FIDE SURVEYS – Jeroen Bosch

1

Jeroen Bosch:

Rook and pawn(s) versus Two Minor Pieces

Whenever I teach the subject of Rook and
pawn(s) versus two minor pieces, I like to
start with a little joke. Take a good look at
the diagrammed position.
Karsa : Bischoff
Clichy 1993

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Things look rather threatening, right? You
would like to start with 1.Sc6? Yes, that sure
looks good. Square is an excellent
stronghold for the knight. It prevents Black's
queen from taking active measures (1...Dg3?
is easily refuted by 2.Se7), and after, say

1...Ta8 White has 2.e5, with very concrete
threats.
However, who told you it was White to
move?
In fact, it is Black's turn! And so the game
ends after 1... Dc5! when suddenly white's
pieces are all 'hanging in the air' and there is
no way to avoid the loss of a piece!
Rather than just having a bit of fun, while
usefully capturing the attention of the
audience, who will make sure for the rest of
the session that they know who's move it is,
the position serves a real purpose too. It
teaches us that a rook requires an open file,
and that pieces need strongholds. Materially
speaking rook + pawn are about equal to a
bishop + knight. However, this depends
hugely on the circumstances of course. (In
general, rook and two pawns constitute a
slight material advantage, while a pair of
bishops may easily tilt the balance in favour
of the pieces). If
we think about the properties of the pieces,
then we can draw up the following simple
chart:

Opening

Middlegame

Endgame

Characteristics

Rook

not mobile

becomes active

very strong

long distance

(open files?)

cut off the king

needs open files

cut off king

Bishop active

Attack

long distance

long distance

Diagonals

Knight active

attack

short distance

short distance

no play on two
wings

requires strongholds

pawn

central influence

structure -> plans create passed pawn stronger as the game progresses

sacrificed

FIDE SURVEYS – Jeroen Bosch

2

We will start off with a simple example.
With a rook and two pawns versus two
knights, White is doing very well in a
material sense. What is more the knights
lack strongholds, and the fact that white's
passed pawn is as far removed as possible
(remember that the rook pawn is the natural
enemy of the knight) makes the win
elementary.

Yusupov A. : Ljubojevic L.
Tilburg 1987

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1.Dd4
The centralization of the queen is already
decisive, according to Yusupov.
1...De6 2.Ld5 Scd5 3.Td1
Putting the question to the central knight.
Black has a tactical defence, but after
3...Tc8 4.Tc5!
invites another trade, increasing White's
advantage still further. 4.Td5? Sd5 5.Dd5?
Dd5 6.Td5 Tc1–+.
4...Tc5 5.Dc5 h5 6.a5 De4 7.h3
There is no hurry, White can make a
luftloch.
7...g6 8.Dc6 Db4 9.a6
The knights are helpless to stop the pawn.
Black resigned after 9.Td5+-.
9...Da5 10.Db7 Da4 11.Tb1 1:0

In the following classical example of
Karpov, we will see the power of (passed)
pawns in the ending.

Hübner R. : Karpov A.
Tilburg 1977

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First it is necessary to bring about our
subject by means of an elementary
combination:
1...Le3! 2.fe3 Se3 3.Kf3 Sf1 4.Sf1
In principle White would like to avoid the
exchange of rooks, but 4.Tf1? loses a piece
of course: 4...Tc2 5.Sc4 b5.
4...Tc1 5.Lc1 Tc8 6.Lb2

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The first phase has ended. Black has a
material advantage and the initiative. This
enough for a winning edge. Karpov now

