Efstratios Grivas: A clever try, but White is on the alert.

83.Kf3! Rd8
Fear of the Knight Not of course 83...Rb2? 84.g7 Rg2 85.Kg2
b2 86.g8Q b1Q 87.Qf8 and White wins in
Concept 55 moves according to my tablebases!
The eternal fight between the bishop and 84.Ke4 Rd2 85.Kf3 Rd8 86.Ke4 Kd6
the knight has not come to an end with a Nothing else to try...
clear winner. Some chess players love 87.Kd4! Rc8 88.g7 Ke6 89.g8Q Rg8
bishops (majority) while other tent to 90.Kc4
prefer the knight. XIIIIIIIIY
Well, what is known already from the 9-+-+-+r+0
experience we got for the last 200 years,
that bishop ‘love’ open positions with 9+-+-+-+-0
flexible pawn-structures on both sides of 9-+-+k+-+0
the board, while the knights love blocked 9+-+-+-+-0
pawn-structures and one-side play. 9-+K+-zP-+0
Of course all the above sound a little bit
too general, but unfortunately there is 9+p+-+-+-0
nothing more to be said on these thumbs. 9-sN-+-+-+0
In the present survey we will see some 9+-+-+-+-0
cases where the knight prevails. Our first xiiiiiiiiy
example is quite old and a must for every
90...Rg3
‘school-boy’:
There is not much difference for the
outcome by protecting the pawn from the
Lasker Em. : Lasker Ed.
file, but there is still a trap to deal with:
New York 1924
90...Rb8 91.Kc3 Kf5 92.Nc4! (it is
XIIIIIIIIY important to force the pawn to his last-but-
9-+-tr-+-+0 one rank. 92.Kc4? is losing: 92...Kf4
9+-+-+-+-0 93.Kc3 Ke3 94.Nc4 Ke2 95.Nb2 Ke1! and
9-+k+-+-+0 Black will penetrate via d2 or d1, winning)
92...Kf4 93.Nd2 b2 94.Kc2 Rb7 95.Nb1
9zP-+-+-+-0 and the position is drawn, as the black king
9-zp-+KzPP+0 cannot attack the knight from behind - this
9+-+-sN-+-0 is why White had to force the pawn to the
9-+-+-+-+0 second rank.
91.Na4 Kf5 92.Kb4 Kf4
9+-+-+-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-+-+-+0
A famous and well-known position for the
drawing mechanism which appeared... It 9+-+-+-+-0
seems that the black b-pawn is a reliable 9-+-+-+-+0
force and, as the white king cannot 9+-+-+-+-0
approach it, the pride of Black! 9NmK-+-mk-+0
77.a6!
The right method. White will sacrifice his 9+p+-+-tr-0
entire pawn-army to ensure his king's 9-+-+-+-+0
involvement to the stoppage of the last 9+-+-+-+-0
black pawn. xiiiiiiiiy
77...Kc5 78.a7 b3 79.Nd1 Ra8 80.g5! Ra7
And here we have a theoretical drawn
81.g6 Rd7 82.Nb2 Rd2

FIDE Surveys – Efstratios Grivas 1

position, as Black cannot make progress. And finally the same almost position (on
93.Nb2 Ke4 the c instead of the b-file) is board. The
Black cannot penetrate via the last rank, as drawing mechanism is easy and White
this would take too much time, allowing knew what to do, giving the win to his
White to capture the pawn: 93...Kg4 team ...
94.Nc4 Kh3 95.Ka3 Kg2 96.Nd2. 61...Kf6 62.Kc4 Ke5 63.Nb4 Ke4 64.Nc2
94.Na4 Kd4 95.Nb2 Rf3 96.Na4! Rh3 65.Nb4 Rg3 66.Nc2 Rf3 67.Nb4 Kf5
The only move! 96.Nc4 loses to 96...Rf8 68.Nc2 Kg4 69.Nd4 Rg3 70.Kb3!
97.Nb2 Rb8 98.Ka3 Kc3 or 96.Nd1 Kd3!. It is time to win the pawn, before it is too
96...Re3 97.Nb2 Ke4 98.Na4 Kf3 99.Ka3 late; the black king penetrates from
Ke4 100.Kb4 Kd4 101.Nb2 Rh3 102.Na4 behind!
Kd3 103.Kb3 Kd4 ½-½. 70...Re3 71.Nb5 Kf4 72.Nc3 Ke5 73.Kc4
Rh3 74.Nb5 Rh8 75.Nc3 Rc8 76.Kd3
Morozevich A. : Van Kampen R. Rd8 77.Kc4 Rd4 78.Kc5 Rd3 79.Kc4 Rc3
Warsaw, European Team Ch 2013 80.Kc3 ½-½.
XIIIIIIIIY Yes, these two ‘similar’ examples are a
9-+-+-+-+0 rare bird. But obviously old endgame
theory still survives and must be know by
9+-+-+-+-0 the young players…
9-+-mk-+P+0 But as it is well-known, the bishop should
9+-+-+-+-0 be underestimated. In the next two
9-+-+K+-+0 examples the knight is strong but the
bishop can (probably) defend!
9+-zp-sN-+-0
9-+-+-tr-+0 Blomqvist E. : Socko B.
9+-+-+-+-0 Stockholm 2013
xiiiiiiiiy XIIIIIIIIY
A critical game from the match Russia : 9-+-+-+-+0
Netherlands (2:1 by this moment). 9+-+-+-+-0
57...Ke6? 9-+-zp-+-+0
Black decided to play it 'safe'! The obvious
57...c2 was curtains and a 2–2 final result. 9+-zpP+-+-0
58.g7! Kf7 59.Kd3 Rf3 9-+P+-+-+0
Black thought he had an easy win, but 9+LmK-mk-sn-0
obviously he was unwearied of the Laskers 9-+-+-+-+0
game!
60.Kd4 Kg7 61.Nc2 9+-+-+-+-0
XIIIIIIIIY xiiiiiiiiy
9-+-+-+-+0 With blocked pawns a knight often wins
against a bad bishop, but the following
9+-+-+-mk-0 position should be drawn.
9-+-+-+-+0 100.Ba2?
9+-+-+-+-0 But not like this! White should have opted
9-+-mK-+-+0 for 100.Ba4! Ne4 101.Kc2! (The only
rescue as now White's counterattack is
9+-zp-+r+-0 always just in time. However, not
9-+N+-+-+0 101.Kb3? Kd4 102.Bc6 Nd2 103.Ka4 Nc4
9+-+-+-+-0 104.Kb5 Ne3–+) 101...Kd4 102.Bb5 Ng3
xiiiiiiiiy 103.Kb3 Ne4 104.Kc2 Ng3 105.Kb3 Nf1
(105...Kd3 106.Ka4 Ne4 107.Ka5 Nd2

FIDE Surveys – Efstratios Grivas 2

108.Kb6 Nc4 109.Kc6 Kd4 110.Bc4 Kc4
111.Kd6=) 106.Kc2 Ne3 107.Kb3 Kd3
108.Ba6 Kd4 109.Bb5= . Note that if we
move the entire construction one file to the
left, then Black is winning, as White would
be easily in zugzwang.
100...Ne2 101.Kc2
Now it is over anyway as White can't start
counterplay with 101.Kb3 due to 101...Nc1
102.Kb2 Na2 103.Ka2 Kd3 104.Kb3 Kd4
–+.
101...Kd4 102.Bb3
102.Kb2 cannot save White as well:
102...Nf4 103.Kb3 (103.Bb1 Kc4 104.Be4
Nd5–+) 103...Nd3 104.Ka4 Nc1 105.Kb5
Na2 106.Kc6 Kc4 107.Kd6 Nb4–+.
102...Nf4 103.Kb2 Nd3 104.Ka3 Nc1
105.Bd1 Kc4 106.Bf3 Nd3 107.Ka4 Nb4
And White decided that he had enough ...
0:1.
Wang Yue : Wang Hao
Beijing 2013
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-tr-+k+-0
9-+-+pvlp+0
9+R+-zp-+p0
9-+-+N+-zP0
9+-+-zP-zP-0
9-+-+-zPK+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
As White's knight and pawn-structure are
much better than the black bishop, it is not
easy to defend despite the reduced
material.
50...Rc6?!
The first concession. Black should wait
with 50...Kg7 or with 50...Ke7.
51.Rb7 Be7 52.Kf3 Ra6 53.Nc5 Ra5
53...Rc6 now loses to 54.Nd7.
54.Nd7 Ke8 55.Ke4
FIDE Surveys – Efstratios Grivas
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+k+-+0
9+R+Nvl-+-0
9-+-+p+p+0
9tr-+-zp-+p0
9-+-+K+-zP0
9+-+-zP-zP-0
9-+-+-zP-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
55...Bd6?
But this mistake has no return, as now
White can regroup his knight forcefully,
which will win a pawn under favourable
circumstances. The pawn should be
sacrificed immediately with 55...Ra4!
56.Ke5 Kf7 and it is not clear if White can
win as now Black's pieces cooperate well
in defence, e.g. 57.Nb8 Rc4 58.f4 Ke8
59.Nd7 Kf7 60.Ra7 Rb4 61.Nc5 Rb5
62.Kd4 Rb4 63.Kd3 Rb5 64.Nd7 Rb3
65.Ke2 (65.Ke4 Ke8 66.Kf3 Rd3 67.Ne5
Re3 68.Ke3 Bc5 69.Ke4 Ba7 70.Ng6 Kf7
71.Ne5 Kf6=) 65...Ke8 66.Kf2 Rb2 67.Kf3
Rb3 68.g4 hg4 69.Kg4 Re3 70.Ne5 Ra3
71.Rb7 Bf6 72.Ng6 Ra1 and Black can
probably defend.
56.Nf6 Kf8 57.Nh7
And Black resigned, as he understood that
he is lost: 57...Ke8 (57...Kg8 58.Ng5 Ra4
59.Kd3 Ra3 (59...Rb4 60.Rf7±) 60.Ke2
Ra2 61.Kf1 Ra6 62.Ne6 Bf8 63.Ng5+– as
White's king should be able to invade
Black's camp sooner or later) 58.Ng5 Be7
(58...Ra4 59.Kf3 e4 (59...Be7 60.Rb8 Kd7
61.Ne4 Rc4 62.Rg8+–) 60.Kg2 Be7
61.Ne6 Ra5 62.Nf4 g5 63.hg5 Rg5 64.Rb8
Kf7 65.Rh8 Bd6 66.Nh5 Be5 67.Rh6+–)
59.Ne6 Bf6 60.f3! (zugzwang!) 60...Ra2
(60...Bh8 61.g4 Ra4 62.Kd5 hg4 63.fg4
Ra5 (63...Rg4?! 64.Kd6+–) 64.Nc5+–)
61.Nc7 Kf8 62.Kd5 Kg8 63.Ke6 Bg7
64.e4 Rg2 (64...Ra3 65.g4 Rf3 66.Ne8 Bh8
67.g5 Rf8 68.Re7+–) 65.f4 ef4 66.gf4 Ra2
67.e5 Ra4 68.Nd5 Ra6 69.Rb6+– . But
anyway, Black could have tried a bit more,
but obviously he got sick with the mighty
knight ... 1:0.
3
When all look clumsy, look for something
extraordinary, like in the next example:
Van Wely L. : Giri A.
Wijk aan Zee 2012
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-vl-+-+0
9+-+-+-sN-0
9-zp-+-zp-+0
9zp-zp-mk-+-0
9P+P+-+KzP0
9+P+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
It looks like Black is in trouble, as his
entire pawn-structure is based on the same
colour-squares as his bishop. Add to this
the passed white h-pawn ...
60...f5!!
An amazing and clever idea to secure the
draw. But note that 60...Be7?! draws as
well, but is much more complicated: 61.h5
(On 61.Nf5 Black defends with 61...Bf8
62.Ne3 Ke4 63.Nd5 f5 64.Kg3 Bh6
65.Nb6 Ke3=.) 61...Bf8 62.h6 f5 63.Kg5
(63.Nf5?! is met by 63...Bh6!! 64.Nh6 Kd4
with a draw like in the game.) 63...f4
64.Kg6 f3 65.h7 Bg7 66.Kg7 f2 67.h8Q
f1Q 68.Qb8 Kd4 69.Qd6 (69.Qb6 Qf4)
69...Kc3 70.Qb6 Qf4 71.Qc5 Kb3 72.Qb5
Kc3 73.c5 Kd4 74.c6 Qc7 and Black can
survive in both cases but it is much more
difficult than Black's amazing solution.
61.Nf5 Bh4!!
Black's brilliant point. White's knight will
be too far away from the queenside.
62.Nh4
62.Kh4? Kf5–+ would be too much!
62...Kd4 63.Kf3 Kc3 64.Ke3 Kb3 65.Kd3
Ka4 66.Kc3 b5!
Black liquidates the last white pawn just in
time. Of course not 66...Ka3? 67.Nf5 a4
68.Ne3 Ka2 69.Kc2 Ka3 70.Nd5 Ka2
71.Nb6 a3 72.Nd7 Ka1 73.Nc5 a2
74.Nb3#.
½-½.
FIDE Surveys – Efstratios Grivas
The following example is quite instructive
for the power not only of the knight but
also for the breakthroughs that must be in
the daily menu is such cases:
Rozentalis E. : Gronn A.
Oslo 2011
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+k+-+-+0
9+-+-vl-+-0
9-zpp+-zp-zp0
9zp-+-zpP+P0
9P+P+NzpP+0
9+P+K+P+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Perfect positions for the knight, but some
breakthroughs are important to be found.
42.c5
White firstly opens a road on the
queenside, but 42.g5 fg5 43.Nf2 Kd7
44.Ng4 Bf8 45.c5+– would win as well.
Another winning attempt was 42.Nf2 Bc5
(42...Bf8 43.g5 hg5 44.Ng4 Bg7 45.h6 Bh8
46.c5 Kb7 47.Kc4 Kc7 48.cb6 Kb6 49.h7
Bg7 50.Nf2 Bh8 51.Ne4 Bg7 52.b4+–)
43.g5+–.
42...bc5
Black's alternatives were not really helpful,
but he should have tried 42...b5: 43.g5 fg5
44.Nf2 Bc5 45.Ng4 Bf8 (45...e4 46.Ke4
Bf8 47.f6 Kd7 48.Kf5 Kd6 49.Ne5 ba4
50.ba4 Kd5 51.Nd7 Bd6 52.f7 c5 53.Nb6
Kc6 54.Nc4 Bf8 55.Ke4+–) 46.Ne5 Kc7
47.f6 Bd6 48.Ng6 c5 49.ab5 Kb6 50.Kc4
g4 51.f7 gf3 52.Kd5 f2 53.Kd6 f1Q 54.Ne7
Qd3 55.Nd5 Kb5 56.f8Q+–. Note that
42...Kc7 had some 'problems' to be solved:
43.g5 fg5 44.f6 Bf8 45.cb6 Kb6 46.Nd2
Kc5 47.Ke4 Kb4 48.Nc4 c5 49.Ne5 Kb3
50.Nd7 Bd6 51.Kd5 c4 52.Kd6 c3 53.Nc5
Kc4 54.f7 c2 55.f8Q c1Q 56.Qf7+–.
43.g5!!
The second and decisive breakthrough.
4
43...fg5 44.Nf2 c4
Or 44...Bf6 45.Ng4 Bg7 46.Ke4 Kc7 47.f6
Bf8 48.Ne5 Kd6 49.Ng6+–.
45.bc4 Kd7 46.Ng4 Bf8 47.Ne5 Kd6
48.Ke4 Bg7 49.Ng4 Bf8
A bit more difficult was 49...Ke7. Then
White wins with 50.f6 Bf6 51.Nh6 Ke6
52.c5 Bh8 53.Ng4 Bg7 54.h6 Bh8 55.h7
Ba1 56.Nh6 Bb2 57.Nf5 Kf7 58.Kd3 Bf6
59.Nd6 Kg6 60.Nc4 Kh7 61.Na5 Be7
62.Nb3 Bd8 63.a5 Bc7 64.a6 Bb8 65.Na5
Ba7 66.Kd4 g4 67.fg4 f3 68.Ke3 Bc5
69.Kf3 Kg6 70.Nc6 Kg5 71.a7 Ba7
72.Na7+–.
50.f6 Ke6
Or 50...Kc5 51.Ne5 Kb4 52.Nd7 Bd6
53.c5 Bc5 54.Nc5 Kc5 55.f7+–.
51.Ne5 Kf6
Black had no options, as 51...c5 52.Ng4+–
was curtains as well.
52.Nc6 Bb4
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+N+-mk-zp0
9zp-+-+-zpP0
9PvlP+Kzp-+0
9+-+-+P+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
53.Ne5!
White keeps full control. Wrong would be
53.Nb4? ab4 54.a5 b3 55.Kd3 b2 56.Kc2
g4 57.a6 b1Q 58.Kb1 gf3 59.a7 f2 60.a8Q
f1Q and it is Black who wins!
53...Ke6 54.Ng4 Bf8 55.Kd4 Kd6 56.c5
Kc6 57.Ne5 Kc7 58.Kd5 Bg7 59.Ng4 Bf8
Or 59...Kd7 60.c6 Kc7 61.Kc5 Bf8
62.Kb5+–.
60.Kc4 Kc6 61.Ne5 Kc7 62.Kb5 Bg7
63.Ng4 Bf8 64.Ka5 Kc6 65.Kb4 Bc5
66.Kc4 Bf8 67.Kd4 Kb6 68.Kd5 Ka5
69.Ke6 Ka4 70.Kf7 Bb4 71.Nh6 Kb3
72.Ng4 Kc2 73.h6
73.h6 And Black resigned due to 73...Bc3
74.Nf6 Bf6 75.Kf6 g4 76.h7 gf3 77.h8Q f2
78.Qh2 Kd2 79.Qf2+–. 1:0.
FIDE Surveys – Efstratios Grivas
Activity and counterplay are the two
magical words to be followed (if possible
of course) to save the half-point in the
endgame. Passivity usually leads to easy
lost positions and the defender often
understands it too late…
The last example is a good proof of the
above thumbs:
Pantsulaia L. : Kotronias V.
Warsaw 2013
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9zp-+-+k+p0
9-zp-+-sn-zP0
9+-+-+-vL-0
9P+p+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-zP-+-+K+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black won a pawn and he should win the
game, as the white h6–pawn is also weak,
but you should never underestimate the
power of the bishop in an open board with
pawns on both sides.
47.Kf3 Ke6 48.Bd2 a6
48...Kd5 49.Kf4 Ne4 50.Be3 is not that
clear, as the white king is always ready to
find his counterplay on the kingside,
towards the black h7–pawn. A sample
variation could be like 50...c3 51.bc3 Nc3
52.Kf5! Na4 53.Kf6 Nc3 54.Kg7 Ke6
55.Kh7 Kf7 56.Kh8 Nd5 57.Bf2 Ne7
(57...a5 58.Bb6! Nb6 59.h7= or; 57...Kg6
58.Kg8 Kh6 59.Kf7=) 58.Kh7 Nf5 59.Bg1
and it is not easy for Black to progress.
49.Kf4 b5 50.ab5 ab5 51.Be1?!
Makes it easier! White should try to defend
with 51.Ke3 Kd5 52.Ke2 Kc5 53.Bc3 Nd5
54.Be1, but after 54...b4 a version of the
game would be on the board.
51...b4?!
Much easier was the strange but effective
51...Ng8!. After 52.Kg5 Ke5 , when the
black king penetrates on the queenside and
wins the white bishop, while the white
king is stuck on the protection of his weak
5
h6–pawn: 53.Bc3 Ke4 54.Be1 Kd3 55.Ba5 XIIIIIIIIY
Kc2 56.Bc3 b4 57.Bb4 Kb2–+. 9-+-+-+-+0
52.Ke3 Ke5 53.Kd2
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+-+-vLp0
9-+-+-+-+0 9-+-+-+-zP0
9+-+-+-+p0 9+-mk-+-+-0
9-+-+-sn-zP0 9-+p+-+-+0
9+-+-mk-+-0 9+pmK-+-sn-0
9-zpp+-+-+0 9-zP-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-zP-mK-+-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
Correct - White shouldn't be allowed of the
9+-+-vL-+-0 Kb4 activity! Now, the right set-up for
xiiiiiiiiy Black is to have his knight on e4, while the
53...Nd5? white king will be on the 1st rank.
Domination is the way to go, so Black 79.Kd2
should have opted for 53...Kf4! 54.Ke2 Maybe White should have tried the more
(54.Kc2 Nd5 55.Bh4 Kf3 56.Be1 Ne3 tenacious 79.Bd4 Kb5 80.Be5 Ne4 81.Kd4
57.Kc1 b3 58.Kd2 Nd5 59.Bh4 Kg4 Nf2 82.Kc3 Nd3 83.Bf6 Nc5 84.Be5 Na4
60.Be1 Kg5–+) 54...b3 (the threat ...c3 is 85.Kd2 Kc5 86.Bf6, although now Black's
always looming on the air now ...) 55.Bd2 king starts again his kingside journey, to
Ke4 56.Ba5 Ng4 57.Bd2 Kd5 58.Ke1 Kd4 create a zugzwang on the white bishop,
59.Ke2 Ke4 60.Bc1 c3 61.bc3 Ne5 and forcing the white king on the 1st rank:
Black wins: 62.Kd1 Nc4 63.Bg5 Kd3. 86...Kd5 87.Bg7 Ke4 88.Bh8 Kf4 89.Bf6
54.Bf2 Ke4 55.Bc5 Ke5 56.Kc2 b3 Kf5 90.Bh8 Kg6 91.Bg7 Kg5 92.Kc1
56...Kf5 57.Kd2 Kg5 58.Bf8 b3 59.Bg7 (92.Bf8 Nb2–+) 92...Nc5 93.Kd2 Ne4
wasn't achieving much. 94.Kd1 Kf4 95.Bd4 Kf3 and Black has just
57.Kd2 Ke6 58.Bd4 Kd6 59.Bg7 Kc5 succeeded to achieve the winning position.
60.Bf8 Kd4 61.Bg7 Ke4 62.Bh8 Nf4 79...Ne4 80.Kc1
63.Kc3 Kd5 64.Kd2 Or 80.Ke3 Kd5 81.Ke2 (81.Bd4 c3–+)
Activity is the right way in the vast 81...Ke6 82.Kd1 (82.Ke3 c3–+) 82...Kf5
majority of all endgames. White should –+.
avoid being pushed on the edge of the 80...Kd5 81.Kd1 Ke6 82.Kc1 Kf5 83.Kd1
board, so he should try to actively attack Kf4
the black pawns. Here 64.Kb4! was correct XIIIIIIIIY
and there is probably no way for Black to 9-+-+-+-+0
achieve his target ... But netherless, White
still is not lost. 9+-+-+-vLp0
64...Kc5 65.Bg7 Nd5 66.Bf8 Kc6 67.Bg7 9-+-+-+-zP0
Kd7 68.Bd4 Ke7 69.Bg7 Kf7 70.Bh8 Kg6 9+-+-+-+-0
71.Bg7 Kg5 72.Bf8 Kf4 73.Bg7 Ke4 9-+p+nmk-+0
74.Bh8 Ne7 75.Kc3 Kd5 76.Bg7 Nf5
77.Kd2? 9+p+-+-+-0
Here was White's last chance to opt for the 9-zP-+-+-+0
active 77.Kb4!, as mentioned already in his 9+-+K+-+-0
64th move. xiiiiiiiiy
77...Ng3 78.Kc3 Kc5!
84.Bd4!

FIDE Surveys – Efstratios Grivas 6

If White waits with 84.Bh8, allowing the 93.Bf4 Kf5 94.Bh2 Kg5–+) 91...b2 92.Kc2
black king to enter the crucial e3/d3 Nc3 93.Kb2 Nd1.
squares, loses in a well-known way: 86.Bd4 Kf4?!
84...Ke3 85.Bg7 Kd3 86.Kc1 (86.Bh8 c3 Of course Black can repeat with 86...Kf3
–+) 86...Nf2 87.Bh8 Ke2 88.Bg7 Nd3 87.Ba7 and win with 87...Nd6! But he
89.Kb1 Kd1 90.Bh8 Ne1 91.Bg7 Nf3 hadn't seen the idea ...
92.Bh8 Nd2 93.Ka1 Kc1 94.Bg7 Ne4 87.Kc1 Kg5 88.Bg7 Kg4 89.Kd1 Kg3?!
95.Bh8 c3. The white king is pushed on the 89...Kf4! 90.Bd4 Kf3 91.Ba7 Nd6! again!
edge of the board and the rest is trivial! 90.Be5 Kg2 91.Bg7 Kg3?!
84...Kf3! 85.Ba7! 91...Kf2 92.Bd4 Kf3 93.Ba7 Nd6 is
XIIIIIIIIY another one time!
9-+-+-+-+0 92.Be5 Kf3 93.Bd4 Nd6 94.Kd2
9vL-+-+-+p0 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-zP0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-+-+-+p0
9-+p+n+-+0 9-+-sn-+-zP0
9+p+-+k+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-zP-+-+-+0 9-+pvL-+-+0
9+-+K+-+-0 9+p+-+k+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-zP-mK-+-+0
The only way to fight, as the e3–square 9+-+-+-+-0
should be guarded. 85.Kc1 Ke2 transposes xiiiiiiiiy
to the above continuation. And the 94...Ke4?
alternatives 85.Bb6 c3 86.bc3 Nc3 87.Kc1 94...Ne4 95.Kd1 Kg4 96.Be5 Kg5 97.Bg7
b2 88.Kb2 Na4 or 85.Bg1 c3 86.bc3 Nc3 Kf4 98.Bd4 Kf3 99.Ba7 Nd6 was the last
87.Kc1 Ne2 lose the white bishop. available chance!
85...Kg4?! 95.Bg7 Kd5 96.Kc3
Time-trouble is a lethal enemy! Here Black 96.Kc3 And as now Black cannot play
should find some delicate moves to cash 96...Kc5? 97.Bf8!+–, there is now way to
the point, starting with 85...Nd6! The idea go on - White has the Kb4 option at his
is to create either some zugzwang positions disposal! Besides, in 10 moves a draw will
or simply simultaneously attack the h6– be agreed, as there would be no pawn
pawn (...Nf5 is a threat) and the crucial move for the last 50 moves! ½-½.
squares e3/d3: 86.Kd2 (86.Bd4 Ke4
87.Bg7 Kd3 or 86.Bc5 Nf5 87.Bf8 Ke3 Conclusion
88.Kc1 Kd3 and the rest have been seen) The fear of the knight is a good step to the
86...Nb5! and now it seems that the white chess wisdom…
bishop do not have enough available Knowledge of certain positions allows us
squares to stay alive: 86...Nf5? 87.Kc3 to score our goals …
Nh6 88.Kc4 Nf5 89.Bb6! (89.Kb3? h5–+)
89...h5 90.Bd8=) 87.Bb8 (87.Bg1 Kg2
88.Bc5 (88.Bb6 c3 89.bc3 b2 90.Kc2 Nc3
91.Kb2 Na4) 88...c3 89.bc3 b2 90.Kc2
Nc3 91.Kb2 Na4) 87...Ke4 88.Bh2 Kf5!
89.Bg1 Kg6 90.Be3 c3 91.bc3 (91.Kc1
Nd6 (91...c2 92.Kd2 Kf5 93.Kd3 Ke5
94.Kc4 Ke4 95.Bc1 Nd4 96.Bg5 Ne2
97.Kb3 c1Q 98.Bc1 Nc1–+) 92.bc3 Nc4

FIDE Surveys – Efstratios Grivas 7

Reinaldo Vera: able to avoid the King of his opponent to
do it.
The endgames of Carlsen: The
King imprisoned Carlsen M. : Aronian L.
Nice 2010
“After an interesting tactical skirmish in XIIIIIIIIY
the middlegame I maintained the pressure 9R+-+-+-+0
in the endgame, and it paid off, as it often 9zP-+-+pmk-0
does.” (Magnus Carlsen)
9-+-zp-+p+0
Concept 9+-+-+-zP-0
For most of the coaches is rather difficult 9-+-+PzP-+0
to motivate the young players to study the 9+-+-+-+p0
endgame, because it is incorrectly
considered as bored. However to be a good
9r+-+-+-+0
endgame player is in these days even more 9+-+-+-+K0
important to be successful because the time xiiiiiiiiy
controls that rules now are shorter than in A simple example of the King imprisoned
past times. in the endgame.
Up to now the excellence in the endgame 56.f5!
has been associated to names as After this move, Black cannot avoid his
Capablanca, Karpov or Andersson among King to be reduced to h7, leaving White
others, but a very young hero has arrived to with a King of advantage!
give his example to the new generations: 56...Kh7
Magnus Carlsen. Even worse is 56...gf5? 57.ef5 d5 58.f6
In the current and new World Champion Kh7 59.g6! winning.
we can find all the main qualities of the 57.f6! h2 58.Rf8 Ra7 59.Kh2 Rb7 60.Kg3
chess excellence, but it is the endgames The King goes to the black pawns. The
where he overcomes all his nearest remaining is simple.
opponents in the world arena. He has 60...Ra7 61.Kf4 Rb7 62.Ke3 Ra7 63.Kd4
shown that it is possible to win games after Rc7 64.Re8 Ra7 65.Kd5 Ra5 66.Kd6 Ra6
equalized opening and middle games if we 67.Ke7 Ra7 68.Kf8 1:0.
are able to keep continuous pressure on the
opponent in the endgame. Carlsen M. : Aronian L.
This pattern of being always pressing and Elista 2007
of excellence in the endgame is the one
that we trainers must give to our pupils.
XIIIIIIIIY
For this there is nothing better than to 9-+r+-tr-mk0
study the endgames of Carlsen, 9zp-+-+p+p0
emphasizing his methods and the 9-zp-+-zp-+0
principles that rule this phase of the game
in order to motivate the students to go
9sn-+Pzp-+-0
deeper in the study of the endgame. 9-+-+P+-zP0
Let us see some examples from the current 9+-+-+NzP-0
World Champion in which he exploits a 9P+-+-zPK+0
very little treated theme in the endgames:
the lock up of the opponent King. We all
9tR-+-tR-+-0
have learned that in the endgame we must xiiiiiiiiy
put our King in the center, but Carlsen is 22.h5!

FIDE Surveys – Reinaldo Vera 1

This advance has two objectives: at first to 37.Kd5 a4 38.Kc6 b3 39.Kb7 b2 40.d7
let the knight to move to f5 and second, to b1Q 41.Kc7 Qc1 42.Kd8 Qh6.
prepare an original trapping of the black (Mikhalchishin gives 42...Qc5 43.Rf7 Qd6
King. 44.Ke8 Qc6 45.Re7 and the white King
22...Nc4 23.Nh4 Nd6 24.h6! hides in g6.) 43.Ke7 Kg7 44.d8Q Kh7
Avoiding the participation of the King in 45.Qe8 winning.
the battle. Such pawn advances must be 35.Kf3!
carefully evaluated, because they can XIIIIIIIIY
become in an easy prey for the opponent 9-+-+-+-mk0
pieces. In this case, the pawn of h6 acts as
a lock for the black King and, as we shall 9zp-+r+ptR-0
see, his role is going to be very important 9-+-zP-zp-zP0
as a support for the penetration of the 9+p+-zpP+-0
white Rook. 9-+-+-+-+0
24...Rc3
Both, 24...Rc4 as 24...Rfd8 were better. 9+-+-+KzP-0
25.Rac1 Rfc8 9P+-+-zP-+0
In his great book Fighting Chess with 9+-+-+-+-0
Magnus Carlsen, GM Mikhalchishin gives xiiiiiiiiy
a beautiful variation refuting 25...Ne4. Let
Once again the King of the strong side
us see: 26.Nf5 Rd8 27.Rc3 Nc3 28.d6 b5
takes profit over his captive counterpart
29.Rc1 b4 30.a3 a5 31.ab4 ab4 32.Rc2
developing a lethal activity.
Kg8 33.Rb2 Rb8 34.Rb4! Rb4 35.d7!
35...b4 36.Ke4
winning.
Now Black must take in d6 and so let
26.Rc3 Rc3 27.Nf5!
down the defense of the seventh rank.
XIIIIIIIIY 36...Rd6 37.Rf7 Ra6 38.g4! Kg8 39.h7
9-+-+-+-mk0 Kh8 40.g5!
9zp-+-+p+p0 Freeing the f pawn and the white King.
9-zp-sn-zp-zP0 40...fg5 41.f6 1:0.
9+-+PzpN+-0 Carlsen M. : Cheparinov I.
9-+-+P+-+0 Khanty-Mansiysk 2007
9+-tr-+-zP-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9P+-+-zPK+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-tR-+-0 9zp-+-zp-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-+-mkPzp0
After the exchange of knights in f5 the 9trN+-+-+-0
White pawns of h6 and f5 limit the 9-+p+L+P+0
mobility of the black King.
27...Nf5 28.ef5 Kg8 9+-zP-+-+-0
Trying to escape, but now the pawn of h7 9-+-mK-+-+0
is going to fall leaving free to his opponent 9+-+-+-+-0
in h6. xiiiiiiiiy
29.Re4! Kf8 30.Rg4 Rc7 31.Rg7 b5
44.Nc7!
32.Rh7 Kg8 33.Rg7 Kh8
The black King is forced to come inside
33...Kf8? 34.Rg4! and the pawn crowns.
his own prison.
34.d6 Rd7
44...Kg7 45.Ne6 Kh8
After 34...Rb7 the spectacular inhering of
The black King is imprisoned, so White
the King decides: 35.Kf3 b4 36.Ke4 a5

FIDE Surveys – Reinaldo Vera 2

has a King of advantage. 32.Rc8 Kf7 33.Nfd3
46.Ke3 Ra1 33.Be5 is not enough to equalize: 33…de5
If 46...Re5 47.g7 Kg8 48.Kd4 Re6 49.Bd5 34.Nfd3 Bf6, followed by Ng5 and e4.
wins. 33...Bf6 34.Ne5 de5 35.Rc2
47.Kd4 a5 48.Bc6 a4 49.Be8 Rg1 If 35.Nd3 Nf2! 36.Kf2 e4, with great
XIIIIIIIIY advantage.
9-+-+L+-mk0 35...Rea7 36.Kg2 Ng5 37.Rd6 e4 38.Bf6
Kf6 39.Kf1
9+-+-zp-+-0 If 39.Rb6 Ra1 40.Re2 Nf3 41.Ra6 R7a6
9-+-+N+Pzp0 42.ba6 Ne1 43.Re1 Re1 44.b5 Ra1 and
9+-+-+-+-0 Black wins. After 39.Rd1 Ra1 40.Rcc1
9p+pmK-+P+0 Rc1 41.Rc1 Ra2 42.Kf1 Rb2 43.Nc2 Nf3
44.Ke2 Ke5.
9+-zP-+-+-0 39...Ra1 40.Ke2
9-+-+-+-+0 The best defense was 40.Rdc6!, but after
9+-+-+-tr-0 40...R7a4! 41.R2c4 Rb1 42.Rc1 Rc1
xiiiiiiiiy 43.Rc1 Rb4 there are two pawns less.
40...Rb1
50.g5! a3 51.Bf7 Rg5! 52.Ng5 hg5
Stronger was 40...Nf3! 41.Nf3 gf3 42.Kd2
If 52...a2? 53.Ne6 a1Q 54.g7 Kh7
R7a3 and White cannot avoid the fall of
55.g8Q#.
the pawn of f2.
53.Bc4 Kg7 54.Kd3?
41.Rd1 Rb4 42.Ng2 Rb5 43.Nf4
The victory went after mobilizing the c
At the price of two pawns, Kramnik has
pawn. Zagrebelny gave a beautiful
activated his pieces, but his King is still
variation: 54.Ke5! Kg6 55.Ba2 Kh5 56.c4
victim of continuous threats.
g4 57.Kf4 Kh4 58.c5 g3 59.Kf3 Kh3 60.c6
43...Rc5 44.Rb2 b5 45.Kf1 Rac7 46.Rbb1
g2 61.c7 g1Q 62.c8Q Kh4 63.Qh8 and the
black queen is lost. XIIIIIIIIY
54...Kg6 55.Kc2 g4 56.Kb3 Kf5 57.Ka3 9-+-+-+-+0
And White won latter after mistakes from 9+-tr-+-+p0
both side. 1:0. 9-+-+pmk-+0
9+ptr-+psn-0
Kramnik V. : Carlsen M.
Wijk aan Zee 2008 9-+-+psNp+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+-zP-zP-0
9-+-+-+k+0 9-+-+-zP-zP0
9+-+-tr-+p0 9+R+R+K+-0
9-zp-zpp+-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+P+-snpvl-0 White intends to avoid the exchange of one
rook, because of the remaining black Rook
9-zP-+nsNp+0 should inner in the second or first rank
9+-+-zP-zP-0 generating deadly threats. Carlsen gives:
9rvL-+-zP-zP0 46.Kg2 Rc1 47.Rc1 Rc1 48.Rb5 Nf3
9+-tRRsN-mK-0 49.Ne2 Re1 50.Rb2 Kg5 arriving to a
curious position where White has not
xiiiiiiiiy defense against the advance up to h3.
The ending is better for Black because of 46...Rb7 47.Rb4 Rc4 48.Rb2 b4 49.Rdb1
the pressure in the seventh Rank and Nf3 50.Kg2 Rd7! 51.h3 e5 52.Ne2 Rd2
mainly of the action of his pieces and 53.hg4 fg4 54.Rd2 Nd2 55.Rb2 Nf3
advanced pawns that limits the white King. 56.Kf1 b3 57.Kg2 Rc2 0:1.

FIDE Surveys – Reinaldo Vera 3

Brynell S. : Carlsen M. More resistance should offer 46.Kf1, but
Gausdal 2005 after 46...Kd6!, with idea of ...a5!, Black
XIIIIIIIIY wins.
9-+-+-+-+0 46...e3!
9zp-+-+pmkp0 XIIIIIIIIY
9-vlL+p+p+0 9-+-+L+-+0
9+P+-+-+-0 9zp-+-+-+-0
9-+-wq-+-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+QzP-0 9+P+-mkp+-0
9P+-+-zPKzP0 9-+-vl-+p+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-+-zp-zPp0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-wq-+-zP-zP0
32...f5! 9+-+-wQ-mK-0
With the pressure on f2 and controlling of xiiiiiiiiy
the dark squares, the Norwegian starts to 47.Kf1 Kf6 48.Qe2 Qc1 49.Qe1 Qe1
build the jail for the white King. It would be more handsome 49...e2!
33.Qe2 e5 34.Bb7 e4 35.Bc6 Kf6 36.Bb7 50.Ke2 Qc4 51.Kd1 Qb3 52.Ke2 Qf3
Ke5 53.Kf1 Bc3 and the white Queen falls.
Centralizing the King something that 50.Ke1 ef2 51.Kf1 f4! 52.gf4 Kf5 53.Bf7
White is not able to do. Kf4
37.Bc6 g5 38.Bb7 g4! Followed by ...Kg5 and Be5–h2. 0:1.
Finishing the lock.
39.Bc6 h5 40.Be8? Carlsen M. : Aronian L.
Allowing the following advance. Elista 2007
Necessary was to search for some space XIIIIIIIIY
with 40.h4!? 9r+-+-+k+0
40...h4! 41.Qe1
If 41.gh4 f4! wins. 9+-+-+p+p0
41...h3 9-tR-+lzPp+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-+L+-+0 9-+pzP-+-+0
9zp-+-+-+-0 9tr-zP-+N+-0
9-vl-+-+-+0 9-+-+-zPPzP0
9+P+-mkp+-0 9+-tR-+-mK-0
9-+-wqp+p+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+-+-zPp0 White has a pawn up in f6, but Black has
9P+-+-zPKzP0 counterplay on the pawn on c3. However
the most important point in the position is
9+-+-wQ-+-0 the little mobility of the black King.
xiiiiiiiiy 31.h4!
Reducing even more the space of the white Bringing air to the King and starting the
King. offensive in the right side.
42.Kg1 Qb2 43.Bc6 31...h6 32.Ne5 Ra1
43.a4 e3! It was better 32...Rb3, but after 33.Rd6!
43...Qa2 44.Bb7 Qb2 45.Bc6 Bd4 Raa3 34.Rd8 Kh7 35.Nd7! Bd7 36.Rd7 g5
46.Be8? 37.h5! the siege around the King wins.

FIDE Surveys – Reinaldo Vera 4

 42...Ra8 43.Kg3!
33.Ra1 Ra1 34.Kh2 Ra3 Adding the King to the battle.
It seems that the counterplay of Black has 43...Rd8 44.Kf4 Be4 45.g3 c3 46.Rf7 Kg8
fructified because the pawn of c3 is going 47.Rg7 Kf8 48.Nd7 Rd7 49.Rd7 1:0.
to fall letting free the pawn in c4.
Nevertheless, the captive King shall suffer Carlsen M. : Tiviakov S.
the attack of the well coordinated white Crete 2007
forces. XIIIIIIIIY
35.Rb8!
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-+r+k+0
9-tR-+-+k+0 9zp-+r+pzpp0
9+-+-+p+-0 9-zp-+-+-+0
9-+-+lzPpzp0 9+-+-+-+-0
9+-+psN-+-0 9R+-vL-+-zP0
9-+pzP-+-zP0 9+-+lzP-zP-0
9tr-zP-+-+-0 9P+-+-zP-+0
9-+-+-zPPmK0 9+-tR-+-mK-0
9+-+-+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
With even material and different colors
xiiiiiiiiy Bishops Black has right to draw. However
It is not correct to exchange the minor he did not take in account that his King is
pieces; the endgame should be draw after going to be imprisoned for the White
35.Ng6? fg6 36.Re6 Rc3 37.Re5 Kf7 pawns and pieces. Carlsen uses the same
38.Rd5 Kf6. technique that in the previous examples:
35...Kh7 36.f4! advance of the pawns in the kingside
After 36.Rf8? Rc3 37.Nf7 Bf7 38.Rf7 Kg8 winning space and restricting the opponent
39.Rd7 (39.Rg7 Kf8 40.Rg6 Rd3 and King.
Black is not worse as Carlsen) 39...Rd3 33.g4
40.Rd5 Kf7 Black should be very active. Starting the advance!
36...Rc3 37.h5! gh5 38.Rf8 Ra3 39.f5! 33...h6
XIIIIIIIIY Worth of consideration were 33...f5!? or
9-+-+-tR-+0 33...f6.
9+-+-+p+k0 34.f3 Kh7 35.Kf2 Ree7 36.Ra3! Bb5
37.Rac3
9-+-+lzP-zp0 Avoiding simplification.
9+-+psNP+p0 37...Rd8 38.Kg3 f6 39.f4
9-+pzP-+-+0 White continues the advance and Black
Monarch starts to feel some
9tr-+-+-+-0 claustrophobic.
9-+-+-+PmK0 39...h5 40.g5 Kg6
9+-+-+-+-0 40...fg5 41.hg5 should not free the Black
xiiiiiiiiy King.
The White strategy lied in this advance. 41.Rb1 Rd5 42.Rc8 Be8 43.Rbc1 f5?!
Now the pawn of f7 falls without changing Giving up all the black squares.
the strong white Knight. 44.Rb8 Rd6
39...Bf5 40.Rf7 Kg8 41.Rg7 Kf8 42.Rb7 44...Bb5!
The black monarch is again trapped, after 45.Rcc8 Rde6 46.Be5 Kf7 47.Rd8 Kg6
which the retreat of the Rook is obliged. 48.Kf2 Kf7?

FIDE Surveys – Reinaldo Vera 5

XIIIIIIIIY build a net of mate. Note that the black
9-tR-tRl+-+0 King is confined to g6.
59...Re6
9zp-+-trkzp-0 After 59...Kh7 60.Be5 Rg8 61.Bg7! Rg7
9-zp-+r+-+0 62.Rg7 Kg7 63.Kc5 followed by Kd6 and
9+-+-vLpzPp0 the advance of the pawns wins.
9-+-+-zP-zP0 60.Be5 Kh7 61.Rg7 Kh8 62.Re7 1:0.
9+-+-zP-+-0 Conclusion
9P+-+-mK-+0 To lock de King of the opponent is a
9+-+-+-+-0 method of fight in the endgame. Usually
xiiiiiiiiy this objective can be got through the
advance of the pawns and the coordinated
It was necessary to move the Bishop and
actions of the remaining pieces.
keep the King in g6.
The coaches have a good opportunity to
49.e4!
promote the study of the endgame among
Taking profit of the mistake and
the young players motivating them with
incorporating this pawn to the assault.
the study of the endgames of the new
49...Kg6
World Champion.
It was not possible 49...fe4?, because of
50.Bd6 e3 51.Ke1 Rd7? (51...Rd6!)
52.Rd7 Bd7 53.Rf8 Kg6 54.f5, wins.
50.Bd6 Rd7 51.Rd7 Bd7 52.e5
Carlsen has earned a passed pawn while
keeping in jail the black King. It is difficult
for Black to defend the queenside pawns.
52...Bc6
If 52...Re8 53.Rb7 Be6 54.Ra7 Rc8 55.a3,
with clear advantage.
53.Rc8 Be8
53...Bd5 54.a3 a6 55.Rb8 b5 56.Ke3 the
King goes to b6 and takes all the pawns.
54.Ra8 Bf7
If 54...a5 55.Ra6 taking the pawn.
55.Ra7 Re8 56.a3 Bd5
If 56...Rc8 57.Bc7.
57.Ke3 b5 58.Kd4 Bg2 59.e6!
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+r+-+0
9tR-+-+-zp-0
9-+-vLP+k+0
9+p+-+pzPp0
9-+-mK-zP-zP0
9zP-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+l+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The pawn gives its place to the Bishop to

FIDE Surveys – Reinaldo Vera 6

Adrian Mikhalchisin: 17...Kd8 and White has no more than
perpetual.
Opening bluff 18.Bf4 Rd8
Did not help now 18...Re8 19.Bd6 Be7
20.Re1 Qd8 21.Re3.
In chess sometimes appeared such situation, 19.c5 Nd3
when one of the players starts to play for win
at any price. In some cases it is possible to
XIIIIIIIIY
do it from the early openings. We call such 9-+-tr-mk-tr0
way as BLUFF and the most brilliant figure
of this style weas great Mikhail Tal. He used
9zpp+-+-zpp0
this method in different situations, but in the 9-wqp+Qvl-+0
openings he was successfull with this
method too.
9+-zP-+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
Tal M. : Portisch L.
Bled 1965
B11 9+-+n+-+P0
9PzP-+-zPP+0
1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 de4 4.Ne4 Bg4 5.h3
Bf3 6.Qf3 Nd7 7.d4 Ngf6 8.Bd3 Ne4 9.Qe4
9tR-+-+-mK-0
e6 10.0–0 Be7 11.c3 Nf6 12.Qh4 Nd5 xiiiiiiiiy
13.Qg4 Bf6 14.Re1 Qb6 15.c4?! 20.cb6?
Normal way was quite possible here: 15.Qh5 Tal saw the line which led to draw: 20.Bh6
g6 16.Qf3 Bg7 17.a4 a5 18.h4, with Qb2 (20...Qc7 21.Qf6 Kg8 22.Bg7) 21.Qf6
attacking chances. But Tal decide to play Ke8 22.Qe6 Kf8 23.Qf6.
beautifully and dangerousely. 20...Nf4 21.Qg4 Nd5 22.ba7 Ke7 23.b4
15...Nb4 Ra8?
XIIIIIIIIY Slightly better would be 23...Kd6 24.b5 Kc7
25.Qg3 Rd6 26.bc6 bc6 27.Rb1.
9r+-+k+-tr0 24.Re1 Kd6 25.b5 Ra7? 26.Re6 Kc7
9zpp+-+pzpp0 27.Rf6 1:0.
9-wqp+pvl-+0 Christiansen L. : Foygel I. B15
9+-+n+-+-0 USA 2002

9-+PzP-+Q+0 In the next game it was performed very

9+-+L+-+P0 similar idea.
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c6 4.Nf3 d5 5.h3
9PzP-+-zPP+0 Nf6 6.Bd3 de4 7.Ne4 Ne4 8.Be4 Bf5 9.Bf5
Qa5 10.c3 Qf5 11.0–0 Nd7
9tR-vL-tR-mK-0 11...0–0 was the simple alternative. 12.Re1
xiiiiiiiiy Re8 13.Bg5 (13.Qb3 is the typical method
16.Re6!? fe6 17.Qe6 Kf8 again. 13...Qb5 14.Qb5 cb5 15.Bg5
Bad was 17...Be7 18.Bg6 hg6 (18...Kd8 provoking more and more weaknesses.
19.Bf5 Qd4 20.Bf4 Re8 21.Re1) 19.Bg5 Qc7 15...e6 16.d5 f6 17.Bh4 e5 18.Nd4±,
20.Re1 Qd7 21.Qg6+–. But very good was Velimirovic : Zivkovic, Svetozarevo 1990)

FIDE Surveys – Adrian Mikhalchisin 1

13...e6 14.Qd2 (14.Re5!? is very impressive, 15.d5 Nc5 16.de6 Ne6 (16...fe6 17.Nd4±)
but White cannot claim more than adequate 17.Ng5.
compensation for the exchange: 14...Be5 14...fe6 15.Qe6 Kd8!
15.de5 Na6 16.Qd4 h6 17.Bh6 Rad8 18.Qh4 15...Kf8?? loses to 16.Bf4+–.
Qh5 19.Qf4 Qf5 20.Qh4 Qh5=, with only 16.Bg5
repetition of moves, Palkovi : Barczay, 16.Ng5 is also not enough: 16...Kc8 17.Nf7
Hungary 1995) 14...Nd7 15.Bh6 Bh6 16.Qh6 Qd5! 18.Qd5 cd5 19.Nh8 Bh8 and White is
Rad8 17.Re3 and Rae1, with the well-known simply a piece down.
pressure on the e file. 17...Qf6 18.Rae1 c5 16...Kc8
19.d5 e5 20.c4±, Loginov : Sandhu, Or 16...Kc7 17.Bf4 and then 17...Kc8.
Oberwart 1997. 17.Re1 Rf8
12.Re1 e6 13.Qb3 Qb5 17...Qd5 18.Qd5 cd5 19.Re7 Rg8 was also
XIIIIIIIIY rather tempting!
18.Qe7
9r+-+k+-tr0 XIIIIIIIIY
9zpp+n+pvlp0 9r+k+-tr-+0
9-+p+p+p+0 9zpp+nwQ-vlp0
9+q+-+-+-0 9-+p+-+p+0
9-+-zP-+-+0 9+q+-+-vL-0
9+QzP-+N+P0 9-+-zP-+-+0
9PzP-+-zPP+0 9+-zP-+N+P0
9tR-vL-tR-mK-0 9PzP-+-zPP+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+-tR-mK-0
13...0–0–0 leads to more complicated
positions with opposite castled kings. 14.Be3 xiiiiiiiiy
(14.a4 Bf6 15.a5 a6 16.c4 g5 17.d5!? ed5 18...Kc7??
18.cd5 Nc5 19.Qb6 Rd5 20.Qa7 Nd7 and Black overlooked terribly strong
White's unprepared‚ is beaten back, Kochyev intermediate move two moves later.
: Zilberman, USA 1975) 14...Nb6 (14...h6 Black had logical winning idea: 18...Rg8!
15.d5!) 15.c4. Now the Knight on b6 is 19.Qf7 Qd5 20.Re8 Kc7!–+.
badly placed. 15...h6 16.a4˛ Bellin : Kusnir, 19.Qg7 Rf3 20.Re5!
Haifa 1976. Its is simply protecting Bishop g5!
13...b6 14.Qa3 is the next provocation. 20...Qb2 21.gf3 1:0.
14...a5 15.c4 and Black's « has been
successfully weakened. 15...Bf8 16.Qb3 Bb4 Averbakh Y. : Tal M. A76
17.Re2 0–0 18.Bg5˛ Lobron : Gruenfeld, Riga 1958
Luzern 1979.
14.Re6?! 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.d5 ed5 5.cd5
This sacrifice is far from correct! Logical d6 6.e4 g6 7.Be2 Bg7 8.Nf3 0–0 9.0–0 Re8
was natural 14.Qb5 and White could get 10.Qc2 Na6 11.Bf4 Nb4 12.Qb1
slightly better endgame, but IGM
Christiansen is in attacking mood! 14...cb5

FIDE Surveys – Adrian Mikhalchisin 2

XIIIIIIIIY exchange down. The best way was 15.Bg5
Qg5 16.Ng5 Bb1 17.Bc4 Bf5 18.Bd5 Bb2
9r+lwqr+k+0 19.Bf7 Kg7 20.Be8 Ba1 21.Bd7 Bd7
9zpp+-+pvlp0 22.Ra1.
15...Nf6 16.Bf3 Ne4 17.Ne4 Be4 18.Be4
9-+-zp-snp+0 Qd6 19.Qc2 Re7 20.Bf3 Rae8 21.Rad1
Bd4 22.a4 b6 23.b3
9+-zpP+-+-0
XIIIIIIIIY
9-sn-+PvL-+0
9-+-+r+k+0
9+-sN-+N+-0
9zp-+-trp+p0
9PzPQ+LzPPzP0
9-zp-wq-+p+0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
9+-zp-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
12...Ne4?!
9P+-vl-+-+0
Of course, this sacrifice is a bluff, but to 9+-+-+L+-0
refute it,White has to calculate a lot and very
precisely and far. 9-zPQ+-zPPzP0
13.Ne4 Bf5 14.Nfd2 Nd5 9+-+R+RmK-0
XIIIIIIIIY xiiiiiiiiy
9r+-wqr+k+0 23...Re5!
9zpp+-+pvlp0 With extra pawn and control over important
central file Black starts his attack.
9-+-zp-+p+0 24.Rd2 h5 25.Re2 Re2 26.Be2 h4 27.Kh1
Qf4 28.g3 Qf6 29.Qd1 Rd8 30.Bg4 Bf2
9+-zpP+l+-0 31.Qe2 Rd2 32.Qe8 Kg7 33.gh4 Qd4
9-sn-+NvL-+0 34.Bh3 Qd3 35.Bg2 Rd1 0:1.
9+-+-+-+-0 Averbakh Y. : Spassky B. E74
9PzP-sNLzPPzP0 Leningrad 1956

9tRQ+-+RmK-0 In many cases after the opening one player

xiiiiiiiiy
Here is critical position where White has few
moves, but usually just one way is correct.
15.Bd6?
Other options were 15.Bg3 Qe7 (Euwe
found that Tal had another interesting option
15...Bh6 16.Bd3 (16.Qd3 Nb4 17.Qf3 Nc2;
16.f4 Bg7! with a lot of threats) 16...Nb4
17.Re1 Nd3 18.Qd3 d5–+) 16.Bb5 Be4
17.Ne4 Qe4 18.Be8 Qe8 19.Bd6 Qc6 20.Bg3
c4 it was Tals intention to play with the
founds himself in very unfavourable
situation,that only help is to change situation
dramatically,even with the help of some
crazy sacrifices!
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.e4 d6 4.d4 Bg7 5.Be2
0–0 6.Bg5 c5 7.d5 Qa5 8.Bd2 a6 9.a4 e5
10.g4 Ne8 11.h4 f5 12.h5 f4 13.g5 Qd8
14.Bg4 Nc7 15.Bc8 Qc8 16.Nf3

FIDE Surveys – Adrian Mikhalchisin 3

XIIIIIIIIY d4 35.Ba5 Bf8 36.Rg4 Rd6 37.Kc2 Rd7
38.g6 Rdb7 39.Be1 c5 40.Rgh4 Bg7 41.Ba5
9rsnq+-trk+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+psn-+-vlp0 9-+-+-+k+0
9p+-zp-+p+0 9+r+-+-vl-0
9+-zpPzp-zPP0 9p+-+-+P+0
9P+P+Pzp-+0 9vL-zp-zp-+-0
9+-sN-+N+-0 9P+pzpPzp-tR0
9-zP-vL-zP-+0 9+r+-+P+R0
9tR-+QmK-+R0 9-zPK+-+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+N+-+-0
16...Nc6!!
Black is completely helpless, but this move xiiiiiiiiy
changes the course of the game 41...c3!
dramatically, what is not according to White Suddenly Black longstanding inititive started
taste. to give some results.
17.dc6 bc6 18.Nh4 Qe8 19.hg6 hg6 20.Qg4 42.bc3 Ra3 43.cd4 ed4 44.Rf4 Ra2 45.Kd3
Rb8 21.Nd1 Ne6 22.Ra3 Nd4 23.Rah3 Qf7 Rb1 46.Rh1 Ra4 47.Kc2 Rb5 48.e5 d3
24.Bc3 Rfe8 25.R3h2 Qc4 49.Kd3 Rf4 50.Bc3 Rf3 51.Ke4 Rg3 52.Kf4
Stronger was here 25...d5. Rg6 53.Ne3 Rb8 54.Nf5 Rf8 55.Rh5 Re8
26.Ng6 Re6 56.Ke4 Rg1 57.Rh3 Bf8 58.Kd5 Rd1
XIIIIIIIIY 59.Ke4 Rc1 60.Kd5 Rd1 61.Ke4 Rd7
62.Nh6 Bh6 63.Rh6 Rh7 64.Rg6 Kf7
9-tr-+-+k+0 65.Rf6 Ke7 66.Rc6 Kd7 67.Rc5 Rh6
9+-+-+-vl-0 68.Kd5 Rb6 69.Ba5 Rb5 70.Rb5 ab5 71.e6
Re6 72.Kc5 Re5 73.Kb6
9p+pzpr+N+0 ½.
9+-zp-zp-zP-0
9P+qsnPzpQ+0 Taimanov M. : Larsen B. D37
Vinkovci 1970
9+-vL-+-+-0
9-zP-+-zP-tR0 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 c5 5.dc5
0–0 6.Bf4 Bc5 7.Nf3 Nc6 8.e3 d5 9.a3 Qa5
9+-+NmK-+R0 10.Rc1!? Be7 11.Be2 dc4 12.Bc4 Nd5!?
xiiiiiiiiy 13.Bd5 ed5 14.Qb3!?
27.Bd4
Simpler would be 27.Rh8 Bh8 28.Rh8 Kg7
29.Rb8 f3 30.Nf4 ef4 31.Qf3.
27...Rg6 28.Qf5 Qe6 29.Qe6 Re6 30.Bc3 d5
31.f3 Rb3 32.Rh3 c4 33.Kd2 Rg6 34.Rg1

FIDE Surveys – Adrian Mikhalchisin 4

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0 9r+-+-trk+0
9zpp+-vlpzpp0 9zpp+-+-+p0
9-+n+-+-+0 9-+-+l+-+0
9wq-+p+-+-0 9wq-+pzp-+-0
9-+-+-vL-+0 9-+-zPN+-+0
9zPQsN-zPN+-0 9zP-+-+-wQp0
9-zP-+-zPPzP0 9-zP-+-zPP+0
9+-tR-mK-+R0 9+-tR-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
14...g5!? 23...Bg4!
It is extremely dubious from positional point It was necessary to see this beautiful tactics,
of view try to change course of the game. when both GMs started to calculate this line.
Larsen did not liked his position at this 23...Kh8? 24.Qe5; 23...Kf7? 24.Ng5 Ke7
moment. 25.Qe5.
14...d4?! 15.Nd4 Nd4 16.ed4±; 14...Rd8 24.Qg4 Kh8–+ 25.Ng5 Qd2 26.Rc7
15.0–0. 26.Rf1 hg2.
15.Bg3 g4 16.Nd4? 26...Qf2 27.Kh2 Qg2 28.Qg2 hg2 29.de5
Taimanov was so surprised by the wrong Rac8 30.Rb7
flank attack, that he lost the objective Did not save the game 30.Rh7 Kg8 31.Rh6
evaluation of the position. Correct was Kg7 32.Rd6 Rf2.
16.Ne5! Bf6 (16...d4 17.ed4 Nd4 18.Qd5 30...Rc2 31.Nf7 Kg7 32.e6 Kf6 33.e7 g1Q
Qd8!) 17.Nc6 bc6 18.0–0. 34.Kg1 Rg8 0:1.
16...Nd4 17.ed4 Bg5 18.0–0
Did not improve the position 18.Rc2 Re8 Kortschnoj V. : Luther T. E01
19.Re2 Re2 20.Ke2 Bd7. Essen 2002
18...Bc1 19.Rc1 Be6 20.h3!?
Of course Taimanov avoids Queens This game is a brilliant example of forced
exchange 20.Qb7 Qb6. bluff and a mess which it creates!
20...gh3 1.d4 e6 2.c4 d5 3.Nc3 c6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.g3
Wrong was try to swap the Queens dc4 6.Bg2 Nbd7 7.0–0 b5 8.Bg5!? Bb7 9.a4
20...Qb6? 21.Qb6 ab6 22.hg4=. Qb6 10.Ne5 Ne5
21.Be5?! f6! Viktor Korchnoi: »There were two games
From here Larsens calculation is superb. Romanishin : Sveshnikov, where the great
21...Qb6? 22.Nd5! specialist of this position continued 10...Rd8.
22.Ne4 fe5 23.Qg3 In the second game (1999) white played
11.a5 Qa6 12.Nd7 Rd7 13.Bf6 gf6 14.Ne4
Be7 15.Qc1 and obtained some advantage.
Taking on e5 looks as the most natural
move, but presumably it has a clear
refutation ... (15.b4!?).«

FIDE Surveys – Adrian Mikhalchisin 5

11.a5?
Viktor Korchnoi: »I failed to guess what
Romanishin had in mind in this position. The
move is wrong. White had to play instead, as
I realized after long home work 11.de5 Nd5
(11...Nd7 12.Ne4) 12.ab5 Nc3 (12...cb5
13.Bd5 ed5 14.Nd5 Qc6 15.e4 Bc5 16.b4!
and black has problems to complete his
development) 13.bc3 cb5 14.Bb7 Qb7
15.Qd4 with white's advantage. Although
even now it is not clear to me, whether the
pressure of white is decisive, say, after
15...Qd7 16.Qe4 Qd5.«
11...Qa6 12.de5 Nd5 13.Ne4 h6 14.Be3
Viktor Korchnoi: »White has already burnt
the bridges some time ago, and this move is
fully in the spirit of his inflammatory tactics.
If 14.Nd2, then black, I believe, would not
have any problems to develop his pieces.«
14...Ne3
Viktor Korchnoi: »After 14...0–0–0 15.Bc5!
white would hinder black development for
long time.«
15.fe3 Rd8
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-trkvl-tr0
9zpl+-+pzp-0
18.Nf6 white would have had strongest
attack.
16...Kd8 17.Rf7 b4
17...c3 was also playable.
18.Rd1 Ke8??
Simple winning move here was 18...Kc8.
19.Rdd7 c3
Chances for win were kept with 19...Bc8.
20.Nd6
Viktor Korchnoi: »At this moment I realized
that white is not losing, and making the
move I simultaneously offered a draw. Then,
a few seconds later, I grasped, that White has
more than a perpetual check, that black can't
avoid mate! 20.Nd6 Bd6 21.ed6 Qa5
22.Rfe7 Kf8 23.Rb7 and the only way to
escape mate is to play 23...Qb6, what
anyway would not save the game: 23...Qd8
24.Rf7 Kg8 25.Rg7 Kf8 26.Rbf7 Ke8
27.Bc6 ½.
Kramnik V. : Leko P. A37
Dortmund 2013
1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.Nf3
d6 6.0–0 e6!? 7.b3 Nge7 8.Bb2 0–0 9.e3
e5!? 10.d3 h6 11.a3 Be6 12.Nd2 d5! 13.cd5
Nd5 14.Rc1

9q+p+p+-zp0 XIIIIIIIIY
9zPp+-zP-+-0 9r+-wq-trk+0
9-+p+N+-+0 9zpp+-+pvl-0
9+-+-zP-zP-0 9-+n+l+pzp0
9-zP-+P+LzP0 9+-zpnzp-+-0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 9-+-+-+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9zPPsNPzP-zP-0
16.Qd8 9-vL-sN-zPLzP0
Viktor Korchnoi: »Despair. And one might 9+-tRQ+RmK-0
say, not yet motivated. After 16.Qc2 Be7 (or
16...Rd5 17.Rf4 Re5 18.Raf1 f5 19.Qc3 Rd5 xiiiiiiiiy
20.Nf6! - black has problems to defend his 14...Nde7!
highly compromized position) 17.Rf4 0–0 Correct way in this typical Maroczy
structure with reversed colours. Not

FIDE Surveys – Adrian Mikhalchisin 6

14...b6?! 15.b4!, with the idea of 15...cb4 30.Rc8 Rc8 31.Nb4 Rd8= 32.Qa7!? Rd7
16.Nd5 Bd5 17.Rc6. 33.Qa6
15.Nc4 Rb8!
Not 15...Qd7?! 16.Ne4! b6 17.b4! and if
XIIIIIIIIY
17...f5 18.Ned6. 9-+-+-+k+0
16.Qe2
After 16.Ne4 b6 (the weakening of d6 is not
9wQ-+rsnl+-0
particularly important: White has nothing to 9p+-wq-+pzp0
attack by his knights from this square) 17.b4
cb4 18.ab4 is answered by 18...b5! 9+p+P+p+-0
16...b6 17.f4 ef4 18.gf4 f5 19.Rfd1?! b5! 9-sN-+-zP-+0
20.Nd2 Qd7 21.Qf2 a6ƒ
XIIIIIIIIY 9zPP+-+-+-0
9-tr-+-trk+0 9-+-+-+LzP0
9zp-+qsn-vl-0 9+-+R+-mK-0
9-+n+l+pzp0 xiiiiiiiiy
33...Qa6?
9+pzp-+p+-0 After this wrong exchange, Black finds
himself in a difficult ending. Black would
9-+-+-zP-+0 have been no worse after 33...Qc5!
9zPPsNPzP-+-0 34.Na6 Nd5
After 34...Bd5, one idea is 35.Nc5 Rd6 36.a4
9-vL-sN-wQLzP0 ba4 37.Na4 and if 37...Bb3 (37...Kf7 38.b4)
9+-tRR+-mK-0 38.Rd6 Ba4 39.h4.
35.Nc5 Rd8 36.Rd4 Kf8
xiiiiiiiiy Or 36...Rc8 37.Rd5! Bd5 38.Bd5±.
22.Nde4!? 37.Nd3! Ke8 38.Ne5 Be6 39.Ng6
In a strategically difficult position for him,
Kramnik decided to complicate matters. In
XIIIIIIIIY
such situations bluff is always unpleasant for 9-+-trk+-+0
the opponent, who waits for swift
developments in slightly better position.
9+-+-+-+-0
22...Qa7?! 9-+-+l+Nzp0
After accepting the sacrifice White would
not have objectively sufficient compensation 9+p+n+p+-0
for a piece: 22...fe4 23.Ne4 Bb2 and if 9-+-tR-zP-+0
24.Nc5 Qd6 25.Qb2 b4!? (but indeed a lot of
complex play would have still been ahead 9zPP+-+-+-0
there). 9-+-+-+LzP0
23.Nc5 Qc5 24.d4 Nd4 25.ed4 Qd6 26.d5
Bf7 27.Na2 Bb2 28.Qb2 Rfd8 9+-+-+-mK-0
Preferable was 28...Rbd8!?
29.Qd4 Rbc8
xiiiiiiiiy
After 29...Qa3 White has 30.Nb4 a5 Now White has extra pawn and not
31.Na6!© attacking the b8 rook. complicated realization.

