Practical rook endings [2nd ed.] 9783283004019, 3283004013

Table of contents :
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P£29ress iirCfiess

Volume

2 of the ongoing

Editorial board GM V ictor Korchnoi GM Helmut Pfleger GM Nigel Short GM Rudolf Teschner

2002

EDITION OLMS

m

series

Victor Korchnoi

Practical Rook Endings Edited by Ken Neat

2002 EDITION OLMS

m

Other titles from V ictor Korchnoi published by Edition Olms: •

V. Korchnoi, My Best Games. Volume 1 : Games with White

ISBN 3-283-00404-8

•

V. Korchnoi, My Best Games. Volume 2: Games with Black

ISBN 3-283-00405-6

In preparation: •

V. Korchnoi, Chess is My Life

ISBN 3-283-00406-4

Die Deutsche Bibliothek - CIP Einheitsaufnahme

Korcnoj, Viktor L.: Practical rook endings I V iktor Korchnoi. Ed. by Ken Neat.2nd edition Hombrechtikon/Zurich: Ed. Olms. 2002 ISBN 3-283-00401-3 (Progress in chess; Vol.2) Dt. Ausg. u.d.T.: Korcnoj, V iktor L.: Praxis des Turmendspiels, ISBN 3-283-00287-8

First edition 1999 Second edition 2002 Copyright© 1999 Edition Olms AG Breitlenstr. 11 . CH-8634 Hombrechtikon/Zurich, Switzerland All rights reserved. This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Printed in Germany Editor: Ken Neat Typeset: Arno Nickel· Edition Marco, D-10585 Berlin Printed by: Druckerei Friedr. Schmucker GmbH, D-49624 Loningen Cover: Prof. Paul Konig, D-31137 Hildesheim ISBN 3-283-00401-3

Contents Preface

7

An ABC of Rook Endings

9

Model examples by Philidor, Euwe, Lucena, Karstedt, Cheron, Grigoriev, Levenfish, Kling and Horwitz, Lasker, Capablanca, Alekhine, Smyslov, Van Wijgerden and Korchnoi.

Practical Rook Endings

19

Chapter 1: All the pawns on one wing

19

Korchnoi - Antoshin

19

Korchnoi - Tal

25

Korchnoi - Miles

27

Chapter 2: Two pawns against one on opposite wings

29

Korchnoi - Borisenko

29

Nikolic- Korchnoi

33

Chapter 3: An outside passed pawn

37

Korchnoi - Van der Wiel

37

Platonov - Korchnoi

38

Polugayevsky - Korchnoi

41

Chapter 4: An outside passed pawn in the battle

'5

against 4'

44

Simagin - Korchnoi

44

Ribli - Korchnoi

52

Chapter 5: At the highest level

60

Korchnoi - Karpov

60

Korchnoi - Csom

81

Karpov - Korchnoi

85

Chapter 6: From recent praxis

92

Adams - Korchnoi

92

5

Victor Korchnoi during the Credit Suisse Masters in Horgen 1994: an idol of several generations of chess players, even at the age of 68 he still demonstrates an enviable passion for chess.

Preface It is said that I play the endgame very

iron logic, discard the chance elements

well, and that it is due to my outstanding

in complicated situations and work out

technique that I have managed to win so

rigid rules. As for me, I am a practical

many tournaments and matches. This

player, and what attracts me in chess are

was the reason why I was asked to write

not the rules, but exceptions to them,

a book on the endgame, or more pre­

which, fortunately, occur very often.

cisely, on rook endings.

Incidentally, even today, despite the enor­

Endgame technique is obviously impor­

mous development of science and tech­

tant for every chess player. There are

nology in general, and of chess informa­

not many books on this phase of the

tion in particular, a chess player's talent

game, and it is doubtful whether they are

is measured not by his knowledge of the

able to give the reader the necessary

rules, but his ability to find exceptions to

feeling for the endgame. This feeling

them!

comes firstly from experience, when a

Therefore I decided not to write a new

player finds himself in a variety of

textbook on rook endings, but rather to

situations, which are puzzling, in spite

share my experiences with other play­

of their apparent simplicity, and where

ers. During the more than forty years

he has to make a painstaking analysis.

that I have been playing against strong

And rook endings are well known for

opponents I have had many interesting

their deceptive simplicity.

endings, which are instructive for every

There are several books on rook end­

player, whatever his standard, whether

ings, the best known being those by

he is a beginner or a grandmaster. But

Cheron, Fine, Levenfish and Smyslov,

even with the help of my comments,

Euwe and Van Wijgerden, and Keres.

only the reader who has learned prop­

When I began writing this book, I sur­

erly the basics of rook endings will be

rounded myself with these manuals.

able to understand most of the given

I believe that it is only born pedagogues

positions. Therefore I have begun with

and scientists who are able to write

an introductory chapter, where I demon­

good books on chess. The pedagogues

strate some typical positions- textbook

ponder over what material the beginner

examples, which everyone must kno\\.

requires, while the scientists, with their

and remember.

7

In this book I have restricted myself to

The main purpose of my book is to try

endings with one pair of rooks on the

and inspire the reader with a deep inter­

board. If a position transforms into a

est in rook endings, and thus to stimulate

pawn ending, a queen ending, or an

his own work in this field. It can even

ending with queen against rook, I don't

happen that renowned grandmasters, if

continue with a deep analysis. Inquisi­

they have not paid much attention to

tive minds can find these types of end­

studying the endgame, can become hope­

ings in informative books such as Reuben

lessly disoriented in a rook ending.

Fine's Basic Chess Endings. While

Towards the end of this book I give an

working on this book I came to under­

example from grandmaster practice at

stand why there are so few books on the

the highest level - from the Korchnoi­

endgame, compared with the opening.

Karpov World Championship Match of

This is certainly not because of lack of

1978

demand - the endgame is of interest to

-

one of the most complicated

endings that I have ever seen. Its eye- .

every player!

witnesses - strong grandmasters, were

It turns out that it is much more time­

unable to understand what was happen­

consuming to compile a book on the

ing on the board. To analyse this posi­

endgame. In an openings book, an au­

tion thoroughly turned out to be beyond

thor can come to the end of a variation

the capabilities of any grandmaster. Al­

and conclude: 'White stands better', or

though this can hardly be called a 'train­

'with equal chances', or 'with a double­

ing' example, I have considered it my

edged position', or even 'with an un­

duty to investigate this ending and to

clear position' - and everyone is satis­

present my analysis to the chess world. I

fied! But here, in an endgame book, the

do not recommend that anyone, who

author has to prove why and how it is a

does not have at least the master title,

'draw' or 'White wins'. And what often

should try to understand this game in

happens is that it is more difficult to

full. However, by studying the play in

prove it on a piece of paper, than to win

individual diagrams, the reader will be

it at the board!

able to learn some useful methods ... Victor Korchnoi

8

An ABC of Rook Endings 2

I

8 7 6 5 4 3

3

2

2

a

g

h

Philidor's position

Black to move - draw

Draw

The only move to draw is 1. Mel!, ..

