King and two Pawns against King
This kind of ending needs a little comment, as it is usually won for White without difficulty. There are, however, a few exceptions which players should know. For instance, two or even more pawns on the rook’s file do not win. The game is also drawn if Black can manage to win one of the pawns in a favourable position.
From our previous analyses we also know that White cannot win if he has doubled pawns on the fifth or sixth rank. For example, in diagram 111
…even with Black to move, the position is drawn after 1 ... ♔c8! 2 ♔d6 ♔d8 3 c7+ Otherwise the black king returns to c7. 3 ... ♔c8 when both 4 c6 and 4 ♔c6 give stalemate.
An interesting draw is to be seen in diagram 112:
Despite his seemingly hopeless situation, Black to move can draw here by 1 ... ♔g7 2 ♔e6 ♔f8, as both 3 h6 and 3 ♔f6 give stalemate, and the h-pawn cannot win on its own.
Finally, let us mention another typical drawn position, diagram 113.
White to move cannot win, as 1 ♔h8 ♔f8 2 h7 ♔f7 is stalemate.
King and two Pawns against King and two Pawns
We cannot give specific rules about this type of ending, because we have here equality of material usually leading to a draw. However, apart from material advantages a position can also have other advantages which can have a decisive effect on the result. We are referring to positional advantages, some of the most important of which will now be illustrated by simple examples. Of course, these positional elements also occur in more complex endings which are beyond the scope of the book.
This is achieved by a pawn breakthrough which usually occurs when both kings are in another part of the board and as a result cannot stop or support the resulting passed pawn. The pawn breakthrough is usually connected with a pawn sacrifice, giving both sides a passed pawn. This means that the attacker must accurately calculate that the enemy pawn cannot become more dangerous than his own. Consider diagram 114.
Following the usual principle of bringing the white king nearer, White achieves nothing, as after 1 ♔e4 ♔e6 the draw is unavoidable. However, a pawn sacrifice gives White a win:
1 |
c5! |
In calculating such a breakthrough White must consider the following points. Firstly, that after 1 ... bxc5 2 a5 the black king cannot stop the passed pawn. Secondly, that the newly created black passed pawn can be stopped by White, and thirdly, that the pawn sacrifice cannot be profitably declined.
1 |
... |
b5 |
We select the third possibility as Black’s defence. The first two conditions are fulfilled, as after 1 ... bxc5 2 a5 this pawn cannot be caught, whereas after 2 ... c4 3 a6 c3 4 ♔e3 the black c-pawn is stopped. If Black declines the offer by 1 ... ♔e6, then 2 cxb6 ♔d7 3 a5 wins easily.
2 |
a5! |
But not 2 axb5 cxb5 3 c6 ♔e6 and Black draws. After the text move Black obtains a passed b-pawn but the white king is near enough.
2 |
... |
b4 |
3 |
♔e4 |
b3 |
4 |
♔d3 and wins. |
|
The white a-pawn cannot be prevented from queening.
One of the most common and important positional advantages in pawn endings lies in the possession of a distant passed pawn. By ‘distant’ we mean how far the pawn is away from the main scene of action. The principal advantage of such a pawn is that it can lure the enemy king away, leaving the attacking king free to create an advantage on the other side. The distant passed pawn is so strong that it often more than compensates for other, even material, advantages.
Without his passed pawn White would lose, as the black king would penetrate via c4 or e4. The passed pawn, however, reverses this result.
1 |
f5 |
Even though this pawn is now lost, it takes the black king away from the main scene of action (the b-pawns), allowing White to win quickly.
1 |
… |
♔e5 |
2 |
f6 |
♔xf6 |
3 |
♔xd4 |
♔e6 |
4 |
♔c5 |
♔d7 |
5 |
♔xb5 |
♔c7 |
6 |
♔a6 |
...and wins.
It is clear from this example that the passed pawn gains in value the further it is away from the main scene of action. For instance, if the white pawn were on h4 instead of f4, White would win even if Black had an extra pawn on a6. The reader can test this for himself!
When a passed pawn is also protected by another pawn, it becomes a very strong weapon indeed, even stronger than the distant passed pawn (unless this can queen of course). Its main strength lies in the fact that it limits the activity of the enemy king, at the same time allowing its own king complete freedom.
Diagram 117 illustrates these characteristics:
White’s protected passed pawn on b5 here proves stronger than Black’s h-pawn, giving White a win as follows:
1 |
… |
h5 |
2 |
♔d3 |
♔d5 |
Black tries to stop the white king capturing his h-pawn.
