Jeroen Bosch:
Rook and pawn(s) versus Two Minor Pieces
Whenever I teach the subject of Rook and 1...Ta8 White has 2.e5, with very concrete
pawn(s) versus two minor pieces, I like to threats.
start with a little joke. Take a good look at However, who told you it was White to
the diagrammed position. move?
Karsa : Bischoff In fact, it is Black's turn! And so the game
Clichy 1993 ends after 1... Dc5! when suddenly white's
pieces are all 'hanging in the air' and there is
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no way to avoid the loss of a piece!
9-+r+-+k+0
Rather than just having a bit of fun, while
9+-wq-+p+-0
usefully capturing the attention of the
9-zp-+p+p+0
audience, who will make sure for the rest of
the session that they know who's move it is,
9+P+-sN-+-0
the position serves a real purpose too. It
9-+LwQP+-zp0
teaches us that a rook requires an open file,
9+-+-+-+P0
and that pieces need strongholds. Materially
9-+-+-+P+0
speaking rook + pawn are about equal to a
bishop + knight. However, this depends
9+-+-+-mK-0
hugely on the circumstances of course. (In
xiiiiiiiiy
general, rook and two pawns constitute a
Things look rather threatening, right? You
slight material advantage, while a pair of
would like to start with 1.Sc6? Yes, that sure
bishops may easily tilt the balance in favour
looks good. Square is an excellent
of the pieces). If
stronghold for the knight. It prevents Black's
we think about the properties of the pieces,
queen from taking active measures (1...Dg3?
then we can draw up the following simple
is easily refuted by 2.Se7), and after, say
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 1
We will start off with a simple example. In the following classical example of
With a rook and two pawns versus two Karpov, we will see the power of (passed)
knights, White is doing very well in a pawns in the ending.
material sense. What is more the knights
lack strongholds, and the fact that white's Hübner R. : Karpov A.
passed pawn is as far removed as possible Tilburg 1977
(remember that the rook pawn is the natural
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enemy of the knight) makes the win
9r+r+-+-+0
elementary.
9zp-+k+-+p0
Yusupov A. : Ljubojevic L.
9-zp-+pzppvl0
Tilburg 1987
9+-+n+-+-0
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9-+-+-+-+0
9-+-+r+k+0
9zP-+PzP-zP-0
9+-sn-+pzpp0
9-vL-sN-zPKzP0
9-+-wq-sn-+0
9+-tR-+R+-0
9tR-+l+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
9P+-+-+-+0
First it is necessary to bring about our
9+-+-zPL+-0
subject by means of an elementary
9-+-+-zPPzP0 combination:
1...Le3! 2.fe3 Se3 3.Kf3 Sf1 4.Sf1
9+-+Q+RmK-0
In principle White would like to avoid the
xiiiiiiiiy
exchange of rooks, but 4.Tf1? loses a piece
1.Dd4 of course: 4...Tc2 5.Sc4 b5.
The centralization of the queen is already 4...Tc1 5.Lc1 Tc8 6.Lb2
decisive, according to Yusupov.
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1...De6 2.Ld5 Scd5 3.Td1
9-+r+-+-+0
Putting the question to the central knight.
Black has a tactical defence, but after 9zp-+k+-+p0
3...Tc8 4.Tc5!
9-zp-+pzpp+0
invites another trade, increasing White's
9+-+-+-+-0
advantage still further. 4.Td5? Sd5 5.Dd5?
Dd5 6.Td5 Tc1 +.
9-+-+-+-+0
4...Tc5 5.Dc5 h5 6.a5 De4 7.h3
9zP-+P+KzP-0
There is no hurry, White can make a
luftloch.
9-vL-+-+-zP0
7...g6 8.Dc6 Db4 9.a6
9+-+-+N+-0
The knights are helpless to stop the pawn.
xiiiiiiiiy
Black resigned after 9.Td5+-.
9...Da5 10.Db7 Da4 11.Tb1 1:0
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 2
decides to keep the initiative, by invading on Again maximizing the activity of the rook.
the second rank to win gain two passed 22.Kb3 Th3 23.Sf6 Kd4 24.Sh7 Td3
pawns on the queenside. Losing pawn f6, 25.Kc2 a4 26.Le7 Tc3 27.Kb1 Tc7 0:1.
and with it his excellent structure, is a loss
he is willing to take. Novikov : Kaidanov
6...Tc2! Vilnius 1986
6...e5 7.Se3 protects some important squares,
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although White is still suffering after 7...Tc5
9-+-sN-+k+0
8.Ke2 Tb5 9.Lc1 Ke6.
