CBM training: Endgames from Tata Steel

by ChessBase
1/16/2012 – Our endgame expert GM Karsten Müller, whose ChessBase Magazine section you probably know, turns his eye on the big event in Wijk aan Zee. Today he provides three instructive endings, one from each of the groups A–C, dealing with Aronian's army (Aronian-Nakamura), to exchange or not to exchange (Harikrishna-Lahno), and the power of prophylaxis (Tikkanen-Brandenburg). Learn and enjoy.
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Aronian's Army

When the queen fights against many men it is very important, if she has targets to attack or not:

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1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.0-0 0-0 6.c4 d6 7.Nc3 c6 8.Qb3 Kh8 9.Rd1 Na6 10.Qa3 Nc7 11.d5 c5 12.b4 cxb4 13.Qxb4 Na6 14.Qb1 Bd7 15.Nb5 Rc8 16.Nd2 Qb6 17.e3 Nc5 18.a4 Qa5 19.Ba3 a6 20.Bb4 Qd8 21.Nd4 Nxa4 22.Ne6 Bxe6 23.dxe6 Qe8 24.Bxb7 Rb8 25.Bxa6 Nc3 26.Bxc3 Rxb1 27.Rdxb1 g5 28.Rb7 Ng8 29.Bxg7+ Kxg7 30.Rb5 Qg6 31.c5 dxc5 32.Rxc5 Qxe6 33.Nf3 Qd6 34.Nd4 Kh8 35.Rc6 Qd7 36.Rac1 f4 37.Bc8 Qa7 38.Ne6 Rf6 39.exf4 gxf4 40.Rc7 Qa4 41.Nxf4 Aronian's Army When the queen fights against many men it is very important, if she has targets to attack or not: Rd6!? Nakamura must exchange pieces to reduce Aronian's beautifully coordinated army so that his queen gets more options. Baburin's suggestion 41...Rxf4?! 42.gxf4 Qxf4 is too radical in my opinion. The queen has more options now due to White's open king, but the price is too high and White will get chances with his rooks in the long run after 43.Bb7 Nf6 44.h3 42.Be6 Rd1+! Nakamura correctly exchanges rooks to reduce White's pressure. After 42...Kg7? White can stop the rook exchange with 43.Bd5 and regroup in the shadow of the bishop, e.g. Qb4 44.h4 h6 45.h5 Qb2 46.Kg2 Qe5 47.R7c5 Nf6 48.Bf3 Qd4 49.Rc7 Kf7 50.Re1 Rd7 51.Rxd7 Nxd7 52.Ng6± 43.Rxd1 Qxd1+ 44.Kg2 Nf6 44...Kg7 was the alternative, Black is probably able to hold after 45.Bd5 45.Bxg8 Kxg8 46.Rxe7 The advantage of the pawn sacrifice is that White has no real attack anymore and the queen is free to disturb White like a fish in the water. 45...Qe1 46.Ne6+ Kg6 in both cases but over the board it is unpleasant to defend. 45.Rxe7 Qe1 46.Rf7 Qe4+ 47.f3 Qd4 47...Qe5!? to meet 48.Kh3?! with Nh5! to reduce the pressure by exchanging knights is suggested by Baburin in Chess Today 4086. 48.Kh3 Qe5? 48...Qb2 49.Bc4 Qc3 50.Bd3 Kg8 was the last real chance to offer resistance. 49.Kh4! The king enters the attack himself with decisive effect. Qd4 50.Bg4! But not 50.Kg5? due to Ng8! 50...Qe5 50...Qd6 also does not help in the long run, e.g. 51.Bf5 Nd5 52.Ne6 Ne7 53.Kh5 h6 54.Bg4 Kg8 55.Rf8+ Kh7 56.f4 Qd5+ 57.f5 Nc6 58.Rf7+ Kg8 59.Rg7+ Kh8 60.Rg6+- and 50...Nxg4? loses immediately: 51.Rf8+ Kg7 52.Ne6++- 51.Ne6! The knight closes the net. Nakamura is powerless against the assault of Aronian's coordinated army. h6 51...h5 is refuted by 52.Nf4 Kg8 53.Be6 Qxe6 54.Nxe6 Kxf7 55.Nf4+- and 51...Nxg4?? runs into 52.Rf8# 52.Rf8+ Ng8 52...Kh7? runs into 53.f4 (Baburin) Qc3?! 54.Bf5# 53.f4 Qb2 54.Kh3 Qa1?! 54...Qb5 is more tenacious, but still insufficient, e.g. 55.f5 h5 56.Bxh5 Kh7 57.Kh4 Qb4+ 58.Bg4 Nh6 59.h3 Qb1 60.Rf6 Nxg4 61.Kxg4 Qd3 62.Ng5+ Kg7 63.Rf7+ Kg8 64.Kh4+- 55.Bh5! Aronian closes the last escape route. It is over: Kh7 56.Rf7+ Kh8 57.Bg6 Nf6 58.Rf8+ Ng8 59.Bf7 59.Bf7 Kh7 60.Rxg8 Qf1+ 61.Kh4+- 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Aronian,L2805Nakamura,H27591–02012A8874th Tata Steel GMA2