FIDE SURVEYS – Jeroen Bosch

3

decides to keep the initiative, by invading on
the second rank to win gain two passed
pawns on the queenside. Losing pawn f6,
and with it his excellent structure, is a loss
he is willing to take.
6...Tc2!
6...e5 7.Se3 protects some important squares,
although White is still suffering after 7...Tc5
8.Ke2 Tb5 9.Lc1 Ke6.
7.Lf6 Ta2 8.Ke3 Ta3 9.Sd2
According to Karpov, Hübner defends in the
best way: the bishop stays on the long
diagonal, while the knight uses the excellent
e4-square. The twelfth World Champion
drily remarks however, that White's material
disadvantage is a deciding factor.
9...b5 10.Se4 b4?!
Karpov criticizes his play at this stage.
Advancing the pawn means giving up the
c4-square and limiting the range of the rook.
It was better to advance with 10...a5!
11.Kd4 a5 12.Kc4
Threatening to trap the rook, so Black is
forced to play:
12...Ta2 13.h4 Kc6 14.Ld4
Owing to 10...b4 Karpov has complicated
the technical phase. By posting his rook on
the first rank he removes it as far away as
possible from the white pieces and increases
its activity.
14...Te2 15.Le5 Te1! 16.Lf6 Tb1
Everything is ready for the advance of the a-
pawn.
17.Le7
Defending against 17...a4, but now Karpov
plugs the long diagonal. 17.Sd2 Tc1 18.Kb3
Kb5 wins easily.
17...e5! 18.g4 Tc1 19.Kb3 Kd5
Karpov has increased the activity of pieces.
20.Lg5
White cannot win the a-pawn, as 20.Ld8
Kd4 21.La5 Kd3 22.Sf6 Tb1 23.Ka2 Kc2
(Karpov) wins.
20...Tb1 21.Kc2
21.Ka4 Ta1 22.Kb3 Ta3 23.Kc2 Kd4.
21...Th1

Again maximizing the activity of the rook.
22.Kb3 Th3 23.Sf6 Kd4 24.Sh7 Td3
25.Kc2 a4 26.Le7 Tc3 27.Kb1 Tc7 0:1.

Novikov : Kaidanov
Vilnius 1986

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At first sight the ending looks unclear
perhaps, but after
1...Tc4!
it becomes clear that Black is much better,
since he can undermine the all-important b2-
pawn.
2.Sc6 a3! 3.Sd4
3.ba3 Tc3 4.Sa7 (4.a4 a6) 4...Ta3 and White
will eventually lose the b-pawn, when the
ending of rook against knight with pawns on
one wing is lost.
3...Tc5 4.Kf3 a2 5.Sc2 Tb5 6.Sa1
6.Ke4 Kf7 7.Kd4.
6...Kf7 7.Ke3 Ke6 8.g4 Kd5 9.Kd3 Tc5
10.b3

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It looks like White has come up with a

decent line of defence. How to cross the

FIDE SURVEYS – Jeroen Bosch

4

barrier? Kaidanov transforms the ending by
noting the powerlessness of the knight in
endings with pawns on both wings:
10...Tc3 11.Kc3 Ke4 12.f5
12.g5 f5! 13.Kb2 Kf4 14.Ka2 Kg5 15.Kb2
Kg4–+.
12...Kf4 13.Kb2 Kg4 14.Sc2 Kh3 15.Sd4
Kh2 16.Se6 Kg3
16...h5–+.
17.Sg7 Kg4! 18.Se8 Kf5 19.Sd6 Kf4 20.Se8
Kg5 21.Sd6 h5 22.Se4 Kf4 23.Sf6 h4
24.Sd5 Kf3 0:1.

In the past three examples we observed the
power of the combination rook and pawn(s).
Now it is high time to see what those pieces
do best: attack! The first example is very
concrete. A pair of bishops are well-known
as an excellent attacking force.

Spassky B. : Tal M.
Tallinn 1973

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Here Tal decides matters with
1...Lf2!
Also winning was the 'quiet' 1...Df6 2.Tf1
(2.Tc5? Tc5 3.Tc5 Da1) 2...Df5 (creeping
towards the long diagonal);
1...Df5? 2.Tc5! Tc5 (2...De4 3.f3 Dd4 4.Kg2
Tc5 5.Tc5 Dc5 6.Db7 Dc2 7.Kh3 Da2=)
3.Tc5 De4 (3...Dc5 4.Db7) 4.Kf1 La6 5.Tb5
Lb5 6.Db5 Dh1 7.Ke2 De4 8.Kd2 Dd4 only
draws.
2.Kf2 Df6
Simpler was 2...Df5 3.Kg1 De4 and wins.

3.Ke1 De5 4.Kf1
4.Kd1 Dd4 5.Ke2 (5.Ke1 Dg1–+) 5...De4
6.De3 La6–+ (6...Tc2–+) ; 4.Kf2 Tf7 5.Kg1
Dd4–+.

