Rook endings [Algebraic ed.] 9780713458091, 0713458097

Citation preview

THE TOURNAMENT PLAYER'S COLLECTION

Rook Endings Algebraic edition

Grigory Levenfish & Vasily Smyslov Translated by Philip J. Booth

B.T. Batsford Ltd, London

First published in the USSR

English translation CO Algebraic edition 1989

B.T. Batsfm·d Ltd, 1971

ISBN 0 7134 5809 7 A CIP catalogue

record for this book

is available from the British Library

AU rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, by any means, without the prior permission of the publisher. Typeset by Lasertext Ltd Stretford, Manchester ,

Printed amf bound in Great Britain by Dotesios Printers Ud, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire for the publishers, B.T. Batslord Ltd, 4 Fitzhardinge Street, London WI H OAH.

A BATSFORD CHESS BOOK Advisor: R.D. Keene, OBE Technical Editor: Ian Kingston

Contents

Preface

7

9

Introduction

2

The properties of the rook

12

King and rook �'. king and rook

13

Rook and pawn

15

rook

v.

Defending king restrains the pown's adt' f7 a 1 = • 5 :I xa 1 l:lxa 1 6 h5 l:. h l 7 �g6 �d7 8 h6 �e7

9 b7 �f8 3 llxel 4 Wxg6 5 6

7

8 9 10 II

113 116

h7 �h6

¢>b7 l::t.xal

�d5 �e4 .l:tf8

�e3

f3 r:z

��J

Resigns.

Bot,·innik

�c7

5

�d7 �e7

.l:tgl+

�f7

118= �+ �f6 l:tg1 �h7 and Black wins. Bogolyubov

4

Le,·cnJish

The posi ti on in diagram 5 was met in Levenfish-Botvinnik (Len­ i ngrad 1937). White won by giving .

up his f�pawn so as to get his

passed pawn moving more quickly. He accurately calculated that his rook would be able to cope with Black's passed pawn. 1 1: b6 + -=.Pf7

Alekhine

2

J 4

Alckhine again s t Bogolyubov

5

(match 1929) forced the advance

of his pawn. 1 : bl .l:l:dJ + 2 �c6 .z:td8 3 bfi ¢g4! An instructive error. It was essential to prevent the White ki ng from later approaching the: 3 . �e4! 4 b7 rs 5 b8=• I:Xb8 6 l::t.xb8 f4 7 �c5 f3 8 nrs ¢'e3 9 �c4 f2 10 ¢'c3 �e2 11 l:.e8 + . .

�dl,

and draws. 4 5 6

b7 b8= W' Axb8

fS l:txb8 f4

6 7

b4 *cl4 'i>eS

oi>d6

b5

llel + .:n

l:tel + l:te4 l:txf4

Resigns. 1: c6 There might have folJowed: 7 . Ab4 8 b6 g5 (8 . . �f6 9 *c5+) 9 �c7 g4 10 b7 g3 II b8= W llxb8 12 w xbS and B lack loses because his king is cut off from the pawn. 7 l::t.c6 served two purposes: it provided the White king with shelter from checks along the file, and it cut off t he Black king on a rank. In diagram 6 we have an exam­ ple of a rook ending transposing .

.

.

12 Preface The properties of the rook Since the leading role in [he games discussed in the present book is pl ayed by the rook, it would be useful first of all for us to acquaint

into an e ndin g of q u een v. R+ P. Endings of this type: have been

quite often met in tournament pra ctice :n! 1 b7 After l ... :r.f2+ 2 �c3 J:H3+ 3 wc4 :f4+ 4 �c5 :rs+ s �b6 :f6+ 6 �a7 White wins. .

2

1Ua8 +

Otherwise 2 easy draw.

2 3

b8=•+

�g6 with an

wxh8

�h7

Black now draws by transfer­ ring his ro ok to f6 or h6. If the Black pawn had stood at g6, the ending would have been woo for

White.

The above examples show con­ vincingly that before studying rook endings the reader should acquaint himseir with the prin­ ciples of pawn endings and end­ ings of rook v. pawns and queen v. rook and pawn. A detailed analysis or these endings is con­

tained in 1. J.. Rabinovich, Emlsphil,• ab ridged by one of the

authors in Shakhmat)' dlya Nat•hinaush(:hikh (Chess for Begin­

ners).

• Also recommended is Yu. Averbakh, Es.�mrial E.ndl(ame K nnwledxe (Pergamon).

ourselves with its specific proper­ ties. or its chess 'physiognomy'. as it were. The rook is a long-range piece, like the queen and the bishop. But unlike them its degree of mobility does not depend upon where it is on the board. It controls just the same number of squares ( 14) from

a 1 as it does from the central squa re d4. The centralization th at

increases the scope of the other pieces has no influence on the effectiveness of the rook.

A rook needs space-open fi.Jes and ranks. So that in the opening and the middlegame o ne tries to

place the rooks on open or half­ open files, a nd if a rook penetrates down an open file to the 7th rank where there are enemy pawns, this will usually lead to material gains.

ln the endgame when most of the pieces and pawn s have been exchanged otT and the board cleared for the rook to come into

action, its value increases. For example, in the m iddle gam e a

bishop and knight

are

stronger

than a rook and pawn; bu t in endgames a rook and pawn are often no weaker than a bishop and

knight.

Working alo ng a file a rook can support the advance of its own pawns and obstruct the ad ..·ance

of the opponent's. The reader will subsequently have numerous chances of see in g how important a role this property of the rook

Jntroductioll 13 plays in rook endings. The long-range power of the rook means it can chc..-ck an enemy king without shelter at length. If we put the Black king at d8 and a White rook at dl, it will take the king six m0\1es to reach the rook and thereby rid itself of the irksome check s. This example shows that when a ronk is in close proximity to the object of i ts attack it loses in effectiveness. What then is the minimal distance at which a rook maintains its long-range power (henceforward called 'chocking distance•) against a king and a pawn? 7

king exclude one another from t he game. In diagram 7 White, by 1 ���4 {or b4), can secure the advance of his pawn: I .. . .D.d7 + 2 �eS J:lc7 (or 2 .. . l:le7 + 3 �d6) 3 ¢ld5 .D.cl7 + 4 �c6 followed by 5 c5. In diagram 8, however , the rook successfully combats the king and pawn: 1 'iPd4 :cld8+ 2 �e5 .IZ c8! (a mistake wo uld be 2 .1Ze8+? 3 �d6 .1Zd8+ 4 �c7 .IZ aS S c5) 3 �dS .D.d8 + 4 ¢'c6 _ _ _

.1Zc8+ s wbS .1Zh8+ 6 'Ota6 .II c8, and the pawn wiD not be

able to advance. Consequently, the minimum distance between the rook and the enemy pawn mtill. �_three SQ._l!!l!es. If it is Black to move in diagram 7 he must play 1 .D.cll! •.•

King aod rook "· king and rook We shall go on now to discuss the ending or king and rook v. king and rook. Of course the normal result is a draw. A win is possible in exceptional positions where one of the kings is in a comer or on the edge of the board under a threat of mate (diagram 9). I d5!

9

A comparison of the positions in diagrams 7 a nd 8 will provide the answer t o this- question. In both positions we must assume that the White rook and the Black

White wins

14 Preface llxd5+ l �c4, and because of the mate threat Black loses his rook. If Black does not take the pawn, there follows 2 �d4 and, as explained in diagram 7, Black will be una ble to prevent the further advance of the pawn (the djstance between the rook and the pawn being only two squares) and must lose. Saavedra 10

been broken. How

he prevent

ce5 ¢'c6! 6 .: al + �b7 7 �e6 ll h7 8 d7 l:t b6 + etc.

As this example shows, t he rook's ability to occupy t he long side often plays a decisive role when combating a pawn on the 5th rank. Black will only lose if h is rook is unfavourably placed, as we shaU see in diagram 36. The Black rook stands badly and White threatens to reach a won position with 1 l:r. b2 + . Pass­ ive defence by 1 . . . J:t bl does not help Black. White will reply 2 .1:1 hl! .: b3 3 .1:1 h8! b7 4 �d7 .: g3 5

and after the fu r the r 4 .

• •

36

We need only move the Black king in diagram 36 to b7 (diagram 36a: �/d6, l: /e2, 8 /d5; �/b7, :C./H) and Black has three ways of drawing: 1. I ¢>c8 2 :t:l.el + �b7 3 A h8 J:t d l (the idea of this move is to prevent the advance of the pawn) 4 �e6 �c7! (4 . . .l:l e l + loses to 5 d8 or 2 IZ. cl IZ. ht. Black switches to a flank attack, Also possible is the waiting 2 : d.3, 3 we6 and only then 3 • • •

.

White wins

= .

d6 we gel the familiar position or diagram 32. There remain two ot h e r possibilities to be examined :

1 2 3 3 J:t e7 + .

4 5

A '*'b7 :f7 + lt f6 : h7 would lose to 4 �d7 �dl

: e6 d6

:n l: bl

It seems at first sight as if Black has got there in time, as after 6 d7 he saves himself by 6 . . . A h8 + 7 �e7 wc7. 6 �·8 We have reached a position

similar to diagrams 29 and 29a. As the analysis of those positions showed, with the White king already on the 8th rank Black has no defcnoe against the advanoe of the pawn .

. •

. • •

: b3 = ; 3. t

. ••

:t:l. b l 2 �·7 J:t b7 + 3 J:t e7 : hs 4 d6 ¢'b6, as in diag­ • . .

ram 26. Attacking a pawn on the 5th with the rook from behind is a

new ddensive techn1que that could not be used against a pawn on th e 6th.

In contrast to the previous two examples the Black king in diag­

ram 37 is on the long side. Is the pressure exerted by the Black rook on the pawn sufficient in this case to draw?

B 1

2

3 4

5

l: f6 + J:t fl Ahl A b7 + d7 wd8 and wins.

�e7

d6

A 1

th8 + U f 7 3 �d8 reaching Kling and Horwitz's position, in which 3 �:a l ! secures the draw. Attacking

8

P

rook 3 1

:. c7

.: a7 b6 -+ :: b7 o;tob8 l h7

: d7 �bl � bl �al +

9 .:l b8 etc. Finally we shall examine a pos­ ition analysed by Philidor.

. • •

pawns on the 5 t h from behind is a reliable me t h od of defe nce, even when Black's k i ng is on the long side and his rook must operate on the short side. However, this method is only good with c-, d-. e- and f-pawns. I t fails in the �..tse

42

of b· a nd g-pawns because the

edge of the board hampers the Black king.

We sh all now look at diagram

41. 41

From diagram 12 the reader will know that the method of defence suggested by the French master consists of the moves 1 . . . wb4 2 lle6 �b6 + 3 lHS �c6 4 e6 w c l etc. Let us suppose that Black played :

1

White should reply :

White wins 1

.:l c8

After 1 . . . �cl 2 'Ot'h8 + �c8 3 '.Pxc8 + : xeS -4 .:l a7 the p a w n

queens. 2 3

whB + �b8!

: d7

N ow we can see the difference rrom Kling and Horwitz's pos­

ition: the Black rook cannot begin a flank at tack from the left_ �b2 3

�fl?

: e6! 2 But not 2 l:t d6 '*e l ! 3 l:t e6 : rs (or d8) 4 �as + :tg7 = . Phi1idor did not consider 2 . - . wet A f8 2 3

�a8 +

: e7 4 No better is 4 ..t>b7 6 e6 ± .

l:t g7

� bl

...

�f7 +

5 II d6

s e6 And we have reached diagram

32.

It is n o t difficult to see thal if the Black king in diagram 42 was at d8 (diagram 42a : .:l idS, �/a7, t-.. ./e5; : ./d8, � /f4) the n after 1

32 Rook and paw"

P

rook

. . . : n 2 �d6 :dl + 3 � e6 :el t h e position is drawn. Even

with White to move, 1 �e6. Black is saved by 1 J:.e4! and the pawn canno t be adnnced Or I l1 1t4 + 2 : a8 + 'l;c7 3 J:. f8! llc4!. In all the examples in this chapter Black's king has been cut off from t he pawn at a distance of only one file. If the distance is two files, then neither flank attacks, nor attacking the pawn from the rear will save the inferior side.

44

. . .

.

. . .

Pawn on 4th, 3rd and lad ranks: ki•g is cat off; defence by frontal attack Diagram 43 is a position by N. D. Grigoriev. The Black king is cut off both on a rank and on a tile. The win is quite simple; White th reatens 1 :t c6, 1 :t a6, 3 � a4 and 4 bS, and against this manoeuvre Black is defenceless. E.g. I :t a8 2 : c6 :: b8 3 : a6 �ciS 4 �a4 �c4 5 : c6 + �d5 6 b5 l:l a8 + 7 w b4 and the whole manoeuvre is repeated, or I : as 2 : c6 n a t 3 b5 �d5 4 �b4 .l:l a2 5 : c7 �d6 6 b6 . . .

. . .

etc.

White wins

Let us compare the following two positions in which the Black k in g is cut off along the rank. In diagram 44 the Black king is on the same rank as the pawn and cannot prevent its decisive advance to c6, e.g. I � bl 2 c6 .:t el + 3 � b5 -;t;>dS 4 �b6 etc. In diagram 45 the Black king has forestalled the pawn and c6 would be answered by

Black secures the dra w by the single move i . . . :l aSt. White to move wins in the following way: I ..Pa3 (or l lh5) I 2

�b4

3

.:t bS

4

: aS!

:ta8 + lt b8 +

It might see m that 4 .: b7 or 4

.: b6 was sufficient to win, but then Black would obtain interest­ ing counterplay : 4 :a b7 �d3! 5

�c5 (5 %1 c7 lt b8 + ) 5 . . . �c3 6 b4 A c8 + 7 1o'b5 1o'b3 8 J: b6 .:th8 9 �a6 ..tc4 10 b5 %1 a8 + 1 1 � b7 :t h 8 1 2 �a7 � b4! (Not 1 2 . . . J: h7 + l 3 �a6 'i> b4 1 4 .: b 8 ± ) 1 3 .: b7 ¢>aS! 14 b6 .: h6! 1 5 .: b8 : g6, and if White does not want to be mated after 1 6 b7 A a6 mat�. he must give up

the pawn 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

or

repeat

Black to play; draw

:t a8

moves.

lt b8 +

�a4

ll c8

b4

c4

:C a7 �d5 g5 f6 + �g6 3 A e6 .: n 4 : eli l:lfl 5 Ael ll a l ! (l. Rabinovich

Paris

. • .

2

£ailed to find t his move, suggested by N. Kopaev, and considered Whi te's position won) 6 A g2 + �h7, and we have transposed into a drawn position similar to diagram 21 (after 7 f7) or to diag­ ram 26 ( after 7 l:t el). As example 48 will show, the Dank at tack ca n also prove effec­ tive in cases where the king is cut off on a rank. If Black defends passively White will gradually advance his pawn. Though I . . . .:f'S is not yet losing for B lack , it is simplest to swi tch immediately to a flank attack.

48

Drav.· I 2

� .,

lUS + �g4 l:t f8 3 l:ta4 + 4 ;;:.es The only possible chance, ot her­ wise the rook wil l check the king un til it gets to the b-file, after which the pawn will be lost. A a5 + 4 .lh6 + 5 �f6 6 'Ot>g7 :e6

with a draw.

Diagram 49,

wh ich

occurred in

a Vienna-Paris telegraph match

49

Vienna Black to move

(1885). is highly instructive.

White to play would win simply by 1 :ds! .: e2 2 �fS ¢>c4 3 l:tdl, switching from cutting the king off on a rank to cutting him off on a file. It was Black to play and there followed : 1 : d2! If 1 . . . .C. e2, then 2 ¢>f3! l:l e l 3 A dS! � c4 4 Ad8 �cS S �f4 wc6 6 eS rl;c7 7 :C.d2 etc. The correct contjnuation for Wh i te is not easy to find. 2 �f5! ri>e5 ri>c6 3 � e(j + l:l: d� :: h2 4 s l:l: d l lt h6 + 6 �fS :: hS + 7 �f6 lUt6 + 8 �gS l:l e6 l h8 9 �fS As the reader will sec from the exam p]es that follow, if it was Black t o play now he would d raw. l:l f8 + 10 eS! l'.t g8 + 11 ¢g6 12 wf7 : �::z 13 e6 And W hi te, playing the pawn to e7 and his k ing to e8 reaches

Rook and ptlwn the Lucena position. It is clea r from the way the game

L'

rook 35

50

went that Black lost because bis

rook was on the short side. If we move all the pieces to the left (diagram 49a : r.b/f4, l1/f5, 8 /d4; 'iti>/a4, :t ,ib2), then Black draws by l . . . l:t e2!, later transferring the rook to h2 and beginning a flank attack. The timely switch from cutting the king off on a rank to cutting him off on a file is often met in

endings of this type. In diagrams 1 9-42 we examined cases where Bl�ck's king is cu t off

a file from a pawn on the 7th., 6t h or 5tb rank . It emerged that against a pawn on the 7th or 6th rank Black could defend himself in favourable circumstances by a flank attack with his rook , whilst against a pawn on the 5th ran k we saw a new method of defence­ the attack on the pawn from the rear. We sha1l now look at pos ­ itions where the pawn is on the 4th rank or C'lCn further back. Diagram 49 sh owed that even against a pawn on the 4th rank Black will be unable to avoid defeat if his flank attack proves ineffective because of insufficient on

room for the rook. But, as it h appens , against pawns on the 4th, 3rd or 2nd rank a new weapon is available· �the

frontal attack (diagram 50). Black to move plays 1 l:t d8!. Should the Wh i te rook move away, Black continues 2 �d7 transposing to Philidor's position. After 2 : xd8 ¢>xd8 3 �b4 (or d4) �c8! the pawn en ding turns out to be drawn (check this!). If it was White to mo\'e, the . . •

• • •

Black to play draws; White to play wins tempting 1 cS would be answered by 1 . .: h4 2 ..tb3 : a4 3 c6 ll g6 with a draw. The co rrect continuation is: l:t b8 + 1 �b4! 1 . . . l:t d8 now leads to a lost ending after 2 J: xd8 �xd8 3 � bS! d8 7 wb5 ± ) 3 �bS ll b8 + (3 . . . rileS 4 ll d 7 �e6 5 Ua7 ± ) 4 �c6 �e5 5 : h4 White wins. Whilst if we put Black's king at e4 (diagram 55b: �jb3, A /b4; rtJje4, l:t / d l, J:.jb8), then cutting the king off along the rank is decisive: 1 .ll d6 �e5 2 l::ta6 �d5 3 �a4 �c4 4 .ll c6 + d5 5 b5 ± . We have only, however, to move all the pieces one file to the right (diagram 56) and t he king's being cut off at a distance of two files is decisive. The winning method, which Grigoriev called the combined method, consists in the followi n g : (1) the W hit e king works i ts way as far forward as possible; usually it will mana ge to occupy the

square two squares diagonally from the Pawn; (2) the rook pos­ it ions it self behind th e pawn and

White

wins

supports its advance. In diagram 56 White·s e6 is inaccessible to the White king, so he heads off to the left, towards a6 .ll b8 + I w h4 l �.5 .ll c8 2 . . . .Z:. a8 + quickly loses: 3 Wb6 l: b8 + 4 �c7. 3 .Z:. b8 + �b5

A c8 4 �a6 The first stage is completed. J: d 5 w e7 6 �b7 .li eS : h5 1 w b6 O r 7 . . . A c8 8 c 5 II b 8 + ( 8 . . . wd7 9 cb + wd6 10 c7) 9 � c7 li aS 10 c6 etc. rt;d8 8 c5

9 10 l1

.Z:. d l + .Z:. gl

: 88,

'it>c8 c6 etc. : h8 White could also have won by 8 .ll d l , cutting the Black king off down the d -fiJe. On the ba si s of the precedi ng anal yses it is not difficult to ascer­ tain that diagram 57 after I �c4 :. c8 + l �b5 : d8 3 �c5 :t cll + 4 �b6 li dS s lldl �n 6 �c7! .Z:.d5 7 �c6 U a5 8 .ll el ! by analogy with diagram 49 must be won for White, since the Black king is cu t otT on a file an d Lhe

Rook a nd pawn ,,., rook 39

While wins Black rook is on the short side. After 8 : a6 + 9 �b5 .l:l d6 10 �c5 the triumphant advance • ••

of the pawn cannot be halted. Here the rook can occupy the long side, wi th the result that the combined method does not work : 1 �d4 .C.d8 + l �cS l h8 3 �d5 'l1cl8 + 4 ¢>c6 J h8 5 JZ. el �g7 6 wd7 ll eS 7 �d6 ll a5 8 .1:1 n l h6 + etc. But. as Cheron demonstrated, Black's undoing is th e position of his ki ng on the outside file. I �d4 .l:ld8 + :t e8 2 �c5 l:t d8 + 3 �d6 lle8+ 4 ¢'e6! 5 �£6

Cheron

White wins

Because of the threat of mate White forces the advance of his pawn and wins. It must not be thought that White won onl y because the Black ki ng was at h6. If we moved it to h4, then 1 e5! would be immediately decisive. It stands best at h 5, but then Black will end up in Zugzwang. His rook has not a single useful move and White will manoeuvre with his rook to give Black the move, e.g. I .11 &2 ¢>1t4 l l:l f7 (a mjstake would be 2 e5 :. xc5 + 3 �f4 �h3 = ) 2 ¢-h5 3 :t�:t and the Black king is foroed to quit h5. Diagram 58a, with the pawn on d4 (�/d3, .: 1'b t , � /d4; w/a6, ll/d8) is symmetrical with diag­ ram 58. Thus we can consider it estab­ lished that with c-, d-, c- and r­ pawns on t he 4th rank, if the Black k ing is cut off at a distance of two files, the frontal attack on the pawn does not save Black. whereas with b- and g-pawns on the 4th a frontal attack leads to a draw when the Black king is acth•ely placed. The solution to diagram .56 showed that White's win depended on ooly one tempo. Therefore, if the king is cut off along the file at a distance of only one file, the frontal attack guarantees Black the draw against c-, d-. e- and r­ pawns on the 4th; e.g. in diagram 58b ( �/e3, l: /fl, �/e4; wfg6, ll/e8) after I �d4 JZ. d8 + 2 �c:5 .: e8 3 �•5 : d8 + 4 �c6 J:l e8 5 :.et � r6 a d raw results. With b- or g-pawns on the 4t h White wins only if the Black king is cut off at a distance of three files (diagram 59). • • •

40 Rook and

pawn v

rook

Grigoriev 59

I J: c8 + �c3 2 �d4 .1: 118 3 J:t c8 + �c4 : 11s wds 4 J:. bl 5 we7 6 n M! wm! The natu ral 6 . . �d8 loses after 7 b4 : as 8 b5 or 8 �b7. 7 J: el + 7 l:l: b2 also leads to a draw after 7 ' . wd8 8 J:t d2 + ¢>c8. (Not 8 . . �e7, because of 9 l1 d7 + and 10 II b7 ± , but poss­ ible is 8 �e8 ! 9 J:. d3 J: b8 1 0 rJ;c7 J:t b4 1 1 l:td8 + 'J;e7 1 2 l1b8 : x b 8 l 3 � xb8 �d6 �d8 7 8 l:t e3 l:Ut4! Bad is 8 . . J:t b8 9 lt h 3 �e7 10 J:. h7 + � e6 1 1 IZ. b7 l hb7 1 2 ¢'xb7 ¢>d5 1 3 ¢'b6 rj;d4 14 .

.

White wins

.

. . .

Black's king can be anywhere on t he f-file. White wins because d6 (two

squares diagonally rrom his pawn) ha'> now become available to his

king. l �c4 J:. c8 + 2 �d5 l1b8 3

�e5 l1c8 + ..

�d6 l:t b8 s J:t bt *e8 6 �c7 : 115 7 �c6 l:l: h.5 (or 7 J: b8 8 b5 �d8 9 J: d l + �c8 1 0 b6 + ) 8 l:l d l J:t h6 + 9 l:l d6 lUa7 10 � ± . We shaU now look at tbe pos· ition with the b- or g-pawn on the 3 rd rank. . . .

The combined method is inad­ equate here. Grigoriev 60

.

b4 ± .

l1 e5 llh6 + 9 l:l h7 + ! 10 �b7 �d7 11 �b8 l: h4 12 : cs �c6 13 l:t bS 14 �� : 117 and draws. Nevertheless diagram 60 is won. but additional methods are

required to increase the pressure. In order to understand these we shaU examine two more posi tions by G rigoriev. Diagram 60-J : �/b2, l1 /e l .

t>/b3; �/r4. l: /b8.

Extremely tempting is 1 �c3. 2 �d4 l:t b8 3 �c4 l:l:c8 + 4 'it;>d5 J:. b8 5 ll b l how­ ever, B k then unexpectedly

J:t c8 +

begins a attack on the pawn from behind: 5 e3! 6 b4 �d3 7 . . .

White wins

b5 �c2 8 : b4 �c3 9 lt c4 + e5 I I llc6 ± . 9 � b6! .:. b8 +

10

(7. l1 f8 + ! 6 lt el .

.

. .

44 Rook and pawn Found

by

moves Jose. 7 rlle7

v

rook

Kopaev.

Other

A a8 8 e4 Culling the Black king olf by 8 �a 1 is i neffective, as the pawn i s too far from th e White king. There would foJiow 8 . . . J:.a3 9 e4 :eJ 10 �f6 J:. xc4 I I �f5 l h4 = . �gS! 8 8 . . . ll a7 + loses to 9 �f6 J:. a6 + 10 �f5 J:. a5 + 1 1 e5.

!)

10

II

12

13

� �d6 �tiS �d)

wb5

� •7+

l: a6 + : aS + l:a6+ : as

Draw. If we move the Black king in diagram' 65 to a6, and the White rook to bl (diagram 65a : �/el, l:/b l , A jeJ; �/aJ, 11 /eS), then we have a position s ym me t rical with diagram 63. White wins.

Lisitsyn 66

Kan Black to play Diagram 66 is taken from the game Kan-Lisitsyn. Black began a flank attack with I . . . :. h4 + , but as t he rook was on the shon side the attack proved ineffective and Black lost. The saving plan was the fron tal attack.

1 2

:. c3

A h8t �b6!

Bad is 2 . . . A e8 + ? 3 �d5 l1d8 + 4 �e6 J1e8 + 5 �d7 J:. e4 6 J:. b3 + �a7 (if 6 . . . �a6, 7 �c6 �a5 8 �d5 J:.e8 9 e4 ± ) 7 g5, then 2 �a2 ¢>g4 3 J:t bl ll h8 4 J: bS ll a 8 + (or 4 . : h3 5 b3) 5 �b3 �f4 6 �b4 ¢;>e4 7 b3 ¢d4 8 lh5 : h8 9 �a4 or I �g5 2 �a2 : a 8 + 3 l:t a3 l b8 4 l:t a6 w f5 5 �a3 �e5 6 b4 �d5 7 �a4.

If 1

. . .

. .

. . .

¢-cl!

2

Only not 2

gets a draw.

2

3

b3 :t h7! and Black

', s

'ild3 �c3 'i;>d4

6

��

;,.ds �00 b3!

l: cB + l:t b8 lt cB + J: d8 +

J:l. c8 +

:. d8 + : b8

� g5 I0 ¢;>c:5 � g4 The White king will find shelter on b2 from the Black rook's checks and we shall reach the won pos­

ition of diagram 60. wr4 :: dJ 11 Or 1 1 . J: c8 + 1 2 . .

ll b8 +

13

�gS!

Let us examine other tries : (a) 2 wc2 : c8 + 3 ¢'d3 :a. b8 4 wc3 llc8 + 5 �d4 ll b8 6 ll bt ¢>f6 7 b4 we6 8 c5 ..Pd7 9 J: a l (or 9 J:l. h l J:l. c8 + tO �d5 . zt c8 + 10 ..t>d5 ll c7 = ) 9 :C: c7 1 1 :C:a5 wc8 IZ l:t c5 + 11 xeS + 1 3 �xeS �c7 = (b) 2 : f3 ¢g4 3 l:tf6 ¢>g5 4 lla6 �f5 5 �c2 �cS 6 �c3 wd5 7 b4 l:t c8 + 8 wb3 l:l c6! 9 J: a7 .l:l c l = . 2 *x4 l:ld + 3 �c2 �g3? would be a mistake. 3 because of 4 l:t f5 ± . l:ld8 + 4 c;PdJ : cS + s w.t4 J:hl8 + 6 ���5 l:t c8 + 7 �c5 8 ���6 � b8 9 l:t h2 .;;>g3 10 �c7 l:t b3 . .