The black rook is on the 6th rank. It

when White achieves nothing by 2 na8+

stays there as long as the white pawn advances, the rook moves down to the

rJi?t7. A more dangerous try is 2 rJi?e6 �f8! 3 Ma8+ �g7 4 Me8 (4 �d6 rJi?t7) 4 nat!, when Black is saved by

first rank, when the white king will have

horizontal checks on the a-file. White is

no shield against vertical checks by the

unable to strengthen his position in any

rook.

way.

A draw is unavoidable: perpetual check

I should like once again to draw the

or loss of the pawn!

attention of the reader to the move

remains at e5. But as soon as the pawn

•.•

2

. . .

rJi?f8! Analysts have shown that a

draw can also be achieved by 2 . �d8. .

.

But in principle the defender's rook needs space for manoeuvring, and that is why, as a rule, the king should move to the shorter side of the passed pawn, leaving the longer side free for the rook.

9

-------1181-

�

The following example demonstrates

...

li .,,_

very well the importance of the longer

5... gal 6 �e8+ �f6 7 e7 l:ia8+ 8 �d7 �ti 9 ld b7 Ile8

side for the rook in this type of ending.

Draw.

3

4

8

8

7

7

7

6

6

6

5

5

5

4

4

4

3

3

3

2

2

8

8

a

b

c

Position by Euwe

Lucena position

Black to move - draw

White wins

1... bi a7+

1 � el+ �d7

An obvious move, as

The best move. If 1 ... �f6 White wins

blg1+ was a

strong threat.

simply by 2 �f8. After 1...�d6 there

2 Md7

follows 2 �f8

4 .Me7, and Black is unable to prevent

2 �d6 �f8 would lead to an immediate

the winning manoeuvre d6

.Mb6+ 6 �d7

bi b7+ 7 �c6 bi e7

or

ldf2+ 3 �e8 .Mg2

king out immediately would not work

because of rook checks on the f-, g- and h-files. Now the white rook will defend

8 �d6, Black is unable to save the

its king against the checks.

game.

2... bi hl 3 �ti blfl+ 4 �g6 ldgl+ 5 �f6 ldg2 (or 5... �d6 6 lld4+ �c5 7 .M d8 and wins) 6 bi e5 followed by

3... �g6! 4 ll d7 �g7 5 bi c7 White tries something else.

10

� g5, and the pawn promotes.

6

5

8 7

7 8

8

7

7

5

5

6

6

4

4

5

5

3

3

4

4

2

2

3

3

2

2

6

a

b

c

g

White to play wins Black to play draws Max Karstedt

In order to win, White must support the

(from Deutsches Wochenschach 1909)

pawn with his king. Therefore if it is him

White wins

to move he plays 1 .Mb8! l:I a1 2 Jl b6. Then he marches his king to b7, winning

1 Jdc2 �e7 2 Jdc8 �d6!

easily.

This move causes White more problems

If it is Black to move, he can prevent the

than 2... �d7.

march of the white king. However, not

3 .llb8 .tlh1 4 �b7 llb1+ 5 �c8! �c1+ 6 �d8 Ilh1 7 �b6+ �c5 8 Mc6+!

by 1. . nal ?' as after 2 �c5 the king

previous diagram. Correct, on the con­

Only this move wins. After 8

ll a6

trary, is l... lle6! 2 �c5 llf6. Now if

llh8+ 9 �e7 .t1h7+ 10 �e8 Jdh8+

3 a7 there follows 3 . . . � a6 with a draw,

11 �f7 ll a8 12 �e7 �b5 13 lla1

while after 3 �b5 Black gives horizon­

�b6 14 �d6 l:txa7 15 llb1+ �a5!

tal checks to drive the king away from

.

reaches a7, and White wins as in the

the pawn, and then returns with his rook

the game would be drawn.

to the 6th rank - draw!

8... �d5 Or 8 ... �b5 9 bic8.

9 l:I a6 1:1 h8+ 10 �c7 l:I h7+ 11 �b6 and White wins.

11

Ul

shown by Euwe, 5 .. . .Ma8 is good, when

7

White is unable to strengthen his posi­ tion. 8

5... £c8+ 6 Wb3 .Mc6! 7 lla8 �d6 or 7 � a7 n c1, and the black king reaches

7 6

the file of the enemy pawn.

5

White is also unable to overcome the

4

opponent's defences with 1 n d2: after

3

l... We5 2 lld7 �e6 3 llc7 �d6 4 llc5 c;!td7 5 Wa4 .Ma8+ 6 .MaS llb8 7 .Ma7+ �c6 8 �a5 llb5+ 9 �a4 .t;I b8 the result is a draw.

2

Cheron (1923)

8

Draw The defender's king is cut off from the passed pawn. However, thanks to the favourable position of his rook, Black can prevent the advance of the pawn and with accurate play can save the game.

1 bi d4 White achieves nothing with 1 �a4. Black gives frontal checks, forcing the

8

8

7

7

6

6

5

5

4

4

3

3

2

2

king, which cannot abandon the pawn, a

to return to b3.

1... c;!te5 2 �c3 ll c8+ 3 llc4 llb8 4 llc6 �d5 5 lla6

b

c

d

e

g

h

Grigoriev (1937) White wins

If 5 llc5+ there follows 5... �d6

Compared with Diagram 7, here White's

6 Wc4 .tlh8 or 6. . . .Ma8 7 Wb5 llb8+

king has

8 �a4 .lda8+ 9 Ma5 �b8 10 �a7

more

space for manoeuvring,

and this allows him to strengthen his

Wc6, in each case with a draw. Note that 6...�d7? would be a mistake: 7 b5

position decisively.

� c8 8 b6! and White wins. And if 5 � h6 (instead of 5 n a6), then, as

1 c;!tb4 llb8+ 2 c;!ta5 1dc8 3 c;!tb5 1db8+ 4 �a6! (this is the point) 4... 1dc8

12

10

5 bi c1 We7 6 Wb7 bi c5 7 �b6 bi bS Or 7... bic8 8 c5 ldb8+ 9 ct?c7 and White wins.

8 c5 �d8 9 bi d1+ Wc8 10 ld g1 ldh8 11 c6 �b8 12 llg7 ldf8 13 ldb7+ Wc8 14 bi a7 and White wins. 9

Kling and Horwitz (1851) Here the stronger side's king is not cut off, but nevertheless White is unable to win, for instance:

1 bi d4 l::I b6 2 l::I d8 l::I b4+ 3 We5 ld b7! Threatening now to take the g5 pawn.

Position by Levenfish

4 ldg8+ Wh7

Two connected passed pawns usually

s

ldd8

Going into the pawn ending by 5 ldg7+

ensure a win, but if the defender's king

is obviously pointless.

is able to blockade the pawns, the win

Wg6 6 �f4 1d b4+ 7 We3 ldb7 8 1d d5 l::I b6 and White has made no

s

becomes difficult or even altogether im­ possible. In any case the stronger side's

...

progress.

king must support the pawns. If it is cut off, as in the above position, a win is out of the question.

