FIDE – TRG SURVEYS 2012 – EFSTRATIOS GRIVAS
1
Efstratios Grivas:
The King Out of the Way
Concept
The king is a useful piece in nearly every
part of the game. But of course we all
know more or less that the part where he
can be the real king is the endgame and
especially endgames without queens on the
board.
Exceptions do exist but they are rather
limited. But there are cases where with
limited material on the board but with
queens on, the king is the piece that can
give the solution to the best continuation.
Here we will examine a theme where the
king can play an important role in the
game’s outcome.
Polgar J. : Khalifman A.
Zurich 2009
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-trk+0
9+-+R+pzp-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-zpq+-0
9-+-+-+p+0
9+-zP-+-+-0
9PzP-wQ-zP-+0
9+-mK-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The position is a complicated one,
although outwardly in favour of White.
There are two open files on the board (d
and h), but both are not accessible to the
black rook, though remains a passive
piece. In such a situation, with little time
on the clock, many would have played the
standard 37...g6.
37...Kh7! An original and brilliant
manoeuvre. 38.a4 Ra8 39.b3 Kg6! It
transpires that this is the safest place for
the king; at the same time it makes way for
the rook, and Black launches a
counterattack. A splendid idea!
40.Kb2
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-+-+0
9+-+R+pzp-0
9-+-+-+k+0
9+-+-zpq+-0
9P+-+-+p+0
9+PzP-+-+-0
9-mK-wQ-zP-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
It was probably time for White to curb her
ambitions and go into a complicated,
roughly equal endgame by 40.Qd3 Qd3
41.Rd3 f5.
40...Rh8!
And finally the black rook joins the battle
via the open h-file!
41.Ka3 Rh2
The position remains sharp, but it is now
clear that Black stands better.
42.Qd6 Kh7 43.a5
A natural move, but better chances of a
successful defence were offered by 43.Re7.
43...Rf2 44.a6?
But now this loses. White had to try
44.Re7 f6 45.Qc7 Qg5 46.Qc8 when his
chances to save the game are not that
badly.
44...g3 45.a7 g2 46.a8Q g1Q
XIIIIIIIIY
9Q+-+-+-+0
9+-+R+pzpk0
9-+-wQ-+-+0
9+-+-zpq+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9mKPzP-+-+-0
9-+-+-tr-+0
9+-+-+-wq-0
xiiiiiiiiy
A colourful but crazy position!
47.Qd8?!
47.Qad5! was objectively better, when
after 47...Rf4 Black stands clearly better
but with no forced win yet.
FIDE – TRG SURVEYS 2012 – EFSTRATIOS GRIVAS
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47...Qc1 48.Kb4 Qe4?!
48...Rf4! 49.c4 Rd4 was ending the fight.
49.c4 Rf3 50.Q6f8?!
A bit 'better' try was 50.Qd1 when Black
would had to find 50...Qe1 51.Qe1 Qe1
52.Ka4 Qa1 53.Kb4 Qc3 54.Kc5 Qe3
55.Kc6 Rf6 56.Rd6 Qb3–+ .
50...Rb3!
And as mate in two is on the cards, White
resigned. An amazing and very interesting
game! 0:1.
Oll L. : Hodgson J.
Groningen 1993
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-+k+0
9+-+-+pzp-0
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9zpp+nzP-+-0
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9+-+q+-zP-0
9PzP-+-+-zP0
9mK-tR-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black's position seems to be preferable,
due to his strong d5-knight. But his main
problem is that he cannot activate his rook;
the only three open files (c, d and h) are
not accessible, at least not yet.
34...Kh7!
Here comes the trick; the black rook will
be activated via the h-file and king gets out
of the way!
35.Qc5
The endgame after 35.Qc2 Qc2 36.Rc2 b4
37.Rc5 Ra8 with the idea ...Kg6-f5, is
favourable for Black, but maybe White
should have considered it.
