TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key to symbols
Introduction
Editorial preface

Chapter 1. Rook against pawns

Chapter 2. Classic rook endings 1: An extra passed flank pawn
Chapter 3. Classic rook endings 2: An extra passed d-pawn
Chapter 4. Classic rook endings 3: An extra flank pawn revisited
Chapter 5. Isolated pawns in rook endgames
Chapter 6. The transfer from the opening into rook endgames
Chapter 7. The Korchnoi-Smyslov endgame
Chapter 8. Botvinnik’s endgames
Chapter 9. Smyslov’s endgames
Chapter 10. Best rook endgame studies
Chapter 11. Rook and pawn endgame tests
Solutions
 Adrian Mikhalchishin

Mastering essential rook endgames

Cover designer
Piotr Pielach

Typesetting
Piotr Pielach ‹www.i-press.pl›

First edition 2018 by Chess Evolution

Mastering essential rook endgames

Copyright © 2018 Chess Evolution

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a

retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,
electrostatic, magnetic tape, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior
permission of the publisher.

ISBN 978-615-5793-10-3

All sales or enquiries should be directed to Chess Evolution

2040 Budaors, Nyar utca 16, Magyarorszag

e-mail: info@chess-evolution.com
website: www.chess-evolution.com

Printed in Hungary
KEY TO SYMBOLS

= Equality or equal chances

⩲ White has a slight advantage
⩱ Black has a slight advantage
± White is better
∓ Black is better
+- White has a decisive advantage
-+ Black has a decisive advantage
∞ unclear
© with compensation
⇆ with counterplay
↑ with initiative
→ with an attack
Δ with the idea
□ only move
N novelty
! a good move
!! an excellent move
? a weak move
?? a blunder
!? an interesing move
?! a dubious move
+ check
# mate
INTRODUCTION

In our final book of the series we want to show the most entertaining elements of
rook and pawn endgames, plus many of the most important practical cases.
Additionally, we have included more than 100 of the most entertaining studies as
well as 100 rook ending tests.
For practical rook endings we can study examples from the specialists such as
Capablanca, Rubinstein, Smyslov and Botvinnik.
We also cannot forget the decisive role in theoretical research of rook endings by
such giants as Nikolay Grigoriev, Andre Cheron and Nikolay Kopaev. Without them,
the theory of rook endgames would not be so advanced as it is nowadays.
Every old master — Lucena, Ponziani, Lolli, Philidor and especially Siegbert
Tarrasch — made important steps in the study of such endings. Th e first really
big research on them was Andre Cheron’s 1923 ‘Rook and pawn against Rook’.
Later came the articles of Nikolay Grigoriev.
We should remember also Grandmaster Genrikh Kasparian, one of the greatest
study authors, who practically alone created the theory of rook endgames
involving two connected pawns.
There were a few other great study makers, such as the Georgians, Gurgenidze and
Kalandadze.
Extremely important for the basic theory of rook endgames were the works of
Henry Rinck and Artur Mandler. In modern times, fundamental work on these
typical endgames was started by the rather ‘less-strong’ player Vadim
Kantorovich, but his initial influence was enormous.
We have to know the methods of handling some typical positions, plus special
pawn configurations. The most common rook endgame is a position with equal
pawns on one flank and an extra passed pawn on the other side. Methods of
handling all such positions are known and described in our books, but there are
still so many mistakes here — almost too many to believe.
Anyhow, we have tried to make a rook endgames theory course, starting from
basic positions and methods and then moving from different though typical
material situations up to the most important practical situations. I hope that
players of every level will reap real practical benefits from studying these books.
EDITORIAL PREFACE

In this series of eight endgame books, FIDE Senior Trainer Adrian Mikhalchishin,
FIDE Senior Trainer Efstratios Grivas and IGM Csaba Balogh combine their
experience as trainers and as practical players to create something very special.
The authors aim for very understandable explanations of every endgame position
in each book.
The specification:
• 1st book — Queen and pawn endgames.
• 2–3 — Minor piece endgames (bishop and knight endgames).
• 4–5 — These will feature the fight between different material constellations.
• 6–8 — These books are going to focus on the most common endgames, which
are of course rook endings.
The main concept of each book is to provide theoretical knowledge which can be
used in practical games. It means the focus of the books will be on those positions
which are most likely to occur — and the practical playing of them.
That’s why you will firstly meet the theoretical part, and secondly the practical
examples of how games actually continued in a particular endgame.
Yes, you’re right, you won’t find too many very complicated studies, stunning
manoeuvres or rarely-appearing positions — and there is a simple reason why not!
How often do we see positions, for example two knights vs pawn where one knight
is blocking the pawn and the other one tries to get the king to the corner before
releasing the second knight for the mate? Or constellations with crazy material on
the board? This might happen in one game out of 100! You could spend hundreds
of hours working on something that might bring you “only” a single point more
out of 100 games!
Our approach is quite different: let’s make more points in the other 99 games! And
who knows, we might also be lucky in the remaining one, but actually, statistically,
it would almost not matter.
“The Modern Endgame Manual” will make an expert out of you in most of the
endgames which are going to appear in your long career as a chess player!
CHAPTER 1.
ROOK AGAINST PAWNS

The greatest rook and pawn endgame

specialist was the late Master Nikolay
Kopaev, who wrote the rook endgames
chapter in Yuri Averbakh’s famous
manual, ‘Chess Endings: Essential
Knowledge’. His analyses are still valid,
especially the difficult one of rook
against three pawns.
As we mentioned in previous books, at
This was the author’s solution...
some moment one of the players must
sacrifice his rook for the promoted
1.Rd8
pawn and the result of the game
depends on how the king can fight the But Kopaev found a manoevre that was
pawns on the other side, and how named after him: 1.Rd5+!! Kf4 2.Kd4 f2
quickly and effectively the sacrificer is 3.Rd8 Kf3 4.Rf8+ Ke2 5.Re8+ Kd2 6.Rf8
able to push his passed pawns. g3 7.Rf3!! Ke2 8.Re3+ Kd1 9.Rd3+ Kc1
As we will see, even the top players do 10.Rc3+ Kb2 11.Rf3 holding the draw.
not understand really basic things in
such positions and the quantity of
mistakes is thus huge. In any case, they 1.Rd8 g3 2.Re8+ Kf5 3.Rf8+ Ke4

are very instructive, as logical 4.Re8+ Kd3 5.Rg8 g2 6.Kd5 Kc3

7.Kc5 Kd2 8.Kd4 Ke1 9.Ke3 f2
decisions can still help to avoid
mistakes. 10.Ra8 f1=N+!!

...winning.
1
L. Maizelis
1950
2
N. Kopaev
1966
 6.Kf2 Kf5 7.Kg3 Kf6

This is one of the greatest pieces of

analysis in the history of endgames —
and it was conducted without engines!
8.Kh2!
1.Ke3! Ke5 2.Re8+! Kf5
In my opinion this is one of the greatest
2...Kd6 3.Kd4 Kd7 4.Re5 Kc6 5.Rf5+– manoeuvres in rook endgame history!
Wrong was 8.Kg4 Kg7! 9.Re5 f2
3.Kf2! 10.Rg5+ Kh6 11.Rh5+ Kg6 12.Rh1 e3
13.Kf3 d4 14.Ke2 Kf5=
Only this way — the active 3.Kd4 Kg4
is wrong. 8...Kf5 9.Rd8! Ke6 10.Kh3! Ke5
11.Kg3 Kd4
3...Kf6
We saw the position after 11...Ke6
With great rook manoeuvres White 12.Kf2 Ke5 13.Ke3 Ke6 14.Kd4
wins after 3...Kf4 4.Re6 Kf5 5.Rd6 Ke5 previously.
6.Rd7! Ke6 7.Rd8 Ke5 8.Ke3! Ke6
9.Kd4+– 12.Kf2 Kc4 13.Ke3 Kc5 14.Re8! Kc4
15.Rc8+ Kb3 16.Kd4 Kb2 17.Rd8
4.Kf1! Kc2

White starts a fantastic manoeuvre,

with the idea of getting this position
with Black to move. Nothing is
promised by 4.Kg3 Kf5 5.Rd8 Ke5

4...Kf5 5.Kg1 Kf4

Or 5...Kf6 6.Kh2! Kf5 7.Rd8 Ke5 8.Kg3

Ke6 9.Kf2 Ke5 10.Ke3
18.Ke3! 58...Rb2+ 59.Kg1 Kf5 60.Kf1 Rb4
61.Kg2 Rxf4 62.h7 Rh4
Once again — though mistakes lurk
nearby! 1–0
18.Rxd5? Kd2! 19.Kxe4+ Ke2=

1–0 4
C. S. Crouch
L. J. McShane
3 England, 1999
I. Manor
B. Macieja
Bermuda, 2016

A similar case involving two moves;

A typical example of a critical endgame
decision; there are two options, one
correct, the other wrong. But which is
which?
57.Kh2?
57.Kf2= Rh3 58.Kg2 Rh4 59.Kg3 Rh5
60.Kf3 Rh4 61.Kg3 Rg4+ 62.Kh3 Rg1
63.Kh2 Ra1 64.Kg2 (64.Kg3 Rf1
65.Kh3 Rf3+ 66.Kg2 Rxf4 67.h7 Rh4–+)
57.Kh2? Kg4! 58.Kg2
58.h7 Rh3+
one loses while another keeps the
draw. And the game decision is clearly
wrong!
80.Kb3??
80.Kb2 Rh1 81.Kc2 (81.Ka2) 81...Ra1
(81...Rh5 82.Kb3 Rc5 83.Ka3 Rc3+
84.Kb2 Rg3 85.Ka2) 82.Kb3 Rxa4 83.c7;
80.Kd2 Rf4
a) 80...Rf5 81.Kc3 Kxa4 82.b6 (82.Kc4
Ka5–+) 82...Rc5+–+;
b) 80...Rf8 81.Kd3 Kxa4 82.Kc4 Ka5
83.Kc5 Rf1 84.Kd6 Kb6–+;
81.Kd3 (81.Kc3 Kb6 82.Kb3 Kc5
83.Ka3 Rf3+ 84.Kb2 Rh3 85.Kc2 Kb4
86.Kb2 Rh2+ 87.Kb1 Kb3 88.Kc1 Rc2+
89.Kd1 Rc5 90.b6 Rxc6 91.a5) 81...Kb6
80.Kb3?? Ra1 81.Kc4
Now White is not saved by 81.Kc3
Ra3+ 82.Kc4 Rxa4+ 83.Kc5 Ra1 84.c7
Rc1+ 85.Kd6 Kb6
81...Rxa4+ 82.Kc5 Ra1 83.c7 Rc1+
84.Kd6 Kb6 0–1
63...h5 64.Kd4 (64.Rf1+ Kg4 65.Ke4
(65.Rxf7 h4 66.Ke4 h3 67.Rh7 Kg3)
65...f5+ 66.Ke3 h4 67.Rg1+ Kh5 68.Ra1
Kg6 69.Ra6+ Kg7 70.Rb6 h3 71.Kf3 g4+
72.Kg3 Kf7) 64...Kf4 65.Kd3 Kf3
66.Rf1+ Kg2 67.Ke2 h4=
64.Ra4+! Kf5

64...Kf3 65.Ke5 g4 66.Ra3+ Kg2 67.Kf4

5
A. Mista 65.Kd4! Kf4 66.Kd3+ Kf3 67.Ra5
B. Socko Kg4 68.Ra4+ Kf3 69.Ra5 Kg4 70.Ke3
Warsaw, 2018 f5 71.Kf2 h5 72.Kg2 h4 73.Ra4+ Kh5

When the pawns have not yet reached

the drawing constellation, it is
74.Ra5?
necessary to use the rook very
actively... Now Black’s king would be incorrectly
placed after 74.Ra8! Kg6
63.Ra1?
a) 74...g4 75.Rg8! Kh6 76.Kf2 Kh5
Correct was 63.Rh8! Kf4 (63...g4 77.Ke3 h3 78.Kf4 Kh6 79.Kxf5;
64.Kd4 Kf4 65.Kd3 Kf3 66.Rxh6 f5 b) 74...Kg4 75.Ra4+
67.Kd2 g3 68.Ke1 f4 (68...g2 69.Rg6 f4 b1) 75.Rh8 Kf4 76.Kh3 Kf3 77.Rg8 Kf4
70.Rg7) 69.Kf1) 64.Kd4 f5 65.Rxh6 g4 78.Rg7;
66.Kd3 Kf3 67.Kd2 f4 68.Rf6+– g3 b2) 75.Rg8 Kf4 (75...Kh5 76.Kf3 g4+
69.Ke1 g2 (69...Ke3 70.Kf1 Kf3 (76...Kh6 77.Ke3 (77.Rh8+ Kg7;
71.Rf8+–) 70.Rg6+– 77.Rb8 Kh5 78.Rb6 g4+ 79.Kf4 h3;
77.Rf8 Kg6 78.Ke3) 77...Kh5 78.Kd4
63.Ra1? Kf4? Kg4) 77.Kf4 h3 78.Kxf5) 76.Kh3 Ke3
77.Rxg5 f4 78.Re5+;
75.Rg8+ Kh5 76.Kf3 Kh6 77.Rf8 Kg6
78.Kf2 g4 79.Ke3 Kg5 80.Rg8+ Kf6
81.Kf4

74...Kg6

74...Kg4 75.Ra8+–

75.Kh3 Kf6 76.Ra6+ Kf7 77.Kg2 g4

78.Kf2 Kg7 79.Ke3 h3 80.Kf4 Kf7
81.Rh6 Kg7 82.Rh5 Kg6 83.Rh4 Kf6 63.Kf5 Kf7 64.Kg4 Ra1 65.h6 Kg6
84.Rh8 Kg7 85.Rc8 66.f5+??

It would seem that activity is the

proper course, but this is a grave
mistake. In this theoretical position it
is necessary to simply keep the
structure intact. Then it woud be
terribly difficult to win...
66.Kg3 Rg1+ 67.Kh3

85...Kg6??

We have seen the correct place for the

king before: 85...Kf7=

86.Rf8 Kh6 87.Rf6+ Kg7 88.Rxf5

1–0 67...Kf7!! Starting a fantastic — and

winning — triangulation manoeuvre
(67...Kf5? 68.Kh2 Re1 (68...Rg4 69.Kh3
6
Kxf4?? 70.h7) 69.Kg2 Re3 70.Kf2 Rh3
E. Kovalevskaya
71.Kg2) 68.Kh4 Ke6 69.Kh3 (69.g6
C. Zhu
Rxg6 70.Kh5 Rg1 71.h7 Kf7–+)
Moscow, 1994
69...Ke7 70.Kh4 Kf7 71.f5 Rh1+ 72.Kg4
Kg8 73.Kf4 Kh7 74.Ke5 Rg1 75.Kf6
Rg2–+
66...Kh7 67.Kf3 Rg1 68.Kf4 Rg2
69.f6 Kg6 70.h7 Rh2 0–1

7
F. Blohberger
T. Nurzhanov
Montevideo, 2017

70...e4

70...f3? 71.Rf7+ Ke4 72.Kd2+–

70...e4 71.Rh5+

Here White’s king supports his pawns
and Black is desperately trying to
make a draw.
73...Re4?
Correct was the simple 73...Re7+
74.Kg8 Re4 75.g5 Rxf4 76.h6 Rg4
73...Re4? 74.g5 Rxf4 75.h6 Rf7+
76.Kg6 Ke7
71.Re7 ¹
71...Ke6 72.Kd4 f3= 73.Rh8 Kf7
73...Kd6? 74.Re8+– Kd7 75.Re5 Kc6
76.Rxd5 e3 77.Rc5+ Kd6 78.Rc1 e2
79.Ke3
74.Rh6 Ke7 75.Ra6 Kd7 76.Rb6 Ke7
77.Rb4
77.Rb5 Ke6

Now it would be too late for 76...Kf8 77...Ke6 78.Rb8 Ke7 79.Rc8 Kd7
77.h7 Rg7+ 78.Kh6 80.Rf8 Ke7

77.h7 Rf8 78.Kg7 Rf7+ 79.Kh6 Rf8

80.g6

1–0

8
P. Nikolic
M. Gurevich
Moscow, 1990
81.Rb8 f4+ 62.Kd3 Kf5 63.Rf8+ Kg5 64.Ke4
winning.
81.Rf5 Ke6 82.Rf4 Kd6 83.Rf6+ Ke7
84.Ke5 d4!= 60.Rc8 g3 61.Ke3 f4+ 62.Kf3 Ke6

81...Kd7 82.Ke3

1/2–1/2

9
I. Sokolov
A. Riazantsev
Plovdiv, 2012

63.Rf8!

A precise ‘cutting’ move.

63...Ke7 64.Rf5 Ke6 65.Ke4 Kd6

66.Rg5!

...not hurrying to win the pawn.

Here White cleverly cuts off his
opponent’s king and prepares a retreat 1–0
of his own.

55.Rc4! 10
P. Fogel
Much more complicated would be O. Romanishin
55.Kb4 Kd4 56.Kb3 Kd3 57.Rd8+ Ke4 Sunway Sitges, 2015
58.Kc2

55.Rc4! g5 56.Kb4 h5 57.Kc3 g4

58.hxg4 hxg4 59.Kd3 e5

Another possibility was 59...Kd6

60.Rc8! (Not allowing Black to build a
basic drawing position after 60.Ke3 e5
61.Ra4 g3 62.Kf3 f4=) 60...Ke5 61.Ke3
55...Kd4?

The wrong idea, which misses the win.

The shortest path to victory was
55...Kd5! 56.Kg6 (56.g4 Ke6 57.Kg5
Ra8–+) 56...Ra6+ 57.Kg7 Ke5 although
even then Black would have work to do:
58.g4 Kf4 59.h5 Kg5 60.f4+ Kxf4 61.h6
Kg5 62.h7 Ra7+ 63.Kg8 Kg6 64.h8=N+
Kf6 65.g5+ Kxg5 66.Nf7+ Kf6 67.Nd6 When the king is not placed in front of
Ra5 68.Nc4 Rd5–+ the pawns, it is necessary to play very
precisely to secure the draw.
55...Kd4? 56.g4?
9.Kd3
Here there was a typical bodycheck
manoevre, saving the game: 56.Kg6! 9.h5 Kc3! 10.Ke3 Re8+ 11.Kf4 Kd4
Ra6+ (56...Ke5 57.f4+) 57.Kf5!= 12.h6 Rf8+ 13.Kg5 Rxf2 14.h7=

56...Ke3 57.g5 Kf4! 58.Kh6 Kf5 9.Kd3 Rf8! 10.Ke3

59.h5 Ra8 60.g6 Kf6
No winning chances were promised by
10.h5 Rxf2 11.Ke4 (11.h6? Rh2)
11...Rh2 (11...Kc3?! 12.h6) 12.Kf5 Kc3
13.Kg6 Kd4 14.h6 Ke5=

10...Kc3 11.h5 Re8+ 12.Kf4 Kd4

13.h6 Rf8+ 14.Kg5

Very dangerous would be 14.Kg3? Ke5

14...Rxf2= 15.Kg6 Ke5 16.g5 Ke6

61.Kh7 Ra7+ 62.Kh6 Ra5 63.f4 Rf5 17.h7 Rh2 18.Kg7 Kf5! 19.g6†
64.g7 Kf7 19...Rh1 20.Kf7 Rh6 21.g7 Rxh7
22.Kf8 Rxg7
0–1
1/2–1/2
11
A. Aleksandrov
S. Sulskis
Bastia, 1999
12
T. Tolnai
O. Romanishin
Kecskemet, 1989

47.Rh5 Rb3+ 48.Ke4 Rb4+ 49.Ke3

Rb3+ 50.Kf4 Rb4+ 51.Kg3

White did not calculate to the end what

would have been a winning pawn
62.g4 Kc4 63.g5 Kd5 64.Kf5 Ra8??
endgame.
The correct way in such cases is to
attack from the back: 64...Rh1 65.h6
Rh3 66.f4 Rh4 67.Kg6 Rxf4 68.h7
(68.Kh7 Rg4 69.g6 Ke6 70.g7 Kf7
71.g8=Q+ Rxg8=) 68...Rh4 69.Kg7 Ke6
70.g6 Kf5=

65.g6 Rf8+ 66.Kg5 Rxf3 67.h6 Ke6

68.h7 Rg3+ 69.Kf4
51.Kg5! Rb5+ 52.Kh6 Rxh5+ 53.Kxh5
1–0 b5 54.f4 b4 55.f5 b3 56.f6 b2 57.f7
b1=Q 58.f8=Q+ Ka2 59.Qa8+ Kb2
13 60.Qb7++–
P. Leko
A. Jussupow 51...b5 52.h4 Rb1 53.Rxh7 b4
Dortmund 1998 54.Ra7+ Kb2 55.Kf4 Rh1 56.Kg5 b3
57.h5 Kc3 58.Rc7+ Kd4 59.Rb7 Kc3
60.h6 b2 61.g4 b1=Q 62.Rxb1 Rxb1
63.h7

Finally we have reached our topical

ending.

63...Rb8
Even worse is 63...Rh1 64.Kg6+– Kd4
65.Kg7
Once again, materialism is wrong.
Correct was to bring the king back:
52...Ke7! 53.b5 (53.Kc7 Rxb2 54.b5
Rb4 55.b6 Rxc4+ 56.Kb8 Kd7 57.b7
Rb4 58.h4 Rxh4–+) 53...Kd8 54.b6
(54.Kb7 Rxb2 55.b6 Kd7 56.h4 Rc2
57.h5 Rxc4 58.h6 Rc8 59.Ka7 Rh8
60.b7 Kc7 61.h7 Rf8–+; 54.b4 Rb2–+)
54...Kc8 55.b4 Rg6+ 56.Kb5 Kb7 57.c5
Rf6 58.h4 Rh6 59.Ka5 Kc6 60.Ka6 Rxh4
61.b5+ Kxc5 62.Ka7 Ra4+–+

64.Kf6! Rb6+
52...Rxb2?? 53.b5 Ke7??

The king could not help the rook to

It was necessary to attack the c-pawn
fight his opponent’s pawns: 64...Kd4
from behind: 53...Ke5 54.b6 Kd4 55.c5
65.g5 Ke3 66.g6 Kf4 67.g7 Rb6+ 68.Kf7
Kc4 56.b7 Rb5 57.Kc7 Rxc5+ 58.Kb6
Rb7+ 69.Ke6 Rxg7 70.h8=Q+–
Rb5+ 59.Kc7 Kd4 securing the draw.

65.Kg7 Rb7+ 66.Kh6 Rb6+ 67.Kh5

54.b6 Ke6!
Rb8 68.g5
54...Kd8?? 55.b7+–
1–0
55.b7 Ke5 56.h4 Kd4
14
G. Sax
B. Ivkov
Hilversum, 1973

57.c5??

Now was the time to move the h-pawn,

deflecting the opponent’s rook.
52...Rxb2??
57.h5!+–
57...Kc4! 58.h5 61...Rc5+ 62.Kb6 Rb5+ 63.Ka6

Nothing is changed by 58.Kc7 Kxc5

59.h5

63...Kc5!
59...Kd5! 60.h6 Rc2+=
63...Rb2?? 64.Ka7+–
58...Rb5!! 59.h6 Rxc5+ 60.Kd6 Rd5+
64.h7 Rb3 65.Ka7 Ra3+ 66.Kb8 Rh3
61.Kc6
67.Ka8 Ra3+
Or 61.Ke7 Re5+ 62.Kf7 Rf5+ 63.Kg7
1/2–1/2
Rg5+ 64.Kf6 Rg8 65.h7 Rb8!=
CHAPTER 2.
CLASSIC ROOK ENDINGS 1: AN EXTRA
PASSED FLANK PAWN
We know that the most typical
practical rook ending features a few
pawns (equal) on one wing, with one
passed pawn on the other flank. This is
one of the most important and
frequently occurring practical chess
endgames and there are great and
sufficient materials out there for a- and
b-pawns, especially in the brilliant
Dvoretsky book, where there are a few
excellent analytical discussions in this
area. It was all sparked by the article of
Moscow analyst Kantorovich in the
famous Soviet chess magazine
‘Shachmatnyj Bulletin’ in 1984.
There Kantorovich studied positions
with a- and b-pawns and his
conclusions were that the b-pawn
promises some real winning chances,
whereas the ‘edge’ pawn very much
limits the manoeuvres of the king,
which has to come to help its passed
pawn.
Then research by the author on d-
pawns was published in New in Chess.
The conclusion was that there are real
winning chances there too. And finally,
in the 21st Century, the great endgame
specialist Mark Dvoretsky entered this
particular field. He produced great
analytical work in his Endgame
University, while positions with an
extra e-pawn were deeply analysed in
his second book.
I would like to analyse these endgames
from a slightly different perspective,
since with a-, b- and c-pawns there are
very common rules, and the most
important question is how to place
ones rooks.
The rook behind the
passed pawn
This is the most comfortable position
for the rook, which was established
many years ago by the great Tarrasch.
This position allows one to push his
passed pawn and to render the
opponent’s rook very passive. Then
the second part of the plan comes,
connected with the activation of the
king — which can help his own passed
pawn or attack the opponent’s pawns
on the other side.
1
M. Botvinnik
I. Boleslavsky
Leningrad/Moscow, 1941

The simplest, most classical game, one
in which Botvinnik showed the power
of the rook behind the pawn, and when
it is necessary to change its position.
White is always ready to sacrifice this
passed pawn and to transfer into a
winning pawn endgame, but in this
case his king must be ready to attack
Black’s pawns.
34.Rb1! Kf7?
The rule is to stop the pawn as far up
the board (from the defender’s
viewpoint) as possible: 34...Rc6 35.b5
Rb6 36.g4 (36.Kg1 Kf7 37.Kf2 Ke6
38.Ke3 Kd5 39.Kd3 Kc5 40.Ke4 Re6+
41.Kf5 Rf6+ 42.Ke5 Kb6 43.Rb2 Rg6
44.g3 Rh6 45.h4 Rh5+ 46.Ke6 g5!=)
36...Kf7 37.Kg2 Ke6 38.Kg3 Ke5 39.h4
g6 40.g5 Ke4 41.Kg4 Ke5 42.Rb4 Kd5
43.Kf4 Kc5 44.Rb1 Kd5 45.Rb2
Zugzwang! 45...Rb8 46.b6 with
winning chances.
35.b5 Ke6 36.b6 Rc8 37.h3
Wrong was 37.b7 Rb8 38.Kg1 Kd6
39.Kf2 Kc7 40.Ke3 Rxb7 41.Rxb7+
Kxb7 42.Ke4 Kc6 43.Ke5 Kd7
37...Rb8 38.Kh2 Kd5 39.Kg3 Kc6
40.Kg4 Kb7
Much better was 40...Rb7 according to
Botvinnik.
41.Re1!
Using a moment when Black can’t
transfer into a pawn ending, Botvinnik
changes the position of his rook.
41...Rg8 42.Re6 Ka6 43.Kg5 Kb7
Of no help is 43...Rc8 44.Re7 Rc2 45.g4
Rc5+ 46.Kh4 g5+ 47.Kh5 Rc3 48.Rxh7
Rxh3+ 49.Kg6 Rh4 50.Ra7+ Kxb6
51.Ra4 when White wins the g5-pawn,
transferring into a basic winning
endgame.
44.h4
Somewhat more technical was 44.Kh5
Ka6 45.g4 Kb7 46.h4 Ka6 47.g5 Kb7
48.g6 Rh8 (48...hxg6+ 49.Kxg6 Rh8
50.Re4) 49.Re4 h6 50.Re7+ Kxb6
51.Rxg7
44...Ka6 45.h5 Kb7 46.g4 Ka6

47.Kh4
Also possible was another king route:
47.Re7 Kxb6 48.Kf5 Kc5 49.Ke6
47...Kb7 48.h6 gxh6
Or 48...Ka6 49.Kh5 gxh6 50.Rxh6 Rg7
51.g5 Re7 52.Rf6 Re2 53.b7+ Ka7
54.b8=Q+ Kxb8 55.Rf8+ Kc7 56.Rf7+
49.Rxh6 Rg7 50.Kh5 Ka6 51.Rc6 Re7
52.Rc7 Re5+ 53.g5 Kxb6 54.Rxh7
The game is effectively over.
54...Kc6 55.Kh6 Kd6 56.g6 Re1
57.Rf7 Ke6 58.Rf2 Ra1 59.g7 Rh1+
60.Kg6 Rg1+ 61.Kh7 Rh1+ 62.Kg8
Ke7 63.Re2+ Kd7 64.Re4 Rh2 65.Kf7
1–0
2
I. Sokolov
V. Akobian
Antalya, 2013
Now it is necessary to bring the king
into the action — to support his pawn,
or to start attacking the opponent’s
structure.
35.Kf2 Kg7 36.Ke2
The white king is going to b5.
36...Kf6 37.Kd3 Ke5 38.Kc4 Kd6
39.Kb5 Kc7
40.Rd1
Of course a move like 40.Kc5 would
also lead to a winning position, but
then Black can bring his own rook into
play: 40...Kb8 and the black rook is 44...Kb7 45.e4 Re8 46.a8=Q+ Rxa8
finally free. 47.Rxa8 Kxa8 48.Kc6

40...h5 Ivan Sokolov showed us a very

attractive winning technique here!
40...Kb8 was losing immediately:
41.Rd8+ Kc7 42.Rf8 1–0

41.h4 3
L. Aronian
The game will result in a pawn
S. Karjakin
endgame, so White prepares a nice
Wijk aan Zee, 2014
pawn structure for it.

41...Ra8 42.Rc1+!

The final exact move, after which the

game is over.

42...Kd7 43.Ra1

Now Black cannot stop White from

playing a7. White’s pawn has not yet started his
career, and as usual in such situations
43...Kc7 it will be blocked until White improves
his king.

45...Rb4

Another idea was to activate the king

first with 45...Kf6!? 46.b4 hxg3 47.fxg3!
(47.hxg3 Ke5 looks OK for Black.)
47...Rb5 48.Kf2 Ke5 49.Ke3 f5 and it’s
not clear how White can win this
endgame. For example: 50.h4 Kd5
51.Kf4 Ke6 52.Kg5 Kf7
44.a7

45...Rb4 46.Kf1 Kf6 47.Ke2

The black rook has no chances of
freeing itself, so White transitions into
GM Danny King rightly pointed out in
a completely winning pawn endgame.
his YouTube commentary that
Karjakin had to choose between two
scenarios:
1. Move the king to the queenside and
free the rook.
2. Move the king to the kingside and try
to generate counter-play there.

53.f4!

53.f3 was another option 53...f5 54.b6

f4! and Black creates a stalemate
construction. 55.Kd4 Rd7+ 56.Kc4
(56.Ke4?? Rd2 57.Rb5 Rb2=) 56...Rc7+
47...Kf5 57.Kd3 Rd7+ 58.Kc2+–

The other option was to bring the king 53...Kg4 54.b6 f5 55.Kd4 Kxf4
to the other side: 47...Ke5!? 48.Kd3
Slightly better was 55...Rb8
Kd5 49.Kc3 Kc5 50.Re2 hxg3 51.fxg3!?
(Recapturing this way may help White 56.Rb3
to create another passed pawn.)
51...Rb7

48.Kd3 g5 49.Kc3 Rb7 50.b4

Time to push the pawn, as activation of

Black’s king is not so dangerous.
Preventive manoevres were useless
here: Both 50.h3? hxg3 51.fxg3 Ke4
and 50.f3? hxg3 51.hxg3 g4 would be
fine for Black.
56...h3
50...Kg4 51.b5 Kh3 52.gxh4 gxh4
White also wins after 56...Kg4 57.Kc5
f4 58.h3+ Kf5 59.Kc6 Rb8 60.b7 Ke4
61.Kc7 Rxb7+ 62.Kxb7 f3 63.Kc6 f2
64.Rb1 Kf3 65.Kd5 Kg2 66.Ke4 f1=Q
67.Rxf1 Kxf1 68.Kf3! We have seen
such wins in our previous books in the 52.Ke5? (But there is a nice way to
series. draw: 52.Rg1+! Kf6 53.Rf1+ Ke6
54.Rh1) 52...h5 53.Rg1+ Kh6 54.Rh1
57.Kd5 Kg4 58.Kc6 Rb8 59.Rg3+! Rg3–+

A nice check, destroying all 46...Re5 47.Kd4 Re6 48.Kd5 h5!

counterplay. 49.Rh4

59...Kh4 60.b7 f4 61.Rg7!

1–0

4
J. van der Wiel
Y. Seirawan
Haninge 1990

49...Rh6!–+

The rook finally reaches its best place

and now White is in zugzwang. He
must lose ground with either the king
or the rook.

Seirawan firstly tries to improve the 50.Ke5 Kg6 51.Kf4 Kf6ʘ 52.Kg3 Ke5
position of his rook, controlling his 53.Kh3 a6 54.Rc4 Kd5 55.Rc8 Rc6
second rank top of the list. 56.Ra8 b5 57.axb5 axb5 58.Ra1 Rc4

43...Ke6! 44.a4 Rh5! 58...Rc4 59.Rb1 Rd4 and now ...Kc4–

c3–c2 winning the b4-pawn, so...
Intending ...Rd5–d7
0–1
45.Rg4 Kf7 46.b4?!
5
Much better was 46.Rf4+ Kg6 47.Rf8 A. Giri
Rf5 48.Rg8+ Kh6 (Seirawan in Chess M. Vachier-Lagrave
Informant gives the strange 48...Kh5 World Cup 2015
and it is an obvious draw after 49.Rg7)
49.Ke4 Rf7 50.Rg1 Rg7 51.Rh1+ Kg5
 Black could have restored the material
balance with 47...Rd4 but it lets the
pawn run too far after 48.Rb2 Rxf4+
49.Kh3 Re4 50.b5 Re7 51.b6 Rb7

We are faced with a very interesting

rook endgame. At first sight, despite
the pawn deficit, it seems that Black
should hold the draw rather
comfortably because of his active 52.Kh4 We can see the reason why
pieces and the vulnerable positions of they say ‘activity in rook endgames’
the white pawns. However Giri plays plays a key factor. Despite the limited
the entire endgame with great material, Black seems to be helpless:
resourcefulness, explores all his 52...Kh6 53.Rb5 Kg6 54.h3 Black is in
chances and manages to convert his zugzwang. He either loses his h5-pawn
advantage. with check or plays 54...f5, but this
allows 55.Kg3+– followed by h4 and
47.Rc2! Kf4.

Giri follows the very important 48.Rb2 Kf5

principle that in rook endgames the
rook should stand behind the passed Vachier-Lagrave tries to defend
pawn! This is true for both sides, and if actively and in general this is the right
it were Black’s move he should also idea!
quickly go behind the b-pawn.
47.Rc4 allows 47...Rd2 48.h3 Rb2 and 49.Kg3!
Black is too active; White cannot make
White temporarily switches to
any progress.
passivity, but the f-pawn had to be
47.Rc2! Rb5! protected.
49.Kxh5 gives Black a passed f-pawn,
Not the best place for the rook, but which will always ensure adequate
Black could not avoid Rb2 whereafter counterplay. 49...Kxf4+ 50.Kh4 f5=
the pawn must be blockaded.
49...Ke4
 Black could find nothing better than to
capture the b-pawn by chasing the
rook away, but at the same time his
king strays too far from the kingside;
there will be no-one to defend the f6
and h5 pawns.

52.Ra1! Rxb4

Black cannot trade his h-pawn for f, as

White is not forced to grab it. Actually,
it would just help White because the
king wanted to go to c4 anyway.
49...h4+ 50.Kf3

50.Rb1!

Another very clever move by Giri! It

hands the move to Black, who again
finds himself in a sort of zugzwang. He 53.Ra5!
cannot move his rook as that allows
We have reached another scenario
the b-pawn to advance, and all the
within our rook endgame. If Black
other options have a drawback as well.
could get his king back, let’s say to g7,
In general, it is a very good practical
he could hold the draw even without
idea to ask ourselves ‘what would our
his pawns, as it is known that f- and h-
opponent do if it was his move’. We can
pawns in rook endgames is generally a
find many zugzwangs using this
theoretical draw. However, the
technique.
problem is that the king is too far away
50...Kd3 and is going to be ‘cut’ along the 5th or
6th ranks.
Black still cannot trade his h-pawn for
f4, because 50...h4+ is met by 51.Kg4 53...Rb3+
and the h-pawn just becomes weak;
53...h4 looks bad as well 54.Kg4 Kd3
50...f5 with the idea of pushing h4 now
55.Ra6 and the pawns start to fall.
is strongly met by 51.Re1+! Kd4
52.Kh4 and the black king is cut off. 54.Ke4 h4

51.Kf3 Kc2
The critical line would have started
with 54...Rh3 55.Ra2+! Kb3 56.Rf2 Kc3
57.Kf5 Kd3 58.Kxf6 Ke3 59.Rf1 Rxh2

57...h3

Black pins his counterplay on the h2

60.f5 It is very difficult to judge
pawn, but White is able to protect it
whether this endgame is drawn or
with his rook and support his f-pawn
winning for White. Actually, in a
at the same time.
practical game, I would say Black is in
big trouble, but perhaps he can still 58.Ra4+ Kf3 59.Kg5 Rb5
save this endgame somehow?! 60...h4
(60...Ke2 61.Ra1 Kf3 62.Kg5 h4 63.f6+– 59...Kg2 60.Ra2++– followed by
wins.) 61.Ke5! h3 62.f6 and White is pushing the f-pawn.;
winning, because the king is cut along 59...Rb2 60.f6+– and Black has no time
the f-file and cannot go to support the to grab the h2-pawn.
h-pawn. 62...Ra2 63.f7 Ra8 64.f8=Q
Rxf8 65.Rxf8 and Black cannot 60.Ra2 Rb4
play ...Kf3 to ensure the draw... 65...h2
60...Ke4 is met by 61.Kg6! as the pawn
66.Rh8+–
cannot be taken: 61...Rxf5 62.Ra4++–
55.Kf5 Kd3
61.f6
55...Rb6 56.Ra3 Kd2 57.Rh3 was also
The rest is easy...
bad.

61...Rg4+ 62.Kf5 Rf4+

56.Kxf6 Ke4 57.f5

62...Rg2 63.Ra3++– wins the h3 pawn.

63.Ke6 Re4+ 64.Kd6 Rd4+ 65.Ke7

Re4+ 66.Kf8 Rb4 67.f7 Rf4 68.Rb2
Ra4
 White has two extra pawns and the
69.Rb6! only chance for Black is to use the
active positions of his rook and pawns.
The final accuracy! White wins using
the bridge-building method, and Black 35.d5!
has no time to collect the h2 pawn.
Black resigned in view of the following Marshall decides to give up one pawn
lines: 69.Rb6! Kg2 70.Kg7 Ra7 immediately and use the time to
(70...Rg4+ 71.Rg6+–; 70...Rf4 71.Rf6+–) improve the position of his rook.
71.Rb2+ Kg1 72.Kg8+– Another try seems to be less
A great endgame by Giri! My feeling dangerous for Black: 35.a4 Kf4 36.Kh2
says that Black should have been able Rb4 37.a5 Rxd4 38.Rf7+ Ke5 39.a6 Rd6
to hold the draw somehow, but it is 40.a7 Ra6 41.Kg3 Ra4 42.Kf3 Ke6
difficult to suggest where he could 43.Rh7 Kf5
have improved his play...
35.d5! Rd2 36.a4 Rxd5 37.Rf7+
1–0
The classical transfer of the rook from
in front of the pawn to behind it.
Weaker was the primitive 37.Ra8 Kg6
6 38.a5 Kh5 39.a6 Rd6 40.Kf2 Re6 41.a7
F. J. Marshall Ra6 42.g4+ Kh4 43.Rh8 Ra2+ 44.Kf3
O. Duras Ra3+ 45.Ke4 Rxa7 46.Rxh6+ Kg3
San Sebastian 1912
37...Ke4 38.Rf1 Ra5 39.Ra1 Kd3

The black king’s task is to try to stop

his opponent’s king from marching to
the a-pawn.
40.Kf2 h5 41.Kf3 Rf5+ 42.Kg3 Ra5
43.h4!
Trying to break a hole in his
opponent’s defensive wall.
43...gxh4+ 44.Kxh4 Ke2
45.Kg3
White could try to get a basic position
with just the g-pawn: 45.Rb1! Rxa4+
(45...Kf2 46.Rb2+ Ke3 47.Rb5)
46.Kxh5 Ra5+ 47.Kh4 Ra8 48.g4 (The
other typical option was 48.Rb5)
48...Rh8+ 49.Kg3 Rg8 50.Rb5 Ke3
51.g5 Black’s king is horizontally cut
— the worst case scenario. The
position is lost.
45...Rg5+ 46.Kf4 Ra5
Another logical defensive option was
46...Rg4+ 47.Kf5 Kd3 48.Ra2 Kc4 49.a5
Kb3 50.Re2 Ra4 51.Re3+ Kc2 52.Re5
Kd3 53.Kg6 h4 54.Kh5
47.Ke4 Kf2 48.Ra2+ Kg3 49.Kd4 h4
50.Kc3
There was an option here to try to
attack the h-pawn: 50.Ke4 Kg4
(50...Kh2? 51.Kf4 Ra8 (51...h3 52.g4+
Kg1 53.Kg3) 52.g4+) 51.Ra3 Ra8 52.a5
Ra6 53.Kd5 Kf4 54.Kc4! (Wrong was
54.Kc5? Rg6! 55.Ra2 Kg3) 54...Rg6
55.Ra2 Kg3
56.a6! Rg8 (Known to be losing is the
ending with 56...Rxa6 57.Rxa6 Kxg2
58.Kd3 h3 59.Ke2 h2 60.Rg6+) 57.a7
Ra8 58.Kd4! Kh2 (58...Kf4 59.Ra3+–)
59.Ke5 Kg3 60.Ra3+ Kxg2 61.Kf4 h3
(61...Kf2 62.Ra2+ Ke1 63.Kg4 Kd1
64.Kxh4 Kc1 65.Kg5 Kb1 66.Ra6 Kb2
67.Kf6 Kb3 68.Ke6 Kb4 69.Kd6 Kb5
70.Ra1 Kb6 71.Rb1+! Another famous
basic winning position 71...Ka6 72.Kc7
Rxa7+ 73.Kc6) 62.Ra2+ Kf1 63.Kg3
with a similar win to those above.
50...Rf5
50...Kh2
51.a5 Rxa5?
The best move was 51...Rf8 52.a6 Rc8+
53.Kd4 Ra8 54.a7 Rd8+ 55.Kc5 Rc8+
56.Kb6 Rg8 Minev in Endgame
Encyclopedia claims a draw here, but
White wins simply with the clever
manouevre. 57.Rb2 Rg6+ 58.Kb7 Rg7+
59.Ka6 Rg8 60.Rb8

52.Rxa5 Kxg2

40.b5?

It seems very natural to push the

passer, but it would have been better
to open a second front instead. 40.f3!
Rb5 Here Black could try alternative
53.Kd2?? defences:
a) 40...Kc4 41.b5! Rb6 (41...Kc5 42.b6!;
Great players sometimes had (and still
41...Rxb5 42.Rxb5 Kxb5 43.fxg4 fxg4
have!) problems with their knowledge
44.Kf2 Kc5 45.Ke3 Kd5 46.Kf4 Ke6
of basic positions and winning
47.Kxg4 Kf6 48.Kh5) 42.Kf2 Kc5
methods! Correct was 53.Rg5+ Kf2
(42...Kc3 43.fxg4! fxg4 44.Ke3) 43.fxg4!
54.Rh5 Kg3 55.Kd2 h3 56.Ke2 Kg2
fxg4 44.Ke3+–;
(56...h2 57.Kf1) 57.Rg5+ Kh1 58.Kf2 h2
b) 40...Ra8 41.b5 Ra2+ 42.Kf1 gxf3
59.Kg3
43.b6 Ra8 44.b7 Rb8 45.Kf2+–;
53...h3 54.Ke2 h2 55.Rg5+ Kh1 41.fxg4! (41.Kf2 was playable too
41...Kd3? (Better, but not enough to
Now stalemate helps Black. defend, was 41...gxf3 42.Kxf3 Ke5
43.Ke3 Kd5 44.Kf4 Ke6 45.Kg5 Kf7
1/2–1/2 46.Rb3) 42.Rd1+ Kc3 43.Ke3 Rxb4
(43...gxf3 44.Kxf3 Rxb4 45.Rd5)
44.Rd5+–) 41...fxg4 42.Rf1 Rg5
7
43.Rf4+ Ke3 44.b5 Rxb5 45.Rxg4+–
V. Salov
V. P. Malaniuk 40.b5? Kc5 41.f3 Kb6!
USSR 1988
This is the point. Previously, stopping
the pawn was the rook’s function; now
the king is there and the rook will be
free now.

42.Rb4

According to GM Makarichev’s analysis,

no better was 42.fxg4 fxg4 43.Rb4 Rg8
44.Kf2 Kc5! 45.Rb3 Kb6 46.Ke2
(46.Ke3 Rf8! 47.Ke4 Rf7 48.Rd3 Kxb5
49.Rd5+ Kc6 50.Rg5 Kd6 51.Rxg4
Ke6=) 46...Rg7 47.Ke3 Rf7!= 46...Ra8?

42...Ka5 There was a logical way to draw here:

46...Rg8! intending ...gxf3=
Leading to a basic drawn position was
the following variation, mentioned by 47.fxg4 fxg4 48.Rb4! Rf8+ 49.Ke2
Makarichev: 42...gxf3+! 43.Kxf3 Rg8! Re8+ 50.Kf2 Rf8+ 51.Ke2 Re8+
44.Rd4 Kxb5 ¹ (44...Rg5?! 45.Rd5 Ka5! 52.Kd3 Kc5
46.Rd3 (46.Kf4 Rg4+=) 46...Rg4?!
Now passive defence loses: 52...Rg8
47.Rd6 Rg5 48.b6 Ka6 49.Rd3±)
53.Ke3! (53.Ke4? Rf8!=) 53...Kc5
45.Rd5+ Kc6 46.Rxf5 Kd6 47.Kf4 Ke6
54.Rb1 Kb6 (54...Rf8 55.b6+–)
48.g4 Ra8!=
55.Kf4+–
43.Rb3
53.Re4!
A clear drawing line can be seen after
The decisive uncutting of the king.
43.Rd4 Kxb5! 44.Rd5+ (44.fxg4
Kc5!=™) 44...Kc6 45.Rxf5 Rb2+=
53...Rd8+ 54.Ke3 Kxb5 55.Rxg4

43...Kb6 44.Rb4 Ka5 45.Rb3 Kb6

This is close to a basic winning position.
46.Kf2
55...Kc5

Or 55...Kc6 56.Rc4+! (56.Rd4?? Rxd4

57.Kxd4 Kd6=)

56.Rg6 Kd5 57.Kf4 Rf8+ 58.Kg4 Ke4

No better was 58...Ke5 59.Kh5 Ke4
(59...Rh8+ 60.Rh6 Rxh6+ 61.Kxh6 Kf5
62.Kh5+–) 60.g4 Kf3 61.g5 Ke4 62.Rf6
59.Re6+ Kd5
60.Rh6+– Ke4 61.Kh5! Rf5+ 62.Kh4
Kf3 63.g4 Rf8 64.g5 Rf4+ 65.Kh5
Kg3 66.Ra6 Rh4+ 67.Kg6 Rb4
68.Kh7 Kg4 69.Ra5 Rb7+ 70.Kh6
Rb2 71.g6 Rh2+ 72.Kg7 Kf4 73.Kf7
1–0
8
A. Mikhalchishin
Y. N. Anikaev
USSR 1981
To move the passer faster it would be
useful to place the rook behind the
pawn, so...
39.Rd2 Ra4
Nothing is promised by the check:
39...f4+ 40.Kd3 Ra3 41.Kd4 Kf5 42.c4
Ke6 43.c5 Kd7 44.Ke4+ Kc6 45.Kxf4
Kxc5 46.Kf5 and attacking the g7-pawn
next move.
40.Kd3 Kf7 41.Re2!
It is always useful to cut the
opponent’s king.
41...f4 42.c4
Much simpler was to stop any activity
of the doubled pawns: 42.f3 Ra3
43.Kd4 g5 44.c4 Ra4 45.Kd5
42...f3
This move is a bit unpleasant, but at
the end of the day it changes nothing.
43.gxf3 Ra3+ 44.Kd4 Rxf3 45.c5
Rxh3 46.c6 Rh1 47.Kc5 Rc1+ 48.Kd6
Rd1+ 49.Kc7 Rc1 50.Kd7 Rd1+
51.Kc8 Rc1 52.c7 g5 53.Rb2
1–0
9
A. Karpov
R. Knaak
Baden-Baden 1992
It is possible to simply push the pawn,
but Karpov tries a fantastic manoevre
designed to place his rook behind the
pawn.
39.Ra3!! g5?
In his notes, Karpov does not criticise
this move. Much more logical, however,
was 39...h5 or, according to Dvoretsky,
39...Rc2 40.Rf3+ Ke6 41.Re3+ Kd6
42.Re2 Rc3 43.Kd2 Ra3
40.Kd2 Kg6 41.Rc3 Ra5 42.a3 h5
43.Kc2 Ra8
Karpov only analyses the bad move
43...f5 44.Rc6+!? Kg7 45.Kb3 Rb5+
46.Kc3 Rb1 47.Rc5; but Dvoretsky
proposes the more logical 43...h4
44.Kb3 Rb5+ 45.Ka2 Rd5
44.Kb3 Rb8+ 45.Ka2 Ra8
A much better chance was 45...Rd8!?
46.Rc2 Rd3
46.Rc4 f5 47.a4 Kf6 48.Ka3 Ke5
49.Rc5+
Possible was 49.h4 g4 50.Rc5+ Kf4
51.g3+ Ke4 52.Kb4 Rb8+ 53.Kc3 Rb1
54.Rc4+ Kd5 55.Rd4+ Kc5 56.Rf4
49...Ke4 50.a5 h4 51.Ka4 Kf4
51...g4? 52.hxg4 fxg4 53.Rh5!+–
52.Rc4+
Even stronger was 52.Kb5 Rb8+
53.Kc6 Rb2 54.Rc4+ Ke5 55.a6 Rxf2
56.Ra4 Rc2+ 57.Kd7
52...Ke5 53.Rb4 Kd5 54.Rb5+ Ke4
55.Rb6 Kf4
Nothing is changed by 55...g4 56.hxg4
fxg4 57.Rh6
56.a6 g4
57.Ka5!+– g3 52...Rd2?

57...gxh3 58.Rb4+ … gh3 Black was rightly afraid of White’s Rd8

idea, but she should have prepared for
58.Rb4+™ it in a different way. Irina Krush
punishes this mistake with very good
58.fxg3+ Kxg3 (58...hxg3 59.Rb3)
technique!
59.Rg6+ Kf2 60.Kb6
The most natural move is 52...Kg6.
58...Ke5 59.f3 f4™ 60.Re4+ Kf5 Black obviously does not want to take
61.Re2! Kf6 62.Kb6 1–0 the h6-pawn, because she loses the
pawn endgame afterwards, but this
frees the rook to protect d6 and
counterattack the c3-pawn. 53.Rg8+
The rook is protecting Kf7 54.Rg7+ Kf6 55.Rd7 Ke6 56.Rh7
Kf6= 57.Rh8 Kg6 We have reached our
its own passed pawn
initial position. (53.Rd8 Rd2 54.Kb5
from the side Rd3 55.c4 Rd4= holds easily, as Black
Such a position of the rook retains can take on h6 next and hurry back to
more elements of activity and, the pawn. White cannot make
statistically-speaking, promises very progress.; However, there is 53.h7
good winning chances. Counterplay in leading to a theoretically-won position:
such cases is possible against the 53...Rd2 54.Rg8+ Kxh7 55.Rg5+–
pawns on the flank, as well as attacks planning Rd5).
against the rook itself.
52...Rd2? 53.Rg8!
1
Cutting the king and threatening to
I. Krush
promote the h-pawn. Black is forced to
S. Milliet
go back to the h-file!
Wch Women 2015
53...Rh2 54.Rd8!
A great move! White lures the king
away from the h-pawn.
54...Ke5
55.Rh8!
Compared to the initial position, the
king has gone to e5, and unprotected
himself against the threatened check
after pushing h7!
55...Rh4+
It is too late to go back because after
55...Kf6 56.h7! Kg7 (Trying to save the
d-pawn with 56...Ke7 loses to the
typical trick 57.Ra8!+–) 57.Rd8 Kxh7
58.Rxd6 the king is too far away from
the c-pawn... 58...Kg7 59.Kb5 Kf7 60.c4
Ke7 61.c5+– will be the same as the
game.
56.Kb5 Kd5
Black tries to hide the king from the
checks in front of the d-pawn.
56...Kf6 is the same as before; White
wins after 57.h7 Kg6 58.Rd8+–
57.h7 Rh5 58.Kb6
The most direct way to win was 58.c4+
Kd4+ 59.Kc6 (59.Kb4 is probably the
easiest and it transposes to the game.)
59...Rh6
(59...Kxc4 60.Kxd6 Kd4 61.Ke6 Ke4
62.Kf6 Kf4 63.Kg6 Rg5+ 64.Kh6+– and
the rook moves away from h8 next.)
60.c5! Unnecessary (60.Kb5 Rh5
61.Kb4 transposes to the game), but
very instructive. White wants to
destroy the shelter of the black king.
60...dxc5+ 61.Kb5 Kc3 Otherwise Rd8
and h8=Q. 62.Kxc5 Rh1 (62...Rh5+
63.Kd6 Kd4 64.Ke6 Ke4 65.Kf6 Kf4
66.Kg6 Rg5+ 67.Kh6+–) 63.Kd5 Kd3
64.Ke5 Ke3 65.Kf5 Kf3
How to make progress now? Black
hides his king by opposing him on the
same file. The move Kg6 is met
by ...Rg1 check forcing the king back to
the f-file and the rook also then returns
to h1. 66.Rf8! Nice tactics, even with
such limited material on the board!
66...Rxh7 67.Kg6++–
58...Rh6 59.c4+ Kd4
Black cannot sacrifice his rook for the
h-pawn because the white king is too
close to the d-pawn... 59...Kxc4
60.Rc8+ Kb4 61.h8=Q Rxh8 62.Rxh8+–
60.Kb5 Rh5+ 61.Kb4 Rh1
62.Rd8!
A very unfortunate situation for Black.
She is forced to take on h7, but then
Rxd6 not only takes the pawn with
check, but also cuts the king away from
the c-pawn.
62...Rxh7 63.Rxd6+ Ke5 64.c5
The rest is easy; Black cannot put up
any kind of resistance. White keeps the
king cut, advances the pawn slowly
and wins with the help of bridge-
building at the very end.
64...Rb7+ 65.Ka5 Rb1 66.Rd2 Ke6
67.c6 Ke7 68.c7 Rc1 69.Kb6 Rb1+
70.Ka7 Rc1 71.Kb7 Rb1+ 72.Kc8
Rb3 73.Re2+ Kf6
73...Kf7 Here comes the so called
bridge-building with 74.Re4!
74...Rb1 75.Kd7 Rd1+ 76.Kc6 Rc1+
77.Kd6 Rd1+ 78.Kc5 Rc1+ 79.Rc4+–
74.Re8 Kf7
74...Rb1 loses to 75.Kd7 Rd1+ 76.Kc6
Rc1+ 77.Kb6 Rb1+ 78.Ka5+– and the
king comes in zigzag-style on the a-
and b-files.
75.Re4
Black resigned, as she did not want to
suffer through the 73...Kf7 line.
1–0
2 38...Rh2 39.a4 Rh3 40.b4 Rb3 41.b5
F. Berkes
M. Iskandarov
Baku 2014
38...Rh2
Black is trying to win a pawn on the
queenside, which is very logical, but it
leads to a forced loss.
38...Ke7 wouldn’t have saved the game
either. 39.Rh7+ Kd6 (In case of
39...Ke6 40.h5 Rg3+
41.Kh6 a5 42.Rb7 White will win
another pawn, which of course leads to
an easily winning position.) 40.h5
Rg3+ 41.Kf5 a5 and here comes the
very strong 42.Rh6+! Kc5 43.Rg6
followed by h6 and the white king will
go to g7 with an easy win.
White has fixed the black pawn
structure and very soon we will see
why this was so important.
41...Rb4
The a4 pawn is falling, but Black can’t
save the game.
42.Rh8+!
Berkes calculates the complications
correctly and goes for the forced win.
42...Ke7 43.h5
The h-pawn is running.
43...Rg4+
There is nothing else to do...
44.Kf5 Rxa4 45.h6
White’s idea is to play h7 to have Ra8
Rxh7 and Rxa7+, with Rxh7, available
after ...Rh4.
45...Kf7
All Black needs to do is to play ...Rh4 3
next, but there is just no time for it. I. Krush
V. Ivanchuk
46.Ra8!
Edmonton 2014

The final accurate move!

46...Rh4 47.Kg5 Rh1

and White forces Black to enter a

losing pawn endgame.

48.h7 Kg7

62...Ra2+

Of course Black should not hurry with

playing ...a2, after which the rook on a1
would have no moves. Black’s idea in a
perfect world should be to get his king
to a2 and at the same time not lose the
e5- and g5-pawns.

49.h8=Q+ 63.Kg3

After 49....Rxh8 50.Rxa7 Kg8 51.Ra8
Kg7 52.Rxh8 Kxh8 53.Kf6 White is
going to collect the b6-pawn and
promote his own one. What we can see
from this game is that rook endgames
with an extra pawn on the opposite
side of the board are very dangerous
for the defensive side — and
sometimes even just lost.
1–0
White of course just keeps on waiting.
63...Kd6 64.Kh3
The correct move. To move the rook
from a5 would be a crucial mistake
because the black king would
immediately cross the 5th rank.
64...Kc6!
Black tries his only winning chance.
Let us take a look at how White would
hold the position in case Black were to
push the pawn to a2: 64...Ra1 65.Kg2
a2 All White needs to do now is to keep
the rook on the a-file: 66.Ra8 Kd5
67.Ra7 Kd4 68.Ra8
68...Ke3 69.Ra3+ Ke2 70.Ra4 and Black
is unable to make any progress.
65.Rxe5
Of course the e5-pawn needs to be
taken. Black wanted to play ...Kb6 and
in case of Ra8 just ...Kb5 and the black
king would help the a-pawn to
promote.
65...Kb6 66.Re6+
The simplest way of making a draw.
White is planning to keep on checking
the black king until it will be possible
to once again bring her rook to the a-
file.
66...Kb5 67.Re5+ Kb4 68.Re4+
Of course not 68.Rxg5?? Ra1 69.Rg8 a2
and Black is easily winning.
68...Kc3
69.Re3+!
A good practical decision. Before
putting the rook on the a-file, White is
trying to lure the black king as far away
from the a-pawn as possible.
69.f4 gxf4 70.Rxf4 Ra1 71.Rf3+ Kd2
72.Rf2+ Ke3 73.Kg2 a2 74.Rf3+ Kd2
75.Ra3 Kc2 76.Ra8=
69...Kd2 70.Re5
White is defending very well and not
giving Black any winning chances.
White not only wants to play Ra5, but
Rxg5 is also already a threat.
70...Ra1
Black cannot play for a win with
70...Rb2? 71.Rxg5 a2 72.Ra5 Kc1 73.g5
as the white pawns are too fast.
71.Kg2 a2 72.Ra5
And finally we are back in a
theoretically-drawn position.
72...Kc3 73.Ra8
White keeps the passive defence which
secures an easy draw.

73...Kb3

Black wants to play ...Rc1 next.

74.Rb8+

Now a few examples from practical

play by modern-day masters of the
game. Players know this manoeuvre
and include it in their plans!

56.Kf2 Ra3 57.Ra7 Kf8 58.a5 Ke8

59.a6 Kf8 60.Ke2 Ke8

60...Kg7 61.Kd2 Ra4 62.Kc3 Rxf4

The final exact move required of White.
From now on nothing exciting can
happen.
74...Kc3 75.Rc8+ Kb3 76.Rb8+ Kc3
77.Rc8+ Kb3 78.Rb8+ Kc3 79.Ra8
Kb3 80.Rb8+ Kc3
Irina Krush showed great defence in a
not-so-easy rook endgame.
1/2–1/2
63.Rd7 Ra4 64.a7+– — Black has no
moves on the kingside, and White’s
king advances;
60...Ra4 61.Kd3 Rxf4 62.Rb7 Ra4 63.a7
Kg7 64.Kc3
61.Ra8+ Kd7 62.a7 Kc6
Our manoeuvre was also possible after
62...Ke7 63.f5 gxf5 64.g6 Kf6 65.gxf7
Kxf7 66.Rh8

63.Rc8+ Kb7 64.Rf8 1–0

4
A. Giri
5
R. Ponomariov
M. Gurevich
Dortmund 2011
I. V. Glek
Vlissingen 2002
 45.Rc7

White is not yet ready for the direct

plan of a king transfer into the
opponent’s position.
45...Rb5+?
39.Ra7 Kf6
The correct way to draw was 45...Ra5
Illogical here would be 39...f6 40.Ra8 46.a7 Ke6 (46...Kf5? 47.Rc5++–)
Kg4 41.a7 Kf5 42.f3 and the king comes 47.Kb2 f6 48.Kb3 Kd6 49.Rf7 Kc5
around; but it was better to stand in
46.Kc2 Ra5 47.a7 Kf5 48.Kb3!+–
the way of the opponent’s king with
Kg4
39...Ke5
48...Ra1 49.Rxf7+ Kg4 50.Rf4+ Kxg3
40.Kf1 Ra2 41.Ke1 Kg7 42.Kd1 Kf6
51.Ra4
It was necessary instead to accept the
49.Rc4+ Kxg3 50.Ra4 Rxa7 51.Rxa7
pawn sacrifice: 42...Rxf2 43.Rc7 Ra2
Kxh4
44.a7 Kf6 45.Kc1 Ke6 (45...Kf5 46.Kb1
Ra6 47.Rxf7+ Kg4 48.Rg7 Kf3 49.Kb2 Black cannot reach the drawish
Ra5 50.Rxg6 (50.Kb3 Kxg3 51.Rxg6+ construction with pawns on h3–g4–f5.
Kxh4=) 50...Rxa7 51.Rg5 Rc7=) 46.Kb1
Ra5 47.Kc2 f6 (Not Gurevich’s line 52.Kc3 Kg3 53.Kd2
47...f5 48.Kb3 Kd6= as White wins
simply 49.Kb4 Ra1 50.Rg7) 48.Kc3
Kd6 49.Rg7 Kc5

43.Kc1 Rxf2 44.Kb1 Rf5

There were no big chances for survival

with rook against queen either:
44...Rf3? 45.Kb2 Rxg3 46.Rxf7+ Kxf7
47.a7+–
53...g5
No better is 53...h4 54.Ke1 Kg2 (54...h3
55.Kf1) 55.Ra2+ Kg1 56.Ra4!
54.Rxf7 h4 55.Ke2 g4 56.Kf1 Kh2
57.Rf2+ Kh1 58.Rf4 h3 59.Kf2! h2
60.Re4 1–0
6
J. Plenca
J. Krebs
Pula 2018
Here Black could have used either plan
of defence — but didn’t!
56...f6
A simpler plan here was 56...Ke5
56...f6 57.Rb8 Kf5?
To conduct ...g6–g5 it was necessary to
bring the king to g7 with 57...Kf7
58.b7 Rb1 59.f3! Rb2+ 60.Kf1
The winning plan is easy — to transfer
the king across the entire board to h6!
60...Rb1+ 61.Ke2 Rb2+ 62.Kd3 Rb1
63.Kc4 Rc1+ 64.Kd5 Rd1+ 65.Kc6
Rc1+ 66.Kd6
66...Rd1+
Losing in a tricky way is 66...Rb1
67.Rc8 Rb6+ (67...Rxb7 68.Rc5#)
68.Rc6 Rxb7 69.Rc5#
67.Ke7 Rb1 68.Kf7 Rb6 69.Kg7 Rb1
70.Kh6 Rb6 71.Ra8!
Time to attack the opponent’s king
from the side.
71...Rxb7 72.Ra5+ Ke6 73.Kxg6 Rb8
74.Kxh5 Rg8 75.g4 Rb8
Nothing is changed by 75...Rh8+
76.Kg6 Rxh4 77.Ra6+
76.Kg6 Rg8+ 77.Kh7 Rb8 78.Kg7
Rb7+ 79.Kg6 Rb6 80.h5 Ke7 81.Kg7
Ke6 82.h6 Rb3 83.h7 Rb7+ 84.Kg6
Rb8 85.Ra7
1–0
7 52.Kb2 Rg2+ 53.Kb1 Rg1+ 54.Kc2
P. Leko
V. Anand
Linares 2003
Black has to decide on his defensive
set-up...
38...Rd1+
Stronger was 38...h5 39.Rc5 (39.Kg2
Rd3! 40.Ra8 Ra3 is a draw according to
Dvoretsky.) 39...Rd1+ 40.Kg2 Ra1
41.a5 Ra3 42.Kf1 Ra2 43.Ke1 Kf6
44.Kd1 Rxf2 45.Kc1 Ke6 (45...Rf3
46.Kb2 Rxg3 47.a6) 46.Kb1 Kd6
47.Rc3 Rf5 48.Ra3 Kc7
38...Rd1+ 39.Kg2 Ra1 40.g4!
This typical move renders Black’s
pawn structure very problematic.
40...Kf6 41.Kg3
41.g5+ hxg5 42.hxg5+ Ke6 43.Kg3 Ra2
44.f3 Ra1 45.Kf4 Kd6 46.Ke4 (46.Ra7
Ke6 47.Ke4 Re1+ 48.Kd4 Rd1+ 49.Kc4
Rc1+ 50.Kb5 Rb1+ 51.Ka6 Rf1)
46...Re1+ 47.Kd4 Rd1+ 48.Kc3 Rf1
49.Ra6+ Kc5 50.Rf6 Rg1 51.f4 Rg3+
Rg2+ 55.Kd3 Ra2 56.Ra6 Rf2 (56...Kd5
57.Ra5+ Ke6 58.Kc4) 57.Ke3 Ra2
58.Ra7 Kd5 59.Rxf7 Rxa4 60.Kf3 with
the idea that the king will come to g4,
the rook to f6, and then White will play
f4–f5, when Black’s rook will be forced
to stay on g8.
41...Rc1 42.Rb5 g5 43.Rf5+ Kg6
44.h5+ Kg7 45.a5
The white rook is ideally placed on f5,
supporting both a5 and f2 while safely
protected from harassment. Of course,
Black offered a lot of ‘help’, as he
refrained from the (fundamental)
move ...h5 on several occasions,
practically giving away the half point
that his position merited.
45...Ra1?!
Black should have continued with
45...Rc4. After this move White has to
try to find the best move out of a few
options 46.f3!
a) Leko’s recommendation was
probably not winning: 46.Kf3 Ra4
47.Ke3 Rxg4 48.Kd3 Ra4 49.Kc3 f6
50.Kb3 Ra1 51.Kb4 Kf7 52.Kb5 Ke6 And of course not 46.f3? Ra2! with a
53.Rc5 Kd7! (53...Ra2? 54.a6 Rxf2 draw. White now wins easily, as Black
55.a7 Ra2 56.Rc6+ Kf5 57.Ra6+–) is unable to dent White’s pawn
54.a6 (54.Rd5+ Kc7 55.Rf5 Rb1+ structure.
56.Ka6 Rh1 57.Rxf6 Rxh5 58.Rf7+
Kc6=) 54...Rb1+ 55.Ka5 Ra1+ 56.Kb6 46...Re1
Rb1+ 57.Ka7 Rb2=;
46...Ra4 47.f3 Ra2+ 48.Kf1 Kf8 49.Ke1
b) 46.f4 Rc3+! 47.Kf2 gxf4 48.Rxf4 Ra3
Ke7 50.Kd1 Ke6 51.Kc1.
49.Rf5 f6 50.Rb5 (50.Ke2 Kf7 51.Kd2
Ke6 52.Kc2 Rg3=) 50...Kf7 51.Rb7+ 47.f3 Re6 48.Kf2 Kf8 49.Rb5 Kg7
Ke6 52.Rb6+ Ke5 53.a6 Kf4! 54.Rxf6+
Kxg4 55.Rxh6 Kg5 56.Rb6 Kxh5 49...Ke7 50.Rb7+
57.Ke2 Kg5 58.Kd2 Kf5 59.Kc2 Ke5
60.Kb2 Ra5 61.Rh6 (61.Kb3 Kd5 50.Rf5
62.Kb4 Ra1 63.Rh6 Rb1+ 64.Ka5 Kc5=)
61...Kd4 62.Rh4+ (62.Kb3 Ra1=)
62...Kd3 63.Rh3+ Kc4 64.Ra3 Rb5+
65.Kc2 Rb8=;
46...Rc2! 47.f4 Rc3+ 48.Kf2 gxf4 (48...f6
49.Rb5 Ra3 50.f5+– Arizmendi)
49.Rxf4 Ra3 50.Rf5 f6 51.Rb5 Kf7
52.Ke2 Ke6 53.Rb6+ Ke5 54.a6 Kf4
55.Rxf6+ Kxg4 56.Rxh6 Kg5 57.Rb6
Kxh5 58.Kd2 Kg5 59.Kc2 Kf5 60.Kb2 50.Rb3 Ra6 51.Ra3 is another good
Ra5 61.Kb3 Ke5 62.Kb4 Ra1 63.Kc5 continuation.
with a classical and winning basic
position. 50...Kf8 51.Rc5 Kg7 52.Rb5 Kf8
53.Rb6 Re5 54.a6 Kg7 55.a7 Ra5
46.Kg2! 56.Rb7 Ra3 57.Ke2

The white pawn-structure has become

ideal and now the white king starts his
usual journey.