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4...La6
Now this is a mistake! 4...Df5 5.Kg1 De4
transposes to the note to Black's second
move and wins.
5.Kg1 Dd4 6.Kg2 De4

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7.Kg1?
7.Kh3 Tc2 8.Dc2 Lf1!–+; 7.Kf2! Tf7 8.Kg1
would have severely complicated Black's
task as 8...Lb7 is met by 9.Tc8 Kh7? (9...Lc8
10.Tc8 Kh7 11.Dc2=) 10.Dc2.
7...Lb7
and we are back in our familiar winning
position.
8.h4 Dh1 9.Kf2 Tf7 10.Ke2 De4 0:1.

FIDE SURVEYS – Jeroen Bosch

5

Capablanca J. R. : Alekhine A.
Buenos Aires 1927

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Although development is about equal, Black
hasn't castled yet, and this explains
Capablanca's next energetic bid for an
advantage.
1.b4! Lb4
After the alternative 1...Sb4 2.Sd6 Kd8
3.Dd7 Kd7 4.Sc8 Tc8 5.Sd2 Black does not
have enough for the exchange.
2.Tc6!
This is clearly stronger than 2.Sc7 Tc7 3.Lc7
Lc5! 4.Lf4 0–0 when Black has more play
than in the previous note with the queens
still on.
2...Tc6 3.Db4
So here we have arrived at our subject. With
bishop and knight versus rook and pawn
material may be about equal. However, it is
awkward for Black that he still cannot castle.
Moreover, the isolated d-pawn guarantees
that White will always have a stronghold (on
d4) for his pieces.
3...Se4 4.Sd2 Sd2 5.Dd2
5.Ld2!?
5...0–0 6.Td1
The first object of attack is the isolated
pawn.
6...Tc5 7.Sd4 Te8
It was more natural to aim for counterplay
with 7...Tfc8.
8.Sb3 Tcc8 9.e3 Da4

9...f6 was a tougher defence. After 10.Dd5
(10.h4!) 10...Dd5 11.Td5 Tc2 Black has a
certain amount of counterplay.

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10.Dd5!
Excellent judgement! It looks highly
dangerous to exchange the a-pawn for the d-
pawn - with two passed pawns on the
queenside all endings look winning for
Black. However, Capablanca has seen
further: the light pieces will be in their
element, attacking the Black king.
10...Tc2
Not 10...Da2 11.Ta1 Dc2 12.Ta7.
11.Td2 Ta2
White also has a strong attack after 11...Da2
12.Dd7! Tf8 13.Tc2 Dc2 14.Sd4 Dc5 15.Sf5.
12.Ta2
Very strong was 12.Td4! Da6 13.Tc4 when
the rook joins in the attack along the seventh
rank.
12...Da2 13.Dc6!
Forcing the rook into passivity.
13...Tf8 14.Sd4 Kh8?!
14...Td8 15.Ld6 h6 16.e4±.
15.Le5! f6 16.Se6 Tg8 17.Ld4
The bishop is ideally placed, Black is totally
lost now.
17...h6 18.h4!
Black still has some sort of defence after
18.Sg7 Tg7 19.Df6 Dd5 20.Kg1 Dg5.
18...Db1 19.Sg7! Dg6
White wins the pawn ending after 19...Tg7
20.Df6 De4 (20...Dh7 21.Df8 Dg8 22.Lg7)

FIDE SURVEYS – Jeroen Bosch

6

21.Kg1 Db7 22.Dh6 Kg8 23.Dg7 Dg7
24.Lg7 Kg7 25.Kf1+-.
20.h5
Also good is 20.Sh5 Dh5 21.Df6 Kh7
22.De7 and Black's king is caught in a
mating net. 22...Kg6 23.e4 (or the immediate
23.f3! ) 23...a5 24.f3 a4 25.g4+-.
20...Df7 21.Sf5 Kh7 22.De4 Te8 23.Df4
Df8 24.Sd6 Te7
With such a bad king, Black is without
defence against light pieces: 24...Td8 25.Df5
Kg8 26.De6 Kh7 27.Lf6! Td6 28.Df5 Kg8
29.Dg6+-.
25.Lf6 Da8 26.e4 Tg7 27.Lg7 Kg7 28.Sf5
Kf7 29.Dc7 1:0

Psakhis L. : Lputian S.
Yerevan 1989

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As we are approaching the ending, it may
appear that Black is OK here. However, just
like in the previous example White can
coordinate his pieces into a direct attack on
the black king. This is a challenging and
useful example since it demonstrates the
abilities of the light pieces in a position with
no outside 'noise'.
1.Sc4!
1.Se4 Da2 2.Sd6.
1...Da2
Black takes the pawn and puts his money on
his queenside pawns. For some time now the
queen will be missed in the defence though.

