1

Adrian Mikhalchishin:

Prokesh trick

In Rook and pawn endings there are many
interesting and instructive manoevres. I want
to show few interesting examples, which
show some problems of top players in the
endgame.

There

are

strangely

many

mistakes, practically in evry example. But
we try to show this problems, which in
reality are quite simple and we hope that our
readers will not make similar mistakes in
their future games. It started in the next
game:

Fridstein : Lutikov,
Riga, 1954
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-tR-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-zp-+-+K0
9-+-mk-+-+0
9+p+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1.Rb8 c4 2.Kg4 c3
And white resigned here, as they knew the
development.
3.Rxb3??
Intermeditory check was unkown for player
of Grandmaster level - 60.Tb4.
3...c2 4.Rb4+ Kd5 5.Rb5+ Kd6 6.Rb6+
Kc7 0:1.

We could compare our first example with
the modern game.

Gunina : Shadrina,
Russia, 2006
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-zP0
9+-+-+KzP-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+k+-+-0
9-+-+-+-tr0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1.g6 Rh5+!
Girls know the proper Prokesh!
2.Kf6 draw.

Next example is the tragedy itself.
Petrosian, A : Tseshkovsky,
Minsk, 1976
XIIIIIIIIY
9R+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+K+0
9+-+k+-+-0
9-zp-+-+-+0
9+-zp-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1.Kf5
And opponents agreed draw, as they was not
aware of the analysis of great Tarrasch.
1...b3 2.Rd8+ Kc5
2...Kc4? is not good, because of 3.Ke4.
3.Rc8+
Immediately loses 3.Ke4 b2 4.Tc8+ Kd6
5.Tb8 c2.
3...Kd4 4.Rd8+ Ke3 5.Rb8 b2 6.Ke5 Kf3!
6...c2 7.Tb3 was white's last chance to save
the game, which Black does not allow.
7.Kf5 Ke2! 8.Ke4 Kd1 9.Kd3 c2
And Black wins. This nice manoevre,
discovered by Tarrasch, has to be known not
only by GM's.The way of pushing own
pawns is in many games completely wrong,
despite the fact that it looks so simple.

2

Samaganov : Zilberman,
USSR, 1970
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-tR0
9+-+-mK-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+p+0
9+-+-+-mkp0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1...Kg2??
1...Kh2 would allow to promote g pawn,
with an easy win.
2.Kf6 g3 3.Kf5 h2 4.Kf4 draw.

Tsereteli : Epstein,
USSR, 1974
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-zp-0
9PmK-+-zp-+0
9+-+-+P+-0
9-zP-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+k0
9-+-+-+-+0
9tr-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1.a7??
Once more correct would be to push another
pawn: 1.b5 Kg4 2.Ka7 Kf5 3.b6 g5 4.b7 Rb1
5.b8Q Rb8 6.Kb8 g4 7.a7 g3 8.a8Q and now
White queened much faster than Black.
1...Kg4 2.Kb7 Kxf5 3.b5 g5 4.b6 g4 5.a8Q
Rxa8 6.Kxa8 g3 7.b7 g2 8.b8Q g1Q
White managed to save this position.All of
this is known by the top players, but
sometimes it is well forgotten. Draw.

Topalov : Beliavsky,
Germany, 2000
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9PmK-+-+-+0
9+P+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-mk-+-+0
9tr-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
In this example White showed the correct
idea. Strange, that such top player as
Beliavsky, has forgotten it in the next game.
1.Ka7! 1:0.

Slobodjan : Beliavsky,
Germany, 2000
XIIIIIIIIY
9R+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-mK-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-zp-+-+-zP0
9zpk+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1...Kc4??
As in similar cases correct is king's move,
making the way for own pawn: 1...Ka2 2.h5
b3 3.h6 b2 4.h7 b1Q 5.h8Q Qb2 6.Kf5 Qh8
7.Rh8 Kb2 8.Ke4 a2.
2.h5 b3 3.Ra4+!
A move, which famous Grandmaster haven't
seen. 1:0.

