Exploring the Endgame - Peter Griffiths

Exploring the Endgame

Exploring the Endgame Peter Griffiths

Adam and Charles Black

Copyright© 1984 Peter Griffiths

ISBN 0-7136-2445-0 First edition 1984 Published by A & C Black (Publishers) Limited 35 Bedford Row, London, WClR 4JH, England This book is copyright under the Berne Convention. All rights are reserved. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, 1956, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrical, chemical, mechanical, optical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Enquiries should be addressed to the publishers. Griffiths, Peter, 1946--­ E.xploring the endgame. I. Chess-End games I. Title GV1450.7 794.1'24 Design: Krystyna Hewitt and A & C Black (Publishers) Limited Text set in 10/11 pt Stymie by W. Turner & Son Limited, Halifax, and printed and bound in Great Britain at The Pitman Press, Bath

Contents Introduction

7

l . Pawn endings Game l Game 2 Game 3 Game 4

Shamkovich-Watken Vogt-Liebert Faibisovic-Ohotnik Kirov-Ermenkov

9 9 10 12 14

2 . Knights Game Game Game Game

5 6 7 8

Sax-Tal Andersson -Medina Hecht-Hurme Pfleger-Larsen

16 16 20 23 28

3. Bishops Game Game Game Game Game Game Game

9 lO ll l2 l3 l4 l5

Spassky-Byrne Polugaevsky-Balashov Hort-Bertok Korchnoi-Karpov Tal-Radulov Kurajica-Karpov Gligoric-Ljubojevic

33 33 36 41 43 47 50 53

4. Minor pieces Game l 6 Game l 7 Game l 8 Game l 9 Game 20 Game 2 1

Kholmov-Vasiukov Century-Lee Larsen-Smyslov Webb-Matulovic Suttles-Tal Ftacnik-Geller

57 57 62 66 70 74 77

5. Rooks Game Game Game Game Game Game Game Game

Gurgenidze-Radev Karpov-Hort Andersson-Rivas Karpov-Jakobsen Polugaevsky-Evans Zhidkov-Razuvaev Estrin-Pytel Ivanov-Bonchev

84 84 88 93 97 1 02 1 04 105 1 08

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

6. Queens Game 30 Game 3 1 Game 32 Game 33 Game 34 Game 35

Hecht-Villeneuve Hubner-Mecking Kaplan-Ivkov Chandon-Moet-Bottlik Kotov-Bednarski Lukacs-Marszalek

113 113 1 14 117 121 1 26 1 27

7 . Rooks and minor pieces Game 36 Radulov-Kavalek Game 37 Karpov-Dueball Game 38 Karpov-Polugaevsky Game 39 Uhlmann-Karpov Game 40 Vaganian-Smyslov Game 4 1 Timman-Deze Game 42 Romanishin-Ubilava Game 43 Ivkov-Browne Game 44 Keres-Hort Game 45 Rogoff-Csom Game 46 Averbach-Hug

1 33 1 33 1 38 1 43 1 47 1 50 1 56 1 62 1 67 1 70 1 72 1 77

8. Rooks against minor pieces Game 47 Gheorghiu-Stoica Game 48 Eley-Drimer Game 49 Matulovic-Damjanovic Game 50 Ljubojevic-Torre Game 5 1 Timman-Hubner Game 52 Garcia-Karpov Game 53 Miles-Kuzmin Game 54 PerE'myi-Barczay

181 181 1 86 1 89 1 93 1 98 205 21 1 216

Introduction Fifty annotated endgames have appeared in the British Chess Magazine under the title 'Practical Chess Endings' during the past ten years, and it has been suggested that a reprint in book form - with some new material - might be welcome. The whole spectrum of endgame play is represented, from straight­ forward technique and general principles at one end to great tactical complexities at the other. I hope that all classes of players should therefore find something to interest them. Pawn endings appear briefly in some of the games, but usually only in variations or when a decisive position has already been reached. The technique of winning is then fairly simple, so I have begun the book with a short selection of more difficult examples. After that the main endings are divided into chapters according to which piece predominates. Very broadly the games at the beginning of a chapter are either easier to follow, or they illustrate technique, while the later ones deal with tactical compli­ cations and very unusual positions. Chapter 7, Rooks and minor pieces, will, I hope, fill something of a gap. While the endings of rook against one or two minor pieces (Chapter 8) are covered in many endgame books, the field of rook and minor piece on each side has perhaps been a little neglected. In most cases the whole game score has been given, to show how the endgame arose, though for a few positions the earlier moves are not available I would like to thank the Editor of the Bnlish Chess Magazine for kind permission to re-publish the material. A few of the articles have also appeared in The Endings in Modern Theory and Practice (1976) and acknowledgements are due to the publishers, Bell & Hyman Ltd.

7

1. Pawn endings GAME 1

White: Shamkovich USA, 1 976

Black: Watken

White can win this ending, but only by keeping Black's attempts to make a passed pawn under careful controL Certain types of passed pawn can be permitted, others cannot (Diagram 1 ).

1 . .K£8 2 Ke3 Ke8 3 Kd3 ! Straightaway he has to b e careful - 3 Kd4 will not do because of 3 . . . e5 + . Then, if 4 Kc4, f5 and Black has the equivalent of a pro­ tected passed pawn (at e5), which has to be watched permanently. Any Q-side invasion would then be out of the question, while the undermining move f4 would always be met by . . .e4. The alternative 4 d X e6 f X e6 would allow Black a protected passed cl-pawn and after 5 f4 (otherwise . . . g5, putting an end to the essential undermining plan f4-f5) Kd7 6 Ke4 Kc6 7 f5 e X f5 + 8 g X f5 g X f5 + 9 K X f5 Kb5 1 0 Ke6 K X b4

1 1 K X d6 Kb3 Black can draw. The important point about this position is knowing when to advance the h-pawn, drawing the white king away from the vital squares f7 and f8 and thus gaining access to them himself, and when to leave the pawn untouched, shutting the king in when he captures it. The lines are as follows: (a) 1 2 Ke6 K X b2 1 3 Kf6 Kc3 1 4 Kg7 h5 1 (not 1 4 . . . Kd4 1 5 K X h7 Ke5 1 6 h4 etc.) 15 Kh6 h4 (again not 15 . . . Kd4) 1 6 Kh5 h3! 1 7 Kh4 Kd4 and draws. If here 1 5 h4 Kd4 1 6 Kh6 Ke5 etc. draws. (b) 12 Ke6 K X b2 1 3 Kf6 Kc3 1 4 Kg5 Kd4 1 5 Kh6 (if 1 5 h4 Ke5 1 6 h5 h6 + draws) Ke5 1 6 K X h7 Kf5, winning the pawn; if here 1 6 h4 Kf6, reaching f7 and drawing. (c) 1 2 Ke6 K X b2 1 3 Kf6 Kc3 1 4 h4 Kd4 1 5 h5 Kd5 1 6 Kg7 Ke6 1 7 K X h7 Kf7 draws, or if 1 6 h6 Kd6 etc. (d) 1 2 Ke6 K X b2 1 3 h4 Kc3 1 4 h5 Kd4 15 h6 Kc5 draws. 3 . . .Kd7 Because both 3 . . e5 and 3 . . . e6 are now met by 4 g5 1, crippling Black's majority and preventing him from obtaining a passed pawn.

.

Diagram 1

9

Of course, 3 . . . f6 would defeat the object of Black's plan (he would not have a protected passed pawn after a later . . . e6) and no other pawn moves are of any use. 4 Kc4 Kc7 5 Kb5 Planning Ka6-a7 (or Kb6 after . Kb8) and meeting 5 . . . e6 by 6 g5 1 e X d5 7 Ka4 Kb6 8 Kb3 Kb5 9 Kc3, as in the game. The position then becomes a rela­ tively simple case of an outside passed pawn defeating a central one. 5 . . .Kb7 6 f4 e6 Otherwise he runs out of pawn moves and White wins by Ka5, b5 etc. 7 g5 (Diagram 2) Kc7 If 7 . . .e X d5 8 Ka4, as shown above. Now, to force the issue, White has to threaten the penetra­ tion to a7. 8 Ka6 e Xd5 If 8 . . .Kb8 9 b5 e X d5 10 Ka5, as in the game; if here 9 . . . e5

GAME 2

Diagram 2 l 0 f X e5 d X e5 11 Ka5, catching the pawn; if 9 . . . Ka8 l 0 Kb6 Kb8 1 1 Kc6 wins. If 8 . . . e5 9 f X e5 d X e5 10 Kb5 Kd6 11 Kc4 e4 1 2 Kd4, White also wins by a K-side attack. 9 Kb5 Kb7 10 Ka4 d4 1 1 Kb3 d5 12 Kc2 KeG 13 Kd3 Kb5 14 K Xd4 K Xb4 15 K Xd5 Kb3 16 Ke5 1-0.

White : Vogt Black Liebert East Germany, 1 969

Black's superior king position gives him some advantage Combine that with the weakness of White's Q-side pawns, which is anything but obvious, and the advantage becomes decisive. The pawns are weak because Black threatens . a5, . . . b5 and . . . a4 with an outside passed pawn, and the only way to prevent that, c5, leaves the whole complex in danger from Black's active king l . Kf4 is also an obvious threat, which explains the first move (Diagram l ): 8 Ke6 Kd3 and wins; if here 2 Ke2 b6, with . . . Ke4 and . . . c5 to follow. (b) l Ke3 a5 2 g4 b6, when 3 Kf3, abandoning the Q-side passed pawn, naturally makes things worse.

1 g3 If he avoids this, we have (a) 1 b4 (l c5 Kf4 leads to the same thing) Kf4 2 Kd4 Kg3 3 Ke5 K X g2 4 Kf6 K X h3 5 K X g5 Kg3 6 K X g6 Kf4 7 Kf6 Ke4 10

Diagram 1

Diagram 2

1 aS 2 cS 2 Ke3 provides the most interesting analysis, since Black c annot get away with the direct hne 2 . . . b5 3 Kd3 a4 (3 . . . b X c4 + 4 K X c4 Ke4 is too slow) 4 c X b5 c X b5 5 b X a4 b X a4 6 Kc4 Ke4 7 Kb4 Kd3 8 K X a4 K X c3 9 Kb5 Kd4 1 0 Kc6. At this point 1 0 . . . Ke4 1 1 Kd6 Kf3 1 2 Ke5 K X g3 1 3 Kf6 only draws; in order to win Black has to change the pawn structure, but 1 0 . . . g4 1 1 h X g4 Ke4 1 2 Kd6 Kf3 1 3 Ke6 K X g4 1 4 Kf6 is still too slow, while 1 0 . . . g4 1 1 h X g4 g5? 1 2 Kd6 actually wins for White. The right way is quite subtle: change the K-side pawn structure first, while there is still time, viz. 2 . . . g4! 3 h X g4 (if 3 h4, Black will penetrate quickly to f3, the white king being inevitably drawn across to the other wing) g5 4 Kd3 ( 4 c5 Kd5 5 b4 a4 6 Kd3 a3 is hopeless) b 6 1 (not 4 . . . b5? 5 c X b5 c X b 5 6 c4 when Black is losing - the white king must not be in a position to

recapture at c4) 5 Ke3 b5 6 Kd3 a4 7 c X b5 c X b5 8 b X a4 b X a4 9 Kc4 Ke4 1 0 Kb4 Kd3 1 1 K X a4 K X c3 1 2 Kb5 Kd4 1 3 Kc6 Ke4 1 4 Kd6 Kf3 1 5 Ke5 K X g3 and wins; if here 1 3 Ka3 Kd3 1 4 Kb3 Ke3 1 5 Kc3 Kf3 etc. 2 Kd5 3 b4 a4 4 c4+ KeS 5 Kc3 (Diagram 2) g4! Black now alters the pawn structure in the same way, but for a different reason; he wishes to eliminate any spare moves for his opponent. In fact . . . g4 can be delayed, but playing it at once is the simplest line to follow. He can shp up here by attacking the K-side instead, e.g. 5 . . . Ke4 6 Kb2 Kf3 7 g4, and now 7 . . . Ke3 8 Ka3 Kd3 9 K X a4 K X c4 1 0 Ka3 Kc3 still wins, as in the game, but 7 . . . Kg3? leads to the notoriously difficult queen and pawn vs. queen ending after 8 Ka3 K X h3 9 K X a4 K X g4 1 0 Ka5 Kf4 1 1 Kb6 g4 1 2 K X b7 g3 1 3 b5 c X b5 (or 1 3 . . . g2 1 4 b X c6 g 1 /Q 1 5 c7 Q X c5 1 6 c8/Q Q X c8 +

.

.

.

.

11

.

.

1 7 K X cB Ke5 1 8 Kd7 1 Kd4 1 9 Ke6 with a draw) 1 4 c6 g2 1 5 c7 g 1 /Q 1 6 cB/Q b X c4 etc. In the last phase White has to submit to a complete turning of his left flank, an instructive finish in itself 6 h Xg4 g5 7 Kb2 Kd4 8 Ka3 Kc3 ! 0- 1 . Black's last move i s easier than

GAME 3

White : Faibisovic USSR, 1 979

8 . . .KX c4 9 K X a4, when he has to use opposition manoeuvring to win, viz. 9 . . .Kd4 ! 1 0 Kb3 Kd3 1 1 Kb2 Kc4 1 2 Ka3 Kc3, or 1 0 Ka5 Kc3 . Now, after 9 K X a4 K X c4 1 0 Ka5 Kb3 1 1 b5 Kc4 1 2 b X c6 b X c6 1 3 Kb6 Kd5 wins. If here 1 0 Ka3 Kc3 1 1 Ka4 Kb2 1 2 b5 Kc3 is the same thing .

Black: Ohotnik

White has to make up his mind whether he will have enough advantage to win, if he exchanges queens . His decision to do so is based on a superior pawn structure, i.e. he has one pawn (h-) holding two black ones (h- and g-). While he is creating two connected passed pawns on the Q-side, Black will therefore have only one (e- or f-). Alternatively Black can obtain two passed pawns by playing . . . g6 or . . . g5, but White then intends to exchange and leave the weakened pawns open to attack by his king. However, Black will then have an outside pawn, so the ending has to be finely judged. (Diagram 1 )

1 Qd2 + ! Q Xd2+ 2 K Xd2 f5 If Black refuses to move his pawns at all, White would first centralise his king and play c4. Then the Diagram 1

further advance of his pawns would enable him to occupy e5 and finally d6 with his king. If Black plays his king to d6 and pawn to f6, but no more pawn moves, White can play his king to d4 and pawns to a5, b5 and c5. With the black king then at c7, c6 and Kc5 will win (or if 1 c6 Kd6 2 a6, threatening 3 b6). If in this defence Black plays . . . a6 and exchanges off one of the advancing pawns (position would then be WK c4, pawns b5, c5, BK c7), White has 1 c6 Kd6 2 Kd4, with Kc5 to follow and the usual direct mating attack. If Black sets up his pawns at f6 and e5, the advance of his pawns gives White easy access to d5

There remain only Black's actual choice (. . .f5 and . . . e5) or the alternative plan of . . . g5. The second of these is interesting because of the way White's dominating centralised king out­ weighs Black's potential outside passed pawn, and easily keeps this pawn under control: 2 . . . g5 3 h X g6 f X g6 4 Ke3 and then either 4 . . . Ke7 or, slightly stronger, 4 . . . h5: (a) 4 . . . Ke7 5 Ke4 Kd6 6 c4 e5 (or 6 . . .h5 7 Kf4 e5 + , transposing; if here 7 . . . Kd7 8 Ke5 leads into (b); not of course 6 . . . g5 7 g4 - another useful plus for White) 7 c5+ Ke6 8 b5 h5 9 b6 and wins. (b) 4 . . .h5 5 Kf4 Ke7 6 Ke5 (not 6 Kg5 e5) g5 and White's problem is that after . . .h4 he will never be able to take the e-pawn. However, his pawns are still too strong for Black: 7 b5 h4 8 a4 Kd7 9 c4 Kc7 1 0 c5 Kd7 1 1 a5 Kc7 1 2 a6 Kb8 1 3 c6 Kc7 1 4 b6 + ! and wins. Another possible variation illus­ trates White's enormous king­ power 4 . . . h5 5 Kf4 Ke7 6 Ke5 a6 (because an exchange may well reduce the tactical chances which three pawns are bound to give White) 7 a4 g5 8 a51 (the more obvious 8 c4 h4 9 b5 a5 10 c5 Kd7 might well not be enough to win, but 8 a5 extends the territory which the black king must cover) h4 (8 . . . Kd7 9 Kf6) 9 b5 Kd7 1 0 b X a6 Kc7 1 1 c4 and wins because the white pawns are self-

Diagram 2

supporting, while the black ones will be lost, if they move: (a) 1 1 . . . g4 1 2 Kf4 h3 1 3 g X h3 g X h3 1 4 Kg3 Kb8 1 5 c5 Ka7 1 6 K X h3 K X a6 1 7 c6; (b) 1 l . . . Kc6 1 2 c5 Kc7 1 3 a7 Kb7 1 4 c6 + K X a7 1 5 Kd6 and wins. 3 e4 Ke7 4 eS KeG 5 Kd3 KdS (Diagram 2) Now Black's king is bound to be pushed back sooner or later, by Zugzwang. G g3 eS 7 Ke3 aG If 7 . . .Kc6 8 Kc4 a6 9 a4 Kc7 1 0 Kd5 e4 1 1 Kd4 and 1 2 g4 will win. Now White must be careful with his pawn moves 8 a4 7 a5 would be bad. 8 Kd3 aS 9 a3 a4 10 Ke3 e4 1 1 Kd2 KeG 12 Ke3 1 2 Ke2 Kd5 1 3 Ke3 Kc6 1 4 g4 shortens the game, but the result is not affected. 12 . . .KdS 13 Kf2 KeG 14 Ke2 KdS 15 Ke3 KeG 1G g4 1-0.

GAME 4

White: Kirov Black: Ermenkov Bulgaria, 1 973

There is a certain perversity about pawn endings. In some cases a tiny advantage in the pawn structure or in the king position can be decisive; yet examples abound of desperate-looking situations which can be saved by accurate play and with no further errors on the opponent's part. Our fourth position is a case in point. How do you think Black felt? He has a superior king position and an outside passed pawn, and even White's own majority in the centre is crippled and unable to yield a passed pawn in the normal way. Yet White can still draw ! Of course, there is always a logi­ cal reason; Black's cl-pawn is his Achilles' Heel (Diagram 1 ). h-pawn Now the lines beginning with 4 . . . Kd3 5 Ke6 Kc3 and 4 . . . Kd3 5 Ke6 a4 are at best equal for Black, so he correctly runs with his h-pawn. 4 . . .h5 5 KeG h4 6 K Xd6 h3 7 Kc7 h2 8 d6 h 1 /Q 9 d7 (Diagram 2) The normal rules of queen vs. pawn only apply on an open board, when the queen has her full checking powers available. Here she cannot reach the vital square c6 and nothing can be done. 9 . . . Qh2+ 10 KcB Qh3 1 1 Kc7 Qg3 + 12 KcB Qg4

1 Kh3 Amazingly White even has a choice. l Kf3 Kf5 2 Kg3 Ke4 3 Kg4 amounts to the same thing. However, he must avoid e4 at this stage - if 1 e4? h5 2 Kh3 (or 2 e5 d X e5 3 d6 Kf6 4 Kh4 e4, winning) Kf4 3 Kh4 K X e4 4 K X h5 Kd3 5 Kg5 a4 wins. 1 . . .K£5 If 1 . . .h5 2 Kg3 Kf5 (2 . . . h4 + 3 Kh3 Kh5 is useless on account of 4 e4 Kg5 5 e5 d X e5 6 d6 Kf6 7 K X h4 Ke6 8 Kg5, equalising easily) 3 Kh4 Ke4 4 K X h5 K X e3 (see below for 4 . . . Kd3) 5 Kg5 Kd3 6 Kf5 Kc3 (6 . . . a4 7 b X a4 K X c4 8 Ke6 is in White's favour, if anything) 7 Ke6 KXb3 8 K X d6 a4 9 Kc6, with a slight advantage to White. 4 . . .Kd3 leads to 5 Kg5 a4 (or 5 . . . Kc3 6 e4) 6 b X a4 K X c4 7 e4, and in this funny symmetrical position Black is in trouble - if 7 . . . Kb4 8 e5, or i£ 7 . . .Kd4 8 a5 1 In every variation White's drive towards e6 and d6 is at least as potent as anything Black can . devise. 2 Kh4 Ke4 3 Kg5 K Xe3 4 K£5 Of course, White ignores the

Diagram 1

14

1 3 Kc7 Qf4+ 14 Kc8 QfS 15 Kc7 QeS + 1 6 Kc8 Qe6 17 Kc7 Qe7 18 Kc8 Y2-Y2

Diagram 2

15

2.Knights In Game No. 5 a World Champion shows how to take advantage of a superior king position in a relatively straightforward ending. Some interesting pawn endgames also crop up in the notes. Game No. 6 is a more subtle affair, a triumph of centre control over a potential outside passed pawn, and a lesson for all who over-estimate the Q-side majority. That this should happen in a knight ending, where an outside passed pawn would normally be a powerful weapon, is especially interesting. In the decade since this ·game was played the winner has earned a reputation second to none in the handling of endgames and other simplified positions. (See also Game 24). The other two games in this chapter are tactically more complicated In No. 7 Black solves his early problems with a piece sacrifice and we have the opportunity to observe some difficult play in an ending of knight vs. two pawns . Black should have drawn, but missed his way at a critical moment. No. 8 is the other side of the coin, with two strong passed pawns proving too much for a knight. The endgame begins with an assortment of pieces still in action and plenty of aggressive possibilities for Black, but he loses his way in the complexities and his remaining forces are in no position to stop the avalanche.

GAME 5

White: Sax Black: Tal Tallinn, 1 979 Ruy Lopez

1 e4 e5 2 N£3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Ba4 N£6 5 0-0 N Xe4 6 d4 b5 7 Bb3 d5 8 d Xe5 BeG 9 Nbd2 Nc5 10 c3 d4 1 1 B Xe6 N Xe6 12 Nb3 d Xc3 13 Qc2 (Diagram 1 ) The tactical play leading into this endgame position is of some interest. If Black con­ tinues with simple development, say 1 3 . . . Be7, 1 4 Rd 1 and 1 5 Q X c3 leaves White a clear advantage on the open files. Instead Tal keeps the initiative by: 13 . . .Qd5 14 Rd 1 (or 1 4 Q X c3 Bb4 and 15 . . . Rd8)

Diagram 1

16

14 . . .Nb4! 1 5 Qe2 ( 1 5 R X d5 N X c2 simply loses a pawn) 15 . . .Qc4 16 Q Xc4 b Xc4 17 Na5 Nc2 18 Rb 1 Na3 19 Ra 1 Nc2 20 Rb 1 Rb8 2 1 N Xc4 Na3 ! (Back again, more strongly this time and forcing White's passive 23rd move) 22 N Xa3 B Xa3 23 Ne 1 c Xb2 24 Nc2 bXc 1/Q 25 RXb8+ Ke7 26 RXc 1 RXb8 27 N Xa3 Rb2 F arcing the exchange of rooks because his king is better developed and will be able to occupy an aggressive square much more easily once his opponent's best piece has disappeared. Black has other advantages too: ( l ) He already possesses a passed pawn; (2) The weakness of the e-pawn will force g3 and f4 before long. Then the whole chain will be open to attack by Black's king along the weakened white squares. All of which should add up to a lost ending for White. (Diagram 2) 28 Rc2 R Xc2 29 N Xc2 Kd7 30 g3 Best to play the pawn moves at once. They will soon be forced anyway, and his king will arrive at the centre more quickly via f2 and e3. 30 . . . c5 This is not done merely to bring the pawn two squares nearer to queening - priority at this stage would normally be given to the king's development. But Tal intends to play . . . Nd4, gaining more central space, and in addition the direct 30 . . .Kc6 3 1 f4 Kd5 32 Nb4 + (32 Kf2 Ke4 would be too dominating) 32 . . .Kc4 33 N X a6 Kb5, trapping the

Diagram 2

knight, is not as good as it looks: 34 Nb8 Kb6 (34 . . . c5 35 Kf2 Kc4 36 Ke3 shows very little for the sacrificed pawn) 35 f5 Nc5 36 e6 f X e6 37 f X e6 N X e6 38 Nd7 + Kc6 39 Ne5 + Kd5 40 Nf3 Ke4 4 1 Kf2 c5 42 Ke2, and the result of Black's efforts has only been to reduce the pawn population Another possibility here would be a good example of a premature attack - 3 1 . . Kc5 32 Kf2 Kc4 33 Ke3 Kc3 34 Ne l Kb2 35 f5 Nd8 36 Nd3 + etc. Black has to keep the centre under better control than that. 3 1 f4 Nd4! It is easy to see that Black stands better in the pawn ending after 32 N X d4 c X d4, but the proof of the win is perhaps less obvious. The analysis would be : 33 Kf2 Ke6 and then either 34 Kf3 or 34 Ke2. Clearly the black king cannot be allowed into e4, but even on d5 his influence is such that the opposing pawn majority can be broken up or paralysed: 34 Kf3 Kd5 35 g4 g51 36 f X g5 K X e5 and White's 17

majority is useless for producing a passed pawn - 37 Ke2 Ke4 etc., or 37 h3 Kd5 38 h4 Kc4 and wins. If here 36 h3 g X f4 37 K X f4 Kc4 wins. If White avoids g4 altogether, we have 35 h3 h5 36 a3 g6, which is Zugzwang, since 37 h4 cripples the majority and again permits 37 . . . Kc4. So he must try 34 Ke2 Kd5 35 Kd3. But then 35 . . .h5 1 again forces him to yield e4 or adopt one of the bad pawn structures 36 h3 g6 37 g4 h X g4 38 h X g4 g51 and wins, or 36 h3 g6 37 h4 Kc5 and wins. Tempo moves with the a-pawn are irrelevant here, since the black king can oscillate between c5 and d5 until White has to give way. 32 Ne3 KeG 33 Kf2 Nf5 (Diagram 3) 34 Nd l { ! ) Again the pawn ending i s hopeless - 34 N X f5 K X f5 35 Kf3 g5 36 g4 + Ke6 etc., but Sax has a reason for playing his knight to d l rather than c2. 34 . . .Kd5 35 g4 He must take some action; against passive play Black gains more space until he can simply walk into White's position, for example 35 Ke2 Kd4 36 Kd2 h5 37 Nc3 h4 38 g4 Ne3 39 h3 Nd5 40 Ne2 + Ke4 etc. 35 . . .Nh6 It seems strange at first sight to de­ centralise the knight, but if 35 . . . Nd4 36 Nc3 + Kc4 37 Ne4 Kb4 38 Ke3, followed by Nd6, with good counterplay. This of course explains White's 34th move. 36 Kf3 (36 h3? Ke4) Kd4 37 Ne3 g6

Diagram 3

This is necessary to stop f5. After 37 . . . c4 38 Nf5 + ? he is not obliged to take (if he were, 38 . . . N X f5 39 g X f5 would leave him in trouble because he could not then break up the white pawns - 39 . . . Kd5 40 Ke3 g6 4 1 f61, or 40 . . .Kc5 4 1 Ke4), but wins by 38 . . .Kd3 ! 39 N X h6 c3 and the pawn is through. Also bad for White is 38 g5 Ng8, when he still has no decent moves: 39 Nc2 + Kc3 40 Ne3 Kd3, or 39 Ke2 Ne7 etc., much as in the game. The trouble is that 38 f5 ! Kd3 39 g5 Ng8 40 f6 ! leads to obscure complications after 40 . . .g X f6 4 1 g X £6 c3 42 e6 N X f6 43 e X f7 Nd7 44 Kf4 c2 45 N X c2 K X c2 46 Kf5, when a win for Black is by no means certain. 38 g5 Ng8 Now the exchange of knights leads to a draw by 38 . . . Nf5 39 N X f5 + g X f5 40 h4 Kd3 4 1 h5 c4 42 g6. 39 Ng4 Apart from seeking the obvious 18

58 Ka7 (58 Kc8 Qd7 + and mate) Kc7 and mate is forced. As played, the intention is to win with a mating attack if the white knight wanders off too far in search of pawns, e.g. 4 1 Nf6 Ne7 42 N X h7 Nd5 43 Nf6 N X f4 + 4 4 Kd l Kd3 and wins. At the same time passive play is hopeless on account of his pawn weak­ nesses; so White ends up trying to compromise, keeping his knight in a position to harass the king from behind. 41 Kd l Ne7 42 Nf6 Nf5 43 Kc l aS ! Played partly because White is having trouble finding moves which do not commit him fatally, and partly because the a-pawn will obviously be a useful asset in the final stages, if it can reach a3. 44 Nd7 Ne3 44 . . . Ke4 is still premature: 45 Kc2 K X f4 46 K X c3 K X g5 47 Kc4, when White wins the a-pawn and gets good counterplay with his own passed pawn. Much better to keep the initiative and avoid quick material gains. The plan now is simply to pick up the f-pawn by . . .Nd5 . 45 Nb8 Kd3 46 Nc6 If 46 Nd7 Nd5 47 Nc5 + Ke3 48 e6 f X e6 49 N X e6 N X f4 wins. 46 . . . a4 47 Nd8 Nd5 48 e6 fXe6 (48 . . . N X f4 is quicker still) 49 N Xe6 a3 50 Nc5+ Kc4 5 1 Ne4 Nb4 (Now even better than . . . N X f4) 52 Kb l Kd4 0- 1 (The finish would be 53 Nf2 Ke3 54 Ng4 Kd2).

Diagram 4

counterplay by Nf6, he is ready to meet 39 . . . Kd3 by 40 Nf2 + (40 . . . Kc2? 4 1 Ke3 c4 42 Kd4 c3 43 Ne4, or 40 . . . Kc3 4 1 Ne4 + and 42 Nd6). Black therefore advances the pawn first. 39 . . .c4 40 Ke2 (Diagram 4) c3 The more direct 40 . . . Ke4 would not be sufficient to win: 4 1 Nf6 + N X f6 42 g X f6 Kf5 43 h4 h6 44 Kd2 g5 45 f X g5 (45 h X g5? h5 !) h X g5 46 h X g5 (46 h5? g4 47 h6 Kg6 48 e6 f X e6 loses) K X g5; and now 47 e6 1 liquidates everything and draws, but interestingly 47 Kc3 loses: 47 . . . Kf5 48 K X c4 K X e5 49 Kb4 K X f6 50 Ka5 Ke5 5 1 K X a6 f5 52 Kb7 (52 Kb5 f4 53 Kc4 Ke4 54 Kc3 Ke3 and wins) f4 53 a4 f3 54 a5 f2 55 a6 f l /Q 56 a7 and although a queen cannot usually win against a RP on the seventh, here she can, by 56 . . . Kd6 57 a8/Q Qb5 +

19

GAME 6

White: Andersson Black: Medina Palma, 1972 Reti Opening

The following ending is rather deceptive at first sight. Black has an outside pawn majority which would give him an advantage in most endings, and particularly knight endings, because the short-stepping knight finds it impossible to stop a distant pawn and influence events on the other side at the same time. Interestingly, though, the present game is an exception. White has a broad pawn centre, which is usually regarded as a middle-game advan­ tage, being a useful front behind which to build up an attack. However, such a centre also restricts the enemy pieces - in the endgame as well as the middle game - and so White achieves a space control in the centre and is thereby able to switch his pieces more rapidly from one wing to the other. Black, on the other hand, finds that he simply does not have the manoeuvring space available to support his majority . f3, but this is hardly sufficient compensation. 33 f3 Kf7 34 Kf2 Ke7 35 Ke3 Kd6 36 Kd3 g6{?) Black is tempted to make waiting moves for the moment, but again a slight weakening of his position is involved. White's centre restricts his pieces to the extent that he is unable to support the advance of the outside majority. The move 36 . . .b5, preventing the approach

1 Nf3 d5 2 c4 e6 3 b3 Nf6 4 Bb2 Be7 5 g3 0-0 6 Bg2 c5 7 0-0 b6 8 e3 Bb7 9 Qe2 Nbd7 10 Rd 1 Qc7 1 1 Nc3 Rac8 12 Rac 1 Rfd8 13 d3 Qb8 14 c Xd5 N Xd5 15 a3 N X c3 16 B Xc3 Bf6 17 Qb2 h6 18 h3 B X c3 19 RXc3 Nf6 20 Rdc 1 Nd5 2 1 R3c2 Ne7 22 Ne 1 B Xg2 23 KXg2 a6 24 b4 c Xb4 25 QXb4 RXc2 26 RXc2 Qb7 + 27 Kg 1 ReS 28 Qd6 RXc2 29 N Xc2 Nd5 30 e4 Qc7 3 1 Q Xc7 N Xc7 (Diagram 1 ) 32 d4 Setting up the pawn centre and preventing Black from getting his fair share by 32 . . e5. 32 . . .f5 This is very questionable since it weakens his central position even more, and the hole on e5 shortly becomes a serious matter, being an ideal springboard for the white knight, from which to attack the K-side pawns. Black's idea is to get his king to the centre one move sooner by obliging White to play

Diagram 1

20

centre, looks possible, but the weakness of the wing pawns then shows up, e.g. 38 e X f5 g X f5 c , . 39 Ne3 Ke6 (if 39 . . .£4 40 g X f4 e X f4 4 1 Nf5 + , or if here + 40 . . .e X d4 4 1 Nf5 + Kc6 .;w 42 N X h6 Ne6 43 f5) 40 d5 + Kf6 4 1 d6 Na8 (41 . . . Ne6 42 Nd5 +) 42 Kd5 and wins . 38 Nb4 b5+ Again 38 . . .a5 alone is hopeless after 39 Nd3 Nc7 40 a4 and Ne5. 39 Kc3 a5 40 Nd3 fXe4 4 1 f Xe4 Ke7 (Diagram 2) 4 1 . . . Ng7 loses a pawn immedi­ ately after 42 g4! (42 Ne5 Nh5 43 g4 Nf4 is not so good) h5 43 Ne5, or 42 . . . g5 43 Ne5 Ke7 44 Nc6 + . Graphic proof of the value of the centre square e5 is the fact that White can menace both the a- and h-pawns in this way and with a knight! The move played is the only way to defend the pawn temporarily. 42 Ne5 Hitting two pawns again and forcing Black into a counter-attack. 42 . . .Nd6 43 Kd3 43 N X g6 + will not do - 43 . . .Kf6 44 e5 + K X g6 45 e X d6 Kf7 46 g4 Ke8 47 h4 Kd7 48 g5 h X g5 49 h5 (49 h X g5 is also useless) g4, after which both sides queen and nothing can be achieved. 43 . . .K£6 44 Nc6 Having drawn the enemy king right over to the other side, he switches his forces smoothly to the Q-wing with a speed which Black cannot possibly match. 44 . . .Nc4 A somewhat rickety outpost for the knight, but if 44 . . .Nb7 45 Na7 b4 46 a X b4 aXb4 47 Nc6 (not

of the enemy king, gives rise to the following variations: (a) 37 Kc3 Kc6 38 Ne3 (38 Kb4 Kb6) g6 39 d5 + e X d5? 40 e X f5 g X f5 4 1 N X f5 h5 42 Ng7 h4 43 g4 Kc5 44 Nf5 Ne6 45 N X h4 Ng5 46 f4 N X h3 47 f5 with a clear advantage. (b) (In the above line) 39 . . . Kc5 1 40 d X e6 f X e4. (c) 37 Kc3 Kc6 38 Nb4 + Kb6 39 Nd3, aiming at c5, e5 and f4, with advantage. (d) 37 Kc3 a5 38 Na 1 1 Kc6 (otherwise 39 Nb3 will force . . . a4 with a crippling of the majority) 39 Nb3 Kb6 40 Nc5 Kc6 4 1 Nd3 with some advantage, though this is probably Black's best. 37 Kc4 Now it is much harder for Black. If he plays 37 . . . a5, then 38 a4 Kc6 39 Na3 leaves the square b5 fatally weak, while 37 . . . b5 + 38 Kb4, followed if required by Ka5 and Nb4, would also give him a very passive game. 37 . . .Nee 37 . . .e5, to soften up the enemy

";'�fi+r:�'-' ,_� ,,

Diagram 2

21

49 K X b5 Ke4 50 Kc5 (if 50 Nc6 Kd5, and White cannot win) Nf3 5 1 Nc6 Ng5 52 h4 Nh7 (or 52 . . . Nf7 53 d5 and now (l) 53 . . . e X d5 54 e6 and wins; (2) 53 . . .N X e5 54 N X e5 K X e5 55 d6 Kf6 56 Kc6 and wins) 53 Ne7 Nf8 54 Ng8 h5 55 Nf6 + Kf3 56 Kd6, winning more material. (b) 49 . . .Ne4 50 g4 + (50 Kc6 N X g3 5 1 d5 e X d5 52 Kd6 Ne4 + is not good enough) Kf4 5 1 Kc6 Kg3 52 d5 (52 Kd7 Ng5 is useless) e X d5 53 K X d5 Ng5 54 e6 N X e6 55 K X e6 K X h3 56 Nc4 K X g4 57 Ne5 + with a draw. (c) 47 Kc2 ! Na3 + 48 Kb2 b4 49 Kb3 Nb5 50 Nc6 Nc3 5 1 e5 + Kf5 52 KXb4 Nd5 + 53 Kc5 and now, although Black has set up a blockade for the moment, he finds himself short of moves; if 53 . . . Ne3 54 Ne7 + Kg5 55 d5 is strong for White, and if 53 . . . Ke4 or 53 . . . Kg5, then 54 Kd6, followed shortly by Ne7, is sufficient to win. 45 . . .e5(?) 4G d Xe5 + KeG 46 . . .N X e5 47 N X a5 is also hopeless in the long run. 47 a4 NbG 48 a Xb5 a4 49 Kb4 h5 50 h4 Kd7 5 1 Nd4 5 1 Na5 is even simpler, e.g. 5 1 . . .Ke6 52 Nc4, winning immediately, or 5 1 . . . a3 52 K X a3 Ke6 53 Kb4, and Black cannot capture. However, the game is only lengthened by a couple of moves. 5 1 . . .Ke7 52 Nc2 KeG 53 Na3 1-0. The a-pawn is now lost.

Diagram 3

47 Kc4 Nd6 + etc.) b3 48 Kc3, and White's extra pawn will win (a) because the pawns are still spread over five files, so that there is substantially play on both sides of the board, and (b) because Black still has a weak square at e5, which of course makes things worse for him. 45 Kc3 (Diagram 3) Preparing 46 a4 and causing Black to indulge in a rather desperate pawn sacrifice. Instead, the two more obvious defensive tries for Black are (l) 45 . . . a4 and (2) 45 . . . N X a3. The first can be disposed of quickly - 45 . . . a4 46 Kb4 Nd2 47 e5 + Kf5 48 K X b5, when the white a-pawn will settle the matter rapidly, even if Black manages to restore material equality on the K -side. 45 . . .N X a3 is more complicated and is certainly the best chance for the second player. The following variations indicate that White still retains winning chances, though the outcome is not perfectly clear: (a) 46 N X a5 Nb 1 + 47 Kb4 Nd2 48 e5 + Kf5 22

GAME 7

White: Hecht Black: Hurme Nice Olympiad, 1 974 Reti Opening (b) 43 . . .N X e3 44 b5 Nc4 (44 . . .Kd7 45 Kb4-c5) 45 Kb4, and, although Black has kept the material balance, he has no answer to the white king's threat to penetrate his position. His own majority cannot be advanced because it has no proper support. (c) 43 . . . Rb7 44 Nc5 Rb5 45 Kb3 N X e3 46 Ka4 Rb8 47 Rc7 + Ke8 48 b5 and again White is winning. 42 . . . a5 ! 43 b Xa5 RXa5 44 RXd6! The only hope for a win, as 44 Rc7 + leads to nothing. 44 . . .Ra3 + 45 Kb4 Of course White must attack the rook, and it is important to choose the right square. 45 Kb2 is inferior because of 45 . . . R X e3 and now White must hurry back to save his remaining pawns (counter-attack is as yet impossible on account of Black's firm pawn structure) 46 Rd7 + Ke8 (not 46 . . . Kf6

1 N£3 d5 2 b3 N£6 3 Bb2 g6 4 e4 e6 5 g3 Bg7 6 Bg2 0-0 7 0-0 Bg4 8 d3 QeB 9 Ne3 Bh3 10 e Xd5 B Xg2 1 1 K Xg2 e Xd5 12 Re 1 Ne6 1 3 Na4 QeB 14 Ne5 N Xe5 15 B Xe5 ReS 16 Qd2 Qb5 17 Qb2 b6 18 Re2 RXe2 19 QXe2 Qd7 20 Re 1 Ng4 2 1 B Xg7 K Xg7 22 h3 N£6 23 Qe7 RdB 24 Qe5 Qd6 25 Q Xd6 RXd6 26 Rea Rd7 27 e3 Rb7 28 K£ 1 h5 29 Ke2 e6 30 Ne3 b5 3 1 Re5 a6 32 Re6 Ra7 33 Kd2 K£8 34 a4 b X a4 35 N Xa4 Nd7 36 Ke3 Ne5 37 ReS + Ke7 38 d4 Nd7 39 b4 N£6 40 £3 NeB 4 1 Ne5 Nd6 42 Re6 (Diagram 1 ) Black finds himself under pressure from the more aggressively placed white pieces, his immediate problem being the fate of his a-pawn. He correctly decides on the advance of the pawn, which involves a knight sacrifice, after being convinced that the alternatives are worthless : 1 (Passive defence) 4 2 . . . Nb5 + 43 Kb3 Nc7 (or 43 . . . a5 44 b X a5 R X a5 45 Kb4, and if 45 . . Na7 46 Rc7 + Kd8 47 Rd7 + and 48 K X a5) 44 Ka4 and the king penetrates to a5, or even b6, with a comfortable win. 2 (Counter-attack) 42 . . . Nf5 43 N X a6 (not 43 R X a6 because he wants to retain his active rook) and now: (a) 43 . . . N X g3 44 b5 Rb7 45 Kb4 Nf5 46 Nc5 Rb8 47 Rc7 + Ke8 48 Na6 and wins.

Diagram 1

-

-

23

47 Nb7! R X £3 48 Nd8 R X g3 49 R X £7 + Kg5 50 N X e6 + Kh4 5 1 Nf4 g5 52 N X d5 Rd3 53 Ne7 1 K X h3 54 d5 g4 . 55 Kc2 Rd4 56 Rh7 g3 56 . . .h4 57 R X h4 +1 57 R X h5 + Kg2 58 N£5! and wins) 47 Rb7 R X £3 48 Rb3 R£2 + 1 49 Kc3 g5 1 and the fixing of the white h-pawn guarantees Black the win of a fur­ ther pawn. After the correct text move Black has no such resource. 45 . . .RXe3 46 Rd7+ Taking the opportunity to force Black to the back rank, since 46 . . .K£6 would suffer the same fate as shown in the last note after 47 Nb7 etc. 46 . . .Ke8 47 Ra7 RX£3 48 Ra3 Black now faces the difficult problem of whether to exchange his active rook and try to penetrate the K-side with his king, or to keep his rook, in which case the white pieces will disturb his king and make it difficult for him to find suitable play. He chooses to exchange, rightly I think, as his king then comes through quite

quickly to the scene of action. After 48 . . . Rfl 49 h4, followed by N d3-e5 or N d3-f4 and the re­ centralising of the king, is good for White . 48 . . .R Xa3 49 K Xa3 Ke7 (Diagram 2) He must advance at once, to be as far ahead of the white king as possible The ending of knight vs. pawns which now follows is extremely difficult for both sides. One would not normally expect two pawns to be sufficient compensation for a piece, especially since they are still relatively backward, but Black's structure is very strong and his king is better placed, so a draw may well be the correct outcome with best play. 50 Nd3 It would be most unwise to touch the pawns yet, e.g. 50 h4 K£6 5 1 N d3 (5 1 Kb3 Kf5-g4 is even worse) Kf5 52 Nf2 £6 53 Kb3 g5 54 Kc3 g X h4 55 g X h4 Kf4 and it is White who will be fighting to draw. In view of this White's choice lies between the move played and 50 Kb4, both aimed at re­ centralising. After 50 Kb4 we have 50 . . .Kf6 5 1 Kc3 Kg5 52 Kd3 (52 Nb7? h4 53 g4 K£4 54 N d8 Kg3 is very bad for White) h4 53 g4 Kf4 and Black's domination of the squares f4 and g3 is a big step forward The follow-up might be 54 Ke2 (not 54 Nb7 Kg3 55 Ke3 g5 1 - fixing the g-pawn - 56 Nd8 £5 1 and White is in a bad way whichever way he captures) Kg3 55 Ke3 g51 (again fixing and avoiding a possible future g5 from White) and Black wins a third pawn. White therefore decides to cover f4

Diagram 2

�--���

24

at once. 50 K£6 Black should on no account loosen his pawn position before his king is well advanced. If 50 . . .f6, planning . . . Kd6 and . . . e5, 5 1 Nf4 Kf7 52 Kb3 leaves him without a good move, e.g. 52 . . . g5 53 N X h5 Kg6 54 g4 f5 55 Kc3 f4 56 Kd3, followed shortly by a counter-sacrifice at f4 and White wins easily. 5 1 Kb4 White can do nothing without his king, and the attempt to hold Black up by 5 1 Ne5 would be fruitless, e.g. 5 1 . . . K£5 1 52 N X £7 Ke4 and now: (a) 53 Ne5 K X d4 54 N X g6 Ke3 55 Ne5 (55 Nh4 d4 56 g4 h X g4 57 h X g4 K£4) Ke4 and Black certainly cannot lose. (b) 53 Ng5 + K X d4 54 N X e6 + Ke3 and the white pawns will be wiped out, leaving a draw . 5 1 . . .K£5 52 Kc3 Black now has to choose between the immediate advance of his king, abandoning the £-pawn, or the more cautious 52 . . .f6, allowing White's king an extra tempo to approach the centre . He may well have been pressed for time at move 52, so opts for the safe move. However, 52 . . .Ke4 would soon have made the draw clear 53 Ne5 (nothing else is to be seriously considered) f6 54 N X g6 Kf3 55 N£8 (not 55 N£4? h41) e5 (55 . . .K X g3 56 N X e6 K X h3 57 N£4 + Kg4 58 N X d5 h4 may also be playable but would certainly not win, and so it is safer to deprive White of his .

.

d�awn) 56 d X e5 fXe5 57 Ng6 e4 58 g4 h X g4 (58 . . .e3? 59 Ne5 + is bad) 59 h X g4 e3 60 Ne5 + K£4, drawing. 52 . . .£6 This move is quite sound, without being as accurate as 52 . . .Ke4. 53 Kd2! 53 N£4? h4 would clearly be bad, while Black has the same reply to 5 3 N£2 - 53 . . .h41 54 g X h4 K£4 5 5 Ng4 (55 Nd3 + Kg3 56 Nc5 e5, or 55 Kd2 Kg3 56 Ke2 e5 57 d X e5 f X e5 and White will quickly lose both his pawns) e5 1 56 N X £6 e X d4 + 5 7 K X d4 Kg3 and draws. The move chosen not only brings the king nearer but retains control over £4 and keeps Nc5 + in reserve; see the next note. 53 . . .Ke4 53 . . .h4 is unplayable now, e.g. 54 g X h4 Ke4 55 Nc5 + K X d4 (or 55 . . . K£5 56 Ke3 e5 57 Nd3 and now (a) 57 . . . e4 58 Nf4 (b) 57 . . .e X d4 + 58 K X d4 g5 59 h5; (c) 57 . . . Ke6 58 Nc 1 1 K£5 59 Ne2, followed by Ng3( + ) and h5, and White is winning) 56 N X e6 + Ke4 (56 . . . Ke5 57 N£8 K£5 58 Ke3 is Zugzwang) 57 Ke2 d4 58 Nf8 K£5 59 Kd3 and wins. In view of this, and faced with the threat of further consolida­ tion by White (54 Ke3), Black takes the plunge and correctly liquidates into an ending where White is reduced to his last pawn. 54 Nc5 + K£3 Another problem for Black 54 . . .K X d4 leaves White without a passed pawn, but the variations (a) 55 N X e6 + Ke5 56 N£4 K£5 57 Ke3 and (b) 55 N X e6 + Ke4

.

·

25

56 Ke2 (otherwise 56 . . .Kf3) g5 57 Nc5 + Kd4 58 Nd7 f5 59 Kf3 Kc3 60 Ne5 are clearly dangerous for him. 55 N Xe6 K Xg3 56 Nc7 K Xh3 57 N Xd5 (Diagram 3) The game is now very delicately balanced. There is no possibility of Black's winning without a serious error on White's part and, in fact, although a draw should still be the outcome, Black has to play with great precision. In some variations the right plan is not to try to hold on to all three pawns but to let one go and use the time to edge across towards the white pawn. In the following analysis there are also a number of variations in which both sides queen a pawn and White is then able to win by a direct attack. 57 . . .Kg4! A strange-iooking move, but the only correct one, the main reason being that the h-pawn needs extra protection to enable . . . g5 to be played shortly Obviously 57 . . .Kg2 58 Nf4 + is bad, while the natural 57 . . .£5 fails against 58 Ne71 (if 58 N£4 + ? Kg3 59 N X g6 h4 and the knight has to be sacrificed at once; if 58 Ne3 then not 58 . . .f4 59 d5 etc. but 58 . . .Kh4 1 59 d5 Kg5 and Black catches the pawn) and now (a) 58 . . .f4 59 d5 f3 60 N X g6 f2 6 1 Ke2 Kg2 62 Nf4 + and wins; (b) 58 . . . g5 59 d5 f4 (59 . . . g4 60 N X f5) 60 d6 f3 6 1 Nf5 and wins; (c) 58 . . . Kg4 59 N X g6 h4 60 Ke3 h3 6 1 Ne5 + and 62 Nf3 and White is winning. 57 . . .Kg3 might seem plausible but, as mentioned, it is essential to cover the h-pawn and Black would

Diagram 3

then lose as follows: 58 Ke3 ! (not 58 N X f6 h4 59 Ne4 + Kf4 and Black gets back towards the white pawn) and now (a) 58 . . . h4 59 N X f6 h3 60 Ne4 + and 6 1 Nf2 wins; (b) 58 . . .£5 59 Nf4 h4 60 d5 g5 (60 . . . h3 6 1 N X h3) 6 1 Ne2 + Kg2 62 d6 f4 + (if 62 . . .h3 63 d7 h2 64 d8/Q h l /Q 65 Q X g5 + and mate in a few moves) 63 N X f4 + g X f4 + 64 K X f4 h3 65 d7 h2 66 d8/Q h l /Q and we have one of those curious cases where a king and queen can beat a king and queen. After the further 67 Qd2 + Kh3 (if 67 . . .Kg 1 68 Kg3 mates, as does 67 . . .Kf 1 68 Qd l + Kg2 69 Qe2 + Kg l 70 Kg3) 68 Qe3 + White mates in two more moves. 58 Ke3 58 N X f6 + Kf5 is worse as the knight cannot then return to d5, on account of 59 . . .Ke4. 58 . . .h4? Having played the ending well up to now, Black throws it away. It turns out that in this case the two pawns are not sufficient to hold the 26

draw and Black should therefore have secured all three by 58 . . .£5 1, after which White has the following choices: (a) 59 N£4 g5 60 Nd3 f4 + 6 1 Ke4 (or 6 1 Kf2 K£5 62 d5 g4 and White cannot hope to win) Kg3 1 62 d5 (or 62 Ne 1 g4, or 62 Nc1 f3) h4 and Black queens with check and draws easily. (b) 59 Ne7 Kg5 60 d5 K£6 6 1 Nc6 h4 and again the three pawns permit Black to draw comfortably. If here 60 Ng8 1? h4 6 1 d5 £4 + 62 K£3 K£5. (c) 59 N£6 + Kg5 60 Nh7 + Kg4 6 1 d5 f4 + 62 Kf2 K£5 and draws. 59 N Xf6 + Kf5 60 Ne4 g5 The pawns advance together to avoid blockade as far as possible. 6 1 Nc3 Not 6 1 d5? h3 62 d6 h2 63 d7 h 1 /Q 64 Ng3 + Ke6 with a draw. 6 1 .. .g4 62 Ne2 Kg5 Black makes waiting moves with his king to try and avoid blockade, which is important because blockade would be the first step towards winning the pawns . White dare not leave the black pawns to support his own but, even so, he is able to find a win . 62 . . .h3 would have lost after 63 Ng3 + Kg5 64 Ke4 Kh4 65 K£4, or if here 63 . . . Ke6 64 Ke4 and White must win because he has as many tempo moves with his knight as he wishes. If 62 . . . g3 63 K£3 Kg5 64 N£4 K£5 65 Nh3 g2(!) - other­ wise 66 Ke4 etc. - 66 Ng 1 Kg5

67 K X g2 Kf4 68 Kh3 Ke4 69 Ne2 etc. 63 Nf4 63 d5 is bad and transposes into the note to Black's next move, but White could have won more quickly with 63 Ke4. 63 . . . h3 and . . . g3 then suffer the same fate as in the last note while if 63 . . . K£6 64 K£4 g3 65 Ng 1 Ke6 66 Ke4 wins. White's chosen move does not spoil anything but merely prolongs the game. 63 . . .h3 Losing quickly, as would 63 . . .g3 64 Kf3 etc., but after 63 . . K£5 64 Ne2 Kg5 White wins as shown with 65 Ke4. Not however 65 d5 K£5 66 Kd4 h3 67 d6 h2 (67 . . . Ke6? 68 Kc5 and wins) 68 d7 h 1 /Q 69 Ng3 + Ke6 and draws. In this last variation 68 . . Ke6? 69 d8/Q h l /Q 70 N£4 + would be bad play by Black but would illustrate how a queen and knight can sometimes stir up enough threats to beat a queen, viz. 70 . . . K£7 (70 . . . K£5 7 1 Qf8 + Kg5 72 Qg7 + I mates at e5 or wins the queen) 7 1 Qd7 + K£6 (7 1 . . .Kg8 transposes) 72 Qe6 + Kg7 (72 . . . Kg5 73 Qe5 + wins the queen) 73 Qe7 + and now (a) 73 . . .Kh6 74 Qf6 + Kh7 75 Q£7 + and mates. (b) 73 . . .Kg8 74 Qe8 + Kg7 75 Nh5 + Kh6 76 Qh8 + Kg5 77 Qf6 + wins the queen. 64 Ne2 Kh4 65 Kf4 h2 66 Ng3 1-0.