Objectively best was 1...Dd8 2.Se3 (2.Sd6
fails now to the pin 2...Dc7! for example
3.g3 (3.Dd5? Td8) 3...Td8 4.Sc4 De5 5.Se5)
2...Te8 3.Dd5 Dd5 4.Sd5 but this ending
should be assessed as won for White, though
there are still technical difficulties. A rook is
a strong piece in such an open position with
pawns on both wings.
The win is easier after 1...Dc5 2.Se3 Td8
3.Lc4! Dd6 4.Dd6 Td6 5.Ld5 and both
bishop and knight are actively placed and
well-coordinated.
2.Sd6 Db1 3.Sf5
This may remind you of the previous
Capablance : Alekhine example.
3...f6 4.Dd5 Kh8 5.Dd7
5.Sd6 h6 6.Db7 is similar to the game.
5...Tg8 6.Sd6 h6 7.Db7 a5 8.Db5
Clearly White is winning. He is ahead in
material, and Black's king will remain weak.
8...Tf8 9.g4
Creating some space for his king and his
bishop while controlling some light squares
as well. It should never be forgotten though,
that pawns can't move backwards. I will now
reveal that the game will end in a draw!
Such a move as 9.g4 is perfectly sound, but
it commits White to accurate calculation.
Meanwhile it was possible to win the game
without any risk: 9.Sc4 Td8 10.Da5 Td1
11.Se3 and Black can safely resign.
9...De1 10.Dd7 Dc1 11.Kg2 f5!?
Desperation, but also the only chance to stir
up trouble.
12.De7
Immediately winning was 12.Sf7 Kg8
13.Dd5 Db2 14.Se5 Kh7 15.Ld3; 12.Sf5
Db2 is no longer a simple win.
12...Tg8 13.Sc4
Many roads lead to Rome. Also winning are:
13.Sf7 Kh7 14.Ld3; 13.Lc4; 13.Ld3.
13...fg4 14.hg4 Df4 15.De6?
This greatly reduces White's advantage.
because of his commital play, it was now
necessary to continue actively by means of
15.Se5! and White wins in the attack.
15...Tf8 16.De2 a4 17.Se5 Tf6? 18.De3?

FIDE SURVEYS – Jeroen Bosch

7

This is a big mistake. First of all there was
an immediate win, but more important for
our purposes is that it is principally the
wrong decision. We have already learned
that in an ending the rook greatly increases
in strength, whereas the pieces are stronger
in a middlegame situation (with the queens
on). 18.Sd7! wins on the spot!
18...De3 19.fe3
White no longer has any attacking chances,
and pawn b2 is a weakness. With material
greatly reduced Black has excellent drawing
chances.
19...Tb6 20.Sc4 Tb4 21.Kf3 g6 22.e4 Kg7
23.e5 h5 24.gh5 gh5 25.Kf4
A good moment to ask your pupils how they
would continue:

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25...Tb2!
Or 25...h4 26.Kg4 Tb2.
26.Sb2 a3
A good illustration of the rule that the rook's
pawn is the knight's worst enemy.
27.Lc4
27.e6 Kf6 (27...a2 28.e7 a1D 29.e8D Df1
30.Kg5 Df6=) 28.Lc4 ab2=.
27...ab2 28.La2 h4
28...Kg6.
29.Kg4 Kg6 30.Lb1
30.Kh4 Kf5 31.e6 b1D 32.Lb1 Ke6.
30...Kf7 31.Lf5 h3 32.Kh3 b1D 33.Lb1
Ke6
A remarkable escape – draw!

