Phase IV
6/3/2010 – Everyone is well aware of the division of a game of chess into three
phases: opening, middlegame
and endgame. But there is also a so-called fourth phase, which occurs when
both sides have promoted a passed pawn. In the rapid game Gurevich-Ivanchuk, played in
the World Cup in Odessa, Ivanchuk chose after 58.Ke6 the continuation 58...Rxf6+, and the
promotion of both pawns was imminent.
What do you think? Was Ivanchuk's decision the correct
one or was there a better continuation available to him? As always, you
will find the solution and the analysis by GM Karsten Müller on ChessBase Magazine Online.
