CBM training: L'Ami's Lasso, Brynell's Burners, Timman's Timing

by ChessBase
11/2/2012 – The games of today's lesson by our ChessBase Magazine columnist GM Karsten Müller have been taken from the 16th Unive Open in Hoogeveen, Holland. The first is the final round decider, in which Erwin L'Ami with black defeated tournament leader Friso Nijboer in a knight ending that was probably defensible. It is very instructive to see how L'Ami roped in the enemy steed. 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.

L'Ami's Lasso at the Unive Open 2012

The final round of the open tournament was extremely exciting. Frizo Nijboer was on 7.0/8, a full point ahead of four Dutch GMs: Erwin L'Ami, Sipke Ernst, Robin van Kampen and Jan Timman, with 6.0/8 points each. Three of them drew their games after long fights. The fourth pursuer, Erwin L'Ami, produced an epic battle in which he finally ground down Nijboer with the black pieces.


The knight endgame in Frizo Nijboer vs Erwin L'Ami reaches epic intensity, before...


... Erwin wins it and joins Frizo in first place

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Nd7 6.0-0 Ne7 7.Nbd2 Nc8 8.a4 Be7 9.a5 0-0 10.Nb3 a6 11.Bf4 Na7 12.c3 Rc8 13.h3 c5 14.Nxc5 Nxc5 15.dxc5 Bxc5 16.b4 Be7 17.Be3 Nc6 18.Bb6 Qd7 19.b5 Nb8 20.Qb3 Bc5 21.Nd4 Bg6 22.f4 Bxb6 23.axb6 a5 24.Bg4 Qe7 25.Kh1 Bd3 26.Rfd1 Be4 27.Qa3 Qh4 28.Qc1 Nd7 29.Rxa5 Nxb6 30.Ra7 Rc7 31.Qe3 Nc4 32.Qe1 Qxe1+ 33.Rxe1 Re8 34.Bf3 Bxf3 35.Nxf3 Rec8 36.Nd4 Kf8 37.Re2 Ke7 38.g4 Nb6 39.Kg2 Rd7 40.Re3 Rc4 41.f5 Ra4 42.Rxa4 Nxa4 43.Rf3 Rc7 44.fxe6 fxe6 45.Rf8 Kxf8 46.Nxe6+ Ke7 47.Nxc7 L'Ami's Lasso In knight endings it is often a good strategy to dominate the enemy knight: Nxc3? This lets White's knight escape. There was speculation that 47...Nb6! wins the knight. At first L'Ami had doubted that this wins the game due to 48.Kf3 Kd7 49.Na6 bxa6 50.bxa6 Ke6 51.a7 I can add the line 51.Kf4 Nc8 52.c4 dxc4 53.Ke4 c3 54.Kd3 Kxe5 55.Kxc3 g5 56.Kd3 h6 57.Kc3 Kd6 58.Kd3 Kc7 59.Kd4 Kc6 60.Ke5 Ne7 61.a7 Kb7 62.Kf6 Nd5+ 63.Kg6 Nf4+ 64.Kxh6 Nxh3-+ 51...Kxe5 52.h4 But the next morning he found the amazing Kd6 53.Kf4 Kc6 54.Ke5 Kb7 55.Ke6 Kxa7 56.h5 g6 57.h6 Nc4 58.Kf6 Ne3 59.g5 Nf5-+ which wins and send his findings to ChessVibes. A very deep and instructive line by Erwin L'Ami! 48.b6 d4 49.Kf2 g5 50.Ke1 Na4 51.Kd2 Nxb6 52.Kd3 Kd7 53.Nb5 Kc6 54.Nxd4+ Kd5 55.e6 Nc8 56.Nf3 h6 57.h4 gxh4 58.Nxh4 Ne7 59.Nf3 Ng6 59...Kxe6 also does not win, e.g. 60.Kd4 Nc6+ 61.Ke4 b5 62.Nh4 Ne7 63.Nf3 Kd6 64.Ne5 Kc5 65.Nf7 Ng8 66.g5 hxg5 67.Nxg5= 60.Nd4 Ne5+ 61.Ke3 Nc4+ 62.Kd3 Ne5+ 63.Ke3 Nxg4+ 64.Kf4 Nf6 65.Kf5 Ne8 66.Nc2 Ng7+ 67.Kf6? 67.Kg6! Nxe6 68.Na3‼ Kc5 69.Kxh6 Kb4 70.Nb1 defends according to the endgame tablebase. 67...Nxe6 68.Ne3+ Ke4! 69.Nf5 Nd4? L'Ami misses the amazing 69...b5‼ 70.Kxe6 70.Nd6+ Kf4 71.Nxb5 h5 72.Kxe6 h4 73.Nd4 h3 74.Ne2+ Kg4-+ 70...b4 71.Nd6+ Kf4-+ This geometrical domination might be called knight check shadow (in German Springerschachschatten). 70.Nd6+ Kf4 71.Kg6 b6 72.Kh5 Nf5 73.Nb5 Ke4 74.Kg6 Ke5 75.Na3 Kf4 76.Kh5! Ke4 77.Kg6? A knight on the rim is often dim, so 77.Nb5! was called for. The Black can't win, e.g. Kd3 78.Kg6 Kc4 79.Nc7 Nd6 80.Kxh6 Kc5 81.Kg5 Kc6 82.Ne6= 77...Nd6! L'Ami lassos the steed. 78.Kxh6 78.Nc2 does not help, e.g. Kd3 79.Nb4+ Kc4 80.Nc6 Kc5 81.Na7 Nf7-+ and White's knight a7 is dominated in the knight check shadow. 78...Kd3! A real nightmare for Nijboer's knight! 78...Kd3! 79.Kg6 79.Nb1 Kc2 80.Na3+ Kb2-+ 79...Kc3 80.Kf6 Kb2 81.Ke6 Kxa3 82.Kxd6 b5 83.Kc5 b4-+ 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
Nijboer,F2525L'Ami,E26310–12012B1216th Unive Open9