35...Kg6 36.h4 Rh8
Now Black's beautiful idea is fully
revealed.
37.a3
37.Qc2 Qc2 38.Rc2 b4 39.Rc5 Ra8 is just
a difficult ending for White.
37...Rh5! 38.Qg1 Kh7?!
There was no need for that. The immediate
38...Rf5! would give Black excellent
chances, as now ALL his pieces are active
and strongly placed.
39.Rd1?
White missed a tactical solution, which he
would give him active play: 39.g4! Rh4
40.Qf2 . The other option was 39.Qa7 Rf5!
40.Qa5 Rf3.
39...Qb3 40.Rd2 Rf5!
Just look at the activity of the black rook
now, compared to what it was a few moves
ago!
41.g4
41.Qb1 doesn't help in view of 41...Ne3!
42.Bc5 (42.Re2 Kg8!) 42...g6 43.Be3
Qe3–+ .
41...Rf4 42.Qb1 Kg8 43.g5
After 43.Rc2 Black has 43...Rc4! 44.Rc4
bc4 and the threats ...c3 and ...Ne3 are
strong.
43...b4!
Black sets up a breathtaking finale.
44.Rd3
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+k+0
9+-+-+pzp-0
9-+-vLp+-+0
9zp-+nzP-zP-0
9-zp-+-tr-zP0
9zPq+R+-+-0
9-zP-+-+-+0
9mKQ+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Objectively 44.Qd3 Qd3 45.Rd3 Rh4 was
White's only valid continuation, but a lost
one as well.
44...Nc3!
It is time to deliver the final blow; the
activity of the black pieces allows a neat
combination.
45.Bb4
45.bc3 Qa3 46.Qa2 Rf1.
45...Qa2!
The point! Of course not 45...ab4?
46.Rd8#.
46.Qa2 Rf1 0:1.
FIDE – TRG SURVEYS 2012 – EFSTRATIOS GRIVAS
3
Petrosian T. : Yudovich M.
Moscow 1967
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+-+k+0
9+p+-+p+-0
9p+-+l+p+0
9+-+p+q+p0
9-+-tR-+-+0
9zPL+-zP-+P0
9-zP-wQ-zPP+0
9+-+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White has done everything what he had to
do to benefit from Black's isolated pawn
(exchanges, blockade, prevent counterplay,
etc), but still the problem remains: how to
capture it? After capturing and eventual
exchanges on d5, Black can go ...Rc2 (or
first ...Rc1) with sufficient counterplay.
Petrosian's solution to this problem is
surprising but straightforward, if you have
a prophylactic approach.
28.Kh2!?
As said before, 28.Bd5? Bd5 29.Rd5 Rc2!
is out of the question.
28...Qb1?
Black misses the point of defence. He had
to go for 28...Rc5!, protecting the pawn
and waiting for White's next. After 29.Rb4
b5 30.Rd4 White is still on the pressure but
there is nothing concrete yet.
29.Kg3?
White continues his plan of improving his
king, but 29.e4! seems good enough:
29...Rc1 (29...de4 30.Be6 fe6 31.Qh6+-)
30.Bd1 de4 31.Rd8 Kg7 32.Qd4 f6 33.Qd6
and mates.
29...Rc5?!
29...Qf5 had to be tried.
30.a4?!
Even World Champions are missing the
best ways to continue. Here again 30.e4
Rb5 31.Qc3 should be decisive.
30...a5?!
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+k+0
9+p+-+p+-0
9-+-+l+p+0
9zp-trp+-+p0
9P+-tR-+-+0
9+L+-zP-mKP0
9-zP-wQ-zPP+0
9+q+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Again Black had to retreat and defend with
30...Qf5 31.a5.
31.e4!
Finally! Now Black's position falls apart.
31...Qg1
31...de4 loses to 32.Qh6; but Black should
try to resist with 31...Qc1! 32.Qc1 Rc1
33.Bd5 Bd5 34.Rd5 b6 35.f3±.
