[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ending #1"]
[Black "Pawn"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Horowitz, I.A."]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/2k1p3/4P3/2KP4/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "9"]
[EventDate "2001.12.20"]
{The first move is the star move!} 1. d6+ $3 exd6+ {Black can do no better. If
he moves his King, White cleans up with 2.d7, walks his King to f7 with
appropriate timing, and garner Black's Pawn for an easy win.} 2. Kd5 $1 Kc8 $3
{Trap.} 3. Kc6 $3 {Not} (3. Kxd6 $2 {which draws after} Kd8 {... Now the
threat is 4.e7.}) 3... Kd8 4. Kxd6 {Now White has won the Pawn while taking
the opposition, and the latter makes all the difference.} Ke8 5. e7 1-0
[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ending #2"]
[Black "Pawn"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Horowitz, I.A."]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/8/1p6/1Pp5/2K3Pk/7P/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2001.12.20"]
{A hasty appraisal discloses (1) White is a Pawn ahead (2) White has two
protected passed Pawns (3) Black has a protected Pawn and (4) the White King
is quite a distance away from its passed Pawns and will most likely not be
able to assist in their advance. The denouement rests on this last point.} 1.
Kd4 Kg4 2. h4 Kh5 {So far, so good. White has made a little progress.} 3. Ke4
Kg4 4. Ke3 $1 Kh5 5. Kf3 $1 {Editor's note: Triangulation forces king to give
ground while remaining in the c4 pawn's square.} Kg6 6. g4 Kh6 7. h5 Kg5 8. Ke3
Kh6 9. Kf4 Kg7 10. g5 Kh7 11. g6+ Kh6 12. Ke3 $1 Kg7 13. Ke4 Kh6 14. Kf4 Kg7
15. Kg5 $1 c3 16. h6+ Kg8 17. Kf6 c2 18. h7+ Kh8 19. Kf7 c1=Q 20. g7+ Kxh7 21.
g8=Q+ Kh6 22. Qg6# 1-0
[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ending #3"]
[Black "Pawn"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Speelman; Wade; Tisdall"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/6pp/5p2/3k1PP1/5K1P/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "6"]
[EventDate "2001.12.20"]
{This is a very important defensive tool. Sometimes the defender can find a
stalemate defence in more complex positions.} 1. Kg4 {In the actual
Chigorin-Tarrasch game in 1905, White played} (1. gxf6 $4 gxf6 2. Kg4 Ke4 {
and Chigorin resigned in lieu of} 3. Kh5 Kxf5 4. Kh6 Kg4 5. Kxh7 Kh5 $1 (5...
f5 $2 6. Kg6 $1 $11)) 1... Ke4 2. g6 $1 h6 3. Kh5 $1 {and Black has no way of
proceeding since} Kxf5 {would be stalemate!} 1/2-1/2
[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ending #4"]
[Black "Pawn"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Chernev, Irving"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3k4/2p5/1pKp4/p2P4/2P5/P7/1P6/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "25"]
[EventDate "2001.12.20"]
{(study by Davidson) This ending has actually been "cooked" by IM Jovan
Petronic, and his suggested defense (2...Kc8!) is perhaps as brilliant as the
attempt made by Davidson.} 1. c5 $1 {THE right moment for the breaktrough.
Black must not be given time for 1...Kc8, consolidating his position.} bxc5 {If
} (1... dxc5 2. d6 cxd6 3. Kxd6 {and all Black's pawns will fall.}) 2. Kb5 Kd7
(2... Kc8 $1 {IM Jovan Petronic} 3. a4 $4 (3. Kxa5 c6 4. dxc6 d5 5. Kb5 d4 6.