27

GAME 8

White: Pfleger Manila, 1 97 4

Black: Larsen Enghsh Opening and now; (a) 35 Rb7 Nf3 + 36 Kh 1 Rd4 37 Rd7 Rd2 38 R X d6 + Kg5 leaves no defence to the threat of 39 . . . R X f2 and mate; (b) 35 Kf l Nf3 36 Ke2 N X h2 37 Rh 1 Nf3 1; (c) 35 Rd 1 Nf3 + 36 Kh l Ne5 and Black is well on top. Altogether, 33 . . . Nh3 + appears to be a good alternative to the actual choice. 34 Rb8 It must be immediate counterplay, if he is to stand a chance. 34 . . . Rd2 cannot be permitted without a fight, so the other possibility is 34 Rd 1 , when the exchange of rooks leaves White with a wretched collection of pieces, e.g. 34 . . . R X d 1 + 35 N X d l Kf5 36 Ne3 + Kf4 and now : (a) 37 Kf l h5 38 Ke2 N X g2 39 N X g2 + Ke4 40 Ne3 Nf3 4 1 Nfl Kd4 and if 42 h3 Ng 1 + . (b) 3 7 Kf l h 5 3 8 Bh 1 Ke5 39 Nc2 (39 Ke2 Kd4 leaves

1 c4 g6 2 Nc3 Bg7 3 g3 Nc6 4 Bg2 d6 5 Nf3 e5 6 d3 £5 7 0-0 Nf6 8 Rh 1 h6 9 b4 g5 10 b5 Ne7 1 1 a4 Nd7 12 Ne 1 Nc5 13 e3 0-0 14 d4 Ne6 1 5 Nc2 e Xd4 16 e Xd4 f4 17 Re 1 Kh8 18 Nd5 N£5 19 Bb2 Bd7 20 Qd3 c6 2 1 b Xc6 b Xc6 22 Ndb4 g4 23 N Xc6 B Xc6 24 B Xc6 Ng5 25 Bg2 Rb8 26 Bc3 R X b 1 27 R X b 1 Qf6 28 g X£4 Nh4 29 d5 QX£4 30 B Xg7+ K Xg7 3 1 Qd4+ Kg6 32 Q X£4 RX£4 (Diagram 1 ) In spite of his pawn deficit Black has the better chances in practice, since his attacking prospects have persisted into the endgame, although the strength of this attack is by no means obvious. Firstly the white bishop is a bad piece, hemmed in by his own d -pawn and having to keep watch over the various knight checks which might be dangerous. Secondly Black's control of g2 means that back row threats are in the air and his control of f3 and h3 makes it difficult to hft the threats other than by running with the king. Finally an exchange of rooks would favour Black, whose king could invade the centre at once. 33 Ne3 If 33 Bfl Ngf3 + 34 Kh 1 Nd2 would be catastrophic for White. 33 . . .Rd4 Of all the possible direct attacks based on a knight check, 33 . . . Nh3 + looks the most dangerous - 34 B X h3 g X h3

Diagram 1

28

In the face of all this violence White must clearly run with his king at move 36, viz. 36 Kf l . Now, 36 . . .Ngf3 looks good, but only if White takes it - 37 B X f3 g X f3 38 Kg 1 (or 38 Nd1 Ng2 and a deadly pin to follow, or 38 Ke 1 Ng2 + , winning at once) Ra1 + 39 Nfl Ng2 40 a5 Nf4 4 1 h4 Ne2+ 42 Kh2 R X f l 43 a 6 R X f2 + 4 4 Kh3 Rg2 and mates. If White declines to take, however, the situation is less clear, e.g. 37 a5, when the win of two pieces for a rook is disastrous 37 . . Ra1 + 38 Ke2 Re 1 + 39 Kd3 R X e3 + ? 4 0 K X e3 1 N X g2 + 4 1 Kd3 and White must win . Moreover, neither 37 . . . Nd4 38 Ke 1 nor 37 . . . N X h2 + 38 Kg 1 achieves anything concrete and therefore Black's best is probably 37 . . . Nd2 + 38 Ke 1 N X g2 + 3 9 N X g2 N X c4 40 a6 Ne5, when he keeps the a-pawn under control and in return for his material deficit has better placed pieces and a number of threats, viz. 4 1 . . . Nd3 + and . . .Nc5; 4 1 . . .Nf3 +; 41 . . .Kf5-e4; etc. Notice that 36 . . . Nhf3 is ineffective here on account of 37 N X g4, which would lose a piece by 37 . . .Nd2 + against 36 . . . Ngf3. This leads us to the chief distinction between the manoeuvre Rb7 X a7 and the win of the cl-pawn, as played, namely that in the second case this g -pawn will be defended and the white rook will be more vulnerable at d6. The game continuation makes this clear. 34 . . .Rd2 35 Rd8 Ra2 36 R Xd6+ Kh5 (Diagram 2) 37 Kf l

Diagram 2

White without a decent move) a 5 1 40 Na3 (or 40 Ke2 Ngf3 4 1 B Xf3 N X f3 42 h3 N g 1 + ) Kd4 4 1 Nb5 + Kc5 4 2 Na3 Kb4 43 Nb5 Nf5 and Black wins. Having settled that, the question is not so much whether 34 Rb7 or 34 Rb8 is better, but rather whether White should attack the cl-pawn (Rb8-d8 or Rb7-d7) or the a-pawn. If he decides on the a-pawn, we have 34 Rb7 Rd2 35 R X a7 Ra2, whereupon 36 a5 (36 N X g4 permits mate in three) allows a glorious assortment of mating attacks, viz. 36 . . . Ra1 + 37 Nf1 Nh3 + 38 B Xh3 (or 38 Kh 1 Nf4 !) g X h3, forcing 39 f4 to fend off the mate, and then 39 . . . Ra2 threatening 40 . . . Rg2 + 4 1 Kh 1 Nf3 and mate. If then 40 Ne3 Nf3 + 4 1 Kf 1 N X h2 + and the h-pawn is unstoppable. The alternative of 37 Bf l fares no better in view of 37 . . . Nh3 + 38 Kh 1 N X f2 + 39 Kg 1 Nh3 + 40 Kh 1 Nf5, mating in two if the knight is captured or, if 4 1 N X g4, h5 traps him with the attack continuing unabated. 29

Again forced, as shown earlier. Now, what about 37 . . . Nhf3, which is now a serious possibility, 37 . . . R X a4 38 c5 being too slow? The threat is 38 . . .Ne4, winning outright, and this time White has little choice but to take. Then, after 38 B X f3 g X f3 39 Nd1 Ra1 (or 39 . . . Ne4 40 Re6 Re2 4 1 c5 Nd2 + 42 Kg 1 Ne4 43 Kf l , which also gives Black no more than a draw) 40 Ke 1 Ne4 4 1 Re6 Nc3 42 Kd2 N X d 1 43 d 6 N X f2 4 4 c 5 (not 44 ReS + Kg6 45 Rd5 Rd 1 + 46 Ke3 R X d5 47 c X d5 Ng4 + 48 K X f3 Ne5 + and wins) Black can do no better than draw by 44 . . .Rd 1 + 45 Ke3 Ng4 + and might not even manage that. The conclusion seems to be that, in spite of the dangers to the white king, no win can be demonstrated from Black's attack and that his best chance was definitely to try 37 . . . Nhf3 . After that, if he takes the line starting with 39 . . . Ne4, a draw is the most likely result. 37 . . . Ra l + ? This, on the other hand, releases all the pressure and Black now has nothing to match the hostile passed pawns. 38 Ke2 Ra2 + 39 Kd3 RX£2 39 . . . N X g2 40 N X g2 R X f2 might be a little better, though he would have no real chance of saving this position (4 1 Ne3 and if 4 1 . . . R X h2 42 R X h6 + ). 40 Be4(?) This should really be classed as an error due to time trouble, but for which White would surely have continued 40 R X h6 + K Xh6 4 1 N X g4 + Kg6 42 N X f2 N X g2 43 c5, when he has the same type

Diagram 3

of ending as actually occurs, but with an extra pawn (only one extra, since as played Black soon has to abandon his g-pawn anyway). On the other hand, Black's king would have come one square nearer to the white pawns, but this appears to make little difference, e.g. 43 . . . Nf4 + 44 Kd4 Kf6 45 c6 Ke7 46 Kc5 Nf7 47 h4, or 43 . . . Kf5 (43 . . . Kf6, allowing an exchange of knights, would be even worse) 44 c6 Nf7 45 Kd4 and White should win. The line chosen also wins, but things are a bit more complicated. 40 . . .Rd2+ 4 1 K Xd2 N Xe4+ 42 Kd3 N Xd6 (Diagram 3) 43 c5 Nf7 Much the best square, out of the way of the advancing pawns. 44 c6 44 d6 looks good at first, e.g. 44 . . .Kg5 45 Ke4 Kf6 46 Kd5 1 (not 4 6 N X g4 + Ke6) h 5 4 7 c6, or 46 . . . Nd8 47 N X g4 + , etc. But Black can do better - 44 d6 Nf3 45 Ke4 (not 45 Nfl N3e5, then . . . Nc6 and . . Nfd8 if required) and now either 45 . . .N3e5 30

blockaded, White has no hope even of a draw . Instead he forces Black to abandon the g-pawn by his threat of 47 Ke5. The black king will now also be shut out of the vital square d7. 46 . . .Kf6 Not 46 . . . Ng6 47 Kc5, nor 46 . . . Nhf5 + 47 Ke5 1 (but not 47 N X f5 K X f5 48 Kc5 Ke5). 47 N Xg4+ Ke7 48 Ne5 ! Far better than 4 8 N X h6? Kd7, when he will be strugghng to draw. From now on Black can only defend passively. 48 . . .Nhf5 + 49 Kc5 h5 50 aS (Diagram 4) Kf6 He is getting close to Zugzwang; 50 . . . a6 5 1 Kb6 obviously only makes things worse, while the knight at f5 is needed to check the king away from c6, should he venture there. If, e.g. 50 . . .Ne3 5 1 Kc6 Nef5 52 Ng6 + Ke8 53 Nh4 1 N X h4 54 K X d6 Nf5 + 55 Ke6 Ne7 56 d6 and wins. If 50 . . .Ng7 5 1 Kc6 Nge8 52 a6 Kf6 (neither knight can move) 53 Nc4 Ke7 54 h4 Nc8 55 Kb7 Ned6 + 56 N X d6 N X d6 + 5 7 K X a7 Nc8 + 5 8 Kb8 Kd7 59 d6 ! wins . 5 1 Nc6 5 1 Nc4 Ke7 just repeats the position, but this new attack is too much for Black. 5 1 . . .Nc8 (or 5 1 . . . a6 52 Na7) 52 a6 Now the knight at c8 cannot move and against other defences White's plan is much the same, namely to retire the knight and penetrate to c6 with the king If now 52 . . .Kf7 53 Ne5 + Kf6 54 Nc4 Ke7 55 Kc6 Nd4 + 56 Kb7 and wins;

46 Kd5 Kg5 47 c6 N X c6 48 K X c6 h5 leading to a hkely draw, or more dangerously collect­ ing the h -pawn and then returning quickly with his knight, 45 . . .N Xh2 46 Kd5 (or 46 Nf5, threatening 47 c6, 46 . . .Nd8 47 Kd5 Nf3 48 c6 N X c6 49 K X c6 Ne5 + with at least a draw for Black) g3 47 c6 Ng4 ! 48 Ng2 (or 48 N X g4 g2 49 c7 g l /Q 50 c8/Q Q X g4 and Black wins) Nf6 + 49 Ke6 Nd8 + and Black should win. 44 . . .Kg5 He must bring the king into action; if instead 44 . . .Nd6 45 Nc4 Nhf5 46 N X d6 N X d6 47 Kd4 Kg6 48 Ke5 and a pawn queens very quickly If 44 . . .Nf3 45 Nc4 N(either) e 5 + 46 N X e5 N X e 5 + 4 7 Kd4 Nf7 48 c7 Nd6 49 Ke5 and wins easily. Finally, if 44 . . . Ng6 45 Nf5 1 neatly covers e7 and d6, so that 46 c7 is unstoppable. 45 c7 Nd6 46 Kd4 46 Nc4 Nhf5 47 N X d6 N X d6 48 Kd4 Kf6 49 Kc5 Ke7 would be bad; once the pawns are Diagram 4

31

because of the check at f5, so a piece must be sacrificed. 56 Kd7 N Xc7 57 K X c7 N Xd5 + 58 Kb7 Kg5 If 58 . . . Nb4 59 Nf3 (but not 59 K X a7? Kg5 60 Nf3 + Kf4 6 1 N X h4 Kg3 and White loses both pawns) Kf5 60 N X h4 + Kf4 6 1 Ng2 + Kg3 62 h4 K X g2 63 K X a7 and a pawn must queen - an illustration of how close this ending is I The same naturally holds true on the next move, i.e. it must be Nf3 first. 59 Nf3+ K£4 60 N Xh4 Kg3 6 1 Ng2 ! A very pleasing finish on the same theme, with the added attraction that if 6 1 . . . KXh3 62 Nf4 + 1 N X f4 63 K X a7 Nd5 (or 63 . . .Nd3 64 Kb6) 64 Kb7 wins. If 6 1 . . .K X g2 62 h4 etc., as in the last note. 1-0.

if 52 . . . Nfd6 53 Nd4 Ke7 54 Kc6 Nb6 55 h4 Nbc8 56 Ne6 Nb6 57 Nf4 etc.; if 52 . . .Ng7 53 Nd4 Ne8 54 Kc6 breaking through to d7 or b7, much as in the game. 52 . . .h4 53 h3 Ng7 The variations are now similar to those in the last note, with the additional point that Black's h-pawn is a little weaker, if anything: (a) 53 . . .Nfd6 54 Nd4 Ke7 55 Kc6 Nb6 56 Nf3 Nf5 57 N X h4! N X h4 58 d6 + Ke8 59 d7 + and wins. (b) 53 . . .Nfd6 54 Nd4 Ke5 55 Nf3 + Kf4 56 N X h4 Kg3 57 Ng6 K X h3 58 Ne7 and wins. (c) 53 . . .Nfd6 54 Nd4 Nf5 55 N X f5 K X f5 56 Kc6 Ke5 57 Kb7 Nd6 + 58 K X a7 K X d5 59 Kb8 and wins. 54 Nd4 Ne8 55 KeG Ne7+ Even d7 can no longer be covered

32

3. Bishops The first part of this chapter deals with bishops of the same colour, opposite bishops appearing in Nos. 1 3- 1 5. Nos . 9 and 1 0 are both technical achievements by White, and illustrate manoeuvring against pawn weaknesses and the use of Zugzwang. No. 1 1 is a typical case of play on one side (cf. also Nos. 43 and 44). Most of these should be drawn with best play, but with four pawns against three there is plenty of scope for defensive errors. No. 1 2 is a difficult analysis of the longest World Championship game ever played, or rather the last half of it. It concerns chiefly the question of bishop and wrong rook pawn, and the exceptions to the basic drawn position which can arise. Although this book contains few references to endgame studies, no less than three crop up here. The remainder of the chapter is devoted to opposite bishops, with World Champions again at work in the first two . In No. 1 3 Tal's king smashes up his opponent's game almost single-handed, while No. 1 4 has Karpov squeezing every ounce of advantage out of his position by some subtle pawn play The last game shows play with an unbalanced pawn structure, and again makes reference to the wrong rook pawn.

GAME 9

White : Spassky Black: Byrne Candidates' Quarter-final, 1 974

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 Bb5 + Bd7 4 B Xd7 + Q Xd7 5 c4 e5 6 Nc3 Nc6 7 d3 g6 8 a3 Bg7 9 Rb 1 Nge7 10 b4 b6 1 1 0-0 0-0 12 Nd5 NXd5 13 c Xd5 Nd4 14 N Xd4 c Xd4 15 Bd2 Rac8 16 Qb3 Rc7 17 Rbc 1 Rfc8 18 b5 R X c 1 19 R X c 1 RXc 1 + 2 0 B X c 1 Qc7 2 1 Qc4 Q Xc4 22 dXc4 (Diagram 1 ) The following general points may be made about this position. 1 The black bishop is a slightly inferior piece, but not hopelessly so; if Black plays his king to the centre and sits tight he should be able to

Sicilian Defence

Diagram 1

-

33

or penetrating with his king via the white squares after f3 and g4. 27 . . .g X£5 28 Kd3 Bf6 29 £3 Naturally 29 . . .e4 + must be stopped. 29 . . .h5 Black keeps his bishop on f6 in order to hold back f4. 30 aS Ke8 Not 30 . . .b X a5? 3 1 B X a5 followed by Bc7-b8 3 1 a6 Kd7 32 g3 (Diagram 2) Since f4 is not yet possible he prepares the alternative break g4. Not immediately 32 h3? on account of 32 . . .h4 1 crippling the majority. Meanwhile Black can only move around with his king. 32 . . .Kc7 33 h3 Kd7 34 Ba5 ! The first prod at the black pawns which echoes throughout the ending. It does not achieve anything at this point, but White is still probing in the moves up to the adjournment. The threat is simply 35 B X b6; if 34 . . .b X a5 35 b6, queening by force. 34 . . .Kc8 35 Be 1 Kd7 36 Bf2 Now thinking in terms of a pos­ sible f4. 36 . . .Ke8 37 Bg 1 Be7? This is the decisive mistake. Rather than permitting f4 in this way Black would do better to continue moving backwards and forwards with his king. Then White will adopt the alternative plan of g4 with the following variations: l - 37 . . . Kd7 38 g4 f X g4 39 f X g4 h X g4 40 h X g4 Ke7 4 1 Ke4 Kf7 42 Kf5 Bd8 43 Bf2 Be7 44 Be l Bd8 45 Bd2 Be7 (or 45 . . .Bf6 46 g5 Bg7 47 Ke4 1 Kg6 48 Ba5 1) 46 g5 Bd8 47 g6 + Kg7 48 Ke6 K X g6 49 K X d6 Kf5 (or

hold the game. 2 - White has another small advantage in that he can advance his a-pawn to a5; if Black captures he is faced with (BX a5), Bc7 and Bb8, or if he does not capture then a6 leaves him under the constant threat of a sacrifice on b6 to promote the a-pawn. This is one of the main themes of the ending. 22 . . .£6 23 Kf l Bf8 24 a4 Be7 25 Ke2 Kf7 26 Bd2 £5? This is not a fatal mistake, but it gives White more targets to attack. It is possible that Black overrated his position, expecting 27 f3 or Kd3, after which 27 . . .f4 would give him a spatial advantage which might compensate for the inferior bishop and pawn structure. Being two points down in the match, Byrne may also have been pressing a little harder than the position warrants. Better was 26 . . . Bd8 (holding up a5) 27 Bb4 Ke7 etc. 27 eX£5! Spassky sees deeply into the position. He will now have the twin options of shattering the black pawn structure in the centre by f4, Diagram 2

34

46 B X c5 and White has already solved his major problem, that of creating a passed pawn. If instead 44 . . . Be? 45 Bc3, trying for Bg7-h6-g5 and then Kg3-h4, thereby forcing . . .h4 at some point, or if 44 . . . Bg7 45 Kg3 Bf6 46 Ba3 1, forcing the black bishop to move off the long diagonal and therefore transposing into the previous line. In view of all this Black decides he may as well play . . .h4, which will sooner or later be forced anyway. 44 . . .h4 45 Ke3 Bg7 46 Kd3 B£6 47 Bd2 After 47 Bc3 B X c3 ! 48 K X c3 White has no hope of winning. 47 . . .Kd7 48 Be3 Kc7 49 Bf2 Kc8 Allowing a brilliant finish, but even the most stubborn defence loses, in a similar way to the game: 49 . . . Be? 50 Bd4 Bd8 5 1 Bg7 Be? 52 Bh6 Bd8 53 Bg5 Kd7 54 Kd4 Kc7 55 c5 ! ! d X c5 + (or 55 . . . b X c5 + 5 6 Ke3 B X g5 57 f X g5 and wins) 56 Ke5 B X g5 57 f X g5 c4 58 g6 and wins.

49 . . .e4 50 Ke5 e3 5 1 Be l Bf6 + 52 Ke4 e2 53 Bd2 Bh4 54 c5 and wins) 50 Kd7 and now: (a) 50 . . .Bh4 51 c5 ! e4 52 c X b6 e3 53 Be l and wins. (b) 50 . . .e4 5 1 K X d8 e3 52 Be l Ke4 53 d6 d3 54 d7 d2 55 B X d2 e X d2 56 Kc7 d l /Q 57 d8/Q and wins . 2 - 37 . . .Kf7 1 38 g4 f X g4 39 f X g4 h X g4 40 h X g4 Kg6 4 1 Ke4 Bd8 and White can make no progress. Even if White manoeuvres his bishop to d2 first in this line to prevent . . . Kg5 at some stage, the black bishop will just oscillate between d8 and c7 (to keep an eye on b6) and nothing can be done. 38 £4 e X£4 After which a pawn is lost, but if instead 38 . . . Bf6 39 f X e5 d X e5 (39 . . . B X e5 40 B X d4 B X g3 4 1 B X b6) 40 c5 e4 + 4 1 Kc4 d3 42 Be3 (42 c X b6 d2 43 b X a7 d 1 /Q 44 a8/Q + also wins) Bd8 43 Kc3 1 and Black must lose on the queen's side. 39 g X£4 Kd7 40 B Xd4 (Diagram 3) Here the final stage begins. Spassky is faced with the problem of evaluating his extra pawn in spite of the crippled majority, and the way he approaches this, by taking advantage of all the little tactical details in the position, is very instructive. 40 . . .Kc7 41 Bc3 Kd7 42 Bb4 Kc7 43 Ke3 B£6 44 K£3 White is now trying to force . . .h4 which will increase Black's defensive burden by creating another target on a black square. Black must be very careful, for example if 44 . . .Kd7 45 c 5 1 d X c5

Diagram 3

35

50 c5! ! (Diagram 4) d XcS If 50 . . .b X c5 5 1 Be l l (not 5 1 Kc4 Kc7 52 Be l Kb6) and now: (a) 5 1 . . .Kc7 52 Ba5 + Kc8 53 Kc4 followed by b6 and the king penetrates decisively to c6. (b) 5 1 . . Bd8 52 Bc3 Kb8 (52 . . . Bb6 53 Bf6) 53 Bg7 Kc8 54 Bh6 Kb8 (54 . . . Kd7 55 Bg5 B X g5 56 f X g5 Kc7 otherwise b6 - 57 g6 and wins) 55 Bg5 and Black must surrender the h-pawn, losing rapidly. 5 1 d6! Not 51 Kc4? Be7. White now demonstrates the other main point of his sacrifice - he plans to march his king through the white squares in the centre. 5 1 . . .Kd7 He cannot simply allow Kc4-d5-c6 (or e6), but after this move the echo returns 52 B Xc5! BdB 53 Bb4

GAME 10

Diagram 4

The rest is easy because Black's whole position is laid open and his weak points exposed. 53 . . . KeG 54 Kc4 Bf6 55 Bc5 BdB 56 Bd4! K Xd6 The only move to stop the enemy king getting to d51 57 Be5 + KeG 58 BbB Kd7 59 Kd5 1-0.

White : Polugaevsky Black: Balashov USSR Championship, 1 977 English Opening

34 aS Ne7 35 N Xe7 Q Xe7 36 QbB Qd7 37 Kg 1 Qe7 38 Bf l Qd7 39 Kh2 Qe7 40 Kg 1 Qd7 41 QaB Qc7 42 QeB BcB 43 Bh3 Qd7 44 Qh5 Qf7 45 Qd 1 Qb7 46 Kg2 (Diagram l ) a6(?) White stands somewhat better, chiefly on account of his oppo­ nent's pawn weaknesses and the chance of penetrating with his queen, and it may be for this second reason that Black plays . . . a6, sealing up the Q-side as far as possible and preventing a later

1 c4 e5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 Nf3 f5 4 d4 e4 5 Ng5 Nf6 6 e3 Bb4 7 Bd2 Qe7 8 Nh3 NdB 9 a3 B Xc3 10 B Xc3 d6 1 1 Nf4 0-0 12 Be2 c6 13 d5 c5 14 h4 Nf7 15 b4 b6 16 g3 Ne5 17 b XcS b XcS 18 Rb 1 Nfg4 19 Kf l Rf7 20 Kg2 QeB 2 1 Qc2 Re7 22 Rb2 BaG 23 Ba5 RbB 24 RXbB Q XbB 25 Rb 1 Rb7 26 RXb7 QXb7 27 Ne6 Nf6 28 Bc3 Ned7 29 NdB Qc7 30 Nc6 Nb6 3 1 B Xf6 g Xf6 32 a4 NcB 33 Qb2 Kg7 36

a6 by White. Unfortunately for this plan Black soon proceeds to offer a queen exchange, though whether he was compelled to do so is arguable (see next note) and in the bishop ending an extra pawn fixed on a white square is a very serious matter. 46 . . . Kg6 is a better move, stopping White's next, and if 47 Qa4, Kf7 keeps the queen out. 47 QhS Q£7 The alternative is 47 . . . Qd7, answered by 48 Kh2, when the following variations arise: (a) 48 . . . h6 49 Kg2 Kh7 50 f3 e X f3 + 5 1 Q X f3 (5 1 K X £3 Kg7 52 Kf4 Qa4 53 B X f5 Q X c4 + 54 Be4 Qf l + 55 Qf3 Qe 1 is less attractive) Kg7 ( 5 1 . . . Kg6 is worse because of 52 Qf4 Qa4 53 B X f5 + 1 B X f5 54 h5 + with a tempo gain) 52 Qf4 (52 e4? fX e4) Qa4 (otherwise 53 e4) 53 B X f5 B X f5 54 Q X f5 Q X c4 55 h5 with winning chances, but not 55 Qd7 + Kg6 56 h5 + Kg5, nor 55 Qd7 + Kg6 56 Q X d6 Qe2 + with perpetual check. (b) 48 . . . Kg8 (or 48 . . . Kh8, but not 48 . . .Kf8 49 Qh6 +) 49 Qh6 Qd8 50 Qf4 and now ( 1 ) 50 . . . Qd7 5 1 h5 when White keeps an advantage, but a winning breakthrough is not evident; (2) 50 . . . Q X a5 5 1 B X f5 B X £5 52 Q X f5 Qd8 1 (if 52 . . . Qc3 or 52 . . .Qa 1 53 Qc8 + , while after 52 . . . Qa2 or 52 . . . Qb6 53 Q X f6 followed by the advance of the g- and h-pawns creates mating threats) 53 Q X e4, with some winning chances, though it is not quite clear how much of a threat Black's a-pawn represents . On the whole it seems that Black

Diagram 1

should have chosen this, since the bishop ending which now arises appears to be a certain, if difficult, win for White with best play 48 Q X£7+ K X£7 49 £3 e X£3+ SO K X£3 Black was forced to exchange pawns but now his weakness is exposed and White has an ideal post at f4. In addition the pawn at a6 is obviously going to come under fire eventually. However, White has his own weakness at c4, which he has to look after right to the end of the game, and it is this problem which adds interest to the ending, together with the fact that he has to avoid certain blocked positions . These positions are rather typical of bishop endings and arise as a result of winning material too early. 50 . . .h5 Again this looks wrong on principle, putting another pawn on a white square, but Black is setting a trap and in any case something has to be done about the threat of 5 1 Kf4 Kg6 52 e4 The counter­ attack 50 . . . Bd7 5 1 Kf4 Ba4 37

52 B X £5 Bb3 (52 . . . h6? 53 Bc8) 53 B X h7 B X c4 54 Be4 is hardly very attractive, but if White now tries 5 1 Kf4 Kg6 52 e4, then 52 . . . Bd7 53 B X £5 + B X f5 54 e X f5 + Kg7 55 g4 h X g4 56 K X g4 leaves a drawn position. Notice too that White, having played 52 e4, has little choice but to capture on the following move; 53 e X £5 + would leave the game equally blocked, a king move would lose to a pawn check, while 53 Bg2 would allow Black to liqui­ date his weak pawn scat-free. In view of this White begins some subtle bishop manoeuvring, rather reminiscent of endgame studies and based on the relative immobility of the enemy piece. 5 1 K£4 Kg6 52 Bf l ! The beginning of a neat operation which forces the win of a pawn by Zugzwang. The immediate aim is to reach a4 and meanwhile Black can only oscillate his bishop. 52 . . .Bd7 53 Bd3 Bc8 54 Bb l Bd7 55 Bc2 Bc8 56 Ba4! (Diagram 2) He has recognised h5 as his main target, which can now be assailed from both d l and e8. In view of the threat of 57 Be8 + Kh6 58 B£7 Bd7 59 Be6 etc. Black has only one move . 56 . . .K£7 . . . . whereupon 57 Bdl Kg6 achieves nothing, so White is compelled to lose a move by means of the following king manoeuvre, designed to produce Zugzwang. 57 K£3! Blocks the diagonal d l -h5, but not for long. 57 . . .Ke7 58 K£2

Forcing Black to surrender a pawn, because 58 . . . K£7 is answered by 59 Ke ) I and he must permit either 60 Bd l or 60 Be8, or if 59 . . . Bb7 60 Bd7 Kg6 6 1 K£2 and the king returns to f4. Naturally 58 . . . Bd7 simply loses the £-pawn after the exchange of bishops, with the white king occupying f5 instead of a white pawn. Faced with this, Black prefers to jettison the pawn at once, thereby freeing his bishop . 58 . . .£4 59 g X£4 Better than 59 e X £4, because the chance of a pawn break by e5 remains available. The essential thing in this type of bishop ending is to be able to open up the position and avoid the kind of blockade or fortress position mentioned in the note to Black's 50th move. However, Black's next move, in addition to covering his own h-pawn, highlights the one defect in his opponent's game, the vulnerable c-pawn, and demon­ strates that the fight is by no means over. 59 . . .B£5 So that, if 60 K£3 Bg4 + Diagram 2

38

67 e4 Kd7 (or 67 . . .f5 68 e X f5 B X f5 69 Ke3 and Bd l -e2-d3) 68 Ke3 Bfl 69 Bd l B X c4 70 B X h5 Ke7 7 1 Be2 B X e2 72 K X e2 Kf7 73 h5 Kg7 74 e5 and wins. There are other similar variations here, but the two widely separated pawns will always win. Not liking this, Black resolves to stop the enemy pawn roller in its tracks, whatever the theoretical objections may be to placing another pawn on a white square . 62 . . .Kc7 63 Ke2 £5 ! ? (Diagram 3) 6 4 e4 Having drawn the opposing king as far away as possible, White strikes hard at the other wing, but he has something in mind other than a simple exchange of pawns at e4. Black must take because of the threat of e5 and e6, which would win in spite of the closed nature of the position, on account of the persistent threat of Bb7. 64 . . .£ Xe4 65 Ke3 Kc8 66 Ba4 Kd8 67 Bd l ! Yet again 67 Bc2 Ke7 68 B X e4 B X e4 69 K X e4 Kf6 70 f5 Kf7 etc. will not do; Black's king has arrived in time to deal with that, but he is too late to control the situation fully. 67 . . .Ke7 68 £5 ! This is the point; he must allow White an outside passed pawn, because 68 . . . Be8 69 K X e4 Kf6 70 Kf4 would be quite hopeless Black would have to surrender his h-pawn, permit Ba4-c6-b7, or let the white king into g5. 68 . . .B X£5 69 B Xh5 K£6 70 K£4 Bh3 The weakness of the c-pawn persists and White has to take care

6 1 Kf2 Bf5 etc., just repeating, or if 60 Bc6 Bd3 winning a pawn. However, this last idea, tying down one of the hostile pieces to the defence of the a-pawn, is what White would really like and is an important part of his winning plan. First he stops . . . Bd3. 60 Ke2 Kd8 Using the king to cover the threat of Bc6-b7. 60 . . . Bc8 would be far too passive and would also endanger the h-pawn. 61 Kd2 Bg6 62 BeG White is probing a little. He cannot play 62 Bc2 because 62 . . . B X c2 1 6 3 K X c2 f5 64 Kd3 Ke7 65 e4 f X e4 + 66 K X e4 Kf6 67 f5 Kf7 leaves another drawn ending. Black simply hovers around f6 with his king, but only plays . . . Kf6 after Kf4, and White can make no progress. If Black now refuses to do anything definite the plan must be to withdraw the bishop to b3, anticipating . . . Bd3, then to play Ke2-f3 and e4, e.g. 62 . . . Kc7 63 Ke2 Kc8 64 Ba4 Kd8 65 Bb3 Ke7 66 Kf3 Bd3 Diagram 3

39

of it for a few moves before launching his final attack . 70 . . . e3 7 1 K X e3 Ke5 would be similar to the game. 7 1 Be2 B£5 A flimsy defence, but after 7 1 . . Bg2 72 Kg3 the bishops are exchanged and Black still loses his pawn. 72 Bg4! (Diagram 4) Forcing Black's hand, since 72 . . Bg6 would permit 73 Bc8. 72 . . .e3 73 Be2 Bd7 74 K Xe3 K£5 It makes no difference whether he goes here or to e5, as the king has to retreat anyway after the next move; see the following note. 75 Bh5 K£6 The weakness of his a-pawn compels him to give way on the other side. If 75 . . . Bc8 76 Bf7 and Be6( + ), whatever Black does; after the further 76 . . . Bb7 77 Be6 + Ke5 78 h5 Kf6 79 Kf4 etc , Black is virtually a piece down. If 75 . . Ba4 76 Bf7 then Be6-c8, leaving the king to defend the c-pawn. 76 K£4 B£5 77 Be2 Bc2 If 77 . . . Bd7 78 Bd3 and he can no longer prevent the pawn from reaching the seventh, unless he yields more territory with his king (if 78 . . . Be8 79 Bf5-c8). Now, however, White still has to be careful about his c-pawn. 78 Ke3 The most accurate way is 78 h5 !, as shown in note (c) to White's 80th move. He may not yet have seen this winning manoeuvre, or he may still be probing, hoping for an

Diagram 4

easier solution, and he does in fact succeed in this. 78 . . . B£5 79 Bd3 Bg4 80 Bc2 Not 80 Kf4 Bd 1 and he can make no progress, but now if (a) 80 . . . Bd7 8 1 Kf4 and 82 h5; (b) 80 . . . Ke5 81 Bg6 (planning Bf7-e6) Kf6 82 Be8 Bc8 83 Kf4 etc.; (c) 80 . . . Bh5 (the most stubborn) 8 1 Bd3 Bg4 (or 8 1 . . . Ke5 82 Be2 Be8 83 Bg4) 82 Be2 Bf5 83 Kf4 Bc2 84 h5 ! Bb 1 (or 84 . . . Kg7 85 Kg5 Bb 1 86 h6 + Kh7 87 Kf6) 85 h6 Bc2 (or 85 . . . Kg6 86 Ke3 1 K X h6 87 Bg4 and 88 Bc8 winning at once, or here 86 . . . Kg5 87 Bfl and 88 Bh3, even after 87 . . . Bf5) 86 Ke3 Kg5 1 87 Bf l l and wins by Bh3-c8. The move chosen allows a simpler win, using the h-pawn as a straightforward decoy. 80 . . .Bh3 8 1 Bh7 Bf l 82 Bd3 Bh3 83 K£4 Bd7 84 h5 Ba4 85 h6 Bb3 86 h7 Kg7 87 K£5 1-0.

40

GAME 1 1

White: Hart Black: Bertok Zagreb, 1 969

Endings with pawns on the same side should normally be drawn, especially with bishops or rooks on the board (with queens and knights complications arise which tend to increase the winning chances, in the case of knights because of the defending knight's inability to make a waiting move while continuing to defend some crucial point, which may thus lead to Zugzwang, and in the case of queens because mating threats may arise), though with four pawns against three the defender's problems are increased. In the position given (Diagram 1) the fixing of his pawns on white squares will obviously not help the weaker side, but the draw should still be possible with accurate play. The hidden factor of the wrong rook pawn may also be of assistance to him. 8 Kc5 Ba4 9 g4 (9 f4 Bd7 leads into (3), below) h X g4 1 0 f X g4 Bd 1 1 1 g5 f X g 5 + 1 2 h X g5 Bg4 1 3 e 5 Bd7 1 4 Bb 1 Be8 with a draw. In this line 8 g4 h X g4 9 f X g4 Bd7 leads to the same thing. (2) Penetrating to g5 with the king: 7 Kf4 Ke7 8 g4 h X g4 (leaving White to exchange would permit a serious weakness at h5) 9 f X g4 Kf8 1 0 g5 fX g 5 + 1 1 K X g5 Kg7 and Black can sacrifice his bishop for the e-pawn. (3) Creating a passed e-pawn directly: 7 Kd4 Ke7 8 f4 Bd7 9 e5 Be81 (not 9 . . .fXe5 + 1 0 f X e5 followed by Ke3-f4-g5h6-g7(1) - White must be left to exchange) l O Bd5 Bd7 1 1 Bf3 Be8 1 2 Be2 Bd7 and White is making no progress. The direct attempt to create a passed pawn rarely works in such cases because it can be blockaded. The type of bind which White estab­ lishes after the text move is much more conducive to a winning process. 7 £4+ K£6 8 e5 + Ke7

1 K£6 2 K£2 Bb5 3 e4 Be8 To free the king. 4 Ke3 Ke5 5 Bb3 £6 6 Ba2 £5? This is almost certainly the decisive mistake. Another pawn is fixed on a white square, and White is allowed an important gain of space and a protected passed pawn. After 6 . . . Kd6 it is difficult to see how White can achieve anything concrete. He can try any one of three basic ideas as follows: ( l ) Gaining space on the Q-side: 7 Kd4 Ke7 (7 . . . Ba4? 8 Bf7) .

.

.

Diagram 1

41

plete turning movement: (a) 1 3 . . . Be8 (if Black does nothing there is Bg8, e6 and B£7) 1 4 Bg8 Ba4 (or 1 4 . . . K£8 1 5 Kd8 Ba4 1 6 Bh7 with similar play) 1 5 e6 Be8 1 6 B£7 1 B X £7 1 7 e X £7 K X £7 1 8 Kd7 K£6 1 9 Ke8 Kg7 20 Ke7 Kg8 2 1 Kf6 Kh7 22 K£7 Kh6 23 Kg8 and wins. (b) 1 3 . . . Be2 1 4 Bg8 K£8 1 5 Bh7 Kg7 1 6 e6 and now: (l) 1 6 . . . K X h7 1 7 e7 Bb5 1 8 Kd8 Kg7 · 1 9 e8/Q B X e8 20 K X e8 Kg8 2 1 Ke7 Kg7 22 Ke6 producing the same winning pawn ending. (2) 1 6 . . . K£6 1 7 Kd6 Bb5 1 8 e7 K£7 (otherwise 19 Bg8, or if 1 8 . . . Kg7 1 9 Kc7-d8 etc ) 1 9 Kc7 K X e7 20 B X g6 and wins a second pawn, after which the win is a little involved because White must not exchange pawns by g4 at any point. If he did, he would leave a position where Black need only sacrifice his bishop for the £-pawn to draw. The winning method would be something like this : 20 . . . Be2 (letting the h-pawn go would be even worse) 2 1 B X £5 B£3 22 Bg6 K£6 23 £5 Ke7 24 Kb6 Bd 1 (or 24 . . Kd6 25 f6-f7 followed by the return of the king) 25 Kc5 Be2 26 Kd5 K£6 27 Kd6 Bd1 28 Kd7 Ba4 + 29 Kd8 Bd 1 30 Ke8 and Black cannot prevent the penetration of the king to h6.

Diagram 2

Now Black's whole position is both rigid and passive, always a fatal combination, and he has not a shred of counterplay. 9 Kd4 Ba4 10 Kc5 Be8 1 1 Kb6 Ba4 If he tries to cover c7 by l l . . . Kd8 he is stabbed in the back on the K -side - 1 2 Bg8 Kd7 1 3 e6 + Ke7 ( 1 3 . . . Kd8 1 4 B£7 transposes into the pawn ending shown in the next note) 1 4 Kc7 K£8 1 5 Kd8 etc. 12 Kc7 Bb5 13 Bb3 1-0. (Diagram 2) It seems most likely that the game was adjourned here and that analysis convinced Black of the hopelessness of his position. This analysis is in fact the most interesting part of the ending and basically involves a pawn ending in which White is able to effect a corn-

42

GAME 12

White : Korchnoi Baguio, 1 978

Black: Karpov

One of the many books written on the World Championship match of 1 978 suggests that Korchnoi missed a win in the fifth game by not taking advan­ tage of a study position by Horwitz and Kling, but on reflection this seems not to be the case. After 6 1 moves and with Korchnoi having just missed a simple win, they reached the position shown in Diagram 1 . The adventures begin with 62 K£4 !, relying on llie fact that 62 . . . N X d6 permits 63 h X g6 Ne8 (or 63 . . . Nc8 64 g7 Ne7 65 d5 1 etc.) 64 d5 Kd4 65 d6 Nf6 66 Kf5, winning. Therefore Black has to sacrifice his knight. 62 . . .Nh4 63 Kg4 g XhS + 64 K Xh4 K Xd4 Now, since White cannot avoid the exchange or loss of his b-pawn, we enter the strange world of bishop + wrong RP, which has been the subject of several endgame studies. 65 Bb8 Otherwise 65 . . . a5 anyway, and his b-pawn goes. 65 . . .aS 66 Bd6 Kc4

67 K Xh5 a4 68 K Xh6 Kb3 Forcing White now to sacrifice the b-pawn, in order to save at least one pawn, but not 68 . . . b5, hoping to pick up both pawns, on account of 69 Kg5 Kb3 70 Kf5 K X a3 7 1 Ke5 Kb3 72 Kd5 a3 73 Kc5 and wins. 69 b5 Now 69 Kg5 K X a3 70 Kf5 Kb3 7 1 Ke4 etc. is too slow. 69 . . .Kc4 70 Kg5 K Xb5 (Diagram 2) As is well known, without any black pawns the game is dead drawn, once the black king reaches aB. However, the presence of these pawns alters things considerably and the principles governing this

Diagram 1

Diagram 2

43

kind of position are then: (l) The black king cannot hide at aB here, because the white king and bishop can stalemate him and force him to move his b-pawn; after . . .b4 a X b4 White wins easily with a b-pawn. Without his b-pawn, or without his a-pawn, Black could draw comfortably by running for aB. (2) The black king will therefore shortly be driven right away from the area of the pawns, since king and bishop can exert considerable force against a lone king (perhaps surprisingly, if you have never tried it!). (3) When the black king is far away, the white king will race back, try to collect the black pawns and still be in time to cut his rival off from the corner. The basis of the Kling and Horwitz study (Diagram 3) is how the defender can be pushed far enough away. In this study he has no b-pawn, but has already been driven into the wilderness and cannot get back to aB; another study by Rauzer (Diagram 4) defines the area of the

-

-

-

Diagram 4

board in which the black king must be, if a win is to be forced, once the pawns are fixed at a3 and a4 . We return now to Korchnoi and Karpov: 7 1 Kf5 KaG For a few moves he can stay close to the corner. 72 KeG Ka7 73 Kd7 Kb7 74 Be7 Ka7 75 Kc7 Ka8 7G BdG Ka7 77 Kc8 KaG The next few moves show what a confounded nuisance the b-pawn is to Black, as well as illustrating what the king and bishop can achieve between them; if 77 . . . KaB? 7B BbB b5 79 Kc7 b4 BO a X b4 a3 B 1 KcB a2 B2 Be5 wins; thus he is driven out. 78 Kb8 b5 Setting a trap; if now 79 Kc7 b4 ! BO a X b4 Kb5 and the bishop has to abandon his pawn within two moves, or if BO B X b4 Ka7 and draws. 79 Bb4 KbG 80 Kc8 KeG Now he must run, or be caught in the corner again, e.g. 80 . . .Ka6 8 1 Kc7 Ka7 B2 Bc5 + Ka6 (82 . . . Ka8 83 Kc8, as before)

Diagram 3

44

It is safest to stay on the K-side; if Black is driven too far into the other corner (South-West), he will be unable to get back in time, after his pawns are captured. 88 Bg7 K£4 89 KeG K£3 89 . . . Ke4 90 Be5 Kf3 9 1 Kf5 helps White slightly . 90 Ke5 Kg4 9 1 BfG Kh5 92 K£5 KhG 93 Bd4 Kh7 93 . . . Kh5 94 Bg7 KM 95 Bf6 + Kg3 (95 . . . Kh5? 96 Bg5) 96 Bg5 leads into the game. 94 KfG KhG If 94 . . . Kh8? 95 Kf7 + and 96 Bg7, or if 94 . . . Kg8? 95 Bc5 Kh7 96 Bf8 Kg8 97 Bg7, or if in this line 95 . . . Kh8 96 Bf8 etc.; the king is stalemated in every case. 95 Be3 + Kh5 9G K£5 Kh4 97 Bd2 Kg3 98 Bg5 K£3 99 B£4 Arriving at the Kling & Horwitz position, with the addition of the b-pawn (Diagram 5); the irony is that, after all the trouble it has caused him, it is now the b-pawn which saves Black l 99 . . .Kg2 1 00 BdG Instead of this it was suggested by GM O'Kelly, in his book on the World Championship match, that 1 00 Kg4, taking advantage of the Klmg & Horwitz study, would lead to a win. Firstly it is shown that 100 Ke4 is ineffective: 1 00 . . . Kh3 1 0 1 Kd4 Kg4 1 02 Bh2 (the bishop cannot be sacrificed) Kf5 1 03 Kc5 Ke6 1 04 K X b5 Kd7 and Black reaches b7 and aS. 1 00 Kg4, the move given in the solution of the real study position, is certainly the best try; the idea is to force the king even further away, to the back rank, by tempo play, or to

83 Kc6 (83 Bb6? b4 ! and . . . Kb5, as above) Ka5 84 Be3 b4 (84 . . . Ka6 85 Bb6 and mates in two) 85 Bb6 + Ka6 86 a X b4 a3 87 b5 #. If here 80 . . . Ka7 8 1 Kc7 Ka6 82 Kc6 Ka7 83 Bc5 + Kb8 84 Bb6 reaches the same stalemate position. 8 1 Kd8 Kd5 Again forced, and we are now heading towards the study position, or something resembling it. Remember that the stalemate trap could still operate on the edge of the board, which helps White. There is yet another study (by Teichmann, 1 899) which shows that the defending king can always be driven to the required area of the board (around f3), provided that he cannot rely on stalemate to save him; in Teichmann's study the pawns are at a2 and a4, with no b-pawn, leaving Black a free move, and one which loses the pawn at once to the bishop. 82 Ke7 Ke5 83 K£7 Kd5 (if 83 . . Kf5 84 Bc3) 84 KfG Kd4 85 KeG Ke4 8G B£8 Kd4 87 KdG Ke4 Diagram 5

45

1 05 Bc5 Kc4 1 06 Kd6, as shown in the second part of (b), but in the actual game would draw by 1 03 Be3 Kc4 1 04 Bd2 (forced) b4! 1 05 B X b4 Kd5, reaching aB with a draw. If instead 1 03 Ke5 Kc4, and the tempo­ losing 1 04 Bd2 is forced again; then 1 04 . . .b4 1 1 05 B X b4 Kb5 1 06 Kd6 Kb6, and reaches aB. It therefore seems that Korchnoi never missed a win at all, since there is no way he could have done better than to try for the study position. The actual finish of the game was: 100 . . .Kf3 101 Bh2 Kg2 102 Be7 Kf3 103 BdG Ke3 104 Ke5 Kf3 ! 105 Kd5 Kg4 lOG Ke5 Kf5 107 KXb5 KeG Wherever the bishop had settled on this diagonal in the last few moves, the black king would always be able to gain the required tempo, by attacking him. 108 KeG KfG 109 Kd7 Kf7 l lO Be7 Kg8 l l l KeG Kg7 1 12 Be5 Kg8 1 1 3 KfG Kh7 1 14 Kf7 Kh8 1 15 Bd4+ Kh7 l lG Bb2 KhG l 17 Kg8 KgG 1 18 Bg7 Kf5 1 19 Kf7 Kg5 Since he no longer fears stalemate, Black has only to remain in this corner and avoid being pushed down to £3 again. 120 Bb2 KhG 121 Be l + Kh7 122 Bd2 Kh8 123 Be3+ Kh7 124 Bg7 Y2-Y2.

force him across to the unfavour­ able Q-side. The variations are: l OO . . . Kf2 1 0 1 Be l Ke2 (or l 0 l . . Kg2 1 02 Be3 Kh2 1 03 Bf4 + Kg2 1 04 Bg3) 1 02 Kf4, and now: (a) 1 02 . . .Kf2 l 03 Be3 + Kg2 l 04 Kg4 Kh2 l 05 Bf4 + Kg2 1 06 Bg3 Kg 1 1 07 Kf3 Kh l ( 1 07 . . . Kf l 1 OB B£2) 1 OB BbB ' (to avoid tempo loss, by not permitting the bishop to be attacked) Kg 1 1 09 Ke3 Kg2 1 1 0 Kd4 Kf3 1 1 1 Kc5 Ke4 1 1 2 K X b5 Kd5 1 1 3 Bh2 1 Kd4 1 1 4 K X a4 and wins, since the king will always be shut off from aB. (b) 1 02 . . . Kd 1 1 03 Be3 Kc2 1 04 Ke5 Kh3 1 05 Bc5 Kc4 1 06 Kd6 Kb3 (in the study, without the b-pawn, 1 06 . . . Kb5 is played, which could arise here after 1 06 . . .b4 1 07 B X b4 Kb5 - see below) 1 07 Kc6 Kc4 1 0B Bd6 Kd4 1 09 K X b5 Kd5 1 1 0 Bh2 and wins, as in (a). After 1 06 . . .b4 1 07 B X b4 Kb5 the solution is : 1 OB Kc7 Ka6 (cf. Diagram 4) 1 09 Bc5 Kb5 1 1 0 Be3 Ka6 1 1 1 Kc6 Ka5 1 1 2 Kb7 Kb5 1 1 3 Bb6 Kc4 1 1 4 Kc6 Kb3 1 1 5 Bc5 Kc4 1 1 6 Be3 Kb3 1 1 7 Be 1 Kc4 1 1 B Bb2 ! Kb3 1 1 9 Kb5 and wins . The trouble with all this is that Black has 1 02 . . .Kd3 which in the study loses to 1 03 Be3 Kc4 1 04 Ke5 Kb3 (or 1 04 . . .Kb5 1 05 Kd5 Ka6 1 06 Kc6, as given) .

46

GAME 1 3

White: Tal Black: Radulov Skopje Olympiad, 1 972 Sicilian Defence

1 e4 eS 2 N£3 Ne6 3 d4 e Xd4 4 N Xd4 N£6 5 Ne3 d6 6 BgS Bd7 7 Qd2 N Xd4 8 Q Xd4 QaS 9 Bd2 eS 10 Qd3 Rea 1 1 Be2 a6 12 0-0 BeG 13 NdS Qd8 14 BgS B XdS 15 B X£6 Q X£6 16 Q XdS Re7 17 Be4 Be7 18 Qd3 0-0 19 BdS g6 20 a4 aS 2 1 Ra3 Bd8 22 Rb3 Qe7 23 Rd 1 b6 24 Qd2 Kg7 25 Rd3 QgS 26 Qe2 £5 27 e X£5 RX£5 28 Be4 R£6 29 RXd6 RXd6 30 R Xd6 Be7 31 Rd 1 BeS 32 Kh 1 R£7 33 £3 R£8 34 g3 Rd8 35 Bd3 Qe3 36 Q Xe3 B Xe3 (Diagram 1 ) There are many middle-game positions which are won, precisely because of the presence of opposite bishops; the weaker side has no defence against the invasion of his lines by several pieces on the squares of one colour. In the endgame it is well known that an extra pawn may well be useless for winning purposes where opposite bishops are involved, but even here their attacking potential can often be exploited, and this is the main reason why the stronger side often prefers to keep a pair of rooks on the board. See also Game 42. 37 Re 1 One hidden advantage which White possesses is that his bishop is much better than Black's. It is not restricted by its own centre pawn and it can use the central square e4 as a base for manoeuvring. Of course, the same square is also

available to White's king and rook. 37 . . .Bd4 38 b3 Be3 39 Re2 K£6 40 Kg2 Rd4 41 h4! The intention is to soften up the K -side position, leaving Black with one isolated pawn or serious white­ square weaknesses. 41 . . .h6 Against a waiting move 4 1 . . .Bb2, White would be best advised to continue the preparation of h5. To play it at once would permit counterplay, for example 42 h5 g X h5 43 B X h7 h4 44 g4 Be 1 and if the king tries to collect the pawn he will regret it 45 Kh3 Bf4 46 KX h4? Rd 1 etc.; if 45 Bd3, Black has 45 . . .Bf4 and . . .Bg3. 42 Kf l Rd6 42 . . . h5, which could also have been tried on the previous move, is unwise in a general way, fixing the pawns on white squares, and would lead to trouble after 43 Rg2 Rd6 44 Ke2 Rd4 Diagram 1

47

45 Ke3 Rd6 46 g4 h X g4 47 R X g4 1 Kf7 48 Rc4 Bb2 (or 48 . . . Bd4 + 49 Ke4 Bb2 50 c3) 49 c3. White's rook is now aggressive and his pawn majority is moving. 43 g4 Bb2 44 Rh2 Be 1 45 h5 (Diagram 2) White has achieved his aim of weakening the squares h5 and f5 and the pawn at h6, but if Black had now played 45 . . . g X h5 46 R X h5 Bg5, his h-pawn would be stronger and his bishop would be more active. Blocking the position may seem more natural, as now played by Black, but if White can find a way to break through, the h-pawn and the white squares generally will be fatally weak. 45 . . . g5? Black still holds the resources to prevent the white rook from penetrating, but his white squares are now so weak that the ending can be won without rooks. For the next few moves White is probing. 46 Re2 Bb2 47 Re3 Rd4 48 Kf2 Be l 49 Re i Bd2 50 Rd l Be3 5 1 Ke3 Bb4 52 Be2 There is no way to get the rook in, so White settles for a pure bishop ending. 52 . . .Be5 The fundamental rule for judging opposite bishop endings (assuming normal king and pawn positions) is that the superior side can only win if he has the opportunity to under­ take manoeuvres on both sides of the board. For example, if he has a mobile passed pawn on one side and the chance of attacking a real weakness on the other side, he should have good prospects. This

is more important than the actual number of pawns on the board, and explains why sometimes even two extra pawns are not enough to win, while some favourable positions may be won without any material advantage. As an obvious example the position 8/6k l /2K5/ p7/Pb4P l / l P3B2/ l 6 is a dead draw because White has play only on the K -side. Returning to the game, the rule applies here insofar as Black must not exchange rooks himself or recapture on d4 with the bishop; if he did, White would create a passed pawn from his Q-side majority and combine its advance with an invasion by his king via e4, f5 and g6, winning easily. 53 R Xd4 e Xd4+ 54 Ke4 (Diagram 3) The recapture with the pawn, though absolutely necessary, has its dark side in that Black's bishop is now immobilised and obliged to defend the d-pawn. His king can therefore be forced to give ground by means of Zugzwang, and the white king will gain access to g6. Diagram 2

48

Diagram 3

Diagram 4

Thanks to the Zugzwang weapon White does in a sense have play on both sides, and it is a question of whether he can just manage to force the win of a Q-side pawn. 54 . . .KeG 55 Bc4+ K£6 If 55 . . . Kd6, we have the standard manoeuvre 56 Kf5 Kc6 57 Kg6 Bf8 58 Kf7 Bd6 59 Kg7, emphasising the vulnerability of the h-pawn. It might seem that 55 . . . Ke7 is a more promising retreat, planning to defend the h -pawn with the bishop from f8 and defend the bishop with the king at e8. However, Black still gets into Zugzwang as follows: 56 Kf5 Ke8 57 Kg6 Bf8 58 Kf6 Be7 + 59 Kg7 Bf8 + 60 Kg8 Bc5 (60 . . . Ke7 6 1 Bf7) 6 1 Bb5 + and 62 Kg7. 56 Kd5 K£7 57 Ke5 + Kg7 58 Bd5 It is striking how Zugzwang alone is enough to drive the king right into the corner. 58 . . .Kh7 59 K£6 B£8 60 Be4 + Kg8 6 1 Kg6 Although he has penetrated the

K-side completely, White cannot force his opponent to concede material there, since there are always spare moves available to the defender. It might appear that he can make no progress, but Tal now demonstrates just how good his king really is. By skilful use of tempo-gaining moves and by exploiting the bishop's cramp, he wins another pawn by force. 6 1 . . .Bg7 62 Bd5 + Kh8 (62 . . . Kf8? 63 Kh7) 63 BeG 63 Kf7 is actually a little quicker, but Tal is still probing for the winning idea at this stage, an indication of how difficult these endings are in practice. 63 . . .B£8 64 Bc4 Bg7 65 K£7 He is trying to force Black to play . . . Be5; then his king will be able to gain a tempo in its journey to the other wing. 65 . . .Kh7 66 Bd3+ Kh8 67 Be4! (Diagram 4) Be5 68 Ke6 Bg7 If 68 . . .Bf4 69 Kd5 Be3 70 Kc6, followed by Bd3 and K X b6 . 69 Kd5 This is the second point; by hitting 49

the d-pawn he prevents the defence . . . Bf8-c5. G9 . . .BfG 70 KeG Bd8 7 1 Kd7 BfG 72 Kc7 Be7

GAME 14

White: Kurajica Skopje, 1 976

73 K XbG Bb4 1-0. White creates a passed pawn easily: 74 Kb5 Kg7 75 Kc4 Bc3 76 b4 1 B X b4 77 K X d4 etc.

Black : Karpov Ruy Lopez since White's central majority is virtually useless; (2) A bishop ideally stationed on a blockading square, which the king may also occupy later, while his opposite number is a feeble specimen; (3) The back d-pawn is a potential target. In spite of all this, White can hold the draw with accurate play, but in practice his task is quite difficult. 33 . . .h4 Karpov begins with some space­ gaining manoeuvres on the K-side. In view of his bishop's bad position White is fighting virtually a piece down on this flank and he has to defend himself carefully to avoid a breakthrough. 34 g3 It is advisable to tackle the leading black pawn fairly soon, rather than allow a possible later . . .h3. Of course 34 h3, fixing his own pawns on white squares, would be wrong on general grounds. 34 . . .K£7 ! Black is not concerned about 35 g X h4 as, after 35 . . .Kg6 36 Kg3 Kh5 37 Bb2 Ba2, he wins back either the h4 or the d3 pawn. After the further 38 Kf2 (to save the d-pawn) KX h4 his remaining K -side pawns are wide open to the enemy, while 38 Ba3 Bb 1 also wins a pawn. Then the square c4

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 NcG 3 Bb5 aG 4 Ba4 NfG 5 B XcG d XcG G Nc3 BdG 7 d4 Bb4 8 N Xe5 N Xe4 9 0-0 B Xc3 10 bXc3 0-0 1 1 Ba3 NdG 12 c4 fG 13 Ng4 Re8 14 Ne3 N£5 15 N X£5 B X£5 1G Qd2 BeG 17 Qc3 Qd7 18 Rfe 1 Q£7 19 Qb2 bG 20 c5 b5 2 1 Bb4 aS 22 Bd2 Bd5 23 £3 RXe 1 + 24 R X e 1 b4 25 a4 b Xa3 2G Q Xa3 a4 27 Bb4 QgG 28 Qc3 h5 29 Ba3 Re8 30 RXe8+ Q Xe8 3 1 K£2 QgG 32 Qd3 Q Xd3 33 c Xd3 (Diagram l ) Black has a number of advantages: ( l ) An outside passed pawn, which almost amounts to an extra pawn, Diagram 1

50

would be weak and from the strongpoint d5 Black's king would have access to the Q-side, e.g. 39 Be l (the possibility of 39 d5 c X d5 40 c6, followed by Bd6, needs to be watched, but is unsound here) B X d3 40 Ba3 Kg6 4 1 Kf4 Kf7 42 Ke3 Bg6 43 Kd2 Ke6 44 Kc3 (White must yield on one side or the other; if 44 Ke3, Kd5 etc ) Bh5 45 f4 Kf5 46 Be l Bd l followed by . . . Kg4 or . . .Ke4. 35 Ke3 £5 36 K£4 Kg6 37 Ke3 Playing safe with a waiting move, and rightly so; if he takes by 37 g Xh4 Kh5 38 K X £5 (38 Kg3 leads back to the previous note) B X f3 39 Kf4 (39 Ke6 K X h4 40 Kd7 Kh3 is naturally very bad; White gets nowhere in the centre) Bd5 40 Kg3 Bb3 he again loses the d-pawn in similar circum­ stances. If 37 g4 f X g4 38 f X g4 (or 38 K X g4 Kf6 39 f4 Bb3 40 K X h4 Kf5 4 1 Kg3 Bc2 and White is in trouble) Kf6 39 g 5 + ( if he does nothing by 39 Bb2 Bb3 40 Ba3 Bc2 4 1 Ke3 h 3 ! and . . .Kg5 wins) Kg6 40 Kg4 h3 4 1 K X h3 K X g5 42 Kg3 Bb3 43 Kf3 Kh4! and White is again being stretched too far to defend both flanks. 37 . . .Kh5 38 Bb4 g 5 ! The pawn advance begins to generate tactical threats, namely 39 . . .f4 + I 40 g X f4 (or 40 Kf2 f X g 3 + 4 1 h X g3 h3 and, with a second remote passed pawn, Black wins easily) g41 41 fXg4+ K X g4 42 Kf2 (otherwise he loses the h-pawn) K X f4 43 Ba3 Kg4 44 Bb4 Kh3 45 Kg l Bb3( -c2) etc., again winning the d-pawn. All these

Diagram 2

variations illustrate a basic rule about opposite-bishop endings, namely that the stronger side must achieve play on both flanks in order to be able to win. This means passed pawns on both sides, or a passed pawn on one side and the opportunity for a breakthrough with the king on the other, the breakthrough then either creating a second passed pawn or winning the enemy bishop . 39 Kf2 If 39 f4 Kg4 1 is another typical stratagem, i.e. 40 f X g 5 h X g3 4 1 h X g3 K X g3 and Black has a strongly supported passed pawn which wins quickly. 39 . . . Ba2 39 . . . Be6-c8-a6 is a little more accurate, and Black returns to this method shortly. With the bishop at b l White has a chance to counter­ attack. 40 Ba3 Bb l 41 Ke2 (Diagram 2) Ba2 ! Because the intended break­ through by 4 1 . . .h X g3 42 h X g3 f4 fails after 43 g X f4 g X f4 44 d5! c X d5 51

45 c6, when the threat of 46 Bd6 leaves Black no more than a draw, e.g. 45 . . . Ba2 46 Bd6 d4 47 B X c7 Bd5 48 Be5, or 45 . . . Bc2 46 Bd6 a3 47 B X c7 a2 48 Be5, or 45 . . . Kg5 46 Bd6 K£5 47 B X c7 a3 48 Ba5 Ke6 49 Bb4 a2 50 Bc3 Kd6 5 1 Kd2 K X c6 52 Bb2 Kc5 53 Kc3 Notice that 43 g4 + ? Kh4 44 K£2, hoping to keep the king permanently confined, is bad because of 44 . . . B X d3, followed by . . . Bc4-e6 X g4, when the three passed pawns win easily. 42 Be l ! Black was threatening (if, say, 42 Bb2) 42 . . .h X g3 43 h X g3 £4 44 g X £4 (44 g4 + Kh4 is obviously worse, leading to the bishop sacrifice mentioned in the last note) g X £4 45 Be l Kg5, after which the further . . . Be6-f5 produces Zugzwang, White being obliged to release his bishop's attack on the £-pawn, thereby permitting . . . Kh4-g3 and . . . Bh5. 42 . . .BeG 43 K£2 Be8 44 d5? In spite of his clever manoeuvring Black can still only draw against correct play, but now White's unnecessary pawn sacrifice throws away the half point. The right way is 44 Ke2 Ba6 and now not 45 Ba3 h X g3 46 h X g3 £4 ! etc., as before, but 45 Ke3 !, when 45 . . .£4 + 46 g X £4 g4 no longer works because Black has moved his bishop from d5 and no lbflger threatens . . . g X £3 1 Therefore 47 £5 ! g X f3 (or 47 . . . Kg5 48 f X g4 K X g4?? 49 £6 and wins, or 47 . . . g3 48 h X g3 h X g3 49 £4 and again 49 . . .Kg4 loses after 50 £6 Kh3 5 1 K£3)

48 K X £3 B X d3 49 K£4 and White even has some advantage . 44 . . . e Xd5 45 d4 If 45 Ke3, f4 + works now that Black is a pawn up to start, i.e. 46 g X £4 g4 47 K£2 Bf5 48 d4 g X f3 49 K X £3 Be4 + and the king reaches g4 with a winning position. 45 . . .£4! Notice how Black continues to hammer away at the K-side; he must achieve something here before his a-pawn can be of any use. 46 g X £4 If 46 g4 + Kg6 White has left his K -side pawns badly compromised (fixed on white squares) and his king is therefore in no position to challenge Black's entry on the other wing, e.g. 47 Ke2 Ba6 + 48 Kd2 Kf6 49 Kd l (49 Kc3 Be2) Ke6 50 Kd2 Kd7 5 1 Kd l Kc6 52 Kd2 Kb5 53 Kc3 Ka5 etc. 46 . . .g4 Now the black king forces his way into g4 against any reasonable defence. 47 Kg2 Or 47 f5 B X f5 48 f4 Be4 fol­ lowed by . . . Kg6-f5, after which White must either permit the king's entry at e4 or play Ke3 and allow . . . g3. 47 . . .B£5 48 K£2 g X£3 49 K X£3 Be4 + 50 K£2 Kg4 5 1 Bb2 The pressure forces White to yield a pawn, as 5 1 Ke3 Kh3 or 5 1 Kg l Kf3 52 Kf l Bd3 + 53 Kg l Ke2 would be even worse. 51 . . .K X£4 52 Be l + Kg4 53 Bb2 e6 54 Be l Kh3 55 Kg l Black's final task is to exploit the defensive position of the opposing 52

nothing, but now White must abandon either f2 with his king or £4 with his bishop . If 58 Kh 1 Kg4 59 Kg2 Kf5 and reaches e4. If then 60 Kh3 Ke4 6 1 Bb2 (6 1 K Xh4 K X d4 62 Ba3 Kc3 is no better) Kd3 62 K X h4 Kc2 63 Ba3 Kb3 wins easily, while 60 K£2 Ke4 6 1 Ke 1 Bh5 62 Bb2 Kd3 also decides the issue. The alternative 58 Bb2 fares no better - 58 . . .Kg4 59 Kg2 Bf3 + (to keep him out of h3, useful rather than absolutely necessary; see note to Black's 56th) 60 Kf2 Kf4 and again reaches e4 and d3. Incidentally, . . .h3 is a very dubious move in most situations here, as Black's king then gets confined at h2 and the winning of the h-pawn is made useless, e.g. in the second line given above 59 . . . h3 +? 60 K£2 Kf4 6 1 Ke 1 Bh5 62 Kd2 Ke4 63 Kc3 Ke3 64 Ba3 K£2 65 Kd2 Kg2 66 Ke3 K X h2 67 Kf2 with a dead draw.