13

men are on the second rank, which

11

allows him to force a win.

9 .thh3+ �b2 10 �xh2 � xh2 11 c8'i'

8

with a win in the ending with queen

7

against rook, which we cannot go into in

6

6

5

5

4

4

3

3

2

2

detail here (see the preface). 12

Study by Emanuel Lasker (from Deutsches Wochenschach 1890) White wins White's advantage here stems from the proximity of his king to his pawn. In contrast, the black king is a long way from its pawn. Even so, at first sight the

Capablanca - Tartakower

position looks to be a dead draw, but in

New York 1924

fact White has an elegant way to win:

1 �b7 l:b2+ 2 �a7 l;Ic2 3 � h5+ �a4

The activity of the rook is one of the

The black king has to retreat along the a­

But to achieve the coordinated action of

file. 3 ... �b4? loses immediately to

all the attacking pieces - king, rook and

4 �b7 (when the black rook has no

passed pawn - it is sometimes worth

check).

sacrificing several pawns. This is ex­

4 �b7 � b2+ 5 �a6 llc2 6 .a:.b4+ �a3 7 �b6!

actly what happens in this famous game

Now 8 .tt xh2 is threatened. Again Black

35 �g3! Mxc3+ 36 �h4 .a,n

can delay matters only by checking.

As Reuben Fine pointed out, 36... �cl

7 J:l b2+ 8 �a5! l::r c2

was more stubborn, although even then

The conclusion is pretty: White is aim­

after 37 �h5 White wins, e.g. 37 .. .c5

ing for a position where the three black

38 �d7 cxd4 (if 38 ... c4, then �g6-f6

most decisive factors in rook endings.

of Capablanca.

..

14

.I:Idl 40 �g6 d3

If we have an outside passed pawn, it is

41 �f6 �e8 42 g6 d2 43 g7 and so on.

best to place the rook behind it. One of

Even stronger was 36 . .. a6!?, with the

the opponent's pieces has to block the

idea of ... b6-b5, as suggested recently

passed pawn, so that it is unable to take

by Russian researchers, which calls into

part in the play on other parts of the

question White's win. However, it does

board. If the pawn can be advanced, this

not cast a shadow on Capablanca's

at the same time enlarges the rook's

splendid play, and does not diminish the

sphere of activity.

importance of this example for future

Diagram 13 shows the position after 54

wins) 39

lixd5

generations of learners.

ld f4-a4. White won the game on move

37 g6! I:txf4+ 38 �g5 ld e4

82. As a rule, placing the rook behind

Relatively best- the rook has to return

the outside passed pawn in such situa­

to the back rank.

tions ensures the win for the stronger

39 �f6 �g8 40 ld g7+ �h8 41 ld xc7 lde8 42 �xf5 Me4 43 �f6 � f4+ 44 �e5 Mg4 45 g7+ �g8 46 ld xa7 ld gl 47 �xd5

side. 14

and the passed d-pawn decided the out­ come. 13

8

8

7

7 6

3

Mecking - Korchnoi

2

Candidates Match, Game 8 a

d

e

g

Augusta 1974

h

If the positions of the rooks are re­ Alekhine - Capablanca

versed, so that the defender's rook is

World Championship Match, Game 34

behind the passed pawn, it is most

Buenos Aires 1927

probable that the stronger side will only

15

--------·

�

II.IIRIIIMJ 'II!i Uf lllilll l liifil il'ili.'GtslMt!ll!lil . ·��" · ��101i)"oillil!iJ!IIBWtl"'ll .tt ll!lll-lllil

be able to draw. An example is Diagram

a position is to replace the rook. which

14 after White's 35th move. The white

is blockading the pawn, by the king.

rook goes to a6 as soon as possible,

Here, however, this does not succeed, as

when its activity balances the chances.

after 58 ... �d6 59 �d4 ctle7 White

The game ended in a draw on move 55.

does not play 60 �xd5? .Jdc8!, but rather the stronger 60

15

g e 1+ � f6

61 l:r e5!, when sooner or later he wins both pawns (and with them the game). And if 58 ...d4 59 f6 Wd5 60 f7 �e5

8

61 b4 �d5 the following pretty ma­

7

noeuvre is decisive: 62 tt f4! �e5

6

63 1::t e4+ �f5 64 bt e1! Now 64 ... �f6

5

loses to 65 �xd4 g d8+ 66 �c5, while

4

after 64... llxf7 65 1d f1 + White ex­

3

changes rooks and wins the pawn end­

2

Ing.

59 ldf4 b4 After 59... d4 White wins by 60 �e4 (the black rook cannot check on the e­ Lasker - Rubinstein

file), and if 59...Wd6 there follows 60

St Petersburg 1914

�d4 (as two moves later in the game), with similar consequences.

The power of a rook supporting a passed

60 b3 1d f7 61 f6 �d6 62 �d4 �e6 63 btt2 �d6 64 lda2! gc7 65 !ia6+ �d7 66 � b6

pawn from behind is demonstrated by this classic example. Material is equal and very meagre - only two pawns for

If 66 . . . l:i c3 there now follows 67 lixb4

each side - but the difference in the

�f3 68 �e5 llfl 69 llf4 gxf4

activity of the rooks, and hence the

70 �xf4 �e6 71 f7 Wx;fl 72 We5 and

potential mobility of the passed pawns,

the pawn ending is easily won (variation

is so great that Black is unable to save

by Reuben Fine). Therefore Black re­

the game! The reader should also be

signed.

reminded that this game was played by the two greatest endgame experts of the early 20th Century!

see next Diagram

58... � f6 Normally the best chance of saving such

16

16

3 � g7+ �f8 This is more stubborn than 3... �h8, which loses after 4 � e7 1dxh6+ 5 c;!tf7

8

.Ma6 6 f6 �h7 7 �f8+ Wg6 8 f7 �f6

7

9 c;!tg8!

6

4 ®g6! � gl+ 5 �h7 llfl 6 Jda7! Mgl

5 4

6

3

...

� xf5 7 \t>g6 llf1 8 _g a8+ and wins.

7 f6 .Ug2 8 � g7 llf2 9 c;!tg6 followed

2

by h6-h7. After analysing a similar ending, Mikhail Botvinnik recommended the following method of defence: 'If White has ad­

Theory states that two disconnected f­

vanced his pawns to f5 and h5, then the

and h-pawns do not ensure a win so '

black king should be kept on f7. If then

such an ending has a drawish character.

the threat is to confine the king to the

But practical players know that excep­

back rank, it can go to g7, to guarantee

tions here certainly outnumber 'normal'

its retreat to h6. Black's rook is best

positions, especially if Black's king is

stationed on a1 . ..' (quoted from Leven­

driven back onto the 8th rank, when he

fish and Smyslov).

almost always loses. This is the case

The next example, borrowed from the

here. Even the fact that it is Black to move does not save him. I am citing the

book Het Einspel by Euwe and Van

diagram and its solution (in abbreviated

Wijgerden, will more or less demon­

form) from the book Rook Endings by

strate the application of Botvinnik's ad­

Levenfish and Smyslov.

vice in practice.

l..Jlgl+ 2 �f6 .Uhl If 2. . � fl , then 3 llg7+ �h8 4 kie7! .

