Endgame Riddle Fischer vs Spassky, Game 10: Spassky could have drawn!

by Karsten Müller
2/14/2022 – In 1972, the World Championship match between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky in Reykjavik made headlines all over the world, and during and after the match the games were analysed in detail. One of the highlights of the match was game 10, in which Fischer won a difficult endgame after getting the advantage in a complicated middlegame. 50 years after the match Karsten Müller invited the ChessBase readers to take another look at this classic. Here is what the readers found. | Photo: Skáksamband Íslands – Icelandic Chess Federation
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The idea to take a closer look at this famous game and at this famous endgame goes back to Alex Fishbein. Since the Fischer – Spassky match in Reykjavik 1972 this game has been analysed extensively and by a variety of commentators, of which Garry Kasparov in "My Great Predecessors IV: Fischer" (2004) and Jan Timman in "The art of Chess Analysis" (1997) might be the most prominent. However, modern engines throw a different light on the game.

One finding is that Fischer missed the best moves on move 39 and 40, just before the time-control at move 40. He should have played 39.g4!+- and 40.g4!+- to start immediate play on the kingside.

Wolfram Schoen sums up the conclusions of the analyses:

Previous analyses of this game are not always correct. In fact, until move 38 Spassky had a viable position. However, after a series of five consecutive errors (two by Fischer, three by Spassky), which were pointed out by Charles Sullivan in 2018, Black’s position was lost.

  • 38...h5? (38...Be5 = or 38...Ra6 =)
  • 39.Rb6? (39.g4! +-)
  • 39...Rd1? (39...Kf5! =)
  • 40.Kf3? (40.g4! +-)
  • 40...Kf7? (40...Rd3+! =)

Earlier in the game both players made several inaccuracies in the complicated middlegame, and for half a century Spassky has erroneously been accused of bad play.

  • 26.Bb3?! (Objectively harmless. 26.b6 and 26.bxa6! are more dangerous.)
  • 29...Re7 (Not the big/decisive mistake. At least as good as 29...Rad8, if not a bit better.)
  • 32...Bxe4 (Ok, but not forced and the start of Black's practical problems. 32...c4 holds, but 32...b4!, which almost equalises, is even better.)
  • 35...Ra1+ (Ok, but the second reason for Black's trouble. 35...Bd6! holds more comfortably. However, Larsen's 35...b4?, which was considered an improvement/last saving chance, seems to lead to a lost position.)
 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Nb8 10.d4 Nbd7 11.Nbd2 Bb7 12.Bc2 Re8 13.b4 Bf8 14.a4 Nb6 15.a5 Nbd7 16.Bb2 Qb8 17.Rb1 c5 18.bxc5 dxc5 19.dxe5 Nxe5 20.Nxe5 Qxe5 21.c4 Qf4
This lively middlegame position has arisen from a Spanish opening, Breyer line, followed by some pawn exchanges in the centre. No material imbalance, alas the pawn structure is asymmetric. Almost all pieces are quite active already. Black's Bf8 is more a guardian of his king, but with perspecitves for later. White's Nd2 is a bit problematic, as in this moment Black is ready to play Ra8-d8 exerting some pressure along the open d-file. For the same reason the white Qd1 isn't optimal, somehow she is waiting to make a powerful first move. Black's b5 is weak, in fact considering the x-ray effect of White's Rb1, White can try to win this pawn. On the other hand, White's a5 is isolated and might become a real weakness, in case Black's a6 disappears one way or the other. White can claim some superiority in central control and especially the e4 is the only central pawn. Because he is not blocked, the pushes e4-e5 and possibly e5-e6 are quite dangerous. Opening diagonals for the white bishops, driving away Black's pieces and perhaps starting an attack via the f7. White's biggest asset: He is to move first. Overall White has a slight advantage, but it is mostly of a dynamic nature. He is now to choose in which direction the game is going. 22.Bxf6 White separats from his strong bishop in order to gain the b5. Although the evaluation of several candidate moves is very close, I think this is the best one. 22.cxb5?! Not good. But often analysing inferior moves helps a lot to increase the understanding of a position and its elements. Rad8! 23.Bc1 axb5 24.Rxb5?! 24.Qe2 c4= 24...Nxe4 So White can't win a pawn by starting with 22.cxb5. In fact, the initiative swings to Black. 25.Bxe4 Bxe4 26.Rb6 Qc7 22.g3 Kicking the black queen to an inferior post. Qh6 23.Bxf6 Qxf6 24.cxb5 This is similar to the game. The insertion of g2-g3 is not very helplful for White and causes an unnecessary weakening of his kingside. Rad8= 22.e5 The most dynamic attempt. But it is too early, as White's initiative will fizzle out very quickly. Rad8 23.exf6 Rxe1+ 24.Qxe1 Qxd2 25.fxg7 Qxe1+ 26.Rxe1 Bxg7 27.Bxg7 Kxg7 28.Re7 Ba8= Completely equal. 22.Re3
This is an interesting move. Besides a possible Re3-f3, it blocks the diagonal f4-d2 and it is thus a preparation for Qd1-e2. But Black has a tricky antidote. 22...Nxe4! There is a bit more in this move than 4 attackers vs 3 defenders of the e4. 22...Bxe4 works the same 23.Nxe4 Bxe4 24.Bxe4 Rxe4 25.g3! Now this queen kicker is a good tactical move, preparing an unpleasant pin for the black Re4. Qf5 26.Qd3 Rae8 27.f3 bxc4 28.Qc2 Looks deadly, but Black has seen beyond this. Rxe3 29.Qxf5 c3! This innocent pawn will win White's bishop, so Black gets rook + bishop + pawn for the queen. Enough to hold the balance. 30.Bxc3 30.Ba3 Re1+ 31.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 32.Kg2 Ra1= 30...Rxc3 31.Rb7 Re7 32.Rxe7 Bxe7 33.Qc8+ Bf8 34.Qxa6 White has regained the pawn. However the mutual passed pawns a5 and c5 will level out each other. Thereafter Black has no problems at all. Ra3 34...c4 35.Qc8 Ra3 36.a6 c3= 35.f4 c4 36.Qxc4 Rxa5= 22.Qe2
The main alternative to the move from the game. Basic opening strategy: development of all the pieces. 22...Rad8 23.Rbd1 bxc4 24.e5 Relieves the defenders of the e4, Nd2xc4 is now possible. c3! Black has his own ideas and uses the doomed pawn to improve his knight. 25.Bxc3 Nd5 26.Ba1 Nb4 27.Bb1 Nc6 Black is ok. The following might be seen as an illustration. 28.Be4 Sacrificing the a5 to keep a small initiative. 28.Ne4 Nd4 29.Bxd4 Rxd4 30.Rxd4 cxd4 31.Qd3 g6= 28.Nf3 Rxd1 29.Rxd1 Nb4= 28...Nxa5 28...Nd4 29.Bxd4 Bxe4 30.Be3 Qxe5 31.Nxe4 Rxd1 32.Rxd1 Qxe4 33.Qxa6 Qa4 34.Rd5 29.Bxb7 Nxb7 30.Ne4 Qh6 30...Rxd1 31.Qxd1 Rd8 32.Qa4 Qf5 33.Qxa6 Rd7 34.Bb2 31.Bc3 c4!? 32.Qxc4 Qe6= 22...Qxf6 23.cxb5 So now it is up to Black. He is down a pawn and can either go for dynamic compensation or try to simplify matters. Red8?! Removing this rook from the central e-file and thus faciliating the white pawn advance e4-e5 is quite dangerous. 23...Rad8
In some moments the effect of this rook on the a-file will be missed and this line is not without some trouble for Black as well. Alas, it is more solid than the game continuation. 24.bxa6 In connection with the next move, the critical test for Black. 24.Ba4 Re6 25.Qc2 25.bxa6 Bxa6 26.Qc1 Qf4 27.Re3 Qc7= 25...Qf4 26.Re2 26.Re3 c4! Enabling Bf8-c5 and giving Black the initiative. So White shouldn't mind to enter the following spectacular drawing line. 27.bxa6 Bxa6 28.Nxc4 Rc8 29.Rf3 Qh4 30.Bd7 Rxc4 31.Bxe6 Rxc2 32.Rxf7 g5 33.Rf4+ Kg7 34.Rf7+ Kg8= 26...Rg6 27.bxa6 Bxa6 28.Bb5 Bxb5 29.Rxb5 Qg5= 24.b6 Another try to make use of the resource Bc2-a4, attacking the Re8. Qc3 25.Re2 c4 26.Ba4 Re5 27.Qc2 Qxc2 28.Bxc2 Rxa5 29.Nxc4 Rc5 30.Bb3 g6= 24...Bxa6 25.Qc1! Qf4 25...Qc3 26.Nf3 Qxa5 27.e5 Here White has some small chances by playing against Black's kingside. 26.Nf1 Qxc1 27.Rexc1 c4 The pair of bishops, both rooks on central files and reduced pawn mass. It looks like Black is about to equalise, but White can reignite his initiative. The formerly vulnerable knight on d2 will turn into a real force. 28.Ne3 Rd2 29.Ba4 29.Rb6 Ra8 30.Rd1 Rxd1+ 31.Bxd1 Bc5 32.Rc6 Bb4 33.Nxc4 Bxc4 34.Rxc4 Bxa5= As White can't force the pressure on f7 with both his pieces. 29...Re5 30.Bc6 The most lively option. With others White can claim a mini advantage. 30.Rxc4 Rxa5 31.Bc6 g6 30.Nd5 Rxe4 31.Bc6 Re6 32.Rb6 Bc8 33.a6 Ra2 34.Bb7 Rxb6 35.Nxb6 Be6 36.Nxc4 30...Rxa5 31.Bd5 Raa2 If both sides dare to attack the king, some fun is guaranteed. 32.Rb8 Rxf2 33.e5 g6 34.Ng4 Rf4 35.g3 Rd4 36.e6 Kg7! Preventing e6-e7 and making Bf8-c5 possible. 37.Rf1! Rxg4! 38.Rxf7+ Kh6 39.hxg4 Bc5+ 40.Kh1 Ra1+ 41.Kg2 c3! Urgently needed counterplay against White's passed e-pawn. 42.Rc7 Bd6 43.e7 Re1 44.e8Q Rxe8 45.Rxe8 Bxc7= Since Black's c-pawn survives, the worst should be over for him. 23...axb5
Sometimes the most simple is the best. No rook to d8 at all. In my mind the shortest way to bring the position into balance for Black. 24.Rxb5 Ba6 25.e5 Returning the extra pawn for a new initiative. Otherwise the weakness of the a5 is the problem for White to get anything out of the position. 25.Rb6?! Qc3! 26.Nf3 Qxa5= 25.Rb1 c4 26.Nf3 Qd8 27.e5 Qxd1 28.Rexd1 c3= 25...Rxe5 26.Rb6 Thanks to the pawn sacrifice the black queen can't head for c3 now. Qe7 26...Rxe1+ 27.Qxe1 Qd8 28.Be4 Ra7 29.Nf3 Rd7 30.Bxh7+! Kxh7 31.Qe4+ Kg8 32.Rxa6 Not much, but at least a little bit. 27.Ne4 This looks like a set-up for an attack and the black Re5 might feel a bit uncomfortable now. But Black has some options to deal with it. 27.Rxe5 Qxe5 28.Nf3 Qe7 29.Qd5 Rd8 30.Qe5 Rd6= 27...h6 27...Bc8 28.f4 Re6 29.Rxe6 Bxe6 30.Ng5 g6 31.Nxe6 fxe6 32.f5 gxf5 33.Bxf5 Rxa5 34.Bxe6+ Kh8= 28.Qg4 28.f4 Re6 29.Rxe6 Qxe6 30.Ng5 Qf6 31.Be4 Ra7 32.Nh7 Qd4+ 33.Qxd4 cxd4 34.Nxf8 Kxf8= 28.Qf3 Bb7 29.Rxb7 Qxb7 30.Nf6+ gxf6 31.Qxb7 Rxe1+ 32.Kh2 Rxa5 33.Bb3 Re7= 28...Bc8 29.Qg3 Kh8 30.f4 Re6 31.f5 Rxb6 32.axb6 c4! 33.f6 gxf6 34.Rd1 Ra2 35.Qc7 Rxc2 36.Qxc8 Rxg2+ 37.Kxg2 Qxe4+= 24.Qc1?! Too lame in this case. Of course White has to deal with the pin of the Nd2, but he has more attractive alternatives available. 24.e5
After Black's last move an obvious option. The right idea, but not yet in the best version. 24...Qg5! This only makes sense, because the black Bb7 is still pointing to g2. 25.Nf3 Here the knight solves the problem of the pin himself, but f3 isn't the way he wants to go. Qh6! 26.Qe2 axb5 Black is ok. White can try to sacrifice an exchange, but I don't see a realistic way to gain an advantage. 27.Rxb5 27.Bf5 Qf4 28.Bg4 Bxf3 29.Bxf3 Rxa5 30.e6 Ra7 31.Qxb5 fxe6= 27.e6 fxe6 28.Rxb5 Ba6 29.g3 Bxb5 30.Qxb5 Rab8= 27...Ba6 28.Reb1 28.e6 fxe6 see 27.e6 28...Bxb5 Alternatively Black can just decline the offer. But going for the upcoming complications produces some interesting play. 29.Rxb5 Rab8 30.Rxb8 Rxb8 31.g3 White would like to combine the outside a-pawn with an attack on the light squares f7 and h7. c4! Closing the diagonal e2-a6 and going for some counterplay. 32.h4 32.Qxc4 Qc1+ 33.Kg2 Rb1 34.g4 g6 35.a6 Ra1= 32...Qc6 33.Be4 33.Ng5 g6 34.e6 fxe6 35.Be4 Qd6 36.Qf3 Qe7 37.Nxe6 Rb3= 33...Qb5 34.Ng5 Be7! 35.a6!? Nice trick, trying to remove Black's queen from the protection of the Rb8. Bxg5 35...Qxa6? 36.Qh5+- 36.a7 Be7 37.Qxc4 Qxe5 38.Bxh7+ Kf8 39.axb8Q+ Qxb8= After the fireworks are over, White can claim a symbolic advantage, but that's it. 24.bxa6
This will deflect one of the black pieces to a6. 24...Bxa6 24...Qxa6?! 25.Bb3! With the black queen so absent from the defence of her king, White can go for the f7. Qxa5 26.Bxf7+ Creating a promising 4 vs 2 pawn constellation on the kingside. Kh8 27.Rxb7 Rxd2 Bees of Opps and some initiative for Black. So he might be able to keep the damage within limits. 28.Qf3 Bd6 29.Bc4 Rb2 30.Rxb2 Qxe1+ 31.Bf1 Rf8 32.Qd3 Be5 33.Re2 Qa1 34.Qd5 Qd4 But it is not far away from a clear advantage. 25.e5! The improved version of the line starting with 24.e5. Now Black is without the resource of a mating threat on g2. White's initiative will be really unpleasant, especially with regard to the new posibility Nd2-e4. Qf4 25...Qh6?! 26.Re3! A key move, combining activity with solving the pin of the Nd2. c4 27.Qf3 Preparation for an upcoming exchange sacrifice. Bc5 28.Ne4! Bxe3 29.fxe3 In this position I don't see a way for Black to equalise short- or mid-term. E.g.: Rab8 29...Ra7 30.Rb6 Qh4 31.g3 Qe7 32.Nf6+! Kf8 33.Nxh7+ Kg8 34.Nf6+ Kf8 35.Qh5 Qa3 36.Kf2!± 30.Rxb8 Rxb8 31.Qg3 Ra8 31...Rd8 32.Ng5 g6 33.e6 fxe6 34.Nf7 Qf8 35.Nxd8 Qxd8 36.Qe5± 32.Nd6 Qh5 33.Nf5 g6 34.Ne7+ Kf8 35.Qf4 Bb5 36.Nd5 Re8 37.Qd4 Qxe5 38.Qc5+ Kg7 39.Qxb5 Rd8 40.e4 Qa1+ 41.Kf2 Ra8 42.Qxc4 Rxa5 43.Ke2± Black should be able to hold this, but he has to demonstrate some defence. 26.Re3
26...Qd4! Playing with a centralized queen looks more like the way to handle the problems. 26...c4? This time this thematic idea doesn't work and runs into a clockwork-like attack from White. 27.Qe1! Bc5 28.Nf3! Bxe3 29.fxe3 Qh6 30.Rb6! g6 31.Be4 c3 32.e6 fxe6 33.Qxc3 Ra7 34.Rxe6 Qg7 35.Qc5 Kh8 36.Qg5 Rf8 37.Ne5+- 27.e6 Opting for the initiative. Meaning, in the next moves Black has to solve some practical problems, before White has to settle with some insignificant advantage. 27.Ne4 Qxd1+ 28.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 29.Bxd1 Rb8 30.Be2 c4 Because of his pair of bishops, Black has always some compensation for the pawn. 31.Rc3 Bb4 32.Rc2 Rc8 33.Rc1 Rc6 34.Rb1 Bxa5 35.Rb8+ Rc8 36.Rxc8+ Bxc8 37.Bxc4 Long-term advantage, but nothing serious. 27...Ra7! The safest. 27...Qxd2? 28.Bxh7+ Kh8 29.Qh5+- 27...fxe6 28.Qh5 g6 29.Bxg6 hxg6 30.Qxg6+ Qg7 31.Qxe6+ Qf7 32.Qc6 White is close to a clear advantage, but not more. So Black can find a way to reduce the advantage in this open position, like: Bg7 33.Rg3 Ra7 34.Ne4 Re7 35.Qxa6 Rxe4 36.Qc6 Re6 37.Qxc5 Kh8 28.exf7+ Rxf7 29.Ne4 Qxd1+ 30.Bxd1 Even after the swap of queens, White's pressure on the light squares is present. In principle Black should try to go for some simplifications. A sample line: Rb7 31.Bb3+ Kh8 32.Rc1 h6 33.Bc4 Bxc4 34.Rxc4 Rb4 35.Rc1 c4 36.Ra1 Ra8 37.Rc3 g6 38.Ra2 Bg7 39.Rc1 Rb5 40.a6 Rb6 41.a7 Rb7 42.Rxc4 Rbxa7 With a fairly harmless configuration to defend for Black. 24...Qc3?! Highly inaccurate. As so often, the basic idea is valid, in this case to capture the a5 with the queen. However the concrete execution is flawed. Instead, Black has two ways to equalise fairly soon. 24...Qf4
The best of all spots for Black's queen in this moment, intending a swap of this major piece. 25.Nf3 At this moment White can't find a good square for his knight. 25.Nc4? A nice post, but it runs into a dynamic disaster. Qxc1 26.Rexc1 axb5 27.Rxb5 Ba6 28.Ba4 Rd4! The point. Black doesn't accept the exchange. The Ba6 paralyses three of White's pieces, a fatal knot. 29.f3 Rad8 Maybe even winning already. 25.Nf1 Similar to the text move, but in addition Black can ease his situation by exchanging another minor piece. Qxc1 26.Rexc1 axb5 27.Rxb5 Ba6 28.Rb6 Bxf1 29.Kxf1 Rxa5 30.Bb3 Ra7= 25.bxa6 Bxa6 26.Nf3 Qxc1 27.Rexc1 c4 This is almost the same as in the main line. Here White's rook is on b1, instead of b6, a very small difference in this case. 25...Qxc1 26.Rexc1 axb5 27.Rxb5 Ba6 28.Rb6 c4! Black is already ok, as we have seen in similar positions before. Piece activity vs extra pawn. For example: 29.e5 Bc5 30.Rc6 Rdc8 31.Rxc8+ Rxc8 32.Rd1 h6 33.Bf5 Re8 34.Rd5 Bb4 35.Nd4 c3 36.Nc2 Bf8= 24...axb5
Like a move before, this is a good idea here as well. The slight changes in the configuration of the pieces prefer Black more than White. It was played shortly after the match in Vasyukov-Smejkal, Polanica Zdroj 1972. 25.Rxb5 Ba6 26.Rb6 26.Rb1 Qf4 Now the situation is almost identical to the last side line, starting with 24...Qf4. 27.Nf3 Qxc1 28.Rexc1 c4= 26...Qc3 Here both queen moves are fine. 26...Qf4 27.Nf3 Qxc1 28.Rxc1 c4! transposes to the main line after 24...Qf4 27.Nf3 27.Nb3?! Trying to defend the prey, but here is a small improvement over Smejkal's play: Qe5! 28.Nd2 c4 with tempo 29.Nf3 Qxa5 30.Rb1 Bb4 For once it is White, who would like to neutralise the opposing initiative. 27...Qxa5 The same queen manoeuvre as in the main game. The big difference is, that now the Rb6 is under attack. Instead of acting, White has to react. 28.Rb1 Bd3 29.Bxd3 Rxd3= 25.Nf3 Keeping the tension on the queenside is indeed the more promising move. 25.bxa6 Bxa6 26.Nf3
With the insertion of the exchange on a6 White has lost some options. 26...c4! We have seen this resource several times before. It closes the diagonal b3-f7 for the white bishop, while opening the diagonal f8-a3 for Black's dark-squared bishop. Please also have a look at the side line 25.Nf3 c4 for comparison. 27.e5 g6 For sure White can unfold some initiative and in some lines he will recieve an extra pawn. But all in all Black can keep his disadvantage within limits. E.g.: 28.e6 28.Be4 Qxc1 29.Rexc1 Ra7= 28.Re3 Qxa5 29.e6 fxe6 30.Rxe6 Qc3 31.Re3 Qf6 32.h4 28...fxe6 29.Rxe6 29.Bf5 The more solid alternative. Qxc1 30.Bxe6+ Kg7 31.Rexc1 Bc8! 32.Rb6 Rxa5 33.Rxc4 Rc5 34.Rxc5 Bxc5 35.Rc6 Bxe6 36.Rxc5 However, as before Black's task isn't very difficult anymore. 29...Ba3 Not forced, but some interesting variations are about to come. 30.Qh6 Qxc2 31.Rbb6 Qc1+ Black had better be a spoilsport before things get out of hand. 31...Rd7?! 32.Rxg6+ hxg6 33.Rxg6+ Qxg6 34.Qxg6+ Rg7 35.Qe6+ Kh8 36.Ng5 c3 37.Qh6+ Kg8 38.Qc6 Bb7 39.Qc4+ Kh8 40.Qxc3 Rc8± A wild position. While a white win seems to be unlikely, Black has no pawns, so his pieces don't have supported points. Hence piece coordination will be a constant job for him. 32.Qxc1 Bxc1 33.Rxa6 Rxa6 34.Rxa6 Rd1+ 35.Kh2 c3 36.Rc6 Bd2 37.a6 Ra1 38.Nd4 Ra4 39.Ne2 Ra2= A tiny advantage for White, but it is almost nothing. 25...Qxa5?! Consistent, but that creates big problems. 25...c4?!