3

Gligoric : Popovic,
Belgrade, 1998
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+R+-+0
9+-+-+-zP-0
9-+-zp-mK-+0
9+-mk-+-+-0
9pzp-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+r+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1.Ra8 Rxg7 2.Kxg7 a3?
The winner was 2...b3 3.Ra4 b2 4.Ra5 Kc6
5.Ra6 Kb7.
3.Kf6 Kc4 4.Ke6 b3
4...Kb3 now does not help: 5.Kd6 Ka2 6.Kc5
b3 7.Kb4, with draw.
5.Ra4+
Gligoric is not Lutikov, or he simply studied
on the mistakes of the others.In the next
example, classic proudly showed the correct
way, how to promote own pawn. Draw.

Tarrasch : Janowski,
Ostend, 1907
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+R+-+-+-0
9r+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+P+-0
9-+-+-+P+0
9+-mk-mK-+-0
9-zp-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1...Ra4 2.Rxb2
Threat was to cut b file with Rb4.
2...Kxb2 3.f6 Ra1 4.g5 Rf1 5.Kd4 Kb3
6.Ke5
6.Kd5 Rf5+ 7.Ke6 RXg5 8.f7 was simpler.
6...Kc4 7.g6
7.Ke6 Re1+ 8.Kf7 Kd5 9.g6 Ke5 10.Kg7
Ke6 11.f7 was winning, but a bit more
complicated. 7...Re1+ 8.Kd6 Rd1+ 9.Ke6
Re1+ 10.Kf7
But in just few years it was impression, that
he has forgotten his own analysis. 1:0.

Maroczy : Tarrasch,
San Sebastian, 1911
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-tR0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9zPK+-+-+-0
9-zP-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-mk-0
9-+-+-+-zp0
9tr-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1.Kc6??
It was possible to transfer into classical
winning Rook end: 1.Ka6 Ra4 2.Rxh2 Rxb4
3.Rh6 Kf4 4.Rb6 Ra4 5.Kb5 Ra1 6.a6 Ke5
7.Kc6, or to sacrifice Rook immediately -
1.Rxh2 Kxh2 2.Ka6 Kg3 3.b5 Kf4 4.b6 Ke5
5.b7 Rb1 6.Ka7 Kd6 7.b8Q+ Rxb8 8.Kxb8
Kc6 9.a7 winning.
1...Rc1+ 2.Kb6
Now it was too late to try to return back, as
sometimes is still possible in some ends.
Chess is timing - used to say great Robert
Fischer: 2.Kb5 h1Q 3.Rxh1 Rxh1 4.a6 Kf4
5.a7 Ra1 6.Kb6 Ke5 7.Kb7 Kd5.
2...Rc4 3.Rxh2 Rxb4+ 4.Kc5 Ra4 Draw.

Glek : Lputian,
Dortmund, 1992
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-mk-+-0
9P+-+-+-+0
9+PmK-+-+-0
9-+-+-zP-+0
9+-zP-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-zp0
9+-+r+-+L0
xiiiiiiiiy
1.a7??
Correct would be to keep Bishop and not to
transfer into Rook against pawn. 1.Be4! Re1
(1...h1Q 2.Bxh1 Txh1 3.a7 +-) 2.Bb7 Ra1
3.Kb6 and 4.a7 +-.
1...Rxh1 2.a8Q Rd1!= 3.Qe4+ Kd8!
4.Qa8+ Ke7 5.Qb7+ Kf6 6.c4 h1Q 7.Qxh1
Rxh1 8.b6 Rb1

4

It was possible to have different moves order
- 8...Kf5!=.
9.Kc6 Kf5 10.c5 Ke4 11.f5 Kxf5 12.Kb7
Ke6 13.c6 Rc1 14.Kc7 Kd5 15.b7 Draw.

Prokesh
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-mk-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-zppmK-+0
9+-tR-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1.Rc4+
First Prokesh manoevre.
1...Kd3 2.Rd4+!
Second Prokesh.
2...Kxd4 3.Kxe2 Kc3 4.Kd1 Kd3 Draw.

Sikora Gizynska : Peng Zhaoqin,
Novi Sad, 1990
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-mkp0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-tR-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-zppzPP0
9-+-+-+-mK0
9+r+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White resigned, as they haven't seen that
with checks it would be possible to drive
opponents King to the f file, after what f
pawn can be stopped with check.
1.Re7+ Kg6 2.Re6+ Kg5 3.Re5+ Kf6
4.Rxe3 0:1.

