CBM training: The hiding place, long march, and breakthrough

by ChessBase
12/22/2011 – Sounds a bit like the Chinese Revolution, doesn't it? But actually it is a new set of chess positions by our endgame expert Dr Karsten Müller, who provides us with instructions in his popular ChessBase Magazine section. You can get a sample of it on our news page, replaying and downloading his analyses. It will do wonders for your practical playing strength.
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The hiding place

In a rook ending the attacking king often has problems to find shelter from the rook checks. Creating an umbrella is one technique, often the attacking rook can help and sometimes hiding places are available:

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1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 Ngf6 11.Bf4 Qa5+ 12.Bd2 Qc7 13.0-0-0 e6 14.Ne4 0-0-0 15.g3 Nc5 16.Nxc5 Bxc5 17.Rh4 Bd6 18.Qe2 Rhe8 19.c4 Qe7 20.Ba5 Bc7 21.Bc3 Rd7 22.a3 Nh7 23.Bb4 Qd8 24.Rhh1 f6 25.Qe4 Ng5 26.Nxg5 fxg5 27.Qg6 a5 28.Bc3 Rde7 29.d5 exd5 30.cxd5 cxd5 31.Qf5+ Qd7 32.Rxd5 Qxf5 33.Rxf5 b6 34.Rd1 Be5 35.Bxe5 Rxe5 36.Rxe5 Rxe5 37.Rd6 Kc7 38.Rg6 Re7 39.Kd2 Kb7 40.a4 Rf7 41.Ke3 Ka6 42.f4 gxf4+ 43.gxf4 Rf5 44.Rxg7 Rxh5 45.Ke4 Rh2 46.f5 Rxb2 47.f6 Rf2 48.Ke5 Re2+ 49.Kd6 Rf2 50.f7 b5 The hiding place In a rook ending the attacking king often has problems to find shelter from the rook checks. Creating an umbrella is one technique, often the attacking rook can help and sometimes hiding places are available: 51.Ke7? After 51.Ke5! White's king will finally hide on b8: Re2+ 51...bxa4 52.Rg6+ Kb5 53.Rf6 Rxf6 54.Kxf6 a3 55.f8Q a2 56.Qa3+- 52.Kd5 Rd2+ 52...Rf2 53.Rg6+ Kb7 54.Ke6 Rxf7 55.Kxf7 bxa4 56.Ke6+- transposes to the game. 53.Kc6 Rc2+ 54.Kd7 Rd2+ 55.Kc8 Rc2+ 56.Kb8 The king has arrived and Black is defenseless. In a way the pawn b5 acts as umbrella shielding White's king from the rain of checks. Rf2 57.Rg6+ Rf6 58.Rxf6# 51.axb5+? Kxb5 52.Ke7 a4= 51...Re2+? Loses an all important tempo. Public enemy number one had to be eliminated at once: 51...Rxf7+! 52.Rxf7 bxa4 53.Kd6 Kb5 54.Kd5 a3! 54...Kb4? 55.Kd4 Kb3 56.Kd3 a3 57.Rb7++- 55.Kd4 a2 56.Rf1 Kb4 57.Kd3 Kb3 58.Rh1 Kb2 59.Rh2+ Kb3 60.Rh1= After 51...bxa4? 52.Rg6+ Kb5 53.Rf6 Re2+ White's king will hide on the queenside in the shadow of Black's king: 54.Kd7 Rd2+ 55.Kc7 Rc2+ 56.Kb7+- 52.Kd8 Rf2 53.Rg6+! The decisive zwischenschach. Kb7 54.Ke7 Rxf7+ 54...bxa4 55.Rf6 Re2+ 56.Kd6 Rd2+ 57.Kc5 Rd8 58.f8Q Rxf8 59.Rxf8 a3 60.Rf3 a2 61.Ra3+- After 54...Re2+ the rook can be used as shield: 55.Re6+- 55.Kxf7 bxa4 56.Ke6 Kc6 57.Ke5+ Kc5 58.Ke4 Kc4 58...a3 59.Kd3 a2 60.Rg1 Kb4 61.Kc2 Ka3 62.Rh1 h5 63.Rh3+ Kb4 64.Kb2+- 59.Rc6+ Kb3 60.Kd3 Bodycheck a3 60...Kb2 61.Rb6+ Kc1 62.Rxh6 a3 63.Rh2 Kb1 64.Kc3 a2?! 65.Rh1# 61.Rb6+! Ka2 61...Ka4 62.Kc2 h5 63.Rh6 a2 64.Kb2+- 62.Kc2 a4 63.Rxh6 63.Rxh6 Ka1 64.Rh3 Ka2 64...a2 65.Rh1# 65.Rg3 Ka1 66.Rxa3# 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Bulmaga,I2304Foisor,C24161–02011B19ROU-Superliga Wom5.3