. . .

4

1 8 9

l:tfl

�e7

ll b4

14

�b6

�c6

11 12 13

.J:l cl �d6

..t>fJ we3

J: hl J:I. WI l:t e8 + �cli and draws. It can be seen from the solution that moving the Black king in the diagram to g4 (diagram 67a: 14

46 Rook and pawn

!!

rook

�/b '· ll/fl . t\ /b2; �/g4, .D:/b8} lead s to a drawn position, even w i th White to move.

Grigoriev 69

Cheron 611

Draw

White wins The Black king can be on any square on the h-file. 1 �c2 l:tc8 + 2 ¢>d3 ll d8 + 3 �d ll c8 + ll d8 + 4 �d4 Or 4 . . . l:l b8 5 lt bl g6 6

b4 rt/f7 7 �c5 �e 7 8 �c6 �d8 9 l:ld l + �c8 lO ll: hl ± 5 'i0Pc5 : c8 + 6 7 8

8 : b1

8 9

�d6 ""'c7

l:l g8!

lt d8 + ll d3

It b3 draws. A b3 A fJ l:l: b8

10 b4 If we move the Black king from h 5 to h7, then 1 .l:. g3! wins: 1 . . . : rs 2 113 .l:. fl (see diagram 70). We shaU now move on to exam­ ine positions in which the superior

side's king is cut off along a rank, and the inferior side's along a file. Such positions are often met in

practice. Let us examine the position by N. G rigoriev (diagram 69).

1

b5

1 o;itc2 can be answered by I 2 b5 1t h 5! 3 ll b ! (or 3 b6 : cs + 4 wd3 : b5) 3 . . . 114. In diagram 69c (�/b3, U /d2, ll /b5; */e 7 ,

:t jh4) White wi n s

follows: l �a3! ll g4 2 hcJ :p J : bz : as 4 b7 ll b8 s *•4 *d7 6 �aS �c7 7 *a6 .:u.s 8 �.7. These last examples show that the White king's position on the 3 rd rank ensures the win, even if the Black king is cu t off from the pawn at a distance of only two files. Cutting lhe While king off as

on a rank is much mo re effective if the king can be kept to the 2nd rank. If in di a gram 69 the Black king was at f6 or rr (diagram 69d: �/b2, l:. /e l , l!./b4; W/f7, .l:. /g3). it is not difficult to work out that the position is drawn even witb

3

�al

�f6 4 �b3 �e7 5 :dt :t g4 (or s . . . : rs 6 :d4; see diagram

�d7 :t cS

l: c6 70

llg3

lt g7 ll b7 ¢'e6 ¢'d7 'Ofolc8 l:l d7

( �/b3,

1 st

rank, then the win is possible when the Black king is confined on the l b4 U f4 2 J:. b t *g6

o;Pe6

:cl! J:. c5!

White wins

: g4 2 'itic3! b7 was threat­

C: c8

outside file.

J: h8

�c3 �b4

l:. /h4)

can a lso be at c2. If the White king is on the

4 b7? :t h8 5 �c3 l:[ b8 6 l:. b l

4 5

follows: l

rook 47

White to move. The White k i ng

� r6 ¢lf7

c7 2 wa2 el 3 wa 3 �c4 4 �a4 �e5 s wa5 �e6 6 ¢>a6 Black is in Zug7.wang) 2 �a2 ¢-cl J *a3 �c3 4 'ila4 ¢>c4 5 waS *e5 6 wa6 Zl di -� ! 7 �b7 � b6 .,_ 8 wc:8 J:! a6 9 we7 C • l 1 0 �d7 ,. ..., ur l O . . . �5 = . In diagram 78b ( 'i>/d5, l: /a8, � /a7; � b3, l:l. /b7. Black to play) to secure the draY; Rlack mu�t remove his king to Lbe a-file, e.g., 1 .. . -td 1 we6 n7 3 �b6

D h6 + .

Protecting the: king from checks by having the rook on the 2nd

rank, simultaneously attacking the a-pawn, is quite a good defensi\'C manoeuvre. Blockading outside pawns from in front with the rook is ju.�t as disadwmtageous us in the ca.se of centre pawns, particularly if t he rook can come under attack from the Icing. E.g.., in diagram 78c

1:1./h l , .� /h7; �/d4, Black is. defenceless against ¢·-c6; -1'6, -g7. But diagram 74d (�/b6, l:l. /h l, �/h7; '*'/d4, lt/h8) i' drawn: l 'itc6 �e5 2

Scybotli 7'1 ,

Black

to

play; draw

�d7 � n 3 nz �P 4 �e6 :xh7 5 J:t e2 + �kS! "' . Diagram 79, Sc:�both's study, is interesting. I ¢'e5 l c8 loses t o 2 a7 .:.b7+ 3 'illa6. l \&.·a� After 2 �b5 >JJc7 3 a7 Ab6+ 4 wa4 (4c6. dntwing. 3 �a4 .Clc7 1

thceat

"Bia..-:k to play: dnsw Also druv.·ing is 3 . . . llc6 but 3 . . . :Zc81oscs after curious com­ plications. There follows. 4 l:lb7 + ! �e6 (4 . . . l:lc7 5 a7) 5 �a5 llh8 6 llb6+ �c7 7 a7 :lhl S lZa6!, or 7 . . . ChS+ 8 ;i;>a6 lthl 9 Jlc6 t! o;bd7 10 .:cs±. �b5 4 � llh.l 5 '*'b8 with a draw. II follo ws from the solution that with the White rook on b4 (diag­ ram 82a: oi>/b6, ll;'b4, t._ia6; '*ld1, 'IJ.,'c7 White wins, which the reader should check for him­

self. We shall now examine ition in diagram Rl This has played quite

a

0riiW

the po!>­ position considerable

54 RtJok and pawn

t�

rook

role in the history of the study of rook e ndi ngs . In contrast to positions of the diagram 25 type, he r e the pawn stands on t he 6th rank: and the Whitt king does have a flight squ are, on a7 , from checks along the file. First of all, let us find out which are the safe squares for the Black king. When the pawn was on a7 there were five such squares on the Q-side (a6. b6. c6, b7 and c7) and two on the �-side (g7 and h7). With the pawn on a6, th e safety zone becomes larger. In addition the Bl ack king may be o n any square from which, in one move, it will be able to oocupy one or the seven above-mentioned squares. This requirement is met by the squares : aS, b5, c5, d5, d6 and '.17 on the •-side, and n, f6, g6 at'ld h6 on the �-side. E.g., if in di�gram 83 the Black king was on d5, then White would gain nothing by 1 a7, because of 1 ... �c6! 2 llc8+ �b7. The natural question arises as to whether the Black king can cross over from the right-hand to t he left-hand safety zone, e.g. from f6 to d7. To do this the Black king must oocupy either e6 or e7, i. e. it must stand on the �-file. But it turns out that the �-file is 'min�cl', for as soon as Black plays �e6 or �e7, h e will lose after 1 a7!. Wherever the Black king may flee, it will come under check from the rook, and in t he event of 1 ... �d7 or �n 2 l:lh8 White wins the rook. And so the Black ki ng cannot cross from the ¢'-side to the W­ sid e. On the basis of this Tarrasch considered di a gram 83 won for

White and put forward t he follow­ ing solution: *" 1 A little nearer the 1W-side! At the same time Black wants to entice White to play 2 a 7 with the threat of 3 l:l hS, after which the King returns to the safety zone with 2 . . . �g7! and an obvious

draw.

1 3 4

cilf3 �e3 �d3

s

�cl

7

wb4

6

�b3

8

�b5

8 9

�c6

lh4 'iPg7 �f7 wg7 :at �c7

White has defended the pawn with his king and threatens to t ran sfe r his rook to an active pos­ ition, e.g. 8 . . . lla2 9 lld8 �e7 10 lld4 :at 11 :ta4 llbl + 12 f7 4 �e5 � e7 5 l.b7 ¢>d8 6 again tied down to the defence of a7±) 4 �e4 �f7 5 �d4 �e7 6 rt/c4 �d7=. the pawn. The safe squares for Ir we put the White king on the Black king after the present manoeuvre are only g7 and h7. If b3, (diagram 83b: *fb3, %1ta8, 8./a6; �/g7, 1./al), after I the king was on g6 White would win .by 4 a7 %1a6 5 llg8+. l:bl + l �a4! (2 �c4? II b6! ) 2 AIJ6 3 rtJaS White frees ' 4 'i>d5 his rook without any trouble and After 4 a7, 4 .. . J:ta6! leads to wins. a well-known drawn position. 4 Let us try a different method of J:l.a7 + �g6 (h6) does not defence in diagram 83b. 1 Jlel improve White's position. l :1(8 l:l.al 3 l:c6 �f7 4 �b4 4 wh7 we7 5 �b5 �d7 6 Ue4 l1bl + %lg6 5 �c5 7 �a5 l::lat + 8 ¢>b6 llt.l + 9 J:p+ ! 6 �b5 'i'a7=. White Lhreatened t o free his After t . . .Del White has a rook. llg6 stronger reply in 1 lla7 + !. An 7 'i'W im po rtant check. cutting the Black In contrast to Tarrasch's analy­ sis.-herc the White king is unable king off from the pawn along the rank. 2 . �f6 3 ll b7! �e6 4 to find a Oight square in t h e neighbourhood of the pawn. There a7 Jlat 5 �b4 �d6 6 'i'b5. While wins as his king gets remains one last try. l:la6! through to b8. It should be noted 8 a7 Of course, not 8 . . . ll g7 that if the rook was at b7, and not because of 9 llh8 +. 8 a7 has h7, Black would draw by giving ta ken the fligh t square away from checks. the White king and Black can now Black could prevent the manoeuvre lla7, -h7 by playing switch to pressure along the files. t ... ll .. l. but then 2 b4 :h6 9 J:lat �bS llbl + 3 rtJbS l:h5+ 4 �h6 11116+ 5 10 �b6 �b7, and wins. The Black king Draw. In diagram 83 Black was able gets in the way of its own rook.

White's success depended on the presence of a flight square for his king on a7. But surely a rook's pawn only defends the king from checks on a file, bul not from

••

•..

=

• ••

•

•. .

.

•

.

56 Rook and pawn ''rook (diagram 83c: �/c2, l:./a8, �/a6; 'i,;/g7, :/al). White wins: l ... n a5 2 'iP bJ :c. b5 + 3 �a4 ±. or l :C.e8 2 Ra7+ �f6 3 l:lh7 �e6 4 a7 llal S �b2! :a4 6 ��3 .:tal 7 ¢1b4 etc. Nor does the more cun nin g l ... :h1 save Black, because of 2 .:la7 + wf6 3 g7 and I lid+ decisive is 2 oi>b7 :t bl + 3 ..ta7 �e7 4 : b8 and the rest after the well-known pattern of diagram 74. Diagram 86: 1 .:bl llc8 On I . �a5 there would fol­ low 2 llc5+. In reply to I . l:[h4 simplest is 2 �b6! J:lb4+ 3 �cS .:tb5+ (3 .. .C:bl 4 l:tc6±) 4 'itic6 :as 5 :as �a3 (5 ... :h5 6 :d8) 6 'i>b6±. Weaker is 2 wb7 llb4+ 3 a3. then 6 �c5!.

6

�b6

Ab3+

7

�.7

�a3

llc8. and wins as in 8 diagram 86. 8 llb8 llh3 9 �b7 etc. would also be decisive. White wins

V.

Ganshin

89

1 2

�c5 As can be seen from the previous examp1e, 2 �a7 ¢la4 3 l:c8! also wins.

1

3

lla7! Zugzwang. 3

:la4

l:lh4 �b3, 4 Ab7+. or 3 . l:th5+ 4 �b6 or 3 �h2 4 �b5 4 :. c7 and wins. . .

Black to play; draw

. . .

1

V. Ganshin

lla3!

1 . . l:tel + loses after 2 �f4 l1e7 3 a7 l1c7 4 �e5 and 5 �d6 1 �e4 ¢-&4 3 �d5 Or 3 a7 l:ta4=. �aS! 3 4 J:lb8 :d3+ l::t.d7 � ¢>c4 .

88

6 7

l:lb7 a7

l:td8 Jh8

Draw.

Whit�; wins l 2

:b3+

l:tc3+ �d 3 �ciS A mistake is 3 �d4 l:tc6, and

draws.

3

:ta3

When the pawn is at a6 While has a spare tempo and Zugzwang sometimes decides the issue.

I

¢ld7!

Drawing is 1 �c7 �c5! 2 a7 l1a6, or I �c7 �g5 2 �d7 �h6! 3 11h8+ �g5! 4 lla8

Rook and pawn v rook )Y V.

Ganshin

91

White wins White to play; wins

�h6 5

l

�c7 wh7=.

. ••

�g5

¢>g4 l �c7 On 2 . ¢'h6, 3 a7 is decisive. and on 2 . llg7+ , 3 �b6 .

.

. .

l::tg6+

4 �b5. 3 �b7

4

�b6

5 6 7

�b5

�c4

ever, that after I l:a8 too Black misses the draw by one tempo: I .:lcl + 2 �bS : bl + 3 *c:4! llc:l + 4 �b3 : bl + 5 �c:l .1: b5 (with the Black king on g7 this move would draw) 6 a6 �g7 7 lla7+ �f6 8 l:th7 �e6 9 a7 ll a5 10 �b3 (Simpler is 10 l:h6+ wf7 (d7) 11 .Uh8, as P.>inted out by Dr. G. M. Shel­

l::tg7 +

llg6+

l:tgS+ llg6

. . .

�d4! �&5 Or 7 .l::td6+ 8 �es l::t g6 9 a7 l:tg7 10 �f6 8 �eS ¢>g4 llg7 9 a7 to �r6± When the pawn is still on the 5th rank the inferior side's drawing chances are greater. Numerous arguments have arisen around the position in diagram 91. In 1937 it was considered that only 1 a6 won, whilst 1 l:ta8 drew. Indeed, arter I a6 we get diagram 85, whereas afte r I lt a8 .:let + 2 �b6 l::tbl + 3 �., �e6 4 llb8 l:tal S J:bS (5 a6 �d7 see diagram 80a) 5 ¢>d7 6 ¢b7 :.c:t 7 a6 l:tc7 + we have diagram 82, whi ch is drawn. The latest analysis has shown, how. . .

=,

. . .

drick (Tr.)) �d6 11 �b4 l:tal 12 �M±; or S Alii 6 a6 :117 7 wbJ (7 a7 :llf7 =) 7 J::U7 8 *b4 wx7 9 l:tb8±; or 5 :td 6 a6 lh7 7 �c3 �eS 8 •7� and wins as in diagram 71. We shall now examine a pos­ ition analogous to diagram 91, where it can be shown that the derending side is lost, even with .••

.•.

the move. Diagram 92 is a position from a matcb game between Euwe and Alek.hine, 1935. It differs from di agram 91 in that the White rook stands on the b-file. If White con­ tinues I .: c8 +, then the manoeuvre . �b4. -c5, -b6, c7 would lead to a draw after II (b8)bl!. �dl! :C.c8 + 1 ltd8+ l Or 2 .l::th8 l::tal! 3 .Ud8+ �c3 . .

60 Rook and pawn

v

rook 3 J:l.b8+ �d Now after 4 J:l.a8, 4 .. a3! wins.

Alekhinc: 92

.

4

l:lc8+

�b1

5

l:lb8+

.ttbl

l1a8

'1Pd4

l:lb3+! a3

�c4 :h8

�bl .:lc3+

6 7 8 9

Resigns.

Against rook's pawns on the 4th rank or sti11 further back the same methods of defence as were exam­

Euwe

ined in preceding chapters are

and now the approach of the king to the rook, as in the earlier analy sis, wins. 2 ¢>d ¢>b1 3 l:lc8+

-

4 3 6 7

l:lbl :b8 + :as :b4 �b2 ¢>e3 a3 �d3 and wins. What actually happened in the game was: :bl? �e3 1 At the board AJekhine did not risk I a3, though that was the winning move: 2 J:lc8+ 'it'b2 3 �·2 ¢>b1 + 4 �dl l:lh2 5 l:lb8+ l1b2 6 :cs llb4+ ...

2 :c8? A reciprocal error. Correct, as P. Romanovsky has shown, is 2. 1:1. a8!. U 2 . . : h4 then the Black king is dri ven by checks to the a­

used: the flank and the frontal attack, and the attack from t h e rear. The result will depend upon the positions of the kings and rooks. Ir the BJack king is cut off on a file the defence is m o re difficult. It is disadvantageous to block­ ade the passed pawn from in front. In diagram 93 the king is cut off at a distance of five files from the passed pawn and the rook is left to do all the work. 1 l:le4+ 2 wb3 .J:I.e5+ 3 �c6 .J:I.e6+ 4 'it>d7 1: a6 (other moves are ...

answered by 5 J:tal and pushing the pawn) 5 lhl c I. .

.

. . .

'1Pbl

Whire

wins

Ati(IK UIIU

puwn

11 ltJV""

Vl

analysed by Cheron. Here Black succeeds in drawing because his king can break through to theW'­ side.

Cheron 94

1

�b5

l:td8!

If rooks are exchanged the Black king can reach c8, which guarantees the draw against an a­

pawn. Bad for Black is 1 ... :zt b8 + 2

Draw In diagram 93a (�/b4, 11/12, A/a3; �/g6, l:t/e1) after 1 l:tbl + ·2 �aS the frontal attack

.••

l:tb8 3 a4 l:t a8 + 4 �bS �h8+ 5 �c6 lla8 6 :a2 �16 7 a5 -Jie7 8 a6

comes too late: 2

••.

etc.. w hilst if l . . l:tbJ White gradually b rings his king to as and his pawn to a7 and wins as in diagram 75. •

In d iagram 93b ('�(b6. l:l/f3, �/h5, �/e5. :t/a4) ta ken from

Chigorin-Salwe, the game Carlsbad 1907, the Black king is only cut off at a distance of two files. but his rook is badly placed. As . Kopaev has shown, White would have won by I �gSt :a I 2 a6 l:lbl+ 3 �115 Abl+ 4 -t;g6 :gt + 5 wn :111 6 :C. f6 ±, The actual game we nt 1 wg7 ll g4 2 �f7 l:l h4 3 :a3 l:H4+ 4 �c7 l:tb4 5 l:taS+ �f4 6 h6 � g4! 7 :a7 �g5 8 h7 :bs 9 ¢-n ..th6=. If we mo\'e the Black rook from a4 to a I (diagram 93c: �/h6, l:t/f3. A/h5; �/e4, l:t/al), then I �g6 llgl + 2 �h7 �e6 3 a6 �e7 leads to the drawn position of diagram 73. Diagram 94 is a position

wc6 �bl 3 a6 l:tal 4 �b6 l:lbl + 5 ¢>a5 .:at+ 6 lla4±. Ab8+! 2 :c4 The immediate 2 ... wd7 would lose after 3 a6 l:la8 (3 ... l:tc8 4 a1) 4 J:lh4 we? 5 Dh7+ wd6 6 a7 ¢d7 3 �a4 4 a6 llc8 � l:tb4 .1Ut8! A mistake is � . . : ¢JI�c7, because of 6 ll b7 + �c6 ·and the Black king'is cut off from the pawn along the rank.

6

7

�a5

wc7

a7

Now and on the previous move Black would have answered 7 :b7+ with 7 ... �c8!

J:lhS +

7

8

�.4

:h8

Draw. The position in diagram 95 occurred in an actual game, which

continued: I l

�b4

�c5

llb8+ lla8

3

'itbS

l:tb8+

4 S 6 7 8

�c6 l:lel+ l:tal a5

:as wf7 li'e8

�d8

�b7

and wins.

The Black rook's frontal attack was refuted by White by the com-

62 Rook and pawn

v

rook

Draw

and continuing as in diagram 94. Even if in diagram 95 Black's king was at e5, Black could sti l l have drawn: I �b4 'i'e6 2 a5 �e7 3 d2 l:le8 4 llcS .l:lg8 5 .l:le3 ¢>h5 6 �e2 �g4 7 �f2 ¢>h3 with a draw. Therefore, there is only one other possible winning try: 1 g4, after which we have a conflgur· ation or rook and pawns that the master G. Kasparian has called the 'triangular' posi t ion The pawns stand side by side with the rook in rront of one of them; the Black k ing is attacking the rook and prevents the advance of the pawns. Kasparian contributed to the peri odical 'Shakhmaty t.' SSSR' in 1946 an exhaustive analysis or '

Thomas Black wins

.

Di agr am 100 is taken from

the game Thomas- Alekhine (Hastings 1922). Bhlck's pawns have corne to a standstill and will be unable to advance without the h elp of the ki ng. There roll owed: I J:1g6 + �dS l : g8 �d4 3 -= J(1 �d3

66 Rook and lwo pawns

t),

rook

'triangular' positions, which we shall draw on here. First we shall examine the ro ok and knight pawn pair (diagram lOla: �/d5, IZ./g5, f>J/g4; h4, �/h6, 11/el). Diagrams 101 and lOla are won for White, but only because Black's rook is badly placed. Here White threatens J:l:e5. after which the White roo k

will become active: (a) I l1gl 2 �e6 J:l:gl 3 *f7 l:fl + 4 l:r.£5 ± � (b) 1 ... nhl 2 :h5+ �g6 3 *cl6 a: h2 4 rlie7 ��7 (the th reat was �f8 - g8 followed by J::r. h7) s J:.gS rlih6 6 �r6 J::r.xh4 7 •••

J:lg7!±. We need only transfer t he Black rook in diagram lOla to the a-, b-, or f-file for Black to be able to reach a drawn position, as in diagram 102 by t ... : f4 l we5 :a4 3 �15 :aS+. It tu rns out that the White king has no shelter next to the pawns, and when it has been driven away from them, there wiU foUow . . . Jb4 and the White rook will not have a single useful move, as : g8 wil1 be answ­ ered by ... �h7.

the pieces up one or two ranks are also drawn. (diagmm l02a: �/d6, h5; 'i>/h7, 11/f5. 102b: �/d7. l::r./g7, � /g6, h6; �/b8, : /f6). In diag­ ram l02b Black at the same time threatens checks with his 'mad' rook. But when all the pieces are moved down one or two ranks (diagram l02c: ¢>/d4 l1/g4, t-/g3, h3; �/h5, :/0) then White has even two ways of win­ ning. The first is to brin g his king across to h7 and to shelter from checks by playing his rook to g7. The second is to play 1 llg8 and then 2 g4 + and 3 J::r.h8+. Thus the rule of the flight square, which the reader has come across more than once in endings or the 'triangular' type, plays a decisive role. Also of great import­ ance is the rook's losing its check­ ing distanoe, as diagram 103

l::r./g6,

.11/gS.

Diagram

shows. Kasparian

Positions reached by moving all Kasparian

102

Black

to play;

White wins

Black loses because of the bad position of his rook. 1 ... l:rdJ+

2 �r4 J:td4+ 1 �rs :d5+ 4

Black

to

play; draw

�f6 lld6+ ! �eS lla6 6 J:lf5 :.a5+ 7 wf4 J::r.• 4+ 8 �g3

:.aJ+ 9 :tf3±.

Rook and We have onl y to move the Black rook from d8 to c8 (diagram l03a: �/g3, .C/g5, tJ /g4, h4; ¢l/b6, .:t/cl) and after 1 ... llcJ+ 2 �r4 .:c4+ 3 �e3 l:la4 we have a drawn position of the diagram 102 type. If we transfer the Black king in dia gra m 103a from h6 to f6, then Black loses (diagram 103b: �/g3, l:l/g5, tJ/g4, h4; �/f6, :0/el). 1 ... :lcJ+ 2 �12 l:lc2 + 3 �e3 :cJ+ (or 3 .. . llc4 4 :rs �g7 s wf3±) 4 ���4 :hJ s :ts+ wg7 6 hs �h6 1 .:r6+ �b7 s e4! an d White wins, sheltering his k in g on g5, or h4. Only if the Black rook is at b I or a I (diagram 103c: ¢'/g3, l:l/g5, �/g4, b4; �/1'6, .1:/bl) does Black draw. 1 llb3+ 2 �12 l1bl + 3 �e3 : bJ + 4 wdl : b4! s :f5 + �g7!=. Moving all the pieces up one rank (diagram 1 03 d : �/g4, ll/g6, 8/ g5 , -h5; W/fl. l:/bl) does not alter the result, but it i s easy to see th a t moving them up two ranks (diagram 103e: �/g5, '4 /g7, 8_/g6, h6; �./f8, ll/bl} gives . .•

White

an

easy win.

With a bishop and knight pawn pair the su pe ri or side's wi nning chances are considerably greater; however, with these pawns, too, there are some drawn positi on s. In contrast to the previous examples, in diagram 104 the White king has a Hight square on h5. Therefore. checks on the rank cannot save Black. llfl+ 1 2 l:lg2

3

f7

s

:g2

4

l:lgl

two pawns v.

rook 67

Kasparian /04

Black to move; draw

6

�dS :at llg2 �d6 s �d7 nct �g7 9 '4f6+ Now White has to go in for a pawn sacrifice, otherwise he will not be able to free himself from tbe pressure exerted by the Black

7

rook. 10 11 12

l:ld6 ¢'e6 �e7 12 f6+ achie ves nothing: 12 ... � g 6 13 g7 9 � �2 l:h4 10 ¢lg3 :ht Or 10 . . . .a a4 1 1 l: b7 + � g8 1 2 a6 ± . J:l b7+ 11 �g8 12 wg4 :g l + 13 wrs .U b i 14 ¢'g5 elc. There were two other moves that White had at his disposal: I �b2 and I wbl . Both let the win s l i p. I �bl : h3! 2 �cl Or 2 o;t>c2 %lg3 3 �d2 %l h3 4 �e2 : g3 5 o;t>f2 %t h3 6 �g l lt a 3 7 wa2 l: b3 8 � h 2 .:t a3 9 �g2 %t b3 1 0 �fl ll f3 + ! I I �e2 %l g3. When White's king occupies a white square on the 2nd ra n k the Black rook must be at g3; when the king occu pies a black sq uare on the 2nd rank. the Black rook m u st be at h3.

rwo

pawns

2

r:.

rook 69

l: c3!

Bad is 2 . . . J:t g3 3 �c2 ! ± , or 2 . . . I Hl + 3 �c2 : h 3 4 �d2! ± . J:t d3 + *dl 3 C lea rly on 3 . . . l:t h3 th ere will follow 4 �d2 and on 3 . . . : g3, 4 �c2

4 5

�el o;t>fl

¢>el Or 6 �g2 ll a3 . 6

: e3 +

ll f3 +

6

.l:l: gJ

and

draws.

Now it is clear why the correct reply to I �bl is 1 . . 1l b3 + ; BJack wants to find out which square on the lnd rank the White king will occupy. We shall now •

examine the following variation: 1ld3 t �-2

: h3 2 .l:l:b7 Weaker is 2 . . . l:t g3, because of 3 � b2 ll g5 4 l:t h7 J:t g3 5 �c2 ± . �g7 3 l:bS Kasparian 107

White wins Here, too (diagram 107), the win is very d i fficu lt . First of all it is essential to prevent 4 . . . �h6 = .

4

lt &5

: b4

O r 4 . . . o;t> h 6 5 g7, o r 4 . . . l:l.e3

70 Rook and two pawns 5 h6 + �xh6 6 g7 ± . s 6

7 8

o;PbJ �c4

�d5 c6

t'.

rook

: .. 1 Acl +

17

U b6 + l:l. b5 +

a n d wins. In the VTsSPS Championship, 1 953, Korchnoi reached position 1 06 against l livitsky, but with Black to move. Using Kasparian's analysis he drew without any

difficulty. If we move the Black rook in diagram 1 06 to g2 (diagram 1 06a: �/a l , U/h7, !!. /g6. hS; �/g&. A /g2) here too we have a position of mutual Z ugzwang. White only wins if it is Black to move: (a) 1 . . . A hl l wbl :h3 3 �b2 etc. (b) I �bl A b2 2 �e1 l:l gl 3 wdl : hz 4 �el : g2 s �n .J:l hl 6 ��� 1l a2 = . The solving of two of K aspari­ an's 'triangular' positions wiU now present no difficulties for t he

reader.