FIDE Surveys – Adrian Mikhalchisin 7

39...Rd7 40.Kf2 Rg7 41.Bd5 Rg6 42.Be6
Re6 43.Rd5 Ra6 44.Rf5 Ra3 45.Rb5 Kd7
XIIIIIIIIY
46.Kf3 Kc6 47.Rb8 1:0. 9r+ltr-+k+0
9zpp+-vlp+-0
Timman J. : Huebner R. C10 9-wq-+psn-zp0
Wolvega 2006
9+-+-wQ-+-0
In modern chess exist tendency to prepare 9-+-+-+-tR0
bluff, a bit unsound line, but opponent has to
know it! Otherwise hell spend a lot of time 9+-+L+N+-0
and doubtefully will find the correct 9P+P+-zPPzP0
refutation.
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 de4 4.Ne4 Nd7 5.Nf3 9+-+-+RmK-0
Ngf6 6.Nf6 Nf6 7.Bg5 c5 8.Bc4 cd4 9.0–0
Be7 10.Qe2 0–0 11.Rad1 Qb6 12.Rd4 Qb2
xiiiiiiiiy
13.Bd3 h6 17.Rh6
Even better would be 17.Qf4 Kf8 18.Ne5.
XIIIIIIIIY 17...Kf8 18.Qg3 Ke8 19.Ne5 Qc7 20.Bb5
9r+l+-trk+0 Kf8 21.Rh8 1:0.

9zpp+-vlpzp-0 Radjabov T. : Ivanchuk V. A37

9-+-+psn-zp0 Khanty-Mansiysk 2011

9+-+-+-vL-0 1.Nf3 c5 2.g3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Bg2 Nc6 5.Nc3

e6 6.d3 Nge7 7.h4 h6 8.Bd2 b6 9.h5 g5
9-+-tR-+-+0
XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+L+N+-0
9r+lwqk+-tr0
9PwqP+QzPPzP0
9zp-+psnpvl-0
9+-+-+RmK-0
9-zpn+p+-zp0
xiiiiiiiiy
Safer option would be 13...Rd8 14.Bf6 Bf6 9+-zp-+-zpP0
15.Rd8 Bd8 16.Bh7 Kf8. 9-+P+-+-+0
14.Bh6 gh6 15.Qe5! Qb6?
Black cracks under pressure and did not find 9+-sNP+NzP-0
the best way: 15...Kh8 16.Nd2 Qb6 9PzP-vLPzPL+0
(16...Rg8 17.Ne4 Kg7 18.c3!) 17.Rh4 Rg8
18.Qf4 Rg7 19.Rh6 Kg8 20.Qh4 Kf8 21.Rf6 9tR-+QmK-+R0
Bf6 22.Qf6 Bd7 23.Ne4 Bc6 and White has
just some compensation for exchange.
xiiiiiiiiy
16.Rh4 Rd8 Radjabov had to win this game and he
decided from the start to create maximal
pressure,even on the cost of material.

10.Ng5!? hg5 11.Bg5 Bc3?

FIDE Surveys – Adrian Mikhalchisin 8

Black eliminates a dangerous knight, which
via e4 could go to d6 or f6. He also takes the
XIIIIIIIIY
string out of h5–h6, but that comes at a high 9-+-+-+-tR0
price as now Black's squares are weak.
Ivanchuk is a great player, but here he made
9zplwqksnp+-0
a bad decision. 11...f6. IGM Zagrebelny 9-zpp+ptr-+0
suggested 11...Bb7 12.h6 (12.Ne4 Qc7
13.Qd2 f5 14.h6 fe4 15.hg7 Rh1 16.Bh1 9+-zp-+-+-0
Qe5) 12...Be5!? 9-+PzP-+-+0
12.bc3 Bb7 13.Qd2! Qc7 14.Bf6 0–0–0
Black has serious problems with Black 9+-zP-+-zP-0
squares here. He can't play 14...Rh7 in view 9P+-wQPzP-+0
of 15.Be4 Ng8 16.Qg5 Nf6 17.Qf6 Qd8
18.Qd8 Nd8 19.Bh7 Bh1 20.f3+– and the 9+-mKR+-+-0
bishop is trapped.
15.0–0–0 Rhg8
xiiiiiiiiy
Now it is time to open Black King.
XIIIIIIIIY 21...Qd6 22.Qg5! Rf5 23.Qh4 cd4 24.Rd4
9-+ktr-+r+0 Rd5 25.cd5 Qa3 26.Kb1 cd5 27.Rh7 Qc3
28.Rf7 1:0.
9zplwqpsnp+-0
9-zpn+pvL-+0 Tal M. : Keres P.
Moscow 1967
C83

9+-zp-+-+P0
Bluff works not always and the biggest guru
9-+P+-+-+0 of it had failed sometimes too!
9+-zPP+-zP-0 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–
0 Ne4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.de5 Be6 9.Qe2
9P+-wQPzPL+0 Be7 10.c3 0–0 11.Bc2 Qd7! 12.Rd1
9+-mKR+-+R0 Very risky was to accept pawn sacrifice
12.Be4 de4 13.Qe4 Bf5 14.Qe3 Rae8 with
xiiiiiiiiy strong pressutre in the center.
16.Bc6! 12...f5 13.Nbd2 Kh8!?
It is not positional idea-just pure I would say, that it is small provokation from
dynamical,as Black has problems with Keres,as normal way would be.
recapture. 13...Rad8.
16...dc6? 14.Nb3
Now the black bishop is closed forever. Very dubious would be 14.Ne4 fe4 15.Be4
After 16...Bc6 17.Be7 Rde8 18.Bg5 Bh1 de4 16.Rd7 ef3µ; but very interesting would
19.Rh1 a bishop and two pawns are stronger be attack of Black pawn chain. 14.a4 b4
than a rook. 16...Nc6 does not help either - 15.c4.
17.h6 Rg6 18.Bd8 Qd8 19.h7 Qh8 20.Rh4, 14...Bf7 15.Nbd4
with winning with the strong pawn h7. 15.Nfd4.
17.h6 Rg6 18.h7 Rf6 19.h8Q Rh8 20.Rh8 15...Bh5
Kd7 21.d4!

FIDE Surveys – Adrian Mikhalchisin 9

XIIIIIIIIY used correctly against some weakness of
opponents style and in some decisive
9r+-+-tr-mk0 moments of the tournaments is
9+-zpqvl-zpp0 very effective.

9p+n+-+-+0
9+p+pzPp+l0
9-+-sNn+-+0
9+-zP-+N+-0
9PzPL+QzPPzP0
9tR-vLR+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
16.Nf5?!
Once more natural was 16.a4, but Tal wants
activity and decided to bluff, but Keres was
on alert!
16...Qf5 17.Rd5 Bg6 18.Qe3 Rad8 19.Rd8
Rd8 20.Nd4 Nd4 21.cd4 c5 22.d5 Qe5!
23.f3 Bg5 24.f4 Qd5 25.Be4
Of course Tal's decision to bluff was
supported by his wrong calculation. He
overlooked at the end of variation 25.fg5
Qd1 26.Bd1 Rd1.
25...Be4 26.fg5 Qd1 27.Kf2 Qc2
Simpler was 27...Rf8 28.Kg3 Qd6 29.Kh3
Bf5 30.g4 Bd3.
28.Qe2 Rf8 29.Ke1 Qa4 30.b3?
A bit better was 30.Be3.
30...Qd4 0:1.

Conclusion

After analyse of the above examples, we can

say that opening bluff is a powerfull
psychological and technical weapon.
Especially, when the time control is
becoming shorter.
Application of such method demands some
experience and knowledge plus bravery and
right moments. The most important feature
of it is huge pressure on the opponent, which
is very diffucult to survive. This method
does not guarantee automatic success, but

FIDE Surveys – Adrian Mikhalchisin 10

Alonso Zapata: Heuecker (1937)
Paralysis XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-mk-+0
Concept 9+-+-sn-+K0
Paralysis is a subtle strategic motive which
is usually in the field of domination and
9-+-sN-+-+0
zugzwang. The idea of this interesting 9+-sn-+-+-0
strategic theme is to constrain the action of
one or several pieces and limit the counter
9-+-+-sN-+0
play and plan of the rival usually hindering 9+-+-+-+-0
by the weaknesses; until you see it reduced
by the little space for maneuver to the 9-+-+-+-+0
extreme passivity. If you have it, you will 9+-+-+-+-0
feel bound as a spectator of a sad end,
seeming that it was been screwed to the xiiiiiiiiy
position and a sense of powerlessness The following composition never ceases to
before the upcoming events. The following amaze me. White to play and win:
example is a curious tragicomedy of 1.Kh8!+–
numbness. The black has been petrified. In the next
move, no way to escape mate!
Lespersen (1912) 1...Ne4
XIIIIIIIIY 1...Nc6 2.Ng6#.
2.Ne6# 1:0.
9-tr-+-vL-mK0
9+-+-+rzP-0 G. Bogdazarian (1937)

9-+-+-+-+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+-+-+-0 9-+-+-mkl+0
9-+k+-+-+0 9+-+-+p+P0
9+-+-+-+-0 9-+-+p+P+0
9-+-+-+-+0 9+-+-zpP+-0
9+-+-+-+-0 9-+-+P+PmK0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+-+-+-0
White to play and saved miraculously! 9r+-+-+-+0
1.g8B!! Rbf8= 9+-+-+-+-0
Draw by mutual paralysis! ½.
xiiiiiiiiy
An admirable example of mutual paralysis
is found in the study of G. Bogdazarian.
1.h8Q! Rh2 2.Kg5 Rh8 3.g7 Kg7 4.f6
Kf8
Stalemate!
Same happens: 4...Kh7 5.Kh5= and Black
is in stalemate!
½.

FIDE Surveys – Alonso Zapata 1

M. Liburkin (1939) curious, if white would play at this time,
XIIIIIIIIY black would win! 1:0.

9-+N+-+-+0 H. Mattison (1924)

9zp-+-+-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9q+p+-zp-+0 9N+-mk-+-+0
9mkp+-+-+-0 9zp-+-+-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9zPP+-+K+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-zP-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-vL-+-+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9P+-mK-vl-+0
I want to share with my kind readers one of 9+-+-+-+-0
the issues that have impressed me most
about the topic "Paralysis - Domination" is xiiiiiiiiy
an inspiring study, where the dynamic We find a mutual paralysis worthy of
value is greater than the static value. White mention in this composition of Mattison.
plays and wins surprisingly! 1.a4!
1.Bd2 b4 2.Bb4 Kb5 3.Nd6! Kb6 4.Ba5!! The immediate idea 1.Ke2? loses by:
XIIIIIIIIY 1...Bc5 2.a4 Kc8 3.a5 Kb7 4.Nb6 Bb6
5.ab6 ab6 6.Kd3 Ka6+–.
9-+-+-+-+0 1...a5!
9zp-+-+-+-0 1...Kc8 2.a5 Kb7 3.Nb6= Bb6 4.ab6 ab6
5.Kc3 Ka6 6.Kb4=.
9qmkpsN-zp-+0 2.Ke2!!
9vL-+-+-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-zP-+-+0 9N+-mk-+-+0
9zPP+-+K+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-zP-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9zp-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9P+-+-+-+0
Subtle and amazing sacrifice! 9+-+-+-+-0
4...Ka5
4...Qa5 5.Nc4+–. 9-+-+Kvl-+0
5.Nc4 Kb5™ 6.Kf4! f5 9+-+-+-+-0
6...c5 7.d5 f5 8.Kg5 f4 9.f3.
7.Kg5! c5 8.d5! f4 9.f3! xiiiiiiiiy
Once black is out of moves, remains Ingenious, departs the Bishop from the e1
immobility! White dominates the entire square!
Board. Black is completely paralyzed, total 2...Bg1
control of the Queen and the King. It is 2...Ba7 3.Kd3 Kd7 4.Kc4 Kc6 5.Nc7!=,
with a similiar result, like in the study.

FIDE Surveys – Alonso Zapata 2

3.Kd3 Kd7 4.Kc4 Kc6 5.Nc7! 3...Kb7
This subtlety is the reason for the idea Sad and only move, Black is paralyzed!
King e2! 4.Nd8 Kb6 5.Nf7+–
5...Kc7 6.Kb5 Bb6 7.Ka6! The idealized victory square.
XIIIIIIIIY 5...Kb5 6.Nh8+– 1:0.

9-+-+-+-+0 Vachier Lagrave M. : Ding Liren

9+-mk-+-+-0 Paris/St Petersburg 2013

9Kvl-+-+-+0 A surprising game that since virtually the

9zp-+-+-+-0 start of the game, the subject of paralysis
can be felt. Very creative driving by G.M.
9P+-+-+-+0 M. Vachier Lagrave. An eloquent example
of this powerful strategic motive.
9+-+-+-+-0 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.h4 h6 5.g4 Be4
9-+-+-+-+0 6.f3 Bh7 7.e6!? Nf6N
The most common move and probably the
9+-+-+-+-0 best is 7...Qd6!? 8.ef7 Kf7 or also 7...fe6
xiiiiiiiiy 8.Bd3 Nf6 (8...Bd3 9.Qd3 Qd6) 9.Ne2 c5.
8.Bf4!
Awe and helplessness? It is the sensation
Playing against the Queen on d6!
produced by this unusual position!]
8...Qb6 9.Nc3!? Qb2 10.Kd2!?
7...Kc6 ½.
Very original way of playing, Black has
difficulties to coordinate the development.
M. Liburkin (1949) 10...Qb6
XIIIIIIIIY 10...Qa3; 10...Qb4 11.Nge2 Qa5!? 12.Nc1
fe6 13.Nb3 Qa3.
9k+-+-+-vl0 11.Nge2 a6?!
9zP-+-+-+-0 11...Qa5!? It is definitely more active.
12.Rb1 b5! Counter attack.
9-+N+-+K+0 12.Rb1 Qa7 13.Na4! b5
9+-+-+-+-0 Only one.
14.Nc5
9-+-zp-+-+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+P+-+-0 9rsn-+kvl-tr0
9-+-+-+-+0 9wq-+-zppzpl0
9+-+-+-+-0 9p+p+Psn-zp0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+psNp+-+-0
Visualize your objective and go for it! One
of the methods to find plans and moves is 9-+-zP-vLPzP0
to assume at any given time what would
your opponent do if he played? Analyzing
9+-+-+P+-0
the position, we can see the critical victory 9P+PmKN+-+0
square; imagine moving the Knight to f7.
How to achieve this?
9+R+Q+L+R0
1.Kf7!! Kb7 2.a8Q Ka8 3.Kg6! xiiiiiiiiy
The answer is: get a similar situation, but
with Black's turn!

FIDE Surveys – Alonso Zapata 3

Note the passivity of Black Bishop f8 and
Rook h8 that are not playing.
14...Bg8 15.Be5
15.Bh3.
15...fe6 16.Nf4 Nbd7 17.Nd7 Nd7 18.Ng6
Ne5 19.de5 Rh7 20.h5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+kvll+0
9wq-+-zp-zpr0
9p+p+p+Nzp0
9+p+pzP-+P0
9-+-+-+P+0
9+-+-+P+-0
9P+PmK-+-+0
9+R+Q+L+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
It is curious to see the h7 the Rook and the
f8 Bishop seem guests made out of stone
that do not participate in the events.
20...c5 21.f4±
Very interesting, directed to the kingside;
observe the Bishop on f8 and Rook on h7
are paralyzed! Curious would be the
original maneuver: 21.Ke3!? c4 (21...Qc7
22.Kf4 (22.c3+–) ) 22.Qd4 Qd4 23.Kd4+–
and practically the White Bishop f1 and the
Rook h1 would be 2 additional pieces.
21...Bf7 22.Qf3 0–0–0 23.Be2 c4 24.a4
It is necessary to open columns to put the
non-used pieces to work!
24...Kc7 25.ab5 ab5 26.Rb5 Qd4 27.Ke1
Ra8 28.Rb1
It also seems sufficient to win 28.Kf1! Ra1
29.Kg2 Rh1 30.Kh1 Bg6 31.hg6 Rh8
32.Qa3+–.
28...Ra2 29.c3 Qd2 30.Kf2 Rc2 31.Qe3
Qe3 32.Ke3 Rc3 33.Kd4 Rc2 34.Rhe1
Wins 34.Rb5! Re2 35.Rhb1+–.
34...Kc6 35.Rb8 Bg6 36.hg6 Rh8
37.Reb1 Rd2
37...Re2 38.R1b6 Kd7 39.Kc5+–.
38.Ke3 Ra2 39.R8b6
Curious position, Black is completely
paralyzed! 39.R8b6 Kc7 40.Kd4! Re2
41.Rb7 Kc8 42.Kc5+–. 1:0.
FIDE Surveys – Alonso Zapata
Topalov V. : Gelfand B.
Linares 2010
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+k+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+K+-+-+0
9+-zP-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9zprzP-+-+R0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
A dramatic situation developed in this
game, Gelfand must make a critical
decision in a very complicated position.]
49...a2?
Error. Last chance to save himself, had to
play: 49...Ke7!! 50.Rh7 (50.Kd5 a2 51.Rh7
Kd8= 52.Kd6 Kc8 53.c6 Kb8 54.c7 Kb7
55.Kd7= (55.Rh8?? Rc3–+) 55...Rc3
56.Kd8 Kb6=) 50...Ke6 51.c4 Ke5 52.Ra7
Kd4 53.Ra4 Rh3 54.Kb6 Rb3=.
50.Rh8 Ke7 51.Ra8 Rb2 52.Kc7 Rc2
53.c6 Rb2 54.c4 Rc2 55.Ra6 Rb2 56.c5
Ke6 57.Ra5!!
Very ingenious, at the point of breakdown,
this move is the key to win! It must be
defended "the c5 shield". This Pawn is
vital for victory. 57.Kc8 Kd5 58.c7 Kc5
59.Kd7 Rd2 60.Ke6 Re2=; 57.Ra3 Kd5
58.Ra5 Kc4 59.Kc8 Kb4=.
57...Rc2
57...Kd5 58.Kd7 Rh2 59.c7 Rh7 60.Kc8
Kc6 61.Ra6 Kc5 62.Kb8+–.
58.Kb7 Rb2 59.Kc8 Ke7 60.c7 Ke8
61.Ra2!!
The detail missed by Gelfand!
61...Ra2 62.Kb7!
Black was astounded!
62.Kb7 Rb2 63.Kc6+– Note the
importance of the c5 shield! 1:0.
4
Alekhine A. : Nimzowitsch A.
San Remo 1930
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+-mk-+0
One of the most famous classic games of
this motive.
9zp-trqsn-zp-0
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.Bd2 9Pzpn+p+-zp0
Ne7 6.Nb5 Bd2 7.Qd2 0–0 8.c3 b6?
8...Nbc6; 8...Nd7; 8...f6. 9+L+pzPp+-0
9.f4 Ba6 10.Nf3 Qd7 11.a4! Nbc6 9-zP-zP-zP-+0
11...c4 12.Nd6 (12.Na3 Qa4) 12...Nc8.
12.b4!± cb4 9+-tR-+N+-0
12...c4 13.Nd6±. 9-+R+-+PzP0
13.cb4 Bb7 14.Nd6± f5?!
14...a5 15.b5 Nb4 16.Bd3 f5. 9+-wQ-+-mK-0
15.a5! Nc8
15...ba5 16.b5 Nd8 17.Ra5±-
xiiiiiiiiy
16.Nb7 Qb7 17.a6! Qf7 Note the immobility and the total lack of
It does not work: 17...Qe7 18.Bb5 Nb4 counter-play for Black. There is no way to
19.Rb1+–. escape.
18.Bb5! 27.Ba4!
Already perceive the broad domain of Threatening b4.
pressure and White space. 27...b5 28.Bb5 Ke8 29.Ba4 Kd8 30.h4!
18...N8e7 19.0–0 h6 Black is running out of moves.
19...Rfc8?! 30...Qe8
20.Rfc1 Rfc8 21.Rc2 Qe8 22.Rac1 Paralysis-Zugzwang and the end.
31.b5
XIIIIIIIIY There is nothing to do, the material losses
9r+r+q+k+0 are inevitable. 1:0.

9zp-+-sn-zp-0
9Pzpn+p+-zp0
9+L+pzPp+-0
9-zP-zP-zP-+0
9+-+-+N+-0
9-+RwQ-+PzP0
9+-tR-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
22.Ra3! Rc7 23.Rac3 Rac8 24.Qc1.
22...Rab8 23.Qe3
The simultaneous threats of the Bb5 and
Rooks in the c-column condemn Black to
passivity.
23.Rc3 Rc7 24.R1c2 Rbc8 25.Qc1+–.
23...Rc7 24.Rc3 Qd7 25.R1c2 Kf8 26.Qc1
Rbc8

FIDE Surveys – Alonso Zapata 5

Georg Mohr:
Outpost
As lines and ranks are important for the
rooks and diagonals for the bishops, so are
outposts for the knights. First of all we
have to ask ourselves what an outpost
actually is. We can define it as a defended
square in front or in the middle of the
opponent’s camp, from where it is very
hard to get rid of the knight. When it is
possible it is usually linked with a high
cost.
The great teacher of chess strategy Aaron
Nimzowitsch was the first who approached
the question of the outpost scientifically.
In the position on the diagram he explained
it like this:
Instructive example - Nimzowitsch
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9zppzp-+pzpp0
9-+-zp-+n+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+-sN-+-+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9+-mKRtR-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The key of the position represent the move
1.Nd5. The d5 square is in this case a
point; and the piece, which takes over the
point, is called an outpost. So an outpost is
a piece in the opponent’s camp, which is
placed on semi-open file and is defended
by a pawn. The most suitable piece for an
outpost role is the knight.
In our position the knight will be a never-
ending threat for Black. From the d5
square the knight is functioning in all
ways: it is attacking the c7 pawn,
preventing possible actions on the e-file,
restricting the knight and preparing the
advancement of its pawns. Black will
FIDE Surveys – Georg Mohr
sooner or later try to get rid of the knight
by playing c7-c6. After the retreat of the
knight the position will change drastically.
From now on there will be (on the semi-
open d-file) a weak backward pawn on d6,
which was until now successfully blocked
(with coordination of pawns d6-c7). From
now on only pieces will be able to defend
the pawn. White will double his rooks on
the d-file and keep pressuring it.
The power of the outpost is not only hiding
in the piece on this square but also and
even more in the pawn, which is defending
the piece and in the (semi) open file behind
the piece. If in our position the white pawn
would be place on d3 then the move Nd5
would not be dangerous. In this case the
pawn on d6 would not be weak after c7-c6.
The same would be without the e4 pawn:
Black would save all his problems after
1…c6 2.Nc3 d5.
The Outpost on the 6th Rank
If we move the weak square for one rank
further, then the knight becomes even more
unpleasant: if it is close to the opponent’s
king, it can in many cases be a decisive
factor for the attack on the king. Even
when there is no king nearby, the position
of the knight on the 6th rank can be very
unpleasant.
Mamediarov S. : Bluvshtein M.
Calvia (ol) 2004
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-tr-+0
9zpp+-+pmkp0
9-+n+pzp-+0
9wqN+-+-+-0
9-+P+PzP-wQ0
9+-+r+-+-0
9P+-+-+PzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
19.e5!
1
White is starting to build the outpost on d6,
from where his knight will control all parts
of the board.
19...Qd8
Black of course mustn’t take – the opening
of the f-file would for sure contribute to his
defeat, due to the weak position of the
king.
20.Qh5 Kg8
The only defence that makes sense for
Black is taking on e5 in the right moment
and an immediate push f7-f5! In any case it
is better for the black king to be safe at the
time.
21.Rae1 a6 22.Nd6 fe5
Black chose the moment, White’s outpost
doesn’t look stabile: 23.fe5 Ne5!
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-wq-trk+0
9+p+-+p+p0
9p+nsNp+-+0
9+-+-zp-+Q0
9-+P+-zP-+0
9+-+r+-+-0
9P+-+-+PzP0
9+-+-tRRmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
23.c5!±
But of course the great Azerbaijan foresaw
this outcome way in advance! After
23...ef4 24.Qg4 Kh8 25.Qf4 f5 (the f7
square is indefensible) 26.Re6 the position
around the black king falls apart.
23...f5 24.fe5 b5
The position has stabilized, the evaluation
is clear: White has a huge advantage. The
knight on d6 is the main cause of
confusion in the opponent’s camp and
Black cannot connect his pieces anymore.
Pawn weaknesses (b7, e6) are more and
more obvious and on top even the black
king cannot be calm. An active queen and
a knight can quickly become dangerous,
but if also one of the rooks would join
them …
FIDE Surveys – Georg Mohr
25.Rf3! Qa5
After 25...Rf3 26.gf3± White would open
the g-file, from where the rook on e1
would join the attack.
26.Re2 Qb4 27.Rd3 Qb1 28.Kf2 Qd3
29.Qg5 Kh8 30.Qh6!+-
Look at how uncoordinated Black’s pieces
are! All the confusion was caused by the
knight on d6, which is taking on different
tasks: it is looking towards the king,
preventing the queen from returning back
into defence, taking all the key squares
from the black rook.
30…Qd4 31.Kf1 Kg8
The maneuver which helps the king – with
the help of the rook – to avoid perpetual
checks is very instructive: 31...Qd1 32.Re1
Qd3 33.Kg1 Qd4 34.Kh1 and the checks
end+-.
32.Qe6 Kh8 33.Qh6 Kg8 34.Qg5 Kh8
35.e6 1:0.
The role of the outpost on the 6th rank can
also be easily and successfully played by
other pieces. It depends, which ones stayed
on the board. The rook in many cases
anchors itself on the 6th rank during the
fight for a file and it forces the opponent to
make an unpleasant choice: whether to
give up the file or to exchange, which
creates to his opponent an extremely
dangerous passed pawn:
Instructive example
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-trr+-+0
9+p+-mkpzpp0
9-+ptRp+-+0
9+-zP-zP-+-0
9-zPK+-zP-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+PzP0
9+-+R+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The position is seemingly equal (material),
2
but the truth is that Black is practically
lost, due to the already described factors.
If White’s rooks would be placed on d1
and d4 in the same position, then Black
would place his rook on d5, build an
outpost for him and continue the game
without problems.
Now let us have a look at how the 7th
World Champion placed his bishop in the
outpost. The final effect was the same like
in the examples with the knight or rook.
Bilek : Smyslov, Polanica Zdroj 1968
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-tr-+k+0
9zp-+-+pvlp0
9-+p+-+p+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9-wq-+-+-+0
9+-sNlzP-zP-0
9PzP-+-zPLzP0
9tR-wQ-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
21...e4!
Black is deliberately making the d3 square
stronger, though the bishop doesn’t need
support at the time.
22.Rd1 Rab8 23.Rd2 c5 24.Qe1 Bc3!
25.bc3 Qa5!
An exceptional positional understanding.
Even though 25...Qc3 wasn’t good,
because of the tactical defence 26.Be4
(26…Be4?? 27.Rd8), Black decided to
exchange and he changed his seemingly
very powerful dark-squared bishop for a
passive knight.
26.Rc1
With the move 26.c4 White would prevent
Black from making his outpost even
stronger, but after some exchanges another
positional element would take the leading
role – an open file and penetration to the
7th rank: 26…Rb4 27.Bf1 (27.Rc1 Ra4)
27...Bf1 28.Rd8 Qd8 29.Qf1 Qd2 30.a3
Rb2 31.Rd1 Qc3 and White’s pawns are
FIDE Surveys – Georg Mohr
very weak. A nice example and a proof
that the knowledge about strategic
elements is extremely important!
26...c4 27.Qd1 Rd5 28.Qg4 Rdb5
White certainly chose an even worse
version where he is completely stalemated.
He cannot go to the open b-file, because it
is controlled by a very strong bishop on d3
that is also disabling any reasonable
counter play.
29.Qf4 Qa3 30.Rdd1 Re8
Black only has one weakness, the e4 pawn,
which he can protect in different ways.
Smyslov chose the one where he doesn’t
make any additional weaknesses in his
position. Anyway he has all the time in the
world: White is completely paralyzed in
defence.
31.Bh3 Rb2 32.Bd7 Re7 33.Bg4 Qc5
It is interesting to watch how Smyslov is
taking his time and is not hurrying. With
each move he is pushing Black’s pieces
further back and he doesn’t even for a
second think about any exchange, which
would offer White even the slightest
chance for counter play: 33...Qa2 34.Ra1
Qb3 35.Qd6.
34.Qf6 Qe5 35.Qa6 Kg7
Next follows an excellent “self-capture” of
the queen, which was excellently used by
Black. 36.a4 Rc7 37.a5 Rb5 38.Ra1 Rbc5
There is no good defence against R5c6 –
0:1.
3
Michael Khodarkovsky:
Middle game with c3-d4 pawns
Middle game positions with a pair of pawns,
c3–d4 (c6–d5), can be seen frequently in
practical games. Analyzing positions with
this type of pawn structure allows us to draw
the following conclusions:
(1) it is important to restrict the movements
of these pawns and take control over squares
c4 and d5 (or c5 and d4, respectively);
(2) the side with the c and d pawns must
recognize that passive play will likely only
result in a draw, therefore, this side must
create a dynamic structure with hanging
pawns c4 and d4 (c5 and d5), or it must
build up an active game on the King side.
This article highlights games where the
pawn structure c3–d4 (c6–d5) is the center
of the theoretical dispute in those games.
Anand V. : Kramnik V.
Wijk aan Zee 2010
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Ne5 d6 4.Nf3 Ne4 5.d4
d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0–0 Be7 8.c4 Nb4 9.Be2 0–
0 10.Nc3 Bf5 11.a3 Nc3 12.bc3 Nc6 13.Re1
Re8 14.cd5 Qd5 15.Bf4 Rac8
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+r+k+0
9zppzp-vlpzpp0
9-+n+-+-+0
9+-+q+l+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9zP-zP-+N+-0
9-+-+LzPPzP0
9tR-+QtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
In the same tournament in the game Karjakin
FIDE Survey – Michael Khodarkovsky
: Smeets White tried 16.g3!? - a novelty at
the time of play. The text and analysis of that
game could be found below as well.
16.h3
16.g3 (Perhaps, the reason of this move is to
make sure that his bishop is going to be
protected against 16...Qe4 and White will be
threatening advance of his duo of central
pawns with 17.c4 and 18.d5.) 16...b5
(16...Bf6 17.Nd2 Qd7 - this position looks
better for Black than the one that happened
in the game. Therefore, 16.g3 is not
convincing.) 17.Nd2 Na5 18.Nf1? (White
missed chance to obtain a strong advantage
after striking 18.a4! b4 19.Ba6! bc3 20.Re5
Qd7 21.Bc8 Rc8 22.Ra5 cd2 23.Qd2)
18...Nc4 19.Bc4 (Still 19.a4! looks more
promising than immediate trade on c4.)
19...Qc4 20.Ne3 Qe6 21.Nf5 Qf5 22.Re5
Qd7 23.Qe2 Bd6 24.Qb5 c6 25.Re8, agreed
for a draw in view of 25...Re8 26.Qd3 Bf4
27.gf4 Qg4 28.Qg3 Qf5=.
16...Be4
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+r+k+0
9zppzp-vlpzpp0
9-+n+-+-+0
9+-+q+-+-0
9-+-zPlvL-+0
9zP-zP-+N+P0
9-+-+LzPP+0
9tR-+QtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
This disputed position was played also in the
game Shirov : Kramnik, Wijk aan Zee 2010.
In their encounter white preferred to play
17.Nd2!? Bg2 18.Bg4 Bh1
(18...f5 19.Be2 Na5 20.Qa4!) 19.f3 Bh4
20.Re4! (20.Rf1 f5 21.Bh5 g6 22.Kh1 gh5
23.Rg1 Kh8 24.Qf1 and better for black as it
1
was played in the game Leko : Anand,
St.Luis 2005.)
XIIIIIIIIY
20...f5 21.Kh1 fg4 9-+r+rvlk+0
(21...fe4 22.fe4 Re4 23.Qf3 Rce8 24.Ne4
Qe4 (24...Re4 25.Bc7) 25.Bc7)
9zp-zp-+pzpp0
22.hg4 Qf7 23.Qb3 Ne7 24.Qf7 9-zp-+-+q+0
(24.Qb7?! Nd5 25.Re8 Re8 26.Be5 Bg5
27.c4 Ne7! 28.Rd1 Ng6 and Black has better 9sn-+P+l+-0
chances because of the vulnerability of 9-+P+-vLN+0
White King.)
24...Kf7 25.c4 9zP-+-+-wQP0
c-pawn moves and White's center looks 9-+-+LzPP+0
strong. It took Black enormous effort to find
defensive resources, which allowed him to 9+-+RtR-mK-0
equalize the game.
25...Ng6 26.Bh2 Bf6 27.Rb1 b6 28.d5 Be5
xiiiiiiiiy
29.f4 Bd6 30.a4 h6 31.Rbe1 Nf8 32.f5 Nd7 Black again return his Knight on a5 aiming
33.Bd6 cd6 34.Re6 Ne5 (34...Nc5) 35.c5! at pawn c4. He could probobly try 25...Bc2
Nd3 36.cd6 Ne1 37.d7 Rcd8 38.de8Q Re8 too. However, the following line would still
39.Nc4 Re6 40.fe6 Ke7 41.Ne5 Kd6 42.Nc4 give White an upper hand: 25...Bc2 26.Rd2
Ke7 43.Ne5 Kd6 44.Kh2 Nc2 45.Nc4 Ke7 Na5 27.Rc2! Qc2 28.Nh6 Kh8 29.Nf7 Kg8
46.Kg3 Nb4 47.Ne3 Nd5 48.Nd5 Ke6 30.Ne5 Qe4 31.Kf1!
49.Nc3 a6 50.Kf4 b5 51.ab5. 26.Bc7 Bc2
17.Qc1! 26...Bc5.
Since 17.c4 could be met with 17...Qf5, 27.Rc1 Nb3
white is preparing advance of the c-pawn 27...Bf5 28.c5.
and protecting the bishop the same time. 28.Rc2 Qc2 29.Nh6
17...Na5 XIIIIIIIIY
Seems reasonable thematic maneuver to
maintain a control over square c4. However,
9-+r+rvlk+0
deserves attention a prophilactic move 9zp-vL-+pzpp0
17...h6!?. It does allow immediate 18.c4
(18.Qe3 Bd6!), but after 18...Qf5 19.Ne5 9-zp-+-+-sN0
(19.d5 Na5) Ne5 20.Be5 Qg6 21.Bg4 Bf5 9+-+P+-+-0
black has a good game as well.
18.Qe3 Bf8?! 9-+P+-+-+0
Alternatively black could try 18...Bf5.
19.c4 Qd8
9zPn+-+-wQP0
Doesn't work here a controversial variation 9-+q+LzPP+0
19...Bf3 20.cd5 Re3 21.fe3 Bd5 22.Bg4.
20.Ne5 Bf5 21.Qc3 b6 22.Rad1
9+-+-tR-mK-0
22.c5. xiiiiiiiiy
22...Qf6 29...Kh8 30.Nf7 Kg8 31.Nh6 Kh8 32.Nf7
Maybe better was 22...f6. Kg8 33.Nh6 Kh8 34.Be5 Qg6 35.Bg4 Rc4
23.Qg3 Nc6 24.Ng4 Qg6 25.d5 Na5 36.Qb3 Re5 37.Re5 Rc1 38.Kh2 Bd6 39.f4
39.Qe3!

FIDE Survey – Michael Khodarkovsky 2

39...Be5 40.fe5 gh6
More stubborn defence would be if Black
played 40...Qe4! 41.d6! Qf4 42.Qg3 Rh1
43.Kh1 Qg3 44.Nf7 Kg8 45.d7 Kf7 46.d8Q
Qe1 47.Kh2 Qe5 48.g3 Qb2 49.Kg1.
41.Qe3 Qb1 42.d6 Rh1 43.Kg3 Re1 44.Qf4
Rf1 45.Bf3 1:0.
Thomas G. A. : Alekhine A.
Baden-Baden 1925
1.e4 Nf6 2.d3 c5 3.f4 Nc6 4.Nf3 g6 5.Be2
Bg7 6.Nbd2 d5 7.0–0 0–0 8.Kh1 b6 9.ed5
Qd5 10.Qe1 Bb7 11.Nc4 Nd4 12.Ne3 Qc6
13.Bd1 Nd5 14.Nd4 cd4 15.Nd5 Qd5
16.Bf3 Qd7 17.Bb7 Qb7 18.c4 dc3 19.bc3
Rac8 20.Bb2 Rfd8 21.Rf3 Bf6 22.d4
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+rtr-+k+0
9zpq+-zpp+p0
9-zp-+-vlp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-zP-zP-+0
9+-zP-+R+-0
9PvL-+-+PzP0
9tR-+-wQ-+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
22...Qd5 23.Qe3 Qb5 24.Qd2 Rd5 25.h3 e6
26.Re1 Qa4 27.Ra1 b5 28.Qd1 Rc4
More accurate would be 28...Qd1 and then
29…Rc4.
29.Qb3 Rd6 30.Kh2 Ra6 31.Rff1 Be7
32.Kh1 Rcc6 33.Rfe1 Bh4 34.Rf1
If 34.Re2, then 34…Qb3 35.ab3 Ra1 36.Ba1
Bg3.
34...Qc4 35.Qc4 Rc4 36.a3 Be7 37.Rfb1
Bd6 38.g3 Kf8 39.Kg2 Ke7 40.Kf2 Kd7
41.Ke2 Kc6 Black achieved a full harmony
in the transition to endgame. Pawn b5 is
protected and he is threatening to increase
pressure on the a3 and c3 weaknesses.
FIDE Survey – Michael Khodarkovsky
42.Ra2 Rca4 43.Rba1 Kd5 44.Kd3 R6a5
45.Bc1 a6 46.Bb2 h5 47.h4 f6 48.Bc1 e5!
When all forces ready to strike Black storms
in the center.
49.fe5 fe5 50.Bb2 ed4 51.cd4 b4 52.ab4
Ra2 53.ba5 Rb2 0:1.
Larsen B. : Krogius N.
Le Havre 1966
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.c4 c6 5.d4
d5 6.cd5 cd5 7.Nc3 0–0 8.Ne5 Nc6 9.0–0 e6
10.Nc6 bc6 11.Na4 Nd7 12.Bf4 Ba6
13.Qd2 Re8 14.Rac1 Bb5 15.Nc3 Ba6
16.Rfd1 Rc8 17.Bh6 Bf6 18.h4 e5 19.de5
Be5
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+rwqr+k+0
9zp-+n+p+p0
9l+p+-+pvL0
9+-+pvl-+-0
9-+-+-+-zP0
9+-sN-+-zP-0
9PzP-wQPzPL+0
9+-tRR+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
20.Bh3 Rc7 21.Bf4!
This is a perfect moment for White to
confront opponent's long range bishop,
because the latter can't simply trade on f4,
because if 21...Bf4 then 22.Qf4 Be2 23.Re1.
21...Nb6 22.b3 Qf6 23.a4
Important inclusion, forcing opponent
always be on guard for the further advance
of the a-pawn to a5, for example 23...Bf4
24.Qf4 Qf4 25.gf4 Be2 26.Re1 Rce7 27.Re2
Re2 28.Ne2 Re2 29.a5!
23...Bc8 24.Bg2 Bf4 25.Qf4 Qf4 26.gf4
Rce7 27.e3 Bg4 28.Rd2 Rb8 29.Ne2 Be2
30.Re2 Re6 31.Rec2 d4 32.ed4
3
32.Rc6 looks also interesting: 32...de3 Nd5 10.Be7 Qe7 11.Nd5 ed5 12.Bd3 Qb4
33.Re6 (33.fe3 Re3 34.a5 Nd7 35.Rc8 Rc8 13.Qd2 Ne5 14.Be2 Qd2 15.Kd2 Bd7
36.Rc8 Kg7 37.Rc7 Nf6 38.Ra7 Rb3 39.Bc6 16.Rac1 Rfc8 17.b3 Kf8 18.f4 Nc6 19.Bb5
Rc3 40.Bb5˛) 33...ef2 34.Kf2 fe6 35.Rc7 Ke7 20.Bc6 bc6
Nd5 36.Bd5 ed5 37.Ra7 Rb3 38.a5=.
32...Nd5 33.f5 gf5 34.Rc6 Rc6 35.Rc6 Nf4
XIIIIIIIIY
36.Bf1 Rb3 37.Bc4 Rb7 9r+r+-+-+0
Black missed the best defensive resource:
37...Rc3 38.Rc7 Kh8 39.Rc5 Kg7 40.Bb5
9zp-+lmkpzpp0
Rc5 41.dc5 Kf6 42.c6 Ne6 43.Bd3 Ke5=. 9-+p+-+-+0
38.d5
9+-+p+-+-0
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-sN-zP-+0
9-+-+-+k+0
9+P+-zP-+-0
9zpr+-+p+p0
9P+-mK-+PzP0
9-+R+-+-+0
9+-tR-+-+R0
9+-+P+p+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
9P+L+-sn-zP0 21.Rc5 a5!
9+-+-+-+-0 Important move to prevent b3–b4.
22.Rhc1 Kd6 23.R1c3 Ra6 24.Nb5 Ke7
9-+-+-zP-+0 25.Nd4 Kd6 26.e4
9+-+-+-mK-0 The only chance for White to play for a win
is striking the center.
xiiiiiiiiy 26...de4 27.Ke3 Rb8
Now White obtained a winning position and
leaves opponent no chances.
XIIIIIIIIY
38...Rd7 39.d6 Ne6 40.Kg2 Kf8 41.Kg3 9-tr-+-+-+0
Nd8 42.Ra6 Rb7 43.Bd5 Rb4 44.Ra7 Rd4
45.Ra5 Kg7 46.Kf3 Ne6 47.Ke3 f4 48.Kf3
9+-+l+pzpp0
Kf6 49.Be4 h6 50.Rf5 Kg7 51.Bd5 Kg6 9r+pmk-+-+0
52.Be6 fe6 53.Rf4 Rd6 54.Ke4 Rd2 55.Ke5
Re2 56.Re4 Rf2 57.Ke6 Rd2 58.a5 Ra2
9zp-tR-+-+-0
59.Re5 Ra1 60.Kd7 Kf6 61.Re6 Kf7 62.a6 9-+-sNpzP-+0
h5 63.Rc6 1:0.
9+PtR-mK-+-0
Here is example of the game where Black 9P+-+-+PzP0
was able to hold his difficult position with a
weak pair of pawns c6–d5. 9+-+-+-+-0
Alekhine A. : Capablanca J.R.
xiiiiiiiiy
Buenos Aires 1927 Seems like the only move to hold. For
example: 27...Re8 28.Nf5 Bf5 29.Rf5 f6
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.e3 30.Rc4 gives White some chances in the
Be7 6.Nc3 0–0 7.Qc2 c5 8.cd5 cd4 9.Nd4 Double Rook ending.

FIDE Survey – Michael Khodarkovsky 4

28.Nf5
28.Ke4 a4=.
28...Bf5 29.Rf5 f6 30.Rc4 Rb5 31.Rd4 Ke6
32.Rb5 cb5 33.Re4 Kf7 34.Rd4 Rc6
35.Rd7 Kg6 36.Kd2 Rc5 37.Ra7 b4 38.g4
h5 39.h3 h4 40.f5 Kh6 41.Ra8 Kh7 42.Ke3
Rc3 ½.
Now, let's review two examples where one
side, which had a pair of pawns c3–d4 was
trying to build up an activity on the kingside.
Najdorf M. : Tal M.
Belgrade 1970
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.d4 c5 5.cd5
Nd5 6.e3 Nc6 7.Bc4 cd4 8.ed4 Be7 9.0–0 0–
0 10.Re1 Nc3 11.bc3 b6 12.Bd3 Bb7
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9zpl+-vlpzpp0
9-zpn+p+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-zPL+N+-0
9P+-+-zPPzP0
9tR-vLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Besides the text move, there is another line
with 13.h4 and with solid reputation, been
proven successful on practice. As an
example, please see the game in the next
comment, where White did obtain a winning
position, although Black ultimately survived
in the end.
13.Qc2
13.h4 Bh4 14.Nh4 Qh4 15.Re3 g6 16.Rg3
Qe7 17.Bg5 f6 18.Bh6 Rf7 19.Qh5 f5
20.Re1 Kh8 21.Qh3± Qd7 22.Bc4 Re8
23.Bf4 Kg8 24.d5 ed5 25.Re8 Qe8 26.Bd5
Nd8 27.Re3 Qa4 28.Bf7 Nf7 29.Qh4 Bc6
FIDE Survey – Michael Khodarkovsky
30.Rh3 h6 31.Qf6 Qd1 32.Kh2 Qg4 33.Qc6
(33.Bg3!+–) 33...Qf4 34.Rg3 Ne5 35.Qa8
Kf7 36.Qa7 Ke8 37.Qa8 Kd7 38.Qb7 Ke8
39.Qc8 Ke7 40.Qc7 Ke8 41.Qb8 Kd7
42.Qb7 Ke8 43.Qa8 Kd7 44.Qb7, draw,
Izoria Z. : Golod V., Ohrid 2001.
13...g6 14.Bh6 Re8 15.Qd2 Rc8 16.h4 Na5
16...Bh4? 17.Nh4 Qh4 18.Bg5+–.
17.Ng5
17.h5!? is interesting, but unclear
continuation: 17...Bf3 18.gf3 Qd5 19.hg6
hg6 20.Kg2.
17...Bf8 18.Bf8 Rf8 19.h5 Nc4 20.Bc4 Rc4
21.hg6 hg6 22.Qf4 Qd5 23.f3 Kg7
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-tr-+0
9zpl+-+pmk-0
9-zp-+p+p+0
9+-+q+-sN-0
9-+rzP-wQ-+0
9+-zP-+P+-0
9P+-+-+P+0
9tR-+-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
24.Ne4
24.Re5. Tal, in his comments, suggested this
move as more attractive alternative.
24...Qf5 25.Qg3 Be4 26.fe4 Qa5 27.Re3
Rfc8 28.Rf1 Rc3 29.Ref3
White did lose his weak pawn, but still has a
strong play on the kingside.
29...R8c7?
29...Kg8 or 29...f5 would keep the game
leveled.
30.Qf4 Kg8 31.Qd6 Rf3 32.Qd8 Kg7
33.Rf3 Qe1 34.Kh2 Rc3 35.Qf6 Kh6
36.Qf4 Kh7 37.Qf7 Kh6 38.Qf4 Kh7
39.Qf7 Kh6 40.Qf8 Kh5 41.Qh8 Kg5
42.Qe5 Kh6 43.Qf4 Kh7 44.Rf1 Qe2
45.Qf7 Kh6 46.Qf8 Kh5 47.Rf4 Qe1
48.Qh8 Kg5 49.Qe5 Kh6 50.Rg4 1:0.
5
Petrosian T. : Spassky B.
Moscow 1969
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+k+0
1.c4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 c5 4.cd5 ed5 5.Nf3
Nc6 6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.0–0 0–0 9.Bg5
9+-+-+p+-0
cd4 10.Nd4 h6 11.Be3 Bg4 12.Nb3 Be6 9-+-+-+p+0
13.Rc1 Re8 14.Nb5 Qd7 15.N5d4 Bh3
16.Nc6 bc6 17.Qd3
9+-zppwq-+p0
17.Na5 Bg2 18.Kg2 Rac8. 9-+-+-+-zP0
17...Bg2 18.Kg2 a5! 19.Rc2
19.Bc5 Ne4; 19.Nc5 Bc5 20.Bc5 Ne4 9+P+Q+PzP-0
21.Rc2 Rab8=. 9-+-+P+K+0
19...a4 20.Nd2
Better would be 20.Nc5 anyway. 9+-+-+-+-0
20...Qb7 21.Kg1 Rac8 22.Rfc1 Nd7 23.Nf3
c5 24.b3
xiiiiiiiiy
Seems preferrably to play 24.Rd1 Nf6 This excellent move helped White to save
25.Qf5. quite a difficult game.
24...ab3 25.ab3 41...Kf8 42.Kf1 Ke7 43.Kf2 Qe6 44.Qb5
Qd6 45.Qb7 Kf6 46.Qb5 Qc7 47.Qd3 c4
XIIIIIIIIY 48.bc4 dc4 49.Qc3 Ke6 50.Ke3 Qc5
9-+r+r+k+0 51.Qd4 Qa3 52.Kd2 Qa5 53.Kc2 Qb5
54.Kc3 Qb3 55.Kd2 Qb4 56.Kc2 Qa4
9+q+nvlpzp-0 57.Kc3 Qa5 58.Kc4 Qc7 59.Kd3 Qg3
9-+-+-+-zp0 60.Qc4 Kf6 61.Qd4 ½.

9+-zpp+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+P+QvLNzP-0
9-+R+PzP-zP0
9+-tR-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
25...Bf8
Even sronger looks 25...Ra8 26.Rd1 d4.
26.Ra1 Nf6
Still 26...Ra8 looks better.
27.Rca2 Ra8 28.Ra8 Ra8 29.Ra8 Qa8
30.Qc2 Ne4
30...Qa3 could bring White more problems
to defend his position.
31.Nd2 Nd2 32.Bd2 Qa6 33.Kf1 Qb5
34.Bc3 g6 35.Qd1 Qc6 36.f3 Qe6 37.Kg2
h5 38.h3 Bd6 39.Qd3 Be5 40.Be5 Qe5
41.h4!

