CBM training: Endgames from Aeroflot Moscow

by ChessBase
2/15/2012 – The Aeroflot Open is in its final stages, with over one hundred full-blown GMs participating, half a dozen rated over 2700. It is clear that the tournament would produce exciting games, and especially rich pickings for our endgame expert GM Karsten Müller, whom you know from ChessBase Magazin. Karsten has picked three instructive endings for you to study. Learn and enjoy.
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.

The Cage

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.c4 c6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 d5 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 Be4 7.f3 Bg6 8.Bd2 Be7 9.Qb3 Qc7 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.0-0-0 Nc6 13.Kb1 0-0 14.g4 Rfc8 15.Rc1 Na5 16.Qa4 Nc4 17.Bxc4 Qxc4 18.Qxc4 Rxc4 19.Ne2 Rac8 20.Rxc4 Rxc4 21.Nf4 Bd6 22.Nd3 Nd7 23.b3 Rc8 24.Bb4 Bxb4 25.Nxb4 Kf8 26.g5 Ke7 27.Rc1 Rxc1+ 28.Kxc1 Kd6 29.f4 f5 30.Nd3 Kc6 31.Kd2 Kd6 32.Kc3 Kc6 33.Kd2 Kd6 34.Kc2 Kc7 35.Kc3 Kc6 36.a3 Kd6 37.Kb4 Kc6 38.Ka5 Kd6 39.Kb5 Kc7 40.a4 Kc8 41.Nc5 Nxc5 42.dxc5 Kc7 43.a5 a6+ 44.Kb4 Kc6 45.h3 Kd7 46.Kc3 Kc6 47.Kd4 Kb5 48.h4 Kxa5 The Cage The king should be active in the endgame, but sometimes fighting against the opponent's has higher priority: 49.c6‼ Socko stops Black's king. The direct 49.Ke5? runs into Kb4 50.Kxe6 Kxb3 51.Kf7 a5 (Chess Today 4109) 52.Kxg7 a4 53.Kxg6 a3 54.Kf7 a2 55.g6 a1Q 56.g7 d4 57.exd4 Qxd4 58.g8Q Qxf4 59.Qg5 Qc7+= 49...bxc6 49...Kb6 50.cxb7 Kxb7 51.Ke5 (Chess Today 4109) Kc6 52.Kxe6 a5 53.Kf7 Kc5 54.Kxg7 Kb4 55.Kxg6 Kxb3 56.h5 a4 57.h6 a3 58.h7 a2 59.h8Q+- 50.Kc5 And Black's king is imprisoned so he has to throw himself into his own sword: 50.Kc5 d4 51.exd4 e5 52.fxe5 f4 53.e6 f3 54.e7 f2 55.e8Q f1Q 56.Qd8# 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
Socko,B2636Bukavshin,I25171–02012D1211th Aeroflot Open A1

