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Learning Chess (#05), by A.J. Goldsby I
In the first lesson, I basically laid down some basics and introduced you to my method of teaching. In the second lesson, we learned the groundwork of an entire opening system. In the third lesson, I tried to introduce you to tactics. In the last lesson, we covered the area of positional chess and some simple nuts-and-bolts of strategy. Now - in this lesson - we will attempt to cover some of the fundamentals of the endgame.
I cannot stress enough the importance of studying the endgame. If you have not studied this phase of the game, you will be a poor 'closer,' and unable to finish an opponent off. Do not think that you can discover intricate winning techniques on your own - all the great masters of the last 150 years have devoted a great deal of time to studying the endgame.
King and Pawn endings are the most basic of all the endings, mastering the fundamentals of these endgames is a requirement - and THE KEY - to the entire endgame phase. (I always tell all my students that every position has to be evaluated ... relative to the ending. A good exercise - during a game - is to mentally strip away ALL of the pieces of a position, leaving only the King and Pawns. "Who would win this ending?" is a question that you should constantly be asking yourself.)
And one of the most important concepts in K+P endgames is that of: "The OPPOSITION."
I define the opposition is any time that the two kings face each other on a straight line, with an odd number of squares between them. This line-up can occur on a file, a diagonal, or even a rank. The opposition can be used for many things, offence, defence, waiting, etc.
Now lets take a look at our first example: (White to move.)
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1.Ke5,
White immediately takes up the opposition, facing down the enemy king. Black is
now forced to give ground. (The second player does not want to
willingly give up territory, but is slowly forced back with a series of accurate
moves by White.)
1...Kf7;
This is forced, any other move loses instantly.
[ Not 1...Kd7??; as 2.Kf6 ("+/-") and White will win both of Black's Pawns. ]
2.Kd6,
I call this maneuver, "by-passing." (Or
outflanking.)
2...Kg8,
Again ... Black has few good choices here.
[ Or 2...Kg7; 3.Ke7, (lateral opposition) with the same result. ]
3.Ke6,
And this is opposition on a diagonal.
3...Kg7;
Black has few good choices, and tries to give up as little ground as
necessary.
[ 3...Kf8?; 4.Kf6, "+/-" ]
4.Ke7,
The lateral opposition, now Black is forced back.
4...Kg8;
Or if the King goes to h7, then Kf7 simply transposes.
5.Kf6 Kh7;
6.Kf7,
Now the situation has changed radically since the first diagram. (Take a
look.)
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Black
is about to be pushed back, there simply is no defense from here.
(In
fact, Black only has one legal move in this position!)
6...Kh8;
7.Kxg6 Kg8; 8.Kxh5,
"+/-"
Black has lost both of his Pawns, the win is fairly routine from here.
(For
more on this ending, click here.)
The opposition can also be used for blocking or for defence, here is just one example.
(Black to play in this position)
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Many of my students have <wrongly> assumed that Black might be losing. However, with correct play, holding this position is no real problem for the second player.
1...Kc7; ('!')
Black grabs the "distant opposition."
2.Kc4,
White naturally brings his King up.
[ Or 2.d5 Kd6; 3.Kd4 Kd7; 4.Ke5 Ke7, "=" ]
2...Kc6; 3.d5+ Kd6; 4.Kd4,
Any other move, and White loses his Pawn.
4...Kd7; 5.Kc3,
White tries to be tricky.
5...Kc7!; 6.Kd3 Kd7!;
7.Ke3 Ke7; 8.Ke4 Kd7!;
9.Kd4 Kd6; 10.Ke4 Kd7;
11.Ke5 Ke7; 12.d6+,
White tires of all the messing {dancing} around, and decides to get serious.
12...Kd7; 13.Kd5 Kd8!;
Black MUST go straight back here. (If he does anything else, he loses.) The reason that Black must do this is that so it will not matter what side the White King comes around the Pawn, Black can regain the opposition.
