Practical Knight Endings

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Practical

Knight

Endings

GM Edmar Mednis


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Practical

KnighEndings

Grandmaster Edmar Medns

1993Chess Enterrses


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Copyrght by Edmar Meds. Al rghts rsed

Typs: G Dudy

Chss Enrprses, Crossree Road, Moon Township P 86


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rece

One o the many maks showing that the invento ochess was a genus s makng the Bshop and Knght twoablutely deent p aut equvalent n matal valueIn my ok Practcal Bhp EndinI added the imtantpncples and technques o laying same colo and opositecolo Bishop endings he shop is inheently a ogicalstaightowad pece he pncipes o Bisho endngs aenheenty logcal and staghtowad also nowng andundetandng these pinciples, when added to the not verylage numbe o sopstcated techniques pesented in theave ok s enough o the pactcal paye

ight endn is qute othe matte eve ginne eali, the ght s a very tric piece Moe knowledgeand eot ae equied to handle nght endings well ascompaed to Bshop endngs O couse, Knght endngs alsohave mtant pincpl and th need to mteed Butght endin need a lot moe A simpliied compn withBisho endin gv the ollowing guielin the scial needin Biso enin is phisticaton; ight endn eque lotso ceatvty and calculaton nce thee is moe to know nKight endn, Practical ight Endin s, o necity, longethan Practical Bishop Endin.

Mt o the mateal n the k s bd on my witnon endgam n magn equied the mateial h enewtten, expanded and coected ouces have been the

standd on magazin, o and nal contacts Whenappopate, dect cedt s gven n the tex O couse anyero emain my nsbli I would appeciate you callingthem to my attenton

o ensue that the eade and the autho ae on the


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se wavelength egading the meaning o the qutions andexclation mks they ae ud in the chaactetion omov, th ae the pently accepted meanin

a stong move

! ! a vey stong move; a antastic move? a bad move; a weak move?? a hoible move; a blunde? an enteising move; a move wohy o

consideation? a dubious move, o theoetical o pactical

easons

his is my ifth k o ChEntepi. I am happyto iated with this ine publishing m and it pident,Bob Dudley.

Edma Mednis

New Yok, 1

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Cntn

Preface

ntroduction 7

P Material Advantage 10

Chapter1: KnghtPawn 10Chapter 2: Kght d Pa Knight 16Chater Mateal Advtage lPa on the

SameSide Section 1 Introucton

Secton 2. Kight d 2Pa Knght dPawn 34

Secton Knight and Pa Kght and2Pa 51

Section Knight d Pa Knght andPa 63

Secton 5 Kngt and5Pa Knght andPawn

Capter Mateal Advte -Pawn on Side 6Section Genel Pnciple 6Section 2 The Stnger Side H a Psd PaSection Side Have Psd Pa() 76Section TheStronger Side C Force

(Create) a Psd Paw Secton5. TheStronger Side Canot Foe

(Create) aPaedPawn 98

Pa Potonal Condeton 109

Chapter5 Psd Pawn 110Section The Role of Pad Pa enel

Conideton 0Secton 2 Outde Paed Pa 2

Secton Protected Paed Pawn 134

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Chapter 6: Paw SSection 1 e Qeenside Paw MajoSection 2 Chactesic Dfcienci in

Paw S

Chpter 7 The Active g d KnightSection 1 e Active KingSection 2 The Active KnightSection : The Active King and he Acve

gh

Chapter Small Advtg in Knight Endings

6

11

151

11167

170

179


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Intucton

ctest o te Knt

The ghs sng pn :

(1) It can jump ove pec thus s efectve n blkedstons o fo geneal nfghtng

(2) It can change colo eadly thus can attack ocontol any squae on the d

The ghfs wea pn are:

(1) It c only tavel a shot dstce at a tme thus spaculaly neffectve n stoppng pd pas whch e faaway

(2) Evey move must nvolve not only a change of thecolo of squae the Knght occupes, but each move bngsaut a clealy dffeent ton thus t s unable to keep the

"status quo" and s ncapable of bngng about a zugzwangstuaton

In th of the ave mae, the ght s much feo to the Bshop Its dcult n stoppng ped pawns whchae fa away wll be llustated many tmes, statng wthChapte 1 he second weakness wll be demonstated bymeans of the followng two thematcally mtant epl

Dagam 1 (on the ne page) shos a typcal zuangca te's Kng s tapd n font of hs pawn and wll not able to get out long Black's Kng can eman on ethec7 o c8 I we eplace htes Knht by a Bshop of ethecolo, the poston s a tval wn, espectve of who s onmove Yet, wth a Knght, the queston of who s on move scucal he pncple s staghtfowad:

If the Knght and Black Kng stand on the same colo,then t s bad to on move

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If he Kih ad Back Ki and on opie coorhe i i o o move.

iaram 1

Therefore for he pecific cae of iaram 1, he folowi i rue

Whie o move oly draw Back o move l.

Back on move very quicky

lKc7 2 Nd4 Kc8 3 NbS (or 3 Nc6) 3Kd7 4 Kb7Whie wi.

Ye if Whie i o move i doe o maer how heKnih jump ound - here i no win For exampe

1 Nd4 Kc7 2 NbS+ Kc8 3 Nd6+

foruaey for Whie he Kih mu move adhu ive up corol of c7.

3Kc7 4 Nc4 Kc8 5 N+ Kc7 6 Nd7 Kc8! raw.

There i o way for Whie o prore becaue he

cano preven Back from huin back ad foh ee c7ad c8. Try he ave exerci pu Whi Kih on any ihquare - ad you wil ee ha here i no wi; pu he Knih oay dark quare - and you wil ee ha everyhi wi

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Jst as stating o the stonge side is the sitation oDiagam 2, wich is te concsion o an endgame stdy byakovin and oto. It is a ictive o wo is on move.Wites King keeps Blacks nigt gled on c5 to potect itsawn, whie Backs ing is need to potect its night. Withack to move, the t ty wod :

Dia 2

KdS

Ate ...c6, 2 c4?? ate 2 .Na6, yet the active2 a5! ho eiy.

2 S Kd4 3 K!

Keeps the daw in hand. Bt pease note that i theimmobie night on c5 is epaced by a Bisho on eithe the

d a4 o a4e8 diagonal, ten Black wins easly even thoge te wong Bishop o is a-pawn.

3Kd3 ne lt tactica ty.

4 K S KdS!

he King mst be in position to each c2 as ickly asbe. eeoe ing is the oside 5 b5??: 5 . 6 c5 7 Kc4 Kb2 d Black wins

5 Kb3 6 Kd4 Ka3 7 Kc3! Ka2 Kc2 a3 9 KcDaw

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a I

Material Advantage

Chapter it vs a

Excep o one sitaion, i is only e side wit epawn at as winning cances e excepion is wee teing is emmed in by is own on te 2nd o ank isthematic case is ilstated in Diagam , wen White as amate in two

Diag

g4! 2 mae

his eme is d iicay he conclding motiin endgame sdi I arce in pactical gam is ae it wi c once o yo, a is a lot

Except or the ave "orced sicide, te pa c ony a sitive acto bviosy, whee te ening ing is inont o te pawn, te iion is a rivial daw I te deendinging cannot ge in ront o te pawn he nigt shod hen the olowing principe o

A Knight iediately in ont o the pass pa nb itsel stop the pawn, cept or the on e 7th

he sal case is sown in Diagam 4 is drawn nomate wo moves Fo insance wit lack to move e even

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has the oowing thematic eegant daw

Diag

l.Nd7+ 2 Kc7 NcS! 3 b=Q Na6+ 4 Kb7 NxbDaw

cose thee is no eason o Back to go o schancy st in the exampe ave. Yet that dawing moti is avey impotant one and oten is te ony way to cope with a

passed pawn on the 7th ank.Becase this ight ok is not ibe against a on

the 7th ank the night by itse oses. I we now ook atDiaam 5, we e that thee is no deense White theatens b tapping and winning the night Back on move an try

Diagam 5

l Nc7+ 2 Kb7 bt thee is no night ok ate 3


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a=Q d Black l

This is our firs deosraio of he very iporanpricipe ha e is e most dicult passed pa or eit to stop.

Whe faced wih posiios where he Kih is awayfro he pawn, ie in he back of i or on he sie of i, hequesion ecoes wheher he Kih ca e in fro of iThere is ever a sipe swer Many ibe Kih euvers us be cosidered o deerie if here is a successfuroue back for he Kih I is ess quesio of heoreicaowede or a ash of rilice d ore of hard, rurcef analis Consider fi Diara 6 which is he end of a1938 edae sudy by N Grioriev Black hreaens 1 Kc5,chasi he Kih away ad he queeni his paw There isa seri of Knih jups, however, which ead o he oprui for Whie o u he echique show fro Diagra 4 ThusWhie fi of a us fiiar wih ha echique ad hework very hard o see how he Knih cold e back so as ouili i The drain eh is:

Diagram 6

1 Nc7+ Kc4

Whie has i easier afer oher Kin oves: Kd4 2K2 b3 3 Nb + followed by 4 Na3 or Kc6 2 Ne6 Kb5 3Nd4 Kc4 4 Nc6! b3 5 Na5+

2 Ne!!

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The ol ove White plas to get the Knit back viathe route d6/-e4-d2 If Black tri to stop this, White h theauiliary route c7-b5-a3

2 000 K

Or 2 b3 3 Nd6+ Kb4 (3 K 4 Nb5 b2 5 N) 4 Ne4b2 5 Nd

3 N6 Kd4 4 Ne KeS

If 4 b3 5 Nd6 Kc3, the Kight gets back as follows: 6e4+ Kc2 7 Nd6! b2 8 Nc4 b=Q 9 N3+ ad 10 Nb

5 Nc7 Kd6 6 Ne+

Oly . The Knight ee to retai obility osig is6 Nb5 + ? Kc5 whe we have our startig poit with Blackhavig already gotte i Kc5 Black the wis easily: 7 Nc7b3 8 Ne6+ Kc4 etc After the tet Black has othig betterth to acquie to oe of the theatic drawig li

6 KcS 7 N6 Kd4 Ne b3 9 Nd6 Kc3 10 Ne4+ K 11 Nd6 b2 12 Nc4 b1 Q 13 N+ Draw

Earlier it was deostrated why the RP is the ostdifficult oe for the Kight to stop Yet if the paw is fareough away fro queeig there are istaces whe theKight c get back i tie A e eaple of this is fro

Dia 7

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Diagra 7, a 1932 sudy by N Grigoriev Do o bohermmzinghe specifics as hey are o ha ipora forfuure c Wha is ia is o reai ha he Kigh isvery agile Tha appreciaio plus a lo of hard work is he roado success for discoveri he correc ups, which ofe arequie sprisig o Whe o play a draw as folo:

!

The key quio is wheher he igh c ge back iie o h2 The wo likey ups o h2 are fro f1 or g4The prospecs of reachig f1 are poor ad herefore 4 is eoy square woh fighig for Whies chac of getg o g4ae a lo ter fro ha fro or c Therefore, oly ee is woh yig

l hS 2 N

As was aready see by he pay fro Diara 6 heKigh has access o ore roues whe is sarg poi isfaher fro he Kig Wihou prcs are 2 N+?, or

2 Nc2+ .

2 Ke4!

To preve he igh fo reachig Afer 2h4 3Ne5 Whie aready is safe

3 N!!

This aradoical lg reea uii he sae echique i e previous eape where he far away e8 squarew he sarig i for he succfu road back

The ogic behid he correcess of he e is as foows: he key way poss for he ighs's reu ae he squareeS, ad d2 Which square is he sprigboard for reachig

he? The aswer, of cou, is c4 ad ha is wha he Kighheads for

ig is 3 Nd8? h4 4 N S 5 Nd4+ Kg4 whe heighs re h e blked o

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3 h4

lack i well push since 3 ...Kd4 d 3 K eadowhere afer 4Nc6+) , wie 3 .. K ao 4 Nb3 h4 S Nd2

4 Nc4

y now i shoud cle ha ony his can work since 4Nb3? K eav he Knigh shu off

4

The Knigh ges back iediaey afer 4 h3: S Nd2+followed by 6 N and 7 Nh2

S N+ !

u now here is no ie for S Nd2+? cause aferS Ke2 6 Ne4 h3 7 Ng3+ Kf2 he Knigh eiher ges chasedaway or is rapd on h

Wha Whie us keep in ind hroughou is ha he

igh is inered in geing o h2 he uare in nt of hepawn

S 6 Nc4!

ack again, for a new sep forad

6 h3 7 N

If 7 8 Nf; if 7 3 Ng4+.