57...Kf6 58.Kd2 Ke6 59.Kc2 f6

60.Kb2 Ra4 61.Kb3 Ra1 62.Kb4 Kd6
63.Rh7 Ke5 64.Kb5 Ra2 65.Kb6

1–0
8 b) 7.Rb8 Kd6 (7...Kd5 8.b7 Kc6 9.Rc8+
A. Hollis
T. Florian
Corr. 1972
This game was published in English
magazines, claiming a forced win, but
Yuri Averbakh proved it is only a draw.
1.Kf1 Rb2 2.Ke1 Kf6 3.f3 Rb3 4.Kd2
Rxf3
The best defence here was 4...Ke6!!
5.Kc2 Rb5 6.Kc3 Rb1
7.g4!?
a) 7.Kc4 Rc1+ 8.Kb5 (8.Kb3 Rb1+
9.Ka2 Rb5 10.Ka3 Kd5 11.Ka4 Kc5
12.Rc7+ Kxb6 13.Rxf7 Rf5! 14.Rxf5
gxf5 15.Kb4 Kc6 16.Kc4 Kd6 17.Kd4
Ke6 with a draw because of mutual
zugzwang.) 8...Rb1+ 9.Kc6 Rc1+;
Kxb7 10.Rf8 Rg1 11.Rxf7+ Kc8=) 8.Kc4
Rb2 9.Rb7 (9.f4 Rb1 10.f5 gxf5 11.Rh8
f6! 12.Rh6 Ke6 13.Kc5 Rc1+ 14.Kb5
Rb1+ 15.Kc6 Rc1+ 16.Kb7 Rc3 17.Rxh5
Rxg3 18.Kc7 Rc3+ 19.Kb8 f4 (19...Rb3=)
20.Rb5 f3) 9...Ke6;
7...f6!
a) 7...Kd5 8.g5 (8.gxh5 gxh5 9.Rxf7
Rxb6 10.Rf5+ Ke6 11.Rxh5 Kf7=)
8...Ke6 9.f4 Kd5 (9...f6 10.Rg7+–)
10.Rxf7 Rxb6 11.f5 gxf5 12.Rxf5+ Ke4
13.Rf6 Rb1 14.Rh6 Kf5 15.Rxh5+–;
b) 7...hxg4? 8.fxg4 f5 9.h5! gxh5 10.Kc2!
Rb4 11.gxh5+–;
8.Kc4 (8.gxh5 gxh5 9.Kc4 Rc1+ 10.Kd3
Rd1+ 11.Ke3 Rb1 12.Kf4 Rb4+ 13.Kg3
Kf5=) 8...hxg4 9.fxg4 f5 10.h5 gxh5
11.gxh5 f4! 12.Kd3 Rb3+ 13.Ke2 Kd5
14.Rd7+ Ke6 15.Rg7 Kf6 16.Rg8 Kf7
17.Rb8 Kg7 18.Kf2 Kh7 19.b7
5.Kc2
Also possible was the typical 5.Rc7
Rb3 6.b7 Kf5 7.Kc2 Rb6 8.Rxf7+ (8.Kc3
f6 9.Rc5+ Ke6!=) 8...Kg4 9.Rg7 Kf5
10.Kc3 Kf6 11.Rc7 Ke6 12.Kc4 Kd6
13.Rg7+–
5...Rf5? This attack of the pawns is just in time.

This was a really critical position, but 16...g5

there were too many options:
5...Rf2+ 6.Kb3 Rf3+ 7.Kc4 Rxg3 8.Rc7 The same position from the classic
Rg1 9.Rc5! winning. ending between Bronstein and
Yusupov & Dolmatov analyse; 5...Rxg3 Romanishin would be seen after
6.Rc7 Rg2+ (6...Rg4 7.Kb3) 7.Kb3 Rg1 16...Kxg3 17.Rxf6 Kxh4 18.Rxg6 Kh3
8.Kb2 Rg2+ 9.Rc2 Rg4 10.Rc3 Rxh4 19.Kc7 Rxb7+ 20.Kxb7 h4 21.Kc6 Kh2
(10...Rg2+ 11.Ka3 Rg1 12.b7 Rb1 22.Kd5 h3 23.Ke4 Kh1 24.Kf3 Kh2
13.Rb3) 11.Ka3 Re4 12.b7 Re8 13.Rc8 25.Rg3
Re3+ 14.Kb2 Re2+ 15.Kc3 Re3+
17.Rxf6 gxh4 18.gxh4 Kxh4
16.Kd2 Rb3 17.b8=Q Rxb8 18.Rxb8
Kf5 19.Ke3 Kg4 20.Kf2 and this version
is lost;
But the best was 5...Re3! 6.Rc7 Re8
7.b7 Rb8 8.Kd3 Kf5 9.Ke3 (9.Rxf7+
Kg4=) 9...f6 10.Kf3 g5 11.Rh7 Kg6
12.Re7 Kf5=

6.Rc7 Rb5 7.b7 Ke6 8.Kc3 f6 9.Kc4

Rb1 10.Kc5 Kf5

19.Rg6!

The same position via a different route!

19...Kh3 20.Kc7 Rxb7+ 21.Kxb7 h4

22.Kc6 Kh2 23.Kd5 h3 24.Ke4 Kh1
25.Kf3 h2 26.Ra6

1–0

11.Rd7! 9
W. So
Stopping the king’s activity 11...Kg4 R. van Kampen
12.Rd4+ Kxg3 13.Rb4 Hoogeveen 2013

11...Rc1+ 12.Kd6 Rb1 13.Kc7 Rc1+

14.Kd8 Rb1 15.Kc8 Kg4 16.Rd6!

35.Kf3
It makes no difference for White
whether he starts by pushing the a-
pawn or if he walks out with his king.
35...Kg6
Black tries to activate his king.
36.a4 Ra2
The black rook is ready to give checks.
37.a5 h6?
This is already nothing other than
waiting for death...
37...Ra3+ was Black’s only chance; he
needs to start attacking the white
pawns. 38.Kg2 The simplest way to
win the game, making use of Black’s
very bad pawn structure. (38.Ke4 Ra2
39.Ke3 Winning half a tempo.
39...Ra3+ 40.Kd4 Ra2 41.a6 Rxf2 and
White’s position should be winning,
but it may all just be a question of one
tempo, which is of course quite
unpleasant for White who has a
technically-winning position. 42.Rc7
Rxh2 Black takes the second pawn as
he doesn’t really have a choice. 43.a7
Ra2 44.Kc5 Kg5 45.Kb6 Kg4 And as we
see, we really need to count this
position, which is of course very hard
to do during a practical game. 46.Rc5
Rxa7 47.Kxa7 Kxg3 48.Kb6 f5 49.Rxf5
Kg4 50.Rxf7 h5 51.Kc5 h4 52.Kd4 h3
53.Ke3 Kg3 54.Rg7+) 38...h5 39.Ra8
Kg7 40.a6 Kh7 41.Kh3 Ra4 42.f4 Ra2
43.a7 Kg7 44.f5 Kh7 45.g4 hxg4+
46.Kxg4 White is easily winning and
the plan is to bring the pawn to h6,
forcing the black king to keep his
position on h7, and after bringing the
white king to e7, to take the f7-pawn.
46...Ra4+ 47.Kf3 Kg7 48.h4 Kh7 49.h5
Kg7 50.h6+ Kh7 51.Ke3 Ra6 52.Kd4
Ra5 53.Kc4 Ra1 54.Kb5 Ra2 55.Kb6
Rb2+ 56.Kc7 Ra2 57.Kd6 Ra1 58.Ke7
Ra6 59.Kxf7
38.a6 Kf5 39.Ra8
White succeeds with his plan. Now the
movement of his king to the a-pawn is
deadly because he is so many tempi up.
39...Kg6
Black was afraid of a7 when the black
king would be cut from moving
anywhere other than the f5-square
because of the check on the 8th rank.
40.Ke4
White begins the final stage of his plan.
40...Kg7
41.Kd5
It is of course important not to put the
pawn on a7, after which Black would
be able to hold the position by giving
checks to the white king. The a7 square
is a very important ‘safe house’!
41...Rxf2
Winning one pawn is not enough to
hold the draw.
42.Rb8 Ra2 43.Rb6
Followed by Kc6–Kb7. Nice technique
by White, but Black made it too easy...
43...Rxh2 44.Kc6 Ra2 45.Kb7 Kg6
46.a7 1–0
10
Z. Kozul
Z. Ribli
Slovenia 2002
Here Black’s pawn structure is again a
bit damaged, but there was a tactical
way to eliminate this...
1...Kh7?
1...h5! 2.gxh5 (2.g5 h4=) 2...Ra5 3.a7
Ra3 4.h6+ Kh7 5.Kf1 Ra2 6.Ke1 (6.f4 f6
7.Ke1 e5 8.fxe5 fxe5=) 6...e5 7.Kd1 e4
8.Kc1 f5 9.Kb1 Ra5 10.Kb2 f4 … e3=
1...Kh7? 2.h4 Kg7
Here the same manoeuvre was once
again possible: 2...h5 3.g5 Ra4 4.a7 and
when the white king comes to e7 his
Black counterpart is on g7. It seems
that there is no win here.
3.h5! Ra4 4.f3 Ra2+ 5.Kf1 Kf6 6.a7
Kg7
Immediately losing was 6...Ke5 7.g5!
hxg5 8.h6+–
7.Ke1 Ra6 8.Ke2 Ra3 9.Kd2
 A very interesting position could have
9...Kf6 occurred in this game, one which
appears to be simple, but actually
The attempt 9...f5 only creates a
contains a few instructive moments.
serious weakness after 10.gxf5 exf5
11.f4 Kh7 12.Kc2 Kg7 13.Kb2 Ra6 1...h5!
14.Kb3 Ra1 15.Kb4 Kh7 16.Kb5 Kg7
17.Kc6 Ra2 18.Kd6 Ra4 19.Ke6 Ra5 1...hxg5? 2.hxg5 I said this was a draw,
20.Rd8! (20.Re8 Ra6+ 21.Kxf5 Rxa7=) but Maxime correctly refuted me:
20...Rxa7 (20...Ra6+ 21.Rd6+–) 2...Kh7 3.Kd3 Kg7 4.Kc3 Ra1 5.Kc4
21.Rd7++– Rxd7 22.Kxd7 Kf6 23.Kd6 Ra4+ 6.Kd5 Ra5+ 7.Kd6 Kh7 8.Ke7
winning the f5-pawn. (8.g6+? fxg6 9.Ke6 Kg7 is a draw.)
8...Kg7 9.Kd7 Ra6 (9...Kh7 10.Kd6 Kg7
10.g5+! Kg7 and we’re back to the main line.)
10.Kc7 Ra1 11.Kd6 Ra5 12.g6!! f6
10...hxg5 11.h6+–
(12...fxg6 13.Ke6 Black is in zugzwang.
11.f4! Ra2+ 12.Kc3 Ra1 13.Kd4 Ra5 13...g5 14.Kf5 g4 15.Kxg4 Kh7 16.Kg5
14.Kc4 Ra2 15.Kb5 Rb2+ 16.Kc6 Kg7 17.Kf5 Kh7 18.Kf6) 13.Ke6 Ra1
Ra2 17.Kd7 Ra4 18.Ke7 Kh7 19.Rf8! 14.Rd8! Rxa7 15.Kf5 Rb7 16.Rd6 and
Rxa7+ 20.Kf6 White will soon collect both black
pawns.
1–0
1...h5! 2.Kd3 Ra1 3.Kc4 Ra2 4.Kd5
11 Ra5+ 5.Kd6 Kh7 6.Ke7
M. Vachier-Lagrave
6.Re8 Rxa7 7.Re7 Ra6+ 8.Kxe5 Kg7
J. Polgar
9.Kf5 Ra1=
Hoogeveen 2011

6...Kg7 7.g6 fxg6 8.Ke6

 seems that Black has an easy draw:
44.Rf7 Kg5 45.Rg7 White is trying to
win some tempi, but loses the f5-pawn.
45...Re2+ 46.Kd5 Kxf5 47.a7 Ra2
48.Kc6 g5 49.Kb7 Kf4 and Black is
clearly in time to make a draw.)
43...Kxg6 44.Ra8 might be White’s best
chance. (44.Ke4 Rxg2 Now, in
comparison to the game, the f-pawn
can start advancing. 45.Rc7 Ra2 46.a7
8...g5!
f5+ and the f-pawn starts to run.
And with the passed pawn, Black has a 47.Kd5 f4 48.Kc6 f3 49.Kb7 f2 50.Rc1
draw. Rb2+ with an easy draw.)

1/2–1/2

12
D. Harika
A. Kosteniuk
Sochi 2015

44...Kf5! It is very important for Black

42...Ra4?
The first move in the wrong direction:
Black should not have chosen a passive
strategy.
42...g6! would have been the correct
way to act; Black needs her king to
become more active. 43.fxg6 (In case
White were to try 43.Ke4 Rxg2 it
to activate his king. 45.Ke3 White’s
only chance is to run to the a-pawn and
hope she is fast enough. (45.a7 leads to
a dead-drawn position. 45...Ra3+
46.Ke2 Kf4 47.Kd2 f5 Now White’s
only hope is to run with his king to h5.
48.Kc2 Ra1 49.Kb3 Ra5 50.Kb4 Ra1
51.Kb5 Rb1+ 52.Kc6 Ra1 53.Kd6 Ra6+
54.Ke7 Ra5 55.Kf6 Ra6+ 56.Kg7 and
just when the white king crosses the g-
file, the black king can enter the h2-
square. 56...Kg3 57.Kh7 Kh2 and once
again the position is a dead draw.)
45...Rxg2 46.Kd4 Rg3 Black wants to
collect the h-pawn, so White is forced
to change the place of her rook. 47.Rc8
Ra3 48.Rc6 Kf4 and the black king is
going for the h3 pawn. 49.Kc5 Rxh3
50.Rxf6+ Kg5 with an immediate draw.
42...Ra4? 43.Ke3!
The white king starts marching in the
direction of the a-pawn.
43...Ra2?!
Again not the best. Once more, the
right move was 43...g6
44.Kd4!
Harika shows no mercy! Black is now
in big danger; White’s plan of playing
Ra8 and getting the king to b5 is
becoming a reality.
44...Rxg2?!
This is the losing move as now White is
in time to win the game.
Let us take a look at what would
happen in case Black was to continue
waiting...it would lead to crazy
complications!
44...Ra1 45.Kc5 Ra2 (45...Rc1+ is
basically the same as 45...Ra2, except
that Black’s rook on the 1st rank is in a
worse position. 46.Kd5 Rd1+ 47.Kc6
Rc1+ 48.Kb7 Rb1+ 49.Kc8! Ra1 50.Ra8
Another important move! Now the
white king is going to hide on a7.
50...Kg5 51.Kb7 Rb1+ 52.Ka7 Kxf5
Black wins the f5-pawn but it is too late.
53.Rb8 followed by Rb2–Kb6–a7 and
White is easily winning.) 46.Kb6 Rb2+
47.Kc7 Rc2+ 48.Kb8 (Running to g8
leads to nothing more than a draw:
48.Kd8 Ra2 49.Ke8 Ra1 50.Kf8 Ra3
51.Kg8 Ra1 White can’t improve her
position any more, so the g7-pawn
must be taken. 52.Rxg7 Rxa6 53.Rg6+
Kh5 54.Kg7 White is going for the f6-
pawn, but Black has a very nice
drawing idea: 54...Ra7+ 55.Kxf6 Ra6+
56.Kg7 Ra7+ 57.Kg8 Ra8+ 58.Kh7
White is 2 pawns up and Black seems
to be lost — but no!
58...Rh8+!! 59.Kxh8 with stalemate!)
48...Ra2 49.Ra8 Kg5 Now Black collects
both the f5- and g2-pawns. 50.Kb7
Rb2+ 51.Ka7 Kxf5 52.Rb8 Rxg2 It
seems like White should be winning
somehow, but...how?! 53.Rb4 Cutting
the black king. (53.Rb5+ Kf4 54.Rb4+ ...and White has all the time in the
Kf3 and it is unclear how White can world.
win this position.) 53...Ra2 54.Kb6 g5
55.a7 Black’s position is on the verge, 48...Kf4
but maybe things just work out for her.
55...Ke6! A very important move!
White wanted to play Rb5+ and Ra5
and it is also important for Black to
keep her king as central as possible to
give the white king a ‘shoulder block’.

49.Rg4+!

Another accurate move! White ensures

the capture of the h4-pawn and can
thus be 100% sure of winning the
56.Rb5 (56.Rc4 f5 57.Rc6+ Kf7 58.Rc5 game.
Rxa7 59.Kxa7 Kf6 60.Kb6 g4 seems to
be a draw as well.) 56...Rxa7 57.Kxa7 f5 49...Ke3 50.Kb6 f5
58.Kb6 g4 59.Kc5 and Black needs to
50...Rb2+ 51.Ka5 Ra2+ 52.Ra4 and it is
find the only defence: 59...Ke5!
over.
preventing the white king from
reaching the f2-square. The position is
51.Rxh4 Kf3 52.Rh8
a draw.
Now of course it is too simple to mess
45.Rc7
up...

Now Black is lost...

52...Kg3 53.a8=Q Rxa8 54.Rxa8
Kxh3 55.Rf8
45...Ra2 46.a7

and the white king is easily in time to

The problem is that the black king is
still passive on h6!
46...Kg5 47.Rxg7+ Kxf5 48.Kc5
come back to e3 and stop the f-pawn.
We can conclude that from the
beginning the position should be a
draw, but Black has to play actively —
and although later on the position
might still be a draw, from a practical
point of view it is closer to lost.
1–0
13
Z. Kozul
P. Nikolic
Sarajevo 1998
Here White can try to weaken the
pawns on the kingside.
29.g4 Ra3 30.h3 Ra2 31.Ra8 Kg6
32.Ra7 Kf6 33.a5 Kg6 34.a6 Kf6
An alternative defence seems to be
better: 34...h5 35.gxh5+ Kxh5 36.Ra8
Kg6 37.Ke4 Kf6 38.a7 Ra4+ 39.Kd3 Kf5
40.f3 Kf6 (40...f6 41.Kc3 and the king
comes to g7, then Rf8 and after ...Ra7
there follows Rf7. After the rook swap,
the pawn endgame is winning for
White.) 41.f4 gxf4 42.exf4 Kg7 43.h4
Kh7 The pawn comes to h6 and the
king to e7.
35.Ra8 Ke5 36.Ra7 Kf6 37.Kg2 Kg6
38.Kg3 Kg7 39.Ra8 Kf6 40.Kg2 Ke5
41.Kg3 Kf6 42.a7 Ke5 43.f3
43...Ra3
As White’s king is cut, better was to
return with 43...Kf6
44.Kf2 Ra2+ 45.Ke1
As usual in such endings, it is
necessary to go around.
45...Kf6
A very nice line was given by Zdenko
Kozul: 45...Ra6 46.Kd2 (46.f4+ gxf4
47.exf4+ Kxf4 48.h4 Ke3 49.Kd1 e5
(49...f6) ) 46...Ra3 47.f4+? gxf4
(47...Ke4!) 48.exf4+ Kxf4 (48...Ke4
49.g5 h5 50.f5 Kxf5 51.g6 Kf6 52.gxf7
Kxf7 53.Rh8+–) 49.h4 e5 50.g5! hxg5
(50...h5 51.g6 fxg6 52.Rf8+ Kg4
53.a8=Q Rxa8 54.Rxa8 Kxh4 55.Ke3 g5
56.Re8+–) 51.h5+– e4 52.h6 e3+
53.Ke2 (53.Kc2 e2) 53...Ra2+ 54.Ke1
(But here Kozul ovelooked a drawing
line: 54.Kd3 e2 55.Re8 Rxa7 56.h7)
54...Kf3–+
46.f4 Ra3
It is illogical to increase the power of
the opponent’s pawn formation with
46...gxf4 47.exf4±;
The best chance for a draw was
promised by 46...Ke7 47.fxg5 hxg5
48.Kf1 Kf6
47.Kd2 Ra2+
Here it was still not too late to return
to the safe haven with 47...Ke7
48.Kc3 Ra3+ 49.Kc4 Ra4+ 50.Kc5
A more complicated way was 50.Kb5
Ra1 51.Kb6 Rb1+ 52.Kc7 Ra1 53.Kd7
Ra3 54.Ke8 Kg7 55.Ke7 Ra5 56.f5 exf5
57.gxf5 f6
50...Ra1 51.Kc6 Ra2
Better was 51...Rc1+
52.Kc5 Ra6
52...Ra5+? 53.Kb6+–
53.Kd4 Ra4+ 54.Kd3 Ra3+ 55.Ke2±
Ra5
Kozul gave a long winning line after
55...Kg7 56.f5!
56...exf5 (56...e5 57.e4? (57.Kd2 Kf6
58.Kc2 Ke7 59.Kb2 Ra6 60.Kb3 Ra1
61.Kc4 Ra2 (61...Rc1+ 62.Kd5) 62.Kd5
Ra5+ 63.Kc6 Ra1 64.Rc8 Rxa7 65.Rc7+
Rxc7+ 66.Kxc7+–) 57...Kf6! This plan
leads in reality to a draw.
a) 57...Kh7 58.f6;
b) 57...f6 58.Kd2 Kh7 59.Kc2 Kg7
60.Kb2 Ra6 61.Kb3 Kh7 62.Kb4 Kg7
63.Kb5 Ra1 64.Kb6 Rb1+ 65.Kc6 Rc1+
66.Kd6 Ra1 67.Ke6 Ra6+ 68.Ke7 Ra4
69.Rd8 Rxa7+ 70.Rd7 Ra6 71.Rd6 Ra4
(71...Ra7+ 72.Ke6) 72.Ke6 Rxe4
(72...h5 73.Rd7+ Kh6 74.Kxf6 hxg4
75.hxg4 Rxe4 76.Rd8 Kh7 77.Kxg5+–)
73.Rd7+ Kg8 74.Kxf6+–;
58.Kd2 Ra4 59.Ke3 Ra3+ 60.Kd2 Ra4
61.Kd3 Rd4+ 62.Kc3 Ra4 63.Kb3 Ra1
64.Kc4 Ke7! not allowing White’s king
to come to e8. 65.Kc5 Rc1+ 66.Kd5
Rd1+ 67.Kc6 (67.Kxe5 f6#) 67...Rc1+)
57.gxf5 h5 58.e4 Ra2+! 59.Ke3 Ra3+
60.Kd4 g4= Black has good drawing
chances.
56.Rh8 Rxa7 57.Rxh6+ Kg7 58.fxg5
Ra2+ 59.Kf3 Ra5 60.h4 Rb5 61.Rf6
Ra5
and Black resigned, as there is no 38...gxf3 39.Kxf3 Rb5 40.Rc3 a5
defence against Kf4 and h4–h5–h6. 41.Rc6 a4 42.Ra6 Rb3+ 43.Kf4 Rb4
44.Ra7 Kg6 45.Ra6 Rc4 46.Rb6 Rc1!
1–0
Now Black reaches a position with his
14 rook in the front of the pawn
Y. S. Razuvaev
A. G. Beliavsky 47.Ra6 Ra1 48.Ra8 a3
USSR 1977

Now let us see a few more endgames 49.Rg8+

with four pawns each on one flank.
35.Kf3 h5
A similar strategy as in all such
examples — trying to get the best
structure for the pawns.
36.h4
Also possible was to stop the rook from
defending laterally: 36.Rb8+ Kg7
37.Ra8
36...g4+! 37.Kf4 Kg7 38.f3
A logical approach, exchanging as
many pawns as possible.
The other setup does not promise a
draw either: 49.Kf3 a2 (49...f5) 50.Kg2
f5! (50...Kf6 51.Ra5 e5 and the black
king comes to e3 with the white rook
on a4. Black cannot then transfer to a
pawn endgame after Rd1 and check on
d2, because White will have a great
chance with g3–g4 to create a passed
pawn. The best would be to exchange
the pawns e4 for a2, still keeping good
winning chances. The king comes to d4,
the white rook will be on a4, and then
follows ...Kc3. Something like this.
51.e5 Kf7 52.Ra7+ Ke8 53.Ra8+ Kd7
54.Ra7+ Kc6 55.Ra6+ Kd5 56.Ra5+
Kd4 57.Kh2 Kc3 58.Ra7 Rd1 59.Rxa2
Rd2+ 60.Rxd2 Kxd2 61.Kg2 Ke3

49...Kh6! 50.Rh8+ Kg7 51.Ra8 Kf6

 A very logical decision over the board,
but it seems like the passive defence
played in the game Vachier-Lagrave —
Polgar leads to a complicated draw.
Trying to exchange the h-pawn is of
course a good idea in general, but here
it is refuted.

40.gxh5!

52.e5+ White’s chances are of course minimal

An easy, but long, win is seen after
52.Kf3 a2 53.Kg2 Ke5 54.Ra4 f5
55.exf5 Kxf5 56.Ra6 e5 57.Ra5 Ke6
58.Ra6+ Kd7 59.Ra7+ Kc6 60.g4 e4
61.gxh5 e3 62.Kf3 Rf1+ 63.Kxe3 a1=Q
64.Rxa1 Rxa1 65.Kf4 Kd6 66.h6 Ke7
67.h7 Ra8–+
52...Kg6 53.Rg8+ Kh7 54.Ra8 a2
55.Kg5 Rf1!
after 40.a5 hxg4 41.hxg4 Ra4
40...Kh6 41.Rh8+ Kg7 42.Ra8 Kh6
43.Ra7!
White is provoking weaknesses in his
opponent’s camp. When the black f-
pawn moves, it is enough to put the
rook on a8 and the pawn a7 and to
collect Black’s pawns with the king.

0–1

15
F. Vallejo Pons
G. Sargissian
Melilla 2011

After 43.a5 Kxh5 44.a6 Kg6 Black

manages to draw quite easily, for
example: 45.a7 This move needs to be
played sooner or later. 45...Kf6 46.Kf3
Ra2 47.Ke4 Ra1 48.Kd4 Ra2 49.Kc5
Kg7 (49...e5 The retreat can be delayed
until White’s king arrives on e8 and if
Black stands on f6 with the king and
puts a pawn on e5, it is a draw. The
39...h5?!
easiest draw is the main line.) 50.Kd6 The pawn has to advance and try to
Ra6+ 51.Ke7 Ra5 52.e4 The last try, lock White’s king in.
otherwise we would reach a 44...Kxh5 45.a6 Kg6 46.Ra8 Kg7 47.a7
theoretically-drawn endgame with the Kh7
a- and h-pawns. (52.f3 Ra6 53.f4 gxf4
54.exf4 f6 55.h4 e5=; 52.f4 gxf4 53.exf4
e5!=) 52...e5! Black cannot allow the
white e-pawn to the 5th rank: (52...Ra4?
53.e5 Now it is easy: White’s king is
back and after f4 gxf4 is forced and
then the pawn goes to h6 and the king
collects the f4, f7 and e6-pawns thanks
to zugzwang. 53...Ra2 54.Kd6 Ra1
48.f4 is an easy win, as Black will be in
55.Kc5 Ra2 56.Kd4 Ra1 57.Ke3 Ra2
zugzwang when White’s h-pawn
58.Kf3 Ra4 59.Kg3 Kh7 60.f4 gxf4+
reaches h6.
61.Kf3 Kg7 62.h4 Kh7 63.h5 Kg7
64.h6+ Kh7 65.Kg4 The zugzwang
45.a6 Kxh5 46.Ra8 Kg6 47.a7 Kg7
starts!) 53.Kd6 Kh7 54.Kc6 (54.Re8
Rxa7 55.Re7 Ra6+ 56.Kxe5 Kg6=)
54...Ra1 55.Kd5 Ra5+ 56.Kc4 There is
nothing to take, so White tries his luck
on the other side of the board. 56...Ra1
57.Kd3 Ra2 58.Ke3 Ra3+ 59.Ke2 Kg7
60.Kf1 Kh7 61.Kg2 Kg7 62.f3 Ra1
63.Kg3 Rg1+ 64.Kh2 Ra1 65.h4 gxh4
66.Kh3 Kf6 67.Kxh4 Ra4 White can
exchange one more pawn, but there is
nothing he can do to win.
48.f3??
43...f5
The wrong way to transfer the king, as
Other tries lose right away: with the weakening of White’s pawn
43...Kxh5 44.Rxf7 Rxa4 45.Rf6 Ra6 chain Black gains chances to create a
46.Kf3+–; passed pawn.
43...e5 44.Rxf7 Rxa4 45.Rf5 e4 46.h4+– 48.Kf3! was the right move. 48...Ra2
(48...e4+ 49.Ke2 Ra2+ 50.Kd1 is also an
44.a5 e5 easy win.) 49.e4 Ra3+ 50.Ke2 fxe4
51.Kd2+– and soon the king will collect
the pawns.
48...Ra2+!
Black needs to check because White is
threatening to play e3–e4 with a trivial
win.
49.Kf1 Ra1+ 50.Ke2 Ra2+ 51.Ke1
Ra1+ 52.Kd2 Ra2+
53.Kd1
Going to the c-file allows Black’s break:
53.Kc3 e4! 54.fxe4 f4! (54...g4 55.exf5
g3 56.Rb8±) 55.exf4 (55.Kb3 Ra1
56.Kb2 Ra4 57.Kc2 (57.exf4 gxf4
58.Kc2 f3 59.Kd2 f2 60.Ke2 Rxe4+
61.Kxf2 Ra4=) 57...f3 58.Kd2 Ra1=)
55...gxf4 56.Kb3 Ra1 57.Kb2 Ra4! It is
very important to attack the e-pawn.
58.Kc2 f3 59.Kd2 f2 60.Ke2 Rxe4+
61.Kxf2 Ra4 and Black reaches a rare
position where he has a draw although
he is two pawns down.
53...Ra1+ 54.Ke2
54.Kc2 e4 55.fxe4 (55.Kb2 Ra4 56.fxe4
f4) 55...g4! (55...f4 56.exf4 gxf4
57.Kd2+–) 56.Kb2 White’s king is now
very far from his pawns. 56...Ra5
57.exf5 g3 58.Rd8 Rxa7 59.Rd6 Kh7
60.Rd2 Re7=
54...Ra2+ 55.Kf1 Ra1+ 56.Kg2 Ra2+
57.Kg1 Ra1+ 58.Kh2 Ra2+ 59.Kg3
59...Ra3!
Black continues to prevent e3–e4.
60.h4
The last valid break.
60...f4+! 61.Kg2
61.exf4 gxh4+ 62.Kxh4 (62.Kg4 exf4
63.Kxf4 Ra4+ 64.Ke3 Ra2 65.Kf4 Ra4+)
62...exf4 63.Kg5 Ra4 64.Kf5 Kh7 65.Kf6
Ra3 There is no zugzwang, so the
position is drawn.
61...fxe3 62.hxg5 e2 63.Kf2 Rxf3+
64.Kxf3
64.Kxe2 Ra3 White wins the e-pawn
but he cannot make further progress.
64...e1=Q 65.Rg8+ Kxg8 66.a8=Q+
Kg7 67.Qb7+ Kg6 68.Qe4+ Qxe4+
69.Kxe4 Kxg5 70.Kxe5
1/2–1/2
16
K. Chernyshov
R. Sadhouani
Maribor 1972
White has to arrange the structure on
the kingside very carefully...
30.h3 h5 31.Rb7 Kg6 32.Ke3 Rb1
33.Rb4 f6 34.Kf3 Rb2 35.Rb8 Kf5
36.Rb5+ Kg6 37.Rb6 Kf7
Perhaps a bit more accurate was
37...Kf5 38.g4+ hxg4+ 39.hxg4+ Kg6
38.b4 Rb3+ 39.e3 Rb2 40.Rb7+ Kg6
41.g4 h4
A more active approach was called for
here 41...hxg4+ 42.hxg4 f5 43.gxf5+
exf5
42.e4 Rb3+ 43.Kg2 Rb1 44.Rb8 Kg7
45.b5 e5 46.b6 Rb3
47.b7?!
The usual plan in such situations is to
delay placing the pawn on the seventh
rank: 47.f3 Rb2+ 48.Kf1 Kh7 49.Ke1
Kg7 (49...Rb3 50.Kd2 Rxf3 51.Kc2 Rf2+
52.Kc3 Rf1 53.Rb7+ Kg6 54.Rd7 Rb1
55.b7) 50.Kd1 Kf7! (50...Rb3? 51.Kc2
Rxf3 52.b7) 51.Kc1 Rb4 52.Kc2 Ke7
53.Kc3 Rb1 54.b7 Kd7 55.Rf8 Rxb7
56.Rf7+ Kc8 57.Rxf6 (57.Rxb7 Kxb7
58.Kc4 Kc6=) 57...Rc7+ 58.Kd3 Rd7+
59.Kc4 (59.Ke3 Ra7 60.Rf5 Ra3+
61.Ke2 Ra2+ 62.Kd3 Kd7 63.Rxg5
Ra3+ 64.Kc4 Rxf3 65.Kd5 Rxh3
66.Kxe5 Ke8) 59...Rd4+ 60.Kc5 Kd7=
47...Kh7 48.Kf1 Rb4 49.f3 Kg7
50.Ke2 Rb3 51.Kd2 Rb6 52.Kd3 Rb4
53.Kc3 Rb1 54.Kc4 Rc1+ 55.Kd5
Rb1 56.Kd6 Rd1+ 57.Ke6 Rb1
58.Ke7 Rb2 59.Kd6 Rd2+ 60.Ke7
Rb2 61.Ke8 Rb1 62.Rd8
The pawn endgame is White’s last
chance, but it is still drawn.
62...Rxb7 63.Rd7+ Rxd7 64.Kxd7
 Black could keep a draw with the
simple opposition: 71...Kh8 72.Kb7
Kh7 73.Kc7 Kg7 74.Kd6 Kh6

72.Kb7 Kf7 73.Kb6!

This move destroys black hopes for

keeping the opposition.

73...Kg8
64...Kh7!
73...Kg6 74.Kc6 Kg7 75.Kc7!
Now various distant and short
oppositions are on the board. 74.Kc6 Kg7 75.Kc7!

Chernyshov decided on a typical

The same winning move, as above.
strategy in such cases; to play some
random moves with the king and then 75...Kh7 76.Kd7 Kh6 77.Ke8 Kg7
return to the starting position of the 78.Ke7 Kg6 79.Kf8
pawn ending. The opponent can
sometimes miss the correct opposition 1–0
in such cases.

65.Kd6 Kh6 66.Kc5 Kg7 67.Kb6 Kh6

68.Kb5 Kh7 69.Ka6 Kg6 70.Ka7 Kg7 The rook in front of the
71.Kb8 pawn
The most complicated position for the
rook, but there still exist quite serious
winning chances. Sometimes it is
useful and possible to change the
position of the rook. A great example of
such technique is seen in Karpov’s
game.

1
A. Mista
71...Kf8??
V. Erdos
Bundesliga 2015

57.Kc2!
Mista starts with the right move. White
needs to bring his king to d3, as on b3
he is just badly placed.
57...Rh6
Black can’t do much, so he needs to just
mark time.
58.Kd3 Kf5?
Black allows White a nice trick.
The best chance for Black was to
continue waiting on the h-file. 58...Rh8
Now White has several ideas, but
probably the most logical one is to try
the same approach as in the game, as
other plans — like bringing the king to
g3 — don’t make much sense; Black
would put his rook on c8 and king on
f5, with good drawing chances. 59.c4
bxc4+ 60.Rxc4 and now it is very
important for Black not to miss the
chance to bring his rook to the h-file, to
attack the white pawn from behind.
60...Rd8+
a) No better is 60...Rg8 61.Rc5+ Kd6
and now White has the very strong
62.Rg5 (62.Ra5 Rg4 is just a draw.)
62...Rf8 63.h5 with very good winning
chances;
b) But it was necessary to divide the
functions of the king and rook in
defence: 60...Kd6! 61.Re4 (61.Rg4 Rh5
62.Ke4 a5 63.bxa5 Rxa5 64.Rf4 Ke6
65.Kf3 Rf5=) 61...Rh5 62.Ke3 a5
63.bxa5 Rxa5 64.Kf4 Kd7 65.Kg4 Ra8
66.Kf5 (66.h5 Re8=) 66...Re8=;
61.Kc2! preventing the black rook
from getting to the h-file via the d1
square. (61.Kc3? would probably lead
to a draw: 61...Rd1 62.h5 Rh1 63.Rc5+
Kd6 and the very active black rook
saves the game: 64.Ra5 Kc7 65.Kd3
Kb6 66.Rf5 Rh4 It seems as though
White can no longer win the game...
67.Kc3 Rh3+ 68.Kc4 Rh4+) 61...Rg8
and now White is just in time with
62.h5! with the idea of playing Rh4.
62...Rg2+ 63.Kb3 Rh2 It seems like the
position is close to a draw, but here
White has a very nice winning move:
64.Rc6! and Black can no longer
defend the position.
59.h5!
An excellent move, using the right
moment as Black cannot take on h5.
59...Kg5
Avoiding Rh4.
A rather easy calculation shows that
White is winning after 59...Rxh5?
60.Rd5+ Kg6 61.Rxh5 Kxh5 62.Kd4
Kg5 63.Kc5 Kf5 64.Kb6 Ke4 65.Kxa6
Kd3 66.Kxb5
60.Rd5+ Kf4 61.c4
Now the h5-pawn is saved and the
black king is cut off on the 4th rank, so
clearly c4 is the right move.
61...bxc4+
62.Kxc4
All White needs to do now is get his
king to a5, and Black can’t stop White
from realizing this.
62...Rc6+ 63.Kb3 Ke4 64.Rc5
Very safe play.
64...Rh6
Now White has 2 options...
65.Ka4!
This is the right choice, as there is no
need for White to think about the other
tempting idea...
65.Rc4+ Kd5 66.Rh4 Fixing the black
rook on h6 looks great, but in fact it is
not that useful right now. 66...Kd6
67.Kc4 Ke5 68.Kc5 Kf5 and the white
king cannot get to the a6-pawn
because the rook on h6 has the 6th
rank under control.
65...Kd4 66.Rg5 Kc4
Once again Mista shows great rook
endgame skills!
 Erdos made things a bit too easy for
White...

1–0

2
A. Giri
I. Nepomniachtchi
Beijing 2013

67.Rg6! Rxh5 68.Rxa6

Black can’t stop White from playing

Rc6 and b5, which means his position
is just lost.

68...Rh8 69.Rc6+ Kd5 70.b5

If Black had his king on d7 it would be

a draw, with the famous idea of
40...Kf6!
playing ...Rc8! winning the c-file, but
now that the king is on d5 Black’s Of course, Black doesn’t lose any time
position is just hopeless. and moves closer to the a-pawn with
his king.
70...Ra8+ 71.Kb4 Ra1 72.Rc2 Kd6
73.b6 Kd7 41.Kf4

White also needs to take some active

measures. The white king is heading
for the h5-pawn.

41...Ke6!

The only way for Black to play on. If he

instead got too greedy and played
41...Rg2? to protect the h-pawn, then
42.Ra6+! would cut off his king!
74.Kb5
42...Ke7 43.Kf5 This position is
probably already a draw. If the black
...followed by b7 and Kb6. What
excellent technique by Mista, even if
king walks to b7, White will be in time
to play Kf6 and Kxf7 with a draw.
42.Kg5
46.Ra7 was also losing as after 46...Kb3
47.Kh7 Rg1 and a1=Q next. Black is
winning.
46...Rxa2 47.Kg7

42...Rg2+! The position is very forcing, but Black

A very important move. In the case of
the careless 42...Kd5 White has 43.f4!
and he would have some drawing
chances by playing Kf6 next.
43.Kxh5 Kd5
The black king is coming closer to b4.
44.Kh6??
Correct was 44.f4 Kc4 45.f5 Kb4
46.Ra6 Kb3 47.Rb6+ Kc2 48.Rc6+ Kb1
49.Rb6+ Rb2 50.Ra6 a1=Q 51.Rxa1+
Kxa1 52.Kg5 Rb6 53.h5=
is in time to win the game with...
47...f5!!
A very strong final move. While the
rook is catching the h-pawn, Black goes
to e3 with his king and obtains a
winning pawn endgame. White
resigned as he saw no chances, but let’s
quickly take a look at one more line:
48.h6 Rh2 49.h7 Kc3 50.h8=Q Rxh8
51.Kxh8 Kd3 52.Kg7 Ke3 53.Kg6 f4
followed by ...Kxf3.
0–1

44...Kc4 45.h5
3
White tries to be in time and of course J. Smeets
he needs to push his h-pawn as far as M. Vachier-Lagrave
possible. Wijk aan Zee 2011

45...Kb4 46.Rxa2
 More practical was 46...f3 47.Rxb5+
Kg6 48.Ra5 Rd1 49.Ra6+ Kg5 50.Ra8 f2
51.Rg8+ Kh6 52.Rf8 f1=Q 53.Rxf1 Rxf1
54.Kc4 Kg6 55.Kc5 Kf6 which also wins.

47.Kb2??

It was necessary to perform the same

Some cases with equal pawns show the
terrific power of a passed pawn...
42...f4?
In such cases it is useful to firstly
introduce the check 42...Rg3+! 43.c3
f4!–+ (but not 43...bxa4+? 44.Kxa4
Rxc3 45.Rf6 Rc1 46.Kb3=)
trick: 47.Rf7+ Ke4 48.Re7+ Re5 49.Rc7
Ke3 50.Rc5 Re4 51.Rxb5 f3 52.Ra5 f2
53.Ra1 Rg4 54.Rf1 Ke2 55.Rh1 f1=Q
56.Rxf1 Kxf1 57.b5=
47...f3 48.c4 bxc4 49.Kc3 Ke4
50.Rh7 Rf5 51.Rh1 f2 52.Rf1 Kd5

42...f4? 43.axb5 axb5 44.Re7+

White misses his last chance to save

the game: 44.c4! Rg3+ 45.Kc2 bxc4
46.Re7+ Kd5 47.Rd7+ Ke5 (47...Kc6
48.Rd4) 48.Re7+ Kf5 49.Rc7 f3 50.Kd2 Now it is all very easy, as White’s rook
is so passive.
44...Kf5 45.Kc3 Rd6!
53.b5 Kc5 54.b6 Rf3+ 55.Kd2 Kxb6
A classical ‘cutting’ of the opponent’s
56.Ke2 Rf5 57.Rxf2 Rxf2+ 58.Kxf2
king.
Kc5 59.Ke3 Kb4 60.Kd2 Kb3 0–1
46.Rb7?

4
The only chance was 46.Rf7+ Rf6
J.L. Chabanon
(46...Kg4 47.Rg7+ Kh5 48.Rf7 Kg5
E. Bacrot
49.Rg7+ Kf6 50.Rg8) 47.Rb7 f3 48.Kd2
Nimes 2014
f2 49.Ke2 Ke4 50.Kf1 Rf5 51.Rc7 Kd4
52.c3+ Kd3 53.Rc5=

46...Rd5?
 44.Kf2

White has to stop Black from

playing ...Kh3.

44...Rxa3 45.Ra5

Of course the white rook belongs on a5.

45...Rf3+
White’s pawn structure is bad and the
black king is clearly more active than Black can’t win the game after
the white one, but of course, as we 45...Ra2+ 46.Kg1 g3 47.hxg3+ Kxg3
know, a lot of rook endgames are 48.Kf1 with an easy draw.
drawn with good defensive play.
46.Kg2 a3
41.Rf6+?
Black wants to play ...Rb3–Rb2 check
There was no reason to panic. Black and a2, so White needs to act.
should have calculated the line where
he keeps the c3-pawn more carefully. 47.Ra8
41.Kd3 Simply protecting the c3-pawn.
41...Rd5+ 42.Ke2 Re5+ 43.Kd2 Now This is probably White’s only chance.
Black can no longer improve the
47...Rc3 48.Rh8+
position of the rook, but there is still a
chance to go for the h2-pawn now. White is playing the only moves.
43...Kf3 44.Rf6+ Kg2 45.Rg6 Re4 This
position looks dangerous for White, 48...Kg5
but actually it is just a draw. 46.Rh6
Cool and safe. Black doesn’t have
enough resources to improve the
position, so it must be a draw.

41.Rf6+? Kg5

Now Black is going to be a pawn up.

42.Rb6 Rxc3 43.Rxb5+ Kh4

The pawn on a3 is falling: can White 49.Ra8

still save the draw?!
Black’s idea is clear; to run with the 51.Ra4+ Kf5 52.Ra5+ Ke4 53.Ra4+
king to b2 and to play ...a2, but White Kd5
will win the g4-pawn in the meantime.
The position remains quite tricky. Black’s idea is to keep the white king
on g2, cut off along the 3rd rank, which
49...Rd3 will make it easier for Black to stop the
white h-pawn.
This move also leads to a winning
position for Black, but he could already
have gone for a direct kill...
49...Kf5 The most logical move.
50.Ra5+ The simplest now. (50.Ra4
was losing immediately: 50...Rc2+
51.Kg3 a2 52.Ra5+ Ke4 and White is
never in time to win the g4-pawn
without losing the h2-pawn.) 50...Ke6
(50...Ke4 only leads to a draw: 51.Ra4+
54.Kf2
Kd3 52.Kg3! Kc2+ 53.Kxg4 Kb3
54.Rxa3+ Kxa3 55.h4 Kb4 56.h5 and
The position is lost, but White should
Black is not in time to come back with
have tried 54.Rxg4 as now Black needs
his king, so the position is a draw.)
to find a not so simple win: 54...Rd4!
51.Kf2 Kd6 52.Ke2 Kc6 53.Kd2 Rf3
(54...Kc5 was also winning. 55.Ra4 Kb5
54.Ra4 Kb5 with an easily winning
56.Ra8 Kb4 57.h4 and again Black
position for Black;
would need to find
49...Rc2+ wouldn’t lead to anything
after 50.Kg3 a2 because of 51.Ra5+ Kf6
52.Kxg4 Rxh2 53.Kf4 and the position
is a draw because the white king is
going to b3.

50.Ra7

50.Ra5+ loses to 50...Kh4 followed

by ...Rd2 and ...a2.
57...Rd4! A very hard move to make.
50...Kf4 (57...Kb3 58.h5 and the position is
already a draw!) 58.h5 Rh4 and Black
and Black decides that it is time to run is winning.) 55.Rg8 Kc4 56.Ra8 Kb3
with his king. 57.Kg3 a2 and Black is winning easily.
54...Kc5 55.Ke2 Kb5

Now everything is very simple.

56.Ra8 Rh3 57.Kd1

1...Ke8!?

A weaker approach is 1...h5 2.Rb7 Rc6

3.g4 Ke8 4.Rh7! Rc3+ 5.Kg2 hxg4 6.Rg7
Rc6 7.Kg3 Kd8 8.Kxg4 Kc8 9.Kg5 b5
10.Rxg6=
57...Kb4

...Rxh2 is the threat now. 1...Ke8!? 2.Rb7

58.Rg8 a2 It was also possible to start immediate

activity with 2.g4 h5 3.Rb7! Rc3+ 4.Kg2
All in all, nice technique by Bacrot —
Rc6 5.gxh5 gxh5 6.Rh7 Rc5 7.Kf3 Kd8
but of course it was a terrible mistake
8.Ke3 b5 9.Rb7! Kc8 10.Rh7 Kb8 …Ka8,
by White to give up the c3-pawn.
b4 (10...b4 11.Kd4 Rb5 12.Kc4 Rb6
0–1 (12...b3 13.Kxb5 b2 14.Kc6+–) 13.Kc5=)
11.Rg7! …Rg5=
5
2...Rc6 3.Rh7
V. Chekhov
V. Eingorn
Now it’s a bit late to push the pawn:
USSR 1984
3.g4 Kd8 4.Rh7 g5!

3...Rc3+

Not 3...h5 4.g4=

4.Kh2

A more logical solution would be 4.g3

4...h5 6
A. Stefanova
V. Gunina
SportAccord 2013

5.g4?

The correct way now, according to It is interesting to study the following

Eingorn, is 5.Rg7 Rc6 6.g4 Kd8 7.Kg3 endgame and find out whether Black is
(7.gxh5 gxh5 8.Kg3 Rc5 9.Rb7 (9.Kf4? able to win with her strong b2-pawn or
Rc4+) 9...b5 10.Kf4) 7...Kc8 8.gxh5 if White’s counterplay arrives in time
gxh5 9.Rh7 Rc5 10.Kf3 b5 11.Ke3= with Kf5.

5...Rc4 6.gxh5 Rxh4+ 7.Kg3 Rxh5 54.Kf5 Ka4 55.Kxf6

8.Rg7 Rg5+ 9.Kh4 Kf8
We have reached the first critical
Defending against his opponent’s position, where Black fails to find the
counterplay. winning continuation.

10.Rb7 Rb5 11.Kg4 g5 12.Kf3 Rb4 55...Ka3?

13.Rh7 g4+ 14.Kg3 Ke8 15.Rg7 b5
16.Rg5 55...Re2!! would have won a significant
tempo by directly preventing the Ke5–
The pawn endgame now would be d5 idea. 56.Kf5 (The point is that after
simply lost. 56.Ke5 Rxe3+ 57.Kxd5 Rb3!–+ wins.)
56...Ka3 After Black has protected the
16...Kd7 17.Kf2 Kc6 18.Rg6+ Kc5 b2-pawn, she is already threatening to
19.Rg5+ Kb6 play ...Re1 and promote the pawn, so
the following checks are forced.
0–1
57.Ra8+ (57.Kf4? Re1–+) 57...Kb3
58.Rb8+ Kc2 59.Rc8+ And here Black
should go for the pawns. 59...Kd3!
60.Rb8 Rxe3! (Not 60...Kxe3? because
it allows 61.Ke5!) 61.Rxb2 Kxd4

56...Rd3!
This endgame is a theoretical win for
The most challenging attempt by Black;
Black, as the white king is badly placed
Gunina is threatening to play ...Rb3!
on the longer side of the board... 62.Kf4
56...Rd1 leads to a draw after 57.Kxd5
Re1 63.Kf3 Kc3 64.Rb8 d4 Black wins
b1=Q 58.Rxb1 Rxb1 White holds, for
with the ‘bridge-building’ method. The
instance after 59.e4 Kb4 60.e5 Re1
point of staying on the longer side with
61.e6= and Kd6, e7, Kd7 next.
the king becomes clear in the following
line: 65.Rc8+ Kd2 66.Ra8 d3 and the 57.Ra8+!
wrong side is really too short for the
rook to give enough checks. 67.Ra2+ The only move to avoid ...Rb3 is to
Kc3 68.Ra3+ Kc2 69.Ra2+ Kb3–+ The force the king to a bad square.
board is not long enough to give one
more check to force the king back to 57...Kb4 58.Rb8+
c2...
58.Kxd5? loses to 58...Rb3!
56.Ke5
58...Ka3 59.Ra8+ Kb3 60.Rb8+?
White wins the d-pawn and she
The decisive mistake; White loses a
intends to sacrifice his rook for the b-
fatal tempo with this unnecessary
pawn and then promote one of her
check.
pawns with the support of the king.
60.Kxd5! would have held the draw.
The question is whether the black king
The key is 60...Kc2 61.Ra2! White is
is in time to catch the pawns or not.
able to stop the pawn this way...
61...Kc1 62.Rxb2 Kxb2 White has an
extra tempo compared to the game,
which is already enough to save the
game. 63.e4 Kc3 64.e5 Rxd4+ 65.Kc6
Re4 66.Kd6 Kd4 67.e6= and e7, Kd7 64.d5
next.
In case of 64.e4
60...Kc2 61.Rxb2+

White had no more checks because

of ...Rc3 and Black was threatening to
play ...Rb3, so this capture was forced.

61...Kxb2 62.Kxd5

64...Kd3! Black must again focus on

bringing the king back! (Again, she
should not be greedy with 64...Rxd4?
65.e5=) 65.e5 Ke4 66.e6 Kf5 67.e7 Re1
68.Kd6 White is missing only one
move for Kd7, but Black is in time yet
again: 68...Kf6–+

62...Kc3!! 64...Kd3 65.d6 Ke4 66.Kc6 Ke5

The only way to win. In order to win And on d7 the move ...Ke6 arrives in
Black needs to bring her king in as time. An instructive endgame and an
soon as possible: wasting time on important victory for Gunina, who also
capturing the e-pawn would have went on to win the tournament.
spoiled the victory...
0–1
62...Rxe3 63.Kc6 The game is drawn in
any case: 63...Kc3 (63...Rc3+ 64.Kb6
Rd3 65.Kc5 Kc3 66.d5= The rook
blocks its own king, because the only 7
winning technique could be ...Kd3–e4– A. Mikhalchishin
e5... Now White promotes the pawn in D. Losev
time.) 64.d5 Kd4 65.d6 Ke5 66.d7 Rd3 Moscow 1974
67.Kc7= Just in time!

63.Kc5 Rd1!

Freeing the d3-square for the king.


The white king is cut off, so in such
situations it’s a long and arduous trip
to the far side of the board to displace
the rook that awaits. The result
depends on whether nor not his
opponent’s king can use this time to
create serious counterplay on the
other side.
1.Kf1 Kf7 2.g3
Another set up would be successfully
countered by king activity: 2.g4 Kf6
3.Ke1 Kg5 4.Rf3! (4.Kd1 Kf4 5.Kc1 Rh2
6.Rc3 Ke4 7.b4 Kd4 8.Rf3 Kc4) 4...Rc2
(4...Kh4 5.Kd1 Ra2 6.Kc1 Ra8 7.b4 Rb8)
5.Kd1 Ra2 6.Kc1 Ra8 7.b4 Rb8 8.Rb3
Kf4 9.b5 Ke5 10.Kc2 Kd5 11.b6 Kc6
12.Kd3 Kb7 13.Ke4 Rf8 14.h4 g5
15.hxg5 hxg5 16.Rf3+–
2...h5 3.Ke1 Kf6 4.Kd1 Rh2 5.h4
Better, but still insufficient, was the
alternative 5.g4 g6 (5...hxg4 6.hxg4
Kg5 7.Re4 Rb2 8.b4+–; 5...h4 6.Kc1 Rg2
7.b4 Rg3 8.Kd2 Kg5 9.b5 Kf4 10.Rxg3
hxg3 11.Ke2) 6.gxh5 gxh5 7.Kc1 Rf2
8.b4 Rf4 9.Rb3 Ke6 10.b5 Kd7 11.b6
Kc8 12.Kd2 Kb7 13.Ke3 Rf6 14.Ke4
Rxb6 15.Rxb6+ Kxb6 16.Kf5 Kc6
17.Kg5 Kd6 18.Kxh5 Ke7 19.Kg6 Kf8
5...g5 6.hxg5+ Kxg5 7.Kc1
7...Kg4?
Here there was a nice and instructive
way to draw: 7...Kf5! 8.b4 h4 9.gxh4
Rxh4 10.Rb3 Ke6 and the black king
gets back in time.
8.b4 h4
Black now realised that his intended
long variation is losing: 8...Rh3 9.Kd2
Rxg3 10.Rxg3+ Kxg3 11.b5 h4 12.b6 h3
13.b7 h2 14.b8=Q+ Kg2 15.Qg8+ Kf2
16.Qh7 Kg2 17.Qg6+ Kf2 18.Qh5 Kg2
19.Qg4+ Kf2 20.Qf4+ Kg2 21.Ke2 h1=Q
22.Qg4+ Kh2 23.Kf2
9.gxh4 Kf5 10.b5 Rxh4 11.Kb2
A slightly more precise path to victory
was 11.Kc2 Rb4 12.Rb3 Rc4+ 13.Kd3
Rc8 14.Rc3 Rb8 15.Kc4 (15.Rc5+)
15...Ke6 16.Rd3 Ke7 17.Kc5 Rc8+
18.Kb6
11...Kf4

38...Rf6 39.g5!

12.Rc3? A very good move. White is trying to

A strange mistake, as it is clear that
cutting the king must be carried out to
the maximum!
12.Rd3 Ke4 13.Kc3 Rh5 14.Rd4+ Ke3
15.b6 Rb5 16.Rb4
12...Ke5 13.Ka3 Kd6 14.b6 Kd7
15.Rc7+ Kd8
The final try, waiting for a grave
mistake such as 15...Kd6?? 16.Rc8
exchange some pawns and at the same
time win the f4-pawn back.
39...Rc6
Of course after 39...hxg5 40.hxg5 Rc6
41.Kxf4 the position is a very simple
draw. White has nothing to fear and
can just ‘keep on waiting’ as he has a
great rook on b7.
40.Kxf4

16.Rc6 Kd7 17.Rc1 Rh6 40.gxh6? Rxh6 would give Black some
winning chances, which is wholly
1/2–1/2 unnecessary for White.

40...h5
8
M. Carlsen Black’s only chance is to keep as many
F. Caruana pawns on the board as possible.
Tal Memorial, Moscow 2013
41.Kf5 Kg7

Before bringing the rook to the b-file,

Black improves his king’s position.
42.Rb8 Rc5+ 43.Kf4 Rb5 44.Ke4 Rb1 cannot progress without playing the
45.Kf5 Rb2 move b2.) 55.Kg2 Kf8 56.Rb7 Ke8
57.Kh2 Kd8 58.Kg2 Kc8 59.Rb3 Kd7
60.Kh2 Ke6 61.Kg2 Kf5 62.Rb5+ Ke4
63.Rb8 Kd3 64.Rd8+ Kc3 65.Rc8+ and
the position is a simple draw.)
52...Rf1+ 53.Kg5 Rg1+ 54.Kxh5 Draw.

49...Rxh4!

Caruana doesn’t miss his chance.

50.Rxf7+ Kg6 51.Rf6+ Kxg5 52.Rxb6

46.Kf4
So is this position a draw or a clear win
White continues to wait... for Black?! It is not so easy to say at
first sight, but Caruana will show us
46...Rb4+ 47.Ke5 Kg6
the right result...

Black is sort of trying...

48.Rg8+

White pushes the Black king back.

48...Kh7 49.Rf8??

What a terrible mistake. These kinds of

moves are even difficult to explain.
49.Rb8 Passive defence would just 52...Ra4!
lead to a draw. Let’s take a look at what
could happen in case Black tries to The white king should be cut on the 5th
push his pawn to b2: 49...Kg7 50.Kf5 rank.
Rb1 51.Rb7 b5 52.g6 The easiest way
53.Rb8
to make a draw, but passive defence
would lead to the same result. (52.Kf4 White can’t prevent Black from
b4 53.Kf3 b3 54.Rb6 b2 After this move advancing his h-pawn.
the position is a draw, but not to play
the b2-move is simply impossible. 53...Kg4 54.Rg8+ Kf3 55.Rf8+ Kg3
(54...Kf8 55.Rb7 Ke8 56.Kg2 and Black 56.Rg8+ Kh2
The h-pawn is ready to move forward.

57.Kf5 h4 58.Rb8 h3 59.Kg5

59.Rb2+ doesn’t help: 59...Kg3

60.Rb3+ Kh4

59...Re4!

The final precise move.

White’s king prepares to support pawn
60.Kf5 Re2 activity on the queenside...

Now Black can let the white king come 6.Kc2 Rg3
a bit closer as the position is totally
The pure pawn ending is lost: 6...Rxg5
winning.
7.Rxg5+ Kxg5 8.Kd3 Kf5 9.Kc4 a6
61.Rg8 10.Kd5+–

61.Kf4 loses too after 61...Kg2 62.Rg8+ 7.Re5

Kf1
61...Rg2 62.Rd8 Rf2+
Followed by ...Kg2. A very tough loss
for Carlsen, but blunders happen even
to the greatest players!
0–1
The wrong way is seen in the line
7.Rd5?! Kf7 8.Rd7+ Ke8 9.Rxa7 Rxg5
10.Ra6 Rg6 11.Kc3 Kd7=
7...Kf7
7...Rg2+ 8.Kb3 Rg3+ 9.Kc4 Rg2 10.Rb5
8.a4 Kf8 9.b3!

