Solution of the Endgame Riddle Smyslov vs Benko

by Karsten Müller
10/29/2020 – About a week ago, Karsten Müller invited readers to analyze a fascinating rook endgame that occurred in a game between Vassily Smyslov and Pal Benkö from 1975. Smyslov was an endgame specialist but he still failed to grasp the hidden depths of this tricky endgame. But after taking more than one close look and with the help of the ChessBase readers, Karsten Müller and Zoran Petronijevic are now closer to the truth. | Photo: Dutch National Archive
Enjoy Capablanca's fine technique, Tal's magic, Lasker's fighting spirit, Petrosian's defensive skills, Smyslov's feeling for harmony, and Alekhine's and Spassky's flair for the attack.

Endgame riddle V. Smyslov - P. Benko solved!

The rook endgame was really tricky to defend and both sides made a number of mistakes. However, the analyses indicate that the initial position was a draw.

 
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1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 b6 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.0-0 e6 6.Nc3 Be7 7.d4 cxd4 8.Qxd4 Nc6 9.Qf4 0-0 10.Rd1 Qb8 11.Qxb8 Raxb8 12.Bf4 Rbc8 13.e4 Rfd8 14.e5 Ne8 15.Nb5 Ba8 16.b3 h6 17.h4 Kf8 18.Rac1 Bc5 19.Ne1 a6 20.Nd6 Nxd6 21.exd6 e5 22.Be3 Nd4 23.Bxd4 exd4 24.Bxa8 Rxa8 25.Nc2 Rac8 26.Nxd4 Bxd6 27.Rd3 Bc5 28.Rcd1 Bxd4 29.Rxd4 Ke7 30.Re4+ Kf8 31.Kg2 Rc5 32.b4 Rc6 33.a4 Re6 34.Red4 Ke7 35.Kf3 Rf6+ 36.Ke3 Re6+ 37.Kd3 Rc8 38.Rd5 Rc7 39.h5 Rec6 40.Rc1 Rd6 41.Rxd6 Kxd6 42.Kd4
Smyslov analysed this endgame in the third edition of his famous book "Rook Endings" which he wrote together with Grigory Levenfish. Apparently, Smyslov thought that this position is won for White, an opinion he shares in other books (for instance, in "Letopis sahmatnogo tvorcestva", Moscow 1995). But although it is hard to say exactly, in my opinion Black can draw with precise play. At any rate, in the game both sides made crucial mistakes. I analyzed this position thoroughly and with the help of modern englines, and here are my findings. Sources: 1. Smyslov, Vasily, Vasilevich, Letops sakhmatnogo tvorcestva, Moscow 1995. and Levenfish, Smyslov, Teorija ladjeinih okoncanij, 3th edition, Moscow 1986. - The analyses in both books are the same. 2. Mikhalchishin, Adrian, Mastering essential rook endings, Chess evolution 2018 Hungary. 42...Rc8 For Black, it is very unpleasent to play this position due to passivity of his pieces. He is forced to wait what is White going to do. The best seems to be the unusual 42...Rc6! with the idea to defend along the 6th rank. 43.f4 43.Rc3 does not yield an advantage for White: g6 43...Ke7 also equalises, although the lines are a bit more complex 44.Re3+ Kd6 44...Kd8 is enough to keep equality 45.Re5 g6 46.f4 gxh5 47.Rxh5 Rd6+ 48.Ke4 Rc6 49.c5 bxc5 50.bxc5 Rg6 51.g4 Kc7 52.a5 Kc6 53.Kf3 Rf6 54.Re5 d5 55.cxd6 Kxd6= 45.Rf3 45.Re8 Kc7 46.Rg8 Rd6+= 45...Ke7 46.Rf5 g6 47.Re5+ Kd8 48.Rd5 gxh5 49.Rxh5 Rf6 50.f4 Rd6+ 51.Ke4 Rg6= 44.Rf3 Ke7 45.Re3+ Kd6 46.Re4 Kc7 47.Rf4 Rd6+ 48.Kc3 Rd1 49.Rxf7 gxh5 50.Rf5 h4 51.gxh4 Rc1+ 52.Kd4 Rd1+ 53.Ke5 Ra1 54.c5 bxc5 55.bxc5 Rxa4= 43.Re1 Kc7 44.Re5 44.Re8 Rf6= 44...Rd6+ 45.Ke3 45.Rd5 Re6 46.a5 bxa5 47.Rc5+ Rc6 48.Rxa5 g6= 45...Rd1 46.Rf5 f6= Black's active rook guarantees him equality. 