Gyula Mészáros - The Secrets of the Opposite-Coloured Bishop Endings%2C Vol.I

Gyula Meszaros

The Secrets of the Opposite-Coloured Bishop Endings

Copyright by CAISSA KFT

English translation and layout: Zoltan Molnar

ISBN 978 963 87928 3 9 Publisher: CAISSA KFT

H -6000 Kecskemet, Gyenes ter 18.

Tel!Fax: 0036-76-481 603 E-mail: [email protected]

Home page: caissachessbooks.com

Kecskemet: 2010

Printed in Hektograf Nyomda, Piispokladany

THE SECRETS OF THE OPPOSITECOLOURED BISHOP ENDINGS

by IM Gyula Meszaros

VOLUME ONE:

THE FIGHT OF THE LONELY BISHOPS

CAISSA CHESS BOOKS

5

Contents

Page Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Introduction

l.Cs. Szekely - Gy. Meszaros .................... 11 2.Meszaros' study .............................. 133.Romanov- Chukaev .......................... 14

Basic positions. Connected pawns 4. Tarrasch -central pawns ...................... 145. Tarrasch-central pawns ...................... 16

6. A verbakh -central pawns ..................... 177. Henneberger - central and bishop pawns ........ 188. Tarrasch - central and bishop pawns ............ 199. Henneberger- bishop and knight pawns ........ 20

10. Tarrasch- edge pair of pawns ................. 2211. Theoretical position - edge pair of pawns ........ 2212. Salvioli-edge pair of pawns ................... 2313. Averbakh- edge pair of pawns ................ 2314. Tarrasch -edge pair of pawns ................. 24

Three connected pawns 1 5. Fahrni's study .............................. 2 516. Lasker's study ............................... 2 517. Cheron's study .............................. 2618. Cheron's study .............................. 2819. Popovic's study ............................. 2820. Averbakh's study ............................ 2921. Averbakh's study ............................ 3122. Averbakh's study ............................ 31

6

Split pawns with one square between them 23.Meszaros' study .............................. 32 2 4. Shagalovich- Khalilbeili ............. . ........ 33 2 5. Salvioli's study .............................. 34

Split pawns with two squares between them 26. Salvioli's study .......................... . ... 3427. Cheron's study .............................. 3 528. A verbakh' study ............................ 3629. Cheron's study .............................. 3630. Meszaros' study ............................. 3731. Berger - Kotlerman ... ....................... 3832. Rink's study ................................ 39 33. Cheron's study .............................. 393 4. Cheron's study ............................. .41 3 5. Jones - Edmonson .......................... .42 36. Paulsen - Metzger (supplementa ry study) ....... .4337. Meszaros' study ........................... .4438. Lisitsin's study ............................. .4639. Bhend- Leepin ....... . .................... .4640. Averbakh's study ........................... .4741. Meszaros' study ............................ .48

Split pawns with three squares between them 42. Speelman's study ........................... .4843. Meszaros' study ............................ .494 4. Speelman's study ........................... .50 4 5. Speelman's study ........................... .51 46. Averbakh's study ........................... .5 447. Speelman's study ........................... .5 448. Speelman's study ........................... .5 549. Speelman's study . . . . . . . . . . r . . . . . . . . .56

50. Speelman's study .......... . ................ . 5751. Cheron's study .......... . .................. .58

Split pawns with four or more squares between them 52. Cheron's study ............. ." ............... .5953. Cheron's study .............................. 61

Practical endings & games. Typical positions & rules 54. Zaitsev - Lutikov ............................ 615 5. Sillye - Karakas ............................. 62 56. Pines -Voronkov ........................... 6357. Charousek-Suechting ....................... 6458. Portisch-Acs .............................. 6859. Walther-Fischer ........................... 70

60. Korchnoi-Pelletier ......................... 7161. Hjartarson-Piket ...... . ............ . ....... 7362. Meszaros' study ............................. 7463. Tatar Kis-A. Horvath ....................... 7664. Tolnai- Sherbakov .......................... 786 5. Kaidanov-Antoshin ......................... 80 66. Larsen- Huebner ............................ 8367. Horwitz's study ............................. 8668. Bondarenko & Kuznetsov's study .............. 8769. Herbstrnann & Gorgiev's study ................ 8870. Herbstrnann's study .......................... 8971. Maroczy- Pillsbury .......................... 9072. Chekhover's study ........................... 9173. Servat-Ternpone ........................... 9374. Sr. Paszler-T. Papp ......................... 9 57 5. Slekys- Panchenko .......................... 99 76. Csom-Vaganian ........................... 10177. Acs- Beliavsky ............................ 10 5

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78. Chandler - Andersson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 79. Gy. Meszaros - R. Csolt6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 180. Kapetanovic - Zi. Nikolic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 38 1 . Bogoljubow - Ed Lasker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 4 82. W ach - Bugajski . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 683. Okrajek - Uhlmann . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 7 84. Kotov - Botvinnik (1947) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1985 . Kotov - Botvinnik ( 1955) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2086. Fuchs - Kholmov . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 23 87. Gevorgian - Gavrilov . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 26 88. Vaganian - Karpov . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 27 89. Averbakh's study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 29 90. Makarychev - Averbakh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3 1 9 1 . Norlin's study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 33 92. Hodgson - Lanka . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 34 93. Aseev - Bagirov . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 35 94. Topalov - Shirov . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 37 95 . Nimzovich - Tarrasch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 38 96. Kazantsev's study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 97. Ki. Georgiev - Hracek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142 98. Nunn's study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 99. Anand - Karpov . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 7 1 00. Edes - Toma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 48

Epilogue 1 0 1 . Averbakh's study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5 1 102 . Averbakh's study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 52 1 03. Topalov - Anand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153

9

FOREWORD

Dear reader, you are holding the first part of a two-volume work in your hands. I'd like to lead you to a world mysterious and unknown even to trained chess players, in fact, more or less to grandmasters. I trust that reading this book will give you not only joy and entertainment but it will also help you to understand these extremely interesting and exciting endgames. Furthermore, I hope that, as a result , later on you will be able to successfully adopt in practice all that you learn from this book.

The topics are the following: The three positions of the introductory part shed light on

what urged me to deal in such minuteness of detail with opposite-coloured bishop endings.

In the basic positions I arranged in a row the most important types of positions of connected and split pawns, the selfconfident knowledge of which is essential to be able to solve the more complicated, multi-pawn positions.

In the examples of practical endings you can see all the virtues and errors which spring from the knowledge, or the lack of it, of the rules of opposite-coloured bishop endings.

The epilogue supports all that was written, and briefly summarizes the rules.

I should like to express my special thanks to my ex-pupil GM Ferenc Berkes for his many and profound analysing work, and for always finding time to discuss any newly arisen, interesting-looking positions with me.

IM Gyula Meszaros

(1) Cs. Szekely - Gy. Meszaros

HUN Team ch. II , 1 996

l.a4 The last move of the time

trouble, with which White does not yet let the draw out of his hand. With the pawn sac he could have waited, because if l .we2 ! c l 2 .a4 bxa4

Or 2 . . . a6 3 .axb5 axbS (on 3 . . . cxbS the simplest way to hold the balance is 4.e4! wc7 s.wd3) 4.wdl a3 s.wc2 xb46. wb3 and White has reachedthe drawish position (later I'll deal with it in more detail) .

3.wdl gS (after 3 . . . a3? 4.c2 xb4 5 .xa4 Black would lose his infantryman station-

1 1

ing on a4. ) 4.c2 ! a3 5.b3 and we have the same position as the developments in the game led to.

l...b:xa4 Black is obliged to split his

pawns apart as after l . . .a6 2 . axbS axbS 3 .we2 we obtain the above-mentioned variations by transposition.

2.we2 wd5?!A lot more cunning con

tinuation would have been 2 . . . Wc7 ! , whereupon the only saving move is 3 .c2 ! since either

a) 3.b5? a3! 4.c4 cxbS orb) 3.c4? f8! 4 .b5 (on

4.d3 4 . . . wb6 ! wins . ) After4 . . . c5 5 .wd3 wb6 6.wc2 waS Black obtains a winning position. The secret of the position, and also the precondition of victory, becoming obvious only in the end, is that Black's a4 pawn should not move!

3 . . . a3 4.b3 f8 5 .wd3 xb4 6.wc2 - see the game.

3.wdl?l

12

Still 3 .c2 ! a3 4.wd3 IS called for.

3 .. . 8 4.c21 At last White has found

the strongest move, though then, to say the truth, neither of us was aware of this fact . . .

4 . . . a3 s.b3t wd4 6.wc2 b4 7.a2 cS 8.bl wc4 9. alt wbS lO.bl c4 l l .a2 e7 12.bl wb4 13.a2 ffi 14.bl a5 15.a2

Black has squeezed out as much as he could of this position, while White is moving his bishop to and fro on the squares a2 and b 1 . Can this fortress be broken? Well, the situation is not too promising.

Gyula Meszaros

something up. The first part of my plan, in keeping with general endgame principles, is to lull my opponent into a false sense of security.

15 . . . h8 16.bl g7 17. a2 ffi 18.bl a2! 19.xa2 a4

The manoeuvring of the black bishop and the pawn sac on a2 was interpreted by my opponent as a sign of acquiescing to the draw. Inasmuch as with the moves b 1-a2 he could so far hold the position without any particular difficulty, on the basis of the principle "Stick to your well-tried moves!" he played

20.bl?? again.

Yet, after thinking for almost The game could have been half an hour, I could think saved only with 2'0.wd2 ! , as

The Secrets of the Opposite-Coloured Bishop Endings 13

after 20 . . . g5t 2 l .wc2 f4 White holds the fortress with 22 .wb2 ! . There followed

2o . . . wa3 21 .wc1 gst 22. wc2 22 . . . d2!1

A deadly zugzwang, upon which there is nothing left but to resign, as after 23.wxd2 wb2 one of the black pawns is queened. And for those who have still not realized why 4.c2 ! was such a strongmove , the following study will give the answer.

0-1

(2) Gy. Meszaros 1 996

For the black king the way is clear to the a3 square , in contrast to what we saw in the previous game where Black had to sacrifice his a3 pawn to enable his king to invade the enemy camp. Although White can get two pawns for his bishop, Black still has a pawn left, and the corner is "good" at that !

l . . .a5 2.bl White cannot allow the

enemy monarch to go to c3, because after 2 .wc l wc3 3.wbl (or 3.wdl wb2 4.xc4 a3 and Black wins easily.) 3 . . . a3 4. we i gSt S .wb l wd3 6.wal c3

14

his fortress would quickly collapse.

2 ... wa3 3. wcl gst 4. wc2 And now, employing the

same zugzwang motif seen in the previous game, Black decides the fight in his favour.

4 .. . d21!

s.wxd2 wb2And one of the black

pawns will be promoted to queen.

Gyula Meszaros

(3) Romanov - Chukaev Soviet Union 1 97 1

Of this game I naturally boasted to many chess player acquaintances of mine , until finally my friend FIDE Master Istvan Taskovics modestly called my attention to the fact that he had already seen a very similar position in the Encyclopedia of Minor Piece Endings . . .

l . ..c4t 2.wf2 e2! 3.wxe2 wg2 0--1

And White resigned. So I have set the Danube on fire , but instead of discouraging me, it urged me to hard work. I had, in the meantime, collected several hundreds of games with opposite-colour-


ed bishops, and was thinking of trying to systematize them somehow. While collecting, arranging and analyzing the games, I recognized more and more rules and laws. I realized that, in contrast to public belief, positions with opposite-coloured bishops are a lot more intricate than one would think at first (or even umpteenth!) sight. Besides, it is essential to know the basic positions, without which you have no chance to solve the problems arising. As far as I know - though it is possible that I have insufficient knowledge of it - up till now an exhaustive , elaborately detailed work on opposite-coloured bishops has not been written. Now I should like to fill this gap, trusting that I can give the gentle reader a book which is not only interesting and entertaining, but greatly contributes to acquiring the required knowledge as well.