Deadly Zwischenschach

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nge7 5.0-0 g6 6.c3 Bg7 7.d4 exd4 8.cxd4 b5 9.Bb3 0-0 10.Nc3 Na5 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bh4 Nxb3 13.Qxb3 g5 14.Bg3 d6 15.h4 g4 16.Nh2 Kh8 17.Ne2 f5 18.e5 dxe5 19.dxe5 Qd5 20.Qc2 Qe4 21.Rac1 Bb7 22.Qxe4 Bxe4 23.Rfe1 Nd5 24.Nd4 Rae8 25.Nxg4 h5 26.f3 Bxf3 27.Nf6 Bxf6 28.exf6 Be4 29.Rc5 Nxf6 30.Be5 Kg7 31.Rxc7+ Kg6 32.Nc6 Rf7 33.Rxf7 Kxf7 34.Bxf6 Kxf6 35.Nd4 Rg8 36.Re2 Rg4 37.Nb3 Rxh4 38.Nc5 a5 39.Nxe4+ Rxe4 40.Rc2 Rc4 41.Re2 a4 42.a3 b4 43.axb4 Rxb4 44.Kh2 Kg5 45.Kh3 Rb3+ 46.Kh2 Kg4 47.Rc2 Rb4 48.Rc3 h4 49.Ra3 f4 50.Kh1 Rxb2 51.Rxa4 Deadly Zwischenschach Zwischenschach is German for in between check. It often occurs in rook endings: h3! First Bartel creates a passed pawn and a safe square for his king. 52.gxh3+ 52.Kh2 does not help: Rxg2+ 52...hxg2 53.Ra3 f3 54.Ra4+ Kf5 55.Ra5+ Kf4 56.Ra4+ Ke3 57.Ra1 Kf2-+ 53.Kh1 Re2 54.Ra8 f3 55.Rg8+ Kf4 56.Rf8+ Ke3 57.Rh8 Re1+ 58.Kh2 f2-+ 52...Kg3! 53.Ra1 53.Ra8?! Rb1# 53...Rh2+ The first zwischenschach is good technique to stop white checks. 53...f3?! is less precise: 54.Rg1+ Kxh3 54...Kf2? 55.Kh2 Ke3+ 56.Kg3 f2 57.Ra1 is only drawn. 55.Ra1 and now again the zwischenschach Rh2+ 56.Kg1 Kg3-+ 54.Kg1 f3 55.Ra3!? The last ressource but it can not stop Black. Rb2 Of course not 55...Rxh3?? when White defends with the typical stalemate trick 56.Ra2 Rh8 57.Rg2+ Kf4 57...fxg2 stalemate 58.Rg7= 56.Ra1 Rg2+ This second zwischenschach wins the decisive tempo. 57.Kh1 57.Kf1 Rh2-+ 57...Rh2+ 57...Rh2+ 58.Kg1 f2+ 59.Kf1 Rh1+ 60.Ke2 Rxa1-+ 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
Al Modiahki,M2567Bartel,M26580–12012C6011th Aeroflot Open A1