43...Kc7 44.c5 Kd8 44...Re6 also leads to draw, though Black makes his life harder than in the main line: 45.cxb6+ Kxb6 46.Rc8 Rd6+ 47.Kc4 After 47.Ke4 Black equalises with Re6+ 48.Kf3 Re7! 49.Rb8+ 49.Rg8 f6 50.Kg4 a5 51.b5 d5= 49...Kc6 50.Rc8+ Kb6 51.Rd8 51.Rc4 d6 52.Re4 Rb7 53.Rc4 Re7 54.Rc8 Kb7 55.Rc1 Kb6= 51...Kc6 52.Ra8 Kb6 53.Rc8 d6 54.g4 d5 55.Rc5 Rd7 56.g5 Rd8 57.gxh6 gxh6 58.Rc2 Rd7 59.f5 Re7 60.Re2 Rc7 61.Re8 Rc3+ 62.Kf2 Rb3 63.Rh8 Rxb4 64.Rxh6+ Kc7 65.a5 Rf4+ 66.Ke3 Rxf5= 47.Kc3 g6 Black also equalises after 47...Rf6 48.Kc4 48.Rb8+ Kc7 49.Rh8 Rc6+ 50.Kd2 Rb6 51.Rg8 g6 52.hxg6 fxg6 53.Ke3 Re6+ 54.Kd3 Rd6+ 55.Kc3 Rc6+ 56.Kb3 Re6= 48...g6 49.Rc5 Kb7 50.a5 gxh5 51.Rxh5 Rg6 52.Kc5 Kc7 53.Kd5 Kd8 54.Rf5 Ke7 55.Re5+ Kd8 56.Rh5 Kc7 57.Rh1 Rd6+ 58.Ke4 Kc6 59.f5 Kc7 60.Rh5 Rc6 61.Rh2 Rc4+ 62.Ke5 Rc6 63.Rh4 Rd6 64.Rh5 Kc6 65.Ke4 Kb5 66.Rh4 Kc6 67.Rh2 Kc7= 48.Kc4 gxh5 49.Rc5 Rg6 50.Rxh5 Kc6 51.Rc5+ Kb6 52.Rd5 Kc6 53.Rd3 h5 54.Kd4 Rh6 55.Rd2 h4 56.gxh4 Rxh4 57.Ke5 Rh6 58.Rc2+ Kb7 59.Kd5 Rf6 60.Rc4 Rh6 61.Rd4 Kc7 62.f5 Rd6+ 63.Ke5 Rh6= 47...Rf6 48.Rc5 g6 49.a5+ Kb7 50.Rd5 Kc6 51.b5+ 51.Re5 Rf5= 51...axb5+ 52.Rxb5 Kc7 53.Rc5+ Kb8 White has an advantage but it is not clear how he can win. At least, I didn't find a win for White. 54.Kd5 Kb7 55.Ke4 Ra6 56.Kd4 Rf6 57.Rc1 gxh5= 45.Kd5 45.b5 does not lead to an advantage for White. axb5 46.axb5 bxc5+ 47.Rxc5 Re6 48.Kc4 48.Rf5 f6 49.g4 Re1 50.b6 Kc8= 48...Re4+ 49.Kc3 Re1 50.Kc2 Re2+ 51.Kb3 Re1 52.Rc4 g6 53.Kb4 Rb1+ 54.Ka5 Ra1+ 55.Ra4 Rg1 56.Ra3 Kc7 57.Ka6 Rb1 58.Rc3+ Kb8 59.Rd3 Kc7 60.Rc3+ Kb8 61.g4 gxh5 62.gxh5 Rb4 63.f5 Ra4+ 64.Kb6 Rd4 65.Re3 Rd6+ 66.Ka5 Kc7= 45...Rf6 46.Rc2 46.cxb6 also leads to an even play Rxb6 47.Rb1 Kc7 48.Rc1+ Kd8 49.Rc4 g6 50.g4 Rf6 51.Ke4 Re6+ 52.Kd3 Rb6 53.a5 Rb8 54.hxg6 fxg6= 46...g6 47.Rh2 bxc5 48.bxc5 Rf5+= 43.Re1 If White tries 43.Rc3 Black should continue Rc6 44.f4 Kc7 45.c5 Rf6 46.cxb6+ Kxb6 47.Ke4 47.Rc5 g6 48.a5+ Kb7 49.Kc4 Re6 50.Re5 Kc6 51.Rc5+ Kb7 52.b5 axb5+ 53.Rxb5+ Kc7 54.Rc5+ Kb7 55.Kd4 Rf6 55...gxh5 56.Rxh5 Rg6 57.Rd5 Kc7 58.Rc5+ Kb7 59.Rc3 h5 Black should hold this position. 60.Ke4 Ka6 61.Rd3 Kxa5 62.Rxd7 Kb6 63.Rxf7 Rxg3= 56.Kc4 56.Kd5 Kb8 57.hxg6 fxg6= 56...Re6= 47...Re6+ 48.Kd5 Rf6 49.Rc5 g6 50.Ke4 Re6+ 51.Re5 gxh5 52.Kf3 Kc7 53.Rxh5 Rb6 54.g4 Kd8 55.a5 Rc6 56.Ke3 Re6+ 57.Kd4 Rf6 58.f5 Rc6 59.Ke5 Kc7 60.Rh3 Rd6 61.Rh2 Rc6 62.Kd5 Kd8 63.Ke5 Kc7 64.Rh3 Rd6 65.Rh1 Rc6 66.Re1 Kd8 67.Kd5 Rc3 68.Rh1 Rc6 69.Rb1 Kc7 70.Kd4 Rd6+ 71.Kc3 Rc6+ 72.Kb3 Rd6 73.Rc1+ Rc6 74.Rh1 Rd6= 43...g6!? Easier is 43...Rc6 though this is not a move a human would make. A possible continuation now is 44.f4 If White tries 44.Re8 Black should continue Kc7 45.Ra8 Rd6+ 46.Kc3 Rf6 47.Ra7+ Kc8 48.f4 Rf5 49.Ra8+ 49.Kd4 Rxh5 50.Rxa6 Kb7 51.b5 Rh1 52.a5 bxa5 53.Rxa5 Rd1+= 49...Kc7 50.Rg8 Rxh5 51.Rxg7 a5 52.Rxf7 axb4+ 53.Kxb4 Rh1 54.f5 h5 55.f6 Rb1+ 56.Kc3 Kd6 57.Rh7 Rg1 58.f7 Ke7 59.Rxh5 Rxg3+ 60.Kb4 Kxf7 61.Rh6 Ke7 62.Rxb6 Kd8= 44...Kc7 45.Re7 Rf6 46.Re5 Rd6+ 47.Rd5 Re6 and we reach a position that we already analyzed. 44.Rh1!?