®g8 5 .Me8+ ®h7 6 �e6 lla1 7 f6 lda6+ 8 ®f5 ga5+ 9 .lde5, winning.

see next Diagram

Or 2... .Ma1 3 .Me7 lda2 4 ®e5 lde2+ 5 �d6 .U d2+ 6 �e6 .Me2+ 7 �d7 ldd2+ 8

�e8

� f2 9 ble5 �h7

10 �f7! �xh6 11 �e6+! �h7 12 f6 .Ma2 13 �f8, winning.

17

8 Wd6 g a2 9 �e7 Ma8, draw.

17

4... Ma2 5 �fl �xh6 6 f6 1d a7+ and so on, with a draw.

8

III. 1 Mg3 Jdb l 2 �h4+

7

After 2 Wf4+ �h6 3 f6 Mb4+ White

6

has no protection against the horizontal

5

checks.

4

2... �h6 3 Ilg6+ �h7 4 �g5

3

Another try is 4 f6. After 4 ... ldb6! (the

2

most exact) 5 f7 l;I b4+ 6 �g5 M. b5+

1

7 �f6 ldb6+ 8 �e5 Mb5+ 9 �d6 Mb8 1 0 ll e6 (or 10 � f6) 10... �g7 White does not achieve anything .. .

Euwe indicates three winning attempts.

4... Mg l + 5 �f6 Ma l 6 Mg7+ \t>h6

I. 1 f6+ Wfl 2 h6 biaS+

7 1de7 lda6+ 8 lde6

2 ... � hl? This losing move was made

Or 8 �fl �g5, winning the f-pawn.

by the young Smyslov, but Bondarevs­ ky, another seemingly strong endgame

8 ... Ma7 9 �e5+ �xh5 with a draw.

player, failed to punish him as follows:

This 'ABC of Rook Endings' could be

3 ldg3 1d h2 4 Mg l Mh3 5 .lda l ! 1dg3+

extended much further, but I have no

6 �h4 Mg2 7 h7 Mh2+ 8 �g5 Mg2+

real desire to rewrite textbook exam­

9 �f4 ldh2 10 1d a8 1d xh7 11 Ila7+,

ples. If these seventeen positions given

winning the resulting pawn ending.

by me do not satisfy the curiosity of the

3 �h4 Ma l 4 �h5 lda5+ 5 Jdg5 lda l .

reader, he can find many in any chess manual and even more in the books

White is not able to improve his posi­

mentioned by me in the preface.

tion.

Let us now tum now to some practical

II. 1 h6+ �h7

examples from my games. Not all are

1...� f7?? 2 Mh4 and White wins.

easy to explain, and even less easy to

2 ll e4 ldg1+ 3 �f6 ll a1! 4 1d e8

understand. However. anyone who thor­

Euwe oints out that after 4 lde6 Black

oughly masters the given material will, I

must play 4 . . . n f l with the continuation

promise, raise his Elo rating by a hun­

5 �e5 ldf2 6 f6 �g6 7 h7 �xh7

dred points, or perhaps even more!

p

18

Practical Rook Endings Chapter All

1

the pawns on one wing king, when he is left with two weak,

18

isolated pawns, or with his f-pawn, allowing White a passed pawn on the e­ file, or even a pair of passed pawns (e­ and f-). Or else Black plays ... f7-f6, weakening a whole complex of light squares in his position, at the same time making it easier for White to create a passed pawn on the e-file. Here are two positions which, according to the books, are won for White: 19 Korchnoi - Antoshin USSR Championship Semi-Final Yerevan 1954 The rook ending with four pawns against three on one wing is normally a draw. Theory and practice have shown very clearly that, if Black places his pawns at h5 and g6, White is unable to win. But if (with the black pawn at h6) White succeeds in advancing his pawn to h5, then Black has problems. Sooner or later he is forced to play ...g7-g6; after

Capablanca- Yates

h5xg6 he must recapture either with his

Hastings 1930/31

19

comments. I will try to improve on these

20

annotations.

40 ... l::ta5

8

It is desirable for Black to force g3-g4,

7

as otherwise, after due preparation, .Md2

6

for example, White could bring his king

5

via h3 to g4, while still not fixing the placing of his g- and f-pawns.

3

41 g4 2

2

If 41 l::tc8+ �h7 is inserted, Black can answer 42 g4 with 42 ... g5 43 hxg6+

a

b

c

d

e

�xg6, threatening ... h6--h5, and if 44 f4 f6! with a drawish position (45 l::tc7

Botvinnik - Najdorf

l::ta3 46 f5+ �g5 47 1dg7+ Wf4 48

Moscow 1956

l::tg6 �xe4 49 �xf6 �f4 50 l::tg6 h5

Meanwhile, it has been shown that, if in

51 f6 hxg4 52 f7 l::tg3+ with a draw).

Diagram 18 Black moves his pawn to f6

41... ld a7

in good time, before e4-e5 is played, he

This move and Black's next allow White

can hold the draw. As for Diagram 19, it

to advance his pawns. The simplest is

is extremely difficult to achieve, with­

4 1...f6!, when Black's defence, as I see

out, as they say, the 'co-operation of the

it, is not difficult. The black king should

opponent' (see the commentary to

be at f7, and in the event of a check it

Black's 41st move).

retreats to g8. The black rook should

But let us see what happened in the

stand on the 3rd or 5th rank, and will

Korchnoi-Antoshin game.

eventually attack the unprotected white

40 h5

pawns. For example, 42 l::t c8+ Wf7

The obvious move. Here it is - the

43 1dc7+ �g8 44 �f3 (44 f4 will certainly be answered by 44 ... 1da3) 44... l::ta3+ 45 Wf4 .lda2 46 �f5 �h7!

afore-mentioned position, in which Black, according to theory, has great

47 f1 :1 !2, Whit� b�� r��9b�4 � 4��4

dttti�ulti��.

end. Draw.

In this game Black defends in an original way, abstaining from any attempt to free

42 l::t c6

himself by either ...g7-g6 or ... f7-f6.

White is at the cross-roads as regards

The game found its way into some

his choice of plan. 42

endgame books, mostly with mediocre

43 e5!? was tempting.