In this moment this by now typical countermove is quite problematic. Somewhat better than the move from the game, but hard times await Black. 26.e5 Due to the discovered threat on Black's queen, White can suddenly play this with tempo. 26.bxa6 Bxa6 transposes back to 25.bxa6 Bxa6 26.Nf3 26.b6 Qxa5 transposes to the future side line 25...Qxa5 26.b6 c4 26...g6 27.b6 Since White refrained from 25.bxa6, he can now create this strong passed pawn. Black has turned down three opportunities to eliminate this pawn by a6xb5, which he may regret now. Bxf3 Black should definitely take the chance to demolish the white kingside pawn formation. 27...Ba3? 28.Qe3 Qxe3 29.Rxe3 Bc5 30.Re2 c3 31.Ng5 Rd2 32.Rxd2 cxd2 White has an extra pawn on e5 and his passed b-pawn is more outside than Black's d2. I think White is probably winning, if he stays away from going to Bees of Opps in the next move. For instance: 33.Be4 Rb8 34.Bxb7 Rxb7 35.Ne4 Bb4 36.Nd6 Rb8 37.Nc4 Rc8 38.b7 Rb8 39.Kf1 Rxb7 40.Nxd2 Rb5 41.Nc4 Kf8 42.Ke2 Ke7 43.f4 Ke6 44.Kf3 f6 45.Ke4 fxe5 46.fxe5 Ke7 47.Rb3 Ke6 48.g4+- Not all work is done, but all of White's pieces look so dominating. 28.gxf3 28.Re3 Qxa5 29.Rxf3 Rab8 30.Qf4 Qd5 28...Rab8 28...Rd2? 29.Be4 Qd4 30.Re3 Bh6 31.Bxa8 Bxe3 32.fxe3 Qxe3+ 33.Kh1 c3 34.Be4 Qf2 35.Qg1 Qh4 36.Qg2! Rxg2 37.Kxg2 Qg5+ 38.Kf1! Qxe5 39.b7 Qb8 40.Rb3 Kg7 41.Rxc3 Qd6 42.Rc2+- Should be winning, although some technical questions remain. 29.e6 In this case this opens the way for the white bishop to c8. In support of the passed b-pawn, soon coming to b7. fxe6 30.Bf5 Qxa5 31.Bxe6+ Kh8 32.b7 c3! Once more the counterplay based on this passer and the open white kingside allow Black to stay in the game. All in all, he should be able to hold, albeit with a lot of effort. For instance: 33.Re2 33.Re4 Qa3 34.Bc8 Rdxc8 35.bxc8Q Qxc1+ 36.Rxc1 Rxc8 37.Ra4 Winning the a6, but Black gains time to organise his pieces. Bd6 38.Rxa6 Bf4 39.Rc2 Rc7 40.Kg2 Bd2= 33...Be7 34.Re4 Bf6 35.Rc4 Qe5 36.Bc8 Rd2 37.Qa3 Bg7 38.Rf1 c2 39.Qxa6 Qg5+ 40.Kh1 c1Q! Deflects one of the white rooks to unsettle the white king even more. 41.Rcxc1 Qf4 42.Rc4 Qxf3+ 43.Kg1 Bd4 44.Rxd4 Rxd4 45.Qa1 Qf6 46.Re1 Kg7 47.Re7+ Qxe7 48.Qxd4+ Kg8 49.Qd5+ Kg7= Still somewhat unpleasant for Black. White could try to bring in his king, however Black has enough resources. In the very worst case he can rely on the bishop's wrong corner for the white h-pawn. 25...axb5!
As before, simple is the best. Relatively best, I should say, as it doesn't solve all of Black's problems, but most of them. 26.Rxb5 26.e5 g6 27.Rxb5 Bxf3 28.Rb3 Qd2 29.Rxf3 c4= 26...Bc6! But here Black has to find this new resource. The point will become clear two moves later. 26...Ba6? 27.Re3! This tempo move demonstrates one of the downsides of 24... Qc3. Qf6 28.Rb6 Qe7 29.e5+- Extra pawn plus attack and no black counterplay. 27.Re3 27.Rb6 Ba4! 28.Bxa4 Qxa5 29.Qb1 Qxa4= 27...Qc4 28.Rb1 Ba4! Reducing White's attacking potential is the only way. 28...Rxa5? 29.Ne5 Qe6 30.Nxf7! Qxf7 31.Bb3 c4 32.Rf3! Ba3 33.Qc3 Qc7 34.Qxc4+ Kh8 35.Rf7 With a very strong attack, e.g.: Qd6 36.Qc3 Rg5 37.Rd1 Rxg2+ 38.Kxg2 Qg6+ 39.Qg3 Bxe4+ 40.Kh2 Qxg3+ 41.Kxg3 Rxd1 42.Bxd1 Bd6+ 43.Kh4 h6 44.Rd7+- Black has still problems with the light squares. So despite the reduced pawn mass this could be a white win. 29.Bxa4 Qxa4 30.Ra1 After the exchange of the light-squared bishops, White's a5-pawn is suddenly a notable force. Qb5 31.Qa3 There are several lines like this. In the end White will come out with 4 vs 3 pawns, but all on the same side. 31.Rea3 In principle White should try to keep his a-pawn. However supporting the a-pawn, controlling the opposing c-pawn and handling knight vs bishop is probably too much. So I suspect White's litte advantage will fizzle out this way at some point. c4 32.Ra4 Rdc8 33.a6 c3 31...c4 32.Qa4 Qa6 33.Rc3 Rac8 34.Rac1 Rc5 35.Rxc4 Rxa5 White can claim a long-term advantage, but this offers little winning chances. 26.Bb3?! The comeback of the Spanish bishop to b3 for the attack on f7. We have seen its power in the line 24.bxa6 Qxa6 25.Bb3, for example. At this very moment it is almost a mistake, it loses a large part of the advantage. Because Black has more than one defence at his disposal. Above all, White has at least one clearly better alternative. 26.Ng5?!
Another not harmless way to attack on the light squares. Alas, this has the same problem as the move from the game, viz a superior candidate move. 26...axb5 27.e5 g6 28.Nxf7! Anything else makes little sense. Kxf7 28...Rd4 Possible, if Black doesn't mind to run into a real attack. 29.Nd6 Bc6 30.Bf5! gxf5 31.Qg5+ Bg7 32.Nxf5 Qc7! 33.e6 Kh8 34.e7 Be5! 35.Nh6 Bg7 36.Qxc5 Rc4! 37.Nf7+ Kg8 38.Qh5 Re8! 39.Ng5 Rxe7 40.Qxh7+ Kf8 41.Qg6 Rc5 42.Rxe7 Qxe7 43.Ne6+ Kg8 44.Nxc5 Qxc5 45.h4 With great effort Black has survived the assault. The following is more a demo version, to show the mutual possibilities in this interesting constellation. Bd7 46.Rd1 Qe7 47.Qd6 Qxd6 48.Rxd6 Be8 49.Rb6 Bf8 50.Rb8 Bd7 51.h5 b4 52.h6 Bf5 53.g4 Bc2 54.g5 b3 55.f4 Kh7 56.Rb7+ Kg8 57.Kf2 Ba3 58.g6 Bxg6 59.Rxb3= 29.e6+ Kg8 30.e7 Re8 31.exf8Q+ Howsoever Black recaptures, the safety of his king will remain a problem for some time. So White can at least gain both black pawns on the queenside. Kxf8 31...Rxf8 32.Re5 Qa6 33.Qg5 Rae8 34.Rxc5 Re2 35.Bb3+ Kh8 36.Rf1 32.Rxe8+ Rxe8 33.Bd3 c4 34.Qf4+ Kg8 35.Rxb5! Qe1+ 36.Bf1 Be4 37.Rb8 Bd3 38.Rxe8+ Qxe8 39.Bxd3 cxd3 40.Qc4+ Kg7 41.Qxd3 But a queen ending, 3 vs 2 same side, is fairly harmless for the defender. 26.b6
This is an attractive idea. White prevents the liquidation of his last queenside pawn. So he can play with the two options of the passed b-pawn and the attack on f7 or h7. Even tough Black is not in the danger of losing, he will have to struggle strongly. 26...c4! 27.Qf4 Qc3! A key defensive move, the black queen has to rush back to the kingside. 27...Bb4? But not this. It presents White a free ticket for his attack. 28.Re2! Qxb6 29.Ng5 f6 30.Nxh7!+- 28.Re2 28.Rec1 Qf6! 29.Qc7 Rab8 30.e5 Qh6 31.Rd1 Bxf3! Black's counterattack holds the balance. 32.Rxd8 Qg5 33.Rxf8+ Rxf8 34.g3 Qh5 35.Kh2 Bd5! 36.g4 Qg5 37.Rd1 Qf4+ 38.Kg1 Qf3 39.Rxd5 Qxd5 40.b7 Qb5= 28...Qf6! As in the previous side line, Black has to play energeticly, so White can't start his attack by e4-e5 or Nf3-g5. 29.Qg3 Qg6 30.Qc7 Qc6! 31.Ne5 This way White finally gets rid of the queen chase, but he loses his two options for an attack as well. Qe6 32.Rd1 Rac8 Trying to solve the problems by force, plausible but risky. 32...Rxd1+ More solid, but not completely equalising. 33.Bxd1 Bd6 34.Qxb7 Rb8 35.Qxf7+ Qxf7 36.Nxf7 Kxf7 37.Rb2 The white 4 vs 2 kingside majority is a concern for Black, however the Bees of Opps should give him a draw. 33.Qxb7 Qxe5 34.Red2 Rxd2 35.Rxd2 Re8 36.Rd7 Bd6 With just enough counterplay. 37.Kf1 37.g3 Bc5 38.Qc7 Qxc7 39.bxc7 Bb6 40.Kg2 37...Qa1+ 38.Ke2 Qc1 39.Rxd6 Qxc2+ 40.Rd2 White can avoid an immediate draw for a long time, but with such an open king position it is hard to make progress. Qb1! 41.Qc6 Rb8 42.b7 h6! 43.Qc8+ Kh7 44.Qf5+ Kh8! 45.Rd7 c3 As seen before, the c-passer saves Black, even if he has to spend his life for it. 46.Rxf7 c2 47.Qc8+ Kh7 48.Rc7 c1N+! The most easy. Well, everything is relative. 49.Kd2 Qb2+ 50.Kd1 Qe2+ 51.Kxc1 Qe1+ 52.Kb2 Qb4+ 53.Kc2 Qxe4+ 54.Kc3 Qe5+ 55.Kd3 Qd5+ 56.Ke3 Qe5+ 57.Kf3 Qd5+ 58.Kg3 Qe5+ 59.f4 Qe3+ 60.Kg4 h5+! 61.Kxh5 Qxf4= Although White has escaped from the flood of checks, he still has no chance of avoiding the draw. 26.bxa6!