44...g5? This move loses. Better was 44...Rg8! 45.Rh4 45.hxg6!? Also fails to win: Rxg6 46.Rh5 Rf6 47.f4 Rg6 48.c5+ bxc5+ 49.Rxc5 Ke7 50.Ra5 Rd6+ 51.Kc4 Rg6 52.Re5+ Kd8 53.Rh5 Kc7 54.a5 d6 55.Rf5 f6 56.Kd5 Rxg3 57.Rxf6 Rd3+ 58.Ke6 Re3+ 59.Kf5 Rb3 60.Rf7+ Kc6 61.Ra7 Rxb4 62.Rxa6+ Kc7= 45...Rg7 45...gxh5? loses after 46.Rxh5 Rg4+ 46...Rg6 47.c5+ bxc5+ 48.Rxc5 The black pawns are too weak. Rg4+ 49.Kc3 Rg6 50.Rf5 Ke6 51.Rf4 h5 52.b5 axb5 53.axb5 Kd6 54.Rxf7+- 47.Kc3 Rg6 48.a5 Ke7 49.Re5+ Kd8 50.axb6 Rxb6 51.Rf5 Ke7 52.b5 52.Rf4 Wins as well: h5 53.Kb3 Rc6 54.b5 axb5 55.cxb5 Rc1 56.Kb4 Kd6 57.Rxf7+- 52...Ke6 53.Rh5 axb5 54.cxb5 Ke7 55.Re5+ Kd6 56.Kd4 Rb7 57.Rh5 Kc7 58.Kc4 Rb6 59.Rf5 Rg6 60.Rxf7 Rg4+ 61.Kc5 Rg5+ 62.Kb4 h5 63.Rh7 Rg4+ 64.Ka5 Rg5 65.Rh6 Kb7 66.Kb4 Re5 67.Kc4 Re2 68.f4 Re3 69.f5 Rxg3 70.Rxh5+- 46.Rg4 46.hxg6 leads to an easy draw after Rxg6 47.Rf4 47.Rh5 Rf6!= 47...Ke7 48.Rf5 48.Re4+ Kd8 49.Rf4 Ke7 50.Rf5 50.c5 bxc5+ 51.Kxc5 Rc6+ 52.Kd5 Rd6+ 53.Kc4 Rc6+ 54.Kd3 Rd6+ 55.Kc2 55.Rd4 Rf6 56.Ke3 Rb6 Black should hold. 55...Rc6+ 56.Kd2 Rd6+ White has the better pawn structure, but he cannot win. 50...Rd6+ 51.Kc3 Re6 52.a5 bxa5 53.Rxa5 Rf6= Black should hold. 48...Rd6+ 49.Rd5 Rf6 50.f4 Rg6 51.Re5+ Kd8 52.a5 bxa5 53.Rxa5 Rd6+ 54.Kc5 Rc6+ 55.Kd4 Rd6+ and White cannot win. 46...Rg8 47.a5!? bxa5 48.bxa5 g5 49.Re4 Rc8 50.Re3 g4! This move, which was found by Charles Sullivan, leads to draw. 50...Rc5 loses: 51.Rf3 Rxa5 52.Rxf7 Re5 53.c5+ Rxc5 54.Rf6+ Ke7 55.Rxh6 Rc6 56.Rh7+ Kf6 56...Ke6 57.g4+- 57.g4 a5 58.Rxd7 Ra6 59.h6 Ra8 60.h7 a4 61.Kc3 a3 62.Ra7 Rc8+ 63.Kb3 a2 64.Kxa2+- White is winning. 51.f4 51.Rb3 Rc6 52.Rb7 Ke7 53.c5 Rf6= 51.Rd3 Rc5= 51.Re4 Rc5 52.Rxg4 Rxa5 53.Rf4 Ke6= 51...gxf3 52.Rxf3 Ke7 53.Re3+ Kd6 54.Rb3 Ke7 55.Rb6 d6 56.Rxa6 Rc5 57.g4 Rg5 58.Kc3 Rxg4 59.Ra7+ 59.Rb6 Rg1 60.a6 Ra1 61.c5 dxc5 62.Rxh6 Kf8 63.Kc4 Ra5 64.Kd5 f5 65.Rb6 c4+ 66.Kxc4 f4= 59...Ke6 60.Kb4 Rg1 61.a6 Ra1 62.Kb5 Rb1+ 63.Ka5 Ra1+ 64.Kb6 Rb1+ 65.Kc7 Ra1 66.Ra8 Ke7 67.Kc6 Ra2 68.Kb6 Rb2+ 69.Ka7 Rc2 70.Rh8 Kd7 71.Rxh6 Rxc4 72.Rf6 Rc7+ 73.Kb6 Rc6+ 74.Kb5 Rc5+ 75.Ka4 Rxh5= 45.Re1 This move is the most logical (White puts his rook on the open file), but White can also win after 45.Ra1 Rc6 45...Rb8 46.g4 Ke7 47.Re1+ Kd8 48.Ke5 Ke7 49.Kd5+ Kd8 50.Re4 Rc8 51.Ke5 Ke7 52.b5 axb5 53.axb5 Rc5+ 54.Kd4+ Kd8 55.Re5 Rc8 56.c5 f6 57.Rf5 bxc5+ 58.Rxc5 Rb8 59.Rf5 Ke7 60.Kc5 Rc8+ 61.Kb6 Rc1 62.Rc5 Rb1 63.Ka6 Ra1+ 64.Kb7 d6 65.Rc2 d5 66.Kc6 d4 67.Re2+ Kd8 68.Rd2 Ra4 69.Kc5 Kc7 70.Rxd4 Ra2 71.f3 Rc2+ 72.Rc4 Re2 73.Re4 Rc2+ 74.Kd5 Kd7 75.Ra4 Rd2+ 76.Kc5 Rc2+ 77.Rc4 Rh2 78.Rd4+ Kc7 79.b6+ Kc8 80.Rd6 Rc2+ 81.Kb5 Rb2+ 82.Kc4 f5 83.gxf5+- 46.Re1 Kc7 47.Re4 Rd6+ 48.Ke5 a5 49.bxa5 bxa5 50.Kf5 Kd8 51.Re5 Ra6 52.Rc5 52.g4 d6 53.Rd5 Ke7 54.Ke4 Ke6 55.Rb5 Rc6 56.Kd4 Ra6 57.f3 Ra8 58.c5 dxc5+ 59.Rxc5 Kd6 60.Rd5+ Ke6 61.Rf5 Rb8 62.Rxa5 Rb3 63.Ra6+ Ke7 64.Ke4 Rc3 65.a5 Ra3 66.Kd5 Ra1 67.Kc6+- 52...Ke7 53.f4 gxf4 54.gxf4 Kd6 55.Rd5+ Ke7 56.Ke4 Rc6 57.Kd4 Rf6 58.Re5+ Kd8 59.f5 Rd6+ 60.Rd5 Ra6 61.Rb5 Kc7 62.Ke5 f6+ 63.Ke4 Ra8 64.Kd5 Rg8 65.Rc5+ Kd8 66.Rxa5 Rg4 67.Ra8+ Ke7 68.Kc5 Rg5 69.a5 Rxh5 70.a6 Rxf5+ 71.Kb6 Rf1 72.Rb8 Rb1+ 73.Ka7 Rc1 74.Rb4 h5 75.Kb8 Kd6 76.a7 Kc5 77.a8Q Kxb4 78.Qb7+ Ka3 79.Qa6+ Kb3 80.Qb5+ Ka2 81.Qxh5+- 45...g4
