CONTENTS

Contents

Foreword by John Nunn 8Authors’ Preface 10Introduction 12Symbols 13

1 Activity 15

A) King Activity 15A1) An Endgame is Not a Middlegame 15A2) Cutting Off the King 24A3) Barriers 29A4) The Bodycheck 30A5) The Réti Manoeuvre 32B) Rook Activity 33C) Activity in General 36

2 The Art of Pawn Play 39

A) Passed Pawns 39A1) Outside Passed Pawns 39A2) Protected Passed Pawns 41A3) Connected Passed Pawns 43A4) Passed Pawns Must be Pushed! 44A5) Blockade 45B) Creating a Passed Pawn 48B1) Mobilizing a Pawn-Majority 48B2) Pawn Breakthrough 52B3) Eliminating Enemy Pawns 56C) The Minority Attack 57D) Undermining 59E) Pawn Power 60

3 Do Not Rush! 65

A) Preparatory Measures 65B) Subtle Technical Moves 67C) Repeating Moves 68D) The Art of Manoeuvring 69E) Playing with the Whole Army 72

F) Too Much of a Rush 73

4 The Right Exchange 76

A) The Importance of Exchanges in the Game of Chess 76B) Critical Moments in the Endgame 78C) Exchanging into a Pawn Ending 82D) Exchanging into a Rook Ending 86E) Exchanging a Pair of Rooks 89E1) The Attacker Wants to Exchange a Pair of Rooks 89E2) The Defender Wants to Exchange a Pair of Rooks 91F) Simplification into an Endgame 93G) The Defender Exchanges Pawns, the Attacker Pieces 96H) Eliminating the Last Pawn 97I) The Defender of a Weakness Must be Exchanged 98J) Transformation 100K) What is Important is What is Left on the Board, Not What Disappears 102L) Avoiding an Unfavourable Exchange 102

5 Thinking in Schemes 106

A) Target Positions 106B) Make a Wish! 107C) Improving the Position of a Piece and Makogonov’s Principle 108D) Plans 110

6 Weaknesses 114

A) Pawn- and Square- Weaknesses 114A1) Pawn Weaknesses 114A1a) Isolated Pawns 114A1b) Doubled Pawns 115A1c) Backward Pawns 116A1d) A Pawn that has Advanced Too Far 116A2) Weak Squares 118B) A Complex of Weak Squares 118C) Creating and Fixing a Weakness 121D) Manoeuvring 123E) The Principle of the Second Weakness 129F) The Exploitability of a Weakness 131G) Fatal Passivity with Structural Weaknesses 132

7 The Fight for the Initiative 135

A) The Importance of the Initiative 135B) Passed Pawns and the Initiative 137C) Psychology 138

4 HOW TO PLAY CHESS ENDGAMES

D) Sacrificing Structure for Initiative 139E) Sacrificing Material for Initiative 140F) Opposite-Coloured Bishops 141G) When the Queen is in her Element 141

8 Prophylaxis and Prevention of Counterplay 145

A) Foiling the Opponent’s Plans 145B) Mysterious Rook Moves 147C) Preventing Counterplay 148

9 The Bishop-Pair in the Endgame 151

A) Steinitz’s Method of Restriction 151B) Transformation 153C) Control 155D) Opening the Position for the Bishops 157E) Supporting Passed Pawns 160F) Attack 161G) Two Bishops against Rook and Minor Piece 163H) The Bishop-Pair as a Drawing Weapon 166I) Fighting against the Bishops 168I1) Blockade 168I2) Total Sealing of the Position 169I3) Support-Points for the Knight 171

10 Zugzwang 173

A) A Powerful Endgame Weapon 173B) Theoretically Important Endings 177C) Reciprocal Zugzwang 179D) Triangulation and Spare Moves 180

11 Fortresses 183

A) Elementary Fortresses 183B) A Secure Camp 190B1) Fortresses against a Bishop 190B1a) Averbakh’s Barrier 190B1b) The Bishops Inhabit Different Worlds 191B1c) The Well-Entrenched Knight 192B2) Fortresses against a Rook 194B2a) The Knight Fights Well in a Confined Space 194B2b) Typical Drawing Fortresses with Bishop against Rook 196B3) Fortresses against the Queen 199C) Pawn-Barriers 200D) Incarcerating Pieces 204