Alekseev's Army of Ants

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.dxc5 e6 5.Qg4 h5 6.Qg3 Nc6 7.Nf3 Nh6 8.Bd3 Nb4 9.Bxh6 Rxh6 10.0-0 Qa5 11.a3 Nxd3 12.cxd3 Qxc5 13.Nbd2 Qc2 14.Rac1 Qxd3 15.Rc7 Bd7 16.Rfc1 Rg6 17.Qh4 Qf5 18.Rxb7 Rg4 19.Qh3 a5 20.g3 Rc4 21.Qf1 Rxc1 22.Qxc1 Rc8 23.Rc7 Rxc7 24.Qxc7 Be7 25.Qxa5 Qc2 26.Nd4 Qxb2 27.Qa8+ Bd8 28.N2b3 Qb1+ 29.Kg2 Qe4+ 30.Nf3 Qa4 31.Qb7 Qb5 32.Qxb5 Bxb5 33.Nfd4 Bd7 34.f4 Be7 35.Nc2 Ba4 36.Nbd4 Bc5 37.h3 Kd7 38.g4 hxg4 39.hxg4 g5 40.Kg3 gxf4+ 41.Kxf4 Ke7 42.g5 Bb6 43.Kg4 Bc7 44.Kf4 Kf8 45.g6 Bxc2 46.Nxc2 f6 47.Nb4 fxe5+ Alekseev's Army of Ants In a duel of passed pawns on an open board a bishop is often superior to a knight: 48.Ke3? After this retreat Black's central passed pawns will decide the day as the bishop is superior to the knight in this duel. 48.Kg5! was the last chance to fight: Bd8+ 48...e4? 49.Nc6 e3 50.Kf6 Bd6 51.Nd4 Bxa3 52.Nxe6+ Kg8 53.Nf4 Bd6 54.Ne2= 48...Bd6? 49.Kf6 e4 50.Nc6 Bxa3 50...Bc5 51.g7+ Kg8 52.Kxe6 d4 53.Kd5 e3 54.Ne5 Ba7 55.a4 Kxg7 56.a5 Kf6 57.Ke4 Ke6 58.Nf3 Kd6 59.a6 Kc6 60.Kd3 Kb5 61.Nxd4+ Bxd4 62.Kxd4 e2 63.a7 e1Q 64.a8Q= 51.Kxe6 e3 52.Nd4 Bc5 53.Ne2 d4 54.Nf4 Bb4 55.Kd5 e2 56.Nd3 Bc3 57.Ke4 Kg7 58.Kd5= 49.Kg4! 49.Kh6? leads to a difficult queen ending: Kg8 50.Nc6 e4 51.Nxd8 e3 52.g7 e2 53.Nc6 e1Q 54.Ne7+ Kf7 55.g8Q+ Kxe7 49...Be7 50.Nc6 Bxa3 51.Nxe5 and now it does not seem to be possible to break White's blockade to win, e.g. Kg7 52.Kg5 Bb4 53.Nc6 Bc3 54.Kh5 Bf6 55.Nb4= 48...Bd6! Alekseev stops the counterplay, when his army of ants in the centre will carry the day. The direct 48...Kg7? runs into 49.a4 Kxg6 50.Nc6 Kf5 51.a5 d4+ 52.Kd3 Kf4 53.a6 Bb6 54.a7 e4+ 55.Kd2 e3+ 56.Ke2 Bxa7 57.Nxa7 Ke4 58.Nb5 d3+ 59.Ke1 d2+ 60.Ke2= 49.Nc6 Keeping the a-pawn with 49.Nc2 is also insufficient as the bishop is just too strong: Kg7 50.a4 Kxg6 51.a5 Bc5+ 52.Kd3 Kf5 53.a6 e4+ 54.Kc3 Ke5 55.Na1 Kd6 56.Nb3 Ba7 57.Kb4 Kc6 58.Nd2 Bf2 59.Nb3 Kb6-+ 49...Bxa3 50.Nd8 50.Nxe5 does not help as the blockade on the dark squares can be broken: Kg7 51.Kf3 Bd6 52.Nf7 Be7 53.Kf4 Kxg6 54.Ne5+ Kg7 55.Nd7 Bd6+ 56.Kg5 Kf7 57.Nb6 Ke7 58.Na4 Bb4 59.Nb2 Bd2+ 60.Kg4 e5 61.Kf5 Kd6 62.Nd3 e4 63.Ne5 e3 64.Nd3 e2-+ 50...Kg7 51.Nxe6+ Kxg6 52.Nc7 Bc5+ 53.Kf3 e4+ 54.Kg4 54.Ke2 d4 55.Ne6 Bb6-+ 54...d4 The ants just march down the board. 55.Kf4 55.Ne6 is met by d3 56.Nxc5 d2 57.Nxe4 d1Q+-+ 55...d3!? The easiest way to win. 55...e3?! allows a blockade on the light squares, but it can be broken: 56.Kf3 d3 57.Ne6 d2! 57...Bb6? 58.Nf4+= 58.Ke2 Bb6 59.Nf4+ Kf5 60.Nd3 Ke4 61.Nb2 Kd4 But not 61...Bd4? 62.Nc4 Kd5 63.Nxd2= 62.Kd1 Ba7 63.Nd3 Ke4 64.Nb2 Kf3 65.Nc4 e2+ 66.Kxd2 Kf2-+ 56.Nd5 56.Kxe4 d2-+ 56...Bd4 56...d2 wins as well due to the deadly endgame weapon zugzwang: 57.Nc3 e3 58.Kf3 Bd4 59.Nd1 Kf5 60.Ke2 Ke4-+ 57.Kxe4 d2 Domination 57...d2 58.Nf4+ Kf7 59.Kxd4 d1Q+-+ 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
Yu Yangyi2631Alekseev,E26700–12012B1211th Aeroflot Open A2

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.

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.