White accepts the exchange of his last queenside pawn, but he gains an important tempo. It is highly surprising, that now White is quite close to winning already. For two reasons. Firstly, Black's queen is temporarily absent from the centre or the kingside, due to the manoeuvre Qf6-c3xa5. Secondly, there is a non-obvious geometrical problem with Black's major pieces. 26...Qxa6 This looks suspicious, because White can set up now for the attack on the f7 in a really effective way. But because of the massive problems with 26...Bxa6, this seems to be the better alternative after all. 26...Bxa6 The more natural recapture. 27.e5 Bd3 This is virtually forced to neutralise White's play on the light squares. Though now White can reveal a very deep 5-move combination, forcing the win of an exchange. 27...g6?! 28.e6 fxe6 29.Qf4 Bc8 30.h4± Black's king protection is very vulnerable and the coordination of his pieces is difficult. White at least has a strong long-term initiative. I don't know if he can win against every defence. One example: Qc3 31.Ne5 Ra7 32.Rbc1 Qd2 33.Qg4 Rd5 34.Nf3 Qh6 35.Bb3 Rf5 36.Ng5 Kh8 37.Bc2 Rd5 38.Red1! Rad7 39.Rxd5 exd5 40.Rb1 Rc7 41.Qf4 Qg7 42.Rb6 Qe7 43.h5 h6 44.Nf7+! Qxf7 45.Rf6 g5 46.Rxf7 gxf4 47.Rxc7 Be6 48.Bg6+- 28.Bxd3 White can also play the first two moves of the combination in the different order. Rxd3 29.e6 fxe6 30.Ne5! So what's the point? The knight has come to a good post and attacks the rook. Nice, but wining an exchange? In fact, wherever the black rook is reasonably moving to, there will be a knight fork within two moves. Either on c4, c6 or b6. A geometrical problem. Rd5 30...Rc3? This loses in a different way. 31.Qd2 c4 32.Qd7 Qd5 33.Qf7+ Kh8 34.Rbd1 Re3 35.Ng6+ hxg6 36.fxe3+- 31.Nc4 Qc7 32.Nb6 Rad8 33.Nxd5 exd5±
Black has one pawn for the exchange and the pawn duo c5 and d5 gives him a stable position in the centre. But with so many major pieces king saftety is a big issue, as White will vigorously refuse to exchange queens. Unless he has enough control to ensure a win. This is a borderline position and Black is facing an extremly difficult defence, at the very least. 34.Qe3 The play has entered a technical stage. Individual moves are not that important for the moment, more the ideas. h6 Black has to sit and wait. For dynamic reasons, Black shouldn't set up with g7-g6. Thus he has to place the kingside pawns on the colour of his bishop, causing a constant problem. 34...c4?! This variation is more an illustration, what Black should not do. The idea of this move is to force the exchange of queens at some point, even at the cost of a severe weaking of the passed pawns. 35.Qe6+ Qf7 36.Qb6 Qd7 37.Rbd1 Qd6 38.Qa5 Be7 39.Re2 h6 40.Red2 d4 41.Qb5 c3 42.Qc4+ Qd5 43.Qxd5+ Rxd5 44.Rxd4 Thus White could eliminate one of the passed pawns, but the other has come forward to c3 meanwhile. Rc5 45.Rc1 h5 46.Rd3 Bf6 47.g3! Preventing Black from taking up more space on the kingside. Kf7 48.Kg2 Ke6 49.Kf3 Ra5 50.Rc2 Rb5 51.Ke2 White's idea is to replace the Rc2 by the king in the job of controlling Black's c3-pawn. Rb2?! Although this brings the black pawn to b2, this transition helps White more than Black. If Black keeps his rook, I think White can win as well. 52.Rxb2 cxb2 53.Rb3 g5 54.f3! Be5 55.Kd3 Kf5 56.Rb5! With this typical technique Black's king is forced to give ground and his entire defence will collapse soon. h4 57.gxh4 gxh4 58.Ke3 Ke6 59.Ke4+- 35.Qe6+ Qf7 36.Qb6 Qd7! Black should hide his rook behind the pawns. Moving to an open file would White prompt to offer an exchange of rooks, which would severely increase his attacking chances. 37.Rbd1 d4 Giving up the pawn duo c5 and d5, although this pawn push is not forced yet. But I think this is the way to go for Black, as the point is to vacate the central square d5 for the queen. E.g.: 38.Re4 Qd5 39.Re5 Qd6 40.Qa5 Qd7 41.h4 The start of White's idea, namely gaining more space on the kingside. This increases the likelihood of a successful swap of queens, as thereafter Black's pawns might be fixed by h4-h5. Kh7 42.Qa6 Bd6 43.Qd3+ Kg8 44.Re4 Qf7 45.Qe2 Bf8 46.g3 Qb3 47.Qd2 Qd5 Good things need some time. The queen has landed, at the second attempt. 48.Qd3 Bd6 49.Rde1 Rf8 50.R1e2 h5± Now this pawn set-up is possible for Black, because of his centralised queen. So over the last 17 moves Black has made a bit more progress than White. However, it is neither clear whether Black is safe here, nor whether White can't improve his previous play. 27.Bb3
27...Bc6! 28.Bc4 Besides this, White has two other notable options. 28.Ng5 Be8 29.e5 Be7 30.e6 Bxg5 31.exf7+ Bxf7 32.Bxf7+ Kxf7 33.Qxg5 Qa7! The worst is over for Black. 28.Ne5 Be8 29.Bd5 Ra7 30.Rd1 Qf6 31.Nc4 Bd7 32.e5 Qe7 33.Nd6 Looks quite dominating for White, but again he can't get much of it. Be6 34.Qxc5 Bxd5 35.Qxd5 Qe6! 36.Qxe6 fxe6 37.Ne4 Rxd1+ 38.Rxd1 Be7 39.g3 g5! 28...Qa7 29.Qf4 29.Rb3 With the idea Nf3-e5 and Rb3-f3. Be8! Defence a la Steinitz, overprotecting f7. 30.e5 Be7 31.h4 Rab8 32.Ra3 Qc7 33.Qf4 Rb4 34.Rea1 h5 35.Ra7 Rb7 36.R7a6 Rb4 37.g3 Qc8 38.e6 f6 So White has achieved a softening of Black's pawn shield. However I don't see a way to make use of this. Like for example: 39.Ra7 Rb7 40.Ne1 Qc6 41.Qe3 Qc7 42.Rxb7 Qxb7 43.Ng2 g5 44.Bf1 Bg6 29...Rd7! This is already including the loss of an exchange. 30.e5 30.Ne5 Bd6 30...Bd5 31.Bxd5 Rxd5 32.Ng5 Qd7 33.Qe4 g6 34.Qh4 h6 35.e6! Playing out the last trump card. hxg5 Forced, but sufficient. 35...fxe6? 36.Nxe6 Rf5 37.Nxf8 Raxf8 38.Qxh6 Qg7 39.Qxg7+ Kxg7 Just an extra pawn in a double rook ending. But because of the pawn distribution White is close to winning, as he threats to create two connected passers long-term. E.g.: 40.Rb7+ R8f7 41.Rxf7+ Rxf7 42.Kf1 Kf6 43.Re8 Ra7 44.Rc8 Ra1+ 45.Ke2 Ra5 46.Kd3 g5 47.Rf8+ Kg7 48.Rf3 Ra2 49.Ke3+- 36.exd7 gxh4 37.Re8 Ra6 Following the inevitable loss of a rook, this move helps to set up Bf8-d6 and Kg8-g7-f6 soon. A stable defence along the 6th rank so to say. 38.d8Q Rxd8 39.Rxd8 Kg7 Of course White has a significant advantage here. But it is not adequate for a win. He can't force the swap of rooks and Black's h4-pawn prevents taking up too much space on the kingside. 40.Rc8 Placing the rook in the back of the passed pawn, in general the most promising method. 40.Rd5 Kf6 41.Kf1 Bd6 42.Re1 Rc6 43.Re4 g5 44.Ke2 c4! Allowing the exchange of rooks. However with this passer on c3, Black is safe as well. 45.Rdd4 c3 46.Rc4 Rxc4 47.Rxc4 Be5 40...Bd6 41.Kf1 f6 42.Rd1 42.Rb7+ Kh6 43.Rb3 Kg5 42...Kf7 43.Ke2 Ke6 44.Re8+ Kf7 45.Rh8 g5 46.Rc8 Ke6 47.Kf3 Kf5 Black has organised his defence. Without concessions White can't make progress. For instance: 48.Rd5+ Ke6 49.Rd3 Kf5 50.g3 hxg3 51.fxg3 Ke6 52.Re8+ Kf7 53.Rc8 Ke6 54.g4 Rb6 55.Ke2 Ra6= It seems White has reached the end of a long road. I don't see any more chance to improve. 26...axb5
27.Qf4! The only move, as the knight sorties fail because of tactics. 27.Ng5? c4 28.Bxc4 bxc4 29.Rxb7 29.Nxf7 Rd7-+ 29...Ba3! 30.Qe3 Rd3-+ Overloading the white queen. 27...Rd7 Not bad. But risky from a practical point of view, as Black will have to deal with bigger problems than White in the next few moves. 27...c4 The more solid and, in my mind, more natural defence. 28.Bxc4 bxc4 29.Rxb7 Sure, White has some unpleasant pressure against the f7. However as the play is only about in a limited area, if White can't gain anything substantial in the short-term, Black must always be able to hold. Worst scenario for Black is, he loses his c4, resulting in a white 4 vs 3 pawn majority on the kingside. With any piece constellation, except a pure pawn ending, this will be a standard defence for Black. f6 29...Qh5 Although this loses the f7, it is very well possible. 30.g4 Qg6 31.Ne5 Qe6 32.Nxf7 Rdc8 White's attack is over, he needs some time to reorganise. Once more the black c-pawn is enough to keep the balance. 33.Ng5 Qf6 34.Qxf6 gxf6 35.Ne6 Bh6 36.Re2 c3 37.Rc2 Ra4 38.Kf1 Rxe4= 30.e5 Qd5! A centralised queen is almost always an asset in the late middle game. 31.Rc7 fxe5 Keeps it simple. 31...Rdc8 Here is another more dynamic alternative for the defence. 32.Rxc8 Rxc8 33.exf6 c3 34.fxg7 Bxg7 35.Rc1 Rd8 32.Rxe5 32.Qxc4 Qxc4 33.Rxc4 Bd6 34.Nxe5 Bxe5 35.Rxe5 Rdc8 One of these standard situations. 32...Ra1+ 33.Ne1 Rxe1+ I think it is easier for Black to exchange some of the pieces. 33...Qd2 As long as White can't improve his Ne1 this is also ok. 34.Qxc4+ Kh8 35.Qe6 h6 36.Rc6 34.Rxe1 Bd6 35.Qxc4 Bxc7 36.Qxc7 h6 White can try for some time. 28.Ne5
28...Qc7! A nice double defence. Protecs f7 and pins the Ne5. 29.Rbd1! The other rook has to guard the e4-pawn. Now White's combinatorial hit on f7 is inevitable, leading to a material imbalance. 29.Red1? Re7 30.Bxf7+ Rxf7 31.Qxf7+ Qxf7 32.Nxf7 Bxe4-+ 29...Re7 One out of two ways to respond to the attack on the Rd7. 29...Rad8 30.Bxf7+ Rxf7 31.Qxf7+ Qxf7 32.Nxf7 Rxd1 33.Rxd1
White is up an exchange, but Black has the pair of bishops and a passed pawn duo on the queenside. Plus White's e4 and Nf7 are vulnerable and it is Black to move. So the latter should have ample resources to handle the material deficit. 33...Bxe4! Natural and the only reliable. 33...b4? This is bad, as it gives White an extra tempo. It seems, White has a path to victory already, even if it is a narrow one. 34.Ne5! A pawn sacrifice for rook activity. 34.Nd6?! Too harmless. Ba6! 35.e5 c4= 34...Bxe4 35.Rd8 Thus the white rook can reach his optimal position in the back of Black's passed pawns. Bf5 35...Bc2?! The idea is to sacrifice the Bf8 to speed up the advance of the passers. But here Black doesn't have the right timing. 36.f4! One sample line for the white win: b3 37.Rb8 g6 38.Nd7 Kf7 39.Nxf8 Ke7 40.Nxh7 Kd6 41.Nf6 Kc7 42.Rg8 Kd6 43.Ra8 c4 44.Rb8 c3 45.Rxb3! Bxb3 46.Ne4+ Kd5 47.Nxc3+ Kd4 48.Nb5+ Ke3 49.g3 Kf3 50.Kh2!+- 36.g4! White must keep on acting forcefully. 36.f4? Too lame. b3! 37.Rb8 Be6 38.Kf2 c4 39.f5 Bxf5 40.Nxc4 Be6 41.Nd2 Kf7 42.Nxb3 Bxb3 43.Rxb3 h5! Black can build a theoretical fortress. 44.Rb7+ Kg8 45.Kf3 g6! 46.Kf4 Bh6+ 47.Ke5 Bg7+ 36...Be6 37.Re8 Bf7 38.Rb8 Be6 39.Kf1 From now on Black has several options for his defence. Apparently he is lost in either case. Some samples to follow. g6 39...g5 40.Ke1 c4 41.Nc6! Forcing a hole into the passers, so the white king can blockade them on c3. b3 42.Kd2 Kg7 43.Nd4 Bd5 44.Kc3 Kf7 45.Rb5 Bg2 46.f3+- 40.Ke2 c4 40...Kg7 In this line White can use the hole on c4 to control the passers. 41.Kd3 Bd6 42.Rb7+ Kf8 43.Rb6 Ke7 44.Nc4 Bh2 45.Rb5 h5 46.gxh5 gxh5 47.Rxc5 h4 48.Ne3+- 41.Re8 Bf7 42.Nxf7 Kxf7 This is the same kind of ending we will see later in the important side line 35...b4 to the game. First White blocks the opposing passed pawns with his king and looks for an appropriate advance of his kingside pawns. 43.Rc8 c3 44.h4 h6 Otherwise White will achieve an even better pawn set-up. 44...Be7 45.g5 Bf8 46.Rc6 Bg7 47.Rb6 Bf8 48.Kd3 Bc5 49.Rc6 Bf8 50.f4+- 45.Kd3 Be7 46.Rc7 Kf8 47.Rb7 g5 Without this White could add the f-pawn to his kingside pawn set-up. 47...Bd6 48.Rb6 Ke7 49.f4 Bxf4 50.Rxg6 Bd2 51.Rb6 Be1 52.h5 Bd2 53.Rxb4+- 48.h5 White's next step to challenge Black's fortress is to exchange one pawn by f2-f4 with the help of the rook. Bd6 49.Kc2 Be7 50.Rb6 Kg7 51.Re6 Bc5 52.Rg6+ Kh7 53.Rc6 Bf8 54.f4! gxf4 55.Rf6 Kg7 56.Rxf4 Be7 57.Rc4 White will place his rook in the back of Black's passed pawns within his next moves. Kf6 58.Rc6+ Kg7 59.Kd3 Bf8 60.Rc7+ Kf6 61.Rc8 Kf7 62.Rb8+- With zugzwang. We have reached a key position of the side line 35. ..b4, after move 57. So I refer to there for the details on how Black's fortress is broken ultimately. 33...c4
A clear improvement on 33...b4, alas another running the gauntlet for Black. 34.Nd6 Bc6 35.e5 g5! A great positional move. It is about a long-termed undermining of White's e5 by hampering a white f2-f4 and by enabling Bf8-g7, a late enhanced fianchetto so to say. 35...c3? This is too early and costs the c-pawn. 36.Rb1 Bxd6 37.exd6 Kf7 38.f3! Ke6 39.Rb3+- 36.Kf1 Trying to combat the black passers with the king. The other, more direct options don't result in anything real in the end. 36.Rb1 Bxd6 37.exd6 Kf7 38.Re1 b4 39.Kf1 b3 40.Ke2 Ke6 41.Kd2+ Kxd6 42.f3 Bd5 43.Kc3 Be6 44.Re4 h6 45.h4 Ke7! 46.f4 gxf4 47.Rxf4 Bf7 36.g3 h5! 37.Rb1 Bxd6 38.exd6 Kf7 39.Re1 b4 40.Kf1 b3 41.Ke2 Ke6 42.Kd2+ Kxd6 43.Kc3 Bd5 44.f4 gxf4 45.gxf4 Be6 46.h4 Bf5 36...c3 36...b4 37.Ke2 c3 transposes 37.Ke2 b4 38.Kd3 c2! When playing 33...c4 Black had to known about this trick. Without it his defence would collapse. 39.Re1 39.Kxc2 Ba4+ 40.Kd2 Bxd1 41.Kxd1 Bg7! 42.e6 Bf8! 43.Ne4 Be7 44.Kc2 Kg7 45.Kb3 Kg6 46.g4 h5= 39...b3 40.Kc3 Bd5 41.Kb2 h5! More of positional chess. 42.g4 42.g3 g4= 42...hxg4 43.hxg4 Be6 44.f3 Bd5 45.Re3 Bg7! Late, but better late than never. 46.Ne8 Bh8 47.Kc1 Kf7 48.Nd6+ Ke6 49.Nb5 Bxe5 50.Nc7+ Kd6 51.Nxd5 b2+! 52.Kxc2 Kxd5 53.Rb3 Ke6 54.Rb6+ Ke7 White can't win these kind of positions, as it isn't possible to push the black king further away to make the resac on b2 a winner. 34.Ng5
Now Black has two different approaches. In fact for quite some time both sides can transpose to other lines. But I omit these references for a better readability. 34...Bf5 More solid, but Black has to say farewell to his pair of bishops very soon. 34...Bc2 The wild version. Black relies on his duo of passers and is even willing to give up the Bf8. 35.Rd8 b4! 36.Rb8 b3 37.Ne6 Kf7 38.Nxf8 Ke7! 39.Nxh7 Kd7 40.Ng5 Kc7 41.Rxb3 Bxb3 42.Ne4 Kb6 The passed c-pawn gives Black enough counterplay, e.g.: 43.f3 Bc2 44.Nc3 c4 45.Kf2 Kc5 46.Ke3 g5 47.g4 Bd3 48.f4 gxf4+ 49.Kxf4 Kd4= Equal and a tablebase draw. 35.Rd5 35.g4 h6 36.gxf5 hxg5 White's pawn f5 is too weak. 37.Rd8 Kf7 38.Kf1 b4 39.Rc8 b3 40.Ke2 Bd6 41.Kd3 b2 42.Kc2 Be5 43.Rxc5 Kf6= 35...g6 35...h6? However not this way. 36.Rxf5 hxg5 37.Kf1 Be7 38.Ke2 g6 39.Re5! Kf7 40.Ke3 Kf6 41.Ke4+- White's king is too good, he will force b5-b4 and sooner or later create a zugzwang. 36.g4 h6! This is an improved version of the previous side line. Here Black will be able to exchange one of his kingside pawns and he has more time to set up his pawns on the queenside. 37.gxf5 hxg5 38.fxg6 b4! 39.Kf1 b3 40.Rd8 Kg7 41.Ke2 c4! 42.Rc8 42.Rb8 Bc5 43.Rb5 Bd4= 42...b2 43.Rb8 c3 44.Kd3 Bd6 45.Rb7+ Kxg6 46.Kxc3 Be5+ In principle it is the same here as at the end of the line with 33...c4. Black's b2-pawn needs attention and prevents any hopes for a white win. 47.Kd3 Kf5 48.Rb4 Bf6 49.Ke3 Be5 50.Kf3 50.Rb5 g4= 50...Bc3 51.Rb5+ Be5= 30.Bxf7+ Rxf7 31.Qxf7+ Qxf7 32.Nxf7
Two rooks + knight vs rook + two bishops, four pawns each. Black holds a duo of passed pawns on the queenside. Actually the only difference to the position, we have seen after 29...Rad8 30.Bxf7+ Rxf7 31. Qxf7+ Qxf7 32.Nxf7 Rxd1 33.Rxd1 already, are the additional rooks on a8 and e1. All other pieces occupy exactly the same spots. With an extra pair of rooks on the board Tarrasch and Kmoch stated that the pair of bishops already balances out the missing exchange in general. A strong statement in my mind. I think in this specfic situation the remaining rook gives Black's defence more stability, so that the game move 29...Re7 is somewhat preferable. Anyway, in this moment Black is faced with the tough decision to pick up the pawn on e4 or to keep his pair of bishops. 32...Bxe4 Possible, but somewhat risky. Something I could say about several of Black's moves in the game. 32...Kxf7? An incredibly bad exchange of minor pieces for Black, but at least his king will be able to unfold some activity. It will be instructive to see how the white rooks can deal with Black's pawn duo from a distance and at the same time annoy Black's other pieces. 33.Rd7+ Ke6 34.Rxb7 b4
35.Rc1! Pawns stopped. Although some play is left, White should be winning quite comfortably, as it is hard to find moves for Black. One sample line is: Ke5 36.f3 Kf4 37.Kf1 h6 38.Rf7+ Ke3 39.Rd7! Preventing the black king from supporting his passed pawns on the queenside. Kf4 40.h4 g6 41.Rb7 g5 42.hxg5 hxg5 43.Rf7+ Ke3 44.Rd7! White is more or less waiting for the right moment to use his passed e-pawn. c4 44...Kf4 45.Ke2 Ra2+ 46.Kd3 Ra3+ 47.Kc4 Kg3 48.e5 Kxg2 49.Rf7+- 45.e5 c3 46.e6 g4 47.e7 Bxe7 48.Re1+! Kf4 49.Rdxe7 b3 50.R7e5 Ra4 51.Rc5 gxf3 52.Rxc3 fxg2+ 53.Kxg2+- 32...c4
The first of two alternatives to remain with both bishops, at least for the moment. It also allows Black to operate with his passers. Nevertheless, White is slightly better and Black will be on the defensive side for a long time. 33.Nd6 Bc6 34.e5 c3! 35.Rd4 35.e6?! Winning a bishop, but ultimately it is easier for Black. b4 36.e7 Bxe7 37.Rxe7 b3 38.Nc4 Bb5 39.Na3 c2 40.Nxc2 bxc2 41.Rc1 Ba4! to control d1 42.Kh2 Rd8 43.Rc7 Rd1 44.R7xc2 Bxc2 45.Rxc2 h5= 35...Rb8 36.e6 36.Rb4 Re8! 37.Rd4 Rb8! just repeats moves 36...Be7 36...c2?! This is more forcing, but doesn't solve all of Black's problems for a long time. 37.Rc1 Bxd6 38.Rxd6 Be4 39.Rd4 Bg6 40.f4 b4! 41.e7 Re8 42.Rxb4 Rxe7 43.Kf2 h5 44.g4 Bd3 45.Rb3± White has a serious advantage, because it will be hard for Black to keep his bishop on the d3-h7 diagonal. However further analysis indicates that it is more a draw than a win. 37.Nf5 Kf8 Black should be willing to depart with his pair of bishops now. 37...Bc5?! 38.Rf4 Be8 39.e7 h6 40.Nd4± 38.Rg4 38.Nxe7 Kxe7 39.Rb4 Be8 40.Rc1 Rc8 41.Kf1 Kxe6 42.Rb3 c2 43.Ke2 Kf6 44.Rb2 Bg6 45.Rxb5 Re8+ 46.Kf3 Rd8 Hard to see how White can make progress, apart from resacing the exchange on c2, leading to the standard rook ending 3 vs 2 on the same side. 38...g6 39.Nxe7 Kxe7 40.Rb4! Kd6! 41.Rc1 41.Re3 Kc5 42.Rxc3+ is the same 41...Kc5 42.Rxc3+! Kxb4 43.Rxc6 Ka3! This rook ending is a bit tricky. First in one way or the other the mutual passed pawns will be exchanged. 44.Kf1 44.Ra6+ Kb3 45.Rc6! Ka3 repeats moves 44...b4! 45.Ra6+ Kb2 46.Ke2 46.e7 Re8 47.Ra7 b3 48.Ke2 comes to the same 46...b3 47.e7 Re8! 48.Ra7 Kc3 49.Rc7+ Kb4 49...Kd4 is also possible, producing the same kind of position 50.Kd3 b2! 51.Kc2 Kb5 52.Kxb2 Kb6 So White will lose his passer too. The specific in this position is, that both kings are cut off from the kingside. 53.Rc2 Rxe7 54.Kc1 Rd7! 55.Rd2 The only way for White to lift the cut-off of his king is to release the black king as well. Thus both kings will come closer to the kingside. Re7! 56.Kd1 Kc6 57.Rd3 Re5 58.Kd2 Re7 59.Re3 Ra7 60.Ke2 Kd7 61.Kf3 Ra2 62.Kg3 Still not a standard position, so Black needs to pay some attention. But all in all he isn't very far away. 32...b4!