Brynell's Burners

When the bishop does not control the corner square of a rook's pawn often difficult problems arise:
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.d4 e6 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.e4 d5 6.e5 Ne4 7.Bd3 c5 8.Nge2 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Nd7 10.Bf4 Qh4 11.g3 Qh5 12.cxd5 exd5 13.0-0 Nxc3 14.bxc3 Bc5 15.Rfe1 f6 16.Qb3 Nb6 17.a4 Bh3 18.a5 Bxd4 19.cxd4 Nc4 20.Bxc4 dxc4 21.Qxc4+ Kh8 22.Ra3 fxe5 23.Bxe5 Qf5 24.f4 Rac8 25.Qd3 Qxd3 26.Rxd3 Rc2 27.g4 Bg2 28.d5 Kg8 29.Rb1 Rfc8 30.Rb2 Rxb2 31.Bxb2 Be4 32.Rd4 Bf3 33.h3 Kf7 34.Ba3 Rd8 35.d6 Bc6 36.Bc5 Ke6 37.f5+ Kd7 38.Bxa7 Re8 39.Kf2 Re5 40.Bb6 h5 41.Kg3 hxg4 42.hxg4 Rd5 43.Rxd5 Bxd5 44.Kf4 Kxd6 45.Kg5 Bf3 46.Bd4 g6 47.f6 Ke6 48.Kxg6 Bxg4 Brynell's Burners When the bishop does not control the corner square of a rook's pawn often difficult problems arise: 49.f7? This violates the endgame principle do not rush. Alexander Baburin gives the way to win in Chess Today 4372: 49.Bb6‼ Bh5+ 50.Kxh5 Kxf6 51.Kg4! Ke6 52.Kf4 Kd7 53.Ke5 Kc8 54.Ba7! Kd7 55.Kd4 Kc6 56.Bb6 Kd6 57.Kc4 Kc6 58.Kb4 Kd7 59.Kc5 Kc8 60.Ba7 Kc7 61.Kb5 Kd7 62.Be3+- and Black loses as his king can't get into the corner a8. 49...Bh5+! Brynell's first burner, which destroys White's f-pawn. 50.Kxh5 Kxf7 51.Kg5 Ke6 52.Kf4 Kd7 53.Ke4 Kc7! Only this way to keep both options open. 53...Kc8? 54.Be5+- and 53...Kc6? 54.Bb6+- lose. 54.Be5+ Kc6! 55.Bd4 Kc7 56.Be5+ Kc6 57.Bd4 Kc7 58.Ba7 b6!? Brynell's second burner, which burns White's advantage completely as now known fortresses will arise. 58...b5 is playable as well. 59.a6 59.axb6+ Kb7 60.Kd5 Ka8 is also an old and well known book draw. 59...Kc6 60.Bb8 b5 61.a7 61.a7 Kb7 62.Kd5 Ka8= 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
L'Ami,A2376Brynell,S2500½–½2012E3216th Unive Open5

Timman's Timing

Pure bishop endings have a large drawish tendency:
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.g4 h6 7.h3 a6 8.Bg2 Nc6 9.0-0 Be7 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.e5 Nd5 12.exd6 Qxd6 13.Ne4 Qc7 14.c4 Nf6 15.Nxf6+ Bxf6 16.Qf3 Bb7 17.Bf4 Be5 18.Bxe5 Qxe5 19.Rfe1 Qc7 20.c5 0-0 21.Rad1 Rfd8 22.Qa3 Rxd1 23.Rxd1 Rd8 24.Rd6 Kf8 25.Qb4 Rd7 26.Qd4 Rxd6 27.cxd6 Qd7 28.b4 Ke8 29.a4 Kd8 30.Qxg7 Qxd6 31.Qxf7 Qxb4 32.Qxe6 Qf4 33.Qe3 Qxe3 34.fxe3 Kc7 35.h4 Bc8 36.g5 hxg5 37.hxg5 a5 38.Kf2 Kd6 39.Ke2 Be6 40.Kd2 c5 41.Be4 Ke5 42.Bc2 Bd5 43.Kc3 Be6 44.Bd3 Bd5 45.Bc4 Bc6 46.Bb5 Bd5 47.Bc4 Bc6 48.Bb3 Bd7 49.Bc2 Be6 50.Kd2 Bd5 51.Ke2 Be6 52.Kd1 Bd5 53.Kc1 Be6 54.Kd1 Bc4 55.Ke1 Be6 56.Kf2 Timman's Timing Pure bishop endings have a large drawish tendency: Bf5!? The position is drawn anyway, but this activation is strong as Timman's timing is just right: 57.Bxf5 57.e4 is met by Bh7 Of course not 57...Bxe4?? 58.Bxe4 Kxe4 59.g6 c4 60.g7 c3 61.g8Q c2 62.Qg6++- 58.Kf3 c4 59.Ke3 Bg6= and White can't make any progress. 57...Kxf5 58.Kf3 Kxg5 59.Ke4 Kg4! However, not 59...c4? 60.Kd4 Kf5 61.Kxc4 Ke4 62.Kb5 Kxe3 63.Kxa5 Kd4 64.Kb6+- 60.Kd5 Kf3 61.Kxc5 61.e4 c4= 61...Kxe3 62.Kb5 Kd4 63.Kxa5 Kc5 Timman's king is just in time. 64.Ka6 Kc6 65.a5 65.a5 Kc7 66.Ka7 Kc8 67.Kb6 Kb8= 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
Van Kampen,R2570Timman,J2578½–½2012B8116th Unive Open9

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.