Category Archives: Endgame
TCh-SWE Elite 2012–13 Rd4-GM Berczes(HUN)
TWIC 958
Here is an example of GM persistence in the endgame from GM Berczes played in the TCh-SWE recently. The following balanced queenless position was reached after 21..Rfd8(diagram) and the GM just kept pressing.
Berczes,D (2528) – Eriksson,Jor (2213)
White kept pushing a sharp unbalanced ending but black is coming to round up the advanced d-pawn after 32…Kf7. What do you recommend for white?
This is the kind of routine GM vs non-GM win that will pass unnoticed, but has a mysterious effortless air to it. There are two major things to notice about this game.
(1)Black’s formation against the London System is effective. The ..Nd7/Ne7!? development allow black to hunt Bf4 with a quick …e5 and ..Nf5
(2)The endgame method used to exploit the bishop pair and compromised pawn structure.
Scipioni,G (2041) – Horvath,Cs (2514)
London System vs Averbakh[A40]
2nd Adriatico Open A Montesilvano ITA (1.1), 01.03.2013
Position 1
- The strong Bd4
- The bishop pair
- Active rooks
- Better structure
What do you suggest for black now?
Bundesliga 2012-13 Rd9-GM Balogh C(HUN)
TWIC 955
Here is the game.
Cark-Kann Advance 3….c5[B12]
- Win for white(The queenside majority deflects black’s king so white wins the d-pawn and the game)
- Draw
- Win for black(Black’s king escorts the d-pawn home)
Black has just played 38…h5 and it looks like the queenside majority should decide in a routine fashion. How should white proceed?
GM Master Class-Flohr,S
Here is a model anti-IQP endgame from Flohr.
Position 1
An isolated QP ending has begun. What plan do you suggest for white?
White to Play
Position 2
White has made some progress on the queenside. What should white do next?
White to Play
GM Master Class-Flohr,S
Here is an important classical ending played by Flohr,S in model fashion.
Position 1
White has a space advantage and the bishop pair. There are no tactics. This is a question of endgame knowledge and understanding. How should white conduct the game?
There is no single solution. The game illustrates many typical and thematic facets of bishop pair and general endgame play.
- Using the king
- Play on both wings
- Taking away knight outposts
- Fixing pawns as targets
- Creating a second front
- Outside passed pawn
- Bishop pair working on an open board
- Slow unhurried play
White to Play
Tata Steel 2013 Group A
Here’s Aronian’s nice endgame win over Leko from Tata Group A. For more see Tatasteelchess. The site has a fantastic gallery.
Aronian obtains a better pawn structure but Leko has the bishop pair for an active defence. Later the ending is BN-BB but with Aronian having an extra pawn.
Position 1
White to Play
Position 2
White to Play
Trends in the KID Saemisch 9.Rc1(E84) 2012(TWIC 944)
Schandorf’s repertoire line against the KID Saemish Panno(in Playing 1.d4 The Indian Defences),
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0–0 6.Nge2 a6 7.Be3 Nc6 8.Qd2 Rb8 9.Rc1!? is proving to be an effective line against the …b5 idea.
Here is a recent game in this line from TWIC 944. Black won the game but this was not the fault of the opening.
Nikolov,Mo(2542)-Cabezas Ayala,I(2315)
King’s Indian Saemish Panno 9.Rc1[E84]
XVIII Navalmoral Open ESP(2.8),06.12.2012
Position 1
White to Play
Korbach GM 2012
Here’s a tough endgame win by Czebe,A against Gutman,L from the Korbach GM tournament in Germany.
Latvian Championships
At the beginning of his career, Gutman tied for 11–12th at Riga 1967 (LAT-ch; Jānis Klovāns won), which was the first of many appearances in the Latvian championship; he tied for 5–7th place in 1969, tied for 4–5th in 1971, won in 1972, tied for 7–8th in 1973, took 3rd in 1974, took 4th in 1975, took 2nd in 1976, tied for 2nd–3rd in 1977, tied for 7–9th in 1978, tied for 4–5th in 1979.
Major Tournament Sucesses
- 1972 he won, equal with Alvis Vitolinsh and Šmits, the Riga Chess Championship.
- 1974, he tied for 6–7th in Pärnu.
- 1975, he tied for 6–8th in Riga.
- 1976, he tied for 7–9th in Riga.
- 1977, he tied for 6–7th in Homel.
- 1978, he tied for 4–7th in Vladivostok.
- 1978, he won in Haapsalu.
In 1984, at third board in the 26th Chess Olympiad in Thessaloniki (+4 –3 =3).
(more)…’
Gutman had the initial chances but did not capitalize which allowed Czebe to slowly take over. Eventually the game was decided in a RR-RR ending.
Gutman,L (2498) – Czebe,A (2481)
QP g3 vs King’s Indian[A04]
1st Korbach GM Korbach GER (10.1), 15.12.2012
Position 1
The position looks sedate and more or less equal. What do you suggest for white?
White to Play
Position 2
Black seems to be making progress in the RR-RR ending but now the doubled c-pawns are under attack after 37.Ra4. If black is not careful there may be some serious counterplay on the c-file to deal with. What do you suggest for black?
Black to Play
GM Master Class: GM Nevednichy,V The Knight Pair
Here is an example of knight pair play against BN from the recent Hungarian TCh 2012-13 Rd5.
Nevednichy,V (2554) – Horvath,Zs (2400)
Sicilian 3.Bb5+ [B52]
TCh-HUN 2012–13 Paks HUN (5), 02.12.2012
Critical Position 1
The position is slightly better for white at best. The real question is what to do and how to conduct the game. Tactical play is not the focus here. First it is necessary to understand the position and the needs of each side.
What do you propose for white?
- Play on the queenside-Nc4 is the strongpoint of white’s position and opening lines with a5 makes sense.
- Play in the center-White has two knights. One is alredy well placed on c4. The other belongs on d5.
- Something else
White to Play
London Open 2012
Here us an instructive game from the London Classic Open between GM Hebden and Hungarian junior Szabo,Bence.
Themes examined include
- Good knight vs. bad bishop
- Forcing sequences
- Better pawn structure
- Experienced verteran vs promising junior
GM Hebden,M (ENG 2547) – Szabo,B (HUN 2365)
Zukertort System [A46]
4th London Classic Open London ENG (7.6), 07.12.2012
Position 1
The middlegame is underway and jockeying for position has begun. Black has just played 15..Be4 and aims for piece control of the central squares.
Q1 How do you assess the position?
Q2 How should white react?
White to Play
Critical Position 2
The technical N-B P+ conversion phase has arrived. How should white continue? This is a matter of understanding vs calculation.
White to Play
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