2020 Endgame Maze - Chess Informant

CONTENTS
Title page
System of signs
Foreword
2020 Endgame maze pawn

2020 Endgame maze minor pieces
2020 Endgame maze rook
2020 Endgame maze queen
Endings Tests
Bonus Game
Index
2
Authors
Ivan Ivanišević, Miloš Perunović, Branko Tadić
Editorial board
Vitomir Božić, Ivan Ivanišević, Aleksandar Matanović, Miloš Perunović, Branko Tadić, Igor
Žveglić
Cover design
Miloš Majstorović
Translator
Igor Žveglić
Editing and Typesetting

Katarina Tadić
Proofreading
Vitomir Božić
3
Editor-in-chief
Branko Tadić
General Manager
Vitomir Božić
President
Aleksandar Matanović
© Copyright 2021 Šahovski informator
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system, etc.) may be used in other publications without prior permission in writing from the
publisher.
ISBN 978-86-7297-118-7
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4
SYSTEM OF SIGNS
² white stands slightly better

³ black stands slightly better
± white has the upper hand
µ black has the upper hand
+– white has a decisive advantage
–+ black has a decisive аdvantage
= even
∞ unclear
© with compensation for the material
‰ development advantage
О greater board room
‚ with attack
ƒ with initiative
„ with counterplay
ʘ zugzwang
# mate
! a very good move
!! an excellent move
? a mistake
?? a blunder
!? a move deserving attention
?! a dubious move
∆ with the idea
™ only move
¹ better is
‡ centre
¸ king's side
« queen's side
× weak point
¬ endgame
® bishops of opposite color
¯ bishops of the same color
º double pawns
¼ passed pawn
> advantage in number of pawns
5
† time
86/203 Chess Informant
E 12 Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings
R 3/b Encyclopaedia of Chess Endings
N a novelty
(ch) championship
(izt) interzonal tournament
(ct) candidates' tournament
(m) match
(ol) olympiad
corr. correspondence game
RR editorial comment
R various moves
ª with
– see
6
FOREWORD
Dear readers and Informant aficionados, this book is intended to be a companion volume to our 2020
PUZZLE QUEST. Our primary intention was to provide you with as much quality material for self-
study as possible. So, it was quite natural to present to you a book with complete coverage of most
instructive and entertaining endgames that were played in 2020. However, a simple endgame puzzle
book did not satisfy our goal. Therefore, we tried to make our selection detailed, rich in motifs and
theoretically comprehensive. Many of the endgames are explained in great depth, with numerous
theoretical principles fleshed out, so this book could be used as instructive endgame manual as well.
All the endgame positions are extracted from games played during 2020, when most of the games
were played online in shorter time controls. Quite naturally, most endgames were not played to
perfection, but contained serious mistakes, wrong game plans, or terrible blunders. In such cases we
provided very detailed explanations and guidelines so you can evaluate your own endgame technique
and fill gaps in your endgame play.
We are convinced that this book will prove to be more than an overview of the best endgames played
in 2020, and that you will return to it very often seeking advice and refreshing your knowledge.
Šahovska Akedamija Šampiona

GM Ivan Ivanišević, GM Miloš Perunović, GM Branko Tadić
7
2020 Endgame maze pawn
1. A. Grischuk 2777 - T. L. Petrosian 2601

ProChessLeague (Internet-rapid) 2020
Black must carefully calculate all the available pawn moves. We already have established opposition
on the board, but some other factors must be taken in consideration:
1. Save reserve pawn tempo
2. Pawns cannot go back
1...h6
Black advances hiw pawn two squares and loses a crucial tempo! 1...h5? 2.g3 White wisely keeps the
pawn on h3 so he can timely force Black to abandon the opposition!
8
2...Ke5 3.Ke3 Kf5 4.Kd4 Ke6 5.Ke4 Kf6 6.Kf4 Kg6 7.Ke5 Kg5 8.Ke6 h4 (8...Kg6 and reserve
tempo would decide the matters! 9.h4+-) 9.g4+- A. Grischuk - T. L. Petrosian.
Also, White wins in case of 1...Kg5?
2.Ke4! It is essential to push back the black king and save pawn moves! 2...Kg6 3.Kf4 Kf6 4.Kg4
Kg6
9
5.h4! White has enough reserve tempi to force Black to abandon the opposition! 5...h6 6.Kf4 Kf6
(6...Kh5 7.g3 Kg6 8.Ke5 Kh5 9.Kf6 Kg4 10.Kg6 Kxg3 11.h5+-) 7.g4 Ke6 8.Ke4 Kf6 9.Kd5 Kf7
10.Ke5 Ke7 11.Kf5 Kf7 12.h5+-
2.g4+
2.g3 h5! White has only one more tempo in reserve (h3-h4), and that is not quite enough to push the
black king away from the centre. For example: 3.Ke3 Ke5 4.Kd3 Kd5 5.Ke2
5...Ke6! Only distant opposition leads to a draw, so we must make sure to have enough space for our
king to manoeuvre. (5...Ke4?? 6.Kf2+-) 6.Kf2 Kf6=; 2.Ke3 Ke5 3.Ke2 Ke6=
10
2...Kf6 3.h4
3.Kf4 Kg6 4.h4 Kf6 5.Ke4 Ke6=
3...Kf7!= Once again, distant opposition saves the day!
2. S. Vidit 2726 - K. Kalavannan 2324

chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2020
Next we will examine a similar practical example.
The white king is in front of the pawn, but Black can secure a draw because White does not have
11
enough pawn moves in reserve.
1...Kg8!
Most likely, Black made the mistake because of serious time trouble: 1...h6+??† and White punished
Black for the wasted tempo. 2.Kf5 Kf7 3.h4 Kg7 4.Ke5 Kg6 5.Ke6 Kg7 6.h5+- S. Vidit - K.
Kalavannan
2.Kh6 Kh8
In contrast to the previous example, White must settle for a draw.
3.h4 Kg8 4.g5 Kh8 5.h5 Kg8=
The following example illustrates the importance of pawn play in endgames.
3. M. R. Savić 2503 - Nev. Aleksić 2175

Veliko Gradište 2019
White wins in familiar fashion. Of course, White should not make any pawn moves before he pushes
back the enemy king!
1.Kd5!
1.g3? A wasted pawn move Black can punish by obtaining the opposition!
12
1...Kf6! Diagonal opposition! (Black made unnecessary pawn move 1...h5?? and White converted as
described earlier 2.Kd5 Kf6 3.Ke4 Ke6 4.Kf4 Kf6 5.h4+- M. R. Savić - Nev. Aleksić) 2.Ke4 Ke6
3.Kf4 Kf6 4.g4 Kg6 5.h4 Kf6=
1...Kf6
1...Kf4 2.Ke6 Kg3 3.Kf5 Kxg2 4.h4+-
2.Kd6 Kf5 3.Ke7 Ke5
3...h5
4.g3 (4.Kf7? h4 Black gains opposition. 5.Kg7 Kg5²) 4...Ke5 5.Kf7 Kf5 6.h4 Kg4 7.Kg6+-
13
4.Kf7 Kf5 5.Kg7 Kg5 6.g3
White is able to force Black out of opposition by utilising reserve tempi.
6...Kh5
6...h5 7.h4++-
7.h4+-
4. B. Belyakov 2459 - V. Erdős 2605

Skopje (blitz) 2018
The following example is favourable for White.
If the white king is in front of the pawns the position should be winning. White is using the remote
position of the black king and advances his own monarch forward. Of course, it is important to save
enough pawn moves in reserve. White is planning to bring the king to h6 and then to advance his
pawns, so he is well-placed to push g6 once the opposing kings are on h6 and h8!
1.Kg3 Ke5 2.Kg4 Kf6 3.Kh5 Kg7 4.Kg5 Kf7
4...h6+ 5.Kf5 Kf7 6.g4 Kg7 7.h4 Kf7
14
8.h5 Kg7 9.Ke6+-
5.Kh6 Kg8 6.h4 Kh8 7.h5 Kg8
If the winning plan is well crafted it should not be too hard to calculate pawn moves.
8.g3!
White cannot win after 8.g4? Kh8 9.g5 Kg8
15
10.g6 hxg6 11.hxg6 Kh8=
8...Kh8 9.g4 Kg8 10.g5 Kh8
And we reach the aforementioned position. White won after 11.g6 Kg8 12.g7 1-0
5. E. Najer 2648 - N. Abdusattorov 2627

lichess.org (Internet-blitz) 2020
Transposition into pawn/queen endgame.

To accept the pawn endgame - or not? Always a tough choice!
16
1...Rxe4?
The incorrect decision, obviously generated by blitz tempo of play. White is clearly winning, because
he can create a distant passed pawn b3-a4. On top of that, he has a better pawn structure on the
kingside, which grants him more reserve pawn moves.
A slightly better pawn structure in the rook ending is not enough for White to claim decisive
advantage. 1...Rd8!=
2.fxe4 Ke7 3.Ke2 Kd6 4.Ke3 Kd7
4...Ke5 5.g4 c4 6.h3 h6 7.h4 Ke6 8.Kd4 Kd6 9.h5 Kc6 10.e5+-
5.g4
White is preventing Black from fixing his pawns structure by pushing f5.
17
5...Kd6 6.b3 Ke5
If Black stays put, White punishes him as follows: 6...Kc6 7.Kd2 Kb6 8.Kc3 Ka5 9.h3! h6 The
advancement of Black's h-pawn gives White an additional winning motif. (9...Kb6 10.a4 Ka5
11.axb5 Kxb5 12.h4 Kb6 13.Kc4 Kc6 14.h5 Kb6 15.Kd5 Kb5 16.h6 Kb4 17.Kc6+-) 10.h4 Kb6
11.a4 Ka5 12.axb5 Kxb5
13.h5! Kb6 14.Kc4 Kc6 White wins by executing a pawn breakthrough!
18
15.e5! fxe5 16.g5+-
7.a4 c4
8.a5! White creates a distant passer!

8...cxb3 9.Kd3 Kd6 10.Kc3 Kc6 11.Kxb3 Kc5 As mentioned earlier, White's reserve tempi are
crucial in this position!
19
12.h3! h6
Black must not quit 12...b4
13.a6 Kb6 14.Kxb4 Kxa6 15.Kc5

13.h4+-
6. Ju Wenjun 2584 - A. Goryachkina 2578

Shangai/Vladivostok (m/4) 2020
20
In the World Championship match, the defending Champion wins the game by liquidating into the
pawn ending thanks to her active king. In comparison to all other endgames, pawn endgames are very
exact and allow precise calculation till the very last move!
1.Qxe7+! Kxe7
2.g4! Kd6
2...hxg4+ 3.Kxg4 Ke6 4.f4 f5+ (4...Kf7 5.f5+-) 5.Kg5 Kf7 6.h5 gxh5 7.Kxh5+-
3.gxh5 gxh5 4.Ke4
21
White realises the same plan after 4.Kf4 Kc6
5.Ke4! (5.Kf5? Kb5 6.Kxf6 Kb4=) 5...Kb5 6.Kd5 Kxa6 7.Kc6 f5 8.f4+- – 4.Ke4
4...Kc6
4...Ke6
5.Kf4! White must preserve all the f-pawn tempi and use them when required! 5...Kd5 6.Kf5 Kd4
22
7.Ke6!! (A drawish queen ending ensues by force after 7.Kxf6? Kc3=) 7...Kc3 8.Kd5! Kb4
(8...Kxb3 9.Kxc5+-) 9.Kc6+-
5.f4 Kb5 6.Kd5 f5 7.Kd6 Kb6
7...Kb4 8.Kc6+-
8.Kd7 Ka5
9.Kc7! Kxa6
9...Kb4 10.Kc6+- after the trade of the b and c-pawns, White will take the a7-pawn.
23
10.Kc6 Ka5 11.Kxc5 Ka6
11...a6 12.b4+ Ka4 13.Kc4 Ka3 14.b5 axb5+ 15.Kxb5+-
12.b4 Kb7 13.Kd5 1-0
7. Aleksej Aleksandrov 2608 - Yu. Quesada Pérez 2598

White must make a highly important decision - to accept the pawn ending, or to continue defending
the bishop endgame?
1.Bxe5!
Keeping the bishops on the board offers Black some winning chances: 1.Be3
24
1...g4! Black fixes the white king to the g3-weakness. (1...gxh4 2.gxh4= Aleksej Aleksandrov - Yu.
Quesada Pérez) 2.Bc5 (2.Bd2 f5 3.exf5+ Kxf5 4.Be1 Ke4 5.Ke2 Bd6 6.a4 Kd4-+; 2.Bf4
Black wins the ensuing pawn ending. 2...Bxf4 (Also wins 2...Bb2 3.a4 f5 4.exf5+ Kxf5-+) 3.gxf4 a5
4.Ke3 Kd6 5.Kf2 Kc5 6.Ke3
25
6...g3 7.Kf3 Kd4 8.e5 fxe5 9.fxe5 (9.f5 e4+ 10.Kxg3 Ke5 11.f6 Kxf6 12.Kf4 e3 13.Kxe3 Kf5
14.Kf3 b5-+) 9...Kxe5 10.Kxg3 Ke4-+) 2...f5 3.exf5+ Kxf5-+ The white pawns on the kingside are
immobile, this allowing the black king to reach the queenside without resistance.
1...Kxe5
2.g4! White must notice this motif when deciding to transpose into the pawn ending. Passive defence
leads to a totally hopeless position.
2.Ke3? gxh4 3.gxh4 f5 4.exf5 Kxf5 5.Kf3 b6!-+
2...Kxe4
26
2...gxh4 3.gxh5+-;
2...hxg4? 3.h5+-
3.hxg5 fxg5 4.gxh5 Kf5 5.Kg3 a5 6.Kf3
6.a4 b6 7.Kh3 (7.Kf3 g4+ 8.Kg3 Kg5=) 7...g4+ 8.Kg3 (White should not accept the queen endgame
because his king is poorly positioned. 8.Kh4 Kf4 9.h6 g3 10.h7 g2 11.h8=Q g1=Q and White must
suffer if he intends to clinch a draw!) 8...Kg5 9.h6 Kxh6 10.Kxg4 Kg6=; 6.b4 axb4 7.axb4 b5 8.Kh3
g4+ 9.Kg3 Kg5 10.h6 Kxh6 11.Kxg4 Kg6=
6...g4+ 7.Kg3 Kg5
8.h6 Kxh6 9.Kxg4 Kg6=
8. E. Csiki 2231 - A. Stefanova 2466

Sitges 2020
27
Stefanova did not notice a highly unusual motif, possible in this position because of the white king's
position.
1...Rxb2+!
Black is slightly more active after 1...Ra1³ E. Csiki - A. Stefanova
2.Kxb2 e5! The only way to begin destruction of White's pawn formation!
3.g3 exf4 4.gxf4
4...g5!! 5.fxg5+
28
5.e5+ Kf5 6.fxg5 Kxe5 7.Kc2 Kf4 8.Kd3 Kg4 9.Ke4 Kxh4 10.Kf5 Kg3 11.Kf6 Kf4-+; The white
king is not in the square of the black pawn after 5.hxg5+ Kg6-+ and the h-passer is unstoppable.
5...Ke5 6.Kc3 Kxe4-+
9. Geo. Fröwis 2457 - M. Ragger 2679

Österreich (ch-Internet-blitz) 2020
White can execute a winning pawn breakthrough because the black king is too far away!
1.g4! Kd3
29
2.h5! Kxe4 3.g5 fxg5 4.fxg5 hxg5 5.h6 g4 6.h7 g3 7.h8=Q g2 8.Qh2+-
10. A. Sarana 2654 - M. Chigaev 2588

Black has two possibilities:

- to block the kingside, or
- to give away the h-pawn.
1...Kg7!
White decides to keep the pawn, but must allow the white king to reach the queenside: 1...f6? 2.Ke4
Kg7 3.Kd3 Kf7 4.Kc4 Ke7 5.Kb5 Kd7 6.Kb6+- A. Sarana - M. Chigaev
2.Kg5
30
2...f6+! 3.Kxh5
Black can timely organise resistance on the queenside: 3.Kf4 Kf7 4.Ke4 Ke7 5.Kd3 Kd7 6.Kc4 Kc7
7.Kb5 Kb7= Right on time! The black king holds opposition, so White cannot make any progress.
3...Kh7 4.Kg4 Kh6 White is not able to bring his king to the queenside because the black monarch
can swiftly penetrate.
5.Kg3
5.h5 Kg7 6.Kf4 Kh6=
5...Kh5 6.Kh3 Kh6 7.Kg4 Kg7 8.Kf4 Kh6=
31
11. M. Matlakov 2685 - N. Sh. Mohammad 2445
White wins by means of zugzwang!

1.Kf1! Being short on time Matlakov makes a mistake
1.b5?† and Black can block the pawns leaving his king in stalemate: 1...a5=;
Black played carelessly in time scramble and lost after: 1...axb5? 2.a5 b4 3.a6 b3 4.a7 b2 5.a8=Q# 1 :
0 M. Matlakov - N. Sh. Mohammad.
1...a5
32
2.Kf2! axb4 3.a5+-
12. R. Francisco 2281 - A. Kolay 2261

Charlotte 2019
White must execute a series of precise moves in order to secure a draw by means of distant
opposition!
1.Kg3!
1.e6? Kf6 2.e7 Kxe7 3.Kxf5 c4 4.Ke4 c3-+; White cannot gain opposition after 1.Kf3? Kg5 2.Kg3
33
f4+ 3.Kf3 Kf5 4.e6 Kxe6 5.Kxf4 Kd5-+
1...Kg5 2.Kf3 f4 3.Ke4 f3 4.Kxf3 Kf5 5.e6 Kxe6
White secures a draw by achieving distant opposition!

6.Ke2!
White should not play 6.Ke4? Kd6 because he does not have enough time to bring his king back.
7.Kf3 (7.Kf4 Kd5 8.Kf3 c4 9.dxc4+ Kxc4 10.Ke2 Kc3 11.Kd1 Kd3-+) 7...Kc6 8.Ke4 Kb5 9.Kd5
Kb4-+
6...Kf5 7.Kf1 Kg4 8.Kg2 Kg5 9.Kg3 Kf6
34
10.Kf2! Ke5 11.Ke1 Kd5 12.Kd1 Kc6 13.Kc2 Kb5 14.Kb3=
13. Al. Kovačević 2482 - A. Inđić 2604

Srbija (ch) 2020
Black's king is more active, but he cannot play for a win because of the unfavourable pawn
placement. White is threatening with a possbile pawn break on the kingside!
1.f3
1.Kf3?† White errs in time trouble, allowing Black to make use of extra tempi with his pawns!
35
1...Ke5 2.a3 (2.h5 f6-+; 2.g5 hxg5 3.h5 f5-+) 2...b5 3.a4 bxa4 4.bxa4 a5 0 : 1 Al. Kovačević - A.
Inđić
1...Ke5
2.h5!
Black's king cannot go for the white pawns on the queenside because White is threatening with the
breaktrhough with g5.
2...f6
A must move, preventing the g5 pawn push.
3.Kf2 Kd4 4.Ke2
36
Black cannot make any progress with his king and must settle for a draw.
For example: 4...b5
4...Kc3?? 5.e5 fxe5 6.g5+-
5.Kd2
5...Ke5
The opening of the queenside would favour White, allowing him to penetrate that area of the board!
5...bxc4? 6.bxc4
37
6...Kxc4 (6...a5 7.Kc2 a4 8.Kd2 Ke5 9.Kc3 Kd6
10.Kb2 Ke5 11.Ka3 Kd4 12.Kxa4 Kxc4 (12...Kd3 13.Kb3 Ke3 14.g5 hxg5 15.h6+- etc.; 12...Ke3
38
13.g5! fxg5 14.e5 g4 15.e6 gxf3 16.e7 f2 17.e8=Q+ Kd2 18.Qd7+ Ke1 19.Qe6+ Kd2 20.Qh3 Ke1
21.Qh4 Ke2 22.Qxf4 f1=Q 23.Qxf1+ Kxf1 24.Kb3+-) 13.e5! Kd5 14.exf6 Ke6 15.Kb3 Kxf6
16.Kc4+-) 7.e5!+- Black cannot play actively for a win after this pawn break!
6.Kd3 b4=
14. Daniil Dubov 2699 - V. Artemiev 2708

Russia 2020
Every tempo matters in this pawn ending!
39
1...a4!
White is not obliged to make a king move after 1...Kb3? instead, he can speed up the promotion of
his h-pawn, leading to a pretty drawish queen endgame: 2.h4 Kxa3 3.h5 b4 4.h6 b3 5.h7 b2 6.h8=Q
b1=Q 7.Qc3+ Qb3 8.Kd2= Daniil Dubov - V. Artemiev.
2.Kd2
2.h4 b4 3.Kd2 Kb3! 4.Kc1 Kxa3-+ – 2.Kd2
2...Kb3 3.h4
3.Kc1 check the 3.h4 line. 3...Kxa3 4.Kb1 b4 5.h4 b3-+
3...b4! 4.Kc1 Kxa3 5.Kb1 b3 6.h5 b2 7.h6 Kb3 8.h7
40
8...a3 9.h8=Q a2#
15. Vladis. Kovalev 2648 - P. Ponkratov 2631

According to the general principles of pawn endings White should have some advantage. White has a
better king and will create a distant passer. However, since pawns endings are extremely concrete it is
possible to calculate all the possible variations till the end. In actual fact, Black can secure a draw
with precise play!
1...b5! It is of great importance to start advancing the pawns and prevent the opponent from setting a
41
blockade. Black is holding the balance by means of active play and various tactical motifs.
Careless pawn push 1...d5? would allow White counterplay on the queenside!
2.a4! (2.f3? d4? (Black misses the opportunity to return to the position from main variation 2...b5!)
3.b3! (3.a4 c4=; 3.g4 fxg4 4.fxg4
4...c4! (4...b5 5.h4+- a5 6.Ke4 Ke6 7.b3 Kd6 8.g5 h5 9.Kf5 a4 10.Ke4 axb3 11.axb3 Ke6 12.b4
cxb4 1 : 0 Vladis. Kovalev - P. Ponkratov) 5.h4 (5.Ke4 Kg5 6.Kxd4 Kxg4 7.Kxc4 Kh3=) 5...d3
6.cxd3 cxd3 7.Ke3 Ke5 8.Kxd3 Kf4 9.g5 hxg5 10.h5 (10.hxg5 Kxg5 11.Ke4 Kf6 12.Kd5 Ke7=)
10...Kf5! 11.Ke3 g4 12.h6 Kg6 13.Kf4 Kxh6 14.Kxg4 Kg6=) 3...b5 (3...h5 4.a4+-) 4.g4 fxg4
5.fxg4 c4 6.h4+- and the white king reaches the queenside.) 2...b6 3.f3 a6 4.g4 b5
42
(4...fxg4 5.fxg4+-) 5.a5! White must keep as many pawns on the queenside as possible! Eventually,
the far advanced a5-pawn may prove to be of great value! 5...Ke6 (5...b4 6.gxf5 h5 7.h4 c4 8.c3 b3
9.Ke3 Kxf5 10.Kd4 Kf4 11.Kxd5 Kg3 12.f4! Kxh4 (12...Kxf4 13.Kc5!+-) 13.f5+-) 6.gxf5+ Kf6
7.c3 h5
8.h4 Black is now forced to make pawn move, thus allowing the white king to reach the queenside!
8...c4 9.Ke3 Kxf5 (9...Ke5 10.f6!+-) 10.Kd4 Kf4 11.Kxd5 Kg3 12.f4! Deflection that slows down
the black king! 12...Kxf4 (12...Kxh4 13.f5 Kg5 14.Ke5 h4 15.f6 h3 16.f7 h2 17.f8=Q h1=Q
18.Qg8+ and Black loses his queen.) 13.Kc5+-
2.f3 d5 3.g4 a5 4.h4
43
4.c3 b4 5.gxf5 bxc3 6.bxc3 h5 7.h4 a4 8.a3 c4! 9.Ke3 Kxf5 10.Kd4 Kf4 11.Kxd5 Kxf3 12.Kxc4
Kg4=; 12...Kg3=; 4.gxf5 h5 5.h4 b4 6.a4 (6.b3 c4 7.bxc4 dxc4 8.Ke4 a4 9.Kd4 b3 10.cxb3 axb3
11.axb3 cxb3 12.Kc3 Kxf5=) 6...bxa3 7.bxa3 a4 8.c3 c4 9.Ke3 Kxf5 10.Kd4 Kf4 11.Kxd5 Kxf3
12.Kxc4 Kg3=
4...b4! 5.b3 c4 6.bxc4

White cannot remain passive and observe developments on the queenside.
6.h5? fxg4 7.fxg4
7...c3!-+
44
6...dxc4 7.Ke3 fxg4 8.fxg4 Ke5
9.g5 hxg5
Black holds after 9...h5=
10.hxg5
10...a4! Black is threatening with a pawnbreak so a draw is inevitable.

Black secures a draw in a slightly more complicated way after: 10...c3 11.Kd3 Kf5 12.Kc4 Kxg5
13.Kb5 Kf4 14.Kxa5
45
14...b3!! 15.axb3 Ke3=
11.g6 Kf6 12.Kd4 b3 13.cxb3 cxb3 14.axb3 axb3 15.Kc3=
16. A. Barp 2374 - M. Šebenik 2498

Bassano del Grappa 2020
Black wins by invading the 3rd rank!

1...Ka3!
After Black's mistake 1...Kb4? White was able to clinch a draw by utilising the opposition. 2.Kb2 b5
46
3.a3+ Kc4 4.Kc2 b4 5.axb4 Kxb4 6.Kb2= A. Barp - M. Šebenik.
2.Ka1 b5 3.Kb1 b4 4.Ka1 b3 5.axb3 Kxb3 6.Kb1 Kc3 7.Kc1 Kd3 8.Kd1
8...f4 9.exf4 Kxd4-+
17. S. Movsesian 2654 - J. Hammer 2635

chess24.com (Internet-m/4-blitz) 2019
Black wins thanks to the "electric pawns" motif!

1...e5!!
47
In the game Black lost all winning chances after playing 1...a5?
2.f4! a draw is inevitable since both kings must focus on defence: 2...a4 3.Kd3 Ke7 4.g5 Kf7 5.Kd2
Kg6 6.Kd3 Kf5
7.Kd2 Kg6= S. Movsesian - J. Hammer.

2.dxe5
The black pawns are unstoppable after 2.Kd2 exd4 3.f4 a5 4.g5 a4
48
5.Kc2 b3+ 6.axb3 a3-+;
With transposition into the main line after: 2.g5 a5 3.g6 Ke7 4.dxe5 a4-+
2...a5 3.g5 a4 4.g6 Ke7 5.Kd2
White is just a bit slower, and one tempo decides as so often happens in forcing positions! 5.f4 b3
6.axb3 a3 7.f5 a2 8.f6+
8...Kf8 (There is still time for howlers! 8...Ke6?? 9.g7 Kf7 10.e6++-) 9.g7+ Kg8-+
49
A decisive pawn breakthrough ensues: 5...a3! 6.Kc2 d4 7.Kb3 and the white king cannot stop all the
black pawns!
7.f4
7...d3+! 8.Kxd3 b3-+

7...d3 8.f4 d2 9.Kc2
50
9...b3+!-+
18. Bl. Kovačević 2451 - M. A. Tabatabaei 2638

Gibraltar 2020
Each and every tempo is precious in pawn endings!

1.b3!
1.b4+? Black manages to save himself by approaching the white pawns from the back!
51
1...Kc4! 2.b5
2...Kb3!= Bl. Kovačević - M. A. Tabatabaei

1...Kc6 2.b4 Kb7 3.Kb5 c6+ 4.Kc5 Kc7
52
5.a5 Kb7 6.Kd6+-
53
2020 Endgame maze minor pieces
19. Joel Benjamin 2506 - Pa. Wolff 2552

USA (ch-Internet-rapid) 2020
White has the upper hand thanks to his active king and well placed knight. He is threatening to
capture the a7-pawn, so Black must use some fairy unorthodox measures in the order to save the
game. The only way to clinch a draw is by active defence!
1...cxb5!
If Black plays too passively, the white knight will collect the a7-pawn. 1...Bd4? 2.Na5 cxb5 (Black
should not try to create a passer of his own. 2...c5? 3.Nc4+- In this blocked position the white knight
is a dominating piece, so White should not have much trouble converting his advantage on the
queenside.) 3.axb5 Kb8 (Blacl lost a precious tempo and is too late with the attempt at active play:
3...Kd6 4.Nc6 Kc5 5.Nxa7 Kc4 6.Nc6+-) 4.Nc6+ Ka8 5.Nxa7! A beautiful final stroke! 5...Bxa7
6.b6 f5 7.bxa7 1 : 0 Joel Benjamin - Pa. Wolff.
2.axb5
Generally, in endgames the pawns belong to the squares of the opposite colour to the bishop's colour.
However, in forcing positions when each tempo is of great importance, general rules often must be
neglected! Here, Black is abandoning the queenside and is trying to reach the white pawns with his
king. So, the bishop will be sacrificed for the white b-pawn. The next move is crucial, so the black
pawns may show how quickly they can run!
54
2...g5! 3.Na5 Kd6!
The black king starts running towards the enemy pawns!
4.Nc6 Kc5 5.Nxa7 Kc4 6.b6
White cannot resist on the kingside without his king. For example: 6.Nc6 Kd3 7.Nb8 Ke2 8.Nd7
Kf1 9.Nxf6 Kxg2 10.Ng4 Bd4
11.b6 Bxb6 12.Kxb6 Kxh3 13.Nxe5 Kg3 14.Ng4 Kxf3 15.e5 Kxg4 16.e6 h3 17.e7 h2 18.e8=Q
h1=Q 19.Qe6+= and a draw is inevitable because Black cannot hide from checks without losing the
g-pawn.
55
6...Bxb6 7.Kxb6 Kd3
After the piece sacrifice, the black king is very fast in action on the kingside. White does not have
much choice but to move his own king towards the black pawns. The knight alone cannot fight
against the black footsoldiers. In actual fact, White cannot win the game because his king and knight
are too far away.
8.Kc5 Ke2 9.Kd5 Kf2 10.Ke6

10.Nc6 Kxg2 11.Ke6 Kxh3= transposing to the continuation after 10.Ke6
10...Kxg2 11.Kxf6 Kxh3
Black created the h-passer forcing White to include the knight in defence.
12.Nc6
56
12...g4!
Black is exchanging the pawns and approaching a draw. White is not able to defend the last pawn on
e4.
The knight catches the h-pawn and White wins after 12...Kg3? 13.Nxe5 h3 14.Ng4 Kxf3 15.Kf5+-
13.fxg4 Kxg4 14.Nxe5+ Kf4=
20. D. Táboas Rodríguez 2365 - M. A. Fernandes 2139

Figueira da Foz 2020
57
The following example shows how the king activity compensates for the opponent's material
advantage.
1...Bxb6+!
Passive defence leads to quick demise: 1...Bb8? 2.Nxh4 Kg5 3.Nf3+ Kf5
4.Nd2! The white knight blocks all the black king's entry points. 4...Kg5 (4...Kf6 5.Kc6 Kf5 6.Kd7
e5 7.dxe5 Bxe5 8.Nf3 Bb8 9.Kc8 Bd6 10.b7 Ke4 11.Ng5+ Ke3 12.Nf7+-) 5.Kc6 Kh4 6.Kd7 Kxh3
7.Kxe6 Kg2 8.Kxd5 f3 9.Nxf3 Kxf3 10.Ke6+-
2.Kxb6 Kf5 3.Kc5
3.Nxh4+ Ke4 4.Kc5 e5 5.dxe5 Kxe5 with transposition into the main line;
3.Nd2
58
3...f3! Excellent move! The black king must approach the white pawns as quickly as possible. (The
alternative is not that good: 3...e5?
4.Kc5!! and Black's king cannot reach the white h-pawn. 4...f3 5.Nxf3 exd4 6.Kxd4 Kf4 7.Ng1 Kg3
8.Kxd5 Kg2 9.Ke4 Kxg1 10.Kf3+-) 4.Nxf3 Ke4 5.Nxh4 Kxd4
59
6.Ng2 Ke4 7.Kc5 d4 8.Kc4 d3 9.Kc3 Kf3 10.h4 Kxg2 11.h5 Kf3! 12.Kxd3 e5=
3...Ke4 4.Nxh4
This position requires deep and precise calculation. Also, we must take into account some general
guidelines. Obviously, after every pawn trade Black is closer to a draw.
4...e5!
4...Ke3?
5.Ng6! Apparently, Black overlooked this move. (5.Ng2+? Kf3 6.Nxf4 Kxf4 7.Kd6 e5!=; 5.Kd6?
Kxd4 6.Kxe6 Ke4=) 5...Ke4 (5...f3 6.Ne5 f2 7.Ng4+ Kf3 8.Nxf2 Kxf2 9.h4+-) 6.Ne5 Kf5 (6...f3
60
7.Nxf3 Kxf3 8.Kd6 Ke4 9.h4 Kf5 10.h5+-) 7.h4 Kf6 8.Kd6 Kf5 9.h5+- D. Táboas Rodríguez - M.
A. Fernandes.
5.dxe5 Kxe5 6.Nf3+ Ke4 7.Nd2+ Ke5
7...Ke3?? 8.Kxd5 Kxd2 9.Ke4+-
8.Kb5!?
White cannot win, but Black may still blunder!
8.Kc6 f3 9.Nxf3+
9...Ke4! (9...Kf4?? 10.h4!+-) 10.h4 d4 11.h5 (11.Nxd4 Kxd4 12.Kd6 Ke4 13.Ke6 Kf4=) 11...Kf5=
61
8...Kd4!
The position demands highly precise play till the very last move.
8...f3?? 9.Nxf3+ Kf4 10.h4 Kxf3 11.h5+- After the pawn promotion White wins by giving a check
on h5!
9.Kc6
9.h4 Ke5! 10.Kc5 (10.Nf3+ Kf5 11.h5 Kf6= The king approaches the h-pawn via g7-h6.) 10...Kf5
11.Kxd5 Kg4=
9...f3! 10.Nxf3+
10.h4 f2 11.h5 Ke5=
10...Ke4 11.h4
62
11...d4!
Black must remain fully focused till the end!
11...Kxf3 12.h5+-
12.h5 Kf5 13.Kd5 d3=
Black deflects the white knight in order to capture the h-pawn.
21. S. Sevian 2660 - P. Iniyan 2506

ICC (Internet) 2020
63
Thanks to his excellent knight in the centre Black is able to win the game by executing a pawn
breakthrough!
1...g4! 2.Kd5
2.hxg4 f4! 3.Kd5 f3-+
2...Ne6! and White cannot defend the g2 pawn: 3.hxg4 Nf4+ 4.Kc5 Nxg2 5.gxf5
5.Bf3 h3-+
5...h3 6.Bf3 Kxf5 7.Kxb5 Kf4 8.Bc6 Kg3-+
22. L. Garifullina 2348 - V. Gunina 2451

Russia (ch) 2020
64
White is intending to use the g-pawn as decoy and then to approach the black pawns on the queenside
with his king.
1.g6!
If White attempts to support the g-pawn, Black obtains sufficient counterplay thanks to his f-passer.
1.Kg4? Nd3 2.Kh5
2...Kf5! (Black loses all counter-chances after: 2...Ke6? 3.g6 Ne5
65
4.Be8! (White misses the last opportunity and draw becomes inevitable: 4.Be4? Kf6 5.Kh6 f3 6.g7
Nf7+ 7.Kh7 Ng5+ 8.Kh8 Nf7+ 9.Kg8 f2 10.Bg2 Ng5 11.Kh8 Nf7+ 1/2 : 1/2 L. Garifullina - V.
Gunina) 4...Kf6 5.Kh6 Ng4+ 6.Kh7 Kg5 7.g7 Nf6+ 8.Kh8 f3 (8...Kf5 9.Bb5+-) 9.Bb5+-) 3.Bd7+
(3.g6 f3! 4.Bxf3 Nf4+=; White does not achieve much after 3.Kh6 because of 3...Ne5) 3...Ke4 4.g6
f3 5.g7 f2 6.g8=Q Nf4+ 7.Kg5 f1=Q=
1...Ne6
1...Kf6 2.Kxf4 Kxg6 3.Ke5+- The white king penetrates the queenside and captures both black
pawns. As a result, White will reach a winning position. Unfortunately, Black cannot save the game
by going for the wrong bishop position!
2.Bd7 Ng7
66
3.Bc8!
Important tempo move that disturbs Black's defensive setup.
3...Nh5
3...Kf6 4.Kxf4 Kxg6 5.Ke5+-
4.Ba6 Kf5
4...Kd5 5.Kg4 Nf6+ 6.Kxf4+-
5.Bxc4 Kxg6 6.Kg4! f3
67
7.Bd3+!
An important precision in order to push the black king away from the queenside!
7...Kh6 8.Kxf3+-
White is winning because she can reach the black a-pawn!
23. R. Édouard 2649 - A. Naiditsch 2626

Biel 2020
In this example we will witness bishop's domination over knight. Since the black king is far away,
White can forcefully reach the winning bishop and pawn against knight ending!
1.axb5+! Generally, bishops are superior to knight if the pawns are located on both flanks. However,
in this position that general rule is not valid. By keeping the pawn on the queenside Black generates
sufficient counterplay to secure a draw!
1.a5? b4! 2.Kxh5 Kb5 3.Kg5 b3 4.h4
68
4...Ne7! The black knight has significant defensive strength thanks to the far advanced black b-
passer. 5.h5 Ng8 Obviously, the b3-pawn is terrible nuisance for White. 6.Bc3 (It is not possible to
capture the knight without bishop's help. However, the black bishop is attached to the b2-square.
6.Kg6 Kxa5 7.Kg7 Ne7 8.Bf6 Nf5+ 9.Kg6 Ne7+!=) 6...Kc4 7.Bb2 Kb5 8.Bc3= R. Édouard - A.
Naiditsch.
1...Kxb5 2.Kxh5 Kc6
The black king can try to approach the white h-pawn from another side. 2...Kc4
3.Be5! Ne3 (3...Kd3 4.Kg6 Ke4 5.Bd6 Ne3 6.h4 Nf5 7.h5!+-) 4.Bf4 Ng2 5.Kg4 Kd3 (After
5...Kd5 6.Bd2!+- the black knight is trapped!) 6.h3! A fine waiting move, passing the move to Black
69
who must choose a path for his king: 6...Ke2 (The black knight is entrapped after 6...Ke4
7.Bd2! Kd3 8.Kg3+-) 7.Bd6 Kf2 (White wins by pushing away the enemy king, as in the main line:
7...Kd3 8.Kg3 Ne3 9.Bc5 Nd5 10.Kf3 Kc4 11.Bf2 Nf6 12.Bh4 Ne8 13.Ke4 Kc5 14.Kf5 Kd6
15.Bf6 Kd7 16.Be5+-) 8.Bc5+ Ke2 9.Kg3 Kf1 10.Bf2+-
3.Kg6 Kd7 4.Kf7 Ne7
5.Bf2!! The white bishop prevents the black knight from coming to h4!
5.h4? Nf5 6.h5 Nxd4 7.h6 Ne6 8.h7 Ng5+=;
5.Be3? Nf5 6.Bf2 Nh6+ 7.Kg6 Ng4=
70
5...Nf5 6.Kf6 Nd6 7.Be3 Ne4+
The knight remains out play if Black tries to reach the h-file with his king: 7...Ke8 8.h4 Ne4+ 9.Kg6
Kf8 (9...Ng3 10.Bf4) 10.h5+-
8.Ke5 Nd6 9.Bd4 Nb5

Black cannot attack the white pawn with his knight. For example: 9...Nf7+ 10.Kf6 Nh6 11.Kg6 Ng4
12.h4 Ke8 13.h5 Kf8 14.Kg5 Nh2 15.Bf6 Kf7 (15...Kg8 16.Kg6 Ng4 17.Bg7+-) 16.h6+-
10.Bc5 Ke8 11.Kf6 Nc3 12.Kg6 Ne2 13.h4 Nf4+
The white bishop is limiting the enemy knight 13...Kd7 14.Be3 Ng3 15.Bf2 Ne4 and the h-pawn can
freely advance after 16.Be1+-
14.Kf6 Nh5+ 15.Kg5 Ng7
15...Ng3 16.Kg6+-
71
16.Kg6 Ne6 17.Bd6 Kd7 18.Bg3 Ke7 19.h5 Nf8+ 20.Kg7 Ne6+
21.Kg8! Nd4
21...Kf6 22.Bh4++-;
21...Nf8 22.Bd6+!+-
22.h6+-
24. O. Bortnyk 2598 - A. Morozevich 2659

lichess.org (Internet-m/1-blitz) 2020
72
Black is a pawn down, but since the material is pretty reduced and his king very active, he should
secure a draw. However, he must proceed in most precise manner.
1...f4!
Logical, but imprecise is 1...Kxa2? 2.Kc4 f4 3.Nd5 Bd6 4.Nxb4+ and the black king cannot get the
white f3 pawn! 4...Kb2 5.Nd5 Kc2 6.b4 Kd2 7.Kd4 Ke2 8.Ke4+- O. Bortnyk - A. Morozevich.
2.Nf5
The following variation illustrates why the capture on a2 should be delayed: 2.Nd5 Bd6 3.Kc4
73
3...Ka3!! White is in zugzwang, so Black is able to catch the white f-pawn! 4.Kb5 Kxa2 5.Ka4 Kb2
6.Nxb4 Kc3= and taking on f3 cannot be prevented;
2.Nc2 Bd6 3.Nd4 Kxa2 4.Kc4 Kb2=
2...Kxa2 3.Kc4 Kb2??
White's knight is not that good on f5 (in comparison to d5), so Black will win one white pawn and
secure a draw!
3...Ka3? 4.Nd4+-
4.Kxb4 Kc2 5.Kc4 Kd2 6.b4
6.Kd4
6...Bb6+! 7.Ke4 Kc3 8.Kxf4 Kxb3=

6...Ke2 7.Nd4+ Ke3 8.b5 Bb6=
25. V. Kramnik 2753 - M. Carlsen 2863

chess24.com (Internet-rapid) 2020
74
The wrong bishop motif is considered to be the Achilles heel of the bishop endings!
Usually, two connected passers extra are enough for victory. However, the black pawns are close to
the rim of the board so the "wrong bishop" motif comes to life. White can save himself as follows:
1.Nf7+!
1.Ne6? g6-+ V. Kramnik - M. Carlsen
1...Kg8
2.Nh6+! Kf8
75
2...gxh6= With the wrong bishop on the board the number of rook pawns is insignificant!
3.Nf5 By attacking the bishop White gains a crucial tempo and wins the g-pawn!
3...Bf6
4.Nxg7!= The wrong bishop scenario on the board!
26. V. Kramnik 2753 - M. Carlsen 2863

In the game continuation Kramnik secured a draw:
76
1.Ng3!
White is threatening to sacrifice the knight for the pawn in order to reach the wrong bishop situation!
The threat is Nh5!
1...h4 2.Ne4 Ke6 3.Kg4
White provoked the advancement of the h-pawn, and by controlling the light squares he is making it
impossible for Black to convert his material advantage.
3...Ke5 4.Nf2 Kd4 5.Kf3 Be5 6.Nh3 Bg3 7.Ng5 Ke5 8.Kg4 Bf2 9.Nh7 Ke4 10.Nf8 g5 11.Ne6
Be3 12.Nxg5+ Bxg5 13.Kh3=
REUBEN FINE
1941
Reuben Fine explored this concept very deeply in his book. White wins by avoiding transition into
the wrong bishop situation:
77
1.g4!
1.h4 Kh6 2.Kg2 Kg7 3.Bd1 (White cannot win in case of 3.Kf2?
3...Ng6! Black is threatening to take on h4, so White must push the h-pawn forward and allow dark-
square blockade. 4.h5 Ne5 5.Ke3 Kh6 6.Kf4 Nf7 7.Bc4 Ng5=) 3...Ng6 4.Kh3 Ne5 5.Bc2 Nc4
(5...Kh6 6.Kg2 Kh5 7.Bf5) 6.Bd3 Ne3 7.Kh2 Kf6 8.Kg1 Ke5 9.Kf2 Ng4+ 10.Kf3 Nh2+ 11.Ke2
Ng4
78
12.Ba6 Ke4 13.Bb7+ Ke5 14.Bc8 Nf6 15.Kf3 Kd6 16.Bf5 (16.Kf4 Nh5+) 16...Ke5 17.Bg6 Ke6
18.Kf4 Nd5+ 19.Kg5 Nf6 20.h5+-
1...Nc6
1...Kg5 2.Kg3 Ng6 3.Bd3 Nh4 4.Be4+-
2.Kg3 Nd4 3.Bd3+ Kf6 4.h4 Ne6 5.Bc4 Nc5 6.Kf4 Nd7 7.Bd3 Kg7 8.g5 Nf6
9.Be4
White is limiting the knight.
79
9.gxf6+? Kxf6=
9...Nh5+ 10.Kg4 Nf6+ 11.Kf5 Nh5 12.Bf3 Ng3+ 13.Kf4 Nf1 14.h5+-
The following two examples are quite similar. Black draws after some very precise move-by-move
planning!
27. M. Carlsen 2863 - I. Nepomniachtchi 2784

1...Bc7!
1...Bf4?? 2.Nd6+-;
1...Bb8?? 2.Nc5 Bh2 (2...Ke7 3.Na6 Ba7 4.Kc7 Bf2 5.Kc8! Bg3 6.Nc7+-) 3.Ne6+ 1 : 0 M. Carlsen
- I. Nepomniachtchi.
2.Nc5
2.Nf6 Bb8=
80
2...Bb8 3.Na6 Bg3=
28. P. Piekielny 2098 - A. Obodchuk 2299

tornelo (ol-rapid) 2020
Black was able to save the following ending with a proper king move.
1...Ke7!
However, he moved his king in wrong direction and lost quickly after 1...Kd8? 2.Nc5 Ba7
81
3.Na6 Ke7 4.Kc7 Bg1 5.Kc8 Ba7 6.Nc7+- … Nb5; 1 : 0 P. Piekielny - A. Obodchuk.
2.Nc5
Also, White does not achieve any progress after 2.Nc3 Kd8 3.Nd5 Bg3 4.Nb6 Bb8 5.Nc8 Bc7=
2...Bg3 3.Na6
3...Kd8=
29. O. Almeida Quintana 2525 - M. A. Antipov 2584

82
Both players have distant passed pawns, but White wins because he will queen the pawn with check!
1.a6!
White rushed by capturing the f2-pawn: 1.Nxf2? and Black was in time to block the white passers
with the knight - 1...Ne6 2.a6 Nc7 3.a7 Ke3 4.Ng4+ Kd4 5.Nf6 Kxc4 6.Ne8 Na8= O. Almeida
Quintana - M. A. Antipov.
1...Ne6
1...Ng2 2.Nd2+ Kg3 3.a7+-
83
2.Ng5+!
White deflects the black knight with his own horsey, thus allowing the a-passer to queen!
2...Nxg5 3.a7 Ne4 4.a8=Q+-
30. An. Demchenko 2641 - D. Shahinyan 2457

Generally, knight endgames are pretty similar to pawn endgames. Thanks to the much better activity
White wins even without the knights on the board.
1.Ke5! Nc1
84
2.Ke6!
Once again, White wins the pawn endgame thanks to his more active king!
White chose the wrong plan hoping to catch the black knight: 2.Nc6? Nd3+ 3.Ke4 Nf2+ 4.Kd5 Nd3
5.Ke4 Nf2+ 6.Ke3 Nd1+ 7.Kd2 Nb2 8.Ne5
8...Na4! The black knight cannot be lassoed: 9.Nd3 Nb6 10.Ke3 Nd5+ 11.Ke4 Nc3+ 12.Ke5 Nd1
13.Ke6 Ne3 14.Nb4 (An. Demchenko - D. Shahinyan)
85
14...Nf5!=
2...Nd3
Reaching the point: 3.Ke7!