CONTENTS 5

D1) An Incarcerated King 204D2) Pieces Shut Out of Play 208E) Tied and Pinned Pieces 210E1) Tied to a Pawn 210E2) Tying 210E3) A Dangerous Passed Pawn 211E4) Pinning 212F) A Typical Mistake 213

12 Stalemate 216

A) The Last Chance 216B) Theoretically Important Stalemate Positions 217C) Desperado 219D) Underpromotion to Avoid Stalemate 219

13 Mate 222

A) An Incarcerated King 222B) The All-Important First Check 223C) Rooks in Seventh Heaven 225D) Attacking with Opposite-Coloured Bishops 227E) The Knight in the Attack 231F) Long-Term Mating Attacks 233

14 Domination 235

A) Total Domination 235B) Theoretically Important Endings 237C) Methods of Restriction 238C1) Restricting a Bishop 238C2) Restricting a Knight 239C3) Restricting the Whole Enemy Force 241C4) Incarcerating a Piece 242

15 Converting an Advantage 245

A) Transforming One Advantage into Another 245A1) Bishops are Generally Easier to Exchange 246A2) Transforming a Static Advantage into a Dynamic One 246A3) Returning Material 248A4) Basic Considerations 249B) Practical Examples 250B1) Space Advantage 250B1a) Widening the Operational Front 254B2) Material Advantage 255B2a) An Extra Pawn 255

6 HOW TO PLAY CHESS ENDGAMES

B2b) Converting the Advantage of the Exchange 256

16 The Art of Defence 259

A) Defend Actively 259B) Prophylaxis in Defence 260C) Maintaining a Blockade 260D) Defensive Sacrifices 261E) Fight to the Death 262

17 Typical Mistakes 265

A) Deficient Knowledge of Endgame Theory 265B) Carelessness / Loss of Concentration 270C) Playing to the Gallery 273D) Premature Resignation 274D1) Trusting the Opponent / Shock after an Unexpected Move 275E) Passivity 275F) Inappropriate Activity 276G) Don’t Play on the Wing where Your Opponent has the Advantage 277H) Unnecessarily Giving up Material 277I) Greed 278J) Following Rules of Thumb Too Mechanically 280

18 Rules of Thumb 281

A) 20 Golden Rules of the Endgame 281B) Rules of Thumb 281

Solutions to the Exercises 284

Bibliography 345Index 347

CONTENTS 7

THE ART OF PAWN PLAY

2 The Art of Pawn Play

[Pawns] are the very Life of this Game.FRANÇOIS-ANDRÉ DANICAN PHILIDOR

The older I get, the more I value pawns.PAUL KERES

In contrast to all the other pieces, pawns cannotmove backwards. They take tiny steps and thereare often long delays between each pawn move.On account of this leisurely progress, it is oftenthe case that the pawn-structure changes onlyvery slowly and hence it leaves its stamp on theposition for some considerable time. Of course,you can never deduce the best move just from aconsideration of the pawn-structure alone, butin most cases this does give definite clues as tothe direction in which one’s thoughts should bepointed. This fact alone is enough to demon-strate the great importance of the pawns. Soconsider each pawn move carefully!

Before we become immersed in the subject-matter, we should like to point out that thistheme also overlaps with other chapters. Youcan find related subject-matter, for example, inChapter 6 on the theme of pawn weaknesses, inChapter 5 on support-points for pieces, and inChapter 4 on pawn exchanges. Finally, the im-portant rule of thumb ‘don’t move pawns on thewing where the opponent has the advantage’ isclosely examined in Chapter 17.

A) Passed Pawns

For me, the passed pawn has a soul, just like ahuman being, unacknowledged desires slum-bering deep within, and fears, of whose exis-tence it is scarcely aware.ARON NIMZOWITSCH

In the endgame, passed pawns increase enor-mously in importance, in comparison with the

other phases of the game. In the endgame theyeither play a diversionary role or are even thedecisive factor. The former case arises if thepassed pawn is so dangerous that it draws thefire of the opposing forces, who are thus forcedto abandon the main battle-zone. Thus, for in-stance, an outside passed pawn (see A1) oftendiverts the enemy king. Protected passed pawns(see A2) have the advantage that they compelenemy pieces to adopt defensive duties, yet donot require protection by their own pieces. Thusthe presence of protected passed pawns gener-ally increases the overall activity of the sidethat has them.