Kc4 Kc7 $1 $11) 3... Kb7 $19 (3... Kd7 $19) 4. Kxa5 c6 5. dxc6+ Kxc6 6. b4 d5
7. b5+ Kb7 8. b6 c4 $19 (8... d4 $19)) 3. a4 $1 {Not at once} (3. Kxa5 {
as after} c6 {Black has counterplay.}) 3... Kc8 {Whereas if now} (3... c6+ {
(instead of 3...Kc8)} 4. dxc6+ Kc7 5. b3 {and Black is helpless.}) 4. Kxa5 Kb7
5. Kb5 Ka7 6. Kc6 Kb8 7. a5 Kc8 8. a6 Kb8 9. a7+ Kxa7 {The rest is no strain
on White.} 10. Kxc7 Ka6 11. Kxd6 Kb5 12. b3 Kb4 13. Kc6 1-0
[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ending #5"]
[Black "Pawn"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Chernev, Irving"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/4K1pp/8/8/8/8/k6P/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "15"]
[EventDate "2001.12.20"]
{(study by Grigoriev, 1931)} 1. h4 $1 {The obvious attack on Black's Pawns
would lead to the following:} (1. Kf7 g5 2. Kg7 Kb3 3. Kxh7 Kc4 4. Kg6 g4 5.
Kf5 Kd5 6. Kxg4 Ke6 7. Kg5 Kf7 {and Black reaches h8 with an automatic draw
against the Rook Pawn.}) 1... h5 ({If} 1... h6 2. h5 Kb3 3. Kf7 {wins at once})
({or if} 1... Kb3 2. Kf7 Kc4 3. Kxg7 Kd5 4. Kxh7 Ke6 5. Kg6 Ke7 6. Kg7 {
keeps the King at arm's length and wins. Now comes the point of the position})
2. Kf8 $1 {This move keeps g8 open so that after 2...g5 3.hxg5 White's Pawn
will Queen with check. The natural continuation} (2. Kf7 {allows} g5 3. hxg5 h4
4. g6 h3 {and both sides Queen with a drawn result.}) 2... g6 3. Ke7 $1 {
Here too if} (3. Kf7 {or}) (3. Kg7 {the reply} g5 4. hxg5 h4 {leads to a draw.
The move actually made keeps the square g8 open for White's Pawn to Queen with
check.}) 3... g5 {Or} (3... Kb3 4. Kf6 {and White captures both Pawns and wins.
}) 4. hxg5 h4 5. g6 h3 6. g7 h2 7. g8=Q+ Ka3 8. Qg2 1-0
[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ending #6"]
[Black "Knight"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Speelman; Wade; Tisdall"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/K6p/8/8/4k3/N7/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "11"]
[EventDate "2001.12.20"]
{(study by Grigoriev 1932)} 1. Nb4 h5 2. Nc6 {Not} (2. Nd5+ $2 Kf3 {(diagonal
opposition).}) 2... Ke4 (2... h4 3. Ne5 h3 (3... Kf4 4. Ng6+) 4. Ng4+ {and the
knight succeeds in halting the pawn on the sixth rank.}) 3. Na5 $3 {Visually
paradoxical, but since f1 is now the best square for the knight, easy to
understand.} h4 4. Nc4 $1 {Black cannot prevent Nd2-f1 or Ne5-g4. Not} (4. Nb3
$2 Ke3 {erecting a king barrier. Similar to diagonal opposition, the king
negates the knight's two most active moves.}) 4... h3 5. Nd2+ Ke3 6. Nf1+ {
(=) Another example of how the knight, despite its inherent clumsiness, can
prove agile if it can create a dual route to a key defensive square.} 1/2-1/2
[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ending #7"]
[Black "Knight"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Speelman; Wade; Tisdall"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/5k2/8/4PP2/5KP1/8/5n2/8 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2001.12.20"]
{(Mohring-Pribyl, Hradec Kralove 1977) A Practical example of the Averbakh fix
of the Fine rule. As Averbakh pointed out, all pawns need to reach the fifth
rank to guarantee a win. Fine's rule of two pawns is not enough, as
demonstrated by Averbakh in the example from practical play.} 1... Nd3+ 2. Ke4
Nf2+ 3. Kf4 Nd3+ 4. Ke4 Nf2+ 5. Kf3 Nh3 $1 {Or} (5... Nd3 6. e6+ Ke7 7. g5 $18)