The other way to play with the two bishops. This is my favorite line, as now the light-squared bishop gets some more air than in the previous line with 32...c4. Black is close to level the chances already in this multi-piece ending. 33.Nd6 33.Ne5 Re8 34.f4 Ba6 35.Ra1 Bb5 In the fresh air. 36.Rec1 36.Rac1 b3 37.Kf2 g5 38.g3 Ra8= 36...Bd6 I think Black should force the events now. Giving up one of his bishops, but eleminating White's kingside pawn majority. 36...g5 37.g3 gxf4 38.gxf4 c4 39.Nxc4 Rxe4 40.Ne5 Rxf4 White hasn't much, but a bit more practical chances than after the text move. 37.Rd1 Bxe5 38.fxe5 b3 39.e6 Rxe6 40.Ra7 c4 41.Rb7 Be8 42.Rd8 Rxe4 43.Rc8 h6 44.Rb4 Kh7 45.Rcxc4 Rxc4 46.Rxc4 Bg6! 47.Rb4 Bc2 48.Rb6 g5 49.Kf2 Kg7= A safe set-up on the kingside plus the well protected passer on b3. It shouldn't be a too difficult draw for Black. 33...Bc6 34.e5 34.Nc4 Bb5 35.Nd6 Bc6 repeats moves 34.Rd2 b3 35.e5 is a transposition to the text move 34...b3! 35.Rd2 35.Re3 Rb8 36.f3 c4! 37.Rc3 b2 38.Rb1 Bd5 39.Kf2 Be6= 35...g5 Here Black can continue to play positionally. 35...Bxd6 After this it takes a while until Black is safe. 36.exd6 c4! 37.Rc1 Ra4 38.f3 Rb4 39.Rb2 Bd7 40.Kf2 Be6 41.Ke3 Rb6 42.d7 Bxd7 43.Rxc4 Bf5! 44.Rc3 Bc2! 36.Rb1 36.Nc4 Rb8 37.Rb1 Be4 38.Ra1 Bc6= 36...Rb8 37.Rc1 Bg7! 38.e6 Be8 38...b2 39.Rb1 Be5 40.e7 Kg7! 41.Nc4 Bd4 42.h4 gxh4 43.Ne3 39.Rb1 39.Nxe8 b2! 40.Rcd1 Rxe8 41.Rd8 Kf8 42.Rxe8+ Kxe8 43.Kf1 Ke7 44.Ke2 Kxe6 45.Kd3 Bd4= 39.e7 Be5! 40.Nc4 Bd4 41.Rb1 Bg6 42.Re1 Be8= 39...Kf8 40.Rd3 b2 41.Re3 Bg6 42.e7+ Kg8 43.Nc4 h6 44.Re2 Re8 45.Rbxb2 Bxb2 46.Nxb2 Kf7 47.Re5 Rxe7 48.Rxc5 Not totally equal yet, but White has almost nothing. For example: Re1+ 49.Kh2 Re2 50.Rc7+ Kf8 51.Nd1 Rd2 52.Rc1 Bh5 53.g4 Bg6 54.Kg3 h5 55.Ne3 Kg7 56.Rc5 Kf6= 33.Rxe4! Accepting the loss of a full pawn. But after Black has parted from the pair of bishops, both White's rooks have a lot of space to act. His priority now is to control the black passers as actively as possible. Just as we have seen in the line with 32...Kxf7. 33.Nh6+ Weakening Black's pawn structure severely. A valid idea, however the price of one tempo is too high. Black's basic concept is that his passed pawns keep the white rooks busy, so they can't unfold too much activity. gxh6 34.Rxe4
34...b4 The text move is not the only way to play. E.g.: 34...Bg7? But not this, the improvement of the bishop has to wait. 35.Rd7! Bd4 36.Rb7 This is exactly what Black must prevent. b4 37.Kf1 Ra1+ 38.Re1 Ra8 39.f4 h5 40.Re4 Bg7 41.Ree7 Bd4 42.Ke2+- 34...c4?! 35.Rc1 Bg7 36.Re6 Rb8 37.Rb1 c3 38.Rc6 b4 39.Rb3 Kf7 40.Kf1 Be5! 41.Ke2 34...Rb8 35.Rd3 b4 36.Rb3 Bg7 37.Kf1 Bc3 38.Ke2 Rd8= 35.Rd3 35.Rd7 Rb8= 35...h5 36.Kf1 Rc8 37.Rc4 Rb8 38.Ke2 b3 39.Rd1 Re8+ 40.Kd3 Rd8+ 41.Ke2 Re8+ 42.Kf3 Rb8 43.Rb1 Rb5 44.Ke4 Black's pawns are halted. But White's rooks are inactive, so his only chance is the return of the exchange. Bg7 45.Kd5 Bd4 46.f3 Kf7 47.Rxd4 cxd4+ 48.Kxd4 Black will lose his b-pawn, but his piece activity will ensure a positional draw. h4 49.Kc4 Rg5 50.Rb2 Kf6 51.Kxb3 Ke5 52.Kc3 Kf4 53.Kd3 Rg8= 33...Kxf7
34.Rd7+ This white rook heads for his optimal square on b7 and forces a decision of Black's king. 34.Kf1?! Misses the chance to occupy the important 7th rank. Ra7 35.Rd8 Be7 36.Rb8 b4 37.g4 Rc7 38.Rc4 Ra7 39.Rb6 Bd8! 40.Rb5 Be7 Black has organised a stable defensive set-up, so he is ok. 34...Kf6! The correct choice, but I think this is far from obvious. The black king stays most central, but lacks the cover of his pawns here. Because of White's active rooks, Black should be really careful about an upcoming attack on his king. 34...Kg8?
Heading to the other direction, seeking protection behind his kingside pawns is a reasonable idea. But here it doesn't work well and very likely Black is already lost. 35.Rb7! b4 36.f4 If the attacker has enough control in the position, it is often a good idea to place the pawns intentionally on the colour of the opposing bishop, trying to restrict this minor piece. Rc8 36...Bd6 37.Kf2 Rc8 38.Rc4 comes to the same 37.Rc4 Thus Black's passers are stopped and White can start a slow attack by pushing his pawns on the kingside. Bd6 37...Re8 If Black avoids the exchange of rooks, he will squeezed sooner or later. E.g.: 38.Kf2 g6 39.Kf3 Ra8 40.g4 Ra3+ 41.Kg2 Ra2+ 42.Kg3 Ra3+ 43.Kh4! Re3 44.g5! Re7 45.Rb8 Kg7 46.Kg4 Re1 47.Rb7+ Re7 48.Rb6 Re1 49.h4 Rg1+ 50.Kf3 Rf1+ 51.Kg2 Re1 52.Kf2 Re8 53.Kf3 Kf7 54.Re4! Rc8 55.Rb7+ Kg8 56.Rc4 Re8 57.Rc1! Rd8 58.Kg4 Rd4 59.Re1 Rd8 60.h5 c4 61.hxg6 hxg6 62.Re6 Rd6 63.Re8 Rd5 64.Rbb8 Rf5 65.Rec8 c3 66.Rxb4+- 38.Kf2 Rb8 This is probably Black's last chance to swap off one pair of rooks. 38...Rf8 Here is another example of White's attack with all the rooks on the board. 39.Ke3 Rf7 40.Rb6! Rd7 41.g4 g6 42.Ke4 Kg7 43.g5! h6 44.h4 Be7 45.Ke5 Bd8 46.Rb5 hxg5 47.hxg5 Be7 48.Ke4 After the exchange of the h-pawns, the white king finds a good square on g4. Kf7 49.Kf3 Rd3+ 50.Kg4 Rd7 51.Rb6 Bd8 52.Rb8 Be7 53.Rc2 Bf8 54.Rb6 Bg7 55.Re2 Rc7 56.Kf3 c4 With this pawn sacrifice Black gains some time. However White is constantly making progress. In small steps, but nevertheless. 57.Rxb4 c3 58.Rc2 Ke6 59.Rb6+ Kf7 60.Ra6 Bd4 61.Ra4 Bg7 62.Re4 Rc8 63.Ke2+- 39.Rxb8+ Bxb8
40.Ke3 Kf7 Here the downside of 34...Kg8 is revealed. If Black could already play Ke6 in this moment, he would be ok. 41.Ke4 Bd6 42.Rc2! 42.Kd5? b3! 42...Ke6 43.f5+ Kf6 44.Kd5 With the bishop on d4 Black would be ok as well. As it is, the diagonal d6-f8 is too short, so White can make further progress. Bg3 44...Bf8 45.Re2 g6 46.fxg6 Kxg6 47.Re6+ Kf7 48.Rb6 The rook has improved his position by coming into the back of the passers. h5 49.g3 Kg7 50.Kc4 Kf7 51.Rc6 Kg7 52.Re6 Kf7 53.Re5 Kg6 54.h4! Kh6 55.Rf5 Be7 56.Rf7+- 45.Kxc5 Kxf5 45...Be1 Trying to keep the passed b-pawn isn't any better. 46.Rc1! Bd2 47.Rd1 Bc3 48.Rf1 Kg5 49.Kd5 Kf6 50.Rf3 Be1 51.Ke4 Kg5 52.Ke5 Bc3+ 53.Ke6 Bd4 54.Kf7 Be5 55.g3 Bf6 56.Kg8 h6 57.Kf7 Bc3 58.Ke6 Bf6 59.Rd3 Kh5 60.Rb3 Bc3 61.f6! Bxf6 62.Rxb4 Kg6 63.Rg4++- 46.Kxb4 Here Black would like to create a fortress. With the bishop on the long diagonal, the king on f7 and the pawns on g6 and h5. But White can prevent him from doing so. E.g.: h5 47.Kc4 Ke6 48.Kd4 g6 Black is almost there. However the black bishop won't be able to go over to the long diagonal. 49.Re2+! Kf7 50.Rb2 Bh4 51.Rb7+! Ke6 52.Rb6+ Kf7 53.Ke5! Bg3+ 54.Kd5 Bh4 55.Rb7+! Kf6 56.Rb4 Bg5 57.Rb6+ Kf5 Now the black king is too far away from f7. 57...Kf7 58.Ke5 Bh4 59.Rb7++- 58.Re6 Bh4 59.Kd6 Bg5 60.Re2 Bh4 61.Re3 Bg5 62.Rf3+ Bf4+ 63.Ke7 h4 64.Kf7 g5 65.Rc3 Bd2 66.Rc5+ Kf4 67.Kg6 Kg3 68.Rxg5++- A long, but very instructive duel of rook vs bishop. Knowlegde we can transfer to other positions arising later in the analysis. 35.Rb7! Very pragmatic, trying to halt the passed pawns as soon as possible. 35.Rd3?! Just one of the ideas to attack the open black king. But here it is fairly harmless. g6 36.Rf3+ Kg7 and Black is ok. 35.Kf1
The idea of this move is to prevent the expulsion of White's king to h2, that will happen next in the game. But it gives Black a chance to activate his passers. The more these can advance, the more difficult it is for White to make progress. 35...Rc8! 36.Rb7 36.Ke2 c4 37.Kd2 b4 38.Rb7 c3+ Not the only way to play. Black's concept is to play with an active rook and to prevent White's king from being useful. 39.Kc2 Ra8 40.Kb1 Rd8 41.Rb6+ Kf7 42.Re2 g5 43.g3 Rd1+ 44.Kc2 Ra1= 36...c4! 37.Rb6+ Kf7 38.Ree6 38.Rxb5 After this White has to give back the exchange. He can win Black's c-pawn, but the latter will have an easy draw in the rook ending. c3 39.Re1 c2 40.Rf5+! Kg6 41.Rxf8 Rxf8 42.Rc1 Rc8 43.Ke2 Kg5 44.Kd3 Rd8+ 45.Kxc2 Rf8 46.Rf1 h5= 38...Rc5! Black can't avoid the swap of one pair of rooks, but with this move he ensures that his bishop will improve to c5. 39.Rec6 b4! 40.Rb7+ Kg8 41.Rxc5 Bxc5 42.Ke2 Now White can use his king to control the black passed pawns, but these are still not stopped. 42.Rc7 b3! 42...b3! 43.f4 43.Kd1 Bxf2 44.Rb4 Bd4 45.Rxc4 b2 46.Kc2 Bf6= 43...Bd4 44.Kd1 b2 45.Kc2 c3 Meanwhile the pawns have come to b2 and c3. White's only chance is to control all the squares of the diagonal of the black bishop, that is d4-h8. If Black pays a bit of attention, the position will soon be dead. E.g.: 46.g4 h6 47.h4 g6 48.g5 hxg5 49.hxg5 Be3 50.Rb4 Kg7= 35...Ra1+ The most actice move. Playable, but somewhat dangerous. Once more. 35...b4?