9.a5!? bxa5 10.Rxa5 a6 11.Re5 Kf7

9
12.b3 … Kb2–a3
A. Mikhalchishin
A. Beliavsky
9...Kf7 10.Kb2 Kf8 11.Ka3 Rg4 12.a5
Lviv 1992

12...bxa5
12...Kf7 13.axb6 axb6 14.b4 …Ka4–
b5+–
13.Rxa5 Ke8 14.Rd5 Ke7 15.b4 Ke6
16.Rc5 Kd6 17.Ka4 Rg1 18.Kb5 Rg4
19.Ka5 Ke7
19...Rg1 20.Ka6 Rb1 21.Rb5 Kc6 22.g6
Rg1 23.Rc5++–
Black has to arrange his pawns in a
protective manner and also try to
bring his king across to help the passed
pawn.
44...Ke6 45.h4
Not worse, at least, was 45.g4 h4
46.Kf4 f6 47.g5 Rc4+ 48.Kf3 Ra4
49.gxf6 Kxf6 50.Ke3 a5 51.Ra8 Kf5
45...f5 46.Ke3 Kd5 47.Kd3

20.Rb5 Kd6 21.Rf5 Kc6 It is necessary to try to block the

opponent’s king, but not till the end.
21...Ke6 22.Rb5 Kd6 23.Ka6 Kc6
24.Rc5+ …Kb5+– 47...Kc5 48.Rb7

22.Rf6+ Kb7 23.g6 1–0 Not 48.Kc3 Kb6+

48...a5
10
R. D. Kholmov Possible was 48...Rb6
V. Rasik
Brno 1991 49.Kc3 Ra6

The rook is placed in ‘multifunctional

mode’.

50.Re7 Kd5 51.Kb3 Re6!

White’s king went to fight the passed
pawn, so the black rook is ready to
start attacking his opponent’s pawn.
52.Rc7 f4
Even stronger was the simple 52...Ke4
53.Rc3 Kd4 54.Rc2 Kd3 55.Ra2 a4+!
56.Rxa4 Rb6+ 57.Ka2 Ke2 58.f4
(58.Rf4 Re6 59.f3 Kf2) 58...Kf2 59.Ra3
Re6–+
53.Rc3
A longer winning line is 53.gxf4 Rb6+
54.Ka2 Rf6 55.f3 Rxf4 56.Rg7 Rxh4
57.Rxg6 Kd4 58.Rg5 Rh2+ 59.Kb3 h4
60.Rxa5 h3 61.Rh5 Ke3 62.f4 Kxf4
63.Rh8 Rh1 64.Kc3 Kg3 65.Rg8+ Kh2
66.Kd2 Rg1 67.Rf8 Rg5 68.Ke2 Kg3
69.Rf3+ Kg4 70.Kf2 h2 71.Rg3+ Kh4
53...Re4!
Once more a multifunctional position.
54.Ka3 fxg3 55.Rd3+
Of no help is 55.Rxg3 Rg4 56.Rh3 Rf4
57.Rh2 Ke4 58.Ka4 Kf3+ 59.Kxa5 Rg4
60.Kb6 Rg2
55...Ke5 56.fxg3 Kf5 57.Rd5+ Re5
58.Rd3 Kg4 59.Ka4 Kh3
Similar would be 59...Rf5 60.Rc3 Rf3
61.Rc6 Rxg3 62.Rxg6+ Kxh4
60.Rc3 Re4+ 61.Kxa5 Rg4 0–1
11
A. Muzychuk
T. Kosintseva
FIDE GP (Women), Ankara 2012
38.a5
Passed pawns must run without
considering any other material losses!
38...Rxg2 39.a6 Rb2+
39...Rxh2? loses immediately: 40.a7
Ra2 41.Ra5
40.Ka5?
It makes no sense to give up a pawn.
40.Ka3! Rb8 41.a7 Ra8 42.Rc7 Ke6
43.Kb4 f5 44.Kc5 Ke5 45.Kb6 h5
46.Kb7 but Anna explained that she
had the natural desire to move
forward with the king but never back!
40...Rxh2 41.Kb6? 46.Rf8 does not win either: 46...g4
47.Rxf7 g3 48.f4+ Ke4 49.f5 g2 50.Rg7
Kxf5 51.Rxg2 h4 52.Kc5 Kf4 53.Kd4 h3
54.Rg7 h2 55.Rh7 Kg3 56.Ke3 Kg2
57.Rg7+ Kf1=

46...h4 47.Rf8

Here lay the last chance to win in a

forced way: 41.a7! Ra2+ 42.Kb6 Rxa7
43.Kxa7 h5 44.Kb6 h4 45.Kb5 h3 46.f4!
g4 47.Rh5 h2 48.Rxh2 Kf5 49.Rf2! Only
move! 49...g3 50.Rf1 Ke4 51.f5 g2
52.Rg1 Kf3 53.Kc5 Kf2 54.Rxg2+ Kxg2
55.Kd6+–
47...f5??
41...Re2 42.a7 Re8 43.Ra5 h5
It was necessary to sneak with the king
44.a8=Q
to support the h4–pawn: 47...Kf4
44.f4 does not win: 44...gxf4 45.Rxh5 48.Rxf7+ Kg3 49.Kd4 h3 50.Ke4 h2
Ke6 (Also possible is the immediate 51.Rh7 Kg2 52.Kf5 Kxf3 53.Rxh2 g4
45...Ra8 46.Kb7 Rxa7+ 47.Kxa7 f3 54.Ra2 g3 55.Ra3+ Kf2 56.Kf4 g2
48.Kb6 f2 49.Rh1 Ke5 50.Rf1 Ke4 57.Ra2+ Kf1 58.Kf3 g1=N+ 59.Ke3 Nh3
51.Rxf2 f5 52.Kc5 f4 53.Kc4 f3 54.Kc3 with a theoretical draw!
Ke3) 46.Ra5 Ra8 47.Kb7 Rxa7+
48.Kc4 Kf4
48.Rxa7 f5 49.Kc6 Ke5 50.Kc5 f3
51.Kc4 f2 52.Ra1 Ke4 53.Rf1 Ke3 48...h3 doesn’t help: 49.Kd3 h2 50.Rh8
54.Kd5 f4 55.Ke5 f3 56.Ra1 Ke2 57.Kf4 Kf4 51.Ke2 Kg3 52.Rh5 g4 53.fxg4 fxg4
54.Kf1+–
44...Rxa8 45.Rxa8 Ke5!
49.Kd3 Kxf3 50.Rxf5+ Kg4 51.Rf8
It is always useful to bodycheck the
Kg3 52.Ke2 g4 53.Kf1 Kh2 54.Rf4 h3
opponent’s king!
55.Rxg4 Kh1 56.Kf2 1–0
46.Kc5
12 classical strike, which destroys the
K. Vujala defence of the multifunctional rook.
A. Smith
7.Kg3 Ra4 8.Rd5 Rb4
Corr. 1993

Another defence was 8...Kg7 9.f4 Kg6

10.Rd7 f5 11.Rd6+ Kg7 12.Rd5 (12.a6?
Ra3+ 13.Kh4 fxg4! (13...Ra4 14.g5
hxg5+ 15.Kxg5 Ra5 16.Rd7+ Kf8 17.a7)
14.Kxg4 Ra5 15.Rd7+ Kf6 16.a7 Ra1=)
12...fxg4 13.Kxg4 Ra1 14.Kf5+–

9.Rd8! Ra4

Of no help is 9...h5 10.gxh5+ Kxh5

1.g4!
11.Rh8+ Kg5 12.Rg8+ Kf5 13.Rg4! Rb8
14.Ra4
Creating space problems for his
opponent’s pawn structure.
10.Rg8+ Kf7 11.Ra8 Ra1 12.f4 Kg7
13.a6 Ra2 14.f5 Ra1 15.Kf3 Ra3+
1...h6 2.Kg2 Ra3 3.h4 Kf6 4.h5!
16.Ke4 Ra4+ 17.Kd5
the passed pawn cannot be advanced
yet, so the immediate task is to create
some weakness in the opponent’s
structure.

4...Kg7

4...Ke6 5.g5!; 4...gxh5 5.Rxh5 Kg6 6.Rf5

5.hxg6 Kxg6

5...fxg6 6.f3 Ra1 7.Kg3 Rg1+ 8.Kf4 Ra1 17...h5

9.Rc7+ Kf6 10.Rc6+ Kg7 11.Ra6 Ra2
12.Ra8 Kf6 13.a6 Kg7 14.Ke5 The classic Donner manoeuvre wins
after 17...Rxg4 18.Ra7+ Kg8 19.Rb7
6.f3 f6? Ra4 20.a7

Much better was 6...Kg7 7.Kf2 Kg6 18.gxh5 Ra5+ 19.Kc6 Ra3 20.h6+
8.Ke2 Kg7 9.Rf5 Kg6 10.Kd2 h5! A Kxh6 21.a7 Kg7
 More logical seems to be 33.b4 Rb2
34.Kf3 but Black would get serious
counterplay after 34...h6 35.Ke3 g5

33.Rf3! h6 34.Rd3 Kg7 35.Kf3 Rb2

36.Ke3 g5

No better was 36...f5 37.f4 g5 38.hxg5

22.Rd8!
A classical transfer into a basic pawn
ending seals the victory.
hxg5 39.fxg5 Kg6 40.Kd4 Kxg5 41.Kc4
Kf6 42.b4 Rc2+ 43.Rc3 Rb2 44.b5 Ke5
45.Kc5
37.hxg5 hxg5 38.g4?

22...Rxa7 23.Rd7+ Rxd7 24.Kxd7 There were two strong and logical
Kf7 25.Kd6 ways to win. 38.f3 f5 39.Kd4 Kf6
40.Kc5 Rc2+ 41.Kd5 Rb2 42.f4, and
1–0 38.f4 gxf4+ 39.Kxf4 Re2 40.Re3 Rc2
41.Ke5! (41.Ke4? Rc8 42.Kd4 Rb8
13 43.Kc5 (43.Kc3 Rc8+ 44.Kb2 Rb8
I. A. Novikov 45.Re4 f5 46.Rf4 Kg6 47.b4 Kf6 48.Kb3
L. Oll Ke5=) 43...Rc8+ 44.Kb6 Rb8+ 45.Kc7
Lvov 1990 Rb4=) 41...Rc8 42.b4 Rb8 43.Rb3+–

38...Kf6

There was a very instructive way to

draw here: 38...f5! 39.gxf5 Kf6 40.f3
Kxf5 41.Kd4 Kf4 42.Kc3 Rf2 43.b4 Rxf3

Here White must decide which setup

he thinks is optimal...

33.Rf3!
39.Rd6+! 37...Ra5 38.Ra1 Ke7?!

The correct idea. Wrong was 39.f3 Ke5 Usually it is better to block such pawns
as far back as possible. 38...Ra4
39...Ke5 40.Rb6 Kd5 41.f3 Rb1
42.Kd3 Kc5 43.Rf6! 39.a4 Kd6 40.Kg2 Kc5 41.Kf3 Kd4

A simple but decisive pawn sacrifice. Better was 41...h5

43...Rxb3+ 44.Ke4 Rb7 45.Kf5

1–0

14
A. Goldin
V. Malisauskas
Vilnius 1988

42.Re1!

This is the power of the better rook; it

can be transferred to even better
positions — on the seventh rank, for
example.

42...Kd5
The rook can conduct a double
42...Ra7!? 43.g4 Kd5 44.Re4 h6 45.h4
function; protecting his own pawn and
cutting the opponent’s king. 43.Re7 f5 44.Rxh7 Rxa4 45.Rg7
Ra3+
36.Re3! Rc5
Useless was 45...Ra6 46.Kf4
What else? White planned to simply
bring his king over to the passed pawn. 46.Kf4 Ra2 47.f3 Rxh2 48.Rxg6 Rf2
49.Rf6
37.Re1!
1–0
Now is the chance to place his rook
behind the passed pawn, definitely the
best position for the rook.
15 As always, a pawn sacrifice allows him
B. Abramovic to activate all the pieces.
Z. Nikolic
54.gxh5 gxh5 55.Rxh5 b4 56.Rd5 b3
YUG-chT, Igalo 1994
57.Rd1 b2 58.Rb1 Kd7 59.Kf4 Ke6

48...Re6
Black is not yet ready to push the
passed pawn, and the rook on e6 will
perform the dual function of
protecting the e6- and b6-pawns to
begin with. 48...b5 49.Kf3 Rf5+ 50.Ke4
Rxf2 51.Rxb5
48...Re6 49.f3 Rf6?
Better was to restrict the opponent’s
counterplay: 49...f5 50.g4 hxg4 51.fxg4
fxg4 52.Kg3 Kd8 53.Kxg4 Kc8 54.Rh7!
(54.Rg7?? b5 preparing ...Rb6.) 54...b5
55.h5 gxh5+ 56.Rxh5 Rb6 57.Rh7! b4
58.Kf3 b3 59.Rh1 b2 60.Rb1 and the
king comes over to the pawn.
50.g4
60.Kg5?
Choosing the wrong plan. There was a
strong and practically forced transfer
into a pawn endgame with 60.Ke4 Kf6
61.Kd4 Kg6 62.Kc3 Kh5 63.Rxb2 Rxb2
64.Kxb2 Kxh4 65.Kc3 Kg3 66.Kd4 Kxf3
67.Ke5! winning the last pawn.
60...Rb5+ 61.Kh6 Kf6
A similar idea is seen after 61...Kf5
62.Kg7 Rb7
62.h5 Rb3 63.Kh7 Rb8
Now White’s king is terribly misplaced
and it is just a matter of method as to
how Black will win both pawns.

Possible was 50.Kf2 64.f4 Rb5 65.Kg8 Rb7 66.Kh8 Rb3

67.Kg8 Rb5 68.h6 Kg6 69.f5+ Kf6!
50...Kd8 51.Kg3 Kc8 52.Re7 b5 70.Kh8 Rb3 71.Kg8 Rb7 72.Kh8 Kg5
53.Re5 Rb6!
0–1
16
H. U. Gruenberg
L. Brunner
Bundesliga 1992

54...Ke5?

This seems logical, but much better

was to penetrate, stopping the
Both Black and White are still building opponent’s king: 54...Kd4! 55.Re6 Re5
their planned setups... 56.Rc6 Ke3 57.Rc4 Rf5 58.Kb3 Kf2
59.Rg4 h3 60.gxh3 Rxf3+ 61.Kc2 Rg3
42.Kc4 Ra4+ 43.Kb5 Ra5+ 44.Kb4
62.Rd4 Rxh3–+
Re5 45.h4 h5 46.Rc4 Rf5 47.Re4 Ka6
48.Re7 55.Kc3 Kf4 56.Rb4+ Ke3 57.Rg4 Kf2

Activity is the best strategy, but Black

has a plan to create weaknesses in his
opponent’s structure...

48...g5 49.hxg5 fxg5 50.Re8 h4?

Correct was firstly to deflect the

opponent’s king with 50...Rf4+ 51.Kb3
g4 52.fxg4 Rxg4 53.Re5 h4 54.Rh5 b5
55.Rh8 Ka5 56.Ra8+ Kb6 57.Rh8 Kc5
58.Rc8+ Kd4–+ 58.Kd2!

51.Ra8+ Kb7 52.Rg8 Kc6 53.Rg6+? Winning a tempo compared with the
previous variation.
A much better chance was 53.Kc4 b5+
54.Kc3 Kc5 55.Rc8+ Kd6 56.Rb8 58...Rd5+ 59.Kc3 Rf5 60.Kd2 Rd5+
61.Kc3 Rf5
53...Kd5 54.Rxb6
1/2–1/2
17 So, as we have seen in a few examples
V. Moiseenko already, this is the start to creating a
D. Zakaryan safe setup for his pawns.
ch-RUS, Yaroslavl 2018
40...f6 41.f4+ Kf5 42.Kd4 Rb1
43.Kc4 Kg4 44.b4 g5 45.fxg5 fxg5
46.hxg5 Kxg5 47.b5

Here we can see the most direct and

simplest transfer of the rook for
multiple tasks. Black was slow to start
direct counterplay and allowed White
to relocate his rook: 47...Kg4 48.Rb3

37...Ke5? The game is over: the rook has been

transferred behind the pawn, plus it
Black should have played 37...f6 protects the g3-pawn.
preparing ...g6–g5.
48...Rc1+ 49.Kb4 Rc8 50.b6 Rb8
51.Kb5 Rh8 52.b7
37...Ke5? 38.Re4+ Kd5
Winning easily.
The alternative king move was also
playable: 38...Kf5 39.Rf4+ Ke5 40.b4 f6 1–0
41.Kd3 g5 42.Kc3 Rb1 43.Rc4 Kd6

39.Rd4+ Ke5 40.Rd3

CHAPTER 3.
CLASSIC ROOK ENDINGS 2: AN EXTRA
PASSED D-PAWN
Here we want to deal with the d-pawn,
which has not yet been particularly
well-explained and is significantly
different from other extra pawns. For
this reason there are a lot of typical
mistakes, even committed by such
greats as Victor Korchnoi.
Here there is a serious difference from
our previous endgames, as the king of
the stronger side is much closer to
helping its passed pawn. On the other
side, and the other hand, the defending
king is equally closer to the passed
pawn and can participate actively in
fighting against it.
1
L. Gostisa
J. Skoberne
Maribor 2013
First we can start with just one pawn
on the flank. Here White has good
chances to hold and, as usual in such
situations, it is recommended to ‘stick’
to the passed pawn immediately...
46.Kg4
46.Rd1 Ke6 47.Kg4 Rb2 48.Ra1 d4
49.Kf3 Kd5 50.Ra5+ Kc4 51.Ra6 d3
52.Rc6+ Kd5 53.Rxg6 Rh2 54.Rg8
46.Kg4 Rb6
A logical move with the idea of placing
the rook behind the passed pawn and
also protecting the g6-pawn ‘just in
case’.
47.Rd1
47.Rh8 Rd6 48.Rh6 threatening f4–f5.
48...Kg7 49.Rh1 d4 50.f5 Exchanging
one pawn means a draw!
47...Rd6 48.Kf3
It is recommended to block passed
pawns maximally: 48.Rd4 Rd8
(48...Ke6 49.Kg5 Rd8 50.Kxg6) 49.Kh4
Kf5 50.Kg3 Rd6 51.Kf3
48...d4 49.Ke4 Re6+

50.Kd5?
Correct was the followng retreat,
trying to reach a basic, drawn position:
50.Kd3 Kf5 51.Rg1 Rd6 52.Rf1 Ra6
53.Kxd4 Ra4+ 54.Ke3 Re4+ 55.Kd2
Rxf4 56.Ra1 g5 57.Ke3 Kg6 58.Rg1
50...Kf5 51.Rxd4 Re3
Black will slowly win the f4-pawn and
White’s king will be unpleasantly cut
on the fourth rank. This cut is usually
deadly.
52.Ra4 Rf3 53.Ra6 Rxf4 54.Ra8 g5
55.Rf8+ Kg4 56.Rg8 Kh4 57.Ke5 Ra4
58.Kf5
58...g4
Black’s pawn is unstoppable.
59.Rb8 Kh3 60.Rh8+ Kg2 61.Rb8 g3
62.Kg5 Kh2
0–1
2
V. Nevednichy
M. Marin
Romania 1996
1.Re8!
Weaker was 1.Kf2 d3 2.Re8 (2.Rb2
Kd4–+) 2...Rd4!! 3.Rd8+ (3.Re1 d2
4.Rd1 Kc4 5.Ke2 Kc3 6.Ra1 d1=Q+!
7.Rxd1 Rxd1 8.Kxd1 Kd3–+) 3...Ke5
4.Re8+ Kf6 5.Re1 (5.Rf8+ Ke7–+) 5...d2
6.Rd1 Kg5–+
1.Re8! Ra2
Not winning is 1...d3 2.Rd8+™ 2...Kc4
(Nevednichy,V) (2...Ke4 3.Ke1 Ra1+
4.Kd2 Ra2+ 5.Kd1 Rg2 6.Re8+ Kf3
7.Rf8 Kg4 (7...Ke3 8.Re8+ Kd4 9.Rf8)
8.Rg8+ Kh5 (8...Kh3 9.Rg5!) 9.Ke1 Kh6
(…f4) (9...f4 10.Rh8+! Kg6 11.gxf4)
10.Rf8 Kg6 11.Rg8+ Kf7 12.Rg5 Kf6
13.Rg8!=) 3.Ke1™ 3...Kc3 4.Rc8+ Rc4
5.Ra8!™ 5...Kd4 6.Rf8 Ke3 7.Re8+ Re4 19.Rf8 Kg4 20.Rg8+ Kh3 21.Rg5 Rf3
8.Rf8 Kf3+ 9.Kd2= 22.Ke2 Kg2 23.Ke1 d3 24.Kd2 Kf2

2.Re7

Bad here would be 2.Ke1 Rg2 3.Rg8

Ke4 4.Kf1 Kf3 5.Rg5 Rxg3 6.Rxf5+ Ke3
7.Re5+ Kd2 8.Re2+ Kd3 9.Ra2 Re3
10.Ra3+ Kd2 11.Ra2+ Kc1 12.Kf2 Re8
13.Ra3 Kc2 14.Ra2+ Kb3 15.Ra7 d3
getting a basic position with the rook
on the short side.

2...Rb2!? 25.g4!™

2...Kc4 3.Re5! Kc3 4.Rc5+! Kd3 5.Rxf5„ 25.Kd1 Ke3–+;

25.Rg8 Rxg3–+;
3.Re8 Kc4 4.Rf8!™ 25.Rh5 Kxg3–+

4.Re5 Rb5 5.Re8 Kd3–+ 25...f4 26.Rf5 Kg3 27.g5 Kg4 28.Re5
Rg3?
4...Rb5
28...Kh5! 29.Rd5= Re3 30.Rxd3 Re5–+
4...Kc3! 5.Rxf5 d3 6.Rc5+ Kd4 7.Rc8
Rc2 8.Rd8+ Kc3 9.g4 (9.Rc8+ Kb2 29.g6 Kf3
10.Rb8+ Kc1 11.Rd8 d2 12.g4 d1=Q+
13.Rxd1+ Kxd1–+) 9...Rc1+ 10.Kf2 d2 29...Kh3 30.Rf5
11.Kf3 d1=Q+ 12.Rxd1 Rxd1 13.Ke4
30.Re6 Kg2 31.Rf6 f3 32.Kxd3 Kg1
Rg1 14.Kf5 Kd4 15.g5 Kd5 16.Kf6 Kd6
17.g6 Rf1+ 18.Kg7 Ke7–+
32...f2+ 33.Ke2= or 32...Rg5 33.Ke3
Re5+ 34.Kf4 Ra5 35.Kg4=
5.Ke2 Re5+ 6.Kd2 Kd5 7.Rd8+ Ke4
8.Ke2 Re7 9.Rg8 Re6 10.Rd8 Re5
33.Ke4 f2 34.Rxf2 Kxf2 35.Kf5 Ke3
11.Rd7 Re8 12.Rg7 Kd5+ 13.Kd2
36.Kf6 Ke4 37.g7 Rxg7
Re3 14.Rg5 Ke4 15.Rg8 Ra3 16.Re8+
Kf3 17.Rf8 Ra5 18.Rg8 Ra3 1/2–1/2

18...Ra2+ 19.Kd3 (19.Kd1 Ke3)

19...Rg2 20.Rg5™ 20...Rxg3 21.Rxf5+
Kg4+ 22.Ke4 Re3+ 23.Kxd4=
3 The move 69...Ra3 would create more
P. Svidler problems.
A. Giri
70.Re5+! Kd7 71.Re2
Khanty-Mansiysk 2015

Once more White missed a great

chance to bring his king closer: 71.Kf5!
Kd6 72.f4 Ra4 73.Re4 Ra5 74.Kf6

71...Rg6+ 72.Kf5 Ra6

72...Rg2!? 73.Ke5 (73.Kf6 Kd6 74.Rd2

Rg4 75.Kxf7 Rf4+ 76.Kg6) 73...Ke7
74.Ra2+–

63...Kf5 64.Rf4+ Kg5 65.Re4 Rd7? 73.f4 Ra4 74.Kg5

The best chances for a draw were

promised by 65...Ra7.

66.Re5+ Kf6

Huge problems are created by 66...f5

67.Ke3 Ra7 68.Kd3 Kf6 (68...Ra6
69.Kd4) 69.Re6+ Kf7 70.Kd4

67.Kf4
The threat is to advance the pawn to f5
Why not the more logical 67.Ke4? and then to attack the f7-pawn.

67...Ra7 68.Rf5+ Ke7 69.Kg5?! 74...f6+ 75.Kf5 Kd6 76.Re4

White would keep serious winning
chances after centralization: 69.Ke5!
Ra1 70.d6+ Ke8 71.f4 Kf8 72.Rg5 Ra4
73.Kd5 Ke8 74.Rg8+ (74.Re5+ Kd8
75.Re4 Ra5+ 76.Kc6 Ra6+ 77.Kc5 Ra5+
78.Kb6 Ra2=) 74...Kd7 75.Ke5 f6+
76.Kf5 Kxd6 77.Rg7+–
It was also possible to transfer into a
basic and won position after 76.Re6+
Kxd5 77.Rxf6
76...Ra8 77.Kxf6 Kxd5 78.Re5+ Kd4
79.Re6!
Another basic winning position.

69...Ra6?!
79...Rf8+ 80.Kg5 Rg8+ 81.Rg6 Re8
82.f5 Ke5 83.Rg7 Rf8 84.Re7+ 1–0
4
C. Lutz
T. Luther
Bremen 1998
42.Rh7+
White cuts his opponent’s king on the
back rank, which always gives serious
chances of a win, but here the white
pawns are simply too weak.
42...Kb8 43.Kc4 a6 44.Rh5
Wrong was the premature 44.d4? Ra2!
45.d5 Rxa4 46.d6 Kc8=
44...Rc2+ 45.Kd4
This is not the place for activity:
45.Kd5 Ra2 46.Kc6 Rxa4 47.b5 axb5
48.Kxb6 Kc8=
45...Kb7 46.Rh7+ Kb8 47.a5!?
The only chance.
47...bxa5 48.bxa5 Ra2 49.Rh5 Ra4+
50.Ke3 Kc7 51.d4 Ra1 52.Ke4 Kc6
53.Rh6+ Kb5
An even simplier way to draw is by
53...Kb7!? 54.Rb6+ (54.Ke5 Rxa5+
55.d5 Ra1 56.Ke6 a5 57.d6 Re1+
58.Kd7 Kb6 59.Re6 Rd1 60.Ke7 Kc5
61.d7 a4=) 54...Ka7 55.Rb2 Rxa5 56.d5
Ra1 (56...Rb5 57.Rc2 a5 58.d6 Rb1
59.Ke5 Ka6 60.d7 Re1+ (60...Rd1
61.Rc6+ Kb5 62.Rd6) 61.Kf6 Rd1
62.Ke6 Kb5=) 57.d6 Rd1 58.Ke5 a5
59.Ke6 Ka6 60.d7 a4 61.Re2! Kb5
62.Re5+ Kc4=
54.Rb6+ Kxa5
Easier was 54...Kc4 55.Rxa6 Re1+
55.Rb8 Ka4
Trying to ‘uncut’ the king is misguided
here: 55...Ra4? 56.Ke5 Rb4 57.Rxb4
Kxb4 58.d5 a5 59.d6 a4 60.d7 a3
61.d8=Q+–
56.d5 a5
The draw could have been secured by
56...Re1+ 57.Kf5 Rf1+ 58.Ke6 Re1+
59.Kd7 a5 60.d6 Ka3 61.Rb5 a4 62.Kc7
Rc1+ 63.Kb6 Ka2 64.d7 Rd1 65.Kc7 a3

57.d6 Rd1 58.Ke5 Ka3 59.Rb5 a4

60.Rd5

65.Rd3+! Rb3 66.Rd4!

The pawn — and therefore the game

— are lost.

66...Rb8 67.Rxa4+ Kb3 68.Rh4!?

Rb7

60...Re1+? Here nothing helps: 68...Rd8 69.Rd4

Kc3 70.Rd1 Kc2 71.Rd5 Kc3 72.Kb6
The decisive mistake. It was still
possible to make a draw: 60...Rh1! 69.Rd4 Kc3 70.Rd1 1–0
61.d7 Rh8 62.d8=Q Rxd8 63.Rxd8 Kb2
5
64.Rb8+ Kc3 65.Ra8 Kb3 66.Kd4 a3
Van M. Delft
67.Kd3 Kb2 68.Rb8+ Kc1 69.Kc3 a2=
S. Brunello
61.Kd4 Rd1+ 62.Kc4 Rc1+ Wijk aan Zee 2014

The try 62...Rxd5 doesn’t save him

after 63.Kxd5 Kb2 64.d7 a3 65.d8=Q
a2 66.Kc4 a1=Q 67.Qd2+ Kb1
68.Kb3+– and Black is helpless.

63.Kb5 Rb1+ 64.Ka5 Rb8

63...d3! 64.Rb1 d2 65.Rd1 Kg5!

The position seems to be drawn, but
Black has a fantastic resourse available
in the pawn ending.
65...Kg5 and 65...h5 66.Ke3 Kg5 leads
to the same result.
51.Rd4 Re6 52.Kf2 Kf6 53.Kf3 Ke7
54.Rh4
An artificial move: other options were
better, such as 54.h4 or 54.Rd1

66.Ke3 h5 67.Rxd2 Rxd2 68.Kxd2 h4 54...g5 55.Rd4 h5 56.g3

69.gxh4+
Too shy. 56.g4 would create
Or 69.Ke3 hxg3 70.Kf3 Kh4 71.Kg2 g5 aweakness on h3 after 56...h4
(56...hxg4+ 57.Rxg4 Kf6 58.h4 gxh4
69...Kxh4 70.Ke3 Kxh3 71.Kf4 Kh4 59.Rxh4=) but 56.h4!? was logical to
72.Kf3 g5 73.Kg2 Kg4–+ get more space for his king. 56...g4+
57.Kf4 Re5 58.Ra4
0–1
56...Re5 57.Ra4 Kf6 58.Ra6 Rd5
6
G. C. Jones This is better than 58...Ke6 59.Ra8 d5
N. D. Short 60.Rh8 d4 61.Rd8! Rd5 62.Re8+ Kd7
Hinkley 2012 63.Ra8 d3 64.Ra1 Kd6 65.Rd1 Kc5
66.Ke3 d2 67.Rxd2 Rxd2 68.Kxd2 Kd4
69.Ke2 Ke4 70.Kf2 Kd3 (70...g4
71.hxg4 hxg4 72.Ke2) 71.Kf3

59.Ke4 Rd1 60.Ra5 Re1+ 61.Kf3 Re5

62.Ra6 Ke6 63.h4?

More resilient was to enter the

previous line with 63.Ra8.

Now let us come to two pawns each on

63...Rf5+ 64.Ke4 gxh4 65.gxh4 Rf1
the flank, with our topical d-pawn
66.Ke3 Rh1 67.Ra4 d5
passer...

51.Rd4

After 51.Rf8 Re6 52.Rh8 h5 53.Kf2 Kf4

54.Rf8+ Ke4 55.Ke2 h4 56.Kd2 d5
White will face a difficult task.
 75.Re7+ Re5 76.Rg7 d3 77.Kf2 Kd4
78.Rd7+ Kc3 79.Rc7+ Kb2 80.Rb7+
Kc2 81.Rc7+ Kd1 82.Rc8 d2 83.Rc7

Black has real winning chances.

68.Kf2 Ke5 69.Kg3 Rf1!

Cutting the king is always a success!

83...Re4
70.Ra8 Rf5!
Very simple was 83...Rf5+ 84.Ke3 Ke1
Another move that makes the rook
multifunctional. 84.Rc5 Rxh4 85.Ra5 Rd4 86.Ke3
Rd8 87.Rxh5 Kc2
71.Re8+ Kd4 72.Rg8 Kd3 73.Rg7 d4
74.Kg2 0–1

7
J. C. Diaz
A. Rodriguez Cespedes
Bayamo 1991

74...Ke4

There was another way to win:

74...Ke3 75.Re7+ Kd2 76.Rd7 d3
77.Kg3 Kc3 78.Rc7+ Kd4 Now White proceeds as in our
previous examples. Firstly, he will try
to put his rook behind the passed pawn.
45.Rb2! Kf5 46.Re2!? Rf1+
It was not possible to transfer into the
pawn ending because of a small check:
46...Rxe2? 47.g4+
47.Ke3 Ke6 48.Kd3+ Kd6 49.Ra2
Now the king is protecting the pawn
and the rook can unfurl its attacking
sail.
49...Rd1+ 50.Ke4 Re1+ 51.Kf5
51...Rf1+?
There were two stronger moves here:
51...Rg1 and 51...Re7 52.Ra8 Re2 53.g3
g6+ 54.Kf4 Rf2+ 55.Ke3 Rg2 56.Ra6+
Kd5 57.Ra5+ Kd6 58.Kf3 Rd2
52.Kg5 Rf7 53.Ra8 Rb7
Wrong was 53...Kd5 54.Rh8! but much
better was 53...Rd7 preparing to attack
the d4-pawn.
54.Rh8 Rb5+ 55.Kf4 h6 56.Rg8 Rg5
Or 56...Rb7 57.Kf5 Rb5+ 58.Ke4 Rg5
59.g4
57.g4 Ke6
Better was 57...Rg6
58.h4 Rd5 59.Ke4
Wrong was 59.Rxg7 Rxd4+ 60.Ke3 Ra4
61.Rg6+ Ke5=
59...Rd7 60.Re8+
Very good here was 60.d5+ Rxd5
61.Rxg7
60...Kf7 61.Ra8
There was a more technical way to win
here 61.Re5 Rb7 62.Rf5+ Ke7 63.Ra5
Rb1 64.h5 Rf1 65.Ra7+ Kf6 66.Ra6+
Ke7 67.Rg6 Kf7 68.d5
61...Re7+
62.Kd3!
More precise than the overactive
62.Kd5 Rd7+ 63.Kc5 Rc7+ 64.Kd6 Re7!
65.d5 Re4 66.Ra7+ Kf6 67.g5+ (67.h5
Rxg4) 67...Kg6 68.Kc5 Rxh4 69.d6 Rh2
70.d7 Rc2+ 71.Kd6 Rd2+ 72.Ke7
(72.Ke6) 72...Kxg5 73.d8=Q Rxd8 Let’s examine how players reach our
74.Kxd8 h5= topical material...

62...Ke6 34.a7??

The position is practically lost. Better Here there exists a very instructive
was 62...Re1 way to draw: 34.Rb8! Ra2 35.Rxb5+
Kc6 36.Rb7
63.Ra6+ Kd5 64.Ra5+ Kd6 65.Rf5
Re1 34.a7?? Rb1+!

White would be able to advance his d-
pawn after 65...Ra7 66.Ke4 Re7+
67.Re5 Rf7 68.d5+–
66.Rf7 g6
Kicking the king away from the center.
35.Kh2 Ra1 36.Rxb5+ Kc6 37.Rb2
Rxa7

Of no help is 66...Ke6 67.Rxg7 Kf6

68.Rh7 Kg6 69.Ra7 Rg1 70.h5++– Kf6
71.Ra6+

67.Rf6+ Kd5 68.Rxg6 Rh1 69.Rxh6

Rh3+ 70.Kc2

1–0

8 38.g4?
A. Galliamova
Hou Yifan Usually there are big winning chances
Kazan 2012 for the stronger side. Here Alisa had to
try to attack with 38.Rc2+ Kd5
39.Rd2+ Kc5 40.Rc2+ Kb4 41.Rd2 Rd7
42.Kg3 d5 43.Kf3 Kc3 44.Ke2 d4
45.Rd3+

38...d5 39.Kg3 Re7!

Now White’s king is cut and there are

no chances of a counterattack.
40.Kf4 d4 41.Kg5 Kc5 42.f4 d3 43.f5
Rd7 44.Rb1 d2 45.Rd1 Kc4 46.f6
Kd3 47.Kh6 Ke2 48.Rxd2+ Kxd2
0–1
9
H. J. Hecht
N. Gaprindashvili
Lignano Sabbiadoro 2005
44...Rb3+ 45.Ke2 Kd6
Correct was 45...h5!? 46.Ra6+ Kf7
47.d5 Rb5 48.Rd6 Rb3 49.Rd8 Ke7
50.Rg8 Kf7 51.Ra8 Rb5 52.d6 Re5+
(52...Ke6) 53.Kf2 Rd5 54.Ra6 Ke6
55.Ke3 Kd7 (55...Rxd6 56.Rxd6+ Kxd6
57.Kf4 Ke6 58.Kg5 Kf7 59.Kh6+–)
56.Kf4 Rd3 57.Ra7+ Kd8 58.Rg7 Rxd6
59.Kg5 Rd3 60.Kxg6 Rxf3 61.Kxh5
46.h5!
White manages to create a weakness in
his opponent’s pawn chain.
46...Ke6 47.Ra7 gxh5
Two other options were also
favourable for White: 47...g5 48.Rxh7
g4 49.fxg4 fxg4 50.h6 Rxg3 51.d5+ Kf6
52.d6 Ra3 53.d7 Ra8 54.Rg7 Rd8
55.Kf2 Rh8 56.Rxg4 Ke7 57.Rg7+ Kf6
58.Kf3; and 47...Rb2+ 48.Ke3 Kf6 49.h6
48.Rxh7 f4 49.gxf4
49...Kd5?
The only chance lay in playing
49...Rb2+ 50.Ke3 Rh2 51.Rh6+ Kf5
52.d5 Rh1 53.d6 (53.Rh8 h4 54.Rf8+
Kg6 55.f5+ Kg7 56.Ra8 h3 57.Kf4 h2
58.Ra2 Rd1 59.Rxh2 Rxd5) 53...Rd1
54.Ke2 Rd4 55.Rxh5+ Kg6 56.Rg5+ Kf6
with a draw.
50.Rxh5+ Kxd4
Now Black’s king is cut and the win is
easy.
51.Kf2 Rb2+ 52.Kg3 Rb1 53.Re5
Rg1+ 54.Kh4 Rh1+ 55.Kg5 Rf1
56.Kf6 Rxf3 57.f5 Rh3 58.Ra5 Rf3
59.Ke6
1–0
10
Ghitescu
Rajkovic
Skopje 1984
1.Ra2!
As always, protecting the second rank
and preparing to put the rook behind
the pawn.
1...Ke6 2.Rd2 Ra1
Possible was 2...Re1+ 3.Kf4 f6! (3...Kd5?
4.Kg5 Re6 5.Kh6 Rd6 (5...Rf6 6.Kg7 Rf3
7.Kf8 Rf5 8.f4 Ke4 9.Re2+ Kxd4
10.Kg7+–; 5...Rc6 6.Kg7 f5 7.Re2 Kxd4
8.Kh6+–) 6.Re2 (6.Kg7 f5 7.Kh6 Re6
8.Kg5+–) 6...Kxd4 (6...Rd7 7.Kg7+–)
7.Rd2+ Kc5 8.Rxd6 Kxd6 9.Kg5 Ke7
10.f3 Ke6 11.f4 Ke7 12.f5 gxf5
13.Kxf5+–) 4.Ra2 Rf1 5.Ra6+ Kf7 6.Kf3
3.Kf4 Ra5?!
The correct system of defence was
3...f6 4.Rb2 Ra6 5.Ke4 Ra4 6.Rb6+ Ke7
7.Rb7+ Ke6 8.Rg7 Ra5! 9.f3 (9.Rxg6??
Kf7 10.Rh6 Kg7–+) 9...Rb5 10.g4 hxg4
11.fxg4 f5+ 12.gxf5+ gxf5+ 13.Kf4
Rd5=
4.Re2+
Here there was a nice winning option
4.d5+! Rxd5 (4...Kf6 5.Rd4! Ke7 6.Kg5
Kd6 7.Kf6 Ra7 8.Kg7! with the idea Rf4.)
5.Rxd5 Kxd5 6.Kg5 Ke5 (6...Ke6 7.f4
Ke7 8.f5 gxf5 9.Kxh5+–) 7.f3 Kd4 8.Kf6
4...Kd6
White would create real chances after
4...Kf6 5.Rb2 Ke6 6.Rb6+ Ke7 7.f3 f6
8.Ke4 Ra4 9.g4
5.Rb2 Ke6?!
It was also possible to hold the draw
with 5...Kd5 6.Rb7 Ra2 7.f3 Ke6 8.Kg5
Rd2
6.Ke4 Ra1
Not bad was 6...Kd6
7.d5+ Kf6
There were two good options here:
7...Ke7 8.Rb7+ Kf6 9.d6 (9.Kd4!)
9...Rd1 10.d7 Ke6;
Alternatively, 7...Kd6 8.Rb6+ Ke7
9.Rb7+ Kf6 10.Kd4 Ra2 11.f4 Ra3
12.Kc5 Rc3+ 13.Kd6 Rxg3 14.Kd7 Kf5
15.d6 Rd3 16.Ke7 (16.Rb5+ Kxf4
17.Kc6 Kg3 18.Rd5 Rc3+ 19.Kb7 Rb3+
20.Kc8 Ra3 21.d7 Ra8+ 22.Kb7 Rd8
23.Kc7 Rxd7+ 24.Kxd7 Kxh4 with a
drawn position.) 16...Kxf4 17.d7 g5
18.Rb4+ Kf5 19.Rb5+ Kg4 20.Rxg5+
Kxh4=

8.Rd2

13.Kh6!!

Also winning, according to

Petronijevic, is 13.Kg8 f5 14.Kh7 f4
15.Kxg6 fxg3 16.fxg3 Rxg3+ 17.Kxh5
8...Ke7?
13...Rf6 14.f4 Rxd6 15.Rxd6+ Kxd6
It was still possible to draw! 8...Ra8 16.f5! gxf5 17.Kxh5 Ke5 18.Kg5
9.d6 Ke6 10.d7 Rd8 11.Kf4 f6
1–0
9.d6+!
11
In the game White played the wrong
A. Onischuk
idea: 9.Ke5? Re1+ 10.Kf4 f6! 11.Ra2
M. Carlsen
Re5! 12.Ra7+ Kd6 13.Ra6+ Ke7 14.d6+
Calvia Olympiad 2004
Kd7 with a drawn position.

9...Kd7

More complicated was 9...Ke8 10.Rb2

Re1+ (10...Kd7 11.Ke5 Ra5+ 12.Kf6
Rf5+ 13.Kg7 Kxd6 14.f4+–) 11.Kd4
Kd7 12.Kd5 Rd1+ 13.Ke5 Rd3 14.Rb7+
Ke8 15.Re7+ Kf8 16.f4 Rd1 (16...Rxg3
17.Kf6) 17.Ra7 Kg7 18.Ra4 Kf8 19.Rd4
Magnus had some problems showing
Re1+ 20.Kd5+–
how to build the defensive set-up.
10.Ke5 Ra5+ 11.Kf6 Rf5+ 12.Kg7 Rf3
44...Kf8
It is dangerous to create a weakness on 47...gxh5 48.gxh5 Rh1 49.Ke4 Re1+
h6 after 44...g5 45.Kf2 Kg7 46.Ke2 Rd4 (49...Kd8 50.Rb7 f6 51.f4 Rxh5 52.Rf7)
47.Ke3 Rd1 48.Ke4 Kf6 49.Rb6+ Kg7 50.Kf5 Rh1 51.d6+ Kxd6 52.Kf6 Rh3
(49...Ke7 50.Rxh6) 50.Ke5 Re1+ 53.Rf5
51.Kd6 Rd1 52.Kc6+–
47.h5!
44...Kf8 45.h4
Creating a ‘Swiss cheese’ pawn
Simpler was 45.Kf4 Rd2 46.h4 structure, full of holes.

45...g6 47...Kf7

Magnus had an interesting chance to What else?

cut Onischuk’s king: 45...Rd4! 46.Kf2 47...Rd3 48.Rb8+ Kg7 49.Rb7+ Kf8
Rd3 47.Ke2 Ra3 50.Ke4 Rd1 51.hxg6;
47...gxh5 48.gxh5 Kf7 49.Kf5 Rd3 50.f4
46.Kf4 f6? Rd4 51.Rb7+ Kf8 52.Rb6 Rxd5+
53.Kxf6

48.Rb7+ Kg8 49.Ke4 gxh5 50.gxh5

White is easily winning now.

50...Kf8 51.Rh7 Re1+ 52.Kf5 Kg8

53.Rd7! Rf1 54.f4 Kf8 55.d6 Ke8
56.Rh7 Rd1 57.Ke6 1–0

Such a move is very dangerous; all the 12

pawns are highly unstable now. D. Smith
The move 46...Ke7 does not create K. Pytel
serious problems for White and the Corr. 1970/71
correct plan is to create a weakness
with 47.h5
a) Wrong would be 47.g5? hxg5+
48.hxg5 f6!;
b) But there exists another winning
idea 47.Rb7+ Kf6 (47...Ke8 48.Ke5)
48.g5+ Kg7 49.Ke5 hxg5 50.hxg5 Rf1
51.d6 Rxf3 52.Ke4 Rf1 53.Kd5 Rd1+
54.Kc6 Rc1+ 55.Kd7 Rc5 56.Ke8;
Here White has already achieved the
ideal pawn structure and his king is
now ready to help his passed pawn.
1.Kc4 Ra1
7.Kd6 Kf8 8.Rb3 Rd2 9.Rf3+–) 5.Rd3
Rb1 6.fxg6 fxg6 7.Ke4 Kd6 8.Kf4 Rb4+
9.Kg5 Rg4+ 10.Kh6 Ke7 11.Rf3 Kd8
12.Rf6 Rxg3 13.Rxg6 Rd3 14.Rg5
winning.

Wrong was 1...Kd6 2.Rb6+ Ke7 3.Rb5
a) 3.Rb7+ Ke6 4.d5+ Rxd5 5.Rxf7 Rd1=;
b) 3.d5 Ra3 4.Rb3 Ra5 5.Rb7+ Kf6
6.Rb5 (6.d6 Ke6 7.d7 Ke7 8.d8=Q+
Kxd8 9.Rxf7 Ra3=) 6...Ra3 7.Rb3 Ra5
8.Kd4 Ke7 9.Rb7+ Kf6 10.Rb6+ Ke7
11.Ke5
2.Rb7+ Kf6 3.d5 Rc1+ 4.Kd4 Rd1+
4...Rc2 5.Rb3 Ke7 6.f5+–
5.Kc5 Rd3
Or 5...Rc1+ 6.Kd6 Rc3 7.Rb6 Rd3
8.Kd7+ Kf5 9.d6 Rxg3 10.Kc7 Rc3+
11.Rc6 Rd3 12.d7 Kxf4 13.Rd6 Rc3+
14.Kd8 Ke5 15.Rd1 and there is no
defence against Ke8.

6.Kc6

Winning was 6.d6 Rc3+ 7.Kd5 Rxg3

8.Rb8 Rd3+ 9.Kc6 Rc3+ 10.Kd7 Rc4
11.Ke8
11...f6+ 12.Kd4! (12.Rxf6 Rxd5+
13.Kxd5 Kxf6=) 12...Ra3 13.Re6+ Kf7 6...Rxg3
(13...Kd7 14.Rxf6 Rxg3 15.Ke4 Rg4
16.Ke5 winning, as shown later.)
14.Re3;
3...Ra3 4.Rb7+ Ke6 5.d5+ Kd6 6.Rxf7
Rxg3 7.Rf6+ Kd7 8.Kd4 Rf3 9.Ke4 Rg3
(9...Rh3 10.Rxg6 Rxh4 11.Rh6 Rh1
12.Ke5 h4 13.Rh7+ Ke8 14.Ke6 Re1+
15.Kd6 Rh1 16.f5 h3 17.f6 h2 18.f7+
Kf8 19.Kd7 Rd1 20.Rxh2 Rxd5+ 21.Ke6
winning.) 10.Ra6 Rg1 11.Ke5 Re1+
12.Kf6 Rg1 13.Ra7+ Kd6 14.Rg7 Rg4
7.d6?
15.Rxg6 Kxd5 16.Rg5+ Ke4 17.f5 Rxh4
18.Kg6+–; Here there was a great win available
Or 1...Ra7 2.d5 Rc7+ 3.Kd4 Rc1 4.f5 according to Petronijevic: 7.Rb5! Rf3
Rd1+ (4...gxf5 5.Ke5 Rd1 6.Rb7+ Ke8
8.d6 Rxf4 9.d7 Rd4 10.Rb8 g5 13
11.d8=Q+ Rxd8 12.Rxd8 gxh4 13.Kd5 I. Novikov
V. Gavrikov
7...Rc3+ 8.Kd7 Kf5??
Lvov 1987

The correct path to the draw is

complicated: 8...Rc4 9.Rb8 (9.Rc7 Rxf4
10.Kc8 Rxh4 11.d7 Rd4 12.d8=Q+
Rxd8+ 13.Kxd8 and this endgame is
drawn.) 9...Rxf4 10.Kc6 Rxh4 11.d7
Rd4 12.d8=Q+ Rxd8 13.Rxd8 Ke5
14.Re8+ Kd4! 15.Rh8 g5! 16.Rxh5 g4
17.Rg5 f5! 18.Rxf5 Ke4

The weakness of the h3-pawn creates

9.Rb5+ Kxf4
very unpleasant conditions for White’s
defence.

1...Rd4

Another option was 1...Ke7 2.f4 gxf4

3.Rh8 Rd2+ 4.Kf3 (4.Kf1 Ke6 5.Rxh4
Kd5 6.Rh7 Ke4 7.Rxf7 Kf3 8.Ke1 Re2+
9.Kd1 (9.Kf1 Rh2–+) 9...Re5–+)
4...Rd3+ 5.Kg2 Rg3+ 6.Kh2 f3 7.Rxh4
f2–+
10.Rg5!
1...Rd4 2.Re8 Ra4 3.Rg8 Ra5
A great move, holding back the pawns.
An alternative is 3...d5
10...f5 11.Rxg6 Ke4 12.Ke6 f4 13.d7
Rd3 14.Ke7 Ke5 15.Re6+ 1–0 4.Rb8

Staying on the king’s flank is useless:

4.Rh8 Rb5 5.Rg8 Ke6

4...Ke6 5.Re8+ Kd7 6.Re4 f6 7.Rb4

Ra2

Black could slowly start pushing his

asset here with 7...d5 8.Rb6 Ke7 9.Kf3
Ra4 10.Kg2 Ra1 11.Kf3 Rh1 12.Kg2
Re1
8.Rb3 Re2!
The rook is prepared to protect the
pawns from e6 and the king comes to
the critical c-file.
9.Rb7+ Kc6 10.Rf7 Re6
11.f4
The only chance to get counterplay.
11...gxf4
It was simpler not to react to his
opponent’s tricks and instead simply
push his pawn: 11...d5 12.fxg5 fxg5
13.Rf5 d4 14.Rxg5 d3
12.Kf3 d5 13.Kxf4 d4 14.Rf8 d3
15.Rd8 Rd6 16.Rc8+
The pawn ending is lost: 16.Rxd6+
Kxd6 17.Ke3 Ke5 18.Kxd3 Kf4 19.Kd4
Kg3 20.Ke4 Kxh3 21.Kf3 Kh2 22.Kf2
h3–+
16...Kb5 17.Rc1 d2 18.Rd1 Kc4
19.g5 fxg5+ 20.Kxg5 Rd4
0–1
14
E. Ermenkov
O. H. Castro Rojas
Linares 1979
36...h5 37.Kf3 Rb5
It was also possible to use the cutting
idea from the Portisch game: 37...Re5
38.Ra7 Rb6 39.Ke3 Rb3+ 40.Ke4
Ke6 41.Kf4 Rb4+ 42.Ke3 d5 43.Kf3
f6 44.Rg7 Kf5 45.Rd7 Rb3+ 46.Ke2
Rb5 47.Ke3 Ra5 48.Kf3 Ke6 49.Rg7
Kf5 50.Rd7 Ke6 51.Rg7
51...d4! The tricky 59.g4 doesn’t help after
59...Re5+ 60.Kd2 h4
Time to advance!
59...g4
52.Ke4
The move 59...Kxg3 was criticised by
White’s rook would be cut down after Pal Benko, but it may have been better:
carelesss materialism: 52.Rxg6 Kf7 60.fxg5 h4 61.Rd1 h3 62.Rg1+ Kh4
53.Rh6 Kg7–+ 63.Ke4 Rxg5 64.Rxg5 h2–+

52...Rd5 53.Kd3 Kf5 54.Re7? 60.Ke4

The rook was already ideally placed. 60.Rd3 Rf8 61.Ke4 (61.Kf2 Ra8 62.Rb3
Much simpler was 54.f3 (62.f5 Ra5–+) 62...Ra2+ 63.Kg1
(63.Kf1 h4 64.gxh4+ Kh2!–+) 63...Rg2+
54...Kg4
(63...h4 64.gxh4+ g3 65.Rb1!) 64.Kh1
The idea was 54...g5? 55.Re4! Rxg3 65.Rxg3+ Kxg3 66.f5 Kf2 67.f6
g3–+)
55.Re4+ Kh3 56.Rxd4
60...Rf8 61.Rd3
Black wins easily after 56.Rf4 f5
57.Rxd4 Rxd4+ 58.Kxd4 f4–+

56...Rf5 57.Ke3

61...h4!

A nice try, but insufficient.

57...g5! 62.gxh4+?

This is much better than 57...Kg2 58.f4! It is always necessary to use your own
Kxg3 59.Rd1! weapon: 62.f5! hxg3 63.Kf4 Kh4
64.Rd1! g2 65.Rg1 Kh3 66.Rxg2! Kxg2
58.hxg5 fxg5 59.f4 67.Kxg4=
62...g3 63.Kf3
Not dangerous was 63.f5 Kg4 64.Rd6
Re8+ 65.Kd3 (65.Re6 Rxe6+ 66.fxe6
g2–+) 65...Kxf5 66.h5 Rg8–+
63...g2 64.Rd1 Rg8 65.Rg1 Kh2
66.Rxg2+
66.Kf2 Rg4!–+
66...Rxg2 67.f5 Kh3 68.h5 Rg1
69.Kf4 Kh4 70.h6 Rf1+ 71.Ke5 Kg5
72.h7 Rxf5+
0–1
It was also possble to return to the
classical method with 9.Ra8.
9...Rb2+ 10.Kf3 Rb4 11.Ke2 Kf5
12.Rd6 Rb5 13.Ra6 g5! 14.hxg5 fxg5
15.Ra4 Rb8! 16.f3
White could not reduce the pawns
tactically: 16.g4+ hxg4 17.Rd4 Re8+
18.Kf1 Re5 19.Kg2 Ke6 20.Rxg4 Kd6
White’s king is cut and Black’s comes
to the c-file, which is the best place.
21.f4 gxf4 22.Rxf4 Kc5
16...Rb2+

15
H. van Riemsdijk
O. Brendel
Biel 1993

17.Kf1

I don’t like to be cut on the first rank!

1...h5
Here White tried a different defensive
position for his rook, but it seems to be
the wrong strategy.
17.Ke3 Rg2 18.Ra5 Ke6 19.Ra6+ Ke5
20.f4+ gxf4+ 21.gxf4+ Kf5 22.Rd6=
17...Rc2!
Trying to take control of the fourth
rank.

2.Rf4+ Ke6 3.h4 Ra8 4.Ke3 Ra3+ 18.Kg1

5.Ke2 Rb3 6.Kd2 Rb1 7.Ke2 f6 8.Ra4
Why not the logical 18.Ra8?
Ke5 9.Ra6
18...Ke5 24...Rxh4 25.gxh4 Kd4 26.Kd2 Ke4
27.Kd1 Kf4 28.Kd2 Kg4 29.Kxd3
More logical was 18...Rc4 19.Ra8 g4! Kxh4 30.Ke2 Kg3 31.Kf1
20.Rf8+ Ke5 21.fxg4 hxg4 22.Kf2
(22.Re8+ Kd4 23.Kf2 Rc2+ 24.Kf1 1/2–1/2
Kd3–+) 22...Rc2+ 23.Ke3 d4+ 24.Kd3
Rc3+ 25.Kd2 Rxg3–+ 16
L. Portisch
19.f4+ gxf4 20.Rxf4!? S. Gligoric
Vrnjacka Banja 1966
20.gxf4+ Kf5 21.Rd4 Ke6 22.Ra4 Rc4
23.Ra6+ Kf5 24.Ra5 Ke4 25.f5 Rc6
26.Kf2 h4

20...d4 21.Kf1

49...Re5+ 50.Kd2!

The king cannot be forced out of the

21...d3?
Black was one step from the right way:
21...Rh2! 22.Kg1 (22.Ke1 Kd5! 23.Rf8
Ke4 24.Re8+ Kf3 25.Rg8 Re2+ 26.Kd1
Rg2 27.Rg5 Ke3 28.Re5+ Kd3 29.Kc1
Rc2+ 30.Kd1 (30.Kb1 Rh2–+) 30...Rh2
31.Kc1 Rh1+ 32.Kb2 Kd2–+) 22...Re2!
23.Rh4 d3 24.Rxh5+ Ke4–+
passed pawn’s way: 50.Kf3 Kf5 51.Ra7
f6 52.Rd7 d5 53.Rf7 Ke6 54.Rg7 g5
50...Kf5
50...Re7 51.Ra6 Ke5 52.Ke3 d5 leads to
a position similar to Ghitescu-Rajkovic
51.Ra7 f6 52.Rg7 Re6
Not 52...g5 53.hxg5 fxg5 54.f3 Re6
55.Rh7 Kg6 56.Rh8

22.Ke1! Re2+ 23.Kd1 Re4 24.Rh4! 53.Rg8 g5 54.Rh8

and the pawn ending is drawn.

Portisch says ‘simple draw’ after
54.hxg5 fxg5 55.f3?! h4 56.gxh4 gxh4
57.Rh8 Kg5 58.f4+ Kg4–+
54...Kg4 55.Rg8 Re5
56.Rg6?
Here there was a fantastic chance with
56.hxg5 fxg5 57.f4 Rc5 58.Ke3 Rc3+
59.Kd4 Rxg3 60.Rxg5+= and draw
according Portisch.
56...Kh3?
The best chance for a win, but still
insufficient, was 56...Rf5 57.f4!
a) There were two other serious
options: 57.Ke2 Petronijevic’s
suggestion 57...d5 (57...Kh3 58.hxg5
fxg5 59.Kf1 d5 60.Rg8 h4 61.gxh4 gxh4
62.Rg6=) 58.f4 Kxg3 59.fxg5 fxg5
60.Rxg5+ Kf4 61.Rg8 Ke4 Now we
come to a position with one pawn on
the flank 62.Rh8! Re5 63.Kd2 Kf3
64.Rg8! It is necessary to cut the king.
64...Re4 65.Rg5 Rd4+ 66.Kc3 Rxh4
67.Rxd5 with a basic drawn position;
b) 57.Ke3 Kh3! 58.hxg5 fxg5 59.Rxd6
(59.f4 g4 60.Rg5 Rxg5 61.fxg5 h4–+)
59...g4 60.Rd4 Kg2 61.Rf4 Rxf4 62.gxf4
h4 63.f5 h3 64.f6 h2 65.f7 h1=Q
66.f8=Q Qe1+ 67.Kd3 Qxf2–+;
57...Kxg3 58.fxg5 fxg5 59.Rxg5+ Kf4
60.Rg6 Ke5 61.Rh6=
57.Rxf6 gxh4
Now no winning chances are promised
by 57...g4 58.Rxd6 Kg2 (58...Rf5 59.Ke1
Kg2 60.Rd2) 59.Rf6 Kf1 60.Kd3 Re2
61.f4 Rg2 62.Rh6, nor 57...Rd5+ 58.Ke3
gxh4 59.gxh4 Kxh4 60.f4
58.Rxd6! hxg3 59.fxg3 Kxg3
60.Rg6+ Kf3 61.Rf6+ Kg4 62.Rg6+
Kf5 63.Rg8 h4 64.Rf8+ Kg4 65.Rg8+
Kh3 66.Rg7 Kh2 67.Rg8 Re4 68.Rg7
h3 69.Rg8 Re7 70.Rg6 Ra7 71.Ke2
Ra2+ 72.Kf1 Rg2 73.Rh6 Rg4 74.Rh8
Rf4+ 75.Ke2
1/2–1/2
17
P. Leko
V. Korchnoi
Dresden Olympiad 2008
48.Kf4 Re2 49.f3 Kf6 50.Rd6+ Ke7
51.Ra6 Rd2 52.Ra7+ Kf6 53.Ra6+
Ke7 54.Ke4 Re2+
Black had no time for 54...h5 55.Ra7+
Kf6 56.g4! This move destroys the
structure on the flank. 56...hxg4
57.fxg4 Re2+ 58.Kd4 Rd2+ 59.Kc5 Ke5
60.Re7+ Kf4 61.h5 Rc2+ 62.Kd4 Rd2+
63.Kc4 gxh5 64.gxh5
55.Kd3 Rg2 56.g4 Rh2 57.Ke4
An interesting chance would be 57.h5
gxh5 58.Rxh6 Rh3 59.gxh5 Rxf3+
60.Ke4 Rf1 61.d6+ Kd7 62.Ke5 Re1+
(62...Rh1! 63.Kf6 (63.Rh8 Re1+ 64.Kf6
Rf1+ 65.Kg7 Kxd6=) 63...Kxd6
64.Kxf7+ Kd7=) 63.Kf6 Kxd6 64.Kxf7+
Kd7 65.Rf6 with a basic winning
position.
57...Re2+
57...Rxh4 58.Ke5 Rh3 (58...Rh1 59.d6+
Ke8 60.Ra8+ Kd7 61.Ra7+ Ke8
62.Re7+ Kf8 63.Kf6 Rd1 64.Rxf7+ Kg8
65.Rd7) 59.d6+ Ke8 60.Ra8+ Kd7
61.Ra7+ Ke8 62.Re7+ Kf8 63.Ke4 Rh1
64.Kd5 Rd1+ 65.Kc6 The king comes to
the c-file! 65...Rc1+ 66.Kd7 (66.Kb7
Rd1 67.Kc7 Rc1+ 68.Kd8) 66...h5
67.gxh5 gxh5 68.Re8+ Kg7 69.Ke7
Re1+ 70.Kd8 Rf1 71.d7 Rxf3 72.Kc7
Rc3+ 73.Kb6 Rd3 74.d8=Q Rxd8
75.Rxd8 h4 76.Kc5
58.Kf4 g5+ 59.Kf5! Re3
White gets two connected pawns after
59...gxh4 60.Rxh6 Rd2 61.Ke4 Re2+
62.Kd3 Rh2 63.d6+ Kd7 64.Ke3 Ra2
(64...h3 65.Rf6 Rh1 66.Kf4 h2 67.Rxf7+
Kxd6 68.Kg3+–) 65.Rf6 h3 66.Rxf7+
Kxd6 67.Rh7 h2 68.Kf4 Ke6 69.Kg3
winning.
60.Rxh6 gxh4 61.Ra6?
Simpler would be 61.Kf4 Rd3 62.Ke4
61...Re2?
61...Rxf3+ 62.Ke5
62.Rh6 Rd2 63.Ke4 Re2+ 64.Kd3 The situation is simple after 55...Rxg3
Rh2 65.Ke4 1–0 56.Ke7 Re3+ 57.Re6 Rg3 58.d6 Rd3
59.Rxg6 Re3+ 60.Re6 Rd3 61.Re5
18
W. Moranda 56.Ke7 gxh4 57.gxh4
G. Gajewski
Useful was the preliminary 57.Rf8+
Warsaw 2012

57...Rc7+ 58.Ke6 Rc4

We can see here that, even in the most

favourable positions, Grandmasters go
astray.
59.d6?
43.Rc7+ Kf6 44.Rc6+ Ke7 45.Ke5
The win was simple after 59.Rf8+ Kb7
This is the ideal position for all White’s 60.d6 Re4+ 61.Kd5 Re1 62.d7 Rd1+
pieces. 63.Ke6 Re1+ 64.Kf6 Rf1+ 65.Kg7

45...Rf3 46.Rc7+ Kd8 47.Rc2 Kd7 59...Kb7?

