 in the following position: Black to move; White wins This position (with colors reversed) could have occurred in one of the vari ations from Game 1 6 of the 1 93 5 Euwe - Alekhine championship match . Grigoriev indicated the proper way to win. l . .. �c l + White threatened 2. a 7 @ f7 3 . l:t.h8! If l . . . @ f7 , then 2. Wb7 (not 2. a7?, due to 2 . . . @g7! with a draw) 2 . . . I::t b l + 3 . @ a7 W e7 4. l:t. b 8 ! and wins (see Dia gram 257). 2. Wb5 If 2. 'it>b7 Ilb l + 3 . W a7?, then 3 . . . W d7 , and Black gets the draw (see Dia gram 258). 2 l:t.b l + . • . 346 3. a7! was threatened. 3. 'it> c4 l:!: c 1 + 4. 'it>b3! More precise than 4. W d3 , since af ter 4 . . . l:t.d l + the white king would have to turn left anyway. And if, after 4. Wd3 l:!:d l + , the white king turns right, then the game would end in a draw, as shown by the following variations, supplied by Grigoriev: 1 ) 5. W e2? l:!:d7 6. a7 W d6 (or 6 ... ® d5) 7 . @e3 (if 7 . '>t' d 3 , then 7 ... ® c6+ and 8 . . . 'it> b7) 7 . . . W d5 8 . W f4 W d4 9. Wf5 'it> d5 , and the game is a draw, regardless of whose move it is (compare Diagram 254, note to the second move); 2) 5 . W e3? l:t.d7 6. a7 W d5 ; 3) 5 . 'it> e4? l:t. d 7 6. a 7 W d6. 4 • • . l:!:c7 After 4 . . . l:!:b l + 5 . ®c2, the black rook would not even get to the seventh rank. 5. a7 l:t.e7 6. W b4(a4,c4) and wins. Above , we examined the position with an active white king and a pawn on a6. However, as already noted when analyzing Diagrams 258 and 259, an active position for the white king cer tainly does not always guarantee the full point. M uch also depends on the black king's position. For the most part , plac ing the black king on d7 (and in some cases, even on e7) guarantees Black the draw. Let's examine two more such po sitions. Rook Endings In Diagram 26 1 , Black could play differently, but then his task is much harder. 1. . l::I c8+ 2. l:':tb8 l::I c 7 . Here too, 2 . . . l::I c 1 is simpler. Black to move and draw 1 . . . l::I c l ! Just as i n Diagram 2 5 8 . Black sets his rook on c l , and his king on c 7 - first the rook, and then the king. Changing the move order would make the defense more complicated; but we cannot agree with Karstedt ( 1 896) and Berger ( 1 922) that l . . . © c8 loses outright. Apparently, they un derestimate the defender's resources: l . ..©c8 2. l:tb8+ © d7 3. a7 (if 3. l:':th8 , then 3 . . . l::I c 8 + ) 3 . . . © e6! 4. l:':th8 (on 4. l::t b l there would follow 4 ... l:c8+ 5. l:tb8 W c7 ) 4 . . l::I g 7! (if now 5 . l:':t h6+ , then 5 . . . © c 7 , and to 5 . l::I c 8 + Black replies 5 . . . © b6 6. l:':tb8+ \t a6 ; nor does 5. ©b8 give White anything, in view of the check on b7). . 2. ©b7 On the other hand , 2 . . . © c7 los es, since after 3. a7 , Black is in Zug zwang. It is not possible to disagree with this assertion of Karstedt's. But in their as sessment of 2 . . . l::t c 7 Karstedt and Berger have apparently made an error. They believed that, after 2 . . . l::I c 7 3. a7 , White could force a win. In support of his opinion, Berger presents the following variations: 1 ) 3 . . . l::I c l 4. ©b7 l:':tb l + 5. © a6 l::I a l + 6. ©b6 l:':tb l + 7 . ©c5. 2) 3 . . . I:tc8 4. ©b7 l::I c 7+ 5. ©b6 l::I c 6+ 6. 'itlb5. 3) 3 ... @ d6 4. I:th8 © c6 5 . I:t h6+ 'itl d7 6. Wb8 :cs+ 7 . ©b7 l::I c7+ 8 . 'iti b6 I:tc8 9. I:t h7 + , and then 1 0. Wb7. However, a fourth variation is pos sible: 3 . . . 'it/ c6!, which gives Black the draw. This move was already examined above (see the note to the first move from the previous position) . If 2. a7 or 2 . © a7 , then 2 . . . © c7 , while o n 2 . l:tb7+ there follows 2 . . . 'it>c8. 3. a7 2 . . . l::I c 7+ 3. © b8 I:tc8+ 4. © a7 l::I c l , draw. 3 . . . ©c6!, draw. If 3 . I:tb7 , then 3 . . . © c 8 . 347 Chapter 1 4 3. 'it> b4 makes no difference. And if 3. l:tbS, then simply 3 . . . l:txbS+ . 3 . . . :c6! The only move. Black to move draws Here Black draws as follows (the ba sic variations are indicated by Karstedt and Berger) : t . . J:tc6+ 2. \t> a5 If2. WbS, then 2 . . . W a7! 3. a7? :tb6+ 4. @ cS (after 4. \t> aS? l:txb2 White loses; but 4. W a4 :txb2 S. W a3 :t b l 6. W a2 Wb7 is possible, with a draw) 4 . . . l:ta6. White gets nothing from 2. W b7 in view of 2 . . . :tc7+ 3. W b8 (or 3. W a8 l:tc l ! with the threats of 4 . . . W c7 and 4 . . . W c8) 3 . . . l:tc8+ 4. W a7 l:tc l ! , again threatening S . . . W c7 or S . . . W c8 . 2 . . . .l:tc5+ 2 ... :tc8? would be a mistake because of 3. a7! (threatening 4. l:tb8) 3 . . . Wc7 (if 3 . . . l:ta8, then 4 ... W b6) 4. :tc2+ and wins. On the other hand, it is possible to play 2 . . . l:t c l 3 . a7 W c7! 4. a8tll + 'iit c6, with a draw. 3. \t> a4 348 For example , it would be a mistake to play 3 . . . l:tc8? here: 4. :b7+ Wc6 (4 . . . :c7? S . a7) S . @ as :th8 (if S . . . l:ta8, then 6. l:th7! with the decisive threat of 7. a7 8, @ a6, and then l:t h7-h l -c l +) 6. Mb6 + , with the following variations: 1) 6 . . . W c S 7. a7 M h l (if 7 . . . l:ta8, then 8 . \t> a6 l:t h8 9. Mb8 M h6+ IO. 'it> a5 J:t h l ! 1 1 . l:tc8+! and 1 2. a8� ) 8 . Mc6+ ( 8 . 'it> a6 also wins) 8 . . . W dS 9. l:tc8 Ma l + 1 0 . 'it> b6 :b l + 1 1 . 'it> c7 and wins; 2) 6 . . . \t> c 7 7. a7 :hs+ (7 . . . M h l 8 . l::t a 6) 8 . 'it> a6 l:t h l 9. l:tc6+ 'it> d7 I O. l:tcS, and wins. Another losing move is 3 . . . :c4+?, because of 4. WbS! with the following variations: l) 4 . . . Mc7+ S. M h2! (threatening 6. a7) S . . . Mc l (or S . . . W c 8 6. Mh8+ 'it> d7 7. a7) 6. a7 M a l 7 . M h8 ! , and wins; 2) 4 . . . l:tc l S. a7 l:t a l 6. W b6 Wc8 7. l:tc2+ W d7 8 . l:tcS, and wins; 3) 4 .. Jk8 S. a7, and Black cannot parry the threat of 6. Wb6, since White trades rooks after S . . . W c 7 . 4. l::t b 7+ W c8 5. W b5 l:t c l The simplest course. Black also draws after s . . . l:t h6 6. w as :g6 7. l:tb l Mg7 8. W b6 Wb8. 6. W b6 M b l + 7. W a7 l::t c l , draw. Rook Endings Now let us consider positions in which White s king stands at a considera ble distance from its pawn (see Diagrams 263 and 264) . ample, I . Wg3 l:Ia4 2. Wf3 W h7 3. W e3 Wg7 4. W d3 W h 7 5 . W c 3 W g7 6. Wb3 l:Ia l 7. Wb4 l:Ib l + 8. W c5 l:Ic l + 9. Wb6 l:Ib l + I O. Wa7. All this reasoning doesn't take into account the fact that at this moment the black rook is not yet tied down to the a pawn, and therefore it may be moved to another location - perhaps a better one. In fact, in this position pressure from the side is stronger than an attack from the rear. White to move. Draw Taking this into consideration, we proceed to our analysis. t . Wg3 It is possible that this outcome might, to a lot of leading players, seem hard to believe - the point being that such heavyweight authorities as Berger and Tarrasch considered this to be a winning position. They based their opinions on the following considerations: I ) Black's king cannot approach the pawn, since after . . . W g7-f7-e7, White wins with a6-a7! . Now, if after a6-a7! Black plays . . . Wf7 or . . . W d 7 , then :h8! and the king cannot go to the sixth rank because of the rook check followed by a7-a8'ii' . ( I n the starting position, be cause of that combination Black's king can go to f6, as then a6-a7 could be met by . . . Wg7). 2) Although the black rook does oc cupy an active position, it cannot stray too far from the a-pawn. If it maneuvers along the a-file , it will not be too diffi cult for the white king to advance to a7, which can be accomplished by, for ex- Regarding I . 'it/g2, see the Variation below. 1 ... :m 2. 'itlg4 If 2. a7?, then 2 . . . :a l ! , after which the draw is simple (see Diagram 256, note to Black's first move). Nor does 2. l::t a7+ give White a de cisive edge , in view of 2 ... W g6 , at least (still stronger is 2 . . . @ f6 ! , although 2 . . . @g8? would be mistaken because then 3. l::t b 7 with a6-a7 and l::t b 8+ ) . If now 3. l::t b7 (or 3. l::t a8 @ g7 ) , then 3 . . . l::t a l ! (not 3 . . . :l:f6, because of 4 . a7 : a6 5 . l:Ib6+!) 4 . l::t b 6+ (or 4. a 7 @ f5 , with an approach to the a-pawn) 4 . . . @ f7 (sim pler here too is 4 . . . W f5) 5. l:I h6! (the only chance, as Black was threaten ing 5 . . . @ e7 , after which 6 . l:I h6 would have come too late in view of 6 . . . W d7 7 . a7 W c7 8 . I!h8 l:Ixa7 9. l:Ih7+ W b6) 349 Chapter 1 4 5 . . . <Jig7! (5 . . . '1t e7? here loses t o 6 . a7! , with the decisive threat o f 7 . l::t h8!) 6 . l::t b 6 <Ji fl , draw. 2 l::t f6! • • • Pressure along the sixth rank here proves to be stronger than the attack from the rear. White cannot reply 3. a7 due to 3 . . . l::t a 6! (not 3 . . . l::t fl because of 4. l::t g 8+ ! ) ; if 3. l::t a7+ , then 3 . . . 'iitl g6 with out any substantial change in the posi tion. White can only get winning chances by improving his king position. 1 . . . :rs+ The flank attacks keep White from mounting the decisive incursion. For example, 8 . <Ji d6 l::t f6 + 9. <Ji e7 :n+ IO. 'iitl e6 l::t f6 + 1 1 . 'iitl e5 l::t b 6! , etc. VARIATION.' 1 . 'iitl g2 l::t e l 2. <Ji f3 l::t e 6! 3. <Jif4 l::t b6! , etc . , draw. It's interesting to note that in the variations presented, the black king has not made a single move - that's how well-placed the king is on g7! 3. W g5 Threatening 4. l:tg8 + . 3 . . . l::t g 6+ 4. 'Jt fS l::t f6+ 5. W es l::t b 6! The rook keeps maneuvering along the sixth rank. This method of defense was discov ered independently by Rauzer and the present author ( 1 926) . If the white king (with the rook on a8 and the pawn on a6) isfar away, then Black frequently manages to establish control ofg 7just in time, and to place his rook on the sixth rank, thus forcing the draw. Therefore, in this position by Salvioli ( 1 887) 6. <Ji d5 l::t f6! After the white king abandons e5, the black rook can once again occupy f6. 7. <Ji c5 As before, 7. a7 is met by 7 . . . l::t a6, and on 7 . l::t a 7+ , Black replies 7 . . . 'iitl g6, for example (7. l::t a7+ <Ji g6) 8. 'iitl c5 J::t fs+ 9. 'iitl b6 l::t f6+ 1 0. <Ji b7 :n+ 1 1 . Wb8 l::t f8 + , etc. 350 Black - contrary to the author's asser tion - will not lose, but force a draw: Rook Endings on 1 . W g4 he should answer l . . .'lt>g7! 2. @f4 l::t d 5 3 . 'iit e4 l::t d 6, etc. 264 Similarly, also, in this position by Tarrasch ( 1 908) White to move wins; Black to move draws 1 . We2! with White to move , Black can get a draw: on 1 . W g l he answers l . . .'iit g8 2. @fl 'iit f8 3 . l:ta8+! (after 3 . W e l , Black forces the draw with 3 . . . W e 8 , and if now 4. :as + , then simplest is 4 . . . 'it> d7 5. a7 'itic7!, successfully warding off the threat of 6. It h8) 3 . . . Wg7! (this move was not paid enough attention to by Tarrasch) 4. 'iil e l l:tc2 S. \t> d l (or S. a7 l::t a 2!) S . . . l:tc6, etc. Of course, we must not think that if the white king is not very active, then the draw is always achieved. Much depends here also on the relative placement of the black king and on the rooks' posi tions. For instance, if in Diagram 263 we move the kings to f2 and h8 and the white rook to a7 , then this gives us the following position: Not 1 . We3? on account of 1 . . .l:te l + and 2 . . . Ite6, forcing a draw as in Dia gram 263 . l. .. Wg8 Other moves don't help, for example: I) 1 . . .l:Ia3 2. W d2 'it>g8 3. 'iit c2 'it>f8 4. 'iil b2 ItaS S. Ita8 + ! (else there follows S . . . 'iit e8! with the black king approaching the a7-pawn) S . . . W g7 (if s . . . 'it>t7 6. Wb3 :rs , then 7. Ith8 l:laS 8. a7!) 6. 'it>b3 ll f5 (or 6 . . . l:t a l 7. W c4, and White wins, as in Diagram 2S6) 7. l:tb8! (the threat was 7 . . . l:tf6!) 7 . . . :as 8. l:tb6 'it> t7 9. 'iit b4 l:t a l 1 0. W bS W e7 1 1 . Wc6, and White wins; 2) 1 . . .l:tas 2. 'it> d3 l:td5+ (2 . . . l:f5? 3. l:tb7) 3 . W c4 l:td6 4. Wb5!, and White wins, since he now threatens at least S. I:tc7, and 4 ... l:tdS+ is useless in view of S. \t> c6. In this variation, what kills Black is the fact that, after 4. WbS his rook is on d6, and not, for example, on e6; 35 1 Chapter 1 4 3) 1 . . .l:l:h I ? 2. l::t b 7, with the un stoppable threat of 3. a7 , 4. l::t b S+, and S . aS� . 2. 'i!J d3 'i!J f8 O r 2 . . . l::t d l + 3 . 'i!t c4 l::t c l + (also 3 . . . l::t d6 would b e met by 4 . 'i!t b S ! , as i n one of the above variations) 4. 'i!tbS Mb l + S. 'i!t c6 l::t c l + 6. 'i!t b6 Mb l + 7. 'i!t c7 l::t c l + S . 'i!t bS M a l ! (if S . . . Mb l + ? , then 9 . :b7) 9. :as! 'i!t g7 (9 . . . :fl doesn't work, because of IO. 'i!tb7+!, winning the tem po necessary to get in 1 1 . l::t b S!; and if 9 . . . @ fl , then White proceeds as he does in reply to 9 . . @g7) IO. 'i!t b7 l::t b l + (on IO . . . l::t a2 there would follow, not 1 1 . a7? but 1 1 . l::t b S) 1 1 . 'iif a7 l::t fl 1 2. l::t b S! and wins. . 3. l::t a8+ ! 'i!J g7! 4. 'i!t c4 .l:.n If 4 . . . @ fl , then S . WbS and wins (S . . . 'i!J e7? 6. a7) . The moves 1 . . .WgS and L . .:a3 also lead to draws, in view of the following continuations indicated by Levenfish: l ) l . . .'i!tgS 2. W e2 W f8 3. :as+ @g7 4 . Wd3 :n S. l:tcS l:tal 6. :c6 Wf7 7. W c4 We7 S. WbS W d7 9. :c2 :b l + , or 2) l . . .Ma3 2. 'iif e2 W gS 3. 'iif d2 Wf8 4. :as+ Wg7 5. W c2 :n 6. :cs l:ta3! 7. :c6 'itt f7 S. 'it> b2 :as 9. Wb3 W e7 IO. W b4 W d7. Summing up the preceding notes, we come to the conclusion that with the kings at f2 and hS in Diagram 264 (or e2 and gS , and also on d3 and f8 ) , the outcome of the game depends on whose tum it is to move. In order to remember more eas ily the evaluation of the basic positions with a pawn on the sixth, let's remove the kings from the board temporarily and place the white rook on a8 and the pawn on a6, with the black rook on b I. Then we can formulate the following rule for this piece setup. 5. l::t e 8! Of course not S. 'it>bS? in view of S . . . l!tfS + , with a forced draw. 5 . . . :at 6. W b5 Wfl 7. Me4 and wins. The position depicted in Diagram 264 considerably eases the evaluation of similar positions. The point is that this belongs to that group of "critical " posi tions whose outcome hinges on a single tempo. I f, for instance, in Diagram 264 it is Black to move, then the simplest way for him to draw is I . . . :as! 2. W e3 :es+ 3 . W d4 :e6!, etc. 352 If the white king has reached a7, then: I ) with the black king on d7, the draw is assured, regardless of whose move it is; 2) with the black king on e7 White wins only if he is to move; 3) fi nally, if the black king is further to the right than the e-file, then White wins in both cases. Now let's take the kings off the board again, and set up the white rook back on a8 with the pawn on a6, but this time place the black rook on a I (as in Diagrams 2S6, 263, and 264). In this case, Black must work to occupy g7 with his king assuming, of course, that he cannot come close enough - Rook Endings to the pawn. The placement of the king at g7 ensures the draw should the white king not be able to participate closely in the play (as in Diagram 263) ; in this case, Black achieves his goal via flank attacks. But if the white king is active, then the black king's position on g7 will not save him. Even with White's king on e3: I n this position , B lack must stop the immediate a5-a6 , since after l . a6 there would be no way to prevent the pawn's further advance. For example, ( l . a6) l:!.c l + 2 . 'iitl b7 l:t b l + 3 . 'iitl c8 I:Ic l + 4. 'iitl b8 I:Ib l + 5. l:tb7, followed by 6. a7. l. .. I:Ial! Only with this move , indicated by Euwe , can Black achieve the draw. If l . . . I:Ic l +, then , by analogy t o Game l 6 of the 1 935 Euwe-Alekhine match, 2. 'iitl b7 l::t b l + 3. 'iitl c 8! l::t c l + (on 3 . . . l:t a l there follows 4. a6!) 4. 'iitl b 8 l:tb l + 5 . l:tb7 l::t a l 6 . l::t b 6+! 'iitl d5 7 . a6 'iitl c5 8 . 'iitl b7 l::t h l 9. l::t c 6+ and wins. 2. 'iitl b6 White to move wins with l . 'iitl d4 l::t fl 2. l:tb8 l:t a l 3 . l::t b 6 @ fl 4. 'iitl c5 'iitl e7 5 . 'it> c6, etc. Now let's examine a few positions with the rook pawn on the fifth rank. Compared to having the pawn on the sixth, the chances for a draw are of course better. 265 On 2 . l:th5 Black responds 2 . . . l::t c l + 3 . 'it> b6 (or 3 . � c 5 l:txc 5 + 4 . 'iitl xc5 'iitl d7 5 . 'iitl b6 'iitl c 8 ! ) 3 . . . l::t b 7+ 4 . 'iitl a7 'iitl d7 5. l::t h2 'iitl c7 6. l::t c2+ 'iitl d7 , draw. 2 'iitl d6 ••• 2 . . . 'iitl d5? loses to 3 . l::t h6! l::t b l + 4. 'iitl c7! l:tg l (or 4 . . . l::t c l + 5 . 'iitl d7 threatening 6 . l::t h 5 + ) 5. a6 :g7+ 6. 'iitl b6. 3. a6 �bl+ 4. 'itJ a7 'iitl c6, draw. In Diagram 265 , the black king is cut off on the rank. Now let's consider one more such position, in which Grigo riev's analysis gave our examined theme new illustration. Black to move draws 353 Chapter 1 4 N . Grigoriev, 1936 Now Black has no satisfactory de fense - see Grigoriev's Variations I -VI: 266 White to move and win This position occurred in Game 1 6 of the Euwe - Alekhine match, after move 57 (with colors reversed) . Grigo riev's analysis refutes previous com mentary ( Euwe, Levenfish , Rabinovich, etc.) and brings absolute clarity to the question under examination. I. a6! With other continuations, Black ob tains a draw rather easily; for example : 1) 1 . l:Ib7? l:I c l + 2. 'it' b6 'iil d6 3 . a 6 l:Ib l + 4. @ a7 :a 1 , draw; 2) 1 . l:IaS? l:Ic I + (not I . . .tta l ? 2. a6) 2 . 'it' -any 'it' d7 , draw; 3) 1 . l::t h7?. After this move , we get a position we have examined already - see Diagram 265 - in which Black forces the draw by l . . . tta l . l • . • l:I c l + If I . . .l:Ia l , then 2 . i::t a S and White wins (see Diagram 260) . 2. 'it> b7! 354 Variation I: 2 . . . l:Ib l + 3. WcS l:tal 4. l::t h7 @ d6 5 . a7 Wc6 6. l::t c 7+ and 7. @bS. Variation II: 2 ... @ d6 3 . @bS! l:Ial 4. l:Ih7 l:Ib l + 5 . l:Ib7 l:I h l (preventing the pawn's advance) 6. ttc7! l:Ib l + (or 6 . . . :!::t hS+ 7. 'it'b7) 7. @ cs followed by S. a7 . Variation I I I : 2 . . . @ d5 3 . @bS! l:Ial 4. l:Id7+ @ e6 (or 4 . . . @ c6 5 . l:Ic7+ and 6. a7) 5 . l:I h7 ttb l + 6. I:tb7. etc. Variation IV: 2 . . . @ d7 3 . @bS+ @ dS! 4. llh7 llb l + 5. l::t b 7 l:I c l 6. l:Ib2 l:IcS+ 7. 'lt>b7 l:tc7+ S. 'l!tb6 @cs 9. a7 l:Ib7+ I O. 'iti a6. Variation V: 2 . . . ll h l 3 . i:!aS 'it> d7 (a check along the file would lead to Dia gram 260, while 3 . . . '1t> d6 is refuted by the simple 4. l:IdS+ W e 7 5. a7 ttb l + 6. W c 6 l:I c l + 7. W b 5 , etc . ) 4. a7 :!:b l + 5 . '1t> a6 tta l + 6. '1t> b6! ttb l + 7 . '1t> c5! l:I c l + S . '1t> d4 i:td l + 9. 'it'c3 l:I a l 10. l:I h S . Variation VI : 2 . . . tt a l 3 . l::t a S (this is the shortest route to victory, but there are roundabout methods as well, such as 3 . 'it'bS) 3 . . . '1t> d6 (the other moves, like 3 . . . '1t>d7, were already examined above) 4. l:IdS+ @ e7 5 . l:Id5 (assuring his king of protection from vertical checks) 5 . . . l:Ib l + (or 5 . . . . '1t> e6 6. l:Ib5!) 6. 'it' c6 l:Ial 7 . 'it' b6 '1t> e6 S . l:ta5 l:Ib l + 9. l:Ib5 and wins. Grigoriev's analysis presented here led to the reevaluation of many posi tions, not least of which those presented in Diagrams 267 and 26S. Now let's examine these positions with the latest Rook Endings analyses by Levenfish (see the magazine Shakhmaty v SSSR for 1 937). White to move and win Black to move and draw 1 . . . 1:. c l + 2. ©b7 l::t b l + 3. 'it> a7 W e6 4. l':.b8 l:. a l ! 5. l':.b5 If 5. a6, then 5 . . . 'it> d7 with a draw (compare Diagram 258). s ... 'it> d7! 5 ... <iti d6? loses to 6 . ©b7 l:.c l (or 6 . . . l::t h l 7. a6 l::t h7+ 8 . © b6) 7. a6 l:.c7+ 8. ©b8. This position differs from the one depicted in Diagram 266 only in the placement of the black king at f6 in stead of e6. It might seem that here the win is achieved in various ways, in view of the king's distance from the pawn; but in fact this position requires accu rate play. 1 . a6! The only move to win. If 1 . l:.a8 first, then Black draws (see Diagram 267). l . .. Ilcl+ 2. rtlb7 l::t b l + 3. © c8! 6. ©b7 k:tcl 7 . a6 After 7. l:.d5+ © e6 8 . l':.d2 l:.b 1 + 9. <t/a7 © e7 IO. a6, B lack gets a draw as in Diagram 259. 7 ••• l:.c7+ Now if 8 . W a8 , then the simplest is 8 . . . l::t c l (see Diagram 26 1 ) . 8 . ©b6 J:c6+ 9 . w as © c 7 10. a7 llct, draw. Not 3. <t/ a8?, in view of 3 . . . l::t b 6, winning the pawn. 3 ... l:at 4. Wb8 Here 4. :i::t h7 , a move that was rec ommended with the black king on e 6 , gives White nothing (compare Vari ation I , indicated in the analysis of Diagram 266) , in view of the reply 4 . . . ® g6! . 4 • . • l:I.a2 5. Ila8! 355 Chapter 1 4 Levenfish went o n to present the fol lowing variations: Variation I: S . . . Ub2+ 6. W a7 W e6 7. Ub8 Ua2 (or 7 . . . Uh2) 8 . Wb7 Ub2+ 9. Wa8 Ua2 I O. a7 W d6 1 1 . Wb7 and wins; Variation I I : S . . . W e6 (if now 6. a7?, then 6 . . . W d6 7 . W b7 l:tb2+ 8 . W a6 Ua2+ 9. Wb6 Ub2+ I O . w as Ua2+ 1 1 . WbS W c 7 , draw) 6. W b7! and White wins as in Diagram 260. 3 . . . Ub8 + , etc . , dangerous to Black - it's a draw. 2 • • • l:Ib8+! A necessary move. The enticing con tinuation 2 . . . W d7 3. a6 Uc8 is refuted by 4. a7 . 3. W a4 Or 3 . W a6 W d7 . Now let us examine some positions with the black rook directly in the pawn s path. A. Cheron, 1926 3 . . . W d7 4. a6 i:':t c8 Another possible way is 4 . . . U b l S. W aS l:Ia l + 6. W b6 l:Ib l + 7. W a7 '.!::t b 2, draw. 5. l:Ib4 l:Ih8! Here S . . . W c7? would have been a mistake in light of6. l:tb7+ W c6 7. w as, as indicated in the analysis to Diagram 262 (see the note to the third move re garding 3 . . . l:tc8?). 6. W a5 � c7 7. a7 White to move; draw Or 7 . l:b7+ W c 8 ! 8 . Wb6 Uh6+ 9. W a7 l:tc6, draw. 1 . W b5 .l:d8! 7 l:Ih5+ 8. W a6 l:h6+ 9. w as Uh5+ 10. W a4 Uh8, draw. • . • The only correct reply. If 1 . . .Ub8+ 2. Wc6 '.!::t b l 3 . a6 l:Ial 4. W b6 l:b l + , then not S. Wa7? (see Diagram 2S9) , but S. WaS! and White wins (S ... Ual + 6. l::t a4) . 2. l:tc4 After 2. Uxd8 the draw is evident; nor is 2. l:Ia4 W d7 3 . Wb6 (or 3 . a6 W c7) 356 Of course, we should not overesti mate the chances for a draw, either, with the pawn on the fifth rank. For instance, if in Diagram 269 we move the black rook from a8 to a 7, then White can win with 1 . WbS l:td7 ( 1 . . . l:ta8 2. a6) 2. l:a4! Wd8 (or 2 . . . l':l:b7+ 3 . W c6) 3 . a6 , etc . Rook Endings Similarly, White wins if we move the black king in Diagram 269from e 7 to e6. In that case, White plays I . 'iiii bS l::t b 8+ (or l . . .'iiit e7 2. a6 l::t d 8? 3 . l::t xd8 ; if I . . . <ties 2. : d i l::t b 8+ 3 . 'iiii c6 i:Ib2 4. a6 l:::t c 2+ S. 'iiit b7 l::t b 2+ 6. 'iiit a8 'iiit e6, then 7. Md8! 'iiit e7 8. l::t b 8 i:Ia2 9. a7 'iiit d7 I O . <t> b 7 , followed b y 'iiii b7-a6-b6-cS) 2 . <t> c6 Mc8+ ( i f 2 . . . I:!. a 8 , then 3 . i:Ie4+ and 4. l::t a 4) 3. 'iiit b7 l::t c l 4. a6 i:Ib l + (on 4 . . .i:I a l the simplest is S . l:tb4) S. <t> c6! l::t a l 6. 'iiit b6 l::t b l + (if 6 ... 'iiit eS, then 7. l::t b 4) 7. @ as and wins, since on 7 ... i:Ia l + there now follows 8. l::t a 4! . From these examples it is clear that in the endings under examination the outcome of the game frequently de pends on quite obscure details of the position. Therefore it 's difficult to give general or exhaustive rules for the prop er evaluation of the endgame of rook + rook pawn vs. rook, especially when the pawn stands on the fifth rank. However, this case does not require special treat ment, since the overwhelming majority of positions (with a pawn on the seventh, sixth or fifth ranks) reveal a great simi larity to those examined above , which no doubt helps with the evaluation of such positions in practice. In any case , it is recommended that you commit to memory the evaluation of the most typi cal positions, depicted in Diagrams 2S6260 and 263 . We will devote a bit more atten tion to positions with the rook pawn on the fourth rank. Here Black's drawing chances are considerably improved, es pecially if his rook takes up the most fa vorable position for this type of ending. Draw The rook is on a8 in front of the pawn, on the promotion square, which in this case (that is, with the pawn on the fourth rank, and also on the third or second rank with the black king kept away) , of fers the rook the maximum amount of freedom. In view of this position of the black rook, the white king cannot pre pare the advance of the pawn by itself, for instance: 1 . 'iiit b4 i:Ib8+ 2. WaS (or 2. 'iiit a3 I:!.a8!) 2 . . . Ma8+ 3. @bS 1'.'tb8+ 4. 'iiit a6 l::t a8 + , etc. Now Jet 's move the white rook and the black king one file to the right (see Diagram 27 1 ) . 271 Win, but only if it 's White to move 357 Chapter 1 4 Here the distance between the pawn and the black king has grown to three files, which of course increases White 's chances: if he is on move here, he can force the win despite the black rook's fa vorable position. I. 'it' b4! l::t b S+ 2. @ cs : as If 2 . . . : c 8 + , then 3 . 'it'b6 l::t b 8+ (or 3 . . . :a8 4. a5) 4. 'it' c7 l::t a 8 5. l::t a l ! and wins (5 . . . :a5 6. 'it'b6). 6. l::t a l 'it' c4 Other moves are no better: 6 . . . l::t c 8+ 7. 'it'b7 l::t c 2 8 . a5 l::t b 2+ 9. 'it' c6 l::t c 2+ 10. 'it'b6, etc . ; or 6 . . . l::t h8 7. a5 l:th6+ (after 7 . . . 'itt c4 the play would transpose to the main variation) 8. 'it'b5 l::t h5+ 9. 'it'b4, and White wins. 7. a5 l::t hS S. l::t a4+! Shutting out the black king along the rank. 3. 'it'b5 s Here, 3. l::t e l + @ f6 4. 'it'b5 l::t b 8+ 5 . 'it' c6 l::t a 8 6. l:ta l would be still more forcing, after which we get the position examined below in the note to 5 . . . @ d4. 3 l:tbS+ 4. 'it' c6! :as 5. !:t e l + •.• This move i s necessary for victory. I f a t once 5 . l:ta l , then 5 . . . l:tc8+ 6 . @b7 (or 6. 'it' d7 l::t c 2 7. a5 l::t d 2+ 8. 'it' e7 l:t h2! 9. a6 l:th7+ IO. 'it' d8 'it' d6!, draw) 6 . . . l::t c2 7 . nb I (after 7 . a5 Black will chase the king with checks along the second rank, and if it goes to e7, then Black will play . . . :h2!) 7 . . . W d6 8. a5 'it' d7 9. a6 (nor does 9. l::t d l + 'it' e7 1 0 . a6 win , in view of IO . . . l:tb2 + ; see Diagram 259) 9 . . . :c7+ etc . , as in the analysis of Diagram 262. 5 . . . @ d4 After 5 . . . @ f6 6. I:ta l , Black is one tempo late: 6 . . . l:tc8+ 7. 'itt b7 l:tc2 8. a5 l::t b 2+ 9. 'it' c6 l::t c 2+ IO. 'it'b5 l:tb2+ l l . 'itt c4 k:tc2+ 1 2. 'itt b3 �c8 1 3 . a6 'it' e6 1 4. a7 l:ta8 1 5 . 'itt b4 'it' d6 1 6. 'it'b5 \t> c 7 1 7. 'itt a6, and White wins. 358 . . . @bJ If 8 . . . 'iil c3 (8 . . . @ d3 amounts to the same thing), then 9. a6 l::t h6+ IO. 'it'd5 l::t h5+ 1 1 . 'it' d6 l::t h6+ 1 2 . 'it' e5 l:t h5+ 1 3 . @ f6! l::t h8 1 4. a7 l::t a 8 1 5 . 'it' e5 'it'b3 1 6. I:t a l 'it' b4 1 7. 'iil d6 'it' b5 1 8 . 'it'c7. 9 l::t d4 'it' c3 . On 9 .. J:I h6+, White replies IO. IO. :d6. 10. :d7 and wins. And so the win when it 's White 's tum is demonstrated in Diagram 27 1 . If it is Black to move, then he staves off defeat as follows: 1 . . . 'it' e6 2. 'it' b4 'it' e7 3. a5 l::t d S! This move forces the draw (see the explanation in Diagram 269). Rook Endings Examples 197-213: 1 97 . 200. White to move - draw. 1 98 . Black to move wins. 20 1 . Black to move - draw. Could Black play 1 "fJ.f6+ here ? White to move wins. . . . 202. 1 99. White to move - draw . Black to move wins. 359 Chapter 1 4 206. 203. Black to move wins. 204. 207. Black to move draws. 205 . White to move draws, Black to move wins. 360 Win, regardless of whose move it is. White to move draws. Look at the moves I. 'f:. a5, I. a 7, and I. 'fl. b8. 208. White to move draws. Rook Endings 209. 2 1 2. White to move draws. 2 1 0. White wins only if it 's his move. Draw. 2 1 3. Win. 211. B. ROOK + NON-ROOK PAWN vs. ROOK Black wins only if it 's his move. This ending is still harder to analyze than the preceding one, which is not too surprising, since the number of possible positions here is considerably larger. On the other hand, it is precisely this factor (the great number of possible positions) that increases the likelihood of encoun tering this sort of ending in practice. And 36 1 Chapter 14 in fact a large percentage of games ends up in rook endings of this type. would come . . . l::r. xg6! with a forced draw. Now the question arises: how do we combine a detailed study of this ending with its many facets, and avoid boring the reader with an excessive number of variations? We must, willy-nilly, restrict ourselves to the most important posi tions, which must guide us in other po sitions of this kind. 2 l::t b 6 3. l::r. a 7 l:Ic6 4. e6 l::r. c l! 5. 'iitl f6 l::r. fl + a) BLACK' S KING STANDS IN FRONT OF THE PAWN Philidor, 1777 • • • Draw, since White cannot avoid either perpetual check or the loss of the pawn. This analysis cannot be improved in either accuracy or clarity. Now we will give Philidor's second variation, showing what deviating from the indicated path can lead to. 1 . . . l:a6 2. e5 l::r. a l 272 Philidor maintained that this move loses. However, as we shall see below, 2 . . . l:t a l is not the decisive error. 3. 'iitl f6 :n+ 4. 'iitl e6 'iitl f8 White threatened to exchange rooks. Black to move and draw Philidor demonstrated the following sure and simple way to draw: the black rook stays on the sixth rank until White advances his pawn to the sixth, after which the rook immediately goes down to White's rear. 1 . . . l::r. a 6 2. e5 The only chance. White can't drive the black rook off the sixth rank with i:th7 -g7 -g6 , because on l::r. g 6 there 362 If 4 . . . 'it> d8?, then 5. !1h8+ 'it>c7 6. 'ft! e7 , followed by e5-e6 and l:th8-h2c2( + ) . 5. l:th8+ 'it> g7 6. l:te8 l:tel 7. � d7 'it>f7 If 7 ... l::r. d l + , then 8 . 'iitl e7. 8. e6+ 'it> g7 9. 'iitl e7 l:te2 10. l:td8 l: e l 1 1 . l::t d2 l::r. e3 12. l::r. g 2+ 'iil h7 13. 'iil f7 l::r. fJ + 14. 'iitl e8 l::r. e 3 15. e7 We will yet return to a similar posi tion, also winning for White (see the Rook Endings explanation to Diagram 277 after 2 . . . 'itt b7) . Now let us examine the corrections which were indicated by Karstedt ( 1 897) and other analysts in Philidor's second variation. Karstedt pointed out that in this var iation ( l . . . .tia6 2. e5 ll a l 3 . @ ffi .ti fl + 4. 'it'e6 W f8 5 . .tih8+ W g7 6. l:Ie8), the move 6 . . . .tie I ? is the decisive error. In stead of 6 ... l:!:e I , B lack should play the following line: 6 . . . l'!!. a l ! Threatening t o make flank attacks by . . . .tia6, etc. So as to answer 7 . . . .ti a6+ with 8 . .tld6. 7. :c8 also merits attention, count ing on the following continuation: 7 . . . lla6+ 8 . W d 7 l:!.a7+ 9. l:!.c7. O n the oth er hand, after 7. l:.c8 Black gets a draw in the same way as after 7. l'!!. d8. 7 .•• .ti e l ! on 8. l'!!. e 8 Black replies 8 . . . .tia I , while if 8 . .tld7+ then 8 . . . W f8 . Other moves are also harmless for B lack, since he has the waiting move . . . .tie2. Thus Karstedt has refuted Philidor's assertion that Black's rook must maneu ver along the sixth rank until White 's pawn advances to e6. It turns out that already on the second move (that is, after l . . .l:!:a6 2. e5), Black can bring his rook down to White :S- rear, although this introduces complications. The next word in the development of Philidor's variation belongs to Berger. Agreeing with Karstedt about the es tablishment of Black's rook in White 's rear on the second move, he opined that Philidor's assertion remained true until the third move. In other words, Berger considered that after l . . .l'!!. a6 2. e5 .tib6 3 . .tia7 , Black could not reply 3 . . . l'!!. b l . Here is his variation. 1. .tia6 2. es .tib6 3 .tia7! :l:tbl 4. 'it' f6 .tin+ .• • If 4 ... .tib6+?, then 5. e6 .tib8 6. l'!!. h7. s. 'it' e6 'it' f8 Only now has the moment arrived for this move. What has changed in the position substantively, compared with Philidor's variation, is not hard to estab lish: White cannot play 8 . Wd7, since his pawn is not defended by the rook from e8. O r 5 . . . W d8 6 . .tia8+ W c 7 7. We7! .ti h l 8. e6 .ti h7+ 9. W f6 .tih6+ (8 ... 'it>d6 9 . .tld8+) I O. 'it> t7 .tih7+ 1 1 . Wg6 .tic7 1 2 . 'it> ffi . After 7 . . . .tie I ! White cannot win, since on 8 . '>tl d6 there is 8 . . . W f7 , and Or 7 . . . .tib l 8 . e6 .tib7+ 9. '1tt d6 .tib6+ I O. W d7 .tib7+ 1 1 . 'itl c6 .tie7 1 2. Wd6. 6 . .tia8+ � g7 7. We7 .tit7+ 363 Chapter 14 5 . . . 'it> f8 ! s. W d6 l:.b7 9. e6 l:.b6+ Or 9 . . . W f6 10. l:.f8+ W g7 1 1 . e7 l:.b6+ 1 2. W c5. 10. W d7 l:.b7+ 1 1 . W c6 J::t e 7 12. W d6 l:tb7 13. e7 In this last variation, the flank at tacks turned out to be harmless, since the black rook was too close to the white king (on the b- or the e-file), and was therefore itself subject to attacks from it; whereas in Karstedt 's variation, the flank attacks had real effect, since there the black rook was on the a-file. Now we also understand Berger's move 3 . l:.a7!. However, the Berger variation doesn't exhaust the subject, either. As it turns out, on Black's third move he can take the rear position. 1 . . .l:.a6 2. e5 :b6 3. l:.a7 :!:.bl 4. Wf6 Now comes an important moment for Black: 4. . . 'f'i.fl + loses. 4. . .: e l ! Here i s the move which escaped the attention of Philidor, Karstedt, and Berger. Unfortunately, we do not know who was thefint to discover this move in this position. 5. 'it> e6 5. l:.a8+ is useless, since after 5 . . . W d7 White has nothing better than 6. l::t a7+ , returning t o the previous position. 364 Stronger than 5 . . . 'it> d 8 ; o n the other hand, this doesn't lose , either. For ex ample , 5 . . . 'it> d8 6. l:.a8+ 'it> c7 7. l::!. e8 (if 7. W ffi , then 7 . . . W d7!) 7 . . J:Ih l ! (flank attacks allow Black to save the game) 8. W fl l:th7+ 9. W g6 l::!. h l ! 1 0 . Wffi (the threat was l 0 . . . W d7 , and if 1 0 . e6, the n l 0 . . © d6 1 1 . W ffi l::!. fl +) l 0 . . . l::!. h6+! 1 1 . ©fl : h7+ 1 2 . 'it'f8 l::!. h 8+ 1 3 . @ e7 :h7+ 1 4. © f6 l:1 h6+ 1 5 . Wg5 l:ta l , draw. . 6. : as+ W g7 7. :es If 7. W d6, then 7 . . . <til fl ! . 7 . . . J::t a l ! Once again , Black has recourse to the flank attack, which is still stronger here than after the move 5 . . . © d8 ex amined above . The point is that now the black rook enjoys greater freedom of action, since between the a-file that he occupies and the white e -pawn there are three free files (the b - , c - , and d-files) . An d in t h e 5 . . . <til d8 line, the black rook would have had to oc cupy the h-file, when there would have been only two free files (the f- and g files) between it and the e-pawn . This circumstance frequently plays even a decisive role (see , fo r example, Dia grams 278 and 280) . s. J:.dS 8. l:tc8 makes no difference ; and if 8. W d7 , then 8 ... J:.a7+! 9. W d6 Ifa6+ 10. W c7 (or 1 0 . W d5 ) 1 0 ... @fl. Rook Endings 8 • • • l: e l ! After the flank attacks are rendered harmless, Black resumes the attacks from the rear, hindering the white king's advance to d7. queenside along the a-file ; and on the king's wing, the black rook can display no activity, since the h-file is occupied by White (see the explanations for Dia grams 276 and 286). 5. l:Ih8+ clft g7 6. l:e8 l:el? 9. '>tt d6 On 9. l:e8 would follow, again, 9 . . . l:a l ! . Again, not the best move. 6 ... l:a l ! was more accurate here: 7 . l::t d 8 (or 7. l:c8) , and only then 7 . . . l:e l ! , hindering the white king's advance to d7. 9 . . . '>tt t7 ! , draw. 7. 'it' d7 Now let 's go back again to Phi lidor's second variation, but this time we 'll point out all the possible im provements on Black's side (see Dia gram 2 7 2 ) . 1 . . .l:a6 2. e 5 l: a l ? On 7. l:a8 (occupying the file fur thest from the pawn), there follows 7 . . . l:i:e2! 8. '>tt d6 (if 8 . l: a l o r 8. l:a5, then 8 . . . @ f8 ! ) 8 . . . @ f7 , draw. 273 2 . . . J:i:b6! would b e simpler: 3 . l:ta7 (3. e6 l:b l !) 3 . . . l::t c6 (the draw would be more complicated after 3 l:b l ? 4. @ f6 l:I e 1 !) 4 . e 6 l:Ic l ! . . . . 3. '>tt f6 l: fi + ? A n unnecessary move . More ac curate is 3 ... l:t e l ! 4 . 'it' e6 '>ti f8 ! 5 . l: h 8 + '>tl g 7 6 . l: e 8 ( o r 6 . l:I a 8 l: e 2 7 . '>ti d6 '>tl f7 ! 8 . l:i: a7 + W e 8 9 . W e6 W f8 ! etc . ) 6 . . . l: a l ! 7 . l:t d 8 l: e l ! 8 . l:t d 5 (or 8 . '>ti d6 '>tl f7 ! ) 8 ... '>tl f8 ! 9 . W d7 W f7 , draw. 7 . . . '>tt t7?? The decisive error, for now the pawn advances unimpeded to e6 and White's rook occupies the a-file. 4. 'it' e6 �t8! 4 . . W d8? is bad in view of 5. J:i:h8+ '>tlc7 6. '>tl e7 and Black loses, as his own king prevents counterattacks on the . Instead of 7 . . . @ f7 ? , Black had to select one of the following defensive methods (Variations I or I I ) : 365 Chapter 1 4 10 . . . Wf8 l l . nb7 :es is possible, VARIATION /: too. 7 . . . l: d l + 8. 'lti e7 .l: a l 9 . .l:d8 :a7+ 10. 'lti e8! Black has only one correct response to this move by Chekhover ( 1 937). If IO . .l::t d 7 and l l . e6, then Black gets his draw by retreating the rook after any pawn move along the furthest file, except the square a6 (compare Diagram 284, the note to 3 . . . .l:a8). 10 •.• saves the game. Other moves lose, for in stance a) 10 . . . Wg6 l l . lld6+! WfS 1 2. e6 We5 ( 1 2 . . . Wffi 1 3 . e7+) 1 3 . lld7 .l:a8+ 14. Wf7; b) and c) 1 0 ... .l:a5 or 1 0 ... Wg8 l l . e6 and 12. e7, with a winning position. 1 1 . l:d7+ 'lti g8 Not l l . . .'ltig6?, in view of 1 2 . .l:d6+. 12. W e7 W g7 13. e6 In this position, once again Black draws by retreating along the a-file (see Diagram 284, the note to Black's third move, 3 . . . .l:a8). VARIATION //: • • . .l: a l The defensive method presented here was introduced by Levenfish. 8 . .l:c8 l:Ia7+ 9. l::I c 7 .l: a8 10. e6 Wf6 366 If l l . e7, then l l . . . 'lti f7 . 1 1 . . . W g7! Now we have a position that will be worked out in detail in our analysis of Diagram 284 (see moves 4-7 of Tarra sch 's variation with 1 . . . :a 1 , p. 374) . M.a6! As Chekhover shows, only this move 7 1 1 . .l:b7 Now let us return again to Diagram 273 and extend Philidor's variation (af ter 7 . . . � f7 ) . 8. e6+ W g7 If 8 . . . W f6?, then of course 9. :rs+. 9. W e7?? This " natural " move once again allows Black to save the game . It was necessary to retreat the rook to the left along the e ighth rank (to a8 , for i nstance) , which with the pawn on the sixth rank would have ensured the win (see Diagram 284 with White to move ) . 9 • . . .l:e2?? Once again, a decisive error. As Tarrasch noted in his notes in the Nuremberg 1 906 tournament book, 9 . . . .l:a l ! would once again have led to a draw (see Diagram 284 with Black to move). Rook Endings 10. i:td8 i:tel Now 10 ... i:ta2 no longer saves him, in view of 1 1 . � e8 �ffi 1 2. e7 (threat ening both 1 3 . �f8 and 1 3 . i:td6+) 1 2 . . . �g7 1 3 . � d7 . 1 1 . i:td2! i:t e 3 1 2 . i:tg2+ � h7 Once the black king moves two files away, the win no longer presents any dif ficulties. 