CBM training: Endgames from the US Championships

by ChessBase
5/18/2012 – Gata Kamsky is currently in the sole lead, Hikaru Nakamura is trying to catch him. Our ChessBase Magazin author Dr Karsten Müller has been following the games and extracting the ones with interesting and instructive endgames. His analysis and annotations will help you to improve your technique in this vital section of the game and give your Elo rating a boost.
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.

Mate or Stalemate

When the defender has almost no moves and the defending king almost no squares this can be a sign for a coming mating attack or a stalemate defense:

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.Bd3 dxc4 6.Bxc4 a6 7.0-0 b5 8.Be2 Bb7 9.b3 Nbd7 10.Bb2 Be7 11.a4 b4 12.Ne5 0-0 13.Bf3 Nd5 14.Nxd7 Qxd7 15.Nd2 c5 16.dxc5 Bxc5 17.Nc4 Rad8 18.Qc2 Be7 19.Rfd1 Qc8 20.Rac1 Nf6 21.Bxb7 Qxb7 22.Na5 Qe4 23.Rd4 Qxc2 24.Rxc2 Rxd4 25.Bxd4 Ra8 26.Nc6 Bf8 27.Bxf6 gxf6 28.a5 Bd6 29.Kf1 Kf8 30.Ke2 Ke8 31.Rc4 Rc8 32.Kd3 Kd7 33.Nxb4 Rb8 34.Kc3 Rb5 35.Nxa6 Rxa5 36.Nb4 Rg5 37.g3 Rh5 38.h4 Ra5 39.Nd3 Ra2 40.Ra4 Re2 41.b4 e5 42.b5 f5 43.Ra7+ Ke8 44.b6 e4 45.Nf4 Rxf2 46.Ra5 Rf1 47.Rb5 Rc1+ 48.Kd4 Rd1+ 49.Kc4 Rc1+ 50.Kd5 Kd7 51.b7 Bb8 52.Kd4 Rd1+ 53.Kc3 Ke7 54.Rxf5 Rb1 55.Kd4 Rb4+ 56.Kd5 Rxb7 57.Kxe4 Kf8 58.Kf3 Rb1 59.Rh5 Kg7 60.Rg5+ Kf8 61.Nh5 h6 62.Rc5 Ke7 63.Ng7 Kf6 64.Nf5 Ba7 65.Ra5 Bb6 66.Rd5 Ke6 67.e4 Bc7 68.Rc5 Rb3+ 69.Kg4 Kd7 70.Rd5+ Ke8 71.e5 Rb6 72.Kh5 Rg6 73.g4 Rc6 74.Rb5 Kf8 75.Nxh6 Re6 76.g5 Rxe5 77.Rb7 Rc5 78.Ra7 Kg7 79.Ra8 f6 80.Rg8+ Kh7 81.Rf8 fxg5 82.Rf7+ Kh8 83.hxg5 Ba5 84.Rd7 Bc3 85.Kg6 Rc6+ 86.Kf7 Mate or Stalemate When the defender has almost no moves and the defending king almost no squares this can be a sign for a coming mating attack or a stalemate defense: Be5? Ramirez misses an amazing ressource: 86...Rc5 87.g6 Rc8 88.Nf5 Bg7! 89.Nxg7 Rc7‼= (Chess Today 4203) 86...Bf6 87.g6 Rc8 (Chess Today 4203) works as well: 88.Kxf6 88.Nf5 is again met by Bg7 89.Nxg7 Rc7‼ 89...Rf8+? 90.Ke6+- 90.Rxc7 stalemate 88...Rc6+ 89.Kf7 Rf6+ 90.Ke7 Re6+ 91.Kd8 Re8+ 92.Kc7 Rc8+ 93.Kd6 Rc6+ 94.Kd5 Rxg6= However, not the direct 86...Rc8? due to 87.Nf5 and Black can organise no stalemate defense anymore, e.g. Bb4 87...Bb2 88.Ne7 Ra8 89.Rd2 Be5 90.Ng6+ Kh7 91.Nxe5+- 88.g6 Rf8+ 89.Ke6 Re8+ 90.Kf6 Rf8+ 91.Kg5 Rxf5+ 92.Kxf5 Bc3 93.g7+ Kh7 94.Rf7 Bb2 95.g8Q+ Kxg8 96.Kg6+- 87.Ng4! Bc3 87...Rc7 88.Nxe5+- 87...Rc5?! 88.Rd8+ Kh7 89.g6# 88.Nf6 Bxf6 88...Rc8 runs into a direct mating attack: 89.Rd1 Rc7+ 90.Nd7+- 89.gxf6 Kh7 89...Rc8 is met by 90.Kg6 and White wins as passive defense is insufficient against a bishop's pawn: Kg8 90...Rg8+ 91.Rg7 Rxg7+ 92.fxg7+ Kg8 93.Kf6 Kh7 94.Kf7+- 91.Rg7+ Kf8 92.Rh7 Kg8 93.f7+ Kf8 94.Rh8++- 90.Ke7! 90.Kf8+? allows Black to reach a back rank defense after Kg6 91.f7 Rc8+ 92.Ke7 Kg7= 90...Rc8 91.Rd8 Rc7+ 91...Rxd8 92.Kxd8 Kg6 93.Ke7+- 92.Kd6 Rf7 92...Rc1 93.f7 Rd1+ 94.Kc7 Rxd8 95.Kxd8 Kg7 96.Ke7+- 93.Ke6 93.Ke6 Ra7 93...Kg6 94.Rg8++- 94.f7 Ra6+ 95.Ke7 Ra7+ 96.Ke8+- 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
Seirawan,Y2643Ramirez,A25931–02012D30ch-USA 20124