3 |
♔e3 |
♔c5 |
4 |
♔f3 |
♔d5 |
The black king can go no further without allowing the b-pawn to queen.
5 |
♔g3 and wins. |
|
White simply captures the h-pawn, then returns to the queenside, while Black looks on helplessly.
It is worth mentioning that in such cases, White must always check that Black cannot draw by attacking the base pawn. To prevent this, the protected pawn must be at least on the fourth rank. For example, in diagram 118, White cannot win.
After 1 ♔e3 ♔c3 2 ♔xf3 ♔b2 3 b4 ♔xa2 4 b5 ♔b2 5 b6 a2 draws.
However, even a protected passed pawn on the fourth rank is not always sufficient to prevent a counterattack.
In diagram 119, White again cannot win. Play might go 1 ♔f4 h5 2 ♔g5 ♔e4 3 ♔xh5 Or 3 b5 ♔d5 4 ♔xh5 ♔c5 draws. 3 ... ♔d3! 4 b5 ♔xc3 5 b6 ♔d2 6 b7 c3 7 b8♕ c2 with a theoretical draw, as we again arrive at the peculiar case of the bishop’s pawn.
Finally we must point out that the defence can sometimes draw by attacking the base pawn with a pawn. For example, in diagram 120
…Black draws by 1 ♔e4 f3 2 ♔xf3 b5 3 cxb5 ♔xd5.
Positions often arise in which a single pawn can blockade (i.e. render immobile) two or even three enemy pawns. This clearly represents a tangible advantage, as the following example shows:
White has the advantage of a distant passed pawn, but this alone is insufficient to win because his king is too far away from Black’s pawns. Black to move would easily draw by 1 ... c5 2 ♔e3 c4 3 ♔d4 ♔xf4 4 ♔c5 ♔e4 5 ♔xb5 ♔d3. White can, however, first blockade the enemy pawns, which is equivalent to giving himself an extra pawn.
1 |
b4! |
c5 |
The only counterchance, as 1 ... ♔e6 2 ♔e4 ♔d6 3 ♔d4, followed by the advance of the f-pawn, is hopeless for Black.
2 |
bxc5 |
b4 |
Or 2 ... ♔e6 3 ♔e4 b4 4 f5+ etc.
3 |
c6 |
White must play exactly, as the apparently simpler 3 ♔e3 would throw away the win, after 3 ... b3 4 ♔d3 b2 5 ♔c2 ♔e6! and Black captures one of the pawns, with a draw. Try it for yourself!
3 |
... |
♔e6 |
After 3 ... b3 4 c7 White would queen with check.
4 |
f5+! |
The white pawns are so advanced that they can win even without the help of the king.
4 |
... |
♔d6 |
5 |
f6 |
b3 |
6 |
f7 |
♔e7 |
7 c7 |
…and wins.
Apart from the above-mentioned advantages, there are various other elements which help in pawn endings, such as the better king position, pawns which are further advanced, connected pawns as against doubled pawns, and so on. To examine all these elements individually would lead us too far astray, so we shall restrict ourselves to a couple of examples, beginning with diagram 123.
J. Behting 1900
At first sight this position seems to offer both sides equal prospects, as they have two connected passed pawns each, with both kings able to stop them. It also appears impossible to advance the pawns further without allowing the opponent’s pawns to queen.
In spite of these facts, however, White has a vital advantage in that his pawns are nearer to their queening squares, thus completely limiting the black king’s mobility. As will be seen, this means that Black can be compelled to make weakening pawn moves once his king is in zugzwang. We shall even demonstrate that Black is already in zugzwang in the given position and would lose at once if were not White’s move.
Let us first then consider a few possibilities from diagram 123 with Black to move. King moves fail for after 1 ... ♔e8 2 ♔e5 wins the d-pawn because of the threatened 3 ♔e6 followed by mate. As 1 ... d3 2 ♔e3 loses the d-pawn immediately, there remain only moves with the c-pawn.
In the course of the solution we shall see Black is also in zugzwang after 1 ... c5 2 ♔e4, and if 1 ... c6 2 ♔f3 ♔e8 (or 2 ... c5 3 ♔e4) 3 ♔e4 c5 4 ♔d5 White reaches the winning position that will also appear in the solution.
Having demonstrated that Black is in zugzwang in the original position, we now have the task of manoeuvring him into one of the above losing variations. Here is how it is achieved:
1 |
♔f3! |
c6 |
The most testing defence. Both 1 ... c5 2 ♔e4 and 1 ... ♔e8 2 ♔e4 c5 3 ♔d5 lead to the main line.
2 |
♔f4 |
But not 2 ♔e4? c5, when White himself is in zugzwang and only draws.