32.h4
White takes his time to defend against any
potentional black counterplay (...h4).
32.ed5 was good as well.
32...Kh7 33.Bd5 Bd5 34.Rd5
The isolated pawn felled and the rest is
easy ...
34...Rc6 35.Rd7 Rf6 36.Qd4 1:0.
Kramnik V. : Kasparov G.
Linares 1999
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+Qtr-mk0
9zp-+P+-vlp0
9-+-+-+p+0
9+-+-zP-+-0
9-+-+-+P+0
9+-+q+-+P0
9P+-+-+P+0
9tR-+-+-+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
Obviously, the strong passed d-pawn on
the 7th rank is worth its weight in gold.
Now White's plan is clear: push his central
e-pawn, achieving two connected pawns
on the 7th rank! There is not much that
FIDE – TRG SURVEYS 2012 – EFSTRATIOS GRIVAS
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Black can do about that - or maybe there
is?
31...h6!!
The point of this move will become clear
soon. Of no help is 31...Kg8? 32.Rg1 Be5
33.Qe6 Rf7 34.Qe5 Qd7 35.Rb1±.
32.e6
32.Qe7 Kh7 33.e6 Qd5 34.Rg1 Rf3!=.
32...Kh7!
And the black king got out of the way,
allowing his rook to enter the battle!
33.Rg1
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+Qtr-+0
9zp-+P+-vlk0
9-+-+P+pzp0
9+-+-+-+-0
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9+-+q+-+P0
9P+-+-+P+0
9+-+-+-tRK0
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Forced as Black was threatening to win
with an eventual 33...Rf1: 33.e7?? Rf1
34.Rf1 Qf1 35.Kh2 Be5 36.g3 Qf2 37.Kh1
Qf3 38.Kg1 Bd4 39.Kh2 Qf2 40.Kh1
Qg1#.
33...Rf3!
Now the idea behind 31...h6! becomes
clear. White cannot avoid a draw.
34.Qb8
34.e7?? Rh3 35.gh3 Qh3# is if course out
of the question!
34...Rh3 35.gh3 Qe4!
35...Qe4 and the players agreed to a draw.
It is strange that there is another exact
same game, which lasted two more moves:
36.Rg2 Qe1 37.Rg1 Qe4 (Kundrak G. :
Toth D., Miskolc 1999. ½
Rivas Pastor M. : Rodriguez E.
Lorca 2005
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+r+k+0
9+pwQ-+p+p0
9p+-+p+p+0
9+q+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+P+-zP-+P0
9P+R+-zPP+0
9+-+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White stands clearly better, as he has full
control on the only open file of the board.
White should try now his most effective
plan: the participation of his king in a
direct attack against his opponent!
26.Kh2! h5?!
This makes White's life easier, as does the
immediate 26...a5?! 27.Kg3 Rf8 (27...a4?!
28.Rc5 Qb4 29.Qd7+-) 28.Rc5+- as well.
Black had to stay put with 26...Rf8 27.Kg3
(27.Qc3 Kg7 28.a4 Qb6 29.b4 Qd6 30.g3
Qd7 31.a5 h6 32.Qc5±) 27...Kg7 28.Qe5
Kg8, although the sample variations which
follow proves White's advantage: 29.Qd6
(29.Rc7 a5 30.Kf3 (30.h4 h5 31.Kf3
(31.Kf4 Qe2) 31...Qf1) 30...a4 31.ba4 Qa4
32.Rb7 Qa2=) 29...Qd3 30.Rc7 Qe2
(30...Qb1 31.Rb7 (31.Qa3 h5 32.Rc1 Qe4
33.Kh2±) 31...Qa2 32.b4 Qe2 33.Ra7 h5
(otherwise Black is just losing a pawn)
34.Qe7! (34.Ra6? h4 35.Kh2 Qf2=)
34...Qc4 35.Rb7 Qf1 36.Qf6 Qg1 37.Re7
Qf1 38.Ra7 Qd3 39.Kf4!) 31.a4 b6 (31...h5
32.Qf4 b6 (32...b5 33.Kh4!) 33.Kh4! f6
34.Kg3! Rf7 35.Rc6+-) 32.Rc6 b5 33.Ra6
ba4 34.Ra4. So, White's tries to combine
threats with the queen & rook on the
queenside and threats with the king & the
queen on the kingside; that's exactly the
way to benefit from such positions - to use
the rule of the two weaknesses!