The bishop in the prison

Same colored bishop endings have a large drawish tendency, but the defending bishop should be active:

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.0-0 0-0 7.d5 exd5 8.Nh4 c6 9.cxd5 Nxd5 10.Nf5 Nc7 11.e4 d6 12.Bf4 Ne8 13.Nc3 Na6 14.Qd2 Nc5 15.Rfd1 Ne6 16.Nxe7+ Qxe7 17.Bxd6 Nxd6 18.Qxd6 Qxd6 19.Rxd6 Rfd8 20.Rad1 Rxd6 21.Rxd6 Rd8 22.Rxd8+ Nxd8 23.e5 Kf8 24.f4 Bc8 25.Kf2 Ke7 26.Ke3 f6 27.exf6+ Kxf6 28.a3 h6 29.Bf3 Bd7 30.h4 Nf7 31.g4 Ke7 32.Ne4 c5 33.Ng3 Nd6 34.Be2 Be6 35.Ne4 Nxe4 36.Kxe4 Kd6 37.g5 The bishop in the prison Same colored bishop endings have a large drawish tendency, but the defending bishop should be active: Bg8? The bishop should stay on the other diagonal with 37...Bd7 and White can not win, e.g. 38.h5 38.gxh6 gxh6 39.f5 Bc6+ 40.Kf4 a5 41.Bg4 Bd5 42.f6 Bf7= 38.f5 hxg5 39.hxg5 b5= 38...b5 39.f5 Bc6+ 40.Kf4 40.Ke3 Ke7 41.f6+ Kf7 42.fxg7 Kxg7 43.g6 Kf6 44.Bf3 Bd7= 40...hxg5+ 41.Kxg5 Ke7 42.Kg6 Kf8 43.f6 Be4+ 44.Kg5 c4 45.fxg7+ Kxg7 46.Kf4 Bc2 47.Ke3 a5 48.Kd4 Kh6 49.Kc5 Bd3= 38.gxh6 Bh7+ After 38...gxh6 White's king invades directly with 39.Kf5 Bh7+ 40.Kf6+- 39.f5 gxh6 40.Bc4! Shulman closes the prison door. Ke7 40...a6 can be taken as the escape of Black bishop can be stopped by 41.Bxa6 41.Kf4 b5 42.Be6 wins as well. 41...Bg8 42.Kd3! and Black's bishop can run away with Bb3 but White can invade nevertheless. 42...Ke5 43.Bc4 Bxc4+ 43...Bh7 44.Be6+- 44.Kxc4 Kxf5 45.Kb5 Kg4 46.Kxb6 Kxh4 47.a4+- 43.Bc4 Ba4 44.f6 Bc6 45.Ke3 b5 46.Bg8 c4 47.Kf4 Bd7 48.Ke4+- 40...b5 on the other hand is best met by 41.Be6 and Black's bishop is kept under lock and key, e.g. a5 42.b3 a4 43.bxa4 bxa4 44.h5 Ke7 45.Ke5+- 41.Ke5 Kf8 42.Kf6 42.Kf6 Ke8 43.Bd3 43.Be6!? 43...Kf8 44.h5 Bg8 45.Kg6+- 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
Shulman,Y2571Seirawan,Y26431–02012E17ch-USA 20123

