Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Rook vs. Minor Piece

Chapter 2 Rook vs. a Pair of Minor Pieces
Chapter 3 Rook and Minor Piece Against Different Forces

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 101 Endgame Masterclasses
Rooks and Material Imbalances

Alexander Galkin

101 Endgame Masterclasses: Rooks and Material Imbalances

Author: Alexander Galkin
Translated from the Russian by Grigory Baranov
Typesetting by Andrei Elkov
Cover page drawing by Julia Ryzhova
© LLC Elk and Ruby Publishing House, 2022. All rights reserved
Follow us on Twitter: @ilan_ruby
www.elkandruby.com
ISBN 978-5-604784877

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 About the Author

Alexander Galkin was born in 1979 in Rostov-on-Don,

Russia. Grandmaster (1997). Russian junior champion in
his age-groups (1989 and 1993). Russian under-20
champion (1999). Second in the Soviet junior
championship in his age-group (1991). Second in the
European junior championship in his age-group (1991).
Member of the winning Russian team in the world junior Olympiad (1994). World
under 20 champion (1999). Member of the winning Khimik team in the Russian
team championship (1999). Prize-winner in other Russian team championships for
various teams (1996, 1998, 2003, and 2008). Participant in two FIDE world
championships (2000 and 2004) and the FIDE world cup (2007). Member of the
Russian team in the European team championship (1999). Outright winner or prize
winner in a number of international tournaments.
His pupils include outright winners or prize winners in Russian, European and
world championships among juniors and junior girls across the age-groups. He was
named Children’s Trainer of the Year in 2016 by the Russian Chess Federation.
Possesses three university degrees. This is his third book for Elk and Ruby.

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 Chapter 1
Rook vs. Minor Piece

The first rule to keep in mind for this type of endgame is that if there are no pawns
left on the board then a king and rook defeat a king and minor piece in only a
handful of cases. It happens either when the minor piece falls to a pin or a fork, or
when the weaker side’s king is cut off on the last rank or on the rook file while the
king of the stronger side helps create mating threats. Moreover, we specifically
highlight king and rook vs. king and knight endgames in which the weaker side’s
king has been pushed to the last rank and his knight is located by it, as defying such
“rule of thumb” evaluation over the board.
The advent of strong computer programs and special endgame tablebases has
opened up new horizons for the stronger side in terms of playing for a win in such
endings. In the past, almost all such positions were considered to be a draw. At
present, however, an engine can produce an exact chain of moves which in some
positions sets a combination of mating threats to the king and threats to win the
knight that force the weaker side’s knight to move away from its king, resulting in
the stronger side’s successful hunt for the knight using the combined forces of his
rook and king. However, to determine the point of no return between a drawn and a
lost endgame of this type is a challenge even for a top chess player.
In this book we analyze endings in which the strongest grandmasters of our time
prove in practice every conclusion stated above by the author. It is also important to
note that, in the overwhelming majority of cases, the minor piece stops the stronger
side’s king and rook from edging the weaker side’s king away from the center and to
the edge of the board, unless the defending side commits grave errors. Therefore,
when defending such endgames, it is of high importance to avoid making careless
moves from the very beginning, so as not to find yourself in a position that can be
saved with nothing but “only” moves. You may find this a tall order given the
situation of an over-the-board game and the likelihood of finding yourself pressed
for time by the time you reach the endgame. On the other hand, all the above points
in reverse can apply in equal measure to the stronger side, especially if they lack
belief in their ability to execute such endings. You absolutely need to test your
opponents for mastery of such endings and exploit any errors they might commit.

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 It is only natural that the addition of pawns dramatically increases the winning
chances of the stronger side, if, of course, we mean positions with an equal number
of pawns and the weaker side doesn’t have any dangerous passers. In this case, we
can add at least two winning methods to those stated above: (i) transition to a
winning pawn endgame, and (ii) grabbing a pawn (pawns) from the weaker side with
the subsequent queening of the stronger side’s pawn. Accordingly, the total number
and location of pawns become important factors when it comes to evaluating such
endgames. All other things being equal, more often than not the presence of pawns
on one flank only increases the defending side’s chances. This has to do, among
other things, with the rook being a more mobile piece and requiring less effort to
swing between flanks to attack different enemy pawns. The chances are that, in
positions with pawns on both flanks, a minor piece will simply not make it to help its
pawns, which is especially true for a knight.
You clearly need to evaluate each specific position, taking into account not only
the location of the pawns, rook and minor piece, but of both kings as well. We
should never forget that the king becomes a key and independent piece in an
endgame and that its active role has a huge influence on the evaluation of any
ending, the only exceptions being some major- and many-piece endings in which the
offensive potential of the remaining pieces is still capable of creating mating threats
to the king. The side looking for ways to make its king active in an endgame cannot
ignore this circumstance.
If the king and rook vs. king and minor piece endgame has pawns as well, you
need to know at least the basic positions classified as theoretical draws.

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 Known theoretical draws

This knowledge will facilitate correct evaluation and decision-making in particular

endgame positions. Moreover, this book will help you to see how strong
grandmasters take advantage of their knowledge of drawn setups in this type of
endgame. This knowledge is of vital importance and in no way inferior to that of
opening lines.

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 Also important to note is that besides general knowledge of endgame handling, a
strong chess player cannot do without the knowledge of techniques inherent to
solving study positions. The vast majority of studies feature imbalanced-material
endgames. Indeed, this book contains examples that show how knowledge of studies
solving techniques allows grandmasters to create a work of art during actual play.
It goes without saying that being an exchange up in the type of endgames in
question is not an automatic guarantee that the side having the rook can play for a
win. The side lacking the exchange may have one, two or even three pawns by way
of compensation. In this case, the tables may turn in favor of the side possessing a
minor piece. This book provides lots of examples to help you understand the inner
workings of the struggle between the sides. Similarly to the cases described above,
the ability to save a half-point in this type of endgame (where the side with the
initiative is an exchange down but with extra pawns) largely depends on the activity
of the defending side’s rook and king, as well as on the number of squares between
the opponent’s extra passed pawns and the promotion square. Is there enough time to
eliminate or stop them before they reach a critical square for getting promoted, after
which saving the game is possible no longer?
Yet another key factor in saving such endgames for the defending side with a rook
is the ability to get rid of all the opponent’s pawns even at the cost of the rook. This
is because we know that a single minor piece cannot normally deliver checkmate, i.e.
unless there is a blunder or in rare cases of a study-like win in a position with a
rook’s pawn on the board. Another way to reach a draw in such a situation would be
to transpose into a position with a bishop and a rook’s pawn for the stronger side, in
which the lone king of the weaker side controls the promotion square of the
opponent’s pawn and the bishop is of the color opposite to this promotion square. To
promote a pawn in this situation becomes impossible, and the extra bishop is useless.

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 Typical drawn positions

Positions with a knight and rook’s pawn vs. a lone king when the pawn stands on
the penultimate rank with the knight defending it also belong to this case, even if on
a much less frequent basis. The weaker side’s king controls the promotion square
and any attempts to reassign pawn protection duties to the king result in stalemate.
Finally, this type of position also includes the stronger side having a knight and

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any pawn other than a rook’s pawn, but its king being far away and unable to help
his pieces while the weaker side’s king is well-placed to attack simultaneously both
the only remaining pawn and the knight protecting it. This enables it to drive the
knight away and capture the pawn, or, alternatively, to start by capturing the knight
and then switch to dealing with the pawn.

Draw

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 Win

To meet this condition, it is crucial for the defending side that the opponent’s
knight be posted above the pawn in its custody. Otherwise, capturing the knight
results in the weaker side’s king stepping out of the square of the pawn and allowing
it to queen.
We may continue adding to the list of potential positions with different material
imbalances and some theoretically drawn positions that might happen along the way.
However, that would exceed the scope of this book and they are better served as
input material for other types of endgame.
We wrap up the introduction to this chapter by demonstrating yet another
important theoretical endgame position that any chess player should know.

White wins easily with Black to move because the black king cannot avoid letting
his white counterpart out of the corner with the subsequent queening of the pawn.
However, it is a draw with White to move. The black king keeps his white
counterpart boxed in by shuffling between the f7 and f8-squares. The white knight is
unable to pass the turn to move on to his opponent to take over control of the above
squares in the starting position no matter the route chosen. This distinctive feature of
a knight – an inability to pass the turn to move – is a crucial piece of knowledge for
any chess player.

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 Rook vs. Minor Piece
We begin by reviewing example positions from grandmaster games in which the
side having a minor piece against the rook attempts to make a draw by resorting to
such factors as reaching a drawn position (a “positional draw”) or reaching a small
number of pawns (allowing the game to reach a drawn rook vs. minor piece endgame
without any pawns on the board), among others.
Example No. 1
Jung Min Seo – A. Rasmussen
Catez 2021

White to move

Which approach is better suited to saving the game – active counterplay or passive
resistance? This dilemma is relevant to nearly every type of endgame, and the
answer to this question is not always straightforward.

101.Nxf5?

White errs in believing that his pawn, supported by the king, will make it to the
queening square to secure him a draw.
101.Kd4? Kf2–+ is bad, of course.

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 There is no allowing the black king a free run across the home rank: 101.Nh5? Kf1
102.Ng3+ (102.Kf3 Ra3#) 102...Kg2 103.Nh5 Ra3+ 104.Ke2 (104.Kd4 Kf3
105.Ke5 Ra5+ 106.Ke6 Kg4–+) 104...Kh3 105.Nf6 (105.Ng7 Kg4 106.Ne6 Ra6
107.Nc5 Ra2+ 108.Ke3 Ra3+ 109.Nd3 Rxd3+ 110.Kxd3 Kxf4–+ with a winning
pawn ending) 105...Kg3 106.Nd5 Ra5–+ and Black wins a pawn.
White should have maintained the drawn position by preventing the black king
from encroaching on the f4-pawn: 101.Kf3!
a) 101...Kd2 (here and further in this book, “a)” is the main line if there is a main
line, unless otherwise stated)

102.Nh5. It is also fine for White to mark time with his king – 102.Kf2 Kd3
103.Kf3=.
102...Kd3 103.Ng3 Kd4

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 104.Ne2+. 104.Nh5? Ra3+ 105.Kf2 Ke4 106.Kg2 Rb3 107.Kh2 Kf3 108.Kh3
Rb6 109.Kh4 Rh6 110.Kg5 Rxh5+ 111.Kxh5 Kxf4–+ would be a mistake landing
White in a lost pawn ending.
104...Kd5 105.Ng3 Ke6 106.Nh5=, holding the position.
b) 101...Ra3+ 102.Kg2 Ra5 103.Kf3 yields nothing;
c) Accordingly, the attempt to test the drawn position for viability by passing the
turn to move 101...Rb5 fails to 102.Nh5!

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 c1) 102...Rb3+ 103.Kg2 Kd2 (103...Ke2? 104.Ng3+) 104.Ng7 Rb5 (104...Ke3
105.Nxf5+ Kxf4 106.Nd4!= Rd3 107.Ne2+!) 105.Kf3 Kd3 106.Nh5 Kd4

107.Ng3! Ra5 108.Ne2+ Kd5 109.Ng3 Ke6 110.Nh5=. Black has completed the
king march to relieve the rook of its pawn defending duties. However, it has not
become any clearer as to how to turn this into an asset in the struggle for victory;
c2) 102...Kd2 103.Ng7 Ra5 104.Nh5= is harmless;
c3) In case of 102...Kf1 103.Kg3! Kg1 (103...Ke2 104.Kh4 Kf3 105.Kg5 Ra5

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106.Nf6 Ke3 107.Nh5 Ke4 108.Ng3+=) 104.Kh4! Kf2 105.Kg5 Kf3 106.Nf6 Ra5
107.Nh5 Ke3 108.Nf6= the active white king guarantees an easy draw.

101.Nxf5? Rxf5 102.Ke4

102...Rf8!

This is the only correct move; it places the rook on an ideal square from which to
combat the opponent’s passed pawn.

103.f5

In case of 103.Ke5 Kf2 104.f5 Kg3 105.f6 Kg4 106.Ke6 Kg5 107.f7 Kg6–+
Black is just in time to eliminate the passed pawn.

103...Ke2!

White definitely overlooked this rejoinder. Now Black forces White to commit to a
route for his king, choosing the opposite direction and bringing about the passed
pawn’s liquidation at the doorstep of the queening square.
103...Kf2? 104.Kf4! is bad.

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 and there is no winning this position with Black to move:
a) 104...Kg2 105.Kg4!=;
b) 104...Ra8 105.f6=;
c) 104...Rf7 105.Ke5 Kg3 106.Ke6 Rf8 107.f6=;
d) 104...Ke2 105.Ke4! Kd2 106.Ke5 Ke3 107.f6! Kf3 108.Ke6 Kg4 109.f7 Kg5
110.Ke7=.

104.Kf4

104.Ke5 Kf3 105.f6 Kg4 106.Ke6 Kg5 107.f7 Kg6–+ loses immediately.

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104...Kf2!–+

And White is in zugzwang. 104...Kd3? fails to 105.Ke5!=.

105.Ke5

Or the other way around: 105.Kg5 Ke3 106.f6 Ke4 107.Kg6 Ke5 108.f7 Ke6–+.

105...Kg3 106.f6 Kg4 107.Ke6 Kg5 and White resigned.

Example No. 2
P. Eljanov – J. Arizmendi Martinez
Skopje, 2019

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 Black to move

Despite White’s exchange superiority the position is a draw because there are too
few pawns left. The white king cannot cross the road to the b7-pawn, while the only
remaining white pawn is subject to attack from the black pieces at any moment.
However, Black needs to demonstrate proper defensive accuracy.

81...Ka7?

And Black failed to demonstrate it.

81...Na7! 82.Rh8+ (82.Kb6 Nc8+!; 82.Kd6 Nb5+ 83.Kd7 Nd4=; 82.Rg7 Nc8!)
82...Kc7! 83.Rg8 Nc8! was the only way to hold the game, since White cannot
improve his position here.

81...Ka7? 82.Rh8! Kb8?

Black drops a piece and collapses quickly following 82...b6+? 83.axb6+ Nxb6
84.Rh7+ Ka6 85.Rh6+–.
82...Ne7 83.a6! is correct.

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 a) 83...Ng6 84.Re8! Nf4 (84...b6+ 85.Kb5+–; 84...bxa6 85.Re6 Nf4 86.Re7+ Kb8
87.Re4 Nh5 88.Kc6+– Nf6 89.Rf4 Nh5 90.Rf7 a5 91.Rb7+ Ka8 92.Rb5 Ng7
93.Rg5 Ne6 94.Re5 Nd8+ 95.Kc7 Nb7 96.Rb5) 85.axb7 Kxb7 86.Re7+ Kc8
(86...Ka6 87.Kc6 Ka5 88.Re5+ Ka6 89.Re4+–)

87.Kd6!+– and White succeeds thanks to a combination of two threats:

checkmating the cutoff black king and trapping the knight. For example, 87...Nd3
88.Rf7! Nb4 89.Rc7+! Kb8 (89...Kd8 90.Rb7 Na6 91.Rb6+–) 90.Rc4 Na6 91.Kc6!

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Nc7 (91...Ka7 92.Ra4+–) 92.Re4 Na6 (92...Na8 93.Re7+–; 92...Kc8 93.Re7+–)
93.Rh4 Ka7 94.Ra4, and the game is over.
b) 83...Kxa6 84.Ra8#;
c) 83...bxa6 84.Rh7+–;
d) 83...Nc6 84.axb7 Kxb7 85.Rh7++–;
e) 83...b6+ 84.Kb5+–;
f) 83...Nf5 84.Rh5 Ng3 85.Re5 bxa6 86.Kc6+–

83.a6! and Black resigned: 83...bxa6 (83...Kc7 84.Rxc8+! Kxc8 85.a7+–) 84.Kc6
a5 85.Kd7.

Example No. 3
I. Rogers – D. Antic
Adelaide 2007

White to move

As in the previous positions, there is every reason to believe that Black’s defense
should be impregnable. His king, knight and pawn guard the f-file squares against
infiltration by his opponent’s king. Is there any way for White to prevail?

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 61.Rb6!

The Australian grandmaster is spot-on in skipping a move, giving Black an

opportunity to find any move that keeps his fortress from falling apart. Yet there is
no such move. The position is a zugzwang!
Hence, one important rule: the proof of any drawn position is in the “passing the
move” test. This is when you should never forget to ask yourself the question as to
whether skipping a move has any bearing on the position’s evaluation.

61...Kh7

A king move in the opposite direction loses as well: 61...Kf7 62.Rh6! Kg7 63.Rh3
Ne2 64.Kf5+–.
In case of 61...Ne2 62.Kf5 Nd4+ 63.Kg4! Kf7 64.Rd6 Nb5 65.Rd5+– White wins
the pawn anyway.

62.Kf6 Kh6 63.Rb2

63.Rb8 Nh5+ 64.Kf7 Kh7 65.Rb2+– was also winning.

63...Nh5+

White checkmates after 63...Kh5 64.Rh2#.

64.Kf7 g4

64...Nf4 65.Rh2+ Nh5 66.Rh1+– lands Black in yet another deadly zugzwang.

65.fxg4 Ng3 66.Rb5 and Black resigned.

The above examples serve to highlight the significance of studying pure rook
versus knight endings without any pawns. This ending is a rare guest in grandmaster
tournaments. The stronger side takes its winning chances from one of the two
following circumstances or their combination: a checkmate threat to the weaker
side’s cutoff king or the knight’s misplaced position.
Example No. 4
V. Topalov – Ding Liren

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 Baku 2019

White to move

The white king is cut off on the last rank, so Black should try to weave a mating
net. However, as long as the knight is near the king, Black’s plan is extremely hard
to execute. In fact, such endings are nearly impossible for a human player to
evaluate. The thin line between a routine draw and a winning position with this
material balance does not lend itself to easy detection.

96.Ng7?

This natural move is an error.

96.Nd6? Kf6 97.Ne8+ Ke7 98.Ng7 Rh3 99.Nf5+ Kf6 100.Nd6 Rd3! 101.Ne8+
Ke7 102.Ng7 Rd5! 103.Kh7 Kf8! was losing as well.

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 104.Ne6+. The line 104.Kg6 Rd6+ 105.Kh7 Rd7 106.Kh8 Kf7! 107.Kh7 Kf6
108.Kh8 Rd1 109.Kh7 Rh1+! 110.Kg8 Rg1 111.Kh8 Kf7–+ produces the same
result.
104...Kf7 105.Ng7 Rg5 106.Kh8 Rg1–+, checkmating the white king along the h-
file.
The correct move is 96.Nc7! Rc3 (96...Rf2 97.Ne8!; 96...Rd3 97.Kf8!) 97.Ne8
maintaining the drawn position for White.

96.Ng7? Kf6!

The underwhelming 96...Rd3? keeps White in the game after 97.Ne8!.

97.Nh5+ Ke6?

Engine precision is also not something that Black is capable of maintaining.

The correct 97...Kf5! 98.Ng7+ Ke5! (98...Kg6 99.Ne8!) 99.Ne8 Ke6! 100.Ng7+
Ke7 101.Kh7 Kf6–+ wins the game.

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 98.Kh7?

Returning the compliment. Staying in the game required 98.Kg7! Kf5 99.Nf6!=.

98...Kf5 99.Ng7+

Both 99.Kg7? Kg5–+ and 99.Kh6? Rh3–+ are bad.

99...Kf6 100.Nh5+

100.Kg8? Rg3 101.Kh8 Kf7! 102.Nh5 Rh3–+ is an immediate failure.

100.Ne8+ Kf7 101.Nd6+ Ke7 102.Ne4 Rf4 103.Ng5? (103.Nc3 Rc4 104.Nd5+
Kf7! 105.Kh6 Rc6+! 106.Kh7 Rc5 107.Nf4 Rf5–+) 103...Kf6! 104.Nh3 Rh4+–+
does not save the game either.

100...Kg5 101.Ng7

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101...Rh3+!

There is no doing without this precision!

102.Kg8 Kf6! 103.Ne8+

The king cannot escape: 103.Kf8? Rh8#

103...Ke6

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 104.Ng7+

In the same manner, White fails to sort out his problems with 104.Nc7+ Kd6
105.Nb5+ Ke7 106.Nd4 Rg3+ 107.Kh7 Rg4! 108.Nf5+ Kf6 109.Nd6 (109.Nh6
Rh4–+) 109...Rd4 110.Nb5 Rd7+

111.Kg8 (111.Kh6 Rd3 112.Kh7 Ke5 113.Kg6 Rb3 114.Nc7 Rb8 115.Kg5 Kd6
116.Na6 Rb6–+) 111...Rg7+! 112.Kf8 (112.Kh8 Kg6–+) 112...Rb7 113.Nd6 Rb8+

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114.Ne8+ Ke6–+.

104...Ke7 105.Nf5+ Kf6 106.Nd6

106.Ng7 Rg3 107.Kh8 Kf7–+ loses the game immediately.

The game is over following 106.Nd4 Rg3+! 107.Kh7 (107.Kh8 Kf7–+; 107.Kf8
Rd3 108.Nc6 Rd6–+) 107...Rg7+ 108.Kh6 Rg4! 109.Nf3 Rf4!–+.

106...Rh5

Among other continuations, 106...Rh4 107.Ne8+ Ke7 108.Ng7 (108.Nc7 Rg4+

109.Kh7 Rg5–+) 108...Re4 109.Nf5+ Kf6 110.Nd6 Re6 111.Nc4 Re8+ 112.Kh7
Re7+ 113.Kg8 Rd7–+ was also winning.

107.Nf7?!

107.Ne8+ Ke7 108.Ng7 Rg5 109.Kh7 (109.Kh8 Kf7–+) 109...Kf7 110.Kh8 Rg1–
+ is no better than the text.
107.Ne4+! Ke6 108.Kg7 puts up tougher resistance even if White is still lost after
108...Re5!–+.

107...Rd5! 108.Nh6

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 108.Nh8 Rd7–+ and 108.Kf8 Rd7–+ are just as bad.

108...Rd8+! 109.Kh7 Rd7+! 110.Kg8

110.Kh8 Kg6 111.Ng8 Rh7# results in a cute-looking checkmate.

110...Kg6 and White resigned. Not only is this endgame attractive, but it comes
from world class chess players at that.

It is also worth noting that computer chess programs and special endgame
databases have given us much insight into the “king and rook vs. king and knight”
ending. If earlier they believed this ending to be nearly impossible to win, each
piece’s location and the side having the right to move are now clearly seen as
extremely important in terms of final evaluation of the particular endgame in
question.
Example No. 5
Z. Tsydypov – G. Prithu
Moscow, 2019

White to move

The white king is very active, while the black knight is misplaced. Is White in time

29
to win before all the queenside pawns are exchanged off?

70.Rd6+?

This is an ill-advised decision. White trains his guns on the black knight and
overlooks his opponent’s counterplay.
70.Rh5! is correct:
a) 70...Nb5

71.Rh6+! Kb7 72.Rc6! d3 (72...Na3 73.Rxc5 Kb6 74.Kd6 Nb5+ 75.Kd5+–)

73.cxd3 Nd4 74.Rxc5

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 74...Kb6 (74...Nxb3 75.Rb5++– is bad, 74...Ka6 also fails to 75.Rc4 Nxb3 76.Kc6
Nd2 77.Rf4 Nb3 78.d4 a4 79.d5+–) 75.Rc8 Kb7 (75...Nxb3 76.Rb8++–; 75...Kb5
76.Rb8+ Kc5 77.Kc7+–) 76.Rc4!? Nxb3

77.d4! The white pawn advances, whereas Black cannot establish coordination
among his pieces.
77...Kb6 78.d5 Kb5. After 78...a4 79.d6 a3 (79...Kb5 80.Rc3 Nc5+ 81.Ke7+–)
80.Rb4++– Black is also in bad shape.

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 79.Rc8! Nc5+ (79...Nd4 80.d6 Nf5 81.Ke6+–) 80.Kd6 Ne4+. After 80...Nb7+
81.Ke7 a4 82.Rb8 Kb6 83.d6 a3 84.d7+– White queens his pawn with check.
81.Ke5 Nc5 82.Rxc5+ Kxc5 83.d6 Kc6 84.Ke6+– and the white pawn is the first
to queen.
b) 70...Nc6? fails to 71.Rh6+–;
c) 70...Kb5 71.Kd6 Nc8+ 72.Kc7! Nb6 (72...Ne7 73.Re5 Ng6 74.Re6 Nf4
75.Rb6#) 73.Rh8! Nd5+ 74.Kd6 Nb6 75.Rb8+– is of no help either;
d) There is no exchanging off all pawns via 70...a4 71.bxa4 c4 72.Rd5 d3 73.cxd3
cxd3 (73...c3 74.d4 c2 75.Rc5+–) 74.Rxd3 Ka5 75.Rd6+–, and the knight is bound
for captivity.

70.Rd6+? Kb5!

70...Kb7? fails to 71.Re6 Nb5 72.Rc6+–.

71.Kc7 Kb4! 72.Kb7 Nb5

72...Kc3? was ill-timed due to 73.Kxa7 Kxc2 74.Kb6 Kxb3 (74...d3 75.Kxc5 d2
76.Kb5 Kxb3 77.Rxd2 a4 78.Rd3++–) 75.Kxc5 a4 76.Rxd4 a3 77.Rd3+! Kb2
78.Kb4 a2 79.Rd2+ Kb1 80.Kb3 a1=N+ (80...a1=Q 81.Rd1#) 81.Kc3+–, and White
wins.

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 73.Rb6

73...Kc3!

The black king completes his mission no matter the cost. 73...c4? is bad because of
74.Ka6+–.

74.Rxb5 Kxc2 75.Rxc5+, and the opponents agreed a draw without producing the
following sequence: 75...Kxb3 76.Rxa5 d3 77.Rd5 Kc2.

Example No. 6
H. Nakamura – S. Karjakin
Stavanger, 2018

33
 White to move

Black has two pawns for the exchange and potentially dangerous passed pawns on
the queenside. However, it is the white king’s active play that proves a decisive
factor in this position.

27.Kf2!

The white king is on his way to combat the black passed pawns. In case of 27.Re5
Nb3 28.axb3? cxb3 29.Rxc5 b4! 30.Rb5 a5 31.cxb4 a4–+ the white rook cannot
handle the black passed pawns.

27.Kf2! b4

Both 27...Nc6 28.Re6 Na5 29.Ra6+– and 27...Nb7 28.Re7 Nd6 29.Re6+– lose the
game.

28.Ke3! bxc3

Black is helpless after 28...b3 29.Ke4! bxa2 30.Ra1+–.

34
 29.Rc1!?

It is also fine to play 29.Ke4 c2 (29...Nb3? 30.axb3 cxb3 31.Kd3 c2 32.Kc3 c4

33.Kb2 a5 34.Ra1 Kh7 35.Rxa5 c3+ 36.Kc1+–) 30.Rc1 (30.Kd5? Nb3–+) 30...Nc6
31.Rxc2 Nb4 32.Rxc4 Nxa2 33.Rxc5+–, developing similarly to the game.

29...Nc6 30.Rxc3 Nb4 31.Rxc4 Nxa2 32.Rxc5+–

The a-pawn is doomed, and the knight has yet to make it in time to escape from
encirclement.

32...Nb4

35
 33.Ke4! Kh7

33...a6 34.Rc4 a5 35.Rc5 a4 36.Ra5+– makes no difference.

34.Rc4 a5

The knight is trapped in the line 34...Na6 35.Kd5 Nb8 36.Rc7 Na6 37.Rb7 Kg6
38.Kc4+–.
White also wins after 34...Na2 35.Kf5!? a5 36.Ra4 Nc3 37.Rxa5+–.

35.Rc5 a4 36.Ra5

The knight cannot be trapped after 36.Rc4 Na6! 37.Kd5 a3 38.Ra4 Nc7+.

36...Nc6

It does not help to set the forking mechanism in action: 36...Na2 37.Kd4 Nc1
38.Rxa4 Ne2+ 39.Ke5+–.

37.Rxa4 Nd8

Black also loses the endgame after 37...Ne7 38.Ra6 Ng8 (38...Ng6 39.Kf5 Ne7+

36
40.Ke6+–) 39.Ke5 Ne7 (39...Nf6 40.Rxf6! gxf6+ 41.Kxf6+–) 40.Ke6 Ng8
41.Kf7+–.

38.Ra6! Nf7 39.Kf5! Nh8

In case of 39...Nd8 40.h4+– the pawns onslaught is decisive.

40.h4 Nf7

Black’s pieces are stuck on the bottom ranks. Black is in bad shape in all lines:
40...g6+ 41.Kf6+–; 40...h5 41.Kg5+–; 40...Kg8 41.g4+–

41.g4!, and Black resigned in the face of 41...Nh8 42.g5 hxg5 43.hxg5 Nf7
44.g6+.

Example No. 7
S. Vidit – V. Artemiev
Poikovsky, 2018

37
 White to move

At first glance, White has no choice but remove the bishop from en prise while
keeping an eye on the a3-pawn, which spells White’s long suffering in this ending.
This is likely the path the majority of titled chess players would have taken.

46.Be3!

However, the Indian GM takes a different decision. He cracks down on his

opponent’s pawn, initiating further inevitable pawn exchanges on the kingside.

46...h6

46...Kf6? would be a blunder due to 47.Bd4++–.

In case of 46...g4 47.hxg4 fxg4 48.Bd4 Rxa3 49.Bb6= Black cannot convert his
exchange advantage due to a lack of reasonable winning ideas.
At the same time, keeping his position together would be simple for White after
46...f4 47.gxf4 gxf4 48.Bxf4 Rxa3 49.Bg3=.

38
 47.h4!

Attacking the g5-pawn yet again.

47...gxh4

47...g4? 48.Bxh6= is bad.

Likewise, no real winning chances result from 47...f4 48.gxf4 gxh4 (48...g4 49.f5+
Kxf5 50.Bxh6=) 49.f5+!? Kxf5 50.Bxh6 Rxa3 (50...h3+ 51.Kh2=) 51.Be3= since
this endgame is a theoretical draw.

48.Bxh6! hxg3

There are no winning prospects after 48...Rxa3 49.gxh4=.

39
 49.f3!

A splendid move! Black gets a winning endgame after 49.fxg3? Rxa3–+.

49...Rxa3 50.Kxg3=

This position turns out to be a draw. Black cannot gang up on the white pawn and
keep his last pawn alive at the same time. It’s amazing how the Indian GM saw it all
when deciding to part with his a-pawn!

50...Ra4 51.Bg5 Ke5 52.Bh6 Rc4

Black drops the pawn after 52...Kd4 53.Kf4 Ra5 54.Bg7+ Kd3 55.Be5=.
After 52...f4+ 53.Kg4 Rc4 54.Bg5= all of Black’s resources are tied down to the
defense of his weak pawn.
An attempt to redirect the rook via 52...Ra7 53.Bf4+! Kd5 54.Bd2 does not
promise any benefits for Black.

53.Bg7+ Kd5

53...Ke6 54.Bh6 Kf7 55.Bg5 Kg6 56.Bd2 Kf6 57.Bh6 Ra4 58.Bf4 Ra1 59.Bd2
Rg1+ 60.Kf4= makes no difference for the positional evaluation.

40
 54.Bh6 Kc6 55.Bg5

White is marking time to see which winning plan Black is going to come up with.

55...Kb5 56.Bh6 Kb4 57.Bg5 Kc3 58.Bh6 Kd3 59.Bg5 Ke2 60.Bh6

The black king has travelled far to approach the f3-pawn, but his efforts fall short
of bringing success nonetheless.

60...Rc3

61.Kf4! Rxf3+ 62.Ke5!

In addition to being up the exchange Black has also pocketed a pawn, but this
success proves temporary. Now the black pieces cannot stop the encirclement and
annihilation of their last pawn.

62...Rh3

62...Kd3 63.Bf4= changes nothing.

63.Bg5!

41
 The careless 63.Bf4? fails to 63...Rh5!–+.

63...Rh5 64.Kxf5 and the opponents agreed a draw.

Example No. 8
I. Miladinovic – A. Beliavsky
Ohrid 2001

Black to move

Black seems winning no matter which way he captures the white pawn. Moreover,
capturing with his pawn seems more advantageous as the pawn advances towards the
center and gets closer to the queening square at that. However, it turns out to be not
as simple as that...

99...gxf3?

Surprisingly, this error costs Black victory.

He needed to capture with the rook: 99...Rxf3+! 100.Kg2 (100.Kh4 Rh3#)
100...Rd3! 101.Bc7 Kg5! 102.Be5 (102.Bg3? Rd2+ 103.Kf1 Kf5–+; 102.Bb8?
Kh4–+) 102...Rd5!, restricting the bishop’s defensive potential (102...Kh4
103.Bf6+!) 103.Bc7 (103.Bc3 Kf4–+; 103.Bg7 Rd2+ 104.Kg3 Rd3+ 105.Kg2 g3

42
106.Kh3 Kf4–+) 103...Rd2+! (103...Kh4 104.Bg3+!) 104.Kg3 Rd3+!, and preparing
his king’s decisive inroad: 105.Kg2 Kh4! 106.Bf4 Rc3 107.Bd6 Rc2+ 108.Kg1
Kh3–+.

99...gxf3? 100.Bc5 Ke4

101.Kf2!

This position turns out to be a draw. Black cannot coordinate his pieces so as to
advance and not drop the pawn.

101...Rc3

Likewise, there is no headway after 101...Rb2+ 102.Kf1! Kf4 (102...f2 103.Kg2!)

103.Bd6+ Ke3 104.Bc5+ Ke4 105.Ba7 Kf4 106.Bc5= Kg3 107.Bd6+.

102.Ba7 Rc7 103.Bb6 Rc2+ 104.Kf1 Rc6 105.Ba7 Ra6 106.Bc5 Kf4 107.Bd4

43
 107...Ra4

The bishop drives the king away after 107...Kg3 108.Be5+!

108.Bc5 Rc4

or after 108...Kg3 109.Bd6+!

109.Ba7 Rb4

or after 109...Kg3 110.Bb8+!

110.Bc5 Rb5 111.Bd4 Kg4

or after 111...Kg3 112.Bf2+!

112.Kf2 Rb4 113.Bc5 Rb2+ 114.Kf1 Rc2 115.Ba7 Rb2 116.Bc5 Rb5 117.Bd4
Kf4 118.Kf2 Rd5 119.Bb6 Rd7 120.Be3+ Kg4 121.Bb6 Rb7 122.Bc5 Rb5
123.Bd4 Rh5 124.Bb6 Rh2+ 125.Kf1 f2

With no profits from long maneuvering, Black finally makes up his mind to
advance the pawn.

44
 126.Ke2!

Yet another precise move! 126.Bxf2? loses to 126...Kf3 127.Bb6 Rh1+ 128.Bg1
Kg3–+.

126...Kg3 127.Bc5

Since there is no headway for the black pieces without dropping the f-pawn, the
position is a draw.
Example No. 9
R. Rapport – Wei Yi
Tbilisi 2017

45
 White to move

The pawn structure is completely symmetrical. The g6-pawn is the only link in the
black pawn chain that could come under attack. However, the black bishop and king
exercise control over all access squares. Meanwhile, there is no way to drive the
black king away, and the bishop has no shortage of squares along the key diagonal.
Therefore, there is no destroying this drawn position via zugzwang.

58.Rd3!

This is an important preliminary move to take control of the third rank.

58...Bb2

Both 58...Bg7? 59.Rd8+ Kh7 60.Kf7+–,

and 58...Bh8? 59.Rd8+ Kg7 (59...Kh7 60.Kf7+–) 60.Rc8 Kh7 61.Kf7+– fail
immediately because the king and rook eliminate the black pawns.

46
 59.g4!

A brilliant break! By sacrificing the pawn on what is seemingly the best defended
square, White destroys the protective shield of black pawns and clears the path for
his king to attack the resulting weaknesses.

59...hxg4

59...fxg4 60.f5! gxf5 61.Kxf5 Kf7 62.Kg5 Be5 63.Kxh5 g3 64.Rd2! (64.Kg4? g2
65.Rd1 Bh2=) 64...Kg7 65.Kg4 Kf6 also fails.

47
 66.Re2! Bb8 (66...Bd6 67.h5+–) 67.Rb2 Bc7 (67...Bd6 68.Rb6 Ke7 69.Kf3 Be5
70.h5 Kf7 71.Rg6 Bb8 72.Ke4 Bc7 73.Kf5 Bb8 74.h6+–)

68.h5 Be5 69.Rb6+ Kg7 (69...Kf7 70.Rg6+–) 70.Kf5+–.

60.h5! Kg7

In case of 60...gxh5 61.Kxf5 Kg7 (61...Kf7 62.Rd7+ Ke8 63.Rh7 g3 64.Rxh5 Bd4
65.Rg5 Bf2 66.Ke6 Kf8 67.f5+–) 62.Kg5 Bc1 White comes up with an excellent

48
rejoinder

63.Rg3! Kf7 (63...Kh7 64.Rc3! Bd2 65.Rc7+ Kg8 66.Kg6 Kf8 67.f5 g3 68.f6+– is
no better; 63...Bd2 loses to 64.Kxh5 Bxf4 65.Rxg4+) 64.Rg1! Be3 (64...Bd2
65.Kxh5! Bxf4 66.Rf1+–) 65.Rg2! Bc1 (65...Kg7 66.Kxh5 Bxf4 67.Rxg4+;
65...Ke6 66.Re2+–) 66.Kxh5 Bxf4 67.Rf2+–, winning the bishop.

61.Rd7+ Kh6 62.hxg6 Kxg6

Black is checkmated after 62...g3 63.Kxf5 Bg7 (63...g2 64.Rh7#) 64.Rd3 g2

65.Rh3#

63.Rf7 Bc1

White eliminates all of his opponent’s pawn after 63...g3 64.Rxf5 g2 65.Rg5++–.

64.Rxf5 Kh6 65.Ke5

Reintroducing the threat of Rg5.

65...Bb2+

65...g3 66.Rg5+– drops the pawn.

49
 66.Ke4 and Black resigned.

Example No. 10
M. Bagi – V. Zvjaginsev
Budva 2019

Black to move

In this position, the Moscow grandmaster managed to put into practice a well-
known, beautiful, study-like checkmating idea.

60...Kf6!

The straightforward 60...Kd6? leads to a draw after 61.Bg5 Kxd5 62.Kg6=.

60...Kf7? results in a draw after 61.Bg5! (61.d6? Kg8 62.d7 Kh7 63.d8=Q g6#)
61...Kg8 (61...g6+ 62.Kh6 Rg3 63.d6 Rd3 64.Be7 Rd5 65.Bg5 Rxd6 66.h5=)
62.Kg6! Re2 63.Bf4!=.

60...Kf6! 61.d6

The same checkmating idea is implemented after 61.Bg5+ Kf5 62.d6 Re2! 63.d7
Re6! 64.d8=Q (64.Bf6 Rxf6! 65.d8=Q Rh6#) 64...Rh6+! 65.Bxh6 g6#.

50
 61...Rg6!

and White disappointingly resigned instead of allowing the beautiful checkmate

62.d7 Kf5 63.d8=Q Rh6+ 64.Bxh6 g6#.
Example No. 11
Z. Medvegy – P. Prohaszka
Hungary 2021

White to move

If White had a dark-squared bishop instead of a light-squared one, then making a

draw would have been simple as the bishop would have moved to the a7-g1 diagonal
to reliably secure the f2-pawn. The black king’s attack on the f-pawn looks critical
for White in this situation. Therefore, care must be taken against its showing up on
e1.

95.Bb7?

White attempts to counter this threat by challenging the only remaining black
pawn, only to miss a deadly blow.
95.Kf1? e3 96.f4 Ra8–+ is also bad and gives Black an easy win.

51
 The following lines show what comes of White’s hopes for the passed pawn in an
attempt to save the rook vs. pawn ending – 95.g4? Ke1 96.g5 Rxf2+ 97.Kg3 Rf3+
(97...e3? 98.g6 Rf6 99.Bd3!) 98.Kg4 Ra3

99.Bc4
(99.Bb5 e3 100.g6 Ra7 101.Bd3 [101.Bc4 Ra4–+; 101.Kg5 Ra5–+] 101...Kd2–+)
99...e3 100.Kh5 (100.g6 Ra4–+; 100.Kf5 Rc3! 101.Ba6 Rc5+ 102.Kf4 Kf2 103.g6
Rc6 104.g7 Rg6–+) 100...Ra4 101.Bd3. 101.Bb5 also loses to 101...Ra5 102.Bc4
Kf2 103.Kh6 Ra4 104.Bb5 Rb4 105.Bd3 Rh4+ 106.Kg6 Rd4 107.Bb5 Rd6+
108.Kh5 Kf3 109.Bc4 Rd4 110.Bf1 Kf4 111.g6 Rd1–+.

52
 101...Kd2 102.Bf1
(102.Bb5 Kc3! 103.Kh6 [103.g6 Ra5–+; 103.Bf1 Ra1 104.Bb5 Rb1 105.Be2 Rb2
106.Bf1 Rf2 107.Bb5 Rg2 108.g6 Kd4 109.Kh6 Ke5 110.g7 Kf6–+; 103.Bxa4 e2–
+] 103...Rh4+! 104.Kg7 Rc4!–+ and there is no stopping the black pawn from
promoting)
102...Ra1 103.Bb5 (103.Bc4 Kc3–+)

103...Kc3! The black king joins the battle against the white passed pawn.

53
 104.Kh6 Rb1 105.Be2 (105.Ba6 Rb6+–+) 105...Rh1+ 106.Kg7 Rh2 107.Ba6 Kd4!
108.g6 Ke5! 109.Kf7 Rf2+ 110.Ke7 Rf6! 111.g7 (111.Bd3 Rxg6 112.Bxg6 e2–+)
111...Rxa6! 112.g8=Q Ra7+ 113.Kf8 Ra8+–+ – Black eliminates the newly
promoted white queen and promotes his pawn afterwards.
Furthermore, the pawn provocation is not going to help: 95.f4? Ra8! (both
95...exf3+? 96.Kf2= and 95...e3? 96.Kf3= are bad) 96.Bb5 Ra5 97.Bf1 (97.Bc4
Ra3!? 98.f5 Rc3! 99.Ba6 e3 100.g4 e2 101.Bxe2 Kxe2 102.f6 Rf3 103.g5 Ke3–+)
97...Ra3

98.g4. 98.f5 Rf3 99.g4 Rxf1! 100.Kxf1 e3–+ makes no difference.

98...Rf3 99.f5 Rxf1! 100.Kxf1 e3–+ and White is a tempo behind with his pawn
promotion because of the black pawn’s check on the king.
The way to go is to retreat the king from the potential check via 95.Kg1! Rb8.
Black tries to prevent the white bishop from attacking its pawn.
(Following 95...Ke1 96.Bb7! Re8 97.g4!? [97.Kg2=] 97...Kd2 98.Kg2 Kd3
99.Kg3 Kd4 [99...Rf8 100.g5 Rf3+ 101.Kg4 Rxf2 102.g6=] 100.g5 Ke5 101.Ba6!
Rf8 [101...Kf5 102.f3 e3 103.f4 Ke4 104.Be2=] 102.Be2 Rf5 [102...Kf5 103.f4=]
103.Bg4! Rxg5 104.f4+! exf3 105.Kxf3= White succeeds in exchanging off the only
remaining black pawn)

54
 96.Bc4! Nevertheless, White finds another square for his bishop’s potential
offensive against the е4-pawn (96.g4? Rg8–+; 96.Kf1? Rb1+ 97.Kg2 Ke1 98.g4
Rb6 99.Bc4 Rf6–+).
96...Rb1+ (96...Ke1 97.Bd5=) 97.Kg2 Rb2 (97...Ke1 98.Bd5 Rb4 99.g4=) 98.Bd5
(98.g4 e3 99.fxe3? Kc3+!–+) 98...Kd3 99.Kg1=.

95.Bb7?

55
 95...Rxf2+!, and White resigned in the face of the black pawn’s promotion
following 96.Kxf2 e3+ 97.Kg2 e2.

Example No. 12
K. Alekseenko – A. Sarana
Khanty-Mansiysk 2018

White to move

Black tries to hold together a drawing formation, in which his bishop doubles as
his only pawn’s defender and the dangerous opponent’s pawn’s blockader, whereas
the black king never abandons the white pawn to prevent his opponent’s rook from
activating. Black intends to meet the white king’s long-distance transfer to the
queenside by deflecting the rook with the g-pawn’s advance. Can Black really hold
this position an exchange down?

58.Ke4

The main winning idea has so far escaped White. The way to victory is 58.Kg3!
Kd5 (both 58...Ke5? 59.Rd1+– and 58...Kd7? 59.Kxg4+– lose on the spot) 59.Rc2
Kd6

56
 60.Rc4!, and Black is in zugzwang.
60...Kd5 (60...Kd7 61.Kxg4+–; 60...Ke7 61.Rd4!+–; 60...Ke5 61.Rxg4!+–)
61.Rxg4!+– Kd6 (61...Bxg4 62.Kxg4+– and the pawn is going to promote) 62.Rc4!
(62.Rg7? Bd7= is ill-advised) 62...Kd5 63.Rc1, and the white king’s march to his
pawn seals the game’s outcome.

58.Ke4 Bb7+ 59.Ke3 Bc8

57
 60.Kd4?

Yet another deviation from the correct plan. White needed to return his king to
attacking the black pawn via 60.Kf4! Kd5 61.Kg3 Kd6 62.Rc4!+–, forcing Black
into the zugzwang position that we now know

60...Kd7

60...g3? goes down to 61.Ke3 g2 62.Kf2+– as the white king is in the square of the
passed pawn.

61.Rc3

61.Ke5? would have given the win away to 61...g3! 62.Kf4 g2 63.Kg3 g1=Q+
64.Rxg1 Kxc7=.

61...Kd6 62.Rc2 Kd7 63.Ke3 Kd6 64.Ke4 Bb7+

65.Kd4

White again needed to go for 65.Kf4!

65...Bc8 66.Rc3 Kd7 67.Rc5 Kd6 68.Kc4?

58
 Long maneuvering has panned out with no gains for White. On failing to find the
correct plan, White lets the victory escape.

68...g3!

A saving exchange of pawns is about to take place.

69.Kb5 g2 70.Rc1 g1=Q! 71.Rxg1 Kxc7, and the game ended in a draw.

59
 Example No. 13
G. Garcia – V. Mikhalevski
Montreal 2004

Black to move

This position demonstrates an instance of advantage conversion by means of

transposing from a more complex endgame into a less complex one. The skill of
precise calculation of long lines and, indeed, to the required depth, is of great help in
anybody’s endgame victories to come!

60...Rxe3!

Black exploits the opportunity to transpose into a less complex winning pawn
ending that lends itself to precise calculation.

61.fxe3 c3 62.Kh7!

The most resilient. Black wins easily after the underwhelming 62.Kf7? c2 63.g6
c1=Q 64.g7 Qf1+ 65.Ke7 Qg2 66.Kf8 Qf3+.

62...c2 63.g6 c1=Q 64.g7 Qc2+!

60
 If we begin delivering checks from the bottom rung of the ladder with 64...Qb1+
65.Kh8 Qb2 66.Kh7 Qc2+ we land in the same position via a transposition of
moves.

65.Kh8

Black delivers checkmate after 65.Kh6? Qb3 66.Kh7 Qf7! 67.Kh8 Qh5+ 68.Kg8
Kd7 69.Kf8 Qe8#.

65...Qc3! 66.Kh7 Qd3+! 67.Kh8 Qxe3! 68.g8=Q

68...Qe5+!

It is this strong move that Black had in mind when going for the exchange
sacrifice.
Both 68...Qh6+? 69.Qh7+ Qxh7+ 70.Kxh7= and 68...Qd4+? 69.Qg7+= yield no
more than a draw. 68...Qxh3? is also bad, as it leads to a well-known drawn queen
ending after 69.Qg7+=.

69.Kh7

Similarly, another way of defending from the checks 69.Qg7+ Kd6! 70.Kh7

61
(70.Qxe5+ Kxe5 71.Kg7 Kf4 72.Kf6 Kg3–+) 70...Qxg7+! 71.Kxg7 Ke5 72.Kg6
Kf4–+ is of no help as the resulting pawn ending is lost.

69...Qh5+

And White resigned in the face of the black pawn’s unstoppable promotion after
70.Kg7 Qg5+ 71.Kh7 Qxg8+ 72.Kxg8 Kd6 73.Kf7 Ke5 74.Kg6 Kf4 75.Kh5 Kg3
76.Kg5 Kxh3 77.Kf4 Kg2.
Example No. 14
M. Carlsen – V. Anand
Morelia/Linares.2008

Black to move

The white king is cut off. The decisive inroad of the black king into White’s home
turf is about to take place with the idea of attacking the white pawns and creating
checkmate threats to his white counterpart.
White’s chance to save the game lies in reducing the number of remaining pawns
to as few as possible.

34...Re2!

62
 An excellent decision! Black aims to throw a wrench into the gears of the f-pawn’s
advance.
If the black king heads to the white pawns immediately, then after 34...Kd6?!
35.gxh4 gxh4 36.f4 Rd2 37.Bh3 Kc5?! 38.e5 Rd4 39.exf6 Rxf4 40.Kg2! Rxf6

41.Bc8!= we arrive at a theoretical position that is a draw, the key aspect being the
white pawn not having moved to h3, which gives the white king access to this square
not only to hide from rook checks, but also to disturb the h4-pawn.

34...Re2! 35.gxh4

It does not help to avoid the immediate exchange of pawns: 35.Bf5 Kd6 (35...hxg3
36.hxg3=) 36.f4 gxf4 37.gxf4 Kc5 38.e5 fxe5 39.fxe5 Rxe5

63
 40.Bc8. Black forces White to commit his pawn to h3 anyway after 40.Bg4 Rg5!
41.h3 Kd4–+; 40.Bh3 Re2!–+ is not a game-changer either.
It is now instrumental to stop the white king from showing up on g2: 40...Re2!
(40...Kd4? 41.Kg2!=) 41.Bd7 Kd4 42.Bc8 Ke3 43.Bd7 (43.Bg4 Rb2–+) 43...Kf3!
44.Bc6+ Kf4 45.Bd7

45...Rd2! The black rook marks the white bishop as much as possible.
46.Bc8 Rd8! 47.Be6. Neither 47.Bb7 h3! 48.Kf2 Rd2+ 49.Kg1 Ke3!–+, nor

64
47.Bh3 Rd1+! 48.Kg2 Rd2+ 49.Kg1 Kf3!–+ are of any help.
47...Kf3!, and if White persists in not advancing his pawn to h3 with 48.Bb3, then
Black completes the mating net for the white king via 48...h3! 49.Ba4 Ke3 50.Kf1
Ra8–+.

35...gxh4 36.h3

After 36.Bf5 Kd6 37.f4 Kc5 the position transposes to the 35.Bf5 continuation.

36...Kd6 37.Kf1 Rb2 38.f4 Kc5 39.e5 Rb4 40.exf6 Rxf4+ 41.Ke2 Kd4 42.Bf3
Rxf6

Black’s preceding play has forced White to part with the pawn. However, there is
still much work to do to win the game. Anand handles this ending superbly and
demonstrates the correct winning plan.

43.Bb7 Rb6 44.Bc8

44.Bg2 Rb3–+ is no better than the text.

44...Ke4 45.Bg4 Rb2+ 46.Ke1 Ke3 47.Kf1 Kf4 48.Ke1 Kg3 49.Kf1

65
 49...Rf2+!

After getting his own king active, Black switches to the plan of driving his
opponent’s king as far away from the h3-pawn as possible.

50.Ke1

50.Kg1 Rf7 51.Bc8 (51.Be6 Re7–+; 51.Bh5 Rc7–+) 51...Rc7–+ is an immediate

failure.

50...Rf4 51.Bc8

Not walking into a prearranged trap 51.Ke2? Rxg4! 52.hxg4 h3–+.

51...Rf8 52.Bg4 Kg2 53.Ke2 Re8+ 54.Kd3 Kf2!

It is yet premature to execute the exchange sacrifice idea: 54...Re1 55.Kd2 Rh1?
56.Ke2 Rxh3 57.Bxh3+ Kxh3 58.Kf2=.

55.Bf5 Re3+ 56.Kd4

The white king is also pushed away after 56.Kd2 Re5 57.Bg4 Rd5+–+.

66
 56...Kf3!

Black is consistent in implementing his winning plan.

57.Bg4+ Kf4 58.Kd5

The white king is once again thrown back after 58.Bc8 Re8 59.Bg4 Rd8+–+.

58...Re5+! 59.Kd4

Black captures the white pawn to decisive effect with the rook after 59.Kd6 Rg5
60.Bc8 Kg3 61.Ke7 Kh2 62.Kf6 Rg3–+.

59...Rg5 60.Be6

Neither 60.Bd7 Rg8! nor 60.Bc8 Rg8 61.Be6 Rd8+–+ make any difference.

60...Rg6

and the future world champion resigned in the face of the pawn queening after
61.Bc8 Rd6+ 62.Kc5 Rd2 63.Be6 Kg3 64.Kc4 Rh2 65.Kd3 Rxh3 66.Bxh3 Kxh3
67.Ke2 Kg2.
Example No. 15
G. Jones – K. Mekhitarian
Batumi 2018

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 Black to move

Despite both sides having pawns on one flank only, Black should seemingly
experience no problems prosecuting his material advantage. The white pawns are
disconnected, which makes them easier targets to attack for Black and bigger
liabilities to defend for White.

61...Rc7?!

Black attempts to reassign the defense of his g7-pawn to enable his king’s advance.
However, as long as the white f-pawn remains where it is, Black can get to the h5-
pawn without dropping his own one: 61...Rc5! 62.Kh4. Likewise, White faces the
same problems after 62.Kg4 Rc1 63.Bb2 Rb1 64.Bc3 Rg1+ 65.Kh4 Ke6 66.Bd4
Rd1 67.Bc3 (67.Bxg7? Rh1+ 68.Kg4 Rg1+–+) 67...Rh1+ 68.Kg4 Rg1+ 69.Kh4 Kf5
70.Bd4 Rh1+ 71.Kg3 Rxh5 72.Bxg7 Rg5+–+.
62...Rc1! 63.Be5. Both 63.Bb2 Rb1! 64.Bc3? Rb3–+ and 63.Bd4? Rc4–+ do White
a disservice.

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 63...Ke6! 64.Bb2. There is no taking the pawn: 64.Bxg7? Rh1+ 65.Kg4 Rg1+–+.
White is also defenseless after 64.f4 Kf5 65.Kh3 Rg1 66.Kh2 Rg4 67.Kh3 Rxf4!
68.Bxg7 Kg5–+.
64...Rh1+ 65.Kg4 Rg1+ 66.Kh4 (66.Kf4 Rg5 67.Ke4 Kf7–+; 66.Kh3 Kf5
67.Kh2 Rg5–+) 66...Kf5! 67.Bd4 Rh1+ 68.Kg3 Rxh5 69.Bxg7 Rg5+–+.

61...Rc7?! 62.Bb2 Ke6?! 63.Kf4 Rc4+ 64.Kg3 Rc5

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 65.f4!

White goes down quickly both with 65.Bxg7? Rg5+–+ and 65.Kh4 Rg5–+.

65...Rc7 66.Be5 Rb7 67.Kg4 Rb1

The correct way to go is 67...Rd7! 68.Bb2 Rd1 69.Kf3 (69.Bxg7? Rg1+–+)

69...Rf1+! 70.Ke4 (70.Kg4 Rg1+ 71.Kf3 Kf5–+; 70.Kg3 Kf5 71.Be5 Ke4! 72.Kh2
Rxf4! 73.Bxg7 Rh4+ 74.Kg3 Rxh5–+) 70...Rg1 71.Bc3 (71.Kf3 Kf5 72.Be5 g5
73.hxg6 Rxg6 74.Bc7 h5–+; 71.f5+ Kf7–+)

71...Rg4! It is equally important not only to attack the h5-pawn, but to prevent the
white king from defending it as well. 72.Be5 (72.Kf3 Kf5 73.Be5 g6–+; 72.Bd4 Kf7
73.Bf2 Rg2! 74.Kf3 Rh2–+) 72...Kf7! 73.Kf5 (73.Kf3 Rh4–+) 73...Rh4–+ and
Black gets the upper hand.

68.Kf3 Rg1 69.Bd4 Rf1+

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 70.Ke4! Kf7

70...Rh1 71.Bxg7 Rxh5 72.f5+ Kf7 73.f6 Kg6 74.Kf4! leads to a positional draw
after 74...Ra5. There is no cutting off the white king: 74...Rg5 75.Bxh6! Kxh6
76.f7=.
75.Kg4 h5+ 76.Kh4 Ra3 77.Bh8! Ra4+ 78.Kg3 Rg4+ 79.Kh3 (79.Kf3? Rg5–+)
79...Rf4 80.Bg7 Kg5 81.Kg3 h4+ 82.Kh3 Rf3+ 83.Kg2 Kg4 84.f7! Rxf7 (84...h3+
85.Kg1 Rxf7 86.Be5=) 85.Be5=.

71.Kf5!

71.Be5? Rh1–+ is an error.

71...Rh1 72.Kg4 Ke6 73.Kf3

There is no touching the pawn this time either: 73.Bxg7? Rg1+–+.

73...Rxh5?! Black has abandoned all hopes of avoiding the exchange of pawns.

73...Kf5 74.Bxg7 Rh3+ 75.Kg2 Rxh5 76.Kg3= would have transposed to the text.
Meanwhile, White is in time to keep his pawn alive after 73...Kf7 74.Kg4!.

71
 74.Bxg7 Kf5

75.Kg3!

There is no doing without this precision. 75.Be5? loses to 75...Rh3+ 76.Kg2 Kg4–
+.

75...Rh1 76.Be5=

This is a drawn ending. However, this game has many adventures in store for us
yet.

76...Rb1 77.Kh4 Rg1

77...Rh1+ 78.Kg3 h5 79.Bc7 h4+ 80.Kg2 Rc1 81.Be5 Kg4 82.f5 Rc2+ 83.Kh1
(83.Kg1=) 83...Kxf5 (83...Kh3 84.Kg1 Rc1+ 85.Kf2 Rc5 86.Bd6 Rxf5+ 87.Kg1=)
84.Bd6= does not make any difference because the resulting position is a drawn one,
as we already know.

78.Kh3 Ke4 79.Kh4

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 79...Kf5

79...Kf3 does not promise much in the way of success – 80.Kh5! Rh1+ 81.Kg6 h5
82.f5 Ke4 (82...h4 83.f6=) 83.Bc7 Kd5 84.f6 Ke6 85.Bf4 h4 (85...Rf1 86.Bg5=)
86.f7 Rg1+ 87.Bg5 Rf1 (87...Rxg5+ 88.Kxg5 Kxf7 89.Kxh4=) 88.Bxh4 Rxf7=.

80.Kh3 Rg4 81.Bc7 h5 82.Be5 Kg6 83.Bd6 Kf6 84.Bc7 Ke6 85.Bb8 Rg1 86.Be5
Kf5 87.Kh2 Rd1 88.Kg3 Ke4 89.Bc7 Rg1+

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 90.Kh4!

Black wins after the underwhelming 90.Kh2? Rc1 91.Be5 Kf3! 92.Bd6 (92.f5
Rc5–+) 92...Kg4–+.

90...Kf5 91.Be5

The pawn is poisonous: 91.Kxh5? Rh1#.

91...Rh1+ 92.Kg3 Rc1 93.Kh4 Kg6 94.Kh3 Rb1 95.Kg3 Kf5 96.Kh4 Rf1
97.Kg3 Rh1 98.Kg2 Rh4 99.Kg3 Rg4+ 100.Kh3 Ke4 101.Bc7

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 101...Rg1

101...Kf3 leads nowhere again because White is in time to deal with the black
pawn after 102.Be5 Rg1 103.Kh4! (103.Kh2? Rb1 104.Bd6 Kg4–+) 103...Rh1+
104.Kg5 h4 105.f5 Ke4 (105...h3 106.f6 h2 107.Bxh2 Rxh2 108.f7=) 106.Bf6!
(106.Bc7? Rc1–+; 106.Bd6 Rd1–+; 106.Bb8 Rb1–+) 106...h3 107.Kg4! h2
108.Kg3! Kxf5 109.Bh8 Ke4 110.Kg2=.

