CBM training: Vancura's Draw, a duel in the mine field

by ChessBase
12/14/2011 – The London Chess Classic is over, so it's back to work and training for us. In his popular ChessBase Magazine section our resident endgame expert GM Karsten Müller presents us with three positions from recent games, demonstrating how important it is to know certain theoretical positions and motifs. Following his instructions is one quick way of improving your practical playing strength.
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Vancura's Famous Draw

In rook endings it is very important to know theoretical positions and motifs. One of them is Vancura's defensive concept:

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1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.Bxc4 Nb6 6.Bb3 Bf5 7.Nc3 e6 8.Nge2 Be7 9.Be3 Nc6 10.0-0 0-0 11.a3 Na5 12.Bc2 Bxc2 13.Qxc2 Nac4 14.Bf4 f6 15.exf6 Bxf6 16.Ne4 Nd6 17.Nc5 Qc8 18.Be5 Nd5 19.Nc3 Nf5 20.Rad1 b6 21.N5e4 c6 22.Bxf6 gxf6 23.Rfe1 Qd7 24.Ng3 Nxg3 25.hxg3 Rae8 26.Re4 Rf7 27.Rde1 Rfe7 28.Qd2 Nxc3 29.bxc3 Qd6 30.Qh6 Rf7 31.a4 c5 32.dxc5 bxc5 33.g4 e5 34.g5 Qd2 35.R4e3 fxg5 36.Qxg5+ Kh8 37.Qg3 Rg7 38.Qf3 Qd6 39.Qh5 Reg8 40.g3 Rg5 41.Qf7 Rf8 42.Rd3 Qh6 43.Qd5 Rgf5 44.Qxc5 Rxf2 45.Qxe5+ Qf6 46.Rd7 Qxe5 47.Rxe5 a6 48.Ree7 Rf1+ 49.Kg2 R8f2+ 50.Kh3 Rh1+ 51.Kg4 Rf8 52.Rd5 Rc8 53.Rd4 Rg8+ 54.Kf3 Rg1 55.g4 Rc8 56.Re3 Rc1 57.Rdd3 Kg8 58.Ke4 Ra1 59.Rd4 Ra3 60.Kf5 Raxc3 61.Rxc3 Rxc3 62.Rd8+ Kg7 63.Rd7+ Kg8 64.Rd6 Kf7 65.Rxa6 Rc5+ 66.Kf4 Rc4+ 67.Kg5 Kg7 68.Ra7+ Kg8 69.a5 Rc5+ 70.Kf6 Rc6+ 71.Ke5 Rc5+ 72.Kd6 Rg5 73.a6 Rxg4? Too greedy. Black must prevent the activation of White's rook: 73...Rg6+! 74.Kc7 After 74.Kc5 h6 75.Ra8+ Kh7 76.a7 Ra6 77.Kb5 Ra1= White's king has no shelter on the queenside. 74.Ke5 h5 75.g5 75.gxh5 Rb6= is one version of Vancura's defense. 75.Kf5 Rb6 76.g5 Rc6= 75...Rb6 76.Kf4 Rg6 76...Rb4+? 77.Kf5 Rb5+ 78.Kg6 Rb6+ 79.Kxh5 Rc6 80.g6 Rc1 81.Rb7+- 77.Ke4 Rc6 78.Kf3 Rc3+ 79.Kf4 Rc4+ 80.Ke5 Rc6 81.Kf5 Rd6 82.g6 82.Kf4 Rg6= 82...h4 83.Kg5 h3 84.Kh6 Rd8= 74...h5 75.Ra8+ 75.gxh5 Rf6!= 75...Kh7! But not 75...Kg7? 76.Kb7+- and Black has no check and goes down. 76.gxh5 Rf6! and Vancura's draw is reached, e.g. 77.Ra7 77.a7 Rf7+ 78.Kb6 Rf6+ 79.Kc5 Rf5+ 80.Kd4 Ra5= 77...Kg7 78.Kb8+ Kg8 79.Kb7 Rf7+ 80.Kc6 Rf6+ 81.Kd5 Rb6 82.Kc5 Rf6 83.Ra8+ Kg7 84.h6+ Kh7! 84...Rxh6? 85.Kb5 Rh5+ 86.Kb6 Rh6+ 87.Kb7 Rh1 88.Rb8+- 85.Kb5 Rf5+ 86.Kc6 Rf6+ 87.Kb7 Rf7+= and White can not make progress as he can not activate his rook. 74.Re7!? The full control of the 7th rank gives White the victory in typical style. 74.Kc7?! is bad technique but wins as well: Rg7+ 75.Kb8 Rg6 76.Ra8 Kg7 77.Kb7! Rg1 78.Rb8 Rb1+ 79.Ka8 Ra1 80.a7 Kg6 81.Rb5! The decisive cut off. h5 82.Kb7 h4 83.Kb6+- 74...Rd4+ 74...Ra4 75.a7 Ra6+ 76.Ke5 Ra5+ 77.Kf6 Ra6+ 78.Re6 Rxa7?! 79.Re8# 74...Rg6+ 75.Re6! Rg7 75...Rg1 76.a7 Ra1 77.Re8+ Kf7 78.a8Q+- 76.Re8+ Kf7 77.Re7+ Kf6 78.Rxg7 Kxg7 79.a7 h5 80.a8Q+- 75.Kc5 Ra4 76.a7 h5 77.Re8+ Kg7 78.a8Q Rxa8 79.Rxa8 Kg6 80.Kd4 Kg5 81.Ke3 Kg4 82.Ke4 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Maiorov,N2558Mirzoev,A24681–02011D20Open A8.10