( 4) Tarrasch 1 92 1

Of the connected pairs of pawns, we first examine the central pair. In the diagrammed position you can see the safest defensive setup: the g8 bishop constantly attacks the dS pawn, hindering, at the same time, the advance of its e6 colleague.

LwcS wd7 2/h4 r;;.fl 3,r;;.g5 {j;_g8

All Black has to do is move to and fro with his bishop on the squares g8 and f7, as White is unable to get any further. So the three criteria of the succesful defence are : 1 . ) The king and bishop of the

16

defending side hinders the advance of the enemy pawns. 2 . ) The bishop of the defending side must attack the enemy pawn. 3 . ) It is necessary to make room for the bishop of the defending side to be able to make its waiting moves.

(5) Tarrasch 192 1

White can only win if he can play e5-e6 at the proper moment, but to do this, he has to move his king to f6 or d6 to prevent the bishop sacrifice on e6. But even then his problem is far from being solved, because White also has to take care that the black

Gyula Mesziros

monarch may not get wedged between the pawns. The next bishop manoeuvre serves the latter purpose .

l.ellGiving check on the other

diagonal (h4-d8) would not have been good, because 1 . h4t wd7 2 .we3 g4 [or 2 . . . g2? 3 .e6t wd6 4.g3t (on 4. e7? Black escapes with 4 . . . wd7) 4 . . . we7 5 .wd4 h3 6.we5 and White wins . ] 3 .wf4 h3 4.wg5? (It would still not havebeen late to retreat with the repentant 4.we3) 4 . . . g2 5 .e6t wd6 6.wf6 xd5 7 .e7 wd7 and it's a draw.

t . . .g4 2.b4t wd7 Had White given check

from h4 ( l .h4t) , Black could have defended successfully with l . . .wd7, but thus he is watching helplessly as the white king occupies the f6 square, because after 2 . . . wf7 White would have gripped hold of the d6 square with 3.wc5 we7 4.wc6t wf7 s .wd6.

3.we31 f5 4.wf4 h3 s.wgS


Zugzwang as the black bishop has to abandon the diagonal h3-c8, but Black had no defence against wf6 and then e5-e6 anyway.

s . . . g2 6.e6t weB

There is nothing else . Now it is obvious why the white bishop had to give check from b4: the black monarch cannot move between the pawns!

7.d6 c6Black is now defending

against the thrust d6-d7, and therefore the white king aims for the c7 square.

S.wffi a4 9.a5 c6 10.we5 a4 1 1 . wd4 c6 12. wc5 a4 13.wb6 wd8 14.wb7t we8 15.wc7

So the white king is in possession of c7 and, along with it, the win. So the criterion of the win is: the attacking side must place his bishop in a way that in case of a pawn push the defending side cannot move between the pawns!

(6) Averbakh 1954

In the diagrammed posi-

18

tion the white pawns have not yet crossed the halfway line . Black, though he must take care, is able to take up the defensive position.

l . ..c4! The only move. A serious

blunder is l . . .bS? 2 .b4t ! (and of course not 2.g3t? we7 3.d5 e8 4.e5 f7 s .wd4 wd7 and Black builds up the fortress.) 2 . . . Wc7 (or 2 . . . We6 3.d5t we5 4.c3t wd6 5 .wd4e8 6 .e5t wd7 7 .e6t and Black is a tempo late . ) 3.d5 e8 4.e5 f7 5 .e6 and White secures the win again.

2.g3tJ wc6!Once again there is noth

ing else , for e .g . if 2 . . . We6? 3.wd2 b3 4.wc3 a2 5 .h2,Black would get into zugzwang, and that would mean the triumphant advance of the white pawns.

3.wf4 gs 4.weS wd7 s.d5(Diagram)

5 .. . h7 The most sensible move,

although after 5 . . . 7 6 .wf6

Gyula Meszaros

6 . . . we8 7 .f4 gs s.wg7 f7 9.g3 hS 10.e5 3 1 l .d6wd7 12 .wf6 dS Black's fortress is impregnable.

6. wf4 g6 7.e5 flAnd this position IS al

ready very familiar.

(7) Henneberger 19 16


In case of a central and bishop pawn the method of achieving the win is invariable : if White can put his king on f6 or d6, he can win the game easily.

V:igSt! 1 .b4 t would not yield a

result : l ...w7! 2.wd4? (2.e 1 ! is followed by h4) 2 ... c2 3. e6t wf6 4.e7 wf7 and drawn.

t . ..wd7 On l .. .w7 2.wd4 a2 3.wcs

b3 (or 3 . . . b1 4.e6t weB S.f6 and White wins.) 4.wd6 would follow with a decisive advantage to White .

2.wf4 a2 3.h4!

3 .. . 7 4.wg5 we7 5. wh6t wd7 6.wg7 d5 7.wffi

And White has got hold of the f6 square, after which his victory cannot be doubted.

(8) Tarrasch 192 1

As we could see in the previous examples, the outcome of the game depends on whether the defending side can take up the proper defensive position in due time . Compared to the central pair of pawns, the edge of the board is now one file closer, and this insignificant-looking difference makes the loss inevitable for Black.

l...fB 2.c4t we7 3.wg4 A terrible blunder would

be 3.5?? as Black would play

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3 . . . g7 saving a half-point right away.

3 . . . h6 4.b3 Zugzwang: Black is com

pelled to damage his position. 4 ... g7 On 4 . . . wd7 5 .5 g7 6.f6

would win. s.wh5 hs 6.wg6 wm 7.wh7

g7 8.c41

Another - and this time the final and mortal - zugzwang: Black loses his bishop and along with it the game. So it is worth bearing in mind that in case of a central and bishop pawn, the shorter distance to the edge of the board assists the attacking side !

Gyula Meszaros

(9) Henneberger 19 16

Though objectively the position is a draw, White is trying his best to attain victory.

l .c4tOn l .hSt we7! 2 .wg4 d4

3.g6 c3 4.wh5 g7! wouldfollow. The black king guards the e6 square, and the way to g6 before the white monarch is closed by his own bishop. 5 .h7 wf7 and White cannotinvade on the king's flank.

L.wg71 Now the g6 square must be

kept under control. 2.b51After 2.we4 d2 3.f6t wg6

4.7 Wg7 the black king gets


wedged between the pawns and it's an easy draw.

2 .. . wfl 3.wg4 wg7 4.wh5 Or 4.e8 wf8 5 .h5 we7

and we have the same position as in the beginning.

4 . . . d4 5.e8 wfB 6.g6 wg7

The g6 square must not be left unguarded: after 6 . . . We7?? 7.wh6 c3 s .hs d4 9.wg6White achieves his aim.

7.wg4

bishop, which hitherto could not abandon the long diagonal, can afford to ease itself of its burden for a breathingspace.

7 .. . b6! Just as good is 7 . . . c5 ! . 8.h5White could not play 8 .

f6t because of the 'hanging' of the g6 bishop. Black immediately takes advantage of this one-move loss of time, and takes up the ideal defensive setup without delay.

8 .. . d8! So in case of a bishop and

knight pawn it can be established that the side at disadvantage can hold the position even if the enemy pawns had already crossed the halfway

It seems that every effort line by one square and the dewas in vain, as on his next fending side could not occupy move White will play 8.h5 , the diagonal required for him. and then there is no way to prevent the white king from occupying the e6 square. And yet Black escapes: it is enough for us to realize that the black

22

(10) Tarrasch 192 1

Of the theme of connected passed pawns now we have only the knight and rook pawn left . But there is a lot more to be said about them than one would think at first sight ! To achieve the win, the white monarch must get to 7, and there is only one way to carry out this plan:

l .c41 After 1 .47g4? the black king

would flee from the comer: 1 . ..47g8 2.c4t 478! and it's a draw.

l . .. d4 The black bishop cannot

leave its watch (the a1-h8 diagonal) because of the deadly

Gyula Mesdros

g7t and then g8\Wt, so it is compelled to watch idly as the white king marches forward to the Promised Land.

2.47e4 White could calmly walk

round the whole board (e.g. 47f3-e2 -d 1-c2-b3-a4-bS -c6-d7-e8-f7); the text is the shortest way to victory.

2 . . . c3 3.475 A gross blunder was still

possible with 3.47d5 , whereupon White would have let the enemy king out of the comer - and, together with it, the win out of his grip.

3 ... b2 4.47e6 47gB s.47e7t 47hs 6.477

And White wins.

(1 1) A theoretical position


Since after l . . .c3? Black spite of being a piece and a would get into the lost posi- pawn up because of the tion seen just now, he is ob- wrong corner. liged to play the only move l . ..d4 2.g5 e3! leading to draw. The only, but quite satis-

l . . .fBI 2.d3 factory, defence . The white Or 2 .wg5 xh6t ! 3.wxh6 king now cannot go to h7 as,

and stalemate. for example , after 2 . . . c3? 2 .. . wg8 3.wg5 wh8 whereupon 3.wh7 d2 4.g6 And White can't get any c3 S.h6 would follow, and

further.

l.c4

(12) Salvioli 1887

The only chance to wring out the victory. Once the black king can settle down in the corner, the bishop sacrifices itself on gS right away, and White cannot win in

Black has no defence against the thrust g6-g7.

3.h6 d2 4.wh5 e3 S.g6d4!

And Black has taken up the already well-known drawn position.

(13) Averbakh 1954

If it were now Black's turn

24

to move, he would waste no time playing 1 . . .e3 and then destroy White's dangerous gpawn with 2 . . . xg5 (wrong corner ! ) . However, White can play first, and though the move . . .

t.whS . . . seems to be very fright

ful, with full knowledge of the previous studies we can easily evacuate the black king from the danger zone.

t . . .wgs! A mortal sin would be

l . . .d4?? whereupon after 2.d5 ! c3 3.g6t wh8 4.wg4 White would win in the already well-known manner.

2.d5t wf8! 3. wg6 Or 3 .g6 d4! and Black is

taking up the drawn position. 3 .. . e3! And Black has escaped.

Gyula Meszaros

(14) Tarrasch 192 1

I f White were to move, after I .wgS the full point could already be chalked up for him, but in the diagrammed position it is Black's turn to ylay.

1 . . .wr6! 2.d4t wf5 3.g7 c4

And Black, even though in the last moment, has successfully blocked the enemy pawns. From the knowledge of this study we'll greatly benefit later on. The most important realization is that Black can ensure the draw even without sacrificing his bishop!


(15) Fahrni

The defending side can build a fortress even against three connected passed pawns, but the criterion of a succesful defence is that all of the enemy pawns should stand on the colour of their own bishop. Black is in zugzwang, but the wrong (naturally for Black! ) corner is an ideal place for forming a stalemate nook.

t .. .whsr The only, but quite satis

factory, defence. The f6 bishop could not move anyway, for after l . . .c3? 2 . f6t (2 . h81Wt wxhs 3 .f6 wgs 4.we7 b4t 5 .we8 c5 6.d5t wh8 7 .g7t is just as good for

White.) 2 . . . xf6 3 .h81Wt wxh8 4.wxf6 White wins easily.

2.g7t {j);gg7 On 2 . . . wxg7? 3 .h81Wt ! wxh8

4.wxf6 White achieves the win in the manner shown just now.

3.61

4.w:xf6 - and stalemate .