13. Wf7 i:tf3+ 14. W e8 i:te3 15. e7, and White wins as in our analysis of Dia gram 277. Philidor position) . The point is that the positions seen in these variations are of ten repeated in tournament practice. In addition, these variations force us to pay close attention to a whole bunch of factors. For instance, the activity of the pieces, how far the pawn advances, the number of files to the right and left of the pawn, whether there are flank or rear attacks, etc. One should especially note that putting the king in the pawn's path (a "blockade of the pawn" ) cer tainly doesn't always act as insurance against defeat (see Diagrams 274 and 275). As may be seen from the above, our detailed analysis of Philidor's position re quired a few references to our later presen tation, since in the process ofplay the black king was driven away from the pawn. In conclusion to our analysis of the Philidor position, we may make the fol lowing conclusions: Philidor's rule is spotless in its first part. The draw may most simply be ob tained by sixth -rank rook maneuvers; these maneuvers should continue until the pawn advances to the sixth rank, at which point you should immediately send the rook behind the king. Win 275 Philidor's assertion that every refusal to abide by this rule leads to defeat is un supported. The variations presented by us also have independent value (apart from the Win 367 Chapter 1 4 In Diagram 274, White threatens I . e7+ and 2. Mg8 + . If, to prevent this threat, Black plays l . . .M a6, then there follows 2. Mb7 Ma8 (or 2 . . . @g8 3. Mb8+ @ h7 4. @t7) 3 . Mf7+ @gs 4. Mg7+! @ f8 (4 ... @ h8 5 . Mg l ) 5 . e7+ @es 6. Mg8 + . And if 1 . . .kte8, then 2. e7+ wins at once . In Diagrams 274 and 275, Black lost because of the bad position of his rook and king; but in Diagram 276, the black rook stands considerably better - which, however, is not enough to draw. The game could finish as follows: It would also be useful to remem ber that when the white rook goes to g2 Black obtains the draw by l . . .Ma7 2. :§.b2 M f7 + . If l . . . @e8, then 2. Mh8+ @f7 3. @d7 Mal ( Black could not attack from the kingside in view of the presence of his own king on that side) 4. d6 Ma7+ (this attack is doomed to fail, since there are only two mes between the black rook and the white pawn, and the white rook stands on the eighth rank) 5. @ c6 na6+ 6. @ c7 Ma7+ 7. @b6! Md7 8. @ c6, and wins. In Diagram 2 7 5 , White wins with I. Ma7 (there's also no change in outcome if it's Black to move , since he can't pre vent the incursion of White 's rook; for instance , if l . . .@ h8 , then 2. n h2+ and 3. f7+) l . . .Mc8 2. :§.g7+ @ f8(h8) 3 . n h 7 @g8 4. t7+ @ f8 5 . M h 8 + . If, in Diagram 275, we move kings and pawn the same number of files to the left, this has no effect on the outcome; if by one file to the right ( WKh 6, Ra2, pg6, BKh8, Rb8) , the game will end in a draw, since White can 't carry out the aforemen tioned combination. Em. Lasker 276 1 . . . @ c8 2. nhs+ @b7 J. @ d7 ng1 If the black rook could reach h l (with the white rook at g8 , for instance), the game would be a draw (see Diagram 284). This sort of pleasant outcome for Black would be based on the following: ( l ) three files between the black rook and the white pawn; (2) the black king standing outside those files; and (3) the black king being close enough to the pawn (one file away) . 4. d6 M g7+ 5. @ e6 ng6+ 6. @ e7 ng1+ Black cannot stop the d6-d7 ad vance. For example , if 6 . . . @ c6, then 7. Mc8+ and 8 . d7. 7. @ f6! nd7 8. @ e6 ng7 Win 368 Or 8 . . . @ c6 9. l::t c 8 + . Rook Endings 9. d7 Thus the win is demonstrated in the position depicted in Diagram 276. However, if we make one slight change in the position - moving the black rook to d i , for exampie, or the white rook to g l , this immediately affects the outcome. In the first case - that is, WK.d6, Rh 7, pd5, BK.d8, Rdl: Wd7 (on 3. l:.h8 there would again follow 3 . . . l:.d l , and if 4. 'iil e6, then 4 . . . 'itic7) 3 . . . l:.h l ! 4. l:.g7 (or 4. d6 l:. h7+ 5. 'iti e6 '.l:th6+ 6. <tl e7 :h7+ 7. <fti d8 'iil c6) 4 . . . '.l:th8!, etc., as in Diagram 284, which we analyzed in detail. b) BLACK'S KING IS DRIVEN AWAY FROM THE PAWN 277 Black to move; White wins - it's a draw after l . . .'it> c 8 2. I:th8+ lt'b7, which was proven more than once when we dissected the Philidor position; and in the second position: WKd6, Rg 7, pd5, BKd8, Re 1 This position is very pleasant for White . Black's king is cut off (it can 't approach the pawn), while the white king occupies a safe , secure position in front of the pawn; furthermore, the black rook is not very active at the mo ment, and the pawn is on the seventh rank already. t. .. :a Black also draws, this time with l . . .'iil c8 2 . :gs+ (or 2. I:I h7 :d l !) 2 . . . 'iil b7 3. If Black prevents the check by 1 . . . :tc l , he loses quickly: White responds 2. I:If2 with the powerful threat of 3 . � fl . The same move 2 . I:If2! would b e White's answer to l . . .l::t a l as well - for instance, l . . .I:I a l (or I . . .I:lc l ) 2. I:If2! l:. h l 3. 'iil fl :h7+ 4. '.!i e6 l:. h6+ 5. l:.ffi I:Ih8 6. l:.f8 l:. h6+ 7 . @ rs , etc . 369 Chapter 1 4 2 . I:tc2+ @b7 278 Black's king must move further away from the pawn, since on 2 . . . @ d6 there follows 3. @d8. Black also loses quickly after 2 . . . @b6, i n view o f 3 . @ d8 (also possible is 3. l:Ic4, as in the main variation) 3 . . . l:Id3+ 4. @ c 8 ! : e 3 S . : c 7 :e l 6. @ d8 l:Ie2 7 . l:Id7! and then e7-e8� . Black to move and draw 3. :c4! White's king is not active yet; if it leaves e8, it will be pursued by the rook. For example, 3. 'it> d7 l:Id3+ 4. @ e6 l:Ie3+ S. �f6 :l:tf3+ 6. 'it>gS l:te3! 7. @ f6 : f3 + , etc. To avoid this attack, White makes a preparatory move with the rook. 3 . . . :n 4. @d7 l:Idl + 5. � e6 l:I e t + 6. �f6 l:Ifl+ If6 ... @ b6, then 7. :cs; while on 6 . . . @ b 8 , White replies 7. : c s and 8. :es. Here Black pursues the white monarch with checks until he abandons his pawn. For example, 1 . . .l:a8+ 2. @ d7 l:ta7+ 3. 'it> d6 I:ta6+ 4. 'it>c7 l:Ia7+! S. @ d6 l:Ia6+ 6. 'it> dS (if 6. 'ificS, then 6 . . . l:Ie6!) 6 ... l:taS+, etc. Black likewise obtains a draw if the king stands on g6 (see Example 2 1 8). And if, in Diagram 278, we move the black king to g8 , then the outcome changes again: 279 7. @ e5 l:Iel+ 8. :e4 and White wins. If the black king is cut off and the white king stands on the eighth rank im mediately in front of the pawn, then the win is nearly always assured. The posi tion obtained from the Philidor posi tion (see Diagram 273 , Philidor's sec ond variation, after l S . e7) also belongs here. As an exception, we note the follow ing: 370 Black to move; White wins l . . . :as+ Necessary, as otherwise White would play 2. l::t g l + and 3. l:Id I . Rook Endings 2. 'iitl d7 lla7+ 3. 'iitl e6 lla6+ 4. <it> e5! Compared to Diagram 278 , Black controls less space here, which is re flected in the outcome of the game. If4. 'iitl f5?, then 4 . . . 'iitl t7. 1 . . . llb8+ 4 . . .lla5+ 5. \t>f6! This powerful move would not have been possible had Black's king been on g7 (or g6) . 5 . . . lla6+ 6. 'iitl g5 The point of 5. 'iitl f6 is to guard f7 while crossing the f-file (see the note to the fourth move). 6 . lla5+ . . If 6 . . . lla8, then 7 . 'iitl g6 lla6+ (or 7 .. lle8 8 . 'iiil f6) 8 . llf6. l . . .lla2 doesn't work now, if only be cause of 2. llg l + (the additional shunt ing-off of Black's king guarantees the win) 2 . . . W h7 (or 2 . . . Wf6 3. Wf8) 3. llg4, etc. 2. 'iitl d7 llb7+ 3. 'iitl d8 llb8+ 4. Wc7 lla8 5. ll a l ! ! and White wins with queen vs. rook. Now let's make the following change in Diagram 278: move the rook from fl to d l (Diagram 28 1 ) : 28 1 . 7. 'iitl g6 lla6+ 8. llf6 l:ta8 9. lld6 with the unstoppable threat of 1 0 . l::1: d 8. Now let's return to Diagram 278 and move the black rook to b2: Black to move; White wins 280 Here neither the good position of Black's king (outside the a- and e-files, and on the same rank as the pawn) ; nor the active position of his rook; nor, fi nally, the fact that there are three files between his rook and the enemy pawn, are enough to save Black. Black to move; White wins On t . . J::t a 8+ there now follows 2. 'iitl d7 lla7+ 3. 'it> e6 lla6+ 4. lld6 lla8 5. 37 1 Chapter 1 4 l::t d 8 l::t a 6+ 6. <;ti d5 , etc. The win would be assured for White, also, with his rook on the e- or the c-file (but not on the b file). Recapping everything, and the theme treated, we arrive at the following conclusion: If the black king is cut off and the white pawn is on the seventh rank (any where between b 7 and g 7), and supported by the kingfrom in front, the win is nearly always guaranteed. Black can only draw if the following favorable factors ap ply (see Diagram 278): ( l ) there are (at least) three files between the black rook and the white pawn; (2) Black's rook and king are on opposite sides of the pawn; (3) the black king should not be on the eighth rank, and between it and the pawn there is only one file ; (4) the white rook is not playing an active role (for example , in Diagram 278 , it can't be on the c-, d-, e-, or g-file , or on the eighth rank; and finally, (5) Black must be on the move. Note that if the black king is pushed away, as, for example, in the position the pawn on the seventh rank, be tween b7 and g7 , always guarantees a win. Now let us move on to positions in which the pawn has reached only the sixth rank and the white king is (as be fore) in front of the pawn. Here flank attacks are so effective that for the draw sometimes intervals of from two files are enough. 282 Black to move: Draw! (The white rook also may be further up [to a6 inclusive] , and also on the f and h-files.) Grigoriev ( 1 937) showed, that here, Black (contrary to established opinion) can draw. 1 . .. l::t b7+! 2. @ d6 l::t b6+ ! 2 . . . W f8 ? loses t o 3 . l::t a8+ and 4. e7, while 2 . . . Wf6? loses to 3. l::t fl + 'iit g7 4. e7 �b8 5. 'iil c7 l::t a8 6. l::t a l ! . 3. @d7 l::t b 7+! 372 Rook Endings Not fearing 4. W c6, if only because of 4 . . . :b2, with the threats of 5 . . . W f6 and 5 . . . W f8 . 4 . W d8 :bs+! He needs to drive the king away, to the c-file. 5. W c7 :b2 6. :n If6. : e 1 , then 6 . . . W f8 ! . 6 . :a2 . . then White wins with ( l . . .:b7+) 2. W d6 :b6+ 3. W d7 l:.b7+ 4. 'it> c6!. The black rook goes to the rook file after all. N. Grigoriev, 1937 283 7. e7 :a7 + ! , draw. White couldn't win despite the fact that in Diagram 282 his rook occupied the a-file , or rook file. Furthermore, the rook's position on the rook file in this case was not an advantage, but a disad vantage. If we place that rook on d 1 instead of c l , then White can get his win, since now he could, at the right time , shelter the king from rook checks (see Exam ples 222 and 223). Even with the white rook on e l he wins with ( l . . .:b7+) 2. 'it>d8 :b8+ 3 . 'it> d7! (not 3 . W c7 in view of 3 . . . :a8!) 3 . . . :b7+ 4. Wc8 I:te7 5 . 'it> d8 : a7 6. e 7 . It should also b e noted that if, i n the starting position, the white rook is on a8: Black to move; White wins The only difference between this diagram and the previous one is the placement of the black king at g6. This change affects the result (as opposed to the placement of the pawn on the sev enth: see Diagram 278). 1 • • • :b7+ 2. W d8 :bs+ If 2 . . . @ f6, then 3. e7! li:tb8+ 4. Wc7 I:te8 5. 'it> d6 :b8 6. : n + 'i&i>g7 7. 'it>c7 l::t a 8 8 . : a l . 373 Chapter 1 4 3 . <:t; c7 l:tb2 4 . l:t e l Now this move wins, since Black cannot reply 4 . . . <:t; f8 . This is where the bad position of the black king on g6 tells! 4 . . . l:tc2+ 5. <:t; d7 Md2+ 6. <:t; e8 Ma2 7. e7 and wins. Changing the white rook in Diagram 283 from a l to the f- or h-file, Black gets a draw with l . . .l::t b 7+! 2. <:t; d8 l:tb8+ (if 2 . . . Ma7 at once, then 3. W c7 l:l:a8 4. e7 l':!:a7 + ! , etc . ) . py the rook file with I . l:l:a8 ! . This opin ion was established on the basis of Tar rasch's analyses ( 1 906) and was shaken only by the more recent researches of D. Rovner ( 1 937), who showed that White wins, not only with I . l:ta8, but also with I . l:l:b8, I . l::t c8, or I . l:td8. 1 . Mc8 l::t a l l . . .kte2 doesn't help: 2. <:t; d7 l:td2+ (2 . . . Wf6 3 . Mf8+) 3 . <:t; e8 <:j;} f6 4. e7 l:te2 (or 4 . . . Md6 5 . M C I followed by .i:l: fl +) 5. l:l:c6+ <:t;g7 6. M C I , etc. 2. @ e8! Positions 2 8 2 and 283 are extracted from the detailed and, apparently, ex haustive researches of Grigoriev on the theme, "The theory of the endgame: rook and pawn vs. rook - defense by flank attack" (Shakhmaty v SSSR 1 937, No. 6). This move was not considered in Tarrasch's analysis. 2 . . . ® f6 White threatened 3 . e7 followed by 4. ® d7 or 4. l:l:c2. 284 2 . . Jih l does not save Black, in view of 3. e7 or 3. �c2. 3. e7 ® e6 I n order to answer 4. ® f8 with 4 . . . l:t fl + . White to move wins; Black to move draws This position occurred in the second variation of Philidor, after 9. <:t; e 7 . Until quite recently i t was believed that in Diagram 284 White had to occu- 374 4 . Mc6+ and White wins, fo r exam ple 4 . . . ® e 5 5. ® f8 .i:l: fl + 6. ® g7 l:tg l + 7 . Mg6. Now, let us suppose that in the start ing position, it is Black to move. l . . . l:t a l ! Rook Endings Here Black has to occupy the rook file. For example, he loses after I . . .l::t b 1 ? because of 2. l::t a 8! (compare the expla nation in Diagram 282). 2. l::t d8 l::t a 7+ 3. l::t d 7 If 3. 'itl e8?, then 3 . . . 'itl f6, while on 3. Wd6 there would follow 3 . . . l::t a 6+ 4. @es l::t a S+ S . l:tdS? :C:a8 with the pow erful threat of 6 . . . � f8 . 3 . . . l::t a8 Until recently, this move was thought to be forced. However, as Rovner showed ( 1 93 7 ) , here , besides 3 . . . l:la8 , Black can also retreat to any other square on the a-file except a6. For example , 3 . . . l::t a l 4 . 'itl e8 + (if 4. l::t b7 , Black replies as in the main variation 4 . . . \t> g6 or 4 . . . l::t a2, and he meets 4. 'itl d6+ with 4 . . . 'itl f6 S. l:t t7 + \t> g6, threatening 6 ... l::t a6+ ) 4 ... @f6 S . e7 'itl e6! 6. 'itlf8 l::t f l + ! 7 . 'itl e8 l::t a l 8 . 'itl d8 (8. l::t d8 l::t a7) 8 . . . l::t a8+ 9. \t> c 7 l::t a7+ IO. 'it>c8 l::t a8+! 1 1 . 'itl c7 l:a7+ 1 2 . 'itl c6 :a6 + , and draws. However, it should be noted that after 3 . . . l:t a l 4 . .l:d6( ! ) , the reply 4 . . . l::t a8! i s forced. Regarding 3 . . . l::t a6? , this loses in view of 4. 'itl e 8 + 'iil f6 S. e7 l::t a8+ (now S . . . 'it> e6 no longer works, since after 6. � f8 ! Black cannot give check along the f-file because of the unfor tunate placement of his rook on a6) 6 . i::t a8 l:I a7 7 . l::t d6+ �g7 8 . l::t d l l::t a8+ 9. 'iil d7 l::t a7+ 1 0 . 'itl e6 l: a6+ 1 1 . l::t a6 l::t a8 1 2 . l::t d 8 . 4. l::t b 7 'itl g6 Black must remain very alert. For example , 4 . . . 'itlg8? would be a mis take ; then White wins not only with the maneuver S. Wf6 l:lf8+ 6. Wg6 l:la8 7 . l::t g 7+ W h8 8. e7! (not fearing stalemate combinations) , but also with this simpler continuation pointed out by Levenfish: S. l::t b l ! l:a7+ (the threat was 6. l::t g l + and 7. Wf7) 6. Wf6 l:ta8 7 . .l:g l + . I nstead of 4 . . . Wg8? and our rec ommended 4 . . . W g6, Black could play 4 . . . l:la l , when if S . W d6+, then S . . . \tf6! ( Euwe , on p. 1 06 of his Course of Chess Lectures, offers the reply S . . . Wf8?; how ever, that loses quickly to 6. l:lb8+ 'lt/g7 7. e7 l:ld l + 8 . 'lt/ c S l:lc l + 9. Wd4, etc.) 6. l:lt7+ Wg6, and Black gets a draw as he threatens checks from the flank, and if the white rook retreats from the f file , he plays . . . Wg6-f6. If White meets 4 . . . l:l a l with S. 'lt/ e8+ or S. Wd8+, then S . . . @f6 6. e7 .l:a8+ 7. 'it'd7 @f7. Finally, if 4 . . . l::t a l , White plays S. 'it' d7, and Black returns his rook to a8 (S . . . l:la8 6. e7 'it' f7) . Position after 4. . . W g6 5. 'lti d7 375 Chapter 1 4 Black also defends after other con tinuations. For example , 5. l:tc7 Wg7 6. nd7 'it>g6 7. l:t d l (if 7 . �dS l:ta7+ S. 'it>eS, then S ... 'it> f6!) 7 ... l:ta7+ S . 'it> d6 (or S. 'it>eS 'it> f6 ) S . . . � a6+ , etc . Or 5 . nb l :a7+ 6. 'it> g7 :as + , etc. 286 5 . . . 'it> f6 5 . . . 'it>g7 is also sufficient. 6. :ac7 If 6. e7 'it>f7 7. �c7, then 7 . . . nes s. 'it> d6 :as, etc. 6 . • . W g7! 6 . . J:h l here would be a mistake, in view of 7. e7 n d I + S. 'it> e S ! . White wins, regardless of whose move it is Let us suppose that, in this position, it is Black to move. t . . J:I a l ! Threatening t o force the draw with 2 . . . :a7+ 3 . W c6 l:t a6+ 4. W b7 (or 4. 'it>c7 :a7+) 4 . . . :a I , etc. 7. '>t> d6! 7 . e7 and 7. W e7 lead to positions we have already examined. 2. :cs(!) �a7+ 3. 'it> c6! :a6+ 4. W c7! l:Ia7+ 5. '>t> b6 l:td7 Or 5 . . � a l 6. d7. . 7 . . . Wf8, draw. 6. 'it> c6 This last example shows the impor tance of the flank attack, while simulta neously demonstrating that the success ful execution of these attacks requires sufficient room to carry out operations. So we can rightly expect that, when we move the entire position depicted in Di agram 2S4 one file to the left, White will be sure of a win, since the black rook has at his disposal less space for flank opera tions. Analysis supports this conclusion ( Diagram 2S6) : 376 In this manner, the win may be con sidered to be demonstrated in the posi tion depicted in Diagram 2S6. If we now move this position two more squares to the left, White 's task is even simpler. Ifwe move Diagram 2S4 to the right, the result is the same as in Diagram 2S4, despite the additional space to the left. Rook Endings D. Rovner, 1937 288 287 White to move draws White to move wins; Black to move draws 1 . :a.n+ @ gs l . . .@g6 also leads to a draw. This position sharply illustrates the latest investigations. With Black to move, he achieves the draw with l . . .l:Ia l ! (or l . . .l:Ib l !) 2. lle8 :C.a7+ 3 . l:t e 7 l:Ia8(a5, a4, a3 , a 2 , a l ) , while with White to move , the win is achieved by l . l::t e 8(d8 , c 8 , b8, a8) l . . .lla l 2. @ f8 ! @ g6 3. f7 @ f6 4. :a.b8 l:Ia6 (the threat was 5 . l::t b6+) 5 . \t>g8. Comparing the results obtained by pawns on the sixth rank vs. the sev enth, we see (as we would expect) that with the pawn on the sixth rank Black's chances for a draw are increased some what. Just as with a pawn on the sev enth rank (supported by a king from in front ) , one thing required for the draw is a check on the very first move (see Diagram 278); with the pawn on the sixth, we encountered the possibil ity of getting the draw with a relatively "quiet" move (see Diagram 284 with Black to move ) . Let's show one more similar example . 2. I:If4 Or 2. :a.rs+ Wg7 3. l::t d 8 lla7+ 4. l:Id7 I:I a8 (or any square from a l to aS - see Diagram 284) . 2 l:Ia7+ 3. @f6 • • • Nor does 3 . @d6 lla6+ 4. WeS change matters, since this is met by 4 . . Jla7! 5. @ f6 (if S . l:Ifl , then 5 . . . W g7) 5 ... Wf8, leading back to the main vari ation. 3 .•• wrs 4. l:.b4 l::t f7 +! If now 5 . exf7 , it's stalemate! This is the saving combination. 5. W e5 lla7(0), draw. Let me remind you once again that, with the pawn on the sixth rank, one can sometimes force a draw with only two files between the black rook and the 377 Chapter 1 4 white king. As a n example (besides Dia gram 282), we indicate the following po sition by Grigoriev ( 1 937): Black to move. The draw is forced after I . . .:h7+ 2. �f6 : h6+ 3. � g7 (or 3. �fl : h7+) 3 . . . : h I . This example is still more demonstrative than Diagram 282, since there Black could be saved anyway by transferring the black rook at the critical moment from the b- file to the a-file; here the interval between the pawn and the black rook always consists of exactly two files. between the black rook and the white king, and the black king must be outside of those files (on the same rank as the pawn or further, to the line a8-h8). Ad ditional factors necessary for the draw with the pawn on the seventh rank, play no significant role here. Concluding our analysis of positions with the pawn on the sixth rank, we mention again the following position by Tarrasch: I would say that the possibilities pre sented exhaust all of Black's drawing chances (with White's pawn on the sixth rank and the king in front of the pawn) . Thus, for example, here too, i n the case of the pushing-aside of Black's king two files from the pawn, the win is assured (for example, in the following position: (See diagram next column) And so, ifthe pawn is on the sixth rank (b6-g6), and supported by his king from in front, and the black king is kept one file away, then in order to obtain a draw one must, as a rule, have three free files 378 White to move. Similar positions, but with the pawn on the edge , have been examined by us before (see Dia grams 263 and 264) . Moving the pawn to the b-file increases Black's drawing Rook Endings chances, since thanks to this modifica tion the distance between the black king and the pawn is decreased. After l . ®g l ©g8 2. I:Ib8+ (or 2. W fl ® f8 3 . I:Ib8+ ©e7! 4. b7 ® d7) 2 . . . ®fl 3 . ®fl (3. b7 ©g7) 3 . . . 'it' e7! (this move would not be possible in the analogous position with the pawn on the edge) 4. b7 ® d7 , and the draw is evident. Now let us put the pawn on the fifth rank (and with the black king cut off, as before , from the pawn). Here Black's drawing chances, of course , are in creased. For instance, if, in Diagram 284, the position is moved one rank down (except, of course , for the rook on e l ) , then that leads to the loss of all win ning chances for White (see the diagram below) . 289 In order to further compare the chances if the pawn is on the sixth or the fifth rank, we move Diagram 286 one rank down - that is, to the following position: 290 White to move wins; Black to move draws Whereas earlier (in Diagram 286) White wins, regardless of whose move it is, here Black on the move makes a draw. 1 . . . I:I a l ! 2. I:Ic7 I:Ia6+ 3. I:Ic6 Draw, regardless of whose tum it is If 3. @d7?, then 3 . . . ®e5. The maneuver recommended in Diagram 286, 3. 'it'c5 I:Ia5+ 4. © c6 Ita6+ 5. ©b5, is inadequate because of 5 ... lla l . 3 ... I:Ia7! With Black to move, as before he takes over the edge file with 1 . . .l:Ia l , and achieves his goal easily. With White to move, the ending could play out like this, for example: I. I:Ia7 l:tbl ! 2. ® d6 I:Ib6+ 3. ® c5 l::t b l 4. e6 ® f6 5. e7 W rT , draw. The strongest answer. Black doesn't let the enemy king onto the seventh rank. On the other hand, 3 . . . l:ta4 doesn't lose, either (see the explanation of Dia gram 297 after l . I:Ic6? I:Ia4 2. d5 Wffi). 379 Chapter 1 4 291 Black pulls the king back, since i n the rear the black king has two open ranks, and White is unable to trade rooks by nc7+. s. nbt Threatening to cut off the enemy king with 6. l:fo l . lf 5 . 'it> c6 , then 5 . . . @ e7! 6. d6+ @ e6 with a draw. 5 . . . @ e8! The saving move . Black wards off his opponent's threat and himself threatens 6 . . . l::I a 6+ 7. @ c7 l::I a 7+ 8. 'it> b6 ( 8 . l::I b 7 nxb7+) 8 . . . na2, etc . . 6. @ e6 The rest of White 's moves are also easily handled, for instance 6. @ es M.a6, or 6. l:tb8+ @fl 7. k!:d8 !:!a6+ 8 . rtlc7 ga7+ 9. \t' b6 :!a l , etc . Draw. The example we looked at shows us that, with the pawn on the fifth rank, it is enough for the draw to have a distance of two files between the black rook and the white king (if, that is, the black king is decisively cut oft). So Black can save the position in Diagram 290 if he can occu py the a-file immediately with l . . .lla l ! . It is clear that with White to move , the same position is lost for Black in view of I . ga7! nb l 2. n a2 <ti fl 3. ne2, etc. 380 White wins This position was obtained from Dia gram 290 by moving all of the pieces one file to the left. Here the game is won eas ily, regardless of whose move it is, since on the kingside the black rook cannot be active in view of its king's presence there , while on the queen's wing he has nowhere to flex his muscles. Black loses, given the threat nc7-h7-h2 followed by l:I h2-d2 or g h2-e2 + . Now we can draw a few conclusions relating to the presence of the pawn on the fifth. If the pawn is on the fifih rank (from b5 to g5), and supported by its king from in front, and the black king is separated by one file, then in order to get a draw there must be two open files between the black rook and the white king, with the black king located some where outside those two files (even with the pawn closer to the a8-h8 edge of the board). These rules not only make it easier to evaluate the position, but also help in creating the most goal-directed plan in rook endings. Thanks to his acquaint ance with these rules, Spielmann , for Rook Endings example, was able to avoid losing his game with Tartakower ( Bad Kissingen 1928). In this position (to gain time ; see White's move 2 2 ) 1 9 . . . Ma6+ 2 0 . M e 6 M a l 2 1 . W t7 l:taS 2 2 . f6 Ma8 2 3 . Me8 Ma7+ 24. 'iti e6 Ma6+ 2S. @ rs MaS+ 26. MeS l::t a l 27. l::t e 8 :as+ 28. @e6 l:ta6+ 29. @f7 Ma7+ 30. l:te7 :as 3 1 . l:te6 l:tb8 32. l:ta6 l:tb7+ 33. 'iti e6 'itig6! 34. l::t d6 l:t t7 3 S . @es l:tf8 36. Ma6 Mf7, draw. Concluding our analysis of positions with a pawn on the fifth rank (anywhere between bS and gS) , we note further that if Black 's king is kept two files away the win may be considered assured. Assum ing that White 's king is not too far from the pawn. Spielmann played l . . .l:IbS ! , which was met by 2. l:tf6? (White goes to meet his opponent halfway; he had to play 2. a4! . and then 3 . @ g3 and, depending o n cir cumstances, 4. l::i. f6 or 4. @ f2 , followed by shifting his king to the queenside) 2 . . . l::i. a S! 3. Mxg6 (now 3. f4 Mxg3 4. '.t' gS does not win because of 4 . . . Mg3+ 5 . @ h6 Mg4!) 3 . . . @ xt7 4. hS l:Ixa3 (in aiming for this position , Spielmann un doubtedly foresaw that later White would have to trade his h-pawn for the increas ingly powerful a-pawn ; but this trade gives Black an acceptable ending thanks to the presence of considerable space to the left of the f-pawn) S . l:tc6 @g7 6. f4 i:t a l 7. h6+ @ h7 8 . f5 as 9. l:ta6 l:tg l + 10. @ hS M h l + 1 1 . @gs l:tg l + 1 2 . @f6 �b l ! 1 3 . l:txaS @ xh6. Black was aiming for this position, since the presence of three (and, later, even four) open files ensures the draw, despite his king's be ing restricted to the right edge of the board. Subsequently there followed: 14. :es Mal l S . @t7 l:t a7+ 1 6 . l:te7 l:ta8 17. Me6+ @ h7 1 8 . l:te8 l:taS 19. @ f6 292 Win Here , Black's king is cordoned off two files away, which (contrary to Cheron and Berger) assures White of the win even though the black rook oc cupies the most favorable position possi ble, preventing contact between White 's king and pawn, and stands on a file suf ficiently distant from the pawn. 1 . 'iti d3! l:tb4 2. e6 Mb6 3. :et l:tb8 Forced. 38 1 Chapter 14 4. e7 l:te8 5. @ d4 @ g7 6. @ d5 @n 7. W d6 lla8! 8. l:tn+ 't;; g7 9. l:t a l ! and wins. Now let's look at positions in which the pawn has reached only the fourth rank. This winning method leads to our objective regardless of which square on the h-file is occupied by the black king. With some positions of Black's king White can also play for immediate mate. For instance , in this position by Cheron ( 1 926): A. Cheron, 1926 293 Draw Here the white king stands behind the pawn, which is unable to advance. 1 . l:tc5 White can win with I . e6! @ h6 (if I . . . l:ta6, then 2. @ e4 l:txe6+ 3 . @ fS , while on l . . . 'it h4 there follows 2. e7 l:t a8 3 . @ f4 @ h3 4. @ fS) 2. e 7 ! 1I a 8 3 . \t> e4 �e8 4. @ e s l:txe7+ S. @ f6 , and White wins the rook. On the other hand, playing for the immediate mate from Diagram 292 does not work after l. 'it'd3 l:tb4 2. l:tg2 'it' h7 ! . If instead of 2 . . . 'it> h7! Black plays 2 . . . l:ta4, then in addition to the general winning method indicated above, White can also play 3. e6 �a6 4. e7 l:! d6+ (or 4 . . . l:te6 S . l:te2!) S . @ e4! l:t e6+ 6. @ 5 l:txc7 7. @ f6 (pointed out b y Grigo riev). 382 If l . @ a4, then l . . .Ila8+ 2. 'it>bS (on 2. @b3, not only could Black play 2 . . . l:lb8 - he could also play 2 . . . 'it' d7, after which the advance 3. bS is parried by 3 . . . llc8) 2 . . . l'Ib8+ 3 . w as I:ta8+ 4. 'it>b6 l:tb8+. etc. Nor does l . � c4 \t>dS 2. l:ks+ of fer White anything, as Black can play 2 . . . @ d6 ! , continuing as in the main variation. In order to meet 2. @ c4 with 2 . . . l:tc6!. l . . .l:th8 2 . @ c4 l:tg8 is also possible: if 3 . @bS, then 3 . . . l:tb8 + , etc. Rook Endings 2. c;!r> a4 l:lb8 3. c;!r> a5 Ila8+ 4. 'it>b5 l:tb8+ 5. 'it> c4 I:!h8 Stopping 6. b5. 6. Wb5 I:!b8+, draw. Although the black king is cut off, White can achieve nothing due to his own king's poor placement. White cannot win even in the follow ing position: In order to move the pawn forward by even one square , he must move off the d-file, allowing Black to improve his own king. To give a better idea of this, we present one of the variations indicated by Grigoriev ( 1 937): 1. l:I d4 c;!r>eS! 2. c;!r> c 3 (2. Ild7 'iil e6!) 2 ... llc8+ 3 . I:! c4 I:!b8 4. l:tc6 W d5 5. l::t a6 (White threatens to bring his king forward via b3 and a4, with a decisive pawn advance) 5 . . . I:!c8+! 6. <;t>b3 I:!c6! , draw. I:! +,;:� vs. I:! has not yet reached the fifth rank, then Black can favorably occupy a position in front of the pawn (compare Diagrams 269-27 1 ) . In the present case the king, standing in front of the pawn, has greater freedom to move around than does the rook standing behind. The case examined is thus an exception to the general rule . It would be mistaken, however, to as sert that, in positions like the last two, the draw is always possible. For example, ifwe shift the last position one file to the right - that is, if we examine this position here White can force the win. I n this po sition, great significance attaches to the fact that, in the position thus shifted, we have a new file for operations to our left. I. Wb4 I:!b8+ 2. 'it' c5 l:tc8+ 3. Wb5 Ilb8+ 4. W a6! This decides. 4 I:!c8 5. :! c l W e5 • • • Based on this, we present the follow ing conclusion: Ifthe pawn in the ending If 5 . . . W e7 or 5 . . . W e6, then 6. Wb7!. 383 Chapter 1 4 1. l::t d6 6 . c5 6. 'itt b 7 is also possible here; however, with the chosen order of moves, the main winning idea is shown more vividly. This yields a simpler win than l . l::t d 7 'itt e5 2. 'itt c4! , which is also good enough. 1 . .. 'itt e5 2. l::t a6 'itt d5 3. 'itt a4 6 . . . � d5 7. 'itt b6 Of course not 7. 'itt b5, in view of 7 . . . l::t b 8 + , followed by 8 . . . 'itt c6. Now the win is not difficult, since b4-b5 cannot b e stopped. N. Grigoriev, 1937 7 . . . l::t b8+ 295 Or 7 . . . l:k6+ 8 . ..atb5. 8. �c7, and then c5-c6. N. Grigoriev, 1937 294 Win, ifit is White to play 1 . :d4! 'itt e6 If l . . .l::t d 8, then 2. l::t x d8 'itt xd8 3 . 'itt a4! 'itt c8 4. 'itt a5 . Win, if it is White to play We have already examined a similar position, except with the black king on e6. There , it was shown that the king on e6 assures Black a draw, which he could also get with the king on e 5 . I f we move the black king t o e4 ( a s in Diagram 294) or to e7 (as in Diagram 297) , then White wins if it 's White 's move. 3 84 2. 'itt c4! l::t c 8+ On 2 . . . \t1e5 we have 3. l::t d 5+ 'itt e6 4. b5 :cs+ 5. :cs 'itt d7 6. b6! and White wins. 3. 'itt b 5 l::t b8+ Nor does 3 . . . 'itt e5 help, since after 4. l::t h4 l::t b 8+ (or 4 . . . 'itt d6) , White can get his king to the sixth rank without losing the pawn. Rook Endings 4. @ c6 r!c8+ 5. W b7, and then b4b5. Ifwe move the white rook and black king in Diagram 295 one file to the right , then the win is assured on any position of the black king on its file (see Example 247 ) . From this it fol lows that with the pawn on the fourth rank and a distance of three files be tween the pawn and the cut-off black king, Black loses, even with his rook in the most favorable position possible . And with a distance of two files White can win without question only with the aid of a center or a bishop pawn, as in the position below - White to move wins with 1 . 'lt>a4! l:ta8+ (or l . . . �c8 2. �xc8 and 3. Wa5) 2. 'lt>b5. In Diagram 293 and the last six posi tions, the black rook occupies the most favorable location for its struggle against the pawn on the fourth. Thanks to this rook placement, Black can sometimes manage to save the game even if his king is pushed two files away. On the other hand, if Black's rook can't take the most favora ble position, then most of the time the win can be achieved by driving the king away only one more file, as in Diagram 296. C. Salvioli, 1887 296 while with a knight pawn, he wins only with some positions of the black king on his file (on e7, e4 or lower - positions analogous to Diagrams 294 and 295). Further, if the distance is shortened to a single file (as in Diagram 293 ) , the game will probably end in a draw. Here too, however, there are some exceptions where Black loses in spite of the small space and favorable position of the black rook. For instance, Grigoriev gives this position: White to move wins; Black to move draws 385 Chapter 14 White to move can bring his king closer to the pawn, while simultane ously driving the black king away. This is achieved as follows: 3. l:Id6! l:Ig8+ 4. eS was threatened. 4. \t>f5 l:tf8+ 5. l:tf6! l:td8 1. <;it g4! l:tc8 If S . . . l:te8?, then 6. eS and 7. l':td6. Attempting to set up a defensive sys tem, recommended in the analysis of Diagram 293 . Here, however, Black fails since his king can be driven away from the pawn, not only on the file, but also along the rank. However, other moves are no better. For example: l ) l . . .l:tc8 2. l:tdS! l:tf8 (2 . . . W c4 3 . l:t d l , threatening 4. e S ) 3 . e S ! and White wins, since once the pawn advances to the fifth rank, rook checks along the eighth rank don't accomplish anything; 2) l . . .l:te2 2. <;it fS \t> c S (if 2 . . . <;it c4, then 3 . l:tg8-d8) 3 . <;it e6+! <;it d4 (or 3 . . . <;it c6 4 . eS) 4 . e S <;it cS (other moves are met by S. @ d6 or S . @ f6) S. ctef e7 and wins. 3) l . . . l::t d 2 2. @ fS @ cs 3. ® e6+ @ c6 4. l:tdS! l:t h2 s . l:t d l l'i! h6+ 6. @ fS l::t hS+ 7. W f6 l:t h6+ 8 . WgS l:t e6 9. W fS , etc . 4) l . . . <;it c4 2 . l':tdS! l:ta2 (or 2 . . . l:!:f2 3. l:td l , preparing e4-eS) 3 . l:td l l:taS 4. W f4 and S . eS. 2. l:td5! \t' c4 On 2 . . . l:tg8+ 3. W f5 l:t f8 + , there fol lows 4. WeS; if now 4 . . . l:te8+, then S . @d4, threatening 6. l:t d 7 followed by 7. l:tb7+ or 7. eS; while on 4 ... W c4, White replies S. :d6! l:te8+ 6. W f5 l:tf8+ 7. l:!:f6, and then 8. eS, as in the main variation. 386 6. l::t t7! With the decisive threat of e4-eS-e6. 6 . . . @ d4 7. es W d5 8. e6 W d6 9. Wf6 and wins. Now let's examine position 296 with Black to play. Here he draws easily, since the white pieces are driven back into passive positions. 1 . . .lle2! l . . . W c4 would be an error because of 2 . @ g4 @ d4 3 . W f3 ! and then 4. l:tdS+. 2. :Ues If 2. l:!:g4, then 2 . . . WcS! 3. WgS Wd6 4. @ f6 l::t f2 +; and on 2. eS, Black responds 2 . . . \t>cs 3. \t>g4 W dS 4. \t>f5 l:tf2+. 2 ... \t> c4 3. \t> g4 ® d4 4. \t>f5 l:tfl+!, draw. From these examples, it's already clear that if the pawn is on the fourth rank, the outcome of the game fre quently depends on hidden details of the position. This is emphasized also, for instance, in the following analysis by A. lglitsky, who interested himself in the position depicted in Diagram 297, a Rook Endings II: position from a game Salwe - Bum (St. Petersburg, 1 909): 3. l:lc7 l:la6+ 4. 'lites 297 4. Wd7 W e 5 . 4 :as+ S. W c6 l:la6+ 6. WbS l:lal! . • • If now 7. W c6, then 7 ... I:ta6+, re turning to the previous position, while on 7. l:Id7 would follow 7 . . . I:tc I ! and then 8 . . . 'ite5. 7. d6 <iti e6 8. d7 l:tdl 9. Wc6 l:ld6+, draw. In a famous, careful analysis ( 64, 1 928, Nos. 1 7 - 1 8) , Iglitsky showed that I . Wd7! leads to a win, and I . I:tc6 only to a draw. We present the main variations of the analysis after I . l:lc6. III: 3. l:Ic8 l:la6+ 4. <iil c7 Or 4. W c5 W e7. 1 . l:lc6? l:. a4 2. dS W f6! 4 W e7 S. l:lh8 l:la7+ 6. @b6 : a t , draw. • • • This move saves the game. All of White 's efforts after this come to naught (see Variations I -VI ) . I: 3. l:t c l l:l a6+ 4. W c7 I:ta7+ Not 4 . . . c;it e5?. in view of 5. d6! I:ta7+ 6. 'lt> b6 l:ld7 7 . W c5 and wins ( /. R. ) . I V: 3. :b6 l:Ia7 4. @ c6 @ eS! S. d6 \t> e6 6. :bt l:la6+ 7. Wc7 l:ta7+ 8. 'lt> b6 :d7, draw. V: 3. \t> d7+ 'lit es! 4. d6 'iiii dS! S. W b6 J:ld7! 6. \t> c6 W e7! 7. l:lhl l:td6+ 8. W cS l::l: a 6! The only move. On 8 . . . I:tf6 or 8 . . . l:Ig6 White has 9. d6+! W d7 I O . l::i: h7+ W d8 1 1 . W c6, winning. 9. d6+ W d8 10. @ dS I:ta2, draw. The only correct move. For instance, 4 . . . I:ta7+ loses in view of 5. \t> e8! (not 5 . Wc8? because of 5 . . . W d5 and if now 6. d7? , then 6 . . . W xc6! , while on 6. :c1 l:la8+ 7 . Wb7, there follows 7 . . . 'litxd6!) 5 . . . W d5 6. d7! ! , and White comes out of this with queen versus rook. 387 Chapter 1 4 5. l::t b6 Black tries again to carry out his pri or plan. If 5. Uc7, then 5 . . . l::t a6, and if 5. \t>c7 there follows 5 ... Ua7+ 6. \t> b6 Ua6+ ! (or 6 . . . Ud7). 5 Ua7+ 6. 'iit' c8 'iit' c5 7. d7 Uxd7!, draw. . • • 4 . . . 'it' e8 loses quickly in view of 5. l::t c 8+ 'it' f7 6. dS. 298 VI: 3. \t> c7+ \ti es 4. d6 l::t a7+ 5. \t>b6 5. 'it' c 8 runs into 5 . . . \t> dS ! , as in Vari ation V. 5 . . . l::t d 7 6. W c5 \t> e6 White to move Simpler than 6 . . J::t a 7 (/.R. ) . 7. Ma6 Ud8, draw. Now, let us return to Diagram 297; instead of the erroneous move 1 . Uc6? , let's play the right move: 1 . 'it' d7 ! . l . 'it'd7! Uas The continuation 1 . . .l::t a7+ 2. Uc7 l::t a S 3 . 'it' d6+ 'it' f6 changes nothing (see Diagram 298). If Black plays instead 1 . . . Ua7+ 2. l::t c 7 Ua4? , then after 3 . d S \ti ff) White wins easily with 4 . d 6 and U c I . 2. Uc5 l::t a7+ If2 . . . Ua4, then of course 3 . d5 l::t a7+ 4. l::t c 7 llaS 5 . d6 \ti f6 6. :!::t e l Ua7+ 7. 'iit' c8 'iit' e6 8 . d7! Ua8+ 9. 'it'b7 Ud8 1 0. 'it' c6!. 3. Uc7! Uas 4. W d6+ 'i:it f6! 388 This position differs somewhat from the one depicted in Diagram 297. It's even difficult to say, at first glance, which of the two positions favors White more . For example, if the first player now continues 5. dS, there then fol lows 5 . . . U a6+ 6. Uc6 (6. \t> d7 \t> e5) 6 . . . l::t a4, bringing the game to the posi tion indicated . But nevertheless, the win is there! 