2 |
... |
c5 |
3 |
♔e4! |
And now Black is in zugzwang and must give way to the white king. His next move is forced.
3 |
... |
♔e8 |
4 |
♔d5 |
♔d7 |
Again the only move, for 4 ... d3 5 ♔e6 gives mate next move, and 4 ... ♔f7 5 ♔d6 d3 6 ♔d7 allows White to queen with check.
5 |
♔c4 |
♔e8 |
6 |
♔xc5! |
d3 |
7 |
♔d6 |
♔f7 |
Or 7 ... d2 8 ♔e6 d1♕ 9 f7 mate.
8 |
♔d7 and wins. |
A better king position can sometimes be enough to convert a draw into a win, as we see in diagram 125.
C. Salvioli 1887
This position is completely symmetrical and it seems improbable that White can achieve any advantage. However, having first move gives him the chance to set up a favourable king position and win as follows:
1 |
♔f3 |
Of course 1 ♔e3 is an alternative, as White is aiming for the e4 square. Black to move would win by a similar manoeuvre.
1 |
... |
♔f6 |
1 ... ♔e6 transposes into the main line, and 1 ... e5 2 ♔e4 ♔e6 3 e3 wins for White. Finally, 1 ... e6 2 ♔e4 ♔f6 3 e3 ♔f7 4 ♔e5 ♔e7 5 e4 wins in the same way.
2 |
♔e4 |
♔e6 |
3 |
e3 |
Putting Black into zugzwang and so forcing an entry for the white king.
3 |
… |
♔f6 |
4 |
♔d5 |
♔f7 |
4 ... e6+ 5 ♔d6 ♔f7 6 e4 transposes.
5 |
♔e5 |
e6 |
6 |
♔d6 |
♔f6 |
7 |
e4 |
…and wins. Black’s e-pawn is lost whatever he plays.
We have not yet examined any endings in which one side has more than two pawns. This type of ending does not really belong to the purely theoretical positions we have been discussing so far, taking on more and more the character of a practical example. For this reason we shall restrict ourselves here to a few positions only, selecting those which illustrate some aspect not yet dealt with.
Firstly, let us consider a position which has practical value in assessing those endings where one side has a pawn majority on the wing.
G. Lolli 1763
We shall show that White’s 3:2 pawn majority is much easier to utilize than the 2:1 majority we have fully examined in previous examples. First with White to move:
A
1 |
g6 |
The simplest. 1 ♔d5 wins too, but not 1 h6 gxh6 2 gxh6 ♔f7 or 1 f6+? gxf6+ 2 gxf6+ ♔f7 3 ♔f5 ♔e8 (or g8) 4 ♔e6 ♔f8, both of which draw for Black.
1 |
… |
h6 |
White wins easily after 1 ... hxg6 2 hxg6 etc.
2 |
♔d5 |
Again White must avoid 2 f6+? gxf6+ 3 ♔f5 ♔f8 with a drawn result.
2 |
... |
♔f6 |
3 |
♔e4 |
Or 3 ♔d6 ♔xf5 4 ♔e7 and 5 ♔f7 winning also.
3 |
... |
♔e7 |
4 |
♔e5 |
♔f8 |
5 |
♔e6 |
♔e8 |
6 |
♔d6 |
But not 6 f6? ♔f8 drawing.
6 |
... |
♔f8 |
7 |
♔d7 |
♔g8 |
8 |
♔e7 |
♔h8 |
9 |
f6 |
gxf6 |
10 |
♔f7 wins. |
B
And now with Black to move:
1 |
… |
♔f7 |
Pawn moves would lose more quickly, e.g. 1 ... h6 2 g6 (or 2 gxh6 gxh6 3 f6+ winning, but not 2 f6+? ♔f7 with a draw) as in line A, or 1 ... g6 2 hxg6 hxg6 3 fxg6 ♔e8 4 ♔d6 etc winning.
2 |
g6+ |
Or 2 ♔d6 which also wins.
2 |
... |
♔g8 |
3 |
♔e6 |
♔h8 |
3 ... hxg6 would transpose into line A.
4 |
♔f7 |
hxg6 |
5 |
h6 |
gxh6 |
6 |
fxg6 |
|
...and mate in 3.
In diagram 132 we see a problem-like finish which everyone should know thoroughly, as it can easily occur in practice. The pawn breakthrough is much more subtle than the one we saw in diagram 114.
Black is threatening to take his king over to the queenside, when the most White can hope for is a draw. At first sight it looks as though nothing works, as both 1 c6 bxc6 2 bxc6 and 1 b6 axb6 2 cxb6 cxb6 lead to nothing. There is, however, a fine breakthrough combination which wins in a few moves.
