When technique matters - Endgame analyses from Riga

by Karsten Müller
11/2/2021 – Endgame specialist Kasten Müller continues to find instructive examples from the FIDE Chess.com Grand Swiss. The players are having a rest on Tuesday, so it is a good opportunity to find answers to a few technical questions: when to exchange down into a winning pawn endgame, how to defend with a bishop against a rook or how to handle an ending with bishops of opposite colours. | Photo: Mark Livshitz
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The third stage of the game

After six rounds, the participants of the FIDE Chess.com Grand Swiss are finally having a rest on Tuesday. In the open section, five players are tied atop the standings on 4½/6 points, with Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Krishnan Sasikiran the latest to have joined the leading pack. Among the women, Lei Tingjie reclaimed sole first place by beating Jolanta Zawadzka.

With so much at stage — two spots in the next edition of the Candidates Tournaments — it is not surprising that the players are showing fierce defensive efforts, as every half point is crucial under such competitive conditions. Games often last 5 to 6 hours, with players needing to show good technique in the third stage of the game — the endgame.

Exchanging down into a win

Daniil Dubov and Monika Socko correctly assessed when to give up material to exchange down into a winning technical endgame. Dubov knew his passed pawns on the queenside would grant him the full point after giving up an exchange and swapping the queens.

 
Dubov vs. Saric - Round 6

35.Rxe6 Qxg3 36.fxg3 fxe6 is winning for White even if Black’s rook is the only piece left on the board.

 
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.0-0 a6 5.Bd3 Ngf6 6.c3 b5 7.a4 Bb7 8.axb5 axb5 9.Rxa8 Qxa8 10.Na3 b4 11.Nb5 Qa5 12.cxb4 cxb4 13.Bc4 Nxe4 14.d3 d5 15.Bf4 e5 16.Nxe5 dxc4 17.dxc4 Nxe5 18.Bxe5 Bc5 19.Bd6 Bxd6 20.Nxd6+ Nxd6 21.Qxd6 Bc8 22.Re1+ Be6 23.Rd1 Qa8 24.c5 Qc8 25.c6 h5 26.Re1 Rh6 27.Re5 Qd8 28.Qxb4 Qc7 29.Qc5 Qe7 30.Qc3 Qc7 31.b4 Ke7 32.b5 Rh8 33.Qg3 Rd8 34.h4 Kf8 The power of passed pawns. Far-advanced passed pawns often allow suprising combinations. 35.Rxe6! Qxg3 35...Rd1+ 36.Kh2 Qxg3+ 37.fxg3 fxe6 38.c7 Rc1 39.b6+- 36.fxg3 fxe6 36...Rd1+ 37.Kf2 fxe6 38.c7 Rc1 39.b6+- 37.c7! The sting of the scorpion. 37.b6?? Ke7 38.b7 38.c7 Rd1+ 39.Kf2 Kd7-+ 38...Kd6-+ 37...Ke7 The alternatives do not help either. 37...Rc8 38.b6 Ke7 39.b7 Kd7 40.b8Q+- 37...Rd1+ 38.Kf2 Rc1 39.b6 Ke7 40.b7 Rxc7 41.b8Q Kd6 42.Qb4+ Kd7 43.Qd4+ Kc6 44.Qe5+- 38.cxd8Q+ Kxd8 39.Kf2 Kc7 40.Ke3 Kb6 41.Kd4 Kxb5 42.Ke5 42.Ke5 Kc4 43.Kxe6 Kd4 44.Kf7 Ke3 45.Kxg7 Kf2 46.Kg6 Kxg3 47.Kxh5 Kxg2 48.Kg4+- 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Dubov,D2714Saric,I26441–02021B51FIDE Chesscom Grand Swiss 20216.13
Arabidze,M2441Socko,M23970–12021D37FIDE Womens Grand Swiss 20215.19

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Defensive recourses

A material edge does not always guarantee a win in the endgame, as Aryan Tari and Elisabeth Paehtz demonstrated in Riga. While Paehtz defended with bishop (in the right diagonal) against rook, Tari calculated precisely to enter a drawn position with bishop and pawn against a lone king.

 
Tari vs. Yu - Round 5

White gave up his knight with 61.Nc4+, as he knew that after 61...dxc4 62.Kxc4 his king would reach the ‘safe corner’ on a1 in time.