N + 9 N Draw

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hpter 2Knt nd s. Knght

The m basic of a Knigh endin is ha of igh pawn Knigh Much is o au i and herefore he key

rincip can saed wih ea confince I wi diu wha I consir o n satns, ie h where heK and Knighs are already near he pawn or can reach ireaily enoughThe defending King obviousy wans o in fron of

he pawn, hereby inhibiing he awns advce In ln-abe cases the pstns are ute draws Therefore in his

chaper I will be considering only hose siuaions where thedendng Kng t the sde the pawn r n the ar t eimran knowledge wil prned in conjuncion wih hefolowing seven key princip

() n the wn hs reched the enth rnk n fe, thewn s ssred

This principle mak he objecive of how o hande heN + P N endgame easy o sae and clear o follow: advcehe paed pawn as rapidl as ibe ha i c reach he7h rk e fi denive alis w provid by I Klingin 1867 One of his insrucive iions is shown in Diaam 8Whie wins, icive of who is on move

Diagram 8

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The wnnng echne lw nsiss hsing wyh dnding igh Wh Whe o play, hs s how s done:

N

Whes Kng san we enough a he oen sogcal for he Kng o ge off he edge of he ard.1K

Passe defense s hoeess: 1. .. Kc7 2 NdS + Kd6 3Nf6 and already Backs Kgh us ge p conrol of hequeenng square

2 Nd3 + KdS 3 N4+ Kd6 4 Ng6

Back's Kng has scceeded n keeng Whes Knhou of f6; herefore, he Kngh hea for o ndenehe Black Knghs on on d7

4.KdS S N N

Back preens he edae end becaus of heheac rck 6 b8 Q?? Nc6+ . Ye he neabe s jusdeayed by a b.

6 Ka N 7 Nd7

The Kngh now preeds o ch away Backs Kngh

fro c6 and ha w he end cause wh Whes Kng ona8 Back w hae no ore oprun for a Kngh fork.

7 Kd6

Whe's Kngh can enace Backs fro for nsance,aS, b4 or eS. There s no way ha Backs Kng can guard ah suar suaneousy.

Kc7 9 NdS+

Afer 9 Nc4 Nb8 Back s safe for he oen, hough,of course, Whe s wns soon enough by reracng hs seps

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exaple when Bacs igh had already en drien o .

75

r 7 K g4+ 76 Kd4 2

7SN + 76 N Blac wins

The seh of a paw o he 7h ra is ea aofen i wins een if he o{nen a a pawn. A insrce exaple is sown in a 0 a endgae sdy b eArgenine cor J Mu published in JAQE in 972.The inning ecniue u he principl deonsraed in hepreous o exp.

Diaa 0

1 !

Heading for he acie locaion on afer which hedeecion of Bacs igh wi sar.

Rereaing he King is o elp a al as i een ges inhe way of his Kni The following iaion is illsraie ofha .Kd6 2 ( Ne8+ is he hrea) 2 . Ke Ne6 Nb4 Kf8 Nd6 Nd8 (6 N+ is he hrea) . .Kf6 6 Nb7 (or 6N). Whie deeced he Knigh and ueens his paw.

2 !

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Preature s 2 Ne6? snce after 2 ...Ne8 3 K7 Nd6+Black has ganed suffcent te to adance hs pawn andobtans a theoretcally draw Q + N Q endgae: 4 c SNd8 c4 6 Nb7 c3 etc.

2c5 3 Ne6 NbS 4 Ke

The Kng heads to d7 to chase away Back's Knghtfro d6. ter Kf8? Nd6 Back draws as gen n the noteafter Whte's 2nd oe.

4...Nd6+

After 4 ...c4 Whte queens frst and then stos Back'spawn : S Kd7 c3 6 e8 Q c2 7 Qc8 Nc3 8 Qc+ Kb3 9Nd4+.

5 Kd7 Ne4 6 Nc7 N+

If 6 . .c4, 7 NdS + followed by 8 e8Q wns; f 6 .. .Kc4,then 7 Kc6 s the end.

7 Ke6 N5

A last gasp : 8 c8Q?? Ng7+.

K Whte wns

Whte's Kng copet hs nstructe r of aneu

ers by returnng to 7. After hang caused Black's Knght toge up contro of the queenng square.

Because of the great dffcu tes the Knght has ncopng wth the the next three prncpes dea wth thatrtant pa:

(2) Te on e 6 rank sally ns

Once the RP has reached the 6th rank n safety, thegae s won n the ast ajor of c A excellent practca exape s the pay fro Dagra 11 (on the nex page) H.Pfeger - B. Larsen Mana 1974, after Whte's 8th oe The


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a h-fawns h add a ea ife eeen we peenhe iia soion of 8 Nb4 foowed by 9 Nxa6 and adaw

As fa as o hee s concened, Whes a-pawn is

aeady on he 6h ank and w becoe a passed pawn afehe nen 7 Whe on foos:

Diag 11

5

Aciang he Kng o enae Whes h-pawn

bosy Back s ehng ohe Whew js gobbe p Backs a-pan and hen pooe his on.The ae o sacfice he Knigh fo he aawn fais becase of e foowing aaion 8 .Nb4 Nf3 Kf 60Nxh4+ K4 61 Ng2+ g3 62 h4.59 N+ Kf4 N4 K 61 N 3

Ae 61K2 62 h4 one of he k pas w qeen.Back acay igned afe Whies 61s oe he appaeny did no wan o shown he petty win afe

62 f4+

Dawing away Backs Knigh s ong enogh fo heapawn

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62... N4 Kx7 Nd3

r Nd Kb7; or N K

! 7 White wins

(3) A dw gnst the on the 6th s ssle only n ve f fvorble (luc) stutons nd ony f the defendng ng n ttck the p om the rr

As aready sggested in the preios principe thedrawing chc in practice e ery r To hae any chancat al the defending King st be actiely aced ie attacking the pawn fro te rear. A theoretcal exaple of adraw is Diagra 12, an endgae stdy by ichard Reti in1929 It is drawn ictie of who is on oe acks Kingand Knight hae ideal defensie ations whereas White ishandicapped by hain his night awardy placed on c7(Another stdy by et in 1929 as deonstrated that Whitewins if his ight is on c ack on oe dra sting withNf7 whic wi be occring in or ain line on the thirdoe The ain ine with White to oe is follows:

Diagr 12

1 ! 2 Kb7 Nd6+

f co, Black o iediatey fr 2Nxc7?? a7

3 K7

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By rangang wh hs Kng, Whe has gen heoe o B ack ro or sarng poson. Therefore, BacksKngh s ge p s ace ocaon, b by an eyeash hedraw s s acheale3 N 4 Ne6

ng for c5. er a Kng oe Back dra wh 4 ...Nd8(+).

4Kb5

Whes Kngh s kep away fro c Therefore,

osn s 4 .. .Nd6? when Whe pa 5 Nc5!, reachng he Reson wh he Kgh on cThe an ne hen s 5 .. Nb5+6 Kb7 Kb4 (6 ... Nd6+ 7 Kc7! Nb5+ 8 Kc6! Na7+ 9 Kb7 Nb510 Ne4 see he an l ne connaon.) 7 Kb6 Nd6 8 Ne4!Nc8+ 9 Kc7! Kb5 10 Kb7 Ka5 1 1 Nc5 Nd6+ 12 Kc7 Nb5 +13 Kc6 Na7+ 14 Kb7 Nb5 15 Ne4! K 16 K Kc4 17 Nc3!Nd6 18 Kc7 Kc5 19 a7 Whe wns. Whes wnnng eh sof corse e nsrce; neerheess s exsence deon

sraes how cose Back aways s o he abyss n he fghagans a on he 6h rank

5 Nd4+ KaS 6 N+ KbS 7 N Nd

Losng s 7 . .Kxb4?? 8 Kb8 Nd8 9 Kc7 Ne6+ 10 Kb6Backs only atenon s deoed o soppng he a-pawn.

Kb N+ 9 Kb7 NaS+ 10 Kc7 N DrawWhe has no way of prong hs son, e.g. 1 1 Kb7

Na5+ 12 Kc8 K ec

(4) the is not yet on the 6th ran the question always iswhether it n get there under noal ie aorable circumstances Te sition is won i the aner is yes

ode exaple for arrng a he correc answer sDara 13, M. Pogaes M Ta, UR Chaponshp196/69, Whe on oe.


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Daga 1

I s cea ha Whe s lse o a heoeca wn, ye heoffsde Kngh and he pawn s beng on ony he hd anke he answe cea. We s sa he play o geneae he clay:

6 N+ 2 N!

The Kngh has o y o hnde he awns adancefo a sae aon cau he obous 2..Nt? s efued by Nd4 When ae .. .Nxd4 4 h4 he pesos decsse adance canno be eened, whe ...N4 4 Kg Ng2 Nc2ea o a apd Kngh (6 Kg4 d 7 K).

We can now add he followng an pncple n aoe foal way: n posons wh a RP a Kng sacfce sofen he key aneue o defec he opponens Kngh andhus gan he 12 es eued fo coy.

3 h4 Nf4 4 N+

The oe ha hows away he wn. No ony does aow Backs Kng o coe co, bu a he Kngh wnds upon a sae whch offes e fuue. G.M. Aebakh hasdeonsaed ha a heac wn can be ganed wh hecenalzg 4 Nd4 : 4 ...Kc8 K Nh ( ...N 6 h Ne7+7 Ke6 Ng8 8 Nf Kd8 9 K) 6 Ne2 Ng7 + (The heaened 7K6 foc Backs gh o a pae aon.) 7 6 Ne8+8 g6 Kd7 Afe 8 ...Nc7 Whe keeps Backs Kngh passe

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by 9 N4) 9 Ke7 10 6 {e on e 6t ank and edeende passe s an assued wn) 10 Nd6 (e 10 N6Wte wns wth 1 1 N4 Nd7 12 Kg7 N6 13 Nd + ) 1 1 7N 12 Kg7 Nh8 13 N (u not 3 xh8?? K and akdaws see Dagam i) 13 N 14 Ne4 Nh8 1 Nd6 andWte wns

K 5

Oeked by Whte wen he payed 4 N5 +? aksKngt gans a stabe atakng aon and t w t Whteauabe tme to he away

O ou, Nx?? would ae justed Whtes paysne te 6 h4 the pawn s unsoppabe

Compaed o the wnnng aaon gen unde Wes4t moe, aks Knght as a lo moe sope now and heon s a teoetal daw

7 Kd6

Te ony way to hase away aks Kng, yet Wte soed o lose peous me and hs allows laks Kng oome e O ou, Whtes gt emans ned 9

oth 9 K {9 Ke7) and 9 Kg (9 Ke6) aow laksKng o ge ose o e pawn Ye ae aks esponse othe text we see ealy he hange n he poston : Whesawn s s on the 4h ank whe aks Kng has podom b7 o d69 0 Kd7

aks Kng es o get to the Kngsde a e8, etso dawng an pehaps moe smpy so s 10Nd + 1 1Kg {11 K N4 1 Ne2 s he game ouse) 1 Ke7 12 hK 13 h6 Ne7 14 Nh Kg8 d ak s sae


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Diagra 14

Harl Whie shoud have chaeged Bac wih 1 1Ne2 when 1 1 Nxe2?? os o 12 h5 and 1 Nh5+?? o12 Kg6 Therefore, Bac us pay NdS+ 12 Ne3 13h5 Ng4 He sill dra cau Whie cao ge his aw ohe 6h ra whle preveig Blacs Ki fro reacg g8Oe ibe quence is 14 Ng3 NeS+ 1 6 Ng4+ 16 g5Ne5 17 Kf5 Nf7 18 Kf6 Ke8 19 Kg7 Ke7 (verbah aBac hol cause Whie cao advace his paw

llK6! 2 Ne2

There is no wi, bu ow Bac dra insananeousy

2N

The gae was called a draw here The furher coursecoul have e

3 hS Nf4 4 h6 N Dra

Becau Whies King is o , Bac draws since 15 h7ao 15 Ng5 + I genera, a K + N cobiaio ca sop aR o he 6h ra, eg 1 Kf6 Nf8 16 K Nc6 17 Kg8 g5ec


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(S) the pawns on the 6th ank usualy draw, if the defendingKing is activey placed in e ack of the pa.

excee exape - of grea pracica vaue isshow i Diagra 15 I is draw o aer who is o ove

For isace, wih Whie o ove

i 15

Nd6

1 e7 fais o Nd5 2 e8=Q Nf6+

l...NdS 2 Nc4 Ke4 3 Kd6 Kd4!

