1
Jovan Petronic:
Heterogeneous Endgames
Heterogeneous Endgames are those in
which one side possesses a huge material
advantage, with various technical
difficulties in forcing the opponent's
resignation, and in some cases leading only
to a draw.
As over-the-board practice repeatedly
shows, the majority of chess players is not
familiar well enough with these, resulting
in inaccurate play, whether being the
attacker, or the defender.
Here we will explore one of the most
occuring endgames (there are up to 1,629
of them documented in ChessBase Mega
Database 2010, featuring players of al
levels, up to 2849 FIDE rating),
namely:
King
,
Rook
&
Knight
vs
King
&
Rook
. The purpose of the
guiding essential examples in this Survey
is to have a checklist set of these, readily
available, and used for tournament and
match preparations, as either a learning
tool, or a reminder.
The existence of modern tablebases now
helps trainers and players to analyse
similar positions much faster and in greater
detail than ever before. Still, expert clear
conclusions and guidelines need to be
made, so as to present the final materials to
the student in as practical way as possible.
This task is one with which the
chess trainer needs be familiarised with,
through hours of independent research,
motivated and backed up by training
materials.
King in the corner
Many still believe that R+N do not win
when faced against a R. We will now
explore a few examples which prove
otherwise.White to play and win.
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-+-mk0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-tR-+N+K+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1.Sg5!
The best way to start off. The Knight is
heading towards the f6 square.
1...Tc8
1...Tg8 2.Kh6! Tc8 3.Sh7!+-, transposes
into the main line.
2.Sh7! Tg8!
2...Td8, staying completely passive, does
not help: 3.Sf6! Tf8 4.Tb7+-, as is with our
main line.
3.Kh6 Ta8
3...Tg1 4.Tb8! Tg8
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tR-+-+rmk0
9+-+-+-+N0
9-+-+-+-mK0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
5.Sf8!- remember this winning zugzwang
idea!
4.Sf6! Tf8! 5.Kg6!
White has regrouped forces ideally and
there is no defence against a quick
checkmate, for example:
5...Tc8 6.Tb7+-.
2
Backrank attack
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-tr-+0
9+-sN-+k+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+R+K+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White is winning, but without knowing a
finesse (4.Se8!), representing a typical
winning idea, you may face difficulties in
forcing the opponent to resign.White to
play and win.
1.Td7!
Is also the only move which wins. All
other lead to a draw with best play. It is not
difficult to find, as it represents of the
major endgame rules when Rooks are on
the board: limit the opponent's King
mobility.
1...Kg8 2.Kg6!
Again, and of course, the only move which
wins. All other lose White's decisive
advantage.
2...Tf1
2...Tb8 3.Tg7! (3.Sd5+-) 3...Kh8 (3...Kf8
4.Tf7! Kg8 5.Sd5! Kh8! 6.Th7! Kg8 7.Sf6
Kf8 8.Tf7#) 4.Th7! Kg8 5.Sd5+-.
2...Kh8 is by far the best practical defence
for Black: 3.Se6 (3.Td6!+-) 3...Tg8 4.Kh6!
Tb8 (4...Tg1? 5.Td8! Tg8 6.Sf8!+-
Remember this idea!) 5.Sf4! Kg8! 6.Sg6!
Tb7! 7.Se7!+- (7.Tb7??=).
3.Td8!
The only winning move.
3...Tf8
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tR-trk+0
9+-sN-+-+-0
9-+-+-+K+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
4.Se8!
We are familiar with this idea already, are
we not?
4...Kh8 5.Ta8 Tg8 6.Kf7!+-
6.Kh6? Tf8 7.Kg6! Tg8 8.Kf7!+-.
King in the corner (2)
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-mk0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-sNK+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+r+-+-+-0
9-+-tR-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black's Rook has a significantly larger
radius of activity, as compared to the
previous examples, but this fact, combined
with the fact that it is Black to play, does
not help in achieving a draw. Black's weak
King position in the corner of the board
proves to be a decisive disadvantage.Black
to play, White wins.
1...Tg3! 2.Kf7
3
2.Kf5+- also wins, and faster, with best
play. 2.Kh6? Tg6!= (2...Td3=).
2...Tg7! 3.Ke6!
3.Ke8+-.
3...Tb7
3...Tg1 is another stubborn defence option.
What follows is the main winning line for
White, with best defences by Black: 4.Td7!