48.Ra2 Ke7 49.Ra7+ Kd8
Black missed a great chance for a draw
Now begins the decisive transfer of the here with 59...Re4+ 60.Kd5 Rxh4
king to the c-file.
60.Rf8 Re4+ 61.Kd5
50.Kd6! Rf6+ 51.Kc5 Rxf2 52.Kc6!
Rc2+ 53.Kd6 Kc8 54.Rxf7 Rc3 55.Rf6 1–0

The other way is good too: 55.Rf8+

Kb7 56.Kd7 Rxg3 57.d6 Rg4 58.Ke6 19
Rxh4 59.d7 G. Hertneck
I. Marinkovic
55...g5 Germany 1991

43.c5!
Pawn sacrifice! Activating the king and
creating a passed pawn.
43...dxc5 44.Kc4
Stronger was 44.Re1 Rf2 45.Kc4 Rxf4+
46.Kxc5 Rxh4 47.d6 Rh2 48.d7 Rc2+
49.Kb6 Rb2+ 50.Kc6 Rc2+ 51.Kb5
Rb2+ 52.Kc4
44...Rc2+ 45.Kb5 c4 46.Kc6 Rd2
47.Rxc4 Ke7 48.Re4+ Kd8 49.Kd6
Ra2 50.Rc4 Ra6+ 51.Rc6 Ra4 52.Rb6
Kc8 53.Ke5 Kd7 54.Rb7+ Ke8
55.Kd6!?
The best place for the king is on the c-
file.
55...Ra6+ 56.Kc5 Rf6
Of no help is 56...Ra4 57.Kc6 Rxf4
58.Kd6;
Hertneck gives the variation 56...Ra5+
57.Rb5 Rxb5+ 58.Kxb5 Kd7 59.Kc5
Kc7 60.d6+ Kd7 61.Kd5 f6 62.Kc5 g5
63.hxg5 fxg5 64.fxg5 h4 65.g6 h3 66.g7
h2 67.g8=Q h1=Q 68.Qf7+
57.Rb4 Kd7?
57...Ra6
58.Ra4 Ke7 59.f5
It was also possible to win without
sacrificing: 59.Ra7+ Ke8 60.f5! Rxf5
61.Kc6 Rf1 62.Ra8+ Ke7 63.d6+ Ke6
64.Re8+ Kf5 65.d7+– Rc1+ 66.Kb5 Rd1
67.d8=Q Rxd8 68.Rxd8 g5 69.Rd5+
Kg4 70.Rxg5+ Kxh4 71.Rg7 Kh3
72.Kc4+–
59...Rxf5
59...gxf5 60.Ra7+ Ke8 61.d6 f4 62.Kc6
Kf8 63.Kc7+–
60.Kc6
60.Ra7+ Kf6
60...Rf1 61.d6+ Ke6 62.Re4+ Kf5
63.d7?
The creates difficulties for the win, and
a much easier way was 63.Rd4! Rc1+
(63...Ke5 64.Rd2 Rc1+ 65.Kb6 Rb1+
66.Kc7 Rc1+ 67.Kd8 f5 68.d7 Rb1
69.Ke8) 64.Kd5 Rc8 65.d7 Rh8 66.Kc5!
Rd8 67.Kd6 f6 (67...g5 68.Rd5+ Kg4
69.hxg5 h4 70.Ke7 Rxd7+ 71.Kxd7 h3
72.Kd6 h2 73.Rd1 Kxg5 74.Rh1)
68.Ke7 Rxd7+ 69.Rxd7 winning -
Hertneck.
63...Kxe4
63...Rd1 64.Ra4 Ke6 65.Re4+ Kf5
64.d8=Q Rf5 65.Qd1 Kf4 66.Qg1 Kf3
67.Kd6 Kf4 68.Qg2 Ke3 69.Qg3+ Ke4
70.Ke7 Kd4 71.Kf8 Ke4 72.Kg7 Kd4
73.Qe1 Kd3 74.Kf8 Kd4 75.Qg3 Ke4
76.Ke7 Kd4 77.Kd6 Ke4 78.Kc6 Kd4
79.Qe1 Rc5+ 80.Kb6 Rf5 81.Qe2
39.Rc7 Kf6 40.Ke3 Ra6 41.Rd7 Ke6
42.Rb7 Ra3+ 43.Kf4 Ra4+ 44.Ke3
Re4+ 45.Kd3! Re1 46.Rb6+ Kf5
47.Rb7 f6
A bit strange. Usually the weaker side
as a rule repeats moves, so 47...Ke6
48.Rd7 Re5 49.f3!?
49.Rd8!? also leads to a draw: 49...Kg4
50.Rg8 Kf3 (50...g5 51.f4 Rf5 52.fxg5
fxg5 53.Kd4 Kxg3 54.Rxg5+ Kf4
55.Rxf5+ Kxf5 56.Kxd5 Kg4 57.Ke4
Kxh4 58.Kf3) 51.Rxg6 Kxf2 52.Kd4
(52.Rxf6+ Kxg3–+) 52...Rf5 53.Rg8 Rf3
54.Kxd5 Rxg3 55.Rh8=
49...Ke6 50.Rg7 g5

1/2–1/2

20
M. Carlsen
H. Wang
Norway Chess, Stavanger 2013
51.Rh7

A forced drawing line was possible

here: 51.f4! gxf4 52.gxf4 Re4 53.Rh7
Rxf4 54.Rxh5 f5 55.Rh8 Re4 56.h5 Rh4
57.h6 Kf6 58.h7 Kg6 59.Rg8+ Kxh7
60.Rg5

51...g4

White would easily hold after 51...gxh4 56.Kd2?

52.gxh4 Rf5 53.Ke3 d4+ 54.Kxd4 Rf4+
55.Ke3 Rxh4 56.Kf2
52.fxg4
White could make a draw after 52.f4!?
Re1 53.Rxh5 Ra1 (53...Rg1 54.Kd4
Rxg3 55.Rxd5 f5 56.Ra5 Rf3 57.Ra6+
Kf7 58.Ke5) 54.Ke2 Ra3 55.Kf2 Rf3+
56.Kg2 d4 57.Rh8
52...hxg4 53.Rg7 f5 54.Rg6+ Kf7
55.Ra6
The move 55.h5!? deserves serious
consideration here: 55...Re6 (55...Re1?
56.Kd4 Rg1 57.Kxd5 Rxg3 58.Ke5 Rf3
59.Rg5 g3 60.h6=) 56.Rg5 Kf6 57.Rg8
Ke5 58.Ke3 (58.Rh8 f4 59.gxf4+ Kxf4
60.h6 Kg3 61.Kd4 Rg6 62.Kxd5 Kh3
63.h7 Rg7 64.Ke5 g3–+ Duda) 58...Rh6
59.Re8+ Kd6 60.Rd8+ Ke6 61.Re8+
Kd7 62.Re5
It was possible to play the much more
active move 56.Kd4 Re4+ (56...f4
57.gxf4 g3 58.Ra2 Ke6 59.Rg2 Re4+
60.Kd3 Ra4 61.Ke2 Ra3 62.Kf1 Kf5
63.Rd2 Ke4 64.Kg2 d4 65.Rd1 d3
66.Kxg3 d2+ 67.Kg4 Kd3 68.h5)
57.Kxd5 Re3 58.h5 Rxg3 59.Ke5 Rf3
60.Ra7+ Kg8 61.Kf6 g3 62.h6=;
56.h5 Rd1+ (56...Rg1 57.Kd4 Rxg3
58.Ke5=) 57.Ke3 d4+ 58.Kf4 d3 59.Rd6
d2 60.Kg5 f4 61.h6 fxg3 62.h7 and
Black cannot win.
56...Rg1
It seems to me that White can still save
the game here, but he needs to play
very precisely.
57.Ra3 Rg2+ 58.Ke1 Kf6 59.Kf1 Rc2
60.Ra6+ Ke5 61.h5 Rh2 62.h6 d4
63.Kg1 Rh3

55...Re1
 71...f4!

As usual, a pawn sacrifice decides

matters.

72.gxf4 Ke2 73.Re6+ Re3 74.Rxe3+

Kxe3 75.h7 d1=Q 76.h8=Q Qf3+
77.Kg1 Qf2+ 78.Kh1 Qf1+ 79.Kh2
g3+ 0–1

64.Kg2?
21
The decisive mistake. L. Aronian
64.Kf2! It was necessary to take S. Karjakin
control of the e3–square. 64...d3 Moscow 2010
65.Ra5+ Kd4 (65...Ke4 66.Ra4+)
66.Ra4+ Kc3 67.Ra3+ Kc2 68.Ra2+ Kb3
69.Ra6 d2 (69...Rh2+ 70.Kg1 (70.Ke1?
Kc3 71.Ra3+ Kd4 72.Ra4+ Ke3)
70...Rh3 71.Kf2=) 70.Ke2 Rh2+ 71.Kd1
Kc3 72.Ra3+ Kd4 73.h7 Ke4 74.h8=Q
Rxh8 75.Kxd2 Rh2+ 76.Ke1=

64...d3–+ 65.Ra5+ Kd4 66.Ra4+ Kc3

67.Ra6 There are some situations with far-
advanced passed pawns where the
67.Ra3+ Kd2 68.Ra2+ Ke3–+ defender can block it effectively.

67...d2 68.Rc6+ Kd3 69.Rd6+ Kc2 42...Rd8 43.g4

70.Rc6+ Kd1 71.Rd6
Normal moves do not succeed: 43.Kf3
Kf8 44.Ke4 Ke7 45.Kf5 Rxd7 46.Rxd7+
Kxd7 47.Kg5?? Ke6 (A mistake is
47...g6 48.Kf6 Ke8 49.f5 gxf5 50.Kxf5
Ke7 51.Kg5) 48.f5+ (48.Kxh5?? Kf5
and White loses with an extra pawn.
49.g4+ Kxf4 50.g5 Kf5 51.g6 fxg6#)
48...Ke5 49.g4 hxg4 50.Kxg4 f6 51.Kh5
Kxf5
43...hxg4 44.f5 f6 79.Kf2 Rd1 80.Ke2 Rd6 81.Kf3 Kxg5
82.Ke4 Kf6 83.Rh7 Rd1 84.Rxh5
Possible was 44...Kf8 45.f6 gxf6 46.Kg3 Rxd7
f5 47.Kf4 Ke7 48.h5 Kf6=
1/2–1/2
45.Kg3 Kf7 46.Kxg4 Ke7 47.Rc7 Kf7!
23
Staying calm. Wrong was 47...Rxd7?
B. Macieja
48.Rxd7+ Kxd7 49.Kh5 Ke7 50.Kg6 Kf8
M. Bartel
51.Kh7 Kf7 52.h5 Kf8 53.h6 gxh6
Warsaw 2010
54.Kxh6 Kf7 55.Kh7

48.h5 Ke7 49.Kh4 Kf7 50.Rb7 Ke7

51.h6 gxh6 52.Kh5 Kf7 53.Rb6 Rxd7
54.Kxh6 Re7 55.Rb8 Rd7 56.Kh7

1/2–1/2

22
Z. Almasi
H. Nakamura
45...Re6+?
Dresden 2008
Black had a choice between two checks
and...decided on the wrong one! The
alternative was winning: 45...Rc1+
46.Kd2 Rg1 47.g3 Rf1! (47...Rg2
48.Ke3=) 48.f4 (48.Ke3 d2) 48...Rf2+
49.Kd1 (49.Ke3 d2) 49...Rxh2 50.Rxd3
Rh3 This endgame with 2 against 3 is
simply lost because of the transfer into
a pawn ending. 51.Ke2 h4 52.gxh4
77.d7 g5! Rxd3 53.Kxd3 Kh6 54.Ke4 Kh5 55.Ke5
(55.f5 Kxh4 56.fxg6 fxg6 57.Kf3 g5
The only move, otherwise White’s king 58.Kf2 Kh3) 55...f5 56.Kf6 Kxh4
will come to the pawn. 57.Kxg6 Kg4

78.hxg5+ Kg6! 45...Re6+? 46.Kf1 d2 47.Ra1 Kf6

48.Rd1 Rd6 49.Ke2 Ke5 50.Rxd2
Of course not 78...Kxg5 79.Re5+ Rxd2+ 51.Kxd2
1/2–1/2 25
A. Pekarek
24 A. Petrosian
V. Smyslov Dortmund 1990
D. Bronstein
Moscow 1966

Sometimes incredible events emerge

from the simplest-looking endgames...

30...f6! 31.f4 Kf7 32.f5 g6 1.g5!

Also possible was 32...Ke8 33.Kf2 Kd7
34.g4 Kc6
33.g4 gxf5 34.gxf5 Ke8 35.Kf2 Kd7
36.Kf3 Ra8
Another option was 36...Rg8 37.Rd2
Rg5 38.Kf4 h5 39.h3 Rg1
37.Kg4 Ra2 38.h3 Ra3 39.Rd4 Ra6
40.h4 Rxd6 41.Ra4 Rd1 42.Kh5
42.Ra7+ Kd6 43.Rxh7 Rg1+ 44.Kh5
Ke5 45.Kh6 Kxf5=
42...Rd5 43.Kh6 Rxf5 44.Kxh7 Ke7
45.Kg7 Rh5
1.Rxg7?? Kf8 2.Rh7 Kg8–+
1.g5! Rc1! 2.Rxg7
2.Kf2= hxg5 3.Rxg7 Kf6 4.Rg8 Rh1
5.Rd8 Ke5;
2.g6=
2...Rg1+ 3.Kf4 Rxg5!–+ 4.Rxg5 hxg5+
5.Kxg5??
Capture is not automatic, even in pawn
endgames! 5.Ke5! d4 6.Kxd4 Kf6 7.Ke4
Kg7 8.Kf5 Kh6 9.Kf6 Kxh5 10.Kxf7 Kh4
11.Kf6
5...d4 6.Kf4

1/2–1/2 6.h6 Kf8 7.Kf4 f5!–+

6...f5!! 7.Kg3 Kf6 8.Kf2 Kg5 9.Ke2

Kxh5 10.Kd3
10...Kg5

10...Kh4

11.Kxd4 Kf4

0–1
CHAPTER 4.
CLASSIC ROOK ENDINGS 3: AN EXTRA
FLANK PAWN REVISITED

There is an interesting case that occurs The move 1...Kh7 eventually loses the
in many games: three against three on f-pawn: 2.gxf4 gxf4 3.Kg4 Kg7 4.h4 Kh7
the flank, but one of the pawns is weak. 5.h5 Kg7 6.h6+ Kh7 7.Kf5 Now it is
How to win this pawn and the game? zugzwang and on 7...Rb6 8.Kxf4+– and
Or can the opponent defend, using the white f-pawn advances..
basic drawing ideas? There are
additional drawing chances, where 1...fxg3 2.hxg3??
even two extra pawns are insufficient
This threatens f3–f4, creating the
for the win.
correct passed pawn, but Black has a
powerful tactic that eliminates the
1
right pawn.
PRACTICAL EXAMPLE
The rather simple win involves a pawn
1958
sacrifice, which allows White to keep
the possibility of creating a free passed
pawn on the winning f-file: 2.Kxg3 Kh7
3.h4! gxh4+ 4.Kh3 Kg7 5.f4

2...g4+!! 3.fxg4 Kh7

1/2–1/2

Before we get deep into the topic at

hand, let us first understand the final 2
plan of the stronger side; how to K. Kiewra
secure promotion. D. Naroditsky
Bay Area 2014
1...fxg3
 Black threatens stalemate after
51...Rxb6!

51.Kg2 Rb2+ 52.Kh3

The logical move was still met with a

stalemate sacrifice:

A very interesting situation, where a

similar idea was conducted completely
differently.

48.g3 fxg3 49.hxg3!

After 49.Kxg3 Rb2 White cannot make

progress: 50.h4 gxh4+ 51.Kxh4 Rh2+ 52.Kf3 Rxb6!
52.Kg3 Rb2 53.Rd6 Ke5 54.Rh6 Kf5
55.Rc6 Kg5= 52...Rxb6

49...g4+ 50.fxg4+? And any further moves are senseless.

White had to play 50.Kh4! gxf3 51.g4+ 1/2–1/2

For example: 51...Ke5 52.Kg3 Ke4
53.Re6+ Kd5 54.Rf6 Rb1 55.Rxf3 Rxb6
56.g5 Rb4 57.Re3+–
3
K. Mokry
50...Kg5
J. Pribyl
Olomouc 1977

Suddenly White can’t win despite

being three pawns up! Additionally,
Now let us start studying classical
complex positions, which have in the
end a common idea — promotion of
the passed pawn with the help of the
pawn on the other side.
30...Rc3 31.Ra8 Kf7 32.a4 Ra3 33.a5
33.f4 can transfer later into Timman’s
analysis.
33...e5!
On 33...h5?! 34.a6 Kg6 35.a7 Kh7 36.f4
Kg6 37.Kf2 (37.Kh3 was possible,
again from Timman’s analysis.)
37...Kf7 38.Ke2 Ra2+ 39.Kd3 Ra1
40.Kc4 Rc1+ 41.Kb5 Rb1+ 42.Kc6 Rc1+
43.Kd6 Rd1+ 44.Ke5 Re1+
34.a6 Kg6 35.a7 e4 36.Kf1 Kg5 37.h3
Ra2 38.Ke1 h5 39.Kd1 Kg6
40.h4?!
Is this necessary? It’s better not to
touch the h3-pawn, hoping later he can
create a winning passed pawn on the f-
file.
40.Kc1 Kh7 41.Kb1 Ra6 42.Kb2 Ra5
43.Kc3 Ra1 44.Kd4 Ra4+ 45.Ke5 Kg6
46.g4? (46.Kf4 Kh7 47.Kf5 g6+ 48.Kf6
Ra6+ 49.Ke5 Ra4 50.Kd5 Kg7 51.Kc6
Ra2 52.g4 hxg4 53.hxg4 Rc2+ 54.Kd6
Rd2+ 55.Ke6 Ra2 56.Rd8 (56.g5 Ra4
57.Rd8 Ra6+ 58.Rd6 Rxa7 59.Rd7+
Rxd7 60.Kxd7) 56...Ra6+ 57.Rd6 Rxa7
58.Rd7+ Rxd7) 46...hxg4 (46...h4
47.Kf4 Kh7 48.Kg5) 47.hxg4 Kg5
40...Kh7 41.Kc1 Kg6 42.Kb1 Ra6
43.Kb2 Kh7 44.Kb3 g6 45.Kc4 Kg7
46.Kc5 Ra2 47.Kd4 Ra4+ 48.Kd5
48...Kh7??
The correct way to avoid an
unfavourable pawn endgame was
48...Ra1 49.Kxe4 (49.Kc6 Rc1+ 50.Kd6
Rd1+ 51.Ke6 Ra1 52.Rd8 (52.Re8 Ra6+)
52...Rxa7 53.Rd7+ Rxd7 54.Kxd7 Kf6
55.Kd6 g5 56.hxg5+ Kxg5 57.Kd5 e3
58.fxe3 Kg4 59.e4 Kxg3 60.e5 h4=)
49...Ra5= 50.f3 Ra4+ 51.Kd3 Ra3+
52.Ke2 Ra2+ 53.Kf1 Ra1+ 54.Kg2 Ra2+
55.Kh3 Ra3 56.f4 Kh7 57.Kg2 Ra2+
58.Kf3 Ra3+ 59.Ke4 Ra4+ 60.Kd5 Ra1
61.g4?! This idea doesn’t work
61...hxg4 62.h5? gxh5 63.f5 g3 64.f6 38.Rxd5 Rxb4 39.Kf2 Rb2+ 40.Kf3
g2–+ Kf8 41.Rd7 h5

49.Kc6 Ra2 50.Rd8! We have seen that it is preferable to

keep open the option of ...g6–g5. This
A pawn sacrifice, but the main idea endgame is only a little bit different, as
behind it is to reach a winning pawn we have a passed b-pawn instead of an
endgame. a-pawn. So, 41...h6

50...Rxa7 51.Rd7+ Rxd7 52.Kxd7 g5 42.g3 Ke8 43.Rb7

What else? The simplest way after

52...Kg7 is 53.Ke7 Kg8 54.Kf6 Kh7
55.Kf7 Kh6 56.Kg8 g5 57.Kf7 gxh4
58.gxh4 Kh7 59.Kf6 Kh6 60.Kf5 Kg7
61.Kg5

53.Ke6

1–0

4 43...Rb4!!
S. Djuric
D. Barlov An interesting evaluation of this move
Yugoslavia 1984 — worthy of two exclamation marks!
Grandmaster Barlov gives the
variation 43...Rb1? 44.Kf4 b4 A draw
can be achieved after 45.e6!

It’s very interesting to see how we can

reach our topical endgame in practice...

32.Re4 Rc8 33.Ne5 Be7 34.d5 Bd6 (45.Kg5 b3 46.Kf6 b2 47.Kg7!= Kd8
35.f4 exd5 36.Rd4 Bxe5 37.fxe5 Rc4 48.h4 (48.e6 fxe6 49.Kxg6 e5) 48...Kc8
49.Rb5 Kd7 50.Rb6 (Better here, but
not mentioned by Barlov, is 50.Rd5+ 44...Kf8
Ke6 (50...Kc6 51.Rd2 Kc5 52.Rf2 Kd4
53.Kf8 Ke3 54.Rc2 Kf3 55.Kxf7) 51.Rb5)
50...Kc7 51.Rb3 Kc6 52.Rb8 Kd5
53.Rb5+ Kd4 54.Rb8 Kxe5 55.Rb4 Kd5
56.Rb7 Kc4 57.Rb8 Kd3 58.Rb7 Ke2
59.Rb8 Kf2

45.Ke3?

Barlov correctly prefers 45.Kg2 Rb2+

46.Kh3

60.Rb3 (60.Kxf7 Kxg3 61.Kxg6 Kxh4 45...Rg4

62.Rb5 Kg3) 60...Kg2 61.Kh6 Rf1
62.Rxb2+ Kxg3–+) 45...f6 (45...fxe6
46.Ke5 Kd8 47.Kxe6 Kc8 48.Rb5 Kc7
49.Kf6) 46.Ke4 b3 47.Kd5 b2 48.Rb8+
Ke7 49.Rb7+ Kd8 50.Rb8+ Kc7 51.e7
Now the rook becomes multifunctional;
it will protect the pawns on b4 and g6,
plus it will attack the opponent’s pawn
on g3.

44.h4 46.Kf2

There was an interesting tactical 46.Rxb5 Rxg3+ 47.Kd4 Rg4+ 48.Kd5

opportunity here to destroy Black’s Rxh4
set-up: 44.e6 fxe6 45.Rg7 Rb1
46...b4 47.Rc7
(Possibly a better chance would be
45...Rb3+ 46.Kf2 b4 47.Rxg6 Kf7
White does not like Barlov’s preferred
48.Rg5 Rb1 49.Ke3 b3 50.Kd4 b2
set up: 47.Kf3 Rc4 48.Kg2 Rc2+ 49.Kh3
51.Kc3 Rh1 52.Kxb2 Rxh3 53.Kc2 Kf6
Rb2
54.Rg8 Kf5 55.Kd2 Ke4) 46.Rxg6 Kf7
47.Rg5 b4 48.Rxh5 b3 49.Rb5 b2 The 47...Rd4 48.Ke2 Ke8 49.Rb7 Rg4
draw is easy here 50.Kg4! (50.Kg2 e5– 50.Kf3 Rc4 51.Ke2
+ winning.) 50...e5 51.h4 e4 52.Rf5+!
The idea is to change the rook’s 51.Kg2 Rc2+ 52.Kh3
defensive position to be able to control
51...Rc2+ 52.Kf3
both pawns. 52...Ke6 53.Rf2
Too passive is 52.Kf1 Rb2 53.Kg1 b3
54.Kf1 Kd8 55.Rxf7 Rc2 56.Rb7 b2
52...Rc3+ 53.Kf4 b3 54.Rb4
Black’s king would enter after 54.e6
fxe6 55.Ke5 Rxg3 56.Kxe6 Kd8 57.Kf6
Kc8 58.Rb4 Kc7
54...Kd7 55.g4 hxg4 56.Kxg4 Ke6
57.Kf4 Kd5 58.Rb7 Kc6 59.Rb8
59...Kc5!
Preparing to place his rook behind the
pawn.
60.Rb7 Rc4+ 61.Kg5 Rb4 62.Rxf7 b2
63.Rf1 b1=Q 64.Rxb1 Rxb1 65.Kxg6
Black’s king is too close to White’s
pawns, so the position is lost.
65...Kd5 66.h5 Ke6 67.h6 Rg1+
68.Kh7 Kxe5 69.Kh8 Kf6
0–1
5
R. Kholmov
G. Timoschenko
Pavlodar Analysis 2018
This is another very typical and
instructive case.
1.g3 Ke7 2.Kg2 Kd7 3.Ra8 Kc6 4.Ra4
Kb5 5.Ra8 Kc4 6.Ra7 Kd4 7.Ra4+
Kd3
7...Ke3 8.Ra3+ Kxe4 is the same.
8.Ra8!
Illogical would be 8.Kh2 Kc3 as in
Mokry-Pribyl
8...Kxe4
The transfer into a pawn ending does
not win here: 8...Rc1 9.Rxa2 Rc2+
10.Rxc2 Kxc2 11.Kf3 Kd3 12.Kf4 Kd4
13.Kf3 g5 14.hxg5 fxg5 15.e5! Kxe5
16.Ke3 with a theoretical draw.
9.Re8+ Kd4 10.Rd8+ Ke5

11.Ra8!
Wrong would be 11.Re8+? Kf5 12.Ra8
g5 13.Ra5+ Kg6 14.hxg5 f5! The only
winning idea is to create a passed
pawn on the f-file. Then after ...Kxg5
there will follow ...h5–h4, sacrificing a
pawn and forcing a path for the f-pawn.
11...Ke6
An unsuccessful attempt is seen with
11...g5 12.hxg5 f5 13.Ra6 h4 14.g6
12.Ra6+ Kf7 13.Ra7+ Kg8 14.Ra8+
Kg7 15.Ra7+ Kh6 16.Ra6 f5 17.Ra7
g5 18.Ra6+ Kg7
19.hxg5
There is also another route to the draw:
19.Ra7+ Kf6 20.Ra6+ Ke5 (20...Kf7
21.Ra7+ Ke8 (21...Ke6 22.hxg5 h4
23.g6) 22.Ra8+ Kd7 23.Ra7+ Kd8
24.Ra8+ Kc7? 25.hxg5) 21.hxg5 h4
22.g6
19...h4 20.gxh4 f4
But in this configuration the winning
idea does not work, as White has
obtained dangerous connected pawns.
21.h5 f3+ 22.Kf2 Rh1 23.h6+ Kh7
24.Ra7+ Kg6 25.h7 Rxh7 26.Ra6+
Kxg5 27.Kxf3
...with a draw.
1/2–1/2
6
N. Pogonina
A. Stefanova
Saint Vincent 2005
Let us see how all this knowledge is
applied in practice by the top players.
45...Ra1
Trying to keep a more active rook does
not seem to be useful here: 45...Rb4
46.Ra7 a4 47.g3 g5 48.Ke3 h4
(48...Rb3+ 49.Ke4 a3 50.Kf5) 49.gxh4
Rxh4 50.Kf3 Rb4 51.Kg3 Kf8 52.Kf3
45...Ra1 46.h4 a4 47.Ra7 a3 48.Kf4
White’s king eventually tries to hide on
g5.
48...Kf8 49.Kg3
Possible was the even simpler and
more active 49.Kg5 g6 (49...a2 50.Kxh5
Ke8 51.g4 (51.Kg4) 51...Kd8 52.Kg5)
50.e6 fxe6 51.Kf6 Ke8 52.Kxe6 Kd8
53.Kf6
49...a2 50.Kh2 Ke8 51.g3 Kd8
52.Kg2 Kc8 53.Ra8+ Kb7 54.Ra3 Kc6
55.Ra8 Kd5 56.Ra5+ Ke4
Stronger was 56...Kd4 as in the Mokry
game.
57.Kh2?
It was necessary to transpose to
Kholmov-Timoshchenko with 57.Ra7
Kxe5 58.Ra5+
57...Kd3 58.Kg2 Ke4?
The classical winning way is
transferring into a pawn endgame:
58...Kc3 59.Ra8 Rd1 60.Rxa2 Rd2+
61.Rxd2 Kxd2 62.Kf3 (62.g4 Ke3!–+
(62...hxg4 63.Kg3 Ke3 64.Kxg4 Ke4
65.e6 fxe6 66.Kg5 e5 67.Kg6 Kf4
68.Kxg7 Kg4 69.Kg6 Kxh4 70.Kf5=) )
62...Kd3 63.g4 (63.Kf4 Kd4 64.Kf5 Kd5
65.Kf4 g6 66.g4 hxg4 67.Kxg4 Kxe5
68.Kg5 Ke6 69.Kh6 Kf6 70.Kh7 g5–+)
63...Kd4 64.gxh5 Kxe5 65.Ke3 Kf5 and
Black wins.
59.Kh2 Kf3 60.Ra3+ Kf2 61.Ra7 Ke3
62.Ra3+ Kd4 63.Ra5 Kc4?
Once again, 63...Kc3
64.Kg2??
A simple loss of concentration. Why
not the simple 64.Ra7?
64...Kb3 65.Ra8
65.Rb5+ Ka4 66.Rb8 Rg1+
65...Rb1
0–1
7 Why not the same as before: 45...h5
C. Zhu
N. Pogonina
Krasnoturinsk 2007
Here the structure on the kingside is a
bit different: the e4-pawn is protected,
so Black’s task must be easier.
42.b7 h6 43.g4
What else? Nothing was promised by
43.h3 Kh7 (43...h5? 44.h4 Kh7 45.Rf8
Rxb7 46.Rxf5 Kh6 47.Re5 Rb4 48.Kf1)
44.h4 (Changing the position allows
Black to activate her rook: 44.Rf8 Rxb7
45.Rxf5 Re7 46.Kf1 e3 47.f3 e2+
48.Ke1 Re3) 44...Kg7 45.h5 Kh7 46.g4
fxg4 47.Kg3 Rb4
43...fxg4
Black would lose another pawn after
43...f4 44.Re8 Rxb7 45.Rxe4 Rf7
(45...h5 46.h3!) 46.Kf3
44.Kg3 Rb4
Simpler was 44...h5 45.Kf4 Rb4 46.Kf5
Kh7 47.Kg5 Rb5+ 48.Kf4 Rb4
45.Kf4 e3+?
46.Kg5 Rb5+ 47.Kh4 Kh7
46.Kxe3 Kh7 47.Kd3 Kg7 48.Kc3
Rb1 49.Kd4 Rb5 50.Ke4 h5?!
This is not losing, but there was a very
logical manoeuvre available here,
preventing the king from coming to the
f-file: 50...Rb2 51.Ke5
51.Kf4 Kh7 52.Kg3 Kg7?
52...Rb3+! 53.Kh4 Kg6 54.Rg8+ Kf5
55.Rg5+ (55.b8=Q Rh3#) 55...Kf4
56.Kxh5 Rxb7 57.Rxg4+ Kf3=
53.Kh4 Kh7 54.Rf8 Rxb7 55.Kxh5
Rb4 56.Kg5
56...Rb1
Black decides to transfer into a
drawish ending with f- and h-pawns.
57.Kxg4 Rg1+ 58.Kh5 Kg7 59.Rf5
Rf1 60.h4 Rh1 61.Rg5+ Kf7 62.Rg3
Rb1 63.Ra3 Rb6 64.f4 Kg7 65.Ra5
Rh6+ 66.Kg4 Rb6 67.Ra7+ Kf6
67...Kg6 68.h5+ Kh6 69.Kf5 Rb5+ 88.Ke6 Ra1 89.Kf7 Ra8 90.f6 Kh7
70.Ke6 Rb6+ 71.Ke7 Rb5 72.Ra6+ 91.Re8 Ra7+
Kxh5 73.Ke6 Kg6 74.f5+ Rxf5

68.h5 Rc6 69.h6 Kg6 70.h7 Rc8

71.Kf3?

It was necessary to follow the clear

plan: 71.f5+ Kh6 (71...Kf6 72.Kh5 Kxf5
73.Rg7 (73.Kh6 Kf6)) 72.Kf4 Rb8
73.Re7 Rb4+ 74.Ke5 Rb5+

92.Re7

Not winning either is 92.Ke6 Ra6+

93.Kf5 Ra5+ 94.Re5 Ra1

92...Ra8 93.Rd7 Rb8 94.Rd2 Rb7+

95.Ke6 Rb6+ 96.Rd6 Rb8 97.Rd1
Kg6 98.Rg1+ Kh7 99.f7 Rb6+
75.Kd6
100.Ke5 Rb5+ 101.Kd6 Rb6+
a) 75.Kf6 Rb6+ 76.Re6 Rb8 77.h8=Q+
102.Ke7 Rb7+ 103.Kf6 Rb6+
(77.Ke7+ Kxh7 78.f6 Kg8) 77...Rxh8
104.Kf5 Rb5+ 105.Ke4 Rb4+
78.Kf7+ Kg5 79.f6+–;
106.Kd5 Rb5+ 107.Kd6 Rb6+
b) 75.Ke6 Rb6+ 76.Kf7 Kxh7 77.f6 Rb8
108.Ke5 Rb5+ 109.Ke4 Rb4+ 1/2–
78.Re8 Rb7+=;
1/2
75...Rb8 76.f6+–

71...Re8 72.Re7 Rh8 73.Ke4 Kf6

74.Ra7 Re8+ 75.Kd5 Rd8+ 76.Kc6
8
Rh8 77.Kd6 Rd8+ 78.Rd7 Rh8
M. Gurevich
79.Kd5 Re8 80.Rd6+ Kg7 81.Rd7+
P. Genov
Kf6 82.Rd6+ Kg7 83.Re6 Rd8+
Turkey 2006
84.Ke5 Kxh7 85.f5 Rd1 86.Kf6 Rf1
87.Re7+ Kh6

A classical ‘basic sticking position’

could be obtained after 87...Kg8
 time. (59...Rh7 60.Kxe5) 60.Kxe5 Rb5+
61.Kf6 Ra5

49.Kc2 Kg5 50.Kb2 Ra6 51.Kc3 Ra4

52.Kb3 Ra6 53.Kc4 Ra5 54.Kd4

Black has doubled e-pawns, but this is

not the main factor in the position. It
was also possible to not advance the
pawn to a7, but to try instead to bring
his king to the a6-pawn first.

45.a7!? Kh6 46.Ke2 Kg5 47.h3 Ra3

54...Ra4+
48.Kd2
What else? Black must allow White’s
king to penetrate his pawn position.

55.Ke5 Kh5 56.Kf6 Ra2 57.Kxe6

Now we have our classical and topical

endgame.

57...Kg5 58.Kd5 Ra4 59.Ke5 Kh5

60.Kf4 Kh6

48...Kh5? Wrong is 60...h6 61.h4ʘ+–

Better was to change position of the 61.g4 g5+

rook for the first time: 48...Rd3+
49.Kc2 Rd7 50.Kc3 e5 51.Kc4 h5
52.Kc5 Rf7 53.Kd5 Kf5 54.g4+!? hxg4
55.hxg4+ Kxg4 56.Kxe4 Re7 57.f3+
Kg3 58.Kd5 (58.Rg8 Rxa7 59.Rxg6+
Kf2 60.Rg5 Ra3) 58...g5 59.Kd6 Rb7!
And now it’s time to change the
position of the rook for the second
62.Kf5
Possible also was 62.Ke5 Kg7 63.Kf5
h6 64.Ke5 Ra2 65.Kxe4 Ra4+ 66.Kd5
Ra2 67.Kc4 Kh7 68.Kb5 Kg7 but Black
is holding this position easily.
62...Ra5+
Here there exists a great stalemate
idea to reach the draw: 62...e3!?
63.fxe3 Rxa7! 64.Rh8™ (64.Rxa7=)
64...Rf7+! (64...Re7 65.e4 Rf7+ 66.Ke6
Rf3 67.e5 Kg7 68.Rd8²) 65.Ke4 Rf2=
63.Kxe4 Kg7 64.h4!? h6
Disaster awaits the pawn capture:
64...gxh4?? 65.Kf3 Ra3+ 66.Kg2
followed by preparing the march of the
f-pawn. 66...Ra2 67.Kh3
65.hxg5 hxg5 66.Kd4 Ra2 67.f3 Ra5
68.Kc4 Ra1 69.Kd5
69...Ra2?
A draw can be secured by the smart
idea 69...Ra3™ 70.Kc6 Rc3+ 71.Kd6
Rd3+ 72.Ke6 Re3+= The rook must
perform the double function of being
able to check and also attack his
opponent’s pawn.
70.Kc6!
Trying to transfer into a pawn ending
after Rd8.
70...Rc2+ 71.Kd6 Ra2
White wins after 71...Rd2+ 72.Ke6 Ra2
73.Rd8 Ra6+ 74.Rd6 Rxa7 75.Rd7+
Rxd7 76.Kxd7 Kf6 77.Kd6 Kg6 78.Ke6
72.Rc8
72.Rc8! and Black resigned because of
the variation 72...Ra6+ 73.Rc6 Ra1
(73...Rxa7 74.Rc7+ Rxc7 75.Kxc7 Kf6
76.Kd6 and White wins the g5-pawn.)
74.Rc7+ Kf6 75.Kc6 Ke5! 76.Kb7 Rb1+
77.Kc8 Ra1 78.Kb8 Rb1+ 79.Rb7 Ra1
80.a8=Q Rxa8+ 81.Kxa8 Kf4 82.Rb3
(82.Rf7+)
1–0 Re2+ 74.Kd5 Ra2 75.f3 Ra3! An idea
from the previous game (75...Ra5+?
9 76.Ke6
N. Kosintseva
A. Kosteniuk
Kazan 2012

76...Ra3 77.Rd8 Ra6+ 78.Rd6 Rxa7

79.Rd7+) ) 67.f3 Ra3 obtaining the
drawn Gurevich — Genov position.)
An interesting situation, where the 53...Kg7 (53...g4 54.hxg4 (It is difficult
pawn constellations of both sides on to avoid an exchange of these pawns:
the king’s flank are key to the ensuing 54.h4 Kg7 55.a6 Kh7 56.a7 Kg7 57.Kd1
play. Kh7 58.Kc1 Kg7 59.Kb1 Ra4 60.Kc2
Kh7 61.Kb3 Ra2 62.Kc4 Ra4+ 63.Kd5
50.a5 Ra2 51.Kf1 Kg6? Kg7 64.Ke5 Kh7 65.Kf5 Kg7 66.Kg5
Ra5+ 67.Kf4 Ra4) 54...hxg4 White’s
Black did not understand the plan. The
idea is to attack both pawns 55.a6 Kg7
only chance for White is the creation of
56.a7 Kh7 57.Kd1 Kg7 58.Kc1 Kh7
a passed pawn, so, it has to be blocked.
59.Kb1 Ra4 60.Kb2 Ra5 61.Kc3 Ra4
Therefore an active defensive plan was
62.Kb3 Ra5 63.Kc4 Kg7 64.Kd4
required: 51...h5 52.h3 g5 53.Ke1 (This
is not the best time to stop the g-pawn
with 53.g4 hxg4 54.hxg4 Black’s king
will wait on g7 till the moment White’s
king comes to e5. Then it will be
followed by a defensive check from a5.
54...Kg7 55.a6 Kh7 56.a7 Kg7 57.Ke1
Kh7 58.Kd1 Kg7 59.Kc1 Kh7 60.Kb1
Ra5 61.Kb2 Kg7 62.Kb3 Kh7 63.Kc4
Kg7 64.Kd4 Ra4+ 65.Ke5 Ra5+ 64...Ra4+
66.Kxe4 Ra2 (66...Kh7 67.Kd4 Kg7 a) 64...Ra2 65.Kxe4;
68.Kc4 Kh7 69.Kb4 Ra2 70.Kb5 Kg7 b) 64...Ra1 65.Kxe4 Ra2 66.Ke3 Kh7
71.Kc6 Rc2+ 72.Kd6 Rd2+ 73.Ke6 67.Rd8 (67.Rf8 Rxa7 68.Rf4 Rg7
69.Ke4 Kh6 70.Kf5 Kh5 71.f3 (71.Kf6 52.a6 Kg5 53.h3!
Ra7 (71...Rg8 72.Rf5+ Kh6 73.Ke5) )
71...Rf7+) 67...Rxa7 68.Rd4; Not too far!
65.Ke5 Kh7 66.Kf5 Kg7 and now
53...h5 54.a7 Ra1+ 55.Ke2
67.Kxg4 wins (Or 67.Kg5 Kh7 68.Re8
Rxa7 69.Rxe4 Rf7 70.Rf4) 67...e3+ White’s king starts a long journey.
68.f4 e2 69.Re8) 54.a6 Kh7 55.a7 Kg7
56.Kd1 Kh7 57.Kc1 Kg7 58.Kb1 Ra5 55...Ra2+ 56.Ke3 Ra4 57.Kd2 Ra2+
59.Kb2 Kh7 60.Kb3 Kg7 61.Kb4 Ra2 58.Kc3 Ra4 59.Kb3 Ra1 60.Kc4 Ra5
62.Kc5 g4 (62...Kh7 63.Kd4 (63.Kd6 61.Kd4 Ra4+ 62.Ke5 Kg6 63.Kf4 Kh7
Kg7 64.Ke6 Ra6+ (64...g4 65.hxg4 hxg4) 64.Kf5
65.Kf5 Ra5+ 66.Kxe4 g4 67.hxg4 hxg4
68.Kf4) 63...g4 (63...Ra4+ 64.Ke5 Ra5+
65.Kf6) 64.hxg4 hxg4 65.Kxe4 (65.Ke5
Kg7 66.Kxe4 Re2+ 67.Kd3 Ra2 68.Rc8
Rxa7 69.Rc4) 65...Re2+ 66.Kd3 Ra2
67.Rc8 Rxa7 68.Rc4 Rg7 69.Rc6 Re7
70.Rf6 Rg7 71.Ke4 Rg8 72.Kf4 Rg7
73.Kf5
a) 73.Rf8 Rg6 74.Kf5 Rg7 75.Rf6 Rg8
76.Rf7+ Kh6;
b) 73.Rf5 Kh6 74.Rf8 Kh7 (74...Rg6 64...g6+
75.Rh8+ (75.Rf7 Rg8) 75...Kg7) 75.Kf5
Rg6 76.Rh8+; A small zugzwang: this is a forced
73...Rg8) 63.hxg4 hxg4 64.Kd6 Ra6+ move.
65.Ke5 Ra2 66.Kxe4 Re2+ 67.Kd5
(67.Kd3 Ra2 68.Rc8 Rxa7 69.Rc4) 65.Kf6 Ra6+ 66.Ke5 Ra4 67.Ke6 Kg7
67...Rd2+ 68.Kc5 Rc2+ 69.Kb4 Ra2
A weaker plan is the check 67...Ra6+
68.Kd5 Ra4 69.Kc6 Ra2 70.Rd8! Rxa7
71.Rd7+ Rxd7 72.Kxd7 Kg7 73.Ke6

68.Kd5 Ra1

After 68...Kh7 69.Kc6 Ra2 70.Rd8 Rxa7

71.Rd7+ Rxd7 72.Kxd7 the pawn
ending is won, as we have seen in
previous examples.
The correct defensive method!
69.Kxe4
Now we have the same endgame as
before, but now with the pawn on h3,
which allows White to create a passed
pawn on the f-file — the only winning
pawn!
69...Re1+
69...Ra4+ 70.Kd5 Ra5+ 71.Kc6 Ra3
72.f4 then g4 and f5, creating the
winning tool.
70.Kd3 Rd1+ 71.Ke2 Ra1
72.f4!
The f-pawn starts the process of
creating the decisive element, a passer
that will run to f7.
72...Ra3 73.g4 h4 74.f5 Ra2+ 75.Kd3
Ra3+ 76.Kc4 gxf5 77.gxf5 Ra4+
78.Kb5 Ra1 79.f6+ Kf7 80.Rh8
1–0
10
P. Negi
Kasimdzhanov ,R
Tromsø Olympiad 2014
Here we have a very instructive rook
endgame, which is a theoretical draw,
but one that Black must defend
precisely to hold.
51...Kg7
The point is that White cannot use his
rook because the loss of the a-pawn
leads to a dead draw immediately with
2 against 1. If the white king goes to b6
to free the rook, Black gives a check,
sends the king away from the a7-pawn
and then he goes back to the a-file.
There will only be one detail that Black
must be careful about...
52.Kc4 Ra2
Kasimdzhanov starts to defend with
the right strategy. He keeps on
attacking the f-pawn with the rook. We
will see later why this is so important.
53.Kd5 Rd2+
53...Ra1 is also good. The black rook is excellently-placed on
a3, keeping an eye on both a7- and f3-
54.Ke4 Re2+ 55.Kd3 pawns.

55.Kf5 leads to a very important 57...Ra1

theoretical draw after 55...Rxf2+
56.Kxg5 Not a mistake, but it was more
principled to wait with ...Kh7 and keep
the rook in its ideal position.

58.Ke5 Ra5+ 59.Kd6 Ra6+ 60.Kc7

Ra3! 61.Kc6

It looks as though White is just moving,

but he lays a deep trap, which
Kasimdzhanov fails to realize. The only
56...Ra2 Despite the two extra pawns, existing, winning idea is to get the king
White cannot win. Black simply waits to the 6th rank and create the threat of
with his rook and when the king moving the rook away (Rc8 for
arrives on b6, he gives a check from the instance) and after ...Rxa7 Rc7
b-file. 57.Kf4 Ra1 58.g5 Ra2 59.g6 The transposes to a winning pawn
g-pawn cannot send the black king endgame. This is the only thing that
away from its ideal position, so Black Black must be careful about.
continues waiting with 59...Ra1 and
the game is drawn. The same 61...Rc3+!

theoretical draw exists if White has an

Therefore Black sends the king away
h-pawn instead of the g-pawn, then
from the 6th rank...
Black puts his king on h7 and waits.
However, in case of any other pawns, 62.Kd5 Ra3!
White is winning. For instance with an
f-pawn, he advances it to f6 and ...and returns to the ideal square.
on ...Kf7 then Rh8! is a very important
motif to win the game, with the idea 63.Kc5 Ra6
of ...Rxa7 Rh7 winning the rook.
63...Kh7 was also possible.
55...Ra2 56.f3 Ra3+ 57.Kd4
64.Kc4 Ra3 65.Kb5!
 Suddenly White is winning. Black is
forced to give checks, but at the end the
king arrives to f5 and the f3-pawn is no
longer hanging.

66...Rb1+ 67.Kc6 Rc1+

67...Ra1 loses to the motif we

mentioned after the 61st move: 68.Rd8
Here we are, the critical position! Black Rxa7 69.Rd7+ Rxd7 70.Kxd7+–
failed to sense the danger and he left
the ideal square with his rook. 68.Kd6 Rd1+

65...Ra1? 68...Ra1 is again refuted by 69.Rc8!

Ra6+ 70.Rc6+– and Rc7 next.
The losing move.
The only move to hold was 65...Kh7! or, 69.Ke6

if the king was on h7, Black should

Black resigned in view of 69.Ke6 Ra1
play ...Kg7! The point is to keep the f3-
(69...Re1+ 70.Kf5+–) 70.Rd8! Ra6+
pawn under attack. If White goes
71.Rd6 Rxa7 72.Rd7+ Rxd7 73.Kxd7
66.Kb6 then 66...Rb3+! 67.Kc6 Rc3+
Kf6 74.Kd6+– and Ke5 next, with an
68.Kd6 Rd3+ 69.Ke6 Re3+ 70.Kf5
easily-winning pawn endgame. White
(70.Kd5 Rd3+ 71.Kc4 Ra3= also holds.)
wins the g5-pawn automatically by
squeezing the black king away... We
can be sure that Kasimdzhanov was
familiar with all the ideas, but still he
could not focus at the end of the 5th
hour and lost his concentration and the
game.

1–0

70...Rxf3+ is hanging with check and

we have transposed to the theoretical 11
draw which arose in the 55.Kf5 line. J. R. Keller
71.Kxg5 Ra3= V. I. Mikenas
Corr. 1988
66.Kb6!
 winning chances: 46.Kc2 Ra5 47.Kc3
Ra1 48.Kd4 Ra4+ 49.Ke5 Kh7

46...Kh7 47.Kb2 Kg7 48.Kb3 Kh7

49.Kb4 Kg7 50.Kb5 Ra2 51.Kb6
Rb2+ 52.Kc6 Rc2+

Anyhow, Black cannot avoid a lost

pawn ending: 52...Ra2 53.Rd8 Rxa7
54.Rd7+ Rxd7 55.Kxd7 Kf7 56.Kd6
37.a6 g6

An overly-aggressive defence is seen in

the variation 37...h4 38.gxh4 Ra1+
39.Ke2 Ra2+ 40.Ke3 Ra3+ 41.Kxe4
Rxh3 42.f4 Rxh4 43.Ra8! Rh1 (43...g5
44.Rf8+) 44.Rf8+ Ke7 45.a7+–

38.Ra8 Kf7 39.a7 Kg7 40.Ke1 Kh7

41.Kd1 Kg7 42.Kc1 Kh7 43.Kb1 Ra6
53.Kd6!

Incredible! White does not need to

take the pawn on e4, instead using it to
protect his king from the checks. The
transfer into a winning pawn endgame
is inevitable!

53...Rd2+ 54.Ke6 Ra2 55.Rd8 Ra6+

56.Rd6 Rxa7 57.Rd7+ Rxd7 58.Kxd7

44.g4! hxg4 45.hxg4 Kg7 1–0

Much simpler was 45...g5 46.Kb2 Kg7 12

47.Kb3 Ra5 48.Kc4 Ra2 49.Kd5 Ra4 V. Moiseev
50.Ke5 Ra5+ 51.Kxe4 Ra2 V. Bagirov
Moscow 1957
46.g5!

White could try to play on without this

move, but in reality there are no
 idea to remove the pawn from the f-file
using a simple sacrifice.

5...Kxh4

No difference is seen after 5...fxg4

6.hxg5 Kxg5 7.Kg2

6.gxf5+ g4 7.Kg2 Rb1

The construction is a bit different, but

Black has to give up his main trump,
similar ideas will soon appear...
the passed pawn on a2.

1...a2??
8.Rxa2 Rb4 9.Rc2 g3 10.Ra2 Rf4

The correct winning method of 11.Ra8 Rf2+ 12.Kg1 Rc2 13.Rb8 Kg4

creating a passed f-pawn was 1...g5!! 14.Ra8 Re2 15.Rc8 Kf3 16.Rc3+ Re3

2.hxg5 Kg6 3.Ra7 a2 4.Kh2 Kh5 5.Kg2 17.Rc1 g2

g6 6.Ra4 Kxg5–+ 7.Kh2 Kf6 8.Ra6+ Ke7

9.Ra7+ Kd8 10.Ra8+ Kc7 11.Kg2 g5
and then the f-pawn runs to f3.

1...a2?? 2.Ra6! Kh6 3.Kh2 Kh5 4.Ra4!

g5

18.Kh2!

Wrong is 18.Rb1 Kg3 19.Rc1 Rf3

20.Rd1 Rf1+ 21.Rxf1 gxf1=Q+ 22.Kxf1
Kf4–+

18...Kf2 19.Rc2+ Re2 20.Rxe2+ Kxe2

5.g4+!!
21.Kxg2

Remember exercise 1 from this

1/2–1/2
chapter? This is a very similar tactical
CHAPTER 5.
ISOLATED PAWNS IN ROOK
ENDGAMES

Theory says that isolated pawns There were two much better defence,
become much weaker in the endgame, especially the second, transposing into
but in practice things are much more drawish two against three situations
complicated, and in rook endgames on one flank: 26...Rc5;
such a pawn can often survive. Usually, and 26...Rc2 27.a4 Rc3 28.Rxd5 Rxb3
the most important events are 29.Rd8+ Kf7 30.Rd7+ Kf6 31.Rxa7 b5
conducted on or near open files. In 32.a5 Ra3
most cases they are used against the
isolated pawn, but sometimes the 26...Rd8? 27.Rd2 Kf7 28.Rc2 Rd7
isolani side can also use them very
Pawn endings are always risky:
effectively.
28...Ke6 29.Rc7 Rd7 (One very
interesting defence is 29...d4 30.Kf3
1
Re8! 31.Rxa7 Kd6 32.Ra3 Kc5 33.Ra7
A. Kuligowski
Kd6=) 30.Rxd7 Kxd7 31.Kf3 (31.f4!)
R. Keene
31...Kd6 32.Ke3 Kc5 33.f4+–
Buenos Aires 1978

29.Rc6! d4?

A very nice practical defence is

29...Ke8! 30.Kf3 Rf7+ 31.Ke3 Kd7
32.Rc2 Re7+ 33.Kd4 Kd6=

30.Kf3 d3 31.Rc1 Re7

Black decides to sacrifice a pawn and

The black rook can become quite
active here, but he chooses a strangely
passive defences.
26...Rd8?
activate his pieces; an understandable
reaction.
The more risky option was to fix some
weaknesses in White’s position: 31...g5
32.Ke3 g4 33.Rd1 Re7+ 34.Kxd3±
32.Rd1 Re2 33.a4 Rb2 34.Rxd3 Ke6
35.h4 a6 36.Ke3 Ke5

Here, as in all such endgames, the key

37.g4 Ke6 38.f3 Ke5 39.f4+ Ke6
40.Ke4 g6 41.f5+
element is to control the c-file. Black
had to try to avoid his opponent
controlling it for a start.
28...h5?!

Passed pawns must advance and free Black could instead have activated his
the way for other pieces. rook: 28...Rd6 29.Ke3 Rc6 30.d5 exd5
31.Rxd5 Rc2 32.Rd2 Rxd2 33.Kxd2
41...gxf5+ 42.gxf5+ Ke7 43.Ke5
Kd6 34.Kd3 Kd5=
and Black resigned this adjourned
28...h5?! 29.Ke3 Rd6?!
game because of the variation...
Much better here is to keep an active
43...Re2+ 44.Kf4 Rb2 45.Kg5 Rg2+
rook: 29...b4 30.Rb3 Rb5 31.Kd3 h4
46.Kh6 Kf6 47.Rd6+ Kxf5 48.Rxb6
32.Kc4 Rf5 33.f3 Rg5
Rg3 49.h5 Kg4 50.Rb4+ Kf5 51.Kxh7
30.Rc3 Kd7 31.Rc5 Rc6 32.b4! Kd6
1–0
33.h4 g6 34.Ke4 f6 35.f3

2
I. Kovalenko
K. Kulaots
Tallinn 2015
White’s isolani is not weak at all and
Black will have problems with any
exchange on c5 or c7.
35...Rc7??
It was necessary to not exchange rooks:
35...Rb6 36.g4 (or 36.Rc8 a5 37.a3
axb4 38.axb4 Rc6 with activity. 39.Rb8
Rc2 40.g3 Rg2) 36...hxg4 37.fxg4 Rb8
38.Kf4 f5
36.Rxc7 Kxc7 37.d5
37...Kd6
After 37...e5 38.g4 Kd6 White wins
with a reserve tempo after 39.a3 Ke7
40.gxh5 gxh5 41.Kf5 Kd6 42.Kxf6 Kxd5
43.Kg5
38.dxe6 Kxe6 39.g4
Another winning path was 39.f4 Kd6
40.f5 g5 41.hxg5 fxg5 42.f6 Ke6 43.f7
Kxf7 44.Kf5+–
39...hxg4 40.fxg4 Ke7 41.Kd5 Kf7
42.Kd6 Kf8 43.Ke6 Kg7 44.a3
1–0
3
Z. Andriasian
D. Navara
Erevan 2014
Here the isolani tried to play the role of
passed pawn, but rather
unsuccessfully...
41.Re3+
Very bad is 41.d5+ Kd6 42.Kf4 Re5
41.Re3+ Kd6 42.Ke2
Immediate transposition into a pawn
endgame would give Black chances to
deflect White’s king with the creation
of a passed pawn on the queenside:
42.Rxe7 Kxe7 43.Ke4 Kd6 44.d5 (44.a4
b6 45.Kd3 Kd5 46.g4 hxg4 47.hxg4 g5
48.Ke3 a6 49.Kd3 b5 50.axb5 axb5
51.Kc3 b4+ 52.Kxb4 Kxd4 53.Kb5 Ke4
54.Kc5 Kf3) 44...b5 45.Kd4 (45.h4 f6
46.Kd4 g5 47.f3 gxh4 48.gxh4 f5 49.f4
a5) 45...g5 46.f3 f5 47.g4 hxg4 48.hxg4
fxg4 49.fxg4 a5 50.Ke4 b4 deflecting
White’s king from the e5-pawn;
Also of no help is 42.h4 Rxe3+ 43.fxe3
Kd5 44.Ke2 Kc4
42...g5 47...b6 48.Kc3 a6 49.Kd3 a5 50.Kc3
Ke4
The exchange 42...Rxe3+ would be
premature: 43.fxe3 f5 44.Kd3 Kd5
45.Kc3 b6 46.h4 a6

51.Kc4??
47.a4 and now Black’s king can’t
A very nice way to draw is seen after
approach the e3-pawn and create a
51.Kd2! f4 52.exf4 Kxd4 (52...Kxf4
passed pawn on the f-file.
53.Kd3 Kf5 54.d5 Ke5 55.Kc4 Kd6
43.Kd3 56.Kb5 Kxd5 57.Kxb6 Kd6 58.Kxa5
Kc6 59.Kb4 Kb6) 53.f5 Ke5 54.Ke3
Much more logical was to try to control Kxf5 55.Kf3 Ke5 56.Ke3 Kd5 57.Kd3
the f5-square: 43.g4 hxg4 44.hxg4 Kc5 58.Kc3 b5 59.axb5 Kxb5 60.Kb3
a4+ 61.Ka3 Ka5 62.Ka2 Kb4 63.Kb2
43...Rxe3+ 44.fxe3 f5+ 45.h4?
51...Kxe3 52.d5 f4 53.d6 f3 54.d7 f2
Losing was 45.e4 fxe4+ 46.Kxe4 b5 55.d8=Q f1=Q+ 56.Kc3 Qc1+ 57.Kb3
47.g4 hxg4 48.hxg4 a5 49.Ke3 Kd5
50.Kd3 b4 51.a4 b3 52.Kc3 b2 53.Kxb2
Kxd4 54.Kb3 Kd3 55.Kb2 Kc4 56.Kc2
Kb4;
Much better for White was 45.Kc4 b6
46.Kb5! Kc7 (46...h4!? 47.gxh4 g4
48.hxg4 fxg4 49.h5 g3 50.h6 g2 51.h7
g1=Q 52.h8=Q Qf1+=) 47.h4 gxh4
48.gxh4 Kb7=

45...gxh4 46.gxh4 Kd5 47.a4

57...Qb1+
47.Kc3 a6 48.Kd3 b6 49.Kc3 a5 50.a4
Ke4 would lead to the game.
Now the queen ending is very bad, but I did not like my opponent’s activity
sometimes there are drawn positions after 31...Rxc2 32.Rxc2 e5 33.Ke4
like this with two extra connected Rxd4+ 34.Kxe5 Rxh4 35.Rc7+
pawns.
32.Kc3 a5?!
58.Kc3 Qb4+ 59.Kc2 Qxa4+ 60.Kb1
Qb3+ 61.Ka1 Qa3+ 62.Kb1 Qd3+ Simpler was 32...Rxa3 33.Kb2 b4
34.Rc4 Rda5–+
0–1
33.Red2 Rh1
4
Now it was useless to win a pawn with
D. Antic
33...Rxa3? 34.Kb2 b4 35.Rc5°
A. Mikhalchishin
Yugoslavia 1999
34.g3 Rg1

Stronger was 34...Rh3 35.Rg2 g5

36.hxg5 Rxg5 37.Kb2 Kd6 38.f4 Rg4

35.Rg2 Ra1 36.Ra2 Rxa2 37.Rxa2

25.Kf2 Rc4 26.Ke3 Kf8 27.b3 Rc7

28.Kd3 Ke7 29.h4 h5?!

I believed that after the pawn capture

White’s king would become too active:
29...Rxd4+ 30.Kxd4 Rd7+ 31.Kc5 Rxd1
32.Kb6 Rd6+ 33.Ka5° but more logical 37...g5!
was not to fix the pawn structure yet,
Time to create another weakness.
therefore 29...Kd6.

38.f4
30.Rdd2 Rc1

Much better was 38.g4 hxg4 39.fxg4

It was still possible to complete
gxh4 40.Rh2 a4 41.bxa4 bxa4 42.Kc4
preparations with 30...Kd6!?
Rd7 43.Rxh4 Rb7 44.g5! (44.Rh3 Kf6
31.Rc2! Ra1
45.Rf3+ Kg5) 44...Rb3 45.Rg4 Rxa3 57.Kf4 a3 58.Ke5 a2 59.Ra7+ Kf8
46.g6 fxg6 47.Rxg6 60.Kd6 e5!–+

38...gxf4 39.gxf4 Rf5 56.Rd8+?!

Also possible was the more energetic It was necessary to try to save the
39...a4 40.bxa4 bxa4 41.Rg2 Kf6 game in a ‘basic position’, but this
42.Rb2 Kf5 43.Rb7 Ke4 44.Rxf7 Rxd4µ seems to be losing too: 56.Kg3 Kd5
57.Rd8+ Ke4 58.Rd6 Rxd4 59.Rxe6+
40.Rf2 Kd6 41.Kd3 Rf6! Kd3 60.Kf3 a4 61.Rc6 Rc4 62.Ra6 Kc2
63.Ke3 Rc3+ 64.Kd4 a3
A logical activation, as nothing serious
is promised by 41...Kd5 42.Ke3 56...Kc6 57.Kg3 Ra1
threatening Rg2.
Finally Black realises his dream plan.
42.Ke4 Rg6 43.f5 Rg4+ 44.Rf4 Rg1
45.fxe6 fxe6 46.a4 bxa4 47.bxa4 58.Re8 Kd7 59.Ra8 a4 60.Kf4 a3
Rh1! 48.Rf8 61.Ke5 a2 0–1

Simply bad was 48.Ke3 Kd5 49.Kd3

Ra1µ 5
E. Bareev
48...Rxh4+ 49.Kd3 Rh1 50.Rd8+ Ke7 I. Farago
51.Ra8 h4 52.Ke3 h3 53.Kf2 Ra1 Rome 1990
54.Kg3 Rxa4 55.Kxh3

White can blockade the pawn, or else

try to swap rooks on the c-file.
55...Kd6?
21.Rc7 R6d7?
There was a simple plan available to
Other moves were clearly better
push his pawn: 55...Ra1 56.Kg3 a4
21...a5; 21...R8d7
22.Rdc1 Ke7 23.Kd3 Rxc7 24.Rxc7+
Rd7 25.Rc8
The pawn ending is drawn.
25...h5?!
Much better was to stop White’s
activity on the queenside with 25...a5
26.Rb8 Rd6 27.Rb7+ Kf8 28.b4
26.b4! Ke6 27.Kd4 f6 28.h4 Kf5
29.f3 Kg6
Once more it was preferable to start
activity: 29...g5 30.hxg5 (30.g3! g4
(30...gxh4 31.gxh4 Rg7 32.Rh8+–)
31.f4±) 30...fxg5 31.Rf8+ Kg6 32.Re8+–
Kf6 33.Re5 Rc7 34.Rxd5 Rc2
30.a4 Kf7 31.a5!? Ke6
Or 31...bxa5 32.bxa5 Ke6 33.Rc6+ Ke7
34.Kc5+– Bareev.
32.a6!
Such pawns are always like thorns.
32...Kd6 33.b5 Ke6 34.g3 g6 35.Re8+!
35.g4 hxg4 36.fxg4 Rh7 37.Rc6+ Kd7
38.Rxf6 Rxh4 39.Rxg6+–
35...Kd6 36.Rf8
Bareev tries to play for zugzwang, but
it was possible to play more simply:
36.Rg8 Rc7 37.Rxg6 Rc4+ 38.Kd3 Kc5
39.Rxf6 Kxb5 40.Rf5
36...Ke6 37.Rc8ʘ 37...Kd6 38.Rc6+
Ke7 39.g4 Kf7 40.gxh5 gxh5 41.Rc8
Ke6 42.Re8+ Kd6 43.Rh8
43...Rc7 44.Rd8+ Ke6 45.Rxd5 f5
46.e4!
Exposing the weakness on h5.
46...fxe4 47.fxe4 Rh7 48.Rd8 Rc7
49.Re8+ Kf6 50.e5+ Kf7 51.Rh8 Rc5
52.Rxh5 Ke6
52...Rxb5 53.e6+
53.Rh6+ Ke7
54.Ke4!