102.Kh4 Rc1 103.Bd6 Rh1+ 104.Kg5

White would have had an easier time with 104.Kg3! h4+ 105.Kg4 h3 106.Be5 h2
107.Kg3=.

104...h4

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 105.f5? White has been patiently fighting back for a very long time – for nearly 50
moves – only to blunder a step away from a draw.

White needed to play 105.Kg4! h3 (105...Ke3 106.f5=) 106.f5 (106.Be5 h2

107.Kg3=) 106...h2 (106...Rd1 107.Bg3=) 107.Kh3!=.

105...h3?

Black returns the favor. Surgical precision was required of the rook to bring the
game home by driving the white bishop to a square that allowed Black to gain a
decisive tempo: 105...Rd1!
a) 106.Bh2 Rd2! 107.Bb8 h3 108.f6 Rg2+! 109.Kh6 Rf2! 110.Kg6 (110.Kg7 Rb2
111.Bd6 Kd5! 112.Bf4 Ke6 113.f7 Rb7–+ and Black catches up with the white
passed pawn)

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 110...Rb2! Getting at the white bishop once again.
111.Bc7 (111.Bg3 Rg2–+; 111.Bd6 Rg2+ 112.Kh5 Rf2! 113.Kg6 Kd5! 114.Bc7
Ke6–+) 111...Rg2+! 112.Kh7 Rf2! 113.Kg7 (113.Kg6 Kd5 114.f7 Ke6–+)
113...Rc2! 114.Bb8 Rb2! 115.Bd6 (115.Bc7 Rb7–+) 115...Kd5! 116.f7 Rg2+
117.Kh6 (117.Kf6 Rf2+ 118.Ke7 Rxf7+ 119.Kxf7 Kxd6–+) 117...Rf2–+, winning.
This is nearly a study-like sequence!
b) 106.Bb8 Rb1 107.Bc7 Rb7 108.Bd6 Kd5 109.Bh2 Rb2 110.Bc7 h3–+ loses the
game;
c) 106.Bc7 Rd7! 107.Bb8 Rb7! 108.Bh2 Rb2! 109.Bc7 h3 110.f6 Rg2+!

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 111.Kh6 (111.Kh4 h2 112.Bxh2 Rxh2+ 113.Kg5 Ke5 114.f7 Rf2 115.Kg6 Ke6–
+) 111...Rf2! 112.Kg7 (112.Kg6 Kd5–+) 112...Rc2! 113.Bb8 (113.Bg3 Rg2–+;
113.Bd6 Rg2+ 114.Kh7 Rf2 115.Kg7 Kd5–+) 113...Rb2! 114.Bd6 (114.Bc7 Rb7–+;
114.Bg3 Rg2–+) 114...Rg2+ 115.Kf8 (115.Kh7 Kd5 116.f7 Rf2–+) 115...Kd5–+ is
no better than the previous line.

106.f6! Rf1

The game also ends in a draw after 106...h2 107.Bxh2 Rxh2 108.f7 Rf2 109.Kg6
Ke5 110.Kg7=.

107.Bc7

107.Kg4? Rxf6–+ is an error that leaves the bishop hanging.

107...Rf2

107...Kd5 108.Kg4= leads to the exchange of pawns.

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 108.Bb8?

This is yet another instance of White blundering on the verge of a draw.

The correct 108.Bg3! Rg2 109.Kg4 h2 110.f7 h1=Q 111.f8=Q Qd1+ 112.Kh3=
leaves Black with no opportunity to exploit his right to move to create real threats
against the white king.

108...Rg2+?!

A speedier way to deliver victory was 108...Kd5! 109.f7 (109.Kg6 Ke6–+;

109.Kg4 h2 110.Bxh2 Rxh2–+) 109...Rxf7 110.Kg4 Rh7 111.Bh2 Ke4 112.Kg3
Rg7+ 113.Kxh3 Kf3–+, and White is doomed.

109.Kh6

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 109...h2?

This move is a final farewell to victory.

109...Rb2? 110.Bg3! Rf2 111.Kg5! was also a draw.
(111.Bxf2 leads to interesting lines: 111...h2 112.f7 h1=Q+ 113.Kg7 Qa1+
[113...Qg2+ 114.Bg3! Qxg3+ 115.Kh7=]

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 114.Bd4! Getting rid of the useless bishop without further ado. 114...Qxd4+
115.Kg8 Qd5 116.Kg7 Qd7 117.Kh8! [117.Kg8? Kf5 118.f8=Q+ Kg6–+]
117...Kf5 [117...Qe7 118.Kg8=] 118.f8=Q+ Kg6 119.Qg8+=, with a draw)

111...Rf5+ 112.Kg4! Rxf6 113.Kxh3 Kf3 114.Kh4!=, and the white king manages
to break free from the mating net.
Black catches up with the passed pawn and wins the game after 109...Rf2!
110.Kg5 (110.Kg6 Rb2!–+; 110.Kg7 Rb2–+) 110...Kd5! 111.Bg3 (111.f7 Rxf7
112.Kg4 Rh7 113.Bh2 Ke4–+) 111...h2 112.Bxh2 Rxh2 113.f7 Rf2 114.Kg6 Ke6–
+.

110.Bxh2 Rxh2+ 111.Kg7 Rg2+ 112.Kh7

King retreats to the f-file are fatal: 112.Kf7? Kf5–+; 112.Kf8? Kf5 113.f7 Kf6
114.Ke8 Re2+ 115.Kf8 Re7.

112...Rf2 113.Kg7!

The careless 113.Kg6? Ke5 114.f7 Ke6–+ would have cost White the game yet
again.

113...Rg2+ 114.Kh7 Ke5 115.f7 Rf2 116.Kg7 Rxf7+ 117.Kxf7 and, having
exhausted the game’s fighting potential, the opponents agreed a draw.

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 Example No. 16
D. Navara – H. Stefansson
Catez 2022

Black to move

The previous move saw the exchange of a pair of rooks, and now Black faces the
dilemma of which pawn to take first to convert his material advantage.

48...Kxc6?

Black rushes with the move that begs to be played. However, it gives the win
away.
It was correct to eliminate the more important pawn first with 48...Rd2! 49.e6
(White loses after both 49.Kc1 Rxd4 50.e6 Kd6! 51.Bf5 Rc4+–+ and 49.Bf7 Kxc6–
+) 49...Re2!–+ (49...Rxd4? is a mistake that passes the victory to White after 50.e7
Rb4+ 51.Kc2 Rb8 52.e8=Q Rxe8 53.Bxe8+–), and the white pawns start dropping
one after another.

48...Kxc6? 49.Be8+!

This is a strong rejoinder. It turns out that now White manages to do away with the

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d5-pawn.

49...Kc7

49...Kb6 50.Bf7! is no better than the text.

50.Bf7 Rd2 51.Bxd5 Rxd4

Black might have seen this position in his calculations and thought it to be a
winning one since his pawn was still on a5. However, the remaining white pawn has
a decisive say in this ending, which is a drawn position. Firstly, eliminating the white
pawn is far from easy now. Secondly, as we are going to see in a while, White takes
skillful advantage of his passed pawn to tether the black rook.

52.Bf7 Re4 53.e6 Re2 54.Bg8 Kd6 55.Kc1 Rf2 56.Bf7 Rg2

57.Kb1!

There is no zugzwang in this position because White has a spare move. Both
57.Kd1? Rb2!–+ and 57.Bh5? Kxe6–+ lead to a theoretically won ending.

57...Re2 58.Kc1 Kc5 59.Kd1! Re4 60.Kc2 Kb4 61.Bg8 Re2+ 62.Kd3 Re1

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 After 62...Rg2 63.Bf7= the black rook no longer prevents the white pawn’s
promotion.

63.Kd2 Re5 64.Kc2 Rc5+

Neither 64...a4 65.Kb1= nor 64...Ka3 65.Kc3= make any difference to the
evaluation of this position.

65.Kb2!

A great move. 65.Kd2? Rc7–+ loses the game as the white king is cut off from the
black passed pawn.
It would be a mistake to go for 65.Kb1? Ka3! 66.Bf7 (66.Bh7 Kb3 67.Bg8 Rg5–
+; 66.e7 Re5–+) 66...Rc7!, and Black scores with a surgically precise continuation:
67.Bg8 (67.Ka1 Rc1#)

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 67...Re7! The rook does a double job of blockading the pawn and keeping the
opponent’s bishop restrained, while being always available to join a mating net
construction to finish off the white king.
68.Bf7 (68.Kc2 Ka2–+; 68.Ka1 Rg7–+) 68...Kb3! 69.Ka1 (69.Bg8 Rg7!–+)
69...Rc7! 70.Kb1 (70.e7+ Ka3! 71.e8=Q Rc1#) 70...Rb7! The rook lies in ambush
for potential delivery of a discovered check.

71.Ka1 (71.e7+ Ka3+ 72.Kc2 Rxe7–+) 71...Ka3 72.Be8 Rg7 73.Kb1 Kb3 74.Kc1

85
Re7! 75.Bg6 (75.Bf7 a4 76.Kb1 a3 77.Ka1 a2–+) 75...Kc3! 76.Bf5 Rb7! Denying
the king the opportunity of fighting against the black passed pawn.
77.Be4 Rb2! 78.Kd1 (78.e7 Re2!–+) 78...Rb6. The black rook has literally
terrorized the white pieces with its never-ending threats.
79.Bf5 a4! Time has come for the pawn’s victorious march.
80.e7 Rb8 81.Bg6 a3! 82.Bf7 (Black gets a new queen following 82.e8=Q Rxe8
83.Bxe8 a2–+) 82...Re8!–+, and Black wins. What impressive lines!

65...Re5

65...Rc7 66.Bf7= makes no difference either.

66.Kc2 Rc5+ 67.Kb2 Rg5 68.Bf7 Rg2+ 69.Kc1 Kc3

70.Kb1!

70.Kd1? fails to 70...Rg1+ 71.Ke2 Rg5! 72.Kd1 Re5 73.Bg8 a4–+.

70...Rg1+ 71.Ka2 Re1 72.Bg8!

There is a move to spare yet again. White gets mated after 72.Ka3? Ra1#.

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 72...Kb4 73.Kb2 Re2+ 74.Kc1 Kc3 75.Kb1! Kb3 76.Kc1! Ka2 77.Bf7 Ka1
78.Kd1 Re5 79.Kc2! a4

79...Rc5+ 80.Kb3= is also a draw.

80.Kc3 a3 81.Bg8 a2

82.Bh7!

This is another instance of a drawn position in which the black king cannot make it
out of the corner.

82...Rxe6 83.Kb3 Re3+ 84.Kc2 Rg3 85.Be4 Rg4 86.Bh7 Rg2+ 87.Kc3!

It was not too late to lose the game after 87.Kc1? Rg7 88.Bd3 Rc7+ 89.Bc2 Rc8
90.Kd2 Kb2–+.
And here Black recognized the futility of further attempts to win and agreed to a
draw.
We now move to reviewing a set of positions in which the side nominally the
exchange down is nonetheless in the driver’s seat.
Example No. 17

87
 B. Notkevich – J. Tisdall
Norway 2021

White to move

White has a pair of connected passed pawns as compensation for the exchange.
That said, the black rook intends to capture the first pawn and stop the second pawn.
White’s job is to interfere with his opponent’s plans.

49.Be6!

And White is up to the task! Not only does the white bishop attack the crucial c4-
square, but it continues to exercise control over the pawn promotion c8-square.

49...Rc3?

Black chooses the wrong square for his rook.

Naturally, it was a bad idea to take the pawn because it costs Black the rook after
49...Rxb4? 50.c6+–.
Black’s attempt to dislodge the bishop from е6 does not work: 49...Re4? 50.c6!
(50.Bd5? Rxb4 51.c6 Rb5!; 50.Bd7? Rxb4 51.c6 Rc4!) 50...Rxe6 51.b5+– Re7 52.b6,
and there is no stopping the white passed pawns.

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 To keep the position together Black needed to play either 49...Rc1! 50.Bd5 Kf8
51.Be4 (Black is in time to deal with the white passed pawns after 51.c6 Ke7 52.b5
Rb1!)

51...h6 (it was also fine to go for 51...Rc4 52.Bxh7 Rxb4 53.Bd3 Ke7 54.Be2 Re4
55.Bf3 Rc4 56.c6 f5=, with a likely draw) 52.c6 f5 53.Bd5 (53.Bxf5 Rxc6=)
53...Ke7 54.Kg3 (54.b5 Rb1!=) 54...Rb1 55.Kh4 Rxb4+ 56.Kh5 Rb5!? 57.Bf3 Kf6
58.Kxh6 Rb8! 59.Kh7 Rc8 60.h4 Rc7+ 61.Kg8 Rc8+ 62.Kh7 Rc7+ 63.Kh6 Rc8
64.Kh7=, with a draw by repetition;
or 49...Rc2! 50.Bd5 Kf8 51.c6 Ke7 52.b5

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 Contrary to the game, Black can now bail out with 52...Rb2! (52...Kd6? 53.b6!+–)
53.Bc4 Kd6 54.Kg3 Rb4 55.Be2 Kc7=, and the black king does a good job
controlling the white passed pawns, while the rook, now relieved of its defensive
duties, restricts the white king in its desire to assault the black kingside pawns.

50.Bd5!+– Kf8

The white pawns are equally unstoppable after 50...f5 51.c6 Kf6 52.b5 Ke5 53.b6

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Kd6 (53...Kxd5 54.b7 Rb3 55.c7+–) 54.c7 Kd7 55.Be6+! Kxe6 56.b7.
In a similar manner, 50...Rd3 51.c6 Rxd5 52.c7+– is not going to be of any help.

51.c6! Ke7 52.b5!

On realizing that the rook is denied access to the b-file, Black resigned in the face
of 52...Kd6 53.b6! Rxc6 (53...Kxd5 54.b7! Rb3 55.c7+–) 54.Bxc6 Kxc6 55.Kg3
Kxb6 56.Kf4 Kc6 57.Kf5, with a winning pawn ending.
Lessons from my Career
Example No. 18
O. Ivanov – A. Galkin
Rostov on Don 2010

White to move

Let us look into this position from Black’s point of view: in return for the exchange
he has two pawns, each being a passed one or soon to be passed on opposite flanks.
The black kingside passed pawn enjoys the bishop’s support, while the potential
queenside passed pawn has the king accompanying it. Further, the bishop is placed
ideally. It is both protected by and protects the g7-pawn. Besides lending support to
both his passed pawns, it stops the white f-pawn dead in its tracks. Further, the

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bishop will participate in shielding his king from the white rook’s checks.
Now let us study this position through White’s eyes. There is no doubt that he is
fighting for a draw. Nevertheless, in addition to White having an active rook and a
centralized king, Black’s passed pawns have not advanced very far yet. All this
contributes to White’s optimism about his prospects of getting that draw.

41.Rb7?

White had to decide whether to deal with the future black queenside passer by
placing his rook behind it or from the side. However, White’s chosen plan for
arranging his pieces is an error of judgement.
He needed to go for 41.Rd5+! Kb4 42.Kd3! 42.Rxh5? is bad due to 42...a4
43.bxa4 bxa4 44.Kd3 a3 45.Rh2 Kb3–+, and the pawn cannot be stopped.

42...h4. Of course, nobody will let you create a pair of connected passed pawns just
like that – 42...Kxb3? 43.Rxb5+ Ka4 44.Rxh5, whereas 42...a4 43.bxa4 bxa4
44.Kc2! h4 (44...a3 45.Kb1=) 45.Rd3 leads to the same position.
43.Kc2 a4 44.bxa4 bxa4 45.Rd3 a3 (45...Kc4 46.Ra3=; 45...Be7 46.Rd7 Bf6
47.Rd3=) 46.Kb1 Kc4 47.Re3! Kd4

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 48.Re8!=, and the white pieces have managed to keep the black passed pawns at
bay, which can no longer count on their king’s decisive transfer to the kingside
because is it cut off by the rook.

41.Rb7? h4!

To start pushing this particular pawn with the purpose of deflecting the white king
from the queenside is the right decision.
In case of the incorrect 41...a4? 42.bxa4 bxa4 43.Ra7 Kb4 (43...Kb5 44.Rb7+ Ka6
45.Rb8=) 44.Rb7+ Kc4 45.Ra7 Kb3 46.Rb7+ Ka2 (46...Kc2 47.Ra7!) 47.Kd3 h4
(47...a3 48.Kc2=; 47...Bb2 48.Kc2=) 48.Kc2= the white king is in time to stifle
Black’s play on the queenside, while the rook is capable of handling the kingside
passed pawn on its own.

42.Rb8

42.Kf3 a4 43.bxa4 bxa4 comes to the rescue no longer.

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 44.Ra7
(44.Kg4 a3 45.Ra7 Kb4 46.Rb7+ Kc3 47.Ra7 Kb2 48.Rb7+ Ka1 49.Kh3 a2
50.Kg4 Bb2–+ and the king makes room for the pawn to queen)
44...Kb4 45.Rb7+ Kc4 46.Ra7 Kb3 47.Rb7+ Ka2 48.Ke2 h3! The premature
48...Bb2 49.Kd2 Kb1 50.Re7! Bc1+ 51.Ke1! h3 52.Rxg7 h2 53.Rh7 Bxf4 54.Kf2 a3
55.Kg2 a2 56.Rb7+= allows White to bail out.
49.Rb8 (49.Kf3 a3 50.Kg3 Bb2 51.Kxh3 Kb1–+) 49...a3–+ 50.Kd1 g5! 51.fxg5
h2 and the pawn is about to queen.

94
42...h3!

The suicide pawn presses on with its mission.

43.Kf3

In case of 43.Rh8 Kb4 44.Rxh3 a4 45.bxa4 bxa4

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 46.Kd3
(46.Rh8 a3 47.Rb8+ Kc3 48.Ra8 Kb2 49.Rb8+ Kc2 50.Ra8 Bb2 51.Kf5 Kb1
52.Kg6 a2–+)
46...a3 47.Rh2 Kb3 48.Rh8 a2 49.Rb8+ Ka3 50.Ra8+ Kb2 51.Rb8+ Kc1 52.Rc8+
Kb1 53.Rb8+ Bb2–+ the bishop, like an umbrella, shields the black king from bad
weather, and there is no stopping the black passed pawn from taking its last step to
becoming a queen.

43...h2 44.Kg2 a4 45.bxa4 bxa4 and White resigned in the face of 46.Ra8 Kb4
47.Rb8+ Kc3 48.Ra8 Kb3 49.Rb8+ Ka2 50.Kxh2 a3 51.Kg3 Bb2, followed by the
king stepping to b1 and the pawn queening.

Example No. 19
R. Haria – O. Kurmann
Catez 2021

Black to move

In return for the exchange Black has as many as three pawns, each of which can
become dangerous when supported by the bishop. White has nothing else but to pin
his hopes on the black king’s somewhat poor placement and his opponent’s

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inaccurate play.

63...Kh2? This natural move is a blunder that puts White on the right tracks to
engineer a drawn position.

The way to win was 63...Be4!

a) 64.Rc8 c3!
Both 64...Kg2? 65.Rg8+! Kf1 66.Rh8 c3 67.Rxh4 Ke1 68.Rh8 c2 69.Rc8 Kd1
70.Rd8+=, and 64...Kg3? 65.Rg8+ Kh2 66.Rh8! h3 67.Kf2 c3 68.Rc8= would have
missed the win.
65.Rxc3.

65...Kg3!–+. This square is ideal for the black king in terms of assisting his passed
pawns and restricting the opponent’s king. 65...Kg4? 66.Kf2 h3 67.Rg3+ Kh4
68.Rg8= is bad, and 65...Kg2? 66.Kf4 h3 67.Rg3+= is an error as well.
66.Ke2+ (66.Rc1 h3 67.Rg1+ Bg2–+; 66.Rc8 Bf3! 67.Rg8+ Bg4–+) 66...Kg2!

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 67.Rc8. White is in bad shape in the line 67.Ke3 h3 68.Kf4 h2 69.Rg3+ Kf2
70.Rh3 Kg1 71.Rg3+ Bg2 72.Ra3 h1=Q 73.Ra1+ Bf1–+.
67...Bf3+! 67...h3? fails due to 68.Rg8+.
68.Ke3 Kg3! Again, both 68...h3? 69.Kf4 h2 70.Rc2+=, and 68...Bg4? 69.Kf4 h3
70.Rc2+= blow the win.

69.Rg8+. 69.Rf8 Bg4–+ is no better than the text, and the frontal rook offensive is
also unproductive: 69.Rc1 h3 70.Rg1+ Bg2–+, while 69.Kd4 h3 70.Ke5 h2 71.Rh8

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(71.Rc1 f4–+) 71...Bg4–+ is of no help either.
69...Bg4–+, followed by the black pawns’ winning march to their queening
squares.
All below continuations are losing:
b) 64.Kf2 c3 65.Rc8 c2 66.Rc3+ Kg4 67.Rc8 h3 68.Kg1 f4, and White cannot
keep the black pawns at bay,
c) 64.Kd4 c3!? 65.Kxc3 Bf3! 66.Kd2 Bg4 67.Ke3 (67.Ke1 Kg2!–+) 67...Kg3!–+,
d) 64.Kf4 c3 65.Rc8 c2 66.Kg5 Kg3 67.Rc3+ Kf2 68.Kxh4 Ke2 69.Rc8 Kd2
70.Rd8+ Bd3–+ when White is again understaffed to successfully fight his
opponent’s passed pawns.

63...Kh2? 64.Rh8 h3

64...Kg3 no longer works because of 65.Rg8+ Kh3 66.Rc8! Kg4 67.Rg8+ Kh5
68.Kf4! c3 69.Rh8+ Kg6 70.Rxh4 c2 71.Rh1 Be2 72.Rc1 Bd1 73.Ra1=.

65.Kf2!

Not only paralyzing the black king, but also both kingside passers.

65...c3 66.Rc8 c2 67.Rc7 Be4 68.Rc5 Bd3 69.Rc7 Be4

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 The rook does a good job handling the passed c-pawn, and, seeing no way of
improving his position further, Black had to make do with a draw.
Example No. 20
S. Sevian – A. Hakobyan
Saint Louis 2022

Black to move

White has three pawns for the exchange. Not only that, but all three extra white
pawns are passers that are ready to roll on different flanks to pull Black’s defensive
resources apart. Black seems to be doomed.

47...Re1?

Black attempts to deny the white king access to the queenside to prevent it from
assisting its passed pawns. In doing so, he misses a more important factor in this
position.
47...gxf4? 48.Kxf4 Rg1 49.b4+– is also bad.
Instead, it would have been correct to take the white queenside pawns under
control to stop them from moving forward. Further, not only is the black king
capable of challenging his opponent’s kingside pawns, but he is also ready to go over

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to the opposite part of the board to assist his rook.
47...Rb1!
a) 48.fxg5+ Kxg5 49.Bf5 (49.Ke4 Kxg4 50.Kd5 Kf4 51.Kc5 Ke5 52.b4 Ke6
53.b5 Kd7 54.b6 Kc8= is harmless as the black king’s coming to the rescue is well-
timed)

49...Re1! It is time to restrict the white king.

50.c4. White drops a pawn after both 50.b4? Rb1 51.c3 Rb3= and 50.c3? Rc1 51.c4
Rc3+ 52.Ke4 Rxb3 53.c5 Kf6=. Likewise, 50.Kf2 Re7= 51.b4 Rb7 52.c3 Rc7 yields
nothing.
50...Kf6! 51.Kf4 (51.c5 Rc1! 52.b4 Rc4=; 51.b4 Rc1 52.Bd3 Ke5! 53.g5 Kd4
54.Be2 Rg1 55.Kf4 Re1=) 51...Rf1+ 52.Ke3 (52.Ke4 Rb1=) 52...Ke5! Restricting
the white king yet again, this time with his own king.

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 53.b4 (53.c5 Rc1 54.b4 Rc4=) 53...Rf4 54.Kd3 Rf3+! 55.Kc2 (55.Ke2 Rf4=)
55...Kd4 56.c5 (56.Be6 Rf6 57.Bd5 Rg6=) 56...Rc3+ 57.Kb2 (57.Kd2 Rc4 58.g5
Ke5!=) 57...Kc4= and the position is a draw.
b) 48.Ke4 Re1+!;
c) 48.f5 Ke5=;
d) 48.Ke3 Re1+! 49.Kd2 Rg1 50.fxg5+ Kxg5 51.Bf5

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 51...Rg3! 52.b4 Kf4 53.b5 Ke5! 54.b6 Kd6 55.b7 Kc7 56.Bc8 Kb8 57.c3 Kc7
58.Kc2 Re3 59.Kb3 Rd3! 60.Kb4 Rd1 61.c4 Rc1 62.Kc5 Rd1=.

47...Re1? 48.b4!+–

Having withdrawn the rook from the b-file, Black allows the white pawns to start
rolling.

48...Rb1

48...gxf4 49.Kxf4 Ke6 50.g5+– is losing for Black as well.

49.b5 Re1 50.c4! Rd1 51.fxg5+ Kxg5

52.Ke4! Re1+

52...Kxg4 53.Be2++– is utterly bad.

53.Kd5 Kxg4

53...Rd1 54.Kd4+– makes no difference.

54.b6 and Black resigned because there is no stopping the white pawns.

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 Example No. 21
A. Fier – Jimenez Garcia
Mexico 2022

White to move

Black has three pawns for the exchange. However, his compromised pawn
structure is one of the aspects that is likely to come to White’s rescue. Also
important is the remoteness of the black pawns from their king and from the
queening squares. Nevertheless, White needs to demonstrate precise play.

47.Rf8?

Instead, this move is a big error.

The alternative way of assaulting the pawns from the bottom rank also fails:
47.Rh8? Kd3 48.Rxh6 (48.Rg8 Ne3 49.Rh8 Ng4 50.Rf8 Ke4–+) 48...h4 49.Rg6
(49.Kb4 f4–+) 49...Nf4 (49...h3? 50.Rg3+) 50.Rh6 (50.Rf6 h3 51.Rxf5 h2–+;
50.Rd6+ Ke3–+) 50...h3

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 and the pawns gradually promote with support from the king and knight: 51.Kb4
Ke3 52.Kc4 Kf3 53.Kd4 Kg4! 53...Kg3? would be an error because White
eliminates the last pawn after 54.Rh8! h2 55.Rxh2 Kxh2 56.Ke5=.
54.Ke3 (54.Ke5 Kg5 55.Rh7 Nh5–+; 54.Rh8 Ng6 55.Rh7 Nh4–+) 54...Kg3!
55.Kd4 (55.Rh8 Ng2+ 56.Ke2 h2–+) 55...Ng2! 56.Rg6+ (56.Ke5 Nh4 57.Ra6 h2
58.Ra1 f4–+) 56...Kf3 57.Rh6 (57.Ke5 Nh4–+)

57...Kg4! A work of exquisite precision!

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 58.Rg6+ (58.Ke5 Nh4–+) 58...Kh5! 59.Rg8 (59.Rg3 Kh4 60.Rg8 h2 61.Ke5
Kh3–+) 59...Nh4 60.Rh8+ (60.Rg1 Nf3+–+) 60...Kg4 61.Rg8+ Kf4 62.Rh8 Nf3+
63.Kd3 (63.Kd5 h2 64.Ke6 Kg4–+) 63...h2 64.Ke2 Kg4 65.Kf2 Nh4–+.
White could have bailed out with 47.Rd5!?
a) 47...Ne3

48.Rd6! The white rook takes turns to get at the black pawns and the knight, thus
keeping the black king from coming to their aid.
48...h4 (48...Ng4 49.Rd5 f4 50.Rf5= Kd4 51.Rxf4+ Ke5 52.Rf1) 49.Rxh6 Ng2
50.Rg6! Nf4 (50...h3 51.Rg3+=; 50...Ne1 51.Rf6=) 51.Rh6 (51.Rf6? h3 52.Rxf5? h2
53.Rc5+ Kd2–+) 51...h3 52.Rh4=.
b) 47...f4? 48.Rxh5 f3 49.Rxh6 f2 50.Rf6=;
c) 47...Nh4? 48.Kb5 Nf3 49.Kc5!=.
47.Rg8!? was also an option:
a) if Black gives up his knight in the hope of promoting his pawns with support
from the king 47...f4 48.Rxg2 Kd3 49.Rg6 f3 50.Rxh6 f2 51.Rf6 Ke2 52.Re6+ Kf3
53.Rf6+ Kg3

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 54.Rg6+, then the black pawns are disconnected, which means that there is no
proper shield for the black king to hide behind from the white rook’s checks:
54...Kh3 55.Rf6 Kg2 56.Rg6+ Kf1 57.Rh6=, and the white rook is capable of
handling the passed pawns on its own;
b) 47...Nf4 48.Rf8=;
c) 47...Ne3 48.Rh8=;
d) 47...Nh4 48.Rf8 Kd4 49.Rf6 Ke4 50.Rxh6 f4 51.Rxh5 Ng2 52.Rh1 Ne3
53.Rh4=.
Lastly, 47.Rd6!? h4 (47...f4 48.Rxh6 h4 49.Rg6 f3 50.Rf6 Ne1 51.Rf4 h3 52.Rh4
f2 53.Rxh3+ Kd4 54.Rh1=) 48.Rg6! (48.Rxh6? Kd3–+) 48...Kd3 (48...Nf4 49.Rxh6
h3 50.Rh4=; 48...h3 49.Rxh6=) 49.Rxg2 f4 could also draw the game.

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 50.Rb2!? Switching to checking the black king from the side. White fails after
50.Rh2? f3 51.Rxh4 f2 52.Rf4 Ke2 because the rook is too close to the black king:
53.Re4+ Kf3–+.
50...Ke3
(50...h3 51.Rh2=; 50...f3 51.Kb4 Ke3 52.Rb3+ Kf2 [52...Kf4 53.Kc3 f2 54.Rb6=]
53.Kc3 Kg2 54.Rb6 f2 55.Rg6+ Kh2 56.Rf6=)
51.Rb3+ Ke2 52.Rb2+. White strives to force the black king to the f-file to put it in
the way of its own passed pawn.
52...Kf3 53.Rb6 h5 54.Kb3 h3 55.Kc3 h2 56.Rb1 Kg2 57.Rb2+ Kg3 58.Rb1 f3
59.Kd2 Kg2 60.Ke3 f2 61.Ke2 h4 62.Rf1 h1=Q 63.Rxh1 Kxh1 64.Kxf2= with a
drawn pawn ending.

47.Rf8?

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 47...f4–+ 48.Rf6

48.Kb5 h4 49.Rf6 Kd3–+ results in a transposition.

48...h4 49.Kb5

49.Rxh6 is of no help because after 49...Kd3 (49...f3? 50.Rf6 Ne1 51.Rf4 h3

52.Rh4 f2 53.Rxh3+ Kd4 54.Rh1=) 50.Rf6 (50.Kb4 f3 51.Rf6 Ke2–+) 50...Ke2–+
the black king is there to assist his passed pawns.

49...Kd3

49...h3? 50.Rxh6 is an error that enables the white rook to deal with each pawn one
by one.

50.Kc5

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 50...h5!

The black pawns are on their slow but unstoppable way to the promotion square.

51.Ra6

White falls to a fork after 51.Kd5 h3 52.Rh6 f3 53.Rxh5 Nf4+–+.

51...f3 52.Ra3+ Ke4 53.Ra4+ Ke3 54.Ra3+ Kf4 55.Ra4+ Kg3

Now that the black king is safe from the rook checks, his pawns reaching the
queening squares is only a matter of time.

56.Kd4 h3 57.Ra1 f2 58.Rf1

If the white king attempts to join the fray, then Black interposes and chases the
rook out of play with 58.Kd3 Ne1+ 59.Ke2 Kg2–+, after which the pawn will
queen.

58...Kf3 and White threw in the towel.

Lessons from my Career

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 Example No. 22
A. Galkin – R. Kempinski
Saint Vincent 2000

Black to move

Black executed a fierce middlegame attack against the enemy king, but White
managed to fight it off at the cost of minor material losses. The Polish grandmaster
tried for hours on end to destroy the drawn endgame position built by White, for
which he launched a flanking maneuver to get around from the rear, advancing his
king into the white camp but taking too much risk. There followed a pawn break, and
it is now up to Black to demonstrate the precise move order to save this position, in
which he is under pressure from the ever-melting clock time, from the drastic
turnaround in the position’s evaluation, and from fatigue from many hours spent at
the board.

78...Kd3?

The king rushes to help his rook fight off the white passed pawns that are running
in parallel to each other. However, this erroneous decision leads Black to disaster.
78...Kd2? 79.e6 Re3 80.Nd8 f4 81.g6 Rg3 82.e7 Re3 83.g7+– was losing.

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 78...Ra6? could not save the game either because after 79.Kf3 Kd3 (79...Ra1 80.e6
Re1 81.Nd8 Kd3 82.g6+–) 80.Kf4 Kd4 81.Kxf5 Kd5 82.g6 Re6 83.g7 Re8 84.e6
Rg8 85.e7+– the white pawns cannot be stopped.
It was correct to play either 78...Ra4!? 79.e6 (79.Kf3 Re4 80.g6 Rg4 81.Nh8 Re4
82.g7 Rg4=; 79.g6 Rg4 80.Nh8 Re4=)

79...Rf4+ (alternatively, 79...Re4 80.Nd8 Kd3 81.g6 Rf4+!=) 80.Kg3 (80.Ke3

Re4+=) 80...Re4 81.Nd8 Rg4+ 82.Kf3 Rxg5 83.e7 Rg8 84.Kf4 Re8 85.Nc6 Rxe7=,
or 78...f4!?, preventing the white king from coming to his pawns’ assistance in
both cases and also using the f-pawn to help his rook combat the passed pawns:
79.e6 (79.g6 Rg3 80.Nh8 Re3 81.g7 Rg3=) 79...Rg3! (79...Re3? 80.Nd8 Rg3 81.e7
Re3 82.Nc6+–) 80.e7 Re3 81.g6 Rxe7 82.g7 Re8 83.Nh6 Kd3 84.Kf3 Kd4 85.Kxf4

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 85...Kd5 (85...Re1? 86.g8=Q Rf1+ 87.Kg5 Rg1+ 88.Ng4) 86.Kf5 Kd6 87.Kf6
(87.Kg6 Ke6=) 87...Re6+ 88.Kf7 (88.Kg5 Re8=) 88...Re7+ 89.Kf8 Rxg7=.

78...Kd3?

79.e6!

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 The passed pawns can be stopped no longer.
The wrong 79.g6? Ra6 80.Nd6 Ra7!= would have saved Black.
It would be equally bad to play 79.Kf3? Kd4+ 80.Kf4 Kd5 81.g6 (81.Kxf5 Rf3+
82.Kg6 Ke6=) 81...Ra1 82.g7 (82.Kxf5 Rf1+ 83.Kg5 Ke6 84.Nh6 Rh1 85.Ng4
Rg1=) 82...Rf1+ 83.Kg5 Rg1+ 84.Kf6 Rxg7! 85.Kxg7 Ke6 86.Kg6 f4=, and White
cannot keep his last pawn alive.

79...Ra8

If one pawn is stopped, then the other pawn starts rolling after 79...Ra7 80.g6+–.
This sad evaluation for Black cannot be changed either by 79...Ra2+ 80.Kf3 Re2
81.Nd8 Re4 82.g6+–, or 79...Kd4 80.e7 Re3 81.Nd8! (81.Nd6? Rxe7 82.Nxf5+ Ke5
83.Nxe7 Ke6=) 81...f4 (81...Rxe7 82.Nc6++–) 82.g6+–, and the pawns become
queens again.

80.g6!

80.Nd6? Ra7 81.Nxf5 (81.g6 Re7!=; 81.Kf3 Re7=) 81...Ra5= would have missed
the win.

80...Kd4

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 If 80...Re8, then 81.g7+–, and if 80...Rg8, then 81.e7+–.

81.e7 Re8

After 81...Kd5 82.Nd8+– the black rook would lose control over the white pawn’s
promotion square.

82.g7 and Black resigned: 82...Kd5 83.Nh6 Ke6 84.g8=Q+ Rxg8 85.Nxg8 Kf7
86.Kf3.

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 Chapter 2
Rook vs. a Pair of Minor Pieces

Having studied endgame examples of a rook versus minor piece, it is logical to

turn to examples from modern grandmaster games to study how to handle endings
with a rook opposed by two minor pieces: two bishops, two knights, or a bishop and
a knight.
First though, let’s start from the very basics. Nominally, a pair of minor pieces
outweighs a rook. However, a rook often comes with a makeweight of one or even
two pawns. Everything is more or less clear about this imbalance in the middlegame
because, due to the presence of queens and more rooks still on the board, a pair of
minor pieces can help develop active play against the opponent’s king or other
weaknesses in his camp, which makes possessing a pair of minor pieces more
promising than having a rook (but there may of course be specific exceptions).
However, other factors come to the forefront in the endgame, including the presence
of passed pawns for either or both sides and active kings.
If neither side has pawns in such endings, then a draw seems the most logical
outcome. The weaker side will normally only need to trade his rook for either of his
opponent’s minor pieces. Of course, special features of the position may still change
this outcome, such as if the rook is pinned by the bishop and there is no way to unpin
it without dropping the whole rook. Then the resulting endgame passes to the
technical stage, in which the stronger side needs to demonstrate its skills of
checkmating a lone king with two bishops or a bishop and a knight (one more reason
to revise or learn the mating techniques once and for all!). We transpose to the same
ending if the rook drops to a knight fork, unless the stronger side has a pair of
knights for the rook so that even elimination of the rook gives no win. As long as the
defending side keeps exercising a basic amount of prudence, two knights cannot
checkmate a lone king. This is an important point to remember.
That said, the majority of rook vs. pair of minor pieces endings initially begin with
pawns on the board. As mentioned above, arrangement of both sides’ pawns has a
crucial influence on any positional evaluation. It depends, above all, on whether the
side having a rook has a passed pawn or even connected passed pawns, and if such
passed pawn is backed up by the rook or king, as well as on whether the enemy

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pawns are vulnerable to an actively posted rook, etc. Correct evaluation of the
position is subject to many factors, and you need to take all of them into account. It
is this approach that determines which side has the advantage in a rook vs. pair of
minor pieces ending.
The bishop pair is more often than not a superior material ratio in an endgame like
this. This is true, of course, about normally developed bishops in open positions and
not blunted by your own or your opponent’s pawn chains. A pair of bishops is a
mobile and an easy-to-coordinate asset that is capable of raking the entire board,
which makes for their successful use both in active operations and for defensive
purposes. A pair of knights is less mobile in terms of quick relocation between
opposite flanks. On the other hand, the knights can go a long way if proper outposts
are available, especially in the center. Their forking capabilities are a powerful tool.
Everything is more or less clear in terms of conversion of a positional or even
material advantage. The ultimate winning goal of the stronger side with two minor
pieces is to win material (pawns or rook) or to queen a pawn and then deliver a
checkmate. The same is true when specific features of a position give the rook holder
superiority, such as winning material (a minor piece or a pawn) or promoting his
own pawn to the queening square, followed by a routine checkmate procedure to
crown the game.
We have already identified a number of drawn positions as part of the “rook vs.
minor piece” section (which is of course far from exhaustive) that a competitive
chess player needs to know to handle the endgame correctly. Obviously, some of
those drawn positions can emerge from the “rook vs. a pair of minor pieces” ending
as a result of exchanging the rook for one of the minor pieces. Meanwhile, the
situation from the opposite side of the board holds true as well – one of the minor
pieces can be sacrificed for the opponent’s passed pawn in order to transpose into a
theoretically drawn ending.
We also highlight that the presence of a small number of pawns and their location
on one flank only, similarly to other types of endgame, significantly increases the
weaker side’s chances of saving the game. Again, these postulates are of a general
nature and should only serve as helpful input for a chess player when evaluating a
specific endgame on the board. I repeat, to hammer this point home, that correct
evaluation depends entirely on concrete features of each particular position.
Rook vs. a Pair of Minor Pieces

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 Let us begin the topic by an example from a grandmaster game in which there is no
debate as to who is better. The two pieces are superior to the rook and the only
question is whether the stronger side is capable of increasing and converting the
advantage.
Example No. 23
G. Meier – L. D. Nisipeanu
Dortmund 2018

White to move

White has two minor pieces for a rook and pawn. Moreover, the black queenside
pawns are doubled, which disables the potential to create a passed pawn on this part
of the board. The bishop and knight are posted actively and are looking for an
opportune moment to launch an offensive against the opponent’s weak pawns.
Objectively speaking, Black will find it hard to come up with anything against
White’s aggressive plans.

31.b3!

This is a sound prophylactic move. The bishop and pawn arrangement allows them
to fend for each other.

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 The greedy 31.Nd6?! Rd1 32.Nxb7?! Ke7 would have led to problems with the
stray knight.

31.b3! Rd1 32.Ne3 Rd2 33.h4!

White shows the opponent his readiness to open a second front for active play on
the kingside in order to create new weaknesses in the black camp.
33.Nd5? b5–+ would be yet another greedy attempt leading to disaster.

33...g6 34.g4! Rb2

34...Kg7 35.Kg3!? would have made no significant difference

35.Nd1!

35.Nd5?! b5! 36.Bxb5 Rxb3 37.Bc4 Rb2!? 38.Nxf6 b5! would have given Black
decent counterplay by setting his passed pawn in motion.

35...Rd2

In case of 35...Rc2 36.Kf3!? Kg7 (36...Ke7? 37.Ne3) 37.Ke3 White dislodges his
opponent’s rook and starts attacking the exposed black pawns.

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 36.Nc3 Rd4 37.Kg3 Rd8

37...Kg7?! 38.Nd5! b5 39.Nc7! is a dubious continuation leading to Black’s

material losses due to the threatened fork

38.f3!

White is in no hurry. He improves his position gradually and prepares to activate

his king.

38...Kg7 39.Kf4 Rd2

The check 39...Rd4+ 40.Ke3 brings no dividends to Black.

40.Ne4 Rd1 41.h5!? White is true to his plan and keeps increasing dynamic
pressure all over the board.

41...b5? Black caves in under heavy defensive duties and attempts to get at least
some semblance of counterplay.

Of course, 41...g5+? is bad because the black king is in for checkmate after 42.Kf5
Rd8 43.h6+! Kxh6 44.Kxf6 Rf8+ 45.Bf7+–.

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 Along the same lines, 41...Rd7?! 42.h6+ Kxh6 43.Nxf6± is unsatisfactory for
Black.
An uphill battle was in store for Black even after the relatively better 41...Rd4
42.Ke3 Rd8 43.hxg6 hxg6 44.Nc3±.

42.Be6

White is not lured by the pawn offering, quite reasonably believing that material
gain is his for grabs whenever he feels like it.
42.Bxb5!? gxh5 43.gxh5 Rd5 44.h6+! Kxh6 (44...Kg6 45.Be8+!? Kxh6 46.Nxf6)
45.Bc4 Rd4 46.Kf5 b5 47.Be6+– was looking good for White, leaving Black in bad
shape.

42...Rh1?

Black is again in search for counterplay. He needed to fight back patiently with
42...Rd4! 43.Ke3 Rd1.

43.Bd5!?

Getting down to reaping the harvest of ripe pawns.

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 43...b6

43...gxh5? 44.Ng3 Rd1 45.Nxh5+ Kg6 46.Be4++– is bad.

44.hxg6 hxg6 45.Nc3!? b4

After 45...g5+ 46.Kf5 Re1 47.Ne4+– White shifts the activity vector to grab
another black pawn, this time on the kingside.

46.Na2 g5+ 47.Ke3 Kf8 48.Nxb4+– Ke7 49.Be4 and Black threw in the towel.

Example No. 24
N. Meskovs – D. Paravyan
Riga 2021

Black to move

White hopes to draw the game by giving up his rook for the black passed pawn,
provided that his king is in time to help queen his only remaining pawn.

81...Kh3?

This blunder allows White to implement his plan.

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 The game could have been won by other king moves:
a) 81...Kg3! 82.Kd7 Nd4! 83.Rd1. Black also gets the upper hand after 83.Kc8
Nc6 84.Rc1 (84.Kd7 Nb4 85.Kc8 Na6 86.Ra1 Be5!–+) 84...Bf4!–+.
83...Kf3!? (83...Bf4 84.Rf1!, 83...Be5 84.Re1! or 83...Kg2 84.Rd2+!) 84.Rb1. The
premature 84.Kc8 Nc6 85.Kd7 Nb4 86.Kc8 Na6–+ gives Black time for a decisive
regrouping of his pieces.

84...Bg3 85.Rc1 Ke4. 85...Kg2? is ill-advised: 86.Kc8 Nc6 87.Rc2+! Kf3 88.Rxc6
h1=Q 89.Rc3+!=
86.Re1+ (86.Kc8 Nc6! 87.Kd7 Nb8+–+) 86...Kd3. 86...Bxe1? fails to 87.b8=Q
h1=Q? 88.Qa8+, while after 86...Kd5 87.Rc1! White cuts off the path of the black
king’s relocation.
87.Rd1+ (87.Rb1 Kc4!; 87.Rc1 Nb3 88.Rb1 Na5 89.Kc8 Nc6–+) 87...Kc4
88.Rc1+ (88.Rb1 Kc5!) 88...Kd5 89.Rb1

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 89...Kc5! 90.Rc1+ (90.Kc8 Nc6–+) 90...Kb6! 91.Rb1+ (91.Kc8 Nc6–+)
91...Ka7! The black king has travelled a long way to the queenside to assist in the
regrouping of his minor pieces.
92.Kc8 Nc6! 93.Ra1+. 93.Kd7 Nb4! 94.Kc8 Na6 95.Ra1 Kb6–+ makes no
difference.
93...Kb6 94.Rb1+. White is in equally grim shape after 94.Kd7 Nb4! 95.Rb1 Ka7
96.Kc8 (96.Ke6 Nd3 97.Kf5 Nf2–+) 96...Na6–+.
94...Kc5! – once the regrouping is successfully over, the king travels back to the
kingside to help promote his passed pawn.
95.Kd7

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 95...Nb4! One more precise move. 95...Nb8+? 96.Ke6 Kd4 97.Kf5 Ke3 98.Kg4
Bc7 99.Kh3 Kf2 100.Rh1= would be an error.
96.Rd1 White attempts to cut off the black king from the kingside. Likewise, there
is no saving the game after 96.Kc8 Na6–+, while 96.Ke6 Bb8 97.Kf5 Nd3 98.Kg4
h1=Q 99.Rxh1 Nf2+ 100.Kf3 Nxh1 101.Kg2 Ng3–+ is of help no longer.
96...Kb6! A surgical precision job! (96...Na6? 97.Ke6= is no good) 97.Rb1
(97.Ke6 Nd3! 98.Rb1+ Kc6!? 99.Kf5 Nf2–+) 97...Ka7! 98.Kc8 Na6! 99.Rc1 loses
again (similarly, there is no way to stay in the game after 99.Kd7 Kb8! 100.Ke6
Nc5+ 101.Kf5 Nd3 102.Kg4 Be1!–+):

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 99...Kb6! Like an experienced animal tamer, the black king forces the opponent
into submission via the same repetitive gestures.
100.Ra1 (100.Rb1+ Kc6–+) 100...Nb8 101.Rc1 Bf4! Forcing the rook to cede
control over the c-file.
102.Rf1 Bd6! The sloppy 102...Kc5? 103.Rxf4! h1=Q 104.Kxb8= would have
missed the win.
103.Rd1 Kc6 104.Re1 Kd5 105.Rd1+ Ke6 106.Rf1 Bg3

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 107.Rh1. 107.Kd8 Nc6+ 108.Kc8 Ke7!–+ would have unexpectedly woven a
mating net.
107...Kf5 108.Ra1 Kg4 109.Rc1 Kh3 110.Ra1 Kg2 111.Ra2+ Kf1! 112.Ra1+ Be1
113.Kxb8 h1=Q 114.Kc7 (White is also lost after 114.Ka7 Qh7–+) 114...Qh2+
115.Kc8 Qh8+ 116.Kd7 (116.Kc7 Qxa1! 117.b8=Q Bg3+–+ is an immediate
failure) 116...Ke2–+, and the bishop joins the fray with decisive effect.
b) 81...Kf3! 82.Kd7 Nd4 83.Rd1 was winning along the same lines
(83.Kc8 Nc6 84.Kd7 Nb4! 85.Kc8 Na6 86.Ra1 Be5 87.Rd1 Bg3–+; 83.Re1? Kg2
84.Kc8 Nc6 85.Re2+ Kf1 86.Rc2 h1=Q 87.Rc1+ Kg2 88.Rxh1 Kxh1 89.Kd7 Na7–
+)

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 83...Ke3. (Not 83...Bg3? 84.Rd3+ Kf2 85.Rxg3.)
b1) 84.Rb1 Bg3
b1.1) 85.Ra1

85...Nb3! 86.Rb1 Na5 87.Kc8 Nc6–+, followed by Black’s taking the white rook
for its passed pawn yet again.
b1.2) 85.Rc1 Nb3 86.Rf1 Na5 87.Kc8 Nc6! 88.Kd7 Nb8+ 89.Ke6 Bf2 90.Rh1

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Bg1 91.Kd6 Na6 92.Kc6 Kf3–+;
b1.3) 85.Kc8 Nc6–+;
b1.4) 85.Rh1 Kd3 86.Rd1+ Kc4–+
b2) 84.Kc8 Nc6 85.Kd7 Nb4–+;
b3) 84.Rc1 Nb3 85.Re1+ Kd2 86.Rb1 Na5 87.Kc8 Nc6 88.Kd7 Nb4 89.Ke6 Ke2
90.Kf5 Nd3–+;
b4) 84.Ra1 Nc2 85.Rb1 Nb4–+

81...Kh3? 82.Kd7! Nd4

A draw is inevitable after 82...Kg2 83.Rxh2+ Bxh2 84.Kc8=.

83.Kc8 Nc6

84.Rc1!?

An alternative way to make a draw was: 84.Kd7 Nb4 85.Kc8 Na6 86.Ra1! Kg4
(86...Bf4 87.Rxa6 h1=Q 88.Rh6+! Bxh6 89.b8=Q=) 87.Rxa6 h1=Q 88.Kxb8=, and
White is out of the woods with such an advanced passed pawn.

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 84...Kg4

After 84...Bf4 85.Rxc6 h1=Q 86.Rh6+! Bxh6 87.b8=Q= the endgame is drawn.
Black also achieves nothing after 84...Kg2 85.Rxc6 h1=Q 86.Kxb8=.

85.Rxc6!

The careless check 85.Rc4+? Bf4!–+ would have cost the game.

85...h1=Q

86.Rc4+!

This intermezzo is crucial. Both 86.Kxb8? Qxc6 and 86.Rg6+? Kf5 are bad.

86...Kf5 87.Kxb8=

and the position is drawn despite the presence of the black queen on the board.

87...Ke6 88.Ka7 Qg1+ 89.Ka6 Qa1+ 90.Kb6 Qb2+ 91.Kc7 Qe5+ 92.Kc8 Qh8+
93.Kc7 Qg7+ 94.Kb6 Qb2+ 95.Kc7 Qe5+ 96.Kc8 Qh8+ 97.Kc7 Qg7+ 98.Kb6
Qb2+

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 Or following 98...Qe5 99.Re4!? Qxe4 100.b8=Q the position is an obvious draw.

99.Kc7 and the opponents agreed a draw after repeating the position several times.

Example No. 25
B. Firat – M. Zirkelbach
Catez 2022

Black to move

Black has a rook and a pawn for a pair of minor pieces. At the same time, the f2-
pawn is nearly encircled by the white pieces and is likely doomed. This means that
Black should either exchange all the white pawns or else find other opportunities
available in the position.

49...h5?!

This is not yet an error, but an inaccuracy.

A counter-intuitive exchange sacrifice would have secured a draw then and there:
49...Rxd2! 50.Kxd2 h5! 51.gxh5. White cannot hold on to the last pawn following
51.Be2 hxg4 52.hxg4 f1=Q 53.Bxf1 Kxg4=.
51...gxh5= and given that White’s pawn promotion square color is opposite to that

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of the bishop and that the black king faces no problems reaching the h8-square, the
position is a draw.
Another good plan was to activate the king with 49...Kh4!? 50.Ne4 (White cannot
improve his position via 50.Nf3+ Kg3 51.Nd4 g5 52.Ne2+ Kh2 53.Kxf2 Ra2=)
50...h5 51.gxh5 (51.g5 Ra2 52.Kf3 Rb2 53.Bg2 Ra2=; 51.Nxf2 Rxf2 52.Kxf2
hxg4=) 51...gxh5 52.Nxf2 Rxf2!? 53.Kxf2 Kg5=, with a draw.

49...h5?! 50.Nf3+

The alternative check is not as good as the text: 50.Ne4+?! Kh4!=.

50...Kf6

The erroneous 50...Kh6? 51.g5+ Kg7 52.Be2 gives us a transposition to the actual
game.

51.g5+!

51.gxh5 gxh5 52.Be2 Kf5 53.Kxf2 Kf4= is harmless and poses Black no problems
in maintaining the balance thanks to his active pieces

51...Kg7?

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 Black’s play is overly passive, and his opponent punishes him for that.
The king was needed where the action was: 51...Kf5! 52.Bd3+. 52.h4? Kg4! is
bad, and after 52.Be2 Rb3+ 53.Kxf2 Kf4 54.h4 Rb2 55.Ne1 Ra2 56.Ng2+ Ke4
57.Kf1 Ra1+ 58.Kf2 Ra2= White cannot untangle his pieces in any satisfactory way.
52...Ke6 53.Nd2
(Black is in good shape after both 53.Be2 Kf5 54.Kxf2 Kf4!= and 53.h4 Ra2
54.Nd2 Ra3 55.Ke2 Ra4 56.Nc4 Ra2+ 57.Kf1 Ra1+ 58.Kxf2 Rh1 59.Kg3 Rg1+
60.Kh2 [60.Kh3 Rh1+!] 60...Rg4 61.Kh3 Rf4! 62.Nb2 Rf2 63.Na4 Rf3+ 64.Kg2
Rxd3! 65.Nc5+ Kf5 66.Nxd3 Kg4=.
Similarly, White gains nothing from 53.Nh2 Rb3 54.h4 Ra3 55.Ke2 Ke5! 56.Bxg6
Rh3 57.Nf1 [57.Nf3+? Rxf3] 57...Rxh4 58.Bd3 [58.Ne3 Kf4=] 58...Rg4 59.g6 Kf6
60.Kxf2 Rxg6=)

Now there follows the study-like 53...Rxd2! (53...Ke5? 54.Nc4+; 53...Ra2?

54.Bc4+) 54.Kxd2 f1=Q! 55.Bxf1 Kf5 56.h4 (56.Ke3 Kxg5=) 56...Kg4 57.Ke3
Kxh4 58.Kf4= and stalemate.

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 52.Be2!

The first black pawn is encircled and eliminated.

52...Ra2

An attempt to stop White from forming a pawn chain only results in new
weaknesses – 52...h4 53.Kxf2! (53.Nxh4?! Rb3+ 54.Kxf2 Rxh3) 53...Rb4 54.Bd3
Ra4 55.Ke3 Ra8 56.Be4 Rh8

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 57.Kf4. A cute stalemate comes to Black’s rescue in the line 57.Ne5 Re8
58.Nxg6? Rxe4+ 59.Kxe4 Kxg6 60.Kf4 Kh5 61.Kf5.
57...Rf8+ 58.Kg4 Re8 59.Bd5 Rd8 60.Bc6 Rc8. An alternative way of attacking
the bishop fails as well: 60...Rd6 61.Be4 Re6 62.Kf4+– and the black pawn drops.
61.Ne5 Rh8 62.Nd3 Rd8 (62...Rc8 63.Bd5 Rc3 64.Nf4+– is equally hopeless)
63.Nf4 Rd4 64.Be8+– and White has got at the black pawns.

53.Kxf2 Ra3 54.Bc4 Rc3 55.Bd5 Rc2+ 56.Kg3 Rc3 57.Kf4 Ra3 58.Be4 Rb3
59.h4+–

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 White has activated his pieces and is well placed for the upcoming decisive siege
of the g6-pawn. Black has nothing to show for it.

59...Ra3 60.Ne5 Rh3

The pawn ending arising after 60...Ra6 61.Bxg6 Rxg6 (61...Ra4+ 62.Be4+–)
62.Nxg6 Kxg6 63.Ke5 Kf7 (63...Kg7 64.Kf5 Kf7 65.g6+ Kg7 66.Kg5+–) 64.Kd6
is lost. 64.Kf5 Kg7 65.g6? Kh6 66.Kf6= is another instance of a cute stalemate.
64...Kg6 65.Ke6 Kg7 66.Kf5 Kh7 (66...Kf7 67.g6+ Kg7 68.Kg5+–) 67.Kf6+–.

61.Nxg6 Rh2

Black is also doomed after 61...Kf7 62.Ne5+ Kg7 63.Nf3+–

62.Kg3 Ra2

62...Re2 63.Bf3+– is no better than the text.

63.Nf4 Ra3+ 64.Bf3

Black resigned in the face of dropping his third pawn.

Example No. 26

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 D. Gordievsky – V. Fedoseev
Moscow 2019

Black to move

Black is definitely the side playing for a win here. In return for a pair of knights,
White has only a rook without any makeweight in the form of one let alone two
pawns. Further, the d4-pawn looks doomed. On the other hand, with all pawns
located on the same flank and White’s king and rook being sufficiently active, White
is not entirely devoid of chances of exchanging or eliminating those pawns. Besides,
a potential transposition into a two knights vs. king ending is something to keep in
mind.

44...Nxd4?!

Black is in a hurry to cash in, making conversion of his advantage a lot more
difficult.
44...Nd7? was bad because of 45.h5! f6+ (White also holds a draw after 45...Nxd4
46.Rxg7! Ne6+ 47.Kh6 Nxg7 48.Kxg7 gxh5 49.Kxf7 Ne5+ 50.Kf6 Nf3 51.h4
Nxh4 52.Kg5=)

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 46.Kxg6! Ne7+ 47.Kxg7 Nxg8 48.Kxg8 f5 49.Kg7 f4 50.h6 f3 51.h7 f2 52.h8=Q
f1=Q 53.Qa8+=.
Black should have gone for 44...Nd5! 45.Rf8 (45.h5 f6+ 46.Kxg6 Nde7+ 47.Kh7
Nxg8 48.Kxg8 Kd5–+; 45.Rd8 Nxd4–+) 45...Nd6 46.Rxf7. White drops the rook to
46.Rg8? Ne4+ 47.Kg4 Nef6+–+. White’s position is also hopeless after 46.Ra8 Nc7
47.Ra4 Ne6+ 48.Kg4 Kd5–+ or 46.h5 gxh5 47.Kxh5 Nf4+ 48.Kg4 Ne6 49.Rg8
Kd5–+.
46...Nxf7+ 47.Kxg6 Nd6

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 48.h5. Following 48.Kxg7 Nf5+ 49.Kg6 Nxh4+ 50.Kh5 Nf3 51.h4 Kd6 52.Kg4
Nd2 53.Kf5 Nf1 54.h5 Ke7 55.Ke5 Nfe3–+ Black eliminates the h-pawn and
transposes into a theoretically won ending.
48...Ne8 49.h6 (there is no dislodging the knight from its defensive position with
49.Kf7 Kd7–+) 49...gxh6 50.Kxh6 Kd6–+, transiting into a known winning
position.

44...Nxd4?! 45.Rxg7! Ne6+ 46.Kf6! Nxg7

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 47.Kxf7!

47.Kxg7? f5! is losing (47...Nd5? misses the win to 48.Kxf7 Nf4 49.Kf6 Kd5
50.h5 gxh5 51.Kf5 Ne6 52.Kg6 h4 53.Kf5=):
48.Kxg6 f4 49.h5 f3 50.h6 Nd7! 51.Kg7. After 51.h7 Nf8+–+ the white passed
pawn is stopped, and its black counterpart is about to become a queen.
51...Nf8! Decoying the white king into a check from the future queen.
52.Kxf8 f2 53.h7 f1=Q+ 54.Kg7. But for the second h2-pawn the position would
have been a draw. However, it is there, much to White’s grief:
54...Qg2+ 55.Kf7 Qh3 56.Kg8 Qg4+ 57.Kf7 Qh5+ 58.Kg7 Qg5+ 59.Kf7 Qh6
60.Kg8 Qg6+ 61.Kh8 Qf7 62.h4 Qf8#.