45...f6 does not help: 46.f3 46.Ra1 Rc6 47.a5 bxa5 48.Rxa5 also wins. g4 49.Ra1 Kc7 50.Ke4 Rxc4+ 51.Kf5 Rc6 52.Kg6 f5+ 53.Kxf5 Rb6 54.Kxg4 Kd6 55.f4 Ke6 56.Ra3+- 46...Rd8 In case of 46...g4 White wins after 47.fxg4 Rg8 48.Re4 Rg5 49.Ke3 f5 50.Rf4 Ke7 51.gxf5 Rxg3+ 52.Ke4 Rh3 53.Rg4 Rxh5 54.Rg7+ Kd6 55.Rg6+ Kc7 56.Ke5 Rh4 57.Rg8 Rh5 58.Rh8+- 47.c5+ 47.g4 wins as well: Rb8 48.Rc1 Re8 49.c5+ bxc5+ 50.Rxc5 Re6 51.Rc8 Black has a lot of weak points and he cannot survive. Ke7 52.a5 White fixes the pawn on a6. Re1 53.Rb8 Rb1 54.Rb6 Rd1+ 55.Kc3 Rc1+ 56.Kb3 d5 57.Rxa6+- 47...bxc5+ 48.bxc5+ Kc7 49.Rb1 Re8 50.Rb6 Re6 51.a5 Kd8 52.Kd5 Re5+ 53.Kc4 Re6 54.Kd4 Ke7 55.g4 Kd8 56.Rb8+ Ke7 57.Rh8 Re1 58.Rxh6 Rd1+ 59.Ke4 Ke6 60.Rh8 Re1+ 61.Kd3 Rd1+ 62.Kc2 Rd5 63.Ra8! Kf7 64.Rxa6 Rxc5+ 65.Kd3+- 45...Rb8 does not help. 46.g4 Rf8 47.Re5 Rb8 48.b5! Ra8 48...axb5 49.Rxb5 Ra8 50.Rxb6+ Ke7 51.Rxh6 Rxa4 52.Rh8 Ra1 53.Rg8 Kf6 54.Kd5+- 49.Rd5+ Ke6 50.a5! axb5 51.axb6 bxc4 52.b7 Rb8 53.Rb5 c3 54.Kxc3 Kd6 55.Rb6+ Ke5 56.Kd3 Kd5 57.Rxh6 Rxb7 58.Rf6 d6 59.h6+- 45...Rc6 46.Re8 Kc7 47.Ra8 Kb7 48.Rh8 Kc7 49.Ke5 Re6+ 50.Kf5 Kd6 51.Ra8 a5 52.bxa5 Ke7 53.f4 gxf4 54.Kxf4 bxa5 55.Rxa5 Rc6 56.c5 d6 57.cxd6+ Kxd6 58.Kf5 Kd7 59.Re5 Rb6 60.a5 Rc6 61.g4 Ra6 62.Rd5+ Ke7 63.Ke4 Kf6 64.Kd4+- 46.Ra1? This move throws away White's advantage. More subtle was 46.Re4! which forces Black to weaken his pawns on the kingside further, which gives White a winning position. f5 47.Re1 Mikhalchishin (2) suggests 47.Re2 which is also enough for a win. Rg8 48.Re5 Rg5 49.c5+ Kc6 50.cxb6 Kxb6 51.a5+ Kb7 52.Rd5 Kc6 53.b5+ axb5 54.Rc5+ Kb7 55.Rxb5++- Mikhalchisihin, 2018. 47...Rg8 48.Ra1 48.Re5 transposes to the line suggested by Mikhalchishin in above. 48...a5 48...Rg5 49.a5 Kc7 50.axb6+ Kxb6 51.Rh1! The pawn on f5 is weak and the rook on g5 is in an awkward position. Black is lost. Kb7 52.Ke5 Kc6 53.Rh2! Black is in zugzwang. Kc7 54.Rh4 Kc8 55.Rh1 Kc7 56.c5 Kc6 57.Rd1 Kc7 58.Rd6 Rxh5 59.Rxa6 Rh2 60.Ra2+- 49.bxa5 bxa5 50.Rb1 Kc7 51.Rb5 Rg5 52.Rxa5 Rxh5 53.Rc5+ Kd8 54.a5 Rh1 55.Rxf5 Ra1 56.Rh5 56.Ke3 also wins: Ra2 57.Rf4 Ra3+ 58.Ke4 Ra2 59.a6 h5 60.Rf5 Rxa6 61.Rxh5 Ra4 62.Kd4 Ke7 63.Rg5+- 56...Ra2 57.Ke3 Ke7 58.Ke4 Re2+ 59.Kd4 Kd8 60.a6 Kc7 61.a7 Kb7 62.Rd5 Ka8 63.Kd3 Re1 64.Rh5 Re6 65.Rh4 Rg6 66.Ke4 Rf6 67.Ke3 Kxa7 68.Rxg4 Kb6 69.Rd4 Re6+ 70.Kf3 Rf6+ 71.Kg2 d6 72.Rd5 Kc6 73.f4 Re6 74.Kf3 Rg6 75.f5 Rg7 76.Rd4+- 46...Kc7? After this move Black is lost again. Better was the prophylactical defence 46...Rb8! Now White's idea with a5 does not work, and the position is even again. 