CBM Endgame training: the octopus, Kosteniuk's combination, races

by ChessBase
10/25/2011 – This edition of GM Karsten Müller's endgame instructions is devoted exclusively to the ladies. Three former women's world champions feature in the games he has selected for our attention, two from the recently concluded Grand Prix in Nalchik. Studying examples like these in the regular deliveries of ChessBase Magazine will do your practical playing strength a world of good.
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The octopus

Sometimes a strong knight is also called octopus as it can reach eight squares which are compared to the arms of an octopus:

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1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Qb3 e6 5.g3 b6 6.Bg2 Ba6 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.Nc3 Be7 9.Bf4 0-0 10.Rc1 Bb7 11.Ne5 Nfd7 12.e4 Nxe5 13.dxe5 d4 14.Nb5 Nd7 15.0-0 g5 16.Bd2 Nxe5 17.f4 Nd7 18.Nxd4 Nf6 19.Be3 gxf4 20.gxf4 Qe8 21.f5 Ng4 22.fxe6 Nxe3 23.Qxe3 fxe6 24.Rxf8+ Bxf8 25.Rc7 Rb8 26.Qg5+ Qg6 27.Qe5 Rd8 28.Qxe6+ Qxe6 29.Nxe6 Rd1+ 30.Kf2 Rd2+ 31.Kf3 Bxe4+ 32.Kxe4 Rxg2 33.Rc8 Kf7 34.Nxf8 Rxh2 35.b3 h5 36.Nd7 Rxa2 37.Ne5+ Kf6 38.Rf8+ Ke6 39.Nf3 Rb2 40.Nd4+ Kd6 41.Rf6+ Ke7 42.Rh6 Ra2 43.Rxh5 Kd6 44.Kd3 Ra1 45.Kc3 a6 46.Nc2 Rg1 47.Ne3 Rg3 48.Kd4 Kc6 49.Re5 Rh3 50.Kc4 Rh4+ 51.Kc3 Rh3 52.Kb2 Rh6 53.Ka3 Rg6 54.Rh5 Re6 55.Nc2 Re7 56.Nb4+ Kb7 57.Rh6 Rd7 58.Na2 Rc7 59.Kb2 a5 60.Nc3 Rc5 61.Na4 Rb5 62.Ka3 Ka6 63.Nb2 Rb4 64.Nc4 Kb7 65.Rg6 Ka6 66.Nd6 Ka7 67.Rg7+ Ka6 68.Rg8 Ka7 69.Rc8 Rh4 70.Rc6 Rh5 71.Ka4 Rg5 72.Rc8 Rg4+ 73.Rc4 Rg5 74.Rc7+ Ka6 75.Nc8 Rg4+ 76.Ka3 Rg6 77.Ra7+ Kb5 78.Rd7 Rg8 79.Na7+ Ka6 80.Nc6 Kb5 81.Ne5 Rg5 82.Re7 Rh5 83.Re6 Ka6 84.Kb2 Rh2+ 85.Kc3 Re2 86.Kd4 Kb5? 87.Rh6! And Black is dominated by White's mighty knight: a4 Passive defense with 87...Rd2+ 88.Kc3 Rd8 does not help, e.g. 89.Nc4 Rb8 90.Rf6 Kc5 91.Rf5+ Kc6 92.Rh5 Rb7 93.Kb2 Rb8 94.Ka3 Rb7 95.Rg5 Rb8 96.Ne5+ Kb7 97.Ka4 Ka6 98.Rg6 Rb7 99.Nc4 Rb8 100.Nxa5 Rh8 101.Nc4 Rb8 102.Rxb6+ Rxb6 103.Nxb6 Kxb6 104.Kb4+- Opposition 87...Rg2 88.Nc4 Rg4+ 89.Kc3 Rg3+ 90.Kb2 a4 91.Nd6+ The octopus controls the rook. Ka5 91...Kc5 92.Ne4++- 92.Rh5+ Ka6 93.bxa4+- 88.Nc4! axb3 88...Ka6 89.Rxb6+ Ka7 90.bxa4+- 88...Kb4?! 89.Rxb6# 89.Rxb6+ Ka4 90.Kc5 And Black is powerless as her own b-pawn prevents a stalemate defense and the rook has no real check. Re5+ 90...b2?! 91.Rb4# 91.Nxe5 b2 92.Rxb2 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Zhu Chen2490Stefanova,A25281–02011D11Nalchik WGP 20118


