Mueller and Davies

by Karsten Müller
11/18/2022 – Ever analyzing and sharing with readers and fans, Karsten Mueller receives many interesting correspondence and contributions. Here are a handful of endgames analyzed and sent in by Frederick Davies, which Mueller was quick to compliment profusely and send it forward for publication.
Rules of thumb are the key to everything when you are having to set the correct course in a complex endgame. In this final DVD of his series on the endgame, our endgame specialist introduces you to the most important of these rules of thumb.

Using the active notation

You might be inclined to believe the game notations below are just to be looked at and the moves to be played through in your mind. But as most of you know you can click on the moves to get a separate replay board, which you can resize and move to the best place on your screen.

Endings with rook and minor piece against rook and minor piece occur very frequently, even more often than rook endings, yet there's not much literature on them. This endgame DVD fills this gap. The four different material constellations rook and knight vs rook and knight, rooks and opposite coloured (and same coloured ) bishops and rook and bishop vs rook and knight are dealt with. In view of the different material constellations Karsten Mueller explains many guidelines like e.g. "With knights even a small initiative weighs heavily".

The popup board has full controls, and you can use the navigation buttons to advance the moves, as well as use an engine or save the game or position to your computer. In the engine window you can ask for multiple lines, or what the threat is, or see the positional evaluation of the position. 

A quick win with opposite-colored bishops

It is not uncommon to quickly conclude that winning with opposite colored bishops in the ending is going to depend on a very helpful opponent, and this was the opinion of the viewers as the chatted. However Nakamura had a different idea and showed superb technique. Well worth checking out.

 
Nakamura, Hikaru27891–0Duda, Jan-krzysztof2808

02.11.2022[Frederick G Davies]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 d5 6.exd5 Qxd5 7.Bc4 Qd6 A very modern and topical line of the Anti-Berlin. Ironically, the two combatants had reached the same position in 2019 except that Duda was playing White. 8.Nbd2 A favourite move of Caruana. Duda had selected 8 0-0 against Nakamura in their 2019 clash. Bf5 8...0-0 9.b4 Bb6 10.Ng5 0-0 11.Nde4 Nxe4 12.dxe4 Qxd1+ 13.Kxd1 Bg4+ 13...Bg6 Abdusattarov vs. Sunilduth Lyna, PNWCC, online blitz JP, 2020 14.Kc2 h6 15.Nf3 The players were blitzing out their moves. In Matlakov vs. Goryachkina, Rus-Ch, 2021, Black preferred 15. ..Bxf3 (1-0 in 56 moves). Bxf2 16.Rf1 Bb6 17.a4 a6= The commentators (IM Rozman and GM Naroditsky), speculated that this variation may have formed part of Nakamura's preparation for the Candidates Tournament. 18.Nh4 Nd8?! The engines prefer: 18...Ne7 covering g6 19.Ba3 Nc8 20.a5 20.Ng6 Nd6 20...Nd6! a useful intermezzo 21.Bb3 Be3= 19.a5 Ba7 20.Nf5 20.Ng6?! Re8 gets White nowhere 20...Ne6? Duda misses the clever tactic. 20...Re8 21.Ba3 Ne6 22.h3 Bxf5 23.Rxf5 21.Bxh6! boom! Bxf5 A: 21...gxh6 22.Nxh6+ Kg7 23.Nxg4+- 21...Rae8 22.Bd2 Nf4 23.h3 Bxf5 24.exf5 Nxg2 25.Bd5 e4 26.Bxb7 e3 27.Bxg2 exd2 28.Bb7± Black has some chances to hold the endgame 22.exf5 gxh6 23.fxe6 fxe6 24.Bxe6+ Kg7 24...Kh8 25.Rad1 Rxf1 26.Rxf1 Rf8 26...Kg6 27.Bf7+ Kg7 28.Bd5 c6 29.Rf7+ Kg6 30.Be6+- 27.Rxf8 Kxf8 The commentators remarked that online chat was speculating that the Bishops of opposite colour endgame was drawn. The engines seem to refute that claim and Nakamura dispatches his opponent with relative ease, displaying excellent technique. 28.Bc8 b6 Black's only hope lies in the fact that the h-pawn is the wrong pawn with which to promote because of White's light-squared Bishop. He is trying to set up a form of fortress on the Queenside and/or to eventually exchange all of White's Queenside pawns, even if he has to sacrifice his Bishop in the process. But he never gets close to reaching his objective. 29.Bxa6 29.Kd3 Ke7 30.Bxa6 c6 31.Ke4+- 29...c5 30.Bb5 More accurate was 30.Kd3 bxa5 31.bxa5 Bb8 32.Bb5 Kg7 33.Ke4 Kg6 34.Be2 Kg5 35.g3 Kf6 36.h4 Ke7 37.a6+- The Black Bishop and King cannot defend adequately against the threats across the entire board. 30...cxb4 31.a6! A lovely concept. The Black Bishop is entombed and the White King is free to roam and support what will become another passed pawn on the Kingside. bxc3 32.g4 Black resigns 32.g4 Nakamura does not even bother to immediately recapture on c3, highlighting the futility of Black's position. Duda had had enought and called it a day. 1–0