Diagram 3

king to force his own king back across the board. For this purpose he needs firstly to free the square e4 and secondly to create a Zug­ zwang. 55 . . .Bg6 56 Ba3 Bh5 He first re-routes his bishop, as . . . Bf3 + is a useful move in one variation . 57 Be l Bd l ! (Diagram 3) This is the Zugzwang referred to and therefore 0- 1. 57 . . . Kg4 58 K£2 K£5 59 Ke3 achieves

GAME 1 5

White: Gligoric Belgrade, 1 979

Black: LjubojeviC Nimzo-Indian Defence

25 Q Xe6+ B Xe6 (Diagram 1 ) 26 Bg5 Not 26 Be3 f4, which would leave his bishop awkwardly placed and allow the opposing one a little more scope. If Black now moves his bishop, the passed pawn runs up quite safely to e7 with obvious effect In any case he must oppose rooks to prevent occupation of the seventh rank.

1 d4 N£6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 d5 6 a3 B Xc3+ 7 b Xc3 d Xc4 8 B Xc4 c5 9 N£3 Qc7 10 Qd3 Nc6 1 1 e4 c Xd4 12 c Xd4 Na5 13 Ba2 N Xe4 14 0-0 N£6 1 5 Bg5 Nd5 16 Rac l Nc6 17 Bb l £5 18 Rfe l Bd7 19 Ba2 Qd6 20 Ne5 h6 21 B Xh6 N Xe5 22 d Xe5 Qe7 23 B Xd5 e Xd5 24 Q Xd5+ Qe6 53

and an h-pawn would win, with no other pawns of either colour on the board, because they are separated by two files and the h-pawn's queening-square is the right colour for his bishop; here, however, Black would retain a Q-side pawn of his own, which could affect the issue. Connected pawns would also be difficult to judge, in view of the possibility of Black sacrificing his bishop for them. Then the result would depend on what White had left, which in this case could well be just the a-pawn, whose queening­ square is wrong for his bishop I An added complication is that a wrong RP can sometimes still win if the opponent has pawns left, because the stalemating of the defending king can force him to 'unrook' the relevant pawn (with a white pawn at aS and black ones at a6 and b7, for example, Black can be forced into . . . b6 eventually). See the note to White's 36th move and also the Korchnoi-Karpov game (No. 1 2). These are the general considera­ tions then. To answer the original question, the 'play on both sides' rule is not really relevant here; if White gets connected passed pawns, the wrong rook pawn rules will apply, while disconnected ones may or may not win, depending on what Black can do on the Q-side. The present position should be drawn, but Black loses it, chiefly by failing to make use of his Q-side majority. He also plays . . . g6 at a dubious moment. This is a tricky point because . . . g6 is definitely necessary in some positions, but it has to be combined with Q-side play.

Diagram 1

26 Rfc8 27 £3 R X c l 2 8 RXc l RcB 2 9 RXcB+ B Xc8 White was in no position to avoid the disappearance of all the rooks (29 Rd l Rc3 or . . . Rc2), but the question now is whether he has enough advantage to win. As a rule the player with an extra pawn tries to keep at least one pair of rooks on, pure opposite bishop endings being notoriously subject to blockade. 30 K£2 K£7 3 1 Kg3 Ke6 32 K£4 The basic rule of opposite bishop endings is that the superior side must have play on both sides, 'play' in this sense meaning the capability eventually to create a passed pawn and win the opponent's bishop for it. Here we have to ask whether the rule still applies in a position with an unbalanced pawn structure. In other words, White can obtain two passed pawns on the K-side, possibly connected (e-and £-pawns), possibly unconnected (e- and h-pawns), while his prospects on the Q-side appear to be slender. Will that suffice? Normally an e.

.

.

54

37 Kg5 Be8 38 g4 (going for two separated pawns, the weakest option) f X g4 39 f X g4 g6 40 Kh6 (40 h4 a5) a5 41 Kg7 b4 42 a X b4 a X b4 with a draw. (b) 36 . . . b5 37 Kg5 Be8 38 £4 g6 (necessary at once; if 38 . . . B£7 39 g4 f X g4 40 £5 + and the g-pawn soon becomes a target for White's bishop) 39 h3 K£7 (not 39 . . . B£7? 40 Kh6 Be8 41 Kg7 and Black gets into Zugzwang by 4 1 . . . B£7 42 K£8, or 4 1 . . . Ke7 42 Bd6 + Ke6 43 Bb4 etc.) 40 g4 f X g4 4 1 h X g4 Bd7 42 £5 g X £5 43 g X £5 Bc8 and Black has set up the classic defensive position, ready to sacrifice his bishop after e6, without leaving White anything on the Q-side, and also attacking the £-pawn, which prevents the white king from undertaking anything active. (c) 36 . . . b5 37 Kg5 Be8 38 £4 g6 39 Kh6 K£7 40 Ba5 Bd7 and White has to return to the h 3 + g4 plan (or h4-h5, as in the game, which achieves nothing after Black's . . .b5). 36 . . .g6 37 KgS Kf7? This is the decisive mistake. After 37 . . .Be8 the pressure on the e-pawn is maintained for one more move and 38 £4 can be met by 38 . . .b5 39 Kh6 K£7. Now White can fix the b-pawn and prepare a4-a5. 38 Bb6! Bc8 Black's last practical chance is to stay on the a4-e8 diagonal, to stop a4-a5. Even so, it is too late to save the game. After 38 . . .Be8 39 h4 Bd7 40 a4 B X a4 4 1 e6 + K X e6 42 K X g6 Be8 + 43 Kg5 Bd7 44 h 5 Kf7

Diagram 2

32 . . . Bd7 33 Bd8 Bc8 34 Bc7 Bd7 35 Bb8 a6 36 Bc7 (Diagram 2) Black has a choice of three possible structures for his Q-side pawns, and in choosing which to adopt he must take into account the bishop + wrong rook pawn ending which might occur: ( 1 ) a6 and b7, allowing the white pawn to reach a5. This is what happens in the game and it loses because that position, with the white bishop at b6, is an exception to the wrong rook pawn rule - Black can be forced to play . . .b6 or . . . b5. (2) a4 and b5, which he could have set up during the last few moves. This would draw, but could involve Black in considerable technical difficulties. (3) a6 and b5, which is the best because there is no way White could then win with just his a-pawn; also Black would be using his pawns more actively, which could be important in some lines. Ideally Black should play . . .b5 now, when the following variations indicate that he can draw against any of White's plans : (a) 36 . . . b5 55

45 h6 Kg8 (otherwise Bd4) 46 Kg6 Be8 + 47 K X £5 White's mobile pawn mass will overrun him 39 a4 Bd7 40 aS Bc8 41 Bd8 BeG 42 Bc7 Bd7 43 h4 White now has only to set up the position with two united passed pawns; the Q-side structure will then guarantee him a win. 43 . . .Bc8 44 BbG Bd7 45 Be3 BcB 4G B£2 ! Bd7 47 £4 Bc8 48 hS g XhS 49 K XhS Bd7 50 KgS KeG (Diagram 3) 5 1 g4 £ Xg4 52 Bg3 ! Forcing the required position. 52 . . .K£7 53 £5 Bc8 54 K£4 1-0. 54 K X g4 would also win, but is unnecessary. As played White wins simply, without the need to stale­ mate the black king in the corner

Diagram 3

and create a b-pawn, viz. 54 . . . Ke7 55 e6 B X e6 (or 55 . . . Kd6 56 Ke4 + and 57 Ke5) 56 f X e6 K X e6 57 Ke4 etc.

56

4. Minor

pieces

This chapter deals with endings where knights and bishops appear together in various combinations . Games 1 6 and 1 7 are fairly typical examples of knight vs. bad bishop and bishop vs. bad knight respectively. In each case the inferior piece remains helpless for as long as the opponent wishes, and the only question is whether there is enough advantage to open up the position and force a win. In No. 1 8 Black's pawn weaknesses are relentlessly pursued. Smyslov puts up an active defence, but one error is enough to decide the ending. In the next game White's bishop is in danger of becoming passive in its fight against a well-posted knight, but he manages to keep the damage to a minimum. Both sides go wrong in some difficult tactics and White finds a neat drawing resource. The last two games form quite a striking contrast. No. 20 is essentially technique, with two passive knights outgunned by two powerful bishops, while for sheer violence in the endgame No. 2 1 would be hard to better. The experienced Geller mishandles his attack in a position which left no margin for error.

GAME 1 G

White : Kholmov Black: Vasiukov USSR, 1 97 1 Queen's Pawn

In this game we have the opportunity to study several different types of endgame at once. The main theme of the earlier part is Black's control of a strongpoint at e5 which he is able to use as a base for operations by his king and knight, and ultimately from which to invade the enemy position via d4 or f4. This is not, however, a typical example of knight vs. bad bishop, since the white pieces still have a considerable amount of scope and Black needs to exercise a great deal of ingenuity to win. Early on there is a possibility of transposition into a pawn ending which is favourable to Black but does not appear to yield a win; indeed Black may even lose this if he is careless . The analysis of this ending contains some remarkable twists . The third type of ending occurs later on when Black finds he has no other way to win than to go into a queen and minor piece endgame and here his last pawn is required to decide the issue.

1 d4 NfG 2 N£3 gG 3 g3 Bg7 4 Bg2 0-0 5 0-0 d5 G Nc3 cG 7 b3 B£5 8 Bb2 Ne4 9 Nh4 N Xc3 10 B Xc3 BeG

1 1 Qd2 Nd7 12 Rad 1 NfG 13 £3 Rc8 14 e4 d Xe4 15 £ Xe4 Bg4 1G Rde 1 e5 17 h3 BeG 18 N£3 e Xd4 57

Diagram 1

Diagram 2

19 N Xd4 Qd7 20 N Xe6 QXe6 21 Re3 Nd7 22 B Xg7 K Xg7 23 Rd3 Ne5 24 Rd6 Qe7 25 Rd 1 Rfe8 26 h4 h5 27 c4 c5 28 Qc3 Kg8 29 Qe3 Rc6 30 R6d5 Ng4 3 1 Q£4 Rf6 32 Rd7 R X£4 33 RXe7 Rf 1 + 34 K Xf l RXe7 35 Rd8 + Kg7 36 B£3 Ne5 37 K£2 Rd7 38 R Xd7 N Xd7 39 Ke3 Ne5 40 Bg2 K£6 4 1 Bh3 Ke7 42 Bee b6 43 Bh3 £6 44 Bf 1 (Diagram 1 ) g5 Black's first aim will be to occupy the strongpoint at e5 with his king rather than his knight, since he will then have the possibility of pene­ trating to d4 or f4 as well as making a direct attack on the white pawn. However, if he tries to do this immediately by 44 . . . Kd6, White replies 45 Kf4 and the white king will prove very difficult to remove, if in fact he can be removed at all. For example, 45 . . . Nf7 46 Bg2 ! Nd8 47 Bh3 Ne6 + 48 B X e6 K X e6 reaching a pawn ending which contains more than appears at first sight. White

continues 49 Kf3 Ke5 50 Ke3 (Diagram 2) and if now 50 . . . g5 5 1 g4 1 h X g4 (or 5 1 . . . g X h4 52 g X h5 and now (a) 52 . . .£5 53 h6 Kf6 54 e5 + wins; (b) 52 . . .Ke6 53 Kf4 winning the h-pawn for nothing; (c) 52 . . . h3 53 Kf3 f5 54 h6 f X e4 + 5 5 Kg3 Kf6 56 K X h3 e 3 5 7 Kg3 and wins) 52 h5 Ke6 (52 . . . f5 53 h6 f4 + 54 Kf2 and White wins) 53 Kf2 Kf7 54 Kg3 Kg7 55 K X g4 Kh6 56 Kf5 K X h5 57 K X f6 g4 58 e5 g3 59 e6 g2 60 e7 g 1 /Q 6 1 e8/Q + Kh4 62 Qh8 + followed by exchanging queens and White wins easily on the Q-side. On the other hand, if Black plays immediately 49 . . . g5 then 50 Ke2 ! holds the position after either 50 . . . g4 5 1 Ke3 etc. or 50 . . . g X h4 5 1 g X h4 Ke5 52 Ke3 f5 53 e X f5 K X f5 54 Kf3 etc. Clearly, provided he avoids . . . g5 at the wrong time, Black would retain the advantage in the pawn ending, but if there is a win for him anywhere in the above 58

creating a different weakness . 58 Bb 1 a6 59 a3 Nc6 60 Bc2 Na5 6 1 Kd3 Nc6 62 Ke3 Nd4! (Diagram 3) Now, in order to defend the new weakness at b3, the bishop must renounce control of f5, which allows Black to gain a lot of ground and invade d4. 63 Bd 1 f5! 64 e X£5 N X£5 + 65 Kf2 Kd4 66 Bc2 Ng7 67 Ke2 Kc3 68 Kd 1 Nee White is helpless for the moment, so Black takes the time to regroup, bringing his knight to a better position. 69 Kc 1 Nf6 70 Kd 1 Nd7 7 1 Bg6 Nf6 The problem mentioned earlier, namely having his pawns stuck on white squares, is beginning to cause Black some concern and obliges him to play with consider­ able ingenuity and precision to find a win. 72 Bc2 Kb2 73 Kd2(?) White judges it best to let the pawn go and try to confine the enemy king If 73 a4 Nd7 74 Bg6 K X b3 75 B X h5 Nf6 and the black

analysis it is very hard to detect and so he prefers to avoid the possibility altogether and stay in the minor piece ending. 45 Be2 g4 By his last two moves Black proposes to cut off the relevant diagonal and thereby to avoid the variations mentioned above, after which he will be able to manoeuvre in peace. The objection to this plan is that sooner or later the position will have to be opened, after which the bishop will be able to attack the black pawns which are stuck on white squares. 46 Bd 1 KeG 47 Bc2 Nf3 48 Bd3 And not 48 Kf4? Ne l threatening mate and the bishop. 48 . . .Ke5 With the king now established at the required square, Black's plan will be to try and create other targets by softening up White's Q-side pawns. He manoeuvres for a while, probing for a way to achieve this, and finally hits on the right plan. 49 Bc2 Nd4 50 Bb 1 Ne6 5 1 Bc2 Nd8 52 Bb 1 Nf7 53 Bc2 Nd6 54 Bd3 Nb7 The plan of playing the knight to the natural square d6 to put more pressure on the e-pawn has failed since . . .£5 would be useless at this point, so Black tries a different approach 55 Bc2 Na5 56 Bb 1 Nc6 57 Bc2 Nb4! Finding the right manoeuvre; now White must either play a3 or keep the bishop chained to the a-pawn. In the latter case he would be obliged to allow the enemy king immediate access to d4, so he plays a3 which in turn involves

Diagram 3

59

80 Kb l Nc3 + and wins immediately. White has no choice but to bring the bishop back to the b l -h7 diagonal and move his king out of the danger zone. 79 . . .c Xb3+ 80 Kd3 b2 8 1 Kd4 Nf6 82 Bb l Or 82 Ke5 Nh5 ! transposing. 82 . . .Nh5 83 Ke5 N Xg3 84 Kf4 Nf l ! If 84 . . . Nh5 85 K X g4 Ng7 White draws by moving his king back to the Q-side, 86 Kf4 etc, since the knight would be obliged perpetually to watch the h-pawn and would be unable to take part in any of the manoeuvres on the other side - a good example of the inadequacy of a short-stepping knight in a wide open position. Another way of drawing would be 86 Kg5 Kb3 87 Kg6 Ne6 88 Kf6 Nf4 89 Kg5 etc , and the knight can never escape the attentions of the king. Instead 86 h5? would lose after 86 . . .NXh5 87 KXh5 Kb3 88 Kg4 Kc3 89 Kf3 Kd2 90 Ke4 Kc l . In view of this Black must adopt a different plan. He takes maximum advantage of the tactical possibili­ ties open to his knight to arrive at a queen and minor piece ending in which he manages to demonstrate a win with his last pawn. 85 K Xg4 If 85 h5 g3 and White must play 86 Kf3, losing his bishop at once. 85 . . .Nd2 86 Bd3 Nc4! (Diagram 5) Not 86 . . .b l /Q 87 B X b l N X b l 88 h5 since queen and knight can only win against queen in certain problematical positions. Instead, Black is aiming to bring his knight

knight will be able to hold the h-pawn for a long time while his own pawns are ready to run through on the other wing. If instead 74 Kd2 Ne5 75 Bd l , however, White's prospects would be rather better since 75 . . . Nc6 76 Bc2 Nd4 77 Bg6 would involve Black in a certain amount of risk, e.g. 77 . . K X b3 78 B X h5 K X c4 79 B X g4 and although Black's king is available to support his pawns, the white h-pawn would be very dangerous in view of the short range of the knight. Certainly this would have been an improvement on what actually happens. 73 . . .KXa3 74 Kc3 b5 75 c Xb5 a Xb5 76 Bg6 Nd5 + 77 Kc2 b4! (Diagram 4) The alternative 77 . . . Ne3 + only draws, e.g. 78 Kd3 Nf l 79 B X h5 N X g3 80 B X g4 K X b3 8 1 h5 N X h5 82 B X h5 c4 + 83 Kd4 c3 84 Bg6 b4 85 Kc5( !) and the pawns are held. 78 B Xh5 c4 79 Bg6 Not, of course, 79 b X c4 b3 + Diagram 4

60

should be a s far away as possible, so as not to interfere with his queen's attempts to achieve perpetual check and (b) if the pawn can reach the seventh supported by his king, he has good chances. In the present case both these factors are in favour of Black. A full analysis of all the possible lines would take up far too much space and would be of little practical value, but as an indication of the various devices at Black's disposal, the following may be of interest: (after 90 B X c2 + K X c2 9 1 h7 b 1 /Q 92 h8/Q) 92 . . .Qf l + (first bringing the queen to a more active position) 93 Kg5 Qb5 + 94 Kh6 Qc6 + 95 Kg5 b3 96 Qh2 + (if 96 Qh7 + Kc l ) 9 6 . . . Kb 1 ! (Diagram 6) (taking advantage of the white king's position to prevent a check on g 1 , one of the commonest stratagems in this type of situation) 97 Qh7 + Qc2 (stopping the checks for at least two moves and ensuring the advance of the pawn to the seventh) 98 Qf7 b2

Diagram 5

to c2 in order to force the pawn through, and he does this with gain of time by his last move. 87 Kf4 Kb3 88 h5 Na3 89 h6 Nc2 90 h7 If, either at this point or a little later, White exchanges bishop for knight we have the difficult endgame of queen + knight's pawn vs. queen. On the whole, endgame theory tends to fluctuate much less than opening theory, since things are easier to prove conclusively, but this is a case where ideas have changed over the last few years. At one time it was thought that possession of a knight's pawn by the stronger side should lead to a draw and that a bishop's pawn or centre pawn was required for a win. However, more recent analysis has indicated that winning chances are present with anything except a rook's pawn, provided the general positional factors are favourable. Two useful rules are (a) that the defending king, provided he cannot establish himself directly in front of the enemy pawn, of course,

Diagram 6

61

favourable than before, e.g. 93 B X c2 + K X c2 94 Qh2 + Qd2 95 Qc7 + Kb l 96 Kf6 b3 with good winning chances. 93 . . .Kb2 94 Qc4 b3 95 K£6 Nb4 96 Bf l The bishop continues to protect the queen so that 96 . . . Qc3 + may be answered by a king move. If 96 Bg6 Qc3 + 97 Q X c3 + K X c3 98 Bb l Nc2 99 Ke5 Na3 l OO Bg6 Nc2 1 0 1 Bf7 b2 1 02 Ba2 Nb4 1 03 Bb l Kd2 1 04 Kd4 Kc l 1 05 Bg6 Nc2 + and wins. 96 . . .Ka3 0- 1 . H e has n o time to reorganise his defences to stop the pawn, while at the same time getting his bishop to a safe spot.

99 Kh5 Qe2 + l OO Kh6 Kc l 1 0 1 Qc7 + Qc2 and wins by once again taking advantage of the white king's position. 90 . . .b 1/Q 9 1 h8/Q Whatever the difficulties of the queen + pawn vs. queen ending, White should have taken his chances there, because the ending with minor pieces is very bad on account of the vulnerability of the loose bishop. Black's game is nicely compact and co-ordinated, whereas White is hopelessly scattered. 9 1 . . . Qc 1 + 92 K£5 Anything else loses the bishop. 92 . . .Qe3 ! 93 Qg8 + With the black queen more aggressively placed, the queen ending would now be even more

GAME 17

White Century Paignton, 1 973

Black: Lee Pirc Defence himself on any effective square, no matter how long he manoeuvres around. This situation may appear

1 e4 d6 2 d4 N£6 3 Nc3 g6 4 Be2 Bg7 5 N£3 0-0 6 0-0 Bg4 7 Be3 Nc6 8 Qd2 B X£3 9 BX£3 e5 10 d X e5 N Xe5 1 1 Be2 a6 12 h3 Qd7 13 £4 Nc6 14 Rad 1 Qe7 15 B£3 Rad8 16 Rfe 1 Rfe8 17 Q£2 Qe6 18 Qd2 Qc8 19 a3 Kh8 20 b4 Kg8 2 1 Qd3 Re7 22 Qc4 Rde8 23 Nd5 N Xd5 24 Q Xd5 Qe6 25 c4 Q Xd5 26 c Xd5 Nd8 27 K£2 £6 28 Rc 1 N£7 29 Bd4 £5 30 B Xg7 K Xg7 (Diagram 1 ) The minor piece ending which is about to arise favours the bishop in spite of the fact that the position is only half-open. The main reason is that the knight is unable to establish

Diagram 1

62

the game, to come to b5 after an exchange of pawns, with constant threats of Bc6 In addition to this, the K-side will be loosened up for the invasion of the white king and, of course, White will have a passed pawn. 36 . . .Ng6 37 g3 Ke7 38 Kd4 K£6 39 Be2 Ke7 40 aS K£6? (Diagram 2) A mistake which might have lost rapidly. 40 . . . N£8 was necessary to prevent a sacrifice at a6, for example 4 1 B X a6? b X a6 42 b5 a X b5 43 a6 Nd7-b6, or 4 1 b5 a X b5 42 B X b5 h6 etc., and Black is holding on, though of course White keeps his clear advantage. It is worth noting that 43 Bc6 is unsound in this last line on account of 43 . . .b X c6 44 a6 c5 + and 45 . . Nd7, or if 44 d X c6 Ne6 + and 45 . . Nc5. 4 1 Ke3? With this move he prepares 42 g4, but overlooks the immediate tactical stroke 4 1 B X a6 1 , the analysis of which shows what intricate twists can exist in the most innocent-looking positions. After 4 1 . . b X a6 (41 . . b6 42 Bd3 and Black could almost resign) 42 b5 and now: (a) 42 . . .a X b5 43 a6 and the pawn queens. (b) 42 . . .N£8 43 b X a6 again forcing promotion, but not 43 b6?? cXb6 44 aXb6 Nd7 (c) 42 . . Ne7 43 b6 (43 b X a6? Nc8) c6! (the only chance - if 43 . . . c5 + 44 Kc4 wins, and if 43 . . .cXb6 44 aXb6 wins) 44 b7 1 1 c X d5 45 b8/Q Nc6+ 46 KXd5 N X b8 47 K X d6 and the knight is trapped l It is possible that White saw much of this variation, but was not quite

1

Diagram 2

remarkable, but is in fact not uncommon, and seems to arise especially from certain types of openings. The only explanation is to say that some pawn positions just happen to have very adverse effects on the scope of enemy knights . When we add to this factor the placing of the black £-pawn on a white square, the better position of the white king and the unbalanced pawn position, which generally favours the player who has other advantages, it is clear that the first player has a substantial plus. 3 1 e X£5 R X e 1 32 RXe1 R X e 1 3 3 K X e 1 g X£5 3 4 Kd2 K£6 35 Kd3 NhB Black is reduced to moving back­ wards and forwards with his knight, since any pawn move would ob­ viously only weaken him still further. 36 a4 The plan is to fix the black pawns on this side onto white squares, and then open up the K-side with g4. This will greatly increase the scope of the bishop, permitting it to penetrate to c8 perhaps, or, as in 63

win by direct action on one of the wings or whether he must try to force Black into Zugzwang by some long manoeuvring. A direct attack on the Q-side would fail as follows : 47 Be6 (to cover the d-pawn) K£6 48 Kc4 Kg6 (48 . . . c6? 49 d X c6 K X e6 50 c X b7 Nc6 5 1 a6 and wins; 48 . . . c6? 49 d X c6 b X c6 50 a6 wins; 48 . . . c6? 49 d X c6 N X c6 50 B X £5 N X a 5 + 5 1 Kd5 Ke7 52 g5 and the bishop wins easily with passed pawns charging down opposite sides) 49 Kb5 K£6 50 a6 b X a6 + 5 1 K X a6 c6 with advantage to Black. However, it appears that 47 B X £5 + would give White a winning pawn ending, mainly because he has two pawns to one on the K-side, while Black dare not touch his own majority on the other wing. Possible lines are : (a) 47 B X £5 + N X £5 + 48 g X £5 + K X £5 49 Ke3 h5 50 K£3 K£6 (50 . . .Kg6 5 1 Ke4 K£6 52 £5 Kg5 53 h4 + K£6 54 K£4 wins, or if in this line 5 1 . . .h4 52 £5 + Kg5 53 £6 K X £6 54 K£4 Kg6 55 Kg4 K£6 56 K X h4 and White wins by one tempo, or if 50 . . .h4 5 1 Ke3, transp osing into one of the other lines) 5 1 Ke4 Kg6 52 £5 + K£7 53 K£4 K£6 54 h4 and wins. (b) 48 . . .K£6 49 Ke3 h5 (49 . . . K X £5 50 K£3 transposes into (a)) 50 K£3 and White either wins the h-pawn or transposes back into (a) The error on the part of both players can readily be understood. Black was unwilling to yield White a passed pawn by exchanging at

certain of it over the board and preferred to retain his advantage in position for the time being. 4 1 . . .Ne7 42 Kd4 The isolated d-pawn is the one weakness in White's game and forces him to try another approach. 42 . . .h6 Black must have seen the danger of B X a6 at this point, otherwise he might have repeated the position with 42 . . .Ng6. When defending a position of this type, an attempt to break out often leads to a more rapid defeat Here Black might have tried 42 . . .c6 to exploit the slight weakness in White's Q-side pawns, e.g. 43 d X c6 N X c6 + 44 Kd5? N X b4 + 45 K X d6 Nc6 when he cannot lose. White would do best to play in this line 44 Kc4 after which something like 44 . . .Ke6 (44 . . . d5 + 45 K X d5 N X b4 + 46 Kc5 Nc6 4 7 Kb6 wins the b-pawn) 45 Bd3 h6 46 g4 f X g4 (46 . . . Ne7 47 g X £5 + N X £5 48 Be4 is bad) 47 h X g4 retains his advantage. 43 g4 Kg6 Exchanging only helps White and again 43 . . . N g6 allows the sacrifice on a6. 44 b5 a Xb5 45 B Xb5 After this the knight is still chained to e7 on account of the threat Bc6. 45 . . .K£6 46 Bd7 Kg6? He should have exchanged pawns at this point, as the next note indicates . 47 Kc4? White has completed his prepara­ tions in that his king is centralised and his bishop is in its optimum position, attacking the £-pawn and the squares c8 and c6. He is now trying to decide whether he can 64

Diagram 3

Diagram 4

g4 until he thought it was abso­ lutely necessary, and White did not wish to commit himself to a pawn ending about which he was un­ certain, since he has good chances anyway by retaining pieces. 47 . . .fXg4( ! ) 4e h Xg4 Kf6 49 Kd4 The exchange of pawns does not affect the fact that an invasion of the Q-side is no good for White. If 49 Be6 Kg6 50 Kb5 Kf6 5 1 a6 b X a6 + 52 K X a6 c6 as before, or if here 5 1 f5 Ke5 and he can make no progress on the Q-side. 49 . . .Kg6 50 Bee + (Diagram 3) This does no harm, of course, but it is not yet the right square. To put Black into Zugzwang he must control the square g6 as a first step, and also cover the cl-pawn, in order to free the king. 50 . . .K£6 5 1 Bd7 Kg6 52 Bb5 Kf6 (52 . . .h5? 53 Be8 + ) 53 Ba4! This is the right plan, but he still needs to be accurate. If 53 Bd3, Black has 53 . . c5 + I, making things much harder.

53 . . .Kg6 If the knight moves White can play Bc2 without check, since . . . c5 + is then obviously impossible. 54 Bc2 + K£6 55 Be4! The only correct square for the bishop. White now plans to play his king over to h5. 55 . . .Nee 56 Ke3 Ne7 57 K£3 (Diagram 4) 1-0. Resignation would normally be regarded as premature here. In fact, Black was obliged to withdraw from the tournament for personal reasons, and so conceded the game. It is interesting to consider whether White can win by force from the final position. Black really has only two possible lines of defence against White's threatened invasion at h5. He can allow the king to reach that point and try to hold on by playing his knight backwards and forwards, or he can manoeuvre his knight to f6 and king to f7 or g7 to stop Kh5. Anything else is useless, e.g. 57 . . .c6 58 d X c6 b X c6 59 a6 Nc8 (59 . . . d5 60 a7) 60 B X c6 and wins easily. If 65

exchange at a6 and capture on d5 with his knight, followed by . . .Kg6, depriving White of all his pawns I Going back to Diagram 4, the best chance seems to be the invasion of the Q-side without any exchange of pawns by g5 (in other words to forget about playing the king to h5). We then have the following variations: 57 . . . Nc8 (57 . . . Ng6 58 B X g6 K X g6 59 f5 + Kg5 60 Kg3 h5 6 1 g X h5 K X h5 62 Kf4 etc. is hopeless for Black) 58 Ke3 Ne7 59 Kd4 Nc8 60 Kc4 Ke7 6 1 Kb4 Na7 62 a6 b X a6 63 Ka5 and the invasion of the Q-side, combined with the possession of a passed pawn on the other side, should be decisive, e.g. 63 . . . Nc8 64 K X a6 Kd8 65 Kb7 Nb6 (65 . . Ne7 66 g5 is no better) 66 g5 h X g5 67 f X g5 Nd7 68 Bf5 Nb6 69 Kc6 etc. This note is already long enough ! There are obviously many different permutations of possible defensive moves by Black, which readers may be interested to investigate, but it seems likely that the attack on the Q-side is a winning plan.

57 . . .b6 58 a6 Nc8 59 Bd3 Na7 60 Kg3 b5 6 1 Kh4 b4 62 Bc4 Kg6 63 f5 + Kf6 64 Kh5 Kg7 65 f6 + wins. These lines are more or less what one would expect if Black tampers with his Q-side pawns. A better defence is 57 . . . Nc8 58 Kg3 Ne7 59 Kh4 Nc8 60 Kh5 Kg7 and now 6 1 g5 h X g5 62 K X g5 Ne7 63 f5 Ng8 64 Bg2 Nf6 65 Bf3 Ng8 66 Bd l Nf6 67 Bb3 Nf4 + and White does not appear to be able to make any progress. If in this line White plays 63 Bf3, then 63 . . . Kf7 and not 63 . . . Ng8 64 Kf5 Kf7 65 Bh5 + and White penetrates to e6 or g6 when Black is in real trouble. After 63 . . . Kf7 Black keeps his knight at e7 until White plays f5, depriving his king of that square, and then moves the knight to g8, holding back the pawn. In that case there appears to be no win for White. Another try for White is to capture with a pawn at g5, e.g. 61 g5 h X g5 62 f X g5 followed by playing the king across to the other side . Unfortunately, as soon as he plays a6 to get among the pawns with his king, Black will

GAME 18

White: Larsen Black: Smyslov Las Palmas, 1 972 Vienna Game

In the modern game there is a tendency for players to worry less about structural weaknesses in their positions, if they can obtain compensation in terms of active piece play, control of the centre, etc. In the opening variation employed here Black accepts doubled isolated e-pawns, hoping that he will be able to use the open files and that the pawns themselves will usefully keep the white pieces out of d5 and f5. This is quite a normal decision, but, as the endgame approaches, White is able to bring the pawns under pressure which eventually proves too strong . 66

a weakness in White's game. He settles for the latter, hoping to expose the white a-pawn, but in so doing permits another weakness to appear at c4. Against the alternative 30 . . . Bb6 White would withdraw his bishop (3 1 Be l ), since 3 1 B X b6 N X b6 32 a5 Nd7, followed by . . .c5, would enable Black to cover up his weaknesses successfully. 3 1 b Xa4 Bb6 3 1 . . .Nb6 would allow White a favourable exchange by 32 B X b6 B X b6 33 Nd3 Kd6 34 c4 Bc7 (or 34 . . . Bc5 35 Kf3, penetrating the K-side while Black can do nothing on the Q-side) 35 c5 + Kd7 36 Nb4 a5 37 Nd3, followed by Kf3-g4, and Black will find it virtually impossible to stop the white king's advance, while defending his weak pawns. 32 Bc 1 Not 32 B X b6 N X b6 and it is White who loses a pawn. In any case he is not yet sure that the exchange of bishops is desirable. For the next few moves White is probing to discover what are the best squares for his pieces; for example, should the bishop be on the a3-f8 diagonal or at c 1 ?; should the king try to get through via c4 or stay at e2 for K-side action?; and so on. Even the best players in the world find that a certain amount of trial and error is required in this type of situation. 32 . . . Ba5 33 Ba3 + c5 Again the unpleasant choice between creating another target and leaving the whole diagonal open to the bishop, who might later appear at d6 or f8 34 Kd2

1 e4 e5 2 Bc4 Nf6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 Nf3 d6 5 0-0 0-0 6 d3 BeG 7 B Xe6 f Xe6 8 Ne2 Nbd7 9 c3 Ba5 10 a4 c6 1 1 Ng3 Qe7 12 Qe2 h6 13 d4 Bc7 14 b3 Qf7 15 Ba3 Rfe8 16 d Xe5 N Xe5 17 N Xe5 d Xe5 18 Rfd 1 RedS 19 Bc5 a6 20 h3 RXd 1 + 2 1 R X d 1 Rd8 22 RXd8+ B Xd8 23 Nf l Qd7 24 Qd2 Q Xd2 25 N Xd2 (Diagram 1 ) Bc7 Black's first job must be to prevent 26 Bd6, e.g. 25 . . . Kf7 26 Bd6 Nd7 27 Nc4 Kf6 28 a5 and he is already tied up . 26 Kf l Nd7 27 Be3 b5 Although every pawn move will mean another shght weakness, this will be necessary sooner or later to stop a5, fixing the whole Q-side. 28 Ke2 Kf7 29 Nf3 First of all he manoeuvres the knight to d3, where it will observe the sensitive spots b4, c5 and e5. 29 . . .Ke7 30 Ne 1 b Xa4 Black is faced with the usual defensive problem of whether to sit tight and allow the opponent to occupy the desired squares, or to defend actively by trying to create Diagram 1

67

If 34 Kd3 Kd6 35 Kc4 Nb6 + drives him back. 34 . . .Kd6 35 Nd3 Be7 36 Ke2 KeG 37 Be 1 Nb6 38 Nb2 Bd8 39 Kd3 Be7 40 g3 Bd6 41 Ke2 (Diagram 2) He has been unable to penetrate via c4 with his king, but has obliged Black to assemble all his pieces there to prevent it His plan now therefore is to play his king through the white squares on the K-side, catching Black off balance, as it were . If Black tries to stop this by 41 . . . Kd7, then 42 a5 Nc8 43 Nc4 followed by Ba3 prevents the king from straying any further to defend the threatened sector. He would thus be obliged to play . . . g6, after which f4 combined with h4-h5 will continue the softening-up pro­ cess. In view of all this Smyslov decides on the ingenious move . 4 1 . . . e4! Threatening 42 . . . Ba3 and thus forcing White to accept the temporary pawn sacrifice. 42 a5 If 42 Be3, trying to win the pawn in more favourable circumstances, Black has 42 . . . Bc5 43 B X c5 K X c5 44 Kf3 a5, and if · 45 Kg4?, N X a4 1 46 N X a4 + Kb5 47 Nb2 a4 48 Nd l a3 49 Ne3 Ka4 50 Nc2 Kb3 5 1 Nb4 K X c3 52 Na2 + Kb3 53 Nc l + Kb2 and Black wins I On move 45 White would therefore be forced to withdraw his king, losing most of his advantage . 42 . . .Nd7 43 N Xe4 Be5 Threatening 44 . . .Kb5, winning back the pawn immediately It turns out that the material cannot be held, but White maintains some positional advantage .

Diagram 2

44 Na3 Again not 44 Be3 B X e3 45 K X e3 Kb5 46 Nd6 + K X a5. Although White will get through to the K -side pawns with his knight in this line, the strength of the outside passed pawn will tip the scales in Black's favour, e.g. 47 Ne8 g6 48 Nd6 Ka4 49 Nf7 h5 etc. 44 . . .Bd6 45 Ne4 Be5 46 £3 Kb5 47 Kd3 B£2 48 Nd6 + In view of the twin threats 48 . . .N c5 + and 48 . . .B X g3 this is clearly White's only winning chance. 48 . . .K Xa5 49 Nee g5 Not 49 . . . B X g3 50 N X g7 Nc5 + 5 1 Kc4, winning another pawn, since 5 1 . . . Kb6? permits 52 Be3 . 50 g4 Kb6? This is the decisive mistake, because he allows the white knight to settle on f7, a perfect square from which he attacks two pawns; as a result the black pieces become entirely passive. The only move was 50 . . . Bc5, after which it is not clear how White can make progress. Against 5 1 Nc7 Ne8 52 Be3? Black has 52 . . . B X e3 68

53 K X e3 Kc5 with advantage, so White's best is probably (5 1 Nc7 Ne8) 52 Kc4 Be7 53 Be3 Bd6 54 Ne8 Be7. Even here, however, although Black is reduced to oscillating his bishop, White cannot improve his position, e.g. 55 Bc5 B X c5 56 K X c5 Ka4 57 c4 a5 58 Nc7 Kb3 and Black is at least holding his own. White might well have simply repeated moves after 54 . . . Be7, by 55 Nc7 Bd6 etc. 5 1 Nd6 BcS 52 Nf7 Bf8 53 Be3 + ! Much the strongest; the bishop is heading for g3, where he will reinforce the attack on the e-pawn and support a further break­ through by h4 . 53 Nd8 Nc5 + 54 Kc4 Kc7 would be no use. 53 . . .Kc7 54 Bf2 aS 55 Bg3 Bg7 56 c4! (Diagram 3) Within five moves the situation has altered drastically and Black has hardly any decent moves. With his last move White continues the process of restriction, preparing to attack the a-pawn and keeping the black king out of b5. 56 . . . a4

The pawn is more vulnerable here, of course, but if 56 . . . Kc6 57 Nd8 + Kd6 58 Nb7 + 57 Kc2 Kb6 58 h4 Another winning line would be 58 Kc3 Ka5 59 Bh2, when Black has no move which does not lose a pawn. However, there is no hurry for this since Black's weaknesses are permanent. First of all Larsen increases the pressure in another sector and exposes the h-pawn. 58 . . .g Xh4 59 B Xh4 Nf8 60 Bf2+ KeG 6 1 Kc3 ! It is instructive to observe White's flexible approach to the position . He is faced with several enemy weaknesses and it is necessary to work out just which is the right one to attack at any moment. Having j ust exposed the h-pawn, another player might well have continued 6 1 Be3, whereupon 6 1 . . .Ng6 62 B X h6? B X h6 63 N X h6 Kc5 64 Kc3 Nh4 would equalise for Black Instead he switches his pressure back to the a-pawn, which is now helpless. 61 . . .Ng6 62 Kb4 Nf4 63 K Xa4 Nd3 (Diagram 4)

Diagram 3

Diagram 4

69

White now wins without too much trouble, but his accurate play right to the end is interesting to observe. For example, 64 Bh4 Kc5 would give Black counterplay, so the king is driven back first, making room for White's own. 64 Nd8 + Kd7 65 Bh4 Bf8 66 Kb5 Be7 If 66 . . . Nc5 67 Nf7 Nd3 68 Bg3 Bg7 69 c5 Ke7 70 c61 etc. 67 B Xe7 K Xe7 68 Nc6+ Kd6 69 Kb6 Nc5 70 Nd8 Nd7 +

GAME 19

7 1 Kb5 Ke7 72 Nb7 Nf6 73 c5 h5 74 g Xh5 N Xh5 75 c6 Nf6 76 Kc5 ! Accurate to the end. He loses a move so that if now 76 . . . Ne8 77 Kb6 Nf6 78 c7 Kd7 79 Nd6 !, or if here 78 . . . Nd7 + 79 Kc6. A little slower would be 76 Kb6 Ne8 77 c7 Kd7. 76 . . .Ng8 77 Nd6 1-0. Curious how the only remaining black pawns are the original doubled isolated ones 1

White : Webb Black: Matulovic Birmingham, 1 975 Pirc Defence ordinary-looking position than might be expected. In spite of appearances, it is White who has to be careful, as his bishop-pair is ineffective and the black knights are the first to take the initiative. 18 . . .Nd4 19 Bd 1 c6 Keeps the white knight quiet, but chiefly prepares the advance of the pawns. White must take immediate steps to disentangle himself. 20 f3 Bf8 2 1 Kf2 Nd7 This gives him a number of options for future action, viz . . . . Nc5-e6 as in the game, . . . Nb6-c4 and even . . .£5, though this might be loosening and would have to be very carefully considered. 22 Be3 The immediate 22 Ne2 is also possible, when transposition to the game by 22 . . . b5 is the most likely 22 . . .b5 23 Ne2 23 B X d4 is not to be recommended, e.g. 23 . . .e X d4 24 Ne2 c5 (24 . . . Bc5

1 Nf3 g6 2 e4 d6 3 d4 Nf6 4 Nc3 Bg7 5 Be2 0-0 6 0-0 Bg4 7 Be3 Nc6 8 Qd2 e5 9 d Xe5 d Xe5 10 Rad 1 Qc8 1 1 Qc 1 Rd8 12 RXd8+ QXd8 13 Rd 1 Qf8 14 h3 B Xf3 15 B Xf3 Rd8 16 R Xd8 Q Xd8 17 Qd2 Q Xd2 18 B Xd2 (Diagram l ) There is much more to this rather Diagram 1

70

. . . Nc5, keeping the king out. Then nothing can prevent the march of the black king to c5, followed by the occupation of d4 by the knight, and Black has much the better of it. (c) 26 a3 1 (best) Kf8 (26 . . . a4 27 c4 1 b X c4 28 B X c4 and White stands better, . or 26 . . . B X e3 + 2 7 K X e3 followed by b4, as in the main line) 27 b4 (not 27 B X c5 N X c5 28 b4 a X b4 29 a X b4 Na4 - Black must be made to capture) B X e3 28 K X e3 a X b4 (28 . . .a4? 29 c4) 29 aX b4, and White's game is perfectly satisfactory; taking at b4 with the a-pawn instead of the c-pawn keeps the knight out of d4 and this makes all the difference. 26 . . .aXb4 27 B Xc5 N Xc5 28 c Xb4 Ne6 29 g3 Kf8 Surprising; one would expect 29 . . . g5 at once here, and equally White would have been well­ advised to play now 30 h4, preventing the dangerous plan of fixing the h-pawn and making a hole at f4 by . . . g5, . . . h5 and . . .h4. 30 Ke3 g5(!) 31 Bd 1 Now 3 1 h4 would leave the h-pawn perilously weak after 3 1 . . . g X h4 32 g X h4 Nf4 but White must do something to stop the gradual conquest of his black squares by the manoeuvre outlined above, so he prepares to stir up complications based on playing f4. 3 1 . . .h5 32 Bb3 Nd4 33 f4 (Diagram 3) If 33 Bd 1 h4 34 g X h4 (34 f4 h X g3 35 fXe5 Ke7 1 and White has no decent moves, e.g. 36 Bg4 Nc2 + , or 36 a3 Ke6) g X h4 35 f4 (otherwise

Diagram 2

25 N c l Bb6 26 Ke2 c5 is also good) and Black follows up with . . . a5, developing a strong initiative. If 25 b4? c X b4 26 N X d4 Bc5 27 Ke3 Ne5(-c6) costs White a piece. 23 . . .Bc5 2 3 . . .c5? would be a horrible move, of course, blocking all his pieces and leaving a hole at d5. After 24 Nc3 a6 25 Nd5, and c3 to follow, White would stand better. 24 c3 N Xe2 25 B Xe2 (Not 25 B X c5? N X c3 !) aS (Diagram 2) 26 b4(?) This move leaves Black with a small but clear endgame advantage, but White faced a surprisingly difficult decision. Let us look at the alterna­ tives : (a) 26 B X c5 N X c5, threatening 27 . . .Na4, and if 27 Bd 1 Nd3 + . If 27 c4 b4, followed by . . .Ne6-d4 with e classic knight vs . bad bishop ending; best here is 27 b4 a X b4 28 c X b4 Ne6, leading back into the game. (b) 26 b3 b4 1 27 c X b4 (27 B X c5 comes to the same thing) a X b4, after which Black exchanges bishops and plays 71

with his king. Since 35 Bd 1 Kg? 36 Bh5 Nc2 + will not do, the following pawn advance is compulsory. 35 h4 Kg7 36 h5 f6 Not 36 . . .f5; Black wishes first to weaken the squares f6 and h6, in order to attack the pawns more easily with his king. 37 g6? If 37 h6 + Kg6 38 g X f6 K X f6 39 h7 Kg7 40 Bg8 Kh8 4 1 a3 Kg7 wins the h-pawn by Zugzwang, and 37 g X f6 + K X f6 38 Bg8 Kg7 ! 39 Bb3 N X b3 40 aXb3 Kh6 41 Kf3 K X h5 42 K X g3 Kg5 leads to a fatal turning of White's position. However, 38 Bd 1 in this last line leads to unexpected complications as follows: (a) 38 . . . Kg5 39 a3 (if 39 Bf3? Nc2 + etc , but not 39 . . .N X f3 40 K X f3 K X h5 4 1 K X g3 Kg5 42 a3 and draws !) Kh6 40 Bg4 Nc2 + 41 Kf3 N X a3 42 K X g3 Nc2 43 Bd7 N X b4 44 Kg4 and in spite of his extra material the threat of 45 Kf5 makes a win impossible for Black, e.g. 44 . . . Nc2 45 B X c6 b4 (45 . . . Nd4 46 B X b51) 46 Ba4 Nd4 47 Bd 1 with a draw. (b) If, in the earlier part of this variation, Black could transfer the move to White when his king is at g5 and the bishop is at d 1 , he would win by Zugzwang. He therefore needs a good waiting move, but knight moves allow Kf3 and if . . .Kh4 at any point, the h-pawn runs through. The only way to lose a move is by the king manoeuvre . . . Kh7-g7-h6 and, indeed, if White continues to move backwards and forwards with his

Diagram 3

35 . . . Ne6-f4) f6 36 a3 Ke7 with Black keeping his advantage. 33 . . .h4 The more routine 33 . . .£6 34 f X g5 f X g5 35 Bd 1 h4 36 g X h4 g X h4 37 a3 etc. is unlikely to lead to decisive results. Although the knight remains a strong piece, the opening of the game helps the bishop and the black Q-side pawns fixed on white squares could become a cause for concern. Instead Black seeks a combinative solution. 34 f XgS This is forced. 34 f X e5 h X g3 ! leads to the same position as mentioned in the note to White's 3 3rd move, in which White has no adequate defence against . . .Ke7-e6 etc. 34 g X h4 g X f4 + 3 5 Kf2 is just as bad, and Black then has a number of ways of winning, of which 35 . . .Kg7 36 Bd 1 Kg6 and . . .£5 is the most obvious. 34 . . .hXg3 White does not dare move his king and Black's chief threat is simply to come and collect the K-side pawns 72

47 B X e2 N X e2 + 48 K X g2 Nf4 + 49 Kf3 N X h5 50 Ke4 K X g6 and Black just has enough to win after ( l ) 5 1 Kd4 Nf4 52 Kc5 Nd5 53 K X c6 Nc3 or (2) 5 1 Ke5 Nf6 52 Kd6 Nd5, which transposes into ( 1 ). 39 Kf3 e4+ Now this is not good enough, as White has more time. 40 Kg2 Kh6 40 . . . e3 41 Kf3 Kh6 42 Bd 1 KXh5 43 g7 N X g7 44 K X g3 + Kg5 45 Kf3 Nf5 46 a4 1 leaves only a draw. Black may still-appear to be winning, but White has a clever drawing plan in mind, exploiting the knight's short range. 41 Bd l ! Ne3+ There is nothing else available. 42 K Xg3 N X d l (Diagram 4) 43 a3 ! ! This is the point. 43 Kf4 loses as follows: 43 . . . e3 44 Kf3 e2 45 K X e2 Nc3 + 46 Kd3 N X a2 47 Kd4 N X b4 48 Kc5 Nd5 etc. Now, however, Black is left to discover, doubtless to his annoyance, that 43 . . . Nb2

bishop, this can be achieved Variation (a) up to 40 Bg4 and then 40 . . . Kh7 41 Bd1 Kg? 42 a4 (42 Bg4 Kh6 43 Bd 1 Kg5, or if 42 Bf3 Nc2 + ) b X a4 43 B X a4 Kh6 44 Bd 1 Kg5 45 Bf3 Nc2 + (45 . . . N X f3? 46 K X f3 K Xh5 47 K X g3 Kg5 48 Kf3 Kh4 49 Ke3 Kg3 50 Kd3 Kf4 5 1 Kc4 only draws now !) 46 Kd3 N X b4 + 4 7 Kc4 Nc2 4 8 Kc5 Ne 1 and wins. (c) White, however, can avoid this and hold the position by keeping his bishop more active, as in Variation (a). After 40 . . . Kh7 4 1 Bd7 Kg? 42 Bc8 Nc2 + (or 42 . . .Kh6 43 Bg4, leading to a draw again) 43 Kf3 N X a3 44 Bd7 Nc2 45 K X g3 N X b4 46 Kg4 and we are back in Variation (a). All this is extremely difficult to see over the board, of course, and White's decision to keep his pawns intact is fully understandable 37 . . .£5 38 e Xf5 N X£5 + ? Very natural, but it only leads to a draw. Correct is the remarkable 38 . . .e4 ! 1, as control of f3 turns out to be critical. Obviously only bishop moves are possible, and both 39 Be6 and 39 Bf7 lose quickly, i.e. 39 Bf7 Nc2 + 40 Ke2 g2 4 1 Kf2 e3 + etc. Therefore 39 Bd 1 N X f5 + 40 Ke2 Kh6 4 1 Ke 1 Ne3 42 Bb3 Nd5 43 a3 ( 43 B X d5 c X d5 is hopeless or if 43 Kf l Nf4 44 Bd 1 g2 + 45 Kg 1 e3 leads to a position very similar to the main variation) Nf4 44 Bd 1 (44 Bc2 g2 45 Kf2 e3 + 46 Kg 1 e2 wins at once) g2 45 Kf2 e3 + 46 Kg 1 e2

Diagram 4

73

44 Kf4 Nc4 45 K X e4 N X a3 46 Kd4 Nc2 + 47 Kc5 only draws. He tries to finesse, but it is too late. 43 . . .Kg7 44 Kf4 e3 44 . . . Nc3 45 Ke3 Kh6 46 Kd4

GAME 20

also leads nowhere . 45 Kf3 Kf6 46 Ke2 Nb2 47 K Xe3 Nc4+ 48 Kd4 N Xa3 49 Kc5 Nc2 50 KXc6 N Xb4+ 51 K Xb5 Nd5 Y2-Y2 .

White: Suttles Black: Tal Hastings, 1 973-4 Sicilian Defence

1 e4 c5 2 Nc3 e6 3 g3 d5 4 e Xd5 e Xd5 5 Bg2 Nf6 6 d4 c Xd4 7 Q Xd4 Nc6 8 Qd l d4 9 Nce2 Bc5 10 Nf3 Bf5 1 1 0-0 0-0 12 Nf4 ReS 13 Nd3 Bb6 14 Bg5 h6 15 B Xf6 QXf6 16 Nd2 Qg6 17 Nc4 Bc7 18 a4 Bg4 19 Bf3 Bh3 20 Re l Qf5 2 1 Bh l Re6 22 Qf3 Rae8 23 Q Xf5 B Xf5 24 B Xc6 b X c6 25 RXe6 B Xe6 26 Re l KfB 27 Nc5 Bf5 28 RXeB+ K Xe8 (Diagram 1 ) This ending offers a good practical example of how two bishops carry out the process of steadily restrict­ ing two knights, until they are deprived of all mobility. If the knights are to stand any chance in such an ending, they must possess strong supported outposts near the centre. In the present case, however, the knight on c5 is unable to maintain his advanced position, and so he and his colleague are for the time being confined to the relatively passive squares d3 and c4. Moreover, the approach of the black king will soon force the one on c4 still further back. 29 Nd3 The alternative ways of covering the c-pawn are also unsatisfactory

If 29 Na3 Bd6 30 Nd3 (or 30 Nb3 B X a3 3 1 b X a3 B X c2 32 N X d4 B X a4) B X a3 3 1 b X a3 B X d3 and the pawn ending is hopelessly lost. If 29 c3 d X c3 30 b X c3 Ke7 3 1 Kf l Bb6 32 N X b6 (32 Ne3 Bh3 +) a X b6 33 Nb3 Bc2 and wins; if here 3 1 Na6? Bd3 32 N X c7 B X c4, trapping the knight, or if 3 1 Nb3 Bc2 32 Nc5 (or 32 Ncd2 Be5 33 c4 Bc3, again winning material) Bb6 33 Ne3 B X c5 34 N X c2 Kd6 and the king rapidly invades the Q-side. 29 . . .Kd7 30 Kf 1 Diagram 1

74

soon loses his a-pawn by . . . Kb6-a5, and if then Nb2 Bc3, N d 1 Ba 1 etc. The general point to note in these variations is that Black must be prepared to exchange one of his bishops to make progress . 33 . . . BcB 34 Nd2 £5 35 £4 Trying to secure a strongpoint in the centre, otherwise he will inevitably get into one of the bad lines given above. 35 . . .BaG 3G N£3 BdG This prepares . . .c4 by stopping the knight check at b4, and is better than . . . Ba5, because e5 is also kept under some control. 37 Nh4 Diverting the bishop Passive defence again leaves White in great trouble, e.g. 37 Nd2 (or 37 Kd2 c4 38 b X c4 B X c4 39 Nfe5 B X d3 40 N X d3 Kc4) c4 38 b X c4 B X c4 39 N X c4 (otherwise the a-pawn is weak anyway and Black keeps his bishops) K X c4 etc. 37 . . . BcB 38 N£3 c4 39 Nb2 c Xb3 40 cXb3 BaG + With the opening of the position the bishops really begin to show their teeth, especially since they now have a passed pawn too. White has httle choice but to play into the self-pin, as this pawn must be blockaded at all costs. If for example 4 1 Kd2 Bb4 + 42 Kc2 Ke4 with tremendous pressure; if 4 1 Kf2 Ba3 42 Nd1 Bd3 43 Ne 1 Be4 44 Nf3 Bc2, already winning a pawn and keeping the knights tied up . 41 Nd3 Ke4 Probably the sealed move, forcing White's reply and avoiding a committal move just before the

30 Nc5 + Ke7 3 1 Nd3 Ke6 leads to positions similar to the game. 30 . . .KeG 31 Ke2 Kd5 32 b3 This is necessary because 32 Nd2 c5, followed by . . .a5 and . . . c4 would be even more restrictive. 32 . . .c5 Taking the process of confining the knights a step further. The square b4 is taken under control, so that Black's king is now firmly entrenched in the centre, and he intends . . . Bc8 and . . . Ba6, driving the knights right back. 33 £3 (Diagram 2) If he just waits by moving his knight backwards and forwards, Black breaks through with 3 3 Nd2 Bc8 34 Nc4 Ba6 35 Ncb2 Bd6 36 Kd2 c4 37 b X c4 + B X c4 38 N X c4 K X c4 and now: (a) 39 N moves Kb4; (b) 39 Kd 1 Kc3 40 Kc l Ba3 + 4 1 Kb 1 (4 1 Kd 1 f6 and White must yield) Kd2 and invades the K -side. If White tries 35 Ndb2 Ba5 36 Kd3 Be 1 37 f3 (37 Ke2 Bc3 loses material) f5 38 Nd l B X c 4 + 39 b X c4 + Kc6 4 0 Ke2 Bb4, he .

Diagram 2

75

adjournment. 42 Nd2+ KdS 43 N£3 (Diagram 3) Be7 Having made the maximum space gains in the centre and on the Q-side, Black looks round for a chance to open another front. This is typical of such cases; the knights have just enough resources to keep the king out of e4, but the creation of further play by . . . g5 will stretch their defensive capacity to breaking-point. 44 h4 Another weakness, but he has little chance of doing anything construc­ tive. The bishops are even prevent­ ing him from occupying e5, and if he unpins by 44 Kd2, then 44 . . .Ke4 45 Nde5 (or 45 Nfe5 B X d3 46 N X d3 Kf3) Bb4 + and there is precious little to stop the advance of the d-pawn. If instead (44 Kd2 Ke4) 45 Nfe l , Black has 45 . . . B X d3 46 N X d3 and then a choice between 46 . . . g5 and the immediate invasion 46 . . . Kf3. 44 . . .g6 45 NeS gS 46 h XgS White has several choices here, which need to be examined in detail: (a) Capturing once and making a passed pawn - 46 f X g5 h X g5 47 h5 Ke4 48 Kd2 (or 48 h6 Bf6 49 Nc4 ���:?1. when Black is stopping the h-pawn comfortably and will soon make another passed pawn of. his own) B X d3 49 N X d3 Kf3 50 Ne5 + K X g3 5 1 h6 Bf6 52 Nf7 f4 and wins. (b) 46 f X g5 h X g5 47 Nf3 g4 and now: (i) 48 Ne5 Bd6, winning at least a pawn; (ii) 48 Ng5 B X g5 49 h X g5 f4 1 (not 49 . . . Ke4

Diagram 3

50 g6 !) 50 g6 (50 Kd2 B X d3 5 1 K X d3 f X g3) Ke6 5 1 g X f4 g3 52 K£3 B X d3 53 K X g3 B X g6 and wins; (iii) 48 Nd2 Bd6 49 Nf l with a very passive position. (c) 46 f X g5 h X g5 47 Ng6 Ke4 48 N X e7 B X d3 + 49 Kd2 g X h4 50 g X h4 f4 5 1 h5 f3 52 Ke l Kf4 53 Kf2 Be4 54 b4 d3 and wins. (d) 46 Nf3 g X h4 47 g Xh4 B X h4 1 48 N X h4 Ke4 and wins . 46 . . .hXgS 47 f XgS If 47 Nf3 g4 48 Nd2 Bb4 and White is forced to surrender a pawn at once by 49 Nc4, any other knight move losing a piece by 49 . . . Ke4. Therefore the knight would have to go to e5 or g5 at move 48, viz. 48 Ng5 Bb4 1 49 Nf7 B X d 3 + 50 K X d3 Be l 5 1 Nh6 Ke6 52 KXd4 B X g3 53 Ke3 Bh2 ! 54 b4 g3 55 Kf3 g2 56 K X g2 B X f4 57 N X f5 K X f5 58 b5 Bc7 and wins. The second pawn exchange does not improve White's prospects much, and the consistency of the above analysis 76

A desperate attempt to create a passed pawn, as there is no adequate way of defending the g-pawn. If 5 1 Kf3 Kc4 and the pawns are soon gobbled up, while 5 1 Nf4 + B X f4 52 g X f4 Kc4 5 3 Kd2 Kb4 leads to a loss after 54 Kd3 KXa4 55 K X d4 K X b5 56 Ke5 a5 57 KX f5 a4 58 Ke6 (58 Kg6 a3 59 f5 a2 60 f6 a 1 /Q 6 1 f7 Qh8) a3 59 f5 a2 60 f6 a 1 /Q 61 f7 Qa3 . 5 1 . . .B Xg3 5 2 Nb4+ KcS 53 NcG aG 54 Kd3 Bf2 55 Na7 The only way to keep the game alive; White still has a few traps left 55 . . . aXb5 56 aG b4 (not 56 . . . Kb6 57 N X b5) 57 NbS If 57 Nc8 Kc6 58 a7 Kb7 59 Kc4 f4, with similar variations to those in the next note. 57 . . .KbG 58 a7 Kb7 59 NdG+ 59 Kc4 is no better in the long run: 59 . . f4 60 KX b4 f3 and then either 6 1 Kc4 Be3 62 Kd3 f2 63 Ke2 d3 + 64 Kf l Bd4 ! and wins, or 6 1 Nd6 + K X a7 62 Kc4 Be3 63 Ne4 f2 64 Ng3 Kb6, winning by a king invasion because White will never be able to capture either pawn safely. 59 . . .K Xa7 60 N XfS b3 61 NdG KbG 62 Nc4+ KbS 0- 1.