Passed pawns are generally a decisive fac-tor if they are so powerful that, despite all ob-structions, they succeed in promoting, or ifthey force the opponent to give up material toprevent their advance. For example, connectedpassed pawns (see A3) advancing in ‘closeformation’ are as a rule extremely hard to stop.Not only can they can defend each other, butthey can also help one other by controlling thesquares that each needs to move to.

Basically, when there are passed pawns, thefollowing rules of thumb are applicable:

1. Passed pawns must be pushed.2. In any race between passed pawns, it is not

the quantity but the quality of the passed pawnsthat counts.

All these aspects will now be enlarged upon,point by point.

A1) Outside Passed Pawns

In pawn endings and minor-piece endings, anoutside passed pawn is a particularly powerfulforce, since it diverts the main defender.

In the diagram on the following page, Lar-sen’s king must deal ‘personally’ with the a-pawn, enabling White to seize the advantage onthe kingside:

1 Êd4 Êd6 2 a5 f6 3 a6 Êc6 4 a7 Êb7 5Êd5 h4

5...f5 6 h4 +ø.6 Êe6 1-0

The next example illustrates the genesis ofan outside passed pawn:

1 h4 Êe6The actual game continuation was 1...f5 2

Êf4 Êf6 3 a4 c5 4 b3 (zugzwang) 1-0.2 g4White creates a passed pawn on the h-file.2...hxg4+ 3 Êxg4 Êf7 4 Êf5 a4 5 h5 c5 6

b3 axb3 7 axb3 Êg7 8 h6+ Êxh6 9 Êxf6 +ø

The rule formulated by Botvinnik that “knightendings are just like pawn endings” applies es-pecially when an outside passed pawn is pres-ent, since in knight endings this also generallyconstitutes a great advantage. The knight cannotlose a tempo, so that zugzwang plays an impor-tant role, just as in pawn endings. Furthermore,a sound extra pawn is normally a winning ad-vantage. Naturally there are also some differ-ences, such as the sacrifice of the knight andother tactical resources by the tricky knight.But now, back to the outside passed pawn:

White should win, since he has the outsidepassed pawn and the slightly more active king.

1 Êe2 Êf8 2 Ìc6 Êe8!?The king should be brought into play. The

game continued 2...c3 3 Êd3 Ìc4 4 Ìd4 Ìxa35 Êxc3 and the knight was dominated, sinceafter 5...f5 6 Êb3 Ìb1 7 Ìf3 the cage wasclosed. With 7...g5 8 Êb2 g4 9 Êxb1 gxf3Black was able to avoid immediate loss of ma-terial, but the pawn ending was hopeless: 10 g3!(10 gxf3? Êf7 11 Êc2 Êg6 12 Êd3 Êg5 13Êe3 h5 =) 10...Êf7 11 Êc2 Êg6 12 Êd3 Êf613 Êe3 1-0.

3 Ìb4 Êd7 4 Êe3 Êd6 5 Êd4 g6 6 Ìa2Ìd5 7 h4 Ìb6 8 Ìc3 Êc6 9 a4 Êb7 10 Êc5Êa6 11 Êb4 f5 12 f4 h5 13 g3 Êb7 14 Êb5 +ø

As just demonstrated in exemplary fashion,in minor-piece endings an outside passed pawn

40 HOW TO PLAY CHESS ENDGAMES

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2.01R.Fischer – B.Larsen

Denver Ct (5) 1971

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2.02J.Hjartarson – E.GauselNordic Ch (Reykjavik) 1997

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2.03N.Robson – K.D.Müller

corr. 2005

is generally a very dangerous weapon. But withrooks, matters are very different if the defend-ing rook can get behind the passed pawn. Thusthe following position is only a draw:

1...Êf7 2 Êe2After 2 a7?! Êg7 the white king no longer

has any shelter on the queenside.2...Êg72...Îxg3? runs into the old outflanking trick

3 a7 Îa3 4 Îh8 +ø.3 Êd2 Îxg3 4 Îb8 Îa3 5 Îb7+ Êf6 6 Îb6+6 a7 Êe6 7 Êc2 Êd5 8 Êb2 Îa6 9 Êb3 Êc5

=.6...Êg7 7 Êc2 (D)

Now Black gains some much-needed coun-terplay:

7...g5!! 8 fxg58 hxg5 h4 9 Îh6 h3 10 Êb2 Îa5 11 Êc3 h2

12 Îxh2 Îxa6 13 Êd4 Îe6 =.8...f4 9 Êd2 f3 10 Îb7+ Êg6 11 a7 Îa2+ 12

Êe1 Êf5 13 Îf7+ Êg6 14 Îxf3 Îxa7 15 Îf6+Êg7 16 Îh6 Îa4 17 Îxh5 Îa6 =

The white rook is boxed in.