(16) Lasker 1926

26

In his textbook (Lehrbuch des Schachspiels) , Lasker considered the diagrammed position a draw since White can keep the crucial black squares (d2, c3, b4) under control with both his king and bishop at the same time. But this is an erroneus statement because by sacrificing a pawn, Black turns the scale in his favour.

t.d2 wd4 2.wb2 g6 White is now in zug

zwang. But why? 3.a5 we3 4.wcl d2tl

The point of Black's idea is that he sacrifices his most dangerous-looking pawn, in return for which White cannot take up the already wellknown defending position.

Gyula Meszaros

5.xd2t wd3! 6.a5 On 6.e 1 c3 would win. 6 ... c3 7.wbl wc4t 8.wcl b4 And Black wins .

t.wfl t

(17) Cheron 1952

The move raising most difficulties for Black. After 1 . f2?! bS! 2 .e3 wg3! 3.f2t wg2 4.e3 f2t S.xf2 w3 we would practically end up in the same position of the previous example, where White loses rapidly because he cannot take up the proper defending setup.

t . . .wf4 2.d4 h3 3.c5 we5 4. we3 fl

On the impatient pawn thrust 4 . . . f2? s .d4t ! wf5 6.


wxf2 wf4 7.we2 g4t s.wd2 would solve all of White 's problems.

5.a7 wd6 6.wd2 wc6 7.wc3 wbS 8.wb3 c4t 9.wc3

It might seem that after 9.wa3 Black falls into zugzwang, but in fact it is White who would lose the control over the dark squares (and the game, too) after 9 . . . a2 ! [9 .. . d4! 1 0.xd4 f7 l l .wb2 wc4 12 .gl wd3 also wins. It is important to remember that this motif will occur several times later on (Berkes, Meszaros) 10 .wxa2 wc4 (Cheron's analysis) ]

9 .. . wa4 lO.cS a6

Another zugzwang, in consequence of which White is

compelled to allow the enemy king to go to a3.

t l .gl wa3 12.wd4 c4 13. wc3 wa2 14.d4 wbl 15.wd2 bs 16.wdl c6 17.wd2 a41

The third and, at the same time, deadly, restriction, resulting in the loss of the gl-a7 diagonal.

t8.wc3 No better is 1 8.gl wb2 19 .

d4t wb3 20.we3 wc4 2 1 .e5 d4t 22.xd4 (or 22.wf2 c6 23.f4 e3t) 22 . . . f2 23. wxf2 wxd4.

ts . . . wct t9.gt wdt 20. wd4 we2 21 .wxd5 e3 22.wd4 f2

And Black wins.

28

(18) Cheron 1952

If we push the position to the left by one square, there will be not enough room for th black monarch to go around his infantryman, and therefore he is unable to break the white fortress.

1.we21 we4 2.c4 g3 3. bs wdS 4.wd3 e1

4 . . . e2 5 .c4t ! and drawn. s.a6 wc6

Gyula Meszaros

6.wc21 wb6 7.c4 waS 8. wb3

And White has beaten off the attack successfully. So White must manoeuvre in such a way that he may avoid Lasker's position, and he must also take care that the black king cannot invade on the queenside .

(19) Popovic 1949

In the following example White successfully breaks through White's defence line .

1 . ..wc6 2.4 wbst 3.wc3 On 3.d2 b7! (Black would

not get any further after 3 . . . wa4 4.wc3 wa3 S .cl t wa2 6. d2 wb1 7.f4 7 8.e3 g6


9.d2 as White would not allow the black monarch to go over to the king's flank.) 4. wc3 wc5 5 .e3t wd5 6.f4 a6! would follow with the same plan as in the main line .

3 . . . b7!

The key move ! Black must transfer his bishop to a6 so that it will protect not only the c4 pawn but that on d3 as well . Then his king marches over to the king' s wing and sets his pawns going at the

ting into zugzwang all the time .

4.e3 a6 5.d2 To the same result would

lead 5.2 wc6 6.e3 wd5 7. f4 b5 ! Zugzwang! 8 .e3 we5 9.d2 a6! 1 0.e3 w5 1 1 . wd4 wg4 12 .wxe4 c3.

5 ... wc5 6.e3t wdS 7.f4 we6 s.e3 wf5 9.wd4 wg4

And Black wins.

(20) Averbakh 1 954

right moment. White can do 1 . ..1!75 nothing against the decisive After 1 . . . wd6 we reach the manoeuvre, since while the position of the preceding stublack bishop can walk merri- dy where White is to play, ly up and down on the but from the point of view of squares a6-b5, he keeps get- the denouement it doesn ' t

30

make any difference: 2 .c3 (or 2 .e3 wc6 3.d2 wbS 4. wc3 b7 5 .wd4 a6 6.wxe4 wa4 7.we3 wb3) 2 . . . wc6 3.d2 wbS 4.c3 b7 S.e l a6 6. wxe4 wa4 7.we3 wb3 8.a5 c3 and Black wins in both cases.

2.we3 Of course the dS bishop

could not be taken: 2 .wxd5? c3 3.xc3 e3 4.wd4 d2 and the d-pawn is queened.

2 ... b7! Zugzwang! 3.c3 c6 4.d2 After 4.b2 we6 5 .c3 wdS

6.d2 e8 ! White would lose in the same way as in the main line .

4 .. . we51 s.c3t wdS 6.b4 e8!

It is important now to realize that the black bishop must be manoeuvred over to the diagonal b l-h7.

7.d2 g6 8.b4 h71 (Diagram)

Zugzwang. 8 . . . 5 ! is just as good. Averbakh's study is essentially identical with the

Gyula Meszaros

example just seen. Black's plan did not change , but his bishop has one more square on the kingside to manoeuvre (in Popovich's study a6-b5 , in Averbakh's h7-g6-f5).

9.el wcS 10.d2 g6! And this puts an end to the

ousting process : the white bishop is compelled to abandon its ideal post, the d2 square, and at the cost of a pawn Black invades the enemy fortress. It is worth mentioning that a serious blunder would have been l O . . . wbS? in view of l l .wd4! and Black can start it all over again.

l l .el wb5 12.wd4 wa4! 13. wxc4 e3 14.wc3 f5

And the last, umpteenth,


zugzwang means a capitulation for White .

(21) Averbakh 1954

The position in the previous example was pushed to the left by one square . The suitable area for free manoeuvring has shrunk so small on the queen's flank that it is practically of no use at all, and White easily averts any attempts of the black monarch on the kingside.

l . . .wes 2.wd3 Of course not 2 .wxc5?? b3

3.xb3 d3 and Black wins. 2 .. . wf4 3.b3 wf3 4.dtt

wt2 s.b3 wel 6.c2

And the fortress is unbreakable .

(22) Averbakh 1954

Black's position may look more promising than in Cheron's study shown in example 18, but here , too, the white fortress is impregnable .

1 . ..wd6 Or l .. .wb4 2 .wc2 wa3 3.e2

and Black achieved nothing. 2.c2 we6 3.dl wf5 4.c2

wf4 s.we2! And White easily beats off

the besiegers .

32

(23) Gy. Mes zaros 1997

After deling with the connected passed pawns, now we examine the typical positions and rules mostly characteristic of split pawns. If the distance between the pawns is one square, the attacking side can only win in exceptional cases. In the diagrammed position, though the corner is wrong for White, the black king has been cut away from the h8 square.

l .h6! h8 The bishop could not go

elsewhere, for example, to 1 . . . d4?, because White would have closed the long diagonal right away with 2.f6.

Gyula Meszaros

2.b3! Zugzwang. On 2 .f6? Black

escapes in an instructive manner: 2 . . . we8 3.b5t wf8 4.h7 (Nor does 4.a4 wg8 5 . h7t wf8 6.b3 we8 make any difference. )

4 .. . 1

/

This is the sacrifice that saves Black. 5 .wxf6 and it's stalemate !

2 .. . we8 Or 2 . . . d4 3.f6 and the h

pawn makes the promotion square.

3.wh7 f6 4.wgs And White wins easily.


(24) Shagalovich - Khalilbeili Soviet Union 1963

In the following position the ruin of Black is caused by the fact that he cannot occupy the vital c7 square with his king.

l.h31 b6 Or l . . . we7 2.we5 wd8 3.wd5

e3 4.wc6 and Whie achieves the win in the same fashion as it happens in the game.

2.we4 aS 3.c4 we7 4.wd5 wd8 s.wc6

With the aid of its bishop, the white king has succesfully cut the enemy monarch away from the b8 square , essential for building a fortress. Since White can any time close up the diagonal a7-

gl with c4-c5, the black bishop is compelled to manoeuvre along the queenside diagonals shrunk to minimal. Mortal zugzwang is foreshadowed . . .

5 ... c7 Black would have reached

the same position as that in the main variation after 5 . . . d2 6.wb6 e3t 7.c5 f4 8.a5 .

6.c5 aS 7.wb5 c7 8.a5 b8 9.wb6 c7t lO.wa6!

Zugzwang. As the c7 bishop must constantly attack the aS pawn (otherwise White plays wb7) , the black monarch is hopelessly moving away from the battlefield.

lO ... we7 1 1 .wbSl b8 Resigning to the unalter

able: l l . . .wd8 1 2 .a6 b8 1 3 .

34 Gyula Mesdros

wb6 c7t 14.wb7 would also l.we6 a3 2.f3 wd8 3.wf7 have resulted in losing the b4 4.e6 a3 game for Black. And White is obliged to

12.wb6 come to terms with the draw, And Black surrendered. It

is a rare - though not unique ! - example of triangulation, one of the important weapons of pawn endings, often a decisive factor in opposite-coloured bishops endings.

1-{)

(25) Salvioli 1887

Here , too, the distance between the white pawns is only one square, but white can easily keep the enemy infantrymen in check.

because there is no way to improve his position.

(26) Salvioli 1 887

If we transfer the eS pawn to the f5 square , then the pawns are separated by two files, and White achieves victory without difficulty.

1. we6 cS 2.a wds 3.6 b4 4.f7 a3 s.wf6 h2t 6. wg6 a3

Or 6 . . . We7 7 .c7 and one of the pawns, is queened.

7.wg7 And White wins.


(27) Cheron 1954

In this case White's task is considerably harder. We must realize that Black cannot take his bishop away from the bl-h7 diagonal, and also, his king cannot move away too far from the e6 square, or the f-pawn immediately dashes forward. White can only win if he is able to push his cpawn to c7. The criterion of the advance of this pawn is the control over the d6 square - this plan is realized by White with the following manoeuvre .

V!c71 wdS 2.b6 we6 3. aS wdS 4.b4 we6 s.a3!

Zugzwang. Since the black monarch can no longer move from the e6 square , the black bishop is compelled to abandon the great diagonal.

5 . . . d3 Or 5 . . . d5 6.5t w7 7.f6

e4 8. wf4 c6 9. we5 and White's king has invaded the enemy camp.

6.c6 Only now does it become

clear why the control over the d6 square is so important !

6 . . . e4 7.c7 wd7 8.d6! And White wins easily.

36

(28) Averbakh

The position in the diagram is a draw, because the pawns are located on the diagonal of the attacking bishop (on one diagonal ! ) , and the king also helps to guard the invasion points.

1. wdS wf6 2. wcS we7 3.g4 wf6 4.wb5 we7 5.wa6 wd8

And White cannot break through the black defence line .

(29) Cheron 1957

The white pawns are controlled by the black bishop on one diagonal and it is assisted in its work by its monarch, too.

