Tata training: Pin and win, Magnus Magic II, the Great Wall

by ChessBase
2/2/2013 – We return to the very exciting Tata Steel tournament: for this weekend ChessBase Magazine columnist GM Karsten Müller has three final examples of instructive and entertaining endgames that appeared on the boards in Wijk aan Zee. They involve Nakamura beating Caruana, Carlsen outplaying L'Ami and Hou Yifan building an effective defensive wall against Anand. Learn and enjoy.
Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.

Pin and win

The pair of bishops is often a mighty weapon in the endgame:

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.e4 d6 6.Bd3 0-0 7.Nge2 Nbd7 8.Bc2 Ne8 9.0-0 Nc7 10.a4 Na6 11.f4 Nb4 12.Be3 e6 13.dxe6 fxe6 14.Qd2 Nf6 15.Rad1 Ng4 16.Bb1 Nc6 17.Kh1 Nxe3 18.Qxe3 Nd4 19.e5 dxe5 20.fxe5 Rxf1+ 21.Rxf1 Bd7 22.Nxd4 cxd4 23.Qxd4 Bc6 24.Qg4 Qe7 25.b3 Bxe5 26.Ne2 Rd8 27.Be4 Be8 28.Qf3 b6 29.Nf4 Bf7 30.Nd3 Bd6 31.Qe3 Qh4 32.h3 Qg3 33.Qxg3 Bxg3 34.Rf3 Bc7 35.Kg1 Rd4 36.Re3 g5 37.Kf2 h5 38.Re2 a5 39.Ke3 Rd8 40.Bf3 Kg7 41.Rb2 Bd6 42.Rb1 Kf6 43.Rf1 Ke7 44.Be4 Rg8 45.Rh1 h4 46.Bf3 Rf8 47.Rd1 Rd8 48.Rf1 Bg6 49.Be4 Bh5 50.Bf3 Rf8 51.Nf2 Bg6 52.Ne4 Pin and win The pair of bishops is often a mighty weapon in the endgame: Bc5+!? Nakamura wants to provoke a weakening of Caruana's blockade on the light squares. 53.Kd3? Now Nakamura will be able to open roads for his long range pieces. White had to choose between 53.Nxc5 bxc5 54.Rf2 Rb8 55.Bd1 and 53.Ke2 Rf4 54.Nxc5 bxc5 55.Rc1 Rd4 56.Rc3 but in both cases Black's intitiative is still annoying. 53...Rd8+ 54.Kc2? Staying in the pin runs into an amazing refutation. But 54.Ke2 does not save Black in the long run due to Rd4 55.Nxc5 bxc5 56.Rc1 56.Rd1 Rxd1 57.Kxd1 Kd6 58.Kd2 Ke5 59.Ke3 Bc2-+ 56...Rd3 57.Bh5 Bf5 58.Bg4 Rxb3-+ 54...g4‼ A mighty blow, which opens the gates of Caruana's castle. 55.hxg4 h3 56.Rd1 56.gxh3?! runs into Rf8 57.Kd3 Rf4 and White loses a piece due to the pins, e.g. 58.h4 Bxe4+ 59.Bxe4 Rxf1-+ 56...Rf8?! 56...h2!? 57.g3 Rh8 58.Kd2 Bxe4 59.Bxe4 Rh3-+ is even more precise as Black's rook is more active. 57.Kd3? 57.Kc3 is forced, but it is not likely that White can survive after Bxe4 58.Bxe4 h2 59.g3 Rf2 as Black's strategical initiative on the dark squares is too strong, e.g. 60.Kd3 60.g5 Bb4+ 61.Kd4 Rb2 62.Ke5 Rxb3 63.c5 bxc5 64.Bc6 Re3+ 65.Kf4 Re2-+ 60...Rb2 61.Rd2 Rxb3+ 62.Kc2 Ra3 63.Kb2 Rxa4 64.Rxh2 Rxc4 65.Re2 Kf6-+ 57...h2 57...Rf4 58.Re1 Bxe4+ 59.Bxe4 Rxe4 60.Kxe4 hxg2-+ is the alternative win. 58.Rh1 Bg1 59.Ke2 Bxe4! Without the knight White's blockade crumbles immediately as all dark squares in his camp are fatally weak. 60.Bxe4 Kf6 61.Bf3 Rd8 Caruana resigned as he is completely paralysed. One possible line is 61...Rd8 62.Be4 Kg5 63.Bf3 Kf4 64.g5 Kxg5 65.g3 Rf8 66.g4 Kf4 67.Bb7 Kxg4 68.Be4 Kg3 69.Bb7 Rf2+ 70.Ke1 e5-+ 0–1
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Caruana,F2781Nakamura,H27690–12013E7075th Tata Steel GpA10.3