5. Uc8!! The only move to score the full point. For example, White gets noth ing out of 5. I:tcS (or 5. U c l ) in view of 5 . . . l::t a6+ 6. W d7 (6. Uc6 U a4 7. d5 leads back once more to Diagram 297) 5 . . . Ua7+ 6. \t> c6 (6. Uc7 UaS) 6 . . . \t>e7 with a draw. 5 • • • I:ta6+ Rook Endings Necessary because of the threats of 6. l:f8+! and 6. l:te8. Nor does S . . . @ f7 help, when there follows 6. d S l:ta6+ 7 . 'it> d7, and Black loses, since at the mo ment his king cannot go to eS. Salwe - Burn St. Petersburg 1 909 299 6. '\tl d7! Not allowing Black's king to get to the d8 square. 6 . . . l:a7+ lf6 . . . l:taS, then 7 . l:tf8+! '\tl g7 (or 7 . . . 'it> gS 8 . '\tl c6) 8 . l:tf4! '\tl g6 9. '\tl c6, and wins. The same move (7. l:tf8+) would follow on 6 . . . l: a4 also. 7. '\tl c6 Now the power of S. l:c8!! is re vealed. Because the white rook stands on c8 instead of cS or c 1 , Black cannot play 7 . . . '\tl e7 because then White can answer 8. l:tc7+ ! . 7 . . . l:a6+ 8. W b5 l:td6 9 . ® c5 White wins, since 9 . . . '\tl e7 is now re futed by 1 0 . :!:Ie8+ '\tl d7 1 1 . l:td8+!. As noted above, the position in Dia gram 297 was encountered in a game Sal we - Bum, and the actual moves played by the two opponents were far from best. lglitsky correctly subjected the position to harsh criticism, and called the whole ending they played a "comedy of errors." What is most curious of all, however, is the fact that lglitsky has still not revealed all the errors in this game (for example, see the comments to moves 7S, 77, and 80) . White to move 75. l:tt7+ '\tl e8 7S . . . '\tl c8 is more exact, aiming for the "short" side ( /. R. ) . 7 6 . l:th7 l:td3? Black's draw is achieved consider ably more easily after 76 . . . Ma3! 77. '\tl e6 .I:ta6+ 7 8 . @ es �b6! , as in the Philidor position we have examined (see Dia gram 2 7 2 ) . 7 7 . '\tl e6! l:te3+? And here it would have been more accurate to play 77 . . . @ d8 7 8 . dS :!:I d l 7 9 . '\tl d6 '\tl c 8 8 0 . :!:I h8+ '\tl b7 8 1 . l:td8 l:t h l ! , as shown in our analyses of Dia grams 272 and 276 ( /. R. ) . 78. '\tl d6 l:ta3 7 9 . l:th8+ '\tlt7 80. l:c8 80. dS doesn't win: 80 . . . l:a6+ 8 1 . @ cs l:taS+ 82. '\tl c6 l:ta6+ 8 3 . '\tlbS :i:Ia l , etc. ( /. R. ) . 389 Chapter 1 4 80 . . . I:!:a6+?? 300 A decisive mistake. He needed to play 80 . . . I:i:d3 8 1 . d5 I:i:d l 82. I:i:d8 I:!: a l 8 3 . Wc7 r! a 7 + 8 4 . W b6 :t a l , with a draw (/.R.). 81. :tc6? As the above analysis by lglitsky shows, here 8 1 . W d7! leads to the win, but only with exact play (see Diagram 297). 8 1 ... :a8? Once again, a grievous error. 8 1 . . . l::I a4! draws (see the explanation t o Dia gram 297). 82. :c7+?? Another decisive mistake: 82. W d7! wins. White to move wins; Black to move draws Here, if Black is to play, then l . .. I:!:e8+! (the only move, as otherwise White pushes the pawn to f4 and secures the win) 2. W f4 :f8+ 3. W g4 l:tg8+ 4. W h5 I:i: f8 ! , and White must consent to the draw, since on 5 . I:i:d3 there follows 5 . . . W c4! (also sufficient is 5 . . . l:tf7 6. W g6 I:i: f8 7 . W g7 l::t f4! 8 . W g6 I:i:f8!); if5. :f2, then 5 . . . W d4! (also possible here is 5 . . . W d6 6. W g6 W e 7 , followed by 7. f4 IIg8+ or 7. W g7 l::I f7 +) 6. f4 W e 3 , with a draw. 82 . . . \ti es And in a few moves, this frustrating game was acknowledged a draw. Yi-Yi Now let's move to positions in which the pawn is on the third or sec ond rank, and the king is, as before , cut off from the pawn. Here - to an even greater extent than when the pawn is on the fourth rank - it's recommended for Black to put the rook on the eighth rank. However, Black can't always save the game even following this condition (see Diagrams 300- 303 , and Example 248 ) . 390 If it's White to move in Diagram 300, then he wins after l . f4! :es+ 2. Wf3 :f8! 3. W g4 l:tg8+ 4. 'lt' h5 l::I f8 5. Wg5 l:tg8+ 6. W h6 ! , as we have pointed out. Moving from f4 to f2 in the starting position does not significantly change the position or affect the outcome. It is useful also to note that in Dia gram 300 (with White to move) the win is assured, thanks to the presence of two files to the right of the pawn; so if we move the whole position one file to the right - that is, in the following position Rook Endings such methods in our analysis of Dia gram 27 1 . l . 'lfi> c3 Mc8+ 2. 'lfi>d4 Mb8 3. 'ltt c4 :cs+ 4. W d5 Mb8 If 4 . . . M d8 + , then 5. Wc6 Mc8+ 6. 'ltt b 7 :c3 7. Mb l 'ltt e6 8. b4, etc. 5. l:tbl 'lfi> f6 White cannot force the win, even if it is his tum to move. On that basis, we may conclude that with a knight pawn on the third rank, a two-file interval is not enough to win with. On the other hand, having three files to the pawn's right always ensures the win. N. Grigoriev, 1937 30 1 On 5 . . . Mb5+ there follows, of course, 6. 'ltt c6 (not 6. 'ltt c4 Mb8 7. b4? , in view of 7 . . . 'lit e6! , drawing) . 6. b4 'ltt e7 7. 'lfi> c6! and wins. On 7 . . . W d8 the simplest is 8. Md l + , and if 8 . . . 'lfi> c 8 , then 9. M h l . I n Diagram 30 1 , ifit is Black to move, then immediate use of the blended meth od no longer works. The correct winning path here is to give his opponent the move at once, in the following manner: l . . . W f6(!) �elatively better than l . . . W f4, af ter which White could immediately go to the blended method, e.g. , l . . . W f4 2. Wc3 :cs+ 3 . W d4 Mb8 4. Mb l @rs 5. 'lti> d5 , etc. Win I f it is White to move, he wins here by a blend of methods, consisting of a long king march followed by the rook's penetration into the back of Black's camp. We have already seen 2. l:te4! Here the rook traces an original sort of "triangulation: " e l -e4-e3-e l . Where as the effort to lose a tempo by moving the king in a triangle doesn't work here, because on 2. Wc2 l:tc8+ 3. W b l Black plays, not 3 . . . Mb8? (in view of 4. Wb2!), 39 1 Chapter 1 4 but first 3 . . . .ll h8 , and i f 4. 'it>b2, only then 4 . . . l:tb8!. 302 2 . . . 'it>f5 3 .ll e 3! 'it> f4 • On other replies White achieves the win more simply, for example 3 . . . \t> fO 4. \t> c 3 ! , or 3 . . . .ll h8 4. b4 \t> f4 5 . l:te l l:th3 6. \t> c2! 'it> f5 (6 . . . .ll g 3 7 . b5 .ll g 5 8 . b6, and now 8 .. J!tb5 9 . .ll b l or 8 . . . l:tc5+ 9. 'it>d3 .ll b 5 IO . .ll e 6, etc. ) 7 . b5 'it> tO 8 . b 6 @ fl 9 . .ll b l ! .ll h8 I O . 'it> c 3 'it> e6 l l . 'it> b4! 'it> d7 1 2 . .ll c l and White wins, for on 1 2 . . . .ll c 8 he replies 1 3 . .ll c 5! .ll c 6 1 4 . 'it> b 5 . White to move and win 1 . 'it> d3! .ll d 8+ If l . . .W h5 (or l . . .'it> h7 ) , then 2. e4! . 4 . .ll e l W f5 Neither 4 . . . 'it> f3 ( i n view o f 5 . 'it> c 3 .ll c 8 + 6 . W d4 .ll b 8 7 . .ll b l , etc . ) nor 4 . . . .ll h 8 , when there might follow, not only 5. W c 3 , but also 5. b4 .ll h3 6. W c 2 ! , as indicated in the previous annotation , is going to help. It would be still easier to indicate the win after the move in dicated in the previous note , 4 . . . \t> f5 . The point i s that the position arising af ter 4 . . . 'it> f5 corresponds exactly to that depicted in Diagram 30 I with White to move. Grigoriev's analyses presented here comprise an insignificant part of the de tailed research printed in Shakhmatny Ezhegodnik ( 1 937). Positions where the black king is held to the edge ofthe board are worthy of spe cial attention. Here sometimes it's pos sible to win even when the pawn is stuck on the third rank and the white king is poorly placed. 392 1 . W c4 l:tc8+ 3. 'it' d5 l:ld8+ 4. We5 I:te8+ 5. 'iil f6! l:tt8+ After 5 . . . 'it'h5, it would be a mistake to play 6. e4? as a result of 6 . . . l:txe4! 7 . 'it> f5 .ll a4! (not 7 . . . .ll h4?, in view of 8 . .ll g 8!) 8 . .ll h l + .ll h4, drawing. The cor rect answer to 5 . . . 'it> h4 is 6. l:te l ! , fol lowed by advancing the pawn . 6. 'it> e7 l:tf5 7. e4! .ll e 5+ 8. @ f6 and wins. We should not overestimate the chances involved in cutting off the en emy king on the edge of the board: A. Cheron, 1926 (See Diagram 303) Here, Black succeeds in saving the game, thanks to the somewhat unfortu nate position of the rook at g3. l ... \t> h6! Rook Endings 7. \t> e6 If White doesn't want to return to previous positions, there is only one thing left to try. 7 . . . l:!e8+ 8. l:!e7 l:!xe7+ ! 9. @xe7 @ g4, draw. Black to move and draw The black king forges ahead. He needn't fear 2. e4 at the moment, be cause of 2 . . . r!a2+! 3. @ d l (if 3. @ e 3 , then 3 . . . l:!a3+ and 4 . . . l:!xg3) 3 . . . l:!a4. 2. @ d3 3. l:!g l is met by 2 . . . W h5! (not 2 . . . l:!e8? because of 3 . @ d3!; see Diagram 302) and if 3. e4, then 3 . . . l:!a3! with an easy draw. 2 ... @ h5! 3 . e4 drops the rook, so Black suc ceeds in invading with the king. 3. 'iit d4 W h4 4. l:!g7 The combination examined with the rook trade would not have saved Black if the white rook were on g6 instead of g7, so we must also examine the position with the white rook on g6. Therefore we must also examine 4. l:!g6 (after l . . .@h6 2. @d3 @ h5 3 . @ d4 \t> h4) ; however, Black also gets a draw in this case , with 4 . . . 'it> h5 5. l:te6 'it> g5 6. e4 l:!a4+ 7. @d5 r!aS+ 8 . @ c4 \t> f4. Comparing Diagrams 302 and 303 with Diagram 30 l , we see that with the enemy king limited to the edge of the board , the chances for victory are in creased: the two-file interval in Diagrams 302 and 303 is roughly equal to the in terval of three files in Diagram 30 1 . c) BLACK'S KING IS BEHIND THE PAWN After 4. l:!g 1 , Black starts pestering the white king with checks along the eighth rank until it finds shelter on e2, and then he plays . . . �e8! again, after which the combination encountered in the analysis of Diagram 302 doesn't work. For 4. l:!g6, see below. 4 l:!d8+ 5. @ es l:!e8+ 6. @f5! r!f8+! Of course not 6 . . . r!xe3? because of 7. \t> f4! . . • • White wins 393 Chapter 1 4 In Diagram 304, the black king i s cut off from the pawn along the rank, while the white king gives it substantial assistance. White wins easily with l . @ f6 1Ia6 2. @ f7 and then e6-e7 . 306 Black to move and draw 2. e7 llf6+ 3. \t> g7 l:t g6+ 4. 'it> h7 W f6! 5. 1118+ @ xe7, draw. White wins I n this position , too, Black cannot save the game despite the improvement in his king's position. Here Black succeeded in drawing because of l ) the less active position of White 's rook; and 2) the small distance between the edge h-file and the e-file, on which the pawn is located. 307 1 . . . l:I a6 Preventing the immediate advance of the pawn, since on 2. d7? now there follows 2 . . . l:te6+ 3 . Wf7 (on 3 . @ f8 Black also replies 3 . . . @ d6) 3 . . . @ d6 4 . lla8 lle7+! and . . . l::t xd7 , with a draw. 2. l:'!h8! l:lxd6 3. 1Ih5+ Now let's move all the pieces in Dia gram 305 one file to the right. Kling and Horwitz, 1857 (See Diagram 306) 1 . . .l:tb6! If now 2. l:Ih8, then 2 .. Jhe6! 3 . 1Ih5+ @ g4. 394 Black to move and draw In this position, both rooks have enough maneuvering space. The out come of the game depends here on how far the pawn is able to advance. With the pawn on the third rank, Black gains the draw as follows: Rook Endings l. . . l::I b 8! We have already indicated, several times, the advantages of this kind of rook placement with a pawn that's not too far advanced. Another possibility here is I . . .l:::t b 4+ 2. 'iil h3 .l:Ib8 ! ; but mistaken would be not only I . . .l::I b 3? , in view of 2. 'iil h4! , but also l . . .l::I b 4+ 2. 'it> h3 l::I b 3?, in view of 3. 'lt h4!. Here the pawn is on the fourth rank. As a result, which Black can no longer save the game (in contrast to Diagram 307 ) . 1 . . . '.l:tb8 Also as before, l . . .l::I b4 meets with 2. 'iil h5! (2 . . . l::I xg4 3. l::I a 3+ 'it>f4 4. Ila4+) , while o n l . . .l::I b 5+ White retreats his king to h4. 2. l::I a 3+ 'it> e4 2. l::I a 2+ If 2. 'it> h4, then 2 . . . l::I h 8+ 3. 'it> g4 l:::t g 8+ 4. 'it> f4 l::I f8 + ! , etc. 2 ... 'it> e3 3. :as On 3. l::I a 3+ Wf2 4. 'it> h 5 , there again follows 4 . . . l::I h 8+ 5. 'iil g5 l::I g 8+ 6. 'iil f4 l:::t f8 + 7 . 'iil e5 l::I e8+ 8 . 'it> f6 l::I g 8 (8 . . . l::I f8+ 9. 'it> g7 l::I f3 i s also possible) . 3 'iil f2 4 . l::I g5 'iil g2 5. 'iil h5 l::I h8+ , draw. Now White cannot win with either 3. l::I a4+ 'it> f3 4. 'iil h6? , in view of 4 . . . l::I h 8+ 5. 'iil g7 l::I h4! , o r 3 . l::I a6 'it>f3 4. l::I g6 Wg3! 5. 'it> h6 'iil h4 6. g5 l:::t h8+ 7. 'it> g7 I:Ia8. 3. 'it> h6! The only wining move. If now 3 . . . l::I h8+ , then 4 . 'iil g7 , and on 3 . . J�b6+ there follows 4. 'iil h5 and 5. g5 . • • • Now let's move all the pieces in Dia gram 307 up one rank. 3 'iil f4 4. g5 l:::t h8+ 5. 'it>g7 and wins. • • • Here we remind you of this posi tion 308 Black to move; White wins 395 Chapter 1 4 i n which Black can draw only with 1 . . . <li> d5! (see Diagram 297 , Variation V af ter 4. d6) . Insufficient familiarity with the end games presented here was the reason for White 's defeat in Tylor - Eliskases, Hastings 1 937. In the position below Compared to the positions examined above , here not only the king, but also Black's rook is located at the rear of the enemy pawn. t . .. 'ii7 g5 The black king takes up a position next to the pawn, but this too is not enough to draw. 2. f6+ <li> g6 3. Mc6! :a 4. Me6 :n 5. �e2 and wins. 310 instead of forcing the draw with l . a8� ! � xa8 2. 'it' xg6 f5 3. �xf5! �g8+ 4. @ fl , Tylor played I . :b6? which was met by l . . .:xa7 2. 'it' xf6 g5 3. :b4+ (nor does 3 . l:tb l help, in view of 3 . �a6+ 4. <li> e5 W h 3 ! , as pointed out in our analysis of Diagram 308) 3 . . . <li> h5 4. Mb5 <li> h4! 5. Mb8 g4 6. <li> f5 W h3 ! , and White re signed. Black to move draws . . 309 This position might be obtained by moving the previous diagram one file to the right. Downgrading the black king's position can, in this case , be a favorable factor - allowing him to play for stale mate! t ... 'ii7 b5 2. g6+ 'ii7 b6 3. Md6 Mg2 4. :r6 Black to move; White wins 396 Up to this point, all as in the preced ing examples. But now Black saves the game by a clever stalemate combination, one of the basic leitmotifS of the studies by A. 0. Herbstmann. Rook Endings 4 . . . :g5! 5. :n : rs + ! 6. l:txf5, stale mate. Examples 214-253: 2 1 4. Besides the most typical positions examined above, the following position, with the pawn on the seventh, also de serves study. Chess Player's Chronicle, 1878 31 1 White wins only if he is on move. 2 1 5. Black to move; White wins 1. .. :a6+ 2. @ d5! : g6 If 2 . . :as, then 3 . �h8; while on 2 . . �a5 + , there follows 3 . @ c4 :a4+ 4 @b3 . . . . 3. � e5! 'iil g4 White to move wins. Does it affect the re sult to start with the white rook on h 7? 2 1 6. Forced. 4. :ht @ a! 5. lln + 'lft e3 6. :n, with the decisive threat of 'iil e5-f5-f6. White to move wins. 397 Chapter 14 217. 220. Draw, but only ifBlack is on move. 218. White to move; Black wins. 221. Black to move draws. 219. 222. White to move wins. 398 White wins. Black to move; White wins. Rook Endings 223. 226. Black to move; White wins. White to move draws. 227. 224. Draw. 225. Position from the second Philidor variation after Black's move 14: Win. White to move wins. 228. White to move wins. 399 Chapter 14 232. 229. Black to move; draw. White to move wins; Black to move draws. 233. 230. Draw. Draw. 231. Black to move; White wins. 400 234. White to move draws. Rook Endings 238. 235. White to move draws. Is J. l:th2+ correct? Win. 239. 236. White to move draws. Black to move draws. 240. 237. Black to move draws. White to move draws. 401 Chapter 14 244. 241. White to move; draw. White to move draws. 242. 245. Win only if it is Black to move. 243. White to move draws. Is 1. l:teJ+ r:tl/4 2. "i:J.bJ the correct solution? 402 Draw. 246. Win. Rook Endings 247. N. Grigoriev. Win. 248. N. Grigoriev. Win. 250. White wins only ifhe is on move. 251. Black wins. 249. Black wins. 403 Chapter 14 252. conditions aren't met, the win cannot be counted on. Flank pawns are harder to exploit than center pawns, since in the first case, White's king is somewhat restricted in its activity. Lasker - 'Iarrasch World Championship ( 7) Munich 1908 In a game Kan - Lisitsyn ( Leningrad 1 934), here Black played I . .Jlh4+?. How could Black have gained the draw? 312 253. Black to move; White wins Here, the white king is in front of its pawns, but this is not very important as it needs to retreat in order to allow the pawns to move forward. Black wins only if he is on the move. C. ROOK + 1WO PAWNS vs. ROOK a) CONNECTED PAWNS In most cases, two connected pawns usually win in rook endings. q the white pieces aren't placed too passively, and the pawns are not blocked, the win may be considered to be certain. But if these 404 l •.. :n + 2. W g5 l:f7 White threatened to drive the king back to the eighth rank. 3. h5 l:a7 4. l:tb5 Both rooks retreat in preparation for flank attacks. 4 . l:g7+ 5. W f4 l:c7 .. Rook Endings If s . . . :n+ 6. :rs :a7, then 7. gS Ma4+ S. @ g3 :a3+ 9. @ g4 l:ta4+ IO. Mf4, etc . 6. g5 @ g7 7. @ f5 White should delay advancing his pawns for a bit: it is recommended to push the pawns only when the black king is unable to occupy the vacated squares. 7. g6 would be too hasty, in view of 7 . . . @ h6; and if 7. h6+ , then 7 . . . @ g6 S. Mb6+ @ hS . By advancing the pawns, White would render his task more dif ficult, at least. 1 . . . :n+ l S . @g4 :a4+ 1 6. @f5 :as+ 17. Wf6 (also strong would be 1 7. l:IeS nas l S. @gS ! , and then h6-h7+ and Wh6) 17 . . . :a6+ l S . l::t e 6 ItaS 1 9 . l:Id6! I::I bS (if 19 . . . :es, then 20. :d7 followed by We7 and :dS) 20. W e7! l:::t b 7+ 2 1 . l:td7 i!lbS 22. :ds+ . 14. <lt g6! n b6+ 1 4 . . . :bs would be met , not by l S . h 7 + ? , but by l S . @ f6! :ra+ (or 1 S . . . nb6+ 1 6 . : e6 and then gS-g6) 1 6 . @ e6 l:I fl 1 7 . g6! : e l + l S . @ d6 : d l + 1 9 . @ c s l::t c l + 20. @ d4 I::I d l + 2 1 . @ c 3 i:Ic l + 2 2 . @ d2 :cs 2 3 . @ d3 l:taS 2 4 . : c 7 ; afterwards, White brings the king to d7 or b7 and then plays : c s + . In this position, S . h6+ was threat ened: after S . . . @ h7 9. @ g4 Black could not exploit the g6 square , in view of 1 0 . Mb6+ and 1 1 . @ hS . 1s. <>tt rs :ds+ 16. c;tir6 :b8 11. g6 :as 18. l:te5 W h8 19. @g5! l:::tg8 20. nbs! 8. 'iil g4 : a 7 9. h6+ @ g6 10. :b6+ ! 'it>h7 1 1 . @ hS �as 20. h7? would have been a serious mistake, in light of 20 . . . :xg6+ . White threatened mate in two. 20...nes 2 1 . h7! 12. :b7+ @ g8 13. l:e7 Now is the right time. Preparing 1 4. @ g6. 1-0, since on 2 1 . . . @ g7 White decides the game by 22. l:tb7+ WhS 2 3 . '>ti>h6. 13 . . J'lbS On 1 3 . . . : a6, White should not an swer 1 4. h7+? @ hS l S . g6, in view of 1 S . . . l:txg6! (or 1 S . . . :a6+ 1 6 . @ h6 MhS!). The method Lasker employed in this game was the most accurate and most convincing. Any deviation from it might have meant difficulties for White. For instance, had he brought the game to the following position - The proper reply to 13 ... :a6 would be 1 4 . g6! (threatening mate) 14 . . . :as+ 405 Chapter 1 4 313 Draw, regardless of whose move it is with White to move , he would have had to sacrifice a pawn to get the win: l . 'iil f5! : xh5 2. :e7+ 'iitl f8 3. :a7, with 'iil g6 next. Now let us move on to positions in which the pawns are placed diagonally, with the black king blocking the rear pawn. As was already pointed out in our analysis of Lasker - Tarrasch, such positions are comparatively unfavorable to White. Andre Cheron spent a lot of time working on these endings, publishing de tailed research in the Belgian magazine L'Echiquier ( 1 926). This showed that drawing positions would be encountered here roughly twice as often as winning ones. Here's the simplest example of a draw. A. Cheron, 1926 (See Diagram 313) The white king is "cut off, " his rook is passively placed, and his pawns have hardly advanced at all. I n this case, the draw is achieved simply: it's enough to move the black rook back and forth along the e-file. 406 For example, if it is Black to move, then 1 . . .:e 1 , and if 2. :ffi, then 2 . . . 'iil xd3 3 . c5 'iil d4 4. c 6 'itd5! and . . . :c l . And if it is White to move i n the start ing position, he still can't win, for exam ple: t . 'it>f6 :es 2. 'iil g6 : e l ! 2 . . . l:Ie6+ would b e a mistake, since it would allow White to improve the posi tion of his rook: (2 . . . l:Ie6+?) 3. l:Iffi! :es 4. l:Id6+ 'iil c5 5. :ds. If now White man ages to occupy d5 with the rook, then the win is not difficult. Being in Zugzwang, Black cannot prevent this maneuver, for instance 5 . . . 'iil c6 6. @ ffi, after which Black must either give up the d5 square or let the white king get closer. 3. \t> f6 :e2, draw. CMron points out that, if all the chess men in Diagram 3 1 3 are moved left or right by any number of files, then the out come is not affected; nor does it change if the position is moved one rank lower. Rook Endings Nonetheless, here too Black has a defense! A. Cheron, 1926 314 5 ••. 'it'c5! 6. b6 On 6. l:e6 there now follows 6 . . . @ xb5 ! ; i f 6. a 7 , then 6 . . . ..txd6 7. b6 :t!h8+ 8. @ b7 @ cs 9. @ a6 l::t h l ! . 6 @ xd6 7. @ a8 l::t h8+! The same move would follow 7. a7 or 7. b7, for example, 7. a7 l: h8+ 8. ®b7 '>t>c5! . Draw In Diagram 3 14 the draw is achieved only with great difficulty, despite the fact that the pawns are on outside files; the problem is that, in this position, the pawns are much further advanced than they are in the position from the previous diagram. 8. rtJa7 W c6 9. b 7 W c7 9 . . 'it'b5 is possible. . Draw. Now let us present a position that is winning for White. l . @ c8 In Diagram 3 1 3 , White's king was not active , while here it enjoys the most favorable position possible. t . .J:tg7 2. :t!d7 :t!g8+ 3. l:td8 :t!g7 4 ..tb8! ••. A. Cheron, 1926 • Not 4. :t!d6+ @ xb5 5 . @b8, in view of 5 . . . :t!g8 + , etc. 4 • • • l:Ih7 5. :t!d6+! If 5 . l:Ie8 l::t g 7 6. l:e6+, then 6 . . . @xb5! 7. a 7 l:g8 + . After the check o n d 6 , Black cannot knock off the b5-pawn, in view of (5. l:d6+ 'it' xb5) 6. a7 l::t h 8+ 7 . @ c7 :t!h7+ (or 7 . . . :t!h8+ 8. @ b7) 8 . l:d7. Black to move; White wins Analysis of this position shows the nuances that influence the outcome of the game in such positions. 407 Chapter 1 4 Here White only wins due to Zugzwang. Cheron demonstrates that if in the starting position it is White s move, then the game is a draw because White can't pass the move to his opponent! Any move by Black involves a weakening of his position: the king cannot stray from d6 because of the maneuver l:tb5-b7-d7 , and the rook can only move along the e file because otherwise White's king will skip to the queenside, and through a5, get to b6. 'it' c8 Il c l ! (White was threatening c6c7) 1 6 . l:Ib7 'it' xd5 1 7 . c7 'it' c6 I 8 . 'it'b8 and wins. If both pawns have already crossed the fifth rank, then White 's winning chances are still better. Kling and Horwitz, 185 1 Thus, Black has only rook moves along the e-file at his disposal. However, all of them lose, as the following analysis by Cheron shows. I ) I . . .i.::t e 7? 2. l::t b 7. 2) l . . .�e5? 2. c7! l::t e 8 3 . l::t b 8. 3) I . . .I!e2 2 . l::t b 8! (threatening to get the rook to d7) 2 . . . l::t t2 + 3. 'it' e3 l::t t7 4. Ilb7! l::t xb7 5. cxb7 'it' c7 6. 'it' e4 'it' xb7 7 . <ti es 'it'c7 8 . 'it' e6 . 4) 1 . . .l:Ie l ! 2 . l: b 8 ! :n+! 3 . 'it' g5 (the king heads for the corner at a8!) 3 ... l:Ig l + 4. @ f5 l:fl + 5. 'it>g6 l:Ig l + 6 . 'it'f7 :n + 7 . 'it' e 8 Ite l + 8 . 'it' d8 l: h l 9 . 'it' c8 l:Ih7 (if9 . . . l: h 8 + , then I O . 'it' b7 l:h7+ 1 1 . 'it' b6 ; while 9 . . . 'it' xd5 fails to I O . l:Ib6! 'it' c5 [if IO . . . l::t h 6 or IO . . . Il h8 + , then I I . Wb7 , while on I O . . . l::t h 7 White replies 1 1 . c7] I I . 'it'b7 l: h6 1 2 . l::t b I ! ) 10. l:Ib5 llg7 l l . 'it' b8 ! (the white king continues on its journey) I I . . . :h7 12. 'it' a8! (if now 12 ... l::t h 8 + , then 1 3 . l::t b 8 followed by l::t d8 + ; and Black's rook can't stay on the seventh rank ei ther, since on 12 . . . l::t g 7 there follows I 3 . l:'Ib7! :gt [or 1 3 . . . l:Ig8 + 1 4. l:Ib8] I 4 . l:Id7+ ) I 2 . . . l::t h I 1 3 . l::t b 8! l::t a l + ( 1 3 . . . 'it' xd5 1 4 . c7) 1 4 . '\tib7 l::t b l + 1 5 . 408 Win Here victory is won thus: I . 'it'a5 l:h5+ 2. l:b5 l:th8 3. l:b6! Ilh5+ 4 'it'b4! (this maneuver is made possible only by the position of one of the pawns on the seventh rank) 4 . . . l::t h 4+ 5 . 'it' d4 l::t h 5+ 6. 'it' d4 Il h4+ 7. 'it' e 5 l::t h5+ 8. 'it' f4 l::t h4+ 9. 'it' g5 l::t h 8 I O . l::t c 6! 'it' b8 ( 1 1 . l::t c 8 was threatened) I I . @ g6 :rs 1 2. @ g7 l::td8 1 3 . l::t f6 and 14. :rs. We should not think, however, that if we succeed in establishing one pawn on the seventh, and the other on the sixth, that the win is always assured. The following position of Cheron's Rook Endings shows the opposite: here there is no win, because the white rook cannot leave the h-file here (in view of . . . 'itlxg6) , and Black has flank attacks. Here, too, there is no win for White , for example: 1 . I:td4 I:lb6 2. lld8 l:Ib4+ 3. 'it>e5 l::t b 7! 4. l:tg8+ 'it>h7 5. l::tg7+ l:txg7 . b) DISCONNECTED PAWNS A pretty draw was obtained by Bern stein ( Black) against Geilmann ( Berlin, 190 1 ) . I n this position I n rook endings, isolated pawns (es pecially if they are not too distant from one another) are considerably weaker than connected ones; even in those cas es where isolated pawns must win, it re quires very energetic and accurate play. 317 he played 1 . . .I:t c l + 2. � d5 l:Id l + 3 . �c6 I:tc l + 4. � b6 I:tc7! 5. � a6 (if 5. a6, then 5 ... l:Ixb7+ ! ) 5 . . Jlc6+ , forcing stalemate! In conclusion, we point out again the following position by Kling and Hor witz: White to move This position occurred in Game 9 of the Schlechter - Tarrasch match (Co logne, 191 1 ) . Black clearly must gain 409 Chapter 1 4 the draw here, but only after overcom ing a series of tall hurdles. 1. l::t e 3 W f6 2. l::t g 3 l::t a l 3. W g4 l::I a8 4. l::t b 3 l:::t g 8+ 5. 'iti f3 l::tg l 6. l::tb8 :n + 7. 'ittg4 l::t g l + 8. 'ittb 5! Up to here , it's the same as in Sch lechter - Tarrasch , which continued as follows: 8 . . . l::t g 7? 9. :I f8 + 'itt e7 1 0. l::t f5 'itt e6 1 1 . l::t g 5 l::t h7+? (after this, White wins by force; however, even Spielmann's recommended continua tion 1 1 . . .:n 1 2 . W g4 l::t a 7 1 3 . h4 l::t a l is only a little better, for example 1 4 . l::t g 6+ W f7 1 5 . l::t b 6 ; i f now 1 5 . . . l:l a7 1 6 . W g5 l::t a 5+ 1 7 . f5 l::t a7, then White gains the victory this way: 1 8 . h5 \tig7 1 9. h6+ W h7 20. l::t e6 l::t b 7 2 1 . l::t e 5! l:a7 22. f6 l: a l 2 3 . �e7+ ; while if 15 . . . :g I + 1 6 . W f5 � h i , then 1 7 . l:b7+ with the following variations: 17 ... 'it> g8 1 8 . h5!; 17 . . .<iit f8 1 8 . W f6 'it> g8 1 9 . h 5 ! ; 1 7 . . . W e8 1 8 . W f6 :xh4 1 9 . l: b 8 + W d7 20. f5 and White wins, since now the black king interferes with the creation of flank attacks) 1 2 . W g6! l:xh3 1 3 . l: e 5 + W d6 1 4. l: e l and wins. O n 1 0 . . . l:fl 1 1 . 'itt g5 l:g l + 12. 'it>f.5 l::t h l , White can respond with 1 3. :Ig6+; if now 13 . . . @ h7? (better is 13 . . . Wf7!, as in the main line), then 1 4. l:g4 'itt h6 15. Wf6 'itt h5 1 6 . l:g8! l:a l 1 7 . l:f8! Wxh4 (or 1 7 . . . l:a6+ 1 8 . W g7 l::t a7+ 1 9. I:It7, etc . ; and if 1 7 . . . @ g4, then 1 8 . f5) 18. f.5 l::t a 6+ 1 9. 'itt g7 l::t a 7+ 20. Wg6 and wins. 1 1 . l::t b 5 Preparing the move that follows. 1 1 ... W f6 12. l::t g5 l::t n 13. :Ig6+! 'ittt7 ! If 1 3 . . . W fS , then 14. l::t g 8. 14. l:Ig4 l::t a l ! 1 4 . . . @ f6 now falls t o 1 5 . 'itt h6 'it>f5 1 6 . l::t g 8! . 15. 'it> g5 319 318 15 8 ... 'itif7! 9. l::t b 6 'iti g7 10. h4 'ittt7 ! 410 • • • l::t a s This allows White to push forward the h4-pawn while keeping the f4-pawn in place. Therefore, it might have had more Rook Endings point if Black had played 1 5 . . . :as + , try ing to induce White to play f4-f5 and de priving the white king of the f5 square. For example, 1 5 . . . :as+! 1 6 . f5 (if 1 6. 'it'h6, then 1 6 . . . :rs! 1 7. h5 W f6 l S . :gs <tif7! 1 9 . :g4 Wf6 20. :h4 Wt7 2 1 . W h7 Mf6, and White cannot win as his king is shut in) 1 6 . . . : a l (White would have answered 16 . . . : a7? with 1 7 .It.b4, having in mind the continuation 17 . . . W g7 l S. h5 Mc7 19. h6+ W h7 followed byIt.b4-b5e5, f5-f6, and It.e7) 1 7. h5 @ g7! l S . h6+ (if l S . f6+, then 1 S . . . W f7) 1 S . . . @ h7 1 9. l:e4 llg l + 20. @f6! :au 2 1 . l:.eS l::t a 2! (not 2 l . . .l::t a6? in view of 22. Wg5, when White wins) 22. Wf7 (to get off dead center) 22 . . . W xh6! 23. f6 (or 23. :hs+ <tig5 24. f6 l::t a 7+!) 23 ... l::t a 7+ 24. l::t e 7 (if 24. @ f8 , then 24 . . . W g6) 24 . . . :as! and Black draws, as was explained more fully in our analysis of Diagram 2S4. t6. h5 @ g7 The threat was 1 7. h6 and l S . l::t h 4 shutting out Black's pieces. t7. It. g t 1 7 . h6+ , with which Marshall drew his game against Rubinstein at San Se bastian 1 9 1 1 , is also insufficient: 17 . . . <tih7 l S . @ h5 l::t f8! 1 9. :b4 (if l 9. :g7+ <tihS 20. @ g5 , then 20 . . . : rs + ! , forcing the draw) 1 9 . . . :gS! 20. f5 (the threat was 20 . . . llg6) 20 . . . llg l ! 2 1 . : f4 (nor does 2 1 . l::t e 4 : h i + 22. Wg5 :g 1 + 23. <tif6 win, in view of 23 ... l::t a l ! 24. Wf7 W xh6 25. f6 l::t a 7+ 26. :e7 :as, draw) 2 1 . . .l:. h I + 22. Wg5 : xh6 23. f6 (if 23. l:.a4, then 23 ... l::t b 6!) 23 ... l:.g6+! 24. Wf5 l::t g l , draw. t 7 . . . l:. a5+ ts. W g4 After l S . f5 l::t a 2 we get a position analogous to that examined previously (see the note to Black's move 1 5) . t 8 Ita2! .•• Black strives continuously to exploit not only flank attacks, but also attacks from the rear. It would have been weaker to play 1 S . . . W h6? in view of 1 9 . It.b l ! Ita6 20. l::t b4 l::t c 6 2 1 . l::t e 4! l::t a6 22. f5 Ital 23. f6! and White wins thanks to his threats of 24. l::t f4 and 24. I:!.eS. For example, 23 . . . :as 24. @ f5It.as+ (24 . . . 'it>xh5 25. f7) 25. \t> e6 l::t a 6+ 26. @ e7 :a7+ 27. @f8; if now 27 ... l::t aS + , then 2S. :es followed by 29. f7 and moving the king to e7, gS , or eS; if 27 . . . WxhS, then 2S. f7 @g6 29. l::t f4! (not 29. @gS? in view of 29 . . . l::t xt7! 30. l:.g4+ @f5) 29 . . . MaS+ (the threat was 30. @gS) 30. @e7 :a7+ 3 1 . \t> e6 and wins. t9. :bt l::t g2+ 20. @f5 :h2! 2 t . :b7+ @h6 22. @f6 l::tx h5 23. f5 : h t 24. :b2! :hJ! 24 . . . @ hS would be a mistake here, in view of 25. l:.bS ; so would 24 ... \t> h7, because of 25. @ f7 . 25. @ r7 Black would answer 2 5 . l::t g2 with 25 . . . l:. h l 26. \t> t7 :au , threatening at tacks from the flank. 25 •.. l::t aJ 26. :b7 :as, draw. 41 1 Chapter 1 4 We have already examined a similar position (see Diagram 287). play for the win is to sacrifice a pawn in order to activate the king. The variations presented apparently force us to acknowledge that two isolated pawns with a single file between them do not ensure victory in rook endings. If the isolated pawns are further apart, winning chances are usually better, since Black finds it hard to defend against threats to advance on both sides at the same time. However, if the white pieces stand pas sively, or if there are stalemate combina tions, here too the draw is possible (see Diagrams 320 and 32 1 ) . 3. @a :C. xh4 4. @ e2 :C. a4 5. c;i;>d2 :C. a6 Black also draws with 5 . . . :C.a8 6. c;i;>c2 l::t c 8+ 7. @ b3 l:tb8+ 8. @ a4 l::t a 8+ 9. c;i;> bS l:tb8+ 1 0. @ c6 l::t a 8! , etc. 6. c;i;> c2 kt f6 Even simpler than the continua tion indicated in the previous note : 6 . . . l:ta8. 7. :C. d3 @ f7 8. @ b3 @ e7 9. @b4 :C. d6, draw. R. Reti, 1929 321 Black to move In this position (taken from the Goteborg - Stockholm match) , Black forced the draw as follows: White to move and win l. .. :C. a4! 2. :C. f3+ After 2 . h5? @g5 White drops a pawn. 2 •.• @ g6 White 's pieces are tied down to the defense of his pawns. The only way to 412 If the pawn were on b6 instead ofb7, the win would not have been difficult after I . :C.c l ; but now White 's task is ren dered considerably more difficult by the fact that there are stalemate possibilities in the air. 1. :C. b5! Rook Endings The only way to win. Other moves only lead to a draw; for example: 1 ) I . W aS l::t f2 2. l::t g 1 (or 2. W a6 l::t tO + 3. l::tb6 l::t xb6+! 4. W xb6, stalemate) 2 . . . l::t f8 3. W a6 (if 3 . W b6, then 3 . . . :rn 4. l::t gS l::t fS !, etc.) 3 . . . l::t g8 4. l::t g 2 (after 4. Wb6 or 4. g7 , once again Black can "sac rifice" his rook; if 4. WbS, then 4 . . . Wxb7 s. WcS W c7 6. W dS W d7 7. Wes We7 8. wrs l:f8+ 9. WgS :f2 10. 'i.t>h6 Wf8 is a draw) 4 . . . l::t g7 S. WbS (S. l:tg3 g8 6. g7 once again allows 6 . . . l::t xg7!) S . . . W xb7 6. WcS W c7 7. W dS W d7 8. 'i.t>eS 'lile7 9. WfS Wf8 10. l::t a 2 l::t b 7, draw; 2) I . l::t b 2 l::t fl 2. l::t g 2 l::t f8 3. W bS (or 3. :b2 l::t ffi ! 4. l::t g 2 l::t f8 , draw) 3 . . . W xb7 and so forth, as in the first variation; 3) I . l::t b 6 l::t fl 2. W a3 (or 2. WbS l::t b l + 3 . W cS l::t xb6! 4. W xb6, stale mate) 2 . . . 1:. c l 3 . Wb2 l::t c S , and White cannot win, for instance: 4. :b4 �gS! or 4. 'i.t>b3 l::t c l , etc . ; 4 ) 1 . l::t g l 'it> xb7 and s o o n , as i n the first variation. 1 . . . 1:. n 2. 1:. gS As becomes clear later on, White only wins because he occupies the fifth rank in a timely fashion. 2 l::t f8 3. 'it> b5 'iii'x b7 4. W c5 Wc7 5. W d5 W d7 6. � es rtf e7 7. l::t f5 ! ..• The decisive move. Black cannot trade rooks: 7 . . . 1:. xfS + 8. W xfS We8 9. 'it e6! W f8 1 0. r:tif6 'it> g8 1 1 . g7 . 7 l::t a8 8. l::t f7 + � e8 9. W f6 and wins. • • • Now let's look at the next position, fea turing doubled isolated pawns for White: 0. Duras, 1903 White to move and win Here the b6-pawn plays more of a negative role , since in its absence White wins easily with I . l::t d 2+ rtJe7 2. l::t d4! . But since it's there, White can only win by study-like play. 1 . l::t d 2+ rtf e7 Now 2. l::t d4 is pointless because of 2 . . . 1:. a l 3. rtJc7 l::t c I + , and White ' s king has to go back, since the b6 square is oc cupied by his own pawn. 2. l::t d6!! l::t c3 2 . . . W xd6 meets, of course, with 3 . rtJ c 8 l: c 3 + 4. W d8 l:.h3 S . b8� + ! . I f 2 . . . 1:.a l , then 3 . � c 7 l::t c l + 4. l::t c 6!. 3. l:c6! l:x c6 Nor does 3 . . . l::t d 3 help, in view of 4. l::t c S (threatening S. l::t a S, with rtJe7 to follow) . 4. rtf a7 and wins. 413 Chapter 14 Examples 254-273: 254. Kling and Hoiwitz, 1851. Draw. 255. A. Cberon, 1926. Win. 257. Draw. 258. A. Cberon, 1926. Win. 259. A. Cberon, 1926. 256. Black wins. 414 Black to move and draw. Find the only correct move. Rook Endings 260. 263 . White to move; Black wins. Draw. Find the sole saving move. 264. A. Cheron, 1 926. Wtn. Note: In the main line , up until the deci sive moment, White moves only his king . 262. Black to move and draw. Indicate the right move after 1 . . . @ xb4 2. :at @ b5 3 . a6 @ b6 4. a 7 l::t c 7+ 5 . @ d6 l:xa7 6. :bl + . Draw. 415 Chapter 1 4 265. A. Cheron, 1 926. White to move. Find the forced win in the two main variations. 266. 268. White to move and draw. Examine the variation starting with 1. :C:a5+. Black to move and draw. Find the only move to draw. White to move - draw. Black does not allow the opposing king, either on the c-file or on the b8 square. Examine the variations after 1 . @ a4 and 1 . l: a4. White wins with the help of Zugzwang. 416 Rook Endings 273. E Galgozzi, 1 924. 270. Black to move and win. Is l . . . b2 correct? 27 1 . Draw! Examine the moves l . . .g2 , I . . .l:tg2, and l . . .fl � + . D . ROOK vs. PAWNS Black to move and win. 272. Although this ending is not com monly categorized with other "rook endings," it seems to us that it is accept able to think of it precisely thus, since many "rook endings" lead (after the loss or sacrifice of a rook) to just this end ing. Lacking a foundation in the rook vs. -pawns ending, we would have to tum aside while analyzing the more complex endgames. a) SINGLE PAWN Black to move and draw. In the struggle of rook against one pawn, the winning chances are of course held by the rook; however, the weaker side often manages to bring the game to a draw. Positions in which the pawn gets the point are the exception. The follow ing position, from an 1 895 game Potter - Fenton, is one of them. 417 Chapter 1 4 The idea behind this move is not hard to find: on 6. c8� Black replies 6 . . . l:tc4+ ! , forcing stalemate. 323 Now it begins to look like though Black has saved the game, since on 6. W c3 there follows 6 . . . I::t d l ! , and if 6. c;itc2, then 6 . . . l:td4. 6. csn ! White to play and win In some manuals, this position is presented as a study by Emanuel Lasker. In fact, this position came up in a prac tical game - although, true , it did end in a draw. The path to victory was pointed out by Saavedra. Lasker mentioned this position in his lectures (he certainly did not give himself credit) , after which it became widely known. Another change in impressions! 6 . . . na4 7. c;it b3! The crux of the combination: Black must lose the rook. If we move the position in Diagram 323 one or several files to the right, the win is simpler, as there is no stalemate combination at Black's disposal (see the fifth move in the main variation) . I. c7 l::t d 6+ 2. W bS 2. c;itc5 would be mistaken in light of 2 . . . l::t d l !. For the same reason, White should not go to the c-file on the third or fourth moves. To the number of positions in which the pawn triumphs over the rook, we can add the following: I) Also weak.is 2. c;itb7, in view of2 . . .l::t d 7!. 2 . . . l:IdS+ 3. c;itb4 l:td4+ 4. Wb3 Itd3+ 5. 'iti c2 To those who do not know this study, it might seem that the solution has already been found, since Black cannot prevent the pawn from queening (and � vs. l: al most always wins - see Chapter 15). 5 418 •.. l::t d4! After 1 . a7 l:tb3+ (or l . . . l:tb l ) 2. W a2 , Black must resign. Rook Endings 2) White easily attains his goal with 1 . d7 :c4+ 2 . @ d3 :c l 3 . @ d2. How ever, if we move the whole position one rank to the left - that is, in this position WKbJ, pc6, BKa5, Ra4 Black gets a draw after 1 . c7 :b4+ 2. W c3 l:Ib6! 3. c8� :c6+! 4. �xc6 stalemate. - 4) Study by A. Selezniev: Here the win comes after 1 . c7 :b6+ 2. \tt dS l:IbS+ 3. '.ti d4 :b4+ 4. @ d3 l:tb3+ S . W d2! ( S . @ c 2 would be a blun der because of S . . . :bS! 6. c8� :cs+! 7. �xcS, stalemate) S ... :b2+ 6. 