[ Not 13...Ke8??; 14.Ke6 Kd8; 15.d7 Kc7; 16.Ke7, and White wins. "+/-" ]
14.Ke6 Ke8;
Black - once more - has the opposition, and the best that White can do from here is
to draw.
15.d7+ Kd8; 16.Kd6,
Stalemate. (Draw.)
[A basic ending that shows good technique and the proper use of the opposition by Black.]
As can be seen from the above K+P endgame examples, this type of ending can be much trickier than it might first appear. In practical examples, the play can be quite complex, as the following example clearly shows.
(White to move here.)
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The following - as best as I can remember - is from a postal game that I played back in the (late?) 1970's. I was White, and one of the best {and most highly rated} players in the U.S. was playing Black.
I had engaged in a bit of playfulness, retreating my King, in the hopes that my opponent would be lured into my trap. Either he under-estimated me, (I was rated only about 1200 in correspondence chess at the time.); or he simply got carried away.
57.b4!! Kxh3; 58.b5! Kg2;
59.c4! h5;
When I have shown this position to several of my students, they have normally responded that they thought that White is quite lost here.
60.c5 h4; 61.b6!,
The breakthrough that I had been planning on ... many, many moves in advance.
61...cxb6; 62.cxb6 h3; ('!?')
Black decides he has been tricked ... he even said something to this effect on his postcard! So
seeing that I am about to get a Queen, Black sets himself the task of promoting his
own Pawn without further delay.
63.bxa7 h2; 64.a8Q h1Q;
65.Qb7! Qf1+; 66.Kd2!,
I don't want to {willingly} walk into any checks here.
66...Qf2+; 67.Kd3 Qxf3+;
68.Kd4 Qd1+; 69.Kc5 Qc2+; 70.Kd6 Qd3+;
71.Ke7! Qa3+; 72.Kf7 Qh3!;
A tricky move ... hoping that I will make a mistake.
73.Kg7!,
This prevents a Queen check on the h7-square by Black.
[ Not 73.a7?? Qh7+; 74.Kxf6 Qxb7; "-/+" and Black is winning here. ]
73...Qh4!?;
I don't think it matters what move Black played here.
74.e5+! Kh2; 75.exf6 g4;
76.a7! Qg5+; 77.Kf7 Qh5+; 78.Ke6! Qe8+;
79.Kd5 Qg8+;
80.Kd4 Qd8+; 81.Ke3! Qxf6;
82.a8Q, ("+/-")
And Black soon resigned ... after playing just a few more moves.
This ending featured many of the qualities of advanced Pawn play; earlier, there had been a terrific duel of the opposition - I basically <willingly> retreated, in the hopes that my Q-side majority would eventually wind up favoring my side of the board. The Q+P ending was quite instructive as well. It was also one of the most difficult K+P endings that I have ever played.
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For more on endings, especially K+P endgames, click here or here.
OK, now you have been acquainted with at least the basics of K+P play, especially if you have checked out all the associated links. I really do not want to delve into it here, but do you know what, "The Lucena Position" is? (more) Or can you "hold the fort" with ... "The Philidor Position?" (more) These are both endings that you should study carefully and repeatedly. All knowledge and expertise in R+P endgames are built around these two positions.
OK, now for the main course!
We will examine - in some detail - an ending that I just recently played.
(Take a look at the position below, it is White to move here.)
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This
is the position after sixteen moves have been made.
[Replay
the whole game.]
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A.J.
Goldsby I (2237) - Momir Radovic (1831)
[B07]
GA State Championship / Premier
Section
Emory University, Atlanta (Round #3); /
01,05,2005.
