Distant Opposition
The great chess player and theoretician, P. A. Romanovsky, offered a simple definition: ‘Opposition is the placement of the kings opposite each other in such a way, so that a zugzwang is brought about’. German chess term ‘zugzwang’ itself implies the obligation of the weaker side to make a move, even though it doesn't support his interests.
Distant opposition occurs when the kings are separated by three or five squares. This distance is gradually reduced, resulting in a case of close opposition. Effectively, the distant opposition is a tool that allows us to force a favourable close opposition.
In the 6th round of the event I played the following game, which, is quite interesting on the opening theoretical part, but mostly important for its rook ending handling and the distant opposition concept, that occurred – unfortunately for me! The distant opposition lesson begins at move 53 in the game below.
Try to hold the draw by moving the black pieces on the diagram above. A full description of what is the correct solution and what transpired is given in the following deeply annotated game. Go to move 51 to find out.

In the replayer you can adjust the layout to suit your screen. The fan button on the left will start an engine that can assist in your analysis.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 0-0 6.0-0 dxc4 7.Qc2 7...b6 7...a6 8.Qxc4 8.Bg5 Nd5 9.Bxe7 Qxe7 10.Nbd2 b5 11.b3 cxb3 12.Nxb3 a5 13.Ne5 8.Ne5 Qxd4 9.Bxa8 Qxe5 10.Bf3 8...Bb7 8...Ba6 9.Qc2 Bb7 10.Rd1 9.Nc3 Nbd7 10.Rd1 c5 11.Bg5 11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.Bg5 Qc8 13.Qh4 11...Nd5 11...Rc8 12.Qa4 Bc6 13.Qa6= 12.Bxe7 Qxe7 13.Rac1 13.dxc5 Nxc5 14.Rac1 Rac8 15.Nd4 Nxc3 16.Qxc3 Rfd8= 13...Rfc8 13...Rac8 14.Nxd5 14.e3 Nxc3 15.Qxc3 cxd4 16.Qxd4 Rxc1 17.Rxc1 Nc5= 14...Bxd5 14...exd5 15.Qa4 15...c4! 16.Qxa7 Rc7! 17.Qa3 Qxa3 18.bxa3 Ra8 19.Rc3 b5 15.Qa6 Rfd8= 13...Rfd8 14.Nxd5 14.Qd3?! Nxc3 15.bxc3 Rac8 16.Ng5 Nf6 17.Bxb7 Qxb7 18.Qf3 Qxf3 19.Nxf3 Ne4 14...Bxd5 15.Qc2 Rac8= 14.Nxd5 14...Bxd5 14...exd5 15.Qc3 15.Qa4 c4 16.b3 Bc6 17.Qa6 Rc7! 18.Ne5! 18.bxc4? Nb8-+ 18...Nxe5 19.dxe5 Bb7 20.Qb5 Rc5 21.Qb4 a5 22.Qa3 Qc7 23.e4! dxe4 24.Rxc4 Rxc4 25.bxc4∞ 15...c4 16.Ne5 Rc7 17.h4∞ 15.Qa4 h6 16.Qa3! 16...a5?! 16...Kf8 17.Qd3 Nf6 18.Ne5 Rd8 19.Qe3 cxd4 20.Rxd4 Rac8= 17.Nd2! Bxg2 18.Kxg2 b5 18...Qd8 19.Ne4 cxd4 20.Rxc8 Rxc8 21.Rxd4 19.Ne4?! 19.Nf3! b4 20.Qe3 cxd4 21.Rxd4 19...b4 20.Qd3 20...f5?! 20...cxd4 21.Qxd4 Nf6 22.Nxf6+ Qxf6 23.Qxf6 gxf6 24.Kf3 f5 25.Ke3 Kg7 21.Nxc5?! 21.Nd2! cxd4 22.Qxd4 Nf6 23.Nf3 21...Nxc5 22.dxc5 Rxc5 23.Rxc5 Qxc5 24.Qd7 Qe5?! 24...Ra6! 25.Qe8+ Kh7 26.Rd8 Qc6+ 27.Qxc6 Rxc6 28.Ra8 Rc2 29.Kf3 Rxb2 30.Rxa5 25.e3 25...Kh8? 