9zp-+-+-zpp0
7.Lf6 Ta2 8.Ke3 Ta3 9.Sd2
9-+-+-zp-+0
According to Karpov, Hübner defends in the
best way: the bishop stays on the long
9+P+-+-+-0
diagonal, while the knight uses the excellent
9p+-+rzP-+0
e4-square. The twelfth World Champion
9+-vL-+-zP-0
drily remarks however, that White's material
9-zP-+-+KzP0
disadvantage is a deciding factor.
9...b5 10.Se4 b4?!
9+-+-+-+-0
Karpov criticizes his play at this stage.
xiiiiiiiiy
Advancing the pawn means giving up the
At first sight the ending looks unclear
c4-square and limiting the range of the rook.
perhaps, but after
It was better to advance with 10...a5!
1...Tc4!
11.Kd4 a5 12.Kc4
it becomes clear that Black is much better,
Threatening to trap the rook, so Black is
since he can undermine the all-important b2-
forced to play:
pawn.
12...Ta2 13.h4 Kc6 14.Ld4
2.Sc6 a3! 3.Sd4
Owing to 10...b4 Karpov has complicated
3.ba3 Tc3 4.Sa7 (4.a4 a6) 4...Ta3 and White
the technical phase. By posting his rook on
will eventually lose the b-pawn, when the
the first rank he removes it as far away as
ending of rook against knight with pawns on
possible from the white pieces and increases
one wing is lost.
its activity.
3...Tc5 4.Kf3 a2 5.Sc2 Tb5 6.Sa1
14...Te2 15.Le5 Te1! 16.Lf6 Tb1
6.Ke4 Kf7 7.Kd4.
Everything is ready for the advance of the a-
6...Kf7 7.Ke3 Ke6 8.g4 Kd5 9.Kd3 Tc5
pawn.
10.b3
17.Le7
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Defending against 17...a4, but now Karpov
9-+-+-+-+0
plugs the long diagonal. 17.Sd2 Tc1 18.Kb3
9zp-+-+-zpp0
Kb5 wins easily.
9-+-+-zp-+0
17...e5! 18.g4 Tc1 19.Kb3 Kd5
9+-trk+-+-0
Karpov has increased the activity of pieces.
9-+-+-zPP+0
20.Lg5
White cannot win the a-pawn, as 20.Ld8
9+PvLK+-+-0
Kd4 21.La5 Kd3 22.Sf6 Tb1 23.Ka2 Kc2
9p+-+-+-zP0
(Karpov) wins.
9sN-+-+-+-0
20...Tb1 21.Kc2
xiiiiiiiiy
21.Ka4 Ta1 22.Kb3 Ta3 23.Kc2 Kd4.
It looks like White has come up with a
21...Th1
decent line of defence. How to cross the
FIDE SURVEYS  Jeroen Bosch 3
barrier? Kaidanov transforms the ending by 3.Ke1 De5 4.Kf1
noting the powerlessness of the knight in 4.Kd1 Dd4 5.Ke2 (5.Ke1 Dg1 +) 5...De4
endings with pawns on both wings: 6.De3 La6 + (6...Tc2 +) ; 4.Kf2 Tf7 5.Kg1
10...Tc3 11.Kc3 Ke4 12.f5 Dd4 +.
12.g5 f5! 13.Kb2 Kf4 14.Ka2 Kg5 15.Kb2
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Kg4 +.
9-+-+-+k+0
12...Kf4 13.Kb2 Kg4 14.Sc2 Kh3 15.Sd4
Kh2 16.Se6 Kg3 9+ltr-+-zp-0
16...h5 +.
9-+-+p+-zp0
17.Sg7 Kg4! 18.Se8 Kf5 19.Sd6 Kf4 20.Se8
9+-+-wq-+-0
Kg5 21.Sd6 h5 22.Se4 Kf4 23.Sf6 h4
24.Sd5 Kf3 0:1.
9-+-+-+-+0
9+Q+-+-zP-0
In the past three examples we observed the
power of the combination rook and pawn(s).
9P+R+-+-zP0
Now it is high time to see what those pieces
9+-tR-+K+-0
do best: attack! The first example is very
concrete. A pair of bishops are well-known xiiiiiiiiy
as an excellent attacking force.
4...La6
Now this is a mistake! 4...Df5 5.Kg1 De4
transposes to the note to Black's second
Spassky B. : Tal M.
move and wins.
Tallinn 1973
5.Kg1 Dd4 6.Kg2 De4
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XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+k+0
9-+-+-+k+0
9+ltr-+-zp-0
9+-tr-+-zp-0
9-+-+p+-zp0
9l+-+p+-zp0
9+-vl-+-wq-0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9-+-+q+-+0
9+Q+-+-zP-0
9+Q+-+-zP-0
9P+R+-zP-zP0
9P+R+-+KzP0
9+-tR-+-mK-0
9+-tR-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy
Here Tal decides matters with
7.Kg1?
1...Lf2!