Activity, but there was a simple way

too: 54.Rh7+ Ke6 55.Rxa7 Rxb5 56.Ra8

54...Rxb5 55.Kf5 1–0

CHAPTER 6.
THE TRANSFER FROM THE OPENING
INTO ROOK ENDGAMES

In the 20th Century, the great Akiba White is forcing the transition to an
Rubinstein introduced the method of a endgame which is level in material, but
direct transfer from the opening into not in chances.
the endgame. Later these ideas became
quite popular, and nowadays we have 14...Bxc3 15.Bxc6 Bxb2+ 16.Kxb2
a lot of games where players bxc6
immediately get rook endings on the
board.
Some players are ill-prepared to head
immediately into such endings and
they seem quite helpless, creating
some unnecessary weaknesses, which
soon become the decisive factor...
1
D. Navara
B. Jobava The game has practically skipped the
Gjakova 2016 middlegame and landed in a rook
endgame.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4
Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 Be7 17.Rxd8+!?
8.0-0-0 0-0 9.f4 Nxd4 10.Qxd4 Bd7
It seems highly unlikely that the first
11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.Qxd6!?N
player invented this line at the board.
Navara comes up with a fabulous At the moment of the transition to the
novelty in this position, one that was endgame the exchange of the rooks
previously treated with the seemingly should be perceived as a part of his
much-more dangerous idea 12.e5. preparation.
17.Kc3 Rdb8 18.Rd7 Rb5 19.Rhd1²
12...Bc6 13.Qxd8 Rfxd8 14.Bb5!
17...Rxd8 18.Kc3
The rook from h1 will infiltrate the 26.Kb3 Rd5 27.c4
black position via the b- or d-files; the
king on c3 is ready to prevent Black’s
counterplay and advance against the
opponent’s pawns.

18...Kf8

18...Rb8 19.Rd1 g6 20.Rd7 a5 21.Ra7

Rb4 22.Rxa5 Rxe4 23.Ra8+ Kg7 24.g3±

19.Rb1 Ke7 20.e5

27...Rd2?!
20.Rb7+ Rd7 21.Rxd7+ Kxd7 22.Kd4
f6² How to assign the blame in this
position, which is difficult in any case?
20...h5 It is most likely that Black could have
put up better resistance with the more
The general rule in similar situations is precise move 27...Rd3+!
that they do not favour the defender. 27...Rd3+! 28.Kc2 Rd7 29.a5 Kd8
The better endgame for White means 30.Kc3 (30.a6 c5 31.Rb5 Rc7=)
unpleasant suffering for Black, who is 30...Kc7 31.c5 Rd5 32.Kc4 Rd2 33.a6
most usually fighting only for one of Kc8 34.Rb7 Rd7²
two results.
28.a5 Kd8 29.Rb8+ Kc7 30.Rf8! Rd7
21.a4
30...f6 31.Rg8 fxe5 32.fxe5 Re2
21.Rb7+ Rd7 22.Rxd7+ Kxd7 23.Kd4 33.Rxg7+ Kb8 34.Kb4 Rxe5 35.a6+–
Kc7 24.Kc5 Kd7 25.g3 Kc7 26.a4 Kd7²
31.Kb4
21...Rd5 22.Rb7+ Rd7 23.Rb8
Navara must have been happy as his
The exchange of rooks promises White pieces are showing perfect
better chances, but with careful coordination. Despite the equal
defence Jobava should manage to draw material, Jobava will be hard-pressed
the pawn endgame. to defend against the pressure.

23...Rd8 24.Rb4 Rd5 25.g3 Rc5+ 31...a6 32.Kc5 g6

25...Kd8 26.Rb7 Rd7 27.Rb8+ Kc7 32...Re7 33.Ra8 Kb7 34.Kd6+–

28.Rh8 g6 29.a5±
33.Ra8 Kb7 34.Rf8 Kc7 35.h3 Kb7
36.g4 hxg4 37.hxg4 Kc7 38.Ra8 Kb7
39.Rh8 Kc7 40.Rh1 Rd2 41.Rh7 Rd7

21.g4

White wants to gain a healthy extra

pawn, not doubled ones after 21.gxf3
42.g5
21...Kf8 22.d6 Rd8 23.Kh2 f6 24.Kg3
Black decided to resign as he is unable Kf7 25.Kxf3 Rd7
to defend against all of his opponent’s
active ideas: 42.g5 Re7 (42...Kb7 43.f5 White has won a pawn, but the win is
Rc7 (43...exf5 44.e6+–) 44.Kd6 c5 still far off.
45.fxe6 Rc6+ 46.Kd5+–) 43.Rh3 Rd7
26.Kf4 Ke6 27.g5 f5 28.Ke3
44.Rb3 Rd8 45.Rb6 Ra8 46.Rxc6+ Kd7
47.Kb6 Rb8+ 48.Ka7 Rb4 49.Rc5+– There are no great winning chances
after 28.Rc4 Rxd6 29.Rc7 Rd2 30.Rxb7
1–0
Rxf2+ 31.Kg3 Rd2 32.Rxh7 Rxb2
33.Rxa7 Rb6
2
M. Ragger
28...Rxd6 29.Rxd6+ Kxd6 30.Kd4
I. Saric
Bundesliga 2016

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6

5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.dxe5
dxe5 9.Bg5 Qxd1 10.Rfxd1 Bg4
11.h3 Bxf3 12.Bxf3 Nd4 13.Nd5
Nxd5 14.cxd5 c6 15.Rac1 cxd5
16.exd5 e4 17.Be3 exf3 18.Bxd4
Bxd4 19.Rxd4 Rac8 20.Rxc8 Rxc8
In the pawn ending White’s king is
better placed, with still some chances
to win.

30...b6

30...a5! as recommended by the

engines seems to be the best: 31.b3
Ke6 32.a3 (32.Kc5 Ke5 33.Kb6 Kf4
34.Kxb7 Kf3 35.Ka6 Kxf2 36.Kxa5 f4
37.b4 f3 38.b5 Kg3 39.b6 f2 40.b7
Kxh3 41.b8=Q f1=Q=) 32...Kd6 33.b4
axb4 34.axb4 Kc6! 35.Ke5 Kb5 36.Kf6
Kxb4 37.Kg7 Kc3 38.Kxh7 b5 39.Kxg6
b4 40.Kf6 b3 41.g6 b2 42.g7 b1=Q
43.g8=Q Qb6+ 44.Qe6 Qxf2 45.Qxf5
Qh4+=
31.b4
Now a traditional ‘race’ will transfer
this game into a queen and pawn
endgame.
40...Kb5 41.Kf6 Kxa5 42.Kg7 Kb5
43.Kxh7 a5 44.Kxg6 a4 45.Kh5 a3
46.g6 a2 47.g7 a1=Q 48.g8=Q Qd1+
49.Kh6 Qd3 50.Qb8+ Ka4 51.h4 Qg3
52.Qe8+ Kb3 53.Qe6+ Ka4 54.Qxf5
Qxh4+

A very important way of reserving the

extra tempo needed to win.

31...Ke6 32.f3 Kd6 33.f4 Ke6 34.Kc4

Kd6 35.Kd4 Ke6 36.a3 Kd6 37.a4

55.Kg6

White has reached a theoretically-

In pawn endgames it is important to
create an entry hole...
37...a6 38.a5 bxa5 39.bxa5 Kc6
40.Ke5
winning queen endgame with an f-
pawn.
55...Ka3 56.Qd3+ Kb2 57.Qd2+ Kb1
58.f5 Qe4 59.Qd1+ Kb2 60.Qd6 Kb1
61.Qb6+ Kc1 62.Qe6 Qg2+ 63.Kf7
Qb7+ 64.Qe7 Qd5+ 65.Kg6 Qd3
66.Qg5+ Kb1 67.Kh6 Qh3+ 68.Kg7 Starting some well-calculated pressing.
Qc3+ 69.f6 Qd4 70.Kh6 Qd6 71.Qg6+
Ka2 72.f7 Qf4+ 73.Kg7 Qd4+ 74.Kg8 16...Nxd7 17.Rd1 Rc7 18.Nb5 Qe7
Qc4 75.Qf5 Ka1 76.Qf6+ Ka2 77.Kh8 19.Nxc7 Nxe5 20.Bxe5 f6 21.Bd4

1–0 A slight advantage is also promised by

21.Bc3 Qxc7 22.Bxe4 g6 23.Qe2
3
21...Qxc7 22.Bxc5 bxc5 23.Bxe4
S. Palatnik
Bxe4 24.Qxe4 Re8 25.Qd3!
N. Rashkovsky
Palma 1989
Control over the file must be executed
through the penetration of the back
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2
ranks.
Be7 5.Bg2 d5 6.Nf3 0-0 7.0-0 c6
8.Qc2 b6 9.b3 Bb7 10.Rd1 Nbd7 25...Re7 26.Qd6 Kf7 27.Qxc7 Rxc7
11.Nc3 Rc8 12.e4 dxe4 28.Rd6

Leading to a very sharp game is 12...c5

13.Ne5 c5

28...Ke7 29.Ra6 e5??

This weakens the d5-square. It was

much more logical to start counterplay
14.Bf4!
on the kingside with 29...h5 30.f4
Making the position of the rook on d1 (30.h4 g5 31.Kg2 g4 32.Kf1 f5) 30...Rd7
more visible. 31.Kf1 Rd2 32.Rxa7+ Kd6 33.h4 f5²

14...cxd4 15.Rxd4 Bc5 30.Kg2 Kf7 31.Kf3 f5 32.h3!?

Safer was 15...Qe8 Strong was the immediate attack with

32.g4
16.Rxd7!
32...g6 33.g4 Ke7 34.Ke3 Kf7 35.gxf5
gxf5 36.Rh6
Now Black loses a pawn and with it
gets a lost position.
36...Kf8 37.Re6 Re7 38.Rc6
1–0
We now have almost the same position
as in the previous game. Preferable
was some other form of flank activity.
28...Ke7 29.Ra6 g5! 30.g4 (30.f4 g4;
30.Kf1 f5! 31.Ke2 Kf6 32.Kd3 h5 33.a3
Rb7 34.Kc3 Ke5„ 35.b4 cxb4+ 36.axb4
h4; 30.f3 Rd7„) 30...Rd7! 31.Kg2 Rd2
32.Rxa7+ Kd6 33.a4 Rb2 34.Rb7 Ke5„

29.f4 h6 30.h4 Ke7 31.Ra6 Rd7

4
32.Kf2!
S. Palatnik
A. Maksimenko
The file has to be controlled fully and
Kherson 1989
materialism is the wrong approach:
32.Rc6? Rd1+ 33.Kf2 Rd2+ 34.Ke3
1.c4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Qc2 e6
Rxa2 35.Rxc5 Rb2„
5.g3 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Be7 7.Bg2 b6 8.0-0
Nbd7 9.b3 0-0 10.Rd1 Bb7 11.Nc3 32...g6 33.Ke3 Rc7 34.Kd3 Kf6
Rc8 12.e4 dxe4 13.Ne5 c5 14.Bf4
cxd4 15.Rxd4 Bc5 16.Rxd7 Nxd7
17.Rd1 Rc7 18.Nb5 Qe7 19.Nxc7
Nxe5 20.Bxe5 f6 21.Bd4 Qxc7
22.Bxc5 bxc5 23.Bxe4 Bxe4 24.Qxe4
Re8 25.Qd3 Re7 26.Qd8+ Kf7
27.Qxc7 Rxc7 28.Rd6

35.a3!

White’s only plan is to create a passed

pawn on the queenside.

35...g5 36.hxg5+ hxg5 37.b4! cxb4

The counterattack does not offer big

28...f5?!
chances for survival: 37...gxf4 38.gxf4
Rd7+ 39.Kc3 Rd4 40.bxc5 Rxf4
41.Rxa7 Rg4 (41...Ke5 42.Rd7!) 42.c6
Rg8 (42...e5 43.Rd7 Ke6 44.Rd8 Rg7 5
45.c5 e4 46.Rd6+ Ke5 47.Rd7 Rg8 N. Rashkovsky
48.c7 Rc8 49.c6 f4 50.Kd2 Kf5 51.a4 I. Platonov
Kg4 52.Ke2 f3+ 53.Ke3!+–) 43.Rd7 e5 Tashkent 1980
44.c7 Rc8 45.c5 Ke6 46.c6+–
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6
38.axb4 Rh7 39.fxg5+ Ke5 5.b3 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Be7 7.Nc3 c6 8.e4
d5 9.Qc2 dxe4 10.Nxe4 Nbd7?!
Or 39...Kxg5 40.Rxe6 Rc7 41.Kd4
11.Bg2 0-0 12.0-0 c5?! 13.Rad1 Bb7
40.Ra5+ Kd6 41.Kd4 Rb7 42.Ra6+ 14.Nxf6+ Bxf6? 15.Ng5! Bxg5
Ke7 43.b5 Kf7 44.Ke5 16.Bxb7 Rb8 17.dxc5! Bxd2 18.Rxd2
Rxb7 19.c6 Rc7 20.Rfd1!± Rxc6
White’s pressure increases. 21.Rxd7 Qb8 22.Qe4 Rc7 23.R1d6
h6 24.h4 Qc8 25.Qd4 Rxd7 26.Rxd7
44...Kg6 45.Rxe6+ Kxg5 46.Re8 Kg4 Qa6 27.a4 Qa5 28.Qd2 Qxd2
47.Rg8+ Kf3 48.Rg5 29.Rxd2

48...Ke3 29...a6 30.Rd7 Rc8 31.Kf1 b5?!

Or 48...Rc7 49.Rxf5+ Kxg3 50.Kd5 Kg4 ¹31...Kf8 32.Ke2±

51.Rf1 and the c-pawn is ready to run.
32.cxb5 axb5 33.a5+–
49.Rxf5 Kd3 50.Kd5 Rd7+ 51.Kc6
Rg7 52.c5 Rxg3 53.b6 Rg6+ 54.Kb5 33.axb5 Rb8
axb6 55.cxb6 Rg1 56.b7
33...Rc1+ 34.Ke2 Ra1 35.b4 Ra4
1–0
 The position is similar on the
36.h5! queenside but completely different on
the other. Here Black cannot create
36.Rb7!? Rxb4 37.a6 Ra4 38.a7 Kh7
counterplay because of his doubled
39.h5 f5 40.f4+–
pawns.
36...Rxb4 37.a6 Ra4 38.a7 Kh7
34.Ke3 Kc8 35.Ra5 f6?
39.Rxf7
Prophylactic cutting of White’s rook
39.Rxf7 Kg8 40.Rb7 Kh7 41.Kd3 e5
was also possible, and sometimes
42.f3+–
works: 35...Kb7 36.Rb5+ Kc8 37.Kd3
1–0 Rc6 38.a3 a6 39.Ra5 Kb7 40.b4 Kb6
41.Kc3 h5 42.Kb3 f6=
6
36.Ra6 Kd7 37.g4! fxg4
S. Flohr
G. Maroczy
Of no help either is 37...Ke7 38.gxf5
Bled 1931 exf5 39.Kd3

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 38.f5!

5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 Be7 7.0-0 0-0 8.b3
b6 9.Bb2 Bb7 10.Qe2 Rc8 11.Rad1 A great idea that completely destroys
Qc7 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxe4 c5 14.dxc5 Black’s structure.
bxc5 15.Nfg5 Nxe4 16.Nxe4 Qf4
17.g3 Qc7 18.f4 Nf6 19.Nxf6+ Bxf6 38...Rc6
20.Bxf6 gxf6 21.Qg4+ Kh8 22.Qh4 f5
38...exf5 39.Rxf6 Ke8 40.Rxf5 Rc6
23.Qf6+ Kg8 24.Be2 Rfe8 25.Bh5
41.Re5+ Kd8 42.Rd5+ Ke8 43.Kf4 Rh6
Qe7 26.Qxe7 Rxe7 27.Rd6 Kf8
44.Rd2±
28.Rfd1 Rec7 29.Kf2 Ke7 30.Bf3 Bd5
31.Ra6 Bxf3 32.Kxf3 Rd8 33.Rxd8 39.Rxa7+ Kd6 40.Kf4! h5
Kxd8
 14.Bf4 Bxf4 15.Qxf4 c5 16.Qc7 Rab8
17.Ne5 Nxe5 18.Qxe7 Nf3+! 19.Bxf3
Rxe7 20.Bxb7 Rexb7

41.Rf7

Now Black realised he was facing huge

problems.
41...Ra6 42.Rxf6 Rxa2 43.Rxe6+ Kd7
44.Kg3 Rb2 45.Re3 Rb1 46.Kh4 Rf1
47.Kxh5 Rf3
The final trick, but it doesn’t help.
48.Re4 g3 49.hxg3 Rxg3
21.dxc5
It was risky to create an isolated pawn
for himself after: 21.Rd2 Rd7 22.Rad1
Rbd8 23.d5 exd5 24.cxd5 Rd6
21...bxc5 22.Rd6 Rc7 23.Rad1 Kf8
24.Ra6 Ke7 25.Rdd6

White’s pawn is unstoppable after
49...Rxf5+ 50.Kg6 Rf3 51.g4 Rxb3
52.g5
50.f6 Rxb3 51.f7 Rf3 52.Kg6
More precise was 25.Kf1 or 25.f4 Rd8
26.Rxd8 Kxd8 27.Kf2
25...Rd8 26.Rxd8 Kxd8

1–0

7
I. Stohl
S. Skembris
Bourgas 1992

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6

5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Be2 0-0
8.b3 Re8 9.0-0 Qe7 10.Rd1 b6 11.e4 27.g4!
Nxe4 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Qxe4 Bb7
Grabbing more space is always useful,
but here it also prepares the option of
attacking Black’s kingside pawns.
27...Kc8!
Qxb2 28.Rxf7 Rxf7 29.Qxa8+ Kh7
30.Qe4+ Kg8 31.Qa8+ Kh7 32.Qe8
Rc7 33.Qg6+ Kh8 34.Qe8+ Kh7
35.Qxe6 Qxf2 36.Qe4+ Kg8

Black’s defensive plan is to protect a7

with the king and then try to control
the d-file.

28.Kf1 Kb7 29.Rd6 Rc6 30.Rd7+ Rc7

31.Rd6 Rc6 32.Rd7+

Nothing was promised by 32.Rd3 h6

33.h4 Kc7 34.g5 hxg5 35.hxg5 f6
37.h3
32...Rc7 33.Rxc7+
After 37.Qe8+ a draw was agreed in
Similar developments can be expected the high-profile game Radjabov-
after 33.Rd3 h6 34.Ke2 a5 35.h4 Kc6 Kramnik, Candidates, 2011. But all the
36.Rd8 a4 top players have continued to analyse
from this moment till...who knows!
33...Kxc7 34.Ke2 h6 35.h4 g5
Once, Andrei Volokitin told me that his
36.hxg5 hxg5 37.Kd3 Kd6 38.a3 a5
longest opening analysis is 66 moves
1/2–1/2
long!

8
37...Qc2 38.Qe8+ Kh7 39.d5 Qf5
D. Jakovenko
40.Qe4 Qxe4 41.fxe4
B. Gelfand
Rogaska Slatina 2011

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7

5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 0-0 7.e3 Ne4 8.Bxe7
Qxe7 9.Rc1 c6 10.Bd3 Nxc3 11.Rxc3
dxc4 12.Bxc4 Nd7 13.Qc2 b6 14.Bd3
Nf6 15.Rxc6 Nd5 16.Qb3 Nb4 17.Rc1
Nxd3+ 18.Qxd3 Bb7 19.0-0 Bxf3
20.gxf3 Qg5+ 21.Kh1 Qd5 22.Qe4
Qxa2 23.Rg1 Rfc8 24.Qb7 Rf8 I have never seen anything like this!
25.Qe4 Rfc8 26.Qb7 Rf8 27.Rc7 Both players played like machine guns
and after this move Jakovenko’s clock
showed an unbeliveable 2 hours 20
minutes! He received a thirty minute
bonus after the 40th move, plus 20
minutes addition for forty moves of 30
second increments!
41...Kg8?
Boris Gelfand started to walk around
in depression: he knew the conclusion
of his analysis-DRAW! But he could not
remember which move was correct!
Modern chess and its computer
analyses are pressuring players to
overextend their momory, beyond the
limits. Kramnik told me that he has to
repeat his analysis before the game for
4 hours! Can you imagine the pressure
on the brains?
41...Rc3?! is risky in view of 42.d6
(42.Rd1?! isn’t dangerous for Black:
42...Kg6 43.d6 Rc8 44.Rf1 Rd8 45.e5
a5=) 42...Rd3 43.e5 g5 44.Kg2;
The only move was to force White’s
pawns to change configuration and to
bring the king closer to the pawns:
41...Re7 42.d6 Re8 43.Rd1 Kg6
42.e5 Kf7
Or 42...Rc3 43.e6 Kf8 (43...Rxe3 44.Rc1
Kf8 45.d6) 44.e4 Rd3 45.Kg2 Ke7
46.Rf1 with a decisive penetration of
the seventh rank.
43.Rf1+
White had good alternative here too;
bring his king to the pawns with
43.Kg2
43...Ke8 44.e6
Here the same move was available:
44.Kg2
44...Ke7 45.e4 Kd6 46.Rf8 Rb7
Black is ready to push his b-pawn, but
maybe it would be better to risk
sacrificing one pawn, in the process
rendering his opponent’s rook passive:
46...a5 because of 47.Rd8+ Ke7 48.Rb8
Kf6 49.Rxb6 Ra7 50.Rb3 a4 51.Ra3
White’s king comes to the center to
help the pawns, but it is not the end
quite yet!
47.Rd8+ Ke7 48.Rc8 Kd6
Now it is time for White to bring his
king into the game and just one
question remains; how far can the b6-
pawn run in the meantime?
48...b5? 49.e5 b4 50.Rg8 Rb5 51.Rxg7+
Kf8 52.d6
49.Kg2 b5 50.Kf3 b4 51.Kf4 b3 56...Rb5+ 57.Kd4 Rb4+ 58.Kc3
52.Rc6+ Ke7 53.Ke5

A classic situation: White’s two central

passers, supported by the king and
rook, prevail over Black’s lonely
runner, but sometimes as they say ‘One
camel runs faster than two!’

58...Kxc8

Or 58...Rb3+ 59.Kd2 Rd3+ 60.Ke2

59.e8=Q+ Kb7 60.Qd7+ Ka6 61.Qc8+

Rb7 62.Qc4+ Rb5 63.Qa2+ Kb6
64.d7 1–0
53...b2 54.d6+ Kd8 55.e7+ Kd7
56.Rc8!

A typical, decisive move in such

situations.
CHAPTER 7.
THE KORCHNOI-SMYSLOV ENDGAME

Many years ago, the late Svetozar
Gligoric won a very important
endgame against none other than the
legendary Vassily Smyslov. Later we
saw a more complicated version of this
position: even the greats such as
Karpov were unable to find the correct
plan. The play of Korchnoi against
Grandmaster Lucas Brunner is a great
example of the correct technique.
38...h4 39.gxh4 h3 gives Black two
connected passed pawns.
38.h4 f6 39.Rc6 Kf7 40.Rc7+ Kg6
41.Rc8 e5+ 42.Ke4 Rb4+
42...Rxg3?? 43.Rg8++–
43.Kf3 Kf5 44.Rh8
44.Rc3!? e4+ 45.Ke3 Kg4–+

1 44...e4+ 45.Kg2
V. Smyslov
S. Gligoric 45.Ke3 Rb3+ 46.Kf2 Kg4 47.Rg8+ Kh3–

Warsaw 1947 +

45...Rb2+ 46.Kh3 Kg6

46...e3! 47.Re8 e2 48.Re7 Rd2 49.Re8

Kg6 50.g4 Kf7 51.Re4 (51.Re3 Rd3–+)
51...hxg4+ 52.Kxg4 Rd4–+

47.Re8 Re2 48.Re7 f5 49.Re6+ Kg7

There exist a few classical games in

which a similar position appears. It is
extremely instructive to analyse them...

36...Rb3+ 37.Kf4

¹37.Kf2–+

37...h5!
50.Ra6 41...Kh7 42.Kg2 g6! 43.fxg6+

50.Re7+ Kf6 51.Rh7 Kg6 52.Ra7 Rf2–+ There are no big chances to hold after
43.f6 g5 44.Kf3 Ra4 45.Re2 Ra5
50...Rf2 51.Re6 Kf7 52.Re5 Kf6 (45...e4+? 46.Rxe4 Rxe4 47.Kxe4 Kg6
53.Re8 Rd2–+ 48.g4 (48.Ke5 g4 49.Kf4 h5 50.Ke5 Kg5
51.Ke4 Kxf6 52.Kf4 Kg6 53.Ke5 f6+
White is in zugzwang.
54.Ke4 f5+ 55.Kf4 Kf6 56.Ke3 Kg5
54.Rf8+ (56...Ke5 57.Kd3 f4 58.gxf4+ Kxf4
59.Ke2=) 57.Ke2 h4 58.Kf2 (58.Ke3 h3
54.Rh8 e3 55.Re8 e2 56.Re3 f4! 57.gxf4 59.Ke2 Kf6 60.Ke3 Ke5 61.Ke2 Ke4
Rd3!–+ 62.Kf2 Kd3 63.Kf1 Ke3 64.Kg1) 58...Kf6
59.Ke3 hxg3 60.hxg3 Ke5 61.Kd3 f4–+)
54...Ke5 55.Re8+ 48...Kxf6 49.Kd5= Ke7 50.Ke5 f6+
51.Kd5 Kf7 52.Kd4 Ke6 53.Ke4 f5+
and White resigned.
54.gxf5+ Kf6 55.h4=) 46.h4 Kg6
47.hxg5 hxg5 48.g4 Kxf6–+
0–1

43...Kxg6
2
L. Brunner Now the players have the structure
V. Korchnoi from the classic Smyslov-Gligoric game.
Zürich/Bern 1996
44.Ra2 h5!

Threatening ...h5–h4 at some point.

45.h4 Rb4 46.Ra8 Rb2+ 47.Kf3

We would get the Smyslov-Gligoric

game after 47.Kh3

In a few moves we will reach a very
interesting and important classical
endgame...
39.Rb6 Ra4 40.Rxd6 Rxe4 41.Rd2?
41.Rd7 Kg8 42.Rd8+ Kh7 43.Rd7
47...Kf5 48.Rh8
A serious defensive option is 48.Ra3
Rd2 threatening ...Rd3! 49.Ke3 Rd4
50.Ra6 Rb4 51.Kf3 Rb3+ 52.Kg2 Rb2+
53.Kh3 f6 54.Ra5 Rf2 55.Ra8 e4 56.Re8
Rc2 57.Re7 Rc6 58.Kg2 Re6
48...e4+ 49.Ke3 Rb3+ 50.Kf2 Kg4 3
51.Rg8+ Z. Ribli
A. Karpov
Budapest 1973

51...Kh3! 52.Rg5
An incredible coincidence seen in one
Or 52.Rg7 Rf3+ 53.Ke1 f5 54.Rg5 Kg2 of Anatoly Karpov’s earlier games.
55.Rxh5 Kxg3
41.h4 Rc6
52...Rf3+ 53.Ke2 f6! 54.Rg6
41...e4 42.Rd4 Rc2+ 43.Kf1 e3 44.Re4
Nothing is changed by 54.Rxh5 Kxg3
55.Rh6 Kg4 56.h5 f5 57.Rh8 Kg5 58.h6 42.Kf3 g6 43.fxg6+ Kxg6 44.Rd8
Kg6 59.h7 Rh3 obtaining two Rc3+ 45.Kf2 Kf5 46.Rh8 Rc2+
connected pawns. 47.Ke3

54...f5 55.Rg5 Kg2 56.Ke1 Rf2 Or 47.Kf3 e4+ 48.Ke3 Rc3+ 49.Kf2 Kg4
57.Rg8 50.Rg8+ Kh3

Immediately losing is 57.Kd1 Kf1 47...Kg4 48.Rg8+ Kf5

57...e3 58.Rg7 f4 59.gxf4+ Kf3 Now the king would not cause any
60.Re7 Ra2 harm deep in White’s position:
48...Kh3 49.Rg6 Rc3+ 50.Kf2 f5
0–1 (50...Rc2+ 51.Ke3 Rg2 52.Rxf6 Rxg3+
53.Ke4 Rg1! 54.Kxe5 Re1+ 55.Kd4
Kxh4 56.Kd3=)
 52...Ra4 53.Rg8 Ra2+ 54.Ke3 Rg2
55.Rg7 Ke5 56.Re7+ Kd5 57.Rd7+
Ke6 58.Ra7 Rxg3+ 59.Kxe4 Rg4+
60.Kf3 Kf5 61.Ra5+ Kg6 62.Rb5
Rxh4

We now have the classical f- and h-

pawn endgame, which Ribli knew very
well.
51.Rg5 If the pawn was on e4, as in
Korchnoi’s game, then the winning 63.Ra5 Rh1 64.Kg2 Rh4 65.Kf3 Rb4
manoevre would be ...Rf3. 66.Rc5 Rb8 67.Rc4 Kg5 68.Rc5+ f5
69.Rc4 h4 70.Kg2 Rb2+ 71.Kh3
49.Rh8 Rc3+? Rb3+ 72.Kg2 Rg3+ 73.Kf2 Rg4
74.Rc8 h3 75.Ra8 Rb4 76.Kg3 Rb3+
Nothing is promised by 49...e4
77.Kh2 f4 78.Rg8+ Kh4 79.Rh8+ Kg4
50.Rxh5+ Kg4 51.Rh8 Kxg3 52.Rf8=;
80.Rg8+ Kf5 81.Rf8+ Ke4 82.Re8+
Better was 49...Rc6 50.Kf2 Kg4
Kf3 83.Rf8 Rb7 84.Ra8 Re7 85.Ra6
Re1 86.Ra8 Kf2 87.Kxh3 f3 88.Ra2+
50.Kf2 e4 51.Rg8!
Re2 89.Ra1
Materialism is wrong: 51.Rxh5+ Kg4
½-½
52.Rh6 Rf3+

51...Ra3 4
V. Smyslov
M. Castillo
Venice 1950

52.Re8

A tactical sequence allows Smyslov to

A very clever defensive strategy of
get the position from his game against
controlling the e- and g-files.
Gligoric.
50.Nxf7! Nxf4+ 51.gxf4 Kxf7
52.Rb7+ Kf8 53.e6 Ra5+ 54.Kd6
1–0
5 gains: 43.fxg6+ Kxg6µ
Z. Lanka
Santo M. Roman
Steinitz Memorial, Prague 2000
This is a more modern version of the
Smyslov-Gligoric game.
38.Ra2 Kh7
It’s too early for 38...g6? 39.Ra8+
(39.fxg6 Kg7µ) 39...Kg7 40.Ra7+ Kh6
41.Ra6=
39.Ra8
As a preventive measure to stop ...g7–
g6 White had the logical 39.Ra6!? Rc8
A complicated technical preparation
of ...g7–g6; the rook must protect the
f6-pawn. 40.Kf3 Kh6 41.Rb6 Rf8
42.Ra6 g6 43.Ke4 Kg7 44.Ra7+ Rf7
45.Ra8 Rb7 46.Ra4 Rb1 47.Ra7+ Kh6
48.Ra6 gxf5+ 49.Kxf5 Rf1+ 50.Ke4
Kg6µ
39...Rb3 40.Re8 Ra3 41.Kf2 Ra6!
Black is finally ready to play ...g7–g6.
42.Kf3 g6 43.Ke4
It is better not to give up his strategical
43...Kh6
Less logical was 43...gxf5+? 44.Kxf5=;
A more compicated idea would allow
White to activate his king seriously:
43...Ra4+ 44.Kd5 gxf5 45.Ke6 f4
46.gxf4 (46.Kxf6 fxg3 47.Rxe5 Kh6–+)
46...Rxf4 (46...exf4 47.Kxf6 f3 48.Re1
Rxh4 49.Rf1 Rh3 50.Kg5)
47.Kf7! e4 (47...Rxh4 48.Kxf6 e4
49.Kg5 Rh1 50.Rxe4) 48.Rg8 Rg4
49.Re8 f5 50.Kf6 f4 51.Re7+ Kh6
52.Re8 Rg6+ 53.Kf7 Kh7 54.Rxe4 Rg4
55.Re5 Rxh4 56.Rg5! f3 57.Rg7+ Kh6
58.Rg6+ with a draw.
44.fxg6?
White did not use the great
opportunity that was available here:
44.Rg8! Ra4+ (44...gxf5+ 45.Kxf5=)
45.Kd5 gxf5 46.Ke6 Rg4 47.Ra8 e4
48.Kxf6 Kh7 49.Kxf5 e3 50.Re8 Rxg3
51.Kf4=
44...Kxg6 45.Rg8+ Kf7 46.Rb8
It was not necessary to allow his
opponent connected pawns: 46.Rh8
Ra3 47.Rxh5 Rxg3µ
46...Ra3 47.Rb7+ Kg6 48.Rb8 Ra4+
Of course not 48...Rxg3?? 49.Rg8++–
49.Kd5
49.Kf3
49...Kf5 50.Rh8 Rd4+ 51.Kc5 Rg4
White’s king is too far afield, so Black
decides to exchange pawns. Another
way was 51...Kg4 52.Rg8+ Kf3 53.Rf8
Kxg3 54.Rxf6 Kxh4 (54...Rxh4 55.Rf5)
55.Rf5 Kg4 56.Rxe5 Rf4–+
52.Kd5 Rxg3 53.Rxh5+
53...Kg4
The recommendation of GM Ribli is
incorrect: 53...Kf4 54.Ke6 e4 55.Kxf6
Rf3 56.Re5 Kg4+ 57.Ke6 e3 58.h5= but
even simpler was 53...Kg6 54.Rh8 Rh3
55.Ke6 Kg7 56.Ra8 (56.Rh5 e4)
56...Rxh4
54.Rh8 Rh3 55.Rh6
Immediately losing was 55.Ke4 Rxh4
56.Rg8+ Kh5+ 57.Kf5 Rf4+–+
55...Kf5 56.Rh5+ Kg6
More complicated was 56...Kf4 57.Ke6
e4 58.Kxf6 (58.Rf5+ Kg4 59.Rxf6
(59.Kxf6 Rf3–+) 59...e3–+) 58...e3–+
59.Rf5+ Kg4 60.Re5 Rf3+ 61.Ke6 Kg3
62.h5 Kf2 63.h6 Rh3 64.Rf5+ Kg3
65.Rg5+ Kf4 66.Rf5+ Kg4
57.Rh8 Kg7 58.Rh5 Rf3 59.Ke6
No better was 59.Ke4 Rf4+ 60.Ke3 Kg6
61.Rh8 Ra4–+
59...e4–+
The white king is too far away, so the
passed pawns easily decide the game.
60.Ra5 e3 61.Ra1
Or 61.Ra2 Rf2–+
61...e2 62.Rg1+ Kh6 63.Re1 Rf2
64.Kd5 f5 65.Ke5
White’s king cannot return in time
65.Kd4 f4 66.Kd3 f3
53.Rd7+ Kh6 54.e6 Re1 55.e7 Re6
56.Kg3 Re2 57.f4 Re3+ 58.Kf2 Re4
59.Kf3 Re1

65...Kh5

65...f4–+

66.Kd4 f4 0–1

6
J. S. Speelman
C. A. McNab 60.Rc7!
London 1992
Zugzwang!

60...Re6 61.f5 gxf5 62.Rc6

1–0

7
P. Cramling
Z. Peng
Belgrade 1998
51...Ra1 52.e5+ Kg7?

Much more stubborn was 52...Ke7

53.Rd6 (53.Kg5 Ke6 54.Rc5 Rg1+
55.Kh6 Rf1 (55...Rh1 56.Rc4 Kxe5
57.Kxg6 Rg1+ 58.Kxh5 Rg8 59.Kh6 Kf5
60.h5 Rb8 61.Rc7 Kf6) 56.Rc3 Kxe5
57.Kxg6 Rg1+ 58.Kxh5 Rg8) 53...Rg1
54.Rf6 Kd7 55.Ke3 Rg2 56.f4 Ke7 and
not clear how to win. 57.f5 gxf5
47.Rf7
58.Rxf5 Rg3+ 59.Kf2 Ke6 60.Rxh5 Rh3
61.Kg2 Re3 transposing to one of the
A position from previous chapters is
positions which we have seen in an
also reached in the case of 47.Re4 Kh5
earlier chapter, and holding the draw.
48.Rxg4 h6 (48...Rxf2 49.Rg5+) 49.Rc4
g5 50.hxg5 hxg5 51.e4
47.Rf7 Rb4 48.Rf4 Rb5 49.Kxg4 Kg7
50.Rd4 h5+
A less ambitious plan was 50...Kf6
51.Ra4 h6
51.Kf4 Rf5+ 52.Kg3 Ra5 53.f3
Possible also was the more direct plan
of 53.e4 Ra1 54.Rd7+ Kf6 55.Kf4 Rg1
56.f3 Re1 57.Rd6+
53...Kf6 54.Rd6+ Kf7 55.Kf4 Ra1
56.Ke5 Ra5+ 57.Kf4 Ra1 58.e4 Rh1
58...Rf1
59.Kg5 Rg1+ 60.Kf4
A very nice drawing line goes 60.Kh6
Rg3 61.e5 Rxf3 62.Rxg6 Ke7 63.Kxh5
Rf5+ 64.Rg5 Rf4 65.Rg4 Rf5+ 66.Kg6
Rxe5 67.h5 Kf8 68.h6 Re6+ 69.Kh7 Rf6
60...Rh1
61.e5!? Rg1
Simply bad was 61...Rxh4+ 62.Kg5 Rh1
63.Rf6+ Ke7 64.Kxg6
62.Ra6 Rg2 63.Rf6+ Kg7 64.Ke4 Rh2?
Another retreat was 64...Rd2 65.Rb6
(65.Rf4 Ra2 66.e6 Ra4+ 67.Ke3 Ra3+
68.Kf2 Ra6 69.e7 Re6) 65...Kf7
66.Rb7+ Ke6 67.Rg7 Re2+ 68.Kf4 Rg2
69.Ra7 White will try to get the
position from the Korchnoi game.
65.Rf4 Ra2 66.Kd5
Cramling has other ideas and tries to
get her king deep into her opponent’s
structure
66...Ra5+ 67.Kd6 Ra6+ 68.Kd7 Ra7+
69.Kc6 Ra6+ 70.Kb5 Ra1
Much better is the sticking 70...Ra3
71.Re4 Kf7 72.Kc4 Ke6 73.Kd3 Ra3+
74.Ke2 Kf5 75.Kf2 Ra6 76.Ke3 Ra3+
77.Kd4 Ra4+ 78.Kd5 Ra5+ 79.Kd6
Ra6+ 80.Kc5 Ra5+ 81.Kd6 Ra6+
82.Ke7 Ra7+ 83.Kf8 Ke6 84.f4
84...Ra1?!
Holding here would be 84...Ra8+ Strangely, Black resigned here, and we
85.Kg7 Kf5 86.Rb4 Ra7+ 87.Kh6 Re7 already mentioned the line where
there are no real winning chances:
85.Rb4 Kf5 86.Kg7 1–0 86.Kg7 Ra7+ 87.Kh6 Re7
CHAPTER 8.
BOTVINNIK’S ENDGAMES

The Guru of the Soviet Chess School, The immediate attack on the pawn is a
Mikhail Botvinnik, showed great mistake: 62...Ra2? 63.b5+ Kxb5
achievements in every part of the 64.Rxa7;
game, but especially in the endgame. 62...Rd3 63.b5+ Kxb5 64.Rxa7 Rd4+
His brilliant technique and his deep 65.Kf3 Ra4 66.Rc7! (66.Rb7? Rxa3+
analysis were among the main 67.Ke2 Rc3 68.Kd2 Rc5! Preventing
elements of the Soviet chess the frontal attack. (68...Rc6 69.Rh7
educational system. Additionally we Kb4 70.Rh1 b5 71.Rb1+ Ka5 72.Ra1+
can consider his technique as Kb6 73.Rb1) 69.Rh7 Ka4 70.Rh1 b5
absolutely classical... 71.Ra1+ Kb3 72.Rb1+ Ka2–+)
66...Rxa3+ 67.Ke2 with a theoretical
1 draw.
R. D. Kholmov
63.Rh3
M. Botvinnik
URS Spartakiad, Moscow 1963
63.Kf4 Rb3 64.Ke4 Rxa3 65.Kd4 Kb5

63...Ra2! 64.Kf4 Kb5 65.Ke4 Ka4

66.Rh7 Rxa3 67.Rxa7+ Kxb4

On the board we now have a basic

position, which is easily winning for
Black.

68.Rh7 b5 69.Kd4 Ra8 70.Rh1 Rd8+

It seems that Black has only a small 71.Ke3 Kc3
advantage, as White can always try to
sacrifice one pawn and come closer 0–1
with his king, but it is not at all easy, as
2
we will see...
A. Y. Model
61...Rd2 62.b4 Rb2! M. Botvinnik
Leningrad 1927

39.Rf7 Ke3!
The young Botvinnik knew the main
rule of complicated rook endgames —
activity!
40.Rxh7 Rd8! 41.g4 Kd2
41...Kf3 42.Rf7+ Kxg4 43.Kf2
42.Re7 e3 43.Kf1 Rf8+ 44.Kg2 e2
45.Rd7+ Ke1 46.h4?
It was possible to hold the draw using
the preventive strategy: 46.Rd3 Rf2+
47.Kg1 Rf4 48.h3 b5!? 49.axb5 Rb4
50.Kg2 Rxb5 51.Rd6! (51.Re3 Rc5
52.Rd3 Rc3 53.Rxc3 Kd2–+) 51...Rxb3
52.g5 Rb5 53.g6 Rg5+ 54.Kh2 Kf2
55.Rf6+ Ke3 56.Re6+ Kf3 57.Rf6+ Ke4
58.Re6+=
46...Rf4?
The correct way was 46...Rf2+ 47.Kg1
Rf4 48.Kg2 Rxg4+ 49.Kh3 (49.Kf3
Rxh4 50.Kg2 Rg4+ 51.Kh3 Rg5
(51...Re4 52.Kg2 Re3) ) 49...Re4
47.Re7 Rxg4+ 48.Kf3 Rxh4
49.Rxe2+ Kd1
Botvinnik has a similar endgame to
that which he would reach almost 50
years later! Now it is necessary for
White to play precisely so as not to
lose...
50.Re5?
50.Rg2 Rb4 51.Ke3 Rxb3+ 52.Kd4
Rb4+ 53.Kc5 Rxa4 54.Kb6=
50...b6 51.Re6
The pure pawn endgame is just bad:
51.Rb5 Rb4 52.Rxb4 axb4 53.Ke3 Kc2
51...Rb4 52.Rc6 Kd2!
The b3-pawn will be lost anyhow, but
first it is necessary to bodycheck the
king.
53.Kf2 Rxb3 54.Kf1 Rb4 55.Kf2 Kd3
55...Rxa4 56.Rxb6 Rc4 57.Ra6 a4
58.Kf3 Kc2 59.Ke3 Rc3+ 60.Ke4 a3
61.Kd4 Kb2–+
56.Ke1
 It was possible to transfer into a drawn
pawn ending here with 50.Re3+ Re4
(50...Kd5 51.Rd3=) 51.Kd3 Rxe3+
52.Kxe3=

50.Rg1?! Ra4 51.Kd3 Ra3+ 52.Ke2

Kf4 53.Rf1+??

It was necessary to hold as follows:

53.g5 h5 54.Rf1+ Kg4 55.Rf7 g6 56.Rf6
56...Kd4! Kxh4 57.Rxg6 Ra5 58.Kf3 (58.Rb6
Rxg5 59.Kf2 Kh3 60.Rh6) 58...Rxg5
And here it is necessary to fight against
59.Rxg5 Kxg5 60.Kg3=
the ‘cutting’ rook.
53...Kxg4 54.Rg1+ Rg3 55.Rh1 Kh5!
57.Kd2 Kd5 58.Rh6 Kc5 59.Rh5+
Kc4

0–1

3
A. Moreto Quintana
I. van der Lende
Barcelona 2015

Preparing a slow execution

with ...Rg3–g4–h4.

56.Kf2 Rg4 57.Kf3 Rxh4 58.Ra1 g5

59.Kg3 Rb4 60.Ra3 Rb6 61.Rc3 Kg6
62.Rc8 Rb3+ 63.Kg2 Kh5 64.Rh8 g4
65.Kh2 Kg5 66.Rg8+ Kh4 67.Ra8
Rb2+ 68.Kg1 h5 0–1
Now let us compare the problems of
modern players in such kinds of 4
positions. B. Thelen
J. Florian
50.Rg1?! Zlin 1945
 59...Kb4 60.Rh3 Ka3 61.a5 Rb5!

The pawn capture is not a technical

approach: 61...Rxb3? 62.Rh1 Rb5
63.Ra1+ Kb4 64.Ke4 Kc3 65.Rc1+ Kb2
66.Rc4 Kb3 (66...Rxa5 67.Rb4+ Kc3
68.Rxb7=) 67.Rc1=

62.Rh7

1.a5!? Very simple was 62.Ke4 Rxa5 63.Kd4

Rb5 64.Kc4 Rb4+–+
There was a nice winning way here:
1.Kxa7 Rxa4+ 2.Kb7! Ke5 3.b5+– 62...Kb4!

1.a5!? bxa5 2.bxa5? Similiar to the previous line was

62...Kxb3? 63.Rh1
There was still a path to the win,
though more difficult: 2.b5 Rb1 3.Rh7 63.Ke4 Kxa5 64.Rh3 Kb4 65.Kd4
a4 4.Rxa7 Ke5 5.Kb6 Ra1 6.Ra5 Kd6 Ka3 66.Kc4 Rb4+
7.Ka6 Rb1 8.Rxa4 Kc7 9.Rc4+ Kb8
10.Rh4+– 0–1

2...Ke5 6
A. Book
1/2–1/2 A. Kaila
Suomi 1938
5
R. Bellin
J. P. Kaplan
Hastings 1976

1.Rd7 Rb4
The alternative 1...Ra4? is incorrect: 7
2.a3 b6 3.Rg7+ Kh6 4.Rb7 Kg6 5.Kd6 G. Levenfish
Kf6 6.Kc7 Ke6 7.Kb8 winning. M. Botvinnik
Moscow/Leningrad 1937
2.b3 Kg6?

It was possible to try an immediate

pawn exchange with 2...a5 3.Rd4 Rb6
4.Kd5 (4.Ra4 Ra6 5.Kd5 Kf5 6.Kc5 Ke6
7.Kb5 Rc6 8.Rxa5 Kd7 and Black’s king
reaches the drawing base.) 4...Kf5
(4...Rc6 5.Ra4+–) 5.Kc5 Rg6 6.Rd7 b6+
7.Kb5 Rg2 8.a4 Rg3 9.Kxb6 Rxb3+

A classical position with the passed

3.Rd5! Kf7
pawn on the other flank.
Stubborn resistance was still possible:
53...Re2+
3...Rg4 4.Rd6+ Kg5 5.Rd7 Rb4 6.Kd6
Kf6 7.Kc7 Ke6 8.Rd8 Rb5
It is necessary to start the attacks
immediately.
4.Kd6 Ke8 5.Kc7 Ke7 6.Ra5! a6
7.Rd5 b5 8.Rd7+ Ke8 9.Rd8+ Ke7
54.Kd3 Rf2 55.Ke3 Rg2 56.Rb5
10.Ra8 Rh4 11.Rxa6 b4 12.Ra4 Re4
White cannot allow Black to exchange
off the g-pawn: 56.Rb6 g5 57.fxg5 Rxg5
58.Rd6 Rb5 59.Rd2 Ke6 60.Kd4 Rd5+
61.Kc3 Rxd2 62.Kxd2 Kd6! keeping the
long opposition.

56...Rg1?

What’s the point of quitting the

‘sticking to the b2-pawn’ approach!?
The natural way was 56...Kf6 57.b4
13.Kc6+–
Rb2 58.Ke4 Re2+ 59.Kd3 Rf2, sticking
White will win the b4-pawn in a few now to f2.
moves.
57.Kd3
Possible, and faster, would be 57.b4
Rb1 58.Ke4 Ke7 59.Rb6 Re1+ 60.Kd5
Rb1 61.Kc5
57...Rf1
Once more 57...Rd1+ 58.Ke2 Rh1
59.Rb6 Rh3 cutting the king.
cutting the king and slowly bringing
his own king to the b5-pawn.
65.Rb8?
More precise was 65.b4!
65...Kf6

58.Rb4 Rf2 Probably the last chance was 65...Re1+

66.Kd4 Rd1+ 67.Kc5 Rc1+ 68.Kb5 Rf1=
Now the check is wrong: 58...Rd1+
59.Kc2 Rf1 60.Rd4 Kf6 61.b4 66.Rb6+ Kf7 67.Rb4 Kf6 68.Rb6+
Kf7 69.Rb8 Kf6 70.Rb6+ Kf7
59.b3 Rf3+!? 71.Rb7+ Ke6 72.Rb6+ Kf7

It wasn’t possible to improve the king:

59...Kf6 60.Rd4 Kf5 61.b4

60.Ke4 Rg3 61.Rb5 Rg1 62.Rd5

Trying to change the position of the

rook...

62...Rb1 63.Rb5

...but it doesn’t work here: 63.Rd3 Ke6 73.b4!

64.Rf3 Kf6 65.Kd4 Kf5 66.Kc4 Kg4
63...Kf6?!
Much better was 63...Re1+ 64.Kd4 Rf1
65.Ke5 Re1+ 66.Kd6 (66.Kd5 Rd1+
67.Kc6 Rd4 68.f5 g5=) 66...Re4 67.f5
g5=
Finally the pawn starts his run! The
repeating of moves four times was
caused by the Soviet rule of that time,
which did not consider three-fold
repetition!
73...Re1+

64.Rb6+ Kf7 73...Ke7 74.Kd5 Rd1+ 75.Kc5+–

Worse was 64...Ke7 65.b4 Re1+ 66.Kd5 74.Kd4 Rf1 75.Ke5 Re1+ 76.Kd6 Re4
Rf1 67.Rxg6 Rxf4 68.b5 Kd7 69.Rc6!
 The position of the rook must be
improved first, then it will be time for
the pawn, and finally — the king!

73.Rc7+ Kb5

73...Kd4! 74.a7 Ra6 75.Kd2 Ke4 76.Rf7!!

This great cutting move was found by
Botvinnik only during analysis 40
years later! He believed that the
77.b5! position was drawn! (76.Kc3 Kf3
77.Kb4 Kg2!= The only move that
As usual, a pawn sacrifice.
secures the draw!) 76...Kd4! 77.Kc2
Kc4 78.Rc7+ Kd4 79.Kb3 Ke4
77...Rxf4 78.Rc6!
80.Rf7!+– (80.Rc4+ Kf3 81.Ra4 Rxa7
Black resigned because of the 82.Rxa7 Kxg4 83.Rh7 Kxg3 84.Rxh6 g4
variation... 85.Kc3 Kf2 86.Kd2 g3 87.Rf6+ Kg2
88.Ke2+–)
78...Rb4 79.b6 g5 80.Kc7
74.a7 Ra6 75.Kf3 Ra4 76.Rh7 Kc5
and Black’s king is cut off from his
pawn. Strange play by Botvinnik. The king has to run to the pawns, but it
is too late.
1–0
77.Rxh6 Rxa7
8
M. Botvinnik
M. Shebarshin
Leningrad 1926

78.Ke4!

This bodycheck is the decisive move!

78...Rg7 79.Ke5 Rg8 80.Re6 Rf8 White has more pawn islands and
81.Rg6 Re8+ 82.Kf6 Re4 Botvinnik prepares a very deep plan of
improvement.
Nothing is changed by 82...Kd6
83.Kxg5+ Ke5 84.Rg7 Ke6 85.Kg6 39.Rh8 Kg5 40.Rg8+ Kf6 41.Rh8 Kg5
42.Kd4 Rc5 43.Rh7
83.Kxg5 Kd5 84.Rf6 Re8 85.Kh6 Ke5
86.g5 Rh8+ 87.Kg7 Rh3 88.g6 It was too early to start materialism:
43.f4+ Kg6 44.Rxh4 Ra5 45.Rh8 Rxa4
Now everything comes down to the 46.Rc8 c5+ 47.Kd5 Ra3 48.Rc6+ Kf7
Lucena position and its bridge- 49.Rxb6 Rxe3 50.Kxc5 Rxh3 51.Kd5 a5
building method. 52.c5 a4 53.c6 Rc3 54.Rb5 a3 55.Ra5
Ke7=
88...Rxg3 89.Rf1 Ke6 90.Kh7 Ke7
91.g7 Rh3+ 92.Kg8 Rh4 93.Re1+ 43...Kg6
Kd7 94.Kf7 Rf4+ 95.Kg6 Rg4+
96.Kf6 Rg3 97.Re5 The best appraoch according to
Botvinnik was 43...Rc6 44.f4+
1–0 (Botvinnik also gives 44.Rd7 Kf6
45.Rd5 Ke6 46.Kc3 Rd6) 44...Kg6
9
45.Rxh4 Rd6+ 46.Kc3 Rd8 arresting
M. Botvinnik
the white rook.
V. Smyslov
Moscow 1958 44.Rd7 Kf6 45.Rd5 Rc6 46.Kc3! Re6

Here there was a serious option to

transfer into a pawn endgame. 46...Rd6
47.Rxd6+ cxd6 48.Kd4 Ke6 49.f3 (49.f4
a5 50.e4 fxe4 51.Kxe4 Kf6=) 49...f4!
(49...Ke7 50.Kd5 Kd7 51.f4 a5 52.e4+–
Botvinnik) 50.exf4 Kf5 51.Ke3 (51.Kd5
Kxf4 52.Kxd6 Kxf3 53.Kc6 Kg3
54.Kxb6 Kxh3 55.c5 Kg3 56.c6 h3
This is one of the most complicated 57.c7 h2 58.c8=Q h1=Q 59.Kxa6=)
rook endgames from World 51...a5 52.Kf2 Kxf4 53.Ke2 Kf5 54.Ke3
Championship history. Ke5 55.f4+ Kf6 56.Ke4 Kg6 57.Kd5
(57.f5+ Kg5 58.Kd5 Kxf5 59.Kxd6 Ke4
38...a6!
60.Kc6 Kd4 61.Kxb6 Kxc4 62.Kxa5
Kc5=) 57...Kf5 58.Kxd6 Kxf4 59.Kc6
Kg3 60.Kxb6 Kxh3 61.c5 Kg3 62.c6 h3
63.Kxa5 h2 64.c7 h1=Q 65.c8=Q=
47.Rd4 Kg5 48.Rd7 Rc6
49.Kb4!
…Rd8–a8
49...Kf6 50.Rd4! Kg5 51.Rd8 Re6
52.Rc8
52...f4?!
Smyslov tries to sacrifice a pawn. The
position, however, was not yet lost and
there were other ideas available. After
52...c5+ 53.Kc3 f4 54.Kd3
a) 54.Rg8+ Kh6! 55.exf4 Re2 56.Rg2
Re4! (56...Ra2? 57.Kd3 Ra3+ 58.Ke4
Rxa4 59.f5 Rxc4+ 60.Ke5 Rc3 61.f6 Rf3
62.Ke6+–) 57.Rg4 Kh5 58.a5 bxa5
59.Rg5+ Kh6 60.Rxc5 Rxf4 61.Rxa5
Rf3+ 62.Kb4 Rxh3=;
b) 54.e4 Rxe4 55.a5 bxa5 56.Rxc5+ Kf6
57.Rxa5 Re2=;
54...fxe3 55.fxe3 a5 (55...Rd6+ 56.Ke2
a5 57.Rg8+ Kf5=) 56.Rg8+ Kf5
(56...Kh5 57.e4 Rd6+ 58.Ke3 Rd1
59.e5+–) 57.Rg4 Rh6 58.e4+ Ke5
59.Ke3 Rf6 60.Rxh4 Rf1 61.Rh5+ Ke6
62.Rh6+ Ke5 63.Rxb6 Rc1;
But even more logical was 52...Rc6!
53.Ra8 (53.Rg8+ Rg6 54.Ra8 f4) 53...f4
54.e4 Rd6 55.Kc3 Rd1 56.Rg8+ Kf6
53.exf4+ Kxf4 54.Rxc7 Kf3 55.Rh7
Re4 56.Rh6
56...b5
Averbakh analyses 56...Kg2 57.Rxb6
Kxh3 58.Rxa6 Kg2 59.a5 h3 60.Rh6! h2
61.a6 h1=Q 62.Rxh1 Kxh1 63.a7 Re8
64.Kb5 Kg2 65.c5 Kxf2 66.c6 Ke3 67.c7
Kd4 68.Kc6+–
57.axb5?
Botvinnik criticised this faulty capture
and demonstrated the correct line:
57.Rxa6 bxc4 (57...Rxc4+ 58.Kxb5 Rf4
59.Rc6 Kxf2 60.Rc3+– transferring the
rook to a3.) 58.Rc6 c3+ 59.Kb3 Kxf2
60.Rxc3+–
57...axb5 58.Rf6+ Kg2 59.Kxb5
59...Re2?
Before publishing his final book, 25
years later, Botvinnik found a new
resource: 59...Re1! 60.c5 Rb1+ 61.Ka6
Kxh3
This is a critical position, with a few
options open: 62.Rf4 (62.c6 Ra1+
63.Kb7 Rb1+ 64.Kc8 Kg2 65.Kd7 h3
66.c7 Rd1+ 67.Rd6 Rxd6+ 68.Kxd6
Kxf2=;
I analysed many years ago the cutting
idea 62.Rg6 Ra1+ 63.Kb7 Ra2 64.f3
Rb2+ 65.Rb6 Rf2 66.c6 Rxf3 67.c7 Rf7
and a win is no longer possible.)
62...Ra1+ 63.Kb6 (63.Kb5 Rb1+ 64.Kc4
Rh1 65.c6 (65.Kd3 Kg2 66.Ke2 Rc1
67.Rg4+ Kh3 68.Rg5 Kh2 69.Kd2 Rc4
70.Kd3 Rc1 71.Kd4 h3 72.Kd5 Rg1=)
65...Kg2 66.Kd5 h3 67.c7 Rc1 68.Rc4
Rxc4 69.Kxc4 Kxf2 70.c8=Q h2=)
63...Rb1+ 64.Kc7 Rh1!!=
A fantastic move, preparing ...Kh3–g2:
Botvinnik.
Botvinnik expected 59...Kxh3 60.c5
Re1! (60...Kg2 61.c6 h3 62.c7 Re8
63.Rh6 h2 64.Kc6 h1=Q 65.Rxh1 Kxh1
66.Kd7 winning.) 61.c6 Rb1+ 62.Ka6
Ra1+ 63.Kb7 Rb1+ 64.Kc8 Kg2 65.c7
h3 66.Kd7 Rd1+ 67.Rd6 Rxd6+
68.Kxd6 h2 69.c8=Q Kxf2=
60.c5 Rb2+ 61.Ka6 Ra2+
There would be a nice closing of the
king in the box after 61...Kxh3
62.Rf4!+–
62.Kb7 Rb2+ 63.Rb6 Rc2
63...Rxf2 64.Rb3+–
64.c6 Kxh3 65.c7 Kg2 66.Rc6 Rb2+
67.Rb6 Rc2 68.f4
1–0

10
A. Matanovic
M. Botvinnik
Belgrade 1969

Here Geller found a great way to draw:

51.Ke3! (51.Ke2? Kg3 52.h4 Kxh4
53.Kf3 Kg5 this pawn on f5 position is
winning.) 51...Kg3 52.Ke2 f4 53.Kf1
Kxh3 54.Kf2=

Here it is necessary to prepare the 43.Rd6+ Ke7 44.Ra6 exd3

transfer into a pure rook endgame
Nothing is promised by 44...Rd2+
very carefully...
45.Nf2 e3 46.Rxa5 Rxf2+ 47.Kg1
43.Rd6+
45.Rxa5 Kd6 46.Ra8
Transitions with correct ideas are
The very strange fact here is that the
extremely important. So, here it was
most natural move loses! 46.Kf2 Rg1!
much simpler to hold the position afer
47.Ra8 Kc7 48.Ra7+ Kc6 49.Ra6+
43.Kf2 exd3 44.g4 d2 45.Ke2 Rh1
(49.Ke3 Rxg3+ 50.Kd2 Rxh3 51.Kc3
46.g5+ Ke6 47.Kxd2 Rxh3 48.Rd8 Ra3
Rh4 52.a5 Kb5 53.Kxd3 Rxf4 54.Rxh7
49.Rd4;
Kxa5–+) 49...Kc5 50.Ra5+ Kc4
Botvinnik and Geller analysed 43.Rd5
46...Kc7 47.Ra5 Kc6 48.Ra8 Kc5
Rd2+ 44.Kf1 Rxd3 45.Rxd3 exd3
46.Kf2 g5! (46...Ke6 47.Ke3 Kd6 As a rule in such position, without the
48.Kxd3 Kd5 49.g4! fxg4 50.hxg4 h5 king’s help it is not possible to win this
51.f5) 47.fxg5+ (47.Ke3 gxf4+ 48.gxf4 endgame.
Ke6 49.Kxd3 Kd5 50.h4 h5 winning.)
47...Kxg5 48.Ke3 h5 49.Kxd3 h4 49.Kf2
50.gxh4+ Kxh4
49...Ra1?
Simpler was to run with the king
49...Kd4! 50.Rd8+ Kc3 51.Rc8+ Kd2
52.a5 Ra1–+
50.Rd8?
It is necessary to attack as usual, so
50.Ke3! Rg1 51.Rc8+! Kb4 52.Rb8+!
Kxa4 53.g4! fxg4 54.hxg4 Rxg4 55.f5!
gxf5 56.Kxd3=
50...Kc4 51.Ke3 Re1+
Now the previous trick does not work
51...Rg1 52.Rd4+!
52.Kf2 Re2+ 53.Kf3 Re6!
A multifunctional positions
stopping the opponent’s passed pawn
too.
54.a5 Kc3 55.Rc8+
55...Kd2
Wrong was 55...Kb3 56.a6! Rxa6
57.Ke3 Rd6 58.Kd2 as White can stop
the d-pawn.
56.h4
A more serious defence is 56.Rc7 h5
(56...Re1 57.a6 Ra1 58.a7 Ke1 59.Rc1+
Rxc1 60.a8=Q d2 61.Qa5 Rc5=) 57.Kf2
Re2+! (57...Kd1 58.Kf3 (58.Rc3 d2
59.h4 Re2+ 60.Kf1 g5!! 61.hxg5
(61.fxg5 f4 62.gxf4 Re4–+) 61...h4
62.gxh4 Re4–+) 58...d2 59.Kf2 Re2+
60.Kf1 Re3 61.Kf2 (61.a6 Rxg3 62.a7
Ra3 63.Kf2 h4 64.Kf1 Ra4 65.Kg2 Ke2
66.Re7+ Kd3 67.Rd7+ Ke3–+) 61...Ra3
62.Rc5 Ra1 63.Kf1 Rc1) 58.Kf1 (58.Kf3
— Kd1–+) 58...Re1+ 59.Kf2 Ra1–+;
An alternative defence would be
destroyed too: 56.Rd8 Re1 57.a6 Rf1+
58.Kg2 Ra1 59.Rd6 Ke3 60.Re6+ Kd4
61.Rd6+ Ke4 62.Kf2 Ra2+ 63.Ke1 Ke3
64.Re6+ Kf3 65.Rd6 Kxg3 66.Rxd3+
Kxf4–+
56...Re1! 57.a6 Ra1 58.Rc7
There are some pretty tactics here:
58.Rc6 Ke1 59.Re6+ Kf1 60.Rd6 d2!!
61.Rxd2 Ra3+ mate!;
58.Ra8 Ke1 59.a7 d2 60.Re8+ Kf1
61.Rd8 Ra3+
58...Ke1 59.Kg2
Otherwise the afore-mentioned mate!
59...Rxa6 60.Re7+ Kd1 61.Rxh7
Ra2+! 62.Kf1
62.Kf3 Ke1 63.Re7+ Kf1 64.Rd7 d2
62...d2 63.Rc7 Ra1 64.Kf2 Rc1
0–1
11
W. Unzicker
M. Botvinnik
Amsterdam 1954
Black has a rather vulnerable pawn
structure, plus a cut king.
48.h4 f5
Active counterplay is a bit late:
48...Rb1+ 49.Ke2 Rb2+ 50.Kf3 Rd2
51.h5 Kf8! (51...Rxd3+? 52.Ke2 Rb3
53.h6 and the pawn is unstoppable.)
52.h6 Kg8 53.Rg7+ Kh8 54.Rf7 f5 55.g3
Rxd3+ 56.Kf4+–
49.g3
Now it was useless to push the pawn
too early. 49.h5 Rb1+ 50.Ke2 Rh1
49...Kf8 50.Rd7
Smyslov showed a more technical way
50.h5 Kg8 (50...Rb1+ 51.Kg2 Kg8
52.Re7 Re1 53.h6 e5 54.Kf3 Kh8 55.g4
e4+ 56.Kf4 e3 57.fxe3 fxg4 58.e4 g3
59.Rg7) 51.Re7! e5 52.Kg2
50...e5 51.Kg2 Kg8 52.h5
Botvinnik did not believe in 52.f4 exf4
53.gxf4 Rb2+ 54.Kg3 Rb1 55.Rxd4
Rg1+ 56.Kf3 Kf7 57.Rd5 Rf1+ 58.Ke3
Kf6 59.h5 Rh1 60.h6 but it was simply
winning!
52...Ra5
No better was 52...Rb1 53.Re7 e4
54.Rd7 Rb3 (54...e3 55.fxe3 dxe3
56.Kf3) 55.dxe4 fxe4 56.g4
53.h6 Rb5 54.Rg7+ Kh8 55.Re7 Ra5
56.Kf3 Rd5 57.g4

Botvinnik shows a better and simpler
way 57.h7 e4+ 58.dxe4 fxe4+ 59.Rxe4
d3 60.Re1 Kxh7 61.Rd1 Rd8 62.Ke3+–
He believed that his opponent did not
want to part with h-pawn!
57...e4+!
Botvinnik gives an exclamation mark
and writes that this bluff is the last
chance.
58.dxe4 fxg4+ 59.Ke2 d3+ 60.Kd2
Rd4
61.Re8+
Here Salo Flohr found the only win
61.e5 Rf4 (61...Rd5 62.e6 Rd6 63.Re8+
Kh7 64.e7 Re6 65.Kxd3 Re5 66.Kd4
Re6 67.Kd5 Re2 68.Kd6 Rd2+ 69.Ke5!
Re2+ 70.Kf4 Rxf2+ 71.Ke3! A nice
retreat of the king!) 62.Rg7 Rxf2+
63.Kxd3 Rf1 64.Rxg4 Re1 65.Kd4 Kh7
66.Kd5
61...Kh7 62.Re6 Ra4 63.Kxd3 Ra3+
64.Ke2 Rf3!
Botvinnik has reached a position
where he is two pawns down, but his
rook is able to attack and to cut his
opponent’s king.
65.e5 Rf5 66.Ke1 Rf4 67.Rf6
Nothing was promised by the line
67.Kf1 g3 68.Rf6 (68.f3 Rxf3+ 69.Kg2
Re3 70.Kh3 Ra3) 68...Rxf6 69.exf6
Kxh6 70.fxg3 Kg6 71.Kg2 Kxf6 72.Kf3
Kg5
67...Re4+
Now the transfer into a pawn endgame
would be catastrophic: 67...Rxf6
68.exf6 Kxh6 69.Ke2 Kg6 70.Ke3 Kxf6
71.Kf4 g3 72.fxg3 Kg6 73.Kg4!
68.Kf1 Rxe5 69.Kg2 Ra5 70.Kg3 Rg5
71.Kh4 Rg8 72.Kh5 g3 73.Rf7+ Kh8
74.h7 Rg4
1/2–1/2
CHAPTER 9.
SMYSLOV’S ENDGAMES
A completely different technique was
shown by another top guru of rook
endgames, Vassily Smyslov. He used
much more fantasy and tactics in his
classic rook endings.
His examples are simply the most
instructive and his defence is full of
small, but brilliant, tactics.
1
V. Smyslov
C. Kottnauer
Moscow 1947
Here we will witness a very technical
transfer into a rook endgame, followed
by great exploitation of a strong
passed pawn, which will be sacrificed
for a winning pawn ending...
52.Bd5! Bxd5+
52...Bf5+ 53.Kxe5 Bd7+ 54.Kf6
53.Kxd5 Ke8 54.Ke6! Rg6+ 55.Kxe5
Rg2 56.Ra8+! Kf7 57.g8=Q+ Rxg8
58.Rxg8 Kxg8 59.Kd4 1–0
2
I. Lipnitsky
V. Smyslov
Moscow 1952
Here Smyslov demonstrated an
excellent defensive effort...
45...Rc1+ 46.Ke2 Ra1 47.Rd4
Other setups allow Black to activate his
king: 47.Rd8+ Kf7 48.Ra8 Kg6 49.a5
Kh5 50.Ra7 g6 51.Rxh7+ Kg4 52.h5
gxh5 53.Rg7+ Kh3
47...Ra3! 48.Kd2 Kf7
Materialism is again very risky:
48...Rxg3 49.Kc2 (49.a5 Ra3 50.Rd5
Kf7 (50...g6 51.Kc2 Kf7 52.Kb2 Ra4
53.Kb3 Rxf4 54.a6 Re4=) 51.Rxf5+ Ke6 63.Ra5 Rxa5 64.Kxa5 f2 65.a8=Q
52.Rb5 g6) 49...Kf7 50.Kb2 Re3 51.a5 f1=Q
Kg6 52.Rd5 Re7 53.Kb3 Kh5 54.a6 Kg4
with survival chances. ½-½

49.Kc2 3
G. Stahlberg
V. Smyslov
Stockholm 1954

Nothing is promised by 49.h5 Ke6

50.Kc2 Rxg3 51.Kb2 g5

49...Kg6! 40...Kf5

A precisely-calculated line. Much better than 40...Rxe5 41.Rc7 Kf5

42.a5
50.Kb2 Rxg3 51.a5 Kh5 52.a6 Rg6
53.a7 40...Kf5 41.Rc7

Not much better was 53.Ra4 Rb6+ A simpler way to draw was 41.Kf2 Re4
54.Kc3 Rb8 55.a7 Ra8 56.Kd4 Kxh4 42.a5 Kxe5 43.a6 Kd6 44.Rh7 Ra4
57.Ke5 Kg4 58.Ra1 g6= 45.a7 Kc6 46.Re7

53...Ra6 54.Rd7 g6! 41...Rc3 42.a5 Kxe5 43.a6

After this precise move, the black king
wins a pawn and secures the draw.
54...Kxh4? 55.Rxg7
55.Rxh7+ Kg4 56.Kb3 Ra1 57.Kb4
Kxf4 58.Kb5 Kg3 59.Kb6 f4 60.h5
gxh5 61.Rxh5 f3 62.Rg5+ Kh2
Also not bad was 43.Ke2 Kd6 44.Rc8
Ra3 45.Ra8 Kc7 46.a6 e5 47.Re8 Kd6
48.Rd8+ Kc6 49.Rc8+ Kb5 50.Rb8+
Kc4 51.Ra8
43...Kd4 44.Rd7+ Kc4 45.Re7
Possible here was 45.a7 Ra3 46.Ke2 e5
47.Re7 Kd5 48.Kd2 Kd6 49.Rh7 e4
50.Kc2
45...Kd5 46.Rd7+ Kc6 47.Re7 Kd6
48.Re8 Ra3 49.Ra8 Kc6
50.a7?
It was even now not too late to include
the king in the action: 50.Ke2 Kb6
51.Rb8+ Ka7 52.Rc8
50...Kb6 51.Re8 Rxa7 52.Rxe6+ Kb5
53.Ke2 Rd7!
After White’s passive play we have
reached a basic position with the king
cut off, and it is not possible to avoid
the Lucena position.
54.Re4 c4 55.Re8 Kb4 56.Rb8+ Kc3
57.Rc8 Kb3 58.Rb8+ Kc2 59.Rc8
Re7+ 60.Kf1 c3 61.Kf2 Kd2 62.Rd8+
Kc1 63.Rc8 c2 64.Rc6 Re5
0–1
4
V. Smyslov
E. Jimenez Zerquera
Moscow 1963
Smyslov’s material advantage can best
be realised by transferring into a rook
endgame.
30.Rxe4! Rxd5 31.Rxd5 Qxd5
32.Qxd5 Rxd5 33.a4 Kf8 34.Kb3 Rd2
35.g4 Rh2 36.gxh5 Rxh3
Better was 36...g5!? 37.Rg4 Rxh3
38.Rxg5 Rxe3+ 39.Kb4 Re4+ 40.Ka3
Re1 41.b4 Re3+ 42.Kb2 Rh3
37.hxg6 fxg6 38.Kc4 Rh2?!
It is always better to try to activate
passed pawns, so 38...Kf7 39.Kd5 g5
39.Kd5!
As usual, activity is worth more than a
pawn!
39...Rxb2 40.Rc4 Ra2 41.Rc8+ Kf7
42.Rc7+ Kf6 43.Rxa7 g5
 Here it is necessary to take
prophylactic measures before pushing
his passed pawn.