Deceptive Simplicity

Pawn endings look easy and simple but they are not. Please try to solve the following position yourself first and calculate to the end!

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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Bg5 Nc6 7.Qd2 a6 8.0-0-0 Bd7 9.f4 Qc7 10.f5 Be7 11.fxe6 fxe6 12.Bc4 Nxd4 13.Qxd4 Qc5 14.Qxc5 dxc5 15.e5 Ng4 16.Bxe7 Kxe7 17.Rhe1 Rad8 18.h3 Nh6 19.Bd3 Bc6 20.Be4 Bxe4 21.Nxe4 b6 22.a4 Rd5 23.Nc3 Rxd1+ 24.Rxd1 Rd8 25.Ne4 Rd4 26.Rxd4 cxd4 27.Ng5 Nf5 28.Nf3 h5 29.g4 hxg4 30.hxg4 Ne3 31.g5 Nf5 32.Kd2 Kf7 33.Kd3 Kg6 34.Nxd4 Nxd4 35.Kxd4 Kxg5 36.a5 bxa5 37.c4 Kg6 Deceptive Simplicity Pawn endings look easy and simple but they are not. Please try to solve the following position yourself first and calculate to the end! 38.Ke4? White has two ways to win: He can enter a direct race with 38.c5!? Kf7 39.c6 Ke7 40.Kc5 Kd8 40...g5 41.Kb6 g4 42.c7 Kd7 43.Kb7+- 41.Kd6 g5 42.Kxe6 g4 43.Kd6 g3 44.c7+ Kc8 45.e6 g2 46.e7 g1Q 47.e8Q+ Kb7 48.Qb8# Or he can stop Black's a-pawn in its tracks: 38.b3?! Kf7 39.Ke4 Ke7 40.Kf4 Kd7 41.Kg5 Kc6 42.Kg6 Kc5 43.Kxg7 Kb4 43...a4 44.bxa4 Kxc4 45.Kf6 Kd5 46.a5+- 44.Kf6 Kxb3 45.c5 a4 46.c6 a3 47.c7 a2 48.c8Q a1Q 49.Qxe6+ 49.Kxe6? a5= 49...Kb2 50.Qb6+ Kc2 51.Qc5+ Kb3 52.Qd5+ Kc2 53.Ke7 a5 54.e6 a4 55.Kd7+- 38...Kf7? Black's a-pawn must advance further to win time in the coming race: 38...a4! 39.Kf4 a5 40.c5 Kf7 41.Kg5 Ke7 42.Kg6 Kd7 43.Kxg7 Kc6 44.Kf6 Kxc5 45.Kxe6 Kc4! Bodycheck! 45...Kb4? loses: 46.Kd5! Kb3 47.e6 Kxb2 48.e7 a3 49.e8Q a2 50.Qb5+ Kc2 51.Qxa5+- as White's king is inside the winning zone. 46.Kd6 Kb3 47.e6 Kxb2 48.e7 a3 49.e8Q a2 50.Qe5+ Kb1 51.Qb5+ Kc2 52.Qxa5 Kb2= is only be drawn as White's king is outside the winning zone. 39.Kf4? 39.b3 still wins: Kg6 40.Kf4 But not 40.c5? Kf7= 40...Kf7 41.Kg5 Ke7 42.Kg6+- 39...Ke7? 39...a4 40.Kg5 a5 still draws. 40.Kg5 Kd7 41.Kg6 Kc6 42.Kxg7 Kc5 43.Kf6 Kxc4 44.Kxe6 a4 45.Kf5 Kb3 46.e6 Kxb2 47.e7 a3 48.e8Q a2 The pawn a6 is Black's undoing as it prevents the stalemate defense. 49.Qe2+ Kb1 50.Qd1+ Kb2 51.Qd2+ Kb1 52.Qb4+ Ka1 52...Kc2 53.Qa3 Kb1 54.Qb3+ Ka1 55.Qc2 a5 56.Qc1# 53.Qb3 a5 54.Qc2 54.Qc2 a4 55.Qc1# 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.
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Savitski,A1993Kraus,T21971–02011B67ch-Euro Youth b162.27