 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.Nbd2 Nd6 9.c3 Bf5 10.Bc2 0-0 11.Bb3 Ne8 12.Re1 Bd6 13.Nf1 Ne7 14.Nh4 Bd7 15.Bc2 c6 16.Ng3 g6 17.Bh6 Ng7 18.Qd2 f6 19.Re3 Qc7 20.Rae1 Rae8 21.Nf3 Nc8 22.Rxe8 Rxe8 23.Rxe8+ Bxe8 24.Ne2 Bd7 25.h4 Bg4 26.Ne1 Nf5 27.Bxf5 Bxf5 28.Bf4 Bxf4 29.Nxf4 Nd6 30.Ned3 Qe7 31.b3 h6 32.f3 g5 33.hxg5 hxg5 34.Ne2 Kg7 35.g4 Bg6 36.Kf2 a5 37.Ng3 Kf7 38.a4 Ke8 39.Qe3 b6 40.Qxe7+ Kxe7 41.Ke3 Nb7 42.Nf1 c5 43.Nd2 Kd6 44.Ne1 Nd8 45.f4 gxf4+ 46.Kxf4 Ne6+ 47.Ke3 Kc6 48.Nd3 Bh7 49.Nf4 Nxf4 50.Kxf4 cxd4 51.cxd4 b5 52.g5 fxg5+ 53.Kxg5 Bc2 54.Kf4 bxa4 55.bxa4 Bxa4 56.Nb1 Bc2 57.Na3 Be4 58.Ke3 Kb6 59.Kd2 a4 60.Kc3 Ka5 "The wrong rook's pawn". One "injustice" in chess is that bishop and the wrong rook's pawn cannot win, if the defending king can reach the saving corner. 61.Nc4+!? Exact calculation is needed to make sure that White's king will reach the saving a1 corner. 61.Kb2 draws as well, e.g. Kb4 62.Ka2 Bf5 62...Kc3 63.Nb5+ Kc4 64.Nc7= 63.Ka1‼ 63.Kb2? Bd3 Mutual zugzwang with White to move. 64.Ka2 Kc3 65.Ka1 Kb3 66.Nc2 Kxc2-+ 63...Bd3 64.Kb2= Now Black is to move in the mutual zugzwang. 61...dxc4 62.Kxc4 Bd5+ 63.Kc3 Of course not 63.Kxd5? a3 64.Ke6 a2 65.d5 a1Q 66.d6 Kb6-+ 63...a3 64.Kc2 Ba2 65.d5! The d-pawn deflects Black's forces. 65.Kc3? Ka4 66.Kc2 Kb4 67.d5 Kc5 68.Kc3 Bxd5 69.Kc2 Ba2-+ 65...Kb5 66.d6! 66.Kc3? Bxd5 67.Kc2 Ba2 68.Kc3 Kc5 69.Kc2 Kb4 70.Kc1 Kb3 71.Kd2 Kb2-+ 66...Kc6 67.Kc3 Be6 68.Kc2 Kxd6 69.Kb1 Kc5 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Tari,A2646Yu,Y2704½–½2021C42FIDE Chesscom Grand Swiss 20215.2
Zhu,J2455Paehtz,E2475½–½2021B32FIDE Womens Grand Swiss 20216.2

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Opposite-coloured bishops

Can White win with his far-advanced connected pawns on the kingside?

 
Swiercz vs. Xiong - Round 6

41.g6 was a good winning attempt by Dariusz Swiercz, but his compatriot Jeffery Xiong demonstrated that he had a fortress in this position.

 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Rd1+ Ke8 10.Nc3 Be7 11.g4 Nh4 12.Nxh4 Bxh4 13.Kg2 Be6 14.h3 f5 15.exf6 Bxf6 16.Bf4 Bxc3 17.bxc3 Rd8 18.Be5 Kf7 19.Kg3 Rhe8 20.f4 Rxd1 21.Rxd1 Bxa2 22.Rd7+ Re7 23.Rxe7+ Kxe7 24.Bxg7 a5 25.f5 a4 26.Bh6 Bb1 27.Bc1 Bxc2 28.Ba3+ Kf7 29.Kf4 Bd3 30.h4 b6 31.h5 Be2 32.h6 c5 33.g5 Bd3 34.Ke5 Bc4 35.Bc1 b5 36.Ba3 b4 37.cxb4 cxb4 38.Bxb4 Bd3 39.Ba3 Bc2 40.Kf4 Bb1 The fortress. Pure opposite colored bishop endings have a very large drawish tendency, and this is a good example: 41.g6+!? A good wining try. Kg8! Black just stays in his house. Of course not 41...hxg6? 42.h7 Kg7 43.f6+ Kxh7 44.f7+- 42.Kg5 Black's fortress is also impregnable after 42.gxh7+ Kxh7 43.f6 Bg6 44.Kg5 Bf7= 42...Bc2 Black just waits in his fortress. Again not 42...hxg6? 43.fxg6 c5 44.h7+ Kg7 45.Bb2++- 43.Kf6 Bb1 44.Bc1 Bc2 45.Bb2 Bd3 46.Ba3 46.Ke7 can just be met by Bxf5= 46...Bc2 47.Bc1 Bd3 48.gxh7+ Kxh7 49.Ke6 a3 50.Bxa3 Bxf5+ 51.Kxf5 Kxh6 52.Ke6 Kg6 53.Kd7 Kf5 54.Kxc7 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Swiercz,D2647Xiong,J2700½–½2021C67FIDE Chesscom Grand Swiss 20216.15

Knight against bishop

White is a pawn up, but he has a knight against a bishop in a position with action on both flanks of the board. 