Te1! 5.Kf7! (the only winning move)
5...Td1! 6.Te7! (6.Td1?=) 6...Te1! 7.Se4!
(7.Te1?=) 7...Tf1 (7...Tg1! 8.Te5! Tg7!
9.Kf6! - the only winning move - 9...Tg4!
10.Sg5! Tf4! 11.Kg6! - the only winning
move - 11...Kg8! 12.Ta5 Tf1! 13.Ta8! Tf8
14.Ta1! Tf2! 15.Se4! Tg2! 16.Kf6! - the
only winning move - 16...Kh8! 17.Td1!
Tg4! 18.Sg5! Tf4! 19.Kg6! - the only
winning move - 19...Kg8! 20.Se6! Tg4!
21.Kf6! - the only winning move -
21...Kh8 22.Td8 Kh7! 23.Sg5!+-) 8.Kg6!
Tf8 (8...Tg1 9.Sg5+-) 9.Sf6! Tf7!?
10.Te8+- (10.Tf7?=; 10.Kf7?=). After
3...Tc7 4.Td8 Kg7 5.Se8 +- and after
3...Ta7 4.Tg2!, follows the winning idea in
our main line.
4.Tg2!
The only winning move.
4...Tb6
4...Tb8 5.Kf5+-.
5.Kf5!
5.Kf7 Tb7 … 6.Kg6?? Tg7=.
5...Tb5! 6.Kg6!
The only winning move.
6...Tb2! 7.Tg5!
The only winning move.
7...Tb5!
7...Tg2!? is an attractive try, which in the
end loses faster, with best play: 8.Sg4! (the
only winning move; 8.Tg2?=) 8...Kg8
(8...Tg1 9.Kf7! - the only winning move -
9...Tf1 10.Sf6 - the only winning move -
10.Kg6? Kg8!=.
8.Sd5! Tb7!
8...Kg8 9.Kf6! Kf8 10.Th5!+- (the only
winning move).
9.Kf6
9.Te5+- is the second way to go for
checkmate.
9...Th7
9...Tg7!? is the best practical try for Black:
10.Te5! (10.Tg7?=) 10...Td7! 11.Se7! Td6!
12.Kf7! (the only winning move) 12...Kh7!
13.Te1 Ta6! 14.Th1! Th6 15.Ta1! Tb6!
16.Sd5! Tb7! 17.Kf6! (the only winning
move) 17...Kh8! 18.Ta4! Td7! 19.Se7!
Td6! 20.Kf7! (the only winning move)
20...Kh7! 21.Sf5! Td7! 22.Kf6! (the only
winning move) 22...Kh8 23.Th4 Kg8!
24.Se7+-.
10.Se7! Th6!
10...Tg7 11.Te5!+- (11.Td5+- is more
obvious).
11.Sg6!
11.Kf7 would take a couple of moves
longer: 11...Th7! 12.Kf8 Th1 13.Tf5! Th2
14.Sg8! Kh7 15.Kf7! Th1 16.Tf2 Th3
17.Tg2! Tf3! 18.Sf6+-.
11...Kh7!
11...Kg8 12.Ta5+-.
12.Kf7! Th1 13.Sf4! Th2 14.Tg7! Kh6
14...Kh8? 15.Sg6#.
15.Tg6! Kh7 16.Sd5! Kh8 17.Tg8! Kh7
18.Sf6 Kh6 19.Tg6#
King in the corner (3)
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+k+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+K+0
9+-+-+-sN-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-tR-+-0
9-+-+-tr-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
To win, White for starts needs to push the
Black Rook of the 2nd and 3rd rank.White
to play and win.
1.Te1! Tf4!
A very weak defence would be: 1...Tf8?
2.Sh7! Ta8 3.Te7!+-.
2.Ta1!
Or Tb1 or Tc1. The White T has now
obtained a better atacking position, since
4
the Black King can't escape via the f8
square.
2...Tf2! 3.Se4! Tg2! 4.Kf6!
The only winning move. White threatens a
decisive back rank attack, which forces
Black's defence:
4...Kh8!
4...Tg4? 5.Ta8! Kh7 6.Sg5!+-.
5.Ta3!?
5.Td1!+-.
5...Tg1! 6.Ta2!?
Following the winning idea mentioned in
the introductory text. 6.Td3+-.
6...Tg4
6...Tg7? 7.Sg5+-.
7.Sg5! Tf4! 8.Kg6!
The only winning move.
8...Kg8!