FIDE Survey – Michael Khodarkovsky 6

Viacheslav Eingorn: Smyslov starts being nervous.
36…Qg4 37.Qf2
To the madness of the brave, we sing the
The positional piece sacrifice as glory! By playing 37.Nd3 White already
a technical reception could try to hold the line.
37...cb4
Here we shall talk about the positional After all. Not bad decision, of course, but
sacrifices which are aiming to provide the 37...Rg8 was more consecutive,
further movement of pawns. The motive for emphasizing the superiority at the equal
such transformations quite often arise in quantity of pieces.
different opening structures: Rue Lopes, 38.cb4
French, Nimsovich, Slav, KID, etc. Usually A new life begins оn the board and Black
those operations are not based on the appears to be not ready for it: he makes two
concrete calculation and therefore they do second-rate moves and then commits a
not offer any quick and clear result – instead decisive mistake.
both players get a chance to practise in 38…Rbb8 39.c5 Nc8 40.Rc1 Kd8 41.c6
intuition and psychology. Let us look at the and white won (58) 1:0.
following examples:
2) To beat or not to beat
1) Peaceoffering
Mamedyarov S. : Huzman
Bronstein D. : Smyslov V. Warsaw 2005
Budapest (Candidates) 1950
1.d4 e6 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bc3 5.bc3
XIIIIIIIIY c5 6.f3 d5 7.cd5 Nd5 8.dc5 Qa5 9.e4 Nc7
9r+-+-+-+0 10.Qd4 f6 11.Qb4 Nc6 12.Qa5 Na5 13.Rb1
Bd7 14.Ne2 e5
9+-mknsn-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9ptr-zp-+q+0 9r+-+k+-tr0
9tR-zpPzp-+p0 9zppsnl+-zpp0
9-+P+Pzpp+0 9-+-+-zp-+0
9+-zPQ+P+-0 9sn-zP-zp-+-0
9-+NvL-+PzP0 9-+-+P+-+0
9+-+-+RmK-0 9zP-zP-+P+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-+N+PzP0
White’s position is lost in all respects, but he
doesn't want to wait passively for the 9+RvL-mKL+R0
decision of his fate.
35.Nb4
xiiiiiiiiy
The knight stands “en prise” without The game quickly passed to the ending
creating any threats. This looks like a joke: where Black plans sooner or later to
although Black can accept the gift (at once reestablish the material balance.
or after preliminary 35…Kb7), he prefers 15.Nd4
not to pay attention to opponent’s Not so easy! Now Black must either agree to
provocation. the radical change of position or to give up
35...gf3 36.Qf3 his intention of getting pawn back.
But now that knight-suicide has a 15...0–0–0
convenient square d3 at his disposal and The safety comes first. Meanwhile, the

FIDE Surveys – Viacheslav Eingorn 1

principled continuation 15...ed4 16.cd4 was
fully justified – for instance,
16...f5 17.Be2 (17.Bd2 Nc6 18.d5 fe4 19.fe4
0–0–0 20.dc6 Bc6) fe4 18.fe4 0–0–0 19.d5
Rhe8 20.Rb4 Nd5 21.ed5 Bf5. The piece
refund in an appropriate moment is the
standart mode of defence.
16.Nb5 Nb5 17.Bb5 Kc7 18.Ke2 Be6
19.Be3
This is an inaccuracy which leads to
exchange of all light pieces.
19...Bc4 20.Bc4 Nc4 21.Rb4 Ne3 22.Ke3
Rd7 23.Rhb1 Kc6 24.R1b2 Rhd8 25.Ke2
Kc5?!
Black is asking for troubles, he has better to
wait.
26.Rb7 Kc4 27.Kf2 Kc3 28.Kg3 g6 29.a4,
and White won at a later date (41) 1:0.
3) Be prepared
Belov : Jakovenko
Sochi 2005
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 a6 5.e3 b5
6.c5 Nbd7 7.Bd2 a5
The modern reality of Slav: Black does not
want to cede territory on the queen’s side
but now the capture on b5 becomes a quite
probable thing.
8.a3 Qc7
Look at that quick catastrophe: 8...g6 9.b4
ab4 10.ab4 Bb7 11.Nb5 cb5 12.Bb5 Qc8
13.Ne5 Ba6 14.Bc6 Rb8 15.Qa4, Ftacnik :
Movsesian, Czechia 2010.
9.b4 e5 10.Nb5 cb5 11.Bb5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+kvl-tr0
9+-wqn+pzpp0
9-+-+-sn-+0
9zpLzPpzp-+-0
9-zP-zP-+-+0
9zP-+-zPN+-0
9-+-vL-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
FIDE Surveys – Viacheslav Eingorn
Such flank sacrifices are correct almost
always and the opponent may need to be
rather careful to defend well.
11…ed4 12.ed4 Be7
The preliminary exchange 12...ab4 13.ab4
Ra1 14.Qa1 could be a wrong decision: after
14…Be7 15.Qa5! Bd8 (or 15...Qa5 16.ba5
0–0 17.a6) 16.0–0 Ne4 17.Qc7 Bc7 18.Bc6
0–0 19.b5 white pawns become dangerous.
13.0–0 0–0 14.Bg5 ab4 15.ab4 Ra1
Here 15…Rb8 was more to the point as now
Black runs into difficulties.
16.Qa1 Bd8 17.Bd3 Ne4 18.Bd8 Rd8 19.b5
Ndc5 20.dc5
This automatical reply keeps some White’s
advantage, but 20.Rc1! was stronger.
20…Qc5 21.Qe5 Nd6 22.Rb1 Re8 23.Qb2
Nc4 24.Qc3 Bb7, and the game ended in a
draw (35) draw.
4) Tastes differ
Tal M. : Ghitescu
Miskolc 1963
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqrvl-+0
9+-+lsnp+k0
9p+-zp-snpzp0
9+pzpPzp-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+PzP-vLNsNP0
9P+LwQ-zPP+0
9tR-+-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The piece sacrifice for the two central pawn
is usually the most problematic one. For
instance, in the position on diagram (from
Smyslov variation of Ruy Lopez) White
stands better and the question is whether he
should now complicate the game.
19.Bc5
By evidence of Tal, he owed this move to
Bronstein and his game with Royan
(Moscow 1956): 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4
Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.ed5 Na5 6.d3 h6 7.Nf3 e4
8.de4 Nc4 9.Qd4 Nb6 10.c4 etc. Of course,
2
in the present case we really have the ground
for discussion, but еvery man to his taste. 5
later Geller did not follow Tal and Bronstein
(oh that Bronstein!) – he played prosaically
19.c4 a5 20.cb5 (Geller - Liebert, Lugano
1968), refusing even the enhanced version
of sacrifice: 20.Bc5!? dc5 21.Ne5.
19...dc5 20.Ne5 Nc8
Black hastens to part his forces pending the
advancement of White’s pawn phalanx,
20...Kg8 deserved more attention instead.
21.f4 Qe7
Quite illogical, also here 21...Kg8 was
preferable.
22.c4 Bg7 23.Nf3 bc4 24.bc4
Tal vainly ignores the variation 24.e5 c3
(24...Nd5 25.Qd5 Nb6 26.Qe4) 25.Qd1 Nd6
26.ef6 Qf6 27.Nh5, where he could get
somewhat better chances. Now Black’s
pieces come into battle.
24...Nd6 25.e5 Nc4 26.Qc3 Bb5 27.Rad1
Rad8
What a pity: Ghitescu at all costs tries to
return the game into the usual frame. Why
not 27...Nb6 28.d6 Nfd5 29.Qc5 Qa7?
28.d6 Nd6 29.ed6 Qb7
Decisive mistake. After 29...Qf8 30.Qc5
Re1 31.Ne1 Rc8 Black could hope tо win
the pawn d6 back.
30.Ne5 Nd7 31.Nh5 Bh8 32.Qg3 Ne5
33.fe5 Qd7 34.Nf4 Be5 35.Bg6
and White won (41) 1:0.
5) Сui prodest?
Carlsen M. : Navara D.
Dresden (ol) 2008
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–
0 Be7 6.d3 d6 7.c3 0–0 8.Re1 Re8 9.Nbd2
Bf8 10.h3 b5 11.Bc2 Bb7 12.d4 g6 13.d5
Ne7 14.Nf1 Bg7 15.b3
FIDE Surveys – Viacheslav Eingorn
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqr+k+0
9+lzp-snpvlp0
9p+-zp-snp+0
9+p+Pzp-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+PzP-+N+P0
9P+L+-zPP+0
9tR-vLQtRNmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The point of departure.
15...Ne4 16.Be4 f5 17.Bc2 Nd5
Most likely this continuation and the
variation 17...e4 18.Nd4 Nd5 19.Bd2 are of
equal worth – now after 18.Bd2 c5 19.Ne2
the simple move transposition could arise.
White prefers to take another possibility.
18.b4 Nc3
This capture of third pawn looks very
natural but it appears to be the reason of
further Black’s failure. Мeanwhile, by
playing 18...c5 he could keep activity in
position with mutual chances.
19.Bb3 d5 20.Qc2 Ne4
Now the Black’s central pawns will not
move and the initiative passes to the
opponent. This is not a good sign – one can
only imagine that Philidor or Bronstein
could play here 20…c5!? all the same.
21.Re4
Tempting but a little bit premature decision.
21...fe4 22.Ng5 a5
The subtle reply 22...Bf8 could help Black
to maintain the balance, now his position has
become worse.
23.ba5 Ra5 24.Ne4 Kh8 25.Bg5 Qc8
26.Nf6 Rd8 27.Ne3
After entering this reserve into the game
White get too big preponderance in strength.
27…e4 28.Rc1 h6 29.Ne4 de4 30.Bd8 Qd8
31.Qc7, and White won (50) 1:0.
3
Jacob Aagard: take the players out of the gym and on to
the pitch. Sure, there is no spectators, no
A Short Cut to Experience referee, no prizes beyond pride, but still it
gives us the chance give our students a
Those familiar with my writings will know
more real-life experience.
that I have tried to categorise all areas of
And the material is easy to come by for an
chess into techniques and basic ideas, with
experienced trainer. I am (as a publisher)
some success I think. Others have done the
in the process of putting the final touch on
same, probably in some cases with greater
Tibor Karolyi’s first volume on Mikhail
success – it depends on who you ask.
Tal’s best games, called The Magic of
We all know that there are many ways to
Youth. There are a number of famous
do just about everything. While writing
games in there, but there are also games
this article Anand is leading the candidates
that my students with certainty have not
(after round 6), not necessarily because he
seen; even if they have seen the most
is the best player, but because his opening
famous ones (which is bit dubious
preparation has given him a better position
already). There are 100s of books like this,
against Aronian and Mamedyarov, who
thus 1000s of examples already available
did not defend well once they were in a
for the experienced trainer ready to pick.
worse position. Should he win the
Below I have chosen three practical
tournament – something you know better
examples that I have used with my
than I when you read this, his strength in
students; in this case all of them
the opening is likely to be entirely
grandmasters.
worthless in the match against the World
The first of them is maybe the most
Champion, as it was in 2013.
famous endgame position in modern times,
It is not only winning a game of chess that
due to the extensively analysis by
can be done in different ways; finding the
Steckner, Dvoretsky, Mueller and many
right move can be done by many different
others. In this case I had two GMs play
ways as well. We know that elimination in
against each other. You will have to
defence can cut our calculation time; but
forgive me for not using their names, but
there are those that solve these kinds of
just refer to them as White and Black.
problems by something akin to divine
Being a trainer is a bit like being a
intervention (intuition), hard calculation
friend/lawyer/priest all-in-one; all of which
and so on. And I cannot think of anything
are roles that require complete confidence.
that is as narrow as defence.
Like my mentor Mark Dvoretsky, I believe The Steckner Position
that although there are many ways to do
most things; this does not mean that they
XIIIIIIIIY
should be rated equal. As with the defence 9-+-+-+-+0
example: elimination has a tendency to be
a faster and more accurate way of dealing 9tR-+-+p+-0
with this type of problems. It has a higher 9P+-+-mkp+0
hit rate than other known methods; which
is why we teach it. 9+-+-+-+p0
The first five volumes of the Grandmaster
Preparation series are all exercise books.
9-+-+-+-zP0
When you try to help thousands of people 9+-+-mK-zP-0
develop their skills in various areas, this is
probably the best way we have available.
9r+-+-zP-+0
But when you are working with a talented 9+-+-+-+-0
player or a small group of talented players,
it gives the experienced trainer a chance to xiiiiiiiiy
FIDE Surveys – Jacob Aagard 1
The scenario for this game is that White is
theoretically unprepared, but Black cannot
remember the details, though having
studied it at some point.
1.Kd4! Ke6?
1...Rf2? is the move given in the 4th
edition of Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual. I
am sure it will be heavily revised for the
5th edition. 2.Rc7 Ra2 3.a7 Kf5 4.Kc4
Kg4 5.Kb3!! is Steckner's famous idea,
leading to a won position because of the
quick transfer of the rook to a4.
2.Kc5 Rc2 3.Kb6 Rb2 4.Kc7 Rc2 5.Kd8
Rf2
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-mK-+-+0
9tR-+-+p+-0
9P+-+k+p+0
9+-+-+-+p0
9-+-+-+-zP0
9+-+-+-zP-0
9-+-+-tr-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
6.Re7! Kf6 7.Ke8! Ra2 8.Rf7 Ke5 9.a7
Ke6 10.Kf8 1:0.
White had not studied the position
previously, while Black had read
Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manual. We can see
that just reading about the position is not
enough. Again there are many ways to
develop at the skills necessary to play such
positions. One of them is practical
experience, as in this exercise.
1...g5! is a rare omission in what I consider
the best book written on chess. I am not
sure why Mark did not include it; and
frankly, I am afraid to ask. The main
reason to include it is that a big fan of the
book, who has reportedly read it four times
cover to cover (no small feat; great does
not mean easily accessible!), did not
manage to win when he had the position
FIDE Surveys – Jacob Aagard
over the board. 2.hg5 (Maybe not the
greatest test.) 2...Kg5 3.Kc4 Rf2 4.Rd7
Ra2 5.a7 Kg4 6.Kb3 Ra6 7.Rd4 Kg3
8.Ra4 Ra7 9.Ra7 h4 10.Rf7 h3 11.Kc3 h2
12.Rh7 Kg2 13.Kd3 h1Q 14.Rh1 Kh1,
draw, Grischuk : Radjabov, Odessa (blitz)
2008.
2.Kd5 is the more ambitious try and for
some time it was believed that White was
winning here, as 2...gh4 surprisingly loses.
xxx of Armenia found an elaborate draw
after 2...g4!?, with a subtle point on move
7. Personally I cannot see what is wrong
with 2...Kg6! with the idea 3...f6, 4...Kf5
and then ...gh4 and counterplay against the
white pawns. The draw seems to flow
quite easily. I put this on my blog,
challenging people to refute it, but no one
did.
General endgame play
Obviously this is a highly specialised
position which was only reached in a
handful of games. (Its attraction to modern
theory is certainly that it is just outside the
reach of computers and specialised
programs like FinalGen.) But it is still
relevant to the development of endgame
skills. Certainly Black realised the dangers
of passive play in rook endings a pawn
down, as well as realised the difference
between having read a DEM once and
really knowing the essential endgame
theory.
We should also not forget that the study of
generic positions help us understand the
underlying dynamics of the game. While it
is rare that we will end in a specific
theoretical ending, a general understanding
of the mechanics of rook endings is
certainly useful. We might reach 3-5 rook
endings a year, if we play a lot. But in
training it is quite easy to play 50-100 rook
endings in 1-2 weeks training camp; or
ever a few months of training. The
experience garnered would take an average
professional career to collect!
The same goes for other endings of course.
In a recent group training session I gave
2
the students the following bishop ending, 80.Kd2 Kg7 81.Kc1 Kf6 82.Kd2 Kg7
which I had annotated for Endgame Play 83.Kc1 Kf6 84.Kd2 Kg7, draw.
to play. The main line I found myself included
improving the bishop quickly. 57...d4!?
Nakamura H. : Caruana F. 58.Be8 Bd5 59.Bb5 Bb7! The bishop is
Thessaloniki 2013 going to a better diagonal. One of the ideas
XIIIIIIIIY is that Black can play ...a4 in many lines.
60.Be8 Ba6 61.h5 Bd3
9-+-+-+-+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+-+-+-0 9-+-+L+-+0
9-zp-+lmk-+0 9+-+-+-+-0
9zpLzpp+p+-0 9-zp-+-mk-+0
9-+-+-mK-zP0 9zp-zp-+p+P0
9+P+-+P+-0 9-+-zp-mK-+0
9P+-+-+-+0 9+P+l+P+-0
9+-+-+-+-0 9P+-+-+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+-+-+-0
In the game Caruana violated Rubinstein's
mantrum of "do not hurry" and pushed one xiiiiiiiiy
of his passed pawns too early. As a result 62.Bc6 b5 63.Bb7 c4 64.bc4 bc4 65.Ba6
he did not manage to get the connected Be2 66.Bb5 c3 67.Ba4 d3 68.Ke3 f4. It is
passed pawns he could have and failed to time to resign. This is the way I personally
win the game. 57...c4? 58.bc4 dc4 59.Ke3 approached the position, using the
c3 60.a3 Bd5 61.Ba4 Bb7 62.f4 Be4 computer only to refine a few sidelines.
63.Bb5 Kg6 64.Be8 Kh6
XIIIIIIIIY Surprisingly all of my students chose the
same first move:
9-+-+L+-+0 57...Bf7
9+-+-+-+-0 Partly a waiting move.
58.Bc6
9-zp-+-+-mk0 Against 58.Be2 one student mentioned
9zp-+-+p+-0 58...a4 59.Bd1 a3!? before I realised that I
had made the wrong defensive try and took
9-+-+lzP-zP0 back two moves.
58...d4
9zP-zp-mK-+-0 58...c4 (I do not really like this move, but
9-+-+-+-+0 objectively it works. But I prefer a more
patient approach, which we talked about
9+-+-+-+-0 after the exercise.) 59.bc4 dc4 60.Ke3
xiiiiiiiiy (This position was reached in two training
games.)
65.a4 Bb1 66.Ke2 Bc2 67.Ke3 Be4
1) 60…Ke5?! 61.f4 Kd6 62.Ba4 Kc5
68.Ke2 Kg7 69.Ke3 Kf8 70.Bd7 Ke7
63.Bd1 b5 64.h5 (I have managed to create
71.Bb5 Kd6 72.Be8 Ke6 73.Ke2 Kf6
counterplay. I should still lose, but it not
74.Ke3 Kg7 75.Ke2 Kh6 76.Ke3 Bb1
requires some accuracy from Black's side.
77.Ke2 Bc2 78.Ke3 Bb3 79.Kd3 c2

FIDE Surveys – Jacob Aagard 3

A good moment to talk about the
importance of using the strongest piece on
the board better!) 64...a4? (64...b4? was
the other suggestion from the player, but
this also failes to win. After 65.h6 Bg8
66.Bc2 Bh7 67.Bd1 Black surprisingly
cannot improve his position. 64...Kb4! was
the right move. The king is stronger in
front of the pawn, where it dominates
important squares. 65.Kd4 Ka3 66.h6 Bg8
67.Bc2 Ka2 68.Bf5 a4 69.Kc3 a3 and
Black wins because of ...b4 and ...Kb2.)
65.h6 Bg6 66.Bh5 Bh7 67.a3 b4 68.ab4
Kb4 (The passed pawns have been split,
but true to his nature, Black remained very
optimistic.) 69.Kd2 a3 70.Kc2 Bg8
71.Bf7!? (Not the most logical move,
71.Kb1 was simpler.)
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+l+0
9+-+-+L+-0
9-+-+-+-zP0
9+-+-+p+-0
9-mkp+-zP-+0
9zp-+-+-+-0
9-+K+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
71...a2! (A very nice try. The player
thought he was winning. But White has a
great solution.) 72.h7!! (72.Kb2? Bf7
73.h7 c3 and White is quickly mated.)
72...Bh7 73.Kb2 (White is in time.)
73...a1Q 74.Ka1 Kc3 75.Kb1 Kd2 76.Bc4
Ke3 77.Be6 Kf4 78.Bf5. A draw was
agreed.
2) 60...c3! was stronger, as played by one
player. After 61.a4 f4 62.Kd3 Kg6! I had
to resign. Not surprisingly this was the
youngest of the players; they have a
tendency to be more concrete.
59.Bd7 Bh5
59...Bg6 60.Bb5 Bf7 61.Bd7 c4? (This
fails in quite similar ways to the game.)
FIDE Surveys – Jacob Aagard
62.bc4 Bc4 63.a4 d3 64.Ke3 f4 65.Kd2
Kg6 66.Be8! (This is what the player had
missed. Now White escapes with a draw.)
66...Kh6 67.Kc3 Bd5 68.Kd3. Black still
has some practical chances, but
disappointed, the player offered a draw.
60.Bb5
60.Bf5 Bf3 61.Bd3 was maybe a tougher
defence.
60...Bg6 61.Bc6 Kg7!
Black has stabilised the position. Now the
king is improved.
62.Bb5 Kh6 63.Kg3 d3 64.Kf4 d2 65.Be2
Kh5 66.Ke3 Kh4 67.Kd2 Kg3 0:1.
Middlegame training
Playing interesting positions is also a good
way of developing other skills, for
example areas such as attack and defence.
The following very promising position is
one of my favourites. Three players have
tried it on, all with different results.
Schoene R. : Gerlef M.
Germany 1998
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+r+k+0
9+-zp-+pzp-0
9-+-zp-sn-zp0
9+p+-+-+q0
9-+-zPp+-+0
9+P+-zP-zPP0
9P+-+-zPL+0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The exercise is abandoned and discussed if
it does not start with the same first few
move. Actually this happened with the
third of the games we shall see below. The
player is a bit cautious by nature, which is
by no means a great disadvantage as a
chess player. He just needs to understand
when he should overcome his caution. The
4
around 50 attacking games we have played
in training over the last 2-3 months have
greatly improved his feeling with this, in a
way that reading books like Attacking
Manual 1+2 and Anand’s Best Games had
not. He needed to know that he could
handle an attack correctly.
In the game a draw was agreed on move
28 after 18...Qd1?, but only one move
makes sense:
18...Bg4!
This sacrifice cannot be calculated to the
end, but the attacking ideas are quite rich,
so it is definitely worth the risks,
especially in a training game!
19.hg4 Ng4 20.Re1 Re6! 21.Qc2 Rf6
22.Kf1
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-+k+0
9+-zp-+pzp-0
9-+-zp-tr-zp0
9+p+-+-+q0
9-+-zPp+n+0
9+P+-zP-zP-0
9P+Q+-zPL+0
9tR-vL-tRK+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
This position arrives by force. In my own
terminology 18...Bg4 was a revolution. It
ends in this position where there is no
direct way to continue. The targets have
moved and you have to build up your
attack again (evolution). This is actually
the purpose of the exercise. Basically
Black should make something out of the
rook on a8, but this is quite easy to fail to
do, when there are still active possibilities
with the pieces we have in the attacking
zone already.
In this position two different moves have
been tried training games against me.
a) 22...d5!? 23.Re2 Nh2! 24.Ke1 Nf3
25.Kd1 Ng1 26.Ke1 Qh2
FIDE Surveys – Jacob Aagard
26...Raa6! is a beautiful way to include the
last piece into the attack.
27.Bf1 Nf3
27...Raa6 28.f4!? offers a bit resistance.
28.Kd1
Here teo games went in different
directions.
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-+k+0
9+-zp-+pzp-0
9-+-+-tr-zp0
9+p+p+-+-0
9-+-zPp+-+0
9+P+-zPnzP-0
9P+Q+RzP-wq0
9tR-vLK+L+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
a1) 28...Raa6? 29.Qc7 Kh7?
29...Rac6 would still have kep the balance.
30.Qd7 Rae6 31.Bd2
The player threw in the towel. 1:0.
a2) 28…Qg1! 29.Re1 h5!
A very strong idea by the player. It is not
so easy for White to stop the passed pawn.
29...c5!? 30.dc5 Rd8! is another very
dangerous idea.
30.a4 g5 31.Qe2 Ne1 32.Qe1 Rf2 33.Bb5
Qg3
33...Qg2!? was potentially stronger, but
also far less obvious. For example: 34.Bd2
Rb8! and Black wins after 35.Ąe2 h4 or
35.Kc2 c6! 36.Bf1 Qg3 when Black keeps
control and soon advances the h-pawn.
34.Ra2 Qf3 35.Be2 Qg2 36.Bf1!
Never give up!
36...Qf1 37.Rf2 Qd3 38.Qd2 Qb3 39.Ke1
Ra4 40.Rf5 Ra2?
The final mistake; ironically right after the
rook has joined the game. 40...f6! 41.Rf6
Ra2 42.Qd1 Qd1 43.Kd1 Kg7, followed by
the advance of the two passed pawns,
would still have won.
41.Rg5 Kf8 42.Qd1 Qc3 43.Bd2 Qb2
44.Qe2 c5 45.Rd5 c4 46.Rc5 Ra1 47.Kf2
5
Ra2 48.Ra5 Ra5 49.Ba5 c3 50.Bc3 Qc3
51.Qh5 Qd2 52.Qe2 Qa5 draw.

The third player handled the attack much

better. The rook on a8 is given a role.
b) 22…Re8! 23.Re2 Qh2 24.Qc6!?
24.a4 Qg3 is hopeless as well, so I played
for another trick.
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+r+k+0
9+-zp-+pzp-0
9-+Qzp-tr-zp0
9+p+-+-+-0
9-+-zPp+n+0
9+P+-zP-zP-0
9P+-+RzPLwq0
9tR-vL-+K+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
24...Kf8!!–+
I resigned. There is no way I can avoid
losing the g3-pawn and then everything.
The trick was of course that 24...Re7?
would even leave Black a bit worse after
25.Qa8 Kh7 26.Be4 g6 27.Bg6! and
28.Qg2, when the defence is ready and
White can advance the a- or e-pawn. 0:1.

I hope this article has given a bit of insight

into how I try to assist the student in taking
theoretical/abstract knowledge into a
practical understanding of the underlying
principles of chess strategy.

FIDE Surveys – Jacob Aagard 6

Jeroen Bosch:
Pawn Chain and Kingside Attack
Concept
In the ninth chapter of his classic My System
(Mein System) Nimzowitsch writes on the
pawn chain. To simplify his ideas for our
purposes let's limit ourselves to two
important points:
1. The pawn chain dictates where each side
should attack. in the diagram the chain d4–
e5 dictates that White has more space on the
kingside - so this is where he should attack.
2. Pawn chains should be attacked at their
base (not at the front). The second point is
outdated to some extent as John Watson has
argued convincingly in his Secrets of
Modern Chess Strategy. In modern chess it
is very common to attack the front of the
chain (which is often a lot easier and quicker
to execute) rather than the base.
In the course of this article we will
investigate a particular middlegame position
of the kind as given in the diagram.
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9zpp+nvlpzpp0
9-+-+p+-+0
9+-+pzP-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-+-+N+-0
9PzP-vL-zPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The positions are dictated in the centre by a
pawn chain d4–e5 versus e6–d5, and two
pairs of minor pieces have been exchanged.
We will only investigate positions where the
light-squared bishops have been exchanged
(or are about to be exchanged). Although,
White's attacking potential has been
FIDE Surveys – Jeroen Bosch
diminished by the trade of two minor pieces
we will see that the first player nevertheless
often obtains a dangerous attack by
involving his queen and a rook (along the
third rank). Sometimes it is possible to
slowly advance the pawns on the kingside as
well.
In general, Black should have sufficient
counterchances to keep a dynamic balance,
although his role of defender is slightly more
difficult. In the conclusion I will list the
defensive principles.
The practical use of studying this type of
middlegame is rather high in my opinion.
These positions arise quite frequently out of
very different opening systems: - Sicilian 3.
Bb5+ - Slav Defence, the Dutch Variation -
Caro-Kann Advance (or the similar structure
of the French Advance, but this is less
common). - Reti Opening And it isn't limited
to these openings of course; in one of our
examples our study object even arose out of
a classical Queen's Indian!
Anand V. : McShane L.
London 2013
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9zpp+nvlpzp-0
9-+p+p+lzp0
9+-+pzP-+-0
9-+-zP-+-zP0
9+-zP-+-zP-0
9PzP-+-zPLsN0
9tR-vLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
This is a noteworthy moment. Black appears
to be quite all right in this position. Anand
decides to exchange the light-squared
bishops (thus eliminating an important
defender). Note that White's so-called 'good
1
bishop' is biting on granite (the pawn chain
b7–c6–d5) here, while Black's 'bad bishop' is
outside the pawn chain controlling the
queenside and defending his own king. Note
that in this example the c-pawns are still on
the board (they will soon disappear).
15.Bf1! c5 16.Bd3
Please note that Anand does not interpolate
h4–h5. 16.h5 Bh7 17.Bd3 Bd3 18.Qd3.
16...Bd3 17.Qd3
The pawn chain dictates the course of the
play here. The head of the chain (pawn e5)
gives White space on the kingside which is
where he will attack. Black's pressure on the
base of White's chain and the d5–pawn mean
that Black will play on the queenside (and
against pawn d4).
17...cd4 18.cd4
Now a structure has arisen of the type that
we study in this article.
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9zpp+nvlpzp-0
9-+-+p+-zp0
9+-+pzP-+-0
9-+-zP-+-zP0
9+-+Q+-zP-0
9PzP-+-zP-sN0
9tR-vL-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
18...Qa5
18...Rc8 planning ...Qb6 and ...Nb8–c6 is
normal in such positions. But White has a
clear target in the form of pawn h6.
19.Be3
19.Bd2 Bb4 and White will lack fire power
on the kingside. He needs his dark-squared
bishop.
19...Rfc8 20.Qe2 Qa6
Hoping to trade queens or to bring the queen
to the kingside via the key square d3.
FIDE Surveys – Jeroen Bosch
20...Rc6 21.Qg4 Kf8! was a very decent
alternative, and Black should be fine.
21.Qg4!? Kh8?!
21...Kf8! was correct as Speelman pointed
out in NIC Magazine 2014/1 (pp.44–45).
22.Red1, to prevent 22...Qd3, meets with
(best is perhaps 22.Qe2 Qe2 23.Re2 but only
Black can be better.) 22...Rc2 23.Rd2 and
now either 23...Rac8 keeping all the pieces
on (or 23...Rd2 24.Bd2 Qb5 (24...Qd3)
25.Bc3 Bb4 when White's attacking pieces
are exchanged).
22.Qh5 Kg8
After 22...Rf8 White also sacrifices a piece
with 23.Bh6! (23.Ng4 Qd3! the black queen
can often defend via the diagonal b1–h7
24.Rad1 Qg6 25.Qg6 fg6=) 23...gh6 24.Qh6
(24.Re3 Kg7 25.Ng4 Rh8; 24.Ng4 Qd3!)
24...Kg8 25.Re3! (25.Ng4 Qd3; 25.Rad1
Qc4) 25...Qa4 (25...Qb6 26.Rf3 Qb2 27.Rf4
Qa1 28.Kg2 f5 29.Qe6 Kh8 (29...Rf7?
30.Rf5 Raf8 31.Ng4 Qc1 32.Rf7 Rf7 33.Nh6
Qh6 34.Qh6+–) 30.Qe7 and White is a rook
down, but with such a king Black cannot
survive: 30...Nb6 31.Ng4! fg4 (31...Nd7!?
32.Nf6 Nf6 33.ef6 Rg8 34.Rf5 Qd1 35.Qe5
and mate will follow) 32.Rf8 Rf8 33.Qf8
Kh7 34.Qf5 Kg8 35.Qg4 Kf8 36.Qf4 Ke8
37.e6+– the passed e-pawn decides the
game.) 26.Rf3 Qc2 (26...Qd4? 27.Rf4+–)
27.Rc1 Qb2 and now the prophylactic
28.Kg2!! which prepares Rf4 and wins. Best
was 22...Bb4!? 23.Bh6 (23.Qf7 Be1 24.Re1
Rc7; 23.Rec1 Kg8; 23.Red1 Kg8) 23...gh6
24.Ng4 (24.Qh6 Kg8 25.Ng4 Qd3–+)
24...Qd3!
23.Bh6!
23.Qg4 Kf8!
23...gh6 24.Ng4!
24.Re3 Kg7.
24...Bf8 25.Re3
Just in time to keep out the queen and to add
fire power to the attack.
25...Rc4
Here 25...Rc2 26.Rf3 Qe2 27.Rf7 Qg4 fails
to 28.Rf8 – Speelman.
26.Rd1
2
Objectively it was stronger to play 26.Rf3
Rd4 27.Nh6 Bh6 28.Qf7 Kh8 29.Qh5 Rg4!
30.Ra3! Qb6 31.Rb3 Qa6 (31...Qd4 32.Qh6
Kg8 33.Qe6 Kh8 34.Rd3!! (34.Qd7? Rag8!„
35.Qf5 Rg3 36.Kf1 Qc4 37.Ke1 Rg1 38.Kd2
Qd4 39.Ke2 Qc4+=) 34...Qd3 35.Qg4 is a
typical line of the engine. White is better. He
has sufficient pawns for the piece, and
Black's king is not safe.) 32.Qg4±.
26...Qb6?
This loses. 26...Rc2! 27.Rf3 Qe2! 28.Qf7
(28.Rf1 Qf3 29.Nh6 Bh6 30.Qf3 Rac8 is OK
for Black) 28...Kh8 29.Rf1 Bg7 30.Nh6!
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-+-mk0
9zpp+n+Qvl-0
9-+-+p+-sN0
9+-+pzP-+-0
9-+-zP-+-zP0
9+-+-+RzP-0
9PzPr+qzP-+0
9+-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
30…Rf8 (Black can probably draw with
difficulty after 30...Bh6 31.Qh5 Qd2 32.Rf4!
Kg7! (32...Nf8 33.Qh6 Nh7 34.Qe6) 33.Rf7
Kh8 34.Rd7 Rg8) 31.Qh5 Rf3 (31...Qf3
32.Nf7 Kg8 33.Qf3 Rf7 34.Qb3 Rc7 35.f4)
32.Nf5 Kg8 33.Ne7 Kf8 34.Ng6 Kg8
35.Ne7+= is a draw by repetition.
27.Rf3!
Now White is winning easily.
27...Rd4 28.Rd4 Qd4 29.Rf7 Qd1 30.Kg2
Qg4 31.Rf8! Rf8 32.Qg4
And the rest is simple.
32...Kf7 33.Qa4 Rd8 34.h5 Nf8 35.Qf4 Ke8
36.Qh6 d4 37.Kf1 Rd5 38.Qf6 1:0
FIDE Surveys – Jeroen Bosch
Jones G. : Gelfand B.
London 2013
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9zpp+qvlpzpp0
9-+n+p+-+0
9+-+pzP-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-+-+N+-0
9PzP-vL-zPPzP0
9+-tRQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Again the pawn chain dicates that White
should play on the kingside. Jones now
comes with a standard attacking ploy: the
rook lift.
14.Rc3! Rac8 15.a3 Nb8!? 16.Rd3!
Preserving the rook for the attack.
16...Qb5
In NIC Yearbook 110 (pp 29-30), Joel
Benjamin indicates 16...Qc6 as stronger. His
point is that after 17.Rc3 the queen retreats
to d7 (And in case of 17.Bc3 White keeps
the queenside closed for the moment, but he
will also miss his bishop for the attack along
the dark squares on the kingside.) 17...Qd7
and in case of an exchange of rooks, White
will lack firepower on the kingside (He
misses out on the rook switch along the third
rank).
17.Rb3 Qc6
After 17...Qa6 White also gets dangerous
chances with 18.Ng5! h6 (18...Bg5 19.Bg5
Nd7 20.Qg4) 19.Nh3! Nc6 20.Rg3 (20.Bh6
gh6 21.Rg3 Kh7 22.Qc2 Kh8 23.Qd2 Kh7 is
only a draw) 20...Nd4 (20...Kh8 21.Qh5!
Nd4 22.Rg7!+–) 21.Bh6 Nf5 22.Bg7 Ng3
23.Bf8 and White will be a pawn up.
18.Ng5 Bg5
18...b6? is met by 19.Nh7! Kh7 20.Qh5+–
Kg8 21.Rh3 the rook switch along the rank
3
wins: 21...f5 22.Qh7 Kf7 23.Rg3 Rg8
24.Bh6 and wins, as after 24...Bf8 White
mates: 25.Qg6 Ke7 26.Bg5 Kd7 27.Qf7 Be7
28.Qe7#.
19.Bg5
White is much better - queen, rook and
bishop combine well against Black's
unweakened kingside.
19...Nd7
19...b6 20.Rg3 Kh8 21.Qh5 Qc2 22.Bf6!
(22.Bh6) 22...gf6 23.Qh6+– Qg6 24.Rg6 fg6
25.Rc1+–.
20.Qg4!
Curiously, there was a predecessor up until
now. It seems that Gelfand was not fully
prepared for this line.
20...f5
A good practical chance. Black can defend
on the kingside with 20...Qc2, but not
without simply losing a pawn. 21.Rb7;
20...Kh8 has been played, but after 21.Qh5!
White has a very strong attack (22.Rh3 is the
big threat again) 21...b6 (21...f6? 22.Rc3! -
an important intermediate move to distract
Black's queen from its defensive task (22.ef6
Nf6 23.Bf6 Rf6 is only slightly better for
White; 22.Rh3 is met by 22...Qc2!) 22...Qa4
23.b3 preventing the ...Qc2 idea.
a) 23.ef6 Nf6 24.Bf6 also wins, but
Degraeve's move is very human 24...Rc3
(24...gf6 25.Qh6! Qe8 26.Rc8 Qc8 27.Re6!)
25.Bg7 Kg7 26.Qg5 Kf7 27.bc3;
b) 23.Rc8 Rc8 24.ef6 Nf6 25.Bf6 gf6 and it's
a pity that pawn d4 is hanging, this is why
Degraeve interpolates 23.b3 Qa5 24.b4 with
tempo (the queen no longer attacks pawn
d4).; 23...Qa5 (if 23...g6 then 24.Qh6! Qd4
25.ef6 Nf6 26.Rc7!+–) 24.b4 Rc3 (in case of
24...Qa4 White does have 25.Rc8 Rc8 26.ef6
Nf6 27.Bf6 gf6 and now that d4 is not
hanging 28.Qf7 just wins a pawn and the
game.) 25.ba5 fg5 26.Qg5 Rf7 27.Rc1 Ra3
28.Qe7! a neat back rank combination to end
the game, 1:0, Degraeve : Areshchenko,
Germany 2007) 22.Be7 Qc2 23.Rg3 Rg8
24.Qf7± and Black has lost the base of his
pawn chain.
21.Qh4
21.ef6 Nf6 22.Qe6 Qe6 23.Re6 h6 24.Be3
Rf7 was a line given by Speelman; 21.Qh5.
21...Rfe8
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+r+k+0
9zpp+n+-zpp0
9-+q+p+-+0
9+-+pzPpvL-0
9-+-zP-+-wQ0
9zPR+-+-+-0
9-zP-+-zPPzP0
9+-+-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
22.Bf6! Nf8 23.Bg7! Kg7 24.Qf6 Kg8
25.h4! Rc7?!
Black can still defend with 25...f4! 26.Qf4
Re7 27.Rg3 Rg7 28.Rg7 Kg7 29.Qf6 Kg8
30.Re3 Ng6 31.Rg3 (31.h5? Rf8 32.Qg5 Rf5
33.Qh6 Qc2 34.Kh2 Rf2 35.Rg3 Qd2
36.Qd2 Rd2 37.hg6 should be a draw but
only Black is playing.) 31...Rf8 32.Rg6 hg6
33.Qg6=.
26.Rg3 Ng6 27.h5 Rf8 28.Qg5
White wins back the piece with an
advantage.
28...Rg7 29.Rc1 Qb6?
Tougher was 29...Qd7 30.hg6 Rg6 31.Qf4
Rg3 32.Qg3 Qg7 33.Kh2!?±.
30.hg6+– Rg6 31.Qh4 Rg3 32.Qg3 Kh8
33.Qh4 Qd8
The exchange of queens brings no relief
here. In the rook ending White controls the
open c-file and enters the seventh rank
decisively.
34.Qd8! Rd8 35.Rc7+– Rg8 36.Rb7 Rg4
37.Ra7 Rd4 38.b4 Rd1 39.Kh2 d4 40.b5 d3
41.Rd7 d2 42.a4 Kg8 43.a5 Rb1 44.b6 d1Q
45.Rd1 Rd1 46.b7 1:0.

FIDE Surveys – Jeroen Bosch 4

Sanduleac V. : Ftacnik L. decided to play for a win with 20...a6!? was
Calvia (ol) 2004 Mikheev : Loskutov, Smolensk 2000.
16...Nc6 17.Rab1 Rac8
I just briefly want to mention this Black is comfortable. White won blundered
theorectically important game for the with:
defensive idea that it illustrates so well. 18.b5?
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5 Bd7 4.Bd7 Nd7 18.Qd3.
5.0–0 Ngf6 6.Qe2 e6 7.c3 Be7 8.d4 cd4 18...Ne5!–+ 19.Qc8 Nf3 20.gf3 Rc8 21.Rc8
9.cd4 d5 10.e5 Ne4 11.Nbd2 Nd2 12.Bd2 Kh7 0:1.
Qb6 13.Qd3
We are not concerned with the opening of Huebner R. : Osieka U.
course, but here we have our familiar Altenkirchen 1999
structure. It is noteworthy that Black first
prevents the exchange of the dark-squared
XIIIIIIIIY
bishops with: 9-+rwq-trk+0
13...h6!
13...0–0 14.Bg5!
9zpp+-+pzp-0
14.Rfc1 0–0 15.Qc3 9-sn-+p+-zp0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+pzP-+Q0
9r+-+-trk+0 9-+-zP-+-zP0
9zpp+nvlpzp-0 9vlP+NvL-zP-0
9-wq-+p+-zp0 9P+-+-zP-+0
9+-+pzP-+-0 9+R+-+RmK-0
9-+-zP-+-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-wQ-+N+-0 In this example White attacks with pawns
rather than solely with his pieces.
9PzP-vL-zPPzP0 21.Qg4
9tR-tR-+-mK-0 The sacrifice on h6 does not bring anything
for the moment: 21.Bh6!? gh6 22.Qh6 Re8
xiiiiiiiiy 23.b4 (23.Nf4 Bf8) 23...Qe7 24.Rb3 Nc4
White is not in time to attack on the kingside 25.Nf4 Qf8 26.Qf6 Qg7! (26...Qe7?! 27.Nh5
ans switches his attention to the c-file. (27.Qh6 Qf8) 27...Qf6 28.Nf6 Kg7 29.Ne8
Ftacnik's next move is important to Re8; 26...Bb4? 27.Qg5! Qg7 (27...Kh8
remember. 28.Rb4 Qb4 29.Qh6 Kg8 30.Nh5+–) 28.Qg7
15...Nb8! Kg7 29.Rb4±; 27.Nh5 Qg6 28.Qg6 fg6
Excellent, Black regroups to attack the base 29.Nf6 Kf7 30.Ne8 Re8= 31.Rd1 b5 and if
of the pawn chain (and next he can also 32.Rdd3 then 32...Bb2).
oppose on the c-file). 21...Kh7 22.Qe2
16.b4 Huebner decides that there is nothing
16.Qc7 is logical, but brings nothing after concrete yet on the kingside (knight and
16...Bd8! 17.Qc8 Bg5 18.Qc2 Be7 19.Qc7 rook are unable to join the attack). So he
Bd8 20.Qc8 and now Black justifiably plays more slowly, eventually preparing an
advance of his kingside pawns.

FIDE Surveys – Jeroen Bosch 5

22...Qc7 23.Rbd1 32...f4?
To answer 23...Qc2 with 24.Rd2. Correct was trading queens with 32...Qg5!
23...Nd7 24.h5 Rce8?! 33.Qg5 hg5 34.Bg5 Nf8! 35.Bf4 Bf4 36.Nf4
Too passive (Black aims for ...f6 at some Rg4 37.Kf3 Kh6 38.Rg1.
point) but it is illogical to remove the rook 33.Qd3 Kg7 34.Nf4+–
from the c-file even though there are no White is a healthy pawn up and has kept all
points of entry at the moment. The rook his positional advantages. The remaining
restricts White in his activity (the queen is at moves were:
the moment bound to defend the second 34...Kf7 35.Ng6 Nf8 36.Qf3 Qf6 37.Ne5
rank). Stronger were 24...Nb8 or 24...Qc3. Be5 38.de5 Qf3 39.Kf3 Nd7 40.Rfe1 Kg7
25.Kg2 a6 26.g4!? 41.Kg3 Rc8 42.Re2 Kh7 43.Rc1 Rc1
XIIIIIIIIY 44.Bc1 Rc8 45.Bb2 Nc5 46.f3 Nd3 47.Bd4
Rc1 48.Rd2 Nb4 49.f4 Nc6 50.f5 Nd4
9-+-+rtr-+0 51.Rd4 Re1 52.fe6 Re5 53.Kf4 Re6 54.Rd5
9+pwqn+pzpk0 Re7 55.Rd6 Rf7 56.Ke5 Rg7 57.Rd4 Rg5
58.Kd6 Rb5 59.Kc7 Kg7 60.Rd6 Rb4
9p+-+p+-zp0 61.Rg6 Kh7 62.g5 hg5 63.Rg5 b5 64.Kb6
Rh4 65.Ka6 b4 66.Kb5 Kh6 67.Rf5 1:0.
9+-+pzP-+P0
9-+-zP-+P+0 Mamedyarov S. : Carlsen M.
Baku 2008
9vlP+NvL-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9P+-+QzPK+0 9r+r+-+k+0
9+-+R+R+-0 9+q+n+pzpp0
xiiiiiiiiy 9pzp-+p+-+0
Either preparing f4–f5 or simply g4–g5 to
force entry into Black's fortress. 9+-+pzP-vL-0
26...f6
26...Nb8 27.f4 Nc6 28.f5˛; 26...Rc8 27.g5!?
9-vl-zP-+-zP0
hg5 28.Bg5 Rh8 29.h6 is already quite 9+-+Q+-zP-0
dangerous …29...gh6? 30.Rh1+–.
27.Bf4 9PzP-+NzPK+0
27.f4 f5 is still unclear; 27.Bc1! Bc1 9tR-tR-+-+-0
(27...Be7 28.Nf4 Qb6 29.Ng6±) 28.Rc1 Qb6
29.ef6 Rf6 30.Qe3. xiiiiiiiiy
27...Qd8?! Just to indicate the relevance of studying this
27...fe5 28.Be5 Ne5 29.Ne5 Kg8 was more structure - in this game the opening was a
stubborn, White's position is more classical Queen's Indian!
comfortable. 20.h5 h6 21.a3!?
28.ef6 gf6?! 21.Bd2.
28...Nf6 29.f3. 21...Bf8 22.Bd2 Rc1 23.Rc1 Rc8
29.Bd2 Rg8?! Black correctly tries to trade all the rooks,
29...f5! keeps White's advantage in check. but Mamedyarov does not comply of course.
30.Nf4± f5 31.Ng6 Bd6 32.Qe3 24.Rf1!
Best was perhaps 32.Rde1 Qf6 33.Qd3!? Excellent this prepares the advance f4–f5.

FIDE Surveys – Jeroen Bosch 6

Black cannot obtain sufficient counterplay
along the c-file.
24...b5 25.f4 Qc6 26.Rc1 Qb7 27.Rf1 Qc6
28.Qf3
Mamedyarov avoids the repetition.
28...Qb6
This is a mistake, Black should overprotect
d5. 28...Nb6! 29.f5 ef5 30.Qf5 Qe6 was
correct. After 31.Qf3 Qd7 (31...Rc2!?
32.Bc3 Nc4 33.Qd3 Qg4 looks very
dangerous, but White preserves some edge
with 34.Kf2! Qe4! (34...Rb2!? 35.Bb2 Nb2
36.Qf3 Qf3 37.Kf3 Nc4 38.Ra1 Ba3 39.Nf4
a5 40.Nd5 Bb2 41.Rd1 a4 42.Ke4 and the
ending is better for White) 35.Qe4 de4
36.Rc1 Rc1 37.Nc1) 32.Rf2.
29.f5! ef5 30.Bc3!?
30.Rf2!? …Qe6? 31.Nf4±; 30.Qf5 Qe6
31.Qf3 Nb6.
30...a5?
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+-vlk+0
9+-+n+pzp-0
9-wq-+-+-zp0
9zpp+pzPp+P0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9zP-vL-+QzP-0
9-zP-+N+K+0
9+-+-+R+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Best was 30...Qc6 although White has a
pleasant choice 31.g4!? (31.Qf5; 31.Ba5!?
planning Nc3).
31.Ba5!
A nice sacrifice, 31.Qd5 also gives an edge.
31...Qa5 32.Qf5 Qd2
32...Rd8? 33.Qf7 Kh7 34.Nf4 Qd2 35.Kh3
Qd4 36.Qg6 Kg8 37.Ne6+–.
33.Qf7 Kh8 34.Rf2!± Rd8?
The decisive mistake, although Black is also
in a bad way after 34...Ne5! 35.Qe6 Rd8
FIDE Surveys – Jeroen Bosch
36.Qb6± (36.Qe5 Bd6 37.Qd5 Qb2).
35.Qd5+– Qa5 36.Nf4 Qa8 37.Ng6
Carlsen resigned because of the line 37.Ng6
Kh7 38.Qa8 Ra8 39.Rf7+– Rd8? 40.Rd7
Rd7 41.Nf8 Kg8 42.Nd7 1:0.
Vachier Lagrave M. : Wang Hao
Wijk aan Zee 2011
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9+p+-vlpzp-0
9p+n+p+p+0
9zP-+pzP-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-+-+-+Q0
9-zP-vL-zPPzP0
9tR-tR-sN-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
A finale complex example between two top
players. There is no mistake here the
opening was a Slav Defence (Dutch
Variation), where the white-squared bishops
have been exchanged on g6, and Black has
been forced to take back with the h-pawn
(often he will prefer to take back with the f-
pawn to avoid an attack along the h-file).
Vachier Lagrave first improves his queen.
22.Qg4 Rc8 23.Nf3 Qd7 24.Bg5
Preparing 25.Qh4 and when he succeeds to
get his knight to g5, mate will follow. Wang
Hao defends correctly for the next few
moves.
24...Bb4 25.Qh4 Ne7
25...Na5 was possible, when Postny gives
the following complex line for chessbase:
26.Bf6 (Preparing Ng5.) 26...Rc1 27.Rc1 gf6
28.ef6 Rc8 (Just in time!) 29.Rc3! Rc3
(29...Bc3?? 30.Qh6) 30.bc3 Qa4! 31.g4 Qd1
32.Kg2 Nc4! and by a miracle Black's
counter attack is in time: (32...Bf8??
33.Ng5) 33.Ng5 Ne3! 34.fe3 Qe2 35.Kg1
7
Qe3 with perpetual check.
26.g4!
Guarding the f5–square, saving White from
a possible future back rank mate, and quite
importantly: not blocking the third rank!
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+-trk+0
9+p+qsnpzp-0
9p+-+p+p+0
9zP-+pzP-vL-0
9-vl-zP-+PwQ0
9+-+-+N+-0
9-zP-+-zP-zP0
9tR-tR-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
26...Rc1 27.Rc1 Rc8 28.Kg2
This seems to throw away the advantage.
28.Rd1 Qa4!; 28.Ra1 Nc6. In his analysis
Postny does not indicate 28.Rc3!! which is a
beautiful and strong idea: 28...Bc3 (28...Rc3
29.bc3 Ba3 30.Bf6! gf6 31.ef6 Bc1 32.Ng5
Bg5 33.Qg5 Nf5 34.gf5 Qe8 and now taking
on g6 gives a winning queen ending, but the
pawn ending after 35.Qh6 Qf8 36.Qf8 Kf8
37.Kg2 also wins for White and is therefore
cleanest. Best is 28...Nc6 29.Bf6! always
this move 29...gf6 30.ef6 Be7 31.fe7 Kg7
32.Ne5±) 29.Be7 Bd2 30.Nd2 and in order
not to get mated Black can only transpose
into a lost ending with 30...Re8 31.Bc5 Qd8.
28...Nc6?
Black should have used the opportunity to
trade rooks - an essential defensive play.
28...Rc1 29.Bc1 Qc7 30.Ng5!? and now the
engines show that (30.Bf4 g5! 31.Ng5 Qc2
and once again Black is save when placing
the queen on this diagonal.) 30...Qc1 31.Qh7
Kf8 32.Qh8 Ng8 33.Nh7 Ke7 34.Qg8 is only
a draw after 34...Qf4 35.Qf8 Kd7 36.Qb4
Qg4 37.Kf1 Qd1 38.Qe1 Qh5! 39.Nf8 Ke8
FIDE Surveys – Jeroen Bosch
and Black wins the knight when the queen
ending will end in a draw.
29.Rd1!
Vachier-Lagrave now keeps his rook and
prepares the familiar switch along the third
rank.
29...Ba5 30.Rd3 Nb4 31.Rb3! Qb5
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+-+k+0
9+p+-+pzp-0
9p+-+p+p+0
9vlq+pzP-vL-0
9-sn-zP-+PwQ0
9+R+-+N+-0
9-zP-+-zPKzP0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
32.Be7?
A tragic moment. After a well-played game
White misses a beautiful defensive idea. The
following moves all win: 32.Ng1 and Rh3
will follow or 32.Nd2 is similar or 32.Bf6 is
also good, as 32...Rc1 33.Ng5 Qf1 34.Kg3
Qg1 35.Kf4! and his majesty is safe or
32.Bd2, preparing Ng5. By the way, not
32.Ne1? Nc2 33.Rb5 Ne1 34.Kf1 ab5 and
Black might well have a fortress.
32...Nd3!!
A fantastic defence!
33.Rb5
Winning the queen, but a draw can only be
avoided by losing: 33.Ng5?? Nf4 34.Kg3
Qb3 35.Kf4 Bd2#; 33.Rd3? g5!! clearing the
b1–h7 diagonal for the queen to defend!
(33...Qd3?? 34.Ng5+–) 34.Ng5 (34.Rc3 gh4
35.Rc8 Kh7 36.Ng5 Kg6–+) 34...Qd3 and
Black just wins.
33...Nf4 34.Kg3
White more or less has to accept the draw.
8
34.Kh1 Rc1 35.Ng1 Ne2 does not even look
like a winning try, although objectively the
result is still a draw: 36.h3 (36.Kg2?! Rg1
37.Kf3 Nd4 38.Ke3 Nb5 and only Black can
win, although 39.Bd8! Bb4 40.Bb6 Re1
41.Kf3 Re5 42.Qd8 Kh7 43.Qh4 is a human
way to draw the position.) 36...ab5 37.Qg5
Rg1 38.Kh2 Rb1 39.Qe3 Rb2 40.Qa3! Bc3
41.Qa8 Kh7 42.Qf8 Bd4 43.Bf6! (43.Qf7?
Be5–+) 43...gf6 44.Qf7 with a draw by
perpetual.
34...Ne2 35.Kh3 Nf4 36.Kg3 Ne2 37.Kg2
Nf4
A lovely drawing mechanism, but a tragic
oversight for the French player ½.
Conclusion
We have studied the kingside attack in a
characteristic middlegame position with a
pawn chain d4–e5 versus e6–d5. In the
course of this article we were of course
limited by space. There are many more
examples in the database (or arising out of
your favourite opening) to study. I would
like to single out one, particularly complex
example in the diagram position.
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqr+k+0
9zpp+n+-zpp0
9-+-+p+-+0
9+-+pzPpsN-0
9Pvl-zP-zP-+0
9+-+QvL-+-0
9-zP-+-+PzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
This is the second game from the match for
the World Championship between Kramnik
and Topalov (Bonn, 2006). You may find
this game with extensive notes by Marin in
the chessbase Megabase, or in Bareev's and
FIDE Surveys – Jeroen Bosch
Levitov's book From London to Elista. The
position is of a more blocked nature (owing
to ...f5). Topalov (as White) eventually
broke through on the kingside by advancing
his pawns and sacrificing material. The
Bulgarian player lost, but only after mistakes
by both players in an extremely complex
position.
On the whole we have seen in the games that
we studied that it is slightly easier to attack
than to defend. White usually attacks with
pieces, often breaking through by means of a
piece sacrifice (for example 23.Bh6 in
Anand : McShane, and 23.Bg7 in Jones :
Gelfand). White needs to keep at least one
pair of rooks, often for a rook switch along
the third rank, but sometimes also to support
a pawn advance (for example in
Mamedyarov : Carlsen).
Black should in principle be able to defend
and we have seen several important
principles:
- the defender can trade queens/pieces,
- the king may run away (21...Kf8! in the
note to Anand : McShane).
- the queen defends via the diagonal b1–h7
- counterplay via the c-file and specifically
by entering the second rank (for example
26...Rc2! in the note to Anand : McShane),
- trading rooks along the c-file (16...Qc6! in
note to Jones : Gelfand),
- attacking the base of chain to keep White
occupied (15...Nb8! in Sanduleac : Ftacnik).
9
Alexander Beliavsky : Not allowing Black king to come to c4 or d4
Bodycheck and then trying to come to c7, obtaining the
draw position.
2...Kb4 3.Kc6 Ka5 4.Kb7 1:0.
In chess every piece can match other, similar
one. But Kings fight is very specific, as Alekhine A. : Bogoljubow E.
Kings can not come close to each other. This Wch (14) – GER\NLD 1929
feature is very important and it is performed XIIIIIIIIY
wrongly in many cases, even by the greats. 9-+-tr-+-+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0 9-zPK+-zp-+0
9+-+-+-+K0 9+-+-+k+-0
9-+-+-zp-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+kzP0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+R+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+-+-+-0 Even classics did not perform bodycheck
xiiiiiiiiy correctly!
1...Kh5! 70...Kg4?
Only winning move - it prevents White King Only way was 70...Ke4 71.b7 f5 72.b8Q Rb8
coming back to help own pawn or to attack 73.Rb8 f4 74.Re8 Kd4 75.Rf8 Ke3 76.Kd5
opponents pawn. Other two logical moves f3 77.Kc4 f2 78.Kc3 Ke2.
allows White to save the game. 1...Kh4? 71.b7 f5 72.b8Q Rb8 73.Rb8 f4 74.Kd5 f3
2.Kg6; 1...f5 2.Kg6 f4, with draw in both 75.Ke4 f2 76.Rf8 Kg3 77.Ke3 1:0.
cases.
2.Kg7 f5 ½. Manukovski : Pustovalov
Russia 1992
Maizelis L. XIIIIIIIIY
1925 9-+-+-+-+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0 9-+Pmk-+-+0
9zp-+-+K+-0 9+-+P+-+-0
9P+-+-+-+0 9-+-zp-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+K+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0 9-+-zp-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-mk-+-+-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+-+-+-0 1...Kf4!
xiiiiiiiiy 1...Kf3? allowed 2.Kf5 with draw. Now
1.Ke6 Kc3 2.Kd5! black takes both Whites pawns. Because of
bodycheck, opponent is in zugzvang.
FIDE Surveys – Alexander Beliavsky 1
Rogers I. : Shirov A. White have to reach opposition coming to
Groningen 1990 b4, when Black King will capture on b6. But
XIIIIIIIIY it is necessary to avoid bodycheck on the
9-+-+-+-+0 road. Wrong is direct way: 1.Kg4? Kc2!
2.Kf4 Kd3 3.Kf3 Kc4 4.Ke4 Kc5 5.Kd3 Kb6
9+-+-+p+-0 6.Kc4 Ka5–+.
9-+-+-+-+0 1...Kc2 2.Kf2 Kd2 3.Kf1 Kc3 4.Ke2 Kc4
9+-+-+-+-0 5.Kd2 Kb5 6.Kc3 Kb6 7.Kb4 ½.
9-+-+-mK-+0
Szabo : Aleksandrescu
9+-+-+P+-0 Romania 1952
9-+-+-+-+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+-+-+k0 9-+-+-+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+-+-+p0
4.Kg3!! 9-+-+-+-+0
It is necessary to prevent Black King to start
attacking White pawn. So plan is simple - 9+-+K+-+P0
pawn goes to f6 and then White king comes 9-+-+-+-+0
to attack pawn f7. But on the way Black 9+-+-+-+-0
King is prevented to come closer. 4.Kg5 9-+-+-+-+0
Kg2 5.f4 Kf3 6.f5 Ke4 7.Kf6 (7.f6 Ke5).
4...Kg1 5.f4 Kf1 6.f5 9+-+-+k+-0
6.Kf3 Ke1 (6...f5! 7.Kg3 (7.Ke3 Kg2) xiiiiiiiiy
7...Ke2) 7.f5 Kd2 8.Ke4 Kc3 9.Kd5 Kb4 1...Kf2?
10.f6 Kb5 11.Kd6 Kb6 12.Ke7. It was necessary to come around with the
6...Ke2 7.Kf4 f6 King, avoiding bodycheck: 1...Ke2! 2.h6
7...Kd3 8.Ke5 Kc4 (8...Ke3 9.f6 Kf3 10.Kd6 Kd3 3.Ke5 Kc4 4.Kf6 Kd5 5.Kg7 Ke6
Kg4 11.Ke7) 9.Kf6. 6.Kh7 Kf7=.
8.Ke4 1:0. 2.Ke5 Ke3 3.h6 Kd3 4.Kf6 0:1.

Grigorjev N. Ljubojevic Lj. : Browne W.

1929 Amsterdam 1972
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+p+-+-+-0 9+-+-+p+-0
9-zP-+-+-+0 9-+k+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9mK-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-mK0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+P+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+k+-+-+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
1.Kg3! 1...f5??