Black cannot take on f4 because the ensuing pawn ending is lost: 3...Nxf4
3...Ne1 4.Ne6+ Kh7 5.Kf7 followed by Nf8 and Black will lose another pawn!
86
4.Ne6+ Nxe6 5.Kxe6+-
31. J. Rubinetti 2450 - D. Adla 2435

Argentina (ch) 1992
Some really instructive examples can be found in the Chess Informant volumes. Take a look at the
following position:
White should have prevented the most effective regrouping based on the knight's transfer to d5,
attacking b4, and later to c7-a6:
87
1.Ne4! Nh6
The king has to stay on c6 in order to prevent Kc5.
2.Ng3
Preventing the harassing ...Nf5.
2...Ng4 3.Nf5 Nf2 4.Ne7+ Kb7
4...Kd6 5.Nc8+ … Na7 wins the pawn.
5.Ng6!
5.Kc5? Ka6 6.Nd5 Nd3+ 7.Kc6
88
7...Nxb4+ 8.Nxb4+ Kxa5=
5...Nd1
5...Kc6 6.Ne5+ Kd6 7.a6 Kc7 8.Kc5+-; 5...Ka6 6.Ne5 Nd1 7.Nd3+- White is defending the pawn
just in case and preparing the king's advance.
6.Ne5
6.Kc5 Ka6 7.Ne5 Nc3=
6...Nb2 7.Kc5 Ka6
89
8.Kd5!
Playing for a zugzwang. Any other move would allow ...Nc4 followed by ...Na5.
8...Ka7
A less stubborn option for Black is 8...Kb7 9.Nd7 because of 9...Nd3 10.Nc5+
9.Nc6+ Ka6 10.Kd4! Zugzwang again! 10...Nc4 11.Kc5+-
YURI AVERBAKH
1955
1.Kf3!
White is executing triangulation, while liberating the knight to spring freely.
White cannot win after 1.Kd4?
90
The black king will reach f7, while the white knight must protect the g4-pawn. 1...Kg7 2.Ke5 Kf7
3.Kd6 Ne8+ 4.Kd7 Nf6+ 5.Kd8 Kf8=

1...Nd7
1...Kg7 2.Ne4 Nh7 3.Ke3 Kf7 4.Kd4 Ke7 5.Ke5 Kf7 6.Kd6 Kf8 7.Ke6 Kg7 8.Ke7 Kh6 9.Kf7+-
2.Ke4 Kg7
The black king is not on time to reach f7, so the f-pawn starts running after 2...Nf6+ 3.Ke5 Kg7
4.Ke6+- – see the main line!
91
3.Kd5 Nf6+
3...Kf7 4.Ne4+-
4.Ke6 Ng8 5.Ne4

Black cannot prevent the f-pawn from advancing.
5...Nh6 6.f6+ Kg6
6...Kg8 7.Nxg5 Nxg4 8.f7+ Kg7 9.Nh7+-
7.Nd6 Nxg4 8.f7 Kg7 9.Ke7+-
92
Quite often knights play a decisive role in endgames causing doom to our opponents. However, the
following ending will shows us some of the problems a knight can experience.
32. D. Rohlfing - I. Vega 1735

Unlike bishops, knights do cannot reach distant parts of the boards in a single move. Here, Black has
two connected passed pawns, but the white passer causes some problems in conversion!
1.Nd3!
The black king is locked on a3 rendering the a4-pawn immobile and unable to support the b-pawn as
well. White intends to sacrifice the knight for the black b-pawn thus creating counter-play with his h-
passer. As a result, the black knight will remain powerless and unable to support the black passer
while simultaneously controlling the ebemy h-passer!
1...Nd2+ 2.Ka1 Nc4
93
3.h4! b2+ 4.Nxb2 Nxb2 5.h5 Black cannot kick the white king out of the corner on time, because the
knight must jump to the other side of the board and hunt the white pawn.
5...Nc4 6.h6 Nd6 7.h7 Nf7 8.Kb1=

A drawn position is reached, the knight must guard the enemy passer and cannot support the
promotion of its own pawn on the opposite side of the board.
33. L. Domínguez Pérez 2758 - Hi. Nakamura 2736

lichess.org (Internet-rapid) 2020
94
White will capture the h5-pawn and create a potent passer. However, that will not be enough for a
win. Therefore, White creates another passed pawn on the queenside!
1.c5!! axb4 2.cxb6 Ke8
Black could have tried to defend himself by utilising a crafty trick 2...Nc5+!?
3.Ke3!+- the white king enters the square of the black b-pawn. Next, White will take on h5 and reach
a winning position. (Black wins the b6-pawn by force after 3.Kd4? b3! 4.Kc3 Na4+ 5.Kxb3 Nxb6=)
3.Kd3
95
Also, White could have won after 3.Nxh5!? Kd7
4.Nf4! with a winning pawn endgame: 4...Nxf4 5.Kxf4 b3
6.e6+! fxe6 7.b7 Kc7 8.f7 b2 9.b8=Q+ Kxb8 10.f8=Q++-

3...Nc5+ 4.Kc2 Kd7 5.Nxh5 b3+ 6.Kc3 Ke6
6...Na4+ 7.Kxb3 Nxb6 8.Nf4 Ke8 9.h5 Nd7 10.h6 Nf8
96
11.Kb4 Nh7 12.Kc5 Kd7 13.Kd4+- White must chase away the knight from h7 and open the path
for his pawn. In that order, White brings the king to f5 and then the knight to g5.
7.Nf4+! Kf5
7...Kxe5 8.Nd3++-
8.h5! and the white h-pawn becomes unstoppable!

White misses the win by overlooking the b-pawn: 8.Nd3?
97
8...Na4+ 9.Kxb3 Nxb6= L. Domínguez Pérez - Hi. Nakamura
8...b2
By deflecting the white king Black avoids transition into the pawn ending, but White wins anyway
thanks to his mighty b6 and h5-pawns.
8...Kxe5 9.Nd3++-;
8...Na4+ 9.Kxb3 Nxb6 10.h6+-
9.Kxb2 Kxe5 10.h6 Kxf6 11.Ka3
The black king must eyeball the h-pawn, while his counterpart can easily deal with the black knight.
98
11...Nb7 12.Kb4 c5+ 13.Kb5+-
34. D. Świercz 2649 - An. Demchenko 2641

Pawn breakthrough is one of most significant endgame motifs. This knight endgame with four pawns
each on the same flank is quite drawish. However, the formation iof the white pawns allows Black to
execute a powerful breakthrough!
1...g4!
99
Black is creating a dangerous h-passer, thus achieving a decisive advnatage. However, the conversion
itself is very demanding and requires exceptional technique. Black should restict the white king with
his h-passer and limit him to defensive role. Then the black king will go to the centre and attack the
white d4-pawn.
2.Ke2
A must move in order to enter the square of the black h-pawn.
2.hxg4? h3-+
2...gxh3 3.Kf3
White can try to get to the h-pawn via 1st rank. 3.Kf1 hxg3 4.fxg3
Black has an extra pawn and wins:

- If he manages to transfer the knight to g5 in order to protect the e6 and h3 pawns. As a result the
white king will ebe out of play and forced to block the h-passer.
- If he centralises his king and attacks the d4-pawn.
4...Nf6 (Black can implement the same idea after 4...Nc3!?) 5.Kg1 Ne4 6.Nd3 Kd6 7.Kh2 Ng5
8.Nb4
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(8.Nf4 Kc6 9.Kg1 Kb5 10.d5 e5 and the additional black passer guarantees victory in all variations:
11.Nd3 (11.Nh5 Kc5 12.Ng7 e4 13.Nxf5 Kxd5-+) 11...e4 12.Nf4 Nf3+ 13.Kf1 h2 14.Kg2 e3
15.Kh1 Kc5 16.Kg2 Kd6 17.Kh1 Nd4 18.Kxh2 e2-+)
White managed to block Black's king passage to the centre, but he can take a bit longer route too:
8...Kc7! 9.Kg1 (9.Na2 Kb6 10.Nc3
10...Ka5! 11.Nd1 (11.d5 e5-+ and the black king goes back to capture the white d-pawn.) 11...Kb5!
12.Ne3 Kc6 13.Kg1 Nf3+ 14.Kh1 Kd6-+) 9...Kb6
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10.d5! Otherwhise, Black would get to the white pawn via b5 and c4. 10...e5 11.d6 Nf3+ 12.Kf2 e4
13.Nd5+ Kc6 14.Ne7+ Kxd6 15.Nxf5+ Ke5 16.Ne3 Kd4
17.g4 (17.Nf1 Kd3 (Black must ve very careful and avoid the well-known draw position after
17...h2? 18.Kg2 e3 19.Nxe3! Kxe3 20.g4 Kf4 21.g5 Kxg5 22.Kh1=) 18.g4 Ng5-+; 17.Nc2+ Kd3
18.Nb4+ Kd2 19.Nd5 Ne5 20.Kg1 (20.g4 Nxg4+ 21.Kg3 h2 22.Kg2 Ne3+-+) 20...Ng4 21.Nf4 e3
22.Kf1 Nf2 23.Kg1 Nd3-+; 17.Nf5+ Kd3 18.g4 Ng5-+) 17...Nh4! Threatening h2. 18.Nf1 Kd3
The threat is e3 and h2, and the black king side-steps the check on f5. (White can clinch a cunning
draw in case of 18...e3+? 19.Nxe3 h2 20.Nf5+ Nxf5 21.Kg2=) 19.Kg3 Ke2 20.Nh2 Nf3 21.Kxh3
Kf2! 22.g5 Nxg5+ 23.Kg4 e3 24.Kxg5 e2-+
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3...f4!
Now the white king remains fixed on the f3 square!
Black lost almost all of his winning chances after 3...hxg3 4.Kxg3 Nf4
5.Na4! (Obviously, Świercz was in serious time trouble so he allowed the black king to get to the d5
square without much resistance: 5.Nb3? Kd6 6.Nd2 Kd5 7.Nf3
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7...Nd3! Black wins by exchaning the h-pawn for the white f-pawn! (7...Ne2+? 8.Kxh3 Nxd4
9.Ng5³ D. Świercz - An. Demchenko, and Black won eventually. However, his time managment was
crucial, compared to the actual position on the board.) 8.Ng5 h2 9.Kxh2 Nxf2 10.Kg2 Ne4 11.Nf3
Nc3 12.Kf2 f4-+ and Black wins the d-pawn very quickly.) 5...Kd6 6.Nc3³
4.gxh4
Black has "electric pawns" which are restricting the white king! Now, the knight joins the pawns and
White will soon be completely powerless.
4.gxf4 Nxf4-+;
4.Ne4 Nf6 5.Ng5 h2 6.Kg2 hxg3 7.fxg3 fxg3-+
4...Nc3 5.h5
5.Nd3 Ne2-+
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5...Ne2! 6.Kxe2 h2-+
35. Hi. Nakamura 2736 - M. Carlsen 2863

chess24.com (Internet-m/2-rapid) 2020
White makes great use of the principle of the "two weaknesses". Both c6 and g6 pawns are weak, and
Black cannot get rid of them. White plans to occupy the e5-square and attack both weaknesses
simultaneously!
1.Ne1! Nb8
105
1...Kf6 2.f4! Ke6 3.Nd3 Nf6 4.Ne5 Ne4 5.Nxc6 Nxg3 6.Ne5 Ne4
7.Kd3! Kf6 8.Kc2+- White is intending Kb3-b4-b5 and the white king will support the c-passed
pawn.
2.Nd3 Kf6
Black ends up in zugzwang rather quickly after 2...Nd7 3.Nb4 Nb8 4.Kf4 Kf6 5.f3Θ Kf7 6.Nd3 Kf6
7.Ne5 Kg7 8.Kg5+-
3.f4!
White is safeguarding the e5-square for his knight. Also, Black cannot liquidate into the pawn
106
endgame, which is also in White's favour!
3...Nd7 4.Ne5 White accomplished his goal! Black is unable to parry all the threats, so he must allow
the white king to reach the queenside. Of course, Carlsen is aware that passive defence leads to
agony, so he desperately tries to gain some activity.
4...Nf8
Transposition into the pawn endgame is not good for Black, leaving him without any reasonable
defensive prospects. 4...Nxe5 5.fxe5+ Kf7 6.Kf4 Ke6
7.Kg5 Kf7 8.Kh6+-

As mentioned before, the passive defence is not a valid option: 4...Nb8 5.Kd3+- The black pieces are
forced to defend the weaknesses so the white king can comfortably stroll across the board and reach
the queenside.
5.Nxc6
Carlsen loses the c-pawn allowing Nakamura to easily convert the advantage.
5...Ke6 6.Ne5 Ke7 7.Kd3 Kd8 8.Kc3 Kc7 9.Nd3 Nd7 10.Nb4 Nf6 11.Kb3 Kb7 12.Ka4
107
In order to stop the white king Black proceeded with 12...Ne4 13.Nxd5 Nxg3 14.Kb5+-
With the inevitable queening of the c-pawn!
36. K. H. Grigoryan 2651 - J. Martín Duque 2414

Sitges 2020
The black knight is trapped. How to capture it?

1.Bd6! f6 2.a4+- There is no defence against b5!
37. A. Shirov 2647 - K. H. Grigoryan 2658
108
Paterna (m/10-rapid) 2020
The opposite-coloured bishops endgames are usually drawn. In order to win such positions one must
create two passed pawns! In this example White procceds with:
1.Bb5!!
White lost precious time and allowed the black king to block the white central pawns. 1.Bc6 Kf6
2.Bb7 Bc7² A. Shirov - K. H. Grigoryan
After 1...Kf6 White timely advances the passed pawns.
It is too slow to go for 1...axb5 2.a6 bxc4 3.a7 cxb3 4.a8=Q b2 5.Qa2+-
2.Bxa6 Bc7 3.Bc8 Bxa5 4.d6+-
38. S. L. Narayanan 2618 - V. Bernadskiy 2629

109
The winning plan for Black is very clear. First he must capture the dangerous a7-pawn, enabling his
king to support his own pawns. Even though the black pawns are only two files away from the enemy
king, that is enough for victory since they are very far advanced.
1...h4!
White managed to defend himself after 1...Ka8?
2.b5! The b-pawn is enough to secure a draw 2...Kb7 (In this case the winning plan does not work:
2...h4 3.Bxh4 Kxa7 4.Bf2+ Kb7 5.b6= The white passed pawn is close to promotion, so the black
king cannot support its own footsoldiers. As soon as the king abandons the b-passer, White will push
110
b6-b7 with the unavoidable exchange of the white b for black c-pawn with a draw.) 3.b6= S. L.
Narayanan - V. Bernadskiy.
2.Bxh4
2.b5 g3 3.hxg3 h3-+
2...Kxa7 3.Bf2+ Ka6 4.Kc1 Kb5 5.Bc5 Kc4 6.Kd2
6...Kb3 7.Kc1 Kc3 and White cannot stop the black king on his journey to the kingside.
8.b5 Kd3-+
39. M. Vachier-Lagrave 2778 - W. So 2770

111
The opposite-coloured bishops endgames are notoriously drawish. In general, one side must have two
passed pawns in order to push for a full point.
In the diagram position two connected black passers on c4 and d3 are not sufficient for victory.
Fortunately, Black can create one more passed pawn!
1...g5!! White resigned here. 0-1
1...g5 2.fxg5
(2.hxg5 h5) 2...h5! 3.Bf6 Kxh4 4.g6+ Kg4 5.g7 h4-+
112
40. Max. Lagarde 2651 - V. Esplugas Esteve 2319
Sitges 2020
White promotes the pawn thanks to powerful deflection!

1.Bxe5+!+- 1-0
41. A. Gadimbayli 2470 - A. Firouzja 2749

lichess.org (Internet-m/7-blitz) 2020
Next we will explore an instructive opposite-coloured bishops endgame.
113
White has an extra pawn and more active king. However, in the opposite-coloured bishops endings it
usually necessary to have two passed pawns for victory. The young Azeri player demonstrates
magnificent technique!
1.h4! Bc1 2.g5 fxg5 3.fxg5 hxg5 4.hxg5 Kf8 5.Kf6 Bb2 6.Bd3 Bc1 7.g6 Bh6
The first part of the plan is completed. White has a protected passed pawn on g6.
The second part of the plan includes transfer to the queenside and creation of another passed pawn.
8.Ke6 Bd2 9.Kd5 Bb4 10.Kc6 Kg7 11.Kb7 a5 12.Kb6
The black bishop is completely restricted.
114
12...Kf6 13.Kb5 Kg7 14.Ka4 Bc3
14...Kf6 15.a3 Bd2
16.Kb5+-
15.Be4 Kf6 16.Kb5 Bb4
17.c3!!
White gets one more passed pawn in a highly instructive way!
17...Bxc3
115
17...dxc3 18.Bc2 Kg7 (Black's attempt to save the bishop does not disturb White's plan: 18...Ba3
19.Kxa5+-)
19.Ka4+- with a3 to follow.

18.Kxc5 Bb2 19.Kb5 Bc3 20.a3 Bb2
21.Kxa5 Bxa3 22.b4 Bc1 23.b5 Bf4 24.Ka6 1-0
42. P. Pultinevičius 2512 - K. Juksta 2366

Plateliai 2020
116
Black to move and draw!
1...g6+!!
Black utilises an excellent tactical solution and forces the trade of pawns on the kingside. The white
king must step back, thus allowing Black to simplify the position.
2.Kg4
2.hxg6?? Be6#
2...gxh5+ 3.Kh4 hxg5+ 4.fxg5 fxg5+ 5.Kxg5 Be8
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White must settle for a draw.
6.Kf5
6.Bxh5 Bb5=
6...Kd6=
43. L. Aronian 2773 - A. Grischuk 2777

White wins thanks to his b-passer. However, he must be careful because Black can try to sacrifice the
bishop for the b-pawn and reach the "wrong bishop" situation on the board.
1.h4!
White frees the bishop from defensive role, and pushes away the black bishop, thus clearing the path
for the b-pawn to run.
1...Kf4 2.Kd6 Be8 3.Ke7
3.b5?? Bxb5 4.Bxb5 Kg4=
3...Ba4
118
4.Be2!
White wins by transfering the bishop to e8 and clearing the path for the passer.
4...Kg3 5.Bxh5 Kxh4 6.Be8 Bc2 7.b5 Kg3 8.Kd6 Bd3 9.b6 Ba6 10.Kc7 Kf4
11.Bb5! 1-0
44. I. Chelushkina 2224 - S. Prudnikova 2181

Srbija (ch) 2020
119
Black must not underestimate White's chances in this endgame position. Of course, Black can
sacrifice the bishop for the d-pawn and reach the wrong bishop situation, but that is not enough for a
draw. However, Black lost the game due to his passivity!
1...Kf7!
Black secures a draw by centralising her king.
Black lost precious time for defence by playing too passively 1...Kh6? 2.Bf5 Ba4 3.Ke3 (Black
hoped for 3.d7? Bxd7 4.Bxd7 Kg7=) 3...Kg7 4.Kd4 Kf7 5.Kd5 Be8
6.Kc5 Ba4 7.Kb6 Kg7 8.Kc7 Kh6 9.Be4 followeed by Bc6, 1 : 0 I. Chelushkina - S. Prudnikova.
120
2.Bf5
2.Bf3 Ke6=;
White has no time to capture on h5: 2.Bd5+ Ke8 3.Bf3 Be6 4.Bxh5+ Kd7=
2...Bc6 3.Ke3 Ke8 4.Kd4 Bf3= and the white king is cut off from the d-passer.
45. M. Vachier-Lagrave 2784 - M. Carlsen 2862

chess.com (Internet-m/34-blitz) 2020
White has a superior bishop and protected passed pawn. However, he must create a passage on the
121
kingside in order to win. On his part, Black's king does not have many available moves because he
must remain in the square of the white d-pawn!
1.h5!
1.Be6+? Kf6
2.Kg4 (The best try is 2.h5 Kg5 3.h6
(3.hxg6 hxg6 4.Bd7 Kf6 5.Kg4 Ke7 6.Bc6 Bc8+ 7.Kg5 Bh3 The bishop is activated - Black is safe.
8.Kxg6 Kd6=) 3...Kxh6! 4.d6 Bc6 5.d7 Bxd7 6.Bxd7 Kg5= White has a bishop for two pawns, but
that does not seem to be enough for victory. After playing ...h6 Black will set up an unbreakable
122
blockade.) 2...h6 Black is preventing the opening of the kingside, so White must settle for a draw.
(The kingside is firmly blocked after 2...h5+ 3.Kf3 Ke7=) 3.Bd7 Ba6 4.Be6 Bb7= M. Vachier-
Lagrave - M. Carlsen
1...gxh5
Black cannot set up the blockade on time: 1...g5 2.h6!+-;
1...Kf6 2.Bd7! Ba6 (2...Kg5 3.hxg6 hxg6 4.Bc6 Ba6 5.d6 Kf6 6.d7 Ke7 7.Kg4+-) 3.Kg4 Bb7 4.h6!
White is fixing the black pawn on h7! The black king cannot cover both sides of the board, and while
defending the h7-pawn he will lose sight of the white passed pawn! For example: 4...Ba6 5.Be6 Bb7
6.Bg8 Bc8+ 7.Kh4 g5+ 8.Kh5 g4 9.Kh4 Kg6
10.Be6! Black cannot allow transition into the pawn ending, therefore White is clearly winning.
10...Bb7 11.Kxg4+-
2.Be6+ Kf6 3.Kh4
White is achieving his plan, penetrating the kingside with his king and pushing away his counterpart.
The black bishop cannot get any activity, so Black is doomed.
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3...Ba6
3...Bc6 The attempt to activate the bishop is not successful because the ensuing pawn ending will be
lost. 4.dxc6 (White loses the superiority of his bishop, and the advantage as well after 4.Kxh5? Be8+
5.Kg4 Bg6=) 4...Kxe6 5.Kxh5 Kd6 6.Kh6 Kxc6 7.Kxh7+-; 3...h6 4.Kxh5 Kg7 5.Bd7+-
4.Kxh5 Bb7 5.Kh6 Ba6 6.Kxh7 Bb7 7.Kg8 Ke7 8.Kg7 Ba6 9.Kg6
White's king will force his counterpart to allow him entry to the 8th rank by attacking the e5-pawn.
Subsequently, the black bishop will be completely restricted and placed in zugzwang.
9...Bb7 10.Kf5 Kd6 11.Kf6 Ba6 12.Kf7 Bb7 13.Ke8 Ba6 14.Kd8 Bb7
124
15.Bc8 Ba8 16.Ba6+-
46. G. Oparin 2652 - Ba. Jobava 2603

chess.com (Internet-rapid) 2020
White has an extra pawn, but Black is able to reduce material even further. With every pawn trade a
draw becomes closer. Also, Black has far advanced pawns on the kingside.
1...e3!
A well-calculated saving move!
2.Bxf3
2.Bb3 exf2+ 3.Kxf2 Bc5+=
2...gxf3
125
3.b7!
3.fxe3 Bxg3+! This motif had to be foreseen earlier, when e3 had been pushed. 4.Kf1 Kd7 5.Bd4
Bxh2 6.Kf2 Kc6 7.Kxf3 Bd6 8.e4 h2 9.Kg2 Kb7=
3...Kd7 4.fxe3
4...Bxg3+!
After the queening Black will have full compensation for the piece in view of the f-pawn!
5.hxg3 h2 6.b8=Q h1=Q+ 7.Kd2 Qg2+ 8.Kd3 f2=
126
White cannot mate by force and must settle for the perpetual check.
9.Qb5+ Kd8 10.Bf6+ Kc7 11.Be5+ Kd8 12.Qb8+ Kd7 13.Qd6+ Ke8 14.Qe6+ Kd8=
47. M. Chigaev 2588 - M. Kobalia 2614

White has a superior position thanks to much better king and bishop. On the other hand, Black has
weaknesses on c6 and f7. But, it not that easy to reach the f7 point. Therefore, White must try to open
the a4-e8 diagonal by pushing b5, and putting pressure on the f7 pawn. Black has two possibilities at
his disposal:
127
- Preventing White's plan by pushing the pawn to a6 (fixing the pawn).
- Allowing White to open the a4-e8 diagonal and focusing on defence after that.
1...Bf3!
1...a6? Black prevents White's intention, but creates another weakness in his own position. The black
bishop must seize the f-a6 diagonal and try to defend the a6-pawn. However, White has new motifs!
2.Bb3 threatening Bc4. 2...Bd3 3.Bd1 Bb5
4.f5!! White makes great use of the fact that the black bishop is preoccupied with defensive tasks on
the queenside, so he executes a breakthrough on the kingside in order to allow his bishop to get to the
crucial f7-pawn. (Chigaev proceeded with no risk awaiting for the mistake to occur with only a few
seconds left on the clock. 4.Bf3 Ba4 5.Be2 Bb5 6.Bd1 Bd3 7.Bb3 Bb5 8.Bc2 Be2 9.Be4 Bb5
10.Kd4!? Ba4? (More stuborn is 10...Kb7 11.Bf3 Kc7 etc.) 11.Bd3 Kb7 (11...Bb5 12.Bxb5 cxb5
13.Kc5+-) 12.Kc5 1 : 0 M. Chigaev - M. Kobalia) 4...exf5 (4...gxf5 5.Bh5 f4 (5...Kd7 6.Bxf7 Ke7
7.Bh5+-) 6.Kd4+-) 5.Bb3 f4 6.Kd4 f3 7.Ke3 c5 8.bxc5 Kc6 9.Bxf7 Kxc5 10.Bxg6 Kd5 11.Kxf3
Kxe5 12.Ke3+-
2.b5 cxb5 3.Bxb5 Bd5 4.Be8
4.Kd4 Bc6=;
Now the pawn break is less dangerous: 4.f5 gxf5 5.Be8 f4 6.Bxf7 f3 7.Bh5 Kd7=
128
4...Be4 5.Bxf7
5.Kd4 Bc2 6.Bxf7 Kd7! (Black should not play 6...Bf5? because White can bring the bishop back to
play 7.Be8+-) 7.Kc5 Ke7 8.Bg8 Kd7=
5...Kd7=
The black king is not allowing the enemy bishop to reach the e8-square. White is a pawn up, but
cannot make any progress.
48. N. Vitiugov 2722 - P. Maghsoodloo 2676

129
White is a pawn up, so he should win without much trouble. First, he must centralise his king and
support the e5-pawn, and then he should start pushing his queenside pawns forward. However, in
order to execute the plan efficiently White must take opponent's defensive resources into
consideration!
1.Ke2!
1.Kf2? A straight-forward move, moving the king via squares of the opposite colour to the bishop,
proves to be a mistake. In the following variation we will examine the difference, as the king is
slower for one tempo in transfer to the queenside. Therefore, White cannot win the ensuing pawn
ending. 1...Be6!
130
2.Bb5 (2.Bxe6+ Kxe6 3.b4 axb4 4.cxb4 Kxe5 5.Ke3 Kd5 6.Kd3 Ke5 7.a5 Kd5 8.Kc3
(White can try to deflect the black king by executing a pawn breakthrough on the queenside, but that
is not quite enough for a win. 8.b5 Kc5 9.a6 bxa6 10.bxa6 Kb6 11.Ke4 Kxa6= It is easy to calculate
that the black king will reach the f8-square while White deals with the black pawns. So, a draw is
inevitable!) 8...g5! This pawn break is possible because the white king is not in the square of the h-
pawn! 9.hxg5 h4 10.b5 h3 11.a6 bxa6 12.bxa6 Kc6=) 2...g5! The well known rule - trade pawns if
you have the inferior position! 3.hxg5 (3.Be2 Kg6=) 3...Kg6 4.b4 b6 5.bxa5 bxa5 6.Ke3 Kxg5 7.c4
h4 8.c5 h3 9.Bf1 h2 10.Bg2 Bb3 11.c6 (11.Kd4 Kf5 Black can secure a draw in many ways. The
following line is exceptionally beautiful: (11...Bxa4=) 12.c6 Ke6 13.Bh3+ Ke7 14.c7 Be6 15.Bxe6
h1=Q 16.c8=Q
131
16...Qd5+!! 17.Kc3 Qd3+ 18.Kb2 Qb3+ 19.Kc1 Qe3+=) 11...Bxa4 12.e6 (12.Kd4 Bxc6 13.Bxc6
a4=; 12.c7 Bd7=) 12...Bxc6! 13.Bxc6 Kf6 14.Bd5 a4 15.Kd4 a3 16.Kc3= N. Vitugov - P.
Maghsoodloo
1...Ke7
Transition into the pawn endgame is not good for White because his king is on f2 instead on e2-
square. 1...Be6 2.Bxe6+ Kxe6 3.b4 axb4 4.cxb4 Kxe5 5.Kd3 Kd5 As seen a bit earlier, the same
position with Black to move is a draw! But, here is White's move...
6.a5! ... reaching an interesting zugzwang position. Black cannot make a breakthrough on the
kingside by pushing g5, because the white king is in the square of the pawn! 6...Kd6 7.Kd4 Kc6
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8.Kc4 Black cannot create any counterplay. 8...g5 The white king is extremely active and supports
his own footsoldiers in executing a breakthrough on the queenside. As a result, the black king ends up
on the 8th rank and the g-pawn will queen with a check! 9.b5+ Kc7
10.b6+ Kd7 (10...Kc6 11.hxg5 Black is in checkmate after queening. 11...h4 12.g6 h3 13.g7 h2
14.g8=Q h1=Q 15.Qe6#) 11.a6 bxa6 12.b7 Kc7 13.b8=Q+ Kxb8 14.hxg5+- Queening with check!
2.Bh3!
It is crucial to evaluate the position correctly in order to make such decision. Black is intending to
centralise his king and clinch a draw. So, White abandons the a4-pawn, but keep the e-passer. The h3-
bishop is preventing the black king from achieving full activity, while the white king can approach
133
the black pawns on the kingside since those are all fixed on light squares. Therefore, White should
have enough for a win!
White retains the extra pawn after 2.Bb5 but, Black would have time to centralise his king and trade
pawns, thus comming very close to a draw. 2...Ke6 3.Bd3
3...g5! 4.hxg5 Kxe5 5.Kf3 Bxa4 6.Kg3 Be8 7.Kh4 b5 8.Be2 b4 9.cxb4 axb4 10.Bxh5 Ba4± with
very good drawing chances for Black.
2...Bxa4 3.Ke3 b6 4.Kf4 Bc2 5.Bg2 Bf5 6.Be4 Ke6
6...Bxe4 7.Kxe4 Ke6 8.c4 a4 9.Kf4+-
134
7.c4!
White creates a zugzwang and provokes another weakeness in Black's position.
7...Bg4
7...a4 8.Bc6 Bc2 (8...Bd3 9.Bxa4 Bxc4 10.Be8 Bd3 11.Kg5 Kxe5 12.Bxg6+- Black cannot use the
fact that the white bishop is a "wrong one".) 9.Be4 Bxe4 White can still reach the right path after
10.Kxe4 Ke7
11.Kd5! (A truly amazing position occurs after 11.Kf4 Ke6 12.Kg5? (White can still reach the right
path after 12.Ke4+-) 12...Kxe5 13.Kxg6 Kd4 14.Kxh5 Kxc4 15.Kg5
135
15...b5! (Black should not play 15...Kb3 16.h5 Kxb2 17.h6 a3 18.h7 a2 19.h8=Q+ Kb1 This ending
would be a draw without the "unfortunate" b6-pawn. 20.Qh1+ Kb2 21.Qg2+ Kb1 22.Qg1+ Kb2
23.Qd4+ Kb1 24.Qb4+ Kc2 25.Qa3 Kb1 26.Qb3+ Ka1 27.Qc2 b5 28.Qc1#) 16.h5 b4 17.h6 a3
18.b3+ Kxb3 19.h7
19...Ka2! 20.h8=Q b3= The game will end in draw because the white king is too far away!) 11...Kd7
12.e6+ Ke7 13.Ke5+-
8.Bxg6 Be2 9.Be8 Ke7
10.Ke3!
136
White is a pawn up so he can afford such in-between moves!
10...Bd1 11.Bc6 Ke6 12.Kf4 Be2 13.Bd5+ Ke7 14.Ke3
Bringing the king closer to the queenside pawns.
14.Bf3 Bxc4 15.Bxh5+-
14...Bf1 15.Bf3 Bxc4 16.Bxh5+-
White should convert easily being two pawns up.
49. Vl. Malakhov 2593 - P. Blehm 2494

Cappelle-la-Grande 2020
White is forcing transition into winning bishop endgame!

1.Rxe7! Kxe7 2.Rc3! Rxc3 3.Kxc3
White brings the king to c5 preventing Black from liquidating into the pawn ending.
3...Kd7 4.Kb4 Kc7 5.Kc5 Bd7
White seizes space and restricts all the black pawns.
137
6.g4 g6 7.g5 Be8 8.h4 Bd7 9.h5 Be8 10.h6 Bd7 11.Be4 Be8 12.a3 Bd7 13.Bd3 Bc6 14.c4 bxc4
15.Bxc4 Bb7
15...a5 16.Bb5+-
16.f5! Pawn breakthrough destroys Black's blockade.

16...exf5
16...gxf5 17.Bxe6 fxe6 18.g6+-;
16...Kd7 17.Bxe6+! fxe6 18.fxg6+-
138
17.Bxf7 f4 18.Bxg6! f3 1-0
50. A. M. Sargsyan 2382 - S. Pogosyan 2477

Yerevan 2020
The black king is more active than his counterpart, so all the white pawns are in grave adnger. White
can secure a draw only by breaking down Black's connected passers!
1.b6!
White should not play 1.Kxf4+? Kc5 2.Bf1 and all the white pawns are lost after the bishop transfer
to a4!
139
2...Be6-+ 0 : 1 A. M. Sargsyan - S. Pogosyan
1...cxb6 2.Kxf4+
Black must lose time to capture the white pawn, thus allowing White to obtain activity which should
suffice for a draw with two pawns less!
2...Kc5 3.Ke3 b5 4.Kd2 Be6 5.c7 Kb6 6.Kc3 Kxc7
7.Bf1!
White is forcing Black to defend the b5-pawn!
7...Kb6 8.Kb4 Bd7 9.Be2
140
The black king and bishop are tied down defending the pawn, so Black cannot make any progress.
For example: 9...d5 10.Bd3 d4 11.Bf1 Kc7 12.Kc5=
51. W. So 2765 - A. Firouzja 2723

Wijk aan Zee 2020
White has an extra pawn and seems to be quite close to victory. However, his pawn formation on the
queenside (especially a3-b4 which are on the dark squares) can easily become target of attack. With
the pawns on and a2 and b3 White would have an easily winning position. There are always two
defensive plans - active and passive - which one is better in this situation?
141
1...h5!
The correct way! Black is obtaining counterplay by trying to create passed pawn on the h-file. Black
intends to force the white king or bishop to control the h-pawn while he attacks the white pawns on
the queenside and controls the pawns in the centre.
Unfortunately, in the game Black optioned for passive defence 1...g5? The dark-square blockade
ruins all chances for counterplay on the kingiside. 2.Kd4! The only way to push for a win. White
gives back the pawn, thus clearing the path for his king to reach the black pawns on the queenside.
Once again, the king activity proves to be of paramount importance! 2...Bb6+ 3.Kd5 Bxf2 4.Kc6
4...Ke6 (4...h5 5.e5! hxg4 (5...Ke7 6.gxh5 g4 7.h6 g3 8.h7 g2 9.h8=Q g1=Q 10.Qh7+ Ke8 11.Qd7+
Kf8 12.Qd8+ Kg7 13.e6++-) 6.Kd7+-) 5.Kb7 Kd7 6.Kxa6 Kc6 7.e5 Be3 8.e6 Bc1 9.a4 bxa4
10.Be5 1 : 0 W. So - A. Firouzja.
2.gxh5
2.f3 h4 3.Ke2 Bg5 4.Bb2 h3 5.Kf2 Bf4=
2...gxh5 3.f4
3.Ke2 h4 4.Kf3 (4.Kf1 h3 5.f4
142
(5.Be5 Bb6 6.Kg1 Ke6 7.Bg3 a5! 8.bxa5 Bxa5 9.Kh2 Bc3 10.Kxh3 Bb2 11.Kg4 Bxa3 12.f4 b4=)
5...Bb6! Preventing the white king from approaching the pawn. 6.f5 Be3 7.e5 h2 8.Kg2 Bf4 with the
same position as in main variation.) 4...h3
5.Kg3 (5.Be5 Ke6 6.Bb8 Bg5 (6...Bb6) 7.Kg4 Bc1 8.Kxh3 Bxa3=) 5...Bh4+! 6.Kxh3 Bxf2 7.Kg4
Ke6 8.Kf4 Bb6=; 3.Be5 h4 4.Bh2 h3 5.f4
143
5...a5! When defending a weak endgame position it is highly advisable to exchange as many pawns as
possible. 6.bxa5 (6.f5 axb4 7.axb4 Be7 8.e5 Bxb4 9.Ke4 Be7=) 6...Bxa5 7.Kd4 (7.f5 Bb6 8.e5 Bc5
9.Ke4 Bxa3 10.Kd5 Be7=) 7...Bd2 8.Kc5 Bc1 9.Kxb5 Bxa3 10.Kc4
10...Kg6! Activity! Otherwise, the white king would reach the h-pawn and capture it. 11.Kd3 Kh5
12.e5 Kg4 13.Ke4 Bc1 14.e6 (14.f5 Kg5 15.Bg1 Bd2=) 14...Ba3 15.Ke5 Be7 16.f5 Kg5 17.Bf4+
Kg4=
3...h4 4.Ke3 h3 5.Kf3
144
5...Bh4! 6.f5
6.Bd4 h2 7.Kg2 Bg3=
6...h2 7.Kg2 Bg3
White's king is forced to keep an eye on the h-pawn and cannot help his own central pawns. Hence,
White is not able to make any progress.
8.e5 Bf4=
52. M. Carlsen 2863 - Hi. Nakamura 2736

chess24.com (Internet-m1/1-rapid) 2020
145
Now we will take a look at a truly magnificent endgame. It is very easy to go wrong in this position.
Black can take the pawn on c5, or trap the white bishop.
1...bxc5!
1...b5? Nakamura made a wrong decision, and eventually lost the game. Black needs time to capture
the bishop, and in the meantime the white king will be all over the black pawns!
2.Kf2! Kc7 3.Kg2 Kb8 4.Kh3 Ka7 5.Kxh4 Kxa6 6.Kg5 Kb7 7.Kf6 Bd5 8.c3!? Carlsen has time
for preventive measures! 8...Kc7 9.Kxf5 Kd7 10.Kf6 Bxf3 11.e6+ Ke8 12.Ke5 Bg4 13.f5 Bh3 14.f6
Bg4 15.Kd6 Bh3 16.e7 Kf7 17.Kxc6 1 : 0 M. Carlsen - Hi. Nakamura.
146
2.Be2
In this situation bishop sacrifice does not bear fruit: 2.Kf2? c4 3.Kg2 Kc7 4.Kh3 Kb6 5.Kxh4 Kxa6
6.Kg5 (Black's king is on time to fulfil his defensive role after: 6.c3 Kb7 7.Kg5 Kc7 8.Kf6 Kd7-+)
6...c3! 7.Kf6 Bb3 8.e6 Ba4 9.e7 c5 10.Kf7 (10.Kxf5 Bxc2+-+) 10...Ka5 11.e8=Q Bxe8+ 12.Kxe8
Kb4-+ and Black promotes first.
2...c4 3.Kf2 c5 4.Kg2 Ke7 5.Kh3 Kf7 6.Kxh4 Kg6 7.c3 Bd5
The white king cannot go to the queenside without allowing his counterpart to reach the kingside. The
two bishops are in state of a peculiar opposition. For example: 8.Bd1 Bc6 9.e6 The last attempt to
disturb the black pieces.
9.Bc2 Bd7=
9...Be8 10.Be2 Bb5 11.e7
11...Be8!
Black abandons the c4-pawn, but his king does not allow the white monarch to make a breakthrough!
The e8-bishop will cover the h5-square, so Black can hold a draw by playing Kf6 and Kg6.
12.Bxc4 Kf6 13.Ba2 Bg6
13...Kg6 14.Be6 Kf6=
14.Bd5 Be8
White cannot make any progress! The white pawns restrict their own bishop preventing it from
reaching the h5-square. Also, White cannot achive much by expelling the black bishop from e8: 15.c4
15.Bb3 Kg6=
147
15...Kg6 16.Bb7 Kf6 17.Ba6 Bc6 18.Kg3
White should not play 18.Bb5? Bxb5 19.cxb5 Kxe7-+
18...Kxe7=
53. D. Yuffa 2566 - D. Navara 2717