47.Rb1 47.Kc3 does not win either a5 48.Rd1+ Ke7 49.Rd5 axb4+ 50.Kxb4 Ra8! 50...d6? loses: 51.Rd4 f5 52.Rf4 Rf8 53.Kb5 Ra8 54.Kxb6 Rxa4 55.Kb5 Ra8 56.Rxf5 Rb8+ 57.Ka4 Ke6 58.Rf4 Ra8+ 58...Rg8 59.Kb4 see main line. 59.Kb4 Rg8 60.Kc3 Ke7 61.Kd2 Rg5 62.Rd4 Ke6 63.Re4+ Kf6 64.Ke3 Rg8 64...Rxh5 65.Rxg4 Ra5 66.Rd4 Ke7 67.Kf3 h5 68.Kg2 Ra1 69.Rh4 Ra5 70.Kh3 Kf7 71.Rf4+ Ke6 72.Kh4 Ke7 73.f3 Ke6 74.Re4+ Kd7 75.f4 Rc5 76.Re2 Kc6 76...Rxc4 77.Kxh5+- 77.Rd2 Kd7 78.Rd5 Rxc4 79.Kxh5 65.Kf4 Rg5 66.Rd4 Ke6 67.Rd2 Rc5 68.Kxg4 Rxc4+ 69.f4 d5 70.Rd3 Rc8 71.Kf3 Rd8 72.Ra3 Kf6 73.Ra6+ Kg7 74.Ke3 d4+ 75.Kd3 Kh7 76.g4 Rg8 77.Rg6 Ra8 78.f5 Ra3+ 79.Kxd4+- 51.Re5+ Kd6 52.Rf5 Ke6 53.Rb5 Ra6 54.c5 bxc5+ 55.Rxc5 d6 56.Rc4 d5 57.Rxg4 Ke5 58.Kc3 Rc6+ 59.Kd3 Rb6 60.Rf4 f6 61.Kc2 Ra6 62.Rb4 Ra7 63.Kc3 Ra8 64.g4 Rc8+ 65.Kd3 Ra8 66.f3 Ra7= 47.Re1 also leads to even play after f6 47...Re8! This move leads to draw. Alberto Oggero suggested it. Charles Sullivan also helped to find the proper lines. 47...Rg8? was my initial main line but loses: 48.c5+ Kc7 49.cxb6+ Kxb6 50.Re1 The e-file is important. Kc7 50...Kc6 51.Re5 Rb8 52.Rc5+ Kd6 53.Kc4 51.Re5 Rb8 52.Kc4 A suggestion by Karsten Mueller 52.Rc5+ wins as well Kd6 53.Kc4 53.Kc3? is a mistake which leads to a draw. Ke6 54.Ra5 Rb6 55.Kc4 Rc6+ 56.Rc5 Kd6! and Black draws. This line was found by Karsten Mueller. 56...Rb6 57.Rc8 d5+ 58.Kc5 Rd6 59.Re8+ Kd7 60.Re3 Rf6 61.Re2 Rd6 62.Kd4 Rb6 62...Rf6 63.Kxd5 Rf5+ 64.Kd4 f6 65.Kc4 Rxh5 66.Re4 Rg5 67.Rf4 Ke6 68.b5 axb5+ 69.axb5 Re5 70.Rxg4+- 63.Rb2 Rd6 64.Ke5 Kc7 65.b5 axb5 66.Rc2+ Kd7 67.axb5 f6+ 68.Kd4 Re6 69.Rc5 Re4+ 70.Kc3 Re5 71.b6 Re6 72.Rc7+ Kd8 73.Rb7 Kc8 74.Rh7 Rxb6 75.Rxh6 Kd7 76.Rg6 Ke6 77.h6 Rb1 78.Rxg4 Rc1+ 79.Kd4 Rd1+ 80.Kc5 Rc1+ 81.Kb5 Rc7 82.Rh4 Rh7 83.Kb4 f5 84.Kc3 Kf7 85.Kd4 Kg8 86.Rh5 Rf7 87.Rg5+ Kh8 88.Kxd5+- 57.Rxc6+ dxc6 This position is even! A possible line is: 58.Kd4 f6 59.Kc4 Kd7 60.Kd3 Kd6 61.Kd4 Kd7 62.Ke3 Kd6 63.Kf4 Kd5 63...c5? 64.bxc5+ Kxc5 65.Kf5 a5 66.Kxf6 Kd5 66...Kb4 67.Kg6 Kxa4 68.Kxh6+- 67.Kg6+- 64.Kf5 Kc4 65.Kg6 Kxb4 66.Kxh6 c5 67.Kg6 c4 68.h6 c3 69.h7 c2 70.h8Q c1Q 71.Qxf6 Qc2+‼ This key move was found by Karsten Mueller. 71...Qc8 loses after 72.Qd4+ Ka3 73.a5 Qg8+ 74.Kh5 Qc8 75.Qd5 Kb4 76.Kg5 Ka3 77.Qf5 Qc4 78.Qxg4 Qg8+ 79.Kf4 Qc4+ 80.Kf3 Qc3+ 81.Kg2 Qxa5 82.Qf3++- 72.Qf5 72.Kg5 Qxa4 73.Kxg4 72.Kh5 Qxa4 72...Qxf5+ 73.Kxf5= 53...Rb6 54.Rd5+ Ke6 54...Ke7 55.Rd4+- With a transposition to a position analyzed by Karsten Mueller. 