6. Ke3 Ng5 7. Kd4 Ke8 8. Kd3 Kf7 9. Ke3 Nh3 10. Kf3 Ng5+ 11. Kg3 Kg7 12. Kf4
Nh3+ 13. Ke3 Kf7 14. Kd4 Ke7 15. Kd5 Nf4+ 16. Kc4 Nh3 $1 {Black defends in
accordance with the rule.} 17. Kd4 Ng5 18. Kd5 Nh7 19. Ke4 Ng5+ 20. Kf4 Nh3+
21. Kf3 Ng5+ 22. Kg3 Kf7 23. e6+ Kf6 {Now the blockade suffices to hold.} 24.
Kh4 Ne4 25. Kh5 Nd6 26. Kh6 Ne8 27. Kh5 Nd6 {To stop the e- and g-pawns (from
e8) if White tries to break through with g5.} 28. Kh4 Ne4 1/2-1/2
[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ending #8"]
[Black "Knight"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Speelman; Wade; Tisdall"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5k2/p1p3p1/1p5p/3p4/2nP3P/2P2N2/P4PP1/1K6 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2001.12.20"]
{(Toth-Miles, Reggio Emilia 1984) Here White's fractured queenside pawn
structure, and weak-c4 square give Black a positional advantage.} 1... Ke7 2.
Kc2 Kf6 3. g4 $2 {Better was} (3. Nh2 {intending g3,f3 according to Miles.})
3... g6 $1 {Planning ...h5 creating more white weaknesses.} 4. Kd3 {
Alternatively: a)} (4. Nd2 h5 5. Nxc4 dxc4 6. f3 Ke6 $1 {intending ...b5, ...
g5!-+ (Miles)}) ({b)} 4. Nh2 h5 5. f3 Ne3+ {intending ...Ng2xh4; the knight is
only temporarily out of play on h4.}) 4... h5 5. gxh5 gxh5 6. Ng5 Kf5 7. Nh7
Nd6 8. f3 Nf7 9. Ke3 Nh8 $1 10. Ng5 ({Or a)} 10. Kf2 Ng6 11. Kg3 Nf4 12. Kf2
Ne6 {trapping the knight on h7.}) ({b)} 10. Nf8 Ng6 11. Nxg6 Kxg6 12. Kf4 Kf6
$19 {The white king will have to give ground and Black can combine a king
advance with creating an outside passed pawn on the queenside.}) 10... Ng6 $19
11. Nh3 c6 $1 {Zugzwang.} 12. Nf2 Nxh4 13. Nd3 Ng6 14. Nb4 Ne7 15. Kf2 a5 16.
Nd3 Ng6 17. Kg3 Nf4 $1 18. Ne5 ({Or} 18. Nxf4 h4+ {(-+)}) 18... Ne2+ 19. Kh4
Nxc3 20. Nxc6 Nxa2 21. Ne7+ Ke6 0-1
[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ending #9"]
[Black "Knight"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Speelman; Wade; Tisdall"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/4n3/4P3/8/8/4n1k1/8/6K1 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "2001.12.20"]
{(N+N+P)} 1... Kf3 2. Kh1 Kg4 3. Kh2 Kh4 4. Kh1 Kh3 5. Kg1 Kg3 {Now it is
White to move and the Black king can force it's way to f2.} 6. Kh1 Kf2 7. Kh2
Ng2 8. Kh3 Kf3 9. Kh2 Nf4 {Completing the transfer of the knight. But before
the decisive action, Black must again manoeuver to pass the move to White.} 10.
Kh1 Ke2 $1 ({Not} 10... Kf2 11. Kh2 {and Black has got the tempi wrong.}) 11.
