T CHESS ZONE T

22 lessons in endgame strategy

By Jan van Reek
When a practical endgame is played, it is often useful to develop a strategic plan.
This matter is very similar for the ending and middle game. If the white and black
pieces oppose each other in two lines, a strategic plan can be devised.

The endgame is just ‘a matter of technique’ in two cases:

1. If one player has a large material advantage, a plan is hardly needed.
2. If the number of pieces is low, strategic planning cannot be made due to the
absence of lines. These theoretical endings are treated in books by Averbakh and
Chéron.

When a strategy has to be designed, two approaches are possible: struggle and
prophylaxis. Different plans are treated in the lessons. They have been published in
the Dutch SchaakMagazine from 2000 until 2006. The English translations are
shortened versions of the articles.

Struggle:
1. Attack in the centre.
2. The attack on the king.
3. The flank attack.
4. Encirclement.
Prophylaxis:
5. Blockade in general.
6. Blockade by the knight.
7. Restriction in general.
8. Restriction and time.
9. Consolidation.
10. Fortification.
11. Strong and weak squares.
12. Crossing a diagonal.
13. The battle for an important square.
14. Overprotection.
15. Counterattack: direct confrontation.
16. Counterattack: the flight forwards.
Pocket strategies:
17. Breakthrough by pawns.
18. Breakthrough by pieces.
19. The positional manoeuvre.
20. Zugzwang.
21. Positional sacrifice: win.
22. Positional sacrifice: draw.

1
 T CHESS ZONE T
(1) Beliavsky,Alexander - Spassky,Boris
Soviet ch Moscow, 1973
[JvR]

Lesson 1: An attack in the centre. Strategy in the endgame can be simple. I consider
a usual situation. One player seeks the struggle by moving the pieces forwards and
another person reacts to the attack. Such uncomplicated strategies of struggle will
be treated in several lessons. Difficult strategies will be discussed later. An attack in
the centre is a very simple strategy. The successful advance of centre pawns has
been shown by Philidor. This example is more recent. Black has a broad pawn
centre. He can start a direct attack, if he advances the pawns properly and uses the
pieces for support.

18...e5 19.¤b3 ¤xb3+ 20.axb3 ¥e6 21.¥e2 0–0 22.¦hf1 a5 23.¥b5 The
bishop prevents ..a4. 23...¦ac8 24.¥d3 ¦c6 25.¥f5 [Kotov prefers 25.¢d2 in
order to play Ra1. However, Black can play ..e4 and ..d4 in that case.] 25...¥xf5
26.¦xf5 ¦fc8! 27.¦d2 d4 Black threatens..d3. 28.¢d1?! [Slightly better is
28.¢b1!? although this move gives less protection to an advance in the centre.]
28...¦b8! The threat ..a4 decides the game. 29.g4 h6 30.¦df2 ¦bb6 31.¢d2 a4!
32.bxa4 ¦xb2 33.¢d3 ¢g7 34.¦xe5!? A sacrifice brings the last chance.
34...fxe5 35.¥xe7 ¦c3+ 36.¢e4 d3? [36...¦e3+ 37.¢d5 d3 38.¢e6 dxc2 Black
wins, because White has no drawing mechanism.] 37.¥f6+? [Coincidences
contribute to the great escape 37.¥d6! ¢g6! (37...dxc2 38.¥xe5+) 38.¦f6+!! ¢xf6
39.¥xe5+ ¢g5 40.¥xc3 ¦xc2 41.¢xd3 ¦xh2 42.a5 ¢xg4 White narrowly draws.
43.¢c4 h5 44.a6 h4 45.¢b5 ¦e2 46.a7 ¦e8 47.¢c6 h3 48.¥e5! Spassky didn't know
this combination. "You were lucky" I teased him. He nodded with a smile.]
37...¢g8 38.¥xe5 ¦b4+ 39.¢d5 ¦xc2 40.¦f1 d2 41.¦d1 ¦xg4 42.a5 ¦a4
43.a6! ¢h7 [43...¦xa6? 44.¥f4! ¦aa2 45.¥xh6 (Kotov).] 44.¥b8 ¦a1! 45.a7 ¦xd1
46.a8£ ¦e1 Black's strategy in the centre has led to a complete success. 0–1

2
 T CHESS ZONE T
(2) Anand,Viswanathan - Kasparov,Gary
Linares (10), 1999
[JvR]

Lesson two: The attack on the king. The final aim of the attacker is to mate the
opponent. Nevertheless a mating attack rarely occurs in the practical endgame,
because an experienced player will resign before it can happen. The attack on the
king with few pieces often is a part of the basic theory. An interesting direct attack
on the king occurred in Linares 1999.