20

.Jdc8+ �h7

Now 43 . . . f6 loses to 44 e6 "£. e7 45 � c6, and 43 . . . g5 also does not work: 44 hxg6+ �xg6 45 f4, when White reaches Capablanca's position, in an even more favourable form ! Or 44 . . . fxg6 45 f4 l:r a3 46 e6 I:!: e3 47 f5 gxf5

5 1 f5 � xeS 52 1d xh6 and B lack is unable to save his g-pawn. Or 50 . . . :gh l 5 1 �e4 l:r g 1 (5 1 . . . �g8 52 l:r d7 lde 1 + 53 � d5 l:r fl 54 e 6 ldxf4 5 5 l:rd8+)

48 gxf5 �g7 49 �f2 ge5 50 gc7+ � g8 5 1 l:rf7 h5 52 �g3 l:re4 5 3 �f3 l:r e l 5 4 l:r d7 h4 55 � g4 ld e4+ 56 �g5 h3 57 g d2 l:r e3 5 8 � f6 and so on.

49 g e7+) Black can also play 49 ... � g8 which involves a trap: after 50 f5 �f8 5 1 f6? g5 ! the position is a draw !

52 e6 ldxg4 53 �e5 l:r g 1 54 � f6 and wins. However, in this variation (after �

21

43 . . � a2 is also unsatisfactory: 44 � g3 :ge2 45 lde8 f6? ! 46 e6 g5 47 hxg6+ �xg6 48 f4 f5 (the only way to stop f4f5+). It now seems that the e6 pawn is lost, after which a draw is imminent, but: 49 gxf5+ �xf5 50 l:f. f8+! Black cannot take on e6 because of 5 1 l:re8+, and after 5 1 . . . � g6 5 1 f5+ the win for White is a matter of simple technique. .

8 7 6 5 4 3 2

1:. a4 44 � g3 J:r e4 is more accu­ rate. Here after 45 .Jl e8 the move 45 . . . f6?

43

...

is weak: 46 e6 g5 47 hxg6+ �xg6 48 f3 l:r e l (48 . . . .Jla4 49 .Jlg8+ W h7 50 e7) 49 Wf2 J:r e5 so f4 1d e4 5 1 Wf3 .U e 1 5 2 f5+ and White wins easily. On the other hand, if Black sticks to waiting

This position is a draw, with either White or Black to move ( . . . �g8). White wins, however, if he p lays 5 1 1d e6 ! (rather than 5 1 f6) . Also suffi­ cient is 50 e6 (instead of 50 f5) 50 . . . �f8 5 1 l:r t7+ �g8 52 f5 h5 53 ldf6 ! hxg4+ 54 � f2 and so on.

tactics, he loses quickly, e.g. 45 . . . l:r a4 46 :gf8 n a7 47 f4, after which the white king goes to d6 or f5 , with the idea of g4-g5-g6.

On the 46th move it is more stubborn to recapture with the king: 46 . . . �xg6.

Therefore B lack has to move his g­ pawn: 45 . . . g5. After 46 hxg6+ fxg6? White wins relatively easily: 4 7 f4 � g7 48 �f3 .M e l (or 48 . . . n a4 49 f5 with an easy win) 49 n e7+ � f8 50 .Jlh7 g5

see next

21

Diagram

22

8

8

7

7

6

6

5

5

4

4

3

3

2

2

Now let us examine the beginning of the afore-mentioned ending. Capablanca's first three moves were strongly criti­ cised, first by Euwe, and then by Aver­ bakh. After 6 1 1l b6? ( 6 1 1l d6 was correct) B lack, using horizontal checks - 61 . . . 1l a2+ 62 � f3 � a3+ and so on, could have put in question the win for White. Instead of 62 1l b4? ! White should have played 62 � b 1 , thus preventing Black from moving his rook to its most active post.

1

a

b

c

d

e

f

g

h

In order to achieve progress in this position, White must first secure himself against the liberating thrust . . . h6-h5 . Let us go back to Diagram 1 9. It was not by chance that the great endgame master temporarily placed his rook on the 6th rank. However, it turned out that, due to the complexity of White's task, even Capablanca's treatment of the position was not free of lapses.

As for 63 �£2? (??), the writers have not spared question marks for this move, 22a a

Let us first see how the Capablanca­ Yates game ended: 6 1 1l b6 ll e3 62 � b4 ll c3 63 � £2 � a3 64 � b7 �g8 65 l:Ib8+ �g7 66 f5+- � a2+ 67 �e3 � a3+ 68 � e4 � a4+ 69 �d5 � a5+ 70 � d6 ll a6+ 7 1 � c7 �h7 72 �d7 � a7+ 73 � d6 �g7 74 1l d8 � a5 7 5

b

c

d

e

8

8

7

7

6

6

5

5

4

4

3

3

2

2

f6+ cjth7 76 llfB Ya7 77 Wc6 Wg6 78

which allows Black to play ... h6-hJ:

� g8+ �h7 79 � g7+ �h8 80 �b6 ll d7 8 1 �c5 .t1c7+ 82 � d6 .t1a7 8 3 e 6 1l a6+ 8 4 c6 53 n c4+ c;t>d5 54 n c2 n xc2 5 5 c;t>xc2 c;t>e5 56 � c3 h5 5 7 Wb4 h4 and B lack wins) 5 2 . . . �e6 5 3 .M b4 1d xg2 54 n xb6+ �e5 5 5 g4 r! g3, or 5 5 f4+ W f5 and wins.

won. Now he is again obliged to ' dem­ onstrate his technique ' . . . 54 . . . c;t>e5 55 � b5 � g6

By 5 5 . . . � f4+ 5 6 �xb6 � xg4 5 7 �c6 r!e5 could Black have won? No ! After 5 8 .ld d4+ c;t>g3 59 .M d5 the pawn end­ ing is a draw !

However, after 49 . . . c;t>d7 White could have continued 50 .M al with the threat of .M a7+, which in fact diverts the black rook from its central position. After 50 . . . I1 a5 5 1 .tl d l + \!? e6 52 g4 White still has good possibilities of resisting.

56 Ilf2 �e4

37

50 ... h5!

8

8

Now the situation becomes critical for White. The threat of . . . : g5 is extremely unpleasant.

7

7

6

6

5

5

4

4

3

3

2

2

5 1 \!?b4

After 5 1 It c4 B lack would have contin­ ued 5 1 . . . .ld e2 52 g4 h4 53 g5 .ld xg2 54 .M xh4 ll xg5 . Still, I would have preferred 5 1 n c4 to the move in the game.

5 7 g5

5 1 . .. n g5 52 n d2+

Or 5 7 � a6 .ll xg4 5 8 � xb6 ll f4

A little tactical trick, which proves suc­ cessful.

5 9 .M d2 �f5 60 �c5 � g4 6 1 c;t>d5 g5 62 �e5 � g3 and B lack wins by the manoeuvre . . . Ilfl, . . . g5-g4, . . . �h2, . . . g4-g3, . . . � g l and . . . Il£2. The method of defence similar to the pre­ vious comment does not help here : 6 1 .M d4 g5 62 � d5 g3 63 n xf4 � xf4 64 � e6 g4 65 � f6 g3 and wins.