7.Kh3 Tc2 8.Dc2 Lf1! +; 7.Kf2! Tf7 8.Kg1
Also winning was the 'quiet' 1...Df6 2.Tf1
would have severely complicated Black's
(2.Tc5? Tc5 3.Tc5 Da1) 2...Df5 (creeping
task as 8...Lb7 is met by 9.Tc8 Kh7? (9...Lc8
towards the long diagonal);
10.Tc8 Kh7 11.Dc2=) 10.Dc2.
1...Df5? 2.Tc5! Tc5 (2...De4 3.f3 Dd4 4.Kg2
7...Lb7
Tc5 5.Tc5 Dc5 6.Db7 Dc2 7.Kh3 Da2=)
and we are back in our familiar winning
3.Tc5 De4 (3...Dc5 4.Db7) 4.Kf1 La6 5.Tb5
position.
Lb5 6.Db5 Dh1 7.Ke2 De4 8.Kd2 Dd4 only
8.h4 Dh1 9.Kf2 Tf7 10.Ke2 De4 0:1.
draws.
2.Kf2 Df6
Simpler was 2...Df5 3.Kg1 De4 and wins.
FIDE SURVEYS  Jeroen Bosch 4
Capablanca J. R. : Alekhine A. 9...f6 was a tougher defence. After 10.Dd5
Buenos Aires 1927 (10.h4!) 10...Dd5 11.Td5 Tc2 Black has a
certain amount of counterplay.
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XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+k+-tr0
9-+r+r+k+0
9zp-+q+pzpp0
9zp-+-+pzpp0
9-zpn+-sn-+0
9-zp-+-+-+0
9+Nvlp+-+-0
9+-+p+-+-0
9Q+-+-vL-+0
9q+-+-vL-+0
9+-+-+-zP-0
9+N+-zP-zP-0
9PzP-+PzPKzP0
9P+-wQ-zPKzP0
9tRNtR-+-+-0
9+-+R+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy
Although development is about equal, Black
hasn't castled yet, and this explains 10.Dd5!
Capablanca's next energetic bid for an Excellent judgement! It looks highly
advantage. dangerous to exchange the a-pawn for the d-
1.b4! Lb4 pawn - with two passed pawns on the
After the alternative 1...Sb4 2.Sd6 Kd8 queenside all endings look winning for
3.Dd7 Kd7 4.Sc8 Tc8 5.Sd2 Black does not Black. However, Capablanca has seen
have enough for the exchange. further: the light pieces will be in their
2.Tc6! element, attacking the Black king.
This is clearly stronger than 2.Sc7 Tc7 3.Lc7 10...Tc2
Lc5! 4.Lf4 0 0 when Black has more play Not 10...Da2 11.Ta1 Dc2 12.Ta7.
than in the previous note with the queens 11.Td2 Ta2
still on. White also has a strong attack after 11...Da2
2...Tc6 3.Db4 12.Dd7! Tf8 13.Tc2 Dc2 14.Sd4 Dc5 15.Sf5.
So here we have arrived at our subject. With 12.Ta2
bishop and knight versus rook and pawn Very strong was 12.Td4! Da6 13.Tc4 when
material may be about equal. However, it is the rook joins in the attack along the seventh
awkward for Black that he still cannot castle. rank.
Moreover, the isolated d-pawn guarantees 12...Da2 13.Dc6!
that White will always have a stronghold (on Forcing the rook into passivity.
d4) for his pieces. 13...Tf8 14.Sd4 Kh8?!
3...Se4 4.Sd2 Sd2 5.Dd2 14...Td8 15.Ld6 h6 16.e4Ä….
5.Ld2!? 15.Le5! f6 16.Se6 Tg8 17.Ld4
5...0 0 6.Td1 The bishop is ideally placed, Black is totally
The first object of attack is the isolated lost now.
pawn. 17...h6 18.h4!
6...Tc5 7.Sd4 Te8 Black still has some sort of defence after
It was more natural to aim for counterplay 18.Sg7 Tg7 19.Df6 Dd5 20.Kg1 Dg5.
with 7...Tfc8. 18...Db1 19.Sg7! Dg6
8.Sb3 Tcc8 9.e3 Da4 White wins the pawn ending after 19...Tg7
20.Df6 De4 (20...Dh7 21.Df8 Dg8 22.Lg7)
FIDE SURVEYS  Jeroen Bosch 5
21.Kg1 Db7 22.Dh6 Kg8 23.Dg7 Dg7 Objectively best was 1...Dd8 2.Se3 (2.Sd6
24.Lg7 Kg7 25.Kf1+-. fails now to the pin 2...Dc7! for example
20.h5 3.g3 (3.Dd5? Td8) 3...Td8 4.Sc4 De5 5.Se5)
Also good is 20.Sh5 Dh5 21.Df6 Kh7 2...Te8 3.Dd5 Dd5 4.Sd5 but this ending
22.De7 and Black's king is caught in a should be assessed as won for White, though
mating net. 22...Kg6 23.e4 (or the immediate there are still technical difficulties. A rook is
23.f3! ) 23...a5 24.f3 a4 25.g4+-. a strong piece in such an open position with
20...Df7 21.Sf5 Kh7 22.De4 Te8 23.Df4 pawns on both wings.