Magnus Magic II

Opposite colored bishops favor the attacker, if more pieces are on the board. Already one additional rook on each side reduces the drawish tendency compared to pure endings considerably:

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Bc4 e6 7.N1e2 b5 8.Bb3 Bd6 9.Nf4 Bxf4 10.Bxf4 Nf6 11.0-0 0-0 12.c4 bxc4 13.Bxc4 Qb6 14.Qd2 Rd8 15.Rfd1 Nbd7 16.Rac1 Nd5 17.Bd6 N7f6 18.Bc5 Qb8 19.f3 h6 20.Ne2 Nd7 21.Ba3 e5 22.b3 Qb6 23.Nc3 N7f6 24.Bc5 Qc7 25.dxe5 Qxe5 26.Bd4 Qe7 27.Re1 Qd6 28.Qf2 Nxc3 29.Bxc3 Nd5 30.Be5 Qa3 31.h4 f6 32.Bd4 Kh7 33.Bxd5 Rxd5 34.Rxc6 Qb4 35.Rc4 Qd6 36.Bc5 Qd8 37.Kh2 a6 38.Be7 Qb8+ 39.Qg3 Qxg3+ 40.Kxg3 Ra7 41.Rc6 a5 42.Bc5 Rad7 43.Be3 R7d6 44.Rc4 Re6 45.Kf2 Rde5 46.Rc3 Be8 47.Bd2 a4 48.Rxe5 Rxe5 49.b4 Bb5 50.Be3 h5 51.Rc7 Kg6 52.Ra7 Rd5 53.Kg3 Rd3 54.Bc5 Ra3 55.Bf8 Rxa2 Magnus Magic Opposite colored bishops favor the attacker, if more pieces are on the board. Already one additional rook on each side reduces the drawish tendency compared to pure endings considerably: 56.Kf4! Kh7? 56...f5 gives Black better chances to defend as his king is more active, e.g. 57.Rxg7+ Kf6 58.Rg5 Bd3 59.b5 Kf7 60.Ke3 Bc2 61.Bg7 a3 62.Bc3 Rb2 and Black has practical drawing chances. 57.Rxg7+! Inviting everybody into the attack seems to be more promising than 57.Bxg7? Kg6 58.Bf8 f5 59.Rg7+ Kf6 which transposes to 56...f5!. 57...Kh8 58.Kf5 Rc2 59.Kxf6 a3?! It is better to force White's king to leave the attacking position with 59...Rc6+ but it is not likely that Black can defend after 60.Ke5! due to White's activity. However, not 60.Kg5? Rc8 61.Rb7 Rxf8 62.Rxb5 Ra8 63.Re5 a3 64.Re1 a2 65.Ra1 Rg8+ 66.Kxh5 Rxg2 67.b5 Rb2 68.Kg4 Rxb5 69.Rxa2 Kg7= 60...Rc8 60...a3? 