Solutions

E01.01: 115…Kb1? 115…Nb2+! 116.Kc3 (116.Kd4 Nd1=) 116…Nd1+ 117.Kb3 Kb1 118.Rc2 Ne3 119.Re2 Nd1= 116.Kd3! Nb2+ 117.Kc3 Nd1+ 118.Kd2 Nb2 119.Re8 Ka2 120.Kc3 Na4+ 121.Kb4 Nb2 122.Rb8?! 122.Rd8 Kb1 123.Ka3 wins quicker. 122…Nd1 122…Nd3+ 123.Kc3 Nc5 124.Rd8+– 123.Rd8 Ne3 123…Nb2 124.Rd2 Kb1 125.Kb3 Ka1 126.Rh2+– 124.Kc3 Kb1 125.Rd3 Nf5 126.Rf3 Nd6 127.Rf4 Ka2 128.Kb4 Kb2 129.Kc5 Nb7+ 130.Kb6 Nd6 131.Kc6 Nc8 132.Rf7 Kb3 133.Rc7 1-0

E01.02: 86.Ne3+? 86.Nh2+ Kg3 87.Nf1+ Kh3 88.Ne3=; 86.Kh1? Kf3 87.Nh2+ Kf2 88.Ng4+ Kg3–+ 86…Kf3 87.Nf1 87.Nf5 Ra4 88.Kh2 Rf4–+ 87…Ra1 88.Kh2 Rxf1 0-1

E01.03: 52.Kf6! 52.Kg6? Ne8= 52…Nh5+ 53.Kg6 Nf4+ 54.Kf5?! 54.Kg5 Nd3 55.Kf6 Nf4 56.Ra5 Kh7 57.Rf5+– 54…Nd5 55.Rd6 Ne3+ 56.Ke4 Nc4 57.Rc6 Na5 58.Rc7 Kf8 59.Kd4 Ke8 60.Kc5 Kd8 61.Kb6 Nb3 62.Rc3! 1-0

E01.04: 71.Nc5+? Now Black can either separate White’s pieces or force the knight to the unfortunate square b7. The knight had to stay near its boss: 71.Nb8+! Kc7 72.Na6+ Kc8 73.Ka8 (73.Nc5 Rb5 74.Na6=) 73…Rb7 74.Nc5 Rb5 75.Na6=; 71.Ka8? Kc6 72.Nb8+ Kb6 73.Nd7+ Kc7–+ 71…Kc6! 72.Nd3 72.Ne6 Ra1+ 73.Kb8 Re1 74.Nd8+ Kd7 75.Nb7 Re5 76.Ka7 Kc8 77.Kb6 Re6+ 78.Ka7 Re7 79.Ka8 Kc7 80.Ka7 Kc6 81.Ka8 Re1 82.Ka7 Ra1+ 83.Kb8 Rb1 84.Ka8 Kc7–+ 72…Ra1+ 73.Kb8 Ra5 74.Nb4+ Kb6 75.Kc8 Rb5 76.Na2 76.Nd3 Rf5 77.Ne1 Kc6 78.Kb8 Rf8+ 79.Ka7 Rf4 80.Nd3 Re4 81.Kb8 Kb6 82.Kc8 Rc4+–+ 76…Rb2 0-1

E01.05: 82…Kh7? Now first the h-pawn and then the game is lost. After 82…Kh5! 83.Rxh8+ (83.Kf5 Nf7=) 83…Kg4 Black’s king gives a body-check and draws because of 84.Ke5 h3 85.Ke4 Kg3 86.Ke3 Kg2! (Baburin in Chess Today 4947) (After 86…h2? 87.Rg8+ Kh3 88.Kf2 h1N+, the knight in the corner is again forlorn: 89.Kf3+–) 87.Rg8+ Kf1! 88.Rh8 Kg2 89.Ke2 h2 90.Rg8+ Kh1= 83.Rg4 h3 84.Rh4+ Kg8 85.Rxh3 Nf7 86.Rd3 However, not 86.Rg3+? Kf8 87.Ra3 Nd8 88.Ra8 Ke8 and Black defends. Black resigned in view of 86…Nh6 (86…Kf8 87.Rd7+–) 87.Rd8+ Kh7 88.Rd7+ Kg8 89.Kg6+– 1-0

E01.06: 67…Kf8? Only 67…Nh5+! 68.Kg6 Ng7 holds the draw: 69.Re1 (69.Ra1 Ne8 70.Ra8 Kf8 71.Ra7 Kg8=) 69…Kf8 70.Kf6 Ne8+ 71.Kg6 Nd6=; 67…Ne8+? 68.Ke7 Ng7 69.Re1 Nf5+ 70.Kf6 Nd6 71.Rd1 Ne8+ 72.Ke7 Ng7 73.Rd5 Kh7 74.Kf8 Kg6 75.Rd6+ Kh7 76.Rd7 Kh8 77.Kf7 Kh7 78.Kf6 Kh8 79.Rd1 Kh7 80.Rh1+ Kg8 81.Rg1 Kh8 82.Kf7+– 68.Rf2 This puts Black in zugzwang.

68…Ne8+ 69.Ke6+! Kg8 69…Kg7 70.Ke7 Nc7 71.Rf5 Kg6 72.Ra5 Kg7 73.Kd7+– 70.Ke7 Ng7 71.Rh2 Nf5+ 72.Kf6 Nd6 73.Ra2 Ne8+ 74.Ke7 Ng7 75.Ra8+ Kh7 76.Ra5? After this the black king is safely off into the wild blue yonder. 76.Kf6 still wins, e.g., 76…Nh5+ 77.Kg5 Ng7 78.Rc8 Ne6+ 79.Kf6 Nf4 80.Rc4 Nh5+ 81.Kg5 Ng7 82.Re4 Kg8 83.Kh6 Kf7 84.Rf4+ Kg8 85.Rg4 Kh8 86.Kg6 Kg8 87.Kf6 Kh8 88.Ra4 Kg8 89.Ra8+ Kh7 90.Ra7 Kh8 91.Kg6 Ne8 92.Ra8 Kg8 93.Rxe8#

76…Kg6 77.Ra1 Nf5+ 78.Kf8 Kf6 79.Kg8 Ne7+ 80.Kh7 Nf5 81.Ra6+ Kg5 82.Rg6+ Kf4 83.Rg1 Ke5 84.Kg6 Nh4+ 85.Kh5 Nf5 86.Re1+ Kf4 87.Rf1+ Ke5 88.Kg5 Nd6 89.Re1+ Ne4+ 90.Kg4 Kd4 91.Kf4 Nd2 92.Re8 Nc4 93.Rd8+ Kc5 94.Rd1 Nd6 95.Ke5 Nc4+ 96.Ke6 Ne3 97.Rd8 Nc4 98.Rd5+ Kb4 99.Rh5 Kc3 100.Rh4 Kd3 101.Kd5 Ne3+ 102.Kc5 Kc3 103.Ra4 Kd3 104.Ra3+ Ke4 105.Ra4+ ½-½

E01.07: 69…Nd8! mutual zugzwang 70.Ke7 Nxe6 71.b7 Nd4 72.Kd7 Nc6 73.Kc7 Kb5 74.b8Q+ Nxb8 75.Kxb8 ½-½

E01.08: 60.Ka4? Now Black’s knight can reach the right square, d6. After 60.Rh4!, White’s king can invade, e.g., 60…Ke5 (60…Ng3 61.Ka4 Ne2 62.Rh6+ Ke5 63.Kb5+–) 61.Ka4 Kd4 62.Kb5 Ke5 63.Rxe4+ Kxe4 64.Kxc5+– 60…Kc6 61.Rh6+ Nd6 62.Kb3 Kc7 and the game was later drawn later. ½-½

E01.09: 78…Kg4? 78…Kg6! 79.Rc6 Kf7= leads to the main fortress. 79.Ke3 Kg3 80.Ra4 Kg4 81.Ra6 Nf8 81…Nxf4 82.Ra4+– 82.Rf6 Nh7 83.Rg6+ 83.Rf7+– 83…Kh5 84.Rg1 Kh6 85.Kd4 Nf6 86.Ke5 Nh5 87.Kxf5 Ng7+ 88.Ke5 Nh5 89.Rh1 1-0

E01.10: 65.Nd3? This puts the knight on a wrong circuit. 65.Ne2! is correct. It will move to g3 later, e.g., 65…Ke5 (65…Re5 66.Kf3 Kf5 67.Ng3+ Kg6 68.Kg2 Ra5 69.Kh2 Ra4 70.Kh3 Rb4 71.Ne2=) 66.Kg2! Rf8 67.Ng3 Rh8 68.Kf3 Rh7 69.Ke3= 65…Ke6 66.Nf4+ Ke5 67.Nh3 Ke4 68.Ng5+ Ke3 69.Ne6 Rf3+ 70.Kg2 Rf6 71.Nc7 Rc6 72.Nd5+ Ke4 0-1

E01.11: 100.Ng4? White’s position is not a fortress. Active counterplay with 100.g4 was called for, e.g., 100…Re6 101.g5 Re5 102.Kg3 Kd3 (102…Rxg5+ 103.Kf4=) 103.Kf4 Kd4 104.Nxe4 Rxe4+ 105.Kf5= 100…Rf5 101.Kg1 Ke1 For 101…Rg5–+, see the end of the game. 102.Kg2 Rf3 103.Kg1 Rf5 104.Kg2 Ke2 105.Kg1 Rg5 and 0-1 because of 106.Nh2 (106.Ne3 Rxg3+ 107.fxg3 Kxe3 108.g4 Kd2–+) 106…e3 107.Nf1 (107.fxe3 Rxg3+ 108.Kh1 Kf2–+) 107…exf2+ 108.Kg2 Rg4 109.Nh2 Rd4 110.Nf1 Rd1 111.Nh2 f1Q+ 112.Nxf1 Rxf1 113.g4 Rf3 114.g5 Rf5–+

E01.12: 55.Rxg4? This greedy capture allows Black to regroup. 55.Rh5! Ne7 (55…Nf4 56.Rf5+ Ke6 57.Kxg4 Nd3 58.Rh5 Nf2+ (58…Nc5 59.Rh6+ Ke7 60.Kf5 +–) 59.Kf3 Nd3 60.Rh6+ Ke7 61.Kg4+–) 56.Rh6+ outfoxes the knight (again not the capture 56.Kxg4? because of 56…Nc8!=) 56…Kg5 57.Rh7 Ng6 (57…Nc8 58.Rd7+–) 58.Rf7 Nh4 59.Rf8 Ng6 60.Rf5+ Kh6 61.Kxg4+–; 55.Kxg4? Ne7= (or even 55…Nh8=) 55…Nf8 56.Rg8 Ne6 57.Rc8 Ng5! 58.Rc6+ Ke7 59.Rc4 Kd7 60.Kg4 Nf7 61.Ra4 Nd6 Now Black has reached a typical fortress. 62.Kg5 Kc6?? 62…Ke6=; 62…Ke7= 63.Kf6 Kd7 64.Kxe5 Nf7+ 65.Kf6 1-0

E01.13: 71.Kf2? Now the knight cannot take the pawn g6 and survive. 71.Kh4! is forced: 71…Ke6 (71…Ra5 72.Ne7+ Kxf4 73.Nxg6+ Kf5 74.Kh5=) 72.Nf6 Rd3 73.Kg4 Rd1 74.Ne4 Rg1+ 75.Ng3= 71…Ra5 72.Ne7+ Kxf4 73.Nxg6+ Kxg5 74.Ne7 Rc5 75.Kf3 Kf6 76.Ng8+ Kg7 77.Ne7 Kf7 0-1

E01.14: 66…Nd2+? Now the knight cannot escape in the long run. Only 66…Nh4! saves the day because of 67.Kxd4 (67.Rg5 d3 68.Kxd3 Kd6 69.Rg4 Nf5 70.Ke4 Ke6 71.Rg5 Ne7=) 67…Kb7!!