Kg1 Ke1 12. Kh1 Kf1 13. Kh2 Kf2 14. Kh1 Nf5 15. e7 Ng3+ 16. Kh2 Nf1+ 17. Kh1
Ne2 18. e8=Q Neg3# 0-1
[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ending #10"]
[Black "Bishop"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Horowitz, I.A."]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5K2/k7/4P1p1/8/8/8/4b3/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "17"]
[EventDate "2001.12.20"]
{By all laws of the Medes and the Persians and of chess, White is hopelessly
lost in the diagrammed position. His King cannot stop the Black Pawn from
queening, while Black's Bishop can stop White's Pawn. Yes it is all an
illusion.} 1. Ke7 $3 {How this move affects theissue is decidedly unclear. The
King even blocks the advance of its own Pawn. So much for apperances. White
now threatens 2.Kf6 which wins Black's Pawn, for 2...Bd3 is countered by 2.e7.
Black's reply is forced.} g5 2. Kd6 {(!!!) This move raises a question: Is
White a member of the Dodgers? For home plate is in the opposite direction.
But White is really on the right track, threatening 3.Ke5 to approach Black's
Pawn. That Pawn must scamper.} g4 3. e7 Bb5 4. Kc5 {(!!!) The secret is out.
By attacking the Bishop, White gains a precious tempo. If the Bishop is not
saved, White can queen. If it is then White's King is in the "square" of
Black's Pawn and makes a timely return to catch it.} Bd7 5. Kd4 Kb6 ({Or} 5...
g3 6. Ke3 g2 7. Kf2) 6. Ke4 Kc5 7. Kf4 Kd6 8. e8=Q Bxe8 9. Kxg4 {A neat object
lesson on how the shortest distance between two point may not always be a
straight line in chess. If you really absorbed that lesson you could have
solved this ending at the outset.} 1/2-1/2
[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ending #11"]
[Black "Bishop"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Horowitz, I.A."]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2KB4/1P6/2k5/8/8/8/7b/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "13"]
[EventDate "2001.12.20"]
{(study by Centurini 1847) When Bishops are of the same colors, that is, they
control the same colored square (in the digram, black), an extra Pawn is
sufficient to decide the game. First glance here gives the impression of a
draw. For Black's Bishop controld the queening square of the Pawn, and there
doesn't seem to be a way of driving the Bishop from the diagonal. But there is!
} 1. Bh4 Kb6 {Black's move is forced, for White was threatening Bf2-a7-b8
challenging the Black Bishop and driving it off the diagonal. Then Black has
no defense: e.g. (Place White's Bishop at b8),} (1... Bg1 2. Bg3 Ba7 3. Bc7 $1
{and White must queen perforce.}) 2. Bf2+ Ka6 3. Bc5 $1 {The point of this
move will become clear later on. Now, if Black could pass, White could make no
headway. But Black is in zugzwang: he must move.} Bg3 {Or other squares on the
diagonal.} 4. Be7 {Threatening 5.Bd8, followed by 6.Bc7, etc.} Kb6 {To prevent
that threat.} 5. Bd8+ Kc6 {Reaching almost the same position as the diagram,
with one vital difference. Black's Bishop is now at g3 instead of h2.} 6. Bh4
$1 {Thus White le to challenge the Bishop and swing over to the other side by
the gain of a tempo.} Bd6 7. Bf2 {As previously mentioned, there is no defense
to Ba7-b8, etc.} 1-0
[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ending #12"]
[Black "Bishop"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Speelman; Wade; Tisdall"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/8/8/5ppp/6k1/8/5BK1 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "15"]
[EventDate "2001.12.20"]
{(study by Streltsov, correcting Averbakh 1962)} 1. Bb5 f3 ({or} 1... h3 2. Bd7
h2+ 3. Kh1 f3 {and} 4. Bxg4 (4. Bc6 $2 Kf2 5. Bb7 Ke1 $1 (5... g3 $2 6. Bxf3)
6. Ba6 (6. Kxh2 Kf2) (6. Bc6 f2 7. Bb5 f1=Q+ 8. Bxf1 Kxf1 9. Kxh2 Kf2 10. Kh1
Kg3 11. Kg1 Kh3 12. Kh1 g3 13. Kg1 g2) 6... g3 7. Bb7 g2+ 8. Kxh2 Kf2) (4. Bc8
f2 5. Ba6) 4... Kxg4 5. Kxh2 Kf4 6. Kg1 Ke3 $19) 2. Bd7 Kf4 3. Be6 g3 ({Or}
3... h3 4. Bd7 Kg3 5. Be6 f2+ (5... h2+ 6. Kh1 f2 7. Bc4 $11 {White is only
surviving this ending due the fact that one of Black's pawns is a rook's pawn,
and the corner affords extra stalemate defences. Even with the pawn on g3
White can shuttle with the bishop - even ... Kxf1 is stalemate}) 6. Kf1 h2 7.