1 |
b6 |
cxb6 |
Or 1 ... axb6 2 c6 bxc6 3 a6 wins.
2 |
a6 |
bxa6 |
3 |
c6 |
...and wins.
In playing such a combination, the reader must of course make sure that all the given elements are present. If the pawns were all one rank further down the board, the whole plan would be pointless as Black would be able to accept both pawn sacrifices, queen his own pawn and remain with material advantage. Equally, the black king must be far enough away from the c-pawn, otherwise he could stop it queening. For instance, with the black king on f6 instead of g6, White’s combination would lose after 1 b6? cxb6 2 a6 bxa6 3 c6 ♔e6 etc. In other words, a player must weigh up all factors before plunging into such a sharp combination.
Finally, let us give the reader some practical advice about such positions as diagram 133.
A drawn result immediately springs to mind. Admittedly White has a distant passed pawn, but this has little significance, as his king is so far away from Black’s pawns, and Black is threatening to advance these and eliminate White’s a-pawn. However, which pawn does Black advance first to make sure of the draw?
It may seem that it does not matter in which order the pawns are advanced, but if the reader remembers what we said about the blockade of pawns, he will realize the importance of choosing the correct pawn here. A good general rule is to advance the pawn which is unopposed by an enemy pawn. In this position it is the b-pawn. We shall even show that the advance of the a-pawn is quite wrong and leads to a loss for Black.
So the correct plan is 1 ... b5! 2 g6+ Or 2 ♔e5 ♔g6 3 ♔d5 ♔xg5 4 ♔c5 ♔f5 5 ♔xb5 ♔e6 6 ♔a6 ♔d7 7 ♔xa7 ♔c7 drawing. 2 ... ♔g7 3 ♔g5 a5 4 ♔f5 b4 and White must now force the draw by 5 ♔e4 a4 6 ♔d4 b3 7 axb3 axb3 8 ♔c3.
Let us see what happens, then, if Black selects the faulty 1 ... a5? instead of 1 ... b5! (or the waiting 1 ... ♔g7).
1 |
... |
a5 |
This move loses because White can now blockade both black pawns, which is equivalent to being a pawn up. As Black has a pawn on the fourth rank, he can of course sacrifice his b-pawn and queen his a-pawn, but in this situation this too proves unavailing.
2 |
a4! |
b5 |
Black cannot wait either, as White wins after 2 ... b6 3 g6+ ♔g7 4 ♔g5 b5 (4 ... ♔g8 5 ♔f6 ♔f8 6 g7+ ♔g8 7 ♔g6 wins even more quickly) 5 axb5 a4 6 b6 a3 7 b7 a2 8 b8♕ and 9 ♕c7+ followed by mate in two moves.
3 |
axb5 |
a4 |
4 |
g6+! |
♔g7 |
Or 4 ... ♔e7 5 g7 ♔f7 6 g8♕+ ♔xg8 7 b7 and White queens with check, a useful tactical point to remember.
5 |
b6 |
a3 |
6 |
b7 |
a2 |
7 |
b8♕ |
a1♕ |
8 |
♕c7+ |
…and mate in 2.
We have now dealt with the most important basic elements of pawn endings, all of which must be thoroughly mastered by the chess player. In this section we examine positions which illustrate how the above principles can be applied in more difficult endings.
G. Stoltz – A. Nimzowitsch
Berlin 1928
A cursory glance at this position might give us the impression that White stands better. He has two strong connected passed pawns on the queenside, is blocking the advance of the d-pawn with his king and is holding up Black’s kingside pawns. What has he to worry about? Upon closer examination, however, Black’s advantages become clear. By advancing his f-pawn he can create two passed pawns on the gand d-files, and these cannot be stopped by the white king, whereas White’s queenside pawns are not far enough advanced to be dangerous. So both sides have important advantages and our task is to decide which of these prevail. As is often the case in such situations, the player with the first move has a vital tempo, as Nimzowitsch demonstrated in the following instructive play:
1 |
... |
f4! |
It is clear that Black has no time to lose. If White had the move here, he would win by 1 ♔d3! Not 1 b6 ♔d6 2 ♔d3 f4 3 ♔xd4 f3! etc, drawing. 1 ... f4 2 gxf4+ ♔d5 Or 2 ... ♔xf4 3 b6 and queens with check. 3 b6 g3 4 b7 g2 5 b8♕ g1♕ 6 ♕e5+ and White picks up the d-pawn with a won queen and pawn ending.
