Instructive endgames from the Armageddon Series

by Karsten Müller
10/1/2023 – The Grand Finale of the Armageddon Series took place on September 14-20 at the World Chess Club in Berlin, with Jan-Krzysztof Duda eventually emerging as the winner. GM Karsten Müller found instructive endgame positions to share with us. Replay his analyses and you are sure to learn and enjoy! | Photos: World Chess
Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.

Beware of reciprocal zugzwang

The need to win with white in an Armageddon game was perhaps the reason why Dommaraju Gukesh faltered in a pawn endgame against Richard Rapport. But learning to watch out for reciprocal zugzwang is nevertheless useful for any club player!

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Nbd2 d5 5.e3 0-0 6.a3 Be7 7.b3 b6 8.Bb2 Bb7 9.Bd3 dxc4 10.bxc4 c5 11.0-0 Nbd7 12.Re1 Qc7 13.Rc1 Rfe8 14.Qe2 g6 15.Nf1 Bf8 16.Ng3 Bg7 17.Bb1 Rad8 18.Red1 Bc6 19.Rd2 cxd4 20.Nxd4 Nc5 21.Rcd1 Ba4 22.Re1 a6 23.h4 h5 24.Nf3 Rxd2 25.Qxd2 Rd8 26.Qe2 Bc6 27.Ng5 Qe7 28.Rd1 Rxd1+ 29.Qxd1 Ng4 30.Bd4 Qd6 31.Bc2 e5 32.Bxc5 Qxd1+ 33.Bxd1 bxc5 34.Bxg4 hxg4 35.N5e4 a5 36.Nc3 f5 37.e4 Bd7 38.Nge2 Kf7 39.Nc1 Be6 40.Nd3 Bxc4 41.Nxc5 Bf8 42.Nd7 Bd6 43.a4 Ke6 44.Nb6 Bb4 45.Nxc4 Bxc3 46.exf5+ gxf5 47.Kf1 e4 48.g3 Bb4 49.Ke2 Kf6 50.Ne3 Bc5 51.Nd5+ Ke5 52.Nf4 Kf6 53.Nd5+ Ke5 54.Ne3 Bb4 55.h5 Kf6 56.h6 Kg6 57.Nd5 Bc5 58.Ne3 Bxe3 59.Kxe3 Kxh6 60.Kd4 Kg6 Beware of reciprocal zugzwang. Pawn endings can be tricky: 61.Kd5? This loses the fight for the corresponding squares. 61.Ke5 Kg5 62.Kd4 Kf6 63.Kd5 draws, but White must win the Armageddon of course. 61...Kf6 Zugzwang 62.Kd4 62.Kd4 Ke6 63.Kc4 f4 64.gxf4 e3 65.fxe3 g3-+ 0–1
  • 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
Gukesh D2758Rapport,R27520–12023E11Armageddon Grand Final 2023

Richard Rapport

Richard Rapport

The breakthrough

Trading down into a pawn endgame should always be considered carefully, especially when both sides can quickly create passers. Sam Shankland showed proper technique to win the following pawn race against Wesley So.

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Qd2 a6 9.a3 b5 10.Bd3 0-0 11.0-0 f5 12.exf6 Nxf6 13.Kh1 c4 14.Be2 b4 15.axb4 Bxb4 16.Qe1 Ne4 17.Bd2 Nxd2 18.Qxd2 Bd7 19.Qe3 a5 20.g3 Rb8 21.Na4 Ne7 22.Ne5 Nf5 23.Qf2 Be8 24.Bg4 Bd6 25.c3 Bxe5 26.dxe5 Bxa4 27.Rxa4 g5 28.Qd2 Kh8 29.Raa1 Qb6 30.fxg5 Ne3 31.Rxf8+ Rxf8 32.Bh3 d4 33.cxd4 Qc6+ 34.Bg2 Nxg2 35.Qxg2 Qb5 36.Rf1 Rxf1+ 37.Qxf1 Qd5+ Black's breakthrough. Pawn endgames can be very sharp: 38.Qg2? White must win the Armageddon, but Black will come first now. Otherwise 38.Kg1 would be forced, e.g. Qxd4+ 39.Kg2 Qxb2+ 40.Kh3 Kg8 41.Qf6= 38...Qxg2+ 39.Kxg2 a4 40.d5 40.Kf2 is met by c3 41.bxc3 a3-+ 40...exd5 41.e6 Kg7 First the king must come. 41...c3?? 42.e7+- 42.h4 c3 Black's breakthrough comes first. 43.bxc3 a3 44.h5 a2 45.h6+ 45.e7 Kf7 46.g6+ hxg6 47.hxg6+ Kxe7 48.g7 Kf7-+ 45...Kf8! 45...Kf8 46.g6 a1Q 47.gxh7 Qxc3-+ 0–1
  • 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
So,W2753Shankland,S26980–12023C11Armageddon Grand Final 2023

Sam Shankland

Sam Shankland

King activity

Keeping the opponent’s king away from the action is often necessary to defend a slightly inferior endgame. Nodirbek Abdusattorov made the most of Humpy Koneru’s imprecision to score a win in a tricky rook endgame.