Gibraltar 2020
White is a whole piece up, but must proceed with extreme precision if he intends to win the game.
The young Russian grandmaster showed great class!
148
1.Ng8!
The white knight is preventing the black king from going to the kingside and stop White's passer
together with the bishop.
1...Be1
White's task would have been considerably more difficult if Navara had decided to promote his own
passed pawn. White would sacrifice the bishop for the black a-passer and make use of Black's king
remote position. White must cut the line of Black's bishop fire with his king and knight and promote
the h-passer. 1...Kd4 2.Kf5 Kc3 3.h5 Kb2 4.Bd5 a2 5.Bxa2 Kxa2
White will cut off the white bishop's control along the c1-h6 diagonal by transferring the knight on
g5. 6.Nf6 Kb3 7.Kg6 Kc4 8.Ne4 Bc1 9.Ng5 Kd5 10.h6 Kd6 11.h7 Bb2 12.Kf7 Bh8 13.Ne6 (A
well-known theoretical draw ensues after 13.Kg8? Ke7 14.Kxh8 Kf8= This position illustrates
knight's weakness, when it is completely powerless and cannot take the f7 and f8 squares away from
the black king.) 13...Kd7 14.Ng7 Kd6
149
15.Kf8! (Again, incorrect is 15.Kg8? Ke7 16.Kxh8 Kf8=) 15...Kd7 16.Nh5! Kd8 (16...Ke6 17.Kg8
Ke7 18.Ng7!+-) 17.Nf4! Kd7 (17...Bc3 18.Ne6+ Kd7 19.Ng7+-) 18.Kg8 Ke8 (18...Ke7
19.Ng6++-) 19.Ne6 Ke7 20.Ng7! The black king must step away from the desired f8-square!
20...Kf6 21.Kxh8 Kf7 22.Ne6+-
2.Bf7!
White is stretching up the bishop and preventing the black king to reach b2 with a tempo!
2.h5 Bd2
3.Bf7!+- (The issues with the bishop on a2 are evident after 3.h6? Bxh6 4.Nxh6 Kd4 The white
150
knight cannot support the bishop so a draw is inevitable. 5.Kf3 Kc3 6.Ke2 Kb2 7.Kd2 Kxa2 8.Kc2
Ka1= and will parry the threats by pushing a2!)
2...Ke4 3.Kg5 Bxh4+
3...Kd3 4.h5 Kc3 5.Nf6 White transfers the knight to g5 and wins as described earlier.
4.Kxh4 a2
Navara speeds up the resolution of the game and puts the young Yuffa on test!
Both players realise that White can put the knight on the critical a2 square on time. 4...Kd4 5.Ne7
Kc3 6.Nc6 Kb2 7.Nb4 Kc3 8.Na2++- Now the white king approaches and wins the black a-pawn.
5.Bxa2 Kf5
Of course, checkmate is possible only in corners of the bishop's colour - a8 and h1 in this position.
6.Ne7+ Kf4 7.Nc6 Kf3 8.Kg5 Ke4 9.Bc4 Ke3 10.Kf5 Kd2 11.Ke4 Kc3 12.Bd3 Kb2 13.Kd4 Kb3
14.Be4 Kb2 15.Kc4 Ka1 16.Kc3 Ka2 17.Nd4 Ka1
Black chose the dark-square corner, but now follows the forcing transfer to the light-square corner...
18.Nb3+ Ka2 19.Bf5 Ka3 20.Bb1 Ka4 21.Nd4 Ka5 22.Kc4 Kb6 23.Nb5!
23.Nb5 Navara resigned being forced to move his king towards the light-square corner. For example:
23...Kc6 24.Bf5+- etc.
1-0
54. Diego Flores 2599 - A. Grischuk 2777

151
Black is a piece up and intends to set a blockade with his king and knight. In order to clinch a draw
White must eliminate the black pawn!
1.f5!
White tried to execute the right plan in wrong way: 1.e4+? Nxe4 2.f5 gxf5 3.Kf4 Ke6 4.g6 Nf6-+
Diego Flores - A. Grischuk
1...gxf5
Transition to pawn ending leads to a draw: 1...Nxf5 2.e4+ Ke5 3.exf5 Kxf5 4.Kf2! Kxg5 5.Kg3=
2.Kf4 Ke6 3.g6 Kf6
4.g7!
By deflecting the black king his counterpart attacks the knight and pawn!
4...Kxg7 5.Ke5=
55. I. Cheparinov 2660 - H. Asis Gargatagli 2470

Sitges 2020
152
The material is reduced so a draw seems very likely! The black knight is pretty passive but it does
control the h-pawn. So, White is using some study-like moves in order to disturb the black knight.
1.Nd5!
White is taking away the e7 and f6-squares from the black knight, and forces it to the rim after Bh7.
1...f5
1...Be6
2.Bh7! White accomplishes the first phase of his plan. 2...Nh6 3.Nf6 Nf5+ (3...Kxa3 4.Kf4) 4.Kf4
153
Ne7 5.h6+-;
After taking the a-pawn 1...Kxa3 the black king is too far away and cannot come back in time to
defend against the h-pawn advance. 2.Bh7 Nh6 3.Nf6 Threatening Kf4-g5. 3...Bf5 4.Bxf5 Nxf5+
5.Kg4 Ne7 6.h6 Ng6 7.h7 Kb4
8.Nd7 (Also, White wins by bringing the king to g7. 8.Kg5 Kc5 9.Kh6 Kd6 10.Kg7 Ke6 11.Ng8+-)
8...Kc4 9.Nf8 Nh8 10.Kf5 Kd5 11.Kf6 Kd6 12.Kg7 Ke7 13.Nd7! Ng6 14.Ne5+-
2.Bc4+!!
2.a4 Be8 (¹2...Bxa4 3.Bxf5 Be8 4.Bg6 Bxg6 5.hxg6 Kc4=) 3.a5 Bxh5 4.Bb5 1 : 0 I. Cheparinov -
154
H. Asis Gargatagli.
2...Kxc4
2...Kxa3 3.Nc7! Nh6 (3...Nf6 4.h6+-) 4.Kf4 Kb4 5.Be6! After the trade of bishops White easily
wins thanks to his dominant monarch. 5...Bxe6 (5...Ba4 6.Kg5+-) 6.Nxe6 and Black cannot control
White's mighty h-pawn. For example: 6...Kc4 7.Kg5 Ng8 8.Nc7 Kc5 (8...Kd4 9.Kxf5+-) 9.Ne8!
Kd5 (9...f4 10.Kxf4+-) 10.Kxf5+-
3.Nb6+ Kd4 4.Nxd7 Ke3
5.Ne5+-
155
2020 Endgame maze rook
56. Hi. Nakamura 2736 - A. Lenderman 2634

The position on the board is an extremely instructive one, and the conclusions we will reach should
stick with you for the rest of your chess career! In order to secure a draw Black must "extend" the
influence of his rook and keep the king in the centre. It is of vital importance to prevent the white
rook from defending the pawn along the 4th rank. Also, Black must make sure his king is not pushed
away from the d-file, thus restricting the enemy king in his attempts to increase manoeuvring scope!
1...Rh8! 2.g3 Rg8+ 3.Kf3 Rf8+ 4.Kg2 Rg8
156
The black rook is not allowing White to advance the pawn. The procedure is the same with the pawn
on g2 or g3.
5.Re1 Kd5 6.Re3 Kd6
6...Kd4 is also correct (with the pawn on g4 and rook on e4 we utilise the same procedure). We must
not allow the white king to advance! 7.Re7 Kd5=
7.Kf3 Rf8+ 8.Kg4 Rg8+ 9.Kh5 Rh8+ 10.Kg6
10...Kd5™
Black must be very careful, because White takes control over the g-file after 10...Rg8+? 11.Kf7 Rg4
157
12.Re6+ Kd5 13.Rg6+-
11.Kg7
The black rook is extremely active and prevents his white counterpart from supporting the pawn.
11.Ra3
11...Ke4! 12.g4 Rg8+ 13.Kh5 Rh8+ 14.Kg5 Rg8+ 15.Kh4
15...Rh8+ (A draw should be reached after 15...Kf4 16.Ra4+ Kf3!= (Black should avoid 16...Ke5?
158
17.Ra6! The rook is cutting off the black king and is ready to join its own monarch supporting the
pawn! 17...Rh8+ (17...Kf4 18.g5+-) 18.Kg5 Rg8+ 19.Rg6 Ra8 20.Kh5 Ra1 21.Rb6+-)) 16.Kg3
16...Ke5!= (Black must keep a close eye on the pawn. He loses after 16...Rg8? 17.Ra5! followed by
g5 and Kg4);
11.g4 Rg8+ 12.Kf5 Rf8+ 13.Kg5 Rg8+ 14.Kf4 Rf8+ 15.Kg3 Rg8=
11...Rh5 12.Kf6 Rh6+ 13.Kf5
159
13...Rh5+! 14.Kg6 Rh8=
Black secures a draw thanks to his centralised king and "remote" rook!
57. Hi. Nakamura 2736 - A. Landerman 2634*

It is highly instructive to learn how should White convert his advantage if Black starts checking along
the 7th rank right away. The black rook ends up being one rank "too short" and that proves to be
costly. On the other hand, White is then in time to activate his own rook along the a-file and advance
the pawn.
160
1.Kf5 Rf7+
In case of 1...Rg3? White wins the g-file and starts pushing the pawn. 2.Re6+ (2.Kf4? Rg8 3.g4 Rf8+
4.Kg3 Rg8= and after some mistakes by both players a draw was reached, Hi. Nakamura - A.
Lenderman) 2...Kd5
3.Rg6 Re3 4.g4+-; 1...Rg8 2.Re6+
2.Kg5!!
The white king has immense power from g5:
- preventing his counterpart from approaching the pawn!
161
- supporting the pawn in its running towards promotion!
- allowing the white rook to operate along the a-file!
Black saves himself in case of the "logical" move 2.Kg6? Rf8 3.g4 (White cannot slide the rook
along the a-file if the black king is on g6. 3.Ra2
3...Ke5! and the black king runs towards the pawn.; Also, White does not achieve much after 3.Kg7
Rf4 4.Kh6 Rg4 5.Kh5 Rg8=) 3...Rg8+ 4.Kh5 Rh8+ 5.Kg5 Rg8+ 6.Kh4 Rh8+ 7.Kg3 Rg8 A
theoretically drawn position ensued after a few mistakes on both sides, Hi. Nakamura - A.
Lenderman. 8.Re4 Kd5= The black king is centralised and prevents the white rook from defending
the pawn laterally!
2...Rf8
2...Rg7+ 3.Kf6 Rg8 (3...Rg3 4.Rd2+ Kc5 5.Kf5 The black king is cut off for an extra file, so White
can advance the g-pawn without obstacles. 5...Kc6 6.Kf4 Rg8 7.g4 Rf8+ 8.Ke5+- Rg8 9.Kf5 Rf8+
10.Ke6 Rg8 11.Rc2+ Kb6 12.Rg2+-) 4.Ra2!+-
162
3.Ra2!
The white rook is about to enjoy its monarch via a-file, and support the pawn!
3...Rg8+ 4.Kf6
Black cannot fight against all of White's threats. White is cutting of the enemy king along the d-file
and planning to slide the rook in action along the a-file!
4...Rf8+
4...Kd5 5.Ra5+ Kd6 (White defends the pawn laterally after 5...Ke4
6.Ra4+! Kd5 7.g4+-) 6.Rg5 The g-pawn can freely advance once the g-file is invaded. 6...Rf8+
163
7.Kg7 Rf2 8.g4 Ke6 9.Ra5+-; 4...Rg3 5.Rd2+ Kc5 6.Kf5 Kc6 7.Kf4 Rg8 8.g4
5.Kg7 Rf4 6.Kg6 Rg4+ 7.Kf5 Rg8
8.Ra6+! Ke7
8...Kd5 9.g4+-
9.Ra7+ Kd6 10.g4+-
Black cannot pose any serious problems by delivering checks from the back rank, since the white
rook can defend the king along the 7th rank.
58. K. Shevchenko 2580 - R. Gajek 2438

Graz 2020
164
Rook ending with the f-passer is an extremely complex one and the final result usually depends on
subtleties. If defender cannot place his king in front of the pawn, he usually positions the king on the
"shorter" side, so the "longer" side is free for his rook to harass the attacker's king!
1...Kh7!
Black was punished for unnecessary king moves 1...Kg5?? 2.f6 Kf5
3.Rc6 Rb1 (3...Rb7+ 4.Kg8+-) 4.Rc5+ Ke4 5.Kf8+- K. Shevchenko - R. Gajek.

2.f6
165
2...Rb8!
Black must prevent the white king from reaching f8. Then he can clinch a draw by controling the 7th
or 8th rank!
2...Rb7+ 3.Kf8! After reaching the f8 square White can easily promote the pawn. For example:
3...Rb8+ (or 3...Kg6 4.f7+ Kh7 5.Re1 Rb8+ 6.Ke7 Rb7+ 7.Kf6 Rb6+ 8.Re6+-) 4.Re8 Rb1 5.f7 Rb7
6.Re1+- White brings the king to f6, so he could cover it from the lateral checks with his rook.
3.Re8 Rb7+ 4.Re7
166
The white king is able to reach the key f8 square, but White cannot defend the pawn due to really bad
position of his rook. 4.Kf8 Kg6=
4...Rb8! 5.Ke6+ Kg8 and Black takes control over the f8 square!
6.Rd7
6.Rg7+ Kf8=;
6.Kf5 Kf8 7.Kg6 Rb1=
6...Kf8=
REUBEN FINE
1941
Long before chess databases (tablebases) and powerful engines Reuben Fine's book on chess
endgames (:Basic Chess Endings", 1941) was essential read in study of chess endgames. Take a look
at a few highly instructive examples from Fine's outstanding book.
167
Black is controling the h-file until the white king reaches the 7th rank, so the black king is not
checkmated and rook is able to reach the 8th rank very quickly!
1...Rh3!
Black should not play 1...Kh7 because the white king can reach the 7th rank, while the mating threats
are looming along the h-file. Eventually, the white king reaches the crucial f8 square securing victory!
2.Kf7+-;
Also wrong is 1...Kh5
allowing White to advance his f-passer. 2.Rb8! Rf1 3.Rg8 Rf2 4.Rg1 Rf3 5.Rh1+ Kg4 6.Kg6+-
168
2.Kf7 Ra3 3.Rb7 Ra8 4.f6 Kh7=
REUBEN FINE
1941
The game cannot be saved with the king positioned on "short" and rook on "long" side.
1...Rh1 2.Kg7 Rg1+ 3.Kf7 Rf1 4.f6 Rh1
4...Rg1 5.Re8+-
5.Ra8 Rf1
169
Obviously, the black rook is extremely limited in space if he intends to check laterally
5...Rh7+ 6.Kg8 Rh1 7.f7+-
6.Ra2 Re1 7.Rd2++-
REUBEN FINE
1941
This example demontrates winning procedure with the attacking king already on the key f8 square!
1.Re8! Ra1
170
2.Kf8! Kg6 3.f7 Kf6 4.Rb8 Ra6 5.Kg8+-
CHESS INFORMANT
Chess Informant's Encyclopaedia of Chess Endings (ECE) contains great number of instructive rook
endgames featuring the f-pawn.
The black rook is on the c-file but does not have desired "checking distance". Therefore, the postion
of Black's king is of crucial importance for the final outcome. If his king is on h7 Black can clinch a
draw, while with the king on h8 - he loses! So, we can conclude that Black is able to secure a draw by
delivering side checks!
171
1...Rc8+! 2.Ke7 Rc7+ 3.Kf6
3.Ke6 Rc8 4.Kd7 Rb8 5.Rb1 Ra8=; 3.Ke8 Rc8+ 4.Kd7 Ra8=
3...Rc6+ 4.Ke5 Rc8=
CHESS INFORMANT
If the black king is placed on h8 the reuslt is totally different. Black cannot hold the position because
his rook is way too "short". With the rook on a, or b-file Black could claim a draw. Nikolai Kopaev's
study (1953) shows winning procedure for White:
172
1...Rc8+ 2.Ke7 Rc7+ 3.Kf6 Rc6+
4.Ke5 Rc5+
4...Rc8
Since the king is on h8 White can play 5.Rg6!+- with an easy win, as explained in next example.
5.Kd6
Black has no more side check - White wins.
5...Rc8
173
6.Re1! Kg7 7.Re8+-
CHESS INFORMANT
In this example we will establish that the rook distance is of no big importance if the black king is on
h8, and white rook on g6. The rook is firmly controlling the 6th rank and allowing his own monarch
to reach the h6-square.
1...Rb8+
Black's king did not reach h7 on time: 1...Kh7 2.Rg7+ Kh8 (2...Kh6 3.Kg8+-) 3.Rg8+ Kh7 4.Ke7+-
174
2.Ke7 Rb7+ 3.Kf6 Rb6+
4.Kf5!
4.Kg5? Rxg6+!=
4...Rb5+ 5.Kg4 Rb8
5...Rb4+ 6.Kg5 Rb5+ 7.Kh6 Rb8 8.Re6+-
6.Kg5 Kh7
6...Ra8 7.Kh6+- with Re6 and Re8 to follow.Black gets checkmated after 6...Rf8 7.Kf6 Kh7 8.Rg4+-
7.Rb6!
White uses a clever deflection manoeuvre in order to gain time for his king to reach the f6-square!
7...Rc8 8.Kf6 Ra8 9.Re6+-
Followed by Re8.
59. L. Aronian 2773 - A. Firouzja 2728

175
In this example Black manages to secure a draw even though his king is behind the white pawn
(instead of being in front of the enemy passer). In actual fact, a draw is possible due to really bad
position of the white rook.
1...Ke5!
The black king attacks the pawn and does not allow the white rook to take better position. Being
stuck on g6 the rook has really poor manoeuvrability.
Firouzja attempted to save the game by delivering side checks. 1...Ra4?
2.Rh6! On his part, White used the opportunity to extend his rook's scope and converted with great
176
precision. 2...Kg5 (White is able to include the rook in play after 2...Ra7+ 3.Kf8 Kg5 4.Re6 Kf5
5.Re7+-) 3.Re6 Kf5 4.Kf7 Rh4 5.Re1+- L. Aronian - A. Firouzja; White improved the position of his
rook, while the black king is cut off in the process.
2.Kf7
What is not able to protect the pawn in case of 2.d7 Rd4=
2...Rh7+ 3.Ke8
3...Kf5!
Black claims a draw thanks to the white "short" rook!
3...Rh8+?? 4.Kd7+-
4.Rg1 Ke6= White loses the pawn because of the checkmate threat.
60. E. Bruaset 2217 - Br. Tadić 2505

Nova Gorica 2020
177
The white king is cut off along the e-file and that should be enough for successful conversion! Black
is planning to position the king in front of the pawn and apply the "Lucena" position.
1...d4! 2.Kf2
2.Kf3 Kd5 3.Rc8 Re3+ 4.Kf2 Re7-+
2...Kd5 3.Re1
3...d3! 4.Ra1 Re2+ 5.Kf3 Re8 6.Kf2 Kc4 7.Ra4+ Kb3 8.Rd4 Kc3 9.Rd7 d2 10.Rc7+ Kb2 11.Rb7+
Kc1 12.Rc7+ Kd1 13.Rc5 Rf8+ 14.Ke3
178
14.Kg2 Ke2 15.Re5+ Kd3 16.Rd5+ Ke3 17.Re5+ Kd4 18.Re7 Rf5-+
14...Ke1-+
61. J. Sprenger 2492 - S. Fedorchuk 2621

Deutschland 2020
Both sides have clear plans in this position. Obviously, Black is intending to promote his distant
passer, while trying to stop the white f-pawn at the same time. On his part, White is planning to
sacrifice his rook for the black pawn, and clinch a draw by threatening promotion of his own f-passer.
White is able to reach his goal, but must play with extreme precision and keep the black king at clear
179
distance!
1.Kd4! The SHOULDERING motif!
The white king is blocking his counterpart and preventing him from hunting the f-passer.
White makes crucial mistake at the very first step 1.Ke4?? Now, the black king hunts down the f-
pawn via the c3 square with some assistance of the rook. 1...Kb2 2.Rxa2+ (2.Rh1 a1=Q 3.Rxa1 Rxa1
4.f4 Kc3 5.f5 Kc4 6.Ke5 Kc5-+) 2...Rxa2 3.f4 The c3 square is available for the black king and that
proves to be of great significance for the final result! 3...Kc3 4.f5 Kc4 5.f6 Re2+ 6.Kf5 Kd5 7.f7
Rf2+ 8.Kg6 Ke6-+ J. Sprenger - S. Fedorchuk
1...Kb2 2.Rh1 a1=Q 3.Rxa1 Rxa1 4.f4
The white king controls the c3 square, so White is able to accomplish his plan. Black is not able to
move his king closer to the kingside, so he is forced to reroute the rook and give White enough time
to support the f-passer.
4...Ra4+
The same result occurs after 4...Ra5 5.Ke4 Kc3 6.f5 Kc4 7.f6 Ra8 8.Ke5 Re8+ 9.Kd6=;
Black cannot make much progress even if he places the rook behind the white f-pawn: 4...Rf1 5.Ke5
Kc3 6.f5 Kc4 7.f6 Kc5 8.Ke6=
5.Ke5 Kc3 6.f5 Ra5+ 7.Ke6 Kd4 8.f6 Ra6+ 9.Ke7 Ke5 10.f7=
62. P. Svidler 2723 - N. Grandelius 2651

180
White has somewhat better chances in this endgame position thanks to his far advanced pawn.
However, in order to queen the pawn White must support it with the rook as well. On the other hand,
Black can create some counter-chances only by advancing his h-pawn. Therefore, really skilful rook
manoeuvres are required in order to approach the h-pawn with the black king!
1...Ke6!
Black loses the pawn right away after 1...Ke4?? (P. Svidler - N. Grandelius)
2.Rc5! h4 3.Rc4++-
2.Rc5
181
The black king is on time to defend the h-pawn in the following variations: 2.b7 Ra1+ 3.Kb6 Rb1+
4.Ka7 Kf5=;
or 2.Rh7 Ra1+ 3.Kb7
3...Rh1! 4.Kc7 Kf5=

2...h4 3.Rh5
3.b7 h3 4.Rh5
4...Rb3! The black rook is ideally positioned. White's king is not able to force the pawn promotion
without some support by the rook. For example: 5.Ka7 Ra3+ 6.Kb6 Rb3+ 7.Kc7 Rc3+ 8.Kd8 Rb3
182
9.Rh7 Kf5= The black king will arrive on time and defend the h-pawn, so a draw is inevitable.
Black first attacks the enemy king, worsening his position, and then protects the pawn:
3...Ra1+! 4.Kb7
The white king has no place to hide after 4.Kb5 Rb1+
4...Rh1!
The white king is blocking his own passer's route, thus granting Black precious time to defend his
own pawn.
5.Kc7 h3 6.b7 Rc1+ 7.Kb8
7.Kd8 Rb1=
183
7...Rc3!
The black rook is defending the h-pawn laterally, and also controling the white passer!
The black rook is entrapped defending the pawn in case of 7...Rh1?? 8.Rb5! h2 9.Rb2 Kd7 (9...Kf5
10.Ra2 Kg4 11.Ka8+-) 10.Ra2+-
8.Rb5 h2 9.Rb1
9...Rb3!
A very effective deflection! White loses the support of his rook, so the white king must protect the b-
pawn at all cost.
184
10.Re1+ Kf5
The black king goes to support the h-pawn.
11.Rh1 Rh3 12.Kc7 Rc3+ 13.Kd7 Rb3=
63. M. Kobalia 2614 - B. Gelfand 2676

1.Rh1!
A truly magnificent move that allows White to secure a draw! White is already preparing defence
185
without the g4-pawn.
1.Kd5? Re1! Black is using the opportunity to seize the 1st rank and prevent White from setting-up
his defence. The same defensive idea with the rook on the 2nd rank is not working because the white
rook is "too short"! 2.Rh2 Kg5 3.Rg2 Kf4 4.g5
4...Re5+! (4...Kf5? 5.Rf2+! Kxg5 6.Rg2+ Kf5 7.Rf2+ Kg5 8.Rg2+ Kf6 9.Rf2+ Kg7 10.Rg2= M.
Kobalia - B. Gelfand) 5.Kd4 Rxg5 6.Rf2+ Kg3
7.Rf1 (7.Rf6 Rg4+ 8.Ke3 g5 9.Rg6 Kh3 10.Rh6+ Rh4 11.Rg6 (11.Rf6
186
11...Kg3! (11...g4? 12.Kf2 Rh7 (12...Kh2 13.Rg6=) 13.Kg1 Rb7 14.Rf1=) 12.Rf3+ Kg4 13.Rf2
(13.Rf1 Rh3+ 14.Ke2 Rh2+ 15.Ke3 Kh4-+) 13...Rh3+ 14.Ke2 Ra3-+) 11...g4 12.Kf2 Rh8 13.Kg1
Ra8-+) 7...Kh2 8.Ke4 (8.Rf6 Rg1 9.Ke3 g5 10.Kf2 Rg2+ 11.Kf1 g4 12.Rh6+ Kg3 13.Ra6 Rb2-+)
8...Rg4+ 9.Ke5 g5 10.Kf5 Rg2 11.Ra1 g4 12.Ra8 Rg1-+
1...Kg5 2.Rg1 Kf4 3.Rf1+ Kxg4 4.Rg1+ Kf3 5.Kd5 Ra6 6.Ke5=
64. D. Eraschenkov 2370 - F. Amonatov 2631

New Delhi 2020
White must not allow the black king to advance along the g-file!
187
1.Rh3™ Compared to example no. 1 the white king is cut off for one file only. Therefore, White is
able to stop the black king by delivering a series of checks.
Black made use of active king's position and won the game after 1.hxg3?
1...Kg4! 2.Rh1
2...g5! White cannot protect the g-pawn. 3.Rg1 Kh3 4.g4 Rf4 5.Rb1 (Also, the following continuation
is quite similar to the game: 5.Ke3 Kh2 6.Ra1 Rxg4 7.Kf3 Rf4+ 8.Ke3 Kg2-+) 5...Kg2 6.Ke3 Rxg4
Black won the pawn while keeping the king in front of his own passed pawn. Also, he managed to
keep the enemy king at "safe" distance, so the conversion was not to difficult: 7.Rb2+ Kh3 8.Rb1 Rg2
9.Ra1 g4 10.Ra8 Rb2 11.Rh8+ Kg2 12.Rg8 g3 13.Rh8 Kg1 14.Rg8 g2 15.Rf8 Rb3+ 16.Ke2 Kh2 0 : 1
188
E. Eraschenkov - F. Amonatov.
1...gxh2
There is no point in going for 1...g2 2.Rg3+ Kf6 3.Rxg2=
2.Rxh2 Kf6
2...Rf4 3.Rg2+ Rg4 4.Rf2=;
2...Kf4 3.Kf2=
3.Rg2 g5
Liquidating into the pawn endgame.

4.Rf2!=
65. G. Guseinov 2665 - R. Praggnanandhaa 2602

189
White must not allow his king to be cut off. By moving the king closer White secures a draw being
two pawns down!
1.Kf5!
The white king remains out of play after 1.hxg5? Rc5! 2.Rb1 Rxg5 3.Rh1+ Kg6 4.Rh2
4...Rg1! (4...Rh5 5.Rg2+ Kh7 6.Kf7 Rf5+ 7.Ke6
190
7...g6! (7...Rf6+? 8.Ke5= G. Guseinov - R. Praggnanandhaa) 8.Rh2+ Kg7 9.Rg2 Ra5 10.Rg1 g5
11.Rf1 Kg6-+) 5.Ke5 (5.Re2
5...Kh5! 6.Kf5 Rf1+ 7.Ke5 g5-+) 5...Kg5 6.Ke4 Kg4-+

1...gxh4 2.Kg5
White achived desired level of activity so Black cannot save the h-pawn.
2...h3
Or 2...Rd4 3.Rb3= followed by Rh3
191
3.Rb3=
66. Arty. Timofeev 2580 - V. Artemiev 2716

Chelyabinsk (rapid) 2020
The black king cannot support the queening of the a2-pawn, so Black must try to realise the
promotion by giving a rook check along the 1st rank. On the other hand, White's king cannot reach
g2, or h2 securing the theoretical draw, so he must hide his king behind the enemy f-pawn and avoid
the checks!
1.Kf6!
192
Black will manage to attack the bare white king after 1.Ra7??
1...f4! 2.gxf4 (2.g4 f3-+) 2...Rg1+ 3.Kf6 a1=Q 4.Rxa1 Rxa1 5.f5 Kd4-+;
The black king and rook were able to hunt down the white g-pawn after 1.Kxf5?? Rf1+ 2.Ke6 a1=Q
3.Rxa1 Rxa1 4.g4 Rg1 5.Kf5 Kd4 6.g5 Kd5 7.Kf6 Kd6-+ Arty. Timofeev - V. Artemiev.
1...Kd3 2.Ra3+ Ke2
Black's monarch is too remotely positioned to have effective control over the white pawn.
Therefore, it is possible to allow opening of lines after 3.Kg6 f4
193
The black king must not step on the f-file: 3...Kf2 4.Kxf5=
4.gxf4 Rg1+ 5.Kh6 a1=Q 6.Rxa1 Rxa1 7.f5=
And eventually, Black will be forced to give away the rook for the white pawn.
67. Jef. Xiong 2709 - W. So 2770

Black is very active and secures a draw!

1...Kg2! 2.Re2
The white rook is ideally placed - defending the f2 and attacking the e4-pawn. Therefore Black must
find a away to disturb the white rook before the b-passer starts running!
2.Kc4 Rxf2=
194
2...Rf4!! Exceptional precision! The white king cannot reach the 4th rank, while the white rook
cannot leave the e-file!
Black loses after 2...Kf3? 3.Re3+ Kf4 4.Kb4 Rf6 5.Ka5+- Jef. Xiong - W. So.
3.Kc3
The pawn cannot advance without the support of pieces: 3.b6 Rf6=; 3.Rb2 Rxf2 4.b6 e3 5.b7 Rxb2+
6.Kxb2 e2=
3...Kf1! 4.Rb2 Rxf2=
68. A. Kienitz 2114 - I. Enchev 2496
195
Cappelle-la-Grande 2020
Black is planning to win the game by trading the a-pawn for the white f-pawn. Then, he should keep
the white king away from the g-file.
1...a3+! 2.Ka2
2...Ra6!
Black must save the g-pawn!
3.f4 Kc4 4.Re5 Kd4 5.Re2 Kd3 6.Re1 Rf6 7.Kxa3 Rxf4 8.Rg1 Rf6 9.Kb4 Kd4 10.Kb3 Rc6 11.Rg2
196
The white king is cut off, so Black wins as follows:
1. Black places the rook on c7 and keeps the white king away from the g-pawn, while preparing the
rook transfer to g7.
2. Black brings the king in front of the g-pawn.
11...Ke4 12.Rg1 Kf4 13.Rf1+ Kg5
The white rook is hindering the promotion of the g-pawn. Black wastes precious time after 13...Kg3
14.Rg1+ Kf2 15.Rg5 Kf3 16.Rg1 etc.
14.Rg1+ Kh6 15.Rh1+ Kg7 16.Rg1
197
16...Rc7! and Black can execute the aforementioned winning plan.
17.Kb4 Kh6! Threat is g5.
17...Rc2 18.Kb3 Rc5 19.Kb4 Re5?? After this mistake the white king approaches the centre allowing
White to clinch a draw. (Black wins after 19...Rc7-+) 20.Kc4 Kf6 21.Kd4 g5 22.Rf1+ Rf5 23.Rg1
Rf3 24.Ke4! Ra3 25.Rf1+ Kg6 26.Rf3!? (White draws in case of 26.Rh1!) 26...Ra2 27.Rf1 Ra8
28.Kf3 Rf8+ 29.Kg2 Rxf1 30.Kxf1 Kf5
31.Kg1! The only way to fight for a draw! 31...Ke4 32.Kg2! Diagonal opposition! 32...Kf4 33.Kf2
g4 34.Kg2=
18.Rh1+ Kg5 19.Rg1+ Kf5 20.Rf1+ Ke4 21.Re1+ Kf3 22.Rg1
198
22...Rg7! 23.Rg5 Kf4 24.Rg1 g5 25.Kc4 g4 26.Kd3 Kf3 27.Rf1+ Kg2-+ and Black wins by utilising
the Lucena position.
69. Abhimanyu Mishra 2338 - Alek. Ostrovskiy 2434

Charlotte 2020
White can secure a draw by exchanging pawns on the queenside. The white king will be on the
shorter side to the black f-pawn, allowing White to clinch a draw by executing side checks!
1...Kg1!
199
White managed to saved the game after 1...Ke3? 2.c7!
2...Rc4 (2...f2 White is neutralising the threat of queening on f1 with a check: 3.Re6+! Kd2 4.Kg2
Rc4
5.Re5! The f2 pawn is under control, so White must focus on capturing the black b-passer! (5.Kxf2?
Rxc7-+) 5...b4 6.Re4! Rxc7 7.Rxb4=) 3.Rxb5 f2 4.Rb3+ Ke2 5.Rb2+ Kf3 (5...Ke1 6.Rb1+=) 6.Rb3+
Ke2 7.Rb2+= Abhimanyu Mishra - Alek. Ostrovskiy.
2.c7
2.Rb8
200
2...Rf4! 3.Rg8+ Kh1 4.Kg3 f2 5.Kxf4 f1=Q+ 6.Ke5 Qf7-+
2...Rc4 3.Rxb5
3...f2!
Black cannot take the c-pawn, but that should not affect the final outcome of the game!
Black wins as follows:
- Pushing the white king back to the 7th rank by triangulation
- Deflecting the white rook from the f-file by promoting the f-pawn!
201
Black should not play 3...Rxc7? because White can hold the position and clinch a draw. 4.Rb1+ Kf2
5.Rb2+ Ke3 6.Rb3+=
4.Rg5+
4...Kh1! 5.Rf5 Rc3+ 6.Kh4

6.Kg4 Kg2-+
6...Kg1 7.Rg5+ Kh2
Also, Black wins after 7...Kf1 utilising the main line motif: 8.Rg7 Ke2 9.Re7+ Kf3 10.Rf7+ Kg2
11.Rg7+ Kh2 12.Rf7 Rc4+ 13.Kh5 Kg2 14.Rg7+ Kh3-+ – 7...Kh2
8.Rf5 Rc4+ 9.Kh5
9.Kg5 Kg3-+
9...Kg2 10.Rg5+
202
10...Kf3! 11.Rf5+ Ke3 Black is threatening capture on c7, so White must push the black king away
from the f-pawn. In the meantime, Black is forcing the white king to the 7th rank.
12.Re5+
12.Rf7 Rxc7!-+
12...Kf4 13.Re7 Kg3 14.Rg7+
Once again Black threatens Rc7!

14...Kh3 15.Rf7 Rc5+ 16.Kh6 Kg3
203
In view of the Rc7 threat White must give a check on the g-file.
17.Rg7+ Kh4 18.Rf7 Rc6+ 19.Kg7 Rxc7!
The final blow that completes the 3...f2! plan!
20.Rxc7 f1=Q-+
70. G. Ter-Saakian 2296 - D. Kryakvin 2557

Russia 2020
Black has a clear advantage, and his plan is rather obvious: sacrifice the rook for the pawn, and
support the pawns with the king. However, the process of conversion is pretty difficult!
1...g3?
1...f4! 2.d7 f3! 3.d8=Q+ Rxd8 4.Rxd8 Ke5! The black king is going to support his pawns, while
restricting the white monarch at the same time. 5.Kc5 g3 6.Re8+
204
6...Kf5!! A difficult move to find! With both pawns on the 3rd rank White cannot defend the position,
but Black must make sure that his king does not get checked by the rook with a crucial tempo.
(6...Kf4? 7.Kd4 g2 (7...f2 8.Rf8+ Kg4 9.Ke3=) 8.Rf8+ Kg3 9.Rg8+ Kf2 10.Ke4= Ke2 11.Rg3=)
7.Rf8+ (7.Kd5 f2 8.Rf8+ Kg6-+; 7.Kd4 g2 8.Rf8+ Ke6!-+) 7...Ke4 8.Re8+ Kd3 9.Rg8 g2 10.Kd5
10...Kc3!! Threatening f2. (10...Kd2? 11.Ke4=; 10...f2? 11.Rg3+!= The famous saving check!)
11.Kc5 (11.Ke4 f2-+; 11.Rg3 Kb4-+) 11...Kd2 12.Kd4 Ke1 13.Ke3 f2 14.Rxg2 (14.Ra8 f1=N+!-+)
14...f1=Q-+
2.Rg8 f4 3.d7 Kf5 4.Kc7 Ke4
205
5.d8=Q?
5.Rg6!!= With the idea of Rd6. 5...Rxd7+ (5...Kf3 6.Rd6 Rxd6 7.Kxd6 g2 8.d8=Q g1=Q 9.Qa8+=;
5...f3 6.Rg4+! A highly important check, well known from positions with rook versus two pawns.
6...Ke5 7.Rxg3 f2 8.Rf3=) 6.Kxd7 Kf3 7.Ke6 Kf2 8.Ke5 f3 9.Kf4 g2 10.Rg3=
5...Rxd8 6.Kxd8 Kf3 7.Ke7
7...Kg2! The correct way to promote the pawns.

7...g2?? 8.Ke6 Kf2 9.Ke5 f3=
8.Kf6 f3 9.Kg5 f2-+
206
71. S. Grigoriants 2539 - S. L. Narayanan 2637
Moscow 2020
Connected passed pawns in rook endgames represent great advantage. Quite often it is possible to
convert the advantage without king's support. At the prestigious Aeroflot Open Tournament in
Moscow two grandmasters had a really instructive endgame on the board. Thanks to his far-advanced
h-passer Black could have secured a draw!
1...Rc3!
Narayanan proceeded with the logical 1...Kg4? but now, White is winning in several ways: 2.Rg6+
Kh4 3.d6
207
(The easiest way to victory was 3.Rb6! Rc3 4.Rb4+ Kg5 White seized the 4th rank and neutralised
Black's counter-threats with the h-passed pawn. Rook and two connected passers win even without
king's support. 5.c6 Kf5 6.Rd4 Ke5 7.d6!+-) 3...Rb2+ (Black could have made the conversion trickier
after 3...Rd3
4.Rh6+! (White wins in much more complicated way 4.Rg1 Rd5 5.Rc1 Rd2+ 6.Kg1 Kg3 7.Rc3+ Kg4
8.c6 Rd1+ 9.Kf2! The key difference compared to the main variation is the promotion of the c-pawn
with a check! 9...h2 10.c7 Rf1+!? Black's final attempt to clinch a draw is not successful: 11.Ke2 The
white king is avoiding the 1st rank and h1-a8 diagonal, seeking rescue on the queenside: 11...Re1+
12.Kd2 Rd1+ 13.Ke3 Re1+ 14.Kd4 Re4+ 15.Kc5 Re5+ 16.Kb4 Re4+ 17.Kb3+-) 4...Kg4 5.Kg1
Kg5 (5...Kg3 6.Rg6+ Kh4 7.c6+-) 6.Rh8 Rd1+ 7.Kf2 h2 8.Rxh2 Rd2+ 9.Ke3 Rxh2 10.c6+-) 4.Kh1
208
Rd2
5.Rg1! White has a good pawn formation in the centre leaving Black defensless against Rc1 and
promotion of the c-pawn, 1 : 0 S. Grigoriants - S. L. Narayanan.
2.c6
2...Kg4!
Here the white pawns are on c6 and d5 (c5 and d6 in the game), so White will be forced to promote
the d-pawn with the support of the rook from the 1st rank. There is no motif of queening the c-pawn
with check, which should be quite enough for Black to hold the balance.
209
3.Rg6+ Kh4 4.Rg1
4...Rc5!
In order to advance the pawns further White must remove the rook from the g-file, thus allowing the
black king to get to g3 and create permanent perpetual check threats.
5.Rd1 Rc2+ 6.Kg1 Kg3 7.Rd3+ Kg4 8.d6
The black rook has control over the 3rd rank but cannot cover the checks along the 1st and snd rank.
8...Rc1+ 9.Kf2 h2
Black does not have time to promote the d-pawn, so a draw is inevitable.
10.Rg3+ Kf4
Also, the game should end in a draw after 10...Kh4 11.d7 Black must react in a highly concrete
manner being under threat of promotion on d8.
210
11...Rf1+! (11...Rd1? 12.Rg8+-) 12.Kxf1 h1=Q+ 13.Rg1 Qf3+= with perpetual check.
11.Rh3 Rxc6=
72. A. Sarana 2654 - Y. Kuzubov 2643

In this excellent example we will analyse the value of rook in endgames. The black rook executes
some very subtle manoeuvres and restricts the white king, making it impossible for him to reach the
queenside, or to return to the kingside. If Black does not play precisely, the white rook stops the
promotion of the black pawn.
211
1...Kh3!
In the game, Black proceeded with logical but incorrect 1...Re5? Black puts the rook on the 5th rank
in order to protect his king from checks and control the white pawns at the same time. However, he
abandoned the b6-pawn too early, thus allowing White to secure a draw. 2.b4 Kh3
(White hunts down the b-pawn, and sacrifices the rook for the g-pawn reaching a drawish position:
2...Rh5 3.Rg6 Kh3 4.Rxb6 g2 (4...Rh4 5.Rg6 Rxb4 6.a5 Ra4 7.a6=) 5.Rg6 Rh4 6.Rxg2 Kxg2 7.Kc3
Kf3 8.a5 Ke4 9.Kc4=) 3.Rh8+! (White lost precious tempi after 3.Kd4?? Rh5 4.Kc4 g2-+ A. Sarana
- Y. Kuzubov) 3...Kg2 4.Rh6 Kf3
5.Rf6+! A very important check in order to disturb the black king. (A straightforward capture on b6
212
leads to defeat: 5.Rxb6? g2 6.Rg6 Re3+ 7.Kd2
7...Rb3! 8.b5 (8.a5 Rxb4 9.a6 Ra4-+; 8.Rf6+ Ke4 9.Rg6 Rb1-+) 8...Rb4 The threat is Rg4. White's
king remains cut off away from the pawn after 9.Rxg2 Kxg2 10.Kc3 Rxa4 11.Kb3 Rf4-+) 5...Kg4
6.Rg6+ Kf4 7.Rf6+ Kg5 8.Rf8=;
Also worthy of checking is 1...Rh6? attempting to protect the king from checks on the h-file, but
allowing White to execute a pawn breakthrough on the queenside: 2.b4 Kh3 3.Kc4 Rh5 (3...g2 If
Black does not cut off the white king along the 5th rank, White is able to clinch a draw by sacrificing
his rook for the g-pawn: 4.Rxg2 Kxg2 5.Kb5=) 4.a5! Counterplay! 4...bxa5 5.b5
White's rook is having full control over the black pawns in all the possible lines! 5...Rh4+ (Also,
213
similar scenario occurs after 5...Rh6 6.Kc5 a4 7.b6 Rh7 8.Kc6 g2 9.b7 Rxb7 10.Kxb7 a3
11.Rh8+! The white rook reaches the back rank right on time and stops the black pawns! 11...Kg3
12.Rg8+ Kf3 13.Rf8+ Ke3 14.Re8+ Kd3 (14...Kd2 15.Rg8=) 15.Re1 a2 16.Kc6=) 6.Kd5 Rb4 7.Kc6
7...g2 (7...a4 8.Rh8+ Kg4 9.Rg8+ Kf3 10.Rf8+ Ke3 (White transposes into the drawn queen endgame
by covering the king from check: 10...Rf4 11.Rxf4+ Kxf4 12.b6 g2 13.b7 g1=Q 14.b8=Q+=)
11.Rg8=) 8.b6 a4 9.b7 a3 10.Rh8+! Kg3 11.Rg8+ Kf2 12.Rf8+ Ke3 13.Re8+ Kd3 (13...Kd2
14.Rg8=) 14.Re1 a2 15.Kc7=
2.Rh8+
214
The following variation illustrates great struggle for every tempo: 2.b4 g2 3.Rh8+ Kg3 4.Rg8+ Kf2
5.Rf8+ Kg1 6.a5 (Too slow is 6.Kc4 Re5 7.a5 bxa5 8.b5 Re4+ 9.Kc5 Kh2-+) 6...bxa5 7.bxa5 Ra6
8.Rf5 Kh2 9.Kc4
Black must be very precise till the end! 9...Kh3! This is the only winning move! (9...Rg6? 10.Rf2!=;
9...Rxa5? 10.Rxa5 g1=Q 11.Rh5+ Kg2 12.Rg5+=) 10.Rg5 Rxa5-+
2...Kg2 3.b4
3.Kc4 Re5! Black must not allow the white king to reach the 5th rank! 4.Rh6 Kf3 5.Rxb6 g2 6.Rg6
Re4+ 7.Kb5 Rg4-+; 3.Rh5 Kf3 4.Rf5+ Kg4 5.Rf7 g2 6.Rg7+ Kf3 7.Rf7+ (7.b4 Re3+-+) 7...Kg3
8.Rg7+ Kf2 9.Rf7+ Kg1-+
215
3...Rg6!
Black wins after 3...Rf6 4.Rg8 (4.Ke2 Kg1-+) 4...Kf2 5.a5 bxa5 6.bxa5 Ra6 7.Rf8+ Kg2 8.Rf5 Kh3
9.Ke2 Rh6!-+
4.Ke2
4.a5 bxa5 5.bxa5 Ra6 6.Rh5 Kf3-+
4...Kg1 5.a5
5.Kf3 g2 6.Rc8 Rh6 7.Rg8 Kh1 8.Rxg2 Rf6+ 9.Ke4 Kxg2 10.Kd5 Kf3-+
5...bxa5 6.bxa5 g2 7.Rh5
7.Rh7 Re6+ 8.Kd3 Ra6 9.Rh5 Kf2 10.Rf5+ Kg3 11.Rg5+ Kf3-+
216
7...Rf6! White is in Zugzwang. 8.Rg5Θ
8.Ke1 Rf1+ 9.Ke2 Rf2+ 10.Ke1 Ra2-+; 8.Rh7 Rf2+ 9.Ke1 Ra2 10.Rh5 Ra4! 11.Ke2 Ra3-+
8...Rh6 9.Kd3
9...Rh4!
The white king is cut off and too far away to help his pawn.
10.a6
10.Ke2 Kh1 11.Kf2 Rh2-+
217
10...Kh2 11.a7 Rh8 12.Kc4 Ra8 13.Rh5+ Kg3 14.Rg5+ Kf3-+
73. J.-K. Duda 2757 - L. Aronian 2767