Black takes care of his attacked pawn, but not his pieces. In the line to come his bishop has to stay on f8. Because of piece coordination his rook has to remain on the 8th rank and his king will be pushed back to g8. Thus, compared to the alternative variations, he will be stuck to a more passive and vulnerable defence. Black is actually on the verge of defeat and, it seems, more on the losing side than not. 36.Rb6+! Preventing the bishop from improving to d6. 36.Kf1? Bd6 37.g4 Rb8! 38.Rxb8 Bxb8 39.Ke2 Be5 More about this type of position in the next side line with 35...Bd6. 36...Kf7 36...Kf5?! Certainly not a good idea to enter the radius of White's pawns. Quickly Black's king will be in big trouble. 37.Re3! The side line with 35.Rd3 was harmless. Here the idea to use the rook along the 3rd rank is very strong. Rd8 38.g4+ Kf4 39.Kg2 Bd6 40.Rc6! Rd7 41.Rd3 Ke5 42.f4+ Ke6 43.f5+ Ke7 44.g5 Rd8 45.Kf3 Rd7 46.Ke4 Rd8 47.f6+ gxf6 48.gxf6+ Ke6 49.f7+- 37.Kf1! Because of a tactical finesse, soon to be revealed, it is important for White to keep the square f4 open for his rook. 37.f4? Ra7 38.Kf2 Be7 39.Ke2 Bf6 40.g4 h6 Black has organised a stable defence, as White's h-pawn is missing in the offensive to restrict the opposing bishop. 37...Rc8 A wide choice of moves and defensive set-ups for Black in this moment. With the text move he tries to reactivate his pawns, forcing the white rook to c4. 37...Ra7?! As indicated before, this key defence doesn't work here. 38.Rf4+! Kg8 39.Rb8 Rf7 40.Rc4! Winning one of the pawns on the queenside, as Black's king has no airhole. Rf5 41.g4+- 37...h5 This doesn't really hamper White's pawn advances. 38.Rf4+ Kg8 39.g4! hxg4 40.hxg4 Be7 41.Re4 Ra7 42.f4 g5 43.f5+- 37...Ra1+ The white king will be driven in front of his pawns. However this is just a temporary effect. 38.Ke2 Ra2+ 39.Kf3 Ra8 40.Rb7+ Kf6 41.g4 h6 42.h4 Rc8 43.Rb6+ Kf7 44.Rc4 Rd8 45.h5+- White has made more progress than in the main line. 37...h6 38.g4 Ra7 Black has avoided the tactical problem, seen one move before. But White could use the one tempo to the good. 39.Rf4+ Kg8 40.h4 Be7 41.h5 Bf6 42.Re4 Kf7 43.f4 Rd7 44.Ke2 Bd8 45.Rb5 Be7 46.Ke3+- Again White has made more progress than in the main line. 38.Rc4 Due to the threat Rb6xb4 the black rook has to move again. Rd8 Renewing the idea of Bf8-d6. After other rook moves White can start his offensive with the kingside pawns directly. Play should transpose to the line to come sooner or later. 39.Rf4+! It is important to force Black's king into a worse position first. 39.Ke2? Bd6 Now Black has improved his defensive set-up. E.g.: 40.h4 h5 41.f3 Re8+ 42.Kd3 Rd8 43.Ke4 Be7 44.g4 hxg4 45.fxg4 Bxh4 46.Rxc5 Be7 47.Rc7 Rd1 39.g4? Ke8! A new resource for Black. The king tries to sneak to his passers, while the white Rc4 is too passive for a moment. 40.Ke2 Kd7 41.Rc2 Re8+ 42.Kd3 Re1 43.Kc4 Re4+ 44.Kb5 b3 45.Rd2+ Ke8 46.Rb2 c4 47.Rc6 Ba3 48.Rb1 b2 49.Rxc4 Re2 50.Rc3 Be7 51.Rb3 Rxf2 39...Kg8
The current position is very similar to the side line 34...Kg8. Over there White was a tempo ahead and could start the slow attack by f2-f4. Here he must make even more efforts. 39...Ke8?! Now this doesn't work, as White's Rf4 is in a more active position than after 39.g4. 40.Rb7 Be7 41.Ke2! So the white king can immediately control the black passers, in case Black goes for the exchange of rooks. Bf6 42.Re4+ Kf8 43.f4 h6 44.g4 Once more Black's position will collapse, if White has made serious progress with his pawn advances. E.g.: Rd6 45.f5! Rd8 46.Re6 Rc8 47.Kd1 Rd8+ 48.Kc2 Rc8 49.Ra6 Kg8 50.Raa7 Kh7 51.Rf7 Kg8 52.Rfc7 Rf8 53.Rab7 Kh7 54.Kb3! Re8 55.Kc4 Rf8 56.Rd7 Re8 57.Rf7 Kg8 58.Rfc7 Kh7 59.Kxc5+- 40.Re4 Other preparatory moves come into consideration as well. White has just to show some patience until the right moment for the pawn moves comes. Rc8 40...Bd6 Another sample line of a more passive defence. 41.f4 Rd7 42.g4 Be7 43.g5! Rc7 44.Rc4 Rd7 45.Ke2 Kf7 46.h4 g6 47.Kf3 Bd8 48.Rb8 Be7 49.Ke4 Rd1 50.Rb6 Re1+ 51.Kf3 Ke8 52.Rb7 Rd1 53.Re4 Rd7 54.Rxd7 Kxd7 55.Ke2 Kd6 56.Kd3 Kd7 57.Kc4 Bf8 58.h5! Bg7 59.h6+- 41.Rc4 Re8 42.g4! Finally White can start with the pawn pushes. 42.f4? Kf7 With the same problem for White as before in move 37. 42...g5 As we have seen other more passive defences losing here and in the 34...Kg8 line several times already, I think this is Black's only chance. 43.f4! gxf4 44.Rxf4
Even in this configuration with a reduced pawn mass, Black can't set up a stable defence. His biggest problem will become apparent if his rook is exchanged, as we will analyse soon. A lot of play is left, so I would like to show just some typical variations. 44...Bg7 44...h5 45.g5 This pawn configuration should make it easier for White. Bg7 46.Rb7 Bf8 47.Kg2 Rc8 48.Rc4 Re8 49.Kf3 Bd6 50.Rb6 Rd8 51.Re4 Rd7 52.h4 Kf7 53.Rc6 Be7 54.Ke2 Rb7 55.Kd2 Bf8 56.Rf4+ Kg7 57.Kc2 Rb8 58.Rff6+- 45.Rb7 Rf8 The key line. 45...Bf8 In case Black opts for keeping the rooks, he will slowly be squeezed out. E.g.: 46.h4 h6 47.h5 Rc8 48.Rc4 Re8 49.Kg2 Bd6 50.Kf3 Bf8 51.Kf4 Rd8 52.Kf5 Rd5+ 53.Kf6 Rd6+ 54.Ke5 Rd8 55.Re4 Bg7+ 56.Ke6 Bf8 57.Kf5 Rd5+ 58.Kf6 Rd8 59.g5 White has prepared this calmly. The rooks on light squares, aiminig from two sides against the black passers, plus the king most forward. Now new roads for the attack on the black king are opened. hxg5 60.Kxg5 Rd5+ 61.Kf6 Rd6+ 62.Ke5 Rd8 63.Rg4+ Kh8 64.Ke6 Bh6 65.Rg6 Bd2 66.Rgg7 Bc3 67.Rh7+ Kg8 68.Rhc7 Bd4 69.Kf5 Kh8 70.h6 Rd5+ 71.Kg4 Rd8 72.Rc6 Be3 73.Kh5 Bd4 74.Re6 Rc8 75.Rd6 Be5 76.Rd5 Bc3 77.Rbd7 b3 78.Rd8+ Rxd8 79.Rxd8+ Kh7 80.Rd7+ Kg8 81.h7+! Kf8 82.Rd3! Bh8 83.Rxb3+- 46.Rxf8+ Bxf8 47.Ke2 c4 48.Rc7 c3 49.Kd3 White's king has come between the passed black pawns, who at least could make a step forward to b4 and c3. Initially I didn't believe that White can win this type of position, because his king is delegated to guard the black passers. However zugzwang and a nice key breakthrough found by Zoran are the resources to progress. h6 50.h4 Bd6 51.Rb7 Bc5 52.h5 Bd6 53.Rd7 Bc5 54.Rc7 Bd6 55.Rc6 Bf8 56.Rc8 Kf7 57.Rb8 This is a key zugzwang position, the coordination of Black's pieces will be destroyed. Be7 57...Kg8 58.g5! Because of this tactical. hxg5 59.h6 g4 60.h7+ Kxh7 61.Rxf8 Kg6 62.Rf4 Kg5 63.Rxb4 g3 64.Ke3+- 57...Bd6 58.Rb6 Bf8 59.Rg6 transposes to the text line after move 66 58.Rb7 Kf8 The next zugzwang position. White to move hands the move over to Black with his next manoeuvres. 58...Kf6 59.g5+! hxg5 60.h6 Bf8 61.h7 Bg7 62.Rb8+- 59.Kc2 Bc5 60.Rh7 Be3 61.Rc7 Bg5 62.Rb7 Be7 63.Kd3 Here we are. Now the black bishop can't use e3 anymore, like in move 60. Thus Black's next concession is forced. His king has to move one more step away from his h-pawn. Ke8 64.Rb6 Bf8 65.Re6+ Kf7 66.Rg6 Within the last two moves White's rook has intentionally lost a tempo on his way to g6 to prepare the next zugzwang. Most importantly with all the manoeuvers over the course of the last ten moves, White has prevented the black king to reach h7 in this situation. Bg7 67.Kc2 Bf8 68.Kb3 A final zugzwang to enforce the key breakthrough. Ke8 69.g5! hxg5 70.h6 Kf7 71.h7 Bg7 72.Rxg5 Kf6 73.Rg2 Kf7 74.Kxb4+- 35...Bd6!
The third way. Black's idea is to play Ra8-b8 next, to exchange the annoying white rook on b7. In my mind, this would be a consistent continuation of Black's previous play. His king on f6 will hugely benefit from this exchange and by avoiding b5-b4 at all, he can keep his passed pawns abreast and thus more flexible. 36.Kf1 36.f4 can be treated the same way 36...Rb8! 37.Rxb8 37.Ra7?! b4 38.Ra6 Kf5! 39.f3 b3 40.g4+ Kg5 41.Rxd6 b2= 37...Bxb8 We can compare this to the ending we have seen after 34...Kg8, followed by the exchange of rooks. Black's king and the queenside pawns are way better in the current position. All in all he is close to equality. 38.Ke2 38.g4 g5!= 38.Re8 Trying to get the rook in the back of the passers again. Be5 39.Ke2 b4! 40.Kd3 b3! Once these black pawns are on b2 and c5, supported by the bishop on d4, White can't have any hope to win the game. 41.Rc8 Bd4 42.Rb8 b2 43.Kc2 Kf5= 38...Be5 It seems a bit as if the Be5, together with the powerful pawn duo b5 plus c5, dominates the white rook by controlling so many squares on the 4th rank. 39.f4 39.Kd3 g5 40.Re2 h5 41.Ke4 Bd4 42.Kd5 g4 43.h4 b4 44.Kc4 Kf7= 39...Bd6 Keeping on eye on the f4. 39...Bd4 Aiming for the set-up, we have seen before. Although White has a bit more time to push his kingside pawns, this line should be fairly harmless for Black. 40.Kd3 b4 41.g4 b3 42.Re8 b2 43.Kc2 h5 44.Rc8 hxg4 45.hxg4 g6= 40.g3 40.g4 h5! 41.Ke3 hxg4 42.hxg4 g6 43.Re8 c4! 44.Rc8 Ke6 45.Ke4 Kd7= 40...h5 41.Re8 41.Ke3 g5 42.Re8 gxf4+ 43.gxf4 Kf5 44.Kf3 b4! 45.Ra8 b3 46.Ra5 Bxf4 47.Rb5 Be5 48.Rxb3 Kg5= Equal and a tablebase draw. 41...Kf7 42.Rh8 g6 43.f5 gxf5 44.Rxh5 Kg6 45.Rh8 c4 46.Rc8 Kf6 47.g4 fxg4 48.hxg4= Also equal and a tablebase draw. 36.Kh2 Bd6+ 37.g3 b4 To the displeasure of Black, this is forced now.
38.Kg2 Natural improvement for the king. White's plan is to bring in his pawns to f4 and g4. If he can do so undisturbed, he gets a winning attack on Black's king. 38.f4?! Way too early. Now White's king will be cut off on the 1st rank, a huge deficit. Ra2+ 39.Kg1 Kf5! 40.Re3 Rd2 41.Kf1 c4 42.Rb5+ Kf6 43.Re2 Rd1+ 44.Kf2 c3= 38.Rb6
Directly pinning the bishop. This excludes two of Black's defences, possible in the next move of the game. It is another critical test for Black's set-up. 38...Kf5! Directly unpinning is Black's best reaction. Moreover White's rook will be driven out of his comfortable seat on e4. It might cost Black all his kingside pawns, but if he can remobilise his passed pawns, he will get nice counterplay. 38...Rd1 Black also holds after this. 39.Kg2 Kf5! We will see similar positions of this type later in more detail. 39.Rh4 As all other options fail to impress, let's see the acceptance of Black's double pawn sacrifice. 39.Re8 Be5 40.Rbe6 Bd4 39.Rc4 Ke5 39...Rd1! 39...Ke5? 40.Rh5+ Ke6 41.Rxc5+- 40.Rxh7 40.Kg2 h6 41.Kf3 Ke6 42.Ke2 Rd5= 40...c4 Now the passers are a full compensation for the exchange, Black is ok. 41.Rxg7 41.Rb5+ Kf6 42.Rh4 c3 43.Rc4 Ke6= 41...c3 41...Ke4 More forcing. Possible, if Black isn't too scared about the upcoming rook endgame. 42.Rg4+ Kf3 43.Rxd6 Rxd6 44.Rxc4 Rb6! 45.Rc2 b3 46.Rb2 Ke4 47.h4 Kd3 48.h5 Kc3 49.Rb1 Kc2 50.Re1 b2 51.g4 Re6 52.Rg1 Rd6 53.Re1 Rd1= 42.Rg4 c2 43.Rc4 b3! 44.Rxb3 c1Q 45.Rxc1 Rxc1= Black can pressurise the f2 or exchange the rooks. Just doing nothing is also possible, if he doesn't mind to wait for a hundred moves or so until the draw is sealed. 38...h5? In case White plays g3-g4, this enables Black to exchange a pair of pawns. But it doesn't prevent a white pawn from coming to g4 next and that is the problem. Thus Black has left the margin for a draw a first time. 38...Kf5?
In the last side line this move was a strong resource, here it is a loser. The main difference is White's rook on b7, still having his big effect on the 7th rank. 39.Re8! Kf6 39...Rd1 40.g4+ Kf6 41.Re4! With the idea of f2-f4 again. Rd2 42.Rb6 h5 Transposes to a side line later to be analysed, viz 38... h5 39.g4 Ra2 40.Rb6 Rd2. 40.g4 Ra6 41.f4! White has established his dream pawn duo f4 and g4. In combination with two flexible rooks a very strong attacking power. h6 41...c4 42.Rb5! h6 43.Rf5+ Kg6 44.h4 Kh7 45.h5 Ra7 46.g5 hxg5 47.fxg5 g6 48.Rf6+- 42.f5 Be5 43.h4 Bc3 44.Kf3 Rd6 45.Rc7! Now protecting the king and the pawns simultaneously will prove too much for Black's pieces. b3 45...Bd4?! 46.Ke4+- 45...h5 46.Rxc5 Rd3+ 47.Ke4 Rd4+ 48.Ke3 Kf7 49.Re6+- 46.Ke4! Rd4+ 47.Ke3 Bd2+ 48.Ke2 Rd6 49.Rxc5 b2 50.Rb8 Bc1 51.Rcb5 After gaining Black's pawn, White can work with the threat of exchanging rooks too. If Black does not consent, he succumbs to the attack. Rd2+ 52.Kf3 Rd4 53.R8b6+ Kf7 54.Rb4 Rd5 55.Ke4 Rd1 56.Rb7+ Kf8 57.f6! Re1+ 58.Kd5 Rd1+ 59.Kc6+- 38...Be5
Transferring this bishop to d4 is definitely an idea. But as it takes some time, White can set up for an attack, forcing Black to solve some tricky problems. 39.g4 Keeping the pawn on f2 for side protection is more promising, in my mind. 39.f4 Opens the door for flank attacks. Bd4 First the bishop improves to his desired outpost. 39...Ra2+?! This is slightly inaccurate, because the white king can find some shelter in front of his pawns. 40.Kf3 Bd4 41.Kg4 Rg2 42.Rb6+ Kf7 43.f5 h5+ 44.Kf4 Rf2+ 45.Kg5 Bf6+ 46.Kxh5 Rxf5+ 47.Kg4 40.g4 Ra2+ Now the counterplay against White's king and the pawn h3 give Black an equal game already. 41.Kf1 41.Kf3 Ra3+ 42.Ke2 b3! 43.Kd3 b2+ 44.Kc4 h6= 41...Rh2! 42.Ke1 42.Rbe7? Rf2+ 43.Ke1 Rxf4! 42.Rb6+ Kf7 43.f5 h6 44.Ree6 Rxh3 45.Kg2 Ra3= 42...Bc3+ 43.Kd1 Rxh3 44.Rbe7 Rd3+! After grabbing the pawn, the rook has to rush back for the defence. 45.Kc2 Rd6 46.Re8 Kf7 47.Kb3 h6= 39...Bd4 40.h4 40.Ree7 h5 41.Rxg7 hxg4 42.hxg4 b3= 40...Ra2 41.Rb6+ Kf7 42.g5! Sacrifcing the f-pawn to vitalise the attack. Black has enough resources to defend, but from a practical point of view this is not so easy for him. Rxf2+ 43.Kg3 Rf5 44.Rb7+ 44.Kg4 Re5! 45.Rxe5 Bxe5 46.Kf5 Bc3 47.Rb7+ Kf8 48.h5 Even with vastly reduced material White can generate big threats. g6+! 49.hxg6 hxg6+ 50.Kxg6 Bd2= 44...Kg6! Although he will be confronted with mating threats over here, this is the better choice for the black king. 44...Kf8? 45.Ree7 White might be already winning here, because of the boxed-in black king. For instance: h5 46.gxh6 gxh6 47.Rh7 Kg8 48.Kg4 Rf1 49.Rhd7 Rg1+ 50.Kh5 Bg7 51.Rd5 Bf8 52.Rf5 Rg7 53.Rb8 Rf7 54.Rxc5 Kg7 55.Rc6 Rf5+ 56.Kg4 Rf7 57.Rbb6 Kh7 58.Rf6 Rxf6 59.Rxf6 Kg7 60.Rb6+- 45.Kg4 45.Rxd4 cxd4 46.Kg4 h5+! 47.gxh6 Rd5 48.hxg7 Kh7= 45...h5+! 46.gxh6 gxh6 47.h5+ 47.Rxd4 h5+! 47.Re6+ Bf6 48.Rbb6 h5+= 47...Rxh5 48.Re6+ Bf6 49.Rxf6+ Kxf6 50.Kxh5 His assault has neted White another piece, but in vain. Ke5 51.Kg4 51.Kxh6= 51...Kd4 52.Kf3 Kc3 53.Ke4 Time for White to settle for the draw. 53.Ke2? b3-+ 53...c4 54.Kd5 b3 55.Rc7 b2 56.Rxc4+ Kb3 57.Rc6= 38...Ra6
By defending the 6th rank, Black stabilises his bishop on d6. Also Ra6-c6 becomes an idea, to remobilise the passed pawns. This looks fairly solid, but White has many different tries. Some examples to follow. 39.g4 39.Rg4 Ke6 Going for the kingside pawns gives Black the chance to support his passers with the king. In this line it is more White than Black, who is playing against a disadvantage. 40.Rgxg7 Kd5 41.Rxh7 Kc6 42.g4! c4 43.g5 Ra8 44.g6 Rg8 45.Rbg7 Rxg7 46.Rxg7 b3 47.Rc7+ Bxc7 48.g7 b2 49.g8Q b1Q 50.Qxc4+= 39.Kf3 Not particularly energetic. Now Black can get an improved version of the 38...Be5 line. Be5 40.Rb5 Bd4 41.g4 Ra2 42.h4 Rxf2+ 43.Kg3 Ra2 44.Rb6+ Kf7 45.g5 Ra7 46.h5 g6! Stabilising the defence. 47.Rf4+ Ke7 48.hxg6 hxg6 49.Rh4 Kf7= 39.Re2 An engine favourite. I suppose the idea is to clear the path for the white king towards d5 and securing the 2nd rank for a possible f2-f4. But presenting c5-c4 on a silver plater to Black is something I don't like at all. c4 40.Kf3 b3 41.Ke4 Be5 True, in this case White can return the exchange and get a 3 vs 2 same side rook ending. However the result is very modest. 42.f4 Bc3 43.Kd5 b2 44.g4 Ra5+ 45.Kxc4 Ra1 46.Rb6+ Kf7 47.Kxc3 b1Q 48.Rxb1 Rxb1 49.Kd4 h5!= 39.f4 Rc6! 40.Rc4 Ke6 41.Rbxb4 cxb4 42.Rxc6 Kd5 Black's passed b-pawn with the support from both of his pieces levels the game. 43.Rc1 Bc5 44.Kf3 b3 45.Ke2 Kd4!= 39...Rc6! 40.f4 Going for the attack with the pawn duo seems to be the most dangerous idea once more. Black should better be very careful in the sharp lines to come. 40.Rc4 Ke6 as seen in the line with 39. f4 40...c4 41.f5 41.Rb5 This is also quite tricky. The following line isn't forced, but reasonable and with a nice finish. h6 42.h4 c3 43.h5 g5 44.fxg5+ hxg5 45.Rf5+ Kg7 46.Re6 c2 47.h6+ Kg8 48.Re8+ Kh7 49.Rf7+ Kg6! 50.Rf6+ Kh7! 51.Rf7+ Kg6 52.h7 Be5‼ Preventing the mate in two via knight promotion. 53.Rxe5 c1Q 54.h8Q Rc2+! 55.Rf2 Rxf2+ 56.Kxf2 Qf4+ 57.Ke2 Qc4+! 58.Ke3 Qc3+!= 41...Bf8 41...c3 The sharpest line. Not to be recommended for people with heart problems. 42.Re6+ Kg5 43.f6! gxf6 44.Rg7+ Kf4 45.Rf7 Kg5 46.Rfxf6 Rc5! 47.Kf3 h5! 48.Rh6 Kh4! 49.Rxd6 c2 50.Rc6 c1Q 51.Rxh5+ Rxh5 52.Rxc1 Rd5= 41...Be5 Something solid for a change. 42.Rxb4 c3 43.Rec4 Rxc4 44.Rxc4 Kg5!= The counterplay against the weakness on h3 is sufficient to equalise. 42.Rb8 Kf7! 43.g5 Rc7! Better improving the defence now. 43...c3?! 44.Rb7+ Kg8 45.Re8 c2 46.f6! gxf6 47.gxf6 Rxf6 48.Rc8± Rf7?! 49.Rxb4 Rg7+ 50.Rg4 h5 51.Rxg7+ Kxg7 52.Rxc2+- Mate in 76 moves, tablebases say. 44.g6+ hxg6 45.fxg6+ Kxg6! 46.Rxf8 As at the end of the last side line White is up a rook, but Black's passers guarantee him a draw. c3 47.Rg4+ Kh7 48.Rh4+ Kg6= 39.Rb6? Misses a chance. Immediate action on the kingside is required. 39.g4!