47...Ne6?

This decision by a strong grandmaster is beyond understanding. It must be due to

either a serious miscalculation or even disbelief in his own skill-set to win this
endgame.
47...Nf5? 48.Kxg6 Nxh4+ 49.Kg5 Nf3+ (49...Ng2 50.h4=) 50.Kf4 Nd4 51.h4= is
also a draw.
It takes the following to succeed: 47...Nh5! 48.Kxg6 Nf4+

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 49.Kg5. 49.Kh6 Nbd5 50.h5 Nf6–+ gives rise to another instance of a known
winning ending. Yet another retreat of the king is also inferior to the text: 49.Kf5
Nbd5 50.h5 Nxh5 51.h4 Kd6 52.Kg5 Ndf6!–+.
49...Ne6+! 50.Kf5 (50.Kf6 Kd6 51.h5 Nd5+ does not make any difference)
50...Kd6 51.h5 Nf8! 52.h6 (Black also reaches a winning position after 52.Kf6
Nbd7+ 53.Kf7 Nh7 54.Kg7 Ndf6–+) 52...Nh7! 53.Kg6 (in case of 53.h4 Nd5
54.Ke4 Ke6 55.h5 Ne7 56.Kd4 Kd6 57.Kc4 Nf5–+) 53...Ke7 and now White may
continue 54.Kxh7
(Another doomed attempt would be 54.h4 Nd7 55.Kf5

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 55...Kd6! A crucial moment. Black clearly intends to capture the h6-pawn with his
knight. However, despite being mathematically winning, this position with a white
rook’s pawn on the fifth rank blocked by a knight is also known to defy the 50-move
rule from time to time. This is the reason the stronger side should not be in a hurry to
grab this pawn, instead centralizing his king as much as possible and edging the
opponent’s king out towards any of the corners prior to that. It is only at this moment
that the winning mechanism should be set in motion.
56.Ke4 Ke6! 57.h5 [57.Kd4 Ndf6 58.h5 Kd6!–+] 57...Ne5 58.Kd4 Kd6! 59.Ke4
Nc6! 60.Kf5 Kd5! 61.Kf4 [Black gets the upper hand along the same lines
following 61.Kg6 Ke6 62.Kxh7 Kf7 63.Kh8 Ne5 64.Kh7 Nf3 65.Kh8 Ng5 66.h7
Kf8 67.h6 Nf7#] 61...Nb4! 62.Ke3 Ke5! 63.Kd2 Kd4! 64.Ke2 Nd3–+, and the
endgame database shows that Black can deliver a checkmate without violating the
50-move rule.)

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 54...Kf7! 55.Kh8 Nd7 56.Kh7 (White is immediately checkmated after 56.h7 Ne5
57.h4 Ng6#) 56...Nf6+ 57.Kh8 Kf8! (here we have a known position with the
knight superior to rook pawns because of the smothered mate of the misplaced king)
58.h3 (White is checkmated after 58.h4 Kf7 59.h5 Nd5 60.Kh7 Nf4 61.Kh8 Ne6
62.Kh7 Ng5+ 63.Kh8 Kf8! 64.h7 Nf7#) 58...Kf7 59.h4 Kf8 60.h5

60...Ne4! 61.Kh7 (there is an alternative way to get checkmated: 61.h7 Nd6 62.h6
Nf7#) 61...Kf7! 62.Kh8 Ng5! 63.h7 Kf8 64.h6 Nf7#.

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 48.Kxe6

and the opponents agreed to a draw without producing the sequence 48...Nd5
49.h5 gxh5 (49...Nf4+ 50.Kf6 gxh5 51.Kg5=) 50.Kf5 Kd6 51.Kg5, after which the
last black pawn falls.
Lessons from my Career
Example No. 27
O. Karpeshov – A. Galkin
St. Petersburg 1997

White to move

White has a rook and a pawn for two knights. Further, given that the pawn is a
passed one and can move forward with the support of the rook, White played

27.Rb8

and offered a draw, believing the position to be approximately equal. Naturally, the
hasty 27.b4? Nc6–+ was bad.

27.Rb8 Kf6!

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 However, Black turned the peace proposal down by reasonably evaluating his
position as considerably superior due to his actively posted knights and White’s
compromised kingside pawn structure. His king is capable of handling the white
passed pawn, and his knights will get down to reaping the harvest of his opponent’s
weak pawns.

28.b4?!

White persists in driving his passed pawn forward. 28.Rb7! was a stronger
continuation.

28...Ke7! 29.b5?! Kd7! 30.b6

There is no way to exploit the black king’s relocation to the queenside and grab
some pawns left unprotected as a result of his departure: 30.Rg8 h6 31.Rh8 h5
32.Rg8 Nxf3 33.Rg7 Kc7 34.h4 (34.Rxf7+ Kb6–+) 34...Nxh4 35.Rxg5 Nhg6–+.
30.Rh8 h5 was not a game-changer either.

30...Nfg6!

An important prophylactic move. Restricting the opponent’s rook, the black knight
protects his kingside pawns.

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 31.Kg2

White cannot exchange his passed pawn, which seemed so formidable only a while
ago: 31.b7 Kc7 32.Rg8 Kxb7 33.Rg7 h5–+.

31...h5!?

Now White is left with numerous weak pawns and no counterplay whatsoever.

32.Kf1 Kc6! 33.Ke2 Nd7 34.Rd8 Nxb6–+

Encircled by the black pieces, the key pawn has fallen. The same fate is in store for
its fellow pawns, too.

35.Rg8 Nd7 36.Ke3 Kd6 37.Rg7?!

White has entirely lost his sense of danger.

37...Ke7 38.Rh7 Nf6 39.Rh6

The rook is immediately trapped after 39.Rg7 Kf8–+.

39...h4!? 40.h3 e5

Black is in no hurry whatsoever. Having restricted his opponent’s options to the

maximum, he is now ready to let his king loose on its prey via f8-g7. Here, White
resigned in the face of the imminent fall of his rook.
Let us now proceed to a rook vs. pair of bishops example. This ending is a good
display of the two bishops’ strong coordination and of the importance of opposing
them with an active rook to enable saving counterplay.
Example No. 28
M. Schekhachikhin – I. Popov
Sochi 2022

146
 Black to move

White has a rook and a pawn for two bishops. Black’s bishops are sufficiently
active, and White’s extra central pawn does not make itself felt yet. Further, White’s
kingside pawns will likely turn into easy targets for the light-squared bishop. Black
will be obviously winning if he manages to adequately address the current threat to
his queen’s bishop while keeping the white rook out of his camp. Advantage
conversion will only be a question of time.

47...Bb5?

Out of the three available bishop retreats Black chooses a bad one.
47...Bh4? 48.Rh1+– is a bad continuation that drops one of Black’s bishops.
There is no ceding control over the f-file to the black rook: 47...Bh7? 48.Rf1! Be4.
It is a draw by repetition after 48...Kc7 49.Rf7+ Kc6 50.Rxg7 Be4 51.Rg6! Kd5
52.Rg7 Kc6 53.Rg6 Bd5 54.Kd3 Bc1 55.g5! Bxg5 56.Rxg5 hxg5 57.h6 Ba2 58.Kc2
Bd5 59.Kd3=.
49.Rf7!? White can also transpose to the actual game via 49.Rf8+!?.
49...g6 50.Rf6! gxh5 51.gxh5 Bd5 (51...Bf5 52.d5!=) 52.Rg6 Kc7 53.Kd3! Bf4
54.Rg4 Bc1 55.Rg1 Ba3. 55...Bg5 56.Rxg5 hxg5 57.h6 Ba2 58.Kc2 Bd5 59.Kd3= is

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a repetition of the drawing mechanism seen above.
56.Rg6 Bc1 (56...Bf8? 57.Rf6) 57.Rg1= and White’s counterplay is sufficient to
make a draw.
The correct continuation is 47...Ba6! 48.Rb1. The pawn break 48.d5 does not work
because after 48...exd5 49.Kd4 (49.e6 Bf6+! 50.Kc2 Be7–+) 49...Bc4 50.Rb1
(White drowns in the bishops’ nets following 50.e6 Bf6+! 51.Kc5 Be7+ 52.Kb6
Bh4! 53.Kc5 Bf2+! 54.Kd6 Bxe1 55.e7 Bb4+–+) 50...Bh4! 51.Rb2 (51.Ke3 Kc7–+;
51.e6 Kc7–+) 51...Kc7–+ White gets zero counterplay for the sacrificed pawn.
48...Bd8 49.Kb4. 49.d5 exd5 50.Kd4 Bc4 51.a6 b5!? 52.Kc5 Kc7 53.a7 Be7+
54.Kd4 Kb7 55.Ra1 Ka8–+ is hopeless.
49...Kc7 50.Rb2 (50.Kc5? Be7#; 50.Rc1+ Kd7!)

50...Bh4! Black again denies the white rook access to the f-file to create
counterplay.
51.Ka4 (51.Kc5? Be7#; 51.d5 exd5 52.Kc5 Bc4–+; 51.Ra2 Kc6–+) 51...Kc6
52.Rb6+. White is doomed after 52.Rc2+ Kd5 53.Rc7 Kxd4 54.Rxg7 Kxe5 55.Rg6
Bg5–+.
52...Kd5! 53.Rd6+ Kc4 54.Rxe6 (54.Ka3 Be7–+ is an immediate failure)
54...Bg5!?

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 55.Rg6 (55.Ka3 Kxd4–+; 55.Rd6 Bb5+ 56.Ka3 Be7–+; 55.Rb6 Kxd4 56.e6 Ke5–
+; 55.d5 Kxd5 56.Re8 Bf4!? 57.e6 Be5 58.e7 Ke6–+) 55...Be7! Setting up a
decisive mating mechanism for the white king.
56.Rb6 (56.Rxg7? Bb5#) 56...Kxd4 57.Rg6 Kc4! 58.Rb6 Kd5 59.Rg6 Bf8 60.e6
Kc4! 61.e7 Bxe7 62.Rxg7 Bb5#.

47...Bb5? 48.Rb1!

48.Kb4? Bd2+–+ drops the rook.

48...Bc6

White gets unpleasant counterplay no matter the retreat of the black bishop’s
choosing.
The onus of solving problems in the endgame arising after the underwhelming
48...Ba6? 49.Rb6 Bd8 (49...Be2? 50.Rxe6 Bxg4 51.Rg6 Bxh5 52.Rxg7) 50.Rxe6
Bxa5+ 51.Kc2 Be2 52.Rg6 is already with Black.
After 48...Bd7 49.Rf1 Bc6 50.Rf7= the rook’s activity is sufficient to maintain
equality.
Meanwhile, after 48...Be2 49.Rb6 Bxg4 50.a6! Ka7 (Similarly, 50...Bf3 51.Rxe6
bxa6 52.Rxa6 Bxh5 53.d5= is no better) 51.axb7 Kb8 52.d5 exd5 53.Kd4 Bf3

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(53...Bxh5 54.Kxd5 Bf3+ 55.Kd6 Bxb7 56.e6 Ka7 57.Rb4 Bf3 58.e7 Bh5 59.Kd7=)
54.Rb3 Be4 55.Kc5 Be7+ 56.Kd4 White’s counterplay allows him to count on a
draw.

49.Rf1!

Gearing up for infiltration along the open file with the rook.

49...Be4 50.Rf8+

The ramifications of 50.Rf7!? are analyzed above in the 47...Bh7 line.

50...Kc7

The alternative king retreat also has disadvantages: 50...Ka7 51.Re8 Bd5 52.Rg8
Bf3 (52...Ka6 53.Rxg7 Kxa5 54.Kd3 Bf3 55.d5! Bxd5 56.Rxg5 hxg5 57.h6 Ba2
58.Kc2 Bd5 59.Kd3=) 53.Rxg7 Bxg4

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 54.d5! Black can no longer play 54...exd5? 55.Rxg5 hxg5 56.h6 Bf5 57.e6+– since
one of White’s passed pawns becomes a queen.

51.Rf7+ Kc6 52.Rxg7 Bf3=

52...Kb5 53.Rg6! Bd5 54.Kd3 Kxa5 55.Rxg5 hxg5 56.h6 Ba2 57.Kc2 Bd5
58.Kd3 Ba2= leads to yet another draw by repetition.

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 53.d5+!

This nice move places the pawn en prise to as many as three captures. It was also
fine to play 53.Rg6!? Bxg4 54.Kc4 Be2+ 55.Kc3 Bg4 (55...Kd5? 56.Rxg5 hxg5
57.h6+–; 55...Bxh5 56.Rxe6+ Kb5 57.Rb6+ Kxa5 58.Rxb7=) 56.Kc4 Kd7 57.Rg7+
Kc6 (57...Kc8? 58.Kc5!) 58.Rg6 with an equal position.

53...exd5

White achieves a draw both after 53...Kxd5 54.Rxb7 Be2 55.Rb6 Be3 56.g5!=,
and after 53...Bxd5 54.Kd4 Bb3 55.Rg6!? (55.Kc3 Ba2!?) 55...Kb5 56.Kd3 Ba2
(56...Bd1 57.Rxe6 Kc5 58.a6 bxa6 59.Rxa6 Bxg4 60.Ke4 Bxh5 61.e6=; 56...Bc4+
57.Kc3 Bd5 58.Kd4=) 57.Kc2 (in this line each time reinstating the threat of
sacrificing the rook on g5):

a) 57...Bf4 58.g5 Bxg5 59.Rxg5 hxg5 60.h6 Bd5 61.Kd3 Ba2 62.Kc2=;
b) 57...Kxa5 58.Rxg5 hxg5 59.h6 Bd5 60.Kd3 Ba2 61.Kc2=;
c) 57...Bd5 58.Kd3 Bf3 59.Rxe6 Kc5 (59...Bxg4 60.Rb6+ Kxa5 61.Rxb7 Bxh5
62.e6=) 60.a6 bxa6 61.Rxa6 Kd5 62.Ra5+ Ke6 63.Rb5 Bxg4 64.Ke4 Bf5+ (or
64...Bxh5 65.Rb6+=) 65.Kd4=.

54.Kd4!

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 Activating his king.

54...Bxg4

Likewise, the position arising after 54...Be4 55.Rf7 Bh4 56.Ke3 Bg5+ 57.Kd4 is
equal.

55.Rg6+!

Signaling to Black to give up any hope of winning the game.

55...Kd7 56.Rg7+ Kc6

The pursuit of a non-existent victory could even cost the game: 56...Ke6? 57.Rxb7.
In the same fashion, Black has nothing to match the activity of White’s pieces in
the line 56...Kc8 57.Kxd5 Bxh5 58.Kd6 Be8 59.Rg8 Kd8 60.Rg7=.

57.Rg6+ Kc7

A refusal to repeat moves could backfire for Black after 57...Kb5? 58.Rxg5! hxg5
59.h6 Bf5 60.e6 Kc6 61.Ke5! Be4 62.Kf6 d4 63.e7 Kd7 64.Kf7+– and there is no
stopping the white pawns.

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 58.Rg7+ Kc8

58...Bd7? 59.e6+– is an error.

59.Rg8+ Kd7 60.Rg7+ Kc6 61.Rg6+ Kd7 62.Rg7+ Kc6 with a draw agreed.

Let us now review a case in which the stronger side in the rook vs. two minor
pieces rivalry is the one with the rook.
Example No. 29
D. Berczes – E Li
USA 2022

Black to move

White has delivered a check to the black king. After that, he plans to attack the
opponent’s minor pieces and the only remaining pawn in an attempt to win.

49...Kg6!

Both 49...Ke6? 50.Kd2 Nd5 51.Re4++–

and 49...Kg7? 50.Kd2 Nd5 51.Rf5 Ne7 52.Re5+– are bad.

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 49...Kg6! 50.Kd2 Nd5 51.Ra4

In case of 51.Rf8 Bg4 52.Ra8 Kf6! 53.Rxa5 Ke5 54.Kd3 (54.b4 Kd4=; 54.a4
Kd4=) 54...Kd6 55.Kd4 (55.Kc4 Be2+ 56.Kd4 Ne7=) 55...Ne7= the black pieces
can handle the pair of opposing passed pawns.

51...Bf3?!

A wrong decision. The correct continuation is 51...Bd1! 52.Rxa5. 52.Kxd1 Nc3+

53.Kd2 Nxa4 54.bxa4 Kf5 55.Kd3 Ke6 56.Kc4 Kd6 57.Kb5 Kc7 58.Kxa5 Kb7 is
an elementary draw.
52...Bxb3 53.Rb5 Bc4 54.Rc5 Bb3= and elimination of the only remaining pawn
will be easy for Black.

52.Kd3!

White improves his king first and intends to grab the pawn in more favourable
conditions.
Perhaps Black counted on 52.Rxa5 Be4! 53.a4 (53.Ra4 Kf5=; 53.b4 Kf6 54.b5
Ke7 55.b6 Kd7=) 53...Kf6 54.Rb5 Ke6 55.a5 Kd6 56.a6 (56.b4 Bg2 57.a6 Kc6
58.a7 Nb6 59.Rg5 Bd5=) 56...Nc7= and his pieces are well-coordinated to save this
ending.

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 52...Bd1?

This is a losing error already.

52...Kf6? also loses because after 53.Rxa5 Ke6 (53...Ke5 54.Kc4 Kd6 55.Ra6+
Kc7 56.Kc5+–) 54.Kd4! Nc7 55.Kc5 Kd7 56.Kb6+– the white king’s activity helps
disorganize his opponent’s defensive formations.
It takes 52...Be2+! to retain a draw. Now
a) 53.Kc2 Kf6! 54.Rxa5 Ke5! 55.b4 (55.a4 Kd4=)

55...Kd4! 56.Rc5 Bc4=, and the strong black king and two minor pieces again stop
the white king and rook from promoting their pair of connected passed pawns.
b) The pawn ending after 53.Kxe2 Nc3+ 54.Kd3 Nxa4 55.bxa4 Kf5 56.Kc4 Ke5
57.Kb5 Kd6 58.Kxa5 Kc7= is again a draw,
c) 53.Kd4 Ne7! 54.Kc5 (54.Ke3 Bd1=) 54...Bd1 55.Re4 (55.Kc4 Nc6=) 55...Nf5
56.Re6+ Kf7 57.Rb6 Ke7= does not hold much promise for White either.

53.Rxa5 Bxb3?

Persisting with the wrong way chosen earlier. Having said that, the endgame after
53...Ne7 54.b4 is already lost for Black.

54.Rb5! Nf4+

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 54...Ba2 55.Rb2 Nf4+ 56.Ke4+– is equally bad.

55.Ke3! Ba4

Both 55...Nd5+ 56.Kd4+– and 55...Ng2+ 56.Kf2+– lose the game.

56.Ra5! Ng2+ 57.Kf2! Bb3

In saving the knight with 57...Bc6 58.Ra6+– the bishop is lost.

58.Kxg2+– Kf6 59.Rb5 Ba4 60.Rb4 Bc6+ 61.Kf2 Ke5 62.a4 Kd6 63.a5! Kc5
64.Rb6 Bb5 65.Ke3 Bc6

65...Kb4 66.a6+–.

66.Kf4 Bb5 67.Ke5 Bc6 68.Ke6 Bb5 69.Ke7 Bc6 70.Kd8 Bf3 71.Kc7

White has protected the rook and is ready to resume pushing his pawn towards the
promotion square. Therefore, Black resigned.

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 Chapter 3
Rook and Minor Piece Against Different Forces

We now move on to the most in-depth subject matter of this book. This chapter
includes examples from over-the-board games both with and without pawns for one
or both sides.
The majority of examples in this chapter cover battle with a rook and minor piece
vs. an opposing rook and minor piece. There are also several instructive examples
with a rook and minor piece fighting against a rook. Further examples feature a rook
and a minor piece vs. two minor pieces. The follow-up to that is battle between a
rook and minor piece vs. two rooks, and we wrap-up with battle between the tandem
in question and a queen.
In a nutshell, rook and a bishop teamplay in the endgame is more effective than
that of a rook and a knight. This is similar to having a queen and knight versus a
queen and bishop, in which the former combination of pieces is generally considered
more advantageous than the latter. There is no doubt, however, that correct
evaluation of a particular endgame primarily depends on specific features of the
position, such as activity of the rook and minor piece, the location of pawns, activity
of the king, presence of weaknesses in one side or the other, and so on. The
numerous examples offered for consideration confirm this. That is why the author
believes it incorrect to come up with simplistic rules of thumb about one of the
above material balances being superior to the other.
At the same time, the presence of a minor piece alongside a rook renders the rook
more productive both in terms of developing an initiative against the enemy king and
the opponent’s pawn weaknesses, and in terms of assisting their own passed pawns’
promotion to the queening square. We will see, among other things, how the
combination of these two factors helps experienced grandmasters attain the
necessary result.
We also consider material ratios that feature opposite-colored bishops. On the one
hand, this increases the potential for one of the sides (usually the stronger one) to
seize the initiative, primarily attacking the opponent’s king. However, it also
increases drawish tendencies in the position should the rooks be exchanged off.
Further, we analyze in more detail exchanges or transpositions from one endgame

158
to another. We have already touched upon these aspects earlier. However, in the
topic under review we deal with more material on the board. Thus, a possible
exchange of minor pieces in a rook and minor piece vs. rook and minor piece ending
gives us a rook ending. The exchange of rooks leaves us in a minor-piece ending.
And, finally, when reviewing endgames that begin with a more standard material
balance, we cannot avoid mentioning the potential transition into a pawn ending in
case of the exchange of both minor pieces and rooks of both opponents. In doing so,
a player will naturally face having to evaluate the arising ending correctly. A
player’s insight into similar endings, experience and precise calculation of possible
lines should be of help in this respect. In case of a rook sacrifice for a minor piece or
when winning the exchange, a “rook versus minor piece” imbalance may arise that
we covered in detail in chapter one.
A pawn promotion will naturally increase the number of pieces by one. It will
obviously be a queen most of the time, unless, of course, such a promotion is
impossible due to a stalemating idea set by the weaker side, or when the pawn is to
be promoted with a check via underpromotion to a knight. In this case it will already
be a multi-piece endgame, or even a middlegame, which is beyond our scope.
Besides possible transition into some type of standard endgame, the examples
offered for studying may also lead to other endings with material imbalances. They
include, for example, a minor piece vs. pawns or a queen vs. a rook and pawn. This
once again highlights the multitude of situations that might arise on the chessboard.
The author has made what is intended to be a highly instructive selection of
examples with rook and bishop vs. rook endings and rook and knight vs. rook
endings. In his focus on such important aspects of handling this type of ending as
location of the weaker side’s king, activity of the defending side’s rook, typical
defensive drawn positions and, conversely, decisive rearrangement of pieces in
already won positions, he also uses the selected examples to show that defending
such types of endgame is a huge challenge in practice. We should also keep in mind
that by the time this type of endgame appears on the board the defending side is
likely to be experiencing a lack of thinking time as well as fatigue from the challenge
of preceding defensive efforts. All these factors, coupled with tournament tension,
largely interfere with successful defense of such endings.
When analyzing examples with the rook and minor piece vs. two pieces imbalance,
we looked at the Vallejo Pons – Carlsen game played in Germany, in which the

159
world champion confidently managed to win the endgame despite the absence of
pawns. Despite the seemingly drawn material balance, these positions do not lend
themselves to easy understanding. I would even go as far as to claim that they are
mind-bending for the human, and that there is no other way but carrying out much
work on databases to gain insight into many secret aspects of this type of ending.
The engine demonstrates which positions are mathematically won, or how the
defending side could avoid losing them.
The positions with a rook and minor piece opposing two rooks are important to
study as well. A side enjoying an advantage and playing for a win in a position the
exchange down largely relies on his pawns, activity of pieces and position of the
kings. It is not always the side with the pair of rooks who should win, which the
examples here of modern grandmasters serve to confirm.
Coordinating a rook and a minor piece
We start with examples which begin with an identical material balance of rook and
bishop vs. rook and bishop. In these examples, the bishops are of the same color.
Example No. 30
E. Najer – I. Saric
Riga 2021

Black to move

160
 Black’s position produces a grim impression. His king is unsafe, he has weak
doubled pawns on the queenside, and White has a far-advanced and dangerous
passed pawn. The situation has become critical.

54...f5

Black undertakes a desperate attempt to free his king from the mating net.
54...Bxd6? 55.Bf6+ Kh7 56.Rh8# is immediate failure.
Black is doomed after 54...b4 55.Rc6!? Rb7 56.Kd3+–.

54...f5 55.gxf6+?

An unfortunate slip. 55.Bf6+! was winning by force: 55...Bxf6 (55...Kf7

56.Bxe5+–) 56.Rc7!
a) 56...Rf7 57.gxf6+ Kxf6 58.d7! Rf8 (58...Ke7 59.d8=Q+ Kxd8 60.Rxf7+–)
59.Rc8+–;
b) 56...Rxc7+ 57.dxc7+– and the pawn queens;
c) 56...Bxg5 57.Rxd7+ Kf6 58.Rb7 Be3 59.Rb8+–.

55...Kf7

Black has improved significantly. The white pawns are under attack, and a rook
ending that he can save is already looming.

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 56.Rc6

After 56.Rb8 Bxd6 57.Rxb6 Bxe7 58.fxe7 Rxe7 59.Rxb5 Re2+ (Black also holds
the ending arising after 59...Kf6!? 60.a4 g5 61.a5 g4 62.a6 g3 63.Ra5 g2 64.Ra1 Rg7
65.Rg1 [65.a7 Rxa7!] 65...Ke5 66.Kc3 Kd5=) 60.Kb1 Kf6 61.a4 g5= a draw is
obvious.
56.Rf8+! Ke6 is stronger

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 57.Rg8
(Black also saves the ending in case of 57.Rb8 Ra7!? 58.Kb1 [58.Rxb6 Rxa2+
59.Kd3 Bxf6 60.Bxf6 Kxf6 61.Rxb5 Ke6=] 58...Bxf6 59.Rxb6 Bxe7 60.dxe7+
Kxe7 61.Rxg6 [61.Rxb5 Kf6 62.a4 g5=] 61...Ra5!
a) 62.Rg5 Kd6 63.b4 [63.a4 Kc6 64.Kb2 Kb6=] 63...Ra4 64.Rxb5 Kc6 65.Rc5+
[65.Rb8 Kc7=] 65...Kb6 66.Rc4 Kb5=;
b) 62.Kb2 Kd7;
c) 62.Rb6 Kd7 63.b4 Ra4 64.Rxb5 Kc6=.
57...Bxd6. Both 57...Bxf6? 58.Rxg6 and 57...Kf7? 58.Rg7+ Ke6 59.Rxg6 are
wrong.
58.Bxd6 (58.Rxg6 Rc7+ 59.Kd3 Be5 and White has no way of making headway)
58...Rxd6 59.Rxg6 Kf7 60.Rh6 (60.Rg5 Kxf6 61.Rxb5 Ke6=)

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 60...b4! Restricting the white king. 60...Rc6+? loses to 61.Kb2 b4 62.Rh4 Kxf6
63.Rxb4 Ke5 64.Ka3! Kd6 65.Ka4 Rc2 (65...Kc7 66.Rc4+–) 66.Kb5 Rxa2 67.Rc4!
(67.Kxb6? Ra3! 68.Re4 Kd5 69.Re3 Ra8=) 67...Ra8 68.b4! Rb8 69.Rc6+ Kd7
70.Rxb6+–.
61.Rh4 Rxf6 62.Rxb4 Ke7! Not 62...Rf2+? 63.Kb1 Rf1+ 64.Kb2 Rf2+ 65.Ka3+–.
63.Rd4. White seems to have managed to cut the black king off and would have
been winning if only his own king were more active. (63.a4 Kd7=)
63...Rf2+! 64.Rd2 (64.Kc3? Rxa2 65.Kb4 Ra5!=) 64...Rf3! Black uses his rook to
restrict white pieces’ activity.

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 65.a4. There is also no winning after 65.Kb2 Rh3 66.Ka3 Rh4 67.Rd5 (67.b4 b5!
68.Rd5 Rh3+ 69.Kb2 Rh2+=) 67...Rh2 68.Rb5 Rh6 69.Ka4 Kd7=.
65...Rh3 (65...Ke6 66.Rd8 Ke7 67.Rb8?! Rf6 68.Kc3 Kd7= is also fine) 66.Kb2.
White’s attempt to bring the king up to c4 and interpose along the fifth rank with the
rook does not work: 66.Rd3 Rh2+ 67.Kc3 Rh5! 68.Kc4 (68.b4 Rh4! 69.Rd4 Rxd4
70.Kxd4 Kd6=) 68...Rc5+! 69.Kb4 Rh5=.
66...Rg3 67.Ka3 (67.Rd5 Rh3 68.Rb5 Rh6=) 67...Rg4 68.Rd5 Rh4, and there is no
visible headway for White in this position: 69.Rb5 Rh6 70.Kb4 Kd7= or 69.b4 Rh3+
70.Kb2 Rg3 71.Rb5 Rg6=.

56...Ra7! 57.Rc8

57.Rxb6 Rxa2+ 58.Kd3 (58.Kb1 Ra1+) 58...Bxf6 59.Bxf6 Kxf6 60.Rxb5 Ke6= is
also a draw.
In case of 57.Kb1 Bxf6 58.Bxf6 Kxf6 59.d7+ (59.Rxb6 Rd7 60.Rxb5 Rxd6 61.a4
g5=) 59...Ke7 60.Rxg6 Rxd7 61.Rxb6 Rd5 62.Kb2 Kd7 63.Kc3 Kc7 64.Rh6 Kb7
65.Kb4 Rd2 66.a3 (66.Kxb5 Rxa2=) 66...Rd3 67.Rh5 Ka6!= Black also holds the
ending.

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 57...Ke6!

57...Rxa2+? 58.Kd3 Ke6 (58...Ra7 59.Ke4+–) 59.f7 Kxf7 60.d7+– is bad.

58.Rg8 Rxa2+ 59.Kd3 Rf2 60.Ke3 Rf1 61.Rxg6

and the opponents agreed a draw without playing 61...Bxd6 62.Bxd6 Kxd6 63.Ke4
b4 64.f7+ Kc7 65.Rg7 Kd6.
Example No. 31
G. Mitrabha – H. Gusain
Delhi 2022

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 Black to move

In view of there being only one pawn and a potential rook and bishop vs. rook
endgame that should end in a draw with the proper defense, it might seem that
making a draw for Black is not such a big deal. However, a deeper look into the
position points to White’s intention not to allow the black bishop to lurk in wait for
the white pawn to show up on the promotion g8-square, instead planning full-scale
support for his passer with all the remaining pieces so as to intervene in his
opponent’s control over the promotion square.

68...Ra4?

Black resorts to a discovered check to stop the white king’s further progress up the
board. However, this idea does not work.
Equally, White’s plan cannot be stopped by 68...Ra7? 69.Rf2+! Ke3 (69...Ke5
70.Kg5+–) 70.Rf3+ Ke4 71.Rf8 Re7 72.Kg5+–,
by 68...Bg8? 69.Rf2+ Ke5 70.Kg5+–,
or by 68...Kf5? 69.Rf2+ Ke5 (69...Ke6 70.g7 Ke7 71.Rxa2+–) 70.Kg5+–.
Rather, Black could stay in the game with 68...Bd5! 69.Rf2+ (69.g7? Rg8=;
69.Rb5? Ra1! 70.Rb4+ Kf5=) 69...Ke3! (69...Ke5? 70.Kg5+–) 70.Rf6 (70.Rf5 Be4!

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71.Re5 Kf4=; 70.Re2+ Kf4! 71.g7 Rg8 72.Re7 Kf5=)

70...Rg8! 71.Kg5 Be4! 72.Re6 Kd4, and Black is in time to stop Black’s passed
pawn.

68...Ra4? 69.Bg4!

69.Rf2+? blunders the white pawn to 69...Ke3+ 70.Kg3 Ra7! 71.Rb2 (71.Rxa2
Rxa2 72.g7 Ra8=) 71...Bd5.

69...Bd5

Black cannot avoid the decisive involvement of the white king with either 69...Ra6
70.Rb4+ Ke5 71.Kg5+–, or 69...Bg8 70.Rf2+ Ke5 71.Kg5+–.

70.Rf2+! Ke5

Neither 70...Ke4 71.Kg5+–, nor 70...Ke3 71.Rf6+– are game-changers.

71.Kg5! Ra7

Black is defenseless after 71...Ra8? 72.Re2+! Kd6 73.Rd2 Rf8 (73...Ke5 74.Rxd5+
Kxd5 75.Bf3++–) 74.g7 Rg8 75.Kf6+–.
71...Ra1? also fails, to 72.Re2+! Kd6 73.Rd2 Ke5 74.Rxd5+ Kxd5 75.g7 Ra8

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76.Bf3+ Ke6 77.Bxa8 Kf7 78.Kh6+–.

72.Re2+!

White keeps widening the gap between the black king and the passed pawn.

72...Kd6

Black is also in bad shape after 72...Kd4 73.Kf6 Ra6+ 74.Be6 Kd3 75.Re5+–.

73.Kf6! Ra8

In case of 73...Ra4 74.Bf5 Rf4 75.g7!

a) 75...Bg8 76.Re8 Ba2 (76...Bh7 77.Kg5! Rxf5+ 78.Kh6+–, White gives back the
piece to promote his passed pawn) 77.Kg5 Rf1 (77...Ra4 78.Be6!+–) 78.Re6+! Bxe6
79.Bxe6 Rg1+ (79...Kxe6 80.g8=Q++–) 80.Bg4+– and there is no stopping the
passed pawn,
b) Black goes down both after 75...Bc4 76.Re4! Rxe4 77.Bxe4 Bb3 78.Bg6 Bg8
79.Bf7 Bh7 80.Bb3 Kd7 81.Kg5 Ke7 82.Kh6+–,
c) and after 75...Rf1 76.Rd2+–,
d) 75...Bb3 76.Kg5 Rf1 77.Re6+! Bxe6 78.Bxe6 Rg1+ 79.Bg4+– is no better.

169
 74.g7 Ra7

74...Bg8 75.Be6 Bh7 (75...Re8 76.Rd2+ Kc5 77.Bxg8 Rxg8 78.Kf7+–) 76.Rh2+–
will not save Black either.

75.Rd2! Kc6

75...Rf7+? 76.Kg6+– is equally hopeless.

76.Bh5

The hasty 76.Rxd5? Rxg7! 77.Bf3 Rc7!? would have thrown the win away.

76...Rb7

76...Ra8 77.Rxd5! Kxd5 78.Bf3++– was losing as well.

77.Be8+ and Black resigned in the face of 77...Kc5 78.Rxd5+ Kxd5 79.g8=Q+.

Example No. 32
A. Vaisser – R. Kasimdzhanov
Germany 2022

170
 White to move

The white king is cut off and may fall into checkmating mechanisms in the future.
Besides, the advance of Black’s pawn which is so far still alive can create more
problems. White needs to keep a cool head and demonstrate precision when
defending this position.

101.Rxg4+?

White’s immediate elimination of the last black pawn is an error stemming from
misevaluation of the perils threatening his king’s position.
It was worth considering 101.Bf2!? Kf4 (there is no sense in 101...Kf3 102.Rxe5
Rxf2+ 103.Kg1=) 102.Rh5 (102.Rg8? Kf3) 102...Rb2 (102...Bb8 103.Rh8=;
102...Bc7 103.Rh7=)

103.Be1. Both 103.Bg3+? Kxg3 104.Rxe5 Rb1+ 105.Ke2 Rxb3–+ and 103.Rh7?
Kf3 104.Rf7+ Bf4–+ are bad.
103...Rxb3 104.Bd2+ Ke4 105.Rg5 g3 (105...Rb1+ 106.Kf2 g3+ 107.Rxg3 Bxg3+
108.Kxg3=) 106.Ke2. White has dropped a pawn, but now his pieces are well-
coordinated.
106...Rb2 107.Rg4+ Kf5 108.Rg5+ Kf6 109.Rg4 and Black has nothing better than
109...Bc3 110.Rxg3 Rxd2+ 111.Ke3=, transposing into a drawn rook and bishop vs.

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rook ending.
It was also fine to go for 101.Bb6!?
a) 101...Kf4 102.Be3+ (102.Rh5 Rb2 103.Ba5!? is also fine) 102...Kf3.
(a drawn rook ending results from 102...Kxe3 103.Rxe5+ Kf3

a1) 104.b4!
a1.1) 104...Rb2 105.b5 Rb1+ 106.Re1 Rxb5 107.Kg1=;
a1.2) 104...Ra1+ 105.Re1 Rxe1+ 106.Kxe1 g3 107.Kf1 Ke4=;
a1.3) 104...Kg3 105.b5 Rb2 106.Re3+ Kh2 107.Re2+ Rxe2 108.Kxe2 g3 109.b6
g2 110.b7 g1=Q 111.b8=Q+ Qg3=;
a1.4) 104...g3 105.Rf5+ Kg4 106.Rf8=.
a2) 104.Kg1? Ra1+ 105.Kh2 g3+ 106.Kh3 Rh1#;
a3) 104.Re8? Ra1+ 105.Re1 Rxe1+ 106.Kxe1 Kg2!–+;
a4) 104.Rf5+ Kg3 105.Kg1? Ra1+ 106.Rf1 Rxf1+ 107.Kxf1 Kh2–+.
103.Rf5+! Ke4

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 104.Rf2! An important defensive resource.
104...Ra1+ 105.Ke2 g3. White also keeps his position together after 105...Rb1
106.Rf8 Rb2+ 107.Bd2 Bc3 108.Rf4+!
106.Rf8 g2. 106...Ra2+ 107.Bd2 Bc3 108.Re8+ Kf5 109.Rf8+ Ke6 110.Kf3! is yet
another transposition into a rook and bishop vs. rook ending.
107.Rg8 Ra2+ 108.Bd2 Bf4. 108...Bc3 109.Rg4+! Kf5 110.Rg5+ Kf6 111.Rxg2
Rxd2+ 112.Kf3 make no difference either.
109.Re8+ Kf5. White acts similarly in the case of 109...Kd5 110.Rg8! Rxd2+
111.Kf3.

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 110.Rf8+ Ke5 111.Rg8! Rxd2+ 112.Kf3 Rd3+ (112...Kf5 113.Rf8+! Ke6
114.Rg8!) 113.Kxg2 Ke4 114.Re8+ Be5 115.Kf2 Rxb3 116.Ke2 Rb2+ 117.Ke1!=,
which gives us one of the typical key defensive positions to be analyzed in the
following sections.
The alternatives for Black on move 101 also lead to a draw:
b) 101...g3 102.Rxe5+ Kxe5 103.Bc7+ Ke4 104.Bxg3 Kf3 105.Be5! Rc2
106.Kg1=;
c) 101...Bf4 102.Rxg4 Kf3 103.Rxf4+=;
d) 101...Bd6 102.Rxg4+ Kf3 103.Ra4! Rb2 104.Ra1=.

101.Rxg4+? Kf3 102.Ra4 Rd2!

This rejoinder was obviously not on White’s radar.

White holds the position easily after both 102...Rc2 103.Rc4= and 102...Rb2
103.Ke1=.

103.Ke1

103.Kg1 Rd1# is a deadly alternative.

The mating net is complete after 103.Bf2 Rd1+ 104.Be1 Bg3–+.

174
 103...Rd3!

The erroneous 103...Bc3? 104.Rc4 Rd3+ 105.Rxc3= keeps White in the game.

104.Ra2

104.Rc4 Bg3+ 105.Kf1 Rd1# would be an alternative way to get checkmated.

104...Bc3+ and White resigned.

Example No. 33
A. Tabatabaei – K. Sasikiran
Moscow 2018

White to move

The white king enjoys clear superiority over his black counterpart in terms of
activity. That said, Black intends to deliver a check from c6 with his rook.

42.Rc7!

In defending from the check, White gives Black the possibility of transposing into
a less complex bishop ending that retains all the benefits of White’s position.

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 42...Rd8

Black goes down after both 42...Rxc7 43.Kxc7+– and 42...Kb8 43.Rxc8+ Kxc8
44.Kc5! Bb3 45.Kd6 Kd8 46.Bf3 b5 47.Bd5 Bxd5 48.Kxd5 Kd7 49.Kc5 Kc7
50.b4 h5 51.f4 f5 52.Kd5+–.
Black is in equally bad shape following 42...Rh8 43.Rd7 Bc6 44.Rf7+–.

43.Bg4!

Wanting to trade the rooks yet again.

43...Kb8

43...Rd6+ 44.Kc5 Rc6+ 45.Rxc6 Bxc6 46.Kd6+– loses as well.

44.Rd7! Rxd7 45.Bxd7 Bf3 46.b4! Be4 47.a4! Bf3

After 47...Bc2 48.Be6 Bxa4 49.Bd5+– White grabs both black pawns.

48.Bf5 Bg2 49.f4!

White improves his position to the maximum prior to engineering a decisive break.

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 49...Bf3 50.b5! axb5

50...Be2 51.Be4+– makes no difference. 50...Bd1 51.bxa6 bxa6 52.a5 Be2 53.Be4
Bb5 54.Bb7+– is also bad.

51.axb5 Be2

51...Bg2 52.Kc5 Kc7 53.b6++– is no better than the text.

52.Be4 Bf1

53.Kc5!

The hasty 53.Bxb7? Bxb5 54.Kxb5 (54.Bc6 Be2 55.Bd5 Kc8 56.Kc6 Kd8
57.Kd6 Bg4!) 54...Kxb7 55.Kc5 Kc7 56.Kd5 Kd7 57.g4 (57.f5 h5 58.Kc5 Kc7=)
57...Ke7! 58.f5 Kd7= would have missed the win.

53...Ka7

After 53...Kc7 54.b6+! Kc8 55.Kd6+– the white king heads to the kingside to treat
himself to the black pawns.

54.f5!

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 Bringing the potential passed pawn closer to the promotion square.

54...h5

54...b6+ 55.Kd6 Bxb5 56.Ke7+– loses the game as well.

55.Kd6!

Perfect timing!

55...Bxb5 56.Ke7 Bc4 57.Kxf6 b5 58.Ke7 Kb6 59.f6 Kc5 60.f7 Bxf7 61.Kxf7
Kd4 62.Bg6 b4 63.Kf6

White could win also via 63.Bxh5 Ke3 64.Kf6 b3 65.g4 b2 66.Bg6 Kf4 67.g5+–.

63...Ke3 64.Kg5 Kf2 65.Kf4 and Black resigned in the face of 65...b3 66.Bxh5 b2
67.Bg6.

Example No. 34
M. Carlsen – G. Ostmoe
Norway 2022

178
 Black to move

White has just captured the black e5-pawn with his own pawn. How should Black
react?

28...fxe5?

This error of judgement allows the world champion to achieve a decisive

advantage.
a) 28...Bxe5?!
a1) 29.h4!

29...h5. White wins the pawn ending after both 29...Rg8? 30.Ra8+! Bb8 31.Ba7
Kb7 32.Rxb8+ Rxb8 33.Bxb8 Kxb8 34.Kd2 Kc7 35.Ke3 Kb6 36.Kd4 Kb5 37.h5
g6 38.h6 g5 39.g4+– and 29...g6? 30.Ra8+ Bb8 31.Ba7 Kb7 32.Rxb8+ Rxb8
33.Bxb8 Kxb8 34.Kd2 Kc7 35.Ke3 Kb6 36.g4 h6 37.Kf4 Kb5 38.g5 fxg5+
39.hxg5 h5 40.e5 Kb6 41.e6 Kc7 42.Ke5 h4 43.Kf6 h3 44.e7 h2 45.e8=Q h1=Q
46.Kxg6+–.
30.Rxg7 Re8 31.g4± with an uphill battle for Black to make a draw with a pawn
deficit.
a2) 29.Rxg7 Bxh2 30.Bd4 (30.g3 h5!) 30...Be5 is harmless.

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 a3) White gains nothing from transiting into the pawn ending after 29.Ra8+ Bb8
30.Ba7 Kb7 31.Rxb8+ Rxb8 32.Bxb8 Kxb8

33.Kd2 Kc7 34.Ke3 Kb6 35.Kd4 Kb5 36.g3 g6 37.h3 g5 38.g4 h6 39.e5 fxe5+
40.Kxe5 Ka4 41.Kd6 Kb3 42.Kxc6 Kxc3 43.b5 Kd3 44.b6 c3 45.b7 c2 46.b8=Q
c1=Q+ 47.Kd7 Qf4!?=.
b) White should convert his extra pawn after the underwhelming 28...Re8?!
29.Ra8+ Kd7 30.Rxe8 Kxe8 31.exf6 gxf6 32.g3!?.
c) The correct approach is 28...Kb8! 29.exf6 (29.e6?! Re8!; 29.h4 Re8! 30.exf6
gxf6=) 29...gxf6 30.g3 (30.Bd4 Re8=) 30...Re8 31.Ra1 Rxe4 32.Kd2 Re5, and White
is only slightly better in the resulting endgame.

28...fxe5?

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 29.Ra8+?

This error is unusual for Carlsen. Most likely, Magnus could not bring a proper
mindset to the game against a clearly inferior-rated opponent and planned to succeed
without investing much effort along the way.
He can win with the simple 29.Bb6! Bd8 (29...Bxb6? 30.Ra8++–; 29...Bb8
30.Rxg7+–) 30.Bxd8 Rxd8 (30...Kxd8? 31.Ra8+) 31.Rxg7 Rf8 (31...h5 32.h4 Rf8
33.Rg5+–)

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 32.h4!? (32.Rxh7?! Rf2+ 33.Kd1 Rxg2 34.h4 Rg1+ 35.Kc2 Rg2+ 36.Kc1 Rg1+
37.Kd2 Rg2+ 38.Ke1 Rg1+ 39.Kf2 Rc1 40.h5 Rxc3 41.Re7 Rh3 42.Rxe5 Kd7)
32...Rf2+ (32...Rf4 33.h5 Rxe4 34.h6+–; 32...h5 33.Rg5+–; 32...h6 33.h5+–) 33.Kd1
h5 (33...h6 34.h5+–) 34.Rg5+– and White is in for more material grabbing.

29...Bb8 30.Ra5

The world champion’s earlier assumption of easy success in this position by

transposing into the pawn ending was, perhaps, thoughtless.
Rather, after 30.Ba7 Kb7 31.Rxb8+ Rxb8 32.Bxb8 Kxb8 the position is drawn.
Likewise, White has nothing to write home about following 30.Ra1 Rf8=.

30...Kb7

30...Rf8!? 31.Rc5 Ba7! 32.Rxc6+ (32.Ra5 Bb8!) 32...Kb7 33.Bc5 Rf4= was
equally good.

31.b5

There is no attacking the black pawn with 31.Rc5? due to 31...Ba7.

31...Rc8 32.b6

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 32.bxc6+ Kxc6!? 33.Rc5+ Kd7= is no better than the text.

32...Rf8 33.Ra1 Rf6 34.g3 h5

and Black went on to earn a deserved draw.

Lessons from my Career
Example No. 35
A. Galkin – A. Lastin
Krasnoyarsk 2007

Black to move

White is up a pawn. However, it is blocked by the active black king, whereas the
black bishop keeps an eye over the squares of potential rook infiltration. At the same
time, the black rook is there to create counter-threats to the white king and pawns
whenever possible.

36...Rc4+!

Black harasses the king in an attempt to disorganize the white pieces.

36...Bxa3? 37.bxa3 Rxc3 38.Rd6+ is bad.

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 The pawn sacrifice 36...h4?! 37.gxh4 Rh8 38.Be1 Rh5? 39.Bg3 is dubious and its
purpose is not entirely clear.

36...Rc4+! 37.Rd4

After 37.Kd3 Rc8!? Black has managed to decentralize the white king.

37...Rc5 38.Rd3 Rc4+ 39.Bd4

39...b4

39...Bc5? loses to 40.b3 Rc2 41.Bxc5 Rxc5 42.Rd6++–.

39...Rc2!? looks interesting, and after 40.Rc3 (40.h3 a5!? 41.Rc3 Re2+ 42.Kd3
Rg2 43.Rc7 g5!?) 40...Re2+! (40...Rxb2? 41.Rc6+ Kd7 42.Rxg6 Rxh2 43.Rxa6+–;
40...Rxh2? 41.Rc6+ Kf7 42.e6+ Ke8 43.Rc8+ Bd8 44.Bf6+–)

184
 41.Kd3 (41.Re3 Rxh2; 41.Be3 Bg5!?; 41.Kf3 Rxb2!) 41...Rxh2. 41...Rxb2? fails to
42.Rc6+ Kd5 43.Rd6+! Bxd6 44.exd6 Rb3+ 45.Kc2 Rf3 46.d7 Rf8 47.Bb6+–.
42.Rc6+ Kf5 43.Rxa6? Rg2 Black even starts playing for a win.

40.axb4 Bxb4

40...Rxb4 41.Rc3! is inferior.

41.Rf3 Be7!

This is a prophylactic move. White is hard-pressed to find a winning plan.

41...Bc5?! 42.Rf6+ Ke7 43.Kd5! is unsafe as White breaks into the black camp.

42.Rc3

White decides to transpose into a bishop ending. 42.Rb3? is bad: 42...Bc5 43.Rd3
a5=.
White gains nothing from attacking the rook with 42.Kd3 Rc1!?.
It is also unclear how White is supposed to improve his position further after
42.Rf1!? a5!? (42...Bc5?! 43.Rf6+ Ke7 44.Kd5; 42...Rc2?! 43.Ra1) 43.Kd3 Rc8
44.Ra1 Bb4.

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 42...Rxc3

Black cannot decline the swap: 42...Ra4? 43.b3 Rb4 44.Rc6+ Kd7 45.Rxa6 Bc5
46.Ra4+–; 42...Rb4?! 43.Rc7!

43.Bxc3

43.bxc3 a5= is no better than the text.

43...Bc5

Just as before, White is up a pawn but also facing the unsolvable problem of how
to get to the black pawns.

44.Bd4

44.Kf4 Be7! gets the white king nowhere

44...Bb4 45.Be3

Or the king will be harassed from below after 45.Kf4 Bd2+!. 45.Kd3 Kd5! is
another instance of the black king restricting his white counterpart.

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 45...Ba5 46.Kf4 Bd8 47.Bc5 Kd5 48.Ba3

48...Ke6!

48...Bc7? would be a blunder after 49.Kg5 Bxe5 50.Kxg6 h4 51.gxh4 Bxh2 52.h5
Bf4 53.Be7+–.

49.Bf8 Kf7 50.Bd6 Ke6 51.Bc5 Kd5 52.Bf8 Ke6 53.Bh6 Be7 54.Bg5 Bb4
55.Ke4

55.Bf6 Bd2+! leads White nowhere yet again.

55...Bc5 56.Bf6 Bg1 57.h3 Bb6

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 58.b3

White also achieves nothing with 58.Kf4 Kf7! (58...Bd4?! 59.b3 Bc3? 60.Kg5
Kf7 61.e6+ Kxe6 62.Bxc3+–) 59.b3 (59.Kg5 Be3+ 60.Kh4 Bd4 61.b3 Bc3 62.g4
Be1+ 63.Kg5 Bd2+ 64.Kh4 Be1+=) 59...Bc5 60.Bd8 (60.Kg5 Be3+; 60.Ke4 Ke6)
60...Bb4 61.Bb6 Bc3 62.Be3 Bb2 63.Bd2 Ba1!?.

58...Bc5 59.Bd8 Bg1 60.Bc7

60.Kf4 Kf7! 61.Ba5 (61.Kg5 Be3+!) 61...Bc5 62.Bd2 Be7! 63.Ke4 Ke6 is
running around in circles one more time.

60...Bc5 61.Bb8 Bf2

188
 62.Kf4

62.g4 hxg4 63.hxg4 Bc5!? makes no difference in this position.

62...Kf7! 63.Bd6 Be1 64.Bc5 Bd2+ 65.Be3

After 65.Ke4 Ke6! the black king is again well-placed to guard his realm.

65...Bc3 66.Ke4

66.e6+ Kxe6 67.Kg5 Kf7= makes no sense.

66...Ke6 67.Bd4 Be1 68.g4

68.Kf4 Bd2+! would be deja-vu.

68...hxg4 69.hxg4 Bg3 70.Bb2 Bh2 and White had to make do with the inevitable
draw in this game.

Example No. 36
A. Sarana – D. Khismatullin
Satka 2018

189
 White to move

Black threatens to push his rook pawn and force the white bishop to surrender
control of either the c2- or c4-squares. That will leave the square no longer defended
by the bishop up for grabs by the black rook.

50.Re1!

An excellent decision! White intends to exchange off the black rook to neutralize
its activity.
50.a4? bxa4 51.Bxa4 Rc4–+ is bad.
White is in for some hard work in the endgame arising after 50.Re3 b4 (50...a4
51.Rc3! Rxc3 52.Kxc3 axb3 53.Kxb3=) 51.axb4 (51.Re1 bxa3 52.bxa3 a4 53.Bxa4
Rc4 54.Bb5 Rc2+ 55.Kd1 Rc3µ) 51...axb4 52.Re1 Rc8 53.Ke3 Rh8 54.Re2 Rh1
55.Kf2 Kf6.

50.Re1! a4

50...Kf6 51.Rc1 Rh7 52.Rc6+! Kg7 53.Rc7+ yields nothing.

51.Rc1!

190
 Ignoring the fact that his bishop is en prise.
Both 51.Ba2? Rc2+–+ and 51.Bd1? Rc4 52.Ke3 b4 53.Be2 (53.axb4 Rxb4 54.Re2
Bf3–+; 53.Bxa4 bxa3–+) 53...Rc2 54.axb4 Rxb2 55.Ra1 Rxb4 56.Bd1 Rb2 57.Rxa4
Rg2 lose.

51...Rxc1 52.Kxc1 axb3 53.Kd2

Black cannot win this endgame. The white pawns stand on dark squares and cannot
be challenged by the bishop. Meanwhile, the pawn chains are formed in such a way
that they preclude the black king’s infiltration into the opponent’s camp.

53...b4

There is no winning after 53...Kf6 54.Kc3 Ke6.

(54...Bc2 also leads to a draw after 55.Kb4 Ke6 56.Kxb5 Kd7! 57.Kb6 Bd3

191
 58.a4! 58.Kb7? is bad: 58...Bb5 59.Kb6 Bc6 60.Kc5 Kc7 61.Kb4 Kb6 62.Kxb3
Kb5 63.Kc3 Ka4 64.Kc2 Bb5 65.Kc3 Be2 66.Kc2 Bf3 67.Kc3 Be4–+ 68.b4 Bg2
69.Kb2 Bf1 70.Ka2 Bb5 71.Kb2 Bc4.
58...Kc8 59.Kc5 Be4 [59...Bc4? 60.Kd6 Kb7 61.Ke5] 60.Kb4 Kb7 [60...Bc2
61.Kc5=] 61.Kxb3 Kb6 62.Kb4 Bf3 [62...Bc2 63.a5+ Kc6 64.Kc3 Bd1 65.Kb4=]
63.a5+ Kc6 [63...Ka6 64.Kc5 Kxa5 65.b4+ Ka6 66.Kc6! Ka7 67.Kc7! Be2
68.Kd6 Bf3 69.Kc7 Ka6 70.Kc6=] 64.Ka4 Be2 65.Kb4 Bd1 66.b3 Be2 67.Ka4
Kb7 [67...Bf1 68.Kb4 Bb5 69.Kc3=] 68.Kb4 Kc6 [68...Ka6 69.Kc5] 69.Ka4=)
55.Kxb3 Kd6 56.Kc3 Kc6 (56...b4+ 57.Kxb4! Kc6 58.Ka5 is only dangerous for
Black) 57.b4!= sealing the last window of opportunity for the black king.

192
 54.a4!

54.axb4? is a losing blunder after 54...Kf6 55.Kc3 (55.b5 Ke6 56.b6 Kd6 57.b7
Kc7–+) 55...Ke6! 56.Kxb3 Kd6 57.Ka4 (57.b5 Kc7 58.Kb4 Kb6–+) 57...Kc6
58.Ka5 Bd3–+.

54...Bg2

Lowering your guard is deadly: 54...Kf6? 55.a5+–.

55.Ke2!

55.a5? Bf1–+ is bad.

55...Bf3+! 56.Ke3

56.Kf2 Be4 57.Ke3 Bg2= is also a draw via a different move order.

56...Bg2 57.Kf2 Be4 58.Ke3 and the opponents agreed to a draw.

Example No. 37
M. Krzyzanowski – B. Socko

193
 Poland 2020

White to move

White is up a pawn in a technically winning position and only needs to keep the
passed d-pawn supported by the rook from advancing too far, as that would allow
Black saving counterplay.
34.Bh4?!
Unfortunately, White wants to take the opportunity to pin and grab yet another
pawn. Not yet a decisive error, but a step in the wrong direction.
34.exf6 Bxf6 35.Rh6! Bc3 was stronger.
The game is lost after both 35...Kg7 36.Rxf6! Kxf6 37.Bh4++–, and 35...d4
36.Rxf6 d3 37.Bf4+–
Further, after 35...Bb2 36.Rxa6 d4 37.Kf1 d3 38.Rd6 Rxd6 39.Bxd6 Bxa3 40.Ke1
Bc1 41.b5+– the white pawn cannot be stopped.
36.Rxa6 d4 37.Be5!? It is also fine to play 37.Kf1 Re8 (37...d3 38.Rd6+–) 38.Bf4
Re1+ 39.Kg2 d3 40.Rd6 Rd1 41.b5, with a winning position.
37...Bb2 (37...Re8 38.f4!? Bb2 39.Kf2+– makes no difference) 38.Kf1 Re8
(38...d3 39.Rd6 Rxd6 40.Bxd6 Bxa3 41.Ke1 Bc1 42.b5+–) 39.Bf4 d3 40.b5+–, and

194
Black goes down.

34.Bh4?! d4!

Black plays his main trump card. An attempt to hold on to the pawn with 34...Kg7
loses to 35.Rf5 Kg6 36.Rf3 d4 37.Kf1! d3 38.Ke1+–, and the white king neutralizes
the threats coming from the black passed pawn.

35.exf6?

White is still unaware of the danger and goes on with his plan in the belief that he
possesses sufficient time to deal with the black passed pawn.
35.Kf1! is stronger: 35...Rd5 (the pawn is blockaded following 35...d3 36.Ke1 d2+
37.Kd1) 36.Ke2 d3+ 37.Kd1!? Bd8 38.Rf5 fxe5. Black goes down to 38...a5
39.Bxf6 Bxf6 40.Rxf6 axb4 41.axb4 Rxe5 42.Kd2 Rb5 43.Rf4 Rd5 44.Rc4+–.
39.Bxd8 Rxd8 40.Rxe5+– with a winning rook ending.

35...Bxb4!

White obviously missed this resource. The bishop sacrifices itself to step out of en
prise, bereaving White of a tempo to fight the passed d-pawn.
Both 35...Bf8? 36.Kf1!? (36.Re5? d3 37.Re1 Bh6; 36.Bg5? Rd5) 36...d3 37.Ke1

195
d2+ 38.Kd1+– with an easy win,
and 35...Bd6? 36.Bg5 d3 37.Bd2+– are bad.

36.axb4 d3 37.Bg5 Rd5!

Not the premature 37...d2? 38.Bxd2 Rxd2 39.Rg5+ Kh8 (39...Kf8? fails to 40.Ra5
Rd6 41.b5+–) 40.Rg7

40...Rd6. Both 40...Rb2 41.Rxf7 Rxb4 42.Ra7, when 42...Rb6? 43.Ra8+ Kh7 44.f7
is of no help, and 40...Rd7 41.Kg2 Rb7 42.Kg3 Rxb4 43.Rxf7+– lose the game.
41.Rxf7 Rb6 42.Kg2 Rxb4 (a theoretically winning ending arises after 42...Kg8
43.Rg7+ Kf8 44.Ra7 Rxf6 45.h4 Rb6 46.Kg3 Rxb4 47.f4+–) 43.Ra7 Kg8 (43...Rb6
44.Ra8+ Kh7 45.f7+–; 43...Rf4 44.Rxa6+–) 44.Rxa6+– and a rook ending in which
being up three pawns is sufficient for White to win the game.