Stavanger 2020
White fights for a draw, but first he must establish where to go with his king and as certain how
realistic his drawing chances are.
1.Kf1?
White goes to the short side, but this routine decision proves to be incorrect. White can fight for
salvation only by pushing his pawn forward and supporting it with the king. By moving the king to
the kingside White leaves his a-pawns unsupported. Black can win this endgame position with precise
play.
1...Rh1+ 2.Kg2 Rxh4 3.Rxg6 Ke2 4.Kg3
Black gets control over the 5th rank, as in the main variation: 4.a4 Rh5!-+
The proper square for the black rook is e5, since it can stop the advancement of the white a-pawn and
support his own e-pawn!
218
4...Rh5!
If Black moves the rook to the 7th rank, White can immediately exploit such decision by pushing his
passed pawn. 4...Rh7?
5.a4! (At this point Duda missed the opportunity to make use of Aronian's slip, and instead made a
losing mistake of his own: 5.Rb6? e3 6.Rb2+ Kd1 7.Rb1+ Kc2 8.Ra1
219
8...Rf7! Black cuts off the enemy king and gains time to reach the 2nd rank with his passer. White
could achieve a theoretically drawn position by giving side checks, but only without a-pawn on the
board. In the current position the a-pawn limits the white rook... 9.a4 e2 Threatening Rf1. 10.Kg2 Rf5
11.Ra2+ (White wins with the very same idea as in the game after: 11.Kg1 Kd2 12.Ra2+ Ke3
13.Ra3+ Ke4 14.Ra1 Rd5!-+) 11...Kd3 12.Ra1 Ke3 13.Ra3+ Ke4 White cannot deliver any side
checks, so he muct bring the rook back to the 1st rank: 14.Ra1
14...Rd5! White resigned being unable to prevent the black rook from reaching the 1st rank, 0 : 1 J.-
K. Duda - L. Aronian) 5...e3 6.a5 The white pawn reaches the 6th rank and that should prove to be
sufficient for a draw. 6...Kd2 (Also, Black does not win after 6...Rd7 7.Re6 Kd2 8.Kf3 Rf7+ 9.Kg2
e2 10.Rd6+=) 7.Rd6+ Ke1 8.Re6 e2 9.a6 Rd7 (9...Rg7+ 10.Kf3 Rf7+ 11.Kg2=) 10.Kf3 Rd3+
220
11.Kg2 Ra3 12.Rb6 Black cannot cover the checks along the 3rd rank due to the far advanced white
a-pawn: 12...Kd2 13.Rd6+ Rd3 14.Rxd3+ Kxd3 15.a7=
5.a4
The white rook is "too short" and cannot save the game by delivering side checks: 5.Rb6 e3 6.Rb2+
Kd1 7.Rb1+ Kc2 8.Rb3 Re5-+; 5.Kg4 Ra5-+
5...e3 White cannot secure a draw because his a-pawn is stopped on a4 and cannot advance. For
example: 6.Rb6
White does not achieve much in case of 6.Re6 because of 6...Ra5-+
6...Re5 7.a5!? This is an interesting practical resource, giving the pawn away. Black must be careful
and not capture the pawn right away.
7...Kd3!
If black rook leaves the e-file White can try to clinch a draw by delivering side checks! 7...Rxa5?
8.Rb2+ Kd3 9.Rb3+ Kd2 10.Kf3=
8.Rd6+
White cannot stop the black pawn after 8.Rb1 e2 because the white king cannot be join defence.
9.Kf2
221
9...Rf5+ 10.Kg2 Kc2 (Black can freely capture the pawn: 10...Rxa5-+) 11.Ra1 Rxa5-+
The black rook stands well on the e-file and, while the white king cannot approach the black pawn. At
the same time, the white a-pawn is stopped and may even be used as a shield for the black king if
White starts checking!
8...Kc2 9.Rc6+ Kb2 10.Rb6+ Ka2-+
74. J.-K. Duda 2757 - L. Aronian 2767*

Stavanger 2020
222
1.Kd1!
White is shifting his king to the "long side" approaching the passed a-pawn.
1...Rxa2
If Black captures the h-pawn, White gains counter-play thanks to his a-passer: 1...Rxh4 2.Rxg6 Rh1+
(2...Rh2 3.a4 Ra2 4.Ra6=) 3.Kc2 Kf2 4.Rf6+ Ke2 5.a4 e3 6.a5 Ra1 7.a6 Ke1 8.Kb3 e2 9.Kb4 Kd2
10.Rd6+ Kc2 11.Re6=
2.Rxg6 Ra1+ 3.Kc2 Rh1
4.Re6!
If White intends to stop the black passer he must seize control over the e-file!
If White options for pushing his own h-passer, the black e-pawn will promote first: 4.Rh6? Ke2 5.h5
e3 6.Rh8 Kf2 7.Rf8+ Ke1 8.Rf5 (8.Rh8 e2 9.h6 Kf2-+) 8...e2-+
4...Rxh4 5.Kd1
223
5...Rh1+ 6.Kc2 Since the black pawn is on the central file, it does not matter if the white king is on
"longer" or "shorter" side. By transfering the rook to the h-file white will have sufficient distance for
side checks:
6...Re1
White's king stops the black pawn after 6...Kf3 7.Kd2 Rh2+ 8.Ke1=
7.Rh6! Kf2 8.Rh2+ Kg3 9.Kd2! Ra1 10.Rh8=
75. N. Abdusattorov 2627 - F. Amonatov 2622

224
This rook endgame is pretty drawish, but two excellent grandmasters fight on! Black must keep an
eye on the white h-pawn, since any mistake with little material left on the board can prove to be
decisive:
1...Kf5! Compared to the game continuation the black king is in the square of the white h-pawn!
Instead, Black blundered and went for 1...Kf4? 2.Kg2!
2...Rb2+ (Black is defending passively by bringining the rook to h8, so White is able to punish him
and advance his king via h-file. 2...Rb8 3.h7 Rh8 4.Kh3 f5 5.Kh4 Ke4 6.Kg5 f4 7.Re7+ Kf3
225
8.Kh6! An inportant nuance to keep the g-file open! (White cannot win with the straightforward
8.Kg6? because he will not be in time to capture the a5-pawn with the rook. 8...Kg4! 9.Kg7 (9.Ra7
f3 10.Rxa5 Rxh7! 11.Rg5+ Kh4=) 9...Rxh7+ 10.Kxh7 f3 11.Kg8 f2 12.Rf7 Kg3 13.Kf8 Kg2 14.Ke7
f1=Q 15.Rxf1 Kxf1= When White captures on a5, Black places his king on c5!) 8...Kg4 9.Rg7+ Kh4
10.Ra7+-) 3.Kh3 Rb1 4.Rg2 Rb7 5.Kh4 f5 6.Rf2+ Ke4 7.Kg5 Rb1 8.Rf4++- N. Abdusattorov - F.
Amonatov.
2.h7
2.Kg2 Rb2+ 3.Kh3 Rb1= and here White cannot utilise the game motif, because the black king enters
the square of the white h-pawn: 4.Rg2 Rh1+ 5.Rh2 Rxh2+ 6.Kxh2 Kg6; 2.Rg4
226
2...Rh3=
76. Vl. Fedoseev 2674 - I. Rozum 2566

Russia 2020
The white rook is protecting two key points - b5 and h3. Now he is planning to transfer his king to the
queenside and support the promotion of the b-pawn. Black finds a way to break the pawn chain and
reach a draw by trading pawns!
1...Rh2!
Black attacks the h3-pawn in order to put more pressure on the white rook!
2.Ke1
227
2...f5!
After the pawn trade on the kingside White loses the h3-g4 pawn chain!
3.Rxf5 Rxh3 4.Kd2 Rg3 5.Rf8
5...Kg5!
Black must activate his king in order to support the h-pawn once he captures the white g4-pawn.
Black misjudged the situation and his own chances. He played passively and his king was cut off
along the 5th rank: 5...Kg7? 6.Rf4 Rb3 7.Rf5
228
7...Kg6
(7...Rb4 8.Kc3 Rxg4 9.b6+-; 7...Rg3
229
8.Rc5! White is forced to abandon the g-pawn and move the king to the queenside. The white rook is
really well-placed on c5, supporting the b-pawn and preventing the enemy king from reaching the 5th
rank. On the other hand, the black h-pawn is far away from queening, so Black does not have enough
for a draw: 8...Rxg4 9.Kc3 Rg1 10.Kb4 Kf7 (10...Kg6 11.b6 h5 12.Rb5! Rb1+ 13.Kc4 Rc1+ 14.Kd5
Rd1+ 15.Kc6 White wins thanks to the control over the 5th rank. Black cannot give away the rook for
the b-pawn and advance his king to support the h-pawn. 15...h4 16.b7 Rd8 17.Kc7 Rh8 18.b8=Q
Rxb8 19.Kxb8 h3 20.Rb3+-) 11.b6 Ke7 12.Kb5 Kd6 13.Rc4 h5 (13...Rb1+ 14.Ka6 Ra1+ 15.Kb7 h5
16.Kb8 Rb1 17.b7 Rb5 18.Rf4 Ke5 19.Rf8 Kd6 20.Ka7+-) 14.b7 Rb1+ 15.Ka6 Ra1+ 16.Kb6 Rb1+
17.Ka7 Ra1+ 18.Kb8 Kd7 19.Rd4+ Ke6 20.Kc7 Rc1+ 21.Kb6 Rb1+ 22.Kc6 Rc1+ (22...Ke7 23.Rd5
with Rb5 to follow.) 23.Kb5 Rb1+ 24.Rb4+-) 8.Rc5! Rb4 9.Kc3 Rxg4 10.b6 Rg1 11.Kc4 Rb1 12.Rb5
Rc1+ 13.Kd5 Rc8 14.b7 Rb8 15.Kc6 h5 16.Kc7+- Vl. Fedoseev - I. Rozum.
6.Kc2
White cannot win without the support of his own king: 6.Rg8+ Kf6 7.b6 (7.Kc2 Kf7=) 7...Rb3 8.Rb8
Ke7 9.b7 (9.Kc2 Rb5 10.Kc3 Kd7 11.Kc4 Rg5=) 9...Kd7=
230
6...Rg2+!
By giving side checks Black forces the white king to step on the 4th rank, and then he takes the g-
pawn with another check.
7.Kb3 Rg3+ 8.Ka4 Rxg4+ 9.Ka5 Rd4
The black king is active and secures a draw when Black gives away his rook for the white b-passer.
10.b6 Rd7 11.Ka6 h5 12.b7 Rxb7 13.Kxb7 h4 14.Kc6 h3 15.Kd5 Kg4 16.Ke4 h2 17.Rh8 Kg3=
77. De. Omorjan 2259 - Z. Ilinčić 2408

Srbija 2020
231
In order to win this endgame White must clear the path for his monarch!
1.Ra8!
The king must reach the 5th rank and support the white passed pawn!
The white king remained passive after 1.Ka3? Rb4 2.Ra4 Rb1 3.Ka2 Re1 4.Ra3
4...Kg4! and Black has full compensation for the pawn thanks to his great activity! 5.Kb2 Kf3 6.Kc2
Re2+ 7.Kd1 Rh2 8.Rc3 Ra2= De. Omorjan - Z. Ilinčić.
232
1...Rb4+
1...Rb1 2.Re8+-
2.Ka5 Rxc4 3.d6 Rc1 4.Kb5! Ke6 5.Kc6+-
78. Ju Wenjun 2560 - M. Muzychuk 2544

This is a highly instructive endgame because White cannot win even though he has an extra pawn and
very active king. On his part, Black is not able to protect his pawns and must attack the white pawns
instead! Also, he must prevent White from capturing the g6-pawn with the rook thus defending the
pawn on g3!
1...Ra3!
1...Ra5+? 2.Kh6
233
2...Ra3 (White retains two connected passed pawns after 2...Rf5 3.Rb7+ Kf6 4.Rb6+ Kf7 (4...Ke5
5.Rxg6 Rxf3 6.Kxh5+-) 5.Rxg6 Rxf3 6.Kxh5+-) 3.Rb7+ Kf8 4.Rg7! Rxf3 5.Rxg6 Rf5 6.Rg5 Rf6+
7.Kxh5+- Ju Wenjun - M. Muzychuk.
2.Rb7+
Black has four squares available for his king but only one can bring him salvation!
2...Ke8!!
Black can find the saving move by method of elimination too.
Obviously Black should not go for 2...Kg8? because White captures with mating threat 3.Kxg6+-;
234
The second option is 2...Kf8? 3.Rb6! and Black cannot take on f3 because the pawn ending is lost.
3...Rxf3 4.Rf6+!+-;
Also, White collects all the black pawns in case of 2...Ke6? 3.Rg7 Rxf3 4.Rxg6+ Kf7 5.Kxh5+-
3.Kxg6
3.g4 Rxf3 4.gxh5 gxh5 5.Kxh5 Rf6 6.Kg5 Ra6=; 3.f4 Rxg3+ 4.Kf6 Rg4 5.Rb4 Rxh4 6.Kxg6 Rg4+
7.Kf5 (7.Kxh5 Rg1=; 7.Kf6 h4) 7...Kf7 8.Rb7+ Kg8 9.Ke5 h4= and Black can easily secure a draw.
3...Rxf3 4.Kxh5 Rxg3=
The black king is close enough.
79. Z. Kožul 2597 - J. Šubelj 2424

Maribor 2020
How can White win?

1.h4!!
1.Kxf4? Rxh3= Z. Kožul - J. Šubelj
1...Rxh4 2.Rh5+-
80. Hi. Nakamura 2736 - W. So 2770

235
White is utilising mating motifs in order to reach salvation.
1.Kg3!
1.Kf3? Ree7-+ White cannot stop the d-pawn, Hi. Nakamura - W. So.
1...Re3+
1...Ree7?? 2.Rxd7 Rxd7
3.Rg8!! The black king is trapped in the mating net - threat being Kh4 followed by g5. 3...Rf7 (3...d2
4.Kh4+-) 4.g5+ Kh5 5.Re8! A very precise move! (White cannot realise the same idea via a8 or b8:
236
5.Ra8 Re7= Black holds thanks to the check on e3!) 5...d2 6.Re2+-; 1...Rxd8 2.Rxd8 d2 (2...Re3+
3.Kf2 Rh3 4.Kg2=) 3.Kf3 Rh2 4.Kg3=
2.Kh4 Rxd8 3.Rxd8 Kg7 4.g5
The black king cannot gain any activity, so a draw becomes inevitable.
4...Kf7 5.Kg4 Ke7 6.Rd4 Ke6 7.Rd8=
81. M. Ragger 2670 - S. Shankland 2683

Praha 2020
237
At a first glance we have a rather simple rook ending on the board. Black has an extra pawn,
connected passers supported by his king, and a very active rook. So, he should win!
However, Black must make an important decision: to increase material advantage by 1...Rxh3??, or
to speed up the promotion of his passed pawns.
Shankland makes a wrong decision. This kind of mistake is very common, especially deep into the
endgame phase, after many moves of hard struggle between two excellent grandmasters. Time
scramble plays a very important role too, so capturing one more pawn seem equal to reaching a
winning advantage. Unfortunately, we often forget that the activity should play predominant role in
endgames! These decisions require exceptional focus and knowledge. Curiously, with his rook
somewhere else (not on 3rd rank) Black would convert the advantage without much trouble.
1...a4! Activity! 2.f5 (2.Rxh4 Ra2+ 3.Kf3 Ra1 4.f5 b5-+) 2...Ra2+ 3.Ke3 Ra1 4.f6
(4.Ke2 a3 5.f6 a2 6.f7 Rf1-+; 4.Rxh4 a3 5.f6 a2 6.Ra4+ Kb5-+) 4...Re1+! An important in-between
move that secures victory for Black. (Black should not routinely position his rook behind the pawns
4...Rf1? 5.Rxh4=) 5.Kf2
238
(5.Kd3 Rf1 6.Rxh4 Ka5-+; 5.Kd4 Rf1 6.Ke5 a3-+) 5...Re8! 6.Rxh4 b5-+ The black pawns are
unstoppable!
2.f5=
White generates a really strong counterplay. Black has difficulties in stopping the f-pawn, since the
white king is preventing the black rook from controlling the pawn from behind. Therefore, the rook is
forced to assume a passive position in front of the white f-pawn.
2...Rc3
2...Rh2+ 3.Ke3 Rh1 4.Ke2=;
2...a4 3.f6=
3.Rxh4 Rc6
3...b5 4.Rf4 a4 5.f6 Rc8 6.f7 Rf8
239
7.Kd3 Ka5 8.Kc3=
4.Kd3 Kb5 5.Rf4 Rf6
5...a4 6.f6 Rc8 7.f7 Rf8 8.Kc3 Ka5 9.Rf5+ b5 10.Kb2=
6.Kd4 Rf8
6...a4 7.Kc3 Ka5 8.Kd3 b5 9.Kc3=
7.f6 Kb4 8.Kd5+ Kb5 9.Kd4 Rf7 10.Rf1 Rd7+
240
11.Kc3 Rc7+ 12.Kd3 Rf7 13.Kd4 a4 14.Kc3 Ka5 1/2-1/2
82. Martin Petrov 2504 - B. Adhiban 2654

Gibraltar 2020
Both players have three pawns, but Black is winning thanks to his more active rook and far advanced
footsoldiers. In order to win Black must prevent the enemy king from reaching the kingside and
stopping the black pawns after the pawn break.
1...f3+!
241
The black pawns are making a decisive breakthrough which cannot be stopped!
2.Ke3
2.Ke1 Rc1+ 3.Kd2
3...g3!! 4.Rxa6+ Kf7 5.Ra7+ Ke6 6.Ra6+
6...Kd7! Superb precision till the very end! White can create some practical chances in case of
6...Kd5?! 7.Ra5+ Kc6 8.fxg3 f2 9.Kxc1 f1=Q+ 10.Kb2µ;
2.Kd3 g3 3.fxg3 Rf6-+
242
2...Rf6!
The point of Black's idea. White cannot stop g3 followed by g2. Passive defence prolongs the game
without any hope for salvation.
3.Ra4 Kg5 4.Ra5+ Kh6 5.Rc5
The black pawns are breaking through 5.Ra4 g3 6.Rh4+ Kg5 7.fxg3 f2 8.Rf4 f1=Q-+
5...g3 6.Rc1 g2
Black fixed the g-pawn and now he can bring his king to h2. White can try to create counterplay on
the queenside, but that plan seems to be way too slow: 7.b4 Kh5 8.a4 Rg6 9.Rg1 Kg4 10.Rc1 Re6+
11.Kd4 Kh3 12.b5 axb5 13.axb5 Kh2 14.Kd5 Re8 0-1
83. Hi. Nakamura 2736 - D. Świercz 2649

243
Black should be able to win this rook ending with precise play. The white king is in the centre, far
away from the black h-passer, so he must bring the rook back to c2, and hide the king on the c-file
protecting him from possible check. As a result, the white king is pushed back from his central f3 and
e4-pawns.
1...Rh1! 2.Rc2 h2!
White was able to consolidate after 2...Rd1+? 3.Ke3 Rxd6 4.Kf2! h2 5.Kg2 Rh6 6.Kh1 Rh3
7.Rc5! Nakamura did not miss the opportunity! 7...Kg6 8.Rc6+ Kg7 (8...Kh5 9.Rf6=) 9.Rc5 f6 10.e5
f5 11.e6 Rxf3 12.Re5 Kf8 13.e7+ Ke8 14.Kxh2= Black cannot push his pawns forward without his
244
king's support, Hi. Nakamura - D. Świercz.
3.Kc4 Kf6 4.Kc5
White cannot clinch a draw by moving his king closer to the black pawns: 4.d7 Ke7 5.Rd2 Kd8
6.Kd5 Kxd7 7.Ke5+ Ke7 8.Kf5 f6 9.Rf2 Kf7Θ White is in zugzwang and loses his central pawns.
10.Rb2 Rf1 11.Rxh2 Rxf3+ 12.Kg4 Rf4+-+
4...Ke5!
Black is planning to exchange his h-pawn for White's d-passer. As a result, the white king remains cut
off on the c-file.
5.d7
5.Kc6 Rd1 6.Rxh2 Rxd6+ 7.Kc5 Rd3-+
5...Rd1 6.Rxh2 Rxd7 and White cannot save the pawns: 7.Rh7 Kf4 8.Rg7 Kxf3 9.Rxg5 Kxe4
10.Rg4+ Ke5 11.Rg7 Ke6 12.Rg1
12.Kc4 Rd1 13.Kc3 f5-+
245
12...f5 13.Re1+ Kf6 14.Rf1 Kg5 15.Rg1+ Kh4 16.Rf1 Kg4 17.Rg1+ Kh3 18.Rf1
18...Rf7! 19.Kd4 Kg2 20.Rc1 f4-+
84. G. Lumachi 2297 - J. Cappelletto 2063

Bassano del Grappa 2020
246
In all the phases of a game tempi play very important role. Even early in the opening one tempo may
prove to be crucial. On the other hand, in the middlegame the character of the position determines the
value of each tempo. However, in endgames every lost tempo is often of paramount importance!
It is obvious that Black will be forced to give up the rook for White's distant a-passer. Also, White
must try to force that capture as soon as possible in order to transfer his king to the kingside!
1.Rf6!
Threatening Ra6 in order to cut off the black rook along the a-file.
Black can benefit from White's king remote placement after 1.a8=Q? Rxa8 2.Kxa8
247
2...e4! The white king is one tempo too late! In the main line the king is on a7, so Black loses this
drawing motif. 3.Kb7 (3.Re7 Kxh4 4.Rxe4 Kg4=) 3...e3 4.fxe3 fxe3 5.Kc6 e2 6.Re7 Kxh4 7.Rxe2
(7.Kd5 Kg3 8.Kd4 Kf2=) 7...Kg3=;
White cannot take on e5 on time: 1.Re7 Kxh4 2.Rxe5 Kg4 3.f3+ Kxf3 4.Rxh5= G. Lumachi - J.
Cappelletto.
1...Rxa7+
1...e4 2.Ra6 Rb2+ 3.Kc7 Rc2+ 4.Kd7 Rd2+ 5.Ke7+-
2.Kxa7
248
Black has three options:
1. Take the white f-pawn and try to secure a draw with two connected passers.
2. Take on the h4-pawn and create the h-passer of his own.
3. Deflectt he white rook by creating the e-passed pawn.
However, the white king is quick enough in all three variations!
2...e4 Black is not able to clinch a draw by utilising the motif analysed after 1.a8=Q?, because the
white king is on a7, one square closer to the black pawns!
The white king is quickly approaching the centre, while his counterpart will remain too far away after
the liquidation into pawn ending! 2...Kf3 3.Kb6 Kxf2 4.Kc5 Ke3 (4...e4 5.Rxf4+ Ke3 6.Rf5+-)
5.Kd5 f3 (5...e4 6.Re6 f3 7.Rxe4+ Kd3 8.Ke5 f2 9.Rf4 Ke2 10.Kf5+-) 6.Kxe5 f2
7.Rxf2 Kxf2 8.Kf4+-; White captures the h-pawn after 2...Kxh4 3.Kb6 Kg4 4.Kc5 Kf3 5.Kd5 Kxf2
249
6.Kxe5 h4 7.Kxf4 h3 8.Kg4+ Kg2 9.Ra6+-
3.Kb6 e3 4.fxe3 fxe3 5.Kc5 e2 6.Re6 Kxh4
7.Kd4! White is approaching the e-pawn with his king, while the rook stays on the 6th rank in order
to slow down Black's passed pawn!
Too hasty is 7.Rxe2? Kg3=
7...Kg3 8.Kd3 h4
8...e1=Q 9.Rxe1 h4 10.Ke3 Kg2 (10...h3 11.Rg1+ Kh2 12.Rg8 Kh1 13.Kf3 h2 14.Ra8+-) 11.Kf4 h3
12.Re2++-
250
9.Kxe2 h3 10.Rg6+ Kh2 11.Kf2 Kh1 12.Rg1+ Kh2 13.Rg3 Kh1 14.Rxh3# 1-0
85. A. Vlachos 2413 - M. Cornette 2558

Sitges 2020
The black rook is awkwardly positioned defending the a-pawn. On the other hand, White's king is
condemned to passivity, while the black king cannot reach the queenside being restricted by the white
rook. In order to realise his material advantage, Black must create a passed pawn on the f-file. When
the pawn reaches f3 (even without king's support) white will not have chance to stop the promotion
because his king cannot leave h2 and g2 squares.
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1...f5 2.Re5+ Kd3 3.Ra5 f4
In this concrete position there is an alternative path to victory thanks to the active position of the
black king: 3...g4!? 4.hxg4 fxg4 Threatening g3+ and Rh1+. 5.g3 Re1! Black is intending to reach the
winning pawn ending after the swap of rooks. (5...hxg3+?? 6.Kg2=) 6.Ra3+ (6.Rxa2 Re2+ 7.Rxe2
Kxe2 8.Kg2 (8.gxh4 Kf2-+) 8...h3+ 9.Kh2 Kf2-+) 6...Ke2 7.Rxa2+ Kf3 8.Ra3+
(White gets checkmated after 8.gxh4 g3+ 9.Kh3 Rh1+ 10.Rh2 Rxh2#) 8...Re3!-+
4.Ra8 Ke3 5.Re8+ Kd4 6.Ra8
6...g4!
252
Black initiates pawn breakthrough in order to create passed pawn on the f-file.
7.hxg4
7...h3! 8.g5
8.gxh3 f3-+
8...hxg2 9.Kxg2
9...f3+! 10.Kxf3
10.Kf2 Rh1 11.Rxa2 Rh2+-+
253
10...Rf1+ 11.Kg4 a1=Q 12.Rxa1 Rxa1 13.Kf5 Kd5 0-1
86. N. Batsiashvili 2466 - L. Krysa 2544

Sitges 2020
White's winning plan:

1. Trade the f2 for the black g5-pawn.
2. Do not allow the black king to reach the centre.
3. Put the rook on g7 or f8 and force the black rook to defend the f7-pawn.
4. Execute pawn breakthrough.
1.f4!
1.Ke4 Rb1 2.f4 Re1+ 3.Kf3 Kg6± With some activity for the black king. Maybe there is not enough
for a full point.
1...gxf4
1...Kg6 2.fxg5 Kxg5 3.Ke4+- followed by Rg2 and cutting off the black king on the g-file.
2.Ke4 Rd7
2...f3!? 3.Kxf3 Rb1 4.Rg2 Kh8 5.Ke4 Rd1 6.Rc2+- with the already seen process to follow.
3.Rf2 Kg8 4.Rxf4
254
The first phase of conversion is completed!
4...Kf8 5.Rh4! Kg8 6.Rh2
The second phase - preventing the enemy king to reach the centre - completed!
6...Rd8 7.Rc2 Rd7 8.Rc8+
The game continued with 8.Kd3+- and White did not lose the edge, even though the conversion took
some time, N. Batsiashvili - L. Krysa.
8...Kh7 9.Rf8
255
The third phase of the plan is completed!
9...Ra7
9...Kg6 10.Rg8+ Kh7 11.Rg7+ Kh6 We reached the desired position - the rook on g7 and black king
out of play. Now, it is time for pawn breakthrough! 12.d5! exd5+ 13.Kf5 (13.Kd4 Ra7 14.Kxd5+-)
13...d4 14.Rxf7! Rxf7 15.e6+-
10.Kf4 Rd7 11.Kg5! Ra7
The fourth phase follows.

12.d5! exd5 13.e6 fxe6 14.Re8+-
256
The black rook must abandon the 7th rank in view of rook trade on e7. White pushes e7 and promotes
the pawn.
87. I. Nepomniachtchi 2784 - An. Esipenko 2686

Russia (ch) 2020
White is a pawn up, but Black has decent counter-chances thanks to his distant a-passer. However,
Black can secure a draw only with highly active play because the f5-pawn is a nuisance too.
1...a4!
Black ended up in a totally hopeless position after 1...Kf6
257
2.Ke3! Kg5 (2...a4 3.f3 a3 4.Kf4+-) 3.f3 Kxh5 4.Kf4 Kg6 5.Rc6+ Black is forced to defend
passively, because his a-passer does not represnt great danger. 5...Kg7 6.Kxf5
6...Rf2 Nepomniachtchi converted without much trouble: (White wins another pawn after 6...a4
7.Rc7+ Kf8 8.Rh7 Rh2 9.Ra7 Ra2 (The active king and extra pawn are more than enough for victory:
9...Rf2 10.f4 Rf3 11.c4 Rxg3 12.Kf6 Ke8 13.Rxa4 Rc3 14.f5 h5 15.Ra8+ Kd7 16.Rh8+-) 10.g4 a3
258
11.Kf6 Ke8 12.Kg6+-) 7.Rc7+ Kf8 8.f4 Rf3 9.g4 a4 10.c4 a3 11.Ra7 Rc3 12.Kf6 Ke8 13.c5 Rc4
14.f5 Rxg4 15.c6 Kd8 16.Rxa3 Kc7 17.Rh3+- 1 : 0 I. Nepomniachtchi - An. Esipenko.
2.g4
2...Kh4!! Black is intending to trade the a-pawn for the white c-pawn, and then attack the white
pawns on the kingside by delivering side checks!
Black should not play 2...a3? because his king must retreat in view of a clear mating threat
259
3.Kg3! (3.Rxf5+ Kh4 4.Ra5+-) 3...Kf6 4.Rxf5+ Ke6 5.Ra5+-
3.Rxf5 Rc2 4.Rc5 a3 Obviously, Black's strategy was successful!
5.Ke4
5.Ke3 a2 6.Ra5 Rxc3+ 7.Ke4 Rc4+=
5...a2 6.Ra5 Kxg4 7.f3+ Kg3 8.f4 Kg4=

The position is equal because all the white pawns are under attack.
88. V. Ivanchuk 2678 - Anish Giri 2764

260
White is planning to bring his king to the queenside and support the a-passer. On his part, Black
should try to stop this plan with active play. So, Black can secure a draw only if both his king and
rook are active! Being short on time Black did not manage to recognise the final moment for possible
salvation.
1...g5!
Black misses the opportunity to move his king forward after 1...Ra2?
because the king remains stuck among pawns. 2.g4! Back has no counterplay on the kingside, while
261
his rook must eyeball the enemy a-pawn. 2...Ra4 3.f3 Ra2 4.Ke1 g5 5.h5
5...Kh7 (5...Ra3 6.Kd2 Kh7 (6...Rxf3 7.Rb8 Kh7 8.a7+-) 7.Kc2 Rxf3 8.Rb3 Rf4 9.Ra3 Rc4+ 10.Kd3
Rc8 11.a7 Ra8 12.Ke4+-) 6.Kd1
The white king is going to support the a-pawn. 6...Ra3 (Black awaited the conclusion of the game
without any attempts to gain counterplay: 6...Kh6 7.Kc1 Kh7 8.Kb1 Ra3 9.Kb2 Ra5 10.Kb3+- V.
Ivanchuk - Anish Giri) 7.Kc1 White should not pay attention to Black's threats. Instead he should
continue with his own plan. 7...Rxf3 8.Kb2 Rf4 9.Ka3 Rf1 10.Rb2 Ra1+ 11.Ra2 Rc1 12.a7 Rc8
13.Kb4 Ra8 14.Kc5 f5 15.gxf5 Kh6 16.Kb6 g4 17.Kb7+- etc.
2.hxg5+ Kxg5 3.Ke2 Kg4
262
The white rook is limited on the 6th rank and cannot support the advancement of the a-pawn without
king's help. On the other hand, Black is intending to execute breakthrough with his king via h3 and g2
putting the white kingside pawns in danger.
4.Rc6 Kh3 5.Kf3 Ra3+ 6.Kf4
6...Kg2=
89. S. Vidit 2721 - D. Navara 2717

Praha 2020
263
White is trying to liquidate pawns on the queenside, but the possibilty of creating two connected
passers complicates his path to a draw.
1...b5! 2.Ra1!
2.g4? is a decisive mistake, swiftly punished by Black. 2...hxg4 3.fxg4 b4 White has no time to
activate his rook, so Black converts the advantage of two connected passers on the queenside. 4.g5
Rb2 5.Ra1 a2 6.g6 b3 7.c6 Rc2 8.Rf1 b2 9.g7 Rxg2 10.c7 Kd7 0 : 1 S. Vidit - D. Navara.
2...Kd7!
2...b4 3.Kc4 Rb2
264
4.Rd1! White cuts off the black king from the white c-pawn thus creating serious counterplay. 4...a2
5.c6 Rxg2 (5...Rd2 6.c7 Rc2+ 7.Kxb4=) 6.Kxb4 Rc2 7.Kb3 Rxc6 8.Kxa2 Rc3=
3.g4 hxg4 4.fxg4
4.f4 b4 5.Kc4 Rb2 6.f5 a2 7.f6 Ke6 8.c6 Kxf6 9.c7 Rc2+ 10.Kxb4 Rxc7 11.Rxa2
11...Rc1! The white king is too far away. For example: 12.g3 Rg1 13.Ra3 Ke5 14.Kc4 Ke4 15.Rb3
Rf1-+ with Rf3 to follow.
4...Kc6
Black is not quicker in case of 4...b4 5.Kc4 Rb2 6.g5 a2
265
7.g6 b3 8.g7=
5.Rf1 Rb4+ 6.Kc3 Rxg4 7.Kb3 b4 8.Rf8
White is able to retain the balance by delivering checks from the back rank. It would be fatal to go for
8.Rf6+?? Kb5-+
8...Kxc5 9.Rf5+ Kb6 10.Rh5= We reached a theoretically drawn position. The white king managed
to block the black pawns, while his counterpart is cut off and unable to escort the pawns to
promotion. Curiously, this position is drawn even without White's g-pawn!
90. I. Cheparinov 2670 - Alexander Moiseenko 2635

Chess24 (Banter Blitz Cup) 2020
266
Two excellent grandmasters reached this position in one of the blitz games played on the internet.
Moiseenko misses the oportunity to save the game with some really skilful play.
1...f5?
1...Kh4! Black is activating his king and targeting the white h-pawn! 2.Ke4
(White could try 2.g5!?
267
2...f5! (2...Kxg5 3.Ke4 Kh4 4.Kd5 Kh3 5.Rd7 Kxh2 6.Rxg7
6...Rd8+! (It would be rather careless to go for 6...g5? because White is able to defend the f-pawn on
time 7.Rg6+-) 7.Ke6 Kg3 8.Rxg6+ Kxf3 9.Rxf6+ Ke4 10.c7 Rc8 11.Kd7 Rxc7+ 12.Kxc7 Kd3=)
3.Rxg6 Kh5 4.Rxg7 Rxc6 White cannot convert being up a pawn because of Black's great activity.
For example: 5.f4 (or 5.Rg8 Rc3+ 6.Kf2 Rc2+ 7.Kg3 avoiding a peaceful conclusion would only put
White in unnecessary danger: 7...f4+ 8.Kh3 Rf2 9.Rh8+ Kxg5 10.Rh5+!?= (10.Rg8+=)) 5...exf4+
6.Kxf4
268
6...Rc4+! (Passive defence of the pawns is not adequate here because White's connected passers
would decide the matter: 6...Rc5? 7.Rh7+ Kg6 8.Rh6+ Kg7 9.h4 Rb5 10.Rd6 Rb4+ (10...Ra5 11.h5+-
) 11.Kxf5 Rxh4 12.Rd7+ Kf8 13.Kg6+-) 7.Kxf5 Rc5+ 8.Kf4 (8.Ke4 Rxg5=) 8...Rc4+ 9.Ke3 Rc5=)
2...g5! Before he advances further with his king, Black makes sure to keep his pawn formation
compact. (2...Kh3 3.g5!+-) 3.Kd5 (White cannot penetrate with his monarch after 3.Kf5 Kh3 4.Ke6
Rc7! 5.Kd5 Kxh2 6.Kc5 Kg3 7.Kb6 Rc8 8.Kb7 Re8 9.Rd3 e4!=) 3...Kh3 4.Kc5 Kxh2 5.Kb6 Kg3
6.Rd3
6...e4! The black king will collect White's pawns and create strong counterplay thanks to passed
pawns on the kingside. 7.fxe4+ Kxg4 8.Kb7 Re8 9.c7 Kf4 10.Rd7 (White cannot score a full point by
queening the pawn: 10.Rd8 Re7 11.Kc6 Rxc7+ 12.Kxc7 Kxe4 13.Kd6 g4 14.Rg8 g5 15.Ke6 g3
269
16.Kxf6 Kf3 17.Kxg5 g2 18.Kh4 Kf2=) 10...Kxe4 11.Rxg7 Kf4 12.c8=Q Rxc8 13.Kxc8 g4 14.Kd7
g3 15.Ke6 Kf3 16.Kxf6 g2=
2.h4+!
Black does not have a decent defensive plan after: 2.Re6 Rc7 3.h4+ Kxh4 4.Rxg6+-
2...Kxh4 3.Rxg6 fxg4
White can prevent Black from approaching his pawns from behind by some really precise play:
3...f4+ 4.Ke4 Kg3
5.g5! White is making use of the fact that king king is dominating the centre, so he proceeds with
270
useful moves preparing the monarch to apprach the c-passer. On the other hand, the black rook is
condemned to stay put in front of the white passer, while his own king can only go back and forth
around the white f-pawn. (It is too soon to go for 5.Kxe5? Kxf3 (5...Kh3) 6.Kd6 Rg8! Black is
temporarily defending the g-pawn not allowing White to create two passed pawns. (If Black tries to
advance his f-pawn quickly, White converts as follows: 6...Kg2 7.Rxg7 f3
8.Rf7 Rd8+ 9.Ke7 Rd4 10.g5 Rc4 11.Kd6 f2 (11...Rd4+ 12.Ke5 Rg4 13.Rf5 f2 14.c7 Rc4 15.Kd6
Rd4+ 16.Kc5 Rd1 17.g6+-) 12.g6 Rg4 13.g7 f1=Q 14.Rxf1 Kxf1 15.c7+-) 7.c7 Kg2 8.Rxg7 Rxg7
9.c8=Q f3=
and the far advanced black pawn guarantees a draw. ) 5...Rc7 (5...Kh3) 6.Rd6 Kf2 7.Rd2+ Kg3
271
(7...Ke1 8.Rc2 Kd1 9.Rc4 Ke2 10.g6 Kf2 11.Kxe5 Kxf3 12.Rxf4+ Ke3 13.Rc4+-) 8.Rc2+-
4.Rxg4+ Kh5 5.Rc4 Kg5 6.Ke4 Kf6
7.c7??
Obviously this mistake is the result of time scramble.
White easily wins after 7.Kd5 Ke7 8.Kxe5+-
7...Ke6 8.Rc3† and Black lost on time. 1-0
91. M. Carlsen 2863 - Jef. Xiong 2709

272
The black king is trapped by his own pawns and cannot protect himself from two mate threats!
1.g5! Rh3 2.Rcc8 1-0
ALEXANDER ALEKHINE - EDGARD COLLE

Paris 1925
Almost a whole century ago, Alekhine utilised the very same mating idea by executing a crafty queen
sacrifice!
1.Qxd7! Rxd7 2.Re8+ Kh7 3.Rcc8+-
273
92. Hi. Nakamura 2736 - I. Nepomniachtchi 2784
White has a clear advantage thanks to his highly active rook and pawn majority on the kingside.
1.f5!
1.g4 hxg4+ 2.Kxg4 f5+ 3.Kg5 (3.Kf3 Kh6= The black king is becoming very active.) 3...Rc1! 4.h5
Rg1+ 5.Kh4
5...g5+! A brilliant tactical stroke that leads to liquidation of material on the kingside. 6.fxg5 (6.Kh3
274
gxf4 7.exf4 Rh1+ 8.Kg3 Rxh5 9.Rxb6 Rh1 10.Rxb7+ Kf6=) 6...Rg4+ 7.Kh3 Rxg5 8.Rxb6 (8.h6+
Kxh6 9.Rxb6+ Kg7 10.Rxb7+ Kf6=) 8...Rxh5+ 9.Kg3 Kf7 10.Kf4 Ke7 11.Ke5 (11.Rxb7+ Kd6=)
11...Rh3 12.Rxb7+ Kd8 13.Kf4 Rh4+ 14.Kxf5 Kc8 15.Rb6 Kc7=
1...f6?
Wrong decision. Black options for passive defence that leads him to defeat.
1...gxf5!
Active play is the only chance for survival! 2.Rxf5 Rc4 3.Rb5 (3.Rxh5 Rxb4 4.g4 b5±) 3...Rxh4
4.Rxb6 Rh1 5.Rxb7 Kf6 6.b5± White has an extra pawn, but his pawns on the kingside are very
weak. On the other hand, Black's pieces are active allowing him to fight for a draw.
2.fxg6 Kxg6 3.e4
The position is lost. Black is forced to defend passively, allowing White to slowly put more pressure
on his position.
3...Re6
3...Rc3+ 4.Kf4 Rc2 5.g3 Rf2+ 6.Ke3 Rg2 7.Kf3+-;
3...Rc1 4.Rxb6 Rf1+ 5.Kg3 Re1 6.Kf3 Rf1+ 7.Ke3 Re1+ 8.Kd3 Rh1 9.Rxb7 Rxh4± with some
practical chances for Black; 4.g3!+- An important move that limits Black's counterplay. The play
resembles game continuation.
4.g3 Rc6 5.Ke3 Rc3+ 6.Kf4 Rc6
275
7.g4!
By creating the distant h-passer White is making possible for his king to penetrate into the Black's
camp!
7...hxg4 8.Kxg4 Re6 9.Kf3
Nakamura is playing in a highly routine manner trying to maintain his position as healthy as possible
until he finds a winning plan.
Also, White can play 9.h5+ Kg7 10.Kf5 Rc6 11.Rd5+-
9...Rc6 10.Kf4 Re6 11.h5+ Kh6 12.Rd5 and the black rook cannot remain on the 6th rank.
12...Rc6 13.Kf5 Rc4
276
14.b5
The h-passer forced the black king out of play, so White can now freely reach the queenside and
support the promotion of the b-pawn.
14...Rb4 15.Kxf6
A bit quicker is 15.Rd6 Kxh5 (15...Rxb5+ 16.Kxf6 Kxh5 17.Rd5++-) 16.Rxb6+-
15...Rxe4 16.Re5
Nakamura realises his plan - his king goes to the queenside.