2 |
gxf4+ |
If White declines the offer by 2 b6 or 2 a5, then 2 ... ♔d6! gives play similar to the main line.
2 |
... |
♔d6! |
Black does not recapture the f-pawn not only because White would then queen with check, but because the black king’s role is to hold up White’s queenside pawns. Equally good is 2 ... ♔d5 3 a5 ♔c5 4 a6 ♔b6 or here 4 b6 ♔c6, as the white king cannot stop both of Black’s pawns.
3 |
a5 |
g3 |
4 |
a6 |
♔c7! |
Now everything is clear. White’s pawns are stopped, whereas one of the black pawns must queen.
5 |
♔e2 |
d3+ |
Or 5 ... g2 6 ♔f2 d3 etc.
6 |
♔xd3 |
g2 |
7 |
♔e4 |
g1♕ |
and Stoltz soon resigned.
This instructive example shows us just how complicated a pawn breakthrough can be and how exactly all variations must be calculated.
Equally subtle is our next example which occurred in a game between two grandmasters of world class.
S. Flohr – J. Capablanca
Moscow 1935
It is immediately clear that White has important positional advantages, as Black’s pawn position is badly weakened by his doubled pawns. If White’s king reaches f4, Black must sooner or later lose a pawn and the game. To reach f4, the white king must first occupy f3, when he has tempo moves with his h-pawn which ensures that his king reaches f4. What can Black do to counter this plan?
If he plays passively, then White will carry out the above plan with an easy win. This means that Black’s only chance lies in playing ... h4 at the moment when he can answer gxh4 by ... f4, eliminating the white e-pawn. But this would not work with the white king on e2 and black king on e5, as White would capture the h-pawn and answer 1 ... f4 with 2 h5! ♔f5 3 exf4, keeping all his pawns and winning. To draw, Black must be able to capture the e-pawn with check, i.e. the white king must be on d2 or f2. In other words, with the white king on e2 and black king on e4, White to move would have to place his king on d2 or f2, allowing ... h4! drawing. On the other hand, the same position with Black to move is a win for White, as ... h4 does not work, and so the white king occupies f3, the winning square.
Black must obviously plan his defence most carefully and it is interesting to see how Capablanca tackles the problem:
A
1 |
... |
♔e5! |
Showing complete understanding of the subtleties of the position.
The obvious gain of the opposition by 1 ... ♔d5? would lose instructively to 2 ♔d2
2 … ♔e5 2 ... ♔e4 3 ♔e2 puts Black in zugzwang, and 2 ... h4 3 gxh4 f4 4 exf4 ♔e4 5 h5 wins for White, which is why the black king needs to be on e5. 3 ♔e1! ♔d5 4 ♔f2 ♔e4 Forced, as White was threatening 5 ♔f3. 5 ♔e2 ♔d5 Or 5 ... h4 6 gxh4 f4 7 h5 ♔f5 8 exf4 wins. 6 ♔f3 ♔e5 7 h3 ♔d5 8 ♔f4 ♔e6 9 h4 winning the front f-pawn and the game.
Strangely enough, Black has another means of successfully defending, by playing his king over to g5, equally guarding the f4 square and preparing ... h4. We shall examine this later under B.
2 |
♔e2 |
As already mentioned, 2 ♔d2 h4! 3 gxh4 f4! 4 h5 fxe3+ 5 ♔xe3 ♔f5 draws.
2 |
... |
♔e4! |
Black has now attained his objective and White is in zugzwang. As a king move allows ... h4, he must use up an important tempo by advancing his h-pawn.
3 |
h3 |
♔d5 |
Not of course 3 ... ♔e5? 4 ♔f3 winning.
4 |
♔f3 |
♔e5 |
And both players agreed to a draw. After 5 h4 ♔d5 6 ♔f4 ♔e6, White no longer has the vital tempo move with his h-pawn.
B
1 |
… |
♔f7! |
This move leads to an alternative but riskier draw, with the king reaching g5 just in time.
2 |
♔e2 |
Other king moves are no better, e.g. 2 ♔d4 ♔e6 3 ♔c3 ♔f7 4 ♔d3 ♔g6! (not 4 ... ♔e6 5 ♔e2 and 6 ♔f3) 5 ♔d4 ♔g5 6 ♔d5 ♔g4 7 ♔e6 ♔h3 draws.
2 |
… |
♔g6 |
3 |
♔f2 |
♔h6! |
The black king must not occupy g5 until the white king is on f3. For instance, 3 ... ♔g5? 4 ♔f3 h4 5 gxh4+ ♔xh4 6 ♔f4 ♔h3 wins for White.