Df8 24.Sd6 Te7 The win is easier after 1...Dc5 2.Se3 Td8
With such a bad king, Black is without 3.Lc4! Dd6 4.Dd6 Td6 5.Ld5 and both
defence against light pieces: 24...Td8 25.Df5 bishop and knight are actively placed and
Kg8 26.De6 Kh7 27.Lf6! Td6 28.Df5 Kg8 well-coordinated.
29.Dg6+-. 2.Sd6 Db1 3.Sf5
25.Lf6 Da8 26.e4 Tg7 27.Lg7 Kg7 28.Sf5 This may remind you of the previous
Kf7 29.Dc7 1:0 Capablance : Alekhine example.
3...f6 4.Dd5 Kh8 5.Dd7
5.Sd6 h6 6.Db7 is similar to the game.
Psakhis L. : Lputian S.
5...Tg8 6.Sd6 h6 7.Db7 a5 8.Db5
Yerevan 1989
Clearly White is winning. He is ahead in
XIIIIIIIIY
material, and Black's king will remain weak.
9-+-+-trk+0
8...Tf8 9.g4
Creating some space for his king and his
9+p+-+pzpp0
bishop while controlling some light squares
9p+-+-+-+0
as well. It should never be forgotten though,
9wq-+pwQ-+-0 that pawns can't move backwards. I will now
reveal that the game will end in a draw!
9-+-+-+-+0
Such a move as 9.g4 is perfectly sound, but
9+-+-+-+P0
it commits White to accurate calculation.
Meanwhile it was possible to win the game
9PzP-sN-zPP+0
without any risk: 9.Sc4 Td8 10.Da5 Td1
9+-+-+LmK-0
11.Se3 and Black can safely resign.
xiiiiiiiiy 9...De1 10.Dd7 Dc1 11.Kg2 f5!?
Desperation, but also the only chance to stir
As we are approaching the ending, it may
up trouble.
appear that Black is OK here. However, just
12.De7
like in the previous example White can
Immediately winning was 12.Sf7 Kg8
coordinate his pieces into a direct attack on
13.Dd5 Db2 14.Se5 Kh7 15.Ld3; 12.Sf5
the black king. This is a challenging and
Db2 is no longer a simple win.
useful example since it demonstrates the
12...Tg8 13.Sc4
abilities of the light pieces in a position with
Many roads lead to Rome. Also winning are:
no outside 'noise'.
13.Sf7 Kh7 14.Ld3; 13.Lc4; 13.Ld3.
1.Sc4!
13...fg4 14.hg4 Df4 15.De6?
1.Se4 Da2 2.Sd6.
This greatly reduces White's advantage.
1...Da2
because of his commital play, it was now
Black takes the pawn and puts his money on
necessary to continue actively by means of
his queenside pawns. For some time now the
15.Se5! and White wins in the attack.
queen will be missed in the defence though.
15...Tf8 16.De2 a4 17.Se5 Tf6? 18.De3?
FIDE SURVEYS  Jeroen Bosch 6
This is a big mistake. First of all there was Hort V. : Hübner R.
an immediate win, but more important for Germany 1982
our purposes is that it is principally the
XIIIIIIIIY
wrong decision. We have already learned
9-+r+-trk+0
that in an ending the rook greatly increases
in strength, whereas the pieces are stronger 9+p+qvlpzpp0
in a middlegame situation (with the queens
9p+n+p+-+0
on). 18.Sd7! wins on the spot!
9+-+pzP-+-0
18...De3 19.fe3
White no longer has any attacking chances,
9-+-zP-+-zP0
and pawn b2 is a weakness. With material
9+-+-+N+-0
greatly reduced Black has excellent drawing
chances.
9PzPRvLQzPP+0
19...Tb6 20.Sc4 Tb4 21.Kf3 g6 22.e4 Kg7
9+-tR-+-mK-0
23.e5 h5 24.gh5 gh5 25.Kf4
xiiiiiiiiy
A good moment to ask your pupils how they
would continue:
Have your pupils analyse this position in
pairs of two. Ask them to present their
XIIIIIIIIY
conclusions before you demonstrate
9-+-+-+-+0
Hübner's continuation.
9+-+-+-mk-0
1...Lh4! 2.Tc6
2.Sh4 Sd4 3.Dd3 Sc2 4.Tc2 Da4! 5.Tc8 Tc8
9-+-+-+-+0
6.Sf3 Da2 and Black should win.