Gyula Meszaros

The white king is staying in the enemy camp in vain: his pawns cannot move forward.

l.g4! The trickiest attempt at

winning. On 1 . wf5 Black holds his ground with l . . .wd4 2.We6 (The f-pawn must not be pushed because it would fall prey outright to the black forces: 2 .f4 We3! ) 2 . . . Wc5 3.e8 c7 ! (A gross blunder would be 3 . . . wb6? as after 4.wf5! Wc5 5 .f4 wd4 6.wg5 we4 7.f5 the fpawn would thread its way through the h2-b8 diagonal. ) 4.wd7 wb6.

l ... c71 Black is also on the look

out, since every other move would be losing for him:


l . . .d6? 2.

38

7.wd8; 4 . . . e6 s .wf6 wds 6.5 and White wins in both variations .

5.wf6 wd5 6.we7 wc6 7.wd8 And Black is compelled to

put an end to further resistance.

(31) Berger - Koderman Arkhangelsk 1948

White's position looks hopeless, but with exact defence he can still hold his own. In the event of split pawns, when the distance between them is two squares and one of them is a knight pawn, the position is a draw if the colour of the defending side's bishop is the same as that of the knight pawn's promotion square .

Gyula MesZiiros

l.we2 b3 2.wdl wb4 3.h7 wa3 4.g6 wb2

On 4 . . . b2 5 .b1 would follow, shutting the black king out.

5.71 The threat was 5 . . . wa1 fol

lowed by the advance of the b-pawn.

s .. . wa2 6.e6 wa3 7.5!

If the black monarch leaves the second rank, the white bishop also has to return to the b 1-h 7 diagonal. Black cannot get any further: the fortress is impregnable .


(32) Rinck 19 16

In this study, White can achieve victory because of the unfortunate position of the black pieces. Yet the solution is not so easy.

Uue4tl Everything would have

been spoiled with l . e6? whereupon Black would escape after l . . .c5 2.d5 wf6 3.b7 d6 in the same fashion as we saw saw in the previous example.

1 . . .wh6l Black is fighting to his last

breath: on the basis of 'everything is the same' , he sets a witty stalemating trap.

2.b7 g7 3.b8!!

White - don't forget: it's a study! - naturally does not fall into the carefully set trap (3.b8? xeSt ! 4.xe5 and it's stalemate ! ) , and is content with a minimal material advantage just sufficient to win.

3 . .. wg5 4.wa2 wf4 s.e6t And Black must capitulate.

(33) Cheron 1958

40

The colour of the defending bishop is opposite to that of the knight pawn's promotion square . This statement suggests that White is going to achieve the win, yet Black is able to build an unbreakable defence line .

1 . . .we6 2.b2 wd7 3.bs Nor does White get any

further if he leaves his pawn on b4: 3 .wb5 dS 4.wc5 b7 s .wd4 we6 6.we3 wf5 7.wf2 c6 8.wg3 b5 9.wh4 e8 10 . c3 bs l l .whs est 12 .wh6 bs 1 3 .wg7 we6 14.wf8 c6

And White could achieve nothing because the black bishop is able (from one diagonal, a4-e8) to keep the bpawn in check and prevent the white monarch from fighting its way over to the queen' s flank.

Gyula Mesziros

3 . . . c4 4.wa5 d.S s.b6 b7!

The black bishop has succesfully closed the queen's wing, so the white king tries his luck once more on the kingside .

6. wbs we6 7. wc5 as s. wd4 c6 9.c3 b7 10.we3 wd.S

The simplest. ll .wf4 c6

12.a5 Or 12 .wf5 1 2 . . . wc5 ! 1 3 .d4t

Wxd4 14.e6 Wc5 1 5 .b7 xb7 16.e7 c6 and Black has successfully stopped the enemy pawns.

t2 . . . we6 13.c3 wdS White is unable to im

prove the position of his king


without losing one of his pawns, therefore the position is a draw.

(34) Cheron 1957

In the diagrammed position the white monarch has got hold of the f6 square , which is essential for victory. Black cannot prevent White from pushing his pawn to e7, and this results in his losing the game.

l . . .fl 2.c5 c4 3.e3 b5

On 3 . . . d5 4.b5 c4 5 .b6 dS 6.c5 ! (the first move of the manoeuvre bringing victory!) 6 . . . c4 7.b4 b3 8.a5 dS 9.e6t ! xe6 10.b7 would

follow, and the b-pawn promotes.

4.e6t we8 5. we5 we7 6. gSt we8 7.wd6 c4 8.e7 d3

White has successfully realized the first part of his plan, and now it's the knight pawn's tur:ri to do his bit .

9.wc5 wd7 lO.bs e2 n .b6

The game is decided: whatever Black plays, the white king invades his position from somewhere (either from the square c7 or 8) .

1 1 ... 3 On l l . . .hS 2 .wd5 e8 1 3 .

weS wc6 14.e3 hS 15 .wf6 wd7 16.d2 wc6 17 .a5 e8 ts.wg7 hs I9.wB wd7 20.b7;

On l l . . .a6 1 2 .wd5 b7t 1 3 .we5 3 1 4.wf6 we8 (or

42 Gyula Mesdros

1 4 . . . d5 15 .b7! xb7 16.7 neously control the c7 square dSt 17 .8 and the e-pawn as well . It is necessary to is queened.) 15 .e6 b7 16 . remark that there is another d6 would win. manoeuvre to meet this re-

12.d4 e8 13.e5 d7 quirement: 1 8 .f4! c6 19 . There i s nothing else , oth- c7 d7 20.d8 and White

erwise 1 4.d6 and 1 5 .c7 wms. would follow.

14.:ffi hS The last straw. On 14 . . . d5

15 .b7 xb7 16.7 would follow whilst 1 4 . . . e8 is met by 15 .e6 and White wins in the already well-known manner.

15.g7 c6 16.e3 d7 17. fB g6 18.d21

The final redeployment, deciding all. White must defend his knight pawn in such a way that he should simulta-

18 ... c6 19.a5 d7 20.b7 And the pawn is queened.

(35) Jones - L. Edmonson USA 1983

With his unfortunately placed bishop on a7, it is not simple for White to increase his advantage to a decisive extent.

l .e6t It seems that there is no

better, because after l .b8


wc8 2 .rj)_c7 wd7 3 .rj)_d6 wc6 4.rj)_c7 (or 4 .rj)_c5 WxcS 5 . e6 wxb6 6 .e7 rj)_c6 and it's a draw.) 4 . . . wd7 s .r;;_b8 wc6 6. rj)_a7 wd7 White has to push the e-pawn anyway.

l . . .we8? Black does not seize the

opportunity to save the game to a draw. Equally losing was l . . .r;;_xe6? 2 .b7 and l . . .wc6? 2 . e7 wd7 3.b7! rj)_xb7 4.wf7. And if l . . .wd8?, then 2 .e7t we8 3. weS rj)_b7 4.wd6 wins. The solution would have been 1 . . . wc8 ! but to make such a 'bold' move it does no harm to know the endgame below.

(36) Paulsen - Metzger Nuremberg 1 888

Owing to the wrong corner square it is not easy to convert the advantage , but with exact play White can still achieve victory.

t .wd4! In the game l .wc4? hap

pened, and after l . . .bSt ! 2 . axb6t wb7 3.wb5 wa8 4.rj)_b8 Wxb8 5 . Wc6 Wc8 the game ended in a draw. Just as bad is l .wc5? in view of l . . .b6t 2 . axb6t wb7. So it is by all means necessary for White to manoeuvre in such a way that Black cannot get rid of his 'harmful' pawn!

L.wc6 On l . . .b5 2 .a6! b4 3.wc4 b3

4.wxb3 wc6 5 .wc4 would follow and the black monarch cannot attack the white pawn.

2.rj)_b6 wd6 3.wc4 wc6 4.wb4 wd6 5.wb5 wd7 6.wc5 weB 7. rj)_a71

(Diagram) Of course, the black king

must no be allowed to go into the corner.

44

7 .. . wc7 The b-pawn cannot move.

7 . . . b6t is met by 8.Wxb6; and if 7 . . . b5 then 8.a6 would decide.

8.wb5 wd7 9.b8 weB 10. f4 wd7 1 1 .wb6 wc8 12.g3

And Black loses his last fighter - and the game as well. With knowledge of this endgame, it is not so hard to find the move l . . .Wc8! in the previous example. All Black has to do is take his king to b7 and sacrifice his bishop for the e-pawn. As White is unable to thwart this plan, the position is drawn. But let's return to the game!

2.weS b7 3.wd6 as 4.b8 b7 s.c7

Gyula Meszaros

And Black resigned. His decision was justified, for Black is entirely helpless against White's plan. For example :

5 ... g2 6.e7 f3 7.d8 g2 s.wc7

And White wins easily. We might say that everything is all right, yet we would be greatly mistaken if now we regarded the affair as closed!


It is White's turn to move, and (yet) he wins. I had two reasons why my doubts have not dispelled in connection with the fact that this position might perhaps be won


after all. The first was that the white king has got hold of the f6 square required to achieve the win. My second reason was that in accordance with the general endgame principles, White must bring his bishop to c7 (that is, he must improve its position) , and the solution must be sought only after this program is completed!

l.b8! wc6 2:c7 wd7 A position in which zug

zwang seems to be mutual. White 's bishop cannot freely manoeuvre. The solution is simple, and we had already seen it in preceding examples as well: zugzwang with a king triangulation!

3.wtsr This is the plan that es

caped both the players' and the analyst's attention.

3 .. . e6t No better is 3 . . . c4 4.d6

wc6 5 .c5 ! (the white bishop has broken loose ! ) 5 . . . wd7 6. b4 b3 7.wf6 c4 8.a5 ! d5 9.e6t, nor 3 . . . we7 4.d6t wd7 5 .c5 wc6 6.d4 wd7 7 .wf6.

4.wgS! d.S s.wf61 And White has succeeded

in leaving his opponent with the move . Now Black can only damage his position, which means White's victory. The key to the solution once more is: a . ) One of the general endgame. principles: the Law of Patience (increase the strength of your pieces to maximum before the decisive manoeuvre ! ) ; b . ) Zugzwang can be created not only by moving the bishop, but by moving the king as well ( triangulation) .

46

(38) Usitsin 1956

The distance between the pawns is two squares, and the corner is wrong for White . It it were White 's move , he would win easily. For example : l .wb6 wd7 2 .wa7 g2 3. wb8, and for the 'bad' pawn Black is compelled to give up his bishop, but Black is to play.

l .. . wd7 2.d5 we7 Black can only move his

king, yet he does not fall into zugzwang because the three tasks ( 1 : to protect the d5 pawn; 2: to constantly control the b8 square ; 3: to put the king on e6) are beyond White's power.

Gyula Meszliros

3.wd4 wd7 4.b8 wc8 5.d6 wd8

According to Lisitsin only this move ensures the draw, but in fact Black can also hold his own after 5 . . . wd7 6.we5

6 . . . c6 ! ! Grandmaster Berkes' move. (6 . . . wd8? would of course lose to 7 .we6 wc8 8.f4 wd8 9.d6 c6 10.a7 d7t 1 1 . wd5) 7.c5 a8 .

6.we4 wc8 7.we5 wd7 8.b8 wc8 9.a7 wd7 10.b6 wc8

And White cannot Improve his position.

(39) E. Bhend - P. Leepin Luzern 1954

In the next example the corner is good, but the white bishop does not have a long enough diagonal to take part effectively in the proceedings.


VbS After l .d3 wb6 2.e2 wc7

White , if he wants to achieve anything, must play 3.b5 .

l . . .b4 2.c6 wb6 3.b5 wc71

Too simple for Black to fall for is 3 . . . wxb5?? 4.a7 and the a-pawn promotes.

4.c6 wb6 5.b7 wc7 And it's a draw because

White has no useful move to improve his position.

(40) Averbakh 1979

If we transfer the white king from e6 to bS , Black cannot avoid defeat.