The only solution to get a decisive advantage. White instantly starts the creation of the pawn duo infernale f4 and g4, thus taking the square f5 away from the black king. Black can now decide, where to place his rook for the defence and whether he includes the exchange of the h-pawns. The picture is always the same: White improves his position slowly and occasionally even uses zugzwang. So Black will be pushed back and at some point has to make a concession, like giving up his b-pawn. Then White will be a bit disorganised, thus Black gains a little time. But as he can't do anything special, White starts to improve his pieces anew and the process repeats. Overall it can take a fairly long time until Black's position transforms from a lost one to a resignable one, sometimes beyond the scope of this analysis. 39...hxg4 Reducing the number of white pawns is the most natural continuation. 39...Ra8 The most passive setup. So White can demonstrate his attacking powers. 40.Rb6 Rd8 41.f4 Rd7 Here or in the next move Black can insert the exchange on g4, transposing to the side line 39... hxg4 40.hxg4 Ra8. 42.Kf3 Kf7 43.g5! As before: If the position is so strong to suppress counterplay, often the placement of the pawns intentionally on the colour of the bishop is the way to go. g6 44.Rc6 Be7 45.Ke2! Rb7 46.Kd1 White's king takes care of the black passed b-pawn, so his rooks can concentrate on the kingside. b3 47.Kc1 Bf8 48.Rf6+ Kg7 49.Kb1! King prophylaxis, before storming the barricades. Rc7 50.Ree6 c4 51.Rxg6+ Kh7 52.Rc6 Rd7 53.f5 Rd5 54.Rc7+ Kh8 55.Rxc4 Rxf5 56.Rf6!+- 39...Ra6 The 6th rank defence, we have seen one move before already. 40.gxh5 In this case White should take on h5. His pawn formation is splitted now, but not ruined. As an upside he can use the g-file for his rooks as well. With all the open files and ranks, Black will soon lose one of his valuable passers. Be5 40...Ra8 41.Rb6 Kf5 42.Kf3 Rd8 43.Rb5! Rf8 44.Ke3 Rh8 45.Rexb4 Rxh5 46.h4 g5 47.hxg5 Rxg5 48.Rh4+- 41.Rg4 Kf5 42.Rb5! Rc6 43.Rc4 Rook cooperation at it's best. b3 44.Rxb3 After that play is more technical, converting the material advantage is White's job from now on. E.g.: Bd4 45.Rc2 Kg5 46.Rg3+ Kxh5 47.Rg4 Ra6 48.Re2 Kh6 49.Re8 Kh7 50.Rc8 Rf6 51.f3 Ra6 52.h4 Rh6 53.Kg3 Be5+ 54.Kh3+- 39...Ra2 The most active. Pinning White's f-pawn along the 2nd rank. 40.Rb6 Rd2 41.Kf3! With the idea of Kf3-e3 followed by f2-f4. Rd5 41...hxg4+ 42.hxg4 transposes to 39...hxg4 40.hxg4 Ra2 42.gxh5 This is very similar to the previous side line. Here White will gain the g7 for his h5 and after that he can start the technical stage. Kf5 43.Rh4 Bc7 44.Rb7 Bd8 45.Rf4+ Ke6 46.Rxg7 Rxh5 47.Ke4! The king on his way to go between the opposing passed pawns. Re5+ 48.Kd3 Rd5+ 49.Kc4 Rd2 50.Rg3 Ke5 51.Rf8 Rd4+ 52.Kb5 Bh4 53.Re8+ Kd5 54.Rg7 Kd6 55.Rg6+ Kd5 56.Rc6+- 40.hxg4
With the same difficult choice of rook placements for Black as one move before. 40...Ra2 40...Ra8 41.Rb6 Rd8 42.f4 Rd7 43.Kf3 Kf7 44.g5! g6 45.Rc4 This is the start of a manoeuvre to transfer the rook to the recently opened h-file. Attacking Black from the right flank as well. 45.Rc6 Playing in analogy to the line 39...Ra8 is also good. 45...Rd8 45...Ke7 46.Rc1 Rd8 comes to the same 46.Rc1 Ke7 47.Rh1 Rf8 47...Kd7 48.Rh7+ Ke6 49.Rg7 Kd5 50.Rxg6 c4 51.Rb5+ Kd4 52.Rxd6+! Rxd6 53.Rxb4+- 48.Rh6! Rxf4+ 49.Ke3 Rf7 50.Rxg6 Black is completely busy defending against the two rooks. White controls both black passed pawns, while his passer on g6 will become very strong. Bg3 51.Rg8 Kd7 52.Rb7+ Bc7 53.Rg6! Kc8 54.Rb5 Rf5 55.Rg7 Re5+ 56.Kd3 Bd6 57.g6 Rd5+ 58.Ke4 Re5+ 59.Kf3 Rf5+ 60.Kg4 Rf4+ 61.Kg5 Rf1 62.Rh7+- 40...Ra6 41.f4! Compared to the line with 38...Ra6, the h-pawns have disappeared from the board, but White is up one tempo with his attack. g6 41...Rc6 42.Kf3 c4 43.g5+ Kg6 44.Kg4 Bxf4 45.Kxf4 c3 Here Black's passers don't compensate the rook, they are one step too slow. 46.Re1 Rc4+ 47.Ke3 Rg4 48.Ra1+- 42.Kf3 Ra3+ 43.Ke2 Ra2+ 44.Kd3 Ra3+ 45.Kc4 Rc3+ 46.Kb5 The white king has made quite an excursion to hide from the rook checks. Rd3 46...b3 47.Rb6 b2 48.Kc6! Bf8 49.Rxb2+- 47.Rb6 Rd1 48.Kc4 Now he can return. Rc1+ 49.Kd3 Rd1+ 50.Kc2 Rd5 51.Ra6 zugzwang Kf7 52.Ra7+ Kf6 53.Rd7+- Again zugzwang, forcing Black to lose one of his pawns. 41.Rb6
41...Rd2 42.Kf3! Black's rook is in a more active position than in the two lines before. However with the white king approaching the d-file, he runs out of squares. So overall Black has problems to find moves, zugzwang is very present. On top of all that, if White can play f2-f4 without interference, he will be in the same comfortable situation, to be seen later in the game after 44.hxg4. Rd5 42...g5 43.Ke3 Rd1 44.Ke2 Rd5 45.Ra6 zugzwang Kf7 46.Ra7+ Kf6 47.Rd7 Transposing to the line starting with 40.g4, see there for some more details. 43.Ra6! Sometimes waiting is so good. Kf7 43...b3 44.Rb6 43...Kg5 44.Re6 Be5 45.Rg6+ Kh4 46.Ra8+- 43...g6 44.Rb6 Kf7 45.Rb5 g5 46.Rexb4+- 44.Ra5 b3 Going to fail, as the defenders will be overstreched. But I don't know, what else to recommend. 44...Rd3+ 45.Ke2 Ra3 46.Rxa3 bxa3 47.Ra4 c4 48.Rxc4+- 45.Rb5 Rd3+ 46.Ke2 Rc3 47.Rb7+ Kg8 48.Re6 Rc2+ 49.Kf3 Rc3+ 50.Re3 Rc4 50...Rxe3+ 51.Kxe3 Be5 52.Rxb3 Bd4+ 53.Ke2+- 51.Re8+ Kh7 52.Rxb3 Rf4+ 53.Ke2 c4 54.Rh3+ Kg6 55.Re6+ Rf6 56.Rxf6+ Kxf6 57.Rc3+- 39...Rd1? Gives White a second chance. This move just parries White's threat, but it doesn't contain an active component. 39...Kf5!
The method of direct unpinning, we have seen in the side line 38.Rb6 before. Again the rook on e4 has to leave his place against his will. White's advandtage is shrinked to almost zero. If he goes for the h5, the black passed pawns can move ahead. 40.Rh4 40.Kf3 Ra3+! 41.Re3 Rxe3+ This type of ending will be examined after 40.Rh4 Rd1 41.Kf3 g6 42.Re4 Rd3+ 43.Re3 Rxe3+. Here Black's pawn is on g7, but the general considerations are the same. 40.Re3 Trying to keep the rook on the board and preparing Kg2-f3. Be5 Black can use the time to improve his now unpinned bishop. 41.g4+ hxg4 42.hxg4+ Kf4 43.Re6 Bd4 44.R3e4+ Kg5 45.Kg3 Rg1+ 46.Kh3 Rf1 47.Kg3 Rg1+ 48.Kh3= 40...Rd1! 41.Kf3 41.Rxh5+?! Ke4 Now Black is already leading the game, meaning White should look out for the draw. 42.Rg5 Rd5 43.Rxg7 c4 44.Rgb7 c3 45.Rxd6 Rxd6 46.Rxb4+ Kd3 47.Rb3! Kd2 48.Kf3 c2 49.Rb2 Kd1 50.Rxc2 Kxc2 51.Ke4= 41.Rb5 If White wants to go for the rook ending, he should start with this move. Ke6! 42.Rxh5 Kd7 43.Rhxc5 Bxc5 44.Rxc5 b3 45.Rb5 Rd3= Black's passed b-pawn, supported by his remaining pieces, is the balance to White's extra pawn. 41...g6 41...Ke6?! Risky in my mind. 42.Rxh5 c4 43.Rc5 c3 44.Ke2 Rd2+ 45.Ke3 Kd7 46.Rc4 g5 47.h4 gxh4 48.gxh4 Ke6 49.Rb5 Rd1 50.h5 Black's passers are stopped and now White can try to send his pawns into the race. Probably White can't get much out of it, but Black has a lot of problems to master. 42.Re4 Agreeing to the swap of rooks after an intermezzo of two moves. 42.Ke2 Rd5 43.Rc4 g5 This is a solid defensive set-up. White's rook on c4 is less effective than on e4, so Black is ok. 44.g4+ hxg4 45.hxg4+ Ke6 46.f4 gxf4 47.Rxf4 Re5+ 48.Kf3 Kd5= 42...Rd3+! Forced, to stop White's attack starting with g3-g4. 43.Re3 Rxe3+
Howsoever White recaputres on e3, he is up an exchange for one pawn and the passers are still on b4 plus c5. What makes this situation special is Black's central king. Blocking White's king, protecting the bishop and supporting his pawns. In total there is nothing much Black has to worry about. 44.fxe3 44.Kxe3?! Ke5 45.Kd3 Kd5 46.f4 c4+ 47.Kc2 Kc5 48.Ra6= 44...Ke5 45.g4 45.e4 c4 46.Rb5+ Ke6 47.Ke3 c3 48.Kd3 Kf6= 45...hxg4+ 46.hxg4 Kd5 Black already has several possibilities to proceed, let's take the most active one. 46...c4 47.Rb5+ Ke6 48.Ke4 c3 49.Kd3 Kf6 50.Rb6 Ke6= 47.e4+ Ke5 48.Ke3 Be7! 49.Kd3 49.Rxg6 c4 50.Rg8 Bc5+ 51.Kd2 Kxe4= 49...b3! 50.Rxb3 c4+ 51.Kxc4 Kxe4= 40.Kf3? Quite surprisingly this doesn't win. As seen before, the main idea is to take away squares from the black rook on the d-file. Correct idea, wrong move order. Indeed the refutation of this mistake is very deep, as we will see. 40.g4!
Here too this immediate push is the only way to win. Actually we have talked about and seen almost everything in the analysis of 39.g4 already. For example if Black plays Rd1-d2 in one of the next three moves, this will directly transpose to a line, where Black played Ra1-a2-d2 after 39.g4. 40...hxg4 41.hxg4 g5 Black has to try something to prevent f2-f4. 41...Kg5?! 42.Re6+- 42.Kf3 Rd5 43.Ke2! zugzwang Kf7 44.Rb7+ Kf6 44...Kf8 45.Rd7! Re5 46.Kf3 Rxe4 47.Kxe4 Be7 48.Kd5+- 45.Rd7 The next zugzwang, forcing the loss of a pawn for Black. Thereafter White's task will be more of a technical one. E.g.: c4 45...b3 46.Rb7 Bf4 47.Rb6+ Kf7 48.Rxb3 Rd2+ 49.Ke1 Rd7 50.Rh3+- 46.Rxc4 Ke6 47.Rh7 Re5+ 48.Kd3 Bc5 49.Rh6+ Kf7 50.f3 Re3+ 51.Kd2 Re5 52.Rc6+- 40...Kf7? Going out of the pin might look attractive, but that is not Black's real problem in the position. The black king absolutely needs contact to the square g5. Giving this up means Black is clearly lost now, as White can realise the pawn pushes f2-f4 and g3-g4 quite comfortably. 40...g5? Loses because this pawn obstructs his own king and because Black will fall to zugzwang very quickly. 41.Ke2 Rd5 42.g4! hxg4 43.hxg4 This is a transposition to 40.g4 hxg4 41.hxg4 g5 42.Kf3 Rd5 43.Ke2. 40...Rd2? Also insufficient, because the white king can stay on f3. 41.g4! Transposing to 39.g4 Ra2 40.Rb6 Rd2 41.Kf3. 40...Rd3+! For a successful defence Black has to keep his king on f6, his pawn mustn't block g5 and the white king has to be kicked away from f3. A lot of conditions. Black will have to balance on a fine line for a long time in order not to fall into the losing zone. 41.Ke2 41.Re3?! Rxe3+ Giving just the drawn ending we have studied in the main line after 39...Kf5. 41...Rd5
This might look familiar and it is indeed very similar to positions, we have analysed already. The point is, if White tries to create his duo infernale, Black has some new resources to react vigorously. The following lines will show this in detail. 42.Ke3 The most critical test. Now it is all about the optimal placement of the pieces for both sides, before White goes for the inevitable g3-g4. 42.f4 g5! The first key, Black doesn't give the pawn f4 a rest. Mandatory in this moment, but it is only possible, because g5 is protected by the king on f6. So White can't get anything out of f4xg5, contrary to the game. 42...Kf5? 43.Kf3 Rd3+ 44.Re3 Rxe3+ 45.Kxe3 The difference to the ending we have seen before after 39...Kf5 is the white pawn on f4. Now it is the white king winning the fight for the centre against his black colleague. Ke6 46.Ke4 g6 47.Rc6 b3 48.Rb6 c4 49.h4! Kd7 50.Kd4 Kc7 51.Rb5+- 43.Re8 gxf4 44.gxf4 Now this white pawn is too weak. True, White can win both passers for the f4 in all lines, but as a result only one pair of pawns will be left on the board. c4 44...b3?! 45.Rd8 Ke7 46.Rh8 c4 47.Rh7+ Ke6 48.Rc7 Rb5 49.f5+ Rxf5 50.Rxc4± If Black can't enforce h5-h4, he still has to show, how he wants to organise his defence. 45.Re4 c3 45...Kf5 46.Rxc4 Bxf4 47.Rbxb4 Bg3 46.Rexb4 Kf5 47.Rc4 Bxf4 48.Rxc3 h4 There we are. White can claim a slight advantage. Important: In case a pair of rooks is exchanged, we are in the ending of Kasparov-Yusupov, Linares 1993. Blocked pawns h3/h4 is a draw, if the defending king is not in a losing zone, like boxed in on g7. As Black's king is good here, White can't do very much. 42.g4 This way of starting the desired pawn set-up has given Black a lot of headache in our analysis for quite some time now. hxg4 43.hxg4 Kg5!