108

:ell +

:.et + lUI + 9 �d6 11 a l 10 A d5 %1a6 It we7 Or 1 l . . . l:l e l + 1 2 �d8! �h6 t3 : d7! � �hs I4 g7 : gt t s �e8 �h6 1 6 w f8 ± . 12 J:ld7 : IJ6 13 �d8 + 1Pg8 11a6 14 %1 e7 Or 14 . . . *ffi t 5 : n + *g8 1 6 e6 A a6 + 1 9 '>t>f5 1l a5 + 20 � g4 �g7 21 %l f7 + ¢'g8 22 h6 ± . U b6 IS %l b7 + 16 18 19

Kasparian

Black to

mov�

draw

I �g8! White is in Zugzv.rang. If 2 �g2 then 2 . . . lt a3, with the threat of 3 . . . li aS e.g. 3 : b6 l:t a5 4 ll b8 + �h7 5 g6 + �g7 6 A b7 + ¢'g8 7 : h 7 l:.a3 = . 2 g6 �g7! 3 %l h7 + And draws as in the analysis of diagram 1 06. Diagram 1 08a (�/f1 , l:./h6, 8./g S, h 5; �/g7, ll/h2) is alo;o drawn: 1 . . . �g8 2 g6 'itg7 3 l:l. h7 �g8 as in the analysis of diagram 1 06a. Now we shall examine several pos iti ons in which the Black king is wedged between the White pawns. Positions with the rook and k n i gh t pawn pair have been discussed above ( d i agrams 98, 99,

1 00). The win in diagram 1 09 is qui te simple. 1 . . . nrs 2 :d3 .!:l iaS 3 J:l. ll5 + A xd5 4 c•. and the pawn ending is won for White. Moving

all the pieces up, down or to the right will also gh'e winn ing pos­ itions. White's task becomes more complicated when his king is cut

Rook mul two pawns

ll.

rook 71

l:lg7 � xd3 4 c5 l:ld (or 4 �d4 5 c6 J:t c l 6 c7 l:l c6 + 7 ..tf5 wcS = ) 5 ll. g5 �d4 = ; or 1 � r6 :e8 2 �f7 JileS 3 : cJ l:l e l 4 l:l g6 �xdJ 5 c5 wc4! (5

109

. . .

l:l c l

. . .

6 c6

�c4 7 rtle7 Wb5 8

� d7 �b6 9 lld6 .IZ. c2 10 :. d t l:l h2! also leads t o a draw) 6 c6 �b5 7 c7 lZ. d =.

While: wins

off from the pawns (diagram 1 1 0). 1 10

Since the solution i n Diagram 1 1 2 is rather difficult we shall first look at the incorrect defence. White will win if his king can penetrate to a6, b7 or c8. 1 J:. h8? J:te5 2 R e t 2 l:l b8! l l e6 8 d6 9 �b3 'il>c6

�c3 �d7

=

rect is:

) 4 b7 ·:;tg7 drawing. Co r­ 1

�fJ

l:tr4 + After I . . . l:t b 3 + 2 �e4 �xg4 3 �d5 wf5 4 �c6 �e6 5 l: b8 White wins. ¢'e3 l hg4 l 3 �dJ �f5 4 �cl �eS S A c6 �d5 6 A c8 And Whi te wins, as the Black king is cut off along the file and flank attacks are no t possible. If we move all the pieces one file to the left we have diagram

1 15.

The solution to this pos i t i o n ce l �e3 5 � d l �d3 6 �c l �c3 7 �bl .C b2 + 8 '\h l .C b6! 9 a7 A c6!, o r 9 *a2 wc4 10 a7 A c6 1 1 �b2 A c7 = ) 2 . . . wxf4 3 a6 :C. e3 + 4 wd2 : e7 5 �c3! .: n 6 l:t d8! A a 7 7 A d6 e3 :U a4 * (6 3 a6 4 wg7 �d3 5 *c3 In comparison wit h the pre­ vious variation White has won a tempo that is decisive. A f4 5 �g6 6 1::1:&7 + Or 6 . . . �f6 7 J: h7 etc.

8

9 10 11

wins

�f7

7

7

White

A xf4

wg6 �g7 ll a4

J:l b7

a7

�b3

� b4 �b5

A a4

wf6

ll a l

�a6 wd6

ll l:l h7 ± An important branch of endings

74 Rook and

two

pawns ''· rook

of this type is the endgame with the bishop and rook pawn pair, which h as been mel repeatedly in tournament practice. When Mar­ shall drew such an ending at San Sebastian in 19 1 1 against Rubinstein. theoreticians set about a d etaile d analysis of it.

Spielmann,

Rabinovich.

Bela­

venets, Maizelis, Zek, Keres and

finally Botvinnik together with Ragozin and Flohr discovered man y interesting ideas. All the same, far from everything is clear in the assessment of this ending. Firstly we shall examine pos­

itions about which t h ere can be no argument.

Belavenets 116

The most stubborn. After 6 . ¢>ffi 1 J: g7, followed by 8 h7, is decisive. �h8 7 h7 + �e7 8 llel + 9 �r7 Not 9 �ffi bec-.tusc of 9 l:l e8 +. Now White will a nswer 9 . � c8 with 10 �g6 : rs 1 1 f7 ll a8 1 2 : e7 and th en l:l e8 .:t a l 9 10 D.b8 + �xb7 �g6 '· 11 �f8 .

.

.

.

12

17

�b7

13 �e8 and wins. ln d iagra m 1 1 7 the f-pawn is only o n the 5th rank. White threa­ tens to reach diagram 1 16 by f6. l =gl + ll: h l 2 �f6 l f 2 . . : n , then 3 ll g7 + .

�h8 4 l:l e7 �g8 5 .l:l e8 + o;;. h7 6 �e6! l a l 7 f6 D. a6 + 8 �f.5 J: a5 + 9 ll e5 ± . Jr 2 ll a l , then 3 l:l e7! ll a2 4 �e5 :t e2 + 5 �d6 ll: d2 + 6 �e6 ll: e2 + 7 �d7 lld2 + (7 . . .

lU2 8 .C.e8 + �h7 9 �e6 ± ) 8 ¢'e8 l:l f2 9 l:le5 � h 7 1 0 ¢>f7 (not 1 0 �en �xh6 1 l ll e6 + �h7 1 2 f6 ¢>g6 1 3 l:l e 1 l:l a2 1 4 ll g l � h7 1 5 f7 Aa7 + =) 1 0 �xh6 1 1 J:t e6 + ! (not 1 1 f61 J: a2 . . .

Blade. to play;

White wins

In diagram 1 1 6 Belavenets has

demonstrated a forced win.

l:l. g l + 1 White threatened to win by 2 f7 + ¢>f8 3 h7 ll h I 4 ll: b8 + I:Ul + 2 � f5 ll el + 3 � e6 l:l d l + 4 �d6 :h 1 loses because or the 4 continuation 5 .zt b8 + �17 6 h7! l hh7 7 .zt b7 + etc. :et S �e7 ll fl 6 ¢>d8

. . .

117

. . .

While

wins,

even

with Black t o move

Rook and two pawns l2 � ffi � g6 1 3 f7 'itrf6

=

)

I J

...

� h7 1 2 f6 l1 a2 1 3 ..t>ffi an d wins.

3 J:lg7 + 3 l1 g8 + ¢>h7 4 wf7 is refuted by t he following manoeuvre : 4 . . . .C a l ! (4 . . . �xh6 5 f6 l:l: h l 6 .C e 8 :n 7 J::t e2 .ll h 1 8 �f8 1: a I 9 17 ± ) 5 f6 .:: a7 + 6 .;;.rs �e6 7 'i'g8 •; hf6 8 J::t b6 + �g5 9 h 7 .ct a8 + = . 3 �f8 On 3 . . . ¢;·h8 t h e re follows 4 J::t e7 J::t x h6 + 5 �(7 J::t a6 6 £6 'Oth7 7 �fB + �g6 8 r7 �f6 9 �g8! and Black loses because his rook is on the 3rd ran k (No. 27). 4 ¢>g6! The wi n n ing plan pointed out by N. K opaev. Following his analysis, a mi sta ke would be 4 J::t b6 because of 4 l:th2 5 ¢le6 J::t h l ! 6 �d7 (or 6 l1 f6 + ..t>e8! 7 9a>d6 J::t d l + 8 �c7 l:l: a l 9 : d6 xh6 3 �f8 to a position . •.

familiar to the reader, diagram 29 (the pawn being on the e-file does not alter the character of the game), in which Whi te wins. as in answer to 3 . . . 'itrg6 the pawn advances with check.

2

In diagram

J::t a8

29 a similar rook

manoeuvre led lo a draw, but the presence of the pawn on h6 changes the situation. l:t a7 + 3 l:: e8 4 �e6! A mistake is 4 roftor8 because of 4 . . . �g6! 5 �g8 �xf6 6 b7 l:t g7 + 7 'i' h 8 :gl 4 l:l:a6 + l:l a5 + S ¢-r5 =.

76 R ook and two pawns

t•.

rook

6 Jh5 :at 7 f7 J: fl s we6 �g6! This looks like a sav ing move, since 9 h7 is foll owed by 9 . l:tf6 + with a d raw But eve n here White has an effective combina tion � xg! 9 Ji gS+ ! 10 l:t e l + h7 11 '0Pd7 l:t dl + 12 �e8! Of course. not 12 �f6 D d 8 and Black wins. l2 l:t el . .

.

.

13

c;i>£8 l:t b l c;i>g7 etc. What difference woul d it make if the White rook in the ini Lial position or diagram 1 1 8 was at d6 instead of e6? Let us examine diagram 1 1 8a (W/fl, l:t /d6, 11 /f5, h6; c;i>(h1, l: /a8. Black to move : a7 + can save himself by 1 2 we8 J: a8 + 3 �e7 (or 3 l:ld8 A a6 = ) 3 l h7 + 4 :d7 l:t a8 S ll d8 l:t a7 + 6 � f6 l h l 7 lle8 ll a7! 8 �f7 ¢'xh6 = .

14

. . •

. • .

Maizdis 119

in that the White king is at f4 instead of 17. As Maizelis has shown, Black's simplest method of defence is as follows: I !:tal 2 �gS l:t g2 + : fl 3 �f6 4 Wf7, which leads t o diagram 1 1 8, must be prevented. Bad is 3 . ¢>xh6 4 �e7 + (not 4 c;i>f7 +

. .

cl l dJ -i>b3 �b4

ll xh4 ll a4 lla6 l:z f6 -i>n �e7 ll d7

In diab'Tam 1 30 Black d raws by applying the same system of defence as was analysed in No. 83.

llc4! 1 Tying White's rook down to the

defence of the a-pawn.

2

aS

3

a6 �f4

4 S

�e5

1

�dS wcS

8

Ia!

9

h6 +

6

li eS

llc6 �b7 �17 l f6 ����7

� �7 �117!

A mistake would be 9 . . . �xh6 10 a7 J:l a6 1 1 .:. h8 + ± , as would be 9 . . . n xh6 in view of 1 0 � b 5 J: h5 + 1 1 *b6 .: h6 + 1 2 ¢:b7 + .

10 11

�b5 �e4

ll f5 + %U6

Draw. If White had a g-pawn instead of

h-pawn (diagram 1 03a: �/g3, ll /a8, A ja4, g4; W/g7, ll /c l ) the commonly accepted winning

an

Black

a simple draw.

to

play; draw

6 �hS � h6 + ! with a draw or stalemate. The correct way to win lies not in pushing the a-pawn on so quickly, but in improving the White king's position. E.g. 1 . . . Ac4 2 �h4 l:l d4 3 'iPh5 A dS + 4 g5 etc. In diagram 1 3 1 the Black rook blockades the pawn from in front,

which, as has been pointed out more than once, is unfavourable

for

the defence.

1 .: at ��7 ( 1 . . . wh6 2 �r4 �h5 3 Aa2 ¢>g6 4 we4 ¢>h5 5 Wd4 ¢> x h4 6 �c4 �g5 7 *b4 ll a8 8 aS �f6 9 �c5 �e7 1 0 �c6 �d8 1 1 a6 :tc8 + 12 �b7 l:. c7 + 13 � b6 leads to a simply won position for

J jJ

method was for Wh i te to advance

his g-pawn to g5, then play his king to h5. There then follows a check on a7, with the pawn advancing to g6 and the k ing to h6. H owever, Black has a h i dde n defence jn I . . . l: c4! 2 a5 l:l cS 3 a6 ll c6 4 g5 � h 7 ! 5 g6f7 followed by J: e6. The Black. pawn will be lost and the ensuing rook and pa wn ,... rook endi ng will be won for White as the Black rook does not have enough room for flank attacks. With Black to move the draw w ould be ac hieved by l . . . :C: a l l Ue6 J:gl + 3 �f4 u n + etc. In diagram 1 4 1 a (¢>/e4, IZ. /c8, � /d5; olw>/b5, IZ. fa6, 8 /d6) a draw is unavoidable. E-g. I �f5 .: al 2 ¢>e6 U h l 3 ¢>xd6 l:l h6+ etc. Diagram 1 42 is from K otov­ Eliskases (Stock holm 1 952). Black loses because of his pawn on g5, which protects the White king from checks along t he file.

Bfi Rook and pawn

v.

rook and pawn on the 4th. Black's king occupies an active position whilst W hite's king is cut otT on the 3rd rank and will be unable to support t he advance of its pawn. I hS

Eliskasc:s 142

After this at first sight natural

move White wiiJ be unable to save

�

the g me. The correct defence will

be pointed out below.

a2 1 2 Ag2 + �b3 2 . . . l1d2 3 : g t �b2 4 �g4 = gets Black now here. wa4 3 l:l g3 + 4 ll gl l:t b4! •••

Black

I 2 3 4 5 6 7

Kotov to move; White wins

�c6! wrs �p!

f7 + l: b8 + l1 e8 +

IUl A el +

g4

.:: n �ra

and

J 4J

...

7 J:tg3 + Black

resigned. An excellent illustration of the flight square rule. . Diagram 1 4 3 came aboul m the game Duras-Vidmar (Carlsbad 1 9 1 1 ). Black's advantage is obvi­ ous: his paw n is already on t he 6th rank, whereas White's is onJy

Vidmar

A st rong move: Black t hreat ens :. bl 6 J:t g8 l:t b5 with the win of the h-pawn. On 5 h6 there follows 5 . . . .C. b6 6 l1 g4 + �a3

5

s

6 7

: rs llf4 +

l1bt : bs �aJ

White did not use the best defence. He could have put up more s tubborn resistance, but he wo u ld evidently still not have sa l­ vaged the game. I nstead of 2 :r:t g2 + , stronger was 2 .: fl . 2 3 4 5

:n l:t f2 +

:t f3 + A fl

7

h6 : rs

s

:n

9 10

Duras

:n

and White resigned.

6

White to mm·e

1Z. b3.

�g3 tf4 +

�b2 ¢'a3 �a4 J:. b4!

A bl n bS

A h5 +

l:t xh6

d 3 tl xc7. If the White rook was on the 7th rank, this varia t ion would be refuted by: 10 .lhc7 g l W t 1 :. n + �g3 1 2 .: g7 + . Now i t ca n be seen why o n move 1 White should h a ve played .1:1 b7!.

t�.

rook and pawn 89

Stahlberg 147

=

tt f4

J

4

�e3 llal?

J:l g4

� A seri ous error. After 5 l: h7 �·g l 6 �f3 g2 7 'Ote2! Whi te would have held the balance. E.g. 7 . . . l:le4+ 8 �d3 ¢'f2 9 J:t. f7 + �te l 1 0 l:. g7 = . Nor is th ere a win after other replies . :.c4 � 6 wdJ : h4 7 ll g8

7 *e3 would not have saved White in vi ew of 7 . . . wh l ! 8 .:t g8 g2 9 �f2 .1:1 h2 10 �e3 gl = lf + 1 1 J:l xg l + �xgl 1 2 �d4 � 12 1 3 c 4 �f3 14 c5 'Ot f4 + .

7

�h2!

Black in turn blunders. 7 ¢'f2 not allowing the White king near the pawn, would haYc won. If 8 ll f8 + h8 �f7 14 n h 7! ± rJ; e7 5 g6 + 6 rJ; f6 .::l g8 7 : f8 + �eS

9 �g6

0

f6!

8

8 �g5 does 8 . .. :btr

not win because

s

: xr6

9

Or 9 10

of

.:lc:7! 0 • 0

�e6

: rs + 1 o 'itg4! l hg7 lU8

J:l f6 llgl = , si m ila rl )' �f4 2 gS ll b7 = .

1

1

ll h6

115

:ct b7 2 'ii' g 3 bS (forced, I . otherwise �g4-h5-h6 followed by o o

:ct f8-h8) 3 gxh6 would transpose. 2 :ct h6! If the White king had been in a stronger position then winning Black's pawn would have ensured White the win. Correct was 2 gh (see diagram 1 52)0 l 51

Or 10 . . . l:l: f4 1 1 l: a7.

II 12

13 14

'il'h6 �h7

'itf6

l: d8

'ite6 .:l f7 + .:l a7 and wins. Kopae'ro

l .H

Black

to

play; White wins

2

J:t bl +

r;tg3 3 Or 3 �fl �c3 4 ¢'e1 �g4 = . :ct b3 +

3

4 5 Furman

In diagram 1 51 Black's king is cut off from his pawn, which

7

8 9 10

gS!

A s trong mo.,oe, o penin g up the White king's pat h to hS. h also makes it m o re di fficult for Black's pawn to advance. Weak w o ul d be I I H7 .: b2 + 2 r;tft n b l + 3 �·e2 h6 (3 . . . :ct g l 4 gS h6 5 bg : b6 6 h7 .: h6 also draws) 4

¢>d

ll bl +

�el

: h2 6 l hh5 we3 = 5 would have drawn even more quickly. �d3 6 'itdl

makes things more complicated for the defence.

1

�n

11 12 13

r;t c ) l:l xhS

�dl �el �n �gl �h i

.l:t hl

�c3

�d3 �e3 �o llg2 + �fl!

And Black gives perpetual check w ith his rook on g l , g2 and

g3.

A mistake would have been J 3

94 More pawns . . . �g3, because of 14 g6! l:a2 15 U g5 + �xh4 16 g7, and wins.

153

We sh al l now examine the pos­ ition in diagram 1 52 after the better 2 gh!

ll b7

l 3

/b4, '4 /c6, ll. /a4, b5; �/d7, l:l /b8, 8 /b6) the n after I aS ba + 2 �xa5 While = .

wins.

Diagram 1 58 was met i n the 1 955 Estonian Championship.

96 More pawn.s Kei

Rozenfeld

Black's position should be v;on lhe inferior side's king is a long way from its pawn. Black lhreatens to de>eide the issue with I . . . lle4, so White's reply i�; as

forced 1

�dJ! 11 &6 With the threat o f 2 . . . Zl g4 Inadequate is I . . . g5 2 l:a.5 + 1;·g4 3 %l xg5 + ! (3 hg h4 :;: ) 3 . . . �Ah4 4 Zlg8 >\>h3 5 Cg7 h4 6 oi>d2 �h2 7 Zl gS and draws, a.� the Black rook cannot interpose on the g-lile in time. Preparing . . . g5 by I . . . lle5 migllt lead after 2 .: a I g5 3 Zlf1 + �g4 4 hg �xg5 5 �d2 h4 6 : h l ! lo the drawn position of diagram 94. 2 :C. al :! g3 + 2 . . . :C.g2! would 11lso ba\'e won : 3 �d ¢'g4 4 l:l. ht g6 S -i-·e4 Zl e2 + 6 �d3 �f3 7 l:l a l ll g2 8 lHl + �g3 9 .:r h l �f2 fi 1llowed by 10 . . . Zl g4 and I I . . . �g2. 3 -i-e2 'it-got 4 :h i .:l. gl .f The continuation 4 . . . g 6 5 -i> f2'� ll h 3 6 :t g l '1' is to Black's a dvantage; however, artr:r the cor·

rect refutation 5 : h2! : h3 6 .:rg2 + �f5 7 J:f2 + �e5 8 J:. g2 �f6 9 ll f2 + �g7 10 ll f4 Bla.ck could not make progrc��5 �f� g4 :C. a7! 16 This i'J the point! 16 . . . g6 or . . . g5 ltads to a draw after 1 7 �ffi!, whilst 16 . . . �1'3 or . . . � h J i:o; answered by further rook check.l>. 16 * 1'3 17 l:.a3+ rlw �e4 18 lt a7 :c: b l 19 l:l x&�7 + Draw. 159

Blade

to

play. While wia!i

In diagram 1 �9 Black has a lc:mporary material superiority, but the W hire pieoe§ occupy e!lccl­

lcnt po�>itions, whil91 the Bl llck king is not only out of play but also cut olr on the back rank. White 1 wins iu very curious fashion. I J:l c6 + :z *h7 � .. :C. c7 3 11. 17 On 3 . . . :C.d6 th ere mi�ht fol­ low : 4 Zlg6 Q;>c7 5 'ilo> ... h6 g4 6 d:>h7 :l: d7 + 7 ¢>g8 .:ld8 + 8 !Pfl! �d7 + 9 !Pdi �h7 10 h6 *c6 1 1 ti>f5 + a nd wins. 3 . . . *c8 would be ans�·ered by 4 Zlg6 �·b7 5 �xh6 g4 6 '*h7 :a.c7 + 7 .tg8 .Lt c8 + 8 IP£7 JZ.c5 9 h6 lt c7 + 10 �g8 ll c8 + 1 1 ol;>b7 J:tc7 + 1 2 l:.g7 g3 I 3 'i>h8l a nd wins.

4

�xb6

5

�xg7

Zl xg7

g4 6 h6 and wins. Nor would immediate counter· play have 53\'cd Black: I � 2 �xilll g..l U 2 . . . :C. c6 + , then 3 '*h7! � bS 4 Zl f4 g3 5 lll g4 Rc3 6 �g6 and the king escapes rrom checks on h5. 3 :1:.17 l:[c) .. Z:.l4 4 g5 let,; the wi n slip because o( 4 - · · g2! s wh4 Jlo4+ 6 �h} l:tc5 7 e5 7 f6 + ¢'e6 8 :. g1 and wins. 161

Draw Diagram 1 6 1 : 1 la6 :.t5 l ll g7 + ..tf8! (bad is 2 . . . �h8 in view of 3 : r7 :. c6 4 ¢>f5) 3 l:t g6 (or 3 �g3 :t el ) 3 . � f7 4 h7 l:t c8 § :l h6 �g7 6 .l:tkl . .

l:ta8 = . I b6 .: c5 l :J: g7 + �h8! (the

162

Diagram 1 63 arose, with colours reversed, in the game Keres-Smyslov ( 1 7th USSR Ch.). The one pawn advantage can­ not be realized. There followed: 1 ll c7 + �f6 2 : c6 + (or 2 : h 7 J:l h l + 3 � g3 :t g l + 4 �fJ l:t h l = ) 2 �g7 3 J:l g6 + �h7 4 ll.e6 �g7 S �g3 : fl 6 . • •

J:l e7 + �f6 7 J:l h7 .l:tbl 8 *gl : b4 9 �13 llhl 10 : b8 �g7 1 1 .:r: ds .: n + 12 w1z IU4 13 : d7 + �f6 1 4 :d6+ ��7 ·�

�g3 Draw. It should be noted that 1 . . . �f6 is t h e only possible move. After 1 . . . ¢>g8 2 �h5 � b6 3 J:l e7! Black has no defence against

4 .l:t e6 ± . This variation shows that con­

Draw

fining the Black king to the back rank plays an important role. The examples thaL follow are instruc­

ti

e.

More pawns 99 Diagram 1 6 3a : �/e6, .Z:./d6, � /g4. f5; �/g7, 'A/a7, ll/h6. White to play. Draw. l l:l d7 + l hd7 2 � xd7 *f6 3 �e8 hS and draws: or I f6+ �g6 = ; or I l: b6 A c7 2 ll b8 A � + 3

�e7 ll c7 + 4 �e8 Il f7.

Diagram 1 63b: rtJ/e5, r:l/d7, .8 /g4, f5; �/g8, l:l )a6, 8 /h6 Black to move. Draw. 1 : a4 2 �e6 (2 I:t d4 : a 7 = ) 2 . . . ll e4 + ! 3 �f6 Il xg4 4 .C d8 + • ••

B

I

ztal!

1 . . . �g8 loses to 2 lle7 1:t a3 3 g4 : a4 4 lt e4 :. a6 5 1:t e6. 2 g4 If 2 �g4, then 2 . . . 'Otg8 3 ¢lh4 :or, preventing g4 whilst if 3 f5, then 3 . . . : as . 2 ll a6 ll b6 .Z:. d7 3

4

��

5

g5

6

�h7 5 � e6 l h4 = .

f5

and draws.

: g6! �

Jl g +

I o diagram 1 6 5 we see a position from the game Griinfeld - Wagner, Breslau 1 925. This example graph·

1 64

ically illustrates the importance of a haven for the king, a point that we mentioned repeatedly in the section dealing with rook and pawn v. rook endings. White played :

White t o play wins; Black to play draws

I

A

� g4!

lt aJ

I f 1 . . . .l:l g6 + , then 2 'Ot>h4 :. f6 (2 . . . �g8 3 g4 and 4 �h5 ± ) 3 �h5 �g8 4 ll b5 �g7 5 f5 �h7 6 g4 lt>g7 7 A g7 + ¢>g8 8 Il e7 with the .threat of 9 'Ae6 ± .

2

:cl h7

3

'i'h5

4

lt>h4

l ll b7? The reply was: l z *&3

3

wh3

4

Ub8

On 3 �f3 Black would reply 3 : g4. :at! 3

Wagner

165

: a6 .l:l. a3

l h6

S �g8 K4 6 1:t b7 'A g6 7 �h5! But not 1 f5, because of 7 . . . l:l g5 = . W hi te wins by th e further 8 f5, 9 ll e7 and 1 0 .l:l e6.

fS + lZ gl +

Griinfeld

1 00 More

ptlwns

Or 4 l:t b3 �h5 5 � b4 l:t a3 + 6 Pe6 would have lost without a struggle: 2 �g3 ..tw£6 3 b3 �·g6 4 '*"h4, and t he pawns

�h6

l:l.a8 3 �b5 b3 4 On 4 g5 there follows 4 .. . �b4! with the threat of 5 .. .: b3 + and 6 ... �a3. 4 '1Pb4 5 �f4 5 ¢>h4 would have blocked the path of the h-pawn. A possible continuation would be: 5 ... �b3 6 g5 .:bl 7 �b5 at=• 8 llxal l:l xal 9 g6 �c4 10 g7 llgl 11 wh6 wd5 12 ..Vh7 �e6= 5 llc2l Now the tbreal is the bridge 6 . .. :c4+ 7 �f5 (or 7 ..Vf3 l:l.c3 +) 7 ... llc5+ and 8 ... l:l.a5. To a·wid anything worse White must force a d raw. ¢·c3 6 l:.b8+ 7 Aa8 �b4 Draw. _

_

104 More pawns Tolush 173

a game Kostic- Reti, from the Gothenburg tournament of 1920. In Chapter 2, in diagram 13, we first saw an example of a king. rook and pawn working together against a king confined to the edge of the board. The winning manoeuvre in diagram 142 was the same. In t h is ending the superior side's king does not take part

Rudako11sky Black to play Diagram 173 is taken from the

game Rudakovsky-Tolush (14th

in the encirclement of the enemy king. Its functions arc taken over by the second Black pawn. I

2 A

¢>g5!

117!

mistake.

2

A b5 +

USSR Ch.)

draw: 2 ... wh4 3

n ot lose, as the White king is cut off. Black sho u ld not allow the pawns to advance in a cl ose d line, e.g. 1 ... g7 (not 1 ... ¢'f6'! 2 h5 followed by 3 g5) 2 .:t b6 �h7 3 h5 (3 �f l :. h2= ). And now the Black king can wedge itself between the White pawns: 3 ... J:lc2! 4 �xb3 .:ta4 5 llg3 �h6 6 �g2 �g5 and we have reached a known drawn position. Diagram 174 is the ending from

wxfl

With corre ct defence Black can­

Reti 174

lhf4 .:tdl +

gi='IW

�h2 7

.:tb4t

5 :n b7 g2 +

9b8='W+.