A2) Protected Passed Pawns

A lot depends here on which piece blockadesthe pawn and how restricted this piece is byhaving to act as a blockader. If a strong block-ading knight stands in its way, a protectedpassed pawn loses much of its power and in-fluence. In a pawn ending, however, a pro-tected passed pawn is a real force, since theking himself has to deal with it.

White can win even if it is his move.1 Êg4Black must now either give up his f-pawn or

leave the square of the b5-pawn.1...Êe41...Êe6 2 Êxf4 Êd6 3 Êe4 Êe6 4 Êd4 Êd6

5 Êc4 Êc7 6 Êd5 Êb7 7 Êd6 Êb6 (D).Now White wins the battle for the opposi-

tion, since Black is barred from the squares a6and c6: 8 Êe6 Êc7 9 Êe7 Êb6 10 Êd6 Êb7 11Êd7 Êb6 12 Êc8 Êa7 13 Êc7 Êa8 14 Êb6+ø.

2 b6 f3 3 Êg3!

THE ART OF PAWN PLAY 41

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2.04G.Levenfish and V.Smyslov

1957

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2.05N.Grigoriev (end of a study)

‘64’, 1930

A very important zwischenzug, which en-ables White to liquidate into a pawn ending af-ter both pawns promote.

3...Êe3 4 b7 f2 5 b8Ë f1Ë 6 Ëe5+ Êd2 7Ëxa5+ Êd1 8 Ëd5+ Êc1 9 Ëc5+ Êd1 10Ëd4+ Êc2 11 Ëf2+ +ø

Naturally at this point we should also like toinclude an example which illustrates the impor-tance of a protected passed pawn in a piece end-ing. However, we must admit that it was (rathersurprisingly for us) not very easy to track downa suitable position. In the database you gener-ally find either games in which a protectedpassed pawn is securely blockaded and whichend in favour of the blockading side, or elsepositions in which the side with a protectedpassed pawn is so obviously on top that they arenot really suitable as instructive examples forthis book. But it would be wrong to concludefrom this that a protected passed pawn can playan important role only in pawn endings. Thetruth seems to be that players have such greatregard for the protected passed pawn that theyallow the opponent to create one only if they arein great difficulties or if, on the other hand, theyare quite sure that it can be securely blockaded.

1 Íc2Botvinnik’s plan consists of undermining

the black queenside pawns with b3 followedby a4.

1...Ìd7Let us hear what Botvinnik has to say about

this position: “Tal has created definite coun-ter-chances. His immediate aim should be to

blockade the pawn with his knight, which inthis case would be fulfilling a mass of usefulfunctions, without itself being in danger. Afterthis, the queenside pawns could have gradu-ally begun to advance. In concrete terms itcould have taken the following form: 2 Ìe2Îac8, and then 3...Ìf6, 4...Ìe8 and 5...Ìd6.Of course, while manoeuvring, Black wouldhave to adapt to the opponent’s plans andmoves. But even if there occurred 4...Ìf6,6...Ìe8 and 8...Ìd6, this would do Black noharm. After rejecting this plan, Tal was facedwith the sad necessity of blockading the pawnwith the rook. The blockade theorist Nimzo-witsch would have condemned him for this.One should blockade with a piece which, in sodoing, retains its ability to attack.”

2 Ìe2 Íf8 3 Ìc3 a6?!Once again let us listen to Botvinnik: “Per-

haps the losing move. The bishop at b7 is shutout of play for a long time and, most impor-tantly, White can carry out his plan unhindered.Black should have decided on 3...b4.”

4 b3 Îac8 5 Íd3 Ìb6 6 Íe2 Îd6 7 Êb2 f57...b4 8 Ìb1 c4 9 bxc4 Ìxc4+ 10 Íxc4

Îxc4 11 Îc1 also leaves White with a clear ad-vantage.

8 Îc1 Îf6 (D)9 a4!Now that White has completed all the neces-

sary preparations in peace, he implements hisplan with this move. Black can no longer prevent

42 HOW TO PLAY CHESS ENDGAMES

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2.06M.Botvinnik – M.TalMoscow Wch (13) 1961