The second key. Against the white pawn on g4, Black uses the square on g5 for his king for counterplay and to prevent f2-f4. 44.Kf3 44.Re6 With the white king on f3, this would be the winning move. With the g4-pawn protected, White could launch a winning attack immediately. See for example 39.g4 hxg4 40.hxg4 Ra2 41.Rb6 Rd2 42.Kf3 Rd5 43.Ra6 Kg5. So this is the third key of 40...Rd3+. Re5+ Not the only way, but the simplest. 45.Rxe5+ Bxe5 46.Kf3 Bd4= 44.Rb5 Bf4 Forcing events to reach a drawn one vs one pawn position. 45.Kf3 Rd3+ 46.Kg2 Rc3 47.Rexb4 Kxg4 48.Re4 Kf5 49.Rd4 g5 50.Rd5+ Ke4 51.Rdxc5 Rxc5 52.Rxc5 g4!= 44...Rd3+ 45.Re3 Rxe3+ 46.fxe3 Here Black's king is not central, but on g5. So he has some problems to solve. To neutralise the white passed e-pawn, he has to give up both his queenside passers. Bf8 47.Rc6 g6 48.e4 b3! 49.Rb6 c4 50.Rb5+ Kh6! The long diagonal must stay open for the bishop. 51.Ke3 Bg7! 52.e5 c3! 53.Kd3 c2 54.Kd2 Kg5 55.e6+ Kf6 56.Rxb3 Kxe6 57.Kxc2 After some tactical spectacle we have come to another ending rook vs bishop, one pawn each on the same file. This time White can't win, because Black can set up a fortress around his g6. E.g.: Kf7 58.Rb7+ Kf8 59.Kd3 Bf6 60.Ke4 Kg8 61.Kd5 Kf8 62.Ke6 Bc3= 42...Rd1! Black should take the chance to transfer his rook to the most active position. 42...g6? This sets a target on g6 for the white rooks on the 6th rank. In the main line White can force this move, however here he gets the additional option to place his rook on c6 in the right moment. 43.Ra6! Rd1 44.g4 hxg4 45.hxg4 Kg5
The lesson, we have learned from 42.g4. Whenever White plays this pawn push, Black exchanges one pair of pawns and goes for Kg5. 46.Rc6! This is the key position, only possible because of the volutarily 42...g6. Rd5 47.Re6 As White's rook is on c6, Black can't exchange rooks on e5 in this moment. So he has to change his defensive set-up, which is a major progress for White. Bf4+ 48.Kf3 Rd3+ 49.Kg2 Kxg4 50.Rxc5 g5 51.Re4 White's next goal is to win the black b-pawn, obviously. But he can't do this, if this includes the exchange of rooks and Black can play g5-g4 afterwards. However with the help of zugzwang White can get the job done. b3 52.Rb4 Kh4 53.Rcb5 Rc3 54.Rd5 zugzwang 54.Rxb3? Rxb3 55.Rxb3 g4!= 54.Re5? Rc2! 55.Reb5 b2 56.Rxb2 Rxb2 57.Rxb2 g4!= 54...Rh3 54...Kg4 55.Re5 Rc2 56.Reb5 Rc3 57.Rxb3 Now this is possible, as the black king on g4 obstructs his own pawn. 55.Re5! With the idea of Re5-e3. Only with the black rook on h3 this is possible, as seen in move 54. Rh2+ 56.Kg1 Rh3 57.Re3 b2 58.Re2 b1Q+ 59.Rxb1 This type of position is probably winning, as pointed out by Zoran. White's plan is to drive Black's king away from his pawn. As play is unforced I give a sample line for demonstration. Two rooks on an open board in full action, so please enjoy. Kg4 60.Ra2 Kf5 61.Rb5+ Kg4 62.Ra4 Rh4 63.Rb3 Kf5 64.Kg2 Rh2+ 65.Kf1 Rh8 66.Ke2 Rh1 67.Rc3 Kg4 68.Rg3+ Kf5 69.Ra5+ Kg6 70.Rd3 Kh5 71.Rd1 Rh3 72.Ra8 Rb3 73.Rh8+ A key rook attack from the backside. With a black pawn on g7 for example this method to kick away Black's king would be impossible. Kg6 73...Kg4 74.Rg1+ Kf5 75.Rf8+ Ke4 76.f3+ 74.Rd3 Rb6 75.Kf3 Ra6 76.Rb3 Bc7 77.Rc8 Rf6+ 78.Kg2 Be5 79.Rb5 Bf4 80.Kh3 Bd2 81.Kg3 Rd6 82.Rbc5 Rd3+ 83.f3 Kh5 83...Bf4+ 84.Kg4 Rd4 85.Rc4 Rd2 86.R4c6+ Bd6 87.f4! Rd4 88.Rd8 Rxf4+ 89.Kg3+- 84.Rh8+ Kg6 85.Rc6+ Kf5 86.Rf8+ Ke5 87.Rc4 Kd5 88.Ra4 Bf4+ 89.Kg4 Kc6 90.Rf5 Kd7 91.Ra6 Ke7 92.Rff6 Re3 93.Rh6 Kf7 94.Rh7+ Kg8 95.Raa7 Rc3 96.Rhd7 Rc8 97.Rg7+ Kh8 98.Rh7+ Kg8 99.Rag7+ Kf8 100.Rxg5+- 43.g4 Of course we have to check the consequences here with the white rook on b6 as well. 43.Ra6 Kf5 44.g4+ hxg4 45.hxg4+ Kg5 46.Ra7 g6 Now this is forced, but White's rook on a7 is not in the right place. If White could play this rook to c6, he would get the key position. 47.Ra6 Bh2 The bishop is free of duty to protect the c5-pawn, that's the difference. 48.Rc4 Bd6 43.Rc6 Waiting and placing this rook behind the c-pawn. The downside is, that White doesn't have Rc6-c7. Kf5 Forcing the events, as after this White has to go for g3-g4. 44.g4+ hxg4 45.hxg4+ Kg5
46.Ke2 Rd5 47.Re6 At least White has managed to revitalise his attack. Be5! 48.Kf3 Bf6! 49.Kg3 Because of mating threats White will win Black's c-pawn now. Although he can keep two pawns on the kingside, this is still not enough to get a decisive advantage. Rd3+ 50.f3 b3! 50...Rc3? 51.Rcd6! Kg6 52.Rd5 b3 53.Rb6 b2 54.Rd2! Kg5 55.Rbxb2 Be5+ 56.Kg2+- 51.Rxc5+ Kg6 52.Rb5 Kf7 53.Ra6 White's only way to make progress is to win the black b-pawn by offering his own g-pawn. But first he can annoy Black with his rooks for a few moves. 53.Reb6 b2 54.g5 b1Q 55.Rxb1 Bxg5 53...b2! 54.Rb7+ Kg8 55.g5 55.Ra5 Kh7 56.Kf4 Kg6 and Black is safe 55...Bxg5 56.Rxb2 Last pawns standing, f3 vs g7. White's problem, he can't force the swap of the rooks. Black's problem, he can't agree to the exchange without hesitation. It depends on the exact placement of the pieces. Rd4 57.Rb8+ Kh7 58.Rb7 Bh4+ 59.Kh3 Bd8 60.Re6 Bg5 61.Re4 Thus White can use his rooks to block any rank he wants to. Rd3 62.Kg4 Bf6 63.Rb1 Kg6 64.f4 Rd5 65.Reb4 Ra5 66.Rb5 Ra4 66...Rxb5? 67.Rxb5+- Mate in 72 moves. 67.R1b4 Ra1 68.f5+ In a practical game White could try some more of playing around, before commiting himself like this. Kh6 69.Rb3 Rg1+ 70.Rg3 Rxg3+ 71.Kxg3 Kg5 72.Kf3 g6= 43...hxg4 44.hxg4 Kg5
45.Rb7 45.Rc6 Bf8 45...g6 Again, if the white rook on b7 could move to c6 here, White could get the key position seen in the line 42...g6. 46.Rb6 Rd5 46...Bh2 47.Kf3 Rd3+ 48.Re3 Rd6 49.Rb5 Rf6+ 50.Kg2 Bd6 51.f3 Kh4 52.Rd3± 47.Rb5 47.Rc6 b3 48.Rb6 c4! 49.Rxc4 Bc5+= 47.Kf3 Rd3+ 48.Ke2 Rd5 49.Ke3 c4!= 47...Bf8 47...Kh4?! 48.Rexb4 g5 49.Rc4± 48.Kf3 White should try to manoeuvre on, as the alternative unfortunately runs into a theoretical draw. 48.Rexb4 cxb4 49.Rxd5+ Kxg4 Tablebase draw, but Black's position is way more fragile, than it might seem. First White can force the win of the b-pawn quite instructively. 50.Rd4+ Kg5 51.Ke4 Kf6 52.Rd5 Bh6 53.Kd3 Ke6 54.Rb5 Bf8 55.Ke4 Kf6 56.Rb6+ Kf7! 57.Kd5 Be7 58.Ke5 Bc5 59.Rb7+ Be7! 60.Ra7 zugzwang b3! 61.Rb7 b2! 62.Ke4 Ke6 63.Rxb2 Bf6 64.Rb6+ Kf7! 65.Kd5 However even with a flexible pawn on f2 vs g6 White can't win, accurate defence assumed. 48...Rd3+ 49.Ke2 Rd5 50.Ke3 Kh4! Avoiding the zugzwang by a hair's breadth. 51.Kf3 51.Rb7 Kg5 52.Rf7 Bd6 53.f4+ Kxg4 54.Re6 g5= 51...Rd3+ 52.Kg2 The white king is back, where he started long ago. White's idea is get something out of Black's somewhat open king. But the worst should be over for Black, e.g.: Rd7 53.Rb8 Re7! 54.Rc4 Rf7! 55.f3 Bd6 56.Rh8+ Kg5 57.Rd8 Bf8 58.Re4 Kh6 59.Rb8 Kg7 60.g5 Be7 61.Rb5 Bxg5 62.Rxc5 41.Ke2 The obvious and more elegant solution. The king moves aside with tempo for f2-f4. 41.g4 This meanwhile well-known pawn move works too. hxg4+ 42.hxg4 Rd5 42...g5 43.Ke2 Rd5 transposes to 40.g4 hxg4 41.hxg4 g5 42.Kf3 Rd5 43.Ke2 Kf7 43.g5 The worse position of Black's king on f7 allows even more options for White. Rd2 44.Kg4 g6 45.f4+- 41...Rd5
42.f4! 42.g4? This wasn't on White's agenda here anyway. But quite interestingly, at this moment it is a real failure. Black can exchange rooks and give White a backward f-pawn, demonstrating the downside of moving the white g-pawn first for once. hxg4 43.Rb7+ 43.hxg4 Re5! 44.Rxe5 Bxe5 45.g5 g6 46.Kd3 Bd4 47.f3 Kg7 43...Kf6! 44.hxg4 Re5! 45.Kd3 g5! We have seen this idea to prevent f2-f4 already many times, but here it works. 46.Rb6 Ke7 47.Rxe5+ Bxe5 48.Kc4 Bd4 49.Rg6 The white king has come in-between the passers and he wins a pawn now, alas it is not enough. 49.f3 Kf7 49...Bf6! 49...Bxf2? 50.Rxg5 Bd4 51.Rf5!+- 50.Kxc5 Kf7 51.Rh6 b3 52.Rh3 b2 This far advanced passer holds for Black, which isn't a surprise. Nevertheless he has to avoid some pitfalls. 53.Rb3 Ke6 54.Rb6+ Kf7 55.Kd5 Bc3! 56.Rb7+ Kf6 57.Rb6+ Kf7 58.Ke4 Ke7! 59.Kd3 59.Kf5 Bd4 60.Rb7+ Kd6 61.Kxg5 Bc3 62.Kf5 Kc5 63.Rb3 Kc4 64.Rxb2 Bxb2= 59...Be5 60.Kc2 Bd4 61.Rxb2 A last test for Black. Bxb2 62.Kxb2 Kf6 63.Kc3 Ke5= 42...g6 Black can't stop g3-g4 anymore, but also setting up a defensive line thereafter isn't really possible. His position is collapsing and we can admire White's attacking power in all its glory, especially in some of the side lines. 42...g5 43.fxg5 Reminding Black of his mistake 40...Kf7. The latter now misses the reply Kf6xg5 very dearly. Bxg3 44.g6+ Kg8 45.Re8+ Kg7 46.Re7+ Kg8 47.Rbb7 Rd8 48.Kf3 Bd6 49.Rg7+ Kh8 50.Rh7+ Kg8 51.Ke4 c4 52.Rbg7+ Kf8 53.Kf5 Bc5 54.Rc7 Bd4 55.g7++- 42...Bf8 43.g4 hxg4 44.hxg4 Rd6 45.Rb7+ Kg8 45...Kf6 46.g5+ Kf5 47.Re8+- 46.Re8 Rf6 47.Kf3 Rf7 48.Rbb8 g5 49.f5 Kg7 50.Rec8 Bd6 51.Rg8+ Kh7 52.Rh8+ Kg7 53.Rbg8+ Kf6 54.Rg6+ Ke7 55.Ke4 b3 56.Kd5 Bf4 57.Rb6+- 43.g4 43.Rb7+ Here and in some of the following moves White can insert this check, if he likes. After that, it is best to continue as in the game. Kf6 44.g4 43...hxg4 43...Kf6?! Allowing White to play a bit cat and mouse. 44.g5+ Kf5 45.Ke3 Rd1 46.Rxd6! Re1+ 47.Kf2!+- A final finesse in a nice variation. 44.hxg4
44...g5 44...Bf8 45.g5! Pawns on the colour of the bishop. Rd7 46.Rf6+ Kg7 47.Ree6 c4 48.Rxg6+ Kf7 49.Rgf6+ Kg7 50.Rb6 c3 51.Rfc6+- 44...Kf6 45.Ra6 Playing for zugzwang is probably the most brutal here. Kg7 45...b3 46.Rb6 45...g5 46.f5 46.g5 Kf7 46...Bf8 47.Ree6 47.Ra7+ Kf8 48.Rd7 b3 49.Rb7 Rf5 50.Kf3 Rf7 51.Rxb3+- 45.f5 This protected passer gives new nice outposts for the white rooks on e6 and g6. The rest of the game is kind of a tragedy for Black. Be5 45...Re5 The swap of rooks doesn't reduce Black's pains anymore. The bishop will be overloaded quickly. 46.Rxe5 Bxe5 47.Kd3 Bg3 47...Bf6 48.Kc4 Be7 49.Kd5 Bf8 50.Ke5 c4 51.Rb7+ Ke8 52.Rc7 c3 53.Ke6 Kd8 54.Rc4+- 48.Rg6 Be5 48...Bh4 49.Kc4 48...Bf4 49.Rc6 49.Kc4 Bf6 50.Kxc5 b3 51.Rh6 b2 52.Rh1 Bc3 53.Kd5 Bd2 54.Rh7+ Kf6 55.Rb7 Bc3 56.Ke4+- zugzwang 46.Rb5
46...Kf6 This costs the beloved b-pawn. But the only question remaining is, in which way Black wants to lose. 46...Bd6 47.Rb7+ Kf8 48.Rd7 b3 49.Ra4 Re5+ 50.Kf3 b2 51.Rb7 Re7 52.Rxb2+- 46...Bc3 The most attractive line, in my mind. 47.Rb7+ Kf8 48.Ree7 The childhood dream of all rooks: Seventh heaven. c4 49.Rec7 Rd2+ 50.Ke3 Rd3+ 51.Ke4 Rd4+ 52.Ke5! The only way, White has to go through a discovered check. However his last remaining pawn will support the rooks for the final attack. Rxg4+ 53.Kd5 Rd4+ 54.Kc5 Rd8 55.f6! g4 56.Kxc4 g3 57.Rh7 Rc8+ 58.Kb3 Bxf6 59.Rhf7++- 47.Rexb4 Bd4 48.Rb6+ Ke5 49.Kf3! Simply nice. Stopping last possible illusions of getting counterplay by Ke5-f4. Rd8 50.Rb8 Rd7 51.R4b7 Rd6 52.Rb6 Rd7 53.Rg6 Kd5 54.Rxg5 Be5 55.f6 Kd4 56.Rb1 Meanwhile Black is down an exchange and a pawn. Moreover White isn't slowing down a single bit. Confronted with the new nasty threat of a skewer along the d-file, Black resigned. 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Fischer,R-Spassky,B-1–01972C95Reykjavik m(10)

Helmut Kahovec used his usual block analysis method with Stockfish 14 to analyse the endgame:

 