2

would

�h3 4 :xn + 6

8

e2

f3!

J .l:bl If Reti had played 1 ... ¢lf5 then 3 .:tf4+! would now have saved White.

l:.gl+ l:.hl! �n .:tb5+ If 5 ¢>g1 then 5 ... f2+ 6 �fl ll hl + 7 e5 4 J:l c5 �d6 5 r6! ¢-e6 6 J:tf5 �f7 7 c4±, and if 3 ... we7, 4 :c6 followed by 5 f6 + and the advanc­ ing of the c-pawn) 4 llxa4 :n

174A

Botvinnik Black to play

5

Tbe actual game went: 1 . l1e2 (an inaccuracy which loses) 2 cS l:tb2+ 3 �a6 Zlal+ (aJJowing White to build a bridge. 3 .. . : c2 gave more chances, so that if 4 c6, then 4 . . . �xh3 5 �b7 l1b2+ 6 '¢>c8 �g2 7 c7 h3 8 'it'd7 : d2 + 9 :d6 :xd6+ to �xd6 h2 II c8='W �xf2!, with a draw. White would win by 4 �b6 :c2+ 5 �c7 �xh3 6 :r4 : bl 7 c6 l:.hl 8 ..td7 l:dl + 9 �e6 .:lei 10 rs 2 g4+ wf6 J llb6+ �f7 4 A b7+ �g6 � : b4 'i>f6 6 l:lb6+ wr7 1 :b7+ �g6 s :tc7 e4! 9 Jh6 + �f 7 10 g5 e6 11 wg3 el+ 12 �12 :eJ (Black could also draw by 12 :. a2 13 -

'

.•.

. . .

a5 �g7 14 :ta8 �h7 15 a6 �g7 16 a7 �h7 17 g6+ d �g7 14 a5 J:te5 15 J:la7 + ¢>g6 16 :ta8 �g7 17 16 �xg6 18 a6 �g7 19 l:a7 + *1&6 20 llb7 :.s 21 :tb6+ �n 22 �xe2 e7 + �g7. White wins by I ..td7 �h 7 2 �c7!. The threat is 3 ¢'b7, and Black is forced to allow the White king onto the 6th rank, after which . .

White wins

108 lvlore pawns

�bl l::Ul+ 4 :cl l:lf4 5 ¢>b3 :n+ 6 �b4 :.n 1 :b2 :dl 8 b7 :td8 9 c� llb8 10 llb6 f4 11 �d6±.

182

B I . . �e7 2 :h6 ¢>d1 3 b7 (or 3 f6 wc7 or 3 rj;f3 : b3 + 4 o:Pg2 ¢>c8 =) 3 q;c7 4 lH6 (or 4 J:.h7 + '*'d6 5 rl;d3 �d5 6 �c3 ll.bl = ) 4 ¢'xh7 5 : xf5 �ri 6 ll e5 �.16 7 xf4 Jl J:tc8 �e3=.

Diagram 185 is extremely inler­ esting. i\t first glance it is difficult

More I

185

1

pal1ms

109

r;;e7 lleS+!

l:ld6

:c6

The only saving move 2 :a5 loses because of 3 .C.e6 + �f7 4 l:ld6 llbS S :te6 (see B). .

3 �f4 Or 3 ¢>d4 l:l.x£5 4 ¢'c4 llfl 5 �bS �d7 and Black should

not lose.

lla5!

3

Black to play, White: wins. White to pia}·; draw

llb5 4 ¢'g4 The po sition that hao;; arisen wiU now be discussed in detail. Position J 86 is also mutual ...

to imagine that the players are in a position of mutual Zugzwang. Black with the move loses. The following are possible variations:

Zugzwang.

If it was Black·s move

White would win, and if it was White's move lbe result would be a draw. Any move by Black makes his

position worse, e.g.

A l:lb4+

(or bl.b2) �115

2 3

A

:tbS+

1 1 3 4 5

�c6 and wins. 8

:a5

l:.c7+ :cJ lle3! l:le6 and

lla5 ���6 :b5

�

wins.

(or c5) :t.s :d6! Or 2 �e7 3 :td51 tta4+ 4 l:ld4 .C.al 5 ttb4±. Or 2 1te5+ 3 ¢>d4! ll xf5 4 l:ld5 ttft 5 :tb5 :d l + 6 �cS llcl + 7 g7 :teS+

:xrs

l:l. dS and wins. With White to p lay Black draws, though only with accurate ,

defcnoc.

llb4 +

�d4!

1 1 3 4

�b5 :c7+

Black to play, White wins. White to play; drnw

110 More pawns 4

5

1

2

3 4

l:l. xb6 �g6 J::r. f7 and wins as in diagram 41.

c l:l.c7+ �b5!

J::r.bl �d6 �eS l:tgl+ �xf5 �e4

A

I �h5 ¢>c6 lltiS

4 ¢>e3 �d6 5 b7 �c6 6 J:tf8 wxb7 7 l:l.xf6 �c7 8 :e6 �d7 and draws. Arter 1 .. :C:aS no amount of trickery can help Wh ite . If 2 l:l.e6+ �f7 3 :td6, then 3 ... �e7 4 :c6 lta4+ 5 wc3! lla5! 6 l:l.c8 (or 6 b7 llbS 7 l:l.c7+ �d6 8 :l:h7! :b4! 9 �d3! �c6! lO J:H7 ::lxb7 11 �xf6+ �ds = ) 6 .. . :b5 1 ub8 wd6 8 b7 �d;l 9 .llf8 =bJ+! 10 �f4 Jlb4+ II ¢>g3 ¢'xb7 12 l:lxf6 .

�K(J w£1 6 lieS+ 7 l:l.b5± White to move cannot win, e.g.: s

.II b4 +

l:l.c7 + �d6 l lla7 J:.bl 3 l:l.gl! 4 �h6 llg5 5 llel 6 :C:bl 'Otb7 7 .:ZbS J::r.gl 8 llg5 9 :td7 + �b8=.

B 2 :M l:lb4+ 3 wbs �eS 4 ¢'g6 :r;4 + =. c 2 J:tg7 llW+ 3 whS we5 4 l:l:g4 lhb6 5 �g6 .:Zbl 6 l:tgl .J:lel=. Let us try an d gh·e Black the move by the manoeuvre I l:le6 + �f7 2 l:l.46. At first sight White seems to win, since on 2 ... �e7 comes 3 :tc6! and White has achieved his aim. However, Black replies 2 ..t>x7! 3 l:l.e6 :bt! (not 3 ... llb4+ 4 �h5 ±) 4 �r4 II b4 + S we.'\ Wh6! 6 ll xf6 + wg5 7 .II«; �xrs 8 �d3 �e5 9 �c3 �cl5! and draws. 1 �f4 remains to be tried. Then the only correct reply is 1 lla5! •• •

�c7=.

After 1 �f4 :as 2 Jle6+ �f7 3 'ite4 J:t b5! we reach diag­ ram 185 with White to move. The analysis of the last two examples (diagrams 185 and 186) shows that with White to move Black secures the draw, but to defend accurately it is essential to master the whole defensive strat­ egy. A single inaccuracy would lead to defeat. On the basis of the analysis to the last two examples, solving the next position will not be so diffi­

cult

Diagram 18 7 is a primary pos­ ition of the •equilibrium on the �-side and extra pawn on the •· side' type. Apart from a material 187

.•.

(bad is 1 ... :C:b4 + 2 we3 l:l:b5 3 lle6 + ¢'b7 4 ¢>e4! ± ). Black

saves himself by maintaining the attack on the f-pawn, e.g. 2 we4 .:e5+, or 2 J::r.c11 l:tbS 3 l:l.b8

Black lo play; White

wins

More superiority White also has some positional advantages: (a) his rook defends both pawns and his king threatens to penetrate on th e it' -side; (b) the Black king is cut off from the 'li'-side.

1

move across to d4 if then ... J:lcl

then b6±. 2 ¢>0! The alternative: 2 :c5 �d6 3 l:tc6+ �e7 4 b6 l:tbl (or 4 ... :Ia I 5 �e4! ±) 5 �e3! leads to var ia ti ons analogous to those in the text. weS 2 3 b6 :lbl 4 ::ld6 �e7 s :e6+ ¢'f7 6 �e3! The winning move. Bad is 6 *e4 because of 6 . . . It b5 and it is White who gets into Zugzwang. 6 .:b4 If 6 . .. l:tb5. then 7 ¢>e4! with a win, as in diagram 185. Another defenc e is 6 ... l:dl, cutting the White king off on a fi.Je. In this case there would follow 7 .,Pe4 with the following vari­

II J

16 lld5+ �g 6 17 �c 6 with the threat of 18 l:t bS ± . :lf4 7 �d3 Or 7 ... :b5 8 wc4±. 8 l:te4 l:t:d5

9 10

l:tel

Otherwise the White k in g will

pavnrs

11 12

Or 12 �d6±.

13

14

:ctb4 �c4 b7

l:t45+ l:td8 l:tb8

�d5!

... f5

�g6

13 l:lb6!

�d6

f4 14

f5

�c7

and wins. Analysis of the play in the last three examples ha s shown that, after complicated manoeuvring based on successive Zugzwangs. things simplify to endings of rook and pawn v. rook and rook v. pawn. The relative positions of the kings then determine the result.

Capablanca J8Jj

ations:

(a) 7 . .. l:td2 8 :c6 c3 ±(b) 7 ... ¢>g7 8 b7 l:.bl 9 lle7+ � h6 10 �d5 ¢'g5 11 wc6 �xf5 12 l:te8, and White wins. No better is 6 ... lUI 7 �e4 l:dl because of 8 l:.e6 �c7 9 :.c7 + 'it>d6 10 :n :lei+ 11 �d4 l:td l + 12 �c4 we5 13 b7 J:.bl 14 :ld7 �f4 15 �c5 wxf5

Marshall Black to move In his gam e against Marshal] in

1909 Capablanca carried out interesting manoeuvre. l:tb7 I

an

Ab4! l b4 A draw now is unavoidable. E.g. 3 'OtgS ¢>xa4 4 h5 �a3 5 111116 :llb8 6 h7 a4 7 �g6 �bJ =. Black saved himself in a similar

1/2 More pawns way in the game Fine- Thomas

(Nottingham 1936). Diagram 188b: �/a4, l:./c2, .�/b3, h2; �/g4, l:./f5. 8/h3. There followed: I �fJ 2 b4 wg5! 3 b5 .:. g2 and draws. • .•

The idea inN. Grigoricv's study

is, firstly, to create a haven for the White king from rook checks

along the file, and secondly, to mo u nt a combined attack on the Black king cut off on the back rank, using th e king, the rook and

Grigoriev

8 f8

tf + �xe4. The queen v. rook and pawn ending is drawn in this case. :o 4 �h7! 5 l:r.g8+ 5 . . . �h6 loses to 6 1'8=11'+ Axf8 7 l:l xf8 e2 8 �f6!, but nol 8 llh8+ 'Otg5 9 :thl �f4. 6 Agl! 6 Agl? e2 7 wc7 ltfl = 6 :r4 7 ¢e7 and White wins, as shown in diagram 144. =

.

190

189

Black to play;

White wins

1

the passed pawn (diagram 189). We have already seen examples of such combined action in diag· ram 1 S and in the game Kotov­ Eliskases, diagram 142. I e4! 1 �dS J:lg2 2 J:le7 llf2 leads to a draw. I cle 2 �e6 o;t>g8

3 f7+ Afier 3 J:ld8+ �h7 4 f7 e2 5 J:lh8+ �g 6 6 J:[hl .:e3 + we get a draw. 3

�g7

.C.d8! 4 But not 4 hl �d3! 10 lld8+ J:d4. *e4! 2 . . .

. . .

.

3

.I xb4 +

�d3

Black threatens mate and wins an important tempo for advancing his pawn. after which the manoeuvre we have seen repeat­ edly in earlier cha pte rs is decisive. 4 �el e4 S .llll8 llal + The rest is ob\·ious. 6 \Pf2 e3+ 7 �g3 c2 8 J:d8 + �c4 9 .=�s el tl' + 10 l:txel l:lxel 11 h4 �d5 12 'Otg4 llhl 13 Resigns.

Khasin 1

�gl!

:d4 2 :g5 wd2 3

l:lxh5 e3 4 l:l:e5 .llxb4 (or 4

Chekhover

=

B

1

Or l 3

.le8+

J:b8! e4 2

. . .

�f4 4

ll•2+

.ll d8 + �e5 : f8 .:.Pg5 5

. . .

e2 5 ¢>f2! llf4+ 6 �g3 :n 7 h5) S .lla.S l:lf4 6 lla2 + and draws. In diagram 193 we have a pos­ ition from the game Alatortsev-

Alatortsev

114 More pawns Chekhover (Tiflis 1932). Black intends to give his rook up for the a-pawn and ta ke White's f-pawn. This ending wi l l be drawn only if the White king is far enough away from e2. There followed:

I

to g7 or h 7 does not help as White's f-pawn will ad\·ance. An interesting piece of counterplay saves Black.

Sandor

�gl

'ili'c4

2 q;.cS! The White king operates on two fronts. He makes for b7 whilst at the sa me time preventing the rook sacrifice on a 7. After 2 . . It xa7 3 :11a1 �xfl 4 �d4 �e2 5 .l:la2+ �el 6 ..Ve3 or 4 . . �g2 5 e3, White wins. .

.

2.

3

l:lc8t

�b6

lh8

If now 4 wb7, then 4 . l:te7 + 5 ¢>c6 :xa7 6 :.xa7 �xf2 7 *d5 �gl 8 �e4 f2 and draws.

Kluger

. .

.. ¢'e6! If 4 Ac2, then 4 :e6+ 5 �b7 :e2!; since the White king stands on the b 1 to aS diagonal, after 6 lhe2 White's pawn will queen without check. �n 4 4 . . J:.h8 would not change things: 5 ¢>b7 l:th7 + 6 *b6 %1h8 7 :e2l, whi ch is analogous to the game continuation. 5 *b7 l:le7 + 6 �b6 .l:le8 1 lcl! ¢>g2 8 wb7 :te7+ . . .

.

Ae8+ wb8! 10 :tel and Black re­ signed, since after 10 . . .z::t xc8 + 9

.

II

�xc8

�xf2

12

a8=1W

the

pawn is still only on the 6th rank.

Diagram 194 ·is taken from a game played in 1955. Black's pos­ ition does not look very hopeful. a6-a7 and ch ec k with the rook is threatened. Playing the Black king

1 2

�£5! .z::ta6+ �g4

a6

*&2

3

4

a7

If 4 f5 then 4 . . :C.a2+ 5 �fl �n 6 � el :e2+ 7 � d l :1e7=. 4 lhl+ �gl �f3 5 The Black king has hidden behind tbe f-pawn. On 6 f5, would come 6 . %lg2+ 7 �hl llg7 8 f6 :n 9 �h2 h4 10 �h3 �f4. .

.

6

7

.

¢lhl

f5

M

*g3!

A stalemate idea in a rook

ending.

8

9

Ag8+

¢g1

�hJ

If 9 a8='i' :at+! 10 'ihal stalemate. l:gl+ 9

to

l:lxg2 stalemate.

More pawns 1 15

Rook and two p•wiBs v. rook 1ncl two pawns Rook and three pawns v. rook aiMI two p1wns Rook aod three pawns v. rook and tllree pawns In the previous section the reader became acquainted with the various types of rook endings with two pawns against one. In the analyses the various strategems

for conc..lm.:ting Lhc attack and lhc

defence were illustrated. Des pite the limited am ount of material the correct me thod of play was far from simple either for the superior, or the inferior, :side and required close knowledge of simpler schernas. In this section we shall examine

rook endings with an increased

number of pawns: two against

two, three against two and three against three. It goes without saying that when there are six to eight pieces and pawns on the board anal ysis becomes considerablv more complicated and difficul whilst the number of pos..sible types of ending is great1y mul ti p lied. We have been forced to restrict ourselves to the basic schemas that are most frequently met in

�

A number of basic ideas will be illustrated by a series of selected examples. We draw the reader's attention to one most important strategical idea, the importance of which increases with the number of pawns on the boa rd : when choos­ ing a plan, to try and transpose to simpler positions already exa m­ ined. The analyses given in the previous chapters are in this case an indispensable help. Diagram 194A, which iiJustrates the struggle of connected against disconnected passed pawns, was met in the game Alekhine-Alexander (Margate 1937). Had it been his turn to move

Black would have got some play wi th I ... gS and 2 ... Ug6. However, it was White who had the move. There fotlowed: .Ub6 Aa5! 1 1 d4 Ult3 1 3 q;r4 .Ub4 4

Alexander

practice.

The basic ideas and techniques illustrated in the preceding chapters, namely: isolating the enemy king from i ts passed pawn as one of the aims of both the attacking and the defending side, placing the rook behind and in front of the pas..sed pawn, activating the kings and the rooks, and others-are all equally important in endings with a large number of pa wn s such as will be studied in this section.

cl5

19�A

Alckhine

.Ub6

116 More

pawll.�

S AcS l:lb4 Or 5 . . %t b 7 6 e5 .: a 7 7 C:e8 a5 8 e6+ etc. Black is helpless against the

6 7

.

adva nce hand in White pawns. 6 Ac7+ ,

7

A a7

hand.

8

of the

�f8 Resigns.

:la6 e5 ¢'f6

Or

195

9

e6!

10 II

e7

hS h4

�g8 :r1

�e5 and

7 8

l:lxf4+ WIDS.

l:la7 +

9 to

e6 e7+

It 12

�f6 llxa2 etc.

�e7 �d8 h4 �eS l:ld

196 is taken from the Keres-Akkhinc (A VRO 1938). Each player has two con­ Position

game

nected

Diagram 195 is taken from Filip-Giigoric (1956). The two connected pas�d pawns here. too, are stronger than the two isolated pawns. The continuation was: I f4 a4 2 l:lc6+ ¢'b5 3 l:.c5 + ..tg6, ..

and White forced a draw by rep­ etition of moves. But White's very first move is dubious as it takes away a haven from the White king. The correct continuation was pointed out by Vukovic. a4 1 ¢>f4! 2

Ac6+

wg7

f4

al

Or 2 . . �h5 3 �f5 a3 4 f4 a2 5 l:la6 ri'h4 6 lhh6 + �g3 7 l:lg6 + �f3 8 lta6±. aJ 3 �f5 4 �f8 l:lg6+ Or 4 �f7 5 f4 a2 6 l:la6 h5 7 c5 h4 8 e6+ (8 .C.n7+ 'itlgR) 8 4ie1 9 l:la7 + �d6 10 :d7 + wc6 11 :lld2 cJiJc7 12 llf2 ± .

passed

pawns.

was:

Alekhinc 196

.

. . .

. . .

S

White's

advantage lies in the fa ct that his pawns are further advanced and it is his turn to move. The pawns' being close to the 8th creates vari­ ous tactical possibilities, as has been shown earlier in a number of examples. It should also be taken into account that the enemy rook is able to halt the advance of the connecLed pawns and the support of the king is then required Whi­ te's centralized king stands better than Black's. The continuation

Keres

More pawns 117 I 1 ...

�e7

c6!

llc2 2 b5 llc5 comes to

mind, but then 3 l:t b4! ± .

2

b5?

A

An instructive error. It is best for the king to restrain the pawns, therefore it should have been cut off by 2 lld4! (see B). 2 3 4 s 6 7

llbl

l:te4

�d8

:eS c4 J:lg4+ �r4 f4 10 �c2 A b5. And 7 l:. c6 + achieves nothing because of 7 . . . ¢le5, or even 7 . . . �e7 8 llc4 l:l b l 9 l1 c5 ll b4 = . On the basis of this analysis we arrive at Whi te's strongest conti­ nuat ion , namely: 7 .:c4! (after 4 l1 c4 *e5 5 .: cs �f6 6 b 5 l1 g l ) (diagram 198A). The threat is 8 1 98A

:. b4 which

1 20 More pawns would follow even on 8 . . . �e5. Let us analyse t he possible vari­

ations:

( 1 ) 7 . . . ¢>e6. 8 �d2! (i nadequ­ is 8 : b4 d7 9 b6 �cK or 8 b6 l:l b 1 or 8 l:l c6 + �d5 or �e5) 8 . . . � d 5 (9 ¢>c2 and 1 0 b6 w as threatened) 9 : b4 ¢>c5 1 0 b6 �xb4 I I b7 ± . We can see from thi s variation why 8 ¢>d3 would have been no good . (2) 7 . . . . l:l bl 8 lt c6 + �e7! (8 . . . �e5 l ose s to 9 l: c5 + �f6 10 ¢'d4!. and 8 . . . �f7 to 9 b6 l:l b4 10 wd3 n xg4 1 1 ¢' c 3) 9 l:l c5 l:l b4 10 l: 1tgS �f6. or 9 b6 : b4r to l:txg6 �r7 1 1 : h 6 �g7 1 2 l:l d6 A xg4 with a simple draw. (3) 7 . . . Jt b3 + 8 oi'd2 lt b3 9 l:l c5 lt g3! (this is tbe basic poi n t to Black's defence. After 9 . . . : b4, 10 'itwe3! White wins) 1 0 llc6 + we7! (this move again. Both 1 0 . . . w f7 and 10 . . . �e 5 lose) 1 1 Ac4 (or 1 1 b6 l:l xg4) 1 1 . . . l:l b3 12 l:c5 l:l g3; l3 b6 : xg4 1 4 �c3 ll g l and Black h as sufficient resources to draw, e.g. 1 5 l: b5 ll c4 1 6 wd4 : c8 1 7 l:l xg5 wd7 1 8 n xg6 : c t = . In this variation White can play 9 nc6 + , instead of 9 : c5. But here too 9 . . . ¢'e7! saves Black : 10 b6 �d7! 1 1 l:l xg6 l:l b4 1 2 llg7 + ( 1 2 b7 �c7 1 3 ll xg5 �xb7 1 4 ¢>e3 we6 15 �f3 ¢'d6 = ) 1 2 . . . ¢'c8! 1 3 ll xg5 l hb6 14 l:l.d5 : b4 1 5 g5 l:l e4 1 6 ¢'d3 lt c l , and Black must draw. The variations we have looked at show that the continuation 4 : c4 ¢'e5 5 llc5 + ¢' f6 6 b5 ll g l sets Black difficult problems hut that i t is not adequate to win . ate

White can also try i nstead of 6 b5 6 l h6 + . Here too 6 . . . e4 there follows 8 . . . : g I !, and after 9 d� l:l. g3 + 10 we2 �d5 we rea ch an already familiar drawn position.'

3

e4 1 3 �c4 �f3 with

simple draw.

12 13 14

�b3

.ll b5 + !

12 a

wcS 'it>dS

Keres plays this diffic ul t ending faultlessly. Arter 1 4 wa4 .;.c6, ronowed by capturing on White's b7, the pawn ending would be drawn.

14 Or 14

15

16

17

18

. . .

�e4 . . .

¢'c6 1 5 'it>c4.

¢'a4!

¢'f3

l:l b4 : xb7

l:l xb7 lt'x�4

.

. . .

rrom a

position looks hopeless. The deep manoeuvre conceived by Black. based on the same theme of isoJat­ ing the enemy king, merits careful study. I l:le4!! Black sacrifices a second pawn, but prevents the Whjte king from entering actively into the battle. If I =. a t , then 2 l: a6 (2 �f4 : n + 3 ¢' g5 l: £3! with good drawing chances) 2 . . a4 3 e5 : o 5 : xa4 l: xg3 6 l:U4 wg6 7 D xf5 : cJ . . .

f3 �b3 19 �c3 g4 20 �dl g3 White would have answered 20 .;.12 with 2 1 ll c7 + . ..tel �gl 21 Res ign s l2 l:t g7

On 22

hiagram 1 99 is taken

game in the Schlechter-Lasker, l 9 1 0 match. Black has lo st a pawn; in addition White threatens to force a win by c4 and wf4. Black's

'it>h2 there follows 23

.

8 11 1'2 ± . Z J:tc5 ¢> f6 3 l:X•S :c4! Now White•s pieces will be

122 More pawns forced to occupy passive positions. 1'1 c3 + ! 4 1'1 al �e5 5 ¢'gl Black is two pawns down, but he still d raws! 6 llb2 �f6 J::. c6 7 �h3 A mistake would be 7 f4? 8 J:l b3 l hc2 9 : f3 ± . . . .

8

1'1 b8

9

ll b6 + II!

10

11 12

116 +

.C. xc2

.1: bl

defensive man­ oeu"Vre. Black cuts the White king off from the Black a-pawn and threatens 2 :1 b4. correct

. . .

ll h4!

2

A quick draw would result after 2 l h7 1'1 xh2 3 : xa5 .l:l g2 etc. �eS 2 On 2 . g5 the correct continu­ ation would be 3 : c4! (with the threat of 4 h4) 3 .l:l xh2 4 �b5 .

.

. . .

Simagin 200

4 5

.

Mikcnas rnove

ll c4

�rs �e5

¢'f6 �d5

: r4 +

: c3

wg 7

g4 g5 9 The only move, otherwise after 10 g5 the Black king would be shul out and White could set about winning Black's a-pawn. 10 hg ¢>g6 .l:l e4 II l1 a3 12 �e6! �xeS �C6 13 �b5 14 :t e4! Also adequate is 14 �xa5, but it is always useful to isolate the Black king from the 'If-side. 14 l: b3 + 15 'i>xaS .l:l b8 16 �.6 ll: bl IPgS 17 a5 18 't;a7 : b5 : b3 19 a6 Resigns. 20 *•8 21 a7 followed by .U e8-b8 is threatened. In diagram 20 1 (Spielmann­ Capablanca, Moscow 1 926) White is in Zugzwang. If 1 �g2, then 1 ll d2 + 2 � fl c2 + . If 1 l1 c4, then 1 . . �e6 2 : c5 �d 6 and White is again in Zugzwang. Cor­ rectly assessing the position Spiel­ mann found that he could save the game because the Black king was cut off on the 6th rank. and he therefore played I ¢'el� : xg3 l �fl! .: d3 3 �gl. There fol· . . .

Black lo

.: g4

lt4 l1 b3 6 l1 g4 Or 6 g4 .l:l h 3 7 d3 :cr. xe4 6 :cr. xc3 J:l. xh4 + . but in fact White would play 4 :cr. xc3 :cr. xc3 + 5 �xc3 'i>xe4 6 'i>c4 wf4 7 �d5 � g4 8 �e6 'i>xh4 9 wf6 �g4 l O � xg6 h4 I I �f6 h 3 12 g6 = . 4 �e3 :cr. ill4 .

-

Lasker along the f-file the Whi te pawn will advance. e.g. l . . l:r. f7 2 f6 �d6 3 �d4 we6 4 b4 and in th e event of an exchange on White's f6, the pawn ending is lost for Black. Thus BJack is in Zugzwang. There followed: 1 l:tf4 b4 .

2 3

4 5

6

bJ

l:tf7

f6

�d6

�d4

�e6

lt f2

1Pd6

: a2!

ll a6 +

:cr.c7

�d7 8 lZ b6 Resigns. An analogous position was met 7

Euwe 204

Bot\'innik

.

.

5 6 7

8

9 10 11

ll xcJ

�f3

:cr. xe4 + :. xb4

1le6

ll f4 +

�e3 ¢>f3 .a: f6 +

l:t e4 + �fS

1l xg6 + !

�x&5

Draw. Diagram 205 is taken from the game Konstantinov-Aratovsky (RS FSR Ch. 1 955).. Black has an extra pawn and the White rook has been forced to block BJack•s g-pawn. But this pawn is lost and if there was an exchange of rooks the pawn endgame would be fav­ ourable for White who has an outside passed h-pawn. Black, therefore, tries by some other method to take advantage of the poor position of the White rook.

More pawns 125

Aratovsky

9

White resigned; on 9 cb comes . . .

�f3.

205

Grigoriev 206

Konstantinov There followed:

1

. . .

ll a8.