'lti>c l and White wins, since here there are no stalemate combinations. If, in the position under examination, we move the black king to a2 ( WKd6, pc6, BKa2, Rb5) , then White can't win, since after his king moves to c2 or c 1 the rook checks from b2 or b 1 , where it is defended by the black king. 3) White wins with 1 . fl :c6+ 2. @es (2. We7? :c l ) 2 ... :cs+ 3 . @ e4 :c4+ 4. We3 (also possible is 4. @f3 :c 1 S . @f2 etc . , as i n the main line) 4 . . . :c3+ S. @f2 (up until move 4, White's king could not go to the f-file because of . .. :c l followed by . . . l:I fl + ; now White uses the f2 square as a transit point to n1ove over to the g-file) S . . . l:Ic2+ 6. Wg3 l::t c 3+ 7. @ g4 l:.c4+ 8. W gS :cs+ 9. Wg6 :c6+ 10. @g7. As we already noted, the positions in which the pawn defeats the rook are rather rare . Usually, only the rook has winning chances. So the question is usually phrased as follows: can I make use of the advantage a rook has over a paw n , or will the game end in a draw? 419 Chapter 1 4 Euwe spent quite a lot of time on this endgame, and in 1934 he published the results of his research. We will be using some of Euwe's positions later on, and also the method employed by him. M. Euwe, 1934 324 White to move wins; Black to move draws White to move wins; Black to move draws Here the rook covers the pawn's pro motion square (di), and the question boils down only to whether White's king can get to the pawn in time. Considering the rook and the black king as immobile (each one's movement in this position involves a loss of tempo), we may an swer this question by using the "rule of the square." For instance, if it's White to move in Diagram 324, then his king enters the square d4-dl-a l-a4, and so White wins. With Black to move, he plays l ...d3, and the game is drawn as White's king will not make it into the necessary square d3-d l-b l-b3. The variations sup port this conclusion: With White to move, he wins l) with I. @b4 d3 (nor does I...@d2 help, because of 2. @c4 and 3. �a3, at least) 2. @c3 d2 3. @c2; 2) With Black to move, Black has a draw after l ...d3 2. @b4 d2 3. @c3 (or 3. �a2 @el) 3...d l�. 420 Here, Black must expend two tempi (...@e4-e3-e2) in order to safeguard the pawn's advance; therefore White can en ter the d4-d l-al-a4 square, even though he is two moves away. In other words, it all comes down to whether the white king can get into a square extended by two squares now, which is the square d6-d l-al-a6 (in fact, instead of a square, we are now deal ing with a rectangle, enclosed by the limits of the chessboard). With White to move, he enters into this square and wins, for exam ple with I. @c6 d3 (nor do other moves save Black) 2. @cs d2 3. @c4 @e3 4. @c3 @e2 5. @c2. With Black to move it's a draw, because now White cannot prevent the pawn from advancing to d2 and the black king to e2, followed by ...d2-d I�. The "rule of the square" presented here completely resolves the issue if the rook attacks the queening square and Black 's king does not prevent the white king from approaching. If the black king is in the path of the white king's advance, then the question grows more complex (see Diagrams 326-333). Rook Endings White to move and draw Here the white king can get into the extended square e l -e6-a6-a 1; neverthe less, the win is not there, because the black king blocks off the white king. On 1. @c6 there follows l...e3, after which White, in view of the inaccessibility of the dS square, must spend a tempo on 2. @d6, ending up in this manner outside the required square el-eS-aS-a l with his king. This circum stance allows Black to draw with 1. @c6 e3 2. @d6 e2 3. @es @d3 4. @f4 @d2. c7), and this proves sufficient to reach his goal. White wins with 1. @d6 e3 (on I...@d4 there follows 2. @e6 e3 3. @fS, when the white king reaches the square e l-eS-hS-h l in time) 2. e2 3. @f4 @d3 4. @f3 @d2 S. W f2 . Now it is clear that, for an exhaustive solution of the task, one must take into account not only the possibility of the white king's approach from the left (@c7c6-cS etc.), but also the roundabout approach from the right (@c7-d6-eS etc.) M. Euwe, 1934 328 M. Euwe, 1934 White to move and win White to move and win Compared with Diagram 326, here the white king has shifted (from b7 to Here the white king can get into the square that is extended by two squares: f l-t7-a7-a l , while the black king can't prevent the roundabout maneu ver @d8-e7-f6-gS, etc. With the king placed on c8 or c7, White would not be able to win, since after his roundabout operations to the right he would come up one tempo short, while approach ing from the left interferes with Black's king. On the other hand, putting the white king on cS 42 1 Chapter 1 4 'it> e2 W g l 7 . W f3 g2 8 . l::t g 8 'it' h l ! , the simplest win is 9. W f2) 5 . llf8+ 'it>g2 6. We2. 2) l . l:t f8 + \t e4! (White wins quickly after l . . .'litg4? 2. W e6 and 3. W f5 ) 2 . W f6 g4 (2 . . . W f4 3 . W g6+) 3. 'it>g5 g3 4. W h4 g2 5 . l:tg8 'it> f3 6. Wh3. If in the last diagram we move the white rook to d6, then, strangely enough, White can no longer win: again makes the win possible , since here White can drive off the black king and clear the way for the white king's ap proach, for example l . W c4 W e 3 (on l . . .f4 there would follow 2. lle l + ! @ f3 3 . 'it1 d3 , etc. ) 2. 'it1 c 3 'it1 e2 (or 2 . . . f4 3 . lle l + W f2 4 . W d2) 3 . W d4 f4 4 . W e4 f3 5 . lla2 + . M. Euwe, 1934 M. Euwe, 1934 329 White to move. Draw White to move and win Here White has two ways to win, by moving to left or right. 1) l . W d6 g4 ( l . . .c;ite4 2. J:l:g8 W f4 3 . \t d5 , etc . ) 2 . W d5 W f4 3 . � d4 'it> f3 (if 3 . . . g3 , then 4 . J:!:f8+ and 5 . 'it> e3) 4. 'it> d3 'it>t2 (after 4 . . . g3 5 . llf8+ W g2 6. 422 As Euwe indicates, now the first method indicated doesn't work (given the impossibility of playing l . 'it1 d6), nor does the second, since after l . llf6+ 'it1e4 the f6 square is inaccessible to White's king. Here the game might go as follows: l . l:'Id5+ 'it> f4 2. W f6 g4 3 . lld4+ Wf3 4. 'it> g5 g3 5. l:'Id3 + W f2 6. �g4 g2 7. :d2+ W fl 8. 'litf3! g l tt:l + ! 9. 'it> e 3 , and with correct play by his opponent, White cannot win despite the black knight's poor position, for example 9 . . . tt:l h3 10. l:!:h2 tt:lg l ! (the knight must stay as close to the king as possible) l l . llf2+ @ e l , and the game will conclude in a draw, as Rook Endings a more detailed analysis will show (see the explanation to Diagram 398). If we move Diagram 330 one file to the right l . l::t a4 (with the idea of cutting off the path of the king) is useless, since the pawn can independently advance to g2, and after the forced reply l:l a l it may be supported by the king. Nor does l . �fl g4! affect the out come ( l . . . �f4? loses to 2. �g6! g4 3 . W h5 g 3 4. 'lt> h4 g 2 5. l::t a l �f3 6. �h3 'lt>t2 7 . W h2) 2. �g7 (aiming to ap proach with the king from the right side) 2 . . . W f4 3. Wg6 g3 4. W h5 g2 5. l::t a l Wg3, etc. 1 . .. g4 2. W d5 Wf4 3. l::t a8 Or 3. W d4 g3 , etc. then White will score the point, since after l . l::t e 5+ W g4 2. W g6 h4 3 . l:te4+ �g3 4. W g5 h3 5. l:e3+ W g2 6. W g4 h2 7. l::t e 2+ W g l 8. W g3 h ltlJ+ 9. W f3 , Black cannot save the knight (9 . . @ fl 10. l::t g 2) . . 3 g3 4. l:If8+ W c3 5. l:Ig8 Wf2 6. W e4 g2, draw. ••• Now let u s assume that i n the starting position, the white king stands on f7 and the rook on a6 - that is, we shall examine this position: Nor can White win in Diagram 330 if the rook is moved to a3: 331 White to move. White to move. Draw l W d6 . This change in the position reflects on the outcome. Here, White wins as follows: 423 Chapter 1 4 1 . Il: f6+ � e4 If l . . .Wg4?, then 2. � g6 W h4 3 . W f5 ; while o n l . . .W e5 the simplest i s 2. 'iii g6 g4 3 . @g5 g3 4. :o. 2. 'lt g6 g4 3. 'lt h5! Freeing the g-file for the rook. 3 ... g3 4. 'lt h4 g2 5. �g6 @ f3 6. @ h3 Some readers might assign a win in this position to the circumstance that White's rook is on the sixth rank. This conclusion would be hasty: the point is thatjustthe king's transfer to fl in Dia gram 33 1 is enough to win with White to move. In fact, in the following position - Here the win is very simple . If, for example , it is White to move, he plays l . l: a 5 ! g5 (if l . . . W g 7 ? , then 2. @ e7 and @f6 ) 2 . 'ltd7 g4 (or 2 . . . @g6 3 . @ e6 ) 3 . @ d6 a n d White wins easily, since on 3 . . . g3 there follows 4. l:ta3! and l::Ig 3 . But i f i t i s Black to move i n the start ing position, then the game could take the following course: l . . .'ltf5 (on l . . .g5 there follows 2 . l:a5!) 2. @fl g5, after which we get a position already exam ined. Finally, let us move the king in Dia gram 3 3 1 to d6. Then we also get a win ning position: - White to move , White wins as fol lows: l . �a5+ @f4 2 . @g6 g4 3. @h5 ! , etc . Now let's move Diagram 3 3 1 up one rank: 424 Rook Endings White to move. Here White wins with I. 'iii d5 g4 ( l . . . 'it> f4 2. 'it> d4 g4 3. l:ta8!) 2. 'it> d4 'iii> f4 3. l:ta8! 'it> f3 (if 3 ... g3 , then 4. :rs+ and 'it> e 3 ) 4. W d 3 g3 (other moves are n o better) 5 . J:lrs+ 'it>g2 6. 'iii> e2, etc. R. Reti, 1928 333 White to move and win Black to move and draw In Diagram 332, it's hard to get a draw, since " natural" moves lead to de feat. For instance, if l . . . f3 or l . . .'it> e4, then 2 . 'iii> c4! with a forced win, which will not be difficult to prove. The only correct response is l . . . W d4! (with this move Black prevents Wb5 -c4, winning an important tempo to bring his king up) . After l . . .'it> d4! the game could proceed this way, for example: 2. J:trs We3 3. 'it> c4 ( 3 . l':Ie8+ 3 . . . 'iii> d2) 3 . . . f3 4. 'it'c3 f2, etc. Certainly, not every finesse contained in the endgame is examined above, which is at least shown by the following study by Reti. The solution to this exception ally substantial and subtle study can be completely absorbed and evaluated only after first analyzing the positions exam ined above. l . l:. e2! Also possible is I. l::te 3 , but I. !:e l would be a mistake due to l . . .e4 2. We7 'it> e 5 , after which not Black (as in the preceding variation), but White would be in "Zugzwang," and the game ends in a draw, for example : 1) 3. 'it>d7 'it>d5! (Black's king moves to the same side as the opposing king; it would be a mistake to play 3 . . . 'it>f4? in view of 4. 'it>d6 e3 5. 'it>d5 @f3 6. 'it>d4 e2 7. 'it>d3; 3 . . . 'it> d4? is also incorrect, be cause of 4. W e6! e3 5. 'iii> f5 'iii> d3 6. 'it>f4) 4. 'it>c7 (rook moves give Black an extra tempo, as would be the case, for exam ple, in the third variation) 4 . . . 'it>d4! (now this works, because White comes late with the roundabout movement to the right) 5. 'it> d6 (5. 'iii> c 6 e3 6. 'iii> b5 'it>d3, etc.) 5 . . . e3! 6. We6 W d3 7. 'iii> f5 'iii> d2, draw. 425 Chapter 1 4 2) 3 . <:J:i fl W f5! 4 . W g7 (4. We7 @e5) 4 ... @f4! 5. @f6 e 3 ! , and Black draws as in the previous variation. 3) 3. : e 2 '1td4 ( now Black moves the king forward at once, since by attacking the rook he wins an im portant tempo) 4 . W f6 W d 3 5. : e 3 , draw. 4) 3. l: a l e 3 , draw. 4. W f6 'it> d3 5. @rs e3 6. c;i;i f4 e2 7. W f3 and wins. A brilliant study! Our acquaintance with Reti 's study makes it easier to find the right path in the following position l . . . e4 Forced, since on l . . . @f4 there is 2. @e6! e4 3 . <:J:id5 e3 4. W d4. 2. : e t ! A rare quiet move i n such a tense po sition. White passes the move to his op ponent. What appears to be a more energetic move , 2. W e7, only draws, for example 2. @e7? @f4 3. @d6 @f3 4. :e l e3 5 . <:J:id5 c;!ff2, etc. 2 ... 'iti e5 If 2 . . . @f4? then 3. @e6! e3 4. @d5 Wf3 5. W d4, and wins. 3. '1t e7! Now we have the same position we could have reached earlier after 1. l::I e 1 e4 2. W e7 '1te5 ; however, this time Black has to move, which rather than a help is a hindrance. 3 ••• W d4 Or 3 . . . W f4 4. c;i;id6! . 426 Black to move. Here not only do l . . .W d4? or l . . . 'iti c4? lose (thanks to 2. @f6!) , but also l . . . W e5?, which White meets as in the Reti study with 2. :e 1 ! and a winning position. The only cor rect continuation is l . . .e3! 2. c;i;if6 We4! (with his previous move , Black cleared the needed square e4 for the king) 3. W g5 W f3 ! , draw. b) ROOK vs. 'IWO PAWNS Here everything depends on the details of the position. I n some posi tions the rook wins (even against 3 or 4 pawns) ; in others, the rook is helpless; finally, the game often ends in a draw because attack and counterattack bal ance each other. We begin with a position in which the Rook Endings rook wins out over two connected passed pawns. F. Zakman, 1 920 On 3 . . . g5 there follows 4. :g t + and W f3 ; and if 3 . . . h3, then 4. l::t g l + 'it> h4 5. W f3 ! h2 (5 . . . g5 6. l::t g4+ W h5 7. l::t a4! g4+ 8. Wg3!) 6. l::t a l W h3 7. Wf2, with l:ta3+ and Wg2. 334 4. W e3 W g2 If 4 . . . h3, then 5. l:tg l + W h2 (or 5 . . . W h4 6. l::t xg7 h 2 7. Wf2! h llll + 8 . Wg2) 6. l::t xg7 W h l 7. Wf3 h2 (or 7 . . . W h2 8. l:h7) 8 . l::t a7 . 5. W e2 h3 Black to move; White wins l ••• W h5 1 . . . 'it> g5 does not change the main variation ; and if l . . .h3?, then simplest is 2. l::t h l W f5 3. l::t xh3 g5 4. W d5 , leading to a position we already know. 2. W e5 W g4! Berger's move. The win is easier after 2 . . . g5 3. W f5 , for instance 3 . . . g4 4. W f4, or 3 . . . h3 4. l:tg l ! W h4 (4 ... g4 5. W f4!) 5. l::t g4+ W h5 6. l:txg5 + W h4 7. l::t g4+ W h5 8. l:g8 W h4 9. W f4. Finally, if 2 . . . h3, then 3 . W f4 W h4 4. Wf3! g5 5 . W f2 . If 5 . . . g5, then 6. l::t f2 + W g l (or 6 . . . W g3 7. wn h 3 8 . 'it> g l g4 9. :a2 W h4 IO. l::t a4 W g3 1 1 . l::t a 3+ W h4 1 2. 'it> h2) 7. l::t f5! g4 8 . l::t f4, etc. 6. :a + 'lt> g3 To 6 . . . W g l White replies 7. Wf3! h2 (7 . . . g5 8. Wg3) 8. :g2+ W h l 9. l:ta2. 7. l::t f7! g5 If 7 . . . h2, then 8. l:txg7+ W h3 (or 8 . . . W f4 9. l::t h7 Wg3 IO. W fl ) 9. W f2 h llll + I O. W f3 W h2 l l . llg8. 8. 'lt>fl W h2 Or 8 . . . h2 9. l::t h 7 g4 IO. l:th8. 9. 'lt> f2 g4 3. W e4! I f 9 . . . W h l , then I O . 'it>g3 . It would be a mistake to play 3. l:l.g l +, after which the game is a draw (3 . . . Wf3!). 3 •.. 10. l::t g 7 'it> h l 1 1 . W g3 W gl 12. l:txg4 h2 13. ® h3+ ® b l 14. l:Ia4 'lt> g3 427 Chapter 1 4 Tarrasch - Janowsky Ostend 1 907 l:tg6 + . Nor does 6. W e6 W e4 7. Wfl, give White anything, in view of 7 . . . Wf5. And if 6. W e7 or 6. W d7 , then 6. 'it> e 5 . 335 .. 6 . . . W c4! If6 . . . W e 5 , then 7 . f7! l::t g 6+ 8 . Wb5!. Nor does 6 . . . l:tg6 help any, in view of 7. Wb5. 7. W d7! White to move and win Here it's the pawns that secure the win. I. 'it> d4 'it> b3 1 . . .l:t f5 merely loses a tempo , for af ter it there follows 2 . 'it> e4, and if here 2 . . . l:t xg5 , then 3. f7 . 2. @ es 'it>c4 3 . g 6 :tel+ 4. 'it>d6 l:tgl! This and the following moves were indicated by Tarrasch. In the actual game , Black lost quickly after 4 . . . l:td 1 +? 5. 'it> e7 l:te l + ? 6. 'it> f7 . White's king reaches the_ seventh rank just when Black's king cannot at tack the pawn on f6. 7 . 'it> d7 is the only winning move. For instance, if 7. W b6, then Black plays, not 7 . . . W b4, which would allow White to get back to c6, but 7 . . . l:tg6!. If now, after 7 . W b6 l:tg6!, White were to play 8 . 'it> a5 , then 8 . . . l:tg5+! (not 8 ... 'it> c5 because of 9. f7! l::t xg7 10. f8� + ) 9. 'it> a4 l::t g 6! (preventing f6-f7) 1 0 . W a3 W c 3 1 1 . 'it> a2 'it> c2 . After 7 . 'it> b6 l:tg6!, 8. 'it> c7 doesn't help either, because of the simple 8 ... 'it> d5 9. 'it> d7 'it> e 5 . 5. g7! 7 Not 5. f7, in view of 5 . . . l:Ixg6+ 6. W e5 l::t g 5 + . If now 7 . W f4, then 7 . . . l:tg l , while on 7. W e4 Black would also answer 7 l:tg l ! with the threat of 8 . . . l:te 1 + . •.• 'it>d5 8. wes After the white king goes to e8, the threat of f6-f7 is renewed. . . . 8 ... 'it>e6 9. f1 l:tal 10. f8CZJ+ ! 5 •.• '>itd4! 6. W c6! 6. f7 would be premature due to 6. . . 428 It is not easy for White to win this ending, since his pawns are still fa r from Rook Endings the eighth rank and his king occupies a rather humble position. In the following example, Black wins easily, if he is on the move. able to save the game thanks to his driv ing the black king back, which allowed him to create mating threats in some lines. Similarly, White can get a draw in the following position too: G. von der Lasa Handbuch, 4th ed. , 1 864 336 Black to move wins; White to move draws Black to move. On l . . .f2 (or l . . .e2 2. l::t e 7), he answers 2. l::t t7 e2 3. l::t f8 + 'iita 7 4. l::t t7 +, and Black must either settle for a repetition, or go into the line 4 . . 'iii a6 5 . l::t xf2 e l � 6. l:a2+ �as 7. l::t xa5 + , draw. . Black to move advances first one pawn ( . . . b3-b2, for example) , and then the other one after it: White cannot hold back both pawns. White to move forces the draw by driving Black's king back to the edge of the board. Here the draw is obtained like this: l . :n a2 ( 1...b2 changes nothing; and if l . . .'it'gS?, then 2. 'it' d3 renders the black pawns harmless) 2. llg l + 'it' hS 3. 'it' fS ! 'it'h6 4. 'it' ffi (White keeps the opposition at all times) 4 . . . 'it' hS 5. 'it'fS 'it' h4 6. 'it' f4 'iil h 3 7. 'iit f3; now if 7 . . . 'it' h2, then Black even loses, since he ends up in Zugzwang after 8. l::t a l ! . I n this example , White to move was I n the next two positions ( Diagrams 337 and 338), the bad position of Black's king even leads into a loss. D. Harrwitz, 1862 337 White to move and win 429 Chapter 14 1 . l::t c 7+ W g8 Black also loses in short order after l . . .W h6 2. I:tc2 ! , or 1 . . .'<ii h 8 2. l:tb7! a3 3 . @ g6. 2. l:t g7+ 'it> h8 above, for instance 4 . . . g2 5 . l:te l + 'lt>a2 6. i:tg l ! . 4. W d3 @ c l After 4 . . . 'it> e l 5. W e 3 , Black cannot prevent White 's king from approaching the pawns. Or 2 . . . 'it> f8 3 . l:tb7. 5. <ifte3 h2 3. l:tb7 a3 4. 'it> g6 M. Shapiro, 1914 If 5 . . . g2 , then 6. @ fl, and 5 . . . 'it>bl meets with 6. l:te2 h2 7. l:te 1 + and 8. @ f3 . 338 6 . l::t a t + 'it>b2 7 . l:t h l @ -any 8 . 'it>f3 and wins. White to move and win If the rook cannot drive the king to the edge of the board, then the strength of the pawns increases considerably (in Diagram 3 3 5 , for instance) , with the outcome of the game dependent on several factors - for example (see Dia grams 3 39-34 1 ) , the distance the pawns have advanced, the position of the white king, etc. 1 . l:td2+ 'it>bl V. Sozio, 1935 If l . . . 'it> a l ? then 2. <iftb3 , whereas l . . .'it> a3? leads to 2 . l:td3+ . 339 2. 'it>c3! <iftc l On 2 . . . g2 (or 2 . . . h2) there follows 3 . I:td l + <ifta2 4. l:tg l ! ( o r 4. ll h l !) , after which Black must give up both pawns in order to avoid immediate mate. 3.lla2 W d l O r 3 . . J::t b l 4. l: e 2 , etc . , as indicated 430 Whoever moves wins Rook Endings Black to move wins easily with l . . .g2 ( l . . .f3 is also strong) 2. l:tg6 (or 2. l:t a l ) 2 . . . 0, with the decisive threat o f 3 . . . f2 4. l:xg2 fl°i.V . With White to move, the pawns are neutralized with 1 . l:tg6! 'iii d7 2. l:tg4 g2 (2 . . . 'iiti e 6? loses at once to 3. l:txf4 W e 5 4 . l:tg4) 3 . l:txg2 @ e6 4. l:tg5! W f6 5 . llc5 and White wins(5 . . . f4 6. l:tc3). In Diagram 339, if we place the black king on d7 , the outcome is unchanged only with Black to move; with White to move, the game should end in a draw after 1 . l:tg6! W e7 2. W b6 (or 2. l:tg4 @f6 3 . l:txf4+ Wg5, etc . ) 2 . . . W fl 3 . l:tg4 @f6 4. I:t xf4+ (if 4. 'iiti c 5?, then 4 . . . W f5 5. :S:g8 'iiti e 4, after which it's White who must play for the draw) 4 . . . @g5 5. 11f8 (or 5 . l1a4 g2 6. ll a l 'iiti g 4, etc . ) 5 ... W g4 (5 . . . g2? 6. l:tg8 + ) 6. W c 5 g2 7. W d4 'iiti d 3, draw. Kling and Horwitz, 185 1 340 of the aggressive position of the white pieces ( Kling and Horwitz mistaken ly think that this position is a win for White). 1 . l:th3+ 'iiib2! Black must play very accurately. l . . . @ c2 loses: 2. W c4 b3 (if 2 . . . a3? the simplest is 3. 11h2+ W b l 4. 'iiti b 3) 3 . l:t h2+ @ c l 4 . @c3W b l 5 . l:Ig2! (not 5 . @ b4? when Black plays 5 . . . b2 6 . 'iiti a 3 W a l ! as in the main line) 5 . . . 'iiti a l 6. l1g4! b2 7. 11xa4+ Wb l 8 . l1b4 W a l 9. W c2 ! . 2. 'iitic4 b3 3 . l:th2+ If 3. Wb4, then 3 . . . @ a2 4. 'iiti xa4 (4. l:th2+ b2 5. Wc3 a3) 4 . . . b2 5. : h2 'iii a l , with a draw. 3 ... 'iitia3! This move , later indicated by Tassi nari , was overlooked by both authors of the study; their continuation was 3 . . . 'iiti c l , after which White does in deed win with 4 . W c3 W b l 5 . l:.g2 ! , a s noted in t h e note to White 's first move . 4. W c3 b2! If now 5. llxb2?, it's stalemate! White to move. Draw 5. 'it> c2 W al 6. llh l Or 6. 'it> c 3 a3 7. Wb4 W a l , draw. Here the strength of the pawns supported by the king has increased so much that Black can draw in spite 6 a3 7. i:Igl bl'iY+! 8. l:Ixbl, stalemate. • . . 43 1 Chapter 1 4 3) 3 ... 'iii f5? 4. J:tes f3 5 . @ d3 'it> f4 6. W d2 W g3 7 . c;!;e l , and White wins. G . Keidanski, 1 9 14 341 4. l:te8+ W d2 If 4 . . . W f2 , then 5 . W d3 with a draw. 5. l:td8+ 'it> c2 White to move and draw Here the pawns have achieved a threatening position, so White must now go after the draw. 1 . l:c8! e2 If l . . . f3 , then 2. l:dS+ We4 3 . W c4 f2! ( not 3 . . . e2? 4. :es+ and 5. W d3) 4. :es+ 'it>f3 5 . l:f8+ We2 (if 5 Wg2, then 6. W d3 ; and on 5 @ e4 there fol lows 6. :es+) 6. 'it> d4! @d2 7. :ctn, draw. . . . On 5 . . . W e l the simplest is 6. l:t f8 ; or if 5 . . . W c l 6. l:teS f3 , then 7. W d3 W d l S . l:aS! winning, as S . . . e l tLl + i s not dan gerous and on S . . . W e l there follows 9. 'iii e3 W fl 1 0 . l:a l + e l 'iY + (after 1 0 . . . W g2? 1 1 . l:tb l ! it's White who wins) 1 1 . l:txe l + W xe l 1 2 . W xf3 . 6. l:te8 f3 7. l:e3! The only winning move. Black threatened 7 . . . W d2! S. l:tdS+ W e l and then 9 . . . f2 . 7 . . . W d2 8. l:td3+ we t . . . If S . . . W e l , then 9. l:xf3. 9 . . . l:c3+ Wb2 IO. l:b3+ W a2! And if I . . . @ d4, then 2 . : f8 is good enough, since on 2 . . . e2 there follows 3. :xf4+ @ d3 (or 3 . . . @ d5 4. l:tf8!) 4. :n+ @ e4 (4 . . . @ d2 5. l:tf2) 5. l:t f8 ! . On 10 . . . W a l White replies 1 1 . l:a3+, of course. After 10 . . . W a2! White - de spite all his efforts - must lose , it would seem. Nevertheless, there is salvation! 2. :d8+! @ e4 3 . @ c4 @ e3 1 1 . l:te3! Nor do other moves win: l ) 3 . . . f3 4. lles+ 'it> f4 5. 'it> d3 c;itg3 6. l:txe2; 2) 3 ... 'iii f3 4. l:teS 'it>f2 5 . c;itd3 f3 (5 . . . e l 'iV 6. l:txe l 'iii xe l 7. 'iii e4) 6. W d2 'iii g 2 (6 . . . 'iii fl 7. l:txe3) 7. l:txe2+ (not 7 . 'iii e2? in view of 7 . . . f2 + ) ; 432 Draw, because on l l . . .f2? there comes 1 2. l:txe2 + , while after king moves White once again checks along the third rank. Isolated pawns are strongest in end ings where they are not very far from Rook Endings each other (with the exception of pawn endings and endings with opposite colored bishops). Let us present some more positions featuring isolated pawns for White (see Diagrams 342-344) . For example, in the position below Black to move wins; White to move draws White forces the win by I. @ ffi (or I. W d6) l . . .l:tc8! 2. 'it> e6! @ e4 3 . W d7 . But if, in the starting position, we move the c7-pawn to b7 , White can't win even if Black's king is out of play. For instance, consider this position: If now I. 'iii' ffi , then l . . .l:tb8! 2. @g6 (or 2. 'it> e6 W a2 3. © d6 l:tg8!) 2 . . . @ a2 3. © h7 l:txb7, draw. Here the decisive factor is the activ ity of the white king. With Black to move the king on b3 cannot get closer to the pawns, so White loses after I... .i::t t7 or l . . .l:th7. With White to move, he draws with I. 'iit c4! l:tt7 (or 1...Mh7 2. W d5 l:txh6 3. @ eS) 2. h7! .Mxh7 3. @dS, etc. Similarly, White gets a draw in this position: White to move . I. ® d4! (as indi cated by Mattison; I. d4? would be 433 Chapter 1 4 a mistake i n view o f 1 . . . l:t xf4; i f now 2. d S , then simply 2 . . . W a2 and Black wins because the white king cannot approach the pawn and 3. d6 fails to 3 .. J:H6; nor [after l . d4? l:t xf4] does 2 . W c4 help , in view o f 2 . . . W c2 3 . W cS W d3 4. dS '.ti e4 s . d6 \ti e s 6. d7 l:td4 7 . W c6 W e6) 1 . . . l:t xf4+ (or l . . . W c 2 2 . W e S W xd3 3 . fS , draw) 2 . W eS :tn 3. d4, and Black is one tempo short - for example, 3 . . . l:::t d l (or 3 . . . l:te l + ? 4. W d6! wc2 s . dS l:::t d l 6 . W c6) 4. dS wc2 s . we6 \t>c3 6 . d6 W c4 7 . d7 \ti c s 8 . W e 7 , draw. J. Berger, 1888 343 2. W c8 l::t a l 3. W b7! 3 . c7 fails to score the full point, given 3 . . . W f4! 4. W b7 (for 4. W d7 , see Variation I ) 4 . . . l::t b l + S . W c6 It e l + 6. Wb6 W eS! (6 . . . l::t b l + is a mistake in view of 7. was l:::t a l + 8. W b4, etc. ) 7. a7 \itid6! 8. WbS (if 8. a8'iH , then 8 . . . l::t b l + and 9 . . . l:::t a l +) 8 . . . l:::t b l + 9. 'lt> c4 l:::t a l ! , draw. VARIATION/: 4. W d7 l::t d l + S . 'lt> e7 ::te l + 6. W f8 (6. Wfl? It e l ! and it's Black who wins; simi larly, 6. Wffi? loses to 6 . . . l:Ic l 7. a7 l::t c6+ ! ) 6 . . . l::t h l ! 7. a7 (on 7. Wg7? there again follows 7 . . . l::t c l ! ; and if 7. 'lt>g8, then 7 . . . l::t g l +) 7 . . . l::t h8+ 8 . W e7 (8. \ti g7 l::t a8! 9. \itif6! \ti g4 10. \t> e6 'it>gS 1 1 . W d6 W f6 1 2 . \ilc6 W e7 1 3 . '.tib7 W d7 ! , draw) 8 . . . l::t a8! 9. W d6 (if 9 . W d7, then of course 9 . . . l::t xa7) 9 . . . Wf5! 10. W c6 W e6 1 1 . Wb7 W d7 ! , draw. 3 White to move and win I. a6 l::t d l + ! ••• l::t b l + 4. Wa8! Itel 4 . . . W f4 fails to S . a7 'it>eS 6. c7 It e l 7 . W b7 llb l + 8. W a6 Ita l + 9. 'lt>bS, etc . 5.a7! W f4 If 1 . . .l:::t a l ? , then o f course 2 . c 7 l::t d l + 3 . W e7 :te l 4. W d7! l:::t d l + S . W e6 and White wins, since after the checks run out, the forced . . . I:t c l is met by a6-a7. Needless to say, on S . . . l::t xc6 there follows 6. 'it>b7. And if l . . . W f4, then the only move to win is 2. a7! , since 2. c7? leads to a draw, as seen in the note to White's third move. Berger points out that 1 . a6 is the only winning move. For example, if 1 . c7? , then Black saves the game by 1 . . . l::t d l + 2 . W c8 l:t a l 3 . a6! W f4 etc . , as 434 6. W b7 l:t b l + 7.W a6 l::t a l + 8. Wb6 l::t b l + 9. W c5 l::t a l 10. c7 and wins. Rook Endings was pointed out in the note to White's third move. White plays 1 1 . W f2 and 1 2. l:.h8) 1 1 . W f2 W h l 1 2 . W xf3 h2 1 3 . l:.a8 and mate next move. A. Mandelbaum, 188 1 5. l:.e8+ Wfl 344 After 5 ... W f4 White brings his king to e l . 6. )fJ d2 h5 7. l:h8 \t> g2 8. l:.xh5 fl 9. l:tg5+ 'lt>f3 10. l:.f5+ and wins. White to move and win In the previous example, only the side with the pawns had chances; here it is the rook that wins, but only with exact play. Now let's look again at the position by Kling and Horwitz, as improved by Tarrasch ( Diagram 345), in which the rook struggles against two isolated dou bled pawns. 345 1 . l:f8! Here l . l:':txh8? doesn't work, in view of l . . . @ d5 2. l:.t7 W e4 3. W c 5 f3 4. 'it' c4 \t>e3 5 . \t> c3 f2 6. \t> c2 \t> e2 7. l:.e7+ \t> f3 ! . White to move and draw 1 . . . \t> e5 2. \t> c5 \t> e4! After 2 . . . h5? 3 . l:.e8+ \t> f5 4. \t> d4 h4 5. l:. f8 + , White wins without special dif ficulties. 3. @ c4 @ e3 4. 'it' c3 f3 Or 4 . . . h5 5. l:.e8+\t>t2 6. W d2 h4 7. l:.h8 W g3 (if 7 ... f3 , then 8. l:.xh4 ®g3 9. l:.h8! and wins) 8. 'lt> e l ! h3 9. Wfl h3 1 0. l:g8+ ® h2 (on 1 0 . . . \t> f4 or 1 0 . . . 'lt> h4, Tarrasch's improvement consists of moving the white king from h2 to c2, thanks to which White's task is made somewhat more difficult. 1. l:.c7+ <it' b4 On l . . . W d4 2. l:.d7+ ® e4 there fol lows 3. l:.e7 + , and if now Black stub bornly plays for the win with 3 . . . ®f5 4. l:.f7+ W e6??, then after 5. l::t f l he can 435 Chapter 1 4 no longer save the game (5 . . . 'it> dS 6 . Wg2 'it> d4 7. 'it> f2 'it> c 3 8 . W e 3 ! 'it> c2 9. l:If2, and it is White who wins) . In this case, on l . l::I c 6+ 'it> d4 2. l:Id6+ 'it> e4 3 . l:Ie6 + , Black plays 3 ... 'it> dS! and then 4 ... d l � . 2. l:Ib7+ © cs 3. l:Ibl! 'it> c4 4. 'it> g2 'it> c3 5. @ f2 'it> e2 6. 'it> e3!, draw. c) ROOK vs. THREE PAWNS If, in Diagram 345 , we put the white king on h3 This ending is much harder to sub mit to exhaustive analysis, since here the number of possibilities is much larger. As an illustration of the combinations pos sible in this sort of endgame, we present three endings from practical games and one study by Reti on this theme. 346 then White can no longer avoid defeat, since on l . l:Ic7+ (or l . l:Ifl ® c 2 2. �f2 '\tl c l ) l . . . 'it> d4 2. l:Id7+ 'it>e3 3 . �e7+ @ f2 4. l:It7+ there is 4 . . . 'it> g l ! 5. l:Ig7+ © h i ! , and Black wins. White loses the same way if we move the rook in Diagram 345 from t7 to f6: 436 White to move and win This position occurred in an offhand game played by Tartakower ( Black) in Paris in 1 93 3 . He forced the win with I . . .l:Ig8 2. �bS W e7 3. ® c6 l:Ih8! 4. fS (4. W dS doesn't help due to 4 . . . ® d7 followed by . . . �xh4; while after 4. W b7 ® d7, Black wins the same way as in the game) 4 . . . l:If8 ( Black waits, because White is in Zugzwang) 5. hS l:h8 6. f6+ 'it> e6! 7. t7 ® e7! 8. h6 l::t c 8 9. h7 � f8 I O. ®b7 'it> d7 1 1 . ® b6 l:Ic8 (now all of White's useful moves are exhausted; for instance, if 1 2. 'it' b7, then 1 2 . . . �xc7+ and l 3 . . . l:Ic8) 1 2. @cs �e7 1 3 . 'it' dS ® d7. White resigned. Rook Endings however, in that case , after l . . . f3 2. :f4 b4 3 . l::!: xg4 b3 4. :g t f2 s. : n b2 6. W g7 W d4 7 . Wf6 Wd3!, Black wins thanks to the threat of 8 . . . We2 (8. l:Ib l W c2 ) . Here the fact that the b- and f pawns remain on the board and are not too distant from each other plays a role , allowing the black king to operate in both directions. 347 Black to move and draw This position occurred in one of Fahrni's games with Behemund . After l . :gs ! , Black's remaining pawns are further apart, which saves White. l . . . g3! The knight is untouchable , due to the check from a l . If l . . . f3 , then 2. l::!: xg4 b4 3. l::!: f4; while on l . . .b4 2. l:xg4 b3 there fol lows, of course, 3 . l:Ixf4 b2 4. : n , with a draw. 4. l:Ia8+ W a4 5. W b5! al'iY 6. l:Ixa4+, draw. 2. l:Ig4 b4 3. :xr4 b3 4. I:!:fl! g2 5. l:Igl b2 6. W g7 W d4 7. Wf6 'it>e3 l. .. b2 2. l:Ih8 b ltll + 3. Wxc4 tll c3! Reti, 1929 Threatening 8 . . . 'it>f2. 8 . l:Ibl! 348 White attacks first one pawn, then the other, thus preventing the enemy king from getting too close to the ac tion. 8 Wd3 9. l:Igl ! •.• White to move and draw 1 . l:Ig8! 9. l:Ie l ? W c2 1 0. l:Ie2+ 'it>b3 l l . l:Ie l W a2 , and Black wins. 9 ... 'it> e3 10. l:Ibl, draw. White wins a pawn. He could ac complish the same thing by l . l::!: f8 ; 437 Chapter 14 Examples 274-296: 277. 274. White to move; Black wins. 275. 278. White to move and win. 276. White wins but only if he movesfirst. 279. Black wins. 438 A win but only if it is Black to move. Draw. Rook Endings 280. 283. Black to move and win. 28 1 . Black to move and win. 284. White to move and draw. Does it change the result if White � king starts on e8? Black to move; White wins. 285. 282. White to move and draw. Black to move and draw. 439 Chapter 1 4 289. 286. Black to move and draw. White to move and draw. 287. 290. Draw. White to move and win. 288. 291 . White to move and win. 440 White wins, but only if it is his move. Rook Endings 292. 295. White wins. 293 . Black to move and draw. 296. Black to move and draw. With Black to move, he wins; with White to move, it 's a draw. 294. E. ROOK + PAWN vs. ROOK + PAWN This ending is only rarely winning: the problem is that, even after capturing the pawn (or the rook for the pawn), we cannot always count on the win. White wins. For example, in the following posi tion from Alekhine - Bogoljubow, World Championship ( 1 9) , 1 929 44 1 Chapter 1 4 Here Black has an edge , based upon the superior placement of his king. However, this advantage is far from be ing enough to win, since in some vari ations White can even go in for a rook trade (but in that case he must answer . . . W xa2 with W c2 ; and if Black does not succeed in advancing his pawn to a3 , then even c3 would be an adequate square for the king) . 1. W g5 l:e4 2. W f5 Black could easily have forced the draw by l . . . W e4! 2. b7 f5 3. b8� l:xb8 4. l:hb8 f4 5. l:e8+ W d4! (Black's king must not only support his pawn, but also prevent White's king from approaching) 6. 1::t f8 W e 3 7. W d5 f3 , etc . , with a draw. As the game went, Black failed to take into ac count the particularities of the l::t vs. !2 ending, and sent his king to the wrong side: l . . .Wg4?, leading to defeat after 2. b7 f5 3 . b8� 1::t xb8 4. l:xb8 f4 5 . W d5! (a move that would have been impossible were the black king on e4) 5 . . . f3 6. W e4 f2 7. l:t f8 �g3 8 . 'it> e 3 . Euwe Alekhine World Championship ( 1 6) Netherlands 1 935 - 349 It's still too soon t o offer a n exchange of rooks; on 2. l:g4? l:ixg4+ 3. Wxg4 W c3 4. W f4 Wb2 5 . W e4 W xa2 6. Wd3 Black responds 6 . . . Wb2!. 2 ••. 1::t e 5+ 3. W f4 Here 3 . W f6 is also possible, only now offering to exchange rooks with 4. l::t g 4+ ! l: e4 5. l: xe4+ W xe4 6. W e6 W d4 (or 6 . . . a3 7 . <t> f6! W d4 8 . Wf5 W c3 9 . W e4 W b 2 1 0 . W d3 W xa2 1 1 . W c2 , draw) 7 . W f5 ! W c3 8 . 'it> e4 a3 9. 'itt e 3 ! W b2 1 0 . W d2 W xa2 1 1 . W c2, draw. 3 ••• l:e8 4. W f3 Another drawing line was 4. l::t d 2+ c;!;>c3 5. l::t h 2 a3 6. � f3 1::t b 8 7 . We3 l::t b2 8 . 1::t e 2! 1::t c 2 9. 1::t xc2 + , etc. 4 . . . � d3 5. 1::t b2 l::t f'8 + 6. 'lt> g3? After this, Black nets a pawn with a winning position. White should have played 6. Wg2!, preventing 6 . . . l:ifl . 442 Rook Endings 6 ... 'it' c3! 7. :b7 lf 7. :e2, then 7 . . . W b4 S . :e3 (or S. c;itg2 'it' a3 , with . . . i::t f8 -bS-b2 to follow) 8 . . . : n , intending 9 . . J::t a l . 7 . . . :m s. l::t bS :tat 9. 'it'f3 l:txa2 10. 'it' e3 As Grigoriev showed, this leads to a lost position (see Diagram 266, which shows the position reached after 1 0 . 'it>e3 with colors reversed). But 1 0. : as was no better: it would be met, not by 1 0 . . . : a l ? in view of 1 1 . l::t c S+ (com pare Diagram 267 ) , but by 10 . . . a3! 1 1 . l::t c S+ ( 1 1 . 'it' e 3 : a l 1 2 . :cs+ leads to variations examined in our analysis of Diagram 260) l l . . .'iii b2 1 2. :bs + 'it' c l (reaching the same position as i n Dia gram 26S after White's third move, with colors reversed) 1 3 . : as 'it' b l ! 1 4. l::t a7 l::t a l and Black wins, as seen above in the analysis for Diagram 26S. 1 3 . l::t b S+) 1 2 . :cs+ 'it'b3 ( 1 2 . . J::t c4 1 3 . :xc4+) 1 3 . :bs+ 'it' a2 1 4. 'it'd3, etc. 1 1 ... 'it'b2 12. :bs+ 'it' c l ! 13. :cs+ If 1 3 . l::t a S , then l 3 . . . a3!. Euwe may not have looked far enough ahead to this possibility. 13 ... 'it'bl 14. :b8+ :b2 15. l:taS :b3+ 16. 'it' d4 a3 17. 'it' c4 'it' b2 IS. :bs :c3+! 0- 1 The weaker side lost both of the previous games thanks only to Bo goljubow's and Euwe's weak defense. However, we also encounter positions of the kind where , despite material equality, the game cannot be saved even with best defense (as in Diagrams 350354). 10 . . . l!tb2? After this move , White can save the game . He should have played 1 0 . . . a3 ! , a s we pointed out in our analysis of Diagram 266. After the erroneous move 1 0 . . . l:t h2? we get the position in Diagram 265 , i n which sending the rook to the edge of the board led to a draw. 1 1 . :cs+? Another decisive error. Here the move pointed out by Euwe himself (see Diagram 265) leads to a draw: 1 1 . :as! :h4 (or l l . . .'iil b3 1 2. 'iii d3, threatening Black to move This was the position in a casual game Tartakower - Lilienthal ( 1 934) . Black forced the win as follows: 1 . .. \t> d3! Threatening 2 . . . :c2+. 443 Chapter 1 4 l . kld8+ 2. kle8 is futile in view of 2 . . . �c2+ 3 . ® b l (or 3 . 'it> d l e2+ 4. 'lt> e l l:i:c l + 5 . 'it> f2 �fl + ) 3 . . .l:t c4, with a winning position for Black. Em. Lasker, 1890 35 1 l . . . \t' el 3. klb8 3. klh8, too, is answered by 3 . . . Ud4. 3 kld4 4. b5 l!c4+ 5. 'lt>bl kle4! 6. b6 'lt>el 7. b7 l!e7! 8. \t> a3 el 9. \t> a4 l:td7! . •. Preparing his next move. 10. \t' b5 'lt> dl! An important finesse , since after 10 . . . 'lt> d l White could stave off defeat with 1 1 . 'lt> c6! klxb7 (or 1 1 . . .e l 'l'W 1 2 . 'lt> xd7, draw) 1 2 . l!xb7 e l 'l'W 1 3 . kl.b l + . 1 1 . \t' c6 Uxb7 If now 1 2. Uxb7, then 12 . . . e l 'l'W and Black wins. White to play and win Because this study is so well known, we will give the solution in abbreviated form: 1 . 'lt>b7 klb2+ 2. \t> a7 klc2 3. l!h5+ \t> a4 (if 3 . . . 'lt>b4?, then 4. 'it>b7 and 5 . c8'1'W ) 4. 'lt> b7 klb2+ 5. 'it> a6 l:i:c2 6. klh4+Wa3 7. \t'b6 �b2+ 8. \t>a5! Uc2 9. l!h3+ \t> a2 1 0. �xh2!. A curious ending occurred in Bo goljubow - Thomas, Hastings 1 920. The following position was reached after Black's move 7 1 : ll. l:i:d8+ 'lt> c l ! 1 2 . . . \t> c2? i s bad because o f 1 3 . l:.e8, with a draw. Another possibility was 1 2 . . . \t> c 3 . 1 3 . kle8 �bl 0- 1 l:t +L vs. kl +c� endgames have re ceived well-deserved attention from composers, who have created a whole string of gifted studies along these lines. 444 The game concluded in a draw, but only after mistakes on both sides: Rook Endings 1 . 'it> c5 a2? (Black should have played I . . .'it>d8, and if 2. '1tlb5, then 2 . . . a2!) 2. c7 .l::t a 5+ 3 . '1tl b6 .l::t a6+! 4. '1tl c5 I:ta5+ 5. @c6 .l::t a 6+ 6. '1tl d5 I:ta5+ 7. 'it> e6 I:ta6+ . Here White committed an error - he ffered a draw in a position which was quite hopeless for Black. o The win would have been relatively easy after 8. W d5 .l::t a 5+ 9. 'i.t' c4 .l::t a4+ 10. '1tlb3 Ma3+ 1 1 . 'it> c2 Mc3+! 1 2 . 'it> b2! followed by W xa2 and bringing the king to the eighth rank. We present some more studies on a similar theme. In this position by Cozio: A. Troitzky, 1908 352 White to move and win Black to move - the draw is forced thus: I . . ..l::t d 7+ 2. Mxd7 '1tl c5! (not 2 . . . c2? 3 . 'it d 8 ! ) 3 . 'it> e6 'it> c4, etc . Kling and Horwitz ( 1 85 1 ) gave the following similar position: (See diagram next column) White to move. Here White forces the win by 1 . I:td6+! W c7 (or 1 . . .'1tl c5 2. 'it xd8! c2 3 . W c7 ; and if l . . . Wb5, then 2. 'it xd8 c2 3 . W e8 c l � 4. d8� and wins) 2 . .l::t d 3 :xd7+ 3 . .l::t xd7+ 'i!t c6 4. I:td3. 1. e7 l:!c8 If 1 . . .Me5, then 2. W xe5 e2 3. :!:tf3+ W d2 (if the king goes to the fourth rank, then 4. I:te3) 4. I:t f2 . 2. l:tf8 I:tc6+ 3. W f5 l:te6! On 3 . . . Mc5+ 4. W f4 Me5 there once again comes 5. W xe5 e2 6 . .l::t f3 +. 4. 'it> xe6 e2 5. :§.f3+ '1tl d4! 