Timman : Ivkov,
Amsterdam, 1971
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-+-+0
9+-zp-zP-tR-0
9-+-mk-zP-+0
9+P+-+-+p0
9-+-+-+-zP0
9zp-+-+-+-0
9-+P+-+P+0
9+-+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1.Rg8??
Too beatiful to be true! It was possible to
stop a pawn with different measures. For
example: 1.Rg3 a2 2.Rd3+! Ke6 3.e8Q Rxe8
4.Ra3 Rb8 5.c4 (5.Rxa2 Rxb5 6.Ra6 Kf7
7.Rc6 was still easily winning) 5...c6!
6.Rxa2 cxb5 Rxb5 7.Rf2 Kf7 and it is not
easy to progress.
1...Rxg8 2.f7 a2??
2...Rxg2!! - Prokesh trick at that time was
unknown for both worldclass players!
3.fxg8Q a1Q+ 4.Kh2 Kxe7 5.Qg5+ 1:0.

Shehter : Aloni,
Israel, 1962
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-zp-0
9-+-+-+-zp0
9+-mk-+-+P0
9p+-+-zPP+0
9zP-zppmK-+-0
9-tR-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1.Kxd3??
1.Rb5+! Kxb5 2.Kxd3 - Prokesh trick - was
winning.
1...cxb2 2.Kc2 Kd4 3.Kxb2 Ke4 0:1.

5

Naiditsch : Kuzubov,
Warsaw, 2005
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-zP-+-+-0
9-mK-+k+-+0
9+R+-+-zp-0
9-+-+-zp-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-tr-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1...g4?
Correct was to push far own pawn
immediately: 1...f3! 2.Rxg5 (2.Rc5 Rxc5
3.Kxc5 Kd7 4.Kb6 Kc8 –+) 2...Rxc7 3.Kxc7
f2 4.R6+ Kf7 –+, winning as in the first
example.
2.Rg5?!= g3 3.Kb7 Rb1+ 4.Kc6 Rc1+
5.Kb7 Kf6 6.Rg8 Ke5 7.c8Q Rxc8 8.Kxc8
Ke4 9.Kd7 f3
Other maoevre does not help: 9...Kf3 10.Ke6
g2 11.Ke5 and King is in time.
10.Rg4+! Ke3 Draw.

Harikrisna : Dreev,
Khanty Mansiysk, 2005
XIIIIIIIIY
9-sN-+-+-tR0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-zp-+p+-+0
9+-+-+kzp-0
9-+-mK-+-zp0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+r+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1...g4 2.Rh5+!
Much stroner than immediate capture on h4.
2...Kf4 3.Rxh4 Rd1+ 4.Kc3 Kf3 5.Rh6 g3
6.Rf6+ Kg4 7.Rxe6?
Another option was to bring Knight back
into defence. It looks to be stronger: 7.Rg6+
Kf4 8.Na6 e5 9.Nb4 e4 wwith advantage for
Black.
7...g2 8.Rg6+

Not sufficient to achieve draw was 8.Rxb6
Kh5 9.Tb5+ Kh6 10.Rb6+ Kg7 11.Tb7+
Kh8 –+. 8...Kh3?
Of course not 8...Kf3 9.Rxg2 Kxg2 –+.
9.Rh6+ Kg3 10.Rg6+?
And opponents agreed draw, but fight Rook
aainst Knight (10...Kf3 11.Rxg2 Kxg2) was
clearly winning for the stronger piece.
Draw.

Krumpacnik : Lenic,
Rogaska Slatina, 2009
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9zP-+-snk+-0
9-mKPsN-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+pzp-0
9-+R+-+-+0
9tr-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Sometimes happened, that Prokesh idea is
performed by other piece.
1...Ke6??
1...Kg6 was avoiding all opponents Knight
tricks. Now white performed trick with
Knight! 2.Ne4! Nc8+
Did not worked 2...g2 3.Ng5+ Kf5 4.Nxf3
and both pawns are stopped!
3.Kb7 Nxa7 4.c7 Ke5 5.Nxg3 Kf4 6.Nf1
Ke4 7.Rc5 f2 8.Nd2+ Ke3 9.Rf5 Kxd2
10.Rxf2+ Ke3 11.Rf8 Nb5 12.Re8+ Kf4
Draw.

Conclusion: knowledge of the key Prokesh
trick is necessary for players of every level.
But quantity of mistakes support our
opinion, that many players have to study it
much more seriousely.