 
Adhiban vs. Rakotomaharo - Round 5

After 72.Na8 Ke6 (72...Kg7 surprisingly defended), Adhiban managed to regroup his knight and eventually take down his Malagasy opponent, Fy Antenaina Rakotomaharo.

 
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1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.c4 g6 4.e3 Bg7 5.Nf3 Nge7 6.d4 exd4 7.Nxd4 0-0 8.Nxc6 dxc6 9.Qxd8 Rxd8 10.Bxg7 Kxg7 11.Nc3 h5 12.Rd1 Be6 13.Bd3 a5 14.Ke2 h4 15.Rd2 f6 16.Rhd1 g5 17.f3 b6 18.Bc2 Rxd2+ 19.Rxd2 Rb8 20.Bd3 Kf7 21.Kf2 Ng6 22.Bxg6+ Kxg6 23.e4 b5 24.c5 Kf7 25.Ne2 b4 26.Nd4 Bd7 27.Ke3 Ke7 28.f4 gxf4+ 29.Kxf4 a4 30.h3 axb3 31.axb3 Ra8 32.Rc2 Rg8 33.Nf3 Rg3 34.Rb2 Be6 35.Nd4 Bd7 36.Nf3 Be6 37.Nxh4 Rxb3 38.Nf5+ Kf7 39.Rxb3 Bxb3 40.Ke3 Ba2 41.Kd4 b3 42.Kc3 Bb1 43.Nd4 Bxe4 44.g3 Bg2 45.h4 Kg6 46.Kxb3 Be4 47.Kc3 Kh5 48.Kd2 Kg4 49.Ke3 Bd5 50.Kf2 Be4 51.Ne6 Bd5 52.Nf4 Be4 53.Ng2 Kf5 54.Ne3+ Ke5 55.Ng4+ Kf5 56.Ke3 Bd5 57.Nf2 Bf7 58.g4+ Ke5 59.Nd3+ Kd5 60.h5 Ke6 61.Nf4+ Ke7 62.Ng6+ Ke6 63.Ke4 Bg8 64.Nf4+ Kf7 65.Ne2 Bh7+ 66.Kf4 Bd3 67.Nd4 Bb5 68.Nc2 Bf1 69.Nb4 Bg2 70.Na6 Bf1 71.Nxc7 Bd3 72.Na8 Deep duel. The fight bishop against knight can be very deep. Ke6? This allows the knight to be regrouped strongly. 72...Kg7 surprisingly defends, e.g. 73.g5 73.Nb6 Ba6! 74.Na4 Bc8 75.Nc3 Bd7 76.Ne2 Bc8 77.Nd4 Bd7 78.Nf5+ Kh7= 73...fxg5+ 74.Kxg5= and a tablebase draw is reached. 73.Nb6 Bh7?! 73...Ba6!? is more tenacious, but White wins anyway, e.g. 74.h6 Kf7 75.h7 Kg7 76.Nd7 Kxh7 77.Nxf6+ Kg6 78.Nd7 Bb5 79.Ne5+ Kf6 80.Nf3 Bc4 81.Nd4 Bd5 82.g5+ Kg6 83.Nf5 Bh1 84.Ne3 Kg7 85.Kf5 Bf3 86.Nc2 Bd5 87.Nd4 Bg2 88.g6+- 73...Kf7 74.Nc8 Kg7 75.Ne7 Bb5 76.Nf5+ Kf7 77.Nd4 Ba4 78.Kf5+- 74.Nc8! Now the knight enters with gain of time. Kd5 75.Nd6 Ke6 75...Kxc5 is met by 76.Ne4+ Bxe4 76...Kd4 77.Nxf6 Bd3 78.g5 c5 79.g6 c4 80.g7+- 77.Kxe4 Kd6 78.h6+- 76.Ne4 Bg8 77.h6 77.h6 Kf7 77...Bh7 78.g5 Bxe4 79.Kxe4 fxg5 80.h7+- 78.g5 fxg5+ 79.Nxg5+ Kg6 80.h7 Bxh7 81.Nxh7 Kxh7 82.Ke5+- 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Adhiban,B2672Rakotomaharo,F24841–02021A01FIDE Chesscom Grand Swiss 20215.53

In over 4 hours in front of the camera, Karsten Müller presents to you sensations from the world of endgames - partly reaching far beyond standard techniques and rules of thumb - and rounds off with some cases of with own examples.

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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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