55.b5 axb5+ 56.axb5 Rb8 57.Rd2 d6 58.Re2+ Kd7 59.Kb4 Rc8 60.Re4 f5 61.Rc4 Rb8 62.Rc2 Ke6 63.Ka5 d5 64.b6 d4 65.Ka6 Ra8+ 66.Kb5 d3 67.Rd2 Ra3 68.Rb2 Kd7 69.Kb4 Ra1 70.Kc4 Kc8 71.b7+ Kb8 72.Kxd3+- 52...Kd6 53.Ra5 Rb6 54.Rd5+ Ke7 55.Rd4+- 48.a5!? An interesting attempt and a suggestion by Karsten Mueller. After 48.c5+ Black can draw: Kc7 49.cxb6+ Kxb6 50.Rb3 Re6 51.f3 51.Rd3 also leads to draw: d6 52.f4 gxf3 53.Rxf3 Re5 54.g4 Rg5 55.Rf4 f6= 51...gxf3 52.Rxf3 f6= and Black can hold. This line was given by Alberto Oggero. 48...bxa5‼ 48...Kc7? loses as Karsten Mueller found out: 49.axb6+ Kxb6 50.b5 White is winning: Re6 51.bxa6+ Kxa6 52.c5 52.Rb2 Ka7 53.Kd5 Rc6 54.Rd2 Kb6 55.Rd4 Kc7 56.Rf4 Rd6+ 57.Ke4 Rc6 58.Rxf7 Rc5 59.Rf4 Rxh5 60.Rxg4 Rc5 61.Kd4 Rc6 62.Ke5 Kd8 63.Re4 Ke7 64.f4 Rc5+ 65.Kd4+ Kd6 66.Re5 Rc6 67.Re8 Ra6 68.Rh8 Ke7 69.Rh7+ Ke8 70.f5 Rf6 71.g4 Rc6 72.Rg7 Rd6+ 73.Ke5 Rc6 74.Kd5 Ra6 75.Rg6+- 52...Rf6 53.Rb2 Rc6 54.Kd5 Rf6 55.Rb4 Rxf2 56.Rb6+ Ka7 57.Rxh6 Rf3 58.Kd6 Rxg3 59.Kxd7 Rd3+ 60.Kc7 g3 61.Rb6 Rc3 62.c6 g2 63.Rb1 Ka6 64.Rg1 Kb5 65.Rxg2+- 49.bxa5 Rc8! 50.Rb6+ Rc6 51.c5+ Ke6 52.Ke4 f6! 53.Kd4 f5 54.Rb2 d6 55.cxd6 Rxd6+ 56.Kc5 Rd5+ 56...Rd3? 57.Rb6+ Kf7 58.Rxa6+- 57.Kb6 Rd6+ 58.Kb7 Ke5 59.Rb6 Rd2 60.Kxa6 Rxf2 61.Kb7 f4= 47.a5! In my opinion, this move deserves an exclamation mark! (Neither Smyslov nor Mikhalchishin gave it one). Rb8
47...Re8 is bad due to 48.axb6+ Kxb6 49.Ra5 Re2 50.Rf5+- Mikhalchishin (2). 48.b5? Smyslov (1) and Mikhalchishin (2) give this move an exclamation mark but it deserves a question mark because it gives the win away. But White can win: 48.Ke5! bxa5 49.Rxa5 Rb6 49...Rxb4 50.Rxa6 Rxc4 51.Rxh6 Rc2 52.Rf6 Rc5+ 53.Kf4 Rxh5 54.Rxf7 Rh8 55.Kxg4+- Lomonosov 50.Kf5 Kd8 51.Kxg4 51.b5 is another win. axb5 52.cxb5 Ke7 53.Kxg4+- 51...Ke7 51...Rxb4 52.Rxa6 Rxc4+ 53.f4 Ke7 54.Rxh6 d5 55.Ra6+- 52.Ra4 Re6 53.c5 Rc6 54.Kf4 Ke6 55.Ke4 Kf6 56.f4 Re6+ 57.Kf3 Kg7 58.g4 Rc6 59.Ke4 Re6+ 60.Kd5 Kf8 61.Ra3 Ke7 62.Kd4 Rc6 63.Re3+ Kf8 64.Kd5 Rf6 65.f5 Rc6 66.Re4 Rf6 67.Re1 Rc6 68.Re3 Rf6 69.Ke5 Rc6 70.Rd3 f6+ 71.Kd5 Rc7 72.Ra3 Rb7 73.Rxa6 Ke7 74.Kc4+- 48...axb5 Smyslov and Mikhalchishin think this position is winning for White, but Black can hold. 49.cxb5 49.a6 bxc4 50.Kxc4 Re8= 49...bxa5 50.Rxa5 Rb6! 51.Ra7+
51.Kc5 leads to draw after Rf6! 52.Ra7+ Kd8! 53.Ra4 53.b6 Kc8= 53...Rxf2! 54.Kb6 54.Rxg4 Rh2 55.Kb6 Rxh5 56.Rf4 56.Rg8+ Ke7 57.Ka6 Rh1 58.b6 Ra1+ 59.Kb7 Ra3 60.g4 Rg3! 61.Kc8 h5 62.g5 Rb3 63.b7 Rc3+ 64.Kb8 h4 65.Rh8 h3 66.Rh6 Ra3= 56...Rg5 57.g4 h5 58.gxh5 Rxh5 59.Rxf7= 54...f5! 55.Ka7 Rf3 56.b6 Rxg3 57.b7 Rb3 58.b8Q+ Rxb8 59.Kxb8 g3! 60.Ra6 f4! 61.Rg6 Ke7 62.Rg4 Kf6 63.Rxf4+ Kg5 64.Rf3 Kg4 65.Ra3 g2 66.Ra1 d5 67.Kc7 d4 68.Kd6 Kxh5!= 51...Kc8?! Easier was 51...Kd8 52.Ra8+ 52.Kc5 Rf6! 53.Ra4 Rxf2 54.Rxg4 54.Kb6 f5!= We already analyzed this position. 54...Rh2 55.Kb6 Rxh5 56.Rg8+ Ke7 57.Ka6 Rh1 58.b6 Ra1+ 59.Kb7 Ra3 60.g4 Rg3= We already know this position. 52...Kc7 53.Kc5 Rf6 54.Ra7+ Kd8 55.Ra4 Rxf2= Transposes and leads to a drawn position we analyzed above. 