White wins

11 1 1

1 h4 :l g4 + 2 �f3 J: xh4 3 'itJ x.g3 l: f4! would not save White. Now in answer to 1 ll c7. White plans on co n ti n ui ng 2 :l xg3 l1 xc2 3 l1 g8 .ll c3 4

In t his example, investigated by N. Grigoriev, White effectively obtains a favourable position for his rook behind his passed pawn. Although Black succeeds in bl ock ing the pawn with his king even this does not save him. The game went : 1 �xfl l:l b3 2 l:l: a6 + �rs 3 a4 g5 4 hg wxgS S b6 � f4 6 a5 :. 112 + 7 'ioel h4 As we have pointed out earlier (see diagram 168) a rook and knight pa wn pair advances extremely slowly. 8 lll: g7 h3 9 ll b7 hl 10 lt xhl (or 1 0 b7 � xb7 or 10 wdl ¢>g3, 1 l ¢>cl Jl b5) 10 l hb2 1 1 b7 �e3 1 2 �dl �d3 13 �el �e3 14 �n �f3 15 �gl!, after w hich White could have lost because of 1� 11 g:Z + 16 �hi : bz 17 a6 �g3, however, J� l:t bl! 16 a6 llbl + ! 17 *hl was played, with a draw. I b6 would not have won : I . . . J: b3 2 b7 gS 3 hg + w x:gJ 4 a4 �g4 5 � xfl h4 6 a5 h3 7 a6 ll gl + ­

1 2

3 4 5

g2 �rs

�o

e4 +

.llxl2

wf2 : c:7 �el 5 we3 woul d not have saved White ei t h er because of 5 l% e3 + 6 ¢>d2 J:l: x h 3 7 ll g8 l: h2 + 8 �e 3 J hc2 9 !H8 + �e5 1 0 : e8 + �d6 1 1 l:l a8 :l c3 + 12 �xe4 l:l xb3 1 3 .lha5 'itJc6 14 �d4 A c3 15 ll h5 Act 16 o;pd3 b3 and Black wins. eJ 5 6 h4 ¢e4 7 hS If 7 l:l gS, then 7 . . a4! 8 ba :C: xc2 9 ll b5 b3 1 0 l% xb3 �f3 1 1 �d l lta2 12 �cl ll xa4 + . If 7 lZ. h2 then 7 a4, 8 ba b3! 9 ch ll c 1 + tO �e2 lZ. c2 + and wins. a4! 7 8 ba b3! ,

. . .

.

. . .

. . .

• • •

. . .

= .

1 16 More pawns

The road to victory lay in the foJJowing manoeuvre. �e7 l% a4! 1 l:l c3 2 o;Pxll Or 2 ll b3 3 l:l b4! 1lc3 !exchanging would lead to a lost pawn ending for Black) 4 b6 :as 5 b7 1l b8 6 �e3 �d7 7 �f4 ± . �d7 l:l b4 3 l:a3 4 a4! Or 4 . wc8 5 a5 IZ.a3 6 a6 �b8 and then we2 -, d2 - c2 ± . . . .

.

s 6 7

8 9 10 II

.

t.6

wc8

b7 + �el aS l:l b5

�b8 ll c3 J: a3

l:l a4 : xh4 wo a6, followed by : b6

defence is to reduce to a simpler rook ending that has been sh o wn by analysis to be drawn. Let us see how the game went. I IZ. c7 l:l d4! l The rook is actively placed on the 4th rank and will facilitate an exchange of pawns by h4. This mo v e immediately would be bad in view of 2 D c3 + 3 wg4 C. c4 + and 4 . .: xb4. With the text move White offers a pawn sacrifice, with the following vari­ ation in mind : 2 . l% c3 + 3 wg4 : xa 3 4 ll d7 + q.,rg 5 :. h7 1la4 + 6 �g3 ll h4 7 l:l a 7 or 4 . �g8 5 :t d6 : a4 + 6 �f5 J:Z. h4 7 �f6! n xh3 g l:ld8 + wi th perpetual che(:k. . . .

. .

. .

= ,

.

-

e6 and wins.

Botvinnik 207

.

l

IZ. c6

3 a4! The logical continuatjon was 3 ll a4! �f6 4 J: a5 �c:6 5 h4 gh + (or 5 . . lc3 + 6 oi>g2) 6 'it>xh4 �d7 7 �g3 l:tf6 8 a4 �e7 9 : hS with an e as y draw. Also playable was 3 h4! l:l c 3 + 4 �g4 gh 5 wxh4 : xa3 6 l:l d6! and White bas reached the drawn pos­ ition of diagram 1 30. 3 4 h4 hg 5 .

Keres

Black to

move

The po siti o n in diagram 207 in the garne Keres-Bot­ vinnik, played in the World Cham­ pionship match-tournament in 1 948. Black has two pawns against one on the K-side, which in itself is not enough to win. However. the presence of pawns on the a­ file complicates the inferi or side's task. The correct method of

arose

6

l: dJ?

A serious positional mistake. In one move's time the White rook will be passively placed and this wiU decide the outcome of the game. After the correct reply 6 lld5 White could sti l l have saved himself, e.g. 6 . ll c3 + 7 wg2 .

.

�h4 8 :l d6 a5 9 l% d5 l: c2 + tO 'ii>f1 ! g4 1 1 l:txa 5 o;Pg3 1 2 ll a8 J:cl + 1 3 �e2 wh2 1 4 aS g3 15 l:t h8 + � g J 16 a6 : a l 1 7

More

127

London

.l:l h6 g2 1 8 .l:lg6 = . 6 .l:l c4! 7 .l:la3 Or 7 a5 .l:l a4 8 : d5 lta3 + 9 �f2 �h4 1 0 �g2 g4 1 1 : es .l:l a2 + 1 2 �fl -.Ph3 1 3 : h 5 +

pal'.'ns

208

14 : g5 J:t a l + 1 5 .;;,e2 �h3 16 : h 5 + �g2 =t= . �g3

7

aS

l:t b4 8 �b3 We now have a series of wai ting moves. 9 �gJ J:t f4 10 l:t a l .l:l g4 + 1 1 �h3 J:t e4 1 2 ll a3 ��6 13 Wg3 tilf5 14 �0 �e5. After the game has been adjourned and subjected to thor­

ough home analysis Black sets about the decisive phase. He brings his king across to the 1V­ side and transposes into a won ending with rook and pawn v . rook and cut-off king. ts w1J : d4 16 .a at �dS 11 l:tbl :b4 (not 17 . . . l ha4? 1 8 .l:l b5 + �c4 1 9 .l:l xg5 : a J 20 �h2 and draws, see diagram 83) 18 : n �e4 19 :et + (or 19 �g4 l:t xa4 20 �xg5 Ae4 =F ) 19 �d4 20 �h2 l:Xa4 ll .l:l gl : c4 12 l:t xgS a4 23 �g2 wd 24 wO a3 25 : a� �b3, and White resigned. Diagram 208 is of historical and theoretical interest It is an interrupted game from a telegraph ma tc h between St Petersburg and London in 1 88�7. Since London conceded the match the game was not played out Chigorin pub­ lished in a French chess magazine analysis in w hich he tried to prove a win for White. Fine, in his book on the endgame, took a renewed interest in the diagrammed position and . ••

St

Petersburg

carne to the conclusion tbat t he ending was drawn. He agreed with Chigorin's con­ clusions to tbe effect that passive defence was doomed to failure. 1 . l:t a7 2 .;;, e4 : a6 3 �d4 . .

.tla7 4 f4

4 . : a6 5 J:tb7 + *d6 �e6 6 �c5 � a8 7 J:t b6 + �f7 8 �b5) 6 f5 gf 7 gf � a8 8 .:l b6 + We7 9 � c5 l:td8 l O J:t b5 etc.; (b) 4 ¢>d6 5 ll b6 + we7 6 �c5 ll: c7 + 7 � b5 ll: c 1 8 g5 f5 (8 fg 9 fg �f7 10 �xa5) 9 l hg6 EW 1 0 o;t>xa5 l:l xf4 1 1 : r6t : n 1 2 �b6 f4 1 3 a 5 J:t g l

(5

(a)

. .

. . .

. . .

. . .

14 l:t xf4 l:t xg5 1 5 a 6 l:lgl 1 6 a 7 l:t a l 1 7 J:t f5 and wins. Seventy years bave passed sinoe then and technique in play­ ing rook endings bas made great advances. Fine, in accordance with the m odern state of theory, suggested an immediate pawn sac­ rifice for Black with the object of activating the black pieces. And so : I . . . l1c6! 2 .: xaS l1c4 + 3 o;t>e3 w hen we have the position in diagram 209. First of all Jet us examine the

1 18 More

pawns

Thus 3 . . .z:t c3 + and the draw­ .

ing

line recommended by Fine do not save Black. We shall examine possible defences for Black.

B 3 . . f5

4 gf gf 5 f4 It b4 6 : a8 wr7 7 aS l h4 8 a6 ¢'g7 9 a7 -

A

and we have the won position of diagram 1 8 1 . If in this variation Black plays 5 we6, then 6 li aS ll e4 + (6 . . . ¢>d 5 7 l:. d 8 + �e6 8 .z:t d4) 7 wf3 ¢>d5 8 aS ll a4 9 : e8 ! �d4 1 0 A e5 and wins.

variation rrom the game London -St Petersburg

. . .

variation recommended by Fine.

c

A

3 g5 4 l b8 'iPf7 5 a5 J:l a4 6 a6 'ii>g7 7 �d3 : r4 (¢'-c3b3 was threatened) 8 ll a7 + �g6 9 l:.c7 C. xf3 + 10 �c4 :a3 I I a7 f5 1 2 ¢'b5 with the threat of 1 3 llt6 + and 14 : a6. . • .

Ac3 + 4 �e4 Ac4 + S 3 �d5 lU4 6 l:la7 + �dB. Here Fine ends his analysis, considering the position dr.twn. But we sh all continue the variation. 7 ¢'d6 'iP�8 (7 . . . l:. d4 + 8 �e6 : f4 9 J:.d7 + �c8 1 0 ll d3 ± ) 8 ll c7 + � d8 (or 8 . . �b8 9 lle3 J: xa4 10 �e6 l:l f4 1 1 wn g5 12 wg6 'il b7 1 3 l:le3 wc7 14 lle6 ± ) 9 l:U7! ¢>dl 10 ll a7 l hf3 (or 1 0 . . f5 1 1 �e6 wds 12 8s l:tx.fl 1 3 'ii> f6 + > 1 1 aS f5 1 2 a 6 ll aJ (otherwise l e7 + and a7) 13 'il>e6 ¢'d8 1 4 g5 f4 1 5 �f6 f3 1 6 'il>g7! f2 1 7 ll f7 J:.a2 1 8 lH8 we7 19 a7 : xa7 20 D :dl : a6 2 1 l f6 ± . There is a n ot her winning method Instead of 10 l h7 White can play 1 0 e6! and then: (a) 10 l:. x a 1 + I I l:hf6 g5 (I I l h3 12 gS!) 12 'ii>f5 : as + 1 3 � g6 and 1 4 : rs ± ; (b) 10 . f5 I I l:. a 7 � d 8 1 2 gS : xf3 1 3 wf6 ± ; (c) 1 0 . . .: xn u : xf6 : e3 + 12 o:bd6 l h3 1 3 %t f4 ± . . . .

.

.

. . .

D J 15 4 : as � 5 aS �eS (5 . . . ztc3 + 6 'ild4 + ) 6 lle8 + �d5 7 a6 l:. a4 8 .:Z. a8 ..t-eS 9 a7 : aJ + 1 0 �fl wr4 1 1 :e8! .:Z. a2 + 1 2 lle2 .z:t xa7 13 : e4 mate. . . .

E 3

• • •

.

4 .: aS

�f7 s aS wg7

6 a6 Ac6 7 ¢>d4 llb6 8 wc5 :a6

9 �b5

A e5 +

10

�c6

.z:t e6 + 1 1 �e7! o;t>h7 (1 1 . . . �f7 12 a7 ± ) 12 a7 l h6 l3 wb7 ± . And yet Black does have a defence! F

. . .

. .

g5

�f7! 3 (a) 4 A a8 wg7 5 a5 A a4 6 a6 wh6! 7 r4 g5 s rg + r1 9 ¢>d3 ��7 10 ¢lc3 A xg4 = : - · ·

More pawns 1 29

(b) 4 .Ua7 + �e6 5 a� %t a4 6 a6 �c5 7 f4 + �d5 8 : as :C: aJ + 9 �fl �e4 Draw. Thus it must be admitted that a timely pawn sacrifice, activating the Black pieces, saves Black in diagram 208. Variation F(a) shows that the White king need only be at d3 instead of e3 to give White the win. However, we have been unable to find any ways of gaining

this decisive tempo. To play individual positions successfully it is oft en useful to

have a knowledge of ideas from studies. To this e nd we shall intro­ d uce here some examples out of t h e world of the composition.

�d6! f2 4 �xe7 fl • 5 : e8! ± . Therefore, Black m ust hide his king from the rook check on e8. f3 3 �xb6 =

4 �

If 5 c4 then 5 . �fl 6 c5 J2 7 �d6 : f6 + 8 �e4 �e l . lH6 + 5 Again unfavourable is 5 ¢'0 6 ¢'e6 l: c7 7 A £8 A x h 7 8 : xn + *e2 9 .1Z g3 *d2 1 0 . .

. . .

c4 + .

6

�d�!

If 6 �e7 then 6 J:l h6 7 � f7 : h3 s w87 wg2 9 :�:us : 83 + 1 0 'i\lf6 f2 = , or 7 c4 we3 etc. . . .

6 7 8

Reti, 1 925 210

J H7

¢>c6 �d6!

9

�e6!

�116

IH5 + li b� : h6 + l: hS +

�c5 ¢b4, and White wins by advancing his c-pawn. Black has no useful moves. After 10 �fl 1 1 A f8 A xh7 1 2 J:l.xf3 + �e2 1 3 llfS we have a won ending of the diagram 46 type.

10

. . .

Holm, 1 9 1 2 White wins

11 1

In Reti's study (diagram 2 1 0) Bl ack 's passe d f-pawn co u n ter balances to a considerable degree White's far advanced h-pawn. Only skilful m a noeuvri ng by White permits him to realize h is slight positional advantage. I �h5 f4 ­

2

�c6!

After 2 ¢'xb6 f3 3 � c6 f2 4 :C: fS l:l. xh 7 t he most White can hope for is a draw. 2

. . .

2 �1'2 f3 wnulrt be answered by 3

White wins

Black loses because his king cannot get to the safety zone (g7, h7) in time.

130 More pawns I

�e6

d4 +

11 J

After other retreats check with the rook and a7 is decisive. 2 cl5 + �e5 Black also loses after 2 . 'Ot>d7 3 a7 ll a3 4 d6! ed 5 Jl h8 J ha 7 6 .a h7 + . . .

Zl. c7 a7 3 Or 3 . . It a3 4 d6 � e 6 5 de 'flxe7 6 Zl. b8 .

4 5 6

J:ld7 d6 Jl xa7 :C.e8! llxe7 and wins.

Diagram 2 1 3 is extremely inter­ Whi te has three pawns against Black's two, but all the pawns are on one wing and White h as no passed pawn. On t he other hand the Black king is cut off on the back r an k , which, as has been esting.

112

repeatedly pointed out. presents a serious danger for the inferior side In addition, Black's pawns are isolated and can be attacked eas­ ily. Finally the Black king has to .

White

all practical purposes no move at

wi nlii

I

�g8 :C. h7 2 :e7t If 2 .lhh6 then 2 ll xh6 + 3 � xh6 a5 4 g5 a4 = . �f8 2 3 :C. xe6 : e6 . . .

4

fe

6 7 8

gS g6 g7 +

5

9 10 It

. . . *f8 is answered by 2 J:t h7, and 1 . . . � h 8 by 2 ll f7. The Black rook, too, is restricted in its movements. White can rorce

aU: 1

� xh6

g8= '11t' 'fff7 'lfd7 +

a5 a4 •3

a2 'lie7 al = 'il' 'itid6

�c5

it to go to a5 or c5. The White king entering on f5 a nd g6 also presents a serious threat. Are the extra pawn and t he positional advantages pointed out s ufficient to win? How could Whi te improve his position if Black were to adopt w a itin g tactics by l: a5-- b5? The pawn advance 1 g5 only

leads

to exchanges. Thererore, and force kin g

�g6 with good pros­ pects in the queen endi ng This game is Alekhine-Stohz, Salzburg

White undertakes to try a way through with. his

wm.

simplifying into n 3 �ds � b3 4 l:l 417 + ��s s f4 l:t e6! 6 wd6 l:t e4! 7 f5 .: e l 8 .: e7 l:t a l ! Also drawn is diagram 2 1 3b (�/d6 . l:t ,lc6, ."1 /fS, g4, h5; �/r?, .: /a 7, 8 /f6, h6). I : a4 2 .: c7 + � g8 3 �e7 :a6! 4 .: d7 �17 s ll d6 l:t a4 6 we6 : e4 + = .

• .•

and draws.

Position 2 1 4 was met in the game Chigorin-Tarrasch (B u da pest 1 896). White's advantage is indisputable, but it is not sufficient to win. 1 fJ h5 A perfectly playable move. Black restrains the advance of the ­

White h-pawn. W a i ting tactics would also not lose, e.g. 1 . . . l:t a4 2 h5 h6l 3 ll a7 J:l: a S 4 g4 : a4

f4

D

: a7 g4 ra

*fB

� g8

*fB h&

.: a n

This l oses. Correct was 7

�g8 8 h5 : bS! reaching the drawn diagram 1 6 1 . :n+ s �r5

9

10

�&6 gS!

: r4 fg

Black also loses after l: xh4

11

etc.

� aS +

cjJe7

I0

12

gf+

ll a4 I I lag If 1 1 . . . � g8, then 1 2 J:l: a8 + : rs l3 : xf8 + � xrs 1 4 h 7 ± After 1 1 . . . � g4 1 2 � xa6 'fJ. g l 1 3 : as + we7 1 4 'fJ. g8! is decisive (see diagram 4 1 ). .

*e7 12 l: a8 a5 13 c;Ph6 The attempt to bring the Ki ng

closer to the a-pawn rails: 1 3 . . . �d6 1 4 g6 �c 5 1 5 g7 ll g4 1 6 : xaS + ± .

1 32 More pa¥ms 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

g6 17 ¢:'g6

� ..,

��8 l h7 + l h6!

The

conclusive

l:la l : Ill ll gl + llhl +

ll xa6 J:c5 Black would reach the drawn position of diagram 2 13.

¢10 %l c6

�h8 �h7

10

�gl

�f7

13 14

� 12 l:l c7 + J: c6 l:l g6 +

9

�e8

: hl ll el

l:lgl

Resigns.

�g7

ll c2

11 ll

winning

manoeuvre. The threat is 21 w h7 l:t h l + 22 .C.h6. lO 21 22 23

7 8

:at

15

�g7 �g8 �g7 �h7

�el

.:. a4!

correct idea. Black cuts the king off along tbe 4th rank and wiU answer 1 6 l:l f6 with 1 6 . . lta3 + 1 7 �f2 l: a5 etc. A

.

Tartako ..·er 215

16 -"d3 J:l: a l This move creates more diffic­ ulties for the defence. Black could

have drawn mnre simply by 16 a5 J 7 :C. a6 (or 1 7 �c3 l:l e4) 1 7 . . . �g7! 1 8 l:a7 + (or 1 8 � c3 ll a 3 + J 9 ¢1d4 J:l xg3 20 �e5 ll e3 + 21 �xf5 :e7 = ) 18 . . .

. . .

� f6

19

: a2 +

l:l xh5

The position in diagram 2 1 5, taken from the game Szabo--Tar­ tako ver (Stockholm 1 948), bears a surprising resemblance to the

ending

from Chigorin- Tarrasch.

Here too Black should not lose with correct defence. 1 : as �h4 2 'Obg4 a6 .l:l al l ll b7 4 h4 : as

l:t6 1'5 + ! This complicates the derence. After 6 . . l:l b5 1 J:l: c6 �f7 8 5 6

� ll c7

.

21

23 g2 :i>g6

t7 18

Szabo

l:l a3 + 20 �f2 wn l: h2 22 l ha5

�eJ

d4 �e5

= .

: ht lh.hS

�laB 19 �f6 Also possible was 19 . . . .:. h 1 20 ¢'xf5 ll b l 2 1 l ha6 : b7 22 �f6 ll g7 23 l:l a3 U g6 + 24

A g7 25 f5 ll b7 = ; or 1 9 . . 20 lt g7 + �h8 2 1 :c7 l: b l 22 �x£5 U b3 23 g4 (23 ..tg4 a5 24 �h4 l:tf3 25 ll a7 a4 26 : xa4 �g7) 23 . . . l: b6 24

�e5

.

lt h l

�c5 �g8 25 f5 l% b4 � . 20 �f7 a5 Complicating the defence.

. �h7 e.g. 2 1 n xa6 ll h3 22 : g6 h 5 23 : b5 �h6 24 �f6 h4 = , or 2 1 l1 g7 + ¢>h8 22 �g6 l. h3 23 g4 ll g3! = . l:l a6 A IIJ? 2J Simpler was 20

. .

More pawns 133 A mistake. 21 . . . � h7 would have saved Black. and after 22 'iti> f6 .: h3 23 g4 ll b3 24 : a7 + �g8 25 �xf5 .ll b6 26 J:t xa5 �f7 27 � a7 + 'it>f8 28 l:t d 7 we have again come to dia gra m 164 where no win could be demonstrated for

White.

2l 2J 24 25 26 21

g4l

�h7

g!i

hg

p+ g7 + aS = •

'i>h6 �b5 Resigns.

fg

f4

Kan 116

Lisitsyn Diagram 2 1 6 is taken from Lisitsyn-Kan ( M oscow 1 935}. White has an extra passed pawn

on the •-side and Black's pawns disconnected. White's rook is badly pl aced and so with his next mo,·e White brings i t into play. I J:a6! I g4 would not work because or 1 . . . �t.>eS 2 .t.g3 rs! 3 b 6 + �f6 4 .: xf5 �g6 �eS I : b2 + 2 : b6 xg4 *'g6 = . Note at the same time that on 6 b6 playable is 6 . . . ll d2, and if 7 b7, then 7 . . . ll b2 � �6 6

ll b2 li dS : d5 White's plan becomes clear. He wants to exchange his g-pawn for Black's h-pawn, ad vance his f. 7 8

pawn to f5 and then transfer his king to the • -side. 8 ll bl! A strong reply. Now 9 g4 is answered by 9 . . . hg + 10 �xg4 f5 + , and 1 1 .: xf5 is not possible because of I I . . . l:t g l + . If I I h4 J:b4 with a draw . 9 llc5 .: bl? After this move Black finds hi m­ self on the verge of defeat, whereas 9 . . . : b3! 10 wh4 ll b l would have held the balanoe. 10 g4! Now White is able to carry out the first part of his plan. After 10 . . . hg + 1 1 �xg4 r; + 1 2 ll xf5 :Z. g2 + 1 3 �f3 the Black rook c�mes under attack.

10 II J2

f4 l:l e l 1 5 ll d6 ¢>g7 (o r 1 5 . . . llfl + 1 6 �e4 � g 5 1 7 l: d S + ) 1 6 b6 ll b l

1 34 More pawns

(or

1 6 . . . J:l e2 1 7 l:l d7 + �h6 1 8 J:z.£7 IU2 + 19 �e4 D: e2 + 20 �d3 ± ) 1 7 �e4 l:t b5 1 8 �d4 and White wins, following the analysis to diagram 1 85. l:tc4! 13 .D. d6 I t is remarkable that Kan should find this difficult move, although he was not familiar with the corresponding analyses of the intermediate positions. 13 . . . l:t b4 would have lost after 14 b6 ll b3 15 A c6! and Black is in Zugzwang. A mistake woul d be 1 5 f5 + wg7 1 6 �f4 l:t b4 + 1 7 �e3 � h6! drawing. a.� was shown in diagram 1 86. :w 14 b6 IS wf3 Or 1 5 l:lc6 A b3 1 6 f5 + 1ig7 17 �f4 l:t b4 + 1 8 �e3 wh6 ;; , wfS? ts Black can hardly be repro­ ached for this natural. but errone­ ous, move. Only the analysis of the intermediate positions could have helped him find the correct

drawing line. He should have played 1 5 . . . �f7! 16 f5 �g7! etc., or 16 .D. c6 f5! 17 �e3 �e7! , and draws as in diagram 1 8 3. 16 �e3 ll e4 + O r 1 6 . . . �g6 1 7 �d3 J: xf4 1 8 A d4 A ft 1 9 A b4 l:t d 1 + 20 �c4 l:t d8 21 b7 A b8 22 'Ot'd5 f5 23 �c6 �gS 24 �c7 Ah8 25 b8 = w l hb8 26 l:Z.Xb8 f4 27 A f8 ± . 17 �d3 .C b4 Or 1 7 . . . l hf4 1 8 A d5 + �e6 19 ll b5 ± . �cJ l:l bl 18 19 �d4 .Cd l + 20 wo :t el + �d5 21 :tdl + ll �c6 l:l c l + 23 �d7 wxf4 l4 11 xf6 + �e5 25 .IU6 llc:l 26 ll d l J:l b2 27 �c7 llcl + 28 1Pb8 .l:t b2 29 b7 : 112 J:l al 30 Resigns.

6

Numerous pawns

Pawns on on� wing

White forced the draw as fol­

In this section we shaU examine endings in which all the pawns a re on one side of the board (three

pawns against two and four against three). In the previous

chapter we already met such a position in diagram 2 1 3, which we singled out at that point because it was most convenient to intro duce it then. When al l the pawns are on one

lows: l .l: d4 g5 l ll g4 f6 3 g3! bg 4 h4 :eJ s bg rs 6 : f4 = .

If the inferior side·s king is cut off from his pawns there is a danger of his losing. In di ag ram 2 1 8, taken from Fine's book on liS

­

wing the defensive possibilities are greater. However, to make proper use of his chances a player must be

familiar with the ways of playing such endings and with certain crit­ ical positions. This will make his ch o ice of this or t ha t move during the game easier. In diagram 2 1 7 we have the ending from the game Levenfish­ Cohn (Carlsbad 1 9 1 1 ).

Black to move

the endgame. we have a position of this type. Fine thinks that White wins by the following line : 1 A b7 2 f5 . . .

Cohn 217

l h7 3 g! �d6 4 114 .:a4 5 .: e4 .: a t 6 :ea : n + 7 �g4 Agl + 8 �hS ll fl 9 ll g8 lt :d5 1 0 lt xl7.

Naturally such a 'co-operative' defence is bound to lose. Black m ust choose another plan and firstly forestall the threat of l: e8. Therefore: 1 �d6 2 fS �d7 3 gS (if 3 �f4, then 3 . . . l::t a6, preventing 4 .:. c6; the immediate 3 lt e6 does not work because of 3 . . . A a3 + 4 �f4 l:. h3, or 4 �g2 g6) 3 l h t 4 :eJ : n . • .

Levenfisb

•.•

1 36 Numerous pawns

s wg4 :11 + 6 wll5 :n 1

: eS l:lxf5! 8 l1 :d5 &6 + 9 ¢116 gr= o r 9 WK4 cr + 10 �xf5

with Yates (soe n ex t example).

�e7 = . Capablanca succeeded in win­ nin g two end ings in which the Black king was not cut off from its pawns--against lJuras and

8 1:1. 18? Correct was 8 �fl ! so as to answer 8 . . . : d l + wi th 9 �e2. and with his active king White can successfully play for the d raw, since to compensate for t he weak­ ness of his h -p a w n he can attack

against Yates.

Black's e-pawn

and

g-pawn.

8

�d4? He s ho uld have played 8 . . . : d2 9 l hg5 �f6 10 .: g4 �rs I I �fl f3 1 2 �e l .:C: e2 + 1 3 � fl

Capablanca 119

.D a2 14 �el l:l a l + 1 5 ll. fl 1 6 �e3 l:l e l + 17 A e2! 18 l: g8 :d2 + 19 lt d3 mate, or 9 � fl n lO ll e2 + 1 1 �fl :a2 1 2 .: a1 + 1 3 �d2 : fl '

9

Diagram 2 1 9 is the postttOn (New

g6

: b5 On 2 ll a6 the strongest reply would be 2 . . . : d l with the l h rea t

of 3 . . . f4.