The
first 16 moves were:
1.e4 d6; 2.d4 e5; 3.Nf3 Bg4; 4.dxe5 Nd7; 5.exd6 Bxd6; 6.Nc3 Ngf6; 7.Be2 Qe7; 8.h3 Bh5;
9.0-0 0-0; 10.Bg5 Rfe8; 11.Re1 Bb4; 12.e5 Bxc3; 13.bxc3 Bxf3; [
This is nearly forced, after 13...Nxe5?; 14.Nxe5! Qxe5; 15.Bxf6! Bxe2; 16.Bxe5 Bxd1; 17.Raxd1,
("+/-"); White has won a piece. ] 14.exf6 Bxe2; 15.fxe7 Bxd1;
16.Raxd1 Nc5; {We have reached the position in
the diagram - given above.}
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It is White to move here, how should the first player proceed?
17.Be3!,
This is the best way for White to proceed, it is best to drive off the Black Knight, but keep the
White Bishop in the center of the chess board here. (Fritz greatly prefers Bc1, but as many GM's have
repeatedly noted; computers are extremely poor technicians. To play a position like this, it is best
to have a good, overall PLAN!)
[ Or 17.Bc1!? f6; 18.Ba3 Na6; 19.Rd7 Kf7; 20.c4, '±'
White has a big edge, but there is no clear weakness
for White to play against. ]
17...Ne6;
{Box?}
This is very closed to being forced here, other moves are much worse.
[ Not wise is: 17...Na4?!; 18.Rd7 Nxc3;
Otherwise, ...Na4 is pointless.
19.Rxc7 Nd5;
Taking the Pawn on a2 is extremely dangerous,
perhaps overly so.( Foolhardy would be: 19...Nxa2?; 20.Bd2! a5;
21.Ra1 Nb4; 22.Bxb4 axb4; 23.Rxa8 Rxa8;
24.Rd7! Re8; 25.Rd8, ("+/-")
and Black is helpless. )20.Rxb7 Rxe7; 21.Rxe7 Nxe7; 22.c4 Nc6;
23.Rb1 Rc8; 24.Rb7, '±' and Fritz already
considers Black's position lost. ]
18.Rd7,
(Pig on the loose!)
The Rook on the seventh rank is a basic idea in these types of endings ... we try to achieve it
whenever it is reasonably possible.
The reasons a Rook on the 7th rank is so good here is that it threatens all the Black Pawns that remain on the second row, and often hems in the enemy King as well. (Of course, I also protect my vital Pawn on e7. A game that illustrates this concept in a very convincing manner.)
18...g5!?;
(urk!)
A truly anti-positional move ('?!') here, Fritz recommends that Black play
18...f6 instead. (I concur with this.) However, White will maintain a very solid edge almost no matter
what move that Black plays in this position.
19.Bd4!,
This is absolutely the best move here, and the computer confirms this. (Now that
I can "look down" the long diagonal, my Bishop is very happy here. And
- quite naturally - if Black captures with his Knight, I would be happy to be
able to undouble my pawns.)
19...h6;
20.Be5! Rac8; 21.Bd4! Kh7;
Black plays for traps, naturally if I take the Pawn on a7 on my next move, Black will simply
respond with ...b6; trapping the wayward Bishop.
Over
the next few moves, I simply probe Black's position and I am satisfied with
slowly improving my position, even if these improvements do not seem to bear
immediate fruit. (Remember last month's lesson?)
22.a4! a5!?; 23.Rb1! b6;
24.Re1!, (Maybe - !!)
A "mysterious Rook move."
Actually the reason for this move is very clear to me. The Rook, having forced b6, immediately returns to the e-file, so as to prevent Black from playing ...f7-f5; and then bringing his King over.
[ Hiarcs like 24.Kh2!? '±' here. ]
24...Kg6;
25.g4!, (space)
Naturally I grab a little more territory on the King-side. I also prevent the Black Monarch from
wandering any nearer my Pawn on e7, and I try to discourage any K-side Pawn
advances by Black. (Fritz picks the move, 25.c4!? in
this position.)
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It is time for another diagram, (it is Black to move this time). {See just above here.}
25...Kh7;
26.Kh2!, (Of
course!)
The King is a fighting piece in the ending, and should be used accordingly - without the help of
my faithful leader, I would not be able to decide this game in my favor.