The long march

If in the opposite colored bishop endgame the two passed pawns are seperated by three files then the attacker usually wins:

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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 b6 7.Bg5 Bb7 8.e3 d6 9.Ne2 Nbd7 10.Qd3 h6 11.Bh4 e5 12.Nc3 Qe8 13.0-0-0 a6 14.Qc2 Rc8 15.Kb1 Qe6 16.Be2 Bxg2 17.Rhg1 Qh3 18.Bg3 e4 19.Nd5 Nxd5 20.cxd5 b5 21.a4 Nb6 22.axb5 axb5 23.Bxb5 Bf3 24.Rc1 Nxd5 25.Qb3 Qh5 26.Bc6 Ne7 27.Bb7 Qa5 28.Bxc8 Rxc8 29.Qc3 Qb6 30.Qc4 Rb8 31.Rc2 Ra8 32.Rc3 Rb8 33.Rc2 Ra8 34.Rc3 Rb8 35.Rc2 Rb7 36.Qa4 Kh7 37.Qc4 Bh5 38.Rgc1 Qa5 39.Qa2 Qxa2+ 40.Kxa2 Nd5 41.Kb1 f5 42.h4 Be8 43.Rd2 g5 44.hxg5 hxg5 45.Rg1 Kh6 46.Kc1 Ra7 47.Kb1 f4 48.Bh2 fxe3 49.fxe3 Nxe3 50.Re2 Nf5 51.Rxe4 Bg6 52.Kc1 Ra4 53.Kd2 Nxd4 54.Re3 Bf5 55.Bg3 Rb4 56.Rge1 Kg6 57.Kc1 Nb3+ 58.Rxb3 Rxb3 59.Bf2 g4 60.Re3 Rxe3 61.Bxe3 g3 62.Bf4 g2 63.Bh2 Be6 64.Kd2 Kf5 65.Ke3 Bb3 66.Kf2 Bd5 67.Ke3 Ke6 68.b4 c5 69.bxc5 dxc5 70.Kd3 Kd7 71.Bg1 Kc6 72.Bf2 Kb5 73.Kc3 Bb7 74.Bg1 Kc6 75.Bf2 Kd5 76.Bg1 Ba6 77.Bf2 The long march If in the opposite colored bishop endgame the two passed pawns are seperated by 3 files then the attacker usually wins: Kc6! The king starts the march with a step backwards. 77...c4?? closes the door: 78.Bg1 Kc6 79.Kb4 Kd5 80.Kc3 Ke4 81.Kd2 Kf3 82.Ba7 Kg3 83.Bg1= 78.Bg1 Kb5 79.Bf2 Bc8 80.Be3 Be6 81.Bf2 c4 82.Be3 Ka4 83.Bc5 Bf7 Zugzwang 84.Bf2 84.Kb2 Kb5 85.Bg1 Kb4 86.Bd4 c3+ Overloading the bishop 87.Bxc3+ Kc4-+ 84...Ka3 85.Be3 Ka2 86.Kc2 Bg6+ 87.Kc3 Bd3 88.Bf2 Kb1 89.Be3 Bf1 Zugzwang 90.Bg1 90.Kd2 Kb2 91.Bd4+ Kb3 92.Kc1 c3 93.Kb1 c2+ 94.Kc1 Bd3 95.Kd2 Bg6 96.Kc1 Kc4 97.Bg1 Kd3-+ 90...Kc1 91.Bf2 Kd1 92.Kd4 Bd3 92...Bd3 93.Kc3 93.Ke3 c3 94.Kxd3 c2 95.Be3 g1Q 96.Bxg1 c1Q-+ 93...Ke2 94.Bc5 Kf1 95.Bd4 g1Q 96.Bxg1 Kxg1-+ 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.
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Oms Pallisse,J2493Salgado Lopez,I26140–12011E32Magistral Casino Barcelona8