43.Rc2! Ke7

White would like the variation 43...e5

44.Kd3 Ke6 45.Kc4

44.e4!
44.a5!
The idea of this is to weaken his
Sacrificing a second pawn — opponent’s pawns structure.
otherwise how to make a passed pawn?
44...Ra1
44...bxa5 45.b6 Rb2 46.b7 g4 47.Kc6
Rc2+ 44...fxe4 45.Ke3 Re1+ 46.Re2

The opponent’s pawn will be easly 45.Kd3 Kd6 46.exf5 exf5 47.Kc4 Kc6

stopped after 47...g3 48.Ra8 g2 49.Rg8 48.Kd4+ Kd6 49.b3

48.Kd7 Rb2 49.Kc7 Rc2+ 50.Kb8 g3 Possible also was 49.b4 Rb1 50.Kc3

51.Ka8 Rb2 52.Rxa5 g2 53.Ra1 Kf5 (50.Kc4 Kc6) 50...Kc7 51.Ra2 Rc1+
54.b8=Q 1–0 52.Kd4 Re1 53.Rc2+ Kd6 54.Kc4 Kc6
55.Kb3+ Kb6 56.Rc5
5
49...Re1 50.Kc4 Kc6 51.Kd3+ Kd5
V. Smyslov
V. Kortschnoj
USSR 1967

52.b4

Finally, another step is achieved.

52...Rb1
Black has no chances after 52...Ra1
53.Ke3 Ra3+ 54.Kf4 Rf3+ 55.Kg5
53.Kc3 Kc6
The pawn ending is immediately lost:
53...Ke4 54.Rb2 Rxb2 55.Kxb2 Kf3
56.b5 Kxf2 57.b6
54.Kd4+ Kd6 55.Kc4 Kc6 56.Re2
Rc1+
Or 56...Kd6 57.b5
57.Kd4 Kd6
58.Rb2
Now White has achieved his goal — the
rook is behind the pawn and the b-
pawn express is ready to roll.
58...Ra1 59.b5 Ra4+ 60.Ke3 Kc7
61.b6+ Kb7 62.Rb5 Re4+ 63.Kd3
Re8 64.Rxf5 Kxb6 65.Rg5 Rd8+
66.Ke4 Re8+ 67.Kf5 Rf8+ 68.Ke6!
It’s better to stop the opponent’s king
from dreams of coming to fight the
pawn.
68...Rxf2 69.Rxg4 Re2+ 70.Kf5 Kc5
71.Re4 Rf2+ 72.Rf4 Rd2 73.g4 Rd5+
74.Kg6
1–0
6
V. Smyslov
E. B. Mukhin
Moscow 1967
60.Ra5+ Ke6 61.Ra6+
It is more typical to push the
opponent’s king a bit further from the
passed pawn and then to transfer into
a basic winning position: 61.Re5+! Kf6
62.e4 Rxg3+ 63.Kc4 fxe4 64.Rxe4+–
61...Ke7 62.d5 Rxg3 63.Re6+ Kf7?
It was necessary to fight against the
passed pawn with 63...Kd7 64.Kd4 Rh3
65.Rf6 Rf3 66.d6 Kc6 and Black is
holding.
64.Kd4 Rh3 65.Re5 Kf6 66.d6 Rh1
67.Re8 Kf7
Or 67...Rd1+ 68.Kc5 Kf7 69.Re5 Kf6
70.Rd5
68.Re7+ Kf6 69.Kd5 Ra1
Checks would just accelerate events:
69...Rd1+ 70.Kc6 Rc1+ 71.Kb6 Rd1
72.Kc7 Rc1+ 73.Kd8 Ra1 74.Re8 Kf7
75.Re5 Kf6 76.Rc5
70.Re8 Rd1+ 71.Kc6 Rc1+ 72.Kb7
Rd1 73.Kc7 Rc1+ 74.Kd8 Kf7 75.d7
Rc5
76.e4! f4
The Lucena position is reached after
76...fxe4 77.Rxe4
77.e5 f3 78.e6+ Kg7 79.Ke7
1–0
7
V. Smyslov
A. M. Konstantinopolsky
Leningrad/Moscow 1939
This position is somewhat similar to a
position from chapter 10 of the second
book: the c-pawn must be maximally
supported and used.
35.Kd4 Ke6 36.Re1+ Kd7 37.Kd5
Rb5 38.Re4! g6
Immediately losing was 38...Ra5
39.Rxb4 Rxa2 40.Rb7+ Kc8 41.Kc6
39.h4 f5 40.Rf4 h5
The threat was h4–h5 destroying the
entire black structure.
41.Rd4 Kc7 42.b3 Rb8
Now it is not possible to even try to win
a2-pawn: 42...Ra5 43.Rd2 Rb5 44.Kc4
Rb8 45.Rd6
43.Kc4 Re8 44.Rd6 Re4+ 45.Kd5
Rxh4 46.Rxg6 Rg4 47.Rxa6 Rxg2
48.Ra7+ Kb8 49.Rh7
Now White will combine attack of the
pawns with mating threats.
49...Rxa2 50.Rxh5 Rc2 51.Kc6 Ka7 9.a6 Ra3 10.Rb6+ Kd7 11.Rxf6 Kc7
52.Kb5 Re2 53.Rh7+ Kb8 54.Kb6 12.Kc5
Re8 55.c6 f4 56.Rb7+ Kc8 57.Ra7
5...Rc5
1–0
Now the pawn sac was too late: 5...b5?
8 6.Ra8 bxc4 7.Rxa6+ Kd5 8.Ra5++–
V. Smyslov
6.Kd4 Ke7 7.Rb8 Rc6 8.Rb7+ Ke6
G. Forintos
Monte Carlo 1968

A similar situation, but the c-pawn is 9.b4!

extra!
Time to create a passed pawn.
1...Rf5+
9...Rd6+ 10.Kc3 Ke5 11.a5
It was possble to sacrifice a pawn for
activity: 1...b5 2.Ra8 bxc4 3.Rxa6+ Kf7 Not bad, but much simpler was 11.c5!
4.bxc4 Rc5 5.Ra4 bxc5 12.bxc5 Rd1 13.Re7+! Kf5
14.Kc4+–

1...Rf5+ 2.Ke3 Re5+ 3.Kd3 Ra5!? 11...bxa5 12.bxa5 Rd1 13.Rb2

Black’s pawns are much more Stronger was 13.Re7+ Kd6 14.Ra7
vulnerable after 3...Rf5 4.Rb8 Rc1+ 15.Kd4 Rd1+ 16.Ke3 Re1+
17.Kd3
4.a4 Rf5 5.Ke3
13...Ra1 14.Kb4 Kd6 15.Rd2+ Kc6
Rudolf Maric in Chess Informant 16.Rd3!
criticised the following move, but it is
winning much more simply! 5.Rb8 Improving the rook’s position to be
Rf3+ 6.Kd4 Rxb3 7.a5 b5 8.cxb5 axb5 able to attack the pawn on f6.
16...Rb1+ 17.Rb3 Rh1 18.Rf3 Rh6
19.Rf5 Kd6 20.Rd5+ Kc6 21.Rf5 Kd6

52...Kf6 53.Rf4+ Kg6

53...Ke5 54.Rf7
22.f3
54.Kf2 Re7?
Very strong was 22.f4 Kc6 23.c5 Rg6
24.Kc4 Rh6 25.Rd5 Kc7 26.Rd6 Better was to cut on the third rank:
54...Ra3 55.Ke2 Rh3
22...Rg6 23.Kb3
55.Kf3 a6
A clever losing of a tempo with the idea
of reaching a specific position on his Or 55...Rc7 56.Kg4 Rg7 57.Rc4
own move.
56.Re4
23...Rh6 24.Kc3! Kc6 25.Kd4 Rg6
Even stronger was 56.bxa6 Ra7 57.Ke4
26.f4 Rh6 27.Ke4 Rg6 28.Rh5 Rg1
Rxa6 58.Kd5 Ra8 59.Kc6
29.Rh6 Re1+ 30.Kf5 Ra1 31.Rxf6+
Kb7 32.Rb6+ Ka7 33.Re6 Rxa5+ 56...Rf7+ 57.Kg4 Rg7 58.Re6+ Kf7+
34.Kg6 Rc5 35.f5! 59.Kf5 axb5 60.axb5 Rh7 61.Rxb6

Don’t count pawns! Your own pawn A precisely-calculated preparation of

must run as quickly as possible. the basic winning position.

35...Rxc4 36.f6 Rg4+ 37.Kf5 Rg1 61...Rxh4 62.Ke5 Ke7 63.Kd5 Kd7
38.f7 1–0

9
V. Smyslov
J. C. Diaz
Cienfuegos 1973
 43...g6 44.Rh1! g5 45.Re1

With clever manoeuvres, Smyslov has

fixed the h6-pawn as a future
weakness.

45...g4!

Smyslov evaluates this move as correct.

He writes that 45...f5 was wrong due to
64.Rc6! 46.f3 Ra8 47.Re5

This move decides matters. 46.Ra1!

64...Rh8 65.Kc5 Rb8 66.b6 Kd8 Smyslov decides to create the threat of
67.Rc7 Ra8 68.Kc6 Ra2 69.Rd7+ a4–a5, opening an attack on the a6-
pawn.
1–0 Very interesting also was the
zugzwang try 46.Re4 f5 47.Re2 Rg8
10 48.Re5 Rg5 49.c5+ Kc6 50.cxb6 Kxb6
V. Smyslov 51.a5+ Kb7 52.Rd5 Kc6 53.b5+ axb5
P. C. Benko 54.Rc5+ Kb7 55.Rxb5+
Szolnok 1975
46...Kc7 47.a5 Rb8!

The best defence according to Smyslov.

Very bad was the alternative 47...Re8
48.axb6+ Kxb6 49.Ra5 Re2 50.Rf5

White is much more active, plus

Black’s pawn structure seems to be
vulnerable.

43.Re1!

Control over the open file is always 48.b5!

important.
Passed pawns must be created 61.Rxh6!
urgently!
Top players usually know basic
48...axb5 49.cxb5 bxa5 50.Rxa5 Rb6 positions very well, and the realization
51.Ra7+ Kc8 52.Kc5 Rf6 53.Ra4! in such cases goes very quickly.
Rxf2 54.Rxg4 Kc7
61...Rxg4 62.Rf6?
A more stubborn defence would be
54...Rf5+ 55.Kb6 Kd8 56.Ka6 Rxh5 But here it was time to bring the king
57.b6 Rh1 58.Rg8+ Ke7 59.b7 Ra1+ into the fight with 62.Ke7! f5 63.Kf6 f4
60.Kb6 Rb1+ 61.Kc7 Rc1+ 62.Kb8 Rb1 64.Kf5 Rg1 65.Kxf4+–
63.Rh8
62...Re4?
55.b6+ Kb7 56.Rf4!
There was a study-like saving idea
This offer of a pawn ending decides; here: 62...Rg7!! 63.h6 Rh7 64.Ke7 Kd5
Black loses immediately after such an 65.Kf8 Ke4!! (65...Ke5 66.Kg8 Kxf6
exchange. 67.Kxh7+–) 66.Kg8 Rxh6 67.Rxh6 f5
68.Re6+ Kf3! 69.Kg7 f4 70.Kg6 Kg2
56...Rc2+ 57.Kd6 Kxb6? 71.Re2+ Kg3=

There was a chance here to transfer 63.h6 Kd4 64.h7 Rh4 65.Rxf7 Ke5
into a queen ending: 57...Rd2+ 58.Ke7 66.Ke7 Rh1 67.Kf8 Ke6 68.Kg8 1–0
Kxb6 59.Kxf7 Kc5 60.g4 Re2 61.Kg6
Re6+ 62.Rf6 Rxf6+ 63.Kxf6 d5 64.g5 d4 11
65.gxh6 d3 66.h7 d2 67.h8=Q d1=Q V. Smyslov
with a theoretically-drawn position. O. Nikolenko
Cappelle la Grande 1995
58.Kxd7 Rh2 59.g4 Rh4 60.Rf6+ Kc5

It is necessary to include the king into

the game in some form. Firstly to avoid
the worst cut, on the second rank...
54.Kg2! Rd2+ 55.Kh3 Ra2 12
56.Rxa6+– g5 57.fxg5 Kxg5 58.Ra8 V. Smyslov
Kg6 59.a6 Kg7 M. Botvinnik
World-ch, Moscow 1958
Another attempt at defence is seen by
59...Ra4 60.Kg2 Ra3 (60...Ra2+ 61.Kf3
Rxh2 62.a7) 61.Kf2 Kg7 (61...Kh7
62.Ke2 Ra2+ 63.Kd3 Rxh2 64.Rb8 Ra2
65.Rb7+ Kg6 66.a7 Kf6 67.Kc4 Ke5
68.Kc5) 62.Ke2 Ra2+ 63.Kd3 Rxh2
64.Rb8 Ra2 65.Rb6 Ra3+ 66.Kc4 Rxg3
67.Rb3 Rg1 68.Ra3 Rc1+ 69.Kb5 Rb1+
70.Ka5 Rb8 71.a7 Ra8 72.Kb6 Kg6
73.Ra5! and this classical cut decides. A very unusual tactical mate occurred
in the match for the World
60.Kh4 Rxh2+
Championship.

38.Kd4 Rf7

38...g5!?

39.Ke4 Kd6 40.Rb6+ Kc5??

40...Kc7 41.Rxa6 Rf8 42.Rxg6 f3 43.Rg1

Rb8 44.Rf1 Rxb3 45.Rxf3 Rb1

It’s an easy task after 60...Ra5 61.a7 41.Kd3!!

Kh7 62.Rb8
and there is no defence against mate
61.Kg5 Ra2 62.Ra7+! by b3–b4!

Smyslov uses the same classical 1–0

manoeuvre which was used to win
against him by Grandmaster Donner. 13
V. Smyslov
62...Kf8 63.Kxh5 1–0 A. G. Beliavsky
Moscow 1981
 45.Rd2

An interesting plan was to move all the

pawns to the fourth rank and to
protect them with the rook: 45.a4 Re6
46.Rd4 a6 47.b4

45...Rb6 46.Kh3 a5

White has an extra pawn on the 46...Rb4 is refuted by 47.g4 Kg7

kingside and the duo needs to be 48.Rd7+ Kg6 49.h5+ Kh6 50.a3 Rxb3+

protected. 51.Kh4 Rb5 52.g5+ Rxg5 53.Rd6+

43.Kg1! 47.Rd5 a4 48.bxa4 Rb4

The king usually comes to the center,

but here it is better to be safe and to
help his own pawns. The alternative
was interesting, but offers his
opponent counterchances: 43.Rd7+
Kg6 44.Rxb7 Rc1+ 45.Ke2 (45.Kf2
Rc2+ 46.Kf3 Rxa2 47.g4 Ra1±)
45...Rc2+ 46.Kd3 Rxa2 47.g4 Rg2
(47...a5 48.Ra7±) 48.Rxa7 Rg3+ 49.Kc2
Rg2+ 50.Kc3 Rg3+ 51.Kb2 Rxg4 52.h5+ 49.Rg5+
(52.Ra4 h5 53.Rc4±) 52...Kh6
(52...Kxh5 53.Rxh7+ Kg6 54.Re7+–) The job is easier after 49.a5 Ra4
53.Ra5+– 50.Rb5 Rxa2 51.Rb6+ Kg7 52.Rxb7+
Kg6 53.Rb6+ Kg7 54.a6
43.Kg1! Kg6
49...Kh6 50.Rg4+– Rb2 51.a3 Rb3+
No chances are promised by 43...Rc2 52.Rg3 Rb1 53.Rd3 Kg6 54.Kg4 Rc1
44.Rd7+ Kg6 45.a4 55.Rd6+ Kg7 56.Rd7+ Kg6 57.h5+
Kh6 58.Rd6+ Kg7
44.Kh2 Ra6

An attack on the pawns is also

unsuccessful: 44...Rc2 45.a4 Rc3
46.Rg5+ Kf6 47.Rg3±
59.Rd4
A nice preventive and protective move.
59...Rc3
Or 59...Rc2 60.g3 Rc3 61.Rb4 Kg8
62.Kf4 Rxa3 63.g4 Rc3 64.Ke5
60.Rb4 Kg8 61.Kf5
This is much better than 61.Rxb7!?
Rc4+ 62.Kg5 Rxa4 63.Rb8+ Kg7 64.h6+
Kf7 65.Rb7+ Kg8 (65...Kf8 66.g4)
66.Rg7+ Kh8 67.Re7 Kg8 68.Re3+–
61...Rc5+ 62.Ke6
Of course, also possible was 62.Kf6
62...Rxh5 63.Rxb7 Rg5 64.Rb2
The pawn sacrifice 64.Kd7 leads to a
winning pawn endgame after 64...Rxg2
65.a5 Ra2 66.Rb3 Rf2 67.Kc6 Rf6+
68.Kb7 Rf7+ 69.Ka8 Rf6 70.Rb6 Rf3
71.a6 Rxa3 72.a7
64...Rg3
65.a5! Rg5
Better was to try the chance 65...Rxa3
66.Rb5 (66.Kf6 h6 67.Kg6 67...Kf8
68.Rb8+ Ke7 69.Ra8 Rg3+ 70.Kf5
(70.Kh7 Rxg2 71.a6 Rd2 72.a7 Rd7
73.Kxh6 Kd6 74.Kg6 Kd5=) 70...Rg5+
71.Ke4 Rg4+ 72.Ke3 Ra4 73.a6 Kf6)
66...Kg7 67.Kd7 Kg6 68.Kc7 h5 69.Kb7
Re3 (69...Ra2 70.a6) 70.a6 Re7+
71.Kb6 Re6+ 72.Ka5 Re7 73.Rb6+ Kf5
74.Rb7 Re1 75.Rb5+ Kg4 76.a7 Kg3
77.Rxh5
66.Kf6! Rg6+ 67.Ke7 h5
67...Rg5 would be similar to the last
line after 68.a6 Ra5 69.Rb6 Rxa3
70.Kd7+–
68.Kd7 h4
A great transfer into a pawn endgame
is mentioned by Smyslov: 68...Rg5
69.a6 Rg6 70.Rb8+ Kh7 71.a7 Rg7+
72.Kc6 Rxa7 73.Rb7+
69.Kc7 Kh8 70.Rb4 Rxg2 71.Rxh4+
Kg7 72.a6 Re2 73.Rd4
1–0

14
V. Smyslov
M. Botvinnik
World Championship, Moscow 1954

54...a3 55.Ra6+ f6 (55...Kg7 56.Kxf5 a2

57.Kg4 and the king has found a safe
haven, so, draw.) 56.Rxf6+ Kg7 57.Ra6
a2 58.Ra7+ Kf8 (58...Kg6 59.Ra6+ Kf7
(59...Kh5?? 60.Rh6#) 60.g6+ Ke7™
61.Kg5=) 59.Ra8+ Ke7 60.Ra7+ Kd6
White must activate his rook very 61.Ra6+ Kc5 62.g6 Rf1+ 63.Kg5 a1=Q
quickly... 64.Rxa1 Rxa1 65.g7 Ra8 66.Kxf5 Kd4
67.Kf6 (67.g4 Ke3 68.g5 Kf3 69.g6 Kg3
50.Rc4?! 70.Kf6 Kg4 71.Kf7 Kg5) 67...Ke4 68.Kf7
Kf3=
There was a very clever way to draw:
50.Rh4! Kxg5 (50...Re4 51.Kf3!=) 52...Ra3!
51.Kf2 Re4 52.Kf3! Rg4 (52...Rxh4
53.gxh4+ Kxh4 54.Kf4=) 53.Rh7 Rxa4 A classical and excellent cutting move.
54.Rxf7 Ra3+ 55.Kf2 a4 56.Ra7= Smyslov now tries some tricks, as he
saw no chances in normal
50.Rc4?! Re4 51.Rc7 Rxa4 52.Ra7? continuations.

The activity level had to increased by 53.Kh3

entering the game with his king: 52.Kf3!
Ra1 53.Ra7 a4 54.Kf4!
There is a rather long winning idea of
sacrificing the f5-pawn and winning
using zugzwang. 53.Kf2 a4 54.Kg2 Ra1
55.Kh2 a3 56.Kg2 a2 57.Kh2 Kxg5
58.Ra5 (58.Kg2 f6 59.Ra4 Kh5 60.Kh2
f4 61.gxf4 Kg4 62.Kg2 f5 63.Kh2 Kf3–+)
58...Kg4 59.Ra4+ Kf3 60.Ra3+ Ke4
61.Ra4+ Ke3 62.Ra3+ Ke2 63.Kg2 f4
64.gxf4 f5 65.Ra4 (65.Ra5 Kd3 66.Ra8
Ke4 67.Ra4+ Ke3 68.Kh2 Kf3) 65...Ke3 25.Rxc7 Rh5 26.Rxb7 Rxh2+ 27.Kd3
66.Kh2 Kf3 Rf2=

53...f4 54.Kh4 fxg3 55.Ra6+ Kf5 20...b5 21.Ke2

56.Rf6+ Ke4 57.Kh3 Rf3 58.Ra6 Rf5
0–1 21.c4 a4

21...Ke6 22.Kf3 Rb8 23.Ke3 c5?

15
R. Fischer
23...Rg8=
V. Smyslov
Monte Carlo 1967 24.c4! bxc4

24...c6 25.cxb5 cxb5 26.Rd5 Rc8

25.Ra3!?

25.Rd5 Rb2 26.Kd2 Rxa2 27.Rxc5 Kd6

28.Rxc4 Ra3³

25...Rb5= 26.Kd2 Kd6 27.Rf3 Ke6

Fischer got nothing special from his

favourite exchange Spanish, but both
greats seem to play for the win here!

17.Rd3 Rf8 18.Kf1 a5 19.g4

19.Rh3 Rf7 20.Ke2 Kd6 21.Kd3 Kc5

22.Rh6 a4

19...Rg8 20.h3

28.Kc1
20.Rh3 Rxg4 21.Rxh7+ Ke6! (21...Kd6
22.f3 Rf4 23.Kf2 Ke6 24.Kg3 f5
28.h4 Rb4 29.g5 c3+ 30.Ke3 fxg5
25.Rh6+ Kf7 26.Rh4 Rxh4 27.Kxh4 Kg6
31.hxg5 Rb2 32.Kd3 Rxa2 33.Rf6+ Kd7
28.c4 c5 29.a4 c6 30.Kg3 fxe4 31.fxe4
34.Rh6 Ra1 35.Rxh7+ Kc6
b5 32.cxb5 cxb5 33.axb5 a4 34.b6 a3
35.b7 a2 36.b8=Q a1=Q 37.Qd6+ Kg7±) 28...Rb8 29.Ra3 Rb5
22.f3 Rf4 23.Ke2 f5 24.exf5+ Rxf5
29...Kd6 30.Rxa5 c3 31.Ra3 Rb4 32.f3
Rb2 33.Rxc3 Rxa2
30.Rc3 Kd6 31.a3?! Rb8 32.Rxc4 h5!
33.f3 Kc6 34.Rc3
34...Rd8!
34...a4 35.f4 hxg4 36.hxg4 exf4 37.Rf3
Kd6 38.Rxf4 Ke5 39.Rf5+ Kd4 40.Rxf6
Rg8
35.Rd3 Rh8 36.Kd2?
36.c4=
36...c4 37.Re3
37.Rd5 hxg4 38.hxg4 Kb6 39.a4 Rh2+
40.Kc3 Rf2 41.Rb5+ Ka6 42.Rb8 Rxf3+
43.Kxc4 Ra3 44.Kc5 Rxa4 45.c4
37...Kc5 38.Re2 hxg4 39.hxg4
39...Rh1?
39...Rh3!µ 40.Rf2 (40.Ke3 Rh1 41.Rg2
Ra1) 40...Rg3 41.Kc3 a4 42.Rf1 c6
43.Rf2 Rg1 44.Kb2 Kd4
40.Rg2
½-½
16
V. Smyslov
Skakhmatnaja Nedelja 2003
This position is a great study by the ex-
World Champion.
1.Rh4+ Kg5 2.f4+ Kf5 3.e4+! Kxe4
4.f5+! Kxf5 5.Rf4+ Kg5 6.h4+! Kh5
7.d5! f5!
7...e5 8.Rf5+ Kg4 9.d6 Kxf5 10.d7;
7...exd5 8.Kh3!
8.g4+! fxg4 9.Kg3! b4
10.d6!

10.Rf2? Rf6! 11.Rxf6 gxf6 12.d6 b3

13.d7 b2 14.d8=Q b1=Q 15.Qe8+ Qg6!

10...b3 11.d7 b2 12.Rb4!

1–0
CHAPTER 10.
BEST ROOK ENDGAME STUDIES

Plenty of Grandmasters and world-

leading study-specialists have spent
their time producing fantastic rook
endgame studies.
In these studies we are shown amazing
ideas, but basic knowledge is
necessary to solve them. Plus, there
are very special — even unique —
endgame manoeuvres and tactics
contained within them. In any case,
1.Kg8 Rg2+ 2.Kf8 Rh2 3.Rb6+
they have huge educational value.
3.Rf7+! A cook later found by John
1 Brown. 3...Ke6 4.Kg8 Rh1 5.Rg7
P. Stamma
Essai sur le Jeu des echecs 1737 3...Kf5 4.Kg7 Rg2+ 5.Kf7 Rh2 6.Rb5+
Kf4 7.Kg7 Rg2+ 8.Kh6! Rh2+ 9.Rh5
1–0

3
W. Steinitz
1888

1.Ra6 Rg8 2.Ra7+ Ke8 3.Ke6 Kd8

4.Ra8+ Kc7 5.Rxg8 g2 6.Rc8+ 1–0

2
D. Ponziani
Il Giuoco Incomparabile degli
Scacchi 1769 1.Kf2! Kxh2 2.Ra1 Rb3
2...Rc4 3.Ke3 Kg3 4.Rg1+ Kh3 5.f4! 1.Kb7 Rb2+ 2.Ka7 Rc2 3.Rh5+ Ka4
Rxa4 6.f5 Rb4 7.f6 Rb8 8.Kf4 4.Kb6 Rb2+ 5.Ka6 Rc2 6.Rh4+ Ka3
7.Kb6 Rb2+ 8.Ka5 Rc2 9.Rh3+ Ka2
3.Re1 Ra3 4.Re4 Kh3 5.Rg4 Ra2+ 10.Rxh2
6.Ke3 Ra3+ 7.Ke2 Ra2+ 8.Kd3 Ra3+
9.Kc2 Rxf3 10.Rg5 Rf4 11.Rxa5 Kg4 1–0
12.Ra8! Kg5 13.a5 Kf6 14.a6
5
O. Duras
1902

14...Ra4! 15.Kd3! 1–0

4
1.Rd2+ Ke7 2.Rd6!! Kxd6
E. Lasker
Deutsches Wochenschach 1890 2...Rc3 3.Rc6! Rxc6 4.Ka7+–

3.Kc8 Rc3+ 4.Kd8 1–0

6
A. Troicki
1908

One of the most famous rook endings

in chess history! Only on the first move
is there a small problem: two moves
lead to the same position later.

1.Kb7

1.Kb8 Rb2+ 2.Ka7 1.e7! Rc8

1...Re5 2.Kxe5 e2 3.Rf3+ Kd2 4.Rf2+– 8
A. Selesniev
2.Rf8 Rc6+
Niva 1912

2...Rxf8+ 3.exf8=Q e2 4.Qc5+ Kd2

5.Qd4+ Kc1 6.Qe3+ Kd1 7.Qd3+ Ke1
8.Kf5+–

3.Kf5 Re6

3...Rc5+ 4.Kf4 Re5 5.Kxe5 e2 6.Rf3++–

4.Kxe6 e2 5.Rf3+! Kd4

5...Kd2 6.Rf2+– 1.Kf7 Rxh5

6.Rf4+ Kd3 7.Re4! Kxe4 8.e8=Q 1...Kh7 2.Rg7+ Kh8 3.Kg6 f3 4.Re7
e1=Q 9.Kf6+ 1–0
2.Rg8+ Kh7 3.Rg7+ Kh8 4.Kg6 g4
7 5.Ra7 Rg5+ 6.Kxh6 g3
L. Kubbel
6...Rg8 7.Rh7#
Rigasche Rundschau 1910

7.Kxg5 g2 8.Ra1 f3 9.Kg6

1–0

9
A. Selesniev
Niva 1912

1.f7

1.e6? Kc6 2.f7 Kc7 3.f8=Q Ra2+ 4.Qa3

Rxa3#

1.f7 Rf2 2.e6 Kc6 3.f8=Q! Rxf8 4.e7

Rg8 5.e8=Q+! Rxe8

1/2–1/2 1.Rg5! h2
1...Rd4 2.a3+ Kxa3 3.Kxc3;
1...Rh8 2.a3+ Kxa3 3.Rg4!;
1...Rf4 2.a3+ Kxa3 3.Ra5+ Kb4 4.Ra4+

2.a3+ Kxa3 3.Ra5+ Kb4 4.Ra4+

1–0

10
A. Selesniev
Berliner Zeitung am Morgen 1914 8...Rf3+ 9.Kg1 Rg3+ 10.Rg2

1–0

11
A. Selesniev
Schweizerische
Schachzeitung#120, 1915

1.Rh8 Rd2+ 2.Kf1

2.Kf3? Rg2 3.gxh7 Rg7 4.Kf4 a3 5.Kf5

a2 6.Ra8 Rxh7 7.Rxa2 Rh3 8.Kxf6 Re3

2...Rd1+ 3.Ke2 Rg1 4.Rxh7+ Kg3

5.Rh1! Rg2+ 6.Ke3
6.Kf1? Rf2+ 7.Ke1 Rg2
6...Kg4 7.Rh2!
7.Ke4? f5+ 8.Ke5 Kf3 9.Kxf5 Ke3
10.Rh4 c3 11.Rxa4 Kd2 12.Ra2 Kc1
1.Ra8 Rxg6 2.Rh8+ Rh6 3.Rg8! Kh4
3...Rh7 4.Rg1 Kh6 5.Kxf6 Kh5 6.Rh1+;
3...a3 4.Rg1 Kh4 5.Rh1+ Kg3 6.Rxh6 a2
7.Rh1
4.Rg1 Rh5+ 5.Kf4 Kh3 6.Rh1+

7...Rg3+ 8.Kf2! 1–0

8.Ke4? f5+ 9.Ke5 Kf3 10.Kxf5 c3 11.Kf6

a3 12.g7 a2 13.Rh1 Ke2 14.Ra1 Kd2
15.Rxa2 Kc1
12 1.Rh7+ Kg5 2.g7 Ra8+ 3.Kf7 Ra7+
L. Kubbel 4.Ke6 Ra6+ 5.Kd5!
1916
5.Ke5? Rg6

5...Rg6 6.Ke5! Kg4 7.Rh1 Kg5

7...Rg5+ 8.Ke4 Kg3 9.Rg1+ Kh4

10.Rxg5 Kxg5 11.g8=Q+

8.Rg1+ Kh6 9.Rxg6+ Kxg6 10.g8=Q+

1–0

1.f7 Rf8 2.e6 b6 3.Kb7! 14

G. Weenink
3.e7 Rxf7–+
1918

3...Kc5 4.e7!

4.Kc7? Kd5 5.Kd7 (5.e7 Rxf7 6.Kd8

Rxe7 7.Kxe7 b5) 5...Ke5 6.Ke7 Rh8–+

4...Rxf7 5.Ka6! Rxe7=

1/2–1/2

13
F. Dedrle 1.Rd4! h3
Časopis Československy Šach#208,
1...Ra8 2.Rd3+ Kc4 3.Rh3=
1917

2.Rd8! Rh6 3.Rd6 Rh5 4.Rd5 Rxd5

1/2–1/2

15
A. Selesniev
Deutsche Schachzeitung 1919
 5.Rxd2+? Kxd2 6.Kh3 Ke2 7.Kg4 Ke3–+

5...d1=Q 6.Rxd1 Kxd1 7.Kg4

1–0

17
A. Selesniev
Tidskrift för Schack 1920

1.Rxc5+ Rxc5 2.f7 Rc6+ 3.Ke5! Rc5+

4.Ke4 Rc4+ 5.Ke3 Rc3+ 6.Kf2 Rc2+
7.Kg3 Rc3+ 8.Kg4 Rc4+ 9.Kg5 Rc5+
10.Kg6 Rc6+ 11.Kg7 1–0

16
H. Rinck
1920

1.g6+!

1.Kxh5? a2 2.g6+ Kg8 3.Rb7! (3.Rc1

Kf8 4.Kg5 Rxa7 5.Ra1 Ke7) 3...Kf8
4.Rb8+ Ke7 5.Rb7+ Kd8 6.Rb8+ Kc7

1.g6+! Kh6

1...Kxg6 2.Rc6+ Kh7 3.Ra6 g6 4.Kg5 a2

5.Rxa2 Kg7 6.Ra6 Kf7 7.Ra4
1.Re4+ Kc3 2.Rd4! Kxd4 3.d7 Ke3
2.Rc3! Rxa7 3.Rxa3 Rb7 4.Rb3
3...d1=Q 4.d8=R+!+–
1/2–1/2
4.d8=R

4.d8=Q d1=Q 5.Qxd1=

18
A. Selesniev
4...Ke2
Tidskrift för Schack 1921
4...d1=Q 5.Rxd1+–

5.Kh3!
1.Ra8! Rb6! 1.Kf8!

1...Rxc2 2.Ra5# 1.Kf7? Kh5;

2.Ra5+ Rb5 3.Ra6 d4 1.Ke8? Kh3! 2.Kf7 Rh4! 3.Kg6 Rg4+

4.Kf6 Rh4 5.Kf5 Rh6!
3...Rb2 4.Rc6+ Kb5 5.Rb6+
1.Kf8! Rh5
4.Rf6 dxc3 5.dxc3 Kd5 6.Rxf5+ 1–0
1...Kh5 2.Kf7!
19
A. Selesniev 2.Kf7 Rf5+ 3.Ke6 Rh5 4.Kf6!
Tidskrift för Schack 1922
1–0

21
J. Halumbirek
T.Z. 1923

1.Rg1+ Kh7 2.e5! Rxe5+ 3.Kf7 Kh6

4.Kf6 1–0

20
J. Vancura 1.g4 Rxh3
Ceské Slovo 1922
1...g5 2.Rb6+ Kh7 3.Kb2 Rxh3 4.Rd6
Re3 (4...Rf3 5.Rd4 Rf4 6.Kc3!) 5.Rd4
Kg6 6.b4 Kf6 7.b5 Ke5 8.Rb4 Kd6 9.b6
Re8 10.b7 Rb8 11.Kc3 Kc7 12.Kd4
Rxb7 13.Rxb7+ Kxb7 14.Kd5!
2.g5+ Kh5
2...Kh7 3.Kc2 Re3 4.Kd2 Rg3! 5.b4 Rg4
6.Kc3 Re4 7.Rd5 Kg8 8.b5 Kf7 9.b6 Re8
10.Rb5 Rb8 11.Kb4 Ke6 12.b7 Kd6
13.Ka5 Kc6 14.Ka6
b) 6...Rd3? 7.Re5+ Kxe5 8.Kxd3 Kd5
9.Ke3 Kc5 10.Ke4 Kxb5 11.Ke5 Kc5
12.Ke6 Kd4 13.Kf7 Ke5 14.Kxg7! Kf5
15.Kh6;
c) 6...Rf3 7.b6 Rf7 8.Rb5! Rb7 9.Kb3;
7.Rc6 Rg3 8.Rxg6 Kc5 9.b6 Rg4 10.b7
Rb4 11.Rxg7 Kd5 12.g6 Ke6 13.Rh7
Kf6 14.g7 Kf7 15.Rh8
4.Rc5!
4.b4? Rf4

3.Kc2! 4...Rf5

3.b4? Rh4! 4.Kc2 Rf4 5.Kb3 Rf3+ 6.Ka4 4...Kg4 5.b4 Rf5 6.Rxf5 gxf5
Rf5! 7.Rxf5 (7.Rc5 Kxg5) 7...gxf5 8.Kb3
f4 9.Kc3 Kg4! 10.Kd2 Kh3!; 5.Rxf5!
3.Kb2? Rf3 4.Rc5 Rf5 5.Rxf5 (5.b4 Kxg5)
5.b4? Kxg5
5...gxf5 6.b4 f4 7.Kc3 Kg4
5...gxf5 6.b4 Kg4
3...Rf3
6...f4 7.Kd3 Kg4
3...Rg3 4.Rc5! (4.b4? Rg4 5.Kb3 Rf4)
4...Rxg5 (4...Kg4 5.b4 Kf4 6.b5 Re3
(6...Ke4 7.b6 Kd4 8.b7) 7.b6 Re7 8.Rb5
Rb7 9.Kb3 Kg4 10.Kb4 Rxb6 11.Rxb6
Kxg5 12.Kc3) 5.b4! Rf5 6.Rxf5+ gxf5
7.Kd3 Kg4 (7...f4 8.Ke2 Kg4 9.b5) 8.b5
(8.Ke2? Kf4!) 8...f4 9.b6 f3 10.b7 f2
11.Ke2;
3...Kg4 4.Rc5! Kf4 5.b4 Ke4 6.b5! (6.Rc3?
Rh5! 7.Rc4+ Kd5 8.Rc5+ Kd6 9.Kb3
Rh4 10.Ka4 Rf4; 6.Rc4+? Kf5) 6...Kd4 7.Kd3! Kh3
a) 6...Ra3 7.b6 Ra8 (7...Ra6 8.Rb5! Ra8
7...f4 8.Ke2! (8.b5 f3 9.b6 Kh3!) 8...Kf5
9.Kc3 Rb8 10.Kb4) 8.Kb3 Rb8 9.Rb5!
Kf4 10.Kb4 Kg4 11.b7 (11.Ka5? Ra8+) 9.Kf3

11...Kf4 12.Ka5 Rxb7 13.Rxb7 Kxg5

8.b5 f4 9.Ke4 Kg4! 10.b6 f3 11.Ke3
14.Kb4;
Kg3 12.b7 f2 13.b8=Q+
1–0

22
A. Cheron
Source unknown, 1923

1.Rh8+! Kxa7 2.Rh7+!

2.Ke4? Rb6 3.Rh7+ Ka6;

2.Rf8? Rh1 3.Rf7+ Kb6 4.h7 Rh4!

2...Kb6 3.Ke4!
1.Rd4! Ke6
3.Rg7? Rh1 4.h7 Rh4
1...Rd8 2.Rxd8 Kxd8 3.Ka4! Kc8 4.Ka5
Kc7 5.Ka6 Kb8 6.Kb6 3...Re1+! 4.Kf5 Rf1+ 5.Kg6 Rg1+
6.Kf7 Rf1+ 7.Kg8 Rh1
2.Kc4! Rc8+
7...Rf6 8.Kg7
2...Ke5 3.Rd5+ Ke6 4.b5 Rc8+ 5.Rc5
Kd7 6.b6 Rxc5+ 7.Kxc5 Kd8 8.Kd6 Kc8 8.Rh8 Rc1
9.Kc6
8...Kc7 9.Kg7 Rg1+ 10.Kh7
3.Kb5 Rb8+ 4.Kc6 Rc8+ 5.Kb7 Rf8
6.b5 9.Kg7 Rc7+ 10.Kg6 Rc6+ 11.Kg5
Rc5+ 12.Kf4 Rc4+
1–0
12...Rc7 13.Rg8 Rh7 14.Rg6+;
12...Rc6 13.h7
23
J. Vancura 13.Ke5 Rc5+ 14.Kd4 Rh5! 15.Ke4
28 Rijen, 1924 Kc7 16.Kf4 Rh1 17.Kf5 Rf1+ 18.Kg6
Rg1+ 19.Kh7 1–0

24
J. Vancura
28 Rijen, 1924
1.Kd2! 1.Ke7

1.Kd3? Rd1+ 2.Ke4 Rd6; 1.Kd7? Kb7

1.Rh8+? Kb7 2.Kd2 Rg1 3.Rh7+ Kb6 1.Ke7 Ka7

4.Rg7 Rh1 5.h7 Kc6
1...Kb7 2.Kd7

1.Kd2! Kb8 2.Ke6

1...Rh5 2.Ke3 Re5+ 3.Kf4 Re6 4.Kg5
2.Ke3! Kc8
2...Re1+ 3.Kf4 Rf1+ 4.Kg5 Rg1+ 5.Kf6
Rf1+ 6.Kg6 Rg1+ 7.Kf7 Rf1+ 8.Kg8 Rh1
9.Rh8 Kc7 10.Kg7 Rg1+ 11.Kh7
2.Kd6 Kb6 3.Kd5 Kb5 4.Kd4 Kb4 5.Kd3
Kb3–+
2...Ka6 3.Ke5 Ka5 4.Ke4 Ka4 5.Ke3
Ka3 6.Kd2 Kb3 7.Kd3 Ra2 8.Kd2
1/2–1/2

3.Rh8+ Kb7! 4.Kf4 Kc7 5.Kf5 Rf1+ 26

6.Kg6 Rg1+ 7.Kh7 Kd7 8.Rg8 1–0 A. Nimzowich
1926

25
J. Vancura
28 Rijen, 1926
1.Ra7! Re8 2.d7 Re7 3.d6 Rxd7 28
4.Ra8# N. Rossolimo
1927
1–0

27
N. Rossolimo
Shakhmaty 1926

1.h7 Rh6 2.Kb5 Kb3 3.Kc5 Kc3 4.Kd5

Kd3 5.Ke5 Ke3 6.Kf5 Kf3 7.Rf8!
Rxh7 8.Kg6+

1–0
1.Ra5 Kxf2
29
1...Ke2 2.Ra2+ Kf1 3.Rd2 Rd3 4.Ra2
L. Kubbel
Rd1 5.Ra1;
Bakinski Rabotchi, 1927
1...Rd1 2.Ra2

2.Rd5 Kxe3

2...Rd6 3.Rxd6 Kxe3 4.Re6

3.Rxd7 Ke2 4.Rxe7??

4.Ra7=

4...e3! 5.Rd7! Kf2 6.Rd2+ Ke1

1.Rb8+ Kd7 2.Rb7+ Kd6 3.Rb6+ Kd5
6...e2! A cook! 4.Rb5+ Kd4 5.Rb4+ Kxd3 6.Rb3+
Kd4 7.Rb4+ Kd5 8.Rb5+ Kd6 9.Rb6+
7.Rf2
Kd7 10.Rb7+ Kc8 11.Rb5 c1=Q
1/2–1/2 12.Rc5+ Qxc5

1/2–1/2
30 3...Rh8 4.Ke7 Rxh7+ 5.Kf8 Kf5 6.Kg8
V. Bron Rb7 7.h7 Rb8+ 8.Kg7 Rb7+ 9.Kh6 Rb8
Shakhmaty 1929 10.Rg6

4.Ke7 Kf5 5.Rf6+ Kg5 6.Kf7 Rb7+

7.Kg8 Kxf6

7...Rxh7 8.Kxh7 Kxf6 9.Kg8

8.h8=Q+ Kg6 9.Qg7+ Rxg7+ 10.hxg7

1–0

32
1.Rc8+! Ke7 2.Rc7+! Ke6! 3.Rc6+ M. Euwe
Ke5! 4.Rc5+ Ke4! 5.Rc4+ Ke3! 1934
6.Rxg4! f2 7.Rg3+ Ke4! 8.Rg4+ Ke5
9.Rg5+ Ke6 10.Rg6+ Ke7 11.Rg7+
Kf8 12.Rg5! f1=Q 13.Rf5+ Qxf5 1/2–
1/2

31
R. Bianchetti
L’Italia Scacchistica 1930

1.Rf6+ Ke3 2.Rg6 Kf4 3.Kg7! g4

4.Kh6 g3 5.Kh5 Kf3 6.Kh4 g2 7.Kh3
1–0

33
V. Halberstadt
SSSR 1935

1.Ra6 Kd5

1...Re7+ 2.Kc8 Rxh7 3.Kd8 Kd5 4.Ke8

Ke5 5.Kf8 Kf5 6.Kg8

2.Kc7 Ke5 3.Kd7 Rb8

 12.Rd4? Kb5

12...Ka6 13.Ra4+!

13.Rc4? Ka5 14.Rd4 Kb5

13...Kb5 14.Rd4 Kc5 15.Ra4 1/2–

1/2

34
1.Kh2 Rg4 2.Kh3 h5 L. Kubbel
Schackvarlden 1935
2...Rxf4 3.Rd7;
2...h6 3.Rd6+ Kb7 4.Rf6 (4.h5=) 4...h5
5.Rd6 Kc7 6.Rd4

3.Rd5

3.Rd4? Kb5 4.Rd6 Kc5

3...Kb6 4.Re5! Kc6 5.Ra5 Kd6 6.Rb5!

6.Ra4? Kc5
1.b5 Rb4
6...Ke6 7.Rb6+ Kd5 8.Rb4 Kc5 9.Ra4
1...Re5 2.a6 Rxb5 3.a7 Ra5 4.Ke7
Kb5 10.Rd4 Kc6! 11.Rc4+!
2.Ke7!
11.Ra4? Kc5;
11.Rb4? Kd5 12.Ra4 Kc5 2.Ke8? Rxb5 3.Kd7 Rc5;
2.a6? bxa6 3.bxa6 Rxb6
11...Kb6 12.Rb4+!
2...Rxb5 3.Kd6! Rf5

3...Rxa5 4.Kc7

4.Kc7 Rf7+ 5.Kb8 Kf3 6.Ka7 Ke4 7.a6

Kd5 8.axb7 Kc6 9.Ka8 Rxb7 1/2–1/2
35 Rf1 6.Ra4 Rf2 7.f8=Q+–) 5.f7 Rg1
T. Gorgiev 6.f8=Q a1=Q 7.Rg4+ Kh3 8.Qf3+ Kh2
64, 1936 9.Qf2+ Kh3 10.Qh4#) 3...Kh1 4.Rh4+
(4.f7 Rg1+ 5.Kh7 Rf1=) 4...Kg1 5.f7 Rf1
6.Ra4 Rf2 7.Rxa2 Rxa2 8.f8=Q Rg2+
9.Kh5 Rh2+ 10.Kg4 Rg2+ 11.Kh3
Rh2+=

2.Ra4!

2.Ra5? Ke4 3.Ke6 Kd4 4.f7 Re1+ 5.Kd6

Rf1=

2...Kf2 3.Kf8 Ke3 4.f7 Kd3 5.Ke7

1.Kg5 Ke7 2.Kf4 Kd6 3.Ke3 Kc5
Re1+ 6.Kd6 Rf1 7.Ke6 Re1+ 8.Kd5
4.Kd2 Kb4 5.Kc1 Ra1+ 6.Kb2 Rxg1
Rf1 9.Ra3+ Kc2 10.Rxa2+ Kb3
1/2–1/2
11.Ra7
36
1–0
J. Hasek
1936
37
N. Grigoriev
4.p 64, 1937

1.Kf7!

1.f7 Re1+ 2.Kd5 Rd1+ 3.Kc4 Rc1+

1.Rf5!
4.Kb3 Rf1 5.Rxa2+ Kg3 6.Ra7 Kg4=

1.Rf4? g3 2.Rg4 Rc3 3.Kf7 Kc2 4.Kg6

1.Kf7! Kf3
Kd2 5.Kh5 Ke2 6.Kh4 Kf2 7.Kh3 Rf3!;
1...Kf2 2.Ra4! (2.Kf8? Ke3 3.f7 Kd4
1.Rf1? Rc1 2.Rf2+ (2.Rf5 Kc2 3.Rf4 g3
4.Ke7 Re1+ 5.Kd7 Rf1=) 2...Kg1 3.Kg6?
4.Rg4 Rg1) 2...Rc2 3.Rf1 g3;
(3.Kg8 Kh1 4.Rh4+ Kg2 (4...Kg1 5.f7
 39
1.Rg7? Rc4 2.Kd7 Re4 3.Kd6 Kc3 4.Kd5
De C. Feijter
Kd3
Tijdschrift v.d. KNSB, 1938

1.Rf5! g3

1...Kc3 2.Rg5 Rc4 3.Kf7 Kd3 4.Kg6 Ke3

5.Kh5 Kf3 6.Kh4 Rf4 7.Ra5 g3+ 8.Kh3

2.Rg5 Rc3 3.Kf7 Kc2 4.Kg6 Kd2

5.Kh5 Ke2 6.Kh4 Kf2 7.Kh3 Rf3
8.Rg4!

8.Rg8? Rf7
1.Kg6! Ke6!
8...Rf8
1...Rxb6+ 2.Kf5 Rb4 3.Ke5 Rxc4 4.Kd5
8...Ra3 9.Rg8 Rf3 10.Rg4! b5 5.Rb8

9.Rf4+ Rxf4 1/2–1/2 2.Kg5 Ke5 3.Rd8! Rxb6 4.Rd5+ Ke4

5.Rxc5 Rc6! 6.Rb5 b6 7.Rb1! Kd4
38 8.Kf5!
N. Grigoriev
SSSR 1938 8.Kf4? Rxc4! 9.Rxb6 Kc5+

8...Kxc4 9.Rc1+ Kb5 10.Rb1+ Ka6

11.Ra1+ Kb7 12.Ke4!

12.Rb1? Rc4 13.Ke5 Kc6

12...b5 13.Rb1 Kb6 14.Kd3 Rc4

15.Rh1 Kc5 16.Rg1

1/2–1/2

1.Ra7+ Kb4 2.b7 Rb6 3.Kd4! Rd6+

4.Ke5 Rb6 5.Ra1 Kc3! 6.Rc1+ Kb2 40
7.Rc7 Kb3 8.Kd5 Kb4 9.Rc1! Ka3 P. Romanovski
10.Ra1+ Kb2 11.Ra7 Kb3 12.Kc5 SSSR 1938

1–0
 1.d8=Q+ Rxd8+ 2.Kxd8 Kc5 3.Rb7!
b4 4.Kc7 Kc4 5.Kb6 b3 6.Ka5 Kc3
7.Ka4 b2 8.Ka3

1–0

42
M. Euwe
1940

1.Kg5 Ka2 2.Kg6!

2.Kf5? Ka3 3.Ke5 Ka4 4.Kd5 Ka5 5.Kc5

Ka6

2...Ra6+ 3.Kf5 Ra7 4.Ke5 Ka3 5.Kd5

Ka4 6.Kc5 Ka5 7.Rc8! Rxh7 8.Ra8+
Ra7 9.Rxa7#

1–0
1.Ra1 Kg7 2.Kb7 Kf6 3.Kc6 Ke5
4.Kc5 Ke4 5.Kc4 Ke3 6.Rh1! Kf3
41
7.Kd3 Kg2 8.Ke2 Kxh1 9.Kxf2
M. Botwinnik
SSSR 1939
1/2–1/2

43
V. Sokov
SSSR 1940

1.d8=Q+

1.Rf2? Rd4 2.d8=Q+ Rxd8+ 3.Kxd8 Kc5

4.Kc7 b4 5.Rb2 Kc4 6.Kb6 Kc3

1.Rb1!
1.Ke7? Kb4! 2.Re1 a5 3.Kd6 a4 4.Kd5 1.Kf3 Kh4 2.Kf4 Kh5 3.Kf5 Kh6 4.Kf6
a3 5.Kd4 a2 6.Kd3 Kb3; Kh7 5.Re5 a5 6.Rh5+ Kg8 7.Rg5+
Kf8 8.Rxa5 Rxa5
1.Re1? a5 2.Ke7 a4 3.Kd6 Kb4!
1/2–1/2
1.Rb1! Ka2
45
1...a5 2.Ke7 a4 3.Kd6 Ka2 4.Re1 a3
P. Keres
5.Kc5 Kb2 6.Re2+ Kb1 7.Kb4 a2 8.Kb3
Chess 1940
a1=N+ 9.Kc3

2.Re1! a5 3.Ke7 Kb3!

3...Kb2 4.Kd6 a4 5.Kc5 a3 6.Kb4

4.Kd6

4.Rxe3+? Kb4! 5.Kd6 a4 6.Re4+ Kb5!

4...a4
1.Kc8
4...Kb4 5.Kd5 a4 6.Kd4 a3 7.Rb1+
1.Rh3? Ka7 2.Rh8 Ka6 3.Ra8+ Kb5
5.Kc5 a3 6.Rxe3+ Ka4 7.Kc4 a2 4.Rb8+ Kxa5 5.Rb2 Ka4 6.Kb7 (6.Rd2
8.Re1 Ka3 9.Kc3 Kb3 7.Kd7 Kc3 8.c7? Kxd2 9.c8=Q Rd1!)
6...Ka3 7.c7? Kxb2 8.c8=Q Rb1!;
1–0
1.Rh8+? Ka7 2.Rh6 Ka6! 3.Kc8 Rg1!
44
4.Rxh2 (4.c7+ Ka7 5.Rxh2 (5.Kd7 Rd1+)
A. Wotawa
5...Rg8+ 6.Kd7 Rg7+ 7.Kd6 Rg6+)
Deutsche Schachzeitung 1940
4...Rg8+ 5.Kd7 Rg7+ 6.Ke8 Rc7! 7.Rc2
Kb5;

1.Rh7! cook GR 1...Ka7 2.Kc8+

1.Kc8 Ka7

1...Rc1 2.c7 h1=Q 3.Ra6#;

1...Rg1 2.Rxh2 Rg8+ 3.Kc7 Rg7+ 4.Kb6

2.Rh7+
2.c7? Rg1 3.Rxh2 Rg8+ 4.Kd7 Rg7+ 46
5.Kd6 Rg6+ 6.Kc5 (6.Ke5 Rc6 7.Rh7 A. Herberg
Kb7) 6...Rg5+ 7.Kb4 Rg4+ 8.Kb3 Rg3+ Deutsche Schachzeitung 1940
9.Kb2 Kb7 10.Rc2 Kc8

2...Ka8

2...Ka6 3.c7 Ka7 (3...Rg1 4.Kb8) 4.a6!