1.3! d6 2.d6t was threatened. 2.e4 Zugzwang: Black cannot

stop the white pawn from advancing to d7 and the white king from marching to e8.

2 .. . g3 3.d6t wbs 4.d7 h4 5.wc6 wa7 6.d3 d8 7.wd6 wb8 8.we6 h4 9.wfl wc7 10. weB gs 1I .e4

(Diagram) After this move the game

is as good as over. 11 .. . wb6 12.b7 wc7 13.

c8

48 Gyula Mesziros

If we transfer the black bishop to e3, the position is already an easy draw.

t.wc4 wd6 2.wd3 b6 3.we4 a7 4.3 b6 5.1!75 we7 6. we5

Or 6.g2 a7 and Black is also waiting.

6 ... c7t 7.wd4 b6t 8.wc4 The position in the dia- wd6 9.wb5 a7

gram is practically identical And the black fortress is with the final position of impregnable . Cheron's earlier study (see example 34) . The only differ- (42) Speelman ence is that here we pushed the pieces to the left by one file . This small alteration is of no significance, as here, too, Black cannot avoid defeat.


The pawns are separated by three squares, and still White cannot win due to his b-pawn having advanced too far ahead.

twa wgSI


Black cannot allow the white king to go over to his own kingside (to the hS square ) , because then he would lose . For example: 1 . . . {j;_c7? 2.wg4 {j;_b8 (or 2 . . . wg7 3. wgs {j;_dst 4.f6t l

4 . . . {j;_rl6t S .W5 and White wins. ) 3.wh5 {j;_f4 4.{j;_c8 {j;_c7 (on 4 ... wf7 5.wg4 {j;_c7 6.wg5 {j;_d8t 7 .f6! White is breaking through Black's defence line. ) s .wh6 {j;_bs 6.wh7 wf7 7.{j;_e6t wf6 s.wgB {j;_d6 9 .{j;_c8!

2.{j;_c8 {j;_c7 3.we4 wf6 4.wd5 {j;_h2 5.wc6 we7 6.wb6 {j;_b8

And it's a draw, because the white monarch is unable to break into the enemy camp.


The only (but extremely important!) difference in comparison to the previous position is that White's knight pawn has not yet advanced to the seventh rank. The fact that Black is unable to close the way before the enemy monarch is a decisive factor.

l.wdS we7 2.wc6 (j;_e5 3.wb7 And Black is in zugzwang {j;_d4

which results in his losing. Or 3 . . . wd8 4.wa8 and Black

50

has to give up his bishop for the b-pawn.

4.wc7 eSt 5.wc8 And White wins.

(44) Speelman

White's task is to help one of his pawns to move forward, but Black is - at least for the time being - holding fast.

l .c8 Black is in zugzwang. He is

at a crossroads: he either moves away from the central squares, or he allows the white king to penetrate his position.

t . . .wf7 The other option, as we

have just remarked, would have been for Black to stop

Gyula Mesdros

controlling the h6 square and let the white king in his camp. For example : l . . .b6 2. wh6 d4 3.wh7 wf7 4.e6t wf6 S. wg8 cS

On S . . . we7 6. b3 weB (on 6 . . . wf6 7.c2 we7 8.e4 weB 9.dS we7 10 .e6 b6 l l .wg7 d4t 12 .wg6 cS 1 3 .c4 d4 14.d3 wins. ) 7 .wh7 we7 8. wg6 Zugzwang: Black is obliged to give free way to one of the white pawns. 8 . . . wd7 9.f6 wd6 10.7 we7 l l .b6! eS (or l l . . .xb6 12 .wg7 d4t 1 3. wg8 and the pawn is queened. ) 1 2 .b7 wf8 1 3.wf5 b8 14.we6 and White wins.

6.c8

Zugzwang. 6 . . . We7 (or 6 . . . b6 7.wf8 IileS 8.e6 wd6 9 . w7 IileS 10.d7 wd6 l l .c6 IileS 12 .wg6 dB 1 3 .g2 and Black loses because of the


zugzwang.) 7 .wg7 d4t 8.wg6 position White can emerge wd8 9.e6 we7 IO.c4 and victorious. one of the white pawns lunges l.d7 wf3 forward. Black has to take care of

2.wg4 we7 four (!) things at the same time: On 2 . . . b6 3.wf4 wf6 4.we4 1) to prevent the f-pawn from

We7 S .wdS would follow, and rushing forward; 2) to keep the white monarch presses the b-pawn from reaching forward to assist his b-pawn. the promotion square ; 3) to

3.e6 hinder the white king from Zugzwang: Black is now going to dS ; 4) to hinder the

unable to prevent the white white king from going to hS. king from occupying the g6 He is of course unable to meet or dS square . all these requirements , but

3 .. . wf6 4.wf3 b6 s.we4 we7 long and stubborn resistance 6. wdS in a tournament game often

And White wins. eats away the opponent's strength. White's task would

(45) Speelman have been facilitated both by L .W2?! 2 .wh2 wf3 3.wh3 f6 4.b6 wf4 5 .b7 eS 6.f6 and one of the pawns promotes; and l . . . eS 2.Wgl ! (of course not 2 .b6? wf4 3 .wg2 wgS 4.wf3 d4! 5 .b7 eS and Black has the already well-known drawn position.) 2 . . . d4t 3.wfl wf3 4.e6! Zugzwang. 4 . . . e5 5 . b6! wf4 6.we2! wgs 7.wd3 and White gets hold of the dS

Even from this cramped square.

52 Gyula Meszaros

2.wh2 f6 3.wh3 7 .. . e5 Threatening 4.b6. On 7 . . . c5 8.f6! we5 9.f7 3 . . . wf4 wf6 10 .e8 and White wins . Black would have fallen 8.wf2 d4t 9.we2 we4 10.

into zugzwang after 3 . . . d8 e6 c5 l l .c8 wf4 4.e6! and after 4 . . . wf4 5 .wg2 the white monarch would seize one of the two squares (d5 , h5) of key importance .

4.wg2 d4 s.e6 c5 6.c81 Of course not 6.f6? we5 ,

and on account of the double attack the pawn is lost.

6 .. . d4 or 6 . . . wg4 7.d7 wgs s.w3

wf6 9 .we4 we7 l O .wdS and White has taken hold of the d5 square .

7.d7l

Zugzwang.

Black can continue in several ways, but with the text move he can 'last' the longest. For example : l l . . .d6 12 .b6! (After 1 2 .f6? we5 1 3.f7 wf6 the f-pawn is lost .) 1 2 . . . we5 (or 12 . . . wf4 1 3.wd3! and the white king invades on the queenside . ) 1 3 .wf3! wf6 1 4. wg4 and the h5 square is secured; l l . . .b6 12 .f6 wd5 1 3.f7 c5 1 4.b6 Wc6 1 5 .b7; l l . . .d4 1 2 .d7! Zugzwang. 1 2 . . . e5 (On 1 2 . . . wf4 1 3 .wd3 wes 14.f6! wins.) 1 3 .b6 wf4


14.wd3 ! and in each variation White tips the scales in his favour.

12.wd3 It was still possible to

botch everything by impatiently pushing the b-pawn, for example : 1 2 .d7 e7 13 . b6? l!lgS ! 1 4.wd3 cS ! 15 .b7 d6 16.we4 bs 17 .\!lds wf6 and this drawn position is all too familiar to us.

12 . . . \!leS 13.e6! Zugzwang. 13 . . . b6 Or 1 3 . . . e7 14.wc4 wd6 15 .

wd4 d8 1 6.we4 we7 17.wf4 wf6 1 8 .wg4 and the white monarch walks comfortably over to the hS square.

14.we2!

It took the white king 14 ( ! ) moves to get from the corner (h1 ) to e2, which is only three squares away. At first hearing this may not seem a great achievement, yet it is at this point that the game takes a quick turn. Black has to make a choice: which invasion point is he to leave unguarded?

14 . . . \!lffi On 14 . . . wf4 15 . f6 ! we5 16.

f7 cS 1 7 .b6 l!lxe6 1 8 .b7 would follow, and White promotes a pawn to queen.

15.\!l3 we5 16.wg4 wffi 16 . . . e3 would be followed

by 17.b3 b6 1 8 .\!lgS c7 19 . wg6 dB 20.c4 wd4 2 1 .f6 l!lxc4 22.f7 e7 23.b6.

17.wh5 Or 17.wf4 followed by we4,

and White has successfully realised his plan.

54

(46) Averbakh 1950

If we push back the pawns vertically by one square , Black's task will be even easi-er.

t .we3 Or l .wc5 we6 2.wb5 wf5 3.

wc5 we6 4.b8 a8 and White cannot break through on the queen's wing.

t . . .c6 2.w2 wg4! And White is compelled to

come to terms with the draw. Mind you, Black has another option to successfully fight back the enemy monarch: 2 . . . ii!?g6 3.wg3 b7 4.wg4 cst and now the analogous chessgiving with 5 .f5t we saw in Speelman's study (example

Gyula Meszaros

42) doesn't work, as after 5 . . . xf5t 6.wf4 c8 the defending bishop can return and prevent the other pawn from being promoted to queen.

(47) Speelman

White's play is given: his king must break through on the king's wing.

t .w31 d7 Black is compelled to wait

passively, since the sequel l . . .we6 2.wg4 wf6t 3.wh5 ; or 1 . . .f5 2 . wg3 we4 3.d6 wd5 4.c7 wc4 S .a5 would only be grist to White's mill.

2.wg3 we4 (Diagram)


3J!2b6! A clever, prophylactic move

which averts any possible rudeness on the black king's part, since on 3.d6 Black could yet hold with 3 . . . wd5 .

3 . . . c8

his active king, can calmly start his pawn.

I .bs wd7 After l . . .d3 2 .wb6 e2 3 .

wc6 the b-pawn is marching on.

2.wb6 d3 Nor did 3 . . . wfS help in The only move, because 3.

view of 4.Wf3 b5 5 .We3 and Wa7 and then 4.b6 was threat-the way toward the centre has opened for the white king.

4.c7 wf5 S.wf3 d7 6.we3 And the way is open to the

black camp.

( 48) Speelman

The following position is in fact a sequel to the previous study. White , thanks to

ened. 3.waSr

3 . . . wc8

56

3 . . . e4 would be met by 4.b6 b7 5 .5.

4.b6 wb7 s.c7 wc6 6.wb4 e4 7.\!?c4 wd7 8.\!?d4 b7 9. weS

And the white king arrives on e5 just in time.

( 49) Speelman

Gyula MeszAros

3.c7 wd7!? It enables a more stubborn

resistance than the continuation 3 . . . \!?e7 4.b8 l!?e6 5 .e5 .

4.b6 we6 After 4 . . . \!?e7 5 .d4 l!?e6 6.

e5 ! we find ourselves in the above-mentioned zugzwang variation.

s.a7! A familiar prophylaxis: it is

advisable to keep the bishop as far as possible from the black monarch! After 5 .c7 wd7 6.b8 l!?e7 7 .e5 i>e6 White can start it all over a gam.

s ... wf5 6.b8 we6 If 6 . . . c4, then 7 .c7 puts

The white monarch has Black in zugzwang, in the already broken through on same way as . . . the king's wing. I n conse- 7.e51 quence of a series of zugzwangs, Black is gradually driven out of his own camp.

t.wh6 d3 2.wg7 we6 No better is 2 . . . c4 3 .c7

d3 4.wf7 c4t 5 .\!?e7 b5 6. e5 either, and the way to the c5 square is open for the white king.


7 . . . we7 After 7 . . . 5 8.b5 the on

rush of the b-pawn carries the day.

8.wh6! wfl 9.wg5 we6 10. b8!

The ousting is over: one of the pawns starts, and this means victory for White .