52.Kc5 Rf6 53.Ra4 Rxf2 54.Rxg4 54.Kb6 is another interesting attempt for White: Kb8 55.Rxg4 Rf6+ 56.Ka5 Re6 57.Rd4 57.Rf4 f6 58.Rf3 58.Rb4 Kc7 59.Rd4 Kc8 60.Rg4 Kc7 61.Rg6 f5 62.Kb4 Re4+ 63.Kc3 d6 64.Kd3 Rb4 65.Ke3 Rxb5 65...f4+ also leads to a draw. 66.gxf4 Rxb5 67.Rxh6 Kd7!= Lomonosov 66.Rxh6 Kd7= 58...Kb7 59.Rd3 Kc7 60.Rd4 Kc8 61.Rd2 Kc7 62.Rd4 Kc8 63.g4 Kc7 64.Rd5 Re4 65.Rc5+ Kb7 66.Rf5 Re6 67.Rd5 Re7= 57...Kc7 58.Rf4 f6= 54...Kc7 According to Mikhalchishin (2) a "more stubborn idea" is 54...Rf5+ but in fact it is mistake after which Black loses. 55.Kb6 Kd8 56.Ka6 Easier is 56.Rg8+ Ke7 57.g4 Rf1 58.Rh8 d5 59.Kc5 Rb1 60.Rxh6 d4 61.Ra6 d3 62.Ra2 Rc1+ 63.Kd4 Rb1 64.Kc4 Rg1 65.Rh2 Rxg4+ 66.Kxd3+- Petronijevic 56...Rxh5 57.b6 Rh1 58.Rg8+ Ke7 59.b7 Ra1+ 60.Kb6 Rb1+ 61.Kc7 Rc1+ 62.Kb8 Rb1 63.Rh8 Mikhalchishin (2). After Rh1 63...Rb3 64.Rxh6 d6 65.g4 Rg3 66.Rh5 Kd7 67.Ra5 Rxg4 68.Ka8+- Lomonosov 64.Rc8 Ra1 65.Rc4 Kd8 66.g4 Ra3 67.Rf4 Ke7 68.Rf5 Ra6 69.Rc5 Kd8 70.Rc8+ Ke7 71.Rh8 Ra3 72.Rxh6 f6 73.Rh7+ Kd8 74.Rf7 Ra6 75.Rxf6 Rxf6 76.Ka7+- Petronijevic 55.b6+
55.Rf4 also leads to a draw, e.g. Rc2+ 56.Rc4 Rb2 56...Rh2= 57.Rf4 Rc2+ 58.Kb4 Rb2+ 59.Ka5 Ra2+ 60.Ra4 Rf2 61.Ka6 d5! 62.g4 Rb2 63.Ra1 d4 64.Rc1+ Kd6 65.Rc6+ Ke7 66.b6 d3 67.Rc3 d2 68.Rd3 f6= 55...Kb7? A fatal mistake after which Black is lost. After 55...Kc8! Black can draw. Let's look at some possible lines: 56.Rf4 56.Kd6 Rf3 57.Rg8+ Kb7 58.Kxd7 Kxb6 59.Kd6 Kb5 60.Ke5 60.g4 f5 61.g5 hxg5 with a draw - Lomonosov 62.Rxg5 Kb6!= 60...Kc6 61.g4 Kd7 62.Rh8 Ke7 63.Rxh6 f6+= 56...Re2 57.g4 57.Rc4 Kb7 57...f5 58.Kb5+ Kb8 59.Rd4 Re3 59...Rb2+ 60.Kc5 Rb3 61.Rxd7 Rxg3 62.Rd6 Rc3+ 63.Kd4 Rh3 64.Rxh6 f4!= Lomonosov 60.Rxd7 Rxg3 61.Rf7 Rb3+ 62.Kc5 Rc3+ 63.Kd5 Rh3 64.Rxf5 Kb7 65.Ke6 Kxb6= 58.Rd4 Rc2+ 59.Kd6 Rg2 60.g4 Rf2 61.Ke5 f6+ 62.Ke4 Kxb6 63.Rxd7 Kc6 64.Rh7 Kd6 65.Rxh6 Ke7= Lomonosov 57...Re5+ 58.Kd6 Re6+ 59.Kc5 Re5+ 60.Kb4 Re6 61.Rxf7 Rxb6+ 62.Kc5 Kc7= 56.Rf4!+- The only move that leads to a win. Rc2+ 57.Kd6! Kxb6 57...Rd2+ does not help: 58.Ke7! Kxb6 59.Kxf7 Rd6 59...Kc5 Mikhalchishin (2) gives 60.g4? This move is bad and leads to even play. But after 60.Kg7 White is winning, e.g. Rd6 60...d5 61.Kxh6+- Lomonosov 61.Rf7 Kc6 61...Kd5 62.g4 Ke5 63.Kh7 Ke6 63...Kd5 64.Rg7 Ke4 65.Rg6 Rc6 66.Kxh6+- 64.Rg7 Rd3 65.Kxh6+- Lomonosov 62.g4 Rd4 63.Rf6+ Kc5 64.Rg6 Or 64.g5 hxg5 65.h6+- Lomonosov 64...Ra4 65.Kxh6+- Lomonosov 60...Re2 61.Kg6 Re6+ 62.Rf6 Rxf6+ 63.Kxf6= d5 64.g5 d4 65.gxh6 d3 66.h7 d2 67.h8Q d1Q= 60.g4 60.Rg4 also wins Kb5 61.Rg6 Rb6 62.Rxb6+ Kxb6 63.g4+- Tablebase. 60...Kc6 61.Rf1 61.Rf5 Rd4 62.Rf6+! Kc5 63.Rg6 d5 64.Kg7 Rb4 65.Kxh6+- Lomonosov. 61...Kc5 62.Rf5+ Kb4 63.Rf6 Rd4 64.Rxh6 Or 64.Rg6 d5 65.Kg7 Rd1 66.Kxh6+- Lomonosov 64...Rxg4 65.Rd6+- Petronijevic 58.Kxd7 Rh2 58...Rc7+ 59.Kd6 Kb7 60.Rf6 Rc3 61.Rxf7++- 59.g4 59.Rf6+ Kc5 60.Rxh6+- Lomonosov 59...Rh4 60.Rf6+ Kc5 61.Rxh6 61.Ke8 Rxg4 62.Kxf7+- 61...Rxg4