Wih Bacs Kig acive o he rear of he paw, i cahep is Kigh eep he excee pos o d5 addiio,because he paw is oy o he 6h ra, various Kigh defecio sacriic fai, eg 4 N Nx 5 e7 Nf5 + 4 Na3 Ke4 S N! 6 Kd7

Bac ow eeds o show soe care Thus 6 Nd5?? o 7 N + Nx 8 e7 sice he pa quees wih chec;6 Nf5?? aows 7 Nd6+ herefore Bac pa6...Kf4 DrawWee bac o our saig iio

Wis are usuay oy ssibe if e specia facor(s

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alow he sroger side o achieve b force a ver favorabeio ch a c is illsraed fro Da 16, E Paol M Kovacs, Har 1971 Blac o ove he oeWhies Kig a Kigh have excee defesive laios,e Bac, b sacificig oe of his paws will abe o is

pace Whies forc Bac wo folows

Diagr 16

K 2 N

fe he passive eea 2 Kh3, Bac wis oiewih 2

2h3 3 N

Whie is forced o deacivae he Kigh The h-pawwi wo, b he gae los

3 4 h3

fer 4 Nf3 Bac wis b he heaic Kigh deecio sacrifice 4 Nh4

4N

Whie's Kigh ow cao oveS 4 6 S 3 Whie ris

Because of gag Whie lo he Kigh


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Two additioal pricipl should alwa kept i idwhe decidig to eter o play a N + v. N edgae. Thare

(6 After the R, the most ifcult awn for the Knight to

hane is the N.

The b ad g-paws are aso cose to the edge of theard ad therefore ted to crap the ight's activity

(7) Te efening King shoul always b in osition to b aleto attack the awn om the rear. his is a muc surior ltion for the ing than to b to the sie of the a

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Chapte 3

Mateial Avantage All Pa on the ame ie

tion Intuction

The genera exchanging princip a appy o Knighendga:

- The side up aerial wans o exchge ighs

The side down aerial wans o achieve rutinexchang of pawns

Jus as i is enerally rue in oher endgaes, so oo inKnigh endgaes is in he ineres of he defender o haepawns ony on one si This inii he area ha us defended and hus significany increases he chances for adraw

The folowing hree principes are ore specific o

Knigh endga:

() Une nomal conitions a two pawn avantage is a suewin

ica posiion fro a pracica gae is shown inDiagra 17.

Diagr 17

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The wiig techique cosists of first creatig coectedassed pawns ad the carefuy advacing the. With Whiteo ove, a e contiuation is:

e4 N7 2 f4 N + 3 N3 4 !

The best defense. fter 4 .gxf5? 5 Nxf5 Whitesconected assed paws are secure, sound and ready to beobiized, aig the wi reativey easy to achieve. However,after the text thi are ot obvious cau after 5 h5?5 Blac's Kig h succfuy baded the g-paw adWhite will have to wor very hard to ae his paws obieaain. inadvisable is 5 h5? Ne5+ 6 Ke4 N ad Bacs

ec are we paced for the bade.What White ee is to achieve the aw exchage o

hs tes, i.e. without givig Bac the oprtuity to badeo g5

5 g3! N

ter 5 h4+? 6 Kxh4 it is now Whites King whichcotrols g5 ad White is already preared to ay 7 g5.

6 N5+ 7 N!

ter 7 ... Kd4 8 h5 9 g6 the ed paws wi.

8 3!

Pacing Bac i zugzwag: a Knight ove oses to 9Ne4; a King ove allows 9 hxg5. Therefore, Bac ustcapture ad aow White conected ped aws i a favorabe sitio.

8 4 9 4 N3

fter 9 ... Ke5, Whites King ov foard 10 Kg510 Ne4+ e5 Ng3!

By protectig the f-paw, White eab the gaw to

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advace

Ne 2 gS!

Diagra 18

Whie h ow achieved coed pd paws i heobie side-by-side posiio His wi is assured as log asWhie folows he guideli

(1 advace he paws carefully ad as uch as possibe, iuiso

(2 eep he Kig ad Kigh acive so ha hey ca help hepaws advce

2 N+ 3 Kg4! N4 4 KhS! Nc6 5 Kg6 Kf4 6 NS+KeS 7 f6 N8 8 Ne6 9 Kh6! K6 20 Nf4! N 2 g6!

Ke7 22 Kg7 N7 NS+ Ke6 =Q Whie wis.(2 When o two pas, a aw is ony possie in thoseae situations when an impegnae ockae can b ogan-i o the efene's King is unusually active.

fi lace Diagra 19, M. Taiaov - B py,Leigrad 9, Whie o ove, us l lie a cerai wifor Bac: he is up wo pas, he pas are coeced ad obaded, he ig d Kigh are i siio o proec hepaws Ye Whie as oe very avorae facor is Kig isplaced exceedigly acivel behid boh paws ad hesepaws are oly o he hird ra This facor, helped by he

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pecific quirkin of he siion allo Whie o draw

iagram 19

1 N Kg4

us ou ha nohing wor for Black G Averbakhprovid he foowing aleaivI e 2 N4+ Kg N+ Kg4 4 6 e4 Ne+ Kg 6c4 wih a draw The epawn cno ge o even he 6h rk(2) Ke4 2 Nd2+ K Nf f (or Ke2 4 6! 1 e) 4 Kf6 Kd4 N foowed by 6 We wi s an echof his in he game coninuaion

1 Nh2+ 3 3 N 4 Draw!

No a hing can be done abou he coming Ne fo

owed by 6

3) In engames with a one pawn avantage the stonge siehas always much ette winning chances than in the coenig Bishop vs. Bishop engame.

The surior winning chanc derive from he Knighscapabiliy of oraing on squr of eiher color Therefore, i

i abe o hel is own pawn o advance, wel o aack heenemy awn() no maer wha color hey ae on oreover, ablockading King can be checked off his quare and en he

ronger sides ing can advance


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Compare his o he Bishop endgame if he defenderplac i paws on a colo oie ha of e enemy Bisoand has his King on a safe ockading square, hen here sabsouey no way for he sronger side o nerae

ectio 2: it + 2 Pas vs Kight + Pa

This secion ak a horough k a he N + 2P N + Pendgame cau i is he mos imran one. The ren foris imporance is very simpe i is he basic form ino whichore compicaed endgam can reduced

Two broad principes encompass he N + 2P vs N + P

endgame wih he significan knowedge prned hereunder.

(1) N + 2P vs. N + P is raw, uless the stroger sie alreahas a passe pa or some other sigit avatage

The kind of pica siion ha is quie drawn is shownin Diagam 20 A. Karpov - V Kochnoi 1974 Fina Candida ach Game 20, afer Blacks 44h move Thee is no a

hing wrong wih Blacks posiion and he can fee sure of hedraw The game coninue

Diaam

+ K N+ K

Of course no he acive 46 ...Kd4 because 47 Nwins he paw and he game.

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47 N K3 N+ 49 K4 N! 50 KS Nh4 51 NeN! Draw

Blacks King is well placed for the defense and theKnight ti down Whites Knight to the defe of the gpawn

There is absolutely no way for White to make any progr

Knowing principle (1) ao White to hade with eathe position in Diagram 21, E. ednis B Amos iegenOpiad 170 Ater Backs 101st move

Diagram 21

102 N3!

White is quite happy to enter a securey drawn 2Pvs N + P endgame n a ractica game, fooish is the greedy102 c2! even though t appears hat White can draw after

102 g2: 10 c Kb4 104 e2 K 10 Ng1 b 106 e2Ka2 107 Nc1 + Ka1 108 e2 b4 109 g1 a4 ! 1 10 e2!(White lo after 110 b4 Ka2!) 110K2 (110 offeno winning chanc since Backs King remains xed in on thea-file After 1 10 g1 Q 1 1 1 xg1 a2 White is saved by aKnight check 1 12 bxa4 b + 1 1 Kd2! b2 4 Ne2 b1 Q 1 1N +) 11 1 c Ka 1 12 e2 b 11 Kb1 d White isse

102 N4 103 K Draw

Offered by Black Whites position is not as active asBacks was in the previous xampe but it is und eough for

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a ceain daw A ike coninuaion is 10 Ne6 1 Ne4 Nc10 Nd6+ Kc6 (10 a6 1 ) 1 Nc4 a6 107 Kb2 Kb108 K when Back has shown no prog

Dawn a is Diaam 22 en E Gee Euro

Team Championship, Bah Engd 97, afe Backs0h move Howeve as dawn posiions go, his is a fairyfavorabe one for Back his pawns are eie King posiiong, whie Whies Knigh is momenaiy ive The heoreicians can dismi such iions as bvious da.. ut in alle t are played ut hus, i is impoan o no ony knowhow o defend hem fo a draw, bu a how o uee hemin rying fo he win G Geer did ry o win his siion for

over 0 mov

Diagam 22

Nevehe he weaker si shoud have no quams in

acceping a Diagam 22 e posiion in ing o secue hedraw Unike, for insance saving a daw he R + B vs Rendgame, which requir siican scific heoeica knowedge as we as gea cae, norma sensibe pa is a ha isequied here or he pay o come fow e deas invovedand do no be disaced by occuences such as epeiion ofmov Th ae a vaid pas of pacica chsrae

5 Ke4!Quie coecy Whies King wans o be whee he

acion wi : he kinide

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5 N6+ 52 K N 53 N2 N7

The immediae h is o cou payable, bu Black is o hurry Whie canno preve ha, ayway, ad Backas o ge coser o he ime coro a move 6 beore

ng y ieveibe decisio au pushig pas waememr ha Pa mov cao ake bac54 Kg4 Kg6 55 Ne4 h5+ 56 57 Nd6+ KeS 58 Nc4+K5 59 6+ Ke4 N7

Kighs are mos eecive i aackig paws romehind. Whie heads or 6 here i woud accompish one o

the ooig: orce Backs Ki back, ie do Backs igho he deese o he h-pawn or orce he hpa oard0 N+ 6 K Kf4

Compaed o he sain diagam posiion Black hasmade nie progin acivag his Kig

2 Nf6! Ng7

O his pa, Whies rcepive igh meuve havecaud Blacks Kigh o erea Thoughou he game Backavoi payig h4, cau wih Whies pawn o h, Backsg-pan coud no advace wihou aowing a rouine pawexchange The ru o havig a paw oaio o Whie hBack gS, h4 is ha Backs g-paw is cosidered o "ed"o gS, whie Whie eecivey conrol o g4 uch iiosoer Back sca wiig chac3 h3!

Back was paig 6 g4 oowed by h4, herebyurher encroachi o Whies space o he kiide The expeves his o a ime Te Pawn on h is a bi moe lerable a on h2, bu Whie ca proec i we eough Whiesmove urs ou o be he as pawn move in e game siceack ge o aracive mome or payig eihe g4 or h4Wihou a capure or pawn move his ame can proceed oy50 moves beore eiher side ca cam a draw Hee ha

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moment is after move 1 1

63 ..K Nd7 + K N + !

Back has chased away the Knight, ut now Whites

King ge a lation one rank foard.

Ne6 67 Nd3

White ca enter a drawn K & P endgame after 67 Nxe6Kxe6 Ke2! when White taish the distant opsitionThis is sufficient to draw because the presence of the hpawnr Back of the usua winning oprtuniti

67 ...Nf4 N Ng6 69 K Ne7 70 l!

An exceent defensive maneuver, which keeps reappearing White threatens a Ng attacking Backs hpawnwhile aso ing ready to retu to to protect his own pawnThere is no way for Black to reak this pan

70 K 7 N

Di

Again, just on move 67 (and ater on move 79) White

can enter a drawn K & Pende ter 71 N Nf 72 NK 7 In a instancM tea decin the simpification From a practica standpoint this is we justified e can sure that te Knight endgame is a theoretical draw et theK & P endgame is either a theoretica draw or a theoretica

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lo. If you know for sure go for it But not gu! A wronggumeans tuing a drawn Knight endgame into a lt K & Pendgame whereas a correct gujust seds up the achievement of a draw. It is imat to reali that the existence ofthe available draw in te K & P endgame is specific for thepawn formation d the King lations. In other words Whitecan achieve either the norma or distant opsitions they arerequired.

N+ 2 Nd4+ 3 K Nc2+ 9 5 !Ne + 76 Ke2 N 77 Nh4+ 78 K Kg6 79 N

Continuing with the tried and true Again 79 Ng is

playable when 79 ...Nf 80 NS S 81 Kf is the samedrawn sition given ave and 79 ... Ng2 Nf4 allowsthe drawing 81 h4! .

9 N+ 8 Ne + 8 Ke2 Nc2 !

We have the same sition as after Whites 70th moveexcept that Blacks Knight is on c2 rather than e7. This is of

little imporance. What matters is that Whites Knight kowsthe right meuver: Nh ! with the ideas N or Ng.

Nd4+ KeJ Ne6 N N

Here t simpler ems 86 Ng Kg6 87 Nh 1.

Nd Nd!