(50) Speelman

With the knowledge of the previous three examples we might draw the (erroneus!) conclusion that White will also achieve the win in the position seen in the diagram. But at the proper moment Black can force the b-pawn to b6, while successfully fight-

ing back the white monarch's attempts at breaking through on the kingside . The aim is to take up the positional drawn position (fortress) presented by A verbakh.

l . ..dS!! Only at first sight looks

good l . . .bS? as after 2 .

58

because after 7.b5 e2 8.b6 a6 9.wg4 White would invade Black's position.) 7.b5 (or 7.wf2 we4) 7 . . . e8 8.b6 c6 9.wh4 wg6 I O.wg4 d7t.

4.b5 Or 4.wg3 ds s .w2 we4,

and we are in the same position where we started from.

4 . . . wg6r s.b6 On 5.wg4 e6t 6.wf3 w5

7.we3 d7 8.b6 c6 9.wd4 b7 l O.wcS we6 keeps the balance .

s . . . d5 6.wg4 e6t 7.wf3 dSt 8. we3 wf5

And it is a draw because Black has successfully taken up the fortress presented in Averbakh's study (see example 46) .

Gyula Meszaros

(51) Cheron

If we push the A verbakh study seen in example 46 one square to the left, we have the position seen in the diagram. Here , too, the distance between the pawns is three squares, the comer is good, and the space on the kingside is too great for Black to be able to hinder the white monarch from a "friendly" visit.

l.wd3 wf4 2.we2 b6 3.wn a7 4. wg2 b6

The logical-looking 4 . . . wg4 would be followed by S .eS ! w5 6.e6, and with the e-7 pawn threatening to promote Black's problems would only multiply.


s.wh3 2 6.b7 wgs 7.c6 wf4

After 7 . . . a7 8.d5 (and then 9 .e5) 8 . . . wf4 9 .wh4 White fights his way through Black's defence line .

8.d5 e3 Or 8 . . . wg5 9.e5 w5 10.e6

wf6 l l .wg4 we7 12 .wf5 d4 13 .g2 !

An important bishop manoeuvre which is worth impessing on your mind. 13 . . . wd6 14.h3 we7 (On 14 . . . b6 1 5 .wf6 would be decisive . ) 15 .we4 a7 16.wd5 and now it is on the queenside that the white king invades the enemy camp.

9.wh4 weS lO.whS wf6 l l .b7 a7 12.wh6 b6 13. wh7 d4

After 1 3 . . . Wf7 14.d5t wf6 15 .wg8 cS 16.b7!

16 . . . wg6 1 7 .c8 wf6 1 8 .5 Black would get into a mortal zugzwang.

t4.wgs cS Or 14 . . . we7 1 5 .d5 a7 16 .

eS and the advance of the epawn would result in White's victory.

15.d5 weS 16.wf7 wd6 t7.wf6

And White wins.

(52) Cheron 1954

60

In case of pawns separated by four or more squares, the defending side can only hope to achieve a draw if there is also an edge pawn on the board, the corner is bad for the attacking side, and the defending king can flee to this corner. That's what the next two studies will be about. The white king ought to get to a l , but, incomprehensibly, he sets out for the other direction . . .

t.w4! e2 Neither is l . . .a2 any better

as after 2.d4 e2 3.we3 dl 4.wd2 g3 S .wc l ! (The insolent bishop is of course taboo) 5 . . . g2 6.wb2 the white monarch arrives just in time.

2.d41 wb7 3.we31 Only now does White 's

first move become clear: the black bishop forced to e2 can be attacked with tempo by the white king on his way to the al square .

3 . . . bs 4.wd2 g3 s.wc2 g2 6.wbt

Gyula MeszAros

And the white king has arrived at the corner. It seems to be a transposition if White begins with 1 . d4? (instead of l .wf4) , yet it actually loses because of l . . .wc7! (of course not l . . .a2? in view of 2.wf4! ) 2 .wf4 c8 ! (on 2 . . . e2? 3 .we3 ! White would escape in the same manner seen in the main variation) 3 .we3 a2 4. wd2 wc6! 5 .wc2 wdS ! 6.f6 (or 6.wd3 g3 and Black wins) g3 7.wb2 g2 and the g-pawn promotes . White missed the tempo he won by attacking the e2 bishop (now the black bishop covered the g4 pawn from c8! ) , so the black king was able to chase away the white bishop from d4.


(53) Cheron 1954

In order to escape successfully, White adopts the plan seen in the previous example.

t.wgS! Faulty is l .wf4? as after 1 . . .

a2 2 .we3 h4 3.wd2 h3 one of the black pawns is queened.

l ... e2 2.wf4 And not 2 .f6? a2 3 .wf4 h4

4.we3 h3 S .wf2 g4 and Black wms.

2 . . . h4 3.we3 b5 Or 3 . . . c4 4.wd2 h3 s .wc l

a2 6.wc2 wb7 7.wc3 c4 (or 7 . . . wc6 s .wb4) s .wc2 ! d3t 9.wb3 and drawn.

4.wd2 h3 5.wc2 And it's a draw.

(54) Zaitsev - Lutikov Soviet Union 1976

For those who have studied the typical positions of the connected rook and knight pawns, it will be no problem to find the proper defending setup.

l.e8! wgS 2.fl el 3.e8 b4 4.fl W5 5.e8 d6 6. d7t wf6 7.es wg7 s.we4 wh6 9.fl wg5 to.wa wh6 n. we4 gS

Sooner or later Black has to decide to push the pawns.

t2.wf5! (Diagram)

And White is taking up the defending position intro-

62

duced by Tarrasch (see example 14) .

12 . . . g4 13/eB g3 14. c6 h4 15.wg4 e7

And Black, admitting that further attempts are senseless, offered peace to his opponent. .r.z

(55) Sillye - Karakas Sinaia 1960

If it were White 's move,

Gyula Meszm-os

he would successfully take up the drawn position after 1 . w2! whS 2 .e7 g4 3 .we3 g3 4.wf4! , but Black is to play first.

1 ... wg31 2.c7t Naturally, Black could not

take the gS pawn: 2 .xg5? h3 and Black wins.

2 .. . wh3 3.wf2 White is getting ahead of

the developments, as passive waiting would result in a quick capitulation, e .g . : 3 .b8 g4 4.c7 g3 s .d6 wg4 6.c7 h3 and Black wins easily.

3 . . . g4 4.we3 g3 5.wf4 g21 6.b6 wh2 7.wg4 h3 s.wh4

"Catch 22" - one would think, but Black has not shot his bolt yet.

8 .. . g11!!1 1 1


A magnificent vacating sacrifice (g2 square) , after which White falls into a mortal zugzwang! (For the sake of historical fidelity it must be remarked that in the game 8 . . . f3 9.c5 g l ! ! occurred, and it is also a fact that Black could have made the move gl ! ! as early as the sixth move. )

9.xgtt wg2! to.wg4 aS n.wh4 3!

Zugzwang. 12.a8 :taB 13.wg4 b7

t4.wh4 3! The last, decisive , stab .

White resigned.

(56) Pines - Voronkov Soviet Union 1957

White ought to defend against the advance of the gpawn, but in case of Black's accurate play this plan is inexecutable .

l.c5 In the game l .Wgl occur

red, and after l . . .c4 2.wh2 a) 2.wg2 dSt 3 .wf2 w5; b) 2 .wf2 w5 3.c5 g4 4.wg2

dSt 5 .wh2 wgS 6.e7t whS 7.d6 g3t 8 .xg3 hxg3t 9 . Wxg3 b3;

c) 2 .c5 wh3 3.e7 g4 4. w2 g3t s .wf3 g2 6.cs wh2 7 .wg4 h3 8 .wh4 g l ! ! and Black wins in all variations .

2 . . . Wh5 3.2 g4 and White capitulated. The text move was given an exclamation mark by the analysts, as the only continuation leading to draw, but in reality after . . .

l . . .c4! White cannot save his

position. A gross blunder would be l . . . whS? 2 .wgl c4 3.wf2 g4 4.we3 g3 (or 4 . . . h3 5 .d6 wh4 6.wf2 and the position is equal . ) 5 .wf4! and

64

White has successfully brought about the already well-known drawn position.

2.wg2 Or 2.0.e7 0.d5 ! 3 .0.d8 (3.\!?gl

l!?g3 ! This must have escaped the analysts attention. 4.0.xg5 h3 and the h-pawn promotes.) 3 . . . \!?hS 4.\!?gl g4 5 .1!?2 g3t 6.\!?e3 h3 and the h-pawn cannot be arrested.

2 .. . 0.d5t 3.wf2 wh3 And Black wins.

(57) Charousek - Suechting Berlin 1897

In his book Vegjatekiskola (Endgame School) Jeno Ban praises White for his virtuosic

Gyula Meszaros

endgame conduct. In fact, none of them (neither the players nor the author) were aware of the niceties of the diagrammed position.

t .0.d2 wf5 2.wt2 0.d3 3.g4t l!?g6 4.\!?g3 f5 5.h4?!

An unnecessarily committing move which does not provide an opportunity for the opponent to err. With his connected h-g pawns, White can only win if he is able to keep his b2 pawn from being exchanged (the a8 corner is bad! ) , but the life of the b2 pawn is in Black's hands . Black should not trust in his d4 pawn ever playing a leading role in this performance,


therefore he ought to have played c4-c3 long ago, getting rid of White 's only dangerous piece. Instead of 5 .h4? ! , a bit more cunning would have been 5 .h3 as after s . . . fxg4? 6.hxg4 c3 7.bxc3 dxc3 8.xc3 c4 9.f4 e6 l O.aS d7 1 1 . d8 e6 12 .h4 d7 1 3.

66

7.h5t wh7?1 It does not lose yet, but it

is obvious that Black has no idea about what he should play for. The solution is very simple, only you must know Tarrasch' position: 7 . . . wf7 8. wf4 c3! 9.bxc3 dxc3 10.xc3 d1 1 l .Wf5 e2 12 .Wg5 d1 1 3.wh4 e2 1 4.g5 we6 15 .g6 w5 and it's a draw. But let's not be wholly unjust, because this game was played 24 years before the publication of Tarrasch' study!

s.wh4 d17 Black is throwing away the

half-point. He could still have escaped after 8 . . . 3! 9.wg3

a) No better is 9.g5


1o.g6 wf6 l l .gSt wg7 A sad awakening. After

1 1 . . .\l'l5 12 .g7 the pawn would promote . Only now does it turn out that the pawn sacrifice with c4-c3 would not only have liquidated the b2 pawn but it would also have opened the diagonal a2-g8, indispensable to survive.

12.e7 And Black resigned. Though

objectively the position is losing, Black could still have tried to resist with . . .

12 . . . c3 White can only win in a

study-like manner: 13.bxc3 On 1 3.wg5? xh5 ! 14.f6t

wg8 1 5 .xd4 (A terrible blunder would be 1 5 .bxc3?? as after 1 5 . . . d3! Black would win!) 1 5 . . . cxb2 1 6.xb2 e2; And if 1 3 .c5? , then 1 3 . . . cxb2 1 4. wgS (or 1 4.xd4t wh6 1 5 . xb2 xh5 1 6.g7 f7 and drawn.) 1 4 . . . xh5 15 .xd4t wg8 16.xb2 e2 would follow with an equal position.

13 . . . d31 The move giving most prac

tical chances. After 1 3 . . . dxc3 14.\!lgS c2 (or 1 4 . . . xh5 15 . f6t wg8 1 6.wxh5 c2 17 .b2 and the white bishop collars the black pawn.) the c-pawn would reach the promotion square with check, but the only trouble is that Black is checkmated. 1 5 .h6t wg8 1 6. h7t wg7 1 7.f6t wfB 1s.hB#.

