CBM training: Missed turn-around, key diagonal, rampant rook

by ChessBase
11/10/2011 – There is a wonderful endgame section in every issue of ChessBase Magazine, with practical lessons taken from current tournament play. The trainer is GM Karsten Müller, who also gives us a weekly session of topical endgames with detailed instructions on how to handle them. You can study Dr Müller's analysis or download the games for later review. Look, learn and enjoy.
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Missed turn around

Pawn endings are often much more tricky than they look at first sight:

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1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.Ngf3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.exd5 Qxd5 7.Nb5 Na6 8.Nc4 Qxd1+ 9.Kxd1 Bc5 10.Nbd6+ Ke7 11.Nxc8+ Raxc8 12.Be3 Ng4 13.Bxc5+ Rxc5 14.Ke1 Nb4 15.Rc1 b5 16.a3 Nxc2+ 17.Rxc2 bxc4 18.Be2 Ne5 19.f4 Ng6 20.g3 Rhc8 21.Kf2 Kf6 22.Rhc1 e5 23.b4 R5c7 24.Bg4 Rd8 25.Rxc4 Rxc4 26.Rxc4 exf4 27.gxf4 Rd6 28.Bf3 Ra6 29.Bg4 Ne7 30.Rd4 g6 31.Rd3 Rc6 32.b5 Rc4 33.Kf3 Ra4 34.Bd7 Ra5 35.h4 h5 36.Rd6+ Kg7 37.Ra6 Rxa6 38.bxa6 Nf5 39.Bxf5 gxf5 40.Ke3 Kf6 41.Kd4 Ke6 42.Kc5 Kd7 43.Kd5 f6? Opens another road for White. Correct is only 43...Kc7! It seems that Black's king wants to start a counterattack on the queenside. But this is deceptive. 44.Ke5 44.Kc5 is met by Kd7= 44...f6? 45.Kd5 Kb6 46.Ke6+- 44...Kc6 45.Kxf5 Kd5‼ This surprising turn around is the point of Black's defense. 46.Kf6 46.Kg5 Ke4 47.Kxh5 Kxf4 48.Kh6 Kg4 49.h5 Kh4 50.Kg7 Kxh5 51.Kxf7 Kg5 52.Ke6 Kg6 53.Kd7 Kf7 54.Kc7 Ke7 55.Kb7 Kd7 56.Kxa7 Kc7= 46...Ke4 47.Kxf7 After 47.Kg5 Black's king must stick to the white f-pawn: Kf3 48.f5 Ke4 49.f6 Ke5 50.Kxh5 Kxf6 51.Kg4 Kg6= 47.f5 Kf4 48.Kxf7 Kxf5 49.Ke7 Kg4= 47...Kxf4 48.Ke6 Kg4 49.Kd6 Kxh4 50.Kc6 Kg4 51.Kb7 h4 52.Kxa7 h3 53.Kb8 h2 54.a7 h1Q 55.a8Q Qh8+= 44.a4! and White will advance on a key square: Ke7 45.Kc6 Ke6 46.Kb7 Kd7 47.Kxa7 Kc7 48.a5 The decisive spare tempo Kc8 49.Kb6 Kb8 50.Kc6 Ka7 51.Kd6 Kxa6 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Cao,K2120Zatonskih,A25081–02011C07Kings vs Queens Rapid4

The key diagonal

When the bishop does not control the queening square of a rook's pawn often great care is required:

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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 0-0 8.Bb3 d6 9.f3 Bd7 10.Qd2 Rc8 11.0-0-0 Ne5 12.Kb1 Nc4 13.Bxc4 Rxc4 14.g4 b5 15.b3 b4 16.bxc4 bxc3 17.Qxc3 Qc7 18.h4 Rb8+ 19.Kc1 Ba4 20.h5 Nd7 21.hxg6 hxg6 22.Rd2 Nb6 23.Rdh2 Qxc4 24.Qxc4 Nxc4 25.Bg1 Be5 26.Nb3 Bf4+ 27.Kd1 Bxh2 28.Rxh2 a5 29.Nd2 Na3 30.Nb3 Nc4 31.Nd2 Na3 32.Nb3 e5 33.Be3 Nc4 34.Bd2 Ra8 35.Kc1 Bb5 36.Bg5 Kg7 37.Nd2 f6 38.Bh4 Nb6 39.g5 f5 40.Bf2 Na4 41.exf5 gxf5 42.Rh6 Ra6 43.f4 Nc3 44.fxe5 dxe5 45.Rxa6 Ne2+ 46.Kd1 Bxa6 47.Nf3 e4 48.Nd4 Nxd4 49.Bxd4+ Kg6 50.Be3 Kh5 51.Ke1 Kg4 52.Kf2 a4 53.a3 f4 54.Bd2 Kxg5 55.Bc1 Kf5 56.Bd2 Bb5 57.Bc1 Bc4 58.Bd2 Bg8 59.Bc1 Bf7 60.Ke2 Bc4+ 61.Kf2 Ba2 62.Bd2 Bb1 63.c4 Ba2 64.c5 Bd5 65.Bc1 Bc6 66.Bd2 Ke5 67.Ke2 Bb5+ 68.Kf2 Bd7!? The bishop must help in the fight against White's king to prevent it from reaching the saving a1 corner. 68...e3+? violates the important endgame principle do not rush: 69.Bxe3 fxe3+ 70.Kxe3 Kd5 71.Kd2 Kc4 72.Kc2 Kxc5 73.Kb2 Kc4 74.Kb1 Kb3 75.Ka1 Kxa3 76.Kb1 Kb3 77.Ka1 a3 78.Kb1 Bd3+ 79.Ka1= It seems to be unfair, but Black simply cannot win as he can not force White's king out of the saving corner a1. 69.Bc1 After 69.c6 Bxc6 Black's conntected passed pawns decide the day: 70.Bc3+ Kd5 71.Bf6 Ke6 72.Bd4 Be8 73.Bb6 73.Ba7 Kd5 74.Bb8 e3+ 75.Kf3 Bh5+ 76.Kxf4 e2-+ 73...Ke5 74.Bc7+ Kf5 75.Bb6 Bg6 76.Ke2 e3 77.Bxe3 fxe3 78.Kxe3 Ke5 79.Kd2 Kd4 80.Kc1 Kc3-+ 69...e3+ 70.Bxe3 70.Kf3 Bc6+ 71.Kg4 Ke4-+ 70...fxe3+ 71.Kxe3 Bf5! The diagonal b1-h7 plays a key role to cut White's king off. 72.Kd2 72.c6 Kd5 73.Kf4 Bc8 74.Ke3 Kc4 75.Kd2 Kb3 76.Kc1 Bf5 77.c7 Ka2-+ 72...Kd4 73.c6 73.Kc1 Kc3 74.c6 Kb3 75.c7 Ka2-+ 73...Kc4 74.c7 Kb3 75.Kc1 Ka2! The final zugzwang. The greedy 75...Kxa3?? would allow White's king to reach the corner: 76.c8Q Bxc8 77.Kb1= 75...Ka2 76.Kd2 Kxa3 77.Kc3 Ka2 78.Kb4 a3-+ 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Ten Hertog,H2318Kanarek,M24440–12011B78European Youth Championship B189.2

The rampant rook

With only very few pieces left stalemate is a powerful weapon of the defender. Especially a lone rook can deliver seemingly endless series of checks:

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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.b3 d6 4.Bb2 Nc6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.0-0 Nf6 7.Re1 Be7 8.d4 cxd4 9.Nxd4 0-0 10.Nxc6 Bxc6 11.Bxc6 bxc6 12.Nd2 d5 13.c4 a5 14.Qf3 a4 15.Rad1 axb3 16.axb3 Ra2 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.exd5 cxd5 19.cxd5 exd5 20.Nf1 d4 21.Ng3 g6 22.Re2 Ra3 23.Red2 Qb6 24.Rd3 Re8 25.Ne4 Bg7 26.g3 h6 27.Nd2 Qe6 28.Qf4 g5 29.Qf3 g4 30.Qf4 Qe2 31.Nc4 Rxb3 32.Qd2 Qxd2 33.R3xd2 Re6 34.Nb2 Reb6 35.Nd3 Rb1 36.Kg2 R1b3 37.Kg1 Rb1 38.Kg2 Kh7 39.h3 h5 40.Nf4 Kh6 41.Ne2 Rxd1 42.Rxd1 gxh3+ 43.Kxh3 Rb2 44.Nxd4 Rxf2 45.Rd3 Kg6 46.Nf3 Kf5 47.Nh4+ Ke4 48.Rb3 Bd4 49.Ra3 f5 50.Rb3 Bc5 51.Rc3 Bd6 52.Rb3 Rc2 53.Ng6 Bc5 54.Nh4 Rc1 55.Kg2 Rg1+ 56.Kh2 Rf1 57.Kg2 Rf2+ 58.Kh3 Be7 59.Ng6 Bg5 60.Nh4 f4 61.gxf4 Bxf4 62.Ng2 Bd6 63.Re3+ Kf5 64.Nh4+ Kg5 65.Nf3+ Kf4 66.Rc3 Ra2 67.Rb3 Bc5 68.Rc3 Be3 69.Nh2 Ke4 70.Rb3 Bf4 71.Nf3 Ra8 72.Rc3 Be3 73.Nh2 Rg8 74.Ra3 Bf4 75.Ra4+ Kf5 76.Ra5+ Be5 77.Ra3 Rg1 78.Rb3 Rh1 79.Rf3+ Ke4 80.Rf2 Bf4 81.Ra2 Kf5 82.Rg2 Ra1 83.Rf2 Ke4 84.Kg2 Be3 85.Rb2 Rg1+ 86.Kh3 Bf4 87.Rb3 Rh1 88.Rb2 h4 89.Ra2 Kf5 90.Rg2 Bg3 91.Rc2 Bf4 92.Rg2 Ra1 93.Rf2 Ra3+ 94.Rf3 Ra2 95.Ng4 Ra1 96.Nh2 Rg1 97.Rb3 Be5 98.Ra3 Rh1 99.Ra2 Kg5 100.Rc2 Kh5 101.Ra2 Rg1 102.Rg2 Rb1 103.Rf2 Bg3 104.Ra2 Rb3 105.Kg2 Bc7 106.Nf1 h3+ 107.Kh1 Rf3 108.Nh2 Rc3 109.Ra1 Rc2 110.Nf1 Bf4 111.Rb1 Kg4 112.Ra1 Rb2 113.Rd1 Kf3 114.Ra1 Kf2 115.Rd1 Rb8 116.Nh2 Rg8 117.Ra1 Rg2 118.Ra2+ Kg3 119.Nf1+ Kf3 120.Ra3+ Kf2 121.Ra2+ Kxf1 122.Ra1+ Ke2 123.Ra2+? The resulting pawnless ending with rook and bishop against rook is won as White's king is confined in the corner. After 123.Re1+ Black can not escape the wild rook: Kd3 123...Kf3 124.Rf1+ Kg3 125.Rf3+ Kg4 126.Rxf4+= 124.Re3+ After 124.Rd1+?! Bd2 125.Rg1 Re2 126.Rg3+ Be3 127.Rxh3 White has the unpleasant task to defend this ending. 124...Kd2 124...Kd4 125.Re4+= 125.Rd3+ Ke2 125...Kc1 126.Rc3+ Rc2 127.Rxc2+ Kxc2 is of course also drawn due to the wrong rook's pawn. 126.Re3+ Kd1 127.Re1+= 123...Kf3 124.Ra3+ Kg4 125.Rxh3 White has nothing better, as rook + bishop + wrong rook's pawn against rook is usually won. The checks have come to an end as 125.Rg3+?! runs into Rxg3-+ 125...Re2! 126.Rb3 Be3 127.Rb8?! Allows Black to take a short cut. After 127.Rb2!? the full winning technique must be demonstrated: Re1+ 128.Kg2 Rg1+ 129.Kh2 Kf3 130.Kh3 Rg8 131.Rb4 Rg7 Zugzwang 132.Ra4 Rg1 133.Ra2 Bc1 Philidor manover 134.Rc2 The rook must come fataly close. Bf4 135.Rc3+ Be3 136.Rc2 Rg3+ 137.Kh2 137.Kh4 Rg6-+ As White's rook can not move to the 5th rank. 137...Rg5 138.Kh1 Rd5 139.Ra2 Rd1+ 140.Kh2 Bf4+ 141.Kh3 Rh1+ 142.Rh2 Rxh2# 127...Kf3 128.Rb1 128.Rf8+ Bf4 129.Rg8 Re5 130.Rg7 Rh5+ 131.Kg1 Be3+ 132.Kf1 Rh1+ 133.Rg1 Rxg1# 128...Kg3 128...Kg3 129.Rb2 Re1# 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
Kulovana,E2297Danielian,E25070–12011B5018th European Teams w1.1

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.

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