9+-+-zP-+p0
2...Tc6 3.Sh4 Tc1 4.Lc1 Da4!
Without this double attack (which has to be
9ptrN+-mK-+0
seen when embarking on 1...Lh4) Black
9+-+-+-+-0
would have no advantage.
9-zP-+-+-+0
5.Dg4
5.a3 Dd4 6.Sf3 De4.
9+-+-+L+-0
5...Kh8
xiiiiiiiiy
Hübner avoids weakening his king's
25...Tb2! position. It was possible to play 5...h5 6.Dh5
Or 25...h4 26.Kg4 Tb2. Dd4.
26.Sb2 a3 6.a3 Dc2
A good illustration of the rule that the rook's The queen both attacks and defends.
pawn is the knight's worst enemy. 7.Df4 Kg8!
27.Lc4 Again Hübner continues in the best way, by
27.e6 Kf6 (27...a2 28.e7 a1D 29.e8D Df1 playing it safe. Meanwhile White would be
30.Kg5 Df6=) 28.Lc4 ab2=. allright after 7...Tc8 8.Le3 De4? This looks
27...ab2 28.La2 h4 strong, but fails to the sacrifice (8...Kg8!)
28...Kg6. 9.Df7! Dh4 10.Db7 when White will win the
29.Kg4 Kg6 30.Lb1 a-pawn too, when he has enough for the
30.Kh4 Kf5 31.e6 b1D 32.Lb1 Ke6. exchange.
30...Kf7 31.Lf5 h3 32.Kh3 b1D 33.Lb1 8.b4 Tc8
Ke6 8...De4 was very strong too.
A remarkable escape  draw! 9.Le3 Dd1 10.Kh2 Dh5 11.g3?! Tc3 12.a4
Tb3 13.Kg2
FIDE SURVEYS  Jeroen Bosch 7
13.Ld2 h6! wins. We have studied some of the principles of
13...Tb4 rook and pawn versus two pieces on the
With two pawns Black has a material basis of several more or less 'classical'
advantage. Things will be decided on the positions. Now let's investigate a few games
queenside; note how far removed the white from the 2011 Tata Steel Chess Festival in
knight is. Wijk aan Zee. We will see many of our
14.a5 Tb1 15.Df3 Df3 16.Sf3 b6 familiar themes return.
Creating the passed pawn that will win the
game. Tania S. : Lahno K.
17.ab6 a5 18.Lg5 a4 19.Le7 Tb6 20.Se1 Wijk aan Zee 2011
Tb2 21.Lc5 h5 22.Sd3 a3! 23.La3 Tb3 0:1.
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-mk-+0
Knaak R. : Forintos G.
Skopje 1972 9+-+-+p+p0
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+p+-+p+0
9r+-wq-trk+0
9zp-+-+-+-0
9zpp+l+pvlp0
9Q+-+-+-+0
9-+n+p+p+0
9+-wq-zP-+-0
9+-+-+-+-0
9PtrL+-zPPzP0
9Q+-zP-+-+0
9+-+KsN-+-0
9+-sN-zPN+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 In the diagrammed position White has an
obvious material advantage. However, the
9+-mKR+L+R0
position of her king is perhaps slightly
xiiiiiiiiy
shaky. Can White get rid of the pressure?
The first move is obvious. Ask your pupils 30.Dd4
to calculate and to make an accurate Forcing the exchange of queens. In principle
assessment. this is a bad idea when you are playing with
1...Sd4! 2.Td4 La4 3.Td8 Tfd8 4.Sa4 Tac8 the light pieces. However, in the present
5.Sc3 Lc3 6.bc3 Tc3 7.Kb2 situation White's material advantage, and the
Play was forced until now. Black's next fact that it is White's king which is under
move is still part of his combination. pressure, may well justify this decision. The
7...Tdc8 question is, though, can Black win the a-
The excellent coordination of Black's rooks pawn after trading queens? Meanwhile,
and the fact that White is still not fully White could also win by means of 30.Sd3
developed promise Black a winning edge. Tb5 31.Ke2 Td5 32.Db3 and after 32...Db3
Play is only equal after 7...Tc6 8.Le2 Tb6 33.Lb3 the ending is winning for White.
9.Ka1. 30...Dd4 31.ed4 Ta2
8.Sd4 Material equilibrium has been restored.
8.Se1 T3c6! 9.Sd3 Tb6 10.Ka1 Tc2 +. However, isn't that rook trapped on a2?
8...e5 9.Sb3? White's task is not too difficult after 31...Ke7
9.Se2 T3c6! +. 32.Kc1 Tb4 33.Sf3 Kd6 (33...c5 34.Se5!)