8...Tf8 9.Sf7! is the best and simplest way
to win: 9...Kg8 10.Sh6! Kh8 11.Th2!
(Black is in a potential stalemate position,
so White needs to pay special attention
here) 11...Ta8 12.Sf7! Kg8 13.Th8#.
9.Se6! Tg4! 10.Kf6!
The only winning move.
10...Kh8
10...Tg1 11.Ta8! (the only winning move)
11...Kh7 12.Sg5+-.
11.Ta8
11.Kf7!+-.
11...Tg8
XIIIIIIIIY
9R+-+-+rmk0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+NmK-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
11...Kh7 12.Sg5+-.
12.Sf8!
End of story. Black is about to get
checkmated. +-.
King to the center
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+k+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-mK-+-+0
9+-+-+-sN-0
9-+-+-+-tr0
9+-+-+R+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Centralising the King, or at least always
trying to, when being the side defending,
proves to be the best defense. White to
play. Draw.
1.Se6 Th8!
The only move which draws, with best
play.
2.Tf6 Tg8!
The only move which draws.
3.Sc7 Kd8 4.Th6
4.Tf7 Tg6 (4...Kc8=) 5.Se6 Kc8! (the only
move which draws) 6.Te7 Kb8 7.Kc6 Th6
8.Kb6 Kc8!= (the only move which
draws).
4...Kc8!
The only move which draws.
5.Kc6 Kd8!
The only move which draws. 5...Tf8?
6.Se6! (the only move which wins)
6...Te8! 7.Tf6 Tg8 (7...Kb8) 8.Tf7! (the
only move which wins) 8...Th8 (8...Te8)
9.Te7! Kb8 (9...Tg8) 10.Kb6! Ka8!
11.Ta7! Kb8 12.Tb7! Kc8! (12...Ka8?
13.Sc7#) 13.Tc7! (the only move which
wins) 13...Kb8 14.Sd4!+-.
6.Sd5!
When defining a good move, among many
which objectively lead to a draw, we
should focus, both in theory and practice -
on what it threatens. In this case, an
exclamation mark is awarded, as Black
now has only one move which holds the
position.
6...Te8
5
6...Tf8? 7.Th7! (the only move which
wins) 7...Kc8! 8.Tg7! Kb8! (8...Th8 9.Se7!
Kd8! 10.Sg6!+- - the only move which
wins - 10...Te8 11.Td7! - the only move
which wins - 11...Kc8 12.Se7! Kb8
13.Kb6!+-) 9.Kb6! Kc8! 10.Se7!+-.
7.Td6 Kc8 8.Sb6 Kb8 9.Sd7! Ka7!
9...Kc8! 10.Sc5 Td8! 11.Th6 Tg8 12.Kb6
Kd8! (the only move which draws).
9...Ka8? 10.Kc7! (10.Td5!+-) 10...Ka7!
11.Td5! (the only move which wins)
11...Te6! 12.Td4 (12.Td1+-) 12...Th6!
13.Ta4! Ta6 14.Th4! Ta1 (14...Tg6!
15.Se5! Tg7! 16.Kc6! Ka8! 17.Th3 Te7!
18.Sd7! Te6! 19.Kc7! Ka7! 20.Sc5! Te7!
21.Kc6! Ka8 (21...Tg7 22.Ta3! Kb8
23.Sd7!+-) 22.Ta3 (22.Kb6+-) 22...Ta7
(22...Kb8 23.Sd7!+-) 23.Sa6!+-) 15.Sb8!
Tc1! 16.Sc6! (the only move which wins)
16...Ka6! 17.Tb4!+-.
10.Kc7 Te1 11.Tc6!
11.Td5 Tc1! (the only move which draws)
12.Sc5 Tc2 13.Kc6 Tc4 14.Td7 (14.Th5
Tc1 15.Th7 Kb8! (15...Ka8!=) 16.Tb7!
Kc8! (16...Ka8? 17.Tb5 Ta1 18.Kc7! Ta7
19.Kc8! Ta2! 20.Se6 Ka7! 21.Tb7! Ka6!
22.Sc7! Ka5 23.Ta7!+-) 17.Th7 Kd8=)
14...Kb8 15.Kb6 Tb4 16.Kc6 Tc4!=.
11...Te7!
The only move which draws.
12.Tc1! Ka6!=
The only move which draws. 12...Te6?