GMs Antoaneta Stefanova and Zhu Chen in the press conference after their game

Kosteniuk's combination

With far advanced passed pawns often typical tactical motifs arise:

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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.f4 e5 8.Nf3 Ng4 9.Qd2 Nxe3 10.Qxe3 exf4 11.Qxf4 Be7 12.0-0-0 Be6 13.h4 0-0 14.Nd5 Rc8 15.a3 Na5 16.g4 Bxd5 17.exd5 Bf6 18.g5 Qc7 19.Rh2 Be5 20.Nxe5 dxe5 21.Qb4 Rcd8 22.d6 Qb6 23.Qxb6 axb6 24.d7 f5 25.gxf6 gxf6 26.Rg2+ Kh8 27.b4 Nc6 28.Bc4 e4 29.Be6 f5 30.Rg5 Ne7 31.c4 Rf6 32.Rd6 h6 33.Rg1 f4 34.c5 bxc5 35.bxc5 Nc6 36.Kd2 Kh7? 37.Bg8+‼ Rxg8 38.Rxf6! 38.Rxc6?! wins as well, but is much more complicated: e3+ 39.Kc3 e2 40.d8Q Rxd8 41.Rxf6 Rd1 42.Rf7+ Kh8 43.Rfg7 Rd8?! 43...e1Q+ 44.Rxe1 Rxe1 45.Rxb7+- 44.R7g6 Kh7 45.Rd6 Rxd6 46.cxd6 f3 47.Kd2 f2 now follows a beautiful typical point: 48.Rg7+‼ Kxg7 49.Kxe2 Kf6 50.Kxf2 Ke6 51.Kf3 Kxd6 52.Kg4+- 38...e3+ 39.Ke2 Rxg1 39...Rd8 40.Rd1 Nb8 41.Rxf4 Rxd7 42.Rxd7+ Nxd7 43.Rf7++- 40.Rxc6 This rook is really doing a great job removing Black's defenders! Rg2+ 40...bxc6 does not help as the queen proves far too strong: 41.d8Q Rg7 42.Qd3+ Kg8 43.Qe4 Rf7 44.Qg6+ Kf8 45.Qxh6+ Kg8 46.Qxc6 f3+ 47.Qxf3+- 41.Kf3! Rg3+ After 41...Rf2+ 42.Kg4 42.Ke4?? e2 43.d8Q e1Q+ 44.Kf5 Qb1+-+ 42...Rg2+ White's king can just hide: 43.Kh5+- 42.Kxf4 e2 43.d8Q e1Q White wins the fourth phase of the game now easily as she has the first check: 43...bxc6 44.Qe7+ Rg7 45.Qxe2+- 44.Qd7+ Kh8 44...Rg7 45.Qf5+ Kh8 46.Rc8+ Rg8 47.Qf6+ Kh7 48.Rc7+ Rg7 49.Qxg7# 45.Rxh6+ Kg8 46.Qh7+ Kf8 47.Rf6+ Ke8 48.Qf7+ Kd8 49.Rd6+ Kc8 50.Qf8+ 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.
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Kosteniuk,A2469Galliamova,A24981–02011B82Nalchik WGP 20119

Races

A rook has often difficulties to win, when fighting against passed pawns, which are supported by the king. In many cases everything hinges on a single tempo:

