A (very) strong king

by Karsten Müller
11/14/2023 – In the diagram position White just played 53.g4+. Should Black take the offered pawn with 53...Kxg4 or should he ignore the potentially dangerous g-pawn and go for the white pawns on the queenside with 53...Ke4? What would you do?

Endgames of the World Champions from Fischer to Carlsen Endgames of the World Champions from Fischer to Carlsen

Let endgame expert Dr Karsten Müller show and explain the finesses of the world champions. Although they had different styles each and every one of them played the endgame exceptionally well, so take the opportunity to enjoy and learn from some of the best endgames in the history of chess.

More...

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 Nxe4 4.Bd3 d5 5.Nxe5 Nd7 6.Nxd7 Bxd7 7.Nc3 Qh4 8.0-0 Bd6 9.g3 Nxc3 10.Qe1+ Qe7 11.Qxc3 0-0 12.Re1 Qf6 13.Be3 Bh3 14.Bf1 Bxf1 15.Rxf1 Qf3 16.Bd2 Qxc3 17.Bxc3 f6 18.Rfe1 Kf7 19.Bd2 h5 20.h4 Rfe8 21.Rxe8 Rxe8 22.Re1 Rxe1+ 23.Bxe1 g5 24.hxg5 fxg5 25.Kg2 Kg6 26.f3 Kf5 27.Bd2 Be7 28.Kf2 Bf6 29.c3 b6 30.b3 c5 31.Be3 c4 32.b4 b5 33.Kg2 Bd8 34.Kf2 Bc7 35.Kg2 Bb8 36.Kf2 Bd6 37.Kg2 Bc7 38.Kf2 a5 39.a3 Bd8 40.Kg2 a4 41.Kf2 Bf6 42.Kg2 Be7 43.Kf2 Bd8 44.Kg2 g4 45.Bc1 Bf6 46.Be3 Be7 47.Bc1 Bd8 48.Be3 Bf6 49.Bc1 h4 50.gxh4 Bxh4 51.Bd2 Be7 52.Bc1 Bd6 53.fxg4+ A (very) strong king In the diagram position White just played 53.g4+. Should Black take the offered pawns with 53...Kxg4 or should he ignore the potentially dangerous g-pawn and go for the white pawns on the queenside with 53...Ke4? What would you do?
Black to move and win
Show Solution
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
De Silva,L2433Paravyan,D26120–12023C43Aimchess Rapid Play-In | Champions Ches1

Karsten Mueller in ChessBase Magazine

Do you like these lessons? There are plenty more by internationally renowned endgame expert Dr Karsten Müller in ChessBase Magazine, where you will also find openings articles and surveys, tactics, and of course annotations by the world's top grandmasters.

 Order now in the ChessBase Shop  – Single issue € 21.90!

ChessBase Magazine trial subscription with 33% savings advantage and thank you bonus!*

Try out ChessBase Magazine now! Order the ChessBase Magazine taster package!
Read ChessBase Magazine for 6 months (= 3 issues) for the special price of only € 44.90 € (instead of € 65,70 for buying them individually). As a thank you, you will also receive 3 months ChessBase Premium Membership free of charge. 

*Bonus for new subscribers only, i.e. there was no CBM subscription for 12 months!

ChessBase Magazine one year subscription - plus original ChessBase USB stick with 128 GB *

Save twice with ChessBase Magazine: For the annual subscription to ChessBase Magazine you’ll pay only € 109.90 per year (compared to € 131.40 for the 6 individual issues).

* Bonus only for new subscribers, i.e. there was no CBM subscription for 12 months! As a new subscriber you will receive the original ChessBase USB stick with 128 GB

Apart from his regular columns and video lectures in ChessBase Magazine there is a whole series of training DVDs by Karsten Mueller, which are bestsellers in the ChessBase Shop.

Karsten Mueller

Karsten Mueller regularly presents endgame lessons in the ChessBase Video Portal

Links

Karsten Müller is considered to be one of the greatest endgame experts in the world. His books on the endgame - among them "Fundamentals of Chess Endings", co-authored with Frank Lamprecht, that helped to improve Magnus Carlsen's endgame knowledge - and his endgame columns for the ChessCafe website and the ChessBase Magazine helped to establish and to confirm this reputation. Karsten's Fritztrainer DVDs on the endgame are bestsellers. The mathematician with a PhD lives in Hamburg, and for more than 25 years he has been scoring points for the Hamburger Schachklub (HSK) in the Bundesliga.

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register

We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.