3.c7 Ka7

3...Rg1 4.Kd7 Rd1+ 5.Kc6 Rc1+ 6.Kb6

Rb1+ 7.Ka6 h1=Q 8.c8=Q+ Rb8 9.Ra7#

4.a6! Ka8 1.Ra3+ Kg4

4...Rg1 5.Rxh2 Rg8+ 6.Kd7 Rg7+ 7.Kd6 1...Ke2 2.Rxa2+

Rg6+ 8.Kd5 Rg5+ 9.Kd4 Rg4+ 10.Kd3
2.c7 Rc1 3.Kd6 Rd1+ 4.Kc5 Rc1+
Rg3+ 11.Kd2 Rg8 12.Rh6! Rc8 13.Rc6
Ka8 14.Kd3;
4...b6+ 5.Kc6 Rc1+ 6.Kb7
4...Kxa6 5.Kb8
5.Kb6 Rb1+ 6.Ka7 a1=Q 7.c8=Q+
5.Rh6
1–0
5.Rh8! Ka7 6.Rh6 Ka8 7.Rh7 Ka7 8.Kd7
47
5...Ka7 6.Rh8! Kxa6 7.Kb8 Rb1+
A. Wotawa
8.Ka8 Rc1 9.Rh6+ Ka5 10.Kb7 Rb1+
Deutsche Schachzeitung 1941
11.Ka7 Rc1 12.Rh5+ Ka4 13.Kb6
Rb1+ 14.Ka6 Rc1 15.Rh4+ Ka3
16.Kb6 Rb1+ 17.Ka5 Rc1 18.Rh3+
Ka2 19.Rxh2+ Ka3 20.Rh3+ Ka2
21.Kb6 Rb1+ 22.Ka7 Rc1 23.Kb7
Rb1+ 24.Kc8 Rd1 25.Rh5! Ka3
26.Kb7 Rb1+ 27.Kc6 Rc1+ 28.Rc5

1–0
1.Ka2 Kg2 2.Rd7 Ra4+ 3.Kb3 Rb4+
4.Kc3 Kf3 5.Rd3+ Ke4 6.Rd4+ Rxd4
7.b8=Q Kd5 8.Qc7 Rc4+ 9.Kb3 Rb4+
9...Rc1 10.Qd7+ Ke5 (10...Ke4 11.Qg4+
Kd3 12.Qf5+ Kd4 13.Kb2) 11.Qg7+ Kd5
12.Qb2
10.Ka3 Kc4
10...Kd4 11.Qd6+ Kc4 12.Qc6;
10...Rd4 11.Qd7+ Kc4 12.Qf7+ Kb5
13.Qb7+ Kc4 14.Qb3#
11.Qc6 Kd4
11...Rb3+ 12.Ka2
12.Qe6! 1–0
48
A. Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung 1941
1.Kb2
1.Rf7? Kg3 2.Kb3 (2.Rd7 Kf3! 3.Kb3
Ke4) 2...Kg4;
1.Rd7? Kf3 2.Kb3 Ke4;
1.Kb3? Kf1!! 2.Re7 Kf2 3.Rh7 Ke3
4.Rh3+ Kd2 5.Rh7 Kd3 (5...Kc1? 6.Rd7)
6.Rd7+ Ke4
1.Kb2 Kg1
1...Kg3 2.Rd7 Rb4+ (2...Kf4 3.Rd4+)
3.Kc3 Rc4+ 4.Kb3;
1...Rb4+ 2.Kc3 Rc4+ 3.Kd3 Kf3 (3...Kg1
4.Re7 Kf1 5.Kd2 Rd4+ 6.Kc3 Rc4+
7.Kd3 Rc6 8.Kd2) 4.Rd7! Rc6 (4...Rc1
5.Kd2) 5.Re7 Kf4 6.Kd4 b4 7.Kd5 Rc1
8.Re4+ Kf3 9.Rc4
2.Rd7 Rb4+ 3.Kc3 Rc4+ 4.Kd3
4.Kb3? Kf1!
4...Kf1
4...Rc6 5.Re7 Kf1 6.Kd2
5.Re7 Rc6 6.Kd2 Rd6+ 7.Kc3 1–0
49
A. Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung 1942
1.Ra3+!
1.Rf6? Re7+ 2.Kc6 (2.Kc8 Ke4 3.Kd8
Rh7 4.Ke8 Ke5 5.Ra6 Kf5 6.Kf8 Kg5)
2...Ke4 3.Kd6 Rh7 4.Ke6 Ra7! 5.Rg6 Kf4 10.Ka6 Rb6+ 11.Ka5 Ra6+ 12.Kb5
6.Kf6 Rh7 Rb6+ 13.Kc5 Kb7 14.c8=Q+

1.Ra3+! Kf4 1–0

1...Kf2 2.Rh3 Re7+ (2...Kg2 3.h7!) 3.Kc6 51

Rh7 4.Kd6 Kg2 5.Rh5 Kg3 6.Ke5!! P. Keres
(6.Ke6? Kg4 7.Rh1 Kg5 8.Rg1+ Kf4!! 3.p Postimees, 1942
9.Rh1 (9.Rg6 Ra7) 9...Kg5 10.Ke5 Re7+)
6...Kg4 7.Rh1 Kg5 8.Rg1+ Kh5 (8...Kh4
9.Kf5) 9.Kf6 Rxh6+ 10.Kf5

2.Ra4 Rxa4 3.h7 Rb4+ 4.Kc7 Rc4+

5.Kd7 Rd4+ 6.Ke7 Re4+ 7.Kf7 1–0

50
A. Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung 1942
1.Ra7! Kg8 2.h6 Kh8 3.h7! Kxh7
4.Ke8+ Kg6 5.e7 Kh5!

5...Kg7 6.Ra3 Rb1 7.Rxa2 Rb8+ 8.Kd7

Rb7+ 9.Kd8 Rb8+ 10.Kc7;
5...Kh6 6.Ra3 Kh5 7.Rh3+ Kg4 8.Rh2
Kg3 9.Rd2 Kf3 10.Kd7 Ke3 11.Rxa2

6.Ra3 Kh4

1.Ka6 Rb1! 6...Kg4 7.Kf7 Rf1+ 8.Kg6

1...Kb8 2.Rf2 Kc7 3.h6 Kc6 4.Ka5 (4.a5? 7.Ra5! Kg4 8.Kf7! Rf1+ 9.Kg6 Re1
Re1 5.Rxh2 Re8 6.Ka7 Re7+) 10.Ra4+ Kh3 11.Kf6 Rf1+ 12.Kg5
Rg1+ 13.Kh5 Re1 14.Ra3+ Kg2
2.Rf8+ Rb8 3.Rf1 h1=Q! 15.Rxa2+ Kf3 16.Ra7 Kf4 17.Kg6

3...Rh8 4.c6 Kb8 5.Kb6 Kc8 6.a5 Kd8 1–0

7.a6 Rxh5 8.a7

4.Rxh1 Rb1 5.Rh4 Rb4 6.c6 Rxh4

7.c7 Rc4 8.Kb6 Rc1 9.h6 Rb1+ 52
L. Prokes
Ostravská Národní Práce 1942 Deutsche Schachzeitung 1943

1.Kg5 Rxf6! 2.f4+ Rxf4 3.Re2+ Re4 1.Rd7

4.Rxe4+ Kxe4 5.d6 h3 6.d7 h2
7.d8=Q h1=Q 8.Qa8+ 1.Rd5? Kb2 2.Rb5+ Ka3 3.Ra5+ Kb3
4.Rb5+ Ka4 5.Rb7 e3 6.Rxe7 e2 7.Ra7+
1–0 Kb4 8.Rb7+ Kc3 9.Rc7+ Kd3 10.Rd7+
Ke4;
53
L. Kopac 1.Rd1+? Kb2 2.Rd2+ Kb3 3.Rd1 e3
Šach 1942 4.Kc7 e2 5.Re1 Kc3

1.Rd7 e3

1...Kb2 2.Rb7+ Kc3 3.Ra7 e3 4.Rxa2

Kd3 5.Kc7 e2 6.Rxe2 Kxe2 7.Kc6 Kf3
8.Kd5 Kf4 9.Ke6

2.Rb7

2.Rxe7? Kb2

1.Re4! Ke7 2.Rg4 Rf8 3.g7 Rg8 4.Rg6 2...e6

c5 5.Kc6 c4 6.Kd5 c3 7.Ke5 c2 8.Rg1
2...e2 3.Rxe7
1–0
3.Rb6 e5 4.Rb5 e4 5.Rb4 e2 6.Rxe4
Kb1 7.Rxe2 a1=Q 8.Re1+

1/2–1/2
54
A. Wotawa 55
A. Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung 1943

1.Ra7! Kh8 2.h7! Kxh7 3.Ke8+ Kg6

1.Rd1+
1.a6? Rh2+! 2.Kg7 Rg2+ 3.Kf7?? a2
4.Rd1+ Rg1 5.Ra1 Rxa1 6.a7 Rf1+
1.Rd1+ Rg1
1...Kh2 2.a6 Rf2 3.cxd6
4.e7 Kh5!
4...Kg7 5.Ra3 Rb1 6.Rxa2 Rb8+ 7.Kd7
Rb7+ 8.Kd8 Rb8+ 9.Kc7;
4...Kh6 5.Ra3 Kh5 (5...Kg5 6.Rg3+ Kf4
7.Rg2 Kf3 8.Rb2 Ke3 9.Kd7 Rd1+
10.Kc7 Rc1+ 11.Kb7) 6.Rh3+ Kg4
7.Rh2 Kg3 8.Rd2 Kf3 9.Kd7 Ke3
10.Rxa2

2.a6! a2
2...Rxd1 3.a7
3.Ra1 Rxa1 4.a7 Rg1 5.a8=Q+ Rg2
6.cxd6 Kh2 7.d7 Rd2 8.Qxa2!
5.Ra3! Kh4 6.Ra5! Kg4 7.Kf7! Rf1+
8.Kg6 Re1 9.Ra4+ Kh3 10.Kf6 Rf1+
11.Kg5 Rg1+ 12.Kh5 Re1 13.Ra3+
Kg2 14.Rxa2+ Kf3 15.Ra7 Re6!
16.Kg5 Ke4 17.Rb7!

1–0 17.Rd7? Ke5

17...Ke5 18.Rd7! Ke4 19.Rd1 Kf3

20.Rf1+ Ke2 21.Rf7 Ke3 22.Kf5 1–0
56
P. Keres 57
1944 P. Keres
Shakhmaty v SSSR 1944
 Re6! 14.Kg5 Ke4 15.Rb7! Ke5
16.Rd7! Ke4 17.Rd1! Kf3 18.Rf1+
Ke2 19.Rf7

1–0

58
L. Pachman L. Dobias
Šach 1944

1.Ke8+ Kg6

1...Kg8 2.Ra3

2.e7 Kh5

2...Kg7 3.Ra3 Rb1 4.Rxa2 Rb8+ 5.Kd7

Rb7+ 6.Kd8 Rb8+ 7.Kc7;
2...Kh6 3.Ra3 Kg5 (3...Kh5 4.Rh3+ Kg4
5.Rh2 Kg3 6.Rd2 Kf3 7.Kd7 Ke3 8.Rxa2)
1.b6 Rh7+
4.Rg3+ Kf4 5.Rg2 Kf3 (5...Ke3 6.Rb2;
5...Ke4 6.Kd7) 6.Rb2 (6.Rd2? Ke3 1...Kb5 2.Ka7 Kxa5 3.b7
7.Kd7 Kxd2 8.e8=Q Rd1) 6...Ke3 7.Kd7
Rd1+ 8.Kc7 Rc1+ 9.Kb7; 2.Ka6!
2...Kh7 3.Ra3 Kg7 (3...Kg6 4.Rg3+ Kh5
(4...Kf5 5.Rg2 Ke4 6.Kf7! Rf1+ 7.Kg6 2.Ka8? Kc6 3.Kb8 Rg7! 4.Ka8 Rg5;
a1=Q 8.e8=Q+) 5.Rg2 Kh4 6.Rd2) 2.Kb8? Kc6 3.Ka8 Rh5 4.b7 Rxa5+
4.Rg3+ Kh7 5.Rg2 Kh8 6.Kd7 5.Kb8 Rb5

3.Ra3 Kh4 4.Ra5! 2...Kc6 3.b7 Rxb7

4.Kf7? Rf1+ 5.Kg6 Rg1+ 6.Kh6 Re1 3...Kc7 4.Ka7 Rh8 5.a6 Rg8 6.b8=Q+
7.Ra4+ Kg3 Rxb8

4...Kg4 1/2–1/2

4...Kh3 5.Ra4 59
R. Fontana
5.Kf7! Rf1+ 6.Kg6 Re1 7.Ra4+ Kh3 Basler Nachrichten 1944
8.Kf6 Rf1+ 9.Kg5 Rg1+ 10.Kh5 Re1
11.Ra3+ Kg2 12.Rxa2+ Kf3 13.Ra7
 3...Rg5+ 4.Kf7 Rf5+ 5.Ke7 Re5+
6.Kd7 Rd5+ 7.Kc7 Rc5+ 8.Kb7 Rh5
9.a4+! Kc5 10.a8=Q Rh7+ 11.Ka6
Rh6+ 12.Ka5+–

1–0

61
G. Kasparian
1946
1.Rxf5+! Rxf5 2.c7 Rf6+ 3.Kd5 Rf5+
4.Kd4 Rf4+ 5.Kd3 Rf3+ 6.Kc2! Rf2+
7.Kb3 Rf3+ 8.Kb4 Rf4+ 9.Kb5 Rf5+
10.Kb6 Rf6+ 11.Kb7

1–0

60
R. Ljungmann
1944
1...Rb1+!

1...Ra5 2.Rd6+ Ke7 3.Kc7+–

1...Rb1+! 2.Ka7 Rb5 3.Rd6+ Kc7!

4.Rc6+ Kd8!

4...Kd7? 5.e6+ Ke7 6.Rc7++–

5.Rd6+ Kc7=

1.Rg5!
1/2–1/2

1.a7? Rf7+ 2.Rg7 Rf8 3.Rg8 Rf7+=;

1.Ra3? Rf7+ 2.Kg6 Ra7=

62
J. Gunst
1.Rg5! Rxg5 2.a7 Rh5+ 3.Kg7! 1946

3.Kg6? Rh8–+
 3.Ra2? Rf2 4.Ra3 Rxh2 5.Rxe3+ g3

3...g3

3...Kxh2 4.Kxg4 Kg2 5.Re2+

4.hxg3 Kxg3 5.Re2! Kh3 6.Rb2 Rf2

7.Rb3 Rf3 8.Rb2 Kg3 9.Re2!

1/2–1/2

1.Kc2! Kh2 2.Kd3 Kh3 3.Ke4 Kh4

64
4.Kf5 Kh5
G. Kasparjan
4...Kh3 5.Kg6+– Shakhmaty v SSSR 1946

5.Rf8! Rxa7 6.Rh8+ 1–0

63
P. Keres
Shakhmaty v SSSR 1946

1.Ka2!!

1.Kb2? Rh3! 2.Kc2 Rg3 3.Kd2 Rh3

4.Ke2 Rg3 5.Kf2 Rh3 6.Kg2 Ra3 7.Rb7
Ra5 8.h6 Rg5+

1.Kf5! 1.Ka2!! Rh3

1.Kf4? Rg2 2.Rxe3+ Kh4! 3.Re8 Rf2+ 1...Rd3 2.Rb7 Rh3 3.Rb5 Kg7 4.Rg5

4.Ke3 Rxh2
2.Kb2 Rg3 3.Kc2 Rh3 4.Kd2 Rg3
1.Kf5! Rf1+ 5.Ke2 Rh3 6.Kf2 Ra3 7.Rb7 Ra5 8.h6

1...Rg2 2.Rxe3+ Kh4 3.Re4 Rf2+ 4.Rf4 1–0

2.Kg5 Rf3 3.Re1!

65 F. Bethge
E. Kapfer Aachener Nachrichten 1949
1948

1.Rf2+ Ka1 2.e7 Re3

1.Rh6+ Kg1 2.Rh5! g4
2...Rc3+ 3.Kd2 Rc8 4.Rxf3 Re8 5.Ra3+
2...Kf1 3.Rh1+ Ke2 4.b7+– Kb2 6.Rxa7

3.Rh4! 3.Rxf3 Re1+ 4.Kc2 Ka2

3.Rb5? Rd2 4.Rg5 (4.b7 Rd8+ 5.Kf7 4...Re2+ 5.Kb3 Rb2+ 6.Kc3 Re2 7.Rf1+
g3=) 4...Rd4 5.b7 Rb4= Ka2 8.Rf2

3...g3 4.Rh3! 5.Rf7 a5

4.Rg4? Kh2 5.b7 Rb2= 5...Re2+ 6.Kd1 Re6 7.Rf2+ Ka3 8.Re2;
5...Ka3 6.Kd2 Re6 7.Rf3+ Kb4 8.Re3
4...Rb2
6.Kd3! Kb3
4...Kf1 5.Rh1+ Rg1 (5...Kf2 6.b7+–)
6.Rxg1+ Kxg1 7.b7 g2 8.b8=Q Kf1 6...Kb1 7.Rf1
9.Qf4+ Ke2 10.Qg3 Kf1 11.Qf3+ Kg1
7.Kd2 Re6 8.Rf3+ Kc4 9.Re3 1–0
12.Kg7+–;
4...Kf2 5.b7 Rh2 6.Rxg3! Kxg3
7.b8=Q++– 67
J. Moravec
5.Rxg3+ Kf2 6.Rg6 Ke3 7.Rd6! Ke4
1949
8.Kf7 Ke5 9.Ke7+–

1–0

66
1.Ke7! 1.f5 Ke2 2.f6 Kf3 3.f7 Kg4 4.Kf6 Kh5
5.g6 Kh6 6.g7 Kh7 7.f8=Q Rxf8+
1.Kxg7? Kxa7=; 8.gxf8=R! Kh6 9.Rh8#

1.Rb8? Rd7+= 1–0

1.Ke7! Ra8
69
S. Isenegger
1...Rh8 2.Rb8+–
Schweizerische Schachzeitung 1951
2.Kd7! Rf8

2...Rxa7+ 3.Kc6!;
2...Kxa7 3.Kc7!

3.Rf2! Ra8

3...Rh8 4.Kc7 Ra8 5.Ra2+ Kb5 6.Kb7+–

4.Kc7! Rxa7+ 5.Kc6 Ka5 6.Ra2+

1.a7 Kb7
1–0
1...Rc3+ 2.Kd4 b2 3.a8=Q Rd3+ 4.Kc4

2.a8=Q+ Kxa8 3.Kb6 Rd8 4.Kc7! Ka7

5.Rxf5! Ka6 6.Kxd8
68
K. Runquist
1–0
Springaren 1949

70
P. Keres 1–0
Shakhmaty v SSSR 1951
72
A. Wotawa
L’Italia Scacchistica 1952

1.Kg4

1.Re8? Rf4 2.Kg5 Kg3 3.Re7 Kf3

1.Rh7+ Kf8
1.Kg4 e3 2.Ra3 e2 3.Ra1 Kg2
1...Kg6 2.Rh2 Rc2 (2...Kf7 3.Rf2+)
3...Rf1 4.Ra2
3.Rh1 d2 (3...Kf7 4.Rf1+ Kg7 5.Ke7
Re2+ 6.Kd6 d2 7.d8=Q) 4.Ke7 Rc1
4.Re1 Kh2 5.Ra1 Rf1 6.Ra2 Rf2
5.d8=Q Re1+ 6.Kf8
7.Ra1

2.Rh2
1/2–1/2

2.Rh1? Rxh1 3.Kc7 Rh7

71
A. Wotawa 2...Rc4
Deutsche Schachzeitung 1952
2...Rc2 3.Rd2! Rxd2 (3...Rc3 4.Rf2+ Kg7
5.Ke8) 4.Kc7 Rc2+ 5.Kd6;
2...Rc5 3.Rf2+ Kg7 4.Ke7 Re5+ 5.Kd6

3.Rf2+ Kg7 4.Rd2 Rd4 5.Ke7 Re4+

6.Kd6 Rd4+ 7.Ke6 Kf8

7...Kg6 8.Rg2+ Kh5 9.Rg8 d2 10.d8=Q

d1=Q 11.Qg5#;
7...Kh6 8.Ke7 Re4+ 9.Kf6 Rf4+ 10.Ke5
1.Ra4+ Kg5 2.Rh4! Kxh4 3.h7 Rh3+
4.Kg2 Kg4 5.f3+ 8.Rf2+ Kg7 9.Rf4! Rxf4 10.d8=Q
1–0 6.Kd3? Kg2 7.Kc2;
6.Ke1! cook SH 6...Kg2 7.Kd2
73
D. Godes 6...Kh2 7.Kd2 Kh3 8.Ke2 Kg2 9.Ke1
Shakhmaty v SSSR 1953 Kg1 10.Re2 Kh1 11.Kf2

11.Kf1! cook 11...Rf8+ 12.Rf2 Ra8

13.Rf8 Ra1+ 14.Kf2

11...Kh2 12.Re1

12.Re5! cook SH;

12.Re6! cook SH

12...Kh3 13.Rh1#

1.e5! 1–0

1.Re3? Ra2+ 2.Ke1 Ra1+ 3.Kd2 Ra2+ 74

4.Kc1 Ra1+ 5.Kb2 Rf1 6.e5 Rf3 7.Re2+ A. Mandler
Kxg3 8.e6 Rf8 9.e7 Re8
Prace 1953

1.e5! Ra8 2.Re3!

2.e6? Rf8+ 3.Ke3+ Kxg3 4.e7 Re8 5.Kd4

Kf3

2...Rf8+

2...Ra2+ 3.Ke1 Ra1+ 4.Kd2 Ra2+ 5.Kd3

Ra3+ 6.Ke4

3.Ke2 1.Kb4 Re5 2.Kc4 Ke4 3.Rf7 Ke3

4.Rg7 Ke4 5.Rh7 Ke3 6.Rf7 Ke4
3.Ke1! cook SH 3...Kh3 4.e6 Kg2 5.e7 7.Rf1
Re8 6.Kd1
1–0
3...Kg2 4.e6 Re8 5.e7 Kg1 6.Kd1
75
6.Kd2? Kf2 7.Kd3 Kg2 8.Kc2 Rc8+
A. Mandler
(8...Rxe7 9.Rxe7 Kxg3 10.Kd2 Kg2
Turnajovy Bulletin 1954
11.Ke2 g3 12.Rg7) 9.Kd2 Re8 10.Ke1;
 1.Rxa4? Rc3+ 2.Ke2 Kh5 3.h7 Rc8!

1.Ra8! h2 2.Kg2 h1=Q+ 3.Kxh1 Kh3

4.Rg8 Rc1+ 5.Rg1 Rc8 6.h7 Rh8

6...a3 7.Rg3+! Kh4 8.Rg8

7.Rg8! Rxh7 8.Rg2 Rh5

8...Rh4 9.Rg3#;

1.Ra4 8...a3 9.Rh2+ Kg4 10.Rxh7 a2 11.Rg7+

Kf3 12.Rg1
1.Kh7? Kd2 2.Kh6 Ke2 3.Kg5 Kf3
9.Rh2+ Kg4 10.f3+
1.Ra4 Kb2 2.Re4 Rc1 3.Rh4 Rc3
4.Kg7 1–0

4.Kh7? Rg3 77
C. Raina
4...Kc2 5.Kg6 Kd2 6.Kg5 Ke2 7.Kg4 1.p Constructorul, 1955

1/2–1/2

76
A. Wotawa
Österreichische Schachzeitung
1955

1.fxg6 Re6+

1...fxg6 2.Kd7 Kh4 (2...Kg4 3.f7 Rf4

4.Ke7 g5 5.Rc6 Rxf7+ 6.Kxf7 Kf3 7.Rf6+
Kg3 8.Kg6 g4 9.Kf5) 3.f7 Rf4 4.Ke7 g5
5.Rc6 Rxf7+ 6.Kxf7 g4 7.Kf6 g3 8.Kf5 g2
9.Kf4
1.Ra8!
2.Kd7 Rxf6 3.Rh5+ Kg4 4.g7 Rg6
1.h7? Rc3+ 2.Ke2 Rc8; 5.Rh1 Rxg7 6.Rg1+ Kh3 7.Rxg7 f5
8.Rf7
1–0 9.Rd1+

78 9.Rg1! cook HC;

L. Shamkovich 9.Ra3+! cook HC;
Shakhmaty v SSSR 1955 9.Ra2! cook HC;
9.Ra5! cook HC;
9.Ra7! cook HC

9...Ke3 10.Kc4 g5 11.Rxd4 Kf3

12.Kd3! g4 13.Rd8 g3 14.Rf8+ Kg2
15.Ke2

1–0

79
1.Kd5! a3 2.Kc4 d5+ A. Mandler
FIDE-revue, 1956
2...a2 3.Rh2+ Kb1 4.Kb3 a1=N+ 5.Kc3
d5 6.Rh1+ Ka2 7.Rd1 Nb3 8.Rxd5

3.Kb4 a2

3...d4 4.Rh2+ Kc1 5.Kc4! Kb1 6.Kb3

Kc1 7.Ra2

4.Rh2+ Kb1 5.Ka3!

5.Kb3! cook PB 5...a1=N+ 6.Kc3 d4+

1.Ke3!
7.Kxd4 Nc2+ 8.Kc3 Ne3 9.Re2 Nd5+
10.Kc4 Nf6 11.Rg2 Nh5 12.Kc3 Nf4 1.Ke2? Rxb2
13.Rg4 Nd5+ 14.Kb3 Kc1 15.Rc4+ Kb1
16.Rd4 1.Ke3! Rxb2 2.Rxd2 Ra2 3.Rd3 b2
4.Rb3 Ka5 5.Kd3 Ka4 6.Rb8
5...a1=N!
1/2–1/2
5...a1=Q+ 6.Kb3!

6.Rh1+ Kc2 7.Rxa1 d4 8.Kb4! Kd3 80

J. Peckover
8...d3 9.Ra2+
Szachy, 1957
 Československy Šach, 1958

1.Rd3 Kg2 2.Rd2+ f2 3.Kd3 Kg1

4.Rd1+ f1=Q+ 5.Ke3! 1.Kc7!

5.Rxf1+? Kxf1 6.Ke3 Ke1 1.Kc6? Kf2 2.Rf5+ Ke3 3.Re5+ Re4
4.Rxe4+ Kxe4 5.a6 e1=Q 6.a7 Ke5
5...Qxd1
7.Kc7 Qa5+ 8.Kb8 Qb6+ 9.Ka8 Qc6+
10.Kb8 Kd6 11.a8=Q Qc7#
1/2–1/2

1.Kc7! Kf2 2.Rf5+ Ke3 3.Re5+ Re4

81
4.Rxe4+ Kxe4 5.a6 e1=Q 6.a7
V. Smyslov, G. Lowenfisch
Source unknown, 1957 1/2–1/2

83
A. Herberg
L’Italia Scacchistica, 1958

1.Kc3 Rb1 2.Kc2 Rb4 3.Kd1 g3 4.Ke2

Rb2+ 5.Kf1 Rf2+ 6.Kg1 Rb2 7.Rg7 g2
8.Kh2 Rb1 9.Kxg2

1–0
1.Kb6 Ra3 2.g6! Kh6

82 2...Kxg6 3.Ra7 Rxb3 4.Rxa6 Rxb4

A. Mandler 5.Kc5++–
3.Rh7+ Kxg6 4.Ra7 Rxb3 5.Rxa6 Kf7
6.Kxb5

1–0

84
J. Peckover
Szachy, 1959

1.Kd5!! Kb3 2.Rg3+ Ka4 3.Rg4+

3.Rg8? b1=Q 4.Ra8+ Kb3 5.Rb8+ Kc2

6.Rxb1 Kxb1

3...Ka5 4.Rg8! Kb5! 5.Rg7! Kb6

6.Rg6+ Kc7 7.Rg7+ Kd8 8.Kd6! Kc8!

8...Ke8? 9.Re7+! Kf8 10.Re1

1.e6 Kc7 2.e7 Rf4+ 3.Ke8! Rd4
9.Kc6 Kb8 10.Rg8+ Ka7 11.Rg7+
3...Rf3 4.Rc1+ Kd6 5.Kd8 Re3 6.Rc3!
Ka6 12.Rg8 Ka5 13.Kc5! Ka4
(6.Rd1? Kc5 7.Kd7 Kc4) 6...d2 7.Rxe3
14.Rg4+!
d1=Q 8.e8=Q
1/2–1/2
4.Kf7

4.Rf1? d2 5.Kf7 Rf4+ 6.Rxf4 d1=Q

7.e8=Q Qh5+ 8.Kf8 (8.Ke7 Qe5+)
86
8...Qh6+
F. Bondarenko
L’Italia Scacchistica, 1960
4...Rf4+ 5.Ke6 Re4+ 6.Kf6 Rf4+
7.Ke5 Rf3 8.Ke4 Rf2 9.Kxd3 Kd7
10.Ke3+

1–0

85
J. Peckover
Szachy, 1960
1.Kf5!

1.Rd6? Kb2 2.Rb6+ Kc3 3.Rc6+ Kd2

4.Rd6+ Ke3 5.Rc6 Ra5+ 6.Kd6 Rxa6

1.Kf5! Kb2 2.Rb6+ Kc3 3.Rc6+ Kd2

4.Rd6+ Ke2 5.Rc6!

5.Re6+? Kf3! 6.Rc6 Ra5+ 7.Kf6 Rxa6

5...Kd2 6.Rd6+ 1.Rc1+ Kd3

1/2–1/2 1...Kb2 2.Rc8 Rh7+ 3.Ka6 (3.Rc7? Rh8

4.Ka6 b4 5.Rb7 Ra8) 3...Rxa7+ 4.Kxa7
87
b4 5.Ka6
A. Mandler
Svobodne Slovo, 1960 2.Rc8 Rh7+ 3.Rc7!

3.Ka6? Rxa7+ 4.Kxa7 b4

3...Rh8 4.Ka6! b4 5.Rb7 Kc3 6.Rb8

1–0

89
1.Rf7
A. Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1960
1.e7? Rxe7 2.Rh7 Re6 3.g7 (3.Rh6 Ke7
4.g7 Rxh6+) 3...Rg6 4.Rh6 Rxh6+

1.Rf7 Rxe6 2.g7 Rg6 3.Rf6+

1–0

88
R. Voja
Revista de Romana de Sah, 1960

1.Rg7!!
1.Rg8? b3!! 2.Rg7 b2 3.Kc2 b1=Q+ A. Herberg
4.Kxb1 Ke2 5.Re7+ Kd3 6.Rd7+ Ke4! Shakhmaty v SSSR, 1960
7.Re7+ (7.Rd1 Ke3 8.Kc2 Ke2) 7...Kd4
8.Rd7+ Ke5 9.Rd1 Ke4 10.Kc2 Ke3
11.Kxc3 Ke2 12.Rd2+ Ke1;

1.Rg6? c2+!! 2.Kxc2 b3+ 3.Kd2 (3.Kxb3

Ke1 4.Re6+ Kd1 5.Rd6+ Kc1 6.Rc6+
Kb1) 3...b2 4.Kc2 b1=Q+ 5.Kxb1 Ke2
6.Re6+ Kd3 7.Rd6+ Ke3 8.Re6+ Kf4
9.Rf6+ Ke4

1.Rg7!! b3 1.Rh7!

1...c2+ 2.Kxc2 b3+ 3.Kd2 b2 4.Kc2 1.Rh4? e3 2.Rxh3 Rc3+ 3.Kd6 (3.Kd8
b1=Q+ 5.Kxb1 Ke2 6.Re7+ Kd3 7.Rd7+ e2 4.Rh7+ Kb8 5.Re7 Rc8+) 3...e2
Ke4 (7...Ke3 8.Re7+ Kf4 9.Rf7+ Kg4 4.Rh7+ Kb6 5.Re7 Rd3+
10.Rg7+ Kh4 11.Rh7+ Kg5 12.Rh1 Kg4
13.Kc2 Kg3 14.Kd3 Kg2 15.Ke3 Kxh1 1.Rh7! e3
16.Kxf2) 8.Rd1 Ke3 9.Kc2 Ke2 10.Rd2+
1...Rc3+ 2.Kd6+ Kb6 3.Kd5;
Kf1 (10...Ke3 11.Rd1 Kf4?? 12.Kd3 Kg3
1...Rg3 2.Kc6+ Kb8 3.Rh8+ Ka7 4.Rh7+
13.Ke3 Kg2 14.Rd2) 11.Rd8
Ka6 5.Rh8
2.Rg8!! b2 3.Kc2 b1=Q+ 4.Kxb1 Ke2
2.Kc6+
5.Re8+ Kd3 6.Rd8+ Ke4
2.Kd6+? Kb6 3.Rxh3 e2 4.Rh1 Rd3+
6...Kc4 7.Rd1
5.Ke5 Rd1
7.Re8+ Kf5
2...Ka6 3.Rxh3 Rc3+ 4.Kd5 e2
7...Kd5 8.Rd8+ Ke6 9.Rd1 Ke5 10.Rf1 5.Rh6+ Kb5 6.a4+
Ke4 11.Rxf2
6.Re6 Rd3+–+
8.Rf8+ Kg4 9.Rg8+ Kh5 10.Rh8+ Kg6
6...Kxa4 7.Re6 1/2–1/2
11.Rh1 Kf5 12.Kc2 Kf4 13.Kxc3 Ke3
14.Ra1 Ke2 15.Ra2+ Kf1 16.Ra8 Kg2
91
17.Rg8+
A. Herberg
Československy Šach, 1961
1/2–1/2

90
 1.Kb6? g5! 2.Kc5 Kh2 3.Ra1 g4 4.Kd4
g3 5.Ke3 g2 6.Kf2 h3 7.Rd1 g1=Q+
8.Rxg1;

1.Rg6? Kh2 2.Kb6 h3 3.Kc5 Kh1 4.Kd4

h2 5.Rg3 g5 6.Ke3 g4

1.Rg5! Kh2 2.Kb6 h3 3.Kc5 Kh1

4.Kd4 h2 5.Ke3 g6 6.Rg3! g5 7.Kf2 g4
8.Ra3 g3+ 9.Kxg3 1–0
1.Rg8! e3 2.a7! Rh7+ 3.Kd6! Rxa7
4.Rxg3 Ra3 5.Rg4 Rd3+ 93
A. Herberg
5...Ra8 6.Re4!; Revista de Romana de Sah#0435,
5...Ra4 6.Rg5+ 1961

6.Ke6! Rd8 7.Ke7 e2 8.Re4

1/2–1/2

92
G. Nadareishvili
Shakhmaty v SSSR, 1961
1.c6

1.Rd6? Kc3 2.c6 Rg2+ 3.Ka3 Rg1 4.Ka4

Kc4 5.Ka5 Kc5 6.Rd5+ Kxc6!

1.c6 bxc6 2.Rd6

2.Rc4+? Kd3 3.Rxc6 Kd4 4.e6 Rxg6

5.e7 Rg2+ 6.Kb3 Re2

2...Kc3
1.Rg5!
2...c5 3.Rf6
1.Rxg7? Kh2 2.Kb6 h3 3.Kc5 Kh1 4.Kd4
h2 5.Ke3; 3.Rf6 Rg2+ 4.Ka3 Rg1 5.Rxc6+! Kd4
6.e6 Rxg6 7.e7
1–0

94
V. Jakimtsjik
Shakhmaty v SSSR, 1963

1.Rc8 Rc2 2.c7 Kh4 3.Kh1 Rc6 4.Kh2

Rc2 5.Rg8 h6 6.c8=R

6.c8=Q? Rxg2+ 7.Kh1 Rg1+ 8.Rxg1

6...Rxg2+
1.Kg5+ Kg8 2.Kf5!
6...Rxc8 7.g3#
2.Kg6? b3! 3.Rxg4 Rg7+! 4.fxg7 b2
5.Rb4 b1=Q+ 6.Rxb1 7.Kh1 Rh2+ 8.Kg1

2...Rxd5+ 3.Ke6 Rg5 4.f7+ 1–0

4.Rh1? Rb5!
96
J. Peckover
4...Kg7 5.f8=Q+!
Shakhmaty Moskva, 1963
5.Rh8? Kxh8 6.f8=Q+ Kh7 7.Qxb4 Rg6+
8.Kf5 Rg7! 9.Qe4 g3 10.Kf6+ Kg8
11.Qa8+ Kh7 12.Qh1+ Kg8 13.Qh6
Rf7+ 14.Ke6 g2

5...Kxf8 6.Kf6 Rg7 7.Rh8+ Rg8 8.Rh7

Ke8 9.Rb7 g3! 10.Rb8+ Kd7 11.Rxg8
Kd6 12.Kf5 Kd5 13.Kf4 Kc4 14.Ke3
Kc3 15.Rc8+ Kb2 16.Kd2

1–0 1.g7

95 1.Rxd3+? Ke8 2.g7 Rf6+! (2...Rg1 3.Kf6

A. Koranyi Rf1+ 4.Kg6 Rg1+ 5.Kh7 Rh1+ 6.Kg8
Magyar Sakkélet, 1963
Ke7 7.Re3+ Kd6 8.Re4) 3.Ke5 (3.Kxf6) 3.Re8+! Kd4 4.Kxg5 Rh7 5.Kg6 Rd7
3...Rg6 6.c6!

1.g7 Re1+ 2.Kf7 Rf1+ 3.Kg8 Rf3 1–0

3...Rd1 4.Rc4 Ke7 (4...d2 5.Rh4 Ke7 98

6.Rh2) 5.Re4+ Kd6 6.Rg4 Ke5 7.Kf7 d2 A. Cheron
8.g8=Q Rf1+ 9.Ke7 d1=Q 10.Qe6# Journal de Genève, 1966

4.Kh7 Rh3+ 5.Kg6 Rg3+ 6.Kf6 Rf3+

7.Ke5 Re3+

7...Rg3 8.Rxd3+

8.Kf4 Re8 9.Rxd3+ Kc7 10.Kf5

1–0

97
V. Bron 1.h7 Rg2+ 2.Kf6! Rh2 3.Kg7 Ke7
4.Rg6!! a2 5.Ra6 Rg2+ 6.Kh6 Rh2+
2.hm Springaren, 1965
7.Kg6 Rg2+ 8.Kf5! Rf2+ 9.Kg4!! Rh2
10.Rxa2! Rh1 11.Ra8! Rxh7 12.Ra7+

1–0

99
A. Wotawa
Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1966

1.Kg4!

1.d6? exd6 2.Kg4 dxc5! 3.Kxg5 c4!

4.Kg6 Rd7 5.h7 Rxh7! 6.Kxh7 Kd4!
7.Rc8 c5! 8.Rd8+ Ke4!

1.Kg4! Rxh6 2.d6 exd6

2...cxd6 3.c6 1.Kg1!

1.Kh3? Ke4 2.Rd7 Kf3 3.Kh4 Kf4 4.Kh5 100
Kf5 5.Kh6 Kf6 6.Kh7 Re8 7.Kh6 Rh8+ A. Cheron
8.Rh7 Rc8; Lehr und Handbuch der Endspiele,
1967
1.Re7? Kf2! 2.Kh3 (2.Rh7 Ke3 3.Rd7
Kf2!) 2...Kf3 3.Kh4 Kf4 4.Kh5 Kf5 5.Kh6
Kf6 6.Rh7 Ra8! (6...Re8? 7.Kh5 Kf5
8.Kh4 Kf4 9.Rf7+ Ke5 10.Re7+!) ;

1.Rf7+? Ke3 2.Rd7 Kf2!;

1.Kh1? Ke2 2.Rd7 Kf1!

1.Kg1! Ke2! 2.Rd7 Ke1 3.Kg2 Ke2

4.Kg3 Ke3 5.Kg4 Ke4 6.Kg5 Ke5
7.Kg6 Ke6 8.Kg7
8.Kh7? Kf6!
8...Ke5
8...Re8 9.Kh6 Rc8 10.Kg6 Rg8+ 11.Kh5
Rc8 12.Kg4 Ke5 13.Kf3;
8...Kf5 9.Kf7 Rh8 (9...Ke5 10.Ke7 Rh8
11.Rd1) 10.Rd5+ Ke4 11.Ke6 Rh6+
12.Ke7! Rxc6 13.Rd7
9.Kf7 Rh8
9...Kf5 10.Rd5+ Ke4 11.Ke6;
9...Ra8 10.Kg6 Rg8+ 11.Kh5 Rc8
12.Kg5 Rg8+ 13.Kh4 Kf4 14.Rd8
1.Rg3! Kh5 2.a3! Kh4 3.Rg2!! Kh3
4.Rg5 Kh4 5.Rc5 Kg4 6.a4 Kf4 7.Kb2
Ke4 8.Kc3 Rf1 9.a5 Ra1 10.Kc4 Rc1+
11.Kb5 Rb1+ 12.Kc6 Kd4 13.Rb5
Rh1 14.a6 Rh6+ 15.Kb7 Kc4 16.Rg5
Rh7+ 17.Kb6 Rh6+ 18.Ka5 Rh7
19.Rg8 Kc5 20.Rc8+ Kd6 21.Kb6
Rh1 22.Rd8+ Ke7 23.Rd5
1–0
101
V. Neidze
1.hm Sinfonie Scacchistiche, 1968

10.Kg6 Rg8+

10...Rc8 11.Kg5

11.Kh5 Rc8 12.Kg5 Rg8+ 13.Kh4

Rc8 14.Kg3

1–0 1.e4+! Kxe4

1...Kc6 2.Kg6 1.Rg7? Ra8+ 2.Kxh7 Ra7;

2.fxe6 Rf6+ 3.Kg7! Rxe6 4.Kf7 Kd5 1.Rb7+? Kc2!

5.Rh5!
1.Rd1+ Kc2 2.Rg1 Rg4+ 3.Kxh7 Kd3
1–0 4.h3 Rg3 5.h4 Ke4

102 5...Ke2 6.h5 Kf2 7.Rxg2+ Rxg2 8.h6 Kf3

Y. Dorogov 9.Kh8 Kf4 10.h7 Kg5 11.Kg7 Kf5+
1.hm Vserossiski Ty, 1970 12.Kf7

6.h5 Kf5 7.Kh8

7.h6? Rg6!

7...Kg5 8.h6 Kxh6 9.Rxg2 Rxg2

1/2–1/2

1.Rc4+ Kf3 2.Ke7 e2 3.Rc1 Rc8 104

4.Rb1 Rc7 5.d6 Rb7 6.Rc1 Kf2 7.Kd8 I. Bilek
e1=Q 8.Rxe1 Kxe1 9.Kc8 Ra7 10.Kb8 1971
Ra6 11.Kc7 1/2–1/2

103
J. Ulrichsen
Dagbladet, 1970

A fantastic endgame by the Hungarian

Grandmaster, which incorporated
ideas from Lasker and Keres’ studies.

1.Rg8 Rc1 2.Rg4+ Ka3 3.Kh5 Rc8

4.Rg8 Rc1 5.Rg3+ Ka2 6.Kh4! Rc8
1.Rd1+ 7.Rg8 Rc1 8.Rg2+ Kb1 9.Kh3! Rc8
10.Rg8 Rc1 11.Kh2!
1–0 3...e1=Q 4.Rxe1 Kxe1 5.f4 Kd2 6.Ke5 a5
7.Kd4 Kc2 8.Kc4 Kb2 9.f5 (9.Kb5? Kb3
105 10.Kxa5 Kc4) 9...a4 10.f6 a3 11.f7 a2
Y. Hoch 12.f8=Q a1=Q 13.Qf2+
Assiac JT EG, 1972
4.Ke5 a4 5.Kd4 a3 6.Rxa3 e1=Q
7.Ra2+ Kc1 8.Ra1+

1–0

106
A. Benjamin
1972

1.Rd7+ Kc2

1...Ke1 2.f4 a5 (2...Kf2 3.Rd2 Ke3

4.Rxe2+ Kxe2 5.Ke5; 2...Kf1 3.Rh7 Kg2
4.Re7 Kf2 5.Rxe2+) 3.Rh7!! Kd2 (3...Kf2
4.Rh1 a4 5.Ke5) 4.Rh1 a4 5.Ke5 a3
6.Kd4 a2 7.Ra1 e1=Q 8.Rxa2+ Kd1
9.Ra1+
1.Ke5! e3 2.Ra6+ Kg7 3.Ra7+ Kf8
2.Re7 Kd2 3.Re3!! 4.Ra8+ Ke7 5.Ra7+ Kd8 6.Kd6 Kc8
7.Kc6 Kb8 8.Rf7 e2 9.Rf8+ Ka7
3.Rxe2+? Kxe2 4.f4 a5 5.Ke5 Kd3 10.Rf7+ Ka6 11.Rxf2 e1=Q 12.Ra2+
Qa5 13.Rxa5+ Kxa5 14.Kd5 Kb6
3...a5
1/2–1/2
CHAPTER 11.
ROOK AND PAWN ENDGAME TESTS

Time to solve some nice practical tests!

At the end of the chapter, readers can
check how well their new knowledge
served them. White to play unless
stated otherwise.

1
K. Megalios
M. Savic
Novi Sad 2016 Make a choice: 1.a5, 1.Kd2 or 1.Kd3?

3
A. Grischuk
P. Eljanov
UAE 2017

Which is correct? 1.Re6 or 1.Kf4...

2
A. Tuna
M. Roganovic There are a few king moves, but only
Beograd 2017 one is correct!

4
A. Grischuk
S. Mamedyarov
UAE 2017
 White to move: what should the result
be and why?

7
K. Urban
B. Macieja
Plock 2000

Where to go with the king? To e7 or c7?

5
Li Chao
Hou Yifan
UAE 2017

Which move is correct: 1.Kd8 or 1.Rf7?

8
TEST
2012

White to play: 1.Rd7 or 1.Kc6?

6
TEST 11
2018

The draw is not so easy! Over to you...

9
A. Muzychuk
Ju Wenjun
Antakya 2010
Take the g5-pawn or retreat? What to do here? 1..Kf4 or 1...f5?

10 12
H. Ree R. Edouard
J. H. Timman A. Muzychuk
Leeuwarden 1981 Cap d’Agde 2015

The drawing path is not so easy to find! Where does the king go: e3, d3 or f3?

11 13
V. Inkiov L. Zinn
A. Shirov D. Bronstein
Gausdal 1990 Berlin 1969
How to save the game? Should White exchange rooks or not?

14 16
L. Pachman A. Yermolinsky
S. Gligoric K. Miton
Bled 1961 Stratton Mountain 2000

How does White make a draw here? Which king move is correct — to f2 or
e2?

15 17
I. Yagupov V. Salov
V. Malakhatko G. Serper
St Petersburg 1999 Irkutsk 1986
 The draw can be achieved, but only
with a clever move!

20
R. Rapport
K. Kretainis
Riga 2014

How does Black make a draw?

18
U. Agibileg
B. Khatanbaatar
Ulan Bator 2015

How does White win here?

21
Bellon J. Lopez
N. Dzagnidze
Gibraltar 2011
Can White stop the pawns?

19
L. Danov
M. Petrov
Plovdiv 2013

Which pawn should be advanced first?

22
N. Dzagnidze
M. Adams
Gibraltar 2011
What is Black’s winning plan? What is White’s winning plan?

23 25
R. Mamedov V. Sveshnikov
H. Melkumyan E. Grinberg
Hersonissos 2017 Riga 2017

A tricky endgame: Black must find the How does Black, to play, win?
right place for the rook.

26
F. Blohberger
24
T. Nurzhanov
E. Najer
Montevideo 2017
M. Nemeth1
Antalya 2017
How does Black make a draw? How does Black, to play, win this
ending?

27
D. Howell 29
E. L’Ami M. Klekowski
Wijk aan Zee 2010 V. Petkov
Las Palmas 2018

How does White achieve a draw?

How does Black make a draw here?

28 30
J. Ludwig L. Javakhishvili
Martin del R. Campo B. Khotenashvili
Charlotte 2018 Tbilisi 2018
Can Black win? Which attack on the g5-pawn is
correct-with the rook or with the king?

31
B. V. Spassky 33
A. G. Beliavsky E. Ubilava
Montpellier 1985 M. Matulovic
Belgrade 1988

What is the best move here?

Calculate the best plan for Black to
hold the draw.
32
L. Polugaevsky
V. L. Korchnoi 34
Tilburg 1985 A. Muzychuk
Zhao Xue
Shenzhen 2011
Take on a5 or bring the king closer via Which is correct: 1...h6–h5 or giving a
f5? check first?

35 37
E. Inarkiev N. Firman
B. Gelfand F. Meyer
Ingushetia 2016 Norderstedt 2012

Which rook move is correct? To f2 or Which check by Black is correct?

h2?

38
36
O. Bronstein
V. Yandemirov
P. Zisman
D. Lintchevski
Jerusalem 2016
Kazan 2012
Which Black king move makes the How should Black attack his
draw? opponent’s pawn?

39 41
E. Mortensen S. Elistratov
Hillarp T. Persson A. Moiseenko
Koge 1997 Minsk 2017

How does Black secure a draw? Active defence or passive? To g4 or g2?

40 42
N. Guliyev B. Annaberdiyev
D. Milanovic M. Iskandarov
Hamburg 2005 Mersin 2017
Where should Black go with his king — How can White transfer into a winning
forward or back? pawn ending?

43 45
Q. Williams S. Swapnil Dhopade
S. Capocyan R. Edouard
Dallas 2017 Gibraltar 2018

Where to go with the king? What is the complicated route to

victory?

44
46
W. Kastner
N. Renman-Gustaf
A. Schieder
P. Harikrishna
TCh-AUT, 2017
Gibraltar 2018
 What is the precise way to draw?

49
V. Bologan
M. Ragger
Eretria 2011

Exchange rooks or not?

47
T. Reich
M. Saltaev
Muelheim 2016
How should White fight the black
pawns correctly?

50
R. Hein
M. Kemeny
Hamburg 2011

How does Black save the game?

48
T. Petrosian
A. Karpov
USSR 1976

What is the correct winning path for

White?

51
V. Onischuk
E. Safarli
Konya 2011
 Which is better: 1...Rd3 or 1...Re1?

54
G. C. Flear
A. G. Beliavsky
Szirak 1987

Which king move is correct?

52
R. Musalov
N. Shukh
Taganrog 2011
What is the correct move here: 1.Rc5
or 1.Kf4?

55
A. Moiseenko
G. N. Gopal
Ningbo 2011

The correct drawing method is..?

53
A. Beliavsky
V. Kotronias
Gibraltar 2009

Which move keeps drawing chances

for Black?

56
I. Starostits
N. Meskovs
Tallinn 2018
Can Black stop White’s pawns? How does White reach a basic draw
here?
57
B. Li 59
A. Astaneh Lopez J. Bereczki
Zalakaros 2018 M. A. Smirnov
Zalakaros 2018

How should Black’s king support his

pawns? Which rook move is correct: 1.Re7 or
1.Rg5?
58
M. A. Smirnov 60
G. Karacsonyi N. Szilagyi
Zalakaros 2018 A. Konyves
Zalakaros 2018
White’s best defence is..? What is the most precise way for White
to win?

61
V. Bologan 63
V. Kramnik L. Yudasin
Germany 1994 V. Kramnik
Wijk aan Zee 1994

What is the correct winning line for

White? Which pawn should White move first?

62 64
G. Levenfish F. Olafsson
G. M. Lisitsin M. Tal
Moscow 1935 Portoroz 1958
 The question: 1...Rf5 or 1...Kc6?

67
O’T. Gorman
J. Delaney
Dublin 2018

White’s most direct winning path is..?

65
M. Ulibin
V. Nevednichy
USSR 1986

What is the best way for Black to draw?

68
Wen Yang
Y. Liu
Xinghua 2018

Can Black make a draw?

66
A. Moiseenko
C. Horvath
Pula 1999

How can White win this endgame?

69
E. Lasker
W. Steinitz
Moscow 1896
How should Black use his rook actively What is the correct way for Black to
to reach a draw? draw?

70 72
T. Florian A. Lilienthal
G. Kluger S. Tartakover
Ugor 1960 Barcelona 1934

White must take on f2 now — or Correct here is 1.b6 or 1.Kc3?

should he do so later?
73
O. Duras
71 M. Vidmar Sr
J. H. Timman Karlsbad 1911
L. Portisch
Moscow 1981
White must play the correct move to How must White play to win?
save the draw. Which one?
76
L. Polugaevsky
74 V. S. Antoshin
M. E. Taimanov Leningrad 1954
Estevez G. Morales
Brno 1975

Where to retreat with the king?

How to save this position as Black? 77

A. Shandor
J. Sili
75 Hungary 1953
M. Chigorin
G. Salwe
Karlsbad 1907
The correct winning way is..?

78
W. Schmidt
J. Plachetka
Decin 1976

Where does Black’s king have to go?

81
L. Brunner
V. Chechow
Prague 1989
Which king move is the best here?

79
R. Ravisekar
E. Torre
Singapur 1981

How does Black hold the draw

correctly: with 1...Rb2 or 1...c5?

82
A. Tsvetkov
N. Karaklaic
Which king move leads to a draw? 1956

80
P. Trifunovic
S. Gligoric
Novi Sad 1945
From which side does the rook have to What is the best place for Black’s king?
act to reach the draw?

85
83 A. Greenfeld
N. Spiridonov L. Pachman
E. Bareev Netanya 1983
Budapest 1988

Which move saves the game for Black

The correct way to save this position here?
for White is?

86
84 A. Moiseenko
L. Portisch C. Horvath
F. Gheorghiu Pula 1999
Budapest 1970
The question here is... 1...Rf5 or 1...Kc6? What is the most direct way to win?

87 89
G. Bacza R. Nezhmetdinov
A. Haag G. Stahlberg
Tallinn 1969 Bucharest 1954

The correct winning procedure here Make a choice between these three
for White is? moves: 1...Rf6, 1...f4 and 1...Kf6.

88 90
F. Olafsson M. Sreeshwan
M. Tal M. Thejkumar
Portoroz 1958 New Delhi 2018
Black must find a very narrow way to Where should Black go with his king
win here! Can you? now?

91
A. Timofeev 93
E. Najer P. Roy
Yaroslavl 2018 F. Urkedal
Helsingor 2018

The correct and precise way to win

here is..? Is every retreat of the king the same?
Or is only one of them correct?

92
P. Keres 94
A. Mikenas B. Heberla
Stockholm 1937 T. Selbes
Ankara 2018
 How does Black win?

97
R. J. Fischer
P. C. Benko
New York 1959

Where to go with the white king?

95
F. Buchenau
J. Hector
Helsingor 2018
Can Black make a draw here?

98
N. Menzi
A. Nikolova
Porto Carras 2011

To which side does the black king go?

96
S. Dishman
T. Ivarsson
Helsingor 2018
How can the white rook fight the
passed pawn?

99
V. Kortschnoj
G. Sosonko
Hastings 1975
What is the correct move here: 1...Rc4 Which is correct: 1.Rg3 or 1.Rc3?
or 1...Ka4?

102
100 A. Mamyrbay
V. Yandemirov J. Vakhidov
A. Timofeev Almaty 2016
Kazan 2016

Where to retreat with the king?

How does Black push his passed
pawns?
103
S. Mamedyarov
101 H. Nakamura
J. S. Speelman Paris 2017
D. Howell
London/Crowthorne 2006
 The best way to win is?

106
Y. Gruenfeld
J. L. Watson
New York 1981

What to play: 1...Rh6 or 1...Kh2?

104
J. S. Thybo
J. B. Bjerre
Svendborg 2018

Can White win this position?

107
A. Tuna
M. Roganovic
Beograd 2017

Which king move is correct?

105
L. Javakhishvili
B. Khotenashvili
Tbilisi 2018

White has three moves: 1.a5, 1.Kd2

and 1.Kd3. Which is correct?

108
K. Kozionov
D. Kokarev
Kazan 2017
Is there an easy way for White to draw?
Solutions
1 42...Kf6??
80.Kf4??
80.Re6! Kf7 81.Rxg6 Kxe7 82.Kh6 Kf7
83.Rg7+ Kf8 84.g5 Re1 85.Ra7+–
80.Kf4?? Kf6= 81.g5+ Kf7 82.Re5
Ra8!
82...Rxe7?? 83.Rxe7+ Kxe7 84.Ke5 Kf7
85.Kd6 Kg7 86.Ke7 Kh7 87.Kf7+–
83.Ke3
83.e8=Q+ Rxe8 84.Rxe8 Kxe8 85.Ke4
Kd8!=
83...Ke8 84.Re6 Ra4 85.Re4 Ra5
86.Kf4 Ra6 87.Re5 Ra4+ 88.Ke3
Ra3+ 89.Kd4 Ra4+ 90.Kc3 Rg4
91.Kd3 Ra4 92.Re6 Rg4 1/2–1/2
2
37.Kd2?
37.a5 g3 38.Kf3 gxf2 39.Kxf2 Rh1;
37.Kd3! Rd1+ 38.Kc2 Rf1 39.Kxb2
Rxf2+ 40.Kc3=
37.Kd2? Rf1 38.Kc2 Rxf2+ 39.Kb1 g3
40.Rg5 g2 0–1
3
42...Ke6! 43.Rxb7 Ra3+ 44.Kf2 (44.Kd4
Rxg3) 44...Ra2+ 45.Kg1 Ra1+ 46.Kh2
g4 (46...Rb1 47.g4!) 47.Rh7 (47.Rb8
Rb1 48.b6 Kd6 49.b7 Kc6 50.Rh8 Rxb7
51.Rxh5 Re7 52.e5 Rg7=) 47...Ke5
48.Rxh5+ Kxe4 49.Rg5 Rb1 50.Rxg4+
Kf5 51.Rh4 Rxb5!! 52.Rh5+ Kg4 as
seen in a Smyslov study.
42...Kf6?? 43.Rxb7 Ra3+ 44.Kd4
Rxg3 45.b6 Rxg2 46.Rb8 Rb2 47.b7
Kg7 48.e5 g4 49.e6 1–0
4
49...Ke7??
49...Kc7 50.Rxe6 Re3!! 51.Kxh6 (51.Kf5
f3 52.Rf6 f2 53.Ke6 Re2) 51...Kd7
52.Rf6 Rxe5 53.c6+ Ke7 54.Rxf4 Rc5
55.h4 Rxc6+ 56.Kg7 Rc1 57.h5 Rg1+
58.Kh7 Rg2=
49...Ke7?? 50.c6 f3 51.Rd7+ Ke8
52.Rf7 Rc3 53.c7 h5 54.Rxf3 Rxc7
55.Rh3 Kd7 56.Rxh5 Rc4 57.Rh7+
Kc6 58.Kf6 Kd5 59.Rd7+ Ke4 60.Rd1
Rc2 1–0
5
76.Kc6
76.Rd7+ Kf8 77.Ke6 Re4+ 78.Kf6 f4
79.d5 f3 80.Rf7+ Kg8 81.Kxg6 Rd4
82.Rc7! Kf8 (82...Rf4 83.d6 Rf8 84.d7
f2 85.Rc1 Rd8 86.Rc8) 83.Rc8+!! Ke7
84.Rc6!! Rxd5 85.Rf6 Rd6 (85...Rd3
86.Kg7 Rd5 87.g6) 86.Kg7 Rxf6
87.gxf6+ Khalifman
54...exf5 55.Re7+ Kd5 56.a7 g4
57.fxg4 fxg4 58.Kc8 g3 59.Rg7 g2
60.Kb8 Rb1+ 61.Kc7 Ra1 62.Kb6
Rb1+ 63.Ka6 Ra1+ 64.Kb6 Rb1+
65.Kc7 Ra1 66.Kb8 Rb1+ 67.Kc8
Ra1 68.Rxg2 Rxa7 69.Rg6 Ke4
70.Re6+ Kf5 71.Rxh6 Re7 1/2–1/2

76.Kc6 Rg4 77.Rf6+ Ke7 78.d5 Rc4+

79.Kb5 Rc1 80.Rxg6 f4 81.Re6+ Kd7 8
82.Rf6 Rg1 83.Kc5 Rxg5 84.Rf7+
Ke8 85.Rxf4 Rg6 86.Ra4 Kd7 1.Rb1!! Kf2 2.Rb2+ Kf1 3.Rb3 Kg2
87.Ra7+ Kd8 88.Rb7 Rh6 89.Rg7 Rf6 4.Rb1 1/2–1/2
90.Kd4 Rh6 91.Rf7 Ke8 92.Ra7 Kd8
93.Kc5 Rg6 94.Rf7 Rh6 95.Rg7 Rf6
9
1/2–1/2

48.Kxg5?

6
1.h7 Rd8!! 2.g6 Ke6+ 3.Ke3 Kf6 0–1
7
53.Kd8!
53.Rxf7? Rxa6 54.f4+ Ke4 55.fxg5 hxg5
56.h6 e5! (56...Kxe3 57.h7 e5 58.Kd8
Rh6 59.Ke7 e4 60.Kf8 Kd2 61.Kg7+–)
57.h7 Kxe3=
48.Kg3 Kd4 (48...Rd2 49.Rc8= (49.h4
gxh4+ 50.Kh3 (50.Kxh4 Rd4+ 51.Kg5
Rc4) ) ) 49.h4 gxh4+ 50.Kxh4 Rxg2
51.f4 Ke4 52.Kh3 Re2 53.Kg4=
48.Kxg5? Kd6 49.Rc3 Re5+ 50.Kf6
Rc5 51.Rxc2 Rxc2 52.g4 Rxh2 53.g5
Rf2 54.g6 Rxf3+ 55.Kg7 Ke7 56.Kg8
Kf6 57.g7 Rg3 58.Kh8 Kf7 0–1
10

53.Kd8! f5! 54.gxf5 47.e5?

54.Rh7+– Rxa6 (54...fxg4 55.fxg4 Rxa6 47.g4 Kd4 48.e5+ Kd5 49.gxh5 gxh5
56.Rxh6+–; 54...f4 55.exf4+ Kxf4 50.e6
56.Rxh6 Rxa6 57.Rf6++–) 55.Rxh6 f4
47.e5? Kd5 48.Ke2
56.exf4+ Kxf4 57.Rf6+ Ke5 58.Rf8+–
48.g4!? c3 49.Ke2 c2 (49...Kxe5 59...Kd3? 60.Rxg6 Kc3 61.Ra6 Rb4
50.Rc4=) 50.Kd2 Kxe5 51.Rc4 hxg4 62.Rc6+ Kb2?!
52.Rxg4 Rc3 53.Kc1 Kf6–+
62...Kd3!? 63.Rd6+ Kc4
48...Ra2+ 49.Kf3 c3 50.Rf8 Kxe5
51.Rc8 Kd4 52.g4 hxg4+ 53.Kxg4 63.Kxd2 a3 64.Rc2+ Kb3 65.Rc3+
Ra4 54.Kf3 Kd3 0–1 Ka4 66.Rc8 a2 67.Kc2!= a1=N+ 1/2–
1/2

11
13
1...Kf4?
1.hxg5?
1...f5! 2.exf5+ Kxf5 3.Re7 Rb2 4.Rb7
Rxh2 5.Rb4 (5.Rh7 Kg4=; 5.Kb8 Ra2=) 1.Rh6! Kg4 2.Rg6=
5...Ra2 6.Kb7 h2 7.Rh4 Rb2+ 8.Kc7
1.hxg5? Kxg5 2.Rb8 Kg4 3.Rg8+ Rg5
Ra2=
4.Ra8 Kxg3 5.Kxe4 h4 6.Ra3+ Kg4
1...Kf4? 2.Rf2+ Kg5 7.Ra1 h3! 8.Ke3

2...Kxe4 3.Rxf6 Rb2 4.Rh6 Rxh2 5.Kb7 8.Rg1+ Kh4 9.Rxg5 (9.Rh1 Rg2 10.Kf3
Rb2+ 6.Rb6+– Ra2 … h2, Kh3–+) 9...h2!–+

3.Rf5+ Kg6 4.Rc5 Rb2 5.Rc3 Rxh2 8...h2 9.Kf2 Ra5!!–+ 10.Rxa5
6.Rb3! Kg5
10.Rh1 Ra2+–+
6...Ra2 7.Rg3+! Kh5 (7...Kf7 8.Rxh3 Rb2
10...h1=Q 0–1
9.Rh7+ Ke6 10.Rb7+–) 8.Rxh3+ Kg4
9.Rb3 Kf4 10.Rb4+–
14
7.Kb7 Ra2 8.Rxh3 Rb2+ 9.Kc6 Rc2+
10.Kb6 Ra2 11.Rh7 Kf4 12.Re7 1–0 82.Rc6??

82.Ke1! c4 83.Kd1 Kc3+ (83...c3 84.Rc6)

12
84.Kc1 Rh5 (84...Kb3 85.Rc6 (85.Rh6?
c3 86.b6 Rg5 87.Rh1 Ra5–+) 85...c3
59...Kd3?
86.b6 Ra5 87.Kd1!=) 85.Rd6 Rxb5
Black sent her king on a faulty mission! 86.Rh6 Rd5 87.Rh2=
She would have won had she played
82.Rc6?? c4 83.b6
59...Kf3 60.Rxg6 Rd8–+
83.Ke1 Rxb5 84.Rd6+ Kc2 85.Rd2+ ≤58.Kd1 Ra1+ 59.Ke2 c3
Kc3 86.Kd1 Rb1+ 87.Ke2 Rb2
58...Ra2+ 59.Kd1
83...c3 84.b7 Rb5
=59.Ke3 c3 60.Kd3 Rd2+ 61.Ke3 Rd7
84...Rb5 85.Rc7 c2 86.Rd7+ (86.Ke1
Rxb7) 86...Kc3 87.Rc7+ Kb2 59...Ra1+ 60.Ke2 c3 61.Rb8+ Kc2

0–1 Now the simple bridge method wins.

62.Rh8 Ra5 63.Ke3 Rd5 64.Rg8 Kb2

15 65.Rb8+ Kc1 66.Rh8 c2 67.Rg8 Rb5
0–1
50.Rh6?