6. :§.f4+ 445 Chapter 1 4 W d3 7. l::t e 4!! \t> xe4 8 . e8� e l � 9. Wf6+ winning the queen. N. Grigoriev, 1933 353 and now Black saves the game thanks to the fact that hispawn has notyet advanced to a2, which enables the black king to get close to the pawn after 9 . . J:txh7! 10. l::t a 7+ W d6! l l . l::t xh7 Wc5 1 2. l:ta7 (or 1 2. l:tb7 W c4!) 1 2 . . . W b4, draw. 4 a2 5. l::t a 6! l::t g2+ 6. W h6 l::t h2+ 7. W g6 l:tg2+ 8. \t>f5 l:tt2+ 9. \t> g4! ••• On 9. \t> e4? we again have 9 . . . l:tf8! I O. l:t xa2 ( I O. \t> e 5 W f7!) IO . . We6! threatening 1 1 . . .l:th8. . 9 White to move and win t . W f6! l . h 7? would be a mistake in view of l . . . l::t h2 2 . lf a6 l:t h6+ 3. W -any l::t xh 7, draw. ••• l:th2 10. l:txa2! l:thl 1 1 . l:ta8! Yet another piece of elegance. 1 1 . Wg5? W f7 1 2. lla7+ W f8 merely draws. l l ... l:txh7 12. l:t a7+ , winning the queen. V. Chekhover, 1935 l • • • a3 2. h7 l::t h2 3. W g7 W e7! Relatively best. I f 3 ... a2, then 4. l::t e 6+ W d8 (4 . . . W d7 is no improve ment) 5. l::t a 6 l:tg2+ 6. W ffi l:f2+ 7. W e 5 l::t e2+ 8 . W f4 l: h2 9. l::t xa2! (this leads to a win with the black king on d7, too) 9 ... l::t x h7 I O. l:a8+ and 1 1 . l::t a 7+ . 4. l::t g 6! This elegant move is the point of White's play. White forces the a-pawn's advance and only then attacks it. If4. l::t a6 at once, then 4 . . . l::t g 2+ 5. W h6 l: h2+ 6. Wg6 ng2+ 7. \t> fS l:tf2+ 8. W g4 (on 8. W e4 Black replies 8 ... l:tf8! 9. l:txa3 W e6!, threatening IO ... l:t h8) 8 ... l:t h2 9. l::t a 8!, 446 White to move and win t . W g7 A mistake would be 1 . l:th8?, in view of 1 . . .� d7!, when the draw is forced. Rook Endings l . �g8 was also possible. 1. .. Ilg3+ 2. �h8! Ilf3 3. Ilh7 'it>b6(!) A forced retreat, since on 3 . . . 'it' d6 or 3 . . . 'lt> d8 there comes 4. 'lt' g8 J:lg3+ 5. �g7, threatening to queen with check. Black also loses quickly after 3 . . . 'lt' c6, in light of 4. 'lt' g8 Ilg3+ 5. l::t g 7 Ilxg7+ 6. 'it>xg7 h2 7. f8 ... h i ... 8 . ... a8+ ! . eral rule for evaluating such positions; the problem is that, in complicated positions, the win depends on a wide variety of circumstances, what kind of pawns are involved (isolated, passed, etc . ) , how far advanced they are , and so on. Usually it is not difficult to say which side has the upper hand in this or that respect , but it's not easy to say whether that advantage will be enough to win. 4 . 'lt' g8 Ilg3+ 5. 'lt' t8 ! Now White threatens 6. l:I h 8 fol lowed by 'it' f8 -e7-f6-e6-d5, etc. Black cannot prevent this maneuver, since his king would be under attack on the c7 and c6 squares (see the following note , as well as the text) . 'Thrrasch - Chigorin Match (9) , St. Petersburg 1 893 355 5 . . . 'lt' c6 If 5 . . . 'lt' c7 , then 6. W e7 Ile3+ 7 . Wf6 l'.:I f3 + 8 . W e6! (threatening not only 9. f8.., + , but also 9. l:Ixh3) 8 . . . Ile3+ 9. 'it> d5 and wins. And if 5 . . . W c 5 , then 6. �h8 'it' d6 7. 'it> e8 l:Ie3+ 8. W d8 and wins. 6. W e7 Ile3+ 7. @ f6 �f3+ 8. 'lt'g7 l:Ig3+ 9. W h8 l:If3 10. W g8 �f3 1 1 . �g7 l:Ixg7+ 12. W xg7 h2 13. 18.., hi.., 14. l!i'a8+ , winning the queen. F. ROOK + 1WO PAWNS vs. ROOK + PAWN Black to move Here, White 's connected passed pawns ensure the win, despite the fact that his rook must hold back the enemy pawn. 1 . . . a2! This gives White the greatest difficul ties. In the actual game, Black contin ued I . . .Ila2?, losing without a struggle. 2. h5+ W f6 The more complex the ending, the more difficult it becomes to give a gen- 2 . . . W h6 changes nothing. 447 Chapter 1 4 3 . c.t> h4! 3 . g4 suggests itself, but it allows Black to force the draw after 3 . . . l:Ic5! 4. l:Ixa2 c.t>g5 and if (for example) 5 . l:ta8, then 5 . . . l:.c3+ 6 . c.t> g2 c.t> xg4. 3 1 ) 2. e7 l:Ie8 3. l:.e6+ 'it d7, etc . ; 2) 2 . l:.g l :rs ; 3) 2 . 'it e4 l:. f4+ 3 . @ d3 l:. rs ; 4) 2 . l:I e 5 l:If4+ 3 . l:Ie4 l:Irs; 5) 2 . l:tal l:If4+ winning the d5-pawn (if 3 . '.ti e 3 , then 3 . . . W xd5 4. e7 l:Ie4+! and then 5 . . . l:I e4 - l. R.) l:Ih2+ 4. c.t> g4 :b2 •.• Or 4 . . . l:.g2 5. :a6+ '3;g7 6. 'it> h4 l:.h2+ 7. 'it> g5 . 5. l:.a6+ 'it> g7 6. 'it>g5 l:.b5+ 7. 'it> h4 l:.b2 8. g4, etc. Steinitz - Lasker World Championship (4) New York 1 894 However, White can play better in Variation IV: 2. l:Ie5! l:If4+, and now 3 . W d3! (but not 3 . We3? in view of 3 . . . W xe5! 4. e7 �e4+) and if 3 . . . Wxe5, then 4. e7 :d4+ 5. W c3 ! . White wins as in the � vs. : +/''. ending we present later: Black cannot move to the proper defensive square (see Chapter 1 5) . After 2 . l:I e 5 ! l:If4+? (2 . . . g4! i s better) 3 . W d3 ! , other continuations apparently don't help either, for example 3 . . J!f8 (if 3 . . . l:I fl ? then 4. e7; while on 3 . . . We7 White has 4. :xgs threatening l:Ig7-d7; finally, if 3 . . . :f3+, then 4, W c4 I:H4+ 5. 'it>bs :rs 6. :xgs) 4. :xgs . 2. 'it dJ : aJ+? White to move In this position, the win is hardly possible - if at all. 1 . W d4 :a4+! In Berger's view, Black could have drawn here with 1 . . . l:. rs . I n support of this opinion, he offers the following variations: 448 A mistake . In 1 894, von der Lasa pointed out 2 . . . l:Ia8 ! , continuing 3 . We4 :rs 4. l:Ig l l:If4+ 5 . 'it e 3 l:I f5 ! . Evidently, this variation does give Black the draw: if, for instance, White answers 5 . . . l:.f5! with 6. l:.d l , then 6 ... :rs 7 . W e4 l:.f4+! (here the g5-pawn plays a vital role ! ) . And i f after 2 . . . l:. a 8 ! 3 . W e4 l:. f8 , White replies 4. W d4, then 4 . . . l:.f4+ 5. l:.e4 l:.rs! 6. �g4 l:.f5! (but not 6 ... l:.g8, in view of 7. W e4! l:Ig7 8. W f5 ! W xd5 9. W f6 ) . Rook Endings 3. W e4 g4 4. W f5 k:ta8 5. e7 l:.e8 6. \t> f6 g3 7 . \ti n 'it> d7 8. d6! g2 9. l:.gl 1-0 How difficult rook endings are may be inferred from the fact that masters of the first rank do not always take into account all the finer points of such end games, as in Diagram 357. Alekhine Euwe World Championship ( 1 3) Netherlands 1 935 - 357 Here Black's passed pawns aren't very strong, given that one of them has advanced to the point where a weakness is left in his camp at f4. check, White has to improve his rook's position; if 4. l::t c 6+ We5 5. l:.c5+, then not 5 . . . W e4? in view of 6. :ctc4+ , but 5 . . . W e6! 6. l::t c 6+ W d5) 4 . . . ct> e 5 5. l:.b5+ W e6 6. l:Ib6+ Wd5 7. Jlb5+, and Black cannot avoid repeating moves without dropping the f5-pawn. 1 . . . f6+? A grievous error. Black could have won here with I . . .l::t a4! , depriving White 's king of the f4 square . I n reply to l . . . l::t a4! Black probably feared 2. J::t c4, but in that event he could have fi rst driven the opposing king away with 2 . . . f6+ 3 . '1t> e6 (or 3 . W d 5 l::t a5 +) 3 ... l::t a6+ and then played 4 ... '1t>g5, with a decisive strengthening of his pawns. After l . . . l::t a4! other moves appar ently don't help, for example 2. 'itid5 f6! (not 2 . . . f5? in view of 3. 'itie5, and now if 3 . . . f4, then 4. a8�) 3. 'iti c6 @g5 4. 'itt b6 f5! 5. l::t c 5 l::t xa7 6. 'itt xa7 g3, and Black wins. 2. @ f4 :cta4+ 3. 'itt g3 f5 Or 3 . . . Wg5 4. l::t g 7+ 'iti f5 5. W h4!. 1 . 'it' e5? 4. W h4! � f6 5. l:tb7! Yz-Yz White heads for f4, but from the wrong direction. The right way was 1 . 'itt e3! f5 (not I . . .l::t a4 because of 2. l::t c 4!) 2. @ f4 l::t a 4+ 3. \ti g3 \tif6 (3 . . . l::t a 3+ was useless, since after 4. \ti f4! l::t f3 + 5. W e 5 , Black's rook must go back to a3 ; if 3 . . . W g5 , then after 4. l::t g 7+ @ f6 5 . l::t b 7! we arrive a t the same position as in the main line) 4. l::t b 7! (before giving An instructive ending with two passed pawns against one occurred in Lasker - Levenfish, M oscow 1 925 (see Diagram 363 after 9. l::t xe5 +). It is easy to go astray also in the fol lowing study by P. Stamma ( 1 745). White to play and win: 449 Chapter 1 4 ficient advantage to Black (5 . . . l:b l + 6. � a4) . Of course, one should not come to a hasty conclusion about the inabil ity of Black's advantage of two isolated pawns over a single one to win the game. For instance, in that position we need only move the white rook to d7 At first sight, it's a n easy point here after 1 . l:Ib8; however, in fact, after 1 . I:tb8 , it 's not White who wins, but Black. the problem-like response l . . J:.tc8! forces White into immediate surrender. I nstead of 1 . I:tb8? he should play 1 . c8� + l: xc8 2 . Ifo7+. We present three more positions in which a single pawn battles successfully against two isolated enemy pawns: 1 ) Leonhardt - Spielmann, San Se bastian 1 9 1 2: White forces the draw with 1 . g6! W d3 2. lld7 d4 3. g7 l:tg6 (or 3 . . . '1t c3 4. I:tc7+) 4. '1t b2 l:Ig l 5. �b3, with insuf450 to have an immediate effect on the out come of the game. In that case, the game might proceed as follows: 1 . I:tg7 '1tc3 2. I:tc7+ '1t d3! 3. I:tg7 (3. I:tb7 I:txg5! 4. l:txb4 <t> c3) 3 . . . d4 4. g6 I:tc2+ 5. '1t b l (or 5. '1t d l I:tc6! 6 . l:tg8 'it> c3 7. g 7 IIc7!, etc.) 5 . . . l:tc6 6. l:tg8 (or 6. l:!b7 I:txg6 7. I:txb4 W c3 8. I:t -any I:tg l + 9. @ a2 d3 , and wins; nor does 6. 'iii> b2 help due to 6 . . . <t> c4) 6 . . . Wc3 7. g7 l:.c7!, and Black wins. 2) Spielmann - Landau, Match (3), Amsterdam 1 936: Rook Endings Black to move. There followed: 1 . . . l::t f4+ 2. We2 W d4! 3. l:tb6 @ c s 4 . Ilb8 l::t h4 S. Ilh8 W d4 (now White's game hangs by a thread; however, he manages to save it with exact play) 6. h7 : h2+ 7. Wd l ! (not 7. Wf3? because of 7 ... W d3 , which after the forced exchange o f the white h7-pawn for one of Black's, leads to defeat for White) 7 . . . W d3 8. W e i d4 (if 8 . . J:k2+ 9. � b l 11c7, then IO. Ild8!; in this line, White himself seeks a pawn trade, since his king takes up a good de fensive position on b l ) 9. � b l ( Black threatened to check from c2 and then to transfer the rook to c7 - a threat that White meets "en passant, " so to speak) 9 . . b4 I O. W a l ! (forced; IO. W e i ? loses to the maneuver I O . . . Ilc2+ and l 1 . . .Ilc7 given above, followed by 12 . . . W c3 or 1 2 . . . 'iti c4) I O . . . W d2 (of course not I O . . . <t> c3? in view of 1 1 . l:Ic8+ Wb3 1 2. h8� , and the h i square is held; nor does IO . . . b3 l l . 'iit b 1 help matters) 1 1 . W b2! (simpler than 1 1 . l':td8 Ilxh7 1 2. Ilxd4+ W c2! 1 3. l::t c 4+! <t> b3 1 4. l::l: c l ) l l . . .d3 1 2. Wb3 Ilh4 1 3 . <t> a4! (now Black is in an origi nal form of Zugzwang-. any move of his worsens his position!) 1 3 . . . 'tt> d l 14. Ild8 l:txh7 I S . Ilxd3+ \t> c2 1 6. :g3 , draw. 3) Tartakower - Spielmann, B1d Kissingen 1 928: There followed: 1. Il c6 Wg7 2. f4 fl a l 3. h6+ 'it h7 4. rs as s . Il a6 l::l: g l + 6. 'it hS l:t h l + 7. 'itgS Ilg l + 8. 'itffi Ilb l ! . I n some positions the pawn is so threatening that it is stronger than both of the opponent's pawns. Especially dangerous is a pawn located close to the queening square; it is sometimes necessary to give up the rook for such a pawn. Turrasch - Schlechter Match (8), Cologne 1 9 1 1 . Black to move 1.. .Ilf6 The best move. I n the game, Black played the weaker 1 . . .Ilfl , which led to 2. e7 Ild l + 3. WcS Ile l 4. e8� Ilxe8 S . Ilxe8 and a quick finish. However, 1 . . .Ilffi does not save the game either, as the variation presented by Tarrasch below shows: 2. 'it d7! 'it g6 3. e7 Ilf7 4. 'iti>d6! 45 1 Chapter 1 4 White does not waste a single tempo: the a3-pawn can be captured later; at the moment, he needs to render harm less the g7-pawn. Here the white pawns are not only isolated; they are also doubled. On the other hand, his pieces occupy such threatening positions that they can force a win (and even in two ways) : 4 . . . llxe7 5. W xe7 W f5 6. W d6! 1 . . . llc8 2. g5 6. llxa3 only draws after 6 . . . gS (see Diagram 33 1 ) . 6 . . . g5 I f 6 . . . <;t> e4? then 7. � e6 gS 8. :a4+ . 7. c;t> d5 W f4 Or 7 . . . g4 8. l:tf8+ c;t>gS 9. W e4. With the method chosen by White, he must avoid stalemate possibilities (see the note to the fifth move); therefore, he refrains from capturing the aS-pawn. However, he could also win by 2. l:txa5 l:tb8 3 . ll a6! (preparing g6-g7) 3 . . . l:tf8 (the only move to prevent an immedi ate g6-g7 , which would now be met by 4 . . . :tf6+!) 4. :b6! lla8 5 . g7 llc8 6. :f6 l:t a8 7 . ll f8 + ! and wins. 8. c;t> d4 g4 9. :rs+ W gJ 10. W eJ a2 If l0 . . . W h2, then simplest is 1 1 . W f4 a2 (or l l . . .g3 1 2 . :h8+ Wg2 1 3 . llg8) 1 2 . llh8+! (not 1 2 . l:t a8 g2 1 3 . l:txa2+ g2 14. W f3 , in view of 1 4 . . . W h l ! ) 12 . . . Wg2 1 3 . ll a8 g3 1 4. l:.xa2+. 1 1 . lla8 W h3 12. l:xa2 g3 13. �fJ and wins. Lisitsyn - Verlinsky Leningrad 1 93 3 359 Black to move 452 2 . . . llb8 3. I:tg7+ c;t> hS 4. llh7+ Wg8 5. g7 1 -0 If Black did not have the aS-pawn in this position, he could force the draw by 5 . . . l:tb6+ 6. g6 l:txg6 + ! . But as things are , the threat of 7 . i::I h8 decides (if 7 .. W f7 8. l:th8 i::1: g 8, for instance, then 9. g6+ ) . . It i s also useful t o remember once again that the win in this position is based on the white king's strong placement at h6. If the white king in Diagram 359 were on g5 , then Black would gain the draw with 1 . . .l:t c l ! 2. llxaS (or 2. c;t> h6 ll h l + ) 2 . . . W g7 3. l:ta7+ c;t>g8, etc . Rook endings with two pawns versus one were also seen in the games Lasker - Levenfish, Capablanca - Yates, and Duras - Capablanca (see Diagrams 363, 367 and 369) . Rook Endings G. ROOK ENDINGS WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF PAWNS To research these endings with the same thoroughness as endings with a small number of pawns appears to be an unrealizable task. However, this is not necessary, since the principles devel oped in our study of rook endings with a smaller number of pawns are also, gen erally speaking, good here . Rook endings with a great number of pawns have already been e ncoun tered in our manual - for example , see Diagrams 8 2 , 8 3 , 8 8 and 1 1 0 ; the latter two also illustrate the struggle of four rooks with a large number of pawns. 1 . @g3! Considerably stronger than 1 . '.Cl:d7, when Black would play I.. .�hc3+ 2 . @ e2 :cl:a3 3. '.:xd5 l:txa4 4. Mxf5 + @g7. 1 . . .l:!c3+ 2. @ h4 l=i:f3 2 ... �c 1 is no better, because of 3. >i' h5 ! . 3. g 6 :cl:xf4+ 4. @g5 :cl:e4 Forced, because on 4 . . J::t xd4 there follows 5. @ f6 @e8 (5 . . . @g8? 6. k!d7) 6. :cl:xc7 :l:xa4 7. g7 l:tg4 8. :cl:xa7 and 9. g8� (9 ... :cl:xg8 1 0 . :cl:a8+). 5. @f6! Capablanca - Tartakower New York 1 924 360 The f5-pawn serves as cover for the white king. 5 ... ;:4;> g8 6. �g7+ � h8 7. :xc7 !:l.e8 8. \t> xf5 �e4 I f 8 . . . a6, then 9 . :l: a7 bS 1 0 . a5!. 9. W f6 '.:f4+ to. @ es :cl:g4 11. g7+! c,i,i g8 White to move If l l . . . '.:xg7 , then 1 2. :cl:xg7 @ xg7 1 3 . @ xd5 a6 1 4 . @ c6, etc. 12. l:txa7 Capablanca finds quite a beautiful path to the win. Paying no attention to casualties, he wends his way with the king to fO, after which Black cannot pre vent the terrible trio: king, passed pawn, and rook on the seventh! Now there is no problem winning. There followed 12 Mgl 13. @xd5 : c t 14. @ d6 Mc2 15. d5 :ct 16. !:l.c7 '.Cl:al 17. @c6 :cl:xa4 18. d6 l -O. ••. 453 Chapter 1 4 l:xf5 + @ e4 IO. l::I f8 e2 l l . l::I e 8+ Wd3 1 2. @ f3 ! and wins. Kashdan - Alekhine Folkestone 1 93 3 6 361 ••• e3! Black sacrifices a second pawn to improve his position. 7. fxe3 W e4 8. 'ltJ g l O n 8. h 4 there follows, not 8 . . . Wf3? (in view of 9. l:xf5+ @ xg3 IO. h5!), but 8 . . . l::I a 3!, winning back one of the pawns while maintaining his attacking position. Black to move 8 Black must lose the pawn; however, he manages to save the game thanks to the active positioning of his pieces. l. .. h5 2. l:b7 e4 3. '>t e2 f5! 4. l:h6+ If 4. l:xh5 at once, then 4 . . . l:a2+ 5. '>tfl (5. '>te3 l:a3+; if now 6. '>t d4?, then 6 . . . l:d3+ and 7 . . . l:f3; and on 6. W f4? Black of course plays 6 . . . :f3) 5 . . . l: a l + 6. Wg2 l::t a 2! intending 7 . . . e3 (7. Ilh8 is not dangerous to Black, thanks to 7 . . 'ltJfl). . ••• @ e5 5. l:xh5 l: a2+ 6. @ n Now if6 . . . l:a l + 7. W g2 l: a 2 , then 8 . g4! e 3 ? (relatively best here i s 8 . . . @ f4) 9 . 454 l:e2 9. l:h4+ @ es After 9 . . . @ xe3? White wins with IO. l: f4. 10. :Ih8! 'iii f6! 1 1 . l:t'8+ @ g6 12. l:'Ie8 'iii f7 Black gives up the pawn at the right time. Bad would have been 3 . . . :e5?, which also loses the pawn after 4. @ e3 @ d5 5. h4 @ e6 6. l:a7 @ d5 7. @ f4 @ e6 8. l:'Ia6+ '>te7 9. l:a4, but leaving Black's position considerably deteriorated. 4 •.. If now 1 3 . l:e5, then l 3 . . . W f6 , and on 1 4. l:e8 again 1 4 . . . @ fl . 1 3 . l:c8 l:xe3 14. W fl l:a3 1 5 . h4 @ f6 16. l::.t c 6+ W f7 17. l::t c 2 l:tb3 18. l:e2 Wf6 19. l: e3 l:Ib4 20. 'it'O l:ta4 21. l:b3 l:c4 22. l:.b6+ �f7 23. l:'Id6 l:a4 Yz-Yz White cannot drive the rook off the fourth rank, since on 24. We3 (threat ening 25. l: d4) there follows 24 . . . l:e4+! 25. Wf3 (if 25. @ d3? or W d2 , then 25 . . . l:g4) 25 . . . l::t a4, etc. As may be seen from this series of examples, the loss of a pawn, in rook endings, is not always equivalent to the loss of the game. On the other hand, su- Rook Endings periority in position is often the decisive factor, even i f material is equal: Levenfish - Lisitsyn Moscow 1 935 7. 'iti e6) 6. l::t xa7 l::t g 5+ 7. W ffi l::t xh5 8 . a5! l:txb5 (8 . . . bxa5 9. b6 l::t b 5 1 0. b7 and l l . l::t a 8+) 9. a6 l::t a5 1 0 . l::t g 7+! W f8 1 1 . a7 @ e8 1 2. �e6! (no rush to win the rook) 12 ... 'it> d8 (12 ... 'iti f8 1 3 . l::t b 7) 1 3 . l::t g 8+ and wins. 362 5. l::t c 7+ 'it> g8 6. 'it>g6 l::t g4+ 7. 'iii xh6 l::t xg3 8. l::t xa7 .i:tb3 Forced, as White threatened 9. l::t b7 , and if 8 . . . l::t d3 , there follows 9. l::t g7+ and 1 0. l::t g 6. 9. l::t b 7! Black to move 1 . . .l:tf7 Relatively better than I . . J:te4+ 2 . @ xf5 l::t xa4 (given 3 . l:. c 7 + @ g8 4. W g6 \t> f8 5 . W xh6) and l . . . l::t e 2 (in view of 2. l::t c 7+ W g6 3 . l:t xa7 l::t t2+ 4. <JJ e3 l::t x h2 5. l::t a6) . 2 . h 4 l::t g7 3. h5! The culmination of White's plan. Black's rook is brought to the fifth rank, after which 'iti h6-g6 followed by h5-h6 decides. 9 l:txb5 10. W g6! Wf8 1 1 . h6 .i:te5 12. l::t b 8+ 1-0 .•• Lasker Levenfish Moscow 1 925 - 363 If now 3 . . . .i:tf7, then 4. l::t e 6 and 5. l::t e 5. 3 ••• l:t g4+ Only through a counterattack can Black hope to save the game (and that, only if his opponent plays inaccurately) . 4. W xf5 l::t xa4 4 . . . l::t xg3 doesn't help because of 5 . l::t c 7+ W g 8 (or 5 . . . l::t g7 6. l::t xg7+W xg7 White to move I n this position , attack and coun terattack should also balance each 455 Chapter 1 4 other out . H owever, here White loses an important tempo , as a result of which he was unable to use all of his chances. 1. '>itf6? With the breakthrough orchestrated by White (see moves 3 - S ) , putting the king on f6 turns out to be totally useless. He should have played at once 1 . fS! exfS 2. e6! fxe6+ 3 . \ti xg6 '>it bS 4. l:t a l , after which we would get the same position as in the game after White 's fifth move , but with the black pawn on aS instead of a4. After these moves ( 1 . fS exfS 2. e6 fxe6+ 3. \ti xg6 '>itbS 4. l::l: a l ) , the game might have developed as follows: 4 . . . f4 5 . h5 e5 (With the pawn o n a4 Black would play S . . . f3! here, intending to meet 6. � fl with 6 . . . a3 7. l:lxf3 a2; but now, with the pawn on aS, S . . . f3? is weak in light of 6. l:t fl ! a4 7. l:t xf3 a3 8. Mfl a2 9. kt a l \ti b4 1 0 . h 6 '>it b 3 1 1 . h 7 l:la8 1 2 . Ile l ! '>ii b2 1 3 . Ile2+!, and if now 1 3 . . . '>ii b l , then 1 4 . l:txe6! a l � l S . Ile l + . Nor would S . . . a4 be dangerous for White, in view of 6. h6 '>itb4 7. h7 Ila8 8. \ti g7 a3 9. h8� l:t xh8 1 0 . '>ii xh8 '>ii b3 1 1 . \tig7 '>ii b 2 1 2. l:t fl a2 l 3 . Il f2 + ! '>ii b3 1 4. l:t fl etc . , draw. ) 6. l:te l ! and White gets the draw, since 6 . . . l:te7? meets with 7. @ f6 l:te8 8 . @ fl . into S . . . a3 6. 'it>f6 l:t a6 + , when Black wins easily. 5. 'it> xg6 Since White must refrain from cap turing on e6, he has nothing better than capturing on g6, thus losing a tempo ('it>g7-f6xg6 instead of W g7xg6) . This loss of time turns out to be decisive. 5 . . . f4 6. h5 fJ! As we have pointed out, White can not now respond to this move with 7. l:t fl because of 7 . . . a3!. 7. h6 e5! Indirectly preventing 8 . h7, which would now be met by 8 . . . l:t xh7! 9. 'it>xh7 e4 10 . .l: fl! (defending against . . . e4-e3) 10 . . . a3 1 1 . 'it> g6 a2 1 2. 'it>fS e3! 1 3 . 'it> e4 e2! 1 4. f2. 8. :t't e l ! a3 9. �xe5+ If9. h7, then 9 .. J::t x h7! 1 0. 'it> xh7 (on 10. l::t xeS+ there is 10 . . . 'it> c4 1 1 . 'it> xh7 f2! 1 2. l::t fS a2) 1 0 . . . f2 1 1 . Il fl (or 1 1 . l::t xeS + 'it> c4, as above) l l . . .a2 1 2. 'it>g6 e4 and wins. In all these variations, the effect of the lost tempo is evident. 9 . . . W c4 10. Ilel a2 1 1 . h7 l::t a 8! 1 . . . 'it' b5 2 . l::l: a l a4 3 . f5 exf5 4 . e6 fxe6 In playing 1 . 'it> f6? , White probably had in mind the present position, in tending to continue now with S . 'it> xe6; but suddenly he saw that S . 'it> xe6? runs 456 Here l 1 . . .l::l: x h7 would be a mistake in view of 1 2. 'it> xh7 f2 (or 1 2 . . . 'it> b3 1 3 . �fl 'it>b2 1 4. l:tt2+! 'it> b l l S . Ilxf3) 1 3 . Ilfl 'it> d3 ( l 3 . . . 'it>b3 1 4. 'it> g6) 1 4. l:ta l ! 'it> c3 1 5 . Il fl ! , with a draw. Rook Endings 12. W g7 1 2 . :C: a l is no better: 1 2 . . . Wb3! ( l 2 ... f2 leads to unclear consequences: 1 3 . :C:xa2 :C:xa2! 1 4 . h8� :C:a6+! 1 5 . Wh7! fl � 1 6 . 'i¥c8 + ; i f now 1 6 . . . W b4?, then 1 7 . � f8 + ! � xf8 stalemate , while on 1 6 . . . Wb3 there follows 1 7 . �b8+ Wc2(a2) 1 8 . 'tWh2(g8) + with unfathom able complications) 1 3 . :C: fl ! ( 1 3 . W g7 Wb2) l 3 . . . f2! (now is the right time) 1 4 . Wg7 a l 'iV + ! 1 5 . :C:xa l :C:xa l 1 6 . h8'i¥ �g l + ! , and wins with 17 . . . :C:h l + or 1 7 . . . fl 'iV + . This variation , with a substantial transposition of moves, is what actually happened in the game. O n 1 6 . h8� Black again can play 1 6 . . . :C:g l + . Levenfish exploited his op ponent's blunder ( l . @ ff>?) in virtuoso style. Two active passed pawns generally as sure victory for their side. However, the presence of even one passed pawn is a se rious factor, especially if this pawn can be supported by the king (see Diagrams 364 and 365). Eliskases - I..evenfish Moscow 1 936 364 12 . . . fl! In contrast to the 1 2 . :C: a l variation just given, what wins here is the im mediate advance of the f-pawn; while l 2 . . . W b3 (in reply to 1 2 . :C: a l ) now leads only to a draw because of 1 3 . :C:fl ! f2 1 4 . h 8 'i¥ :C:xh8 1 5 . W xh8 W c3 1 6 . W g 7 ( 1 6. :C:a l ? Wb2) 1 6 . . . W d3 1 7 . :C:a l ! . White to move 1. :C:d6+ 13. :C: a l O r 1 3 . Ii:fl a l � + ! 14. :C:xa l :C:xa l 1 5 . h 8 'tW :C:g l + ! . The same variation might follow in reply to 1 3 . :C:h l . Otherwise Black plays l . . .:C:c7 and takes up the most favorable position possible for his rook (behind the pawn) . 1 . . . W f5 2. :C:c6 13 . . . Wb3 If 2 . :C: d 5 + , then 2 . . . :C:e5. If now 1 4 . h8� . then 1 4 . . . :C:xh8 1 5 . W xh8 Wb2. 14. :C:O a l � + ! 15. :C:xa l :C:xa l 0- 1 2 ••• :C:e t + 3. W h2 :C:ct 4. :C:c7 Now White wins one pawn, and another one within a couple of moves; 457 Chapter 1 4 however, in the meantime Black's passed pawn grows stronger and stronger. 4 g5! ••• Black preserves the g-pawn in or der to hinder the movement of White 's kingside pawns. 5. l::t xa7 c4 6. l:ta5+ 'i!t e6! 7. l::t a 6+ <J;1 d5 8. l:'Ixh6 c3 9. l:th8 If 9. :g6 c2 1 0 . l::t xg5 + W d4 1 1 . l::t g 4+ 'i!t d3 1 2 . l::t g6, then 1 2 . . . l::t a l (stronger than 1 2 . . . l::t h l + 1 3 . <J;1 xh l c l � + ) 1 3 . l::t c 6 c l � 1 4. l::t xc l :xc l and Black wins thanks to his king's ac tive position . 9 .•. l::t a l ! 10. l::t c8 l::t xa3 1 1 . <J;1 h3 The only chance , since creating a passed pawn with 1 1 . g4, 1 2. g3 and 1 3 . f4 was too time-consuming, and 1 1 . f4? is even weaker due to l l . . .g4! . 12 . . . l::t a5 13. f4 l:.c5! 14. l::t d 8+ \t>c3 15. l::t d l If 1 5 . l::t e 8+ <J;> f2 1 6 . l::t a 8 , then 1 6 . . . c2 1 7 . l::t a l ( 1 7 . l::t a 2 gxf4 1 8 . gxf4 W e3 ) 1 7 . . .gxf4 1 8 . gxf4 c l � 1 9 . lhc l l::t x c l 20. f5 'it> e3 2 1 . 'it>g5 'it> e4, and Black wins as above (see the note to move 1 2) . 15 . . .c 2 16 l:tc l ! . I ntended to induce . . . 'i!td2, drawing the king away somewhat from the enemy pawns. 16 ..• gxf4 17. gxf4 'i!td2 18. l::t a l If 1 8 . l::t xc2 + , then 18 ... l::t x c2 with the idea of 1 9 . . . 'i!te3 and 20 . . Jlf2. 18 ... c l � 19. l::t xc l l::t xc l 20. 'i!t g5 Not 20. W f5 W e3 2 1 . g4 l::k 5 + . 2 0 'i!t e3 2 1 . f5 'i!t e4 22. g4 ..• 1 1 . . . 'i!t d4 12. \t> g4 As we will see , after this move White is one tempo short; however, alterna tives are no better, for example if 1 2 . :d8+ 'i!t e 3 1 3 . l::t e 8 + W d2 1 4. l::t d 8 + , then 1 4 . . . � c l ! 1 5 . <J;> g4 c2! 1 6 . � xg5 (or 1 6. l::t c 8 'it> d2 , with the threat of 1 7 . . . l::t c 3 ! ) 1 6 . . . 'it>b2 1 7 . l::t d2 (if 1 7 . l:tb8 + , then 1 7 . . . l:tb3 1 8 . l:t c 8 l:t c 3 1 9 . l:tb8+ 'it> a3 2 0 . l:t a 8 + W b4 2 1 . l::t a l c l � ) 1 7 . . . @ b l 1 8 . l::t x c2 <J;> xc2 1 9 . f4 'it> d 3 , and the black king gets into the action just in time (20. f5 <J;1 e4 2 1 . f6 W e5 22. ii l:ta8 2 3 . 'it> g6 W e6 24. W g7 W e7 and Black wins) . 458 Or 22. f6 W e5 23. ii I::I fl 24. '\t>g6 'i!t e6 and wins. 22 l::t a 6! ••• <J;> e5 23. 'it> g6 l::I c 6+ 24. @ g7 If 24 . . . @ f4? right away, then 25. f6 W xg4 26. ii . With the waiting move 24 . . . l:! a6! Black forces White 's king to go to ii , where it will hinder the white pawns. 25. 'it>il 'i!t f4 26. W e7 W g5! 0- 1 Rook Endings Alekhine - Capablanca World Championship (34) Buenos Aires 1 927 further. Now Black's king must hold off the a-pawn, and his rook must defend the f-pawn. 12 15. rs 365 ••• :C:c5 13. :C:a3! :C:c7 14. W g7 I:!:d7 The decisive breakthrough. 1 5 . 'it' f6 , followed by f4-f5 , was also pos sible. 15 ... gxfS 16. 'it'h6! f4 White to move The win here does not seem to present any special difficulty, since White has an extra pawn and his rook occupies the most favorable of positions. 1. :C:a4! 'it> f6 Black can only move the king or the pawns, as his rook is tied down by White 's threat of a5-a6 and can only move by giving check. 2. 'it>f3 'it' e5 3. ® e3 h5 4. 'it' d3 'it' d5 5. <t> c3 W c5 6. :C:a2 Wb5 7. Wd4 7. l:tb2+ is useless due to 7 . . . ®c5. Nor does 1 6 . . . I:!:dS help, in view of 1 7 . W xh5 f4+ 1 8 . Wg4 fxg3 1 9 . Wxg3 followed by 20. Wg4 and advancing the h-pawn. 17. gxf4 I:!:d5 18. Wg7 :C:rs Or 1 8 . . . l!d7 1 9 . 'it'f6, and then 20. f5, 2 1 . W g 5 , and 22. Wxh5 (plus, in case of 2 1 . . .I:!:dS, the preliminary 22. I:!: f3 ) . 1 9 . :C:a4! 'it'b5 20. l::t e4 Wa6 20 . . . WxaS 2 1 . :C:e5+. 2 1 . Wh6 :C:xa5 On 2 1 . . .Wb7 fails to 22. :C:e5! I:!:xf4 23. W xh5, and White wins with the help of the passed h-pawn. 7 J:Id6+ 8. 'iit e5 :C:e6+ 9. 'it' f4 W a6 •• On 9 . . . :C: a6 there also follows I O. \tii g5 with f2-f4-f5. 10. <t> g5 l::t. e 5+ 1 1 . \t> h6 1'1rs 12. f4 White squeezes his opponent even 22. :C:e5! :C:al 23. 'it'xh5 :C:gl 24. :C: g5 :C:hl 25. :rs 'it'b6 26. :C:xf7 'it'c6 27. :C:e7 1-0 Of course , we should not overesti mate the power of the passed pawn, as the following position shows: 459 Chapter 1 4 9 . . . @ e3 10. '>ii h6 '>ii f4 l l . g5 '>ii f5 Flohr - Ragozin Moscow 1 936 There followed 12. '>ii h5 '>ii f4 13. W h4 W e3 14. @ g3 '>ii e4 15. '>ii g4 '>ii e3 16. wrs '>ii f2 17. '>ii r6 '>ii g3! 18. '>ii g7 '>ii g4 19. '>ii h6 '>ii h4 Yz-Yz. 366 Now we present an ending with /our pawns versus three on the same side (with out any passed pawns) . Capablanca - Yates Hastings 1 930 Black to move l ..• 367 l:tal 2. c5 l:ta7 3. c6 l:tc7 As in the previous example, White has an outside passed pawn ; however, this pawn here is less distant from the theater ofbattle, in view of which Black succeeds in capturing it and then taking up a se cure defensive position. Such a defensive setup is possible here in view of the dou bled white pawns on the kingside. 4. '>ii e3 '>ii d6! 5. '>ii f4 l::t xc6! 6 .l:t xc6+ '>ii xc6 7. @rs '>ii d5 8. '>ii xf6 • White has achieved material superi ority, but his position shows two weak nesses: ( 1 ) static, since his pawns are vulnerable to attack; and (2) dynamic, based upon the relative immobility of the doubled pawns and the fact that it is impossible to create an active passed pawn out of them. 8 ••• @ e4! 9. '>ii g5 Or 9. '>ii g 7 @ f4, draw. 460 White to move Here it is not easy for White to exploit his extra pawn, since after the passed pawn's creation the black king will be able to stop it while protecting his re maining pawns. An outside passed pawn is much stronger, since if it is restrained by the king, protecting the remaining pawns will prove that much harder (see Diagram 365, for example) . However, in the position depicted Black, too, will find it difficult to organize the proper defen sive plan against the expected onslaught of White's pawn mass. In any event, Black must avoid isolating his pawns and strive as much as possible to trade them Rook Endings off; of course, Black must also keep his rook active as much as possible, for this purpose making use of flank attacks or at tacking from the rear (especially after the white pawn mass has advanced). 1 . l:a6 l:b4 Black plays this ending with no par ticular plan; to give an example, he does not take any measures against the ad vance of the pawn mass. In our view, the best move here is l . . . h5!, so as to exchange the pawn at h5 for the pawn that is coming to g4 (after h2-h3 and g3-g4) when White advances his flank pawns, which undoubtedly fa cilitates his defense . 5 . . . h6 After this move, by a series of elegant maneuvers White achieves a weakening of his opponent's pawn position. On the other hand, Black's position is already unenviable. For instance, if he hews to waiting tactics, White has various ways to prepare the attack, one of which in volves 'iii f3-g3 , f2-f4 (not g4-g5 because of . . . h7-h6! with simplification) , l::t a 5e5-e8 , Wg3-h4, e3 -e4, and f4-f5. If after these moves Black plays I.. .l:Ia4, then 2. Wg3 (threatening e4-e5 and f5f6) 2 . . . l::t a 3+ 3. 'iil f4! l::t x h3 4. e5! gxf5 5. gxf5 f6 (defending against 6. f6+ 'iii g6 7. Mg8+ and 8. l:Ig7) 6. e6 with a strong position for White. 6. W g3 2. h3 MC4 3. 'iii f3 For now, 3 . g4 is premature , as it al lows 3 . . . l:Ic5! and 4 . . . h5 (for example , 3 . g4 l:Ic5! 4. f4 h5 5 . g 5 l: c 2 + 6. 'iil f3 l: h2! 7. 'iii g 3 l:e2 8 . l:a3 'iii f8 , etc. 3 . . . l:Ib4 4. l: a5! By occupying the fifth rank with his rook, White already threatens 5. g4! . 4 . . . l:c4? It was still not too late to play 4 . . . h5!. Pre-empting . . . h7-h5 , White pre pares to play h3 -h4-h5 followed by h5xg6 , after which Black would have an unpleasant choice : either to recap ture on g6 with a pawn ( . . . f7xg6 ) , al lowing White to create a strong passed pawn, which might be joined by an other after f2-f4-f5 ; or to recapture on g6 with his king ( . . . W g7xg6) , isolating the remaining pawns at f7 and h6. On the other hand , h 3 - h4-h5 is still pre mature , since Black can reply . . . g6g5 and get a fairly secure position. So before advancing the h3 -pawn to h5, White plays f2-f4 in order to prevent . . . g6-g5 . 5. g4! Now White prevents . . . h7-h5 and can strengthen his position still further, while avoiding pawn trades. The plan of attack presented shows the bad side of 5 . . . h6: it is only because of the advance of the pawn from h7 to h6 (without the possibility of . . . h6-h5) that 46 1 Chapter 1 4 White develops the powerful threat of h3-h4-h5xg6; with the pawn on h7 the exchange with h5xg6 would only have been good for Black after . . . h7xg6! . 6 ••• role is the fact that his rook is on the a file. 368 l:Icl 7. 'iil g2 l:Ic4 8. l:Id5 l:Ia4 Had Black prevented White 's next move with 8 . . . g5, that would probably have been answered with 9. f3 , intend ing e3 -e4, i::t d 5-f5 and h3-h4! ; and now if . . . g5xh4, then :f5-h5 and 'iil g 2-h3, while on ... f7-ffi White would have an swered :tf5-a5, threatening to restrict his opponent still further with l:Ia5-a7+ and h4-h5. 9. f4! Now the threat of h3-h4-h5 takes on more definite form. 9 l:I a2 + 10. 'iil g3 :e2 1 1 . l:Ie5 l:Iel 12. 'iil fl l:I h l 13. 'iil g2 l:Iel 14. h4! 'iil f6 15. h5! •.. If now 1 5 . . . gxh 5 , then 1 6 . Wf2! and 1 7 . l:Ixh 5 , while 1 5 . . . g5? loses to 1 6. l:I f5+ followed by 1 7. 'iil f2 and 1 8 . fxg5 . 15 . . . l:Ie2+ 1 6 . 'iil f3 l::t e l 17. l:Ia5 W g7 18. hxg6 'it> xg6 19. e4? Premature. It was more accurate to play 1 9 . l:Id5! : n + (after other moves, White executes the same plan as in the main line) 20. 'iil g2 l:Ie l 2 1 . 'iil f2 l:Ia l , and only now 22. e4! (threatening l:Id6+ followed by e4-e5 and f4-f5, hiding the king from checks on h4) 22 . . . l:Ia4 23. 'iil e3 l:Ia3+ 24. l::t d 3 , followed by ad vancing the pawns. 19 ... � n + 20. 'iil gJ l:I gl + 2 1 . 'iil h3 �fl! Not 2 1 . . .:t h l +? in view of 22. 'iil g2. 22. l:If5 On 1 8 . . . fxg6 there follows 1 9. l:I a7+! 'iil g8 (if 1 9 ... 'iil ffi , then 20. l::I h7! l:t fl + 2 1 . 'iil g2 l:Ie l 22. 'iil f2 l:I h l 2 3 . g5+ or 23. l:Ixh6!) 20. e4! l:I fl + 2 1 . 'iil e3! l:Ig l 22. f5! (creating two connected passed pawns) 22 . . . l:Ixg4 2 3 . ffi! l:Ig l 24. 'iil d4, and White must win, since his pawns are far advanced and his pieces have attack ing positions. Also playing a significant 462 On 22. f5 + ? White of course plays 23 . . . 'iil g5 with a powerful counterat tack. 22 ••• l:I e l ? Black fails to exploit h i s opponent's carelessness. He needed to play 22 . . . f6! Rook Endings 23. Wg2 l:t e l 24. 'Sit f3 (in all likeli hood, Black was afraid of 24. eS fxeS 2S. l:heS , not notici ng that in that case Black could play 2S . . . IlxeS! 26. fxeS hS !! guaranteei ng a draw, for instance 27. gxh S + \t> xhS 28. 'i!t f3 'i!t g6! 29. 'it> e4 r:Ji1f7 30. 'i!t dS 'Sit e7 3 1 . e6 W e8) 24 ... I!fl + 2 S . \t> e3 l:tg l when, by at tacking e4, f4, and g4 in turn, Black forces the draw. 32. 'Sit e3 The start of an interesting seven move maneuver by the king. 32 ... !!.a3+ 33. '.ti e4 l:Ia4+ 34. 'it> d5! l:ta5+ 34 ... l:txg4 is followed by 3S. f6+ 'Sit h7 36. !!.f8 @g6 37. l:tg8+ 'i!t fS 3 8 . l:txg4 'it> xg4 39. e6!. 23. e5! 35. 'it>d6 l:ta6+ 36. Wc7 Now White secures the advantage. 23 ••• J:te3+ 24. 'Sit g2! Not 24. 'i!t h4? because of 24 ... l:tf3! 2S. l:tf6+ 'titg7, after which Black draws in all variations, for example 26. f5? l:te3 , or 26. gS hxgS+ 27. 'Sit xgS (if 27. fxgS , then 27 ... l:te3 28. J:tf5 @ g6) 27 . . . l:tfl 2 8 . l:t a6 l:t e l 29. l:ta7 l:t e 2 30. l:te7 l:te l 3 1 . 'Sit fS (3 1 . fS runs into 3 1 . . J:heS! 32. l:txeS f6+ ; while if 3 1 . 'it> g4, then 3 1 . . . r:Ji1 f8 ) 3 1 . . .l:t a l 32. e6 l:taS+ 33. 'it>g4 r:Ji1 f6 ! , draw. 24 . . . l:ta3 25. l:tf6+ W g7 26. llb6 l:te3 27. l:tb4 l::t c 3 28. 'it>f2 l::t a3 29. l:tb7 'i!t g8 30. l:tb8+ 'it> g7 3 1 . f5 White threatens 32. f6+ 'it> h7 3 3 . J:tf8 'it> g6 34. l:tg8+ 'it> h7 3S. �g7 + . If now 36 . . . l:ta7+, then 3 7 . W b6 and 38. f6+. The waiting move 36 . . . Il a l doesn't help, i n view o f 3 7 . f6+ W h7 38. l:If8 l:i:a7+ 39. 'it> d8! 'it> g6 (or 39 .. J'lb7 40. 'it> e8) 40. l:tg8+ 'it> h7 4 1 . l:Ig7+ W h8 42. gS! hxgS 43 . 'it> e 8 J:tas 44. l:i:xgS l::t a7, and now the most ef fective is 4S. e6! fxe6 46. f7 l:ta8+ 47. W e7 l:a7+ 48. 'it>f6, with the irresist ible threat of 49. l:thS#. 36 ... Wh7 This is no better, since now f6 is cleared for the white monarch. 37. 'it>d7! l:.a7+ 38. 'Sit d6 Black must refrain from further checks, as 38 . . . J:t a6+ leads to 39. We7 l:ta7+ (or 39 . . . W g7 40. f6+) 40. Wf6!. 3 1 . .. l:ta2+ 38 \t> g7 39. l:td8! ..• If 3 1 . . . 'i!t h7 32. l:te8! l:tb3, then 33. f6! l:ta3 34. l:t f8 (but nor 34. e6? due to 34 . . . l:t a6! , or even 34 . . . Wg6) 34 . . . l:ta7 3 S . W e 3 and White wins (just like later in the game) by bringing his king to c6. In order to answer 39 . . . l:ta6+ 40. 'Site7 l:.a7+ now with 4 1 . l:td7! l:.aS 42. e6 fxe6 (or 42 . . . l:!eS 43. 'i!t e8) 43 . f6+ and 44. f7 . 463 Chapter 1 4 39 . . . :i::t a5 If 39 . . . :i::t b 7, then the most forcing line is 40. ffi+ 'it> g6 (40 . . . 'it> h7 4 1 . :d7! :i::t b 6+ 42. 'it>c5) 4 1 . @ c6! :i::t a7 42. 'it>b6! :i::t a4 43. :i::t g 8+ \t> h7 44. :i::t g 7+ @ h8 45. Itxf7 . 40. f6+ @ h7 4 1 . : t'8 ! l:ta7 Or 4 1 . . .l:t a6+ 42. @ d7! Ita7+ 43. @e8. 50. 'it>xf7 :i::t e4 On 50 . . . :i::t e 5 there follows 5 1 . g5! hxg5 (or 5 1 . . .l:txgS 52. :i::t xg5 hxg5 53. 'it>e8) 52. @ g6, as in the game . 5 1 . g5! hxg5 52. @ g6 1-0 White threatens not only 53. :i::t a 7 or 53. l:te7, but also 5 3 . : h7+ @ g8 54. f7+ '>t> f8 55. Ith8+. Duras Capablanca New York 1 9 1 3 - 42. @ c6! Now Black loses due to Zugzwang for example, if 42 . . . Ita6+ , then 48. @b7. 369 42 @ g6 43. l:tg8+ @ h7 44. Itg7+ @ h8 45. @ b6 • •. The start of yet another clever maneuver. 45 ••• l::t d 7 46. @ c5! Threatening 47. e6, which would have been premature on the previous move because of 46 . . . It d6+ and 47 . . . Itxe6. 46 ... l::t c 7+ 47. 'tt> d6 Ita7 48. e6! Now this move is decisive , since after 48 . . . :i::t a 6+ White 's king penetrates into the enemy camp. 48 •.• l::t a 6+ 49. @ e7 Itxe6+ If 49 . . . fxe6, then 50. f7! l:t a7+ 5 1 . @ ffi k:ta8 52. 'it> g6 with mate next move is the most effective. 464 White to move This position is reminiscent of Diagram 367. H owever, in contrast to Capablanca - Yates examined there, here the defending side (White) can not push forward his h-pawn, so his defeat is more deserved. On the other hand , in this game neither side plays at his best . 1 . l:ta7 If White attempts to prepare h3 -h4 with l . g3 , then Black replies l . . .g5 , cre ating a position much like the position Rook Endings in Capablanca - Yates after S . . . h6 (with colors reversed). l . . .h5? Here l . . .gS! (analogous to S. g4! in the preceding game) was more accu rate. 2. g3 h4 If 2 . . . gS, then 3. :as! fO (or 3 . . . fS) 4. tta7 ! , temporarily shutting the black king out of the game . 3. gxh4? Without needing to, White creates isolated pawns for himself, apparently expecting that every pawn exchange will bring him closer to the draw. He needed to play 3 . g4! and then 4. 'it'g2, with a solid enough position. In that case , indeed, White would have re tained decent drawing chances. 3 .•. I:.xh4 4. @ g2 e5 Once again , Black neglects the best continuation. 4 . . . :d4! S. 