2 3

�f4

l:dl 4 c5 �e5 5 IU.5 6 f4! : b8 7 Premature. Correct was 7 . . . :as : a4 :w l:l b5 +

�n

9

from Duras--Capablanca York 1 9 1 3).

:as

�el �el

Acti\·ating the White king and taking the e2 square away from Black's king.

Duras

1 :z

�d2 �d4 ¢-e3

A d t 8 A e8 + � f6 9 : r8 + �e6 l O A e8 + �f7 I I : es �f6 12 .l e8 :C: e l ! and White can do nothing against the threat of . . . f4. This plan was demon­

strated by Capablanca in his game

¢-d3 eJ l:t a8 Inadequate is 1 0 . . . f3 because 10

of I I ..tel, and also 1 0 . . . *d2 because of 1 1 l:l e8 l: d4 12 : e 5 l1 b4 1 3 : d 5 + �c3 1 4 : xg5 .ll b l + 1 5 �e2 f3 + 16 �eJ : e t + 1 7 �f4. If t O . . . l:l b5 White would pursue the king with checks ( 1 1 ll d 8 �c4 12 .:C: c8 + ) and then attack the e-p.a.wn.

A ll + ! 11 The decisi ve mistake. After 1 1 .D a2! White would ha ve drawn, as the analysis of diagram 1 90 showed. Another way of drawing was 1 1 .D eS �d2 1 2 :C: e7 : d3 1 3 : e5 �d l 1 4 :e-8 ef 1 5 l:l e5 16

�d2

because

wins!).

II 12

�xl'2! (not 1 6 of 1 6 . . . �e3 and

fe

..te4

f3

.ll xg5

Black

l\1umerou.� 1 2 . . . fe? l 3 : as .tt f5 + 1 4 l:H2 + 1 5 � c l �f3 1 6 .: rs + �g3 1 7 .t c8 .t f3 1 8 �e2

·;;; e2

= .

IJ �gl l1d3 14 lla8 On 14 ll a5 Black replies 14 . . .

�xe3.

IS

16

ll e8 +

�f2 18 �n On 1 8 � g l , 18 h7 I I l::tf8 �g6 1 2 J:l g8 + ¢>f5 13 A xg4 �xg4 1 4 e6 etc. 10

11

�dO h7 1 3 :C. f8 :t:. a 7 + 1 4 � d 8 � g6 1 5 ll g8 + �h7 1 6 :t:.g7 + ¢> h 8 1 7 g 5 hg 1 8 �e8 lla5 19 J:l xg5 l: a7 20 e6 fe 2 1 f7 ll a8 + 2 2 �e7 l: a7 + 23 ¢>f6 : as 24 l: h5 m ate . l h7 + n �d7

f6+

13

14

15 16 17

¢'d6

J:. d8

f6 +

lH8

¢>c6

'iii' g7 ll a5 �h7 l:a7

Another winning method was to tr ans fer the k ing to f5 and then sacrifice the rook for Black's f­ pawn.

17 18 19

24

J:l g8 + J:l g7 + �b6 �c5! ¢>d6 e6 c6 lt d8 : c6 l:t c7 �g4

Draw

Diagram 223 is d r a wn. Black's h-pawn can also be at h6. 1 ll b7 Black will reply to I g5, with I . . . f5l, and 1 f5 + with I . . . �g7 2 : b7 + �g8 3 �g3 : a t !. The continuation I ll b6 h6 2 e4 : a3 + 3 .;,12 rl¥g7 4 e5 fe 5 fe .:as 6 ll e6 �f7 leads to a simple draw.

1

h5!

Possible now is 2 g5 fg 3 ll b6 +

¢>g7 4 fg = . The try 4 f5 is met by 4 . . . g4 + 5 .;,g3 .Z: e4. [f 2 gh +

xh5 3

l:t g7, t hen 3

wh6 4 ll g2 f5! saves Black. 2 3

4

s 6 7 8

9

10

II

In

f5 +

¢>116

gb l1g7 ll g6 we4 ¢>d5 e4 e5 �e6 ¢>d6

�xh5

D raw.

lt b4 lt b6 : a6 lt a3 .ll a6 lt aS + lt xe5 +

lh5

this ending from a game in

1 40 Nwnerous pawns Kholmov

125

214

Suet in

White wins

after 3 . . . :as + 4 11>e4 l:l a6! a the 2 1 st USSR Ch. W hi te's h­ draw results. There see m to be no pawn is passed whilst Black's f­ other ways of improving White's pawns are doubled. But for defens­ position. ive purposes doubled pawns are : a7t I very helpful. We give the game The game went: 1 . . . hg 2 continuation with th e omission of :. d7 + �rs 3 : n + �gs 4 repeated moves. �g6 g4 5 h6 gh 6 e7 ll a8 and I h4 ll b2 l l:t c5 ll al 3 �h3 Black resigned. The entf)' of the :C. bl 4 g4 ll b4 5 h5 :. a4 6 wg3 White king on @6 proved decisive. :C. b4 7 ..tfl :l a4 8 �e3 :. b4 9 2 Jl e5! Found by Bo tvinnik. After 2 gh lidS Jl g4 10 ll d4 l:l e5 I I f4 :. bS 1 2 we4 15. (The simplest. gb we get a position that can be shown to be drawn, e.g. 3 ll b5 Black brings it do wn to a drawn ll c7 4 D b6 A c5 + 5 � g6 Jle5 ending. Also safe for Black was 1 2 6 �xh6 �f6. . . . : as 1 3 l:l d S .l:l. a6 14 ¢tf5 Now obviousl y bad wo uld be 2 .a b6 1 5 g5 fg 1 6 fg l:l b8) 13 gf �lt6 1 4 l:t d7 �xh5 I S : d7 . . . �d6 3 gb gh 4 � f6 and 2 . . . �116 1 6 lld7 :. a5 1 7 :t d5 l::ta6 :. a6 3 �g6! �f8 4 �h7. Arte r 1 8 �eS �g7 19 .l:l. d7 + �f8. Black's g-pawn falls the advance White played on for an ot her 20 of Wh ite's h-paw n will be decisive. 2 moves in an attempt to win this hg 3 � xg5 elementary drawn posi tion. :at I f 3 . . . : a6, t hen 4 �g6 � fS The position in diagram 225 occurred in the game B o tvinnik ­ 5 �h7. On 3 . . . � f8 comes 4 Najdorf (1956). The game con­ �g6 l:l e7 5 h6! gh 6 �f6, and White wins because of Black's tinued : I g5! pawn on h6 (otberwise 6 . . . J:l f7 + I ll d7 + leads nowhe re : 1 . . . would draw). A n a nalogous \'ari­ a lion arises after 3 . . . qwd6 4 �f5! �f8 2 e 7 + �c8! 3 l:l b7 : aS + 4 wg6 D gS + and draws. Tempt­ ll e7 5 h6 gh 6 �f6. 4 : e l w o uld ing is I ll d 7 + �f8 2 .I::U7 + Jead to a draw : 4 . . . l:l a5 + 5 ¢>g8 3 g 5 hg 4 � g6. However. �g6 �e7 6 .1:1. bl �xe6 1 : b7

Numerous pawns 1 4 1 J:t c 5 8

ll xg7 ll c l = ��6

J:tgl + '>i> xg7 b5 11 .Cial a4, and the advance or the passed pawn decides. 'iti>f5 2 f3 2 f5! looked better After 3 �fl �f6 4 we3 �e6 5 h4 �d5 6 g4 fg 7 fg �c5 8 �d3 -.t>b5 9 l:le4 l:lc7! 10 l:le6 l:lc6! t 1 l:l e5 + l:lc5 12 lte6 g5! 13 hg hg 14 g6 .:l g5 Black would win. However, in this variation Whi te can still fight for the draw by 10 hg hg 11 :es!. -The text move leads to the Black pawns becoming disconnected and seems to let any winning chances slip. .

.

.

Bohinnik Diagram 237 occur red in the game Botvinnik-Borisenko {22nd USSR Ch. 1955t The pawn struc­ ture is the same as in Alekhine's games against Capab1anca and Tartakover and Lasker's against Levenfish: evenly balanced on the �-side and a passed pawn, reinforced by a rook from behind, on the other side of the board. Black's plan, if he followed the well-beaten track, WO!lld be to

. . .

3 White

.

g4+!

immediately

takes

Numerous pawns 151

advantage of the chance to reduce the pawn material and split up the connected Black pawns. bg J It is strange that Black should go out of his way to fit in with his opponent's plans to set up a passed pawn. Previous games have shown that positions of the type under discussion can only be saved by setting up a passed pawn and

dh·erting the rook. Anyway,

3 .. . �e6 sh ould have been played. The analysis of this contin uati on is given below.

4

(g+

*eS

Also after 4 . .. �g5 5 �g2 wh4. 6 �gl! *h3 1 *h i f5 (7 . �. J:.e7 8 l:l a3 + �xg4 9 Jha5 =) 8 gf gf 9 �gl £4 LO ¢>£2 a draw is unavoidable. 5 h4 �d5

6 7

b5 gh �e6 gb Or ··7 �c5 8 h6 �b5 9 �h4 l:lh7 lo :h5+ �b4 1 1 :h4+ wb3 12 :.h3 + ¢b2 13 .aM, • • •

and Black is unab le to advance his a-pawn. 8 h6 wn

9 ---- 10 Jl ll

i

I

13 14 IS 16 17

J:.g4! J:.f4 Ag4

�f8

l:lxf6 :.fl 1:1.112 �fl

a4 ¢h7 wxh6 �gS

l:£4

�e3

�-6

Aa7

¢>g8

for the a-pawn but White's h- p aw n will guarantee him the draw) 7 �dJ l:l eS 8 :. r4 f5 9 .l:th4! (White's chief resource. The dis­ con nected pawns cannot be defended) 9 .. ' �d5 10 Jhh5 r4 1l : 114 J: e3 + l2 �d2 :. xf3 13 : hS +, and draws. We shall now look at positio ns in which the inferior side's rook occupies the correct position and attacks the pawn from behind. The superi or side's rook can be defending t he pawn from the side or from in front. In the first case the rook has more room to work in but the advance of the passed pawn is hampered. In the second case the passed pawn can advance quickly and reach the 6th or 7th rank , but on the other hand the rook is p assi vely placed. Comparing this position with that from the Alekhine-Capa­ blanca game, onl y the positiom of the rook s have been altered. White has two possible strategical plans. The first is to advance his pa wn to a7 after which the Black rook will be tied down completely, then to set up his pawns in such a way as to prevent the Black king getting in amongst the m and t hen

D raw.

Arter 3 ... ¢>e6 the game might

ha ve continued as follows: 4 gb

gh' 5 �12 �d6 6 �el %le7 +

( ot he rwise the �ing penetrates to g6. via f4 and f5 and picks up the h7pawn. Black will w in the rook

Draw

152

Numerous pawns

to head for b7 wit h his king. This plan wou ld only work if Black's �-side pawns were isolated. Pos ­ itions of th is sort will be analysed later. In t he present position when the White king makes h i s appear­ ance on b6 or b7. the Blac k rook will check it awa}' from the defence of its a-pawn and t hen return to

Smyslo•;

the a-file.

The second plan consists of advancing the pawn only as far as a6, so as to leave a haven for the king on a7. Then White wil l free his rook on a8, and with its help set about queening the pawn. But meanw hile Black will have ca� tured one or two of Whi te's w­

Lipnitsky Black to play

and Black meanwhile improvL'S the position of his king) S ¢>c2

The ending from the game Lip­ nitsky·· Smyslov (20th USSR Ch.)

�g6 6 ¢'b2 llxg3 7 a5 �b5 8 a6 l:g6 9 a7 (9 l.a4 :b6+ 10 ¢>c3 nbs 11 a7 :a8 12 �d4 �xh4 13 �e5 Wg4 14 Dal g5 15 : gl + �f3 would also have led to a draw) 9 lla6 10 l::rd7 g6! (a mistake would be 10 . . . �xh4 ll n xg7 as the Black king gets cut off and prevent!> its own pawn advancing. Adequ at e would be I0 ... �g4 II :C.xg7 + �xf4 12 :C. xh7 '>\Jg4 13 h5 'Otg5 14 h6 lla4. but oot 14 ... f4? 15 llf7!

systcmaticaUy

Jhh7 +

side pawns. Let us take one possible conti­ nuation: I a6 � 2 �tJ �f6 3 �e4 we6 (also possible is 3 . llxf2) 4 �il4 �(5! 5 �c5 �g4 6 �b6 :.bl+ 7 �a7 .:.xfl 8 l:lc8 �xg3 9 llc4 :lbl. Black threatens to set up two 0 •

connected passed pawns by ... and.·:. g5. can

f6

an example of a correct defence. all the Black rook takes

serve as

First of up a position beh i nd the passed pawn. I lld + (otherwise White will play 2 :C.a3 and win by Alekh­ ine's met hod in diagram 234) 2 �d llal 3 J:.d4 (nor can White win after 3 lld8 + �f7 4 :.as �g6) 3 : aJ (cutting otT the king and attacking the g-pawn) 4 �42 (White gives up a pawn in order to advance the a-pawn) 4 >Pf7 (the pawn wiU not run away .•.

. ••

. •.

.••

�xh6

and win s) 11 ¢>g4 12 �b3 llal 13

16 .rtf6+

� b4 �f4 1 4 �b5 ¢lg3 1 5 1o>b6 f 4 16 h5 gh 17 J:.xh5 f3 1 8 :C.g5 ¢hl 19 lta5 .:. xa5 20 �xa.S f2 21 a8 1W fl 1W, and draws. Jf the �-side pawns block each other and Black has difficulty in creating a passed pawn, then White's chances increase (diagram =

=

240). After 1 a6 th e correct ddcnce is �r7!. U then 2 a7, Black wi ll J reply 2 ¢lg7! and draw, as cJ\plained above in diagram 238. •••

_ . .

Numerous pawns 153 141)

Draw

White wins

And if 2 �e2, then 2 ... �g7 (2 ltxg3? 3 a7 l:la3 4 Ah8) 3 �dl :. xg3 4 :. b8 : a3 5 . _ _

:b7 +

�f6 6 :b6+ (after 6

a7 �e6 the Black king becomes acti'�·e) 6 ¢>g7 7 ¢>c2. Now 7 . . . l:la4 would be bad because of 8 �b3. u- is es sent i al £or Black to set up a passed pawn. Therefore, 7 g5! 8 fg f4 9 �d2 0 10 :.b7+ ¢>g6 .,11 a7 :a2 + 12 wei ¢>(5 1 3 :'r7 + ¢>g6 14 l:XfJ l:Xa7 wi th a drawn position, or 13 l:lg7 .••

•..

l:tel+! 14 �fl :al.

To delay counterplay migh t mean defeat. E.g if Bl ac k were to play l .. l:tal + 2 �e3 J:l.a3+, .•

.

he would lose. There would follow: l:lxg3 4 l:lc 8 l:la3 5

(the g-pawn is on g4 instead of g6). This factor deci des the outcome of the game. After 1 a7! Black's king is con­ fined to the squares g7 a nd h7 and his rook cannot leave the a-file . White wins following the method of diagram 1 80, using Zugzwang to win Black's f-pawn. Position 242 was met in the game Unzicker-Lundin (II th Olympiad 1954). Marching the White king to a7 does n o t promise White anything, as it involves the loss of the f-pawn and g- pawn. And l a7 does not look very attractive at first sight. Indeed, if the Black f-pawn were at f7, after

3 �d4

J:l.c7+ �f6 6 a7 �e6 7 �c5

(the Black king's comes too late advantage on the value) 7 ... .lal

penetrating to and his pawn *-side loses its / 8 �b(j Abl + ' (8 ... �d5 9 l:tc5 + and 10 l:ta5) 9 �c6 l:lal 10 �b7 �d5 ll

241

Lundin

' a8= • 1ha8 12 �xa8 'iPe4 13 Ag7 wxf4 14 l:lxg6 �e3 15 :gs and wins. By comparison with the pre­ vious example in diagram 241 th e base of Black's pawns is weakened

Unzicker

154 Numerous pawns �f6-g7 Black would draw. But as it is the Black king cannot get to the safety zone and White's king penetrates to h6. There followed:

I a7! 11a2+ 2 �d3 Aal 3 'lwd4 %1a5 4 *c4 .lhJ 5 �c5 �al 6 'it>d6 :aJ 7 �e7 �a6 8 wr7 �•3 9 rlig7 .:.at 10 �116! .:.a6 ll %1b8 l:txa7 12 :C.M+ �e6 13 'iPxg6 :C.a8 14 �x� ztg8 15 g4 ll.h8+ 16 �g6, and Bl ac k resigned. Udovcic

3 4

5

6 7 8

9

10 l1

l2 13 14 15 16

17 18

19

20

fg a7! 'i>g3 �f2 ¢'e3 'lo>d2 115 +

b6! hg

'i>d

*b3

'i>M

'lo>b5 ¢'c6 �d6 we7 �e6

lh4

l:.a2+

l:ta3+ .l:la2+

ll.a3+

'iPg6

�g5 �g6 �xg7

l:..Z+ llal :al

�b2+

.:.al

l:ta6+ :C.a5 :a3

a5 In this way White succeeds in isolating Black's e-pawn.

Bisguier The ending in dia gram 243 is taken from the game Bisguier­ Udovcic (Zagreb 1955).

I �h2 l:tal 2 g4 This plan proves aoceptable, but we would prefer the more meth­ odical set-up, 2 gJ, 3 f4, 4 fe together with a7, after which the White king approaches Black's e­ pawn. With th e White king on d6 and the Black rook on a5 Black would lose because of Zugzwang, e.g. . . . �g6, �e6. W hils t if the Black king were at g6 and Black played . .. 1Ph7, t h en �d7 l:ta6, q.:.c7! �a5, 'lwd6 'i>g6, 'lwe6±. Cf. diagram 180. 2 hg

10 fg ll.f3+ 21 o;Pf5 �xg5 ll l:tf7 Nor would 22 ... l:ta3 have saved Black: 23 �f5 l:ta5 24 ¢'e6 wh 7 25 �f6, and the e· pawn is lost. Resigns. 23 :C.g8+ The analysis of this interesting ending leads us to the following conclusion: increasing the number of pawns on the �·side from three to four increases the superior sid e s chances. H we take away from diagram 243 both the e-pawns, then, as the analysis of diagrams 238 and 240 revealed, a draw is unavoidable. In the present case White was able to create an iso­ '

lated e-pawn in the Black camp

and then win it, which d ecided the outcome. Diagram 244 is the ending from Panov-Konstan tinopolsk y ( 1948). The Black pawn s arc weakened and so Whi'e played I a7, to '·

N11merous pal1ms 155 Konstanlinopolsky

Panov

l1a2 we have a well-known drawn position. White can advance his

g-pawn t o g6, b ut Black �ill no t take it; he will just move his rook up and down the a-file. To win White needs an f-pawn. Another try-12 �e6 :l a5 13 lle8 Jba7 14 J:Zc7 + l1xe7 + 15 �xe7-leads to a drawn pawn ending. . White, therefore, brought hts king back to h2 and with the Black rook on al played 1 g4. There followed: I fg 2 �13 :Z.a4 3 �f4 eJ+ 4 �xeJ and a draw was agreed. Black can continue 4 g3, and after 5 fg (5 f4 l:ta2) White is again left with an a pawn and a g-pawn. It should also be pointed out that adding to diagram 245 a White pawn on h4 and a Black one on h6 would lead to a win for White after the manoeuvre 12 �e6 l:a5 13 :es :xa7 14 :Z.e7 + ltxe7 + 15 �xe7. Black will lose if the White king can penetrate to g5 and take the h­ pawn. On the other hand, winning the f�pawn will not win for White. He will be forced to give up his a­ pawn to free his rook, and on the • .•

prepare t h e king's advance towards Black's f-pawn. The other plan of bringing the king across to b6 and a7 would lead to a draw, as White loses his f-pawn and Black's passed e-pawn becomes dang�rous. After 1 l:ta3 2 wn : al 3 �el J:Za4 4 -.Pd2 J:Za3 5 -.Pel :a4 6 �e3 llal 7 wd4 :aS 8 �c4 Aal 9 �dS J:Za3 10 �d6 : a6 + 1 1 �eS White reaches the desired position (diagram 245). • ..

Konstanti nopolsky

. . .

-

Pano\'

There follows, however, II is well with Black! After 12 q;xrs ltxf2+ 13 ¢>xe4

J:Zal! and all

White to play

wins.;

Black to play draws

156 l\i'umerous pawns �-side bis pawns are paralysed. Therefore, Black's problem is to prevent the White king from tak­ ing the h-pawn. Let us say that the White king has reached e6 with the Black rook at a5 (diagram 246). Then the only move is 1 . l:ta6 + !. 1 llal loses: 2 :le8 lh6+ (the pawn ending after 2 ... l:txa7 3 Ae7 + Axe7 + 4 �xe7 is lost for Black) 3 �xf5 lha7 4 l:e5 ••

.•.

wh6 5 :e6+ �g7 6 Ag6+ �., 7 :f6! l:ta5+ 8 �f4 �g7 9 lU'5 and 10 �gS±.

Let us return to diagram 246 after the correct l l:ta6 + L If no w 2 �xf5 then 2 ... :l:a5+ etc. Which leaves 2 �e5 to be tested. In this case Black continues 2 ... lh4, or 2 ... :tal so as to answer 3 �r4 with 3 J: dl + 4 �g5 : a2 5 �xh5 f4! =. Ot her rook moves along the a-file lose because of the variation 3 �f4 :as 4 l:c:8, but not 4 �g5? f4 +. •••

the only wa y White's king gets a chance to move rorward. How­ ever, when he reaches e6, we get a position analogous to diagram 246, with the difference that the White h-pawn is on h2. Here ... l:ta2! will sd White was obviously short

of time for these last moves. The game was adjourned he re and con­ tinued after home an al ysis. J: b2 1 7 f3 � l:l. bl . 18

19

10

b4

� fl ¢'g3 ..., hl

11 l2 · 13

b5

lS

b6

11 18 19

�n g3 �el

14

16

20 21

l: b8

¢>g1

.: c8 .: c6 +

l: bJ +

l: b2 +

l: bJ+

�e7

�f7 �g6 'i>f7

l: bl

wg6 l: bJ

.: xg3 l: b3

�f7 �c7!

22 �d2 A correct idea. The king must

be brought into action against a passed pawn and the rook m ust

be

activated. 23 �c2 24 �d

25

l:l. b5 �d7

l:g6

If 25 l:l c7 + . then 25 . . . �d8 26 :C b 7 �c8 27 *c4 l:l. b l 28 l: c7 + �b8 29 � c5 I HI Bad would be 25 . . . �d6 26 : xg7 wd5 27 b7 �e4 28 �c4 J: b l 29 l: d7! �xf4 3 0 ll d4 + fol­ lowed by lt d3 + or J:l d 5 + , and the rook will interpose on the b­ file; or 29 . . . C: c l + 30 �b3 : b l + 31 ¢'c3 �n 32 ..t>c2 .: b5 33 l: d 3 + �llf4 34 : b3 ± . 25 .l: bl? 25 . . . �c8! was a possibili ty, and if 26 �c4, then 26 . . . l:a5 (with the threat of 27 . . . l:a4 + and 28 . . . : xf4) 27 �d 4 � b7 28 .l h g7 + wxb6 29 .D. g5 �c6 30 l:l. xh5 �d6. Even taking the f­ pawn would not guarantee White the win. The ending with f- and h­ pawn as we showed in Chapter 3, allo w s Black excellent drawing chances. The text move contains a trap. On 26 '*'c4 there would follow 26 . . . :. n 27 �cS l hf4 28 : xg7 + ¢'c8 29 �c6 .l:c4 + with a draw. 26 .: xg7 + �d6 Losing in a few moves. Black also loses after 26 . ' . wc8 27 b7 + -.PbS 28 l:f7! lUI 29 l: xf5 �xb7 30 �d4 �c6 3 1 �e5 �d7 32 � f6 ¢>e8 3 3 ¢>g6 ± . �t4 .l:cl + 27 No better was 27 . . . ¢>c6 28 b7 �d6 29 l:g8 .l: xb7 30 : g6 + �c7 3 1 ll g7 + etc. l8 �b5 l: bl + 29 �., : a t + 30 �b7 l:l.a4 31 l:l.g5 .: xr4 3 2 :. xh5 .: n 33 ¢>c8 = .

1 58 Numerous pawns

J:r.ct + 34 wb8 f4 35 b7 ¢le6 36 wa7 Resigns. Thls en d i ng shows that block ing the � side pawns is d is advantageous lo Black in Lh a t it makes it more difficuJt to set up a passed pawn. Rut blocking the pawn position in fact also reveals surprising drawing prospects : the simplification i n t o an endgame in which the two extra pawns, the f­ pawn and h-pawn are not sufficient to win. A s we discussed in Ch ap te r 3, it i s important for Black in this ending to transfe r his king q uickly lo the f- or g-file and not to allow it to be cut off on the 1 st rank. Diagram 249 occurred in a game from the E uwe-Alekhine match ( 1 937). It was subjected to a -

­

thorough analysis by both players

and their secondli.

White's position looks hopeless. The Black b-pawn is far advanced and Black's rook has a strong­ point at fJ. Neverthele.,.s, when the game was p layed on it ended in a draw, which disturbed nume r o us commentators. Moreover, the analyses of Belavcnets, Panov,

K moch. MarOCZ)' and Floh r could not prove a forced win for Black. All their analyses were summed up by Grigoriev, but he too came to the concl usion that Alekhine had only practical chances, but that theoretically the ending was

drawn.

�e2 1 1:1 0 2 �e l! Bad is 2 : d 5, because of 2 llf5! 3 l% d2 %l bS. Or 2 .a. b7 �f5 3 1:1 b5 + �e4 4 l: xh5 �d4 5 :b5 � c4 6 l1 b8 : rs 7 �e3 �c3 8 l: c8 + �b2 9 1:1 h8 ¢lc2 10 : cs + �b1 J l l:t h8 b2 12 h5 l:l c3 + 13 q.;d2 �a2 14 J:l a8 + : a3 1 5 : b8 b 1 1t' + The con­ tinuation 3 l:l e7 ll c 3 4 ¢d2 ll c2 + 5 �e3 b2 6 l: b7 �e5 7 1'3 leads to a position examined below. There jusl remains 2 �fl . Then 2 (5 3 l:l b6 + �f7 4 1:. h6 . . .

=

.

. . .

(creating a passed h-pawn is Whi­ te's main counter-chance) 4 . . . f4l 5 �gl (5 gr. g3) 5 . . fg 6 fg l1c3 (with the threat of 7 . J:. c2 + and 8 . . b2) 7 �t2 l:l c2 + 8 �e3 b2 9 .:t b6 �c.7 1 0 �f4 ¢d7 1 1 'i> g5 �c7 12 J:r b3 �c6 1 3 ¢>xh5 ( or 1 3 �g6 .: d2) 1 3 l:l c5 + 1 4 �xg4 J:r b5 1 5 :t x b2 : xb2 and Black wins as his king holds the pawns. f5 l A highly instructive point Ale· khine refrains from the pla usible .

. .

,

. . .

Alekhinc 249

2

. . .

: c3.

Obviously he calculated

th e following variations ; 2 . l::t c3 3 �d2 ll c2 + 4 �e3 b2 5 f3 ! l:g2 (or 5 . . l1 c3 + 6 �f2 .ct x f3 + 7 �g2 followed by 8 .C xb2 wil h a simple draw) 6 fg l1 xg3 + 7 -.tf4 l:l.xg4 + (if 7 , . A g2 then 8 �f3 l:lc2 9 g5) 8 .

.

.

Euwe

.