27.Qf4 Rf8 28.Rc7 a5
Black must exchange his queenside pawns
in order to free his queen from their
protection.
29.Kg3 a4
FIDE – TRG SURVEYS 2012 – EFSTRATIOS GRIVAS
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XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-trk+0
9+ptR-+p+-0
9-+-+p+p+0
9+q+p+-+p0
9p+-zP-wQ-+0
9+P+-zP-mKP0
9P+-+-zPP+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
30.Kh4!
Although the text wins, the 'human' way
with 30.ba4 was 'better', reaching a won
ending after 30...Qa4 31.Rb7 Qa2 32.Kh4
Qc2 33.Kg5 Qf5 34.Qf5 ef5 (34...gf5
35.Kf6 (35.Kh5 Kg7 36.g4+-) 35...h4
36.Rd7+-) 35.Rb5 (35.Rd7 Ra8 36.Rd5
Ra2 37.Kf6 Rf2 38.Rd8 Kh7 39.Rd7 f4
40.Rf7 Kg8 41.Rg7 Kf8 42.ef4 Rf4
43.Kg5+-) 35...Rd8 36.Kf6 Rd6 37.Ke5
Ra6 38.Rd5 Ra2 39.Kf6 Ra6 40.Ke7 Ra2
41.Rd8 Kg7 42.d5+-.
30...ab3 31.ab3?!
Here White should continue his attacking
policy with 31.Kg5! e5 (31...Qd3 32.ab3+-
; 31...ba2 32.Qf6 a1Q 33.Kh6+-) 32.Qf6
Qa6 33.ab3 ed4 34.ed4 Qf6 35.Kf6+-.
31...Qf1?
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-trk+0
9+ptR-+p+-0
9-+-+p+p+0
9+-+p+-+p0
9-+-zP-wQ-mK0
9+P+-zP-+P0
9-+-+-zPP+0
9+-+-+q+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black could save himself from immediate
defeat with 31...Qb3! 32.Kg5 Qb1 33.Kh6
Qf5 34.Qf5 ef5, although White stands
clearly better after 35.Rb7 Rd8 36.Rb5 Kf8
37.g3±.
32.Kg5! h4
There is no salvation anymore.
Alternatives as 32...Qg2 33.Kh6 f6 34.Rg7
Kh8 35.Rf7! Kg8 36.Rf6 Rf6 37.Qf6+-; or
32...Qd3 33.Rb7 Qf5 34.Qf5 ef5 35.b4 Rc8
36.b5 Rc2 37.Kf6 Rf2 38.Rf7 f4 39.Rg7
Kf8 40.ef4 Rf4 41.Kg6 Rd4 42.b6 Rb4
43.b7+-; or, finally, 32...f6 33.Kg6 Qg2
34.Qg3 Qg3 35.fg3+- praise his Majesty
the king!
33.Kh6
The king fullfield his mission - the end is
near.
33...Qe2 34.f3 f6 35.Rg7 Kh8 36.Qc7
36.Qc7 Black resigned as mate is near
(36...Qe3 37.f4 ). 1:0.
Sargissian G. : Yu Yangyi
Ningbo 2011
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+-trk+0
9zp-snq+pzpp0
9-zp-+p+-+0
9+-+pzP-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9zP-sN-+-zP-0
9-zPRwQ-zPKzP0
9+-tR-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White's advantage is nice and stable, and it
is based on his extra space and pressure
down the c-file. Moreover, Black is
lucking serious counterplay and the
maximum he can hope for is a draw ...