(a) 67…Kb6? runs into 68.Re5!! and the knight cannot escape, e.g., 68…Kc6 (68…Nf3+ 69.Kd5 Nxe5 70.Kxe5 Kc7 71.Ke6 Kd8 72.Kf7+–) 69.Re4 Nf5+ 70.Ke5 Ne7 71.Ke6 Nxg6 72.Rc4+ Kb5 73.Rg4 Nf8+ 74.Ke7 Nh7 75.Rxg7+–; (b) 67…Kd6? 68.Ra6+ Ke7 69.Kd5+–

68.Ke4 (68.Rg5?? Nf3+ 69.Kd5 Nxg5 70.Kd6 Ne4+ 71.Ke6 Nf6 72.Kf7 Nh5–+; 68.Re5 Nxg6 69.Rg5 Nf8 70.Rxg7+ Kc6=; 68.Rb5+ Kc6 69.Ra5 Kb7=; 68.Kd5 Nxg6 69.Kd6 Nf4 70.Rb5+ Ka6 71.Rf5 Nd3 72.Kc6 Nb4+ 73.Kc5 Ka5 74.Kc4+ Ka4 75.Rf1 Na2=) 68…Nxg6 69.Rg5 Nf8 70.Rxg7+ Kc6 71.Rf7 Nd7= 67.Kd3! 67.Kxd4? runs into the fork 67…Nb3+ 68.Ke5 Nxa5 69.Ke6 Nc4 70.Kf7 Ne5+ 71.Kxg7 Nxg6 72.Kxg6= 67…Nf3 68.Rh5! The rook prepares to lasso the steed. 68…Kd6 69.Ke4 Nd2+ 70.Kxd4 Ke6 71.Rh3 Kf5 72.Rd3 Nb1 72…Nf1 73.Rf3++– 73.Ke3 Kxg6 74.Rb3 1-0

E01.15: 56.Rxf6+? 56.Rg4+ Kh5 57.Kf5 Ne7+ 58.Kxf6 Kxg4 59.Kxe7 Kf5 60.Kd6+– 56…Kg5 57.Rf5+ Kg4 58.Rd5 58.Rxb5 Nd4+= is the point of Black’s defense. 58…Kf3 59.Rf5+ Ke3 60.Re5+ Kd3 61.Rd5+ Ke3 62.Rc5 Nxb4 ½-½

E01.16: 65.h7? This loses the very valuable g-pawn. 65.g5! draws: 65…Rxa4 66.Kh7! (66.h7? Rh4 67.Kg7 a4 68.g6 a3 69.h8Q Rxh8 70.Kxh8 a2 71.g7 a1Q–+) 66…Rg4 67.g6 a4 68.g7 a3 (68…Kf7 69.g8Q+ Rxg8 stalemate) 69.g8Q+ Rxg8 70.Kxg8 a2 71.h7 a1Q 72.h8Q (Baburin in Chess Today 5751) 72…Qa8+ 73.Kh7! (73.Kg7? is refuted by Polerio’s Eckenspiel: 73…Qg2+ 74.Kh6 Qh3+ 75.Kg7 Qg4+ 76.Kh7 Kf7–+) 73…Qh1+ 74.Kg8!= 65…Rxg4+ 0-1 in view of 66.Kh6 Kf7 (66…Rxa4?? 67.Kg5+–) 67.h8N+ Kf6 68.Kh5 Rxa4–+

E01.17: 68.Re1? Now the knight can join the pawn with decisive effect. 68.Rc8?? runs directly into the fork 68…Ne7+– + (Baburin in Chess Today 5741); 68.Re4+! This zwischenschach saves the day: 68…Kg5 (68…Kg3 69.Re1= Baburin) 69.Ke5 c1Q 70.Rg4+ Kf2 71.Kxf5 also draws. 69.Re1 (69.Rc4? Ne3+–+) 69…Ne3+ 70.Kd4 Nxg2 (now 70…Nd1? even loses: 71.Re5+ Kh4 72.Rc5 Kg3 73.Rxc2+–) 71.Rg1 Kh4 72.Rc1 Kxh3 73.Rxc2= 68…Ne3+ 69.Kd4 Nd1 70.Re4+ 0-1

E01.18: 76…f6? 76…f5! 77.Ra2 Nf6 78.Ra7 Ne4 79.Ke6+ Kf8 80.Ke5 Kg8= is the right fortress construction. 77.Ra2 g5 77…Nf8 78.Ra8 Nh7 79.Ke6 Nf8+ 80.Rxf8 Kxf8 81.Kxf6+–; 77…f5 78.Ra7 Nf8 (78…g5 79.Ke6+ Kg6 80.Ke5 f4 81.gxf4 gxh4 82.f5+ Kh6 83.Ra6+ Kg7 84.Rg6+ Kf7 85.Rh6 Ng5 86.Rxh5 Nf3+ 87.Ke4 Nd2+ 88.Kf4+–) 79.Ke8+ Kg8 80.Rf7 Ne6 (80…Nh7 81.Ke7 Kh8 82.Ke6 Kg8 83.Ra7 Nf8+ 84.Kf6 Kh8 85.Kf7+–) 81.Ke7 Nc5 82.Kf6 Ne4+ 83.Kxg6 Nxg3 84.Ra7 Kf8 85.Kg5 Kg8 86.Ra3+–

78.Ke6 Kg6 79.Ra8 gxh4 79…Kg7 80.Kf5 Kf7 (80…Kh6 81.Rg8+–) 81.Ra7+ Kg8 82.Kg6 Nf8+ 83.Kxf6 gxh4 84.Rg7+ Kh8 85.gxh4 Nh7+ 86.Kf7 Nf6 87.Rg5+– 80.Rg8+ Kh6 81.gxh4 1-0

E01.19: 46.Nf3? too passive as White will be dominated and be in fatal zugwzang sooner or later. The active 46.Nf5 Rxg2+ 47.Kf3 Rd2 48.Ke3 Rh2 49.Nd6

saves the day, as after 49…Ke6 50.Nb5 Kd7 51.Nc3 Kc6 52.Kd3=, Black has to guard the d5-pawn. 46…Rxg2+ 47.Kf4 Re2!

The mighty rook dominates White’s forces. 48.Ng5 Re7 49.Nf3 Re4+ 50.Kg3 Now Black triangulates to bring White in zugzwang. 50…Kf5 51.Nh4+ Kg5 52.Nf3+ Kf6!

Now White has to make a concession.

53.Kf2 53.c6 Ke7 54.c7 Kd7 55.Kf2 Kxc7 56.Ng5 Re8 57.Nh3 Kc6 58.Nf4 Re4 59.Ne2 Rh4 60.Ke3 Kb5 61.Kd3 Rh3+ 62.Kd2 Kc4–+ 53…Kf5 54.c6 54.Kg3 Re3 55.Kf2 Ke4–+ 54…Re8 55.Ne5?! This allows Black’s king to enter through the front door. But 55.Nd2 does not help either in the long run, e.g., 55…Kf4 (not, however 55…Rc8? 56.Kf3 Rxc6 57.Nf1 Rc3+ 58.Ne3+= and White’s active set-up holds) 56.Nb3 Rc8 57.Nc5 Rxc6 58.Ke2 Rh6 59.Kd3 Rh3+ 60.Kd2 Ra3 61.Ke2 Ra2+ 62.Kd3 Kf3 63.Nb7 Ra1 64.Nd6 Ra3+ 65.Kd2 Rb3 66.Kc2 Rb6 67.Nf5 Ke4–+ 55…Ke4 56.c7 Rc8 57.Nf7 Rxc7 58.Nd6+ Kd3 59.Kf3 Rd7 60.Nf5 Rf7 0-1

E01.20: 56…f2+! The right way to open roads for the rook. 56…Ra5? runs into 57.d7 Ra8 58.Ne6=. And 56…Kg7?? backfires completely of course: 57.Nxh5+ gxh5 58.d7+– 57.Kf1 57.Kxf2 is met by 57…Rf5! (57…Rxh2+? 58.Ke3 Kg7 59.d7 Rh8 60.Ne6+=) 58.Kg3 Rf7 59.Ne6 Kg8 60.Nc5 (60.Kxg4 Rd7–+) 60…Rf5 61.d7 (61.Ne4 Kf7 62.Kxg4 Ke6–+) 61…Rd5–+; 57.Kg2?! runs into 57…Rxh2+ 58.Kxh2 f1Q 59.d7 Qxf4+–+ 57…Rxh2 58.d7 Rh1+? 58…g3! closes the mating net and wins, e.g., 59.d8Q Rh1+ 60.Ke2 f1Q+ 61.Ke3 Qf2+ 62.Ke4 Re1+– + 59.Kxf2 Rd1 60.Ne6! A knightmare for Black. 60…Rxd7 60…c5 61.d8Q Rxd8 62.Nxd8 c4 63.Ne6 c3 64.Nd4= 61.Nf8+ Kg7 62.Nxd7 Kf7 ½-½

E01.21: 68…Ra1+? Now Black cannot win anymore. 68…Kf3! is the way to do it: 69.Ng1+ (69.Kg1 Ra1+ 70.Kh2 Rf1 71.f7 Kg4–+; 69.Ng5+ Ke3 70.f7 Rf2+ 71.Ke1 c5 72.dxc5 bxc5 73.Ne6 Rxf7 74.Nxc5 d4–+; 69.f7?! runs into 69…Ra1#) 69…Ke3 70.Nh3 Rh2 71.f7 Rxh3 72.f8Q Rf3+ 73.Qxf3+ Kxf3–+; 68…Kxh3? 69.f7 Rb2 (69…Ra1+ 70.Kf2 Ra2+ 71.Ke3+–) 70.f8Q Rxb3 71.Qh6+ Kg3 72.Qxc6+– 69.Ke2 Ra2+ 69…Kxh3? 70.f7+–; 69…Kg2? runs into 70.Nf4+ Kg3 71.f7+– 70.Ke1 70.Ke3? Rb2 71.Nf4 (71.f7 Rxb3+ 72.Ke2 Rf3–+) 71…Rxb3+ 72.Nd3 Rb1 73.f7 Rf1 74.Ne5 b5–+ 70…Ra1+ 71.Ke2 Ra2+ 72.Ke1 Ra1+ 73.Ke2 ½-½

E01.22: 47.Kf3? Not like this. 47.Kf1 is called for 47…Nb5 48.Rb4 Nc3 49.Ke1 Nd5 50.Rb7+ Kg8 51.f5 gxf5 52.g6+–; 47.Kf2? is also wrong: 47…b2 48.Rb4 Ne4+ 49.Ke1 d2+ 50.Kd1 Nc3+ 51.Kxd2 b1Q 52.Rxb1 Nxb1+ 53.Kd3= 47…Nb5!