13.Sc5! Te7! 14.Kc6! (the only move
which wins). 14...Kb8! 15.Th1 Ka7!
16.Ta1 Kb8 17.Sd7+-.
RESEARCH MATERIALS
I hope you will enjoy playing through and
further researching (with reference to the
hints given) the selection of 10 game
fragments add-on, which feature various
high-level encounters, played with various
time controls, in which excellent attacks
and defences, inaccuracies and even
catastrophies happened.
J. Polgar : Kasparov, Dos Hermanas
1996
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-mk-+-+0
9+-+-+-+R0
9-+-+-+-mK0
9tr-+-+-+-0
9-+-+n+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
60.Kg4 Ke6 61.Tb5 Tg3 62.Kh4 Tg1
63.Tg5 Tf1 64.Ta5 Kf6 65.Ta8 Tg1 66.Tf8
Ke5 67.Te8 Kf4 68.Tf8 Ke4 69.Te8 Kf3
70.Kh5 Sg3 71.Kh6 Sf5 72.Kh7! Kf4
73.Tb8 Tg7 74.Kh8 Td7 75.Te8 Kg5
76.Te6 Sd4 77.Te1 Kf6 78.Td1 Td5
79.Ta1? Se6! 80.Ta6 Kf7! 81.Ta7! Kg6!
82.Ta8! Td7 83.Tb8 Tc7 84.Kg8 Tc5
85.Ta8 Tb5 86.Kh8 Tb7 87.Tc8 Sc7
88.Tg8! Kh6! 89.Tg1 Tb8! 90.Tg8 Se8!
0:1.
Izoria : Bagaturov, Kocaeli 2002
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+k+-+0
9+-tR-+-+-0
9-+Ntr-+-+0
9+-+-+K+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
69...Th4 70.Sd2 Th3 71.Ke4 Th4 72.Ke3
Kd6 73.Tg5 Ke6 74.Ta5 Tb4 75.Se4 Tb1
76.Sg5 Kd6 77.Kf4 Kc6 78.Se4 Tb4
79.Tc5 Kb6 80.Tc1 Tb5 81.Ke3 Td5
82.Sc3 Td8 83.Ke4 Kc5 84.Se2 Kd6
85.Td1 Ke7 86.Sd4 Kf6 87.Tf1 Kg6
88.Ke5 Ta8 89.Tf6 Kg5 90.Tb6 Ta5
6
91.Ke4 Ta4 92.Tb5 Kg4 93.Ke5 Ta1
94.Tb3 Te1 95.Kf6 Tf1 96.Kg6 Tf4 97.Se6
Ta4 98.Kf6 Ta5 99.Sd4 Kf4 100.Tb4 Ta6
101.Sc6 Kg3 102.Tc4 Tb6 103.Kf5 Tb1
104.Tc3 Kf2 105.Se5 Tb5 106.Kf4 Tb4
107.Sc4 Ke2 108.Ke4 Kf2 109.Tc2 Kg3
110.Kf5 Tb8 111.Sd6 Tf8 112.Ke5 Kf3
113.Tc3 Kg4 114.Tc1 Ta8 115.Tc4 Kf3
116.Tf4 Ke3 117.Sf5 Kd3 118.Tf3 Kd2
119.Th3 Te8 120.Kd5 Ta8 121.Sd6 Ta5
122.Kd4 Kc2 123.Sc4 Ta6 124.Th2 Kb3?
125.Tb2! 1:0.
Ivanchuk : Azmaiparashvili, Kocaeli
2002
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9tR-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-mk0
9+-+-+-+r0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+N+-+-0
9-+-mK-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
72.Sf4 Th2 73.Ke3 Tb2 74.Ke4 Tb5
75.Sd5 Kg6 76.Ke5 Tb1 77.Ta8 Te1
78.Kd6 Kg7 79.Sf4 Te4 80.Se6 Kg6
81.Ke7 Te1 82.Tf8 Te2 83.Tf6! Kh7?
84.Kf7! Tg2? 85.Sf8! Kh8™ 86.Th6# 1:0.
