CBM training: Knight tactics, the umbrella, rook's pawn races

by ChessBase
11/30/2011 – Here, unusually, is a middle-of-the-week training session from our resident endgame expert, who has a very popular section in ChessBase Magazine. Today GM Karsten Müller has picked three games from the recent 18th European Team Championship, one with a female player showing that, when the opponent stumbles, she could win a pawn race. Look, learn and enjoy.
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Knight tactics

In knight endings tactical tricks often play a major role due to their concrete nature:

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1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 e6 6.e3 c5 7.Bxc4 Nc6 8.0-0 Be7 9.dxc5 Qxd1 10.Rxd1 Bxc5 11.Bd2 Ke7 12.Ne1 Ne5 13.Be2 Rd8 14.a5 Bd7 15.f4 Neg4 16.Nc2 Rac8 17.h3 Nh6 18.b4 Bd6 19.g4 Ne8 20.Bf3 Bc6 21.Bxc6 Rxc6 22.Nd4 Rc4 23.a6 Rd7 24.axb7 Rxb7 25.b5 Bc7 26.Nc6+ Kf8 27.Nxa7 f5 28.g5 Nf7 29.Nc6 Nd8 30.Nd4 Bb6 31.Nce2 Nc7 32.Ba5 Bxa5 33.Rxa5 Nf7 34.Raa1 e5 35.fxe5 Nxe5 36.Nf4 g6 37.Rab1 Rb6 38.Kf2 Nf7 39.Rdc1 Rxc1 40.Rxc1 Ne8 41.Nd5 Rd6 42.b6 Nd8 43.Rd1 Nb7 44.Ne2 Kf7 45.h4 Rc6 46.Rc1 Rxc1 47.Nxc1 Ke6 48.Nf4+ Kd6 49.Ncd3 Kc6 50.Ne6 Kd6 51.Ndf4 Ke7 52.Ke2 Ned6 53.Nc7 Nc5 54.Ncd5+ Kf7 55.Kd2 Kg7 56.Kc3 h6 57.Kd4 Nb3+ 58.Ke5 Nf7+ 59.Ke6 hxg5 60.hxg5 Nxg5+ 61.Ke7 Na5 62.Ne6+ Nxe6 63.Kxe6 Nb7 64.Ne7 Na5 65.Nc8 Nb7 66.Nd6 Nc5+ 67.Kd5 Nd7 68.b7 Kf6 69.Nc4 g5 70.Ne5 Nb8 71.Nc6 Na6 72.Kc4 f4 73.Kb5? Caruana rushs and misses the amazing blow 73.exf4 gxf4 74.Kb5 f3 75.Ne5‼ and Black is defenseless: f2 75...Kxe5 76.Kxa6 f2 77.b8Q+ Ke4 78.Qb5+- 75...Nb8 76.Nxf3 Ke6 77.Kb6 Kd6 78.Ka7 Nc6+ 79.Ka8 Kd5 80.Nd2 Kd4 81.Nb3+ Kd5 82.Na5+- 75...Nc7+ 76.Ka5 Kxe5 77.b8Q f2 78.Qxc7+ Ke4 79.Qc4+ Ke3 80.Qf1+- 76.Ng4+ Ke6 77.Nxf2 Nb8 78.Kb6 and White wins according to Fine's rule that a supported passed pawn on the seventh wins, e.g. Kd7 79.Nd3 Kd6 80.Nc5 Nc6 81.Na6 Kd7 82.Nb4 Nb8 83.Ka7 Kc7 84.Nd5++- 73...f3!? 73...fxe3?! 74.Kxa6 e2 75.b8Q e1Q is also drawn but more unpleasant to defend. 74.Kxa6 Now it is too late for 74.Ne5!? due to Nb8 75.Nxf3 g4 76.Nd2 Kf5 77.Nf1 Ke4 78.Kb6 Kf3 79.Kc7 Na6+ 80.Kc8 g3 81.Nxg3 Kxg3 82.b8Q+ Nxb8 83.Kxb8 Kf3= 74...f2 75.b8Q f1Q+ 76.Qb5 Qxb5+ 77.Kxb5 Kf5! The king must come first as 77...g4? is met by 78.Kc4 g3 79.Nd4 g2 80.Ne2+- 78.Nd4+ A draw was agreed as the knight is not able to protect his own pawn and stop Black's pawn at the same time, e.g. 78.Nd4+ Ke4 79.Nc2 g4 80.Kc4 g3 81.Ne1 Kxe3 82.Ng2+= ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Caruana,F2727Bologan,V2665½–½2011D1618th European Teams7.1