Duel in the Mine Field

Simplification into a pawn ending must always be considered carefully:

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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 d5 7.e3 dxc4 8.Bxc4 b6 9.Ne2 Bb7 10.0-0 Nbd7 11.f3 c5 12.e4 Rc8 13.b3 Qc7 14.Bb2 cxd4 15.Qxd4 Rfd8 16.Rac1 Nc5 17.Qe3 Qe7 18.b4 Ncd7 19.Rfd1 h6 20.Bb3 Rxc1 21.Rxc1 Rc8 22.Rxc8+ Bxc8 23.Qc3 Ba6 24.Nf4 Ne8 25.Qc6 Nb8 26.Qc3 Qg5 27.Qe5 Qxe5 28.Bxe5 Nc6 29.Bc3 Nd6 30.a4 Bc4 31.Bd1 a6 32.Kf2 f6 33.h4 Kf7 34.g4 g5 35.Ng2 Bd3 36.Bb3 Bxe4 37.hxg5 hxg5 38.Ne3 Bd3 39.Nd5 Bc4 40.Bxc4 Nxc4 41.Nxf6 Nxb4 42.Ne4 Nd3+ 43.Kg3 Kg6 44.Bf6 Nd2 45.Bd4 Nxe4+ 46.fxe4 b5 47.axb5 axb5 48.Kf3 e5 49.Bb6 b4 50.Ke2 Nb2 51.Bc7 b3 52.Kd2 Nc4+ 53.Kc3 b2 54.Kc2 Kf7 55.Bd8 Nd2 56.Kxb2 Nxe4 57.Kc2 Nf6 58.Kd3 Kg6 Duel in the Mine Field Simplification into a pawn ending must always be considered carefully: 59.Bxf6!? A good practical decision. But 59.Ke3 is playable as well, e.g. Kf7 59...Nxg4+ 60.Ke4= 60.Kd3= Now 60.Bxf6? would be a fatal mistake: Kxf6 61.Kd3 Ke6 62.Kc4 Kd6!-+ 59...Kxf6 60.Kc4! Walking around the first mines: 60.Ke4? Ke6 61.Ke3 Kd5 62.Kd3 e4+ 63.Ke3 Ke5 64.Ke2 Kf4-+ 60.Kc3? Ke6 61.Kc4 Kd6!-+ The counterattack after 60.Ke3? Ke6 60...Ke7!? is even easier: 61.Kd3 Kd6 62.Kc4 Kc6-+ 61.Ke4 Kd6! 62.Kf5 is too slow: Kd5 63.Kxg5 e4 64.Kf4 Kd4 65.g5 e3 66.g6 e2 67.g7 e1Q 68.g8Q Qf2+ 69.Kg5 Qg3+-+ 60...Ke6 61.Kc5! Reciprocal zugzwang with Black to move. Ke7 62.Kd5 Kf6 63.Kc4! Again avoiding the mines: 63.Kc5? Ke6! 64.Kc4 Kd6!-+ 63.Ke4? Ke6!-+ 63...e4 64.Kd4 e3 65.Kxe3 Ke5 66.Kf3 Kd4 Black's king has reached a critical square and wins the g-pawn, but not the game: 67.Kf2 Ke4 68.Ke2 Kf4 69.Kf2 69.Kf2 Kxg4 70.Kg2 White defends the key squares by opposition. Kf4 71.Kf2 g4 72.Kg2 g3 73.Kg1! Kf3 74.Kf1 g2+ 75.Kg1 Kg3 stalemate 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
Kashlinskaya,A2385Muzychuk,M2456½–½2011E3616th ECC w2.1

Karsten Müller in ChessBase Magazine

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