Bd5 $11) 4. Bd7 (4. Bh3 $1 {is most accurate - see the main line.}) 4... Ke3 5.
Be6 Ke2 6. Bh3 $1 {Streltsov.} (6. Bg4 g2 7. Bh5 h3 8. Bg4 h2+ 9. Kxh2 Kf2 {
winning was Averbakh's original solution.}) 6... Ke1 7. Bf1 f2+ 8. Kh1 $1 $11
1/2-1/2
[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ending #13"]
[Black "Bishop"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Speelman; Wade; Tisdall"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/5kp1/4p3/2K1P1P1/p7/1b6/8/2B5 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "17"]
[EventDate "2001.12.20"]
{(Tal-Polugaevsky, USSR Ch 1974)} 1... Bc2 {Also winning is} (1... Kg6 2. Kd6
Kf5 {(zugzwang)} 3. Ke7 g6 4. Kf7 Bc2 $19 {(Polugaevsky)}) 2. Kd6 Bf5 3. Ba3
Kg6 4. Bc1 Kh5 (4... Bg4 {and ...Kf5, ...g6 wins more easily according to
Polugaevsky.}) 5. Ke7 g6 6. Kd7 Kg4 ({Or} 6... a3 7. Bxa3 Kxg5 $19 {
(Polugaevsky).}) 7. Kd6 Kg3 8. Kc5 Kf3 9. Kd4 $6 {A better try was} (9. Kc6 $1
Kg4 10. Kd6 a3 11. Bxa3 Kxg5 12. Bc1+ Kh4 13. Kc5 g5 14. Kd4 g4 15. Ke3 Kg3 16.
Bd2 Kh2 $19) 9... Kg4 {White resigned in view of ... Bb1, ...Kf5 when he will
soon be forced to surender a second pawn due to zugswang.} 0-1
[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ending #14"]
[Black "Bishop/Knight"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Speelman; Wade; Tisdall"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5b2/8/p1b1kp1p/2pNpNpP/2P1P1P1/8/P3KP2/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "21"]
[EventDate "2001.12.20"]
{(Geller-Ivkov, Budva 1967) A typical good position for the knights, with many
pawns and a blockaded structure that leaves one of the bishops bad. This in
turn handicaps the good bishop which cannot be exchanged, removing the usually
powerful option of reaching good bishop versus vs. knight.} 1. Kd2 Ba4 2. f3
Bc6 3. Nc3 {Preventing possible counterplay with ...Ba4.} Bd7 4. Kc2 Be8 5. Kb3
Bd7 6. Nd5 Bc6 7. Ka3 {Black is, not surprisingly, in zugawang. Of course not}
(7. Nc7+ Kd7 8. Nxa6 $4 {when} Bb7 {traps the knight.}) 7... a5 {Also
insufficient are} (7... Bd7 8. Nc7+ {(+-)}) (7... Be8 8. Nc7+ {(+-)}) (7... Bb7
8. Ka4 $18) 8. Kb3 Kd7 ({Or} 8... Bd7 9. Nc7+ Kf7 10. Nb5 $18) 9. Nxf6+ Ke6 10.
Nd5 {10.Ng8 or 10.Nh7 are also possible.} Kd7 11. Nc3 {After} (11. Nc3 Kc7 12.