196
 38.Rh3

38.Kf1? is wrong: 38...d2 39.Bxd2 Rxh5µ. Meanwhile, 38.Rh4 Rxg5+ 39.Kf1 Rd5
40.Ke1 d2+ 41.Kd1 Rd6= leads to a draw.

38...Rxg5+ 39.Kf1 Rd5 40.Ke1 Rd4 41.Rg3+ Kf8 42.Rf3 d2+ 43.Kd1 Rxb4
44.Rd3

44.Kxd2 a5= is also a draw.

44...Kg8 45.Rg3+ and the opponents agreed to a draw.

Example No. 38
M. Sieciechowicz – R. Edouard
England 2020

197
 White to move

Each side has a pair of passed pawns. However, Black’s pieces are better
coordinated to assist their pawns. Holding this ending takes precise play by White.
36.Kc2?
This king’s centralization in fact exposes him to a tempo check.
36.Bg1?! is dubious in view of 36...Bf4 37.Kc2?! (37.Rf1 d3!?) 37...Rg8 38.Bf2
Rxg4 39.Rg1 Rxg1 40.Bxg1 Kd7 41.Kd3 Ke6 42.Ke4 Bg3! 43.Kf3 (43.h6 Kf6–+)
43...d3 44.Be3 (44.Bxa7 e4+ 45.Ke3 Bf4+ 46.Kf2 Kf5 47.a4 Kg4 48.a5 Kxh5
49.b4 Bd2 50.Bc5 Kg4–+) 44...Bf4!–+.
The correct move is 36.Rf1! e4 (36...d3?! 37.Rf3 d2 38.Kc2 Bh6 39.Rf6 Be3
40.Kd1! Kd7 41.Ke2) 37.Bg1! (37.Rf7? d3 38.Rc7+ Kd8 39.Rxb7 Re6!–+)

198
 37...Bd2.
(The exchange of bishops also results in a draw: 37...Bxg1 38.Rxg1 d3 [38...e3?
39.Kc2] 39.Kc1 e3 40.g5 Kd7 [40...Kb8? 41.Kd1 Rc8 42.Re1!] 41.Kd1 Ke7
[41...Rc8 42.Re1!] 42.g6 Kf8 43.h6 Kg8 44.Rh1=.)
38.Kc2!?
(It is fine to play 38.Bxd4 e3 39.Rf5 Re4 40.Be5 e2 41.Bg3

199
 41...e1=Q+ [41...Rxg4? 42.Rc5+ Kd7 43.Rd5+ Kc6 44.Rxd2 Rxg3 45.Rxe2;
41...Rc4 42.a3] 42.Bxe1 Rxe1+ 43.Kc2 Be3 [43...Bh6? 44.g5] 44.Re5 Kd7 45.Kd3=
[45.h6? Rc1+] 45...Bf2 46.Rf5 Bg3 [46...Bb6 47.g5=] 47.Rf3 and the pair of passed
pawns compensates for the bishop deficit.)
38...e3 39.Rb1!? Rg8 40.h6! Rxg4

41.Bf2! An excellent rejoinder!

41...exf2. 41...Rg6 42.Rh1! Rxh6 43.Rxh6 exf2 44.Rf6 Be3 45.Kd3= does not
influence the evaluation.
42.Kxd2 Rh4 (42...Rg1? 43.h7+– Rxb1 44.h8=Q+ Kc7 45.Qh7+) 43.Rf1 Rxh6
44.Rxf2 with a drawn rook ending.

36.Kc2? e4! 37.Bg1 d3+! 38.Kc3 Bg5 39.Bd4

Following 39.Bxa7 Kd7! 40.Bg1 (40.Bd4 Rc8+ 41.Kb3 Ke6 42.Bc3 e3 43.Rxd3
Rxc3+! 44.Rxc3 e2–+) 40...Kc6! 41.b4 (41.Kd4 d2 42.Be3 Rd8+ 43.Kxe4 Re8+–+)
41...Kd5–+ White has nothing to counter the onslaught of the pair of black passed
pawns: 42.a4 Rc8+ 43.Kb3 d2.

39...Re7

39...Kd7!? is also fine

200
 40.Rh1

40...d2

40...Rc7+! 41.Kb3 d2 42.Bc3 e3–+ was an immediate winner.

41.Kc2

41.h6? Rc7+ 42.Kb3 Rc1–+ was bad, too.

41...e3 42.Bc3 Re6

It was again more precise to play 42...Rf7! 43.Kd3 (43.h6 e2 44.Bxd2 Bxd2
45.Kxd2 Rf1 46.Kxe2 Rxh1 47.g5 Rh5–+) 43...Rf2 44.h6 Rh2!–+.

43.Kd3 Re7

White stays in the game after 43...e2? 44.Bxd2 Rd6+ 45.Kxe2 Rxd2+ 46.Kf3.

44.a3

White loses after both 44.Ke2 Rf7–+ and 44.Kc2 Rf7! 45.h6 (45.Kd3 Rf2–+)
45...e2 46.Bxd2 Bxd2 47.Kxd2 Rf1–+.

201
 44...Rd7+! 45.Ke2 Rf7! 46.Kd3 Rf2 47.h6 Bxh6 48.Kc2 e2 49.Bxd2 e1=Q
50.Rxe1 Rxd2+ 51.Kb1 Bg7 52.Re8+ Kd7 and White resigned.

202
 Example No. 39
A. Mishra – R. Baskin
Reykjavik 2022

Black to move

This position is rich in dynamic factors, such as weak pawns, a dangerous passed
pawn, various pins, intermediate checks, and misplaced kings. Black needs to find
his way through this maze and come up with the right solution.

58...Ke3?

Black avoids a check along the f-file, but misses his opponent’s strong rejoinder as
a result.
The pawn is not to be touched: 58...Kxe4? 59.Bc6++–.
There is no exploiting the pin either with 58...Bd7? 59.Rf8+–+
or 58...Ba6? 59.Rf8+–+.
58...Be6? 59.a6 Ra2 60.Rb7+– is equally poor.
Holding the position can be achieved via 58...Kg5!? 59.Rb6 (59.a6? Bxa6)
59...Kf4! 60.Bc6 (60.a6? Bxa6; 60.Bd3 Rxb6 61.axb6 Ke3 62.Bc2 Kd4 63.g3 g5=)

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60...Ra2 61.Rb8 (61.Rb5 Ba6 62.Rb3 Be2!=) 61...Ba6 62.Rh8 (62.Rf8+ Ke3=)

62...g5. 62...Bf1? blunders to 63.Rf8+, whereas after 62...Kg5 63.Rg8!? Kh6

64.Bd5 Rxa5? 65.Ra8!+– Black falls to a deadly pin.
63.Bd5 Rxa5 64.Ra8. White cannot improve his position following 64.Rf8+ Ke3
65.Rf5 Bd3 66.Rxe5 Rb5 67.Rf5 (67.Rxg5 Bxe4 68.Re5 Rxd5 69.Rxd5 Bxd5 70.g3=;
67.Re8 Kd4 68.Ba8 Re5=) 67...Kd4 68.Kg1 Rb1+ 69.Kh2 (69.Kf2? Rf1#)
69...Rb5=.
64...Ra4 65.Rf8+. The pin cannot be exploited after 65.Bb7 Bb5=, 65.Bb3 Rb4!, or
65.Bc6 Ra2! 66.Bb5 Rxg2+! 67.Kxg2 Bxb5=.
65...Ke3 66.Rf5 (66.Rf3+ Kd4 67.Rf5 Bc4!?=) 66...Bc4 67.Rxe5. A drawn rook
ending also comes about after 67.Bxc4 Rxc4 68.Rxe5 g4! 69.hxg4 Kf4 70.Re8
Kxg4=.
67...Bxd5 68.exd5+. Another drawn position could arise after 68.Rxd5 g4 69.hxg4
Kxe4! 70.Rh5 (70.Rf5 Ra3=) 70...Ra1 71.Rxh4 Kf4 72.g3+ Kg5=.
68...Kf4 69.Re8 (69.Re6 Rd4 70.d6 Kf5 71.Rh6 Ke5 72.Rg6 Kf5=) 69...Rd4
70.Rd8 Ke5 71.Rg8 Kf5= and this is a draw.
Very interesting lines arise after 58...g5!? 59.a6.
(The position is equal after 59.Rxc8 Rxb5 60.a6 Ra5 61.Ra8 Kxe4 62.a7 Ke3
63.Re8 Rxa7 64.Rxe5+ Kf4=;

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 59.Kg1 Rb1+ [59...Kg3? 60.Rxc8 Rxb5 61.Rc3+ Kf4 62.Ra3] 60.Kf2 Rb2+
61.Kg1 [61.Ke1? Ke3 62.Kd1 Ba6] 61...Rb1+= yields nothing;
The advantage also disappears after 59.Rb6 Ra2 60.a6 Kxe4 61.Rc6 Bf5
[61...Bd7? 62.Rc4+ Kd5 63.Bxd7 Kxc4 64.Be6++–] 62.Bc4 Ra3=.)

59...Rxb5! A superb exchange sacrifice! Now after 60.Rxb5 Bxa6 61.Rb6 (61.Rb4
Bd3 62.Kg1 Bxe4 63.Kf2 Kf5=) 61...Bc8 White cannot keep his central pawn alive,
and it is a positional draw.

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 a) 62.Rb8 Bd7 63.Rg8 (63.Rb4 Bc6=) 63...Bc6 64.Rf8+ Kxe4 65.Kg1 (65.g3
hxg3+ 66.Kxg3 Bd7=) 65...Bd7 66.Kf2 Bf5. The weakness of his own pawns forces
White to exchange them.
67.g4 (67.Ra8 Kf4=; 67.Rg8 Kf4=) 67...hxg3+ 68.Kxg3 Bd7 69.Rf6 (69.Rg8
Kf5=) 69...Bc8 70.Rd6 Kf5! 70...Bf5? loses to 71.Rh6! Bd7 72.Rh5 Kf5 73.h4+–.
71.Rd8 Be6= and another positional draw.
b) 62.Rf6+ Kxe4 63.Kg1 Bf5 64.Kf2 Kf4=;
c) 62.Rg6 Bb7 63.Rf6+ Kxe4 64.Kg1 Bc8!? 65.Kf2 Bf5 66.g4 hxg3+ 67.Kxg3
Bd7=;
d) 62.Rb4 Ba6 63.Kg1 Bd3 64.Kf2 Bxe4 65.Ra4 Kf5=

58...Ke3? 59.Rxc8! Rxb5

60.Rc3+!

White tucks his rook behind his passed pawn with a tempo not only to support its
advance, but also to condemn the black rook to an extremely passive defensive
position.

60...Kxe4 61.Ra3 Rb7

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 61...Rb8 62.a6 Kf4 63.a7 Ra8 64.Kg1+– makes no difference.

62.a6! Ra7 63.g3!?

It is time to set the king free.

63...hxg3+

63...g5 64.Kg2+– is no better than the text.

There is nothing good from 63...Kd5 64.gxh4 Kc6 65.Kg3 Kb6 66.Kg4 e4. Black
loses the pawn ending after 66...Rxa6 67.Rxa6+ Kxa6 68.Kf5 Kb6 69.Kxe5 Kc7
70.Kf5 Kd7 71.Kg6+–, while 66...g6 67.h5 gxh5+ 68.Kxh5+– is hopeless, too.
67.Kf5 e3. The pawn ending is again lost after both 67...Re7 68.a7 Rxa7 69.Rxa7
Kxa7 70.Kxe4 Kb6 71.Kf5+–, and 67...Rxa6 68.Rxa6+ Kxa6 69.Kxe4 Kb6
70.Kf5+–.
68.Rxe3 Rd7. There is no taking the pawn without an exchange of rooks:
68...Kxa6 69.Ra3+!+– or 68...Rxa6 69.Re6+!+–, while 68...Rf7+ 69.Kg6 Rf6+
70.Kxg7+– leaves no chance to save the game.
69.Re6+ Ka7 70.Kg6 Rd4 71.h5! Rh4 72.Re7+ Kxa6 73.Rxg7+–, and Black is
doomed.

64.Kxg3 Kf5

64...Ra8 65.a7+– only tightens the noose even more.

The alternative king retreat is no better: 64...Kd4 65.Kf3 Rf7+ (65...e4+
66.Ke2+–) 66.Ke2 Ra7

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 67.Ra5! A precise move. White’s sloppy check 67.Ra4+? blows the win following
67...Kc5 68.Ke3 Kb5! 69.Ra1 Rxa6 70.Rxa6 Kxa6 71.Ke4 Kb5 72.Kxe5 Kc4!
73.Kf5 (73.h4 Kd3 74.h5 Ke3 75.Kf5 Kf3 76.Kg6 Kg4=) 73...Kd4 74.Kg6 Ke5
75.Kxg7 (75.h4 Kf4 76.Kxg7 Kg4=) 75...Kf4 76.h4 Kg4=, and Black does away
with the only existing pawn on the board.
67...Ke4. Black is short of a tempo after 67...Kc4 68.Ke3 Kb4 69.Ra1 Kb5
70.Ke4 Rxa6 71.Rxa6 Kxa6 72.Kxe5+–. After 67...e4 68.Ra1 e3 69.Ra3!+– Black
falls victim to a standard zugzwang seen in similar positions.
68.Ra4+ Kd5 (68...Kf5 69.Ke3+–) 69.Ke3+– with a gradual win.

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65.Kf3 g6

65...e4+ 66.Ke3 Ke5 67.Ra5++– is also bad.

66.Ra4 Ke6 67.Ra5

The youngest grandmaster in history keeps a proper lookout – 67.Ke4 Rh7!

67...Kf5

White centralizes his king victoriously after 67...Kd6 68.Ke4+–.

68.Ra1 Kf6

After 68...e4+ 69.Ke3 Ke5 70.Ra5++– the pawn is doomed, too.

69.Ke4 Ke6 70.Ra2 Kf6

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 71.Ra5!

And Black is in zugzwang.

71...Kg5

The pawn drops after 71...Ke6 72.Rxe5+ Kd6 73.Ra5+–.

72.Kxe5 Kh4 73.Kf6 g5

In case pawns are exchanged with 73...Kxh3 74.Kxg6 Kg4 75.Kf6+– the white
king begins his victorious march towards the black rook.

74.Kg6 Ra8 75.Ra4+ and Black resigned.

Let us now look at the features of positions with opposite-colored bishops through
the eyes of modern grandmasters.
Example No. 40
A. Heimann – V. Malakhov
Germany 2021

210
 Black to move

White is seemingly close to converting his extra pawn into a win. Meanwhile, the
black king’s activity is bringing no dividends. The white bishop lends reliable
protection to his kingside pawn and simultaneous assistance to the queenside passed
pawn.
Despite the above, Black’s defensive resources are far from depleted.

66...Ra2?

Unfortunately, Black commits the rook to the wrong square.

66...Bxb6? 67.Kxb6+– is also bad because of the pawn’s subsequent promotion.
66...Ra5? 67.Ra6 is also a mistake, as Black has no check from the b-file.
There is no marking time with 66...Kg1? 67.a8=Q Rxa8 68.Rb1+!+–, and it turns
out that the black king has walked into a check.
Black runs into the same problem with 66...Bf2? 67.Be4 Ra4 68.a8=Q Rxa8
69.Rh6+!+–.
The correct approach is 66...Ra3! 67.Be4. Following 67.Ra6 Rb3+ 68.Kc7 Bxa7
69.Rxa7 Rb2! Black captures the g2-pawn on the next move to save the game. White
gains nothing either with 67.Bf3 Bxb6 68.Kxb6 Rxf3! 69.a8=Q Kxg2=, which is a

211
well-known drawn endgame because the black pawn is far too close to the promotion
square.
67...Ra4! 67...Ra1? 68.Ra6+– is bad since there is no check from the b-file again.
67...Ra2? fails to 68.Bf3 Ra3 69.Ra6 Rb3+ 70.Kc6 Bxa7 71.Rxa7 Rb2 72.Kd5! Rxg2
73.Bxg2 Kxg2 74.Ke4 Kg1 75.Kf3 g2 76.Rg7 Kh1 77.Kf2+–.
68.Bd5 (Black escapes after 68.Bf3 Ra2! 69.Ra6 Rb2+ 70.Kc6 Bxa7 71.Rxa7
Rxg2!=)

68...Ra1! Yet another precise move. 68...Ra5? fails once again to 69.Ra6 Rb5+
70.Kc6 Bxa7 71.Kxb5+–.
69.Ra6 Rb1+ 70.Kc6 Bxa7 71.Rxa7

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 71...Rb2! Black is ready to capture the white pawn with his rook, and the white
bishop prevents his own king from getting as close as possible to the potential black
passed pawn.
72.Kc5 Rxg2! 73.Bxg2 (in case of 73.Rh7+ Kg1 74.Bxg2 Kxg2 75.Kd4 Kf2=
Black makes a draw, too) 73...Kxg2 74.Kd4 Kf2 75.Rf7+ (75.Ra2+ Kf3!= is no
better, and after 75.Ke4 g2 76.Ra2+ Kg3!= the position is also drawn) 75...Ke2!=.

66...Ra2? 67.Bf3!

67.Be4? Ra4 is an error that allows Black to save the game as shown above.

67...Ra3

Black is again lost after 67...Bxb6 68.Kxb6 Rb2+ 69.Kc5+–.

68.Ra6! Rb3+ 69.Kc6 Bxa7 70.Rxa7 and Black resigned in the face of 70...Rb2
71.Kd5! Rxg2 72.Bxg2 Kxg2 73.Ke4 Kf2 74.Ra2+.

Example No. 41
I. Yeletsky – V. Artemiev
Sochi 2017

213
 Black to move

Opposite-colored bishops don’t make White’s life in this endgame any easier. In
addition to numerous weak pawns and passive pieces, there are king-related issues to
solve.

43...Bg1!

A precisely calculated assault against the white king achieved with a limited
number of offensive forces on the board.

44.Rg2 Rd4+! 45.Kf5 Be3! 46.Rh2

White sustains decisive material losses after both 46.Bf1 Rf4+ 47.Kg5 Rxf3+–+,
and 46.Rg7 Rf4+ 47.Kg5 Rg4+ 48.Kxh5 Rxg7–+.

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 46...Bh6! and nothing can stop the rook from delivering checkmate on the f4-
square. Therefore, White resigned.

Example No. 42
K. Lagno – Ju Wenjun
Khanty-Mansiysk 2018

215
 White to move

Black’s position might seem fine at first glance. Her rook’s open file is as good as
that possessed by the white rook, while her doubled pawns compare even better to
White’s because they are passed ones. However, the key factor for correct evaluation
of this position is the difference between the bishops. Besides defensive duties
controlling the potential invasion squares of the enemy rook b2 and d2, White’s
bishop is ready to join the kingside hostilities. In contrast, the black bishop bites on
the granite of its own pawn and has no special prospects. Another crucial factor
supporting White’s superiority is the fact that they are opposite-colored bishops. We
keep in mind that opposite-colored bishops in a pure bishop ending favor the
defending side more often than not. However, with the addition of a heavy piece the
“rook and bishop” or “queen and bishop” tandem significantly increases the
attacking potential of the stronger side, which is something to keep in mind when
evaluating this type of endgame.

22.g4!

White gears up to develop an initiative on the kingside, where she enjoys pawn
superiority. Goal number one is to create new weaknesses in her opponent’s position.

22...c5

White also maintains pressure after 22...Ke7 23.h4 Rd8 24.Rb1!. After 22...Rb6
23.a4! Black does not manage to get at the doubled pawns.

23.h4!

23.Rd6?! Rb6 24.Rd8 Ra6! is dubious.

23...h6

216
 24.a4!

Now White changes the vector of activity and throws forward a pawn on the
opposite flank. This should fix a potential weakness – the black a7-pawn, and will
also come in handy in future when it comes to taking additional control over the
important b7-square. Besides, the pawn is approaching the promotion square, which
can be a good plan in positions that feature advancing passed pawns for both sides.

24...Ke7 25.a5! Rb7

It is obvious that White will avoid the exchange of rooks after 25...Rd8 26.Rg1!

26.Rg1!

It would be premature to go for 26.g5?! hxg5 27.hxg5 fxg5 28.Bxg7 g4!?, and
Black either gets rid of all the kingside pawns or drums up enough counterplay
thanks to her g-pawn after 29.f4 (29.fxg4 Bxg4=) 29...Rd7=.

26...Rd7 27.g5! hxg5

After 27...Kf7 28.gxf6 gxf6 29.Rb1 the white rook infiltrates via the b-file.

217
 28.hxg5 Kf7

28...fxg5? 29.Rxg5 is bad because Black drops a pawn; 28...Bf7!? 29.gxf6+ gxf6
30.Rh1!? Rd6 31.Rh8 Be8 was worth considering.

29.gxf6 gxf6

The first part of White’s plan is completed. Besides creating a weak pawn on f6,
more lines have opened up for the white rook to invade.

30.Rh1! Kg7

After 30...Kg6 31.Rh8 the white rook is also on a hunt for the black pawns.

31.Rb1!

Black has managed to prevent the white rook’s infiltration via the kingside.
However, White again changes the vector of her activities and swings the rook to the
opposite side of the board.

31...Kf7

218
 Now White launches part two of her plan by taking turns attacking every weak
pawn so as to stretch the few defensive resources that are at Black’s disposal.

32.Rb5! Rc7 33.Rb8 Re7

33...Rc8? 34.Rb7+ is bad. It was worth restricting the white rook’s scope along the
home rank with 33...Bc8!?.

34.Rh8 Kg6

34...Kg7! 35.Rh5 Rc7 should have been preferred.

35.Rf8! Rf7

35...Bf7? 36.Rc8 is bad.

36.Rg8+!

219
 36...Kh7?!

In case of 36...Rg7 37.Re8!

a) 37...Bf5 38.e4 Bd7 (38...Bh3 39.Rh8 Be6 40.f4!) 39.Ra8 Bb5 40.Rc8± and
Black is in for an uphill battle to make a draw;
b) 37...Bd7 38.Re4±;
c) 37...Bd5 38.e4 Bb7 39.Re6 Rf7 40.a6 Bc8 41.Rc6±;
d) 37...Kf7 38.Rd8 Ke7 (38...Rh7 39.Rd6 Rh8 40.Ra6 Ra8 41.Ke3 f5 42.Kf4±)
39.Ra8 Kd6 40.Bxf6±.

37.Rd8!± Kg6 38.Rd6 Re7

Neither 38...Bf5 39.Rc6±, nor 38...Bc8 39.Rc6± are better than the text.

220
 39.Rc6!

Part two of the plan has been completed. It has resulted in winning a pawn. Now
the white king can also join in and ramp up the initiative.

39...Kf7 40.Rxc5 Rd7 41.Rc6 f5 42.Ke3! Re7 43.Kf4 Rd7 44.Rc5!

44.Ke5 Rd5+! is premature yet.

44...Rd8 45.Rb5 Rd7?!

45...Bc8! is more resilient.

221
 46.a6!

Creating yet more threats. Now Black has to reckon with the potential exchange of
rooks on the b7-square and the creation of a dangerous white passer.

46...Kg6

Now, both 46...Bd5 47.Kxf5+– and 46...Re7 47.Bb4 Rd7 48.Rb7 Ke8 49.Ke5 Bf7
50.Kxf5+– are bad.

47.Ke5! Re7

47...Bf7 48.Rb7 Be8 49.f4+– leaves Black with no reasonable continuation.

48.Rb7 Re8

48...Kf7 49.Kd6+– is an immediate win for White.

49.Rxa7!+– Bf7+ 50.Kd4 Rxe2 51.a4

51.Rd7 Rxa2 52.a7 Ra3 53.Ke5+– also wins.

222
 51...Re6

There is no posting the rook behind the white passed pawn – 51...Ra2 52.a5!+–.

52.Kc5! Be8

52...f4 53.Ra8+– is no better than the text.

53.Rg7+ Kh6 54.a7 Ra6 55.Re7! Rc6+

Black is doomed after both 55...Bxa4 56.Re6+! Rxe6 57.a8=Q+–, and 55...Rxa4
56.Rxe8 Rxa7 57.Kxc4+–. Meanwhile, Black has no means to keep the white passed
pawn in check after 55...Bg6 56.Kb5+–.

56.Kb4 Rc8 57.Rb7! Ra8 58.Rb8 Bc6

58...Rxa7 59.Rxe8+– is equally bad.

59.Rb6

and Black resigned.

Example No. 43

223
 A. Rasmussen – A. Brynell
Denmark 2020

Black to move

Black is up a pawn. Moreover, it is a dangerous passed pawn supported by all

pieces remaining on the board. However, with opposite-colored bishops Black
should take care not to exchange rooks.

81...b3?

Black is fantasizing about beautiful lines involving a rook sacrifice on a1 and the
subsequent weaving of a mating net around the white king.
The immediate rook sacrifice would be a blunder: 81...Ra1+? 82.Kxa1 Kc2+
83.Rxf6! (the greedy 83.Ka2? backfires due to 83...b3+ 84.Ka3 Be7! 85.Bd3+
[85.Ba4 Bxd6#] 85...Kc3–+).
83...gxf6 84.Ba4+ b3 (84...Kc3 85.g4+–) 85.g4 Kc3 86.Kb1+–.
The correct plan was to drive the white king away in order to give the passed pawn
an obstacle-free ride to the promotion square: 81...Rb3+! 82.Kc1. Both 82.Ka1?
Kc2+ 83.Ka2 Ra3# and 82.Ka2? Rb2+ 83.Ka1 Kc2 84.Ba4+ b3 85.Rc6+ Bc3–+ are
losing continuations.

224
 82...Bg5+ 83.Kd1 Rb1+ 84.Ke2 b3 85.Rc6+. White has to give up his rook for a
pawn following 85.Bd3 Rb2+ 86.Kf3 Rd2 87.Ke4 Rxd3! 88.Rxd3+ Kc2 89.Rd7 Bf6
90.Rc7+ Bc3–+.

85...Kb2–+ (Black is also winning after 85...Kd4 86.Rc4+ Kd5 87.Rc7 Bf6–+)
86.Rc7. The positional evaluation does not change after either 86.Bd3 Rg1 87.Kf3
Rc1 88.Rb6 Rc3 89.Ke2 Kc1–+, or 86.Rb6 Rg1!? 87.Kf3 Rc1 88.Ba4 Rc3+ 89.Kg2
Bf6–+.
86...Bf6 87.Rb7 Rg1!? 88.Kf3 (88.Kf2 Bd4+–+) 88...Be5 89.g4. 89.Ke4 Re1+
90.Kf3 Kc1–+ is also losing since the pawn keeps rolling.
89...Kc1!? 90.Bd3. The game is over after 90.Be8 b2 91.Bg6 Rg3+ 92.Ke4 Bf6–+.
90...Rg3+ 91.Ke4

225
 91...Rxd3! This is the most precise way to press home the advantage (of course,
91...b2 is winning, too) 92.Kxd3 b2 93.Ke4 Bf6 (or 93...Bc3 94.Kd3 Ba5–+ and the
pawn promotes) 94.Rc7+ Kd2 95.Rb7 Kc2 96.Rc7+ Bc3–+ and White is doomed.

81...b3?

However, there follows a prosaic move

226
 82.Ra6!

and the black rook cannot avoid the exchange with the inevitable draw as a result.
The inclusion of a preliminary check loses the game: 82.Rc6+? Kb4 83.Ra6 Ra2!
84.Bf1 (84.Bd3 Rd2 85.Rb6+ Kc3–+ is also hopeless) 84...Rd2 85.Kc1 Bg5–+.

82...Rxa6 83.Bxa6 Be5, and Black did not persist further and agreed to a draw.
The white king will not be kicked away from the target square for the passed b-
pawn’s promotion, while the white bishop defends his kingside pawns easily.

Example No. 44
L. Livaic – М. Vavulin
Croatia 2021

Black to move

Given White’s inability to exploit his pawn majority on the kingside by creating a
passed pawn, his extra pawn has no particular bearing on the game as yet. Moreover,
the exchange of rooks with the opposite-colored bishops on the board leads to an
elementary draw even if black drops another kingside pawn. Having said that, Black
needs to address his opponent’s concrete threats. In making the most natural move
Black misses his opponent’s latent threat.

227
 46...Bd3?

It was, of course, a bad idea to defend the pawn both with 46...Kg6? 47.Rf6++–,
and 46...Bd7? 47.Rf7++–.
The balance was maintained by 46...Re1+! 47.Kf2 (47.Kg2 Re2+ 48.Kh3? Rd2–+
and now it is the white king who has walked into a mating net) 47...Re2+ 48.Kf3

48...Re4! Having driven the king into a checking position, Black carries out the
transfer of his bishop for the purpose of cementing his kingside pawns:
49.Bc3 (49.Rh8+ Kg6; 49.Bc5 Be2+!? 50.Kf2 Bg4=) 49...Be2+ 50.Kf2 Bg4
51.Rh8+ (51.Rf7+ Kg8 52.Rf6 Re2+ 53.Kf1 Ra2= is also harmless) 51...Kg6 52.Ra8
Re2+ 53.Kf1 Re6 54.Be5 Rb6=.

46...Bd3? 47.g4!

This excellent pawn break is easy to miss in an over-the-board game. White has
weaved a mating net around the black king all of a sudden.

47...Re4

Both 47...hxg4? 48.h5+–, and 47...fxg4? 48.f5+– are bad, when the black king is
trapped.

228
 The white king easily escapes from checks after 47...Re1+ 48.Kf2 Re2+ (48...Rf1+
49.Ke3+–) 49.Kg3+–.

48.Rh8+!

48.Be5? fxg4 is an error that leaves the bishop hanging and stops the f-pawn dead
in its tracks.

48...Kg6 49.gxh5+!

Creating a dangerous passed pawn with check.

49...Kf7 50.Be5+–

There is no longer keeping that pawn at bay.

50...Rxb4 51.Rh7+

White was also winning nicely after 51.Rd8 Bb5 52.h6 Kg6 53.h5+! Kxh6
(53...Kxh5 54.h7+–) 54.Rh8#.

51...Ke8

229
 51...Kg8 52.Rg7+ Kf8 53.h6+– is no better, whereas after 51...Ke6 52.Ra7+– the
passed pawn cannot be stopped.

52.h6 Rb1+

52...Rb6 loses the game along the same lines to 53.Rh8+ Kf7 (53...Kd7 54.h7 Rh6
55.Ra8! Rxh7 56.Ra7++–) 54.Rd8+–.

53.Kf2 Rb6 54.Rh8+ Kf7

White wins the rook for his pawn in the following lines: 54...Kd7 55.h7 Rh6
56.Ra8 Rxh7 57.Ra7++–, and after 54...Ke7 55.h7 Rh6 56.Ra8 Rxh7 57.Ra7++–.

55.Rd8 and, faced with the choice of dropping either the bishop or the rook, Black
resigned.

Example No. 45
N. Abdusattorov – A. Puranik
Sitges 2021

230
 Black to move

Conversion of the extra pawn is fraught with two problems for Black: his king is
misplaced and both white pieces control the promotion a1-square. The presence of
opposite-colored bishops also plays into White’s hands.

50...Rc1?

In attacking the pawn, Black attempts to force White to defend it, thereby trying to
disorganize White’s pieces.
It was correct to start by first restricting the white king’s activity 50...Rf1! 51.Bb2.
51.Rg7+? Kf8 52.Rxg6 Kf7–+ is wrong. Implementation of Black’s plan cannot be
opposed either by 51.Be5 Kf8 52.Kg4 Ke8 53.Kg5? Rf5+–+, or by 51.Bd4 Kf8
52.Kg4 Rf5, followed by the black king heading for the white rook.
51...Kf8! And now Black gradually activates his king.
52.Kg4 (52.Ra4 Ke7–+) 52...Rf5. Discouraging the white king from approaching
the g6-pawn.
53.Bd4
(53.Rg7? Bf7 54.Rh7 Rxc5–+ is an error. Black wins after 53.Ra4 Ke7 54.Rf4
Rh5! 55.Ra4 Kd7 56.Ra7+ Kc8 57.Rg7 Rf5 58.Ra7 [58.Rxg6 Rf2 59.Bd4 Rg2+

231
60.Kf5 Be4+!–+] 58...Be6 59.Kg3 Rxc5–+.)

53...Ke8! (53...Be6 54.Kg3) 54.Ra8+ (54.Rg7 Bf7 55.Rh7 Rxc5–+; 54.Bb2 Be6
55.Kg3 Rxc5–+) 54...Kd7 55.Ra7+ Kc8 56.Ra8+. White is also in bad shape after
56.Rg7 Be6 57.Kg3 (57.Rxg6 Rd5+ 58.Rxe6 Rxd4+–+) 57...Bf7 58.Rh7 Kb7 59.Rh8
Rxc5–+.
56...Kb7 57.Ra5 (57.Ra4 Be6 58.Kg3 Rd5–+) 57...Be6! Driving the white king
away to activate the black rook.
58.Kg3 Rf1 (58...Rd5 59.Bb2!?) 59.Ra4. 59.Kg2 Rf4 60.Bf2 Bd5+ 61.Kg1 Rg4+
62.Kf1 Rb4 63.Ke2 Rb2+ 64.Ke3 Rb1–+ loses the game.
59...Rd1

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 60.Bb2
(60.Bc3? Rd3+–+; 60.Be5? Rd5–+; 60.Bf6 Rd3+ 61.Kg2 [61.Kf4 Rd5] 61...Bd5+
62.Kh2 Rf3–+; 60.Bg7 Rd5 61.Ra5 g5! 62.h5 Rd3+ 63.Kf2 g4–+)
60...Rd2!? 61.Ba1 (61.Bc3? Rd3+–+; 61.Be5? Rd5–+) 61...Rd5 62.Ra5 (62.Rxa2?
Rd3+–+; 62.Bd4? Rxd4–+) 62...Rh5 63.Bf6

63...Bc4!? Black has finished regrouping his pieces and is at last poised to begin
his king’s decisive centralization.

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 64.Bg5 (64.Kg4 Rf5 65.Bd4 Kc8–+) 64...Rh8 65.Bf6. 65.Kf4? Rf8+ 66.Ke3 Rf1–
+ is bad.
65...Rf8

66.Bb2
(66.Bd4 Rf5 67.Kg4 Kc8! 68.Ra8+ [68.Ra7 Rd5–+] 68...Kd7 69.Ra7+ Ke6
70.Rg7 Kd5 71.Rd7+ Ke4–+)
66...Rf5 67.Bd4 Kc8! 68.Kg4 (68.Ra4 Rd5–+) 68...Kd7 69.Ra4 Bb3 70.Ra5
(70.Ra6 Rd5–+; 70.Ra3 Rd5 71.Bb2 Bc4 72.Ra5 Ke6–+) 70...Ke6–+ and the black
king’s addition to the attack against the c5-pawn is decisive.

50...Rc1? 51.Kf4! White refuses to defend passively and abandons his pawn en
prise for the sake of making his king as active as possible.

Both 51.Ra5? Kf7 52.Bd4 Ke6 53.Kf4 Bb3 54.Kg5 (54.Ke4 Rh1–+) 54...Kd5
55.Bf6 Rg1+ 56.Kh6 Kc4 57.Kg7 Kb4–+, and 51.Bd4 Rc4 52.Be3 Rb4! 53.Bf2
Rb7! 54.Ra8+ Kf7–+ lose the game.

51...Rxc5

51...Rf1+ 52.Kg5! (52.Ke5? Rf5+–+) 52...Rg1+ 53.Kh6 Kf8 54.Bg7+ Ke8 55.Bf6
Rg2 56.Kg7!= is of no help to win the game either.

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 52.Ke5!

Black gets down to converting his two-pawn advantage in the event of the
underwhelming 52.Kg5? Bf7+ 53.Kg4 (53.Kh6 Rh5#; 53.Kf4 Rf5+–+) 53...Be6+
54.Kg3 Rf5 55.Bb2 Kf8!? 56.Ra6 Bd5–+.

52...Rc1

After 52...Bb3+ 53.Kd6 Rf5 54.Be5 Bd5 55.Rg7+!? Kf8 56.Ra7 (56.Rxg6? Rxe5–
+) 56...Rf1 (56...Rf7? 57.Ra8#) 57.Ra8+!? Kf7 58.Ra7+ Kg8 59.Rg7+ Kf8 60.Ra7
Black cannot rearrange his pieces profitably.

53.Kd6! Rd1 54.Be5!

54.Ke7? is an error that dissipates White’s initiative following 54...Re1+! 55.Kd8

(55.Kd6 Re6+–+; 55.Kd7 Kf7 56.Bc3 Re7+–+) 55...Re4–+.

54...c5

Black ditches a pawn for the sake of taking control over the a8-square. The line
54...Rb1 55.Ra8+ Kf7 (55...Kh7? 56.Rh8#) 56.Ra7+ Ke8 57.Ra8+ Kf7 58.Ra7+=
ends in a perpetual check. Both 54...Bb3+ 55.Kxc6=, and 54...Be4+ 55.Ke7! c5

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56.Rxa2= lead to a draw.

55.Kxc5 Bb3

56.Bd4!

Pawn-grabbing is fatal: 56.Rg7+ Kf8 57.Rxg6? Rd5+–+.

56...Kf8 57.Bf6 Rd2 58.Kb4 Be6 59.Kc5 Bd7

Black profits neither from 59...Rd5+ 60.Kc6= nor from 59...Rd7 60.Rxd7 Bxd7
61.Kb4=.

60.Bg5!? Re2 61.Kd6 Be8 62.Bf6 Bf7, and Black abandoned any plans to play for
a win. Draw agreed.

We now move on to reviewing positions that feature a rook and knight vs. rook
and knight.
Example No. 46
D. Navara – N. Abdusattorov
Belgrade 2022

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 White to move

Black’s only remaining pawn is a dangerous passer. At the same time, White’s
king and rook cannot by themselves stop the pawn’s advance towards the promotion
square. The only hope rests with the knight, which is on the opposite flank at the
moment. If it is brought to the war theater and given up for the pawn in good time,
we reach a drawn ending with a rook and knight vs. rook. Does this idea lend itself
to easy implementation, or does it take finding a latent resource to save this position?

54.Ne6?

White is relying on a potential fork along the way, but it is not enough to save the
game.
54.Ne8? b3 55.Nf6+ Kd6 56.Rd4+ Kc6 57.Nd5 Rc1 58.Ne7+ (58.Nb4+ Kc5
59.Nd3+ Kxd4 60.Nxc1 b2 61.Ne2+ Kd3–+) 58...Kb5 59.Rd5+ Ka4–+ was losing,
too.
The correct approach is 54.Nf5! b3. White stops the passed pawn after 54...Rc1
55.Rd4+ Kc6 56.Rd3=.

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 55.Re7+! 55.Rd4+? Kc7 56.Ne7 Rc1 57.Nd5+ Kb7 58.Rd3 b2 59.Rb3+ Ka7
60.Nc3 Rxc3 61.Rxc3 b1=Q 62.Rxc4 Qf1+–+ is bad.
55...Kc8. White is up to the task both after 55...Kc6 56.Nd4+ Kd6 57.Rb7 b2
58.Rxb2 Nxb2 59.Nb5+=, and after 55...Kd8 56.Rb7! b2 57.Nd6=.
56.Nd4! b2

White seems doomed. However, a drawing mechanism comes to the rescue:

57.Nb5! b1=Q. It is an easy draw after 57...Rf3+ 58.Kxf3 Ne5+ 59.Rxe5 b1=Q

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60.Nd6+ Kd7 61.Ne4=, while the follow-up of 57...Kd8 58.Nxc3 Kxe7 59.Nb1
Kd6 60.Ke4 Kc5 61.Kd3 Kb4 62.Kc2= renders the black passed pawn harmless.
58.Na7+ Kd8 59.Nc6+ Kc8 60.Na7+ Kb8 61.Nc6+ Kc8. Black is in for
checkmate following the sloppy 61...Ka8? 62.Ra7#.
62.Na7+ and a draw.

54.Ne6? Kd6!

Naturally, not 54...b3? as it walks the pawn into a fork: 55.Nc5+ Kd6 56.Nxb3=.

55.Nd4

55...Kd5!

The White pieces turn out to be poorly placed and incapable of maintaining their
knight’s key defensive position.

56.Nb5

White also loses after 56.Ne2 Rc2! 57.Nd4 (57.Rd4+ Kc5 58.Re4 b3–+) 57...Rf2+!
58.Nf3 Rxf3+! 59.Kxf3 Nd2+–+.

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 56...Rc1! 57.Nc7+

57.Re8 b3 58.Rb8 Kc5 59.Nd4 b2 60.Nb3+ Kc6 61.Na5+ Kc7 62.Rb7+ Kc8–+ is
of no help.
White again drops a piece to 57.Nd4 Rf1+ 58.Nf3 Rxf3+! 59.Kxf3 Nd2+–+.

57...Kd6! 58.Nb5+

After 58.Ne8+ Kc5–+ the white knight can no longer combat the passed pawn.

58...Kc5 59.Nd4

59...Kd5!

Following this yet another precise move White’s defensive construction finally
crumbles.

60.Nf3

60.Nb3 Rf1+–+ loses on the spot.

60...b3! 61.Rd4+ Kc5 62.Nd2

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 After 62.Rd8 b2–+ White is doomed, too.

62...b2! and White resigned.

The blunder 62...Kxd4? 63.Nxb3+ Kc3 64.Nxc1= would have kept White in the
game.
Example No. 47
A. Lugovoi – A. Alavkin
Togliatti 2003

Black to move

The passed pawn has advanced far. Not only is the white king ready to support its
progress, but he will also restrict the opponent’s pieces that challenge it. This is why
Black should calculate as concretely as possible.

71...Nc6!

This knight sacrifice is designed to deflect the white knight from defending the
pawn.
71...Kf6? 72.Ka5 Ke6 73.Kb6 Nd7+ 74.Kb7 Rb8+ 75.Kc7 Ra8 76.Rd6+!+–

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loses the game.

71...Nc6! 72.Rd6

A drawn rook and knight vs. rook ending would have arisen after 72.Nxc6
Rxa6+=.

72...Nb8!

Reinstating the threat of eliminating the only remaining pawn. Of course,

72...Nxb4 73.Kxb4 Kf5 74.Kb5 Ke5 75.Rd7 Ke6 76.Rb7+– is bad.

73.Rd8 Kf5

74.Kb3

Both 74.Kb5 Nxa6! 75.Rxa8 Nc7+= and 74.Ka5 Rxa6+! 75.Nxa6 Nc6+= lead to
a draw.
In case of 74.Re8 Kf6 75.Kb3 (75.Ka5 Nc6+ 76.Nxc6 Rxe8 77.a7 Ra8=; 75.Kb5
Kf7! [75...Nxa6? 76.Nd5++–] 76.Rh8 Nxa6! 77.Rxa8 Nc7+=) 75...Rxa6 76.Nxa6
Nxa6 77.Rc8 Ke7!= Black is in time to evacuate the knight from the dangerous
territory.

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 74...Ke6

It was also fine to play 74...Rxa6!? 75.Nxa6 Nxa6 76.Rc8 (76.Kc4 Nc7=)
76...Ke5! 77.Kc4 Kd6!=, with a drawn endgame.

75.Kc4

Black also keeps his position together after 75.Rh8 Kd7 76.Kc4 Rxa6=.

75...Rxa6!

There is no time to spare. In case of 75...Ke7? 76.Rxb8 Rxb8 77.Nc6+ Kd6

78.Nxb8 Kc7 79.Nd7! (the wrong 79.a7? Kb7 80.Nc6 Ka8= leads to a draw despite
huge material superiority) White gets the upper hand.

76.Nxa6 Nxa6 77.Kb5 Ke7!

A crucial intermezzo.
The natural 77...Nc7+? loses to 78.Kc6 Na6 79.Rd6+! Ke7 (79...Ke5 80.Rd5+
Ke4 81.Rb5+–) 80.Rd7+ Ke6 81.Rb7+–, and the knight falls into a fatal trap.

78.Rd1

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 78.Rc8 Kd7!= is a draw, too.

78...Nc7+ 79.Kc6 Ne8 80.Re1+ Kf7 81.Kd5 Nf6+ 82.Ke5 Ne8 and the players
agreed to a draw.

Example No. 48
N. Abasov – C. Balogh
Austria 2020

Black to move

Material is equal and Black seems to have nothing to worry about at first glance.
He only needs to find a good retreat for his king who is currently in check, in order
to defend his position. Of the two available moves, Black opts for the more active
one.

77...Kb4?

The correct approach is 77...Ka5! 78.Kc2! White even loses after 78.Rc6? Nb5
79.Rc5 Rxc3+! 80.Rxc3 Nxc3 81.Kxc3 Ka4–+.
78...Rb4 79.Rc6 Rc4!? 80.Rxc4 dxc4 81.d5 (81.Ne2 Nd5= gives equality, too)
81...Kb6 82.d6 Ne6 83.Ne2 (83.Ne4 Nd4+ 84.Kc3 Nxf3 85.Kxc4 Kc6= leads to

244
the exchange of a different pair of pawns) 83...Kc6 84.Kc3 Kxd6 85.Kxc4 Ke5=.

77...Kb4? 78.Rb6+!

A powerful check!

78...Ka3

Black drops the rook after 78...Ka5 79.Rxb3+–.

79.Rc6!

and Black resigned prior to getting forcibly checkmated after 79...Nb5 (Black
drops a piece in the line 79...Rb7 80.Rxc7 Rxc7 81.Nb5++–) 80.Ra6+ Kb2 (80...Kb4
81.Ra4#) 81.Ra2+ Kc1 82.Rc2#.
Example No. 49
T. Stoyanov – S. Nihal
Sitges 2021

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 White to move

Only one pawn remains on the board. Therefore, White is only a stone’s throw
away from making a draw. He just needs to see all of his opponent’s threats and deal
with them accordingly.

79.Rd4?

This is a blunder that allows his opponent to forcibly exploit White’s misplaced
king and knight.
79.Nf2? Re1+ 80.Kh2 g3# was an immediate disaster, too.
It is also bad to go for 79.Rh2+? Nh3+ 80.Kf1 (80.Kg2 Re2+–+) 80...Rf3+ 81.Ke1
(81.Ke2 Ra3–+; 81.Kg2 Ra3 82.Nf2 Ra2 83.Kf1 Rxf2+ 84.Rxf2 Nxf2 85.Kxf2
Kh3–+) 81...Ra3! 82.Rd2 (82.Nf2 Ra1+ 83.Nd1 g3 84.Rd2 Nf2–+; 82.Kf1 Ra1+
83.Kg2 Ra2+–+) 82...Ra1+ 83.Rd1 Rxd1+ 84.Kxd1

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 84...Nf2+! This is a superb deflecting move!
85.Nxf2 g3 86.Nd3 (86.Ke2 g2–+) 86...g2 87.Ne1 g1=Q–+ and there is no fork
because the knight is pinned. This is a manifestation of study-like ideas in an over-
the-board game.
79.Ra2 g3 (79...Re1+? 80.Kh2 Rb1 81.Ng3=) 80.Nxg3 (80.Ra1? g2 81.Nf2 Kg3
82.Nh1+ Kf3–+) 80...Kxg3 81.Kf1 is a theoretically drawn ending (see the
following diagram)

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 but fighting against a rook and a knight in an over-the-board game with the weaker
side’s king already cut off on the bottom rank does not lend itself to easier defending
than fighting in the same situation against a rook and bishop. The probability of
making a mistake and losing the game is very high.
Therefore, a good choice was 79.Rd8!? Re1+. Carelessness could even lead Black
to a defeat: 79...Kh3? 80.Rh8+ Nh5 81.Rxh5#. 79...g3 also peters out to a draw:
80.Rh8+ Nh5 81.Kg2 Re2+ 82.Kf3 g2 83.Rxh5+! Kxh5 84.Ng3+ Kh4 85.Nxe2=.
80.Kh2 (80.Kf2? Rxh1 81.Rh8+ Nh5–+) 80...Re2+ 81.Kg1 Ra2 (81...Nh3+
82.Kf1 Ra2 83.Rh8+ Kg5 84.Ng3=) 82.Rh8+ Nh5 (82...Kg5 83.Rg8+ Ng6
84.Ng3=) 83.Nf2= and holding this position together is easy for White.
In fact, 79.Kh2!? was equally good: 79...Rh3+ 80.Kg1 Ra3 81.Kh2 g3+ 82.Nxg3
(82.Kg1? Ra1+) 82...Rxg3 83.Rd8 Rg2+ 84.Kh1 Rg7 (84...Ra2 85.Rg8! Kh3
86.Kg1!) 85.Ra8, and forcing the white king into a mating net is far from easy.

79.Rd4? Re1+!

79...Ne2+? 80.Kf2 Rh3 81.Rd8!= is an error that allows White to bail out.

80.Kh2

A lost rook ending occurs after 80.Kf2 Rxh1 81.Rxf4 Kh3 82.Rf8 g3+ 83.Ke2
(83.Kf3 Rf1+–+) 83...g2 84.Rh8+ Kg3 85.Rg8+ Kh2 86.Rh8+ Kg1 87.Rg8 Rh2–+,
and the pawn cannot be stopped.

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 80...Re2+! 81.Kg1 Nh3+! 82.Kf1 Rh2! and White resigned faced with losing his
knight.

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 Example No. 50
D. Andreikin – A. Goganov
Tbilisi 2017

Black to move

Black is two pawns up, one of them being on the verge of promotion. However,
White’s active pieces are weaving deadly nets around the black monarch. Black
needs to take the correct decision to win this.

56...Kf7?

This natural move turns out to be a mistake.

56...Nf3? 57.Ng6 Rd2+ 58.Ke7 Re2+ 59.Kd8 (59.Kd6? Re8; 59.Kd7? Ne5+)
59...h1=Q 60.Rxh1 Rh2 61.Rxh2 Nxh2 62.Ke8 Nf3 63.Ne7+ Kh7 64.Nd5 Kh6
65.Kf7= would have blown the win.
A pretty draw results after 56...Rd2+? 57.Ke7 g5 58.fxg6 Nf3 59.Kxf6 Rd1
(59...Rd6+ 60.Kf5 Rd1 61.Kg4=) 60.Rh5! h1=Q

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 61.Nd5! What a picturesque position! Despite being a queen up in the endgame,
Black cannot win.
61...Rxd5 (61...Qxh5? 62.Ne7+ Kf8 63.g7+ Ke8 64.g8=Q+ Kd7 65.Qc8+ Kd6
66.Qc6#) 62.Rxh1=.
Winning the game took vacating some squares for the black king with 56...g5!
a) 57.fxg6 Nf3!
a1) 58.Nd5 Kg7! The hasty 58...Rc1? 59.Ne7+! Kf8 60.Rh8+ Kg7 61.Rh7+ Kf8
62.g7+ Kf7 63.g8=Q# is a blunder.
59.Ne7 Rd2+! 60.Kc5 (60.Ke6 Ng5+–+; 60.Kc6 Ne5+ 61.Kc5 Nxg6 62.Nf5+
Kf8–+) 60...Ng5! 61.Rh4 Rd7 (61...Ne6+ 62.Kc6 Nf8–+) 62.Nd5 (62.Nf5+ Kxg6
63.Ng3 Nf3–+) 62...Ne4+ 63.Kc4 Nd2+ 64.Kc5 Nf3 65.Rh3 Kxg6 66.Nxf6 Rd1–+
and Black grabs the white rook for his pawn.
a2) 58.Ke6 Ng5+–+;
a3) 58.Ne6 Rc1–+;
a4) 58.Nh5 Rc1 59.Nxf6+ Kg7 60.Nh5+ Kxg6 61.Ng3 Kg5–+.
b) 57.Ng6 g4–+;
c) 57.Ne6 Nf3–+ 58.Rh6 Nh4!–+;
d) 57.Nh5 Kf7 58.Ng3 Rd2+ 59.Kc6 Nf3–+;

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 e) 57.Nd5 Kg7 58.Ne3 (58.Nc7 Nf3) 58...Rd2+ 59.Ke7 (59.Kc6 Rd3–+)
59...Re2–+.

56...Kf7? 57.Ng6! Rd2+

The careless 57...Nf3? 58.Rh8+– even turns the tables against Black.
Following 57...Rf2 58.Nh8+! Kg8 (58...Ke8 59.Ng6 Rxf5? 60.Ke6+–) 59.Ng6
Kf7 (59...Rxf5? 60.Ne7+) 60.Nh8+= Black has to put up with a draw.

58.Kc7!

A precise move. Black wins following the erroneous 58.Kc6? Nf3 59.Rh8 Ne5+–
+.

58...Rd5

58...Nf3? 59.Rh8+– is bad again.

The following line leads to a draw again: 58...Rf2 59.Nh8+ Kg8 (59...Ke7
60.Ng6+!; 59...Ke8? 60.Re3+ Kf8 61.Ng6+ Kf7 62.Re7+ Kg8 63.Re8+ Kh7
64.Rh8#) 60.Ng6 Kf7 61.Nh8+=.

59.Nh8+!

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 The exchange of pawns is obviously disadvantageous for White: 59.Rxh2? Rxf5–+.

59...Ke8

There is a repetition after both 59...Ke7 60.Ng6+= and 59...Kg8 60.Ng6 Kf7
(60...Rxf5? 61.Ne7+) 61.Nh8+=.

60.Rxh2

60...Nf3

Black cannot throw in the check first and then grab the pawn with impunity:
60...Rc5+? 61.Kd6 Rxf5? 62.Ra2+–.
The following lines arise after 60...Rxf5 61.Re2+! (61.Ra2 Kf8! 62.Kd6 Kg8!)
61...Re5 62.Ra2!
a) 62...Re4!

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 63.Kd6! The black king escapes after 63.Ra8+? Ke7 64.Ng6+ Kf7 65.Nh8+ Ke6
66.Re8+ Kf5–+.
63...Rd4+. The continuation 63...Kf8 64.Ra8+ Re8 65.Ng6+ Kf7 66.Nh8+= results
in a repetition of moves.
64.Ke6
a1) 64...Nf3

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 65.Nf7! White goes down after 65.Ra8+ Rd8 66.Rxd8+ Kxd8 67.Nf7+ Kc7
68.Nh6? Ng5+! 69.Kf5 gxh6 70.Kxf6 Kd6 71.Kg6 Nf7–+.
65...Re4+ (65...Ng5+ 66.Nxg5 fxg5 67.Ra8+ Rd8 68.Rxd8+ Kxd8 69.Kf5=)
66.Kd5

a1.1) 66...Rg4 67.Nd6+ Kd8 (67...Kf8 68.Ra8+ Ke7 69.Ra7+ Kd8 70.Nf7+ Kc8
71.Nd6+ Kb8 72.Rb7+ Ka8 73.Re7= and White’s initiative compensates for the
pawn deficit) 68.Nf5! (68.Ra8+?! Kc7 69.Ra7+ Kb6 70.Nc8+ Kb5 71.Nd6+ Kb4)
68...g6 (68...Ne5 69.Ke6=; 68...Rg5 69.Ke6=)

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 69.Kd6! White does not pause the black king chase even for a moment.
69...Kc8 (69...Ke8? 70.Ra8+ Kf7 71.Nh6++–) 70.Ne7+ Kb7 71.Rf2 Ng5
(71...Nd4 72.Rxf6=)

72.Rb2+. A drawn position also results after 72.Rxf6 Ne4+ 73.Ke5 Nxf6 74.Kxf6
g5 75.Kf5 Rg1 76.Ng6 g4 77.Nf4 Kc6 78.Ne2 Re1 79.Ng3=.
72...Ka6 73.Nxg6 Ne4+ 74.Ke6 Rxg6 75.Kf5!= and White has saved the
endgame;

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 a1.2) 66...Rb4 67.Nd6+=;
a1.3) 66...Re7 67.Nd6+ Kd7 68.Ra7+ Kd8 69.Ra8+ Kc7 70.Ra7+=;
a1.4) 66...Re3 67.Nd6+ Kd8 68.Ra8+ Kc7 69.Ra7+=
a2) The game ends in a draw after both 64...Kd8 65.Ra8+ Kc7 66.Ra7+ Kc6
67.Rxg7=;
a3) and 64...Rd8 65.Nf7 Rb8 66.Rh2 Rb6+ 67.Nd6+ Rxd6+ 68.Kxd6 Kf7=;
a4) interesting lines arise after 64...Nd3 65.Ra8+ (65.Ng6? Nc5+ 66.Kf5 Rd5+–+)
65...Rd8 66.Rxd8+ Kxd8 67.Nf7+ (67.Kf7? Ne5+ 68.Kxg7 Ke7! 69.Kh6 Nf7+
70.Nxf7 Kxf7 71.Kh5 Ke6 72.Kg4 Ke5–+)

67...Ke8
(67...Kc7 68.Nh6! Nf4+ [68...Ne5 69.Nf5=; 68...Nc5+ 69.Kf7 gxh6 70.Kxf6=;
68...gxh6 69.Kxf6 Nf4 70.Kf5=] 69.Kf7 gxh6 70.Kxf6 Kd6 [70...h5 71.Kg5=]
71.Kf5 Nd5 72.Kg6=)
68.Nd6+! Kf8 69.Ne4! Nf4+ 70.Kf5 Nd5 (70...Nh5 71.Kg6=) 71.Ke6 Nc7+
72.Kd7

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 However, the positional evaluation is never subject to change – White escapes:
a4.1) 72...Ne8 73.Ke6! Kg8 (73...g6 74.Nxf6=; 73...g5 74.Nxg5 fxg5 75.Kf5=)
74.Ke7 f5 (74...Nc7 75.Nxf6+=) 75.Ng5 Nf6 (75...Nc7 76.Kd6 Nb5+ 77.Ke5 g6
78.Kf6=) 76.Ke6 f4 77.Ke5 Nh5 78.Kf5 Kf8 79.Kg6 Ng3 80.Ne6+=;
a4.2) 72...f5 73.Nd6 f4 74.Kxc7 Ke7 75.Ne4 Ke6 76.Kc6 Ke5 77.Nd2=;
a4.3) 72...Nb5 73.Ke6 Nd4+ 74.Kd5=;
b) 62...Rc5+ 63.Kd6 Rc8 64.Re2+ Kf8 65.Rxe1=;
c) 62...Re7+ 63.Kc6! Re6+ (63...Re4 64.Kd5! f5 65.Kd6 Rd4+ 66.Ke6=) 64.Kd5
Re5+ 65.Kd6=;
d) 62...Re6 63.Ra8+ Ke7 64.Ng6+ Kf7 65.Nh8+ Ke7 66.Ng6+=;
e) 62...Re3 63.Ra8+ Ke7 64.Ng6+ Kf7 (64...Ke6? 65.Re8+) 65.Nh8+=;
f) 62...Kf8 63.Ng6+=

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 61.Re2+!

61.Rg2? loses to 61...Rd7+ 62.Kc8 Nd4–+.

61...Re5?

Taking the wrong decision once again. Black gets checkmated following 61...Kf8?
62.Ng6+ Kf7 63.Re7+ Kg8 64.Re8+ Kh7 (64...Kf7 65.Rf8#) 65.Rh8#.
However, 61...Ne5! is stronger: 62.Ng6 Kf7 63.Nf4 (63.Nxe5+ fxe5–+; 63.Nh8+
Kg8 64.Ng6 Nxg6 65.fxg6 Kf8–+) 63...Rd7+ 64.Kb6 Rd4, and White is in for an
uphill battle to make a draw.

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 62.Ra2!

Setting up serious threats against the black king yet again.

62...Nh4

Both 62...Rxf5? 63.Kd6+– and 62...Nd4? 63.Ra8+ Ke7 64.Ng6+ Kf7 65.Rf8# are
bad.
White equalizes after 62...Re7+ 63.Kb6 (it’s not too late for White to blunder into
a loss: 63.Kd6? Rd7+ 64.Ke6? Nd4#) 63...Ne5 (63...Nd4 64.Ra8+ Kd7 65.Ra7+
Kd6 66.Nf7+ Rxf7 67.Rxf7 Nxf5 68.Rf8=) 64.Ra8+ Kd7 65.Kc5! Nc6 (65...Nd3+
66.Kd4=) 66.Ng6 Re1 67.Nf8+ Kc7 68.Ne6+ Kb7 69.Rg8=.

63.Ra4!?

63.Ra8+ Ke7 64.Ra4!?= was also fine.

63...Nxf5

The black king falls to checkmate again in the line 63...Re7+ 64.Kc6! Nxf5?
65.Ra8#.