The prodigal son returns

In their series, incredibly, a second ending with opposite colored bishops ensued, but this time there were rooks. As Davies explains, if you exchange to a pure rook endgame or pure opposite colored bishops it is an easy draw, but the combination is another story.

 
Duda, Jan-Krzysztof28081–0Nakamura, Hikaru2789

03.11.2022[F. Davies]
With all the pawns on the same side of the board, it will be difficult for White to make progress, despite the extra pawn. 23...e5?! Nakamura figures that the fewer pawns there are on the board, the easier it will be to secure the draw. However, this move weakens the f7 square. 23...g6 24.Ra7 Rd8 24.dxe5 Bxe5 25.Ra5 Re8 26.h4 g5 27.h5 Re7 28.Kg2 Kg7 29.Kh3 29.Bd5!? eyeing f7 29...Bc3 30.Rc5 Be1 31.Kg2 Bb4 32.Rb5 Bd6 33.Rb6 Bc5 34.Rc6 Bb4 35.Bg4 Re5 36.Rc7 Kf8 37.Rb7 Be7 38.Kf1 Ra5 39.Ke2 Ra2+ 40.Kf3 Bf6 41.Bf5 Bc3 42.Rb1 to stop ...Be1 Kg7 43.Rc1 Bd2 44.Rc7 Be1 45.Bc2 Rb2 46.Rc6 Ra2 47.Ke2 Bb4 48.Rc4 Ba5 49.Rc6 Bb4 50.Kf1 Ra1+ 51.Kg2 Ra2 52.Rc7 Ba5 53.Rc4 Of course, if either the Rooks or Bishops are exchanged, White's chances of a win will diminish significantly. Rb2 54.Kf1 Ra2 55.Be4 Ra1+ 56.Kg2 Ra2 57.Bd5 Rd2 57...Be1! 58.Kf1 Rd2 59.Kxe1 Rxd5= 58.Be4 Ra2 59.Bb1 Rb2 60.Bc2 Ra2 61.Rc5 Bb6 62.Rc6 Ba5 63.Bb3 Rb2 64.Bc2 Ra2 65.Kf3 Rb2 66.Kg4 Ra2 66...Bb6 67.Bf5 Ba7 68.Kf3 Bb6= 67.f4 After a lot of shuffling and, mindful of the 50-move rule, Duda advances his f-pawn. 67.e4!? Ra3 68.Bd1 Rd3 69.Rc1 Bb4 70.Ba4 67...gxf4 By this time both players had little time on the clock and were reliant on the increment. 67...Bd2 A: 67...Bd2 68.fxg5 Bxe3 69.Bb3 Ra7 70.Rxh6 Bxg5= B: 67...Bd2 68.e4 Ra3 69.Rb6 Rc3 70.Bb3 Be1 71.Kf5 Rxg3 72.Rb7 gxf4 73.e5 f3 74.Rxf7+ Kh8= C: 67...Bd2 68.Bb3 Ra3 69.Bxf7 Kxf7 70.Rxh6 gxf4 71.exf4 Be1= 68.gxf4 Ra3 69.e4 Be1?! 