36...¤e4? [Correct is 36...¤d7! 37.¤b2 ¤b6 Kasparov's analysis continues with

38.c4 ¥xc4! 39.¤xc4 ¤xc4+ 40.¢b3 ¤e5! 41.¢a4 ¤c6] 37.¤b2! The defense of the
c-pawns has little importance. 37...¤xc3 38.¤d3+ ¢e3 39.¤c5 ¥f5 40.¢b2! A
potential defender of the a-pawn is chased away. 40...¤d5 A protection by the
king loses matter. 41.¤b7 a4 42.c4! ¤b6 43.¤d6 ¥d3 44.c5! ¤d5 45.¢a3
¥c2 46.¤b5! ¤e7 The knight has to stop the c-pawn. 47.¤a7? [Anand could
have crowned his wonderful defense with 47.¤c3! ¢d4 48.¤xa4 ¢c4 49.¤b6+
¢xc5 50.¤d7+] 47...¢d4 48.c6 ¤d5 49.¤b5+ [My preference goes to 49.¢b2!
¥f5 50.¤b5+ ¢c5 51.¤c3 ¤b6 52.¢a3 Black wins by 52...¤c4+! 53.¢a2 (53.¢xa4
¥c2#) 53...¥e6! 54.¤xa4+ ¢b4 55.¤b2 ¤d2+ 56.¢a1 ¢a3 57.c7 ¤b3+ 58.¢b1 ¥f5+
59.¤d3 ¥xd3#] 49...¢c5 50.c7 ¥f5! [50...¥f5! 51.¢xa4 (51.¤a7 ¤xc7 52.¢xa4
¢b6) 51...¤b6+ 52.¢a5 ¤c4+ 53.¢a4 ¥c2#] 0–1

3
 T CHESS ZONE T
(3) Korchnoi,Viktor - Kasparov,Gary
Corus Wijk aan Zee (1), 2000
[JvR]

Lesson 3: The flank attack. If the centre and kingside are secure, a direct attack
becomes too risky. Maybe a weakness can be found on the flank. If this is the case,
an indirect attack can be aimed on the weakness in the enemy line. Both players
threaten a flank in the example.

35...¦d7? [35...¢d6 increases the restriction. The black rook threatens to move to
the h-file. The point is 36.¤c5 b6! 37.¤xd3 ¤xd3+ 38.¢d2 ¤xc1 39.¢xc1 ¢e5–+]
36.¢e2 ¤d3 37.¦c3 ¤f4+ 38.¢f3 ¢f6 39.¤c5 ¦c7 40.h4? The last move
under time pressure is a serious mistake. [The subtle variation 40.¢e3! h5 41.f3!
draws. After 41...b6 42.¤a4 ¦xc3+ 43.¤xc3 ¢e5 44.a3 ¤g2+ square f2 can be used
by the king. 45.¢f2! The black knight cannot start making troubles.] 40...e5
41.hxg5+ ¢xg5 42.¦c4 Now the terrible effect of Korchnoi's blunder becomes
apparent. The g- and h-files can be used by black pieces. Black starts an irresistible
flank attack. 42...b5?! An immediate advance of the h-pawn is stronger. 43.¦c1 b4
44.¦c4 a5 45.¤a4 ¦f7! The rook is not exchanged but will support the h-pawn.
46.¢e3 ¤g2+ 47.¢e2 ¤f4+ 48.¢e3 White has no proper defense. 48...h5!
49.¦c5 ¤g2+ 50.¢e2 h4! Only the advanced pawn is important. 51.¦xe5+ ¢g4
52.¦e8 [52.¦xa5 is useless.] 52...¤f4+ 53.¢e3 h3 54.f3+ ¢h4 The h-pawn
cannot be stopped. The attacker does not seek the confrontation in an indirect
attack, but avoids the strongholds. The saying: "Many battles are decided by
marching", characterizes this strategy. 0–1

4
 T CHESS ZONE T
(4) Kasparov,Gary - Karpov,Anatoly
Wch Sevilla (24), 1987
[JvR]

Lesson four. Encirclement. A long siege of the opponent is best known from middle
games with a closed centre. The opponent is slowly crushed through the flanks.
Encirclement also occurs in the endgame. An interesting case is the decisive game
in Sevilla 1987. Kasparov trails by 11–12 and has to win the adjourned game in
order to keep the title.