Hort V. : Hübner R.
Germany 1982

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Have your pupils analyse this position in
pairs of two. Ask them to present their
conclusions before you demonstrate
Hübner's continuation.
1...Lh4! 2.Tc6
2.Sh4 Sd4 3.Dd3 Sc2 4.Tc2 Da4! 5.Tc8 Tc8
6.Sf3 Da2 and Black should win.
2...Tc6 3.Sh4 Tc1 4.Lc1 Da4!
Without this double attack (which has to be
seen when embarking on 1...Lh4) Black
would have no advantage.
5.Dg4
5.a3 Dd4 6.Sf3 De4.
5...Kh8
Hübner avoids weakening his king's
position. It was possible to play 5...h5 6.Dh5
Dd4.
6.a3 Dc2
The queen both attacks and defends.
7.Df4 Kg8!
Again Hübner continues in the best way, by
playing it safe. Meanwhile White would be
allright after 7...Tc8 8.Le3 De4? This looks
strong, but fails to the sacrifice (8...Kg8!)
9.Df7! Dh4 10.Db7 when White will win the
a-pawn too, when he has enough for the
exchange.
8.b4 Tc8
8...De4 was very strong too.
9.Le3 Dd1 10.Kh2 Dh5 11.g3?! Tc3 12.a4
Tb3 13.Kg2

FIDE SURVEYS – Jeroen Bosch

8

13.Ld2 h6! wins.
13...Tb4
With two pawns Black has a material
advantage. Things will be decided on the
queenside; note how far removed the white
knight is.
14.a5 Tb1 15.Df3 Df3 16.Sf3 b6
Creating the passed pawn that will win the
game.
17.ab6 a5 18.Lg5 a4 19.Le7 Tb6 20.Se1
Tb2 21.Lc5 h5 22.Sd3 a3! 23.La3 Tb3 0:1.

Knaak R. : Forintos G.
Skopje 1972

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The first move is obvious. Ask your pupils
to calculate and to make an accurate
assessment.
1...Sd4! 2.Td4 La4 3.Td8 Tfd8 4.Sa4 Tac8
5.Sc3 Lc3 6.bc3 Tc3 7.Kb2
Play was forced until now. Black's next
move is still part of his combination.
7...Tdc8
The excellent coordination of Black's rooks
and the fact that White is still not fully
developed promise Black a winning edge.
Play is only equal after 7...Tc6 8.Le2 Tb6
9.Ka1.
8.Sd4
8.Se1 T3c6! 9.Sd3 Tb6 10.Ka1 Tc2–+.
8...e5 9.Sb3?
9.Se2 T3c6!–+.
9...Tc2 10.Kb1 Tf2 11.Sc1 e4 12.Lb5?
Tcc2 0:1.

We have studied some of the principles of
rook and pawn versus two pieces on the
basis of several more or less 'classical'
positions. Now let's investigate a few games
from the 2011 Tata Steel Chess Festival in
Wijk aan Zee. We will see many of our
familiar themes return.

Tania S. : Lahno K.
Wijk aan Zee 2011

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In the diagrammed position White has an
obvious material advantage. However, the
position of her king is perhaps slightly
shaky. Can White get rid of the pressure?
30.Dd4
Forcing the exchange of queens. In principle
this is a bad idea when you are playing with
the light pieces. However, in the present
situation White's material advantage, and the
fact that it is White's king which is under
pressure, may well justify this decision. The
question is, though, can Black win the a-
pawn after trading queens? Meanwhile,
White could also win by means of 30.Sd3
Tb5 31.Ke2 Td5 32.Db3 and after 32...Db3
33.Lb3 the ending is winning for White.
30...Dd4 31.ed4 Ta2
Material equilibrium has been restored.
However, isn't that rook trapped on a2?
White's task is not too difficult after 31...Ke7
32.Kc1 Tb4 33.Sf3 Kd6 (33...c5 34.Se5!)
34.Lb3 f6 35.Kc2 c5 36.Kc3 cd4 37.Sd4
Kc5 38.Se6 Kd6 39.g3 and White wins as

FIDE SURVEYS – Jeroen Bosch

9

after 39...Tb3? 40.Kb3 Ke6 41.Ka4 the pawn
ending is easy.

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xiiiiiiiiy

32.Sd3?
What a pity! The intrepid rook had to be
caught by 32.Kc1! Ta1 33.Lb1 Ta4 34.Sc2
c5 35.Kb2 (not 35.dc5? Tc4 and Black has
an edge) 35...c4 36.La2! Ke7 37.Lb3! (a
very neat way to win the rook) 37...cb3
38.Kb3 and again the pawn ending loses for
Black after 38...Tb4 39.Sb4 ab4 40.Kb4.
32...Ta1 33.Kd2 a4
The rook is no longer trapped, and therefore
it is Black who holds an edge!
34.Kc3 a3 35.g3 g5!