Now Black’s knight has everything under control. 48.Rb4 48.Ke3 b2 49.Rb4 Nc3= (49…Na3=) 48…Nc3 49.Rb7+ Kg8 50.Rb8+ Kh7 51.Ke3 b2 52.Rb7+ Kg8 53.Rb8+ Kh7 ½-½

E01.23: 70…Kg7? This runs into a repetition. The alternative, 70…Rh1!, wins as Black’s king can escape from the danger zone, after 71.Ne8, with 71…Ke7!! (71…b2? 72.Ke6! Kxe8 73.g7 Re1+ 74.Kd6 Rd1+=) 72.g7 b2 73.g8Q (73.g8N+ Kxe8–+) 73…b1Q+ (Baburin in Chess Today 5249) and Black wins the fourth phase of the game as a result of White’s exposed king, e.g., 74.Kf4 Qc1+ 75.Kf3 Qd1+ 76.Kg3 Qd3+ 77.Kg4 Rg1+ 78.Kf4 Rf1+ 79.Kg4 Qf3+ 80.Kh4 Rh1+ 81.Kg5 Rg1+ 82.Kh4 Qh1# 71.Ne8+ Kh8 72.Nd6 Kg7 72…Rf1+ 73.Ke6 b2 74.Nf7+ Rxf7 75.gxf7 b1Q 76.f8Q+ Kxh7=; 72…Rh1 73.Kf6! Rf1+= 73.Ne8+ Kh8 74.Nd6 Kg7 ½-½

E01.24: 94…c2? 94…a2 95.Ra7 Nd3+ 96.Kd1 c2+– + 95.Rc3+ Ka4 96.Rxc2 Kb3 97.Rh2 Nd3+ 98.Kb1 Nb4 99.Rh3+ Ka4 100.Rxa3+ Kxa3 ½-½

E01.25: 93…Rg1+? 93…Rd1 94.Nf7+ (94.d7 Rd5 95.Kf6 Rd6+ 96.Kf5 Rxc6 97.Nxc6+ Kxd7=) 94…Kc8! (94…Ke8? loses DTM in 53 moves) 95.Kf6 Rxd6+ 96.Nxd6+ Kc7=; 93…Kc8= 94.Kf8 Rd1 95.c7+ Kc8 96.Ke7 Rd2 97.Nc4 Re2+ 98.Kf6 Rf2+ 99.Ke6 Re2+ 100.Kd5 Kb7 101.Nb6 Rd2+ 102.Ke6 Rc2 103.c8Q+ 1-0

E01.26: 60.Kd6? One winning line runs 60.Kc6 Kg6 61.Kb7 Rh8 62.Ne4+– 60…Kg6 61.Ne6 61.Ne4 Kf5 62.Kd7 (62.Kd5 Rf8=) 62…Kxe4 63.g6 Kf5= 61…Kf5 62.Kd7 Ra7 63.Kd8 Rxc7 64.Nxc7 Kxg5 ½-½

E01.27: 104.Nd5+! After 104.g3?, the rook can escape from the arms of the knight octopus with 104…Rg8= 104…Kg6 105.g3! Kh6 106.Ne7!

Black is in deadly zugzwang as the knights controls the kingside completely. 106…Rg6 106…Rg7 107.Nf5++– 107.Nxg6 Kxg6 108.f4 1-0

E01.28: 75.Ra3? Now Black’s pawns roll down the board. After 75.h4+! gxh3 76.Kf3!, the pawn wave is broken and White can stop it, e.g., 76…h2 (76…e2 77.Ra1=) 77.Ra1 e2 78.Rh1 (78.Kf2? e1Q+ 79.Rxe1 Nd3+–+) 78…Nh5 79.Kf2 Nf6 80.Kxe2 Ng4 81.Kf3 Kh4 82.Kg2 f4 83.Kf3 (83.Rxh2+? Nxh2 84.Kxh2 f3–+) 83…Kg5 84.Kg2 Kf5 85.Kf3=; 75.Ra8? Ne2+ 76.Kg2 Nd4 77.Rg8+ Kf4 78.Re8 Nf3 79.h3 gxh3+ 80.Kxh3 e2 81.Rxe2 Ng1+–+; 75.Re5? Nd3 76.Re8 f4+ 77.Kg2 e2 78.Rxe2 f3+–+ 75…Ne2+ 76.Kg2 Kf4 76…f4–+ wins as well. 77.Ra4+ 77.Ra2 Nd4 78.Ra4 Ke4–+ 77…Ke5 78.h3 The threat against the knight with 78.Ra2 can be met by 78…f4 79.Rxe2 f3+ 80.Kf1 fxe2+ 81.Kxe2 Ke4 82.Ke1 Kf3 83.Kf1 e2+ 84.Ke1 Ke3 85.h4 g3–+ 78…Nf4+ 79.Kg3 e2! 80.Ra5+ 80.Kf2 g3+ 81.Ke1 g2 82.Ra5+ Nd5 83.Kf2 g1Q+ 84.Kxg1 e1Q+–+ 80…Ke4 81.Ra4+ Ke3 82.Ra1 82.Rxf4 e1Q+–+ 82…gxh3 83.Kh2 Nd3 0-1

E02.01: 1.Kf5! 1.Rf7? Kg8 2.Ke6 Bg5= 1…Kg8 2.Ra4! Be1 2…Bf2 3.Kg6 Kf8 4.Rf4++–; 2…Bg3 3.Rg4++–; 2…Bd8 3.Ra8+–; 2…Be7 3.Kg6 Kf8 4.Ra8++– 3.Kg6 Kf8 4.Rf4+ Ke7 5.Re4++–

E02.02: 1.Rc3! 1.Rd3? Bc1! 2.Rd7+ Kg8 3.Kg6 Kf8 4.Kf6 Bb2+= 1…Bd2 1…Bf4 2.Rf3 Bd6 3.Rf7+ Kg8 4.Kg6+–; 1…Bg7 2.Rc7 Kg8 3.Kg6+– 2.Rc7+ Kg8 3.Kg6 Kf8 4.Kf6 Ke8 5.Ke6 Kf8 5…Kd8 6.Rd7++– 6.Rf7+ Ke8 6…Kg8 7.Kf6 Bc3+ 8.Kg6+– 7.Rf2 Be3 8.Re2 Bh6 9.Rh2 Bg7 10.Ra2 Kd8 11.Ra8+ Kc7 12.Ra7++–

E02.03: 110.Ke1? 110.Be2! Ke4 111.Kf1 Ke3 112.Bh5= (112.Bg4 Rf2+ 113.Kg1!=) 110…Ke3 111.Be6 111.Kf1 Rf2+! 112.Kg1 Kf3 113.Bd5+ Kg3–+ 111…Rd6 112.Bf7 Rd7 113.Be6 Re7 114.Bb3 Rb7 115.Bc2 Ra7 116.Bd1 116.Kd1 Ra1+–+ 116…Ra1 0-1

E02.04: White’s king is in the dangerous corner, so Black’s winning plan is to sacrifice the g-pawn: 11…g2!? 12.Kh2 12.Bxg2 Kg3 13.Bf1 Rb1–+ 12…Rb6 12…Rf2 13.Bd5 g1Q+ 14.Kxg1 Kg3 wins as well. 13.Bxg2 13.Bd5 Rb5 14.Bc6 Rg5 15.Bxg2 Rh5+ 16.Kg1 Kg3 17.Kf1 Rf5+–+ 13…Rh6+ 14.Kg1 Kg3 0-1 and White resigned as his king is caught in the dangerous corner, e.g., 15.Bd5 Rd6 16.Bb3 Rd3 17.Bc2 Rc3 18.Bd1 Rc1–+

E02.05: 8.Re7!? is the elegant finish of the game and 8.Re2 is the other winning move, e.g., 8…Kf5 9.Rg2 Bg7 10.Kf2 Kf4 11.Rg3 Kf5 12.Kg2 Kf6 13.Kh3 Bh6 14.Kh4 Kg7 15.Kh5+– 1-0

E02.06: 67.Rg8! Black’s counterplay can only be controlled like this. 67…Bf5 67…Bh5?! 68.Rg5++– 68.Rg5 Kf6 69.Rh5 Bc8 69…Kg6 70.Rh8 Kg7 71.Rb8 Kf6 72.Kd4 Bg6 73.Kd5 Bd3 74.Rf8++– 70.Rb5 Bd7 71.Ra5 Bc8 72.Rb5 After 72.Kd4? Bb7 73.Ra3 Kf5= Black is too active and has a typical drawing set-up. 72…Bd7 73.Rc5 Ke6 74.Kd4 Kd6 75.Ra5 Bc6 76.Ra6 Kd7 77.Rxc6 1-0

E02.07: 67…Rh4! The right way to start. As 67…Rg4? is met by 68.Be1 Re4 69.Bg3 Re7 70.Bd6 Rh7 71.Kc4= 68.Be1 Rg4! 69.Bd2 Re4

White is in deadly zugzwang. 70.Bh6 70.Kd5 Re2 71.Bf4 Kb5–+ 70…Re2 71.Bg7 Rc2+ 72.Kd4 Rc3 73.Be5 Kb5 74.Bd6 Rxb3 0-1

E02.08: 102.Rb6 102.Rb8+ Kf7 103.Rb7+ Kf8 104.Rxg7 Kxg7 105.Kd5+–; 102.Kd5? Bc3= 102…Kf7 103.Rb7+ Kg8 104.Rxg7+ Kxg7 105.Kd5 Kf7 1-0

E02.09: 54…Rd2! 55.Kc1 Kc3 56.Bc6 Rh2? This lets the king escape. Black wins with 56…Rd8 57.Bb5 (57.Bf3 Kb3 58.Bd1+ Kb4 59.Bc2 Kc3 60.Kb1 Rb8+ 61.Kc1 Rh8–+) 57…Kb3

and White is in fatal zugzwang. 57.Kd1 Kb3 58.Bb5 Kb2 59.Ke1 Kc1 60.Bc6 Rd2 61.Bb5 Kc2

62.Kf1? It is a mistake to allow Black’s king to come closer. 62.Bc6 or 62.Be8 is called for. 62…Rd6? Black misses his chance. 62…Kd1 wins, e.g., 63.Bc6 Rd6 64.Bb5 Rf6+ 65.Kg2 Kc2 66.Kg3 Kb3 67.Kg4 Rf2 68.Kg3 Ra2 69.Kf3 Rxa4–+ 63.Ke2 Re6+ 64.Kf3 Kc3 65.Kf4 Kb3 66.Kf3 Re7 67.Kf4 Kb4 68.Kf3 Kc3 69.Kf4 Kd2 70.Kf3 Re3+

71.Kf4! Hirschberg defends well and does not allow White to cut off his king very far away. 71…Re7 72.Kf3 Rf7+ 73.Ke4! Kc3 74.Ke3 Re7+ 75.Kf4 Re1 76.Kf3 Kb3

77.Kf2?? Most probably a result of fatigue after the long defense, Hirschberg blunders. After 77.Kf4, Black cannot win as White’s king is back in the corner just in time after 77…Ra1 78.Ke3 Rxa4 79.Bxa4+ Kxa4 80.Kd2 Kb3 81.Kc1= Chess really is a deep and rich game. Sometimes the defending king must leave the corner to breathe freely and sometimes it must be able to run into the corner as quickly as possible. 77…Re4 78.Kf1 Rxa4 79.Bxa4+ Kxa4 80.Ke1 Kb3 0-1

E02.10: 77.Kc7!? Ba6 77…Bf5?! 78.Rf4+– 78.Re3 Kg7 78…Bf1?! 79.Rf3++– 79.Rxh3 Kg6 80.Kd6 Kg5 81.Ke5 Be2 82.Rg3+ Kh6 83.Kf5 Bd1 84.Rh3+ Kg7 85.Kg5 Be2 86.Re3 Bd1 87.Re7+ 87.Rc3!? Kf7 88.Rc7+ Kg8 89.Kg6 Kf8 90.Rc8+ Ke7 91.h4+– 87…Kf8 88.Kf6 Kg8 89.Kg6 Bc2+ 90.Kh6 Kf8 91.Rg7 Bd3 92.Rg5 Kf7 93.Rg3 Bc2 94.Rg7+ Kf8 95.Rg2 Be4 96.Rg4 Bc2 97.Rg5!? Karjakin prepares to free his king. Of course not 97.h4 Bd3 98.h5? Kf7= 97…Kf7 98.Kh5 Kf6 99.Kg4 1-0