61.Ra7 Ra6 62.Rxa6 Bxa6 63.Bc5+- 60...Ra6 61.Rg5 a3 62.Bg7+ Kg8 63.Kf4 Kf7 64.Ba1± 61.Rb7 Rxf8 62.Rxb5 Ra8 63.Rc5± 60.Ra7?! It was more precise to leave the rook in its attacking position and bring the bishop back first: 60.Bc5! and Black has no defense, e.g. a2 60...Rd2 61.Ra7 a2 61...Rxg2 62.Rxa3+- 62.g4 Bc6 63.g5 Bxf3 64.g6 Bd5 65.Kg5 Be4 65...Rd1 66.Kh6 a1Q 67.Rxa1 Rxa1 68.Bd4+ Kg8 69.Bxa1+- 66.Kh6 Rd8 67.Rxa2+- 61.Bd4 Rc4 61...Bc4 62.Rc7+- 61...Rd2 62.Be5 Rd6+ 63.Kf5 Rd5 64.Ra7+ Kg8 65.Rxa2+- 62.Be5 Rc8 63.Kf5 Rf8+ 64.Ke4+- 60...a2 61.g3 Rc6+? This is a step in the wrong direction as ...Ra6 is never an option, but even with the help of computer analysis it is not clear to me, if Black can defend ot not. I only want to give the following sample lines 61...Rc3 62.Rxa2 62.f4 Ba6 63.Rxa6 Rc6+ 64.Rxc6 a1Q+ 65.Kf7 65.Kg6? Kg8= 65...Qa7+ 66.Be7 Kh7 67.b5 Qb8 68.Rc5 Qg8+ 69.Kf6 Qg6+ 70.Ke5 62...Rxf3+ 63.Ke7 Rxg3 64.Ra5 Re3+ 65.Kf6 Rf3+ 66.Kg5 Bd7 67.Bd6 Kg7 68.Kxh5 and in both cases I can't say, if Black can hold or not. With computer help it might be possible, but over the board it seems next to impossible especially against Magnus Carlsen. 62.Kg5 Kg8 62...Ra6?! 63.Bg7+ Kg8 64.Rxa6 Bxa6 65.Ba1+- 63.Bc5 The computer suggestion 63.Bg7!?+- is also very strong. 63...Ba6 63...Ra6?! 64.Rxa6 Bxa6 65.Bd4 Be2 66.Kxh5 Bxf3+ 67.g4 Kf7 68.Kg5+- 63...Bc4 64.Bd4 Rd6 65.Be5 Rd3 66.g4 Rxf3 67.Kxh5 Re3 68.Kg6+- 64.Bd4 Rd6 65.Ba1 Black's resignation is a bit early, but there is indeed no way to stop White's attack in the long run, e.g. 65.Ba1 Rd5+ 65...Bc4 66.Kxh5 Rd1 67.Bf6 Rd5+ 68.Kg4+- 65...Be2 66.f4 Rd2 67.f5 Bf3 68.b5 Rd5 69.b6 Rb5 70.Rxa2 Rxb6 71.Ra3 Be4 72.Re3 Rb4 73.Bc3 Rc4 74.f6 Rc5+ 75.Kh6 Rc4 76.Kxh5+- 65...Rd1 66.Rxa6 Rxa1 67.Kxh5+- 66.Kf6 Bc4 67.Ra8+ Kh7 68.g4 hxg4 68...Rb5 69.Ra7+ Kg8 70.g5 Rb6+ 71.Kf5 Be6+ 72.Ke5 Bb3 73.f4+- 69.fxg4 Rd6+ 69...Rb5 70.Bc3 Rb6+ 71.Kg5 Rg6+ 72.Kf4 Rg8 73.Ra7+ Kh6 74.Kg3 Be6 75.Bd2+ Kg6 76.b5 Rc8 77.b6+- 70.Kf5 Be6+ 71.Kg5 Rd5+ 72.Kf4 Rd1 73.Be5 Bd5 74.Ra7+ Kg8 75.h5 Rf1+ 76.Kg5 Rf7 77.Ra5 Re7 78.Ba1 Rd7 79.b5 Rd6 80.h6 Rd7 81.b6 Kh7 82.Ra3+- 1–0
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Carlsen,M2861L'Ami,E26271–02013B1875th Tata Steel GpA10.4