25...Qxb2?! 26.Qxe6+ Kh8 27.Rd4! Qc2! 28.Qd5 Re8 29.Qxa5 Rxe3 30.Rxb4 Qc6+ 31.Kh3 Rf3 32.Qa7 f4 33.Rxf4 Rxf4 34.Qb8+ Kh7 35.Qxf4 Qe6+ 36.Kg2 Qxa2 37.Qe4+ 25...Qe4+! 26.Kg1 Kh7 27.b3 a4 26.Rd4 26...Kh7 27.h4 Rf8? 27...Ra6! 28.b3 Rb6 29.h5 Rb5! 28.b3 h5?! 28...Rb8 29.Qf7 Rg8 30.h5 Rc8 31.Qg6+ Kh8 32.Kh2± 29.Qe7! Qf6 29...Rf6 30.Qe8? 30.Qd6! Qxd6 31.Rxd6+- 30...f4! 31.gxf4 Qf5 32.Rd8 e5 33.Qxe5 Rg6+ 34.Kf1 Qh3+ 35.Ke2 Qg4+ 36.Kd2 Qxh4 30.Qxf6?! 30.Qc7 Ra8 31.Rd7 Qc3 32.Qd6 Qf6 33.Re7+- 30...gxf6 30...Rxf6 31.Rd6 Kg6 31...e5 32.Rxf6 gxf6 33.Kf3 e4+ 33...Kg6 34.e4 fxe4+ 35.Kxe4 Kf7 36.Kf5+- 34.Kf4 Kg6 35.g4!+- 32.Ra6 e5 33.Rxa5 e4 34.Ra4 Rb6 35.f3 exf3+ 36.Kxf3+- 31.Rd6 Re8 32.Ra6 Kg6 33.Rxa5 33...Rc8 34.Rb5! Ra8 35.Rxb4 Rxa2 36.Rb8 Rb2 37.b4 e5 38.b5 Kg7 38...f4 39.gxf4 exf4 40.e4!+- 39.b6 Rb1 40.f4! 40.b7? e4! 40...Rb2+ 41.Kf1 e4 42.b7! Rb3 43.Ke2 Rb6 44.Kd2 Rb2+ 45.Kc3 Rb1 46.Kc4 Rb2 47.Kd5 Rb6 48.Kc5 Rb3 49.Kc6 Rc3+ 50.Kd6 Rb3 51.Ke6 51.Re8! Rxb7 51...Rb6+ 52.Kc7+- 52.Re7+ Rxe7 53.Kxe7 Kg6 54.Ke6+- 51...Rb5 52.Rd8? 52.Kd6 Rb1 53.Re8!+- 52.Re8? Rb6+ 53.Kxf5 Rxb7 54.Kxe4 Rb4+ 55.Kd3± 52...Rxb7 53.Rd7+? 53.Kxf5 Rb5+ 54.Kxe4 f5+ 55.Kd4± 53...Rxd7 54.Kxd7 54...Kh7! 54...Kf7? 55.Kd6 Kg6 56.Ke6+- 55.Kd8 Kh8! 56.Ke7 Kg7 57.Kd6 Kh6! 58.Kc6 58...Kg7? 58...Kg6!= 59.Kc7! Kg8 59...Kg6 60.Kd8 Kh7 61.Kd7!+- 60.Kd8? 60.Kd6! Kh7 61.Kd7! Kg7 62.Ke7 Kg6 63.Ke6+- 60...Kh8! 61.Ke8 Kg8 62.Ke7 Kg7 63.Kd7 Kh7! 64.Kc6 Kg6 65.Kc7 Kg7! 66.Kc8 Kg8! 67.Kd8 Kh8! 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.
Grivas,E | 2396 | Hossain,E | 2365 | ½–½ | 2024 | E03 | Dubai Open | 6 |
Please, wait...

The Grivas Chess International Academy is announcing an interactive training program with a monthly schedule, starting June 2024. Ten players of a rating strength of more of 1500 are invited to register monthly. The program is addressed to ambitious chess players, who are aiming to achieve high rating and international titles. All sessions will be conducted by the world-famous coach and author GM Efstratios Grivas.
Program Data
● Monthly, starting June 7th 2024.
● Twice per week, Friday and Sunday, 16 hours of top-training.
● Sessions at 13:00-15:00 (CET Time) - 15:00-17:00 (UAE Time).
● Meetings via Zoom, ten students maximum.
● English Language.
● All sessions will be recorded and access will be given to the students.
● Monthly Program Cost per Student: AED 1.000 or €250 or US $270.
● Payments by Bank Account Transfer or PayPal.
Program Subjects
● Opening Repertory.
● Middlegame Handling.
● Endgame Excellence.
● Planning.
● Tactical Education.
Contacts
● WhatsApp: 00306936888163.
● Mobile: 00971551880025.
● Email: grivasefs@yahoo.co.uk.