FIDE Surveys – Alexander Beliavsky 2

Correct was not to allow Whites King to Urmancheev : Podolsky
return back: 1...Kd5!! 2.b4 (2.Kb4 Kd4–+) USSR 1972
2...f5 3.b5 f4 4.b6 Kc6! 5.Ka6 f3 6.b7 f2 XIIIIIIIIY
7.b8Q f1Q 8.Ka5 Qa1–+. 9-+-+-+-+0
2.Kb4!= f4 3.Kc4 ½.
9+-+-+-+-0
Malakhov V. : Najer E. 9-+-+-+-+0
Moscow 2007 9zP-mK-+-+r0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-+-+-+0
9-+-+-+-+0 9+-+k+-+-0
9+-+-+p+-0 9-+-+-+-+0
9-+-+-+-+0 9+-+-+-+-0
9+-+-+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-mk-+K+-+0 1.Kb6?
9+-+-+-+-0 Automatic and wrong, as it allows opponents
9-+-+-zP-+0 King to come closer. Correct was to block it:
1.Kb4!!, stopping the Black King and
9+-+-+-+-0 winning time to move own pawn. 1...Kd4
xiiiiiiiiy 2.a6 Kd5 3.a7 Rh8 4.Kb5.
1.Ke5?? 1...Kc4 2.a6 Rh6 3.Kb7 Kb5 4.a7 Rh7
White chosed the shortest way to the 5.Kb8 Kb6 6.a8N Kc6 0:1.
opponents pawn, but correct was to block
opponents King first, then to push own pawn Gibbs Do. : Cannon Ri.
and just after preparation to go for pawn f7. Brighton 2010
1.Kd4! Kb5 (1...Kb3 2.f4 Kc2 3.f5 Kd2 4.f6 XIIIIIIIIY
Ke2 5.Ke5 Kf3 6.Kd6 Kf4 7.Ke7+–) 2.Kd5! 9-+-+-+-+0
Kb6 (2...Kb4 3.f4 Kc3 4.f5 Kd3 5.f6+–)
3.Kd6 Kb5 4.f4 (4.Ke7 Kc5 5.f4+–) 4...Kc4 9+-+-+-+-0
5.f5 Kd4 6.f6 Ke4 7.Ke7+–. 9-+-+-+-+0
1...Kc5! 9+-+-+-+-0
1...Kc4? 2.f4 Kd3 3.f5 Ke3 4.f6 (4.Kf6?? 9-+-+-mKP+0
Kf4=) 4...Kf3 5.Kd6 Kf4 6.Ke7+–.
2.f3 9+-mk-+-+-0
2.f4 Kc6 3.Kf6 Kd5=. 9-+l+-+-zP0
2...Kc6 3.f4 Kd7 4.Kf6 Ke8 5.Kg7 f5! 9+-+-+-+-0
5...Ke7?? 6.f5+–. xiiiiiiiiy
6.Kf6 Kf8 7.Kf5 Kf7 ½.
52.Ke5!
White tries to stop Blacks King to come to
the Kings flank.
52...Kc4?
White showed its bodycheck, so it was
necessary to go from the other side, where
bodycheck was not possible to be performed:
52...Kd2 53.h4 Ke3 54.h5 Kf3 55.g5 Kg4
achieving draw.
FIDE Surveys – Alexander Beliavsky 3
53.h4 Kc5 54.h5 Bd1 55.h6 Bc2 56.g5 Kc6 Pancevski F. : Welz P.
57.Kf6 Kd7 58.g6 1:0. Rijeka 2010
XIIIIIIIIY
Lerner K. : Dorfman J. 9-+-+-+-+0
1980
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+-+-+-0
9K+-+-+-+0 9-+-+k+-+0
9+-+-+-mk-0 9+-mK-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-zp-0 9+-+-+-zP-0
9-+-+-+-+0 9-+P+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-+-+-+r0
9-+-+-+-tR0 xiiiiiiiiy
57...Rf8?
9+-+-+-+-0 The king must be brought closer as quickly
xiiiiiiiiy as possible, in the same time preventing
This move is in reality prophylactics - opponents King to help its passed pawn.
preventing bodycheck from opp. King. 57...Kd4! 58.Kf5 Kd5 59.Kf6 Kd6 60.b7
19.Rf2! Rb8 61.Kg7 Ke7–+.
Wrong was immediate bringing King back 58.Ke5 Rf7 59.Kd5!
19.Kb7 Kf6 20.Kc6 Ke5 with Bodycheck Bodycheck!
and theoretical draw. 59...Kc3 60.Kc6 ½.
19...Kg6 20.Kb7 g4 21.Kc6 Kg5 22.Kd5 g3
23.Rf8 Kg4 24.Ke4 1:0. Mikhalchishin A. : Azmaiparashvili Z.
Tbilisi 1980
Kukovec B. : Podlesnik B. XIIIIIIIIY
Bled 2001 9-+-+-+-+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+-+K+p0
9-+-+-+-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-+-+P+-0
9-+-+-+-+0 9-zPk+-+-+0
9+-mK-mk-+-0 9+-+-+-zP-0
9-+-+-zp-tR0 9-+-+-+-zP0
9+-+-+-+p0 9tr-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+-+-+-0 11.Ke6!
xiiiiiiiiy It is necessary to stop opponents King.
53.Rh3? Losing was natural 11.f6 Kd5 12.Kg8 Ra8
Correct was not the materialism, but try to 13.Kh7 Ke6 14.Kg7 Ra7 15.Kg6 Rf7.
escape the bodycheck: 53.Kc4 Ke4 54.Kc3 11...Re1
Ke3 55.Kc2 f3 56.Kd1 Kf2 57.Rh3 Kg2 If other check, then 11...Ra6 12.Ke5!=.
58.Rh8 f2 59.Rg8 Kf1 60.Rf8 Kg2 61.Ke2. 12.Kd6 Rf1 13.Ke6 ½.
53...Ke4 54.Kc4 f3 55.Rh8 f2 ½.
FIDE Surveys – Alexander Beliavsky 4
Korchnoi V. : Kasparov G. after 1...Kf3 2.c5 Kg2 3.Rh2 Rh2 4.c6 Kf3
London (m/6) 1983 5.c7 Rc2 6.Kd7) 2.Kf6 Kc4 3.Kg6 Rh8
XIIIIIIIIY 4.Kf5 Kd3 5.Kf4 Ke2 6.Kg3 Rg8 7.Kf4!
9-+-+-+-+0 1...Rh6 2.Ke7 Kd5!
Now white King is cahased from its pawn
9+-+-+-+-0 and it is too far from h2 pawn.
9-+-+K+-+0 3.Kf7 Kc5 4.Kg7 Rh3 5.Kg6 Kd4 6.Kg5
9+-+-+-tr-0 Ke3 7.Kg4 Rh8 8.Kg3 Rg8 9.Kh3 Kf2
9-+-zP-mk-+0 10.Rh2 Kf3 0:1.
9+-+R+-zp-0 Huebner R. : Pfleger H.
9-+-+-+-+0 Germany 1989
9+-+-+-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-+-tR-+0
63.d5? 9tr-+-+p+-0
63.Rd1! g2 64.Rg1 Ke4 65.d5 Rg6 66.Kf7=. 9-+-+p+p+0
63...Rg6!
63...g2? 64.Rd4! Ke3 65.Rd1=. 9+-+-zP-mK-0
64.Ke7 g2 65.Rd1 Ke5!–+ 9-+-+kzP-zP0
This was underestimated by Korchnoi, He 9+-+-+-+-0
did not see that Black King will go not to 9-+-+-+-+0
help own pawn, but to attack his King.
66.d6 9+-+-+-+-0
66.Rg1 Kd5 67.Kf7 Rg3 68.Kf6 Ke4. xiiiiiiiiy
66...Re6 67.Kd7 Rd6 68.Rd6 g1Q 69.Re6 White wrongly decided for pawn end:
Kf5 70.Rd6 Qa7 71.Kd8 Ke5 72.Rg6 Qa5 75.Kf6?? Kf4 76.Rf7 Rf7 77.Kf7 Kf5!!
73.Kd7 Qa4 74.Ke7 Qh4! 75.Kf8 Qd8 Driving White King into zugzwang.
76.Kf7 Kf5 77.Rh6 Qd7 0:1. 78.Kg7 g5 79.h5 g4 80.h6 g3 81.h7 g2
82.h8Q g1Q 83.Kf8 Qc5 84.Kg8 Qc8
Neishtadt : Volovich 85.Kg7 Qh8 86.Kh8 Ke5 0:1.
Moscow 1958
XIIIIIIIIY Zhu Chen : Sebag M.
9-+-+-+-+0 Doha 2011
9+-+-+-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-mK-+-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+r0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+P+k+-+0 9-+-+p+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9zp-+p+-mK-0
9-+-+-+-zp0 9-zp-zP-zP-+0
9+-+-+-+R0 9+P+-mk-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9P+-+-+-+0
1.c5? 9+-+-+-+-0
Correct was immediately avoid attack of the xiiiiiiiiy
opponents King 1.Ke6! Kd4 (Easy draw is 45...Ke4!
FIDE Surveys – Alexander Beliavsky 5
Longer winning method was 45...Kd4 Pachman L. : Trifunovic P.
46.Kf6 Ke4 47.Ke6 d4 48.f5 d3 49.f6 d2 Prague 1946
50.f7 d1Q 51.f8Q Qd5 52.Ke7 Qc5 53.Ke8 XIIIIIIIIY
Qf8 54.Kf8 Kd3 55.Ke7 Kc2 56.Kd6 Kb2 9-+-+-+-+0
57.Kc5 Ka2.
46.Kf6 Kf4 0:1. 9+-+-+-mK-0
9-+-+-+P+0
Holuba S. : Boiselle R. 9+-+k+-+-0
Wuerzburg 1996 9-+-+-+-+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+R+-+-+0 9r+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-mK-+-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9zpk+-+-+-0 59.Kf6! Ra6 60.Kf7 Ke5 61.g7 Ra7 62.Kg6
9-+-+-+-+0 ½.
9+-+-+-zp-0
9-+-+-+-+0 Molina R. : Marrero Lopez Y.
Regina Helena Marques Prol Santos 2012
9+-+-+-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-+-+-+0
71.Rg8
71.Kd5! Kb4 72.Kd4 g2 (72...a4 73.Rb8 +–; 9+-+-+-+-0
72...Kb3 73.Rc3 +–) 73.Rc1! Kb3 74.Kd3 a4 9-+-+K+-+0
75.Rb1 Ka2 76.Rg1 a3 77.Rg2 Kb3 78.Rg8! 9+-+-+Pvl-0
a2 79.Rb8 Ka3 80.Kc2! a1N 81.Kc3 +–. 9-+-+-+P+0
71...a4 72.Rg3 Kc4 73.Ke5 Kb4 74.Kd4 a3
75.Rg8 a2 76.Ra8 Kb3 77.Kd3 Kb2 ½. 9+-+k+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
Zinar M. 9+-+-+-+-0
1984 xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY 69.f6?
9-+-+-+-+0 Now Black is back in time. The amazing
9zp-+-+-+-0 retreat 69.Ke5!! gives Black a bodycheck,
9-+-+-+-+0 which wins the all important tempo:
69...Ke3 70.f6 Kf3 71.f7 Be7 72.Kf5
9+-+-+-+-0 (Baburin) 72...Kg3 73.g5 Kh4 74.g6 Bf8
9-+-+-+-+0 75.Kf6 Kh5 76.g7+–.
9+-+K+-+-0 69...Ke4! 70.f7 Bh6 71.Kf6 Kf4 72.Kg6 Bf8
9P+-+-+-+0 73.g5 Be7 74.Kh5 Kf5 75.g6 Bf8 ½.
9+-+-+-mk-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1.Ke2! Kg2 2.a4 Kg3 3.Ke3 Kg2 4.a5 Kf1
5.a6 Ke1 6.Kd4 Kd2 7.Kd5 Kd3 8.Kc6
Kd4 9.Kb7 Kd5 10.Ka7 Kc6 11.Kb8 1:0.
FIDE Surveys – Alexander Beliavsky 6
Susan Polgar:
The Game Is Not Over Until It
Is Over!
A chess game is "not over until it over"! In
other words, it is never too late to spoil a
well-played game. Probably all chess players
can recall some painful memories of losing a
"won game", or messing up, blundering in a
"dead drawn" position.It is important to
make a conscious effort once we reach one
of those "completely won" or "dead drawn"
positions, to not let our concentration
wandering off or become overconfident and
careless. Here are a couple extreme
examples by world class players. In the
second game of the Man versus Machine
match, we learned that even world
champions are not immune from such types
of carelessness.However, Kramnik had a
"blackout" and played the careless
Deep Fritz 10 : Kramnik
Bonn, 2006
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-sN-mk0
9wq-+-+-zp-0
9-+-+-+-zp0
9+-+-zP-+-0
9pzp-+Q+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-zP-+-+PzP0
9+-vl-+-+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
34...Qe3??
In this position 34...Kg8 leads to an easy
draw. White has nothing more than perpetual
FIDE Surveys – Susan Polgar
checks after 35.Ng6 Bb2 36.Qd5 Kh7
37.Nf8 Kh8 38.Ng6=.
35.Qh7# 1:0.
Khalifman : Polgar S.
Internet match RUS – USA, 2005
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-zp-0
9P+-+-+-+0
9+K+-+-+-0
9-+-tR-mk-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9tr-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Of course, I had my share of moments which
I would prefer to forget about. In 2005, as
part of a Russia - USA friendly rapid
exhibition match, played via the internet, I
played former World Champion Alexander
Khalifman. After a rough game, finally
(thanks to my opponent's carelessness) I had
a position which I should have drawn.
During the game I thought that everything
draws, and played the illogical:
56...Kf5
Retreating my King. Instead, the natural
56...Kf3 would have saved the game. For
example: 57.Ra4 Rb1 58.Kc6 Rb8 59.a7 Ra8
60.Kb7 Ra7 61.Ka7 g5.
The game ended with:
57.Ra4 Rb1 58.Kc6 Rb8 59.a7 Ra8 60.Kb7
Ra7 61.Ra7 g5 62.Kc6 g4 63.Kd5 Kf4
64.Kd4 Kf3 65.Kd3 g3 66.Rf7 Kg2 67.Ke2
Kg1 68.Kf3 g2 69.Kg3 Kh1 70.Rh7 Kg1
71.Rh2 1:0.
1
Nakamura : Carlsen
Zurich 2014
The next example is from a recent top level
game where the top American, Hikaru
Nakamura, got a reminder of it.
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-trk+0
9+pwq-+p+p0
9-sn-sn-+p+0
9+-zpPzp-zPP0
9p+PvlP+Q+0
9zPr+-+-sN-0
9-zP-+L+-tR0
9+KvLR+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White has achieved a much better position
with a promising attack on the Kingside. It
seems that White has easy play, and the
game will be over soon.
26.Rdh1
White is getting ready to open the h file.
26...Bb2
Black has no choice but go all out, and hope
for the best and for some luck.
If 26...Qd7 27.Qd7 Nd7 28.hg6 Rg3 29.Rh7
(Threatening checkmate in 3 with 30.Rh8
Kg7 31.R1h7 Kg6 and 32.Bh5.) 29...Be3
30.Be3 Re3 31.Bg4 Nb6 32.Bf5 and it is
game over.
26...Nbc4 would lead to transposition as to
what happened in the game itself, after
27.Bc4 Nc4 28.hg6 Bb2 29.Bb2.
27.Bb2 Nbc4 28.Bc4 Nc4
Fortunately for White, things are safe for the
moment on the Queenside - as the Rook
protects the Bishop on b2 along the second
rank. Therefore, White can continue safely
with the attack on the King side and open the
h file.
29.hg6
FIDE Surveys – Susan Polgar
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-trk+0
9+pwq-+p+p0
9-+-+-+P+0
9+-zpPzp-zP-0
9p+n+P+Q+0
9zPr+-+-sN-0
9-vL-+-+-tR0
9+K+-+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
29...Qb6
Magnus tries his best practical chance, by
attempting to "mess things up".
After 29...fg6 pretty much everything wins,
but most forceful is: 30.Qe6 Kh8 31.Nf5 gf5
and 32.g6. At this point White has trouble on
the Queen side therefore, must prove himself
on the other side of the board.
30.g7!?
30.gh7 instead, would be a major mistake, as
Black just moves out of the one check with
30...Kh8 and White's attack runs to dead
end. Moreover, the tables have turned - it is
Black who is winning! The game move
works too, but a much simpler win was
30.gf7 Rf7 and 31.Nh5! Then, Black is
defenseless against the powerful threats of
Qc8 and Nf6. For example: 31...Rb2 32.Ka1
Qb3 (32...Rh2 33.Nf6 Kg7 34.Rh2) 33.Qc8
Rf8 34.Nf6 Kf7 35.Rh7 Kg6 36.Qf5#.
30...Rd8
30...Rb2 31.Ka1 Rd8 would have also lead
to the same.
31.Qh4 Rb2 32.Ka1
Of course not going for the self-mate with
32.Kc1?? Rb1 33.Kc2 Qb3#.
Black's attack is over now, and hence has no
choice but to go back to defense.
32...Rh2 33.Rh2 Qg6
Materially speaking Black is up a Pawn, but
it does not help.
2

If 33...Kg7, the most precise is 34.Nf5 Kf8
35.g6! (as after 35.Qh7 Black can still fight
a bit with trying to run away with 35...Ke8).
34.Nf5!
A very natural and powerful move, bringing
yet another piece close towards Black's
King.
34...Re8
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+r+k+0
9+p+-+pzPp0
9-+-+-+q+0
9+-zpPzpNzP-0
9p+n+P+-wQ0
9zP-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-tR0
9mK-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
35.Qg4
With the idea of Rh2–h6 trapping Black's
Queen.
This is where the game gets to its critical
stage and White started misplaying a so far
well-played game against the world's #1
player. However, there were two better
options. The first one, 35.Qf2 required some
accurate calculation. After 35...b6 (35...Qg5
36.Nh6) White has a pretty combination to
elegantly end the game: (35...Qg5 36.Nh6)
36.Rh7! Qh7 (36...Kh7 37.Qh4 Kg8
38.Qh8#) 37.Nh6 Kg7 38.Qf7 Kh8 39.Qe8
Kg7 40.Qf7 Kh8 41.Qf8 followed by
checkmate on the next move.
But also the quiet 35.Qh3 was good. It
would keep tied the Black Queen to the
defense of the h7 Pawn and at the same time
would also protect the b3 square, which is
key in some of the variations. After 35.Qh3
Black is practically zugzwang, as once b7
Pawn moves, Black will no longer have the
FIDE Surveys – Susan Polgar
option to counter attack with Qg6–b6. For
example: 35...b5 36.d6 Nd6 37.Nd6 Rd8
38.Nf5.
After the most natural continuation 35.d6
Black has a hidden defensive resource, with
35...Nd6! 36.Nd6 and 36...Rd8!! 37.Nb5
(37.Nf5?? Rd1 38.Ka2 (38.Kb2 Qb6)
38...Qe6 39.Kb2 Qb3#) 37...Rd1 38.Kb2
Kg7 and Black has three Pawns for the
Knight, giving him reasonable drawing
chances.
35...Qb6 36.Qh3 Qg6
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+r+k+0
9+p+-+pzPp0
9-+-+-+q+0
9+-zpPzpNzP-0
9p+n+P+-+0
9zP-+-+-+Q0
9-+-+-+-tR0
9mK-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
37.d6?
A tempting pawn advance but is actually
giving the game away. In view of the
comments to the last few moves, it is not
hard to realize, that White had two ways to
end the game to their favor:
37.Qf1 b5 and again the sacrifice with
(37...Nd6 38.Rh6) 38.Rh7! Qh7 39.Nh6 or
just by making a waiting move with; 37.Rh1
or 37.Qh4 and putting Black in zugzwang.
After the game-move, now Black is fully
back in the game.
37...Nd6! 38.Nd6 Rd8!
This quiet move turns the dynamic of the
game around. Even though White is still
slightly better Hikaru did not manage to
readjust to the disappointing (for him)
changes to the position and in time pressure
continued with a few more mistakes.
3
39.Nc4?!
The only road to have any realistic hopes to
win was with 39.Nc8 Kg7 40.Ne7 although
after correct defense with 40...Rd1 41.Ka2
Qe6 42.Qe6 fe6 probably White's small
advantage will be insufficient to collect the
full point. As we read in Peter Nielsen's
commentary to this game in New in Chess,
"Nakamura had planned 39.Nf5 'winning',
but now realized that after 39...Rd1 40.Kb2
Qb6 41.Ka2 Black does not play 41...Qb3, as
that square is protected by the Queen on h3,
but 41...Qb1# mate!
39...Qe4
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-+k+0
9+p+-+pzPp0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-zp-zp-zP-0
9p+N+q+-+0
9zP-+-+-+Q0
9-+-+-+-tR0
9mK-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
What a turnaround! Now, it is White who
has to be careful not to lose. It was time to
pull in the breaks and go for a draw, while
white still can.
40.Qh5?
The right defense was 40.Ne3 Qd3 41.Nf5
when Black must force a draw by perpetual
checks with 41...Qd1 42.Ka2 Rd2 43.Rd2
Qd2 44.Kb1 Qd1.
40...Rd3!
A strong move to tie the Knight to the
defense of the Pawn on a3. Magnus does not
miss his suddenly received opportunity and
continues the attack with the most precise
way. Now the threat is 41...b5.
41.Rh4 Qf5
41...Qe1 would be a mistake, letting White
off the hook after 42.Ka2.
42.Qe2 b5
FIDE Surveys – Susan Polgar
Now it is clear that White is in major
trouble.
43.Nd2 Qg5
43...Ra3 44.Kb2 Rg3 was fine too.
44.Qd3 Qh4 45.Ne4
If 45.Qb5 then just 45...Qd4 46.Qb2 h5 and
Black has too many passed pawns running.
45...Kg7
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+pmkp0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+pzp-zp-+-0
9p+-+N+-wq0
9zP-+Q+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9mK-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Here Black has an impressive number of five
(!) pawns for the Knight.
46.Qf3
After 46.Nc5 Black would force the
exchange of the Queens with 46...Qe1
47.Kb2 Qf2 48.Qc2 Qc2 49.Kc2 and then
push the pawns.
46...Qf4
As we can see one line after another, Black's
goal is to trade Queens, making sure White's
hopes of perpetual checks disappear. The
reamining part of the game is self-
explantory.
47.Qg2 Kf8 48.Kb2 h5 49.Nd2 h4 50.Kc2
b4 51.ab4 cb4 52.Qa8 Kg7 53.Qa4 h3
54.Qb3 h2 55.Qd5 e4 56.Qh5 e3 57.Nf3 e2
58.Kb3 f6 59.Ne1 Qg3 60.Ka4 Qg1 61.Qe2
Qa7 0:1.
Conclusion: It is important to always look
for good moves and last minute resources
not just for yourself, but also for your
opponent. It does not matter how clear and
obvious things appear, remember, "don't
count your chicken before they hatch!"
4
Spyridon Skembris:
Defending Inferior Endgames
For most players this is not a very popular
topic: Defending a worse endgame is
psychologically a lot harder then playing a
better one, and after a long suffering defeat
most of us tend to go over the analysis
quickly, trying to forget it as soon as
possible…
Nevertheless I believe that it’s a very
important topic, and tackling it can save a
lot of half (and sometimes even full)
points. Moreover it helps to get a good
fighting spirit for the whole tournament
and develops the general chess strength. So
how is it possible to improve the necessary
skills?
Playing and analyzing (on the board) is
definitely the most important, solving
exercises can also help a lot. So here are
some guidelines how an inferior endgame
position (in a practical game or in analysis)
can be approached:
- Make a rough evaluation of the position,
and try to identify possible goals which
would help the defense (like exchanging a
certain piece or pawn, forcing a change in
the pawn structure, putting up a blockade
etc.)
- Try to obstruct the opponent’s plans as
much as possible.
- Be patient – if you can’t solve all the
problems at once just try to play the
toughest move every time.
- Believe in your chances, the opponent
might also make a mistake.
- Keep an open eye for possible saving
motives (like stalemate, perpetual,
fortresses, theoretical drawn endgames,
etc.)
- Have a look for radical switches in the
position (like sacrifices or going into a
different kind of endgame). The more
difficult it seems the more imagination is
needed.
- If still everything seems hopeless, watch
out for possible tricks or traps.
- If nothing of the above is possible –
resign.
FIDE Surveys – Spyridon Skembris
Let’s have a look at some practical
endgames. When I work with my students,
I like to show some of my own games,
because it’s easier to explain the
circumstances, thoughts and emotions
during the game, so the same I’d like to do
here.
Suba M. : Skembris S.
Balkaniad (Men), Plovdiv 1982
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-mk-+-+0
9+-+-+K+p0
9-+-+-zP-vl0
9+Lzp-zP-+-0
9P+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
52...Bd8
This was my sealed move in the adjourned
game in our match against Romania.
53.e4
And, of course, this was the move we
expected. With our trainer Dr. Minev we
analysed the position, but as hard as we
looked, we couldn't find a salvation here.
White has quite an easy way to advance his
pawns, and even if the opposite coloured
bishops often secure some drawing
chances and Black has two passed pawns
himself, we couldn't find a way to use
them. All the variations seemed lost.
Finally Dr. Minev told me better to get
some sleep, to be fresh tomorrow, as there
was also another game waiting ... But as I
continued to look at the position alone, it
finally dawned on me: Why did I have to
wait passively with my king?
53...Kc5!!
A surprising and beautiful idea: The black
king goes for a walk into the white camp to
hinder their natural advance and to force a
blockade! I remember the surprise on Dr.
1
Minev's face when he saw this move and 56...Kd4!
how his eyes lit up when he understood the But that's it: The black king has done his
idea. job and returns, as the white pawns can
53...h4? 54.e5 Ke7 55.Kg4 Ke8 56.a4 Kf8 now be blocked!
57.a5 Ba5 58.Kh4 Bb6 59.Kg4 Bd4! (or Now 56...h4 doesn't work, because of
59...Ke7 60.f5) 60.Kf3 Kg7 61.Ke4 Bf2 57.Kg4 h3 58.Kh3 Kf4 59.a5 and White
62.f5 Bh4 63.Kd5! Kf7 64.Kd6 Kg7 wins.
65.Ke6 Kf8 66.f6 Bf2 67.Kf5 Bb6 68.e6 57.Bc2
Bd8 69.Kg6 is a sample line how Black After 57.a5 Kc5 58.a6 Kb6 59.Kg6 h4
loses with the "normal" defence. 60.f5 h3 61.f6 Bf6 62.Kf6 h2 63.e7 (or
54.a4 63.Bd5 c2 64.e7 c1Q 65.e8Q Qf4)
XIIIIIIIIY 63...h1Q 64.e8Q Qf3 Black secures the
draw.
9-+-vl-+-+0 57...Kd5 58.Be4
9+-+-+-+-0 After 58.a5!? Kc5 59.Ke5 h4 60.f5 h3
61.f6 Bf6 62.Kf6 h2 63.e7 h1Q 64.e8Q
9-+-+-+-+0 Black can play 64...Qc6! 65.Qc6 Kc6
66.Bd3 and now 66...c2 67.Bc2 Kb5=.
9+-mk-+K+p0 58...Kd6
9P+-+PzP-+0 Here Suba looked at me and proposed a
draw which I accepted of course. Those
9+Lzp-+-+-0 were the days ... of adjourned games and
9-+-+-+-+0 thorough endgame analysis. I must say that
I learned a lot from analyzing adjourned
9+-+-+-+-0 games, especially from ones like the
xiiiiiiiiy above. Nowadays we often have to play
the endgame in a hurry, which makes the
54.e5 Kd4! reaches the same position as analysis after the game even more
White has nothing better than 55.a4 here. important. ½.
54...Kd4! 55.e5 Ke3!
So here is the king. Now that the pawn f4 Skembris S. : Friedrich N.
is under attack Black threatens to play ...h4 Bad Woerishofen 2013
and ...h3.
56.e6!? XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-+-+-+0
9-+-vl-+-+0 9+-+-+k+p0
9+-+-+-+-0 9-+-+-+-+0
9-+-+P+-+0 9+-sn-zPP+-0
9+-+-+K+p0 9-+-+-+-+0
9P+-+-zP-+0 9+-+-+KzP-0
9+Lzp-mk-+-0 9-+-+-+-zP0
9-+-+-+-+0 9+-+-+-+-0
9+-+-+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy Here it's a knight against three pawns
marching down the board. It's clear that
The best chance. Black is fighting for a draw, but what are
FIDE Surveys – Spyridon Skembris 2
his chances? The main idea again is a The alternative 55.g6 gives Black the
blockade, so the pawns can't move forward chance to get a blockade on the dark
easily. Of course, still then a lot of breaks squares with 55...Nf6 56.Kd4 h6 57.g7
have to be taken into account, but the Ng8 58.Ke4 Nf6 59.Kd3 Ke7 60.Kd4 Ng8
knight is a tricky piece. I must say that I 61.Kc5 Nf6 and everything is under
thought I was easily winning here and control.
forgot about the necessary caution. 55...Nc3 56.Kd3
49.g4?! 56.Kd4 Nd5 is just a repitition.
But as we will see Black catsed his 56...Nd5 57.Kd4 Ne7
chances forsing the White pawns to be Of course the knight has to stay close to
block. Still he has to fight on but he is in protect possible breaks.
the correct way. 58.Ke4 Nd5 59.g6
I guess that 49.Ke3!?, which doesn't allow The only way to improve.
the idea in the game, is still winning - it 59.Kf3 Ke7 60.Kg4 Kd6! doesn't lead
might be an interesting task for a chess anywhere (but not 60...Ne3? 61.Kf4 Nd5
student to analyze this position. 62.Ke5+–).
49...Nd3! 59...Nf6
Forcing the e-pawn forward which makes Black is still walking on a narrow path: not
it easier to block them. 59...hg6? 60.fg6 Ke6 61.h7+–.
50.e6 60.Kd4
Now 50.Ke4 Nf2 51.Kf4 (or 51.Kf3 Nd3)
51...Nd3 leads nowhere.
XIIIIIIIIY
50...Kf6!? 51.g5 Ke7 9-+-+-+-+0
Entering this position I thought that White
has an easy win (like my computer
9+-+-+-+p0
believes as well) but as we will see that's 9-+-mkPsnPzP0
not true. Of course not 51...Kg5 52.e7–+.
52.Ke4 Nb4!
9+-+-+P+-0
The correct way to go. 9-+-mK-+-+0
53.h4
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-mk-+p0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
60...Ke7!
9+-+-+PzP-0 Now after the black knight has reached f6
the black king returns where he belongs!
9-sn-+K+-zP0 60...hg6 61.fg6+– is winning for White.
9+-+-+-+-0 61.Kc5 Ne4 62.Kc6 Nf6 63.Kc7 Ne8
64.Kb6 Nf6 65.Kc6
9-+-+-+-+0 It seems that White has put his opponent
9+-+-+-+-0 into zugzwang, but Black still has a single
defense.
xiiiiiiiiy 65...hg6!
53...Kd6! Now this move is possible for tactical
Of course Black has to defend the enemy reasons. 65...Kd8 66.Kd6+– is just lost.
king from entering the position - never 66.fg6 Ng4!
make concessions which are not forced. This is the point! The tricky knight
54.h5 Nd5! 55.h6 controls everything in time.
FIDE Surveys – Spyridon Skembris 3
67.h7 Ne5 68.Kc5 Ng6 69.Kd5 Nf4
70.Ke5 Ng6 71.Kf5 Nh8 72.Ke5 Ng6
73.Kf5 Nh8 ½.
Skembris S. : Mueller Wer.
Augsburg 2012
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-mk-wq0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-zpP+-+-0
9-+-+Qzp-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-zPK+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Here Black seems to be in trouble, as his
pawn on f4 is about to fall and the white
pawn d5 is quite dangerous. The defensive
ideas here are either to make the pawn c5
move forward quickly, or to exchange into
a pawn ending. Of course, this needs
careful calculation.
41...Qd4!
A move with many purposes: for the
moment the pawn f4 is defended, the white
d-pawn is stopped, and the black c-pawn
gets support.
42.Qe6
Of course not 42.Qd4?? cd4 43.Kf3 d3!
and Black is the one who wins. Also after
42.Kf3 Qc3 (but not 42...Qe4? 43.Ke4+–)
43.Kf4 c4 Black has serious counter game,
as his c-pawn is quite fast - a very
important defensive weapen in queens
endgames.
42...c4! 43.d6
Now this pawn is a real threat and Black
has to find something else.
43...Qg7 44.Kf3 Qb7!
Now Black can offer the exchange of
queens even at the cost of a pawn.
45.Qe4
After 45.Kf4 Qf7! 46.Qf7 Kf7 47.Ke4 Ke6
48.Kd4 Kd6 49.Kc4 Ke5 Black gets an
FIDE Surveys – Spyridon Skembris
easily draw ending.
45...Qe4 46.Ke4 Kf7 47.Kd4
Or 47.Kf4 Ke6 48.Ke4 Kd6=.
47...Ke6 48.Kc4 Kd6 49.Kd4 f3!
The last finesse. Black makes it clear that
he knows how to draw this position.
50.Ke4 Ke6 51.Kf3 Kf5= ½.
Dervishi E. : Skembris S.
Ano Liosia 1996
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-mkp+0
9+ptr-+-+p0
9-+-+RmK-zP0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+P+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
In the next game some general endgame
knowledge and understanding is very
helpful to find the right way. Erald
Dervishi, at that time a promising young
FM from Albania (nowadays a strong
GM), is fully up to this task. Here Rc4 is in
the air. If Black gets his rook to g4 and
plays b4, the position will be just lost, as
White will have no counter game. But is
there any way to stop this?
45.g4!!
A move which shows a very good
understanding of the position.
45...hg4
Now Blacks is threatening ...Rc4.
The point is that after 45...Rc4 46.Rc4 bc4
47.gh5 gh5 48.Ke4 c3 49.Kd3 Kf5 50.Kc3
Kg4 51.Kd2 Kh4 52.Ke1 Kg3 53.Kf1 the
white king reaches f1 just in time.
46.Re8
Of course not 46.Kg4 Rc4–+.
46...Rc4 47.Kg3 Kf5
Even though White is two pawns down
now the active rook offers a very realistic
4
counter game. Mastrovasilis A. : Skembris S.
48.Rf8 Ke5 49.Rg8 Kf6 50.Rf8 Kg7 Eretria 2011
51.Rb8 Rb4
The best try, as 51...b4 52.Rb6 Re4 53.Rb7
XIIIIIIIIY
Kf6 54.Rb6 Kf5 55.Rb5 makes the white 9-+-tr-+-+0
task easier.
52.Rc8 Kh7
9+-+-mk-+P0
52...Rb1 53.Rc7! Kh6 (53...Kf6 54.Rc6 9-+-+-+LmK0
Kf5 55.Rc5 Ke6 56.Rc6) 54.Rb7 b4
55.Kg4 b3 56.Kf3 b2 57.Kg2 Kh5 9+-+-+-zP-0
58.Rb4= reaches a similar position like in 9-+-+-+-+0
the game.
53.Rc5 Kg7 54.Rd5 Kf6 55.Rc5 Ke6 9+-+-zP-+-0
56.Rg5 Kf6 57.Rc5 Kg7 58.Rd5 Kh6 9-zp-+-zP-+0
59.Rc5 Rb1
The only try. 9+-+-+-+-0
60.Kg4
Now it's the correct time for this!
xiiiiiiiiy
60...b4 61.Rb5 b3 This was my position in the Greek Teams
Cup Final, when my team was leading 2–1:
XIIIIIIIIY A draw was enough for us to win the Cup.
9-+-+-+-+0 At the first sight it looks hopeless for
Black, but I can still transform to a queens
9+-+-+-+-0 endgame. Even though I'll be three pawns
9-+-+-+pmk0 down the activity of the queen makes it
worthwhile to calculate a bit further.
9+R+-+-+-0 80...Rd6!! 81.h8Q Rg6 82.Kh5
Or 82.Kg6 b1Q 83.Kh6 (83.e4 Qe4 84.Kg7
9-+-+-+KzP0 Qe5 85.Kh7 Qh2= doesn't change
9+p+-+-+-0 anything) 83...Qh1 84.Kg7 Qa1 85.Kg8
Qa8 86.Kh7 Qh1= with perpetual.
9-+-+-+-+0 82...b1Q 83.Qh7
9+r+-+-+-0 White has to take the rook back.
83...Kf8!
xiiiiiiiiy In the coming queen ending the White
62.Kg3 pieces will be awkwardly placed.
The white king quickly moves backwards: 84.Qg6 Qh1 85.Kg4 Qg2 86.Kf5 Qf2
If the black pawn goes to b2 it will have to 87.Ke5
be on g2 or h2. Of course not 87.Ke4?? Qc2–+.
62...Kg7 63.Rb6 Kf7 64.Kg2 Rb2 87...Qe3
After 64...b2 65.Rb4 Kf6 66.Rb5= it's just With the second pawn the winning chances
a draw. are gone.
65.Kg3 Kg7 66.Kh3 Rb1 67.Kg2 Kf7 88.Kd5 Qb3 89.Kd4 Qd1 90.Ke3 Qe1
68.Kh2 b2 91.Kf3 Qf1 92.Ke3 Qe1 93.Kd4 Qb4
The last try but of course White defends 94.Ke3 Qe1 95.Kd4 Qb4 ½.
easily.
69.Kg2 Ke7 70.Rb8 Ke6 71.Rb3 Kd6
72.Rb6 Kc5 73.Rb8 Kd4 74.Rd8 Ke3
75.Rb8 ½.

FIDE Surveys – Spyridon Skembris 5

Andrew Martin:
Game analysis
Of all the different types of session I have
conducted over the years, game analysis of
one kind or another remains the most
popular.I've noted many of the excellent
surveys in the FIDE manuals are pretty long
and might take a day or days to cover,
whereas you can analyze a game in a couple
of hours and then move to the next topic.So I
present a varied selection for you to dissect
with your own methods. Don't forget when
you are training that your purpose is to
encourage and guide, not to lecture. Good
teaching is all about the self-reliance of the
student. We all learn most quickly when we
do things for ourselves.
Sulava : Colakic, Zagreb 2013
Hero worship is very common in the chess
world and so when someone of the stature of
Alexander Morozevich starts to play and win
with the Albin Counter-Gambit, everyone
wants to jump on board and do the same.
The club player will soon find that this is not
at all easy, as precise theoretical knowledge
and good decision-making is required from
Black to even survive the opening! There are
reasons why the Albin is not as popular
among Grandmasters as the Slav or the more
othodox line of the Queen's Gambit. Yes, the
Albin forces White to fight on tactical rather
than strategical ground, but the results are
swinging very much in White's favour over
the last couple of years.Observe the
following game,which is pretty
representative. White plays like a
machine,taking everything on offer and
wraps up in style.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 3.de5 d4 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.a3
Be6?!
Even at this early stage, Black has to be
accurate. Maybe at lower levels you can get
away with moves like 5...Be6 or even
FIDE Surveys – Andrew Martin
5...f6!? 6 exf6 Qxf6, but Grandmasters tend
to know a lot. I think 5...Nge7! is Black's
best and may nullify the idea of 5 a3. The
problem as I see it, is that Black has to put
immediate pressure on the e5 pawn in this
line and 5…Be6 does not contribute to this
process.
6.Nbd2 Qd7 7.b4 f6 8.ef6 gf6 9.Bb2 0–0–0
10.b5 Ne5
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+ktr-vlntr0
9zppzpq+-+p0
9-+-+lzp-+0
9+P+-sn-+-0
9-+Pzp-+-+0
9zP-+-+N+-0
9-vL-sNPzPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
11.Nd4!±
All White has done is to go through with the
main plan of 5 a3; to expand on the
queenside and undermine the d4 pawn and
he will find that is enough to win the game,
as Black has no cheapos in the centre!
11...Bg4
11...Nc4 leads to mass liquidation, the
results of which can hardly favour Black:
12.Nc4 Bc4 13.Qa4 Bc5 14.Qc4 Bd4 15.Bd4
Qd4 16.Qd4 Rd4 17.e3 White is a pawn up
for nothing.
12.Qc2 Bh6 13.e3
Attacking lines are quickly shut down.
13...Ne7 14.c5 c6
An uncomfortable necessity.
15.Nc4 Qd5 16.Nd6 Kb8 17.Rb1 Rd6
With the b7 square creaking, Black gets
desperate, but there was nothing else:
17...cb5 18.N4b5 Bc8 19.Be5! Qe5 20.Nf7
Bf5 21.Qb2+–; 17...Rhf8 18.h3 Bh5
(18...Bc8 19.Qh7! Rh8 20.Qe7+–) 19.Ba1+
18.cd6 Qd6 19.bc6 N7c6 20.Nc6 Nc6
21.Be2
1
White makes it look very easy.
21...Qd5 22.e4 Qg5
The trick 22...Bd2 23.Qd2 Qe4 fails to
24.Qd3! Qg2 25.Qg3.
23.Bg4 Qg4 24.0–0 Rg8 25.g3 Qe6 26.Rfd1
Rc8 27.Qc3 Rd8 28.Qf3 Rf8 29.Qf5 Qa2
30.Qh7 Bd2 31.Be5 Ne5 32.Qb7# 1:0.
Games like this one provide the precise
reason the Albin lay in a coffin until
Morozevich revived the corpse. Black made
the wrong choice as early as move five and
got clobbered. You have to choose your lines
with great care!
Mitura : Novosadova, Czechia 2013
Let's take a look now at an incredible recent
game, where the cheapo lands, or to put it
another way, Black confuses the hell out of
White with some baffling tactics. This is a
roller coaster ride, so don't expect
Grandmaster perfection.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 3.de5 d4 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.g3
Nge7!
A Morozevitch special. Black simply intends
to regain the pawn by playing ...Ng6 and
...Nge5. This simple approach is best against
5 g3, as far as I can see.
6.Bg2 Be6
Black changes her mind and adopts a much
more aggressive approach, involving a
caveman kingside attack. The stable 6...Ng6!
is better.
7.Nbd2 Qd7 8.a3 Ng6
As we saw in the last game, once White tees
up the threat of b4–b5, it's crucial for Black
to attack e5 immediately.
9.0–0 0–0–0 10.b4
10.Qa4 Kb8 11.Rd1 Nce5 leads to a very
reasonable position for Black: 12.Qd7 Rd7
13.b3 f6 14.h3 Be7 15.Ne1 Rhd8 16.f4 Nf7
17.Ndf3 h5 18.e4 de3 19.Rd7 Rd7 20.Be3
Nh6 21.Nd4 Nf5 22.Nf5 Bf5 23.Bf3 Bh3
24.Bh5 Bf5=, Asgeirsson : Raetsky,
Reykjavik 1996.
FIDE Surveys – Andrew Martin
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+ktr-vl-tr0
9zppzpq+pzpp0
9-+n+l+n+0
9+-+-zP-+-0
9-zPPzp-+-+0
9zP-+-+NzP-0
9-+-sNPzPLzP0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
10...h5!?
She cannot resist it! Yet there is nothing
wrong with 10...Nce5 for instance: 11.Ne5
(11.Bb2 h5 12.Bd4 h4) 11...Ne5 12.Qc2
(12.c5 Bh3 13.Bb2 Be7 14.Nf3 Nf3 15.ef3
Bg2 16.Kg2 h5 17.h4 g5 looks extremely
dangerous.) 12...d3 13.ed3 h5! and Black has
excellent chances.
11.Bb2 h4 12.Qa4
12.b5 is one pawn move too many and Black
puts the boot in after 12...Nce5 13.Nd4 Bh3!
14.N2f3 hg3 15.fg3 Bg2 16.Kg2 Qh3
17.Kg1 Nf3 .White's roof caved in very
quickly, didnt it?
12...hg3 13.fg3 a6?!
Ugly. This weakening of the queenside is
quite unnecessary. Of course 13...Kb8!
should have been played, with 14.Rad1 d3
15.ed3 Qd3 16.Rfe1 Be7, leading to a very
unclear situation.
14.b5 Nce5 15.Bd4 Bc4?
The best shot was certainly 15...Bh3 after
which White has to show some care: 16.Bh3
Rh3 17.Rfd1 Rh5 18.Ne4 Qe8 19.Kg2 Ng4
20.Nc3± but still messy.
16.Be5?
One mistake deserves another. 16.Nc4! wins
right away as far as I can see. White simply
has to be able to count the pieces, which
clearly in the game, Mitura was unable to
do: 16...Nf3 (16...Qb5 17.Qb5 ab5
18.Nce5+–) 17.Bf3 Qd4 18.e3 Qa7
19.Rab1+–.
2
16...Bc5 17.Kh1 Ne5 But of course this is the type of tactical
Now it's Black who should be winning. melee the Albin Gambiteer wants to
18.Qc2 ab5 encourage and especially at lower levels. I
18...Qg4! is extremely strong, transferring doubt this game will be reported to the FIDE
the queen into a direct position of attack. Commission for chess cheating. 0:1.
19.a4 Ng4?!
19...b4. Carlsen : Kamsky, Saint Louis 2013
20.ab5 Kb8 21.Qa4 c6 22.bc6 Qd2 23.Qa8
Kc7 24.Qb7 Kd6 25.h4 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c6 3.d4 d5 4.Nc3 a6 5.e3
25.c7! Rde8 26.Nh4!+–. If 4...a6 is options-preserving, then 5 e3 is a
25...Qb4 26.Rad1 like-for-like move. White just keeps it solid.
XIIIIIIIIY 5...Bf5
Obviously Black can play 5...b5 or 5...e6,
9-+-tr-+-tr0 intending ...c6–c5! Kamsky sticks to the
9+Q+-+pzp-0 Slav recipe of activating the queens bishop
early.
9-+Pmk-+-+0 6.Bd3
6.Qb3 b5 7.c5 a5! goes nowhere for White.
9+-vl-+-+-0 6...Bd3 7.Qd3 e6 8.0–0 Bb4
9-wql+-+nzP0 It's either this or 8...Be7. It looks like Black
is trying to provoke a2–a3.
9+-+-+NzP-0 9.Bd2
9-+-+P+L+0 9.a3 went nowhere in a recent game
Karjakin : Anand, Sao Paulo/Bilbao 2012.
9+-+R+R+K0 9...Bc3 10.Bc3 0–0 11.a4
xiiiiiiiiy A new move, which plans Bb4 after a4–a5,
but whatever white plays (11.Nd2; 11.Bb4),
Have you ever seen anything like this? I one forms the impression that Black is solid
could have sworn Black had a big attack a and has a position which is difficult to
few moves ago and then suddenly her King breach.
starts to wander all over the board! 11...Nbd7 12.a5 Ne4 13.Bb4 Re8 14.Rac1
26...Bd5 27.Rd5 Kd5 28.Rd1 Ke4 29.Ng5 So White's plan is basically to arrange f2–f3
29.Nd4+– Ke5 30.Qc7 Bd6 31.Qf7 game and hope this takes him somewhere.
over. 14...h5!?
29...Ke3 Kamsky sharpens the play! There were
I did tell you that this was a fairground ride! other approaches. The Stonewall set-up with
Now White finishes things off, but not quite 14...f5 15.Rc2 Qf6 certainly seems playable;
in the expected way. but maybe 14...Rc8! was best of all, just
30.Rd8?? aiming for a coordinated position: 15.Ne1
I can't find a symbol for three question (15.Nd2 Nd2 16.Qd2 Nf6 17.f3 Qc7 18.Rfe1
marks in my version of Chessbase. what a Rcd8 19.Bc5 Nd7 20.Bb4 Nf6) 15...c5.
terrible move. 30.Rc1 Nf2 31.Kg1 Rd1 15.Ne5 Qc7
32.Rd1 Qb7 33.cb7 Nd1 34.Nf7 Ke2 should 15...Ne5 16.de5 strands the knight on e4 and
of course win for Black, just not quite so is therefore inaccurate.
quickly. 16.Nd7 Qd7 17.Qe2
30...Qe1 It's hard to say why Carlsen didn't choose
17.f3 Nf6 18.Be1!, with a slight edge, as this

FIDE Surveys – Andrew Martin 3

is the sort of thing he has been playing for.
Moreover, the move ...h7–h5 looks out of
place now. Very odd.
17...Nf6 18.Rfd1 Qc7 19.h3 Rad8 20.b3
Rd7 21.Rc2!
The Rook is useful on the second rank, both
for defensive and offensive purposes. White
is still trying to fashion a pawn break, with
either f2–f3 and e3–e4 or g2–g4 as the
ultimate plan.
21...Qd8 22.Rcc1 h4 23.Be1 Ne4 24.Qg4
g5!?
24...f5 25.Qh5 Rf7 26.f3 Ng3 27.Bg3 hg3
leaves both players with a mutually weak
pawn.
25.cd5 f5 26.Qf3 cd5
I like 26...Rd5! now, to keep the c file
closed, but as both recaptures are equal, this
is a question of taste.
27.Rc2 Rg7 28.Rdc1 Nf6
28...g4!? forces the pace, but Kamsky was
getting short of time and with the c file open,
probably didnt want to go all in just yet.
29.Qf4 Qg5! Best, I think, but hard to play
when you thinking of the attack (29...gh3?!
30.f3! I'm sure this is the move that put
Kamsky off the whole line. 30...Ng3 31.Kh2
hg2 32.Rg2 Qb8 33.Qb8 Rb8 34.Bg3 hg3
35.Rg3±) 30.Qg5 Ng5 31.Rc7 Rf8 a move
which would also have been difficult to
judge with little time. 32.Bb4 Rff7=.
29.Qd1 g4 30.f3!
Strong. Carlsen turns the tables. With the fall
of hte h4 pawn and the open c file at his
mercy, White assumes a powerful initiative.
30...gh3 31.Bh4 Kf7?
Perhaps he had to try 31...hg2 32.Qe1 Qe7
33.Rc7 Qf8 34.Rg7 Qg7 35.Rc2 Kf7
36.Qg3! Qg3 37.Bg3 Re7 38.Kg2 Rd7 but
this could be unpleasant for a long time.
32.Qe1!
White's queen joins the attacking party.
32...hg2?
32...Rgg8 was maybe the only try: 33.g3
Kg6 34.Qb4 Rg7 35.Kh2 Qe7 36.Qb6 Rd8
37.Rc7 Rd7 38.Rc8 keeps up the strong
pressure, but with no clear win for White.
FIDE Surveys – Andrew Martin
33.Rc7 Re7 34.Rc8! Qd6 35.Bf6 Kf6
36.Qh4 Kf7 37.Qh5 Rg6
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+R+-+-+0
9+p+-trk+-0
9p+-wqp+r+0
9zP-+p+p+Q0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+P+-zPP+-0
9-+-+-+p+0
9+-tR-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
38.f4!
Very nice. Black's major pieces run out of
space and good moves. Carlsen now moves
in for the kill.
38...Qa3 39.Qh8 Rg7 40.Qh5 Rg6 41.Qh8
Rg7 42.Qf8 Kg6 43.Kg2!
With the idea of Rg1 and then a deadly
discovered check from the King!
43...Rgf7 44.Qd8 Rh7
44...Qb2 45.R8c2.
45.Rg1 Qa2 46.Kf3 Kf6 47.Qg8 Rh3
48.Rg3 Rg3 49.Qg3 1:0.
Pardo Simon : Kamsky, Gibraltar 2014
I now present a game from the Tradewise
Gibralter Masters, an event which has been
growing in stature and strength since 2003.
Much of this success is down to the excellent
organizational skills of GM Stuart Conquest,
who assembles a world-class field and then
makes sure everyione has a great time! We
pick up play in Round Eight and find Gata
Kamsky pressing for the win with Black.
1.d4 f5
The Dutch Defence, much favoured by those
wanting to win at all costs. And, of course,
Gibraltar commentator GM Simon Williams.
2.Bg5
A very popular anti-Dutch system,although
the line that Kamsky plays is OK for Black.
4
2...g6! 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4
4.h4 can be met by 4...h6! 5.Bf4 Nf6 after
which very sharp play can arise: 6.Qd3 d6
7.e4 fe4 8.Ne4 Bf5!
4...fe4 5.Ne4 d5 6.Nc3
White has a couple of other locations for this
Knight (6.Nc5; 6.Ng3), but in each case
Black obtains counterplay.
6...Nh6!
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqk+ntr0
9zppzp-zp-vlp0
9-+-+-+p+0
9+-+p+-vL-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-sN-+-+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
A characteristic manouevre in this variation.
From f7, the Black Knight helps to prepare
e7–e5 and keeps the White Bishop out of h6.
7.Nf3 Nf7 8.Be3 Nc6 9.Qd2 Bf5 10.Be2
Qd7 11.0–0–0 0–0–0 12.Kb1 Kb8
Both sides marshall their forces. White has
no advantage at all. Black probably
considered the probing 12...Nb4, but after
13.Rc1 Nd6 14.a3 Nc6 15.Rcd1 the
adventure has not achieved very much.
13.a3
White can also probe 13.Na4 b6 14.Nc3, but
Black keeps it very tight after 14...Nd6 15.a3
h6 with once again, good counterplay
(15...Na5).
13...h6 14.h3 g5 15.g4 Be6 16.Rhe1 Rhf8
17.Nh2?!
Around here White starts to lose the thread.
Kamsky has what he wants; a complicated
middlegame with all the pieces on and his
tactics start to pay off as White doesn't seem
to know what to do and misplaces his pieces.
FIDE Surveys – Andrew Martin
A possible improvement lies in 17.Na4 b6
18.Qd3, but Black's Knight comes to d6 and
holds everything together: 18...Nd6! 19.Qg6
(19.Qa6 Ne4; 19.Nc3 is safest, with only a
small edge to Black.) 19...Bf6! 20.Qd3
(20.Qh6 Rh8 21.Qg6 Ne4–+) 20...Nc4.
17...Nd6 18.f3?!
He wants to keep Black out of e4, but
now...e7–e5 becomes very strong.
18...Bg8! 19.Nb5 a6 20.Nd6 Qd6 21.Nf1 e5
XIIIIIIIIY
9-mk-tr-trl+0
9+pzp-+-vl-0
9p+nwq-+-zp0
9+-+pzp-zp-0
9-+-zP-+P+0
9zP-+-vLP+P0
9-zPPwQL+-+0
9+K+RtRN+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Paradise for a Dutch exponent.
22.de5
22.c3 attempts to hold the centre together,
but Black has a grip on the initiative:
22...Bh7 23.Ka2 Bg6! (23...ed4 24.cd4
Rde8µ) 24.Bf2 Rd7 25.Bg3 Qe6 26.Bd3 Rf3
27.Bg6 Qg6 28.de5 Qe6 29.Qe2 Rdf7.
22...Qe5 23.c3?!
He probably could not bear to to play
23.Qc1 d4 24.Bg1 but it may last
longer,although after 24...Qe6! 25.b3 Qf6!
26.Ka2 Qd6 27.Nd2 Qg3 Black makes four
successive Queen moves and is pressing
White's position very hard.
23...d4 24.cd4 Qd5
White does not want to see his King taken
apart.Larsen once said that he liked to play
the Dutch against timid players, because
then it became a really good opening. We
see exactly what he meant by playing over
this game. 0:1.
5
Rodshtein : Karpov, Germany 2014
Anatoly Karpov retains a keen interest in
playing chess and he recently turned out in
the Bundesliga for SV 1930 Hockenheim.
Here we see a great example of Karpovian
technique.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2
0–0 6.0–0 dc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.Qc4 b5 9.Qc2
Bb7 10.Bd2 Be4 11.Qc1 Bb7
Having driven the queen to a poor square,
the bishop retreats, asking White to declare
his intentions. The assessment of this
position depends on Black's ability to force
through...c7–c5. If he can play this freeing
break at the right moment, then all his
positional problems will disappear.
Meanwhile 11...Qc8 also looks reasonable,
although White may be able to retain an
edge with 12.Bg5!
12.a3
Or 12.Rd1 Qc8 13.Ba5 Nc6 14.Bc3 Rd8
(Wang Y : Carlsen M., Leon 2009).
12...Qc8 13.b4
White certainly prevented c7–c5, so
counterplay must come from elsewhere,
possibly via ...a6–a5. Central to Black's
survival now must be his ability to keep
control over the central light squares or to be
able to contain the White pawn center if it
ever becomes mobile.
13...Nbd7 14.Bc3 Ne4 15.Qc2
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+q+-trk+0
9+lzpnvlpzpp0
9p+-+p+-+0
9+p+-+-+-0
9-zP-zPn+-+0
9zP-vL-+NzP-0
9-+Q+PzPLzP0
9tRN+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
15…a5!
FIDE Surveys – Andrew Martin
A typical jab and with it, equality.
16.Nbd2 Nc3 17.Qc3 Nb6 18.Ne5?!
I think White fails to appreciate the
resources of the Black position around these
parts. He should take on a5: 18.ba5 Nd5
(18...Na4 19.Qd3 Ra5 20.Nb3 Ra6
21.Rfc1=) 19.Qd3 Ra5 20.Nb3 Ra8
21.Nc5=. The difference between these lines
and the game is that Black doesn't have a
target on b4 to attack.
18...ab4 19.ab4 Bg2 20.Kg2 Nd5 21.Qc6
Bb4 22.Ndf3 Bc3 23.Ra8 Qa8 24.Qb5 Bd4!
With advantage to Black, albeit slight,as the
extra pawn is going to be difficult to realise.
25.Nc6 Bb6 26.Rc1
White has some positional pressure to
compensate him for the pawn, so Karpov has
to find a way of negotiating his grip on the c
file before anything else.
26...Qa3! 27.Rc4 Ra8 28.Nce5 h6 29.Nd3
Possibly 29.Qd7 was an improvement here.
Black can easily cope with the threats, but
the extra pawn remains extremely difficult to
realise: 29...Qe7 30.e4 Qd7 31.Nd7 Nf6
32.Nb6 cb6 33.Ne5 b5 34.Rb4 Ra5
How easy is this to win? I am not absolutely
sure.
29...Qa6 30.Qc6 Ne7 31.Qe4 Rd8 32.Qh4
Rf8 33.Ra4 Qb5 34.Rb4 Qe8 35.Nde5 f6
36.Nd3 e5
Finally, Black starts to feel a bit of freedom.
37.Qe4 Qc6! 38.g4
38.Qc6 Nc6 39.Ra4 Rd8 40.Rc4 Ne7 starts
to look like a solid pawn up, whereas before,
Black was jammed up.
38...Ra8 39.Qc6 Nc6 40.Rc4 Ne7 41.e3 Kf7
42.Nfe1 Nc8 43.Nb2 Nd6 44.Rc2 Ke6
Black's edge grows to substantial. The White
Knights have no real outposts in the centre
and with ...g7–g6, Black can prepare to
improve his pawn structure.
45.Ned3
45.Nc4 offering an exchange,escapes the
coming pin, but runs into the simple
45...Nc4 46.Rc4 Kd5.
45...Ra2! 46.Nb4 Ra3 47.Nc6 g6 48.h3 h5!
6
Black opens up a second front,which in time, This is a very nice position for White to
will highlight the power of his Bishop. play. Bb2, Rook to c1, look for Nd5. Black
49.gh5 gh5 50.Kg3 Ra8 51.Kf3 Ra2 does not really have a corresponding risk-
52.Nb4 free plan.
White cannot stay in the pin. 15...Kh8 16.Bb2 Rac8
52...Ra5 53.Kg3 Nf5 54.Kf3 c5 Trading on d4 merely gives Black concerns
At last and with this advance, problems in about his pawn on e7: 16...Nd4 17.ed4 Rac8
the White ranks. 18.Re1! e6 (18...Qd4? 19.Nd5) 19.Rad1
55.N4d3 Nd6 56.Ke2 Kd5 57.f3 Ra2 Rfe8 20.Re2±.
58.Rd2 Kc6 59.Rc2 Kb5 60.Nc1 Ra3 17.Qe2 Rce8 18.Rac1 Ne5
61.Rd2 Bc7 62.Nd1 Kc6 63.Rc2 c4
It must have been really horrible to play this
XIIIIIIIIY
endgame out against one of the greatest 9-+-+rtr-mk0
technicians of all-time. Despite his veteran
status, Karpov is completely in his element.
9zpp+lzp-vlp0
64.e4 Bb6 65.Na2 Bd4 66.Nb4 Kc5 67.Nd5 9-wq-zp-snp+0
f5! 68.N1c3 fe4 69.fe4 h4
White is out of good moves. Black threatens 9+-+-snp+-0
...Ne4 and there is not a great deal that can 9-+PsN-+-+0
be done about it. 0:1.
9+PsN-zP-zP-0
Bacrot : Mamedov, Shamkir 2014 9PvL-+QzPLzP0
1.d4 f5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.c4 9+-tRR+-mK-0
0–0 6.0–0 d6 7.Nc3 Nc6 8.d5 Na5!?
8...Ne5 is regarded as dubious these
xiiiiiiiiy
days,which may be a reason to have another 19.Nd5!
look at that line. 8...Na5 is sharp of course, The plan is carried out!
not to everyone's taste. 19...Nd5 20.Bd5
9.Qa4! c5 10.dc6 Nc6 20.cd5 Rc8 21.h3 Nf7 22.Qd2 also looks
10...bc6 isn't played too often, presumably nice for White as well, although after
because 11 c5! is a good move: 11.c5 dc5 22...Ng5 Black has some chance to muddy
12.Ne5! looks distinctly awkward for Black. the water.
Perhaps the best he can do is 12...Rb8 20...e6 21.Bg2 Nf7?
13.Rd1 Qb6 but after 14.Bf4 his position is He didnt see Bacrot's next move,which
unappealing. admittedly, is well-hidden. 21...Rc8 is
11.Rd1 probably best, with an ongoing edge for
Results have been very good for White in White after 22.Qd2 Nf7 23.Ne2, but nothing
this clearcut line, where he keeps the better 100% clear.
structure and sets up the immediate threat of 22.c5!
c4–c5! Right to the heart of the matter. Black's loose
11...Qb6 position is exposed with this thematic pawn
There is no clear way for Black to get a lever.
position with fully equal chances. 22...Qa5
12.Qc2 If 22...Qd8 23.cd6 e5. Then 24.Nb5! is more
There is no need to give Black the b2 pawn. or less winning for White: 24...Re6
12...Ng4 13.e3 Nf6 14.Nd4 Bd7 15.b3 (24...Qb6 25.Nc7 Rd8 26.Qd2 Bc8 27.Ba3

FIDE Surveys – Andrew Martin 7

e4 28.Bf1+–) 25.Bd5 Bb5 26.Qb5 Rd6
(26...Nd6 27.Qc5 Re7 28.Ba3) 27.Ba3 Rb6
28.Qe2+–.
23.Bb7 e5
23...dc5 24.Nf5 ef5 25.Rd7+–.
24.c6! ed4
24...Bc8 25.Bc8 Rc8 26.Ne6 is no good at
all for Black.
25.cd7 Rb8 26.Bc6
Resigning is not too early. Black is paralysed
by the pawn on d7 and if he plays 26...Ne5,
simply 27 Bd4 will do. Black has questions
to answer in this line. 1:0.

FIDE Surveys – Andrew Martin 8

Boris Avrukh:
Exchange sacrifice
Reshevsky : Petrosian, Zuerich 1953
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-trq+k+0
9+-+-trpzpp0
9-+n+-+l+0
9zpp+-zP-+-0
9-+pzP-wQL+0
9zP-zP-tR-+-0
9-vL-+-+PzP0
9+-+-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
25...Re6!
Somehow in my mind this position is
associated with Petrosian creation, exchange
sacrifice has been always one of his
"trademarks". In my article I would like to
give some fresh examples , connected with
exchange sacrifice.
Hammer : Edouard, England 2014
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dc4 3.e4 b5!?
A very rare move, which considered to be
pretty dubious, but Romain is one of the
most advanced theoreticans and he comes up
with amazing new idea, that invloves
exchange sacrifice. I have to admit, that this
seems to me one of the earliest possible
exchange sacrifices I ever saw.
4.a4 c6 5.ab5 cb5 6.Nc3
Black has no comfortable way to defend b5–
pawn, while 6...b4 leads to almost lost
position after 7.Nb5.
6...a6!?
Amazing exchange sacrifice, the whole
concept resembles already well-known idea
in Chebanenko system 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3
FIDE Surveys – Boris Avrukh
Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.Bg5 dc4 6.a4 h6 7.Bh4 b5!
8.ab5 cb5 9.Nb5 ab5 10.Ra8 Bb7 etc., but
here it looks like much better version for
White.
7.Nb5
White has to accept the challenge, as
otherwise Black will continue 7...Bb7 and
White will have not an easy task to prove his
compensation.
7...ab5 8.Ra8 Bb7 9.Ra1
XIIIIIIIIY
9-sn-wqkvlntr0
9+l+-zppzpp0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+p+-+-+-0
9-+pzPP+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-zP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-vLQmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
9…e6!
Unbelievable after exchange sacrifice Black
follows up with calm developing move,
since capturing central pawn doesn't really
work in view of 9...Be4?! 10.f3 Bd5 11.b3
and White gets a clear edge and initiative.
10.Be2?!
Most probably critical continuation should
be 10.f3 Nc6 11.Ne2! (In case of 11.Be3
Bb4 12.Kf2 f5! Black obtains interesting
counterplay.) 11...Na5 12.Nc3! Bb4
(12...Nb3? 13.Nb5 Na1 14.Bc4+–) 13.Be3
Ne7 14.Be2 Nb3 15.Rb1 Black
compensation most hardly sufficient,
although he still keeps definite activity after
15...Ba5 16.0–0 Bc6 17.Qe1 0–0 18.Rd1 f5.
10...Nf6 11.Nf3
11.f3 allows Black to seize initiative by
means of 11...Nc6 12.Be3 Bb4 13.Kf2 Na5.
11...Ne4 12.0–0 Qd5?!
1
Black has already achieved good
compensation, but last move is serious
inaccuracy. 12...Nc6 would allow Black
comfortable game.
13.Ne1?!
White missed nice 13.Ra7!, as mentoned by
Edouard in CBM 160. White rook move
prevents Black from playing Nc6 and he is
ready to develop intiative by playing Ne5
following by Bf3.
13...Nc6 14.Nc2
Later on this position has been occured in
another game, where White opted for 14.Be3
Bd6 15.Bf3 0–0 16.g3 f5 and Black has got a
full compensation for the exchange,
Genzling : Donchenko, Nancy 2014.
14...Bd6?!
Serious inaccuracy. 14...Be7 would be more
accurate, A big difference to compare with
14...Bd6 is that Black able to castle right
away 15.Bf3 0–0 etc.
15.Bf3 Bb8
Black couldn't play 15...0–0? in view of
16.Ne3 Qd4 17.Be4+–.
16.Re1 f5 17.Be4 fe4 18.Qg4 0–0 19.Qe4
Qe4 20.Re4
It's clear, that something wrong went for
Black over last moves, but surprisingly
Black retains some activity.
20...e5! 21.de5?!
This only helps Black, while after 21.d5!
Ne7 22.Ne3 Black would face a difficult
fight for the draw.
21...Be5 22.Rb1
Stronger would have been 22.Re1! Bf6
23.Rd1, retaining better chances.
22...Bf6 23.Re2?!
White slowly starts to lose control over
position. The prophylactic 23.Re6!? against
Bc8 was a better move.
23...Bc8!
Black light-squared bishop is heading for
b1–h7 diagonal with a lot of power.
24.b3
Trying to free the queenside. 24.Be3! was
the most precise defence (Edouard).
24...Bg4!
FIDE Surveys – Boris Avrukh
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-trk+0
9+-+-+-zpp0
9-+n+-vl-+0
9+p+-+-+-0
9-+p+-+l+0
9+P+-+-+-0
9-+N+RzPPzP0
9+RvL-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
25.Kf1
Just a panic, in his comments Edouard
suggested a right way to defend White
position: 25.f3 Bf5 26.Be3! (26.bc4? Nd4–+)
26...Bd3 27.Rf2 Nb4 28.Nb4 Bb1 29.bc4
bc4 30.Rf1 Bg6 would be slightly worse for
White, but should hold a draw without much
problems after 31.Nd5.
25...c3
An interesting alternative would have been
25...Bf5!? 26.Be3 Nb4 as it was correctly
mentioned by Romain, now after 27.Nb4
Bb1 28.bc4 bc4 29.Re1 Bg6 30.Nd5 Black
will have 30...Bd3 31.Kg1 Bb2 with
advantage.
26.Be3 Ra8 27.Bc5 Ra2 28.f3?
Now White lost. 28.Re8 was the only way to
hold 28...Kf7 29.Rf8 Kg6 30.Rc1!
28...Bf5–+ 29.Rc1 Bd3 30.b4
30.Kf2 Be2 31.Ke2 Na5–+]
30...Bg5! 0:1.
Steinberg : Arlinsky, Israel 2014
This game has been played during last Israeli
Championship. White player was one of my
most talented students. I was following this
game online and his exchange sacrifice
really shocked me. I remember myself
checking the game a few times, in order to
understand, how he managed to blunder
2
exchange at so early stage, however slowly I while Black counterplay is under serious
started to realize, that it might be sacrifice question.
with long-term compensation. 20...Ne7 21.f4 Nb6
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0– Black knight is hardly doing anything on b6,
0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0–0 9.h3 Na5 a better try would have been. 21...a5 22.Nf3
10.Bc2 Bb7 11.d4 Nc4 12.b3 Nb6 13.Nbd2 a4 (22...f6 23.f5 Ne5 24.g5 looks interesting
Nfd7 for White.) 23.ba4 Qc7!? trying to seize
Not the most popular line in Ruy Lopez , but counterplay on the queenside. (23...b4?!
still this position has been occured many 24.a3!).
times on practice. White comes up with new 22.Nf3 Ng6 23.Bb2
and agressive plan. Nice trick.
14.g4!? 23...f6
14.Nf1 has been played in most of the White f4–pawn is untouchable (23...Nf4
games. 24.Qd2 Ng6 25.Bg7 with winning attack.
14...ed4 15.cd4 c5 16.d5 Bf6 24.Qd2 Rc8 25.Rf1 b4 26.Nh5
Thematic idea for Black in this line. White slowly improves his position
17.Rb1 Nc8 18.Nf1 Bc3 regrouping his forces for g4–g5 break.
XIIIIIIIIY 26...Rc7 27.Rf2 Rcf7 28.Rg2 Qd7 29.Rg3
a5
9r+nwq-trk+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+l+n+pzpp0 9-+-+-trk+0
9p+-zp-+-+0 9+l+q+rzpp0
9+pzpP+-+-0 9-sn-zp-zpn+0
9-+-+P+P+0 9zp-zpP+-+N0
9+Pvl-+N+P0 9-zp-+PzPP+0
9P+L+-zP-+0 9+P+-+NtRP0
9+RvLQtRNmK-0 9PvLLwQ-+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+-+-mK-0
19.Ng3!?
A surprising idea, White didn't get even a xiiiiiiiiy
pawn for exchange, but his play on the 30.g5!
kingisde is easy to develop, while Black will Decisive break through White dark-squared
have a hard time to find adequate bishop decides the game.
counterplay. I would rather expect another 30...f5 31.ef5?
version of exchange sacrifice. 19.Re3 b4 Missing 31.Bg7! Rg7 32.Nf6 Rf6 33.gf6+–
20.Rc3 bc3 21.Qd3 a5 22.Qc3 f6, but maybe winning.
here it's much easier for Black to develop 31...Rf5 32.Bg7 Nd5 33.Bf8 Kf8 34.Nf6
counterplay on the queenside. Qe6 35.Bf5 Qf5 36.Qe1 Nf6 37.gf6 Qe4
19...Be1 20.Ne1 38.Qe4 Be4 39.Nd2 Bc2 40.Nc4 Kf7
A very serious investigation required in this 41.Nd6 Kf6 42.Rg5 Nf4 43.Rc5 Bb1
position in order to evaluate objectively 44.Ra5 Ne2 45.Kf2 Nc1 46.a3 Nb3 47.Rb5
White exchange sacrifice. One thing is very ba3 48.Rb3 a2 49.Ra3 Ke5 50.Nb5
clear, White play is much more simple, 1:0.