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Stockfish 14.1 NNUE on Android 10 uses 8 cores, 16 GB hash, and the complete 3 to 6 men Syzygy TB. [xx] indicates the ply depth while evaluating the next move. During an analysis the GUI sorts candidate moves from better to worse. While playing out a position under the chosen time controls Stockfish 14.1 NNUE soon reaches ply depths of about 36 or more. Thus, for a reasonable single-step or block analysis of a played-out line, it is necessary to use a 16 GB hash, ply depths of about 36 or more, and at least two PVs. Candidate moves will be played out only, if they are important and if their evaluation value is below the winning threshold of 4.00 points for the respective side. Playing out will stop when a Syzygy TB position is reached. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Nb8 10.d4 Nbd7 11.Nbd2 Bb7 12.Bc2 Re8 13.b4 Bf8 14.a4 Nb6 15.a5 Nbd7 16.Bb2 Qb8 17.Rb1 c5 18.bxc5 dxc5 19.dxe5 Nxe5 20.Nxe5 Qxe5 21.c4 Qf4 22.Bxf6 Qxf6 23.cxb5 Red8 24.Qc1 Qc3 25.Nf3 Qxa5 26.Bb3 axb5 27.Qf4 Rd7 28.Ne5 Qc7 29.Rbd1 Re7 30.Bxf7+ Rxf7 31.Qxf7+ Qxf7 32.Nxf7 Bxe4 33.Rxe4 Kxf7 34.Rd7+ Kf6 35.Rb7 Ra1+ 36.Kh2 Bd6+ 37.g3 b4 38.Kg2 Position of Karsten Mueller's endgame riddle. h5 This move is not included among Stockfish's four best candidate moves. [30] 0.00: 38...Ra6 Playing out this position by Stockfish 14.1 NNUE under the time control 1/297+3 gives: 39.Re2 Rc6 40.Kf3 Be5 41.Ke4 Ke6 42.Re3 Bd4 43.Re2 Rd6 44.f4 Bc3 45.Rc7 Rd4+ 46.Kf3+ Kd6 47.Ree7 Rd3+ 48.Ke4 Rd4+ 49.Kf3 Rd3+ 50.Ke4 Rd4+ 51.Ke3 Rd5 52.Red7+ Ke6 53.Re7+ Kd6 54.Red7+ Ke6 55.Rxd5 Kxd5 56.Kd3 Bf6 57.g4 b3 58.g5 Bd4 59.h4 Ke6 60.Ke4 Kd6 61.Rb7 b2 62.f5 Kc6 63.Rb8 Kd6 64.Kd3 Ke5 65.f6 gxf6 66.Rb7 fxg5 67.hxg5 c4+ 68.Kc2 Kf4 69.Rxh7 Kxg5 This position is a Syzygy TB draw. [30] 0.20: 38...Be5 Playing out this position by Stockfish 14.1 NNUE under the time control 1/357+3 gives: 39.g4 Bd4 40.f4 Ra2+ 41.Kf3 Ra3+ 42.Kg2 Ra2+ 43.Kf1 Rh2 44.Rb8 Kf7 45.Rb7+ Kf6 46.Ke1 Bc3+ 47.Kd1 Rxh3 48.Ke2 h6 49.Rb6+ Kf7 50.Ree6 Rg3 51.f5 Rxg4 52.Rb7+ Kf8 52...Kg8 White wins. A single-step analysis gives: 53.Re8+ Kh7 54.Rbb8 Re4+ 55.Rxe4 h5 56.Rh4 Kh6 57.Rb6+ Kg5 58.Rc4 Bd4 59.Rxd4 cxd4 60.f6 gxf6 61.Rxb4 This position is a Syzygy TB win for White. According to Stockfish, White mates in 21 moves. 53.Rb8+ Kf7 54.Rb7+ Kf8 55.Rb8+ Kf7 56.Rc6 56.Rb7+ Draw by threefold repetition. 56...Re4+ 57.Kf3 Re8 58.Rxe8 Kxe8 59.Rxc5 Kd7 60.Ke4 h5 61.f6 Bxf6 62.Rxh5 This position is a Syzygy TB draw. [30] 1.78: 38...Kf5 Playing out this position by Stockfish 14.1 NNUE under the time control 1/297+3 gives: 39.Re8 Kf6 40.g4 Ra6 41.f4 c4 42.Kf3 c3 43.Ke4 c2 44.Rc8 b3 45.Rxb3 Ra4+ 46.Kd3 Bxf4 47.Rc6+ Kg5 48.Rc5+ Kh6 49.Kxc2 Ra6 50.h4 Re6 51.Rb7 Kg6 [40] 4.12: 51...Kg6 [40] 4.42: 51...Ra6 [40] 4.72: 51...Be3 [40] 4.74: 51...Be5 52.Rf5 Be5 53.Rb5 Bc7 54.Rg5+ Kf7 55.Rb7 Rc6+ 56.Kd3 h6 57.Re5 Kf6 58.Re8 Bd6 59.h5 Ra6 60.Re1 Be5 61.Rb5 Rd6+ 62.Kc4 Rc6+ 63.Kb3 Re6 64.Rd5 Re7 65.Kc4 Rc7+ 66.Kd3 Rc3+ 67.Kd2 Rg3 68.Rdxe5 Rxg4 69.R5e4 Rg3 70.Re6+ Kf5 71.Re7 g5 72.hxg6 Kxg6 This position is a Syzygy TB win for White. [30] 1.96: 38...h6 39.Rb6 [30] 2.53: 39.g4 Playing out this position by Stockfish 14.1 NNUE under the time control 1/297+3 gives: Ra6 [30] 2.39: 39...Ra6 [30] 3.08: 39...Ra8 [30] 3.17: 39...hxg4 [30] 4.10: 39...Rd1 39...hxg4 Playing out this position by Stockfish 14.1 NNUE under the time control 1/297+3 gives: 40.hxg4 Ra6 41.f4 Bf8 42.Re8 Bd6 43.Kf3 c4 44.g5+ Kf5 45.Rb5+ Kg6 46.Re6+ Kh5 47.g6+ Kh4 48.Rb7 Ra3+ 49.Ke4 Bf8 50.Re8 c3 51.Rxf8 c2 52.Rh8+ Kg3 53.Rh1 b3 54.f5 Ra4+ 55.Kd3 Rh4 56.Rc1 Rh8 57.f6 gxf6 58.Ke4 f5+ 59.Kxf5 Rf8+ 60.Kg5 b2 61.Rxc2 Kf3 62.g7 Ra8 63.Rcxb2 This position is a Syzygy TB win for White. According to Stockfish, White mates in 10 moves. 40.gxh5 Be5 41.Rg4 Kf5 42.Rb5 Rc6 43.Rc4 b3 [36] 3.56: 43...b3 [36] 6.30: 43...Bc3 44.Rxb3 Bd4 45.Rc2 Kg5 46.Rg3+ Kxh5 47.Rg4 Ra6 48.Re2 Ra8 49.Re6 Rd8 50.Rb6 Ra8 51.Rd6 Rc8 52.Rd5+ Kh6 53.Rf4 Rc6 54.Rff5 Rg6+ 55.Kf3 Ra6 56.h4 Kh7 57.h5 Ra2 58.Kg2 Rc2 59.Rf8 Re2 60.Rdd8 Kh6 61.Rf5 Kh7 62.Rc8 Rd2 63.Kg3 Rd1 64.f4 Rg1+ 65.Kh2 Rf1 66.Rf7 Re1 67.Rff8 g6 68.hxg6+ Kxg6 69.Rc6+ Kg7 70.Rd8 Re7 71.Kh3 Ra7 72.Rdc8 Ra1 72...-- White threatens: 73.R8c7+ Rxc7 74.Rxc7+ This position is a Syzygy TB win for White. 73.R8c7+ Kh8 74.Rd7 Rh1+ 75.Kg2 Rg1+ 76.Kh2 Rg4 77.Rc8+ Rg8 78.Rxg8+ Kxg8 This position is a Syzygy TB win for White. [30] 0.70: 39.Kf3 [30] 0.56: 39.Rb6 [30] 0.47: 39.Rb5 39...Rd1 [40] 0.70: 39...Kf5 Playing out this position by Stockfish 14.1 NNUE under the time control 1/357+3 now gives: 40.Kf3 [40] 0.11: 40.Kf3 [40] 0.11: 40.Rh4 [40] 0.00: 40.Re3 [40] 0.00: 40.Re2 40...Ra3+ [34] 0.24: 40...Ra3+ [34] 6.91: 40...Rd1 41.Re3 Rxe3+ 42.fxe3 [40] 0.21: 42.fxe3 [40] 0.00: 42.Kxe3 42...Ke5 43.e4 c4 44.Rb5+ Ke6 45.Ke3 g6 46.g4 hxg4 47.hxg4 c3 48.Ke2 [60] 0.00: 48.Ke2 [60] 0.00: 48.Rb6 [60] 0.00: 48.Kd3 [60] 0.00: 48.g5 48...Bf8 49.Kd3 Be7 50.g5 Bd6 51.Rb6 Ke5 52.Rc6 Ke6 53.Kc2 Ke7 54.Ra6 Ke6 Draw. White cannot make any progress. Playing out by Stockfish 14.1 NNUE under the time control 1/57+3 subsequently gives: 55.Kd3 Ke5 56.Rb6 Ke6 57.Rb5 Be7 58.Rb6+ Bd6 59.Rb7 Ke5 60.Rd7 Bb8 61.Rb7 Bd6 62.Rd7 Bb8 63.Rd8 Bd6 64.Rg8 b3 65.Kxc3 Kxe4 66.Rxg6 This position is a Syzygy TB draw. For example: Bf4 67.Rg8 Kf5 68.g6 Be5+ 69.Kxb3 Kg5 70.Kc4 Kh6 71.Kd5 Bg7 72.Ke6 Kxg6 73.Ke7 Kh6 74.Kf7 Bd4 Draw. [40] 2.87: 39...Rd1 [40] 9.71: 39...Kf7 [40] 9.76: 39...h4 40.Kf3 [30] 3.80: 40.g4 Playing out this position by Stockfish 14.1 NNUE under the time control 1/297+3 gives: Rd2 Black pins White's f-pawn. 40...hxg4 Playing out this position by Stockfish 14.1 NNUE under the time control 1/297+3 gives: 41.hxg4 Rd2 42.Kf3 Rd5 43.Ra6 g6 44.Rb6 Kf7 45.Rb5 Rd3+ 46.Ke2 Ra3 47.Rb6 Bh2 48.g5 Ra7 49.Rf6+ Kg7 50.Ree6 Kh7 51.Rxg6 Bc7 52.Rh6+ Kg8 53.Reg6+ Kf8 54.Ra6 Rxa6 55.Rxa6 Bh2 56.Rc6 b3 57.Kd3 b2 58.Kc2 b1R 59.Rf6+ Ke7 60.Kxb1 c4 61.f4 Bg1 62.f5 Bc5 63.Re6+ Kf7 64.Rc6 Bd4 65.Rxc4 This position is a Syzygy TB win for White. According to Stockfish, White mates in 14 moves. 41.Kf3 White wants to position his king on e3 and move his f-pawn to f4. Rd5 In this line the following evaluation values and ranking of the respective candidate moves show that playing out under the time control 1/297+3 was sufficient and led to the correct result. Note, however, that after some point during the actual playing-out ply depths of significantly more than 40 were reached. Therefore, the evaluation values and rankings of candidate moves presented might not always exactly correspond to those during the actual play. [36] 3.95: 41...Rd5 [36] 4.83: 41...hxg4+ 42.gxh5 [36] 4.59: 42.Ra6 [36] 4.01: 42.gxh5 42...Kf5 [36] 4.18: 42...Kf5 [36] 5.17: 42...Kg5 43.Rh4 [36] 4.39: 43.Rh4 [36] 0.91: 43.Rg4 43...Bc7 [36] 3.47: 43...Bc7 [36] 6.13: 43...Kg5 [36] 6.29: 43...Ke6 [36] 6.48: 43...Rd3+ 44.Rb5 [36] 4.77: 44.Rb7 [36] 4.23: 44.Rb5 [36] 2.75: 44.Ra6 [36] 2.67: 44.Rc6 44...Ke5 [43] 4.15: 44...Be5 [43] 4.72: 44...Ke5 45.h6 gxh6 46.Ke3 Kf6 47.Rhxb4 Bd6 Block analysis. [43] 4.94: 44...Ke6 [43] 5.04: 44...Bd8 45.h6 gxh6 46.Ke3 Kf6 47.Rhxb4 Rh5 [36] 5.04: 47...Rh5 48.h4 Ke6 Block analysis. [36] 5.15: 47...Rd6 [36] 5.21: 47...Bd8 [36] 5.21: 47...Kg6 48.h4 Rd5 [36] 5.04: 48...Ke6 [36] 5.11: 48...Rd5 49.Ra4 Kf5 Block analysis. [36] 5.22: 48...Re5+ [36] 5.22: 48...Rf5 49.Ra4 Kg6 [40] 5.21: 49...Kf5 [40] 5.26: 49...Re5+ [40] 5.39: 49...Kg6 50.Rb7 Bd6 51.Rb3 Block analysis. [40] 5.50: 49...Rd6 50.Rb7 Bd6 51.Rb6 [40] 6.45: 51.Rb3 [40] 6.30: 51.Rb2 [40] 5.40: 51.Rb6 Kh5 52.Rc4 Block analysis. [40] 5.20: 51.Rc4 51...Kh5 52.Rc6 [40] 6.10: 52.Rc4 [40] 6.07: 52.Rc6 [40] 5.93: 52.Kf3 [40] 5.93: 52.Ke4 52...Bf8 [40] 6.47: 52...Be7 [40] 6.47: 52...Bf8 53.Re4 Bg7 54.Kf4 Block analysis. [40] 6.49: 52...Bb8 [40] 6.52: 52...Rd1 53.Re4 Bg7 54.Re7 [40] 6.86: 54.Kf4 [40] 6.62: 54.Kf3 [40] 6.62: 54.Re7 [40] 6.12: 54.f4 54...Bb2 [40] 6.92: 54...Bc3 [40] 6.96: 54...Bb2 [40] 6.96: 54...Ba1 [40] 7.04: 54...Bd4+ 55.Kf4 [40] 7.00: 55.Ke4 [40] 7.00: 55.Kf4 Bc1+ 56.Kg3 Bb2 57.Ree6 Be5+ Block analysis. [40] 6.28: 55.Ree6 [40] 5.84: 55.Ke2 55...Bc1+ 56.Kg3 Bb2 57.Ree6 Bg7 [40] 6.92: 57...Be5+ [40] 7.11: 57...Bg7 [40] 7.22: 57...Bc1 [40] m7: 57...Rd3+ 58.Kh3 [40] 7.29: 58.Kf4 [40] 7.14: 58.Re7 [40] 7.08: 58.Kh3 Rd3+ 59.Kg2 Rd5 60.Kg3 Block analysis. [40] 7.08: 58.Rg6 58...Rd3+ 59.Kg2 Rd5 60.Red6 [40] 8.46: 60.Rg6 [40] 8.46: 60.Red6 Rf5 61.Rg6 Rf7 62.Kh3 Block analysis. [40] 8.46: 60.Rcd6 [40] 7.77: 60.Kh3 60...Rf5 61.Rg6 Rf7 62.Rcd6 [40] 9.90: 62.Kh3 [40] 9.66: 62.f3 [40] 8.87: 62.f4 [40] 8.68: 62.Rge6 [40] 8.68: 62.Rcd6 Be5 63.Rxh6+ Kg4 64.Rd5 Kf4 65.Rxc5 Rg7+ 66.Kf1 Rf7 Block analysis. 62...Be5 63.Rxh6+ Kg4 64.Rd5 Kf4 65.Rxc5 Rg7+ 66.Kf1 Rd7 [40] 152.57: 66...Ra7 [40] 152.57: 66...Bd4 [40] 152.58: 66...Rb7 [40] 152.58: 66...Re7 [40] 152.58: 66...Rg8 [40] 152.58: 66...Ba1 [40] 152.58: 66...Bb2 [40] 152.60: 66...Bb8 [40] 152.60: 66...Rd7 67.Rh5 Rd1+ Block analysis. 67.Rh5 Bb2 [40] 152.62: 67...Bg7 [40] 152.62: 67...Bf6 [40] 152.62: 67...Ba1 [40] 152.62: 67...Bb2 68.Rhd5 Re7 Block analysis. 68.Rhd5 Rxd5 [46] 152.63: 68...Re7 [46] 152.64: 68...Bd4 [46] 152.64: 68...Rxd5 69.Rxd5 Ke4 Block analysis. [46] m10: 68...Rc7 69.Rxd5 This position is a Syzygy TB win for White. [30] 1.06: 40.Kf3 [30] 0.68: 40.Rb5 [30] 0.67: 40.Rc6 40...Kf7 [30] 1.07: 40...Rd3+ Playing out this position by Stockfish 14.1 NNUE under the time control 1/420+60 now gives: 41.Ke2 Rd5 42.Kf3 Rd3+ 43.Ke2 Rd5 44.Ke3 Rd1 45.Rh4 Rd5 46.Re4 Rd1 47.Rc6 g5 48.Rb6 In this line the following evaluation values and ranking of the respective candidate moves show that playing out under the time control 1/420+60 was excellent and led to the correct result. [40] 0.88: 48.Rb6 [40] 0.73: 48.Ke2 [40] 0.73: 48.g4 [40] 0.73: 48.Kf3 48...Kf7 49.Rb7+ Kf6 50.Rb6 Kf7 51.Ke2 Rd5 52.f4 [40] 0.76: 52.f4 [40] 0.57: 52.g4 [40] 0.44: 52.Rb5 [40] 0.21: 52.Rb7+ 52...gxf4 [40] 0.89: 52...gxf4 53.gxf4 Kf6 54.Re8 c4 55.Re4 c3 56.Rexb4 Kf5 57.Rc4 Bxf4 58.Rxc3 Ra5 Block analysis. [40] 0.89: 52...Kf6 53.Re8 gxf4 54.gxf4 c4 55.Re4 c3 56.Rexb4 Kf5 57.Rc4 Bxf4 58.Rxc3 Ra5 Block analysis. 53.gxf4 Kf6 54.Re8 c4 55.Re4 c3 56.Rexb4 Kf5 57.Rc4 Bxf4 58.Rxc3 Rd2+ [40] 0.72: 58...Rd2+ 59.Ke1 Rd5 60.Rc4 Block analysis. [40] 0.86: 58...Ra5 59.Ke1 59.Kf3 A single-step analysis gives: Rh2 60.Rc5+ Be5 61.Rbb5 Rxh3+ If White's king escapes the perpetual check then Black can defend his bishop on e5. This position is a 7-men Syzygy TB draw. 59...Rd5 60.Ke2 [40] 0.75: 60.Ke2 Rd2+ 61.Ke1 Rd5 62.Rc4 h4 Block analysis. [40] 0.72: 60.Rc4 60...Rd2+ 61.Ke1 Rd5 62.Rc4 Ra5 [40] 0.72: 62...h4 [40] 0.73: 62...Ra5 63.Rb3 [40] 0.94: 63.Rb1 [40] 0.85: 63.Rb3 h4 64.Ke2 Bg3 65.Ke3 Block analysis. [40] 0.77: 63.Rc2 [40] 0.76: 63.Rb2 63...h4 64.Ke2 Bg3 Draw. Even if rooks are traded White still cannot win this endgame. He has only a rook pawn left. Playing out by Stockfish 14.1 NNUE under the time control 1/57+3 subsequently gives: 65.Rb2 Kf6 66.Rd4 Re5+ 67.Kd3 Ra5 68.Rb3 Ke5 69.Rc4 Rd5+ 70.Ke3 Ra5 71.Rc8 Kf6 72.Rd8 Re5+ 73.Kd3 Re6 74.Rb4 Kf7 75.Ra4 Re8 76.Ra7+ Re7 77.Raa8 77.Rxe7+ Kxe7 This position is a Syzygy TB draw. 77...Re1 78.Rh8 Re6 79.Kc4 Re4+ 80.Kd3 Re6 81.Ra7+ Kg6 82.Rg8+ Kf5 83.Ra2 Ke5 84.Ra1 Rd6+ 85.Ke3 Re6 86.Rf8 Kd6+ 87.Kf3 Kc7 88.Rg8 Rf6+ 89.Kg4 Re6 90.Ra4 Rc6 91.Ra1 Rc4+ 92.Kf3 Rf4+ 93.Ke2 Rf6 94.Rb1 Rf2+ 95.Kd1 Rf1+ 96.Kc2 Rxb1 97.Kxb1 This position is a Syzygy TB draw. [30] 4.00: 40...Rd2 [30] 4.15: 40...Kf7 [30] 4.15: 40...Rd5 41.Ke2 [32] 4.73: 41.Ke2 [32] 4.44: 41.g4 [32] 3.15: 41.Rb5 [32] 1.62: 41.Kg2 41...Rd5 42.f4 g6 43.g4 hxg4 44.hxg4 g5 45.f5 Be5 46.Rb5 Kf6 47.Rexb4 Bd4 48.Rb6+ Ke5 49.Kf3 Rd8 50.Rb8 Rd7 51.R4b7 Rd6 52.Rb6 Rd7 53.Rg6 Kd5 54.Rxg5 Be5 55.f6 Kd4 56.Rb1 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Fischer,R-Spassky,B-1–01972World Championship 28th10

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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.

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