Here a bit of a chane of plas is advisable After 87Nh1 ! NeS+ 88 K (88 Ke! Nc4 89 K Nd2 KeNe4) 88 . . .Kf4 89 Ng Nd + 90 Kg2 h4 White has beenpushed back into a very passive and unttractive position.Unlrequired here is just no sen in ceding much spaceto the enemy.

8 N+ K Nc4+ 89 KeS N! Kd4Black quite loically attempts to penetrate with the

King. Nevetheless th the help of tactics White is able tokeep Black out. Note al how imant it is for Black to keep

9


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his pawn on h otherwise White netrat with his Kingafter g49 3! NeS

Te immediate 91.K ao th 92 4 g4 9 N4+and 92 Ng4 + ! hg4 (othei 9 Nf6) 9 4 in eac caal of Backs pawns will gone

N K3 93 N+ Ke3 94 N + K3 95 N+ K4

A unwted retreat, yet the active 9 Ke2 is foied y h4! g4 97 Ng4! ! Ng4 (97 ..4 98 ) 98 K4 Nf6 Kg 1 K6 Kg4 101 e h4 102 Kf4 with a draw96 N ND3 97 Ne + 98 K ND3 + 99 KeS 00Ke3 Nf4 0 N N+ 02

Diagram 24

We are pretty much ack to the position seen tirtymov earier!

02 ...N 03 Ke3 04 N 05 Nh! K Draw

Offered y Black wo finally decides to give up te

ghost. Wite woud have played 106 Ng! which forces teundesirale 106 .. h4 when Backs winning chances are scantafter 107 Ne4 Kf 08 Nd6+ etc Back cannot keep his pawnformation whoe with 106 .Nf6 (or 106 .Nf4) ecause of 107Nh! N 108 Kg4


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wins with the siple 2 Kf4 ter the text 2 g4? gin llows2 h! with rw White ust, therefore, cotiue with hisoriginl pln

2 ! 3 N!!

The Kniht ust join the fry s otherwise BlcksKight cot e cpture The ipetuous 3 g4? llowsBlck to rw: 3 K! 4 c3 h ! h Kf 6 h6 f4 7 he6! Blck will blockde the orwrd pwn with 8 f8 lis by GM Rjkovic

3 Ng + 4 K!

The trppe Knight ust not be llowe to escpewhich woul hp fter 4 Kg2? Kg4! e4 e2

4 ...g4 S Ne4 N

Blck cqui to lost K & Pende The ltetive is to lose the trppe Kight Kf 6 2! (the K & Pedge fter 6 e4 is drwn cu Blcks Kin isvery ctive) 6 K4 7 ! h3 (7 f3 8 e3 7 h 8K) 8 Kg2 h 9 e36 N+ K 7 8 Ke4!

While ll the potetil edges fro ten - Gellerwere drwn, here White wins by force, becuse there re justenough differeces The ctive Kin is the key nd the pwnplceet isust right If now 8 h, White gins the opposition with 9 K! d wins thereby. Yet note tht the iedite8 Kf4?? h 9 Ke4 Ke6 gives Blck the opposition n thedrw

8 K 9 g4! K6 0 KdS!

The ctive King netrt uher d White wins0 hS gS+ Ke7 2 KeS 3 Kd6! Blck rigns

Whites urther progris nevitble 3 Kg7 4 Ke7!

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Kg6 15 K Kh7 16 K 8 17 Kg6 ec

(2) N + 2 P vs N + P gives exceent winning chances if theexta pa is in the fo of a d pass pawn

If we again go back and lk a Diagras 222 d heensuing playJou wi see ha he sronger side coud nocreae a pa pawn wihou allowing a rouine exchge of aair of pawns which woud have brough au a drawn N Pvs N endgame owever if he sronger side aready has aviabe passed pawn his changes he compexon of he posiion consideraby In all cases he winning chances are exceen; in some posiions he win an be forced n excellen

exampe of a won posiion is Diagram 26, R anguinei NPadesky Nice Oympiad 1974 afer Black's 63rd move

Diagr

Here Whie h a numr of large plu: a nice padproeced h-pawn (he R inhe m annoying awn for anigh o sop) cenralid acve King and cenrad aciveKnigh On he oher side Back's King is passive and hisKnigh is even more so Therefore i shoud come as no surrise ha Whie has a forced win:

Nf4!

rees d5 for Whie's King while aking away e6 fromBlack's King

Ne8

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Hoping to bing the Knight into the gae. Because ofBlack's pive piece placeent cificing the f-pan to splitWhites pawns bin no elief: .. .f + 6 wS K6 Nd +KgS (66 ...K 6 h6 etc.) 6 f6 Ne8 68 KeS ! and White wins(analis by G Padevs).

5 KS! Nc7 + K! Na

Insfficen bu 66 . . .Ne8 allows 6 Kd wen both6 ...Ng and 6 .. l to h6 while 6 ...f is foiled by gS.

7 N!!

Ipisoning Blacks Knight and theatening to captueit wih Kb. Thee is no hope in 6 ... Nb8?! Kc Na6+69 Kb since White wins outinely ate 69 ...Kg 0 Kxa6 Kh61 Nf4 KgS 2 Ne6 . Black theefoe ais fo iediaecounteplay setting al a phisticated tap.

7 7!? K!!

Heading fo he Kingside is now equied. Thee is notie fo Kb? K6 69 xa6 cau afte 69 ...f!! 0 SKxhS White cannot save his eaining pawn.

O ... Kh6 69 Ke KgS 0 N fS 1 Nh3 +

h6 and the pawn queens9 K7!

Note how elentlessly Whies King ove deepe intoBlacks teitory. Blacks Kin again has to give ground cau69 Nb8 0 Kc l as gen in the note afte Whites 6thove.

9 ..7 70 Ke7! Nc7 7 Nf4!

Retablishing the Knight placeents ate ove 6but with the huge dieence that Whites King h netated


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decsvely. The end s nea.

7 Na6 72 N Black gns.

Wte wns esly wth te o connected pad pawns

Howeve the ston of Daa 2 T. Wenge P. Ostovc Cleveland 195 afte htes 49th ove s nowhee as favoable fo the stonge sde as was Dga 26Black d have a safe und exta pad pawn. Yet causethe ctve Kn an Knghts ae aut equvalent far sactve placeent s concened the poston s tenable foWhte. Nevetheless to fst hold and ultately daw such

stons s a t thankls task In pactcal play the wnnngchanc fo the stonge sd e alwa ve h$h. Whte losths gae wthout appaently akng any ao eos Hsoves see plausble enough yet to daw suc postons woneeds ae equed: (1) knowng the po stategc defensveappoach and (2) utost techncal cae n executng the defen. The nstuctve gae coue s:

Daa 2

49 !

Not so uch to get te awn gong but to get the Kngong va e6 and d Theefoe leectve s 49 so g4?!

Is ths a good ove o not? Its pupose of couse s topevent ...f5 but f that ove s so g why dnt Black play

45


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it on his previous ove? yway, there are o rens why I not like it Fitly, the pawn is ore eed and vlnerableon 4 than back hoe on g2 econdly, the King is a tepobehd in archinforward toward the cnter ounder andtter is the iedate Kg3

50 . K6 51 Kg3 KdS 52 Kd4!

Note how lack irst activates his King as uch aspossible fore undetng anything el

53 Nb3+

I would have referred the blockadin 3 Nf K 4N! with the idea Nd However the text s also satisfacto if properly followed up

53 ...Kc4! 54 N+ Kd3 55 NN!

Heading for g where the Knight would see a dualupose 1) blockae the g-pawn 2) go to e4 at its convenence here is nothing iediate in the sition eg:

(1 ) Ne4? ! 6 Nc + forces the retreat 6 Kd4 Ne2+Kd since 6 Kc2? Kxe4 Kxc 8 g is an iediatedraw(2) e4+? ! 6 K4 e3 K! is preature cau all thatlack has achieved is to weaken his e-pawn he position isnot yet ripe for the advance of the epawn, as Whites King isplaced t well wa careful wit pan ov - you canttake the back!56 N+ Kd4 57 N6+

ince Knights are ost effective in attacking pawnsfo hind ore efficient here is Nd! Ng + 8 Ke2 Ne49 N! and how is lack to progr? Whites King blkad

the epawn while al guarding the irtant uare d hisKnight is ready to retu to dto watc the fpawn57 .Kd5 5 Nc7+ Kd6 59 N+?!


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is to execi the neccae that White cannot sacificehis ight fo the e-pawn while al ing able to exchange offBlacks eaining pawn.

67 N 4+ 4 69 gS

If 69 Nd4, 69 ...Ne2+ is the end.

69 NdS+

Of cou, not 69 ... 5 + 70 S e2?? (70 ... Nb5! stillwins cau the pawn gets to the 7th ank) 71 Nd4! e =Q 72N+, with a daw.

The Knight check has two points. n the fist place, 70Ke4 allo 70 ... e2! since afte 71 Nd4 the e-pawn queens withcheck.

70 Kg4 Kd3!

Taking away d4 fo the Knight. None of Whites tac

ti wok, e.g. 70 2 e2 71 g7 e =Q 72 g8=Q Qg + followedby 73 ..Q8, o 70 Nb4 + Nxb4 71 6 Nc6 72 NeS +.71 N6+ Black wins.

The second point of 69 . . .Nd5 + : the night not onlypotected his fpawn, but is al able to ecaptue with check.Afte the text we have eached the Diaga 9 position dis

cussed ealie. The conclusion was 72 Kf4 e2 73 NeS + whenWhite rigned in view of 73 ...Ke2! 74 N Kd 75 Kg3 Ne4+76 Kg2 N.Not only instuctive, but also suising is the cou of

play fo Diaga 29 (on the following page), C. Zuidea PBenko, SkoPe Olypiad 1972, Afte acks 51st ove. Black hastwo beautul, faultless, connected, passed central pawns,

whereas White's passed hpawn can be eadily stopped andyet it turns out that Black cannot win. Thee ae two easonsfo this. Fitly, the fact that White's pd pawn is a hpawnakes it harer fo Blacks Knight to cope with it. econdly,Whites pawn and Blacks pawns ae just clo enough so that

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Whites King can do two jobs: potect his pawn and help stopBlacks pawns. Whites techniqe in gaining the daw is iccable:

Diag 29

52 Kg3!

Whites Knight has a exible d active cental lation

so hat thee is no point in nnecessaily oving it I lacknow pla 2...Kh then 3 N6 chases it bac. heeoeBlack ebaks on a piece edeployent: the Knight will sed to stop the h-pawn and te King will ty to assist hispawns advance.

52 N 53 3! Nd 54 Kg3 N 55 3 N6 56 K Ng457 3 5 h5!

Now that Blacks King has given conol o h Whtecan nd sh advance the pawn. his ce his contechanc.

53 K 59 N!

Fo hee the Knight seves both to keep ot Blacks

King and blkade the pawns e.g. 9 ...e4? Nxe4!59 6 4 N

Necessay to pevent 61 Kg bt the Knight hee is

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passive and theefoe of little help fo its pawns' coingadvanc.

61 N2!

The Kin ust etain his active position so that at theoent the Kght has to shoulde the defense load

61

Basically a holding opeaton Black sees that nothingiediate is go enough to win and thus tak e tie ofo eection possibly tie killin until adjounent o tohope fo a itep on White's pat he diect 6 .Kd5 leads tothe sae position as in the gae afte Blacks 1st ove andWhite daws with 62 h6! . To ake poes Black eventuallywill have to advce his pawns yet te te neve es to ipe. No ate which pawn Black ov that fe squa foWhite's pieces to set up a blockade. Fo instance 6 e4 62Kg3 Ke5 Nf4! o 6.f4 62 Kg4 Nh6+ Kg5 53 Ng3.

62 N Kg7 63 NdS! 6 N7!Keepin the Knight active. If now 64 . .f4 then 65 Kg4followed by g6Nd5Nc6 (depending upon Black's play)when the Knight sacific itself fo th of lacks pawns. Nd6 Ng+! 7 N7 67 NdS K Nc7+

Equivalent is the iediate 68 Nc3 With the textWhite deonstat that Black's King lacks accs to d6

Kd7 69 NdS N 70 N! K6 71 N2

Exactly the sae position has aisen as afte Whites61st ove when Black played 61 . Kf6. B lack now akes aoe deteined effot but White tuns it away with soe

deft tacti.71 ..KdS 72 h6!!

ee Diaga 30 on the following page.

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Diagra 30

With Blacks King too a away ro the kingsideWhites pawn can advance. I the King heads back Whitedaws as ollows: 2..Ke6 3 KhS K6 h Kg (or 4 .Nh8 N Ng6 6 Kh6) h8=Q+ Kxh8 ( .. .Nx8 6 KgS) 6Kg6 Nd6 K6 e4 8 KeS.

72 N6 73 S K

Obviously the only ty.

74 6 4 Draw.