9...Tc2 10.Kb1 Tf2 11.Sc1 e4 12.Lb5? 34.Lb3 f6 35.Kc2 c5 36.Kc3 cd4 37.Sd4
Tcc2 0:1. Kc5 38.Se6 Kd6 39.g3 and White wins as
FIDE SURVEYS  Jeroen Bosch 8
after 39...Tb3? 40.Kb3 Ke6 41.Ka4 the pawn maximum. White will never be able to shift
ending is easy. as quickly between kingside and queenside
as Black.
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36.Lb3 h5 37.Sb4 h4 38.Sc2
9-+-+-mk-+0
38.gh4 gh4 39.d5 c5 40.Sc2 Th1 41.Sa3 Th2
9+-+-+p+p0 42.d6 Th3 43.Kc2 Tb3! 44.Kb3 h3 +.
38...Th1 39.gh4 gh4 40.Sa3 Th2
9-+p+-+p+0
According to plan, Black has traded her
9zp-+-+-+-0
passed a-pawn for a passed h-pawn.
41.La4 Tf2 42.Lc6 h3 43.Sc4 Tf1 44.Kb4
9-+-zP-+-+0
44.Se3? Tc1 +.
9+-+-+-+-0
44...h2 45.Se3 Tb1 46.Kc5 f5!
46...Tc1! 47.Sc4 f5 +.
9r+L+-zPPzP0
47.La8
9+-+KsN-+-0
47.Sf5 Tc1 48.Kd6 Tc6 +.
xiiiiiiiiy
47...Te1 48.Sc4
48.Sf5 Ta1 49.Le4 Ta5 50.Kd6 Tf5 +.
32.Sd3?
48...Te4 0:1.
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
Bok B. : Kazhgaleyev M.
an edge) 35...c4 36.La2! Ke7 37.Lb3! (a
Wijk aan Zee 2011
very neat way to win the rook) 37...cb3
XIIIIIIIIY
38.Kb3 and again the pawn ending loses for
9r+-+-+-+0
Black after 38...Tb4 39.Sb4 ab4 40.Kb4.
32...Ta1 33.Kd2 a4
9zpp+-+-+k0
The rook is no longer trapped, and therefore
9-+-zp-+-+0
it is Black who holds an edge!
9+-+Pzp-+-0
34.Kc3 a3 35.g3 g5!
XIIIIIIIIY
9-zP-+PzpN+0
9-+-+-mk-+0
9+-+-+-+r0
9+-+-+p+p0
9P+-+-+-+0
9-+p+-+-+0
9+-+-vLKtR-0
9+-+-+-zp-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The ending is dynamically equal, but very
9-+-zP-+-+0
complicated of course. Even with so few
9zp-mKN+-zP-0
pieces White plays for an attack on the king.
9-+L+-zP-zP0
40.Sf6 Kh8
Black should be able to hold a draw after
9tr-+-+-+-0
40...Kh6. A sample line runs: 41.Sg8 Kh5
xiiiiiiiiy
42.Se7 Tf3 43.Lf2 Ta3 44.Th1 Kg4 45.Th4
Preparing .. .Th1. The standard way to win
Kg5 46.Th2 Kg4 47.Sf5 Ta2 48.Sd6 Kf3
such endings is by using the rook's abilities
49.Th3 Kg4=.
(long-range, cutting off the king, controlling
41.Tg6?!
both dark and light squares) to their
41.b5!?
FIDE SURVEYS  Jeroen Bosch 9
41...Tc8 48...a5 49.Th6 Kg7 50.Tg6 Kh7 51.d6 Td8
41...Th1! 42.Kf2 (42.Ke2 f3 43.Kf2 Tc8) 52.Te6 Tg8?!
42...Tc8. Black should draw with 52...Te4 53.Te7
42.Lf2! Ta3 (53.Kf3 Te5 54.Te5 Td6) 53...Kg8 54.Kf3
Not 42...f3 43.Le3!+- and since Black cannot Te5 55.Te5 Td6.
set-up a mating attack, the weakness of pawn 53.Kh3?!
d6 will tell. A sample line: 43...Th1 44.Kf2 White has excellent winning chances after
Tc2 45.Kf3 Th3 46.Tg3 (46.Kg4 Tg2 53.Kf3 Tf8 54.Kg2 Tb2 55.Te7 Kh6 (there
47.Kh3 Tg6 48.Sg4+-) 46...Tg3 47.Kg3 Ta2 are some neat tactics after 55...Kg8 56.Sg4
48.Se8+-. Td2 57.d7 a4 58.Kg3 a3 59.Le1! (59.Le3
43.Sg4 Ta2?! Td3 60.Sh6 Kh8 61.Sf7 Tf7 62.Tf7 a2=)
Black could have forced a repetition by 59...Td3 60.Kh4 a2 61.Lc3!+- Tc3 62.Sf6+-)
means of 43...Tc1 44.Kg2 Tc2 45.Sf6 56.Kg3 Tb3 57.Kh4 Tb4 58.Sg4 Tg4 59.Kg4
a) 45.Kg1 Tc1 46.Kg2 Tc2; Tf2 60.d7 Td2 61.Kf5 a4 62.Kf6!!
b) 45.Th6 Kg7 46.Kf1 (46.Td6?? Tg3 +)
XIIIIIIIIY
46...Tc1 47.Kg2 Tc2; 45...Tc8.