4 |
♔f3 |
♔g5 |
5 |
h3 |
Or 5 h4+ ♔h6 6 ♔f4 ♔g6 7 e4 fxe4 8 ♔xe4 ♔f7 9 ♔f5 ♔g7 10 ♔e6 ♔g6 11 ♔e7 ♔g7! drawing. The text move looks dangerous for Black, as 5 ... ♔h6 6 ♔f4 ♔g6 7 h4! wins for White, but another resource saves him.
5 |
... |
h4! |
6 |
♔g2 |
Or 6 gxh4+ ♔xh4 7 ♔f4 ♔xh3 (the point!) 8 ♔xf5 ♔g3 9 ♔xf6 ♔f3 drawing.
6 |
... |
♔h5 |
Black can also draw with 6 ... hxg3 7 ♔xg3 f4+ 8 exf4+ ♔h5.
7 |
♔f2 |
hxg3+ |
8 |
♔xg3 |
♔g5 |
9 |
h4+ |
♔h5 |
10 |
♔h3 |
f4 |
11 |
exf4 |
f5 |
…and the position is clearly drawn.
Our next example shows us a clever king manoeuvre such as we saw in diagram 29.
Em. Lasker – S. Tarrasch
St Petersburg 1914
Tarrasch had brought about this position on the assumption that White could now resign. Black in fact threatens to win on the queenside, even without the help of his king, by 1 ... c4 2 bxc4 bxc4 followed by 3 ... a4 and 4 ... c3. It looks as though the white king can do little about this, and the white h-pawn can easily be stopped. However, to the great surprise of Tarrasch, the World Champion produced the following imaginative drawing manoeuvre:
1 |
h4 |
♔g4 |
2 |
♔g6! |
The point. Tarrasch had only considered 2 ♔f6 c4 3 bxc4 bxc4 4 ♔e5 c3! 5 bxc3 a4 and this pawn cannot be stopped. Lasker’s move gains a vital tempo as he threatens 3 h5 and Black is forced to waste a move by capturing the pawn. This means that the white king can retreat along the light-squared diagonal (b1-h7) instead of the dark one (a1-h8) which is blocked by a pawn, a vast difference as we shall see.
2 |
... |
♔xh4 |
3 |
♔f5 |
3 |
… |
♔g3 |
It must have been about here that Tarrasch awoke from his dream of victory, for if he now continues with his original plan he loses as follows: 3 ... c4 4 bxc4 bxc4 5 ♔e4 c3 6 bxc3 a4? (he could still draw by 6 ... ♔g5 7 ♔d5 ♔f6) 7 ♔d3! as the white pawn on c3 no longer forces the white king to waste a move in order to reach b2.
4 |
♔e4 |
♔f2 |
5 |
♔d5 |
♔e3 |
Now Black must be careful not to lose the game.
6 |
♔xc5 |
♔d3 |
7 |
♔xb5 |
♔c2 |
8 |
♔xa5 |
♔xb3 |
|
½-½ |
|
We have already talked a great deal about the opposition and its importance, with special emphasis on the distant opposition and related squares. However, the reader may well feel that such ideas belong to the realm of endgame studies rather than practical play. The following extremely interesting example, T. Berg – V. Petrov, from the 1937 Kemeri international tournament may help to disprove this fallacy.
Once again, appearances can be deceptive, for although material is evenly balanced, with both kings holding the enemy pawns, it is Black who has a winning advantage. This is mainly because he can immediately set up a protected passed pawn, whereas White cannot achieve this.
The advantage of a protected passed pawn lies in the fact that it severely limits the freedom of the enemy king whilst allowing one’s own king to wander at will. In this case, the white king must constantly keep an eye on Black’s b-pawn, whereas the black king can always attack the white pawns.
However, the win is by no means easy for Black, for White’s king can go as far as e4 and still keep an eye on the b-pawn, and the white pawns on h4 and g4 form a barrier which cannot be broken by ... g5, allowing White a protected passed pawn himself after h5. As the game was adjourned here, both players had time to make a thorough analysis of the position and White resigned without continuing! Let us now see why:
1 |
... |
a5! |
Clearly an essential move, as Black must protect his b-pawn before White isolates it by 2 a5. For this reason, 1 ... g5 would fail to 2 h5, and as Black has no time for 2 ... g4 because of 3 a5, White can support his passed pawn with 3 g4.
2 |
g4 |
Black was now threatening 2 ... g5 3 hxg5 ♔g7, or here 3 h5 g4 with a straightforward win as in diagram 65.