52 . . . c;t>e6?

In chess it is wrong to play routinely (in this case 'closer to the centre ') - there are too many exceptions ! 53 g4 ! hxg4 54 fxg4

Now 54 . . 1:1 xg4+ would be met by 55 c;t>b5 , and the b-pawn is lost. With his king at e7, Black could have de­ fended his b6 pawn with his rook, and .

5 7 ... Ilxg5+ 58 �xb6 � e3?

This move throws away the win. Cor­ rect was 5 8 . . . .M f5 59 ll d2 �f4 60 � c6

40

g5 (but not 60 . . . �g3 6 1 :J:ld5 ! with a draw) 6 1 �d6 c;t>g3 62 �e6 � fl and so on. The winning method in the event

66 �g6 g3 67 �h5, and now it is not Black, but White, who wins the g-pawn! 6 1 . . . g4 also does not work: 62 � e6 l:r f2 63 l:r a4, or 63 .Jd a3+ � f4 64 g3+ and so on.

of the rooks being exchanged is instruc­ tive: 59 .ld xf5 � xf5 60 c;t>c5 c;t>e5 ! 6 1 � c4 � e4 62 �c3 \t>e3 63 \t>c2 g5

6 1 . . Il f4 62 �d5 .

64 dldl dlf2.

White�s position is lost. 62 � a5 does not work in view of 62 . . . M xg4 63 � d6 l:ld4+ 64 � e5 n b4.

59 g a2!

Weaker was 59 :J:l£3+ � e2 60 bta3 �f2, or 60 �c6 .ld xg2 6 1 l:l a3 _g g5 62 � d6 1:l b5 63 \t>e6 g5 64 Wf6 � f2 and so on.

62 ... �f3 63 � e5 � xg4 64 � g2+

Or 64 M a l � £3 65 � e4 ldb3 66 .M h 1 c;t>g3 67 l;I g 1 + �h4 and Black wins.

59... bl: f5

64 ... �h4 65 n gt n n

Now 59 . . . W f4 does not win: 60 � c6 �g3 6 1 � d6 1:1 b5 62 � e6 g5 63 �f6 g4 64 .ti a4! (preventing . . . c;t>h2) 64 . . . �h4 65 n a2 , or 6 1 ... M f5 62 �e6 .M fl 63 M a5 .

White resigned. You see, in rook endings there are so many problems in what at first glance are the most simple positions. Even grandmasters are not always up to them . . .

6 0 � c6

The tempting 60 l:r a4, with the threat of M g4, would have lost to 60 . . . .ld f4 ! 6 1 bta5 M f6+ 62 � c7 �f4 63 � d7 g5 64 cJi;e7 M f5 65 .tla3 ® g4 66 ® e6 .ld f2 67 g3 l:l f3 68 .ld a 1 c;t>xg3. Or 6 1 :Q.a2 :Q.f2 62 .tt.a4 (62 g aS :J:lf6+) 62 . . . .lJ:xg2 63 � c5 � £3 64 Wd5 l:!e2 65 n a3+ � g4.

38

8 7 6 5

60 ... g5

4

Here 60 . . . .ti f2 does not win, because of 6 1 lda4 ldxg2 62 �d5 �£3 63 �e6!

3 2

61 g4?

By 6 1 c;t>d6 ! White could have gained a draw: 6 1 . . . � f2 62 n a4 .ld xg2 63 e8? 45 1d aS+ � d7 46 ld a7+ � c6 47 ll xfl .ld bl 48 ll a7

40 . . . �g6 (if Black tries to win immedi­ ately by 40 . . . ld f1 , he runs into coun­ terplay by White: 4 1 f4 ! g g l 42 n xa3 ld xg3 43 ld a5 W g6 44 ld g5+ Wh6 45 W e5 .ld xe3+ 46 � f6 .Jd f3 47 �xf7 .ld xf4+ 48 W xe6 ld fl 49 � e7 .ld h l 5 0 �f6 - draw).

ld b3 49 f4 gxf4 50 exf4 Wb6 5 1 .Jd a8 ll g3+ 52 Wh2 W c5 53 f5 exf5 54 gxf5 W b4 55 f6 n n 56 n b 8+ � c3 57 ld a8 Draw.

Now we ' only' need to decipher the numerous questions marks. Let us look again at the position after Black's 40th move.

4 1 ld g5+ The most sensible move at the moment. 4 1 f4 could be met by 4 1 . . . gxf3 42 �xf3 f5 ! 43 � f4 W f6 ! 44 \t> f3 a2

53

the black king from his incarceration will be by playing . . . f6-f5 , which will lead to the exchange of a pair of pawns and, perhaps prematurely, to the open­ ing of the position. It seems that White understands all the above no less than his opponent, and yet he moves his rook off the fifth rank, allowing Black to regroup for a decisive manoeuvre by his king to the queenside. This means that White 's 4 1 st move should have cost him the game.

51

8 7 6 5 4 3 2

Perhaps White believes that his position is already lost. He is afraid, first of all, not of the sluggish advance of the black king, but of activity on the kingside by . . . f7-f5 . Why?

Obviously, the only winning plan for Black is to take his king to the queenside. During this it is important to avoid pawn exchanges, and if, during the j ourney of his king, B lack has to lose one or even two pawns, he should try to give them up as late as possible. It is useful to place the black rook on the second rank. In this case, if B lack should lose his f- or e-pawn, it will not be so painful - with the rook in this position White will be unable to create a passed pawn. Should the g-pawn be lost, things will become more complicated. We will shortly be examining all these positions.

It turns out that, apart from the idea of moving the king close to the a-pawn, B lack also has a direct plan: to play . . . a3-a2 and then take his king to d2 ; then to play . . . f7-f5 , with the threat of taking on g4; should that happen he plays . . . h4-h3+, then . . . e6-e5-e4, and finally he takes the white pawns with his king. Or after gxf5 exf5 there follows . . . g5-g4, forcing the exchange of pawns on g4, then he plays . . . h3-h3 and takes the f2 pawn with his king. Very simple !

It is clear that, with the given pawn formation, it is the g-pawn that is the

In fact, this plan does not work. Why

most vulnerable. To protect it with an­ other pawn - when the white rook stands at a5 , is possible only by playing . . . �g6 and then . . . f7-f6. But then the rook goes to a7, and the only way to free

must B lack first take his king to d2? B ecause, with his king at g6, . . . f7-f5 will be met by gxf5 exf5 , f2-f3 followed by e3-e4 with a draw, and in some cases it is possible to meet . . . f7-f5 with f2-f4.

54

play f2-f3 - after the check on a2, with his king cut off on the first rank, he will be completely helpless.