Diagram 4

leads one to feel that he was lost whatever he did. 47 . . .B XgS 48 b4 (Diagram 4) This is the critical line, forcing Black to come to a decision. The further opening of the position has again increased the bishops' scope and anything else would prove even worse. If 48 Nf3 Be3 49 Nd2 (or 49 N e 1 Ke4 50 b4 Bc4 and White will be lucky not to lose a piece) B X d 3 + 50 K X d3 B X d2 5 1 K X d2 a5! 52 Kd3 Kc5 and wins. 48 . . .B Xd3+ One bishop is now more than equal to the task 49 N Xd3 Be7 50 bS BdG 5 1 aS

GAME 2 1

White: Ftacnik Sochi, 1 977

Black: Geller

1 c4 gG 2 Nc3 Bg7 3 d4 N£6 4 e4 dG 5 N£3 0-0 6 Be2 eS 7 0-0 NcG 8 dS Ne7 9 Ne l Nd7 10 Nd3 fS 1 1 Bd2 NfG 12 f3 Kh8 13 Re 1 cS 14 g4 Bd7 15 N£2 Neg8 16 Kh l f4

17 b4 bG 18 NbS aG 19 Na3 Nee 20 Rb l Qh4 2 1 Be l hS 22 Nd3 QfG 23 h3 h Xg4 24 h Xg4 NhG 25 b XcS bXcS 26 RbG Qd8 27 Rb2 BfG 28 Kg2 Bh4 77

captured, Black is temporarily condemned to passive defence, while his opponent regroups and decides how to increase the pressure. 37 Bd 1 Intending to penetrate via a4. The alternative of 37 Nc l , planning to reach a5 and c6 with the knight, could be met by 37 . . . Ba4( 1) and if 38 Nb3 B X b3 39 aXb3 Kf8 40 Nc2 Nf6 4 1 b4 Nd7 42 Rb7 (or 42 Rc6 Ke7 43 b5 a X b5 44 c X b5 Rb8 and Black is quite safe) Ke8. If White then persists with 43 b5?, he gets into trouble after 43 . . .Nd8 44 Rc7 a X b5 45 c X b 5 Ra2 46 Bd 1 ( 46 Bd3 Nb6 1 even costs him a piece) Rb2, winning a pawn. If instead 39 R X b3 Kf8 40 Rb7 (or 40 Rb6 Nd8, which transposes) Nf6 4 1 Bd l Nd8 42 Rb6 Ke7 followed by . . . Nd7, equalising. 37 . . .N£6 38 Nb 1 Ne8 39 Nc3 N£6 (Diagram 2) White now has to decide which piece to exchange at a4 and which one to retain. On the surface the potentially bad bishop should be

Diagram 1

29 Rh1 B Xe 1 30 Q X e 1 Kg7 3 1 Qh4 Q Xh4 32 RXh4 (Diagram 1 ) Black has wrongly permitted an exchange of queens in the last few moves, as a result of which his attacking chances have largely disappeared and he is left with a disadvantage in White's control of the b-file. First of all, then, White uses this file to attack the weak a­ and d-pawns. 32 . . .N£7 33 Rh 1 N£6 34 Rb6 White has still to be careful on the K -side; if he throws everything into his own attack by 34 Rhb 1 , he still cannot avoid an exchange of rooks after 34 . . . Rh8 35 Rb6 Rh7, aiming to double rooks with mating threats. Either 36 Rh l or 36 Rb8 Rh8 would then be necessary, leading into something like the actual game. 34 . . .Rfb8 34 . . . Rh8 loses material by 35 R X h8 K X h8 36 N X c5 etc. 35 Rhb 1 RXb6 36 RXb6 Ne8 Since . . . a5 at any point would allow Nb5 and the appearance of a passed pawn if this knight is

Diagram 2

78

the victim (40 Ba4), but on the other hand, after 40 Na4 B X a4 4 1 B X a4 it might turn out quite a respectable piece with such squares as c6 and b7 available. There is a further consideration, which might easily be overlooked; in spite of appearances, Black's K-side attack is not yet over and he has a very dangerous sacrifice of a knight for two pawns in the air. If White's pieces get too involved on his left flank, he may find that he has only his king left to stop an avalanche of enemy pawns. Reducing these ideas to concrete variations indicates that both moves give very good winning chances but that for practical purposes 40 Ba4 is much simpler and less risky, e.g.: 40 Ba4 B X a4 (40 . . . Ra7 4 1 g 5 ! Nh7 42 B X d7 R X d7 43 R X a6 Nh X g5 44 a4, with Nb5 if required, would be very dangerous, while 4 1 . . . N X g5 42 R X d6 would be even worse; finally the sacrifice 40 . . . B X g4 4 1 fX g4 N X g4 42 Nd l RhS 43 Bd7 Rh2 + 44 Kg 1 would be quite unsound) 41 N X a4 Ra7 (necessary in all these variations, whichever piece is exchanged at a4; if 4 1 . . . Nd7 42 Rb7 with Nb6 and Ra7 to follow, or if 4 1 . . . Nh7 42 Rb7 Ng5 43 Nb6 RdS 44 Ra7 Kf6 45 Nf2 ! stopping any sacrifice and with 46 R X a6 to follow) If now 42 Ncl Nh7 4 3 Nb3 Nhg5 44 Na5 N X f3 45 K X f3 Ng5 + 46 Ke2 N X e4 47 Nb7 and the win of the cl-pawn will be decisive after, say, 47 . . . Ng3 + 4S Kf3 g5 49 N X d6 In the actual game, as you will see, this black knight has

much more scope, but here the sacrifice is clearly unsound. However, Black is by no means obliged to sacrifice and after 42 . . . Nd7 43 Rc6 NbS 44 ReS Rb7 he remains quite safe (if here 43 Rb 1 Black would pin by . . . Rb7 after the subsequent Nb3). Therefore White must look for some improvement on 42 Nc l and he finds it in his own piece sacrifice 42 Na Xc5 1 d X c5 43 N X c5, which is justified by the greater activity of the white pieces supporting the passed pawns. The following are some sample variations: (a) 43 . . .NdS 44 RbS Nf7 45 Ne6 + Kh7 46 c5 Nd7 4 7 ReS and Black has no good moves left. (b) 43 . . .aS 44 Ne6 + Kh7 45 c5 Nd7 46 Rb5, which is very similar to (a). (c) 43 . . . NeS 44 Ne6 + Kh6 45 c5 Nc7 46 NfS with a mate threat and d6-d7 following. (d) 43 . . .Ng5 44 N X a6 Ng X e4 45 f X e4 N X e4 46 c5 Kf7 (46 . . . Nd2 47 c6 wins at once, or if 46 . . . Nf6 47 c6 and then d6) 47 c6 Nd6 4S c7 NcS 49 RbS R X a6 (49 . . . Nd6 50 RdS) 50 RXcS R X a2 + 5 1 Kf3 Rc2 52 d6 and wins. (e) 43 . . .Nd7 44 N X d7 (44 R X a6 is also good) R X d7 45 c5 (not 45 R X a6 Rc7 46 Ra4 Nd6) Rc7 (or 45 . . . NdS 46 c6 Rc7 47 RbS, or 45 . . .aS 46 a4, and Black cannot do better than 46 . . . Rc7) 46 c6, followed by the win of the a-pawn and three very good pawns for the knight (if 46 . . . Ra7 47 Rb7 RaS 4S d6 Kf6 49 d7 Ke7 79

choice). To do this he must commit both minor pieces to the Q-side (2) Exchange rooks, but keep the knight to defend the K-side against Black's sacrifice. (3) Keep rooks on the board, in the expectation that his own ought to be superior, both for attack and defence No.3 above would now continue by 44 Nb3 (44 Bb7 a5 would transpose) after which he will eventually win material, if left undisturbed, so Black must sacrifice: 44 . . .a5 45 a4 N X f3 46 K X f3 Ng5 + 47 Kg2 N X e4 48 Rb5 (48 Rb7 + is the same as the game, and if 48 Bb7 Nc3) Nc3 49 R X a5 (49 N X a5 N X b5 50 c X b5 R X a5 5 1 b6 would be good, but Black is not obliged to take the rook) and now if 49 . Re7?1 not 50 Ra8 e4 5 1 a5 f3 + 52 Kf l e3 and Black wins, but 50 N X c5 1 d X c5 (other­ wise Ne6 +) 5 1 d6 and White must win. Therefore Black must exchange rooks - 49 . . R X a5 50 N X a5 e4 5 1 Nb3 1 (in the game position this knight is now marooned at c6) f3 + (or 5 1 . . . e3 52 Kf3 e2 53 Kf2 f3 54 Nd2 Nd l + 55 Ke l and wins) 52 Kg3 N d l 53 Nd2 f2 54 Nf l e3 55 Kf3 and wins . 44 Nb3 would appear to win, then, and thereby justify White's fortieth move as well as his decision to allow the black attack. Instead he now forces the pace on the Q-side and should not really have succeeded. 44 Rb7 R Xb7 45 B Xb7 aS (Diagram 3) 46 a4? This is the parting of the ways. With

50 c7 K X d7 5 1 Rb8). Even in the best of these variations Black's drawing chances are slim. 40 Na4 B Xa4 4 1 B X a4 Ra7 Again necessary; after 4 1 . . . Nh7 42 Rb7 Ng5 43 Bc6 would oblige him to abandon the a-pawn at once. 42 Nc l Nh7 ! Preparing the counterplay. White now proceeds full-pace with his Q-side attack and allows the knight sacrifice . The variations thereafter are very difficult to calculate and he evidently did not appreciate just how dangerous the situation would be; Black, on the other hand, is forced to try the sacrifice or lose gradually on the Q-side. At this point White may prevent the counterplay in two ways: ( l ) 43 Nd3 Nhg5 44 Nf2 with a likely draw since attack and defence balance each other on both wings, the white rook and bishop being unable to achieve anything in combination. (2) 43 Bc2 (hoping for Nb3-a5 etc., if Black continues with 43 . . . Nhg5) Nf6 1 and White can either repeat by 44 Ba4 or play 44 Nb3 Nd7 45 Rc6 Nb8 46 ReS Rb7 when, however, the displacement of his rook has cost him all his advantage. 43 Bc6 Nhg5 Having permitted this move, White now has to make a choice between three continuations which vary, so to speak, in the extent to which they acknowledge the strength behind Black's attack. He may: ( l ) Ignore Black and go right ahead by exchanging rooks and seizing the a-pawn (the actual 80

5 0 N X a5 Kg5 5 1 Bc8 (or 5 1 Kf3 Nc3 and . . .e4 to follow) Kh4 with the winning threat of . . . Kg3, e.g. 52 Kf3 Ng5 + 53 Kf2 e4 54 Nb3 (or 54 Nb7 e3 + 55 Ke2 Kg3 56 N X d6 f3 + and wins) e3 + 55 Ke2 Kg3 56 a5 Ne4 1 57 a6 f3 + 58 K X e3 f2 59 a7 f 1 /Q 60 a8/Q Qf3 mate. 48 Kg2 may have been designed to prevent this king march, but of course his king is not well placed here to hold off the e-pawn. 48 . . .K£6 49 Nb3 N Xe4 50 N Xa5 Nd2 The best square, because it prevents the return of the white knight. The fact that both white pieces are now marooned beyond the pawn chain and their attempts to get back are the chief features of interest in the rest of the game. 5 1 Nc6 e4 52 K£2 Forced; if 52 a5 e3 53 a6 f3 + 54 Kg3 f2 55 a7 f l !Q and Black mates in three more moves. The position is now critical and Black goes wrong in the complications, but it is interesting to speculate on what he missed. 52 . . . N X c4 is clearly too slow against 53 a5, so the choice falls between 52 . . . Kg5, planning . . .£3 and . . .Kf4, and the more obvious 52 . . .e3 + . After 5 2 . . .e3 + 5 3 Ke2 we can assume that he saw the correct knight manoeuvre, viz. 53 . . .Nb3 !, to dislodge the king. If then 54 a5 N c l + 55 Kf3 (or 55 Ke 1 , Kd 1 or Kf l , f3 and . . . Nd3( + ) must win - the pawns are much too fast) e2 56 Kf2 f3 and wins with . . . Nd3 + . White has a better defensive try, however, by 54 Kf3, saving

the move played White wins the a-pawn, but allows a terrific attack. Analysis indicates that this was a wrong decision, which should have lost. the alternative being 46 Nd3, when Black does not have to sacrifice since his Q-side is now safe. However, if he does, we have 46 . . .N X f3 47 K X f3 Ng5 + 48 Ke2 (48 Kg2 permits the dangerous . . . Nd2 later) N X e4 and now 49 a3 (or 49 Nc l ) Kf6-g5 etc. would be too passive, so 49 Nf2, abandoning the third pawn. If then 49 . . . Nc3 + 50 Kd3 N X a2 5 1 Ne4 favours White, so the best is 49 . . . N X f2 50 K X f2 Kf6 (not 50 . . . e4? 5 1 g5 ! followed by Bc6-a4-c2, winning both pawns) 5 1 Kf3 with a likely draw as White dare not leave the passed pawns in order to penetrate via a4. 46 . . .N X£3 ! 47 K X£3 Ng5 + 48 Kg2 If 48 Ke2 N X e4 49 Nd3 Kf6 50 Nf2 N X f2 5 1 K X f2 e41 (Black is a tempo ahead this time) and White is in trouble, facing the threat of . . .Ke5-d4. If here 49 Nb3 Kf6 Diagram 3

81

a tempo; then 54 . . . N c l ( 5 4 . . .Nd4 + looks good, but after 55 N X d4 c X d4 56 c5! allows the bishop to take part again via a6) 55 g5 + 1 K X g5 56 Ne5 and the knight cannot be taken in view of (56 . . .d X e5) 57 d6 e2 58 Kf2 and the bishop now stops . . .f3; Black must then permit either d7 or a5 with fatal consequences. However, 56 . . . Kf5 !, threatening simply to take with the king, is good enough to win; 57 Ng4 is forced and then 57 . . .e2 58 Bc8 + Kg5 59 Kf2 f3 forces a pawn through . This fine point may well be what Geller over­ looked. 52 . . .Kg5(?) 53 aS If 53 Ne5? d X e5 54 d6 Kf6 55 a5 N X c4 56 a6 Ke6, ending up with four extra pawns, which would prove too strong for the bishop. Now Black again faces a bewildering maze of variations; his choice is between 53 . . .N X c4, 53 . . .e3 + and 53 . . .f3, and this time the wrong decision will be fatal. First of all the pawn grab will not suffice: 53 . . .N X c4 54 a6 Nb6 (54 . . .f3 transposes into the game, while 54 . . . e3 + 55 Kf3 Nb6 56 a7 c4 57 a8/Q N X a8 58 B X a8 followed by Nd4 wins for White, or if here 55 . . . Nd2 + 56 Ke2 Nc4 57 a7 Nb6 58 a8/Q N X a8 59 B X a8 K X g4 60 Ne5 + ! Kg3 6 1 Nf3 and wins, e.g. 6 1 . . .c4 62 Bc6 c3 63 Ba4 Kg4 64 Bc2 g5 65 Bg6 1 Zugzwang) 55 a7 and now: (a) 55 . . . K X g4 56 Ne5 + d X e5 57 d6 wins, or if 56 . . .Kf5 57 Nc4. (b) 55 . . .£3 56 Ne5 1 d X e5 57 d6 Kf6 (57 . . . Kf4 58 B X e4)

58 B X e4 Ke6 59 K X f3 K X d6 60 a8/Q and wins. (c) 55 . . .c4 56 a8/Q N X a8 57 B X a8 c3 58 Nd4 K X g4 59 Bc6 g5 60 Ba4 and wins, i.e. (i) 60 . . .£3 61 Bc2 Kf4 62 Ne6 + Kf5 63 Ke3 g4 64 B X e4 + Ke5 65 Nd4 f2 66 Nc6 + ; (ii) 60 . . . e3 + 6 1 Kg2 e2 (or 6 1 . . .Kh4 62 Kf3, with Ne2 coming) 62 Nf3 Kf5 63 Nd4 + and wins. It turns out that 53 . . . e3 + is correct, just as on the previous move, because Black has the same powerful knight manoeuvre available: 53 . . . e3 + 54 Ke2 Nb3 and now White must bring his knight back: 55 Ne5 1 (if 55 a6, Nc l + wins, as shown earlier) N X a5 (the knight cannot be taken; if 55 . . . d X e 5 56 d6 N X a5 57 Bd5 Kf6 58 g5 + is a very neat finish, while 56 . . . Nd4 + is no better in the long run, e.g. 57 Ke 1 f3 - or 57 . . .Kf6 58 d7 Ke7 59 a6 f3 60 B X f3 58 B X f3 N X f 3 + 59 Kd 1 Nd4 60 a6 Nc6 6 1 d7) and White has nothing better than 56 Nf7 + Kf6 57 N X d6 Ke5 (not 57 . . . Ke7? 58 Nc8 + Kd8 59 Ba6) 58 Nf7 + Kf6 59 Nd8. At this point 59 . . . Nb3 1 draws, but nothing else will do - if 59 . . . Ke7 or . . . Ke5 60 Nc6 + or if 59 . . . N X c4 60 Ne6. After 59 . . Nb3 60 Ne6 (or 60 d6 Nd4 + 6 1 Ke 1 f3 and White must sacrifice his bishop, leaving a draw) N c l + 6 1 Kf3 e2 62 Kf2 f3 63 N X c5 Ke5 1 64 d6 leads to a forced draw by 64 . . . K X d6 65 B X f3 etc. The move chosen loses because Black's threat of king penetration 82

Diagram 4

Diagram 5

has no real bite. (Presumably time­ trouble intervened here, the second control being at move 56.) 53 . . .f3? (Diagram 4) 54 Ne7 N Xc4 Clearly his only chance now. 55 a6 Nb6 56 Nc8 ! Much better than 56 a7 c4 57 Nc8 (57 a8/Q?? N X a8 58 B X a8 c3 and Black wins) c3 58 N X b6 c2 59 a8/Q c l !Q, when the win is by no means certain in view of the black queen's serious threats. 56 . . .c4 The king can't help now; if 56 . . .N X c8 57 B X c8 Kf4 58 a7 e 3 + 59 Ke 1 Kg3 60 Ba6 stops the pawns easily, or if 56 . . .Kf4 57 N X b6 e3 + 58 Ke 1 Kg3 59 Nc4(-d2). 57 N Xd6 ! 57 N X b6 would lead to the same problems as before. Instead he returns the piece to clear things up. 57 . . .Kf4 58 N Xe4 K Xe4

59 d6+ (Diagram 5) Ke5 Or 59 . . .Kf4, when 60 B X f3 is straightforward enough, i.e. 60 . . .c3 61 Ke2, abandoning his bishop because the pawns alone will beat the knight. However, 60 a7 is neater; after 60 . . .c3 61 a8/Q N X a8 62 d7 c2 63 d8/Q c 1 /Q 64 Qf6 + K X g4 65 B X f3 + , Black is mated. 60 K Xf3 K Xd6 6 1 a7 Ke5 62 Ke3{?) Odd that White should avoid the simple 62 a8/Q N X a8 63 B X a8, followed by Be4. However, he only extends the game by a few moves this way. 62 . . .c3 63 Bf3 Now he must be careful not to lose his last pawn by 63 a8/Q? N X a8 64 B X a8 c2 65 Kd2 Kf4. 63 . . . c2 64 Kd2 Kf4 65 Be2 NaB 66 K Xc2 Ke3 67 BaG Nc7 68 Bc8 Kf4 69 Kd3 1-0.

83

S. Rooks In the first four games technique predominates, chiefly in the exploitation of weak pawns. No. 23 is fascinating in that material is equal and White's pawns are confined to one side of the board . Black's position, while obviously inferior, does not seem to be fatally so; yet his two isolated pawns are sufficient disadvantage to lose the game. No. 24 received a prize for the best-played endgame in the tournament, while No. 25 had a decisive bearing on l st and 2nd places in a recent Olympiad. The latter is a good example of the difficulties of rook endings in practical play. Black should have drawn, but the perennial problem of whether to seek counterplay or remain on the defensive defeated him. The short extract Polugaevsky-Evans (No. 26) shows a great player getting into difficulties and finding a drawing resource which would probably never have occurred to the vast majority of players The three remaining games are of a sharper character. In No. 27 Black is more concerned with keeping his king in its aggressive position than in early material gains, while Nos. 28 and 29 must have been particularly nerve-wracking to play, with passed pawns appearing everywhere

GAME 22

White: Gurgenidze Black: Radev Tbilisi, l 97 1 Sicilian Defence that he is in no position to counter­ attack by getting his rook into an active role at the cost of the a-pawn,

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 Nc3 Nc6 4 Bb5 Nge7 5 0-0 a6 6 B Xc6 N Xc6 7 d4 c Xd4 8 N Xd4 Be7 9 N Xc6 b Xc6 10 e5 Qc7 1 1 Bf4 Bb7 12 Ne4 c5 13 Re 1 B Xe4 14 RXe4 Qb7 1 5 Ra4 0-0 16 b3 f6 17 Qe2 fXe5 18 B Xe5 Bf6 19 Rd 1 B Xe5 20 Q Xe5 Rf5 2 1 Qd6 Rd5 22 RXd5 Q Xd5 23 QXd5 e Xd5 24 Ra5 d6 (Diagram l ) A glance at the position indicates that White has a clear advantage on account of his active rook, which is tying down the enemy rook to the defence of the weak a-pawn. What is worse for Black is

Diagram 1

84

37 a X b5 Ke4 !) R X b4 37 R X a6 Rb2 + , drawing; (b) 35 Ra5 Rb 1 36 Kc3 Rc l + 37 Kb2 Rc6 38 Kb3 Ke4, and Black has his king actively supporting the passed pawn, which should enable him to draw. In this line Black must be patient at move 37. If 37 . . . Rb 1 38 g3 + Kf3 39 R X a6 Rb2 + 40 Kb3 R X h2 4 1 R X d6 K X g3 42 b5, White is left a long way ahead in the race to queen. Or, if 37 . . . Rb 1 38 g3 + Ke4 39 R X a6 d5 40 Ra7 Rb2 + 4 1 Kb3 d4 42 Re7 + Kd3 43 b5 etc., the cl-pawn does not give him enough counterplay. 29 f3 (of course not 29 g3? g4) h6 30 g3 Ra7 3 1 b4 There is no way of making progress without allowing Black's rook to come into a slightly more active position; if 3 1 a3, Black has 3 1 . . . Rb7 just the same. 3 1 . . . c Xb4 32 c Xb4 Rb7 33 a3 Rb6 34 f4 + ! g Xf4 35 g Xf4+ K Xf4 (or 35 . . .Ke6 36 Kd4 etc.) 36 RXd5 (Diagram 2) Now we see the difference

since White has not a trace of weakness in his game. The technique in such cases is to use the power of the active rook to create more weaknesses in the enemy camp, and then to switch attacks from one weakness to the other until the defence cracks. First of all the kings are centralised. 25 Kfl It has been suggested that 25 c3 would be better, because the text move allows 25 . . . d4. It seems, however, that the black pawns would then be at least as weak, for example 26 Ke2 Kf7 27 Kd3 Ke6 28 a3 Kd5 29 b4 Kc6 30 b X c 5 d X c5 3 1 Kc4 winning a pawn. 25 . . .Kf7 26 c3 KeG 27 Ke2 Ke5 If he goes across to the Q-side to support his c-pawn, White gets a winning pawn ending: 27 . . .Kd7 28 b4 Kc6 29 b5 + Kb6 30 R X a6 + R X a6 3 1 b X a6 K X a6 32 f4 and the widely separated passed pawns win easily. 28 Kd3 g5 This only results in a further weakening of the position, since he cannot hope to hold up the white pawns permanently. The best chance was to remain passive for a few moves until the right oppor­ tunity occurred to activate his rook, viz. 28 . . . Ra7 29 b4 c X b4 30 c X b4 Rb7 3 1 a3 Rb6 32 f4 + K X f4 33 R X d5 Rc6 3:;fa4 Re 1 1 (not 34 . . . Rb6 35 b5 a X b5 36 a X b5 g5 37 g3 + Kg4 38 Kc4 and the black rook is hopelessly passive) and now: (a) 35 Kd2 Rb 1 36 R X d6 (or 36 b5 a X b5

Diagram 2

85

point in the game, as Black finally decides to abandon passive defence and activates his rook. A glance at his alternatives indicates that this is by far his best hope. If 45 . . . Rb6 46 a5! Rb8 (or 46 . . .Rc6? 47 Rc3 winning at once, or 46 . . . Rb5 47 Rd3 d5 48 Rd4 and Black is completely tied up - the white king will penetrate via f4) 47 Rd3 Rd8 48 Rd4 1 d5 49 b5 a X b5 50 Kb4 with an easy win. If instead 45 . . . d5 46 b5 a X b5 47 a X b5 Rd6 48 Kb4 d4 49 Kc5 Rd8 50 Rd3 and wins. 46 b5 a Xb5 47 a Xb5 d5! Black is still fighting; he now proposes to answer 48 Kb4 by 48 . . .Rc4 + 49 Ka5 d4 50 b6 (or 50 Rd3 Rc3 5 1 R X d4 R X h3 52 Rb4 Ra3 + and draws) Rc3 5 1 b7 R X f3 52 b8/Q R X h3 with good drawing chances . In view of this, White is obliged to pick up the d-pawn first, which of course allows the black king access to his h-pawn. 48 Rd3 K£4 The manoeuvre mentioned in the last note is not now available. If 48 . . . Rc5 49 Kb4 Rc4 + 5 0 Ka5 d 4 5 1 b 6 Rc3 52 R X d4 R X h3 53 b7 wins. 49 RXd5 Kg3 50 Rd3 + Kh2 5 1 Kb2! (Diagram 3) It is a curious paradox of rook endings that the more the material is reduced, the more difficult the analysis seems to become ! White's last move appears to be the only one to win, and if Black had found the most tenacious defence, his opponent would still have had to play with extreme accuracy. If 5 1 Kb4 Rb 1 + 52 Ka5 Ra 1 + ,

between this position and the previous analysis. The scattered nature of the black pawns is far more serious here than it would be in a knight or bishop ending, because the white rook is ideally suited to switch its attacks from one black pawn to another. It can also defend its own h-pawn from the black king without cramping itself. Black's only trump is his well­ placed king, and whether this factor should have been sufficient to hold the game the following analysis will attempt to show. Certainly the task was too difficult in practice. 36 . . .Kg4 Stopping 37 Rh5. A more active defence with 36 . . . Rc6 would give rise to the following variations: (a) 37 Rh5 Rc l 38 R Xh6 Ra l 39 R X d6 R X a3 + 40 Kc4 and White should win; (b) 37 a4 Rc 1 38 b5 a X b5 39 a X b5 Rb 1 40 Kc4 and wins again. Black's best chance of counterplay lies in advancing his h-pawn as far as possible and then threatening to win White's. 37 Kc4 h5 38 a4 h4 39 Rd3 Rc6 + 39 . . . d5 + can be answered simply by 40 Kc5, or 40 R X d5 Kh3 4 1 Rd2 Rg6 42 b5 a X b5 43 aXb5; if then 43 . . . Rg2, White wins with queen vs. h-pawn on the sixth rank. 40 Kd5 Rb6 4 1 h3+ K£4 42 Rb3 ! F arcing Black to move his king one square further back, before embarking on the next manoeuvre. 42 . . .K£5 43 R£3 + Kg5 44 Kc4 Rc6 + 45 Kb3 Re 1 This is another important turning 86

59 Re2 Rb7 and White can do nothing; (b) 52 Rb3 Rb8, with transposition; (c) 52 Kb3 Rc l with repetition. The point of 52 Ka3 1 is that White approaches his pawn, leaving b3 vacant for the rook at the precise moment when Black is neither attacking the b-pawn not threatening to start checking from behind. Best play then would be: 52 . . . Rb8 (or 52 . . . Rc 1 53 Rb3 Ra 1 + 54 Kb4 with a similar position) 53 Kb4 Kg2 54 Rb3 Kh2 55 Kc5 ReS + 56 Kd6 Rb8 57 Kc6 ReS + 58 Kb7 and White wins easily as his king can now support the pawn right through to queen. 52 b6 RbS + If 5 2 . . . ReS 5 3 b 7 Rb8 5 4 Rb3, the position is comparable to line (a) in the note to Black's 5 1 st move. Black now loses after 54 . . .Kg2 55 Kc2 Kh2 56 Kd2 because his king must stay in contact with the h-pawn (otherwise White's king can afford to cross the third rank) and he therefore loses the opposition ! Thus: 56 . . .Kg2 57 Ke2 ReS + 58 Kd3 Rb8 59 Ke4 and wins by advancing to c6 or even by picking up the h-pawn. 53 Rb3 RXb6 54 RXb6 K Xh3 55 Kc3 Kg2 56 Rg6 + Kh2 (56 . . . Kf2 57 Rh6) 57 Kd3 h3 58 Ke3 Kh 1 59 K£2 h2 60 Kg3 Kg l 61 RaG h l/N + The only move, but this is a stan­ dard position and White wins the knight almost at once. 62 K£3 Kh2 63 Rg6 1-0.

Diagram 3

White's king will never be able to escape the checks without using his rook, and will thus lose his h-pawn in a position where he will be too far away to stop Black drawing. He therefore vacates b 3 for his rook, while driving the black rook out of its aggressive position. 5 1 . . .ReS This can hardly be called a mistake, because the other defence, 5 1 . . . ReS, also loses. In that case, however, White would have to find the one winning move, 52 Ka3 1 Alternatives only draw, as the following lines indicate: (a) 52 b6 Rb8 53 Rb3 Rb7 54 Kc2 (or 54 Ka3 R X b6 55 R X b6 K X h3 and White is a tempo behind the game continuation and can only draw after 56 Kb3 Kg2 57 Rg6 + Kh2 58 Kc3 h3 59 Kd3 Kh 1 60 Ke2 h2, with Stalemate if he approaches nearer) Kg2 55 Kd2 Kh2 56 Ke2 Kg2 57 Ke 1 Kg 1 58 Rb2 Re7 +

87

GAME 23

White : Karpov Black: Hort W addinxveen, 1 979 Queens Indian Defence a real asset, forcing the enemy piece to the edge of the board to keep it under control. 2) Since Black cannot utilise his a-pawn, the ending is almost equivalent to rook +4 vs. rook + 3 pawns on the same side of the board. This is normally a difficult draw for the defender, but only if his position has no weaknesses Here the isolation of his e-pawn naturally makes things worse for him 27 . . .Rea 27 . . .Kf7 is no improvement: 28 Ra3 Ra8 29 Ra6 1 (better than Ra5, as is soon played in the game, because, with his rook behind the pawn, Black would have 29 . . . a6 with a slight space gain and some tempo moves available - Ra7 -a8 etc ) Ke7 30 Kf3 etc. 2a Ra3 Re7 29 Ra5 ! Now a5 is preferred for two reasons ( l ) White threatens to advance his king to the dominating square e5, when the pressure would leave Black almost para­ lysed; the rook at a5 thus prevents a disturbing check at b5 or c5. (2) The rook is ready to support White's K-side pawn advance, which will create further weaknesses among the black pawns, or possibly drive the king back, should he settle at f6 . 29 . . . K£7 30 h4 h6 Already a critical decision; any pawn move will obviously weaken him, but he really has little choice . First of all, counter-attack by Black is most unlikely to be effective in

1 c4 N£6 2 N£3 e6 3 Nc3 c5 4 g3 b6 5 Bg2 Bb7 6 0-0 d5 7 c Xd5 N Xd5 a d4 N X c3 9 b Xc3 Nd7 10 Re 1 c Xd4 1 1 c Xd4 Bb4 12 Bg5 £6 13 Bd2 B Xd2 14 Q Xd2 Rea 1 5 Qd3 Qe7 16 Rac 1 0-0 17 Ng5 £ Xg5 1a B Xb7 Nc5 19 d Xc5 Q Xb7 20 Qe3 RXc5 21 RXc5 b Xc5 22 Rc 1 Qd5 23 RXc5 Q Xa2 24 RXg5 Qb 1 + 25 Kg2 Qb6 26 ReS Q Xe3 27 RXe3 (Diagram l ) Two general points about this ending: l ) The isolation of the two black pawns and the defensive burden which this places on his rook is what counts here. The fact that his a-pawn is passed is of no signifi­ cance, since it can never be put to use. In a knight ending the roles would be reversed and Black would stand better; his a-pawn could not come under constant pressure, as here, and would be Diagram 1

88

view of White's compact pawn structure, so he must simply defend as best he can. Secondly, his choice is therefore between (a) making no pawn move on the K-side; (b) playing only . . .h6 to restrain the white advance; (c) playing . . . g6 (or . . . g6 + . . .h6 as in the game) which allows White to break up his formation by h5. If he makes no pawn move, we have something like: 30 . . .Rb7 3 1 K£3 Kf6 32 g4 Rc7 (32 . . . e5 33 Ra6 + K£7 34 g5, followed by Ke4 and wins) 33 Kf4 Rb7 34 h5 Rc7 35 g5 + Kf7 36 Ke5 Rb7 (36 . . . Rc2 37 R X a7 + K£8 38 e4 R X £2 39 K X e6 and mates ! If instead 36 . . .Ke7 37 f4 Rb7 38 e4 Rc7 39 Rb5 Rd7 40 Rb8 and Rh8, or if here 39 . . . a6 40 Rb6 Rc5 + 4 1 Kd4 Ra5 42 Rb7 + K£8 43 h6 g X h6 44 g X h6 Kg8 45 Rg7 + Kh8 46 Re7 etc ) 37 f4 Rc7 38 e4 Rb7 39 Ra6 Re7 (39 . . . Rb5 + 40 Kd6 Rb7 4 1 Kc6 is very similar) 40 Kd6 Rb7 4 1 e5 Re7 42 g6 + h X g6 43 h X g6 + Ke8 44 Ra 1 Kd8 45 Rb l and wins. The power which White can generate here, simply by advancing his king and pawns, is very striking and he appears to win almost effortlessly. It also matters little whether Black keeps his a-pawn or not; it is the square a7 itself which is vital in the above variations, at least after the first few moves. Black's decision to restrain the pawns is thus fully justified. 3 1 g4 Kf6 32 f4 Another point of . . .h6; if 32 K£3 g5 and, although Black

Diagram 2

appears to have weakened himself further, his king cannot be dislodged from £6. White will then find it impossible to make the required space gains. 32 Rb7 Waiting; if 32 . . . e5 33 £5, planning the further Ra6 and Kf3-e4, when Black's pawn centre is looking very ill . If here 33 . . .e4 34 Kg3(-f4) and in the end he will not escape. 33 Kf3 Rc7 (Diagram 2) 34 RaG Of course, if 34 Ke4 Rc4 + etc. The old plan of heading straight for e5 with the king will not do, now that he cannot go via £4. Alternatively, if 34 g5 + h X g5 35 h X g 5 + Ke7 36 Ke4 his winning chances are drastically reduced with the disappearance of the chief target in Black's position, viz. the h-pawn. Compare the note to Black's 30th move. The right plan in outline is to play h5 and g5 and, after . . .h X g5, to recapture with the £-pawn. Then Black's remaining pawns will still be isolated and White will now have a potential passed h-pawn. If Black declines to capture at g5, he .

89

.

.

will be left with a weak h-pawn after White exchanges. White could well have continued 34 h5 at once, but 34 Ra6 does no harm and in playing it he is thinking about another possibility - f5 . This move works in some variations but in others it allows premature exchanges and an easy draw for Black. As in many such positions, the play on the extreme wing (h5 + g5) is more effective than a central attack (f5), the defence being further stretched. 34 . . .g6 Black is perhaps too impressed by the threat of f5. His position is most likely lost anyway, but another K -side weakness cannot help him. He could play another waiting move, 34 . . . Rb7, when 35 f5? is bad because of 35 . . . Rb6 36 R X a7 e X £5 37 g X f5 K X f5 38 R X g7 Rb4. White can scarcely hope to win from this position, with the pawns reduced in number, play confined to one side of the board and his own h-pawn vulnerable. If White delays a move, say 35 e3, Black may retreat his king or continue to tempt his opponent into f5, e.g. 35 . . . Rc7 36 f5? Re7 37 f X e6 R X e6 38 R X a7 Rb6 and again the winning chances are slim. Trying to capture the a-pawn is in any case the wrong approach; White's only winning plan is to rely on the momentum of his pawn advance. After 34 . . . Rb7 the right way is 35 h5 Rc7 36 Ra5 Rb7 37 g5 +, and then: (i) 37 . . .h X g5 38 f X g 5 + Kf7 39 Kf4 Rc7 40 e4 Rb7 4 1 g6 + Ke7 (4 1 . . .Kf6 42 e5 + is no better) 42 Kg5 Kf8

Djagram 3

(42 . . . Rb 1 43 R X a7 + Kf8 44 Rf7 + Kg8 45 Re7 wins) 43 h6 g X h6 + 44 K X h6 Kg8 45 Rc5 Rb8 46 Rc7 a5 47 Rg7 + K£8 48 Rh7 Kg8 49 g7 and wins. (This final position would be drawn, if Black could have cleared the third rank for a rook check during moves 44-46, but there is no reason why the pawn sacrifice . . .e5 should save him in the long run.) (ii) 37 . . . Kf7 38 e4 Rc7 39 Kg4 Rb7 40 Ra6 Rc7 4 1 g X h6 g X h6 42 f5; now neither 42 . . .e X f5 + 43 K X f5 Kg7 44 Rg6 + Kh7 45 e5, nor 42 . . . Re7 43 f X e6 + R X e6 44 R X a7 + Kg8 (44 . . . Kf6 45 Kf4 1 and then either Rh7 or Ra6 + and Rg6 as before) 45 Kf5 Rb6 46 e5 Kf8 47 e6 Rb 1 48 Kg6 will save Black. The difference between these positions and those discussed in the first part of this note is, of course, the greatly increased activity of the white pieces. 35 Ra5 Rd7 36 e3 Rb7 37 h5 90

(Diagram 3) 37 g5 + 7 would be much weaker; Black must be left with isolated pawns as far apart as possible. 37 . . .g5 After 37 . . . g X h5 38 RXh5 his game soon falls apart, e.g. 38 . . . Kg6 39 Ke4 Rb6 (or 39 . . .Rb4 + 40 Ke5 Rb5 + 4 1 K X e6 R X h5 42 g X h5 + and wins with the £-pawn) 40 Ra5 a6 4 1 Ke5 Rc6, and now the best plan is to make two connected passed pawns, i.e. 42 e4 K£7 (or 42 . . . Rb6 43 Rc5 ! K£7 44 Rc7 + Kg6 45 £5 + , winning easily) 43 £5 Rb6 44 K£4! (not 44 Rc5 Rb5 ! 45 R X b5 a X b5 46 Kd4 e X £5 47 e X £5 K£6 48 Kc5 h5 and draws) Rc6 ( 44 . . . K£6 45 Rc5 K£7 46 Rc7 + K£8 is worse) 45 Ra 1 , and the threat of 46 Rh 1 Kg7 4 7 Ke5 soon forces Black to make the pawn exchange : 45 . . e X £5 46 g X £5 Rb6 47 Rc 1 a5 48 Rc7 + K£8 49 Ra7 Rb5 50 £6, and Black is quite lost. If Black does nothing, the same position arises anyway; hence the

text move. 38 Ra6 Not yet threatening 39 £5, since the resource 39 . . . Rb6 1 is still available, but with the move Black must relinquish the threat, e.g. 38 . . . Rc7 39 £5 Re7 40 e4 K£7 ( 40 . . .Ke5 41 Ke3 K£6 transposes) 4 1 Ke3 K£6 42 Kd4 Rd7 + 4 3 Kc5 Re7 4 4 Kd6 e X £5 45 Kd5 + and 46 g X £5. If 38 . . . K£7 39 £5 Re7 40 e4 amounts to the same thing, while a. pawn exchange a.t £5 in any of the variations leaves White with two united passed pawns and Black with a terribly weak h-pawn. However, White should avoid, if possible, lines such as 38 . . . Rc7 39 £5 Re7 40 fXe6 R X e6 4 1 R X a7 Rb6 42 Rh7 Ke5 43 Rg7 Rb 1 , when there is no guarantee of a win. Everything must be prepared before he can safely win material. In view of this Black exchanges, when the white pawn roller becomes dangerous again. 38 . . .g X£4 39 e X £4 Rb3 + 40 Kg2 Rb7 He cannot abandon the a.-pawn, to keep White's king cut off, because after 40 . . . Rc3 4 1 R X a.7 his h-pa.wn can scarcely be saved. 41 Kg3 Kf7 42 Ra4 Because 42 Kh4 Rb4 43 R X a7 + Kg8 44 Kg3 Rb3 + would be very awkward . Likewise 42 g5 h X g5 43 f X g5 Rb3 + would be premature. 42 . . .Kg7 43 g5 (Diagram 4) Black has three options now: ( l ) To exchange pawns and hope to hold the two passed pawns with his king; (2) To sit tight and oblige White to find a break-through

Diagram 4

91

winning scheme is g6 + combined with Rb8 and ReS, for example: 46 . . . Rd7 47 g6 + Kg7 48 Rb8 Rc7 (or 48 . . . a5 49 Ra8 Rd5 50 Ra7 + Kf8 5 1 Ra6 Ke7 52 Ra8 Kf6 53 Ra7 e5 54 Rf7 + ) 49 ReS, and if 49 . . Kf6 50 Rh8 a5 5 1 Ra8 ! (5 1 R X h6 a4 52 Rh8 Ra7 is less good) Rc5 52 Ra7 and wins. 47 Rb8 Rc l He may as well try counter-attack now, though the checks do not trouble White much. 48 g6+ Kg7 49 Rb7+ Kf8 50 Rb6 Rg l + 5 1 Kf3 Rf l + 52 Ke4 Re l + 53 Kd4 Attacking the h-pawn is useless for Black, since the loss of his e-pawn allows White the two deadly passed pawns again. Also, further checks now would simply drive the king to f6. 53 . . .Ke7 54 RXa6 Winning material for the first time, only three moves from the end I 54 . . .Kf6 55 Ra7 e5 + ! Quite a neat trap in the desperate circumstances; White can still go wrong. 56 f Xe5 + RXe5 57 RaG + ! 1-0. But not 57 Rf7 +? Ke6 58 Re7 + K X e7 59 K X e5 Kf8 and the ending is drawn 60 Kf6 Kg8 6 1 g7 Kh7 etc. Nor can White improve things after the first check; if 58 Rf l R X h5 59 Rg 1 Rg5 is a simple draw. After the text move 57 . . . Re6 is met by 58 g7, or if 57 . . . Kf5 58 g7 ReS (or 58 . . . Re4 + 59 Kd3 Rg4 60 Rg6) 59 R X h6 Rg8 60 Rg6 and wins.

Diagram 5

somehow; (3) To break up the white pawns by an immediate . . . e5. If he exchanges, the plan is to attack the e-pawn, e.g. 43 . . . h X g5 44 f X g5 Kh7 45 Kf4 Kg7 46 Ra5 Rf7 + 47 Ke4 Rb7 (Black keeps getting short of moves; 4 7 . . . Kg8 48 g6 forces him to give way and permit Ke5) 48 Ke5 Kf7 (48 . . .Re7 49 Ra6) 49 g6 + and wins. 43 . . . e5 is answered by 44 f X e5 h X g5 45 Kg4 Re7 (or 45 . . .Kh6 46 Ra6 + Rb6 47 R X b6 + a X b6 48 e6 Kg7 49 h6 + and wins) 46 Kf5 Kh6 (46 . . .Kf7 47 h6 and he must allow the decisive Kf6) 47 Kf6 Rb7 48 Rg4 ! and wins. Black decides to wait: 43 . . .Rc7 44 Ra5 Kg8 45 Rb5 Kf7 46 Kg4 (Diagram 5) a6 Reluctantly, since the black rook will now have to guard this pawn as well as covering the second rank. However, if he continues to make non-committal moves, the

92

GAME 24

White: Andersson Hastings, 1 98 1 -2

Black: Rivas Queen's Gambit Dechned rooks present he will be reluctant to weaken his second rank by playing g3; yet without that the £-pawn will remain exposed. Nor can he easily break the pin on the h2-b8 diagonal. After 30 . . .bX c5, 3 1 Rc4 and 3 1 Ra4 may both be met com­ fortably by 3 1 . . .Rd4 !, while 3 1 Re7 Rd3 ! 32 Q X d3 Q X e7 also leaves Black quite happy (if 33 Qc4 or 33 Qa6, then 33 . . . Qc7). Here 3 1 . . . Rd4 is rather less clear; White could try 32 Rg3 Rd X£4 (32 . . .Rg8 33 Qe5, which leads to something like the ending reached in the game) 33 Re X g7, with the further threat of 34 R7g6. 3 1 Q Xc5 b X c5 32 Re7 White's advantage hes in the simple fact that his rooks are already in action; he can attack the a-, c- and g-pawns before Black can attack his. Since Black dare not permit the loss of the g-pawn (see next note),

1 c4 N£6 2 N£3 e6 3 d4 d5 4 Bg5 Be7 5 e3 0-0 6 Nc3 h6 7 Bh4 Ne4 8 B Xe7 QXe7 9 Re i c6 10 Bd3 N Xc3 1 1 RXc3 d Xc4 12 RXc4 Nd7 13 0-0 e5 14 d Xe5 N Xe5 15 Re4 NX£3 + 16 Q X£3 BeG 17 Bc4 Rad8 18 B Xe6 £ Xe6 19 Qe2 Rd5 20 b4 Qd6 21 Qc4 Kh8 22 h3 e5 23 £4 e X£4 24 e X£4 Rd2 25 R£2 Rd 1 + 26 Kh2 Q£6 27 Qc5 b6 28 Qe3 Qd6 29 R£3 (Diagram 1 ) The isolated e-pawn which appeared at move 1 8 was no real burden to Black; it could not conveniently be brought under fire and was actually depriving the wbite pieces of certain useful squares in the centre . Andersson therefore exchanged it off within a few moves and now plans Re7 plus Rg3. However, that will require some preparation, and if Black remains reasonably active he has nothing to fear at this stage. 29 . . .c5 30 b X c5 Q X c5(?) 30 . . .b X c5 was perfectly sound; Black's pieces are aggressively placed, he controls a central file and he has a passed pawn, all of which far outweighs the fact that he has two isolated pawns against White's one. However, the exchange of queens is a mistake which leaves White with a strong endgame initiative. Black needs his queen for the time being, to make his threats against the £-pawn effective . This pawn is quite a nuisance to White; with queens and

Diagram 1

93

one of his rooks is bound to be driven into a passive position. Initiative is the vital thing. It is not especially important that Black has one more isolated pawn than White. In fact, in the absence of White's aggressive possibilities the passed c-pawn would be a force to be reckoned with; here it is just another weakness. 32 . . .Rd4 He must hit the £-pawn again. If 32 . . .a5 33 Rg3 RgS 34 Ra7 wins a pawn at once. If 32 . . .a6 33 Rg3 RgS 34 Rg6 does the same. Nor can Black abandon the g-pawn: 32 . . . a6 33 Rg3 R X £4 34 RgX g7 and the doubled rooks on the seventh are bound to lead to a win. One line would be 34 . . . R£2 3 5 Rh7 + KgS 36 Reg7 + KfS 37 Ra7 KgS 3S Rhc7, already winning at least a pawn. 33 Rg3 Rg8 34 £5 Of course, White must keep this pawn to have any winning chances. 34 R X a7? R X £4 35 Rc7 (or 35 Ra5 ReS; or 35 Rc3 ReS) 35 . . . Ra4 36 a3 c4 37 Rc3 RgaS would be useless. Diagram 2

Furthermore, the £-pawn has some aggressive potential of its own; its advance to f6 is what finally clinches the game. 34 . . .Rf4 35 Rf7 (Diagram 2) a5 ! The right move to hold the position. 35 . . . Ra4 perhaps looks more natural, the chief point of interest being that, although Black must not allow a doubling of rooks on the seventh rank, he can cheerfully permit f6 to be played. If (35 . . . Ra4) 36 Rg6 R X a2 37 f6 c4, White can make no progress in any of the following lines : (a) 3S RgX g7 R X g7 39 R X g7 R£2; (b) 3S Rg X g7 R X g7 39 fX g7 + KgS; (c) 3S RfX g7 R X g7 39 f X g7 + KgS; (d) 3S f X g7 + Kh7 39 Rg4 c3 (e) 3S Rc7 Rf2 39 f X g7 + Kh7; (f) 3S Kg3 g X £6 ! etc. In many of these variations the best White can hope for is rook & two pawns against rook & one pawn on the same side of the board - useless for winning purposes. However, after 35 . . . Ra4 simply 36 a3 leads to problems for Black on account of his passive rook at gS: - 36 . . .c4 (otherwise White wins a pawn by 37 Rc7 and if 37 . . .Ra5 3S Rc3) 37 Rc7 (37 Rc3 ReS !) Ra5 3S R£3 RfS 39 g4, and Black will lose a pawn (39 . . .Ra4 40 Rc3). He can look for counterplay by either 39 . . . h5 40 R X c4 h X g4 4 1 h X g4, or 39 . . .RbS 40 R X c4 Rb2 + 4 1 Kg3 Ra2; but there is no clear compensation. In this last line 42 £6 1 is now quite powerful and much better than the passive move 42 Rcc3: - 42 £6 g X £6 94

43 R X f6 R2 X a3 + 44 Kh4 Kg7 (44 . . . Ra6 45 Rf7) 45 Rd6 with excellent winning chances . 36 Rg6 c4? The defence is extremely difficult. 35 . . .Ra4 was best avoided, as we have seen, because 36 a3 was an adequate reply and because one white rook remains tied up, while the black one is at f4. But as soon as White activates his second rook he deprives himself of the a3 defence and, at the same time, his own threats to the Q-side pawns become more than Black can cope with by purely defensive moves. Therefore 36 . . .Ra4 ! is necessary. Then, with the loss of his a-pawn, a direct attack is White's only hope i-­ of achieving anything; but 37 f6 is still inadequate, e.g. 37 . . .R X a2 38 RfX g7 R X g7 39 f X g7 + Kg8 40 R X h6 K X g7. This is about the best that White can do, and in some positions two united passed pawns would win against two disconnected ones. Here, though, in spite of White's aggressive rook position, Black has the advantage of the more advanced pawns and his own rook is also well-placed; so there is no reason why he should lose. One possible continuation is : 4 1 Rc6 Rc2 42 Ra6 (or 42 Kg3 c4 43 Kf3 c3 44 g4 Re 1 45 Ke2 c2 46 Kd2 Rh 1 ) Ra2 43 Kg3 c4 44 Kf3 c3 45 Rc6 c2, drawing easily. In most cases at least one pair of pawns will be indirectly exchanged; if anything, it is White who has to be careful. 37 Rc6 ! Andersson has managed to keep his rooks very flexible and has retained several options . He can

attack both Q-side pawns from behind, double against the c-pawn or double on the seventh rank, all within one move. He avoids 37 Ra6 on account of 37 . . . ReS 38 Raa7 (38 Kg3 c3 1) c3 39 R X g7 (39 Rac7 Rc4) c2 40 Rh7 + Kg8 4 1 Rag7+ Kf8 42 Rh8 + K X g7 43 R X c8 R X f5 44 R X c2 Rf41(-a4) and White's winning chances are remote - his rook will be passive at c2 and he has two rook pawns. 37 . . .Rf2 A better chance appears to be 37 . . .Ra8, because some obvious attempts by White to win material can be foiled. The a-pawn is momentarily safe, and although 38 Rcc7 forces the rook back by 38 . . .Rg8, the direct follow-up 39 Ra7 abandons the c-file for a move (unlike the game continuation). Thus : 39 . . . c31 40 R X a5 Rc8, as shown in the last note; or if 40 Rcc7 Ra4 etc. 38 Kg3, forcing the rook to abandon its attack on the £-pawn, is an obvious improvement; but then 38 . . . Rd4 39 Rac7 Rg8 40 Ra7 c3 is still no good. Nor does 39 Rfc7 R£8 1 40 Rc5 a4 solve anything. Best seems to be 38 Kg3 Rd4 39 Rcc7 Rg8 40 K£3 1, leaving Black tied up, in fact with very few decent moves. White has now g4 available, both to cover the £-pawn and in some circumstances even to start an attack with h4, g5 and g6; also £6 can now be played, with the king removed from the g-file. For example, 40 . . .Rd2 4 1 a4 Rc2 42 £6 c3 43 R X g7 R X g7 44 R X g7 Rc 1 45 Ke2 ! c2 (45 . . .Rg1 46 Rg3 c2 47 £7) 95

46 Rc7 Kg8 (46 . . . Rg 1 47 Rc8 + Kh7 48 f7) 47 Kd2 Rf l (47 . . .Rg 1 48 Rg7 + and 49 K X c2) 48 f7 + and wins. If Black checks at move 40, a transposition is the most likely outcome - 40 . . . Rd3 + 4 1 Ke2 Rg3 42 Kf2 Rc3 43 a4 Rc2 + etc. 38 a4 R£4 If 38 . . . Rc2 39 Ra7. 39 Kg3 Rd4 40 Ra7 (Diagram 3) This now wins a pawn by force. If 40 . . .Rd5 4 1 Kf4 and then : (a) 4 1 . . .Rf8 42 g4 Rd4 + 43 Ke5 Rd3 4 4 R X a5 R X h3 45 R X c4; or (b) 4 1 . . .Rd4 + 42 Ke5 Rd2 43 g4 Re8 + 44 Kf4. Black loses at least a pawn every time, or if he tries too hard in this last variation, the game could finish abruptly - 44 . . .Rd4 + 45 Kg3 Re3 + (or 45 . . .Re5 46 Ra8 + Kh7 47 Rcc8) 46 Kh4 Rdd3 47 Kh5 R X h3 + (47 . . . Kh7 48 R X h6 +) 48 Kg6 Rd8 49 R X g7 and wins quickly. 40 . . .Rb8 4 1 RXa5 Rd3 + 42 Kh2 Playing safe with the king, since the rooks do not need his assistance to force a decision. Black's only hope in the remainder is to exchange his c-pawn for the a-pawn, leaving only a draw with the other pawns confined to one side. But White avoids this by returning to the attack. 42 . . . c3 43 Rc7! Not 43 Rac5? Ra8 44 a5 (or 44 Rc8 + R X c8 45 R X c8 + Kh7 and the Q-side pawns will be eliminated) c2 45 R X c2 (45 a6 Ra3) R X a5 46 Rc8 + Kh7 4 7 Rf8 Rdd5 48 g4 Rac5

Diagram 3

49 Re2 Re5 etc., and White cannot double on the eighth. Now 44 Rac7 Rg8 45 a5 is threatened. 43 . . .RfB 44 Rb5 Not 44 Rac7? R X f5 45 R X g7 Rc5 46 Rgb7 Rc8, when even the double seventh will not suffice to win and White will have to take perpetual check (47 Rc7 R X c7 48 R X c7 Rd4 etc. only draws). Black is now getting rather desperate, with one rook tied to the c-pawn and the other covering his back rank against mating attacks. His next move is designed to cut out the danger to his king, but naturally results in a new weakness. 44 . . .h5 45 aS R£6 The rook cannot cope with everything: 45 . . . Ra8 46 f6 1 amounts to the same thing. Now 46 RbB + Kh7 47 RccB Kh6 is no use; but it is by constantly switching the direction of his threats that White can break his opponent's resistance. 46 Rbc5 Threatening simply 47 R X c3 R X c3 48 R X c3 R X f5 96

49 Ra3, and thus forcing the reply. 46 . . .RaG 47 £6! RX£6 47 . . .g X £6 is at least as bad 48 R X h5 + Kg8 49 Rb5 Ra8 50 a6 c2 5 1 a7 1 c l /Q (or 5 1 . . . Rdd8 52 Rbc5, winning the pawn) . 52 Rb8 + Rd8 53 R X d8 + R X d8 54 R X c 1 etc. 48 RXh5 + Kg8 Or 48 . . . Rh6 49 R X h6 + g X h6 50 a6. 49 Rhe5 ! Accurate again; g7 is the target, but 49 Rg5 R£7 is less clear. 49 . . .RaG 50 Rg5 (Diagram 4) K£8 If 50 . . . g6 5 1 Rb5, as above. White now uses mating threats to win the c-pawn directly. 5 1 Rg Xg7 R Xa5 52 Rh7 Or 52 Rb£7 + Ke8 53 Rb7 K£8

GAME 25

Diagram 4

54 Rgc7 Ra8 55 Rb3, which is one move shorter than the game. 52 . . .Kg8 53 Reg7+ K£8 54 Rb7 Kg8 55 Rhe7 Rf5 56 Rb3 R£2 1-0.

White: Karpov Black: Jakobsen Malta Olympiad, 1 980 Queen's Gambit Declined

1 d4 d5 2 e4 e6 3 Ne3 Be7 4 Nf3 N£6 5 Bg5 0-0 6 e3 Nbd7 7 Re 1 a6 8 e5 Ne4

9 N Xe4 d Xe4 10 B Xe7 Q Xe7 1 1 Nd2 Nf6 12 Ne4 Bd7 13 Ne5 Qe8 14 Be4 BeG 15 Qe2 Bd5 16 0-0 B Xe4 17 N Xe4 Qe6 18 Ne5 Qd5 19 b3 Rad8 20 Qe2 e6 2 1 Ne4 Ne8 22 Qe2 Qf5 23 Red 1 h6 24 a4 Qh7 25 b4 f5 26 Qb3 Ne7 27 f3 f4 28 eXf4 RX£4 29 Nd6 e Xf3 30 RX£3 Nd5 3 1 RX£4 N X£4 32 Rf l Qd3 33 Q Xd3 N Xd3 (Diagram 1 ) In playing through this ending, the reader should bear in mind the tense circumstances in which it took place. This was the last crucial game to finish, the Hungarians having reached 39 points and the

Diagram 1

97

a little and planning Kf3-e4-e5, without allowing the knight fork at c3, the attack on the e-pawn being the only way to make any progress . 37 . . . Ne7 Correctly aiming for an exchange of knights . Another perfectly good defensive scheme is to play his king to e7, to keep out the white one; then the exchange of knights saves Black because the white cl-pawn is exposed: 37 . . . Kf8 38 Kf3 (38 Rf3 + Kg8 and the rook must return to b3) Ke7 39 h3 Nf6 40 Kf4 Ne8 (not 40 . . Nd5 + 4 1 Ke5 Nf6 42 Rg3 Nh5 43 Rg6 and wins) 4 1 N X e8 K X e8 42 Ke5 Ke7, followed by 43 . . . Rd5 +, or even 42 . . .Rd5 + 43 K X e6 R X d4, and Black is out of danger. 38 Re3 If 38 Kf3 (or 38 Rf3 Nd5) Nf5 equalises at once, so White is obliged either to hit the e-pawn at once or to try 38 g4, which at least maintains complications. However, the variations 38 g4 Ng6 (intend­ ing 39 . . . e5) 39 Re3 Re7 40 Nc4 Rd7 ! or here 40 Ke2 e5 41 dXe5 N X e 5 42 N X b7 R X b7 43 R X e5 R X b4 are hardly convincing. 38 . . .N£5 Not 38 . . . Nd5 on account of 39 R X e6 N X b4 40 ReS + Kh7 4 1 Rb8 Nc2 42 R X b7 RXb7 43 N X b7 N X d4 44 Ke3, and the white king penetrates easily to d6 and beyond. 39 RXe6 (Diagram 2) N Xd4(?) The most straightforward way to draw is 39 . . . N X d6 40 R X d6 (40 c X d6 Kf7) R X d6 4 1 c X d6 Kf7. Perhaps short of time, Black may have thought the

Russians 38 plus this game. Karpov therefore needed to win at all costs . The white knight is obviously effective on his classic outpost square, but with some limitations; he cannot stray very far, as long as his cl-pawn remains vulnerable. At the same time, the black knight is working hard against the white pawns, though less obviously than his opposite number. In the long run White may claim some advantage on account of the weak e-pawn. 34 aS Not 34 N X b7, of course 34 . . . R X d4, and Black gets the advantage at once. The immediate push 34 b5 is best dealt with by 34 . . . a X b5 35 a X b5 c X b5 36 N X b5 (36 Rb l ? b4) e5! and the game fizzles out (37 Rd l ? N X c5). If White hopes to win, he must be more subtle than that, and the first step is to fix the b-pawn more securely and retain as many pawns as possible. 34 . . .Rd7 If 34 . . . N X b4 35 Rb 1 Nc2 36 R X b7 N X d4, White has good winning chances with both 37 Rb6 Ra8 38 Nc4(-e5) and 37 Ra7 Nb3 (37 . . .Rf8 38 h3 does not help) 38 R X a6 N X c5 39 R X c6 etc. 35 Rb l Now necessary and also threaten­ ing 36 g3, trapping the knight. 35 . . .N£4 36 K£2 Nd5 The only suitable square for the knight, hoping to make the white rook as passive as his own, in defending the b-pawn. 37 Rb3 Increasing the scope of his rook 98

move, viz. 53 b5 a X b5 54 a X b5 and Black's flank is turned, or if 53 . . . a5 54 tempo, and again Black is turned. In the game White sets out with his Q-side pawn structure already fixed; hence his dominating king position is insufficient to win. The move chosen should still draw, but Black is making it a bit harder for himself. 40 ReS + Kh7 4 1 Re4 Not now 4 1 Rb8, as in a previous note, because after 4 1 . . .Nc2 42 R X b7 R X b7 43 N X b7 N X b4 44 Ke3 Kg6 45 Kd4 Kf6 46 Kc4 (or 46 Nd8 Ke7) Nd5 47 Nd8 Ne? White can do nothing. 41 . . .NbS If 4 1 . . . Nb3? 42 Ke2 Nc l + 43 Kd2 Na2 44 Kc2(-b2) wins. If 4 1 . . .Nc2 42 Ke2 Kg6 43 Kd3 Na3 44 Kc3 amounts to much the same as the game. Black is obliged to seek a knight exchange sooner or later by . . . Nb5, after which his pawn position is weakened because White can break it up by a6 or c6. The question is whether White has a clear win or not; in fact, after . . . 42 N Xb5 both 42 . . . c X b5 and 42 . . . a X b5 appear to draw, if followed up correctly . . . . c X b5 has the advantage that White must break with c6 and ultimately create a passed a-pawn; his king will then have further to travel to support it than would be necessary with the passed c-pawn which will appear after . . . a X b5 (by a6 and a rook capture at c6, that is). The advantage of . . . a X b5 is that after a6 and . . .b X a6 Black may

pawn ending dangerous, but it holds, whichever side the white king tries to penetrate: If 42 Kf3 Ke6 43 Ke4 K X d6, and now 44 Kf5 Kd5 leads to a harmless queen ending, while any attempt to prepare for the race fails, because Black always has the resource of counter-attacking on the Q-side, e.g. 44 g4 g 5 1 or 44 h4 h5, and White can never queen in less than nine moves. White may also try to approach on the Q-side, but always seems to be thwarted by his own pawn weaknesses : 42 Ke3 Ke6 43 Kd3 K X d6 44 Kc4 Kd7 45 Kc5 (45 d5 Kd6 1) Kc7 46 d5 c X d5 47 K X d5 Kd7 48 g4 g 5 1 49 h3 (49 Ke5 Kc6 etc.) Kc7 50 Kc5 Kd7 5 1 Kb6 Kc8 52 b5 a X b5 53 K X b5 Kc7, and a draw is unavoidable (54 Kc5 Kd7 55 Kd5 Kc7 1 etc.). Incidentally, at move 52 White gets nowhere by Ka7 Kc7; this manoeuvre could only win if White's a-pawn were back at a4 and if he had another spare tempo Diagram 2

99

liquidate another pair of pawns by a timely . . . a5. Some sample variations after 42 . . . c X b5 43 Ke3 would be as follows : (a) 43 . . . Rd l ? (very risky) 44 Rd4 Re l + 45 Kf4 Re2 46 Rd7 1 R X g2 47 R X b7 R X h2 4S c6 Rb2 49 c7 RXb4+ 50 Ke5 Rc4 51 Kd6 h5 52 Rb6 R X c7 53 K X c7 and wins comfortably by queening his a-pawn; similar variations to this are examined later, as part of the game continuation. (b) 43 . . . Kg6 44 Re6 + (or 44 c6 b X c6 45 Re6 + Kf5 46 R X c6 Rd l !, which is similar to (ii) below) Kf5 45 Rb6 Ke5 1 (not 45 . . . Re7 + 46 Kd4 Rd7 + 47 Rd6, with Kd5 to follow, since Black dare not exchange) 46 c6 b X c6 and now: (i) 47 R X a6 Kd5, after which Black can keep the a-pawn under control and soon liquidate further by . . . c5. (ii) 47 R X c6 Rd l 4S R X a6 Rb l 49 Rg6 Rb3 + 50 Kd2 R X b4 5 1 R X g7 Ra4, and White cannot hope to win. If in this line Black makes the mistake of 47 . . . Rd6?, the pawn ending can now be won: 4S R X d6 K X d6 49 Kd4 and White wins the race after 49 . . . h5 50 h4 g6 5 1 g3 Kc6 52 Ke5, or if 49 . . . Kc6 50 Ke5 g5 5 1 g4 Kc7 52 Kd5 Kd7 53 Kc5 Kc7 54 h3, and Black will be turned on the Q-side. 42 a XbS 43 Ke3 (Diagram 3) Rd l ? This is the decisive mistake, with Black looking for counterplay a little too early. The advanced state of White's Q �side, not to mention his active king, means that he is very likely to win a race between passed .