The game w adoued here and subsequently calleda draw without esupton o play. The ollowing ipotantprinciple appli here: T it usually stops ng + o

connctd passd pas i its o g n hlp out White'sKing does jus et back in tie: KgS Ke3 6 Nc3 f(6 ... e4? Nd+ and 8 N4) KS ( ... K 8 Ne4)8 Nd + Ke2 9 N

ction 3 ight + 3 Pawns vs. ight + 2 Pawns

Fo this case also there are two boad itant pin

cipl.() N + 3 P v. N + 2 P ndgams ar drawn t oly i thiton is a "noal" on

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The prnce of ore pans copared o he basic N+ Pv N + P endge siificanly incre he sronersides winning chc The fending side us have a raernoral syerical pawn foraion o hold he draw excellen racical eple of such a drawn iion shown inDiaa 1 L Chrisiann - J aplan Cleveland 195 aferWhes 38h ove The only proble ha Black h is ha hef-pawn is issing Wih good play Black is sure o hold hedraw Play coninued:

Diagr 31

3 N

Blacks only iner here is o ake he ie conrol onove 40 Therefore here is lile o discuss in regard o hereasoning hind his ov

39 Nc4 41 The gae was adjurned here wih Whie sealing his

ove Hoe analis showed ha wih coec defen Blackcan draw

41 42 4 hS!

A well hough ou ove Is priary purpose is opreven Whie fro obilizing his pawn chain via a laer g4Afer he ex for Whie o ge in 4 will require allowing herouine exchange of hpawns hus ringing Black clr o hedraw

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The secondary pose is o enable Black o play anopporne ...h4, hs aga ach ieving he welcoe roineechange o h-pas. O co, qie wrong s 42 ...g aer43 Whie ges a proeced passed pawn and a os likelywin.

Nd

ince hs King is already well placed Black now aneuvers he Knigh o a good deensive locaion. A his oen43.. .h4 is preaure since aer g4 Blacks hpawn will uou o a serious weakn.

h3 N K4 K6!Keeping Whies King ou o

Nc4 K6

Ye now he son as changed scenly ha 4Kd can be e by 4 ...g! wi Black achieving a welcoe

pawn swap.

47 Nd2 K6! N Nd6+ 49 Kd3 K6 SO N

Blacks King and Knigh have good acive locaionswhile his g- and h-pawns are readily deensible. For wnningprposes hie has ade no progress, as copared o oursaring siion.

51 K3 Nc4+ 52 Nd2+ 53 K2

ee Diagra 32 on he ollowin page. This oveallows a orced draw, ye i is very clear a Black was quiewell holding i yway.

53 N4!

Black grabs he opni o sipliy ino a heoreically drawn K + Pendgae. i do wan o caion he praccalplayer o be a leas % sure beore enering vluntly apa down K + P endgae. The ian pracical in is

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Diagr 32.aferWhies2ndove

ha Black has no heoreical need o do so since afer eg3...Nc4 he keeps he drawish saus quo

54 Nxe4 xe4 55 h4

Forced as oherwise Black pla ..h4 wih an obviousdraw: h4 6 Kg2 Ke3 3 Kh2 K! 3 h4 4

55 ! 56 6! 57 K 5 Draw

Offered by Whie. Te proble wih he pawn foraion fro Whies viewpoin is ha o ake progress he willhave o play g4 and will hen lef wih an unwinnable f- andh-pawn vs. g-pawn srucure For insance 8 . . .Kf6 9 g4hg4+ Kg4 K 61 Kg4 Kg and no aer wheher Whieadvances he f- or h-pawn Black ges safely in fron of hereaining pawn oreover afer ...6 Whies King is noable o penerae direcly eg 9 Ke4 Ke6 Kd4 Kd6 61Kc4 Kc6 and Black keeps he verical opposiion. Then 62K??? even allows Blacks King o nerae wih 62 .. Kd andw

oehing like a iror iage - for Black - of Diagr31 is shown in Diagra 33 E. eer - L Porisch PororozPlay-O 193 afer Whies 3rd ove Again he pawn foaion is a raher noral one ecep ha insead of iing he fpawn as in Diagra 31 here Black h no h-pawn you willsee also his play will be he irror iage of ha fro Dia-

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ga 31 Wih accuae and logical play G Poisch is able oold he posiion fo a daw - unil soehing unbelievablehapns a he vey end!

Diag 33

53

Bu no 3 g? 4 fxg when Whie has a passed hpawn and fasic winning chanc While i is quie ue ha

Black wans o exchange pawns he only wans o do i on histe. This eans a syeical e of exchane, such as fpawn fo f-pawn o Blacks g-pawn fo Whie s h-pawn oBlacks f-pawn fo Whies gpawn The las hing ha Blackws o allow is a paed pawn

54 g3 N SS Nd3 N 57 Nd6+

will be seen in he couse of he gae i is insufficien fo Whie o play only wih he King + Knigh I wasnecessay o sa uilizing he pawn ajoiy wih g4 + ! Whie heeby gains space and an evenual f can e byg! when Blacks g-pawn can u ou o a seious weakn

57 K 5 Ne4 Nd7!

An excellen defensive spo ince a his ie hee isnohing lneable in Whie's cap, aacking oves suchas Nb3 o N seve no puse Exchanging Knighs leadso a noally l K + P endge


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59 K

Also 59 g4 is et by 59 . . .f5! with an attack on theight.

59 !

The drawng aneuver which is the ior iage ofthat fro Diaga 1 It paal Whites pawn ajoity sincea late g4 allows the setrcal .. .f4 pawn exchange andwith it a ore secuey dawn fo Black N 2P vs N Pendgae. The tet tuns out to be the last pawn ove n thegae. Ths was Blacks sealed ove and the gae was re

sued afte a fou hou beak fo anothe two sessions (32ov) of play.

Wth the help of hndsght we can now say that froDagra 33 Black sould have played the iediate 53 ...f5!.G ortisch was reluctant o ake such a cottal decisonfore eaching the te contol on ove 56.

60 Ng5+ K6

Blacks King is going to reain near his weakened gpawn. hee s lttle nt n the ave" Kd5

61 Kd4 Kg7! 62 Ne6+

62 Kd5 ! leads nowhee: 62 ... Nf6 63 Ke6 Nh5 and

Whites gpawn g lt62 Nc7 N NdS Nd7!

Black has achieved what to hi lks like an ipegnable defensive foration and he is not about to deat fo itexcet fo the t of eans. Therefoe he avoi ... Ne4!65 g N g5! Nxh3 6 Ke3! when his Knght is tapd anday well go lt.65 Nc7 N NdS Nd7 67 N N KeS NhS!

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Diaga 34

Please note how the lack of having played 7 g4 + ! hgiven Black's Knight oe o

69 Ne2 Ke7! 70 KdS Nf6+ 71 KeS NhS 72 Kd4 Nf6 73 Ke3NS+ 74 K! 75 N Kg7!

Black is oe than happy to keep the status quo

76 Nd3 K 77 Kg7 78 N N 79 K 7 8 N

It is obvious that White has a no pogesove thelast twenty oves He again efains fo g4 because of80 Nd + 81 g4+ etc G Gelle cnot get hiself toconcede the daw ee what hapns sn .

8 6 81 NeS Kg7 Nc4 K NdS Ke2 Kg7 Kd3 N Ke3 K White ovetepped the ime limit and lost

As G Gelle was laing 87 Kf3 his flag fell andobviously he had to fofete How can this have hapnedin such an "easy to pla position? The explanation is alostunlievable a ult of a ive ental blk inducedno oubt by ove-exetion of his nevous syste - he had

aked down on his scoe sheet ove 84 (instead of the coect 88) as the end of the tie contol Thus "with the tiecontol ove Gelle paid no oe attention to the clk untilhe was fofeited This was oe th a single tagedy exactlythis issing half point pevented hi fo eaching the 1974

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Candda ach Talkng au bad luck: he ovaneader wll have no dob noced ha ou o wo Knghendga wh a one pa advane (e al Da 24)Geer scored exacly one hal poin The eanng o hs:Grandasers oo are very huan and under he pessure o

coive play sange hn c and cur

(2) n N + 3P vs N + 2P endgames, any seps owad dissim-laiy of pa conguaions signnly incea he song-e sides wining chances A passed pa is almos a sue win.

Whenever he pawn oraons are no balanced orsyerical he songer side has excellen chanc or neraon and vcory Te lack o syery necessarly eansha any squares are eiher weak or insucienly guardedand he ighs nheren agiliy can eloi such aco Thsis in arke conras o he Bishop who is aher liied in isopions cau i can only work on squ o is own color

Diagra 3

Le us illusrae his an in by considering heheac pawn coniguraon o Dagra 3. For he sake orealiy add Kngs; Whies a 4 and Blacks a e6 are surelyreasonable locaions We can u his posiion no a saecolo Bshop endgae by addng eg. a Whe Bshop on

and a Black Bshop on 6 gvng us dark sue Bshops or bypung a We Bshop on e2 and a Black shop on a4 we ea lgh square Bshop endae No aer gven renalycorrec play by Black al hese endgaes are drawn Blackcan preven Whie's King ro peneraing while he Bishop

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by itlf cannot achieve anything eithe Howeve epace theBishops with Knights and the situation chang akedy!

Now conside Diaga 36 which a in H to -L. tein, Asted Intena 1 ae Backs 3d ove

Diaga 36

The pawn foation is exacty the sae in Diaga3 except that often hapns in ea ife it is Back who

is up the pawn this position aose fo a N + 4P vs N + 3Pendge - e the next ction fo pay up to this point At tglance it ay appea that Whites position is defensibe yetthat is incoect acks Knight wi sn abe to push backWhites King and then Backs King wi stat penetating Thisis how it hapned

74 Nb3 e4!

The advanced pawn is safe and thee is no eason totay If now Kd4 ten S Kf4! It fas upon the Knight tot to hod back Backs King

75 Nd4+ Ke4 76 N+ Kd6

Of coue not 8 Kd? Ne+ winning the gpawn

77 Nd4?!

Passive esistance wi not wok Knight activity isaway of essence in such endgaes and theefoe the ony

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wothwhile ty is Nd8!

KdS! 7 N K

Black has successully obtained his ist objective his

King is sae ro checks and ater the iinent NdS +Whies Kig will pushed back

g3?!

Leads to a vulneable hpawn theeby seding up theloss In ineio positions aways rrai from crating newweaknesses Inevitably this only akes atters wose Theewas nothing bette tan the eteat 9 K2 in the long unWhie would l siilaly to the ge continuation, but wouldnot have the additional hdicap o an indeensible h-pawn

gS!

Yes o couse! Black keeps the bind ceated by theadvanced h-pawn Whites hpawn has coe vey lneable

cause Black can easily attack it On the othe hand Black'shpa only appea weak, cau White is in no ition toenace it

8 4 4 1 Ng NdS + Kd4!

King netration stats

N+ Kd3 Nc + K!

Ate the iediate 84 K White cold continue thechecks with 8 Nb3+ With the text oveaneuve Blackensues that when his King gets to the decisive d2 squaeWhites Knight will have no checks

N K Nd4 Nf4

The vulnerabili o the h-pawn is now obvious White'scoing attept to go ate Blacks h-pawn will t little tlate Yet the deensive 8 Nb3+ K 88 NcS+ Kd4 89 Nb3+KeS l the h-pawn o nohing With a two pawn advantage


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Back hn h lmnay win.

N3+

Th pawn wi g o h 7h k in safy d hby

ensu h win

N4 + Whie gns

Compad o he pvious diagam, Diagam 37, Bad anic, ubin 1 974, a ack's 4s move, is amo favoab c fo h dfnd cau his foc havassumd somwha moe aciv locaions. Nvlss, h

ea pawn in h fom of a pass and h hoey lack posiion, man ha Whis Knigh will be abl o manuv succfully d hus in due cou up his Kng fo he dcisivnaing mac hough ion s hoicay won foWhi, is no y iabl by lack.

Diagam 37

42 2

sophisicad depoymn h igh is o goo and hn ibly o , fo h King is cnalid on h Knigh combins is offensiv and dfnsiv funcions

h fom c4.42

Th sam yp of o as in h pvious gam: h

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dfnding sid wakns is maining pawn h gam g,his has no dic baing, bu nvhlss is wong sinc idcass h flxibiliy of ponia dfns. Coc is okp h saus quo via 42 ...5 3 N+ Kf6!. Nd3 NbS Ke3 N N!

On h way o h3 fom wh i wi foc Black's gpawn o ca is innions No ma wha hy a, Whiwil gain cono of f4.

NbS Nh3 h4

Euay unaaciv is 46 .. .g 47 Nf4 K5 48 Nd3 + !48 Nxh5 . ! Nc3! is unca) 48 ...Kf6 49 N! K5 49 ..N Kd3 !) 5 Nc6 + Kf6 5 1 Nd4! foowd by 52 Kf4 whn hcnaizd Whi pic conol h ad.