FIDE Surveys – Boris Avrukh 3

Aronian : Agdestein, Stavanger 2014 White shouldn't accept the sacrifice, accurate
31.Bd3 would retain balanced position.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 31...ab4 32.Qb2 Bd5
Bb7 6.Bg2 Bb4 7.Bd2 a5 8.Nc3 0–0 9.0–0 Worthy of consideration 32...f5!?
d6 10.Qc2 Nbd7 11.Rfe1 Bc3 12.Bc3 Be4 33.cd5
13.Qb2 c6 33.ed5 Nb6 is even worse for White.
Maybe slightly passive, but very solid line 33...Nb6
for Black. Black has full control all over the board.
14.Rac1 h6 15.Bf1 b5 16.Bd2 bc4 17.bc4 34.Rbc1 Na4
Re8 18.Red1 Qc7 19.Qa3 c5 20.dc5 dc5 Again 34...f5 was an interesting alternative.
21.Ne1 35.Qd2 Nc3?!
With interesting play Aronian has managed This allows White to sacrifice exchange
to seize some pressure on Black position, back equalising the game. Here we have one
however he still remains very solid. of those examples where Black knight was
21...Bb7 22.f3 e5 23.e4 more valuable than White rook. Calm
After this move White can hardly hope to 35...Qf6! 36.Be2 g5! would keep a lot of
benefit from his bishop's pair, since positions pressure on White position.
is getting pretty closed. Stronger would have
been 23.Rb1! e4 24.f4˛ then White would
XIIIIIIIIY
keep some edge. 9r+-+-+k+0
23...Nf8 24.Ng2
24.Nd3 Ne6 25.Kf2 Nd7.
9+-+-+pzp-0
24...Ne6 25.Ne3 Nd4 9-+-wq-+-zp0
Black has no problems with such a powerful
knight on d4.
9+-zpPzp-+-0
26.Nd5 Qd6 27.Kg2 Nd7 28.Rb1 Reb8 9-zp-snP+-+0
29.Kf2?! Bc6 30.Bc3
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-sn-+PzP-0
9rtr-+-+k+0 9P+-wQ-mK-zP0
9+-+n+pzp-0 9+-tRR+L+-0
9-+lwq-+-zp0 xiiiiiiiiy
36.Rc3 bc3 37.Qc3 Ra2 38.Rd2 Rd2
9zp-zpNzp-+-0 39.Qd2 Qb6 40.Bc4 g5 41.Kg2 1/2.
9-+PsnP+-+0 Avrukh : Sakaev, Belgrade 1999
9wQ-vL-+PzP-0
Finally I would like to pick one of the games
9P+-+-mK-zP0 from career, where I have managed to carry
9+R+R+L+-0 out nice exchange sacrifice.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3
xiiiiiiiiy Bb4 6.Bd2 Be7 7.Bg2 c6 8.Bc3 d5 9.Nbd2
30…Rb4!! Nbd7 10.Qc2 0–0 11.e4 Rc8 12.0–0 b5
Beautiful exchange sacrifice, which stops all This thematic move was like a novelty for
White ideas on the queenside. me during the game, although it's occured
31.Bb4? twice before. 12...c5 was the only move,

FIDE Surveys – Boris Avrukh 4

which I studied before. Objectively Black
last move probably dubious, as he almost
forces White to go for exchange sacrifice,
that appears to be very promising.
Black best idea should be 12...c5. Here is the
old stem game: 13.ed5 ed5 14.Rfe1 Re8
15.Rad1 Qc7 16.Ba1 dc4 17.Nc4 Bb7
(17...cd4 18.Nd4˛) 18.Nce5 cd4 19.Qc7 Rc7
20.Nd4 Ne5 21.Nb5 Rc5 22.Re5 Bg2
23.Kg2 Rc2=, Andrianov : Korolev, corr.
1987.
13.e5 Ne8
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+rwqntrk+0
9zp-+nvlpzpp0
9l+p+p+-+0
9+p+pzP-+-0
9-+PzP-+-+0
9+PvL-+NzP-0
9P+QsN-zPLzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
14.c5!
The only way to fight for advantage.
Unfortunately I was not the first one, who
invented this idea, but I have found it over
the board.
14...b4
Certainly if black not accept white's
sacrifise, he will get a strategically lost
position.
15.Bb4 Bf1 16.Bf1
For the exchange White has got a nice space
advantage and possibility to develop his play
both on queenside and kingside.
16...a5
A good move, otherwise White might have
consider placing the bishop on a6 following
by advance of his queenside pawns, while
Nc7 strongly met by Ba5.
A previous game has been continued
FIDE Surveys – Boris Avrukh
16...Rb8 17.Bc3 and here 17.Qc3, with idea
Ba5 deserved attention.
17.Bc3 Ra8
Black prepares to activate his passive knight
via c7–square. Still premature 17...f6 18.ef6
Rf6 (18...Bf6? 19.Bh3±) 19.Re1 g6 20.Ng5
Ng7 21.h4 and e6–pawn is serious weakness.
18.Bd3 g6
Probably more safe for Black would be
18...h6. Still White keeps promising position
after 19.Nf1 Nc7 20.Ne3.
19.Re1 Ng7
Right square for the knight, where he also
protects the e6–square, after coming f7–f6.
19...Nc7?! would allow White to seize
initiative easily with 20.h4!
20.a3
My feeling was, that Black is well-prepared
for kingisde play, therefore I decided to start
with queenside action.
20...Qc7 21.b4 ab4 22.ab4 f6
Understandable decision to get some play. A
passive defense 22...Rfb8 23.Nb3 Bd8
24.Na5 Qc8 25.h4 doesn't promise Black an
easy life.
23.ef6 Bf6
Other recaptures don't promise Black a relief
as well: 23...Rf6 24.Ng5! or 23...Nf6 24.Ne5
Nd7 25.Ng4! in both cases White has better
game.
24.Nb3
Heading for a5.
24...Rfe8?
This natural move looks like almost decisive
mistake. Black is unable to get e6–e5
working, therefore his set-up appears to be
very passive and White can easily continue
to improve his position.
24...Rf7 - Doubling rooks along f-file would
have been Black best option. After 25.Re2
Raf8 26.b5 cb5 27.Bb5 White retains better
chances, but Black pretty much into the
game.
25.Na5
Now Black is in trouble.
25...Kf7
5
Obviously doesn't work 25...e5 26.de5 Be5
27.Ne5 Ne5 28.Re5 Re5 29.Be5 Qe5 30.Nc6
XIIIIIIIIY
Qf6 31.b5±. 9r+r+-+-+0
26.Qa4 Rec8
26...Rac8! loses right away to 27.Ba6!+–.
9wq-+n+k+p0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+p+pvl-+0
9r+r+-+-+0 9sN-zPp+p+-0
9+-wqn+ksnp0 9QzP-zP-vL-+0
9-+p+pvlp+0 9+-+-+NzP-0
9sN-zPp+-+-0 9-+-+-zP-zP0
9QzP-zP-+-+0 9+-+-tR-mK-0
9+-vLL+NzP-0 xiiiiiiiiy
30.Qd1!
9-+-+-zP-zP0 A decisive switch to the kingisde, Black is
9+-+-tR-mK-0 unable to bring back his defensive forces
from queenside.
xiiiiiiiiy 30...Nf8 31.Be5 Bd8
27.Bd2! 31...Ng6 32.Bf6 Kf6 33.h4!, just hopeless
Nice idea white bishop is heading for f4. for Black.
27...Nf5 32.Bd6
Again doesn't work 27...e5? 28.de5 Ne5 Freeing e5–square for the knight.
29.Ne5 Be5 30.Qc6!±. 32...Ba5
28.Bf4 Qa7 32...Ng6 loses after 33.Ne5! Ne5 34.Qh5
Doesn't change much 28...Qd8 29.Bf5! ef5 Ng6 35.Qh7 Kf6 36.Be5; 32...Bf6 doesn't
(or 29...gf5 30.Qd1 and Black cannot defend help as well: 33.Bf8 Rf8 34.Ne5 Be5
against two threats Nb7–d6 and Ng5 35.Nc6+–.
following up by Qh5 with crushing attack.) 33.ba5
30.Qb3! and again Black cannot defend Black is absolutely hopeless against White
against both Nb7 and Nc6 following up by dark squares invasion.
Qd5. 33...Qa5 34.Qc1! Qa3 35.Ne5
29.Bf5 Black resighned in view of 35.Ne5 Kg8
Not a bad idea, but immediate 29.Qd1 would (35...Ke8 36.Qh6) 36.Qg5 with mate.
have been much stronger. 1:0.
29...gf5?
This recapture significantly eases White
task, however after correct 29...ef5 30.Bg5
Qc7 31.Kg2! White would slowly improve
his position, while Black is pretty much tied.
White shouldn't rush with 31.Bf6 Kf6
32.Ne5 Ne5 33.de5 Kg7 34.e6 Qe7! and
Black holds.

FIDE Surveys – Boris Avrukh 6

Jovan Petronic:
King + Rook + pawn vs
King + Bishop
Concept
Historically, this ending was analyzed as
early as 1750 by Domenico Ercole del Rio,
in 1777 by François-André Danican Philidor,
to name a couple only. It also served as a
source of inspiration to composers of
endgame studies - Luigi Centurini, Josef
Vancura, Pal Benko, and many others.
The very interesting endgame features a
huge and more often than not - a decisive
material advantage for the attacker (+3 in
relative piece value), and yet both in theory
(which assumes best play by both sides), as
well as in practice at all levels, we continue
to witness not only wins, but also draws for
the defending side.
A number of winning positions require a
significant level of chess mastery and
dedicated thinking time, to be brought to its
natural end without fail, while the defending
side needs to be aware of as many as
possible known and documented exceptional
draw positions and endeavour never to give
up as long as there is still reasonable play
remaining.
A simple but effective classification may go
as follows: Pawn on Rook's files, Pawn on
Knight's files, Pawn on Bishop's files, and
Pawn on central files. A further sub-
classification would sort these depending on
the pawn's starting rank position (1st to 7th)
at start of the endgame.
With regard to transition from the
middlegame and looking back onto the
opening, the endgame can't be linked to any
specific ie opening code, as they occur in
basically all, ranging from A00-E99.
In practice, the endgame is seen with chess
games using all time controls: standard
chess, rapid chess, and blitz chess, and thus
cannot be connected with any specific one of
them.
FIDE Surveys – Jovan Petronic
The game fragments limited selection will
feature annotated games of high-titled and
high-rated players using all time controls,
with Chessbase Mega Database 2014 as the
original games source.
Shirov : Grischuk, Wijk aan Zee 2011
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+k+-+-+0
9+-+-vl-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9mK-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9P+-+-+-+0
9+-+R+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black to play, White to win.
53...Bh4!
Black could have immediately went for the
a8–square, as White cannot achieve a
checkmating pattern, with the Rook not
being able to control Black Bishop's both
checking diagonals. For example: 53...Kb8!
54.Kb6 Bg5 (or 54...Bh4) 55.Re1 Bd8!;
53...Bg5! as opposed to 53... Bh4 would
theoretically leave Black with more options
as the Black Bishop is with more available
squares. 53...Kc7 54.Kb5!+–.
54.Rf1!
Limiting the mobility of the Bishop will be a
key strategy in the relatively long winning
process. A straight-forward plan, starting by
cutting off the Black King along the b-file,
followed by advancing the a-pawn, would
somewhat unexpectedly lead to a draw
position. For example: 54.Rb1 Kc7 55.Ka6
Bf2 56.a4 Be3 57.a5?? Kc8!= (or 57...Bf2!=;
57...Bd4?? would run into a discovered
attack on the c4–square, allowing White to
turn the tables and win: 58.Kb5!+– …Kb7
1
59.Kc4+–) …58.Kb5 Kb7! (or 58...Kb8=)
59.Re1 Bd4! (or 59...Bf2!=) 60.Re7 Ka8! (or
60...Kb8!÷) 61.a6 Bf2!= White is unable to
move the Black King out of the corner. The
remaining pawn sacrifice, with an idea to
create checkmating threats, leads only to an
easily defendable K+R vs K+B endgame: (or
61...Bg1!=; or 61...Kb8!=) 62.a7 Ba7! Black
must of course capture the pawn
immediately. 63.Ka6 Bb8!=.
54...Bg5 55.Rf3!
Further limiting the mobility of Bishop.
55...Kb7 56.Kb5!
56.a4 would be less precise due to: 56...Kc6!
and Black can hope to survive longer.
56...Bd8 57.Rf7
A direct approach was relatively simpler:
57.a4! Bc7 58.a5! Be5 59.a6! Ka8 (59...Kb8
60.Rf8! Ka7 61.Rf7! transposes into
61.Rf7!) 60.Rf8! Ka7 (or 60...Bb8 61.Re8!
Ka7 62.Re7! Ka8 63.Kb6+–) 61.Rf7! Ka8
62.a7! Bd4 63.Ka6!+– A key decisive
position to remember.
57...Bc7! 58.Rd7
58.a4 Kb8! 59.a5 Be5! … 60.a6?? Bd4!=. A
key draw position to remember.
58...Kb8 59.Ka6
White is following one winning scheme,
starting off with manouevering the King to
a6.
59...Bh2 60.Rb7!
A critical position to remember.
60...Ka8!
60...Kc8 61.Kb6!+–. Another relatively easy
to remember winning plan, involves bringing
the King over to a8 (via a7–square),
followed by manouevering the Rook to the
c-file, cutting off the Black King one line
further, after which Ka8–b7 allows the a-
pawn to decisively advance. For example:
61.Ka7 Bg1 62.Ka8 Bf2 63.a4 Be1 64.Rb1!
Bd2 65.Rb2! Be1 66.Rc2! Kd7 67.Kb7!+–)
…61...Bg1 62.Kc6! Bd4 63.a4! Bc3
64.a5!+– …Ba5 65.Ra7+–.
61.a4! Bg3 62.a5! Bf2 63.Rf7! Bc5!
The most stubborn defence is keeping the
Bishop as active as possible, multitasking.
FIDE Surveys – Jovan Petronic
63...Bg3 64.Kb6!+– …Bh2 65.Ra7! Kb8
66.Rg7! The threat of checkmate on g8
prevents Black from activating the Bishop,
allowing White to decisively advance the
pawn. 66...Ka8 67.a6!+–.
64.Rf5!
Preparing to force the Bishop off the a7–g1
long diagonal, which allows White to move
the King out of the way of the pawn.
64...Bd6
64...Ba7 65.Rf8! Bb8 66.Kb5+– …Kb7
67.a6! Ka8 68.Re8! Ka7 69.Re7! Ka8
70.Kb6! Bg3 71.a7 Bf2 72.Ka6+–.
65.Kb6! Bb8 66.Rf7! Bh2! 67.Ra7! Kb8™
68.Rg7! Ka8 69.a6! Be5! 70.Ra7
70.Rd7 with the same idea as in the game,
would probably have ended the game one
move faster.
70...Kb8 71.Rd7! Ka8 72.a7! Bd4 73.Ka6
Bb6!?
A last trick, unfortunately for Black, too
much an obvious one to fall for.
74.Re7!
74.Kb6??= would be careless, ending in a
stalemate.; 74.Re7! …Bd8! 75.Rg7 (75.Rf7
Be7! 76.Rg7+–) 75...Bc7!? 76.Rg8+–. 1:0.
Malakhov : Ni Hua, Sochi 2009
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+L+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-tr-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9zp-+-+-mk-0
9-+K+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White to play, Black to draw.
With the a-pawn far advanced on its own,
drawing chances for the defending side
2
increase. Precise play is still required, 97.Bb3!=.
however. 97...Kd4 98.Be6!
81.Kb3! 98.Bb3!=; 98.Ba2? Rf1!–+ …99.Bb1Kc3–+.
Or 81.Kb1!=. A waiting move such as: 98...Re8 99.Bf7!
81.Bd5?? would fail miserably after Black's 99.Bb3!=.
reply, which cuts off the White King on the 99...Rf8 100.Be6!
b-file, with an easy follow-up win: 100.Bb3!=-
81...Rb6!–+. 100...Kc3 101.Ka2!
81...Ra6 82.Ka2 Kf4 83.Bh7 Ke3 84.Bb1?! 101.Bd5!=; 101.Kb1!=.
A dubious positioning of the Bishop is the 101...Kb4 102.Ka1!
source of White later getting a losing 102.Bd5!=; 102.Kb1!=.
position. 102...Rh8 103.Bf7! Rf8 104.Be6!
84...Kd4 85.Kb3? 104.Bd5!=.
Only two moves were still saving White: 104...Rf6 105.Bg8!
85.Bc2!=; 85.Bh7=; 85.Bf5? Kc3!–+. 105.Bd5!=.
85...Rb6–+ 86.Ka2 Rb2! 105...Rd6 106.Ka2!
Or 86...Kc3!–+ …87.Bh7 Rb2! 88.Ka1 106.Bf7!=; 106.Kb1!=.
Rg2!–+. 106...Rd2 107.Ka1
87.Ka1 Kc3? 107.Kb1=.
Losing the winning advantage! Decisive was 107...Kc3 108.Bf7!
first improving the Rook's position, followed 108.Be6!=; 108.Kb1!=.
by King attack: 87...Re2!–+ …88.Bh7 Re8! 108...Rb2 109.Bg8 Kc2 110.Bh7! Kc1
89.Bg6 Re7! 90.Ka2 (90.Bf5 Kc3–+) 111.Bg8
90...Kc3!–+. White's defence from move 86 onwards was
88.Bg6? flawless. ½.
88.Ba2!= was the only saving move here,
preventing the attacking King from reaching Navara : Fedorovsky, Germany 2011
the important b3 square, from which it can XIIIIIIIIY
create checkmating threats in cooperation
with the Rook. Black cannot improve to 9-+-+-+-+0
win, with best play by both sides.
88...Rf2! 89.Bh7 Rf6?
9+-tr-+-+-0
Again, losing the winning advantage! We 9-+-+-+-+0
already know that correct was: 89...Rg2!–+
…90.Bf5 Re2! 91.Bg6 Re7! … 92... Kb3 –+. 9+-+-+-+-0
92.Bb1 Re1! 93.Ka2 Re2 94.Ka3 Re8!–+. 9-+-mk-+-+0
90.Bg8!= Kb4 91.Ka2!
91.Kb1!=; 91.Bd5!=. 9zpL+-+-+-0
91...Rf8 92.Be6! 9-+-+-+-+0
92.Bd5!=.
92...Rf2 93.Ka1 9+K+-+-+-0
93.Kb1=. xiiiiiiiiy
93...Kc5!? 94.Bg8!
94.Bb3!=; 94.Kb1!=. White to play, Black to draw.
94...Kd6 95.Bc4 Ke5!? 96.Bg8! Bishop's defense along the a2–g8 diagonal
96.Bb3!=; 96.Kb1!=. guarantees White a draw, with best play by
96...Rf8! 97.Bc4! both sides. When the Bishop is not attacked,

FIDE Surveys – Jovan Petronic 3

White's King may move along the first rank 77.Kc1 (77.Be7? loses quickly to the simple
(a1–b1). checkmating attack starting with: 77...Kc3–
88.Ka2 +) 77...Kc3! (77...b3? would unnecessarily
88.Be6=; 88.Bg8=; 88.Ka1=; 88.Ba2=. complicate the winning technique. 78.Be5!
88...Kc3 89.Bg8 Kd3 79.Kb1 b2! An important idea to
89.Be6=; 89.Bd5=. remember. Black timely sacrifices the pawn,
89...Rg7 90.Be6 after if captured, with a winning K+R vs
90.Bd5=. K+B endgame. 80.Bb2 (80.Bg7 Rf7! best
90...Rg2 91.Ka1 and simplest idea to remember. The Rook
91.Kb1=. transfers to the b-file, allowing the King to
91...Rh2 92.Bg8 begin its approach to the b3–square. White's
92.Bf7=; 92.Bd5=; 92.Kb1=. Kb1–a2 defence will then not be effective,
92...Rg2 due to Black's Queen promotion. 81.Be5
92...Rg2 93.Bf7= (93.Be6=; 93.Bd5=; but Rb7! 82.Bf6 Kc4! 83.Be5 Kb3! 84.Bb2
not 93.Ba2? A careless move, with other Rh7–+) 80...Rf1! 81.Ka2 (81.Bc1? Kc3–+)
relatively many options, will lead to defeat, 81...Kc2! 82.Be5 (82.Ka3 Rf3! 83.Ka2 Rf8–
with best play. 93...Rg1! The refutation of +) 82...Rf5 83.Bc7! The most stubborn
the awkwardly placed opponent's King and defence nevertheless easily loses, with the
Bishop. Black can now achieve a simple Rook positions itself to deliver checkmate.
winning setup, with the King reaching the 83...Rf7 84.Bb6! Rf6 85.Ba5 Ra6–+) 78.Be5
critical b3–square, with the Black Rook Kb3! 79.Bg7 (if 79.Bd6 temporarily
already on the 2nd rank. 94.Bb1 Kb4 95.Ka2 preventing the Black King from
Rg2! 96.Ka1 Kb3–+). ½. manouevering to the a2–square. 79...Rf5!
80.Be7 Kc3! forces a quick resignation.)
Schmaltz : Kasparov, ICC 1998 79...Ka2!–+ followed by the decisive pawn
XIIIIIIIIY advance.
75.Bb4!= Kb4? 76.Kd3 ½.
9-+-+-+-+0
Short : Acs, Budapest 2003
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-vL-+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+p+-+-+-0 9-+-+-+-+0
9-mk-+-+-+0 9+-+-+-+-0
9+-+r+-+-0 9k+-+-+-+0
9-+-+-+-+0 9+-+-+-+-0
9+-mK-+-+-0 9-+-+-+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+K+-+-+-0
White to play, Black to win.] 9-+p+-tr-+0
73.Kc2 Kc4 74.Be7 b4?? 9+-vL-+-+-0
Ooops. 74...Rf3!–+ is more efficient than the
usual Rook move furthest away (Rh3), as it xiiiiiiiiy
additionally limits the mobility of the Bishop White to play, Black to draw.
(f8–square). …75.Bd6 Rf2 76.Kb1 b4 68.Kc3

FIDE Surveys – Jovan Petronic 4

White prepares one of the defenses against Nepomniachtchi : Grischuk, Riga 2013
the pawn, encirclement and capture. XIIIIIIIIY
68.Kb2=; 68.Bb2=.
68...Kb5 69.Bd2 9-+-+-+-+0
69.Bb2=; 69.Kb3=.
69...Rg2 70.Kc2=
9+-+-+-+-0
The resulting K+R vs K+B is a draw, with 9-+l+-+k+0
best play by both sides. 70.Kd3=; 70.Bc1=.
70...Kc4 71.Kc1!
9+-zP-+-+-0
71.Kd1?? would be rather careless, due to 9-+-+-mK-+0
71...Kd3–+.
71...Kd3 72.Bb4 9+-+-+-+R0
Keeping the Bishop on the a5–e1 diagonal 9-+-+-+-+0
prevents Black from setting up direct
checkmate threats with the Kings in 9+-+-+-+-0
opposition. 72.Ba5=. xiiiiiiiiy
72...Ra2! 73.Kb1!
The only move to draw, but quite an easy Black to play, White to win.
one to find. 73.Bd6 Rc2! 74.Kb1 (74.Kd1 Black, left without any counterplay, is
Rc6! 75.Be5 Re6! 76.Bc7 Re7! 77.Bd6 without even a slightest chance of hoping to
Rd7!–+ All pieces on the d-file resemble a draw. The game ends quickly after White's
study-like position! White is in zuzgwang.) prep to advance the pawn.
74...Kc3!–+ With the transfer to b3–square 59...Kf7 60.Ke5 Ke7 61.Rh7!
and the White King locked inside an inferior A useful guideline (but not a rule) in the
corner, Black secures a winning setup. endgame is to always give a Rook check
73...Rc2! 74.Be1 which pushes the defending King backwards
74.Bf8?? Allowing the Black King to pass to or sideways.
b3 would result in a loss. 74...Kc3!–+ 61...Kd8 62.Kd6 1:0.
…75.Bc5 Kb3 76.Bb6 Rc8 77.Ba7 Ra8!
78.Bb6 Ra6! 79.Be3 Re6 80.Bd2 Rf6–+. Wojtaszek : Malakhov, Jurmala 2013
74...Re2 75.Ba5 Re5 XIIIIIIIIY
Black has managed to chase away the
Bishop from the a5–e1 diagonal, still, it is
9-+-+k+-+0
not enough to win. 9+-+-+-+-0
76.Bd8!
76.Bc7!=. 9-+-+P+-+0
76...Rb5 9+-+K+R+-0
A well played endgame by both Grand
Masters ended here with a draw agreement. 9-+-+-+-+0
Without mistakes and with subtle attacking 9+-vl-+-+-0
and defending moves, as much as the
positions were allowing. 76...Rb5 77.Kc1= 9-+-+-+-+0
(77.Ka2=; 77.Ka1?? The illogical Ka1
(willingly placing the King in the corner of
9+-+-+-+-0
their friendly Bishop colour loses. 77...Rb8! xiiiiiiiiy
78.Bc7 Rc8 79.Bd6 Kc2 80.Ka2 Ra8 81.Ba3 Black to play, White to win.
Ra7–+) ½.

FIDE Surveys – Jovan Petronic 5

144...Bb4
144...Bd2. Generally, if faced with no direct
one-two-move threats, keeping the Bishop at
least two lines (or files) behind the attacking
King is often the most resilient defense.
145.Rh5 Ba3 146.Rh8 Ke7 147.Rh7 Ke8
148.Rb7 Bc1 149.e7??
How to win? 149.Rc7!+– …Ba3 (149...Bf4
150.Rc4! Bg3 151.Rg4! Bh2 152.Rg8 Ke7
153.Rg7! Ke8 154.e7!+– …Kd7 155.Rg2!
The Rook will transfer with a tempo to the
pawn's promotion file, forcing defending
King's blockade on the promotion square,
allowing the decisive White's King's
advance. 155...Bf4 156.Re2 Ke8 157.Ke6+–)
150.Rc3! Bb4 151.Rc4! Ba3 152.Ra4!
Demonstrating the superiority of the Rook vs
Bishop. The Bishop has no satisfactory
move which does not lose quickly. 152...Bf8
(152...Be7 153.Ra8 Bd8 154.Kd6+–;
152...Bb2 153.Kd6+–; 152...Bc1 153.Kd6+–
) 153.Ra8 Ke7 154.Rf8! Kf8 155.Kd6 Ke8
156.e7+–.
149...Kf7=
Black's only good move (different from
"only (legal) move") leads to a draw, with
best play, which did not happen in this game
excerpt. White's pawn advance to the 7th
rank fails. A draw position to remember!
150.Kd6
150.Ra7 offering Black to err more easily,
with unique moves saving the game.
150...Bg5 151.Kd6 Bh4!=. The only move to
draw, with best play. 151...Bf6?? loses to
any piece pawn promotion, ie: 152.e8Q!
Ke8™ 153.Ke6!+– The tempo on the Bishop
is decisive in setting up a checkmate threat.
…152.Kd7 Be7!= transposing into the game.
150...Ba3!
150...Bg5!= preventing White's winning
threat Kd6–d7.
151.Kd7!? Be7 152.Rb1 Ba3 153.Rf1 Kg6
154.Ke6 Kg5
Black runs with King ideally to the "drawing
corner" at h1.
155.Ke5 Bb2 156.Ke4 Bc3 157.Rf3 Bb2
158.Rf5 Kg6
FIDE Surveys – Jovan Petronic
158...Kg4= also draws with best play. White
can prevent Black from reaching h1–square,
which is however not enough to win the
game. …159.Rf2 Bc3 160.Rg2 Kh3 161.Kf3
Kh4!=.
159.Kf4 Bf6 160.Rb5 Bd4 ½.
Miladinovic : Beliavsky, Ohrid 2001
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-vL-+-+0
9+-+-+k+-0
9-+-+-+p+0
9+r+-+PmK-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black to play and win.
Original few comments described this
endgame as a "dead draw". This is almost
never the case, precise defense is more than
necessary, and especially with faster time
controls or standard time controls quick-play
finishes. Additionally, Black missed his
chance to triumph, with best play. When
faced with a decision, we generally consider
only the most obvious and visible
information. In this position the
options/candidate moves for Black were
capturing the f3–pawn with the pawn or with
the Rook.
99...gf3??
A draw endgame to remember. 99...Rf3!–+
Why Black is winning here, we shall soon
determine. …100.Kg2 Rd3 101.Bc7 Kg5!
An excellent positions of the Black King,
preparing entry via any of both sides of the
pawn. 102.Be5 Rd5! 103.Bc7 Rd2! 104.Kg3
Rd3! 105.Kg2 Kh4! Let's examine White's
defense by keeping the Bishop on the b8–h2
6
diagonal: 106.Be5 (After 106.Bb6 Black can
win in the following way: 106...Rd2
107.Kg1 g3 (107...Kg3 also works.
…108.Kf1 Rb2 109.Bc5 Kf3–+) 108.Be3
Re2! 109.Bc5 Kg4 110.Bb6 Kf3 111.Ba5 g2
112.Bb6 (112.Bb4 Rb2–+) 112...Re1
113.Kh2 Rh1#) 106...g3 107.Bc7 Kg4
108.Be5 Rd2 109.Kg1 Kf3–+ (or 109...Kh3
–+).
100.Bc5!
Once learned, White's defending plan
becomes relatively simple, yet caution must
always be exersized.
1. Keep the Bishop flexible (!) on the a7–g1
diagonal, keeping an eye on not allowing the
Black King to occupy the g3–square, and
2. Keep the King directly in front of the
pawn.
100.Kf2!=-
100...Ke4!
An obvious, yet tricky move, after which
White must play an only one to save the
game.
101.Kf2!
White has now completed the main
defensive setup described above. 101.Ba7??
would allow Black to prevent White's King
from getting directly in front of the pawn.
101...Rb2!–+ …102.Bf2 Ra2 103.Bc5 Rg2!
104.Kh3 Kd3–+.
101...Rc3 102.Ba7
102.Bb6=.
102...Rc7 103.Bb6!
103.Bb8?? loses easily to for example:
103...Rd7! 104.Bg3 Rd2! 105.Kf1 (105.Ke1
Ke3 106.Bf4 Kf4 107.Kd2 Kg3–+)
105...Ke3–+.
103...Rc2 104.Kf1!
The extravagant and very bad 104.Ke1??
fails to: 104...Kf4! when 105.Kf1 is too late:
105...Kg3!–+ and the Bishop's check on c7
will not work.; 104.Kg1?? loses as well:
104...Kf4! 105.Bf2 Rc1! 106.Kh2 Ke4
107.Bb6 Kd3 108.Kg3 Ke2–+.
104...Rc6
104...f2!? 105.Kg2!= is another draw
position to remember. (105.Bf2?? Kf3!–+).
FIDE Surveys – Jovan Petronic
105.Ba7! Ra6 106.Bc5! Kf4 107.Bd4!
107.Kf2=; or 107.Kg1?=. The question mark
being for complicating the above guideline
on how to play this endgame.
107...Ra4 108.Bc5
108.Bb6=.
108...Rc4 109.Ba7!
109.Bb6?? Rc1! (but not 109...Kg3??
allowing 110.Bf2!=) 110.Kf2 Rc2! 111.Kf1
Kg3–+.
109...Rb4 110.Bc5! Rb5! 111.Bd4!
The only saving move!
111.Ba7?? fails to: 111...Rb1! 112.Kf2 Rb2!
113.Kf1 Kg3–+ and the poorly placed
Bishop on the rim is dim (or grim)!
111...Kg4 112.Kf2 Rb4 113.Bc5! Rb2
114.Kf1! Rc2 115.Ba7
115.Bd4=; but not: 115.Bb6?? Kg3–+.
115...Rb2 116.Bc5
116.Bd4=.
116...Rb5 117.Bd4!
But not 117.Be3?? Rb1! 118.Kf2 Rb2!
119.Kf1 Kg3–+.
117...Kf4 118.Kf2 Rd5 119.Bb6 Rd7
120.Be3 Kg4 121.Bb6 Rb7 122.Bc5
122.Bd4=.
122...Rb5 123.Bd4! Rh5 124.Bb6 Rh2
125.Kf1!
But not 125.Kg1?? Rc2!–+ …126.Bd4 Kg3!
127.Be5 Kh3! 128.Bd4 (128.Kf1 f2–+)
128...f2!–+. An another important position to
remember. The pawn "sacrifice" works,
Black is winning. …129.Kf1 (…129.Bf2
Rc1–+) 129...Kg3–+.
125...f2!?
125...Kh3 126.Bc5 Rc2 127.Bd4 f2
128.Bf2!=.
126.Ke2!
126.Bf2?? Kf3–+.
126...Kg3 127.Bc5!
Black cannot make progress relevant for a
GM vs GM encounter.
127.Bc7?? Kg2–+. ½.
7
Vitiugov : Morozevich, Reggio Emilia 2012
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+k+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-mK-+0
9+-+-+R+-0
9-+-+lzP-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black to play, White to win.]
65...Bf3?
Why surrender by transposing into an
immediately lost pawn endgame, when there
exist reachable in practice draw positions if
not with best play?
For example: 65...Kf6 …66.Rb3 Bd1 67.Rb6
Kf7 68.Ke5 Bc2 69.f4 Bd3 70.f5 Bc2 71.f6
Bd3 72.Rb7 Kf8 …73.Rd7?? Bc4!= One of
the c- and f-pawn draw positions to
remember, both if attacker or defender in the
K+R+P vs K+B endgame. …74.f7!? Kg7=.
66.Kf3 Kf6 67.Kf4 1:0.

FIDE Surveys – Jovan Petronic 8

Karsten Müller: The f-pawn will decide the day. After
37.fg6? Rh2 38.Kf4 Rg2 39.Kf5 Rf2 40.Ke6
Endings with Rook against Rg2= White can not win as the rook can not
Bishop and Knight be controlled.
37...Ra3
The fascinating fight between a rook and the 37...Rh2? runs into 38.f7 Kf8 39.Bb4 Kg7
duo bishop and knight has many faces. The 40.f8Q#.
following list shall help you: 38.Kd2!?
1) The minor pieces want to get control to Nyback wants to win with his f-pawn
have time for the slow manovers of the supported by bishop and knight. 38.Kd4 is
knight. The winning process is often slow also possible due to 38...a5 39.Be1 Ra1
and logical step by step. 40.Bg3 Rf1 41.f7 Rf7 42.Nf7 Kf7 and the
2) The rook wants activity and dynamics to bishop is able to deal with the problems on
profit from it quickness and long range both wings in time: 43.Kc4 a4 44.Kb4 b5
power. It does not like passivity at all. 45.Bf4 Ke6 46.Bc1 Kf5 47.Kb5 Kg4 48.Ka4
3) When more pieces are on the board then Kh3 49.Bf4+–.
the rook usually welcomes exchanges. The 38...Rb3
reasons for this is that the board gets more 38...Ra2 does not help: 39.Ke1 Ra4 (39...a5
open so that the rook is more mobile, further 40.f7 Kf8 41.Be5+– and the rook can not
pieces can easier cooperate with the minor prevent Bd6+.) 40.Be5 Ra6 41.Kd2 Kf8
pieces and they compensate in a way for the 42.Kc3 Rc6 43.Kd4 a5 44.Kd5 a4 45.Bb2
slowness of the knight. Rf6 46.Bf6+–; 38...Rc3?! 39.Kc3 a5 40.Kc4
4) Both sides profit enormously from a a4 41.Kd5 a3 42.Ke6 a2 43.Ke7 a1Q 44.f7
dangerous friendly passed pawn. Kg7 45.f8Q#.
39.Be5 Rb6
A) The minor pieces have the advantage.
I want to start with a dangerous friendly
XIIIIIIIIY
passed pawn. 9-+-+-+k+0
Nyback : Kulaots, Jurmala 2012
9zpp+-+-+-0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-+-zPp+0
9-+-+-+k+0 9+-+-vL-sN-0
9zpp+-+-+-0 9-+-+-+-+0
9-+-+-+p+0 9+r+-+-+-0
9+-+-+PsN-0 9-+-mK-+-zP0
9-+-+-+-+0 9+-+-+-+-0
9+-vL-mK-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
40.Kd3
9r+-+-+-zP0 The arrival of White's king on d5 will decide
9+-+-+-+-0 the day.
40...Rc6
xiiiiiiiiy 40...a5 41.Kc4 a4 42.f7 Kf8 43.Kc5 Rc6
37.f6! 44.Kd5 a3 45.Ne6 Kf7 46.Nd8 Ke7 47.Nc6

FIDE Surveys – Karsten Müller 1

bc6 48.Kc4+–.
41.Ke4 a5 42.Kd5 a4 43.Bd6 Rc8
White is too quick after 43...Rd6?! 44.Kd6
a3 45.Ke7 a2 46.f7 Kg7 47.f8Q#.
44.f7 Kg7 45.f8Q Rf8 46.Ne6!
Nyback's point. The direct 46.Bf8? Kf8
47.Ne4 is only drawn as the knight is too
short legged to fight on both wings, e.g.
47...a3 48.Nc3 Kf7 49.Ke5 b5 50.Na2
(50.Nb5?? a2 even loses.) 50...Kg7 51.Kd5
Kh6=.
46...Kf7 47.Nf8 g5 48.Ke5 Ke8 49.Kf5 1:0.
In the next example careful manovering is
called for:
Carlsen : Aronian, Wijk aan Zee 2012
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+NvL-+k+0
9+-+-+-+p0
9-zp-+-+-zP0
9+P+-mK-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9tr-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
53.Kd4!
White must keep both pawns as 53.Nb4?
Rb1 and 53.Bb4? Rh1 54.Be7 Rh3 55.Kf4
Rb3 are insufficient.
53...Rg1
53...Rh1!? is slightly more tenacious, but
does not save the game as the minor pieces
will outmanover the rook sooner or later, e.g.
54.Be7 Rh3 55.Ne5 Kf5 56.Nd3 Rg3 57.Kc4
Rg4 58.Kb5 Rg3 59.Nc5 Rg4 60.Bd8 Rd4
61.Bg5 Rg4 62.Be7 Rg7 (62...Rd4!? 63.Ka4
Kg6 64.Bg5 Rg4 65.Nd3 Kf5 66.Nf2 Rd4
67.Kb5 Ke5 68.Kc5 Rd7 69.Kb4 Kd4
70.Nd1 Rb7 71.Ka3 Kd3 72.Kb2 Rf7
73.Ne3 Rf2 74.Ka3 Rf8. So far analysis by
FIDE Surveys – Karsten Müller
Stohl in ChessBase Magazin 147, who also
quotes Shipov. I suggest now to continue
with 75.b4 when White should be winning in
the long run, e.g. 75...Kc3 76.Ka4 Ra8
77.Kb5 Rb8 78.Kc5 Rc8 79.Kd6 Kb4
80.Nd5 Kb5 81.Nf6 Rh8 82.Ke6 Kc6
83.Kf7+–) 63.Bd8 (63.Bg5? allows the blow
63...Rg5! when Black is just in time: 64.hg5
h4 65.Ne4 h3 66.Nf2 h2 67.Kb4 Kg5 68.Kc3
Kf4 69.Kd2 Kf3 70.Ke1 Ke3=) 63...Rg8
(63...Rg4 64.Nb7 Ke6 65.Na5 Rg8 66.Nc6
Rg7 67.Bg5 Rb7 68.Ka6 Rc7 69.Kb6 Rc8
70.Kb5 Kd6 71.Ne7 Rb8 72.Kc4 Ke6
73.Nd5 Rc8 74.Kd4 Rb8 75.Nf4 Kf5 76.Kc4
Kg4 77.Nd5+–) 64.Nb7 Ke6 65.Kc5!
Keeping control is more important than the
pawn as (the greedy 65.Kb4? spoils it:
65...Kd7 66.Kb5 Kc8 67.Ka6 Rg7 68.Nc5
Rg6 69.Bb6 Rg4=) 65...Kd7 66.Bg5 Ke6
67.Nd6 Ke5 68.Nc4 Ke4 69.Kb4+–.
54.Kc5!
Magnus Carlsen navigates his king skilfully.
54.Kc4?? Rg4=.
54...Kf5
54...Rg4? 55.Ne5+–; 54...Rh1 55.Be7+–.
55.Nb4 Rc1 56.Kd4 Re1 57.Nc6 Re4
58.Kd5!
Bodycheck!
58...Rh4 59.b4 Rh1 60.b5 Rb1
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+NvL-+-+0
9+P+K+k+p0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+r0
xiiiiiiiiy
61.Nd4!
The knight plays on both wings. 61.Nb4?
2
allows Black to defend, e.g. 61...Rd1 62.Kc6 41...Nd5! 42.h6 Nf6 43.Ra5 Kb7 44.Rg5
(62.Kc5 Rc1 63.Kd4 Rd1 64.Nd3 Ke6 Kc6 45.Kc2 Kd6 46.Kd3 Be5 47.Kc4 Ke6
65.Bg3 Kd7=) 62...Ke6 63.Bc5 h4 64.b6 h3 and Black's centralised army can deal with
65.b7 h2 66.b8Q h1Q=. the problems on both wings, e.g. 48.Rg7
61...Kg4 (48.Kb4 Bf4 49.Rg6 Bd2 50.Kc4 Kf5 51.h7
61...Kf6 62.Kc6 Rc1 63.Bc5 h4 64.b6 h3 Nh7 52.Ra6 Nf6=) 48...Bf4 49.h7 Nh7
65.Nf3 Kf5 66.b7 Rb1 67.Bb6+–. 50.Rh7 a5 51.Kb5 Bd2=.
62.Kc6 Rc1 63.Kd7 Rb1 64.Kc7 h4 65.b6 42.h6 Nc5 43.Ka2 Kd6
Kh3 43...Na4?! is refuted by 44.Rf4 Nc3 45.Kb3
65...h3 66.b7 Rc1 67.Kd7 Rb1 68.b8Q Rb8 Nb5 (45...Be5 46.Rc4 Kd6 47.Rc3 Bc3
69.Bb8+–. 48.Kc3+–) 46.Rd4 Nd4 47.Kb2+–.
66.b7 Kg2 44.Ka3 Ke6 45.Rh5 Nd7?!
66...Rc1 does not help as the minor pieces One sample line after 45...a5 runs 46.h7 Kd6
can always create barriers: 67.Nc6 Rb1
68.b8Q Rb8 69.Kb8 Kg2 70.Ne5 Kg3
XIIIIIIIIY
(70...h3 71.Ng4+–) 71.Ng6 Kg4 72.Kc7 h3 9-+-+-+-+0
73.Bh2 Kf3 74.Nf4+–.
67.Nf5 h3 68.Nh4
9+-+-+-+P0
And Aronian resigned due to 9-+-+k+-+0
68...Kg1 69.b8Q Rb8 70.Kb8 h2 71.Nf3
Kg2 72.Nh2+– 1:0.
9zp-sn-+-+R0
9P+-vl-+-+0
B) The rook has the advantage
9mK-+-+-+-0
Again I want to start with a dangerous 9-+-+-+-+0
passed pawn:
9+-+-+-+-0
Li Shilong : Broekmeulen, Dieren 2006 xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY 47.Rf5 (However, not 47.h8Q? Bh8 48.Rh8
9-+-+-+-+0 Kc6=) 47...Bc3 48.Rf8 Kc7 49.Ra8 Kb6
50.Rc8 Bd4 51.Rb8 Kc7 52.Rb5 Nb7
9+-+-+-+-0 53.Kb3 Kc6 54.Kc2 Kc7 55.Kd3 Bh8
9p+k+-+-+0 56.Rg5 Ba1 57.Rg1 Bh8 58.Rg8 Ba1 59.Kc4
Nd6 60.Kc5 Nf7 61.Ra8 Kb7 62.Ra5 Ng5
9+-+-+R+P0 63.Rb5 Ka7 64.Kc6 Nh7 65.Rb7+–.
9Psn-vl-+-+0 46.h7 Bh8 47.Rg5 Ne5 48.Rg8 Nf7 49.Kb4
Kf6 50.Ka5 Bg7 51.Ka6 Kg6 52.h8Q Nh8
9+-+-+-+-0 53.Kb7 Nf7 54.Kc7
54.a5 Nd6 55.Kc6 Nf5 56.Rg7 Kg7 57.a6
9-+-+-+-+0 Ne7 58.Kb7+–.
9+K+-+-+-0 54...Ng5 55.a5 Ne6 56.Kb6 Nf4 57.a6 Kf7
58.Rg7 Kg7 59.a7 Nd5 60.Kb7
xiiiiiiiiy 1:0.
41...Nd3?
Now the rook can outfox the minor pieces in
the long run. White can not win after

FIDE Surveys – Karsten Müller 3

Xiu Deshun : Lenderman, Ningbo 2013
Further winning techniques of the rook are
breaking blockading set ups by zugzwang or
by creating new passed pawns:
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+-+-+0
9+-+-+p+-0
9-+-+pmk-zp0
9zp-+-+-+P0
9-zp-+KzP-+0
9+L+N+-+-0
9P+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
44...Rc3!
This puts White in zugzwang, which breaks
the first blockade.
45.Kd4
45.Ke3 Kf5 46.Kd4 allows Black's king to
invade with 46...Kg4 47.Bd1 Kh4.
45...Kf5 46.Ne5
The alternativs also look shaky, e.g. 46.Ke3
Kg4 47.Bd1 Kh4; 46.Bd1 Ra3 47.Bb3 a4
48.Bc4 Rc3 49.Nb4 Rh3 50.Bb5 a3 51.Be8
Rh5 52.Bf7 Rh4.
46...Kf4?!
46...Rh3! was more precise, e.g. 47.Nf7 Rh5
48.Nd8 (48.Ne5 Rh3 49.Nd3 h5 50.Nc5 Rc3
51.Be6 Kf4) 48...Rh2 49.Ne6 (49.Ke3 a4
50.Ba4 Ra2; 49.Kd3 h5 50.Be6 Kf4 51.Nc6
h4 52.Na5 Ke5 53.Bc8 Kd6 54.Nc4 Kc7
55.Bf5 Ra2) 49...h5 50.Nc5 Kf4 and Black
has better winning chances than in the game.
47.Nf7 Rc6 48.Ba4?
The resulting blockade will not hold. The
surprising 48.Nh8!! was a better chance to
fight as the winning potential is very reduced
after 48...Kg5 49.Nf7 Kh5 50.Ne5 Rc1
51.Be6.
48...e5! 49.Kd5
FIDE Surveys – Karsten Müller
49.Ne5? Rd6–+.
49...Rf6 50.Nd6 Rf8 51.Bc2
51.Bc6 Rg8 52.Kc5 Rg1 53.Kb5 Ra1 54.Bd5
Rd1 55.Kc5 a4–+.
51...Ra8
The rook must be activated again later, so
the direct 51...Rg8!? is more precise, e.g.
52.Bg6 a4 53.Kc4 b3 54.ab3 a3 55.Kc3 e4
56.Ne4 Ra8–+.
52.Kc5 Rd8 53.Kc6?!
The defense 53.Bg6 is more tenacious, but
will not hold in the long run, e.g. 53...a4
54.Nb5 b3 55.ab3 ab3 56.Kc4 b2 57.Nc3
Ke3 58.Kb3 (58.Nb1 e4 59.Kc3 Rb8 60.Kc2
Kf3 61.Nd2 Kf4 62.Be4 b1Q 63.Nb1 Ke4–
+) 58...Kd2 59.Nb1 Kc1 60.Nc3 Rb8 61.Ka2
(61.Kc4 Rf8 62.Kd5 Rf3 63.Na2 Kd2
64.Ke5 Rf1 65.Nb4 b1Q 66.Bb1 Rb1–+)
61...Rb4 62.Ka3 Rb6 63.Ka2 Rf6 64.Be4
(64.Kb3 Rf3 65.Kc4 Rh3 66.Kb4 Re3
67.Kc4 e4 68.Be4 Re4 69.Ne4 b1Q–+)
64...Rf1 65.Bg6 Rf3 66.Nb5 Rf2 67.Bb1 e4–
+. 53.Kd5 Rg8–+ also wins in the long run.
However, not 53...e4? 54.Be4 Rd6 55.Kd6
Ke4 as the pawn ending is only drawn:
56.Kc5 Ke5 57.Kb5 Kd5 58.Ka5 Kc5=.
53...a4!?
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+KsN-+-zp0
9+-+-zp-+P0
9pzp-+-mk-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9P+L+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
This time Lenderman breaks the blockade
forcefully. The prosaic 53...Rg8 wins as
well: 54.Kb5 Rg2 55.Bb3 e4 56.Ka5 e3–+.
54.Ba4 e4 55.Kc5
4
55.Ne4 Ke4 56.Kc5 Rd5 57.Kb4 Rh5
58.Bc6 Kd4 59.a4 Rh2 60.a5 Rb2 61.Ka3
Rb1 62.Bf3 Kc5 63.Ka2 Rb5–+.
55...e3 56.Bb5
56.Bd1 Ra8 57.Kb4 Ra2 58.Nf7 Rd2–+
(Even 58...e2?! wins as the knight can not
escape after 59.Be2 Re2 60.Nh6 due to
60...Re7! 61.Ng8 Rg7 62.Nf6 Ke5 63.Ne8
Re7–+).
56...Ra8 57.Nc4
57.Bc4 is met by 57...Ra2 58.Ba2 e2 59.Kb4
e1Q 60.Kb5 Qd2–+.
57...e2 58.Nb2 Ra2 59.Nd3 Ke3 60.Kb4
Ra1 61.Kc5 Rh1 62.Nf4 e1Q 63.Ng2 Kf2
64.Ne1 Rh5 0:1.
C) The rook welcomes exchanges
When more pieces are on the board the rook
usually wants to exchange pieces. In the
following example I want to start a bit earlier
as the relevant postions are in the variations:
Hausner : Müller, Hamburg 1990
XIIIIIIIIY
47.Re1 is forced.
47...Nc4 48.Bc1!
After 48.Nc2? Bc2 again rook against two
minor pieces is on the board, but this time
White is lost as Black profits enormously
from the presence of the bishops.
48...Bc3 49.Nb5
This time 49.Rc2? Bd4–+ is a completely
trivial win.
49...Be2
49...Bb2? 50.Re1!+–.
50.Nc3 Bg4 51.Nd5 Be6 52.Nb4 Bf5 53.Kf2
Be4 54.Na6 Ke6 55.Nc5 Kd5 56.Nb3
56.Ne4? Ke4 57.Ke2 Kd4–+.
56...Bf5 57.Ke2 Bg6 58.Nd2 Nb6 59.Nf1
Kd4 60.Bb2 Ke4 61.Bc1 Kd4 62.Bb2 Ke4
63.Bc1 Bh5 64.Kf2?
64.Kd2 was forced, but Black keeps winning
chances after 64...Kf4.
64...Kd3! 65.Ne3 Bf7 66.a3 Na4 67.Ng2
Nc5 68.Ne1 Kc3 69.Ke3 Bg6 70.Bd2 Kb2
71.Nc2 Bc2–+
And Black won after some further moves
0:1.

9-+-+-+-+0 Exercises
9+-+-+kzp-0 Kotainy : Nisipeanu, Baden Baden 2012
9-+-sn-zp-+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+-+-+-0 9-+-+-+-+0
9-+-+lzPP+0 9+-+-+-+-0
9vl-+-vLN+-0 9-tR-+-+-+0
9P+p+-+K+0 9+-zP-+-+-0
9+-+-tR-+-0 9-+-mK-+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9zp-+-+l+-0
Black has enough compensation for the
exchange but not more. 9-sn-+-+-+0
45...Bb4 9+k+-+-+-0
But not 45...Nc4? 46.Bc1 Bc1 47.Rc1 Nd2
due to 48.Rc2! Nf3 49.Rc7 and only White xiiiiiiiiy
can harbor hopes to win as his rook is very How did White rescue himself?
strong on the open board.
46.Re2 Bd3 47.Nd4? 61.Kc3!

FIDE Surveys – Karsten Müller 5

This retreat paralyses Black. 61.c6? rushs
too much due to 61...a2 62.c7 Bg4 63.Ra6
a1Q 64.Ra1 Ka1 65.Kc5 Na4 66.Kc6 Bc8!
–+.
61...Bd5 62.c6 Bc6
62...a2?! 63.Rb2 Kc1=.
63.Rc6 a2 64.Ra6 Na4 65.Ra4 a1Q 66.Ra1
Ka1 ½.
Sagit : Gajewski, Stockholm 2011
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-mK-+0
9+-zP-+-+-0
9-+-+-vlk+0
9+-+-+-+p0
9-+-+R+-sn0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
What is White's highest priority?
81.Re4!
The only way to draw. After 81.c6? the two
pieces always manage to coordinate:
81...Kf3 82.Re1 (82.Rd2 Nf1 83.Rd7 h2
84.Rh7 Ne3 85.Ke6 Kg2 86.Kd7 Nd5
87.Rg7 Bg3–+) 82...Ng4 83.Ke7 Ne3
84.Kd7 Nd5 85.Rf1 Kg3 86.Rd1 h2 87.Rb1
Kg2 88.Rb2 Kh3 89.Rb3 Bg3 90.Rb1 Kg2
91.Rb2 Bf2 92.Rb1 Bg1 93.Rb2 Kf3 94.c7
Nc7 95.Rh2 Bh2–+.
81...Kf3 82.Kf5?
Now White's rook is outnumbered and
outgunned. The direct sacrifice 82.Rf4! leads
to a drawn pawn race: 82...Kf4 83.c6 Ng4
84.Ke6 Domination! 84...h2 85.c7 h1Q
86.c8Q Qe4 87.Kd6=.
82...Bg3! 83.Re7
83.c6 is met by 83...Nf1! 84.Rh4 (84.Rc4
Ne3–+) 84...Ne3 (84...Bh4 wins as well, e.g.
85.c7 h2 86.c8Q Ng3 (86...h1Q?? 87.Qb7
FIDE Surveys – Karsten Müller
Ke2 88.Qh1 Ng3 89.Kg4 Nh1 90.Kh4=)
87.Ke5 h1Q–+) 85.Ke6 h2 86.Rh3 Kg2
87.Rg3 Kg3 88.c7 h1Q 89.c8Q Qh3–+.
83...Ng4 84.Rh7 h2 85.c6 Ne3 86.Ke6 Kg2
87.Kd7
87.c7 is met by 87...Bc7 88.Rc7 h1Q–+.
87...Nd5!
The knight establishes a blockade and makes
the numerical superiority of Black's army
felt. Of course not 87...h1Q?? 88.Rh1 Kh1
89.c7 Nd5 90.c8Q Nb6 91.Kd8 Nc8
92.Kc8=.
88.Ke6 Nc7 0:1.
Kamsky : Anand, Sanghi Nagar 1994
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9p+-sn-mk-zp0
9zPpzpP+-+-0
9-+-+-mKP+0
9+lzPR+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
How to use White's rook?
49.Re3!
White's rook must be activated. 49.Rh3? Nf7
50.Rh5 (50.d6 Ke6–+; 50.Rd3 Ng5 51.Rd2
Bc4 52.Rd1 Nf7 53.Rd2 Ke7–+) 50...Ke7
51.Rf5 Ba2 52.Ke3 b4 53.cb4 cb4 54.Kd4
Nd6 55.Rf2 (55.Rf4 Nb5 56.Kd3 b3–+)
55...b3 56.Rb2 Kd7 57.Kc5 Ne4 58.Kd4 Nf6
59.Rd2 Kd6 60.Rh2 Ng4 61.Re2 Ne5 62.Rf2
h5 63.Rf6 Kd7 64.Ke5 b2–+; 49.Rd2? Bc4
50.Rd1 Nf7 51.d6 Ke6 52.d7 Ke7 53.Ke4
Be6–+.
49...Bd5 50.Re5 Bb7
50...Bg2 51.Rc5 Nc4 52.Rh5 Kg6 53.Rh2
Bd5 54.Re2 Na5 55.Rd2 Be6 56.Rd6=.
51.Rc5 Nc4 52.Rc7 Na5 53.Rh7 Kg6
6
54.Rd7 Black can defend with 35...Rd8 36.Rdb1 Kf8
XIIIIIIIIY 37.Rb8 Ke7=.
35...Rf8
9-+-+-+-+0 35...Nf3 36.Kh1 Be6 (36...Bd5 37.Rb8+–)
9+l+R+-+-0 37.d7 Bd7 38.Rd7 h5 39.Kg2 Nh4 40.Kf1
+–.
9p+-+-+kzp0 36.Rb8?
This is too slow. The direct 36.d7 is called
9snp+-+-+-0 for: 36...Be6 (36...Nf3 37.Kh1 Bd5
9-+-+-mKP+0 38.Rb8+–) 37.R1b6 Bf5 38.a5 Ne6 39.a6
Nc5 40.Rc7 Nd7 41.Rbb7 Ra8 42.a7 Kf7
9+-zP-+-+-0 43.Rb8 Ra7 44.Ra7+–.
9-+-+-+-+0 36...Be8?
Anand returns the favor. 36...Nb3! was the
9+-+-+-+-0 last chance to fight, e.g. 37.Rf8 Kf8 38.a5
xiiiiiiiiy Bd5 39.a6 Ke8 40.a7 Nd4 41.Rb8 Kd7
42.a8Q Ba8 43.Ra8 Kd6 and it is not clear, if
White's active rook can not be defeated. Black's fortress can be taken.
54...Bc8 55.Rd8 Be6 37.a5 Nf3
55...Bb7 56.Rd6 Kg7 57.Rd7=. 37...Bb5 38.R8b5 Nb5 39.Rb5 Kf7 40.Rb7
56.Rd6 Kf6 57.Ra6 Nc4 58.Rc6 Ne5 Ke6 41.d7 Kd6 42.a6 Kc6 43.h5 f5 44.Kf1
59.Rb6 Ra8 45.Ke2 Rf8 46.Kd3 Ra8 47.Kc4 Rd8
And a draw was agreed. One sample line 48.f4 e4 49.Kd4 Kd6 50.Rb5+–.
runs: 38.Kf1 Nd2 39.Ke1 Nb1 40.a6 Bc6 41.a7
59...Ng4 60.Rb5 Nf2 61.Rh5 Kg6 62.Rb5 Kf7 42.d7 Ke7 43.Rf8 Kd7 44.a8Q
h5 63.Rb6 Kf7 64.Re6 Ke6 65.Kg5 ½. Even 44.Rf7!? Ke6 45.Rg7 Na3 46.Rh7 Nc2
47.Kd2 Nd4 48.h5 wins as the two passed
Aronian : Anand, Morelia/Linares 2007 rook's pawns are too dangerous.
XIIIIIIIIY 44...Ba8 45.Ra8 h5?!
45...g6 is more tenacious, but White wins in
9-+r+-+k+0 the long run, e.g. 46.Ra7 Ke6 47.Rh7 Nc3
9+R+-+lzpp0 48.h5 gh5 49.Rh5+–.
46.Ra7 Ke6 47.Rg7 Kf5?! 48.Rg3
9-+-zP-zp-+0 And Black resigned as his knight is trapped.
9+-+-zp-+-0 1:0.