52

It turns out that after 4 1 \t> f3 f6 ! 42 .U a7 (more or less forced, in view of the threat of . . . �fl) the move 42 . . . f5 is very strong 43 gxf5+ exf5 44 � g2 g4 45 .U a4 �g5 and B lack wins, e.g. 46 e4 gxh3+ 4 7 \t> h2 fxe4 48 .U xe4 .U b 1 49 .U a4 .U b3 and then . . . .U f3 , or 46 .U aS �f6 47 .U a6+ W e5 48 .U a5+ � e4 49 .U a4+ \i? d3 50 hxg4 fxg4 5 1 .U xg4 �c3 52 .U a4 Wb3 5 3 .U a8 .tl b l and Black wins, or 5 1 e4 � c3 52 e5 �b3 53 .M a8 .M e l 54 .U b8+ �c2 and so on, or 52 n a8 �d4 5 3 ga4+ � e5 and wins. Or, finally, 46 .M a6 .U a2 ! 4 7 � g 1 g3 48 fxg3 hxg3 49 .U a8 .U e2 50 .U xa3 �h4 and Black wins. -

Here too l . .. f5 does not work properly: 2 gxf5 (2 f4 is also good for White) 2 . . . exf5 3 f3 � d l 4 ll xa2+ � xe3 5 .l:t a3+ c;it f4 (had 5 . . . It d3 been possi­ ble, B lack would have won, but after 6 ll xd3+ c;it xd3 7 f4 ! White has no problems) 6 .U a4+ � e5 7 .l:t a2 - the position is drawn.

It should also be mentioned that 43 �g2 does not help: 43 . . . fxg4 44 hxg4 e5 ! followed by . . . a3-a2, . . . h4-h3+, and the black king comes across to e2. Therefore in the Diagram 5 1 White is more or less in zugzwang. The only move that holds the draw is:

In general, White cannot be in zugzwang here. After 1 . . . �e2 he replies 2 � a4 f5 3 gxf5 exf5 4 e4 f4 5 f3 , and if in the diagram position it is him to move, he plays 1 �h2 f5 2 f4 ! , or even 1 I:r a8 f5 2 gxf5 exf5 3 f3 ! � xe3 4 .U a3+ � e2 5 .U a8 � d2 6 .U a7 f4 7 .U d7+; White chases the black king to c5, returns with his rook to a7, and . . . one has to play very badly in order to lose this position !

41 � h2 ! I f now 4 1 . . . e5, then 42 �g2 ! (but not 42 .U xe5? .U fl and White can resign) and Black does not achieve anything. If 42 . . . e4 White has 43 .U a4 followed by the capture of the pawn, and after 4 1 . . . f5 the strongest reply is 42 f4 ! White threat­ ens to take on f5 and then on g5 , and then to place his rook at a6, when the

However, Black has not yet played . . . a3a2. Perhaps he should try playing . . . f7f5 with the pawn still on a3? After the exchange on f5 White will not be able to

55

Black now threatens to take on g4 and then to play . . . br e l xe3 , when White

black king will never come out of the kingside. If 42 . . . fxg4 43 hxg4 e5, then White gives checks, forcing the black king away from its pawns, and when the king reaches the c-file he plays fxg5, and the king will be unable to stop the passed pawn. Or, after 4 1 . . . br a2 the strongest reply is 42 W g 1 ! , with the same ideas.

will also lose his g4 pawn. White has two ways of defending: (a) 44 gxf5+ �xf5 45 br aS+ � f6 46 fxg5+ �g6 47 e4 e5 48 �g2 �h5 49 �h2 l:I e l 50 br xa2 ld xe4 5 1 br g2 W g6 5 2 �g l - White has more chances of saving the game than Black of win­ ning it.

Things are more complicated if B lack plays 4 l . . . f6, with the threat of bringing out his king to f7 and of moving to the queenside along the 7th and 8th ranks. As in other variations, 42 br a7 is the obligatory reply. Now - 42 . . . f5 , when 43 gxf5+? would be a grave error: apart from recapturing with the pawn, the energetic 43 . . . �xf5 is also possible via the centre the king reaches b3 in the quickest way!

(b) 44 n a6 br e 1 (for 44 . . . fxg4, see below) 45 gxf5+ � xf5 46 n xa2 gxf4 47 exf4 � xf4 48 br g2 ld e4 49 ld g8 and then W g2 with good saving chances. By a transposition of moves - 43 . . . fxg4 44 hxg4 a2 - B lack can eliminate these possibilities for White. Then White 's only chance is 45 ld a6 l:r e l (45 . . . � fl 46 fxg5 ! ) 46 f5+ \ii f6 4 7 � xa2 Il xe3 48 ld a6 and Black cannot strengthen his position, because if his king tries to escape from the pin (and the checks) somewhere in the region of c6, then br g7 draws at once.

53

8

In the game after 4 1 br a6? W g7 42 br a7 Black made the bad move 42 . . . \ii f6? Correct was 42 . . . br a2 !

7 6

6

5

5

4

4

3 2 see next

a

b

c

d

e

f

g

And so : 43 f4 ! a2

56

Diagram

Now, if it were White 's turn to move, � g7+ \ii h 6, l! g8 would lead to a draw, but the crude 5 7 . . nxe4 destroys this illusion. If in this variation White tries 52 ll a7, then 52 . . . M g3 53 \ii d 5 ll xg4 54 W e6 Wd8 5 5 W d6 �c8 56 �c6

54

.

�b8 5 7 :S: b7+ � a8 5 8 M b4 M g l with the same result. 46 . . . f6 47 br a7 � d8 White cannot prevent the manoeuvre of the black king to b8 and from there to b3 . A try such as ll xf6 � b2, bia6 a2 or . . . ll b3 fails hopelessly . . .

43 \ii f3 \ii f8 44 na8+? ! (see next paragraph) 44 . . . We7 45 M a7+ \ii d6 46 ll xf7 M c2 47 M a7 a2 48 e4 e5 49 W e3 Wc5 or 48 \ii e4 � xf2, and Black wins easily.

Let us return to the game. After 42 . . . � f6?, which, as we already know, threw away the win because of 43 na5 ! ' White played 43 ll a8?? ! - two question marks for the real value of the move, and an exclamation mark for its psycho­ logical implication - an invitation to the king to move in one way or another to the queenside, of which, it appeared, White was not afraid! But 43 na8 should have been punished by 43 . . . 'i!? e5 ! 44 M a5+ 'i!? e4 45 :Jd xg5 :Jd c l 46 :Jd a5 l! c3 47 ll a7 � d3 48 .tl xfl �c2 49 ll a7 �b2 50 g5 a2 5 1 g6 a l \fli 52 bl xa l �xa l 5 3 � f3 .M e l 54 �g4 :Jd g l + 5 5 Wh5 �b2 5 6 �h6 �c3 5 7 g7 � d3 58 Wh7 � e2, or 50 � f3 a2 5 1 ll xa2+ �xa2 5 2 g5 (52 � f4 ll c2 5 3 f3 ll h2, or 5 3 � g5 :Jd xf2 54 \ii xh4 :Jd e2 5 5 g5 bi xe3 56 �g4 M e l 5 7 h4 \ii b 3 etc.) 52 . . . �b3 5 3 c;t>g4 br c2 54 f4