N11merou.� �n : xh4 9 : xb2 and Black has only f + h-pawns. Here, as in diagram 249, simplifying into an ending With f + h-pawns Sa \'es the inferior side. It migh t seem that Black could improve on t hi s variation wi t h 6 . . . hg (instead of 6 . . . l hg3 + ) 7 >t·f4 f5 8 h5 + '>Ph6t (diagram 2 50).

ptlwns

1 59

251

Draw

250

would seem that in order to win Black has on ly to bring his k ing

across to the if�side. However.

ln9ee..-L after 9 � xf5 : xgJ 10 lt xb2 Bl ack wins by 1 0 . . . �xh5! I I ll h2 + :t h3 1 2 l:tf2 � h4. (Simpler is 1 2 . . . : n + . Tr.) 13 �f4 lt h l etc. (see diagram 43). But White will play 10 � f4! :C. g2 1 1 · �e3! and draw. E.g. 1 1 . . . b l .;. rw 1 2 : xb l �xh5 13 'Ot>f4 _,;,_ . Instead of 5 f3 , Maroczy suggested another defence : 5 f4. It is i nteresting in that it leads to a ' position that is of essential import3l\CC for endings of the ty p e under cOnsideration. Compared with the variation given above, in diagram 25 1 Black's position is more favour­ abk H is pawn has been brought to the 7th and his rook has free­ d o m of movement on that rank. Black's � -side pawns are not exposed to the White rook. I t

the defence has adequate resources here; the White k i ng becomes extremely active. 5 . . . � f7 6 .:C. b6 �e7 7 �e4 wd7 s wf5 �c7 9 .: b3 : d2! (indirectly defending the f-pawn) 10 �g6 ¢:c6 (again both pawns are indirectly defended) 1 1 : b8! with a d raw. Euwe-Alekhine (diagram 249) continued: �n 3 : b6 + 4 lt h6! Here is White's main trump­ card! If Black contin ues his king­ march to the 'li' -side. then after 4 . . . �e7 5 ll xh5 the White rook gets back to the b-file in good time (5 . . . b2 6 .: h7 + �d6 7 :t b7). Black can de fe nd the pawn by 4 . . . � g7, but th en the rook returns to b6.

4

f4

Leads to a simple draw. 4 . . . l:t c3 suggests itself here, to o : 5 q;,d2! ( 5 .ll x h5 loses after 5 . . . b2 6 :C. h7 + �g6 7 .: b7 :t el + ) 5 . . . llc2 + 6 �e3 b2 7 .:C. b6 >t,'e7

1 60 N umerous pawns 8 f41 �d7 9 �d4 �c7 1 0 :C b3 ¢let I I l:l b8! : g2 1 2 l: b3! (bad is 1 2 we5, because of l2 . . . :C.d2 with 1 3 . . . :d5 + and 1 4 . . . :C. b5 to follow) 1 2 . . . l:t xg3 (if 1 2 . . . lZ d2 + . then J 3 �e31) t3 l:r xb2 6 l:t h7 + 'Otg6 7 :C b7 J:l c l + ) 5 . . . lZ c2 + 6 ¢le3 b2 7 l:1 b6 't;e7 8 f4! �d7 9 'ilrd4 'l;c7 I 0 :C. b3 �c6 1 1 A b8! : g2 1 2 :t b3! (bad is 1 2 �e5, because of 1 2 . . . .: d2 with 13 . . . l:t d5 + and 14 . . . : b5 to follow) 1 2 . . . : xg3 (if 1 2 . . . l:t d 2 + , then 1 3 ¢le3!) 1 3 l:t xb2 :cth3 14 weS :C xh4, when 1 5 � x rs g3 1 6 : g2 n g4 l 7 �e4 h4 1 8 �f3 is adequate to draw. 5 : xb5!

Euwe avoids the last hidden danger. The natural 5 gJ would have lost : 5 . . . J::t xf4 6 l:t b6 (6 . . . n b4 was thre a ten ed) 6 . . . : f3 7 l:l b5 Ac3 8 'ilre2 J:l c2 + 9 �e3 b2. Now aU attempts at counterplay by f3 or f4 are met by . . . g3 White c-.mnot prevent the Black king from transferring to the • -side. l:t c3 5 5 . . . fg 6 fg : ltg3 7 �f2 l:l h 3 8 J:l b 5 b 2 9 �g2 likewise draws.

6 7

8 9

:C. bS

�ell �eJ

Schallopp

Teichmann

actual game went l J::t c4 : b6 2 �g l �f6 3 �fl ¢>e6 4 wt>e2 b3 5 ab l hb3 6 l:t a4 l:t b2 + 7 �e3 a2. Black bas got h is pawn to the 7th by a roundabout way. Now the win is simple. 8 g4 *d5 9 gS ¢>c5 1 0 g4 ¢>b5 1 1 : as � b4. and White resigned. If the Black pawn had been held at a3 then White wo uld have had quite good drawing chances. Yudo\'ich ]jJ

13 l:l c2 + b2

J:t c4 + 'l\1 £4 ll c2 ¢1e3 Draw. The next position was met in an old game between Teichmann and 10

Schallopp ( 1 896). After J

J:lc4 Black wins in elementary fashion: I l:t d2 2 f3 l:l lta2 3 l:t xb4 : b2 4 l:t a4 a2 5 g4 g5 6 �'g3 'ilrf6, and the k ing marches to the • -side with the White king unable to become active at a l L The • • .

Ragozi n

Black

ro

play

We shall now look at the end ing from Ragozin- Yudovich ( 1 94 7 �. The fact that each side has fo ur pawns on the �-side does not change t he essence of lhe position.

N umerous pawns 161 White threatens to play h i s king across to b6. The Black rook is paralysed by h a vi ng to gu a rd the W.hite a-pawn. Only active play with his king can save Black. There followed : I f5 (essen­ tial. Black wants to activate his king and bring his pawns off the 2nd rank) 2 h4 (threatening 3 b5 + ) 2 hS 3 l:l b7 �f6 4 f3 l b l . At this point White changed plans a nd chose the continuation 5 wgJ : al 6 f4 g6 (6 . . e4! wo ul d have drawn: 7 � h2 : a t 8 g3 g6 9 �g2 l:la2 + 1 0 �fl �e6 1 1 �e l � d5�! 1 2 l:l c7 ..td6l 1 3 : g7 �d5 with the threat of penetrating to d3) 7 l:l b6 + wr7 8 re l: xa7. This ending was won by W hite after great difficulties. ' Did W hite have any j ustifi­ cation for changing his basic plan? To free bis rook he would have had to play 5 g3. T h ere mjght have followed : S l:lal + 6 1;>gl e4! (the strong 7 e4 must be stopped) 7 r4 g6 8 �n �e6 9 �el �d5, and bee.'\ use his king is active Blac� should d raw. Thtl$ in this case, too, with cor­ rect cQhnterplay by Black, White's basic strategical plan of transfer­ ring his king to the 'if-side would have proved unrealizable. In diagram 254, taken from the ga me Tartakover-Nimzowitsch (Berlin 1 928� the passed pawn has reached the 7th rank and is guarded by the rook from the side. White threatens to penetrate wi th his king via b 1 to b8. The Black rook's action is limited as it must keep � watch on the passed a­ pawn. In positions of th i s type a draw is only possible if Black's

Nimzowitsch 254

. . .

. ••

Tartakm·cr to play

.

• .•

Black

king can create counterplay on the w-side. There followed: I wf6 2 �el g6. I t is important to ascertain that t he more active 2 . . . g5 would not have saved the game, e.g. 3 'li>dl g4 4 hg hg 5 g3� �e5 6 �cl e3 7 fe �e4 8 : f7 �xe3 9 � b l :. a6 ;. b2 wd4 1 1 'i>b3 ;.cs (see diagram 1 78). 3 � d l 'ii: eS 4 oi>cl wd� s • • •

to

�bl

: a6 6 � bl.

The first stage is completed. White threatens -.P b3-b4� b5. 6 �c6 7 A g7 �4:5! Nimzowitsch defends ingeni­ ously; if 8 � b3, t he n 8 l:l b6 + 9 �a4 :t a6 + . 8 : xg6 will not win : 8 . l:l xa7 9 l: g5 + wd4 t o l: xh 5 I:H7!. and the strong passed e-pawn's counterbalances Wh i te s h and g-pawn pair. Thus the game m ust be resolved on the �-side. First White i mproves his pawn position. 8 h4 : a5 (a cunning trap into which While duly falls) 9 g4? hg 10 b5 gJ! 1 1 rg e31 1 2 l hg6 : xa7 lJ wc2 l:lal + 14 �· · �d4 15 h6 e2 + 1 6 �el �e3, and the . . .

. . .

. .

'

162 Numerous pawns game ended in a draw. The cor rect continuation was 9 gJ %:t a6 10 �cJ! (Whi te wins a decisive tempo with this manoeuvre) 10 . . . %:t a3 + (or 1 0 l:l a5 1 1 l:t xg6 : xa 7 1 2 l:l g5 + and 1 3 �d4) 1 1 �d2 �d4 11 l:ld7 + ! �cS (or 12 . . . �e5 l 3 ¢'c2 �e6 14 �b2 :. a6 1 5 l:l g7 'iPd5 1 6 wc3 n g4 22 a5 �h3 23 l:t b7 + ��3 24 a6 Resigns. The endi ng in diagram 259 occurred in a game played i n 1 936. White is a pawn down and has the worse positi on . Black's win might not seem technically com­ pHcated but it is instructive to observe bow resourcefully Alekh. .

,

159

Euwe

inc defends himself and how he creates the maximum possi ble difficulties for his opponent. Black's principal threat is to trans­ fer his k in g to d6 and begin advancing his d-pawn. 1 �g4 �f7 a5 l l:l. c3 In o rder to answer 3 l:ta3 wit h 3 . l1e4 + and 4 a4. 3 � fJ ��6 Considerably stronger was 3 a4 4 l:t a 3 l:l e4 5 l:lc3 l1 c4. The pawn ending after 6 .: xc4 de 7 a3 �e6 8 �f4 g6 9 �e4 c5 is won for Black. � xg.S 4 lh3 S �f5 .l1 xa5 6 a4 gS 7 : as : e4 Threatening 8 . . . g4 + 9 �12 : b4. 8 : f8 + we5 �d4 9 J: e8 + 10 A b8 d! White threatened t o improve his position considera bly \\oith 1 1 b4 . .

. . .

. . .

II

b4

White could have prolonged the struggle, though not saved t he game. by 1 1 a5 llel 1 2 a6 :t a l 1 3 : as �d3 1 4 a7 d 4 1 5 b3 .a fl + 1 6 � g4 Zl f7 1 7 �xg5 �c2 1 8 l:t c8 : xa7 19 l: xc5 +

� xb3 20 �f5 l:te7 transposing to familiar schemas. c4 J1 ll e3 + 11 a5 wn : al 13 c3 14 l:t g8 l:t xg5 .lh2 + 15 c2 �D 16

Resigns.

Alek:hinc

Diagram 260 is taken from the game Walter-Spielmann (Siiac

Numerous pawns 167 SpieJmann :!60

ending is hopeless for him. 11 :n Or 1 1 d5 1 2 :t g5 ll f4 + 1 3 z:t g4 : n 1 4 h6 �f6 t s wh5 J:t h l + 1 6 l:l. h4 :cl 17 l:t f4 �e5 1 8 l:r. g4 Ac8 19 h7 ll h8 20 �g6 ± . lt a l 12 :t g3 �1'6 13 : g4 No better was 13 . . e5 1 4 h6 d5 15 �h5 d4 16 h7 l: h l + 1 7 :. h4 :t xb4 + 1 8 �xh4 �g7 1 9 ¢>g3 ..toxh7 20 a 5 ± . 14 ll f4 + g5 �h6 16 �f5 17 ¢'e6 :.el + �xb5 18 �d7 . . .

.

Walter White to play 1 932). White has an extra pawn with a good position. If Black

defend s passively he will quickly lose, and so Spielmann correctly creates complications on the

•-side.

1

b5

b5 l:l. c8

3 4

: e6 cb

b4!

2

¢'g5

A c2 :t xb2 ll g2 + 6 a4 If 6 llb4 then 7 h6 l:l. xa4 8 l:l. xe7 + ! 'it>g8 9 f6 ± . 7 �h4 · aturally not 7 �h6 l:l. g4 R h5 l:l. b4 = . 7 :t b2 + 8 �g4 .l:l. g2 + 9 � 113 � gS 10 �b4! l:l xf5 II l:l. g6! White correctly cuts off the Bl ac k king from the White passed pawn. B lack has achie.,·ed material, but not positional. equal­ ity. The passed h-pawn a n d the th re at of setting up a passed pawn on the • si de make things difficult for the defence. Black must avoid t he exchange of rooks, as t he pawn

261

b5!

5

. . .

�

-

19 a:5 Considerably stronger was 1 9 : b4!. The threat o f 20 a5 and 2 1 b6 would have forced the immedi­ ate win of Black's e· and d-pawns. 19 ll a l ! ab 20 b6 l:tbl 21 ab e5 22 w c6 If 22 . l:l c l + , t h en 23 b5 J:t b 1 + 24 l: b4. 23 l: e4l This problem-like move is the only one to win. The na tu ral 23 A a4 after 23 d5! 24 : a5 e4t .

.

. . .

1 68 Numerous

pa"'n.�

25 � xd5 + �g4 would have led to a draw. � �5 23 24 117 �f5 d5 l h4 l5 On 25 e4 there would follow 26 l% a 5 + and 27 : b5. 26 :l a5! J:xb7 27 �xb7 d4 ¢>c6 dJ 28 29 wds d2 �f4 30 ll a l 31 �c4 e4 31 �cl eJ 33 �d3 Resigns. White oonducted the ending superbly, taking advantage of a wh ole range or stratagems: isolat­ ing of the enemy king, the bridge and creating a passed pawn. . . .

Shaposhnikov 261

quently be a ble to set up two passed pawns on the �-side. The course of the pl ay in this example is typical or endings or this type. J: b3 I b6 l J: bl The correct manoeuvre. White must stick to defensive tactics on t h is wing. 2 �e6 3 �g2 �cl5 Considering the poor prospects his position offered, Black could have gone in for complications. E.g. 3 . . gS 4 �h3 h 5 S f4 '*' f6 (or 5 l:. c5 6 a4 with the threat of 7 J: b5) 6 l:. b5 g4 + 7 � h4 : c2 8 l:l xh5 J: xh2 + 9 �xg4 l hal 1 0 e4 and White must win. 4 : d2 + �c6 s f4 15 6 � 13 b5 7 f!i a4 .

. . •

8

e4

:. cJ

If 8 b4, then 9 e5 b3 10 ab ab I I e6 lZ c2 1 2 e7. 9 eS � el No be t ter was 9 : n + 10 '*'e4 l e l + I I �d4. :n + 10 : e2 The pawn ending after the exchange of rooks is lost for Black. �d7 11 W&4 a3 12 �aS �e8 13 �+ 14 .: cl b4 'lJe7 15 .:l: cS + 16 : as Black threatened 1 6 . b3. 16 :t e l 17 : e2 l: a4 18 : xb4 : xa2 19 :t b7 + �f8 . . .

. . .

Konstantinopolsky In diagram 262. from Konstantinopolsky Shaposh· nikov (Sochi 1 952� Black is a pawn down. with two pawns against four on the � ·side and two against one on the 'if-side. Such a distribution of the pawn material makes i t easier for Black to set up a passed pawn on t h e •-side and thereby create counterplay. Bu t on the other hand White will subse-

.

20 11

:n + :a7

.

¢>g8 �f8

Numi!rous pawns J 69

22 114 and wins. Black has no defence against

h5--h 6 and �f6.

The rook ending in diagram 263 in the 2 1 st USSR Ch. W hite is two (!) pawns down. Defending the f-pawn is obviously hopeless for him : after 1 � f3 l:l c4 Black has an eJementary wi n with his two connected passed pawns. I : xc6 l:l.xf4 + 1

occurred

l

��3

l% e4

(b) 2 . g5 3 :t c7 + �g8 4 h5! d4 5 .: d7 �f8 6 l:l h7 �e8 7 .

.

.: xh6 d3 8 .ll h8 + �e7 9 : as Jld4 1 0 .z:t a l d2 l l l:l d l we6

1 2 �o ( 1 2 h6 wr7 1 3 h7 �g7 J 4 l:l h l �h8 + ) 1 2 . �e5 1 3 h6= ; o r 1 2 �f7 1 3 �g3 �g7 1 4 �f3 �h6 15 �g3 f5 16 gf �xhS 17 l:t h l + l h4 1 8 :dt = . aearly these variations (b) induced Black to rerrain from 2 . g5. And yet B lack can win, but in subtJer fashion, namely by : 12 . �f7 1 3 �g3 b5 A f2 7 �xb6 : xn 8 �c5 g5 9 b 5 g4 10 b6. and White wins . In this and other analogous variations t he position of the Black king on the 8th rank is to White's benefit �h7 3 . . .

4

a4

Alekbine bad t hought that 4 �e2 wou ld also win now. How­ ever, after 4 . l:l c2 + 5 �d3 l:l xg2 6 �c4 : xh2 7 wb5 :. 12 8 wxb6 l:l xf3 9 b 5 g 5 1 0 � c6 g 4 we have double-edged pla y in which it is hard to prove any superiority for White, e.g. 1 1 b6 g3 12 b7 g2 1 3 ll h8 + �g6l 1 4 b8 = 'iiV g 1 W or 12 :1 h8 + �g6 1 3 l:l h l .:tf2 14 l:l: g l lt c2 + IS �d6 lt xa2 16 : xg3 + �f5 with a draw. rl bJ? 4 Lasker and Grigoriev have pointed out the correct defence 4 e5 ! . Interesting is the variation 5 b5 f5 6 :C.e8 IZ. c4 7 ll xe5 l ba4 8 : e6 .: a2 + 9 ¢>g3 g5l 10 :. xb6 l: b2 I I .D. b8 �g6 1 2 b6 �£6 t 3 b 7 � g6 1 4 f4 :t b3 + 1 5 �12 gf 1 6 h4 �h7 1 7 b5 g5! 1 8 hg + �g7. White can win Black's f-pawns by Zugzwang but, despite being three pawns ahead. he cannot win the game. liS � g5 e5 6 �el f6 7 �dl ll b4 8 cotc2 l:l d4 9 �c3 Black has nol managed to ere. .

=

. . .

1 78 Numerous pawns ate a passed pawn on the e-file in time. His efforts had been directed towards preventing White from obtaining two conn�ted passed pawns., but now it turns out that one is enough.

10 ll

12

13

J:.a6! ll xb6 l h6! h6

�g6 : xa4 :d4

Resigns.

Stahlberg

Euwe White to play

The rook ending i n diag ram 276 is taken from a game in the Candidates' Tournament, Zu rich 1 953. Black to move would achieve a dr awn position straight away with I . . . l:l c l + 2 ¢>g2 ll a l . However, it is White's move and he occupies the a-file with his rook, thereby forcing the B lack rook to block the pas sed pawn from in front. ¢>f8 ll a4! 1 Tm: route via g7, f6 would come up against t he following troubles: t . . . w87 2 wg2 w f6 3 �n �e5 4 a6 ll a7 5 ll a5 + , and 5 . . . d5 wo ul d lose a pawn after 6 e4. 2 wgl q;e7 3 wo �d7

4 �� ll a7 s wds In the previous chapter we d is­ cussed a number ()f endin� with a similar pawn str'Ucture in which the passed pawn on the tr-side was an extra paw n. The analysis showed that creating a passed pawn on the otller side of the board may save the game. In the present case we have m a te ri al equality and Black's setting up a passed h-pawn is quite fea si ble . Black's c hances, thterefore, are cer­ tainly not bad. h3! 5 6 f4 Otherwise 6 . . . g5 and 7 . . . h4 with a simple draw. : a6 6 It was more natural to set about creating a passed pawn without wasting time, by 6 . . . f6, e.g. 7 a6 g5 8 f5 (the only chance) 8 . . . h4 9 gh gh to ll xh4 l::t xa6 1 1 :h7 + ¢1e8 1 2 � e6 dS + ! 1 3 �xd5 lla5 + 14 ¢'e6 J: a6 + or 1 0 we4 wc6 1 1 �f4 �b5 1 2 : a3 : xa6 1 3 ll xa6 -¢>xa6 1 4 �g4 � b5 1 5 � xh4 �c5 1 6 whS wd5 1 7 w g6 �e 5 1 8 e4 'Ot xe4 1 9 'Otxf6 d5 = H()wever. the text move. keeping the pawn on a5. also canno t be bad. = ,

.

7

e4

as

l,

Euwe, and Br(}nstein we l consider that this move gives Black renewed drawing chances. since it takes away the e4 �quare from the White kin g, and they gi ve the following variation: 7 ll a2 f6 s J:ta3 g5 9 rs h4 1 o gh gb 1 1 ..te4 h3 1 2 wf3. h2 1 3 �g2 'Otc6 and by comparison with the variation given above White queens a move ea rlier. However,

N umerou.s

by conunu�ns l l . . . d 5 + ! 1 2 � xd5 h3, or 1 2 �f4 �d6 1 3

�g4 we5 Black would ily.

7

8

9 10

It

draw

f5

l:% a2

f6 g� h4

gh

gb

eas­

�e4

obvious I I . . . �c6 suggest'\ itself now a nd the exchange of the Black h-pawn for the White a-pawn. If White played 1 2 'ito>b4 then 1 2 . . . 11 a8 1 3 a6 The

� b6.

177

'

No

l'l h2

13

a7

better was 13

l: xa7

15

pawns 1 79 h3

...

� d5!

¢lb7 1 4 �c7 1 6 �d8 1 8

l'l xh4 :. a6 1 7 l:l h7 + l1 f7 l:l a5 + 19 �e6! rilc7 14 �d4

Or 1 4 . . . h2 1 5 .ll c2 + � b6 1 6 l:xh2 l ha7! 17 1Pd5. 15 �d5 �·7 16 .ll a3 Ill .ll al! 17 Jhl Black has no satisfactory defence. 1 7 . . . h l = 'it' 1 8 l'l xh l l ha7 1 9 .ll h7 + . o r 1 7 . . . �e7 1 8 �c6 and then 1 9 �b7. 18 :C: hl l:le5 + ll a� 19 �d4 �c6 20 .: xh2 1: 117 J:t a4 + 21 l. a3 + 22 �e3 ll • 1 23 �f4 24 ltf7 ¢'c5 25 ll xf6 l.n7 ll a1 lt e6 26 H the Black king was al d7 then

Black would have some drawing

11

l'l a8?

.', C...."'ompletely illogical. A few moves early Black had correctly tried to keep t he White pawn on aS. Now he allows it to advance to a7. Also drawing, apart from 1 1 . . . . wc6 we pointed out, was: 1 1 . . . lh7 1 2 a6 �c6 13 A a3 hJ 1 4 l hh3 .l: xa6 15 .C h6 �d 7! 16 .ll h7 + ¢le8 1 7 g6 .Z:U4 4

Kupchik 279

. . •

Capablanca Black to move

• . .

ll a7 + �f8 S l:la8 + 'l;e7 6 �xg7 l:. xg4 + 7 �xh6 'it>f6 = . On 2 : e6 Black replies 2 'i'gl + 3 �gt; : r4 4 : e8 +

. • .

lU8. The game itself went: 2 gS

¢>g8 + 3 �g4 hg 4 �xg5 :t fl 5 : e6 : c2 6 It xd6 l:Xc4, and the players soon agreed a draw. White could have won by a manoeuvre we shall call 'widening the bridge-head', namely :

1 2 3 4

g5! �xgS h6

5

ll g6 +

6

l:. xh(;

a6

: e7 5 l:. b6 wb7 6 �d3 Black plays a waiting game as he cannot tell where Capablanca will choose to try and break through. 7

8

' 10

h4 l:lh5 : gs �c3

�c8

�d7

:n

�d

White brings his king across to a5. Black wiU not be able to pre­ vent this, since on wc8-b7-a6 White plays h5, h6 and l. g7.

ll 12 13 14 15

�b4 'it>a5 a4 hS

: f6 �b7 a6 ll h6

b4

Now Capablanca's strategy becomes clear. After b5 and the exchanges on b5 White will be threatening c6 + and the win of the c-pawn. If Black were to reply . . . c6 + , then after a5, :t g7 + and the White k ing penetrating to b6 will be t hreate ned. This manoeuvre widening of the bridge-head ror the rook.

Numerous pa�·ns 1 8 1 IS 16

ll f6

bS!

Premature, since Black now obtains countcrplay. 1 6 ll g7 : h6 1 7 b5 ab 1 8 ab cb ( 1 8 . J hh4 19 b6 ± ) 19 � xb5 A xh5 20 c6 + etc. would havc: won easily. 16 •b : rs 17 ab ll a8 + 18 � g7 19 �b4 cb ll a2 20 wxb5 Black's rook breaks out. � b8 ll c6 + 22 l:Z.Xh7 J:t h2 + ll a2 + 23 �a5 l hf2? l4 � b4 Stronger was 24 . .:. b2 + ! 25 �c3 ll xf2 26 lt e7 lh.f4 27 b6 ll h4 28 h7 'i'a7 29 A xc7 + �b6, and Black draws. 2S ll e7 l:t xf4? Losing the game without a struggle. Better here too was 25 J:t b2 + 26 wc3 ll h2 27 ll xe6 �a7t 28 h6 �b6, with reasonable drawing chances. l:t xd4 + 26 h6! 27 �bS l:t d l .:. b l + 28 h7 ll t'l + 29 ¢1c5 30 �d4 l:t d l + .D e l + 31 ¢'e5 32 '.t> r6 ll hl 33 � e8 + 113 Or 4 � b l .C: e2 5 c7 a2 + 6 �al .ll c2 7 J:. d7 h5 = . 4 l:t e3 + s �b4 al 6 lldl : e% : e6 7 ¢>b3 8 c7 : c6 ¢'xal J:txc7 9 Draw.

Smyslov 282

.

281

Liliental Black to play

Draw The position in diagram 281 is taken from Gligoric-Keres (Moscow 1 956). Black is a pawn down, but if we were to remove White's c-pawn and Black's a­ pawn from the board the position would be drawn. With the move Black draws wi thout difficulty by advancing his a-pawn. However it is Whi te to play and he brings ,

Diagram 282 was met in the game Liliental-Smyslov (match· to u rnament 1 94 1 ). Black is a pawn down and in addition all his pawns are quite exposed to attack. Passively defending pa wn weaknesses is hopeless in such positions. But Black is rescued by the better position of his king which comes actively i nt o the game. whilst the

Numerous pawns 183 White king is cut off on the 1 st

rank. The re followed : l g5! l hal 2 11 "117 �e5 3 ll h6 + �e4 4 l he6 5 l:l. xc5 Wiping out Black's • -side com pletely However, by sacrific­ ing yet another pawn Black secures a safe square for his king on f3 and draws. f4! 5 �f3 6 er l:l. a l + 7 h3 Draw. .

Gawlikowski 2ll3

Taimanov Black to

play

Diagram 283 was m et in the game Taimanov--Gawlikowski (Lodz 1 955). White's pawn ahead is clearly insufficient to win. All the White pawns are isolated and the centre passed e-pawn can eas­ ily be blockaded by the king. Only the a-pawn presents any danger The game continued : 1 �eS Played automatically. It is use­ ful, of course, to blockade the passed pawn with the king, but first Black should have rendered .

the a-pawn harmless. He could have had a simple draw by 1 l:l h3 + 2 �d4 l:l. a3 ! 3 �c4 n a8 4 �b3 l:l. b8 + 5 �c3 : as 6 �b2 l:l. b8 + 7 � a l 'lo>e5 White's main trump-card, his passed a­ pawn, wOtM be he1d up for a long time. 2 *d3 El hJ + 3 *e4 : aJ 4 *b4! : as 5 a4 El b8 + The on ly move. I r the pawn advances just one more square Black will lose (d. diagram 94� n as 6 wc5 : fls + 1 wb5 White follows Grigoriev•s method : bis king will occupy t he square two squares diagonally from its pawn (diagram 56). 8 *c6 : as Now the White king alone proves unable to force the advance of the pawn. 9 n al! White sacrifices his e-pawn but manages to install his rook behind the passed pawn. The defence becomes more tricky now. �x e4 9 10 a5 g4! The correct method of defence: Black aims at setting up a passed paw n If he later has to give up his rook for the a-pawn, he counts on drawing by bringing things d own to an e ndi n g of rook v. pawn. The presence of a pair of h­ pawns on the �-side complicates his task . lll8 11 �b7 ll g7 + ! 12 a6 The straightforward 1 2 . . . hS 13 a7 h4 14 a8 = 'ii :l xa8 1 5 :l xa8 �f3t would have led to the . . .