Nb5+ Kb6 13. Nbd6 {and Nf7, white wins more material.}) 1-0
[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ending #15"]
[Black "Bishop/Knight"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Speelman; Wade; Tisdall"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6k1/p4ppp/1p2nn2/1P1p4/3Pp3/P3P3/BB3PPP/6K1 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "2001.12.20"]
{(Botvinnik-Furman, Training Game 1961)} 1... Kf8 ({Or} 1... Nc7 2. a4 a6 3. a5
bxa5 (3... Nd7 4. bxa6 Nxa6 5. Bxd5) 4. b6 Nb5 5. b7 Nd7 6. Bxd5) 2. a4 Ke7 3.
Ba3+ Kd7 4. f3 Nc7 5. Bf8 g6 6. Kf2 Ke6 7. Kg3 Nd7 8. Bh6 f5 9. Bf4 Ne8 10.
fxe4 fxe4 11. Kh4 Nd6 12. Bxd6 Kxd6 13. Kg5 Ke6 14. h3 Nf6 15. Kh6 Nh5 {
Planning to start counterplay with ...Nf4!} 16. Bb3 $1 Ng3 17. Kxh7 Kf5 18.
Bxd5 g5 19. Kg7 g4 20. hxg4+ Kxg4 21. Be6+ 1-0
[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ending #16"]
[Black "Rook"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Speelman; Wade; Tisdall"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/8/3R4/2K5/6pp/k7/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "15"]
[EventDate "2001.12.20"]
{(study by Shapiro 1914) Despite the two pawns on the sixth, White actually
wins here since he can create threats against the black king and sometimes win
a pawn with check.} 1. Rd2+ Kb1 ({If} 1... Ka3 2. Rd3+ {and Rxg3}) ({or} 1...
Ka1 2. Kb3 {and Rd1 mate!}) 2. Kc3 $1 Kc1 ({If} 2... h2 3. Rd1+ Ka2 4. Rh1 $1)
({or} 2... g2 3. Rd1+ Ka2 4. Rg1 $1 {in each case with decisive zugzwang.}) 3.
Ra2 Kd1 (3... Kb1 4. Re2 g2 (4... h2 5. Re1+ Ka2 6. Rh1) 5. Re1+ Ka2 6. Rg1 {
and wins.}) 4. Kd3 Kc1 5. Ke3 $1 h2 ({Or} 5... g2 6. Kf2 {etc.}) 6. Ra1+ Kb2 7.
Rh1 $1 Kc3 8. Kf3 1-0
[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ending #17"]
[Black "Rook"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Speelman; Wade; Tisdall"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/8/8/5pk1/6p1/6Kp/5R2 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "4"]
[EventDate "2001.12.20"]
{(study by A. Sahini, 1634) White to play draws with:} 1. Kh1 f3 2. Rxf3 $1
Kxf3 {stalemate! From the starting position, Black to play wins after 1...f3+
2.Kh1 (2.Rxf3 h1(Q)+ 3.Kxh1 Kxf3 and wins.) 2...g2+ 3.Kxh2 gxf1(N)+ or gxf1(B)
and wins! Not gxf1(Q)?? or gxf1(R)?? stalemate!} 1/2-1/2
[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ending #18"]
[Black "Rook"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Speelman; Wade; Tisdall"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4k3/R7/8/3KP3/8/8/8/7r w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "12"]
[EventDate "2001.12.20"]
{(study by Ed. Lasker)} 1. Kd6 {White is threatening to win with 2.Ra8+ Kf7 3.
e6+ Kf6 4. Rf8+ Kg7 5.e7. There is in fact only one good defence.} Re1 $3 {
This move stops the e-pawn's advance after 2.Ra8+ Kf7. Alternatively:} ({a)}
1... Rh6+ $2 2. e6 {and wins}) ({b)} 1... Rd1+ $2 {(this seems plausible but
in fact the rook is misplaced on d1)} 2. Ke6 {and} Kf8 (2... Kd8 3. Ra8+ Kc7 4.