44 e4 (best) 44 . . . e5 This move is more or less forced, al­ though it has some shortcomings - the white king can eventually penetrate into Black's position via d5 . But after 44 . . . f6 45 e5 ! fxe5 46 � e4 Il xf2 (46 . . . ll a l 47 �xe5 a2 48 � f6) 47 Il xa3 (47 �xe5? .Jl f3 48 �xe6 ld xh3) 47 . . . Z:. e2+ 48 \ii f3 M e l 49 Il a7 Black encounters serious technical difficulties. 45 � e3 �e8 46 11 a5 The alternatives are no better: 46 f3 I:t a l 47 \ii d3 a2 48 � c3 a: fl 49 11 xa2 M xf3+ 50 � c4 l! xh3 5 1 � d5 Il g3 52 �xe5 ll xg4 and wins, or 5 1 ld a5 f6 52 \ii d 5 � fl 5 3 M a7+ \ii g6 54 �e6 11 g3 55 l! a8 a: xg4 56 l! g8+ \ii h7 57 � fl .

c;t> c4 5 5 c;t>h5 � d3 .

57

5 3 � f3 bt. c2 54 h4 �b4 5 5 h5 �b3 56 h6 ld h2 5 7 .M b8+ �c2 58 .M a8 �b 1 59 n b8+, and since 59 . . n b2? is wrong - then it is White who would win ! - the game is drawn. Or 5 1 . . . 11 g2 52 � h5 �b5 5 3 r;i;h6 �b4 54 h4 Wb3 5 5 � g7 ld f2 56 h5 ld f5 5 7 g6 fxg6 5 8 h6 or, finally, 55 . . . .M g4 56 I;l xa2 � xa2 5 7 � xf7 e5 5 8 g6 ld xh4 5 9 g7 .M g4 60 g8 'iV ld xg8 6 1 �xg8 r;b b3 62 �fl � c4 63 � e6.

In order to investigate the position more thoroughly, let us examine one more branch of it. After the game I found out that Ribli was not afraid of . . . ®e5, but of 43 . . . .M a2, which he was going to answer with 44 l! a5 !

.

55 a

b

c

d

e

h

8

8

7

7

6

6

5

5

4

4

5 1 f4 (or 5 1 �xh4? ld c4+ 52 r;i; h5 l:t a4) 5 1 . . . �b4 52 �xh4 �b3 56

3 2

Indeed, as the following analysis proves, B lack has no win here: 44 . . . e5 45 � f3 � e6 46 �e4 ! :id xf2 47 ld xa3 f6 48 .ld a6+ Wf7 49 .ti a7+ W g6 50 � d5 I;I f3 5 1 � e6 n xh3 52 :g a8 (White threatens ld g8+ and then r;b t7 with a draw) 5 2 . . . �g7 5 3 .M a7+, draw. Or 5 1 . . . Ii xe3 52 I;I f7 ! ld f3 5 3 We7 e4 54 l:t f8 and a draw is unavoidable.

Now 53 �g4 loses to 5 3 . . . .M c 1 , as does 5 3 �h5 in view of the following varia­ tion : 5 3 . . . � c3 ! 54 �h6 .M xe3 5 5 r:J;;; g7

Instead of 44 . . . e5, let us look at another

n f3 ! j o n xa2

idea - the sacrifice of rhe g-pawn:

44 . . . W e7 45 ld xg5 ld c2 46 l! a5 a2

(forced)

j � . . lJi xa2 .

47 g5 � d6 48 � f3 �c6 49 �g4 �b6 50 � a8 �b5

5 7 r:J;;; x fl e5 ! (exploiting the pin, B lack saves his only pawn) 5 8 g6 exf4 and so on.

The obvious move 50 . . . b! xf2 does not win: 5 1 � xh4 �b5 52 �g3 l:t e2

But White saves himself by forcing the black king to leave the square b3 :

58

5 3 n b8+ �c3 54 n a8 �b2 (54 . . . ll h2 5 5 e4 �b2 5 6 f5 ! ) 5 5 n b8+ W c l 56 .ld a8 �b l 5 7 �h5 ! Now the march of the king to g7 will secure the draw. 57 . . . .ld c3 5 8 � h6 � xe3 59 \t;g7 .M £3 60 � xf7 e5 is insufficient because of

(it is possible to postpone this capture, but even this hasty move is good) 5 8 . . . M h8+ 59 �g4 \ii xa2 60 h4 �b3 6 1 h5 �c4 62 g6 fxg6 63 hxg6 � d3 64 f5 , or 63 . 1:1 f8 64 �g5 �d3 65 g7 � g8 66 � f6 �xe3 67 �xe6 .S xg7

6 1 g6 exf4 62 g7 n g3 63 .u b8+ with

68 f5 .

. .

a

draw.

The finish of the game was not compli­ cated: White 's passed pawn gave him equal chances.

Other winning attempts also do not help B lack, for example: 5 7 . . . rl. c8 5 8 Id xa2

59

--------•

�

-� :

nma.,-•••:wa

Chapter 5 At the highest level back: his pawns are so far advanced, that in the event of the invasion by the black rook into his position, his king will have difficulty in finding a shelter against the checks. The conclusion: White 's ad­ vantage is not sufficient to win the game.

57

8 7 6

In my analysis of this position, I deliber­ ately examine all its nooks and crannies, sometimes drawing attention to illogical continuations. The intention is to show the reader, and to give him an impres­ sion, of what are the most complicated methods in a rook ending . . .

5 4 3 2

Korchnoi - Karpov World Championship Match, Game 3 1

47 fS

A difficult decision. White opens an­ other file for the black rook. On the other hand, in the event of 4 7 M a2 he would have to reckon with the activity of the black king, which could come to

Baguio 1 978 As a consequence of White 's space advantage, his king is more active than the opponent ' s, and his a- and c-pawns are imbued with a ' dynamic force ' : if one of them should become a passed pawn, it will be hard to stop. Therefore White ' s plan must be to carry out a breakthrough by d4-d5 and a5-a6, cre­

e6. This is how the play could develop in that case: 47 z:r a2 � e6 48 a6 bxa6 49 M xa6 M c8 0 50 � e4 @ f5+ 5 1 gxf5+ gxf5+ 52 d3 h5 5 3 h4 M c7 � 54 M a8 l:i g7 5 5 .§ d8 .§ g3+ 5 6 � c2 0 � f3

ating a passed pawn, and then to pen­ etrate with his rook onto the 6th or 7th rank. Unfortunately, White has no other plans - he cannot exchange rooks, be­ cause of the protected passed pawn at b5 . White 's position has one more draw-

5 7 l:i d6+ �e7 5 8 : xc6 M xf4 59 �c3 l:i xh4 60 M b6 f4 6 1 : xb5 f3 62 M b l f2 63 .Mfl 4B bih3+ 64 � d2