16...Rc4 17.Ke7 Kh7 18.Re6 Rc5 19.Rxb6 Rxh5 20.Rxb7 Kg6 21.Rb8 Kf5 22.Kd6 Ke4 23.b6 Kd4
277
24.Rd8 1-0
93. M. Carlsen 2862 - P. Maghsoodloo 2676

We should start the evaluation of this position with clear understanding that every transition into the
pawn endgame is favourable for White because of the distant a-passer. White is threatening Re4
chasing the black king away from the centre and seizing the initiative! Black finds the only way to
prevent the white king from reaching the c3-square!
1...Rd8! 2.Re4+ Kc5+ 3.Kc1 g5
Also, Black may opt for a bit more passive 3...Rf8 4.Re7 Kd4 5.Kd2 Rd8 6.Rxg7 Kc5+ 7.Kc1 Kd4
8.Re7 Rg8 9.g3 (There is no point in seeking advantage by defending the pawns in passive manner:
9.Re2 Kd3 10.Rd2+ Ke3 11.Kd1 c3 12.bxc3 Ra8 13.Kc1 Rxa3 etc.) 9...fxg3 10.hxg3 Rxg3 11.Rd7+
Ke3 12.Re7+ Kxf3 13.Rxh7=
4.Re5+ Kd4
Transition into the pawn ending is not possible: 4...Rd5?? 5.Rxd5+ Kxd5 6.Kd2+-
5.Rxg5 Re8
Also, Black could have gone for 5...Ke3 6.Re5+ Kf2 7.Rf5 (7.Re4 Rf8) 7...Ke2 8.Re5+ Kf2
6.Kd2 c3+ and active play should guarantee Black sufficient compensation.
Also possible was the preparatory 6...Rd8
7.bxc3+ Kc4 8.Rg7
278
8...b2?!
The last opportunity for Black to realise his initiative is 8...Rd8+! 9.Kc1 Kxc3 10.Rc7+ Kd4 11.Rg7
(11.Kb2 Rg8=) 11...Kc4 12.Rxh7 Rg8 13.Rc7+ Kd4 14.g3 fxg3 15.hxg3 Rxg3=
9.Rb7 Rd8+
9...Rg8! 10.Rb4+ (10.Rxb2? Rxg2+ 11.Kc1 Rg6= and Black will try to capture White's weak pawns.)
10...Kd5 11.c4+ Kd4 12.c5+ Kxc5 13.Rxb2 Rxg2+ 14.Kc3 Rg1 15.Kd3 Ra1 16.Ke4 Rxa3
17.Rd2! Ra8! (17...Ra4+ 18.Ke5 Kc6 19.Rd4 Ra2 20.h4+-) 18.h4 Re8+ (White will be able to
improve the position of his king and rook after the passive 18...Rf8 19.Rd7 h6 20.Ke5+-) 19.Kxf4
279
Rf8+ 20.Kg4 Rg8+ 21.Kh5 Rf8 22.Rd3 (22.Rf2 Kd4 23.Kg5 Ke3=) 22...Kc4=
10.Kc2 Re8
10...Rg8 11.Rb4+ Kc5 12.Kb1 Rxg2 13.h4 Rh2 14.Rxf4+-
11.Rb4+ Kc5 12.Kxb2 Re2+ 13.Kb3 Rxg2 14.h4 Rg1 15.Rxf4+-
94. A. Grischuk 2777 - L. Aronian 2773

lichess.org (Internet-m/6-rapid) 2020
The white rook cannot fight against the enemy pawns on the 2nd rank without assistance of his own
280
monarch. However, White can clinch a draw by stalemate thanks to the black a-pawn!
1.Ra1!!
1.Rh1? Obviously, Grischuk would not allow such a mistake in a "normal" game. However, in the
rapid time control such oversights do occur. 1...Ke3 2.Kd5 Kd2 3.Ra1 c1=Q 4.Rxa2+ Ke3-+ A.
Grischuk - L. Aronian.
1...Ke3 Black's king cannot go to the 2nd rank so must take a side route to the b2-square. In the
meantime the white king comes closer.
2.Ke5!
White makes an improvisation and approaches from the side.
Incorrect is 2.Kd5? Kd3-+
2...Kd3 3.Kf4 Kc3 4.Ke3 Kb2
281
5.Kd2!
The point of stalemate motif!
5...Kxa1 6.Kc1=
This example is quite similar to another endgame position where Black had three pawns for the rook,
but White still managed to secure a draw.
EXAMPLE
The white rook is trying to control dangerous black pawns, but he must be extremely precise in order
282
to survive and clinch a draw.
1.Rh1!!
Any other rook move loses, because Black would have chance to play h2.
1...Kg3
Black should not go for 1...g3?? because the white king approaches and secures a win.
2.Kf3 g2 (Or 2...h2 3.Kg2+-) 3.Ra1+-
2.Rg1+!
283
This check is essential to force the black king to the 2nd rank!
2...Kh2
2...Kf2 3.Ra1 h2 4.Rxa2+ Kg1 5.Kf4=
3.Ra1 A forced stalemate occurs after 3...g3 4.Kf3 g2 5.Kf2 g1=Q+ 6.Rxg1 a1=Q 7.Rxa1=
NICOLAI GRIGORIEV
1929
1...Kf7 2.Kg5 Ke6 3.Kf4 Kd5 4.Ke3 Kc4 5.Kd2

It looks like White is quite close to victory. However...
284
5...c1=Q+! and Black saves himself in a truly ingenious fashion.
5...Kb3? 6.Kc1+-
6.Kxc1
6.Rxc1+ Kb3=
6...Kb3=
LADISLAV PROKEŠ
1941
Take a look at another example with the pawns on the 7th rank.
285
1.Kf4 Kg7
2.a8=Q!
White sacrifices a pawn in order to deflect the enemy rook and cross the e-file!
2.Kf5 Kf7-+
2...Rxa8 3.Ke5 Kf7 4.Kd6 Ke8 5.Kc6 Rc8 6.Kd6! Ra8 7.Kc6=
95. Al. Maltsevskaya 2248 - L. Budisavljević 2492

Novi Sad 2020
286
In rook endgames even two extra pawns are not always sufficient for victory. The white king is far
away from his pawns, so Black is able to secure a draw by combining the activity of his rook and
king with attacks on the white pawns and stalemate motifs.
1...Kh4! 2.Rb4+
2.Rg8 h5! Black stalemated his own monarch, so a draw becomes inevitable. 3.Kc3 (Or 3.Rg7
Rb2+!=)
3...Rc2+! 4.Kd4 Rd2+ 5.Ke5 Rd5+! 6.Kf6 Rd6+= and White cannot hide from checks.
287
2...Kh5 3.Rb5+
The black king is in stalemate after 3.Rg4 Rb2+! 4.Kc4 Rb4+ 5.Kd5 Rb5+ 6.Ke4 Re5+ 7.Kf4 Rf5+
8.Kg3
8...Rxf3+!=
3...Kg6!
White should be able to consolidate and protect his pawns after 3...Kh4? 4.g3+ Kh3 5.Rh5+ Kg2
6.f4+-
4.Rb8 Kg7 5.Rb4 Rxg2
288
6.Rg4+ Rxg4 7.fxg4 Kf6=
96. Vl. Fedoseev 2678 - S. Khanin 2482

White has two extra pawns and is clearly winning. However, he may experience some technical
difficulties in conversion due to great activity of the black pieces. Also, the f5-pawn may become a
target of attack. So, in order to win White should exchange the f5 for the h5-pawn, thus obtaining a
decisive edge. But, how to achieve that?
1.Rh6!
289
1.Re6+? Fedoseev tried to execute the correct idea in the simplest manner, however there is a huge
problem to this plan. 1...Kxf5 2.Rh6
2...Ra5!! A brilliant defence! 3.Kh3 (3.Rxh5+ Kg4=) 3...Ke4= Vl. Fedoseev - S. Khaninю
1...Ra2+ 2.Kh3 Kf3
3.Rb6!
First, White must push away the black king and only then focus on the h5-pawn!
3.Rxh5? Ra1 4.Kh2 Ra2+=
290
3...Ra1 4.Rb3+ Ke4 5.f6 Rf1 6.Rb5+-
97. R. Kempiński 2630 - Ge. Spyropoulos 2152

Greece 2015
There are quite a few similar examples to be found in databases.
In this particular position grandmaster Kempinski got a bit lucky since his opponent wrongly assumed
that losing the h-pawn was disastrous!
1.h5+ 1-0
1.h5+ Kf6 2.Rh7 Ra4+ 3.Kg3 Ra6!! 4.Rxh6+ (4.Kh4 Ke5=) 4...Kg5=
98. A. Shirov 2722 - A. Morozevich 2749

Astana 2001
291
Curiously, Morozevich did not notice a stalemate motif in his game against Shirov. Black lost rather
quickly after
1...Kb4?
1...Rxh5!! 2.Ra5+ Kb4 3.Rxh5=
2.Rb6+ Kc5 3.Rxh6 Kb4
4.Kc2! Rc3+ 5.Kd2 Rh3 6.Rh8+-
99. L. van Wely 2610 - J. Hector 2478

Deutschland 2020
292
Black secures a draw being two pawns down proving that the activity of pieces is of paramount
importance in rook endgames!
1...Kc2!
1...Kb4? 2.a6+- L. van Wely - J. Hector.
2.a6
2.Ra3 Rb5!=;
2.Re2+ Kc3!=
2...Ra5+ 3.Ra3
293
3...Rb5=
100. Man. Petrosyan 2607 - Anna M. Sargsyan 2405

Jermuk 2020
The activity of the pieces is of paramount importance in rook endgames! Black is two pawns down
but can clinch a draw by attacking the white pawns on a4 and f5!
1...Re1!
An essential move. Black is cutting off the white king preventing him from going to the queenside
294
and supporting the white pawns.
Black should not play 1...Ra1? because he must not allow the white king to reach the queenside. If the
white king reaches his footsoldiers on the queenside, the white rook will be able to abandon defence
of the f-pawn and focus on capturing the black b6-pawn. White should win with the passed pawn on
the queenside being supported by king.
2.Ke3 Ra3+ 3.Kd2 Rh3 (3...Ke5 4.f6+-) 4.Kc2 Rg3 (4...Ke5 5.Rc4 Kxf5 6.Rc6 Ra3 7.Rxb6 Rxa4
8.Kb3+-) 5.Kb2 Re3 6.Rc4 Kxf5
7.a5! White wins by creating the free b-passer. 7...bxa5 8.b6 Re5 (8...Re6 9.Rc5+ Kf6 10.Rb5 Re8
11.b7 Rb8 12.Kb3+- The white king reaches the b7-pawn quicker than Black's.) 9.Rc3 a4 10.Ka3
295
Rb5 11.Rc6 Ke5 12.Kxa4 Rb1 13.Ka5+- With the "Lucena position" on the board - the black king is
cut off, while the white monarch will assume position in front of the pawn.
2.Kf2 Re8 3.Kg3 Re1 4.Kf3
4...Kg5! King activity is essential!

Black loses in case of 4...Ra1? 5.Ke3+- as shown after 1...Ra1?
5.Kf2
5.Re4 Ra1!=
5...Re8!
Transposition into the pawn ending would be fatal for Black: 5...Kxf4? 6.Kxe1 Kxf5
296
7.a5!+-
6.Kg3 Kf6 7.Kg4
7...Re5!
Black lost his nerve, and lost quickly after the imprecise: 7...Re1? 8.Rc4 Ke5 9.Rc6 Rg1+ 10.Kf3 Ra1
297
11.f6 Rxa4 12.Rxb6+- and White has two pawns more, as in Man. Petrosyan - Anna M. Sargsyan.
8.Rf1
8.Rc4 Rxf5 9.Rc6+ Ke5 10.Rxb6 Rf4+ 11.Kg3 Rxa4=
8...Rc5=
Black saves this two-pawns-down position thanks to highly active play!
101. Vladis. Kovalev 2660 - J. van Foreest 2644

Wijk aan Zee 2020
298
The white knight is trapped on g7, so white allows its capture under most favourable circumstances -
ruining Black's pawn structure in the process!
1.Nh5!! gxh5 2.Bxb5
White is fortifying his defence by moving the king to h2!
2...Rc5
2...Rc2
3.Kf1! White should be able to secure a draw by protecting g2, and h2 pawns, even if he abandons all
299
the other pawns! 3...Rxa2 4.a4 h4 5.h3 Kg7 6.Kg1 Rd2 7.Kh2 The white king reached desired
destination, so now he transfers the bishop to the long h1-a8 diagonal thus creating a fortress. 7...Rd5
8.Bc6 Rxg5 9.Bf3=
3.a4 Rxg5 4.Kf2 h4
5.h3! Kg7 6.Kg1 Kf6 7.Kh2 Rg3 8.Bc4 Rc3 9.Bd5 Rd3 10.Be4 Ra3 11.Bxh7 Rxa4 12.Bd3 Rxa2
13.Be4 Ke5 14.Bf3=
Black cannot make any progress, since White can secure a draw by sliding the bishop along the h1-a8
diagonal!
102. F. Caruana 2835 - M. Carlsen 2863

lichess.org (Internet-m/7-rapid) 2020
300
Rook and rook pawn against bishop endgames are often very complicated and difficult for conversion
even though the material advantage is huge. The attacker is in better situation if his pawn is not too
far advanced so he has more space for the king and rook to manoeuvre. Here, the white bishop
intends to control the a2-g8 diagonal, thus preventing the black king in support of its pawn. King has
the essential role in this type of endgames. Of course, Carlsen is well aware of that and his conversion
is very smooth!
1...Rd6!
Black wins only if he stops the enemy bishop to gain control over the a2-g8 diagonal!
Black cannot win after 1...a4? 2.Be6! Re2 3.Bf7 a3 4.Bg8 Kc3 5.Bf7 a2+ 6.Ka1!=
2.Kb2
2.Bf5 a4 3.Bh7 Rd8 4.Bg6 Rd7 5.Bf5 Re7-+
2...a4 3.Bh5 a3+ 4.Kb1 Rd7
Black prevents the white bishop from coming to the desired diagonal. White cannot stop promotion in
the following couple of moves.
5.Bg6
5.Bg4 Re7-+ followed by Re1
5...Rd1+ 6.Ka2 Rd2+ 7.Kb1
301
7...a2+! 8.Ka1 Ka3 9.Bc2 Re2 10.Bd1 Rg2 0-1
EXAMPLE
In the next example White is able to secure a draw because the black pawn is on the 4th rank!
1.Kg1!
The white king goes to f1 and holds a draw. It would be wrong to keep the king in the corner.
Keeping the king in the corner and covering the checks with the bishop is incorrect and loses: 1.Bc5?
Rb1+ 2.Bg1
302
2...Kg4! 3.Kg2 Rb2+ 4.Kh1 (4.Kf1 Kf3-+) 4...Kg3 5.Bd4 Rh2+ 6.Kg1 Re2 7.Kh1 (7.Kf1 Kf3
8.Kg1 h3-+) 7...h3 8.Bc5 h2-+
1...Rg2+ 2.Kf1 Rg5 3.Bc7 Rc5
4.Bb8
The white king and bishop are not allowing the enemy king to clear the path for the pawn promotion.
4...Rf5+ 5.Kg1 Rb5 6.Bd6 Rb1+ 7.Kf2 Rb2+ 8.Kf1 Kg4 9.Bc7 Kf3 10.Kg1 Rg2+ 11.Kh1=
Obviously, Black cannot make any progress and win this endgame.
BERNHARD VON GURETZKY-CORNITZ
303
1863
The old XIX century study shows how White wins with the black bishop being positioned on the
ideal b1-h7 diagonal:
1.Kh6 Kg8
1...Be4 2.Re7 Bd5 3.Re8+ Bg8 4.Kg5 Kg7 5.Re7+ Kh8 6.Kg6 Bb3
7.Rh7+! Kg8 8.Rc7 Kh8 (8...Kf8 9.Rg7+-) 9.h5 Bd5 10.Rh7+ Kg8 11.Re7 Kh8 12.h6 Bb3 13.h7+-
2.Rg7+ Kf8
304
2...Kh8 3.Re7 Bc4 (3...Bb5 4.Rb7+-) 4.Re8+ Bg8 5.Kg5+-
3.Rg3 Bb1 4.Rg5 Kf7
4...Bd3
5.Kh5! Be2+ (5...Kf7 6.Kg4+-) 6.Kg6 Kg8 7.Rd5+-

5.Rg3 Bc2
5...Be4 6.Kg5 Kg7 7.Kf4+;
5...Kf8 6.Kh5 Kf7 7.Rg5+-
305
6.Kh5! Kf6
6...Bd1+ 7.Kg5 Kg7 8.Rc3 Be2 9.h5 Bb5 10.h6+ Kh7 11.Rc7+ Kh8 12.h7+-;
6...Ba4 7.Kg5 Kg7 8.Rc3+-;
6...Bb1 7.Rg5 Kf6 8.Kg4 Bg6 9.h5 Bh7 10.h6 Bg6 11.Kf4 Bh7 12.Rg7 Bd3 13.Ra7 Bc2 14.h7+-
7.Rg5 Bd1+
7...Bf5 8.Kh6 Bc2 9.Rg2 Bd3 10.Rf2+;
7...Bd3 8.Kg4 Be2+ 9.Kf4+-
8.Kh6 Kf7
8...Bf3 9.Rg1 Be2 10.Rg2 Bd3 11.Rf2+
9.Rg7+ Kf6
9...Kf8 10.Kg6 Bh5+ 11.Kf6 Bf3 12.Rg5+-
10.Rg1 Be2 11.Rg2 Bd3 12.Rf2+ Bf5

12...Ke7 13.h5+-
13.h5+-
EXAMPLE
The following example will show how powerful a bishop can be, and how it can fight against rook.
306
Thanks to the control over the a1-h8 diagonal, Black is able to prevent the white king from coming
any closer into his territory. With precise play the game should end in a draw!
White may try returning his king back:
1.Kd5
White cannot disturb Black's defensive setup by pushing his pawns forward: 1.h4
1...Ba1 (1...Bd4? by placing the bishop on the 4th rank Black is allowing White to bring the rook to
g4 with a tempo and pressure on the g6-pawn: 2.Rb4 Bc3 3.Rc4 Bb2 4.g4! hxg4 5.Rxg4 Kh7 (5...Kg7
6.h5+-) 6.Kf7 Kh6 7.Rxg6+ Kh5
307
8.Rg2! White can preserve the h-pawn thanks to bad placement of the black bishop: 8...Bc3 9.Rh2
Bd4 10.Ke6 Bg1 11.Rh1 Bf2 12.Kf5+-) 2.Rb4 Kg7 3.g4 hxg4 4.Rxg4 Kh6 It is time to capture the
h-pawn! 5.Rg5 (5.Kf7 Kh5=) 5...Bd4 6.Kf7 Bf2 7.Rxg6+ Kh5= After the capture of the h4-pawn the
position is theoretically drawn. Of course, Black should remember to seek salvation in one of the
light-squared corners!
1...Bf6 2.Ke4 Bc3 3.Kf4 Bf6 4.g4 hxg4 5.Kxg4 Be5 6.h3
Black manages to escape from the dark-squared corner after the pawn trade: 6.Kg5 Bxh2 7.Kxg6
Kf8=
6...Bf6 7.Kf4 Kf8 Black created a blockade for the enemy king.
308
8.Ke4
White cannot achieve much by bringing the king back to e6.
8...Kg8 9.Kd5 Ba1 10.Ke6 Bc3 11.Rc7 Bb2
12.h4!? White is pushing the h-pawn with the following idea:

- transfer the rook on the g-file and force the black king to go to h7 in order to protect the g6-pawn.
- freeing the f7 square for his own king. However, Black is still able to secure a draw by attacking the
white h4-pawn!
12.Rc2 Ba1 13.Rg2 Kg7
309
12...Bd4 13.Rc4
13...Be3! A really important and precise move. It will prove to be quite significant once the black
king goes for the h-pawn.
The complexity of this ending is best shown if Black makes a mistake: 13...Bf2? 14.Rg4 Kh7
15.Kf6! (Black captures the white h-pawn on time after 15.Kf7? Kh6=) 15...Kh6 (15...Be1 16.Rxg6
Bxh4+ 17.Kf7+- and the black king cannot reach the light-squared corner of the board.) 16.Rxg6+
Kh5 17.Rg2! White manages to keep the pawn alive thanks to pinning threats along the h-file.
17...Bb6 18.Rh2 Bd8+ 19.Kf5+-
310
14.Kf6
14.Re4 Bd2 15.Kf6 (15.Re2 Bc3=) 15...Kh7 16.Rg4 Kh6 17.Rxg6+ Kh5 18.Rg2 Bc3+ 19.Kf5
Kxh4=
14...Kh7 15.Rg4
15...Kh6!
The black king is going for the white h-pawn, leaving the dark-squared corner behind at the same
time.
16.Rxg6+ Kh5 17.Rg3
Now the importance of the bishop on e3 becomes evident (compared to f2). White attacks the bishop
in order to gain an important tempo for defence of the h-pawn. But, the rook is "too short" on the 3rd
rank!
311
17...Bb6! 18.Rh3 Kg4!
The black king is escaping from the critical h-file and collects the last remaining white pawn. Exactly
that move was not possible in the variation 13...Bf2?
19.Rh1 Bd8+=
103. Y. Grigorieva 2290 - P. Shuvalova 2456

Russia (ch) 2020
312
In this position the black knight is able to fight against the enemy rook and pawn.
1...Na6!
Quite unexpectedly Black is able to set the blockade of the white passed pawn and secure a draw!
2.Ra8 Nc5+ 3.Ke5 Kb4 4.a5 Kb5 5.Ra7 Na6 6.Kd6
6...Nb4!
Black is continuing to probe the white pawn until the rook leaves the a-file!
Black must not capture the pawn if the white rook is on the a-file: 6...Kxa5? 7.Kc6+-
313
7.Ra8
7.Kc7 Na6+ 8.Kb7 Nc5+=
7...Na6
Black is insisting on the blockade and White cannot make any progress. The game continued with:
8.Kd7 Nc5+ 9.Kc8 Na6 10.Ra7 Nc5 11.Kb8 Na6+
12.Ka8 Nc5 13.Rc7 Na6 14.Ra7 Nc5 15.Kb8 Na6+ 16.Kb7 Nc5+ 17.Kc7 Na6+ 18.Kd6 Nb4
19.Rb7+ Kxa5
The white rook abandoned the a-file, so Black can calmly take tha pawn, with a theoretically drawn
position.
314
20.Kc5 Na6+ 21.Kc4 Ka4=
104. W. So 2770 - Jef. Xiong 2709

Black is able to defend this position being an exchange down. But, he must keep the pawn on f7! If he
pushes it forward without need Black will allow White to reach the winning pawn ending after giving
back the material advantage!
1...Bd5!
315
1...f5? 2.Kd3 Be4+ (2...Bg2 3.Rg7 g4 4.Ke3 Kd6 5.Kf4 Be4 6.Rg6+ Ke7 7.Kg5 Kf7 8.Rf6+ Kg7
9.Rxf5+-) 3.Ke3 g4 In order to take on f5 White must keep the black king as far away from the f2-
pawn as possible! 4.Kf4 Black has some practical chances after (4.Rd8! see 6.Rd8!) 4...Kc4 White
would be forced to bring the king back: (In the game Black lost all defensive motifs after 4...Kc6
5.Rf7 Kd6 6.Rxf5 1 : 0 W. So - Jef. Xiong) 5.Ke3! (The black king reaches the f2-pawn in the
following line 5.Rf7? Kd3 6.Rxf5 Bxf5 7.Kxf5 Ke2=) 5...Kc5
6.Rd8! Kc4 (6...Kb5 7.Re8 Bc2 8.Rf8 Kc4 9.Rc8+ Kb3 10.Kf4 Be4 11.Rc5+-) 7.Rc8+ Kd5 8.Re8
Bc2 9.Kf4 Be4 10.Re5+ Kd4 11.Rxf5+-
2.Kd3 Be6 3.Rd8 Bf5+ 4.Ke3 Kc4! 5.Rg8
5.Rb8 Be6=
5...g4 6.Kf4 Be6
316
Black cannot break down the blockade while the pawn ending is pretty drawish:
7.Rxg4 Bxg4 8.Kxg4 Kd3=
105. L. Garifullina 2348 - A. Goryachkina 2593

Russia (ch) 2020
White has some winning chances thanks to the protected h-passer. The black bishop is restricted to
defending own pawns, so White is well-advised to act swiftly and do not allow Black to bring his
king back to the 7th rank.
317
White must:
- Cut off the black king and prevent him from reaching the 7th rank.
- Overload the black bishop with defensive tasks and put it in zugzwang.
1.Rd7!
The black king can return to defence after 1.Rd5? Kg7 2.Kf1 (2.Rd7+
2...Kg8! The black king got to the ideal defensive position. 3.Kf1 Bc5 4.Ke2 Bb6 5.h6 Bc5 6.Rg7+
Kh8 7.Rf7 Bd4 8.Kf1 Kg8 9.Rd7 Bc5 10.Rc7 Be3=) 2...Be3 3.Ke2 Bb6 4.Rf5 Bd4 5.Kd3 Bb6
6.Kc4 Be3 7.Rf3 Bb6 8.Kd5 Be3 9.Kc4 (9.Ke6 Bd4 10.Ke7 Be3=) 9...Bb6= L. Garifullina - A.
Goryachkina.
1...Bc5 2.Rf7 Bd4
318
3.Kf1! Zugzwang! 3...a5
3...Kg5 4.Rd7 Bb6 5.Rg7++-
4.Rd7 Bc5 5.Rd5 Bb4 6.Kxf2+-
106. Wei Yi 2732 - Xu Xiangyu 2573

China (ch) 2020
Zugzwang.
The black rook cannot be activated because it must control the c-pawn. So, White trasnfers the bishop
319
to c7 slowly limiting the black rook and enabling the white passed pawns to roll.
1.Ba5 Rc6 2.Bc7 Ra6 3.a5 Rc6 4.Bb6! a6
The white pawns are unstoppable after 4...axb6 5.axb6 Rc8 6.b7 Rg8 7.c6+
5.Bd8! And on Rc8 follows Bc7. 1-0
Also, White wins after 5.Bc7 but allows Black to play for stalemate: 5...Kc8!
6.Ke6! Rxc5 7.Bb6 Rc6 8.Ke7+-
107. F. Caruana 2822 - Vis. Anand 2758

Wijk aan Zee 2020
320
White is an exchange down and seeks compensation in his powerful f-passer. On the other hand,
Black has pawn majority on the queenside and reasonable winning chances if he manages to handle
White's tactical threats.
1...Nb3!
Anand did not proceed in most accurate manner, so Caruana gained some practical chances: 1...Kf6?
2.Bd7! Ne4+! 3.Nxe4+
3...Kxf7! A very important nuance that secures Black quite realistic winning chances! (Anand
continued in a pretty logical manner, but only managed to complicate the position even further!
321
3...fxe4?! 4.Be8 Ke7 5.Ke3 Rb8 6.Bxa4 b5 Black loses objectivity trying to push for a win and
leaves the white f7-pawn alive. (6...Kxf7 7.Bc6=) 7.Bb3 Ra8 8.Kxe4 Rxa3
9.Be6! Most likely, Anand overlooked this possibility! Caruana obtained some practical chances
forcing Anand to save the position with all his powers, because the white pawns ae very menacing!
9...Ra1? The final imprecision! Caruana does not lose the edge anymore. (Black is obliged to generate
some counter-threats using his b-passer, thus trying to deflect the white king. 9...b4 Black must use
the b-pawn to lure the white king away from his own footsoldiers. 10.d5 Ra6 11.Kd3 b3 12.Kc3 Rb6
13.Kb2 Rb8=) 10.d5! Rd1 11.Ke5
11...Rf1 (11...Re1+ 12.Kd4 Rf1 13.Kc5 g5 14.Kxb5 Rb1+ 15.Kc5+-; 11...b4
322
12.d6+! Kf8 13.d7 b3 (13...Ke7 14.Bd5 Rf1 15.Bf3 Re1+ 16.Kd4+-) 14.Bd5!) 12.d6+ Kf8 13.Kd5
Rf6 14.d7 Ke7
15.Kc6! Rf2 16.Kxb5+- F. Caruana - Vis. Anand) 4.Bxa4 fxe4 5.Bc2 Rxd4 6.Ke3µ
2.Bxf5
2.d5 b5 3.d6 Nc5-+; 2.Bxb3 axb3 3.Ne6+ Kxf7 4.Nxd8+ Kf6-+
323
2...Rd5! The correct reaction in order to lower the tensions on the board. Black should prevail thanks
to his 2 against 1 majority on the queenside.
2...gxf5? 3.Ne6+
3.Ne6+ Kxf7 4.Bg4 Nxd4-+
108. Evg. Ioannidis 2373 - B.-D. Deac 2626

Gibraltar 2020
Even though his rook is entrapped White is capable of obtaining decent compensation thanks to his
324
passed pawns!
1.Rxb6! axb6 2.cxb6 Ne6 3.b5 Kf6
4.Bc6!
Compared to the game continuation White is defenfind the b5-pawn!
The game continued with 4.Bd5? Ke7 (Evg. Ioannidis - B.-D. Deac) and White lost the crucial threat.
5.b7 Nc7! It is too late for 6.Bc6 Nxb5 7.Bxb5 Rxb7-+
4...Nc5
Black's king cannot approach because all the white pawns are defended. 4...Ke7? 5.b7! Kd8 6.a6
Rxb7 7.Bxb7±
325
5.a6 Nxa6 6.bxa6 Rxb6 7.a7 Ra6 8.a8=Q Rxa8 9.Bxa8 Ke5=
White has the wrong bishop, so Black is able to defend with not too much trouble. It is not so difficult
to trade all the remaining pawns for the white g-pawn and saddle White with the wrong bishop and h-
pawn.
109. L. van Foreest 2523 - V. Keymer 2527

Wijk aan Zee II 2020
326
The white e-pawn is unstoppable. However, Black is able to reach the equality in a study-like fashion,
by sacrifing the rook for the pawn. But, how to catch the white passer?
1...Rd5+ 2.Ke6 Ba2!
Black plays his trump card!
3.Rf8+ Kc7
Black loses right away after 3...Rd8+?? 4.Kf6+-
4.e8=Q
4.Kf6 Rd6+ 5.Kg5 Bf7! (Similar to the game continuation 5...Re6=) 6.Rxf7 Kd7=
4...Rd8+ 5.Ke5 Rxe8+ 6.Rxe8
327
6...c5!
Black is preventing the white king from reaching the queenside.
7.Rh8 Bb3 8.Rh1 b5 9.Rh8 Bc4
Black can simplify the position by means of 9...b4 10.Ke4 (10.Ra8 bxc3 11.bxc3 Kb7=) 10...a3
11.bxa3 bxa3 12.Ra8 a2 13.Kd3 c4+=
10.Rh4 Bb3 11.Rf4 Kc6 12.Rf6+ Kc7= White cannot make any progress.
110. K. Shirazi 2362 - T. Gareyev 2607

Rochefort 2020
328
A decisive pawn breakthrough!
1...b3! 2.Nxc2
2.Nxb3? Be5+-+
2...b2 3.Rxc3 b1=Qµ
111. M. Carlsen 2863 - W. So 2770

329
White can win the game by executing a pawn breakthrough!
1.gxh5!
White executes a discovered check and takes the black pawns on the queenside. In the meantime
Black obtains a rather unpleasant activity towards the white king. 1.Nxb6+? Kf6 2.Rxa7
2...Kg5! (In severe time trouble So misses his chance: 2...Re3+†
3.Kh4± M. Carlsen - W. So) 3.gxh5 (3.Rxg7?? Bc6-+) 3...Bc6 4.Ra5+ Kf4 5.Ra7 Be4 6.Rf7+
330
6...Kg5!? and Black has some initiative. (The forced liquidation gives White full compensation:
6...Bf5+ 7.Rxf5+ Kxf5 8.h6 Kxg6 9.hxg7 Kxg7 10.a4∞) 7.Nc4 Rc2 8.Kg3 Rxc4 9.Rxg7
1...Bxd7 2.h6 gxh6
3.Rxd7+! Kxd7 4.g7+-
112. A. Firouzja 2728 - L. Aronian 2767

Stavanger (rapid-Armageddon) 2020
331
Black can use the open c-file for the winning tactical stroke!
1...Rc3+!
The same idea in a much slower version: 1...Rc2 2.Rg7 Ra2 3.Rxh7 Rxa3+ 4.Kd2= A. Firouzja - L.
Aronian.
2.Nxc3
2.Kd2 Rxa3 3.Rg7 Rxh3-+
2...Nxf4+ 3.Kd2 Nxg2-+
332
113. M. Carlsen 2863 - Hi. Nakamura 2736*
chess24.com (Internet-m3/6-rapid) 2020
In this endgame position Black should have decent drawing chances after simple liquidation of
material. However, the black king is poorly positioned allowing Carlsen to combine mating threats
with attacks on the black knight - leading to simple conversion.
1.Re7! Kh6
More stuborn is 1...Rb1+ 2.Kf2 Nd1+ 3.Ke2 Kh6 4.Re6+ (4.Rc7!?+-) 4...Kh7 5.Nf7 g4 6.h4 Nc3+
7.Kd3 Nd5 8.Kd4 Rd1+ 9.Ke5 Ne3 10.Kf4 Rf1+ 11.Kxe3 Rxf7 12.Ke2!+- and Black cannot save
the g4-pawn.
2.Nf7+ Kg6 3.Nh8+ Kh6 4.Rxe3 Kg7 5.Re5 Kxh8
5...g4 6.h4 Kxh8 7.Rh5+ Kg7 8.Rg5++-
333
6.Rxg5+-
114. M. Vachier-Lagrave 2784 - T. Radjabov 2765

Black obtains decisive advantage thanks to the poorly placed white king and knight!
1...e4! 2.Kf2
2.Rb8 White is intending Re8 and taking the black e-pawn! 2...Kf7! (2...e3? 3.Re8) 3.Kf2 Nd3+-+;
2.Rc6 e3-+
334
2...Nd3+ 3.Ke2 Re1+ 4.Kd2 Rxf1-+
115. Wang Hao 2758 - R. Praggnanandhaa 2602

Gibraltar 2020
Endgames with pawns located on the same flank often end in a draw even if one player is a pawn up.
Here, Black takes the a-pawn by force, leaving White with 3 versus 2 advantage on the kingside.
However, the biggest problem for Black is the fact that his pawns are split, thus enabling White to
push the black king to the 8th rank. White wins because Black must keep his rook on the back rank at
all costs!
1.Rc6! Nxa3 2.Nf5+ Kg8 3.Rc7
White is threatening Nh6 forcing the black rook to passivity.
3...Rf8 4.Kf3
It is even more precise to avoid the f-file 4.Kh3
4...Nb1
Black could have forced White to change his king's route, but that would make White's action only a
bit slower. 4...Rd8 5.Kg2 Rf8 6.Kh3+-
5.Ke3 Re8+ 6.Kf4 Nd2
6...Kf8 7.Nd6 Re2 (7...Rd8 8.Rxf7+ Kg8 9.Rf6+-) 8.Rxf7+ Kg8 9.Kg5+-
335
7.f3 Rf8 8.h4 Kh8
8...Re8 9.Nh6+ (Also, Black is hopeless after 9.h5+-) 9...Kg7 10.Nxf7 Rf8 11.Ke3+-
9.h5 Kg8 10.g4 Kh8 11.g5 Kg8 12.Nh6+ Kg7 13.Kg4
Black cannot stop White's pawn march to f6!
13...Nf1
13...Nb3 14.f4 Nd2 15.f5 Ne4 16.Re7 Nd6 17.f6+ Kh8 18.Rd7+-
14.Nf5+ Kg8 15.Rd7
336
Black resigns because his knight is trapped on f1. 1-0
116. M. Vachier-Lagrave 2784 - Hi. Nakamura 2736

Rook and knight duo is a very potent one. In this example White manages to cast a mating net around
the black king thanks to his pieces and f-pawn.
1.f6!
White has several mating threats!
The rook ending is pretty drawish because White is not able to restrict the black king. 1.Nxc4?!
bxc4= M. Vachier-Lagrave - Hi. Nakamura.
1...Kh7
1...Bb3 2.Rd8+ Kh7
337
3.Nd7! Black must accept the lost rook endgame because of the Nf8-g6 mating threat. 3...Be6+
4.Kg3 Bxd7 5.Rxd7 Kg8 6.Rd8+ Kh7 7.Rf8+-; 1...a2
White cannot checkemate with Rd8 and Nd7, but he still got one trump up his sleeve! 2.Ng6!! Kh7
(2...fxg6 3.hxg6+-) 3.Nf8+ Kg8 4.Rd8 Black got only a few spite checks... 4...Bf1+ 5.Kg4 Rg2+
6.Kf5 Rd2 7.Rb8 Bh3+ 8.Ke5+-
2.Nd7! Kg8
2...a2 3.Nf8+ Kg8 4.Rd8 Bf1+ 5.Kg4 Rg2+ 6.Kf5 Rd2 7.Rb8 Bh3+ 8.Ke5+-; 2...Be6+ 3.Kg3 Bxd7
(3...a2 4.Nf8+ Kg8 5.Rd8+- There is no defence against Ng6 followed by Rh8) 4.Rxd7+-
338
3.Nf8!!
Brilliant! The f8-knight threatens to jump on g6 while preventing the defensive Kh7 retreat.
3...Bf1+
3...Rf2
4.Kg4! White must demonstrate immense precision till the end. (4.Kg3? Be2! 5.Rd8 Rxf3+ 6.Kg2
Rxf6 7.Nd7+ Kg7 8.Nxf6 Kxf6∞) 4...Be2 5.Rd8 Bxf3+ 6.Kg3+-
4.Kg4 Rh2
339
5.Ng6!
White is making it impossible for Black to capture the h5-pawn and free the g6-square for his king.
The conversion would last much longer after 5.Rd8 Rh4+ 6.Kf5 Bh3+ 7.Ke5 Rxh5 8.Kd6± etc.
5...Kh7
Black gets checkmated after 5...fxg6 6.hxg6+-
6.Rxf1 fxg6
7.e5!
340
The white pawns are unstoppable!
7...Rh4+
7...Re2 8.Rd1!+-;
7...gxh5+ 8.Kf5+-;
7...Rg2+ 8.Kh3 Re2 9.f4+- Black cannot stop the white pawns.
8.Kg3 Rf4
Black brought the rook to defence with the idea of creating counterplay with the a-passer. White's
connected passed pawns have additional support by the h-pawn which proves to be of crucial
importance!
9.Re1 a2
The threat is e6, so Black is using the only practical chance to deflect the white rook.
10.e6 Rxf6 11.e7 Re6
11...a1=Q 12.Rxa1 Re6 13.Ra7 Kg8
341
14.hxg6!+-
12.Rxe6! a1=Q 13.hxg6+ Kg7
342
14.Kf2!
The final precision before the promotion. Rook and f-pawn offer enough protection against the
perpetual check.
White should not play 14.e8=Q? because Black can save himself by means of perpetual check
14...Qg1+ 15.Kh3 Qh1+ 16.Kg3 (White is checkmated after 16.Kg4?? Qh4+ 17.Kf5 Qf4#)
16...Qg1+=
14...Qa7+ 15.Re3 Qa2+ 16.Re2 Qa7+ 17.Kg2+-
117. G. Oparin 2652 - Man. Petrosyan 2628

343
The activity of the black pieces should be enough for victory, especially because his king is very
close to the e2-pawn. However, Black must be able to deal with the dangerous h-pawn.
1...Rf5!!
Black is transferring his rook to h5 in order to capture the h-passer, attacking the white bishop which
controls the e1-square!
Direct attack on the white h-passer gives White just enough time to secure a draw: 1...Rh8? 2.Kf3
Bxh6 (2...Rxh6 3.Rxh6 Bxh6 4.Kxe2 Kb2 5.Kd3 b5 (5...Kxa2 6.Kc2=) 6.a4 a6 7.axb5 axb5= G.
Oparin - Man. Petrosyan) 3.Kxe2
344
Black's king is more active and is threatening the white pawns. But, White has a very concrete plan
for salvation - sacrificing the bishop for two pawns and reaching theoretically drawn ending rook and
bishop versus rook! 3...Bf8 (3...Kb1 4.Bf6 Rh7 5.Rg1+ Kxa2 6.Rh1 Kxb3 7.Bg5=; 3...Bf4 4.Bf2
Re8+ 5.Kf3 Be5 6.Bxb6 axb6 7.Rxb6=) 4.Bf2 Rh2 5.Kf3 Kb2 6.Bxb6 axb6 7.Rxb6=
2.h7
2.Re6 Kd1-+ Black will capture the h-pawn with his rook while his e-passer is untouchable.
2.Kf3
2...Bg3+! (Also possible is 2...Bg5+! with similar idea.) 3.Kxe2 Bxh4 4.h7 Rh5 5.Rg7 a5-+
2...Rh5 3.Bf2 Rxh7 4.Kf3
345
4...Kd2!
A brilliant winning tactics! White can stop the black pawn only by sacrificing a piece!
5.Re6
5.Kxf4 Rf7+ 6.Kg3 Rxf2-+;

5.Rg4 Be5 6.Re4 Rf7+-+ and the white king is pushed away from the black pawn!
5...Rf7! A winning X-ray!
6.Rxe2+ Kd3-+
346
White cannot avoid severe loss of material.
118. D. Beukes 2206 - K. Michaelides 2260

chess.com (ol-rapid) 2020
The black king has no available squares, allowing Black to use the stalemate motif and hold the
position!
1...Rb1+!
1...Rh4+? 2.Kc5+-
2.Kc5 Rc1+
2...Rxb7 3.a6 Ka7 4.axb7 Kb8 5.Kc6+-
3.Kd6
347
3...Rc6+! 4.Ke7
4.Kd7 Kxb7 5.Bxc6+ Ka6=
4...Kxb7
5.Bxc6+ Kxc6
5...Ka6=
6.Kd8 Kb5 7.Kc7 Kxa5 1/2-1/2
348
2020 Endgame maze queen
119. Max. Lagarde 2651 - P. Cramling 2470

Gibraltar 2020
The queen endgames with the f-pawn is winning if the black king is too far away. In this example
Black is able to clinch a draw because his king is close enough to the f-pawn.
1...Qf7+ 2.Qe7 Qd5+ 3.Kc7
White cannot move his king to the kingside: 3.Ke8 Qg8+ 4.Qf8 Qe6+ 5.Kd8 Kf5 6.f7 Kf6=
3...Qa5+ 4.Kc6 Qa6+ 5.Kc5 Qa5+ 6.Kc4 Qa6+ 7.Kb3 Qd3+ 8.Kb4 Qd4+ 9.Ka5 Qd5+ 10.Kb6
Qd4+ 11.Kb5 Qd5+ 12.Qc5
349
12...Qb7+
Black was sure that her king was close enough to the pawn and overestimated practical chances:
12...Qe6?? 13.Qc4+ Kf5 14.f7 White is winning thanks to the black king's position on f5! Black will
not have useful checks because the white queen will protect her king along the 5th rank and b1-h7
diagonal! 14...Qd7+ 15.Kb4 Qd2+
16.Kb3! (White lost all winning chances after 16.Kc5? Qa5+ 17.Kc6 Qa8+ 18.Kd7 Kf6 19.Qe6+
Kg7 1/2 : 1/2 Max. Lagarde - P. Cramling) 16...Qe3+ (16...Qd1+ 17.Qc2++-) 17.Ka4! Qa7+
18.Kb4! Black has no checks so the f-pawn will promote!
13.Qb6 Qd7+ 14.Qc6 Qa7 15.Qe6+
350
15...Kh5!
15...Kg5? With the king on g5 Black is unable to use his queen along the g-file! 16.f7 Qa3 17.Kc6
Qa4+ 18.Kd6 Qb4+ 19.Kd7 Qb7+ 20.Kd8 Qb8+ 21.Ke7 Qb4+ 22.Qd6 Qe4+ 23.Kf8 Kh5
24.Qf6+-
16.f7
Black draws because his king is on h5! With the black king on h2 or h1 White would have an easily
winning position!
16...Qb7+ 17.Kc5 Qa7+ 18.Kd6 Qa3+ 19.Kd7 Qa4+ 20.Ke7 Qb4+ 21.Qd6 Qe4+ 22.Kf8 Qa8+
23.Kg7
351
23...Qg2+!
Now it becomes obvious why the black king is so good on h5! White cannot protect the king with his
queen along the 6th rank!
24.Kh7 Qc2+ 25.Kg8 Qg2+ 26.Kf8 Qa8+=
120. N. R. Visakh 2518 - Mur. Karthikeyan 2602

India 2020
Black's king position is of crucial importance in this endgame. If the black king manages to reach the
352
corner on the queenside, White will not be able to avoid perpetual check. The same rule is applicable
to all the endings with a, b, g and h-pawns because White is not able to cover the checks with
counter-checks of his own. Therefore, White must prevent the black king from reaching the 3rd rank!
1.Qg3!
White's plan:
- Transfer the king to the 5th rank behind the pawn by careful and patient manoeuvering!
- Centralise the queen in order to stop Black's checks!
- Move the king to the queenside in order to defend from check by delivering counter-checks!
The black king reached the corner after 1.Qe8? Kc3 2.g7 Kb2 3.Qe2+ Ka1 4.Qe1+ Kb2 5.Qh4 Ka1
6.Kh8 Qe5 7.Qg4 Qh2+ 8.Kg8 Qb8+ 9.Kh7 Qh2+ 10.Kg6 Qd6+ 11.Kh5 Qh2+ 12.Qh4 Qe2+
13.Kh6 Qe6+ 14.Kh7 Qf5+ 15.Kh8 Qe5= N. R. Visakh - Mur. Karthikeyan.
1...Qe4
1...Qc8+ 2.Kh7 Qf5 3.Kh6 Qe6 4.Qf3 Qd6 5.Kg5 Qd8+ 6.Qf6 Qd5+ 7.Qf5 Qd8+
8.Kh5 There is no check on d1! 8...Qh8+ 9.Kg4+- transposing into the main line.
2.Kh8 Qa8+ 3.Kh7 Qh1+ 4.Kg7 Qe4 5.Kh6 Qh1+ 6.Kg5
353
The first part of the plan is accomplished! The king is behind the pawn, while the queen is ready to
defend him from checks!
6...Qd5+ 7.Kh4 Qh1+ 8.Qh3 Qe1+ 9.Kg5 Qd2+ 10.Kh5 Qd5+ 11.Kh6 Qc6 12.Kg5! Qd5+
13.Qf5 Qd8+ 14.Kh5 Qh8+
14...Qd1+ 15.Qg4++-
15.Kg4
The second part of the plan is accomplished! The white queen remains in the centre and Black has no
checks available!
354
15...Qa1
15...Kc3 16.Kg5 Threatening Qf6. 16...Kb3 17.Qf7++- followed by g7
16.Qf7+ Kc5 17.Qc7+ Kb5 18.Qb7+ Kc5 19.g7 Qd1+ 20.Kg5 Qc1+ 21.Kf5 Qf1+ 22.Ke6 Qc4+
23.Ke7 Qh4+
24.Kd7 Qg4+ 25.Kd8 Qg6

25...Qg5+ 26.Qe7++-;
25...Qd4+ 26.Qd7+-
26.Qd7 Qg2 27.Qe7+ Kd4 28.Qf6+ Kd3 29.Kc7 Qc2+
355
The third phase of the plan is also completed. White transfered the king to the queenside and uses the
6th rank for defence by executing counter-checks!
30.Qc6+-
Black cannot stop the promotion of the g-pawn!
121. M. Pečurica 2356 - S. Sarvadh 2150

Paraćin 2020
1...Kc3!
356
The black king is trying to reach the most adequate position (a1-a2-b1-b2 being the ideal square for
the king) that should secure him a draw.
2.g6 Kb2! 3.Qf6+ Kb1 4.Kg8 Qb3+ 5.Qf7 Qb8+ 6.Kh7 Qh2+ 7.Kg8 Qb8+ 8.Qf8 Qb3+ 9.Kh7
Qh3+ 10.Qh6 Qd3 11.Qh1+ Ka2 12.Qg2+ Kb1 13.Qb7+ Ka2 14.Qc8 Kb1 15.Qe6 Qc2
15...Kb2=
16.Kg8 Qd3?
Black errs by limiting the scope of his own queen.
16...Qf2 17.g7 Ka1=
17.g7+- Qd8+
17...Ka1 18.Kf7+-;
17...Qf3 18.Kh7+-
18.Kh7 Qh4+ 19.Qh6 Qe7 20.Qb6+ Ka2 21.Qa5+ Kb1 22.Qb5+ Ka2
22...Ka1 23.Qa4+ Kb1 24.Qd1+ Kb2 25.Qd4+ Kb1 26.Kh8+-
23.Qa4+
23.Qd5+! Kb2 24.Kg6 Qe8+ 25.Kf6+-
23...Kb1 24.Qd1+ Ka2 25.Qd5+ Kb1 26.Kg6 Qe8+ 27.Qf7
27.Kf6+-
27...Qc6+
357
28.Kg5?
28.Qf6 Qg2+ 29.Qg5 Qc6+ 30.Kh7+-
28...Qg2+= 29.Kh6 Qh3+?
29...Qd2+ 30.Kh7 (30.Kg6 Qg2+ 31.Kf6 Qf3+=) 30...Qh2+ 31.Kg8 Qb8+ 32.Qf8 Qb3+=
30.Qh5 Qe3+ 31.Kh7 Qe7 32.Qd1+ Ka2 33.Qd4
33.Qd5+ Ka1 34.Kg6 Qe8+ 35.Kf6+-
33...Qc7 34.Qd5+ Kb1 35.Qf5+ Ka2 36.Kg6? Qg3+ 37.Kf6 Qc3+ 38.Qe5 Qf3+ 39.Kg5 Qg2+
40.Kh4 Qf2+ 41.Qg3 Qf6+ 42.Qg5 Qf2+?
42...Qd4+ 43.Kh5 Qd1+ 44.Kh6 Qd6+=
43.Kh3! Qf3+ 44.Kh2 1-0
122. B. Gelfand 2685 - D. Yuffa 2594

Moscow (rapid) 2020
358
White wins this queen andgame with the h-pawn because the black is poorly positioned on b6! With
the black king on a3 the game would end in a draw!
1.Qf5!
White blocks the check while preventing the black king from reaching a3!
1...Qg1+ 2.Kf7 Qh2 3.h5 Qc7+ 4.Kg8 Qd8+ 5.Kg7 Qc7+
6.Qf7
Black's king position now becomes crucial. He has no more checks, and must suffer counter-check
359
along the 6th rank.
6...Qh2 7.h6 Ka5 8.Qf5+ Ka4
The black king cannot reach the corner. Now we can compare White's plan with the familiar scenario
from the "Lucena" position (rook endgames).
9.h7 Qc7+ 10.Kh6 Qd6+ 11.Kh5 Qh2+
12.Kg5
Black has no checks available. White is defending along the 4th rank with counter-check!
12...Kb3
360
All the attempts lead to queen trade. For example: 12...Qd2+ 13.Qf4++-;
12...Qg2+ 13.Qg4++-
13.Qd3+
Black is lost because White is queening by force.
13...Ka2 14.Qc4+ Kb1 15.Qb3+ Ka1 16.Qc3+ Kb1 17.h8=Q White needs a few moves to limit the
black queen.
17...Qd2+!?
Black may try to stalemate himself, but that should not work.
18.Kg6 Qg2+ 19.Kf5 Qf2+ 20.Ke4 Qe2+ 21.Qe3 Qc4+ 22.Qhd4 Qe6+ 23.Kf4 Qh6+ 24.Kg3
Qg6+ 25.Qg4 Qd6+ 26.Kh3 1-0
123. J. van Foreest 2673 - M. Klekowski 2512

361
1...Kd6?
1...Kf4! The king heads to the crucial h1-h2-g1-g2 square thus securing a theoretical draw.
2.Qc5+ Kd7 3.Qc6+
3.b5??
3...Qxc5+ 4.Kxc5 Kc7= J. Van Foreest - M. Klekowski.