42.¢g2 White is able to attack with queen and bishop on the left flank. The h- and
g-pawns can advance at the other side. 42...g6!? Karpov enlarges his fortress,
because he fears an attack on the kingside. If a pawn is admitted to h5, an advance
to g5 can start. 43.£a5 £g7 44.£c5 £f7 45.h4 h5?! [Kasparov prefers 45...¢g7
White will play 46.g4 and 47.g5. This allows an exchange on g5. Thereafter a pawn
advances to e5 and White will win anyway.] 46.£c6 £e7 47.¥d3 £f7 48.£d6
¢g7 49.e4! ¢g8 50.¥c4 ¢g7 51.£e5+ ¢g8 Black has to remain passive.
[51...£f6 52.£c7+ £f7 53.£xf7+ ¢xf7 54.e5 ¤d7 55.f4+- The bishop is aimed at g6
and white's king marches to the queenside. The weaknesses e6 and g6 are fatal for
Black.] 52.£d6 ¢g7 53.¥b5 ¢g8 54.¥c6 £a7 55.£b4! £c7 56.£b7 £d8
[Even 56...£xb7 57.¥xb7 e5 does not save the game.] 57.e5! The encirclement has
been completed. Black misses a pawn on f7 dearly. White conquers square f7 and
thus penetrates the fortress. 57...£a5 [57...£d3 58.¥e8 £f5 59.£f3! (Kasparov).]
58.¥e8 £c5 59.£f7+ ¢h8 60.¥a4 £d5+ 61.¢h2 £c5 62.¥b3 £c8 63.¥d1
£c5 64.¢g2 Black can only move his queen in the final position. Karpov resigned
and Kasparov kept the world title.[Kasparov analyses 64.¢g2 £b4 65.¥f3 £c5
66.¥e4 £b4 67.f3! (67.¥xg6?? ¤xg6 68.£xg6 £b7+ 69.¢h2 £g2+! 70.¢xg2)
67...£d2+ 68.¢h3 £b4 (68...£h6 69.f4 £g7 70.£xg7+ ¢xg7 71.¥c6+-) 69.¥xg6
¤xg6 70.£xg6 £xh4+ 71.¢g2!+-] 1–0

5
 T CHESS ZONE T
(5) Karpov,Anatoly - Hort,Vlastimil
Tilburg, 1979
[JvR]

Lesson five. Blockade in general. The aim of prophylaxis is to take away

possibilities from the opponent. Blockade, the simplest prophylaxis, will be treated.
If a piece is placed before a pawn, three advantages exist: the pawn cannot
advance, the pawn gives some protection to the blockader and the blockader
restricts the hostile mobility (Nimzowitsch). The example shows the advantages of
blockade in an elementary way.

58.¦f1! Black has a backward f-pawn. White has to take advantage immediately.
Otherwise Black will eliminate his only weakness. 58...¢b8?! The king will attack
the a-pawn. [More problems sets 58...¢d6 59.¦f6+ ¢e7 60.g5 hxg5 61.hxg5 ¦c7
(61...¦d6 62.¦xd6 ¢xd6 63.¢e4 and White wins the pawn ending (Gligoric))
62.¢c3 ¦c8 63.¢b4 ¦h8! (63...¦a8 The attack on the queenside is stopped. 64.d5!
cxd5 65.cxd5 ¦d8 66.¢c5+-) 64.a6! bxa6 65.¦xc6 ¦h5 66.¦xa6 ¦xg5 67.¦a7+
White has an advantage in time. Probably, this will suffice for the win.] 59.¦f6 The
advantages of a blockade can be noticed: the f-pawn cannot be moved, the
blockader cannot be attacked and the blockader pressures on the sixth rank.
59...¢a7 60.h5 ¢a6 61.g5! White has a nice decision. 61...hxg5 62.h6 ¢xa5
63.h7 ¦d8 64.¦xf7 b5 65.cxb5 ¢xb5 [65...cxb5 creates a second passed pawn
for White.] 66.¦b7+! White gains a tempo. 66...¢a6 67.¦g7 ¦h8 68.¢e4 ¢b5
69.¢f3 ¢c4 70.¦d7 ¢d3 71.¢g4 ¦xh7 72.¦xh7 ¢xd4 73.¦d7+ [73.¦d7+
Again White wins a move. 73...¢c4 74.¦c7 ¢d5 75.¢f3+-] 1–0