The breakthrough

At first sight the following pawn ending looks dead drawn. But looks can be deceptive:

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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Nbd2 0-0 5.a3 Bxd2+ 6.Bxd2 Ne4 7.g3 Nxd2 8.Qxd2 d6 9.Bg2 Qe7 10.0-0 e5 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.Qe3 Re8 13.b4 a5 14.c5 Bd7 15.Rab1 axb4 16.axb4 Bb5 17.Ng5 Bc6 18.Ne4 Nd7 19.Rfd1 Red8 20.Qf3 h6 21.h4 Kh8 22.Qg4 Nf6 23.Nxf6 Qxf6 24.Bxc6 Qxc6 25.Qf5 f6 26.g4 Qe8 27.Kg2 Kg8 28.e3 Rxd1 29.Rxd1 Rd8 30.Rxd8 Qxd8 31.Qe6+ Kh7 32.b5 Qd3 33.b6 cxb6 34.cxb6 Qe4+ 35.Kg3 Qh1 36.Qf5+ Kg8 37.Qe6+ Kf8 38.h5 Qg1+ 39.Kf3 Qh1+ 40.Ke2 Qe4 41.Qc8+ Kf7 42.Qc7+ Kg8 43.Qd7 Qc4+ 44.Kf3 Qf1 45.Qd5+ Kh8 46.Kg3 Qg1+ 47.Qg2 Qxg2+ 48.Kxg2 Kg8 49.Kf3 Kf7 50.Ke4 Ke6 51.f3 Ke7 52.Kf5 Kf7 53.e4 Ke7 54.Kg6 Kf8 The breakthrough At first sight the following pawn ending looks dead drawn. But looks can be deceptive: 55.g5‼ 55.Kh7? Kf7 56.Kh8 Kf8= and 55.Kf5 Kf7 56.f4 exf4 57.Kxf4 Ke6 58.Kf3 Ke5 59.Ke3= are indeed dead drawn. 55...fxg5?! 55...hxg5!? is more complicated: 56.h6 The breakthrough continues. gxh6 56...Kg8 57.hxg7 g4 58.fxg4 f5 59.exf5 e4 60.f6 e3 61.f7# 57.Kxf6 Ke8 58.Kg6! Of course not 58.Kxe5? h5 59.Kf5 h4 60.Kg4 Ke7 61.f4 gxf4 62.Kxh4 Kd6 63.Kg4 Kc5 64.Kxf4 Kxb6= 58...Kd7 58...Ke7 59.Kxh6 Kf6 60.Kh5+- 59.Kxh6 Kc6 60.Kxg5 Kxb6 61.Kf5 Kc5 62.Kxe5 b5 63.Kf4!? Good technique! 63.f4?! b4 64.f5 b3 65.f6 b2 66.f7 b1Q 67.f8Q+ Kc4 68.Qd6 mates in 52 moves according to the tablebase. 63...Kd4 63...b4 64.Ke3 Kc4 65.Kd2+- 64.e5 Kd5 65.Kf5 b4 66.e6 Kd6 66...b3 67.e7 b2 68.e8Q b1Q+ 69.Qe4++- 67.Kf6 b3 68.e7 b2 69.e8Q b1Q 70.Qe7+ Kd5 71.Qe5+ Kc6 72.Qe4++- 56.Kf5 Kf7 57.Kxe5 g6 57...Ke7 does not help either: 58.Kf5 Kf7 59.e5 Ke7 60.Kg6 Ke6 61.Kxg7 Kxe5 62.Kxh6 Kf6 63.Kh7 Kf7 64.h6+- 58.hxg6+ Kxg6 59.Kd6 Kf7 59...h5 60.e5 h4 61.e6 h3 62.e7 Kf7 63.Kd7 h2 64.e8Q++- 60.e5 60.e5 Ke8 61.Kc7 h5 62.Kxb7 h4 63.Kc7 h3 64.b7 h2 65.b8Q++- 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
Chatalbashev,B2566Tratar,M24771–02011E1120th TCh-CRO 1b2.3

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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