3...Ke7
3...Kd8 4.Qd6+ Ke8 5.Qb8+ Kd7 6.Qa7++-
362
4.b5 Qb3 5.Kb7+-
The black king is poorly positioned and that proves to be of crucial importance. White is able to
defend from checks with counter-checks of his own!
124. D. Kadrić 2585 - K. Alekseenko 2704

Gibraltar 2020
Black is two pawns up in this instructive endgame, but his queen is badly placed on a8, so the
conversion process is very difficult.
363
1.Kc6 Qg6+ 2.Kb7 Qg7+ 3.Kb6 Qg1+ 4.c5 Qb1+
Black is taking control over the long diagonals a1-h8 and b1-h7 trying to prevent the white queen
from coming back into action by giving some unpleasant checks.
5.Kc6 Qg6+ 6.Kb7 Qh7+ 7.Kb8 Qh8+
White wins if he manages to shorten the black queen's diagonals!
8.Kb7!
In serious time scramble White did not manage to find the way to victory, so the game ended in a
draw: 8.Ka7† Qa1+ 9.Kb7 Qb1+ 10.Kc8 Qf5+ 11.Kb7 Qb1+ 12.Ka7 Qa1+ 13.Kb7 1/2 : 1/2 D.
Kadrić - K. Alekseenko.
8...Qh7+ 9.Ka6 Qd3+ 10.Ka7
Black loses the opportunity to deliver checks after some crafty triangulation manoeuvres by the white
king.
10...Qa3+ 11.Kb8 Qxc5
The queen ending with the d-passer requires some precsion, but it is winning.
12.d6+ Kg3 13.Qa6
364
13...Qd5
Black is able to slow down the promotion, but cannot stop it: 13...Qb4+ 14.Kc7 Qc3+ 15.Qc6 Qe5
16.Kb6 Qb2+ 17.Qb5 Qf6 18.Kc7 Qf4
19.Qd5! White centralises his queen in order to limit her counterpart! 19...Kh3 20.Kc8 Qf8+
21.Kb7+- followed by d7.
14.Qb6 Kh3 15.Qe3+ Kh2 16.Qh6+ Kg2 17.Qg7+ Kh2 18.d7
365
With a series of checks. White is planning to transfer the king to the kingside because the black king
is on the h-file. In crucial moment Black will run out of checks because of the counter-check by
White!
18...Qb5+ 19.Kc8 Qa6+ 20.Kd8 Qa8+ 21.Ke7 Qe4+ 22.Kf7 Qd5+ 23.Ke8 Qb5 24.Qg6 Qe5+
25.Kf7 Qd5+ 26.Qe6 Qh5+ 27.Kg7 Qg5+ 28.Kh7
White accomplished his goal - Black has no checks!
28...Qd8
29.Qc6!
366
Black is forced to make king moves!
29...Kh3 30.Qd6 Kg2 31.Qd5+ Kh3
White's queen seized dominant position in the centre.

32.Kg6!
Threatening the trade of queens along the 5th rank!
32...Qb6+ 33.Kh5 Qd8 34.Qf5+ Kh2 35.Qf4+ Kh3 36.Qg4+ Kh2 37.Qh4++-
125. J.-K. Duda 2734 - J. Moussard 2608*

367
White wins the black e4-pawn. However, Black is able to secure a draw with two pawns less! This is
a highly intersting motif to remember. It may help you save many tough games!
1...Qh1! 2.Qg4 Kc3 3.Qxe4
3...Qh7+! 4.Ke5
4.Kf4 Qh4+ 5.Kf3 Qh1+=
4...Qe7+ 5.Kd5 Qb7+=
126. O. Almeida Quintana 2548 - A. Rodríguez Vila 2469

Guatemala City 2020
368
Queen endgame with two extra pawns should mean an easy conversion. However, the position is a
draw. The far-advanced g-pawn makes it pretty easy for Black to secure a draw since the white king
cannot escape from numerous checks.
1.Kh6
1.Qg5 Qc7 2.Qd5+ Kg7 3.Qd4+ Kg8=
1...Qd2+ 2.Qg5 Qd4
The black queen is excellently positioned in the centre of the board, threatening Qh8 checkmate!
3.Qg3
3.g7 Qf6+! Playing for a stalemate is a typical motif in this kind of position. 4.Kh5 Qxg7=
3...Qd2+ 4.Kh5 Qd5+ 5.Qg5 Qf3+ 6.Qg4 Qd5+ 7.Kh6 Qd2+ 8.Qg5 Qd4 9.Qg3
9.Qe7 Qf4+=
369
9...Qd2+ 10.Kh5 Qd5+ 11.Kg4 Qe4+ 12.Kg5 Qd5+ 13.Kf6 Qc6+ 14.Ke7 Qb7+ 15.Ke6 Qe4+
16.Kd7 Kg7
127. C. Gokerkan 2458 - Rob. Markuš 2599

Yet another highly instructive example that shows how the far-advanced g-pawn helps Black to hold
the balance and secure a draw.
1.Qg4
370
1.Qc6 Qf5 2.h4 Qg4 3.Qf6+ Kg8 4.Qf2 Kg7=
1...Kg6 2.Kg3
2.h4 Qc2+ 3.Kh3 Qd3+ 4.Qg3 Qf1+ (4...Kh5! Once again, a stalemate motif arises.) 5.Qg2 Qd3+
6.Kh2 Qd6+ 7.Qg3 Qd2+=
2...Qg1+ 3.Kf4 Qd4+ 4.Kg3 Qg1+ 5.Kf3 Qd1+ 6.Kg3 Qg1+
128. R. Robson 2673 - M. Plotkin 2435

1...Kg6 2.Qe4+ Kg7 3.Kg4
371
3...Qd2??
A terrible blunder! White is able to trade the queens after a series of checks and reach a winning pawn
endgame. The defending side should be very careful and avoid this kind of scenario.
3...Qb2= The best position for the black queen, controlling the checks along the long diagonal.
4.Qe7+ Kh8 5.Qf6+ Kh7 6.Qf5+ Kh8 7.Qh5+ 1-0
129. L. Galojan 2335 - H. Simonian 2520

Abu Dhabi 2020
372
Black demonstrates how to draw this instructive endgame position.
1...Qd3 2.Qb7+ Kg6 3.Qc6+ Kh7 4.Qc7+ Kg6 5.Qf4 Kh7 6.Qf7+ Kh8 7.Qf8+ Kh7 8.Qe7+ Kg6
9.Qe6+ Kh7 10.h5 Qd2+ 11.Kh3 Qf2 12.Qe4+ Kh8 13.g4 Qf1+ 14.Kh4 Qf2+ 15.Kh3 Qf1+
16.Qg2 Qd3+ 17.Kh2 Qd1 18.Qb2+ Kh7 19.Qb7+ Kh6 20.Qe4
20...Kg5!
Black could have proceeded with the passive defence. 20...Qd2+ 21.Kh3 Qd6=
21.Qf5+ Kh4 22.Kg2 Qc1 23.Kf3 Qc3+
23...Qa3+ 24.Ke4 Qe7+ 25.Kd5 Qd8+=
24.Ke4
373
24...Qc4+?
24...Qb3=;
24...Qc7=
25.Ke5 Qc5+ 26.Ke6 Qc6+ 27.Kf7 Qc4+ 28.Kg7 Qc7+ 29.Kg6 Kh3 30.g5+
30.h6+-
30...Kh4 31.Qe4+ Kg3 32.Qe3+ Kh4 33.Qd4+ Kg3 34.h6 Qc2+ 35.Kf6 Qc6+ 36.Ke5 Qe8+
37.Kf5 Qc8+ 38.Ke5 Qe8+ 39.Kd5 Qd7+ 40.Ke4 Qg4+ 41.Kd3 Qd1+ 42.Kc4 Qa4+ 43.Kd5
Qd7+ 44.Ke5 1/2-1/2
130. Gaw. Jones 2575 - R. Édouard 2635

Warszawa (rapid) 2010
374
This position is lost for Black. How so? First, White has the option to liquidate into the winning pawn
endgame by giving check on g7. We should avoid defending such a poor position at all costs.
1...Qc7+ 2.g3?
This is a mistake. But why? The move seems to be very reasonable, since White is hiding from
unpleasant checks. However, White cannot reach a favourable pawn ending anymore. We can
conclude that White retains winning chances only by keeping the pawn on its initial square.
2.Kh3! Qd7+ (2...Kg8 3.Qg6+ Kh8 4.Qg7+ Qxg7 5.hxg7+ Kxg7 6.Kg4 Kg6
7.g3!+- The reserve tempo that wins the game!) 3.Qg4 Qe6!
375
4.h7! Qh6+ 5.Kg3 (5.Qh4? Qe3+ 6.g3 Qe6+=) 5...Qxh7 6.Qc8+ Kg7 7.Qd7+ Kg8 8.Qxh7+ Kxh7
9.Kf4+-
2...Kg8!= 3.Kh3 Kh8 4.Qf5 Qf7?
4...Qd6!
5.Kg4 (5.Qg5 Qg6= (5...Qd4=)) 5...Qg6+! (5...Qxh6?? 6.Qh5!+-) 6.Qg5 Qe4+ 7.Kh5 Qe8+ 8.Kh4
Qe4+ 9.Qf4 Qe7+=;
4...Qe7 5.Kg4 Qd6=
5.g4?
376
5.Qe5+ Kh7
6.Kh4! Black is not able to prevent the ensuing unfavourable pawn endgame. 6...Kxh6 (6...Qg6
7.Qg7+ Qxg7 8.hxg7 Kxg7 9.Kg5+-; 6...Qc4+ 7.Kg5 Qc1+ 8.Qf4+-) 7.Qg5+ Kh7 8.Qh5++-
5...Qxf5 6.gxf5 Kh7 7.Kg4 Kxh6 8.Kf4 Kg7 1/2-1/2
131. A. Areshchenko 2714 - F. Berkes 2673

Deutschland 2013
Black misses the last chance to place his king on the ideal g-, or h-files.
377
1...Qf6+?
1...Kg8!=
2.Kg3 Qb6
3.Qg4!+-
The black king is cut off allowing White to win easily.
3...Qg1 4.h4 Qe1+ 5.Kh2 Qe5+ 6.Kh3 Qa1 7.h5 Qh1+ 8.Kg3 Qe1+ 9.Kh2 Qc1 10.Qg3 Qc5
11.Qg6 Qe5+ 12.Kh3 Qe3+ 13.Qg3 Qc1 14.Kh4 Qh1+ 15.Kg5 Qa1 16.Qd6+ Kf7 17.Qc7+ Ke6
18.Qc4+ Ke7 19.Qc5+ Kf7 20.Qf5+ Ke7
378
21.h6 Qc1+ 22.Qf4 Qc5+ 23.Kh4 Qc2 24.Qe5+ Kf7 25.Qg7+ Ke6 26.h7 Qf2+ 27.Kh3 Qe3+
28.Kh2 Qf4+ 29.Qg3 1-0
132. E. Inarkiev 2684 - A. Tari 2597

Moscow 2018
Black is capable of saving this queen ending with some crafty manoeuvres.
1...Qd6+ 2.Kf3 Qd1+ 3.Kf2 Qd6 4.Ke2 Qh2+ 5.Kd3 Qd6+ 6.Kc2 Qc6+ 7.Kd2 Qg2+ 8.Kd3
Qd5+ 9.Qd4 Qb3+ 10.Kd2 Kxg5 11.h7 Qa2+ 12.Ke3 Qe6+ 13.Qe4 Qb3+ 14.Qd3
379
14...Qe6+ 15.Kf2 Qf6+ 16.Kg2 Qh8 17.Kg3 Kh6 18.Kg4 Qg7+ 19.Kf4 Qxh7 20.Qxh7+ Kxh7
21.Kf5 1/2-1/2
133. B. Amin 2662 - R. Svane 2555

Doha (rapid) 2016
1...Kf7?
The following example illustartes that the defending king is ideally positioned in front of the enemy
pawn.
380
1...Kg7!=
2.Kg4!
The h6-square is not covered, so the white king is able to hide there.
2...Qd4+ 3.Kh5 Qh8+ 4.Qh6 Qe5 5.Qg6+ Ke7
6.Kh6+- Qf4 7.h5 Kd7 8.Qf6 Qe3 9.Kg7 Ke8 10.h6 Qa7+ 11.Kg6 Qa2 12.Kg7 Qa7+ 13.Kh8
Qe3 14.h7 Kd7 15.Kg7 1-0
134. Z. Efimenko 2661 - L. Javakhishvili 2459

Baku 2013
381
1.Qe6+ Kg7 2.Qe4 Kh6 3.Qf3 Qc8+ 4.g4 Kg7 5.h5 Qc1 6.Qb7+ Kh8 7.Qb8+ Kh7 8.Qa7+ Kg8
9.Qf2 Qg5 10.Qd4 Qc1 11.Qd5+ Kg7 12.Qe5+ Kh7 13.Kh4 Qd2 14.Qg3
14...Qc1?
A serious blunder that leads to quick defeat. However, this kind of mistake is quite often in
tournament practice. Of course, mighty engines suggest a few possibilities for Black and offer some
paths to salvation.
Unfortunately, it is very difficult to establish some general rules and guidelines for the defending
382
side. Of course, it is always good to have the active queen and many available checks.
14...Qc2=;
14...Qd4=;
14...Kg7=
15.Qd3+! Kh8 16.Qd4+ Kh7 17.Qe4+ Kh8
18.g5+- Qc7 19.h6 Qf7 20.Kg4 Qg6 21.Qf5 Qe8 22.Qf6+ 1-0
INSTRUCTIVE EXAMPLE
383
White has two connected passers at the g- and h-file - the position is a theoretical draw. Once again, it
is hard to make any general observations and principles as how to hold a draw. But, we can discern a
few important elements for Black: the king should be on the g- or h-file, while the queen must have
many checks at her disposal. Also, some stale-mate motifs come to play very often. On the other
hand, the attacker will have hard time reaching the winning pawn ending with the "edge" pawns on
the board.
135. E. Santarius 2382 - L. Ranaldi 2296

Stockholm 2020
384
Exercise!
1.h5??
1.Kg3! a5 (1...Qxg4+ 2.Kxg4 Ke6 3.Kg5 Kf7 4.h5+-; 1...Kd6 2.Qd4+ Kc6 3.h5 Qf7 4.Qf4+-
Black cannot control both White's pawns.) 2.h5 Qxg4+ 3.Kxg4
3...Ke6 (3...a4 4.h6 a3 5.f7 a2 6.f8=Q a1=Q 7.Qg7++-) 4.Kg5 a4 5.Kg6 a3 6.f7 a2 7.f8=Q a1=Q
8.Qf5+ Ke7 9.Qf7++- The trade of queens is inevitable.

1...Kd6 2.h6 Qxf6 3.h7
385
3...Qf1+ 4.Kh2
4.Kh4 Qh1+ 5.Qh3 Qe4+=
4...Qf2+ 5.Kh1 Qf1+ 6.Qg1
6...Qf3+ 7.Qg2 Qd1+ 8.Qg1 Qf3+ 9.Qg2 Qd1+ 10.Qg1 1/2-1/2
136. K. Külaots 2510 - I. Smirin 2615

Moscow 2020
386
The Israeli grandmaster senses danger and plays a fine defensive move.
1...Kh7!
Black has control over the b1-h7 diagonal and his king is well protected from checks. On the other
hand, White cannot create counter-threats by pushing forward his pawns. The position is very tricky,
for example: 1...b3? White executes a powerful pawn breakthrough and destroys Black's king pawn
shelter, thus reaching a draw by perpetual check situation.
2.g5! hxg5 3.h6=

2.f4 b3 3.g5 hxg5 4.f5
387
No much better is 4.fxg5 Qe2+ (4...Qe4+ 5.Kf2 b2 6.h6
6...Qd4+-+ and the b-pawn will promote.) 5.Kg3

4...Qe4+ 5.Kf2 b2 6.h6 Qc2+ 7.Ke3 Qc3+ 8.Ke2
8.Kf2 Qf6-+
8...Qe5+ 0-1
137. D. Šolak 2594 - Zhao Jun 2638

388
1.Qd4!
White is seizing control over the crucial diagonal and forces the black queen to remain passive and
defend her king. The black king must retreat facing the threats, allowing the white monarch to reach
the centre!
1...Kg8
Black cannot open the position in time because of his poorly placed king on f7. 1...e5? 2.Qxd5++-
2.Kg3
Black is in zugzwang and cannot prevent the white queen to the 8th rank via e5!
2...Qf7 3.Qe5 Qe7
3...Kf8 4.Qb8+ Qe8 5.Qxb7 Qe7 6.c6! Black cannot save the game by going for perpetual check:
6...Qa3+ 7.Kh4 because all the black pawns will fall with check. For example:
389
7...Qf3 (Also, after 7...Qe3 8.Qg7+ Ke8 9.Qg8+ Ke7 10.Qxh7+ Kf8 (10...Kd6 11.Qd7+ Kc5
12.Qa7++-) 11.Qg7+ Ke8 12.Qxg6++-) 8.Qg7+ Ke8 9.Qd7+ Kf8 10.Qd8+ Kf7 11.Qf6+ Ke8
12.Qxe6+ Kf8 13.Qf6+ Ke8 14.Qh8++-
4.Qb8+ Kf7
4...Qf8 5.Qxb7+-
5.Qh8
White takes all the pawns on the kingside and easily converts his advantage.
5...Qxc5 6.Qxh7+ Kf8 7.Qg7+ Ke8 8.Qxg6+ Ke7 9.Qg7+ Ke8 10.Qg6+ Ke7 11.Qf6+ Kd7
390
12.Qf7+ Kd8 13.Kg4 Qg1+ 14.Kh5 Qh1+ 15.Kg6 Qe4+ 16.Kg7 1-0
138. D. Šolak 2594 - Zhao Jun 2638*

The difference in Black's king position was crucial for the final outcome in the game. With his king
on f8, Black would have great defensive resources at his disposal:
1...e5!! 2.fxe5
Compared to the game continuation, White cannot take on d5 with check: 2.Qxd5 exf4 3.Qd4 Qf7=;
The ensuing pawn endgame is pretty drawish! 2.Qxe5 Qxe5 3.fxe5 Kf7 4.Kg3 Ke6 5.Kf4 Kd7
Black holds and secures a draw. 6.Ke3 Ke7 7.Kd3 Kd7 8.Kc3 Ke7!=
2...Qe7
2...Qf7 3.Kg3 Qf5=
3.Qxd5
3.e6 Qxe6 4.Qh8+ Qg8=;
3.Qf4+ Ke8 4.e6 If the queen goes to the queenside, White's king will remain without proper
protection against the enemy checks. 4...Qxe6 5.Qb8+ Ke7 6.Qxb7+ Ke8=
391
3...Qxg5 4.Qd6+ Ke8 5.Qb8+ Qd8=
139. L. Aronian 2778 - S. Vidit 2636

Black is under the impression that his a4-pawn blocks the queenside. However, White is able to
execute a powerful pawn break, and win this highly instructive queen endgame with the opposite-
coloured bishops on the board!
1.b4!! axb3
392
1...Bb3 2.b5 Bd5 3.b6+-
2.Bb2!
The black bishop is entrapped, while his queen is commited to defdence of the g7 point. Therefore,
White's a-pawn can freely march to promotion!
2...h5 3.g5 h4 4.a4 Kg8 5.a5 Kh7 6.a6 Bd1 7.Kxd1 d2 8.Qxg7+! Qxg7 9.Bxg7 Kxg7 10.Kxd2 1-0
140. A. Inđić 2618 - G. Oparin 2652

393
The black king is in jeopardy because of mating threats along the 8th rank and h-file. So, Black must
proceed with extreme precision in order to neutralise all the threats!
1...Qe2+!
White wins after the forced transition into the queen endgame thanks to much better position of his
king and b-passed pawn. 1...Qd1+? 2.Kf5 Qxd4 (2...Kg8 3.Qh2 Qf3+ 4.Ke6+-) 3.Qh3+ Bh4
4.Qxh4+ Kg8 5.Qxe4+- Qc5+
6.Ke6! With all the pawns on the board Black cannot find salvation in perpetual check. Now the poor
position of the black king becomes costly. 6...Qc8+ 7.Kd6 Qd8+ 8.Kc5 Qc7+ 9.Qc6 Qe7+ 10.Kb6
Qe3+ 11.Ka6+- A. Inđić - G. Oparin.
2.Kf5 Qxb5+ 3.Ke6
3.Be5 Qd7+ 4.Kxe4 (4.Kf4 Qd2+ 5.Kf5 Qd7+=) 4...Qc6+ 5.Kf5 Qd7+=
394
3...Qe8!
The black queen proves her superiority! She is defending her king from all the threats along the 8th
rank while neutralising mating attempts on the h-file as well.
For example: 4.Qh2+ Bh4+ 5.Kd5
5...Qb5+ 6.Kxe4 Qc6+= and it is quite enough to take the g6-pawn to secure a draw.
141. Anish Giri 2763 - I. Nepomniachtchi 2774

Yekaterinburg (ct) 2020
395
The following instructive endgame was one of the most intriguing adventures at the 2020 Candidates
Tournament. Black should be able to win if the white kign remains on the kingside. If White manages
to move his monarch to e2 Black loses all the winning chances because he cannot play Qd3 and
utilise the 3rd rank fight motif!
1...Qxa2 2.Rh3
2.Kf1
2...Qd2! Preventing the white king from moving towards the centre! 3.Re3 Qd1+ 4.Re1 Qd3+ 5.Re2
Qc4! 6.h5 Kf7 7.h6 Kg6-+
396
2...Qd5 3.Kf1 Qd1+ 4.Kg2 Qg4+ 5.Rg3
5...Qh5!
Black will capture the h4-pawn with his king thus making it difficult for White to centralise his own
monarch! However, Black must place the opponent in zugzwang in order to make that plan
successful.
The white rook is very limited in movement, being restricted to the 3rd rank. After the e3 push Black
would be able to force the pawn trade and reach the winning endgame.
The white king reaches the centre after 5...Qxh4? 6.Kf1=
6.Ra3 Qd5 7.Kg1 Kf6 8.Rg3 Qd1+ 9.Kg2 Kf5 10.Rg5+ Kf4 11.Rg3
Now Black must put the opponent in zugzwang and force him to clear the path for the black king
towards the h4-pawn!
397
11...Qd5 12.Kf1 Qd2 13.Kg2 Qd1
White has no king moves, so he can only move his rook.
14.Re3
14.Kh2? Qf1-+
14...Kf5! 15.Rg3 Kf6 16.Rh3

White puts a more stuborn resistance after 16.Re3
398
16...Qb1! (16...Qg4+ 17.Kf1 Qxh4? 18.Ke1 White reaches a desired position. With his king on e1 or
e2 and rook freely sliding along the 3rd rank - quite enough for a draw. For example: 18...Ke5 19.Rc3
Kd4 20.Ra3 Qf4 21.Rg3 Qc1+ 22.Ke2 Qb1 23.Rh3!= (It is never too late for terrible mistakes:
23.Re3? Qc2+ 24.Ke1 Qc1+ 25.Ke2 Qxe3+! 26.fxe3+ Kc3-+ with the winning ending for Black.))
17.Rg3 Kf7! The black queen is ideally positioned on b1, defending the e4-pawn, and cutting off the
enemy king. White is forced to push the h-pawn, or else the black king will reach the h-file without
any problems! 18.h5 Qc1! and the h-pawn is lost!
16...Kg6 17.Rg3+ Kh5 18.Rh3
18...Qb1!
399
Black accomplished desired position. On the other hand, White has no useful moves, so the h4-pawn
drops.
19.Re3
White is not able to improve his chances after 19.Rh1 because of 19...Qb7-+
19...Kxh4
Now, Black will transfer his king to d4 and conquer the 3rd rank with his queen via d3!
20.Rg3 Kh5 21.Rh3+ Kg4 22.Rg3+ Kf4 23.Re3 Qd1 24.Ra3 Ke5 25.Rg3 Kd4 26.Re3
26...Qd3!
Giri resigned since the conversion would be a formality for Nepomniachtchi.
26...Qd3 Black will liquidate into winning pawn ending after a decisive king advance. For example:
27.Rg3 Kc3! The black queen makes a cover for her royal partner to reach the rank!
400
28.Re3 (White can deliver some side checks, but cannot ruin Black's plan: 28.Rg7 Kd2 29.Ra7 Qd4
30.Ra2+ Ke1 31.Rc2 Qd5 32.Rc1+ (32.Kg1 Qg5+ 33.Kh2 Qg4-+) 32...Kd2-+) 28...Kd2 29.Rg3
Ke2 White must allow transition into pawn ending after 30.Kg1
30...Qxg3+! The final blow! 31.fxg3 e3-+
142. P. Svidler 2723 - Hi. Nakamura 2736

A similar example with slightly better pawn placement for Black occurred in the following game:
401
Black has the following winning plan at his disposal:
- remove the white rook from the 3rd rank!
- bring the queen to g3 and execute f3 push!
1...Qe1!
Even though Nakamura is arguably the best online blitz player, he makes a terrible mistake.
Liquidation into pawn endgame does not bring more than a draw: 1...Qxf3? 2.gxf3+ Kxf3 3.h4 Kg4
4.Kg2= P. Svidler - Hi. Nakamura.
2.Ra3
402
2...Qe3!
Black completed the first stage of the plan, the white rook must leave the 3rd rank.
3.Ra4+
3.Ra2 Qg3+ 4.Kh1 f3-+;
3.Rxe3+ fxe3 4.Kg1 Kd3-+
3...Ke5!
A fairly active king may complicate the path to victory: 3...Kd3 4.Ra1 Qg3+ 5.Kg1 because the king
may have to retreat in view of check threats along the 3rd rank.
4.Ra5+ Kf6 5.Ra6+
5.Ra8 White can try to go around with his rook and control the f-file from the 8th rank, but that plan
cannot bring him much success: 5...Kf7!-+ followed by Qg3 and f3
5...Kf7 6.Ra2
403
6...Ke7!
Black cannot realise his plan: 6...Qg3+ 7.Kg1 f3? 8.Rf2=
7.Rc2 Qg3+ 8.Kg1 f3 9.Rf2 fxg2 10.Rxg2 Qxh3-+
143. Gaw. Jones 2679 - F. Pérez Ponsa 2559

Without the white pawn on the board the position would be a theoretical draw. The white king would
be cut off along the 5th rank and f-file. However, the position is winning for White because he can
404
invade the g8-square with his queen after the sacrifice of the h-pawn, and as a result, the black king
will be chased away from the corner!
1.h5! Rxh5
1...gxh5 2.Kh4+-;
1...Rg5+ 2.Kf4 Rf5+ 3.Ke3 Rxh5 4.Qf7+
4...Kh6 (4...Kh8 5.Qxg6 Re5+ (5...Rh3+ 6.Kd4 Rh4+ 7.Ke5+-) 6.Kf4+-) 5.Qg8+-
2.Qf7+!
White must expel the black king from the corner!
White cannot win the position that ensues after 2.Kf4 Rf5+ 3.Ke4 Kg7=
2...Kh6
405
3.Qg8!
Black cannot stop the white king's invasion!
3...Rg5+
3...Rf5?? 4.Qh8+ Kg5 5.Qh4#
4.Kf4 Rf5+ 5.Ke4 and the first phase is finished.
Next White must force the black rook to abandon the f5-square and allow the white king to penetrate
deep into the Black's territory.
Also, White must proceed with great caution and control the position of the black king and rook once
the pawn comes to g5.
5...Kg5 6.Qg7
White saves a few tempi after 6.Qh8 see 10.Ke4 line.
6...Kh5 7.Qh8+ Kg5 8.Ke3 Rf7 9.Kd4 Rf5 10.Ke4 Rf7
White must be very careful in case of 10...Kg4 11.Qh6 Rf6 12.Ke5 Rf5+
406
13.Kd6! A really important subtlety! White leaves the e6-square free for his queen, so he could
slowly transfer the king behind the black g-pawn with some skilful manoeuvring and limiting! (Quite
unexpected danger arises after 13.Ke6? g5 and White cannot win. Black has a firm outpost for the
rook on f4, and by moving his king to h4 and g4 he should hold the position. 14.Qh8 Rf4 15.Ke5
Rf5+ 16.Ke4 Rf4+ 17.Ke3 Rc4 18.Qg8 Rf4 19.Qc8+ Kh4 20.Qh8+ Kg4 21.Qh2 Re4+! (21...Rf3+
22.Ke2 Rf4=) 22.Kf2 Rf4+ 23.Kg2 Kf5= The black rook controls the 4th rank via f4 and h4.) 13...g5
14.Qe6 Kf4 15.Qd7 Re5 16.Qf7+ Rf5 17.Qh7 Kg4 18.Qd7 Kf4 19.Ke6 Kg4 (19...Re5+ 20.Kf6+-)
20.Qd1+ Rf3 21.Ke5 Kg3 22.Qg1+ Kh4 23.Qh2+ Kg4 24.Qg2+ Rg3 25.Qe2+ Kh3 26.Kf5 g4
27.Kg5 Rg2 (27...Rf3 28.Qe1+-) 28.Qe5 Rg1 29.Qf4 Rg2 30.Kh5 Rg3 (30...Rg1 31.Qf2 Rg3
32.Kg5+-) 31.Qf2+-
11.Ke5 Re7+ 12.Kd6 Rf7 13.Ke6 Rf5 14.Qh1 Rf6+ 15.Ke7 Rf5 16.Qh2 Rf4
Black may use a familiar motif 16...Kg4 17.Qh6 g5 18.Qe6 Kf4 19.Qd7 Kg4 (Black loses a pawn
after 19...g4 20.Ke6 Re5+ 21.Kf6 Re4 22.Qc7+ Kf3 23.Kf5+-)
407
20.Kd6! (20.Ke6? Rf4=) 20...Kf4 21.Ke6+-
17.Qg3+ Kf5 18.Kf7
White accomplished the goal, his king got behind the black pawn.
18...g5 19.Kg7 g4 20.Qd3+ Kg5 21.Qe3 Kf5 22.Kh6

Black is forced to step away from the pawn. Conversion is not too difficult anymore.
22...Re4 23.Qf2+ Ke5 24.Kg5
In few more moves, Black will be foced to abandon the 4th rank.
408
24...Kd5 25.Kf5 Rd4 26.Qc2 Rc4 27.Qg2+ Kc5 28.Ke5 Kb4 29.Qb2+ Kc5 30.Qf2+ Kb4 31.Kd5
31...Rc3
31...Kb3 32.Qe2 Rb4 (32...Ra4 33.Qd1+ Ka3 34.Kc5+-) 33.Kc5 Ra4 34.Qd1+ Ka3 35.Kb5 Rb4+
36.Ka5
The rook must go away from his monarch, thus becoming an obvious target. 36...Rb7 (36...Rf4
37.Qd3+ Kb2 38.Qd2++-) 37.Qa1+ Kb3 38.Qb1++-
32.Qd4+ Kb3 33.Qxg4+-
144. B. Ochsner 2491 - Stef. Pedersen 2308
409
We have a theoretically drawn position on the board. Defender should be able to save the game with
the pawn on the 3rd rank (6th rank for Black) if he has a-, b-, g-, or h-pawn. On the other hand, Black
should occupy the f1-square with his queen trying to force the white king towards the centre. Of
course, the black king plays an important role in the execution of the plan helping the queen to
accomplish her goal by executing fine tempo moves.
1...Qh1 2.Rg4
2...Ke5!
410
In the game Black did not try to convert the advantage: 2...Qh2+? 3.Kf1 Qh3+ 4.Kf2 Qh2+ 5.Kf1
Qh3+= B. Ochsner - Stef. Pedersen.
3.Re4+ Kd5 4.Rg4
The white rook must return to the g-file facing the threat of check on h2 and the black queen's
invasion of the g3-square.
4...Qh6! 5.Ke2
5.Re4 Qh2+ 6.Kf1 Qg3 7.Ke2 Qg2+ 8.Ke3 Qf1-+;
5.Kg2 Qd2+ 6.Kf1 Qe3 7.Kg2 Qe2+ 8.Kg3 Qf1-+
411
5...Kc5!
Zugzwang! White cannot hold his defensive setup anymore and must allow the black queen to reach
d2 or g3 via the h-file.
6.Re4
If the rook remains on the g-file the black king will be able to cross the 4th rank and push back his
counterpart. 6.Rg2 Kd4 7.Rg4+ Kc3-+
6...Qh2+ 7.Kf1 Qg3 8.Ke2 Qg2+ 9.Ke3 Qf1
Black accomplished the first part of his plan. Furthermore, Black must force the white rook to part
with his monarch.
412
10.Kf4 Qc1+ 11.Kg4 Qg1+ 12.Kf4 Kd5 13.Ra4
13.Re5+ Kd4 14.Re4+ Kd3-+
Black cannot put the white rook in danger by delivering checks. So, the black king must play his role
and reach the kingside.
13...Ke6! 14.Ra6+
White loses a very useful move after 14.Re4+ Kf6Θ-+
14...Kf7
The black queen is controlling the g1-a7 diagonal thus taking away important squares from the white
rook, limiting its scope.
15.Rc6 Qf2 16.Kg4 Qg2+ 17.Kf4 Qh3! 18.Rc7+
18.Ke3 Qh4 19.Rc7+ Kf6 20.Rc6+ Ke7 21.Rc3 Qb4 22.Rd3 Ke6-+ with the same conversion
process as in the main line.
18...Kf6 19.Rc6+ Ke7 20.Ke3 Qh4 21.Rc3
413
21...Qb4! and the black king reaches the centre without much trouble!
22.Rd3 Ke6-+ With the conversion.
23.Rd4 Qe1+ 24.Kd3 Qf2 25.Rf4 Ke5 26.Re4+ Kd5 27.Re3
27...Qg2!
White ends up in Zugzwang after Black's crafty manoeuvre and loss of a tempo. The f-pawn is lost.
28.Kc3 Qa2 29.Rd3+
29.Kd3 Qf2-+
414
29...Kc5 30.Re3 Qf2 31.Kd3 Kd5Θ-+ White is forced to abandon the f3-pawn!
BERNHARD VON GURETZKY-CORNITZ

1864
This instructive study from the olden days will show us how to secure a draw with a rook-pawn.
1.Qe7+ Kb8 2.Qe8+ Kb7 3.Qd8 Ka7 4.Qc8
4...Rb7!
4...Kb6? 5.Qb8+ Kc6 (5...Ka5 6.Qd8+ Ka4 7.Qd2 Ka3 8.Qd6+) 6.Qa7 Rb6 7.Kd4 Kb5 (7...Rb4+
415
8.Kc3 Rb6 9.Kc4Θ+-) 8.Qd7+ Kb4 9.Qc7 Rh6 10.Qe7+ Ka4 11.Qe8+ Ka5 12.Kc5+-
5.Qc5+
5.Kc5 Rb5+ 6.Kc6 Rb6+ 7.Kc7 Rb5 8.Qg4 Rb7+=
5...Kb8 6.Qd6+ Ka7 7.Qd4+ Ka8 8.Kc5 Ka7 9.Kc6+ Ka8 10.Qd8+ Rb8 11.Qa5 Ka7 12.Qc7+
Ka8 13.Qf4
13...Rb7!=
13...Rb5? 14.Kc7!+-
145. M. Levy - A. Pomar Salamanca

Malta (ol) 1980
416
Black is able to win this endgame due to the poor position of the white king. White could have
secured a draw with his king safely placed behind the pawn.
1.Rg6
1.Rg8 Qf5+
1...Qh8+ 2.Rh6 Qe8+ 3.Kg5
3.Kh4 Qe7+ 4.Kh5 Kf4
3...Kg3 4.h4 Qe5+ 5.Kg6 Kg4 6.Rh7
6.h5 Qg5+ 7.Kh7 Kf4
6...Qe4+ 7.Kg7 Kf5 8.Rh6 Qg4+ 9.Kf7 Ke5 10.h5 Qd7+ 11.Kf8 Kf5 12.Kg8
12.Rg6 Qh7
12...Qe8+ 13.Kg7 Qe7+ 14.Kg8
14.Kh8 Kg5
14...Qg5+ 15.Rg6 Qxh5-+
146. R. Réti - A. Rubinstein

Stockholm 1919
417
Black brings his king to the kingside in a highly precise fashion thus making it impossible for White
to create a defensive setup!
1...Qb1! 2.Rf2 Qh1 3.Rh2 Qe1+ 4.Rf2 Ke5 5.Kg2 Ke4 6.Rf1 Qe2+ 7.Rf2 Qe3
White is in Zugzwang! The rook must leave either the f-file, or the 2nd rank. In both continuations
the black king can approach the pawn.
8.Rf1
If the white rook remains on the 2nd rank Black will bring his queen to the a1-h8 diagonal with a
series of checks. In the process the black king reaches the 1st rank. 8.Ra2 Qg5+ 9.Kh2 Qe5+ 10.Kg2
Qg7+ 11.Kh2 (11.Kh1 Qg3) 11...Kf3 12.Ra3+ Kf2 13.Ra2+ Kf1-+
8...Qg5+ 9.Kh2 Ke3 10.Rg1 Qf4+ 11.Kh1 Qf3+ 12.Kh2 Kf2 13.Rg4 Qe3-+
Black gained control of the g1-a7 diagonal thus enabling his king to reach the f1-square. Therefore
White resigned few moves later.
147. N. Abdusattorov 2627 - W. So 2770

418
The biggest threat for Black is White's d-pawn which cannot be taken. However, the white king has
no pawn shelter allowing Blck to secure a draw by perpetual check!
1...Qe2!
After taking on d6, the black king becomes easy target for the white rooks. 1...cxd6? 2.Rdf1 Qxa4
3.Re7+- N. Abussatorov - W. So.
2.Rdf1 Qxe3+ 3.Kh1
3.Kh2 Qd4
419
4.dxc7+ (4.d7 Qh4+ 5.Kg1 Qd4+ 6.R1f2 Kb7= Threatening d8! 7.Rg7? (7.Re7 e4„; 7.g3 g5 8.Kg2
Qd5+ 9.Kh2 e4 10.Re7 g4=; 7.Kh1 Qh4+ 8.Kg1 Qd4=) 7...e4µ) 4...Kb7=
3...Qg3 4.dxc7+
4.d7 Qh4+ 5.Kg1 Qd4+ 6.R1f2 Kb7=
4...Kb7 5.Rd1 h4 6.Rd8 Qe1+ 7.Kh2 Qg3+=
148. P. Maghsoodloo 2674 - An. Esipenko 2654

Gibraltar 2020
420
At a first glance this position seems totally lost for White. However, the Iranian grandmaster finds a
study-like way to a draw.
1.Rc8! g5 2.b6 Qb4
3.Nd8!!
Suddenly, the white b-pawn becomes an important trump for White.
3...c3
3...Qxb6 4.Rc6+ Qxc6 5.Nxc6 a4= and Black cannot achieve more than a draw.
4.b7 c2 5.Rxc2 Qd6+ 6.Kh1 Qd1+ 7.Kh2 Qxd8 8.Rc8 Qd6+ 9.Kh1 Qd1+ 10.Kh2=
149. Ant. Pavlidis 2543 - S. Shankland 2691

421
White threatens attack on the enemy king along the 6th rank and forces the queen trade which grants
him a winning rook endgame.
1.Rd6!
White proceeded with no risk and reached a drawish position: 1.fxe3? Qxc2 2.Rd6 Qc1+ 3.Kf2
Qxb2+ 4.Kg1 Qc1+ 5.Kf2 Qc2+ 6.Kg1= Ant. Pavlidis - S. Shankland.
1...exf2+
White wins by force after 1...e2 2.Rxh6+ Kg7 3.Qg6+ Kf8 4.Rh8+ Ke7
422
5.Qxg5+ Rf6 (5...Kd7 6.Qd2++- and after the capture on e2 White retains material advantage.)
6.Qe3+ Re6 7.Rh7+ Kd6 8.Qd4+ Kc6 9.Qc4++-
2.Kf1!
The white king is hidden in front of the black pawn, so Black cannot claim a draw by perpetual
check. On the other hand, White will manage to win the game by executing attack along the 6th rank
and reaching the superior rook endgame thanks to the a-passer.
After the pawn capture White cannot avoid the perpetual check! 2.Kxf2? Qxc2+=
2...Qe7 3.Rxh6+ Kg8 4.Qa8+ Qf8 5.Qxf8+ Rxf8 6.a6+-
150. P. Lékó 2710 - Vis. Anand 2751

423
The black queen and rook cannot establish decent coordination, so White is able to create mating
attack on the enemy king by keeping the black rook far away from the kingside!
1.Qe5!
White reaches the winning rook ending by forcing a powerful tactical blow!
In actual game, Lékó made a mistake: 1.Rxg6? Qxg3 2.Rxg3 Rxc5 3.Rg4
3...Rc1+ 4.Kh2 c5= P. Lékó - Vis. Anand.