47 4 Ke5 Nf4 N 49 Nd3+ K SO Ne!

Anoh fin Knigh manuv. I hads fo wh i

wil accompish wo impoan objcivs: kp ou Back'sKing fom 5, whi pocing h h-pawn hn Whi's Kingwi f o sa naing via h qunsid aong h dfi

SO Ke5 51 N+ 52 Kd3 NbS 53 Kc4 Nd6+ 54 KdS

h s is aivy asy. il i is insuciv how

Whi mak u of h h King and Knigh fo h comingadvanc of h -pawn.

54 N SS + 56 Nh6 57 Nd4+

Coninua ca is quid. h obvious 57 7? howsaway h win af 57 ...Ng8! whn 58 8QRB aows58 ... Nf6+, whi 58 8=N N7+ 59 Kd4 N a ks daw

ish.57 Kf6 58 Kd6 Ng8 59 N 6 e7 N+ 61 Kd7 Nxe762 Nxe7

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acks Kni h gon , y Whis igh wi sihav o com up wh m nic manuv fo h win

62 KeS Ke8 K! KF6!

acks King is doing his o conain h Whi Kingo win, Whi's nigh mus sar a ong journy so haBacks King is pud away fom his pawn jus ong nough forWhi o aciv a won K + h-pawn v K ndgam65 NdS + ! KeS 66 Ne3 Kf4 67 Ng + ! Kg3 68 Kg7 ackrigns

Afr 68 Kxg2 6 Kg6 Kg3 7 S Kf4 7 Kg6Backs King canno g back in im

ion 4: Kigh + 4 Pas vs igh + 3 Pas

Th siuaion h is qui car: + vs + endgames are als alw won.

Th budn is jus oo ga fo h dfnd: h hash pawns o woy au and h nmy igh wi vsai on h aack Th a wo mhods/goas hashoud usd in going for h win: ) cra nmy awnwaknss, aack and capur h pawn, hby gaing arouiny won ndg o pawns up, and o 2) simpify downino a won N + 3Pv N + 2Pndgam whr h xra pawnis a viab pd on, as shown in iagrams 36 and 37

A pfc xamp of how o win fom a mibkaddpawn formaion is shown by h pay fom Diagram 38, .Taimanov G ahbrg, Zuich Candidas 53, afracks 43rd mov Again a ishop ndg woud dawn, a win is cain wih Knighs Whis pus a obvious: hs up a sound pawn and has a ca spaia advanag YBack has no undamna waknsss How shou Whipog? h immdia k is foo: (1) cnai hKing on 4, foowd by 2) ying o ca a waknss inacks camp


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Diagram 38

Nd6 N Ke4 Ke7 47 !

With Whit's King + Knight activatd it is tim to staacion. Th x is th fi aaut on Back's pawn formation.Back cannot afford to captur as that sadds him with anisoatd, chronicay wak hpawn : 47 ... 5+? 48 N5+ 4 Nd4! N7 5 N2! Kg7 5 Nf4 6 52 h4!, whn Back isin zugzwang. Th Knight must mov and Whit's King pntradcisivy via f5.

Of cours, i woud compt wrong for Whit toprpar" h f5 advanc with 47 h3 and 8 g4 sinc ha aowsBack o xchang off th h-pawns and rach a drawish position. The stronger side st avoid routine pawn hanges

47

f6+!A g is 48 6 6 4 Nb5! foowd by Nd4,

ading o th typ of stion shown in Diagram 37. Nvthss, th tx is vn strongr as i nsurs Whit a fanasticspac advantag and aows his King to pntra. Whit'srmaining ask wi hn o dvi a way to brak th mibkad.

Back's King now has to had back sinc, if 48 ... K6, 4Nb7 thratns h 5 NcS mat and 5 Nd8+, hus forcing thrrating 4 ...K7 5 Nc5+ K8, anyay


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48 K 49 b7 a6 S KS 7+ 51 K6 bS+ 52 K7Nd4 53 !

Esabishing cono of 6. Whi's nx objciv is oak a h pop momn wih 6. If Back now pays

53 . . .Nf3, Whi con inus as in h gam wih 54 Kd8 !(54 ... Nx5 55 Nd7+ wins).

53 S K8!

Th immdia 54 6? ! fx6 55 Kx6 is pmaucaus i is uncla how Whi is o poesaf 55 ... Nd4+.Thfo Whi ppas o fis pus Back's King backfuh

54 4 SS 7 + Ke8! 57 Ke7! 58 Ke8!

Diagam 3

Back is now amos in zugzwang: his King canno affodo mov, h has amos xhausd h pawn movs, and if hKnigh giv up is aion on 6, Whi pa Nc5 foowd by6. B lack's ony hop a som Knigh chcks, bu Whi'sKing, by ianguaion, pus a sop o h.

58 7+ 59 K8! Ke7! 4

.g4 jus da h inviab by a bi 6 K8! Nc7+62 Kd8! N6 + K7 c.

61 + 62 d6 aS 63 e6!

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o how haoniously Whis pic a now placdo his advanc whil lacks av n chad "a away. ... e6 Ke7! + Ke8 x

Whi has simpliid down o a vry avorabl cas oh N + 3P vs. + 2P ndgam: a powrul a advancdpd pawn assisd by aciv King and Knigh. Whis win isno in oub67 Ke7 g4 g7!

Th pacical appoach prior o undrtaking dcisivopraions hi or g masur capur h hpawn ..N6 69 xS + 70 Ke8 6+ 71 K7! 72 g7

A y acical moi which gains a m and sdsup h wn O cours h osaic 72 K6 also wins in ducou: 72 ...d4 + 73 K5 + 74 5 xh2 75 N4! K 76g6 c.

I lack now xchangKnights h K + P ndgam ishopls lacks siion is rial72 ...N6 73 Ke7 N 74 lack rigns

Th pawn will cos lack his Knigh: 74 .. Ng5 75h6+ ollowd by 76 7. A chnical maspic by G

TaimanovIn our las xampl w will s how o simpliy h basic

N + 4Pv + 3P ndgam down o a winning N + 3Pv N+ 2P on whr h xra pawn is in h orm o a soundpassd pawn Good chniqu mans h abiliy o achivsimpl winning siions rom mo complicad on I willru onc mor o H. Rto L in Amsrdam Inr

nal , his im o h siuaion ar Whi's 44h movas shown in Diagam 40. lack is aiming o h posiion oDiagram 36 bu how o g hr? A h momn Whisposiion appas dnsib his pics ar wll placd in hcn whil lacks hpawn sms o rqui coninual proc-


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ion Yt not how G tin push Whit back stpbytp:

Diagam 4

6 N N

lack acivas his Knigh and vnts Nd4 Quiwong now is f5? cau aft lack a g aotcd pd pawn t 45 N Whis foc ponts th optimum ssib fo fn Thfo it shoud ftas is I is up to lack to mak pog! Kd3 47 Ke4 Na6!

Instad th immiat 47 Nd5?! allows 48 f5 and47 g6? dos h -pawn af 48 Nd4 Thus lack fis nsu h say of h pawn Kd4 Nc7! 49 Ke4 g6!

y safguading f5 ack iminats th dang fomWhits f5 advanc and nabs his Knight to stat activmanuv

50 Kd4 N5 5 Ke4 N !

Th sat of a long oad o f5 Yt it must b xcudwith pcision, g, an immdiat 5N7? aows 52 Nd4ack must nsu tha Whit's Knigh d not gt th optunity to ach th ky d4 ua

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52 N e4 Nd6+ 54 Kd3 N!

Th first major intrmdiat goa has bn achivd:from f5 th Knight prvnts Whits Nd4 and protcts th hpawn Thrfor Back's King now is frd for action on th

cntra front

5 Nd2 6! 56 Ne4 Kg7 57 Nd2 58 Ne4 Ke7!

With Back's King cntray pacd, thr is no way toprvnt th coming 5 which wi id Back a sound psd-awn Yt not that Back has dayd this advc unti hisKg can both protct th passd pawn as w as oit its

strngth

59 Nd2 ! 61 Ke4 K6 Bk h won poition

Back has achivd a saf and sound pad pawn. orinstanc, 62 N is parrid by 62 Ng3+ Kd5 4 Nh4?g5 Th n don mov consistd of quit manuvring, withth dcisiv action binning on mor 74 s th pay from

Diagram 36 in th prvous ction

ectin 5 Knight + 5 Pawns vs Knight 4 Pas

Th concusion for this is oud and car: Te endgame N P vs. N + 4 P is a se n.

This ndgam cu sdom in touamnt pay At th

vry ast, th strongr sid wi achiv a favorab N + 4 PN + 3 P ndgam Thrfor it is a sur win and th tchniqu for that ndgam guarant succhr a.

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apter 4

Mateial Avatage Paws ies

ectin General Principles

1) Winng Prscts and echniques

increase its winnig prspects, the strnger sidealways wants pawn t ist n th sides the ard.

Th gnal winning pocdus is h sam as foBishop ndgam and consiss of h foowing sps:

(1) Cnai ou King d Knighs

(2) Ca a pd pawn on h sid having h xa pawn

3) If h dfnding Knigh blkad h pd pawn dflci b offng o xchang Knighs

(4) If h dfnding King is bus sopping h passd pawn,pna wih ou King on h oh si of boad andcapu sucin pawns o win h g

2) Drawig Prscts and echnique

Te eening side's drawing chances are tter than inthe crresnding Bishp endgaes

Th ar wo ns fo his: (1) Th vaii of hKnigh incas chanc fo counpa. (2) pad pawn,vn if obaind a hav maial cos, can svimmobiiz h song sids Knigh. Th Bishop can sop apd pawn fom fa awa, whas h Knigh obvious mus qui cos

Th o gnal appoach in aiming o a daw a:(1) xchang off as m pawns ssibl, wih h ulimagoal of aving h song sid wih jus on pawn Thisappoach is u fo all ndgam.

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2) Cete pd pwn to te the stonge s'sKnght

ecti 2: Te trger ide Has A Pas Pa

f the songe s h ledy obted pd pwts wnnng cnces e exceent Ths s pcy so tsKn d ht e well plced D 4 W. chmdt H echt W Ze11 972 wth lck on move s gexmle of won poston The chctestcs of t e: )The pwn s sound pssed pwn 2) Bck's Knght somently bt wkwdly plced but on ovel bssthe Kng nd Knght e locted we enog 3) Bck hsonly thee pwns left

Dgm 4

The pucty of mtel emnng does gve Whte

me sght dwng chnc but wth ccute py the wn sthee

1 Nb2!

The Kght must excted fom ts unse ltonom b2 t plns to hed fo 4 to ttck the cpwn gosseo woud hve en ? cu of 2 g4 when the tetof 3 e3 + foces Blck to bndon the fpwn {2 b2 3NeS+ Kb3 4 N wth dw)

2 Kc2?

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uch pssivity is equivlent to voluntily witing theundetke. mpetive is the ctive 2 e8!. Blcks od toictoy then is considebly hde 2 ... 4 3 d6+ KdS 4e8t 5 c7+ 5 K Kc! 6 xc3 ollowed by 7 d6nd 8 . .xb4) 5 ...Kc6! 6 x6 6 e6 xc3 7 d4+ Kb6! 8 S ollowed by 9 ...xh4) 6 .. Kb6! {White is se te6.xc3? 7 Ke3!) 7 b8 Kc7 8 6+ Kb7 9 c5+ xcS 0bxcS Kc6 with won K + Pendgme.

2 Na4 3 Ne4 Kd5 4 Nd2 N 5 Kd3 Nc4 6 NN+

Blck h eou {nd centlid!) his K + d isthus edy to win on ethe side o the bod now 7 Ke2Blck wins with 7 .. .Kc4 8 cS S! .7 Kd2 8 Nd4 ! 9 Ke2 Kc4

Blcks ly continu to mt themtic the pwnis used s ecoy to dw wy Whites King om theueenside so tht Blck King cn cptue both pwns theeObviouslyholnow is 10 Kx ollwed by 10 Ne6 11 N 12 Nxa6+ ! 13 N Ng4 Whiteigns.

Blck etins the pwn nd wo pwn dvntge on esy win.

somewht simi l stte exists in Digm 42 z

dewicz R Mllee Lublin 975 te Whites 51st move.

Digm 42

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lack s ahead a passed bpawn yet s handicapped byhavn lated kinide pawns To win Back's Kngwi haveto penetate nto hte's kingsde at the cost of the bpawn.Even ate netaton Back's play wll have to mt exact.