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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 0-0 7.e3 b6 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Bxe7 Qxe7 10.Nxd5 exd5 11.Rc1 Be6 12.Qd2 a5 13.a3 c5 14.dxc5 bxc5 15.Bb5 Rc8 16.Ne5 a4 17.0-0 Qb7 18.Be2 Nc6 19.Nd3 c4 20.Nf4 Na5 21.Qc3 Rcb8 22.Rc2 Qb3 23.Qd2 Bf5 24.Rcc1 Qxb2 25.Qxd5 Bh7 26.Bf3 Ra7 27.Qc5 Qb6 28.Qxb6 Rxb6 29.Rfd1 g6 30.Rd8+ Kg7 31.Bd1 Rb3 32.Bxb3 axb3 33.Rb8 Nb7 34.Ne2 g5 35.Nc3 b2 36.Rf1 Bd3 37.Re1 Bg6 38.Rf1 Bd3 39.Re1 Bg6 40.a4 Nc5 41.Rxb2 Nd3 42.Ree2 Nxb2 43.Rxb2 Bf5 44.f3 Be6 45.g4 Kf6 46.Kf2 Ke7 47.Ke2 Ra8 48.e4 Ra7 49.Rb8 Bd7 50.Rb4 Be6 51.Kd2 Ra8 52.Rb7+ Kd6 53.Ke3 Kc6 54.Rb2 Rd8 55.Rd2 Ra8 56.e5 Kc5 57.Rd6 Ra5 58.Rd8 Kb4 59.Kd4 Kb3 60.Rb8+ Kc2 61.Rb4 Ra8 62.Rb6 Ra7 63.h3 Ra8 64.Rd6 Ra5 65.Ne4 Rxa4 66.Nc5 Rb4 67.Nxe6 fxe6 68.Rxe6 c3+ 69.Ke3 Kb2 70.Rc6 c2 71.Kd2 Rd4+ 72.Ke3 Rd1 73.Ke4 Re1+ 74.Kf5 c1Q 75.Rxc1 Kxc1 76.f4 Rf1 77.e6 Rxf4+? This is too slow. The dynamic 77...gxf4! wins the races: 78.e7 After 78.h4 some kind of pawn race results: f3 79.Kf4 79.e7 Re1 80.Kf6 f2-+ 79...f2 80.Kf3 Rg1 81.Kxf2 Rxg4 82.Kf3 Rg6 82...Rxh4?? 83.e7+- 83.e7 Re6 84.Kg4 Rxe7 85.Kh5 Re6-+ 78...Re1 79.Kxf4 Rxe7 And now Black's king is always in time in the race, but some care is required: 80.g5 80.Kf5 Re3 81.h4 Rh3 82.h5 82.g5 Rxh4 83.g6 Rh5+ 84.Kf6 Rg5-+ 82...Rg3 83.Kg6 Rxg4+ 84.Kxh6 And it may look unlikely, but Black's king is just quick enough: Kd2 85.Kh7 Ke3 86.h6 Kf4 87.Kh8 Kf5 88.h7 Kg6 89.Kg8 Ra4 90.h8N+ Kf6-+ 80...hxg5+ 81.Kxg5 Rg7+! This zwischenschach is a very important motif. You should know it by heart! 82.Kf5 Rh7 The point, which forces White's king to go backwards. 83.Kg4 Kd2 84.h4 Ke3 85.h5 Ke4 86.Kg5 Rg7+! This zwischenschach is again neccesary precision. As 86...Ke5? is met by 87.Kg6 Ra7 88.h6 Ra6+ 89.Kg7 89.Kg5= 89...Kf5 90.h7 Ra7+ 91.Kh6!= Bodycheck! 87.Kf6 87.Kh6 Rg1 88.Kh7 Kf5 89.h6 Rg6-+ 87...Ra7 88.h6 Kf4 89.Kg6 Ra6+ 90.Kh5 90.Kg7 Kg5 91.h7 Ra7+ 92.Kg8 Kg6 93.h8N+ Kf6-+ 90...Kf5 91.h7 Ra8 92.Kh6 Kf6 93.Kh5 Kg7-+ 78.Kg6! The counterplay with the kingside pawns saves the day as the way of Black's king is too long. Placing all the money on the e-pawn with 78.Ke5? would be a mistake as Black's king is in time on the kingside: Kd2 79.e7 Ke3 80.Ke6 Kf3 81.e8Q Re4+ 82.Kf7 Rxe8 83.Kxe8 Kg3-+ 78...Re4 79.Kxh6 Re5 80.Kg6 Rxe6+ 80...Kd2 81.Kf6 Re3 82.Kxg5 Rxe6 83.Kf5= 81.Kxg5 Kd2 82.h4 Ke3 83.h5 Re5+ 83...Ke4 84.h6 Ke5 85.h7 Re8 86.Kg6= 84.Kf6 Kf4 85.h6 Ra5 86.h7 Ra6+ 87.Kg7 Ra7+ 88.Kh6 Rxh7+ 89.Kxh7 Kxg4 ½–½
  • 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
Stefanova,A2528Kosteniuk,A2469½–½2011D5916th ECC w2.1


GM Antoaneta Stefanova, former women's world champion


Alexandra Kosteniuk – she too a former women's world champion

Karsten Müller 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.

Click to go to the ChessBase Magazine page

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

Reports about chess: tournaments, championships, portraits, interviews, World Championships, product launches and more.

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