9P+-sn-+-zP0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-zP-zP0
9+-+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Find White's best winning chance!
35.Rdb1!
The rook should be activated! After 35.d7?

FIDE Surveys – Karsten Müller 7

Adrian Mikhalchishin: 19.Rh2 Qe1 20.Kg2 Be5. Main line was, of
course, the acceptance of sacrifice: 14.Kf2
Benoni - typical attacks Qh4 15.Kf1 Bd4 16.Nd1 Qh3 17.Bf3 Qh1
18.Ke2 Qh4.
14...Nb4 15.Qb1
The most important moment of the game is XIIIIIIIIY
a point,where both players starts to create
own plans after the openings.Every opening 9-trlwqr+k+0
has each own typical patterns and attacking 9zpp+-+pvlp0
ways.One of the most aggressive openings is 9-+-zp-+p+0
Benoni.I was a big fan of Benoni in my
young days,which was based on beautifull
9+-zpP+-+-0
wins of Tal and Fischer.One fantastic Tals 9-sn-+P+-+0
idea I was able to use in my practice. 9+-sN-+N+P0
9PzP-+LsnP+0
Turjan A. : Mikhalchishin A.
Lviv 1969
9tRQvL-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.Nc3 c5 5.d5 15...Bd4!
d6 6.e4 e6 7.Be2 ed5 8.cd5 0–0 9.0–0 Re8 Adding new fuel to the fire!
10.Qc2 Na6 11.Nd2 Rb8 12.Re1 16.Kh2
XIIIIIIIIY Another retreat 16.Kf1 would be met with
beautiful Knight move to the corner
9-trlwqr+k+0 16...Nh1!
9zpp+-+pvlp0 16...f5!
9n+-zp-snp+0 Everything as teached me game of great
9+-zpP+-+-0 Misha!
17.a3
9-+-+P+-+0
XIIIIIIIIY
9+-sN-+-+-0
9-trlwqr+k+0
9PzPQsNLzPPzP0
9zpp+-+-+p0
9tR-vL-tR-mK-0
9-+-zp-+p+0
xiiiiiiiiy
12...Ng4!
9+-zpP+p+-0
This is not only attacking move, preparing 9-sn-vlP+-+0
the way for Queen to h4, but very smart 9zP-sN-+N+P0
positional move, intending to exchange 9-zP-+LsnPmK0
Knights on e5, after the best White's plan
Nd2–c4.
9tRQvL-tR-+-0
13.h3? xiiiiiiiiy
This automatic move allows Black to launch Slightly better, but unsufficient would be
terrific attack on exposed White King. 17.Bb5 Rf8 18.Bh6 a6 19.a3 ab5 20.ab4 fe4
13...Nf2! 14.Nf3 21.Nd4 cd4 22.Ne4 Bf5 23.Bf8 Qf8.
I was preparing next variation to White's 17...fe4! 18.Nd4 cd4 19.Ne4
best defence: 14.Ba6 Nh3 15.gh3 Qg5 Hopeless would be 19.ab4 e3 20.Bf1 Qh4.
16.Kh1 Qg3! 17.Re2 ba6 18.Rg2 Qh4 19...Re4 20.ab4 d3 0:1.

FIDE Surveys – Adrian Mikhalchishin 1

Gurgenidze B. : Tal M. Evacuation of White King leads to material
Moscow 1957 losses. 23.Ke2 Rae8 24.Ra3 Qf4 25.Kd1 Bc4
26.Qc4 Be3.
It is the game, which was inspiration to my 23...Rae8 24.Bd2
achievment. XIIIIIIIIY
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 ed5 5.cd5 9-+-+r+k+0
d6 6.Nf3 g6 7.e4 Bg7 8.Be2 0–0 9.0–0 Re8
10.Nd2 Na6 11.Re1 Nc7 12.a4 b6 13.Qc2 9zp-sn-+-+p0
Ng4 14.h3? 9lzp-zp-+p+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-zpPtr-+-0
9r+lwqr+k+0 9P+Nvl-+-+0
9zp-sn-+pvlp0 9tR-+-sNL+-0
9-zp-zp-+p+0 9-zPQvL-+Pwq0
9+-zpP+-+-0 9+-+-tRK+-0
9P+-+P+n+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-sN-+-+P0 Did not help 24.Rd3 Nd5 25.Rd4 cd4
9-zPQsNLzPP+0 26.Bd5 Rd5 27.Qd3 Qh1 28.Ke2 Qg2
29.Kd1 de3.
9tR-vL-tR-mK-0 24...Nd5! 25.Bd5
xiiiiiiiiy Terrific attack was continued after 25.Qc1
Clearly better was developing 14.Nc4. Ne3 26.Be3 Re3 27.Ree3 Qh1 28.Ke2 Qc1.
14...Nf2!! 15.Kf2 Qh4 16.Kf1 25...Rd5 26.Ke2 Be3 27.Re3 Bc4 0:1.
Even worse was 16.g3 Bd4 17.Kf3 Qh5.
16...Bd4 17.Nd1 Qh3! 18.Bf3 Qh2 Romanchenko V. : Agapov K.
XIIIIIIIIY Leningrad 1981
9r+l+r+k+0
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 ed5 5.cd5
9zp-sn-+p+p0 d6 6.Nf3 g6 7.Nd2 Nbd7 8.e4 Bg7 9.Be2 0–
9-zp-zp-+p+0 0 10.0–0 Re8 11.Re1 Nb6 12.a4 Bd7
9+-zpP+-+-0 13.Qc2 Ng4 14.a5 Nc8 15.h3
9P+-vlP+-+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+-+L+-0 9r+nwqr+k+0
9-zPQsN-+Pwq0 9zpp+l+pvlp0
9tR-vLNtRK+-0 9-+-zp-+p+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9zP-zpP+-+-0
19.Ne3 9-+-+P+n+0
Did not help 19.Nf2 Nd5!! 20.ed5 Re1 9+-sN-+-+P0
21.Ke1 Qg1 22.Nf1 Ba6. 9-zPQsNLzPP+0
19...f5!
Typical move in such situation, with the idea 9tR-vL-tR-mK-0
to open f file and to increase pressure on e4 xiiiiiiiiy
pawn. 15...Nf2!
20.Ndc4 fe4 21.Be4 Ba6 22.Bf3 Re5 The same typical sacrifice!
23.Ra3 16.Kf2
FIDE Surveys – Adrian Mikhalchishin 2
Better was not to defend, but to try to get XIIIIIIIIY
some compensation and to sacrifice two 9r+-wqr+k+0
pawns. 16.Nf3 Bc3 17.bc3 Ne4 18.Bd3 Ng3
19.Re8 Qe8 20.c4. 9zpp+l+pvlp0
16...Bd4 17.Kf1 Qh4 18.Nd1 9-+-zp-snp+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-zpP+-+-0
9r+n+r+k+0 9P+-+PzPn+0
9zpp+l+p+p0 9+-sN-+-+-0
9-+-zp-+p+0 9-zPQsNL+PzP0
9zP-zpP+-+-0 9tR-vL-+RmK-0
9-+-vlP+-wq0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+-+-+P0 15.Nc4?
9-zPQsNL+P+0 Correct was to return Knight back to protect
own King: 15.Nf3 c4 16.Bc4 Qb6 17.Kh1
9tR-vLNtRK+-0 Rac8 18.Bd3 Nh5, with unclear play.
xiiiiiiiiy 15...Ne4!! 16.Ne4 Bd4 17.Kh1
18...Bh3 XIIIIIIIIY
More dangerous for White was 18...Qh3! 9r+-wqr+k+0
19.Bf3 Qh2 20.Nc4 f5 21.Nf2 Ne7 and
Black pieces will slowly come closer to 9zpp+l+p+p0
White King. 9-+-zp-+p+0
19.Ra3 9+-zpP+-+-0
Possible was 19.Ra4, trying to eliminate 9P+NvlNzPn+0
terrible Bishop on d4.
19...Bg4? 9+-+-+-+-0
Very serious option would be 19...Bf5 9-zPQ+L+PzP0
20.Bf3 b5. 9tR-vL-+R+K0
20.Ne3? xiiiiiiiiy
Returning favour, but White had very
After better option 17.Nf2 Qh4 18.Bg4 Bg4
serious option here: 20.Bg4 Qh1 21.Ke2
19.g3 Qh5 20.Be3 Re3 21.Ne3 Be3 22.Rae1
Qg2 22.Nf2 f5 23.Bf3 Qf2 24.Kd1 Ne7
Bd4 Black has very good compensation for
25.Nc4 with winning chances.
exchange.
20...Qh1 21.Kf2 Qh4 ½.
17...Nh2!! 18.Ng5
18.g3 Nf1 19.Bf1 Bf5 20.Bd3 Be4 21.Be4 f5
Evdokimov A. : Volokitin A.
22.Bf3 Re1 23.Kg2 Rg1 24.Kh2 Qf8! attack
Moscow 2008
is very dangerous.
18...Nf1 19.Bf1 Re1 20.Nd2
Modern young players profit from legacy of
After 20.Qd3 Bf5 21.Qf3 h6 22.Nh3 Be4
great players too.
white Queen has no place.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 d6 5.Nc3
20...Qf8 21.Ra3 Qh6 22.Rh3
ed5 6.cd5 g6 7.Nd2 Bg7 8.e4 0–0 9.Be2
Does not help 22.Nh3 Bh3 23.Rh3 Qf4.
Re8 10.0–0 Nbd7 11.a4 Ne5 12.Qc2 Bg4
22...Bh3 23.Nh3 Qh5 24.Kh2 Qd1
13.f3 Bd7 14.f4 Neg4
0:1.

FIDE Surveys – Adrian Mikhalchishin 3

Gheorghiu F. : Li Be2–+) 24...Qh1=.
Luzern 1982 23.Qd3 h4
XIIIIIIIIY
There are few other kinds of typical Benoni 9r+-+r+k+0
attacks.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 ed5 5.cd5 9+p+-+p+-0
d6 6.Nf3 g6 7.Nd2 Nbd7 8.e4 Bg7 9.Be2 0– 9p+-+-+-+0
0 10.0–0 Re8 11.a4 Ne5 12.Re1 a6 13.f4?! 9+-+P+p+-0
Correct was to protect own King flank 9P+-+-zPnzp0
13.Nf1!? Rb8 14.f4 Neg4 15.h3 Nh6 16.Bf3
Nd7 17.g4±. 9+-+Q+L+-0
13...Neg4 14.Bf3 h5! 15.Nc4 9-zP-+-sNPwq0
XIIIIIIIIY 9tR-vL-+K+-0
9r+lwqr+k+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+p+-+pvl-0 24.Qf5??
9p+-zp-snp+0 Experienced Romanian IGM was close to
winning this game here! 24.Bd2+–.
9+-zpP+-+p0 24...Qg1!! 25.Kg1 Re1# 0:1.
9P+N+PzPn+0
9+-sN-+L+-0 Danielian E. : Cmilyte V.
9-zP-+-+PzP0 Tbilisi 2011
9tR-vLQtR-mK-0 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 ed5 5.cd5 g6
xiiiiiiiiy 6.g3 d6 7.Bg2 Bg7 8.0–0 0–0 9.Nc3 Re8
15...Ne4! 10.Nd2 a6 11.a4 Nbd7 12.Nc4 Ne5
This sacrifice opens the way for Bishop g7. XIIIIIIIIY
16.Re4 9r+lwqr+k+0
Much worse was 16.Ne4 Bd4 17.Be3
(17.Kh1 Re4; 17.Ne3 Bf5) 17...Ne3 18.Ne3 9+p+-+pvlp0
Bf5. 9p+-zp-snp+0
16...Bd4 17.Rd4 9+-zpPsn-+-0
This Bishop must be destroyed! 9P+N+-+-+0
17...cd4 18.Ne4 Qh4 19.Ncd6
Another option was not better 19.h3 Bf5 9+-sN-+-zP-0
20.Ncd6 Be4 21.Ne4 Re4 22.Be4 Re8–+. 9-zP-+PzPLzP0
19...Qh2 20.Kf1 Bf5! 21.Nf5 9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
Very bad was 21.Nf2? Nf2 22.Kf2 Qh4 xiiiiiiiiy
23.Kf1 Bd3 24.Qd3 Re1#.
13.Na3
21...gf5?
I don't like this smart plan: to avoid
Now winning immediately was 21...Re4!
exchanges, White places her knight on the
22.Nh6 Nh6 23.Be4 Re8 24.Bf3 Ng4 25.Bg4
edge.I remembered my old game here with
hg4–+.
the first great Uzbek grandmaster: 13.Ne5
22.Nf2! d3?
Re5 14.h3 Re8 15.Bf4 Rb8 16.a5 b5 17.ab6
Another mistake in sharp position.Correct
Rb6 18.Qc2 Qc7 19.Rfc1 Qb8 20.Ra2 Nd7
was: 22...Nf2 23.Kf2 Qh4 24.Kf1 (24.g3
21.g4 Ne5 22.e3 h6 23.Bf1 Re7 24.Be2 f5
Qh2 25.Bg2 h4 26.gh4 Qh4 27.Kf1 d3 and
25.g5 hg5 26.Bg5 Reb7 27.Na4 Rb4 28.f4
FIDE Surveys – Adrian Mikhalchishin 4
Nf7! 29.Ba6 Ng5 30.fg5 Ra7 31.Bc8 Qc8 17.Kh2
32.Nb6 Qb7 33.Ra7 Qa7 34.Nc4 Qe7 17.a5 was better: 17...b5 (17...Qa5 - this
35.Kh1 Qg5 36.Qf2 f4 37.Qf3 fe3 38.Rg1 risky business is not recommended: 18.Ncb5
Qh6 39.Ne3 Rb2 40.Ng4 Qh4 41.Qe3 Kh7 Qb6 19.Be3) 18.ab6 Qb6 19.Nc2 Nf7
42.Ra1 Rb4 43.Rg1 c4, 0:1, Agzamov : 20.Be3 Re3 21.Ne3 Ng3, but here Black has
Mikhalchishin, Moscow 1972. a very serious dynamic compensation for the
13...Nh5! exchange.
A correct attacking move - quiet 17...Rb8 18.Nc2
development is not possible here. XIIIIIIIIY
14.h3 f5 15.Bd2 9-tr-wqr+k+0
Other moves have been tried here, but
without real success. 9+p+l+-vlp0
15.Kh2 g5 (15...Bd7 16.f4 Nf7 17.Nc4 b5 9p+-zp-+p+0
18.ab5 ab5 19.Ra8 Qa8 20.Nb6 Qb7 21.Nd7 9+-+Psnp+n0
Qd7 22.e4 b4 23.Ne2 Nf6 24.ef5 gf5 25.Qd3 9P+p+-+-+0
Nh6 26.b3 Qf7 27.Bf3 Qg6 28.Rf2 Ne4
29.Rg2 Nf6 30.Kh1 Nhg4 31.Ng1 Nh6 9+-sN-+-zPP0
32.Kh2 Nhg4 33.Kh1 Nh6 34.Kh2 Nhg4, ½, 9-zPNvLPzPLmK0
Anastasian A. : Evdokimov A., Moscow 9+R+Q+R+-0
2007; 15...f4!? 16.gf4 Qh4 17.fe5 Be5 18.f4 xiiiiiiiiy
Qg3 19.Kh1 Bh3! 20.Rg1 Nf4) 16.e4 g4
It was still preferable to fix Black's pawns on
17.f4 gf3 18.Bf3 Nf6 19.Bg2 Ne4 20.Ne2
the queenside: 18.a5.
b5, 0:1, Raetsky A. : Arun Prasad S., Abu
18...f4!? 19.Bf4
Dhabi 2010;
Nor was it much better trying 19.gf4 Qh4
15.e4 b5! 16.Ne2 (16.ab5 ab5 17.Ncb5 Ba6)
20.fe5 Be5 21.f4 Qg3 22.Kh1 Bh3 23.Ne1
16...fe4 17.Be4 Bh3 18.Bg2 Bg4 19.f3 Bd7
Bg2 24.Ng2 Qh3 25.Kg1 Bc3 26.Rf3 Ng3
20.g4 Ng4–+, 0:1, Stecko O : Bangiev A.,
27.Rg3 Bd4 28.e3 Qg3 29.ed4 Re4.
USSR 1971;
19...Nf4 20.gf4 Qh4
15.f4?! Nf7 (15...Ng3 looks to be very
strong: 16.fe5 Nf1 17.Qf1 b5!) 16.Kh2 Nf6 XIIIIIIIIY
17.Nc4 Bd7 18.a5 Qc7 19.Ra2 Re7 20.b3 9-tr-+r+k+0
Rae8 21.Bb2 Bb5 22.Qa1 Bc4 23.bc4 Re3 9+p+l+-vlp0
24.Rf3 Nh5 25.Re3 Re3 26.Bf3 Qe7 27.Qc1 9p+-zp-+p+0
Bd4 28.Ba1 Ng5 29.fg5 Qe5 30.Kh1 Ng3
31.Kg2 Nh5 32.Kf1 Qg3 33.Nd1 Rc3, 0:1, 9+-+Psn-+-0
Bernasek J. : Philippe C., Brno 2008. 9P+p+-zP-wq0
15...Bd7 16.Rb1 9+-sN-+-+P0
Or 16.Qc2 Rf8 with the idea f5–f4. 9-zPN+PzPLmK0
16...c4!?
Also possible is aggressive development 9+R+Q+R+-0
with 16...g5 17.e4 g4 18.Nc2? (18.hg4 fg4 xiiiiiiiiy
19.Be3 Qa5 did not achieve much) 18...fe4 21.fe5?
19.Be4 Rf8 20.Kh1 Qe8 21.Ne3 Nf6 22.Bc2 Black kept a dangerous initiative after
Nf3 23.h4 Qe5, 0:1, Delemarre J. : 21.Qd2 Bh6 22.e3 Nf3 23.Bf3 Qh3 24.Kg1
Stellwagen D., Leeuwarden 2003. Qf3.
Allowing White to follow her own plan is a 21...Qf4 22.Kg1 Be5 0:1.
bit too slow: 16...Rb8 17.b4 Qc7 18.b5.

FIDE Surveys – Adrian Mikhalchishin 5

Dejan Bojkov:
Know-how in the Pawn endgames
Concept
The knowledge of exact positions is the
cornerstone in the understanding of the
pawn endgames. The pawn endgames have
their own specifics. Contrary to the other
endgames where we can use approximate
evaluations like slightly better/worse or
much better/worse without definite
conclusion, in the pawn endgames we use
only three evaluations - win/draw/loss.
The lack of material enables us to calculate
the lines till the end but this is easier said
than done. At the end of the game players
are usually tired and tend to make more
mistakes. The time troubles also do not
contribute to the proper calculations.
To sum the things up - pawn endgames can
be easily compared to mathematical task
where you have only one true answer. In
order to find this answer the knowledge of
a concrete theorem is needed in
mathematics, while in chess that would be
the knowledge of a concrete exact position.
Let's have a look of a case where one of
the opponents is lacking essential exact
knowledge. The following game was
played at the first Metropolitan open
tournament in Los Angeles three years ago.
Langer M. : Panjwani R.
Los Angeles 2011
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+p+p+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-zP-+-0
9-+-mK-+-+0
9+-+-+-mk-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The player who has the white pieces is a
strong national master Mikhail Langer. His
opponent is a young and promising IM
FIDE Surveys – Dejan Bojkov
from Canada, Raja Panjwani. It was
actually Raja who showed me the game
immediately after it was over. It is a
strange coincidence as you will see in a
moment. In the diagrammed position
White chose the natural looking:
80.Ke3?
The most natural reply appears to be the
first and the last mistake in the endgame.
The normal opposition is wrong here as
White cannot keep it up on all the squares.
White needed to choose the distant
opposition - 80.Kc3! This was the only
way to draw. For example: 80...Kf4
81.Kd4 Kf3 82.Kd3 Kg2 83.Kc2 Kg1
84.Kc1 Kf2 85.Kd2 Kf3 86.Kd3 Kf4
87.Kd4 Kf5 88.Kd5, when Black can make
no progress and the game should end in a
draw - 88...f6 89.exf6 Kxf6 90.Kd6. On the
other hand, the immediate aggression is
wrong on the account of 80.Kd5? Kf3–+.
Black wins the diagonal opposition and
outflanks the opponent's king: 81.Kd4 Kf4
82.Kd5 Ke3 83.Kd6 Ke4 84.Kd7 Ke5–+.
Also wrong is 80.Ke4? Kg4 81.Ke3 Kf5
82.Kd4 Kf4, which transposes to the
previous note - 83.Kd5 Ke3 84.Kd6 Ke4
85.Kd7 Ke5–+.
The many lines in which White could have
gone wrong should convince you that
things are not as simple as they look. The
game saw:
80...Kg4 81.Ke4 Kg5
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+p+p+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-zP-mk-0
9-+-+K+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Now White can not maintain the vital
normal opposition as the e5 square is not
available for his king.
82.Kd4
82.Ke3 Kf5 83.Kd4 Kf4 84.Kd5 Ke3–+.
1
82...Kf4 Let us see now how the know-how can
Opposition. help us save points.
83.Kd5 Ke3
Outflanking. White resigned due to the Lalic B. : Gurevich M.
line: 83...Ke3 84.Kc5 Ke4 85.Kd6 Kd4 Metz 2012
86.Kd7 Ke5 87.Ke7 f5–+. 0:1. XIIIIIIIIY
(Notes by Karsten Mueller are used in the 9-+-+-+-+0
annotations.)
Panjwani did his homework which cannot 9+-+-+k+-0
be said for his opponent. He knew long 9-+-+-+-+0
before the game the following classical 9+-+-+-tRp0
example: 9-tr-+-+-zP0
Neustadtl, 1890 9+-+-+-zP-0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-+-+-+0
9-+-+-+-+0 9+-+-+K+-0
9+-+-+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+-+-+-+0 At a glance it seems as Black is lost. He
cannot defend the h pawn and the two
9+-+-zp-zp-0 passers should win easily. However, the
9-+-+-+-+0 famous player and renown coach replied
9+-+-+P+-0 with the cool:
9-+-+-+K+0 44...Rg4!
It seems insane to allow a pawn endgame
9+-+k+-+-0 when beind down a pawn. On the top of
xiiiiiiiiy that the extra pawn is a defended passer.
1.Kh1 Still after:
Distant opposition saves the day. Once 45.Rg4 hg4=
again bad is the normal one - 1.Kf1? Kd2 A textbook draw is achieved. Lalic tried to
2.Kf2 Kd3 3.Kg3 Ke3 4.Kg2 Ke2 5.Kg3 win for a while:
Kf1–+. Outflanking! 46.Ke2 Ke6
1...Kd2 Distant opposition.
Black has one more resource in his 47.Kd3 Kd5
disposal: 1...g4 but after 2.Kg2 the draw is Normal opposition.
inevitable: 2...gf3+ (Or 2...Ke2 3.fg4 e4 48.Kc3
4.g5 e3 5.g6 Kd2 6.g7 e2 7.g8Q e1Q=) The black king can no longer follow the
3.Kf3 Kd2 4.Ke4. opponent but there is a neat solution.
2.Kh2 Kd3 3.Kh3 Ke3 4.Kg3 Ke2 5.Kg2 48...Ke5!
Ke1 6.Kg1 ½. Bishop opposition. From here the black
king is ready to take the normal opposition
The lack of know-how prevented Langer no matter which direction the white king
of saving the half point after a tough and will choose. 48...Kc5?? 49.h5.
accurate resistance. Panjwani on the other 49.Kb4
hand knew the position and if the colours 49.Kd3 Kd5 only repeats moves. 49.Kc4
were reversed he would have easily saved Ke4=.
the game. The knowledge helped him in 49...Kd4 50.Ka3
the game as well as he knew exactly how Once again the black king is limited to the
to win after his opponent committed a square of the h pawn, but Gurevic uses the
mistake. familiar method:

FIDE Surveys – Dejan Bojkov 2

50...Ke5! Sveshnikov demonstrates knowledge. He
You can name this dstant bishop could have kept the pawn on g7 and only
opposition if you like. after White captures it he can play Ke7
51.Ka4 Ke4 which would also be a draw.
Normal distant opposition. 52.Kg5 Ke5 53.Kg4 Ke4 54.Kg3 Ke5
52.Ka5 Ke5 53.Ka6 Ke6 54.Ka7 Ke7 55.Kf3 Kd5 56.Kf2 Ke6 57.Ke2 Kd6
55.Kb7 Kd7 56.Kb6 Kd6 ½. 58.Kf3 Kd5 59.Kg3 Ke5 60.Kh4 Kd4
Gurevich did not have to invent the hot 61.Kh3 Kd5 62.Kg2 Kd6 63.Kf2 Ke6
water. He knew the following position: 64.Kg2 Kd6 65.Kh3 Kd5 66.Kh4 Kd4
67.Kh5 Kd5 68.Kh6 Kd6 69.Kh7 Kd7
Grigoriev, 1922 70.Kg6 Ke6 71.Kg5 Ke5 72.Kg4 Ke4
XIIIIIIIIY 73.Kg3 Ke5 74.Kf3 Kd5 ½.
9-+-+-+-+0 Try finding this over the board after a tense
four-five hour game. To make things even
9+-+-+-+-0 spicier, imagine that this is a day with a
9-+-+-+-+0 double round, this is your second game and
9+-+-mk-+-0 you have played the same four-five
9Pzp-+-+-+0 hours…
Let us see now how know-how will help us
9+P+-+K+-0 win points:
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 Uhlmann W. : Tania S.
xiiiiiiiiy Podebrady 2012
1...Kd5!
XIIIIIIIIY
Bishop opposition. 9-+-+-+-+0
2.Kf4 Kd4 3.Kg4 Ke4 4.Kg3 Ke5 9+-+-+-+-0
Bishop opposition again. Whenever the 9p+-+k+-zp0
normal opposition does not work, the
defender should use the bishop one. 9zP-zp-+p+P0
5.Kf3 Kd5 6.a5 Kc5 7.Ke4 Kb5 8.Kd5 9-+-zp-mK-+0
Ka5 9.Kc4 Ka6! 10.Kb4 Kb6 ½. 9+-+P+-+-0
9-+-+PzP-+0
You are not yet convinced? Then check
this out: 9+-+-+-+-0
Andriasian Z. : Sveshnikov V. xiiiiiiiiy
Cappelle la Grande 2012 The legendary German player Wolfgang
XIIIIIIIIY Uhlmann won the East German
9-+-+-+-+0 championships eleven times and was a
world championship contender in his best
9+-+-+-zp-0 years. At the time that this game is played
9-+-+k+-+0 though he is 77 (!) years old. This is the
9+-+-+-+-0 main reason why in a very complex
9Pzp-+-mK-+0 position he blundered with:
47.e3??
9+P+-+-+-0 This allowed a break-through:
9-+-+-+-+0 47...c4! 48.dc4 d3 49.Kf3 Ke5
9+-+-+-+-0 And White resigned due to the zugzwang:
xiiiiiiiiy 49...Ke5 50.e4 f4 51.c5 Ke6–+. 0:1.
As it was pointed out in Chess Today,
51...g5!
Uhlmann missed a win.

FIDE Surveys – Dejan Bojkov 3

 He did not have to. All he needed to do
XIIIIIIIIY was to remember the following study:
9-+-+-+-+0
Grigoriev, 1927
9+-+-+-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9p+-+k+-zp0 9-+-+-+-+0
9zP-zp-+p+P0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-zp-mK-+0 9p+-+-+-zp0
9+-+P+-+-0 9zP-+-mk-+P0
9-+-+PzP-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+K+-+-+0
Things should have ended differently after:
47.e4! de3 9+-+-+-+-0
47...c4 48.dc4. xiiiiiiiiy
48.fe3 Kf6 49.e4! 1.Kc3!
White wants to trade the central pawns to 1.Kd3? Kd5=.
reach a theoretically won endgame. 1...Kd5
49...fe4 50.de4 c4 51.e5 Ke6 52.Ke4 c3 1...Kf5 2.Kc4 Kg5 3.Kc5 Kxh5 4.Kb6 Kg4
53.Kd3 Ke5 5.Ka6 h5 6.Kb6 h4 7.a6 h3 8.a7 h2
Nothing changes: 53...Kf5 54.Kc3 Ke5 9.a8Q+–; 1...Ke6 2.Kc4.
55.Kc4 Kd6 56.Kd4+–. 2.Kd3 Kc5 3.Ke4 Kb5 4.Kf5 Ka5 5.Kg6
54.Kc3! Kb4 6.Kh6 a5 7.Kg6 a4 8.h6 a3 9.h7 a2
XIIIIIIIIY 10.h8Q 1:0.
9-+-+-+-+0
The solution of the problem would be the
9+-+-+-+-0 proper equipment with a base of
9p+-+-+-zp0 knowledge. You do not need to know
9zP-+-mk-+P0 every single endgame by heart. It is hardly
9-+-+-+-+0 possible (except perhaps for a genius like
Ivanchuk), but more importantly it is not
9+-mK-+-+-0 worth memorizing countless endgames,
9-+-+-+-+0 which are very unlikely to happen.
9+-+-+-+-0 On the other hand each player should owe
xiiiiiiiiy an existence minimum of exact positions in
every major endgame (pawns above all but
Yet another case of a bishop opposition!
also knight/bishop/rook/queen) endgames.
The space advantage and the geometry of
This will help the players a chance to
the board work in White's favour and he
orientate in most of the situations, will
wins no matter which pawn Black will go
suggest them which pieces to trade and
for.
which to keep and naturally will support
54...Kd5
the calculation.
54...Kf5 55.Kc4 Kg5 56.Kc5 Kh5 57.Kb6
Best of luck in building your own memory
Kg4 58.Ka6 h5 59.Kb6 h4 60.a6 h3 61.a7
library!
h2 62.a8Q+–.
55.Kd3 Kc5 56.Ke4 Kb5 57.Kf5 Ka5
58.Kg6 Kb4 59.Kh6 a5 60.Kg6 a4 61.h6
a3 62.h7 a2 63.h8Q+– .
How could Uhlmann calculate that deep

FIDE Surveys – Dejan Bojkov 4

Sam Palatnik: XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
Stereotype of thinking 9zppwqnvlpzpp0
9-+pzp-sn-+0
Andrews : Palatnik 9+-+-zp-vL-0
Nashville 1997
9P+-zPP+-+0
My opponent in it game - Todd Andrews 9+LsN-+N+-0
is young, capable and already rather 9-zPP+QzPPzP0
strong chess fighter. What that time I
took part in his chess education,
9tR-+-mK-+R0
therefore I can with a known share of xiiiiiiiiy
definiteness note his lacks shown in the Earlier in this book we already paid
game, offered to your attention. If a attention on advantages and lacks of a
chess to perceive only as an opportunity similar sort of hits by Bishop, now we
to earn superfluous 50 – 100 dollars in speed can speak about the responsibility
the next tournament, under influence of for such move. The whole tempo is used
this primary purpose is possible perhaps and it is necessary to be sure that with
only "to find one's feet", but occurs in the greatest effect, but Bishop can at a
game excessive stereotype of thinking, case will be subjected to an attack of a
the imagination grows dull and deeper Pawn h6, which thus with tempo will be
penetration into secrets of a chess connected to protection of a square g5.
position becomes more and more heavier Besides if in given conditions the Knight
and not habitual business. My opponent would like will be connected to attack of
did not make large mistakes, but all his a square f7, except for how to sit on a
game concept, which can be slightly head of Bishop located in a square g5,
cynical but quite effectively works on anything more really to not think up.
raise of points and bucks in competition 9...b6 10.0–0 a6 11.Rad1?!
with the poorly prepared contenders was This arising move allows Black to carry
not justified in this game. It is not out movement b6-b5, not defining while
enough only to make quickly good kind a situation of Bishop c8. The trifle, but
of moves and to wait for a mistake of the it's pleasant!
opponent! At chess except for struggle 11...b5 12.Rd2?!
there should necessarily be creativity. XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.Nf3 e5 9+-wqnvlpzpp0
5.Bc4 Be7 6.Bb3 c6 7.a4
It is necessary to make this move 9p+pzp-sn-+0
immediately, differently Black will 9+p+-zp-vL-0
supply to itself an opportunity of an 9P+-zPP+-+0
active contra game on the Queen flank
by b7-b5.
9+LsN-+N+-0
7...Qc7 8.Qe2 0–0 9.Bg5?! 9-zPPtRQzPPzP0
9+-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

FIDE Surveys – Sam Palatnik 1

What game it is possible still to name By this "calming" move Black creates
"rectilinear"? irresistible threats of reception of
12...h6!? material advantage. Practically game is
Has come it is time to obtain from white decided.
Bishop of those promises, which he has 22. Qd1 Ba6 23.Nce2
given on his move. It is the most White has corrected the position from
favorable moment for this purpose, as the packed pieces on a diagonal a6-h1.
the deviation of Bishop on his "native" But in flexibility of a pawn's line many
diagonal is not supposed, and from a troubles for the opponent are
square h4 he will "annoyingly" work on incorporated.
the Knight f3. 23...c5–+ 24.Rd2
13.Bh4 Re8 14.Kh1?! Or 24.Nf5 c4
After that "strong" move the black 24...cd4 25.Nd4 b4 26.Re1 Rad8
Knight has time to slip on the King side 27.Nf5 Rd2 28.Qxd2 Rd8 29.Qf2
and it will be possible to consider that XIIIIIIIIY
the potential opportunities incorporated 9-+-tr-vlk+0
in a Philidor Defense completely are
realized in the given game. 9+-wq-+pzp-0
14...Nf8 15.de5 de5 16.Bg3 Ng6 9l+-+-sn-zp0
17.Nd4?! 9+-+-+N+-0
This move is made not from faith in the 9-zp-+Pzp-+0
light future, but first of all to not give
this Knight to feel lonely on the King 9+L+-+P+-0
side. 9-zPP+-wQPzP0
17...Bb4! 9+-+-tR-+K0
Glory of "neutralization" of the Knight xiiiiiiiiy
c3 it will be necessary to share under the
29...Bc8!?
right with Philidor and Dr. Tarrash.
It is necessary to exchange the active
18.ab5
Knight and to force the opponent to
Only move, if 18.Rfd1 Bc3 19.bc3 c5
recognize inevitable.
20.Nf5 c4 21.Ba2 - how we can call the
30.Qh4 Bf5 31.ef5 Bc5
Bishop a2?
At this Bishop in this game was some
18...ab5 19.Rd3 Nf4 20.Bf4 ef4 21.f3
cases to show the beautiful waddle.
XIIIIIIIIY 0:1.
9r+l+r+k+0
9+-wq-+pzp-0
9-+p+-sn-zp0
9+p+-+-+-0
9-vl-sNPzp-+0
9+LsNR+P+-0
9-zPP+Q+PzP0
9+-+-+R+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
21...Bf8!

FIDE Surveys – Sam Palatnik 2

Miguel Illescas: 3…Bg7
And the same thing can be said for Black.
This setup can transpose to different
A slow sacrifice? Think twice!
openings and defenses.
Please, study the following game without XIIIIIIIIY
annotations, and try to understand the logic 9rsnlwqk+ntr0
behind each move. Later, you can compare
your thoughts with those of the author.
9zpp+pzppvlp0
9-+-+-+p+0
Kantans T. : Illescas Cordoba M. 9+-zp-+-+-0
Tromso 2014
1.Nf3 c5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.d4 cd4 5.Nd4 9-+-+-+-+0
Nc6 6.Nb3 d6 7.Nc3 Be6 8.0–0 Bc3 9.bc3 9+-+-+NzP-0
Qd7 10.Re1 Bh3 11.Bh1 h5 12.Nd4 h4
13.Rb1 hg3 14.hg3 Rc8 15.Nc6 bc6 16.Qd4
9PzPPzPPzPLzP0
e5 17.Qa4 Be6 18.Bg2 Nf6 19.Rb8 Rb8 9tRNvLQmK-+R0
20.Bc6 Rh1 21.Kh1 Bd5 22.Kg1 Qc6
23.Qh4 Qc3 24.Rf1 Nh5 25.g4 Rb4 26.f3
xiiiiiiiiy
Nf4 27.Qh8 Kd7 28.Bf4 Rf4 0:1. 4.d4?!
According to my knowledge, this is not the
We will deal with each of the moves, with a best moment to break open the center, since
clear preference for text explanations over Black will win some tempi by quickly
long variations. Having been the protagonist attacking d4. The flexible 4.0–0 would have
of the game, I will be able to convey the been wiser. Also good were 4.e4 or 4.c4
thoughts of a grandmaster quite accurately. transposing to other lines.
1.Nf3 4…cd4
My opponent decides against his normal Although this capture is optional, in this case
1.e4 and goes for a closed setup in which he it is logical: that was precisely why I put the
has less experience. He is paying a high pawn on c5!
price to surprise me. 5.Nd4
Forced: otherwise White may just be a pawn
1...c5
As I had prepared the Sicilian for this game, down.
I was ready to meet 2.e4. 5…Nc6!
2.g3 Now we can see the difference with other
The fianchetto is a solid option, guaranteeing variations of the English Opening, in which
White a harmonious development of his the black knight is already on f6. There,
kingside. White can continue with his development.
2…g6 But now, he has to deal with the attack on
I also decided to fianchetto my kingside his knight.
bishop. This leads to slow play, allowing 6.Nb3
White to have a free hand in the center, but After 6.Nc6 bc6 7.0–0 Rb8 8.Nd2 Nf6
black keeps great flexibility for 9.Nb3 Qc7 10.Bd2 d6 11.Ba5 Qd7 black was
development. ok in Illescas M. : Gheorghiu F., Badalona
3.Bg2 1982.
For obvious reasons, this move is played 6…d6!?
automatically after g3. After a brief reflection I decided to play this
move, leading the game towards typical
FIDE Surveys – Miguel Illescas 1
Sicilian Dragon structures. Natural was
6...Nf6 which would guarantee comfortable
equality but as we shall see, I had a very
agressive idea in my mind.
7.Nc3
A normal developing move. However, as we
shall see it has a very specific inconvenient.
If 7.0–0 I would have continued with
7...Be6 with similar ideas than in the game.
7…Be6
I used up nearly ten minutes to play this
move. My original idea was to capture on c3
immediately 7...Bc3!? 8.bc3 but it seemed to
me that in White could delay castling in
order to accelerate his play on the queenside
with 9.Nd4 and 10.Rb1.
8.0–0
At last my opponent castles, giving me the
chance to put my plan into practice. The
move 8.Nd5 would have been interesting, to
oppose Black's plans. After 8...Nf6 9.e4 0–0
the position was equal in Psakhis L. :
Gorelov S., Moscow 1981.
8…Bc3! 9.bc3
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqk+ntr0
9zpp+-zpp+p0
9-+nzpl+p+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+NzP-+-zP-0
9P+P+PzPLzP0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The idea of capturing on c3 is not new at all,
but for those players unfamiliar with the
theme it can be quite shocking that Black
gives away his excellent bishop with such
lack of care. It's true that the price is high,
but the damage done to White's pawn
structure is tremendous: three healthy pawns
have been turned into weak ones, especially
c2 and c3, which - situated on a semi-open
FIDE Surveys – Miguel Illescas
file – have become easy targets. Black has
guaranteed himself a better ending but, as
Tarrasch said "between the opening and the
endgame, the gods have placed the
middlegame".
9…Qd7
This move seems quite sensible, as my next
strategic aim is to eliminate my opponent's
bishop pair.
10.Re1
My opponent didn't seem to be very worried.
He only spent four minutes on this move,
which is intended to keep his fianchetto
bishop alive.
10…Bh3
Although I can't force the exchange of the
bishops, I had no doubts about this move.
The h3 square is an excellent place for my
bishop.
11.Bh1
White doesn't see any reason to change his
game plan. He calmly hides his bishop away,
confident that it will play an essential role in
the positional fight on the queenside.
However, my next move will totally change
the course of the game, and my opponent
will understand what's really going on.
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+k+ntr0
9zpp+qzpp+p0
9-+nzp-+p+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+NzP-+-zPl0
9P+P+PzP-zP0
9tR-vLQtR-mKL0
xiiiiiiiiy
11…h5!?
Once h2 is fixed, White no longer has the
standard blocking move h2–h4. Therefore,
he can't prevent the opening of the h-file. It
took me some time to decide between
playing on the kingside or the queenside,
2
because both options seemed quite attractive.
Before launching my attack on the kingside I
would have liked to consolidate my
advantage on the queenside, but after the
natural 11...Rc8 12.Nd4 Ne5 I was deeply
bothered by 13.Nf3! as if 13...Nf3 (13...Nc4
doesn't work due to 14.Qd4, with a double
attack on h8 and a7.) 14.ef3! and White
opens up the game in his favor.
12.Nd4
Correctly bringing back the knight into play.
12…h4
I finally decided to concentrate all my
energy on the kingside. A move trying to
keep the advantage on the queenside was
12...Na5 which I hardly considered. It's
actually quite slow and after 13.Rb1 Rc8
14.e4 b6 15.e5! White activates his position.
13.Rb1
White correctly continues to deploy his
pieces. However, observe that the bishop on
c1 can't participate actively in the fight at the
moment. This strategic factor is very
important in this type of structures.
13…hg3
Here, there is no reason to postpone this
move. White is forced to decide which pawn
must recapture
14.hg3
This move maintains White's kingside pawn
structure intact. In a game between two
amateurs 14.fg3 was played which, although
positionally ugly, does hinder Black's attack
on the h-file. Let me mention that the
impatient 14.Rb7?? would be a huge mistake
due to 14...gh2 15.Kh2 Bg2!
14…Rc8
Sooner or later this move was necessary. If
my opponent allows me, I could now
consider retreating my knight to a5 or d8.
14...Nd8? was clearly a mistake because of
15.Rb7! The fact that both of us considered
these tactical blows may be related to what
happened later in the game.
FIDE Surveys – Miguel Illescas
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+k+ntr0
9zpp+qzpp+-0
9-+nzp-+p+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-sN-+-+0
9+-zP-+-zPl0
9P+P+PzP-+0
9+RvLQtR-mKL0
xiiiiiiiiy
15.Nc6!
Closing once and for all the c-file, improving
significantly the situation of the white pawns
c2 and c3.
15…bc6
There is no other option, but imagine how
important is the c-file that I was considering
15...Rc6?, which is simply bad, as White
can continue 16.Qd4! Nf6 17.Qa7 with an
advantage.
16.Qd4!
The white queen becomes active by
attacking the rook on h8. There is no doubt
about the validity of this move.
16…e5
Other options make sense, but from a
practical point of view Black's play would be
difficult without this move.
17.Qa4
This natural move surprised me. I was
expecting 17.Qb4 with the idea 18.Qb7
which should lead to a balanced position.
But my opponent spent a lot of time here and
I think that he was already considering the
sacrifice played later on.
17…Be6
It seemed to me that my bishop was getting
in the way of my attack on the open file. I
wanted to open the way for a possible
exchange sacrifice, rook for bishop. I was
also attracted to the pressure that my bishop
was applying on the queenside and the
3
option of playing ...Bd5 at some point, after
developing the g8 knight.
18.Bg2
After thinking for a few minutes my
opponent played this prophylactic move.
18…Nf6
At last I decided to develop my knight. I
thought doing so through e7, which was an
equivalent option. Luckily for me, in view of
what happened later, I moved
19.Rb8??
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tRr+k+-tr0
9zp-+q+p+-0
9-+pzplsnp+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9Q+-+-+-+0
9+-zP-+-zP-0
9P+P+PzPL+0
9+-vL-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
My opponent made this "blunder" after
thinking for more than ten minutes. The
white move deserves a double question
mark; in tennis it would be named an
unforced error.
Before doing this kind of "slow sacrifice",
one that doesn't recover the material
immediately, it is recommended to check all
possible replies by the opponent. If a move
is legal, it must be checked!
I was expecting 19.Qa6!, to invade on b7. I
was going to reply with 19...0–0 (I
calculated that tactical ideas such as
19...Bd5?! didn't work, due to 20.e4 Be4?
21.Re4!) 20.Rb7 Rc7 with approximate
equality.
On the other hand, it must be said that
White's dark-squared bishop does have
trouble participating in the game in this
structure, and after a "natural" move such as
19.Bg5?! the move 19...Nd5 20.Qa5 f6!
would follow, and not only White doesn't
FIDE Surveys – Miguel Illescas
have a good square for his bishop but he also
has trouble facing the dangerous threat
21...Qh7
19…Rb8!
I must admit that my opponent's move took
me by surprise, but I found the simple and
beautiful refutation, based on geometrical
motives, in a couple of minutes. I think that
grandmasters we have a sort of natural
"radar" to detect this type of things. Still, I
think that this type of intuition can be
developed. It might be useful to take notice
of all the warning signs when there is an
important material unbalance coming from a
"slow" combination: in this lapse of time any
unexpected move can be lethal.
20.Bc6
It's difficult to guess if White saw what was
going to happen but in any case there was no
way back.
20…Rh1!!
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-+k+-+0
9zp-+q+p+-0
9-+Lzplsnp+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9Q+-+-+-+0
9+-zP-+-zP-0
9P+P+PzP-+0
9+-vL-tR-mKr0
xiiiiiiiiy
A beautiful attraction sacrifice. The daring
rook leaps into the unknown and sacrifices
itself on a square on which it can be captured
not by one, but by two enemy pieces!
21.Kh1
The capture is forced. Black's combination
works here because White's queen is
unprotected.
21…Bd5 22.Kg1
Again, if 22.Bd5 Qa4 and White loses his
queen.
22…Qc6
4
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-+k+-+0
9zp-+-+p+-0
9-+qzp-snp+0
9+-+lzp-+-0
9Q+-+-+-+0
9+-zP-+-zP-0
9P+P+PzP-+0
9+-vL-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White has lost a piece without
compensation, and the game could well have
finished here.
23.Qh4 Qc3 24.Rf1 Nh5 25.g4 Rb4 26.f3
Nf4 27.Qh8 Kd7 28. Bf4 Rf4 0:1.

FIDE Surveys – Miguel Illescas 5

Oleksandr Sulypa:
Playing without castle
Sometimes in chess there is a situation
when the castle or impossible or adversely.
The king delayed in the center and have to
play in general is not a very comfortable
position and always think what to do with
the king. Look at a typical eample.
Kamsky G. : Karpov A.
Elista 1996
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 Ne4 4.Bd3 d5
5.Ne5 Nd7 6.Nd7 Bd7 7.0–0 Bd6 8.Nc3
A fine move. If 8...Nc3 9 bc3 0–0 White
wins a pawn with 10 Qh5, threatening
mate and the pawn on d5. Now Karpov
thought for 42 minutes at the board over
his net move. 8.c4 is main line.
8...Qh4
Very unusual decision of Karpov. Black
agrees to leave his king in the center and
not so clear what they are getting in return.
The normal continuation is 8...Nc3 9.bc3
0–0 10.Qh5 f5, with complicate play.
9.g3
9.h3? (Karpov) 9...Bh3!
9...Nc3 10.bc3
10.Qe1 Qe7= 11.Qc3 0–0 12.Qb3 Bc6=.
10...Qg4
10...Qf6 11.Re1 Kf8 12.Qh5± win the
pawn, if 12...c6? 13.Bg5!
11.Re1
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+k+-tr0
9zppzpl+pzpp0
9-+-vl-+-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-+q+0
9+-zPL+-zP-0
9P+P+-zP-zP0
9tR-vLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
11...Kd8
Brilliant judgement of position. Karpov
accurately estimate the best position for the
king: he's going to develop the black rook
from h8. 11...Kf8!?
12.Be2
In position with uncastled king is
undesirable to change the queens. 12.Qg4
Bg4 13.Rb1 b6 14.c4 c6 and Black should
hold the endgame.
12...Qf5 13.Rb1
Better was 13.c4! Karpov suggested this
and after 13...dc4 14.Bc4 Re8 15.Re8 Ke8
16.Rb1 b6 17.Rb3 white is better.
13...b6 14.c4 dc4
14...c6?! 15.c5! bc5 (15...Bc7 16.c4) 16.c4.
15.Bc4 Re8
15...h5 16.Rb3 (16.h4) 16...f6 17.Bd3 Qh3
18.Bf1 Qf5 19.c4 h4 20.Bg2 hg3 21.fg3.
16.Be3
The idea of white to play c4, c5, d5 and try
to open the center. The echanges resulted
in equality: 16.Re8 Ke8 17.Bd3 (17.Qe2
Kf8=) 17...Qd5 (17...Qh3 18.Qf3 Rd8
19.Bg5) 18.c4 (18.Qe2 Kf8 19.Be4 Re8)
18...Qd4 19.Bb2 Qg4 (19...Qc5 20.Bg7±)
20.Qg4 Bg4 21.Bg7 h5=.
16...Bc6!?
With idea 17...Be4, what practically forces
the next white`s move.
If 16...Re7 17.Bf1 Ke8 18.Bg2 Rd8 19.c4
it turns out the ideal position for white plan
c4–c5; 16...Ke7 17.Bd3 Qg4 18.Be2 Qf5
19.Bf3 Rab8 20.c4 Kf8 21.c5±.
17.d5
17.Bf1? Qd5.
17...Bd7
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-mkr+-+0
9zp-zpl+pzpp0
9-zp-vl-+-+0
9+-+P+q+-0
9-+L+-+-+0
9+-+-vL-zP-0
9P+P+-zP-zP0
9+R+QtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
18.Bf1
Now the plan c4–c5 for white is not so

FIDE Surveys – Oleksandr Sulypa 1

effective, and black have the opportunity to
compete for cases c5 and e5.
18.Bd3!? (suggested by Karpov) 18...Qd5?
(18...Qg4! 19.Be2 Qh3) 19.c4 Qa5
(19...Qc6 20.Qh5! f7, h7; 19...Qe5 20.Qf3
Rc8 21.Qf7 Rf8 22.Qd5 Qd5 23.cd5 h6
24.Bd4) 20.Qf3 … f7, a8.
18...h6
This far-sighted little move is an essential
prelude to the regrouping that follows.
18...Ba4? 19.Qd4! Bc2 20.Bb5 Bb1
(20...Re7 21.Qg7) 21.Bg5!
19.c4 Re7!
The critical moment. Up to this point, both
sides were high. Now, however, white had
to find the best plan that was in preparation
с4–с5 and the opening position.
20.Bd3?!
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-mk-+-+0
9zp-zpltrpzp-0
9-zp-vl-+-zp0
9+-+P+q+-0
9-+P+-+-+0
9+-+LvL-zP-0
9P+-+-zP-zP0
9+R+QtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
20.Qd2 Ke8 21.Bd4 Re1 22.Re1 Kf8=.
The correct plan started with 20.Qd4! Be5
21.Qd2 Bd6 22.Qc3 Be5 23.Qb3 Bd6
24.c5! (Breakthrough!) 24...bc5 25.Rec1
and long maneuvers to strengthen pieces:
25...Ke8 26.Bc5 Kf8 27.Qa3 Qe5 28.Rb7
Be8 29.Bg2 Kg8 30.Bf3 a5 31.Kg2 Rd7
32.Rc2 Qf5 33.Re2 f6 34.Bd6 cd6
35.Rb6±, win the pawn.
20...Qf6 21.Kg2?!
After this unfortunate move white has a
problem with it. It was necessary to carry
out the same plan c5: 21.Qc2!? Ke8 22.c5
bc5 23.Bc5 Re1 (23...Bc5 24.Qc5 Qd6
25.Re7 Ke7 26.Qa5±) 24.Re1 Kf8 and
black should hold. Or 21.Qb3 a5 (21...Ke8
22.c5 bc5 23.Qb7 Rd8 24.Qa7±) 22.Bf1
(22.c5 bc5 23.Qb7 Rc8 24.Bb5 Bh3)
22...a4 (22...Ke8 23.c5 bc5 24.Qb8)
23.Qc2 Bf5, with a complex game.
FIDE Surveys – Oleksandr Sulypa
21...Ke8
With idea Ke8–f8–g8, Ra8–e8.
22.Bc2
With idea 23.Ba4.
22...Qc3! 23.Bb3
23.Qd3=; 23.Bd4 Re1 (23...Qc4 24.Bb3
Qa6 25.Bg7±) 24.Qe1 Qe1 25.Re1 Kf8=.
23...Kf8 24.Rc1
24.Qd4?! Qd4 25.Bd4 Rae8 26.Re7 Re7
27.Be3 Bf5.
24...Qf6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-mk-+0
9zp-zpltrpzp-0
9-zp-vl-wq-zp0
9+-+P+-+-0
9-+P+-+-+0
9+L+-vL-zP-0
9P+-+-zPKzP0
9+-tRQtR-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
25.Bc2
A very important position. All this time
white had the initiative and then came the
moment when the attack ended. At this
point it is very important to calm down and
maintain balance. Kamsky allow a mistake
- he is looking for further activity, although
it is time to think about the equation.
Right move is 25.c5 bc5 26.Bc5 Bc5
27.Rc5 Rae8 with equality (27...Bg4?
28.Qg4 Re1 29.d6!‚ cd6? 30.Rf5+–).
25...Rae8
Karpov has an incredible ability to
coordinate his forces so that they are at
their most efficient. Notice how he has
arranged his pieces so that they do not
stand in each other's way, and they are all
protected; there appears not to be a single
weakness in his whole army. Compare this
position with the one where he played 11...
Kd8; it is hard to imagine that he would be
able to achieve such harmony.With his
king safe, his rooks doubled and White's
kingside weakened, the initiative has
passed over to Karpov.
26.Qd3
Defend weak case f3.
2
26...Bg4 Kamsky G. : Karpov A.
The idea was to bring the queen to h7, but Dortmund 1993
now that he is here he must have realised
that 27 Qh7 would have been met by 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 de4 4.Ne4 Nd7
27...g5! 5.Ng5 Ngf6 6.Bd3 e6 7.N1f3 Bd6 8.Qe2
27.Bd2? h6 9.Ne4 Ne4 10.Qe4 Nf6 11.Qh4
A decisive mistake. 27.Bd4? Qf3 28.Qf3 XIIIIIIIIY
Bf3 29.Kf1 Re1 30.Re1 Bg2 31.Kg2 Re1 9r+lwqk+-tr0
–+; 27.Qh7 g5; 27.Bd1 Bf5 28.Qd2 Ba3. If
27.f4 (indicated by Karpov) 27...Re3! 9zpp+-+pzp-0
28.Re3 Re3 29.Qe3 Qb2, with idea 9-+pvlpsn-zp0
30...Ba3 30.h3 Bf5 31.Qf2 Bc5 32.Qd2 9+-+-+-+-0
Bg6–+ and white is completely paralyzed. 9-+-zP-+-wQ0
Best was 27.Kg1 Bh3 28.Qh7 g5 29.Bg6!!
(brilliant move) 29...Re3 (29...Qg6 30.Qh8 9+-+L+N+-0
Qg8 31.Qh6) 30.Re3 Re3 31.Qh6 Ke7 9PzPP+-zPPzP0
32.Qh3 Re2 33.Bf5 Bc5. 9tR-vL-mK-+R0
27...Re2 28.Re2 xiiiiiiiiy
28.Be3 Qf3 29.Kg1 Bh3–+; 28.Rf1 Rd2!
11...Ke7!!N
29.Qd2 Qf3 30.Kg1 Bh3–+.
Great idea associated with capture the
28...Re2 29.Rf1
white queen. Main threat is 12...g7–g5
29.Be1 Bc5–+ ; 29.Be3 Qf3 30.Kg1 Rc2!
13.Qh3 e5(g4) –+.
31.Qc2 Bh3–+.
12.Ne5!?
29...Rd2
One of the best reactions to the unepected.
So, let's summarize. Karpov held a game at
White sacrifices a pawn for the initiative.
the championship level, showing
12.0–0 g5 13.Qh3 g4–+.
something new: playing without castling
12...Be5 13.de5 Qa5 14.c3 Qe5 15.Be3 b6
with the full board pieces spent his plan to
16.0–0–0
centralize their figures. Then he translated
White has achieved a promising position,
the king to a safe place, all the while
their pieces targeted for attack.
provoking white to active moves. The rest
16...g5 17.Qa4
of the game Kamsky wanted to punish
17.Qh3 c5 18.Rhe1, with compensation.
black for daring.
17...c5 18.Rhe1 Bd7 19.Qa3 Rhd8 20.g3
29...Rd2 30.Qd2 Qf3 31.Kg1 Bh3–+
Probably stronger was 20.b4!? 20...cb4
0:1.
(20...Ke8? 21.Bc5 Qh2 22.Bd4±) 21.Qb4
Qd6 22.Qd6 Kd6 23.Be4 Nd5 24.h4©.
20...Qc7 21.Bd4
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-tr-+-+0
9zp-wqlmkp+-0
9-zp-+psn-zp0
9+-zp-+-zp-0
9-+-vL-+-+0
9wQ-zPL+-zP-0
9PzP-+-zP-zP0
9+-mKRtR-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

FIDE Surveys – Oleksandr Sulypa 3

21.f4!? Ng4 22.fg5 Ne3 23.Re3 hg5 XIIIIIIIIY
24.Qb3 Rh8. 9-+-+-+-+0
21...Be8!
The king himself feels very comfortable on 9zp-+lmk-+P0
e7 and the black's pieces surround him. Is 9-zp-+-zpL+0
the regrouping of forces, whose main idea 9+-zp-zp-+-0
is to echange rooks. 9-+P+-+-+0
22.Kb1
22.Be5 Qc6 23.Bf6 Kf6 24.Be4 Rd1 9+-+-+-+-0
25.Kd1 Rd8. 9PzP-+-+-tr0
22...Rd5 9+K+-tR-+-0
22...Bc6!? 23.Be5 Qd7 24.Bc2 Qb7. xiiiiiiiiy
23.f4!
40.Bd3?
The best chance for white - opening lines.
All these errors can be eplained only by the
23...Rad8
time pressure.Kamsky makes a mistake
23...gf4 24.gf4 Qf4? 25.Rf1±.
and loses last. 40.Rg1 held the position:
24.Bc2
40...Be6 (40...f5 41.Rg5 Kf6 42.Bh5!!
If 24.Be5 Re5! 25.fe5 Ng4 26.Be2 Rd1
interception) 41.b3 Kf8 42.Kc1 Kg7
27.Rd1 Ne5; 24.fg5 hg5 25.Rf1 Ng4
(42...Ke7 43.Be4±) 43.Bf5 Kf7 44.Rg8
26.Be2 Qd6 27.Bg4 cd4.
Bf5 45.h8Q. Now it seems that white is
24...R5d6 25.Bf6
better, but 45...Rh8 46.Rh8 Bg4 47.Rh7
25.Be5 Rd1 26.Rd1 Rd1 27.Bd1 Qd7.
Kg6 48.Ra7 f5 49.Rb7 f4 50.Rb6 Kg5
25...Kf6 26.fg5 hg5 27.Rd6 Rd6 28.c4
51.Kd2 e4 52.Rb8 e3 53.Kd3 Bf5 54.Ke2
Ke7 29.Qe3 f6 30.h4 gh4 31.gh4 Qd7
Bg4 and draw.
Here begin errors from both sides, it shows
40...Be6 41.Rg1
how difficult position on the board.
Now is too late: 41.Bg6 f5 42.Re5 Kf6
31...Qd8!?; 31...Bf7 32.h5 Bh5 33.Rh1 Bf7
43.Re2 Rh4 44.b3 Bf7–+.
34.Rh7©.
41...f5–+ 42.Rg7 Kf6 43.Ra7 e4 44.Be2 f4
32.Qh6?
45.b3 f3 46.Bd1 Bf5 47.Kc1 Bh7 48.Rb7
Better was 32.Rg1! Bf7 33.Rg7 Kf8
Ke5 49.Rb6 Ra2.
34.Qg1 e5 35.Rh7 Qe6 36.Qg7 Ke7
White resigned 0:1.
37.Bg6 Rd1 38.Kc2 Qc4 39.Kd1 Qf1
40.Kd2 Qf2=.
The old theory says: Castling may be not
32...e5?!
necesseary, when the centre of the board is
32...Bf7 33.Rf1 e5 34.Qg7 Qc8 35.b3 Qg8.
blocked by pawns. These games have
33.h5?
shown, that playing with uncastled king
Too hastily played.
can be played even in half-open position,
33.Rg1 Bf7 34.b3 Rd4 35.h5 Rh4 36.Qg7
planning a regrouping of pieces and
Rh5 37.Bg6 Ke6 38.Bh5 Qd3 39.Kc1
combining threats. Important
Qc3=; 33.Qg7 Ke6 34.Qg4 Ke7 35.Qg7=.
psychological side: the opponent thinks
33...Qg4 34.Qh7 Kd8?
that need necessarily to mate uncastled
34...Bf7!
king and loses vigilance.
35.h6
35.Qa7 Bh5 36.Qb8 Ke7 37.Qc7 Qd7.
35...Rd2 36.Qf5
36.Qa7.
36...Qf5 37.Bf5 Bd7 38.Bg6?
38.Kc1 Rd4 39.Be4 Rc4 40.Kd2 Rd4
41.Kc3.
38...Rh2 39.h7 Ke7