The umbrella

The attacking king often has problems to escape from the rain of checks of the defending rook. One typical technique is to lure enemy pawns onto important lines and to use them as shelter:

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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 c5 7.dxc5 d4 8.Qg3 0-0 9.Bh6 Ne8 10.Nf3 Nc6 11.0-0-0 b6 12.e3 bxc5 13.exd4 Rb8 14.Bf4 Rb3 15.Bd3 cxd4 16.Bxh7+ Kxh7 17.Ng5+ Kg8 18.Qxb3 f6 19.Ne4 e5 20.c5+ Kh8 21.Bd2 Nc7 22.Nd6 Be6 23.Qd3 Ne8 24.Qb5 Qd7 25.Kb1 Nc7 26.Qe2 Rb8 27.Ka1 Nb5 28.Rc1 Nxd6 29.cxd6 Qb7 30.b4 Na5 31.Rc7 Qxg2 32.Re1 Nb3+ 33.Kb2 Nxd2 34.Qxd2 Qf3 35.Qc2 d3 36.Qd2 Qd5 37.Ka1 Qxd6 38.Rc5 Qd4+ 39.Qb2 Bb3 40.Rc3 Bc2 41.Rc1 a5 42.R3xc2 dxc2 43.Qxd4 exd4 44.Rxc2 axb4 45.a4 Ra8 46.Kb2 Rxa4 47.Kb3 Ra3+ 48.Kxb4 Rf3 49.Kc4 d3 50.Rd2 Kh7 51.Kd4 Kg6 52.Ke4 Rh3 53.f3 f5+ 54.Ke3 Kg5 55.Rg2+ Kf6 56.Rd2 g5 57.Rf2 Ke5 58.Kxd3 Kf4 59.Ke2 Rh6 60.Kf1 Ke3 61.Rg2 Rh5 62.Ra2 Kxf3 63.Ra3+ Kg4 64.Kg2 Rh8 65.h3+ Kh5 66.Ra5 f4 67.Ra7 Rb8 68.Rh7+ Kg6 69.Ra7 Rb2+ 70.Kg1 Rb3 71.Kg2 Rg3+ 72.Kh2 Re3 73.Kg2 Kf5 74.Ra5+ Re5 75.Ra2 Rd5 76.Rb2 Ra5 77.Rc2 Ke4 78.Re2+ Kd4 79.Rf2 Ke3 80.Rf3+ Ke4 81.Rf2 Ra3 82.Rb2 Rg3+ 83.Kh2 Rd3 84.Rb5 Rd2+ 85.Kg1 Rd5 86.Rb3 Rd1+ 87.Kg2 Rd2+ 88.Kg1 f3 89.Rb8 g4!? 89...Kf4?! 90.Rb4+ Kg3? is refuted by a stalemate trick: 90...Ke3 wins, e.g. 91.Rb3+ Rd3 92.Rxd3+ Kxd3 93.Kf2 Ke4 94.Kf1 Ke3 95.Ke1 f2+ 96.Kf1 Kf3 97.h4 g4-+ 91.Rg4+ Kxh3 92.Rxg5 Rg2+ 93.Kh1! f2 94.Rg3+= 90.Rg8 After 90.h4 Kf4-+ the king hides on g3. 90...Ke3 90...gxh3?! wins as well as the defending king is cut off on the first rank, e.g. 91.Re8+ Kd3 92.Rd8+ Ke2 93.Re8+ Kd1 94.Rf8 h2+ 95.Kh1 Ke2 96.Re8+ 96.Kxh2 Ke1+ 97.Kg3 f2 98.Re8+ Re2 99.Ra8 Re3+ 100.Kh2 f1Q 101.Ra1+ Kf2 102.Ra2+ Re2-+ 96...Kf2 97.Kxh2 Rd7 98.Rh8 Rf7 99.Rh6 Kf1 100.Ra6 f2 101.Ra1+ Ke2 102.Ra2+ Kd3-+ 91.hxg4 91.Rxg4 Rd1+ 92.Kh2 f2 93.Rg3+ Ke4 94.Rg4+ Ke5 95.Rg5+ Kf6-+ 91.Rf8 Rd1+ 92.Kh2 f2 93.Re8+ Kd2 94.Rd8+ Kc2 95.Rc8+ Kb3 96.Rf8 f1Q 97.Rxf1 Rxf1 98.hxg4 Rf3 99.Kg2 Rc3-+ and Black wins no matter where his king is due to the cut off. 91...Kf4 92.Kf1 Kg3 The king hides from the rain of checks behind the umbrella. 93.Ke1 93.Re8 Rd1+ 94.Re1 Rxe1+ 95.Kxe1 Kg2 96.g5 f2+ 97.Kd2 f1Q-+ 93...Re2+!? The zwischenschach is good typical technique. 94.Kd1 94.Kf1 Ra2-+ 94...Re7 94...Re7 95.Rf8 f2 96.Kd2 Re1 97.g5 f1Q 98.Rxf1 Rxf1 99.g6 Rf6 100.g7 Rg6-+ 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
Georgiev,K2666Gyimesi,Z26520–12011E3618th European Teams9.4