9-+-+-+-+0
44.Td6
Now White has an edge. 9+p+PtR-+-0
44...f3
9-+-+-mK-mk0
44...Tc1 45.Kg2 Tc3 46.Th6! Kg7 47.Th3
9+-+-+-+-0
Th3 48.Kh3 b6 49.Lh4! and the pieces
coordinate well.
9p+-+-+-+0
45.Kg1! Te2 46.Kh2 Te4
9+-+-+-+-0
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-+-+0
9-+r+-+-mk0
9+-+-+-+-0
9zpp+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
9-+-tR-+-+0
White combines mating threats with
9+-+Pzp-+-0
supporting his passed pawn. (62.Ke6 a3
63.Te8 a2 64.Ta8 Kg6! (64...Kg7 65.Ta2!+-)
9-zP-+r+N+0
65.d8D (65.Ta2? Ta2 66.d8D Te2 67.Kd7
9+-+-+p+-0
Td2 +) 65...Td8 66.Ta2=) 62...a3 (62...Kh5
9-+-+-vL-mK0 63.Te5 Kg4 64.Ke7 Kf4 65.Ta5+-) 63.Te1!
(63.Te3 Kh5 64.Ke7 a2=) 63...Kh5
9+-+-+-+-0
64.Ke7+-.
xiiiiiiiiy
53...Tb1 54.Te7
47.Se5! 54.Sg4.
White is better, but not winning. 54...Kh6??
47...Tb4 This is a blunder, undoubtedly influenced by
47...Te5 48.Ld4 Tce8 49.Te6!+-; 47...Te2 the fatigue of a long game and the time
48.Kg3 Tg8 49.Kf3 Te5 50.Ld4 Tf8 51.Kg4 situation on the clock. 54...Tg7! 55.Sf3 Th1
Tff5 52.Le5 Te5 53.Kf4 Th5 54.Td7 Kg8 56.Sh2 Td1 57.Lg3 Kg8 should end in a
55.b5 Kf8 56.Ke4+-. draw.
48.Kg3 55.Le3 Tg5 56.Sf7 Kg6 57.Sg5 Td1 58.d7
48.La7. a4 59.Sf3 Kf6 60.Lg5 Kg6 61.Te6 Kf5
62.Te5 1:0.
FIDE SURVEYS  Jeroen Bosch 10
Vocaturo D. : Siebrecht S. Navara D. : Spoelman W.
Wijk aan Zee 2011 Wijk aan Zee 2011
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0 9r+l+-tr-mk0
9+p+-+p+p0 9+pvl-wqpzp-0
9p+-+-tRp+0 9-snp+-sn-zp0
9+-+-zpl+-0 9zp-+-zp-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0 9-+-zP-+-sN0
9+NsN-+-zP-0 9zPLsN-zP-+P0
9PzPP+L+-zP0 9-zPQvL-zPP+0
9+-+-+-mK-0 9+-+-tRRmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
Material is equal. Nevertheless the pieces are A complex position. Navara now embarks
doing very well indeed after on an interesting adventure:
23.g4! Lc8?! 16.Lf7!?
The point is 23...Lc2? 24.Sa1!+-; 23...Kg7 Black is fairly comfortable after 16.Sf5 Lf5
24.Tb6; 23...Le6 24.Sc5. 17.Df5 a4 18.La2 e4.
The best chance was 23...Ld7 24.Sc5 16...Df7 17.de5
(24.Lf3 Kg7 25.Tb6) 24...Lc6 25.La6 Kg7 Not 17.Sg6 Kg8 18.de5 Sfd7 19.Sf8 (19.e6
26.g5 h6 27.h4 hg5 28.hg5 Th8 29.Le2Ä…. De6 20.Sf8 Sf8) 19...Se5 when Black is
24.Tb6 better.
Or 24.Sc5. 17...Sfd7 18.Sg6 Kg8 19.Sf8 Se5 20.f4
24...Td8 Speed is of the essence. White needs to push
No better is 24...f5, when 25.gf5 Lf5 his kingside/central majority or otherwise
(25...gf5 26.Sc5 Kg7 27.Sd5) 26.Tb7 Lc2 the pieces will be too strong.