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 64.Ra8+ Ke7 65.Ng6+ and the opponents agreed a draw.

Example No. 51
D. Bocharov – M. Oganian
Sochi 2017

White to move

The only remaining white pawn is on the verge of promotion. All that is left to do
is to eliminate the last defender – the black knight.

61.Rf7+?!

This is the first step towards a point of no return.

61.Nc4? Rh1 62.Ke2 (62.Nxd6? Rf1+=; 62.Kg2? Re1=; 62.Kf2 Rh2+!) 62...Rh3!
63.Nxd6 (63.Kf1 Rh1+!; 63.Kd1 Rd3+!) 63...Re3+= also fails to win.
White gets the upper hand with the correct 61.Rd8! Rh3+ (61...Rh5 62.Nc6+–)
62.Kg2 Re3 63.Nc6 Nc4 64.e8=Q Rxe8 65.Rxe8 d3 66.Kf3+–.

61.Rf7+?! Kg8

Of course, 61...Nxf7? 62.e8=Q+– is bad.

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 62.Rf6?

Letting the win go once and for all. It was not too late to get back on track with
62.Rf8+! Kg7 (62...Kh7 63.Nc4+–) 63.Rd8!+–.

62...Rf2+!

Here comes a life-saving resource missed by White!

63.Kxf2 Ne4+ 64.Ke2 Nxf6 65.Kd3 Kg7 66.Kxd4 Ne8 67.Ke4 and the
opponents agreed to a draw.

Lessons from my Career

Example No. 52
S. Sjugirov – A. Galkin
Novokuznetsk 2008

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 White to move

Black is a pawn up and enjoys active pieces. That said, White is not without trump
cards of his own.

68.e7!

White resorts to this minor dynamic resource in an attempt to exchange pawns,

which will reduce Black’s already insignificant chances of winning this position
even further.

68...Rf3+!

This is an attempt to introduce complications and provoke White into making

mistakes. 68...Re3 69.Nf6! yielded nothing. Meanwhile, following 68...Nxe7
69.Rxd4+ a draw becomes evident.

69.Kg2

Both 69.Ke2? Re3+–+ and 69.Ke1? Re3+–+ are ill-advised.

69...Re3

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 70.Rxd4+!

White opts for a more attractive line. 70.Nb6!? Re5 (70...Nxe7 71.Rxd4+=)
71.Nd5+ Kg5 72.Kf3 also looked good, when Black will have to agree to the
exchange of pawns anyway.

70...Nxd4 71.Nf6! Re2+!

Yet another intermediate check. Giving back the rook with 71...Rxe7 72.Nd5+
would immediately shut the door on Black’s attempt to outplay his opponent.

72.Kf1!

The alternative king retreats throw the game away:

a) 72.Kh1? Nf3 73.e8=Q Rh2#;
b) 72.Kh3? Nf3 73.e8=Q Rh2#;
c) 72.Kg1? Kg3 73.e8=Q Nf3+ 74.Kf1 Rf2#.

72...Kg5!

Black is virtually conjuring his chances out of thin air. 72...Rxe7 73.Nd5+= is

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harmless again.
72...Kf3 73.e8=Q Rxe8 74.Nxe8 h5 75.Nf6 h4 76.Kg1= yields nothing, too.

73.e8=Q Rxe8 74.Nxe8 Nb5!

Trying to keep the white knight at bay.

75.Ng7?

Exhausted by a lengthy defense, White quickly produced the most obvious move,
sending a clear message that a draw in this position was a matter of fact.
However, if he were to take his time and think more deeply, he would have
probably found a simple continuation: 75.Kg2! Kg6 (75...h5 76.Kh3=) 76.Kh3 Kf7
77.Kg4 Kxe8 78.Kh5!= and the last pawn leaves the board, rendering Black’s extra
knight superiority of no use.
There followed

75...Nc7!

and the white knight turned out to be trapped. White resigned since there is no
escape from the black king’s journey to g6.

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 Example No. 53
M. Sebenik – K. Shevchenko
Catez (SLO) 2022

White to move

This game underlines the axiom “more haste less speed”.

White is two pawns up. Conversion of his advantage requires no more than
exercising diligence.

67.g6?

In his desire to finish the game as soon as possible White misses his opponent’s
saving opportunity.
There is more than one way to succeed in this position. For example, 67.Ra6!? Rc1
was one option. Black goes down after both 67...Ne7+ 68.Kf6 Nd5+ 69.Ke5 Ne7
70.Rd6+ Ke8 71.Kf6 Ng8+ 72.Kg7+– and 67...Kc8 68.Rxc6+! Rxc6 69.g6 Kd7
70.g7 Rc8 71.Nf8++–.

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 68.g6 Ne7+. The rook checks lead nowhere: 68...Rf1+ 69.Kg5 Rg1+ 70.Kf6 Rf1+
71.Kg7+–.
69.Kf6 Rf1+. Black is checkmated following 69...Nd5+ 70.Ke5 Ne7 71.Rd6+
Ke8 72.Rd8#.
70.Kg7 Nf5+ 71.Kg8 Ne7+. White also prevails after 71...Nh6+ 72.Kh7 Nf5
73.Nc5+ Kc7 74.Re6+–.
72.Kh7 Rg1 (72...Rh1+ 73.Kg7+–) 73.Nc5+. It’s not too late for White to lose:
73.g7? Rh1#.
73...Kc7 (73...Ke8? 74.Ra8++–) 74.g7 Nf5 (74...Rh1+ 75.Rh6 Rxh6+ 76.Kxh6
Nf5+ 77.Kh7 Nxg7 78.Kxg7 Kb6 79.Nb3+–) 75.g8=Q Rh1+ 76.Kg6 Ne7+ 77.Kf7
Nxg8 78.Kxg8+– and the subsequent conversion of White’s overwhelming material
advantage is only a question of time.

67.g6? Ne7+! 68.Kf6 Nxg6! 69.Ra7+

It is this intermediate check that White pinned his hopes on when moving his pawn
forward.
Nor is White winning after 69.Rd8+ Kc6 70.Rc8+ (70.Kxg6 Rxa4) 70...Kd5
71.Rxc4 Kxc4 72.Kxg6 Kb4=. Meanwhile, the rook ending arising after 69.Kxg6
Kxe6= is a relatively easy draw.

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 69...Kd6

There existed an alternative way to secure a draw: 69...Kc6 70.Kxg6 Kb6! 71.Ra8
Kb7! 72.Ra5 (72.Rd8 Rxa4! 73.Nc5+ Kc7 74.Rd7+ Kc6=; 72.Re8 Kb6=) 72...Kb6!
73.Rb5+ Kc6= and White cannot hold on to his only remaining pawn.

70.Ra6+

Nor does White have winning chances after 70.a5 Nf4=.

70...Rc6! 71.Rxc6+ Kxc6 72.Kxg6 Kb6!

and it turns out that the knight cannot keep his pawn alive.
There followed:

73.Kf5 Ka5 74.Nc5 Kb4! and the opponents agreed to a draw.

Example No. 54
D. Navara – M. Carlsen
Biel 2018

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 Black to move

Despite being a pawn up Black is experiencing some obvious problems: his knight
is hanging and the rook stands on a forkable square. Will he manage to bail out?

35...a3!

Magnus comes up with the precise order of moves that allows him to hold this
endgame.
35...Nd2? fails to 36.Nc7++–.
35...Rb8? 36.Rxb1 Kc5 37.Rc1+ Kb4 (37...Kxb5? 38.Rb1+) 38.Nd4 Ra8 39.Rc7 is
equally bad.

35...a3! 36.Rxb1

36.Nc7+ Kd6! 37.Nb5+ (37.Nxa8? a2–+) 37...Kd5 results in a repetition of

moves.

36...a2 37.Nc3+

White has to give up his rook for the black pawn following the erroneous 37.Ra1?
Kc4 38.Nc7 Ra7 39.Ne6 Kb3.

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 37...Kd4 38.Nxa2

A drawn pawn ending results after 38.Ne2+ Kd3 39.Nc1+ Kc2 40.Ra1 Kb2
41.Rxa2+ Rxa2 42.Nxa2 Kxa2 43.Kg2 Kb3 44.Kf3 Kc4 45.Ke4 Kc5=.

38...Rxa2 39.Rb7

Likewise, 39.Re1 Ra7 40.Kg2 Kd5= promises White nothing.

39...Ke4! 40.Kg2

Active counterplay allows Black to maintain the balance following 40.Rxg7 Kf3!
41.h4 Rxf2.

40...g5!

Yet another precise move. Black is clearly unwilling to find himself with a
compromised pawn structure on the kingside.

41.Rxh7 Kf5=

This is a drawn rook ending with pawns on the same flank.

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 42.Rg7 g4 43.Rh7 Kg6 44.Rh4 f5 45.h3 and White offered a draw without testing
the world champion’s mastery of basic defensive technique.

We now turn to examples of endings with rook and bishop versus rook and knight.
Example No. 55
S. Drygalov – A. Gabrielian
Chelyabinsk 2022

Black to move

Black is up against serious problems despite material equality. His king is in

danger. White is ready to shut the mating trap by moving his king to e6. The black
knight is hanging, which prevents the black rook from becoming active and coming
to his king’s rescue. Moreover, White also has a rook’s pawn on the board, whose
promotion square’s color matches that of the bishop. It takes extremely precise play
to stay in the game.

58...h4?

As a result, the black pieces will no longer be in time to help their king escape
from the mating trap.

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 Both 58...Nf5? 59.Ke6 Ng7+ 60.Bxg7+ Rxg7 61.Ra8#
and 58...Rd1+? 59.Ke6+– are bad.
The correct approach is 58...Ne2! 59.Ke6. 59.Rh7 Rf1!? 60.Rxh5 (60.Ke6 Nf4+=;
60.Ke4 Rg1 61.Kf5 Kg8 62.Rh8+ Kf7=) 60...Nf4+ 61.Bxf4 Rxf4= leads to a drawn
rook ending.
59...Rg6+ 60.Kf5 (60.Bf6 Nd4+=) 60...Rc6 61.Ra2 (61.Bf6 Rc5+ 62.Kg6 Nf4+
63.Kh7 Rf5=) 61...Nc3 62.Rc2 (62.Rd2 Nb5!?) 62...Nd5! 63.Rxc6 Ne7+= and the
exchange of rooks makes a draw inevitable.

58...h4? 59.Ke6! Kg8 60.Rg7+!

60.Ra8+ Kh7 61.Kf7 Rf1+ 62.Bf6 Rxf6+ 63.Kxf6 Ne4+ 64.Kf5+– was also
decisive.

60...Kf8

60...Kh8 loses on the spot to 61.Rxg3++–.

61.Rg4!

White keeps weaving mating threats around the black king.

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 61...Ne2

Black is checkmated after 61...Rf1 62.Bd6+ Ke8 63.Rg8++–. 61...Re1 62.Rxh4+–

is no better than the text.

62.Ra4! Kg8

62...Rg6+ 63.Bf6+– is bad, too.

63.Rxh4 Kf8

63...Rg6+ 64.Bf6 Kf8 65.Ra4+– fails again.

64.Re4!

Delivering the final blow to the last of Black’s defensive formations.

64...Ng3

Black drops the rook after both 64...Rg2 65.Ra4 Kg8 66.Ra8+ Kh7 67.Rh8+ Kg6
68.Rg8++– and 64...Nc1 65.Rc4 Kg8 66.Rc8+ Kh7 67.Rh8+ Kg6 68.Rg8++–.
In case of 64...Re1 65.Ra4 Kg8 66.Rh4+– Black can bribe his way out of
checkmate only at the cost of a knight.

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 65.Rf4+ Ke8

65...Kg8 66.Rg4++– is also game over.

66.Ra4 and Black resigned. It is worth highlighting that had there been no pawns
and no black knight in the initial position it would have been a draw with correct
play. By contrast, the course of the game showed that Black’s knight was the culprit
of his going wrong and failing to set up proper defense for the king.

Example No. 56
P. Nguyen – M. Krasenkow
Poland 2020

White to move

White is up two pawns.

His main task in this position is either to keep them alive, or to prevent the black
knight’s sacrifice for both at once.

77.Rg6+?

This erroneous check allows black to escape.

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 The winning move is 77.a6!

a) 77...Nd7 78.Rd3+ Kc7 (78...Ke7 79.Rc3+–) 79.Rc3+ Kd8. 79...Kd6 doesn’t

saves the game either: 80.Rc6+ Ke5 (80...Ke7 81.Bc8! Rxb3 82.Rc7 Kd8 83.Rb7!
Rxb7+ 84.axb7 Ne5 85.Kb6+–) 81.Bc8+– Nf8 (81...Nf6 82.Re6++–) 82.Rb6.
80.Bd5+– and both pawns have survived.
b) Following 77...Rxb3 78.Rxb3 Nxb3 79.Kb6+–, the pawn inevitably becomes a
queen;
c) Capturing with the knight forces the exchange of rooks after 77...Nxb3 78.Rg6+
Kc7 (78...Kc5 79.Rc6+ Kd4 80.Rb6+– is bad) 79.Rc6+ Kd7 80.Rb6+–, and the
pawn inevitably queens.
d) 77...Kc7 is not a saving move due to 78.Rg7+ Nd7 (78...Kd6 79.Rg6+ Ke7
80.Rb6+–; 78...Kd8 79.Bd5 Nxb3 80.Rb7+–)

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 79.Bf3. 79.Bd5 Kd6 80.Bc4 Kc6 81.Bf7 Kd6 82.Be8 Nc5 83.Rg6+ Ke7
84.Rb6+– wins, too.
79...Kd6 (79...Rxb3 80.Bg4 Rd3 81.Rxd7+ Rxd7 82.Bxd7 Kxd7 83.Kb7+– is bad)
80.Rg6+ Ke5 (80...Kc7 81.Rc6+ Kd8 82.Bd5+– is no better) 81.Bd1+–.

77.Rg6+? Ke7

77...Kc7? 78.Rc6+ drops the knight.

Black also emerges a piece down after 77...Ke5? 78.Rg5+ Kd6 (78...Kd4
79.Rd5+) 79.Rd5++–.
However, 77...Kd7! is stronger

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 78.Bd5. None of 78.Rg7+ Kd6, 78.Bc6+ Kc7 79.Bd5 Nxb3 80.Rc6+ Kd7 81.Rb6
Rxb6 82.axb6 Nc5= or 78.Rb6 Rxb3 79.Bc6+ Kd8!? carries any danger for Black.
78...Nxb3 79.Bxb3. The knight stops the pawn after both 79.Rb6 Rxb6 80.axb6
Nc5= and 79.a6 Nc5!
79...Rxb3 80.Rb6 Ra3 (or 80...Rc3=) 81.a6 Kc7= with an easy draw.

78.Bd5

78.Rb6? Rxb3! 79.Rxb3 Nxb3 80.a6 Nc5= yields nothing.

78...Nxb3 79.Bxb3 Rxb3 80.Rb6 (80.a6 Kd7 81.Rb6 Rc3! leads to a draw)
80...Rc3!

A precise move!

81.Kb7

81.a6 Kd7= is also a draw.

81.Kb8 Kd7 (81...Kd8? 82.Rd6+ Ke7 83.Rh6 Kd7 84.Rh7+! Kd6 85.a6+– is a
blunder) 82.Rb7+ Kd8= results in a theoretically drawn ending.

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 81...Kd7!

Yet another precise move! 81...Kd8? would have failed to 82.Rd6+ Ke7 83.Rc6
Rb3+ 84.Rb6+–.

82.Rb1

In case of 82.a6 Rc7+ 83.Kb8 Rc8+ the white king is forced to block his pawn’s
progress.

82...Rc7+ 83.Kb8 Rc8+ 84.Kb7 Rc7+ 85.Kb6 Rc6+ 86.Kb7 and the opponents
agreed to a draw.

Example No. 57
J. Stocek – J. Votava
Czech Republic 2020

278
 Black to move

Black is down a pawn. However, the good news is that there are only a few pawns
on the board and located on the same flank at that. Black’s aim is to give up his
bishop for both pawns and transpose into a drawn rook and knight vs. rook ending.
However, it is not as simple as that. The h6-pawn is extremely weak, and White will
try to appropriate it.

79...Kg8?

Black wants to take control over the h7-square, which the white rook could use to
get to the black pawn. However, Black underestimates White’s follow-up.
79...Ra6? was also losing, to 80.Rc7 Bf4 (80...Bd2 81.Rc8+ Kf7 82.Rc2 Bf4
83.Rf2+– makes no difference) 81.Rc4! Bd2 82.Rc8+ Kf7 83.Rc2 Bf4 84.Rf2 Bc1
85.Nxh6++–.
The most resilient defense, albeit insufficient to save the game, was 79...Rc6!
80.Rg7! There is no more winning after 80.Rd6? Rxd6 81.Nxd6 Kg7 82.Nf5+
Kh7=, and Black also holds after 80.Rh7 Rc5!, but not 80...Kg8? 81.Rxh6 Bxh6
82.Ne7++–.

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 80...Ke8. 80...Bf4 81.Rg6 Rc5 82.Rf6+ Ke8 (82...Kg8 83.Kg6+–) 83.Kg6 Rc4
84.Kh7 Bc1 85.Rg6 Rc7+ (85...h5 86.Nd6++–) 86.Kg8+– is no better and the pawn
drops.
81.Rg6 Rc5

82.Rf6! Paving the road for the white king.

82...Ra5. Black loses after both 82...Kd7 83.Kg6 Rc4 84.Nxh6 Bxh6 85.g5! Rxh4
86.gxh6 Ke7 87.Kg7+– and 82...Bd2 83.Kg6 Rc4 84.Nd6++–.

280
 83.Rc6. The time for the king to move forward is not yet right: 83.Kg6 Ra4
84.Nxh6 Bxh6 85.g5 Bf8 86.h5 Be7 87.Rf5 Rg4 88.h6 Bxg5! 89.Rxg5 Rxg5+
90.Kxg5 Kf7 and Black is out of the woods.
83...Bd2. Black goes down after 83...Bf4 84.Rc4 Bd2 85.Kg6 Ra6+ 86.Kh7 Ra7+
87.Kg8+–.
84.Rc2 Bf4. 84...Rd5 is of no help: 85.Kg6 Bf4 86.Rc4 Bd2 87.Rd4+–.
85.Rc4 Bd2 86.Kg6 Ra6+ 87.Kh7

87...Ra7+. Black does not hold the pawn either after 87...Rf6 88.Rc8+ (88.Kg8
Rg6+ 89.Ng7+ Ke7 90.Re4+ Kf6 91.Re6# is also decisive) 88...Kf7 89.Rc2 Bf4
90.Rf2 Bc1 91.Nxh6+ Bxh6 92.Rxf6+ Kxf6 93.Kxh6+–.
88.Kg8 Ra8 (88...Rd7 89.Rc8++–) 89.Re4+ Kd7+ 90.Kf7 (90.Kg7+– is equally
good) 90...Kc6 (90...Bc1 91.Rd4+ Kc6 92.Rc4++– drops the bishop) 91.Rd4 Ra2
92.Kg6 Kc5 93.Kh5 Rb2 94.Rd8+–, and the pawn is doomed. It is worth noting that
the winning plan in this type of position is to drive the black king away from the
weak pawn and create alternative threats to each enemy piece, including the idea of
exchanging rooks and transposing into a winning minor-piece ending.

79...Kg8? 80.Rg7+! Kf8

80...Kh8 81.Rg6+– makes no difference.

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 81.Rg6

It turns out that the besieged pawn will not survive.

81...Kf7

The pawn also perishes after 81...Rxg6 82.Kxg6+–.

82.Nxh6+ and Black threw in the towel.

Example No. 58
V. Ivic – L.D. Nisipeanu
Catez 2022

Black to move

Black is a pawn up. White’s drawing plan envisages attacking the c6-pawn with
the rook and giving up the bishop for the passed g-pawn, if the need arises. Does
Black have anything to counter that?

53...Nf5?

The Romanian grandmaster only finds a way to address the issue of defending his

282
weak pawn, missing another vital factor in this position.
The correct plan was a combination of threats of advancing the passed pawn and
checkmating the white king via 53...Kd3! 54.Rd8. White after loses also 54.Rc8 Nc2
55.Rb8 Rc4 56.Rb7 Nd4+ 57.Ka3 Kc3! 58.Be5 Rxc5 59.Rb3+ Kc2 60.Bxd4 Ra5+
61.Kb4 Rb5+–+. No better than that is 54.Rg6 Nd5 55.Rg8 Rb4+ 56.Ka3 Kc3!
57.Be5+ Kc2 58.Rg6 Re4 59.Rg5 g3! 60.Bxg3 Nc3–+, followed by checkmate.
54...Nd5! 55.Kb2. In case of 55.Rb8 Re1 56.Kb2 Nc3 57.Rf8 Kc4 58.Rf4+ Re4
59.Rf1 (59.Rxe4+ Nxe4–+) 59...Re2+ 60.Kc1 Kb3–+ the white king again finds
himself in a mating net.
55...Re2+ 56.Kb3. White is checkmated in the line 56.Kc1 Rc2+ 57.Kb1 (57.Kd1
Ne3+ 58.Ke1 Re2#) 57...Nc3+ 58.Ka1 Ra2#, while after 56.Ka3 Kc3 57.Rb8 Re3
58.Ka4 Re1 59.Rb3+ Kc4 60.Ka3 Re3–+ Black manages to exchange off the rooks.

56...Re1! Pressing the white king further.

57.Kb2 Re4! 58.Rc8. The exchange of rooks occurs again after 58.Rb8 Rb4+–+.
58.Rh8 Rb4+ 59.Ka3 Rb1 60.Rh2 Rg1 61.Kb2 Nc3–+ is of no help.
58...Rb4+ 59.Ka3 (59.Kc1 Nc3 60.Rb8 Rxb8 61.Bxb8 g3 62.Bxg3 Ne2+–+)
59...Kc4 60.Rg8 (the checkmating trap shuts again following 60.Rxc6 Nc3–+)
60...Kc3 61.Be5+ Kc2 62.Rh8 Rb3+ 63.Ka4. White is checkmated one more time in
the line 63.Ka2 Nb4+ 64.Ka1 Ra3#.

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 63...Rb5 64.Rh2+. Black wins a piece after 64.Rg8 Rxc5 65.Rxg4 Nb6+–+.
64...Kd3 65.Bd6 (65.Rg2 Rxc5 66.Rg3+ Ne3 67.Bf4 Rc4+–+) 65...Nc3+ 66.Ka3
Kc4–+ and checkmate is inevitable.
Also, 53...Kd2! 54.Rc8 Nc2 looks good and carried the same ideas.

53...Nf5? 54.Kc3!

Not only does White remove his king from the forkable square, but gives it more
freedom of action at that.
54.Rc8? was wrong: 54...Re6 55.Rg8 (55.Rxc6? Nd4+–+; 55.Bf8 g3–+; 55.Bb8 g3
56.Rg8 Kf2 57.Rf8 Re3+ 58.Kb4 Rf3–+) 55...g3 56.Kb4 (56.Bxg3 Re3+ 57.Kb4
Rxg3 58.Rxg3 Nxg3 59.Ka5 Nf5 60.Kb6 Nd4–+) 56...Kf3 57.Rf8

57...Kg4 (57...g2? 58.Rxf5+ Kg4 59.Rf8) 58.Rg8+ Kh3 59.Rh8+ Rh6–+ and
White is doomed.

54...Nd4

There is no rolling back to the previous position with 54...Ne3 55.Rc8! Nd5+
56.Kb3

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 a) 56...Re6 57.Rxc6 g3 58.Rc8 g2 59.Rg8 Kf1 (59...Kf2 60.Rf8+ Rf6 61.Rxf6+
Nxf6 62.c6!=) 60.Bh2 Rh6 61.Rf8+ Nf6 (61...Ke2 62.Bg1=) 62.c6!= and the passed
pawn ensures White a draw;
b) 56...Nb4 57.Ka4! Kf3 58.Ka5=;
c) 56...Rb4+ 57.Ka3 Kd3 58.Rxc6 Kc4 59.Be5! Rb3+ 60.Ka4 Rb7 61.Ka5! Ra7+
62.Ra6 Rxa6+ 63.Kxa6 Kxc5 64.Kb7=.
54...Rd4 55.Rg5 Rd3+ 56.Kb4 Ne3 57.Rg8 Kf3 58.Rc8= yields nothing, too.

285
 55.Kb4!

White exploits the first opportunity that presents itself to evacuate his king from
dangerous territory.

55...Nc2+ 56.Ka5 Rb4

It is unclear how Black would improve his position after 56...Kf3 57.Kb6 Nb4
58.Rf8+=.

57.Rc8 Rb5+ 58.Ka4 Rb7

The line 58...Rb1 59.Rxc6 Ra1+ 60.Kb3! Nd4+ 61.Kb2 Nxc6 62.Kxa1 Kf3
63.Kb2 Ke4 64.Kc3 Ne5 65.Bxe5 Kxe5 66.c6 Kd6 67.Kd4 g3 68.Ke3 g2 69.Kf2
Kxc6 70.Kxg2 leads to complete liquidation of material.

286
 59.Rxc6!

White is not afraid of sacrificing the exchange because he gets a dangerous passed
pawn in return.

59...Ra7+ 60.Kb5

Naturally, 60.Kb3? Nd4+–+ is bad.

60...Nd4+ 61.Kb6 Nxc6 62.Kxc6 Kf3 63.Kd5 Ra5

In case of 63...g3 64.Bxg3 Kxg3 65.c6= White forces Black to part with his rook.

64.Ke6 Ra6

64...Ke4 65.c6= makes no difference.

65.Kd5 Ra5 66.Ke6 g3 67.Bxg3 Rxc5

There is no avoiding a draw after 67...Kxg3 68.c6=.

68.Bd6 and the players agreed to a draw.

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 Example No. 59
D. Gordievsky – E. Romanov
Moscow 2018

White to move

Black has a dangerous passed pawn, supported by his rook and bishop. White
seems to be in for many problems.

43.Nf5+! Rxf5 44.Rg6+!

A brilliant decision! And Black resigned in the face of 44...Kxg6 45.exf5+ Kf6
46.c7 f2 47.Kg2.
A most interesting endgame results after 44.exf5 fxg2+ 45.Kxg2 Bf4 46.Kf3 Bc7
47.Ke4 Kg7 48.Kd5 Kf6 49.Kxc5 Kxf5 50.Kb5! 50.a3 blows the win after
50...Ke6 51.b4 (51.Kb5? Kd6) 51...axb4 52.axb4 Ke7 53.b5 Kd8 54.b6 Bg3
55.Kb5 (it is a stalemate after 55.c7+ Kc8 56.Kc6 Bxc7! 57.bxc7) 55...Kc8! 56.Ka6
Bf2! (56...Bxh4? 57.b7+ Kb8 58.c7+! Kxc7 59.Ka7+–) 57.Ka7 Be3=.

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 50...Kg4. In case of 50...Ke6 51.Ka6 Kd6 52.Kb7 Bd8 53.a3+– the avalanche of
white pawns decides the outcome.
51.Ka6 Kxh4 52.Kb7 Be5 53.c7 Bxc7 54.Kxc7 Kg3 55.c5 h4 56.c6 h3 57.Kb6
h2 58.c7 h1=Q 59.c8=Q+– Qh6+ 60.Qc6 (60.Kxa5? Qd2+) 60...Qe3+ (60...Qd2
61.Qg6+! Kh4 62.Qe4+ Kg5 63.Qe5+ Kg6 64.Qxa5+–) 61.Qc5 Qh6+ 62.Kb5
(62.Kxa5? Qd2+) 62...Qd2

63.a3! (63.Qa3? Qd5+ 64.Ka6 Qc6+! 65.Kxa5 Qa8+ 66.Kb4 Qf8+ 67.Ka4

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Qa8+=) 63...Kg2 (63...Kf3 64.Ka4 Kg2 65.Qxa5+–; 63...Qd3+ 64.Ka4+–) 64.Ka4
(64.Ka6? Qd3+ 65.Qb5 Qd6+=) 64...Kh2! Black seeks the most convenient square
for his king.

65.Qe5+! 65.Qxa5? is an error that leads to a theoretical draw after 65...Qd7+

66.Qb5 Qa7+ 67.Kb4 Qd4+ 68.Qc4 Qd2+ 69.Kb5 Qd7+.
65...Kg1 (65...Kh3 66.Qxa5+–; 65...Kh1 66.Qxa5+–) 66.Qxa5. This endgame is
winning thanks to the king being placed on g1. For example, 66...Qd4+ (66...Qd7+
67.Qb5 Qa7+ 68.Kb4 Qd4+ 69.Qc4 Qb6+ 70.Kc3+–) 67.Qb4 Qa7+ 68.Kb5 Qb7+
69.Kc5 Qc7+ 70.Kd5 Qd7+ 71.Qd6+–.
The following example highlights the skill of correct evaluation when it comes to
transposition from a more to a less complex endgame.
Example No. 60
P. Ponkratov – R. Hasangatin
Sochi 2022

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 White to move

White’s pieces are more active and he has a dangerous passed pawn. However, the
limited number of pawns definitely plays into the defending side’s hands. White
wants to come up with a precise continuation and exploit the black rook’s having not
yet joined the fray. This is a natural but erroneous decision.

40.Kf4?

He needed to transpose into a minor-piece endgame with 40.Rg7+! Kb8 (40...Bd7?

41.Nb5++– loses on the spot) 41.Rxa7! Kxa7 42.e6!
(42.Kf4? is bad because of 42...Bd7! 43.Kg5 Kb8 44.Kf6 Kc7 45.Kf7 [45.Nb5+
Bxb5 46.cxb5 c4 47.e6 c3 48.e7 c2 49.e8=Q c1=Q=; 45.Ke7 Bc6! 46.e6 b5 47.cxb5
Bd5=] 45...b5! 46.cxb5 [46.Nxb5+ Bxb5 47.cxb5 c4 48.e6 c3 49.e7 c2 50.e8=Q
c1=Q=] 46...Kb6 47.Ke7 Bh3=)

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 42...Ka6
(In case of 42...Kb8 43.Kf4! [43.e7? Kc7 44.e8=Q Bxe8 45.Nxe8+ Kc6 46.Ke4
b5=] 43...Kc7 44.Ke5 Kd8 45.Kf6 Kc7 [45...Be8 46.e7+ Kd7 47.Nxe8 Kxe8
48.Ke6 b5 49.cxb5 c4 50.b6 c3 51.b7 c2 52.b8=Q#] 46.Nb5+ Kb7 [after 46...Bxb5
47.cxb5 c4 48.e7 Kd7 49.Kf7+–] 47.e7 Ka6 48.Ke5 Ka5 49.Nc7 Kb4 50.Kd6 Ba4
51.Nb5+– the white pawn queens.)
43.Kf4! The white king heads off on a victory march. It is premature to grab the
bishop: 43.e7 Ka5 44.e8=Q? Bxe8 45.Nxe8 b5!= and the only white pawn leaves
the board.
43...Ka5 44.Ke5 Kb4 (assigning the bishop to a different diagonal is of no help
either: 44...Bf3 45.e7 Bh5 46.Kf6 Kb4 47.Nf7+–) 45.Kf6!? Kc3 (45...Ba4
46.Ke7+–) 46.Ke7!? Kd4. In case of 46...Bf3 47.Kd8 Kb4 48.e7 Bh5 49.Kc7 Ka5
50.Kc6 Bg6 51.e8=Q Bxe8+ 52.Nxe8 Kb4 53.Nd6 Ka5 54.Nc8 b5 55.cxb5 c4
56.Nb6 c3 57.Nc4+ Kb4 58.Ne3+– the white knight copes with the black passed
pawn, whereas the white passed pawn heads for the queening square.

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 47.Kd8! Ke5 48.Kc7 Ba4. 48...Bf3 is of no help either: 49.e7 Bh5 50.Kc6 b5
51.cxb5 c4 52.b6 c3 53.b7 c2 54.Nc4+! Kd4 55.b8=Q c1=Q 56.Qe5+ Kd3
(56...Kxc4 57.Qc5++–) 57.Qd5+ Kc3 (57...Ke2 58.Qxh5++–) 58.Qxh5+–.
49.e7 Ke6. The white pawn inevitably queens in case of 49...Kd4 50.Nb5++–.

50.Nc8! 50.e8=Q+? is premature yet again: 50...Bxe8 51.Nxe8 b5! 52.cxb5 c4

53.Ng7+ Ke5! 54.b6 c3 55.b7 c2 56.b8=Q c1=Q+ 57.Kd7+ Ke4= and White’s
extra piece does not change this endgame’s evaluation.

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 50...Be8. 50...Kf7 is no better: 51.Nxb6 Be8 52.Kd8 Bc6 53.Nd7+–.
51.Kd8 Bh5 (51...Bc6 52.Nxb6+–) 52.Nxb6+– and Black is doomed.

40.Kf4? Ra1!

Now Black generates sufficient counterplay thanks to his rook’s activity.

41.Rg7+ Bd7! 42.Rh7

Neither 42.e6 Kxd6 43.exd7 Ra8= nor 42.Nb5+ Kd8= promise White anything.

42...Rg1

43.Ne4

White’s advantage also dissipates after 43.Nf5 Rf1+ 44.Ke4 Re1+ 45.Kd5 Rd1+
46.Ke4 Re1+ 47.Ne3 Kd8 48.Rh6 b5 49.Rd6 Kc7=.

43...Kd8 44.Rh6

44.Nf6 Be6 45.Rh8+ Ke7 46.Nd5+ Kf7 47.Nxb6 Rf1+ 48.Kg3 (48.Ke3 Re1+=)
48...Rf5 49.Rh7+ Ke8= is no better: Black wins the pawn back.

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 44...Rf1+ 45.Ke3 Re1+ 46.Kf3 Rf1+ 47.Ke3

After 47.Ke2 Rf5 48.e6 Re5! 49.exd7 Rxe4+ 50.Kd3 Rd4+ 51.Kc3 Kc7! it is now
White who needs to come up with precise play to make a draw.

47...Re1+ 48.Kf4 Rf1+ 49.Ke3 Re1+ 50.Kf4 Rf1+ 51.Ke3 and, having repeated
the position more than once, the opponents agreed to a draw.

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 Example No. 61
A. Mikaelyan – S. TerSahakyan
Yerevan 2022

White to move

White has a decisive advantage. Black’s pawns are doomed, and his pieces are
somewhat misplaced. However, this type of position always comes with the idea of
annihilating all of your opponent’s pawns even at the cost of a knight so as to make a
draw in a rook and bishop versus rook ending.

78.Kxa7?

It is hard to refuse winning a pawn while maintaining a trap for Black at that.
However, White underestimates his opponent’s counterplay.
78.Bf7+?! and its apparently logical continuation is a pointless idea due to
78...Kd7 (78...Kd8? 79.Rd6#) 79.Rf1 (it is not too late for White to lose: 79.Kxa7?
Kc7 and the white king is caught in a checkmating net) 79...Kd6!

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 80.Rc1. Black equalizes after 80.Kxa7 Kc5 81.Ka6 Ra3+ 82.Kb7 Kxb5 83.g7
Rg3.
80...Rg5 81.Be8?! (the logical continuation of his approach starting from move 78.
81.Rc6+? Kd7! 82.Rc7+ Kd8!; 81.Rd1+! returns white to winning ways) 81...Nf5
82.Kxa7 Ke7 83.Re1+ (83.Bf7 Nd6=) 83...Kf6 84.Kxb6 Nd6 and a drawn rook and
bishop vs. rook ending looms ahead.
One winning approach is 78.Rf1!?
a) 78...Nxg6 79.Bf7+! Ke7. Likewise, 79...Kd7 80.Rd1+! Ke7 81.Bxg6 Rxg6
82.Kxa7 Rf6 83.Kb7! Rh6 84.Kc7! Rg6 85.Rd7+! Ke8 86.Rd6+– is not a game
changer.
80.Bxg6 Rxg6 81.Kxa7 Kd7 82.Rd1+!? Kc7 (82...Rd6 83.Rxd6+ Kxd6
84.Kxb6+–) 83.Rc1+! Kd7 (83...Kd8 84.Kb7+–) 84.Kb7 Rd6 85.Rc6 Rd1
86.Kxb6+– with a winning rook ending;
b) 78...Rxg6? 79.Bf7+ Kd7 80.Bxg6 Nxg6 81.Rd1+ Ke6 82.Kxa7+– fails on the
spot;
c) 78...Kd7 79.Rd1+ Ke8 80.Bf7+ Kf8 81.Rd8+ Kg7 82.Kxa7 Nxg6 83.Bxg6
Rxg6 84.Rb8+– results in a winning rook ending for White;
d) 78...Rg4 79.Bf7+ Kd7 80.Rd1++– finds the black king in a mating net.
In fact, it was fine to play 78.Rf2!? with the same ideas.

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 78.Kxa7? Kd7!

Creating a real threat to the g6-pawn and gearing up for a hunt after the white king.
78...Nxg6? is bad: 79.Bf7+ Ke7 80.Rxg6 Ra3+ 81.Kxb6 Kxf7 82.Rd6 Ke7
83.Rd1+–.

79.Kxb6

79.Bf7? fails due to 79...Kc7–+. White walks into a fork after 79.Rxb6? Nc8+=.

79...Nxg6?

A strange decision. Why did Black leave the rooks on the board?! 79...Rxg6! is
way stronger: 80.Rxg6 Nxg6 81.Kb7 Ne5 82.Bf1 Kd6 83.b6 Nd7= eliminating the
last pawn.

80.Bd5?

White returns the favor. 80.Bd3! Ne7 was nearing a victory yet again. 80...Rxd3?
fails to 81.Rxg6+.
Following 80...Ne5? 81.Bf5+ Kd8 82.Rd6+ Ke7 83.Re6+ Kd8 84.Rxe5 Re3 White
will not fall into a stalemate trap with 85.Rc5+–.

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 The continuation 80...Nh4? 81.Be4+– clearly highlights the difference between the
power of two minor pieces.
81.Bf5+! Activity of the white pieces makes it possible to harass the opponent’s
king even with limited material on the board. The degree of coordination that a rook
and minor piece can generate manifests itself clearly in this position.
81...Ke8 (81...Kd8? 82.Rf8#; 81...Nxf5 82.Rxf5+– with a winning rook ending)

82.Be4! Restricting the black knight to the maximum one more time. 82.Kb7? Rb3
83.b6 Nd5= is an error.
82...Kd7. Neither 82...Kd8 83.Rd6+ Ke8 84.Kc7+– nor 82...Rg8 83.Kc7 Rg7
84.Bc6+ Nxc6+ 85.Kxc6+– is of any help.
83.Bc6+! Nxc6 (83...Kd8 84.Rf8#) 84.bxc6+ Ke7 (84...Kc8 85.Rf8#; 84...Kd8
85.c7+ Kd7 86.Rf7+ Ke6 87.c8=Q+ Kxf7 88.Qc7++–) 85.Rh6. The premature
85.c7? Rb3+= gives the win away.
85...Rb3+ 86.Kc7 with an easy victory.

80...Ne5 81.Bc6+?!

Yet another slip. White could still fight for a win with 81.Kc5! Nd3+ (81...Kc7?
82.b6+ Kd7 83.Rd6++–; 81...Rc3+? 82.Kd4 Ng4 83.Rf7++–) 82.Kd4 Ke7
(82...Nb4 83.Be4! Rb3 84.Kc4! Rb2 85.Kc5) 83.Re6+ Kd7 84.Rh6 Nf4 (84...Nb4

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85.Be6+ Kc7 86.Bf5+–) 85.Bc6+ Kc7 86.Be4! Rb3 87.Kc4 Rb2 88.Kc5, and the
cut off knight makes it extremely hard for Black to deal with the white passed pawn.

81...Ke7 82.Rh6 Rb3 83.Kc7 Nc4 84.Rh4 Rc3 85.Rd4! Na3! 86.Re4+

White does not blunder the fork 86.b6? Nb5+–+.

86...Kf6 87.Kd6

Black equalizes following 87.b6 Nb5+ 88.Kd7 (88.Kb7 Nd6+) 88...Rd3+! 89.Bd5
Nc3!.

87...Rd3+ 88.Kc5 Rc3+ 89.Kb4 Nxb5 90.Bxb5 Rc7 and Black reached a draw in
this endgame.

Example No. 62
P. Pultinevicius – M. Dziuba
Poland 2020

Black to move

Each side has a far-advanced passed pawn of its own. At the same time, these

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passed pawns are controlled by the opponent’s pieces, which implies we might
witness their mutual annihilation and a subsequent draw.

48...Ra8?

However, it was an error of judgement for black to believe that the bishop in this
position is superior to the knight due to its capability of both controlling the
promotion square of the opponent’s pawn and supporting his own passer.
An attempt to cut the knight off from the action runs into a refutation: 48...Rc8
49.Nc4 Rxc4? 50.Rxc4 a2 51.Rb4+! Kc6 52.Rxb2 a1=Q 53.h8=Q+–.
Both 48...Kc6!? 49.Nc2 (49.Nc4? Kb5) 49...Rh8=
and 48...Kb6!? 49.Nc2 Kb5 50.Ra7 Kb6 51.Ra4 (51.Rxf7 a2=) 51...Kb5= result in
drawn positions.
Alternatively, the sides could exchange off the pawns immediately with 48...Rh8
49.Nc4 Rxh7=.

48...Ra8? 49.Rxa8 Kxa8 50.Nc4!

This was a clearly overlooked resource. Neither the pawn nor the bishop have any
freedom of movement now.

50...Kb7

50...a2 loses the game to 51.Nxb2 a1=Q 52.h8=Q++–.

51.Kf3!

White should not rush to grab the pawn with 51.Nxa3 Kc6 52.Nc4 Bh8 53.Kf3
Kd5 54.Ne3+ Ke5, and the h7-pawn is doomed.

51...Kc6

51...Kc7 52.Ke4! Kd7 is a transposition to the lines analyzed below.

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 52.Nxb2!

The most precise move. In transposing from a pawn to a queen ending, White
exploits the misplaced position of the black king.
52.Ke4!? Kd7 53.Kf5 Ke7 54.Nxa3 was winning, too (it was not too late to throw
the game away with 54.Kxg5? Bf6+ 55.Kf5 a2–+) 54...Kf8 55.Nc4 Bd4 56.Ke4!
Bh8 (56...Bf6 57.Nd6 Kg7 58.Ne8++– is bad) 57.Ne5 Kg7 (57...f6 58.Ng6+ Kg7
59.Nxh8 Kxh8 60.Kf5+– also gives White a winning pawn ending) 58.Kf5 Kf8
(white grabs the second pawn after 58...Kxh7 59.Nxf7) 59.Nf3 f6 60.Kg6+–.

52...axb2 53.h8=Q b1=Q

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 54.Qf6+!

White captures all his opponent’s pawns with tempo.

54...Kd7

Both pawns also drop after 54...Kd5 55.Qxf7+ Ke5 56.Qe7++– or 54...Kc5
55.Qxg5+ Kd6 56.Qf6++–.

55.Qxf7+ Kd6 56.Qf6+ Kc7 57.Qe7+ Kb8 58.Qd8+ Ka7 59.Qxg5+–

This is a technically winning queen ending. White only needs to be precise in

steering away from the black queen’s checks and setting his extra pawns in motion.

59...Qh1+ 60.Ke2 Kb7 61.Qg6 Kc7 62.Qd3 Kc8 63.Qd4 Qh4 64.Kf3 Qh3+
65.Kf4 Qh6+ 66.Kg3 Qh1 67.g5 Qg1+ 68.Kf4 Qh2+ 69.Kf5 Qh3+ 70.Qg4 Qh8
71.Kg6+ Kb8 72.Qf4+ Ka8 73.Qe4+ Ka7 74.Qe7+ Ka8 75.Qf7 Qd4 76.Qf8+ and
Black resigned in the face of the inevitable exchange of queens.

Example No. 63
G. Kjartansson – R. Svane
Catez 2022

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 Black to move

Despite being a pawn up it is obviously Black who is fighting for a draw. His
knight is stuck in the enemy rear, and the problem of fighting the white passed a-
pawn is very much on the agenda.

37...h5?

To counter the opponent’s passed pawn with his own one is an error of judgement
from the German grandmaster.
To move its fellow pawn 37...g5?! was still dubious: 38.a5 (38.Be1? Rxc3 39.Bxc3
Ke6 is wrong because the black king is in the square of the pawn: 40.a5 Kd7 41.a6
Kc6) 38...Rh6 39.Rc7+ (39.a6? Rxa6 40.Bxh2 Ra2+) 39...Ke8 40.Rb7 (40.Ra7 Re6+
41.Kd3 Ng4 42.Be5 Nf6 43.a6 Nd7 44.Kc3 g4=)
a) 40...Kd8

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 41.Rb5! Switching to attacking the weak black pawns. 41.Rg7?! Re6+ 42.Kf2 Rf6+
43.Kg2 Ng4 44.Rxg5 Ne3+= is dubious.
41...Re6+ (41...Ng4?! 42.Rxd5+ Kc8 43.Rxg5) 42.Kd3 Nf3 (42...Nf1?! 43.Be5 g4
44.Rb1; 42...Ng4 43.Rxd5+ Ke7 44.Bc7 h6 45.Bd8+ Kf7 46.Bb6 Nf6 47.Rd8 Ke7
48.Rh8±) 43.Rxd5+

and Black is in dire straits. For example:

a1) 43...Kc8 44.Rf5 g4 45.Rf8+ (45.Rf7 h5!?; 45.d5 Ra6 46.d6 Kd7 47.Kc4)

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45...Kb7 (45...Kd7 46.Rf7+!) 46.d5! Ra6 (46...Rh6 47.Rf7+ Ka6 48.d6+–; 46...Re7
47.d6 Rd7 48.Re8! Kc6 49.Re7) 47.Rf7+ Kc8 (47...Ka8 48.d6+–) 48.Rc7+ Kd8
49.Rxh7+–;
a2) 43...Ke7 44.Rf5 g4 45.d5 Ra6 46.Kc4 Rxa5? 47.d6++–;
a3) 43...Ke8 44.Kc4 h5 45.Rf5 Nd2+ 46.Kd3 Ne4 47.Be5+–;
b) It is bad to play both 40...Ng4? 41.Kf3;
c) and 40...g4 41.Rb6! Rh3 42.Bd6 Nf3 43.a6 Nxd4+ 44.Kf2+–;
d) Meanwhile, White is winning in the case of 40...Re6+ 41.Be5 Ng4 42.Rb6! Re7
43.a6 Nxe5 44.dxe5+–.
To fight the white passed pawn it was worth the rook retreating immediately with
37...Rh6! 38.Rc7+
(In case of 38.a5 Re6+ 39.Re3 [39.Kd3 Ng4 40.Rc7+ Kg6=] 39...Rc6 40.Ra3
[40.Bxh2 Rc2+ 41.Kd1 Rxh2 42.Ra3 Rb2 43.a6 Rb8 44.a7 Ra8 45.Kc2 Ke6 46.Kc3
Kd6=] 40...Re6+

a) 41.Kd1 Ng4 42.a6 Ne3+ 43.Kc1 Rc6+ 44.Kb1 Nc4 45.Ra2 Rc8 46.a7 Ra8
47.Kc2 h5!?=;
b) 41.Kf2 Ng4+ 42.Kf3 Nf6 43.a6 Re8 44.a7 Ra8=;
c) 41.Be5 Ng4= and Black maintains equality.)

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 38...Kf8 39.Be5 (39.a5 Re6+ 40.Kd3 Ng4= is harmless) 39...Rg6!
a) 40.a5 Ng4 41.Bxg7+ (41.Rxg7? Nxe5 42.Rxg6 Nxg6 43.a6 Nf4+ 44.Kf3 Ne6
45.a7 Nc7–+) 41...Kg8 (Of course, 41...Rxg7? is bad since the pawn queens after
42.Rxg7 Kxg7 43.a6+–)

42.Kf3
(42.Be5 Nxe5 43.dxe5 h5 44.Rd7 h4 45.Rd6 Rg2+ 46.Kf3 Ra2= is harmless.
Active counterplay comes to Black’s rescue in the case of 42.Ra7 h5 43.a6 h4
44.Be5 Nxe5 45.dxe5 [45.Ra8+ Kg7 46.a7 Ra6 47.dxe5 d4!] 45...h3 [45...d4=]
46.Ra8+ Kh7 47.a7 h2 48.Rh8+ Kxh8 49.a8=Q+ Rg8! 50.Qxd5 Rg1 51.Qd8+ Kg7
52.Qe7+ Kg8 53.Qe6+ Kg7 54.Qf6+ Kg8= and White has nothing better than
perpetual check.)
42...h5 43.Kf4 Ra6 (43...h4? 44.Kf5) 44.Kg5

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 44...Nf2! Rerouting the knight to the central outpost. 44...Rxa5? fails to 45.Kxh5
Nf2 46.Kg6! Ra8 47.Bf6 Ne4 48.Rg7+ Kf8 49.Be7+ Ke8 50.Rg8++–.
45.Kxh5 (45.Be5 Kf8!? 46.Kxh5 Rxa5 47.Kg6 Ke8=) 45...Ne4. 45...Rxa5?
46.Kg6 Ra6+ 47.Bf6+– is bad again.
46.Be5 (46.Kg4 Rxa5 47.Kf5 Ra6=) 46...Rxa5 47.Kg6 Kf8 48.Kf5 Ke8= and
Black is out of the woods;
b) Black gets back the sacrificed piece in the case of 40.Bxh2 Rg2+ 41.Ke3
Rxh2=;
c) Neither does he have any problems following 40.Rxg7 Rxg7 41.Bxg7+ Ke8
42.Ke3 Kd7 43.Kf4 Nf1=;
d) Meanwhile, a draw becomes evident in the case of 40.Bxg7+ Kg8! 41.Be5 Ng4
42.Bf4 Ra6 43.Kf3 h5=.
37...Ng4!?
Back to the starting position, it also looked good to free up the knight and vacate
the h1-square for the black rook to reposition itself to the opposite flank in order to
challenge his opponent’s passed pawn:
38.a5
(38.Rc7+ Kg6 39.Kf3 Ne3! yields nothing; following 38.Kf3 Nf6 39.Rc7+

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 39...Ke8 [39...Kg6 40.Kg2 Rh5 41.a5 Ne4 42.Be5 Rg5+ 43.Kf3 Rh5 44.Rxg7+
Kf5 45.a6 Rh3+ 46.Ke2 Ra3 47.a7 Nc3+ 48.Kd2 Nb5=] 40.Kg2 Rh6 41.Rxg7
[41.a5 Nd7!?] 41...Nh5 42.Rg5 Nxg3 43.Kxg3 Ra6=)
38...Rh1! 39.Ra3 Rc1! 40.a6 Rc8 41.a7 Ra8

42.Kd3
(42.Bb8 h5 43.Kd3 h4 44.Kc3 Ne3= is a transposition of moves back to the same
42.Kd3 line; 42.Kf3 Nf6 43.Be5 g5!? 44.Ra6 Nd7 45.Kg4 Nxe5+ 46.dxe5 d4

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47.Kf5 [47.Kf3 h5 48.Ke4 h4 49.Kxd4 h3=; 47.Kxg5 d3 48.Kf5 d2=] 47...d3
48.Ra2 [48.Rh6 Kg7!] 48...d2= is also harmless for Black)
42...g5!? 43.Kc3 (43.Ra6 h5 44.Bb8 Nf6=; 43.Bb8 h5!?) 43...Ne3!? 44.Bb8
(44.Kb4? Nc2+)

44...h5! Having stopped the white passed pawn, Black sets in motion his connected
pair on the kingside.
45.Ra5 h4. 45...Ke6 46.Ra6+ Kf5 47.Rh6 h4 48.Kb4 Ng2 49.Kc5 Nf4 50.Kc6
Kg4 51.Kb7 Rxa7+ 52.Kxa7 h3 53.Kb6 Kg3 54.Kc5 h2= also leads to a draw.
46.Kd3 Ng4!? 47.Rxd5 h3 48.Ke2 (48.Rf5+ Ke6 49.Rf1 Kd5=; 48.Rxg5 h2
49.Rh5 h1=Q 50.Rxh1 Nf2+ 51.Kc4 Nxh1 52.Kd5 Nf2 53.Kc6 Ke7 54.Kb7
Rxa7+=) 48...h2 49.Rf5+ Ke6 (49...Nf6 50.Rf1 g4 51.Ra1 g3 52.Bxg3 h1=Q
53.Rxh1 Rxa7 54.Be5 leaves White with some practical chances.)

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 50.Rf1 Nh6! 51.Ra1 (51.Rh1 Nf5 52.Kd3 Kd5 53.Rxh2 Nxd4=; 51.Kf3 Nf5=)
51...Nf5 52.Kd3 Nd6 53.Re1+. 53.Rh1 Nb5 54.Rxh2 Nxa7 55.Rh6+ Kf5= leads to
equality, too.
53...Kd5! 54.Re5+ Kc6 55.Rc5+ Kd7 56.Rc7+ Ke6 57.Rh7 Nb5

58.Ke4. Neither 58.Kc4 Nxa7 59.d5+ Kf5 60.Bxh2 Nc8 61.Kc5 Ra5+= nor
58.Rxh2 Nxa7= promise White any real winning chances.
58...Nd6+ 59.Ke3 Nb5= and Black is fine.

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 37...h5? 38.a5! h4

38...Ng4 39.a6 Rh1 40.Ra3+– is losing as well.

39.Be1

39.a6? hxg3 40.a7 Rh8! 41.Rxg3 Ra8 42.Rg2 Rxa7 43.Rxh2 Ra2+–+ is bad of
course.

39...Rxc3 40.Bxc3 h3 41.a6! Ng4 42.Kf3!

Unlike his counterpart, the white king is in the square of the opponent’s passed
pawn.
Promotion of both pawns within one move plunges White into disaster 42.a7? h2
43.a8=Q h1=Q 44.Qb7+ Kg6 45.Qa6+ Kh5–+.

42...Ne3

42...h2 43.Kg2 Ne3+ 44.Kxh2 Nc4 45.Ba5!+– makes no difference either.

43.Kg3! Nc4

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 44.Ba5!

The last finesse. The white bishop, albeit by sacrificing itself, cuts off the squares
from which the opponent’s knight could catch up with the passed pawn. Black
resigned without waiting for his opponent to queen his pawn.
Example No. 64
J. Song – R. Sadhwani
Reykjavik 2022

Black to move

White’s pieces are considerably more active. Besides, Black has some issues with
his king.

46...Ra6?

This natural move that defends a pawn and attacks his opponent’s one turns out to
be a blunder. It was correct to exchange off White’s active rook even at the cost of a
pawn: 46...Rc7! 47.Rxc7 (47.Rb8?! Rh7 48.f5+ Kf6µ) 47...Bxc7 48.Nxc5+ Kd6

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 a) 49.Nd3 h3 50.Kf3 Ke6 51.Kg3 (51.c5 Kd5=) 51...Kf5! 52.Kxh3 Bxf4 53.Kg2
(53.Nxf4 Kxf4 54.c5 Ke5=) 53...Ke4! 54.Nc5+ Kd4 55.Ne6+ Kxc4 56.Nxf4
Kb4=, eliminating the only remaining white pawn;
b) 49.Na6 Ba5 50.Kf3 Kc6 51.Kg4 Kb6 52.Nb8 Kc7 53.Na6+ Kb6= is a
relatively easy draw;
c) in case of 49.Nb3 h3 50.Kf3 Ke6 51.Nd4+ Kf6 52.Ne2 (52.Nb5 Bb8 53.Kg3
Bxf4+! 54.Kxh3 a6 55.Nc3 Ke5=) 52...Kf5 53.c5 Ke6 54.Kg3 Kd5= Black is in
time to cope with the white pawns.

46...Ra6? 47.Rh7! Rxa4

In winning the pawn, the black rook has departed from the theater of operations.

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 48.Rh6+?

A failure to prosecute his advantage. White overlooks his opponent’s counterplay.

The winning move is 48.f5+! Kf6 49.Rh6+ Ke7 50.Re6+! Kd7 51.Kd5! Bf8
(51...Be7 52.Ne5+ Kd8 53.Nc6++– is bad, too) 52.Ne5+ Kd8 (52...Kc7 53.Rf6 Be7
54.Rf7 Kd8 55.Nc6++– is also losing) 53.Ng6! Bg7 (53...Bh6 54.Nxh4 Bg5 55.Nf3
Be7 56.f6+–) 54.f6 Bh6 55.Nxh4+–.

48...Ke7! 49.Kd5

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 49...Ra3!

This is a dynamic saving resource. 49...Bb8? fails to 50.Rh7+ Kf6 (50...Kd8

51.Nxc5+–) 51.Ne5 Bxe5 52.fxe5+ Kg6 (52...Kf5 53.e6+–) 53.Rxh4+– with a
winning rook ending.

50.Nxc5

Throwing in a check is of no help for White: 50.Re6+ Kf8=.

50...Bxc5 51.Kxc5 h3 52.Kb4 Rf3 53.Kb5 Rb3+ 54.Ka4 Rf3 55.Kb5 Rb3+
56.Ka4 Rf3 57.Kb5 and White had to make do with a draw by repeating the
position.

Example No. 65
S. Tiviakov – E. L’Ami
Netherlands 2020

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 White to move

Despite his extra pawn and seemingly active pieces, it is White who has to be
careful to hold this endgame. Numerous weak pawns and the vulnerable king
necessitate coming up with exact moves in this position.

31.h4?

Appearing to solve the problem of the hanging h2-pawn and potentially providing
more options for his king. However, this move is an error.
An attempt to defend the central pawn backfires with checkmate after 31.Bd5?
Ne8! 32.Re7 Nf6+ 33.Kh3 g4+ 34.Kh4 Rxh2#.
It was correct to evacuate the king preemptively from the dangerous position with
31.Kh3! Nxe4 (after 31...Rxb2 32.Bd5 Re2 33.c4 Nxe4 34.Bxb7 Nf6 35.Bc8 the
position is equal) 32.Rxb7 Kf5. There is no snapping shut the mating trap with either
32...Nf6 33.Be6!? e4 34.g4 or 32...Kh5 33.Be6±.

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 33.Bd1! (both 33.Rxg7? g4+ 34.Rxg4 Ng5+ 35.Rxg5+ Kxg5–+ and 33.g4+?! Kf4
34.Rf7+ Nf6 are bad) 33...Nf6 34.Rf7! (34.g4+?! Kf4 35.Rxg7 e4; 34.Rxg7?! e4
35.Rf7 e3 36.g4+ Ke4) 34...Kg6. White is fine following 34...Rxb2 35.Bg4+ Ke4
36.Rxg7, while 34...e4 35.Bg4+ Kg6 36.Rb7!? e3 37.b4!? Rb2 38.Re7 axb4 39.cxb4
Rxb4 40.Be2 g4+ 41.Kg2 Nd5 42.Re5 Rb2 43.Kf1 Rb1+ 44.Kg2 Rb2 45.Kf1 results
in a draw.
35.Ra7 Kf5. 35...Rd2 36.Bg4 is harmless. White is also fine after 35...Rxb2
36.Bg4!? Ne4 37.Ra6+ Kf7 38.Bh5+ Ke7 39.Rxa5.
36.Rf7 Kg6 37.Ra7 with an equal position.
White could also play 31.Be6 Nxe4 32.Rxb7 Rf6, creating a double threat of
capturing the bishop and delivering a knight checkmate from f2.

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 33.Bf5+!
This strong rejoinder throws a wrench in Black’s plans: 33...Rxf5 34.Rxg7+! Kf6
(34...Kxg7 35.Kxf5=) 35.Rf7+! Kxf7 36.Kxf5 Nc5. 36...Nf2 37.Kxg5= also leads
to equality.
37.Kxg5. 37.b4? axb4 38.cxb4 e4! 39.bxc5 e3 40.c6 Ke7–+ would be a blunder.
37...e4 (37...Nxa4 38.b4!=) 38.Kf4 Nxa4 39.b4=, eliminating every remaining
black pawn.

31.h4? gxh4?

Black fails to exploit the opportunity presented by his opponent. The winning
continuation is 31...Ne8! 32.h5+. White is checkmated after 32.Rxb7 Nf6+ 33.Kh3
g4#; 32.Bf7+ Rxf7 33.h5+ Kf6 34.Rxf7+ Kxf7 35.Kxg5 Nd6 36.g4 Nxe4+ 37.Kf5
Nd6+ 38.Kxe5 Nc4+–+ is also losing.
32...Kh6 33.Rf7 (the pawn capture is again followed by checkmate: 33.Rxb7 Nf6+
34.Kh3 g4+ 35.Kh4 Rh2#) 33...Nf6+ 34.Rxf6+ gxf6–+ and Black converts his extra
exchange.