1...Rc3
424
2.g4!
2.g3? Qc8! 3.Kg2 (3.Qe7 Rf3!) 3...Qf5=
2...Rxb3
2...Rxh3 3.Qf6+-
3.Qf6 Rxh3 4.Kg2
4.Rd8 Qh2+ 5.Kf1 Qh1+ 6.Ke2 Qe4+ 7.Kd2+-
4...Rc3 5.Rd8+-
151. Dmitrij Rodin 2388 - Ru. Makarian 2441

Russia 2020
425
White wins the major pieces ending thanks to poor placement on the black king on h6. White's king is
pretty secure, allowing him to cast a mating net around the enemy monarch.
1.Qh4+!
1.Qe3+? Qg5! The black queen on g5 saves the day! Black is defending the critical e7-square while
threatening mate on g2. 2.Qh3+ Kg7 3.Qc3+ Kh6 4.Qh3+ Qh5 5.Qe3+ Qg5= Dmitrij Rodin - Ru.
Makarian.
1...Qh5 2.Qf4+ Qg5 3.Qf8+ Kh5 4.Qf3+ Kh6
5.h4! White invades the crucial g5 square!
426
5...Qf5
Black is mated after 5...Qxh4 6.Qf8+ Kh5 7.Re5+ g5 8.Qf7++-
6.Qe3+ Kh5
6...Kg7 7.Qd4+ Kh6 (7...Kg8 8.Re7+-) 8.Re5 Qf7 9.Qe3++-;
6...g5 7.Rf1 Qd5 (7...Qg6 8.hxg5+ Kh5 9.Rf6 Qxg5 10.Qh3++-) 8.hxg5+ Kh5 (8...Qxg5 9.Rf6+
Kh5 10.Qh3+ Qh4 11.g4+ Kg5 12.Rf5++-) 9.Rf3+-
7.Rc1! Kxh4
7...Rc2 8.Rxc2 Qxc2 9.Qg5#
8.Rc5 Qb1+ 9.Kh2+-
427
Show in Text Mode
Endings Tests
1. Vladis. Kovalev 2648 - Aw. Liang 2575

chess.com (Internet) 2020
1.? =
Show/Hide Solution
1.c5!
1.Nf3+? Kg4 2.Nd2 Rg2 3.Be3 h4 4.c5 bxc5 5.Bxc5 (5.bxc5 h3 6.c6 Kf5 7.c7 Rg8 8.Kd3 Rc8!
(8...h2?
428
9.Nf1! h1=Q 10.Ng3+ Rxg3 11.c8=Q+=) 9.Bxa7 Rxc7 10.Bg1 Rc1! (10...Rg7 11.Bh2 Rg2 12.Nf1
Ra2 13.Ke3 Rxa4 14.Kf2=) 11.Bh2 Rh1 12.Bg3 h2Θ 13.a5 e4+! 14.Ke2 Re1+-+) 5...h3 6.Nf1 Ra2
(6...Re2 7.Bxa7 Re1 8.Nh2+ Kg3-+) 7.Bxa7 Rxa4 8.Bb8 Ra1 9.Nh2+ Kf4 10.b5 Rb1 11.Kc4 Rb2
12.Nf1 Rf2 13.Kd5 Rxf1 14.Bxe5+ Kf5 15.Bb8 Rd1+ 16.Kc6 Ke6 17.b6 Rc1+ 18.Kb5 Kd7 19.Be5
Kc8 20.Ka6 Rb1 21.Ka7 Rb3 22.Bd6 h2!-+ Vladis. Kovalev - Aw. Liang.
1...bxc5 2.Bxc5 Kxh4 3.Bxa7
3.b5 Ra2 4.Bxa7 Rxa4 (4...Ra3+ 5.Kb4 Ra1 6.Bc5 Kg4 7.b6 h4 8.Kb5 h3 9.b7 Rb1+ 10.Bb4 h2
11.b8=Q h1=Q 12.Qg8+=) 5.b6 Ra1 6.b7 Rb1 7.b8=Q Rxb8 8.Bxb8=
3...Kg4 4.b5 h4
4...Ra2 5.b6 Ra3+ 6.Kb4 Ra1 7.Kc3! Rb1 8.Kc2 Rb4 9.Kc3=
5.b6 h3 6.b7 h2 7.b8=Q h1=Q 8.Qg8+ Kf3 9.Qf7+!
9.Qd5+? Re4µ
9...Kg2 10.Qg6+ Kf1 11.Qf5+ Kg2 12.Qg4+ Kf1 13.Qf5+=
2. M. Matlakov 2685 - S. Zierk 2499

chess.com (Internet) 2020
429
1.? =
Show/Hide Solution
1.gxf4!
1.Kh6? fxg3 (1...Ra5?
2.gxf4! (2.Rg6? f3 3.Rf6 (3.Rg8 Kh3-+) 3...Rb5 4.Kg6 Rb2 5.Rf5 Rb6+ 6.Rf6 Rxf6+ 7.Kxf6 Kh3
8.Kxg5 Kg2-+ M. Matlakov - S. Zierk) 2...gxf4 3.Rg6+! Kf3 4.Rf6! Ra2 5.Kg5=) 2.fxg3 Rxg3
3.Rb4+ (3.Rb1 Rh3+ 4.Kg6 Kh4-+) 3...Kh3 4.Kh5 g4 5.Re4 Rg1-+
430
1...gxf4 2.Kf6! Ra2
2...Kf3 3.Rb4!=
3.Rb1!! f3
3...Rxf2 4.Rg1+ Kf3 5.Kg5! Ke2 (5...Ra2 6.Rf1+=) 6.Ra1 f3 7.Kf4=
4.Rb4+ Kh3 5.Kg5 Kg2 6.Rb3 Kxf2
6...Rxf2 7.Kg4 Rf1 8.Ra3 f2 9.Rg3+ Kh2 10.Rh3+=
7.Kg4 Ra4+ 8.Kh3=
3. J.-K. Duda 2757 - A. Firouzja 2728

Stavanger 2020
431
1...? –+
Show/Hide Solution
1...h3! 2.gxh3
2.Rxh3 Rxh3 3.gxh3
3...Ra8!! 4.c5 Kf7 5.Kc4 Ke6-+
432
2...e4! 3.fxe4
3.Nxf4 Rf5 4.Rg1 Rxf4 5.Rxg3+ Kf7 6.fxe4 Rxe4 7.c5 Rb8 8.Rg4 Rbxb4-+
3...g2 4.Rg1 Rxh3+ 5.Kd4 f3 6.c5 Kf7 7.Nf4 f2 0-1
4. M. Carlsen 2863 - Hi. Nakamura 2736

1.? +–
433
Show/Hide Solution
1.Rxg7!! Kxg7 2.f6+ Kf8 3.fxe7+ Kxe7 4.Rd5 Rc8 5.f5 Rc6 6.f6+ Ke8 7.Rd6 Rc8 8.Rb6 1-0
5. M. Carlsen 2863 - A. Firouzja 2728

Stavanger (rapid-Armageddon) 2020
1...? –+
Show/Hide Solution
1...Rg4 2.Kd3 c5!

2...Rg3+? 3.Re3 Rg4 4.Rf3!„ c5 5.dxc5 bxc5 6.Rf8! Kxe5 7.Rf7= M. Carlsen - A. Firouzja.
3.dxc5
3.Ke3 Kd5-+
3...bxc5 4.Ke3
4.Rc4 Rxc4 5.Kxc4 g5!-+
4...Kf5! 5.Rxg4 hxg4 6.e6 Kxe6 7.Kf4 Kd5
7...g3 8.Kxg3 Ke5-+
8.Kxg4 Kd4 9.Kg5 Kc3 10.Kg6 Kxb3 11.Kxg7 c4 12.h5 c3 13.h6 c2 14.h7 c1=Q 15.h8=Q Qc3+
434
16.Kg8 Qxh8+ 17.Kxh8 Kb4 18.Kg7 Kb5 19.Kf6 Kxa6 20.Ke5 Kb5 21.Kd4 Kb4 22.Kd3 Kb3-
+
6. Mi. Adams 2706 - V. Keymer 2568

Deutschland 2020
1...? =
Show/Hide Solution
1...Nf3+!
1...Ng4? 2.Qf3 Qh2+ 3.Kf1 Qh5 4.Ke1 (4.Qc6?
435
4...Ne3+! (4...Ne5? 5.Qd6+ Kf6 6.Qd8+ Kf5 7.b8=Q+- Mi. Adams - V. Keymer) 5.fxe3 Qd1+
6.Kf2 Qc2+! 7.Kf3 Qf5+ 8.Kg2 Qc2+ 9.Kh3 Qh7+=) 4...Qe5+ 5.Qe2 Qb8 6.Qxg4 (6.Qb5 Qe5+)
6...Qxb7 7.Qd4±
2.Kg2 Qh2+ 3.Kxf3 Qh1+ 4.Kf4 Qh6+ 5.Kf3 Qh1+=
7. Hi. Nakamura 2736 - A. Firouzja 2728

1.? +–
436
Show/Hide Solution
1.b4+!
1.Rc4+? Kb6 2.Rb4+ Kc5=
1...Kb5 2.Rxd5+ cxd5 3.Rd4 Ka4
3...d2 4.Kg2+-
4.Kg2 Kb3 5.h5 Kc2 6.Rxd5 Re1 7.g4 d2 8.h6 Re6 9.Rxd2+!
9.g5 Re5 10.Rxd2+ Kxd2 11.f4+-
9...Kxd2 10.g5 1-0
8. I. Iljiushenok 2515 - M. Samusenko 2459

Russia 2020
1.? +–
Show/Hide Solution
1.Rc2+! Kd1 2.Rc5 Re7 3.Rh5 Kc1 4.Rb5! 1-0
9. D. Yuffa 2583 - A. Gaifullin 2440

Russia 2020
437
1...? =
Show/Hide Solution
1...Re1+! 2.Re5 Re8+! 3.Kf5

3.Kd5 Rd8+ 4.Ke6 (4.Kc4? Rc1+-+) 4...Rxd4 5.Rxe1 Rxf4=
3...Rf8+ 4.Kg4 Rg1+ 5.Kf3 Rf1+ 6.Ke3 Re1+ 7.Kd3 Rd1+ 8.Ke3 Re1+ 9.Kd2
438
9...Rxf4! 10.Rxe1
10.Rxf4 Rxe5=
10...Rxd4+ 11.Kc3 Rh4=
10. Ash. Eswaran 2244 - Do. Derakhshani 2270

1...? –+
Show/Hide Solution
1...b4+!
1...Qf8? 2.Be7 Qg7 (Ash. Eswaran - Do. Derakhshani) 3.Kd4=
2.Kc4
2.Kxb4 Qb2+-+;
2.Kb3 Qg3 3.Re7+ Kc8-+
2...Qb2 … Qc3 3.Re7+ Kc8-+
11. Ale. Rakhmanov 2645 - Nikita Afanasiev 2507

439
1...? =
Show/Hide Solution
1...Kg7!
1...Kg6? 2.Ke5 Be2 (2...Kf7? 3.Bd5++-) 3.Bd5 Kg7 (3...Ba6 4.Kd4 Kf6 5.Bc4 Bc8 6.Be2 Ke7
7.Kc5 Bb7 8.Kb6 Bd5 9.a6 Kd8 10.a7 … Bb5-c6)
4.Kd4! Kf6 5.Bc4 Bg4 (5...Bf3 6.a6 Ke7 7.Bd5+-) 6.a6+- Ale. Rakhmanov - Nikita Afanasiev.
440
2.Ke5 Be2 3.Bd5
3.Kd6 Kf8 4.Bc6 Bf1 5.Kc5 (5.Kc7 Ke7=) 5...Ke7 6.Bb5 Bxb5 7.Kxb5 Kd7=
3...Kf8 4.Kd4 Ke8 5.Bc4 Bxc4 6.Kxc4 Kd8=
12. B. Ahlander 2392 - C. Ertan 2394

Sverige 2020
1.? =
Show/Hide Solution
1.Rf1+! Kg3
441
2.Ke3!
2.Rc1? Kf3! 3.Kd3 Rd6+ 4.Kc3 Rc6+ 5.Kd3 Rd6+ 6.Kc3 Kxe4 7.Re1+ Kf3 8.Kxc2 f5 9.Rf1+ Kg4
10.Rg1+ Kh3 11.Rf1 Rd5 12.Rh1+ Kg2 13.Rh5 Kg3 14.Rg5+ Kf4 15.Rg1 Ke3 16.Rg5 Ke4 17.Kc3
Rd8 18.Rg2 f4-+ B. Ahlander - C. Ertan.
2...f5
2...Kg2 3.Rc1 Rc6 4.Ke2=
3.Rf3+! Kg2
3...Kg4 4.Rf4+ Kg5 5.Rxf5+=
442
4.Rf2+ Kg1 5.Rxc2=
13. D. Frolyanov 2546 - Vl. Fedoseev 2678

Chelyabinsk 2020
1.? =
Show/Hide Solution
1.Ra2!
1.Rb8? Nf1+ 2.Kh1 Rd1! 3.Rf8+ Kg3 4.Rf3+ Kh4 0 : 1 D. Frolyanov - Vl. Fedoseev; 1.Rc2!=
1...g4
443
2.g3! Rd7
2...Ke3 3.hxg4 Kf2 4.g5=
3.Rc2!
3.Rb2? Kf1! 4.Kh1 Nf3 5.h4 (5.Rb1+ Kf2 6.Rb2+ Kxg3 7.Rg2+ Kxh3-+) 5...Rd2 6.Rxd2 Nxd2-+
3...Ke3 4.Kg2! Nf3 5.Rc3+ Ke2 6.Rc2+ Kd1 7.Rf2 Ne1+
8.Kg1!
8.Kh2 Rh7 9.h4 Re7-+
444
8...gxh3 9.g4 Nd3 10.Rf3 Ke2 11.Rxh3=
14. Jef. Xiong 2709 - I. Nepomniachtchi 2784

1.? +–
Show/Hide Solution
1.Rb7+!
1.Rb5? Re4 2.Kf3 exf5 3.gxf5 Rh4 4.Rb7+ (4.e6+ Kf6 5.Rd5 Rh1=) 4...Kf8 5.Rb8+ Ke7! 6.Rb7+
Kf8 7.e6 Rxh5= Jef. Xiong - I. Nepomniachtchi.
1...Kg8
445
2.f6! gxf6
2...Rxe5 3.Rxg7+ Kf8 4.Rh7+-
3.exf6 Ra1
3...Re4 4.Kg3 Re1 5.Rg7+ Kh8 6.Kf4 Re2 7.g5 hxg5+ 8.Kxg5+-
4.g5! hxg5 5.h6 Ra8 6.f7+ Kf8

6...Kh8 7.Re7+-
7.h7+-
446
15. S. Khanin 2482 - An. Esipenko 2682
1.? =
Show/Hide Solution
1.Qa8+!
1.dxc7? Bc3+ 2.Nxc3 Qxc3+ 3.Kd1 Qxc7-+ S. Khanin - An. Esipenko.
1...Rc8
1...Bf8 2.dxc7 Kg7 3.c8=Q (3.Qxf8+ Kxf8 4.c8=Q+ Kg7 5.Qc3+ Qxc3+ 6.Nxc3 Kf6 7.Nd5+ Ke5
8.Nc7 g5 9.Nxa6 Kd4 10.Kf2 Kc4 11.Ke3 f5 12.Kf3 Kc3 13.Kf2 g4 14.hxg4 fxg4 15.Kg2 h3+
16.Kg3 Kc4 17.Kh2=) 3...Bxb4+ 4.Nd2 Qe3+ 5.Kf1 Qd3+ 6.Kg2 Qxd2+ 7.Kf3 Qd3+=
2.Qxc8+ Bf8 3.d7 Qxe4+ 4.Kd1 Qd3+ 5.Kc1 Qe3+=
16. Ale. Rakhmanov 2645 - D. Bocharov 2524

Chelyabinsk 2020
447
1.? +–
Show/Hide Solution
1.Bf4+! Kd8
1...Kc8 2.g5+-
2.Kf7 Bh4
2...Bc3 3.g5 Kd7 4.g6+- … Bg5-f6
448
3.Be5! Kd7 4.Bf6 Bf2 5.g5 Be3 6.g6 Bh6
7.Bg5! 1-0
17. K. Arkell 2429 - O. Iolis 2173

Pardubice 2020
1...? =
Show/Hide Solution
449
1...Bg4! 2.Kh6 Kf8!
2...Kd6? 3.Bxh5 Bxf5 4.Bg6 Bg4 5.Kg7 Ke5 6.h5 Bxh5 7.Bxh5 Kf5 8.Kh6+- K. Arkell - O. Iolis.
3.Bxh5 Bxf5 4.Bg6
4...Be6!
4...Bg4? 5.Bc2 Kg8 (5...Bf3 6.Kg6 Ke7 7.h5+-) 6.Kg6+-
5.Bc2 Kf7 6.h5 Bd7 7.Bb3+ Kf8 8.Kg6
8.Bd5 Bf5 9.Bf3 Bd3=
8...Be8+=
18. A. Grischuk 2777 - L. Domínguez Pérez 2758

450
1.? +–
Show/Hide Solution
1.Kg2!
1.Ke2? Ke5!
2.Kd3 (2.f4+ Ke4 3.Kf2 Kd5 4.Ke3 Ke6 5.Kd4 Kd6=; 2.Kf1 f4 3.g4 Ke6 4.Ke2 Kd6 5.Kd2 Kc6
6.Kc2 Kd6 7.Kb3 Kd5 8.Kc3 (8.Kb4 Kd4 9.Kb5 Ke3 10.g5 Kxf3 11.g6 Ke2 12.g7 f3 13.g8=Q
f2=) 8...Kc5=) 2...f4 3.g4 Kd5 4.Kc3 Kc5 5.g5 Kd5 6.g6 Ke6 7.Kd4 Kf6 8.Ke4 Kxg6 9.Kxf4
451
Kf6=
1...Ke3
1...Ke5 2.Kh3 Kf6 3.Kh4 Kg6 4.g4! fxg4 5.Kxg4 Kf6 6.Kf4+-
2.f4! Ke4
3.Kh3! Kf3 4.Kh4 1-0
19. D. Navara 2719 - É. Bacrot 2673

España 2020
452
1...? =
Show/Hide Solution
1...Rf2+!
1...Rg1? 2.h6! d1=Q 3.Rxd1 Rxd1 4.a5! Rf1+ 5.Ke5 Ra1 6.Kf6 Rxa5 7.h7 Kf4 8.g6
(8.h8=Q Rf5+ 9.Ke7 Kxg5 10.Qd4+-) 8...fxg6 (8...Rf5+ 9.Kg7 fxg6 10.h8=Q+-; 8...Ra6+ 9.Kxf7
Kf5 (9...Ra7+ 10.Ke6 Ra6+ 11.Kd5+-) 10.g7 Ra7+ 11.Kf8 Ra8+ 12.Ke7 Ra7+ 13.Kd6+-) 9.h8=Q
Ra6+ 10.Kg7+-
453
2.Ke5 Rg2!
2...Rf1? 3.h6+-
3.Kf6 Rf2+ 4.Kg7 Rf5 5.g6
5.h6 Rxg5+ 6.Kxf7 Rh5 7.Kg6 Rh1 8.h7 Rg1+ 9.Kf6 Rh1=
5...fxg6 6.h6
6.hxg6 Rf4! 7.Rxd2 (7.a5? Rd4-+) 7...Kxd2 8.Kh6=
6...Rh5! 7.h7
7.Kxg6 Rh1 8.h7 Rg1+ 9.Kf6 Rh1=
7...g5 8.a5 g4 9.a6 g3 10.Re7+
454
10...Kf2
10...Kf4!? 11.Rf7+ Ke3=
11.Rd7 Ke2 12.h8=Q Rxh8 13.Kxh8 g2 14.a7 g1=Q 15.a8=Q Qh2+ 16.Kg8 Qg3+ 17.Kf8 Qf4+
18.Ke8 Qe5+ 19.Re7 Qxe7+ 20.Kxe7 d1=Q 1/2-1/2
20. J. Gdański 2476 - Seo Jung Min 2433

Sverige 2020
455
1...? =
Show/Hide Solution
1...Nxh4! 2.Kxh4 Ke6 3.Bd4
3...a5!
3...Kd5? 4.Bb6
4.bxa5 Kd7 5.a6 Kc7 6.Ba7 Kc6 7.Bc5 Kc7=
21. Ar. Uskov 2164 - A. Gubajdullin 2344

Moscow 2020
456
1...? –+
Show/Hide Solution
1...Kg5!
1...Rc4? 2.Rxf7 Rxd4 3.Bxc6= (3.Bxg6 Kxg6µ Ar. Uskov - A. Gubajdullin)
2.Kg2
2.Rxc3?? Nf4#
2...Nf4+ 3.Kf2 Rc1-+
22. M. Blübaum 2660 - Z. Efimenko 2602

Deutschland 2020
457
1...? =
Show/Hide Solution
1...h3!
1...Kc6? 2.Rh7 Kd6 3.g5! Rc1 4.Rxh4 Ke7 5.Kg6! Rc6+ 6.Kg7 Rc7 7.Re4+ Kd6+ 8.Kh6+- M.
Blübaum - Z. Efimenko.
2.Rh7 Rc5+ 3.Kf4 Rc4+ 4.Kg3 Rc3+ 5.Kh2 Kc6 6.Rxh3 Rc2+ 7.Kg3 Kd6 8.Kh4
8.Kf4 Ke7=
458
8...Rc8!
8...Ke7? 9.Rf3+-
9.Kg5 Rg8+ 10.Kf5 Rf8+=
23. E. Solozhenkina 2301 - O. Gritsayeva 2373

Russia 2020
1.? +–
459
Show/Hide Solution
1.Rxg5+!
1.Rd8? Qa4+ 2.Kb1 Qe4+ 3.Kc1 Qc4+ 4.Kd2 Qb4+ 5.Ke2
5...Qe4+™ (5...Qc4+? 6.Rd3! (6.Ke1? Qe4+ 7.Kd1 Qg4+ 8.Ke1 Qe4+ 9.Kd2 Qb4+ 10.Ke3 Qxb3+
(10...Qe4+=) 11.Rd3 Qb4 12.h8=Q Qe1+ 13.Kf3 Qf1+ 14.Ke3 Qe1+ 1/2 : 1/2 E. Solozhenkina - O.
Gritsayeva) 6...e4 7.Nd4+ Kg4 8.h8=Q Qxd3+ 9.Ke1 Qg3+ 10.Kf1 Qf4+ 11.Ke2+-) 6.Kd1 Qg4+
7.Kd2 (7.Ke1 Qe4+ 8.Kf1 Qf3+=) 7...Qb4+ 8.Kd1 Qg4+ 9.Kd2 Qb4+=
1...fxg5
1...Kxg5 2.Rg8+
2.Rf8+ Kg4 3.h8=Q Qa4+ 4.Kb1 Qe4+ 5.Kc1 Qc4+ 6.Kd2 Qxb3
460
7.Qf6 Qxb2+ 8.Ke1 Qc1+ 9.Kf2 Qd2+ 10.Kg1+-
24. A. Bivol 2393 - E. Nasyrova 2171

Russia 2020
1...? =
Show/Hide Solution
461
1...Bxd4!
1...Kb7? 2.Nf3 Nd3 3.h5 Kc8 (3...Kb6 4.Bg7 Nf2+ 5.Kg1 Ng4+ 6.Kf1 Kc5 7.Ke2 Kxd5 8.h6
Nxh6 9.Bxh6+-) 4.Bg7 Kd7 5.Ne5+ Nxe5 6.Bxe5 Ke7 7.h6 f3 8.gxf3 Bxh6 9.Kg2+- A. Bivol - E.
Nasyrova.
2.Bxd4 f3 3.gxf3
3.Kg1 Nxg2 4.h5 Nf4 5.h6 Ne2+ 6.Kh1 (6.Kf1? g2+ 7.Ke1 Nxd4 8.Kf2 Ne2-+) 6...Nxd4 7.h7 g2+
8.Kh2 Ne2 9.h8=Q+ Kb7=
3...g2+ 4.Kh2 Nxf3+ 5.Kxg2 Nxh4+=
25. A. Goryachkina 2582 - V. Zvjaginsev 2617

Russia 2020
462
1.? +–
Show/Hide Solution
1.Rxa4!
1.e7? Re8 2.Kf5 a3 3.Ke6 Kxb5 4.Rf4 a2 5.Rf1 Ka4 6.Kd7 Rb8 7.e8=Q Rxe8 8.Kxe8 b5
9.Rf7™ Kb3 10.Ra7 Kb2 11.e4 b4 12.e5 b3 13.e6 a1=Q 14.Rxa1 1/2 : 1/2 A. Goryachkina - V.
Zvjaginsev.
463
1...Kd6
1...Kxb5 2.Rf4 Re8 3.Kf5 Kc5 4.Kf6+-
2.Ra6 Kxe6 3.Rxb6+ Kd5 4.Rg6 Ke4 5.Re6+ Kd5 6.Re7 Kd6 7.Rh7 Kc5 8.Rh5+ Kd6 9.Rf5+-
26. Nguyen Thai Dai Van 2571 - N. Short 2626

Praha (m/4-rapid) 2020
1.? =
Show/Hide Solution
1.Bxc5! Qe6
1...bxc5 2.Qxc5+ Kb8 3.Qxc4=
464
2.Qa8+ Kd7 3.Qb7+ Ke8 4.Bb4 h5
4...e4!? 5.fxe4 Ne5 6.Qh7 Qc4+ 7.Kd2 Qd3+ 8.Kc1 Qe3+ 9.Kd1 Qd3+ 10.Kc1=
5.Qg7 h4 6.Qxg5 h3 7.Qh5+ Kd7 8.Qh7+ Kc8 9.Qh8+ Kc7 10.Qh7+ Qd7 11.Qxd7+ Kxd7
12.Kf2 Nd6
12...h2 13.Kg2 Nd2=
13.Kg3 Nxb5 14.Kxh3=
27. M. Kobalia 2614 - E. Obgolts 2376

Russia 2020
465
1.? +–
Show/Hide Solution
1.f5! Qe1+ 2.Kg2 Qe2+ 3.Qf2 Qxe5 4.b7 Kh7 5.fxg6+ fxg6
6.Qa2!
6.Qa7? Qe2+ 7.Kg3
466
(7.Qf2 Qb5=) 7...Qe1+ (7...Qe5+? 8.Kf2! Qb2+ 9.Kg1 (9.Ke3? Qc3+ 10.Ke2 Qc2+ 11.Ke3 Qc3+
12.Kf4
12...Qc1+ (12...Qf6+? 13.Kg3 Qe5+ 14.Kf2 (14.f4? Qc3+ 15.Kg2 Qb2+= M. Kobalia - E. Obgolts)
14...Qb2+ 15.Kg1 Qc1+ 16.Kg2 Qc2+ 17.Kg3 Qc7+ 18.Kh3 Qd7+ 19.Kg2+-) 13.Ke5 Qc7+
14.Kxd5 Qf7+ 15.Kd4 Qf4+=) 9...Qc1+ 10.Kg2 Qc2+ 11.Kg3 Qc7+ 12.Kh3+-) 8.Kh2 Qe2+
9.Kh1 Qf1+ 10.Kh2 Qe2+ 11.Kh3 Qf1+ 12.Kh2 Qe2+=
6...d4
6...Kg7 7.Kf1+-
467
7.Qb2! Qb8 8.Qb5 Kh6 9.Qg5+ Kg7 10.Qe7+ Kh6 11.Kh3 d3
11...Qf4 12.Qg5++-
12.Qd7+-
28. Fe. Klein 2307 - M. Fedorovsky 2422

Deutschland 2020
1.? +–
468
Show/Hide Solution
1.Kf5! Ra6
1...Kf8 2.Rb6 Kg7 3.Rg6+ Kh7 4.Re6! Kg7 (4...Ra7 5.Kf6+-) 5.Re7+ Kf8
6.Re4! Ra6 7.Re6 Ra5+ 8.Kg6 Ra4 9.Rf6+ Ke7 10.Rf5 Ra6+ 11.Kg7 Rb6 12.Rf7+ Ke8 13.f5 Rb4
14.g5! hxg5 15.f6 g4 16.Re7+ Kd8 17.Re3+-
2.Re7! Ra5+ 3.Kg6 Ra6+ 4.Kh5 Ra4 5.f5 Rb4
5...Ra6 6.Re6+-
6.Re6 Kg7 7.Rxh6 Rxg4 8.f6+! 1-0
29. A. Predke 2676 - Ar. Nesterov 2510

Russia 2020
469
1...? =
Show/Hide Solution
1...Nf5!
1...Kb2? 2.Kd2 Kxa1
3.Kc1! (3.Kc2? Ne6 4.g6 Nd4+ 5.Kd3 (5.Kc1 Nxe2+ 6.Kd2 Kb2 7.g7 a1=Q 8.g8=Q=) 5...Kb2
6.g7 a1=Q 7.g8=Q Qd1+ 8.Ke4 Nxe2=) 3...Ne6 4.g6 Ng7 (4...Nd4 5.g7 Nb3+ 6.Kc2 Nd4+ 7.Kd3
Kb2 8.g8=Q a1=Q 9.Kxd4+-) 5.e4 Ne6 6.e5 Ng7 (6...Nd4 7.g7+-) 7.f4! Ne6 8.f5 Nc5 9.g7 Nb3+
470
10.Kc2 Nd4+ 11.Kd3 Kb2 12.g8=Q a1=Q
13.Qg2++- A. Predke - Ar. Nesterov (13.Kxd4? Kc2+ 14.Ke4 Qe1+ 15.Kd5 (15.Kf3 Qf1+ 16.Ke4
Qe1+ 17.Kd5 Qa5+ 18.Kd4 Qa1+ 19.Ke4 Qe1+=) 15...Qa5+ 16.Kd6 (16.Ke4 Qe1+ 17.Kf3
Qf1+=) 16...Qb4+ 17.Kd7 Qb7+ 18.Ke8 Qc8+ 19.Kf7 Qxf5+=)
2.g6 Kd4 3.Kd2 Ke5 4.Kc3
4.e4 Ne7 5.g7 Kf6 6.Kc3 Kxg7 7.Kb3 Kf6 8.Kxa2 Ke5=
4...Kf6 5.Kb2
5.Nc2 Ne3 6.Na1 Kxg6 7.Kb3 Nf5=
5...Nd4=
30. T. Moreau 2333 - L. Crevatin 2181

Sverige 2020
471
1.? +–
Show/Hide Solution
1.Qa8+!
1.Kg2? Bf6 2.Qd5± T. Moreau - L. Crevatin.
1...Ke7 2.Qg8+-
31. A. Afonasieva 2279 - D. Khokhlova 2168

Satka 2020
472
1.? +–
Show/Hide Solution
1.Qg8+! Kd7 2.Rb7+ Kc6
3.Qa8!
3.Qc8+ Kd5 4.Qa8! (4.Rc7?! (A. Afonasieva - D. Khokhlova) 4...Qb5!∞) 4...Rc6 5.Qd8+ Ke6
6.Qe8!
473
6...Rc7
(6...Kf6 7.Qh8+ Ke6 8.Qh6+ Kd5 9.Qxg5+ e5 10.Rb1 Rd6 11.Qg8+ Kd4 12.Qa8! Qc6 13.Qa7+
Kd5 14.Kg2! Ke6 15.Qh7 c3 (15...Rd2+ 16.Kg3 Rd3 17.Qg8+ Kd7 18.Qf7+ Kc8 19.Rc1 e4
(19...Rd4 20.Qf5+ Kc7 21.Qxe5+ Qd6 22.Qxd6+ Kxd6 23.f4+-) 20.Qxc4 Rxf3+ 21.Kh4 Qxc4
22.Rxc4+ Kd7 23.Rxe4+-) 16.Qg8+ Ke7 17.Rh1+-) 7.Rb6+! Kd5 (7...Qxb6 8.Qg6++-) 8.Rb5+-
3...c3
3...Kd5 4.Rb5+ Rc6 5.Rxc5+ Kxc5 6.Ke2+-
4.Ra7+ Kb5 5.Ra5+ Kc4 6.Rxc5+ Kxc5 7.Qa3+ Kc4 8.Qa4+ Kd3 9.Qe4+ Kd2 10.Qxe7+-
474
32. M. Berezina 1982 - Z. Shafigullina 2296
Russia 2020
1...? –+
Show/Hide Solution
1...Kf7!
1...g4?
475
2.Rc7! g3 (2...f5 3.exf5+ Kxf5 4.Rf7+ Kg5 5.Rxf3 gxf3 6.Ke3 Kg4 7.Kf2=) 3.Rg7 Ra3 4.Rb7 g2
5.Rg7 Ra2 6.Ke3 Ke5 7.Re7+ Kd6 8.Rg7=
2.Rc7+ Kg6 3.Re7 g4 4.e5 f5 5.Re6+ Kg5 6.Re8 g3 7.Rg8+ Kf4 8.e6 Re3 9.Rg6 Re1 10.Kd5 Kf3
11.Kd6 g2-+
33. An. Demchenko 2641 - Nikita Afanasiev 2507

Chelyabinsk 2020
1...? =
476
Show/Hide Solution
1...f5! 2.Qd4
2...Qxf4! 3.Qxf4 1/2-1/2
34. E. Solozhenkina 2301 - A. Garmash 2093

Russia 2020
477
1.? =
Show/Hide Solution
1.Rxf7+!
1.f6+? Kg8 2.Qe2 h5?
3.Rb7∞ E. Solozhenkina - A. Garmash; 2...g5!-+

1...Kxf7
1...Kg8
478
2.Rf8+! Kg7=
2.fxg6+ Kxg6
2...Ke8? 3.Qf7+ Kd8 4.Qf8+ Kc7 5.Qc5+ Kd8 6.Qb6+ Ke7 7.Qb7++-
3.Qf6+ Kh7 4.Qf7+ Kh8 5.Qf8+=
35. Ch. Yoo 2455 - B. Tiglon 2393

USA (Internet-rapid) 2020
479
1...? =
Show/Hide Solution
1...Rxf3+!
1...Qe1+? (Ch. Yoo - B. Tiglon) 2.Qf2 Qh1 3.Nd6 Qh4+ (3...Rf8 4.Qe3+-) 4.Kg2 Qxh6 5.Qa2+
Kb8 6.Qb3+ Kc7 7.Qb7+ Kd8 8.Nf7+ Rxf7 9.Qxf7+-
2.Kxf3 Qf4+ 3.Kg2
3...Qg3+! 4.Kf1
4.Kxg3=
4...Qe1+=
36. F. Blohberger 2467 - Alexa. Donchenko 2654

Deutschland 2020
480
1.? +–
Show/Hide Solution
1.Qh8! g5 2.Qf8+ Kg6 3.h5+ 1-0
37. An. Heimann 2617 - Vl. Malakhov 2669

Deutschland 2020
481
1.? +–
Show/Hide Solution
1.d5!
1.Rxa6 Rxg7 2.Ra8 Rg4+ 3.Ke3 (3.Kf5 Kc7=) 3...Rg3+ 4.Kf4 Rb3 5.a6 Kc7=
1...h4
1...cxd5+? 2.Kf4! Rg1 3.Kf5 d4 4.Rxa6+ Ke7 5.Rg6+-
2.dxc6
2.Rxa6 Rg4+
3.Kf3 (3.Kf5 Rxg7 4.Rxc6+ Kxd5 5.Rc5+ Kd6 6.Rxb5 h3 7.Rb6+ Kc7 8.Rh6 Rg3 9.b5 Ra3 10.b6+
(10.a6 Ra5=) 10...Kb7 11.Rh7+ Kc6=) 3...Rg3+ 4.Kf2 Rxg7 5.Rxc6+ Kxd5 6.Rc5+ Kd6 7.Rxb5 h3
8.Rh5 Rg2+ 9.Kf3 Rb2=; 2.Kf4 Rg1 3.dxc6 Kxc6 4.Kf5 (4.Rxa6+ Kd5 5.Rh6 Rxg7 6.Rxh4 Rg1
7.Ke3 Rg3+ 8.Kd2 Rg1=) 4...Kd5 5.Rxa6 Rxg7 6.Rh6 Rf7+ 7.Kg5 Rg7+ 8.Kxh4? Kc4 ; 8.Kf5= An.
Heimann - Vl. Malakhov.
2...Kxc6
2...h3 3.c7 h2
482
4.c8=N+! Ke6 5.Rxa6+ Kf7 6.Rh6+-
3.Rxa6+ Kb7
3...Kd7 4.Ra8!+-
4.Rh6 Rxg7 5.Rxh4 Kc6 6.Rh6+ Kc7
7.Rf6! Rh7 8.Rf5 Rh4+ 9.Rf4 Rh5 10.Kd4 Rg5 11.Rf7+ Kc6
11...Kd6 12.Rf6+ Kd7 13.Rh6 Rf5
483
14.Rh8! Kc7 (14...Rg5 15.a6+-) 15.Re8+- … Re5
12.Rf6+ Kc7
13.Re6! Rg3 14.Re5+-
38. D. Frolyanov 2546 - An. Tsvetkov 2358

Chelyabinsk 2020
484
1...? =
Show/Hide Solution
1...Ng5!
1...Nf4? 2.Kf2 Nd3+ 3.Ke3 Ne5 4.Rc5 Ng4+ (4...Nd7 5.Rd5 Nf6 6.Rf5 Ng4+ 7.Kf3 Nh2+ 8.Kf2
Ng4+ 9.Kg3+-) 5.Kf3 Nf6 6.Rf5 Nd7 7.Kf2+-; 1...Ng1? 2.Kf2! Kh2 3.Ra2 Nh3+ 4.Kf3+ Kh1
5.Kg3+- D. Frolyanov - An. Tsvetkov.
2.Rc5
2.Rb2 Nh3=;
2.Kf2 Kh2=
2...Nh3 3.Rh5 Kh2=
39. F. B. Olsen 2351 - A. Ciesla 2294

Polska 2020
485
1...? –+
Show/Hide Solution
1...Bd4!
1...h1=Q? 2.e7+ Ke8 3.Ng7+ Kf7 4.e8=Q+ Kxg7 5.Qe7+ Kg6 (5...Kh6 6.Qf6+=) 6.Qe6+ Kh5
7.Qe2+ g4 8.Qe5+ Kg6 9.Qe6+=
2.Ng3 g4 3.e7+ Ke8 4.Ke6 a5 5.Nh1
5.Nf5 Be5!-+
5...Bc3 6.Ng3 Bg7 7.Nh1 Bh6 8.Kf5 Kxe7 9.Kxg4 Ke6 10.Kg3 Ke5 11.Kxh2 Kd4 12.Nf2 Kxc4
13.Ne4 Kb4 14.Kg2 c4 15.Kf2 c3 16.Ke2 c2-+
40. E. Obgolts 2376 - M. Chigaev 2598

Russia 2020
486
1...? –+
Show/Hide Solution
1...Ke5!
1...Kxe4? 2.h5 Ne5 3.h6 Nf7+ 4.Kf6 Nxh6 5.Kxe6=
2.h5 Nd6 3.Kg6 Nxe4 4.h6 Nf6 5.Kg5 Nh7+ 6.Kg6 Nf8+! 7.Kg5
7.Kg7 Kf5 8.Kxf8 Kg6-+
7...Ke4 8.Kf6 e5 9.Kg7
487
9...Kf5! 0-1
41. E. Fernández Romero 2508 - I. Bulmaga 2434

España 2020
1...? –+
Show/Hide Solution
488
1...h5!
1...Ke3? 2.h5! Kf3 3.h6 Kg4 (3...Kxg3 4.Kf6 Kg4 5.Kg7 f5 6.Kxh7 f4 7.Kg8 f3 8.h7 f2 9.h8=Q
f1=Q 10.Qg7+ Kh5 11.Qh7+ Kg5 12.Qg7+=) 4.Kf6 e5 5.Kxe5 Kg5 6.g4
6...Kg6 (6...f6+ 7.Ke6 Kg6 8.Ke7 Kxh6 (8...Kg5 9.Kf7=) 9.Kxf6) 7.Kf4 f6 (7...Kxh6 8.Kf5 Kg7
9.g5 Kg8 10.Kf6 Kf8 11.Ke5 Ke7 12.Kf5=) 8.Ke4 Kg5 9.Kf3 Kxh6 10.Kf4 Kg6
11.Kf3! (11.Kg3? Kg5 12.Kf3 Kh4 13.Kf4 h6 14.Kf3 (14.Kf5 Kg3-+) 14...Kh3 15.Kf4 Kg2
16.Kf5 Kg3-+) 11...Kg5 12.Kg3 h6 13.Kf3 1/2 : 1/2 E. Fernández Romero - I. Bulmaga.
2.g4
489
2.Kf6 Ke4 3.Kxf7 (3.Kg5 Kf3 4.Kxh5 e5-+) 3...Kf5-+; 2.Kf4
2...f6! 3.g4 e5+ 4.Kf5 e4! (4...hxg4? 5.Kxg4=) 5.g5 e3 6.g6 e2 7.g7 e1=Q 8.g8=Q Qe5+ 9.Kg6
Qg3+-+
2...hxg4 3.Kf4
3...g3! 4.Kxg3 Ke4 5.Kg4