Mamedyarov : Gelfand, Pamplona 2004
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9tR-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-tr-sn-+0
9+-+-+k+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
66...Td6! 67.Ta2! Th6 68.Th2 Sh3! 0:1
Djurhuus : Renman, Sweden 2004
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9tr-+-+-+k0
9-+-+-mK-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-sN-+-+0
9+-+-+-tR-0
xiiiiiiiiy
66...Kh6 67.Sf3 Ta8 68.Sd4 Ta4 69.Ke5
Kh5 70.Se6 Ta5 71.Kf6 Ta6 72.Tg3 Kh4
73.Tg2 Tb6 74.Ta2 Kg4 75.Ta3 Tb5
76.Ta4 Kg3 77.Sd4 Tb8 78.Ta3 Kf4
79.Se6 Ke4 80.Ta4 Kd3 81.Ke5 Tb5
82.Kd6 Tf5 83.Ta3 Kc4 84.Th3 Td5
85.Kc6 Tf5 86.Th4 Kd3 87.Sf4 Ke4
88.Sd5 Ke5 89.Sc3 Tf3 90.Sb5 Tf1 91.Sd6
Tc1 92.Sc4 Ke6 93.Tf4 Tc2 94.Kc5 Tc1
95.Tf2 Tc2?? 96.Tc2 1:0.
Postny : Sundararajan, Champions
Challenge 111th playchess.com INT 2005
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-mk-+-+0
9+R+-+-+-0
9-+-+K+-+0
9tr-+-+-+-0
9-+-+N+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
76...Ta2 77.Sd4 Tc2?? 78.Sc2 Kc6 79.Tb3
1:0.
7
Novikov : Kuljasevic, Dallas 2006
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+n+-+-+-0
9-+-+rtR-+0
9+K+-mk-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
66...Sd2! 0:1.
Volkov : Bartel, Monarch Assurance, Port
Erin 2006
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+k0
9R+-+N+-+0
9+-+-mK-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-tr-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
79...Te3 80.Kf5 Tf3 81.Sf4 Tf1 82.Kg5
Tg1 83.Kf6 Tf1 84.Ta7 Kh6 85.Kf5 Tg1
86.Ta2 Tf1 87.Tg2 Kh7 88.Tg4 Tf2
89.Kf6 Tf1 90.Kf7 Kh6 91.Tg6 Kh7
92.Tf6 Ta1 93.Tf5 Ta7 94.Kf6 Ta6 95.Se6
Kh6 96.Tb5 Ta1 97.Tb4 Tf1 98.Sf4 Kh7
99.Kf5 Kg7 100.Tb7 Kh6 101.Ta7 Tf2
102.Ta1 Kg7 103.Ke5 Tb2 104.Se6 Kf7
105.Ta7 Kg6 106.Tg7 Kh6 107.Tg1 Te2
108.Kf5 Tf2 109.Sf4 Kh7 110.Ke5 Kh6
111.Ke4 Ta2 112.Sd5 Tf2 113.Ke5 Te2
114.Kf5 Tf2 115.Ke6 Kh5 116.Ke5 Te2
117.Kf6 Tf2 118.Ke6 Te2 119.Kf5! Tf2!
120.Ke4 Kh6 121.Ke5 Te2 122.Kf6 Tf2
123.Ke7 Kh5? 124.Ke6? Te2 125.Kf5!
Tf2! 126.Sf4 Kh6! 127.Tg4 Tf1 128.Kf6!
Kh7! 129.Th4 Kg8 130.Ke7 Kg7 ½.
Krasenkow : Fedorchuk, Warsaw 2008
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+k+0
9tR-+N+r+-0
9-+-+K+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
68...Tf1? 69.Sf6! 1:0.
Dreev : Peralta, Barcelona 2009
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+k+0
9+-+R+-+-0
9-+-sN-+K+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+r+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
51...Kf8 52.Ta7 Tf2 53.Se4 Tf1 54.Sg3
Tg1 55.Kf6 Ke8 56.Se4 Te1 57.Sd6! Kd8!
58.Sf7 Kc8 59.Se5 Kb8 60.Tg7 Kc8
61.Ke6 Td1 62.Sc4 Kb8 63.Sd6 Td2
64.Tb7 Ka8 65.Tb1 Ka7 66.Ke5 Td3
67.Sc4 Th3 68.Kd5 Th6 69.Kc5 Th4
70.Tb4 Th1 71.Kc6 Tc1 72.Kc7! Ka6!
73.Tb6 Ka7 74.Tc6 Th1 75.Se5 Tb1
76.Sd7! Tb7! 77.Kc8 Tb1? 78.Tc7! Ka8?
79.Tc5 Ta1! 80.Sb8! Ta7 81.Tb5! Tb7!?
82.Ta5! Ta7 83.Sa6! 1:0.
8