69...Rc3 70.Ra6 Rxc2 71.Rxa5 Rg2+ 72.Kh3 Re2 73.e5 Re1 74.Ra7 Rf1 75.Kg4 Rg1+ 76.Kf5 Re1= 70.Bd1 70.Rd6 Rg3+ 71.Kf5 Rh3 72.Bd1 Rh2 73.Rc6 Bd2 74.e5 Rf2 75.Rc4 Rf1 76.Bc2 70...Bd2 71.Rd6 Bc1 72.Rd7 Kf8? 72...Be3 73.f5 Ra7 74.Rd6 Bg5 75.e5± 73.Kf5 73.e5! Re3 74.Kf5 Rc3 75.Rb7 Ba3 76.Rb8+ Kg7 77.Bb3 Be7 ∆78.Ke4 Rh3 79.f5± 73...Rc3 74.Rd8+ Ke7 75.Rd4 Rc5+?! ∆75...Rc6 76.e5 f6 77.Ra4 fxe5 78.fxe5 Be3 76.Kg4? 76.e5! Rc3 77.Rb4 Kf8 78.Rb7 Ba3 79.Bb3± Be7 cf the game 76...Be3 76...Rb5 77.Rb4 Rc7 78.Bb3 Kf6 79.Bd5 79.e5+! Kg7 80.f5 Bg5 81.Rb6± 79...Kg7 80.Kf5 80.e5 80...Bd2 81.Rb2 Bc1 82.Rg2+ Kf8 83.Ra2 Kg7 84.e5! Rd7 85.Ra5 Bd2 86.Rb5 Ra7? ∆86...Rd8! 87.Ke4 f5+! 88.exf6+ Kxf6 89.Rb6+ Ke7 90.Re6+ Kd7 91.f5 91.Rxh6? Re8+ 92.Kf3 Rf8= 91...Bc3 92.Kd3 Bb2 93.f6 Rf8 94.f7 Rxf7 95.Re2 Rf6 96.Rxb2 Rf5= 87.Rb2 87.Bb3 Ba5 88.Ke4 Bc7 89.Rc5 Rb7 90.Bd5 Ra7 91.Rc6 Bd8 92.f5+- 87...Be3 88.Rg2+ Kf8 89.Re2 Bc1?! 89...Ra3 90.Rc2 Ra5 91.Rc8+ Kg7 92.Be4 Ra3 93.Bc2 Bg1 94.Rc7 Ra7 95.Rc3 Bd4 96.Rg3+ Kf8 97.Rb3 Kg7 98.Rg3+ Kf8 99.Rd3 Bc5 100.Rd8+ Kg7 101.Bb3± 90.Rc2 Be3 90...Ba3 91.Ke4 Bg1 92.Rc6 92.Rc8+ Ke7 92...Kg7 93.f5+- 93.Kf5 Ra5 94.Bc6+- 92...Bh2 93.Rf6 93.Rc8+ Kg7 94.f5 Ra4+ 95.Bc4+- 93...Kg7 94.Kf3 Bg1 94...Rd7 95.Rc6? ∆95.Bxf7! Rxf7 96.Rg6++- 95...Bd4 95...Ra3+ 96.Ke4 Bb2 97.f5! f6 98.e6 Duda's plan is to penetrate into the heart of Black's defences with his King. 98.Rxf6 Ra4+ 99.Ke3 Ra3+ 100.Ke2 Ra5 100...Bxe5 101.Rf7+ Kh8 102.f6+- 101.Rf7+ Kg8 102.Rd7+ Kf8 103.e6+- 98...Ba3 99.Bc4 Be7 100.Rc8 Bd6 100...Ra5 101.Bd3 Rc5 102.Re8 Re5+ 103.Kd4 Bc5+ 104.Kc4+- 101.Bb5 101.Kd5 Ba3 102.Kc6+- 101...Ba3 102.Kd5 Be7 103.Kc6 Black's position is by now hopeless and the engines announced mate in 27 moves. Ra1 104.Kd7 Ra7+ 105.Ke8 Bd6 106.Bd7 Ba3 107.e7 Bb4 108.Rb8 Ba5 109.Be6 Bc7 110.Rd8 A nice finesse. The Rook cannot be taken. Ba5 111.Rd4 Ra8+ 112.Kd7 Ra7+ 113.Kd6 Ra6+ 114.Kd5 Ra8 115.Rg4+ 115.Rg4+ Kh7 116.Bg8+ Kh8 117.Bf7 1–0