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-mk-+0
9+-+-+p+p0
9-+p+-+-+0
9+-+-+-zp-0
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9-+L+-zP-zP0
9tr-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

Preparing .. .Th1. The standard way to win
such endings is by using the rook's abilities
(long-range, cutting off the king, controlling
both dark and light squares) to their

maximum. White will never be able to shift
as quickly between kingside and queenside
as Black.
36.Lb3 h5 37.Sb4 h4 38.Sc2
38.gh4 gh4 39.d5 c5 40.Sc2 Th1 41.Sa3 Th2
42.d6 Th3 43.Kc2 Tb3! 44.Kb3 h3–+.
38...Th1 39.gh4 gh4 40.Sa3 Th2
According to plan, Black has traded her
passed a-pawn for a passed h-pawn.
41.La4 Tf2 42.Lc6 h3 43.Sc4 Tf1 44.Kb4
44.Se3? Tc1–+.
44...h2 45.Se3 Tb1 46.Kc5 f5!
46...Tc1! 47.Sc4 f5–+.
47.La8
47.Sf5 Tc1 48.Kd6 Tc6–+.
47...Te1 48.Sc4
48.Sf5 Ta1 49.Le4 Ta5 50.Kd6 Tf5–+.
48...Te4 0:1.

Bok B. : Kazhgaleyev M.
Wijk aan Zee 2011

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9P+-+-+-+0
9+-+-vLKtR-0
xiiiiiiiiy

The ending is dynamically equal, but very
complicated of course. Even with so few
pieces White plays for an attack on the king.
40.Sf6 Kh8
Black should be able to hold a draw after
40...Kh6. A sample line runs: 41.Sg8 Kh5
42.Se7 Tf3 43.Lf2 Ta3 44.Th1 Kg4 45.Th4
Kg5 46.Th2 Kg4 47.Sf5 Ta2 48.Sd6 Kf3
49.Th3 Kg4=.
41.Tg6?!
41.b5!?

FIDE SURVEYS – Jeroen Bosch

10

41...Tc8
41...Th1! 42.Kf2 (42.Ke2 f3 43.Kf2 Tc8)
42...Tc8.
42.Lf2! Ta3
Not 42...f3 43.Le3!+- and since Black cannot
set-up a mating attack, the weakness of pawn
d6 will tell. A sample line: 43...Th1 44.Kf2
Tc2 45.Kf3 Th3 46.Tg3 (46.Kg4 Tg2
47.Kh3 Tg6 48.Sg4+-) 46...Tg3 47.Kg3 Ta2
48.Se8+-.
43.Sg4 Ta2?!
Black could have forced a repetition by
means of 43...Tc1 44.Kg2 Tc2 45.Sf6
a) 45.Kg1 Tc1 46.Kg2 Tc2;
b) 45.Th6 Kg7 46.Kf1 (46.Td6?? Tg3–+)
46...Tc1 47.Kg2 Tc2; 45...Tc8.
44.Td6
Now White has an edge.
44...f3
44...Tc1 45.Kg2 Tc3 46.Th6! Kg7 47.Th3
Th3 48.Kh3 b6 49.Lh4! and the pieces
coordinate well.
45.Kg1! Te2 46.Kh2 Te4

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+-+-mk0
9zpp+-+-+-0
9-+-tR-+-+0
9+-+Pzp-+-0
9-zP-+r+N+0
9+-+-+p+-0
9-+-+-vL-mK0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

47.Se5!
White is better, but not winning.
47...Tb4
47...Te5 48.Ld4 Tce8 49.Te6!+-; 47...Te2
48.Kg3 Tg8 49.Kf3 Te5 50.Ld4 Tf8 51.Kg4
Tff5 52.Le5 Te5 53.Kf4 Th5 54.Td7 Kg8
55.b5 Kf8 56.Ke4+-.
48.Kg3
48.La7.