5.h5 Kf5 6.Kh4 e5 7.Kg3 Kg5-+
5...f5+ 6.Kg5 f4 7.h5 f3 8.h6 f2 9.h7 f1=Q 10.h8=Q Qg2+ 11.Kf6 Qb2+-+
490
42. Br. Tadić 2500 - P. Mašić 2273
Srbija 2020
1.? +–
Show/Hide Solution
1.Rxe5!
1.Re2? Rxe2 2.Bxe2 Nc6 3.Bb5 Rc8 4.Bxc6 Rxc6 5.Kf1 Kf8 6.Ke2 Ke7 7.Kd3 Kd7 8.Kd4 Re6=
Br. Tadić - P. Mašić.
1...Rxe5 2.c6 Rb8 3.c7 Rc8 4.Ba6 Ree8 5.f4 f6
5...g5 6.Bxc8 Rxc8 7.fxg5 hxg5 8.Kf2 Kf8 9.Ke3 Ke7 10.Kd4 Kd6
491
11.h4+-
6.Kf2 Kf7 7.Bxc8 Rxc8 8.Ke3 Ke6 9.Kd4 Kd6 10.Rc5+-
492
Bonus Game
DJORÐE R. PETROVIĆ 2389 – ALEXANDAR DAVIDOV 2317

corr. 2020
Have you ever calculated a variation 135-moves long? Well, neither have I ... but if I say that I
HAVE, it wouldn't be a complete lie.
This game has been played in match "Serbia - Bulgaria" in "Slav Cup VI" tournament. Situation
before White's 41st move is something that differs otb-chess from cc-chess. In otb-chess we would
have talked about "is there an advantage for White and, if there is, how big it is", while in cc-chess we
can make an effort to calculate it all the way until the very end.
1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 c6 3.Nf3 d5 4.d4 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 dxc4 7.Nxf5 exf5 8.e3 Nbd7 9.Bxc4 Nb6
10.Bb3 Qd7 11.f3 Be7 12.O-O O-O 13.e4² Rad8 14.e5 Nfd5 15.Qe2 a5 16.Kh1 Qe6 17.Rb1 Qg6
18.a3 Nc7 19.Be3 Nbd5 20.Nxd5 Nxd5 21.Bd2 Ra8 22.Bc2 Qe6 23.f4 Bd8 24.Qd3 Bb6 25.g4
Ne7 26.gxf5 Qd5+ 27.Qe4 Bxd4 28.Bc3 Rfd8 29.Rfd1 Qxe4+ 30.Bxe4 Bb6
31.Kg2!² Both sides are preparing for the incoming endgame. White will bring his king in the center,
fix opponent's weaknesses and ... hope for the best. It is difficult to say how much White's position is
better, but it is certainly easier to play.
31...Rxd1 32.Rxd1 Rd8 33.Rxd8+ Bxd8 34.Kf3 Kf8 35.Bd4 Bc7 36.a4! fixing the pawn on a dark
square 36...Nc8 37.Bc3 Ne7 38.b3! removing the pawn from the dark square 38...Ke8 39.Bd4 Kf8
40.Kg4 Bd8
493
This is the position in question. Somewhere, in the last 10 (or so) moves, Black has made a crucial
error because he was unaware of an increasing danger. Now, I have been able to calculate everything
until the checkmate ... at move 175 (of course, important part in these calculations have been played
by endgame tablebases)! In reality, I have calculated "only" 28 moves, but it will be seen that some of
them were clearly forced (although, in some variations, some subtle maneuvres had to be found).
41.f6! gxf6
41...Nd5? 42.fxg7+ Kxg7 43.Bxd5 cxd5 44.f5 f6 (If Black does not play f7-f6, White will play it,
keeping the black king in the cage, just like in the game: If Black does not play pawn f7-f6, White
will play it, keeping the black king in the cage, just like in the game: 44...Kf8 45.h3 Ke8 46.Kh5 Kf8
47.Kh6 Kg8 48.f6 Bc7 49.h4 Bd8 50.h5 Bc7 51.Kg5+-) 45.e6 Kf8 46.Kf3 Ke7 47.Bc5+ Ke8 48.h3
Bc7 49.Ke2 Be5 50.Kd3+- Black can't protect all the weak pawns.
42.exf6!
Without the endgame tablebases (or in an otb-game) I would have probably chosen 42.Bxh7!? Kg7!?
This is probably the best try for a defensive setup. Black should try to keep the position as closed as
possible (especially, Black has to prevent central pawns exchanges, which will increase the value of
an outside passed h2-pawn). (White's advantage seems bigger after 42...fxe5 43.fxe5 Nd5 44.h4 Nc7
45.Bf5 Ne6 46.Bc3; or 42...Nd5 43.h4 Kg7 44.Be4 Bb6 45.Bb2 Ne3+ 46.Kf3) 43.Be4 Ng8
(43...Ng6 44.Bc3 fxe5 45.fxe5 Kg8 46.e6!+-) 44.Bd3 Kf8 45.h4 Be7 46.Bh7± White should be
better here, but I couldn't say that it's a won position. Therefore, I have chosen to play 42. exf6. The
problem of 42.exf6 is that its value can be evaluated only in a cc-game, with enough time for all the
needed analysis.
494
42...Nd5™
After 42...Ng8? 43.Kf5 black pieces will be tied up because of the f7-weakness. 43...h6 (if Black
does not play h7-h6, White will force that move anyway 43...Ke8 44.Kg5 h6+ 45.Kf5 and Ng8 is out
of play.) 44.Bd3 Bc7 45.Bc4 Ke8 46.h3! limiting Black's possible targets 46...Bd6 47.Bc3 Bc7
(47...Bc5 48.Be6! b5 49.axb5 cxb5 50.Bd5 a4 51.b4! Bd6 52.Bc6+ Kf8 53.Bxb5+-) 48.Be5 Bb6
(48...Bd8 49.Be6!) 49.Be6! and, finally, black queenside pawns are in the reach of white bishops.
49...Bf2 50.Bc8 Bh4 51.Bxb7 Kd7 52.Bc3+-; If, in a previous 42...Ng8 variation, black knight has
looked like a bad piece, then please look at this: 42...Ng6? 43.f5! Nh8 44.Bc5+ Kg8 (44...Ke8
45.Kg5 h6+ 46.Kxh6 Bxf6 47.Kh7 Kd7 48.Bf8+-) 45.Be7 Bc7 46.h4 Be5
495
47.h5+- For all practical purposes, White is "king and bishop up".
43.Bxd5! cxd5 44.Kg5! Forces black king to stay on the kingside because, otherwise, pawn h7 will
fall. 44...Bc7 Although it may not be evident, all the Black's moves, until move 50, are practically
forced.
44...Ke8? 45.Kh6+-; 44...b6?! This will not stop white king from entering into black position.
45.Be5 Kg8 46.h4 Kf8 47.Kh6 Kg8 48.f5 Kh8 49.Kg5 Kg8 50.Kf4 Kf8 51.Ke3 Ke8 52.Kd4 Kd7
53.Kxd5 h5 (53...Bc7 54.Bxc7 Kxc7 55.Ke5!+- × h7) 54.Kd4 Kc6 55.Kc4 Kb7 56.Kd5+-; Even if
black plays passively, his bishop will sooner or later have to come to c7, in order to prevent Kg5-f5-
e5: 44...Kg8 45.Bc5! Kh8 46.h4 Kg8 47.h5 "The cage is closed". 47...Kh8 48.Kf5 Bc7 this is the
same position as in the game, after Black's 48th move.; 44...h6+!? looks interesting, but White has a
winning maneuvre: 45.Kxh6 Kg8 46.h3 Bc7 47.Kg5 Kh7
Now, White has to gain a tempo (in order to push the black king back): 48.Be5! Bb6 49.Bc3 Bc7
50.Bd4 Kh8 and only then to go into the action: 51.Kf5 Kh7 52.Be5 Bb6 53.Bb8 Bd4 54.Bc7 Bc3
55.Be5 Bd2 56.Bd4 Kh6 57.Ke5 Kg6 58.Bb6 Bb4 (58...Bc3+ 59.Kxd5 Kxf6 60.Bd4++-) 59.Bd8
Bc3+ 60.Kxd5 Bd2 61.Kc5+-
45.Bc5+
496
45...Kg8! Black king has to stay on the kingside.
It is interesting to try 45...Ke8 but it loses easier than in the main variation: 46.h4! Bd8! (46...h5
47.Kxh5 Bxf4 48.Kg4 Bd2 49.Kf5+- pawn h4 will be a decoy while White collects black queenside
pawns.) 47.h5! h6+! (47...Kd7? 48.Bd4+- and Black can't stop h5 without serious material sacrifices.
48...Bc7 49.Kh6 Ke6 50.Kxh7 Kf5 51.Kg7 Bxf4 52.h6+-; 47...b6!? 48.Bf2! Tempo-move 48...Kf8
49.Bd4 Bc7™ 50.Be5 Bd8 51.f5 Kg8 52.Bd6+- Black king is in the cage, and White wins easily.)
48.Kf5! pawn h6 will fall, but it will be a task for the bishop, not for the king. King is needed in the
center and on the queenside. 48...Bc7 49.Kg4 Kd7 (49...Bd8 50.Bd4 Bc7 51.f5 Bd6 52.Bb6 Bb4
53.Be3 Bc3 54.Bxh6 Bxf6 55.Bd2 Bd8 56.Kf4 Bc7+ 57.Kg5 Kf8
497
58.Kf6! Black is in zugzwang. There is a defensive line e7-e6-e5-e4-d4-c4-b4 defended by black
pieces and pawns, but now Black has to move and to open the crack in the line. 58...d4 59.Kg5! …
Kg4-f3-e4-d5 59...Kg8 60.Kg4 Kh7 61.Kf3 Bb6 62.Ke4 Kg7 63.Kd5+-) 50.Bf8 Ke6
51.Bg7! (It's easy to become overoptimistic: 51.Bxh6? Kxf6 52.Bf8 Bd8 53.f5 Be7! 54.Bxe7+ Kxe7
55.Kf4 Kf8 56.f6 (56.Ke5 Kg7 57.Kxd5 Kh6 58.Kc5 Kxh5 59.Kb6 Kg5 60.Kxa5 Kxf5 61.Kb6
Kg4 62.Kxb7 f5=) 56...Kg8 57.Ke5 Kh7 58.Kxd5 Kh6 59.Kd6 Kxh5 60.Kc7 Kg6 61.Kxb7 Kxf6
62.Kb6 Kg5 63.Kxa5 f5=) 51...d4!? (51...Bd8 52.Bxh6 Now Black has to take with the bishop
52...Bxf6 and the situation is completely different: 53.f5+ Ke5 54.Bd2 Ke4 55.Bxa5 d4 56.h6 Kd3
57.Be1 Ke2 58.Bh4 d3 59.Bxf6 d2 60.h7 d1=Q 61.h8=Q Black checks will soon dry out: 61...Kd3+
62.Kg5 Qc1+ 63.Kh5 Qh1+ 64.Bh4 Qf3+ 65.Kh6 Qxf5 66.Qf6+- and White's material advantage
will decide the game.) 52.f5+ Ke5 53.Bxh6 Bd8 (53...Kxf6 54.Bg5+ Kg7 55.Kf3 Bb6 56.Ke4+-
again, pawn h5 is a decoy that wins the game.) 54.Bf4+ Ke4 55.Kg5 Bxf6+ 56.Kxf6 Kxf4 57.h6 d3
58.h7 d2 59.h8=Q d1=Q 60.Qh6+ Ke4 61.Qh4+ Kd5 62.Qc4+ Kd6 63.Qxf7+- White will have no
trouble promoting pawn f5.
46.h4! Prepares the cage for a Black king. 46...Kh8
46...h5
498
47.Be3! Kh7 48.Kxh5 Kg8 49.Kg5 Kh7 50.Bd4 Bd6 51.Kf5 and White wins, playing on similar
motifs as in 44...h6 variation. 51...Bc7 52.Be5 Bb6 53.Bd6 Kh6 54.Ke5 d4 55.Ke4 Kh5 56.Be5 Kg4
57.Kd3 Kxh4 58.Bxd4 Bd8 59.Ke4 Kh5 60.Kd5 Kg6 61.Bc3 Bc7 62.Kc5 Kf5 63.Kb5 Bd8
64.Bxa5 Bxf6 65.Bd2 Bd8 66.Kc4+-
47.h5 Kg8 48.Kf5 Kh8! this is the same position as in the game, after Black's 48th move.
48...Bb8 49.Bb6+-
49.Bd4 Kg8
50.Be5! White needs to relocate his king to the queenside over e-file. It is not an easy task, because
499
White has its own weaknesses f-pawns to defend. For a start, white bishop moves black bishop away
of b8-h2
50...Bb6
50...Bd8 51.Bd6 d4 (51...Kh8 52.Ke5 d4 53.Bc5 d3 54.Be3 Kg8 55.Bd2 Kf8 56.Ke4 Bxf6 57.Bxa5
Kg7 58.Kxd3 Kh6 59.Ke4 Kxh5 60.Kf5! Bh4 61.Bc3 Bf2 62.b4 Kh4 63.a5 h5 64.b5 Kg3 65.a6
bxa6 66.bxa6 Kf3 67.Kg5 Ke4 68.Bd2 h4
69.Be1!+- Be3 70.Kxh4 Kd5 71.Bd2! Bd4 72.Ba5 Be3 73.f5 Kc6 74.Kg4 Kb5 75.Bd2! Bd4
76.Bc3! Be3 77.Kf3 Bb6 78.Kf4 Kxa6 79.Kg5 Bd8+ 80.Bf6 Bc7 81.Kh6+-) 52.Be5 d3 53.Bc3+-
51.Bd6! Leaves e5 for his king, while keeping the black king away.
51...Bd8! This is the best place for black bishop ...
51...Bd4 52.Bc7! Attacks pawn a5 but just as a preparation for overloading of a black bishop.
52...Bc3 (52...b6 53.Bd6! Bc5 54.Be7! protects pawn f6 so that white king can cross the e-file via
Kg4-f3-e2-d3. 54...Bd4 55.Kg4 Bg1 56.Kf3 Bd4 57.Ke2 Bg1 58.Kd3 Bc5 59.b4! Bf2 60.bxa5 bxa5
61.Bd8 Kf8 62.Bxa5+-) 53.Be5! Bb4 54.Bd4
500
54...Bd6 (54...Kf8 does not help, because white king is closer to a weak pawn a5. 55.Ke5 Ke8
56.Kxd5 Kd7 57.Bc5 Bc3 58.Be7 … Kc5-b6 58...Bb2 (58...b6!? is interesting, but now there are
more black pawns on the dark squares.
59.Ke4! Ke6 60.Bd8 Be1 61.f5+ Kd6 62.Bxb6 Kc6 63.Bd4 Bb4 64.Kd3 Ba3 65.Bc3 Kb6 66.Kc4
Bd6 67.b4 axb4 68.Bxb4 Be5 69.Bc3 Bd6 70.a5+ Kc6 71.Bd4 Bb8 72.a6 Bd6 73.a7 Kb7 74.Kd5+-)
59.Kc5 Bc1 (59...Kc7 60.Bd6+ Kc8 61.Be5) 60.Kb6! Bxf4 61.Kxb7 Bg5 62.b4! axb4 63.Bxb4 Bxf6
64.a5 Bd4 65.a6 f5 66.Bd2+-) 55.Bb6 and now Bd6 can't defend pawn a5 and e5-square at the same
time. 55...Bb4 56.Ke5+-
501
52.h6! but white has this tempo-move which brings Black into zugzwang.
It is not yet the time for 52.Ke5? d4! 53.Kxd4 Bxf6+„
52...Bb6
Black king can break from the prison with the cost of one pawn: 52...d4 53.Ke4 but even "one pawn"
will be too expensive. 53...Bxf6 54.Bc7 Kf8 55.Bxa5 Ke7 56.Bb6 Ke6 57.Bxd4 Now, white
queenside pawn will serve as a decoy or as a threat, depending on black's defensive strategy. 57...Bh4
(Of course, not 57...Bxd4? 58.Kxd4+-) 58.f5+ Kd6 59.b4 Be1 60.b5 Ba5 Now, White only needs to
prepare pawn a4-a5, and that can be done in several ways. 61.Be3 (61.Kd3 Kd5 62.Bc3 Bd8 63.a5
Kc5 64.a6 Bb6 65.axb7 Bc7 66.Ke4 Kxb5 67.Be5+-) 61...Bd8 (61...Be1 62.Kd3 Kd5 63.Bb6 Bh4
64.a5 Bg5 65.a6 bxa6 66.bxa6 Kc6 67.a7 Kb7 68.Be3+-) 62.Kd4 Bb6+ 63.Kd3 Bd8 64.Kc4 Ke5
(64...Ba5 65.Bc5+ Kc7 66.Bb4 Bb6 67.Bd2!+-) 65.Bd2
502
65...b6! (65...Kxf5 66.Kd5! b6 (66...Kg6 67.a5+-) 67.Be3! Black can't prevent Kd6-d7 which forces
pawn b6 to fall. 67...Kg6 68.Kc6 f5 69.Kd7!+-) 66.Be3 Ke4 (66...f6 67.Bg1 Ke4 (67...Kd6 68.Bd4
Kd7 69.Kd5+-) 68.Bh2+-) 67.Bg1 and Black can't prevent White king's advance: 67...Ke5 68.Bh2+
Ke4 69.f6! Bxf6 70.a5! (70.Bc7? Bd4!=) 70...bxa5 71.b6+-
53.Ke5 d4 54.Ke4 Bd8 Black can't defend both pawns a5 and d4.
54...Ba7 55.Bc7 Kf8 56.Bxa5 Ke8 57.Bd2 Kd7 58.Kd5+- White queenside pawns will decide the
game.
55.Kxd4 Bxf6+ 56.Be5! Keeps black bishop passive. 56...Bd8
56...Bxe5+? 57.Kxe5 Kf8 58.Kd6+-; 56...Be7 57.Bc7 Bb4 58.Kc4 Kf8 59.Kb5 Ke8 60.Bxa5 Be7
61.Bd2 Kd7 62.Kb6 Kc8 63.f5 Bd8+ 64.Kb5 Kd7 65.b4+-
503
57.Kd5! White has to be careful not to allow Black's counterplay with f5, Kf7-g6 x h6.
57.Kc5? f5 58.Kb5 Kf7 59.Bc3 Kg6 60.Bxa5 Bxa5 61.Kxa5 Kxh6=
57...f6
57...Be7 58.Bc7 Bb4 59.Kc4+- Kf8 60.Kb5 Ke8 (60...Bd2 61.Bxa5 Bxf4 62.Kb6+-) 61.Bxa5 Be7
62.Bb4 Bd8 indirectly defending pawn b7 63.a5 Kd7 64.Bd2 Kc7 65.b4+- Black can't stop white
queenside pawns while simultaneously preventing White for going after black kingside pawns;
57...f5? would not mean just "one f5 pawn down" because White still goes after black queenside
pawns. 58.Ke6 Kf8 (58...Bb6 59.Bc3 Bc7 60.Bd2 Bb6 61.Kd7+-) 59.Kd7! Bh4 60.Bc3+-
58.Bd6 Kf7
Black can fight in a more active manner, but it will just force the outcome: 58...f5 59.Ke6 pawn f5
will fall, as well as pawn a5, and one of them will promote to a queen. 59...Bb6 60.Be5 Bc5 61.Kxf5
Kf7 62.Bc3 Bb6 (62...b6 63.Ke4 Ke6 64.Bd4+-) 63.Ke4 Ke6 64.f5+ Kf7 65.Kd5 Be3 66.Bxa5
Bxh6 67.Bc3 Ke7 68.b4 Bf4 69.a5 h5 70.f6+ Kf7 71.Ke4 Bc7 72.b5 Kg6 73.a6 bxa6 74.bxa6 Bb8
(74...Bb6 75.Bd4+-) 75.Be5 Ba7 76.Bd4 Bb8 77.Kd5 Kf7
504
78.Bf2! This is just a tempo-move which, also, stops the black h-pawn. White could have won in
many other ways 78...Kxf6 79.Kc6+-
59.f5! Fixes the pawn on a dark square, making it a target and limiting black's bishop activity.
59...Bb6
59...Be7 60.Bxe7 Kxe7 61.Kc5 Kd7 62.Kb6 Kd6 see the pawn endgame after Black's 65th move.
60.Bc5 Bc7
60...Bxc5 61.Kxc5 Ke7 62.Kb6 Kd6 see the pawn endgame after Black's 65th move.
Now, it's the time to collect weak pawn a5. 61.Kc4 Ke8 62.Kb5 Kd7
Black can't go after pawn h6 before securing pawn b7: 62...Bf4 63.Kxa5
505
63...Bxh6 (Even after 63...Kd7 64.Kb6 Kc8 there is no salvation for Black: 65.b4
65...Bxh6 (65...Kb8 66.a5 Bg3 67.Bd4 (It's not too late to lose the game: 67.b5?? Bc7#) 67...Bc7+
68.Kc5 Bf4 69.Bxf6+-) 66.b5 Bg5 67.a5 Kb8 68.a6 bxa6 69.Bd6+ Ka8 70.Kxa6+- (70.bxa6?=))
64.Kb6 Kd7 65.Kxb7+-
63.Be3!
Immediate 63.Bb6? fails to 63...Bf4=
63...Bd8
After 63...Kc8 64.Bd2 Black has nothing better than to go back: 64...Kd7 65.Bxa5 Bf4 66.Bc3 Bxh6
506
67.Bxf6 Be3 68.Bh4 h5 69.a5+- One of the white passed pawns will serve as a decoy for the black
king, while the other one promotes.
64.Bb6 Bxb6™ 65.Kxb6 Black cannot prevent White from taking pawns b7 and a5. Therefore, the
only chance is to go for pawn f5: 65...Kd6 see the pawn endgame after Black's 65th move. 66.Kxb7
Ke5 67.Kb6 Kxf5 68.Kxa5
These days, we can find "7-men endgame tablebases" on the Internet and see that this is "a won
position" I wonder how funny this sentence will sound to somebody who reads these lines somewhere
in the beginning of the 22th century. This is, basically, the position I have seen at the moment I have
played 41.f6. Both passed pawns a4 and f6, will promote, but the White will have the better
"sidekick" pawn b3 than Black h7. However, it is not (yet) allowed to claim a win on such criteria it's
"mate in 107", if you really need to know. So, the game goes on ...
68...Kg4 69.Kb6 f5 70.a5 f4 71.a6 f3 72.a7 f2 73.a8=Q f1=Q 74.Qe4+ Kh5 75.b4 Kxh6
At this point, we have reached "6-men endgame", now it IS permitted to claim a win according to 6-
men tablebases. However, we have reached this position just before the New Year, and I did not want
to ruin my opponents holidays in such a manner, of course, seeing that I am playing "by the book", he
could have chosen the proper moment for resignation himself. Why is this position won for White?
Simply, his pawn had advanced further than black pawn and his king is better covered from checks. If
we remove queens from the board, it will be clear that White is winning. So, the only chance for
Black lies in perpetual check, but it is not possible here, because White king is well positioned. The
proper strategy in this ending has been given by Botvinnik: "if the white king is on the same rank as
Black's, or on a neighbouring one, the enemy queen's checks may possibly be exhausted, since, by
covering his king with his queen, White himself will give check!".
507
So, winning plan has the following phases:
1. Advance the pawn to the 7th rank in such a manner that the pawn and the queen protect his king
2. When pawn reaches the 7th rank, go get the enemy's pawn h7 at the moment, this pawn can cover
black king from checks on the h-file
3. White king should start approching the enemy's king's rank, in order to threat "a countercheck".
It is NOT EASY to calculate all the variations, but it is better to have a plan even a complex one,
especially if it's the right one than no plan at all.
76.b5 Kg5 77.Qe5+ Kg4 78.Ka5 Qf3 79.b6 Kh3 80.Qe6+ Kg3 81.Qd6+ Kg2 82.Qd2+ Kg1
83.Qc1+ Kg2 84.Qb2+ Kh1 85.Qb1+ Kh2 86.b7
508
Phase 1 over. Pawn has reached the 7th rank, but now he loses "a protecting potential". Phase 2 starts.
White goes for the black's remaining pawn. White king marches towards pawn h7 and white queen
protects pawn b7 but. also, covers its king from the checks. This is not easy to calculate over the
board, nor even at home. At this point, "chess game" diverges to "chess science".
86...Qd5+ 87.Qb5 Qd8+ 88.Ka6 Qd6+ 89.Ka7 Qa3+ 90.Kb6 Qe3+ 91.Qc5 Qb3+ 92.Kc6 Qf3+
93.Qd5 Qc3+ 94.Kb6 Qb2+ 95.Qb5 Qf6+ 96.Qc6 Qb2+ 97.Kc7 Qg7+ 98.Qd7 Qc3+ 99.Kb8
Qh8+ 100.Qc8 Qd4 101.Qc2+ Kh1 102.Qb1+ Kh2 103.Qa2+ Kh1 104.Ka8 Qe4 105.Qa1+ Kh2
106.Qb2+
Now, the holidays were over and I saw no reasons to prolong the game to be honest, I've been also
eager to score the first win for team "Serbia". So, I've claim the win. 1 : 0 Djordje R. Petrovic -
Alexandar Davidov ICCF 2020
But, let's see how White should score and, once again, let me say - it is not easy to calculate all the
variations: 106...Kh1 107.Qc3 Kh2 108.Ka7 Qe7 109.Qc2+ Kh1 110.Qc6+ Kh2 111.Qc3 Kg2
112.Kb6 Qd8+ 113.Qc7 Qd4+ 114.Qc5 Qb2+ 115.Kc6 Qf6+ 116.Qd6 Qc3+ 117.Kd7 Qg7+
118.Qe7 Qg4+ 119.Qe6 Qg7+ 120.Kc6 Qc3+ 121.Kd6 Qb4+ 122.Kc7 Qf4+ 123.Kd7 Qd4+
124.Ke8 Qa4+ 125.Qd7 Qe4+ 126.Kf8 Qf4+ 127.Qf7 Qb8+ 128.Kg7 Kh1 129.Qd5+ Kg1
130.Kxh7
509
Phase 2 is over and, more important, counting for "50-moves rule" starts form the scratch.
Now comes the phase 3: going after the black king. White king should reach the rank the same one,
or the adjacent one, to a black king's rank. That will enable white queen to cover the check by giving
a countercheck which leads to exchange of queens.
130...Qh2+ 131.Kg6 Qg3+ 132.Kh6 Qh2+ 133.Qh5 Qb8 134.Qg4+ Kh2
135.Qe4 The best place for the white queen, in the center of the board, protecting pawn b7. In a
while, white queen will find even better position - on the b-file, protecting the pawn, enabling its
promotion, while simultaneously giving protecting to its king. Now, white king goes to the 1st rank
(because black king is on the 2nd).
510
135...Qf8+ 136.Kg6 Qd6+ 137.Kg5 Qd8+ 138.Kg4 Qd1+ 139.Kf4 Qd2+ 140.Ke5 Qg5+ 141.Kd6
Qd8+ 142.Kc6 Qf6+ 143.Kd5 Qd8+ 144.Kc4 Qc7+ 145.Kb3 Qb6+ 146.Ka3 Qa5+ 147.Kb2
Qb5+
148.Kc1
White king has finished the last phase of this ending - coming to a rank close to opponent's king. That
limits the number of useful black queen's checks and leads to a win.
148...Qg5+ 149.Kd1 Qd8+ 150.Ke2 Qc7 151.Qb4 Qe5+
152.Kd1
511
Now, there are no more useful checks Qd2 can cover the king with a countercheck, and black queen
must go to a passive position: 152...Qb8
152...Qd5+ 153.Qd2++-;
152...Qh5+ 153.Kc1 Qg5+ 154.Qd2++-;
152...Qa1+ 153.Kc2 Qa2+ 154.Qb2 Qc4+ 155.Kb1++-
What White easily exploits: 153.Kc1 Qc7+ 154.Kb1 Qb8 155.Qh4+ Kg2 156.Qg4+ Kh2
157.Qc8+-
512
INDEX
ABDUSATTOROV, N. [3] — Amonatov, F. 75; Najer, E. 5; So, W. 147

ADHIBAN, B. [1] — Petrov, Martin 82
ADLA, D. [1] — Rubinetti, J. 31
ALEKSANDROV, ALEKSEJ [1] — Quesada Pérez, Yu. 7
ALEKSEENKO, K. [1] — Kadrić, D. 124
ALEKSIĆ, NEV. [1] — Savić, M. R. 3
ALMEIDA QUINTANA, O. [2] — Antipov, M. A. 29; Rodríguez Vila, A. 126
AMIN, B. [1] — Svane, R. 133
AMONATOV, F. [2] — Abdusattorov, N. 75; Eraschenkov, D. 64
ANAND, VIS. [2] — Caruana, F. 107; Lékó, P. 150
ANTIPOV, M. A. [1] — Almeida Quintana, O. 29
ARESHCHENKO, A. [1] — Berkes, F. 131
ARONIAN, L. [7] — Duda, J.-K. 73, 74; Firouzja, A. 59, 112; Grischuk, A. 43, 94; Vidit, S. 139
ARTEMIEV, V. [2] — Dubov, Daniil 14; Timofeev, Arty. 66
ASIS GARGATAGLI, H. [1] — Cheparinov, I. 55
BARP, A. [1] — Šebenik, M. 16

BATSIASHVILI, N. [1] — Krysa, L. 86
BELYAKOV, B. [1] — Erdős, V. 4
BENJAMIN, JOEL [1] — Wolff, Pa. 19
BERKES, F. [1] — Areshchenko, A. 131
BERNADSKIY, V. [1] — Narayanan, S. L. 38
BEUKES, D. [1] — Michaelides, K. 118
BLEHM, P. [1] — Malakhov, Vl. 49
BORTNYK, O. [1] — Morozevich, A. 24
BRUASET, E. [1] — Tadić, Br. 60
BUDISAVLJEVIĆ, L. [1] — Maltsevskaya, Al. 95
CAPPELLETTO, J. [1] — Lumachi, G. 84

CARLSEN, M. [11] — Caruana, F. 102; Kramnik, V. 25, 26; Maghsoodloo, P. 93; Nakamura, Hi. 35,
52, 113; Nepomniachtchi, I. 27; So, W. 111; Vachier-Lagrave, M. 45; Xiong, Jef. 91
CARUANA, F. [2] — Anand, Vis. 107; Carlsen, M. 102
513
CHELUSHKINA, I. [1] — Prudnikova, S. 44
CHEPARINOV, I. [2] — Asis Gargatagli, H. 55; Moiseenko, Alexander 90
CHIGAEV, M. [2] — Kobalia, M. 47; Sarana, A. 10
CORNETTE, M. [1] — Vlachos, A. 85
CRAMLING, P. [1] — Lagarde, Max. 119
CSIKI, E. [1] — Stefanova, A. 8
DEAC, B.-D. [1] — Ioannidis, Evg. 108

DEMCHENKO, AN. [2] — Shahinyan, D. 30; Świercz, D. 34
DOMÍNGUEZ PÉREZ, L. [1] — Nakamura, Hi. 33
DUBOV, DANIIL [1] — Artemiev, V. 14
DUDA, J.-K. [3] — Aronian, L. 73, 74; Moussard, J. 125
ERDŐS, V. [1] — Belyakov, B. 4

ÉDOUARD, R. [2] — Jones, Gaw. 130; Naiditsch, A. 23
EFIMENKO, Z. [1] — Javakhishvili, L. 134
ENCHEV, I. [1] — Kienitz, A. 68
ERASCHENKOV, D. [1] — Amonatov, F. 64
ESIPENKO, AN. [2] — Maghsoodloo, P. 148; Nepomniachtchi, I. 87
ESPLUGAS ESTEVE, V. [1] — Lagarde, Max. 40
FEDORCHUK, S. [1] — Sprenger, J. 61

FEDOSEEV, VL. [2] — Khanin, S. 96; Rozum, I. 76
FERNANDES, M. A. [1] — Táboas Rodríguez, D. 20
FIROUZJA, A. [4] — Aronian, L. 59, 112; Gadimbayli, A. 41; So, W. 51
FLORES, DIEGO [1] — Grischuk, A. 54
FRANCISCO, R. [1] — Kolay, A. 12
FRÖWIS, GEO. [1] — Ragger, M. 9
GADIMBAYLI, A. [1] — Firouzja, A. 41

GAJEK, R. [1] — Shevchenko, K. 58
GALOJAN, L. [1] — Simonian, H. 129
GAREYEV, T. [1] — Shirazi, K. 110
GARIFULLINA, L. [2] — Goryachkina, A. 105; Gunina, V. 22
GELFAND, B. [2] — Kobalia, M. 63; Yuffa, D. 122
GIRI, ANISH [2] — Ivanchuk, V. 88; Nepomniachtchi, I. 141
514
GOKERKAN, C. [1] — Markuš, Rob. 127
GORYACHKINA, A. [2] — Garifullina, L. 105; Ju Wenjun 6
GRANDELIUS, L. [1] — Svidler, P. 62
GRIGORIANTS, S. [1] — Narayanan, S. L. 71
GRIGORIEVA, Y. [1] — Shuvalova, P. 103
GRIGORYAN, K. H. [2] — Martín Duque, J. 36; Shirov, A. 37
GRISCHUK, A. [4] — Aronian, L. 43, 94; Flores, Diego 54; Petrosian, T. L. 1
GUNINA, V. [1] — Garifullina, L. 22
GUSEINOV, G. [1] — Praggnanandhaa, R. 65
HAMMER, J. [1] — Movsesian, S. 17

HECTOR, J. [1] — Van Wely, L. 99
ILINČIĆ, Z. [1] — Omorjan, De. 77

INARKIEV, E. [1] — Tari, A. 132
INĐIĆ, A. [2] — Kovačević, Al. 13; Oparin, G. 140
INIYAN, P. [1] — Sevian, S. 21
IOANNIDIS, EVG. [1] — Deac, B.-D. 108
IVANCHUK, V. [1] — Giri, Anish 88
JAVAKHISHVILI, L. [1] — Efimenko, Z. 134

JOBAVA, BA. [1] — Oparin, G. 46
JONES, GAW. [2] — Édouard, R. 130; Pérez Ponsa, F. 143
JUKSTA, K. [1] — Pultinevičius, P. 42
JU WENJUN [2] — Goryachkina, A. 6; Muzychuk, M. 78
KADRIĆ, D. [1] — Alekseenko, K. 124

KALAVANNAN, K. [1] — Vidit, S. 2
KARTHIKEYAN, MUR. [1] — Visakh, N. R. 120
KEYMER, V. [1] — Van Foreest, L. 109
KEMPIŃSKI, R. [1] — Spyropoulos, Ge. 97
KHANIN, S. [1] — Fedoseev, Vl. 96
KIENITZ, A. [1] — Enchev, I. 68
KLEKOWSKI, M. [1] — Van Foreest, J. 123
KOBALIA, M. [2] — Chigaev, M. 47; Gelfand, B. 63
KOLAY, A. [1] — Francisco, R. 12
515
KOVAČEVIĆ, AL. [1] — Inđić, A. 13
KOVAČEVIĆ, BL. [1] — Tabatabaei, M. A. 18
KOVALEV, VLADIS. [2] — Ponkratov, P. 15; Van Foreest, J. 101
KOŽUL, Z. [1] — Šubelj, J. 79
KRAMNIK, V. [2] — Carlsen, M. 25, 26
KRYAKVIN, D. [1] — Ter-Saakian, G. 70
KRYSA, L. [1] — Batsiashvili, N. 86
KÜLAOTS, K. [1] — Smirin, I. 136
KUZUBOV, Y. [1] — Sarana, A. 72
LAGARDE, MAX. [2] — Cramling, P. 119; Esplugas Esteve, V. 40

LÉKÓ, P. [1] — Anand, Vis. 150
LENDERMAN, A. [2] — Nakamura, Hi. 56, 57
LEVY, M. [1] — Pomar Salamanca, A. 145
LUMACHI, G. [1] — Cappelletto, J. 84
MAGHSOODLOO, P. [3] — Carlsen, M. 93; Esipenko, An. 148; Vitiugov, N. 48

MAKARIAN, RU. [1] — Rodin, Dmitrij 151
MALAKHOV, VL. [1] — Blehm, P. 49
MALTSEVSKAYA, AL. [1] — Budisavljević, L. 95
MARKUŠ, ROB. [1] — Gokerkan, C. 127
MARTÍN DUQUE, J. [1] — Grigoryan, K. H. 36
MATLAKOV, M. [1] — Mohammad, N. Sh. 11
MICHAELIDES, K. [1] — Beukes, D. 118
MISHRA, ABHIMANYU [1] — Ostrovskiy, Alek. 69
MOHAMMAD, N. SH. [1] — Matlakov, M. 11
MOISEENKO, ALEXANDER [1] — Cheparinov, I. 90
MOROZEVICH, A. [2] — Bortnyk, O. 24; Shirov, A. 98
MOUSSARD, J. [1] — Duda, J.-K. 125
MOVSESIAN, S. [1] — Hammer, J. 17
MUZYCHUK, M. [1] — Ju Wenjun 78
NAIDITSCH, A. [1] — Édouard, R. 23

NAJER, E. [1] — Abdusattorov, N. 5
NAKAMURA, HI. [11] — Carlsen, M. 35, 52, 113; Domínguez Pérez, L. 33; Lenderman, A. 56, 57;
Nepomniachtchi, I. 92; So, W. 80; Svidler, P. 142; Świercz, D. 83; Vachier-Lagrave, M. 116
NARAYANAN, S. L. [2] — Bernadskiy, V. 38; Grigoriants, S. 71
516
NAVARA, D. [2] — Vidit, S. 89; Yuffa, D. 53
NEPOMNIACHTCHI, I. [4] — Carlsen, M. 27; Esipenko, An. 87; Giri, Anish 141; Nakamura, Hi. 92
OBODCHUK, A. [1] — Piekielny, P. 28

OCHSNER, B. [1] — Pedersen, Stef. 144
OMORJAN, DE. [1] — Ilinčić, Z. 77
OPARIN, G. [3] — Inđić, A. 140; Jobava, Ba. 46; Petrosyan, Man. 117
OSTROVSKIY, ALEK. [1] — Mishra, Abhimanyu 69
PAVLIDIS, ANT. [1] — Shankland, S. 149

PEČURICA, M. [1] — Sarvadh, S. 121
PEDERSEN, STEF. [1] — Ochsner, B. 144
PÉREZ PONSA, F. [1] — Jones, Gaw. 143
PETROSIAN, T. L. [1] — Grischuk, A. 1
PETROSYAN, MAN. [2] — Oparin, G. 117; Sargsyan, Anna M. 100
PETROV, MARTIN [1] — Adhiban, B. 82
PIEKIELNY, P. [1] — Obodchuk, A. 28
PLOTKIN, M. [1] — Robson, R. 128
POGOSYAN, S. [1] — Sargsyan, A. M. 50
POMAR SALAMANCA, A. [1] — Levy, M. 145
PONKRATOV, P. [1] — Kovalev, Vladis. 15
PULTINEVIČIUS, P. [1] — Juksta, K. 42
PRAGGNANANDHAA, R. [2] — Guseinov, G. 65; Wang Hao 115
PRUDNIKOVA, S. [1] — Chelushkina, I. 44
QUESADA PÉREZ, YU. [1] — Aleksandrov, Aleksej 7
RADJABOV, T. [1] — Vachier-Lagrave, M. 114

RAGGER, M. [2] — Fröwis, Geo. 9; Shankland, S. 81
RANALDI, L. [1] — Santarius, E. 135
RÉTI, R. [1] — Rubinstein, A. 146
ROBSON, R. [1] — Plotkin, M. 128
RODIN, DMITRIJ [1] — Makarian, Ru. 151
RODRÍGUEZ VILA, A. [1] — Almeida Quintana, O. 126
ROHLFING, D. [1] — Vega, I. 32
ROZUM, I. [1] — Fedoseev, Vl. 76
517
RUBINETTI, J. [1] — Adla, D. 31
RUBINSTEIN, A. [1] — Réti, R. 146
SANTARIUS, E. [1] — Ranaldi, L. 135

SARANA, A. [2] — Chigaev, M. 10; Kuzubov, Y. 72
SARGSYAN, A. M. [1] — Pogosyan, S. 50
SARGSYAN, ANNA M. [1] — Petrosyan, Man. 100
SARVADH, S. [1] — Pečurica, M. 121
SAVIĆ, M. R. [1] — Aleksić, Nev. 3
ŠEBENIK, M. [1] — Barp, A. 16
SEVIAN, S. [1] — Iniyan, P. 21
SHAHINYAN, D. [1] — Demchenko, An. 30
SHANKLAND, S. [2] — Pavlidis, Ant. 149; Ragger, M. 81
SHEVCHENKO, K. [1] — Gajek, R. 58
SHIRAZI, K. [1] — Gareyev, T. 110
SHIROV, A. [2] — Grigoryan, K. H. 37; Morozevich, A. 98
SHUVALOVA, P. [1] — Grigorieva, Y. 103
SIMONIAN, H. [1] — Galojan, L. 129
SMIRIN, I. [1] — Külaots, K. 136
SO, W. [7] — Abdusattorov, N. 147; Carlsen, M. 111; Firouzja, A. 51; Nakamura, Hi. 80; Vachier-
Lagrave, M. 39; Xiong, Jef. 67, 104
ŠOLAK, D. [2] — Zhao Jun 137, 138
SPRENGER, J. [1] — Fedorchuk, S. 61
SPYROPOULOS, GE. [1] — Kempiński, R. 97
STEFANOVA, A. [1] — Csiki, E. 8
ŠUBELJ, J. [1] — Kožul, Z. 79
SVANE, R. [1] — Amin, B. 133
SVIDLER, P. [2] — Grandelius, N. 62; Nakamura, Hi. 142
ŚWIERCZ, D. [2] — Demchenko, An. 34; Nakamura, Hi. 83
TABATABAEI, M. A. [1] — Kovačević, Bl. 18

TÁBOAS RODRÍGUEZ, D. [1] — Fernandes, M. A. 20
TADIĆ, BR. [1] — Bruaset, E. 60
TARI, A. [1] — Inarkiev, E. 132
TER-SAAKIAN, G. [1] — Kryakvin, D. 70
TIMOFEEV, ARTY. [1] — Artemiev, V. 66
518
VACHIER-LAGRAVE, M. [4] — Carlsen, M. 45; Nakamura, Hi. 116; Radjabov, T. 114; So, W. 39
VAN FOREEST, J. [2] — Klekowski, M. 123; Kovalev, Vladis. 101
VAN FOREEST, L. [1] — Keymer, V. 109
VAN WELY, L. [1] — Hector, J. 99
VEGA, I. [1] — Rohlfing, D. 32
VIDIT, S. [3] — Aronian, L. 139; Kalavannan, K. 2; Navara, D. 89
VISAKH, N. R. [1] — Karthikeyan, Mur. 120
VITIUGOV, N. [1] — Maghsoodloo, P. 48
VLACHOS, A. [1] — Cornette, M. 85
WANG HAO [1] — Praggnanandhaa, R. 115

WEI YI [1] — Xu Xiangyu 106
WOLFF, PA. [1] — Benjamin, Joel 19
XIONG, JEF. [3] — Carlsen, M. 91; So, W. 67, 104

XU XIANGYU [1] — Wei Yi 106
YUFFA, D. [2] — Gelfand, B. 122; Navara, D. 53
ZHAO JUN [2] — Šolak, D. 137, 138
519
Table of Contents
Title page 3
System of signs 5
Foreword 7
2020 Endgame maze pawn 8
2020 Endgame maze minor pieces 54
2020 Endgame maze rook 156
2020 Endgame maze queen 349
Endings Tests 428
Bonus Game 493
Index 513
520

2020 Endgame Maze - Chess Informant

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CONTENTS

2020 Endgame maze pawn

Editing and Typesetting

© Copyright 2021 Šahovski informator

11001 Beograd, Francuska 31, Srbija

² white stands slightly better

Šahovska Akedamija Šampiona

1. A. Grischuk 2777 - T. L. Petrosian 2601

3...Kf7!= Once again, distant opposition saves the day!

2. S. Vidit 2726 - K. Kalavannan 2324

Next we will examine a similar practical example.

3. M. R. Savić 2503 - Nev. Aleksić 2175

4. B. Belyakov 2459 - V. Erdős 2605

The following example is favourable for White.

5. E. Najer 2648 - N. Abdusattorov 2627

Transposition into pawn/queen endgame.

13.h5! Kb6 14.Kc4 Kc6 White wins by executing a pawn breakthrough!

8.a5! White creates a distant passer!

13.a6 Kb6 14.Kxb4 Kxa6 15.Kc5

6. Ju Wenjun 2584 - A. Goryachkina 2578

7. Aleksej Aleksandrov 2608 - Yu. Quesada Pérez 2598

8.h6 Kxh6 9.Kxg4 Kg6=

8. E. Csiki 2231 - A. Stefanova 2466

9. Geo. Fröwis 2457 - M. Ragger 2679

10. A. Sarana 2654 - M. Chigaev 2588

Black has two possibilities:

White wins by means of zugzwang!

12. R. Francisco 2281 - A. Kolay 2261

White secures a draw by achieving distant opposition!

13. Al. Kovačević 2482 - A. Inđić 2604

14. Daniil Dubov 2699 - V. Artemiev 2708

Every tempo matters in this pawn ending!

3...b4! 4.Kc1 Kxa3 5.Kb1 b3 6.h5 b2 7.h6 Kb3 8.h7

15. Vladis. Kovalev 2648 - P. Ponkratov 2631

4...b4! 5.b3 c4 6.bxc4

10...a4! Black is threatening with a pawnbreak so a draw is inevitable.

16. A. Barp 2374 - M. Šebenik 2498

Black wins by invading the 3rd rank!

8...f4 9.exf4 Kxd4-+

17. S. Movsesian 2654 - J. Hammer 2635

Black wins thanks to the "electric pawns" motif!

7.Kd2 Kg6= S. Movsesian - J. Hammer.

7...d3+! 8.Kxd3 b3-+

18. Bl. Kovačević 2451 - M. A. Tabatabaei 2638

Each and every tempo is precious in pawn endings!

2...Kb3!= Bl. Kovačević - M. A. Tabatabaei

19. Joel Benjamin 2506 - Pa. Wolff 2552

8.Kc5 Ke2 9.Kd5 Kf2 10.Ke6

20. D. Táboas Rodríguez 2365 - M. A. Fernandes 2139

21. S. Sevian 2660 - P. Iniyan 2506

22. L. Garifullina 2348 - V. Gunina 2451

2...Kf5! (Black loses all counter-chances after: 2...Ke6? 3.g6 Ne5

23. R. Édouard 2649 - A. Naiditsch 2626

8.Ke5 Nd6 9.Bd4 Nb5

24. O. Bortnyk 2598 - A. Morozevich 2659

6...Bb6+! 7.Ke4 Kc3 8.Kxf4 Kxb3=

25. V. Kramnik 2753 - M. Carlsen 2863

4.Nxg7!= The wrong bishop scenario on the board!

26. V. Kramnik 2753 - M. Carlsen 2863

In the game continuation Kramnik secured a draw:

27. M. Carlsen 2863 - I. Nepomniachtchi 2784

28. P. Piekielny 2098 - A. Obodchuk 2299

29. O. Almeida Quintana 2525 - M. A. Antipov 2584

30. An. Demchenko 2641 - D. Shahinyan 2457