2 |
... |
♔g8 |
3 |
♔c2 |
♔f7 |
4 |
♔d3 |
♔e6 |
As can easily be seen, the opposition plays the main part here. For example, with the black king on d4 and the black king on d6, if White has to move, then Black can immediately penetrate via c5 or e5. As we shall show later, we can discount the fact that White has pawn moves available on the kingside.
Black cannot gain the opposition directly, because White has e4, d4 or c4 for his king, as soon as the black king plays to e6, d6 or c6. So Black has to make sure of the distant opposition. With the black king on e7 or d7, the related squares for the white king are e3 and d3 but as c3 is not available to the king, he cannot take the opposition if the black king plays to c7.
All that remains is to find the best way of carrying out Black’s plan, without allowing White any tactical chances. The most economical method would be 4 ... ♔e7 5 ♔e3 ♔d7 6 ♔d3 ♔c7! but we select a longer way so that we can indicate some additional points about the position.
5 |
♔e4 |
Let us take this position as the starting point of our analysis, as it best illustrates the various possibilities open to both sides.
It is first worth noting that if White tries to maintain the distant opposition by 5 ♔e2, in order to answer a later ... ♔c7 by ♔c1, this allows the black king to reach c5 by 5 ... ♔d5 6 ♔d3 ♔c5!. As c3 is not available for the white king, he loses after 7 ♔e4 (7 h5 ♔d5) 7 ...♔c4 8 ♔e3 ♔c3! and the b-pawn queens.
5 |
… |
♔d6 |
Again a quicker way would be 5 ... ♔d7 6 ♔d3 Or 6 h5 ♔e7! 7 g5 ♔e6! wins by zugzwang. 6 ... ♔c7 etc, but we wish to point out an interesting trap.
Note also the important variation 5 ... b3 6 ♔d3 ♔e5 7 ♔c3 ♔f4 when 8 g5! cleverly draws for White after 8 ... ♔g4 9 ♔xb3 ♔xh4 10 ♔c4 ♔xg5 11 ♔b5 ♔f5 12 ♔xa5 g5 13 ♔b5 g4 and both sides obtain a queen.
6 |
♔d4 |
6 |
… |
♔d7! |
Black must play exactly and not place his king on c7 until the white king is on the third rank. This is to make sure that his king can reach e5 if the white pawns advance.
An instructive error, for instance, is an immediate 6 ... ♔c7? which admittedly gains the opposition but allows White to save himself by 7 h5! ♔d6 8 g5 when the threat of h6 forces 8 ... ♔e7 9 ♔e3 ♔e6 10 ♔e4, and White has regained the opposition thus preventing ... ♔f5.
7 |
♔d3 |
7 ♔e4 ♔e6 gives Black the opposition, and both 7 g5 ♔e6 8 ♔e4 g6, and 7 h5 ♔e6 lose at once.
7 |
... |
♔c7! |
Only now can this move be played without danger, as 8 h5 would fail to 8 ... ♔d6 9 g5 ♔e5!, or here 9 ♔e4 ♔e7! 10 g5 ♔e6! etc. After the text move White is compelled to give up the opposition.
8 |
♔e4 |
Neither 8 ♔c4 ♔c6 nor 8 ♔d4 ♔d6 would change anything, and 8 h5 ♔d6! 9 ♔e4 ♔e7! 10 g5 ♔e6! gives us the zugzwang position we now know.
Black also wins after 8 g5 ♔d6! Not 8 ... ♔d7? 9 h5 drawing. 9 ♔e4 ♔e7! Again 9 ... ♔e6? 10 h5 draws. 10 ♔e3 ♔e6! Both 10 ... ♔f7 11 h5 and 10 ... g6 11 ♔d3 lead to a draw. 11 ♔e4 g6, and Black wins because his king obtains the f5 square.
8 |
... |
♔c6! |
Gaining the diagonal opposition.
9 |
♔d4 |
Black also wins after 9 g5 ♔d6 10 ♔d4 ♔e6 11 ♔e4 g6, or 9 h5 ♔d6 10 g5 ♔e6.
As a general rule, with the white pawns on g5 and h5, Black must always take the opposition on e6 when White plays ♔e4.
9 |
... |
♔d6 |
Black has achieved his objective and wins comfortably.
10 |
♔e4 |
Pawn moves would be answered by 10 ... ♔e6.
10 |
... |
♔c5 |
11 |
h5 |
We choose the pawn advance as our main line which could, of course, occurred earlier. Equally hopeless is 11 ♔d3 ♔d5 12 ♔e3 ♔e5! (simplest), and 11 g5 ♔d6 12 h5 ♔e6 transposes into the text continuation.