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bf4 a6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Bd3 Bxd3 6.cxd3 e6 7.Qb3 b6 8.Qa4+ Nbd7 9.Qc6 Ra7 10.Nf3 Bb4 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rac1 Qa8 13.Ne2 Qxc6 14.Rxc6 Rc8 15.Rfc1 Ne8 16.h4 Kf8 17.g4 Rb7 18.Bg3 Nb8 19.R6c2 f6 20.e4 Bd6 21.e5 Be7 22.exf6 gxf6 23.Nf4 Kf7 24.Re2 Ng7 25.Rce1 Bb4 26.Rc1 Bd6 27.g5 Nd7 28.gxf6 Bxf4 29.Bxf4 Kxf6 30.Rc6 a5 31.Ng5 Nf8 32.Be5+ Kg6 33.f4 h6 34.Rg2 Nf5 35.Nxe6+ Kf7 36.Nd8+ Rxd8 37.Rf6+ Ke8 38.Rxf5 c5 39.Rf6 cxd4 40.Rxh6 Rf7 41.Rh8 Ke7 42.h5 Rc8 43.h6 Rc1+ 44.Kh2 Rc6 45.Rg7 Ng6 46.Rhh7 Nxe5 47.fxe5 Rxh6+ 48.Rxh6 Rxg7 49.Rxb6 Rg5 50.e6 Re5 51.Kg3 Re3+ 52.Kf4 The right check. The king should be activated in an endgame, and rook checks are often an important weapon: a4? This allows the activation of White's king. 52...Kf6= draws. 53.Kf5 Rxd3 54.Ke5 Re3+ 55.Kxd5 d3 56.Rb7+ Ke8 56...Kf6 is met by 57.Rf7+ Kg6 58.Rf4 Re2 59.Kd6 Rxb2 60.e7 Re2 61.Kd7 d2 62.Rf1 Re1 63.e8Q++- 57.Kd6! Kf8 58.Rf7+ Ke8 59.Rh7 Kf8 60.e7+? The wrong check. The right check 60.Rf7+ wins, e.g. Ke8 61.Ra7 Kf8 62.Ra8+ Kg7 63.Rxa4 d2 64.Rd4+- 60...Kg8? Black misses 60...Rxe7! 61.Rh8+ 61.Rxe7? d2-+ 61...Kg7 62.Rh1 Re2 63.Rd1= 61.Rh2 Kf7 62.Rf2+! The right check. 62.Rh7+? Kf6= 62...Kg7 63.Kd7 63.Kd7 Re2 64.Rxe2 dxe2 65.e8Q+- 1–0
  • 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
Abdusattorov,N2716Koneru,H25501–02023D00Armageddon Grand Final 2023

Nodirbek Abdusattorov

Nodirbek Abdusattorov

The rook belongs behind the passed pawn

Rook endgames require extreme precision, and often the defending side can save a draw despite being a pawn down — as shown in the following example.

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.d3 Bb4 5.Nf3 d5 6.exd5 Nxd5 7.0-0 Bxc3 8.bxc3 0-0 9.Qe1 Re8 10.Ng5 Bf5 11.Rb1 h6 12.Ne4 Nb6 13.Bb5 Qe7 14.f3 Bd7 15.g4 a6 16.Bxc6 Bxc6 17.c4 Nd7 18.Qb4 Qxb4 19.Rxb4 Nf8 20.Be3 b6 21.Nc3 Ne6 22.Kf2 Rad8 23.a4 a5 24.Rb2 Rf8 25.Ne4 Bxa4 26.c5 bxc5 27.Nxc5 Bc6 28.Ra1 Nd4 29.Bxd4 Rxd4 30.Rxa5 Rf4 31.Ne4 f5 32.gxf5 R8xf5 33.Ng3 Rxf3+ 34.Ke1 Rf7 35.Rxe5 Rf2 36.Re2 Rxe2+ 37.Kxe2 g6 38.Rb4 Kg7 39.Rc4 Bd5 40.Rc5 Be6 41.Ke3 Bg4 42.Ne4 Bf5 43.Ng3 Be6 44.c4 g5 45.d4 Bg4 46.d5 h5 47.Ne4 Re7 48.Kd4 Kg6 49.d6 cxd6 50.Rxg5+ Kh6 51.Rd5 Bf3 52.Rxd6+ Kg7 53.Ng3 Rf7 54.Ke3 h4 55.Ne4 Bxe4 56.Kxe4 Rf2 57.h3 The rook belongs behind the passed pawn. This guideline is usually good in rook endings: Rh2? Too greedy. The rook belongs behind the passed pawn with 57...Rc2 58.Rd4 Rc3 59.Kd5 Rxh3 60.c5 Kf7 61.c6 Ke7= 58.Rd3 Kf6 59.Kd5! A strong bodycheck. 59.c5? Ke6= 59...Rg2 60.Rd4 Kg5 61.c5 Rg3 62.c6 Rc3 62...Rxh3 is met by 63.c7 Rc3 64.Rc4 Rxc4 65.Kxc4 h3 66.c8Q+- 63.Rc4 The rook belongs behind the passed pawn. In such constellations this is very powerful as the defending rook must go away. Rxh3 63...Rxc4 64.Kxc4 Kf6 65.c7+- 64.c7 1–0
  • 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
Rapport,R2752Gukesh D27581–02023C42Armageddon Grand Final 2023

Dommaraju Gukesh

Dommaraju Gukesh

In over 4 hours in front of the camera, Karsten Müller presents to you sensations from the world of endgames - partly reaching far beyond standard techniques and rules of thumb - and rounds off with some cases of with own examples.

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.