When the king is cut off

by Karsten Müller
4/18/2023 – In the diagram position Black is two pawns down and in trouble. But Black has an active king and an active rook - enough to save the game. What should Black do to hold the draw?
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.
 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Training Position
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 a6 5.b3 Bf5 6.Nbd2 e6 7.Ne5 Bb4 8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Nxd3 Bd6 10.0-0 0-0 11.Qf3 Nbd7 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Qxe4 Qa5 15.Bb2 Rad8 16.Rfe1 Nf6 17.Qe2 Ba3 18.Rad1 Bxb2 19.Qxb2 Rd6 20.Nc5 Qc7 21.Rd3 Rfd8 22.Red1 a5 23.Qe2 h6 24.h3 Qe7 25.Qe3 Qc7 26.Qe2 Qe7 27.Qe5 b6 28.Na4 Nd7 29.Qe2 b5 30.Nc3 bxc4 31.bxc4 Nf6 32.Qe5 Qa7 33.c5 R6d7 34.Rg3 Kf8 35.Rxg7 Kxg7 36.Ne4 Rd5 37.Qxf6+ Kh7 38.Qh4 Qa6 39.Nf6+ Kg7 40.Nxd5 Rxd5 41.Qg4+ Rg5 42.Qe4 a4 43.h4 Rf5 44.Rd3 Qc4 45.Rg3+ Kf8 46.Qxc6 Qxd4 47.Qd6+ Qxd6 48.cxd6 Rd5 49.Rg4 Rxd6 50.Rxa4 Rd2 51.g3 Kg7 52.Kg2 Rd3 53.Ra5 Kg6 54.h5+ Kf6 55.g4 Rc3 56.f3 e5 57.Kf2 Rd3 58.Ke2 Rc3 59.Kf2 Rd3 60.Ra7 Rc3 61.Ke2 e4 62.fxe4 The cut off King activity is usually crucial in an endgame:
Black to move and draw
Show Solution
  • 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
Wagner,D2414Kashlinskaya,A24911–02023D11FIDE Womens Grand Prix-II 2022-2310.4

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 #206

Order now at the ChessBase Shop ! Available as a download or on DVD.

ChessBase Magazine Extra #205

 Order now at the ChessBase Shop ! Available as download or on DVD.

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

Links

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.

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.