32.gxh4 Rxb2

Following 32...Nxe4 33.Rxb7 the pawn cannot be touched: 33...Rxb2? 34.Bf7++–.

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 33.Bd5

The position is also equal after 33.Rd7 Nxe4 34.Rxb7=.

33...Rf2 34.c4 Rf4+ 35.Kh3 Nxe4 36.Bxb7 and the opponents agreed to a draw.

Example No. 66
E. Blomqvist – K. Lie
Norway 2020

Black to move

Despite the equal material, Black has yet to address the problem of his weak e5
and f4 pawns. His pieces are pinned, and his king is cut off from coming to his
pawns’ rescue.

51...Ng8?

In an attempt to unpin Black chooses the wrong path, which clears the white king’s
way to his opponent’s weak pawns.
There is no marking time with 51...Rg6? 52.Re6 (or 52.Rc6+ Kb5 53.Re6+–)
52...Rh6 53.Rxe5+ Kd6 54.Rf5+–, and Black drops both pawns.

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 The way to go is 51...Ng4! 52.Ra5+. The exchange of rooks leads to a drawn
position: 52.Rxh6 Nxh6 53.Ke4 Kd6=. White gains nothing with 52.Ra2 Nf6
53.Rc2+ Kd6 54.Rc6+ Ke7= and the black pieces have consolidated.
52...Kb6 53.Ra2 Nf6 (53...Rg6?! 54.Ke4!) 54.Rc2! cutting the black king off.
(Alternatively, 54.Re2 Nd7 55.Bg4 [Black also equalizes after 55.Ke4 Kc7
56.Bg4 Nf6+ 57.Kf5 Nxg4 58.Kxg4 Kd6=] 55...Kc7!? [In order to save the game
after 55...Nc5+ 56.Kc4 Rg6 57.Bf5 Rxg2 58.Rb2+ Kc6 59.Rb5 Rxf2 60.Rxc5+ Kd6
61.Rd5+ Ke7 62.Rxe5+ Kf6, Black needs to show mastery of the rook vs. rook and
bishop ending.]

56.Bxd7. White has nothing to write home about after 56.Ke4 Nf6+ 57.Kf5 Nxg4
58.Kxg4 Kd6=.
56...Kxd7 57.Rxe5 Rg6 58.Ke4 Rxg2 59.f3 Rg8!? 60.Kxf4 Rf8+!? 61.Ke4. A
drawn position arises after 61.Rf5 Ra8 62.Kg5 Ke7=.
61...Kd6 62.f4 Ra8 63.Kf5 Rf8+ 64.Kg4 Rg8+ 65.Rg5 Rf8 with a drawn rook
ending.)

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 54...Nd7 55.Ke4. It is also a draw after 55.Bg4 Nc5+ 56.Kc4 Rd6!? 57.Rb2+ Kc6
58.Bf3+ e4 59.Rb5 exf3 60.Rxc5+ Kd7 61.gxf3 Ke6=.
55...Rc6 56.Rd2. Neither does White win a pawn following 56.Rxc6+ Kxc6
57.Bg4 Nf6+! 58.Kf5 Nxg4 59.Kxg4 Kd6=.
56...Kc7 57.Bg4 Nf6+ 58.Kf5 Nxg4 59.Kxg4

59...Rd6! Offering the exchange of rooks to activate the king and looking for a
potential transition to a drawn pawn ending.

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 60.Re2 Rg6+!? (a draw also results after 60...Rd5 61.Kf5 Kd6 62.Kf6 Ra5=)
61.Kf5 (61.Kf3 Kd6=) 61...Rxg2 62.Kxe5 f3 (following 62...Kd7 63.Kxf4 Kd6 the
rook ending is also drawn) 63.Rd2 Rg8 64.Ke4 Rf8 65.Rd3 Kc6 66.Rxf3 Re8+
67.Kf4 Kd5!? 68.Rd3+ Kc4 69.Rd2 Rf8+ 70.Ke3 (70.Kg5 Kc3 71.Ra2 Rg8+
72.Kf6 Rf8+ 73.Kg7 Rf4= makes no difference to the evaluation) 70...Re8+ 71.Kf3
Rf8+ 72.Kg2 Rg8+ 73.Kf1 Rf8 74.Rd7 Kc5= with a theoretically drawn endgame.
The white rook cannot cut off the black king and help promote the white passed
pawn at the same time.

51...Ng8? 52.Ra5+! Kd6 53.Ke4 Rh4

53...Re6 54.Rd5+ Kc7 55.Rxe5+– is bad, too.

53...Nf6+ fails to 54.Kf5 e4 (54...Nd7 55.Ra6++–) 55.Ra6+ Ke7 56.Bxe4 Rh5+
57.Kg6 Re5 58.Rxf6 Rxe4 59.Kg5+– with a hopeless rook ending.

54.Rd5+

54.Ra6+!? Ke7 55.Kxe5 Kf8 56.Ra4+– is also winning for White.

54...Kc7

54...Ke6 is no better than the text: 55.Rxe5+ Kf6 56.Rf5+ Kg6 57.Rxf4 Nf6+
58.Ke3+–, and White gets down to converting his extra two pawns.

55.Rxe5 Nf6+ 56.Kf5 Nd7 57.Re6 Kd8 58.Kg5 Rh1 59.Kxf4+– and White went
on to win.

Example No. 67
N. Salimova – A. Kozak
Catez 2022

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 White to move

The black pawn is two squares away from queening. To give up the rook for this
pawn is pointless for White. Therefore, it is worth looking for saving counterplay
and hoping that her opponent is going to allow it.

45.f4!

In moving the pawn forward White takes control over the g5- and e5- squares,
which the black king could use to escape from the checks.
White goes down after both 45.Re8+ Kg7 46.Re7+ Kf6 47.Rf7+ (47.Ra7 Bb2–+)
47...Ke5–+
and 45.f6 Bxf6 46.Rxf6+ Ke7 47.Rxh6 Ra4 48.Nc8+ (48.Nf5+ Kf7 49.Nd6+
Kf8–+ and the black passed pawn seals the game) 48...Kf7 49.Nxb6 Ra6–+.

45.f4! a2?

Having prematurely believed in his victory, Black does not exercise diligence. It
was necessary to go for 45...Rb2+!

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 46.Kf3 (46.Kf1? a2 47.Re8+ Kg7 48.Re7+ Kg8 49.Re8+ Kh7 50.Re7+ Bg7–+ is
bad) 46...Rb3+! 47.Kg4 (47.Ke2 Re3+!–+; 47.Ke4 Re3+–+) 47...Re3! 48.Rxh6
Bg7–+ and the triumphant march of the passed pawn should resume once Black
takes care of his king’s safety.

46.Re8+ Kg7 47.Re7+ Kg8

47...Kf6? 48.Rf7#.

48.Re8+ Kh7 49.Re7+

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 49...Kh8

And so Black has to make do with perpetual check.

Black must have initially calculated that he could use his bishop as a shield from
checks. However, he later spotted his king getting checkmated after 49...Bg7? 50.f6
a1=Q (50...Rb2+ 51.Kg3 Rb3+ 52.Kg4+–; 50...Kg8 51.Rxg7+ Kf8 52.Ra7+–;
50...Kg6 51.fxg7 Kh7 52.Ra7+–) 51.Rxg7+ Kh8 52.Nf7#.

50.Re8+ Kg7 51.Re7+ and the opponents agreed peace.

Example No. 68
J. Pulpan – R. Kempinski
Czech Republic 2020

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 White to move

White is a pawn down and has a weak f2-pawn. However, all pawns are on the
same flank, and, for example, if he can get the minor pieces off the board it will be a
drawn four pawns vs. three rook ending, which should not be hard to defend. This is
especially so given the best possible pawn arrangement that the defending side
enjoys. At the same time, if the rooks are exchanged then this also brings substantial
drawing chances. Note also the standard factor for this type of position when the
promotion h1-square is not of the same color as the bishop. That may play into
White’s hands in terms of making a draw in some lines.

40.Rd2?

White misses a direct opportunity to equalize with active play: 40.Ng5! Rxf2+
41.Kh3 Rc2. The position is also equal after 41...Ke5 42.Nxf7+ Kf5 (42...Ke4
43.Ng5+) 43.Nd6+! Ke5 (43...Bxd6 44.Rf7+) 44.Nf7+. White restores the material
balance following 41...Rf5 42.Rxf7+ Ke5 43.Rg7 Rf6 44.Nh7=.
42.Rxf7+ Ke5 43.Rc7. 43.Rg7 saves as well: 43...Bg1 44.g4 (44.Nf3+ Kf6!)
44...Rc3+ 45.Kg2 Bc5 (the position is level after 45...Bd4 46.gxh5 gxh5 47.Nf3+
Kf6 48.Rg5) 46.Rxg6 hxg4 47.Rxe6+ Kf5 48.Rf6+! Kxf6 49.Ne4+=.
43...Kd5 (43...Kd6 44.Rg7=) 44.Rg7 e5 (44...Bg1 45.Nf3=) 45.Rxg6= and the

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position is equal.

40.Rd2? Rxd2 41.Nxd2 Ke5

We have already highlighted that pawns on the same flank mean more chances for
the defending side to hold ground.

42.Kf1?

White’s handling of this ending is overly passive. 42.f4+! Kd5 (42...Kd4?

43.Nf3+ Ke3 44.Ne5) 43.Kf3 was stronger.

42...Bb4 43.Nc4+?

And incomprehensible dances begin again, this time with the knight, which drive it
into a locked stable. 43.Nf3+ Kd5 44.Ke2 was a better idea.

43...Kd4 44.Ne3 Kd3 45.Ng2?

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 45...Bd2!–+

The knight is completely bereft of moves. Creating a passed pawn and zugzwang
ideas ensure Black’s victory.

46.f3

White is also lost after 46.Kg1 Ke2 47.f4 Kf3 48.Kh2 Kg4–+.

46...e5 47.g4

Both 47.Kg1 Ke2 48.f4 e4–+ and 47.Kf2 Bc3 48.Kf1 Bd4 49.Ne1+ (49.g4 Kd2–
+) 49...Ke3 50.Kg2 Kd2 51.Kf1 f5 52.Ng2 Bc5 53.Ne1 e4 54.fxe4 fxe4 55.Ng2
Bd6 56.Kf2 Be5–+ are hopeless.

47...e4 and White resigned in the face of 48.fxe4 hxg4 49.e5 g3!.

Example No. 69
S. Bogner – E. L’Ami
Germany 2022

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 White to move

White is a pawn down, and his king is utterly misplaced. That said, all pawns are
on the same flank. Besides, the white bishop can exchange itself for the opponent’s
knight, transposing into a rook ending known for its drawish tendencies.

52.Rb3?

This is a natural move that defends the pawn. The check 52.Rb7+?! Kg6 only ends
up improving the black king’s position.
The immediate exchange of minor pieces looks unsatisfactory for White too:
52.Bxh4?! gxh4 53.Kg1 (53.h3 Rh2!) 53...h3! 54.Rb3 Rg2+ 55.Kh1 Kg6 56.f4 exf4
57.Rxh3 Rxg4.
It was necessary to take advantage of this particular moment to transpose into a
rook ending with the desired pawn structure: 52.f4! exf4 (the black king runs into
problems following the underwhelming 52...e4?! 53.Rb7+ Kg6? 54.f5+ Kh6 55.Bd6
Ra8 56.Rf7) 53.Bxh4 gxh4 54.Rb4! Rxh2 (54...Kg6 55.Rxf4 Kg5 56.Rf5+! Kxg4
57.Rxf6= is an easy draw) 55.Rxf4 Kg6.
(It would be an error to go for the early 55...h3? 56.g5!=. An attempt to pass the
turn brings no success: 55...Kg7 56.Rf5 Kg6 57.Rh5 h3 58.Kg1 Rg2+ 59.Kh1

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[White also holds a draw in case of 59.Kf1 Rxg4 60.Rxh3 Ra4 61.Rb3 Ra2
62.Rg3+!=]

59...Rg3. It is a theoretical draw after 59...Rxg4 60.Rxh3 Ra4 61.Rg3+ Kf5

62.Rf3+ Rf4 63.Rh3=.
60.Kh2 Ra3 61.Rxh3! Rxh3+ 62.Kxh3 Kg5 [62...h5 63.Kh4! hxg4 64.Kxg4= does
not work] 63.Kg3 h6 64.Kf3! [64.Kh3? h5–+] 64...Kh4 65.Kf4 Kh3 66.Kf3= with
a drawn pawn ending.)

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 56.Rf5! Activating the rook.
56...h3 57.Rh5 h6. The essence of the position changes neither with 57...Rg2
58.Rxh3 Rxg4 59.Kf2=, nor with 57...Rh1+ 58.Kf2 h2 59.Kg2 Rg1+ 60.Kxh2 Rxg4
61.Ra5=.
58.Kg1 Rg2+ 59.Kh1 Rxg4 (59...Rg3 60.Kh2 Ra3 61.Rxh3 Rxh3+ 62.Kxh3 Kg5
63.Kg3=) 60.Rxh3= and we reach a classical rook and h- and f- pawns vs. rook
ending that is a draw with precise play from the weaker side.

52.Rb3? Kg6! 53.h3?!

Here the white pawn is also subject to attack from the black pieces. Such positions
do not lend themselves to easy defense. Therefore, White’s committing such
inaccuracies should come as no surprise.

53...Ng2! 54.Kg1

White is also in bad shape after 54.Rc3 Nf4 55.Bxf4 gxf4 56.Kg1 (56.h4 h5–+)
56...Kg5–+.

54...Nf4 55.Bxf4 gxf4! 56.h4

56.Rb8 Kg5–+ fails on the spot.

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 In case of 56.Rb7 h6!? 57.h4 (57.Rb8 Kg5–+) 57...h5! 58.gxh5+ Kxh5 59.Rh7+
Kg6 60.Rh8 Ra7! 61.h5+ (61.Kg2 Rh7 62.Rg8+ Kf7 63.Rg4 Rg7 64.h5 f5–+)
61...Kg7 62.Rb8 Kh6! 63.Rh8+ (63.Rf8 Kg5 64.h6 Rh7–+) 63...Rh7 64.Rf8 Kg5–+
the second pawn falls and the game is over.

56...h5!

Chipping at the white pawn formation in order to clear the way for the decisive
inroad of the black king into the enemy camp.

57.g5

White is also lost after 57.gxh5+ Kxh5 58.Rb6 Kxh4 59.Rxf6 Kg3–+.
57.Rb6 hxg4 58.fxg4 e4 59.g5 Ra1+ is of no help either.

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 60.Kg2 (60.Kh2 e3 61.Rxf6+ Kh5 62.Kh3 [62.Rxf4 e2–+] 62...Rh1+–+)
60...e3 61.Kf3 Kh5 62.gxf6 (62.Rxf6 Rf1+ 63.Ke2 Rf2+ 64.Ke1 Kg4! 65.g6 Kf3–
+) 62...Rf1+ 63.Ke2 Rf2+ 64.Ke1 Kg6 65.h5+ Kf7 66.h6 Rh2–+ and now that Black
has coped with White’s passed pawns the turn has come for the pair of black passers
to begin their triumphant march.

57...fxg5 58.Rb6+ Kf5 59.Rh6

59.hxg5 Kxg5 60.Re6 Ra5 61.Kg2 Kh4–+ is hopeless as well.

59...g4

59...e4!? 60.fxe4+ Kg4 61.hxg5 Kg3! 62.Kf1 f3–+ was the alternative way to
succeed.

60.Rxh5+ Ke6 61.fxg4 e4! 62.Rh6+ Ke5 63.g5

To throw in one more check 63.Rh5+ Kd4–+ makes no sense.

63...e3 64.Rh8 f3 65.g6 Rg2+ and White resigned.

Example No. 70
M. Vachier-Lagrave – V. Anand

334
 Stavanger 2018

Black to move

Black is a pawn up, but with a pair of doubled pawns. Moreover, he is now facing
issues with the b4-pawn. He wants to win. What should he play?

30...b3!

The pawn is doomed anyway. However, now Black creates an additional white
weakness.
White recaptures the pawn in case of 30...Rf3?! 31.Bxb4 Rxh3 (31...Nf4 32.Bd6=)
32.Re1 Kf7 (32...Nf4? 33.Re8+ Kf7 34.Rf8++–) 33.Re5=.
The rook ending arising after 30...Nf4 31.Bxf4 Rxf4 32.Kf1= brings no real
prospects.

30...b3! 31.axb3

31.a3? Rc7–+ is utterly bad. 31.Kg2?! Ra7 32.a3 Rc7 33.Rc1 Rxc1 34.Bxc1 Nc5
35.Kf3 Nd3–+ is also poor.

31...Rf3 32.b4

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 White gains nothing from the rook checks 32.Ra8+ Kf7 33.Ra7+ Kf6 34.h4 Rxb3
35.Bc1 Rb4–+.
White also loses after 32.Ra3 Rxh3 33.b4 Rxa3 34.bxa3 Kf7 35.Kf1 g6 36.Ke2
(36.g5 d3–+; 36.f4 Ng7 37.Ke2 h5 38.gxh5 gxh5–+) 36...h5–+.
White’s position is totally grim after 32.Kg2 Rxb3 33.Bc1 Nc5–+.

32...Rd3!

This attacking move aims at disorganizing White’s defensive formations.

33.Re1

33.Bc1? Rd1+ 34.Kg2 d3–+ fails on the spot.

33...Kf7 34.Bc1

34.Re2 Rb3!? 35.Bc1 (35.Be1 Ng5–+) 35...Rxb4–+ is as good as the text.

34...Rxh3 35.Re5

Black is also winning subsequent to 35.Kg2 Rb3 36.Re5 Rxb4 37.Rxd5 Rc4
38.Bd2 Rc2–+.

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 35...Rd3! 36.Kf1

White is also in trouble after 36.Kg2 Rd1!? 37.Bg5 d3 38.Rxd5 (38.Rf5+ Kg6
39.Be3 d4–+; 38.Kf3 d4 39.Rxb5 Nxg5+ 40.Rxg5 Re1–+) 38...Nxg5 39.Rxg5 Ke6!
40.Kf3 (40.Rxg7 d2) 40...Re1–+, and the black pawn is unstoppable.

36...Rd1+!

Exchanging the rooks and transitioning into a technically winning minor-piece

ending.

37.Re1 Rxe1+ 38.Kxe1 g6 39.f4

The creation of a second passed pawn after 39.Ke2 h5–+ is decisive. White is also
doomed in case of 39.g5 d3 40.f4 (40.Be3 d4 41.Bc1 Ke7–+) 40...Nd4–+.

39...Nd8 40.g5

40.Ke2 h5 41.gxh5 gxh5 42.Kd3 (42.Kf3 Kf6–+) 42...h4–+ fails as well.

40...Ke6, and White resigned in the face of 41.Ke2 Kf5 42.Kd3 Ne6 43.Bd2 Kg4!
44.Bc1 (44.b3 Kf5!) 44...Nxf4+ 45.Kxd4 Ne2+.

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 The next part of this topic analyzes examples in which a rook and a minor piece
are fighting against a rook. There are cases where both sides have pawns and where
the side a piece up has none. We will see that the side having the extra piece is not
always in the driver’s seat.
Example No. 71
J. Leon Valdes – C. Albornoz Cabrera
Mexico 2022

White to move

White is up a piece for two pawns, but he is facing problems with the pinned
knight. Besides, the a-pawn is supported by the rook, which means that measures
should be taken to confront its progress towards the queening square. White is
fighting for a draw. Taking the right decision in this position requires correct
evaluation of the aftermath of exchanging rooks.

33.Nc5?

And White is not up to the task.

The immediate 33.Rd5 Rxb7 34.Rxa5 Rb2! results in having the king cut off along
the home rank.

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 Therefore, it was correct to play 33.Kg2!? a4 34.Rd4! a3. White holds the ending
after 34...Rxb7 35.Rxa4=.
35.Nc5 a2 36.Nb3 Rb7 37.Ra4 (37.Rd2 Rxb3 38.Rxa2 leads to the same line via
transposition; 37.Na1? Rb1 38.Nc2 Rb2–+ is an error as the white knight perishes
and the pawn survives) 37...Rxb3 38.Rxa2= with a well-known drawn rook ending
with three pawns vs. two on the same flank.

33.Nc5? Rxd7 34.Nxd7 a4!

The nearer the passed pawn gets to the promotion square, the more it ties down the
white knight guarding it.

35.Nc5 a3 36.Kf2

36...a2!

36...Kf6? 37.Ne4+! Ke5 38.Nc3 Kd4? 39.Nb5+ is premature.

37.Nb3 Kf6!

Black is winning. The a2-pawn is not just equal to the white knight, but even
superior to it, because the latter is ill-suited to fighting rook pawns. When it comes to

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a pawn that has reached the penultimate rank, the knight will never cope with it
alone if the black king comes to support its pawn. At the same time, Black has an
extra pawn on the kingside and every opportunity to create yet another passed pawn.

38.Ke3

The black king battles through to the knight after 38.Kg3 Ke5 39.Kf2 Kd5
40.Ke2 Kc4 41.Na1 Kc3 42.Kd1 Kb2 43.Nc2 g5, and now White’s defense is
overstretched by the opening of a second front via the creation of a passed pawn:
44.Kd2 f5 45.Kd3 h5 46.Kd2 g4 47.fxg4 fxg4 48.Kd3 h4–+.

38...Kf5 39.Nd4+

White uses the check to redeploy the knight.

39.f4 Kg4–+ is bad.
There is no holding the position with 39.Kf2 Kf4 40.Na1 g5 41.Nc2 h6 (the
careless 41...f5? fails to 42.Nb4! a1=Q 43.Nd3#) 42.Na1 h5 43.Nc2. In case of
43.h3 h4 44.Nc2 f6! 45.Na1 f5 46.Nc2 g4 47.fxg4 fxg4 48.hxg4 Kxg4 49.Kg2 h3+
50.Kh2 (50.Kf2 Kf4 51.Kg1 Kf3–+) 50...Kf3 51.Kxh3 Ke2 52.Kg2 Kd2 53.Na1
Kc3 54.Kf2 Kb2–+ the knight perishes and the black pawn queens.

43...g4 44.fxg4. There is no marking time with 44.Na1 gxf3 45.Nc2 Ke4 46.Kf1

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Ke5 47.Kf2 Kd6 48.Kxf3 Kc5 49.Ke3 Kc4 50.Kd2 Kb3 51.Kc1 Kc3 52.Na1 f5–
+, and Black again overstretches White’s defense with his passed pawns on opposite
flanks.
44...hxg4 45.Kg2 f5 46.Kf2 Ke4 47.Kg3 Ke5! (47...Kd3? blunders to the
48.Nb4+ fork) 48.Kh4 (48.Na1 Kd4–+; 48.Kf2 Kd6 49.Ke3 Kc5 50.Kd3 f4–+;
48.h3 gxh3 49.Kxh3 Kd6 50.Kg3 Kc5 51.Kf4 Kc4 52.Kxf5 Kc3 53.Na1 Kb2–+)
48...Kf4 49.Kh5 (49.Na1 Kf3 50.Nc2 Kg2–+) 49...Kf3 50.Kg5 f4–+ and one of the
black pawns becomes a queen.

39...Kg5 40.Nc2 Kh4! 41.Kf2 Kh3 42.Kg1 g5 43.Na1 f5 44.Nc2 f4 45.Na1 h5

46.Nc2

46...g4

Black has prepared everything to the max and creates yet another passed pawn
with a decisive effect.

47.fxg4

In case of 47.Na1 g3! (47...gxf3? 48.Nb3 f2+ 49.Kxf2 Kxh2 50.Na1! f3 [50...Kh3
51.Kf3!] 51.Nc2 h4 52.Na1 h3 53.Nc2!= throws the win away) 48.hxg3 (48.Nc2

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gxh2+ 49.Kh1 Kg3–+) 48...Kxg3 49.Nc2 Kxf3–+ White is also helpless.

47...hxg4 48.Na1

48...f3!

The careless 48...g3? 49.hxg3 Kxg3 (49...fxg3 50.Nc2 g2 51.Na1 Kg3 52.Nc2
Kf3 53.Na1 Ke2 54.Kxg2 Kd1 55.Kf2 Kc1 56.Ke2 Kb1 57.Kd2 Kxa1 58.Kc2=
also leads to a well-known draw) 50.Kf1 Kf3 51.Nc2! Ke4 52.Ke2 Kd5 53.Nb4+!=
would have missed the win.

49.Nc2 f2+! 50.Kxf2 Kxh2 and the g-pawn cannot be stopped. Therefore, White
resigned.

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 Example No. 72
M. Richter – G. Kamsky
Germany 2022

White to move

Despite being a piece up, it is White who needs to come up with precise play not to
go down in this endgame. Black’s passer is one square away from queening, and the
supporting rook is geared up to make room for its pawn with a check or attack.

61.Kc3?

This is an ill-advised decision. 61.Kc4? is also bad due to 61...Ra1! 62.Rd2+ Ke7
63.Rxh2 Rxa4+ 64.Kd3 (64.Kd5 Rd4+–+ is no better) 64...Ra3+! 65.Kc4 (65.Ke2
Ra2+–+) 65...Re3 66.Kd5 Rd3+ 67.Kc5 Ke6 68.Rg2 (68.Re2 Rc3+ 69.Kb4 Rg3–+)
68...Rc3+ 69.Kb5 Re3–+ winning the second pawn.
It was better for White to shield himself from a potential rook check in such a way
that the white king gets closer to his pawns: 61.Rd2! Ra1 62.Ke3+! Ke7 63.Rxh2

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 63...Rxa4. 63...Ra3+ makes no difference: 64.Kf2! Rxa4 (64...Ra2+ 65.Kg3 Rxa4
66.Rh7+! Kd6 67.Kf3 Ra1 68.Kf2!=) 65.Rh7+! (65.Kf3? Ra3+ 66.Kf2 Ra2+–+)
65...Kd6 (65...Ke6 66.Kf3 Ra1 67.Kf2!=) 66.Kf3 Ra1 (66...Ra3+ 67.Kf2! Kc5
68.Rf7 Kd4 69.Rxf6 Kxe4 70.Rf5=) 67.Kf2! Ra3 68.Rf7 Ke6 69.Rb7= with an easy
draw in this rook ending.
64.Rh7+!? Ke6 (64...Kd6 65.Rf7 Kc5 66.Rxf6 Ra3+ 67.Kf2 Kd4 68.Rf5 Kxe4
69.Rxg5=) 65.Rb7 Ra3+ (65...Ra1 66.Kf2!) 66.Kf2 Ra4 67.Kf3 Ra1 68.Kf2!= and
the white king can take care of his own pawns and restrict the black rook all by
himself.
61.Nc3 Rd1+ 62.Nxd1 h1=Q 63.Ne3 looked interesting. At first glance the
position seems drawn. The black king is kept at bay by the white pieces and cannot
break through to the action for now, and such a structure renders the extra pawn of
little value. Further, the white pieces are well-coordinated. The only real opportunity
for Black to play for a win involves finding an opportune moment to break through
with f5 so as to create a passer or deflect the white knight and then immediately pile
up on the unprotected white g4-pawn. However, the way to implement this is not
entirely clear.
For example, 63...Qa1 (63...Qf3 64.Rc1!?) 64.Rc4 Kd7 65.Rc3!? Qb1+ (65...f5
66.exf5 e4+ 67.Kd4!) 66.Rc2 Kd8 (66...Qb4 67.Rc4!) 67.Ke2 Qb4 68.Rc4
(68.Kd3? Qd4+) 68...Qb3 69.Kd2 Qb2+ (69...f5 70.exf5!) 70.Kd3! Kd7

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 71.Nd5!? Here, White has no shortage of spare moves, which safeguards him from
his opponent’s pawn break in the least favorable situation.
71...Kd6 (71...Qb1+ 72.Kd2 Qf1 73.Ne3 is also harmless) 72.Ne3! (There is no
capturing the pawn: 72.Nxf6? Qb3+ 73.Rc3 Qd1+ 74.Kc4 Qa4+ 75.Kd3 Qd4+
76.Kc2 Qf2+–+ and the knight falls.) 72...Qb1+ 73.Kd2 and it is unclear how to go
about undermining White’s defensive ramparts.
61.Nb2 Rd1+ 62.Nxd1 h1=Q 63.Ne3 serves the same purpose and transposes to
the lines reviewed earlier after 61.Nc3.

61.Kc3? Ra1! 62.Rd2+

In case of 62.Rxh2 Rxa4 63.Re2 (63.Kd3 Ra3+ 64.Kc4 Re3–+) 63...Ra3+ 64.Kc4
Ke6!? 65.Re1 Rg3–+ yet another white pawn falls.

62...Ke7

62...Ke6? fails to 63.Nc5+.

62...Kc6 63.Rxh2 Rxa4 64.Kd3 (64.Rh6 Rxe4 65.Rxf6+ Kd5–+) 64...Ra3+ 65.Kc4
(65.Ke2 Ra2+–+) 65...Re3–+ was also a winner.

63.Rxh2 Rxa4 64.Rh7+

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 Both 64.Kd3 Ra3+–+ and 64.Re2 Ra3+ 65.Kc4 Ke6!?–+ lose the game.

64...Ke6 65.Kd3 Ra3+

Black could also succeed via 65...Ra1 66.Ke2 Rg1 67.Kf3 Rf1+! 68.Kg3 (68.Ke3
Rf4–+) 68...Rf4–+, and the white pawn is doomed.

66.Ke2 Rg3 and White threw in the towel.

The following example demonstrates how easy it is to blow winning chances with
sloppy play.
Example No. 73
D. Kadric – T. Injac
Catez 2022

White to move

Black has only a pawn for a piece. At first glance, any continuation seems winning
for White. This was probably White’s mindset during the game as well.

36.Nc4? The Bosnian grandmaster was of the mistaken opinion that the only
remaining pawn would suffice to secure him a win.

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 White could have tried 36.Kc2!? Rc3+. 36...Re3? fails to 37.Nd3! Rxe4 (37...Re2+
38.Kd1+–) 38.Nc5++–, and in case of 36...Rg2+ 37.Kc1 Rg1+ (37...Rg3 38.Nc4
Rxb3 39.Rxe5+ Kf6 40.Rf5+ Ke6 41.Nd2+–) 38.Nd1 Rg2 (38...Rg3 39.Kc2 Rg2+
40.Kd3 Rg3+ 41.Kc4+–) 39.Rh6+ Ke7 40.Rb6 Re2 (40...Rg4 41.Nf2+–) 41.Nb2
Rxe4 42.Nc4 Re1+ 43.Kd2 Rb1 44.Kc2!? Re1 45.Kd3! Rb1 46.Rxb4+– the black
pawns will gradually perish.
37.Kd2 Rxb3 (37...Re3 38.Nd3 Rxe4 39.Nc5++–) 38.Nd3+– with an easy win.
36.Ka2!? Re3 37.Rh6+ Ke7 38.Rb6 Rxe4 (38...d3 39.Rxb4 d2 40.Rb5 Rxe4
41.Kb1 Rd4 42.Kc2 e4 43.Rc5 Kd6 44.Rc4+–) 39.Rxb4 Re2 (39...Kd6 40.Ka3 Re1
41.Rb8+–; 39...Ke6 40.Nc4+–) 40.Ka3 Re1 (40...Ke6 41.Rb6+ Kd5 42.Nc4 e4
43.Kb4 e3 44.Rd6+ Ke4 45.Kc5 d3 46.Rd4++–) 41.Rc4 Ke6 (41...Ra1+ 42.Kb4+–)
42.b4!+– also looked good, and the combination of ardent struggle against black
pawns and promotion of his own passer should guarantee White success.

36.Nc4? Rxb3+ 37.Ka2

White has to dispatch his king to the rim of the board. 37.Kc2? fails to 37...Rc3+.

37...Rc3!

However, it turns out that Black develops sufficient counterplay to ensure a draw.

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This entails both the attack on the e4-pawn and the timely advance of his passed
pawns.

38.Rxe5+

38.Nxe5 Rc5!= renders the position drawn at once.

Meanwhile, in case of 38.Rh6+ Ke7 39.Nb6 (nor does White get the upper hand
with 39.Nxe5 d3 40.Rh2 Ke6 41.Nf3 Rc2+! 42.Rxc2 dxc2 43.Kb2 b3 44.Nd2 Ke5
45.Kc1 Kd4=) 39...Rc1!? 40.Kb2 Re1 41.Rh4 (41.Nd5+ Kf7 42.Rh4 d3!=) 41...Kf6
42.Rg4 (42.Nc4 Kg5=) 42...d3 43.Nc4 Ke7!? it is unclear how White is supposed to
untangle and coordinate his pieces properly:

44.Kb3 (44.Nd2 Re2 45.Kc1 Re1+ 46.Kb2 Re2=; 44.Rh4 Kf6=) 44...Rb1+
45.Ka4 b3 46.Kb4 (46.Rg7+ Kf6 47.Rb7 Kg5 48.Rxb3 Ra1+! 49.Kb5 Kf4 50.Rxd3
Kxe4=; 46.Rg5 b2 47.Kb3 d2 48.Rxe5+ Kf6 49.Rf5+ Ke6 50.Nxd2 Rd1=) 46...b2
47.Rg2 Re1= and Black eliminates White’s only remaining pawn.

38...Kf6! 39.Rc5

A drawn position also arises after 39.Rf5+ Ke6 40.Nb6 (40.Rc5 d3!? 41.Kb1 Rc2
42.Re5+ Kf6 43.Rf5+ Ke6 44.Nb2 Re2=) 40...Re3=.

39...d3

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 39...Kg7!? was also fine: 40.Rc7+ (40.e5 d3!=; 40.Kb2 d3=) 40...Kf6 41.e5+
Ke6=.

40.Rf5+

The alternative check 40.e5+ Ke6= is as good as the text.

40...Ke6 and White had to make do with a draw without even waiting for 41.Nb2
d2 42.Rd5 Ra3+ 43.Kb1 Re3 44.Rd4 Ke5=.

Example No. 74
D. Dubov – N. Grandelius
Wijk aan Zee 2022

White to move

White is a piece down. That said, he has a pair of far-advanced pawns and an
active rook, allowing him to fight for a draw. Besides, Black is down to only one
pawn, whose elimination could bring White to a drawn rook and knight vs. rook
ending.

76.Kf4?

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 This is an erroneous decision. 76.Kd5? also fails, to 76...Rf5! 77.Ke4 (77.Ke6?
Rxe5+ 78.Kd7 h5–+) 77...Rf1, and Black deals with the white pawns:
a) 78.e6 Nd6+ 79.Ke5 (79.Kd5 Ne8 80.Rf7+ Kg8 81.Ke5 Re1+ 82.Kd5 h5–+)
79...Nc4+ 80.Kd5 (80.Kd4 Rf4+ 81.Kc5 Rxf6 82.Rh7 Ne3 83.Kd6 Kg8 84.Ra7
Rf1–+) 80...Ne3+ 81.Ke4 (81.Ke5 Ng4+ 82.Kd6 Nxf6 83.Rf7+ Ke8 84.Re7+ Kd8
85.Ra7 Ne4+ 86.Ke5 Ng5–+) 81...Rxf6! 82.Rf7+ Rxf7 83.exf7 Nc2–+;
b) 78.Ra7 Ng5+! 79.Kd5 h5 80.Ra8+ Kf7 81.Rh8 Rh1–+;
c) 78.Kd5 Ng5 79.Rg7 Rd1+ 80.Kc4 Re1 81.Kd5 Nf7 82.e6 Re5+–+.
76.e6! is best: 76...Nd6+ (76...Nd8 77.Rh7 Nxe6 78.Rxh6=) 77.Kd3! (77.Kf4?
Rf5+–+; 77.Kd4? Nf5+–+; 77.Ke3? Nf5+–+) 77...Rg3+ (77...Rg6 78.Rd7 Ne8
79.f7=; 77...Rd5+ 78.Kc2! Nf5 79.Rh7 Nd4+ 80.Kc3 Nxe6 81.Rxh6=)

78.Kc2! This way only! Both 78.Ke2? Rg6 79.Rd7 Ne8 80.f7 Rxe6+–+ and
78.Kd4? Nf5+–+ are bad.
78...Re3 (78...Nf5? 79.Rd7+–; 78...Ne8 79.Rh7=; 78...Rf3 79.Rd7 Ne8 80.f7 Ng7
81.e7+ Kxf7 82.e8=Q+ Kxe8 83.Rxg7=) 79.Rh7 Rxe6 (79...Kg8 80.f7+ Nxf7
81.exf7+ Kf8 82.Rxh6 Kxf7=) 80.Rxh6= with a drawn endgame.

76.Kf4? Nh8! 77.Ke4 Ng6 78.Rh7

Neither 78.Re6 Kf7 79.Kd5 Nf4+–+ nor 78.Rg7 Rxe5+ 79.Kd4 Rg5–+ help any

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longer.

78...Rxe5+ 79.Kd4 h5 80.Rg7

80.Rh6 Rg5!–+ makes no difference either.

80...Rg5 81.Rh7 Ne5 82.Rg7

White also fails after 82.Ke4 Nf7 83.Kf4 Kg8 84.Rxf7 Rg4+!–+.

82...Nf7 and White resigned.

Example No. 75
J. Santos Latasa – B. Gledura
Catez 2021

White to move

Black has three pawns for the knight. Not only do the connected passed pawns on
the kingside seek to become queens, but they also create dangerous threats to the
white king as well. White needs precise play to avoid the worst.

51.Kf1?

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 A wrong decision. The king is misplaced here.
51.Kg3? also fails to 51...Re3+ 52.Kf2 Rc3! 53.Rxd5+ (53.Nd4 g3+ 54.Kg1 Kg4–
+) 53...Kh4–+ and White has nothing to say to the advance of the black passed
pawns: 54.Ne5 (54.Nd4 g3+ 55.Kf1 Kg4 56.Ne2 Rf3+ 57.Ke1 h2–+; 54.Ne7 g3+
55.Ke2 g2–+) 54...g3+ 55.Ke2 h2 56.Ng6+ (56.Rd1 g2–+) 56...Kg4 57.Ne5+ Kh3–
+.
Likewise, 51.Kf2? loses to 51...Kh4! 52.Rxd5 (52.Nd4 Rf4+! 53.Ke3 Rxd4!
54.Rxd4 h2 55.Rd1 g3 56.Kf3 Kh3 57.Ra1 d4! 58.Rb1 d3 59.Ra1 d2 60.Rb1 g2–+)
52...g3+ 53.Kf3 (53.Kg1 Re1#) 53...h2 54.Rd1 Re6! 55.Nd4 Rf6+ 56.Kg2 (56.Ke3
g2–+) 56...Rf2+ 57.Kh1 Kh3–+ and the white king has walked into a deadly trap.
White can draw with both 51.Kg1! Kf4
(A draw results both after 51...g3 52.Rxd5+ Kh4 53.Rd4=,
and after 51...Rc4 52.Ne5 Ra4 53.Rxd5 g3 54.Nf3+ Kf6 [54...Kf4 55.Rd4+=]
55.Rd1=;
In case of 51...Kh4 52.Nd4 Re5 [52...g3 53.Nf5+ Kg4 54.Nxg3! Kxg3 55.Rd3+!
Kh4 56.Rxd5; 52...Kg3 53.Nf5+ Kf4 54.Rxd5 Re1+ 55.Kh2 Re2+ 56.Kg1]
53.Nc6!? [53.Rf1=] 53...Re2 [53...Rf5 54.Ne7=] 54.Nb4 g3 55.Nxd5 h2+ 56.Kh1=
the knight is poised to deliver a fork and thus prevents Black from snapping the
mating trap shut.)

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 52.Rxd5 Re1+ 53.Kh2 (53.Kf2? h2–+) 53...Re2+ (53...g3+ 54.Kxh3 Re2 55.Rd4+
Kf3 56.Rd3+=) 54.Kh1 (54.Kg1? h2+ 55.Kh1 g3 56.Rd1 Kg4–+) 54...g3 (54...Kg3
55.Rd1=) 55.Rd1 Kg4 56.Nb4 h2 57.Nd5=.
And with 51.Kh1! Kh4 (51...Kf4 52.Rxd5!; 51...g3 52.Rxd5+! Kf6 53.Rd6+ Kf5
54.Rd5+ Ke6 55.Rd1=) 52.Nd4!= Kg3 (52...g3 53.Nf5+ Kg4 54.Nxg3 Kxg3
55.Rd3+!=) 53.Nf5+ Kf4 54.Rxd5 Re1+ 55.Kh2 Re2+ 56.Kh1, and White is out of
the woods.

51.Kf1? Kh4!–+ 52.Nd4

White also loses with 52.Rxd5 h2 53.Kg2 Re2+ 54.Kh1 g3 55.Re5 (55.Rd1 Kh3–
+; 55.Rd4+ Kh3–+) 55...Rxe5 56.Nxe5 Kh3–+. Meanwhile, in case of 52.Kg1 g3
53.Rd4 (53.Rxd5 Re1#; 53.Nd4 Kg4–+)

the winning move is 53...Kg4!

a) 54.Rxe4+ dxe4 55.Nd4 (55.Ne5+ Kf4 56.Ng6+ Kg5 57.Ne5 e3–+) 55...e3
56.Kh1 Kf4 57.Kg1 Ke4 58.Ne2 g2! 59.Kh2 Kd3 60.Nf4+ Kc2! (60...Kd2?
61.Nxh3 e2 62.Ng1!=; 60...Kc4? 61.Ne2!), and White cannot cope with the black
passed pawns: 61.Kg1 (61.Nxh3 e2–+; 61.Ne2 Kd2–+) 61...Kd2 62.Nxh3 e2–+;
b) 54.Kh1 Kf3 55.Rd3+ Kf2 56.Rd2+ Kf1 57.Rd1+ Re1 58.Rxe1+ Kxe1 59.Ne5
Kf2 60.Ng4+ Ke2 61.Kg1 d4–+;

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 c) 54.Kf1 Kf3 55.Rd3+ Kf4 56.Nd4 g2+ 57.Kf2 Re1–+;
d) 54.Ne5+ Kf4 55.Ng6+ Kf3 56.Rd1 d4–+.

52...g3! 53.Kg1

There is no stopping the black pawn after 53.Nf5+ Kg4 54.Nxg3 (54.Nh6+ Kh5
55.Ng8 Kh4 56.Nh6 Rf4+ 57.Kg1 h2+ 58.Kg2 Rf2+ 59.Kh1 Kh3–+) 54...Rf4+!
(54...Kxg3? 55.Rd3+!=) 55.Ke2 (55.Kg1 Kxg3 56.Rd3+ Rf3 57.Rxd5 h2+ 58.Kh1
Rf1#) 55...Kxg3 56.Rxd5 h2–+.

53...Kg4 54.Kh1 Re3

54...h2!? 55.Kg2 Rf4 56.Ne6 (56.Rd2 Rf1–+) 56...Rf2+ 57.Kh1 would have been a
transposition to 54...Re3.

55.Kg1

55.Nc2 Rb3 56.Nd4 (56.Rxd5 Rb1+–+; 56.Rd4+ Kf3 57.Ne1+ Ke2–+) 56...Rb2–+
is also bad.

55...Kf4

Without committing to any pawn structure as yet, Black is seeking to figure out the
right sequence of moves.

56.Kf1 Ke5 57.Kg1 Kf4 58.Kf1

58.Rf1+ Kg5 59.Nf5 Rc3!?–+ is not going to make life any easier.

58...Kg4 59.Kg1 Re5 60.Kf1 Re4 61.Kg1

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 61...h2+!?

Settling on the winning plan, at last.

62.Kg2

62.Kh1? Kh3–+ is bad.

62...Rf4 63.Ne6 Rf2+ 64.Kh1 Rf6

64...g2+? blunders to 65.Kxh2 Rf1 66.Rd4+!. 64...Re2 was winning as well:

65.Ng5 (65.Rd4+ Kf3 66.Ng5+ Ke3 67.Rd1 d4–+) 65...Re5 (65...Kxg5? fails to
66.Rxd5+ Kg4 67.Rg5+!=, with a furious rook) 66.Nf7 Kh3 67.Nxe5 g2#.

65.Re1

There is no saving the day with 65.Rd4+ Kf3 (65...Kh3? 66.Ng5#) 66.Rd3+
(66.Ng5+ Ke2–+) 66...Ke2 67.Rxg3 Rxe6 68.Kxh2 d4–+ with a winning rook
ending.

65...Rf5 66.Kg2

Yet another pawn checkmate results after 66.Nd4 Kh3 67.Nxf5 g2#.

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 66...Rf2+ 67.Kh1 g2+ 68.Kxh2 Rf1 and White resigned.

Example No. 76
A. Belozerov – I. Duzhakov
Sochi 2017

Black to move

Black is a piece up and with a remote passed pawn, whose queening square is the
same as the bishop’s color. However, White enjoys a pair of far-advanced passed
pawns, which, besides being dangerous in themselves, can also collaborate with the
rook to create a mating net for the black king.

88...Ra4

Looking to keep the white pawns’ advance at bay.

In case of 88...Rg1 89.a6 Bc8 (89...Be4 90.Re7 Rb1+ 91.Kc3=) 90.Rh7= the last
black pawn abandons the board.
88...Rh1 looked interesting: 89.a6 (89.Kc3? Rb1 90.a6 Rxb6 91.Rxb7+ Rxb7
92.axb7 h4–+) 89...Bc8 (89...Bxa6 90.Rxa6 Kb7 91.Ra3 with a drawn rook ending;
89...Be4 90.Re7!)

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 90.Kc3! 90.Rh7? Bxa6–+ is bad, while 90.b7? also fails to 90...Rb1+! 91.Kxb1
(91.Ka3 Bxb7 92.Rxb7+ Rxb7 93.axb7 h4–+) 91...Bf5+ 92.Kc1 Kxa7 93.Kd2 Bd7
94.Ke3 Bb5 95.Kf4 Bxa6 96.Kg5 Be2–+.
90...h4 (a lack of caution is a deadly risk for Black: 90...Rh4?! 91.b7 Rc4+?
92.Kxc4 Be6+ 93.Kc5 Kxa7 94.Kd6 Kb8 95.Kxe6 h4 96.Kd6 h3 97.Kc6 h2
98.Kb6 h1=Q 99.a7#)

91.Kd4! 91.b7? Kxa7 92.bxc8=Q Rc1+–+ is premature again, while 91.Kd2 h3

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92.b7 Bxb7 93.Rxb7+ Ka8 94.Rh7 h2 95.Ke2 Ra1–+ was also losing.
91...Rd1+. Both 91...h3 92.b7 Bxb7 93.Rxb7+ Ka8 94.Rb2! h2 95.Rd2=, and
91...Bxa6 92.Rxa6 h3 93.Ra2! h2 94.Rd2 Kb7 95.Kd5 Kxb6 96.Kd6 Ka7 97.Ra2+
Kb8 98.Rb2+ Kc8 99.Rc2+ Kd8 100.Kc6 Ke7 101.Re2+ Kf6 102.Rc2 Kf5
103.Kc5 Ke4 104.Kc4 Kf4 105.Kc5 Kg3 106.Rc3+ Kf2 107.Rc2+ Ke3 108.Kc4=
lead to a drawn rook ending.
92.Ke3 (92.Kc5? fails to 92...Rd7!–+) 92...Rd8 (both 92...h3 93.b7 Rd3+ 94.Kf4!=
and 92...Rd7 93.b7 Bxb7 94.Rxb7+ Rxb7 95.axb7 h3 96.Kf2= result in a draw)
93.Rh7 (93.Kf4? Rh8–+) 93...h3 94.a7+ Ka8 95.b7+ Bxb7 96.Rxh3=, and Black has
nothing more than a drawn rook and bishop vs. rook ending.

88...Ra4 89.Kb3!

But White does not allow Black to keep his rook on the a-file.

89...Rf4

89...Ra1 90.Kb2! leads to a repetition of moves

90.a6 Bd5+

The line 90...Bc8 91.Rh7 Bxa6 (91...h4?! 92.Rh8 Rf6! 93.b7 Rb6+ 94.Kc4 Rxb7
95.axb7 Kxb7=) 92.Rxh5= could have again seen a drawn rook and bishop vs. rook
ending.
Meanwhile, following 90...Bf3 91.Rh7 Rf8 92.Kb4= Black cannot set his passed
pawn in motion.

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 91.Kc3!

The careless 91.Kc2? fails to 91...Rf6! 92.Rd7 (92.Rh7 Be4+–+) 92...Be4+ 93.Kd2
Rxb6–+.

91...Rf7

91...Ra4 92.Rd7= is no better.

In the meantime, in case of 91...Rc4+ 92.Kd2! Rc8

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 93.Rh7! (93.b7? Rc2+! 94.Kxc2 Kxa7 95.Kd2 h4 96.Ke3 h3 97.Kf2 h2–+)
93...Rd8 (93...Bf3 94.Ke3 Rf8 95.Rd7 h4 96.Rh7 draws) 94.Ke3= White’s active
counterplay compensates for his material deficit.

92.Rxf7 Bxf7 93.Kd4

Now Black’s bishop does not make it in time to help his king eliminate the white
pawns and defend his only remaining one.

93...Be8

93...h4 94.Ke3 Bc4 95.a7+ Kb7 96.Kf3= gives a draw, too.

94.Ke3 Bb5 95.a7+! Kb7 96.Kf4 Bc6 97.Kg5 Kxb6

White also exploits the overworked bishop after 97...Bf3 98.Kh4 Kxb6 99.a8=Q
Bxa8 100.Kxh5=.

98.Kxh5 Kxa7 and a draw.

Example No. 77
V. Kramnik – S. Shankland
Wijk aan Zee 2019

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 White to move

50.Ba2?

White overestimates his material superiority and misevaluates his bishop’s

capability of neutralizing Black’s pair of dangerous connected passed pawns. It was
correct to eliminate the dangerous passed pawns and transpose into a drawn rook
ending via 50.Bxa6! Rxa6 51.Rxb2=.

50.Ba2? a5! 51.Kf1 a4 52.Ke2 a3 53.Kd2 Rc6

It turns out that all white pieces are stymied by the black passed pawns, while
Black has a powerful additional resource to fuel his threats – his king.

54.h4 Ke5! 55.Re1 Kd4!–+ 56.Bb1

56.Rb1 is also bad: 56...Rc3! 57.Re1 Rf3 58.Ke2 (58.Re2 Rxf2 59.Rxf2 e3+
60.Ke1 exf2+ 61.Kxf2 Kc3–+) 58...Rd3 59.Rh1 (59.Bb1 Kc3!–+) 59...Kc3 60.h5
gxh5 61.Rxh5 Rd2+ 62.Ke1 Rc2 63.Rxf5 Rc1+ 64.Ke2 Ra1–+.

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 56...Rc3!

Assisted by the king, the black rook takes up a strike position.

57.Rh1 Rd3+!?

57...Kc4!? was also a winner: 58.Ba2+ (58.h5 gxh5 59.Rxh5 Rc1–+) 58...Kb4
59.Re1 Rd3+ 60.Kc2 (60.Ke2 Kc3–+) 60...Rf3 61.Rf1 (61.Re2 Rc3+ 62.Kd2 Rc1
63.Re1 Ra1 64.Bb1 Rxb1 65.Rxb1 Kb3–+) 61...e3–+.

58.Kc2

It is curtains after both 58.Bxd3 exd3–+ when there is no stopping the a-pawn, and
58.Ke2 Kc3–+.

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58...Rc3+!

58...Rf3?! is premature: 59.Rd1+ Ke5 60.Rd2.

59.Kd2 Rf3! 60.Ke2

60.Rf1 Rxf2+! 61.Rxf2 e3+–+ is bad, too.

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 60...Rd3!

A beautiful rook dance! The road for the black king to help his passed pawns is
now free.

61.h5

61.Bxd3 fails on the spot to 61...exd3+ 62.Kd2 a2–+.

In the case of 61.Rd1 Kc3! 62.Bxd3 exd3+ 63.Rxd3+ Kb4!? 64.Rd8 (64.Rd1 a2–
+) 64...a2–+ there is no stopping the pawn from queening.

61...gxh5 62.Ke1

62.Rxh5 Rc3 63.Rh1 Rc1 64.Rd1+ Kc3–+ makes no difference.

62...Rc3 63.Kd2 f4!?

Black creates another passed pawn.

64.Ba2

Black wins easily after 64.gxf4 h4 (or 64...Rc1 65.Rxc1 bxc1=Q+ 66.Kxc1 h4–+)
65.f5 (65.Rxh4 Rc1–+) 65...Rc1 66.f6 (66.Rxc1 bxc1=Q+ 67.Kxc1 h3–+) 66...Rxh1
67.f7 Rxb1 68.f8=Q Rd1+! 69.Kxd1 b1=Q+ 70.Kd2 Qd3+ 71.Ke1 a2.

64...e3+ 65.fxe3+ fxe3+ 66.Ke2 Rc2+ and White resigned in the face of 67.Kf3
Rf2#.

Example No. 78
F. Vallejo Pons – I. Kovalenko
Spain 2020

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 White to move

To win this game White needs to deal with the black passed pawns, which are
supported by the king and rook. Which continuation to choose?

56.Kd5?

This is a natural but erroneous move. 56.Kd6? also blows the win: 56...h3 57.c5
(57.Be5 Rd3+ 58.Ke6 Kg2!? 59.Bxf4 Rd4!=) 57...Rd3! 58.Ke5 (a draw also results
after 58.Kd5 f3 59.c6 f2 60.c7 f1=Q 61.c8=Q Rxd4+!? 62.Kxd4 Qf4+ 63.Kd3
Qf3+ 64.Kc4 Qe2+) 58...h2 59.c6 Rd1 60.c7 Rc1 61.Bb6 Kg2=.
Throwing in the check brings no benefits 56.Rg8+ Kf3!.
The correct continuation is 56.Be5! h3 (56...Rf3 57.Kd4 Rf2 58.c5 h3 59.Kd3! h2
60.c6 Rf1 61.c7 Rc1 62.Bc3+–)

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 57.Kd4! It is from this square that the white king performs to his full potential.
57...Rb2. Black is in bad shape after both 57...h2 58.Bxf4+! Kxf4 59.Rxh2 Kf5
60.Re2 Rb8 61.c5+–, and 57...Rb7 58.Rf8+–.
58.Rg8+!? Transposition into a rook ending is also an immediate winner: 58.Bxf4+
Kxf4 59.Rxh3+–.
58...Kf3 59.Rf8 h2 60.Rxf4+ Kg2 (60...Ke2 61.Rh4+–; 60...Kg3 61.Rf8+ Kg2
62.Rg8+ Kf1 63.Rh8 Kg1 64.Bxh2++–) 61.Rg4+ Kh3 (61...Kf3 62.Rh4+–) 62.Rg3+
Kh4 63.Rg8 h1=Q (63...Rd2+ 64.Kc3+–) 64.Rh8++– and White has successfully
dealt with both the black passed pawns and the newly-promoted black queen that has
come to replace one of the pawns.

56.Kd5? h3! 57.c5

There is no win either after 57.Be5 Rd3+! (57...h2? 58.Bxf4+ Kxf4 59.Rxh2+–)
58.Ke6
(58.Ke4 Re3+! 59.Kd4 [59.Kf5 Rxe5+!] 59...Rxe5! 60.Kxe5 [60.Rg8+ Kh2
61.Kxe5 f3=] 60...f3=; 58.Kc5 Re3! 59.Bb8 Rf3 60.Kd5 h2 61.Ke4 Rf1=)

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 58...Re3. 58...h2? 59.Bxf4+ Kxf4 60.Rxh2+– is bad.
A drawn ending results also after 58...Kg2 59.Bxf4 Rd4 60.Rg8+ Kh1 61.Kf5
Rxc4=.
59.c5 (59.Kf5 Rxe5+! 60.Kxe5 f3=) 59...h2. And now the sacrifice 59...Rxe5+?
fails to 60.Kxe5 f3 61.c6 f2 62.Rg8+ Kh2 63.Rf8 Kg1 64.c7 f1=Q 65.Rxf1+ Kxf1
66.c8=Q h2 67.Qh3+ Kg1 68.Qg3+ Kh1 69.Qe1+ Kg2 70.Qe2+ Kg1 71.Kf4!
h1=Q 72.Kg3+–.

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 60.c6 Re2! 61.c7 (61.Kf5 Kg2=) 61...Rc2 62.Bxf4+ (62.Kf5 Kg2=; 62.Kd7
Kg2=) 62...Kxf4 63.Rxh2 Rxc7=.

57...h2 58.Be5

Following 58.c6 Rb8! 59.Rh7 Kg2 Black is going to take the white rook in
exchange for his passed rook pawn.

58...Kg2 59.Bxf4 h1=Q 60.Rxh1 Kxh1 61.c6 Rc3 62.c7 Rxc7 63.Bxc7 and the
opponents shook hands on a draw.

Lessons from my Career

Example No. 79
I. Nepomniachtchi – A. Galkin
Moscow 2011

Black to move

Despite his nominal material advantage, it is Black who needs to fight back in this
endgame. White’s pair of far-advanced passed pawns, poised to reach the promotion
squares, and the black king, pressed in the bottom rank and running a high risk of
getting checkmated, prompt Black to look for a precise sequence of moves to save

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this endgame.

68...Bg4!?

There was an alternative way to bail out: 68...Rf8!? 69.h7+ (69.Rg7+ Kh8 yields
nothing) 69...Kh8 70.Kh6 Bc2!? 71.Rxc2 Rf6+! 72.Kh5 (both 72.gxf6 and 72.g6
Rxg6+ 73.Kxg6 result in stalemate) 72...Ra6 (there is no stalemate following the
erroneous 72...Rh6+? 73.gxh6!)

and it turns out that White cannot win this rook ending: 73.g6 (73.Rc7 Rh6+!=)
73...Rxg6! 74.Rc8+ Kxh7 75.Rc7+ Rg7=.

68...Bg4!? 69.h7+

69.Rb7 Bf5+ or 69.Rg7+ Kh8 lead to a draw, too.

69...Kh8 70.Kh6 Bf5 71.g6

The white king is not even exempt from getting checkmated: 71.Rf7? Rh4#.

71...Rh4+ 72.Kg5

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 72...Rg4+! Ditching his own pieces.

73.Kxf5 Rxg6 74.Kxg6 and stalemate.

To wrap up this part of the topic we delve in detail into pawnless or near pawnless
rook and bishop versus rook endgame examples, and then follow those up with
slightly less common rook and knight versus rook examples. In both cases, the side
with the material advantage has the initiative. We will try to single out both the
optimum defensive strategy for the weaker side to be employed in an over-the-board
game and the winning one for the stronger side.
Example No. 80
H. Raja – S. Khanin
Saint Louis 2022

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 Black to move

It is with this game’s diagram that we begin our study of pawnless or near
pawnless rook and bishop versus rook endings so as to highlight immediately the key
drawn position and its main features. There are two files between the opposite-
placed kings of the stronger and the weaker sides. The weaker side’s rook pins the
bishop, which shields the king from potential checks from the rear. Meanwhile, the
stronger side’s rook cuts off the weaker side’s king on the edge.

94...Ke5

There are two ways for the attacker to succeed in such positions: either White loses
his rook, or Black drives the white king into a mating net. The second way is more
realistic. Therefore, Black’s task is to regroup in such a way that there remains only
one file between the kings of the stronger and weaker sides, the latter being cut off
on the edge file. That will contribute to creating checkmating threats.
If Black does not commit the position of his king, White can also just mark time
with 94...Rg1 95.Rb4!?.
Accordingly, if instead of moving up the black king moves down, the white king
proceeds in the opposite direction as well: 94...Ke3 95.Kh5! Be5 96.Rg4!?

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 94...Ke5 95.Kh3!

The white king immediately shifts in the direction opposite to that of the black
king.

95...Be3 96.Rg4!

Yet another key move. White threatens a rook exchange to lift his king’s cutoff
from the edge file.

96...Ra8 97.Rb4 Bf4 98.Kg4

The white king has broken free, making Black look for ways of edging it back to
the rook file or home rank yet again.