22...Nb5
This looks natural, but on the other hand it
clarifies the position in favour of White.
Black might try to open a second file with
22...f6, although White's position is
preferable after 23.Ne2 (23.ef6 gf6 24.a4±)
23...fe5 24.de5 Na6 25.Nd4 Nc5 26.f3±.
Another try is 22...b5?! 23.Ne2 Na8
24.Rc8 Rc8 25.Qa5 Nb6 26.Rc8 Nc8
27.Nc3+-; or 22...a6 23.Na4 (23.Qd3 b5
24.Ne2 Na8 25.Rc5 Nb6 26.b3±) 23...Qa4
24.Rc7 Rc7 25.Rc7 which is similar to the
game.
23.Nb5 Rc2 24.Rc2 Qb5 25.Rc7 a5
FIDE – TRG SURVEYS 2012 – EFSTRATIOS GRIVAS
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XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-trk+0
9+-tR-+pzpp0
9-zp-+p+-+0
9zpq+pzP-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9zP-+-+-zP-0
9-zP-wQ-zPKzP0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black has an absolutely unpromising
position; he doesn't have a hint of
counterplay, while White reigns
unchallenged on the only open file and the
seventh rank. He can now calmly prepare a
pawn attack on the kingside - a clear-cut
plan which is very effective in similar
cases. Focusing only on the queenside is
not of a clear help, as Black will probably
defend and he will NOT accept a queen
exchange which will allow White to win
by just emerging with his king. Keep in
mind that Black has no real pawn
weakness, so White is 'obliged' to create a
second front.
26.Qc2 h6 27.h4
As Black can respond with ...h5 here or
later, in general White should think of
starting with 27.g4! and then h4,
transposing to the game, as now the try
with 27...g5 is not working due to 28.h4!
gh4 (28...Qe8 29.hg5 hg5 30.Qd2 Qd8
31.Rc6+-) 29.Qd2 Kg7 30.g5 h5
a) 30...h3 31.Kh3 Qf1 32.Kh2 h5 33.Rc1
Qb5 34.Kg3±;
b) 30...Kg6 31.gh6 Qe8 32.Kh3 Rh8
33.Qc1! (33.Qf4? Rh6 34.Qf6 Kh5 35.Qf7
Qf7 36.Rf7 Rg6=) 33...Qg8 (33...Rh6?!
34.Rc8 Qe7 35.Qg1+-) 34.Rb7 Rh6
35.Qg1 Kh7 36.Qg8 Kg8 37.Rb6 Rh5
38.Rb5 Rf5 39.Ra5 Rf2 40.b4+-; 31.Rc3
(31.Qf4 Qd3!) 31...Qa4 32.Qf4 and
White's attack on the kingside(!) is strong.
27...Qa6 28.b3 Qb5?!
This was Black's last chance to play the
more stubborn 28...h5!. Then White should
go for an expansion on the kingside with
29.f3 (29.Qd1? Rc8! 30.Rc8 Qc8 31.Qh5
Qc2!=; 29.Kf3? Qf1 30.Kf4 Qh3=)
29...Qb5 (after 29...b5?! and the queen
exchange with 30.Qc6! Qc6 31.Rc6 a
typical variation runs as: 31...Kh7 32.Kf2
a4 33.b4 Rb8 34.Ke3 Rb7 35.Kf4 Kh6
36.Rc8 g6 37.Rc5 Kg7 38.Kg5 Rb8
39.Rc7 Rb6 40.g4 hg4 41.fg4 Rb8 42.h5
gh5 43.gh5+-) 30.Kf2 Kh8 (30...Qa6?!