FIDE Surveys – Oleksandr Sulypa 4

Goran Dizdar:
Timing for the King’s endgame
activity
The king's role in endgame is an unavoidable
topic for anyone who wishes to master the
final phase of the game. Ambiguity of the
king's status trough the different stages of
game is one of the most difficult part for
inexperienced players to understand, mostly
due to extremes which emanate from
different levels of king’s vulnerability during
his involvement in the battle. It is easy to
find, within the books or digital chess bases,
huge amount of material related to the
malpractice toward the king in the openings,
which again and again emphasize the
importance of king's safety. If we shift our
attention towards the middle-game practice,
we would find that methods of play may be
changed, but importance of king's safety
would remain undisputed. Blitzkrieg may
not be an issue anymore, yet all sorts of
strategies that relate to the attack of
opponent's king are still principal tool of that
stage of the game. And then, after several
changes may have been done, the players are
advised to look for appropriate opportunity
to include their kings into the battle. They
have to feel the moment when the treasure,
so carefully hidden for a long time, will be
payable to appear at the local flea market –
not an easy task indeed! That such
metamorphosis is necessary, it shouldn’t be
doubted at all. It is enough to open any book
on basic endgames to find out that the piece,
what once was protected and dignified
royalty, now has become responsible hard
worker whose abilities would decide on his
destiny itself.
There should be some critical moments in
the game that preceded and led to any of
such transformation, namely, the moments
FIDE Surveys – Goran Dizdar
when the players decided it is just suitable
time to introduce the king to the active play.
The skill and ability to find when the timing
is appropriate is something that may be
developed only through the analysis and
practice.
We will begin with a game of two great
players, renowned for their endgame skills.
Kortschnoi V. : Karpov A.
Moscow 1974
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-+-+0
9+-tr-+pmk-0
9-+-+-vlpzp0
9zp-zp-+-+-0
9P+L+-+-zP0
9+-+-+RzP-0
9-+P+-zP-+0
9+-mK-tR-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Kortschnoi desperately needed to win to stay
in match and one might wonder if his
approach to such an important game was
appropriate one, for opposite color bishops
and symmetric pawns structure give, at first
glance, little hope for obtaining any serious
advantage. However, his next move will
clear things up …
29.c3!
This small step ahead awakens the hidden
potential of White position. The road for
white King’s activity is open!
29…Rcd7 30.Kc2 Rd2 31.Kb3 Rd1
All of a sudden the presence of opposite
color Bishops is helping White to build an
advantage. He is in full control of white
squares and Black can do little against the
slalom-like entrance of white King into the
battle.
1
32.Rd1 Rd1 33.Bb5! Rd5
The difference in Kings’ activity may soon
bring black pawn structure in grave danger,
so he looks for escape in trying to reach the
position with only the Bishops left.
34.Re3 Re5 35.Rd3 Re2 36.Rf3 Re5
37.Kc4!
White can allow opponent’s counter-play for
the huge difference in kings’ roles is already
a decisive factor.
37…Rf5 38.Rd3! Rf2 39.Kc5 Be5 40.Kb6
Rg2 41.c4 Rg3 42.Rd7 g5 43.hg5 hg5 44.c5
Rc3 45.c6 g4 46.c7 g3 47.Bc6 Bc7 48.Rc7
Kh6!
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-tR-+p+-0
9-mKL+-+-mk0
9zp-+-+-+-0
9P+-+-+-+0
9+-tr-+-zp-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
49.Rc8
Although White should win accurate,
coordinated play of his pieces is required. He
should also avoid tricks, such as 49.Rf7?
Rc6! and Black is promoting! However,
there was another way, too: 49.Lg2! Rc7
50.Kc7 Kg5 51.Kb6! Kg4 52.Kc5! f5
53.Kd5 f4 54.Ke4 or 51…Kf4 52.Ka5 and
White will win the race.
49… f5 50.Rf8 Rc6 51.Kc6 Kg5 52.Rg8
Kf4 53.Kb5 Kf3 54.Ka5 f4 55.Kb4 Kg2
56.a5 f3 57.a6 f2 58.a7 f1Q 59.a8Q Qf3
60.Qa2 Qf2 61.Qd5 Qf3 62.Qd2 Qf2
63.Kc3 Kg1 64.Qd1 Kg2 65.Qd3 Qc5
66.Kb3 Qb6 67.Kc2 Qc6 68. Kd2 Qh6
69.Qe3 Qh4 70.Rb8 f6 71.Rb6 Qf5 72.Rb2
Kh2 73.Qh6 Kg1 74.Qb6 Kh2 75.Qb8 Kh3
FIDE Surveys – Goran Dizdar
76.Qh8 Kg4 77.Rb4 Kf3 78.Qh1 Kf2
79.Rb2!
Black resigned. 1:0.
The game illustrated all advantages of
King’s timely introduction to the battle.
White was in firm control of the path of his
King’s advance, and therefore no real
obstacles occurred. To reach such progress,
the subtler methods sometimes are
necessary.
Tarrash S. : Rubinstein A.
San Sebastian 1912
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-+-+0
9+r+-+kzp-0
9l+-+-zp-+0
9zp-+p+-+-0
9-+-vl-zP-+0
9+-+P+LzP-0
9P+R+-sNK+0
9+-+R+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black King is on his way to center but the
road is not clear yet. He can’t continue with
the trip for after 33…Ke6? 34.Rc6 Rd6
35.Bg4 ticket would be too costly.
33…Rb2!
Although black Rook is more active than
opponent’s one, it will be traded to make
King’s journey safe! This method is worth of
remembering.
34.Rb2 Bb2 35.Rd2
Black had to be sure that his fine idea
worked after opponent’s active 35.Rb1 as
well. In that case he could have played
35…Bd4 36.Rc1 Ke7! 37.Rc7 Kd6 38.Rg7
Rb7! and penetration of his rook would
bring him decisive advantage!
35…Bd4 36.Nh3 Ke6 37.Rc2 Kd6 38.f5
If White succeeds in his counter-play with
2
Nf4, his prospects could be improved. Kings’ activation took an epic proportion
However, with his king perfectly posted, indeed.
Black is ready to call the shots.
XIIIIIIIIY Portish L. : Pinter J.
Hungary 1984
9-+-tr-+-+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+-+-zp-0 9-+-tr-+-tr0
9l+-mk-zp-+0 9+l+-mk-zpp0
9zp-+p+P+-0 9p+n+-+-+0
9-+-vl-+-+0 9zP-+P+p+-0
9+-+P+LzPN0 9-zpL+-+-+0
9P+R+-+K+0 9+-+-mKN+-0
9+-+-+-+-0 9-+-+-zPPzP0
xiiiiiiiiy 9tR-+-+-+R0
38…Rc8!
The same, but very effective approach again! xiiiiiiiiy
After the change black King will have an Both sides have their kings already included
easy access towards opponent’s weak pawns. in play, and White has just pushed his d-
39.Bd1 Rc2 40.Bc2 Ke5! Pawn boldly, with the obvious idea to follow
Black finds right way to go. 40… Kc5? him with his King, after expected black
41.Nf4 would have led to nowhere. Knight’s retreat. Well, it turned out that
41.g4 Be3 42. Kf3 Kd4 Black plan was quite different!
All black pieces are dominant to the 21…Kf6!
opponent’s ones, white position is hopeless. Black is ready to fight for King’s activity,
43.Bb3 even at the cost of a piece! 21…Na7
After 43.Ke2 Bb5 44.Bb1 Ba4 White would 22.Kd4! Nb5 23.Kc5 would have ceded
be forced to move his a-Pawn, what would initiative to White.
only make its loss faster 22.dc6 Rhe8 23.Kf4 Te4 24.Kg3 Bc8!
43…Bb7 25.Rac1 Rg4 26.Kh3 f4
43…Bd3 44.Bd5 Bf1 was already good That was the position which Black had
enough. aimed for. It looks that due to following
44.Ke2 Ba6 45.Bc2 Bb5 46.a4 Bd7 47.Kf3 checks along g-line he has draw secured, at
Kc3! 48.Ke3 d4 49.Ke2 Kc2 50.Nf4 Ba4 least. For instance 27.The1 Rg3 28.Kh4 Rg4
51.Ne6 Bb3 52.Nd4 Kb2 53.Nb5 a4 and White has to return since 29.Kh5? Rg6!
54.Ke3 a3 55.Na3 Ka3 56.Kd4 Kb4 is road to defeat.
and White resigned 0:1.
Beside good evaluation of timing for the
king’s induction, one has to be ready to
apply all necessary measures for carrying it
out, what sometimes could go to extremes
when stakes are high. In the following
memorable game the consistent fight for

FIDE Surveys – Goran Dizdar 3

XIIIIIIIIY The moment of truth finally has come! After
this sacrifice Black would just have enough
9-+ltr-+-+0 pieces left to mate the opponent: 30.Bd3
9+-+-+-zpp0 Rg3#
30.g3 f3 31.Rc5 Rg5 32.g4 Bg4 33.Kg3 fe2
9p+P+-mk-+0 and White resigned 0:1.
9zP-+-+-+-0
This article is meant to attract your attention
9-zpL+-zpr+0 to the important topic. I hope the presented
9+-+-+N+K0 material was interesting enough to incite you
to continue with you own research.
9-+-+-zPPzP0
9+-tR-+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
27. Ne5?
That was supposed to be the tactical
refutation of Black’s adventurous play, but
would only backfire instead. White
obviously counted on 27…Ke5 28.Rhe1 Kf6
29.Be6! with some advantage. White could
have won indeed, but with using intended
tactical idea in different way 27.c7! Re8
28.Be6!! Be6 29.Rc6!
27…Kg5! 28.Nf7 Kh5 30.Be2
Fascinating picture! What once had started
as an unsuspecting fight for Kings’
contributions to the game, ended up as a
deadly showdown on the very edge of the
battlefield! White perhaps thought that he
was still in control.
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+ltr-+-+0
9+-+-+Nzpp0
9p+P+-+-+0
9zP-+-+-+k0
9-zp-+-zpr+0
9+-+-+-+K0
9-+-+LzPPzP0
9+-tR-+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
29…Rd3!

FIDE Surveys – Goran Dizdar 4

Viorel Bologan: Sacrifying the knight. White is cleaning his
The Sacrifice in Chess way to the black king.
37...Qd3 38.Kh4!
The theme of sacrifice it’s well known from In my 33 years practice I've never met such
the very beginning of human history. The an attacking construction! All pieces on
fact itself - to give or lose something which attack!
belongs to you, it is always a shock - 38...fg5 39.Qg5 1:0.
something abnormal. Still the greatest
religious moments were connected with 2. Destroying opponent’s king position
sacrifices: The sacrifice of the animals to the Of course this can lead to a mating attack
multiple gods, the readiness of Abraham to but not necessarily. Some times thanks to
sacrifice his son Isaac and of course the the weaken king we can gain back or even
sacrifice of Jesus. win material.
Even in chess the sacrifice of a very small
pawn it’s a very painful and difficult Bauer C. : Bologan V.
decision to make. Beside the calculation and Enghien 2001
evaluation itself we should also talk about XIIIIIIIIY
psychological aspects of the sacrifice. 9-+-+rtr-mk0
First of all we should be frank and admit 9zp-zp-+-zp-0
that there is never a sacrifice for nothing. It
is still a kind of a trade, exchange. For the
9-zp-vlP+-zp0
better future, for respect, glory, in chess we 9+N+-+p+q0
also try to get something in exchange. I 9-+-+p+-zP0
might miss something but here is the list of 9zPQ+-zPnzP-0
awards we get after sacrificing the material:
9-zP-+-zPK+0
1. Mating attack 9+LtRR+-+-0
This is the highest reward we can get for the xiiiiiiiiy
sacrificed material. Usually it’s linked with 26...Bg3!
destroying opponent’s king position, Depriving white king of his last defenders.
eliminating the strongest opponent defenders 27.fg3 Nh4!–+ 28.gh4 Qf3 29.Kh2
or freeing the way for our pieces to 29.Kg1 Qg3 30.Kh1 Qh4 31.Kg2 Rf6
opponent’s king. Esthetically this is very 32.Rg1 Rg6 33.Kf1 Qh3–+.
nice and mathematically precise. 29...Qf2! 30.Kh1
30.Kh3 g5 ! (30...f4 31.Rg1 fe3 32.Be4 Rf4
Bologan V. : Mikkelsen N. 33.Rg3 Re4) 31.Qc3 Kg8 32.hg5 hg5
Gibraltar 2014 33.Rg1 g4 34.Rg4 fg4 35.Kg4 Qg2 36.Kh4
XIIIIIIIIY Rf3–+.
9-+-+-vl-mk0 30...Qh4 31.Kg1 Qg3 32.Kf1
9+-+-+p+p0 32.Kh1 Qh3 33.Kg1 Rf6–+.
32...f4!
9p+l+-zp-+0 Black Queen needs some assistance in his
9+-+qzpP+Q0 attack.
9-+-+-+R+0 33.Be4 fe3 34.Ke2 Rf2 35.Kd3
9+-zP-+N+K0 White king runs away but the price paid for
the escape is too high.
9-+-+-+PzP0 35...e2 36.Kc4 ed1Q 37.Qd1 Qe5
9+-+-+-+-0 37...Qe3! would be faster.
xiiiiiiiiy 38.Nc3
37.Ng5! 38.Qd5 Re6.
38...Rb2 39.Qd7 b5 40.Kd3 Qg3 0:1.

FIDE Surveys – Viorel Bologan 1


3. Positional sacrifice:
- Queen sacrifice.
Giving the strongest piece, which value
according different systems 9-10 pawns, it is
always a challenge. Instead we should get a
long term compensation which is usually
connected with the weaken position of the
opponent’s king or with a passed pawn.
Morozevich A. : Bologan V.
Poikovsky 2014
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-trk+0
9zpl+-vlpzpp0
9-zpn+p+-+0
9+-zpqsN-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+P+-zP-zP-0
9PvL-+-zPLzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
13...Qg2!
One of the enoucraging points for this
sacrifice is the weaken position of the white
king as well as the weakness on d4.
14.Kg2 Ne5 15.f3 cd4 16.ed4 Nc6 17.Rc1
Rd5
17...Rd7 18.a3 Rfd8 19.Qe2 Bf6 20.b4 e5
21.d5 Rd5 22.Rfd1 Nd4 23.Bd4 ed4 24.Rc7
Bc8 25.Ra7 d3 26.Qe4 Be6 27.a4 d2 28.Qe2
Rd4 29.Qe3 h6 30.a5 ba5 31.ba5 Rd3
32.Qe2 Bb3 33.Ra8 Bd1 34.Qd3 Ra8 –
Kramnik V. : Ezat M., Antalya 2013.
18.Rc4 b5 19.Rc2 Bd6 20.Qe2 Ne7 21.Rfc1
Rf5 22.Bc3 h5 23.Bd2 Rd8 24.Rc3 b4
25.Rc4 a5 26.Kf2 g5 27.h4 Bf3 28.Qf3 g4
29.Qf5 Nf5 30.Rc8 Bg3 31.Kf1 Rc8 32.Rc8
Kg7 33.Rc5 Bh4 34.Ra5 Bd8
34...Be7 35.d5 h4 36.de6 fe6 37.Rb5 h3
38.Bb4 Nh4 39.Bc3 Kg6 40.Be5 Nf3 41.a4
Bh4 42.Rc5 g3 43.Bg3 Bg3.
35.Rb5 h4
With good chances for a win. (1:0).
- Pawn sacrifice.
This is one of the most common sacrifices in
chess. Since we pay not very high price we
can afford it more often. We can sacrifice
FIDE Surveys – Viorel Bologan
the pawn for many things but usually this is
for the initiative.
Bologan V. : Ye Jiangchuan
Beijing 2000
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+rtrn+k+0
9+lwq-+pzpp0
9p+-+pvl-+0
9+p+p+-+-0
9-+-sNP+PzP0
9+-+LvLP+-0
9PzPPwQ-+-+0
9+K+R+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
19.e5!!
The key point of the whole position. In this
pawn structure discussions in center it's
always important to take into consideration
the settlement of the pieces. For example, if
after d5 Black manage to open the game, it
will bring him a clear advantage. And
opposite, if White will block the d pawn,
that will say us, that all black pieces will fill
sudenly bad placed. It's not so difficult to
sacrify even a central pawn for positional
advantages. I liked very much my position at
this moment, but when the first minutes
euphorie went away, I realised that the
struggle only begins.
19...Be5
Forced. 19...Qe5 20.g5+–; 19...Be7 20.g5±.
20.f4 Bd6
I think that is also the best. Black could win
some tempes after 20...Bd4 21.Bd4 Nd6
22.h5 Nc4, but after 23.Qf2 it becomes
obvious, that white's blacksquare bishop is
decideing the game.
21.g5 e5 22.fe5 Be5 23.g6!!
When the first exlamation mark is given for
estecy, the second one is more deserved
because is given for it's punctuality. I didn't
see anything better for White: 23.h5 Nd6
24.g6 Nc4 25.gh7 Kh8.
23...Nd6!?
It was clear that Blackk's material advantage
wouldn't affect my attacking ambitions. For
example: 23...hg6 24.h5 gh5 (24...g5
25.Bf5) 25.Rdg1! Nf6 (25...g6 26.Rh5)
26.Bh6 (26.Qg2 Ng4 27.Rh5 Ne3 28.Qh3 g6
2
29.Ne6! fe6 30.Rg6 Kf8 31.Qe6+–)
26...Ng4 27.Rh5.
24.gf7 Qf7 25.Rhf1 Qd7?
This allows White to develope a straight
attack with tempous. The best chance for
Black was 25...Qe8 26.Bf5 Nf5 27.Rf5 Rd7
28.Re1 and White got a full compensation
for the pawn. Actualy the Black's problem is
the Bishop on b7 and I don't see any
comfortable way to get it into the play.
26.Nf3 Bf6
26...Re8 27.Ne5 Re5 28.Bd4 Ne4 29.Be4
Re4 30.Rg1 Re7 31.h5±.
27.Ng5 Nc4 28.Bh7 Kh8 29.Qe2 Qe8
30.Rf6!
Just forced.
30...gf6 31.Bd4
The tactical background of the whole
White's combination started on 26th. move.
From the beginning I wasn't so sure about
the final position looking for a better way
but as closer I got to it as more I liked it.
31...Rc6 32.Qf2 Qf8 33.Bd3!
The game is over. Now beside the natural
Qf5 white also is threatening Nh7.
33...Rd7 34.Qf5 Re7
34...Qe7 35.Qg6 Ne5 36.Qh5 Kg8 37.Rg1+–
35.Nh7! Bc8 36.Qh5 Qf7 37.Bg6 1:0.
- Piece sacrifice.
Beside the typical ideas of sacrificing the
pieces for the initiative or the attack, there is
also a possibility to sacrifice it for strong
passed pawns which even is stronger in the
endgame. My young opponent definitely
didn’t even consider Ne5.
Bologan V. : Shimanov A.
Russia 2014
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+l+-+-+0
9zpp+-mk-zpp0
9-+-+-zp-+0
9sn-+Pzp-+-0
9-+-mKP+-zP0
9+-+L+N+-0
9P+-+-zPP+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
23.Ne5! fe5 24.Ke5
FIDE Surveys – Viorel Bologan
Usually two pawns for the piece is not
enough in such positions, but here are
pointed out that the knight is missplaced on
edge of the board as well as the bishop on c8
doesn't have too much space.
24...b6 25.Kd4 Nb7 26.e5 g6 27.Ba6!
Now black has to loose enother precious
tempos in order to escape from the pin.
27...h5 28.f3 Kd8 29.Bb7 Bb7 30.e6 Ba6
31.g4 hg4 32.fg4 Be2 33.g5 b5 34.Ke5 Bc4
35.d6 Ba2 36.Kf6 b4 37.h5 gh5 38.g6 Bb1
39.g7 1:0.
- Exchange sacrifice
This sacrifice is often connected with the
detriment of the opponent’s pawn structure.
The most famous sacrifices are Rc3 in
Sicilian and Rf3 in French.
Paehtz E. : Bologan V.
Gibraltar 2014
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+p+-vl-zpp0
9-+n+p+-+0
9+L+-zP-+-0
9-zP-zp-+-+0
9zP-+-+N+-0
9-wQ-+-vLPzP0
9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
18...Rf3!
Typical french sarifice, which allows black
to take the control over the important
squares d4 and e5.
19.gf3 Ne5
Not all natural moves are the best. Better
was 19...Qd5! 20.Bc6 bc6 21.Qd4 Qf3 22.0–
0 c5!, freeing sacrifice.
20.0–0–0 Qd5 21.Bd4 Nf3 22.a4??
Difficult to explain this move. Better was
22.Rhf1!
22...Qe4?
22...Bg5 23.Kb1 Nd2–+.
23.Rhg1 e5 24.Qb3 Kh8 25.Qf7 Bg4!
26.Rg4 Qg4 27.Qe7 Nd4 28.Rf1 Qc8
0:1.
3
4. Creating or promoting the pass pawns Jussupow A. : Ivanchuk V.
Riga 1995
This can be regarded as an investment into XIIIIIIIIY
some material profits in the nearest future, 9r+l+k+-tr0
since potentially the pawns can transform in
queens. 9+pwq-+pzpp0
9p+-+psn-+0
Bologan V. : Motylev A. 9+-+-vl-+-0
Poikovsky 2014 9-+-+P+-+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+LsNR+-+-0
9-+-+-trk+0 9PzP-+QzPPzP0
9+p+-+pzp-0 9tR-vL-+-mK-0
9-+P+n+p+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9vl-zP-+-vL-0 14.f4!!
9-+-zP-+-+0 Paying only one pawn white brings into the
9+-+-+LzP-0 play all his pieces and prepares an imediate
9-+Q+-+KzP0 attack on black's king.
14...Bf4 15.Bf4 Qf4 16.e5 Nd7 17.Rf1
9+-+-tr-+-0 17.Re1©!, according Aagard.
xiiiiiiiiy 17...Qe5 18.Re3 Qd4 19.Rd1 Qa7 20.Ne4
30.cb7! 0–0 21.Kh1 Ne5?
30.d5 Ng5 31.cb7 would lead to the text. This example I was taken from Aagard's
30...Ng5 31.d5 Bc7 32.d6 Bb8 33.Qd2 excellent book Attacking manual, in which
Rg1! he suggests to bring the queene into defense
Nice try. via 21...Qb6 22.Rg3 Qb5! or 21...Qb8!,
34.Kf2 targeting same square e5.
34.Kg1 Nf3. 22.Rh3 Ng6 23.Qh5 h6 24.Nf6! gf6
34...Nf3 35.Kf3 Rf1 36.Kg2 Rf6 37.Qd5 24...Kh8 25.Qg5!+–.
Three pawns and queen against three pieces! 25.Qh6 Re8 26.Rg3
37...Rf5 38.Qc6 Ba7 Instead 26.Qh7! Kf8 27.Rf3 f5 28.Rf5 was
38...Rf6 39.Qc8+–. winning.
39.d7 Rc5 26...Qf2 27.Rg6 fg6 28.Qg6 Kf8 29.Qh6
39...Bc5 40.Qc7 Be7 41.b8Q+–. Kf7 30.Qh7 Kf8 31.Qh8 1/2
40.Qd6
Important nuance - the pawns go through! 6. Freeing sacrifice
40...Rd8 41.Qe7 Rc2 42.Kh3 Rd7 43.Qd7
Rb2 44.Qc8 Kh7 45.Qa8 1:0. This type of sacrifice can be used both in
attack and defense. In both cases we free the
5. Overtaking the initiative files and squares for our pieces. Especially
this is efficient in different color bishops
Especially nowadays the speed of chess endgames.
increased enormously. The times when we
could peacefully develop our pieces making
all kind of prophylactic moves like h3, Kb1,
Kh1 are in the deep past. Chess engines
teach us to be fast and efficient. That’s why
the fight for the initiative becomes very
important and often we can apply for
sacrifice.

FIDE Surveys – Viorel Bologan 4

Jakovenko D. : Bologan V.
Poikovsky 2013
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+l+-tr-+0
9+-+k+-+-0
9p+p+-+-+0
9+-+pvL-+p0
9-+-zP-+-mK0
9+-tR-+P+-0
9PzP-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
42...a5?
How can be this natural move decisive
mistake? The answer is time. Often in a
worse positions there are not many ways to
hold the defence, some times there is only
one move. I think this was exactly that kind
of situation. My logic during the game was,
that I should activate at any price my pieces,
especially the bishop, but beside the fact that
I am weakening my pawn and the bishop
maneuvre a6–e2 is quite slow, I still don't
develop the king. Instead I had a typical
pawn sacrifice in a different color positions:
42...c5! I was thinking of giving this pawn
only connected with the march of the king to
f5 and leaving it unprotected on c6. The
difference of the two version is huge. In case
of 43.dc5 more strong is 43.Rc5, but in this
case I take the very important pawn on f3
which is increasing my chances a lot, since
in many positions the exchange of the rooks
becomes possible. 43...Rf3 44.b3 Rf2
45.Rd5 Ke6 46.Rd6 Ke7 47.a4 Rf3 48.b4
Rh3 49.Kg5 h4 50.Rh6 Rh1 51.b5 ab5
52.ab5 Rg1 53.Kf4 h3 54.b6 Rf1 55.Ke3
Re1 56.Kf2 Rb1 57.d5 Rb5 58.Rh7 Ke8
59.Bc7 h2 60.Rh2 Rb2 61.Ke3 Rh2 62.Bh2
Kd7 =) 43...Kc6 44.f4 Bg4. I succeed in
three aspects improve the king and the
bishop as well as create a passed pawn d.
The chances for draw here are very good.
43.f4
After this Dmitrii showed his technique
convicingly.
43...Ke6 44.Rc6 Kf5 45.Rc5 Be6 46.Ra5
Rg8 47.Kh5 Rg2 48.Kh6 Rb2 49.Kg7!
The king is going to queeneside.
49...Bd7 50.Ra7 Bb5 51.a4 Bc4 52.a5 Ra2
53.Kf8 Ra1 54.Ke7 Ra2 55.Kd6 Ra1
56.Kc5 Ke4 57.Ra8 Ra2 58.Bc7 Rc2
59.Re8 Kf5 60.Re5 Kf6 61.Bd8 Kf7 62.f5
Rf2 63.Bg5 1:0.
7. Killing most important opponent’s
pieces
Often there is a piece which holds the whole
position or controls very important squares.
Bachmann Ax. : Bologan V.
Tromso 2014
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-+k+0
9+p+-+-sn-0
9-+p+p+R+0
9+-sn-+pzp-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9tr-+-+LvL-0
9-+-wQ-+-zP0
9+-+-+R+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
40...Rf3!
Now beside the fact that there is no one left
to control the white diagonal h1–a8, black
gets an extremly important square e4 for his
knight.
41.Rf3 Ne4 42.Qb2 Kh7 43.Rg7 Kg7
44.Be5 Kg6 45.Qb7 Nf6 46.Qc6 Qd5
47.Qd5 Nd5 48.h3 f4 49.Rb3 Kf5 50.Kg2
Ra2 0:1.
8. Opening the files and diagonals (mainly
against the king)
The importance of files and diagonals
drastically increased with use of chess
engines. They teach us how to use much
better the space and how to fight for it. Even
better when we open a file against the
opponent king which allows some times a
direct attack on it.
Eljanov P. : Bologan V.
Poikovsky 2014

FIDE Surveys – Viorel Bologan 5

XIIIIIIIIY Howell D. : Bologan V.
9-+-+r+k+0 Solingen 2013
9zp-+qtrpzp-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-zppsn-sn-0 9+-snlmk-+p0
9-+-+-sNP+0 9-+-zp-zp-+0
9zP-zP-zPP+p0 9+-wqPzp-zpP0
9-+-+Q+-zP0 9-zp-+P+P+0
9+-vLR+R+K0 9+P+L+P+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+NwQ-+K+0
27...d4!! 9+-+-+-+-0
The classical pawn breakthrough in the xiiiiiiiiy
center, the key moment of this sacrifice is 68...Bb5!
the opnening of the big white diagonal for The pawn on b4 will be gone anyway, so it's
black queen and the e file for the rooks. to get some counterplay in exchange.
28.cd4 cd4 29.Rd4 Qc6 30.Nd5 69.Nb4
30.e4 Nef3–+. 69.Bb5 Nb5 70.Nb4 Nd4.
30...Nef3! 69...Qd4 70.Qc2 Qb4 71.Qc7 Bd7 72.Qc2
30...Rd7 31.Nb4 Qb7 32.Rd7 Qd7 and there h6 73.Bc4 Kd8
is no defense from Nef3. In taking the decision on 68th move was the
31.Ne7 Re7 32.Rd8 Kh7 33.Qd3 g6 evaluation of the bishop endgame.
34.Rd6 Qb7 35.Rd5 Ne5 36.Qb5 Qa8 74.Kf1 Qa5 75.Qb2 Qb4 76.Qc1 Qa5
White is an exchange up, but he can not stop 77.Qb2 Qb4 78.Qc1 Qa5 79.Ke2 Qa2
black's attack on the big diagonal. 80.Ke3 Qa7 81.Ke2 Qa2 82.Ke3 Qa7
37.Kg1 Ngf3 83.Kd3 Qf2 84.Qe3 Qe3 85.Ke3 Kc7
Such a subtlle move like 37...Rc7 didn't 86.Kd3 Kb6 87.Kc3 Ka5 88.Be2 ½.
come to me in the time trouble, even it's
very natural to take the open file 38.e4 Qc8! 10. Sacrifice as the part of combination
- double attack. The combination usually is happening when
38.Kf2 Nh2 39.Rh1 a6 40.Qb3 Nhg4 there are motives for it. The main are the
41.Ke2 h2 presence of the tactical weaknesses and
The time trouble is over and I still have to critical constructions in the position.
win this game.
42.e4 Qc6 43.Bd2 Bologan V. : Stellwagen D.
43.Re5 Ne5 44.Rh2 Kg7–+. Solingen 2013
43...Kg7 44.Qc3 Qf6 45.Qg3 Rc7 XIIIIIIIIY
Threathening Rc4. 9-+r+-+-+0
46.Re5!? Ne5 47.Bc3 Rc4
Only, but enough. 9+p+-mk-+p0
48.Kd1 Re4 49.Rh2 Qf1 50.Kc2 Re2 9p+-+lsnp+0
51.Re2 Qe2 52.Kb3 f6 0:1. 9+-+-sn-+-0
9-+-+-+P+0
9. Achieving a theoretical draw or
building a fortress 9+PsN-+P+-0
This can be helped by the knowledge of 9P+-+PmK-zP0
typical fortresses in the endgames. Myself I 9+-tRR+-+-0
learned a lot from Mark Dvoretsky xiiiiiiiiy
personally and from his excellent books.
26...Neg4!!

FIDE Surveys – Viorel Bologan 6

With his last two moves (Kf2 and g4) white
first created a critical construction
(Gavrikov) Kf2, Nc3 and then tactical
weakness (Chebanenco), the pawn on g4.
27.Kg1
27.fg4 Rc3 28.Rc3 Ne4.
27...Ne5 28.Nd5 Nd5 29.Rc8 Bc8 30.Rd5
Nc6 31.Kf2 Be6 32.Rd2 g5 33.Kg3 a5
34.h4 h6 35.e4 b5 36.f4 gf4 37.Kf4 Nb4
38.Ke3 Nc6 39.Rg2 Kf6 40.Rc2 Ne5
41.Rc5 Bd7 42.Kd4 Nf3 43.Kd5 Ke7
44.Rc7 Nh4 45.Ra7 a4 46.Ra6 h5 47.ba4
ba4 48.e5 Ng2 49.Ke4 h4 50.e6 Be6
51.Ra4 Ne1 52.Ke3 h3 53.Kf2 h2 54.Rh4
Nd3 55.Kg3 Ba2 56.Rh2 ½.
12. Psychological sacrifices
- Which make opponent feel uncomfortable
(open king, passed pawns, passive position,
not coordinated pieces).
- Which make our own play easy and
smooth.
Conclusion:
To conclude I would take this article as a
beginning of a discussion “what we get in
exchange for the sacrifice?”. Definitely we
can add some more type of rewards but the
one described here I found the most typical
and important from practical point of view.

11. Distracting sacrifice

Usually when a piece is charged with an
important mission we bribe it with some
present in order to distract it from it’s duties


Mamedov R. : Bologan V.
Dubai 2014
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+-+k+0
9+-+-+pzpp0
9-+-+psn-+0
9tr-+p+-+-0
9P+-sN-+-+0
9+RzP-+P+-0
9-+-+-zP-zP0
9+-+-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
31.Nc6!
Distracting the rook from the important 8th
rank and meanwile using the critical
construction Rc8 and Kg8.
31...Raa8 32.Ne7 Kf8 33.Nc8 Rc8 34.a5
Ra8 35.Ra1 Nd7 36.a6 Ke7 37.c4 Nc5
38.Rb6 Ra7 39.Rc6 Nb3 40.Ra3 Kd7
41.cd5 ed5 42.Rb6 Nc5 43.Ra5 Kc7
44.Rbb5 Na6 45.Rd5 Kc6 46.Rd2 Kb6
47.Rda2 g6 48.Kg2 Ra8 49.Kg3 f6 50.f4 f5
51.h4 h5 52.Kf3 Ra7 53.Ra6 Ra6 54.Ra6
Ka6 55.Ke3 Kb6 56.Kd4 Kc6 57.Ke5 1:0.

FIDE Surveys – Viorel Bologan 7

Mihail Marin:
Rook and pawn(s) against
bishop and knight in positions
with middlegame character
According to the circumstances, a rook and
one or two pawns should be nominally
equivalent in strength with a knight and a
bishop. But the sides involved in this
indirect material balance are incompatible to
such an extent that several abstract aspects
should be mentioned before starting the
concrete examining of some typical
situations.
The rook is a very strong piece, almost as
strong as two minor pieces taken together.
The possibility of instantly transferring it
from one side of the board to another is
likely to induce dramatic changes in the
dynamic balance. If the minor pieces are
unstable or poorly coordinated, they may
well become comfortable targets for the
rook. The rook is well suited for attacking an
exposed king or sustain a dangerous passed
pawn.
But the strength of the rook could also turn
into an indirect weakness. Having five
nominal units gathered in just one piece
without the possibility of "splitting" induces
certain limitations if none of the
aforementioned ideas is available. From this
point of view, the group bishop + knight is
more balanced in strength than the rook and
pawn(s) patrol. Defending the minor pieces
with pawns would ensure their stability,
making them immune to the rook's attacks.
The same solution is not available to the
rook, which in most of the cases has to avoid
(or evacuate) any square attacked by its
nominally less strong enemies.
If the fight takes place on an extended area,
the minor pieces may well have to migrate
FIDE Surveys – Mihail Marin
according to the concrete requirements of
each moment, thus abandoning their stable
outposts. In such cases, it is most welcome
to have a "coordinator" defending them
directly or indirectly. This part is best played
by a queen or rook, like some sort of elder
brother guiding and protecting them.
In his article published this same month,
GM Karsten Mueller mainly examines
positions in which the player with a bishop
and a knight does not have any major pieces
left. In such endings, the only possible
coordinator of the minor pieces is the king,
with its obvious limitations, due to its
reduced mobility.
In my article I have selected positions in
which the minor pieces enjoy the help of a
major piece. Even if no other piece is left on
board, I believe that it would be improper to
consider these positions as endings, since
middlegame elements such as attacking the
king are an important issue.
Getting a position with our thematic material
balance frequently is more than just a simple
exchange operation. Therefore, in some
cases I have inserted the sequence preceding
the thematic starting point of the fragments.
1
A) The player with a bishop and a knight
stands better.
We will start with a classical example,
illustrating the attacking potential of the
minor pieces sustained by the queen.
Capablanca J. R. : Alekhine A.
Buenos Aires 1927
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+r+k+0
9zp-+-+pzpp0
9-zp-+-+-+0
9+-+Q+-+-0
9-+-+-vL-+0
9+N+-zP-zP-0
9q+-+-zPKzP0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
With the queens off, Black's position would
be preferable already, due to his outside
passed pawns. True, White could hope to
keep things under control by placing the
knight on d4 and centralizing the king (to
d3, for instance), but this would be mainly a
surviving effort. In the presence of queens,
the minor pieces enjoy higher mobility
under safe circumstances while the attack is
very dangerous.
26.Qc6
Unpinning the knight and initiating a phase
of slow manoeuvring phase with an
ambitious goal: mating the king!
26...Rf8
The line 26...Rd8 27.Bc7 Rc8 28.Nd4 is
suggestive about the kind of domination the
minor pieces can achieve if sustained by
their coordinator.
27.Nd4 Kh8?!
FIDE Surveys – Mihail Marin
Too passive. Instead of trying to coordinate
his pieces spread all over the board,
Alekhine increases the dsorder reigning in
his camp.
The paradoxical 27...Rd8 threatening ...Qd5
(not available one move earlier) would have
offered better defending chances. 28.e4 h6
(For hidden reasons, 28...h5 is too
hazarduous: 29.Be5 Qd2 30.Bg7! Rd4
31.Bf6 Rd8 32.Qb5! With the pawn on h6,
the g5 would be defended in the similar
line.) 29.Be3 Qa1 30.Nf5 Qe5 31.f3 h5
32.Nh6.
28.Be5
Threatening Bg7, with a mating attack.
28...f6 29.Ne6
Once again, the queen's help is priceless.
29...Rg8 30.Bd4
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+rmk0
9zp-+-+-zpp0
9-zpQ+Nzp-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-vL-+-+0
9+-+-zP-zP-0
9q+-+-zPKzP0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black has to look for desperate measures
against Ng7.
30...h6!?
30...Qa5 31.Ng7! Rg7 32.Qa8 Rg8 33.Bf6#;
30...a5 31.Ng7 Rg7 32.Qf6 Qg8 33.h4 b5
34.h5+–.
31.h4!
A very accurate move, taking the g5–square
under control and increasing the strength of
the threatened sacrifice, for instance: 32.Ng7
Rg7 33.Qf6 Qg8 34.Qh6+– or 32...Kg7
2
33.Qf6 Kh7 34.Qf5 Rg6 35.Qd7 Kg8 Few moves earlier White had initiated a
36.Qe8, followed by mate. forced tactical operation, culminating with
The immediate 31.Ng7 Rg7 32.Qf6 (If there the next move, aimed at retrieving part of
is no Pawn on h6, this manoeuvre wins by the material.
h4–h5–h6) is not really bad, but it allows 20.b3 Qf5 21.Bh6 Bd3 22.Rc3
Black continuing the fight with: 32...Qd5 22.Bf8 is concealing the f4–square too soon:
33.Kg1 Qg5. 22...Kf8! (Unpinning the knight.) 23.Rc3
31...Qb1 Nf4 with strong threats.
The queen desperately tries to approach the 22...Bb1!
threatened wing, but it is too late. Sustained by the queen, the bishop paralyzes
32.Ng7!+– Qg6 the a1–rook, at least temporarily.
32...Rg7 33.Qf6 Qe4 34.Kg1 Qb7 35.Qh6 23.Bf8
Kg8 36.Qg7 Qg7 37.Bg7 Kg7 38.Kf1!+–. 23.Rf3 Rfe8!–+.
The white king will block the enemy pawns 23...Rf8 24.h4
easily, while the white massive phalanx will It is instructive that the bishop and queen
be unstoppable. ensure eachother's stability. White is best
33.h5 Qf7 34.Nf5 adviced not to attackthe queen with 24.Rf3?
The rest is pure agony. due to 24...Qc2! threatening to get the rook
34...Kh7 35.Qe4 Re8 36.Qf4 Qf8 37.Nd6 with ...Qb2.
Re7 38.Bf6 Qa8 39.e4 Rg7 40.Bg7 Kg7 24...h5 25.Re3 Rc8 26.Re1 Be4
41.Nf5 Kf7 42.Qc7 1:0. XIIIIIIIIY
In the next game the main issue will be the 9-+r+-+k+0
superior cordination of the minor pieces,
sustained by pawns and major pieces.
9zp-+-+p+-0
9-zp-+-+n+0
Cori D. : Marin M.
Benasque 2012 9+-+p+q+p0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-zPl+-zP0
9r+q+-trk+0 9+P+-+-wQ-0
9zp-+-+p+p0 9P+-+-zPP+0
9-zp-+-+n+0 9tR-+-tR-mK-0
9+-+p+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
White has managed to retrieve his
9-+lzP-vL-+0 coordination, but the black pieces dominate
9+-+-+-wQ-0 the position. The vulnerability of the black
king is only seeming.
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 27.f3
9tR-tR-+-mK-0 27.Rac1!?
27...Bd3 28.Re5 Qf4 29.Qf4 Nf4
xiiiiiiiiy Finally White has managed to exchange
queens, but the active black rook is prepared

FIDE Surveys – Mihail Marin 3

for replacing Her Majesty in the part of
coordinator.
30.g3 Ne2 31.Kf2!
The exclaim mark attached to this obvious
move is for my young opponent's whole
concept: White can balance the position only
by including the king into the fight.
31...Rc2 32.Ke3 Bg6 33.g4
White's only chance is to create kingside
threats. 33.Rd5 Ng3 leaves the white
structure helplessly weakened.
33...hg4
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+k+0
9zp-+-+p+-0
9-zp-+-+l+0
9+-+ptR-+-0
9-+-zP-+pzP0
9+P+-mKP+-0
9P+r+n+-+0
9tR-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
34.fg4?
The correct move order was 34.h5! Bh7
35.fg4 Be4 36.Re8 Kg7 37.Rf1 with
adequate counterplay. The following nice
tactical variation leads to approximate
equality: 37...Nc1 38.Re7 Re2 39.Kf4 Kf6
40.Re4 Re4 41.Kg3 Kg5 42.Rc1 Rg4
43.Kf3, followed by Rc7.
34...Nc3
The queenside is in big danger and as will
soon be revealed the kingside counterplay
fails tactically.
35.h5? f6!
Suddenly, the rook is trapped. If 36.Re7
Re2.
FIDE Surveys – Mihail Marin
36.hg6 fe5 37.de5 Nb5 38.Rf1 d4 39.Kf4
Re2 40.a4 Nc3 41.Rf3 Kg7 42.Kg5 Re5
43.Kf4 Re3 44.Rf1 Nd5 0:1.
B) The side with rook hasan advantage.
Based on the fact that the pawns' strength (or
importance) increases with the
simplification, there is such a rule: in the
endgame a bishop and a knight are
equivalent with a rook and a pawn, while in
the middlegame two pawns are needed to
allow the rook keeping the balance even.
Personally, I have the feeling that the latter
is on the edge of favouring the side with a
rook.
In the next example the weakened position
of the white king will be a telling factor.
Adams M. : Karpov A.
Las Palmas 1994
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+ktr-+-tr0
9zppzpnwqpvl-0
9-+l+p+-zp0
9+-+-zP-+N0
9-+-+-wQ-zP0
9+-+-+N+-0
9PzPP+L+P+0
9+-mKR+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
The strategic plot gravitates around the e5–
pawn. Adams thought he had found a way to
avoid its loss, but probably misevaluated the
consequences of the following forced
sequence:
17...Bf3 18.Bf3 Be5 19.Qe4 c6 20.Rd7
Bb2!
4
An important intermediate grabbing move.
Black gets the second pawn and weakens the
white king.
21.Kb2 Rd7 22.Qe3
Black's pawns are not too dangerous yet, but
they control lots of squares, reducing the
white bishop to the part of a spectator. On
top, the knight which was optimally placed
when the fight for the e5–square was still on,
now remained far from the main theater of
events.White will be too busy to defend his
king to try taking advantage of Black's
kingside weaknesses.
22...Rhd8!
Typical for Karpov. Before strating the
attack, he completes his development.
As indicated by Karpov himself, 22...Qb4
would be premature, due to 23.Qb3 Qd4
24.Qc3.
23.a3
Defending the b4–square - please refer to the
discussion about 28...h6 and 28...h5 in the
first example. 23.Qa7 Qb4 24.Kc1 Qc3!–+
(Karpov). A first effect of the weakening of
the white king's residence.
23...Rd4 24.g3 Qc5 25.Re1 Rc4!
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+ktr-+-+0
9zpp+-+p+-0
9-+p+p+-zp0
9+-wq-+-+N0
9-+r+-+-zP0
9zP-+-wQLzP-0
9-mKP+-+-+0
9+-+-tR-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
An esssential decision. As will become clear
soon, White will face bigger problems
defending his quenside with the queens off.
FIDE Surveys – Mihail Marin
As explained by Karpov, his last move is the
best way of exchanging quens.
25...Qb5 26.Qb3 Qa5 27.Qc3! (27.Re3
R4d5! 28.Bd5 Rd5–+) 27...Qc3 28.Kc3.
26.Qc5 Rc5 27.Re2 Rd1!
With the minor pieces far away, White can
do little against Black's simple threats.
28.Nf4
28.Re6 Rd2 29.Re8 Kc7 (29...Kd7?
30.Nf6±) 30.Re7 (30.Be4 Rh5–+) 30...Kb6.
28...Rb5 29.Ka2 Rbb1
The most direct way. Karpov also analyzes
29...Rf1!? 30.Bg4 (30.Bh5 Rf4; 30.Re3
Rfb1) 30...Kc7.
30.Bh5
Remarcably enough, the knight is not able to
protect the king: 30.Nd3 Ra1 31.Kb3 Rdb1
32.Nb2 a5! 33.a4 b5! (Karpov) 34.Bc6 b4!
–+. The first moment in which the black
pawns show their strength.
30...Ra1 31.Kb3 Rdb1 32.Kc4 Ra3 33.Bf7
Rg3 34.Be6 Kc7 35.Nd3 a5
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+pmk-+-+-0
9-+p+L+-zp0
9zp-+-+-+-0
9-+K+-+-zP0
9+-+N+-tr-0
9-+P+R+-+0
9+r+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The position has calmed down. Black has
adangerous passer while the c6– and b7–
pawns safely protect the king. In the absence
of a passed pawn of his own, White has not
enough counterplay.
36.Rf2 Re3 37.Rf7 Kb8!–+
37...Kb6?! 38.Bc8.
5
38.Re7
38.Bf5 a4 39.Kd4 a3!, Karpov.
38...Re4 39.Kc3
39.Kc5? Rb5 40.Kd6 Rd4, Karpov.
39...Rb5!
39...a4?! 40.Ba2, Karpov. 0:1.
The next game illustrates the other possible
trump of the side with a rook - a strong
passed pawn. This will prove such an
important element that it will make Black's
theoretical material advantage irrelevant.
Karpov A. : Nikolic P.
Monte Carlo 1997
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-vlr+k+0
9+l+-+pzpp0
9-+-+-sn-+0
9zpP+pzp-+-0
9P+r+-+-+0
9wq-vL-zP-zP-0
9N+-+QzPLzP0
9+R+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black seems to have an excelent position.
Many of his pieces are active and his centre
looks strong. The only (apparently
temporary) problem is the bishop's presence
on d8. Should Black be allowed to play
...Bb6, his position would surely be good.
But even in a rapid blindfold game Karpov
managed to spot an original way of using the
favourable moment with a complex
exchange operation.
26.Bd5!! Bd5 27.Rd5 Rc3?!
Nikolic cannot refrai from "winning
material". 27...Nd5 28.Qc4 Nb6 would have
offered better chances to defend.
FIDE Surveys – Mihail Marin
28.Nc3 Qc3
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-vlr+k+0
9+-+-+pzpp0
9-+-+-sn-+0
9zpP+Rzp-+-0
9P+-+-+-+0
9+-wq-zP-zP-0
9-+-+QzP-zP0
9+R+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Only ashes have remained from Black's
centre. The weakness on d5 prevents him
from consolidating with ...Nd5, followed by
...Bb6 (and possibly ...Nb4). The rook is not
in time to fight for the open files which will
soon be under white control.
29.Rd6
The paradoxical (and, possibly, even
stronger) regrouping move 29.Rdd1!? must
have been a bit too much for a blindfold
game: 29...Bb6 30.Rbc1 Qb4 31.Rc6±.
29...Qc7 30.Rbd1 Be7 31.Rc6 Qb7 32.Qc4
White has achieved overwhelming activity.
Black's minor pieces do not have stable
squares in the centre, which prevents them
from fighting for the blockade of the b-
pawn.
32...h5 33.h4 Kf8
Hoping for a rapid centraliztion in the
endgame, but the endgame is far ...
33...Bb4? 34.Rc7+–.
34.b6 Rb8 35.Rb1 Qd7
Given the superior activity of White's entire
army, we should not wonder that the
desirable 35...Bb4? could run into two
different winning lines: 36.Rb4! (The simple
36.Rc7 Qd5 37.Rc8 Rc8 38.Qc8 Ke7 39.b7
is also good. Black will have to give one of
6
his pieces for the passed pawn.) 36...ab4
37.a5. White has only one pawn for the
knight, but his pawns are far too advanced
while the permanent threat of Rc7 makes the
winning picture complete.
36.Rc7 Qf5 37.Rb2 Ne8 38.b7 Bd6 39.Rc8
Qd7 40.Qb5 Ke7 41.Rb8 Bb8 42.Qa5
In the middlegame White had only one extra
pawn, which was equivalent with being
down on the material scale. The game gets
close to the ending now and he has gotten
the second pawn. Needless to say, the game
is over.
42...Qc6 43.Qb4 Nd6 44.a5 Ke6 45.Qb3
Kf6 46.Rc2 Qa6 47.Qd5
Combining the queenside pressure with
threats against the king.
47...Ke7
47...Qb7 48.Qb7 Nb7 49.Rb2+–.
48.Rc6 Qa7 49.a6 Kd7 50.Rc8 g6 51.Qc6
Ke7 52.Rc7 Ke6 53.Qd7 Kd5 54.e4 Ke4
55.Qd6 1:0.

The examples examined above offer us four

different patterns. This suggests that it is
hard to offer a simple criteria for evaluating
this type of positions. One has to take in
account the elements mentioned in the
introduction and try to get the right equation
aout of them.The last mention is about the
sometimes unexpected character of the
complex tactical operation leading to our
thematical material balance. One should be
permanently aware of such possibilities in
tense positions.

FIDE Surveys – Mihail Marin 7

Chess Quiz
by Adrian Mikhalchishin
FIDE Senior Trainer (FST) & Grand Master (GM)
31 December 2014

Questions:

1. Which were mother tongues of Jose Raul Capablanca and Mikhail Tal?

2. Who was quoted saying ”Chess is a fight against yourself.”?

3. Among GMs, there was only one Aristocrat. Who, and what was his title?

4. Name one GM, one IM, and one WGM with their highest ranking state position.

5. How were Alekhine and Tarrasch called when at home?

6. With which famous person did Robert Fischer attend the same school with?

7. What do Capablanca and the famous Real Madrid striker Gonzalez have in common?

8. Which health problem did Alekhine experience during his match against Capablanca?
9. Name two great chess players who were also lawyers.

10. Name two persons who represented their country both in football (soccer) and chess.

11. What do Arshak Petrosian’s mops have in common with Alekhine’s cat?

12. In which three cities are Euwe Square, Chigorin Street, and Staunton Street?

13. Which GM was a partisan during WW2?

14. Name two famous GMs who were held in Japanese prisons, but not for crimes.

15. Which GM was a Soviet prisoner of war after World War 2?

16. Name at least four famous GMs who released recordings of their best songs?

17. David Bronstein taught: Chess is the game of ….?

Robert Fischer was quoted saying: Chess is …?

18. Which army rank did the leaders of Soviet and American chess of the 70s, Baturinski and
Edmondson, have in common?

19. Who invented: the Meran Variation, the Mar del Plata Variation, and the Kecskemet Variation?

20. What were family connections between Pillsbury and Napier, and between Arshak Petrosian
and Peter Leko?

21. GM Alexander Grischuk is married to which GM/WGM?

1
22. Which bank’s team was a European Cup winner?

23. Which GM owns bank Lviv in Ukraine?

24. Who among GMs was a University Rector?

25. Who invented the Orangutan Defence, and how does it start?

26. Which GM was a world top specialist on orchids?

27. Who among World Chess Champions held a PhD, but was never mentioned as a Dr?

28. Who was quoted saying “I do everything like it’s a chess game”?

29. In Baguio 1978, Team Karpov used a simple method to protect themselves against CIA
bugging. What was it?

30. Name a Swiss chess champion who was also a painter.

31. Name one of the founders of plastic surgery who was also Dutch chess champion?

32. Name two famous chess players, who were members of the Free Masons?

33. In which country was Grand Master Pal Benko born?

34. Which is the oldest chess club in the world?

35. Which were the most famous chess clubs of the 19th century, in Paris and London?

36. In which cities was Alexander Alekhine imprisoned during World War 1 and after?

37. Name an opera composer who was also a chess player?

38. What was Adolf Andersen’s profession?

39. Which great chess trainer was nicknamed “Matador” by his which great pupil?

40. Which Grand Master globetrotted around the world giving chess simuls and chess lessons?

41. What did Wilhelm Steinitz hate in Russian hotels during winter?

42. What do cosmonaut V. Sevastjanov, snooker player S. Davies, famous writer M. Sadoveanu,
and top model Carmen Kaas have in common?

43. Who wrote a famous song about the Spassky vs Fischer 1972 World Chess Championship
Match?

44. Name a WGM who was also a World Bridge Champion?

45. What was Akiba Rubinstein’s family business?

46. Which GM was nicknamed “Richard the 5th”?

2
47. Two great chess players have a bridge named after them. Who aret hey, and where are the
bridges?

48. What is the given name of a greatest study composer Kasparian?

49. Which famous players were portrayed on money?

50. How many World Chess Champions lived in the USA?

51. After losing one game of chess, Tigran Petrosian was quoted saying ”I played this opening once
in five years. From now on I’ll play it once in ten years!” What is the opening in question?

52. Late GM Vladimir Bagirov reportedly met Alekhine in one of his dreams. He understood it as a
sign of what?

53. What was Lorenzo Ponziani’s profession?

54. Which profession was written in the passport of Grand Master Svetozar Gligorić?

55. World Team Chess Olympiad Amsterdam 1954 medal winner Team Yugoslavia left the
Olympiad’s closing ceremony under protest. Why?