98...Rg8+

99.Kf3!

Now let us digress and show you, by way of example, how the stronger side
prevails if only one file remains between its king and his weaker counterpart cut off
to the board rim: 99.Kh5? Kf5! 100.Rb5+ Be5. The first checkmate threat is in the

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air.
101.Rb6 Rg1! The second checkmate threat appears.
102.Rb4 Rg2! Importantly handing his opponent the move to worsen the location
of the white rook that is busy defending against checkmate.
103.Ra4 Rg7! The third checkmate threat is on the agenda.
104.Ra6

104...Bc7! Yet another crucial move of a restrictive nature. Black takes control of
both the d8-square, from which White could disturb the black king with a check, and
the c7-square to discourage the white rook from showing up there.
105.Rc6. 105.Kh6 loses to 105...Rd7! 106.Kh5 Rd1 107.Ra4 Bd8 108.Kh6 Rd7–+
and White is defenseless.
105...Bf4! Threatening checkmate, Black will return the bishop to e5 while
winning an important tempo.
106.Rc5+ Be5. This is now the fifth checkmating threat on its way.
107.Rc6 Rg5+! It is necessary to force the white king to commit to a route.
108.Kh6. 108.Kh4 fails immediately to 108...Rg2–+, and the white rook is unable
to prevent his king from getting checkmated from the f6-square.
108...Rg1. This is the sixth checkmate threat. 109.Kh7 Rg7+! 110.Kh6 Rd7! The

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seventh checkmating threat is on the horizon.
111.Kh5 (following 111.Rc5 Rd8–+ the white rook is denied access to the с7-
square)

111...Bd6! And here comes the final finesse. Not only does Black interpose along
the sixth rank, disconnecting the white rook from its defensive duties, but also denies
it access to the d6-square that it could use to unsaddle the black king from its key
position.
112.Kh6 Bf4+ 113.Kh5 Rh7+–+ and checkmate next move.
Likewise, 99.Kh4? fails along the same lines to 99...Kf5! 100.Rb5+ Be5 101.Kh3
Rg3+! 102.Kh4 (102.Kh2? Rb3+–+ winning the rook) 102...Ra3! (with the same
idea of nudging the white rook) 103.Rd5 (103.Rc5 Ra2–+ and White can avoid
getting checkmated only at the cost of his rook; the black bishop cannot be unpinned:
103.Rb1 Bf6+ 104.Kh5 Rh3#) 103...Ra8 104.Kh3 Ra2–+ and it is game over.
The above lines give a vivid demonstration of how challenging the defense can be
for the weaker side if the stronger side’s pieces get to optimal positions.

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 99...Rg3+ 100.Ke2 Ra3 101.Rc4

The immediate regrouping of the white rook with 101.Rb8!? to check the
opponent’s king from the rear is also possible.

101...Be3 102.Rc8

102.Rb4!? was also fine: 102...Bd4 103.Rb8 Ke4 104.Re8+ Be5 105.Re7 Ra2+
(105...Rb3 106.Re8!?) 106.Ke1, and we have essentially reached the position from
which we started analyzing this endgame, but turned clockwise downwards. In front
of us is the same picture of two files separating the opponents’ kings, of the pinned
bishop, and of the black rook cutting off the white king.
106...Kd4 (106...Kf4 107.Kd1! Bd4 108.Re2!) 107.Kf1! Bf4 108.Re2!=.

102...Bd4 103.Re8+ Kd5 104.Rd8+

Black realizes his opponent’s awareness of the key drawn position and attempts to
find another way to fight for more.

104...Kc4

104...Ke4 105.Re8+ Be5 106.Re7!? transposes to the positions reviewed earlier.

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 105.Rc8+

105.Rd7!? was worth considering: 105...Ra2+ 106.Kf3 Kd3 107.Rb7 Rf2+

108.Kg3 Ke4 109.Rb4 Rf1 110.Kg4 Rg1+ 111.Kh4= and we are back to the initial
position but 15 moves later.

105...Bc5 106.Re8 Rh3 107.Rc8 Re3+ 108.Kd2

It was also a good plan to divert the king away from the black army with
108.Kf1!?

108...Re7 109.Kc2 Re2+ 110.Kd1 Rh2 111.Kc1

Yet again we see a typical defensive position with two files separating the
opposite-placed kings. Lowering his guard could backfire after 111.Rc7? Kd3!
112.Rd7+ (112.Rxc5 Rh1#) 112...Bd4–+.

111...Kd4 112.Kb1!

Heading in the opposite direction!

112...Bb4 113.Rc2! Rh8 114.Rf2

114.Kb2!? looked interesting

114...Kc3 115.Rc2+ Kd3

Black gets nothing from 115...Kb3 116.Rb2+ Ka4 117.Ka2=.

116.Rf2 Bc3

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 117.Rf3+!

The slow 117.Rg2? fails again to 117...Rh1+ 118.Ka2 Kc4 119.Ka3 (119.Rg4+
Bd4–+) 119...Rh8! 120.Ka2 Ra8+ 121.Kb1 Ra1+ 122.Kc2 Ra2+–+, winning the
rook.

117...Kd2

In case of 117...Kc4 118.Kc2 Rh2+ 119.Kd1 Rd2+ 120.Ke1!= the white king has
no fear of placing himself in discovered check.

118.Rf2+

White could go for 118.Ka2 Kc2 119.Rf2+ Bd2 120.Rf3= and Black cannot win
despite the regrouping of his pieces and reducing the number of files separating the
kings down to one. The white rook safeguards its king from the enemy rook’s checks
from the top of the a-file, and the other part of this file is inaccessible to the black
rook.

118...Ke3 119.Rf7 Rh2 120.Kc1 Bd4 121.Rf8

121.Kb1!? Kd3 122.Rf3+!= was worth playing.

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 121...Kd3 122.Rf3+

The passive defense 122.Rf1? fails to 122...Rc2+! 123.Kb1 (123.Kd1 Ra2

124.Rf3+ Be3–+) 123...Rb2+! 124.Kc1 (124.Ka1 Rf2+–+) 124...Rb8 125.Rd1+ Kc3
126.Re1 (126.Rf1 Be3+ 127.Kd1 Kd3–+) 126...Ra8 127.Kb1 (127.Kd1 Kd3–+)
127...Kb3! 128.Kc1 Ra1+ 129.Kd2 Bc3+ 130.Kd3 Bxe1!–+, avoiding the cunning
checkmating trap set by his opponent.

122...Be3+ 123.Kb1 Re2!

It is to be noted that Black’s strategy has achieved certain success over the past ten
moves. One should bear in mind that the game has already surpassed 100 moves.
Consequently, the defending side, among other things, is under additional pressure
from both lengthy defense fatigue and a possible lack of time on his clock. At the
same time, similar endgames highlight the importance of keeping in mind the 50-
move rule and diligently counting the number of moves made. It has happened more
than once in such endgames that the defending side claimed a draw under this rule
even in a lost position. Even a saving chance like that is not to be missed.

124.Rf5?!

This is not yet a decisive error, but a first step towards losing. The rook is not

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ideally placed on the fifth rank due to the unavailability of some squares controlled
by the bishop.
124.Rf8!? was a better idea: 124...Re1+ (124...Kc4 125.Rc8+ Bc5 126.Kc1=)
125.Ka2 Kc4 126.Kb2 Bd4+ 127.Kc2 Re2+ 128.Kb1! (128.Kd1? Kd3 129.Rf3+
Be3–+) 128...Bc3 (128...Kb3 129.Rb8+!) 129.Rb8! Kd3 (129...Re1+ 130.Kc2!)
130.Rf8! (130.Rg8? Be5–+) 130...Be5 131.Rf3+!= and Black cannot rearrange his
forces to create checkmating threats.

124...Kc3

125.Re5?

And this one is a blunder. 125.Rb5? was also losing, to 125...Bd4 126.Rb8 Kd3
127.Rc8 (127.Rb3+? Bc3–+; 127.Rb4 Rh2 128.Rb5 Rh8 129.Ka2 Kc4 130.Rb7 Ra8+
131.Kb1 Kd3 132.Kc1 Rh8 133.Kb1 Rh1+ 134.Ka2 Ra1+ 135.Kb3 Rb1+–+)
127...Rb2+! 128.Kc1 Ra2! 129.Kd1 (129.Rb8 Rh2 130.Kb1 Rh1+ 131.Ka2 Ra1+
132.Kb3 Rb1+–+, winning the rook) 129...Rf2! 130.Re8 Bf6! We have already seen
a similar winning maneuver.
131.Re6 (likewise, 131.Ke1 fails to 131...Rf5 132.Kd1 Bh4 133.Kc1 Rb5–+)
131...Bc3! 132.Rd6+ Bd4 133.Re6 Rd2+! 134.Ke1 Ra2 135.Kf1 Rf2+! 136.Ke1
Rf5! 137.Kd1 Be5! 138.Ke1 Bc3+ 139.Kd1 Rf1+ 140.Re1 Rxe1#.

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 125.Rf8! Rb2+ 126.Ka1 Bd4 127.Rc8+ would have kept the draw. It was also fine
to go for 127.Rf3+ Kb4 (127...Kc4 128.Rc3+!=) 128.Rf4 Rd2+ 129.Kb1 Kb3
130.Rf3+ Bc3 131.Kc1 Re2 (131...Ra2 132.Kd1) 132.Rd3 Kc4 133.Rh3=.
127...Kd2 (127...Kd3 128.Rc3+!=; 127...Kb3 128.Rb8+=) 128.Rd8! Rb4+
(128...Kd3? 129.Rxd4+ Kxd4 130.Kxb2=) 129.Ka2 Kc2 130.Rc8+ Bc3 131.Ka3
(131.Ra8? Rb1–+) 131...Rb5 (131...Rb7 132.Rc4=) 132.Rc4 Kd3 (132...Rb8
133.Ka4=; 132...Rb1 133.Ka4=) 133.Rc8=.

125...Rb2+ 126.Ka1 Bd4!–+ 127.Rh5

White loses the game after both 127.Re1 Rb4 128.Ka2 Ra4+ 129.Kb1 Kb3
130.Kc1 Bc3–+ and 127.Re8 Rd2 128.Rc8+ Kd3+! 129.Kb1 Rb2+ 130.Kc1 Ra2
followed by the plan seen earlier: 131.Kd1 (131.Rb8 Rh2 132.Kb1 Rh1+ 133.Ka2
Ra1+ 134.Kb3 Rb1+–+) 131...Rf2! 132.Re8 Bf6! 133.Re6 Bc3 134.Rd6+ Bd4
135.Re6 Rd2+! 136.Ke1 Ra2 137.Kf1 Rf2+! 138.Ke1 Rf5! 139.Kd1 Be5!–+.
127.Rc5+ is no longer of any help: 127...Kd2! (127...Kd3? 128.Rc3+!=) 128.Rd5
Rb4+ 129.Ka2 Kc2 130.Ka3 (130.Ra5 Bc3 131.Ra3 Rb2+ 132.Ka1 Rb1+ 133.Ka2
Ra1#) 130...Rc4 131.Ra5 Bc5+ 132.Ka2 Rc3 133.Ra4 Bd6 134.Ra6 (134.Ka1 Kb3!–
+) 134...Bb4 135.Ra8 (135.Ra4 Rb3–+) 135...Rc6 136.Ra4 (136.Ra7 Rb6–+)
136...Rb6 137.Ra8 Bc3 138.Ra7 Rb1–+ and the mating trap has snapped shut.

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 127...Re2?

Reciprocating the blunder. The winning continuation was 127...Rb4!? 128.Rh3+

Kc4+ 129.Ka2 Rb2+! 130.Ka3 Rb1! and again implementing the winning plan that
we know: 131.Ka4 Rb8 132.Rh5 Rb2! 133.Rh3 Bf2! 134.Rf3 Bc5! 135.Rf4+ Bd4!
136.Rf3 Rb4+! 137.Ka3 Rb6! 138.Ka2 Rb2+ 139.Ka3 Re2! 140.Ka4 Be3!–+.

128.Kb1?

White’s inner strength had abandoned him completely by this moment, and he
missed the opportunity to save the game. 128.Rh3+! channeled the game back to a
draw: 128...Be3 (128...Kc4+ 129.Kb1 Bc3 130.Rh7 Kb3 131.Rb7+ Bb4 132.Rc7=)
129.Rh8=.

128...Re1+! 129.Ka2 Kc4!

White resigned because his king is defenseless against the mating threat.
Example No. 81
Vladimir Zakhartsov – A. Barseghyan
Chelyabinsk 2022

White to move

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 A rook and bishop versus rook endgame has already lasted over 30 moves. White
has used this time to edge the black king to the bottom rank and is now looking for
an opportunity to arrange his pieces ideally and complete the mating net prior to
exceeding the fifty-move limit.

100.Kg5

Waiting for his opponent to go wrong. 100.Kf6 Rf7+!= yields nothing, when the
rook is not to be touched because of stalemate.

100.Kg5 Ke7?

Being in a hurry to improve his king’s position, Black overlooks White’s winning
maneuver. He needed to move the rook first, with his king running away from a
dangerous position only afterwards: 100...Rc7 101.Bf5 (101.Kf6 Rf7+!=; 101.Re6
Re7=) 101...Ke7=.

101.Rb6?

White played this move too quickly. He misses the chance provided by his
opponent. 101.Ra7+! was winning: 101...Kf8 102.Ra8+! Ke7 103.Kh6! Kf6
104.Ra6++–, and the black rook falls.

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 101...Rg8 102.Kf5 Rg7 103.Ra6 Kf8 104.Kf6 Rf7+! 105.Kg5 Rc7

Of course not 105...Rg7? 106.Ra8+ Ke7 107.Kh6+– and the black rook is in a
deadly trap again.

106.Re6 Re7 107.Rc6 Ra7 108.Rf6+

A stalemate comes to Black’s rescue once again after 108.Kf6 Rf7+!

108...Kg7!

There is no doing without this precision. Both 108...Ke7? 109.Rf7++– and

108...Kg8? 109.Kh6 Rb7 110.Bc2 Rb8 111.Bf5 Re8 112.Be6+ Kh8 113.Kg6 Ra8
114.Rf1+– are bad.

109.Re6 Rc7 110.Bf5 Kf8 111.Kg6 Rg7+ 112.Kh6

White’s winning dreams also evaporate after 112.Kf6 Rf7+ 113.Ke5 Re7=.

112...Re7 113.Ra6 Rc7 114.Re6 Re7 115.Rc6 Ra7 116.Rg6 Rc7

and, realizing that the 50-move limit was about to be reached, White exchanges off
the rooks in a pointed manner.

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117.Rf6+ Rf7 118.Rxf7+ Kxf7 with a draw agreed.

384
 Example No. 82
B. Jobava – J. Moussard
Catez 2022

Black to move

The black king has already been pushed on to the rook file, while his white
counterpart is located as close as possible, which allows the stronger side to tighten
the mating noose around his opponent’s neck. Only precise play can save the black
king from execution.

94...Ra3?

Black fails to cope with the task.

94...h4? would have failed on the spot to 95.Bd5 Ka6 96.Bc6+–.
94...Ra1? was not a saving move either: 95.Rb7+! Ka8 (95...Ka6 96.Bc4+ Ka5
97.Ra7++–) 96.Rb4 Ra7+ (96...Rc1+ 97.Bc4 Ra1 98.Bd5+ Ka7 99.Rb7+ Ka6
100.Bc4+ Ka5 101.Ra7++–) 97.Kc8 Ra1 (97...Ra3 98.Bc4! Ka7 99.Rb7+ Ka8
100.Bd5+–) 98.Rb8+ Ka7 99.Rb7+ Ka8 (99...Ka6 100.Bc4+ Ka5 101.Ra7++–)
100.Bd5! Rc1+ 101.Rc7++–.

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 94...Ra5? is equally bad: 95.Rb7+! Ka8 (95...Ka6 96.Bc4++–) 96.Rb1 Rc5+
(96...Ra7+ 97.Kc8 Ra5 98.Bd5+! Rxd5 99.Ra1++–) 97.Kb6 Re5 (neither can Black
find his way out of the mating net following 97...Rc2 98.Rd1 Rb2+ 99.Ka6 Kb8
100.Rc1 Ka8 101.Rc8+ Rb8 102.Bd5#) 98.Bd7 Re2 99.Rf1 Rb2+ 100.Bb5+–.
The way to go is 94...Re4!
a) 95.Rb6

95...Re5! This resource is of utmost importance. Both 95...h4? 96.Bd5+– and

95...Rd4? 96.Rb5 Ka6 97.Rxh5 Ra4 98.Rc5 Ra1 99.Bc4+ Ka7 100.Bd3 Ra3 101.Rc4
Ra1 102.Rb4 Rc1+ 103.Bc4 Ra1 104.Bb5 Ra3 105.Rb1! Ra2 106.Bc6 Ka6 107.Rb8
Ka5 108.Ra8++– are bad.
96.Bd7. Following 96.Rc6 h4 97.Bc8 Re7+! 98.Bd7 Re5! 99.Rc4 Ka6 100.Kc6
Ra5 101.Rxh4 Ra1 102.Be6 Rc1+ 103.Bc4+ Ka5 104.Kc5 Rb1 105.Rh8 Rb5+!
106.Kc6 Rb2= the position is a draw.
96...Rc5+ 97.Bc6 Rg5 98.Rb1 Ka6! 98...Rg7+? fails to 99.Bd7 Rg6 100.Rf1 h4
101.Be8! Rg7+ 102.Bf7 Ka6 103.Kc6 Ka5 104.Kc5 Ka6 105.Ra1+ Kb7 106.Bd5+
Kb8 107.Ra8+ Kc7 108.Ra7++–.
99.Ra1+ (99.Rb4 Rg4!?) 99...Ra5 100.Rf1 Rg5= and Black holds a draw;
b) There is no checkmate following 95.Rb1 Rxe6 96.Ra1+ Ra6=;
c) A draw results from both 95.Bd7 Rc4+ 96.Bc6 Rxc6+ 97.Kxc6 Kxb8 98.Kd5

386
h4 99.Ke4 h3 100.Kf3 h2 101.Kg2=;
d) and 95.Bd5 Re7+ 96.Kd6 Kxb8 97.Kxe7=;
e) In case of 95.Re8 Re1 96.Kc6 Rc1+! 97.Kb5 Rb1+ 98.Kc5 Rc1+ 99.Bc4 h4!?=
the mating noose unties;
f) 95.Rb7+ is of no help: 95...Ka6! 96.Bd7 Rc4+ 97.Bc6 h4 98.Rb1 (98.Rb8 Ka5)
98...Ka5= and the black king breaks free.

94...Ra3? 95.Bc4! Rg3

95...Ra4 loses on the spot to 96.Bd5 Ka6 97.Bc6+–.

Black is also in bad shape after 95...Rc3 96.Rb4 Ra3 97.Bb5 h4 (97...Rc3+ 98.Bc6
Ra3 99.Rb8+–; 97...Ra1 98.Bc6 Ka6 99.Rb8 Ka5 100.Ra8++–) 98.Rxh4 Ra1
(98...Rc3+ 99.Bc6 Ra3 100.Rh8+–) 99.Bc6 Ka6 100.Rh8 Ka5 101.Ra8++– winning
the rook.

96.Rb7+! Ka8 97.Rb6! Ra3

97...Rg7+ leads to checkmate: 98.Kc8 h4 99.Ra6+ Ra7 100.Bd5#.

98.Rb8+ Ka7 99.Rb7+! Ka8

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 100.Kb6! Regrouping the king to create new mating threats.

100...Ra1

There is no saving the game either after 100...Rg3 101.Re7! Rg6+ 102.Be6+–.
100...Re3 101.Bd5+– is equally bad.

101.Rh7 Rb1+ 102.Bb5 and Black resigned in the face of inevitable checkmate.

Among other matters, the above rook and bishop versus rook endgame examples
show the practical challenges even for professional chess players in terms of
defending for the weaker side or finding the right solutions in already winning
positions for the stronger side.
We now move to reviewing rook and knight versus rook endings. A major
difference from endgames with an extra bishop is that it is far more difficult for the
rook and knight tandem to drive the weaker side’s king from the center and into a
corner. However, if it does come about, or a structure with such a misplaced king is
already in place in the starting position, the chances of winning increase
dramatically. When supported by their king, a rook and knight may in cases be no
less productive in constructing mating nets than a rook and a bishop. The example
below demonstrates this.
Example No. 83
S. Mamedyarov – B. Gelfand
Pamplona 2004

388
 Black to move

Black has cornered the white king and now finishes him off.

66...Rd6!

Only here. Not only does this square provide the rook with an additional
opportunity of challenging the white king along the h-file, but also of performing
vital defensive duties.

67.Ra2

The following line highlights the advantage of placing the black rook on the sixth
rank: 67.Rf7 Kg3 68.Rg7+ Ng6!–+, and White cannot stop checkmate along the
home rank.
Black also completes the mating net after 67.Ra3+ Kf2 68.Ra2+ Ne2–+.

67...Rh6+

67...Kg3 68.Ra3+ Kf2 69.Ra2+ Ne2–+ was a winner, too.

68.Rh2

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 68.Kg1 Ne2+–+ is no better.

68...Nh3!

The final chord. White resigned in the face of 69.Ra2 Nf2+ 70.Kg1 Rh1#.
The following example comes from a game between two of history’s greatest
players.
Example No. 84
J. Polgar – G. Kasparov
Dos Hermanas 1996

390
 White to move

Black is close to achieving complete coordination of his pieces. It remains to bring

the knight over to the enemy king, and the mating net will begin to wrap around it.

79.Ra1?

White counts on adding to her rook’s range of defensive abilities so that it can
hassle the black king with side checks. 79.Kg8? fails to 79...Rg5+ 80.Kh8 (80.Kf8?
Ne6+ 81.Ke8 Rg8+ 82.Kd7 Rd8+–+ winning the rook; 80.Kh7 Nf5 81.Rh1 Kf7
82.Rh2 Rg3! 83.Rh1 [83.Rh5 Ne7–+] 83...Rf3 84.Rh2 Ne3 85.Rh4 [85.Rh1 Ng4
86.Rh4 Rg3 87.Kh8 Nf6–+] 85...Ng4! 86.Kh8 [86.Rxg4 Rh3+–+] 86...Nf6–+ and
the white king is doomed.)
80...Nf5 81.Rh1. 81.Rf1 is no better: 81...Kf7 82.Rh1 Rg2 83.Rh7+ (83.Kh7 Ng3
84.Rh4 Ne4!–+) 83...Kf8 84.Rh1 Nd6–+, with checkmate soon after.
81...Kf7 82.Rh2 Rg3! 83.Kh7 Rf3! Gearing up for the decisive regrouping of his
knight.
84.Rh1 Ne7 85.Kh6 Rf5! 86.Kh7 Ng8 87.Kh8 Nf6 88.Rh6 Rg5 89.Rg6 Rh5+–+.
79.Kh7? Rh5+ 80.Kg8 Rg5+–+ transposes to the above line.
Neither does 79.Rh1? solve any problems: 79...Nf3! 80.Rh6+ (80.Kh7 Rd7+

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81.Kh6 Rd8 82.Kh7 Ng5+ 83.Kh6 Rh8#) 80...Kf7! 81.Rh7+ (81.Kh7 Ng5+
82.Kh8 Rd8#; 81.Rh1 Kg6–+; 81.Rh3 Rd8+ 82.Kh7 Ng5+–+) 81...Kg6 82.Rg7+
Kf6

a) 83.Rg3 Ng5–+ and the white king is in for checkmate.

The following lines end up in checkmate again.
b) 83.Kh7 Ng5+ 84.Kh6 Nf7+ 85.Kh7 Rh5+ 86.Kg8 Rh8#;
c) 83.Kg8 Rd8+ 84.Kh7 Ng5+ 85.Kh6 Rh8+ 86.Rh7 Rxh7#;
d) 83.Ra7 Rd8+ 84.Kh7 Ng5+ 85.Kh6 Rh8+ 86.Rh7 Rxh7#;
e) White is also doomed in case of 83.Rg2 Rd4! 84.Rf2 (84.Kg8 Rd8+ 85.Kh7
Ng5+ 86.Kh6 Rh8#; 84.Kh7 Ng5+ 85.Kg8 Rd8#) 84...Kg6 85.Rg2+ Ng5–+.
Only 79.Rf1+! would have kept White in the game: 79...Nf5. The white rook never
stops pursuing the black king following 79...Kg6 80.Rg1+! Kh6 81.Rh1+!.
80.Rf2. White’s rook pins the enemy knight and is also on alert to deliver checks if
the black king walks to the g- or h-files.
80...Rd3 (80...Kf7 81.Rf1!; 80...Kg6 81.Rg2+!; 80...Rd1 81.Kg8! Ra1 82.Rf4! Ra2
83.Rf1!)

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 81.Kg8! Yet another only move. 81.Rf1? fails to 81...Kg6 82.Rg1+ Ng3–+, while
after 81.Kh7? Rg3 82.Rf1 Rg5! 83.Rf2 Kf7 84.Rh2 Rg3! 85.Rh1 Rf3! we again
witness the above-mentioned winning plan in action: 86.Rh2 Ne3 87.Rh4 Ng4!–+.
81...Ra3. Both 81...Kg6 82.Rg2+ Ng3 83.Kf8! and 81...Rg3+ 82.Kf8! Ra3 83.Ke8
allow the white king out of the mating trap.
82.Rf1! Ra2. This is a key position that the defending side should keep in mind.

83.Rf4! The only move yet again. Both 83.Rf3? Kg6–+ and 83.Rh1 Ne7+ 84.Kh7

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Rf2 85.Kh6 Nf5+ 86.Kh7 Kf7–+ lose the game.
83...Ra1 (83...Kg6 84.Rg4+!; 83...Kg5 84.Rb4!) 84.Rf2!= and White holds the
ground.

79.Ra1? Ne6! 80.Ra6

80.Rf1+ Kg6 81.Rg1+ Ng5–+ would have lost on the spot.

White is also in grim shape after 80.Ra8 Kg6 81.Kg8 (81.Rg8+ Kf7–+) 81...Rd6
82.Rb8 Ng5 83.Kf8 (83.Ra8 Nh7 84.Rb8 Nf6+ 85.Kf8 [85.Kh8 Rd7 86.Rb7 Rd8#]
85...Rd7 86.Rb7 Nh7+–+) 83...Re6 84.Kg8 Nh7 85.Kh8 Nf6 86.Rf8 Re7 87.Rf7
Re8+!–+.

80...Kf7 81.Ra7+ Kg6 82.Ra8

82...Rd7

White could also get the upper hand via 82...Rd6!? 83.Rg8+ (83.Kg8 Nc7 84.Rb8
Nd5 85.Kf8 Rd7–+) 83...Kh6 84.Ra8 Ng5 85.Kg8 Kg6 86.Kf8 Re6! 87.Kg8 Nh7
88.Kh8 Nf6–+.

83.Rb8

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 Black completes weaving the mating net following 83.Kg8 Nc7 84.Rb8 Nd5–+.
Also, in case of 83.Rg8+ Kh6 84.Rb8 Nf4 85.Kg8 Ng6 86.Rb7 Ne7+!–+, the
stalemate idea fails to work for White.

83...Rc7 84.Kg8 Rc5 85.Ra8

Nor is 85.Re8 Rc6 86.Rb8 Ng5 87.Kf8 Re6 88.Kg8 Nh7–+ any better than the
text.

85...Rb5 86.Kh8

Black triumphs in line with the patterns seen earlier after 86.Rc8 Rb7

87.Kh8 (87.Ra8 Nc7 88.Rd8 Nd5–+; 87.Re8 Nc7 88.Rd8 Nd5–+) 87...Rb6 (the
position after White’s 87th move was reached via a different move order in the
actual game, and Kasparov’s 87...Nc7! played was equally strong) 88.Kg8 Ng5
89.Kf8 Re6 90.Kg8 Nh7–+.

86...Rb7 87.Rc8

87.Kg8 falls to checkmate: 87...Nc7 88.Rd8 Nd5! 89.Rxd5 (89.Rd6+ Nf6+–+;

89.Kf8 Rf7+ 90.Ke8 Nf6#) 89...Rb8+ 90.Rd8 Rxd8#.

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 87...Nc7! 88.Rg8+

White also loses in case of 88.Kg8 Nd5–+.

88...Kh6 89.Rg1 Rb8+ 90.Rg8 Ne8! and White resigned in the face of 91.Rf8 Kg6
92.Rg8+ Kf7.

Example No. 85
J. Lopez Martinez – V. Mikhalevski
La Roda 2022

396
 White to move

What we see in front of us is virtually a deja-vu of the Polgar – Kasparov game but
over a quarter of a century later. As in the predecessor game, the Spanish
grandmaster, playing White, also failed to demonstrate the way to a draw.

118.Ra1?

As we already know, the correct plan is to keep the rook on the f-file. Reaching a
draw takes 118.Rf1! Ra8 119.Rf2 Ra1 120.Kg8!=.

118.Ra1? Rd7+! 119.Kh8

119.Kg8 fails on the spot to 119...Nh6+ 120.Kh8 (120.Kf8 Rd8#) 120...Nf7+

121.Kg8 (121.Kh7 Ng5+ 122.Kh6 Rh7#) 121...Rd8+ 122.Kh7 Rh8#.

119...Rd4

119...Rd3!? is more precise.

120.Rf1

White is checkmated after both 120.Kh7 Rh4+ 121.Kg8 Ne7+ 122.Kf8 Rh8# and

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120.Kg8 Ne7+ 121.Kf8 (121.Kh8 Rh4#) 121...Rd8#.
Black wins with already known patterns in case of 120.Rh1 Kf7 121.Kh7 Rg4
122.Rh2 Rf4 123.Rh1 Ng3 124.Rh2 Ne4 125.Kh6 Rg4 126.Kh5 (126.Rh1 Nf6
127.Rg1 Ng8+!–+) 126...Nf6+ 127.Kh6 Rg6#.

120...Kg6 121.Rg1+ Kf7 122.Rh1 Rd3 123.Kh7

123.Rh7+ Kg6–+ is game over.

123...Rd7?

This is a blunder that throws the win away. Black needed to take control over the f-
file, limiting the opposing rook’s ability to deliver checks, and then reroute his
knight to construct mating structures. We have also seen this key maneuver in
various forms in the previous example:
123...Rf3!? 124.Rh5 (124.Kh8 Ne7 125.Rh7+ Kf8 126.Rh1 Ng8 127.Kh7 Kf7
128.Kh8 Nf6–+; 124.Rh2 Ne7 125.Kh6 Rf5! 126.Kh7 Ng8 127.Rh1 Rg5 128.Rf1+
Nf6+–+) 124...Rf1 125.Rh3 Ne7 126.Kh6 Rf5! 127.Kh7 Ng8 128.Rh1 Rg5
129.Rf1+ Nf6+ 130.Kh6 (130.Kh8 Rg8#) 130...Rg6#.

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 124.Kh8?

White misses the opportunity provided by his opponent. 124.Rf1! would have led
to a drawn position yet again: 124...Kf6+ 125.Kh8 Ra7 126.Rf2 Ra1 127.Kg8! (both
127.Rf3? Kg6–+ and 127.Rf4? Kg6 128.Rg4+ Kf7–+ lose the game) 127...Rb1
128.Rf4!=.

124...Kf6?

It was necessary to go back to the winning plan one more time with 124...Rd3
125.Kh7 Rf3!–+.

125.Ra1?

A lack of command of similar endgames and likely fatigue from having to fight
back over a long time takes its toll on White’s play. As we already know, 125.Rf1!=
is the way to go.

125...Rd3! 126.Rh1

Black finishes the mating net after both 126.Ra7 Rh3+ 127.Rh7 Nh6 128.Ra7
Nf7+ 129.Kg8 Rh8# and 126.Ra6+ Kf7 127.Ra7+ Ne7–+. 126.Rf1 Kg6 127.Rg1+

399
Ng3–+ makes no difference.

126...Kg6 and White resigned in the face of 127.Rg1+ Ng3.

And, finally, wrapping up this section is an example in which the weaker side
achieved a draw with precise defense.
Example No. 86
H. Gabuzyan– S. Sargsyan
Yerevan 2022

White to move

Unlike the previously analyzed rook and bishop endgames, in which the opposing
king’s placement in the middle of the rank or file gives the stronger side’s rook both
sides of the rank or file to create mating threats, a rook and a knight profit from
having the defending side’s king pressed into a corner with a mating net in store for
him there.

80.Rh4!

Resorting to a pin to fend off Black’s concrete threat. 80.Rh1? fails on the spot to
80...Nb3+ 81.Ka4 Ra6#

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 80.Rh4! Re6 81.Rg4!

White marks his time, maintaining the pin to restrict the opponent’s knight.

81...Rh6 82.Re4 Rh1

Black attempts to regroup his pieces.

83.Rg4 Rh2 84.Kb6!

White exploits the opportunity to evacuate his king out of the risky area.

84...Rf2 85.Rh4 Kd5 86.Rh5+ Nf5 87.Rh1 Rb2+ 88.Kc7 Rd2 89.Rh5

Restricting the black knight’s activity with a pin yet again.

89...Rc2+ 90.Kb6 Ke6 91.Rh1 Rc3 92.Rh5 Nd4 93.Rh6+ Kd5 94.Rh5+ Kd6
95.Rh6+ Ne6

96.Kb5!

Preventing the opponent from cutting off his king on the very edge of the board.

401
 96...Rc1 97.Kb4 Ke5 98.Rh5+ Ke4 99.Rh4+ Nf4 100.Kb5 Ke5 101.Rh8 Ne6
102.Rh5+ Kd6 103.Kb4 Nc5 104.Rh6+ Kd5 105.Rh5+ Kd4 106.Rh4+ Ne4
107.Kb5

Taking care to avoid having his king pressed to the edge of the board yet again.

107...Rc5+ 108.Kb6 Re5 109.Kc6 Kc4 110.Rf4 Re6+ 111.Kd7

and, realizing the futility of further attempts to play for a win, Black goes for the
exchange of rooks

111...Kd5 112.Rf5+! Re5 113.Rxe5+ Kxe5. Draw.

We now turn to over-the-board examples of struggle between a rook and minor

piece versus a pair of minor pieces.
Example No. 87
F. Klein – J. Werle
Germany 2020

White to move

White has a pair of connected passed pawns for the missing exchange. However,

402
Black has a very active king and is capable of building mating threats to its white
counterpart.

40.Kb2?

White’s choice of king route is wide of the mark. Both 40.Nc5? Kc3
and 40.a5? Kc3 are obviously bad.
White should have sidestepped the mating ideas by directing his king to the center
instead: 40.Kd2! Rf8 (40...Rc8 41.Nc5=) 41.Be2 Rf2 (the white passed pawns
generate enough counterplay after 41...Rf4 42.b5 Rxh4 43.b6 Kd5 44.a5=) 42.Nd6
Rh2 (42...Bd3 leads to equality after 43.Nb5+ Bxb5 44.axb5=) 43.Nb5+ Ke5
(43...Kd5 44.a5 Rxh4 45.a6 Rxb4 46.a7 Ra4 47.Nc3+ Kc6 48.Nxa4 Kb7=) 44.a5
Rxh4 (44...Bf7 45.Nc3 Bc4 46.b5 Bxe2 47.Nxe2 Rxh4 48.b6 Kd6 49.Ng3=) 45.a6
Rxb4 46.a7 Be4
(46...Ra4 47.Bf3 Be4 48.Bxe4 Rxa7! [48...Kxe4? 49.Nc3++–] 49.Nxa7 Kxe4=)
47.Nc3 Rb2+ (47...Ba8 48.Bxh5 Rb7 49.Bf3 Rd7+ 50.Ke3=) 48.Ke3 Rb3
(48...Ba8 49.Bf3 Rb3 50.Bxa8 Rxc3+ 51.Kd2 Ra3 52.Bf3 Rxa7 53.Bxh5=) 49.Kd2
Bc6 50.Bxh5 Ra3 51.Be2 Rxa7= and Black has failed to disorganize the opponent’s
pieces and create problems for the white king, which means that the position is
drawn.

40.Kb2? Rf8!

And now the white king falls under a mating attack.

41.Nd6

Neither 41.a5 Rf2+ 42.Ka1 (42.Ka3 Bf7–+; 42.Kc1 Rc2+ 43.Kd1 Ke3 44.Nc5
Rb2–+) 42...Kc3 43.a6 Rd2 44.Ba4 Bf7 45.Nc5 Kxb4 46.a7 Bd5 47.Nb3 (47.Bb3
Bf3–+) 47...Rh2–+, nor 41.Nc5 Rf2+ 42.Ka1 (42.Kb3? Bf7+ 43.Ka3 Ra2#)
42...Kc3–+ are any better than the text.

403
 41...Rf6!

Displacing the knight to a worse pasture.

42.Nc4 Rf2+! 43.Kc1

Neither 43.Ka3 Bf7 44.Nb2 Rf3+ 45.Bd3 Bc4–+, nor 43.Ka1 Kc3–+ make any
difference now.

43...Kc3! 44.Kd1

White loses anyway after 44.Ne3 Kxb4–+.

44...Rf1+ 45.Ke2 Bd3+ and White resigned.

Example No. 88
K. Dragun – S. Sevian
Saint Louis 2022

404
 White to move

At first glance, conversion of his material advantage should pose no problems for
White. To achieve this he should bring his king into play.

67.Ke3?

This is too blunt. 67.Ke2 Bb5+ 68.Kd2? would have landed White with the same
problems as in the game. 68.Ke3? is no better: 68...Kb7 69.Rb1 Kc6 70.Rc1+ Kb7=.
68.Ke1! is correct and now 68...Kb7? runs into 69.Ra7+! Kc6 70.Bd8 Nxb6
71.Rc7+ Kd5 72.Rb7+–, and Black has no saving check.
68...Kb7! 69.Ra7+ (69.Rb1 Kc6! 70.Rc1+ Kb7) 69...Kc6 70.Bd8 Nxb6 71.Rc7+
Kd5 72.Rb7 Nc4+!=.
It was necessary to restrict the black king first with 67.Ra7! Nf6 (if Black marks
time with 67...Bb7 68.Ke2! Bc6 69.Kd3 Bd5 70.Kc3 e4 71.Kb4 e3 72.Kb5 e2
73.Bg3 Bb7 74.Ra3+– White brings his king to his pawn to free up his pieces for
decisive action. Likewise, 67...e4 68.Ke3+– makes no difference), and reroute the
king to the queenside only afterwards: 68.Ke2! (68.Bxe5? Ng4+) 68...e4 (68...Nd5
69.Bxe5! Bb7 70.Bd4+–) 69.Ke3 Bb7. Both 69...Nd5+ 70.Kd4 e3 71.Bg3 Bb7
72.Ra5! Nxb6 73.Rc5+ Kd8 74.Bc7++–, and 69...Nd7 70.Kd4+– lose the game.

405
 70.Ra5! Kd7. 70...Nd5+ is also bad for Black: 71.Kd4 Nxc7 72.Rc5+–, whereas
after 70...Bc6 71.Kd4 Nd7 72.Ra1 Kb7 73.Ra7+! Kc8 74.Kc4 e3 75.Bf4 e2
76.Rc7+ Kd8 77.Bg5+ Ke8 78.Bh4 Nxb6+ 79.Kc5+– Black ends up dropping a
piece.
71.Kd4! e3

72.Rc5! (72.Kxe3? Nd5+=) 72...e2 (72...Bc6 73.Rg5+–) 73.Bg3 Ne4 74.Rc7+

Ke6 75.Bh4! Nd6 76.Re7++–, winning a pawn.

67.Ke3? Nf6!

Now Black exploits the white king’s misplaced position not only to put pressure on
the pawn, but also to attack the white bishop with a fork.

68.Bxe5?!

Transposing to another type of endgame, which proves to be a draw. 68.Rc1 Nd5+

69.Ke4 Kb7= is of no help because the white pawn is doomed.
68.Ra7 would still have retained winning chances: 68...Nd5+ 69.Kd2 Bb7 70.Ra1
Bc6 (70...Nxc7? 71.Rc1+–) 71.Rc1 Kd7 72.Rg1 Kc8! (72...Nxc7? 73.Rg7++–) and
now in case of 73.Rg7 Kb7! 74.Bd8+ Kc8 75.Rg6 Kb7! 76.Rg1 Kc8! (76...Nxb6?
77.Rb1+–) 77.Rc1 Kd7! we see how White runs into problems keeping his pawn

406
alive, but 73.Bxe5! Nxb6 74.Kc3 is stronger, and this ending gives White substantial
practical winning chances, as we are going to see in the next example.

68...Nd5+ 69.Kd4 Nxb6 70.Kc5 Nd7+!

70...Kb7? fails to 71.Rb1+–.

71.Kxc6 Nxe5+ 72.Kd6

72...Nd7!

The only move that holds a draw.

Both 72...Nf7+? 73.Ke7 Ne5 74.Rc1+ Kb7 75.Kd6 Nf7+ 76.Ke6 Nd8+ 77.Kd7
Nf7 78.Rc5+–,
and 72...Nc4+? 73.Kd5! Ne3+ (73...Nb6+? 74.Kc6 Nd7 75.Ra8+ Nb8+
76.Kb6+–) 74.Ke4 Ng4 (74...Nc4 75.Rc1+–) 75.Ra6 Nf2+ 76.Ke3 Ng4+ 77.Kf4
Nf2 78.Rd6+– would have lost the game because the black knight has departed from
its king and is doomed in both cases.

73.Ra7 Nb8!

73...Nb6? 74.Kc6+–.

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 74.Ra2 Nd7 75.Ra1 Nb8!

Then White persisted for ages in unsuccessful attempts to make Black go wrong.

76.Rh1 Kb7 77.Rb1+ Kc8 78.Rb3 Nd7 79.Rc3+ Kd8 80.Rc1 Nf8 81.Re1 Nd7
82.Ra1 Kc8 83.Rb1 Nb8 84.Rc1+ Kb7 85.Rc2 Na6 86.Rb2+ Kc8 87.Rb5 Nb8!
88.Ra5 Kb7 89.Ra2 Na6 90.Rb2+ Kc8 91.Rb3 Nb8! 92.Rb6 Nd7 93.Rc6+ Kd8
94.Rc7 Nf8 95.Re7

95.Ra7 Ke8!= is a draw, too.

95...Ng6 96.Rf7

96.Rg7 Nf8!= makes no difference to the evaluation.

96...Ke8!

Not only defending against a potential checkmate along the bottom rank, but also
rushing to his knight’s rescue.

97.Rf6 Nf8

and White finally recognized the futility of his attempts to prevail in this ending.

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 98.Rxf8+ Kxf8 and a draw agreed.

Example No. 89
F. Vallejo Pons – M. Carlsen
Karlsruhe 2019

Black to move

This time we begin not with the rook and minor piece vs. two minor pieces
endgame itself, but with the move prefacing it so as not to miss a classy idea from
the world champion.

48...g2!

Black gives up his last pawn in exchange for more valuable material. The position
is ripe for taking a committal decision about what material balance to choose for the
final endgame type. And now it is up to White to select the lesser evil.
Black gains nothing from 48...Ng5+? 49.Kh4.

48...g2! 49.Bxg2

49.Rxg2? Nf4+ fails on the spot because White drops an entire rook.

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 Or 49.Ne3 Ra3. The endgame is also winning following 49...Nf4+ 50.Rxf4+
(50.Kh4 Ra3! 51.Nd5+ Nxd5 52.Bxd5? Bg3+!–+) 50...Bxf4 51.Nxg2 Bd6–+.
50.Rxg2 (50.Kxg2 Rxe3–+) 50...Rxe3+ 51.Kg4 Nd4

The current material balance is rook and two minor pieces versus rook and minor
piece with no pawns on the board. Overall, this balance is considered drawish.
However, in this particular position White experiences problems with his king,
which proves decisive in assessing the position as winning for Black.
52.Bb7. 52.Bd5? fails to 52...Nf5 53.Ba2 (53.Rf2? Rg3+ 54.Kh5 Rg5#; 53.Bb7?
Rb3–+) 53...Nh6+ 54.Kh4 (54.Kh5 Rh3#) 54...Bg3+! 55.Kh5 (55.Rxg3 Nf5+–+;
55.Kh3 Bf4+ 56.Kh4 Re1–+) 55...Kg7–+, and Black has woven a mating net for the
white king.
52...Nf5! 53.Bc8 Nd6 54.Bd7 Rc3! 55.Rf2+ Ke7 56.Re2 (White is doomed
following 56.Bf5 Rg3+ 57.Kh4 Nc4 58.Bh3 Ne3–+) 56...Nc4 57.Bb5 Ne3+ 58.Kf3
Nf5+ 59.Kf2 Kf6–+. The white king seems to have fled from the danger zone.
However, a second wave of attack by the regrouped black figures is about to come.
For example, 60.Rd2 Bd4+ 61.Ke2 Bc5 62.Rb2 Rh3 63.Kd2 Ke5 64.Rb1 Nd6
65.Bd3 Kd4 66.Bg6 Nc4+ 67.Ke1 Rh6! 68.Rd1+ Ke5 69.Bf7 Rh1+ 70.Ke2 Rh2+
71.Ke1 Ne3–+ and Black gets the upper hand.

49...Nf4+ 50.Rxf4+

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 50.Kh4? is bad: 50...Nxg2+ 51.Kh5 (51.Kh3 Nf4+!) 51...Nf4+ 52.Kh4 Ra8!
53.Kg3 (53.Rg1 Rh8+ 54.Kg3 Ne2+–+) 53...Ra3+ 54.Kf2 Bd4+ 55.Ke1 Kf5
56.Rg8 Ra1+–+.

50...Bxf4–+

The material balance currently on the board is also considered to be drawn.

However, in evaluating a particular endgame the weaker side’s king’s position and
piece activity again come to the forefront. In fact, White is up against significant
challenges here. His king is under attack, while his pieces are hard to coordinate.

51.Bf3 Bb8! 52.Ng3 Kg5! 53.Ne2

53.Ne4+? loses quickly to 53...Kf4 54.Bh1 Ra3+ 55.Kh4 Ba7 56.Bg2 (56.Ng5
Bf2+ 57.Kh5 Ra5–+) 56...Ra2 57.Kh3 Ra6–+.

53...Bc7! 54.Kg2

There are no alternative moves: 54.Nd4? Rh2#; 54.Bg4? Ra3+.

54...Kh4! 55.Kf2 Bb6+! 56.Ke1

Keeping the king on the flank is of no help either: 56.Kg2 Be3 57.Kh2 Ra1

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58.Kg2? Re1 59.Kh2 (59.Nc3 Rg1+ 60.Kh2 Rc1 61.Ne4 Rc2+ 62.Kh1 Ba7 63.Bg2
Rc1+ 64.Kh2 Bb8+ 65.Ng3 Bxg3#) 59...Rf1 60.Bd5 Rf2+–+.

56...Be3!

Rerouting the bishop to a stronger outpost.

57.Kd1 Kg5 58.Be4

58.Nc3! is more precise.

58...Kf6 59.Bf3 Ke5 60.Bg2 Kd6?!

The world champion has played superbly up to this moment, but now deviates
from the precise winning plan. 60...Bd2! is correct: 61.Bf3 Bb4 62.Bg2 Kf6! 63.Bf3
Kg5! 64.Kc1 (64.Bg2 Kg4–+) 64...Rd2 65.Kb1 Ba3 66.Ka1 Bc5 67.Kb1 Rd3!
68.Bc6 Re3 69.Nc1 Ba3 70.Na2 Rb3+ 71.Ka1 (71.Kc2 Rb2+–+) 71...Bd6–+ and
Black wins.

61.Be4 Kc5 62.Bf5

62.Bf3! is stronger, setting the following trap: 62...Kc4? 63.Bd5! Kxd5 64.Nc3+=.

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 62...Rd2+ 63.Ke1 Rd8 64.Be4

64.Kf1? is bad: 64...Rf8 65.Ng3 Bf4 66.Ne4+ Kd4 67.Bg6 (67.Bh7 Ke3 68.Kg2
Rf7 69.Bg6 Rg7–+) 67...Ke3 68.Kg2 (68.Ke1 Rg8–+) 68...Rg8–+.

64...Kc4 65.Kf1

65.Ng3! is tougher.

65...Rf8+

66.Ke1?

This is an erroneous decision. The correct continuation was 66.Kg2! Rf2+ 67.Kh1!
with a cute stalemate idea 67...Rxe2? (67...Kb4 68.Bd3! and the black king cannot
become part of a full-fledged fight) 68.Bd3+! Kxd3=.

66...Bf2+! 67.Kd2

67.Kf1 also failed to 67...Bc5+ 68.Ke1 (68.Kg2 Rf2+–+) 68...Bb4+ 69.Kd1 Rd8+
70.Kc1 Be7 71.Kc2 (71.Nf4 Bg5–+; 71.Ng3 Bg5+ 72.Kb2 Rd2+ 73.Bc2 Bf4
74.Ne4 Rh2 75.Kb1 Rh1+ 76.Ka2 Be5 77.Bb1 Kb4–+) 71...Bg5–+.

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 67...Rd8+! 68.Kc2

68.Kc1? Be3+ 69.Kb1 Rd1+ 70.Kc2 Rd2+–+ is bad.

68...Be3!

Paving the way for infiltration of the black rook along the d-file.

69.Bf3

There is no good move for White now.

69.Nc1 Rd2+ 70.Kb1 Rd1–+, 69.Nc3 Rd2+–+, 69.Ng3 Rd2+ 70.Kb1 Kb3 71.Bf3
Rb2+ 72.Ka1 Bd4 73.Nf5 Ra2+ 74.Kb1 Ra1#, and 69.Kb1 Rd1+ 70.Kb2 Rd2+–+
all lose the game.

69...Rd2+ 70.Kb1 Kb3! 71.Nc1+

Or 71.Ng3 Rb2+ 72.Ka1 Bd4 73.Bd5+ Ka3–+.

71...Ka3 72.Ne2 Rb2+ 73.Ka1 Rb8 and White resigned in the face of the black
bishop’s transfer to the а1-h8 diagonal with a crushing effect.

Lessons from my Career

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 Example No. 90
A. Mista – A. Galkin
Plovdiv 2008

Black to move

Black has a bishop, a pair of pawns and very active pieces for the exchange.
Obviously, if he succeeds in coping with his opponent’s concrete threats he will
enjoy substantial winning chances.

37...Be3!

Stifling the rook’s pressure along the e-file. The pawn move 37...e5 walks into the
38.Nd7+ fork .
Meanwhile, in case of 37...Bf2?! 38.Rxe6+ Kf7 39.Re5! (39.Re2 Nc3+) 39...f4
(39...Bxg3 40.Rxf5+ Nf6 41.Ng6 Ke6 42.Rf3 Nxh5 43.Nf8+ Ke7 44.Ng6+=)
40.Rf5+ Nf6 (40...Ke8? is an error because of 41.g4!) 41.Rxf4 Bxg3 42.Rf3 Kxf8
43.Rxg3 Nxh5 44.Rf3+ Nf6 45.Kc2 Kf7 (45...h5 46.Kc3 h4? 47.Rf4 h3 48.Rh4)
46.Kc3 g5 (46...h5 47.Kd4!) 47.Kd4 Ke6 (47...Kg6 48.Ke5 Ng4+ 49.Ke4 h5
50.Rf8=) 48.Re3+ Kd6 49.Rf3= the activity of the white pieces is sufficient for
equality.

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 37...Be3! 38.Rf1

After 38.Nd7+ Ke7 39.Nc5 (39.Ne5 Bf2–+) 39...b6!? 40.Nb3 Bf2 41.Rc1 Kd6–+
or 38.Kc2 Kf7!? 39.Nd7 Bf2–+ Black wins yet another pawn.

38...Bd4!

38...e5? is premature yet again: 39.Nd7+! Ke6 40.Nf8+=.

39.Re1

Both 39.Kc2? Ne3+–+ and 39.Nd7+ Ke7!? 40.Nc5 b6 41.Nb3 Be5 42.Rf3
(42.Rg1 Nf6–+) 42...Nf6 43.Re3 Ng4 44.Rf3 Kd6 45.d4 Bf6 46.Kc2 Bg5 47.Kd3
Nf6–+ are bad.

39...e5!

39...Ke7? is wrong because of 40.Nxe6 Bc3 (40...Bf2 41.Rf1) 41.Re2.

40.Nd7+ Ke6 41.Nxe5?

White fails to see the trap set by his opponent. His position is bad following
41.Nf8+ Ke7 42.Ng6+ Kf6µ.
It was worth going for 41.Nc5+ Bxc5 42.bxc5 Nf6 43.d4 (43.Rh1? Nd7 44.Rc1
Kf6 45.Kb2 Kg5–+) 43...e4 44.Rh1 (44.Kc2? Nxh5 45.g4 fxg4 46.Rxe4+ Kf5
47.Re5+ Kf4 48.Rxh5 g3 49.Rh1 g2 50.Rd1 Kg3–+) 44...Kd5 45.Rf1 Kxd4 46.Rxf5
b5!? 47.cxb6 (47.Kc2? a5 48.Kd2 b4 49.axb4 axb4 50.Kc2 e3–+) 47...axb6µ, but
White’s position looks difficult here as well.

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 41...Bc3!

A strong intermezzo. Now the white rook is in for a fork in the line 42.Re2 Bxe5
43.d4 Nc3+. Therefore, White resigned.
We now review examples from grandmaster games in which the rook and minor
piece tandem opposes a pair of rooks.
Example No. 91
S. Brynell – B. Heberla
Sweden 2020

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 White to move

Black is material up. However, pawns on the same flank and overall activity of
White’s pieces offer the latter player hope of a satisfactory outcome in this game. It
only remains to find the right path.

58.Re7?

In defending his pawn White does not fully realize the challenges his king is up
against. 58.h6?! is underwhelming too: 58...Rh1+ 59.Kg3 (59.Kg5 gxh6#) 59...Rxh6
60.Ne7+ Kh8 61.Nf5 Rg6!? and Black should convert his material advantage.
It was necessary to start generating counterplay even at the cost of a pawn:
58.Ne7+! Kh8 (58...Kf7? 59.Ng6+) 59.e5! Rxe5 (59...h6? fails to 60.Ng6+, while
the checks are of no help either: 59...Rh1+ 60.Kg3 Rg1+ 61.Kh3=) 60.Nf5 Re4
(60...g6 61.hxg6 hxg6 62.Nh6=; 60...Rg8 61.Nd6=; 60...Re1 61.Nxg7 Re4 62.h6!?)

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 61.h6! Shattering the black king’s pawn cover. 61.Nxg7?! is dubious: 61...Rff4
62.Kg5 (62.h6 Rxg4+ 63.Kh5 Rh4+ 64.Kg5 Reg4+ 65.Kf5 Ra4) 62...Rxg4+ 63.Kf6
Ref4+ 64.Nf5 Rg8 65.Ra5 Rf1.
61...g6. In case of 61...gxh6 62.Nxh6 Re1 (62...Rb4 63.Rc7!?; 62...Rfe8 63.Nf7+
Kg8 [63...Kg7 64.Nd6+ R8e7 65.Nf5+=] 64.Nh6+=) 63.Kg5= the white pieces’
activity makes it hard for Black to improve his position further.
62.Nd6 Re2 (62...Re6? is an error that already turns the tables in White’s favor
following 63.Nf7+ Kg8 64.Ng5, while 62...Ref4 63.Kg5 Rf1 64.Rg7 R1f2 65.Ra7
transposes to the main line) 63.Nf7+ Kg8 64.Nd6 (64.Ng5? Rh2+ 65.Kg3 Rxh6–+
is bad) 64...Rh2+ 65.Kg5 Rhf2 66.Rg7+ Kh8 67.Ra7= and White has sufficient
counterplay to make a draw.

58.Re7? h6!

Closing the entry point for the white king, namely the g5-square.
58...Rf3?! is premature: 59.Re8+ Kf7 60.Re7+ Kf8 61.Re5 h6 (61...Rh1+?!
62.Kg5 h6+ 63.Kg6 Rg1 64.Kh7! Rxg4 65.Ne7 Kf7 66.Ng6 Kf6 67.Re8= yields
nothing, too) 62.Rf5+ Rxf5 63.exf5 and the resulting endgame is drawn.

59.Re5

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 59.e5 Rf3 60.Re8+ Kh7 61.g5 Re4+–+ loses on the spot. 59.Nc7 Rf3 60.g5 Rf4+
61.Kg3 hxg5–+ is also underwhelming.
Likewise, the white king is denied a safe haven following 59.Kg3 Rg1+ 60.Kh3
(60.Kh2 Rxg4–+) 60...Rf3+ 61.Kh2 Rxg4–+.

59...Rh1+!

Regrouping the rook with checks. 59...Rf3 60.g5! would be weaker.

60.Kg3 Rg1+! 61.Kh4

Both 61.Kh2 Rxg4 62.Ne7+ Kh7 63.Ng6 Rf2+ 64.Kh3 Rg5 65.Rxg5 hxg5 66.e5
Kh6 67.Kg4 Rg2+ 68.Kf3 Rg1 69.Kf2 Kxh5!–+ and 61.Kh3 Rf3+–+ lead to failure.

61...Rf2! 62.Kh3 Rf3+ 63.Kh4

Instead of suffering in a hopeless position after 63.Kh2 Rxg4–+, White opts to get
checkmated.

63...Rh1#.

The following example from a grandmaster game illustrates how important it is to

correctly evaluate the transition from a more complex ending to a less complex one

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when prosecuting your advantage.
Example No. 92
M. Matlakov – V. Potkin
Sochi 2022

Black to move

Black is the exchange up. White can only counter this with the good position of his
bishop and overall activity of his pieces. The evaluation is obvious – White has to
fight for a draw.

46...Rxd5+?

Black decides against defending against the bishop check on e6, but returns his
extra exchange for the prospect of two connected passed pawns in the rook ending.
However, it proves insufficient to get the upper hand in this particular position.
Black needed to play 46...Kc7! 47.Ra7+ (the rook ending is already winning for
Black in case of 47.Ke3 g5 48.Kf2 Rxd5 49.cxd5 Rxa4–+) 47...Kd6 48.Ra6+ Ke5
49.Re6+

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 49...Kf5! 49...Kf4? is bad: 50.Re4+ Kg3 51.Rxg4+ Kxg4 52.Kd4 Rc7 53.Ke5
Kg3 54.Kd6 Rc8 55.c5 Rd8+ 56.Ke6 Rxd5 57.Kxd5 Kxg2 58.c6 h3 59.c7 h2
60.c8=Q h1=Q 61.Qc2+ Kg3+ 62.Ke5 Qh5+ 63.Kf6= with a drawn ending.
50.Re8 Kf6 51.Re6+. 51.Rf8+ is no better: 51...Ke5 52.Re8+ Kd6 53.Re6+ Kc7
54.Ra6 (54.Re7+ Kd8 55.Ra7 g5!?) 54...g5!
51...Kg7 52.Re7+ Kh6 53.Rb7. 53.Ra7 g5 54.Ra6+ Kg7 55.Ra7+ Kf6 56.Ra6+
Ke5 57.Re6+ Kf5 58.Re2 Rf4!? gives the black pieces a substantial boost in activity.
53...Rc8!? 54.Ra7. While White is busy eliminating the pawn, Black finds time to
launch an attack with his rooks on the opponent’s king: 54.Rb5 Rd8!? 55.Ke2 Rg3
56.Rxa5 Ra3 57.Kf2 Kg5! 58.Be4+ Kf4 59.Bxg6 Rd2+ 60.Kg1 Ra1+ 61.Kh2 h3!–+
62.Kxh3 Rh1#.
54...Rd8 55.Ke3 (both 55.Rxa5 Rxg2–+ and 55.Ke2 Re8+ 56.Kd3 Re5!? 57.Rxa5
Rxg2–+ are bad)

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 55...g5!? It is time to move the pawn forward.
56.Rxa5. The white king is again in dire straits following 56.Ra6+ Kg7 57.Ra7+
Kf6 58.Ra6+ Ke7 59.Ra7+ Kd6 60.Ra6+ Kc5 61.Rxa5+ Kb4 62.Ra7 Rg3+ 63.Kf2
Rf8+ 64.Kg1 Rf4–+.
56...Rg3+ 57.Ke2 (57.Kf2 g4 58.Ra6+ Kg5 59.Re6 Rf8+ 60.Ke2 Ra3–+) 57...g4–
+ and Black’s passed pawn should seal the outcome of the game.