To exchange or not to exchange that is the question

Double rook endings are often of a different character than single rook endgames:

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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e6 7.0-0 Be7 8.a4 Qc7 9.a5 Nbd7 10.Be3 0-0 11.Nb3 Nc5 12.Nxc5 dxc5 13.f4 Rd8 14.Qe1 Bd7 15.Qf2 Bc6 16.Bf3 b6 17.axb6 Qxb6 18.b3 Qb4 19.Qe1 Qb7 20.e5 Nd5 21.Nxd5 Bxd5 22.Bxd5 exd5 23.Bd2 f5 24.Qe2 Qb5 25.Rfe1 c4 26.bxc4 Qxc4 27.Qxc4 dxc4 28.Bc3 Bc5+ 29.Kf1 Bd4 30.Bxd4 Rxd4 31.g3 a5 32.Ra4 Kf7 33.Rb1 g5 34.fxg5 Ke6 35.Rb7 Rd2 36.Rxc4 a4 37.Rcc7 Kxe5 38.Re7+ Kd4 39.Rxh7 Rxc2 40.Ra7 To exchange or not to exchange that is the question Double rook endings are often of a different character than single rook endgames: Rb8? Now Black's king will come under heavy fire first. The technical single rook endgame after 40...Rxa7 is drawn: 41.Rxa7 Rxh2 42.Rxa4+ 42.g6 Rh8 43.Rxa4+ Ke5 44.Ra6 f4= (Baburin in Chess Today 4086) 42...Ke5 43.Ra6 Rb2 44.g6 Rb7 45.Kf2 f4 45...Rb4= 46.g4 Rb2+ 47.Kf3 Rb3+ 48.Ke2 Rg3 49.g5 Ke4 50.Ra5 Rg2+ 51.Kf1 Rb2 52.g7 Rb8= 41.Rxa4+ Ke3 41...Kd5 is met by the series of checks 42.Ra5+! 42.Rd7+? Ke6 43.Rd1 Rbb2= 42...Kd4 43.Rh4+ Kd3 44.Ra3+ Kd2 45.Rf4+- (Baburin) 42.Re7+ Kd3 43.Ra3+ Kd4 44.Re2! Harikrishna breaks the bind. The careless check 44.Rd7+?! is bad technique and forces White to repeat with Ke4 45.Ra4+ Ke3 46.Re7+ Kd3 47.Ra3++- 44...Rb1+ 45.Kf2 Rh1 46.Rxc2 Rxh2+ 47.Kf3 Rxc2 48.Ra5!? The cut off is good technique. 48.Ra5 Rc1 49.Rxf5 Of course not 49.Kf4?? Rf1# 49...Rc6 50.Rf6 Rc1 51.Kf4 Rf1+ 52.Kg4+- 48.Kf4 Rf2+ 49.Rf3 Rxf3+ 50.Kxf3 Ke5 51.Ke3+- wins as well. 1–0
  • Start an analysis engine:
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Harikrishna,P2665Lahno,K25571–02012B8474th Tata Steel GMB2

The Power of Prophylaxis

One of the most difficult aspect of endgame play is the question, if action or prophylaxis is called for:

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1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nc3 Nb6 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 Be6 10.Rb1 f6 11.d3 a5 12.b5 Nd4 13.Nd2 Qc8 14.e3 Nf5 15.Qc2 Rd8 16.Bb2 Nh6 17.Rfc1 Nf7 18.Ne2 Qd7 19.Nf1 Bf5 20.e4 Be6 21.Ne3 Rac8 22.Nc4 Qxd3 23.Qxd3 Rxd3 24.Nxa5 Nd8 25.Bf1 Rd7 26.Rc2 Ra8 27.Bc3 Bxa3 28.Be1 Bd6 29.Nc1 Nc8 30.Nc4 Be7 31.Ne3 Ra4 32.f3 b6 33.Bf2 Bc5 34.Ne2 Kf8 35.Nc3 Ra3 36.Nc4 Bxf2+ 37.Kxf2 Ra7 38.Ne3 Ne7 39.Rbb2 Nb7 40.Na2 Nc5 41.Nb4 Rd4 42.Na6 Nxa6 43.bxa6 Ke8 44.Rc1 Nc8 45.Ke1 Kd8 46.Nc2 Rd6 47.Nb4 Ne7 48.Kf2 Ra8 49.f4 Bc8 50.fxe5 fxe5 51.Ra1 Nc6 52.Nxc6+ Rxc6 53.Rb5 Rf6+ 54.Ke3 c5 55.Rb2 Kc7 56.Bc4 Ra7 57.Rd1 Bg4 58.Rd5 Rf3+ 59.Kd2 Rf2+ 60.Kc1 Rxb2 61.Kxb2 Bc8 62.Rxe5 Kd6 63.Rd5+ Kc6 64.e5 Bxa6 65.Rd6+ Kc7 66.Bg8 Ra8 67.Bxh7 Rh8 68.Bf5 Rxh2+ 69.Kc3 Rf2 70.Rd7+ Kc8 71.Rf7+ Kd8 72.e6 Bb5 73.Bd3 Rxf7 74.exf7 Ke7 75.Bxb5 Kxf7 76.Kd3 Kf6 77.Ke4 Kg5 78.Be2 c4 79.Kf3 b5 80.g4 Kf6 81.Kf4 Ke6 82.g5 Kd5 83.Kf5 b4 The Power of Prophylaxis One of the most difficult aspect of endgame play is the question, if action or prophylaxis is called for: 84.Kg6? White rushs. Only the amazing prophylactical 84.Bd1‼ saves the day: Kd4 84...c3 is met by 85.Bb3+ Kd4 86.Kg6 Kd3 87.Kxg7 c2 88.Bxc2+ Kxc2 89.g6 b3 90.Kf7 b2 91.g7 b1Q 92.g8Q= and 84...b3 85.Kg6= transposes to the game. 85.Kg6 Kc3 86.Kxg7 b3 87.Bg4! Again prophylaxis is the right method. The direct 87.g6? violates the endgame principle do not rush: b2 88.Kf6 b1Q 89.g7 Qb6+! Good technique, but 89...Qxd1?! wins as well: 90.g8Q Qd6+ 91.Kf5 Kd3-+ 90.Kf7 Qc7+ 91.Kf8 Qd8+ 92.Kf7 Qxd1 93.g8Q Qd5+ 94.Kf8 Qxg8+ 95.Kxg8 Kd4-+ 87...Kb2 87...b2 88.Bf5 Kd2 89.g6 c3 90.Kf6 c2 91.Bxc2 Kxc2 92.g7 b1Q 93.g8Q= 88.g6 c3 89.Kf6 c2 90.g7 c1Q 91.g8Q= 84...b3? Allows the bishop to slow down the pawns. After 84...c3! Black is too quick: 85.Bd1 Kc4 86.Kxg7 86.Be2+ Kb3 87.Bd1+ c2 88.Bxc2+ Kxc2 89.Kxg7 b3 90.g6 b2 91.Kf7 b1Q 92.g7 Qb7+-+ 86...b3 87.Bxb3+ 87.g6 c2 88.Be2+ Kd4 89.Kf7 c1Q 90.g7 Qc7+ 91.Kf8 b2 92.g8Q Qd8+ 93.Kg7 Qxg8+ 94.Kxg8 b1Q-+ 87...Kxb3 88.g6 c2 89.Kf7 c1Q 90.g7 and the queen wins against the knight's pawn no matter how far away Black's king is placed, e.g. Qc4+ 91.Kf8 Qc8+ 92.Kf7 Qf5+ 93.Ke7 Qg6 The typical winning manover. 94.Kf8 Qf6+ 95.Kg8 Kc4 96.Kh7 Qf7 97.Kh8 Qh5+ 98.Kg8 Kd5 99.Kf8 Qf5+ 100.Ke7 Qe6+ 101.Kf8 Qf6+ 102.Kg8 Qf5 103.Kh8 Qh5+ 104.Kg8 Ke6 105.Kf8 Qf7# 85.Bd1! Kc5 85...Kd4 86.Kxg7 Kc3 87.Bg4= transposes to 84.Bd1!!. 86.Kxg7 Kb4 87.g6 c3 87...Kc3 88.Bxb3 cxb3 89.Kf7 b2 90.g7 b1Q 91.g8Q= 88.Bxb3 Kxb3 89.Kf7 c2 90.g7 c1Q 91.g8Q Qc4+ 92.Kg7 Qxg8+ 93.Kxg8 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
Tikkanen,H2549Brandenburg,D2527½–½2012A2974th Tata Steel GMC2

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.

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