Counterplay

by Karsten Müller
10/8/2024 – In the diagram position it is Black to move and he fights for survival as White's far advanced e-pawn is very dangerous. However, Black has a way to draw. What would you do?
Let endgame expert Dr Karsten Müller show and explain the finesses of the world champions. Although they had different styles each and every one of them played the endgame exceptionally well, so take the opportunity to enjoy and learn from some of the best endgames in the history of chess.
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
1.e41,180,95054%2421---
1.d4956,91055%2434---
1.Nf3285,50956%2441---
1.c4184,27056%2442---
1.g319,85756%2427---
1.b314,56954%2428---
1.f45,94648%2377---
1.Nc33,89750%2383---
1.b41,78848%2379---
1.a31,24754%2406---
1.e31,08049%2409---
1.d396550%2378---
1.g467046%2361---
1.h446554%2381---
1.c343851%2425---
1.h328956%2420---
1.a411860%2461---
1.f310047%2427---
1.Nh39267%2511---
1.Na34762%2476---
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Bg2 0-0 7.0-0 c6 8.Qc2 Nbd7 9.Rd1 a5 10.Bf4 b6 11.Nbd2 Nh5 12.Be5 Ba6 13.e4 Rc8 14.Rac1 Bb7 15.Qb3 f6 16.Bf4 f5 17.exd5 Nxf4 18.gxf4 cxd5 19.Ne5 Bb4 20.Nxd7 Qxd7 21.cxd5 Bxd5 22.Bxd5 Qxd5 23.Qxd5 exd5 24.Nf3 Kf7 25.Kg2 Ke6 26.a4 Bd6 27.Re1+ Kd7 28.Ne5+ Bxe5 29.fxe5 Ke6 30.b3 g5 31.f4 gxf4 32.Kf3 Rg8 33.Rg1 Rxg1 34.Rxc8 Kd7 35.Rb8 Kc7 36.Rh8 Rf1+ 37.Ke2 Rb1 38.Rxh7+ Kc6 39.Rh6+ Kc7 40.Rh7+ Kc6 41.h4 Rb2+ 42.Kf3 Rxb3+ 43.Kxf4 Rb4 44.h5 Rxd4+ 45.Kxf5 Rd1 46.e6 d4 47.Rd7 Rf1+ 48.Kg6 Rg1+ 49.Kf7 Rf1+ 50.Ke8 Rh1 51.e7 Rxh5 52.Rxd4 Counterplay In the diagram position it is Black to move and he fights for survival as White's far advanced e-pawn is very dangerous. However, Black has a way to draw. What would you do?
Black to move and draw
Show Solution
  • 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
Praggnanandhaa R2749Gukesh D2766½–½2024E11GCT 11th Sinquefield Cup 20243.1

Karsten Mueller 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.

 Order now in the ChessBase Shop  – Single issue € 21.90!

ChessBase Magazine trial subscription with 33% savings advantage and thank you bonus!*

Try out ChessBase Magazine now! Order the ChessBase Magazine taster package!
Read ChessBase Magazine for 6 months (= 3 issues) for the special price of only € 44.90 € (instead of € 65,70 for buying them individually). As a thank you, you will also receive 3 months ChessBase Premium Membership free of charge. 

*Bonus for new subscribers only, i.e. there was no CBM subscription for 12 months!

ChessBase Magazine one year subscription - plus original ChessBase USB stick with 128 GB *

Save twice with ChessBase Magazine: For the annual subscription to ChessBase Magazine you’ll pay only € 109.90 per year (compared to € 131.40 for the 6 individual issues).

* Bonus only for new subscribers, i.e. there was no CBM subscription for 12 months! As a new subscriber you will receive the original ChessBase USB stick with 128 GB

Apart from his regular columns and video lectures in ChessBase Magazine there is a whole series of training DVDs by Karsten Mueller, which are bestsellers in the ChessBase Shop.

Karsten Mueller

Karsten Mueller regularly presents endgame lessons in the ChessBase Video Portal

Links

Karsten Müller is considered to be one of the greatest endgame experts in the world. His books on the endgame - among them "Fundamentals of Chess Endings", co-authored with Frank Lamprecht, that helped to improve Magnus Carlsen's endgame knowledge - and his endgame columns for the ChessCafe website and the ChessBase Magazine helped to establish and to confirm this reputation. Karsten's Fritztrainer DVDs on the endgame are bestsellers. The mathematician with a PhD lives in Hamburg, and for more than 25 years he has been scoring points for the Hamburger Schachklub (HSK) in the Bundesliga.

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.