14.g5 a 1s.d2 wf6 16. c4!!

A splendid breakthrough on the basis of the principle "create as distant passed pawns as possible" . The d2 bishop restrains the enemy infantrymen on one diagonal, what's

68

more, it covers its own, newly-born, passed pawn on a4.

16 . . . bxc4 17.c3t w5 18. a4 dS 19.a5 b7 20.g7

Also winning is 20.a6 d2 2 l .xd2 c3 22.axb7 cxd2 23. b8 dl 24.f8t We6 25.f7t WeS 26.g7 but White needn't take unnecessary risks.

20 . . . d5 2l .a6 d2 The only move, or else one

of the white pawns will be queened.

22.d2 Q;>f6 23.c3t wfl 24.wg5 wgs 2s.wf6 wh7 26.we5

And White wins easily even without the hS pawn.

1-0

(58) Portisch - Acs HUN Team ch 2002

Gyula Meszaros

Here the players were already inside their last five minutes. White 's plan is this: l .eSt WxeS 2.e7 xe7 3.7 cS 4.xh5 wf5 5 .e8 we6 (the threat was 6.d7t) 6.c6 d4 7.b7 c3 (7 . . . Wd7 is met by 8.e2) 8.c8t WeS 9.xg4, exchanging his doubled epawns for a connected pair of h-g passed pawns.

l .eSt Wxe5 In the game, the young

grandmaster of Paks played l . . . Wg7? and after 2 .c6 e7 3 .e8 wh6 4.7 he was quickly compelled to resign, whereas the position was actually an easy draw. All Black has to do is bravely enter into his opponent's intention, that is to say:

2.e7 e7 3.f7 cS 4. Q;>5 s.e8 we6 6.c6 d4 7. b7 c3 8.c8t weS 9.xg4

(Diagram) We returned to the begin

ning of our analysis . What we must know about the diagrammed position is that it is


a draw, independently of the existence of the queenside pawns. In his 192 1 study (example 14) , Tarrasch shows the proper defence.

It doesn't make any difference if White tries to hinder his opponent's plan: 9 .wf2 We4 10.xg4 d4t 1 1 .We2 e5 12 .wf2 d4t 1 3.wg2 c3 14. f3t We3 15 .g4 e 1 and we are in the main variation.

9 . . . el l

And now White can no longer win!

to.dt wf6 n . c2 we5 t2.wf3 wf6 t3.wg4 f2 t4.wh3 we5 15.g4

If White wants to get any further, he must play g4.

15 . . . wf4 16.g5 el 17.g6 c3 18.h5 wg5 19.dl a5 20. wg3 wh6 2t .wf4 wg7 22.wfS d2 23. we6 h6 24. wd7 gS 25.wc6 wh6 26.wbs dB

And White cannot improve his position. It is a part of the story that while the two grandmasters were struggling with each other, a lively debate evolved in the corridor among the players of the two teams, trying to guess whether or not the position could be won. To pass judgement on it, the choice immediately fell on me as an "expert" , and when after a short think I declared that the position was a "dead draw", just very few people believed me. Nor did even the two grandmasters for a while during the post mortem analysis ! . . .

70

(59) W altlier - Fischer Zurich 1959

It is seemingly of no significance which pawn of his White pushes first; the criterion of achieving the win is that the b-pawn should reach the sixth rank.

l .b4! In the game followed: 1 .

a4? wc7 2.b4 wb8! (On 2 . . . f4? 3.wa6 wd6 4.b5 wc5 5 .b6 wb4 6.d1 would come with decisive force . ) 3 .a5 (or 3.wa5 wa7 4.b5 c7t s .wb4 d6t 6.wc4 wb6 and Black has successfully blocked the enemy pawns.) 3 . . . wa7 4.wc4 (on 4.wa4 g3 5 .b5 c7 6.d5 d8 7.wb4 c7 8.b6t xb6 9.axb6t wxb6 10 .

Gyula Mszaros

wc4 wc7 1 l .wd4 wd6 1 2 .we4 we7 1 3.wf5 wf8 14.wg6 we7 Black would hold the balance, since the white monarch could win the h4 pawn only at the expense of letting the black king into the corner. ) 4 . . . g3 5 .wb3 e 1 6.wa4 d2 7.h5 e 1 8.b5 2 9.e2 e3 10.wb3 d2 !

1 l .b6t wb7 1 2 .wa4 (or 12 . f3t wa6 1 3 .b7 wa7 and drawn.) 12 . . . wc6 1 3 .b5t wc5 14.e8 e 1 . The position in Tarrasch' study has been brought about. Now Black can hold his position even without a piece sacrifice , so a draw was agreed.

l . . .wc7 2.wa5 wb8 It is hard to give any ad

vice because Black cannot hinder White's plan.


3.b5 cS 4.b6 a3 s.wa6

Zugzwang. s ... wc8 6.wa7 cS 7.a4 d4

8.a5 And White wins. Well,

the victory of the Swiss chess player against young grandmaster Bobby Fischer would have depended only on this much!

( 60) Korchnoi - Pelletier Biel 2001

Although this is seemingly a simple position, holding the draw requires Black great accuracy.

L.gt l 2.wh31 The craftiest continuation,

as after the other possibility -2.h3 2 3 .wg4 wg7 4.h4 wf6 S .c2 e l - the sides can calmly sign the peace treaty.

2 .. . wm

Incredible as it may seem, this seemingly good - but in fact inconsistent with the basic principles ( !) - king move loses. What Black must defend against is the advance of the g-pawn and not the hpawn, therefore he should have commanded the bishop back to cS : 2 . . . c5 ! 3 .l!?g4 (or 3.g4 d6 4.\!?g2 e7 5 .h3 h4

72

6.wf3 wg7 7.wf4

7 . . . wh6! (7 . . . wf6? would fail to achieve the desired aim, as after 8.c2 Black would fall into zugzwang. 8 . . . g5t 9.wg3 d2 10 .wh4) 8.c2 d8 and the fortress has been built up.)

3 . . . wg7 [It is no use striving for repeating moves with 3 . . . gl i n view o f 4.wf3! (to an easy draw for Black would lead the continuation 4.h4? 2 s .wh3 wg7 6.g4 wf6 7.c2 weS 8 .g5 wf4) 4 . . . c5 5 .g4! (Once again White would let the win slip away with 5 .h4? b4! 6.wf2 - or 6.g4 e l 7.h5 d2 and the position is even -6 . . . e7 7.wg2 wg7 s.wh3 wf6 9.g4 b4 1 0.c2 weS l l .gS wf4) 5 . . . e7 6.h3 h4 (or 6 . . .

Gyula Mszaros

wg7 7.wg3 wf6 s.c2 d6t 9. wh4 f4 l O.whS and now the white pawns get going) 7 .wf4 wg7 8.g5 and White's knight pawn has crossed the halfway line, which means victory for him at the same time . ]

4.h4 (White does not get any further either after 4.wh4 gl ; or after 4.wf3 d6 5 .h4 b4 6.g4 e l ) 4 . . . 2 s .wh3 wf6 6.c2 weS 7.g4 wf4 and Tarrasch' position has been brought about.

3.g4 wf6 4. wg3 e3 A bit trickier would have

been 4 . . . c5 as White can still err: 5 .h4? (5 .wh4! wins easily. ) s . . . b4 6.wf4 d2t 7.we4 e l 8.g5t wg7 9.h5 d2 10 . h6t wh8 and with his bishop stranded unhappily on 5, the white king cannot defend his gS pawn.

5.c2 And of course not 5 .h4? in

view of 5 . . . d2 ! s . . . d2 6.wh4!

(Diagram)


And Black resigned. 1-0

(61) J. Hjartarson - J. Piket Tilburg 1989

White 's plan is given: he must create a pair of passed pawns. But this realization is not enough by a long chalk because White 's choice of which pawn to sacrifice makes all the difference!

36.f4! On 36.h4? gxh4 37.wg2

(Only seemingly good is 37. gS since after 37 . . . e7 ! 38.f4 d6 39.g6 f8 40.wg2 wc7 41 . wh3 wd6 42 .wxh4 we7 43.wgs g7 it t'\J.rns out that White cannot win in view of the violation of the "pawn push rule" .) 37 . . . c5 ! ! Black would escape.

Every other move loses, but to the question of why I will give you the answer only in the following study!

36 .. . gxf4 No better is either 36 . . . Wc7

37.fxg5 wd6 38.wg2 weS 39.h4 wf4 40.c8 b4 41 .wh3 e l 42.g6 c3 43.g5 g7 44.wg2 b2 45 .wf2 c3 46.we2 d4 47.wd3 h8 48.wc4 and the forging ahead of the white

74

monarch decides the battle ; or 36 . . . e7 37.fxg5 xg5 38. wg2 wc7 (or 38: . . h4 39.37.h4 wc7 On 37 . . . b4 38.wg2 e l 39.

wh3 wc7 40.gs wd6 41 .wg4 f3 42 .h5 f2 43.h6 38.we2 wd6 39.wf3 wes 40. d3 b4 41 .g5 a5 42.h5 e7 43.wg4 a4 44.h6 f8 45.wh5

And Black resigned. The final stage of the game required no comment, but at the beginning of our analysis we left some questions unanswered; to these I will give you the answer in the course of the solution of the next study.

1--0

Gyula Meszliros


If in the previous game grandmaster Hjartarson had sacrificed his h-pawn, then his opponent could have drawn, but there is a vast difference between the two positions: in the game in question, the white king is on f1 , but here , in this study, it stands on the gl square !

l.fl! l The only move ensuring

the win. At any rate, it is not difficult to see that both after l .g5 e7! 2 .f4 d6 3.5 f4 4.g6 es s .wg2


{j;e7 3.wg2 wc7 4.wf3 {j;gS 5 . we4 wd6 White 's kingside pawns are forced to station on light squares, and Black comfortably builds up his fortress. But what happens if l .wg2 is responsed with l . . .(j;cS ! ! ? 2 .f4

a) On 2.g5 (j;e7 ! (and not 2 . . . h3t? in view of 3.wxh3 {j)_x2 4.wg4 wc7 5 .wh5 wd6 6. g6 (j;d4 7.wh6 we7 8.g7 and White wins. ) 3 .f4 (j;d6 4.g6 {j)_f8 s .wh3 wc7 6.wxh4 {j;g7 7 .wg5 wd6 8 .5 we7 the fortress would be built just in time;

b) The line 2.(j;fl h3t 3.wg3 h2 4.{j;g2 (j;d6t 5 .f4 wc7 would be identical with the main variation;

2 . . . (j;d6 3 .wf3 h3! 4.(j;fl h2 S .{j;g2 wc7 6.g5 and White sooner or later wins the enemy bishop, and the a-pawns are still on the board. The comer is good, and it looks that the h2 pawn counts for little . 6 . . . wd7 7.5 (j;eS 8.wg4 (or 8.we4 wd6 9.f6 we6 10 . (j;h3t wd6 l l .{j;g2 we6 and

White cannot get further.) s . . . we7 9.whs (j;c3 I O .wg6 (j;d4 l l .f6t we6 1 2 .wh7. White wins his opponent's bishop in any case, but in the meantime his king has moved away from the future area of war. 12 . . . (j;xf6!

Black might yet wait with the sacrifice, but thus he can just wring out the desired draw with tempo. 1 3 .gxf6 wxf6 14.wh6 wes 1 s .wgs wd4 16.wf4 wc3 1 7 .wg3 wb2 18 .a4 wa3 19 .a5 wb4 20.a6 waS 2 1 . {j;b7 h l 22.(j;xh l Wxa6 and drawn. Given the knowledge of this variation, now the initial move of White is clear: its aim is to hinder the h4 pawn from pressing forward.

l ...wc7 l . . .(j;cS? would have failed

in view of 2 .(j;h3!