62.Rf6? This careless move leads to even position. The winning move was 62.Ke7! e.g. f5 63.Kf6 f4 64.Kf5 Rh4 64...Rg1 65.Kxf4+- Mikhalchishin (2). 65.Kg5 Rh1 66.Kxf4 Kd4 67.Rd6+ Kc5 68.Ra6 Kb5 69.Rh6 Kc5 70.Ke5 Re1+ 71.Kf6 Rf1+ 72.Kg7 Rh1 73.Rh8 Rg1+ 74.Kf6 Rf1+ 75.Ke5 Re1+ 76.Kf4 Rf1+ 77.Ke3 Rh1 78.h6! Kc6 79.Kf4 Rh5 80.Kg4 Rh2 81.Kf5 Rf2+ 82.Kg6 Rg2+ 83.Kh7 Kd7 84.Rg8! Rf2 85.Kg7 Rg2+ 86.Kh8 Rf2 87.h7 Ke6 88.Kg7 Rg2+ 89.Kf8 Rf2+ 90.Ke8 Ra2 91.Rg6+ Kf5 92.Rf6+ Ke5 93.Rh6 Ra8+ 94.Kf7 Ra7+ 95.Kg6 Ra6+ 96.Kg5+- 62...Re4? However, Black also fails to find the draw which was possible after the subtle 62...Rg7!= e.g. 63.h6 Rh7 64.Rf5+ Kd4 65.Rf6 Ke5= 63.h6+- Now White is winning. Kd4 64.h7 Rh4 65.Rxf7 Ke5 66.Ke7 Rh1 67.Kf8 Ke6 68.Kg8 If the analyzes are correct, Smyslov's play was far from perfect. 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Smyslov,V-Benko,P-1–01975A30Szolnok11

Zoran Petronijevic sums up his findings:

  • 1. Smyslov and Mikhalchishin think that the initial position is won for White but our analyses indicate that it is a draw.
  • 2. The easiest way for Black to make a draw is probably 42...Rc6, which defendson the 6th rank.
  • 3. The game move 44.Rh1!? is an interesting attempt to play for win.
  • 4. 44...g5 is a mistake after which Black is lost. 44...Rg8! draws. In this line 50...g4 is an important resource that was found by Charles Sullivan. Without 50...g4, Black is lost.
  • 5. 46.Ra1 is a mistake, which gives the win away. But the strong 46.Re4 should lead to a win.
  • 6. 46...Kc7 is an instructive mistake that loses. At first, I thought that the prophylactic move 46...Rb8 would lose as well. However, with the help of  Alberto Oggero, Charles Sullivan, and last but not least, Karsten Mueller, we now know that this move leads to draw. In this fascinating line readers can find a lot of astonishing ideas for Black.
  • 7. 48.b5 is a mistake after which the position is even again.
  • 8. 50...Rb6 is very strong – Black defends on the 6th rank.
  • 9. 51...Kc8 leads to a draw but makes things more difficult for Black. Easier was 51...Kd8.
  • 10. 55... Kb7 is a mistake, after which Black is lost. After 55...Kc8! Black can draw.
  • 11. After the careless 62.Rf6 the position is again drawn.
  • 10. 62...Re4 was the last mistake in this very interesting and instructive game. After this move Black is finally lost.

Thanks to the help of a lot of endgame lovers (Charles Sullivan, Alberto Oggero, Karsten Müller, and a lot of other analysts who suggested interesting lines in the ChessBase comment section), we are now closer to the truth. I don't want to say that we know the truth, but we are closer to it.

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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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