11 |
... |
♔d6 |
Or 11 ... ♔c6 12 ♔e3 ♔d5 winning.
12 |
g5 |
♔e6! |
13 |
♔d4 |
♔f5 |
14 |
h6 |
gxh6 |
15 |
gxh6 |
♔g6 |
…and Black captures the h-pawn after which he wins as shown in diagram 65. An unusually interesting and instructive example.
Finally we present a position illustrating the importance of the opposition and tempo moves with pawns.
J. Randviir – P. Keres
Pärnu 1947
Black has an extra pawn but has difficulties owing to the better placing of the white king, White’s dangerous passed central pawn and the backward pawn on h7. However, a pawn is a pawn, and one of its uses might be to play ... h5 to force the advance of the g-pawn. A more important use of this h-pawn is as a tempo move (... h6) at a critical moment, to gain the opposition, which may prove vital in forcing the win. As we shall demonstrate later, Black wins this ending only because he has this tempo move at his disposal – with the pawn on h6 the ending is drawn!
1 |
... |
♔b5 |
The only way. White draws after 1 ... ♔b6? 2 ♔c4 a5 3 a4, as 3 ... h6 is then forced.
2 |
a4+ |
This check is forced, as Black wins quickly after 2 ♔d3 c4+ 3 ♔d4 c3! 4 ♔xc3 ♔c5 etc. Black cannot now take the pawn because of 3 d6 winning.
2 |
... |
♔b6 |
3 |
♔c4 |
a5! |
In this way Black reaches the position we have seen, without having to use up his precious tempo move ... h6.
4 |
d6 |
Or 4 ♔c3 ♔c7 5 ♔d3 ♔d6 6 ♔c4 h6 7 ♔b5 ♔xd5 8 ♔xa5 ♔c6! 9 ♔a6 c4 winning.
4 |
... |
♔c6 |
5 |
d7 |
♔xd7 |
6 |
♔xc5 |
♔e7 |
Black can achieve nothing in the centre or on the queenside, as the white king is too active, but he can threaten a breakthrough by ... h5 now that the resulting white h-pawn can be stopped. For instance, he need not fear 7 ♔b5, when 7 ... h5! 8 gxh5 g4 9 h6 ♔f7 wins at once. In other words the white king dare not leave the square c1-c5-g5-g8.
7 |
♔d5 |
♔f7 |
8 |
♔e4 |
White must bring his king over to prevent the threatened 8 ... h5 9 gxh5 ♔g7 followed by 10 ... ♔h6, which he could now answer with 10 ♔f3 ♔h6 11 ♔g4. Black would win easily after 8 ♔d4 h5 9 gxh5 ♔g7 10 ♔d5 g4 11 ♔e4 ♔h6 12 ♔f4 ♔xh5.
8 |
... |
♔f8! |
The winning move which recalls the winning method of diagram 69. White is now in zugzwang. His king dare not leave the e-file by 9 ♔d4 because of 9 ... h5!, nor can he retreat as this allows the black king to reach d6. He must choose between the two evils.
9 |
♔e3 |
♔e7 |
10 |
♔e4 |
♔d6 |
11 |
♔d4 |
11 |
… |
h6! |
Only now does Black play his trump card, with his king one rank further up and on the d-file. He gains the opposition and thus manages to advance his king even more. It is clear that without this tempo move Black could not win despite his extra pawn.
12 |
♔e4 |
White has no time to counterattack on the queen’s wing, as after 12 ♔c4 ♔e5 13 ♔b5 h5 14 gxh5 ♔xf5 Black wins quickly.
12 |
... |
♔c5 |
13 |
♔e3 |
13 |
… |
♔d5! |
Much simpler than the alternative winning plan of 13 ... ♔b4 14 ♔d4 ♔xa4 15 ♔d5 ♔b3 16 ♔e6 a4 etc.
14 |
♔d3 |
♔e5 |
15 |
♔e3 |
h5! |
16 |
gxh5 |
♔xf5 |
17 |
♔f3 |
♔e6 |
Again simpler than 17 ... g4+ 18 ♔g3 ♔g5 19 h6 etc.
18 |
♔g4 |
♔f7 |
19 |
♔f5 |
♔g7 |
|
0-1 |
|
With this example we end our discussion of pawn endings. The reader has been provided with the most important basic positions illustrating the essential principles of pawn endgames. There are of course many positions which cannot be dealt with in this book. As already stated, however, we intend our material to be instructive rather than exhaustive. If the reader studies this material carefully, he will have enough information to steer him through the most complex endings. Let us now turn to queen endings