Ke7 Rh1 5. e6) 3. Ra8+ Kg7 4. Ke7 Rd2 5. e6) 2. Ke6 {As mentioned above} (2.
Ra8+ Kf7 {2.Ra8+ Kf7 gets nowhere since the back rook indirectly controls e6.
Now the black king faces a vital choice. Which way should he run? Dr. Lasker
pointed out that the black king should always fo to the "short side of the
pawn." There is a very important general principle here. Thknk of the board as
cut into two by the file of White's pawn. Then there is a "long side"
consisting of the a, b, c, d files, and a "short side" consisting of the f, g,
h files. As we shall see in a moment, Black is going to have to defend by
checking from the side with his rook. As always in rook endings, the rook
require some space in which to operate. Therefore, Black's king goes to the
short side leaving the rook the long side for its checks.}) 2... Kf8 $1 3. Ra8+
Kg7 4. Re8 Ra1 $1 {Threatening flank checks.} 5. Rd8 (5. Kd7 Ra7+ 6. Kc6 Ra6+
7. Kb7 Ra1 $11) 5... Re1 $1 6. Re8 Ra1 1/2-1/2
[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ending #19"]
[Black "Rook"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Speelman; Wade; Tisdall"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4K3/4P1k1/8/8/8/8/3r4/5R2 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "13"]
[EventDate "2001.12.20"]
{(study by Lucena) English-speaking chess players always refers to this and
similiar positions as the "Lucena position" and it is spuriously supposed to
have been included by him in his manual in 1497! Together with the Philidor
position - form the fundamental theory of rook and pawn against rook.} 1. Rg1+
Kh7 {White has two winning methods... this is the "bridge" technique.} 2. Rg4
$1 {White wishes to interpose the rook in order to terminate Black's checks.}
Rd1 3. Kf7 Rf1+ 4. Ke6 Re1+ 5. Kf6 Rf1+ 6. Ke5 Re1+ 7. Re4 {By playing k to
the fourth rank, White successfully "built his bridge," i.e., arranged to
interpose the rook.} 1-0
[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ending #20"]
[Black "Rook"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Speelman; Wade; Tisdall"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1K6/1P1k4/1P6/8/8/r7/6R1/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "7"]
[EventDate "2001.12.20"]
{(study by Doras, 1902) White cannot win by the normal method of building a
bridge (Lucena position) since the b6 pawn obstructs the king. But there is a
way:} 1. Rd2+ Ke7 2. Rd6 $3 {The only way to win.} Rc3 ({If} 2... Kxd6 3. Kc8
Rc3+ 4. Kd8 {wins!}) ({If} 2... Ra1 3. Kc7 Rc1+ 4. Rc6) 3. Rc6 $3 Rxc6 4. Ka7 {
and wins.} 1-0
[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ending #21"]
[Black "Queen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Speelman; Wade; Tisdall"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1Q6/8/8/8/8/4K3/6k1/7q w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "13"]
[EventDate "2001.12.20"]