76

2 . . . wc7 3.wg2 d6 (the threat was 4.f4) 4.Wf3 c5 (and now 5.we4) 5 .we2 d6 6.wd3 and Black is now helpless against White 's plan.

2. wg2 d6 3. wa cS 4. we2 d6 S.wd3 wd7 6.we4 we6 7.f4 wf6

Since the black pawn could not move from the h4 square, White 's bishop can effectively join in the battle, with the result that White achieves the win without any particular effort.

8.g5t wg6 9.h3 c7 10. wa whS

Gyula Meszaros

l l .d71 Threatening 12 .e8 mate ! 1 1 .. .wg6 t2.wg4 h3 t3.f5t

wfl t4.Wxh3 And White wins easily.

(63) S. Tatar Kis - A. Horvath HUN Team ch 2008

In spite of the material balance, White's position is lost.

46 ... eS 47.Wf2 f5 48.wg3 g'P.


A typical error which is not a 'privilege' of amateur chess players alone, but is also characteristic, at least in the same extent, of grandmasters' way of thinking - viz . , holding fast to material (though their motive is somewhat different) . The solution is very simple: while the white monarch is busy liquidating the h3 private, the pair of passed pawns are lunging forward, and White will not have enough time left to take up the proper defensive setup (wf2, d2) . The queenside pawns are of no importance for any of the sides ; for White , because the black bishop controls all four of them from one diagonal, and Black's a-pawn is almost entirely valueless in view of the wrong corner. On the evidence of all these, Black could have easily achieved the win with 48 . . .f4t ! There may have followed 49.\!?xh3 l!?e6 50.\!?g4 (or 50.2 wf5 5 l .e l e4

52.wh2 e3 53.\!?gl f3 54.h4 l!?g4 55 .e l b5 and in view of the zugzwang, White rapidly loses.) 50 . . . wf6 5 1 .2 d7t 52.\!?3 wf5 53.e l e4t 54.\!?e2 b5t 55 .wd2 (or 55 . wf2 e3t 56.\!?3 c6t 57.\!?e2 l!?e4 and Black wins. ) 55 . . . e3t 56.\!?c3 l!?e4 and now no one can arrest the black pawns. In the game followed:

49.a4 fl so.bs f4t 5l .wh2 xb5

The only chance to grind out a win, since after 5 1 . . . axb5 52.axb5 xb5 53.wxh3 l!?e6 54.\!?g4 wf6 55 .2 d7t 56.\!?3 wf5 57.\!?e2 e4 58.wd2 l!?g4 59.e l \!?3 60.h4 b5 61 .\!?c3 e3 62 .wd4 c6 63.\!?d3 would follow with a typical situation of Catch 22, where neither side can improve his position. It is a fact that after

52.axb5 axb5 53.2 b4 White's position seems to

be critical. 54.c6tl

(Diagram)

78

A spectacular pawn sacrifice , the only saving move at the same time! Black must have examined only 54.e l ? whereupon he would really have won after 54 . . . 3! (54 . . . b3?? i s only enough for the silver medal: 55 .c3 e4 56. wxh3 e3 57. wg2 wc6 58. w3 wd7 59.we2 wc6 60.d4 wd7 61 .wd3 wc6 62.wc3 e2 63.2 and Black loses all his pawns.) 55 .wg3 55 . . . h2!

Gyula Mesdros

54 . . . Wxc6 Or 54 . . . wxd6 55 .c5t ! wxc6

56.xb4 and the position is equal .

55.c51 The bishop is taboo, other

wise the d-pawn promotes, but thus the bishop can interfere in the struggle, winning an important tempo.

ss . . . b3 s6.a3 e4 s7.wxh3 e3 58.wg2 e2 59.wf2 f3 60.wel

And here they agreed to a draw. Y.z-lh

(64) Tolnai - Sherbakov Bern 1 992

The essence of Black's flee-56.Wxh2 f2! 57. b3 and ing plan is that he marches

the b-pawn cannot be stopped. into the (good) corner, ex-


changes his a-pawn against one of the 'white queenside pawns, after which he can already sacrifice his bishop with a light heart.

l . . .a41 Black instantly starts car

rying out his plan made for destroying the queenside pawns.

2.wdl The white monarch is not

idling around either, he is running to help his soldier on b2 .

2 . . . e51 The h2 pawn being of no

importance whatsoever, Black does not waste time on liquidating it.

3.wcl There is no better as after

3.c3 a3! 4.bxa3 xc3 5 .h6 We7 6.c4 wf6 Black would successfully realize his notion.

3 .. . we7 4.wbl White does not yet give up

his hope of winning; to a quick draw would have led the continuation 4.b5 e3 5 .xa4 b2t !

4 .. . wf6 s. wa2 d6t

The white king must not be allowed to go to a3!

6.h4 wg7 7.c3 e3 8.wbl wh6 9.3 wg7 1o.wc2

Or lO .dl wh6 and it's a draw because the bishop cannot take on a4, or the e-pawn would promote.

10 . . . a31 That's what it's about !

After taking the pawn:

80

l l .b:xa3 White agreed to a draw.

Instead of the text, also conside red was 1 1 . b4, but after 1 1 . . . a2 ! 1 2 .wb2 eS 1 3 .b5 xc3t the conclusion of peace is inevitable . lh-lh

(65) Kaidanov - Antoshin Bryansk 1984

1.wn If in the diagrammed posi

tion White played the stereotyped l .f4?, he would be in for an unpleasant surprise , as after l . . .gS ! ! 2 .hxg5 hxgS 3. xgS , in spite of his two extra pawns, the game would end inevitably in a draw. All Black has to do is hurry to b7

Gyula Mesdros

with his king, and then sacrifice his bishop on dS for the second white passed pawn. Against this plan White can do nothing. Nor would the trickier variation of this idea (i .e. forcing the h6 pawn to hS , creating thereby a hole in gS) succeed: l .wd2 a8 2 .wc3 b7 3.wb4 we7 4.g7 hS s .wc3 wd6 6.wd2 wdS 7.we 1 wc4 8. wfl wd3 9. wg 1 we2 and the unexpected counterattack of the black monarch suddenly makes the white king's daydreams of attack melt away. Therefore White - for lack of anything better - opts for the third path.

l . . .as 2.\iJgl dS 3.wh2 a8 4.wg3

White's another attempt at weakening the gS square would also have ended in failure in view of 4.wh3 dS s .g4 fxg4t 6.wxg4 a8 7.wh3 dS 8.wg2 a8 9.\iJfl dS 10 . we2 a8 1 1 .wd2 dS 1 2 .wc3 a8 1 3 .wb4 dS 1 4.\iJcS we7 15 .g7 hS 16.wb4 wd7 1 7 .wc3


weB 18.wd2 wb7 19 .we l c4! , and once again the white king does not reach the Promised Land.

4 .. . d5 5.c7 we7 The only move as, for

example , on 5 . . . a8 6.wf4 g5t 7.we5 ! gxh4 (on 7 . . . we7 8.h5 ! wins . ) 8.wd6 f4 9.exf4 wf6 10 . d8t wfS 1 l .xh4 e3 12 .fxe3 xg2 1 3 .wc7 d5 14.wb8 we4 1 5 . a8 xa8 1 6 .Wxa8 Wxe3 17 .5 ! ; whilst on 5 . . . g5 6.h5 a8 7.e5 d5 8.wh2 (now the king stroll is good at last! ) 8 . . . a8 9.wg1 d5 l O.wfl a8 1 l .we2 d5 12 .wd2 a8 13 . wc3 ds 1 4.wb4 we7 15 .wc5 a8 16.wb6 wd7 17.g7 White would collect the full point.

6.f4 g5 What is this? On 7 hxg5

hxg5 8 xg5 it's a draw after all !

7.5tll (Diagram)

Magnificent! While with two pawns up White would be compelled to come to terms

with the draw, with a piece down - true, in return for three pawns - he enforces the win!

7 . . . bxgs s.bxgs wfl 9.f41 Only this move was held

good by the analysts, putting a question mark (by the way, rightly) to 9.wf4?, though the variations given are entirely bad. 9 . . . wg6 1 0.f3 wfl?

With 10 . . . wh5 ! Black holds, e.g. 1 l .g4t (or 1 l .fxe4 fxe4 12 .We5 Wxg5 1 3.a8 xa8 1 4. wxe6 wg4 1 5 .d5 wg3 16.we5 wxg2 1 7 .wxe4 w2 1 8 .wd4 xd5 19 . Wxd5 Wxe3) 1 l . . .fxg4 12 .fxe4 c6 1 3 .g6 Wxg6 1 4. wxg4 xe4 1 5 .wf4 a8 16.we5 wfl 17.e4 we7 and the position is equal.

82

l l .fxe4?. A very weak move. ( l l .we5 ! exf3 1 2 .gxf3 xf3 1 3.g6t We7 (At once losing would be 1 3 . . . Wxg6 because of 1 4.wxe6 a8 15 .d5 wg5 16.d6) 1 4.g7 wf7 15 .g8t wxg8 16. wxe6 b7 17 .wxf5 wf7 18.e4 we7 1 9.e5 d5 20.e6 wd6 (on 20 . . . xe6t 21 .we5 ; whilst on 20 . . . b7 2 1 .we5 c6 22 .d5 b7 23.d6t would decide . ) 2 1 .wf6 wc7 22 .e7 wd7 23.a8 xa8 24.wf7 would win.) 1 1 . . . fxe4 1 2 .we5 wg6 1 3 .a8 xa8 1 4.wxe6 wxg5 15 .d5 wg4 16.d6 c6 17 .d7 xd7t 18 .wxd7 wg3 1 9 .wd6 w2 20.g4 wxe3 2 1 .g5 wd2 22.g6 e3 23.g7 e2 24.g8 e l and it's a draw.

9 . . . wg6 IO.wh4 as n.g41

The point of this move will

Gyula Meszaros

become obvious only after ten moves.

l l .. . fxg4 Idle waiting does not help

Black either. After l l . . .d5 12 .gxf5t ex5 the white monarch strolls over to the queen's wing, and the three white passed pawns triumph over the bishop. 13 .wg3 wf7 14.wf2 we7 15 .we l wd6 16.wd2 wc7 17.wc3 wb7 1 8.wb4 wxa7 9 .wcs gs 2o.wd6 wb6 2 1 .g6 wb5 22 .we5 wc4 23.wxf5 wd3 24.d5 xd5 25 .We5 b3 26.5 wxe3 27 .f6 wd2 28 .f7 and White wins.

12.wxg4 d.S t3.wg3 wfl 14.wf2 we7 15.wel wd6 16.wd2 c6 17.wc3 a8 18.wb4 d'S 19.g6 we7 20.wc5 wf6 21 .51

White creates his third


passed pawn, which rapidly decides.

21 . . . a8 22.fxe6 wxe6 23. dSt

And Black laid down his arms.

1--0

(66) B. Larsen - R. Huebner Leningrad 1973

pawn, which is sufficient to drive the advantage home . Black's c-pawn does not make too much difference as the white bishop can block it in a way that meanwhile it is able to protect its pawns advanced either to f6 or aS . After analysing for some moments, an interesting idea flashed occurred to me and I felt that perhaps the position was not lost for Black after all. Anyhow, the two introductory moves of Black's plan are rather astounding!

l . . . c41 In the game l . . .b5? was

played. The German grandmaster is trying to hinder the

To the following position advance of the a-pawn, but my attention was called by the trouble is that in view of grandmaster Berkes. White's the

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Gyula Mészáros - The Secrets of the Opposite-Coloured Bishop Endings%2C Vol.I

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