'it'g3 gS! (again, as in the game against Yates) was stronger. This way, Black would have paralyzed both pawns at once, and then could have quietly prepared . . . @ f8 -g7g6 and . . . f7-fS (after S . . . gS! , 6. ttaS is dangerous thanks to 6 . . . MdS followed by 7 . . . @g7). On the other hand , 4 ... gS right now is pre mature in view of S . I:.aS! f6 (or S . . . fS) 6. :a7, when Black's king is cut off and he would most likely have been forced to bring his rook to the seventh rank, while White could use that time to prepare h3-h4!. s. @ gJ I:.d4 6. :as? Here it would have been preferable to play 6. h4! with the following possible continuation: 6 . . . ffi 7. I:.b7 @g8 8. I:.a7 @ h7 9. Mb7 @ g6 1 0 . I:.e7 I:.d3+ l l . @g2 I:.dS 1 2 . @g3 f5 (up to this point, we are practically repeating the actual game) 1 3 . �e8! .i::t d 3+ (if l 3 . . . @ t7 , then 1 4 . : h 8 ! , intending h4-hS-h6) 14. @g2 e4 1 5 . : h8! f4 1 6. h5+ 'it'gS 1 7 . I:.e8 l'.:td4 ( 1 7 . . . @ f5 1 8 . tte7! .i::t d 2 19. ttt7+! @ e s 20. @ g l ; if now 20 ... f3 , then 2 1 . l:txg7 I:.d l + 22. @ h2 l:tfl 23. h6 l:txf2+ 24. @ g l l:t a2 25. h7, after which Black would have to force a draw by 25 . . . fl+ 26. @ fl I:. a l + 27. @ xf2 l:th l ) 1 8 . :e7 Wffi 1 9. tte8 @ fS 20 . .l:f8+! and 2 1 . :a.n. The indicated move, h3-h4! , should be played here, and down along the line too. 6 f6 7. I:.a7 @ g8 8. l:tb7 'lt> h7 9. :a1 @ g6 10. tte7 .l:dJ+ 1 1 . \t> g2 :ds 12. \t> g3 f5 13. l:.a7 ttdJ+ 14. \t>g2 e4 15. l::t a4 \t> g5! .•. Having missed his chance for h3h4, White not only has failed to create counterchances, but he has also allowed the opponent's king to reach the strong square gS . Now, apparently, the game can no longer be saved. 16. :as g6 17. :bs 465 Chapter 1 4 O n 1 7 . l::t a 6 (preventing 1 7 . . . 'it> f4) Black has 1 7 . . . f4! 1 8 . l::t a S+ 'it> f6 1 9 . :a6+ W f5 20. : a s + 'it> e6 2 1 . : a6+ :d6, further strengthening his posi tion. 17 . . . 'iti f4! lS. : as :d2 Threatening 1 9 . . . e3. 3S .. J:td l + followed by 36 . . . f2) 3S . . . We2 and Black wins. 29 . . . @ xe3 30. l:teS+ W f4 3 1 . l::t g8 �dl+ 32. 'iti tl nd2+ 33. w n On 3 3 . @ g l Black again wins with 33 . . . g4! 34. :xg4+ (34. hxg4 W g3) 34 . . . W e 3 followed b y . . J::t d l + . 19. l:ta4 g5 20. l::t b4 W e5 2 1 . l:tb5+ l:td5 22. l:IbS f4 23. :gs W d4 24. 'it> fl W d3 25. l:IaS e3! 33 . . . l:.h2 34. 'it> g l O r 3 4 . : h s 'it> g3 . 34 . . . :xh3 35. : g7 g4 35. :gs 'iil g3 Black launches the decisive maneuve� 0- 1 26. : a3+ On 26. fxe3 there follows 26 . . . W xe3 27. :a3+ (after 27. :es+ the black king goes immediately to g3) 27 . . . l:Id3, with a winning position. I n the following game, forces are equal and there is no passed pawn yet, but White does have a pawn majority on the queenside, leading finally to the creation of a passed pawn. Alekhine Euwe World Championship (27) Netherlands 1 93S - 26 . . . 'it> e4 27. fxe3 fJ!! Not 27 . . . fxe3 , in view of 2S. :as! :rs+ 29. 'iti e2! :a+ 30. W e l , with a serious counterattack. 370 2s. 'itigl :d3! 29. : as White loses at once after 29. :xd3 in view of 29 . . . 'iil xd3 30. Wf2 'it> e4. And if 29. l::t a S , then 29 . . . 'it> xe3! 30. :es+ (30. l:IxgS i::t d l + 3 1 . 'it> h2 f2) 30 . . . W f4 3 1 . l:::t a S (if 3 1 . l::I e l , then 3 l . . .'it>g3) l::! d l + 32. Wf2 l:Id2+ 3 3 . Wgl (stop ping 33 . . . :h2) 33 . . . g4! 34. l:Ia4+ (if 34. hxg4, then 34 . . . Wg3! 3 S . : a l l:Ig2+ 36. W fl l:t h2! 37. 'it' g l f2 + 3 S . W fl : h l + ) 34 . . . 'it' e3! 3 S . :a3+ ( Black threatened 466 White to move 1. :d7 :cs! Rook Endings White has the better position, but it appears that Black can still save the game by a well-timed counterattack. 2. :xa7 :xc3 3. :as+! Wh7 4. a4 l:lb3? White wins easily after 4 . . . :c2+? S. 'iii' e3! l:txg2 6. : a6 I'Ia2 7 . W d4, with the king's deployment to b3 or bS. The move Black chooses also loses. The correct continuation was dis covered by Lasker and Grigoriev. They recommended 4 . . . eS!, with the follow ing variations: l ) S. W e2 fS 6. W d2 l:c4 7. bS e4; 2) S . g4 gS 6. bS g6 7. l:a6 :a3 8 . 'it'e2 fS 9. W d2 e4; 3 ) S . bS fS 6. l:te8 :c4 7. l: xeS :xa4 8. l:te6 l:t a2 + 9. W g3 gS! 1 0. l:t xb6 l:b2. This last variation requires more detailed analysis. For example , we can extend it as follows: 1 1 . nbs W g6 1 2 . b6 W d6 1 3 . b7. N ow Black has several different ways to get a draw; for exam ple : A) l 3 . . . W g6 . In this position, Lev enfish offered the following attacking continuation for White : 1 4. f4! :b3+ (if 14 . . . gxf4+ t s . W xf4 l:b4+ 16. <ties l:!:b2, then 1 7 . h4 threatening 18. hS+ WgS 19. h6!) 1 S . W f2 gxf4 1 6. h4 l:bS 1 7 . W f3 :b4 1 8 . �e2 :b3 1 9. W d2. Then White's king goes to eS, and in reply to . . . I:Ib4 there comes l . hS+ WgS (or l . . . 'it' h7 2 . @ xfS and 3 . W xf4) 2 . h6! �g6 3. llg8 ! , and now if 3 . . . :xb7 , then 4. :xg7 + ! l:txg7 S . hxg7 W xg7 6. W xfS and White wins. However, as Romanovsky pointed out, Black has something stronger in this line, namely 3 . . . l:tbS+! (instead of 3 ... :xb7??) 4. 'it>xf4 l:.b4+ with a forced draw, since Black will now check until the white king abandons the fS -pawn , and only then play . . . l::t xb7. Romanovsky also gives another way to draw: ( l . hS+) l . . .W h7 2. WxfS g6+ ! 3 . hxg6+ @ g 7 , after which Black has no fear of losing the f4-pawn. I n addition, after 1 3 . . . Wg6 1 4 . f4 l:!:b3+ l S . W f2 gxf4 1 6 . h4, Black can still play 16 . . . W h7 1 7 . hS (else l 7 . . . g6! ) 1 7 . . . gS! 1 8 . hxgS+ W g 7 , also draw ing despite the loss of the f4- and fS pawns, with a three-pawn advantage for White ! This was pointed out by M . Zhudro. B) 1 3 . . . f4+ 1 4. 'it>g4 Wg6! (of course not 14 . . . l:txg2+? in view of l S . 'iii' h3 l::t b 2 1 6 . :f8+) l S . g3 (White can 't win after l S . :cs l:txb7 either - for in stance , 16. :c6+ Wh7 l 7. WxgS :b2 1 8 . g4 fxg4 1 9. hxg4 l:.bs+ 20. 'it'g4 g6 2 1 . W f4 W h6 22. l::t e6 l:.aS 23. :!.es l:.a4+ , etc . Another useless try is l S . W h3 , in light of 1S . . . @ h7; finally, if l S . h4, then 1 S . . . l::t xg2+ 1 6. W h3 :b2 1 7 . hS+ 'it' h7 1 8 . Wg4 :bs) I S . . . fxg3 1 6. hxg3 (White also can't win after 1 6 . @ xg3 W h7) 16 . . . :b4+ 1 7. f4 (or 1 7 . W h3 :b2) 1 7 . . . gxf4 1 8 . gxf4 l:tb l , draw. 5. b5 g5 6. 'it' e2 Now White sacrifices a pawn on the kingside in order to create two con nected passed pawns on the queenside. For example , if 6 . . . :b2+, then 7. 'it' d3! :xg2 8 . l:t a6 l::t a2 9. W c3 es 1 0 . 'it'b3 :at 1 1 . @ b2 and 12. I:Ixb6. 6 . . . e5 7. 'iii' d2 f6 467 Chapter 1 4 I n this position, 7 . . . I:tb2+ is even worse , because of 8. 'iti c 3 l:!: xg2 (or 8 . . . Ub l 9. Ua6) 9. a 5 ! bxa5 1 0 . b6. Lasker - Eliskases Moscow 1 936 371 8. @ c2 l:.b4 9. @ c3 .M d4 After his mistake on move 4, Black defended as best he could, prevent ing his opponent from getting two passed pawns. Nonetheless, the game is lost. 10. I:ta6 @ g6 1 1 . I:txb6 I:txa4 12. I:ta6! I:td4 13. b6 1-0 The following variations indicated by Levenfish are possible : l ) 1 3 . . . :!:td l 1 4 . I:t a2 I:tb l 1 5 . I:tb2 .Me l + 1 6. @b4 I:tc8 1 7 . b7 Itb8 1 8 . @c5!; 2) 1 3 . . . l:!:d6? 1 4. b 7 ; 3) 1 3 . . . l:!: d 8 14. b7 l:. b 8 1 5 . l:. b 6 @ f7 1 6 . @ c4 @ e7 1 7 . @b5 @ d7 1 8 . c;;t> a6 @ c7 1 9 . @ a7 , followed by I:tb6-b l c l +. Out of double-rook endings (that is, those where each sides has two rooks) , we are going to examine the following ending with an extra pawn. In double-rook endings, a significant role is played by a number of factors also typical of simpler rook endings and for the endgame in general : the level of ag gressiveness displayed by the pieces and pawns, the presence of weak points, etc . Here , however, another new circum stance becomes important, and that is the chance to double rooks on the sev enth. 468 White to move 1. :!:te l ! Stronger than 1 . I:te 1 , after which there could follow l . . .@ h8 2. I:t ee7 l:Ig8 3. I:txa7 l:.d2! After l . :!:t e l ! , this varia tion doesn't work because of the reply 4. U xd5! . l . . . @ h8? The decisive error. Black overes timates his opponent's threats on the king's wing. Correct was l . . .a5! 2. Ucc7 a4 3. :!:txg7+ 'iti h8 4. l:!: xh7+@g8 5. I:tcg7+ � f8 . In this variation, White would have to settle for a draw, as declin ing it would turn the winning chances over to Black, as the following variations by Konstantinopolsky demonstrate: 1) 6. h4 a3 7. h5 a2 8 . b6? (even here, White could still give perpetual check) 8 . . . a l � + 9. � h2 l:!:xg2+ ! ; 2) 6. I:t a7? Uxa7 7 . Uxa7 .l:. b 3 8 . h4 a3 9. h5 b4 1 0. h6 @ g8 1 1 . f4 ( l l . g4? .l:.b2 1 2. g5 a2 1 3 . g6 .Mb l + 1 4 . � h2 a l � ) l l . . .l:l:xd3 (here l l . . .l:tb2? would Rook Endings be a mistake because of 1 2. f5 a2 1 3 . f6 Mb l + 1 4 . @ h2 a l '@' 1 5 . t7+! @ f8 1 6 . Mxa l l:Ixa l 1 7 . h7 and White wins) and Black should win (for example 1 2 . f5 b3! , and if now 1 3 . f6 or 1 3 . l:ha3 , then 13 . . . b2! I. R.). - Now 2 . . . a5 is already too late, in view of the following study-like con tinuation: 3. l:Ia7! l:Ic8 4. h4 a4 (if 4 . . . h6 5. l:Ixg7 l:Icc2, then 6. l:.g6 a4 7. l:. xh6+ @g8 8 . l:Ig6+ @ f8 [h8J 9. h5) 5. l:.xg7! a3! 6. l:. xh7+ @g8 7 . n hb7! (prevent ing . . . l:I cc2) 7 . . . a2 8 . @ h2! b4 9. h5 b3 10. l:Ixg7+ ! (here 10. h6 would be bad due to 1 0 . . . l:Ib l 1 1 . I!g7+ @f8 1 2. J:h7 a l '@° ! ) 1 0 . . .'iil f8(h8) 1 1 . l:Ih7(+) @ g8 1 2 . l:I ag7+ @ f8 1 3 . h6, with inevitable mate. Among other things, White threat ened 7. l:Ixd5 , with l:Idb5 to follow. 7 .Mxb3 l:Ie8 8. l:Ib7 • The white rooks again take over the seventh rank. If Black answers likewise (8 . . . l:.cc2), then White takes the g7pawn while simultaneously defending the g2-pawn. 8 . . . l:Ixd3 9. J:xg7 Md8 This attempt at exploiting his passed pawn comes too late. On the other hand, 9 . . J:te6 doesn't work, if only because of 1 0. l:Igd7 I!e8 1 1 . J: h7+ @g8 1 2. I!xh6. 10. l:Ih7+ @ g8 1 1 . l:Ixh6 l:Ie3 12. l:Ih7! d4 13. l:Id7 l:Ie8 14. h5 d3 15. h6! 3. l:Ixa7 Threatening mate in four. As we have pointed out, 3 . . . l:Id2!? doesn't work here , in light of the simple reply 4. l:Ixd5. 15 . . . I!xd7 16. l:.xd7 l:.e6 17. l:Ixd3 1 -0 3 . . . h6 If now 4. J:xd5? , then 4 . . . l:.e8, with threats of 5 . . . J:e l # and 5 . . . Mee2. Rabinovich I..evenfish Moscow 1 935 - 372 4. h4 I n this position, the b5- and d5pawns are weak, and the rook is fixed on g8. Having failed to make use of his queenside counterchances, Black will now slowly perish. 4 . . . b4 5. l:Ib7 b3 6. @ h2 l:Id2 Black to move 469 Chapter 1 4 Here , White has a pawn more; but much more important is the possibility of restraining the enemy's pawns while facilitating the advance of his own. 1 . c5 2 .l:tf6! d4 •• • Nor does 2 . . . .l:td7 help, in view of 3 . .l:txb6 c4 4. e6 J::t dd8 (otherwise 5 . .l:td6) 5 . .l:tb7! d4 (not 5 . . . c3 because of 6. e7; if now 6 . . . J::t e8, then 7. l':td7, while 6 . . . l':td8? loses to 7. :xc3; and finally, if instead of 5 . . . d4 or 5 . . . c3 Black plays 5 . . . .l:tb8, then 6. J::t xb8 :xb8 7 . J::t d 2! .l:td8 8 . .l:txd5! wins for White) 6. J::t a 2! J::t a 8 (if 6 . . . c3 or 6 . . . d3, then 7. :aa7, threat ening mate in five) 7. e7! J::t e 8 8 . .l:txa8 .l:txa8 9 . .l:td7 and White wins. 3 . .l:td6! .l:tc7 4. bxc5 bxc5 5. @ a J::t c 6 6. J::t d 5! Depriving Black's pawns of all free dom of movement, and with that deter mining the outcome of the game. 6 'it' g7 7. 'it' f3 'it' f'7 8. g4 'it' e7 9. f5 h6 10. h4 J::t d 8 • • • This move speeds up Black's inevita ble demise. 1 1 . f6+ 1-0 On l l . . . 'it' e8 there would have fol lowed 1 2. f7+ . Double-rook endings were encoun tered earlier in our manual (for exam ple , see Diagrams 88 and 1 1 0). 470 Chapter 1 5 Queen vs . Rook ( or Rook + Pawns ) This is one of the more difficult end ings. Some positions require no less than 20 moves to achieve the objective. when White cannot give check on c4 since that square is occupied by his king. 1. �eS+! To simplify absorption of this ending, we begin with the simpler positions and gradually move on to more difficult ones. 373 As we can see, at the moment it is not possible to fork the king and rook, so White first improves his position. To that end, he strives to push the black king to the edge of the board or to impel the rook to go to a less secure position. Checking on e5 is stronger than on b4, since on e5 the queen is in a more centralized position and can therefore at tack a larger number of squares. 1 . . . @c2! White to move For l . . . @ a2, see the Variation. The black rook is far away from its king on an unprotected square; there fore, if White can simultaneously give check and attack the rook, Black should resign. If instead l . . .W c l or l . . . @b l , then 2. Wb3!, making use of the fact that the rook cannot reach the squares b8 or g3 . After l . . . @ c l (b l ) 2. @b3, Black must resign in view of the threat of �e l # ; if, for instance , 2 . . . @ d2, then 3. �d5+. However, this is not easy to achieve: for example, if l . �b4+, then l . . .@c2, 2. �e6 47 1 Chapter 1 5 The queen attacks the rook while at the same time defending c8 and g4; the rook has to leave its station, while it can not move next to its king. 2 ... l:td8 Other moves: 2 . . . l:ta8 � e4+ ; 2 . . . . l:tb8 3 . � e4+ © d i (3 . . . © c l 4. �f4+) 4. � h i + and 5. �h2+; 2 ... l:t f8 3 . �g6+ followed by check from d6, h6, or g7 ; 2 . . . :h8 3 . �e2+, taking the c3 or d4 squares with check, for example, 3 . . . © b l 4. � d i + © a2 (or 4 . . . ©b2 5 . � d4+) 5 . � c 2 + and 6. �c3 + ; 2 . . . :C.g7 3 . � e4+ , once again taking c3 or d4 with check; 2 . . . :C.g5 3. �e2+ © b l 4. �d i + and 5. �d2+; 2 ... l:tg3 3 . �e2+ and 4. �e l + ; 2 . . . :g2 3 . �e4+ ; 2 . . . l:tg l 3 . �e4+ followed by 4. �d4+ or 4. � e 3 + . 4 . . . © e2 Or 4 . . . 'iitt e l . If4 . . . 'iitt c l , then 5. �c2#, while on 4 . . . I:te8 there follows 5. �d7+. 5. �es+ The rest is easy, for example 5 . . . 'itt dl (other moves allow 6. �:ffi + ) 6. �h5+ © e l (6 . . . \t> c l 7. �g5 + ) 7. � h4+. VARIATION (AFTER ]. Vj' e5+): l. .. © a2 2. �e6! :b8! Our readers will see for themselves that other moves simplify White 's task. 3. © c3+ © a l 4. �a6+ ©bl 5. �n+ © a2 6. �t7+! © b l 7. �h7+ © a l (a2) 8. �a7+ 374 3. � f5 + Seeking t o force the king t o the edge of the board. 3 ... © d l If 3 . . . \t> b2 , then 4. �:ffi + , while 3 . . . W d2 i s met by 4 . �g5 + ; and finally, if 3 . . . W c l , then 4. �g5 + l:td2 5. © c 3 . Black to move Here the win is somewhat more complicated. 4 . © c3! l. .. l:tg8 Threatening � fl # . The crisis is at hand. 472 On I �&4+ White replies 2. � c 3 ns3+ 3 . W c2 , threatening mate o n a5. . . . Queen vs. Rook (or Rook + Pawns) To stop this threat, Black would have to sacrifice the rook. Preventing ... l:tb4. 2 . . . l:tg3! If 1 . . .l:th3, then 2. � e l ! again threat ens mate. If now 2 . . . @ b2(b l ) , then 3 . iV f2 + W a3 (other moves allow 4. �fl +) 4. �fl ! . etc. White wins easily enough after I . . .l:tb3, when there follows 2. � d l ! l::t b 4+ ( 2 . . . l:tb2 loses to mate in three) 3. '.t c 3 . I t i s still easier t o find the proper re ply to Black's other moves. White's task is easier against other continuations; for example , 2 . . . l:ta4 3. WbS! ; and if 2 . . . l::t h4, then 3. �e3+ @ a4 4. "fif2! etc. 3. '.t c4 And we have reached the position in Diagram 374. 376 2. �a5+ ! @ b2 Now the win will not be difficult for the reader, as this position is similar to the one we saw in Diagram 373. 375 Black to move This position represents yet another step up in the level of complexity: here Black's rook and king are next to each other, with the king not yet pressed to the edge of the board. White to move 1 . �d2+ � a3! Relatively best. On other continu ations White wins the rook immedi ately. 2. W c5! 1 . .. l:tg4 This gives White the most trouble. The win after 1 . . .l:t h4 is not so sim ple, either (see the Variation below). Other moves lose rapidly, for in stance: 473 Chapter 1 5 1 ) 1 . . .l:tf4 2 . ,.. c s+ � a4 (2 . . . 'it> a6 3 . �c8+) 3 . 't!Ha7+ \t> b 3 (other moves al low 4. �b8+) 4. �e3+; 2) 1 . . .l:ta4 2 . �cs+ \t> a6 3 . \t> c6!. 2. �d3+ 'it>b4 If 2 . . . 'it> b6, then 3 . � e 3 + 'it> c7 (3 . . . Wb7 amounts t o the same thing; while if 3 . . . 'it>aS, then 4. 'it> cS) 4. �e7+ Wb8 s . 't!Hd8+. If 2 ... � aS , then 3 . 't!Hd2+ W b6 4. �e3 + , etc . , as in the variation just given. After 2 . . . 'it> b4 we can stop analyzing, since once more we get a previous posi tion (see Diagram 37S). 7. 't!He2+, winning the rook. From the above, we can see that, in some positions, the win is achieved only after great effort. To attain that goal, we have to modify the position several times, until it's finally clear that the rook cannot maneuver with the same ease and speed as the queen. We omitted all details when analyzing the position depicted in Diagram 377; the point is that here we will often encounter previously examined positions. On the other hand, combining such positions into one general position cre ates a general picture of this queen vs. rook ending. VARIA TION: 377 1 ... l:th4 2. �c5+ W a4 If 2 . . . W a6, then 3 . �d6+ WbS! 4. � d7 +, after which we get the same po sition as after White's 4. �d7 below. 3. 't!Ha7+ W b5 3 . . . \t>b3 runs into 4. �e3+ W a4! S . W cS l:thS+ ( i f S . . J:tg4, then 6. �e2!, while S ... l:tb4 is met by 6. 'iVd2!) 6. W c4 l:th4+ 7. W c 3 l:tg4 8 . �d3! and wins. 4. �d7+ W a6! 5. �e6+! Winning quickly. 5 ... W b5 6. �e8+! W a6 Other moves lose to �d8+ or �e l + . 474 White to move 1. \t> e5 l:tc4 2. �d6+ W b5 3. Wd5 l::t b4 4. 'i¥c6+ W a5 5. �a8+! S . W cS would have been a terrible blunder: S . . . l:t c4+ ! 6. 'it> xc4 with stale mate! When the black king is on the edge of the board, White has to approach it Queen vs. Rook (or Rook + Pawns) with great care. For example, 5 . �c7+ l!la6 6. W c5? is bad because of the same move, 6 . . . l:I c4+ ! . s • • • of the following position by Philidor ( 1 803): 'it> b6 On 5 . . . WbS there follows imme diately 6 . �a3! (see White's eighth move ) . 6. �b8+ @ as 7. �a7+ 'it> bS 8 . �a3! Reaching the position depicted in Diagram 376. Black has to separate his pieces. 8 • • • l:tg4! 9. �d3+ 'it> b4! Diagram 375! 10. �d2+ 'it> a3! Black's king is driven to the side. White to move. In order to win, White must pass the move to his op ponent, which he does thus: I . �e s + W a8(a7) 2. �a l + Wb8 3 . �a5!, and then the win is not difficult. We must pay close attention to this ending (� vs. ll) regarding the possibil ity of stalemate combinations: 1 ) In the position below 1 1 . 'iit cS llg3 12. @ c4 Diagram 374! 12 . J::t g S! 13. �as+ c;t; b2 . Diagram 373! 14. �eS+ @ c2 White forces his opponent to take up an unfavorable defensive position. lS. �e6! I:td8! 16. �f5+ 'ift d l 17. 'it' c3! � el 18. �es+ 'iftdl 19. �h5+ Here it helps to remind ourselves Black forces a draw with ... llc4+. 2) The same move , .. J:tc4+ , forces the draw in this position: 475 Chapter 1 5 I n both of these positions, Black draws by setting his rook on the same line as the white king and queen. In the following example, Black forces a stalemate thanks to the "overactive " position of the white queen. In the following position Black to move plays l . . . �h7+ 2. 'it>g5 l::t g 7+ 3 . 'it> h6 �h7+! 4. 'it>g5 �g7+ 5. 'it> ffi (on 5 . 'it> f5 there follows 5 ... l::t t7 +, and if now 6. 'it> e 5 , then 6 ... ne7) 5 ... l::t g6+ ! . Al l o f these combinations are not difficult to prevent in a timely manner: while selecting one or another move, we need only to pay attention to mak ing sure that there is no dangerfrom rook checks. We must be doubly careful when driving the king into the corner, and also when putting our own king on a line with the queen. Now let 's move on to studying the ending 'iY vs. 1::t + 6. . Black to move can exploit the fact that the queen on t7 stalemates the black king, as in L .ng6+! 2. 'it> h5 �g5+ 3 . 'it> h4 ng4+. etc. In 1 782, Ponziani showed another stalemating combination: 476 Of course, here White 's task becomes still more complicated, and in many cases the win is impossible . A de tailed analysis of this ending would take u p too much space , so we limit ourselves only to a few cases. As opposed to many other endings, here it is more favorable to keep the pawn on its starting square. For instance, in the following position by Philidor ( 1 803) Queen vs. Rook (or Rook + Pawns) against this threat. So let's suppose that he plays l . . .W g8 (on l . . .Wg7 there comes 2. 'Vlii b 7+ right away) . White an swers 2. 'V//i a8+ 'it'g7(f7) 3. 'Vlii b 7 + . If now 3 . . . 'it'g8, then 4. 'V//i e 7, after which Black loses due to Zugzwang, whereas if 3 . . . 'it> h8 , the simplest is 4. 'V//i fl ! l::t h6+! 5 . 'it' g5 l::t g 6+ 6. 'iil fS llg l 7 . Wii f8 + l::t g8 8. 'Vlii f6+ l:lg7 9. 'Vlii d8 + ! l::t g 8 I O . 'Vlii d4+ l::t g 7 1 1 . 'Vlii f6! 'it> g8 ( 1 1 . . .hS 1 2. 'Vlii h 6+) 1 2 . 'Vlii d8+ 'iil fl 1 3 . 'Vlii h8, winning the pawn. White cannot win, since Black's rook swings back and forth from c6 to e6 while his king occupies either d8, or a square next to it. Neither the king nor the rook can be driven from their posts. Now let us examine positions where the pawn has advanced from its start ing square one square. Let's start with a center pawn. Rook pawns are an exception. If in Philidor, 1777 a position analogous to Philidor's, the rook pawn is on its starting square , the win usually can be forced. 379 378 White to move and win Win If it is White to move here, the win is achieved simply by 1 . 'V//i f8 + l::t g 8 2. 'Vlii tO + l::t g 7 3. 'it' h6. But if it is Black to move in Dia gram 3 7 8 , he has to defend himself I . 'Vlii h 7+ Black faces a difficult dilemma: if he moves the king forward, then the queen can attack from the rear; and if the king retreats, then his forces will be separat ed. l . .. '>t> e6 477 Chapter 1 5 If l . . .'lt>d8 (or 1 . . .\t> e8 2 . �c7), then 2. �f7 'lt>c8 (after 2 . . . .l:tc5 3. �e6! \t> c7 4. �e7+, the white queen gets behind him) 3. �a7 'it> d8 (or 3 . . . .l:tc5 4. �e7) 4. �b8+ 'lt>d7 5. �b7+ \t> d8 6. �c6!, etc. 2. �c7 Preparing �d8 followed by �e8+. 2 ... :tc5 3. �d8 .l:te5! 4. �e8+ \t> d5! 4 . . . \t>ffi allows the white king to get behind Black more quickly. For instance, 5. �d7 .l:te6 6. \t>g4 'iit e5 ( if 6 . . . .l:te4+ , then 7. \t>f3 .l:te6 8. \t> f4) 7. Wg5 d5 (7 . . . \t>d5 8 . \t>f5) 8 . �g7+ 'iit e4 9 . �h7+ \t> e5 (9 ... 'it>d4 10. 'it> f.5) 1 0. �h2+ \t> d4 ( 1 0 . . . \t> e4? fails to 1 1 . �f4+ W d3 1 2 . � f.5 + 'it>e4 1 3 . '@'xd5+) 1 1 . 'it> f.5 , etc. 5. �c8! Forcing the rook to leave the fifth rank. If Black refuses to with 5 . . . .l:th5, for example, then 6. �a8+ 'it> d4 7 . �a4+ , and on 5 . . . W d4 there follows 6. �c6 .l:td5 7. �c7 (as suggested by Guretsky- Komitz) 7 . . . 'it> d3 8. �c l .l:td4+ (8 . . . 'it> d4? 9. �c6) 9. 'it> f5 . The white king has managed to cross the line of demarcation. .l:td3 10. �b2+, after which White's king gets across the e-file to the d5-pawn) 9. 'it>ffi .l:te4 10. 'it>f7!. Black cannot main tain control over the e-file: if 10 . . . .l:te5, for example, then 1 1 . �b2+ 'it> e4 1 2 . W ffi!. 7. \t> f6 .l:te4! Other moves simplify White 's task. If, for example, 7 . . . .l:te3, then 8. �b7+ 'it> d4 (or 7 . . . 'it> c4 9. �c6+) 9. �b6+. 8. �c3! All of the moves of the main variation given above were indicated by Philidor. Here he continued with 8 . � f5 + . B. Guretsky- Komitz's suggested move, 8 . � c 3 ! , simplifies the solution. 8 :e6+ 9. Wf7 .l:te5 ••• After 9 . . . l: e4 1 0. �d3 + , White gets the chance to bring his king across via the e-file to the d-pawn. 10. 'it>f8 A waiting move. If now 10 . . . .l:te6, then 1 1 . �b3+ \ti e5 1 2. 'it> f7 . 10 . . . .l:te4 1 1 . �d3+ l::t d4 5 ... .l:te4+ 6. 'it> f5 The king has reached the fifth rank. Now it needs to get at the d-pawn. 6 ... :es+ On 6 . . . 'it> d4 White plays 7 . �c6 d5 8. �c2 l:Ie5+ (if 8 . . . .l:te3, then 9. �d2+ 478 After l l . . .'it> e 5 , White also gets the chance to bring his king over to the d pawn. 12. �rs+ 'it> c4 1 2 . . . <it> c6 runs into the immediate 1 3 . <JiJ e7 . Queen vs. Rook (or Rook + Pawns) 13. �c2+! @ d5 If the king retreats to the b-file, then Black's pieces get scattered. But if the pawn is a rook pawn, a knight pawn or a bishop pawn, then, on the sixth rank, it usually secures the draw. 14. \tt e7 \tt e5 If 14 . . . l:t e4+ 1 5 . W d7 l:td4, then 1 6 . �e2! @ c5 1 7 . 'it> e6, and Black loses a s a result of Zugzwang; for example , if 1 7 . . . d5, then 1 8 . � f2 ! c;t> c4 1 9. �c2+ 'it> b4 20. \tt e5. 15. 'i!i d7 l:td5 If 1 5 . . . <;k; d 5 , then 1 6. �e2!, as in the previous note. 16. �e2+ @ f4 On c;t> c6. 1 6 . . . @ d4, White replies 17. 17. 'it> c6 l:td4 18. 'i!i b5! The crisis approaches. If now 18 . . . l:td5 + , then 1 9 . 'i!i c4, driving the rook away from the pawn. Black to move draws With the proper move , l . . . l:tb7!, Black succeeds in preventing the white king's march to the eighth rank, thus achieving the draw. l . . .W a7?, however, loses to 2. <;ti c?! l:tb5 3 . � d4+ 'i!i a8 4. �d6 @ a7 5 . W c8!. Now Black is in Zugzwang: 5 ... l:tb6 or 5 . . . l:tb7 are answered by 6. �c5(+); and 5 . . . a5 doesn't help, since a rook pawn loses on the fifth rank. 18 ... @fS 19. �e3 J:te4 1 9 . . . l:td5+ 20. W c6. 20. �d3 \tt e5 Or 20 . . . d5 2 1 . 'it> c6!. For pawns on their third or fourth ranks, it is hard to formulate a general rule , since generally speaking the result depends on the placement of the piec es. In some cases, advancing the pawn strengthens it; in other cases, it's weak ening. 2 1 . \tt c6 l:td4 22. �e3+ and wins. So we see that a center pawn on its third rank usually is not enough to save the game . A curious case is the following, by Kling and Horwitz: 479 Chapter 15 Examples 297-302: Kling and Horwitz, 185 1 297. 38 1 White to move and win White wins. 1 . 'iVc8+ 'itt g5 298. Other moves drop the rook. 2. 'i¥g8+ 'it> h6! After 2 ... 'it> hS or 2 'it>f5, play leads back to the main variation; if 2 . . 'ltf ffi , then 3 . 'i¥d8 + , after which either White wins the rook or play leads back to the main variation. ... . 3. �e6+ 'ltt g5(h5) 4. 'iVd5+ \t> g4 5. �d7+! 'iit g 5 6. �b5+ 'iit g4! 7. '@°e2! h3 8. 'itt h2 White to move and win. 299. White wins. 480 Queen vs. Rook (or Rook + Pawns) 302. B. Guretsky-Komitz, 1 864. 300. Black wins. Draw. 30 1 . White wins, regardless ofwhose move it is. 48 1 Chapter 1 6 Queen Endings A. QUEEN + PAWN vs. QUEEN A pawn, advanced to the next-to-last rank, wins in the vast majority of cases. If the pawn is supported by the king, and the king is not in check, then the win may be considered almost assured, al though it won't be easy. 382 If l . . . �d7, then 2. �e4+ and 3. Wg8 . 2. W g7! This move is the start of a forcing combination indicated by K. Meier. Philidor played 2. �h6 and believed that, after 2 . . . �e4+ 3 . W g8 �g4+ 4. �g7 �e6, the game must end in a draw. However, as Kling and Horwitz showed, even after this relatively weak con tinuation White achieves the win eas ily enough with 5. �d4+ ! W a3 ! 6. Wg7 �e7 6. �d5, etc. 2 ... �al+ 3. W g8 �a2 4. �b6+ W c3 White to move and win Strangely enough, Philidor con sidered this position drawn. Kling and Horwitz ( 1 85 1 ) and then Meier ( 1 859) demonstrated the contrary. 1. W h7 � h i + 482 All of Black's moves are forced. 5. \ti g7! �g2+ 6. �g6 �b7 7. W g8 �d5 Of course Black can't play 7 . . . �b3 because of 8 . �g3 + . After 7 . . . � d 5 the starting position is reached, with just the one ditTerence: Queen Endings Black's king has shifted from b4 to the less secure position c 3 . 8. <;t> h7 If now 8 . . . �d7 or 8 . . . �b7, then 9. �g7 + . 8 ••• � h l + 9. �h6 �e4+ 1 0 . ® h8! Only now does the black king's poor placement on c3 fully manifest itself: Black cannot give check on the diagonal in view of the exchange of queens. There is no defense against t7-f8� . The only �c8+)! check (3 . . . �b8+ 4. 4. v.iUe8 �d4+ 5. <Ji c8 �g4+ 6. 'i.Vd7 Now Black cannot give check, since his king gets in the way along the c-file. The critical point draws near! 6 . . . �g7 6 . . . � f3 is useless in light of 7 . �c7+ <Ji d4 8 . �d6+ and then f8'i.V . 7. �e7+ Wc6 8. f8� v.lUg4+ 9. Wb8 'i.Vg3+ 10. Wa8! and wins. 383 If the pawn has not yet reached the seventh rank, then the win is not certain. Here the outcome mainly depends on the black king's position: the best posi tion for it is one of the squares in front of the pawn, since under these conditions the queen trade isn't always dangerous. Black to move; White wins This position came up as a result of Berger's testing of an analysis by Philidor. 1 ••• But if the black king is in an unfavo rable position, then in some cases even a pawn on its starting square could win the game . For example, in this position by Kling and Horwitz ( 1 85 1 ) �c7+ If l . . .�b7 + , then 2. �d7 �e4+ 3. <Jid8!. This move is typical of queen end ings: Black cannot give check either at a8 or at h4, since in each case White blocks with the queen while giving check himself! 2. �d7 �es+ 3. <;t> d8 �h8+ 483 Chapter 1 6 White to move wins with 1 . 'iV d4 @ c 1 (if l . . .v.i'a6+ or l . . .v.i'b l + , then 2. W c 3 + , after which even the best move 2 . . . @e2 doesn't help, in view of 3 . v.i'd2+ fol lowed by 4. v.i'd3+) 2. v.i'c3+ @ b l 3 . 'iY c 2 + @ a2 4. b4+ @ a3 5 . v.i' c 3 + . in spite of the fact that White queens. For example , in this position by Lolli ( 1 763) Here i t would b e useful t o remember one position in which White sacrifices the last pawn and afterwards makes a decisive quiet move. In one game of A. Neumann ( 1 887), the following posi tion was reached: with Black to move, the draw is achieved this way: l . . .� h4+ 2 . v.i' h7 (2. 'lt> g8 makes no difference , in view of 2 . . . � d 8 + 3 . <J; f7 �d7+ 4. <it' f6 � d4+! 5. 'lt> g6 �g4 + ; White can only avoid the perpetual by " sacrificing" his pawn) 2 . . . v.i'd8+ 3 . g8v.i' v.i' f6 + (or 3 . . . v.i'd4+) etc. White to move. White played 1 . '@' d5! v.i'xb4+ (detailed analysis showed that other moves, too, fail to save the game) 2. @ f3 ! ! . In this interesting position, Black cannot avoid mate. White threatens, not only 3. 'iY d l + W h2 4. 'fWc2+! W h3 5 . v.i'h7+ � h4 6. � d 7 + W h2 7 . �d2+ , or 3. 'iYh5+ \t> g l 4. �g5 + , but also 3 . \t>t2+ or 3 . �g3 + . Black cannot defend against all of these threats simultane ously. In conclusion, we note that some times one can force perpetual check, 484 B. QUEEN ENDINGS WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF PAWNS Samisch - Nimzowitsch Karlsbad 1 923 384 Black to move Queen Endings Here not only Black's queen, but also his king takes an active role in the struggle for the center. And besides, Black has a far advanced passed pawn, which moreover is in touch with its other pieces: the presence of such a pawn in queen endings is more important than even a material advantage. t . .. 'it' e6! Without losing touch with the center, the black king wards off the threat of 2 . �xb5, which would now b e met b y 2 . . . �g2+ 3 . W h5 �d5+. In his tum Black, exploiting the inactivity of his oppo nent's queen, threatens to advance his passed pawn still further. For instance, he could play 2 . . . �g2+ 3. W h5 �f3+ 4. Wg5 e2 5 . �e l (defending against 5 . . . �g3+ and 6 . . . e l � ) 5 . . . �fl . sible) variations with a great number of branching lines, to improve the chances for accurate calculation. 8. �h7+ W g5 With the move chosen by Black (7 . . . W xh 5 ! ) , the calculations are not too complex, since he doesn't have to calcu late every possibility move by move ; in stead, he only needs to note a purposeful defensive plan, subjecting only the basic variations to close analysis. Specifically, Black here intends to exploit the fact that both his queen and the e2-pawn are invulnerable , and so he plans to re deploy his king to the fifth (and eventu ally the fourth) rank on the queenside , where the king will cover not only his own pawns, but also the white b3-pawn. 9. �g7+ 2. rs+ The best shot. By sacrificing the pawn, White clears the board somewhat for his queen. 2 ... �xf5+ 3. W g3 e2 4. °iVc3 �fl! Of course , decisive moves like this ought to be the first ones considered; however, given the danger of perpetual check, accurate calculation is required. 5. �e3+ Wr7 6. °iVa7+ W g6 7. h5+! 'itixh5! Not 7 . . . W h6 because of 8 . �e3+ W xh5 9. °iVe8+ with unfathomable com plications. In order to exploit an advan tage , one must avoid (as much as pos- Also after 9. �e7+, the black king goes to the fifth rank, reaching the e5 square. Or 9. �h4+ W f5 1 0. �h5+ We4 with a further retreat, to either d5 or d4. 9 ... 'itif5 to. �r7+ \ties 1 1 . �e7+ 'it> d5 12. °iVb7+ Wd4 13. °iVb6+ Now we have one of the positions which Black undoubtedly envisioned when he played 4 . . . �fl!. Here he cannot retreat the king via c3 to b2 just yet, because after l 3 . . . Wc3? 14. �e3+ White can subject the retreating king to endless �ment. Therefore, before heading for the queen's wing, Black mobilizes his own d6-pawn. 13 ... W e4! 14. �c6+ d5! 15. °iVe6+ W d4 16. °iVb6+ \t>d3! 17. �xb5+ Wc2 485 Chapter 1 6 White resigned, since with the pawn on d5 he can't get to the c4 square, and after 1 8 . 'i¥c6+ or 1 8 . 'i¥c5+ Black's king hides on b2 or b 1 . The following example illustrates the drawbacks of passive piece placement. Romanovsky - Stahlberg M oscow 1 93 5 not only fails to improve his position, but falls prey to a mating attack. 6 . . . @ h7 was necessary, although in that case White would probably win af ter 7 . 'i¥e4! , threatening 8 . 'it> e6+ Wg8 9. @ e7 followed by 1 0 . °i¥d5+ 'it> h7 1 1 . W f8 °i¥ f4+ 1 2 . � f7 , etc. To avoid this possibility, Black is forced to give up the e5-pawn. 7. °i¥g4 'i¥el 8. 'it> g6! 'i¥ c l 9. °i¥d7 °i¥gl+ 10. 'it> rT Victory i s achieved thanks t o the white king's active participation in the attack. 10 ... W h7 1 1 . °i¥f5+ g6 12. °i¥d7 1-0 Black to move Here White has a significant posi tional plus, based upon the dominating position of the white queen in the center and the restricted situation of the black king at the board's edge . In queen endings (and in the end game as a whole) we should, naturally, pay attention to the soundness of the pawn structure. Here too, isolated pawns (other things being equal) are easily at tacked and facilitate the enemy pieces' penetration into our camp: Lisitsyn - Capablanca Moscow 1 93 5 1 . .. °i¥b2+ 386 Black's only (though insufficient) chance lies in counterattack. Passive de fense with l . . .°i¥c7 leads to 2 . @ e3 @ e7 3. W e4 W f6 4. h5! and loss of a pawn for Black as a result of Zugzwang. 2. @ e3 'i¥ c l + 3. @ e4 'i¥ e l + 4. @ f5 'i¥xg3 5 . 'i¥xc5+ @ g8 6 . 'i¥c4+ @ h8? Putting his king in the comer, Black 486 Black to move Queen Endings Black has solidly occupied the d5 square in front of the isolated pawn, and keeps the isolated pawns at b5 and d4 under attack. Now he intends to restrict his opponent still further by transferring the queen to c4 and the king to d5. Vidmar - Yates Hastings 1 925 387 1 . .. <;tf e6 2. h4 f6 3. <;tf e3 �c4! 4. g3 In order to answer 4 . . . W d5 with 5. �g2+. 4 g5! 5. hxg5 fxg5 ••• Now White is in Zugzwang. For in stance, if 6. <;tf e4 (6. �e2? �xe2+ 7. 'itt xe2 <;tf d5 ) , then 6 . . . g4! 7 . @ f4 <;t(ffi 8. 'itt e4 �e6+ 9. @ d3 �d5 with the pow erful threat of . . . � f3 + . 6. �h2 6. 'iVb 1 is no better, in view of 6 . . . �c3 + , nor i s 6. <;tf e 4 g4! , as i n the vari ation above. 6 ••. �b3+ 7. 'it' e4 g4! Threatening 7 . . . � f3 # . White to move 1. �g5! Considerably stronger than 1 . �g8+ 'it>c7! 2. fl, when Black plays 2 . . . c2 3. f8� �c3+ 4. �f3 c l�! 5. �xd5 �g l + 6. <;tfxh3 'iVxf3+ 7. �xf3 �xd4, with a draw. 1 . c2 •• If l . . .@e8, then 2. �g8+! (now this is strong, since the black king cannot move to c7 after the check) 2 . . . W d7 3 . fl c 2 4 . �e8+! W c7 5. �xc6+ W xc6 6 . f8 � c l � 7. �c8+. 8. �e2 2. f7+ �c7 3. f8� �c3+ 4. W h2! The loss of a pawn is also unavoid able in other variations. 8 . . . �xg3 9. 'iVc4+ @ e7 10. �c8 �fJ+ 1 1 . 'it' es �f6+ 12. W d5 �d6+ 0 - 1 in view of l 3 . . . �e6+. Vidmar executed the concluding at tack beautifully and accurately in the following position: Thanks to the white queen's control over d2, this move wins. Only now does the power of 1 . �g5! show itself fully. 4 cl� 5. %Yd8+ <;tf c6 6. �e8+ 1-0 ••• Ilyin-Genevsky (Black) won cleverly against Model ( Leningrad 1 926) in the following position: 487 Chapter 1 6 endings must be done while always considering the possibility of perpetual check. Carelessness in this regard could affect the outcome of the game. As an example, we indicate the following posi tion: Black to move. The game concluded: l . . ..-b4! 2. d6 a4! . 2 . . . �xf4+ would be bad because of 3. 'it>h 1 threatening 4. d7. 3. f5 If 3 . V//i c 7, then 3 . . . ..-xf4+ 4. W g l Vies. 3 ••• gxf'S 4. g4 f4! The deciding move: the f-pawn becomes strong. 5. g5 ._,d2+ 6. 'it> g l ._, e l + 7. 'it> g2 �gJ+ s. 'it> n hxgS 0- 1 On 9. d7 there would follow 9 . . . f3! 1 0. '@'ffi+ W xffi 1 1 . d8°ti + �g7, and White cannot play for stalemate because he still has the h3-pawn! A sharp finish! In conclusion, we note once more that exploiting an advantage in queen 488 White to move (Alekhine - Mar6czy, New York 1 924) . Instead of I . ._,d4! ..-c2+ 2. 'it>g3 �c6 (the threat was 3 . �xd5! ._,xb2 4. V//i d 8+ W g7 5 . ._,d4+) 3. a4, etc., Alekhine played mechanically here: 1 . V//i c 8+ 'it> g7 2 . V//i xb7?, to which Mar6c zy replied 2 . . . V//i d 2+ 3. Wg3 d4! 4. exd4 (he had to get rid of the dangerous pawn) 4 . . . ..-gS + ! with perpetual check. Queen Endings Examples 303-306: 303. 305. Black to move and win. 304. Black to move; White wins. White to move and win. 306. A. Troitzky. White to move and win. 489 Chapter 1 7 Rare Endings In this chapter we cover endgames which are fairly rarely encountered in tournament practice; therefore here we can restrict ourselves to generalities. A. ROOK vs. BISHOP Rook vs. bishop wins only in excep tional circumstances. The problem is that here: I) the king cannot always be driven to the edge of the board; and 2) such forcing doesn't always produce a win. l:tg l (if I . @fl?, we have a stalemate) I . . . i.g8 (for Black in this instance, we can formulate a simple rule: he should shuttle the bishop back and forth between h7 and g8 for as long as possible) 2. :g2 Sl h7 3. W fl ii.d3 4. W f8 ii. h7 5. l:tg3 i.c2 6. l:tg8+ W h7 7. l:tg2 i. d 3 , and if now 8. l:th2+, then 8 . . . Wg6, after which the black king runs free. From this it is clear that not every cor ner placement holds danger for Black. As is shown, for example , in the position by T. Model (see Diagram 39 1 ) . 