48...a5 49.Th6 Kg7 50.Tg6 Kh7 51.d6 Td8
52.Te6 Tg8?!
Black should draw with 52...Te4 53.Te7
(53.Kf3 Te5 54.Te5 Td6) 53...Kg8 54.Kf3
Te5 55.Te5 Td6.
53.Kh3?!
White has excellent winning chances after
53.Kf3 Tf8 54.Kg2 Tb2 55.Te7 Kh6 (there
are some neat tactics after 55...Kg8 56.Sg4
Td2 57.d7 a4 58.Kg3 a3 59.Le1! (59.Le3
Td3 60.Sh6 Kh8 61.Sf7 Tf7 62.Tf7 a2=)
59...Td3 60.Kh4 a2 61.Lc3!+- Tc3 62.Sf6+-)
56.Kg3 Tb3 57.Kh4 Tb4 58.Sg4 Tg4 59.Kg4
Tf2 60.d7 Td2 61.Kf5 a4 62.Kf6!!

XIIIIIIIIY
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9-+-+-mK-mk0
9+-+-+-+-0
9p+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-tr-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
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White combines mating threats with
supporting his passed pawn. (62.Ke6 a3
63.Te8 a2 64.Ta8 Kg6! (64...Kg7 65.Ta2!+-)
65.d8D (65.Ta2? Ta2 66.d8D Te2 67.Kd7
Td2–+) 65...Td8 66.Ta2=) 62...a3 (62...Kh5
63.Te5 Kg4 64.Ke7 Kf4 65.Ta5+-) 63.Te1!
(63.Te3 Kh5 64.Ke7 a2=) 63...Kh5
64.Ke7+-.
53...Tb1 54.Te7
54.Sg4.
54...Kh6??
This is a blunder, undoubtedly influenced by
the fatigue of a long game and the time
situation on the clock. 54...Tg7! 55.Sf3 Th1
56.Sh2 Td1 57.Lg3 Kg8 should end in a
draw.
55.Le3 Tg5 56.Sf7 Kg6 57.Sg5 Td1 58.d7
a4 59.Sf3 Kf6 60.Lg5 Kg6 61.Te6 Kf5
62.Te5 1:0.

FIDE SURVEYS – Jeroen Bosch

11

Vocaturo D. : Siebrecht S.
Wijk aan Zee 2011

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9+p+-+p+p0
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9+-+-zpl+-0
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9+NsN-+-zP-0
9PzPP+L+-zP0
9+-+-+-mK-0
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Material is equal. Nevertheless the pieces are
doing very well indeed after
23.g4! Lc8?!
The point is 23...Lc2? 24.Sa1!+-; 23...Kg7
24.Tb6; 23...Le6 24.Sc5.
The best chance was 23...Ld7 24.Sc5
(24.Lf3 Kg7 25.Tb6) 24...Lc6 25.La6 Kg7
26.g5 h6 27.h4 hg5 28.hg5 Th8 29.Le2±.
24.Tb6
Or 24.Sc5.
24...Td8
No better is 24...f5, when 25.gf5 Lf5
(25...gf5 26.Sc5 Kg7 27.Sd5) 26.Tb7 Lc2
27.Sc5 should win.
25.Sc5 f5 26.gf5 gf5 27.Lc4 Kh8 28.Sd5
28.Ld5 was also very strong.
28...Tg8 29.Kf2 Tg4
29...Tg6 30.Sd3!
30.Lb3 Th4 31.Sc7 Ta7 32.Se8!
Starting the final attack on the king.
32...Th2 33.Kg1 Th4 34.Tf6 h6 35.Tf8 Kh7
36.Tf7 Kh8
36...Kg6 37.Tg7 Kh5 38.Lf7# (38.Sf6#).
37.Sf6 1:0.

Navara D. : Spoelman W.
Wijk aan Zee 2011

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9-+-zP-+-sN0
9zPLsN-zP-+P0
9-zPQvL-zPP+0
9+-+-tRRmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