.

pawns, after the inevitable pawn massacres. The centralisation of his king should still draw, though care is needed, e.g. 43 . . .Kg6 44 a6 b X a6 45 Re6 + Kf5 46 R X c6 Ra7! and then: (i) 47 Kd4 a5 4S b X a5 (4S Rb6 a4) R X a5 49 Rb6 Ra2 50 c6 R X g2 5 1 R X b5 + Ke6 52 Rc5 (52 c7 Rc2) Rd2 + and 53 . . . RdS, with a draw. (ii) 47 Rb6 Ke5 ! and Black has equalised, but not this time 47 . . . a5? on account of 4S R X b5 a4 49 c6 + Ke6 50 Rb7 RaS 5 1 c7 ReS 52 b5 and White wins. If White plays more slowly here, we have something like: 44 ReS Kf7 45 ReS (or 45 RaS Ke6 46 a6 b X a6 47 R X a6 Kd5, or even 47 . . . Rc7, and White is achieving nothing) Ke6 46 Ke4 (if 46 a6 b X a6 47 R X c6 + Kd5 4S R X a6 Kc4 draws easily) Re7, and if 47 a6 Kd7 + 4S Kd4 b X a6 49 RaS Rf7, again with a draw. 44 Rd4 Re l + If he does not cut the king off, it will Diagram 3

.

l OO

simply march into the Q-side, e.g. 44 . . . Rb 1 45 Kf4 Rb2 46 Ke5 R X g2 47 Kd6 R X h2 48 a6 b X a6 49 K X c6 h5 50 Kb6 h4 5 1 c6 g5 52 Rd5 ! and wins. 45 K£4 Kg6(?) It is too late now to fall back on defence, because his king is backward; if 45 . . . Re7 White has the pleasant choice between 46 Rd6, threatening 47 a6, and 46 Kf5, planning 47 Re4 and then Ke6. However, a better fighting chance is 45 . . .Re2; then 46 Kf3 followed by h4 and g4 is slow and permits the approach of the black king, e.g. 46 . . . Rb2 47 h4 Kg6 48 g4 Kf6 and White has lost most of his advantage. White can win after 45 . . . Re2, but only by immediate attack, viz. 46 Rd7 ! R X g2 (46 . . . Rb2 is the chief alternative, as shown below) 47 R X b7 R X h2 (if 47 . . . Rb2 48 a6 R X b 4 + 49 Ke5 Ra4 50 a7 b4 5 1 Kd6 b3 52 Kc7 b2 53 Kb8 would be the easiest way) 48 a6 Rb2 (or 48 . . . Ra2 49 a7' and Black is much too slow, e.g. 49 . . .h5 50 Kg5 1, or 49 . . . Kg6 50 Rc7 !) 49 a7 R X b4 + (if now 49 . . . Ra2 White could choose: 50 Rc7 Ra4 51 Kf5 Ra 1 52 R X c6 R X a7 53 Rb6, when his more advanced pawns will win, or 50 Ke5 h5 5 1 Kd6 h4 52 K X c6 h3 53 Rd7 h2 54 Rd 1 R X a7 55 Kb6 1 and wins) 50 Ke5 Ra4 5 1 Kd6 b4 (or 5 1 . . .h5 52 K X c6 b4 53 Kb5) 52 K X c6 b3 53 Kc7 b2 54 Kb8 and wins. 46 . . . Rb2 leads to some hair­ raising lines, with White winning by the odd tempo: 47 R X b7 R X b 4 +

4 8 Ke5 Ra4 49 Kd6 R X a5 50 K X c6 Ra2 5 1 Kb6 R X g2 52 c6 R X h2 53 c7 Rc2 54 Rb8 Kg6 55 c8/Q R X c8 56 R X c8 Kf5 (the immediate advance of the pawns, rather than . . . Kg6 and . . .Kf5 first, is also too slow) 57 Kc5 g5 (or 57 . . . h5 58 Rh8) 58 Kd4 h5 59 Ke3 Kg4 60 Kf2, etc. Finally, if earlier in this line Black plays 5 1 . . .b4 52 c6 b3 53 c7 b2 (or 53 . . . Rc2 54 Ka7 b2 55 Kb8) 54 Kc6 wins. 46 a6! This now wins with less risk. 46 . . .b Xa6 47 Rd6 + Kh5 A rather odd-looking choice, but Black hopes to have his king supporting his passed pawns in certain variations. 47 . . .Kf7 is in any case no improvement, e.g. 48 R X c6 Rb 1 49 R X a6 RXb4+ 50 Ke5 Ke7 (or 50 . . . Rc4 5 1 Kd6, heading for b7, as in the game) 5 1 Ra7 + and Black is quite lost. 48 RXc6 (Diagram 4) Rb l 48 . . . Ra 1 would be no better after 49 Rb6 a5 50 b X a5 R X a5 5 1 Ke5 etc , but Black could well Diagram 4

101

have tried 48 . . . g5 + , which leads to a close finish: 49 Kf5 (threatens mate in two) Rf 1 + 50 Ke5 Rf2 5 1 R X a6 R X g2 52 c6 (52 Rb6 is also possible, when the white pawns are again more advanced) R X h2 53 c7 Rc2 54 Kd6 (threatens 55 Rc6) R X c7 55 K X c7 g4, and now White just wins by 56 Rb6 g3 57 R X b5 + Kg4 58 Rc5 h5 59 b5 h4 60 b6 h3 61 b7 h2 62 bB/Q h 1 /Q 63 Qb4 + and the black queen is lost. 49 RXa6 RXb4+ 50 Ke5 Rb2 Black has no chance now, as he only has time to collect one pawn on the K-side, and because White

GAME 26

can set up an ideal sheltered position for his king If 50 . . . Rc4 5 1 c6 b4 52 Kd6 b3 53 Rb6 Rc3 54 Kc7(-b7) etc. 5 1 c6 R Xg2 52 c7 Rg5 + O r 5 2 . . .Rc2 5 3 Kd6 and the rook must be sacrificed at once. 53 Kd4! But not 53 Kd6? Rg6 + 54 K any R X a6 55 cB/Q Rf6 with an almost certain draw (black g-pawn on the second rank, defending his rook, leaves the white queen no manoeuvring space behind). 53 . . . Rg4+ 54 Kd5 Rg5 + 5 5 KeG Rg2 5 6 Kb7 1-0.

White : Polugaevsky Black: Evans Siegen Olympiad, 1 970

(Diagram) Occupation of the seventh rank, especially an absolute seventh, can in itself sometimes be sufficient compensation for a pawn. In this position White's seventh rank is some consolation for his material deficit, particularly since the enemy b-pawn is fixed as a target. However, with his own a- and e-pawns isolated and weak, he would still normally find it very difficult to hold the game. The ingenious Polugaevsky finds another resource:

1 e4! £Xe4 1 . . . R X e4 2 R X b7 Ra4 3 Rb6 R X a5 4 R X c6 would be a draw, since the white rook can place itself actively behind the passed pawn. 2 Ke3 Now the black rook is completely passive and White is ready with his mobile pawn majority. 2 . . .g5 Making the seventh rank absolute, but what else could he do? (a) 2 . . . c5 3 Rc7 Rb5 1 02

4 K X e4 R X a5 5 R X b7 Ra2 6 Kf3 Ra5, which may be the best chance, but White's active pieces should still enable him to draw. (b) 2 . . . Rb5 3 K X e4 R X a5 4 R X b7, which comes to the same thing. (c) 2 . . . Rb2 3 K X e4 R X g2 4 R X b7 R X h2 (4 . . . Ra2 5 Rb6 R X a5 6 R X c6 Ra2 7 Kf3 and again the white rook gets behind the passed pawn) 5 Rb6 Rc2 6 R X a6 and White's king will rapidly support his passed pawn, with a likely draw. (d) 2 . . . Kh7 3 h4 Kg6 4 g4 Kf6 5 h5 c5 6 Kf4 (threatening 7 g5 + and 8 R X g7 with two connected passed pawns) e 3 + 7 K X e3 R X g4 8 R X b7 Rb4 9 Rb6 + ! Whichever way Black plays he does not appear to achieve more than a minimal advantage. 3 h3 Kf8 4 g3 Ke8 5 Rh7 Kd8 It is not clear that moving the king away from the enemy passed pawn is a good idea, but Black hopes to free his rook from its defensive burden.

6 h4 g Xh4 7 g Xh4 Rb5 7 . . . Kc8 8 h5 Rb5 9 h6 R X a5? (9 . Rh5 draws) 10 Rg7 Rh5 1 1 h7 Kb8 1 2 Rg8 + Ka7 1 3 h8/Q R X h8 14 R X h8 actually wins for White, as the pawns are too backward to stand up to the rook. 8 h5 RXaS 9 h6 Rh5 10 RXb7 RXh6 1 1 K Xe4 Rd6 Cutting off the king, but White still draws comfortably as the pawns are very weak and one of them must be lost. 12 Ra7 c5 13 Ke5 Rd2 1 3 . . . Rh6 1 4 Kd5 Rh5 + 1 5 Kc4 also loses a pawn. 14 RXa6 Kc7 15 Ke4 Kb7 16 Ke3 ! I f now 1 6 . . .Rd8 White could draw either by 1 7 Rh6, leaving the king cut off on a rank, or by 1 7 Ra 1 , in which case the pawn on the fourth rank is insufficient to win because the white king is only eut off by one file and his rook has plenty of checking distance on the b-file. 16 . . .K Xa6 17 K Xd2 Y2-Y2 . .

1 03

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GAME 27

White : Zhidkov USSR, 1 97 1

Black: Razuvaev

The relative activity of the pieces is especially important in rook endings, because the rook is by nature a piece which demands wide open spaces in order to operate effectively. The position in Diagram 1 illustrates this quite well. Black is a pawn down, but rejects a chance to level the material because he prefers to keep the activity of his king and rook at a maximum, to exploit the unfortunate position of the opposing king.

1 . . .K£4 ! White is susceptible to mating threats and his pawns are weak. By his first move Black is keeping the king nailed to the edge, and thus ensuring that its rook stays passively on the fifth rank to defend against the threat of . . . g5 + and . . . Rh3 mate. 1 . K X e6 would also have left Black with good winning chances owing to the scattered nature of the white pawns, which as a rule can be better exploited in a rook ending than any other. However, Black's actual choice is much more logical and convincing, as will be seen. 2 a4 White has very little choice. If

2 d5? or 2 Ra7?, then 2 . . g5 + followed by mate. If 2 h3 Rg3, threatening 3 . . . g5 +, wins immediately. 2 . . . Ra3 ! B y the use o f Zugzwang Black now wins his pawn back in more favourable circumstances than before. 3 RdS Ra2 ! An excellent manoeuvre, driving the rook into a more passive position before capturing the a-pawn. 3 . . . R X a4 would have been premature on account of 4 Rd8, when Rf8 + is available as required. 4 h3 If 4 Kh3 g5 wins.

Diagram 1

Diagram 2

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1 04

4 . . .Ra3 Now the threat of 5 . . . Rg3 forces White's next move. 5 Rg5 RXa4 (Diagram 2) This concludes the first part of the ending. Black's king is now sufficiently well-placed to be certain of picking up at least one of the centre pawns, after which he should win without too much trouble. 6 d5 If 6 Rg4 + Kf5 7 Kg3 (or 7 d5 R X g4 + 8 h X g4 + Ke5 9 Kg5 K X d5 1 0 Kh6 K X e6 1 1 K X h7 Kf6 and wins) Ra3 + (not 7 . . . KX e6?? 8 d5 + ) winning the e-pawn. 6 . . .Ra5 7 Rg4+ Ke5 8 Kg5 The only chance. If 8 Rg5 + Kf6

GAME 28

forces the rook to relinquish the defence of the d-pawn. 8 . . . RXd5 9 Kh6 K£6 10 K Xh7 Or 1 0 Rf4 + Rf5 1 1 Rh4 Rh5 + and wins. 10 . . .Rh5+ 1 1 Kg8 R Xh3 12 Rg2 Rh5 13 R£2 + R£5 1 3 . . . K X e6 would also win, but it is simpler to keep the white king confined for as long as possible. 14 Rg2 R£4 In order to have the pawn's path protected up to the fifth rank, and thus create a convenient square for the king at g5 15 Rg 1 g5 16 Rg2 g4 17 Kh7 Kg5 0- 1 . Black can pick up the e-pawn in perfect safety, whenever he wishes.

White: Estrin Black: Pytel Albena, 1 973

(Diagram 1) A very tense position with passed pawns on both sides, in which the result can depend on a single tempo in many variations. White has the advantage because his pawns are more advanced and supported by his king; in addition his rook is able to get behind the enemy pawns more easily than its rival; Diagram 1 nevertheless the win requires very accurate play

1 d4 a4 If 1 . . . Kf7 2 Rf6 + Ke7 3 d5, Black is in trouble because mating threats will arise, e.g. 3 . . . a4 4 d6 + Kd7 5 Rf7 + Ke6 6 Re7 + Kf5 7 d7; if here 4 . . . Ke8 5 e6 a3 (or 5 . . . Rb6 6 d7 + Ke7 7 Rf7 + K X e6 8 Rf6 + I) 6 Rh6 and wins. 2 Re8 He must come behind the black pawn now, since there are no 1 05

mating threats against the black king and Black would queen first in a straight race, which is tantamount to winning in this sort of position. 2 b5 2 . . a3 immediately transposes into the main hne. 3 Ra8 Rb3 + 4 Ke4 a3 5 d5 ! This is possible because White just gets in first after 5 . . . Rb4 + 6 Kd3 (not 6 Kf5?? Ra4) Rb3 + 7 Kc2 Rb2 + (7 . . . Re3 8 d6) 8 Kc 1 b4 9 d6, when the pawn runs through while the black ones are held up. In general terms one may say that the central position of the white king enables him to switch across to either wing as circumstances demand, i.e. to support his own pawns or stop the black ones. 5 b4 6 d6 Rb l (Diagram 2) Now that his own pawns are far­ advanced, Black has counter­ chances, and some very sharp tactical play ensues. 7 Ra7 + ! Very accurate play and possibly the only way to win. The alterna­ tives are 7 e6 and 7 d7, both of .

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Diagram 2

which seem to lead to a draw with best play: (a) 7 e6 Re l + 8 Kd5 b31 (nothing else will do; 8 . . .Kf6 9 e7 Kf7 1 0 Rf8 + Kg7 l l d7 Rd l + 1 2 Kc4 a2 1 3 d8/Q a l /Q 1 4 Rg8 + Kh7 1 5 Rh8 + I wins for White, while 8 . . . Rd l + 9 Kc6 only helps him) 9 R X a3 (if 9 d7 b2 and . . . Rd l + if White queens, or if 9 e7 b2 1 0 Rb8 a2 and Black wins) b2 1 0 Rg3 + Kf6 1 1 Rf3 + Kg7 with a draw by repetition, since Black will lose if he strays too far by 1 1 . . . Kg5 1 2 Rg3 + Kf4? 1 3 Rb3 Rd l + 1 4 Kc5 ! (to avoid a check at d6 after his 1 5th move) Ke5 1 5 e7. (b) 7 d7 Rd l 8 d8/Q R X d8 9 R X d8 a2 wins for Black. White can actually still draw after 7 d7 Rd 1 by 8 e6 Kf6 9 Ra6 Ke7 1 0 Ke5 1 and now: (i) 1 0 . . .b3 1 1 Ra8 Re l + 1 2 Kd5 Rd l + etc. with repetition. (ii) 1 0 . . . Re 1 + 1 1 Kd5 Rd 1 + 1 2 Ke5, again with repetition, but not 1 2 Kc5? b3 1 3 R X a3 b2 and Black wins. 7 Kg6 The point of the check is clear now. If 7 . . . Kf8 8 e6 Re 1 + 9 Kd5 b3 (9 . . . Rd l + 10 Kc6 etc. is worse) 1 0 e7 + Kf7 1 1 R X a3 b2 1 2 Rf3 + Kg7 ( 1 2 . . .Ke8 allows mate) 1 3 Rb3 and wins. Playing to the third rank also has its disadvantages because of . 8 d7 ! . Clearly this move is the most forcing, and so is the first choice provided it is sound; and, with the black king on the third rank, it is sound. If now 8 . . . Rd 1 9 Ra6 + Kf7 1 0 Rd6 R X d6 .

1 06

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Diagram 3

l l e X d6 a2 1 2 d8/Q a l !Q 1 3 Qe7 + Kg6 1 4 Qe8 + ( 1 4 d??? Qe l + ) Kg5 1 5 d7 and White has a winning position, since a centre pawn on the seventh is the most favourable possible case of Q and P vs. Q. Black's pawn is irrelevant here; his only chance is perpetual check, just as if he had no pawn himself. Pages of analysis of all the possible checks would be pointless, but the white king should always find refuge in the region of g8, relying largely on cross-checks. 8 . . .Re 1 + 9 K£4 Rfl + 10 Ke4 Re 1 + 1 1 Kf4 Rfl + 12 Ke3 It might seem more natural to play the king through via d5 to support the pawn, but Black can then just hold the draw by getting his rook into position with a tempo, i.e. 1 2 Ke4 Re l + 13 Kd5 Kf5 ! 1 4 Kd6 b3 1 5 R X a3 b2 1 6 Rf3 + Kg6 1 7 Rb3 b l /Q 1 8 R X b l RX b l l 9 e6 Rd 1 + 20 Ke7 Kf5. By playing the king back he gets a queen ending similar to the one in the previous note, which he can just win.

12 . . .Rd 1 (Diagram 3) The only other move is 12 . . .Rf8, after which Black's position is quite hopeless because his rook is passive and his king is completely shut out, being unable either to interfere with the enemy pawns or support his own. By comparison the white king is ideally placed and the only reason why Black can fight on at all is that his pawns still have a few resources available to them. After 1 2 . . . Rf8 1 3 Ke4 Rb8 (there is nothing else) 1 4 Kd5 ( 1 4 e6? Kf6) b3 ( 1 4 . . . Kf5 1 5 e6 Kf6 1 6 Kd6 wins) 1 5 R X a3 b2 1 6 Rg3 + Kf7 1 7 e6 + Ke7 l 8 Rg7 + Kf6 1 9 Rf7 + Kg6 20 Rf 1 wins. 13 RaG+ KfS 14 Rd6 R Xd6 15 e Xd6 a2 16 d8/Q a 1/Q 17 Qc8 + ! (Diagram 4) A very strong and necessary check, as will be seen. The comments made in the notes to White's 8th move in connection with a possible queen ending apply here. In effect it is Q and P against Q and Black must try for perpetual check. To a large extent the Diagram 4

1 07

stronger side must rely on cross­ checks to escape the perpetual, and this is why the defending king should be as far away from the centre of activity as possible. 17 . . .Kg6 18 d7 Qe5 + Very hard to decide which of a multitude of checks to choose. The only guides for Black (apart from avoiding cross-checks, of course) are to keep as close as possible to the white king in order to try and confine him, and the fact that the king will try to escape in the general direction of bB and aB. 19 Kd2 After l 9 Kd3 Qd5 + he must go to c2 anyway. He now picks up the black pawn on his journey to aB since Black obviously cannot continue checking and defend the pawn. Incidentally, there might be similar situations where White would prefer not to capture the pawn at once but use it as a shelter, but that does not apply here. 19 . . . Qd4+ Notice how useful the queen is on cB. 1 9 . . . Qb2 + allows the cross­ check 20 Qc2 + , and all the time . . . Qc3 +, which would otherwise give an easy perpetual, is

GAME 29

impossible. 20 Kc2 b3+ Or 20 . Qe4 + 21 Kb3 and the pawn goes anyway. 2 1 K Xb3 Qd3 + 2 1 . . Qb6 + 2 2 Ka4 Qd4 + (22 . . Qa7 + 23 Kb5) 23 Ka5 leads into the game. 22 Ka4 Qd4+ 23 Ka5 Qd5 + Once again the cross-check stops 23 . . Qa7 + . Both 23 . . .Qa l + and 23 . . .Qd2 + lead rapidly to the actual game, since the king heads for the same squares. 24 Kb6 Qd4+ Of course he cannot check on the third rank, and if 24 . . . Qb3 + 25 Ka7 Qe3 + 26 KaB Qa3 + (26 . . . Qe4 + 27 Qb7 Qa4 + 2B KbB Qf4 + 29 Qc7 Qb4 + 30 KcB) 27 KbB Qb4 + 2B Qb7 Qd6 + 29 Qc7 Qb4 + 30 KcB wins. 25 Kb7 Qb4+ 26 Ka7 Qd4 + 27 Ka8 Qd5 + If 27 . . . Qa4 + 28 KbB Qb4 + 29 Qb7, or 28 . . Qf4 + 29 Qc7 and the king escapes to cB as in previous lines given above. 28 Kb8 Qe5 + 29 Qc7 Qb5 + 30 Ka7 1-0. If 30 . . . Qa4 + 31 Kb7 and wins.

White : Ivanov Black: Bonchev Bulgaria, 1 97 4

(Diagram l ) White's winning prospects with his extra pawn are diminished somewhat by the strength of the black e-pawn, and also because his own b- and h-pawns are rather weak and his Q-side majority is restrained. Nevertheless, he just manages to overcome Black's resistance. of the game. If l Rc5 + Kd6 (not l . . .Kd4 2 Rf5, nor l . . .Kf6 2 Rc6 + Ke5 3 Rb6 1 Rh7

1 h5 This feeble-looking pawn is actually destined to survive right to the end l OB

4 R X a6 R X h4 5 Rg6 1 Rh2 + 6 Kd3 Rd2 + 7 Kc3 RdS S Rg2 etc.) 2 Rc4 only repeats the position. 1 Rg7 1 . . . K£5 2 h6 Rh? (2 . . . Kg6? 3 R X £4 - Black can in no circum­ stances allow his £-pawn to go) 3 Rc6 is useless, while if 1 . . . Rh? 2 Rc5 + K£6 3 h6 ' Rb7 4 Rh5 Rh? (4 . . . Kg6 5 h7) 5 Kd3 and White has no real problems, as Black's position is fatally passive. The only chance is to activate the rook immediately. 2 h6 Rg2 + 3 Kd3 3 K£ 1 will not do - 3 . . .R£2 + 4 Ke 1 R X £3 5 Rc5 + Ke4 6 Rh5 Rg3 !, already threatening mate in two, and if 7 Rh 1 (or 7 Kf l £3 S h7 e2 + and wins) £3 S h7 £2 + 9 Ke2 (or 9 Kf l K£3) Rg 1 1 0 Rh4 + K£5 and wins. 3 Rd2 + 4 Kc3 Rh2 If Black tries to force the immediate advance of the pawn by 4 . . . Rd 1 (4 . . .R£2 5 h7 Rh2 6 Re4 + etc. transposes, but with the loss of a tempo for Black) the white rook reaches an ideal position by

5 Re4 + K£5 (if 5 . . . Kd5 6 h7 Rh 1 7 R X £4 e2 - or 7 . . .R X h7 S Re4 - S Re4 and White always finishes up with three pawns against one) 6 h7 Rh 1 (or 6 . . . RdS 7 Re? and now (a) 7 . . . K£6 S Ra7 e2 9 hS/Q + R X hS 1 0 R X a6 + K£5 1 1 Kd2 and wins; (b) 7 . . .K£6 S Ra7 ReS 9 Kd3, winning the a-pawn because if 9 . . .e2 10 hS/Q + ; (c) 7 . . .RhS S Ra7 ReS 9 Kd3 e2 10 hS/Q R X hS 1 1 K X e2 ReS + 1 2 Kd3 Re6 - 1 2 . . .Re3 + 1 3 Kc4 R X £3 1 4 R X a6 leaves White with no problems - 1 3 Kd4, with Rb7-b6 to follow and White wins) 7 Re? e2 (7 . . . K£6 fails as before, i.e. S Ra7 e2 9 hS/Q + R X hS 10 R X a6 + K£5 1 1 Kd2) S R X e2 R X h7 9 b5 a X b5 1 0 Kb4 (Diagram 2) Rh 1 (or 1 0 . . . Rh3 1 1 a6, or 1 0 . . . Kg5, intending to go to g3, 1 1 Re4 1, or 10 . . .Rb7 1 1 a6 RbS 1 2 a7 RaS 1 3 Ra2 etc.) 1 1 Ra2 Rb 1 + 12 Kc3 b4+ 1 3 Kc2 and White reaches a win­ ning rook vs. pawn ending by

Diagram 1

Diagram 2

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1 09

1 3 . . .Re 1 1 4 a6 ReS 1 5 c.7 RaS 1 6 Kb3 Kg5 1 7 K X b4 Kh4 1 S Kc5 Kg3 1 9 Ra3 R X a7 (forced) 20 R X a7 K X £3 2 1 Kd4 Ke2 22 Ke4 etc. 5 Rc6 Rh3 Obviously Black must play as aggressively as possible, the alternatives being 5 . . .Ra2 and 5 . . . Rh 1 , both threatening to advance the e-pawn. After 5 . . .Ra2 White has 6 h7 Rh2 7 Rc7, threatening S b5 etc., and if 7 . . . Rh 1 S Kd3 K£6 9 b5! leaves Black helpless. If 5 . . . Rh 1 6 Kd3, planning simply 7 R X a6, and if then 6 . . . Rd 1 + 7 Ke2 Rd2 + S Ke 1 and now S . . .R£2 is useless because of 9 b5! a X b5 1 0 a6 and wins, whereas after S . . . Rh2. White has 9 b5 and if 9 . . .a X b5 1 0 a6 Rh 1 + 1 1 Ke2 Rh2 + 1 2 Kd3 Rd2 + 1 3 Kc3 b4 + 1 4 Kb3 e2 1 5 ReS and wins. If in this last line 9 . . .Rh 1 + 1 0 Ke2 Rh2 + 1 1 Kd3 Rd2 + 1 2 Kc3 Ra2 1 3 h7 Rh2 1 4 Rc7 wins for White. In the circumstances the attack on the £-pawn, still restraining the enemy h-pawn, is the best chance. 6 b5 ! With so many passed pawns appearing, speed is of the essence and in view of this 6 R X a6 would be dangerous, to say the least, especially as it puts the rook out of play. Black would continue 6 . . . R X £3 whereupon 7 b5 (or 7 Rb6) loses at once by 7 . . .e2 + S Kd2 Re3 9 Ke 1 £3. Therefore 7 Ra7 is necessary, when 7 . . . Rh3 (not 7 . . . e2 + S Kd2 Re3 9 Re7 +) S h7 £3 9 Kd3 e2 1 0 Kd2 (if 10 Rf7 or 1 0 b5 e l !Q 1 1 Re7 + Kd5 1 2 R X e 1 £2 + )

Rh 1 1 1 Re7 + (or 1 1 hS/Q + R X hS 1 2 Re7 + Kd6 1 3 Re3 Rh 1 ) Kd6 1 2 Re3 £2 still wins for Black. 6 . . .Kd5 ! If 6 . . . a X b5 7 a6 when Black's only try is 7 . . .b4 +, which turns out to be insufficient. If then S K X b4? e2 9 Rc l R X h6 is quite satisfactory for Black, but White plays 8 Kd3 and then (a) 8 . . b3 9 a7 b2 l O Rb6 R X h6 1 1 Rb5 + wins; (b) 8 . . .Kd5 9 a7 wins; (c) 8 . . .Rh2 9 a7 e2 10 a8/Q e 1 /Q 1 1 Qa5 mate. Alternatively, Black may try 6 . . . R X £3, which leads to a win for White after 7 b X a6 e2 + 8 Kd2 Re3 9 Rc 1 . The move played has several points : (l) 7 b X a6 is prevented; (2) 7 R X a6 leaves the rook out of play as before and White would be in trouble again after 7 . . .RX £3; (3) Black avoids being checked when the h-pawn queens, which could be very important. His rook now watches this pawn and his king moves one file nearer to the dangerous enemy a-pawn; (4) The e-file is unblocked, which is relevant in a variation mentioned in the next note; (5) Finally, Black is even able to construct a mating threat ( ! ) with his king at d5. Quite a powerful move, you might think, but even so White finds a way through. 7 Rg6! Releasing the b-pawn. If now 7 . . . R X £3 the new position of the black king makes a difference, in that 8 b X a6 e2 + 9 Kd2 Re3 1 0 Rg 1 Re7 permits the black rook to occupy his best position and the result is not clear, e.g. 1 10

1 1 a7 R X a7 1 2 K X e2 Ke4 and now either 1 3 Ra 1 Ra6 " · 1 4 h7 Rh6 1 5 a6 RXh7! or 1 3 Rh 1 R X a5 1 4 h7 Ra2 + 1 5 K£ 1 Ra 1 + 1 6 Kg2 £3 + 1 7 Kh2 Ra81 permits Black to draw. Therefore White should play 8 Kd31 R£2 (8 . . .e2 + 9 K X e2 Re3 + 1 0 K£2 Re? 1 1 Rg7 is no good either) 9 b X a6 e2 1 0 Kd2 £3 1 1 a7, which wins . In view of this Black tries his last shot - to make something of the b-pawn. 7 . . .aXb5 8 a6 b4+ (Diagram 3) Now 9 K X b4? e2 1 0 Rg 1 R X h6 would be useless. 9 Kd3 Rh2 Threatens mate. Now White has only one good line, but this is quite sufficient to win. 10 Rg5 + KeG 1 1 Ra5 ! Decisive, as he will queen with check. 1 1 . . .Rd2 + 12 Kc4 e2 If 1 2 . . .Rd8 1 3 a7 and now (a) 1 3 . . . Kb7 1 4 a8/Q R X a8 1 5 R X a8 K X a8 1 6 h7; (b) 1 3 . . .e2 14 Re5 Kb7 (or

Diagram 4

1 4 . . .Ra8 1 5 h7) 1 5 R X e2 K X a7 1 6 Rh2 Kb6 1 7 K X b4 Kc6 1 8 h7 Rh8 1 9 Kc4 and wins. 13 a7 Rd8 Or 1 3 . . . e l /Q 1 4 a8/Q + Kc7 1 5 Ra7 + Kd6 1 6 Qd8 + etc. 14 ReS (Diagram 4) Kb7 15 RXe2 Rh8 16 Rh2 1-0. After 1 6 . . .K X a7 17 K X b4 Kb6 1 8 h7 the white king simply returns and picks up the £-pawn. In case any confusion arises, this is not one of those cases where rook + h-pawn +£-pawn vs. rook only leads to a draw; the black rook must be active for that to happen, and other details of the position must also be exactly right for the defender. In this case, of course, the rook is hopelessly passive. Incidentally, 1 6 Re? + Ka8 1 7 h7 would be a very mistaken idea, because of a Stalemate trap, i.e. 1 7 . . .b3! and if 1 8 K X b3 R X h7, or if 1 8 Rg7 b2 1 9 Rg8 + K X a7 ! and the best White can do is 20 R X h8 b l /Q 2 1 Ra8 + K X a8 22 h8/Q + , after which he picks up the £-pawn with

Diagram 3

111

a couple of checks, but the black king hurries back in front of the pawn and draws comfortably, i.e. 22 . . .Kb7 23 Qg7 + Kc6 24 Qf6 + Kd7 25 Q X f4 Ke6 etc.

1 12

&.Queens We begin with a relatively simple example which illustrates the possibility of winning quickly in a queen ending by a direct mating attack Nos. 3 1 and 32 are of heavier calibre . In the first of these the enormous power of a passed pawn supported by its queen is evident; perpetual check is the weaker side's only hope in such cases. In the second Ivkov shows how to maintain steady pressure against a very weak pawn structure . In the final three games of the chapter other pieces are involved, No. 33 being a minor piece ending which turns into queen and doubled pawn against queen. No. 34 is queen against rook and knight and some clever play is required to avoid a 'fortress' position which the defender is aiming for. No. 35 begins in the middle-game and soon there appears the almost unique material balance of two rooks and a bishop vs. queen and four pawns .

GAME 30

White: Hecht France, 1 97 1

Black: Villeneuve

When dealing with queen endings we are faced with a number o f special characteristics due entirely to the queen's great power. I am not referring only to the problem of perpetual check by the weaker side, which is very well known; there are other principles which are quite well illustrated by the game extracts below. We may summarise a few of these with reference to the first position (Diagram 1 ): ( 1) In some cases there are chances for one side to play for a direct mating attack by advancing his own king right up the board and combining it with the queen. This can even apply in endings of queen + 3 pawns vs. queen + 2 pawns on the same side of the board, where the winning chances can often be better than with rooks. (2) Surprisingly, the king is often safer from perpetual check if he rushes up the board in this way, than if he stays stuck in his corner with inadequate pawn protection. This is largely because he has more squares available. A blocked centre such as we have in Diagram 1 helps considerably of course, but even in open positions a centralised queen will automatically deprive the enemy queen of a large number of checking possibilities. (3) The weak white squares around Black's king are inviting occupation, and this type of situation suits the queen's powers of penetration very well. The other advantage which White possesses here is the weakness of the black cl-pawn, which is significant, though not necessarily of special relevance to queen and pawn endings. 1 13

Diagram 1

1 h5 Fixing the white-square weakness. 1 . Kf8 If 1 . . . Qb4 2 Qe8 + Kh7 3 Kg4 Q X b3 4 Kf5 Qe3 (or 4 . . .b4 5 Ke6 Qc3 6 Qb8 b3 7 Kf7 and wins) 5 Ke6 Qa7 (or 5 . . . b4 6 Qb8 and 7 Kf7 is unstoppable) 6 Q X b5 and Black is quite lost since he loses his cl-pawn, he has no counterplay and the threats to his king persist. If Black had played 4 . . .b4 5 Ke6 Qc2, then 6 Qb8 Qa4 7 K X d6 b3 8 Ke6 and his pawn gets no further, 8 . . .Qa3 being answered by 9 Kf7 etc. 2 Qa8 + Ke7 3 Qb7 + Kf8 4 Kg4 Kg8 The king's march through the white squares is the obvious and .

.

GAME 3 1

convincing plan, and with queens on the mating possibilities are an additional hazard to Black. Since passive defence is likely to be more dangerous in queen endings than in any other, we need to examine Black's immediate counter-attack in preference to this king move. The main line would be: 4 . . . Qf2 5 Kf5 Q X g2 6 Qc8 + Kf7 7 Qd7 + Kf8 (or 7 . . .Kg8 8 Qe8 + Kh7 9 Ke6 Q X f3 1 0 Qg6 + Kg8 1 1 K X d6 and the passed pawn, supported by the king, wins easily, especially since mating threats are still in the air) 8 Q X d6 + Kf7 9 Qc7 + Kf8 1 0 Ke6 Qh3 + 1 1 Kd6 Q X f3 (or 1 1 . . . Q X h5 1 2 Qe7 + Kg8 1 3 Kc7 Q X f3 1 4 d6 Qc3 + 1 5 Kb7 and the pawn soon runs through) 1 2· Qe7 + Kg8 1 3 Qe8 + Kh7 1 4 Ke7 and wins after (a) 14 . . .Q X e4 1 5 Qg6 + ; (b) 1 4 . . . Q X b3 1 5 Kf7; or (c) 1 4 . . .Qc3 1 5 d6 Q X b3 1 6 d7 Qb4 + 1 7 Kf7 Qc4 + 1 8 Qe6 Qc7 1 9 Ke8. Black decides to move his king away at once, but there is no escape from the mating net. 5 KfS Kh7 6 KeG Qf2 7 Kf7 White finds a neat way to finish. His threat of 8 Qc8 can be met in only one way. 7 . . .Qh4 8 Kf8 ! 1-0 (if 8 . . . Qg5 9 Qf7).

White: Hubner Black: Mecking Wijk-aan-Zee, 1 97 1

This second extract deals with another characteristic of queen endings . Since the queen cannot be prevented from escorting a passed pawn all the way through to the eighth rank, it follows that the possession of a passed 1 14

pawn is usually the most relevant factor. It can decide an otherwise equal ending, or save an inferior one, sometimes several pawns down. (Diagram 1 ) 1 . . . c5! 8 f4 + Kh6 9 Kf3 Qc3 + Seizing his chance to create 1 0 Ke2 h4, with Black keeping another passed pawn; White must a strong initiative. He therefore capture. decides to leave his king within 2 d Xc5 d4 3 Qe4 range of the h-pawn for the time If 3 Qc 1 Qc3 and the pawn is lost being. anyway. 4 . . .Qg5 + 5 Kfl 3 . . .Q Xc5 4 a4 5 Kf2 Qd2 + 6 Kg3 d3 leads to The position may be a little positions similar to the game. deceptive. Black holds a clear 5 . . .Qc l + 6 Kg2 advantage, because (a) his queen It seems likely that White's best can strongly support the d-pawn chance was to try and stay near the and, in some circumstances, also d-pawn at all costs by 6 Ke2 . After the h-pawn; (b) in most positions that Black's strongest play is White dare not exchange queens 6 . . .Qb2 + 7 Ke 1 Qc3 + and face two widely separated 8 Ke2 h4 9 Q X h4 Qe3 + passed pawns; (c) in most endings 1 0 Kf l Q X f3 + 1 1 Ke 1 Qe3 + two connected passed pawns 1 2 Kf l d3, when he has winning would confer a tremendous chances because his pawn is so advantage, but with queens this is advanced and because the white nullified because a single pawn can king is cut off, so that White dare be supported so effectively. not stop checking. On the other White has a problem in deciding hand, White does have a great whether to play his king across to number of checks; at all events that blockade the d-pawn. If would have been better for him 4 Qh7 + Ke6 5 Qg8 + (or than what actually happens . In this 5 Qe4 + Kd6 6 Qf4 + Qe5) Kf5 line White also has alternatives at 6 Qh7 + Kf4 7 Qe4 + Kg5 move nine, but in each case the Diagram 1 checks eventually stop and he is left facing the unpleasant threats of . . . Qe3 + , . . . d3 + or sometimes . . .h3. For example: (i) 9 Qh7 + Ke6 10 Qe4 + Kd6 1 1 Qf4 + Kc5, escaping to the Q-side; (ii) 9 Qb7 + Kf8 1 0 Qb8 + Kg7 1 1 Qb7 + Kh6; (iii) 9 Qd5 + Kg7 1 0 Qd7 + Kh6. 6 . . .Qd2+ 7 Kh3 d3! (Diagram 2) The possession of a passed pawn outweighs almost anything. If now 8 Qh7 + Kf8 9 Q X h5 Qe2 and White's only hope is perpetual 1 15

Diagram 2

Diagram 3

check; but the black king will always find safety, if necessary among the Q-side pawns ! For instance: (a) 1 0 Qc5 + Kg7 1 1 Qc7 + Kg6 1 2 Qg3 + Kf5 1 3 Qg4 + Ke5 1 4 Qg3 + Kd5 1 5 Qg8 + Kd4 1 6 Qc4 + Ke3 1 7 Qc5 + (or 1 7 Qe6 + Kf2 1 1 8 Qb6 + Kf l ) Kd2 1 8 Qb4 + Kc2 1 9 Qc4 + Kb 1 , and if now 2 0 b4 Q X f3 + 2 1 Kh2 d2 !; (b) l O Qh8 + Ke7 1 1 Qg7 + Ke6 1 2 Qg4 + Ke5, with transposition into (a). White therefore tries yet another series of checks. 8 Qd5 + Kg6 9 Qe4+ Or 9 Qg8 + Kf5 1 0 Qd5 + Kf4 1 1 Qe4 + Kg5 1 2 Qh4 + , transposing into the game. 9 . . .Kg5 10 Qh4+ Kg6 1 1 Qe4+ Kh6 12 Qd4 Kg7 13 Qd7 + Kg6 14 Qe8 + Kg5 The king is forced out to avoid perpetual, but now he will be in a position both to support his passed pawn and to attack the f-pawn. Once again we see how the king is much safer making a journey down the board than

tucked away in his corner. 15 Qb5 + Kf4 Attacking a pawn is one of the surest ways of stopping a string of checks, since even the queen cannot always check and defend a pawn at the same time. On the other hand, there are positions where it is simpler to by-pass such a pawn and use it as extra protection for the king. 16 Qc6 (Diagram 3) 1 6 Q X h5 Qe2 17 Qg4 + Ke3 1 8 Qe6 + Kf2 ! 1 9 Qb6 + Qe3 is no use, while 1 6 Qc4 + Ke3 leads to a similar position. 16 . . .Qe 1 ! White was threatening to disturb things by 1 7 Qe4 +, but Black is quite prepared to sacrifice his f-pawn with check, as he now has a clear winning manoeuvre in mind. 17 Q Xf6 + Ke3 18 Qe5 + Kf2 19 Qh2 + K Xf3 20 Qg2+ Kf4 2 1 Qh2 + Kf5 22 Qd6 Loses immediately, but he has no defence against the d-pawn; if instead 22 Qa2 Qh 1 + 23 Kg3 h4 + . 22 . . .Qf l + 23 Kg3 h4+ 0- 1 . 1 16

GAME 32

White: Kaplan Black: Ivkov Sao Paulo, 1 973 Ruy Lopez

1 e4 e5 2 N£3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Ba4 d6 5 c3 Bd7 6 d4 N£6 7 0-0 g6 8 Nbd2 Qe7 9 Bc2 Bg7 10 Nc4 0-0 1 1 d Xe5 N Xe5 12 N£ Xe5 d Xe5 13 Bg5 h6 14 B X£6 B X£6 15 Ne3 c6 16 Bb3 Rad8 17 Qc2 Bg5 18 Rfe 1 Be6 19 Rad 1 RXd 1 20 RXd 1 B Xe3 21 f Xe3 B Xb3 22 Q Xb3 Qg5 23 c4 (Diagram 1 ) This ending is notable for Black's persistent and determined attempts to exploit his opponent's pawn weaknesses . At first sight White's doubled and isolated e-pawns, though obviously weak, may not seem to be fatally so. It is very instructive to see how Ivkov makes the most of his slender winning chances by his precise queen manoeuvres, infiltrating White's game and highlighting its defects. 23 . . .Rd8 ! The file must be challenged in any event, and Black is quite prepared to let his b-pawn go and accept the isolation of his remaining Q-side pawns if he can penetrate to the heart of his opponent's game with his queen. 24 RXd8+ If 24 Kf2 Qh4+ wins a pawn. The only other plausible move is 24 Rd3 and, if 24 . . . Qh4, 25 g3. In that event Black might continue 24 . . . h5, when White starts to run short of moves - if 25 Qd 1 ? Q X e3 + , or if 25 Kf2? Qh4 +, or if 25 h3 to halt the further advance of the black pawn, both 25 . . .Qh4 and

25 . . . R X d3 26 Q X d3 Qg3 are strong. 24 . . .Q Xd8 25 Q Xb7 Having conceded the d-file he swallows the bait, for if 25 Qc2 Qa5 threatens mate and the a-pawn. 25 Qc3 is perhaps playable, but is a little passive, e.g. 2 5 . . .Qd6 26 Kf2 Kf8 27 Ke2 Ke7 28 Qd2 (or 28 Qd3 Qb4) Qc5 etc. 25 . . .Qd 1 + 26 K£2 Qc2 + If now 27 Kg1 Q X e4 28 Q X a6 Q X e3 + 29 Kf l Qc l + and takes the b-pawn with check. 27 K£3 Q Xc4 The threat of 28 . . .Qf 1 + is quite strong and White's K-side is remarkably difficult to defend. If now 28 Qb8 + Kh7 29 Q X e5 Q X a2 gives a position not unlike the game, with White still suffering from his unwieldly pawn structure . 28 b3 Qf l + 29 Kg3 Qe2 ! Pinpointing White's weak spot. Diagram 1

1 17

30 Qb8 + ! It is better to defend the e-pawn with gain of tempo in this way. If 30 Q X c6 Q X e 3 + 3 1 KM (3 1 Kg4? h5 + 32 KM Q£4 + and mates) Q£4 + (not 3 1 . . . Q£2 + 32 Kh3 Q X a2 33 Qe8 + ) 32 Kh3 h 5 33 g 3 Qf l + 34 KM Kg7 and the king is in difficulties. 30 . . .Kh7 3 1 Qa7 Kg7 32 Qc5 Counter-attacking and re­ centralising the queen seems to be the right procedure . The alternative is 32 a4, after which 32 . . .h5, threatening 33 . . .Qg4 + , is a tempting move. White must then play 33 h3 Qe 1 + and if 34 K£3? M!, when his whole K -side will be destroyed. However, after 34 Kh2 Black has not gained much because his own Q-side pawns are so vulnerable. If he plays 34 . . . a5, intending 35 . . .Qc3, then 35 Qc5 is perfectly satisfactory for White, or if 34 . . . Qa5 35 Qd7 . Black's best line after 32 a4 is 32 . . . Qd3 33 K£3 Q X b3 34 Q X a6 c5, when he may hope to gain from being slightly ahead in the race, e.g. (a) 35 a5 c4 36 Qb6 Qd 1 + 37 Kg3 c3 38 a6 c2 39 a7 c 1 /Q 40 a8/Q Qh5 4 1 h3 Qg5 + 42 Kh2 Qe 1 and Black is bound to win. (b) 35 Qb5 c4! 36 Q X e5 + Kh7 and if 37 Q£6 c3 defends the £-pawn. (c) 35 Ke2 c4 and the further approach of the king only helps Black. Finally, if (32 a4 Qd3) 33 Qb6 Q X e4 34 Q X a6 Q X e 3 + should suffice to win for Black in view of the bad position of the white king and the passed e-pawn. In view of these

variations, White's choice seems best. 32 . . .Q X a2 33 QXe5 + Kh7 34 Qc3 Qe2! Returning to the most aggressive square. If now 35 QX c6? Q X e 3 + leads t o mate after 3 6 Kg4 h 5 + etc., or 36 KM g5 + 37 Kh5 Qe2 + 38 g4 Q X h2 . In spite of this White could probably have survived by 35 h3, threaten­ ing the c-pawn, as his queen is quite well centralised and the black pawns are also weak. 35 h4? (Diagram 2) But this creation of a new weakness at g4 is hard to understand. White may have felt that he would be safe by picking up one of the black Q-side pawns, but he only exchanges off one of his own strong pawns for a weak enemy one, and his remaining pawns are so weak as to make his defensive task extremely difficult. 35 . . .h5 ! 36 Q X c6 Qg4+ Much better to leave White with his weak e-pawn, of course, than to play 36 . . . Q X e3 + . 37 Kf2 Diagram 2

1 18

Diagram 3

If 37 Kh2 Q X h4 + 38 Kg 1 Qe 1 + 39 Kh2 Q X e3 40 Q X a6 QX b3, and Black has clear winning chances in spite of the reduction of the material to one side . Firstly, the white e-pawn would need constant protection by the queen and, secondly, the stronger side can often advance his king in such endings and create mating threats. There are in fact more winning possibilities here than there would be in the equivalent rook ending. 37 . . .Q Xh4+ 38 Kf l Not 38 Ke2 Qg3, when he must either lose a pawn by 39 Kfl or abandon the g-pawn, when Black's h-pawn will run through. 38 . . .Qh 1 + 39 Kf2 Qa 1 40 Qb6(?) 40 Qd5, centralising and awaiting events, was also possible. Black then continues 40 . . .Qf6 + 4 1 Ke2 (not 4 1 Kg3 h4+ 42 Kg4 Qf2 1) h4, trying for the same kind of K-side play as happens in the game. White has a different plan in mind, involving the advance of the e-pawn but, since this does not succeed, he only creates a further

weakness in his pawn structure. In particular, Black gets more opportunities to offer an exchange of queens with the white pawn at e5 since his king can quickly advance on this pawn, and the white king is also deprived of the square e5. 40 . . .h4 41 e5?! So that if 41 . . . Q X e5 42 Q X a6 Qb2 + 43 Kf3 Q X b3 the ending is much better for White than the similar type mentioned in the note to his 37th move; the e-pawn is less exposed, the white king protects him and is himself safer out of the corner, and finally the black h-pawn is a little weaker. 4 1 . . . Qb2+ 42 Kf 1 Qb 1 + 43 Kf2 Or 43 Ke2 Qc2 + and he must go to the £-file. 43 . . .Qf5+ 44 Ke2 Qe6 (Diagram 3) Compare the note to White's 40th move. 45 Q X e6 f X e6 46 Kf3 g5 4 7 Kg4 Kg6 is a dead loss for White. 45 Qd8 Or 45 Qd4 g5 46 Qe4 + Kh6 and the majority is rolling forward nicely. 45 . . .Qg4+ The plan is now to create a passed pawn by . . . h3. White moves his king so as to avoid a check with the re-capture. 46 Ke 1 If 46 Kf2 Qg3 + 4 7 Kfl h3 and Black takes back with check. 46 . . .Qg3 + 47 Kd 1 h3 Of course 47 . . .Q X g2? 48 Q X h4 + leads to perpetual check at once. 48 g Xh3 Q Xh3 After all the exchanges, direct and 119

indirect, White is still left with his weak e-pawnsl 49 Qd3 If 49 Ke2 Qh2 + wins a pawn, and in any case White wishes to bring his queen back into play, pin the g-pawn and menace the a-pawn. However, with a passed pawn Black's advantage is becoming very pronounced. 49 . . .Qe6 50 b4! In a queen ending the degree of advancement of passed pawns counts for more than the actual number. Therefore, if now 50 . . . Q X e5 5 1 Q X a6 Q X e3 52 b5 and Black can hardly achieve more than perpetual check. 50 . . .Kh6 5 1 Qd4 If 5 1 Qd6 Qb3 + 52 Ke2 (or 52 Kd2 Qa2 + ) Qc4 + 53 Kf3 Kh5 and the king and g-pawn advance. Once the black queen settles on a2 or c4 she secures the whole position. 5 1 . . .Kh5 52 Ke 1 Qg4 53 Qd6 Qc4 54 Kf2 Although White's king has approached, that alone will not suffice to stop the passed pawn, as Black can launch a direct attack on him with king and queen. Remove the black f- and a-pawns and all the white ones and the game should be a dead draw, although Black would be a pawn up. Here, however, the extra pawns obstruct the white queen's checking chances and in such an ending the supported g-pawn becomes very strong indeed. 54 . . .Kg4 55 Qd7 + O r 55 Q d l + Kf5 and the e-pawn is in trouble. 55 . . .Kh4 The last move before the time

Diagram 4

control, so Black plays safe. In fact 55 . . . Qe6 56 Qd4 + Kh3 (56 . . . Kf5?? 57 Qf4 mate) 57 Qf4 Qa2 + 58 Ke l is rather awkward for Black. 56 Qd8 + 56 Qd4 + Q X d4 5 7 e X d4 Kg4 is a lost ending for White, i.e. (a) 58 d5 Kf5 59 d6 Ke6 60 Ke3 f6 6 1 e X f6 (or 6 1 d7 K X d7 62 e X f6 Ke6, or 6 1 Ke4 f X e5 62 d7 K X d7 63 K X e5 Kc6) K X d6 62 Kf4 (if 62 Kd4 Ke6 63 Kc5 g5 wins) Ke6 63 Kg5 Kf7. (b) 58 Ke3 Kf5 59 Kf3 g5 60 Kg3 Ke4 and wins . 56 . . .Kh3 57 Qd6 If 57 Qh8 + Qh4 + , or if 57 Qd7 + Qe6 stops the checks. 57 . . .Qe6 Now the intention is . . . g5, together with . . Qf5 + if necessary, driving the king away from the passed pawn. 58 e4! This resource gives him a fighting chance. He threatens 59 Qd3 + and 60 Qg3 + , driving the king back, and simultaneously prepares the advance of the king. However, 1 20

his pawns also become more vulnerable now. 58 . . . Kg4 A change of plan, attacking the new weakness . 59 Ke3 Kg3 (Diagram 4) If 59 . . . g5 60 Qd 1 + is trouble­ some, but now the white queen is chained to the e-pawn. The next phase shows Black employing a number of tactical resources to avoid checks 60 Kd4 If 60 Qd4 or 60 Qd5, simply 60 . . . g5. 60 . . .Kf4(?) This is inaccurate and could have wasted a lot of time. It soon becomes clear that 60 . . . K£3 was right. 61 Qc7 ! Threatening 62 Qc 1 + , which would be a considerable disturbance to the king. 6 1 . . .Kg4 62 Qd6 White decides to repeat the position, but he could have caused more trouble with 62 Qc2, for example 62 . . .g5? 63 Qe2 + Kh4 64 Qh2 + and if 64 . . . Qh3 65 Q£2 + picks up the £-pawn If 62 . . Qd7 + 63 Ke3 Kh3 (or 63 . . . g5 64 Qe2 + ) 64 Qe2 again makes things very difficult for Black. Black's best procedure

GAME 33

seems to be 62 . . .Qd7 + 63 Ke3, first driving the king back, then 63 . . . Kg5 64 Qg2 + Kh6, retreating right back to g7 if necessary. After that the white queen would again be needed on the Q-side to protect her pawns and the g-pawn could then advance with its king behind it. 62 . . .K£3 ! The right square this time. If now 63 Qc5 or Qc7, . . . Qb3 stops the checks and threatens 64 . . . Qe3 + etc. 63 Kc5 Faced with the threat of the g-pawn, this last attempt has a hint of desperation about it. 63 . . .K Xe4 64 Kb6 Qc4 The decisive move, stopping the checks and covering everything. 65 Qc5 Kd3 ! Very neat; if now 66 Qd6 + Kc3 and the b-pawn will fall at the very least. 66 Ka5 g5 67 Qd6 + Ke4 With the g-pawn one square further on, there is now no need to go to c3 for the protection of the queen, as he has a much simpler win. 68 Qc5 Qb5 + ! 69 Q Xb5 aXb5 70 K X b5 g4 7 1 KeG g3 72 b5 g2 0- 1 .