Rook's Pawn Races

Pawn endings can be very tricky:

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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Be2 Nf6 6.Nc3 Qc7 7.0-0 Bb4 8.Bg5 Bxc3 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.bxc3 Qxc3 11.f4 Nc6 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Qd6 Qe3+ 14.Rf2 Qb6 15.c4 Rb8 16.c5 Qa7 17.f5 Rb4 18.e5 Qb8 19.fxe6 Qxd6 20.exd6 dxe6 21.Rxf6 0-0 22.Raf1 e5 23.Bf3 Bd7 24.Bh5 Be6 25.Re1 e4 26.Rf4 Rc4 27.Rexe4 Rxc5 28.Bg4 Rd8 29.Bxe6 fxe6 30.Rxe6 Rc1+ 31.Rf1 Rxf1+ 32.Kxf1 Rd7 33.Ke2 Kf7 34.Re7+ Rxe7+ 35.dxe7 Kxe7 36.Kd3 h5 37.Kc4 Kd6 38.g3? Now Black's counterplay is in time. 38.a4!? gains time for the coming races: h4 39.a5 c5 40.g3 h3 41.g4 Ke5 42.Kxc5 Kf4 43.Kd4!? This turn around is neccessary as 43.Kb6? Kxg4 44.Kxa6 Kf3 45.Kb6 Kg2 46.a6 Kxh2 47.a7 Kg1 48.a8Q h2= is only drawn as White's king is outside the winning zone. 43...Kxg4 44.Ke3 White's king has reached a key square. Kf5 45.Kf3 Ke5 46.Kg3 Kd5 46...Ke4 47.Kxh3 Kf3 48.Kh4 Kf4 49.h3 Kf5 50.Kg3 Kg5 51.Kf3+- is a trivial win according to Bähr's rule, as White's pawn a5 has crossed the middle of the board. 47.Kxh3 Kc5 48.Kg4 Kb5 49.h4 Kxa5 50.h5 Kb4 51.h6 a5 52.h7 a4 53.h8Q+- 38...Ke5! 39.h3 Ke4 40.Kc5 Kf3? 40...a5! was forced: 41.Kxc6 After 41.a4 Kf3 42.g4 hxg4 43.hxg4 Kxg4 44.Kxc6 Kf5 Black's king is in time to block the access to the key square b7: 45.Kb5 Ke6 46.Kxa5 Kd7 47.Kb6 Kc8= 41...a4 42.Kb5 a3 43.Kb4 Kf3 44.Kxa3 44.g4 hxg4 45.hxg4 Kxg4 46.Kxa3 Kf5= 44...Kxg3 45.Kb4 Kxh3 46.a4 h4 47.a5 Kg2 48.a6 h3 49.a7 h2 50.a8Q+ Kg1= 41.g4 hxg4 42.hxg4 Kxg4 43.Kxc6 a5 43...Kf5 44.Kb6 Ke6 45.Kxa6 Kd5 46.Kb6 Kc4 47.a4 Kb4 48.a5+- 44.Kb5 44.Kb5 Kf5 45.Kxa5 Ke6 46.Kb6 Kd7 47.Kb7!+- 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
Milliet,S2386Bojkovic,N23961–02011B4318th European Teams w7.4

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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