388 Now we will show that i f the king is in a corner that the bishop can control, the rook usually wins. Kling and Horwitz, 185 1 (See Diagram 389) Draw White cannot win even though Black's king stands in the comer. For instance, I . 490 Because the black king is stuck in an unfavorable corner, defeat is inevi table . White is planning to move the rook to d7, attacking the bishop and threatening checkmate. The black king doesn't have Rare Endings 2 i. h2! 3 . l:!:hl i. g3 4 . l:!: g l i. h2 5. l:!:g2! ••• This move decides. Now the bishop must go to an unfavorable square, since on 5 . . . i. f4 loses to 6. W f5+!. 5 Black to move; White wins any moves and the bishop has nowhere to hide. 1 . i. g l •• All other moves make White's task easier. For example, if l . . .i. c 5 , then 2. l:tc7 i. d6 3. l:tc8+ i.f8 4. l:tb8!. This waiting move forces Black to lay down his arms. Here we can see why the bish op attacking squares of the other color is a better defender in this case: if we move the position arising at the end of the last variation (that is, the position WKg6, Rb8, BKg8, Bf8) one file to the right ( WKh 6, Rc8, BKh8, Bg8) , then White has no waiting move at his disposal and Black is stalemated. ••• i. e5 On 5 . . . i. d6 or 5 . . . i.c7, there follows 6. l:!:d2 or 6 . . . l:!:c2; and if 5 . . . i.b8, then 6. l:!:d2, 6 . . . l:tc2. or 6 . . . l:!:a2. 6. llc2 i. d6 7. lle8+ i.f8 8. lld8 Now let's proceed to examine posi tions in which Black's king is also on the edge, but far from the corner. Here the only way to win is as follows: l ) if Black's king is chased into an unfavorable corner; 2) if the king is in opposition, and White has the move. Both of these possibilities stand out in sharp relief in the following study by Berger. J. Berger, 1889 390 2. :n After 2. l:!:b7? Wf8! Black's king can head to a favorable corner; on the other hand, this too is not required ofhim. The draw can be obtained even more simply with waiting tactics: the king remains at f8, while the bishop maneuvers in such a way that on the move W ffi (opposition! ) , h e can give check o r reply . . . W e 8 . White to move wins; Black to move draws If it is White 's move, he wins as fol lows: 49 1 Chapter 1 7 l. 'it> e6! The white king takes the opposition, in view of which Black must defend against l:Ib7. 1. .. W f8! The tension must be relieved, else Black loses quickly, for example l . . .i. d8 2. l:th7. What kills Black is that, in order to save himself from the incessant threats, he must head for the comer unfavorable to his cause. In passing, we can see the role the white rook plays on d7: it pre vents the black king from marching to a8 via d8. 2. :n+ 'itigs Forced. 3. W f6 2. W e6 W g8! The complexity of this variation lies in the fact that Black is occasion ally forced to approach the comer at h8, and only at the last possible , rather dangerous moment does he change di rection. 2 . . . Wg8! is essential, as otherwise there follows 3. l::l f7 + with the continu ation we have already described. 3. W f6 If 3 . l:.t7, then Black prevents 4. W f6 with 3 . . . i. d4!. 3 ... W f8! Although this move does not make a favorable impression, at the same time, it is necessary. The problem is that on White's l::l t7 Black must be able to reply . . . W e8! (thus avoiding the unfavorable positions pointed out earlier) . Now the win is not difficult: White moves his king to g6 and then wins as in dicated in our examination of the Kling and Horwitz position (see Diagram 389) . 4. nd6 i. a5!, draw. T. Moljen, 1897 39 1 If in the starting position (see Dia gram 390) it is Black to move, he can save the game, although by a thread. l ... Wf8! Black must play very accurately. For example , if l . . .i. a5 , then 2. W e6 W f8 3 . l:t t7 + ! W g 8 (or 3 . . . W e8? 4. l::t a7) 4. W f6! and wins. 492 White to move and win Rare Endings We present this position to discour age overestimating having the king in the right corner. Here Black loses because he can't get the bishop to g8 or h7 (with the king at h8). t . lle8+ W g7 2. lle7+ W f8 3. W f6 W g8 4. W g6 'it f8 s. lle5! i. d7 After 5 . . . i.g2 (or 5 . . . i.g4) 6. W f6 Wg8, White wins the bishop with 7 . llg5 + ; i n the same way, after 5 . . . ii. c8 6. W f6 , Black cannot retreat his king to g8 without losing the piece. White to move - Black loses only be cause, on I . lle l , he cannot move his bishop to h6. 6. W f6 W g8 del Rio, 1831 Forced. 392 7. llg5+ W h8 If 7 . . . W h7 , then 8 . llg7 + , and on 7 . . . 'it f8 there follows 8. lla5! i. c6 9. lla6, etc. 8. W fl Now we examine positions where , besides the rook, White also has a pawn. In the vast majority of cases, the pawn's presence increases the chances for the win; although it's true that this improve ment of chances doesn't always have a bearing on the result (see Diagram 392, for example) . On the other hand, there are also those exceptional positions, in which the presence of a pawn for the weaker side has a negative effect. For in stance , in this position - Draw Here the draw comes easily: the bish op maneuvers along the e2-a6 diagonal (the squares fl and g8 should be avoided, as is plain to see); and if White plays f6f7, then Black doesn't take the pawn, but rather answers . . . W g7! And finally, if W g5-g6, then Black gives check and then returns the bishop to its starting square. We should also remember the fol lowing positions, in which rook and pawn cannot win against a bishop: 493 Chapter 1 7 In these last two examples, Black makes moves only with his bishop, meanwhile keeping an eye on the pawn. Black to move: Here the bishop need only shuttle back and forth along the b 1 -fS diagonal, not getting distracted even by the chance to give check; following this rule, Black is assured of the draw. K. Vianna, 1883: This position occurred in a "live chess" game between Romanovsky and Rabinovich ( Leningrad 1 924) . After 1 . . .l:t c4 2. i.. h6! the win was impossible, because on 2 . . . l:tc6+ there would follow 3. 'itg5 and then i.. h6-g7-f6. B. Guretsky-Kornitz, 1863: Despite the fact that here the black king was cut off, the win is not possible: the bishop shuttles back and forth along the b l -f5 diagonal, and the king waits to go to h8 until White plays h5-h6 (re garding the position of the black king on h8, see Diagram 393). 494 Rare Endings All of the aforementioned positions are definitely exceptions: usually rook and pawn win against a bishop . In or der not to give away the win, you must place your king in front of the pawn and use the rook to drive the black king down to the a8-h8 rank. It is only with a rook's pawn that the position of the king in front of the pawn (even with the rook standing on the seventh rank) does not always guarantee the win. In this sense the following position , in which White must play very carefully so as to preserve his winning chances, is instructive : lone rook (without the pawn). But here this is insufficient. From this we can draw the following conclusion: If Black s king is stuck in the comer, and White s pawn has not yet reached the sixth rank, the win is assured. 3. @ gs @ g7 4. l:.b7+ @ h8 If4 . . . �f7 or 4 . . . @ f8 , then 5 . h6(+). 5. @g6 � d5 Other moves don't work either, which is not hard to see after one sees the basic variation. l.eken, 1858 6. l:.h7+ @g8 7. lle7! 393 Preventing ... �e4+ and threatening l:.e8#. 7 ... @f8 If 7 ... 'it h8, then 8 . h6! � a2 (or 8 . . . �g8 9 . h7) 9 . h 7 �b l + I O . @ h6 . 8 . Wf6 'itg8 (8 . . . � a2 transposes) Win 9. h6! 'ith8 10. h7 � a2 1 1 . 'it g6 � J I + 12. 'it h6 1 . l::t b 7! I . : a7 would be erroneous in view of l . . . @g8! ( 2 . :g7+ W f8 ! ) , after which the win would be impossible (see above ) . l . . . � a2 2. l:.b8+ � g8 Black takes up a defensive stance which secures the draw in battles with a Taking into account the drawing formation given above , we may con clude that even with the king in front of the pawn a rook pawn doesn't always win. Things are different with a center pawn. If the center pawn is not in im mediate danger, and the white pieces are free to move, then White wins if his white king is unfavorably placed (be hind the pawn ) : 495 Chapter 1 7 B. Guretsky-Kornitz, 1883 4 . . . .lt g5 Moves such as 4 . . . .lt e3 (see Variation I) or 4 . . . ii d2 (see Variation II) are also worth looking into; and if the bishop re treats elsewhere, then 5 . 'lil d6 or 5. 'lilf6. 5. 'lilf5 .lt e3 White to move and win The white pawn is out in front, which complicates the win considerably. 1. .ll b4 ii h6 The win is simpler if the bishop retreats along the b8-h2 diagonal , as White 's king denies the bishop two squares on this diagonal : d6 and e 5 . Fo r instance, i f l . . .llg3 , then 2 . .ll g4 i. h2 (2 . . . .lt c7? 3 . .ll g 8+ W e7 4 . .ll g7+ ) 3 . .ll g 8+ 'lile7 4 . .ll g 7+ 'lil e8 5. e 7 ! 'li! d7! 6 . .ll g2 ii f4 (6 ... Ji. d6 7. e8� + ) 7. l:e2 'lile8 8. W e6 ii.gs 9 . .l:.a2 .lt xe7 IO . .ll a 8+ ii.dB l l . .ll b 8. If 5 . . . .lt h4. then 6 . .ll b 4! ii. e l (on 6 . . . .ltg3 or ii f2 meets with 7. 'li! f6 ; and after 6 . . . i. e7 or 6 . . . i.d8 7 . .ll b 8 White gives up the exchange and wins the pawn ending) 7 . .ll e4 followed by e6-e7. 6. e7! White prepares the pawn sacrifice. 6 •.• 'lilf7 7. lld7! A very important move , as will soon become clear. 7 . . . i. c5 8. e8� + � xe8 9. 'lil e6 With a winning position for White (see Diagram 390). VARIA TION /: 4 . . i. e3 5 . .ll b 3! ii. cs . 2. l:i'.b8+ 'lile7 3 . .ll b 7+ 'lil e8 4. 'lil e5! Since the bishop is on the c l -h6 di agonal , White's king should attack two squares on that diagonal, and for this it is necessary to bring the king to f5 . 4. e7 is premature in view of 4 . . . 'lil f7 5 . c;!l d6 (or 5. e8� + 'lil xe8 6. c;!l e6 'li! d8!) 5 ... .ltg5 ! , after which White 's pieces are tied to the pawn. 496 After 5 . . . .ltg5 6. 'lil f5 ii h4 (if the bishop retreats along the c l -h6 diago nal , then 7. 'lil ffi! ) 7 . .ll b4 the game goes to a previous variation (see the note to Black's fifth move above). 6. 'li! d5! i.gl The only move. For instance, if 6 ... iif2, then 7 . 'lil d6!. Rare Endings 7. l:tb8+ rJJ e7 8. l:tb7+ rJJ e8 9. e7 @n 10. 'iti d6 and wins. carrying out the indicated maneuver, Black must still exercise a lot of caution, as in the following position: If, in this position, the bishop stood on f2, then Black could have saved him self with l 0 . . . . i. h4!. VARIATION II: 4 ... i. d2 5. e7! @ f7 6. e8� +! 'iti xe8 7. @ e5(e6) and wins, since on 7 . . . @ f8 (or 7 . . . i. f4 8 . Mb4 i. c7 9 . l:t a4!) there follows 8. l:tt7+ @ g8 9. @ f6 , etc . The various l:t +> ', vs. Si. endings show that a single pawn isn't always enough to win the game even with the extra ex change. On the other hand, two pawns plus a bishop frequently defeat a rook: G. von der Lasa Handbuch (first ed. ) , 1 843 395 Black to move and win Black wins with l . . . @ c5 followed by . . . i. d5-c4 and . . . 'itic5-b4-c3 . White can not prevent this maneuver, as the rook must remain on the d-file to ward off the threat of . . . i.b3+ (or . . . i. f3 + ) followed by . . . d3-d2 + . On the other hand , after Black cannot win with either l . . . d2? ( i n view of 2. �d3+!) o r l . . .� b 3 + 2 . @ e l ! d2+? (as a result o f 3 . @ e2 d l 'iV + 4. :xd l i.xd l + 5 , @ xe3). Here l . . .i.b3+ 2. @ e l @ c2 3. :cs+ @ b2 4. Md8 �c2 5 . :d6 @ c l does not win either, in view of 6. :ds d2+? 7. @ e2 with a draw. Instead of these variations, in the given position ( WKd l, Rd8, BKc3, Bc4, pdJ, eJ) Black should play l . . . i.e6! with the irresistible threat of 2 . . . i.g4+ and 3 . . . d2+. This same move - I . . . il e6! - decides the game if the rook is on d7 instead of d8. And if the rook takes up the most favorable posi tion to stop the threat of . . . i. e6 ( WKd l, Rd6, BKcJ, Bc4, pdJ, eJ) , then Black drives the rook from the d6 square with the following maneuver: 1 ... i.b3+ 2. 'iti e l ! @ c2! Threatening 3 . . . i.c4! followed by 4 . . . d2+. 3. l:tc6+ 497 Chapter 1 7 If 3 . l:td4 (preventing . . .Jl. c4) , then 3 . . . Jl.f7! 4. l:td7 Jl. c4!. 3 ••• Among the winning positions is the following one by Philidor: c;!;> b2 4. l:td6 c;!;> cJ By triangulating with his king, Black has now gotten the rook to move off d6. 5. l:td8 Philidor, 1 749 396 White loses right away with 5 . i:tc6+ in view of 5 . . . .il c4 6. l::t d6 (or 6. c;!;> d l e2+ 7 . c;!;> e l d2+) 6 . . . d2+ , and if7. c;!;> d l , then 7 . . . e2#. 5 . . . Jl. e6! 6. l::t d 6 Jl. g4! White to move and win Threatening 7 . . . d2+. 1. l:th7 7. l:.c6+ c;!;>b4 8. l:td6 If 8. l:tb6+, then 8 . . . c;!;> c4! 9. l:tb2 c;!;> c 3 10. :e2! d2+ and wins. A waiting move. White wants to in duce the rook to move to e3. 1. l:.e3 • • 8 • • • c;!;> c4! Now the rook must once again aban don d6. 9. l:td8 9. l:tc6+ 'it' dS . 9 ... c;!;> cJ and Black wins. B. ROOK + BISHOP vs. ROOK Rook and bishop also win against a rook only under exceptional circum stances: as in the struggle of rook against bishop, even driving the black king to the edge of the board still does not en sure the win. 498 I . . .l::t e l is dealt with below (see the Variation). Other moves lose rapidly: for instance, if I . . .i:e8, then 2. l::t a 7. We deal with I . . .l:te3 first of all, in order to see why this particular rook move is unfavorable. 2. l:td7+ 'it' e8 After 2 . . . c;!;> c8 3 . l:ta7, the black rook cannot reach b3. Gradually it becomes clear why the rook stands better on the first rank than on the third: on the first rank only the far-right square h l cannot be occupied by the rook, while on the third rank the important squares b3 and d3 are off-limits to the rook. Rare Endings 3. l'la7 Wf8 4. I:tf7+ We8 5. l:tf4! 'it>d8 The threat was 6. i. c6+. 5 . . . l:td3 doesn't help in view of 6. l:tg4. 5 . i. c6 l:td3+ 6. i. d5 l:te3 (6 . . . '1ite8 7. l:tg7!) 7 . l:td7+ and so on, as in the main variation after 1. l:th7 l:te3 2. l:td7+ . 5. :r4 'it> d8 6. i.h5! \tics 7. I:lb4! 6. i. e4! Nothing can save Black from 8. i.g4+. Only now do we clearly see why the rook's position on e3 is so bad: in this position, it cannot give check. After 6. i. e4 Black must resign , since on 6 . . . 'it> e8 there follows 7. i. c6 + . VARIA TION: 1 . :h7 I:Iel 2. I:Ia7 In Philidor's position, the win was only possible thanks to the fact that White's pieces were in exceptionally favorable positions. Usually the game ends in a draw. 'Thrrasch - Em. Lasker World Championship ( 1 4) Munich 1 908 We are following (generally speak ing) an analysis by N. Grigoriev in Shakhmaty 1 92 3 , No. 5. Philidor played it somewhat differently: 2. ktb7 l!c 1 3 . i. b 3 , etc . 2 . . . l'lcl 3. l:tf7 I:!.el If 3 ... W e8, then 4. l:tffi l:Id l (the threat was 5. i. c6+) 5. :f2! (keeping Black's rook off the second rank) 5 . . . l'ld4 (if 5 . . . :d3, then 6. I:lg2 decides at once , since f3 is unavailable to Black's rook) 6. :e2+ (not 6. l:tg2 at once, because of 6 . . . l'lf4) 6 . . . 'it> f8(d8) 7. l'lg2 and wins. 4. i.f3! Now Black is in Zugzwang, having only unfavorable moves to make. 4 . . . 'it> e8 After 4 . . . l'le3 the game leads back to the main variation: White answers Black to move; draw t . . .:cs After this and the following move , the black king is driven to the edge of the board, which however is not danger ous to Black, since here he can avoid falling into the Philidor position. But it was simpler, evidently, to play l . . .'1ii' e2 2. I:l h3 I:l f8 . If now 3. I:lh7, then 3 . . . :f2 4. I:Ia7 I:lg2 5 . I:Ia3 (after 5. l'la2+ @ fl the black king i s driven to the edge of the 499 Chapter 1 7 board only temporarily) S . . .l::l: f2 6 . ll.g3 r.tg2 7. r.tb3 W fl ! , and now neither 8. W f3 (in view of 8 . . . r.t f2 + ! ) nor 8 . .l::I b l + We2 9. W f4? (in view of 9 . . . Wd3) is dangerous to him. 2. r.th3 r.te8 Here too, 2 . . . Uc2 is more to the point: if 3. li. f4+ W e2 4. Uh2+ W d l S. l::t h l + W e2 6 . jt_ e 3 , then 6 . . . l:tc4+ 7. li. d4 r.tc2! , resisting the herding of the king to the first rank. 3. Uh2+ W e t 4. Wd4 r.td8+ 5. W c3 Wdl Black always succeeds i n breaking the opposition. The balance of the game went as fol lows: 6. li. d4 W e i 7. Wd3 l::t f8 ! (now we have the so-called Szen position, which is a draw, and which is characterized by the following: l ) the king is one move away from the opposing king; 2) the weaker side's king is on a square which can be attacked by the bishop; 3) Black's rook is defending against immediate mate) 8. l:tg2 (the effectiveness ofthe Szen defense is seen in the sample variation 8. r.ta2 W fl ; this kind of move is not possible in the Philidor position) 8 . . . r.tf7 (definitely not 8 . . . r.tfl ?, since fl must be kept open for the king, in case of 9. r.ta2) 9. ll.e3 Ud7+ I O. li. d4 r.tf7 1 1 . l:tgS l::t f8 1 2. r.tbS W fl 1 3. Ilb l + Wg2 1 4. r.tg l + W h3 I S . ll. e 3 W h4 1 6 . W e4 l:tf7 1 7. li. d4 r.tf8 1 8. ll.g7 r.ta8 19. ll. ffi+ W h3! (if 1 9 . . . @ hS?, then 20. @ f5 l:taS+ 2 1 . ii.es, creating 500 Philidor's position) 20. Ji.es l::t a4+ 2 1 . W f5 r.ta3 22. li. f4 l:taS+ 23. W e4 (with the threat of W f3 ; Black must avoid the opposition) 23 . . . 'it> h4! 24. ll.g3+ 'it> h5 2S. ii.es 'it> h4 26. 'it> f5 r.ta3! (once again the Szen position) 27. r.tg2 l:tb3 28. r.ta2 l:tf3+ (again, 28 . . . r.t h3? would be a mis take because of 29. l:ta8) 29. li. f4 l:tb3 30. l:tg2 l:tbS+ 3 1 . W e4 <;i;> hS! 32. Ji. es <;i;> h4 33. 'i.t' fS l:tb3! Yi-Yi. This game allows us to come to the following conclusion: If Black's king is not yet on the edge of the board, then the draw may be considered almost certain, since: 1 ) the king cannot always be driven to the board's edge later on; and: 2) even if the black king is on the edge, in situa tions where the Philidor position cannot be induced the game will end in a draw, if Black defends himself with the Szen. If the weaker side has pawns, these sometimes play a negative role, since they eliminate stalemating possibilities and take away needed squares from their own pieces (see Diagram 398): Nimzowitsch Reti Berlin 1 928 - 398 White to move wins Rare Endings 1. J:i: a7! White refrains from taking the g7pawn - which is very important, since the presence of this pawn means that Szen's defense loses its power. 1 .. J::t e l This simplifies White's task some what. 1 . . . 'it> f8 was a little better, when ac cording to N imzowitsch there would follow 2. 'it> d6 :C:e8 (if 2 . . . J:i:e l , then 3 . I:tf7+ \t> e8 4. J:i:f2 as in the game) 3 . J:i:d7! ! , after which Black loses due to Zugzwang-, for instance: l ) 3 . . . 12:e l 4. :f7+ \t> e8 5 . :a (threatening 6. Ji. c6+) 5 ... \t> d8 (creat ing a position analogous to Philidor's; here, however, 5 . . . J:i: d l doesn't save him either, in view of 6. :a2 \t>f8 7. l2:a8#; in the variation presented, we can clearly see the negative role played by the g7pawn) 6. :C: f8 + l:te8 7. l:t f7 and so forth , as in the game . 2) 3 . . . J:i:b8 4. J:i:f7+ \t>e8 5. :C:f2! J:i:d8+ 6. \t> e6 l:tc8 (6 . . . :b8 7. Ji. c6+ 'it> d8 8. \t> d6) 7. :f7 :cl (or 7 . . . :cs 8. :a7; if now 8 . . . :c8, then 9. �xg7 'it>f8 1 0. @ffi and wins, since because the h6-pawn is still alive, Black cannot play for stalemate with 1 0 . . . l:tc6+ ; and if 8 . . . 'it> d8 9. 'it> d6 l:tc l , then IO. l:txg7 12:e l 1 1 . J:i:h7! and White wins the pawn while maintaining the piece arrangement characteristic of the Philidor position) 8. :a1 :C:e l + (on 8 . . . l:i:c8 there follows 9. l:txg7, as in the previous note) 9. 'it> d6 'it>f8 10. l:tf7+ , and so forth as in Variation l after 4. l:tt7+. 3) 3 ... g5 (or 3 ... g6) 4. l':th7! (intending 5. l':th8+) 4 . . . J:i:e l (on 4 . . . l':td8+ White plays 5 . \ti es , and if now Black prevents the threatened 6. 'it>ffi! with 5 . . . \t> e 8 , then 6. \t> e6! \t>f8 7. 'it> ffi! J:i:d6+ 8. Ji. c6) 5. :C:f7+ \t>e8 6. l::t ffi ! :m (6 . . . 'it> d8? 7. l:txh6, when after l:th6-h7-g7 White wins the g-pawn and keeps the Philidorian piece placement) 7. l:i:e6+! (not 7. l:txh6? immediately, because in that case Black replies 7 . . . l:tfl!, reaching the Szen position and the draw) 7 . . . 'it>d8 ( If 7 . . . 'it> f8 ? then 8. J:i:g6) 8. :C:xh6 and again White wins as in the Philidor posi tion. 4) 3 . . . h5! (relatively best) 4. J:i:f7+ \t>g8 5. l:i:e7+! (5. l::t f5+? 'it> h7 6. Ji. f7 would b e a mistake i n view of 6 . . . g6!) 5 . . . � f8 6. l::t d 7 (with this maneuver White achieves passing the move to his oppo nent) 6 . . . h4 (on moves by the rook or the g-pawn, White wins as in Variations 1 - 3) 7. :C:f7+ \t>g8 8. l::t e 7+! (once again White repeats the maneuver, because it is premature to play 8. :f4+ 'it> h7 9. Ji.f7, in view of 9 . . . g5!) 8 . . . @f8 9. J:i:d7 h3 10. l::t f7 + \t>g8 1 1 . l:tf3+! (now is the time to attack the h-pawn) l l . . .'it> h7 1 2 . Ji.f7! and White wins the rook. 2. 'it>d6 'it>f'8 3. :n+ \ti es 4. :m © d8 The threat was 5. Ji. c6+ , which could not be forestalled by 4 . . . 1:.d l , since in that case there would follow 5. :C:a2! \t>f8 6. :a8#. 5. l::t f'8 + l:i:e8 6. :n :C:el 7. lla7 was threatened. 50 1 Chapter 17 7. l:r.xg7 l:r.e2 8. l:th7 l:t e l 9. l:r.xh6 l:r.e8 10. l:r.h7 Reaching Philidor's position. 10 ..• draw. On the other hand, even having the knight separated from the king will not al ways lead to defeat. K. Betins, for exam ple, showed that in the following position W c8? After this, White could have forced the win by 1 1 . l::t a7 l'.:td8+ 1 2. W c6 Wb8 1 3 . l:r.a l ! l:r.h8 (if 13 . . . l:r.d7!?, then 14. l:lb l + ! W c8 1 5 . � e6) 14. Wb6 l:lh6+ 1 5 . � c6. O n the other hand, Black cannot save the game by the rather better moves 1 0 . . . l:r.e 1 or l:r.e2 (see Diagram 396) . 1 1 . l:tc7+ This continuation also serves the purpose. 1 1 ... 'it>b8 12. l:r.b7+ 'it> c8 13. l:tb4 l:r.d8+ with White to move, Black gains a draw. This position by V. Chekhover ( 1 936) is even more interesting: The threat was 14. � e6+. 14. 'it> c6 Il: e8 15. l:r.a4 'lt>b8 16. 'it>b6 Not 1 6. W d7? in view of 1 6 . . . l:r.d8+! 17. 'it' c6 l:r.d6+! . 16 ... W c8 Nor does 1 6 . . . Il:e6+ help here , in light of 1 7 . � c6!. C. ROOK vs. KNIGHT Black gains the draw with 1 . . .'\t>e5!. After this move White is in Zugzwang, in view of which he must give the black knight access to either a4 or d l . If you don't drive Black's king to the edge of the board, or separate it from the knight, then naturally the game ends in a Similarly, driving the black king to the board's edge does not ensure the win. 17. � c6 1-0 502 Rare Endings For example, in this position by Kling and Horwitz ( 1 85 1 ) 1 ... @ c8! I . . . @ d8? is bad due to 2. @ d6. 2. @d6 i?J b8! Again the only move, as is not diffi cult to determine. 3. l::t c 7+ @d8 4. l::t b7 'iil c8! 5. l::t b l Also after 5. l::t b 6 l?J d7 6. � c6+ <;!t d8, White cannot win. 5 ... l?J a6, draw. Black should not lose. For example: Neumann - Steinitz Baden- Baden 1 870 1. J::t b 7+ W a8 2. :!bl l?J e7 2 . . . l?J a7 would be a mistake: 3. W b6 W b8 (3 . . . l?J c8+ 4. r:J;; c7) 4. l::t b 2 l?J c8+ 5 . W c6+ and 6 . r:Ji; c7 . 399 3. W b 6 'it> b8 4. l::t b 2 W c8, draw. The following position by F. Ame lung ( 1 900) is also instructive: White to move l. ll:lh6 l::t h 7 2. ll:l g8! Black to move Here the draw is obtained as follows: This is how White should play. In the game , however, White needlessly separated his king and knight with 2. ll:\g4?? and lost the game after 2 ... l::t h4 3. ll:l e 3 (forced) 3 . . . l::t e4 4. ll:l d l (other moves are no better; for example , if 4. ll:l fl ? , then 4 . . . Ilf4+ , while after 4. ll:\g2 Black bri ngs his king closer to 503 Chapter 1 7 the knight; finally, on 4 . tll c2 there follows 4 . . . 'it' d5 and then, depend ing on White 's reply, either 5 . . . 'it' c4 or 5 . . . 'it' c5 ; in that case , the knight can no longer avoid its fate ) 4 . . . l:. f4+ 5 . 'it' g7 l:.f3! (if now 6 . tll b2 'it' d5 ! 7. tll a4, then 7 ... l:Ib3 followed by ... 'it' d4 and . . . l:.b4) 6 . 'it' g6 'it' e5 7 . 'it'g5 'it' d4 8 . W g4 : n 9. tll b2 l:.b l 1 0 . tll a4 l:.b4, winning the knight. White to move and win 2 . . . l:.t7+ 3. <;ti es Now we get the same position as in the previous example by Amelung (after Black's third move). The actual posi tion may be reached from the afore mentioned one if we rotate the position around the vertical axis and switch the colors of the pieces. 3 ... :n 1 . i:te4 tll f8 If l . . . W h6 or 1 . . .tll h8, then 2. l:.g4! and White wins. 2. 'it't7 tll g6 3. l:.el tll b8+ 4. c;t>f6 c;t> g8 All of Black's moves have been forced. On 3 . . . l:.g7 there follows (as above) 4. W f8 l:.g6 (or 4 . . . l:g l 5. tll h6) 5. tll e7 I::t ffi+ 6. 'iif e8 :n 7 . tll g8 l: a l 8 . c;t> f8 . 5. l:. a t 'itl b7 6. l:gt Bogoljubow - Rubinstein San Remo 1 930 Nor does 3 . . . l:. a7 give Black any thing, in view of 4. W f8 . 401 O r 4 . . . l:.g l 5 . c;t> f8 , intending 6. tll g8 . 5. tll g8 l:.h7 6. <;ti ts Yi-Yi However, we should not think that a rook can never win against a knight in similar positions. The following two ex amples demonstrate the contrary. 504 White to move and win Rare Endings I. l:teS! ll:l h l + tions would be only some artificial posi tions such as the following: Forced. On l . . .'iil h3 fails to 2. l:te3. 2. 'iil f3 lll g3 Or 2 . . . 'iil g l 3. l:te2 'it> fl 4. l:tg2. 3. l:tgS lll fl If 3 . . . lll h l , then 4. l:tg8. 4. 'it> f2 1-0 Comparing the positions we have ex amined, we see that, with the black king driven into the comer, he should prefer the position in Neumann - Steinitz and in Amelung's study: W f8/lll g8 (or, cor respondingly, 'it> c8/lll b 8, Wfl/lll g l , and 'iil c l/lll b l ) ; a position second in im portance is �g8/lll f8 (as in the study by Kling and Horwitz); on the other hand, king and knight in the comer do not hold up very well ('iil g8/lll h8, for instance, as in Diagram 400 after the fourth move, or � h8/lll g8 , as in this position: or: We call these positions "artificial" because in the normal rook vs. knight ending they can only come up as a result of a grievous mistake by Black. In some positions rook and pawn cannot defeat a knight. The recommended piece placements almost guarantee against the loss; excep- Thus, for example, in the highly tense game between Em. Lasker and Ed. Lasker (New York 1 924) the following position came up after all the complications: 505 Chapter 1 7 White to move and win Black to move . Despite all Black's efforts, he was unable to win. The game concluded: 1 . . .l::t g 3! (on 1 . . .l::t b 8 White responds 2. \t c 3 ! ) 2. tt:l a4 \t f5 3. @ b4 © xf4 4. tll b 2 \t e4 5 . tt:l a4 W d4 6. tll b2 l::t f3 7 . tt:l a4 l::t e 3 8 . tll b 2 @ e4 ( Black transfers his king to d2; if after this tt:l c4+ , then . . . \t e l ! and White can't take the rook in view of ... b3-b2) 9 . tt:l a4 W f3 I O . W a3! (since i t ' s n o longer necessary to protect b4 and c4, White shifts his king over to b2 in order to pro tect the squares c2 and c l ) IO . W e4 (if IO . . . � e 2 ? , then l l . � b2 with 1 2. tll c5) 1 1 . \t b4! � d4 1 2 . tll b2 l::t h3 13. tt:l a4 Y:z-Y:z. Now Black can no longer prevent the following combination: 7. tt:le7, 8. l:f7, 9. tt:lg6+ and then l:Ig7#. 6 . . . l::t e8 7. tt:l e7! l::t a8 8. l::t f7 and wins. The following position by Centurini ( 1 878) belongs to the group of those in which the advantage is not enough to win: . . D. ROOK + KNIGHT vs. ROOK Here, too, there are winning chances ifthe defending king is driven to the edge of the board. L. Centurini, 1887 (See Diagram 402) t . Ilf6+ � g8 2. tll b6+ \t h8 3. \ft f7! l:ta8 4. tt:lfS l::t a 7+ 5. W g6 l:a8 6. W b6 506 White to move 1. l:I c l l:Ib4 2. \t c6 l:Ib2! 2 . . . W c8 is a mistake, in view of 3. tt:l :ffi + followed by 4. l::t e l . Rare Endings 3. ltJ d6 l:tb3 4. l:tc2 l:tb l ! 309. An d here, too, we recommend occu pying the edge square with the rook: this ensures that it has maximum freedom. 5. ltJ c4 l:::t h l 6. I!g2 l::t h 6+ 7. ltJ d6 ® a7 White cannot win. Examples 307- 312: 307. White to move. Evaluate this position. 3 1 0. G. v. d. Lasa, 1 843. Can White play I. <iJ c4 here ? White to move and draw. 308. G. Fahrni. Black wins. Where should he retreat his king to ? 3 1 1 . W. Steinitz, 1 862. Show how strong the move l. . . a2+! is. 507 Chapter 1 7 3 1 2. F. Amelung, 1 900. Win, but only ifit is Black to move. 508 Solutions and Answers 2. In three moves. 5-12. In notes to 5, 7, 1 0 , 1 1 the stronger side wins only if it is his move. In examples 8 , 9, 1 2 it's a win regardless of who is to move ; in example 6, it's a draw. 13. l . . .W c5. 14. l . . . W d7 2. 'it'b7 W d6 3 . a4. 15. Black takes a corner square or one adjacent to it. 16-22. In examples 1 8 , 2 1 , 22 Black wins; in examples 19 and 20 White wins only if it's his move ; in example 1 7 , it's a draw. In example 1 6 , l . . .W h3! is stronger. After l . . . W f3? 2. W h2 Black, in order to win, must return to the start ing position with 2 . . . @ f2 3. W h l W g3 (4. 'it' g l W h3! 5 . W h l g3 6. W g l g2 7. Wf2 W h2). 23. With White to move: I. W e2! W f7 2. W f3 ! (the distant opposition) or I . . . 'it' d7 2. 'it' d3 ! ; i f l . . .W d8 , then 2. W d2 or 2. W e 3 (but not 2. W d3? W d7!). With Black to move, the king goes immediate ly to the fifth rank. 24. It's a win, but only if it's Black's turn. 25. 'it' e l -f2-g3 -h4-h5. 26. The simplest is l . . .�e7+ 2. 'it'g8 (on 2. @g6 or 2. W h8, Black can play 2 . . . �f8 followed by the approach of the king from a l ) . 27. Simplest is l . . . 'lt' c2, aiming for the corner only in the position WKc 7, Qb3, BKb l, pa2. l . . . 'lt' a l at once would be a mistake, in view of 2. Wb6!. 28. l . . . 'lt' d3 2. 'lt' e6 c2 3 . �e l ! and 4. �c l . 29. I . 'lt'c4! W a l ( l . . .c l � + 2. Wb3) 2. �d2 (not 2. 'lt'b3 right away, on ac count of 2 . . . c l tLl + !) 2 . . . @b2 3. Wb4 (3. Wd3 W a l 4. @xc2 is also possible) 3 . . . W b l 4. 'it'b3. 30. After I. �e8+ @ fl , White cannot prevent the move 2 . . . f2, since White 's king prevents the queen from reaching b5. 31. After l . . .�h8+ 2 . Wb7 Black no longer has the move 2 . . . � h I , while af ter l . . .Wg3 2. c7 W f4 3 . W d7, the black king stands in an insufficiently active position. 32. Draw, since on I. �e4 @b2 2. �e2 there follows 2 . . . W a l ! (not 2 ... W b l i n view o f 3 . W c3! c l �+ 4 . Wb3) 3. �e l + W b2 4. �d2 W b l ! . 33. I . 'it' e4+ 'it'b l 2 . �g t + 'it'b2 3 . � f2 + W b l 4 . 'it' d3!. 509 The Russian Endgame Handbook 34. 1 . v.!Vf3+ W e l 2. Wg2!. 35. 1. v.!Vc4+ W e l 2 . v.!V e4+ W d2 3. v.!Vf3 W e l 4. v.!Ve3+ W fl 5 . v.!V e4! Wgl 6. °i¥g4+ W h2 7 . °i¥f3 W g l 8 . v.!Vg3 + @ fl 9. Wb3. If now 9 . . . W e2 1 0. v.!Vg2 W e l , then White repeats his previous series of moves: 1 1 . °i¥e4+ W d2 1 2. °i¥f3, etc. 36. The knight moves to d2. 37. 1 . W d6 and so forth, as in Dia gram 27 (with colors reversed). 38. See Diagram 28. 39. White to move loses; Black to move draws. 40. See Diagram 33 with White to move . 4 1 . The black king occupies the cor ner square or else a square adjacent to it. 42. l . . .W h6? ( l . . . W h8! with a draw is correct) 2. Wg8! Wg6 3. h5+ W h6 4. .il. d l 'it>g5 s. Wg7. 43. 1. W b2 Wg2 2. W c3 etc. Stale mate combinations are impossible here, since the black king is driven out of the h8 comer. 44. l . . . 'it' c6 2. a6 W c7 3 . .il. a7 W c6, threatening 4 . . . Wb5. 45. 1. W e5 ? or 1 . W e4? b6 2. a6 W c6 3 . .il.b8 b5 4 . .il. a7 b4, draw. 46. 1 . .il. e6! ( 1 . h6? would be a mis take , in view of l . . . W f7 with the threats of 2 . . . Wg6 and 2 . . . Wg8) l . . . 'it> f8 2. h6 g4 3. W -any. 47. l . . .bS! (not l . . .b6? because of 2 . .il.xb6) 2. cxb5 Wb7, draw. 48. 1 . f6! (see Diagram 38 after 7 . tll b5). 49. Black to move: l . . .'i£i> c 2 and 2 . . . Wb2(b l ) . White to move: 1 . a3! ( 1 . .il. a3? Wc2 2 . .il. f8 a3 !) l . . .W d4 - see Diagram 45. 50. l . . . W h7 2. 'it>f6 W -any 3 . .il. g7 5 10 and 4. W f7 or W g6, forcing . . . a4-a3 . And if l . . .W hS , then 2. a3 W h4 3 . .il.d6, and White wins with the aid of the bishop moving to b8 or h2, for example 3 . . . W h3 4 . .il.b8 W g2 5 . 'it> e4 'it> f2 6. 'it> d4 Wf3 7. W c4 W e4 8 . .il. h2! @ rs 9. W bS 'it>e6 1 0 . 'it> xa4 W d7 1 1 . WbS 'it> c8 1 2. W c6, or 3 . . . c;t> h5 4 . .il. f4 'it> h4 5. W g6 W g4 6. .il.gS and 7. W f5 , driving the king com pletely out of the drawing zone, and then following the analysis of Diagram 42. 51. The defensive plan is illustrated by the following variation from Rauzer: l . . .W e4 2. W e6 W d4 3 . .il. b4 (or 3 . .il.f8 W e4 4 . .il.g7 W f4! 5 . il. f6 'it> g4! 6. W e5 W hS!) 3 . . . W c4 4. W d6 W d4 5 . .il. cS+ W e4! 6. W e6 W f4! 7 . .il.e7 W e4 8 . .il.f6 W f4 and if 9 . .il. e 5 + , then not 9 . . . W e4? but 9 . . . W gS ! , draw. 52. See the analysis of Diagram 46 after White's fifth move. 53. 1 . .il. fl and 2. tt:l f6 (or these moves in the reverse order) . 54. tt:l e4 and .il. e2(f3). 56. With Black to move: l . . . W a8 2. tt:l c4 d2 3 . tll b6+ , then 4. tll c 8 + , trans ferring the other knight to b6. With White to move: l . W c6 W a8 2 . c;t.i d7 W b8 3 . W d8 W a8 4. c;t>c8 W a7 5 . W c7, etc. as above. 57. White changes front from hori zontal ('it>b6/tt:l d6) to vertical (Wc7/ tll c5), as follows: with Black to move play goes l . . .W a8 2. W c7 W a7 3. tt:l b7 'iti a6 (or 3 . . . W a8 4. tt:l cS) 4. W c6 W a7 5 . tt:lcS 'it> a8! 6. W d7 W b8 7. W d8 <it> a8 8 . W c8 W a7 9. W c 7 , and so forth, as in Example 56; with White to move, the win devolves into 4 operations, as in Diagram 59. 58. With White to move he brings the knight on c2 to c6, and then brings the other knight to b6. With Black to move, Solutions and Answers White (as in Diagram 62) changes the vertical front to a horizontal one: I . . . w as 2 . W b6 W b S 3 . lLl b 7 w c s 4, W c6 WbS 5 . lLl d6 W a7 6. Wb5 WbS! 7. Wb6 W aS and then wins with S . W c7! W a7 9. lLl b4 c2 I O . lLlcS+ and 1 1 . lLl c6. 59. With White to move: I. lLl b4 or I . lLl d4. With Black to move: l . . .W aS 2. W c7 W a7 3 . lLl b4 c2 4. lLl cS + and 5 . lLl c6. 60. The position presented is a mir ror image of Diagram 64. 6 1 -63. See Diagrams 65-67. 64. With White to move: I . Wf2 W h2 2. lLl d4 W h l 3 . lLl f5 W h2 4. lLl e3 W h l 5 . lLl fl h 2 6 . lLlg3#. With Black to move, l . . . W h2 2. W f2 W h l leads to a draw. So with the kings on e3 and h2 (with White to move), the only move to win is I . W f3 ! . 6 5 . I . lLl a4! W b l 2. W c3 W xa2 3 . W c2 W a l 4. lLl c5 W a2 5 . lLl d3 W a l 6. lLl c l . 66. 7 . . . W xg l s . lLl d6 'it' xh2 9. W f2 W h l I O . lLl e4 W h2 1 1 . lLl d2 W h l 1 2. lLl fl . 67. I . lLl e5! W h2 (relatively best) 2. Wf2 W h l 3 . lLlg4 f3 4. W fl f2 5 . lLl xf2 + W h2 6. lLl e4 W h l 7. W f2 W h2 s . lLl d2, and then 9. tLl fl and I O . lLlg3#. 68. The main variation runs I. lLlg4 f3 2. W f2 e5 3. lLl xc5 W h2 4. lLl g4+ W h l 5. W fl f2 6. W xf2 h2 7 . lLl e3 and s. lLl fl . 69. White wins by moving the king along the sides of the eS-dS-d7 triangle. 70. I . gS� +! and then 2. W e6 and 3. <Jil fl . On I . W c6 or I . W e4 simplest is l . . .e5, intending the further advance of the pawn followed by . . . WgS. 71. 1 . lLl c2 a2 2 . lLl a l , or first I . 'iit e4. 72. Draw after 1 . lLl b4. 73. l . . .a3 2. lLld5 W c4 3. lLl e3+ (3. lLlb6+ W d4) 3 . . . Wb3. After moving it to the right, l . . .b3 2. lLl b6 W d3 is followed by 3. lLl a4, with a draw. 74. I . . .Wc2 2. lLl b5 Wb3 3. lLl d4+ W a4 4. lLl e2 W b4. 75. With White to move I . tLl f3 and 2. lLlg l (e l ) ; with Black to move the pawns advance to the second rank and then one of them is sacrificed. 76. I . Wg6 lLl d4! (not I . . .lLl e7+? 2. Wfl) 2. e7+ (if 2. Wfl, then 2 ... lLlxe6) 2 . . . WeS. On I . e7+ there follows I . . . W eS! and then . . . lLl xe7; I . . .lLl xe7 at once would be a mistake because of 2. fl!. 77. I. was ® e7 2. W b6 W dS 3 . Wb7 lLl aS!. 78. The threat is I . . .lLl d4 2 . b6 lLl c6, which I. b6 does not prevent; whereas if I . c6, then I . . .lLle3+! 2. W f3 lLld5. 79. I. Wf3 lLl d5 2. b5 W h4 3 . b6 lLl e7 4. b7 lLl c6 5. We4 and 6. W d5. 80. I . . .tLlg5! (not I . . .lLl f4? in view of 2. e7+ @es 3. fl+! W xfl 4. W d7) 2. fl (2. e7+ @es, or 2. W d7 lLl xe6) 2 . . . lLl xfl+! 3. @ d7 lLle5+. 81. White wins with I. fl+ W f8 2. e7+ (also possible is the immediate 2. @ d7) 2 ... Wxfl 3 . W d7 . With Black to move he can play I . . .i.b3 ( I . . .i.c4 or I . . . @ f8 are possible , too) 2. fl+ @f8 3. Wd7 i.c4(b5 ) + . 82. I . d7+ ! W dS 2 . W d6. With Black to move the simplest is I . . .i.g4+ (not I . . .i.f3? or I . . .i.b5? in view of 2. d7+ @ dS 3. W d6!) 2. W e5 W dS. 83. 1. b6! (not I. a6? in light of I . . . i. c4 2. a 7 i. d5) I . . .i. d5 2. a6 and 3. b7. 84. 1 . W g4 (if 1. a6, then I . . .i.c4; 511 The Russian Endgame Handbook while on I . b6 there follows l . . .i. e6+ and 2 ... i. c8) l . . . i. c4 2. b6 i. a6 3 . W fS 'it' d2 4 . 'it' e6 'it' c 3 . 8 5 . l . . . 'it' d6 2. 'it' c3 'it' xe6 3 . 'it' e4!. 86. It's a draw, but only if it is Black to move. 87. I . 'it' h7 'it' f7 2. f6. 88. On l . . . . We3 there follows 2 . '>t> c2! (not 2 . 'it' d l ? in view of 2 . . . '>t> d3 3 . W e i c 2 ) 2 . . . W d4 3 . W e i ! Wd3 4. '>t> d l c2+ S . W e i , draw. 89. The main line is I . a4 W dS 2 . aS W cS 3 . e4 WbS 4. eS. 90. I. gS! 'iti xgS 2. Wg3. 91. Black moves his king to e4 (e3, e2, f4, g4) after which he wins with l . . . h i � + ! 2. W xh l W f3 . 92. Draw (see Diagram 1 1 6). 93. l . . . W d7 2. 'it' f6 'it' e8 3 . 'it' eS! © xe7 4. c6 We8 S . © e6. 94. l . . .Wb4 2. © c2 © c4 3 . '>t> d2 ©b3 4. © e l W c2 S. W e2 W c3 6. W e i W d3 7 . W f2 W d2. 95. l . . .'it' d2! 2. W f4 W d3 . 96. l . . .h4 2. W fS ( i f 2. 'it' f6, then 2 . . . Wb8!, but not 2 . . . h3? due to 3. 'it' e7!) h3 3 . W e6 h2! (not 3 ... '>t> b8? in light of 4. '>t> d7) 4. c7 h i � S. c8� �h3+. 97. I. eS ( I . W c6 is also possible) l . . . 'it'g6 2. 'it' c6 'itt gS (or 2 . . . @ f5 3 . '>t> d6) 3 . W d7! @ rs 4. '>t> d6. 98. White wins with I. bS! followed by capturing the b6-pawn, for example l . . .Wb7 2. '>t> e4 W c7 3. W eS! W d7 4. 'it' dS! W c7 S. W e6, etc. Black to move plays l . . . bS!, so as to play (after 2 . '>t> xbS) 'it'b7!. 99. l . . .e3! 2 . fXe3 W g6. l . . .Wg6? los es to 2. W f4 e3 3. W xe3 WfS 4. W f3 . 100. I . W f8 ? would b e a mistake in view of l . . . 