The bishop in the prison – 2

When pieces have no room the alarm bells should be ringing:

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.e4 c6 2.c4 d5 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.exd5 Nf6 5.Qa4+ Nbd7 6.Nc3 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Bc4 a6 9.d3 0-0 10.Qa3 b6 11.0-0 Bb7 12.Be3 b5 13.Bb3 Nb6 14.Bxb6 Qxb6 15.Qxe7 a5 16.Qe3 Qxe3 17.fxe3 a4 18.Bd1 Nxd5 19.Nxd5 Bxd5 20.d4 Rfe8 21.Kf2 a3 22.Bb3 axb2 23.Rab1 Bxb3 24.axb3 Ra2 25.Rfe1 Bf8 26.Re2 Ba3 27.Rc2 Ra1 28.Nd2 Kf8 29.Ke2 Ke7 30.e4 Kd7 31.Kd3 f6 32.b4 Ra8 33.Rc5 Rb8 34.Kc3 Rb6 35.g4 Re6 36.Kb3 Rd6 37.d5 Rb6 38.Rc3 The bishop in the prison When pieces have no room the alarm bells should be ringing: Kd6? This counterplay is too slow and allows White to regroup. 38...Ra6! is forced: 39.Rc5 Rb6= (Baburin in Chess Today 4204) 39...Bxb4 is playable as well: 40.Kxb4 Rxb1 41.Nxb1 Ra1 42.Kc3 Rxb1 43.Rxb5 Re1 44.Rxb2 Rxe4 45.Rb4= 38...f5? is met by 39.e5± 39.Rf3 Ke5 40.Rff1 40.Rff1 Kd4 41.Rxa1 bxa1Q 42.Rxa1 Kd3 43.Nf1 Kxe4 44.Rxa3 Kxd5 45.Ra7+- 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
Stripunsky,A2562Seirawan,Y26431–02012B10ch-USA 20125

Zenyuk's Surprise

Even a bishop has to be careful not to be dominated by a knight and pawns:

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 0-0 5.e4 d6 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.Ne1 Nd7 10.Be3 f5 11.f3 f4 12.Bf2 g5 13.Rc1 Ng6 14.Nd3 Nf6 15.c5 Rf7 16.cxd6 cxd6 17.Nb5 g4 18.fxg4 Nxe4 19.Be1 Qb6+ 20.Nf2 Ng3 21.hxg3 fxg3 22.Rc3 gxf2+ 23.Bxf2 Rxf2 24.Rxf2 Bd7 25.Qb3 Nf4 26.Bf1 e4 27.Nc7 Bxc3 28.Qxb6 axb6 29.bxc3 Rf8 30.g3 Nd3 31.Rxf8+ Kxf8 32.Bxd3 exd3 33.Kf2 Bxg4 34.Ke3 Bf5 35.c4 Bd7 36.Kxd3 Ke7 37.Ke4 Kd8 38.Ne6+ Ke7 39.Nd4 Kf6 40.Kf4 h6 41.a3 Bh3 42.Nb5 Ke7 43.Ke4 Bf1 44.Kd4 Kd7 45.Nc3 Ke7 46.Nd1 Kf6 47.Nf2 Be2 48.Ne4+ Ke7 49.Nd2 Kf6 50.Ke3 Bg4 51.Kd4 Be2 52.Ne4+ Ke7 53.Kc3 Bg4 54.Kd2 Bh3 55.Ke3 Bf1 56.Nd2 Zenyuk's Surprise Even a bishop has to be careful not to be dominated by a knight and pawns: Bg2? Now the bishop will be caught sooner or later. It had to run away with 56...Bh3 57.Kf4 Bd7= 57.g4‼ This surprising shot closes all escape roads. b5 57...Kf6 58.Kf2 Bh1 59.Kg1 Ke5 60.Kxh1 Kd4 61.Kg2 Kd3 62.Nf1 Kxc4 63.Ne3++- The radical 57...h5 is refuted by 58.gxh5 Kf6 59.Ne4+ Ke5 60.Nxd6 Kxd6 61.h6+- 58.Kf2 Bh1 58...Bh3 59.Kg3+- 59.Kg1 bxc4 60.Kxh1 c3 61.Nb3 Kf6 62.Kg2 Ke5 62...c2 63.Kf3 Kg5 64.Kg3 Kf6 65.Kf4 Kg6 66.Nc1 Kf6 67.Nd3 Kg6 68.Kf3 Kg5 69.Kg3 Kf6 70.Kh4 Kg6 71.Nc1 Kf6 72.Kh5 Kg7 73.g5 hxg5 74.Kxg5 Kf7 75.Kf5 Ke7 76.Kg6+- 63.Kf3 Kxd5 63...b6 64.Ke3 c2 65.Kd2 Kf4 66.Kxc2 Kxg4 67.Nd2 Kf4 68.Nc4 Ke4 69.Nxb6 h5 70.Kd2 h4 71.Ke2+- 64.Ke3 Ke5 64...c2 65.Kd2 b5 65...b6 66.Kxc2 Ke5 67.Nd2 d5 68.a4 Kf4 69.Nf1 Kxg4 70.Ne3+ Kf3 71.Nxd5 h5 72.Nxb6 h4 73.a5 h3 74.a6 h2 75.a7 h1Q 76.a8Q++- 66.Kxc2 Ke4 67.Kc3 Kf4 68.Nd4 Kxg4 69.Nxb5 h5 70.Kd2 After 70.Nxd6? h4 71.Ne4 Black's king will hunt the knight for ever: Kf4 72.Nf2 Kf3 73.Nh3 Kg3 74.Ng5 Kf4= 70...h4 71.Ke2 h3 72.Kf2 Kf4 73.a4 Ke4 74.a5 Kd5 75.Nd4 Kc5 76.Kg3+- 65.a4 b6?! This makes it relativly easy for White. But Black is lost in any case: 65...c2 66.Kd2 66.a5? Kf6 67.Kd2 67.Kf4 Kg6 68.Ke4 Kg5 69.Kf3 Kg6= 67...Kg5 68.Nd4 Kxg4 69.Nb5 h5 70.Nxd6 h4 71.Ne4 h3 72.Nf2+ Kg3 73.Nxh3 Kxh3 74.Kxc2 Kg4 75.Kd3 Kf5 76.Kd4 Ke6 77.Kc5 Kd7 78.Kb6 Kc8= 66...Kf4 67.Na5 Kxg4 68.Nxb7 h5 and now comes the amazing shot 69.Nc5‼ 69.a5? h4 70.a6 70.Nc5 h3 71.Ne4 h2 72.Nf2+ Kf3 73.Nh1 Kg2 74.a6 Kxh1 75.a7 c1Q+ 76.Kxc1 Kg1= 70...h3 71.a7 h2 72.a8Q c1Q+ 73.Kxc1 h1Q+= 69.Nxd6? h4 70.Ne4 Kf4 71.a5 h3 72.a6 h2 73.Nf2 Kf3 74.a7 Kxf2 75.a8Q c1Q+ 76.Kxc1 Kg1= White's king is just outside the winning zone so the position is drawn. 69...dxc5 69...h4 70.Ne4 Kf3 71.Ng5+ Kg4 72.a5 Kxg5 73.a6 h3 74.a7 h2 75.a8Q+- 70.a5 h4 71.a6 h3 72.a7 h2 73.a8Q+- 66.Nd4 Kd5 67.Kd3 Ke5 68.Ne2 Kf6 69.Nxc3 Kg5 69...Ke5 70.Kc4 Kf4 71.Nd5+ Kxg4 72.Nxb6+- 70.Nd5 70.Nd5 and Black resigned as White's a-pawn is too quick: Kxg4 71.Nxb6 h5 72.a5 h4 73.a6 h3 74.a7 h2 75.a8Q+- 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
Zenyuk,I2224Abrahamyan,T23291–02012E99ch-USA w 20123

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.