E02.11: 95.Re6 Zugzwang. White to move by the way would also be winning, but it would last much longer. 95…Bd2 96.Rxe5+ Kf6 97.Rf5+ Kg6 98.Kh4 Be1+ 99.Kh3 Bd2 100.Kg3 Be1+ 101.Kf3 Bd2 102.Ke4 Bc1 103.Kd5 Bd2 104.Ke6 Bc1 105.Rc5 Be3 106.Rc8 Kg7 107.Kf5 1-0

E02.12: 63.Rc8+? 63.Rd8! Kc6 (63…c2 64.Rc8++–) 64.Rc8+ Bc7 65.e7 c2 66.e8Q++– 63…Kd4 64.Rd8 Ke5 Mutual zugzwang. 65.Rc8 Kd4 66.Kf6 Ba3 67.Kf5 Kd3 68.Kf4 c2 69.Kf3 Kd2 70.Rd8+ Ke1 71.Rc8 Kd2 72.Rxc2+ ½-½

E02.12: 90…Ka6? 90…Bg6! 91.Rd8 (91.Rd6 Bf5 92.Kc4 Bg6=) 91…Ka4 92.Kc4 Ka5= 91.Rd7 Zugzwang 1-0

E02.14: 64…Kg4? Now White’s powerplay will win. The pawn must be given up with 64…e2 65.Re1 Bd2 66.Rxe2 Bb4 as the cut off along the e-file is insufficient as Baranov has demonstrated, e.g., 67.Kd5 Kf6! 68.Re6+ Kf7! 69.Re4 Kf6 70.Kc6 Kf7 71.Kd7 Kf6! 72.Re6+ Kf5!= 65.Ke4 Bg5 66.Rg1+ Kh5 67.Kf5 Be7 68.Rh1+ Bh4 69.Rh2 1-0

E02.15: 71.Kh6? 71.Kh4! Kf4 (71…Rh8+ 72.Kg3 Kxe6 73.Kf3=; 71…Kxe6?? even backfires: 72.Bc4++–) 72.Kh5 Rg7 73.Bd7= 71…Kf6 72.Kh7 72.Kh5 Rg5+ 73.Kh4 Rxb5 74.axb5 Kxe6 75.Kg3 Kd6 76.Kf3 a4–+; 72.Bd3 Rg4–+ 72…Rg1 73.Bd7 Rh1+ 74.Kg8 Rh4 75.Bb5 Kxe6 76.Kg7 76.Kf8 Rg4 77.Bc6 Kd6 78.Bb5 Rb4 79.Be8 (79.Ke8 Rxb5 80.axb5 Kc5 81.Kd7 Kxb5–+) 79…Rb8 80.Kf7 Rxe8 81.Kxe8 Kc5–+ 76…Rf4 77.Be8 Kd6 78.Kg6 Kc5 79.Kg5 Rf8 80.Bb5 Kb4 0-1 in view of 81.Bc6 Rf2 82.Kg4 Ra2 83.Kf3 Rxa4 84.Bxa4 Kxa4 85.Ke2 Kb3 86.Kd2 Kb2–+

E02.16: 46.a4 46.a3 wins as well. 46…Bd4 47.Rh3 Ke5 47…Kg4 48.Rd3 Bc5 49.a5 h3 50.Kf1!+– 48.Rxh4 Kd5 49.Kd3 Bf2 50.Rh5+ Kc6 51.Rb5 Bc5 52.Kc4 Bb6 53.a5 Bc7 54.a6 Bb6 55.Rxb4 Kc7 56.Kd5 1-0

E02.17: 57…Ba1! The bishop must hide from a rook attack so this is mutual zugzwang. 57…Ka3? 58.Rh8 g6 59.Rh6+–; 57…Bb2? 58.Rh8 g6 59.Rb8 Be5 60.hxg6+– 58.Rh8 g6 59.Rh6 gxh5 60.Rxh5 Bf6 61.Rh3 Bg7 62.Rf3 Bh8 63.Rg3 Bf6 64.Rh3 Bg7 65.Rf3 Bh8 66.Rf2 Ka3 67.Kb5 Bc3 68.Rf3 Kb3 ½-½

E02.18: 1.Rg6! 1.Rg7? Bc5 2.Rg2 Kh5 3.Ka2 Bd6= 1…Bc5 2.Ka2!!

Deadly zugzwang! 2…Kh3 2…Kh5 3.Rg3 Kh4 4.Rxa3+– 3.Rg5 Bd6 3…Kh4 4.Rxc5 bxc5 5.Kxa3 Kg4 6.Ka4+–

4.Rb5 Bc5 5.Rxc5+–

E02.19: 65.c3! The pawn must move to a dark square so that no counterplay is possible. Next White wins using typical techniques: 65.Rh6+? Kd5 66.Ke3 b4= 65…Bg6 66.Rh6 Kf6 67.Rh8 Bf7 68.Rb8 Bc4 69.Rb6+ Kf7 70.Kg5 Be2 71.Rd6 Ke7 72.Rd2 Bf3 73.Rd3 Bg4 74.Rd5 Bd7 75.Kxh5 Bc6 76.Rd4 Ke6 77.Kg4 Ke5 78.Kg3 Bd5 79.Kf2 Kd6 80.Ke3 Kc5 81.Rh4 Ba2 82.Kd2 Be6 83.Kc1 Bd7 84.Kb2 Be6 85.Ka3 Bg8 86.Rh8 Be6 87.Re8 Bd7 88.Re7 1-0

E02.20: 79…Bd3? 79…Kg5 80.Rxa6 f4 81.Ra5+ Bf5= 80.Ke3 Bf1 81.Kf4 Ke6 82.Ra8 Bb5 83.Rb8 Bd3 84.Rb3 Bc4 85.Re3+ Kd6 86.Kxf5 Kc5 87.Re8 a5 88.Ra8 Kb4 89.Ke5 a4 90.Kd4 Be2 91.Ke3 Bb5 92.Kd2 a3 93.Kc2 Bd7 94.Kb1 Be6 95.Re8 Bd7 96.Re4+ Kc5 97.Ka2 Kd5 98.Re3 Kd4 99.Re7 Bf5 100.Kxa3 Kd5 101.Kb4 Be6 102.Kc3 Ke5 103.Kd3 Kf6 104.Ra7 Kg5 105.Ke3 Kf5 106.Kf3 Bd5+ 107.Kf2 Be6 108.Ra5+ Kg4 109.Rc5 Bb3 110.Re5 Bg8 111.Re4+ Kg5 112.g4 Kh4 113.Ke3 Kg5 114.Rd4 Be6 115.Kf3 Kh4 116.Kf4 Bxg4 117.Rd8 1-0

E02.21: 8…Kf5! The king must come back to deal with the c-pawn. Of course not 8…h1Q? 9.Bxh1 Rxh1 10.Kd5= 9.Kd5 Rd1+ 10.Kc5 Ke6 11.Bh3+ Ke5 12.f4+ Kxf4 13.Bg2 Ke5 14.c7 Rc1+ 0-1

E02.22: 61.h5 Of course not 61.f5? gxf5 62.Kxf5 Bb3= 61…gxh5 61…Bxh5 62.f5 Bf3 63.f6+ Kh7 (63…Kg8 64.Kh6 Bg4 65.Rb7+–) 64.Rc4 Be2 65.Rh4+ Bh5 66.Rh1 Kg8 67.Kh6 Kf8 68.Rb1 Ke8 69.Kg7 g5 70.Rb5+– 62.f5 Bb3 62…Bg4 63.f6+ Kf8 64.Kh6+– 63.f6+ Kh7 64.Kxh5 Bd5 65.Kg5 Be6 66.Rc2 Bd5 67.Rh2+ Kg8 68.Kf4 1-0

E02.23: 62…Bg3? The bishop can reach the long diagonal sooner or later with 62…Be1! 63.Rc6+ Kf7 64.Ke5 Ba5! 65.Rf6+ Kg7 66.Ke6 Bc3! 67.Rf7+ Kg8= (Lukacs in CBM 103) 63.Rc6+ Kg7 64.Ke5 h4 64…Bh4 65.Ke6 Kf8 66.Rc8+ Kg7 67.Rb8 67…Bg3 68.Rb7+ Kg8 69.Kf6 Bxf4 70.Kxg6+– 65.Rc7+ Kh6 66.Rc4 Kg7 67.Ke6 Bh2 68.Rc7+ Kh6 69.Kf7 1-0 and Kramnik resigned because of 69…Bxf4 70.Rc6 Kg5 71.Rxg6+ Kh5 72.Kf6+–

E02.24: 70…Bb2? 70…Be3!! 71.Kf6 Kh7 72.Rg4 Kh6 73.Rxg6+ Kh5 74.Rg3 Bb6!! 75.Rh3 Kg4 76.Rh1 Bd8+= 71.Rc2? 71.Rg4 Kh7 72.Kf7 Kh6 73.Rxg6+ Kh5 74.Rg2 Bc3 75.Rh2 Be1 76.Kf6+– 71…Bd4 72.Rg2 Kh7 73.Rg4 Bf2? 73…Bc3 74.Kf7 Kh6 75.Rxg6+ Kh5 76.Rg3 Be1 77.Rh3 Bxh4= 74.Kf6 Kh6 75.Rxg6+ Kh5 76.Rg2 Be1 77.Rh2 Ba5 78.Kf5 Bb6 79.Rb2 Be3 80.Re2 Bb6 81.Rh2 Bc5 82.Rh1 Bb6 83.Rb1 Be3 84.Rb3 Bc5 85.Rb5 Bf2 86.Rb2 Bc5 87.Rc2 Bb6 88.Kf4 Bd8 89.Rc8 Bf6 90.Re8? 90.Rc7 Bd4 91.Kf5 +– 90…Kxh4 91.Rg8 Kh5? 91…Kh3 92.Kf3 Kh2 93.Kf2 Bd4+= 92.Kf5 Bd4 93.Rg4 Bc5 94.Rc4 Bd6 95.Rc6 Bb4 96.Ra6 Bc5 97.Ra5 Bb6 98.Rb5 Bf2 99.Rb2 Bg3 100.Rb1 1-0

E02.25: 52.Kc7! Bxb7 53.Kd6! A direct switchback of the king! Usually this only occurs in studies. 53…Kb6 54.Kxe6 Kc5 55.Kf6 Bd5 55…Kd4 56.e6 Ke3 57.e7 Bc6 58.Rxg2+– 56.Rg3 Kc6 57.Ke7 Kc5 58.e6 Kc6 59.Kf6 Kd6 60.e7 Kd7 61.Rxg2!? Bxg2 62.Kf7 Bd5+ 63.Kf8 1-0

E02.26: Surprisingly Black wins now: 44…h5! After 44…Ra2?, White is too active: 45.Ke4 Rxa5 46.Kf5 Ra2 47.e4 Re2 48.Be8= 45.a6 h4 46.a7 46.e4 Ke5–+ 46…Ra2 47.a8Q Rxa8 48.Bxa8 h3 49.e4 Ke5! The point of Black’s play. 49…h2? 50.e5+ Kxe5 51.d6+– 50.d6 0-1 and White resigned in view of 50…h2 51.d7 h1Q 52.d8Q Qd1+– +

E02.27: 46.g5? In the race the bishop will equal the rook because of its long range capabilities. Against the prophylactic 46.Kd3, Black has no defense, e.g., 46…Kb4 (46…Kd6 47.g5 Ke5 48.f6 gxf6 49.g6+–) 47.g5 Kb3 48.Rb8+ Now the rook can demonstrate its superiority. 48…Ka2 49.Kc2+– 46…Kc4! Bodycheck! 47.f6 47.Ra7 Kb3 48.Kd3 a2 49.Rb7+ Ka3 50.Kc4 Be5= (50…a1Q?? 51.Ra7#) 47…gxf6 48.gxf6 48.g6 f5+ 49.Kxf5 Kb3= 48…Bxf6 49.Rxa3 Kc5 ½-½