31.Qe2 b5 32.Rc5 Rb8 33.a4+-) 31.g4
a) 31.Rc3 Kg8 (31...Qd7 32.Rc6 Qe7
33.Qc1 Rb8 34.Rc7±) 32.Qe2 Qd7 33.Qa6
Qe7 34.a4 Qb4 is going nowhere;
b) 31.Kg2 Kg8 32.g4 hg4 33.fg4 f6;
31...hg4 32.fg4 and now Black should take
his chances with 32...f6! (32...Kg8?! 33.h5
f5 (33...f6 34.Qg6+-) 34.h6 gh6 35.Kg1!
Rf7 36.Rf7 Kf7 37.gf5+-) 33.Rc8! Rc8
(33...Kg8? 34.ef6+-) 34.Qc8 Kh7 35.Qc2
Kh8 (35...Kh6 36.ef6 gf6 37.h5 Qe8
(37...f5?! 38.Qc1 Kg7 39.Qc7 Kf8
40.g5+-) 38.Qc1 Kg7 39.Qc7 Kh6
40.Kg3±) 36.ef6 gf6 37.Qg6 Qb3 38.Qf6
Kh7 39.h5±. In the queen ending White's
chances are good, but Black can netherless
put-up a fight.
29.h5!
Now that the black kingside is 'ideally'
fixed, there is nothing that Black could
hope for.
29...Rd8 30.Rc6 Rf8 31.f4!
Preparing the g4 and f5 advance, which
will create more weaknesses in black's
camp.
31...Qa6 32.Rc7 Qa8
XIIIIIIIIY
9q+-+-trk+0
9+-tR-+pzp-0
9-zp-+p+-zp0
9zp-+pzP-+P0
9-+-zP-zP-+0
9zPP+-+-zP-0
9-+Q+-+K+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
33.Qc6 Qa6
Transposing to a rook ending with
33...Qc6?! 34.Rc6 Rb8 doesn't help. After
35.f5! ef5 36.Kf3 the white king will
FIDE – TRG SURVEYS 2012 – EFSTRATIOS GRIVAS
7
decide the battle: 36...Kf8 37.Kf4 Ke8
38.Kf5 Kf8 39.Rd6 (39.e6 wins as well)
39...a4 40.Rd5 ab3 41.Rb5+-.
34.Qc2 Qa8 35.g4
After a little and harmless 'checking' White
is continuing his main plan - attacking on
the kingside!
35...Kh8
Unfortunately for Black the standard
undermining 35...f5 doesn't work here due
to the response 36.ef6 . 35...Qa6 is not
helping anymore, as well: 36.f5 Qb5 37.f6!
gf6 (37...Kh8 38.fg7 Kg7 39.a4 Qb4
40.Qg6+-) 38.ef6 Kh8 39.Kg1! (to avoid
the check on e2) 39...Qa6 40.Qd2 Kh7
41.g5+- . Black applies the 'waiting and
see' strategy ...
36.a4!
Fixing is not of a harm; square b5 could be
useful as well.
36...Kg8 37.Kf2 Kh8 38.Qc6!
38.g5 Qd8 39.Qc1 seems good for White
anyway, but the text is more accurate.
38...Qb8
Now on 38...Qa6 White replies 39.Qb5 and
Black is obliged to exchange queens,
killing any small chance he could have.
39.Kg3 Kg8
XIIIIIIIIY
9-wq-+-trk+0
9+-tR-+pzp-0
9-zpQ+p+-zp0
9zp-+pzP-+P0
9P+-zP-zPP+0
9+P+-+-mK-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White has everything ready for the final
assault.
40.g5! hg5
Or 40...Kh8 41.g6 fg6 42.hg6 Qd8
43.Rb7+-.
41.fg5 Qd8 42.Kg4
His Majesty personally leads the attack.
42...Kh8 43.Qb7
White is not interest anymore on the black
b6-pawn - the real target is the g7!
43...Kg8 44.g6 Qe8 45.Re7 1:0.
Conclusion
The king can and should assist when time
comes. The duty of a good chess player is
to understand when this time is …