[ Also good was 26.Re3, '±' with a clear advantage for White. ]
26...Kg6;
27.Kg3 c5!?;
It would be very easy to criticize this move, until you realize that Black is practically in
zugzwang. (Analysis will show that Black is probably lost, no matter what. The
computer prefers the move, 27...h5!? here.)
28.Be5!,
The old, (thematic) familiar square for this piece.
(28.Be3 is still good for White, but not nearly as forceful as the move chosen
here.)
28...c4!?;
('?!')
Black keeps hoping that I will forget about the threat to move his Knight to the c5-square, but no such luck!
(Vigilance in a won position is often a hallmark of good technique.)
29.Bd6!,
Several computers pick f4!? in this particular position, I prefer to try and suffocate Black and eliminate
ALL counterplay. (This also prevents 29...Nc5.)
29...Rc6!?;
30.f4!,
I have done enough preparing, it is time for this Pawn break ... which also threatens to play the
Pawn advance f4-f5+, with a deadly fork of the King and Knight.
[ Some programs {greatly} prefer that White play:
30.Kf3!? in this particular position. ]
30...gxf4+;
31.Bxf4 Nxf4; ('!?')
Black decides to immediately go into the R+P ending ... during the game I had a feeling that 31...f6;
was a sturdier defense; analysis seems to demonstrate that Black is lost, nonetheless.
[ 31...f6!?; 32.Rd6! Rxd6; 33.Bxd6 Kf7; 34.h4! Ng7!?; 35.Bc7!, "+/-" ]
32.Kxf4 Re6?!;
('?')
Black was obviously suffering during the game, so he jumps at the first opportunity to try and
'pare down' material. However close inspection indicates that 32...Rf6+; was a much better
defense for Black. {Although the second player might lose this game regardless of the move
chosen in this position.}
33.Rxe6+ fxe6;
Its time to take another look at the position here. {See
the diagram below.}
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White's advanced e-pawn appears to be doomed. A basic K+P ending appears imminent ... an exchange of Rooks could easily occur on the e7-square.
Meanwhile, White must be VERY careful here! It would be very easy to take one ... somewhat superficial glance at this position ... and assume that all K+P endings are easily won for White. But one thing White must constantly be vigilant about is the possibility of Pawn breaks or even surprise Pawn advances, (sacrifice) which would create a {surprise} passed Pawn for Black. (On the a-file, which is currently too far away for my King to be able to catch the Black passer.) Also - in order to be 100% confident that I am winning in all lines, I have to calculate a MINIMUM of seven moves in advance from this position!!
34.Ke5!,
I almost did not play this move here, even though it appears to be strong and is also very thematic as well.
(I will point out why I almost did not play this line ... a little later in the game,
here. Be sure to watch the notes very carefully for the
reason behind this decision!)
[ Also good for White is: 34.h4!?, which Fritz considers to be a clear win ("+/-") for White.
(Note to the readers: this might simply transpose back to the game.) ]
34...Kf7;
35.Kd6 Kf6;
Black decides against pushing and gambiting his KP here ... although that was his best practical chance.
Black thinks to keep my Pawn on the e7-square under wraps, and push his own passer, but I shall never allow this to get out of hand.
[ Black could also try: >/= 35...e5!; 36.Kxe5! Rxe7+; 37.Rxe7+ Kxe7;
38.Kd5 b5; 39.axb5! a4; with a dangerous passed Pawn.However after:
40.b6 a3; 41.b7 a2; 42.b8Q a1Q; 43.Qd6+, "+/-"
White should still win.(It was only AFTER I saw that White should play:
40.Kxc4!, a3; 41.Kb3!, and that I could catch Black's
run-away passer ... did I decide to actually play this line.) ]
36.h4!,
(very nice)
This both gains space, and it also activates my important King-side majority as well.
It also keeps the Black King OFF the g5-square, and more importantly, it prepares a key deflection of the Black King ... should he decide to push his own King Pawn here.
36...e5;
(forced?)