E02.28: 50…Kf6! The rook invades to e3 followed by Black’s king. After 50…Rh2?! 51.Bd1 Rb2 52.Bc2 Ra2 53.Bd1 Ra1 54.Be2, there is no direct way to win. 51.Kd2 Re7 52.Bd1 Re3 and White resigned because of 53.Kc1 Ke5 54.Kc2 Kd4 55.Kd2 Rd3+ 56.Kc2 Rxd1 57.Kxd1 Kc3–+ 0-1

E03.01: 80…Nh2? 80…Kf7! 81.Ra8 Ne5 82.Ra7+ Nfd7=; 80…Nf2? 81.Kf6 Ng4+ 82.Ke7+– 81.Kf4 Kf7 82.Re2 Nf1 83.Rf2 Kf6 84.Rxf1 1-0

E03.02: 51.Rg7? The rook must break free with 51.Rf5! (DTC 17 moves) 51…Kd5 (51…Nh6 52.Rf4+ Ke3 53.Kg3+–; 1…Nd6 52.Rf1 Ne4 53.h6 Ng5 54.Rf5+–) 52.Rf6! Ng5 53.Ra6+–; 51.Rg8? Nh6 (51…Ke4 52.Kg3 Nh6 53.Rg7 Ke3=) 52.Rd8+ Ke4 53.g5 Nf5 54.Kh3 Kf4= 51…Ke4 52.g5 Kf5 53.g6 Kf6 54.Rg8 Nh6 55.Rh8 Kg5 56.g7 Neg4 57.Kf3 Nf6 58.Ra8 Kxh5 59.Ra5+ ½-½

E04.01: 82.Kf6!? 1-0 and Black is in deadly zugzwang and resigned.

E04.02: 57…Rf8! and a draw was agreed in view of 58.Bd7 Rf7 59.Bc8 Rf8 60.Ba6 Rg8= ½-½

E04.03: 77…Rg7? Only 77…Rg1! 78.Bg5 Kf8 79.Kg6 Ke8 80.Kf6+ Kd7 81.Bf7 Re1= saves the day. 78.Bg5 Kf8 79.Bg4 Ra7 79…Kf7 80.Bxe6++– 80.Bxe6 Rb7 81.Kg6 Rg7+ 82.Kf6 Rf7+ 83.Ke5 Ra7 84.Bh6+ Ke8 85.f5 Rh7 86.Be3 Rh3 87.Bf4 Rh7 88.f6 Rh5+ 89.Ke4 Rh7 90.Kf5 1-0

E04.04: 67…Bg5! 68.Kf2 68.Rg8 Bf4+ 69.Kg4 Bxb7–+ 68…Be7 0-1 because of 69.Re8 Bc5+ 70.Ke2 Bxb7–+

E04.05: 50…Ra1 50…Ke3? 51.Bf2+ Ke4 52.Bxg4+– 51.Bxg4 Ke3 52.Be2 Rb1 53.Bg4 Rc1 54.Be6 Rd1 55.g4 Rd6 56.Bc8 Kf3 57.Bf5 Rd4 58.Be6 Rxg4 59.Bxg4+ Kxg4 ½-½

E04.06 : 45…Ra5! 46.g6 46.Bh4 Ra2+ 47.Kf3 Ra3 48.Ke4 Kf7 49.Kxd4 Ra4+ 50.Bc4+ Kg6 51.Kd5 Kh5= 46…Ra2+ 47.Kf1 Ra1+ 48.Kg2 Ra3 49.Be4 Ra4 50.Bc6 Ra5 51.Bh4 51.Be4 Ra4 52.Bh4 d3 53.g7 Kf7= 51…d3 52.Be8 Ra7 ½-½

E04.07: 81.Bg5? 81.Bd6! wins DTC in 21 moves, e.g., 81…Kf6 82.e5+ Kg5 83.Bd7 h3 84.e6 h2+ 85.Kh1 Kh4 86.e7+– 81…Re2 82.Bf5 h3! 83.Bf4 Kf6 mutual zugzwang or 83…Ke8 mutual zugzwang 84.Kh1 Rf2 85.Bg3 Rxf5 86.exf5 Kxf5 87.Kh2 ½-½

E05.01: 46…Be1! and a draw was agreed because of 47.h5+ 47.g5 Bxh4=; 47.Rh8 Kg7= 47…Nxh5 48.Ra6+ Nf6= ½-½

E05.02: 62.Rxa4? was a mistake because 62.d6! wins, e.g., 62…Kd5 63.Ke7 Kxe5 64.Rxa4 Nxa4 65.d7+– 62…Kxd5 62…Nxa4? 63.e6+– 63.Ra5+ Ke6 64.Kc7 Nd5+ 65.Kb7 Nf4 66.Kc7 Nd3 ½-½

E05.03: 64…Rd3+? 64…Kf6 65.Be3 g5–+ wins in the long run. 65.Be3+ Kf6 66.Nf4 Ra3 67.Nh3 Ke5 68.Kf2 Rc3 69.Ke2 Ra3 70.Kf2 Ra4 71.Kf3 Rb4 72.Nf4 ½-½

E05.04: 61.Kd1? The direct 61.Rc7 Ba6 (61…Bb7 62.Rxb7 Nxb7 63.a6+–) 62.b7 does the job because 62…Bxb7 (62…Nxb7 63.Rc6+ Kd7 64.Rxa6 Kc7 65.Kd2 Nc5 66.Rb6 Nb7 67.Rb5 Kc6 68.a6+–) 63.Rxb7 Nxb7 64.a6 Kd7 65.a7+–; 61.Rg7 and 61.Rh7 win as well. 61…Kd5 62.Rc7 Ba6 63.Kc2 Nb7 64.Kc3 Nxa5 65.Ra7 Kc5 66.Rxa6 Nb7 67.Ra1 Kxb6 68.Kd4 Kc6 69.Rh1 Nd6 70.Rh6 Kd7 71.Kd5 Nf7 72.Rg6 Ke7 73.Ra6 Ng5 74.Rc6 Nf7 75.Rg6 Kd7 76.Re6 Ng5 77.Re1 Nf7 78.Re3 Ng5 79.Ke5 Nf7+ 80.Kf6 Nd6 81.Rd3 Kc6 82.Ke6 Nc4 83.Rd5 Nb6 84.Rd1 Nc4 85.Rc1 Kc5 86.Rxc4+ Kxc4 ½-½

E05.05: 55.g6?! wins as well but in 46 moves DTC. 55.Re2!? Nd6+ (55…Ng7+ 56.Kg6 Bf4 57.Kxg7 Bxg5 58.Re5++–) 56.Kg4 Nf7 57.Kxg3 Nxg5 58.Re5++– 55…Be1 56.Rd8? 56.Rc2 is called for. 56…Ng7+ 57.Kf6 Bc3+ 58.Kf7 Bb2 59.Rg8 Nf5 60.Rc8+ Kd6 61.Rb8 Bc3 62.Rb5 Ng7 63.Rd5+ Kc6 64.Ke7 Bb4+ 65.Kf7 Bc3 66.Rb5 Bd4 67.Rb1 Nf5 68.Rd1 Bc3 69.Rf1 Ng7 70.Rf3 Bb2 71.Rh3 Nf5 72.Rh5 Nd6+ 73.Kf8 Nxc4 74.g7 Bxg7+ 75.Kxg7 Kd6 76.Kf6 Nb6 ½-½

E05.06: 57.Ke2? 57.d6+ Ke6 58.Rc7 Nb5 59.a6 Kxd6 60.Rb7 Kc6 61.Rxb5 Kxb5 62.a7+– 57…Bd6 58.Rc6 Nxc6 ½-½

E05.07: 81.Re4! The only way to draw. After 81.c6?, the two pieces always manage to coordinate: 81…Kf3 82.Re1 (82.Rd2 Nf1 83.Rd7 h2 84.Rh7 Ne3 85.Ke6 Kg2 86.Kd7 Nd5 87.Rg7+ Bg3–+) 82…Ng4+ 83.Ke7 Ne3 84.Kd7 Nd5 85.Rf1+ Kg3 86.Rd1 h2 87.Rb1 Kg2 88.Rb2+ Kh3 89.Rb3+ Bg3 90.Rb1 Kg2 91.Rb2+ Bf2 92.Rb1 Bg1 93.Rb2+ Kf3 94.c7 Nxc7 95.Rxh2 Bxh2 –+

81…Kf3 82.Kf5? Now White’s rook is outnumbered and outgunned. The direct sacrifice 82.Rxf4+! leads to a drawn pawn race: 82…Kxf4 83.c6 Ng4+ 84.Ke6 Domination! 84…h2 85.c7 h1Q 86.c8Q Qe4+ 87.Kd6= 82…Bg3! 83.Re7 83.c6 is met by 83…Nf1! 84.Rh4 (84.Rc4 Ne3+–+) 84…Ne3+ (84…Bxh4 wins as well, e.g., 85.c7 h2 86.c8Q Ng3+ (86…h1Q?? 87.Qb7+ Ke2 88.Qxh1 Ng3+ 89.Kg4 Nxh1 90.Kxh4=) 87.Ke5 h1Q–+) 85.Ke6 h2 86.Rh3 Kg2 87.Rxg3+ Kxg3 88.c7 h1Q 89.c8Q Qh3+–+ 83…Ng4 84.Rh7 h2 85.c6 Ne3+ 86.Ke6 Kg2 87.Kd7 87.c7 is met by 87…Bxc7 88.Rxc7 h1Q–+ 87…Nd5!

The knight establishes a blockade and makes the numerical superiority of Black’s army felt. Of course not 87…h1Q?? 88.Rxh1 Kxh1 89.c7 Nd5 90.c8Q Nb6+ 91.Kd8 Nxc8 92.Kxc8= 88.Ke6 Nc7+ 0-1

E05.08: 49.Re3! White’s rook must be activated. 49.Rh3? Nf7 50.Rh5 (50.d6 Ke6–+; 50.Rd3 Ng5 51.Rd2 Bc4 52.Rd1 Nf7 53.Rd2 Ke7–+) 50…Ke7 51.Rf5 Ba2 52.Ke3 b4 53.cxb4 cxb4 54.Kd4 Nd6 55.Rf2 (55.Rf4 Nb5+ 56.Kd3 b3–+) 55…b3 56.Rb2 Kd7 57.Kc5 Ne4+ 58.Kd4 Nf6 59.Rd2 Kd6 60.Rh2 Nxg4 61.Re2 Ne5 62.Rf2 h5 63.Rf6+ Kd7 64.Kxe5 b2–+. 49.Rd2? Bc4 50.Rd1 Nf7 51.d6 Ke6 52.d7 Ke7 53.Ke4 Be6–+

49…Bxd5 50.Re5 Bb7 50…Bg2 51.Rxc5 Nc4 52.Rh5 Kg6 53.Rh2 Bd5 54.Re2 Nxa5 55.Rd2 Be6 56.Rd6= 51.Rxc5 Nc4 52.Rc7 Nxa5 53.Rh7 Kg6 54.Rd7 White’s active rook cannot be defeated. 54…Bc8 55.Rd8 Be6 55…Bb7 56.Rd6+ Kg7 57.Rd7+= 56.Rd6 Kf6 57.Rxa6 Nc4 58.Rc6 Ne5 59.Rb6 and a draw was agreed. One sample line runs: 59…Nxg4 60.Rxb5 Nf2 61.Rh5 Kg6 62.Rb5 h5 63.Rb6 Kf7 64.Rxe6 Kxe6 65.Kg5 ½-½