Wrong was 50.Rxb4? cxb4 51.Kf3 Kd4 16

52.Ke2 Kc3–+;
44.Kf2?
But correct was sticking: 50.Rc6! Kd5
(50...Kd4 51.Kf2 Rxb3 52.Ke2 Rb2+ 44.Ke2 Ra3 45.Kd2 Ke5 46.Rg6 Kf5
53.Kd1 c4 54.Kc1 Rh2 55.Rc8 Kc3 47.Rh6 Rxg3 48.Rh8! Ra3 49.Ra8 Kg6
56.Kb1 Rh1+ 57.Ka2 Rc1 58.Rh8=) 50.Kc2 Kg7 51.Kb2 Ra5 52.Kb3 Rf5
51.Rc8 Rxb3+ 52.Kf2 Rd3 53.Ke2 Rd4 53.Rb8 Ra5 54.Rb7+ Kf6 55.a7+–
54.Rd8+ Kc4 55.Rxd4+! Kxd4 56.Kd2=
44.Kf2? Ra3 45.Rb6
Opposition
45.Ke2 Rxg3 46.Rd8 Ra3 47.Ra8 Kf6
50.Rh6? Rxb3+ 51.Kf2 Kd4!–+
48.Kd2 Kg7 49.Kc2 Rh3 50.Kb2 Rh6
52.Ke2 Kc3
51.Kb3 Rf6=
The only way!
45...Kg5 46.Re6 Kf5 47.Rd6 Kg5
53.Rh3+ 48.Rc6 Kf5 49.Rb6 Kg4 50.Ke2 Kxg3
51.Kd2 Kf4 52.Kc2 Ke5 53.Kb2 Ra5
=53.Kd1 Rb1+ 54.Ke2 c4–+ 54.Rh6 Kd4 55.Rh4+ Kd3 56.Rh3+
Kd4 1/2–1/2
53...Kc2 54.Rh4 Rb4 55.Rh5 c4
56.Rh4 Ra4!
17
with the idea Kb3 and so on.
56...Rc3?
57.Rg4 Kb3 58.Rg8
The draw is secured with the direct 20
attack 56...Rc4 57.Rxb5 Rg4 58.Rf5+
Kg6 59.Rf4 Rxg3 60.b5 Rb3 61.Kc6 h5 69.Kc5!
62.b6 Kg5=
69.h7? Rxd4+ 70.Kc5 Rd8 71.Kc6 Ke5
56...Rc3? 57.Rxb5 Rxg3 58.Rc5 Rg6+ 72.Kc7 Ra8=
59.Kd7 Rg7 60.b5 h5 61.b6 Kg6+
62.Kc6 h4 63.b7 Rg8 64.Kc7 Rg7+ 69.Kc5! Rd5+ 70.Kc6 Rxd4 71.Rf8!
65.Kb6 1–0 Rc4+ 72.Kd6 1–0

18 21

68.Kb7? 1.a5

Correct was 68.Rc8 e2 (68...d5 1.b5? Rh1 2.c5 bxc5 3.Kc4 Rc1+ 4.Kd3
69.Re8+ Kf3 70.Rf8+ Kg2 71.Rg8+=) Kf4 5.b6 Ke5 0 : 1 Bellon Lopez,J —
69.Kb7 d5 70.Re8+ Kd3 (70...Kf3 Dzagnidze,N
71.Rf8+=) 71.Kc6 d4 72.Kc5 Kd2
1.a5 bxa5 2.bxa5 Kf4 3.Kd4 Kf5+
73.Kxd4 e1=Q 74.Rxe1 Kxe1;
3...Rh1 4.a6 Ra1 5.c5 Rxa6 6.Kd5 Kf5
68.Rc4+ Kd3 69.Rc8 is also OK for
7.c6 Ra1 8.c7 Rc1 9.Kd6 Kf6 10.Kd7
White.
4.Kd5 Kf6 5.a6 Rh1 6.Kc6 Ke7 7.a7
68.Kb7? d5–+ 69.Kb6 d4 70.Rc8 d3
Ra1 8.Kb7= 1/2–1/2
0–1

22
19

1...a3–+
53.Rd1??
1...Ra3+? 2.Kb2 Rxg3 3.Rxa4 Rd3 4.Kc2
53.Rd3 Rh7 54.Rg3+! Kf6 55.Rg1= was
Rd5 5.Ra6+ (5.Ra1 Kc5 6.Rd1 Rxd1
called for!
7.Kxd1 Kd4 (7...Kc4 8.Kc2) 8.Kd2 e4)
53.Rd1?? Kg5–+ 54.Rg1+ Kh4 5...Kc5 6.Ra5+ Kd4 7.Rxd5+ Kxd5
55.Rg8 h2 56.Rh8+ Kg3 57.Rg8+ Kf2 8.Kd3 e4+ 1/2 : 1/2 Dzagnidze,N —
58.Rh8 Kg1 59.Rg8+ Kf1 60.Rh8 Rf2 Adams,Mi
61.Ke3 Kg1 62.Rh7 Rg2 0–1
1...a3–+ 2.Ra4 Kd5 3.Ra5+
3.g4 e4 4.g5 e3 5.Kd3 a2 6.Ke2 Rh1 90...Rd2??

3...Ke4 4.Kc4 Rc1+ 5.Kb3 Rg1 6.g4 90...Rd8! 91.Kg7 (91.g6 Kd5 92.g7 Ke6
Rxg4 7.Kxa3 Rg1 8.Kb2 93.Kh7 Kf7) 91...Kd5 92.Kf7 Ke5 93.g6
Rd7+ 94.Kf8 Kf6
8.Kb3 Rc1
90...Rd2?? 91.g6 Rh2+ 92.Kg5 Kd5
8...Rd1 9.Ra7 Ke3–+ 93.g7 Ke5 94.Kg6 Rg2+ 95.Kf7
Rxg7+ 96.Kxg7 1/2–1/2

23
26
86...Ra7??
73...Re4??
Black could keep the balance by
playing 86...Rf7 87.Rd7 Rf8+ 88.Rd8 73...Re7+ 74.Kg8 (74.Kg6 Kf8 75.g5
Rf7 89.Rg8+ Kh7 90.Rd8 Kg6; Kg8 76.f5 Rg7+ 77.Kf6 Ra7=) 74...Re4
75.g5 Rxf4 76.g6 Rh4
or 86...Rh8+ 87.Rd8 Rh7 88.Rg8+ Kf7
89.Rd8 Kg6 73...Re4?? 74.g5 Rxf4 75.h6 Rf7+
76.Kg6 Ke7 77.h7 Rf8 78.Kg7 Rf7+
86...Ra7?? 87.Rd7 Ra8+ 88.Kb7 Rg8
79.Kh6 Rf8 80.g6 1–0
89.Kc7 Ra8 90.Rg7+ Kf5 91.Kb7 Re8
92.h7 1–0
27

24
53.Kf6??

62.g4?? 53.h6 Kf3 (53...Rg8+ 54.Kf6 Rxg3 55.f5

exf5 56.Kxf5 Rh3 57.Kg6 Kf4 58.h7 Ke5
As usual, it is necessary to bring the
59.Kg7) 54.h7 Kxg3 55.a5 Kf3
king closer to the opponent’s pawns.
(55...Rh8 56.Kg6 Kxf4 57.Kg7) 56.a6
62.Kg3 e3 63.Rd8 d2 (63...Kd2 64.Re8
Ke4 57.a7 Ra8 58.Kf6 Kxf4 59.Kxe6
Ke2 (64...e2 65.Kf2) 65.Kf4 d2
Kg5 60.Kd6 Kg6 61.Kc6 Kxh7 62.Kb7=
66.Rxe3+ Kf2 67.Rd3) 64.Kf4

62.g4?? d2 63.Rd8 d1=Q 64.Rxd1 53.Kf6?? Kf3 54.Kxe6 Kg4 55.f5

Kxd1 65.g5 e3 66.g6 e2 1/2–1/2 Kxh5 56.g4+ Kg5 57.Kf7 Ra8 58.Kg7
Ra7+ 59.Kg8 Rxa4 60.Kg7 Ra7+
61.Kg8 Rb7 0–1
25
28 f1=Q 67.Kg7 Qa1+ 68.Kg8 Qa8+ 69.Kg7
Qa7+ 70.Kg8 Kf5 71.h8=Q Kg6
83...Rf1??
60...f2? 61.h5?
83...Rf2!! 84.Kc3 (84.Ka3! Rg2 85.Rh8
Rg3+! (85...Kg1? 86.b4 h1=Q 87.Rxh1+ 61.Rxf2+ Kxf2 62.h5=
Kxh1 88.Kb3!! draw) 86.Ka4 Kg2
61...Rd4+ 62.Kg5 Rd5 63.Rxd5 f1=Q
87.Rxh2+ Kxh2 88.b4 Rg1 89.b5 Kg3
64.h6 Qf7 65.Rf5 Qg8+ 66.Kf6 Kh3
90.b6 Rb1 91.Ka5 Kf4 92.Ka6 Ke5
67.Rh5+ Kg4 68.Rh1 Qf8+ 69.Kg6
93.b7 Kd6 94.Ka7 Kc7–+) 84...Rg2
Qd6+ 70.Kg7 Qc7+ 71.Kg6 Qc6+
85.Rd8 Rg4 86.b4 Kg2 87.Rd2+ Kh3
72.Kg7 Qxh1 73.h7 Qb7+ 74.Kg8
88.Rd1 Rg1
Qc8+ 75.Kg7 Qd7+ 76.Kg8 Kg5
83...Rf1?? 84.Kc4 Rg1 85.Rh8 Kg2 77.h8=Q Kg6 0–1
86.b4 h1=Q 87.Rxh1 Rxh1 88.b5 Kf3
89.Kd5 Rh5+ 90.Kc6 Ke4 91.b6
31
Rh6+ 92.Kc7 Kd5 93.b7 Rh7+
94.Kb6 Rh8 95.Ka7 Kc6 96.b8=Q 41.c4?
1/2–1/2
41.b4 Rc8 42.Rc5 Rh8 (42...Rxc5
43.bxc5 a5 44.Ke3 Ke6 45.f4+–)
29
43.Ke3 Kd6 44.Ra5 Rh7 45.Ra6+ Ke5
46.f4+ Kf5 47.Rd6??
53...Rxg2?
41.c4? Rxb2 42.Rxd5+ Ke6 43.Ra5
53...Rc1 54.Kd4 Kg3 55.Rg5 Kf4 56.Rg7
Rb4 44.c5 Rc4 45.Kg3 Kd5
Rc2
45...Kf6
53...Rxg2? 54.c6 Rg1 55.Kd2 Rg2+
56.Kc3 Rg1 57.Kc2 Rg2+ 58.Rd2 46.Rxa7 Rxc5 47.Re7 Kd6 48.Re8
Rxd2+ 59.Kxd2 g3 60.Ke2 g2 61.Kf2 Rg5+ 49.Kf4 Rg7 50.f3 Rf7+ 51.Ke4
1–0 Rf6 52.Ra8 Ke7 53.f4 Rb6 54.Kf5 Kf7
55.Ra7+ Kf8 56.Kg5 Rc6 1/2–1/2

30
32
60...f2?
63.Rg7?
60...Rd4+ 61.Kg5 Kg3 62.h5 Rg4+
63.Kf6 Rf4 64.Rxf4 Kxf4 65.h6 f2 66.h7
Correct was to attack pawn with the
king: 63.Kg4 Rb1 (63...Ke3+ 64.Kxg5
Kxf3 65.Kf5 Ke3 66.Ke5 Rh4 67.Kd6
Rh5 68.Kc6) 64.Kxg5 b4 65.f4 b3 66.f5
b2 67.f6 Rg1+ 68.Kh6 b1=Q 69.Rxb1
Rxb1 70.f7 Rf1 71.Kg7=
63.Rg7? Rb1 64.Kf2 b4 65.Rxg5 b3
66.Rb5 b2 67.Kg2 Kc3 68.Rc5+ Kb4
69.Rc8 Rc1 0–1
33
79...Kc6?
The draw is achieved by forcing the
white rook to g7! 79...g3+ 80.Ke3 Kb6
81.Rg7 Kc6 82.Kf3 Kd6 83.Kxg3 Rh1
84.Kg4 Ke6 85.Kg5 Rg1+ 86.Kh6 Rh1+
87.Kg6 Rg1+
79...Kc6? 80.Ke4 Kd6 81.Kf4 Rh1
82.Kxg4 Ke6 83.Kg5 Rg1+ 84.Kh6
Rh1+ 85.Kg7 Rg1+ 86.Kf8+– 1–0
34
46.Kf5?
46.Rxa5 Rxb2 47.Rc5+–
46.Kf5? Rh4 47.Ke5 Rxa4 48.Kd6
Kc4 49.Kc6 Ra1 50.Kb6
50.Rh5 Kb3 51.Kb5 Ra4! 52.Rh2 Rg4
53.Kxa5 Rg5+=
50...Ra2 51.Rc5+ Kb3 52.Rb5+ Kc4
53.Kc6 Ra1 54.Rb8 Rh1 55.Kb6 Rh5
56.Ka6 Rg5 57.Rb6 Rh5 58.Rb7 Rg5
59.Rd7 Kb3 60.Rb7+ Kc4 61.Kb6
Rb5+ 62.Kc6 Rxb7 63.Kxb7 a4
64.Kb6 Kb3 65.Kb5 Kxb2 66.Kxa4
Kxc3 1/2–1/2
35
40.Rh2?
This move looks logical, but it was
better to go after the f6–pawn: 40.Rf2!
Rh5 41.Rxf6 Rxh4 42.Kf2 d4 43.Rd6=
Rh2+ 44.Ke1 Rh1+ 45.Kf2 Rd1 46.a4
Kc2 47.a5=
40.Rh2? Rh5 41.Kf2
41.a4 d4 42.Rf2! f5 43.a5 Ke3 44.a6 d3
45.a7 Rh8 46.Rxf5 d2 47.Rd5 Ra8!!–+
41...d4 42.Kf3 Kc3 43.Kg4 Rd5
44.Rf2 f5+ 45.Kg5 d3–+ 46.h5 d2
47.Rf1 Kc2 48.h6 d1=Q 49.Rxd1
Kxd1 50.h7 f4+ 51.Kg4 Rd8 0–1
36
58...h5??
Black had to push the enemy king in
front of the c-pawn first: 58...Rd1+
59.Kc6 h5 60.gxh5+ Kxh5=
58...h5?? 59.gxh5+ Kxh5 60.c6
Now White is winning.
60...Rd1+
Or 60...f5 61.Rb4!+–
61.Ke6 Rc1 62.c7 Kg5 63.Rb5+ Kg4
64.Kd6 Rxc7 65.Kxc7 f5 66.Kd6 f4
67.Ke5 f3 68.Ke4 1–0
37
58...Re1+??
58...Rc3+! 59.Kd4 Rc1=
58...Re1+?? 59.Kd2 f2 60.c7 Re8
61.Rxe8 f1=Q 62.c8=Q 1–0
38
69...Kh4??
Here the king obstructs the black pawn.
Black had to play 69...Kh6 70.f7 h4
71.f8=Q+ Rxf8 72.Kxf8 Kh5= 73.Kf7 h3
74.Kf6 Kh4 75.Kf5 h2 76.Kf4 Kh3
69...Kh4?? 70.f7 Kh3 71.Rg6 Rxf7+
72.Kxf7 h4 73.Kf6 Kh2 74.Kf5 h3
75.Kf4 1–0
39
57...Kd4!
57...f4? 58.Kc5 Ke4 59.Kc4 Ke3 60.Kc3
g5 61.Re8+ Kf2 62.Kd2 g4 63.Re4 g3
64.Rxf4+ Kg1 65.Ke2+–;
57...g5 58.Kc5 g4 59.Re8+ Kf4 60.Kd4
Kf3 61.Rf8 g3 62.Rxf5+ Ke2=
57...Kd4! 58.Rd8+ Ke3= 1–0
40
68...Rc2?
68...Rf6 69.c7 (69.b5? g2 70.Ra1 Rf1)
69...g2 (69...Rc6 70.Ra5+ Kh4 71.Rc5)
70.Ra1 Rf1 71.Rxf1 gxf1=Q 72.c8=Q
Qe1+=
68...Rc2? 69.b5 g2 70.Ra1 Kf5
70...Rc5 71.Kd4 Rxb5 72.c7
71.Kd3! Rc5 72.Kd4 Rc2 73.Kd5 Kf6
74.b6 Rd2+ 75.Ke4 1–0
41
50.Kg4??
Had White played 50.Kg2 the game
would have been drawn. Alas, after...
50.Kg4?? Rc3!
...White is lost...
51.Re7+ Rc7 52.Re5 Rc4+ 53.Kf3
Kb6 54.Ke2 Rc3 55.Kd2 Rxh3
56.Rh5 Ka5 57.Kc2 Ka4 58.Rh8
Rh2+ 59.Kc3 b4+ 60.Kc4 Rc2+
61.Kd3 Rc3+ 62.Kd2 h3 0–1
42
68...Kd4??
Instead he should have played 68...Kd6
69.b6 Kc6= 70.Rb5 (70.b7 Rb4 71.Rg5
Rb6+ 72.Ka5 Rxb7) 70...a3=
68...Kd4?? 69.b6 Rb4 70.b7?
White could win with 70.Rb5 Rxb5
71.Kxb5 a3 72.b7 a2 73.b8=Q a1=Q
74.Qh8+
70...Kc4 71.Rh5 Rxb7 72.Kxb7 a3
73.Rh3 Kb4 74.Kb6 a2 75.Rh1 Kb3
76.Kb5 Kb2 77.Kb4 a1=Q 78.Rxa1
Kxa1 1/2–1/2
43
68.Kh4??
Correct was 68.Kf5 Rg3 69.Ra2!=
68.Kh4?? Kf3 69.Ra2 Rh7+ 70.Kg5
h2 0–1
44
44.Rf4! Rxf4+ 45.Kxf4?
45.gxf4! f5 46.Ke3 Kc4 47.b5 Kxb5
48.Kd4
45...Kxb4= 46.f3 Kc5 47.g4 hxg4
48.fxg4 Kd6 49.h5 gxh5 50.gxh5 Ke7
51.Kf5 Kf7 52.h6 Kg8 53.Kxf6 Kh7
54.Kg5 Kh8 55.Kg6 Kg8 56.h7+ Kh8
57.Kh6 1/2–1/2
45
81.g7?
A very difficult case, where the natural
move is wrong!
White had to play 81.Kg7! and then not
to rush with pushing his pawn: 81...Rf2
(81...Kd4 82.Rf1 Kxc5 83.Kf6 Kd4
84.Rf4+ Kd3 85.Rf5 Ra2 86.Rc5 Rf2+
87.Kg7+–) 82.Rg1 Kxc5 83.Kh6 Rh2+
84.Kg5 Rh8 85.g7 Rg8 86.Kf6 Kd4
87.Rg4+! Kd3 88.Ke6! Ke3 (88...c5
89.Kd5 c4 90.Rg3+ Kd2 91.Kxc4+–)
89.Kf7 Rc8 90.Rc4! Kd3 91.Rxc6 Rxc6
92.g8=Q+– An extremely difficult
exercise!
81.g7? Rg3
Now White has to — sooner or later —
transfer into a rook against pawn
ending.
82.Kf7 Rf3+ 83.Kg8 Rg3 84.Rh1
84.Rd1+ Kxc5
84...Kxc5 85.Rh6 Kd5! 86.Kf7 Rxg7+!
87.Kxg7 c5 88.Kf6 c4 89.Kf5 c3
90.Rh8 Kd4 91.Kf4 c2 92.Rc8 Kd3
93.Kf3 Kd2 94.Rd8+ Kc3 1/2–1/2
46
39.Rxe7?
White should be OK after 39.Rf3 Re4
40.Kc3 Kg6 41.Rd3 Kh5 42.Rd7=
39.Rxe7? Kxe7 40.Kc4 Kd6 41.h5
Kc6 42.h6 b5+ 43.axb5+ Kb6 44.Kd3
Kxb5 45.Kc3 Kb6 46.Kd3 Kc7!
47.Kd2 Kc6 48.Kc2 Kd5 49.Kd3 c4+
50.bxc4+ Kc5 51.g4 fxg4 52.f5 Kd6
0–1
47
54...Rg2?
54...Kf6 55.Rxf3+ Kg5 56.Rg3 Ra2=
54...Rg2? 55.Re3+
55.h6+–
55...Kd6 56.Re4 Kd5 57.Ra4 Ke5
58.h6 Kf6 59.Ra8 Rh2 60.Ra5 Kg6
61.g5 Rc2 62.Ra8 Rh2 63.Rg8+ Kh7
64.Rg7+ Kh8 65.Rf7 Rg2 66.Rg7 Rh2
1/2–1/2
48
61...Ra6!
61...Ra7? 62.h6 Rxf7 63.h7+–;
61...Ra7 62.h6 Ra6 63.Rh5 Kxf7 64.h7
61...Ra6! 62.Kg3 Rh6 63.Kg4 Rh7
64.Kg5 Rxf7 1/2–1/2
49
69.Rf2+??
69.Rd3! Kg4 70.Ke3 Kg3 71.Rd8
(71.Ke2+ Kg2 72.Rd8 h3 73.Rg8+ Kh1
74.Kf2 f5 75.Rg3 Kh2 76.Ra3 f4 77.Rf3)
71...h3 72.Rg8+ Kh2 73.Kf2
69.Rf2+?? Kg3 70.Ke3 h3 71.Rxf7
Kg2
71...h2 72.Rg7+ Kh3 73.Kf2 h1=N+
74.Kf3 Kh2 75.Rg6
72.Rg7+ Kf1 73.Rh7 Kg2 74.Ke2 h2
75.Rg7+ Kh1 76.Kf2 1/2–1/2
50
89.Rc7?
89.b7 Rg1 90.b8=Q Ra1+ 91.Kb7 Rb1+
92.Kc7 Rxb8 93.Kxb8 Ke5 94.Rg7 Kf6
95.Rg8 Kf7 (95...Kf5 96.Kc7 g5 97.Kd6
g4 98.Kd5 Kf4 99.Kd4 Kf3 100.Kd3 g3
101.Rf8+) 96.Rc8 Ke6 97.Rc5 Kf6
98.Kc7 g5 99.Kd6 g4 100.Re5
89.Rc7? Rg1 90.Rc5 Kd6 91.Rc3
Ra1+ 92.Kb7
and now the simplest way to draw
would be...
92...Ke5 1/2–1/2
51
86.Kf3?
86.Ke3 Rg4 87.Kf3 g5 88.Re4 gxh4
89.gxh4 Rg1 90.Re5
86.Kf3? g5! 87.hxg5 Rxd5 88.Rg6
Ke7 89.Kf4 Kf7 90.Rh6 Rd4+ 91.Kf5
Rd5+ 92.Kf4 Rd4+ 93.Ke5 Ra4
94.Rxh5 Kg6 95.Rh4 Ra5+ 96.Kf4
Rf5+ 1/2–1/2
52
56...Kb2?
Shouldering! 56...Kb4! 57.Rh1 a3=
56...Kb2? 57.Kc5 a3 58.Kb4 a2
59.Rh2+ Kb1 60.Rh1+ Kb2 61.Rh2+
Kb1 62.Kb3 a1=N+ 63.Kc3 b4+
64.Kxb4 Nc2+ 65.Kc3 Ne3 66.Kd3?
66.Rh4 Nf5 67.Re4 Ka2 68.Re5 Nd6
69.Ra5+ Kb1 70.Kb3 Kc1 71.Rc5+ Kb1
72.Rd5+–
66...Nd5 67.Rf2 Nb4+ 68.Kc4 Na2
69.Kb3 Nc1+ 70.Ka3 Nd3 71.Rd2
Nc1 72.Rb2+ Ka1 73.Rb8 Na2
74.Kb3 Kb1 75.Rb7 Nc1+ 76.Kc3+
Ka1 77.Kc2 Na2 78.Rb1# 1–0
53
Which is better: 1...Rd3 or 1...Re1?
40...Rd3?
40...Re1! 41.b6 e3 42.Ra7+ Ke6 43.Kd3
Rb1 44.Rxg7 Rxb6 45.Kxe3 Rb3+=
40...Rd3? 41.b6 Rd8?
41...Rd4+ 42.Kc5 Rxa4 43.b7 Ra2
44.b8=Q Rxg2 45.Qxe5 Rf2 46.Qxe4
Rf6
42.Kc5+– Rc8+ 43.Kd6 Rd8+ 44.Kc7
Rd2 45.Rxe4 Rxg2 46.Rb4 Rc2+
47.Kd6 Rd2+ 48.Kxe5 Re2+ 49.Kd6
Rd2+ 50.Kc6 Rc2+ 51.Kb5 Rc8 52.b7
Rb8 53.Kc6 1–0
54
40.Kf4??
40.Rc5 Rxg6 41.Rc1 Kd6 42.Rd1+ Kc7
43.Rc1=
40.Kf4?? Rd4+ 41.Ke3 Rd5
41...Rd5 42.Rf5 Rxf5 43.gxf5 Kf6
44.Ke4 c5–+;
41...Rd5 42.Rxd5 cxd5 43.Kd4 Kd6
44.g5 Ke6–+ 0–1
55
87...Kxb5?
Black’s rook must attack White’s h-
pawn from the flank.
87...Kb7! 88.Rd7+ (88.Rxh6 Rxb5 with
a drawn Vancura position, e.g. 89.Kg4
Rb4+ 90.Kf5 Rb5+ 91.Kg6 Rb6+
92.Kg7 Rb5! 93.Rh8 Rc5!) 88...Kb6
89.Rh7 Rxb5 90.Kg4 Kc6 (or 90...Ka5
91.Rxh6 Rb4+) 91.Rxh6+ Kd7=
87...Kxb5? 88.Rxh6 Rh4
Or 88...Kc5 89.Rh8 Rh4 90.h6 Kc6, and
here is how White wins in this well-
known position: 91.Kg3 (but not
91.h7?? Kb7) 91...Rh1 92.Kg4 Rh2
(92...Kd7? 93.h7 Kc7 94.Ra8) 93.Kf5
Rf2+ 94.Kg6 Rg2+ 95.Kh7 Kd7 96.Rg8
Rf2 97.Kg7 Rg2+ 98.Kh8 Rf2 99.h7 Ke6
(99...Ke7 100.Kg7 Rg2+ 101.Kh6 Rh2+
102.Kg6 Rg2+ 103.Kf5) 100.Kg7 Rg2+
101.Kf8 Rf2+ 102.Ke8 Ra2 103.Rg6+
Kf5 104.Rf6+! Kg5 (104...Ke5 105.Rh6
Ra8+ 106.Kf7 Ra7+ 107.Kg6) 105.Rf8
Ra8+ 106.Kf7 Ra7+ 107.Kg8+–
89.Kg3 Rh1 90.Kg4 Rg1+ 91.Kf5 Rh1
92.Kg5 Rg1+ 93.Kf6 Rh1 94.Kf7
Much faster was 94.Rh8 Kc6 95.h6 Kd7?
96.h7
94...Kc5 95.Kg7 Rh2
95...Kd4 was much more cunning:
96.Kf7! (96.Rh8 Rg1+! 97.Kf7 (97.Kh7
Ke5 98.h6 Kf6) 97...Rf1+ 98.Ke6 Re1+
99.Kd6 Rh1 100.h6 Rh2 with a draw, as
Black’s king hides behind White’s!)
96...Rh2 (96...Kc5 97.Rh8) 97.Rd6+
Kc5 (97...Ke5 98.Re6+ Kf5 99.h6)
98.Ra6! Kb5 99.Rh6 Kc5 100.Rh8 Rf2+
101.Kg6 Rg2+ 102.Kf5 Rf2+ 103.Kg4
Kc6 104.h6 Switching to the correct
plan shown above as Black is now
forced to play 104...Rh2
96.Ra6 Kb5 97.Rh6 Kc5 98.Kg8
98.Rh8!
98...Rh1 99.Rh7 Kd6 100.h6 Ke5
Now White simply frees his rook and
easily wins.
¹100...Kd5 101.Kf8! (101.Rd7+ Kc6
102.Ra7 Kb6 103.Rh7 Kc6) 101...Rh2
102.Rd7+ Kc6 103.Ra7! Kb6 104.Rh7
Kc6 105.Rh8! Rf2+ 106.Kg7 Still
transposing to the main winning
position.
101.Re7+ Kd6
101...Kf6 102.Rf7+
102.Ra7! Ke6 103.h7 Rg1+ 104.Rg7
104.Rg7 Ra1 105.Rg2 Ra8+ 106.Kg7
Ra7+ 107.Kh6+–
1–0
56
57...Kf3?
57...Ra8! holds the draw. 58.Kc3 Ra6
59.a5 Rxa5 60.Kb4 Ra6 61.Kb5 Ra8
62.b7 Rb8 63.Kc6 Ke3 64.Kc7 Rh8
65.b4 Kd4 66.b5 Kc5
57...Kf3? 58.Kd3 Kf4 59.Kd4 Kf5
60.Kd5 Rg4 61.Kc5 Ke6 62.b7 Rg8
63.Kc6 Rg3 64.b4 1–0
57
67...Ka6?
Black is too eager to support his pawns.
It was much better to attack the white
rook first: 67...Kc7! 68.Rd4 b5 69.Kd5
a3 70.Rd2 Kb6–+
67...Ka6? 68.Ke5 Ka5 69.Ke6 b5
69...a3 70.Rd8 Re1+ 71.Kf5 b5 72.Ra8+
Kb4 73.f7 Rf1+ 74.Ke6 Kb3 75.f8=Q
Rxf8 76.Rxf8=
70.f7 a3 71.Rd8 Rxf7 72.Kxf7 b4
73.Rb8 Ka4 74.Ke6 Kb3 75.Kd5 Kc3
76.Ra8 Kb2 77.Kc4 a2 78.Kxb4 a1=Q
79.Rxa1 Kxa1 1/2–1/2
58
69.Kd4?
Now White’s king will be pushed to the
c-file. The simplest way (though not
the only one) was 69.Re2 Rh4 70.Kd5
Kf5 71.Re8
69.Kd4? Rd1+! 70.Kc3 h5 71.Kc2
Rd6 72.Ra5 h4 73.Re5 Rd8 74.Rb5
h3 75.Rb3 Rh8 76.Rb1 Kg5 77.Kd2
Kg4 78.Ke2 Kg3
¹78...h2;
78...Kg3 79.Rg1+ Kh4! 80.Rh1 Ra8–+
0–1
59
56.Rg5?
White lets the enemy king out, while
after 56.Re7 White would have saved
the game with ease.
56.Rg5? Kf7 57.Rxe5 Rf4 58.Rg5
Kxf6 59.Rg8 Kf5 60.Kd3 Rf3+
61.Ke2 Kf4–+
The rest is easy — the Lucena position
will soon be reached.
62.Rf8+ Kg3 63.Rg8 Rf7 64.Rg6 Kh3
65.Rh6+ Kg2 66.Ke3 g3 67.Rg6 Kh2
68.Rh6+ Kg1 69.Rg6 g2 70.Ke2 Rf2+
71.Ke1 Ra2 72.Rg8
72.Rh6 Ra8 73.Rh7 Re8+ 74.Kd2 Re5
75.Rh8 Kf2 76.Rf8+ Kg3 77.Rg8+ Kf3
78.Rg7 (78.Kd3 Rd5+ 79.Kc2 Rd4)
78...Re4
72...Ra3 73.Ke2 Rh3 74.Rg7 Rh5
75.Kf3 Rf5+ 76.Ke2 Rf2+ 77.Ke1 Rf8
78.Ke2 Rf1 79.Rg8 Rf7 80.Rg6 Re7+
81.Kf3 Kf1 82.Ra6 Rf7+ 0–1
60
52.Rb2?
Passive defence is often doomed.
White would have made a draw easily
had he used his rook actively: 52.Rd7!
b6 53.Rd6 Re1 54.Rh6 Rb1 55.Ke3
Rxb4 56.Kd3
52.Rb2? b6 53.Rb1 Ka4 54.Kf4
¹54.Ra1+ Kxb4 55.Rb1+ Kc5 56.Rc1+
Kd4 57.Rb1 Rb8 58.Ke2 Kc3 59.Rb5
Re8+ 60.Kd1 Re6 61.Rg5 Rh6 62.Rb5
Rh1+ 63.Ke2 Rh2+ 64.Kd1 Rb2 65.Rh5
Rb1+ 66.Ke2 b5–+
54...b5 55.Kf3 Ka3 56.Kf4 Re2
57.Kf3 Rb2 58.Rxb2? Kxb2 0–1
61
54.Kb6
54.Re3 Re8 55.Kc6 Kxh6 56.b5 e4
57.Kd5 Rb8 58.Kc5 Rc8+ 59.Kd4 Rb8
60.Rb3 Kg6 61.Kxe4 Kf6 62.Kd5 Ke7
63.Kc6
54.Kb6 e4 55.b5?
55.Re3!+– is the correct winning line.
55...Re8 56.Ka7 e3 57.Rh1 e2
58.Re1 Kxh6 59.b6 Kg5 60.b7 Kg4
61.Rxe2 1/2–1/2
62
59.Rb7! Rxb5 60.Kg6 Kf8 61.h6 Re5
62.Rb8+ Ke7 63.h7 1–0
63
39.d6??
39.Rc8+! Kg7 40.b5 Kf6 41.Re8!+–
Black cannot stop both pawns, e.g.
41...Rb3 (41...Rd3 42.b6 Rxd5 43.b7;
41...e4 42.b6 Rb3 43.d6 e3 44.Kf1)
42.d6 Rxb5 43.d7
39.d6?? Kg7 40.b5 Kf6 41.d7+ Ke7
42.Rd6 Kd8 43.Rf6 Kxd7 44.Rxf7+
Ke6 45.Rxh7 Rb3 46.Rb7 Rb2² 47.b6
e4 48.Rb8 e3 49.Kf1 Kf6 50.h4 Kg7
51.g4 Kh7 52.Rb7+ Kg8 53.Ke1 Kh8
54.h5 gxh5 55.gxh5 e2! 56.h6 Kg8
57.Rg7+ Kh8 58.b7 Rb1+ 59.Kxe2
Rb2+ 60.Kd3 Rb3+ 61.Kc4 Rb4+
62.Kxb4
62.Kd3 Rb3+ 63.Ke2 Rb2+ 64.Kf3
Rb3+ 65.Kg4 Rb4+ 66.Kh5 Rb5+
67.Kg6 Rb6+ 68.Kf5 Rb5+ 69.Ke6
Rb6+ 70.Kd5 Rb5+ 71.Kd6 Rb6+
72.Kc5 Rb5+ 73.Kc4 Rb4+ 74.Kc5
Rb5+ 75.Kc6 Rb6+ 76.Kc7 Rxb7+
77.Kxb7=
1/2–1/2
64
46.Rxa4?
46.d7 Re3+ 47.Kd8 a3 48.Ra8! a2
49.Rxa2 Rg3 50.Ra5 Rxg4 51.Ke7 Rd4
52.Rxg5+ Kh6 53.Rf5+–
46.Rxa4? Re3+ 47.Kd8 f5 48.gxf5
Kf6 49.Ra6 Kxf5 50.Kc7 g4 51.d7
Re7 52.Kd6 Rxd7+ 53.Kxd7 g3
54.Kd6 g2 55.Ra1 Ke4 1/2–1/2
65
1...Ke3?
1...Kxf3! 2.a7 Ra3!!= ...3.Rf8+? Ke4+
1...Ke3? 2.Kg3 Ra1 3.Re8+!
3.a7 Rg1+ 4.Kh2 Kf2=
3...Kd4 4.Kf4 Rxa6 5.Rd8+!
5.Kg5 Rb6 6.Rf8 Ke3=
5...Kc5 6.Kg5+–
66
55...Rf5??
55...Kc6 56.b7 Rf5
55...Rf5?? 56.Re8! Rb5 57.Kf6 Rf5+
58.Kg6 Rb5 59.b7 Rxb7 60.Kf6 Rb4
61.Rxe6+ Kd7 62.Re4 Rb6+ 63.Kf7
1–0
67
65...Rh1
65...Rxf6! 66.Kxf6 Kb4 67.Ra1 a4
68.Ke5 Kb3 69.Kd4 a3 70.Kd3 Kb2
71.Rh1 a2
65...Rh1 66.Rf3 Re1+ 67.Kd7 Rd1+
68.Kc7 Rc1+ 69.Kb7 Re1?
69...Rd1! draw 70.Rf5+ Kb4 71.f7 Rd8
72.f8=Q+ Rxf8 73.Rxf8 a4=
70.Rf5+ Kb4 71.f7 Re7+ 72.Kc6 Rxf7
73.Rxf7 a4 74.Rf4+ Kb3 75.Kb5 a3
76.Rf3+ Kb2 77.Kb4 a2 78.Rf2+ Kb1
79.Kb3 a1=N+ 80.Kc3 h6 81.Rh2 h5
82.Rxh5 Ka2 83.Rb5 1–0
68
50.Kg3?
50.f6 Rc6 51.f7 Rf6+;
50.Re8! Ra4 51.Kg3 Ra1 52.Kg4 Kd6
53.Kg5
50.Kg3? Kd6 51.f6 Kd7 52.Re7+ Kd8
53.Re5 Kd7 54.Kf3 Rc6 55.Rf5 Ke8
56.Kg4 Kf7 57.Kg5 Rc1 58.Ra5 Rg1+
59.Kf5 Rf1+ 60.Kg5 Rg1+ 61.Kf5
Rf1+ 62.Ke4 1/2–1/2
69
57...Re4??
57...Rg3! 58.Rf4+ Kb5 59.Rxf5+ Kb4
60.Rf4+ Kb5 61.Rf2 Kb4 62.Kc2 Rc3+
63.Kd1 (63.Kd2 Rxb3 64.Ke2 Kc5
65.Rf8 Kd6 66.Re8 Rg3! 67.Kf2 Rg7!)
63...Rxb3 64.Rc2 Rc3! 65.Kd2 Rg3!
66.Ke1 Kb3 67.Re2 Kc4=
57...Re4?? 58.g3 Re5 59.Rf4+ Kb5
60.Ka3 Rd5 61.Rf3 Ka5 62.b4+ Kb5
63.Kb3 Kb6 64.Kc4 Kc6 65.Rb3 Re5
66.b5+ Kb6 67.Kd4 Re4+ 68.Kd5
Re8 69.Kd6 Re1
69...Re4 70.Rf3 Kxb5 71.Kd5 (71.Rxf5+ 61.Re7 Rd8 62.Ke1 Kxb4 63.Rc7!
Kc4=) 71...Kb6 72.Rxf5 Rg4 73.Rf3 Kc7 Kb5 64.Kd2 Kb6 65.Rg7
74.Ke5 Kd7 75.Kf5 Rg8 76.Ra3 Rf8+
77.Kg6+– 65.Rg7 Rh8 66.Kxd3 Kc6 67.Ke4 Kd6
68.Kf5+–
70.Rf3 Kxb5 71.Rxf5+ Kc4 72.g4
Kd4 73.g5 Rg1 74.Ke6 Ke4 75.Kf6 1–0
Ra1 76.g6 Ra7 77.Re5+ Kf4 78.Re7
72
1–0

1.b6??
70
1.Kc3 Ke1 2.Kd3 Re7 3.Kc4 e2 4.Rh8=
1.Rxf2??
1.b6?? Ke1 2.b7 Re7! 3.Kb3 e2 4.Ka4
1.c7! Re8 2.Rxf2 Kg3 3.Rc2 f2 4.Rxf2 Rd7! 5.Kb5 Kd2 6.Kc6 Rxb7 7.Rd8+
Kxf2 5.h6! Kf3 6.Kd4 Rc8 7.h7= Kc1 8.Re8 Rb2 0–1

1.Rxf2?? Re6! 2.Rb2 Rd6+ 3.Kc4 73

Rxc6+ 4.Kd5 Rh6 5.Ra2 Rxh5+
6.Kd4 Rh8 7.Ra7 Rd8+ 0–1 65.h5??

65.Rg2+! Rd2 (65...Kb3 66.Rg3+ Ka4

71 67.Rg2; 65...Kc3 66.Rf2 Ra4 67.Rf3+
Kd2 68.Rf2+ Ke1 69.Ra2 Kd1 70.h5
58...d3? Kc1 71.h6 Ra7 72.Kg4 Kb1 73.Rxa3)
66.Rg8 a2 67.Ra8 Kb1 68.Kg4 a1=Q
58...Rf8! 59.Rd7 (59.Kg4 d3 60.Rd7 69.Rxa1+ Kxa1 70.h5 Rh2 71.Kg5 Kb2
Rh8) 59...d3 60.b5 Kc3 61.Kg4 d2 72.h6 Kc3 73.Kg6=
62.Kg5 Kc2 63.Kg6 Rb8! 64.Kg7 Rb7!
65.Rxb7 d1=Q 66.h8=Q Qd4+=
Cvetkovic/ 65.h5?? a2 66.Rg2+ Kb3 67.Rg3+
Ka4 68.Rg1 Rb4! 69.Rf1 Rb1 70.Rf8
58...d3? 59.Kf2+– Re8 60.Rd7? Rb5 71.Rf4+ Ka3 0–1

60.Re7!+–
74
60...Kc3
46...g5+??
60...Re2+ draw 61.Kf1 Re8
46...Kf7! 47.Kh7 (47.Ra7+ Kg8 48.Rg7+
Kh8 49.Rxg6 Rf1=; 47.g5 Rf1 48.Ra7+
Kg8 49.Kxg6 Rf8=) 47...Rf1 48.Ra7+
Kf6 49.Ra6+ Kf7! 50.Rxg6 Rh1+ 51.Rh6
Rg1 52.Rh4 Kf8 53.Kh6 Kg8=
46...g5+?? 47.Kxg5 Rf1 48.Ra7+ Kf8
49.Kg6 Rf2 50.g5 Rb2 51.Ra8+ Ke7
52.Kg7 Rf2 53.g6 Rf1 54.Kg8 Rg1
55.g7 Rg2 56.Rf8 1–0
75
74.Kg7??
74.Kg5! Ra1 75.h6 Rg1+ 76.Kh5 Rh1+
77.Kg6 Rg1+ 78.Kf7 Rh1 79.Rf6+–
74.Kg7?? Rg4+ 75.Kf7 Rh4 76.Ra3
Rf4+ 77.Ke7 Rb4 78.Ra5+ Kf4 79.h6
Kg4! 80.Ra7 Kg5 81.h7 Rb8 82.Kf7
Kh6 1/2–1/2
76
66.Kh7??
66.Kf6! Rxg3 67.Re5! Kg4 68.h5 Ra3
69.h6
66.Kh7?? Rxg3 67.Rg5 Rg4! 68.Rf5+
Ke4 69.Rh5 Kf4 70.Kh8 Kg3 1/2–
1/2
77
1...Kd2??
1...Kd3! 2.Kg3 e2 3.g5 e1=Q+ 4.Rxe1
Rxe1 5.Kf4 Kd4 6.Kf5 Kd5 7.g6 Rf1+
8.Kg5 Ke6–+
1...Kd2?? 2.Kg3 e2 3.g5 e1=Q+
4.Rxe1 Rxe1 5.Kf4 Rf1+ 6.Ke5! Re1+
7.Kf6 Rf1+ 8.Ke6 Rg1 9.Kf6 Ke3
10.g6 Ke4 11.g7 Kd5 12.Kf7 1/2–
1/2
78
62...Kh4??
62...Kf4! 63.g5 (63.Rf1 Ra2 (63...Kg3
64.Rg1=) 64.g5 Kg3 65.Rg1+ Kf2 66.g6
Ra4–+) 63...Kg3 64.Rg1 Kf2 65.Ra1
Rg4! 66.Ra2+ Kg3 67.Kg1 Rb4 68.Ra1
Rb2
62...Kh4?? 63.Rf1! Rg3
63...Kg3 64.Rg1! Kf2 65.Ra1 Rxg4
66.Ra2+ Kg3 67.Kg1 Rb4 68.Rg2+!
64.g5 Kxg5 65.Ra1 Kg4
65...f2 66.Rf1 Rf3 67.Kg2=
66.Ra4+ Kg5 67.Ra5+ Kh4 68.Rf5
Rh3+ 69.Kg1 Kg3 70.Rf8 Rh4
71.Rg8+ 1/2–1/2
79
1.Kf6??
1.Kd5! Rg1 (1...Kf2 2.Rxe2+ Kxe2 3.f5
Kf3 4.f6 Kg4 5.f7 Rf3 6.Ke6 Kg5 7.Ke7=)
2.Rxe2! (2.f5?? Rd1+ 3.Kc6 Kf2 4.f6 1...Rxb2?? 2.Kxc6 Rc2+
e1=Q 5.Rxe1 Kxe1 6.Kc7 Ke2 7.f7 Rf1)
2...Kxe2 3.f5 Kf3 4.f6 Kg4 5.f7 Rf1 6.Ke6 2...Rb1 3.Kb5 Rb2 4.b4 Rb1 5.Ka5 Ra1+
Kg5 7.Ke7= 6.Kb6+–

1.Kf6?? Rg4 2.Rxe2 Kxe2 3.f5 Kf3 3.Kb5 Rc8 4.Rh4+ Kd5 5.Rh6 Rb8+
6.Rb6 Rc8 7.b4 Ra8 8.Rb7 Kd6 9.Kb6
3...Kf3 4.Ke7 Re4+! 5.Kd7 Rf4 6.Ke6 Rg8 10.b5 Rg6 11.Rc7 Kd5+
Kg4 7.f6 Kg5 8.f7 Kg6+– 12.Kb7+– 1–0

0–1
82

80 1...Rh1??

48...Kd3?? 1...Ra1! 2.Rf6 (2.Rf2 Ra5 3.Rh2 Ra6+=)

48...Kf2! 49.Re2+ Kg1 50.Ra2 (50.h4?!
gxh4 51.Ra2 c3 52.f4 c2+! 53.Kxc2
Kxg2=) 50...c3! 51.g3 c2+ 52.Kxc2
Kxh2=
2...Ra5 3.h6 Ra7 4.Rg6 Kf4 5.Kf6 Ra6+
6.Kg7 Ra7+ 7.Kh8 Kf5=
1...Rh1?? 2.Rf5 Ra1 3.Kf6 Ra8
4.Re5+ Kf4 5.h6 Rh8 6.Rh5 Ra8 7.h7

48...Kd3?? 49.h4! gxh4 50.f4 h3

51.gxh3 Rg8 52.f5 c3 53.Rd7+ Kc4 83
54.f6 Rg1+ 55.Kc2 Rg2+ 56.Kc1 Ra2
57.f7 Ra1+ 58.Kc2 Ra2+ 59.Kb1 1–0 65.Re1??

65.Kd3! g4 66.Rb8! Rf4 67.Rb5+! Kf6

81
1...Rxb2??
1...c5! 2.Rh4+ Kd3 3.Kd5 (3.b4 cxb4
4.Rxb4 Rc4 5.Rb8 Kc2 6.Kd5 Rh4 7.b4
Kc3 8.b5 Kb4 9.b6 Kb5 10.b7 Kb6=)
3...Kd2! (3...Rxb2!? 4.Rh3+ Kc2 5.Kc4
Ra2 6.Kxc5 Ra8 7.b4 Rc8+=) 4.b4
(4.Rh3 Kc1=) 4...cxb4 5.Rxb4 Kc1 6.b3
Kb2=
68.Ke3! Rf3+ 69.Ke2 Kg6 70.Rb1= idea
Rf1;
65.Rf1!=
65.Re1?? g4 66.Rf1 g3 67.Kd3 Rf4
68.Rh1 Kf5 69.Ke3 Kg4 70.Rh8 Rf7
71.Ke2 g2 72.Rg8+ Kh3 73.Rh8+
Kg3 74.Rg8+ Kh2 75.Rh8+ Kg1
76.Re8 0–1

84
65...Kd3??
65...Kf3! 66.Kd2 Rf7 67.Kd3 d5 68.f5
Kf4 69.Kd4 Kxf5 70.Kxd5 Kf6 71.Kc6
Kf5 72.Kb6 Rf6+ 73.Kc5 Rf7=
65...Kd3?? 66.Kf2! d5 67.f5 d4 68.f6
Rf7 69.Kg3 Kd2 70.Rd8! Rxa7
71.Rxd4+ Ke3 72.Rf4 Rf7 73.Kg4 1–
0 5.g8=Q+–
85
74...Ke6??
74...Kg4! 75.f5 Kg3 76.f6 Kxf2 77.f7
Rf1= 78.f8=Q+ Kg1 79.Qg7+ Kf2;
74...Ke4 75.f5 Ke3 76.Ra2
74...Ke6?? 75.Rc2 1–0
86
55...Rf5??
55...Kc6 56.b7 Rf5
55...Rf5?? 56.Re8! Rb5 57.Kf6 Rf5+
58.Kg6 Rb5 59.b7 Rxb7 60.Kf6 Rb4
61.Rxe6+ Kd7 62.Re4 Rb6+ 63.Kf7
1–0
87
1.Rf8?
1.Kf8! Kd4 2.Rd7+ Ke4 3.g8=Q Rxg8+
4.Kxg8 e5 5.Re7! Kf4 (5...Kf5 6.Kf7 e4
7.Re8! Kf4 8.Ke6 e3 9.Kd5 Kf3 10.Kd4
e2 11.Kd3–+) 6.Kf7 e4 7.Ke6 e3 8.Kd5
Kf3 9.Kd4+–
1.Rf8? Kd4!
1...Ke4? 2.Kf7 e5 3.Kf6 Kf4 4.Ke6+ Ke4
2.Rd8+
2.Kf7 e5 3.g8=Q Rxg8 4.Rxg8 e4
5.Rd8+ Kc3 6.Kf6 e3=
2...Ke4 3.Kf7 e5 4.g8=Q Rxg8 5.Rxg8
Kf3!
5...Kd3? 6.Rd8+ Kc3 (6...Ke3 7.Ke6 e4
8.Ke5+–) 7.Re8 Kd4 8.Kf6+–
6.Ke6 e4 7.Rf8+ Kg2 8.Kd5 e3 9.Re8
Kf2= 1/2–1/2
88
46.Rxa4?
46.d7 Re3+ 47.Kd8 a3 48.Ra8! a2
(48...Kf6 49.Kc7 Rc3+ 50.Kb6 Rb3+
51.Kc5 Rc3+ 52.Kd4+–) 49.Rxa2 Rg3
50.Ra5 Rxg4 51.Ke7 Rd4 52.Rxg5+
Kh6 53.Rf5+–
46.Rxa4? Re3+ 47.Kd8
47.Kd7!? f5 48.Ra5! f4! 49.Rxg5+ Kh6
50.Rf5 f3 51.Kc8 Rc3+ 52.Kd8 Kg6
53.d7 Rd3=
47...f5 48.gxf5 Kf6 49.Ra6 Kxf5
50.Kc7 g4 51.d7 Re7 52.Kd6 Rxd7+
53.Kxd7 g3 54.Kd6 g2 55.Ra1 Ke4
1/2–1/2
89
46...Kf6?
46...Rf6? 47.Re5+ Kf7 48.Kd7+–;
46...f4! 47.Kb7 (47.Rf5 Re4 48.Kb6
Rb4+ 49.Kc5 Rb1 50.Rxf4 Kd8=)
47...Kd6! 48.Rf5 Re7+ 49.Kb6 Re1
50.Rf6+ Ke5 51.c7 Rb1+ 52.Ka7 Rc1=
46...Kf6? 47.Kb7
47.Kd7 Re7+ 48.Kd8 Re1 49.c7 Rd1+
50.Ke8 Rc1 51.Kd7 Kg5 52.Kd6!
47...Kg5 48.c7 Re8 49.Kc6! Rc8
49...Kg4 50.Rb8+–
50.Rb8
50.Kb7
50...Rxc7+ 51.Kxc7 Kf4
51...f4 52.Rf8 Kg4 53.Kd6 f3 54.Ke5
Kg3 55.Ke4 f2 56.Ke3
52.Kd6 1–0
90
72...Rh5+
72...Rb7!!–+ 73.Rh6+ (73.a4 Rb3
74.Rxg2 Kxg2 75.Ka6 Kf3 76.a5 Ke4–+)
73...Kg3 74.Rg6+ Kf2 75.Rf6+ Kg1
76.a4 Rb3 77.Ka6 Kh2 78.Rh6+ Kg3
79.Rd6 (79.a5 Rb4!) 79...g1=Q 80.Rg6+
Kf2 81.Rxg1 Kxg1 82.a5 Kf2 83.Ka7
Ke3 84.a6 Kd4 85.Ka8 Kc5 86.a7 Kb6
as we have seen meny times.
72...Rh5+ 73.Kb6 Rh4 74.Rxg2!
Kxg2 75.Kb5= Kf3 76.a4 Ke4 77.a5
Kd5 78.a6 Rh1 79.a7 Ra1 80.Kb6
Kd6 81.Kb7 Rb1+ 82.Kc8 Ra1 1/2–
1/2
91
59.Rf8?
59.Kg5 Rg3+ (59...Rxe4 60.g4 Ke6
61.Rf6+ Ke7 62.Rxg6 Kf7 63.Kh6 Re1
64.Rg7+ Kf8 65.g5) 60.Kh4 Rd3 61.g4
Re3 62.Kg5 Rg3 63.Rf8 Ke6 64.Rf6+
Ke5 65.Rxg6
59.Rf8? Rxe4+ 60.Kg5 Ke6 61.Re8+
Kd5 62.Ra8 Ke6 63.Ra7 Re2 64.g4
Rg2 65.Rg7 Rg1 66.Rxg6+ Kf7
67.Kh6 Rh1+ 68.Kg5 Ra1 69.Rb6
Kg7 70.Rb7+ Kg8 71.Kh5 Ra5+
72.g5 Ra6 73.g6 Ra1 74.Rb8+ Kg7
75.Rb7+ Kg8 1/2–1/2
92
1...Kg4!!
1...Kh4? 2.Rc8 Rh7+ 3.Ke6 Rxd7
4.Kxd7 g4 5.Ke6 g3 6.Kf5 g2 7.Kf4+–
1...Kg4!! 2.Kf6
53.Kh4? Ra5 54.Rb6+ Kc3 55.Rc6+
A bit more stubborn was 55.Rb1 a2
56.Ra1 Kb2 57.Rxa2+ Rxa2 58.Kg5 Kc3
59.Kf6 Rf2+! 60.Ke5 Rg2 61.Kf5 Kd4

2.d8=Q Rxd8 3.Kxd8 Kf4 4.Ke7 g4 55...Kd2 56.Rd6+ Ke2 57.Re6+ Kf2
5.Kf6 g3 6.Rc4+ Ke3 7.Kf5 g2 8.Rc1 58.Rf6+ Kg2 0–1
Kf2=

2...Rf8+ 3.Ke6 Rd8! 4.Rd5 95

4.Rc8 Rxd7 5.Kxd7 Kf5!= 61...Ke3?

4...Kf4! 5.Rf5+ Kg4 6.Rf7 Kh3 7.Kf5 61...Kg3 62.Rg8+ Kh2 63.Rb8 h4
g4 8.Kf4 g3 9.Kf3 Kh4= 1/2–1/2 64.Rb2+ Kg3 65.Rb3+ Kg4–+

61...Ke3? 62.Rh8?
93
62.Rb8! h4 (62...Ra5+ 63.Kf6 h4
51...Ke7? 64.Rb4=) 63.Rb3+ Kf2 64.Kf5

The game should have ended 62...h4 63.Rb8 Kf3 64.Rf8+ Kg3
peacefully after 51...Kf7 52.Rb7+ 65.Rg8+ Rg4 66.Ra8 h3 67.Kf5 h2
(52.e6+ Kf6 53.Kg2 Kxf5 54.e7 Re1=) 68.Ra3+ Kh4 69.Ra8 Rg5+ 70.Kf4
52...Kf8= h1=Q 0–1

51...Ke7? 52.f6+ Ke6 53.Rb6+ Kf7

96
54.Rb7+ Kg6 55.f7 Kg7 56.e6 Rh1
57.Rb8 1–0 58...Rf3?

Here there was a great idea: 58...Rc4!

94
59.Kb5 Rg4–+

53.Kh4? 58...Rf3? 59.Rh5 Rf6+ 60.Kc5 Kg4

61.Rh1 h5 62.Rg1+ Kh3 63.Rh1+
The path to the draw was not so easy:
Kg4 64.Rg1+ Kh4 65.Rh1+ Kg5
53.Kg3! Ra5 54.Rb6+ Kc3 55.Rc6+ Kd2
66.Rg1+ Kh6 67.Rh1?
56.Rd6+ Ke2 57.Re6+ Kf1 58.Rf6+ Kg1
59.Rc6 The rook is worse off here!
White could play 67.Kd4! h4 68.Ke3
Kh5 69.Rh1 Kg4 70.Rg1+ Kh3 71.Ke2
Kh2 72.Rf1=;
or even 67.Rg2 h4 68.Kd4 Kh5 69.Ke3
h3 70.Rg3 Kh4 71.Rf3=
67...Rf4! 68.Kd5 h4 69.Ke5 Kg5
70.Rg1+ Rg4 71.Rh1 Rg2 72.Ke4
Kg4 73.Ke3 h3 74.Ra1 h2 75.Rh1
Kg3 76.Rf1 Rg1 77.Rf3+ Kg4 0–1
97
56...Rb6+?
Correct was to prepare the classical
method of frontal attack: 56...Rxa6
57.Rxg2 Rb6+ 58.Ka4 Kd7 59.Rc2 Rb8
60.b4 Ra8+ 61.Kb3 (61.Kb5 Rb8+
62.Ka5 Ra8+ 63.Kb6 Rb8+) 61...Rc8!
62.Rxc8 Kxc8 63.Ka4 Kb8! reaching a
variation from the classic game
Fischer-Gligoric, which every player
must know!
56...Rb6+? 57.Ka5 Rxb3 58.Rxg2
Ra3+ 59.Kb6 Rb3+ 60.Kc5 Ra3
Now White has a small but decisive
tactic.
61.a7! Ke6 62.Rg7 Ra1 63.Kc6 Ra2
64.Kb7 Rb2+ 65.Kc8 Ra2 66.Kb8
Rb2+ 67.Rb7 Rh2 68.a8=Q Rh8+
69.Ka7 1–0
98
61.Rb3??
61.Rb8 Kd4 (61...Rd4 62.Rd8+ Ke4
63.Rxd4+ Kxd4 64.Kf2) 62.Kf2 Re2+
63.Kf3 Rc2 64.Rd8+ Kc4 65.Rc8+ Kb5
66.Rd8 d2 67.Ke2
61.Rb3?? Rd4 62.Rb8 d2 63.Rd8+
Ke4 64.Re8+ Kd3 0–1
99
43...Rc4??
43...Ka4=
43...Rc4?? 44.Kf5 Kxb2 45.Ke6 b3
45...Rxf4 46.c7 Rc4 47.Rxb4++–
46.Kd5!
46.Kd6? Rd4+ 47.Kc5 Rxf4 48.c7 Kc3
49.Rc6 Rc4+ 50.Kd6 Rxc6+ 51.Kxc6
b2=
46...Rc1
46...Rc3 47.Kd6 Rd3+ (47...Ka2
48.Ra6+ Kb1 49.c7 b2 50.Kd7 Kc2
51.Rb6 Rd3+ 52.Kc6 Rc3+ 53.Kb7
b1=Q 54.Rxb1 Kxb1 55.c8=Q Rxc8
56.Kxc8 Kc2 57.Kd7 Kd3 58.Ke6+–)
48.Ke6 Rc3 49.Kd7 Rd3+ 50.Kc8 Rf3
(50...Ka2 51.c7 b2 52.Kb8+–) 51.c7
Rxf4 52.Kb7 Rc4 53.Rc6 Rb4+ 54.Ka6
Ra4+ 55.Kb5 Ra8 56.c8=Q+–;
46...Kc3 47.f5ʘ 47...Rd4+ 48.Ke6 Rc4
49.Kxf6 b2 50.Ke5 Rb4 51.Rxb4 (51.c7
b1=Q 52.c8=Q+ Kd2 53.Rd6+ Ke2
54.Qa6+ Ke3 55.Qa7+ Ke2∞) 51...Kxb4
52.c7 b1=Q 53.c8=Q±
47.Kd6 Ka3
Kc4 73.Ke3+ Kc3 74.Ke2 b3 75.Kd1 b2
76.Rg3+ Kc4 77.Kc2
64.Rc3+? Kxb5 65.Rxc7 Rf4+ 66.Ke7
Kb4??

47...Rd1+ 48.Ke7 Rc1 49.Kd7 Rd1+ 66...Rg4! 67.Kf7 Ka4 68.Rc6 b5 69.g7
50.Kc8 Ka3 51.Ra6+ Kb4 52.c7 b2 Rxg7+ 70.Kxg7 b4=
53.Kb8 b1=Q 54.c8=Q+–
67.Rc6 Kb5 68.Rc8 Rg4 69.Kf6 Kb4
48.c7 b2 49.Rb8 1–0 70.g7 b5 71.g8=Q Rxg8 72.Rxg8 Kc3
73.Rc8+ Kd4 74.Rb8 Kc4 75.Ke5 b4
76.Ke4 Kc3 77.Ke3 b3 78.Rc8+ Kb2
100
79.Kd2 Ka2 80.Kc3 b2 81.Ra8+ Kb1
82.Kb3 Kc1 83.Rc8+ Kb1 84.Rc7 Ka1
50...h4?
85.Ra7+ 1–0
The winning moves were 50...Kh3

102
or 50...Kg2

50...h4? 51.Re3+! Kf4 53.Ke3??

51...Kh2 52.Rd3 Rxd3 (52...Re5+ This turned out to be a blunder: the

53.Re3=) 53.Kxd3 g3 54.d7 g2 55.d8=Q best way to draw was 53.Kd1 Kd4
g1=Q 54.Rd6+ Kc3 55.h4

52.Rd3 Rxd3 53.Kxd3 h3 54.d7 h2

53.Ke3?? c3! 54.Ra8 c2 55.Rc8+ Kb4
55.d8=Q h1=Q 56.Qd6+ Kg5
56.Kd3 Kb3 57.Rb8+ Ka2 58.Rc8
57.Qe5+ Kg6 58.Qe6+ 1/2–1/2
Kb2 59.Rb8+ Kc1 60.Kc3 Rg3 61.Rf8
Rxh3 62.Rf6 g5 63.Kd4 0–1
101

103
64.Rc3+?

64.Rg3! Rh8+ 65.Kf7 Kxb5 66.g7 Rd8 88...Rh6??

67.g8=Q Rxg8 68.Rxg8 Kc4 69.Ke6 b5
88...Kh2! 89.Kf2 Rh3 90.Ke2 Rh6
70.Rg4+ Kc5 (70...Kc3 71.Kd5 b4
91.Kf3 Rh4 92.Ke3 Kh3=
72.Rg3+ Kc2 73.Kc4) 71.Ke5 b4 72.Ke4
88...Rh6?? 89.Kf4 Kh4 90.Kf5 Rh5+
91.Kg6 Kg4 92.Kf7+ 1–0
104
55...Kh4?
The same blunder as Bogoljubov
conducted against Alekhine!
55...Kf4
or even 55...Kg4 would have kept the
balance.
55...Kh4? 56.Rb5 Rc1+ 57.Kd5 Rc8
58.b7 Rb8 59.Rb4+?
Winning simply was 59.Kc6 g5 60.Kc7
Rxb7+ 61.Rxb7 g4 62.Kd6 g3 63.Ke5
Kg4 (63...g2 64.Kf4 Kh3 65.Rh7#)
64.Ke4
59...Kh3! 1/2–1/2
105
60...f2
Missing a clever win: 60...Rd4+! 61.Kg5
Kg3!! 62.h5 (62.Rxf3+ Kxf3 63.h5 Rd5+
64.Kg6 Kg4 65.h6 Rd6+ 66.Kg7 Kg5
67.h7 Rd7+ 68.Kg8 Kg6 69.h8=N+ Kf6)
62...Rg4+ 63.Kf6 (63.Kh6 f2 64.Rxf2
Kxf2 65.Kh7 Kf3 66.h6 Kf4 67.Kh8 Kf5
68.h7 Kg6 69.Kg8 Ra4 70.h8=N+ Kf6
71.Kh7 Rg4) 63...Rf4 64.Rxf4 Kxf4
65.h6 f2 66.h7 f1=Q 67.Kg7 (67.h8=Q
Qa1+) 67...Qg2+ 68.Kf8 Qa8+ 69.Kg7
Qb7+ 70.Kg8 Kg5 71.h8=Q Kg6
60...f2 61.h5?
61.Rxf2+! Kxf2 62.h5=
61...Rd4+ 62.Kg5 Rd5 63.Rxd5 f1=Q
64.h6 Qf7 65.Rf5 Qg8+ 66.Kf6 Kh3?
66...Qh7
67.Rh5+ Kg4 68.Rh1?
68.h7!=
68...Qf8+ 69.Kg6 Qd6+ 70.Kg7 Qc7+
71.Kg6 Qc6+ 72.Kg7 Qxh1 73.h7
Qb7+ 74.Kg8 Qc8+ 75.Kg7 Qd7+
76.Kg8 Kg5 77.h8=Q Kg6 0–1
106
90.Rh8?
90.Re5!! g5 (90...h3 91.Kd5 h2 92.Re1
Kf5 93.Rh1 g5 94.Rxh2 Kf4 95.Kd4 Kf3
96.Rh3+ Kf2 97.Ke4 g4 98.Rh2+ Kg1
99.Rb2 g3 100.Kf3) 91.Kd5 h3 92.Ke4
h2 93.Rf5+ Kg6 94.Rf1 g4 95.Kf4
90.Rh8? Kg5 91.Ke5 Kg4 92.Ke4 Kg3
93.Ke3 h3 94.Rg8 h2??
94...Kg2 95.Rxg6+ Kf1
95.Rxg6+ Kh3 96.Kf2 h1=N+ 97.Kf3
Kh2 98.Rg8 1–0
107

37.Kd2?

37.a5 g3 38.Kf3 gxf2 39.Kxf2 Rh1;

37.Kd3! Rd1+ 38.Kc2 Rf1 39.Kxb2

Rxf2+ 40.Kc3=

37.Kd2? Rf1 38.Kc2 Rxf2+ 39.Kb1 g3

40.Rg5 g2 0–1

108

59.Kxc3??

White would be fine after 59.f3 Rg2

60.Kxc3 Rxg3 61.Kd2

59.Kxc3?? Ke4 60.Re1+ Kf3 61.Re5

Rxf2 62.Rxf5+ Kxg3 63.Rg5 Re2
64.Kd4 0–1