Black had no real choice here ... the alternatives were unthinkably worse for him.
[ 36...b5!?; 37.axb5 a4; 38.b6 a3; 39.Ra7; "+/-"
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36...Kf7?; 37.Rd8!! Rxe7; 38.Rh8! Kg7[]; 39.Kxe7,
39...Kxh8; 40.Kf7!! e5; 41.g5 hxg5; 42.hxg5 Kh7;
Pushing the e-Pawn (for Black) allows g6, followed by
(a simple) mate in three.43.g6+ Kh6; 44.g7 Kg5; 45.g8Q+ Kf4; 46.Qg2, "+/-"
(White has an easy win.) ]
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The
end is very near - see the diagram just above.
(White to move.)
37.g5+!,
This is easily the best move for White in this position.
[ Not quite as effective would be: (</=)
37.Rd8!? RxP/e7; 38.g5+!, and White should {eventually} win from here.
However, computer assisted analysis clearly demonstrates that this
continuation is not as convincing as the line chosen in the actual game. ]
Black's
next move is forced.
37...hxg5; 38.hxg5+
Kf5!?; ('?')
Technically this is an error, as Black loses his Rook. But it also might have been an attempt at a
swindle ... the K+P ending is completely hopeless for Black.
[ Black had to play his King to the f7-square here,
but he was still losing: 38...Kf7; 39.Kxe5! Rxe7+; 40.Rxe7+ Kxe7;
41.Kd5 b5; 42.axb5! a4; 43.Kxc4 a3; 44.Kb3, "+/-" ]
39.Rd8
Rxe7; 40.Kxe7 e4; 41.Rd5+!, "+/-"
Black Resigns.
The
final position is completely hopeless for Black, he was justified in throwing in
the towel here.
This was a good ending ... many of the most common concepts of a K+P ending were covered. (Good use of the King, opposition, space, pawn majorities, passed pawns, and trick plays.) Additionally, the R+P ending that preceded the possible K+P ending was instructive as well.
Now
take a look at the position below - it is White to
move here.
(White is about to make his eightieth move here!!)
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Black
has been on the wrong side of a losing game for quite some time now, the next
few moves are both best ... and pretty much forced.
80.Kg1 Qb1+; 81.Kh2
Qc2+; 82.Kh3! Qf5+; 83.Qxf5
gxf5; 84.Nxf7 Kxf7;
We have {now} reached a basic King-and-Pawn ending. {See the
diagram - just below.}
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What is the best move for White in this particular position?
85.g4!!,
Shocking - yet absolutely the best move, and one that never fails to astound
amateurs.
(Most of my students want to march the White King up - all the way around his
pawn mass.)
85...fxg4+;
This is pretty much forced, Black wants to leave White with a Passed Pawn ...
that is as close to his King as humanly possible. (Taking with the Rook-Pawn
leaves White with a button that is even farther away from the Black King.)
86.Kg3
Ke6; 87.b5 Kd5; ("+/-")
Black must have resigned ... just in time, before White pushes his f-pawn just
one more square.
(Play around with this position ... the Black King cannot
handle two passers that are so far apart.)
That about wraps things up for this month. Hopefully, I have provided food for thought and ideas for understanding basic endgames. Remember that K+P endings are the most basic of all endings.
I would like to take this opportunity to recommend two books that I think would be a great help, (in this area); especially to the average player:
"The Complete Chess-Player," (© 1953); by Fred Reinfeld. [more]
"The Endgame Course," (© 1988); by Bruce Pandolfini. [more]
I have personally studied out of both of these books, and many of my students and I have worked our way through these books. {together} If you are trying to improve your knowledge in the endgame, I do not think you could make better choices, especially if your rating is under 1500.
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I hope you have enjoyed this month's lesson. Please contact me if you have any questions. Also, be sure to contact the webmaster here, and let him know what you think of this lesson. Thank you for your time and attention ... and I will see you next month!
Copyright © A.J. Goldsby, 2005.
All
rights reserved.