'it' f6 and the approach of the black king to the a2-pawn. Correct is I . 512 W h8! W f6 2 . W h7! w es 3 . W g6 W d4 4. W fS W c 3 s. W e4 Wb2 6. W d3 '>t> xa2 7. '>t> c2. 101. I. fS! . 102. I . d4! W dS 2. bS W d6 3 . Wg2 W c7 4. dS! etc. 1 03. Whoever starts, wins. 1 04. Black wins, regardless of whose tum it is. 105. I . d7 W xd7 (or l . . .W e7 2. d8� + W xd8 3 . W d6) 2. \t> dS. 106. If I. h3?, Black wins as in Dia gram 1 28 after l . . .W e4 2. W fl WeS 3. W e i ( if 3 . W f2 then 3 . . . W f4 and 4 . . . '>t>g3) 3 . . . WfS! 4. Wfl W e4. Another mistake is I . W fl ? We3 2. \t> e l in view of 2 . . . f2+ 3. W fl W f3 4. h3 W g3 s. W e2 Wg2. Finally, I . © e l We3 (or l . . .Wg4 2. W f2 W h3 3. '>t> xt3 W xh2 4. ©f2) 2. W fl , and if 2 ... f2 then 3. h3 leads to a draw. 107. With White to move, on I . W f4 there follows l . . .eS+ 2. W e4 W e6 and 3 . . . W fS ; with Black to move, there is no win, since White replies to l . . .eS with 2. W dS W fS 3 . W xcS e4 4. W b6! (see Dia gram l 2S). 1 08. White drives the black king into a stalemated position , thus forcing the advance of the h-pawn. For instance, I . '>t> e6 W e8 2 . f7 + W f8 3 . \t> f6 hS ( 3 . . . h6 4. h4!) 4. h3! h4 S. Wg6, or (ifit's Black's move) l . . . W f7 2 . WeS W e8 3 . W e6 W f8 4. f7 h 6 S . h3 ( S . W f6 also wins) S . . . h S 6 . h4 Wg7 7. '>t> e7. 109. A position mirroring Diagram 1 29 is reached after I . W a3! W b6. The main variation is: l . . .W g7 2. W h4 (2. W h3 W f6) 2 ... W g6 3 . Wg3 W f6 4. '>t> h4 '>t> e7! s . W hS W d6 6. W gS \t> e6 7. W h6 W dS . 1 10. l . . .Wg7. If White's king grabs the b4-pawn now, Black's king reaches Solutions and Answers c8 just in time. Also playing for stale mate is useless, because after driving the black king into the stalemate position on c8 there comes . . . b4-b3 , forcing a2xb3. 1 1 1 . On l . . . 'it>g4 2 . 'it>b2 'it> f3 there follows 3. rs W xe3 4. f6 W d2 (after 4 . . . @ f2 White's pawn queens with check) S. fl e3 6. f8'@' e2 7. '@'f2 'ltt d l 8. 'ltt b3! 'ltt d2 (8 ... e l '@' 9. '@'c2#) 9. 'ltt c4 'ltt d l 1 0 . 'ltt d3. 1 12. 1 . 'ltt d3 'ltt dS 2. \t> c2 W d4 3. W e i c2! 4. 'ltt xc2 'ltt c3. 1 13. See Diagram 1 3 1 . 1 14. 1 . 'ltt d6 W d8 2 . \t> c6 \t> c8 (if 2 . . . W e7, then 3 . Wb7!) 3 . W d6!. 1 15. The black king shuttles back and forth from d3 to e3, and in the event he is driven away from those squares, he goes to c2. 1 16. If 1. W e6, then l . . .Wb8, while on 1 . 'ltt c4 there follows l . . . W d8 2. W dS We7, and then 3 . . . W e6 and 4 . . . dS. With Black to move, it's a draw, since the maneuver . . . 'ltt c8-b8-a7 is warded off by 'it> dS-c4-bS, and on l . . . W d8 2. 'it> e6 We8 3. W f6 @ f8 there follows 4. W e6!. 1 17. 1. W e2 (if 1 . W c l W cS 2 . @ b l , then 2 . . . 'ltt bS! 3 . W a l @ c s 4. W a2 W b4) l . . .W e4 2. @f2 W f4 3. W g2 (or 3. b4 W c4) 3 . . . 'ltt e3. 1 18. 1. '>il e4 W d8 2. W d4 'it> c7 3 . 'ltt dS Wb6. 1 19. See Diagram 1 36. The square e2 corresponds to the squares e6, f6, e4, and f4. Therefore , with the kings on e2 and e6 Black plays l . . . W f6! . If in the starting position (Wg l and . . . Wg7) White plays 1 . Wf2, for example, then 1 . . . @ f6 2. \t>f3 @rs 3. 'ltt g3 \t> e4 4. Wg4 W eS! (but not 4 . . . W d3? in view of S. bS W xc3 6. b6 W d2 7. b7 c3 8. b8'@' c2 9. '@'b2 'it> d l 1 0. @ f3 ! ) . 120. White wins, not only with 1 . @cs W e6 2 . W d4 'it> d7 3 . WdS We8 4. Wc6! W d8 S . W d6 'it>e8 6. W c7, but also with 1 . e6+ fxe6+ ( l . . .We8 2. e7, followed by transferring the king to g7) 2. WeS W d8 3. W d6! (threatening 4. fl) 3 . . . 'it>e8 4. W xe6. 121. White maneuvers among the squares e3, f3, and g4. 122. With Black to move the simplest is l . . .d3+ 2. exd3+ 'ltt d4 3. @ c l @c3, and with White to move on 1. W c l there might follow l . . .Wc3 2. W d l d3. 123. With Black to move, on l . . . Wc7 there follows 2. Wes Wb7 3 . W dS , while on l . . .We8 we have 2. @ e4 Wfl 3. W f4 \t>g7 4. Wg4 \t>h6 s. \t> h4. With White to move, on 1 . \t>cS there follows l . . .eS, while on other moves the black king moves forward and takes the opposition, for example l . \t>e4 \t> c6! 2. W d4 W d6. 124. 1. Wc3 WeS (or l . . .WcS 2. \t> d3 \t>b4 3. 'it>e4!) 2. W d3 @rs 3 . W e2. Draw, since the black monarch cannot leave the kingside. 125. 1 . Wb4 (if l . W c 3 . then l . . .W cS , and o n 1 . W d 3 there follows l . . .WbS) l . . .Wd6 2. Wc4 'ltt e6 3 . 'ltt d3 @ fl 4. \t>e3 \t>g6 s. \t>f3 'ltt hS! 6 . 'ltt g3 @gs. 126. The square f3 corresponds only to fl (not to rs, since after \t>f3 \t>fS White wins with @ f3-e3 ; if now . . . W fS f6, then \t>e3-d4 outflanks Black on the left, and . . . @ rs-es is also insufficient in view of We3-d3 ) ; the square f2 cor responds to f6 (or f8 ) , the square g3 to g7 . The square g2 (adjacent to f3, g3, and f2) corresponds to g6 and g8 . Since , on 1 . Wg2!, Black cannot go to either g6 or g8 , then this move wins, for example 1 . W g2! W f6 2. Wf2! 'it>fl (2 . . . 'it>fS 3. 'it> f3 \t> es 4. \t>e3; 2 . . . \t>g6 3. \t>e3) 3. 513 The Russian Endgame Handbook 'i!i>f3 We7 4. 'it> g4 W f8 5. 'iii' f4! 'it>e7 (or 5 . . . Wg7 6. We3) 6. Wg5 etc. 127. With White to move: 1 . d4+ ! . With Black to move: l . . .W d6 2 . W d2 c;i; c6 3 . 'i!i> c 3 (or 3 . 'i!i>c2 'i!i> b5 4. W c 3 'it> a4!) 3 . . . 'it>b5 4. 'i!i> b3 d 4 5. 'iii' c2 ( 5 . 'iii' a3 c4!) 5 . . . 'i!i> a4, etc. 128. See Diagram 1 46. 129. With Black to move what wins is, for example , 1 . . . d6, and if 2. c;i;gS , then 2 . . . e5. 130. On 1 . . .h6 here there follows 2. 'i!i>e5!, not fearing 2 ... g5 in reply; and if l . . . c;i; e7 2. c;i; e S c;i; d7, then 3 . h6 g6 4. Wffi is simplest. 1 3 1 . Nor does 1 . g3+ help; while moves by the king run into . . . c;i; g3 ! , for example: 1 . 'liti g l W g3 2 . 'it> h l Wf2 3. W h2 h3!, or 1 . c;i; h l c;i; g3 2 . c;i; g l h3! 3. W h l hxg2+ 4. c;i; g l c;i; h3 (or 4 . . . 'iii' f3 ) 5 . c;i; h2 g l � + . With Black to move, there could follow l . . .'i!i> e 3 2. \t> g l c;i; e2 3 . 'iii' h2 W f2 4. W h l Wg3! (not 4 . . . h 3 ? i n view of 5. 'iii' h2!, draw) . 132. See Diagram 1 49. 133. 1. 'i!i> t2 W h5 (or l . . . W f5 2. 'it' f3 ; i f now 2 . . . W e6, then 3 . Wg4; o r i f 2 . . . Wg6, then 3 . 'lt> e4) 2 . 'lt> f3 f5 (if 2 . . . W h6 3. 'it> e4 'it> g6, then 4. 'lt> d5! \t> f5 5. W d6 'it>g4 6. 'lt> e6 'lt> xg3 7. f5) 3 . 'lt> e3! 'lt>g4 4. W f2 'lt> h5 (4 . . . 'lt> h3 5 . 'lt> f3 and 6. g4) 5. W f3 , with a transfer via d4 to the fifth rank. 134. 1 . g4 'lt> h8 2. g5 'it'g8 3. g6 hxg6 or 3 . . . W h8 , draw. With Black to move, White wins: l . . .W h8 2. g4 'it>g8 3. g5 'lt> h8 4. g6. 135. If it is White to move, then 1 . Wc3 W d5 (on l . . .d6 there is 2 . e4, while on l . . .d5 we have 2. e3 'it> c6 3. W d4 W d6 4. c3, and if now 4 . . . W c6, then 5 . c4!) 2 . W d3 'lt> c5 3 . e 4 d5 (else 4. W d4) 4. e5. 514 With Black to move the draw is achieved with l . . .'lt> c4! 2 . c3(e3) d5 3 . e3(c3) 3 . . . <ti cs 4. W d3 'it> c6! 5 . \t> d4 \t> d6. 136. After l . . .W b8 White wins with 2. b6! . With White to move, he plays 1 . W d8 first. 137. 1 . . .W b4 2. 'it> b l (2. W d l \t> a3 3. W c l W a2) 2 . . . W c4 3. W a2 (or 3. 'iit> c l 'iit> d4 4 . 'lt> d l W e 3 5 . W e l c4 6 . W d l 'iii' f2) 3 . . . W d5! 4 . 'iit> a3 W e4! 5 . W b3 W d4 and 6 . . . W e 3 . 138. l . . . W h6 ( i f l . . . f4?, then d4-d5d6) 2. W f4 (2. d5 first is possible, too) 2 . . . r:J;; g 7 3. Wg5 @ fl 4. d5 W e7 5. e6 'iit> d6 (otherwise 6. d6) 6. 'lt> f6!. 139. With Black to move, the follow ing variations are possible: A) 1 . . . c;t.;> e8 2. 'lt> e 5 , threatening 3. c;t.;> e6!; B) l . . .c5 2. W e4 c;t.;>e8 3 . c;t.;> dS! c;tJ f7 (d7) 4. W c4 c;t.;> e8 5 . 'iit> xc5 d3 6. W d6 W f7 (6 . . . d2 7. 'lt> e6!) 7 . W d7 ; C) l . . .c6 2 . 'iit> f3! c5 (2 . . . W e8 3 . W e4 c5 transposes) 3 . W e4 W e8 4. W d5 ; D) l . . .d3 2 . W e 3 . With White to move, triangulation wins: 1 . W f3 ! c6 2. \t> f4! c5 3 . W e4, etc . 140. 1 . c;t.;> f4! c;t.;> b6 (advancing the pawn leads to the loss of both pawns) 2 . W f5 'lt> c7 3 . W ffi 'lt> b6 4. 'lt> e6 W c7 5 . 'lt> d5 h5 6. b6+ . 141. 1 . b3+? W a3 2. 'iit> c2 loses, in view of 2 . . . b4. Correct was 1 . 'iit> c2 W b4 2. W c l ! 'iit> b3 3. c;t.;> b J b4 4. c;t.;> c I , when if 4 . . . 'iii a2? then 5. W c2 , after which White wins. 142. 1 . c;t.;> a5? loses on account of 1 . . . g4! 2 . hxg4 (or 2 . h4 b3) 2 . . . hxg4 2. c;tJ a4 'it> c3 3 . 4. Wb5 b3. 1 . g4! is correct, after which the above combination doesn't work, and White gets a draw. 143. 1 . W e l ! d4 ( l . . . W f5 2 . 'it> d2 W e4 3 . 'it> e2) 2. exd4 followed by mov ing the king to c3 or g3 . Neither 1 . 'iii d l , Solutions and Answers in view of l . . .d4 2. exd4 (or 2. f5 \t'xf5) 2 . . . W xd4! ; nor 1 . 'it> fl , in view of l . . .d4 2. exd4 W xf4! wins for White. 144. 1 . W g3 h5 2 . e4! W g l 3. e5! dxe5, stalemate! 145. 1 . 'itl b4 'itlg8 ( 1 . . .d6 2. \t' a5) 2. \t'c5 'itt fl 3. W d6 \t' e8 4. c5 W d8 5. f6! gxf6, stalemate! 146. 1 . 'it> f3 h5 ( l . . .g4+ 2. W f4; if now 2 . . . g5+ , then 3. W xf5 g3 4. 'it> e6 g2 5 . @ e7 g l 'i:V 6. d7+ W xc7 7. d8'i:V + 'it> xc6 8 . 'i:Vd7+ 'itt c5 9. 'i:Va7 + , and on 2 . . . g3 there follows 3 . \t> xg3 g5 4. W f3 h 5 5 . W g2 and whichever pawn advanc es here , White takes the square in front of it) 2. W e 3 g4 (White 's king threat ened to penetrate to b6) 3. W f4 h4 (or 3 . . . g5 + 4. W e 5 with similar play) 4. 'it>e5 g3 (on 4 ... h3 there follows 5 . 'it> e6 h2 6. W e7 h l 'i:V 7. d7+ W xc7 8 . d8'i:V + 'it> xc6 9. 'i:Vd8+) 5. 'lt> e6 and so forth, as in the note to the first move. 147. First, we set up a table of cor respondence for the squares e3, d4, d3 , c4, c 3 , d2, and e2. The square e3 cor responds to g5 (not e5 in view of 1 . W d3 'itt f6 2. 'it> d4 \t> g6 3 . e5! ) , the d4 square with f6, and the d3 with g6. For the squares c4 and c3 (adjacent to d4 and d3) we get fl, g7, and g5; but since c4 and c3 are adjacent, then they must cor respond to squares also adjacent to each other; therefore we exclude g5. For d2 (adjacent to e 3 , d3, and c3), at first we get f6 and h6. The square e2 (adjacent to e3, d3, and d2) must correspond to the square adjacent to g5 , g6, and one of the squares f6 and h6 - that is, only the square h5. Going back to d2 (adjacent to e2), we exclude as a corresponding square the square f6 (as non-adjacent to h5). Similarly, now we establish that c3 (adjacent to d2) corresponds only to g7 (adjacent to f6, g6, h6, and fl), and c4 (adjacent to c3) only to fl. Further, for the squares c2, b3, b2, d l , c l , and b l re spectively we obtain h7, g6 (g8) , h6 (h8), g6, g7 , and g6 (g8). The resulting table leads to the following solution: 1 . 'lt> b l Wg7 (for example) 2. W e i W g6 3 . 'lt> d l 'itlg5 4 . Wc2 W f6 5 . W d2 W g6 6 . 'lt> d3 Wf6 (if 6 . . . Wfl, then 7. 'it>e3) 7. @ d4 Wfl 8. e5 'it>e7 9. 'it>e4 dxe5 I O. W xe5. 148. 1. Wg7 'lt> d7 2. £i. h5 £i. c4 3 . £i. fl .ii.. e2 4. £i.b3 .ii.. h5 5 . .ii.. c2 and 6 . .ii.. g 6. 149. 1. ..ll c3 Wg8 2. £i.b4 and then £i.b4-e7-f6-e5-d6. 150. 1 . .ii.. b6 £i.f4 2 . .ii.. c7 £i. d2 3. £i.e5 ii. a5 4. ii. f6 ii. b6, draw. 151. With Black to move: I . . ..ii.. e2 2. £i. d7 .ii.. a6 3 . .ii.. g4 .ii.. b7 and 4 . . . £i.f3 wins. With White to move: I. We5! .ii.. e2 2 . .ii.. d7 .ii.. a6 3 . ..ll g4 .ii.. b7 4. Wf4! , draw. 152. 1 . .ii.. f6 .ii.. h6 2. We7 Wf5 3 . .ii.. c3 .ii.. g5+ 4. We8 .ii.. h6 5 . ..ll b4 We6 6. i.f8 i.e3 7 . ..ll g7 .ii.. c5, draw. 153. 1 . ..ll e3 followed by bringing the king to g8, for example: I . . ...ll b4 2. W g7 W f5 3. c;t>g8 c;t>g6 4 . .ii.. d4 i.d6 5 . i.g7 .ii. c5 6 . ..ll f8 .ii.. d4 7. ii. b4 .ii.. g7 8. i. d2 'it> f6 9. ii. c3+. 154. See Diagram 1 83 . 155. Black brings the bishop t o d 2 o r c3, fo r example 1 . @ a5 .ii.. c3 2 . W b 5 i.d2; o r 1 . Si. c l i. d4 2. W a5 £i. e5 (an ticipating White 's next move) 3. Wb5 ..ll c3. 156. Draw, since the trade is not dan gerous for White here. 157. 1 . W d l i. f4 (or l . . .i. a3 2 . .ii.. g7 Wc4 3. i. e5 i. b4 4. @ c l ) 2 . i.b2 Wa4 3. � e2. On the other hand, 1 . Wd3? would be a mistake because of l . . .Wb4a3-a2. 515 The Russian Endgame Handbook 158. l . i. c4 'iit' e3 2. i. dS i.g4 3. c6 'iit' d4 4. i.g2 'iit' c4 S. 'iit' c7! 'iit' cS 6. 'iit' b8! 'iit' b 6 7. c7 i. e6 8 . i. b7 i. h3 9. i. c8 i. fl (g2) 1 0 . i.g4 i. a6(b7) 1 1 . i. f3(e2) @ -any 1 2. i.b7. 159. I . i.bS i.b7 2 . i. d7 (not 2. i.c6 at once , because of 2 . . . @ a6!) with the following variations: A) 2 . . . i. a6 3. 'iit' c6 Wb4 (if 3 . . . i.bS+ , then 4. 'it> c7 i. a6 S. i.g4) 4. i.g4 W c 3 S. i.f3 W b4 6. @ c7 @cs 7. i. e2 i. c8 8 . i. d 3 ; B) 2 . . . 'it> a6 3. i. c6 i. c 8 4. i. dS i. d7 (if 4 . . . i. b7, then S . i. c4+ @ as 6. i. bS i. c8 7. @ c6 i. d7+ 8. 'iit' c7 i. c8 9. it. fl ) S . b7! '.tl a7 6. W d6 and 7. 'it> c7. 1 60. l . 'iit' e3 it. fl ( l . . .i. e8 2 . a7 i. c6 3. i. d7!) 2. W d4! i.e8 3 . a7 i. c6 4. i. d7!. 161. i.f3-h l -g2-f3 or i. f3 -g2-h l -f3 . An approximate variation: l . i. g 2 i. d7 (or I . . .@g6) 2. it. h i i. e8 (or 2 . . . @ h6) 3. i.f3! i. d7 (3 . . . i.fl 4. i.xc6 i. xc4 S. i. e8 i.b3 6. c6 i. xa4 7. c7) 4. i. xhS i. c8 s . i. e8 i.b7 6. i.d7 'it>g6 7, 'it>g3 'it> ffi 8 . @ f3 @g6 9. 'it> e 3 @ ffi I O. W d4 i. a8 1 1 . i.c8, and the white king gets to eS. 162. The main variation is: l . i. c 3 i. d6 2 . 'it> e 3 'iit' fl 3 . 'it> e4 'it> e6 4. b 4 i. c7 S . bS 'it> f6 6. g4 'it>e6 7. gS g6 8 . i.b2 i. d8 9. i. xeS i. xgS 1 0. b6. 163. See Diagram 200. 164. I . . .i. c 8 ! . 165. O n l . @ c s i. d7 2 . W d6 'it>e8 3 . W c7 there follows 3 . . . i. a4!, and i f 4. eS, then 4 . . . i.c2. 166. I . . .ii. aS + 2 . '.tl fl ii. b4. 167. With White to move: l . i. c4 followed by taking the king to fl. With Black to move: the draw is forced after . . . 'it> h8-g8-f8. 168. I . . .ii.c8! (threatening . . . i. xa6) 2. i.e3 'i!l b8. 516 169. l . i. h4+ @ rs 2 . ® c s ii. e2 3. 'iit' d6 i. hS (or 3 ... @ e4 4. e7 and S . W e6) 4. 'it>e7. 170. I . . .'it> bS 2 . ii.g6 ii. as + 3 . 'it> e3, threatening 4. i. xd3. 171. I . . .i. c3+ 2 . @ rs i.b4 3 . ii.a4 and then W f5-e4-dS-c6-c7(+ )-d7. 172. I . ®f3! ii. dS + 2. \t> f4. 173- 176. See Diagrams 203 , 204, and 206. 177. I . . .ii.g3 is sufficient. If now 2. bS, then 2 ... ii.t2 and ... @ c7 ; if 2 . 'iit' bS , then 2 . . . ii. e l 3 . @ c s ® c7 . 178. I . ii.d8 ( i f White had one more move at his disposal, he could draw with ii. d8-h4 followed by ii. h4-f2) l . . .e4 2. ii. h4 ii.bS+! (not 2 ... e3? in view of 3. i.gS ii. bS + 4. @f3; nor does 2 ... @ dS? win, because of 3 . i.t2) 3 . W d2 (to 3. @f2 Black replies . . . @ e6-dS-c4-d3) 3 . . . e3+ and 4 . . . W dS . 179- 180. See Diagrams 208 and 209. 1 8 1 . l . . .'it> a3 followed by . . . bS-b4b3. 182. l . . .® b4 (or l . . .b4 2 . ® c2) 2. i. d7! W c4 3 . W c2. 183. Black must try to put his king on d7 and his bishop on fl. However, this plan cannot be carried out, for ex ample I . . .i. h3 2. i. a3 + W d7 3. dS! il.g4 4. eS i. hS (if 4 . . . ii. h3 , then S . \t> f4 fol lowed by moving the king to ffi) S. e6+ ; o r I . . .ii. fl 2. i. a3 + 'iit' d7 3 . dS, etc . 184. Here White must prevent the establishment of the bishop at e7 with the black king on c7. The solution is I . ii. a4+ 'iit' b7 2 . c S ii. d8 3 . dS, after which Black will be one tempo too late . 185. With White to move, after I . ii. e3! he has time to place his bishop on d2 and his king on f2. With Black to Solutions and Answers move, there follows l . . .i. c6+ and 2 . . . f4 (or l . . .f4 first) , preventing that piece placement. 186. I . rs+ r:J:;; fl (if l . . . r:Ji; ffi , then 2. r:Ji; f4 followed by e4-eS-e6) 2. es li c4 (threatening 3 . e6) 3 . i. h4 with the de cisive threat of r:Ji;e3-d4-cS-d6. 187. I . . .r:Ji; d6 (the threat was 2 . i. fl g S 3 . i. e6 f4 4. i.g4) 2. 'it' e3 (White transfers the king to g2 and the bishop to e2) 2 . . . gS 3. r:J:;; f3 r:Ji; eS 4. i. e2 g4+ S. r:Ji;g2 r:Ji; f4 6. i. d l c;t> e 3 ( nor is 6 ... c;t>gS followed by 7 . . . f4 dangerous to White) 7. r:J:;; n r:Ji; d2 (7 ... g3? 8 . r:J:;; g 2) 8 . i. e2 i. d6 9. libs W e3 (or 9 . . . f4 IO. i. d7 g3 l l . li c6 and 1 2. r:Ji;g2) 1 0 . li e2 , etc. 188. 1 . li c 3 followed by W d6 and cS-c6-c7; after this the white king moves to b7 (or to the kingside after a prelimi nary li eS ) . 189. I . W d2! c;t> d5 2 . i. b4 r:Ji; d4 3 . i. a5 W c5 4. W c3 , and ifnow 4 . . . d 2 , then 5. i. b4+ ! . Black to move plays l . . .r:Ji; e3! 2. i. b4 (if 2. i.d2+, then 2 ... r:Ji; e2 etc . , as i n the main line) 2 . . .d 2 + ! 3 . li xd2+ W d3 and rolling the pawns. 190. ( I . r:Ji;b4) l . . .W c7 2. QJd5+ and 3. QJb6; l . . .We7 2. QJ d5 + r:Ji; e6 3. QJb6 QJ e5! 4. W a8 QJ c6 5 . QJ c4 and 6. QJa5; l . . . r:Ji; e6 2 . QJ d3 r:Ji;d5 (or 2 ... r:Ji; f5 3 . QJ c5 QJ e5 4. r:Ji; a8 QJ c6 5 . QJb3 and 6. QJ a5 ; while i f 2 . . . r:Ji; d6, then 3 . Q:l f4 and so forth, as in the main line) 3 . Q:l f4+ W any 4 . QJ g6 and S . Q:l f8 followed by 6. W a8 , 6. r:Ji;b6, or 6. QJ e6 + . 1 9 1 . I . Q:l ffi , with the following vari ations: A) l . . .QJb7 2. QJ d5 QJc5 (if 2 . . . QJ aS , then 3 . W c8 and 4. QJ c7#) 3 . W c8 QJ a6 4. QJ c7 + ; B) l . . . QJ e6(a6) + 2. W c8 QJ c5(b8) 3 . QJd5 QJ a6 4. QJ c7 + . 192. l . . .QJ h3 + 2 . r:J:;; n (2. W h l Q:lf2+ and 3 ... h3) 2 ... QJ f2 3 . W e2 (after 3 . QJ g2 h3, the following variations are possible: A) 4. QJ h4 or 4. QJ e 3 h2 5. QJfS+ 'it'h3; B) 4. Q:lf4 h2 5 . QJ h5 + Wf3; C) 4. Q:lf4 h2 S. QJe2+ r:J:;; g4) 3 . . . h3 4. Q:l f3 . Now (with colors reversed) we have a position from von Scheve - Estorch. 193. I. 'it' c6 i.f3+ (on l . . .i.b5+ 2. 'iit/ c7 i.e8 there follows 3 . QJ c S + ; if now 3 . . . W a7, then 4. QJd7 r:Ji; a6 S . r:Ji; c6 .t any 6 . QJc5+ and 7 . b5, and 3 . . . Wb5 is insufficient in view of 4. a6 i. c6 S. a7 i. a8 6. Wb8 i. -any 7. QJb7) 2. W c7 Wb5 (3. QJ c5+ r:Ji;b5 4. a6 r:Ji; xb4 5. QJb7 was the threat) 3 . QJ d4+ W xb4 4. r:Ji;b6! i.b7 5. QJbS r:Ji;a4 6. QJ d6 .tc8 7. a6 'it'b4 8. QJb7 Wc4 9. W c6! (not 9. 'iit/ c7? at once, because of 9 . . . Wb5 10. a7 W a6) 9 . . . Wd4 (or 9 . . . Wb4 1 0 . a7 W c4 1 1 . W c7 Wd5 1 2. Wb8 'it> c6 1 3 . 'it' xa8 W c7 14. QJ d6) 10. Wc7 (not 1 0 . a7? in view of 10 . . . r:Ji;eS! 1 1 . W c7 W e6 1 2 . <;t>b8 r:Ji; d7 1 3 . 'it>xa8 'it>c8!) 10 ... W d5 1 1 . r:Ji;b8 W c6 12. r:Ji; xa8 r:Ji;b6 1 3 . QJ c5 or 1 3 . a7 r:Ji;c7 1 4. QJ d6. 194. I . We7 Wh7 (or l . . .i. a3+ 2. r:Ji; e8 i. f8 3. fl+ r:J:;; g7 4. QJ g6 and 5. QJ e7) 2. fl i. a3+ 3 . W e 8 W g7 4. QJ c4 .tcS S. QJb6! preventing . . . W ffi and threatening QJb6-d5-e7. 195. I . c6! dxc6 2 . a6 .tf3 3 . QJg5 i. d5 (3 ... Wd8 4. a7!) 4. QJ e6! c5 (4 . . . Wd7 S. QJc5+ and 6. a7) 5 . QJ c7+ W d7 6. QJxd5 W c8 (6 . . . W c6 7 . r:J:;; f2) 7. QJc3 Wb8 8. QJb5 c4 9. Wf2 c3 1 0 . We3. 196. The main variation is: I. QJd5 .tb7 2. fl i. xdS+ 3 . W e 3 dl� 4. f8� �e l + 5 . W f4 �f2+ 6. 'it' e5! �d4+ (or 6 . . . �xf8 , stalemate!) 7. W d6 �cs+ 8. 'it>e5!. 197. See Diagram 2S5. 1 98. l . . . <;t> f5 ! 2 . r:Ji;b6 (2. Wd6 'itt ffi) 2 . . . l:If6+ 3. r:Ji;b7 l:tfl+ 4. r:Ji;a6 l:Iffi+ S . 517 The Russian Endgame Handbook 'it>b5 l'If7, etc. Erroneous is 1 . . .l'Iffi+ due to 2 . 'it> d5 .l:tt7 3 . 'it> e6!. 199. l. @ f3 l:Xal 2. l::t b 2 l:Xfl + 3 . @g3. 200-20 1 . See Diagrams 25 1 and 252. 202. l . . .a2! 2. l:XbS+ 'it> a3 3 . l:XaS+ 'it>b3 4. l:XbS+ 'it> c4. When the checks run out, Black responds to :as with . . . l:Xh l . 203. l . . .'it>b3 2 . l::t b S+ 'it> a2 3 . @ f2 l:Xb l , etc. 204. See Diagram 259. 205. With White to move: l . 'it> e I ( I . . . l'Ia l + 2. 'it> d2 a 2 3 . 'it>c2). With Black to move: I . . .l:Xa l + 2. 'it> g2 'it> c 5 (see the analysis for Diagram 264 after 4. 'it> c4). 206. With Black to move, the fastest win is l . . .h2. With White to move, there follows l . l:Xf8+ 'it>g4 2. l:XgS+ 'it> f5 3 . l:Xf8+ 'it>g6 4. l:Xf2 h2 5 . l:Xe2 Wg5. 207. A) l . :a s l:XcS 2. a7 :as 3 . 'it>g3 @g6; B) l . a7 l'Ial 2. l:Xb7+ @ g6; C) l . l::t b S l::t a l 2 . l::t aS l::t f l , intending 3 . . . l'Iffi! (see Diagram 263 ) . 208. l . l:XcS+ 'it>b3 2. : b s + 'it> a3 3 . 'it>e3 l:X b 2 4. l'I a S ! :b4 5 . \t> d2 Wb2 6 . l::t c S a 3 (6 . . J::t d 4+ 7. 'it> e2 a 3 S. l::t b S+) 7 . l:X c 2 + 'it>b3 (7 . . . 'it> a l S . l:XcS a 2 9. 'it> c2) S. l'Ic3+ 'it> a4 9. W c2 a2 1 0. l:cS. 209. l . 'it>g5 l:XeS! (see Diagram 269) . 2 10. With Black to move, there fol lows I . . .l::t hS! (see the previous exam ple); with White to move, l . 'it> g5 l::t e 7 ( I . . .l:XhS 2. h6) 2. : h4! 'it> eS 3. h6. 2 1 1 . With Black to move there follows l . . .'it>g4 2. l:Xg l + (if 2 . @ d2 h3 3. l'::t e l , then 3 . . . l::t xe l , and on 2 . 'it> d4 Black responds 2 . . . l'::t e S 3. l::t g l + @ f3 4. :g7 h3 5. l'If7+ @g2 6. l'::t g 7+ 'it> h l 7. 'it> d3 l::t e l ! S . 'it> d2 l'Ig l 9. :n h2 followed 518 by . . . 'it> h l -g2-g3-f4) @ f3 3 . l:X fl + (or 3. l:t h l l'Id5+ and 4 . . . l'::t h5) 3 . . . @ g2 4. l::t f8 h3 5. l:XgS+ 'it> f3 ! 6. l:XhS(f8) 'it> g3 7. l:XgS+ (if 7 . 'it> d4, then 7 ... l:Xg5 , while on 7 . l:Xh7, not only is 7 ... l'Ig5 possible , but also 7 . . . h2 S . l:XgS+ W h4 9. I:IhS+ l'::t h5) 7 . . . @ h4 S . l'IhS+ l:Xh5. If it 's White to move, then he plays l . @ d2! and so forth, as in Diagram 269. 2 12. On l . . .'it>b5 there follows 2 . �b l + 'it> a4 3 . :a l + 'it> b4 4. l'Ib l + W a3 5 . l'I a l + ; and if l . . J:tcs, then 2. 'it> d4. 2 13. See Diagram 266. 2 14. l. l'I a2 + . With Black to move: 1 . . .l'IgS + , and then 2 . . . l:Xg7+ etc. 2 1 5. l . l'Ig l + (on l . l'I h7 Black has different ways to win, for instance by 1 . . .l'IbS+ 2. 'it> a2 l'IdS) I . . . 'it> e2 2. l'Ig2+ W e i 3. l:Xg l + Wf2 4. l'::t h l l:XhS!. If the rook is on h7 in the starting position, White forces the draw with I . l'::t h I + . 2 16. See Diagram 2S l . 2 17. I . . .l::t a 6+ (with Black to move) or l . l:X a l (with White to move). 218. Black gives check along the a file and then takes over the e-file. 219. See Diagram 279. 220. l . l:X a l (or l . l'::t e 3 l:Xf2; and if l . l'Ia4+ 'it> h3 2 . l'::t a 3+ , then 2 ... l'::t g 3 3. l:X a l lld3) l . . .l'I f2 2 . 'it> g l @ g3 3 . l'Ie l (the threat was 3 . . . l:Xf3 4. l'Ie l l'Id3!) 3 . . . <it> f3 4 . l'I a l l'Ig2+ 5 . 'it> h l l'IgS . 22 1 . I . . .l'Ig6 (defending against d6d7 +; l . . .l'::t d S doesn't help, if only due to 2. l'::t b l l'::t d 7 3. l:XbS + ) 2. l:Xh2 l'IgS (if 2 . . . W b S , then 3 . .l:thS+ W a7 4. 'it> c7) 3. l:Xh7, with the decisive threat of 4. l'Ic7+ 'it>bS 5 . l:Xb7+ w as 6. l:Xb l . 222. I . . .l:Xb7+ 2. W dS @ ffi (or 2 . . . W f8 3 . ?I n + W g7 4. e 7 l:XbS+ 5 . \t> c7 l:XaS 6. l:ta l ; and if 2 . . . .l:tbS + , then 3 . l'I c S ) 3 . e7 l'I b S + 4. W d7! l'I b 7 + 5. @ d6 Solutions and Answers k:tb6+ (or 5 . . . 1:.bS 6. l:fl + \tig7 7. � c7 l:taS S. l:ta l ) 6. � c7 l:te6 7. W dS l:td6+ S. \ties (solution by Grigoriev). 223. L. J:tb7+ 2 . :d7 l:tb l (2 .. J:tb6? 3. @ es+ and 4. e7) 3. l:tdS (threatening 4. �eS; if 3. \ti eS+? at once, then 3 . . . '.il f6 4 . e 7 \ti e6) 3 . . . l::t b 7+ 4 . '.il d6 l'::t b 6+ 5. '.il d7 l:tb7+ 6. \ti c6 l:te7 (6 . . . l:ta7 7. l:td7+) 7. '.il d6 (Solution by Grigoriev) . 224. White's king hovers between a l and b l , while his rook shuttles between e l and h l . 225. 1 . e7 l:td3 (forestalling l:td2) 2. l::t g4 etc . , as in the analysis of Diagram 277 after 3. l:t c4. 226. 1 . l::t h 7 (see Diagram 2S4 with Black to move). 227. 1 . '.il dS+ '>tii c6 (or l . . .WbS 2. d7 with the threat of 3 . l:teS) 2. d7 l:thS+ (if 2 ... W d6, then 3 . W cS) 3 . l:teS l:th7 4. l:te6+ lit'b7 5 . l::t e l l:t hS+ (5 ... 'it> c6 6. '.il cS) 6. \ti e7 l:t h7+ 7. W d6 l:t h6+ S . l:t e 6 l:t hS 9. l:t e S . 228. 1 . l:tg l l:t h 7 + 2. '.il f8 ! © d6 (2 . . . l:t h S + 3 . l:t g S l:t h l 4. e7 : n + 5 . \ti es W c7 6. l:tf8 and 7. 'it> f7 ) 3. l:te l ! l::t h S+ ( 3 . . . l:e7 4. l: d l +) 4. W g7 l:IeS (4 . . . l:aS 5 . e7 W d7 6. '>tii f7) 5 . '.ilf7 l:te7+ 6. @ f6 l::t h 7 7 . e7. 229. With White to move: 1 . l:f8! l::t h 7+ 2 . W f6! l:t h6+ 3 . 'it't7 l:h7+ 4. W g6 l:te7 5. 'it> f6. With Black to move: l . . .l:t h7+ 2. \ti f6 l:t h6+ 3. \tig7 l:t h l , draw. 230. 1 . W g l l:tb l + (if l . . .'.il gS , sim plest is 2. '.il fl l::t b l + 3. \ti e2 b2 4. '.il d2) 2. '.ilf2 b2 (2 . . . @ gS 3 . \ti e2) 3 . Wg2!. 23 1 . l . . . l::t a 7+ (the threat was l::t g4+ ; l . . .l::t g l doesn't help i n view o f 2. W eS l:.Ig2 3 . e7 l:tg l 4. l:td4, preparing 5. '.il d7) 2. '.il f6 l:taS (otherwise White plays 3. l:tbS+ and 4. e7) 3. l:.Ig4+. 232. See Diagram 2S5. 233. 1. Wc3! l:tc2+ 2. '.ilb3, threat ening l::t h 3+. 234. 1. l::t h 2+ W c 3 2. '.il c l l::t g5 3. l::t c 2+ !. 235. 1. \ti e4! l:tg3 (or l . . .l::t f l 2. llh3) 2. l:th2+ W fl 3 . W f4! e2 4. l::t xe2. It would be a mistake to play 1. l:t h2+ in view of l . . .l:tf2 2. l:th3 (2. l::t h4 W d2) 2 . . . l:tf4+ 3. Wc3 :rs 4. l:th2+ W fl 5. W d3 l:teS!, and so forth, as in Example 22S after 3. l:te l . 236. l . ..Wf8! (not l . . .W dS in view of 2. l:thS+ Wc7 3. \tie7) 2. l:thS+ ©g7 3 . l:teS l:t a l 4 . l:tdS l:te l . 237. Simplest is I . . .l:ta6 2. d6 l:ta l . 238. See Diagram 276. 239. 1. @fl l:tb l + (or l . . .l:Ia2 2. l:teS) 2. ©g2 ©e2 (on 2 . . . l:ta l there fol lows 3. l:teS ©d3 4. @f2) 3. l::I a 8! l::I b 2 (3 . . . e3 4. l:ta2+) 4. l::I a l e3 5. @g3, etc. as in Diagram 285. 240. 1. l:e7. 24 1. 1. l:Ia2+ © d3 (other moves are met by 2. \tie2!) 2. l:ta3+. 242. Black to move wins with l . . .l:tc2. White to move forces the draw with 1 . l:ta8 (see Diagram 290). 243. On 1. l:te3+ \ti f4 2. l:tb3? fol lows 2 . . . e3+! 3. W e2 l:t a2+ 4. '>tii e l Wf3. Correct is 1. l:te3+ W f4 2 . l:th3!, and now if 2 . . . e3+ 3 . W e2 l:ta2+, then 4. ©e l , after which Black no longer can play . . . @f3. 244. If 1. c5, then l . . .W d3! (not l . . . © d5? i n view o f 2 . W b6!) 2. l:tc l '.il d2 3. l:tc4 W d3 . If 1 . Wb5, then l . . .'.ild3 2. l:tc l '.il d2! 3 . l:t h l l:tb8+ 4. \t> a6 l:tc8! 5. l:th4 W d3 6. W b5 l:tb8+ 7. �a6 l:tc8!. 245. Black's king can't get in, since on l . . .W h5 there3 follows 2. l:t h l + \tig4 3. l:tg l + lit' h4 (or 3 . . . W f4) 4. l:th(t) l + 519 The Russian Endgame Handbook <;St g3 5. llg l +, and on waiting moves by the black rook along the e-file White's king maneuvers on the d4 and d3 squares (not d5 in view of . . . lle3-h3). 246. l . . .Wg5 2. l:.g l + W h4 3 . ll fl @g4 4. llg l + @ h3 ! 5 . l:.fl .l:!:t7 (6. \t> d5 f4 7. @ e6 ll f8 8. ® e 7 @ g2). 247. l . W c4 ( l . l:. e4 also wins) l . . . .l:c8+ 2. W d5 l:. b 8 3 . W c5 l:. c 8 + 4. W d6 llb8 (4 . . . l:.d8+ 5. W c 7 l:.d5 6. W c6) 5. llb l W f7 6. b5 We8 7 . b6 or 7 . W c7. 248. l . W c3 l:.c8+ 2. W d4 llb8 3 . W c4 .l: c 8 + 4. Wd5 ll b 8 (relatively best) 5. llb l \t> t7 6. b4 \t> e7 7. <;SJ> c6! W d8 8 . lld l + (8. b 5 also wins) 8 . . . ®e7 (8 . . . W c8 9. l:. h l ) 9. b5. 249. l . . .W e6 (see Diagram 292). 250. See Diagram 296. 25 1 . l . . .W e2! (not l . . .llf3) - see Diagram 297 . 252. l . . .l:.h8!. 253. l . . .f5!. With White to move: l . l:.e l + ® f7 2 . :t:. fl ! . 254. The white king cannot cross the c-file without losing the b2-pawn. Also failing to score the full point i� l . l:. h8 '>t> xb2 2. a4 l:.a l 3 . l:.a8 Wb3 4. a5 )!] b4 5. a6 W a5! (5 . . . Wb5? loses to 6. l:.b8+! ® c4 7. llb6, threatening W d6-c7-b7) 6. W c6 l:.c l + 7 . Wb7 l:.b l + 8. W a7 llb6 (or 8 ... l::t b l 9 . .l:b8 l:.h6). 255. Black has no defense against the threat of l . W b5 l:.h5+ 2. llc5 llh8 3 . c8� + !. 256. See Diagram 3 1 2. 257. The white rook maneuvers along the d-file , for instance l . lld8 Wb3 2 . .l:!:d7 (2. lld l is also good, but not 2. l:.d3+? in view of 2 . . . llc3, or 2. lld2? l:.c2). If Black moves the king to c l and then plays . . . llc2, then l . W xe6 llt2 2. W e5 etc . Nor does the variation 520 l . lld8 llc3 give Black anything, in view of 2. W xe6 f4 3. W e5 f3 4. W e4! and 5. ll f8 . 258. O n l . . . .l:d l there follows 2. lle7! W xc4 3 . b6 Wc5 4. b7 .l:b l 5 . W d8 W c6 6. W c 8 , while after l . . . .l:h6 2. W d7 llh7+ 3 . lle7 ll h6 4. W c7 ! , threatening 5. lle5+, is enough. If l . . .W b6, then 2 . We7 and 3 . lle6. With White to move, l . � f4 suffices, and if l . . . llh6, then 2. Wd7, hiding from the checks at a5 (which was impossible in Diagram 3 1 4) . 259. If l . . . .l:!:a l ? , then 2. l:. h 8 , and if l . . .lla7+? there follows 2. ® b8 and 3. llh8. Also bad is l . . . .l:e8? in view of 2. ® d7 . And if l . . .®g8?, then ® c7-d7e6-f5 -g6, or even 2. l:. h8+ ® xh8 3 . f7. The only correct move is l . . .® e6! (2. ® b7 lle8 3 . ® c7 lla8). 260. See Diagram 3 1 5 . 26 1 . The main line i s I . W e6 (threat ening 2. lld8!) l . . . lle l + 2. W f5 l:.fl + 3. ® e4 l:.e l + 4. W f3 l:.fl + 5 . W e2 l:.f8 6. W e 3 lle8+ 7 . W f4 ll f8 + 8 . ® e5 rl.e8+ 9. Wf6 i::t h8 I O. �g7 i::t e8 1 1 . llf6, threatening 1 2 . i::t f8 . 262. See Diagram 3 1 4. 263. l . . .. � c4! ( l , , ,W xb4? would be a mistake due to 2. a6 l:. h7+ 3 . Wb8 ll h8+ 4. W c 7 llh7+ 5 . .l:d7) 2. l:.e5 (or 2. lld7 Wb5! 3 . llg7 l:.f6 4. l:.e7, with similar play) 2 . . . W xb4! 3. a6 l:.h7+ 4. Wb8 l:th8+ 5 . Wc7 l:.h7+, and if 6. W d8 , then 6 . . . l:.a7 7 . .l:!:e6 Wb5. 264. 6 ... W a5! ( not 6 ... W a6? in light of 7 . W c6). 265. l . d6 ( l . llg8 is also strong) l . . . l:.a5+ ( l . . . .l:!:xd6 2 . .l:g5 + ; o r l . . .lla7 2 . llg5 + ; finally, on l . . .W e6 there follows 2. l:.g6+) 2. W b6 l:. a l 3 . d7 l':td l 4. W c7 ll c l + 5 . \t> d8 . 266. l . . .W e4! (not l . . .lla l ? 2. llh8!) Solutions and Answers 2. l:Ih l (for example) 2 . . . 'it> xf4 3 . 'it> dS I:ras+ 4. W d6 l:'i:a6+ !. 267. l . l:rd2 l:th8 (if l . . .l:t h6+ then 2. Wg7; while on l . . .l:ra7 there follows 2. 'it> e6; and if l . . . 'it> d7 , then 2 . l:'i:e2) 2 . d7 'it> c7 3 . c6 l:i:g8 (or 3 ... 'it> d8 4. 'it> g7 l:'i: h l S . c7+) 4 . 'it> e7 l:tg7+ (if4 . . . l:Id8, then S. l:'i:d l ) s . Wf8. 268. l. l:i:aS+ W xd6 2. l:i:dS+ W c7 3 . l:txd8 W xd8 4. W b4 W c8!. 269. l . W a4 l:tc8! 2. 'it> bS l:tb8+ 3 . 'it> aS l:i: a 8 + 4. 'it> b6 l:'i:b8 + , or l . l:ta4 l::t c l 2. 'it>b2 l:rc8 3 . l:rb4 l:rc7 4. 'it>b3 l:'i:c8 etc. 270. If l . . .'it>g3?, then 2. l:rc4! l:rb8 3 . l:r c 8 ! . Also l . . . l:Ig4 would b e a mistake, because of 2 . l:rc3+ l:tg3 3 . l:rxg3 + . Cor rect here is l . . .b2!, because on 2. l:tb l there follows, not 2 . . . 'it>g3 (in view of 3 . l::t xb2!), but 2 . . . l::t c4! (or 2 . . . l:i:a4) . 27 1 . l . . .l:'i:d3! (see Diagram 322). 272. l . . .l:'i:b l 2. l::t c 4 (2. l:i:d4 I:ra l + 3 . WbS l:tb l + 4. W c6 l::t h l ! S . 'it> c7 'it> xa6 6. c6 l:t h7+ 7. l:i:d7 l:th8) 2 ... I:r a l + 3 . 'it> bS l::t xa6 4. c6 (or 4. l:t h4 l:rg6) 4 . . . l::t b 6+ S . \ti c s l:tb l , draw. 273. A) l . . .g2 2. 'it> xf2 l:'i:h l 3 . l:'i:g l ! l::t xg l 4 . 'it> xg l and if 4. . . 'it> g3 , it's stale mate!; B) l . . .l:'i:g2 2. l::t h l +; C) l . . . fl � + 2. l::t xfl g2 (2 . . . l:ta2 3 . l::t h l + ) 3 . l:'i:g l l::t h l 4. W f2 . 274. l . W c4 (if l . dS, then l . ..l:rf4!) l . . .W c2 2. dS l:td2 3. \ti cs 'it> d3 4. d6 W e4, etc. 275. l . 'it> c4 a2 2. 'it>b3! a l ltJ + 3. W c 3 ltJ c2 (or 3 ... 'it> a2 4. l:rb4 'it> a3 S. l:tb2) 4. l:'i:e2 ltJ a l (4 ... ltJ a3 S . 'it> b3) S. l::t h2. 276. The king goes back along the d file to d7, then moves to the b-file via c8 and hides on b2. l . . . W d3 2. l:rf3+ W d2? would be a mistake in view of 3 . l:tf8. 277 - 278. If he is on the move, the stronger side manages to approach the pawn. 279. l . . .'it>e3 2. d7, or l . . .l:'i:h6 2. \ties. 280. 'it>e3-d4-cS . 28 1. l . We6 c 4 2. l:th4+ W d3 3. 'it> dS c3 4. l:h3+ 'it> d2 S . 'it> c4 c2 6. l:'i:h2+ W d l 7. Wd3 c l ltJ + 8. 'it>e3 ctJb3, draw. With the king at e8, White wins by mov ing it to bS. 282. l . bS l:i:eS+ 2 . 'it> c6 'it> b4 3. b6 l::t e 6+ 4. 'it> c7 'it>bS S . b7 l::t e7+ 6. 'it> c8 'it> c6 7. b8ltJ + 'it> d6 8 . ltJ a6 l:ta7 9. ltJ b8 l:i:c7+ 1 0 . 'it> d8 l::t h7 1 1 . 'it>c8, draw. 283. I . . . l::t d4+ 2. 'it>bS 'it>b3 3. as l:i:dS+ 4. Wb6 'it>b4 S. a6 l:td6+ 6. 'it>b7 'it>bS 7. a7 l:td7+ 8. 'it>b8 'it>b6 9. a8ltJ + 'it> c6 10. 'it>c8 l:tb7. 284. l . . .d4 2. l:rd7 'it> c4 3. 'it> d6! d3 4. \ti es. 285. After l . . .d4 White is one tempo short, for instance, 2. l:td6 W c4 3. 'it> d7 d3 4. W e6 Wc3 S. WeS d2 6. W e4 Wc2; or 2. l::t fS+ Wc4 3 . 'it> d6 d3 4. l:rdS 'it>c3 S. WeS d2, draw. 286. l . c7 ( l . d7 l::t d 2) l . . .l::t c 2 2. d7 l:rc l + 3. Wh2 l:rc2+ 4. 'it> g l (or 4. 'it>h3 l::t xc7 S. d8Vj° l:'i:h7+ , draw), draw. 287. I. l::t e l + 'it> h2 2 . l:rb l ! . 288. I. I:ra8 'it>b3 (or l . . .c3 2. l::t xa4 Wb3 3. l::t a 8) 2 . 'it> d l a3 3 . W e i c3 4. l:rb8+ 'it>a2 S. W c2 W a l ; now the quick est win is 6. l:rb l + W a2 7. l:b3. 289. l . . .l::t c 3 2 . W e2 Wg3 (or 2 ... l:i:cS 3. 'it>d3 l:txbS 4. W d4) 3 . W d2 l::t c s 4. Wd3, draw. 290. l . W h6! (White loses after I . W f8 W f6 2 . W g8 i n view of 2 . . . l:'i:b7! 3. W h8 l:rbS!) l . . . W f6 2. g7! Wf7 3. Wh7 l:i:a8 4. h6 l:'i:b8 S. g8� +. 52 1 The Russian Endgame Handbook 29 1 . With White to move, he wins with l . We7; with Black to move, 1 . . .l::t d 6! 2 . @ e7 l:te6+ 3 . W f8 (3. @ d8 l::t xc6) 3 . . . l:t f6 + 4. @ g 7 l::t g 6+ 5 . W h7 ( if 5. @ h8 , then 5 . . . l:th6+) 5 . . . l:td6! . 292. l . @ h8! l:t fl ( 1 . . . @ c4 2. h7 @ d5 3. f7 :o 4. @g7 l:tg l + 5 . @ h6 l:th l + 6. @g5) 2. h7! W c4 3 . c;i;> g7 l:tg l + 4. @ h6 I:th l + 5 . c;i;>g6 l:tg l + 6. 'iit f5 l:t h l 7. f7. Nor does l . 'iit f8 l:t h l 2 . f7? win, in view of 2 . . . 'iil c4 3. W e8 l:te l + 4. 'iii' d8 l:td l + 5 . 'iii' c8 l:ta l ! 6. h7 (if 6. W d7, then 6 . . . :Id l + , while o n 6. W b8 there follows 6 . . . l:tb l +) 6 . . . l:ta8+ 7. W d7 (or 7. W b7 l:th8 8. 'it' c6 @ b4 9. 'it1d5 'it'b5 and so on, as in the main line) 7 . . . l:h8! 8. W e6 'it' c5! 9. W f6 'it> d6 1 0 . Wg7 W e 7 , draw. 293. 1 . . .l:tg8 2. W f5 @b7 3 . @ f6 <ti c 7 4 . 'iii' f7 W d6!. 294. l . @ d6 l:td2+ 2 . @ c7 �c2+ 3. c;i;>b8! l:tb2+ 4. @ a8!. 295. 1 . . .l::t c 8! 2. b7 l:tb8 3 . g7 c;i;>b2 4. 'iii' e5 Wc3 5 . c;i;> d6 l:tg8! 6. 'iil e6 l:tb8! ( Black loses after 6 ... l:td8? on account of 7. c;i;> f7 l:td7+ 8. c;i;>g6 l:td8 9. 'iil h7) 7. 'it' d6 l:tg8. 296. If it's Black to move, then l . . . f3+ 2. l:txf3 (if 2. W h l g2+ 3 . W xh2 g l .ii. or Cl\) 2 . . . h l 1iV + 3. 'iii xh l 'it' xf3 4. c;i;> g l g2. With White to move, there follows l . <ti h l W h3 (if l . . . f3 , then 2 . l:txf3 , and to l . . .Wg5 White replies 2. W g2) 2. l:I f3 . 297. First the black king i s forced out of the center, and then White employs one of the methods indicated in Dia grams 373-377. 298. Let's show one of the ways to win: l . 'i'Hg5+ @ h8 (if 1 . . . c;i;> h7? then 2 . 'i'Hg6+ c;i;> h8 3 . 'iii' h6! , while on l . . . W f8 there could follow 2. 1iV d 8 + W g7 3 . Wg5 l:t f8 4. 'i'He7+ l:tf7 5 . � e 8 ! , and if 5 . . . :ctf8, then 6. �g6+ 'it> h8 7. c;i;> h6) 2 . 522 �d8+ c;i;> h7 (or 2 . . . c;i;>g7 3 . c;i;>g5) 3 . �e8 c;i;>g7 (or 3 . . . l:tg7 4. �e4+ c;i;>g8 5 . c;i;> h6) 4. c;i;>g5, etc. 299. The most straightforward is l . 'iil e6, and if l . . .!1c6+, then 2 . W d7 :C:c4 3 . �e2+ c;i;> d5 4. �e6+ W c5 5 . �e5+ c;i;> b4 6. W d6, moving the king to the center. 300. See the analysis of Diagram 379 after 3 . . . l::t e 5. 30 1 . A) 1 . . .l:Ig l 2. � d4+ l::t g 7 3 . �f6 W g8 4. °iVd8+ Wf7 5 . �h8; B) 1 . . .l:t h6 2. �f7 l:tg6 3 . 'i'Hd8+ l:tg8 4. �f6+ l:tg7 5 . 'iil e6 h5 6. � h6 + ; C) l . ..c;i;>g7 2. �d7+ c;i;> h6 3 . �e7 l::t g 2 (3 . . . l::t g 8? 4. 1iV h4+ @ g7 5 . �f6#) 4. 'i'He3+ 'it> g7 5. �c3+ c;i;>f7 6. �b3+ c;i;>f8 7 . 'i'Hb8+ and 8. �b7 + . If it's White 's move, then l . � f7 is the strongest. 302. 1 . . .l:tb4(b6,b8) 2. �d5+ c;i;> a l 3 . 'i'Hc5 l:t b 3 4. W c2 l:t b 2 + 5 . c;i;> c 3 W a2, draw. 1 . . .l:tb3? is a mistake in view of 2. 'i'Hc4(d5)!. If we move the whole position up one rank ( WKc2, Qd4, BKaJ, RbJ, pa4) , the win is forced: 1 ) with Black to move, 1 . . .l::t b 5 (for example) 2. �a l + and 3 . 'i'Hc3#; 2) with White to move, 1 . 'i'Hd6+ c;i;> a2 2 . 'i'Hd5 c;i;> a3 (a l ) 3 . 'i'Hd4 (+). 303. l . . .c;i;> h2 ! , with the following var iations: A) 2. 'i'Hc2 'i'Hg5+ and 3 . . . . c;i;>g l ; B) 2 . �e2 W g l ; C) 2. 'i'Hb2 'i'Hb8 + ; D) 2. W b6(a6) �f6+, and then 3 . . . �g7+ (or 3 . . . �g5 + ) and 4 . . . �g2 ! ; E) 2. @ c5 'i'Hg5+ and 3 . . . �g2. 304. The white king hides from per petual check on b7 and b8, for example l . . .'i'Hf4+ 2. @ d5 °iYf3+ 3. @ d6 'i'Hf8+ 4. 'it> c6 � f3 + 5 . c;i;> b6 'i'Hb3+ 6. c;i;> a7 � a4+ 7. @ b7 �e4+ 8. �c6 �b4+ 9. �b6 'i'H e4+ 1 0 . c;i;>b8. If l . . .'i'Hc8, then 2 . � d 6 with the decisive threat o f 3 . iVd8 Solutions and Answers (on 2 . . . 'iVhS+ 3. W c4 'iVgS + there fol lows 4. W b4). 305. l . bS 'iV d l (other moves are followed by a queen trade or mate, for example l . . .'iV fl + 2. W g4+ W h l 3 . 'iVe4+ W g l 4 . 'iYe3+; or l . . .'iVd2+ 2 . W f3 + W h l 3 . 'iVe4! 'iVgS 4. 'it>f2+ W h2 5 . 'iVh7+; and if l . . .'iVb3, then 2. 'iYe2+) 2 . b6 W h l (!) 3 . 'iVe4+ W h2 4. b7 with a winning position, for instance: A) 4 . . . 'iYc l + 5. W fS! (so as to answer 5 . . . 'iVfl + or 5 . . . 'iVcS+ by interposing the queen with check) or B) 4 . . . 'iVfl + 5. WgS 'iYg l + (if S ... 'iVbS + , then 6. W h4) 6. W fS!. 306. I. 'iVe4+ W hS 2 . 'iVh7+ �h6 (2 . . . W g4 3. 'iVh3+) 3 . 'iVfS! cS 4. e6 c4 5. e7! 'iY c6+ 6. 'iV f3 + . 307. After l . W c4? � c3! i t i s White who loses. 308. To h2. l . . .W h l is a mistake be cause of 2 . :i::t. b S! and 3. :i::t. b l . 309. l . :i::t. e l ! , draw. 310. l . :i::t. a S W bS (or l . . . a2 2. Wb2 'it>bS 3. l:bS+ � b6 4. l:aS �d4+ 5. 'it> xb3) 2. l:bS+ 'it> c4 3 . l:aS! WbS (3 . . . � c3+ 4 . W b l a2+ 5. :i::t. xa2) 4 . :i::t. b S+ �b6 s. :i::t. a s. 3 1 1 . l . . . a2+ 2. Wb2 a l � + ! 3. Wxa l W c2! 4 . l:::t c S+ � c 3 + 5 . :i::t. xc3+ Wxc3 6. 'it> b l b2. 312. With Black to move he loses, since on any king move , White plays 2. W d2! and 3 . :i::t. a 4. With White to move, there is no win, for instance 1 . :i::t. a4 t'iJ c l + , or l . :i::t. c S t'iJ b4+ . If l . :i::t. d4+, then l . . .WcS. 523

The Russian Endgame Handbook -- Ilya Rabinovich -- Revised ed , 2012 -- Mongoose Press -- 9781936277391 -- aaa45717a8033f5f98251d52ea1d2ee9 -- Anna’s Archive

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The Russian Endgame Handbook -- Ilya Rabinovich -- Revised ed , 2012 -- Mongoose Press -- 9781936277391 -- aaa45717a8033f5f98251d52ea1d2ee9 -- Anna’s Archive

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