46...Rxd5+? 47.cxd5 g5

Or 47...Rxg2 48.Rxa5 Kd6. White also holds his ground after 48...h3 49.Ra7+ Kd6
50.Rh7 Ra2 (50...h2 51.Ke4=) 51.Rh6 Kxd5 52.Ke3 (52.Rxg6? loses to 52...Ra3+
53.Kc2 h2 54.Rh6 Ra1–+)

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 a) 52...Ke5 53.Kf3 Kf5 (53...h2 54.Kg3=) 54.Rxh3= with an easy draw;
b) 52...h2 53.Kf4 Rxa4+ 54.Kg3 Ra2 55.Rxh2 Rxh2 56.Kxh2 Ke4 57.Kg3 Kf5
58.Kf3=;
c) 52...Rxa4 53.Rxg6 Rh4 54.Rg1=;
d) 52...g5 53.Rh5=
whereas 48...g5 transposes to the game.

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 49.Ra8 Kxd5 50.a5 Kc6 51.Rb8! Kc7 (51...g5 52.a6 Ra2 53.Rg8 Ra5 54.a7 Kb7
55.a8=Q+ Rxa8 56.Rxg5=) 52.Rb1 g5 (52...h3 53.Ke4 g5 54.a6=) 53.a6 Ra2
54.Rb7+ Kd6 55.Rg7 Ra5 56.a7= and White achieves a draw here too.

48.Rxa5 Rxg2

Black cannot improve his position following 48...Kd6 49.Rb5 Rxg2 (49...Rxa4
50.Ke3 g4 51.Rb8=) 50.Ke4 Re2+ 51.Kf5 Re5+ 52.Kg4 Rxd5 53.Rb6+ Kc7
(53...Kc5 54.a5=) 54.Rh6=.

49.Ke4!? h3

White is also in time with saving counterplay after 49...g4 50.Ra7+ Kd6 51.Ra6+
Kc7 52.Rh6 h3 53.a5 h2 54.Kf4 g3 55.d6+ Kc6 56.a6 Rg1 57.a7 Kb7 58.d7 Rd1=.

50.Ra7+ Kc8

50...Kd6 51.Ra6+! Kc5 52.Rc6+ Kb4 53.Rh6= yields nothing, too.

51.Rh7 Rg4+

51...g4 52.Kf4 h2 53.a5 g3 54.a6 Kb8 55.d6= leads to mass liquidation yet again.

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 52.Kf3!

52.Kf5? Rh4–+ loses the game. There is no eliminating the black pawn with
52.Ke3 Rxa4 53.Rxh3? Ra3+–+.

52...Rxa4 53.Kg3!

53.Rxh3? blunders to 53...g4+–+.

53...g4

The position after 53...Ra3+ 54.Kg4= is a draw.

54.d6 Rd4 55.Rc7+! Kd8 56.Rh7 Re4

Bringing the king closer to the action promises nothing to Black either: 56...Ke8
57.Re7+ Kf8 58.Rh7 (or 58.Re1) 58...Kg8 59.Ra7 Rxd6 60.Kxg4 h2 61.Ra1 Rg6+
62.Kh3 Rg1 63.Ra8+! Kf7 64.Kxh2=.

57.Kh4

It was also fine to mark time with the rook: 57.Rg7=.

57...Ke8

The black pawns drop in case of 57...h2 58.Kg3=.

58.Kg3 Rd4 59.Re7+ Kf8 60.Re1 Kf7 61.d7 Kf6 62.d8=Q+! Rxd8 63.Kxg4 and
a draw was agreed.

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 Example No. 93
V. Iordachescu – S.P. Sethuraman
Sharjah 2021

White to move

Despite being an exchange up, it is hard for White to break down Black’s defense.
Firstly, there are very few pawns on the board. Secondly, the pawns are arranged in a
way that defies creating a passer for now. Further, the chain of black pawns is hard
to undermine because defending its root e7-pawn is simple for the bishop. Besides,
the black king is always ready to take care of it as well.

62.Rhh8?

White attempts to establish as much coordination as possible between his rooks so

as to develop an initiative against his opponent’s king and bishop. However, he
misses his opponent’s saving counterplay.
He needed to send his rook in a different direction instead: 62.Rh1!? Kg7 (White
wins after the bad 62...Rd2+ 63.Ke1 Rd4? 64.Rg8+ Kf6 65.Rf1++–, and in case of
62...Rg4 63.Re1 Kg7 64.Rff1 Rg2 65.Re2 Rg3 66.Kc2 the white king also breaks his
chains) 63.Rf5 Bf6 (63...Kg6 64.Rh8!? Kg7 65.Rc8 Bf6 66.Rc2 Rg4 67.Re2 Kf7

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68.Rf3 Rg1+ 69.Kc2 makes no difference) 64.Rhf1 Ra2

65.R5f2! It is necessary to lift the restriction stopping the white king from joining
the game.
65...Ra4 66.Rf4 Ra2 67.R1f2! Ra3 68.Ke2 Ra2+ 69.Kd3!? His opponent’s solid
defense is a hard nut for White to crack without his king’s assistance. The ideal route
for the white king is с4–b5–c6–d7–e6, with a follow-up combination of creating
mating threats to the black king and a winning exchange sacrifice. Black’s plans
clearly exclude total submission and negligence in the face of imminent defeat.
Black will do his best to derail White’s plans.
69...Ra3+ 70.Kc4 Rc3+ 71.Kb4!? Re3. Both 71...Kf7? 72.Rxf6++– and 71...Rc5?
72.e5 Bxe5 73.Rg2+ Kh6 74.Rh4# lose on the spot.
72.Kb5 Rc3 73.Rg4+!? Kf7 74.Ra2 Rc1 75.Ra4 Rc5+ (75...Rc2 76.Rc4 Rb2+
77.Kc6 Ke8 78.Rg8+ Kf7 79.Ra8!?) 76.Kb6 Rc1 77.Rg2 and White’s second rook
should help displace the black rook from the c-file, followed by resuming the white
king’s progress towards the black pawns. White will enjoy decent practical chances
to win the game afterwards.

62.Rhh8? Rd2+! 63.Ke1

The pawn drops following 63.Kc1 Rxd5+ 64.Kc2 Re5=.

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 63...Rd4!

Now Black piles up on the weak link in his opponent’s pawn chain.

64.Rfg8+

Likewise, 64.Rhg8+ Kh6! makes no difference to the evaluation, although

64...Kh5? is an error: 65.Rf5 Rxe4+ 66.Kf2 Rf4+ (White wins the pawn ending
following 66...Rg4 67.Kf3 Rg1 68.Rgxg5+! Rxg5 69.Kf4! Rxf5+ 70.Kxf5+–)
67.Rxf4 Bxf4 68.Kf3 Bg5 69.Ke4 Kg4 70.Rg7! Kh4 71.Kf5 Bf6 72.Rf7+– and
Black cannot stop the decisive exchange sacrifice.
65.Rf1 Rxe4+ 66.Kd1 Rh4!=.

64...Kf6 65.e5+

65.Rf8+ Kg6! leads to a repetition of moves. Giving up a pawn for nothing with
65.Ke2 Rxe4+ 66.Kd3 Re5= leaves White with no winning chances.

65...dxe5 66.Rf8+ Kg6 67.Rhg8+ Kh6!

67...Kh5? is underwhelming again: 68.Rf5! Rg4 69.Rxe5 Kh4 70.Ke2.

68.Rf1

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 68...Rg4!

A defensive resource of utmost importance. 68...Rh4? would have failed to

69.Rg1! Bf6 (Black is also in bad shape after 69...Rh5 70.Ke2 e4 71.Rg2 e3 72.Kf3
Rh3+ 73.Kg4 Rh4+ 74.Kf5 Rf4+ 75.Ke5+–) 70.d6+–.
68...Bh4+? 69.Ke2 Kh7 (69...Rxd5? 70.Rh8+ Kg5 71.Rg1++–) 70.Rg2 Re4+
(70...Rxd5 71.Rh1 Rd4 72.Rgh2+–) 71.Kd3 Rd4+ 72.Ke3 Kh6 73.Rh1 Kh5 74.Rg7
Rxd5 75.Rh7++– leaves no hope either.
Useless checks only urge the white king towards a superior outpost: 68...Re4+?
69.Kd1! Rd4+ 70.Kc2.

69.Ke2

69.Rh1+? Bh4+ does not work because in addition to the white king being in
check, the white g8-rook is en prise as well.

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 69...Kh7!

The king should help himself out of the mating trap.

70.Rff8 e4! 71.Rh8+ Kg6 72.Rhg8+

The check from the fellow rook yields nothing as well: 72.Rfg8+ Kf6=.

72...Kh7 73.Rh8+ Kg6 74.Rhg8+ Kh7

White lacks any real means of improving his position.

75.Kf1 e3 76.Rh8+ Kg7 77.Rhg8+ Kh7 78.Rh8+ Kg7 79.Rhg8+ Kh7 80.Rh8+
Kg7 and the opponents agreed a draw.

We now consider two more examples with the rook and minor piece belonging to
the stronger side.
Example No. 94
D. Dubov – L. Dominguez
Berlin 2022

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 White to move

Black has a pair of pawns for the missing exchange. Besides, his pieces are very
active, while his opponent is saddled with pawn weaknesses. The pair of rooks is far
from establishing any sort of coordination as yet. It is clearly White who has to fight
for a draw in this ending.

43.Rf3?

In removing the rook from en prise, White choses the wrong place for it. The rook
is misplaced here and takes away the vital f3-square from his king.
43.Re5!? deserved consideration, then 43...Nf4+ 44.Kh2 (44.Kg3? fails to
44...Rc3+ 45.Kf2 Nd3+–+) 44...Rc2+ 45.Kh1! (45.Kg3? Rc3+ 46.Kh2 Rh3#)
45...Kg6 46.Rd1 and the white rooks gain room to maneuver.
46...Rc3. White also maintains the balance after 46...Rg2 47.Rd6+ f6 48.Rf5 Rxg4
49.Rfxf6+ Kg7 50.Rf5=.
47.Re7 Rxa3. 47...Rh3+ 48.Kg1 Rg3+ 49.Kf2 Rxg4 50.Rd6+ f6 51.Rxa7= is
harmless as well.
48.Rdd7 Rh3+ (48...f6? loses to 49.Rg7+ Kh6 50.Rh7+ Kg6 51.Rdg7#) 49.Kg1
Rg3+ 50.Kf2 Rxg4 51.Rxf7 and White holds his ground despite being material

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down: 51...a5 52.Kf3 Rg1 53.Rf8 g4+ 54.Ke3 (54.Kxf4? blunders to 54...Rf1+
55.Kxg4 Rxf8 56.Rd6+ Rf6–+) 54...Nh3 (54...Re1+ 55.Kf2 Re4 56.Rd6+= yields
nothing either) 55.Rd6+ Kg5 (55...Kg7 56.Rb8=) 56.Rxb6=.
It was also fine to go for 43.Rb3 Nf4+ 44.Kh2 Rc2+ 45.Kh1 Ng6 46.Re1!?, and
active counterplay should help White achieve a draw.

43.Rf3? Rc2! 44.Kg3

44.Rd1? fails miserably to 44...Nf4+ 45.Kg3 Rg2#.

Both 44.Rff1 Nf4+ 45.Kg3 Rc3+ 46.Rf3 (46.Kh2 Rh3#) 46...Ne2+–+ and 44.Rgf1
Nf4+ 45.Rxf4 (45.Kg3 Rg2#) 45...gxf4 46.Rxf4 Rc3+–+ lead to failure.

44...Nf4!

Mounting threats against both the white king and the misplaced white rooks.

45.Rxf4

Attempting to bail out in the rook ending. White is checkmated after 45.Rf2? Rc3+
46.Kh2 (46.Rf3 Ne2+–+) 46...Rh3#.

45...gxf4+ 46.Kxf4

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 46...Rc3!

Yet another precise move. White could have still put up some fight following
46...Rc4+ 47.Kf5 Ra4 48.Rg3.

47.Ra1

47.a4 drops the pawn to 47...Rc4+–+.

47...Rc4+! 48.Kg5 Ra4!

Black has forced the white rook into a passive position.

49.Kh5 Ra5+ 50.Kh4

50.g5 f6–+ drops a pawn, this time on the kingside.

50...Kg6

White is doomed and, no longer capable of marking time passively in the face of
the worse to come, gives up yet another pawn.

51.Rc1 Rxa3 52.Rc6+ f6 and, having delivered a check from his deathbed, White

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threw in the towel.

Example No. 95
E. Iturrizaga – T. Stoyanov
Catez 2022

Black to move

In terms of material, White has a bishop and a pair of pawns for a rook, which even
exceeds the rook equivalent. Besides, the only remaining black pawn is weak and is
likely to perish soon. The black king is also misplaced and faces mating attacks in
various lines. Further, the white pieces are very active, and the black rooks have so
far no way of attacking the white pawns. Black is in for a grueling defense.

43...Ke7?

Black steps up with his king and sacrifices the pawn in the hope of generating
active play against the opponent’s king.
An attempt to switch to passive defense also backfires for Black 43...Rg7? 44.Ke5!
Rb6 (44...Ke7 45.d6+ Kf7 46.Be6++–; 44...Kf7 45.Be6+ Ke7 46.d6++–) 45.Be6
Ke7 46.f4!? Ra6 (46...Rd6 47.Rh8 Rd8 48.Rxd8 Kxd8 49.Kf6 Ra7 50.Kxg6+–)
47.Rh8 Rb6 48.Ra8+– with a decisive initiative.

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 Likewise, 43...Rb6? 44.Kc5 Ra6 (44...Rfb7 45.d6+–) 45.d6 Ra5+ 46.Kb6+– is bad.
It was necessary to play 43...Rd1+! 44.Kc5
(Black holds the position following 44.Ke5 Ke7! 45.Rxg6 Re1+ 46.Kd4 Rf4+
47.Kd3 [47.Kc5 Rc1+ 48.Kb6 Rb4+ 49.Ka7 Rd1 50.Re6+ Kf8 51.Rd6 Rb5 52.Be6
Rdb1 53.f4 Rb7+ 54.Ka6 Rb8 55.Ka7 R8b7+=; 47.Kc3 Rd1 48.Re6+ Kf8 49.d6
Kg7 50.Re7+ Kg6 51.d7 Kxg5 52.Re8 Rfd4=] 47...Rd1+ 48.Ke3 Rfd4

49.Re6+
[49.Be6 R1d3+ 50.Kf2 [50.Ke2 Rd2+!] 50...Rf4 51.Ke2 [51.Kg2 Ke8!] 51...Rfxf3
52.d6+ Rxd6 53.Kxf3 Rxe6= is harmless]
49...Kf8 50.Rf6+ Kg7 51.Be6 R1d3+ 52.Kf2

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 52...Rd1!? And it is unclear how White is supposed to set his multiple passed
pawns in motion.
53.Rf5 [53.f4 R4d3!] 53...R1d2+ 54.Kg3 Rd1!? 55.Re5 Rg1+ 56.Kf2 Rgd1!?
[56...Rdd1? 57.Bh3! Rh1 58.Bf5] 57.Re4
a) 57...R4d3!?

58.f4 Kg6! Black’s piece activity proves sufficient compensation in this ending.
For example, 59.Re3 Rd4 60.Rf3 Ra1!? 61.Kg2 [61.f5+ Kxg5 62.f6 Rdd1=; 61.Kg3

437
Rg1+!; 61.Ke3 Rad1!] 61...Re1 62.Rf2 [the line 62.f5+ Kxg5 63.f6 Rd2+ 64.Rf2
Rxf2+ 65.Kxf2 Rxe6 66.dxe6 Kxf6 67.e7 Kxe7= ends in a total liquidation]
62...Ra1!? [62...Re3? 63.f5+ Kxg5 64.f6] 63.Kg3 Rd3+ 64.Rf3 [64.Kg4 Rg1+
65.Kh4 Rh1+ 66.Kg4 Rg1+=] 64...Rg1+ 65.Kf2 Rf1+! 66.Kxf1 Rxf3+ 67.Ke2
Rxf4=;
b) 57...Kg6? fails to 58.Rxd4 Rxd4 59.Ke3+–;
c) 57...Rxe4? is also bad: 58.fxe4 Kg6 59.Ke2 Ra1 [59...Rb1 60.d6 Kxg5 61.e5
Kf4 62.Bb3! Rb2+ 63.Ke1 Rxb3 64.d7 Rd3 65.e6+–] 60.d6! Kxg5 61.e5 Kf4
[61...Kg6 62.Ke3 Kg7 63.Kd4 Kf8 64.Bd7+–] 62.d7 Ra8 63.Bd5! Rd8 64.e6+–).
44...Rc1+ 45.Kd6 Ra1! 46.Rh8+ (the pawn cannot be captured: 46.Rxg6? Ra6+,
and in case of 46.Be6 Rxf3 47.Rxg6 Rff1!? 48.Rg8+ Rf8 49.Rg7 Ra6+ 50.Ke5 Rf1
Black manages to hold) 46...Rf8 47.Rxf8+. Black keeps holding the position after
47.Rh2 Rf7!? 48.Rc2 Kf8! 49.Rc3 Kg7 50.Be6 Rfa7 51.Rc8 (51.Rc7+ Rxc7 52.Kxc7
Kf8 53.d6 Ra7+ 54.Kb6 Ra3 55.Bd5 Rc3 56.Bc6 Rd3 57.Kc7 Kf7) 51...Rf1!?
47...Kxf8 48.Ke6 Re1+ 49.Kf6 Rd1 50.Be6 (50.Kxg6 Rxd5=) 50...Rf1 51.Kxg6
(51.Bg4 Rd1=) 51...Rxf3 52.Kh6 (52.d6 Rd3 53.d7 Ke7 54.Bf5 Rf3=) 52...Rf2!
53.g6 Rh2+ 54.Kg5 Ke7 55.g7 Rg2+ 56.Bg4 (56.Kh6 Rh2+=) 56...Kf7 57.d6 Kxg7
58.d7 Rd2=.

43...Ke7? 44.Rxg6 Rd1+ 45.Kc5! Rc1+ 46.Kb6! Rb1+

46...Rf8 fails to 47.Re6+ Kd8 48.Rc6!? Rb1+ (48...Rxc6+ 49.dxc6 Rf7 50.g6 Rg7
51.Be6+–) 49.Kc5 Rc1+ 50.Kd6+–.

47.Kc7 Ke8+

The checks run out and the white passed pawns seal the game in case of 47...Rc1+
48.Rc6 Kf8+ 49.Kd6+–.

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 48.Kc6!

A precise move. 48.Kd6? loses to 48...Rb6+–+, and 48.Kc8? Ra1= is also bad.

48...Rc1+ 49.Kd6! Kf8 50.Be6 Rg7

The black rook has no other retreat: 50...Rxf3 51.Rg8#.

51.Rf6+ Ke8 52.Rh6. The mating trap snaps shut and Black resigned.

We wrap up by moving to the last material ratio to be analyzed, in which the rook
and minor piece tandem opposes a queen.
We begin with a simple example that clearly shows the queen as being far more
maneuverable and stronger than any other piece on the board. An active queen
controls the entire board and is always poised to deliver various tactical blows.
Example No. 96
A. Pashikian – D. Khismatullin
Minsk 2017

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 White to move

Should Black manage to establish coordination between his rook and bishop, he
can count on holding this endgame. However, his pieces are uncoordinated at the
moment, and his king may be exposed to an attack. This is exactly what White
exploits.

37.Qc3!

Attacking the first time.

37...Bg5

The alternative bishop retreat also loses, to 37...Ba3 38.Qe3+ g5. The rook falls
both to 38...Kh5 39.Qe5++– and to 38...Kg7 39.Qxa7++–.
39.Qe6+ Kh5 (39...Kg7 40.Qe5++–) 40.g4+ Kh4 41.Qe1+ Kxg4 (41...Kh3
42.Qg3#) 42.Qg3++– with decisive material gains.

38.h4!

Attacking the second time.

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38...Bd8

The bishop drops to 38...Be7 39.Qe3++–.

39.Qe3+!

Delivering the first check.

39...g5

Black loses the rook in case of 39...Kh5 40.Qe5++–.

40.Qe6+!

Delivering the second check.

40...Kh5

40...Kg7 41.Qe5++– is no better than the text.

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 41.Kg2!

The white king also intends to take part in the hunt after his black counterpart.
Black resigned in the face of the checkmate coming after 41...a5 42.g4+ Kxh4
43.Qf7 Kxg4 44.Qf3+ Kh4 45.Qh3#.
The following example from the 2017 European Championship allows us to
analyze a number of important theoretical positions and techniques in which a rook
with one or more pawns can successfully hold a queen to a draw. I am sure that
many players will find it interesting to get to know such positions.
Example No. 97
B. Bok – T. Kantans
Minsk 2017

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 Black to move

On the one hand, the presence of only a few pawns on the board and his pieces
standing compactly side by side and protecting each other points to Black’s ability to
hold this endgame. However, there is a concrete problem of the white e-pawn’s
advance, upon which the black pieces will lose their coordination and run short of
space, while the black king may become exposed to attacks.

44...Kf7?

This natural move is a poor decision.

44...e6? 45.Qb6 Kf7 (45...Rxe4 46.Qb7++–) 46.Qa7+ Kg8 47.Kf3!+– transposes
to 44...Kf7 and the position given below.
The king was best assigned to a different square with 44...Kf8! 45.Qb7! (45.e5?
Bxe5; 45.Qb8+? Kf7 46.e5? g5!) 45...Kf7!
(Both 45...Kg7? 46.e5 Bxe5 47.Qxe7++– and 45...e6? 46.Qh7 Rd1 [46...Rxe4
47.Qxg6+–] 47.Kf3 Rg1 48.Qd7 Bh4 49.Qxe6 Rg3+ 50.Ke2 Kg7 51.e5+– are bad.
The bishop falls to 45...Ke8 46.e5 Bxe5 47.Qb5++–.)
46.Kf3! (46.Qb3+? e6!=; 46.Qc7? Rxe4=) 46...Bh4!? (46...Rd3+ 47.Ke2 Rd4
48.Ke3!? makes no sense; 46...Rd8 47.e5 Bh4 results in a transposition) 47.e5

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(47.Ke3 Rd8!?)

47...Rd8!?
(Both 47...Kg7? 48.Kg4 and 47...g5? 48.Qb3+! Kg7 49.Kg4! Rxf4+ 50.Kh5+–
are bad and expose the black king to a decisive attack.
The continuation involving a preliminary check also looks interesting: 47...Rd3+
48.Kg4 [48.Ke4 Rd8!] 48...Bf2 49.e6+ [49.f5? fails to 49...Rg3+ 50.Kf4 g5+
51.Ke4 Re3+ 52.Kd5 Bg3 53.e6+ Kf6=] 49...Kf6 [49...Kxe6? 50.Qe4++–;
49...Kf8? 50.Qb2 Rg3+ 51.Kh4 Rf3+ 52.Kg5 Rg3+ 53.Kh6 Rh3+ 54.Kxg6 Rg3+
55.Kf5+–] 50.Qb2+ Bd4 51.Qb5 Rd1! [Both 51...Re3? 52.Qe8 Kxe6 53.Qc6+ Kf7
54.Qd5++– and 51...Rd2? 52.Qg5+ Kxe6 53.f5+ gxf5+ 54.Qxf5+ Kd6 55.Qf4++–
are bad] 52.Qa4! [52.f5? Rg1+ 53.Kf4 Rg5!?] 52...Rd2! [52...Rd3? 53.Qe8 Kxe6
54.Qxg6++–] 53.Qe8 Kxe6 54.Qc8+ [The position arising after 54.Qxg6+ Bf6= is a
draw.] 54...Kf7 55.Qc1 Be3! [55...Rg2+? 56.Kh3; 55...Rd3? 56.Qc4+] 56.Qc3

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 56...Bxf4! Eliminating his opponent’s last pawn. 57.Qc4+ Kg7 58.Qxf4 [58.Kxf4
g5+!? 59.Kxg5 Rd6= is also a draw] 58...Rd6= with a drawn position.)
48.Qe4! (The position following 48.Kg4 Rh8! is a fortress) 48...Rh8 (48...Kg7?
49.f5 Bg5 50.Kg4+–) 49.f5 (49.e6+? Kg7=) 49...Bg5 (Black fails to keep his
position together following 49...gxf5? 50.Qxf5+ Kg7 51.Qg4+ Kf8 52.Qg6 e6
53.Qxe6 Be7 54.Qg6 Rg8 55.Qf5+ Ke8 56.Qc8+ Kf7 57.e6+ Kg7 58.Qc7 Kf6
59.Qf4+ Kxe6 60.Qc4++–; 49...Kg7? 50.Qg4 Rh6 51.fxg6+– is bad, too.)
a) 50.Qd5+ Kg7 51.Kg4 (51.fxg6? Kxg6=; 51.f6+ Bxf6! 52.exf6+ Kxf6!=)
51...Bh4 52.f6+ (52.fxg6 Kxg6 53.Qe6+ Kg7=) 52...Bxf6! 53.exf6+

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 53...exf6!=. This time 53...Kxf6? fails to 54.Qf3+ Kg7 55.Qc3+ Kg8 (55...Kh7
56.Qc7+–) 56.Kg5!+–.
54.Qd7+ Kg8 55.Qd8+ (55.Qe7 Rh5 56.Qxf6 Rh7! makes no difference) 55...Kg7
56.Qe7+ Kg8 57.Qxf6

57...Rh7! This is the only move to hold a draw.

58.Qd6 (58.Qxg6+? Rg7=; 58.Kg5? Rh5+! 59.Kxg6 Rh6+!=; 58.Kf4? Rf7=)
58...Kg7 59.Qe7+ (59.Qe6 Rh5=; 59.Kg5 Rh5+=) 59...Kg8! (59...Kh6? 60.Qf8+

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Rg7 61.Qf4+ Kh7 62.Qh2+ Kg8 63.Kg5+–) 60.Qf6 Rf7!= and the position is a
fortress;
b) Not 50.Kg4? Rh4+;
c) 50.e6+? Kg7 51.Qd4+ Bf6 52.Qg4 Rh6= is bad;
d) Likewise, 50.f6? Bxf6 51.exf6 Kxf6! is no winner (51...exf6? goes down to
52.Qc4+ Kg7 53.Qc7+ Kh6 [53...Kg8 54.Qd8+ Kg7 55.Qe7++–] 54.Qd6+–) after
52.Qd4+ (52.Kg4 Rh5=) 52...e5 53.Qd6+ Kf7! 54.Ke4 (54.Qxe5 Rh5=) 54...Rh4+
55.Kxe5 Rh5+!=

44...Kf7? 45.Qb7! Bg7?!

A relatively better continuation was 45...Kf8 46.Qa7! Both 46.e5? Bxe5 and
46.Qb8+ Kf7 47.e5? g5! 48.exf6 (48.Qb3+ Kg6 49.Qb1+ Kh6 50.Qh1+ Kg6
51.exf6 Rxf4+ 52.Kg3 exf6=) 48...Rxf4+ 49.Kxg5 Rxf6= are bad and lead to a
theoretically drawn position.
46...Kf7. Black drops the rook to 46...Rxe4? 47.Qa8++–, while after 46...Rd8
47.e5! Bg7 48.Kg5! Kf7 49.Qa2+ e6 50.Qa7++– White manages to get to the black
king.
47.Qc5! Paving the way for the pawns to move.
47...e6 (The alternatives collapse on the spot: 47...Rd2? 48.e5 Bg7 49.e6+! Kxe6
50.Qe3++–; 47...Rd1? 48.e5 Bg7 49.Qc4+ Kf8 50.Qc8+ Kf7 51.e6+ Kf6
52.Qg8+–; 47...Rd8? 48.e5 Bg7 49.Qc4+ Kf8 50.Kg5+–.)
48.Qa7+! 48.e5? is an error: 48...Rd5 49.Qc7+ Be7, and Black has built a fortress.
48...Kg8 (Both 48...Ke8? 49.Qh7+– and 48...Kf8? 49.e5 Bxe5 50.Qc5++– lose
the game.)

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 49.Kf3! There is no doing without the king’s assistance. 49.Qb8+? is bad: 49...Kf7
50.e5 Rd8! 51.Qb7+ Be7 52.Qh1 Kg7=.
49...Rd3+ 50.Ke2 Rd4. 50...Rd8 is also of no help: 51.e5! Bh4 (51...Bg7 52.Qe7
Rf8 53.Qxe6+ Kh7 54.Qd7 Rxf4 55.e6+– and the passed pawn will win the rook)
52.Kf3! Rd5 53.Qa4! Kf7 54.f5 exf5 55.Qxh4 Rxe5 56.Qh7+ Kf6 57.Qh8+ Ke6
58.Qg7+– and Black fails to build any drawn position.
51.Ke3! (51.e5? Rxf4 52.exf6 Rxf6, reaching a drawn position yet again: 53.Qe7
Rf5 54.Ke3 Kh8 55.Ke4 Kg8 56.Qxe6+ Kg7=) 51...Rd8 (51...Bg7 52.Qe7+–) 52.e5
Bh4 53.Kf3+– also leads to a lost position for Black. White is poised to attack the
bishop with his king and take Black’s shaky structure apart.

46.Qb3+! Kf8

46...e6 47.Qb7+ Kg8 is of no help either. The black king falls into captivity in case
of 47...Kf8 48.Kg5 Rd3 (48...Rd1 49.Qa8+ Kf7 50.Qa7+ Kf8 51.Kxg6+–; 48...Rd2
49.Qb4++–) 49.Qc8+ Kf7 50.Qc7+ Kf8 51.f5! gxf5 52.Kg6+–.
48.Kg5! Rd2 49.Qe7 Rg2+ 50.Kh4 Kh7 51.Qxe6+–.

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 47.Kg5!

The white king assaults the enemy’s fortifications.

47...e5

The rook drops when saving his own pawns in case of 47...Rd6 48.e5 Rc6 49.Qd5
Ra6 50.Qb7 Re6 51.Qa8+ Kf7 52.Qd5 Bh8 53.f5 gxf5 54.Kxf5+–.

48.Qb8+ Kf7

48...Ke7 49.Kxg6+– is equally hopeless.

49.Qc7+ and Black resigned.

Lessons from my Career

Example No. 98
G. Kaidanov – A. Galkin
Moscow 2003

449
 White to move

The material balance is queen versus rook and bishop. Each side has big plans for
his remaining pawn. White’s previous actions involved the queen taking control of
the f7-square, from which the black rook wanted to control the 7th rank.

88.a7?

White’s rush to collect the bishop is an error.

It was correct to regroup the queen first to discourage the black passed pawn from
advancing, followed by returning the king to the kingside to support the queen and
create deadly threats to the opponent’s king. 88.Qg8+!? Kf4 (88...Kh5 goes down to
89.a7 Bxa7 90.Kxa7 h3 91.Qg3+–) 89.Qg2! Be3 (89...Ke5 90.Kc6 Rf6+ 91.Kb5
Rf5 92.Kc4 Kf6 93.Kd3 Rf4 94.Qb7+–)

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 90.Kc6! Time for the king to start its campaign (90.a7? fails to 90...Rf7+=)
90...Rf6+ (90...Rh5 91.Qf1+ Kg5 92.Qa1+–) 91.Kd5 Rf5+ (91...Rxa6? drops the
rook to 92.Qf1++–) 92.Kc4 Rg5 93.Qc6 h3. 93...Rc5+ is bad after 94.Qxc5 Bxc5
95.Kxc5 h3 96.a7 h2 97.a8=Q+– and the newly-promoted queen keeps the black
passed pawn’s promotion square under control.

94.Qh6 Kg4 95.Qe6+! Kf4 96.Qxh3+– and White has destroyed the black pawn
to see his own passer secure him a win.

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 88.Qf1!? Rf7+ was an alternative way to implement the same idea. White also
secures a gradual victory with 88...Be3 89.Qh3 Bd4 90.Qb3 Re5 91.Qg8+ Kf4
92.Qf7+ Rf5 93.Qc4 Ke3 94.a7 Bxa7 95.Kxa7 Rf4 96.Qc3+ Kf2 97.Qh3+–.
89.Kc8 Rf6 (89...Rf5 90.Qg2+ Kh5 91.Kd7+–; 89...Rf8+ 90.Kd7 Rf7+ 91.Ke8
Rf6 92.Qg2+ Kh5 93.Qd5+ Kh6 94.Qd8 Kg6 95.Qd7+–) 90.Qg2+ Kh5 91.Qg7
Rf4 (both 91...Rxa6 92.Qf7++– and 91...Rc6+ 92.Kb7 Rb6+ 93.Kc7 Rg6 94.Qf7
Bb6+ 95.Kb7 h3 96.Qf5++– lose the game) 92.Kd8!

92...Bb6+. In case of 92...h3 93.a7 Bxa7 94.Qxa7 Kh4 95.Qg1 Rg4 96.Qf2+ Rg3
97.Ke7! Kg4 98.Qd4+ Kf3 99.Qd5+ Kg4 (99...Kf2 100.Qh1+–) 100.Qe4+ Kg5
101.Ke6! h2 102.Qe5+ Kg4 103.Qf5+ Kh4 104.Qh7++– the white queen and rook
tandem forces Black to part with the pawn.
93.Ke8 Bd4. Black gains nothing from delivering checks: 93...Re4+ 94.Kf7 Rf4+
95.Ke6+–.
94.Qh7+ Kg4 95.a7 Bxa7 96.Qxa7 h3 97.Qg1+! Kf3. 97...Kh4 goes down as well
to 98.Ke7 Rg4 99.Qf2+ Rg3 100.Kf6 Kg4 101.Qf5+ Kh4 102.Qf4+ Rg4 103.Qf2+
Kh5 104.Qe3 Kh4 105.Kf5 h2 106.Qf2+ Kh3 107.Qf3+ Rg3 108.Qf1+ Kh4
109.Qe1 Kh3 110.Kf4 Rg1 111.Qc3+ Kg2 112.Qf3#.
98.Qh2 Kg4 99.Ke7! Rf3 100.Ke6 Rg3

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 101.Ke5! and the white king steps in just in time to assist his queen: 101...Rg2
102.Qf4+ Kh5 103.Kf5 h2 104.Qf3++–.

88.a7? Bxa7 89.Kxa7 h3!

It now turns out that the threat of the passed pawn’s advance provides sufficient
counterplay for Black to make a draw.

90.Qe4

90.Qd3 Kg4!= is not superior to the text.

In case of 90.Qe2 Rf4 91.Kb6 (91.Qh2 Kg4 92.Kb6 Rf3 93.Kc5 Rg3 94.Kd4
Rg2=) 91...Rg4 92.Kc5 Rg2 93.Qd3 (93.Qe5+ Kg4=) 93...Kg4! (93...h2?
94.Qd5++–) 94.Kd4 h2= the white king is never in time to help his queen mount
serious threats against the opponent’s king.

453
 90...Rf4!

Lifting the restrictions imposed by the white queen along the fourth rank.

91.Qe7+

91.Qe3 Kg4!= is no game changer.

Meanwhile, following 91.Qe1 Rf3 92.Qg1+ Kh4 93.Kb6 Rg3 94.Qf2 Kg4 95.Kc5
Rg2= the pawn resumes its progress.

91...Kg4 92.Qg7+ Kf3

454
 93.Qh6

The game also peters out to a draw following 93.Qg1 Ra4+!? 94.Kb6 Ra2 95.Kc5
h2 96.Qh1+ Kg3 97.Kd4 Rg2 98.Ke3 Rg1 99.Qf3+ Kh4 100.Qf4+ Kh3 101.Qh6+
Kg3 102.Qg5+ Kh3 103.Qh5+ Kg3 (103...Kg2? 104.Qf3#) 104.Qf3+ Kh4
105.Qf4+ Kh3=.

93...Kg3 94.Qg5+ Rg4 95.Qe3+ Kg2 96.Qe2+ Kg3

The black king is now well-positioned to secure his passed pawn’s advance.
96...Kh1? 97.Qf3+!+– (97.Qxg4? h2= with a theoretical draw) is a blunder that
costs Black the game.

97.Qe1+

Likewise, 97.Kb6 h2 98.Qf1 Kh4= makes no difference for the evaluation.

97...Kg2 98.Qe2+ Kg3 and White recognized the futility of his attempts to win.
Draw.

Example No. 99
JK. Duda – J. Lopez Martinez

455
 Minsk 2017

Black to move

White has decent counterplay by threatening to promote the passed pawn,

supported by the rook from behind. Therefore, Black should be vigilant so as not to
miss the moment when keeping the white foot-soldier at bay becomes no longer
possible. Meanwhile, the black queenside pawns have advanced quite far. This
enables Black to fight for victory by generating concrete threats.

56...Qxh5+?

Capturing the pawn with the idea of making it in time to hold the white passed
pawn. Winning the game took resorting to concrete measures against his opponent’s
king: 56...a4! 57.d7 Qf3+ 58.Kc1 (58.Re2 a3! 59.d8=Q axb2–+ and White has no
defense despite a huge material advantage) 58...Qc6+ 59.Kd1. 59.Kb1 gives the
game away to 59...Qe4+ 60.Kc1 Qxe1+ 61.Rd1 Qe2 62.Rd2 Qc4+ 63.Kd1 Qf1#.
59...a3!

456
 60.bxa3
(Queening the pawn with 60.d8=Q goes down to 60...Qf3+ 61.Kc1 [61.Re2 axb2–
+] 61...a2! 62.Qa5 Qe4! 63.Kd1 Qb1+ 64.Ke2 a1=Q 65.Qxa1 Qxa1 66.Kf2 Qa7+
67.Kf1 Qa8–+ and the h5-pawn is doomed)
60...b2! Securing the exchange of White’s powerful passed pawn.
61.Rxb2 Qxd7+ 62.Rd2. White is in bad shape after both 62.Kc2 Qa4+ 63.Rb3
Qe4+ 64.Kd2 Qg2+ 65.Kd1 Qh1 66.a4 Qd5+ 67.Kc2 Qe4+ 68.Kd2 Qxa4–+ and
62.Bd2 Qa4+ 63.Rc2 Qxa3 64.Bc3 Qb3 65.Be5 Kg8!–+.
62...Qf7 63.Rd3 (63.a4 Qb3+ 64.Ke2 Qxa4–+; 63.Rh2 Qb3+ 64.Ke2 Qxa3
65.Kf2 Qd3 66.Kg1 Qe3+ 67.Bf2 Qf3 68.Be1 Kg8–+ and the black king joins the
fray to decisive effect) 63...Qxh5+ 64.Kc2. White also loses the game in case of
64.Kc1 Qe2 65.Rd1 Kg6!? 66.a4 Qc4+–+.
64...Qe2+ 65.Bd2 Qe4 66.Be3 (66.Kc3 Kg6!?) 66...Qc6+ 67.Rc3 Qg2+ 68.Bd2

457
 68...Kg6! The king is a full-fledged actor in endgame play and his productive
participation can seal the game’s outcome.
69.a4.
(The pawn drops to 69.Kc1 Kh5 70.a4 Qh1+ 71.Kb2 Qd1–+; 69.Rd3 is no better:
69...Kh5 70.a4 Qc6+ 71.Kb3 Qa6 72.Re3 [72.Rc3 Qe6+ 73.Kb2 Qd7–+] 72...Qb6+
73.Kc4 [73.Ka3 Qd4 74.Bc1 Qa1+–+] 73...Qc6+ 74.Kb3 [74.Kb4 Qd6+ 75.Kc3
Qa3+–+] 74...Qd5+ 75.Kc3 Qa5+–+)
69...Qe4+ 70.Kb3 Qd5+ 71.Kc2 Qa2+–+ with a technically winning endgame.

56...Qxh5+? 57.Re2?

The Polish grandmaster returns the error. 57.Kc1? Qh1 58.Kd1 (58.d7 Qxe1+
59.Rd1 Qe2 60.Rd2 Qc4+–+) 58...a4!–+ is also bad.
Reaching a draw required 57.g4! Qxg4+ (57...fxg4 58.d7 g3+ 59.Kc1 Qc5+
60.Kd1=) 58.Kc1! Qg1 (58...Qxf4 59.d7 Qc4+ 60.Kd1 Qg4+ 61.Kc1=) 59.Kd1
Qg4+ (59...Qb6? 60.d7 Qd8 61.Rd3!? a4 62.Ba5 Qxa5 63.d8=Q) 60.Kc1= and
Black has nothing better than repeating moves.

57...Qf7 58.Bc3

Or 58.Rd2 Qd7 59.Rd3 a4 60.Bc3 (60.Bb4? Qc6 61.Bc3 Qg2–+) 60...g5!? 61.Kd2

458
(61.Be5 Kg6!) 61...Kg6 62.Be5 h5!? 63.fxg5. White loses following 63.Rc3 h4
64.Rc7 Qb5 65.Rg7+ Kh6 66.fxg5+ Kh5–+.
63...Kxg5 64.Rd4. 64.Rc3 is no better: 64...Qb7 65.Rd3 Qg2+ 66.Kc3 Qc2+
67.Kd4 Qxb2+ 68.Kd5 Qe2–+; 64.Bf4+ Kf6! only improves the black king’s
position
64...Kg6 65.Bf4. The black pawns seal the game following 65.Rd3 Kf7 66.Rc3
Qb5 67.Rc7+ Ke6 68.Re7+ Kd5 69.Bf4 (69.d7 Qb4+–+) 69...Qb4+ 70.Ke2 a3–+.
65...a3! 66.bxa3 Qa7–+ and Black wins again.

58...Qd5+?

Yet another mistake by Black. White is also fine after 58...a4?! 59.Re7 Qd5+
60.Ke2.
Black needed to play 58...Qd7! 59.Rd2 (59.Re7? Qxd6+–+; for 59.Be5 a4 60.Rd2
g5 61.Rd3 Kg6 see the line with 58.Rd2) 59...a4 60.Ke1 (60.Be5 g5!?; 60.Kc1 g5!?)
60...g5!? 61.Be5 Kg6 62.Kf2 Kf7 63.Rd3 Ke6 64.Ke2 gxf4 65.Bxf4 (65.gxf4 h5–+)
65...a3! 66.bxa3 (66.Rxb3 a2 67.Ra3 Qb5+–+) 66...b2 67.Rb3 Qc6 68.Rxb2 Qg2+–+
and Black is winning.

59.Rd2 Qh1+

459
 59...Qf3+ 60.Ke1! Qxg3+ (60...Qe3+ 61.Kf1) 61.Ke2= also leads to a draw.

60.Ke2 Qg2+

60...Qe4+? loses to 61.Kf2+–.

61.Ke3

61.Kd1? blunders a checkmate to 61...Qf1#.

61...Qxg3+?

Black is carried away with grabbing the opponent’s pawns. 61...Qe4+? fails again
to 62.Kf2+–.
The way to save the game is 61...Qg1+! 62.Kf3 (62.Kd3 Qb6 63.d7? Qe6!
64.d8=Q Qe4#; 62.Rf2? Qxg3+ 63.Rf3 Qg6) 62...Qf1+ 63.Ke3 Qg1+= with an
inevitable draw.

62.Kd4!+–

Now the tables turn drastically in White’s favor.

62...Qxf4+

460
 62...Qg1+ 63.Kc4 Qf1+ 64.Kc5 Qg1+ 65.Kc6+– is of no help either.

63.Kc5! a4

63...Qe3+ 64.Kb5! (64.Rd4? Qe5+ 65.Rd5 Qe3+ 66.Kb5? Qe6; 64.Kc6? Qe6
65.Kc7 Qc4+) 64...Qe8+ 65.d7 Qd8 66.Bxa5+– results in the pawn queening.

64.d7! Qe3+

In case of 64...Qc7+ 65.Kb4 Qb6+ (65...Qd8 66.Kxa4 f4 67.Ba5+–) 66.Ka3

Qc5+ 67.Bb4 Qg1 68.Kxa4!+– the white king is out of the woods, and Black is
doomed.

65.Kb5 a3 66.d8=Q a2 67.Qd7!? Qxd2

The line 67...Qg5 68.Bxg7! a1=Q (68...Qxg7 69.Qxf5++–) 69.Be5+ Kg6

70.Qe8+ Kh7 71.Rd7++– ends in a checkmating attack, too.

68.Qxg7#.

This is a highly instructive endgame about adequate evaluation and aligning your
decisions in accordance with changes occurring during the game.
We wrap up the book by analyzing a couple of instructive examples from the
tournament games of world champion Magnus Carlsen, in which he confidently
outplays his famous opponents with the rook and knight tandem versus a queen.
Example No. 100
M. Carlsen – D. Navara
Biel 2018

461
 Black to move

White has a rook, a knight and a pawn for a queen. His king is reliably shielded
against his opponent’s checks. The rook takes up a centralized position, which
enables it both to defend its queenside pawn and participate in an attack on
potentially weak black pawns. White’s further plans include improving his knight’s
position.

43...g5?!

Black moves his kingside pawns without any special reason, thereby saddling
himself with more weaknesses. It was logical to post the queen to a more active
square and follow it up by simply marking time with precise moves. White can either
determine that he has no way to fight for a decisive advantage, or push his passed e-
pawn forward, thus providing Black with dangerous counterplay. 43...Qc1!? 44.Nd2
Qc6+ 45.Ne4 Kg7=.

43...g5?! 44.Nd2 g4

44...Kg7!? deserved consideration: 45.Ne4 (45.Nf3 Kf6) 45...Kg6!? 46.Rd6+ Kg7

47.Rd4 (47.Nxg5?! Qxa4) 47...Kg6= and White finds it hard to get at his opponent’s
weaknesses here too.

462
 45.Ne4

45...Qc1?

Just a blunder. 45...Kg7 was correct: 46.Nc5 Qa2! 47.Nd3 Qe6 48.Nf4 Qe8!?
49.Kh2 (49.e4?! Qe5 50.Rc4? h4µ; 49.Rc4 Qe5!?) 49...Kh6!? 50.Rd6+ (50.e4?! h4!
51.gxh4? Qe5; 50.Kg1 Kg7 51.Kf1 Kh6=) 50...Kg7 51.Rd4 Kh6= and Black keeps
his pawns alive.

46.Nf6+! Kf7 47.Nxh5 Qc6+ 48.Kg1 Qc1+ 49.Kh2 Kg6

49...Qc2? 50.Rf4+ Ke6 51.Nf6+– is bad and blunders yet another pawn to White.

50.Nf4+ Kf6 51.Ng2!

51.Nd5+ Ke6! is harmless.

51...Kg5?!

51...Qc8!? 52.Nh4 Ke5 was a better plan.

52.Rf4 Qd1 53.Nh4

463
 53...Qc2?!

Yet another inaccuracy. 53...Kh6! is a superior continuation: 54.Nf5+ Kh7!

(54...Kg5? 55.Nd4! Kh6 56.Nc6 Qd5 57.Ne7 Qd1 58.Ng8+ Kg7 59.Nf6+–)
55.Kg2 (55.Rd4 Qc2 56.Rf4 Qd1!) 55...Qd5+ 56.e4 Qc6! 57.Rxg4 Qxa4 58.Rg7+
Kh8, and Black generates counterplay thanks to his passed pawn’s advance.

54.Nf5 Qd3?

Black has mishandled this endgame. 54...Qa2? failed to 55.Nd6 Kh6 56.Ne8 Qc2
57.Nf6+–.
Instead, Black needed to throw a wrench into the white knight’s decisive transfer
with 54...Qd1!? 55.Nd4 Qd2 (55...Qxa4? 56.Ne6+) 56.Ne6+ Kh6 57.e4 Qb2
58.Kg2 Qe5 59.Nd8 Qe8 60.Nf7+ Kg7 61.e5 Qc6+ 62.Kg1 Qd5.

55.e4!

464
 55...Qd7?

Both 55...Qe2? 56.Ne3+– and 55...Qc2? 56.e5 Qc5 57.Ne3 Qxe5 58.Rf5+ Qxf5
59.Nxf5 Kxf5 60.Kg2 Ke4 61.f3+ gxf3+ 62.Kf2+– are bad.
55...Kf6! would have retained some chances: 56.Ne3+ (56.Rxg4 Qc2!) 56...Ke6
57.Nxg4 (57.Rxg4 Qd4! 58.e5 Qxe5) 57...Qc2 58.e5 Qh7+ 59.Kg2, although here,
too, White should gradually set his pawns into decisive motion. For example,
59...Qb7+ 60.f3 Qb2+ 61.Kh3 Qa1 62.Kh4 Qh1+ 63.Kg5 Qc1 64.Kh6 Qg1
65.Kg7 Qxg3 66.Rf6+ Ke7 67.Rf7+ Ke6 68.Kf8+–.

56.e5! Qh7+

Black loses the pawn ending arising after 56...Qxf5 57.Rxf5+ Kxf5 58.Kg2 Kxe5
59.f3 gxf3+ 60.Kxf3 Kf5 61.Ke3 Kg4 62.Kd4 Kxg3 63.Kc5 Kf4 64.Kb5 Ke5
65.Kxa5 Kd6 66.Kb6 Kd7 67.Kb7+–. 56...Qe6 57.Ne3+– is equally insufficient.

57.Kg1 Qg6

465
 58.Nd6!

A precise move. Following the erroneous 58.Ne3? Qb1+ 59.Kg2 Qb7+ 60.Kh2
Qh7+ 61.Kg1 Qb1+ perpetual check can be stopped only at the cost of ruining the
knight’s position.

58...Qe6?!

Black still has a totally lost position after the computer’s first line 58...Qb1+
59.Kg2 Qa2 60.Ne4+ Kg6 61.Nf6 Kf7 62.Nxg4+ Ke6 63.Kh3 Qa1 64.Kh4+–.

59.Rf5+

59.Nf7+ Kh5 (59...Kg6 60.Rf6++–) 60.Rf6 Qb6 61.Rh6+!+– was an alternative

way to win the game.

59...Qxf5

Black may resign after 59...Kg6 60.Rf6++–.

60.Nxf5 Kxf5 61.f4! gxf3 62.Kf2 Kxe5 63.Kxf3 Kf5 64.Ke3 and Black resigned.

466
 Example No. 101
M. Carlsen – I. Nepomniachtchi
Dubai 2021

Black to move

This is perhaps the key moment in one of their world championship match games –
in round 6 after five draws. A long seesaw struggle resulted in the reigning champion
outplaying his opponent and reaching an endgame which takes precise defense for
Black to achieve a draw.

130...Qe6?

And the challenger failed to do the job here. Saving the game requires that Black
prevent the white pieces from getting coordinated and pushing his pair of passed
pawns.
The way to go is 130...Qb1!? 131.e6
(131.Kg4 Qd1+! 132.Kg5 Qg1! promises White nothing. In case of 131.Rf6 Qe1!
132.e6 [132.f5? is wrong: 132...Qxe5 133.Re6+ Qxe6 134.fxe6 Ke7=, 132.Kg4
Qd1+ 133.Kf5 Qd3+ 134.Ne4 Qh3+ 135.Kg6 Qd3= is of no help] 132...Ke7
133.Rg6. The following line ends in a cute stalemate: 133.Rh6 Qe3 134.Kg4 Qg1

467
135.f5 Kd6!? 136.Rh7 Qd4+ 137.Kh3 Qf4! 138.Rd7+ Ke5! 139.e7 Qh6+ 140.Kg4
Qf4+ 141.Kh5 Qg5+! 142.Kxg5=

133...Qb1 134.f5 Qa1 135.Kg4. 135.Rh6 Qg7!? 136.f6+ Qxf6 137.Rxf6 Kxf6=
only leads to a draw.
135...Qd1+ 136.Kg5 Qd4 137.Rg8 [137.Kh6 Qh8+!; 137.Nh5 Qe3+ 138.Kg4
Qe2+ 139.Kh4 Qe4+=] 137...Qe3+ 138.Kh5 Qc3 139.Kh4 [139.Ne4? Qf3+]
139...Qd4+ 140.Rg4 Qf6+ 141.Rg5 Qd4+ 142.Kh3 Qa1 143.Rh5 Qc3 144.Rh7+
Kf6 145.Rf7+ [a drawn position involving stalemate ideas arises after 145.e7 Qe3!?
146.Kg4

468
 146...Qf4+!=] 145...Kg5 146.e7 Qh8+ 147.Kg2 Qb2+ 148.Kh3 Qh8+= and there
is no avoiding a perpetual check)
131...Ke7!? 132.Re5 Qh7+ 133.Rh5. 133.Nh5 is no better: 133...Qd3+ 134.Kh4
Qd4 135.Kg5 Qg1+ 136.Kh6 Qd4 137.Kg6 Qxe5! 138.fxe5 Kxe6= and the last
white pawn perishes.
133...Qd3 134.f5 Qc3 135.Rh7+ Kf6 136.Rf7+. There is no way of improving the
position in case of 136.e7 Qe3=, while following 136.Kh4 Qb4+ 137.Kh5 Qf4
138.Rf7+ Ke5 139.e7 Qf3+ 140.Kh6 (140.Kh4 Qf4+ 141.Kh3 Qh6+ 142.Kg2
Qd2+=) 140...Qf4+ 141.Kh7 Qh4+ 142.Kg8 Qxg3+ 143.Kf8 (143.Rg7 Qb3+
144.Kf8 Qa3=) 143...Qa3= Black holds the position via pinning.
136...Kg5 137.e7 Qh8+ 138.Kg2 Qb2+= and a draw is inevitable.

130...Qe6?

469
 131.Kh4!+–

And Black’s position is lost.

131...Qh6+?!

The relatively better 131...Qa2 132.Nh5! Qh2+ 133.Kg5 Qg1+ 134.Kh6 Ke7
135.Rg5 Qb6+ 136.Kh7 Qe3 137.Kg7 Ke6 138.Rg6+ Ke7 (138...Kf5 139.e6 Qa7+
140.Kh6+–) 139.Nf6! Qf3 (139...Qxf4? 140.Nd5+) 140.Ng8+ Ke8 141.Re6+ Kd7
142.Rf6 Ke8 143.f5 Qg3+ 144.Kh7! Qh2+ (144...Qxe5 145.Re6++–) 145.Rh6 Qf4
146.Re6+ Kd8 147.Nh6+– still loses.

132.Nh5 Qh7

Black is also in a grim situation following 132...Ke7 133.Rf6 Qh8 134.Kg5! Qg8+
135.Rg6 Qd5 136.Nf6 Qg2+ 137.Kh6 Qh2+ 138.Kg7 Qc2 (138...Qxf4
139.Nd5++–) 139.Nd5+ Kd8 140.Kf7 Qf5+ (the queen drops to 140...Qc4
141.Rd6+ Kc8 142.Rc6+ Qxc6 143.Ne7++–) 141.Nf6 Qxf4 142.Rg8+ Kc7 143.e6
Qc4 144.Rg5 Qb3 145.Rd5+– and there is no stopping the white passed pawn.

470
 133.e6! Qg6

The queen falls both to 133...Qxf5 134.Ng7++– and 133...Ke7 134.Rf7++–.

Meanwhile, Black is also doomed after 133...Qe7+ 134.Kg4 Qb7 (134...Qa7
135.Rd5 Qg1+ 136.Kf5 Qb1+ 137.Kf6 Qa1+ 138.Re5+–) 135.Rd5!+–.

134.Rf7! Kd8

The pawn ending is lost following 134...Qxe6 135.Ng7+ Kxf7 136.Nxe6 Kxe6
137.Kg5 Kf7 (137...Ke7 138.Kg6+–) 138.Kf5+–. 134...Qh6 135.f5+– is not a game
changer either.

135.f5 Qg1 136.Ng7

and Black resigned in the face of 136...Qh2+ 137.Kg5 Qg3+ 138.Kh6 Qh2+
139.Kg6 Qg3+ 140.Kh7 Qh4+ 141.Kg8.

471
 Index of Names

Numbers indicate the example

Abasov, N 48
Abdusattorov, N 45, 46
Alavkin, A 47
Albornoz Cabrera, C 71
Alekseenko, K 12
Anand, V 14, 70
Andreikin, D 50
Antic, D 3
Arizmendi Martinez, J 2
Artemiev, V 7, 41
Bagi, M 10
Balogh, C 48
Barseghyan, A 81
Baskin, R 39
Beliavsky, A 8
Belozerov, A 76
Berczes, D 29
Blomqvist, E 66
Bocharov, D 51
Bogner, S 69
Bok, B 97
Brynell, S 43, 91
Carlsen, M 14, 34, 54, 89, 100, 101

472
Ding Liren 4
Dominguez, L 94
Dragun, K 88
Drygalov, S 55
Dubov, D 74, 94
Duda, JK 99
Duzhakov, I 76
Dziuba, M 62
Edouard, R 38
Eljanov, P 2
Fedoseev, V 26
Fier, A 21
Firat, B 25
Gabrielian, A 55
Gabuzyan, H 86
Galkin, A 18, 22, 27, 35, 52, 79, 90, 98
Garcia, G 13
Gelfand, B 83
Gledura, B 75
Goganov, A 50
Gordievsky, D 26, 59
Grandelius, N 74
Gusain, H 31
Hakobyan, A 20
Haria, R 19
Hasangatin, R 60
Heberla, B 91
Heimann, A 40

473
Injac, T 73
Iordachescu, V 93
Iturrizaga, E 95
Ivanov, O 18
Ivic, V 58
Jimenez Garcia, E 21
Jobava, B 82
Jones, G 15
Ju Wenjun 42
Kadric, D 73
Kaidanov, G 98
Kamsky, G 72
Kantans, T 97
Karjakin, S 6
Karpeshov, O 27
Kasimdzhanov, R 32
Kasparov, G 84
Kempinski, R 22, 68
Khanin, S 80
Khismatullin, D 36, 96
Kjartansson, G 63
Klein, F 87
Kovalenko, I 78
Kozak, A 67
Kramnik, V 77
Krasenkow, M 56
Krzyzanowski, M 37
Kurmann, O 19

474
Lagno, K 42
Lastin, A 35
Leon Valdes, J 71
Li, E 29
Lie, K 66
Livaic, L 44
Lopez Martinez, J 85, 99
Lugovoi, A 47
L’Ami, E 65, 69
Malakhov, V 40
Mamedyarov, S 83
Matlakov, M 92
Medvegy, Z 11
Meier, G 23
Mekhitarian, K 15
Meskovs, N 24
Mikaelyan, A 61
Mikhalevski, V 13, 85
Miladinovic, I 8
Mista, A 90
Mishra, A 39
Mitrabha, G 31
Moussard, J 82
Najer, E 30
Nakamura, H 6
Navara, D 16, 46, 54, 100
Nepomniachtchi, I 79, 101
Nguyen, P 56

475
Nihal, S 49
Nisipeanu, L D 23, 58
Notkevich, B 17
Oganian, M 51
Ostmoe, G 34
Paravyan, D 24
Pashikian, A 96
Polgar, J 84
Ponkratov, P 60
Popov, I 28
Potkin, V 92
Prithu, G 5
Prohaszka, P 11
Pulpan, J 68
Pultinevicius, P 62
Puranik, A 45
Raja, H 80
Rapport, R 9
Rasmussen, A 1, 43
Richter, M 72
Rogers, I 3
Romanov, E 59
Sadhwani, R 64
Salimova, N 67
Santos Latasa, J 75
Sarana, A 12, 36
Sargsyan, S 86
Saric, I 30

476
Sasikiran, K 33
Schekhachikhin, M 28
Sebenik, M 53
Seo, Jung Min 1
Sethuraman, S P 93
Sevian, S 20, 88
Shankland, S 77
Shevchenko, K 53
Sieciechowicz, M 38
Sjugirov, S 52
Socko, B 37
Song, J 64
Stefansson, H 16
Stocek, J 57
Stoyanov, T 49, 95
Svane, R 63
Tabatabaei, A 33
TerSahakyan, S 61
Tisdall, J 17
Tiviakov, S 65
Topalov, V 4
Tsydypov, Zh 5
Vachier-Lagrave, M 70
Vaisser, A 32
Vallejo Pons, F 78, 89
Vavulin, M 44
Vidit, S 7
Votava, J 57

477
Wei Yi 9
Werle, J 87
Yeletsky, I 41
Zakhartsov, Vl 81
Zirkelbach, M 25
Zvjaginsev, V 10

478
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Rook vs. Minor Piece 5
Chapter 2 Rook vs. a Pair of Minor Pieces 116
Chapter 3 Rook and Minor Piece Against Different Forces 158

479