White : Chandon-Moet Black: Bottlik Correspondence, 1 974 Evans Gambit

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 b4 B X b4 5 c3 Ba5 6 d4 d6 7 Qb3 Qd7 8 d Xe5 Bb6 9 Bb5 a6 10 Ba4 Qe6 1 1 B Xc6+ bXc6 12 0-0 RbB

1 3 Kh 1 d Xe5 1 4 QXe6+ B Xe6 15 N Xe5 Ne7 16 Ba3 f6 17 Nd3 Bc4 18 Rd 1 (Diagram 1 ) Black has chosen one of the soundest defences to the Evans 121

Gambit and has come well out of the opening, in spite of his weakened Q-side pawns. He now avoids the win of a pawn by 1 8 . . . B X d3 1 9 R X d3 B X f2 because White would have compensation in the form of his active rook and bishop and the slightly awkward placing of the black king and knight. Instead he retains his bishop-pair for a while. 18 . . .Rd8 19 Nb2 Kf7 Covering the bishop by means of the back-rank threat; also the natural development 20 Nd2 is prevented (20 . . .Be2). 20 Rd2 Be6 21 B Xe7 Again a reluctant decision, but otherwise how is the knight at b 1 to be developed? And if 2 1 f3 at once, then 2 1 . . . Be3 22 Rc2 (or 22 Re2 Be l 23 g3 B X b2 24 B X b2 Rd l + 25 Kg2 Rhd8 etc.) Rd7 and White is still tied up. 21 . . .K Xe7 22 £3 Ba5 23 Rc2 23 Rd3 R X d3 24 N X d3 Rd8 would hardly be any improvement. 23 . . .Rd7 24 Na3 Rhd8 25 h4! The defence of the back row must take priority and White avoids both Dia.gra.m 1

g3 and h3 on general positional grounds; h3 would allow a fixing operation by . . . g5, . . h5 and . . . h4, while g3 would leave the whole second rank exposed. The only other move, Kg l , obviously gives the black-square bishop tactical chances, e.g. 25 Kg l Rd2 26 R X d2 R X d2 27 Nac4 B X c4 28 N X c4 B X c3 29 Rc l Bd4 + . 2 5 . . .Rd2 26 Na4 Rd 1 + There is no point in exchanging at c2; the white a-pawn is the next target. 27 R X d 1 RXd 1 + 28 Kh2 Ra 1 Notice how the bishops penetrate into every corner of the position; if now 29 c4? Bb4 suddenly traps one of the knights I In the circum­ stances White takes his only chance; he counter-attacks with his knights against the weak pawns. 29 Nc5 RXa2 29 . . . B X a2 is at least as good, perhaps better, as Black would keep his powerful rook. In addition White would be left short of good moves, e.g. 30 N X a6? Bb3. 30 RXa2 B X a2 3 1 Na4 Again, 3 1 N X a6 B X c3 is useless - the bishops would dominate the board and the c-pawn would be home in no time (32 N X c7? Be5 + ) If now 3 1 . . . Bb3 32 Nc5 Bd l (or 32 . . . Bf7 33 Na4, and the job of dislodging the knights is uncom­ monly difficult) 33 Nb l Be2 34 Kg3 Bb6 35 Nb3 the knights are better placed, though the position could hardly be held in the long run. Black wants more, however, and he plays to keep the front knight out of c5 altogether. 3 1 . . .Kd6! 32 Kg3 (Diagram 2) Bb3 33 K£4 1 22

No need to move the attacked knight yet; the only resource is a rapid king march, since he will soon have to abandon a piece without even winning the a-pawn for it. 33 . . .c5(?) This is really a waste of time. The simplest line is 33 . . .B X a4 at once, when we have 34 Nc4 + Kc5 35 N X a5 Kb5 36 Kf5 (not 36 Nb7 Kb6 37 Nd8 Bb3 ' and the pawn runs in) K X a5 37 h5 (if 37 Ke6 Bb3 + 38 Ke7 Kb5 39 Kf8 a5 and wins) Bb3 38 h6 g X h6 39 K X f6 Kb5 40 f4 a5 4 1 e5 a4 42 f5 a3 43 e6 a2 and White remains a piece down. 34 Kf5 B Xa4 35 Nc4+ KeG 3G N Xa 5 + Kb5 37 KeG As in the previous note, the knight must be abandoned, since 37 Nb7 Kb6 38 Nd8 Bb3 leaves him no hope of catching the a-pawn. 37 . . .K Xa5 38 Kf7 Black's most straightforward winning line is now 38 . . . Kb6 39 K X g7 Be8 !, stopping the Diagram 2

h-pawn; if then 40 g4 (40 K X h7, Kf8 and f4 are all answered by 40 . . . a5) a5 4 1 h5 a4 42 K X h7 a3 43 Kg7 a2 44 h6 a 1 /Q 45 h7 Q X c3 wins . Instead he plays to attack the white pawns with his bishop, which still wins, but takes longer. However, the queen ending which soon follows contains some ingenious tactical points which would never have arisen had he chosen the most accurate line I 38 . . .Bb5 39 K Xg7 Bf l 40 g4 Taking either pawn would cost him two of his own and would be quite hopeless, but this way guarantees the promotion of the h-pawn within a few moves. 40 . . .Bg2 40 . . . Be2 is also playable, e.g. 4 1 f4 B X g4 42 KXh71 (the h-pawn in this case is more dangerous than the two connected passed pawns which would appear after 42 K X f6) and now both (i) 42 . . . Kb6 43 Kg6 a5 44 h5 B X h5 + 45 K X h5 a4 46 e5 and (ii) 42 . . . Bf3 43 Kg6 1 B X e4 + 44 f5 Bf3 45 h5 B X h5 + 46 K X h5 lead to the same ending as in the text. 41 f4 B Xe4 42 h5 (Diagram 3) KbG Not 42 . . . Bf3 43 K X h7 B X g4 44 h6 Bf5 + (forced) 45 Kg7 Kb6 46 K X f6 Bh7 47 Kg7 Bc2 48 h7 and White queens first, after which he protects his last pawn and the win is much more difficult. 43 hG a5 44 f5 a4 45 K Xh7 a3 4G KgG a2 47 h7 a l/Q 48 h8/Q Q Xc3 Now, in spite of the extra black piece, White has very definite counter-chances with his pawns. 1 23

Djagram 3

He cannot take at f6 immediately, because the c-pawn would be too fast for him, nor will 49 g5 suffice, because of 49 . . . B X f5 + 5 0 K X f5 Q X e 5 + etc. The move cho?en is his best chance and obhges Black to withdraw the bishop; the objection to it is that the queen will then be none too well placed to harass the enemy king. 49 Qb8 + Bb7 Not 49 . . . Kc6? 50 QaB + 50 g5 (Diagram 4) £Xg5! Black's plan now consists of allowing the white pawn to queen and estabhshing his own g-pawn on the seventh. The threat to queen will then be strong enough to force a transition to a winning queen + doubled pawn vs. queen ending. In the intervening moves his king will have sufficient protection even in the presence of two enemy queens. In view of the threat 5 1 g X f6 he can really do very httle else, though the correctness of the idea could only be estabhshed beyond doubt under the conditions of correspon­ dence play 5 1 £6

5 1 K X g5 Qg7 + is naturally useless. 51 . . .g4 52 £7 g3 53 £8/Q g2 The queens have no chance of getting to grips with the black king in the short time available, so the following move is compulsory. If instead 54 Qh6 (the only way of getting a check l) g l /Q + 5 5 Kh7 + c6 5 6 Qd8 + Ka7 and the checks run out. 54 Qf2 Qd3 + ! A precise queen manoeuvre now forces the required liquidation. 55 Kg5 Alternatives are as follows: (a) 55 Kg7 Qd4 + 56 Q X d4 c X d4 and wins. (b) 55 Kf6 or 55 Kf7 Qf l and wins. (c) 55 Kh5 Qh7 + 56 Kg4 or 56 Kg5 g l /Q + and wins. (d) 55 Kh6 Qd6 + 56 Kg5 (or 56 Kg7 Qd4 + and otherwise 56 . . .Qh2 with check) Qd4 ! and White can neither take the pawn nor exchange queens, nor check anywhere I 55 . . .Qd4 Simply transposing into (d) above. Djagram 4

1 24

Diagram 5

White tries his last desperate chance, but a doubled pawn normally wins in the ensuing ending, because of the extra protection afforded to the king. 56 Q Xb7 + KXb7 57 Q Xg2+ Kb6 58 Qa8 Qe5 + 59 Kh6 (Diagram 5) The weaker king belongs as far away as possible in order to avoid cross-checks which would exchange queens, but this does not suffice here. In addition to White's other troubles, the enemy queen is already ideally placed in the centre. 59 . . . c4 60 Qb8 + Kc5 61 Qa7 + Kd5 62 Qa2 Or 62 Qa8 + c6 63 Qa5 + Ke6, which is similar to the game. 62 . . . Kd6! 63 Qa6 + Ke7 Retreating away from the pawns is quite in order as long as the checks are stopped and the front pawn is

permitted to crawl on one more square. 64 Qa2 c3 65 Qc2 c5 66 Qh7 + Kd6 67 Qd3 + Qd4 68 Qa6 + If 68 Qg3 + Kc6 69 Qf3 + Kb6; if 68 Qg6 + Kc7 69 Qf7 + Kb6 70 Qe6 + Ka5 7 1 Qa2 + Qa4. There are many such variations, but the king always finds shelter among the pawns. 68 . . .Ke5 69 Qe2 + Kd5 10 Qa2 + Ke4 7 1 Qa8 + Or 7 1 Qc2 + Ke3 72 Qc 1 + Qd2 and Black checks next time . If 7 1 Qg2 + Kd3 72 Qg6 + Kd2 73 Qg2 + Kc l 74 Qf l + Qd 1 wins. 7 1 . . .Ke3 72 Qa3 Kf2 ! Stopping the checks altogether and having in mind some additional tactical points. 73 Kh7 c2 74 Qa2 Black's double threat was to exchange queens by 74 . . . Qh4 + or check twice at h4 and g5 and then promote the pawn. There was no king move to prevent this and if instead 74 Qc l Qd3 + 75 K any Ke2 ! smothers the queen and threatens 76 . . . Qd2, answering any queen move by 76 . . Qc4 + or . . . Qc3 + , according to where the king has moved. 74 . . . Ke3! A neat finish; White cannot take the pawn, nor check, nor cover c l . 0- 1.

1 25

GAME 34

White: Kotov Black: Bednarski France, 1 968

(Diagram) The rook and knight are much less likely to be able to construct the kind of fortress position against the queen which a rook and bishop sometimes can. With equal pawns and with a white passed pawn already in existence one would expect the queen to win fairly easily, but care must be taken; if 1 b6 N X b6 2 Q X b6 Rf4 we have an abnormal situation where the queen can never win. If Black just moves his king between g6, g7 and h6, or his rook from f4 to d4, the queen alone can never overcome the only possible weakness at f6 and of course the white king is permanently shut out. To make any progress White must somehow provoke another weakness in his opponent's game, but the method of doing this is far from obvious. First the king is tucked away:

1 Kf2 Rd2+ 2 Kg l He must play here, although it gives Black the chance of a tactical stroke; if 2 Kf 1 Rd 1 + just repeats, because 3 Ke2 is unplayable, while 2 Ke 1 Re2 + 1 3 Kf1 (3 Kd 1 Nc3 + is the well-knowp 'drawing apparatus') Rd2 4 Kg 1 (or 4 Qd7 + Kg6 5 Ke 1 Rd4 etc.) just leads back into the game. 2 . . .Rd l + Reluctantly rejecting 2 . . . R X g2 + , as his pieces would then be compromised just long enough for the white pawn to become too

dangerous, i.e. 3 Kh 1 Rd2 (3 . . .Nf4 4 Qe7 + and 5 b6 cannot be allowed) 4 Qd7 + Kg6 5 b6 and Black has to surrender his rook after 5 . . . Rb2 6 b7 Nf4 (6 . . .Ne3 is no better; he cannot organise perpetual check 7 Qc8 Rb 1 + 8 Kh2 Rb2 + 9 Kg 1 etc.) 7 Qc8 Rb 1 + 8 Kh2 Rb2 + 9 Kg 1 N X h 3 + 1 0 K f 1 . After this the ending of queen + pawn against knight + 4 pawns would be quite lost for Black as it would be impossible to defend everything against a rapid invasion by the king. 3 Kh2 Rd4 4 f4! ! A highly original method of weakening Black's pawn structure which exploits the rather tense position which his pieces have had to assume. Now 4 . . . N X f4 is defeated by 5 Qe7 + Kg6 6 b6 and the pawn is away, costing Black his rook. If 4 . . . e X f4 the pin 5 Qd7 + Kg6 6 b6 is equally deadly, while at the same time White's thrust clearly cannot be ignored, so 4 . . .g X£4 5 b6 N Xb6 1 26

Obviously forced, but a different situation now obtains from that mentioned in the introductory note, owing to the weakness of the black h-pawn. The result is that the rook can no longer hold the queen ! 6 Q Xb6 Kg6 7 Qc6 Threatening 8 Qc8 and Qg4( + ) when the h-pawn falls, or if e.g. 7 . . . Kg5 8 Qc8 f5 9 Qg8 + and 1 0 Qh8 + winning a pawn. This looks deadly and Black's next move is in fact his only fighting chance, protecting his h-pawn. 7 . . .f3( ! ) 8 Q Xf3 Not 8 g X f3?; he must keep the move g3 in hand to create a passed pawn. After 8 g X f3 the game is almost certainly drawn. 8 . . .Kg5 9 Qb7 e4 Black is tempted into advancing

GAME 35

the pawn as quickly as possible, as White may have hoped, and so loses his h-pawn. Had he refrained from this and played, say, 9 . . Rf4, White would have won more slowly by g3 and the advance of the h-pawn. 10 Qg7 + Kf5 1 1 Qg4+ Ke5 12 Qh5 + White has spotted an ideal square for his queen behind the black e-pawn, which is why he provokes . . .£5. 12 . . .f5 13 Q Xh4 e3 14 Qe7 + Kf4 1 5 Qe6 ! Permanently stopping any progress by Black, as 1 5 . . . Re4 is dealt with by 1 6 g3 + Kg5 1 7 h4 + Kg4 18 Qg6 + and Black loses everything. 15 . . .Rd2 16 h4 1-0.

White: Lukacs Black : Marszalek Budapest, 1 976 Queen's Gambit Accepted

1 d4 d5 2 c4 d Xc4 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 e3 Bg4 5 B Xc4 e6 6 h3 Bh5 7 Nc3 Nbd7 8 0-0 Bd6 9 Be2 0-0 10 e4 e5 1 1 d Xe5 N Xe5 12 Nd4 B Xe2 13 QXe2 Ng6 14 Nf5 Be5 15 f4 B Xc3 16 b Xc3 Re8 17 e5 Nd5 18 Qf3 Nb6 19 Rd 1 Qc8 20 Qg4 Qe6 2 1 Rd3 Qc4 22 Rg3 Nd5 23 Rf3 N Xc3 24 Kh2 Nd5 25 Ne3 N Xe3 26 B Xe3 Qe6 27 Qh5 Ne7 28 Rc 1 g6 29 Qg5 Race 30 g4 Nd5 31 Bd4 Qe7 32 Qh6 Qb4 33 Rd 1 c5 34 Ba 1 Qe4 35 e6 f6 36 Kg3 RXe6 37 f5 g Xf5 38 g Xf5 Re7 (Diagram l )

White has been pressing hard for the attack at the cost of material on the Q-side and still has threats, but Diagram 1

1 27

Black has correctly centralised and is on the point of repulsing him and taking the initiative himself. White therefore decides on a queen sacrifice to keep his attack alive. 39 RXdS! Black was threatening 39 . . .Rg7 + etc. and the knight must in any case be eliminated if White is to generate any real threats. 39 Rg7 + After 3 9 . . Q X d5 4 0 Q X f6 Rcc7 (the only move; if 40 . . .Ree8 or 40 . . .Rce8 4 1 Qh8 + and mate next move; if 40 . .Rec7 4 1 QhB + Kf7 42 Qg7 + Ke8 43 Re3 + Kd8 44 Bf6 + and mate; if 40 . . . Qd7 4 1 Qh8 + Kf7 42 Qg7 + and mate next move) 4 1 Qh8 + Kf7 42 Q X h7 + Ke8 43 Qg6 + Kd7 (or 43 . . . Rf7) 44 f6 the position is still unclear, but now White is obliged to sacrifice. 40 Q Xg7+ If 40 Kf2 Qb 1 ! and Black gets a mating attack after 4 1 B X f6 Qg 1 + 42 Ke2 Rg2 + 43 Kd3 Qb 1 + 44 Kc4 (44 Kc3 Qc2 mate or 44 Ke3 Qc 1 + ) b 5 + and mate at c2. 41 Q X f6 leads to very similar lines, e.g. 4 1 . . . Qg 1 + 42 Ke2 Rg2 + 43 Kd3 Qb 1 + 44 Ke3 Qc 1 + 45 Kd3 Rd2 + 46 Ke4 Re2 + and mates, while defensive moves such as 4 1 Qe3 are likewise ineffective. 40 K Xg7 41 Rd7 + White's sacrifice may seem desperate, especially since it was compulsory, as his forces remain scattered and Black keeps his queen well-placed in the centre and has two extra Q-side pawns . It may .

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indeed be that Black should win with accurate play, but the position is a little deceptive and his king is in some danger. The chief threat is the capture of the f-pawn and the subsequent advance of the white passed pawn, supported by the rooks. Black now plays his king to the dangerous square h6 in order to have the check at g8 available and generally to avoid a passive position. After 4 1 . . . Kf8 42 B X f6 (not 42 R X h7? Kg8 and 43 . . . Qe 1 + ) the following are some sample variations: (a) 42 . . . c4 43 Bc3 Ke8 44 R X h7 Rc5 1 (44 . . . a6 45 Rh8 + Kd7 46 R X c8 K X c8 47 f6 and Black will be fighting to draw) 45 Rh8+ Kf7 46 f6 Qg6+ 4 7 Kf2 Qc2 + and perpetual check looks the safest for both sides. (b) 42 . . . Qe 1 + 43 Kg2 (43 Kg4 Qe4 + 44 Rf4? is too dangerous - 44 . . . Qg2 + 45 Kh4 Rc6 1 46 Bg5 h6 etc.) Qe2 + 44 Kg3 and again a draw by perpetual check seems unavoidable. 41 Kh6 42 Bc3 Preparing his attack on the king with an immediate mate threatand also securing the bishop and stopping checks . Taking the pawn leads to a clear loss as follows : 42 B X f6? Rg8 + 43 Kf2 Qc2 + 44 Ke3 (44 Kf 1 Qg2 + or 44 Ke 1 Rg 1 + 45 Rf 1 Qc l + ) Qc l + 4 5 Ke4 (45 Kd3 Qd 1 + or 45 Ke2 Rg2 + 46 Rf2 Qc2 + or 45 Kf2 Qg 1 , again finally skewer­ ing king and rook) ReS+ and now (a) 46 Be5 Qe 1 + and wins; (b) 46 Re7 Qc4 + 47 Ke3 (or .

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1 28

Diagram 2

47 Ke5 Qd4 + and . . . Qe4 + ) R X e 7 + 4 S B X e7 Qd4 + and wins; (c) 46 Be7 Qb 1 + 47 Ke5 (or 47 Kf4 Qb4 + and . . . Qe 1 + ) Q e 1 + 4 S Kf6 Qh4 + 49 Kf7 Qh5 + and wins. 42 . . . Rg8 + 43 K£2 Qh4+ Not of course 43 . . . Qc2 + ? 4 4 Bd2 + Rg5 45 h4. 44 Kf l With his king unable to free itself from the mating net, Black now has to decide between an immediate perpetual check by 44 . . . Qc4 + 45 Kf2 Qh4 + (which White obviously dare not avoid by 45 Ke 1 ? Rg 1 + etc.) and the move played, which is a winning attempt, though temporarily passive. 44 . . .Rh8 45 Bd2 + Kh5 (Diagram 2) White must take great care now; he has several pieces hanging and therefore in potential danger from the black queen, and he must maintain his attacking momentum, which is the only saving chance in view of his material deficit. In addition, waiting moves are hard to

come by. If, for example, 46 Kg2 RgS + 47 Kh2 h6 and if then 4S Rh7 Rg5 1 breaks the attack and still leaves Black with a winning ending after 49 B X g5 Q X g5 50 R X b7 Qd2 + . If 4 6 Rf7?? Qc4 +, while 46 R X b7 Qe4! forces 47 Rbb3 and then 47 . . . ReS, when White's attack is a thing of the past. Finally, attacking the weakness from the side by 46 Rd6 permits 46 . . . RfS and the attempt at repetition by 47 Rd7 fails against 47 . . . Rf7 1 46 Rg7 Undoubtedly the best chance, though still not quite adequate. The threat is 47 Rg4, so Black has little choice. 46 . . . Qc4+ 47 K£2 Now something strange happens. Black should play simply 47 . . .Q X a2, when 4S Ke2 allows him a winning counter-attack or an exchange of pieces by 4S . . .ReS + . 4 S Rd3 is likewise unplayable because of 4S . . . c4-c3, so 4S Rd7 would be forced, when White's major attacking piece has been diverted. After that Black should soon win by . . . h6, freeing his rook, or just by advancing his pawns. Instead of this Black seeks to win the a -pawn with check, but by driving the bishop to a better square he actually loses time and involves himself in considerable difficulties. 47 . . .Qd5? 48 Be3 The bishop is forced to move, but has a bright future at f2 . 48 . . . QXa2 + 49 K£ 1 Unfortunately 49 Kg3 RgS will not do. 49 . . . Qd5 1 29

For the next few moves Black can always take the option of perpetual check by (here) 49 . . . Qc4 + , since the white king dare not wander across to either the g- or d-file. However, he still hopes for more. 50 K£2 aS 5 1 R£4 ! White suddenly shows his teeth and the black king's position becomes critical. The immediate threat is 52 Kg3 and if 52 . . . Kh6 53 Rfg4+ and mate. 5 1 . . . Qh 1 52 Kg3 Qe 1 + 53 B£2 Qe5 Forced. Not 53 . . Qc3 + ?? 54 Kg2 Kh6 55 Rg3 and wins . 54 K£3 Kh6 Black spurns his last chance for a repetition by 54 . . . Qd5 + 55 Kg3 Qe5 The move chosen involves him in a rook sacrifice to free his king, after which the ending is problematicaL 55 Rd7 RgB To avoid a rather dubious ending with three pawns for a piece, which would arise after 55 . . . b5 56 Rh4 + Kg5 57 Rg7 + K X f5 58 Rh5 + Ke6 59 R X e5 + f X e5 60 B X c5 . Black might draw this position, but the white pieces are well-placed and on the whole the bishop should be worth more than the scattered pawns. 56 Rh4+ Kg5 57 Rg4+ K X£5 58 RXg8 (Diagram 3) The balance of material is now so unusual that it becomes quite hard to analyse or form judgments Black will try to keep his queen centralised and use her to support his passed pawns and to make it dangerous for White to leave any of his pieces unprotected. White in turn must keep his forces co­ ordinated, both to generate threats

against the king and to harass the advancing pawns. On the whole he is likely to have to deal with the pawns first, as the creation of mating threats will be a rather slow process. 58 . . .Qe4+ 59 Kg3 Q£4+ 60 Kg2 Qe4+ 6 1 Kg 1 Evidently White has now decided to try for more than a draw, and so avoids the repetition. The black pawns in fact are quite vulnerable to attacks from behind, since they are not very far advanced, and the loss of one of them is inevitable. 61 . . .Qb 1 + If 6 1 . . . b5 62 B X c5? Qb l + and 63 . . . Qa2 + or . . . Qc2 + wins, but 62 ReS c4 63 Rc5 + Ke6 64 Ra7 Qb l + 65 Kh2 would be similar to the game. If then 65 . . . Qf l 66 Ra6 + Kf7 67 Rf5 is very strong. If 61 . . . b6 62 Rb8 Qb 1 + 63 Kh2 Qf l 64 Kg3, when 64 . . . b5 allows 65 Rd5 + and 64 . . Qb5 65 Rbd7 also favours White. 62 Kh2 c4 62 . . . Qa2 63 Rg2 also loses Diagram 3

1 30

a pawn. G3 Rd5 + KeG G4 RXaS b5 G5 Rg l The other try would be 65 Rb8 Qf 1 66 Kg3 Qd3 + 67 Kg2 Qd5 + 68 Kg l Qd l + , which leads to a t least a draw for Black; if he tries for more by 65 . . .b4, we have 66 Rb6 + (66 Ra4 Qc2 67 Ra6 + is less good) K£7 67 Ra7 + Kg6 and now: (a) 68 Raa6 Qb2 69 Kg3 (69 R X £6 + Q X £6 70 R X £6 + K X £6 7 1 Kg3 Ke5 72 K£3 b3 73 Be l Kd4 is bad) with a likely draw by perpetual check after 69 . . . Qe5 + , since 69 . . . b3 70 R X £6 + etc. would be a worse ending for Black than before. (b) 68 Rab7 b3 and neither side is likely to make much progress . The problem is clearly that White's king and bishop are too exposed for any real winning chances to be possible, so he returns his rook to the back rank and tries a different approach. GS . . .Qc2 GG Rg2 Qb3 Diagram 4

(Diagram 4) If 66 . . . b4 67 Ra6 + would win the £-pawn at once (67 . . .K£5 68 R X £6 + ) but in fact Black is soon obliged to surrender it anyway. G7 RaG+ The white forces are beginning to co-operate better. If now 67 . . .K£7 68 Bd4 c3 69 B X £6 ! Ke8 70 Ra7 c2 7 1 Re2 + and mates. 67 . . . Ke5 68 Bg3 + etc. and 67 . . . K£5 68 Bd4 both involve the loss of the £-pawn in a similar way, while 67 . . . Ke7 68 Rg7 + K£8 69 Rb7 loses at once. Black's best chance is to abandon the £-pawn and aim for shelter among his passed pawns, at the same time supporting them. G7 . . .Kd5 GB R XfG c3 Otherwise White has various ways of setting up mating attacks, and in addition the queen would be in danger of a skewer, e.g. 68 . . .b4? 69 Rg5 + Ke4 70 Re6 + K£4 7 1 Be3 + K£3 (7 1 . . . Q X e3 72 Rg4 + ) 72 Bd2 ! Qc2 73 Rg3 + K£2 74 Rg2 + K£3 75 Re3 + K£4 76 R£2 + Kg5 77 Re5 + and mates. G9 Bg3 69 Rg5 + Kc4 70 R£4 + Kd3 7 1 Rg3 + K any 72 Bd4 would win, but Black plays instead 69 . . . Ke4 70 Rg4 + Ke5 7 1 Bd4 + Kd5 72 Rf5 + Kd6, when the position is unclear. Therefore White organises his rooks as quickly as possible against the pawns. G9 . . .b4 70 Rf5+ Ke4 Best to keep the king working actively. If, for example, 70 . . . Ke6 7 1 Re5 + K£6 72 R£2 + drives him away and into possible danger. 1 31

7 1 Rgf2 Qb l 72 R5f4+ Ke3 73 R4f3 + �-�. White settles for a draw. Black is not really in a position to dispute this, as after 73 . . . Kd4 74 Rf4 + Kc5 75 Rf5 + Kc4 76 R2f4 + Kb3 77 Rb5 Qb2 + 78 Bf2 he would be in trouble. For his part White could have continued with 73 Rc4, when

73 . . . Kd3 74 Rc7 Qb3 (74 . . . b3 75 Rf3 + or 74 . . . c2? 75 RcX c2) 75 Bd6 leaves his opponent short of good moves. However, the immediate 73 . . . Qb3 74 Rc7 Qd5 1 leaves the queen much better placed and the enemy bishop much more constricted, after which a draw is a reasonable outcome.

1 32

7. Rooks

and minor pieces

This is the longest chapter and shows rooks, knights and bishops together in many different combinations. Rook and bishop against rook and knight is an ending which occurs frequently enough, and the first three games provide an opportunity to study it. In each case the bishop is the superior piece, though in No. 38 this is anything but obvious . No. 39 is rook and knight against rook and knight, again featuring the present World Champion, who takes maximum advantage of a more aggressive grouping of his pieces to defeat a powerful opponent. The theme here is the refusal (of both players) to win material prematurely, and even a willingness to sacrifice for the initiative. The next set of games covers rook and bishop against rook and bishop, No. 40 being my own favourite of the whole collection Vaganian wins the exchange for a pawn early on, but returns the material at once, preferring the solid positional advantage of a passed pawn which can be held indefin­ itely at b6. By the time Black comes to terms with this pawn, the game is decided elsewhere on the board No. 4 1 is a difficult manoeuvring game, bristling with possible exchange sacrifices for both sides I The last phase involves a rook trying unsuccessfully to fight off four united passed pawns. No. 42 returns to technique and includes a number of stratagems commonly seen in rook + opposite bishop endings Nos. 43 and 44 are related to No. 1 1 and deal with positions where the pawns are confined to one side of the board. The two remaining games of the chapter are much more original In Rogoff-Csom nearly all the pawns disappear within the first few moves and we witness a terrific clash of pieces in the centre of an open board In spite of the appalling danger to his king, White survives into a drawn ending, but blunders it away almost at the finishing line. No. 46 (Averbach-Hug) is another most attractive ending, with White sacrificing a piece to create a host of tactical chances for his rooks and aggressive king.

GAME 36

White: Radulov Bulgaria, 1 979

Black: Kavalek Sicilian Defence

12 B X£6 B X£6 13 Q Xd6 Qb6 14 Qd2 Rad8 15 Qe3 B X c3 16 Q Xb6 RXd 1 + 1 7 RXd 1 a Xb6 1 8 b Xc3 B Xe4 (Diagram 1 )

1 e4 c5 2 N£3 d6 3 d4 c Xd4 4 Q Xd4 Nc6 5 Bb5 Bd7 6 B Xc6 B Xc6 7 Nc3 N£6 8 Bg5 e6 9 0-0-0 Be7 10 Rhe 1 0-0 1 1 Kb 1 Qc7 1 33

front b-pawn. In other words, this is where tactics have to be blended with general considerations; if the b-pawns cannot be successfully attacked, they are not weak, however ugly they may appear. 19 Rd4 By 1 9 Rd6 Bc6 20 Nd4 B X g2 2 1 R X b6 White would weaken himself further, without any corresponding gain; for example 2 1 . . .Rc8 22 Kb2 Bd5 23 Nb5 (Against quiet play Black continues . . . Kf8-e7, then . . .£6 and . . . e5) 23 . . .K£8 24 Nd6 Rc6 and the minor piece ending is very bad for him. If 1 9 Rd7 Bc6, and any attempt to stir up complications will rebound, for instance: 20 Re7 Rc8 2 1 Ng5 B X g2 22 N X f7 K£8 23 Nd6 (23 Rd7 Bc6) Rd8 24 R£7 + (or 24 R X e6 Bd5) Kg8 and wins. If here 20 Rc7, variations involving the sacrifice of the £-pawn are not clear because the rook is now out of range of Black's king. However, Black could play 20 . . .h6 2 1 Kb2 Rd8 22 Ne5 B X g2 23 N X £7 (23 R X £7 Rd5) Rd5 !, trapping the knight. Then 24 c4 R£5 25 Nd6 R X f2 26 N X b7 Be4 wins without much trouble. 19 . . . Bc6 20 Rb4 Rd8 2 1 Kc 1 If 2 1 R X b6 Rd 1 + 22 Kb2 Rf l , Black wins his pawn back at once, with more to follow. 2 1 . . .b5 22 c4 The only way to get any play. If 22 Nd4 B X g2 23 R X b5 Bd5, followed by . . .e5, is very good for Black. 22 Ne 1 is another possibility, but very slow, e.g. 22 . . .e5 23 £3 £6 24 Nd3 K£7 and Black

Diagram 1

To judge this position accurately we have to list the advantages which each side can claim; White has control of the only open file and the black b-pawns seem to be weak (his own Q-side pawns have the king to protect them). He is also slightly ahead in development. Black has two half-open files (a­ and c-) along which his rook may penetrate - . . .Ra8-a5 and thence to f5, g5 or h5, for example - and he has a healthy K-side majority of pawns while White's majority can only produce a passed pawn with great difficulty. Furthermore, his bishop is much superior to the knight in this open position, and several white pawns make suitable targets for it. If these advantages seem to be balanced, or to weigh slightly in Black's favour, we need to look again. It is the relative strength of the minor pieces which matters here, and Black's overall advantage is actually quite substantial. The power of the bishop is such that White cannot use the cl-file and can only make a feeble attack on the 1 34

makes progress by . . . b6, . . .Ke6 and the steady advance of his K -side pawns. 22 . . .bXc4 23 RXc4 Ra8 24 Rd4 Not 24 Kb2? Bd5. 24 . . .f6 25 Kb2 eS 26 Rd2 There is no point in trying to remain on the fourth rank. If 26 Rb4, not only is there danger in leaving the cl-file to the opponent, but Black can simply centralise his king and continue with the K-side advance. 26 Rh4 merely encourages 26 . . . g5 etc. 26 . . .Ra4 (Diagram 2) Black has made tangible progress . He has gained space in the centre and driven the enemy pieces into passive positions, and is now ready to hit the K-side pawns with his rook. All the time he has resisted the temptation to play . . . B X £3 . Although this would have broken up the white pawns, it would have squandered all the advantages of having a much superior minor piece and also left the b-pawn vulnerable. However, the game is now reaching the point where this exchange may become a real threat, since it may cost White at least a pawn. 27 Ne l White's intention (much the best chance) is to abandon the pawn at once and activate his knight. 27 . . . Rg4 is not quite a threat on account of 28 Ne l B X g2? 29 £3, but it remains a potential hazard, so how would Black continue his attack after the plausible alternative 27 h3 ? He can slip up here by grabbing a pawn too soon; if 27 . . . B X £3? 28 g X £3 Rh4 29 Rd7 b5 30 Rb7 R X h3

Diagram 2

3 1 R X b5 R X £3 32 a4, the a-pawn is dangerous, to say the least. A similar thing happens if Black collects the two £-pawns instead. His choice therefore lies between: (i) the direct 27 . . . R£4; (ii) the more subtle 27 . . .Re4, which stops 28 Ne l and almost paralyses White, but does just allow 28 g3; (iii) 27 . . . Kf7(-e6), covering the sensitive spot at d7 and generally developing, but perhaps giving White time to consolidate a little. Analysis indicates that the three moves are of about equal value. If 27 . . .R£4 28 Ne l , there are no forcing lines for Black, but he would keep a clear advantage by 28 . . . Rb4 + 29 Kc3 Rb l 30 Re2 g5 1, preventing the consolidation by g3 and h4. If White then plays g3, his h-pawn is a target for the bishop (or, if h4 thereafter, both remaining pawns are extremely weak). If he avoids g3, Black has . . . h5-h4, fixing the pawns on white squares. 27 . . . Re4 is interesting, because White dare not move his rook and 1 35

permit . . . Re2, and his king's mobility is also rather limited. If he tries 28 g3, then 28 . . . Rb4 + 29 Kc3 Rb 1 30 Rd8 + Kf7 3 1 Nd2, followed by h4, leaves him relatively safe; but Black can do better - 28 . . .g5 1 again; then 2 9 h4 g4 30 Nh2 (30 Ng 1 is worse) Bb5 1 3 1 f3 g X f3 32 N X f3 Re3 33 Rf2 Bc6 and wins . If White simply marks time by 28 Kc3, the plan is once again . . . Kf7-e6 and . . . g5, . . . h5, etc. Black's third possibility (27 . . . Kf7 at once) seems likely to transpose into one of the other lines . Although White then has a choice of defences, he can never really solve the problem. Because his pieces are inferior to the black ones, his K-side pawns will never be safe, whether he moves them or not. 27 . . .Re4 28 Nd3 Rh4 29 g3 RXh2 30 Nc5 Perhaps it looks easy for Black now? He is certainly winning, but his rook is temporarily out of play and the knight is active. He has three possible plans: (a) . . .h5, . . . g5 and . . .h4, with a passed pawn; (b) . . . h5 and . . .h4, delaying the creation of a passed pawn, but activating his rook (as played); (c) . . . Kf8-e7 first, before making a decision. (c) is a bit slow, and also has a tactical objection, viz. 30 . . . Kf8 (or 30 . . . Kf7 3 1 N X b7) 3 1 Ne6 + Kf7 32 Nd8 + and 33 N X c6, when the a-pawn is dangerous again. The problem with (a) is similar: 30 . . . h5 3 1 a4 g5 32 a5 h4 33 g X h4 g X h4 34 N X b7 1 etc. As usual, activating the rook

Diagram 3

turns out to be the best. 30 . . .h5 3 1 a4 h4! 32 g Xh4 RXh4 (Diagram 3) 33 Kb3 Straightaway the difference shows . 33 a5 Rb4 + 34 Nb3 (34 Kc3 Rb5 35 Nb3 Bd5) Rb5 35 Rd8 + Kf7 36 Ra8 g5 leaves the white pieces very badly placed. 33 . . .K£7 34 N X b7 Any further delay deprives him of the chance of counterplay (34 a5 Ke7). 34 . . .B Xa4 + 35 Ka3 Ke7 The bishop is a little short of squares and must be rescued first. Also Black wants to bring his king nearer to the enemy passed pawn. 36 Nd6 Bd7 37 c4 g5 The desirable simplifying move 37 . . .Rd4 leads, after 38 R X d4 e X d4 39 Nb5 B X b5 40 c X b5 Kd6 4 1 Kb4 Kd5 42 b6 Kc6 43 Kc4 KXb6 44 K X d4 Kc6 45 Ke4, to a pawn ending which would have been difficult to assess with certainty over the board. A few of these 2 vs. 1 positions are drawn, especially with the defending king 1 36

strongly placed, and in practice Black must have felt it was better to keep his rook, which is a good active piece, well placed for attacking the enemy pawns. 38 Kb4 £5 39 N£7 The knight is becoming something of a hability and without the following exchange White's counterplay would grind to a halt. 39 Kc5 is met by 39 . . .Rd4 !, which now seems to win by force (40 R X d4 e X d4 4 1 Nb5 BXb5 42 c X b5 d3 43 b6 Kd7), while 39 Ka5 Rd4 40 R X d4 e X d4 4 1 c5 Ke6(-d5) is also easy for Black. 39 . . .K X£7 40 RXd7+ KeG 41 Rd2 (Diagram 4) Obviously the best square for the rook. He cannot let the f-pawn go and have three black pawns to face, even if he won the black rook for his one pawn. Also, he may now use his rook behind the c-pawn, or shield his king on the b-file. 41 . . . e4 42 Kb5 Rh l 43 c5 Should White advance his pawn as quickly as possible, or take the

opportunity to shield his king (43 Rb2), or play behind his pawn (43 Rc2)? In fact, it doesn't seem to matter; Black's winning plan is the same in any event, i.e. to create two connected passed pawns, which will defeat the rook no matter what happens. For example, 43 Rc2 f4 44 c5 e3 and then: (a) 45 c6 e X f2 46 R X f2 Kf5 etc., sacrificing his rook when necessary; (b) 45 f3 g4 46 f X g4 f3 47 c6 f2 and wins; (c) 45 f X e3 f3 1 46 c6 g4 47 c7 Rh8 and wins, much as in the game. If 43 Rb2, the same thing happens. In fact, the shielding of the king is irrelevant; the speed of the pawns is what counts here. 43 . . .Rb l + 44 Ka6 Re i 45 Kb6 £4 46 c6 e3 47 f Xe3 (Diagram 5) If 47 Re2 Kd6 48 f X e3 R X c6 + 4 9 Kb5 Rc5 + 5 0 Kb4 f3 5 1 Rf2 g4 wins easily; or if here 49 Kb7 Rc7 + 50 Kb6 Re7, with a simple R + P vs. R finish. 47 . . .£3 ! Important to keep them connected. 47 . . .f X e3 48 Re2 Rc3 would be

Diagram 4

Diagram 5

1 37

much more difficult, if indeed Black could win at all. 48 c7 g4 49 Rd l Desperate, but if 49 Rf2 Ke5 50 Kb7 Ke4 etc. 49 . . .RXc7 50 K X c7 £2 5 1 Rd4 £ 1 /Q 52 R Xg4 Qc l + 53 Kb7 Q Xe3 54 Rb4 Forcing the win with queen vs. rook can be difficult against a determined defence (cf. B CM May 1 979, where a computer is involved), though the present game is a relatively straightforward case. There are three parts to it, once the king and the rook have come close together: (l ) Restrict the white pieces by forcing them near the edge; (2) Make them separate by using Zugzwang; (3) Win the rook by the appropriate series of checks . It is the third part which is hardest of all and most awkward to explain in books, since a maze of tedious variations is unavoidable. To become proficient you simply have to practise it a lot. 54 . . .Q£3 + 55 Kb6 Qc3 56 Kb5 Kd5 We are almost in a standard position where the king and rook are forced to separate. Black to move would play 57 . . . Qa3, completing stages ( l ) and (2) (58 Ra4? Qc5 + 59 Ka6 Kc6,

GAME 37

winning at once). 57 Ka4 Qd3 57 . . . Kc5 would waste time because of the stalemate trap, being answered by 58 Rb5 + (58 . . . Kc4? 59 Rc5 + ). Black therefore sets up a different type of Zugzwang to force the separation. 58 Ka5 Kc5 would now be immediately fatal. If 58 Rb3 Qa6 + 59 Kb4 Kd4 60 Rb2 Qb6 + 6 1 Ka3 Qa5 + 62 Kb3 Kd3 63 Rb 1 Qb5 + 64 Ka2 Qa4 + 65 Kb2 Kd2, and the king and rook have to part company again. 58 Rb5 + Kc4 59 Rb7 Another way might be 59 Rb4 + Kc5 60 Rb2 Qc4 + 6 1 Ka3 Qc3 + 62 Ka2 Kc4 and then: (a) 63 Rb 1 Qc2 + 64 Rb2 Qd 1 1 and the rook has to leave the king (65 Rb 1 Qa4 + 66 Kb2 Qb3 + 67 Kc 1 Qc3 + etc.). (b) 63 Kb 1 Qe 1 + 64 Kc2 (64 Ka2 Qd 1 ) Qa 1 , again forcing the separation. 59 . . .Qd l + 60 Ka5 Qd6 ! A neat finish If 6 1 Ra7 Qc5 + ; if 6 1 Rb6 Qa3 mate; if 6 1 Rb5 Qd8 + 62 Ka4 Qd7; if 6 1 Rb 1 Qd8 + 6 1 Rh7 Qe5 + 62 Kb6 Qd4+ 63 Ka6 Qa l + 0- 1 .

White: Karpov Black: Dueball Skopje Olympiad, 1 972 Sicilian Defence

The relative values of bishop and knight have been a source of argument for decades, and although nowadays we tend to adopt a more flexible approach to the problem, it can still be extremely difficult in borderline cases to judge which piece is likely to be superior. There are positions in which one player has all his pawns on squares of the same colour as his 1 38

bishop, and here the knight is obviously better. On the other hand, there are wide-open positions where the knight can obtain no foothold in the centre and where the bishop consequently outshines him . There are, however, hundreds of positions in between, of which the present game is a good example. The black knight establishes himself on what appears to be a nice strong square, but he has little influence in the relevant sector and cannot be switched easily from one wing to the other. The bishop's power is rather less obvious until one examines some variations more closely. Then it gradually becomes clear that he is much the better piece. Finally, one inherent weakness of the knight is the danger that, if he tries to undertake any constructive operations, the position may suddenly open up and favour the bishop however, it is not easy to see how he would make progress. The move chosen permits the exchange of black-square bishops in a situa­ tion where the black knight appears to be at least a match for the remaining bishop. But things are not quite so simple. 28 Rg 1 Nh3 The best; if he goes for the king by 28 . . .b4 29 aXb4 a X b4 30 c4 (not 30 c X b4 Rcb7), he only weakens his own pawn structure. 29 Re 1 Bf4 30 Bf5 B Xe3 31 RXe3 Nf4 32 Ka2 Kf8(?) His idea is partly to protect the seventh rank and partly to keep the white rook tied to the d-pawn (at present it can move away because Be6 + is the answer to . . .N X d5) Unfortunately, the king move leaves Black in difficulties because White is permitted to take the initiative and shortly to open up the Q-side with advantage. Instead 32 . . .b4 33 c X b4 a X b4 34 Rb3 Rcb7 35 a X b4 R X b4 36 R X b4 RXb4 37 Ka3 would give White excellent winning chances with his passed pawn, but 32 . . . a4, fixing the Q-side pawns, is a possibility worth considering, e.g. 33 b4 aXb3 + 34 K X b3 Ra7

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 c Xd4 4 N Xd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 g6 6 Be3 Nc6 7 f3 Bg7 8 Qd2 0-0 9 g4 N Xd4 10 B Xd4 BeG 1 1 0-0-0 Qa5 12 Kb 1 Rfc8 13 a3 Rab8 14 g5 Nh5 15 Nd5 Q Xd2 16 R Xd2 B Xd5 17 e Xd5 a6 18 Rg 1 b5 1 9 c3 aS 20 Ba7 Rb7 2 1 Be3 Be5 22 Ka2 Rcc7 23 Kb3 Rb8 24 Bd3 Nf4 25 Be4 f5 26 g Xf6 e Xf6 27 Rg4 g5 (Diagram l) In this position Karpov could have retained his bishop-pair for a while by 28 Bf5 (and if 28 . . . Nh3 29 Re4). After 28 . . . h5 29 Rg 1 h4, Diagram 1

1 39

(not 34 . . . Rc5 35 Re7, nor 34 . . . Rc4 35 Bd7 Rc5 36 Bc6) and Black has counterplay against the weak a-pawn. 33 b4 h6 34 Kb2 Re7? (Diagram 2) This is a serious mistake. Black's best chance of counterplay lay in occupying the a -file immediately by 34 . . .Ra7 and . . .RbaS, allowing the white pieces as little scope as possible and constantly threatening to penetrate to a3, should the white rook stray from the third rank. Notice that to exchange pawns first would be bad : 34 . . .a X b 4 35 c X b4 Ra7 3 6 Rc3 RbaS and if now 37 ReS + ? R X cS (not 37 . . . Ke7 3S R X aS R X aS 39 Rc2 1 Ra7 40 ReS N X d5, when either 4 1 RbS or RhS gives White a clear advantage) 3S B X cS Ke7 and White gets no further - 39 Bf5 Rc7, or 39 Rc2 N X d5. However, White has instead 37 Rdc2 ! N X d5 (otherwise White penetrates anyway) 3S ReS + (not 3S Rd3 Ne7 39 Be4 d5) R X cS (3S . . . Ke7? 39 R X aS R X aS Diagram 2

40 Be4 Ke6 4 1 Rd2) 39 R X cS + Kg7 40 RbS, obtaining united passed pawns (40 . . . Nc7 41 Bd3). These and similar variations show just how careful Black must be to avoid the premature opening of the position. 35 RXe7 K Xe7 36 Kb3 Threatening to take and hold the a-pawn; the king feels much more secure with a pair of rooks off the board. Now 36 . . .a4 + would only leave him with a weak pawn to defend, since c4 cannot be prevented in the long run. On the other hand, 36 . . . a X b4 37 K X b4 would leave the b-pawn woefully weak. 36 . . .RaB 37 c4 a Xb4 38 a Xb4 b Xc4+ 39 K Xc4 White's advantage now lies in the strong position of his king, supporting the passed pawn, and above all in the bishop, whose control over the relevant squares e6, d7 and cS enables him to do several jobs at once and eventually to combine with the rook, who will try to penetrate to the seventh rank. By comparison the black knight on his 'ideal' square cuts a very poor figure. With best play it is doubtful whether Black can survive from this point on. 39 . . .Kd8 40 Kb5 ! Kc7 If 40 . . . RbS + White abandons his b -pawn and we have an irresistible combined attack, typical of such positions: 4 1 Kc6 RXb4 42 K X d6 Rb6 + 43 Kc5 RbS (or 43 . . . Rb3 44 Ra2 and Black must retreat, since 44 . . . R X f3 45 RaS + and 46 d6 + is disastrous, or if 44 . . .Nd3 + 45 Kc4 - not 45 Kd6?? Rb6 mate l - N c l 46 Ra7 R X f3 1 40

47 Be6 and 48 d6 with a winning attack, or if 47 . . . Re3 48 Kc5-d6) 44 Ra2 and Black is helpless against the standard manoeuvre of Ra7, combined with d6 and Rh7; for example 44 . . . Rb 7 45 Ra8 + Ke7 46 d6 + , or 44 . . . Kc7 45 Ra7 + Rb7 46 d6 + Kb8 47 d7 1 4 1 Rc2+ Kb7 42 Bd7 If 42 Rc6 Black gets good counterplay by 42 . . Ne2 (not 42 . . .N X d5? 43 Be4) 43 Kc4 Ra3 !, meeting 44 R X d6? by 44 . . .Rc3 +. White therefore chooses another way to defend the pawn and also forces the black rook off the back rank for a reason that soon becomes clear. 42 . . .Ra3 If 42 . . .Rd8 43 Bc6 +, followed by 44 Ra2, White gets a powerful attack while the black rook remains totally passive. 43 Rc6 (Diagram 3) Rd3 A critical moment for Black. If 43 . . . R X £3 44 Ra6 Nd3 45 Bc6 + Kc7 46 Ra7 + Kc8 47 Ka5 Ne5 (or 47 . . .R£2 48 b5 Ra2 + 49 Kb6 etc.) 48 b5 with a winning position. If 43 . . Ne2 44 Bc8 + (which is why the black rook was invited to leave the back rank) Kb8 45 Kb6 Nc3 46 Be6 Na4 + 47 Kb5 Nc3 + 48 Kc4 Ne2 49 R X d6 R X £3 50 Rb6 + and the advanced pawns win easily. The text move aims to capture the cl-pawn safely. He could try 43 . . N X d5 44 R X d6, but he must then either abandon the £-pawn for nothing or play 44 . . N X b4 ! ?, when White would retain better winning chances with 45 R X £6 than 45 K X b4 R X £3.

Diagram 3

44 Rb6+ Kc7 45 BeG N Xd5 46 Rb7+ KcB An awkward square in some variations, but if 46 . . . Kd8 47 Rd7 + forces him back. 47 Rf7 Threatening 48 B X d5 R X d 5 + 49 Kc6, winning the rook. However, it looks as if 47 Rh7 would be even stronger because of the immediate attack on the pawn and the same threat to win the rook. Black has four choices : (a) 47 . . N£4 48 R X h6 £5 49 R£6 Rd2 50 R X £5 R X h2 5 1 R X g5 and the widely separated pawns win easily, especially since the bishop is now operating at full power; (b) 47 . . .Kd8 48 R X h6 Ke7 49 Kc4 N£4 50 Rh7 + Kd8 (50 . . .Ke6? 51 Bd7 + , or 50 . . .K£8 5 1 b5) 5 1 R£7 and wins; (c) 47 . . Nc7 + 48 Kb6, winning the knight; (d) 47 . . .Nc3 + 48 Kc4 Re3 (48 . . . Rd 1 49 Bb7 + and 50 K X c3) 49 Kd4 Nd 1 50 Ba4 and wins. 47 . . .KdB 48 Rd7 + KcB 49 R£7 KdB 50 Kc4 N£4 141

5 1 RX£6 At first sight 5 1 b5 seems to win rapidly, e.g. 5 1 . . . d5 + 52 Kc5 Kc8 53 Kd6 Kb8 54 b6, or 5 1 . . .Rd 1 52 b6 Rc l + (52 . . .Rb 1 53 b7 and the threat of 54 Rf8 + wins) 53 Kb5 Rb 1 + 54 Ka6 Ra 1 + 55 Kb7 and wins. Similar variations and in fact all direct attempts to stop the pawn fail, but Black has the extraordinary defence 5 1 . . .Ng6 1 . White then has: (a) 52 K X d3 Ne5 + 5 3 Ke4 N X f7 5 4 Kf5 Ke7 55 b6 Ne5 56 Bd5 Nd7 57 b7, when it is by no means clear that he can win; (b) 52 Rd7 + Kc8 53 K X d3 Ne5 + 54 Ke4 N X d7 55 Kf5 Ne5 56 Bd5 Kc7 57 K X f6 Kb6 and Black survives . 5 1 . . .d5+ If 51 . . . Kc7 52 R X f4? Ra3 would allow Black to regain his piece with a drawn ending. The right way would be 52 Kb5, threatening both 53 R X h6 and 53 Rf7, Kb6 etc. 52 Kc5 Not of course 52 B X d5? N X d5 53 Rf8 + Ke7. 52 . . .Ke7 53 RXh6 Rc3 + Something o f a dilemma for Black. If 53 . . . R X f3 54 B X d5 N X d5 55 K X d5 leaves White with an almost certain win because (a) his king is active and supports the passed pawn; (b) his rook is active and cuts off the enemy king; and (c) his other pawn is secure. However, the move chosen checks the king where he wants to go . 54 Kb6 RX£3 55 b5 (Diagram 4) g4? A serious mistake which loses rapidly. 55 . . . Rb3 was the best chance, but White keeps a clear

Diagram 4

advantage. The remainder of the game is not too difficult, but contains some interesting tactical turns . 56 Rh4 Rh3 57 RXg4 Ne2 If 57 . . . Nd3 58 Rg3 wins, or if 57 . . .Ne6 58 B X d5, threatening the pin 59 Re4. 58 Kc7 Not 58 B X d5? Nc3 when Black sacrifices the knight for both pawns, leaving the theoretically drawn (though difficult) rook + bishop vs. rook ending 58 . . . Rh7 59 b6 KeG + 60 Kd8 Nd4! Highly ingenious, but not quite adequate If instead 60 . . . Kd6 6 1 Rg6 + Kc5 62 b7 and wins . 6 1 RXd4 Kd6 62 B Xd5! White stops the mate by means of a discovered check. If now 62 . . Rh8 + 63 Bg8 + Kc6 64 Rg4 R X h2 (or 64 . . .K X b6 65 h4 etc ) 65 Rg6 +; if 62 . . . R X h2 63 b7 Rh8 + 64 Bg8 + Kc6 65 b8/N + I Kb7 66 Rb4 + Ka7 67 Kc7 and mates . 62 . . .Kc5 63 Rd2 K Xb6 64 Rc2 1-0. 1 42

GAME 38

White: Karpov Black: Polugaevsky Candidates' Quarter-final, Moscow, 1 974

Sicilian Defence

This game is a companion piece to No. 37. Karpov certainly does not have things all his own way from the start; in fact he is under severe pressure for some time. Still, the patient way he defends himself and makes the most of his slender chances is impressive in itself - there is more than a hint of Emmanuel Lasker here - and the final phase, which illustrates some deceptive positional features, is also of interest.

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 c Xd4 4 N Xd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Be2 e5 7 Nb3 Be7 8 0-0 BeG 9 f4 Qc7 10 a4 Nbd7 1 1 Kh 1 0-0 12 Be3 e Xf4 1 3 RXf4 Ne5 14 Nd4 Rad8 15 Qg 1 Rd7 16 Rd 1 Re8 17 Nf5 Bd8 18 Nd4 Ng6 19 Rff l Ne5 20 Bf4 Qc5 2 1 N XeG Q Xg 1 + 22 R X g 1 RXeG (Diagram 1 ) Black has at least equality at this stage. His knight is ideally posted at e5 and there is potential pressure against White's e-pawn; Black's own backward d-pawn is traditionally difficult to attack in this type of game. All this in addition to his normal prospects of play in the Diagram 1

c-file. White for his part has a strongpoint at d5 and for the moment a useful pair of bishops, one of which however is shortly exchanged. For the time beir.g he must see to his e-pawn, as . . . Ng6 is a distinct possibility 23 Bf3 Neg4 23 . . . Ba5 is less effective after 24 Nd5 N X d5 (not 24 . . . N X f3 25 g X f3, when White is making excellent use of his strongpoint, while his e-pawn is strengthened; nor 24 . . . Ng6 25 N X f6 + R X f6 26 Bg5 Re6 27 Bg4) 25 e X d5 Rf6 (to force the exchange of the bishop) 26 B X e5 (26 Bg5? N X f3 1 ) d X e5 27 c3 and White stands a little better. Black's advantages are of the dynamic kind; so he needs to play fairly sharply to make them felt before White has a chance to fasten onto d5. 24 Rgfl Bb6 25 Rd2 Be3 ! A good plan; 25 . . . Ne3 26 B X e3 B X e3 27 Rd3 would leave his game lifeless. 26 B Xe3? This is wrong because the black knight now reaches the classical Sicilian square c4 and is the main cause of White's future troubles. White is not forced to capture, as might appear at first glance, and 1 43

26 B X g4 N X g4 (26 . . . B X d2? 27 B X e6 loses material) 27 Re2 B X £4 28 R X £4 Ne5 29 Nd5 is best; the occupation of c4 is then by no means as serious as in the game and the position is about equal. 26 . .N Xe3 27 Rb 1 In anticipation of . . . Nc4. After 27 Re 1 Nc4 28 Rd4 Black could simply retain his pressure by 28 . . . Rc7, or go in for favourable complications: 28 . . . N X b2 29 Rb 1 Rc7 30 R X b2 R X c3 3 1 R X b7 R X c2 32 R X d6 (32 Rb8 + Re8 is worse) Rc l + 33 Rd 1 (or 33 Bd 1 R X e4 34 Rb8 + Ne8 35 Kg 1 g6) R X d 1 + 34 B X d 1 R X e4 35 Rb8 + Re8 36 R X e8 + N X e8 and Black should win. 27 . . .K£8 (Diagram 2) The plan is to bring the knight to c4, then the rook to c7 to produce threats like . . . N X b2. Therefore the king is centralised to give protection to the cl-pawn. There is no hurry for . . . Nc4, because White will not voluntarily weaken himself by b3, and Polugaevsky's choice of the safe king move could well be explained by time-pressure. Nevertheless, the earlier comments about playing sharply still hold good and he might have improved things with 27 . . .g5, which is played soon anyway as part of the plan to attack the e-pawn. After 27 . . . g5 28 Re2 Nc4 29 b3 (or 29 Re 1 g4 30 Bd 1 Nd2 3 1 Ra 1 Nd X e4 and the g-pawn is safe because of the fork at £2) Ne5 30 Re3 g4 3 1 Be2 White is under a lot of pressure . If 28 Nd5 NfX d5 29 e X d5 Re5 30 h3 (the only way to save the cl-pawn) £5 1 .

3 1 g4 £4 and the knight obviously dominates the board. 28 Kg 1 Rc7 29 K£2 White's Q-side position with knight at c3 and pawn at b2 is very brittle and easily upset by such moves as . . . Nc4( X b2) and . . .b5-b4, so he might have tried to re-group by 29 Re2 (which he may have avoided on account of . . . g5-g4) Nc4 30 Nd 1 (not 30 Nd5 N X d5 3 1 e X d5 R X e2 32 B X e2 Nd2 33 Re 1 Nb3, winning a pawn), though his game would remain dangerously passive. 29 Nc4 30 Rd3 g5 3 1 h3 Karpov may have been relying on his 32nd move to get himself out of trouble. This turns out to be insufficient, but the more natural 3 1 g3 also does not seem to save him. If 3 1 g3 Ne5 32 Rd4 Nfg4 + 33 B X g4 N X g4 + 34 Kg 1 Ne3 35 Re i Nc4 36 Rb l (36 b3? Ne5 37 Nd5 R X c2 38 R X c2 N£3 + ), White is holding on, though Black obviously keeps a strong initiative. Black's best plan however would be 3 1 . . . Rc5 1, keeping his options open and .

.

.

Diagram 2

1 44

providing this rook with several opportunities for play along the fourth rank. In his restricted state White would have great difficulty coping with the threat of . . .b5-b4, which would put both the c- and the e-pawns in danger. 3 1 . . .h5 32 Nd5 ! ? 32 g3 Rc5 would b e similar to the line suggested above, so this sharper move, although it should really have lost, may be the best chance in practice, especially in the run-up to the time-control. Ironically, Polugaevsky should now have played the move which has been recommended for positional reasons (32 . . . Rc5), but which is good this time because of its tactical effect. After 32 . . .Rc5 the threats are 33 . . . g4, winning the e-pawn, or 33 . . N X e4 + immediately, so White can only choose between 33 N X f6 and some counter-attacking move like 33 b4 (if 33 b3 Na3 wins a pawn, or if 33 Nc3 g4). Both can be disposed of quickly: if 33 b4 ReS, when White has nothing better than the exchange of knights, leading into something like the main variation, but with an additional weakness in his pawn structure, e.g. 33 b4 ReS 34 N X f6 R X f6 35 Kg3 h4 + 36 Kf2 Nb6, winning a pawn. If 33 N X f6 R X f6 and Black wins a pawn by the twin threats of 34 . . . g4 and 34 . . . Nb6 32 N Xd5? 33 RXd5 Ne5 34 c3 (Diagram 3) Suddenly the game has swung round. One can sympathise with Polugaevsky, who apparently still has a good ending with knight vs. inferior bishop and now .

.

Diagram 3

accentuates his black-square grip by another fixing move. The fact is though that the bishop is the better piece, as soon becomes clear. 34 . . .h4 With the unfortunate exchange at move 32 Black's chances for active play have largely vanished and it is White's occupation of d5 and pressure on the d-file which have become the relevant features. 34 . . N X f3 is not a very promising alternative; after 35 g X f3? g4! 36 R X h5 g X f3 37 K X f3 Rc4 Black is not too badly off, but 35 K X f3 1 leaves White very well placed, e.g.: (a) 35 . . . g4 + 36 Ke3 Rc4 37 Rd4, when both 37 . . . R X d4 3S c X d4 Ke7 39 Rc l Kd7 40 Rfl l and 37 . . . b5 3S aXb5 a X b5 39 h X g4 h X g4 40 Rf l put most of the black pawns into serious trouble. (b) 35 . . . Rc5 36 Rbd l R X d5 (36 . . .Ke7 37 R X c5 d X c5 3S Rd5) 37 R X d5 and White has a winning positional advantage. (c) 35 . . . Rce7 36 Re l (not 36 R X g5 R X e4 37 R X h5 Re3 +

.

1 45

38 Kf2 Re2 + 39 Kg 1 Rc2 with very strong counterplay) g 4 + (or 36 . . .f6 37 h4, or 36 . . .Rf6 + 37 Ke3 Re5 38 Red 1 Ke7 39 a 5 1 and White has a multitude of possibilities on the Q-side, such as c4-c5, or c4, R 1 d3 and Rb3) 37 h X g4 h X g 4 + 38 Kf4 f6 (otherwise 39 Rg5) 39 a51 and it can only be a matter of time before one of Black's weak points falls. Black should nevertheless have preferred 34 . . . Rf6 to the text move, as he keeps an extra tempo that way, e.g. 35 Kg3 h4 + 36 Kf2 Rc4 37 Rd4 Rc5 and he has some hopes of keeping the balance. 35 Rbd l Ke7 36 R ld4 Now the rooks are beautifully placed and Karpov throws his entire Q-side forward. Soon the bishop also supports the advance and the initiative begins to generate threats in a remarkably short time. 36 . . .£6 37 aS ReS 37 . . . Nc6 would only give him the temporary satisfaction of attacking the rook. After 38 Rd2 the pawns would advance in much the same way. 38 Be2 Kd8 39 c4 Kc7 What else? 39 . . .b6 may be the best chance, but then 40 b4 threatens 4 1 b5. If then 40 . . .b X a5 4 1 R X a5 leaves White a choice between the continued bombardment of the a-pawn and the creation of a passed pawn by b5 etc. If 39 . . .Ng6 or . . . Nd7, 40 Bg4 wins at least a pawn. 40 b4 After this Black is lost whatever he does. If now 40 . . .b6 4 1 b5 a X b5 42 c X b5 Rc5 43 a X b6+ K X b6 1 46

Diagram 4

44 R X d6 + wins easily. 40 . . .Ng6 4 1 b5 a Xb5 It may still not be quite clear how White is going to engineer a break­ through here, but we get the first glimpse of the real power of his position if Black tries to avoid giving him a passed pawn by playing 4 1 . . . Rc5. After that 42 b6 + 1 Kc6 43 Bd l is devastat­ ing, while any other king move loses the cl-pawn with worse to follow. 42 c Xb5 Rc2 The best chance, trying for a counter-attack with rook and knight. But it is too late; White gets a driving attack against the king. 43 b6+ ! (Diagram 4) Kd7 If 43 . . .Kc6 44 Ke3, threatening mate, and if then 44 . . . Rc5 (44 . . . R X e2 + 45 K X e2 Nf4 + 46 Kd2 N X d5 47 e X d 5 + Kc5 48 d X e6) 45 Bd 1 1 seems the most precise, as 45 . . . Kd7 46 Bg4 + is unplayable and 45 . . . R X d5 46 R X d5 is equally fatal. The move played takes advantage of the temporary pin on the bishop and also the fact that the attractive

44 Ke3 is answered by 44 . . . R X e2 + 45 K X e2 Nf4 + 46 Kf3 N X d5 47 R X d5 Kc6 and White will be hard put to win. 44 Rd2! But this is the killer, giving rise to some dehghtful variations. Black must capture in view of the Bg4 threat. 44 . . .R Xd2 45 RXd2 And now, if 45 . . . R X e4 46 Bb5 + KcS (or 46 . . . Ke7 4 7 a6 and the pawn is unstoppable) 4 7 Rc2 + KbS 4S a6 b X a6 49 B X a6 ReS (49 . . Ne7 50 b7 Rb4 5 1 ReS + Ka7 52 RaS + ) 50 b7 Ne7 5 1 Re2 and a sub­ sequent Bb5 wins everything. An impressive display of the power of

GAME 39

White's small attacking force. Meanwhile the threats of Bg4 and Bb5 + have to be dealt with, and since 45 . . . Kc6 46 Rc2 + and 45 . . Ke7 46 a6 are suicidal, Black tries . . . 45 . . .ReS 46 aG KeG If 46 . . .b X a6 47 B X a6, threatening 4S Rb2 while . . . ReS is impossible, and if then 47 . . . Ne7 4S Rb2 Nc6 49 Bb5 ReS 50 Rc2 and wins. 47 Rb2! Accurate to the end. 47 a7 ReS 4S Bh5 wins a piece, but Karpov wants at least a rook out of this position I 47 . . .N£4 48 a7 Ra5 49 Bc4 1 -0 (50 Ra2 follows).