56. Name two GMs and one WGM, members of Parliament?

57. Which Grand Masters and trainers had to flee the country during wars in Kuwait and Libya?

58. Why was GM Friedrich (Fritz) Sämisch held in a concentration camp during WW2?

3
Chess Quiz
by Adrian Mikhalchishin
FIDE Senior Trainer (FST) & Grand Master (GM)
31 December 2014
ANSWERS:
1. Which were mother tongues of Jose Raul Capablanca and Mikhail Tal?
CATALAN AND GERMAN.
2. Who was quoted saying ”Chess is a fight against yourself.”?
MARCEL DUCHAMP.
3. Among GMs, there was only one Aristocrat. Who, and what was his title?
COUNT ALBERIC O KELLY DE GALWAY.
4. Name one GM, one IM, and one WGM with their highest ranking state position.
FRIDRIK OLAFSSON – CHAIRMAN, ICELANDIC PARLIAMENT,
ALISA MARIĆ – MINISTER OF SPORTS, SERBIA 2012.
DANA REIZNIECE-OZOLA – MINISTER OF ECONOMY, LATVIA.
5. How were Alekhine and Tarrasch called when at home?
TISHA AND KURT.
6. With which famous person did Robert Fischer attend the same school with?
BARBARA STREISAND.
7. What do Capablanca and the famous Real Madrid striker Gonzalez have in common?
NAME – RAUL.
8. Which health problem did Alekhine experience during his match against Capablanca?
HE HAD SIX TEETH REMOVED.
9. Name two great chess players who were also lawyers.
PAUL MORPHY AND ALEXANDER ALEKHINE.
10. Name two persons who represented their country both in football (soccer) and chess.
GM SIMEN AGDESTEIN (NORWAY), AND IM BELA SOOS (ROMANIA).
11. What do Arshak Petrosian’s mops have in common with Alekhine’s cat?
NAME – CHESS.
12. In which three cities are Euwe Square, Chigorin Street, and Staunton Street?
AMSTERDAM, KIEV, AND UTRECHT.
13. Which GM was a partisan during WW2?
SVETOZAR GLIGORIĆ.
14. Name two famous GMs who were held in Japanese prisons, but not for crimes.
KHOLMOV AND FISCHER.
15. Which GM was a Soviet prisoner of war after World War 2?
LASZLO SZABO.
4
16. Name at least four famous GMs who released recordings of their best songs?
PORTISCH, GLIGORIĆ, ROSSOLIMO AND SMYSLOV.
17. David Bronstein taught: Chess is the game of ….?
Robert Fischer was quoted saying: Chess is …?
DOUBLE ATTACK, TIMING.
18. Which army rank did the leaders of Soviet and American chess of the 70s, Baturinski and
Edmondson, have in common?
COLONEL.
19. Who invented: the Meran Variation, the Mar del Plata Variation, and the Kecskemet Variation?
RUBINSTEIN, GLIGORIĆ, AND ALEKHINE.
20. What were family connections between Pillsbury and Napier, and between Arshak Petrosian
and Peter Leko?
MARRIED TO LATTER SISTER, LEKO MARRIED PETROSIAN’S DAUGHTER.
21. GM Alexander Grischuk is married to which GM/WGM?
NATALIA ZHUKOVA.
22. Which bank’s team was a European Cup winner?
TATARSBERBANK.
23. Which GM owns bank Lviv in Ukraine?
MARGEIR PETURSSON.
24. Who among GMs was a University Rector?
MILAN VIDMAR, LJUBLJANA UNIVERSITY (SLOVENIA).
25. Who invented the Orangutan Defence, and how does it start?
TARTAKOWER, 1 b4.
26. Which GM was a world top specialist on orchids?
KARL ROBACH (AUSTRIA).
27. Who among World Chess Champions held a PhD, but was never mentioned as a Dr?
TIGRAN PETROSIAN.
28. Who was quoted saying “I do everything like it’s a chess game”?
YOKO ONO.
29. In Baguio 1978, Team Karpov used a simple method to protect themselves against CIA
bugging. What was it?
AN ARMY TENT.
30. Name a Swiss chess champion who was also a painter.
HENRI GROB.
31. Name one of the founders of plastic surgery who was also Dutch chess champion?
ESSER.
5
32. Name two famous chess players, who were members of the Free Masons?
BERNSTEIN AND ALEKHINE.
33. In which country was Grand Master Pal Benko born?
FRANCE.
34. Which is the oldest chess club in the world?
ZURICH (FOUNDED IN 1809).
35. Which were the most famous chess clubs of the 19th century, in Paris and London?
REGENCE AND SIMPSON’S DIVAN.
36. In which cities was Alexander Alekhine imprisoned during World War 1 and after?
BADEN BADEN AND ODESSA.
37. Name an opera composer who was also a chess player?
PHILIDOR.
38. What was Adolf Andersen’s profession?
MATH TEACHER (GYMNASIUM OF BRESLAU).
39. Which great chess trainer was nicknamed “Matador” by his which great pupil?
NIKITIN, BY KASPAROV.
40. Which Grand Master globetrotted around the world giving chess simuls and chess lessons?
BORA KOSTIĆ IN THE 1920s.
41. What did Wilhelm Steinitz hate in Russian hotels during winter?
TERRIBLE HEAT.
42. What do cosmonaut V. Sevastjanov, snooker player S. Davies, famous writer M. Sadoveanu,
and top model Carmen Kaas have in common?
ALL FOUR WERE NATIONAL CHESS FEDERATION PRESIDENTS.
43. Who wrote a famous song about the Spassky vs Fischer 1972 World Chess Championship
Match?
VLADIMIR VYSOCKI.
44. Name a WGM who was also a World Bridge Champion?
IRINA LEVITINA.
45. What was Akiba Rubinstein’s family business?
CHICKEN FARMING.
46. Which GM was nicknamed “Richard the 5th”?
TEICHMANN.
47. Two great chess players have a bridge named after them. Who aret hey, and where are the
bridges?
DONNER IN AMSTERDAM AND STEINITZ IN PRAGUE.
48. What is the given name of a greatest study composer Kasparian?
RAPHAEL.
6
49. Which famous players were portrayed on money?
KERES (ESTONIA TWO KRONA BILL), AND CAPABLANCA (CUBA THREE PESO COIN).
50. How many World Chess Champions lived in the USA?
5 (FISCHER, LASKER, STEINITZ, KASPAROV, and CAPABLANCA).
51. After losing one game of chess, Tigran Petrosian was quoted saying ”I played this opening once
in five years. From now on I’ll play it once in ten years!” What is the opening in question?
CARO-KANN.
52. Late GM Vladimir Bagirov reportedly met Alekhine in one of his dreams. He understood it as a
sign of what?
IT WAS AN ORDER TO PLAY CHESS, AND TO WRITE A CHESS BOOK!
53. What was Lorenzo Ponziani’s profession?
PROFESSOR OF CIVIL LAW, UNIVERSITY OF MODENA (ITALY).
54. Which profession was written in the passport of Grand Master Svetozar Gligorić?
JOURNALIST.
55. World Team Chess Olympiad Amsterdam 1954 medal winner Team Yugoslavia left the
Olympiad’s closing ceremony under protest. Why?
BECAUSE THE ORGANIZER PLAYED THE OLD ANTHEM OF THE FORMER KINGDOM
OF YUGOSLAVIA.
56. Name two GMs and one WGM, members of Parliament?
ANATOLY KARPOV (RUSSIA), UTUT ADIANTO (INDONESIA), AND DANA REIZNIECE-
OZOLA (LATVIA).
57. Which Grand Masters and trainers had to flee the country during wars in Kuwait and Libya?
MILORAD KNEŽEVIĆ AND VIDMANTAS MALISHAUSKAS.
58. Why was GM Friedrich (Fritz) Sämisch held in a concentration camp during WW2?
IN A PRAGUE CAFÉ HE CALLED ADOLF HITLER AN IDIOT.
7
How the chess greats missed mates, or were not mated. By Adrian Mikhalchishin (31.12.2014)

1 E04 65.♕c5+±
Bondarevsky,Igor ½-½
Keres,Paul
Moscow Moscow URS (11) 1947
[Adrian Mikhalchishin, Jovan Petronic] 2 D42
Szabo,Laszlo
1.d4 ♘f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.♗g2 dxc4 5.♘f3 Reshevsky,Samuel Herman
c6 6.♘e5 ♗b4+ 7.♘c3 ♘d5 8.♗d2 ♘b6 9.♘e4 Candidates Tournament (19) 1953
a5 10.e3 0-0 11.♕c2 ♘8d7 12.♗xb4 axb4 [Adrian Mikhalchishin]
13.♘xc4 ♘xc4 14.♕xc4 ♕e7 15.f4 ♘b6
16.♕b3 ♘d5 17.0-0 b6 18.♘d2 c5 19.e4 ♘c7 1.d4 ♘f6 2.c4 e6 3.♘f3 d5 4.♘c3 c5 5.cxd5
20.d5 ♗a6 21.♖fe1 ♘b5 22.dxe6 fxe6 23.♘f3 ♘xd5 6.e3 ♘c6 7.♗d3 ♘xc3 8.bxc3 ♗e7
♔h8 24.♗f1 ♘c7 25.♗xa6 ♖xa6 26.♖ed1 ♘b5 9.♕c2 g6 10.h4 h5 11.♖b1 ♖b8 12.♗e4 ♕c7
27.a4 ♘d4 28.♘xd4 cxd4 29.♖xd4 e5 30.fxe5 13.0-0 ♗d7 14.d5 exd5 15.♗xd5 ♗f6 16.♘g5
♕xe5 31.♕xb4 ♕f6 32.♕d2 b5 33.b3 bxa4 ♘d8 17.c4 ♗c6 18.♘e4 ♗g7 19.♗b2 0-0
34.bxa4 h6 35.♖d1 ♖aa8 36.♕e2 ♕c6 37.♕c4 20.♘f6+ ♗xf6 Diagram
♕b6 38.♕b5 ♕f6 39.♕e2 ♕b6 40.♔g2 ♕b3
41.♖f1 ♖fc8 42.♖f3 ♕b1 43.♖f2 ♖c1 44.♕b2 XIIIIIIIIY
♕a1 45.♕b6 ♔h7 46.♖d6 ♖g8 47.♕b5 ♖g1+
48.♔h3 ♕e1 49.♕f5+! ♔h8 Diagram
8-tr-sn-trk+0
XIIIIIIIIY 7zppwq-+p+-0 2
8-+-+-+rmk0 6-+l+-vlp+0
7+-+-+-zp-0 1 5+-zpL+-+p0
6-+-tR-+-zp0 4-+P+-+-zP0
5+-+-+Q+-0 3+-+-zP-+-0
4P+-+P+-+0 2PvLQ+-zPP+0
3+-+-+-zPK0 1+R+-+RmK-0[
2-+-+-tR-zP0 xabcdefghy
1+-+-wq-tr-0[ 21.♗xf6??
[ Szabo saw this mate in two in his calculation,
xabcdefghy but suddenly made an automatic recapture!
21.♕xg6+ ♗g7 22.♕xg7# ]
50.♕h5? 21...♗xd5 22.cxd5 ♕d6 23.♕c3 ♕xd5 24.♖fd1
[ White to play and mate in 7. 50.♖xh6+! gxh6□ ♕f5 25.e4 ♕e6 26.♗g7 b6 27.♗xf8 ♔xf8
51.♕e5+! ♖g7 ( 51...♔h7 52.♖f7+ ♔g6 ½-½
53.♕f5# ) 52.♖f8+ ♔h7□ 53.♕f5+ ♖g6□
54.♖f7+ ♔h8 ( 54...♔g8 55.♕xg6++- )
55.♕e5+! ♔g8 56.♕e8# ] 3
50...♕xe4 51.♖fd2 ♕b7 52.♕e5 ♕c8+ 53.♔h4 Mackay,C
♔h7 54.♕e4+ g6? Donner,H
[ 54...♔h8 55.♖xh6+!± △gxh6□ 56.♖d6 ♕f8 Cheltenham 1953
57.♕d4+! ♔h7 58.♖d7+ ♖g7 59.♕d3+! ♔h8 [Adrian Mikhalchishin]
60.♖d8± ]
55.♖c2? Diagram
[ 55.♖d7++- △♖g7 56.♖xg7+ ♔xg7 57.♕e7+ 1...♕c8+ 2.♔f6 ♕xb7?? and here White resigned,
♔g8 58.♖d8++- ] but he did not see mate! 3.♗xb7 b1♕ 4.♗c6#
55...♖e1 56.♕d3 ♕f5 57.♖c7+ ♖g7 58.♖xg7+ 0-1
♔xg7 59.♖d7+ ♔f6 60.♕d4+ ♖e5 61.♕d6+ ♖e6
62.♕f8+ ♔e5 63.♕c5+ ♔f6 64.♕f8+ ♔e5

1
How the chess greats missed mates, or were not mated. By Adrian Mikhalchishin (31.12.2014)

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
8-+-+k+-+0{ 8-wq-+-+r+0
7+R+-zP-+p0 3 7+-+Q+Nzpk0 4
6-+-+-+-+0 6p+-+-+-zp0
5+-+-+KzP-0 5+p+-+-+N0
4-+-+LzP-+0 4-+-+-+-+0
3+-wq-+-zP-0 3+-+-+-+P0
2-zp-+-+-+0 2Psn-+-zPP+0
1+-+-+-+-0 1+-+-+-mK-0[
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy

4 C92 5 E49
Tal,Mihail Furman,Semen Abramovich
Antoshin,Vladimir S Kholmov,Ratmir D
URS-ch24 Moscow (7) 1957 URS-ch31 Leningrad (4) 1963
[Adrian Mikhalchishin] [Adrian Mikhalchishin]

1.e4 e5 2.♘f3 ♘c6 3.♗b5 a6 4.♗a4 ♘f6 5.0-0
♗e7 6.♖e1 b5 7.♗b3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 ♘d7
10.d4 ♘b6 11.♗e3 exd4 12.cxd4 d5 13.♘c3
dxe4 14.♘xe4 ♗f5 15.d5 ♘a5 16.d6 cxd6
17.♗xb6 ♕xb6 18.♘g3 ♗e6 19.♗xe6 fxe6
20.♖xe6 ♗f6 21.♖xd6 ♕b8 22.♘h5 ♗xb2
23.♖b1 ♘c4 24.♖d7 ♖a7 25.♖xb2 ♘xb2
26.♕d5+ ♔h8 27.♕d4 ♖xd7 28.♕xd7 ♖g8
29.♘g5 h6 30.♘f7+ ♔h7 Diagram
1.d4 ♘f6 2.c4 e6 3.♘c3 ♗b4 4.e3 0-0 5.♗d3
d5 6.a3 ♗xc3+ 7.bxc3 e5 8.cxd5 ♕xd5 9.f3
exd4 10.cxd4 c5 11.♘e2 cxd4 12.♘xd4 ♘c6
13.♘xc6 ♕xc6 14.0-0 ♗e6 15.♗b2 ♖fd8
16.♗d4 ♗c4 17.♖c1 b5 18.♕c2 ♕d6 19.♗xc4
bxc4 20.♕a2 ♖dc8 21.♖xc4 ♖xc4 22.♕xc4
♕xa3 23.♖a1 ♕e7 24.♖a6 h6 25.♕c6 ♕e8
26.♕d6 ♖d8 27.♕g3 ♖d7 28.h3 ♔h7 29.♕f4
♘d5 Diagram

(Diagram 4) (Diagram 5)

31.h4??
[ Even such great attackers as Mikhail Tal did not
mate sometimes! 31.♕f5+ g6 32.♕d7 gxh5
33.♘g5+ ♔g6 34.♕e6+ ♔xg5 35.g3 h4 36.f4+
♔h5 37.g4+ ♖xg4+ 38.♕xg4# ]
31...♕c8 32.♘f6+ ♔g6 33.♘xg8 ♕xd7 34.♘e5+
♔h7 35.♘xd7 ♔xg8 36.♘c5 a5 37.♔f1 ♘d1
38.♘e4 b4 39.♔e2 ♘b2 40.♔d2 a4
½-½
30.♕g4??
[ Just at night in his dream Furman found the
mate! 30.♖xh6+ gxh6 31.♕f5+ ♔g8 32.♕g4+
♔f8 33.♕g7+ ♔e7 34.♕e5+ ♔f8 ( 34...♔d8
35.♕b8+ ♔e7 36.♗c5+ ) 35.♗c5+ ♖e7
36.♕h8# ]
30...g6 31.♕h4 ♘xe3 32.♕f6 ♘f5 33.♗e5 ♕f8
34.f4 h5 35.♔h2 h4 36.♖a5 ♕d8
½-½

2
How the chess greats missed mates, or were not mated. By Adrian Mikhalchishin (31.12.2014)

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
8-+-+q+-+0 8-+-+-tr-+0
7zp-+r+pzpk0 5 7+-+-+k+P0 6
6R+-+-+-zp0 6-+-+-+-vL0
5+-+n+-+-0 5+p+-zP-+-0
4-+-vL-wQ-+0 4pvl-+-+-+0
3+-+-zPP+P0 3+-sn-tR-wQ-0
2-+-+-+P+0 2-+q+-zPP+0
1+-+-+-mK-0[ 1+-+-+-mK-0[
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
50.♕f3+ ♔g6 51.♕d3+ ♔f6 52.♗d6 ♕c4
53.♕f3+ ♔g6 54.g4 ♘g7 55.♗e5 ♔h7 56.♕g3
6 C83 ♕e6 57.f4 b4 58.f5 ♕h6+ 59.♔g2 ♕d2+
Tringov,Georgi P 60.♔h3 ♕h6+ 61.♔g2 ♕d2+ 62.♔h3 ♕h6+
Kortschnoj,Viktor After seeing this game, I wondered - was it played
La Habana (ol) 2/254 1966 after Viktor's and Mikhail Tal's visit to the famous
[Adrian Mikhalchishin, Bruno Parma] night bar Tropicana, which ended with a bottle
hitting Mikhail's head?
Viktor Kortchnoi could have been checkmated ½-½
many times! 1.e4 e5 2.♘f3 ♘c6 3.♗b5 a6
4.♗a4 ♘f6 5.0-0 ♘xe4 6.d4 b5 7.♗b3 d5
8.dxe5 ♗e6 9.c3 ♗e7 10.♗c2 ♕d7 11.♕e2 0-0 7 C83
12.♖d1! ♘c5 13.♘d4 ♘xd4 14.cxd4 ♘b7 Boleslavsky,Isaak
15.♘c3 f6 16.♕h5 f5 17.♗g5± ♖ac8 18.♘e2 Kortschnoj,Viktor
c5 19.dxc5 ♗xc5 20.♖ac1 ♘a5 21.♘f4 ♘c4 Moscow Training (5) 1966
22.♖e1 ♗b4 23.♖e2 d4 24.♖d1 ♘xb2 25.♘xe6 [Adrian Mikhalchishin]
♕xe6 26.♗b3 ♘c4 27.♖xd4 f4?! 28.♖xf4 ♖xf4
29.♗xf4 a5 30.h4 a4 31.♗c2 g6 32.♕f3 ♖f8 1.e4 e5 2.♘f3 ♘c6 3.♗b5 a6 4.♗a4 ♘f6 5.0-0
33.♕g3 ♘b6 34.h5+- ♘d5 35.♗h6 ♘c3 36.♖e3 ♘xe4 6.d4 b5 7.♗b3 d5 8.dxe5 ♗e6 9.c3 ♗e7
♕xa2 37.hxg6 ♕xc2 38.gxh7+ ♔f7 Diagram 10.♘bd2 ♘c5 11.♗c2 ♕d7 12.♖e1 ♗f5 13.♗xf5
♕xf5 14.♘f1 ♕d3 15.♗e3 0-0-0 16.♕c1 ♔b7
(Diagram 6) 17.♗xc5 ♗xc5 18.b4 ♗b6 19.a4 d4 20.♖a3
♕g6 21.axb5 axb5 22.c4 ♘xb4 23.c5 ♗a7
39.♖f3+ Here any move is winning! 24.e6 ♖d5 25.♘e5 ♖xe5 26.♖xe5 ♘c6 27.♖e2
[ 39.♕g8++- ] ♕h5 28.♖b2 b4 29.♖xa7+ ♘xa7 30.♖xb4+ ♔c6
[ 39.♕f3++- ] 31.♕c2 ♘b5 32.♕a4 ♖b8 33.e7 ♕e2 34.♖xd4
[ Neither of the two players, including the ♕xe7 35.♘e3 ♕e6 36.♖e4 ♕c8 37.♖b4 ♔xc5
annotator, saw mate! 39.e6+ ♔e7 40.♗xf8+ 38.♖c4+ ♔d6 39.♕c2 h6 40.♕e4 ♕b7 Diagram
♔xf8 41.h8♕+ ♔e7 42.♕c7# ]
39...♔e6 40.♖xf8? (Diagram 7)
[ 40.♕g4++- ]
[ 40.♕g8++- ] 41.♕f4+
40...♘e2+ 41.♔h2 ♘xg3 42.h8♕ ♗xf8 [ Boleslavski could mate with: 41.♘f5+ ♔d7
43.♕xf8?? 42.♕e7+ ♔c8 43.♕e8# ]
[ 43.♕g8+ ♔d7 44.e6++- ] 41...♔e7 42.♕e5+
43...♘f5 44.♕f6+ ♔d5 45.♕f7+= ♔xe5 46.♕e8+ 1-0
♔f6 47.♗f8 ♕c7+ 48.g3 ♘d4 49.♕e4 ♘e6

3
How the chess greats missed mates, or were not mated. By Adrian Mikhalchishin (31.12.2014)

9 C56
XIIIIIIIIY Sax,Gyula 2565
8-tr-+-+-+0 Smejkal,Jan
Vrbas (7)
2575
1977
7+qzp-+pzp-0 7 [Adrian Mikhalchishin]

6-+-mk-+-zp0 1.e4 e5 2.♘f3 ♘c6 3.♗c4 ♘f6 4.d4 exd4 5.e5

d5 6.♗b5 ♘e4 7.♘xd4 ♗c5 8.♗e3 ♗d7 9.♗xc6
5+n+-+-+-0 bxc6 10.0-0 ♕e7 11.♖e1 0-0 12.f3 ♘g5 13.f4
♘e6 14.c3 f6 15.f5 ♘xd4 16.cxd4 ♗b4 17.e6
4-+R+Q+-+0 ♗xe1 18.♕xe1 c5 19.dxc5 d4 20.♗xd4 ♗c6
3+-+-sN-+-0 21.♘c3 ♖ab8 22.b3 ♖fd8 23.♕e3 a5 24.♖f1 a4
25.♘xa4 ♗xa4 26.bxa4 ♖b4 27.♖f4 ♖xa4 28.h4
2-+-+-zPPzP0 ♖xa2 29.h5 h6 30.♖g4 ♔h7 31.♖g6 ♖f8
32.♕g3 ♖a4 33.♗e3 ♖a3 34.♖g4 ♖d8 35.♖e4
1+-+-+-mK-0[ Diagram ♔h8 36.♔h2 c6 37.♕g6 ♖d5 38.♗xh6 gxh6

xabcdefghy XIIIIIIIIY
8-+-+-+-mk0
8 E98 7+-+-wq-+-0 9
Langeweg,Christian
Casa,Alex 6-+p+PzpQzp0
Lugano ol (Men) qual-D (4) 1968
[Adrian Mikhalchishin] 5+-zPr+P+P0
Diagram 4-+-+R+-+0
XIIIIIIIIY 3tr-+-+-+-0
8-+-+-+k+0{ 2-+-+-+PmK0
7zpp+-+-+p0 8 1+-+-+-+-0[
6-+-zp-trp+0 xabcdefghy
5zP-+Pvln+-0 39.♖g4??
[ First White missed mate! 39.♕xh6+ ♕h7 40.e7
4-zPL+-+-zP0 ♕xh6 41.e8♕+ ♔h7 42.♖e7+ ♕g7 43.♕g6+
3+-+Q+q+-0 ♔h8 44.♕xg7# ]
39...♕f8??
2-+-+R+-+0 [ Here Black missed a brilliant stalemate!
39...♕c7+ 40.g3 ♖d2+ 41.♔h3 ♖h2+ 42.♔xh2
1+-+-vL-mK-0 ♖a2+ 43.♔h3 ♖h2+ 44.♔xh2 ♕xg3+ 45.♖xg3=
Stalemate! ]
xabcdefghy 40.e7 ♕b8+ 41.g3
1-0
34...♗d4+
[ Much faster was to mate: 34...♕f1+!! 35.♔xf1
♘e3+ 36.♔g1 ♖f1# ]
35.♔h2 ♘e3 36.♗g3 ♘f1+ 37.♔h3 ♘xg3
38.♕xf3 ♖xf3 39.♖e8+ ♔f7
0-1

4
How the chess greats missed mates, or were not mated. By Adrian Mikhalchishin (31.12.2014)

10 E50 11 D53
Djuric,Stefan Vaganian,Rafael A
Mikhalchishin,Adrian Petrosian,Arshak
Vrnjacka Banja 25/653 1978 Yerevan 30/537 1980
[Adrian Mikhalchishin] [Adrian Mikhalchishin]

1.d4 ♘f6 2.c4 e6 3.♘c3 ♗b4 4.e3 b6 5.♘f3 1.c4 e6 2.♘f3 d5 3.d4 ♘f6 4.♘c3 ♗e7 5.♗g5
♗b7 6.♗e2 0-0 7.0-0 c5 8.♘a4 cxd4 9.exd4 h6 6.♗h4 0-0 7.♖c1 b6 8.♗xf6 ♗xf6 9.cxd5
♗e7 10.a3 d6 11.b4 ♘bd7 12.♗b2 ♖c8 13.♕b3 exd5 10.g3 ♗e6 11.♗g2 c5 12.0-0 ♘c6
♖c7! 14.♖fd1 ♕a8= 15.♘c3 a6 16.a4 d5 17.c5 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.♘e1 ♘e7 15.♘d3 ♖c8 16.e3
bxc5 18.bxc5 ♘e4 19.♘xe4 dxe4 20.♘d2 ♗d5 ♕a5 17.a3 ♖fd8 18.♘f4 c4 19.♕e2 ♗e5
21.♕g3 ♖c6? 22.♗b5? f5! 23.♗xc6 ♕xc6 20.♘xe6 fxe6 21.♗h3 ♖c6 22.♖fd1 ♖b8
24.f4□ e3!⩱ 25.♘c4? e2 26.♖dc1 ♖b8 27.♘a5 23.♕h5 ♕c7 24.♖d2 ♗f6 25.♖cc2 ♖xb2?!
♕c7 28.♗c3 ♘f6 29.♕e3 ♘g4 30.♕d2? [ 25...♕e5= ]
Diagram 26.♖xb2 ♗xc3 27.♕e8+ ♔h7 28.♖b8! ♗xd2
[ 30.♕xe2 ♕xf4 31.g3 ♕h6⩱ ] 29.♗g4!! ♖b6 30.♖d8 ♖d6 31.♖a8! ♕d7 32.♕f8
♔g6 33.h4 ♘f5 34.♖e8 ♗c3 Diagram
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
8-tr-+-+k+0{ 8-+-+RwQ-+0
7+-wq-vl-zpp0 10 7zp-+q+-zp-0 11
6p+-+p+-+0 6-+-trp+kzp0
5sN-zPl+p+-0 5+-+p+n+-0
4P+-zP-zPn+0 4-+p+-+LzP0
3+-vL-+-+-0 3zP-vl-zP-zP-0
2-+-wQp+PzP0 2-+-+-zP-+0
1tR-tR-+-mK-0 1+-+-+-mK-0[
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
30...g5?? 35.f4?
[ 30...♗h4! 31.g3 ♗xg3!! 32.hxg3 ♕f7 33.♕xe2 [ 35.h5+ ♔g5 36.♗e2 △ f4# ♘xg3 37.♕f4# ]
♕h5 ] 35...h5! 36.♕h8 ♘h6 37.♗d1 d4 38.exd4
31.♕xe2 gxf4?⊕ ♗xd4+ 39.♔g2 ♗f6 40.♗c2+ ♖d3 41.♖c8 ♕d5+
[ 31...♕xf4 ] 0-1
32.♖ab1 ♘e3 33.♕h5 ♘xg2 34.c6!± f3
35.♖xb8+ ♕xb8 36.♗d2 ♕c7?
[ 36...♕b2 ] 12 A31
37.♗h6 ♕c8 38.c7+- ♗f6 39.♖b1 ♗xd4+ 40.♔f1 Kogan,B
♗e4 41.♖b3 f4 42.♘c4 ♘e3+ 43.♘xe3 fxe3 Benjamin,Joel
44.♗xe3 ♗xe3 45.♖xe3 ♕xc7 46.♖xe4 USA (ch) 32/65 1981
1-0 [Adrian Mikhalchishin, Vlatko Kovacevic]

1.♘f3 c5 2.c4 ♘f6 3.d4 cxd4 4.♘xd4 e5

5.♘b5 d5 6.cxd5 ♗c5 7.♘5c3 0-0 8.e3 e4
9.♘d2 ♗f5? 10.g3?! ♘bd7 11.♗g2 ♖e8 12.0-0
♖c8 13.h3 h5 14.b3 ♗b4 15.♘b5 a6 16.♘d4
♗g6 17.♗b2 ♘e5 18.a3 ♗d6 19.♘e2 h4
20.♘f4 hxg3 21.fxg3 ♗h7 22.♗d4 ♗c5 23.♘c4
♘f3+!? 24.♗xf3 exf3 25.♗xc5 ♖xc5 26.♕d4

5
How the chess greats missed mates, or were not mated. By Adrian Mikhalchishin (31.12.2014)

♖b5 27.♖xf3 ♗e4 28.♖f2 ♘xd5 29.♖d1 ♕g5

XIIIIIIIIY
30.♔h2 ♘f6 31.♘d6 ♖d8 32.♕c4 ♖xd6□
8-wQ-tR-+-+0{
33.♖xd6 ♖c5 34.♖d8+? ♔h7 35.♕xf7 ♖c1
36.♘g2 ♕xe3-+ 37.♖dd2 ♗c6? 38.♖de2 ♕h6
7+-+-+qzpk0 13
39.♖f4?? Diagram
[ 39.♖xf6□ ♕xf6 40.♕xf6 gxf6 41.g4 ♖a1∓ ]
6p+r+-+-zp0
XIIIIIIIIY 5zP-+-+p+-0
8-+-+-+-+0{ 4-+-vL-+-zP0
7+p+-+Qzpk0 12 3+-+-+-+-0
6p+l+-sn-wq0 2-zP-+-zP-mK0
5+-+-+-+-0 1+-+-+l+-0
4-+-+-tR-+0 xabcdefghy
3zPP+-+-zPP0
2-+-+R+NmK0 14 A46
1+-tr-+-+-0 Knaak,Rainer
Luther,Thomas
2465
2415
xabcdefghy DDR-ch 38th Zittau (13) 1989
[Adrian Mikhalchishin]
39...♗d5??
[ 39...♕xh3+! 40.♔xh3 ♖h1# ] 1.d4 e6 2.♘f3 ♘f6 3.♗g5 h6 4.♗xf6 ♕xf6 5.e4
40.♕e7?? d6 6.♘c3 g6 7.e5 ♕e7 8.♗d3 ♗g7 9.♕e2 a6
[ 40.♖xf6 ♗xf7 41.♖xh6+ ♔xh6 42.♖e3⩲ ] 10.h4 d5 11.0-0 ♗d7 12.♕e3 ♘c6 13.a3 g5
40...♕xh3+! Finally! 41.♔xh3 ♖h1# 14.h5 0-0-0 15.b4 g4 16.♘h2 f6 17.b5 axb5
0-1 18.♘xb5 fxe5 19.dxe5 ♕g5 20.♘a7+ ♘xa7
21.♕xa7 ♗c6 22.♖ae1 ♗xe5 23.f4 ♗xf4 24.g3
♗xg3 25.♖f7 ♗xh2+ 26.♔g2 d4+ 27.♖e4 b5
13 B92 28.♕a6+ ♗b7 29.♕xe6+ ♔b8 30.♔xh2 ♕h4+
Geller,Efim P 2575 31.♔g1 ♕g3+ 32.♔f1 ♖hf8 33.♖e2 ♖xf7+
Tukmakov,Vladimir B 2580 34.♕xf7 ♕d6 35.♕g6 ♕f4+ 36.♔g1 ♕g3+
URS-ch50 Moscow 1983 37.♔f1 ♖f8+ 38.♗f5 ♕f3+ 39.♖f2 Diagram
[Adrian Mikhalchishin]
(Diagram 14)
Diagram
A double oversight of a mate in one happened
(Diagram 13) during severe time trouble. ♕h3+
[ 39...♕d1# ]
Sometimes even top players even force their 40.♔e1 ♕h1+ 41.♖f1 ♕d5 42.♕xg4 ♖e8+
opponent to mate them! 34...♖e6?? 35.♖h8+ ♔g6 43.♔d1 ♕a2 44.♔d2 ♕c4 45.♗d3 ♕c3+
36.♕g3+ ♔h5 37.♕g5# The mate became 46.♔d1 ♕a1+ 47.♔d2 ♕c3+ 48.♔d1 ♖e3
possible because of the pin (h6♙), which is what 49.♕f5 ♕a1+ 50.♔d2 ♕c3+ 51.♔d1 ♗f3+
GM Tukmakov overlooked. 52.♔c1 ♕a1+ 53.♔d2 ♕c3+ 54.♔c1 ♗c6
1-0 55.♔b1 ♔b7 56.♔a2 ♔b6 57.♖g1 ♖e1 58.♖xe1
♕xe1 59.♕f6 ♕e3 60.♕f8 ♕e6+ 61.♔b2 ♔b7
62.a4 ♕d6 63.♕xd6 cxd6 64.axb5 ♗f3 65.♔b3
♔b6 66.♔c4 ♗xh5 67.♔xd4 ♗f7 68.c4
½-½

6
How the chess greats missed mates, or were not mated. By Adrian Mikhalchishin (31.12.2014)

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
8-mk-+-tr-+0{ 8r+-+r+k+0{
7+lzp-+-+-0 14 7zp-+-+p+-0 15
6-+-+-+Qzp0 6-zp-+-+pzp0
5+p+-+L+P0 5+-+q+-+-0
4-+-zp-+p+0 4-vL-zP-vll+0
3zP-+-+q+-0 3zP-+-+-+-0
2-+P+-tR-+0 2-zP-+PzPPzP0
1+-+-+K+-0 1+Q+RmKL+R0
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy

15 D90 16 C01
Skembris,Spyridon 2545 Sermek,Drazen 2495
Mikhalchishin,Adrian 2520 Mohr,Georg 2435
Vidmar Memorial 1993 Pirc Memorial 1993
[Adrian Mikhalchishin] [Adrian Mikhalchishin]

1.d4 ♘f6 2.c4 g6 3.♘f3 ♗g7 4.♘c3 d5 5.cxd5
♘xd5 6.♕b3 ♘b6 7.♗g5 h6 8.♗h4 ♗e6 9.♕c2
♘c6 10.♖d1 ♘b4 11.♕b1 0-0 12.a3 ♘4d5
13.♘xd5 ♕xd5 14.♗xe7 ♖fe8 15.♗b4 ♗g4
16.♘e5 c5 17.♗xc5 ♗xe5 18.♗xb6 ♗f4 19.♗c5
b6 20.♗b4 Diagram
(Diagram 15)
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.c4 ♘f6 5.♘c3
♗e6 6.♘ge2 ♘c6 7.♘f4 ♕d7 8.♗e2 0-0-0
9.♗f3 ♗g4 10.cxd5 ♗xf3 11.♕xf3 ♘xd4
12.♕d3 ♖e8+ 13.♔f1 ♘f5 14.♕c4 ♗d6 15.♘d3
♘g4 16.♗d2 ♗xh2 17.♖xh2 ♘xh2+ 18.♔g1
♘d6 19.♕c5 b6 20.♕a3 a5 21.♗f4 ♘g4
22.♖c1 g5 23.♘a4 ♔b8 24.♘xb6 cxb6
25.♗xd6+ ♔a8 26.♖c6 ♕f5 Diagram

♗xe2 (Diagram 16)

[ Here I could practically mate White by force:
20...♖xe2+ 21.♗xe2 ♕xg2 22.♖f1 ♖e8 23.♕c2 27.♖c1??
♗xe2 24.♕xe2 ♖xe2+ 25.♔xe2 ♕e4# ] [ 27.♕xa5+!! bxa5 28.♖a6+ ♔b7 29.♘c5+ ♔c8
21.♗xe2 ♕xg2 22.♖f1 ♖xe2+ 23.♔xe2 ♖e8+ 30.♖a8# ]
24.♔d3 ♕f3+ 25.♔c2 ♖c8+ 26.♗c3 ♕e2+ 27...♕xd5 28.♗g3 ♖c8 29.♖f1 ♖hd8 30.♕a4
27.♔b3 ♕c4 31.♕xc4 ♖xc4 32.♘e5 ♘xe5 33.♗xe5
½-½ ♖dc8
0-1

7
How the chess greats missed mates, or were not mated. By Adrian Mikhalchishin (31.12.2014)

31...♗f3+ 32.♔g1 ♖d1+ 33.♖e1 ♖xe1#

XIIIIIIIIY 1-0
8k+-+r+-tr0
7+-+-+p+p0 16 18
Bischoff,Klaus
B50
2525
6-zpRvL-+-+0 Plachetka,Jan 2420
AUT-chT 9495 1995
5zp-+P+qzp-0 [Adrian Mikhalchishin]
4-+-+-+n+0 1.e4 c5 2.♘f3 e6 3.b3 d6 4.♗b2 ♘f6 5.e5
3wQ-+N+-+-0 dxe5 6.♘xe5 a6 7.♗d3 ♘bd7 8.f4 ♕c7 9.0-0
b5 10.c4 b4 11.a3 bxa3 12.♘xa3 ♗b7 13.♕e2
2PzP-+-zPP+0 ♗e7 14.♖ae1 0-0 15.♘c2 ♖ad8 16.♖a1 ♕d6
17.♘e1 ♘b8 18.♘1f3 ♘c6 19.♘xc6 ♕xc6
1+-+-+-mK-0[ 20.♘e5 ♕d6 21.♗c3 g6 22.♗c2 ♖fe8 23.♖ae1
♘h5 24.♕e3 ♗f8 25.♕h3 ♗g7 26.♖e3 ♕c7
xabcdefghy 27.g4 ♘f6 28.♕h4 ♖d4 29.♖h3 ♖ed8 30.d3 h5
31.g5 ♘g4 32.♗xd4 ♖xd4 33.♘xg4 hxg4
34.♕xg4 ♗e5 35.♖h4 ♕c6 36.♕g3 Diagram

17 XIIIIIIIIY A33
Sieglen,Joachim
Gawehns,Klaus
8-+-+-+k+0{ 2410
2345
Bonn GSK (8)
[Adrian Mikhalchishin]
7+l+-+p+-0 18 1994

6p+q+p+p+0
Diagram
XIIIIIIIIY 5+-zp-vl-zP-0
8-+-+R+-+0{ 4-+Ptr-zP-tR0
7wQ-+-+Lzpk0 17 3+P+P+-wQ-0
6-+-+-+-zp0 2-+L+-+-zP0
5+-+-+-+l0 1+-+-+RmK-0
4Pwq-+-+-+0 xabcdefghy
3+-+-+-zP-0 ♗g7??
[ 36...♖xd3 37.♖f3 ♖xf3 38.♕g2 ♖f1+ 39.♔xf1
2-+-tr-zP-zP0 ( 39.♕xf1 ♗d4+ 40.♕f2 ♕g2# ) 39...♕xg2+
40.♔e1 ♗c3+ 41.♔d1 ♕d2# ]
1+-+-+-mK-0 37.♔f2 e5 38.♔e2 ♕e8 39.f5 ♖xh4 40.♕xh4
gxf5 41.♖xf5 ♕d7 42.♖f2 ♕e6 43.♔f1 ♕c6
xabcdefghy 44.♕e4 ♕c7 45.♕f5 ♗c8 46.♕f3 ♗b7 47.♕h5
♗c8 48.d4 e4 49.♗xe4 ♗xd4 50.♖f3 ♗e6
Here Black resigned, as he did not see the mate!! 51.♕h7+ ♔f8 52.♗d5
Such an idea was shown many times in tactics 1-0
books. 29...♕b1+ 30.♔g2 ♕h1+
[ 30...♗f3+ 31.♔xf3 ♕h1+ 32.♔g4 ♕d1+
33.♔f4 g5+ 34.♔e5 ♖e2+ 35.♔f6 ♕d6+
36.♗e6+ ]
31.♔xh1
[ 31.♔h3 ♕f1+ 32.♔h4 g5+ 33.♔xh5 ♕h3# ]

8
How the chess greats missed mates, or were not mated. By Adrian Mikhalchishin (31.12.2014)

19 E73 20 B87
Meins,Gerlef 2465 Hakki,S
Reschke,Stefan 2390 Magerramov,E
Bundesliga 9697 1997 Abu Dhabi 1998
[Adrian Mikhalchishin] [Adrian Mikhalchishin]

1.d4 ♘f6 2.c4 g6 3.♘c3 ♗g7 4.e4 d6 5.♗e2
0-0 6.♗g5 ♘a6 7.f4 c6 8.♘f3 ♘c7 9.♕d2 ♘e6
10.♗h4 d5 11.♗xf6 exf6 12.exd5 cxd5
13.♘xd5 b5 14.♘c3 bxc4 15.♗xc4 ♕c7
16.♗d5 ♖b8 17.g3 ♖d8 18.0-0 ♕a5 19.♗xe6
♗xe6 20.♖f2 ♗g4 21.d5 ♗xf3 22.♖xf3 f5
23.♖d1 ♖b4 24.♔g2 ♕b6 25.b3 ♕b7 26.♖d3
♖d6 27.♘a4 ♖b5 28.♔h3 h5 29.♘b2 ♗xb2
30.♕xb2 ♖bxd5 31.♖xd5 ♖xd5 32.♕g2 ♖d7
33.♕xb7 ♖xb7 34.♖d6 ♖c7 35.♖a6 ♔g7 36.b4
♔h6 37.b5 ♖b7 38.a4 ♖d7 39.♖f6 ♔g7 40.♖c6
♔h6 41.♖c4 ♔g7 42.♖b4 ♔f6 43.b6 axb6
44.♖xb6+ ♔g7 45.♖b2 ♖a7 46.♖a2 ♔f6 47.a5
♔e6 48.♔g2 ♔d5 49.♔f3 ♖a6 50.♔e3 ♔c4
51.♖a1 ♖e6+ 52.♔d2 ♖d6+ 53.♔c2 ♖a6 54.h3
♔b5 55.♔c3 ♖c6+ 56.♔d4 ♖d6+ Diagram
XIIIIIIIIY
8-+-+-+-+0
7+-+-+p+-0 19
6-+-tr-+p+0
5zPk+-+p+p0
4-+-mK-zP-+0
3+-+-+-zPP0
2-+-+-+-+0
1tR-+-+-+-0[
xabcdefghy
57.♔e5?? ♖e6+??
[ 57...♔c6 58.♖c1+ ♔d7 and there is no
defense against mate via f7-f6! ]
58.♔d5 ♔a6 59.♖a3 h4 60.gxh4 ♖e4 61.♔d6
♖xf4 62.♔e7 ♖xh4 63.♔xf7 g5 64.♔g6 g4
65.hxg4 fxg4 66.♖g3
½-½
1.e4 c5 2.♘f3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.♘xd4 ♘f6
5.♘c3 a6 6.♗c4 e6 7.♗b3 b5 8.0-0 ♗e7 9.♕f3
♕c7 10.♕g3 ♘c6 11.♘xc6 ♕xc6 12.♖e1 ♗b7
13.a3 ♖d8 14.f3 0-0 15.♗h6 ♘e8 16.♔h1 ♖d7
17.♖ad1 ♔h8 18.♗g5 ♗xg5 19.♕xg5 ♘f6
20.♖d3 ♖fd8 21.♖ed1 ♔g8 22.♕d2 ♕c7
23.♕e3 h6 24.♘e2 ♕c5 25.♘c3 ♔f8 26.♕d2
a5 27.♘e2 ♗xe4 28.♖c3 ♕a7 29.♘d4 ♗b7
30.♘xb5 ♕b6 31.♘d4 e5 32.♘f5 d5 33.♗a4
♖c7 34.♖b3 ♕a7 35.♖b5 ♖a8 36.b4 axb4
37.♕xb4+ ♔g8 38.♗b3 ♗c8 39.♘d6 ♗e6 40.a4
♖c6 41.a5 ♕f2 42.♖b6 ♗h3 43.♖g1 Diagram
XIIIIIIIIY
8r+-+-+k+0{
7+-+-+pzp-0 20
6-tRrsN-sn-zp0
5zP-+pzp-+-0
4-wQ-+-+-+0
3+L+-+P+l0
2-+P+-wqPzP0
1+-+-+-tRK0
xabcdefghy
♗xg2+
[ A nice mate could have been constructed with:
43...♘h5 44.♖xc6 ( or 44.gxh3 ♕xf3+ 45.♖g2
♕f1+ 46.♖g1 ♘g3+ 47.hxg3 ♕xh3# )
44...♗xg2+ 45.♖xg2 ♕f1+ 46.♖g1 ♘g3+
47.hxg3 ♕h3# ]
44.♖xg2 ♕f1+ 45.♖g1 ♕xf3+ 46.♖g2 ♖xb6
47.♕xb6 ♘g4 48.♘xf7 ♖xa5 49.♘xh6+ ♔h7
50.♘xg4 ♖a1+ 51.♕g1 ♖xg1+ 52.♔xg1 ♕d1+
53.♔f2 e4 54.♗xd5 ♕xd5 55.♔e3 ♕c5+
56.♔d2 ♕d4+
½-½

9
How the chess greats missed mates, or were not mated. By Adrian Mikhalchishin (31.12.2014)

21 B06 13.♘e4 h6 14.♗e3 ♘xe3 15.fxe3 ♖d8

De Heer,Machiel 2315 16.♕xd8+ ♔xd8 17.♖xf7 b4 18.♖d1+ ♔e8
Gurevich,Mikhail 2635 19.♖dd7 c3? Diagram
Vlissingen HZ op 02nd (3) 1998
[Adrian Mikhalchishin] XIIIIIIIIY
1.e4 d6 2.d4 g6 3.♘c3 ♗g7 4.♗e3 a6 5.♕d2
8-+-+kvl-tr0
b5 6.a4 b4 7.♘d1 ♘f6 8.f3 a5 9.c3 bxc3
10.bxc3 0-0 11.♗d3 c6 12.♘e2 ♘bd7 13.♗h6
7zpl+R+Rzp-0 22
e5 14.♗xg7 ♔xg7 15.0-0 d5 16.♘e3 ♖e8 6q+p+p+-zp0
17.♘g3 ♔g8 18.♗c2 ♗a6 19.♖fe1 dxe4 20.fxe4
♘c5 21.d5 cxd5 22.exd5 ♖c8 23.♖ad1 ♔h8 5zP-+-zP-+-0
24.♔h1 ♘b7 25.♗d3 ♗xd3 26.♕xd3 ♘d6 27.c4
h5 28.♖f1 h4 29.♘e2 ♘fe4 30.♘c3 ♘c5 4-zp-+N+-+0
31.♕e2 ♕g5 32.♕f3 f5 33.♖b1 ♘ce4 34.♘xe4
♘xe4 35.♖bd1 ♖ed8 36.♖fe1 ♖d7 37.♕e2 ♖e8
3+-zp-zP-zP-0
38.♕b2 f4 39.♘f1 ♘g3+ 40.hxg3 hxg3 41.♔g1
♖h7 42.♕b5 ♖ee7 43.♕b8+ ♔g7 44.♘d2 ♕h5
2-zP-+P+LzP0
45.♔f1 e4 46.♘f3 ♕h1+ 47.♘g1 Diagram 1+-+-+-mK-0[
XIIIIIIIIY xabcdefghy
8-wQ-+-+-+0{ 20.♘d6+!+- Draw agreed? White is winning!
7+-+-tr-mkr0 21 [ 20.♘d6+!+- △♗xd6□ 21.exd6 △♕xe2
( △21...♕xa5 22.♖fe7+ ♔f8□ 23.♖xb7+- )
6-+-+-+p+0 22.♖fe7+ ( 22.♖xb7?? ♕d1+-+ ) 22...♔f8□
23.♖d8# ]
5zp-+P+-+-0 ½-½
4P+P+pzp-+0
3+-+-+-zp-0 23
Beliavsky,Alexander G
E15
2626
2-+-+-+P+0 Naiditsch,Arkadij
Corus-B Wijk aan Zee (2)
2657
2006
1+-+RtRKsNq0 [Adrian Mikhalchishin, V. Atlas]

xabcdefghy 1.d4 ♘f6 2.c4 e6 3.♘f3 b6 4.g3 ♗a6 5.♕a4

♗e7 6.♗g2 0-0 7.♘c3 c6 8.♗f4 ♕c8 9.♖c1
♖h2 ♕b7 10.♘e5 d5 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.b4 b5
[ The solution was simple: 47...♕xg2+!! 48.♔xg2 13.♕b3 ♖c8 14.0-0 ♘c6 15.♘xc6 ♖xc6 16.e4
♖h2+ 49.♔f1 ♖f2# ] ♖c4 17.exd5 ♘xd5 18.♘xd5 exd5 19.a3 ♕c6
48.♖d2 e3 49.♕xf4 ♖h4 50.♕xg3 ♖f7+ 51.♔e2 20.♖ce1 ♗f8 21.♖e5 ♖d8 22.♖fe1?!
exd2 52.♔xd2 ♖h2 53.♘e2 ♕xg2 54.♕e5+ [ A more cautious 22.♖d1 should have been
♔h7 55.♖g1 ♕xg1 preferred. After the text move Black gets a
0-1 dangerous initiative. ]
22...♗c8 23.♕e3 ♖c3 24.♕d2 ♖xa3 25.♖c1
♕b7 26.♕e1 ♗e6 White has no sufficient
22 E01 compensation for the pawn, but Beliavsky tries to
Kortschnoj,Viktor 2635 organize some counterplay on the Kingside.
Luther,Thomas 2566 27.♗g5 ♖d6 28.f4 g6?!
4th Borowski GM (6) 2002 [ Much stronger was 28...♕d7 After the text move
[Adrian Mikhalchishin, Jovan Petronic] White's attack on the Kingside becomes very
dangerous. ]
1.d4 e6 2.c4 d5 3.♘c3 c6 4.♘f3 ♘f6 5.g3 29.f5 gxf5 30.♗f6 ♗h6
dxc4 6.♗g2 ♘bd7 7.0-0 b5 8.♗g5 ♗b7 9.a4 [ 30...♖c6 or 30...h6 was much more prudent. ]
♕b6 10.♘e5 ♘xe5 11.a5 ♕a6 12.dxe5 ♘d5 31.g4! fxg4? Diagram

10
How the chess greats missed mates, or were not mated. By Adrian Mikhalchishin (31.12.2014)

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
8-+-+-+k+0 8-+-snr+-+0
7zpq+-+p+p0 23 7+-tR-+pzpp0 24
6-+-trlvL-vl0 6-zp-+-sn-+0
5+p+ptR-+-0 5+-zpk+NsN-0
4-zP-zP-+p+0 4-zP-zp-zP-+0
3tr-+-+-+-0 3+-+-+-+-0
2-+-+-+LzP0 2r+-+-+PzP0
1+-tR-wQ-mK-0[ 1+-tR-+-mK-0[
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
This mistake could have been fatal for Black. [ 35.♖1xc5+ bxc5 36.♖xc5# ]
32.♖c5? [ 35.♖7xc5+ bxc5 36.♖xc5# ]
[ Overlooking the winning continuation. After 35...♖ee2 36.♘e7+ ♖xe7 37.♖xe7 bxc5
32.♕h4! the attack would become irresistible. 38.♖e5+ ♔d6 39.♖exc5 h6 40.♖c8 ♘e6
♗xc1 33.♕xg4+ ♔f8 34.♕g7+ ♔e8 35.♖xe6+ 41.♘xe6 ♔xe6 42.♖d1 ♘g4 43.♖c5 ♖xg2+
♖xe6 36.♕g8+ ♔d7 37.♕d8+ ♔c6 38.♗xd5# ] 44.♔xg2 ♘e3+ 45.♔f3 ♘xd1 46.♔e4 ♘e3
32...♗f4 33.♕h4 ♖a1+ 34.♗f1 h6 35.♕f2 ♗xe5 47.f5+ ♔f6 48.h4 h5 49.♖c6+ ♔e7 50.♖a6
36.dxe5 ♖da6 37.♕d2 d4 38.♕xh6 ♖xf1+! ♘g2 51.♔xd4 ♘xh4 52.♔e4 f6 53.♖a7+ ♔f8
Now mate is inevitable: 39.♔xf1 ♖a1+ 54.♔f4 ♔g8 55.♖a8+ ♔h7 56.♖a1 ♔g8 57.♖a7
[ 39...♖a1+ , with a mate in a few moves: 40.♖c1 ♔h7 58.♖a2 ♔g8 59.♖a1 g6 60.♖a8+ ♔g7
( 40.♔e2 ♕f3+ 41.♔d2 ♕d1# ) 40...♕h1+ 61.♖a7+ ♔h6 62.fxg6 ♔xg6 63.♖a5
A) 41.♔e2 ♕g2+ 42.♔d3 ♗c4+ 43.♔xd4 ½-½
( 43.♖xc4 ♖d1+ ) 43...♕d5+ 44.♔e3 ♕f3+
45.♔d4 ♕d3+ 46.♔c5 ♕d5#;
B) 41.♔f2 ♖a2+ 42.♔g3 ♕f3+ 43.♔h4 25 A56
♖xh2+ 44.♔g5 ♕e3# ] Maiwald,Jens Uwe 2500
0-1 Markowski,Tomasz 2606
Dresden ZMD op (9) 2008
[Adrian Mikhalchishin]
24 D20
Wojtaszek,Radoslaw 2630 1.d4 c5 2.d5 d6 3.c4 e5 4.e4 ♗e7 5.♘f3 ♘f6
Nikolic,Predrag 2626 6.♘c3 ♘bd7 7.♗e2 ♘f8 8.h4 h6 9.a3 ♘8h7
Bundesliga 0607 (11.1) 2007 10.g3 0-0 11.♘h2 ♗d7 12.f4 exf4 13.♗xf4 ♖e8
[Adrian Mikhalchishin] 14.♕c2 ♗f8 15.0-0-0 a6 16.g4 g5 17.hxg5
hxg5 18.♘f3 gxf4 19.g5 ♗g7 20.gxf6 ♘xf6
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 e5 4.♘f3 exd4 21.♖dg1 ♕e7 22.♗d3 ♘g4 23.e5 ♘xe5
5.♗xc4 ♗b4+ 6.♗d2 ♗xd2+ 7.♘bxd2 ♘c6 Diagram
8.0-0 ♘f6 9.e5 ♘d5 10.♕b3 ♘a5 11.♕a4+
♘c6 12.♕b3 ♘a5 13.♕b5+ c6 14.♕c5 ♕b6 (Diagram 25)
15.♕xb6 ♘xb6 16.♗d3 c5 17.♖ac1 ♘d7
18.♘e4 b6 19.♘d6+ ♔e7 20.♗e4 ♖b8 21.b4 24.♖h7??
♘b7 22.♘b5 ♘d8 23.♘xa7 ♗b7 24.♗xb7 ♖xb7 [ 24.♖h8+ ♔xh8 25.♕h2+ ♔g8 26.♕h7+ ♔f8
25.♘c8+ ♔e6 26.♘d6 ♖a7 27.♘g5+ ♔d5 27.♕xg7# ]
28.♘c8 ♖a6 29.♘e7+ ♔xe5 30.♖fe1+ ♔d6 24...♘g4 25.♗f5 ♕e3+ 26.♔b1 ♕xg1+ 27.♘xg1
31.♘f5+ ♔d5 32.♖e7 ♘f6 33.f4 ♖e8 34.♖c7 ♘e3 28.♖xg7+ ♔xg7 29.♕f2 ♗xf5+ 30.♔a2
♖xa2 Diagram ♖ad8 31.♕xf4 ♗d3 32.♕g5+ ♗g6 33.♘e4 ♘xc4
35.bxc5?? Any Rook sac mated!

11
How the chess greats missed mates, or were not mated. By Adrian Mikhalchishin (31.12.2014)

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
8r+-+r+k+0 8-+-vL-+-+0{
7+p+lwqpvl-0 25 7+-+-+p+k0 26
6p+-zp-+-+0 6-+-+p+q+0
5+-zpPsn-+-0 5zp-+pzP-+p0
4-+P+-zp-+0 4-zp-zP-+-+0
3zP-sNL+N+-0 3+-sn-+QzP-0
2-zPQ+-+-+0 2P+R+-zP-mK0
1+-mK-+-tRR0[ 1tr-+-+-+-0
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
34.♘f6 ♖h8 35.♘e2 ♖h2 36.♘g3 ♖xb2+
½-½
27 C33
Shimanov,Alexandr 2655
26 B51 Kamsky,Gata 2741
Yildiz,Betul Cemre 2235 FIDE World Cup (2.2) 2013
Zhao,Xue 2462 [Adrian Mikhalchishin]
Ulaanbaatar FIDE GP (Women) (1) 2010
[Adrian Mikhalchishin] 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.♗c4 d5 4.♗xd5 ♘f6 5.♘c3
♗b4 6.♘f3 0-0 7.0-0 c6 8.♗c4 b5 9.♗b3 a5
1.e4 c5 2.♘f3 d6 3.♗b5+ ♘c6 4.0-0 ♗d7 10.a4 ♘bd7 11.axb5 cxb5 12.♘d5 ♘xd5
5.♖e1 ♘f6 6.h3 a6 7.♗f1 e6 8.c3 ♗e7 9.d4 13.♗xd5 ♖a6 14.d3 ♘f6 15.♗a2 ♘h5 16.c3
cxd4 10.cxd4 d5 11.e5 ♘e4 12.♘bd2 ♘xd2 ♗c5+ 17.d4 ♗a7 18.♘e5 ♕h4 19.♕d3 ♖h6
13.♗xd2 ♕b6 14.♗c3 ♖c8 15.♖c1 0-0 16.♗d3 20.♖f2 Diagram
♘a5 17.♘h2 ♘c4 18.♕h5 g6 19.♕e2 ♗b5
20.♘f3 ♖c6 21.h4 ♖fc8 22.♖b1 ♕d8 23.h5 ♕f8 (Diagram 27)
24.g3 ♖8c7 25.♔g2 ♘a3 26.♖bc1 ♕c8
27.♖cd1 ♗xd3 28.♕xd3 ♘c4 29.♖e2 b5 30.♗e1 ♘g3??
b4 31.♘h2 a5 32.♕f3 ♕f8 33.♘g4 gxh5 [ 20...♕xh2+!! 21.♔xh2 ♘g3+ 22.♔g1 ♖h1#
34.♘f6+ ♗xf6 35.♕xf6 ♖c8 36.♕g5+ ♕g7 World top player missed that! ]
37.♕xh5 ♕g6 38.♕f3 ♘b6 39.♗d2 ♖c2 40.♗f4 21.♘f3 ♕g4 22.hxg3 ♕h5 23.♔f1 fxg3 24.♖c2
♘a4 41.♖dd2 ♖xd2 42.♖xd2 ♖c1 43.♕e2 ♔g7 ♕h1+ 25.♔e2 ♖f6 26.♔e3 ♕h6+ 27.♔e2 ♕h1
44.♔h2 h5 45.♕e3 ♖b1 46.♗g5 ♘xb2 47.♗f6+ 28.♕d1 ♕xg2+ 29.♔e3 ♕h3 30.♘g1 ♕h1
♔h7 48.♕e2 ♘a4 49.♖c2 ♘c3 50.♕f3 ♖a1 31.♗d5 g2 32.♖f2 ♖g6 33.♔d3 ♗g4 34.♕e1
51.♗d8 Diagram ♗b8 35.♗f4 ♗xf4 36.♖xf4 ♗e6 37.♗xe6 ♖xe6
38.♖xa5 f5 39.e5 g5 40.♖f2 f4 41.♖a1 ♖h6
(Diagram 26) 42.♕e4 ♖h3+ 43.♔c2 ♖e3 44.♕xg2 ♕h5
45.♕d5+ ♔h8 46.♖a8 ♕g6+ 47.♔b3 ♖xa8
♕xc2?? White resigned!! Give a check and see ... 48.♕xa8+ ♔g7 49.♕b7+ ♕f7+ 50.♕xf7+ ♔xf7
maybe it is mate! 51.♔c2 h5 52.♔d2 ♔e6 53.♘f3 g4 54.♘h4
[ 51...♕xc2?? 52.♕xf7+ ♔h6 53.♗g5+ ♔xg5 ♖e4 55.♖e2
54.♕f6+ ♔g4 55.♕f4# ] 1-0
0-1

12
How the chess greats missed mates, or were not mated. By Adrian Mikhalchishin (31.12.2014)

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
8-+l+-trk+0{ 8-wQ-+-+-+0{
7vl-+-+pzpp0 27 7zp-+q+-mk-0 28
6-+-+-+-tr0 6-+-+-+-zp0
5zpp+-sN-+n0 5+-zp-+-+-0
4-+-zPPzp-wq0 4-+-+-+-tR0
3+-zPQ+-+-0 3+-zP-snpzPP0
2LzP-+-tRPzP0 2P+-+-zP-mK0
1tR-vL-+-mK-0 1+-+-tr-+-0
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy

28 C07 29 E61
Kovalev,Vladislav 2583 Khurtsidze,Nino 2437
Edouard,Romain 2653 Soumya,Swaminathan 2283
EU-chT (Men) 19th (2.2) 2013 FIDE Women's World Teams (4.4) 2013
[Adrian Mikhalchishin] [Adrian Mikhalchishin]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.♘d2 c5 4.♘gf3 cxd4
5.♘xd4 ♘c6 6.♗b5 ♗d7 7.♘xc6 ♗xc6 8.♗xc6+
bxc6 9.c4 ♘f6 10.♕a4 ♕c7 11.cxd5 exd5
12.0-0 ♗e7 13.exd5 ♘xd5 14.♘e4 0-0 15.♗d2
♕b6 16.♕c2 f5 17.♘c3 f4 18.♖ae1 ♗f6 19.♖e6
♗xc3 20.bxc3 f3 21.g3 ♕d8 22.♖fe1 ♘c7
23.♖e7 ♘d5 24.♖7e6 ♘c7 25.♖6e4 ♕d7
26.♖h4 h6 27.h3 ♖ae8 28.♖xe8 ♖xe8 29.♗e3
♘d5 30.♗d4 c5 31.♗xg7 ♖e1+ 32.♔h2 ♘e3
33.♕b3+ ♔xg7 34.♕b8 Diagram
(Diagram 28)
♖h1+
[ 34...♕xh3+!! 35.♔xh3 ( 35.♖xh3 ♘g4# )
35...♖h1# ]
35.♔xh1 ♕d1+ 36.♔h2 ♘f1+ 37.♔h1 ♘xg3+
38.♔h2 ♕h1+ 39.♔xg3 ♕g2+ 40.♔f4 ♕h2+
41.♔xf3 ♕xb8
0-1
1.c4 ♘f6 2.♘f3 g6 3.b4 ♗g7 4.♗b2 0-0 5.e3
d6 6.d4 e5 7.♗e2 ♘bd7 8.♘c3 ♖e8 9.0-0 e4
10.♘d2 ♘f8 11.a4 h5 12.a5 ♗f5 13.a6 b6
14.f3 ♗h6 15.fxe4 ♗xe3+ 16.♔h1 ♗e6 17.♘f3
♗h6 18.h3 ♘g4 19.♗c1 ♘e3 20.♗xe3 ♗xe3
21.e5 dxe5 22.dxe5 ♕e7 23.♕b3 ♗f4 24.♖ae1
♘d7 25.♗d3 c6 26.♘d4 ♘xe5 27.♘xc6 ♘xc6
28.♘d5 ♕d6 29.♘xf4 ♕xb4 30.♕a2 ♘d4
31.♕f2 ♘f5 32.♘xe6 fxe6 33.g4 hxg4 34.hxg4
♕d6 35.gxf5 ♕xd3 36.♕g2 ♔h8 37.fxg6 ♕d4
Diagram
(Diagram 29)
38.♖e4??
[ Top ladies too sometimes miss to checkmate! It
was very, very simple! 38.♕h3+ ♕h4 39.♕xh4+
♔g7 40.♕h7# ]
38...♕g7 39.♖h4+ ♔g8 40.♖h7 ♕e5 41.♖g1
♕f6 42.♕e4 ♖ab8 43.♖xa7 ♖bd8 44.♖f7 ♖d4
45.♖xf6 ♖xe4 46.♖g3 ♖xc4 47.♖f7 ♖a4 48.♖a7
♖c8 49.g7 ♖h4+ 50.♔g1 ♖c1+ 51.♔f2 ♖c2+
52.♔f3 ♖c3+ 53.♔g2 ♖c2+ 54.♔f3 ♖c3+
55.♔g2 ♖c2+ 56.♔g1 ♖c1+ 57.♔g2 ♖c2+
½-½

13
How the chess greats missed mates, or were not mated. By Adrian Mikhalchishin (31.12.2014)

XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
8r+-+r+-mk0 8-+R+-+-+0
7zp-+-+-+-0 29 7wq-+-+p+p0 30
6Pzp-+p+P+0 6p+-tr-+pvL0
5+-+-+-+-0 5+-+Pzpk+-0
4-+Pwq-+-+0 4P+-vl-+-+0
3+-+-+-+-0 3+P+-+-zP-0
2-+-+-+Q+0 2-+-+-zP-+0
1+-+-tRR+K0[ 1+-wQ-+K+-0[
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
XIIIIIIIIY
30
Shinya,Kojima
E62
2373
8-+R+-+-+0
Movsesian,Sergei
Chess Olympiad (1.5)
2672
2014
7wq-+-+p+p0 31
[Adrian Mikhalchishin, Jovan Petronic] 6p+-+-+pvL0
1.♘f3 ♘f6 2.c4 g6 3.d4 ♗g7 4.g3 0-0 5.♗g2 5+-+rzpk+-0
c6 6.♘c3 d6 7.0-0 ♕b6 8.h3 ♕a6 9.b3 b5
10.cxb5 cxb5 11.a4 b4 12.♘b5 ♕b7 13.♘e1 4P+-vl-+-+0
d5 14.♗f4 ♘bd7 15.♖c1 a6 16.♘c7 ♖a7
17.♘d3 ♕b6 18.♘xd5 ♘xd5 19.♗xd5 ♗xd4
3+P+-+PzP-0
20.♗h6 ♖d8 21.♘xb4 ♘f6 22.e4 ♗xh3 23.♘c6
♗xf1 24.♔xf1 e5 25.♗g5 ♖d6 26.♘xa7+- ♕xa7
2-+-+-+-+0
27.♖c8+ ♔g7 28.♕c1! ♘xd5 29.♗h6+ ♔f6□
30.♗g5+ ♔g7 31.♗h6+ ♔f6□ 32.exd5 ♔f5
1+-wQ-+K+-0[
Diagram xabcdefghy
(Diagram 30) A) △34...e4 35.♕g5# ( or 35.♕f4# );
B) △34...f6 35.g4# ]
33.f3 34...♔e6 35.♖e8+ ♔d6 36.♗f8+ ♔c7 37.♕c1+?
[ White to play and mate in four! ⌓33.g4+! ♔b6! 38.♖c8? ♕d7! 39.♕c4?? ♕h3+-+ 40.♔e2
A) △33...♔xg4 34.♕g5+ ♔f3 ( 34...♔h3 ♕g2+
35.♕g3# ) 35.♕g2#; 0-1
B) △33...♔f6 34.♕g5#;
C) △33...♔e4 34.♔e2! ♗xf2 ( 34...♔xd5
35.♕c4+ ♔e4□ 36.f3# ) 35.♕c2+
C1) 35...♔d4 36.♕c4# ( or 36.♕d3# );
C2) 35...♔xd5 36.♕c4# ]
33...♖xd5 Diagram

(Diagram 31)

34.♕g5+
[ White to play and mate in three!
⌓34.♖c6!

14