Centenarians have it tough

Not centenarians in years, but in moves. Indeed, while both Nakamura and So are the crème de la crème, the combination of a rapid game and nothing left but the increments by move 100, and what had been a fairly ho-hum affair now became a comedy of errors as winning chances appeared and disappeared on the board

 
Nakamura, Hikaru2789½–½So, Wesley2784
Chess.com Global Championship Finals
04.11.2022[Frederick G Davies]
40.Kxd2= A knight and pawn ending has been reached. In a rapid game, this was bound to test the respective skills of the two combatants. b5 41.Kd3 g6 Similar to an engine match, we are now treated to a good deal of shuffling as both players probe in the hope of inducing a mistake from the opponent. 42.Nc2 g5 43.Ne3 gxh4 44.Nf5+ Kd7 45.Nxh4 Ng7 46.Nf3 Ne8 47.Nd2 Nd6 48.Nb3 Ke6 49.Na5 Kd7 50.Ke3 Kc7 51.Nb3 Kd7 52.f3 Ke7 53.Kf2 Nc4 54.Nc1 Kf7 55.Ke2 Ke7 56.Nd3 Kd6 57.Ne1 Na3 58.Ng2 Nc4 59.Nh4 Ke6 60.Nf5 Kf7 61.Ke1 Kf8 62.Kd1 Kf7 63.Ke2 Kf8 64.f4 Kf7 65.Nh4 Nd6 66.Kd3 Ke6 67.Nf3 Nc4 68.Nh4 Nd6 69.f5+ creating an outpost on e6 Kf7 70.Nf3 Kg7 71.Nd2 Kf7 71...Kh6 72.Ke2 Kg7 73.Kf3 Kh6= 72.Nb3 Ke7 73.Nc5 Ne8 74.Ne6 Kd7 75.Ke3 Ke7 76.Kf3 Kd7 77.Ke2 Ke7 78.Kd3 Kd7 79.c4 bxc4+ 80.Kxc4 Nd6+ 81.Kd3 Ne8 82.Ke3 Ke7 83.Kf3 Kd7 84.Kg2 Nd6 85.Nc5+ Ke7 86.Kh3 Ne8 87.Kh4 Ng7 88.Nb3 Kd6 89.Nd2 Ke7 90.Nc4 Kd7 91.Na5 Kd6 92.Kh3 Ne8 93.Kg2 Kd7 94.Nb7 Ke7 95.Kf3 Kd7 96.Ke3 Kc7 97.Nc5 Kd6 98.Kd3 Ke7 99.Ne6 Kd7 100.Kc3 Nd6 101.Nc5+ Kc7 102.Kb3 Nb5 103.Ne6+ Kd7 104.Nc5+ Kc7 105.Kc4 Nd6+ 106.Kd3 Kd8 107.Ne6+ Ke7?! This game has turned into an attritional battle and Black is the first one to crack. 107...Kc8 108.Ng7 Kc7 109.Nxh5 Ne8 110.g4 Kb6 111.Ng3 Kb5 112.Kc3 Nd6 113.Kb3 Kb6= White cannot make any further progress 108.Ng7 Nb5? 108...Nf7! 109.Nxh5 Ng5 110.Ke3 Nf7 111.g4 Nh6 112.Kf3 Nf7 113.Ng3 Ng5+ 114.Ke3 Nf7= 109.Nxh5± Kf7
