CBM Blog: The Troitzky Line

5/3/2011 – This is not a route on the Moscow Metro but a technique to solve a rare and difficult ending: two knights vs a pawn, which, you may or may not know, is winning if the defending pawn can be blockaded on or behind a certain line on the board. This was proven by the great endgame specialist A.A. Troitzky and is explained to us by GM Karsten Müller in a recent game. Very instructive.

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Rook endings are always drawn But over the board this is much more difficult than in the analysis:

Note that in the replay windows below you can click on the notation to follow the game.

The Troitzky Line

The endgame two knights vs pawn probably does not belong to the standard mating procedures you need to master. But I found the following example so instructive that I could not resist the temptation to analyse it. Black's pawn has crossed the Troitzky-Line a4-b6-c5-d4-e4-f5-g6-h4, so that drawing and losing zones for the defending king exist. In this case it is imprisoned near the dangerous h8 corner so that White can win:

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Video

Beat the Slav the classical way

The Slav has become one of the most popular defences against the advance of the d-pawn on the first move, and every ambitious d4-player faces the question how to successfully tackle this opening in tournament practice. The strongest attempt is considered to be the move 4. Nf3, leading to interesting positions which promise White good chances to get an advantage. Black's main replies are 4. dxc4 and 4. e6. On this DVD Rustam Kasimdzhanov investigates in detail the line 4. dxc4, in which he has great experience. Showing selected grandmaster games, the ex-world champion shares his knowledge with the viewer to explain how White has to place his pieces and which plans he has at his disposal.Learn the secrets of the dxc4-line and improve your chances of success with 1.d4

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