{These occur mostly as a result of both sides queening a pawn. They should
normally be a draw, but exceptions occur when there are mating possibilities.}
1. Qb2+ Kg3 2. Qg7+ Kh3 3. Qh6+ Kg2 4. Qg5+ Kf1 5. Qf4+ Kg2 6. Qg4+ Kh2 (6...
Kf1 7. Qe2+ Kg1 8. Qf2#) 7. Kf2 {and wins.} 1-0
[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ending #22"]
[Black "Queen"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Speelman; Wade; Tisdall"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "7K/6P1/8/8/1k6/6q1/2Q5/8 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "5"]
[EventDate "2001.12.20"]
{(study by Lolli, 1763)} 1... Qh4+ 2. Qh7 Qd8+ 3. g8=Q (3. g8=R {is the same})
({if} 3. g8=N Qd4+ 4. Qg7 Qxg7+) 3... Qf6+ {draw!! (Editor's note: Black has
endless checks on the a8-h8, a1-h8, or h1-h8 lines. Amazing!)} 1/2-1/2
[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ending #23"]
[Black "Queen"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Speelman; Wade; Tisdall"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/5pk1/6p1/7p/2q4P/6P1/3Q3K/8 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2001.12.20"]
{(Ciocaltea-Unzicker, Moscow 1956) The black king is brought into the white
half with ideas of mating nets, cross-checks, the further weakening of the
white pawns, and of being well-placed to exploit the exchange of queens.} 1...
Kf6 2. Qd8+ Ke6 3. Qe8+ Kf5 4. Qd7+ Ke4 5. Qe7+ Kd3 6. Qd7+ Kc2 7. Qe7 Kd2 8.
Qd7+ Ke2 9. Qe7+ Qe6 10. Qb7 Kf2 11. Qg2+ Ke1 12. Qg1+ Ke2 13. Qg2+ Kd3 14.
Qf3+ Kd2 15. Qf4+ Ke2 16. Qc7 f5 17. Qc2+ Kf3 18. Qg2+ Ke3 19. Qb2 Qc4 20. Qa3+
Qd3 21. Qc5+ Kf3 22. Qc6+ Qe4 23. Qc3+ Kf2 24. Qc5+ Qe3 25. Qc2+ Qe2 26. Qc6
Kf1+ 27. Kh3 Kg1 28. Qc5+ Qf2 29. Qe3 f4 {Avoiding stalemate and reaching
after 30.Qc1+ Qf1+ an easily won pawn ending.} 0-1
[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ending #24"]
[Black "Queen/Rook"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Speelman; Wade; Tisdall"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/p7/7k/8/8/5R2/1KP5/4q3 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "28"]
[EventDate "2001.12.20"]
{(Timman-Nunn, Wijk aan Zee, 1982) An example of a good fortress is
Timman-Nunn up to and including move 13.} 1. Ra3 Qb4+ 2. Ka2 Qc5 3. Kb2 Kg5 4.
Rb3 Kf4 5. Rd3 Ke4 6. Ra3 a5 7. Rd3 a4 {Reaching the position in a study by
Grigoriev. To draw White needs to keep the queen out of c1 and a1 and to
maintain the rook on the rank using a3 and d3.} 8. Ra3 Qb4+ 9. Ka2 Kd5 10. Rd3+
Kc5 11. Ra3 Qc4+ 12. Kb2 Kb4 13. Rd3 Qe4 14. Ka2 $4 {14.Ra3 holds.} a3 $1 ({
After} 14... a3 $1 15. Rb3+ ({or} 15. Kb1 Qe1+ 16. Ka2 Qc1 17. Rb3+ Ka4 {
winning.}) 15... Kc4 16. Rd3 Qe2 $19) 0-1
[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ending #25"]
[Black "Queen/Rook"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Chernev, Irving"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3Q4/kr6/2K5/8/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "5"]
[EventDate "2001.12.20"]
{The safest place for the Rook, in endings of Queen against Rook, is close to
his King. Once out in the open, the Rook is no match for the fleet-footed
Queen. In the diagrammed position, the Rook is in no danger. White's object
therefore is to force the Rook away from the protection of the King, to any
other square in fact, where it will be exposed to the threat of capture. White
accomplished this object by playing three moves which bring about the position
in the diagram, but with Black to move.} 1. Qd4+ Ka8 {The King must move to
the last rank, since} (1... Ka6 {allows} 2. Qa4#) 2. Qh8+ Ka7 {Again forced,
the reply to} (2... Rb8 3. Qa1#) 3. Qd8 {Now white has the desired postion,
with Black to move. (Editor's note: Black cannot avoid exposing himself to
mate or the loss of his rook. Try it out for yourself!)} 1-0