The Great Wall of China

Simplification into a pawn ending must always be calculated very precisely:

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Position not in LiveBook
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 Nbd7 7.Qe2 h6 8.Bh4 g6 9.f4 e5 10.fxe5 dxe5 11.0-0-0 Be7 12.Nf3 Qc7 13.Qc4 Qb8 14.Nd5 b5 15.Qc6 Nxd5 16.Rxd5 Qb7 17.Qc3 f6 18.Bf2 Nb6 19.Rd1 Na4 20.Qb3 Qc6 21.Qd5 Qxd5 22.exd5 Bc5 23.Bg3 Nb6 24.Bd3 Bf5 25.Bxf5 gxf5 26.Rhf1 0-0-0 27.Bf2 Bxf2 28.Rxf2 Rxd5 29.g3 Rxd1+ 30.Kxd1 Nd5 31.Nh4 f4 32.Rd2 Ne3+ 33.Ke2 Nc4 34.Rd1 fxg3 35.b3 Rd8 36.Rxd8+ Kxd8 37.hxg3 Nd6 38.Kd3 b4 39.c4 bxc3 40.Kxc3 Kd7 41.Kd3 Ke6 42.b4 The Great Wall of China Simplification into a pawn ending must always be calculated very precisely: Nf5? The pawn ending is surprisingly drawn despite the extra pawn. 42...h5! wins sooner or later as knight endings are similar to pawn endings in the respect that an extra pawn usually gives very good winning chances, e.g. 43.a4 Kd5 44.a5 44.b5 axb5 45.axb5 Nxb5 46.Nf5 e4+ 47.Ke3 Ke5 48.Ne7 Nd6 49.Nc6+ Kf5 50.Nb4 Kg4 51.Kf2 e3+ 52.Kxe3 Kxg3-+ 44...f5 45.Ng6 e4+ 46.Kc3 46.Ke3 Kc4 47.Kf4 Kxb4 48.Ke5 Nc4+ 49.Kxf5 e3 50.Nf4 Kc3 51.Kg5 Nxa5 52.Kxh5 Nc4 53.g4 Kd2 54.g5 Ne5 55.g6 Nxg6 56.Kxg6 a5-+ 46...Nb5+ 47.Kd2 Kc4 48.Nh4 Nd6 49.Ke3 Kxb4 50.Kd4 Kxa5 51.Kc5 Nb7+ 52.Kc4 e3 53.Kd3 Nd6 54.Kxe3 Kb4 55.Kd3 Kb3-+ 43.Nxf5 Kxf5 44.a4 Ke6 45.g4! Hou Yifan stops Anand's play on the kingside first. The direct 45.b5? loses to axb5 46.axb5 Kd5 47.b6 Kc6 48.Ke4 Kxb6 49.Kf5 Kc5 50.g4 Kd4 51.Kxf6 e4 52.Kg6 e3 53.Kxh6 e2 54.g5 e1Q 55.g6 Qh4+-+ 45...Kd5 It does not make sense to try 45...f5 as Black is fighting for the draw now: 46.gxf5+ Kxf5 47.a5 e4+ 48.Ke3 h5 49.b5 h4 50.bxa6 h3 51.a7 h2 52.a8Q h1Q 53.Qd5+ Kf6= 46.Kc3! Hou Yifan's great Chinese wall can not be broken as after the only try to invade with ...Ke4 her counterplay is always just in time. Ke4 47.Kc2 Another way to draw is 47.b5 axb5 48.axb5 Kd5 49.Kb4 Ke6 50.Kc4 Kd6 51.Kb4 Kd5 52.b6 Kc6 53.Ka5 Kb7 54.Kb5 Kc8 55.Kc4= as given by Baburin in Chess Today 4462. 47...Kd4 48.Kb3 e4 The queen endgame after 48...Kd3 49.b5 axb5 50.axb5 e4 51.b6 e3 52.b7 e2 53.b8Q e1Q 54.Qd6+ Ke2 55.Qe6+ also does not promise Black any winning chances. 49.b5 axb5 50.axb5 e3 50...Kc5 is met by 51.Kc3 Kxb5 52.Kd4 e3 53.Kxe3 Kc5 54.Ke4 Kd6 55.Kf5 Ke7 56.Kg6= 51.Kc2 Ke4 52.Kd1! Hou correctly deals with the counterplay as 52.b6? runs into Kf3 53.b7 e2 54.b8Q e1Q and Black wins, e.g. 55.Qf8 Qf2+ 56.Kd3 Kxg4 57.Qxh6 Qf3+ 58.Kc2 f5-+ 52...Kd5! 52...Kd5 53.Ke2 Kc5 54.Kxe3 Kxb5 55.Ke4 Kc6 56.Kf5 Kd5! Only the counterattack saves the day as 56...Kd7? is met by the bodychecks 57.Kxf6 h5 58.gxh5 Ke8 59.Kg7+- 57.Kxf6 Ke4 58.Kg6 Kf4 59.Kh5 Kg3 60.Kxh6 Kxg4= Of course not 52...Kf3?? 53.Ke1+- ½–½
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Hou,Y2603Anand,V2772½–½2013B9475th Tata Steel GpA11

Karsten Müller in ChessBase Magazine

Do you like these lessons? There are plenty more by internationally renowned endgame expert Dr Karsten Müller in ChessBase Magazine, where you will also find openings articles and surveys, tactics, and of course annotations by the world's top grandmasters.

Click to go to the ChessBase Magazine page

Apart from his regular columns and video lectures in ChessBase Magazine there is a whole series of training DVDs by Karsten Müller, which are bestsellers in the ChessBase Shop.

Reports about chess: tournaments, championships, portraits, interviews, World Championships, product launches and more.

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register

We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.