A complex position. Navara now embarks
on an interesting adventure:
16.Lf7!?
Black is fairly comfortable after 16.Sf5 Lf5
17.Df5 a4 18.La2 e4.
16...Df7 17.de5
Not 17.Sg6 Kg8 18.de5 Sfd7 19.Sf8 (19.e6
De6 20.Sf8 Sf8) 19...Se5 when Black is
better.
17...Sfd7 18.Sg6 Kg8 19.Sf8 Se5 20.f4
Speed is of the essence. White needs to push
his kingside/central majority or otherwise
the pieces will be too strong.
20...Sec4 21.Lc1 Df8 22.b3!? Sa3
22...Sd6 23.e4.
23.La3 Da3 24.Sb5 De7
Perhaps 24...cb5 25.Dc7 Sd7!, planning
26.e4? Dc5 27.Dc5 Sc5.
25.Sc7 Dc7 26.e4
This is hard to assess. In principle Black is
better, unless White is able to push his
pawns as fast as possible to avoid Black
from consolidating.
26...Ld7 27.e5 Sd5 28.f5 Tf8 29.Tf3 b5
30.f6 Le8 31.Df5 gf6 32.ef6 Df7??
This blunders the game. A draw is the
outcome after 32...Kh8! 33.Te8! Te8 34.f7
Tf8 35.De6 Kh7 36.De4 with a perpetual.
33.Tg3 Kh8 34.Tg7 Dg7 35.fg7 Kg7
36.De5 Kg6 37.Db8 Sf6 38.Te7 1:0.

FIDE SURVEYS – Jeroen Bosch

12

Aronian L. : Shirov A.
Wijk aan Zee 2011

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9P+-+-zPPzP0
9+R+RsN-mK-0
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A real genius in positions with unequal
material is Levon Aronian. Here he decides
to unbalance the game with
24.Td5!? Ld5 25.Dc5 Ted8 26.cd5 Dd5
27.Dc2
As we know, trading queens is in principle
what White should avoid: 27.Dd5 Td5
28.Tb7 Td2 29.a3 Ta2 and with such passive
pieces White cannot be better.
27...b5 28.Db2 b4
This is more or less forced after 24. Rd5.
Play is dynamically equal.
29.Le5 Dd2
Again Shirov offers to trade queens.
30.Da1
30.Lg7 Db2 31.Lb2 Td2 with decent
counterplay for Black.
30...De2 31.Ld4
31.Lg7? Td2–+.
31...Tab8 32.h3 f6

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9-tr-tr-+k+0
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9P+-+qzPP+0
9wQR+-sN-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

Again both sides have consolidated and play

remains equal. Black has blocked the
diagonal, while White has blocked the d-file
and has positioned his bishop in the best
possible way.
33.Tb2 Db5 34.Db1 Dd5 35.Dd1 Tbc8
36.Td2 De6 37.Kh2 Td7 38.g3 Tdc7
Shirov has doubled rooks on the c-file and is
now ready to penetrate.
39.Lb2
Tactically defending square c1.
39...Da2 40.Le5 Dd2?
The proverbial mistake on move 40
(although White is not winning yet). Correct
was 40...Tc1! 41.Dc1 Tc1 42.Ta2 fe5 43.Ta5
(43.Sg2?? b3–+) 43...Te1 44.Tb5 Tb1
45.Te5 b3 46.Te4 Tf1 47.Tb4 Tf2 48.Kg1
and the rook ending is a draw.
41.Dd2 fe5 42.Dd5±
Only White has chances here. However, the
knight is still passive and the passed pawns
on the queenside are a real issue.
42...Tf7 43.Kg2 Tcf8 44.h4 Kh8?!
44...a4 45.De4 Tf2 46.Kh3 a3.
45.De4 Tf2?!
Exact calculation is required for the draw
after 45...b3! 46.Sd3 b2 47.Se5 Tf2 48.Kh3
Tf1 49.Sg6 Kg8 50.Se7 Kh8 (50...Kf7?
51.Sf5 b1D 52.De7 Kg6 53.h5 Kf5 (53...Kh5
54.g4 Kg6 55.Dg7#) 54.g4#) 51.Sg6=.
46.Kh3 b3 47.Sd3 b2 48.Db7!?
48.Sf2 Tf2 49.Da8 Kh7 and White cannot
win.
48...T8f7?
The note to move 51 explains why this is a
mistake. Black could still draw with 48...a4
49.Sb2 a3 50.Sd3 a2 51.Da6 Td2 52.Sb4 h5
53.Sa2 Tff2 54.Da8 Kh7 55.g4=.
49.Db5! a4 50.Sb2 a3 51.Sd3 Tf1
51...a2 52.Sf2 a1D 53.De8 Kh7 54.Df7
shows why Shirov's 48th move was a
mistake.
52.Da4 Th1 53.Kg4 1:0.