.

U l4 Numerous pawns position tha t occurred in th e game and which ended in a draw. 1 5 g3 (instead of 1 5 . . �f3) would lose to 1 6 l h4 + wf5 1 7 h3 and 1 8 ll g4, or 1 6 . . �n 1 7 l h h4 g2 1 8 :cl hl + ¢>f2 1 9 ll gl ± . In answer to 1 2 . . h5, 1 3 l: c2 would be useless, as after L 3 . . . h4 1 4 .l:l.c8 :cl g7 + 1 5 .l:l.c7 A g8 White has made no progress. . . .

.

.

.

13 �e6 J:g6 + Black loses after 1 3 . J: a7 1 4 b6 J:a8 1 5 a 7 h 5 1 6 �b7

17

�b5 hS 18 �b6 �fJ Also possible is the transpos­ ition of moves: 18 h4 19 *b7 J:. xa7 + 20 �xa7 �f3. 19 �b7 : xa7 + 20 �xa7 If 20 l ha7, White draws easily by 20 . �g2 21 l:l. a2 + �h3 followed by . h4 and . . . g3. . . .

. .

lO 21

. .

ll xa7 + 17 :cl xa7! h4 18 �c6 �(J 1 9 �d5 g3 20 h3! g2 (or 20 �g2 21 �e4) 2 1 l:t g7 �f2 22 �e4 g l = • 23 l:t xg 1 ¢>xg1 24 �f3! and White wins. 14 �c5 14 �d7 .l:l. g7 + 1 5 �e6 .l:l. a7 16 wc6 �f4 1 7 .l:l.a4 + �fJ 1 8 �b5 would lead t o a draw after 18 . �g2! 1 9 :cl a2 + oi> h31, or 19 rl xg4 + ¢>xh2 20 ll a4 ¢'g3. The h-pawn insures Black against losing. . . .

.

h4

l:ta4

The only move, preventing 2 1 . . . g3, which would lose t o 22 ll xh4. But Black can sti ll save

himself.

21 22 23 24 25

. .

14 :1: g5 + T he continuation 1 4 l:t g8 1 5 a7 J:. a8 1 6 �c6 h5 1 7 �b7 J:. xa7 + 1 8 J:. xa 7 h4 19 wc6 would lead to the lo st position for Black given above. 15 Qo>c4? White misses a win by 1 5 �d6l. Possible variations are: (a) 15 . . J: g6 + 16 �e7 l:t g7 + 1 7 �f6 :a7 1 8 �gS wf3 19 � h4, and Zugzwang decides. E.g. 19 . �f4 20 : a3 �f5 2 1 :C: a4, or 20 . . h5 2 1 li aS

.

h3!

l:t al

J h3 +

..

l:l.al + Draw.

gJ � g2 h2 �xg3

Koto..

·

284

. . .

.

. .

�f3 22 .:C: a2 ± . .

.

l:l. g8 1 6 a7 l: a8 1 7 �b7 : xa7 + 1 9 n xa7 h4 20 �c6 etc. 15 l1g8 16 a7 J:.a8 (b) 1 5

�c6 h5

.

.

18

Aronin

Diagram 284, from the game Aronin-Kotov ( l 7th USSR Ch.� is rather difficult to assess. I n White's favour is his extra pawn supported by its rook from behind and blocked by the Black rook. Against him are the weakness of his d-pawn and his doubled b­ pawns and also B1ack has a stron g.

N11merow; pawns 185 defended passed e-pawn. True, taking Lhe d-pawn immediately is d isadvantageous to Black, as the b-pawn wiU advance. By contrast with analogous pos­ itions both rooks are in ZugzwanL On the whole the position may be considered equal. 1 � fl �g8 z h4 Since White's king cannot get to the •-side without the loss of the d-pawn, White tries to prepare a breakthrough on the other side of the board. But this is easily met. 2 hS

3

4 5

g4 wg3 �xg4

hg �f7 �e7(?)

5 . . . �f6 was adequate to draw. or even 5 . . . � xd5 6 b5 l:tc5 1 b6 ' � c8 8 b7 l b8 9 h5 �f6 10 : b5 �e6 1 1 �g5 �d7 1 2 �g6 �c6 13 .l:. b3 .l:. xb7 1 4 .l:. xb7 ¢>xh7 1 5 'it>xg7 e4, and draws. Black wants to blockade the b­ pawn with his k ing and, having

taken the d-pawn, to win with his two connected centre pawns. This plan comes unstuck. ', , 6 � f5 �d7 · 61 �f7 would already be too late because of 7 h5 * f8 8 wg6 0 with the threat of 3 c3 + . bS 2 f5 3 ab ab . . .

..

e6

f�

5 fe c4 l:l e3! 6 An excellent and far from obvious move. Establishing the rook behind the pawn here, too, is decis­ ive. The stereotype 6 l:ld7 would lead to a draw after 6 A c8 7 e7 .: e8 8 ¢>e5 h3 9 �(6 h2 tO l:l d l cb. 6 Ag7 A little better was 6 cb 7 cb .ll g7 8 �rs l:t g3 9 ll e4 + �xb3 10 e7 .ll g8 1 1 e8 = • l:t xe8 1 2 : xeS, but here too White w i ns with accurate play. e.g. 1 2 . �c2

Great difficulties are encountered in the conversion of an insignifi­ cant positional advantage into a

win . It requires a high standard of technique and against accurate defence should still not lead to a win. But it is far from easy to defend such endgames and even

famous masters and sters

Grandma­ make errors which can lead

to defeat. Below we give several

il)ustrative examples. Diagram 286 is taken from the game Flohr-Vidmar (Nottingham 1 936). White's advantage lies in tbe active position of his rook and

Vidmar

. . .

. . .

. . .

. .

Flohr

Numerous powns 1 87 the weakness of Black's isolated a-pawn and c-pawn. B ut if Black can pla}· his kiog to d6, drive away the rook and play . . c5, White's advantage w ill disappear. Wh it e's first task, therefore, is to centralize .

his king and blockade c5.

1

2

3

�e2 �d3

rtJe7 *d6

A a5 l:la8 �44 The White ki ng has got to d4 in time and prevents . . . c5. Black is obl i ged to choose a plan of defence. Let us examine White's attacking resources: on the tv­ side he can take advantage of the fact that Black's a-pawn is pi nned and play b4, a4 and b5. Analysis shows thal after b4 Black can play . . . �c7, so as to answer wc5 by playing on the weakness of Whi te's e-pawn. In o ther words, Black feels his pos­ i tion to be s olid enough on the 'i' -side and White must turn to the other side of the board to find a solution. Here White can try the follow­ ing manoeuvre : g4, h 4 followed by

4

e4 _ridcning the rook's sphere of action.

Therefore, playing a waiting

game would be dangerous for the

defending side. f5 4 The choice of this move is u nde r­ standable. Black pre\l·ents g4 and if e4 he can e:xchange two pawns. Reducing the number of pawns is to the defending side's ad va ntage.

5

b4

:w

Black should have played: 5 . . . �c7 6 �c5 �b7 7 �d6 l% e8 8 J:l a3 d4! 9 ed l:l. e2 10 A c3 J:l xg2 I I ll xc6 A xh2 1 2 a4 g5! = .

Pla yi n g the king to b7 ( or

b6)

woul d have freed the rook for

the d efence along the e-file, giving Black a perfectly defensible pos­ ition. l%a8 6 a3 The Black rook would stand much worse on b6 and Black might easily get into Zugzwang. 7 e4! The onl y possible way for th e king to break through to the weak­

ened �-side. 7 8 9

fe

fe

de

10

wr4

b6 (286AJ

1l

wg4

13

liS!

�xe4 J:l a7? And here B lack �uld have had more chances after 9 . . . �c7 10 .:e5! ( 1 0 �f4 I U8 + 1 I I �g3 �b6 = ) 10 . . . �b6 1 1 l% e7 a5! 1 2 l hh7 ab 13 ab J: a4 14 l:l g7 .: xb4 + 1 5 �n :. h4 16 h3 J: h6 1 7 �g4 c5 1 8 ¢>g5 r:l h8 1 9 A xg6 + �b5 2 0 llg7 c4 2 1 h4 :. c8, and Black's passed pawn is dangerous. A serious weakening o f the pos­ ition. Passi\'e tactics: 10 . . . l% a8 1 1 �gS : a7 1 2 �h6 �e6 like­ wise wou)d not have saved Black. White•s correct winning plan would then be g4 and h4-h5. Then . . . gh, gh and finally l:l g5 and l:l g7. The way White achieves the win now is extremely e difying. 11 h4 �e6 After 12 plays h5.

...

.l:l. a8

�n White still

g5

Black would also be lost after 1 3 . . . gh + 1 4 �xh5 A g8 1 5 g4 wd6 1 6 A xa6. A a7 14 g3

18R Numerous pawns Vidmar

Laurine

287

28M

F1ohr

Flohr

IS

�f3 ll a8 �e4 ll a7 17 lh5 + ! The point to White's manoeuvre. The Black king must make up his mind which way to go and the White king will break th ro ugh in the opposite direction. wd6 11 The alternative l 7 �f6 was no better: 1 8 .l c5 : c7 19 l: a5 .l a7 20 �d4 ¢>e6 21 ¢>c5 J:[ d 7 2 2 II. xa6 II. d 3 23 II. xc6 + � f7 24 a4 : xg3 25 l hh6 ± . c5 l%. e8 18 The pawn endin g after 1 8 . .le7 + 1 9 J he7 �xe7 20 �e5 is hopeless for Black. �d; 19 l: d8 + ! On 1 9 . �c7, 20 l: h8 is decisive: 20 cb 2 1 l:l: h7 + *b8 22 : xa7 �xa7 23 ab �b6 24 wf5 ¢> b5 25 �g6 ¢rxb4 26 q.. xgS aS 27 '1Pg6 a4 28 h6 ± . � b6 10 ll c8 + 16

. . .

. .

.

.

. . .

21 22

J: xc! :�

J: h7

�c6 � b5 23 : e6 + ll M + 24 �f5 25 .1:1: f6 Resigns. The positi on in d i agram 187,

which occurred in the 1 957 Goth­ enburg tournament, is simila r in structure to the previous one. The Black a-pawn and c paw n are iso­ -

l a ted and weak, the White k ing will inevitably occupy c5, whilst the Black king will be forced back to c7; White's rook is active, Black's passive. White's positional ad vantage is e\'en more noticeable here. He does not ha ve a weak e­ pawn and the White rook threa­ tens to penetrate down the open d-file. Black cannot afford to exchange rooks as the pawn e nding is hopeless for him White's winning plan is not complicated and consists or the following stages: th e first, to ·check on the d-file and drive the Black k ing back to c7; the second, to occupy c5 with his king; the third, to advance hi s '1!1-side pawns to the 4th rank in o rder to preve nt the manoeuvre .. II. b8-b5 + ; the fourth, to attack Black's c-pawn by ll d6. A model schema might have been: l:l: a3 A a8 3 l:l: d3 + *c7 4 �c5 : b 8 5 a4. Now 5 . a5 does not sne Black because of 6 b5! (6 ba J:l a8! = ) 6 .

t b4 J: a7 2

.

.

Numerous pawns 1 89 . . . cb 7 ab a4 8 ll d4 J:l: a8 9 b6 + . does 5 l:Z.b7 6 ll d6 :t xb4 7 :t xc6 + �b7 8 :t xe6 J:l: xa4 9 � e7 + . B lack must not sit back and wait for White to carry out his plan; he must look for counterplay and not stop pawn. It is worth nor

with a won

4

. . .

mentioning that if Black's c-pawn had been at e7 instead of e6 there wo uld be no clear way of winning for White. 1 b3! The cautious Flohr marks time. After t b4 he feared the continu­ atio n : I . xe4 22 b7 e l = 'W 23 b8 • a drawn queen ending =

would be reached.

20 21

..t;.b5

llxa4 +

J:l: a8

190 Numerous pawns Z2

117

Rubin stein

Resigns.

: a t f6 7 A a2 f5 + 8 wd3 �d5

9

�c3

llc4 +

10

¢> b3

1 hd4

t 1 a4 :. d3 + ( 1 1 . . . �c6 1 2 aS

¢>b7 L3 a6 + wa7 14 : as lH4 IS lidS : xf2 16 ll xd6 J:l f3 + 1 7 �c4 :: xh3 1 8 J: g6 g4 1 9 ¢> b5 � b3 + 20 �aS = ) 1 2 � b4 ll xh3 1 3 aS lla8 1 4 a6 � e4 1 5 a 7 ll a8 1 6 �bS w O 1 7 � b6 = . 2 :t a4 3 lld3 �e7 �e6 4 �gJ wds s wo 6 �e2 Spielmann This i s what White h ad reckoned on when playing 2 tl c3. Black to play The d-pawn cannot be taken : 6 . . . Diagram 288 is the ending from . lZ. xd4 would be answered by 7 Spielmann-Rubinstein (St Peters­ b7 l8 Acl 29 lta4 l:tcl wc6 30 :C.ht 31 l:t a7 A h7 wd6 32 �e4 33

wf5

Hastening the inevitable end.

33 34 35 36

�xg6

�xh7

��6

g6 + !

J: xh7 �e5 g4

Resi gns. Rubinstein's skilful conduct of the endgame won high praise from Spielmann. He la ter wrote: 'This endgame should be included in every book o n rook endings.' Di agram 289 was met in the game Duras-Vidmar (Carlsbad 1 9 1 1 ). At first sight White looks to h ave a perfectly satisfactory game. since he penetrates into his opponent's camp and begins pick­ ing off pawns first. This should more than compensate for Black·s extra pawn. But a deeper investi­ gation of the position will reveal that the approach of the Black king to the centre creates qui te a few difficulties for White. There

19 2 Numerous pawns tl l3

Vidmar 289

gJ

�g2

: d4

Or 1 3 l1 xc6 'it> x b3 1 4 .:t xc5 � Ka4 1 5 A c6 Jl g4, a nd the a­ pawn is stronger t ha n the c-pawn. 13 14 IS

16

18

:d8 + �f7 l ¢'f6! l J:l b8 If now 3 l:lxb6, then 3 . . . ¢le5 4 ll a6 ¢>d4 5 ll xa5 wc3! 6 ll xc5 ¢>xb3 7 a5 'it>b4 8 Ilg5 h6 9 :. g4 'it>xa5, and the weakness of White's c-pawn means that Black has the advantage. 'it>e5

If 4 �e3, then 4 . . . �d6 + 5 ¢'d3 wc7, and the • -side pawns will be defen ded. Though after 6 Ilh8 Black can bardly count on realizing his small material advan­

tage. 4 s 6 7

wo h4

�d4 h6 h5

llb8 The Black king i s extremely acti ve and White's b-pawo will be an object of attack . But first Black keeps t be W hile king out of g5. 7 lle3 + 8 9 10 11

r;Pf4

�gJ

llb6

�h3

�b4

obviously be able to draw.

followed:

�fl ll xb6

:c6

: d3 ¢> xb3 ¢>xa4

17 :. x� �xc4 Somewhat stronger was 1 7 . . . a4 though after 1 8 :. b6 + ¢>xc4 1 9 g4 hg 20 ��5. White would

Duras

3 4

ll:tc� : x�

.: e4 +

¢>c3

.l g4 + �c:z

Preparing . . . Il d4, -d3.

19 20 ll

n

g4! .:t xg.:t +

.l: g5

�hJ!

llg

Ild4

a4 aJ �b3

n 1r. wb4 .a aJ + n l4 l: gl 24 :. xaJ would lose : 24 �xa3 25 h5 � b4. and the Black king gets back it:1 time. l4 � b3 15 l:t g3 i¢' bl :. al -+¢' bl 26 �cl '1.7 A gl iThe continuation of this inter­ esting en dgame, which should h ave ended in a draw. is given in

diagram 143. The posi ti on in diagram 290 occurred in the game Marshall­ R ubinstein (Carlsbad 1929). The

B lack pieces art actively placed and White's f-pawn has torn away from its b ase; in other words, Black has a slight advantage. par­ ticularly as it i:o; h is move. The t empti n g I . . . �f6 would reduce White after 2 .:t f2? ¢>g5 to a hopeless defence. Bu t White will answer 1 . . . �f6 with 2 'it>f3t, and after 2 . . . wxf5 3 :e7 the game equalizes. The ag6 8 �g2 �h6 9 �h3 (9 ci>f3 �h5) 9 .

�e2

.

.

�h5 10 f5 �g5 1 1 f6 �xf6 1 2 �xh4 �f5 1 3 �g3 �e4 1 4 �t2 �d3 1 5 �fJ �c4 16 �f4 �xb4 17 �e5 ¢> xa5 1 8 �xd5 b5 = . This example, as well as the previous one, shows that transpos­ ition to a pawn enging requires accurate calculation. Moreover, this ending confirms the truth tha t a rook penetratin g behind the opponent's pawns usuall y counterbalances a one pawn

Capablanca

deficit. AJekhinc: White to move

Kholmov 195

. The position in diagram 294 could have arisen in the 32nd game of the World Championship match after the move 32 b4 rec­ ommended by Alekhine in his commentary. Pa ss i ve defence by I : o3 cannot after 1 . . h4 + 2 �h3 l:t e l hold out any hopes of victory for Wli.ite, e.g. 3 g2 Jt e2 + 4 �fl :t c2 5 e4 h3 6 'it> g 1 � h4. Alekhine therefore suggested the followi ng variation: �f5 1 f4 + J:. hl 2 �0 3 l:l g l The threat 4 1:1 g5 + , in Aiekh ine's opinion simply leads to a .

·

,

•

Sol:olsky The ending in diagram 295 occurred in Sokolsky-K.holrnov (2 1st USSR Ch.). Black has a dear positional advantage. His rook occupies the open h-file and his king the cent ral e5 square. His

1 98 NumeroiL� pawns rook threatens to penetrate to h 1 and attack White's a-pawn. 1 �g2 will not help, because of 1 l:t h4, and on 2 l:t c4, 2 d5 is decisive. Passive defence would be out of pl ace in such positions and so Sokolsky rightly tries to introduce complications.

Levenfish 196

. . .

. . .

1

d4 + !

¢of6

. �d5, there might have followed : 2 de be 3 l:l d3 + �e5 4 e4! l:t h 3 + 5 �e2 l:t h2 + 6 ¢>0 = . If Black excltanges on d4 the pawn ending would turn out in White's favour. cit 2 de After 2 . be 3 a5 �e7 4 :b3 'iPd7 White's chances are not inferior. Weaker would be 3 we4 d 7 �ds

� d6 +

: n+

¢>f6 *g6

11 13

3 Noll 4 � because of 4 . . . d6 ti>&7

.: c3 + 5 �d8 a 3, and Black draws. 4 Arter 4 . . . . . J:t e3 .C x6 ll. c7 l:t xe7 + 6 wxe7 a3 we reach a won queen ending for White: 7 d7

,vumerous pawns 201 a2 8 d8 = W' a ! = • 9 'llf£8 + �g6 10 'lhf7 + i;h6 I I W f6 + . S l1 xa4! The tempting 5 l1e7 would lead to a c urious draw : 5 . a3 6 d7 a2 7 : e t l1 e3 + ! 8 n xe3 a l = 111 9 d8 = W a4 + 1 0 'li'd7 ( 1 0 �e7 'MVa7 + ) 10 1i'a8 + , and White cannot play 1 2 � c7 because of 1 2 . . W'f8 mate! Taking the as .

.

. . .

.

yet harmless a-pawn is a serious loss of a tempo. Correct was 5 d 7 ! l1 e3 + 6 �d8 a 3 7 l1 a8! (found by A. Konstantinopolsky) and White must win, e.g. 7 . f5 8 *c7 l1 d 3 9 : xa 3 or 7 a2 8 l ha4 . .

. . .

f5 9 ll a5.

Another \'ariation is 7 . f4 8 d7 f3 9 IHS l:td3 (9 q,g6 1 0 : rs �g7 1 1 �c71 ± ) 1 0 we7 lt e3 + 1 1 �d6 J:td3 + 1 2 �e6 .l:te3 + (the trap 1 2 . �g6 is refuted by 1 3 J:t f6 + ! �g7 1 4 : xf3) 1 3 lieS .: xeS + (or l 3 J:t d3 1 4 �e7 f2 1 5 .l:t xg5 + �h6 1 6 J:t fS .:le3 + 1 7 *f7 with the threat of mate on hS) 14 �xeS J2 . .

. . .

. .

. . .

1 5 d8 = • f1 = • 16 •xg5 + followed by 1 7 -.rs + or •r6 + . �f6 7 : a6 8 II 8 J: a5, then 8 g4 9 d7 .: c3 10 l: d 5 �f7 and draws. xt3 8 . . .

9

l1 e3 + 5 5 f5 would lose to 6 n a7 + * g6 7 d7 :C:e3 + 8 �f8 J:td3 9 J:t a6 � h 7 1 0 �e7 etc. 1'5! 6 �d8

7 gr. White again misses a win, though it was difficult to find over the board. The win was : 7 l h5! �f6 8 l1 xf5 + �e6 9 �c:: S !! (9 d7 l:ld3) 9 � xd6 + (or 9 :t d 3 1 0 J: xg5) 1 0 ¢f7! .l:t e4 1 1 : xg5 : f4 + 1 2 �g7 �e7 (or 12 . �e6 1 3 l:l g6 + ¢>e5 1 4 �h6) 1 3 :l g6 l H7 + 1 4 �h6 �rs 1 5 g5 :n 1 6 : a6. : 8 t 1 1 ..t g6 .:: g2 1 8 l h8 + �e7 1 9 .l:t g8 and wins. . . .

. .

. . .

s4

�xd7

g3

11

13

�d6

ll

14

JOO

�c7

d7 �d6

10

. . .

ll: a 1

Draw.

: e7 ll: d7 +

gZ

�e4

Sherwin

Fischer W hite to play Diagram 300 is taken rrom the game Fischer-Sherwin (Portoroz 1 958). W hite has slightly the better position and as it is h.is move he wins a pawn.

202 Numerous pawns I

d6 +

J 4 5

%1 xf7 + %1 f6 + %1 g6

1

l:U6

�d7

17

llhl

18

�xd6 ¢fe7 hJ

Black's far advanced passed pawn provides him with serious

counterchances.

6

.zl xgS

7 8 9

A hS :l. h8

cunningly. play 18 . :l h7 + 20

. .

20 . . . �e7 ll g8 + 23

¢;e6 �f6! � g6!

�d3

Fischer acquajnted en dings of

18 t9

.

�e6

Fischer,

¢;(6

A mistake would be 12 . . . ll h l ,

f4

Unable to elicit a mistake from h.is opponent, Fischer makes one

last try. 13 14

¢;xf4

&f +

:lhl

Correct; otherwise White wins an important tempo.

15 16

�g3 ¢>xh3

l1el

J: xe4 : rs And so we have reached a sim­ ple rook ending of rook and pawn v. rook. White has managed to cut ofT the Black king on a file. A Hank attack on the White king is not possible. but the White pawn is still only on the 4th rank and cannot yet advance. As was dis­ cussed in the penultimate section of Chapter 2. Black's only chance of saving himself is by a frontal attack. 17

Alas, Sherwin does not know

��7 � &6

in view of 1 3 � f2 fol lowed by 1 4 �g3 wi nn ing the h·pawn.

13

�e7 we6?

:o

t he theory, and meanwhile the loss or a tempo h ere decides his fate. Correct was 1 9 . . It aS!. Then if 20 ¢' h4 Black replies 20 . . .

.

ll h4 11 115 ¢>e3

�h7 l1 g5 24 *h6

11g8 25 g5.

Not 9 l he5 because of 9 . . %1 h l 1 0 l1 h 5 h2 and White loses his rook. If 9 �c4 Black would have replied 9 . . rl;f6! 9 10 11 11

J: a4 tl.f8 is obviously well with the theory of rook this type and plays it He tempts Black to J: a7 when 1 9 �h4 xe4 �e6 7 d5 + the pa w n ending is lost for Black.

1 l: e8 I f 1 . . . aS 2 lt xb6 a4 then 3 lt a6! :r::t xa6 4 ba �c6 5 wd3 �b6 6 �c3 wxa6 7 � b4 + . lt e7 2 �d3 3 g4 J. d) Black offers the exchange of rooks thinking the pawn ending drawn. In time-trouble both play­ ers failed to calculate that after 4 1Z xe6 �xe6 s gf + gf 6 e4 wd6 7 �e3 �e6 8 e5 �f7 9 �f2 �g6 JO �g3 �g7 l l �h4 �g6 1 2 e6 � f6 1 3 ¢> h5! �xe6 1 4

�g5! White wins.

And if in ans wer to 5 gf + Blade played 5 . . . �xf5 then transfer­ ring the king to g3 would decide; because of Zugzwang Black wiU be forced to allow the decisive e4.

4

5

6

l:t cl

'4 hl

ltd

7 8

:el :at

9

:ct

'4e7

�e6 �d7 : r7 wd6 �·7

ll f8 10 lt c6 The time-trouble is over and White sets a bout winning. :r::t f7 �e2 II 12 �n : rs 13 �&3 ll e8 : e7 :c3 14 15 �114 w; 16 �g3 The king hurries back to f2 after which the White rook will penetrate via c6 or h l , so that Black's next move is forced. 16 h5 17 �h4 lt ll7 t8 �aS rg

19 lO 21 2l 23 24

fg wxa4

�gS :. a3! : xa7 + ¢>xp

llg : bt

'4 bl

.: xb�

w.t6

l:t h3

302

Alekhine finds the bes t defence and levels the material, but the passed f-pawn becomes menacing.

25 26

rs

:xe3

�b7

lUJ

lt g3 + Black to drive his opponent's king in front of its pawn. but the bridge saves White.

If

27

£6 tries

27 . . . Uh3 + , then 28 �g8 lt g3 + 29 l:l g7.

204 Numerous pawns 28 29

JO

f7 �g7

wr6! After 30 � f8 .lhd4 the game would be drawn. J:U4 + 30 31 �g5 :a: n Jl gl + 32 ¢>g6 The threat was 33 l1 xa8. 33

34

3s

�r6

� g7

weB �d8

ll d7 + �e8

.cte7 ltc7

t

.net + :n

�c:6 .ct f4

wcl6

. . ll e l, then 2 ll a6 ll h l 3 �e4 with 4 J:l. e6 to foUow. *xd5 2 J::r. a6 + �xh6 3 Now we have the curious situ­ ation of two connected passed pawns fighting doubled passed

pawns.

.

303

ltgt +

�b5 Resigns. Accurate to the end! 41 f8 = 1lf lt xf8 + 42 �xf8 �c4 would still have required careful play, whereas the game move robs Black of any hopes. If 4 1 .cte4 + , then 42 'i;ld7 � f4 43 �e7 .ct e4 + 44 �d6 .ct f4 45 �xd5. In diagram 303 White's ad\'an­ tage consists of the better pawn set-up and of his more actively placed pieces. To create counter­ play Black must bring his king out. If 1

Portoroz 1958

A fi +

�rs White's manoeuvres have brought about an important change: Black's rook is on the 8th rank no w. and not the 5th. 35 1:..1 1

36 J7 38 39 40 41

Petros ian- Fischer,

J:[ f4 A g4 +

3 c4 4 � at(?) Proves to be inadequate for a win. The more subtle 4 : a7! c6 5 J:t d7 + �c5 6 lt d l c3 7 gS �c4 8 g6 c2 9 : cl d3 lO rs �g8 1 1 � f4 would have won a decisive tempo on the game continuation. If Black answers 4 lt a7 with 4 . . . c5, then 5 D. d 7 + �c6 6 J:d1 �b5 7 g 5 etc. 4 c3 s g5 cS 6 : •t + White drives the Black king aside so as to safeguard the advance of his own pawn pair. otherwise after 6 g6 llg8 7 rs �e5 8 �g4 �f6 9 lt c l lt d8 10 l1 xc3 1l d4 + 1 1 �h5 c4 12 J::r. g3 J:Z d 3 Black would d raw. 6 �c4 7 c2 g6 8 ll d O r 8 .1:1 g l J:Z. d 8 9 g7 � g8 w ith the threat of I 0 . . . : xg7. 8 �d3 9 13 .ct g8 10