E05.09: 61…Nf5? This loses coordination. 61…Bf5! 62.Re5 Kf6 63.Ra5 Nh5 wins in the long run. 62.Kg4 Kh6 63.Re5 Bh7 64.Re6+ Bg6 65.Re5 Bh7 66.Re6+ Bg6 ½-½

E05.10: 78.Ke3? This retreat is too passive. The active 78.Ke5 saves the day, e.g., 78…g3 (78…Kd8 79.Rxd7+ Kxd7 80.Kf4=) 79.Rc2 (79.Rc3? g2 80.Rg3 g1Q 81.Rxg1 Nf3+– +) 79…Bh3 80.Kf4 g2 81.Rxg2 Ne6+ 82.Kg3= 78…Nh3 79.Ra7 Kd6 80.Ra6+ Bc6 81.Ke2 Kc5 82.Ra3 Kd4 83.Rb3 Bd5 84.Ra3 Bf3+ 85.Kd2 Bc6 86.Rc3 Be4 87.Ra3 Nf4 88.Ke1 Nd3+ 89.Kd2 Ke5 90.Ke3 Nf4 91.Kf2 Nh5 92.Rc3 Kf4 93.Rc7 g3+ 94.Kg1 Kg4 95.Rc8 Nf4 96.Rg8+ Bg6 97.Kf1 Kf3 98.Rf8 Be4 99.Kg1 Ke3 100.Rg8 Nh3+ 101.Kf1 Kf3 102.Rf8+ Kg4 103.Rg8+ Ng5 104.Kg1 Bd5 105.Rg6 0-1

E06.01: 3.Nd6+ Kb8 54.c7+ 1-0 and Black resigned in view of 54…Rxc7 55.Rd8+ Rc8 56.Rxc8#. 54.Rb7+ Ka8 55.c7 wins as well.

E06.02: 69.Ra2? After 69.Kg3!, Black’s king is surprisingly mated in the other corner: 69…Rg4+ (69…Rxc5 70.Rh2+ g1 71.Nf3+ Kf1 72.Rf2#) 70.Kxg4 Kxg2 71.Nf3 a2 (71…Kf2 72.Nd4 Ke3 73.Nc2+ Ke4 74.c6+–) 72.Ne1+ Kf1 73.Nc2 Ke2 74.c6 Kd2 75.Na1 Kc3 76.c7 Kb2 77.c8Q Kxa1 78.Qc1# 69…Rc3+? The pawn had to be taken with 69…Rxc5! and Black’s king survives, e.g., 70.Ne4 Rf5+ 71.Kg3 Kg1 72.Ra1+ Rf1 73.Rxa3 Rf8 74.Ng5 Kf1 75.Re3 Rg8 76.Re5 Rg6= 70.Kf2 Rb3 70…Rxc5 71.Nf3 Rc1 72.Kg3+– 71.Nf3 Rb1 71…Rb2+ 72.Rxb2 axb2 73.Nd2+– 72.Kg3 1-0

E06.03: 57…Rd7+! 57…Nf4? 58.b4 Rb6 59.a3 Rb8 60.Kg7= is objectively only drawn. 58.Kg8 Rd8+ 58…Rxh7? 59.Kxh7 Kg4 60.Kg6 Kxh4 61.Kf6= 59.Kf7 Rd7+?! Black should win the rook with 59…Rf8+ 60.Ke7 Kg6–+ 60.Kg8 Rd2? This misses the last chance for 60…Rd8+ 61.Kf7 Rf8+ 62.Ke7 Kg6–+ 61.Kf7 Nf4 61…Rxb2 62.Rh5+ Kg4 63.Ra5 Rb6 (63…Nc7 64.h5 Rb6 65.a4 Kh4 66.Rf5 Kg4 67.Rf6 Rxf6+ 68.Kxf6 Kxh5 69.Ke7=) 64.h5 Ng5+ 65.Ke7 Kxh5 66.Kd7=; 61…Rd7+ 62.Kg8 would only be drawn because of the threefold repetition. 62.Rh6 Rd7+ 63.Ke8 Ra7 64.Kd8 Ne6+ ½-½

E06.04: 90.c7? Passed pawns must be pushed is another endgame guideline, but here 90.Rc4! has priority: 90…f2 91.c7 f1Q 92.c8Q

and White will win the fourth phase of the game, as Black’s exposed king cannot find shelter: 92…Qf7+ 93.Rc7 Qf2+ 94.Rc5+ This countercheck decides the day. 94…Kf4 (94…Kd6 95.Qc7+ Ke6 96.Qe5+ Kf7 97.Nd4

All White’s pieces enter the attack according to the famous rule: “Invite everyone to the party.” 97…Qf6 98.Rc7+ Kg6 99.Qe4+ Kh5 100.Rh7+ Kg5 101.Qh4+ Kg6 102.Qh6#) 95.Qf8+ Kg3 96.Qd6+ Kg2 97.Nd4 Qf7+ 98.Rc7+– 90…Rc3! Of course now Black’s rook moves behind the passed pawn. 91.Kb7 Rxc2 92.Rxa4 f2 93.Ra1 Ke4 94.c8Q ½-½

E07.01: 1.Rc7+! 1.Ke6? Rc1! 2.Rg7 Rc2 3.Bf4 Rc4=; 1.Kc6? Rc1+ 2.Kd6 Rc2=; 1.Kd6? Rc1= 1…Kd8 2.Kd6!! Rh1 2…Rxe5 3.Ra7!+–; 2…Rd1+ 3.Ke6! Rd2 4.Rc4 Ke8 5.Rh4 Rf2 6.Rh7+–; 2…Re2 3.Rc1 Rd2+ 4.Ke6!+– 3.Bf6+! Ke8 4.Ke6! Re1+ 5.Be5! Rd1 5…Kd8 6.Rc2 Re4 7.Rh2 Kc8 8.Rb2!+– 6.Bc3+–

E07.02: 1…Ra7 1…Rb5? was the game: 2.Kg5! Rb2?! (2…Rb8 3.Rh6+ Kg7 4.Rh7+! Kg8 5.Re7! Kh8 6.Be6 Rb7 7.Re8+ Kg7 8.Rg8+! Kh7 9.Kf6!+–) 3.Kf6 Rh2 4.Rg3 Rf2 5.Rh3+ 1-0 2.Ke5 Rg7 3.Ra6 3.Rh6+ Kg8! 4.Be6+ Kf8! 5.Kf6 Rf7+!= 3…Kg8 4.Bg6 4.Ke6 Rf7= 4…Kf8!=

E07.03: 94.Rf3+? 94.Rh3! Bh4 (94…Rg5+ 95.Kf1 Bd2 96.Rxh6=) 95.Kf3! Kg5 96.Rh2! (96.Rh1? Kg6 97.Kg4 Rg5+ 98.Kh3 Kh5–+) 96…Kg6 (96…Kf5 97.Rh3!=) 97.Kg4 Rg5+ 98.Kxh4 Rh5+ 99.Kg3= 94…Kg4 95.Re3 Bd2 96.Rg3+ Kf4 97.Rf3+ Ke4 98.Rh3 Rf5 99.Ra3 and a draw was agreed, but Black is winning, e.g., 99…Rg5+ 100.Kh2 100.Kf2 Bf4 101.Ra4+ Kf5 102.Ra5+ Be5 103.Ra4 h5–+; 100.Kh3 Be3 101.Ra6 Kf3 102.Rf6+ Bf4 103.Kh4 Rg1 104.Kh5 Rh1+ 105.Kg6 Kg4–+ 100…Bf4+ 101.Kh3 Rg1 102.Rb3 Rh1+ 103.Kg2 Rh2+ 104.Kg1 Rd2 105.Kh1 h5 106.Ra3 h4 107.Rb3 Kf5 108.Ra3 Kg4 109.Ra1 109.Rb3 Rd1+ 110.Kg2 h3+ 111.Rxh3 Rd2+–+ 109…h3 110.Rg1+ Bg3 111.Ra1 Re2 112.Rb1 Bf2 113.Ra1 Kg3 114.Ra3+ Be3 115.Ra1 Rh2# ½-½

E07.04: With only very few pieces left, stalemate is a powerful weapon in the hands of the defender. A lone rook especially can deliver an endless series of checks: 123.Ra2+? The resulting pawnless ending with rook and bishop against rook is won as White’s king is confined in the corner. After 123.Re1+, Black cannot escape the desperado rook: 123…Kd3 (123…Kf3 124.Rf1+ Kg3 125.Rf3+ Kg4 126.Rxf4+=) 124.Re3+ (after 124.Rd1+?! Bd2 125.Rg1 Re2 126.Rg3+ Be3 127.Rxh3, White has the unpleasant task of defending this ending) 124…Kd2 (124…Kd4 125.Re4+=) 125.Rd3+ Ke2 (125…Kc1 126.Rc3+ Rc2 127.Rxc2+ Kxc2 is of course also drawn because of the wrong rook’s pawn) 126.Re3+ Kd1 127.Re1+=

123…Kf3 124.Ra3+ Kg4 125.Rxh3 White has nothing better as rook+bishop+wrong rook’s pawn against rook is usually won. The checks have come to an end as 125.Rg3+?! runs into 125…Rxg3–+ 125…Re2! 126.Rb3 Be3 127.Rb8?! This allows Black to take a short cut. After 127.Rb2!?, the full winning technique must be demonstrated: 127…Re1+ 128.Kg2 Rg1+ 129.Kh2 Kf3 130.Kh3 Rg8 131.Rb4 Rg7 Zugzwang 132.Ra4 Rg1 133.Ra2 Bc1 Philidor maneuver 134.Rc2 The rook must come fatally close. 134…Bf4 135.Rc3+ Be3 136.Rc2 Rg3+ 137.Kh2 (137.Kh4 Rg6–+ as White’s rook cannot move to the fifth rank) 137…Rg5 138.Kh1 Rd5 139.Ra2 Rd1+ 140.Kh2 Bf4+ 141.Kh3 Rh1+ 142.Rh2 Rxh2# 127…Kf3 128.Rb1 128.Rf8+ Bf4 129.Rg8 Re5 130.Rg7 Rh5+ 131.Kg1 Be3+ 132.Kf1 Rh1+ 133.Rg1 Rxg1# 128…Kg3 0-1

E08.01: 83…Ng5? This retreat makes the win much more difficult. The tactical 83…Rb1+ wins directly because of 84.Ke2 (84.Kg2? Rg1#) 84…Nd4+–+ 84.Nd3 Ra2 85.Nf4 g3 and Baburin agreed to a draw, but he is still winning: 86.Ng6+ 86.Ng2+ Kh3 (86…Kg4?? 87.Rf4+ Kh3 88.Rh4#) 87.Rxg5 Rf2+ 88.Ke1 Kxg2–+ 86…Kh3 87.Rxg5 h4 88.Ke1 Ra4 89.Kf1 Kh2 90.Ne5 Rf4+ 91.Ke2 Kg2–+ ½-½

E08.02: 76…Nxf1? Now Black’s king cannot escape the desperado rook. After 76…Rd1! 77.Rxf2 Nxf1!, Black’s extra material will decide sooner or later, e.g., 78.Rf4 (78.Rf3 Nd2+–+; 78.Ra2 Rd3 79.Kg1 Rf3 80.Ra1 Kg6 81.Rxf1 h2++–) 78…Kg6 79.Rf8 Ra1 80.Rb8 Nd2+ 81.Kh2 Ra3 82.Rh8 Nf1+ 83.Kg1 Rf3 84.Rg8+ Kh7 85.Ra8 Ne3 86.Ra4 Kg6 87.Ra8 Kg5 88.Rh8 Ng4 89.Rh7 Kf4 90.Rf7+ Kg3 91.Rxf3+ Kxf3 92.Kh1 Kg3 93.Kg1 h2+ 94.Kf1 h1Q+–+ (not however 77…Rxf1+? 78.Rxf1 Nxf1 79.Kg1 h2+ 80.Kg2=)