27.Sc5 should win. 20...Sec4 21.Lc1 Df8 22.b3!? Sa3
25.Sc5 f5 26.gf5 gf5 27.Lc4 Kh8 28.Sd5 22...Sd6 23.e4.
28.Ld5 was also very strong. 23.La3 Da3 24.Sb5 De7
28...Tg8 29.Kf2 Tg4 Perhaps 24...cb5 25.Dc7 Sd7!, planning
29...Tg6 30.Sd3! 26.e4? Dc5 27.Dc5 Sc5.
30.Lb3 Th4 31.Sc7 Ta7 32.Se8! 25.Sc7 Dc7 26.e4
Starting the final attack on the king. This is hard to assess. In principle Black is
32...Th2 33.Kg1 Th4 34.Tf6 h6 35.Tf8 Kh7 better, unless White is able to push his
36.Tf7 Kh8 pawns as fast as possible to avoid Black
36...Kg6 37.Tg7 Kh5 38.Lf7# (38.Sf6#). from consolidating.
37.Sf6 1:0. 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 11
Aronian L. : Shirov A. remains equal. Black has blocked the
Wijk aan Zee 2011 diagonal, while White has blocked the d-file
and has positioned his bishop in the best
XIIIIIIIIY
possible way.
9r+-+r+k+0
33.Tb2 Db5 34.Db1 Dd5 35.Dd1 Tbc8
9+p+-+pzp-0
36.Td2 De6 37.Kh2 Td7 38.g3 Tdc7
9-wQ-+l+-zp0
Shirov has doubled rooks on the c-file and is
now ready to penetrate.
9zp-sn-+-+q0
39.Lb2
9-+P+p+-+0
Tactically defending square c1.
9+-+-zP-vL-0
39...Da2 40.Le5 Dd2?
9P+-+-zPPzP0
The proverbial mistake on move 40
(although White is not winning yet). Correct
9+R+RsN-mK-0
was 40...Tc1! 41.Dc1 Tc1 42.Ta2 fe5 43.Ta5
xiiiiiiiiy
(43.Sg2?? b3 +) 43...Te1 44.Tb5 Tb1
A real genius in positions with unequal
45.Te5 b3 46.Te4 Tf1 47.Tb4 Tf2 48.Kg1
material is Levon Aronian. Here he decides
and the rook ending is a draw.
to unbalance the game with
41.Dd2 fe5 42.Dd5Ä…
24.Td5!? Ld5 25.Dc5 Ted8 26.cd5 Dd5
Only White has chances here. However, the
27.Dc2
knight is still passive and the passed pawns
As we know, trading queens is in principle
on the queenside are a real issue.
what White should avoid: 27.Dd5 Td5
42...Tf7 43.Kg2 Tcf8 44.h4 Kh8?!
28.Tb7 Td2 29.a3 Ta2 and with such passive
44...a4 45.De4 Tf2 46.Kh3 a3.
pieces White cannot be better.
45.De4 Tf2?!
27...b5 28.Db2 b4
Exact calculation is required for the draw
This is more or less forced after 24. Rd5.
after 45...b3! 46.Sd3 b2 47.Se5 Tf2 48.Kh3
Play is dynamically equal.
Tf1 49.Sg6 Kg8 50.Se7 Kh8 (50...Kf7?
29.Le5 Dd2
51.Sf5 b1D 52.De7 Kg6 53.h5 Kf5 (53...Kh5
Again Shirov offers to trade queens.
54.g4 Kg6 55.Dg7#) 54.g4#) 51.Sg6=.
30.Da1
46.Kh3 b3 47.Sd3 b2 48.Db7!?
30.Lg7 Db2 31.Lb2 Td2 with decent
48.Sf2 Tf2 49.Da8 Kh7 and White cannot
counterplay for Black.
win.
30...De2 31.Ld4
48...T8f7?
31.Lg7? Td2 +.
The note to move 51 explains why this is a
31...Tab8 32.h3 f6
mistake. Black could still draw with 48...a4
XIIIIIIIIY
49.Sb2 a3 50.Sd3 a2 51.Da6 Td2 52.Sb4 h5
9-tr-tr-+k+0
53.Sa2 Tff2 54.Da8 Kh7 55.g4=.
9+-+-+-zp-0
49.Db5! a4 50.Sb2 a3 51.Sd3 Tf1
9-+-+-zp-zp0
51...a2 52.Sf2 a1D 53.De8 Kh7 54.Df7
9zp-+-+-+-0
shows why Shirov's 48th move was a
9-zp-vLp+-+0 mistake.
52.Da4 Th1 53.Kg4 1:0.
9+-+-zP-+P0
9P+-+qzPP+0
9wQR+-sN-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Again both sides have consolidated and play
FIDE SURVEYS  Jeroen Bosch 12