Grivas on the Prokeš Manoeuvre (2)

by Efstratios Grivas
4/10/2025 – One method that enables a rook to draw against two advanced pawns in an endgame is, as explained in a previous article, is known as the ‘Prokeš Manoeuvre’. This scheme will allow you to draw in desperate-looking positions, or win when the defence can be overcome. Today you get eight test positions from international trainer GM Efstratios Grivas. They will tell you if you have thoroughly understood the concept.
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Ladislav Prokeš (7 June 1884 – 9 January 1966) was a Czech chess master and one of the most prolific composers of endgame studies in chess. He was joint Czech Champion in 1921 and played for the Czech Olympiad team in 1927, 1928, and 1930. He was born and died in Prague.

While Prokeš was strong tournament player, it is his chess compositions that gained him fame. In 1951 he published a collection of studies ‘Kniha šachových studií’. His 1,159 endgame studies, as listed in Harold van der Heijden's database, rank fourth among all composers.

In my previous article I described the Prokeš  Manoeuvre and gave you some positions to practice on. Today we have some more positions on which you can test your skills and see if you have mastered the strategy. In each case you should try to achieve the goal against the resistance of the diagram.

At the end of the article you will find all solutions in a replay window, with the games in which they occurred. You also have engine support to answer all residual questions you might have.

Ilya Maiselis, 1950
White to play and draw
Fridstein-Lutikov, 1954
White to play and draw
Seletsky-Rusan, 2021
White to play and win
Petrosian-Tseshkovsky, 1976
White to play and draw
Slobodjan-Beliavsky, 2000
White to play and win
Gligoric-Popovic, 1998
White to play and draw

And here are all the above positions and the games in which they occurred.

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 Black is on the move and the main question is if White can save the half-point by some magic way? 1...c2! 2.Kf5! A great idea. Kg3 2...d2 , just draws after 3.Rc3+!= . 3.Rc3! A nice resource, as the ‘obvious’ 3.Kg5? , loses to Kf2!-+ . 3...Kf2 White is now just in time to save the half-point: 3...Kh4? , even loses to 4.Kf4! d2 5.Rxc2 d1Q 6.Rh2# . 4.Ke4! Ke2 5.Kd4 And White can draw. ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Study 4-Maiselis,I-½–½1950Diagram
Fridstein,G-Lutikov,A-0–11954E69URS-Ch tt Cup2
Seletsky,G2272Rusan,P21061–02021A54Internet5
Petrosian,A2325Tseshkovsky,V2550½–½1976A42URS-Ch
Slobodjan,R2561Beliavsky,A26401–02000B07Bundesliga tt9
Gligoric,S2480Popovic,P2525½–½1998E97YUG-Ch6

In part three of this series you will get a further series of positions which should help you to thoroughly understand and master the important Prokeš Manoeuvre. That, believe me, is quite likely to play a role in your tournament games.

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Efstratios (30.03.1966) is a highly experienced chess trainer and chess author. He has been awarded by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) the titles of International Chess Grandmaster, FIDE Senior Trainer, International Chess Arbiter and International Chess Organiser.
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