5 Ne4 52 N 53 K N!

Fo Back's King to pogess White's Knght must bedsld fom om whee t contols and menac the pawn. nstead pematue s S3 ...b3? 54 Kd2 b2 SS Kc2 56e2 when White has an exceent defensive fomation oinstance, f Back ti to move hs Kn towad the queensdeWhte pa d4 wth an attack on the pawn.S4 Ne2 h4!

Peventng Whte's g3 foevemoe helps safeguadBlacks knde.

SS Kd3 Ke7 56 Kc4 Kd6 57

Whte mght well captue since he hs no enaewaiting moves. ut of couse now Back's King gets intoWhte's kinide

57 KdS 53 K Ke4 59 Kd2 K!!

Black's King has penetated al ght but the win snowhee outne. Back's fst poblem is tat because of thepnce of h-pawns the RPs ae the wot pawns to have fownnng puses in K i P endgames! the K + P endgamete S.... 4 4 6 Ke2 s dawn 6...Kg4 62 K Kh3 Kg f4 Kh 65 Kg2) 6 . . Ke4 62 K2 f4 63 Ke + Kf2 Kf4 6 Ke ! Ke366 Kf 67 h3 K staemate

f Whte now pa the outine Ke ?! he is immedatey n gang afte . .Kg2. Kd! 6 Ke h3!

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Blck's cond polem is tht fte 6 h2? 62 !his King cnnot et off the edge of the od 62 Kh3 63K!) nd the stion com dwn With the nectexthe now zugzwngs White it t the cost of opening up g3fo White's Knight

62 Ng3 Nd N!

The ony t t defense n the gme White lost outinely te h? + Ke2 xh2 65 g7 f 5Ng3+ 67 3 3 Kf h, White is

Afte the text + Ke2 xh2? 65 xh2 h2 K gin leds to dwn K + P endgme Mlee nevethel h demonstted the folowing polem win:

Kg! N N+ K Nxh2 N N 67 Nh

67 d4 fils to 67 Nd2!!

67 Nd2!! d2

68 f5 only de the inevitle fte 68 + 69Ke2 h2 70 Ng3 Kg2 7 h ! d4 + ! ot 7 h? 72 Kfwith dw see igm ) 72 Ke f5 73 f2 g3! 74 f4N5 75 h g3 76 K nd Blck wins

This fin position demonsttes once moe how dicut it is fo the Knight to co with

ig 43

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A csoy ook t Dg 43, B vkov - R FscheBed 191 fte Whte's 57th ove my ed to the concusontht the esut woud be the sme s n the pevous twoexpes Afte Bck s up sfe nd sound fpwn ndth sdes hve wo g pwns on the qunsde Yet thee s cuc dffeence: Whte's ctve Knght s be to menceBck's queensde pwns nd Bck's foces e too f wyfo effectve hep Wth deft sees of neves Whte sbe to sufcenty weken Bck's queensde pwn fotonso tht the pwns become vnebe to exchnges Then hesccfy scfc the Knght fo the f-pwn

57N 58 K!

On the wy to centng the Kng so tht t cn hepstop the f-pwn o to hed fo te queensde pwns Bck'sKng heds fo the cente

58 59 N!

At the moment Whte's Kng s cose enough to the fpwn so tht the Knght cn stt botheng the queensdepwns

59 N a4 6 Nd4 Nd6 62 b3! K

The pevous moves wee obvous enough but heeBck oveooks Whte's dboc n Ony 62 f4! vewnng chnces though fte 63 Kc3 b3 64 Kxb3 Ke 65N Whtes ston s sucenty defensbe63 N!! N

O 63 b3 64 Kb3 Nxf5 65 4 o 63 Kxf5 64bx4 bx4 65 K Nc8 Kb4 N 67 Kb5

bxa4 bxa4 K Dw.

Thee s nothng to be done bout 66 Kb4 foowed by67 Kx4 A t umph of the sttegy of gnng dw by

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eiminting the stonge side's wns nd most impivethemtic nd cetive effot by M vkov

Dim

Comped to the the nom positions in the pevious thee exmpes Digm 44 Beon - A PomOense 976 fte Bck's 29th move ppes exotic. Yet c evution sho the foowing fetu) White hs tnsfomed his queenside moity into pdpwn ctuy doubed pd pwns)2) White's ext -pwn though of itte offensive we hfinite defensive vue cu if Bck cptu one -pwnhe wi woud not hve ped -pwn himf3) since White hs thee pwn moity on the queensideBck's ony ho is his one pwn kinide moity

The unbnced ntue of the sition equi cetivepy by White to ensue the win. GM Beon com though inine stye30 K! Ke7 3 Kd3!

White themticy centizes the in so tht it cntke pt wheeve the ction wi be t wou isky to gofte the pwn with 3 N+?! since Bck gets ston countechnces on the kingside White edy hs suficientdvnte to win nd theefoe the mo need t pnt is tocontin ck's ected countey.

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31 32 Nc4 g6!

Blck ims to cete pssed hpwn s tht wouldgive White the mt diculty Unstisctoy now is 33 h6?!ecuse te 33 xg6! ol lowed y 34 h5 Blck gets dngeous pd pwn. White l coectly voids ctuingthe pwn nd insted concenttes on peventinglckskinide ply.

33 Nd6! S 34 S KgS 35 N+ S 36 Ke4! Kg6 37N6!!

The cowning point o Whites ply The dngeous hpwn is el iminted nd the ctive King will help the pssedpwns cy the dy

37 6 38 K Kg6 39 Kd6 S+ Nd4+

Uls is 4x3 cu Blck dnt gin pdpwn theey With the text Blck ties to set up deensiveomtion.

41 KdS N 42 c7 Ne7 + Kd6 Ke8 4!

Thee is no wy tht the shot nge Knight cn copewith ped pwns on th lks.

Nc8+ K Ne7 + 47 Kb7 Kd7 c4 Blck is

The pwns mch inexoly owd 48 c8 49 cSe7 S S c8 5 6 etcecin 3 ides Have Passed Pawns)

As ledy iely discussed, it is in ineio + Pendgmes tht the cetion o pssed pwn ecomes

poweul dwing tool ecuse he Knight s esult o itsshot nge is seveely hndicped in coping with pssedpwns) o sitution wee th s hve ed pwns it isdiicult to give hd nd st ules Mostly ts question oceul clcultions nd tcticl cetivity in consideing the

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roper Kg meuvers d Kight jumps The sige mostmtt pricpe to keep md s tht e is by a emst dicult pa e it

exceet prctic exmpe of the type of py thtc resut is show from Digrm 45, N Miev K Hofi,Be 974, with White o move Bck hs two strog coected pd pwns o the queeside, yet White's hpwn which isredy o the 6th rk cretes good couterpy The twomjor strteic consirtios e ) The hpw is dificutfor Bck's ight to stop, d 2) K o the 7th rk vQuee s drw if te stroger sde's Kg s t r wy dthe Quee ot cotro the queeg ure

Dirm 45

With perfect py Digr 45 is drw The gme wsdrw, though with rious error by ech side throw i

N!

The best move the Kight heds bck to stop the bpw White's King the wi ve sufficiet time to chseBcks Kight wy from the hpw The immedite Kf4ows N7 ! whe fter 2 h b 3 Ne5 Nxe5! 4 Ke5 b2 78Q b Q the Q Pedgme gives Bck good prcticchc for the w

b3 2 4 Nh7!

White hs routie drw fter 2 Ne6 3 Kf5 Nf8 4Kf6 foowed by 5 Kg7

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3 K?

Now White is ost The King cn lw get to Bck'sKnight Theefoe White's fist usiness shoud hve en toin ck his Kight to stop the pwn The dwing methw 3 N! 2 4 Nx2 Kx2 S NfS 4 6 Kg6 N+ 7 8 9 h7

3 .Kb2?

Blck ecipt The win ws to hd with 3 K!peventing 4 Nc4+ M Minev povides the folowing vitions s convincing pf1) 4 Kg6 Kc3! S Kxh7 2 6 Kg7 1 =Q 7 h7 Qxh7+ 4 ndthe pwn cnot stopd,2) 4 N+ Kc4! S N2+ Kc3 6 N4+ K 7 N2 4 8 Kg63 9 N + Kc3, winning

4 Nc4+ !

Ony so the Knight is sfey ck nd White is sfeWhite lo fte 4 N+? Kc2! nd 4 Kg6? Kc3!

4K 5 Na3 b2

O S 4 6 Kg6 K4 7 N1 3 8 Nx3! eding to thesme position in the gme6 6 Kb3

Thee is nothing is 6 Nf8+ 7 K etc

7 a4 8 7 a3 9 Nxa3! 10 8 Dw

Afte 10 1 =Q 1 1 h7 Qg6+ 12 Kh8! Bck mustch teen stemting White o owing the h-pwn toqueen

Considey moe phistiction is equied to coecty hndle the position of Dig , which is the concusion of meous 9 study y the Dutch comse J. H Mitz

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Whte hs signficnt dvntge by vitue of hvng twowdey ptd pd ps, yet Bcks snge ppis th nught h-pwn hte to ply d wn is te tk - bthow? The obvious g6 +? eds to nothin fte Kg7 2xh4 d5 3 b5 c3 + folowed by 4 xb o bette s Kb2? d5! whn th 2 xd5? h3 o 2 b5? 4 3 + 4Kc3 c5 ed to wins fo Black Othe nom moves by theKing l e fo ed by d5!, s s h3?

Dm

And the winne is

1 !!

A susing thou with the ve don in mnd,ed ly ndetndb sotion White pc hs Kin on sque whee t s momentily ot of ech fo Blcks ngtTs gvs Whte time to ply h3 nd then the Kng wi be to stt dvcngn st the bpwn ...d5!

t the t t Afte Kg7 2 h3! Wte wns smly to wht hpns te on2 b5!

Afte 2 xf4? 3 b6 Blcks Knight cks tempogning check to get bck in time to stop th pwn

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3 Nh3!

ee too tee s not tme fo 3 Nxd5? becuse Blckeches teoetclly dwn poston wt 3 3 4 Nf4 2 5h5+ Kg6 6 Ng3 Kg5 7 b6 Kg4 8 N Kf3 9 b7 Kg2 0b8=Q ote how sml ths motf s to tht of the pevos expe

3...K

losng s 3 Kg6 4 Kb2! K5 5 Kb3 cu tees not tme fo 5 Kg4 6 g6 3 7 g7 Nf6 3 Kg2 9 b7 30 b8=Q h2 Qb7+ Kg 2 Qb6+ Kg2 3 Q6 d Wtewns 2 K 5 Kd6 6 Ka! Kc7 7 K

Whte's bpwn s now secue nd the combnton ofte f dvnced nd wdely septed pssed pwns s toomuch fo Blck's Kgt tll Whte wns only by

7Kb7 8 g6 Ne7 9 g7 Ng8 0 !

Pssed pwns must pused!

0N Ng8 2 N!

The etun of te Kngt nto te fy wll be decsveBlck los uckly fte 2 6 3 ! Ng8 4 d8+ nd2 f6 3 e4! g8 4 c5+ etc2 Ne7! 3 Ne6! h3 Nd8 Kc8 5 Nc6! Ng8 6 Ka6 h27 b7 Kd7 8 =Q h =Q 9 Qd8 ! Wte wns

At st success 9 Ke6 loses to 20 Qxg8+; 9 c6dops the Qeen fte Q8 +

At the moment mtel s equl n Dgm 47 ADoncenko R Holmov Dubn 973 fte Blck's 43dmove Yet t s edly ppent tt te cpwn s on ts lstlegs nd ten Blck wl hve te mtel dvntge of pd fpw Howeve the sgncnt fcto n the ston


83/192

wil tn ot to be the s Bck's Knight is we plced tocpte White's pwn whees White's Knight cn go fteBck's hpwn. n the ting py Bck wi hve the ctveKin d Bck's pd pwn will fhe dvced thnWhte's pssed hwn Homov in detied nlis inShahma Bjullezn, #5 1975 hs convincingly oven thtBlck wins b foce fom Dim 47. Mch of ths nlis istoo detied fo o needs bt the mo conclsions evlble nd hve mde gtef se of them. White nowplyed

Digm 47

N

White potects the cpwn nd if chd wy by .. .f4will go fte the hpwn vi g4. On the fce of it this is logicl

ppoch. Extensve sbseqent nis howeve h showntht Bck's tk wold hve en consideby moe diffictte f6+ ! Ke5 45 d7 ! 45 g8 e to ply simil tothe gme contintion.) Holmov then giv the followin s themin ine 45 ... Kd4 c5 e4+ 47 xc5 48 48 b8is met by 48 .. .4!) 48 ...e6! Keeping ot White's Kin fomf4.) 49 h4 h5! 50 c8 Kc4 51 + b3 52 5 3 KWhite hs to ty to stop the pn. Afte 53 g3?! Kb2! 54xh5 4 Bck's wi be well hed of White's.) 53 .Kb2!54 Kd2 4 55 ! d4! 56 K 57 c4+ Kb3 58 5+Kb4 59 c6+ Kc5 d8( b8 Kd6!) Kd5 61 Kc3xh4 62 K Ke6! h6 e5 65 4 h4 ndBlck wins. White's King hs indeed conqeed the pwn

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but now s t wy om the pd hpwn!