After 76…Nd1? 77.Kh2, Black it too tied up to win, e.g., 77…Kg6 78.Rh4 Ne3 79.Nxe3 Rxe3 80.Rf4= 77.Rf7+ Kg6 78.Rf6+ Kg5 79.Rf5+ Kxf5 ½-½

E08.03: 27.h4!! Now Black cannot maintain his kingside pawn formation. 27.Nc2 Kf7 28.Rc7+ Ke6 29.Ke2 is better for White, but not as good as the game. 27…Nd7?! 27…Kf7!? 28.Rc7+ Kg6 29.hxg5 fxg5 30.Nf3 Kf5 (30…g4?! 31.Nh4+ Kg5 32.g3 Rf6 33.Rg7+ Kh6 34.Rb7+–) 31.Rh7 g4 (31…Kg6 32.Re7±) 32.Rxh5+ Ke4 33.Rh4 Rf4 34.Ne5 Kxd4 35.Nxg4 28.Rc7 Rf7 29.Nf3! g4 30.Ne1 f5 31.Nd3 f4 32.f3!? gxf3 33.gxf3 a5 34.a4 Kf8 35.Rc6?! 35.b4!? Kg7 36.bxa5 bxa5 37.Kf2 Nb6 38.Rc5 Nxa4 39.Rxd5 +– 35…Ke7 36.Kf2 Rf5 37.b3 Kd8 38.Ke2 Nb8?!

39.Rg6! Control is the key. Not however 39.Rxb6? Kc7 40.Rg6 Nc6 with counterplay. 39…Kc7 40.Ne5 Na6 41.Rg7+ Kc8 42.Nc6 Rf6 43.Ne7+ Kb8 44.Nxd5 Rd6 45.Rg5 Nb4 46.Nxb4 axb4 47.Rxh5 Rc6 47…Rxd4 48.Rf5 Kc7 49.h5+– (Kasparov) 48.Rb5 Kc7 49.Rxb4 Rh6 50.Rb5 Rxh4 51.Kd3 1-0

E08.04: 37.Nb5? White misses the moment for 37.Nc6! Rc7 (37…Rd7 38.Rd1 Kg7 (38…Rc8 39.Ne5++–) 39.Red4 d5 40.cxd5 exd5 41.Rxd5 Rxd5 42.Rxd5) 38.Rxe6!+– (Nüsken) 37…Rd7 38.Rf4+ Nf6 39.Rd1 Red8 40.Rfd4 d5 41.cxd5 Nxd5 42.Kf3 Ke7 43.Rc1 a6 44.Nc3 Rf8+ 45.Kg2 Nxc3 46.Rxd7+ Kxd7 47.Rxc3 Rf5 48.Kf1 h5 49.Ke2 a5 50.Rf3 Kd6 51.Rc3 ½-½

E08.05: 31…Ra2! 31…Ra1? 32.Ra6 (32.Bc2?? Bc6+–+) 32…Kg7 33.Bc2+– 32.Rb7 32.Bd5 runs into the thunderstrike 32…Bc6!! 33.Rd7! (33.Rxa2? Bxd5+–+) 33…Rxf2+ 34.Kxf2 Bxd7= 32…Rd2 ½-½

E08.06: 28.Rb4! After the rook exchange, the rest is just a matter of technique. 28.Rb5?! exd5 29.Rxd5 Bf5 30.Rxe5 Rf4 31.f3 Bxc2 28…exd5 28…Rxd5 29.Bxd5 exd5 30.Rba4 Bf5 31.Ra8+–; 28…Rd1 29.Re4+– 29.Rxd4 exd4+ 30.Kxd4 Be6 31.Ke5 Bf7 32.Ra8 Rxa8 33.Bxa8 d4 34.Kxd4 Ke7 35.Ke5 Be6 36.Be4 Bd7 37.c3 Be6 38.Bg6! Bc8 39.Bh5 Bd7 40.f3 Be6 41.Bg4 Bf7 42.Kf5 Kd6 43.Kxg5 Kc5 44.f4 Kc4 45.f5 Kxc3 46.f6 gxf6+ 47.Kxf6 Bc4 48.h4 b5 49.h5 b4 50.h6 b3 51.h7 b2 52.Bf5! Bd3 53.Bxd3 1-0

E08.07: 37.Rdd8? Yusupov misses a forced mate: 37.g6+!! Kh6 38.Bf5 exf5 39.Rh8# 37…Kg6?! 37…g6 is more tenacious, e.g., 38.Rh8+ Kg7 39.Rh6 Bc3 40.e4+– 38.Kf3 Rf7 39.Rh8 e5 40.Bg4 exf4 41.Rd5! with the deadly mating threat Bh5 41…fxe3+ 42.Kg3 1-0

E08.08: 37.Rc6! This wins the e6-pawn in the long run. 37.Rxh7? is met by 37…Bc5 38.Be8 Rxe3+ 39.Kg4 e5 40.f5 e4 41.Rh6+ Kg7 42.Re6 Re2 43.f6+ Kh6 44.Kf5 Bf8; 37.Bc4? by 37…Rc3 38.Rc6 Bd6 with good drawing chances in both cases. 37…Ra7 38.Bc4 Re7 39.e4 Bh6 40.e5+ 1-0

E08.09: 39…Rd8! 39…Kf7? 40.Bb7 Rd8 41.Rxb6 axb6 42.a7+–; 39…Ke7? 40.Bb7 Bc5 41.b6+– 40.Rxe6 Kf7 41.Rd6 Rxd6 42.exd6 Ke6 43.d7 Ke5 44.Kd3 Bd8 45.h4 g6 46.g3 Bb6 47.Kc4 Ke6 48.f4 Kd6 49.Bd5 49.Kd3 Ke7 50.Ke2 h5 51.Bd5 Bd8 52.Kd3 Bb6 53.Kc4 Kxd7 54.Bf7 Bf2 55.Bxg6 Kc7 56.g4 fxg4 57.Bxh5 Bxh4 58.Bxg4 Bf2 59.Kd5 Kd8 60.Ke6 Ke8= 49…Kxd7 50.Bg8 h6 51.Bh7 Bf2 52.Bxg6 Kc7 53.Kd5 Bxg3 54.Ke5 Bxh4 55.Kxf5 Bg3 56.Kg4 Bf2 57.Kh5 Be3 58.f5 Kd6 59.Bf7 59.f6 Ke6 60.f7 Ke7 61.b6 Bxb6 62.Kxh6 Kf8= 59…Ke7 60.Kg6 ½-½

E08.10: 74.Rb6? 54 74.Ba7!! Bc4+ (74…Bf3 75.Bb8 Be2+ 76.Kf2 Bd1+ 77.Kf1=) 75.Rxc4 Rxc4 76.Kf2 Rg4 77.Bc5 Rf4+ 78.Kg3= (Stohl in CBM) 74…Bc4+ 75.Ke1 Kg2 0-1 because of 76.Rg6+ Kf3 77.Rh6 Rc1+–+ (Stohl)

E08.11: 46.Rf7! Now Black’s knight is dominated. The greedy 46.Rxh7? Nf6= allows the knight to break free. 46…Nh6 47.Rxh7 Rxh5 48.Kc4 Kd8 48…Rh2 49.Kd5 a5 (49…Ng4 50.Rxh2 Nxh2 51.Bd1 a5 52.Kxe5 a4 53.f4 a3 54.Bb3+–) 50.Bd7+ Kd8 (50…Kb8 51.Be6 Ng4 52.Rxh2 Nxh2 53.Kxe5+–) 51.Kd6 Ng4 52.Rxh2 Nxh2 53.f4 Nf3 54.f5 Ng5 55.Bc6 a4 56.Kxe5 a3 57.Bd5 i 49.f3 Rh2 50.Kd5 a5 50…Ng4?! 51.Rd7+ Kc8 52.fxg4 Rd2+ 53.Kxe5 Rxd7 54.Bxd7+ Kxd7 55.Kd5+– 51.Ke6 Kc8 52.Rg7 Rh3 53.Rg6 Kc7 54.Be8 Kd8 55.Bc6 Kc7 56.Bd5 a4 56…Rh5 57.Ke7 Rh3 58.Rc6+ Kb8 59.Kd7 Ka7 60.Kc7 Rxf3 61.Rc5+– 57.Kxe5 a3 58.Rc6+ Kd8 59.Ra6 Ke7 60.Ra7+ Kf8 61.Rxa3 Ng4+ 62.Kf5 Nh2 63.Kf4 Ke7 64.e5 Rh4+ 65.Kg3 Rh5 66.f4 Nf1+ 67.Kg4 Rh2 68.f5 Rf2 69.f6+ Kd8 70.Kg5 1-0

E08.12: 40.axb5? After 40.a5!, Black is in deadly zugzwang, e.g., 40…b4 (40…Nh5 41.e6 Re8 42.Rf7+ Kg8 43.e7 Ng7 44.Rf8+ Kh7 45.Rxe8 Nxe8 46.Bf7+–; 40…g5 41.fxg5 f4+ 42.Ke4 f3 43.Rh3+–; 40…Rd7 41.Rh8+ Ke7 42.Rc8+–) 41.Rh8+ Ke7 42.Rh6 Nh5 43.Rh7+ Ke8 44.Rc7 Ng3 45.Ba4+–; 40.Rh8+?! Ke7 41.Rh6? bxa4 42.Bxa4 Ne6 43.Rxg6 Rd3+ 44.Kxd3 Nxf4+ 45.Kd4 Nxg6=

40…axb5 41.e6!? 41.Rh8+ is met by 41…Ke7 42.Rh6 Nh5 43.Rh7+ Ke8 44.Bf7+ Kf8 45.Bxg6 Ng7= and 41.Rh6 Nh5 42.Rxg6? runs into 42…Rd3+! 41…Re8 42.Kf3!? Shirov sets a trap. 42.Kd4? is refuted by 42…Nxe6+ 43.Ke5 Ng5 +–+

42…Rd8?? 42…Nxe6!? 43.Rh8+ Kg7 44.Rxe8 Nd4+ 45.Kg3 Nxb3 46.Re5 Kf6=; 42…Kg8 43.Rh6 Nh5! (43…Nxe6? 44.Rxg6+ Kf7 45.Rh6 Re7 46.Ke3 Re8 47.Kd3 Re7 48.Kc3 Re8 49.Kb4 Re7 50.Ka5 Re8 51.Kb6 Re7 52.Kxc6+–, Golubev in Chess Today 3488) 44.Rxg6+ Kh7 45.Rg1 (45.Rg5 Ng7 46.Bc2 Rxe6 47.Rxf5 Nxf5 48.Bxf5+ Rg6=) 45…Ng7 46.Rh1+ Kg6= 43.e7+ Kxe7 44.Rxg7+ Kf6 45.Rf7# 1-0