White : Uhlmann Black: Karpov Skopje, 1 976 Queen's Indian Defence

1 c4 N£6 2 Nc3 eG 3 N£3 bG 4 e4 Bb7 5 Qe2 Bb4 6 e5 Ng8 7 d4 Ne7 8 Qd3 d5 9 e XdG c XdG 10 a3 B Xc3 1 1 Q Xc3 Nd7 12 Be2 Rc8 13 0-0 0-0 1 4 Bg5 hG 15 Bh4 Qe8 16 Bg3 N£5 17 B£4 b5 18 Bd3 Qe7 19 B X£5 e X£5 20 Rfe 1 Q£6 2 1 d5 RXc4 22 Q X£6 N X£6 23 B Xd6 (Diagram l ) Black is about to recover the centre pawn, after which the small advantage he has gained from the opening will persist. This advantage hes more in positional factors than in the extra £-pawn, which in itself would be very hard to exploit. However, in addition to this Black has control of the c-file,

which his next move emphasises, active minor pieces and a potential outpost at e4. The game now enters a tactical phase, with Karpov Diagram 1

1 47

consistently aiming at creating better prospects for his own pieces and refusing to win material prematurely. 23 . . .Rfc8 Naturally he has no wish to provoke the trebling of his pawns by 23 . . . Rd8 24 Be7, since the d-pawn is lost anyway. 24 Be5 The bishop has no real business at d6 and this move also prepares Nd4. Passive play would certainly lose in the long run because of Black's numerous advantages, so in certain circumstances Uhlmann is prepared to give up both minor pieces for a rook and pawn. In the resulting open position it might well be difficult for Black to co-ordinate his bishop and knight. 24 . . .N Xd5 25 Nd4! Sacrificing at once, to which Karpov reacts by going along with White's plan and then declining the bait at the last moment. 25 . . .£6 26 N X£5 There seems to be a slight difference between the two possible captures, in that after 26 N X b 5 f X e5 27 Nd6 R8c7 28 N X c4 R X c4 29 R X e5 the aggressive move 29 . . Nf4 gives Black a clear advantage, e.g. 30 R X f5 N X g2 31 Rd 1 Nh4, threatening 32 . . . Rg4 + and . . Ba6 + as well as 32 . . N X f5, or 30 g3 Nh3 + 3 1 Kf 1 Be4, or 30 f3 Rc2 etc., or 30 Rb5 Be4 3 1 f3 Bd3 followed by . . . Rc2. On the other hand, after the move chosen and the further moves . . . 26 . . .fXe5 27 Nd6 Black's attack would fade away after 27 . . . R8c7 28 N X c4 R X c4

Diagram 2

29 R X e5 Nf4 30 g3 (not 30 R X b5 B X g2 3 1 Ra5 Bf3 32 R X a7 Rc2 with a winning attack) Nh3 + 3 1 Kf 1 Rc2 32 Re2 . This variation is perhaps not very convincing, especially since Black could have chosen 28 . . .b X c4( 1) 29 R X e5 Nf4-d3, which maintains a clear advantage However, Karpov decides to return all the material in exchange for a more definite positional gain a knight anchored at d3. 27 . . .N£4 28 N Xb7 If 28 N X c8 R X c8 29 R X e5 N X g2 30 R X b5 Ba8 3 1 Ra5 Rc7 32 Rd 1 Black keeps his initiative going by 32 . . . Nh4 ! 28 . . .Nd3 (Diagram 2) Suddenly the black pieces give an impression of great power; if now 29 Rf l (other rook moves are worse) Rc2 30 Nd6 (or 30 b4 Re2, threatening 3 1 . . .Rcc2) R8c6 3 1 N X b 5 RXb2 32 N X a7 Rc7 or 32 Rab 1 a6 and wins. If here 3 1 Ne4, simply 3 1 . . . R X b2 or if 3 1 Nf5 Rf6, so Black must win at least a pawn in these variations . In view of this 1 48

White continues to stir up complications . 29 Nd6 N X e 1 30 N X c4 Not of course 30 R X e 1 Rc l , nor 30 N X c8 Nc2, which loses a piece. 30 . . .Nc2 3 1 Nd6 White needs to have seen some way into the position, especially because of his vulnerable back rank, and if now 3 1 . . . Rc6 he has either 32 Rd 1 or 32 Nf5 ready. 3 1 . . .RdB 32 Nb7 Forced; not 32 Rd 1 Nd4 winning the exchange. 32 . . . Rd2 Again relying on a small but definite advantage. The occupation of the seventh is bound to produce some benefit, whereas 32 . . . Rd7 is answered by 33 Re 1 (33 . . .N X a3? 34 Nc5). 33 Rc 1 ? White probably missed one o f the threats posed by Black's next move and this costs him a pawn. 33 Rb 1 was necessary, when Black would probably try to liquidate his weak pawn and open up the seventh by 33 . . .e4 34 Nc5 e3 35 Ne4 ! (not 35 f X e3 N X e3 36 g3 Ng4 ! 36 . . Nc4 37 a4 b4 38 b3 is not very�lear - 37 h3 Ne5 38 Ne4 Nf3 + 39 Kf 1 Rh2 and White must abandon the b-pawn by 40 Rd 1 ) 35 . . . e X f2 + (35 . . . Re2 3 6 Kf l ) 36 N X f2 Ne3. Black obviously has a clear initiative here, but White has some hopes of a draw. 33 . . .Nd4 Threatens not only 34 . . . Ne2 + but (if 34 Rb 1 ) 34 . . .Nb3 and the white knight is trapped. White is thus forced into a counter-attack, which holds out little hope, as his pieces will not combine effectively.

34 RcB + Kh7 35 h4 (Diagram 3) Two squares because of the remote possibility of getting a a knight to f8 and g6, combined with h5. Also the white king has a little more air. 35 . . .R Xb2 36 RaB Forced; he cannot allow Black to pick up the a-pawn as well (after . . . Rb3) and have two connected passed pawns . Now, instead of the feeble 36 . . . Nc6, Black uses his knight as aggressively as possible. 36 . . .Ne2 + 37 Kh2 37 Kf l Nf4 38 Kg l just transposes. 37 . . .N£4 38 Kg 1 Nd3 Finding the weak spot. If now 39 f3 Ne l wins the g-pawn and then the h-pawn, or if 39 Rf8 Ra2 40 Nd6 a6 and wins a second pawn. Therefore White takes off the a-pawn and centralises his knight, the order being unimportant. 39 Nd6 N X£2 40 RXa7 (Diagram 4) Now Nf5 and Ne8 are in the air, but Black easily strikes first. 40 . . .Ng4 41 g3 Ne3 42 Kh 1 Diagram 3

1 49

Diagram 4

Other tries are (i) 42 Ne4 Kg6 intending to dislodge the knight by . . .Kf5 and either win the g-pawn or march his king through to h3 with mating threats; (ii) 42 Rb7 Rg2 + 43 Kh 1 R X g3 44 N X b5 Rh3 + and wins, which is similar to the game. The move chosen stops 42 . . . Rg2 because of 43 Nf5 1 42 . . .Kg6 ! The threat o f a king march is still the best way, even though it involves sacrificing the g-pawn, because Black cannot do much more with the rook and knight

GAME 40

alone. The immediate 42 . . .Rd2 would leave Black a tempo worse off than 42 . . .Kg6 after 43 Ne8 Kg6 44 R X g7 + Kf5 (see the next note), while 43 . . . Nf5 in this line leads to a less clear position after 44 g4 N X h4 45 R X g 7 + Kh8 46 Rf7 (stops 46 . . . Nf3 and threatens 47 Nf6 1) Kg8 47 Rf l etc. 43 Rb7 If instead 43 Ne8 Kf5 1 (and not 43 . . Nf5? 44 g4 NX h4?? 45 R X g7 mate I) 44 R X g7 (44 N X g 7 + ? Kg4-h3) Black has 44 . . Nc4, clearing the way for the e-pawn and also picking up the a-pawn (45 Ra7 Ra2) 43 . . .Rd2 Now White must either allow the destruction of his K-side by . . . Nf5 or try the dubious Ne8 etc. 44 N X b5 N£5 45 g4 Or 45 a4 N X g 3 + 46 Kg 1 e4 47 Re7 Ra2 48 Nc3 Ra3 and if 49 N X e4 Re3 50 Re6 + Kf5. The rest is straightforward in any case. 45 . . .N Xh4 (threatens 46 . . . Nf3) 46 Kg l Rg2 + 47 Kf l RXg4 48 Ra7 N£5 49 a4 h5 50 aS h4 5 1 Ra8 h3 0- 1 .

White: Vaganian Black Smyslov USSR, 1 978 Grunfeld Defence (Diagram l ) This position is not as innocent as it appears; White's small advantage in development obliges Black to play with great care . For instance, if he now grabs a pawn by 1 9 . . . R X b2?, we have 20 R X b2 B X b2 2 1 Ne7 + 1 Kh8

1 N£3 d5 2 d4 N£6 3 c4 c6 4 e3 g6 5 Nc3 Bg7 6 Be2 0-0 7 0-0 e6 8 Qc2 Nbd7 9 Rd l b6 10 e4 d Xe4 1 1 N Xe4 Qc7 12 N X£6 + B X£6 13 Bh6 ReS 14 c5 bXc5 1 5 d Xc5 Rb8 16 Rab l Qa5 17 Nd4 QXc5 18 QXc5 N Xc5 19 N Xc6 1 50

23 B X c5 R X a2 24 Ba3 Rb8 and Black is on top) R X a2 23 b4 Ne4 and Black has little to worry about. The text move wins the exchange, which White however soon decides to return, preferring a different type of advantage. 20 . . .RXc6 2 1 Bb5 Bd7 ! A clever defence, which really deserved a better fate. It has three distinct points : ( l ) 22 B X c5 R X c5 23 B X d7 is obviously pointless; (2) 22 R X d7 Rb6 1 23 B X c5 RXb5 24 B X a7 R X b2 25 R X b2 B X b2 should be safe enough, though White would keep a slight advantage here; (3) The actual continuation, 22 B Xc6 B Xc6 23 B Xc5 Be4!, which leaves White a difficult choice; if 24 Rbc l B X b2 25 Rc4 ReS 26 R X e4 R X c5 2 7 Ra4 should be a win, though it would be hard work. Instead he returns the material at once and part of the fascination of this ending lies in the fact that he judges the position reached to be more favourable than having the exchange for a pawn. Whether this assessment was correct is debatable, but at all events the ensuing play is most instructive. 24 b4!? B Xb 1 25 R X b 1 a6 (Diagram 2) 26 a4 White can now be certain of a passed pawn at b6, supported by both rook and bishop; this will tie up at least one of the black pieces for a long time, while his own king advances. The presence of two pieces on each side, rather than just a pair of rooks, increases the value of the passed pawn because of the extra tactical chances which they provide, either for forcing the

Diagram 1

22 Bb5 and White surprisingly wins the exchange (22 . . .Bd7 23 B X d7 R X e7 24 Bc6 is fatal). Simple defence of the a-pawn is also inadequate : (a) 1 9 . . . Ra8 (undesirable on general positional grounds anyway) 20 Be3, winning the pawn, since both 20 . . .Na4 2 1 Bb5 Ji X b2 22 Bd4 ! N X d l 2 3 B X f6 etc. and 2 0 . . . Bb7 2 1 Na5 Ba6 22 Bf3 Rac8 23 b4 Na4 24 b5 are disastrous; (b) 1 9 . . . Rb7 20 Be3 Na4 (the only try; if 20 . . . Ne4 2 1 f3 Ng5 22 h4, or if 20 . . . Nd7 2 1 N X a7 and the capture at b2 costs material) 2 1 N X a7 NX b2 (2 1 . . . R X b2 or 21 . . . B X b2 22 Bb5) 22 Rdc l and although Black is still alive, he is uncomfort­ ably placed. Smyslov finds the best chance, keeping his rook active, but White still achieves a favour­ able ending after a further flurry of complications. 19 . . .Rb6 ! 20 Be3 20 N X a7 is less good now on account of 20 . . . Ba6, e.g. 2 1 B X a6 (if 2 1 Bf3 R X b2 is now quite safe) R X a6 22 Nb5 (not 22 Be3 R X a7 1 51

on (cf. move 36). 30 b6 Rb7 3 1 g4! Releasing the king, who plans to settle on e4; but with another idea in mind, which is overlooked by Black, viz, 32 g5 1 . The beauty of this move is that its theoretical drawbacks of restricting its own bishop and leaving a weakness at f5 are largely irrelevant, while the fixing of the black h-pawn is what finally decides the game. 3 1 . . .Ke8? 3 1 . . .£6 is necessary (or perhaps even 3 1 . . . g5) answering 32 Rc 1 by 32 . . .Ke8 33 Rc8 + (33 Rc7? R X c7 34 b X c7 Kd7) Bd8, followed by . . .Kd7 (34 g5? Kd7) White would most likely centralise his king: 32 Kg2 Ke8 33 Kf3 Kd7 34 Ke4 and if 34 . . . Bd8 35 Rd l + Ke8 36 Rd6 with advantage. 32 g5! The rest of the game turns on White's efforts to break through, either on the back rank or on the h-file, and win the weak h-pawn and Black is strangely helpless to prevent this. For example, the attempt to win the b-pawn will always fail: 32 . . . Kd7 33 Kg2 Kc6 34 Kf3 Bd8 35 Ke4 B X b6 36 R X b6 + RXb6 37 B X b6 KXb6 38 Ke5 Kc5 39 Kf6 Kd5 -40 K X f7 e5 ( 40 . . . Ke5 41 Kg7 Kf5 42 h4 and wins) 4 1 Kg7 Ke4 42 K X h7 Kf3 43 K X g6 K X f2 44 Kf6 and wins ultimately by a queen check at g3; this pawn in fact (at b6) remains secure for another 24 moves 1 Black therefore uses the bishop on another diagonal to keep the enemy king at bay.

Diagram 2

advance of the pawn or for making threats on the other wing. This is why White declines the following offer to exchange. 26 . . .Be7 The blockade with the bishop, hoping to keep the rook more active, is likely to be too flimsy; 26 . . .Rc8 27 Be3 Be5 28 b5 a X b5 29 a X b5 Bb8 30 b6 Kf8 (or if 30 . . . Rc2 3 1 Ra 1 ) 3 1 b7 Rc2 32 Bg5 1 Ke8 33 Rd1 is an example of what could happen. 27 Be3 Rb8 28 b5 a Xb5 29 a Xb5 K£8 Any delay in bringing the king across could be dangerous, and in any case the only other plausible moves, . . . e5 and . . .£5, would further weaken his position and have serious consequences later. If 29 . . .£5 30 b6 Rb7 3 1 Rc 1 Rb8 (not 3 1 . . . Bd8 32 Rc8 Rd7 33 g3 with b7 to follow, nor 3 1 . . . Bd6 32 Rc6 Rd7 33 g3 etc., nor 31 . . . Kf8 32 Rc8 + Kf7 33 Rc7) 32 Rc7 Kf8 33 b7, winning at least the h-pawn. The effect of . . .e5 becomes clear later 1 52

diagonal 37 Rc7; (b) 36 . . . BbS 37 ReS; (c) 36 . . . Be5 37 ReS RbS(?) 3S Rc5 + and 39 R X e5; (d) 36 . . . Bh2 37 ReS RbS 3S Rc5 + Kd6 39 Rc7 . All this as a result of 32 g 5 ! 37 Rd l + KeG 38 Ke4 Re7 Black takes the usual defensive measures, blockade of the passed pawn by the king, at the same time putting the rook in a more useful place. In the last few moves before the time-control at move 40 White now probes a little, keeping his main plan of h4-h5 in reserve. Since Black's position is so precarious, he could easily have slipped and allowed the rook to penetrate to the seventh or eighth rank. 39 £3 ReB Not 39 . . . Rb7 40 Rc l + Kd7 4 1 Kd5 and Black is much worse off than in the game. 40 Ra l BbB 4 1 Re l + Kb7 42 Rd l 42 Kd5 RdS + would now be pointless. 42 . . .KeG 43 h4 Further gains are not to be made

32 . . .Kd7 33 Kg2 BdG 34 h3 KeG 35 Re l + Kd5 Again a difficult choice, because the back rank is le� exposed However, for the moment 36 ReS can be foiled by 36 . . . RbS, while the alternative 35 . . .Kd7 would be passive, e.g. 35 . . . Kd7 36 Kf3 RbS 37 Ke4 Rb7 and now the direct attempt 3S Ra1 Kc6 39 RaS BbS ! (39 . . . RbS 4 0 RXbS B X bS 4 1 Bf4 and wins) leads nowhere because the exchange sacrifice 40 R X bS R X bS 4 1 Ke5 Kd7 42 Kf6 KeS is not good enough, even if he wins the h-pawn However, a combination of this idea and the advance h4-h5 should suffice: 3S h4 RbS (3S . . . Be7, heading for dS, and 3S . . . Bb4, heading for a5, are both worse on account of 39 Ke5) 39 h5 Rb7 (39 . . . g X h5 40 Rh 1 would be very bad) 40 h6 RbS 41 Ra 1 Rb7 42 RaS BbS 43 RXbSI RXbS 44 Ke5 and White must win, either by 44 . . .KeS 45 Kd6 KdS 46 Kc6 and 47 Bf4, or 44 . . . Rb7 45 Kf6-g7Xh7 etc. 3G K£3 (Diagram 3) e5 Reluctantly, since it represents another weakness after White's inevitable Ke4, but he is in Zugzwang; if 36 . . . RbS 37 Rd 1 + Kc6 3S Ke4 (threatens 39 R X d6 + ) Rb7 39 h4 leads into the last note, while 36 . . .Rd7 permits 37 RcS(-hS) and if then 37 . . .Be5 38 Rc5 + Kd6 39 Ke4 Bg7 40 ReS and 4 1 RgS. On the other hand bishop moves fail because the sensitive squares c5 and c7 both require protection: (a) 36 . . .B any along the a3-fS

Diagram 3

1 53

on the Q-side or in the centre, so White opens a second front, presenting Black with fresh problems. 43 RfB King moves are out of the question because of 44 Rd7, so Black makes a suitable waiting move, at the same time contemplating . . .£5. 44 hS (Diagram 4) We now reach the critical position; the choice is between taking this pawn, which leaves the way open to White's king and rook, and permitting 45 h6. In the latter case the white h-pawn might seem so strong that a win in the rook ending is guaranteed. Black accordingly played 44 . . . g X h5, but analysis indicates that he might just have held on by avoiding this and playing the right waiting moves. First of all, 44 . . . f5 + can be eliminated: 45 g X f6 R X f6 46 Rd8 Bd6 (46 . . . Kb7 47 h6 Rf7 48 Rg8-g7) 47 h6 Rf7 48 Ra8 1 (back to the Q-side l) and the threat of 49 Ra7 wins rapidly, since there is nothing to prevent White's king march Kd5-e6-f7-g8 after an exchange of rooks. Secondly, Black may move his rook to and fro; 44 . . . ReS 45 h6 and now: (i) 45 . . . Rf8 46 f4 (probably the only way to clear up the position, even though it exchanges off Black's weak pawn and his bad bishop) e X f4 (or 46 . . . ReS 47 f5, threatening 48 f X g6 f X g6 49 Rf l , and if 47 . . . Rf8, simply 48 Rfl first) 47 B X f4 ReS + 48 Kf3 B X f4 (or 48 . . . Rf8 49 B X b8 R X b8 50 Kf4 ReS 5 1 Rd4 and Black must allow .

.

.

Diagram 4

52 Rd8, 52 Rd7 or 52 Ke5; if here 50 . . . R X b6 5 1 Ke5 Rb5 + 52 Kf6 Rf5 + 53 Kg7 and wins) 49 K X f4 Re2 50 Rd8 Rf2 + 5 1 Kg3 Rf5 52 Kg4 (Diagram 5) and the loss of the h-pawn is fatal, e.g. 52 . . .£6 53 g X f6 R X f6 54 Rh8 Rf7 55 Rg8 KXb6 56 Rg7 Rf l 57 R Xh7 Rg 1 + 58 Kf4 g5 + 59 Kf5 when Black may try: (a) 59 . . . Rh 1 60 K X g5 Kc6 6 1 Rh8, and his king dare not come any nearer to the K-side because of 62 h7; (b) 59 . . . g4 60 Re7 Rh 1 (or 60 . . . g3 6 1 Kg6 g2 62 Re2) 6 1 Kg6 g3 62 Re2 Rh2 63 Re 1 g2 64 Rg 1 and wins; (c) 59 . . . Kc6 60 Rh8 Kb7 6 1 h7 Rh 1 62 Kg6 g4 63 ReS and wins. (ii) 45 . . . Rf8 46 f4 e X f4 47 B X f4 f5 + 48 g X f6 B X f4 49 K X f4 R X f6 + 50 Ke5 Rf5 + (50 . . . Rf7 5 1 Rd6 + Kb7 52 Ke6 is no improvement - the h-pawn is still lost) 51 Ke6 Rh5 52 Rd6 + (52 Rd7?? Re5 + is only a draw) Kb7 53 Rd7 + K X b6 54 R X h7 g5 55 Kf5 Kc6 56 Rh8 1 54

Diagram 5

and wins without further difficulty - 56 . . Rh l (or 56 . . . Kd7 57 h7) 57 K X g5 Rg l + 58 Kf6 Rf l + 59 Kg7 Rg l + 60 Kh7 Kd6 6 1 Rg8 Rh l 62 Rg6 + etc . The play with the h-pawn in variations (i) and (ii) is similar - setting up the position with rook at hB and pawn at h6, so that the defending king dare not approach, and sometimes sheltering with the king behind the g-pawn, instead of capturing it. None of this seems at all promising, but there is one more defensive move yet to be considered. After 44 . . . ReS 45 h6 why not leave the rook at eB, making the breakthrough with f4 impossible without some major reorganisation of the position? The only good waiting move would be 45 . . . Bd6, but this is certainly more stubborn than 45 . . .RfB Since 46 Rc l + Kb7 47 Kd5 seems to lead nowhere after 47 . . . RdB, White would probably play 46 b7, threatening 47 R X d6 + K X d6 48 Ba7 and leaving Black the choice between 46 . . . BbB and 46 . . . RbB (46 . . . Bc7

47 Ba7 K X b7 48 Rd7 would be bad). If 46 . . . BbB 47 Rb l Re6 (or 47 . . .Bc7 48 Ba7, or 47 . . Kc7 48 Rb6-f6, with Kd5 also soon following) 48 Rb6 + Kd7 49 Kd5 RXb6 50 B X b6 and Black is without a decent move. Therefore 46 . . . RbB, when White cannot win by hquidating 47 Rb l RXb7 48 R X b7 K X b7 49 Kd5 Kc7 50 Bc5 B X c5 5 1 K X c5 Kd7 52 Kd5 Ke81 5 3 K X e5 Ke7 54 f4 KeB 55 Kf6 KfB etc. If he tries 47 f4 R X b7 (47 . . . e X f4?? 48 R X d6 + ) 48 f X e5 Be7 he is by no means certain to win, having lost the b-pawn without finding a breakthrough with the rook If this variation allows Black to escape, as seems likely, then White may not have a clear win at all, since the alternative to 45 h6, viz. 45 h X g6, also leads to nothing definite after 45 . . .h X g6 46 Rh l Bd6 47 Rh7 Rf8 etc. After this enormous note we return to the game; Black chose to capture, after which he is certainly lost. 44 . . .g Xh5 45 K£5 45 Rh l ? would be very loose play - 45 . . .f5 + 46 g X f6 R X f6 47 R X h5 Rf7 and White keeps only a minimal advantage 45 . . .Bd6 46 Rc l + Kb7 47 Rh l Ra8 Naturally the best chance is to activate his rook, but White's patient handhng of the last phase of this ending is very impressive; he refuses to win material prematurely and half the time he seems to be retreating, yet steady progress is always being made. 1 55

48 RXh5 Ra3 49 Ke4 Kc6 (Diagram 6) Another check is no use: 49 . . .Ra4 + 50 Kd5 Ra3 5 1 R X h7 1 R X e3 52 R X £7 + K X b6 53 K X d6 and White wins easily. 50 Rh l ! A very neat winning plan; the rook will defend the bishop, leaving the king to do the donkey work of winning pawns . After 50 R X h7 the checks from the black rook would be a serious nuisance. 50 . . .Ra4+ There is nothing better; if 50 . . . Kd7 5 1 R X h7 Ra4 + 52 K£5 Ra3 53 R X £7 + Ke8 (or 53 . . .Kc6 54 Ke4 etc., since the rook now covers the £-pawn) 54 Ke6 1 R X e3 55 Ra7 will do very nicely. 5 1 K£5 Ra3 52 Re l Bb4 53 Rc l + Rc3 Or 53 . . . Kb7 54 Rc7 + Kb8 55 Ke4, and 56 R X £7 to follow 54 K£6 RXc l 55 B X c l e4

GAME 4 1

White: Timman Sombor, 1 974

Diagram 6

56 fXe4 K Xb6 Only now does Black win this terrible pawn, which has plagued him for so long, and the next move is also the hrst time White actually wins material, since returning the exchange at move 2 4 1 57 K X£7 Bc3 58 B£4 1-0. The e-pawn will cost Black his bishop.

Black: Deze Sicilian Defence centre squares and giving him the use of the g-file. Its dark side is that it is rather immobile and any attempt to advance it will result in weaknesses. In addition the rear £-pawn is a target. In the present position this immobility is the most relevant feature and Black is soon obliged to play . . . e5. His theoreti­ cal two-bishop advantage is of little value here. 19 . . .B£8 Waiting; Black's chief headache is the threat £5, which needs to be

1 e4 c5 2 N£3 Nc6 3 d4 c Xd4 4 N Xd4 N£6 5 Nc3 d6 6 Bg5 e6 7 Qd2 a6 8 0-0-0 Bd7 9 £4 Be7 10 N£3 b5 1 1 B X£6 g X£6 12 Re l Qa5 13 Kb l 0-0-0 14 g3 Rhe8 15 Bh3 KbB 16 Re3 Qb6 17 Rhe l Na5 18 Qd4 Q Xd4 19 N X d4 (Diagram 1 ) Black's pawn structure is fairly common in this variation of the Sicilian and has the virtue of controlling a large number of 1 56

answered by a further defence of the e-pawn, to avoid weakening d5. The natural-looking 19 . . .Nc4 is ineffective as White has a tactical stroke - 20 R3e2 and if 20 . . . b4 2 1 Nd5 1 e X d5 22 B X d7 R X d7 23 e X d5, winning the bishop back by 24 Nc6 or N£5 . If here 2 1 . . . a5, White may simply take the bishop or play 22 b3 Na3 + 23 Kb2 Nb5 24 N X b5 BXb5 25 N X e 7 1 R X e7 (25 . . .B X e2? 26 Nc6 + Kc7 27 N X d8 Bh5 28 g4 wins a piece) 26 Rd2 Kc7 27 Red l with advantage. 20 Bg4 Preparing to attack the rear £-pawn and aroiding the premature 20 f5? Nc4 2 1 f X e6 f X e6 (2 1 . . . N X e3 22 e X d7) and the knight settles ideally on e5. 20 . . .Nc6 21 Nce2 Intending to keep a knight at d4 to support f5. Black should now avoid exchanging by, say, 2 1 . . .Bg7, because if then 22 N X c6 + B X c6 2 3 Nd4 Bb7, the thrust 24 f5 is wrong on account of 24 . . . e5 25 Nb3 d5 1 . Black is then free and ready to take the initiative with his Diagram 1

bishops. Since 22 £5 would again be premature because of 22 . . .Ne5, White would probably bide his time with 22 c3, also meeting the threat of 22 . . .N X d4 23 N X d4 f5. 21 . . .N Xd4(?) This is wrong, though the difference is not easy to spot. The loss of tempo in bringing the bishop to c6 is a serious matter. 22 N X d4 Bg7 23 £5 ! e5 Avoidance of this move would condemn him to perpetual defence of e6. White could then switch his rooks to the d- or £-file, or even attempt an attack on the king. 24 Nb3 24 Ne2, aiming directly at d5, is an alternative method. If then 24 . . . Bc6 25 Nc3 b4 26 Nd5 B X d5 27 e X d5 leaves White with some advantage because the black king is exposed, but even better is 25 B£3 d5 (or 25 . . . b4 26 a3 and Black's pawns are weakened a bit more) 26 e X d 5 B X d5 27 B X d5 R X d5 28 Nc3 Rd2 29 R 1 e2, and however Black plays, the knight will occupy e4 strongly. 24 . . . Bc6 25 Bh5 Re7 Defending the second rank and generally keeping this rook active. If 25 . . . R£8 26 Na5 Ba8 27 c4 is strong, e.g. 27 . . . b X c4 (if 27 . . .b4 the d-pawn remains backward, and if White is permitted to exchange, the b-pawn becomes very weak) 28 N X c4 d5 29 Rb3 + Ka7 (29 . . . Bb7 30 Na5 Rd7 3 1 e X d5, or 29 . . . Kc7 30 Nb6 with Rc 1 + and many other attacking chances) 30 e X d5 B X d5 (or 30 . . . R X d5 3 1 Nb6 Rdd8 32 Re 1 , or here 1 57

3 1 . . . Rd2 32 Re 1 , threatening both 33 Nc8 + and 33 Rc7 + ; White has altogether too many threats) 3 1 Bf3 ! B X f3 (if 3 1 . . . B X c4 32 Rb7 + Ka8 33 R X f7 + wins comfortably) 32 R X f3 and the twin advantages of an exposed enemy king and a fine square foc his knight at e4 leave White with a winning ending. 26 Na5 Ba8 27 B£3 (Diagram 2) This is the point referred to in the note to Black's 2 1 st move. 27 . . . d5 is now impossible because Black has been obhged to post his rook on e7. 27 . . .Rc7 28 Rd3 B£8 29 a3 The next phase begins, in which White makes some space gains on the Q-side and secures his knight. 29 . . .Rdc8 30 c3 Ka7 3 1 Kc2 Kb6 32 b4 Be7 33 Bh5 B£8 34 Kb2 The plan is to reach d5 with his bishop and force an exchange, obtaining a classic knight vs. bad bishop ending where the subsequent occupation of the central point would be rapidly decisive. 34 . . .Rd8 ! But this is the problem; White needs two of his pieces to prevent . . . d5, and if he doubles rooks, the bishop is still required at f3 to defend the e-pawn. 35 B£3 Re8(?) Black wrongly permits the bishop manoeuvre. If he just waits, White has two ways of trying to make progress: (a) 35 . . . Be7 36 Nb3 Bf8 37 Na l Bh6 38 Nc2 Bb7 39 Ne3 (there appears to be no clear way of defending the e-pawn, preventing . . . d5 and organising Bd l -b3-d5;

Diagram 2

if 39 g4, intending Rg 1 , h4 and g5, then 39 . . .B£4 1 etc.) B X e3 40 ReXe3 Rcd7 and White claims a small advantage. (b) 35 . . .Be7 36 Kb3 Rdc8 37 Re 1 Bf8 38 c4 Be7 39 a4 Bf8 (Black avoids exchanging, reducing White's scope a httle) 40 Rdc3 Be7 4 1 a X b5 a X b5 42 c X b5 R X c3 + 43 R X c3 R X c 3 + 44 K X c3 KXb5 45 Kb3 d51 and White must go for the draw by 46 e X d5 B X b4 47 Nc6 etc. These are only sample variations, but they indicate that a waiting policy was Black's best chance. 36 Bd l Rc4(!) The best chance in practice . After 36 . . . Rd8 37 Bb3 Bg7 38 Bd5 Black cannot expect to survive. If here 37 . . . Bb7 38 Bd5 Bc8 39 g4, and he is horribly cramped. 37 N X c4 b Xc4 38 Rd2 Rd8 39 B£3 Bh6 He pins his hopes on the fact that the break g5 is difficult for the opponent to achieve without a pawn sacrifice. At the same time his king is holding up White's 1 58

potential passed pawn. The trouble is that his pawn structure is so weak that White can well afford a temporary sacrifice to open up the game. 40 Rg2 BeG Restraining a4 and b5, while his king will defend the d-pawn. 41 h4 Ke7 42 g4 Rg8 43 g5! (Diagram 3) There is no point in further preparation. If 43 Reg l Be3, or if 43 Rg3 (for Re2-g2) B£4, or if 43 Rh l Rg7 etc. 43 . . .fXg5 44 £6? But now Timman gets his move­ order wrong. The right way is 44 Bh5 1 and now (a) 44 . . .Rg7 45 £6; (b) 44 . . .Be8 45 £6, followed by 46 Reg l , winning the pawn; (c) 44 . . . £6 45 B£7 Rg7 46 B X c4 g X h4 47 R X g7 B X g7 48 Bd5 and Black is quite lost. 44 . . .Rg6 45 h Xg5 White may have intended 45 Bh5 R X £6 46 h X g5 etc., and now seen that 45 . . . g X h4! 46 B X g6 h X g6 is actually in Black's favour. For the double exchange he has two united passed pawns, his bishops are aggressively placed ready to support them, the white pawns are blocked and above all the rooks can get no play. Since a variation such as 47 Rh l B X e4 48 R X h4 B X g2 49 R X h6 (threatening 50 R X g6) Kd7 50 a4 Bc6 5 1 a5 Ke6 is hopelessly lost, White could only wait while the pawns advance. 45 . . .B Xg5 46 Bh5 Giving back the exchange is the only chance to win. Again, if he simply allows the £-pawn to be taken, Black gets more than

enough compensation. The next few moves are fairly straight­ forward. 46 . . .Be l + 47 K X e l R Xg2 48 B X £7 R£2 49 B X e4 RX£6 50 B X a6 R£4 5 1 Bd3 h5 Black may reasonably expect to draw now, as his passed pawn is quite dangerous and White's pieces are temporarily tied up. 52 Kd2 Nothing can be done until the rook is reheved of its defensive burden. If 52 b5 (or 52 c4 Kb6 53 b5 Bb7 54 Kd2 Kc5 55 Ke3 R£8, with . . . Ra8 or . . .Rh8 to come and Black's king is ideally placed) Bb7 53 a4 Ka5, White has obviously advanced \ , :_· prematurely. 52 . . .h4 53 Ke3 Rg4 53 . . . h3, making fuller use of the passed pawn, is at least as good, e.g. 54 Rh l Rh4 55 Rh2 (or 55 c4 h2 and White can do nothing except 56 K£3 R£4 + 57 Kg2 B X e4 + 58 B X e4 R X e4 59 R X h2 R X c4, with a draw) Kb6 56 K£3 R£4+ 57 Kg3 B X e4 58 B X e4 R X e4 59 R X h3 Kb5, Diagram 3

1

1 59

-

drawing comfortably. 54 Rf l (Diagram 4) Rg7(?) Black begins to go astray. This defensive move is unnecessary and 54 . . . h3 is still the best, e.g. 55 Rf7 + Kb6 56 Rh7 (otherwise . . . Rh4) Rg3 + 57 Ke2 Rg2 + 58 Kf3 Ra2, drawing easily. Now White has a chance to re-organise a little. However, Black is still safe. 55 Rf3 Bd7 Round about here . . . d5 is naturally a mistake, giving White three passed pawns and leaving Black with a weak centre pawn. 56 Bf l Bg4 Otherwise White gets a secure blockade by Bh3. 57 R£6 h3? It is strange that Black avoids the natural 57 . . . Rh7. If then 58 a4? h3 wins a piece; so 58 Kf2 is necessary, when 58 . . . Bd7 holds up the pawns. After that 59 Kg2 Bc6 60 Bd3 h3 + 61 Kh2 Rh8 62 Rf3 Ra8 63 K X h3 R X a3 64 Bc2 (or 64 c4 Rb3 65 b5 Kb6 and White will never lift the blockade) Kb6 etc. again leaves White no winning chances. As played, Black lands in a very precarious situation. 58 Rh6 Bd7 Indirectly defending the pawn because of . . . Rg3 + . But now White's forces are much more aggressively placed and he can advance on the other side . 59 a4! So that if 59 . . . B X a4 60 B X h3, and with the king chained to his d -pawn White should win. Further­ more the white bishop is now free and if Black just waits, say 59 . . . Kb7, then 60 Bb5 (not

60 R X d6 h2 6 1 Rh6 Rg 1 ) B X b5 (or 60 . . . Bg4 61 a5, with Bc4, Bd5( +) and b5 in mind) 6 1 aXb5 Rg3 + 62 Kd2 Kc7 63 c4 Rg2 + (or 63 . . . Rb3 64 Kc2 R X b4 65 Kc3 and 66 R X h3) 64 Kc3 Rg3 + (if 64 . . .h2 65 c5 and Kc4 when required) 65 Kb2 Rg2 + 66 Ka3 Rg3 + 67 Ka4 Re3 68 c5 d X c5 69 b X c5 R X e4 + 7 0 Ka5 Re3 7 1 Ra7 + Kc8 72 Kb6 and wins. 59 . . .Rg3 + 60 Kd2 Bg4 ! Black is still fighting. He has in mind a further pawn sacrifice, which however appears to be just insufficient to draw . 6 1 Rh7+ A useful move, because 6 1 . . . Kb6? 62 a5 + Kc6 63 b5 + Kc5 64 Rc7 is mate. If 6 1 . . . Kc6 62 Bb5 + Kb6 63 c4 ! and the mate threat costs Black his rook. 61 . .Kb8 62 Rh4 Necessary, because if 62 a5 Rg2 + 1 63 Ke 1 (or 63 Ke3 Rg3 + , repeating, or 63 Kc l Rg 1 , or 63 Kd3 Rf2 1 .

Diagram 4

1 60

Diagram 5

64 B X h3 Rf3 +) Ra2 64 B X h3 (otherwise . . . h2 and . . . Bf3) Rh2 65 B X g4 R X h7 and a draw should result. 62 . . .d5 ! The point of his 60th move. Black actually has little choice; if he waits by 62 . . . Be6 or . . . Kb7, the white pawns are ready to roll, or if 62 . . . Bf3 63 R X h3 R X h3 64 B X h3 B X e4 65 c4, he has no real chance of survival. 63 e Xd5 e4 White's rook is temporarily out of play and the following exchange sacrifice has to be made If instead 64 a5 e3 + 65 Ke 1 Rg 1 , and the threat of 66 . . .e2 forces it anyway. 64 RXg4 (Diagram 5) RXg4 The alternative is to try an ending with rook against bishop and three pawns, in which a blockade of sorts can be set up. However, White should still win, as follows: 64 . . e3 + 65 Kd3 (not 65 Ke2 R X g4 66 B X h3 Rc4 with a draw) R X g4 66 B X h3 Rg3 67 Bd7 1 e2 +

68 K X e2 R X c3 69 a5 Rb3 (69 . . . Ra3 70 d6 Kb7 7 1 Kd2(-c2-b2) is no better) 70 b5 Ra3 7 1 a6 Kc7 72 Bc6 Ra 1 and now, as long as the black king remains at c7, his opposite number will find no shelter from checks simply by advancing up the board. A pawn sacrifice is needed to enable him to reach c5: 73 Kd2 Ra3 74 Kc2 Ra 1 75 Kb3 Ra5 (75 . . . Kd6 76 Kb4 Rb 1 + 77 Ka5 Kc5 78 b6 1 Ra1 + 79 Ba4 and wins) 76 Kb4 Ra 1 77 a7 1 R X a7 78 Kc5 Ra1 79 d6 + Kd8 (79 . . .Kc8 and . . . Kb8 lead to similar finishes) 80 b6 Rc 1 + 8 1 Kb5 Rb 1 + 82 Ka5 Rb2 (or 82 . . . Ra1 + 83 Ba4 Rb 1 84 Ka6 Ra1 85 b7 R X a4 + 86 Kb5) 83 Ka6 and wins. 65 B Xh3 e3 + If 65 . . . Rg3 66 Bf5 e3 + (66 . . . Rd3 + 67 Kc2 Re3 68 a5 etc ) 67 Ke2 and White can even play Be4-f3 and K X e3 before advancing his own pawns. 66 K Xe3! This is the real point. Four advanced pawns with their king ideally placed easily outrun a rook, even in the presence of the enemy king. 66 . . .Rg3 + 67 Kd4 RXh3 68 e4 Ke7 69 Ke5 Rh8 70 b5 Rea With four pawns White has no worries about checks, either from the side or from behind . 7 1 b6+ Kb8+ 72 Kb5 Rh8 73 aS Rh 1 74 a6 Rb 1 + 75 KeG Ra 1 76 d6 1-0.

1 61

GAME 42

White: Romanishin Black: Ubilava USSR, 1 979 Reti Opening

1 N£3 N£6 2 c4 e6 3 g3 d5 4 Bg2 d Xc4 5 Qa4+ Nbd7 6 Q Xc4 c5 7 Qb3 Be7 8 0-0 0-0 9 d3 Nd5 10 Nc3 N7£6 1 1 d4 Qb6 12 Q Xb6 aXb6 13 Rd 1 Bd7 14 Ne5 N Xc3 15 b Xc3 Ba4 16 Rd3 Ra7 17 Bb2 ReS 18 Nc4 Nd7 (Diagram 1 ) Black can claim some advantage here: ( l ) because the white knight, Q-bishop and rook are all a little awkwardly placed; (2) because the white a-pawn can come under fire down the open file . 19 d Xc5 Probably the best practical chance; he remains with two isolated pawns, but obtains use of the d-file and can improve the placing of some of his pieces . If he attacks too soon by 1 9 d5, then 1 9 . . .b5 (not 1 9 . . .Bb5 20 d X e6 f X e6 and Black has only weakened himself) 20 d X e6 b X c4 2 1 e X d7 Rd8 regains the pawn with advantage. Diagram 1

20 Nd6? will not work, by the way; after 20 . . . B X d6 2 1 d X e6 Nb6 recapturing permits the knight fork at c4 (if 22 e X f7 + Kf8 1). If he stops the threats of . . . Bb5 and . . . c X d4 by 1 9 Ne3, Black has, for example, 1 9 . . .c X d4 20 c X d4 Bb5 2 1 Rd2 Rca8 etc. Also possible is 1 9 . . .c4 20 Rd2 b5 but the effect of White's thrust 2 1 d5 is not clear in this variation. 19 . . .b Xc5 Not 1 9 . . .N X c5 20 N X b 6 ! . In any case, by straightening out his pawns he guarantees himself a plus without leaving White any possible compensation. 20 £4 20 Nd6 may look natural. but it soon rebounds : 20 . . . B X d6 2 1 R X d6 Ne5 22 Be l (the only movel - if 22 Rb 1 Nc4 23 Rd3 Bc2) Nc4 23 Rd3 and now the white pieces are in a tangle and Black has two options. He may play 23 . . . b5, threatening 24 . . . Bc2 25 Rf3 Be4 when he exchanges bishops and reaches a classic knight vs . bad bishop ending, or he may try the more forcing line 23 . . . Bb3 . In that case 24 a3 b5 is rather worse than before for White, while 24 Rb 1 ? loses quickly after 24 . . . Bc2 25 R X b7 R X a2 in view of the back rank threat. White would have to play here 24 B X b 7 1 when 24 . . . R X b7 25 a X b3 R X b3 leaves Black with some advantage, though White has a fighting chance with the disappearance of 1 62

his a-pawn. The text move stops . . . Ne5 and, along with the following e4, plans to gain space. Of course, as long as the black knight remains undefended at d7, he need not fear . . . Bb5. 20 . . .Kf8 Now planning to answer 2 1 Nd6 with 2 1 . . . B X d6 22 R X d6 Ke7 23 Rd2 Nb6 24 e4 Nc4 25 Rf2 Rd8 with control of the file 2 1 e4 Rd8 At last threatening 22 . . . Bb5 and again 23 Nd6 is dealt with by 2 3 . . . Nb6 24 e5 B X d6 25 R X d6 R X d6 26 e X d6 Nc4 winning a pawn. The point about these variations is that one inferior piece (White's Q-bishop) can completely disrupt an otherwise healthy position; as the game continues, the exploitation of this bad bishop becomes the main theme of the game. 22 Rd2 b5 23 Ne3 c4 He must do this, otherwise White may free his bishop by c4. Further­ more, Black's bishop and knight can now use c5 effectively and at the same time the white c-pawn is fixed and a strongpoint has been created at d3; quite a lot for one move, really ! The hemming-in of his own bishop is not much of a prob­ lem; it will soon be released by . . .b4. 24 Ng4 Intending to re-route this knight, not least to keep the black one out of d3 or e4. If, say, 24 e5 Nc5 25 R X d 8 + B X d8 26 Ba3 Be? then 27 B X c5 B X c5 28 Kf2 Rd7 leaves Black with the file, while 27 Bf l Ne4 28 B X e7 + K X e7

29 Rc l Rd7 is hardly any better, even though White has got rid of his bad bishop. 24 . . .Rc8 Black prefers a different plan from the direct 24 . . . Nc5 . The result of that could be 25 R X d8 + B X d8 26 Ne5 Re? with . . .f6 and . . .Nd3 following, or else 26 Nf2 Rd7 27 Ba3 Be? with a good position in each case. The move chosen aims to release the bishop at a4 as a first step. After that Black will make use of the a-file. 25 Nf2 b4 White could hardly have prevented this by 25 a3, which would leave his a-pawn too vulnerable to the black rook and bishop in the long run. 26 Rc l b3 27 a Xb3 If 27 a3, simply 27 . . . Bc6 28 Ra1 Rca8. 27 . . .B Xb3 28 e5 (Diagram 2) Whatever White does, Black can adopt a similar plan for breaking into the Q-side; from now on White's bad bishop becomes a genuine target for the rooks. 28 . . .Nc5 29 Be4 Diagram 2

1 63

Not 29 Ne4 Nd3 etc., when the black rook penetrates at once to a2 (30 Ra 1 ? R X a 1 + 3 1 B X a 1 Ra8 32 Bb2 Ra2 winning material). For the moment White just has to be patient in fending off the threats; among other things he must prevent Black gaining control of the centre file. 29 . . .Na4 30 Ba1 Bc5 3 1 Re 1 Rcc7 32 K£ 1 Keeps the rooks from penetrating. If 32 . . . Rd7 33 R X d7 R X d7 and he has Re2 ready in reply to . . . Rd2 . In addition he can play 34 Bc6 and if 34 . . . Rd2 35 Re2 when either the rooks or the bishop and knight will be exchanged. Even then White's game would be unenviable on account of the wretched bishop at a 1 , but at this stage Black wishes to avoid committing himself to too many exchanges, in view of White's passive position. 32 . . .Nb6 33 Bb2 Rd7 34 Ree2 34 R X d7 R X d7 35 Re2 Ra7 would be similar to the game. 34 . . .RXd2 35 RXd2 Ra2 A little premature, since the rook is driven out and the white knight finds a convenient square. 35 . . . Ke7 would be a useful developing move, and after that a good plan for Black would be to try and exchange the white-square bishops (. . .Ba4-d7-c8-b7) and even exchange his other bishop for the knight. White would then be left with bad bishop against knight and with very weak squares at d3 and d5 (compare the note to White's 20th move). This is only an outline of how the game might proceed, of course; White has defended well so far and there is no guarantee that

Diagram 3

this plan would win. 36 Bb 1 Ra8 37 Ne4 Be7 (Diagram 3) 38 Nd6? The losing move, probably made under time-pressure. For tactical reasons it is too much of a strain to support this outpost, as well as defending against Black's Q-side threats . In general terms it is still the bad bishop who is the chief culprit. A semi-waiting move such as 38 Ke2 would be best; then 38 . . . Nd5 and 38 . . Na4 are both good moves, but do not lead to anything immediate. 38 . . .Na4 Now the bishop must move, since recapture at d6 with the rook is going to be essential for White; recapture with the pawn would leave it fatally weak. 39 Ba 1 Not 39 Ne4 N X b2 40 R X b2 Ra 1 and the threat of . . . Ba3 is conclusive. Nor is 39 Ke2 any improvement on the game continuation (39 . . . N X b2 40 R X b2 B X d6 41 e X d6 Ke8 with . . . Kd7 and . . .Ra6 to follow). 39 . . .B Xd6 40 RXd6 Nc5 1 64

4 1 Bb2 Nd3 ! This i s the point; White must take, and he then loses his c-pawn in saving the bishop . 42 B Xd3 c Xd3 43 c4 Nothing else will do in the face of the threats which Black can generate after 43 . . . Ra2. If 43 Ke l (43 Rb6? d2) Ra2 44 Be l Re2 + 45 Kf l Rc2 ! 46 Be3 Bc4 1 47 Kg l (47 Rd4 d2 + 48 Kg l Rc l + ) Re2 4 8 Bf2 d 2 and wins. If here 46 Ba3 Ke8 (threatening 47 . . . Ra2 and then . . . d2) 47 Ke l Re2 + 48 Kf l Ra2 and wins. It is interesting here that the subtler 45 . . . Bc4 is less good on account of 46 Rd41 and if 46 . . . d2 47 B X d2, or if 46 . . . Rc2? 47 Ba3 + and 48 R X c4. If 46 . . . Ba6 47 Rd6 (not 47 Ra4 Ra2 1 1) Ra2 48 Ke l , or here 47 . . . Bb5 48 Rb6. 43 . . .Ra2 44 Bc3 B Xc4 The rest of the game is quite an instructive example of the somewhat difficult art of winning with rooks and opposite bishops. Above all, Black must avoid an exchange of rooks until he is certain that the pure opposite bishop ending is won. This would require at least two extra pawns, or two widely separated passed pawns, one of which could be supported by the king, ultimately forcing the sacrifice of the enemy bishop. For the moment, apart from hitting the h-pawn, Black threatens 45 . . . d2 + 46 Kg l Bd5 winning a piece. If 45 Kg l Bd5 is too strong, so White needs something sharper. 45 Rd4!

Keeps in contact with the black pawn. Now 45 . . . Ba6 is rather ineffective after 46 Kg l Bb 7 47 R X d3 Rg2 + 48 Kf l R X h2 when Black is unlikely to win. 45 . . . Bd5 46 h4 Rc2 with . . . Bc4 to follow is possible, but Black can do better still: 45 . . . Rc2! 46 Bb4 + If 46 R X c4 Rc l + (not 46 . . . d2? 47 Ke2) 47 Kf2 d2 and wins the exchange. 46 . . .Ke8 47 Kg 1 (Diagram 4) There is no direct way to make further progress with the pawn, in spite of Black's aggressive pieces; he must obviously use his king, and also create a weakness in the opponent's pawn structure. He should then win either by penetrating further with his king, or by combining threats to advance his pawn with an attack on the new weakness. 47 . . .£6 A dilemma for White; he dare not take and permit Black a second passed pawn: 48 e X f6 g X f6 49 g4 e5 and White is overrun in a few moves. Therefore he gets an Diagram 4

1 65

isolated pawn, since a piece obviously cannot be spared to recapture. Furthermore his white squares are opened for the enemy king. 48 g4 Weakening, of course, but he has nothing better. With this move he plans to shut out the black king in a way that becomes clear shortly. 48 . . .fXe5 49 fXe5 K£7 50 R£4 + Kg6 5 1 Rd4 The point of White's defence. The g-pawn on a white square combines nicely with his bishop on black; if now 5 1 . . . Kg5 52 Be7 + drives him back. Black therefore needs a fresh idea; if he cannot get through with his king or advance his passed pawn, he must either find a way to attack the white pawns as they stand or try to weaken them further. He has three ways to consider: (i) 5 1 . . . Bb5, intending . . . Re2, since White is hardly in a position to defend the e-pawn; (ii) 5 1 . . . h6 (waiting) since White is quite close to Zugzwang; (iii) 5 1 . . .Bd5, as played. Of these, 5 1 . . . Bb5 certainly seems the best; if 52 Rd6 Kg5 when taking the pawn costs a piece after 53 . . . d2 while 53 Rb6 Bc4 followed by . . . Bd5 shuts the rook off from the passed pawn, as in previous lines. If instead 52 Ba5 Re2 when neither 53 Rb4 R X e5 nor 53 Bc7 d2 is any use. 51 . . . h6 is not quite good enough, but shows how difficult it is for White to find a good waiting move: (a) 52 Kh 1 Bd5 + and . . . Rg2 + , winning a second pawn; (b) 52 Rd6, Rd7 or Rd8 52 . . . Bd5

winning a piece. (c) 52 Ba5 Bd5 53 R X d3 Rg2 + 54 Kf 1 Ra2 winning material. (d) 52 h4 Bd5 as in the game. The problem here is that a clear win for Black is not apparent after either 52 h3 or 52 Be 1 Re2 53 Bc3 . Returning to the game, Black chose 5 1 . . .Bd5(?) White should now play 52 R X d3 Rg2 + 53 Kfl R X h2 (if 53 . . . R X g4 54 Rg3 and Black cannot hope to win) 54 Rd4 when he is still alive and it is not clear how Black is to continue, in spite of the fragile appearance of the white pawns. Missing this chance to punish Black's premature liquida­ tion, he now goes rapidly downhill . 52 h4? h6 53 Ba5 Alternatives are also dismal: (i) 53 R X d3 Rg2 + 54 Kf l R X g4 winning another pawh; (ii) 53 Kf 1 Re2 54 Bd6 Bg2 + 55 Kg 1 d2 or if here 54 R X d3 Re4( 1) winning the bishop or the rook; (iii) 53 Be 1 Re2 or 53 h5 + , both of which lead to positions almost identical to the game. 53 . . .Re2 54 h5 + Another pawn fixed on a white square is undesirable, but 54 R X d3 Rg2 + 55 Kf 1 Ra2 costs the exchange. 54 . . .Kh7 Better than 54 . . . Kf7, which would allow White a convenient check, as a waiting move. 55 Bc3 Be4 55 . . . R X e5 56 R X d3 would be weaker. It is clear from a previous note that Black must be patient and retain his passed pawn for the time 1 66

being, while he brings the white pawns under fire . 56 Kf l Bg2 + 57 Kg l B£3 Black now has the further advan­ tage that he can afford an exchange of rooks (after capturing at g4, that is), since White's h-pawn will then fall and he will remain three pawns down. 58 Rf4 Against the alternative 58 Kf 1 Black wins by taking advantage of various favourable tactical circum­ stances: 58 . . . Rc2 and then (a) 59 Ba5 Be2 + 60 Kg 1 Rc5; (b) 59 Bb4 Rg2 60 R X d3 R X g4 when another pawn goes; (c) 59 Be l Rc5 60 Bg3 B X g4 1 58 . . .Rc2! Vacating the ideal square e2 for the

GAME 43

bishop. Black now wins outright after the exchange of bishops, as his pawn is unstoppable: 59 R X f3 R X c3 60 Rf2 (60 Kf2 or 60 Kg2 d21) Rc l + 6 1 Kg2 Rc2 62 Kf l (or 62 Kf3) d2 63 Ke2 d l /Q + etc . If 60 Rf l d2 with 6 1 . . .Rc l to follow. 59 Be 1 The other squares are no better, as shown in the note to White's last move: 59 Ba5 Be2 60 Rd4 Rc5 etc., or 59 Bb4 Rg2 + 60 Kf l R X g4. 59 . . .Be2 60 Rd4 ReS 6 1 Re4 B£3 0- 1 . More material is now lost after 62 Rf4 R X e5 and if 63 Bc3 Rc5 64 Bb4 Rg5 will do very nicely.

White: Ivkov Black: Browne Amsterdam, 1 97 1

This game and the next illustrate play in which the pawns are all on one side of the board; this is a fairly orthodox case of the technique involved, while the other is more original. In both games some very interesting tactical play is to be seen. Diagram 1

After 20 moves (Diagram 1 ) White has achieved a position with five pawns against four which should be won with careful play, but now he makes a mistake with 2 1 Bh6? (2 1 Bf2 with an eventual e4 is a good plan). Although the back rank threat appears to defend the cl-pawn indirectly, Black now plays 2 1 . . .Ra l ! reducing the position to a 4 vs. 3 ending which should really be drawn with correct play. However, we shall see how the difficulties of 1 67

the situation can tax even a grand­ master. 22 R X a 1 He cannot save the d-pawn of course; if 22 Rd2? Bh3. 22 . . .B Xd4+ 23 Kg2 B X a 1 24 RXe7 Bg7 25 B Xg7 K Xg7 This is a fairly typical ending with four pawns versus three and the following general points may be made: ( l ) Basically the position should be drawn because the black king does not have to stretch very far to stop White's potential passed e-pawn and at the same time defend his own pawns . (2) At a fairly early stage . . . h5 is essential for Black, (a) to stop the white pawns gaining space by advancing together and obtaining a stifling grip on the position; (b) to prevent White's obtaining a passed e-pawn without exchanging off nearly all the pawns; (c) to prevent the advance of the enemy h-pawn which will either open another file (to the benefit of the attacker, of course) or even push on to h6, fixing the black h-pawn as a weak­ ness and creating all manner of threats . (3) The extra pair of pieces gives the position a rather different character from a standard rook + 4 vs. rook + 3 ending in that the attacker naturally has a greater variety of threats at his disposal. 26 K£2 K£6 27 Ra7 h5 28 h4 Rd 1 As yet there is little to analyse. Black has played his key move . . . h5 and now places his rook as actively as possible and tries to keep the rest of his position consolidated.

29 Bg2 Rb 1 30 Ra4 Rc 1 3 1 £4 White is not concerned about the weakness which this move creates at g4 and the subsequent blockade by Black. The attempt to obtain a passed pawn is rarely useful in such a situation since the black king is quite favourably placed to stop it. The only real chance of winning is by some kind of direct attack (for example f4-f5-f6, as actually happens, or by a penetration through the potentially weak black squares in the enemy game. 3 1 . . .Rc2 32 Be4 (Diagram 2) White 's plan becomes clear. He wants to anchor the bishop at d3 and then play to attack the enemy pawn mass with e4 and f5. There seems to be no better way to proceed in view of the activity of the black pieces, e.g. 32 Bb7 (aiming for Ba6-d3) Ra2 ! 33 Rb4 Bg4 and White is getting nowhere. However, the move played allows 32 . . . Rc4, exchanging off rooks, and it is difficult to see why Black avoids this, since any ending with a single Diagram 2

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1 68

-

-

·

piece each should normally be easier to hold . Nevertheless Black should still not lose. 32 . . .Rb2 33 Bd3 Rb7 34 Ra5 Bg4 35 Ra2 Not immediately 35 e4 Rb2 + 36 Kg 1 (otherwise 36 . . . Rg2 or 36 . . .Bh3 + and 37 . . . Rg2) Rd2 and Black draws easily. 35 . . .Re7 3G e4 Rc7 37 Ke3 Rc l Not fatal, but it gives White a chance which could have been avoided by 37 . . Rc6. 38 RaG + Kg7 39 £5 White's object is achieved. Now Black must prevent f6 + which sets up a crippling bind on his game and even creates mating threats . If he cannot prevent it he is lost 39 . . .g X£5 40 e X£5 Rd l? (Diagram 3) The losing move; in spite of his previous errors Black can still hold the game with 40 . . .f6 . Although this appears to be a weakening move, Black can stand it because the enemy pawns are also weak and disjointed. After 4 1 Ra7 + (or 4 1 Kf4 Rc7 1) Kf8 (not 4 1 . . . Kh6? 42 Rf7) 42 Kf4 Rc3 White can never make any progress. 41 fG + KhG 42 Ra8 R Xd3 + This is quite hopeless, but the only other possibility, the stalemate try 42 . . .Bf5 !, also fails :

Diagram 3

43 B X f5 Rd3 + 44 Ke4 Re3 + 45 Kd4 Re4 + 46 Kd5 and now: (a) 46 . . .Re5 + 47 Kd6 R X f5 (or 47 . . . Rd5 + 48 Ke7 Re5 + 49 Be6 1 and wins) 48 Ke7 and wins; (b) 46 . . .Rd4 + 47 Kc6 Rc4 + 48 Kd7 Rd4 + (or 48 . . . Rc7 + 49 Kd8) 49 Kc7 (not 49 Kc8? Rd8 +) Rc4 + 50 Kd8 Rd4 + 5 1 Bd7 and wins. Other variations lead to similar finishes. 43 K Xd3 KgG 44 Rg8 + K XfG 45 R Xg4! The simplest way. Black may as well resign. 45 . . .h Xg4 4G Ke4 KeG 47 K£4 £5 48 Kg5 Ke5 49 h5 Ke4 50 hG £4 5 1 h7 £ Xg3 52 h8/Q g2 53 Qa8 + 1-0.