110.g4? Nakamura returns the compliment. This is a tricky ending which required extra time for Nakamura to formulate the winning plan. The method can be split into several sections. First, manoeuvre the King to a5-c5 and then play b5, exchanging off the b and c-pawns. Second, penetration with the King to d5 and e6, even at the cost of White's pawn on e4. Third, capture of the f6 pawn with the Knight. Fourth, when the Black Knight recaptures, play g5 leading to a potential race between the Black e-pawn and the White f-pawn. Finally, White is left with an extra pawn on f5. The proximity of the White King and Queen to the pawn assures White the full point. 110.Kc4 Nc7 111.Kc3 Nb5+ 112.Kd3 Ke7 113.Kc4 Nc7 114.g4! only now Na6 115.Kb3 Nc7 116.Ka4 Ne8 117.Ka5 Kd8 118.Kb6 Kd7 119.Kc5 Kc7 120.b5 cxb5 121.Kxb5 Nd6+ 122.Kc5 Nxe4+ 123.Kd5 Nc3+ 124.Ke6 Ne4 124...e4 125.Kxf6 Kd6 126.g5+- 125.Nxf6 Nxf6 126.g5! e4 126...Nh5 127.f6 127.gxf6 e3 128.f7 e2 129.f8Q e1Q+ 130.Kf7+- Here, the tablebases say, with best play, it is mate in 36 moves. 110...Nd6 111.Ng3 Kg7 112.Nh5+ Kf7 113.Ke3 Nb5? For the second time, So errs. 114.Ng3? And again Nakamura returns then compliment. 114.Kd2 Nd6 115.Kd3 Ke7 115...Nb5 116.Kc4 Ke7 116...Nd6+ 117.Kc5+- 117.Kc5+- 116.Ng7 Nf7 117.Ne6 Kd7 117...Nh6 118.g5 118.Ke2 Nd6 118...Kd6 119.Kf2 Ke7 120.Kf3 Ke8 121.g5+- 119.Kf3 Ke7 120.g5+- 114...Kg7? 114...Nd6 115.Ne2 Ke7 116.Ng1 Nf7 117.Nf3 Kf8 118.Kf2 Nd6 119.Nd2 Nf7 120.Kg3 Ng5= 115.Ne2? 115.Nh5+ Kf7 116.Kd2 Nd6 117.Kd3 Nb5 118.Kc4 Nd6+ 119.Kc5+- 115...Kh6 116.Kf3 Kg5? Black should wait. Here is a specimen line: 116...Kg7= 117.g5 fxg5 118.Nc1 Kf6 119.Nd3 Nd6 120.Nc5 Nxf5! 121.exf5 Kxf5 122.Ne4 g4+ 123.Ke3 Ke6= Black will ultimately pick off the remaining pawn on b4. 117.Kg3 Nd6 118.Nc3 Nc4 119.b5? Throwing away the win. 119.Na4! Nd2 120.Nc5 Kh6 121.Kh3 Kg5 122.Ne6+ Kh6 123.Nd8 Nxe4 124.Nxc6 Nc3 125.Kh4 e4 126.Nd4 e3 127.Kg3 e2 128.Nf3+- The outside passed pawn will decide the outcome. 119...cxb5 Now the game peters out to a draw. 120.Nxb5 Ne3 121.Nd6 Nxg4 122.Nf7+ Kh5 123.Nd6 Kg5 124.Nc4 Kh5 125.Nb6 Kg5 126.Nd7 Kh5 127.Nf8 Kg5 128.Nh7+ Kh6 129.Nf8 Kg5 130.Ne6+ Kh5 131.Ng7+ Kg5 132.Ne6+ Kh5 133.Ng7+ Kg5 134.Ne6+ ½–½

Links

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

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