E08.13: 22…Rfc8!! A dynamic solution to get counterplay. After 22…b5? 23.Nc5 a5 24.Kd2, White has the better minor piece. 23.Kd2 23.Nxb6 Rc6 24.Rxc6 Bxc6 25.Nxc4 Bd5!=; 23.Rxb6? Bc6! even backfires. 23…Bc6 24.Nc3 Kf8 25.e4 Ke7 26.e5 f5 27.Ke3 b5 28.d5 exd5 29.Rd1 b4 30.Nxd5+ Bxd5 31.R6xd5 Rc7 32.Rc1 Rb5 33.Kd4 Rxd5+ 34.Kxd5 Rd7+ 35.Kc5 Rd2 36.Rxc4 Rxb2 37.Rxb4 Rxa2 38.g4 fxg4 39.fxg4 Ke6 40.Kd4 Rd2+ 41.Ke4 Re2+ 42.Kf4 Rf2+ 43.Kg5 Kxe5 44.Ra4 Rf7 45.Rxa6 Rb7 46.Ra8 Ke6 47.Ra4 Ke5 48.Kh6 Rc7 49.Kg5 Rb7 50.Ra1 Ke6 51.Rf1 Rb4 52.h5 gxh5 53.gxh5 Rb5+ 54.Kh6 Rb7 55.Rf6+ ½-½

E08.14: When the defender has almost no moves and the defending king almost no squares, this may be a sign for a coming mating attack or a stalemate defense:

86…Be5? Ramirez misses an amazing resource: 86…Rc5 87.g6 Rc8 88.Nf5 Bg7! 89.Nxg7 Rc7!!= (Chess Today 4203); 86…Bf6 87.g6 Rc8 (Chess Today 4203) works as well: 88.Kxf6 (88.Nf5 is again met by 88…Bg7 89.Nxg7 Rc7!! [89…Rf8+? 90.Ke6+–] 90.Rxc7 stalemate) 88…Rc6+ 89.Kf7 Rf6+ 90.Ke7 Re6+ 91.Kd8 Re8+ 92.Kc7 Rc8+ 93.Kd6 Rc6+ 94.Kd5 Rxg6= However, not the direct 86…Rc8? because of 87.Nf5 and Black can no longer organize any stalemate defense, e.g., 87…Bb4 (87…Bb2 88.Ne7 Ra8 89.Rd2 Be5 90.Ng6+ Kh7 91.Nxe5+–) 88.g6 Rf8+ 89.Ke6 Re8+ 90.Kf6 Rf8+ 91.Kg5 Rxf5+ 92.Kxf5 Bc3 93.g7+ Kh7 94.Rf7 Bb2 95.g8Q+ Kxg8 96.Kg6+–

87.Ng4! Bc3 87…Rc7 88.Nxe5+–; 87…Rc5?! 88.Rd8+ Kh7 89.g6# 88.Nf6 Bxf6 88…Rc8 runs into a direct mating attack: 89.Rd1 Rc7+ 90.Nd7+– 89.gxf6 Kh7 89…Rc8 is met by 90.Kg6 and White wins as passive defense is insufficient against a bishop’s pawn: 90…Kg8 (90…Rg8+ 91.Rg7 Rxg7+ 92.fxg7+ Kg8 93.Kf6 Kh7 94.Kf7+–) 91.Rg7+ Kf8 92.Rh7 Kg8 93.f7+ Kf8 94.Rh8++–

90.Ke7! 90.Kf8+? allows Black to reach a back rank defense after 90…Kg6 91.f7 Rc8+ 92.Ke7 Kg7= 90…Rc8 91.Rd8 Rc7+ 91…Rxd8 92.Kxd8 Kg6 93.Ke7+– 92.Kd6 Rf7 92…Rc1 93.f7 Rd1+ 94.Kc7 Rxd8 95.Kxd8 Kg7 96.Ke7+– 93.Ke6 1-0

E08.15: 72.Ne6+ Kc8 72…Kd7 73.Nd4! Bh5 74.Rg7+! Rf7 75.Rg5! Bd1 76.b6+– because bishop cannot control the h1-a8 diagonal 73.Nd4 Rf8 74.Nxf3 Rxf3 75.Kb6 Rb3 75…Rf8 76.Ka7 Rf7+ 77.Ka8+– 76.Rg8+ Kd7 77.Rb8 1-0

E08.16: 49.f4?! Aseev is impatient. The prophylactic 49.Rf1! Ba7 (49…Rh2 50.f4 Rd2 51.Rf3 gxf4 52.Nxf4++–) 50.f4 gxf4 51.Rxf4 is even better as White’s rook is activated directly, e.g., 51…Rb8 52.Rf6+ Kg7 53.Nf4 Rxb3 54.Nxe6++– 49…gxf4 50.Nxf4+ Kf7 51.Rf1 Rg8+? 51…Ba7 was more tenacious. 52.Kf3 Bc7 53.Nd3 Rg5 53…Bb6 54.Rh1 Rg7 55.Rh6+– 54.Re1 Rh5 55.Kg2 This time Aseev does not rush.

55…Rg5 56.Re4 Bb6 57.Rf4+ Kg7 58.Kf3 Rh5 59.Rf6 Rf5+ 60.Rxf5 exf5 61.g4! fxg4+ 61…Kg6 62.Kf4+– 62.Kxg4 Kf7 63.Kf5 Ba7 64.Ke4 Ke6 65.Nf4+ Ke7 66.Kd5 Kd7 67.Nd3 Bb6 68.e6+ Ke7 68…Kc7 69.Ne5 Kd8 70.Kc6 Bc7 71.e7++– (Stohl) 69.Kc6 Bd8 70.Nxc5 d3 71.Nxd3 Kxe6 72.Nc5+ Ke5 73.Nb7 Be7 74.Nxa5 Kd4 75.Kb5 Bd6 76.b4 Kc3 77.c5 Bf4 78.Nc4 Kd4 79.Nb6 Bg3 80.c6 Bd6 81.Na8 1-0

E08.17: 46…Rh5!! What a shot! 47.Rxh5 47.Re1 Kf7 48.Rd1 Rh2 49.Rd3 Rb2–+ 47…gxh5+ 48.Kxh5 Kf7 49.Kg4 Nxd4 50.Bc3 Nc2 51.Bb2 Ne3+ 52.Kf3 Nc4 53.Bc1 Ke6 54.Ke2 54.Kg4 d4 55.f5+ Kf7 56.Kf3 d3 57.Bg5 Nxa3 58.Ke3 Nc4+ 59.Kxd3 a3–+ 54…Na5! 55.Bd2 Nb3 56.Be3 Kf6 57.Kd3 Kf5 58.Bg1 58.Kc3 Ke4–+ 58…Kxf4 59.Kc3 Ke4 60.Kb4 d4 61.Kxa4 Nxc5+ 62.Kb4 d3 0-1

E09.01 B.Horwitz

The Chess Monthly 1883

White cannot win:

1.Qxb4 Rxb4 2.Rh3+ Kg7 3.Rg3+ Kf8 4.Rxg8+ Kxg8 5.Bd5+ Kg7 6.Bc4 Kf6 7.Ke3

We have reached the exercise.

7…Ke5? 7…Rxc4 (Bourzutschky) 8.bxc4 Ke7!=; 7…Ke7 8.Kd4 Kd6 draws as well.

8.Kd3 Kd6 9.Kd4 Ke7 10.Ke5 Kd7 11.Kd5 Kc7 12.Ke6 Kc8 13.Kd6 Kb7 14.Kd7 Kb8 15.Kc6 Ka7 16.Kc7+–

E09.02 J.Walters

Chess Life & Review 1979

White cannot win: 1.a7 Ra2 1…Rc8? 2.Bg3+ Ke6 3.Bb8!+– 2.Bb6!

We have reached the exercise.

2…Ra6? 2…Ke6! (Bourzutschky) 3.Ba5 Rg2+ 4.Kh6 (4.Kh7? Kf7–+) 4…Rg8= 3.b5! Ra4 4.Ba5! Rxa5 5.b6 Ke6 6.b7 Rxa7 7.b8Q Rd7 8.Qe8+ Re7 9.Qc6++–

E09.03 De Villeneuve Esclapon

Europe Échecs 1996

White cannot win:

1.Bh5+ 1.b7 Rb3 2.Nc5 Rb2 3.Be6+ Kg6= (3…Ke8? 4.Bb3+–) ; 1.Bxe2 Rb3 2.Nd8+ Ke8= 1…Kxe6 2.Bxe2

We have reached the exercise.

2…Rg7? 2…Rg8? 3.Bc4++–; 2…Re3! (Bourzutschky) 3.Bc4+ Kd7 4.Bb5+ Kc8= 3.b7 Rh7+ 4.Kg3! Rh8 5.Bg4+ Kxe5 6.Bc8+–

E09.04 C.de Feijter 2005

White is lost in any case: 1.Kd4 b2 1…Rxb6? 2.Nc4+ Ka2 (2…Kb4 3.Nxb6 b2 4.Nd5+=) 3.Nxb6 b2 4.Na4 b1Q 5.Nc3+= 2.Nbc4+

We have reached the exercise.

2…Ka2? 2…Ka4! (Bourzutschky) 3.Nxb2+ Rxb2 4.Kc5 Rc2+ 5.Kd6 Rd2+ 6.Ke7 d5–+ 3.Nxb2 Rxb2 3…Kxb2 4.Kd5= 4.Ke3 Rb7 5.Ke4=

E09.05 S.Zakharov 1994

White cannot win: 1.d6 Rd4?! 1…Kd5!? (Bourzutschky) 2.Kc7 Rh7+ 3.d7 Ke6= 2.Ke7! Rxd6 3.Na4+ Kd5 4.Nb6+! Kc5! 5.Nd7+ Kd5 6.Nxf6+ Ke5 7.Nd7+

We have reached the exercise.

7…Kd5? 7…Rxd7+! (Bourzutschky) 8.Kxd7 c5= 8.Nb6+ Kc5 9.Na4+ Kd5 10.Nc3+ Ke5 11.f4+! Kxf4 12.Kxd6 c5! 13.Kd5! Ke3 14.Kc4! 14.Ke5? allows Black’s king to reach the drawing zone in the south west corner: 14…Kd3 15.Nge2 c4 16.Kf4 Kc2 17.Ke3 Kb2 18.Kd2 Ka1!= 14…Kd2 15.Kb3! c4+ 16.Kb2!+– The pawn has crossed the Troitzky Line but Black’s king cannot reach the drawing zone.

E09.06 G.Nadareishvili

Schakend Nederland 1987

White cannot win:

1.d7 Kh3 2.Kg1 Rd3 3.d8R 3.d8Q Rd1+ 4.Qxd1 stalemate 3…Rd4? 3…Rb3! (Bourzutschky) 4.Nc5 Rb1+ 5.Kf2 Kxh2= 4.Rd6 Rg4+ 5.Kh1 Rd4 6.Rd8 Rb4 7.Rd3+ Kg4 8.h3++–

E09.07 M.Sindelar

Sachové Umenie 1973

White cannot defend:

1.Rf4+ Be4! 2.Rxe4+ Kd5 2…Kd3? 3.Re1 Rh5+ 4.Kg8! Rh1 5.Re3+ Kxd2 6.Rg3 g1Q 7.Rxg1 Rxg1+ 8.Bg7=

3.Re1 Rh5+ 4.Kg8 Rh1 5.Re5+

We have reached the exercise.

5…Kc4? 5…Kd6! (Konoval) 6.Rg5 g1Q 7.Rxg1 Rxg1+ 8.Bg7 Ke7!–+ 6.Rg5 g1Q 7.Rxg1 Rxg1+ 8.Bg7=

E09.08 N.Kralin

Chervoni Girnik 1979

White cannot win:

1.Rh7+ Rd7 2.Rxd7+ Kc6 3.Rxd5

We have reached the exercise. 3…Rf1+? 3…Rf4! (Konoval) 4.Rd4+ Kc5 5.Ra4 h3! 6.Kg1 Kb6!= 4.Kg2 Rf4 5.Rd4+ Kc5 6.Ra4 Kb5 7.Bc6+ Kxc6 8.Rxf4+–