Theory and practice

by Karsten Müller
8/31/2021 – In the diagram position it is Black to move and tablebases and endgame books know that this position is a theoretical draw. However, holding theoretical draws is often difficult in practice. But Jan-Krzyzstof Duda, who was Black against Ding Liren here, was up to the task and found the only move that saves the game. What did he play?
Let endgame expert Dr Karsten Müller show and explain the finesses of the world champions. Although they had different styles each and every one of them played the endgame exceptionally well, so take the opportunity to enjoy and learn from some of the best endgames in the history of chess.
 
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1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.cxd5 exd5 7.e3 Be7 8.Bd3 Ne4 9.Bf4 Ndf6 10.0-0 Bf5 11.Qc2 0-0 12.Ne5 g6 13.f3 Nd6 14.Bxf5 Nxf5 15.g4 Ng7 16.Rad1 Nd7 17.Nd3 Bg5 18.Qf2 Bxf4 19.Nxf4 a5 20.e4 Ne6 21.Nfe2 dxe4 22.fxe4 Qg5 23.Qg3 h5 24.gxh5 Qxh5 25.Nf4 Qg5 26.Nxe6 Qxg3+ 27.hxg3 fxe6 28.Kg2 Nb6 29.Rxf8+ Rxf8 30.b3 a4 31.Nxa4 Nxa4 32.bxa4 Ra8 33.Rb1 Rxa4 34.Rxb7 Rxd4 35.Kf3 e5 36.Re7 Ra4 37.Rxe5 Rxa2 38.Re6 Rc2 39.Rxg6+ Kf7 40.Rh6 c5 41.Kf4 c4 42.Ke5 c3 43.Rf6+ Ke7 44.Rf3 Rc1 45.Kf4 Kd6 46.Kf5 c2 47.Rf2 Rg1 48.e5+ Ke7 49.Rxc2 Rxg3 50.Rc7+ Kf8 51.Kf6 Rf3+ 52.Ke6 Re3 53.Rf7+ Ke8 54.Ra7 Kf8 55.Ra8+ Kg7 56.Re8 Re1 57.Kd7 Rd1+ 58.Ke7 Ra1 59.Rd8 Ra7+ 60.Ke8 Theory and practice In the diagram position it is Black to move and tablebases and endgame books know that this position is a theoretical draw. However, holding theoretical draws is often difficult in practice. But Jan-Krzyzstof Duda, who was Black against Ding Liren here, was up to the task and found the only move that saves the game. What did he play?
Black to move and draw
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Ding,L2799Duda,J2729½–½2021D35Goldmoney Asian Rapid Final 20211.1

Karsten Mueller 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.

ChessBase Magazine #202

 

ChessBase Magazine Extra #201

 

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

Karsten Mueller

Karsten Mueller regularly presents endgame lessons in the ChessBase Video Portal

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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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