4 Ng4 Nxc4 a4Whte c ch whethe the pwn s cptued on

o 4, but t s hdly susng tht t mk ltte deenceAte the mmedte Xh6 xWhte's t s 47 b5 d8 yet Bck st wns te 4 49 c6 5 h4 52 c2 o 52 x2 x2 53 h5 h6 + 55K e5 56 h7 g6 nd the hpwn hs been one move tsow) 52 d + 53 Ke e3 54 Kd3 O the smpe54g2+ d 55xh4) 55 h5 c2+ etc

47 Nx6 Nxa4 N

Hedn bck v 484 loses te 48 b2 49 Ke2c4 h4 4 + Kd4 2 h5 53 h6 54 h7 + 55Kx3 e5 + 56 Ke2 7 when Whte's hpwn hs beenstopd whle Blck's pwn queens

Moeove Whte's Kngg to stop the p thenBlck wns wth the pwn 48Ke b2 49 Kd2 c+ 50 Kc3e5! 5 g8 4! 2 h3 3 53 Kd2 h2! 54 6+ Ke5 55h5 HomovN 49 N

The othe oute s 49 d6+ Kd5 b7 50 c8 Kc5!)50 4 5 K3 e4 ! 52 Kx4 53 5 c5! but WhtesKght s cut o om stoppng the pwn

49K 50 Ne6 Kc4!

Just s n the pevous note, Blck's go s to peventWhte's Knght om gettng bck to stop the pwn Bck'soc e wel ced, Whte's Kng s t wy theeoeBlcks succs ued

5 N4 a4 52 Ng6 a3 53 N K! Whte gnsThe lkel end woud hve been 54 3 2 55 d4

Kc4 56 c2 Kb 57 + Kb2 ote gn the dculty theKnght hs wth

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W wl l now cons sttons wth o pwns.

Dgm 48

Dgm 48 shows P Bndts - E Mdns, Nw Yok1952 ft Blck's 46th ov. Wht hs th dvnt he hsth ctv Kng, the ctv Knght, pssd f dvnced hpwn d ft th nnt cpt of th gwn wll pwn p. Blck's dwng pcts t wth qcky ctng pssd pwn on th qnsd s cn b sn he hs jststd on ths) to t down Wht's ght the Then Bckhops to utlze hs Knght to gt t Wht's kngsd pwns.Th gm cos shows tht Blck s just be to chev hsm

7 NgS Kg8! NxbS Ne6 aS! SO KgS Nd6!

The g-pwn cnt be defendd 50 . . .Kf7?? 51 h50 Kh7? 51 Nf8+) nd the Knght s neded to d bothth fpwn nd th sque Luckly fo Blck, th nght wllonly hv to nctve fo shot

S Kxg6 a 52 N

Th stngth of Whts h

pwn hs n ntd by

Blck's -pwn. nc 52 h7 +? Kh8st mks Whte's hpwn vlnbl whl gnng nothng m t, Wht's ghtmst hd bck Blck t dvc s pd pwn s f bl nd thn send hs Knght te Wht's pwns


86/192

S2 53 Nb3 54 Ne4 SS K

Whit wts to fit catur th daw to obtainanothr d awn uicky ibSSNx N 57 K Nx 58 Na

idiat 58 Kf4 Back gains tim for dfn with 58 Nc2 59 Nd4

S87 59 4 Nc4 6 Draw

Thr ar no winning chanc lft

A fin xa of how to hand a two awn aorityo o sid is shown staing fro Diagra 49 E Mdnis - Rihr 9/ U. Chionshi tr Blacks 4st ov

Diagram 49

Of cou Black not hav such a aority yt buty gnosity aks i idiat ossib t coingthrough ti rssur w nough though missing a forcddraw) and now having anothr hour on th ck thoughtlly - th l itrally and figurativly - playd

42 Nxa7??

Thr is no rationa anation for such a mov Whittaks off a uimortant awn far fro th scn of action


87/192

whi forgtting about vrything s Just a fw sconds ofactua nkng woud hav shown that ony th activ 42 K5mak sns. Thn 42 ...Ng2 is hacaus of 43 h5 544 5. Morovr 42 ...Nd3 + 43 Kf6 N 44 Kxg6 f4 45Nd4 aso ooks quit saf for Whit. Aftr 42 K5 a draw ish iky rut42 K?!

Giving Back two connctd d awns is rovn tob hoss. Thrfor a bttr ractica try was 4 h5 h5 K h4 45 K2 h3 Kf, vn though Whit's rctsrain b aftr ..Nh4 4 Kg N +.

4 K4 g5 + g6 a4

Whit dos hav an xtra awn on th qunsid butGM ihr wi with as dmonstrat how to mak it harm.

4 47 g4 b5 eS!

Back xcuts th thmatic ic ay stratgy withthis mov cntraiing th Knight and on th nxt mov, thKing

49 Ke6! 50 !

Back arays Whit's qunsid ay. H dos not

vn giv Wht a chanc for a viab ad awn thr5 ?!

It is sim wrong to mak it asir for Back to obtainconnctd ass awns. Bttr is 5 b5.55 52 b5 eS! 53 g4 4 54 d3+ 55 Ke2 !

Back's Knight tis down Whit's, whi stabishingitsf on an activ ation. GM ihr's tchniqu, whrbyh continuay mmi his chac whi minimiing thof his onnt is xmay.


88/192

56 57 Kg2 KeS 58 K Nd3+ 59 Ke2 g3! 60 Ne + 61 Ke2 62 Whit rigns.

I could hav don so with a ar conscinc alradyso ovs arlir. Blacks nxt ovs will b 63 ...Nd3( + ..Nf4 65 ...Nh3( +.

ectin 4:Te tnge ide Can Fce Ceate) A Pass Pa

If th strongr sid dosnt yt hav a passd pawn itwants to crat on. thrfor onc th prliinary sts ofKig and Knigt cntraliation hav bn accoplishd it isti to work on crating a pd pawn on th sid having thtra pawn. Part of th ti dirct awn advanc will thob. Howvr th opponnt will ully awar of this ai andwill try to prvnt it. Thn th winning procdur consists oftratin into th othr sid of th rd whil th dfdrs busy tryg to prvnt th cration of a pd pawn on tnoral sid

This intrplay of facto is wll illustratd fro our fitxapl Diagra 50 E ucak . Cvtkovic Yugoslavia968 Black on ov. Black as a nic noral on awadvantag sition. Th xtra awn is a of a halthy P P kinid aority. His nxt stp should to furthr obilihis kingsid pawns as this will ti Whit down on that si andgiv Black th opportunity to ntrat into Whits qunsid.lacks nxt ov ons th vist for loration

Diagra


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!Th ctaid Knight covs both sids of th board

autfuy thatn 2 and g itsf ady to um toc4 Whit s at dfnsv crossoads: which sd of th boardshoud h work on?

2 ?!

H dcid to vt th immdat advanc of th faw Yt th cost s havy sinc th dcntaiato of thKght ao th Back's King and Knight to mac Whit'squsid I iv that th atativ was tt: 2 b3 f4 3Nd gvg Back two otos:) 3 Kd5 whch can b arrid by 4 Nc3 + Kc5 (4 Kd4? 5Nb5+) 5 N4+ wh 5 d4? s s cau of 6 Nd6 ad itis uctai f Back ca w g 6 Kc3 b4 Kb3 8 Nxb 9 b5 Kb4 0 Nd6 with th thrat Nc8(2) 3 .N is corrct thrati 4 Nd4+ If 4 b4 Back'sKg w tat th qusi staig with 4 Kd5 if 4K Bac ocs a assd aw: 4 ..g3 5 3 fxg3 6 N3K5 Ng2 Nd4 8 b4 Nf5 and du cous ack's gaww cost hit his qunsid Nvthss this woud havn a ttr chc for Whit sic a th txt mov Backhas a ir tm i ating.

2c4! 3 4 K 4 d3 Kd4 S a4 !

Rctang th Kght maks Whit's Kight gvway thus aowg Back's Kng to gt at Whit's awns

6 4 Kc4! 7 8 K !

By vtig a Nc5( + ) Back safguads his qunsd

9 K4?!

Back s bou to wi Wht's qusid a outiawn fo aw xchag o th Knsid must b inhtyoss Oy 9 Nd4 a4 10 N ofrs a bt of actca8


90/192

chacs though of cou Backs positio rmains won aftr0.Kb3

9Nd3 0 N 1 K4 Nd3 12 4 Nxb2 3 Nxa4

wo conctd pd paws win routiy Th cocusio was

4 NcS Nd4 aS 6 Nc6 7 Nd4 a4 8 Nb 19 Nd4 20 N 3 2 Whitrs

Diagr 5

h strogr sids task is considraby hardr fromDiagram 5 D. ic - M. Dimitrivic Kraguvac 9 atrBacks 36th mov Whits oy advatag is th tra paw;Back has th activ King ad th potntiay mor activKght Whits first ordr of busimust b to cosoatth pawn advantag d th t stp is to cntrai th Kig

37 ! K 38 Na Kb

Th tt dos succd in forcing back Whits Kight39 ? Ka4 4 Nc4 Kb3) but aohits Kig to achiva dominring cntra ro A bit mor promising for ongrtrm ristanc is 38 Kd5

39 Nc4 N Nd2 a 41


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Th qunsid is sufiintly prottd so that Whitsing is rady to had for Blaks kini pawns

41 N 42 h4! a4

If Blak dos nothing Whit walks in with 4 5t whi rtaining his qunsid maority

It is diffiut to rsist having a prottd passd pawnHowvr a arr win is to had with th dirt kinsidntration approah 43 bxa4 ! xa4 4 4 5N7 N4! b3 47 Nf6 h 48 Ng8 t Nc7 Kd4

Arady th fit probm is aparnt if 4?! Bakgts ountrpay aftr N 45 g4 Nx!h5 g5 K KS Nd5 47 Kd4?

Whit unnssaril gts old ft Th ing shoudrmain ativ and th ght usd for dfns via 4 Nb 1 ! Blak thn is in fft in uwang and Whit wins asily g47N f6 49 N3 t

47N7 Kc4 N 49 +

Ativity is a must as 49 Nf3?! Nd6 50 d3 d5 hasBlak thratning th 5 Nb5 and 5 N4

49 K 50 Nh4 51 Nc4+ Kc7 52 NS d6

Diagram 52 on th nxt pag

If Blak tmri with his ing Whit t off th a

pawn and wins routinly with th two onntd pasd pawnsThrfor Blak has to fr his night Th txt for Whitto advan th b-pawn with th rsult that its waknss wilprvnt Whit from apturing th a-pawn Yt all this ffort isfor naught Whit still has a win

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Dagra 52

53 N S Ng6 K SS Kb7 N4 h4 57 g6

Wt t a-awn for now atra what w hav s anndga of a b- and a g-awn v t awn Ths sa stuaton xistd n th study y J H Marwtz n th rvous scton s Dagra 46 Th souton n ths ractca ga squt sar

S7N7 5 59 h3 Ng7 !

Th wnnng rdur w foo () To gt thbawn to t t rank Wt n to chck on d8 tat (2)th Knght can gt to c6 tus covrng th qunng squar.Durng ths r Back's -awn w fr to avanc tat Wt ust t hs ov t cty.

6 Ng7 62 N h3 63 Nd+ Kc

T ga contnuaton s rachd nr aftr . 8 Ka6 2 5 Nc6+. b7+ Kc7 Ka6 N! h =Q 67 hQ+ Kd7

Obvousy 6

?! dros th Qun aftr

Qb7.{Ts woud a av n t concuso f Back ad ayd


93/192

.Kxc6?.)

Qb7+ Kd6.. .K8 runs into mat by 69 Q or 69 Qc8; .K6

dros th Qun to 69 Nd4 + or 69 Nd8 +

69 Q7 +! KdS 70 + Kc4 7 Q + Back ris.

Aftr . . .Kc5 2 Qxg Whit is u a Knight and apassd awn.

Diagam 53

n Diagra 53, Bac G Tringov, ubana 969,Whit to mov, Back is u a und qunsid aw. Th gnumr of awns rmaing favo lack; howvr, th xclnt lacmnt of Whit's ight mak it vry hard for Blackto crat a assd awn from his qunsid maority. As willb n, Back wi nd a vry crativ mth to accoishhis. in any c, Blacks t obt must King activation.Hr also this mans K

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Practical Knight Endings