1 69

GAME 44

White: Keres Black : Hort San Antonio, 1 972

This second example shows once again the chances available to the stronger side in the presence of an extra pair of pieces.

(Diagram 1 ) 37 Kf3 B£8 38 Rd7 Bg7 Once again the weaker side avoids the attempt to exchange which should suit him. Black may not have wished to commit himself before the time-control or he may have felt more secure with a bishop guarding his black squares and holding back the white f-pawn by his threat to the e-pawn It turns out, however, that the white bishop is a much better piece After 3S . . . Bc5 39 B X c5 (or 39 Bd2 BfB etc.) R X c5 Black draws fairly comfortably because the white position is wide open and the king exposed to a series of checks. 39 Ke4 Rb8 40 Bc5 Both sides are probing a little, but this procedure is obviously safer for White than for Black ! White's basic plan will be Bd4 and g4, once again threatening the terrible bind f5-f6, and Black must take active measures to contest this. Such measures may well involve . . . g5 at some point, making a thrust at the white pawns, reluctant though Black may be to loosen his position in this way. 40 . . .Rea He had a chance here for the thrust mentioned above, 40 . . . g5. However, after 41 f5 (4 1 g3 h4 or 41 f X g5 Rb2 42 Kf5 R X g2, drawing comfortably m both cases) ·, \

r�

,

.

Rb2 42 f6 Bh6 43 RdS + Kh7 44 g4 Black is losing . If instead 4 1 . . .ReS 42 Bd6 B X e5 43 B X e5 f6 44 Rd5 f X e5 45 R X e5 Rf8 (otherwise 46 f6 etc.) 46 g4 h X g4 47 h X g4 and Black's game is still very difficult. Pro:Oably the best line is 40 . . . BfS 4 1 Bd4 ReS 42 g4 h X g4 43 h X g4 Bc5 as suggested in an earlier note. 41 Kd5(?) White in turn is inaccurate and by this move he gives Black a clear drawing chance. Best is 4 1 Bd4, leading to positions very similar to the game continuation. 4 1 . . . Ra8? This loses in an interesting and original way. Black can take advantage of a momentary insecurity in the white position by Diagram 1

1 70

49 . . . Ra4 50 Bc5 followed by Be7-f6 with the king sheltering at g4 if necessary; once that position is set up Black must either exchange, leaving the wedge at f6, or keep his rook passive at a6 in order to prevent loss of material after White's Rb7 and e6) 50 Kd2 Rc4 5 1 Kd3 Rc l 52 Bc3 Rf 1 53 Ke3 Re 1 54 Ba5 and the bishop reaches f6 what­ ever Black does. There remains the move actually played, which enables White to win by means of an exchange sacrifice. 48 . . .Bh8 49 Rf8 Not immediately 49 R X h8 + KXh8 50 e6 + Kg8 5 1 e7 f5 + 52 g X f6 Kf7 and the blockade draws easily. 49 . . .Kg7 50 Rd8 Kh7 5 1 Kd3 (Diagram 3) Now threatening 52 RXh8+ etc., since the check at f5 is avoided. 5 1 . . .Ra3 + Or 5 1 . . . Bg7 52 Rd7 Kg8 53 e6 R X d4 + 54 R X d4 B X d4 55 e7 and wins. 52 Kc4 Ra4+ 53 Kb5 Ra3 54 Rf8

Diagram 2

4 1 . . . Bh6 42 Be3 (42 g3 h4) Rc2 43 g4 Rh2 44 g5 Bg7 45 Rd8 + Kh7 and Black is safe. 42 g4! h Xg4 43 h Xg4 Ra5 (Diagram 2) By this move he prevents both 44 f5 and the manoeuvre Be7-f6, which would give White a dominating position for his bishop or a very powerful pawn wedge if Black should exchange. Unfortunately for him the removal of the rook from the back rank allows a different winning line. 44 Rd8 + Kh7 45 g5! Burying the bishop alive - a far more important consideration than the purely theoretical drawback that his own majority is crippled for the time being. 45 . . .Ra4 46 Bd4 RaG 47 Ke4 Ra4 48 Rb8! A nice Zugzwang move, made possible only by the paralysis of Black's K-side. If Black now releases the pin by 48 . . . Ra5 49 e6 ! wins immediately (49 . . . f X e6 50 Rb7 or 49 . . . B X d4 50 e7). If he tries 48 . . .Rc4 49 Ke3 Rc 1 (or

Diagram 3

171

He'could have played the winning line immediately, but no harm is done by a couple of moves delay. Notice that 54 e6 is not so clear after 54 . . . B X d4 55 e7 Re3 56 eS/Q R X eS 57 R X eS Kd7 . White might still win from this position but in certain cases of rook + 2 pawns vs. bishop + 2 pawns on the same side of the board it may be impossible for the rook to break through if the enemy pawns are not weakened and more especially if his own pawn position is too rigid. Keres' method is much

GAME 45

more convincing. 54 . . .Kg7 55 ReS Kh7 56 R£8 Kg7 57 RXh8! K Xh8 58 e6+ Kg8 59 e7 Ra8 GO BfG 1-0. The rook is lost in all variations, i.e. (a) 60 . . .ReS 61 Kc6 RaS 62 Kc7 1 Kh7 (62 . . . Ra7 + 63 KbS) 63 Bd41 KgS 64 Kd7. (b) 60 . . .Kh7 6 1 Kc6 Ra6 + 62 Kb7 Re6 63 Kc7 Re 1 64 Be5 (c) 60 . . .Kh7 6 1 Kc6 ReS 62 Kd7 RaS 63 eS/Q Ra7 + 64 Kd6 and if 64 . . .Ra6 + 65 Qc6, avoiding stalemate.

White: Rogoff Black: Csom Interzonal tournament, Biel, 1 976 advantages have been fairly equally distributed - the black pawn centre keeps the white pieces somewhat restricted, but the pawns themselves are rather exposed to attack down the central files. The black knights are cramped, but the pressure of the rooks down the g­ and c-hles is not to be underrated.

1 e4 NfG 2 Ne3 e6 3 e4 e5 4 e5 Ng8 5 d4 e Xd4 6 Q Xd4 Ne6 7 Qe4 Bb4 8 Bd2 dG 9 Qg4 N Xe5 10 Q Xg7 Q£6 1 1 QXfG N XfG 12 £4 NgG 13 N£3 Bd7 14 a3 Ba5 15 b4 BbG 1G Bd3 BeG 17 Rf l Ng4 18 Ke2 £5 19 h3 NfG 20 g3 Rg8 2 1 Be3 B Xe3 22 K Xe3 N£8 23 K£2 hG 24 Nd4 a6 25 Rfe 1 K£7 26 Rad 1 Bd7 27 Be2 ReS 28 Nb3 Ke7 29 Bf l BeG 30 Bd3 K£7 3 1 Re3 Re7 32 Bb 1 Ne8 33 a4 Bd7 34 Bd3 Nh7 (Diagram 1 ) This game is chosen because, for all its mistakes, it is such a good illustration of the tactical chances available to a few pieces on an almost completely open board. After a good deal of manoeuv­ ring on both sides White decides to open up the game. Up to now the

Diagram 1

1 72

White's decision to open the game implies that he considers himself to hold an overall advantage and tactically it is based on the pinning of the f-pawn. This however turns out to be a mis­ judgment, since among other things the white king soon gets into serious trouble. 35 g4 Nh£6 36 g X£5 e X£5 37 Rde l Ne4 + ! Perhaps White under-estimated this. The alternative way of preventing 38 Re? + , by 37 . . .Bc8 38 Nd4 Ng7 is obviously too passive. 38 N Xe4 The alternatives of 38 B X e4 f X e4 39 N X e4 R X c4 40 N X d6 + N X d6 4 1 Re? + Kf6 42 R X d7 R X f4 + and 38 B X e4 f X e4 39 R X e4 Bf5 1 40 R4e3 (40 Rd4 B X h3 etc.) Nf6 are scarcely attractive for White. In this last line he is very much on the defensive in spite of his extra pawn, but note that Black should avoid 39 . . . B X h3 40 Nd5 with Re? + to follow . 38 . . .£Xe4 39 B Xe4 Not of course 39 R X e4 Bf5 etc. 39 . . .N£6 40 Bg2 He prefers to avoid the passive placing of his bishop by 40 Bd3 B X a4. 40 . . .R Xc4 4 1 B Xb7 RXb4 Not 4 1 . . . R X f4 + because of 42 Rf3 and if 42 . . .R X b4 43 Bd5 + . 42 B Xa6 BeG! (Diagram 2 ) Much better than 4 2 . . .R X a4 43 Bb7 . Black now gets a vicious attack. The position is unusual both for the small number of pawns remaining while both sides still have four pieces and for the tactical

opportunities which arise. The immediate threat is 43 . . .Rg2 + 44 Kf 1 R X f4 and mate, and if 43 Kf 1 Black has, among other things, 43 . . . R X f4 + 4 4 Ke2 Nd5 4 5 Rd3 Rg2 + 46 Kd 1 Nb4 47 R X d6 B X a4, winning at least a piece. 43 Re? + Kf8 only leaves him with more pieces to defend, while 43 Bf l Ne4 + 44 Ke2 Bd5 1 leaves White with no satisfactory way of protecting the knight 45 Na5 R X a4 or 45 Nd2 Rb2 46 Rd 1 (46 Rd3 Bc4) Bc4 + 47 Ke 1 N X d2 48 R X d2 Rb 1 + or 45 Na 1 Rb2 + 46 Kd 1 Rd2 + 47 Kc 1 ReS + 48 Kb 1 Ba2 mate or 45 N c 1 Rb2 + and mate next move with the three possible mating positions producing a curious kind of symmetry, or finally 45 Rb 1 Rgb8 46 Bg2 B X b3 47 R X e4 Bc4 + . Lastly, if 43 Rd3 Rg2 + 44 Ke3 Re4 + wins and therefore White has no choice but to move his rook from e 1 . 43 Rc l This is best because, apart from the Diagram 2

1 73

attack on the bishop, White can now interfere with his opponent's plans by the possibility of a check at c4 . 43 . . .RX£4+ White has to avoid a whole set of traps after 43 . . . Ne4 + 44 Ke l Rg l + 45 Ke2 R X b3 46 R X g l (not 46 R X c6 Rg2 + 47 Kf3 Rg3 + ) Rb2 + 47 Kf l (not 47 Ke l Rb l + nor 47 Kf3 Nc5 + nor 47 Kd3 Nc5 + 48 Kc3 Rb3 + ), but then 47 . . . Nd2 + 48 Ke l Nf3 + leads only to a draw. If instead 43 . . . Rg2 + 44 Ke l Rg l + 45 Kd2 Black again makes little progress (45 . . .Ne4 + 7 46 R X e4 B X e4 4 7 R X g l R X b3 48 Bc4 + or here 46 . . . Rg2 + 47 Re2). 44 Ke l The variation 44 Ke2 Rg2 + 45 Kd3 Nd5 46 R X c6 Nb4 + 4 7 Kc3 Rc2 mate is one more example of the dangers facing the white king. 44 . . .Nd5 ! Very strong; the point is that there is no good square for the white rook. If 45 Re2 simply 45 . . . B X a4 and the knight can neither move nor be protected (46 Na l or 46 Na5 Rg l + 47 Kd2 Rd4 + 48 Bd3 R X d 3 + 4 6 Bc4 R X c4 etc.; 4 6 Rb2 B X b3 47 RXb3 Rg l + 48 Kd2 Rf2 + 49 Be2 R X e2 +). If 45 Rd3 Re8 + 4 6 Kd l Rf l + 4 7 Kd2 Rf2 + 48 Kd l Nb4 49 Bc4 + (or 49 R X d6 Bf3 + ) d5 and wins. The best chance is probably 45 Bc4, disposing of the knight, since 45 . . .R X c4 46 R X c4 N X e3 47 R X c6 leads nowhere for Black. Nevertheless, 45 . . .Rg l +

46 Ke2 Rg2 + 47 Ke l Kf6 48 B X d5 B X d5 still leaves him with a definite advantage. 45 Rc4? ! This move would be fine if Black were to exchange a pair of rooks, but instead it gives him the opportunity to initiate a second series of tactical threats. 45 . .Rfl + ! 46 Kd2 46 Ke2 Rg2 + ! 47 Kd3 Rd l + 48 Ke4 Nf6 + 49 Kf5 Rf l + 50 Rf4 Rg5 mate is a drastic finish and in any case White wishes to keep his bishop trained on f l . 46 . . .Rd l + ! An echo of his previous move. 46 . . . N X e3 47 R X c6 is bad, leaving Black with two pieces en prise and also threatened with Bc4 + . 47 Ke2 Rg2 + 48 K£3 Rf l + ! Still the theme persists. If now 49 K X g2 N X e 3 + 50 Kg3 Rf3 + saves the rook. 49 Ke4 (Diagram 3) And now, in spite of a whole host of double and discovered checks available to Black, only one turns out to be of any value. 49 . . .Nb4+ Alternatives can be summed up as follows: (a) 49 . . .Nc3 +? 50 Kd3 and Black simply loses a piece. · (b) 49 . . .Nf6 + 50 Kd4 (50 Kd3? Rd l + 5 1 Kc3 Nd5 mate) Rd l + (or 50 . . . Rf4 + 5 1 Kd3 and Black has nothing) 5 1 Rd3 R X d 3 + 52 K X d3 Rg3 + 53 Kd4, which is no more than equal. (c) 49 . . . N X e3 + 50 R X c6 Re l 5 1 Kf3 Rg6 52 Kf2 Ng2 53 Bc4 + Ke7 54 Bd5 and Black's pieces are all tangled up. If .

1 74

here 5 1 . . . Rb2 52 Nd4 and Black keeps the exchange, but under rather worse circumstances than in the game. (d) 49 . . .Ne7 + ? 50 R X c6 N X c6 5 1 BXfl . (e) 49 . . . Rf4 + 50 Kd3 Nb4 + 5 1 Kc3 Na2 + 52 Kd3 and Black can only repeat moves. 50 R X c6 Not 50 Kd4? Rd 1 + 5 1 Kc3 Na2 mate. 50 . . . d5+ 5 1 Kd4 N Xc6+ 52 Kc5 Not 52 K X d5 Nb4 + . White con­ tinues to walk on a tightrope. 52 . . . Rc2+ 53 Kb5(?) 53 Kd6 Rf6 + 54 Kc7 Nb4 + is fatal, but the same applies to the move chosen and Black could now have won immediately by 53 . . . Rf4 ! . Relatively best is 53 Kb6, so that if 53 . . .Rf4 or 53 . . .Rb 1 then 54 Bb5 in each case. After 53 . . . Rf6, however, Black should still win fairly comfortably, e.g. 54 Kb7 Nd8 + 55 Ka7 Rc7 + , or simply 54 . . . d4 etc. 53 . . .Rb l ?

Black misses it, presumably under time pressure, and reaches an ending which should only be drawn. 54 Bb7 Threatening just to advance his pawn with plenty of support and so forcing Black's hand 54 . . .RXb3 + If 54 . . .Nd4 + 55 Ka6 N X b3 56 B X d5 + leads to a better ending for White than he gets in the game, since his rook (cutting oH the king and defending the h-pawn) and his bishop are ideally placed. However, he must not play 55 Kb6 N X b3 56 B X d5 + K£6 57 B X b3 Rcb2, nor 55 Kb4 Rc4 + 56 Ka5 R X b3 57 B X d5 + Kf6 58 R X b3 N X b3 + 59 Kb5 ReS + ; i f here 56 Ka3 Nc2 + 57 Ka2 N X e3 58 K X b 1 Rb4 wins. 55 RXb3 Nd4+ 56 Kb4 N Xb3 57 B X d 5 + Ke7 58 B X b3 (Diagram 4) If Black now attempts to win the h-pawn, he finds that the other enemy pawn is too fast, e.g.

Diagram 3

Diagram 4

1 75

58 . . .Rh2 59 a5 R X h3 60 a6 Rh4 + (or 60 . . .Rh 1 6 1 a7 Ra 1 62 Ba4 Rb 1 + 63 Ka5 and wins) 6 1 Kb5 Rh5 + 62 Kb6 Rh3 63 Bd5 with a draw. As a matter of fact the ending is drawn anyway with correct play, but Black can naturally make a much better attempt than this . The first stage must be to win the a-pawn with his king by tying up the bishop to the defence of the h-pawn, at the same time interfering with the enemy king's march to the other side. 58 . . .Rd2 Keeps the king cut off and stays within range of the h-pawn. 59 aS Kd6 60 a6 60 Kb5 Rb2 would just be a waste of time. 60 . . .Kc7 6 1 Kc3 The obvious 6 1 Kc5 permits Black a neat sequence of forced moves as follows: 6 1 . . .Rd3 62 Be6 (62 a7 Kb7) Ra3 63 Kb5 Re3 64 Bg4 h 5 1 and wins one of the pawns, while the white king has made absolutely no progress towards the K-side. This is a most important variation; the tactical points which come to Black's aid are not just lucky, but typical of the rook's power on an open board and the way in which progress is frequently made in such endings. 61 . . .Rd8 62 Bc4 Kb6 63 Bd3 The only way to provide shelter for the king; now Black diverts the bishop. 63 . . .R£8 64 Be2 To let the h-pawn go and allow Black a passed pawn would be very dangerous and in any case unnecessary.

-

-

Diagram 5

64 . R£2 65 Kd3 Rh2 66 Bg4 K Xa6 The ending should now be drawn because of the weakness of the black pawn. Black does his best to make the opposing king's journey difficult while his own king approaches, but there is a limit to his rook's manoeuvrability in this respect. 67 Ke4 R£2 ! 68 B£5 68 Bf3 Kb6 69 Kf4 Kc5 70 Kg4 Kd6 7 1 Bd 1 Ke6 72 Kh5 Rf6 73 Bc2 Kf7 allows Black to save the pawn. It should be pointed out that even then the ending presents great technical difficulties and may still be drawn. However, White can make things easier by blocking the black king with his own king for a few moves. 68 . . .Re2 + If 68 . . . Kb6 69 Ke5 Kc6 70 Kf6 Kd6 (70 . . . Rg2 7 1 Bg4) 7 1 Kg6 Ke5 72 Bb 1 Rf6 + 73 Kh5 and Bg6 to follow. 69 K£4 Kb6 70 Bg4 (Diagram 5) Again the rook is ready to deal with a direct attack 70 Kg4 Rg2 + 7 1 Kh4 Rg5 ! and .

1 76

.

have been pressed for time at move 76. After 76 Kf6 Kf4 (or 76 . . .h5 still 77 Kg7) 77 Kg7 R X f7 + 78 K X f7 h5 White plays not 79 Kg6 h4, which loses, but 79 Ke6 1 (presumably what he overlooked). Then 79 . . h4 80 Kd5 Kg3 8 1 Ke4 KXh3 82 Kf3 is a simple draw and there is no way for Black to improve on this. If 78 . . . Kg5 79 Ke6 draws in the same way. 76 . . . Rb8 Now the white king's situation is very bad and his pawn soon falls . 77 Kf6 Rb6 + 78 Kg7 78 Be6 Kf4 is certainly no better. 78 . . .Kf5 0- 1 . After (a) 79 Kh7 Kg5 8 0 Kg7 h5 81 Kh7 Rb7 (81 . . .Kh4 82 Bg6 is no good) 82 Kg8 Kh4 83 Be6 Re7 84 Bf5 Re3 and 85 . . .R X h3 or (b) 79 Bh5 Kg5 80 Bg4 Rb7 + 81 Kg8 h5 etc. White has no chance.

White is badly tied up. 70 . . .Rf2 + 71 Ke5 RfB ! Otherwise 72 Bf5 and 73 Kf6 as before. 72 Bh5 ! Now the intention is to block at f7 with the bishop. 72 Ke6 Kc5 73 Ke7 Rf4 would be too slow. 72 . . .Kc5 He proposes to work his way round the back. 72 . . .Kc7 73 Ke6 etc. gets nowhere . 73 Bg6 Kc4 74 KeG Black will penetrate eventually, so there is no point in trying to oppose him, e.g. 74 Bf5 Kc3 75 Ke4 Kd2 76 Bg4 Ke 1 77 Ke3 Kf l 78 Bf3 Kg 1 79 Ke2 Kh2 80 Kf2 Rf7 ! etc., or 74 Ke4 Kc3 75 Ke3 Rf6 76 Be4 Re6 77 Kf4 Kd4 78 Bf5 Rf6. 74 . . .Kd4 75 Bf7 Ke4 76 Ke7? White blunders tragically, just when in sight of the draw, and surprisingly, since he could hardly

GAME 46

White: Averbach Black: Hug Palma de Mallorca, 1 972 Dutch Defence

This endgame is a fine illustration of the possibilities open to two active rooks once they have penetrated to the seventh and eighth ranks. Although Black manages to keep them under control, he does so only at the cost of allowing White decisive scope elsewhere The various catastrophes which could have befallen Black, had he not kept a very careful watch on the rooks, are made clear in the notes . After a good deal of manoeuvring in the early stages, White embarks on a piece sacrifice which is based on the following positional considerations : ( l ) The two united passed pawns will have to be permanently watched; (2) For this reason Black's rooks will have to remain passive for a long time; (3) His bishop will be a useless piece in view of the fact that White will be operating exclusively on the black squares; (4) The white king can penetrate undisturbed through the black squares on the Q-side; (5) The black king is in danger. 1 77

1 d4 e6 2 c4 fS 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 g3 Be7 5 Bg2 0-0 6 0-0 c6 7 Nc3 dS 8 Qc2 aS 9 NeS Nbd7 1 0 c XdS e XdS 1 1 Nd3 Ne4 12 f3 N Xc3 13 b Xc3 Bd6 14 Bd2 Nf6 15 Bf4 B X f4 16 g X f4 Qe7 17 Qd2 Nd7 18 Kh l Re8 19 NeS N XeS 20 fXeS BeG 21 Rg l Kh8 22 f4 Qh4 23 Bf3 Re7 24 RgS g6 25 Rag 1 Rg8 26 e3 Reg7 27 Qg2 bS 28 Bd l a4 29 Bc2 Bd7 30 Bd3 BeG 3 1 Qf l Rf7 32 R lg3 Qh6 33 Qb 1 QfB 34 Qb4 Rfg7 35 Rh3 Qe7 36 Rg 1 BcB 37 Q X e7 RXe7 38 Rhg3 Reg7 39 Kg2 BeG 40 Kf3 h6 41 Ke2 Kh7 42 Rf3 Rb7 43 Kd2 Bf7 44 Rb 1 RaB 45 Rg3 BeG 46 Rbg 1 RgB 47 Kc2 Ra7 48 Be2 Bf7 49 h4 hS 50 Rg5 Re8 5 1 Kd2 Re6 (Diagram l ) 5 2 B XhS ! g XhS 5 3 RXfS Bg6 The best chance, although it allows the white rook through to the eighth, since he will now at least be able to blockade the pawns for Diagram 1

Diagram 2

some time. Anything else, say 53 . . . Rae7, would permit 54 Rfg5 with a subsequent f5, e.g. 54 . . .Be8 55 f5 Rh6 56 f6 Rf7 (56 . . . Re6 57 Rg7 + and mates) 57 e6, winning easily. 54 RfB Kg7 55 RcB Rf7 56 Kc 1 For the moment White's threats on the K -side are contained, so the king starts his long journey to c5. After that the combined pressure on both wings is almost certain to break Black's resistance. 56 . . .Kh6 57 RgS ! (Diagram 2) White is in no hurry, so he takes the time to set a trap without endangering anything. The following variations illustrate most pointedly the perils to which Black is exposed: (a) 57 . . . Rf5 58 Rh8 + Kg7 59 Rh Xh5 and wins immediately because Black cannot stop the threat of f5, whether he moves his rook away or exchanges; (b) 57 . . . Bf5 58 Rh8 + Bh7 59 f5 Ree7 60 Rg6 mate; (c) 57 . . . Bf5 58 Rh8 + Rh7 59 Rf8 Be4 60 f5 and wins. 57 . . .Kh7 ! 1 78

Diagram 3 Black is alive to the danger, so White must revert to the main plan, a Q-side invasion. 58 Kb2 RfS 59 Rg 1 Naturally White does not oblige by exchanging the passive black rook, unless he can gain some substantial advantage, such as the freeing of his pawns. Besides, he has plans for manoeuvring behind enemy lines with both rooks. 59 . . .Rf7 60 Rg5 Rf5 6 1 Rc7+ Kg8 If 6 1 . . . Kh6 White calmly proceeds with 62 Ka3, since Black cannot take on g5. If 6 1 . . .Rf7 62 R X f7 + B X f7 63 f5 ReS 64 e6 BgS 65 Ka3, and Black remains totally passive while the king strolls in; he cannot even challenge rooks at g7 because of the mate at h5. To sacrifice the bishop back at any stage would also lead to a hopeless ending. The critical variations occur if Black plays here 63 . . .Re7, instead of . . .ReS, leaving eS for the bishop. Then the white king gets a real opportunity to make his presence felt: 64 Ka3 BeS 65 Kb4 Rg7

66 R X g7 + K X g7 67 Kc5 Bd7 (or 67 . . .Kf7 6S Kd6 and Black is already in Zugzwang since he must allow Ke7, followed by f6 and e6 - if 6S . . .KfS 69 e6 etc.) 6S f6 + Kf7 69 Kd6 BcS (69 . . . BeS 70 a3 1 Zugzwang) 70 a3 ! (Diagram 3) (not immediately 70 K X c6 because of 70 . . . Ke6 7 1 K X b5 Bd7 + , whereas now a king move would permit 7 1 e6 or Ke7; Black must therefore block e6 with his bishop) Be6 7 1 K X c6 KeS 72 K X b5 Bd7 + 73 Kc5 Be6 74 Kb4 Bd7 75 c4 d X c4 76 K X c4 and the pawns must win. 62 Rg 1 KfB 62 . . .Rf7 63 R X f7 K X f7 64 Rg5 would lose another pawn. 63 Ka3 B£7 Remarkable how Black has been unable to do anything with his extra piece. White has simply arranged to do everything on black squares and is ignoring the bishop entirely ! 64 Kb4 Ke8 65 Kc5 Kd8 66 Ra7 ! (Diagram 4) White has achieved a position

Diagram 4

179

which he can win in a number of ways, yet how many players would have refrained from capturing the c-pawn? After 66 R X c6 R X c6 + 6 7 K X c6 Ke7 68 K X b5 Be8 + 69 Kc5 Ke6, White should still win by a timely e4, followed by d5 + and so on; but Averbach sees that he can do even better by being patient for a little longer and leaving Black to find reasonable moves, which is becoming harder and harder. 66 . . .Bg6 An attempt to stop the invasion of the second rank, which is doomed to failure because he is so short of manoeuvring room. He has nothing better though; if 66 . . . Rg6? 67 R X f7. 67 a3 (no hurry l) Kc8 If 67 . . Rf7? 68 R X g6, an echo of the last var ' Jtion. 68 Rg7 Bee 69 Rh7 rue If 69 . . . Rg6 70 R X g6 B X g6 7 1 Rg7 Be8 72 Kd6 and the blockade of the pawns will be swept away, e.g. 72 . . .Kd8 73 Ke6, or 72 . . .Rf7 73 R X f7 B X f7 74 f5 and the avalanche is unstoppable. If 69 . . . Bg6 70 Rh6 Bf7 7 1 R X e6 B X e6 72 Kd6 Bf7 73 Rg7, with e6 to follow. The move chosen releases the f-pawn, which is certain to have equally serious consequences before long. 70 Rgg7 Kb8 7 1 Rb7+ Ka8 72 Ra7 + Kb8 73 Rhb7 + Kc8 (Diagram 5) White has set up the orthodox

Diagram 5

starting position for manoeuvring with doubled rooks on the seventh, and would normally wish to protect his rook at b7, creating an irresistible threat of Ra8 mate. However, 74 Kb6 will not quite do, because of 7 4 . . . c5 + 75 K X c5 Rc6 + and the king is driven back. Wishing to finish off the game as precisely as possible, he looks for and finds an alternative mating net. 74 Rb6! Threatening 75 Ra8 + Kc7 76 Rab8 with unavoidable mate, so Black must move the rook on e6 to make room. 74 . . .Rg6 75 £5 ! The pawn has had the last word after all. He covers e6 and the same mate is threatened, while capturing him allows a different finish. 75 . . .R X£5 76 Ra8 + Kc7 Or 76 . . .Kd7 77 Rb7 + Ke6 78 R X e8 mate. 77 Rab8 1-0. Mate is forced.

1 80

8. Rooks

against minor pieces

The first game covers the technique of winning with the exchange against a pawn, which is not always easy, or even possible, if the defender has a good active bishop (No. 47). Exchange sacrifices are the theme of the next group, with White obtain­ ing two passed pawns and a dangerous Q-side initiative in No. 48. Black walks a tightrope for many moves, but good defence earns him a draw. In Nos. 49 and 50 more sophisticated positional judgment is required. Here the sacrifice is being made for long-term considerations and in No. 50 especially it is remarkable how White's initiative persists. No. 51 is a dour struggle between two of the strongest modern Grandmasters and the analysis gets very complex. Timman stands better at first, but his exchange sacrifice is not quite sound and resourceful play is needed to secure the draw. Games 52 and 53 show two minor pieces fighting against a rook; successfully in No. 52, but getting into such an awful tangle in the other game that Black would have been better advised not to win the material in the first place I No. 54 rounds off the chapter with another example of a peculiar distribution of material - two exchanges against thre"' pawns this time ' The advantage is with the rooks, but over the board such an unfamiliar position must have been terribly hard to handle.

GAME 47

White : Gheorghiu Bucharest, 1 973

Black: Stoica English Opening

1 c4 Nf6 2 Nc3 d5 3 c Xd5 N Xd5 4 g3 N X c3 5 b Xc3 g6 6 Bg2 Bg7 7 Rb 1 Nd7 8 Nf3 0-0 9 0-0 c5 10 d4 Qa5 1 1 Qb3 Nf6 12 Qa3 Q Xa3 1 3 B Xa3 Ne4 14 Rfc 1 b6 1 5 Ng5 NXg5 1 6 B X a8 Bf5 17 e4 RXa8 18 e Xf5 Nf3 + 19 Kg2 Nd2 20 Rb2 Nc4 2 1 Rb3 N Xa3 22 RXa3 (Diagram 1 ) The finish of this game illustrates the difficulties which face the player who is trying to exploit the slight material advantage of the exchange for a pawn. If the minor piece is

Diagram 1

181

a well-placed bishop and the weaker side has a secure pawn structure, the problems may sometimes be insurmountable. 22 . . . c Xd4 23 c Xd4 B Xd4 24 Rd3 Dealing with the threat of 24 . . . Bb2 with gain of time, in order to save his f-pawn. Other moves are possible, e.g. 24 Ra6 (also 24 Rc7) g X f5 25 Rc7 Bc5 26 Rc X a7 ! (if 26 RaXa7 Rd8, threatening 27 . . .Rd2; normally the weaker side stands a better chance by keeping his rook, but now the exchange is forced) R X a7 27 R X a7 and White has fairly good winning chances. However, he prefers the text move because the following capture on g6 will either supply him with a potential passed pawn or isolate the black e-pawn. 24 . . .BcS 25 f Xg6 h Xg6 Taking the other way and conceding an isolated pawn might seem plausible, but in the long run I think the weakness of the white squares e6 and e4, which the white king could occupy, would be Diagram 2

a serious matter, more serious than the isolation of the pawn itself. 26 Rd7 aS Forced, sooner or later. White's next move, crippling the majority, is another reason why he preferred the line commencing with 24 Rd3. 27 a4! Now follows the centralisation of the kings and the advance of the white pawns. 27 . . .Kg7 28 f4 Kf6 29 Rd3 The rook is of no further use on the seventh and retires to assist the advance of the pawns. 29 . . .Rb8 30 Kf3 ReS 3 1 h4 (Diagram 2) Concerning this type of position generally (where the minor piece is a bishop), the defender's pawns will tend to be forced onto the same colour squares as the bishop for their own protection, and the winning process will therefore involve penetration of his position on squares of the opposite colour. The result should then be loss of material by Zugzwang or a counter­ sacrifice of rook for bishop and pawn, leaving a won king and pawn ending, or even mating threats. Where the two rooks are fighting a rook and bishop, they should be used as aggressively as possible, as demonstrated here by Gheorghiu. The defender can often use his rook to prevent the enemy king making inroads but then he also has to face the fearsome threats which two rooks can generate, including mating threats and, here, the support of the passed pawn. 3 1 . . .Rb8 3 1 . . .e5 32 f X e5 + K X e5 33 Re 1 + Kf6 34 g4 would only 1 82

increase the scope of the rooks. 32 Rd5 The rook has a job to do on the fifth rank, supporting the pawn advance, as soon becomes clear. It's unlikely, in spite of Black's next move, that White was contemplating the counter-sacrifice 33 Rd X c5 ? 1 b X c5 34 R X c5 Rb3 + 35 Kg4 Ra3 36 R X a5 because his winning chances would be very slim with the black rook in the active position behind the pawn. However, he may have had it in mind to provoke 32 . . . e6, when 33 Rd7 leaves the £-pawn a convenient target. 32 . . .Rea 33 g4 RhB 34 Rh 1 Bb4 35 hS Threatening 36 h6 and 37 g5 + which cannot be permitted. Nor can Black take; after 35 . . . g X h5 36 RdX h5 1 he must exchange by 36 . . .R X h5 (if 36 . . .ReS 37 Rh6 + Kg7 38 Rh7 + mates or wins the rook, while if 36 . . . Rg8 37 Rh6 + Rg6 38 £5 wins the b-pawn) and White wins fairly comfortably after 37 g X h5. 35 . . .Kg7 This is best; he prepares to blockade the pawn with his king and make a further advance difficult. 36 Ke4 Bd6 After this, combinations based on £6 + become possible for White, destroying the guard of the bishop. If instead 36 . . . Bc5, White would probably continue as in the game with 37 £5, forcing Black by the threat of 38 f X g6 f X g6 39 Ke5-e6 to concede a passed pawn. 37 Rg5 would not do, however; after 37 . . .e6 White would have no useful continuation

as 38 £5? would allow 38 . . . Be7. 37 fS This time 37 Rg5 would be a suitable alternative, because after 37 . . .e6 38 Rb5 Bc5 39 Ke5 Black is suddenly very short of moves. If, e.g., 39 . . . Be3 White has 40 Rh3 Bc5 4 1 h6 + R X h6 42 R X h6 K X h6 43 K£6, and if 43 . . . Be3 44 Rb3 ! Bd4 + 45 K X £7 and White wins easily. Still, the move chosen is perfectly sound and once again Black must take. 37 . . .g XhS 38 R XhS Giving his opponent the unwelcome choice between an exchange of rooks which would deprive him entirely of counterplay (38 . . .R X h5 39 g X h5 Kh6 40 £6 Bb4 4 1 f X e7 B X e7 and White can even win by 42 Rd7 Bc5 43 R X £7 K X h5 44 Rg7, after which he plays his king to b5, rook to b7 and R X b6) and the move played, which is critical and gives him chances in practice but which leaves his king in danger. 38 . . .RcB 39 gS Rc4+ 40 Rd4 ReS 4 1 RdS (Diagram 3) The repetition is due to the time­ control at move 40. White now intends to sacrifice his a-pawn in the interests of his play on the K-side. This illustrates the point made earlier about playing aggressively with the two rooks. The tempting 41 £6 + turns out to be premature after 41 . . . Kg6. 41 . . .Rc4+ 42 Kd3! So that if 42 . . . R X a4 43 £6 + Kg8 (43 . . . Kg6? 44 Rh6 mate) 44 Kc2 ! when White's basic threat is Rd 1 -h 1 and Rh8 mate, and Black's game is extraordinarily 1 83

difficult to disentangle, since he dare not move his king, bishop or e-pawn ! The only possible line seems to be to defend the bishop with the rook and then play . . . e X f6, but White still has enough, e.g. (a) 44 . . .Rc4 + 45 Kd l ( 45 Kb3 Rb4 + 46 Kc3 is inferior because of 46 . . . a4 4 7 Rd l R£4 48 Rh6 Be5 + ) Rc6 (if 45 . . . R£4 46 Rd3 a4 47 Rh6' a3 48 Rdh3 and wins) 46 Rd4 e X £6 47 g X £6 Bc7 48 Rg4 + and mates; (b) 44 . . . Rc4 + 45 Kd l Re4 46 Rd3 Re6 (46 . . . R£4 47 Rh6, as before, or 46 . . . Rg4 47 Rdh3 e X £6 48 g X £6 K£8 49 Rd3 Bc7 50 Rd7 Rc4 5 1 Rh8 mate) 47 Rh6 e X £6 48 g X £6 Bc7 (48 . . . Bc5 49 Rd8 + B£8 50 R X £8 + ) 49 Rdh3 and wins. In view of this Black declines the gift. 42 . . .Rc l Intending to answer 43 £6 + ? by 43 . . .e X £6 1 44 g X £6 + Kg6, when White has no mate and his £-pawn is over-extended. After the further 45 Rd£5 Rg l ! leaves the rooks comically paralysed. Diagram 3

43 Ke2 , Now 44 £6 + is threatened again, so the bishop must move. 43 . . .Bf4 44 Rd4 Be5 45 Rd7 ! White's ultimate aim i s still to attack down the h-file, but 45 Rdh4 Kg8 46 g6? f X g6 47 f X g6 Rg l 48 Rh6 Bg7 would be bad, so he probes first for another weakness . His last move seems overwhelm­ ingly strong, since if 45 . . . K£8? 46 Rd8 + Kg? 47 Rdh8 is immediately decisive, while 45 . . . Bd6 46 £6 + Kg6 47 Rh8 obliges Black to part with his bishop. The exchange of rooks by 45 . . . Rc7 would be as bad as before but he manages to find a resource. 45 . . .Bf4! So that 46 R X e7 may be answered by 46 . . . B X g5 ! 4 7 R X g5 + K£6 winning back a rook. 46 Kf3 Rfl + 47 Kg2 If 47 Kg4 Black waits with 4 7 . . . Be3 and if then 48 R X e7 Rg l + wins the g-pawn. Now Black must be careful; if he is tempted into 47 . . . Re l 48 R X e7 ! R X e7 49 £6 + mates or forces a queen. 47 . . .Ra 1 48 Rd4 The intention is to keep open the options of Rdh4 and Rg4, according to circumstances. 48 . . .Be3 49 Rg4 But not 49 Rdh4 Rg l + . Now if Black waits, the continuation will be K£3, followed by g6 and the passed pawn wins very quickly with the full weight of the rooks behind it. 49 . . .Bc5 50 Rgh4 With the pressure off the g-pawn this is now the right method. Not, however, 50 g6 Rg l + 1 84

Diagram 4

5 1 Kf3 f X g6 1 with a draw. Now Black could drive the king across to c2 with checks but there would be little point as the latter could easily return later to the centre. Apart from this there is only one way to stop the mate threat. 50 . . .e6 5 1 Rh7+ K£8 (Diagram 4) Once the rooks have broken through there are a number of ways to win. 52 f X e6 is probably the simplest. After 52 . . .fXe6 (or 52 . . .Rg l + 53 Kf3 R X g5 54 R X f7 + which is worse, if anything) 53 Rg4 Black is quite lost, whether or not he exchanges rooks, e.g. 53 . . . Kg8 54 g6 e5 55 Kf3, threatening 56 g7 among other things. White's actual method is more complicated and he runs it rather fine. 52 g6?! fXg6 He must take; 52 . . . Rg l +

53 Kh2 f X g6 54 Ra7 transposes into the game. 53 Ra7 Kg8 54 £6 ! 54 f X g6 Rg l + and 54 f X e6 Re 1 both lose the pawn for nothing, but now mate in two by 55 Rg7 + is threatened Black now makes a feeble move which loses at once but White's idea would be brought out more clearly after the stronger 54 . . . Ra2 + 55 Kf3 Rf2 + 56 Kg4 R X f6 57 Kg5 Rf l 58 K X g6 Rg 1 + (mate was again threatened and if 58 . . . Bf8 59 Rah7 Rg 1 + 60 Kf6 wins the e-pawn, still keeping the hostile king in the grip of his rooks) 59 Kf6 Rf l + (59 . . . Re 1 ? 60 Ra8 + Bf8 6 1 R X f8 + and mate) 60 K X e6. In this position White may continue by again doubling his rooks on the seventh and obviously has winning chances but the win is far from certain, especially as he has now been reduced to his last pawn. An alternative for White in this line is 57 Rhh7 and this may be better as it prevents the possibility of the defensive move 57 . . . Rf7 which can be played in the main variation. Nevertheless, it is clear that after his accurate play in the the early stages White missed his chance at move 52 and the remainder is unfortun­ ately something of an anti-climax. 54 Rg l + ? 55 Kh2 1-0. There is now no answer to the mate threat. .

1 85

.

.

GAME 48

White : Eley Black: Drimer England vs. Romania, Bath, 1 973

Sicilian Defence

An interesting ending from a European Team Championship, illustrating what is often one of the hardest aspects of the endgame to judge, namely the sacrifice of the exchange for one or two pawns.

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 c Xd4 4 N Xd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 d6 6 Bg5 Bd7 7 Qd2 ReS 8 0-0-0 N Xd4 9 Q Xd4 Qa5 10 Bd2 a6 1 1 f3 Qc7 12 Kb 1 g6 1 3 Rc 1 Bg7 14 Nd5 Qc5 15 Be3 Q Xd4 16 B Xd4 Nh5 17 Be3 BeG 18 c4 Nf6 19 Be2 Nd7 20 Rhd 1 Nc5 2 1 Bg5 f6 22 Be3 Kf7 23 b4 Na4 24 Rd3 f5 25 Ra3 B Xd5 26 e Xd5 (Diagram 1 ) In this position, after the forced move 26 . . . b5 (26 . . . Nb2 27 Rc2 etc.) White sacrificed the exchange by 27 c Xb5, in order to obtain two connected passed pawns. 27 . . .R Xc 1 + I f 27 . . . Nc3 + 28 Rc X c3 R X c3 (28 . . . B X c3? 29 R X c3 R X c3 30 Bd4 Rcc8 3 1 B X h8 R X h8 32 b X a6 and wins easily) 29 R X c3 B X c3 30 a3 and White is rather better placed than in the game, since his queen's bishop is already in action. 28 B X c 1 Nc3 + 29 RXc3 B Xc3 30 a3 He aims to keep his pawns united, of course. 30 b X a6? B X b4, followed by . . . Bc5, would be quite bad for White, while 30 Bb2 B X b2 3 1 K X b2 a X b5 32 B X b5 Rb8 33 a4 e6 34 d X e6 + K X e6 is rather unclear with the black king coming

into action. 30 . . .as Again forced; 30 . . .a X b5 3 1 B X b5, followed by Bc6, bringing the bishop into a fine position, would be much worse . 3 1 Ka2 For the next few moves the plans of the two players will be broadly as follows: Black will try at all costs to impose a blockade on the passed pawns (at the moment he is trying to force White into 3 1 b X a5 B X a5, when he can follow with . . .Rb8). After blockading he will play . . . e5 and create counter-play with his own passed pawn, or if White captures he will have a passed cl-pawn and his king will be in action. White will try to avoid the blockade and support the pawns from behind Diagram 1

�-�

�.11�

1 86

with his king. If he can get the whole of his Q-side moving, supported by the bishops, he should win. The move played takes advantage of the fact that he can temporarily sacrifice a pawn to get his king into position. 31 . . .a Xb4 3 1 . . .a4 would be dangerous after 32 Be3 e5 33 d X e6 + K X e6 34 b6 d5 35 Bc5 Be5 36 Bb5 etc. 32 a4 Probably White missed a chance here. 32 Kb3, if it can be combined with a4, is clearly desirable, since the king would be supporting his pawns in the right way and the black bishop would be awkwardly posted; it would not, for example, have the resource of dropping back to a5, as in the game. If, say, 32 . . . e5 33 a4 Ra8 (otherwise 34 a5) 34 Be3 and Black is in trouble - 34 . . . Bd4 35 B X d4 e X d4 36 K X b4 Ke7 37 a5 etc. It seems at first sight that 32 Kb3 can be met by 32 . . .b X a3 and if 33 K X c3 Ra8, winning the piece back. However, a closer look reveals that White still gets a winning position by 34 b6 a2 35 Bb2 a 1 /Q 36 B X a 1 R X a 1 37 Bc4 1 (not 37 b7? Rb 1 38 Ba6 Rb6 and White is helpless) Ra8 (forced; if 37 . . .Rb 1 38 Bb3 Rc 1 + 39 Bc2) 38 Kb4 (not 38 b7? Rb8 39 Ba6 Ke8 winning for Black) Ke8 39 Kb5 Kd7 (39 . . . Ra 1 40 Kc6 and Bb5) 40 b7 Rb8 (or 40 . . . Ra 1 4 1 Kb6 Rb 1 + 42 Bb5 + R X b5 + 43 K X b5 Kc7 44 Ka6 Kb8 45 Kb6 winning

Diagram 2

easily) 4 1 Kb6 Kd8 42 Bb5 with Zugzwang 32 . . .eS After this White could still have transposed into the line above, and Black would have been better advised to play 32 . . . b3 + at once. 33 Be3 b3 + ! Without doubt the best drawing chance. Black has to walk a tight­ rope for the remainder of the game, but from this point on there appears to be no clear winning line for White. His pawns look formidable and he plays accurately, but ultimately Black's own passed pawn saves the day for him. 34 K Xb3 BaS 35 Ba7 RcB (Diagram 2) 36 b6 If 36 Bc4 Rc7 37 b6 (or 37 Bb8 Rd7, or 37 Be3 Rb7) Rb7 38 Ba6 R X b6 + with a draw. 36 . . .Rc3 + 37 Kb2 Re3 38 BbS Bc3 + 39 Kb3 Bd4 + 40 Kb4 Bc3 + 4 1 Kc4 Bd4 42 Bc6 It is not so simple to advance the pawns; if 42 a5 Ra3 43 a6 Ke7 and White has no useful moves left l 42 . . . Ra3 43 BbB 1 87

Giving up one of the connected pawns is a hard decision to make, but the other plan, penetrating with the king, is not promising, e.g. 43 Kb5 e4 44 Ka6 e3 45 b7 B X a7 46 K X a7 e2 47 b8/Q e 1 /Q 48 Q X d6 Qa5 + 49 Kb7 Re3 and Black stands better. 43 . . .B Xb6 44 B Xd6 Re3 45 Bb8 White's plan certainly looks good and Black is only able to stay alive by means of some ingenious tactics . Other lines are much less attractive, e.g. 45 Kb5 Rb3 + 46 Ka6 e4 47 f X e4 f X e4 48 Bb5 Bd8 49 Kb7 e3 50 Kc8 Ba5 and Black is probably winning. Notice that Black cannot play 48 . . . e3 here; after 49 K X b6 e2 50 Bg3 R X g3 5 1 B X e2 R X g2 52 Bb5 Rc2 White wins by using his bishop as a shelter - 53 Bc6 Ke7 54 Kc7 etc. Another inadequate line would be 45 Bc5 B X c5 46 K X c5 (threatening Kd6-c7 again) e4 47 f X e4 f X e4 48 Kd6 Rd3 49 Kc7 e3 and Black wins. 45 . . .e4 46 d6 (Diagram 3) Rd3 ! I t is an essential part o f Black's plan to play this at once. If 46 . . . Ke6 47 Bc7 e X f3 48 g X f3 and wins. Black aims to open the diagonal for his bishop to stop the pawn from h4 via f2 47 f Xe4 fXe4 48 Bc7 If 48 B X e4? Rd4 + ; if 48 Bd5 + Ke8 and Black may win, if the king is allowed to blockade . 48 . . .Bf2 49 d7 Nor can White afford to delay. After 49 g3, trying to interfere with the bishop's plans, 49 . . Ke6

50 d7 Ke7 5 1 d8/Q + R X d8 52 B X d8 + K X d8 53 B X e4 Bg 1 54 h3 Bf2 55 g4 g5 1 the game is a draw (black king sits on a7 and bishop on h4 and White can do nothing with his extra pawns). 49 . . .Rd4+ This is designed to cut out the possibility of Bd5 + for White If now 50 Kc3 Rd3 + and 5 1 . . . Bh4. 50 Kb5 Bh4 50 . . . e3 is unsound. White has 5 1 d8/Q R X d8 52 B X d8 e2 53 Ba5 e l /Q 54 B X e 1 B X e 1 55 a S and now: (a) 55 . . .Bf2 56 Ka6 Ke6 57 Kb7 and wins; (b) 55 . . . Ke6 56 Kb6 Kd6 57 a6 Bf2 + 58 Kb7 Bg 1 59 h3 (59 a7? B X a7) Ke5 60 a7 B X a7 6 1 K X a7 Kf4 62 Kb6 and wins; (c) 55 . . .Ke6 56 Kb6 Ke5 57 a6 Bf2 + 58 Kb7 h5 59 a7 B X a7 60 K X a7 g5 6 1 Kb6 g4 (or 6 1 . . .Kd4 62 Be8; or 6 1 . . . Kf4 62 Kc5 Ke3 63 Kd5 g4 64 Ke5 Kf2 65 Kf4 Kg 1 66 Kg3 and wins if here 64 . . .h4 65 g3) 62 Kc5 and wins . Diagram 3

1 88

Diagram 4

5 1 Kc5 Rd l (not 5 1 . . . Bf2? 52 Bd5 +) 52 Bd5 + Kg7 53 dB/Q B X dB 54 B X dB e3 55 Bh4 e2 56 aS (Diagram 4) Ra 1 ! Another dangerous moment for Black. If he plays carelessly by 56 . . .e l /Q 57 B X e 1 R X e l , White wins after 58 a6 Ra 1 59 Kb6 Rb 1 + 60 Kc7 Rc l + 6 1 Bc6 Ra 1 62 Kb6 Kf6 63 a7. With the text move he brings White's king into a less favourable position. 57 Kb4 57 Kb6 is no better, because after 57 . . .Rb l + the king must play to

GAME 49

a6 to avoid Black's . . . Rb5 (or if 58 Kc7 Ra1 again). With the king cut off in this way Black would have time to bring his own king into the game. 57 . . .g5 58 Bg3 h5! A n excellent move b y which Black brings his pawns into the required position. His idea becomes clear in a moment. 59 B£3 e l /Q + 60 B X e l R X e l 6 1 a 6 Ra l 6 2 Kb5 g4 Checks are useless since the bishop can again shelter its king. However, having already advanced his pawns, Black can now draw by sacrificing his rook, since he is ahead by several tempi of similar lines which we saw in the note to his 50th move. 63 BeG K£6 64 Kb6 Ke5 65 a7 Kd4 66 BeB The other way would be: 66 a8/Q R X a8 67 B X a8 Ke3 68 Kc5 Kf2 69 Kd4 Kg 1 70 Ke3 K X h2 7 1 Kf2 h4 with a draw. 66 . . .Ke3 67 B Xh5 Rb l + 68 Kc7 Rc l + 69 Kb7 Rb l + Yz-Yz. Black draws by perpetual check, or if 70 Ka8 Kf2 7 1 B X g4 K X g2 72 h4 Kg3 etc.

White: Matulovic Black: Damjanovic Yugoslavia, 1 972 Sicilian Defence

Exchange sacrifices by Black on c3 have become almost routine in many Sicilian variations nowadays. In some cases, particularly in the Dragon, White castles long and the sacrifice opens up his king's position. Sometimes it is just a question of increased middle-game scope for the black minor pieces, and the chance to attack his opponent's weakened pawn structure. However, when Black starts sacrificing in the endgame, as happens in the present example, without even picking up an extra pawn 1 89

in the process, one begins to wonder whether some fundamental change has not taken place in the relative values of the pieces !

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Ne6 3 d4 e Xd4 4 N Xd4 Qe7 5 Ne3 e6 6 Be2 a6 7 f4 b5 8 N Xe6 Q Xe6 9 Bf3 Bb7 10 Be3 Qe7 1 1 a3 ReS 12 0-0 Ne7 13 Qe 1 Ng6 14 g3 Be5 1 5 Rd 1 d6 16 B Xe5 Q X e 5 + 17 Qf2 Ke7 18 e5 Q X£2 + 19 RX£2 d5 20 Rfd2 (Diagram l ) RXe3! How can this be justified? Black breaks up the enemy pawn formation, it's true, but his other pieces, particularly the bishop, don't seem very active, nor able to bring themselves rapidly into play on the Q-side. For all that, the sacrifice is a profound idea. Damjanovic has seen that it is White's rooks which are really passive, having little chance to break through into his lines, and being condemned to defend quietly while Black slowly brings up his reserves. Whether the sacrifice is analytically 'correct' or not is almost impossible to say, nor Diagram 1

w� ��a�

is it necessary. It is in harmony with the position and gives good chances in practice; that is enough. 21 b Xe3 Rea 22 Rd3 A better try would have been 22 a4 R X c3 (not 22 . . .b X a4 23 Rb 1 1 and Black has problems immediately, i.e. 23 . . . Rc7 24 c4 or 23 . . . Ba8 24 Rb6 or 23 . . . Bc6 24 c4 1 d X c4 25 B X c6 R X c6 26 Rb7 + . Nor is 22 . . . Bc6 23 a X b5 B X b5 24 Be2 satisfactory for Black) 23 Rd3 ! R X c2 (or 23 . . . R X d3 24 c X d3 b X a4 25 Ra1 and 26 Bd 1 ) 24 a X b5 a X b5 25 Rb 1 Bc6 26 Ra3 Nf8 with about equal chances . White should certainly have attempted this. He would have to surrender two pawns immediately, but would activate his rooks, which is vastly more important, and he would be taking advantage of the only real drawback to Black's position, the temporary inactivity of his knight. Black will soon correct this, so it was vital for the first player to strike at once. 22 . . .N£8 23 £5? This is a mistake because his e-pawn now becomes very weak, without his achieving any kind of counterplay on the £-file. At this stage White's best policy is to wait, perhaps by centralising his king, without committing himself any further. 23 a4 is possible, but not as good as on the last move after 23 . . .b X a4 24 Rb 1 (or 24 Ra 1 Bc6 25 c4 d X c4 26 Rc3 Bb5 27 Be2 Nd7 etc .) Bc6 25 c4 d X c4 1 (having the 1 90

white rook at d3 instead of d2 makes all the difference) 26 Rc3 (or 26 B X c6 c X d3 27 Rb7 + Kd8 and White is lost) Bb5 27 Be2 Nd7 and Black stands better in spite of his odd­ looking pawn formation, because his knight will come into play effectively at d5. 23 . . .Nd7 24 Re3 Nb6 25 fXe6 Nc4 26 Re2 f Xe6 White's failure to take action has resulted in a deterioration of his game. 27 a4 b X a4 28 Ra l a3 is now out of the question, the knight has reached an ideal square, the e5-pawn is weak and the white rooks are as passive as ever. Black's only problem is his restricted bishop, which he now takes steps to re-direct. 27 Ra l Bc6! Heading for g6 and also stopping 28 a4. 28 Bg4 White's only plan is to mark time and see what Black will attempt, and be ready to penetrate with his rooks, should the opportunity arise. 28 . . . BeB 29 h4 (Diagram 2) Nb6 Since the whole point of Black's sacrifice is that the white rooks have been tamed, it is essential for him to remain vigilant to any possible freeing moves. He must keep White tied up until he is quite certain where he wants to strike. Here 29 . . . Bg6 would be a mis­ take because of 30 a4, so he re­ groups to attack the front c-pawn. 30 Re3 Na4 3 1 Be2 Bg6 Better than 3 1 . . .N X c3 32 Bd3 which leaves White with more active pieces. 32 Bd3

If White tries to defend c 2 in any other way, he can hardly improve his position: (a) 32 Ra2? N X c3 33 Rb2 d4 wins outright; (b) 32 Rc l N X c3 (threatening 33 . . .d4 as well as 33 . . .Na2) 33 Bf l (or 33 Bd3 d4 34 Rf3 B X d3 and . . . Ne2 + ) Na2 (33 . . .d4 34 Ree l Na2 35 Rcd l is only weakening, giving chances to the rooks) 34 Ra l R X c2 35 Re2 (35 Bd3 Rc3 36 R X a2 B X d3 37 Rd2 Rc l + 38 Kf2 Be4 also favours Black) R X e2 36 B X e2 Nc3 37 Bf3 Bb l l 38 Kf2 d4 and all the chances are with Black. White now hopes to exchange bishops and get to f7 with his rooks. 32 . . .R Xc3 33 R£3 Nc5 The right timing; 33 . . . B X d3 34 c X d3 Nc5 35 Rafl would be much inferior. 34 Rafl N Xd3 35 c Xd3 RXa3 Naturally he takes this one, in order to give himself two united passed pawns. 36 Rc l RXd3 Not of course 36 . . . B X d3 Diagram 2

191

Diagram 3

37 Rc7 + Kd8 38 Rff7, but if now 37 Rc7 + Kd8 and Black forces an exchange of rooks without losing any pawns. 37 R Xd3 B Xd3 (Diagram 3) 38 Kf2 This position is critical. One would expect three extra pawns to be enough to ensure a win for Black, but there is a shght weakness in his game, inasmuch as his pawns are mostly on white squares, and so White has a chance for blockade. 38 Rc7 + obviously needs to be carefully considered. If Black rephes 38 . . . Kf8 then 39 Rb7 a5 40 Ra7 a4 4 1 Kf2 Bc2 42 Rb7 Bd3 43 Ke3 Bc4 44 Ra7 holds the pawns and keeps the black king confined, and it is White who has any winning chances . However, 38 .. . . Kd8 1 refutes the rook move. If 39 R X g7 b4 40 Rb7 Bb5 4 1 Rb8 + Kc7 42 Rf8 b3 43 Rf2 a5 44 g4 a4 and Black wins easily. If instead 39 Rb7 Kc8 40 Rb6 a5 4 1 R X e6 b4 42 Rb6 (42 Rd6 b3) Kc7 and again White is lost. 38 . . .Bc4 39 Ke3 aS

40 Kd4 a4 41 Ra 1 To permit . . . a3-a2 would restrict him too much. On the whole, sheer weight of numbers usually tells in these cases, since there is a hmit to how many pawns a king and rook can blockade, while still keeping some chances of active play. 41 . . .h5 The plan is to create extra pressure with the king on the K-side, which should be enough to decide things; but if 4 1 . . . Kf7 42 h5 keeps him out, hence the text move. 42 Kc5 K£7 43 Ra3 Kg6 44 R£3 (Diagram 4) Naturally he tries to prevent . . . Kf5-g4. 44 . . . Kh6 Black is probing a httle here, to see which way the rook will go. He has no intention of playing . . . g5, which would only weaken his own position by allowing the rook to penetrate to f6. 45 Rf8 This loses, but White has no fully satisfactory defence. He can choose between two king moves and two rook moves, in the latter Diagram 4

1 92

case one abandoning the £-file to the benefit of the black king and the other abandoning the third rank to the delight of the a-pawn. The king moves may be discarded: (a) 45 Kd4 b4 46 Kc5 b3 47 R£2 a3 and the pawns are unstoppable; (b) 45 Kb4 d4 46 Ka3 d3 47 R£2 Kg6 48 Kb4 d2 49 R X d2 K£5 50 Rd7 K X e5 5 1 R X g7 Be2 1 and Black should win. The most interesting variation occurs if White chooses to leave the £-file, still keeping an eye on the a-pawn. Then we can see just what resources Black has, and how hopeless it is for White to try to control so many pawns . 45 Ra3 Kg6 46 R£3 d4 1 (this is similar to what happened in the game; in many ways Black is better off without his d-pawn, since the scope of his bishop is virtually doubled) 47 K X d4 Bd5 48 Ra3 (if 48 R£8 a3 49 Kc3 121.±_1