6
 T CHESS ZONE T
(6) Botvinnik,Mikhail - Petrosian,Tigran
Wch Moscow (18), 1963
[JvR]

Lesson six. Blockaded by the knight. The knight can be far stronger than other
pieces as a blockader, because his influence is not affected in closed positions. The
knight always restricts the opponent. An example gives clarification. Botvinnik
thought that he had a favorable adjourned position due to the occupation of the
centre. A second with a different opinion was sent away. However, Euwe already
mentioned the vulnerability of the isolated pawn centre in the 1920's.

41.¥c2! Pawn e4 needs overprotection. 41...¥f7! 42.¤fe3 c5! Petrosian's

prepared move. 43.d5 ¤e5 44.¦f1? A wrong strategic choice decides the world
championship match. [44.¤c4! responds to the blockade with the same idea.
44...¤xc4 45.bxc4 ¤c8 (45...¥g6 46.¤e3 ¤c8 47.¤f5+! (Kan) 47...¥xf5 48.exf5 ¦de7
"The position is hopeless" Timman evaluates. 49.¥d3 ¦e3 50.¦e2! ¦xe2+ 51.¥xe2
¦e4 52.¦b1 White has a fortress.) 46.¤e3! (The analysts continue with 46.e5?! )
46...¤d6 47.¤f5+ ¤xf5 48.exf5 White has a fortress again. 48...¦de7 49.¦b1 ¦e3
50.¦b3 White answers to the invasion. Probably Petrosian had found this variation.
Boleslavsky convinced him to exhaust the old champ.] 44...¥g6 45.¢e1 ¤c8
46.¦df2 ¦f7 47.¢d2 ¤d6 The black knights blockade the centre. They restrict
the white pieces and support an attack on the queenside. 48.¤f5+ ¥xf5 49.exf5
c4! 50.¦b1 b5 51.b4 c3+! A beautiful decision. 52.¢xc3 ¦c7+ 53.¢d2 ¤ec4+
54.¢d1 ¤a3 55.¦b2 ¤dc4 56.¦a2 axb4 57.axb5 ¤xb5 58.¦a6 ¤c3+
59.¢c1 ¤xd5 60.¥a4 ¦ec8 61.¤e1 ¤f4 Botvinnik got a lesson in strategy. 0–1

7
 T CHESS ZONE T
(7) Karpov,Anatoly - Kasparov,Gary
Wch Moscow (9), 1984
[JvR]

Lesson seven. Restriction in general. The aim of restriction is to limit the mobility of
opponent as much as possible. The effect is retreat until no ground is left. The
specific case of blockade has been treated. Restriction in general is the subject this
time. White has a plus because the knight is stronger than the bishop.

46...gxh4?! [46...¥g6 prepares the exchange.] 47.¤g2!! Oleg Pervakov was among
the spectators. He saw a wave of surprise and enthusiasm among the public. A red
headed Gary sat behind the board. 47...hxg3+ 48.¢xg3 The white king is allowed
to enter and restrict his colleague. 48...¢e6? [Correct is 48...¥g6 49.¤f4 ¥f7!
50.¢h4 ¢e7 51.¤xh5 ¢e6 52.¤f4+ ¢f5 53.¤d3 ¥e8! 54.¢g3 ¥d7 55.¤c5 ¥c8 Black
has a horrible position but he seems to survive.] 49.¤f4+ ¢f5 50.¤xh5 ¢e6
51.¤f4+ ¢d6 52.¢g4 ¥c2 53.¢h5 ¥d1 54.¢g6! ¢e7 The crucial position of
the endgame. [54...¥xf3 55.¢xf6+-] 55.¤xd5+? This move is an error although a
pawn is won by a check. Pawn d5 should not be captured immediately. [The
restriction should continue with 55.¤h5!! ¥c2+ 56.¢g7 ¥d1 (The Pointe is 56...¢e6
57.¤g3! and 58.f4.) 57.¤xf6 ¥xf3 58.¢g6 ¢e6 59.¤e8 ¢d7 60.¤g7 ¢e7 61.¢f5 ¢d6
62.¢f6 ¥g2 63.¤f5+ ¢d7 64.¢e5 The preparation has been completed. White will
gain pawn d5 and win eventually.] 55...¢e6?! [55...¢d6 56.¤xf6 ¥xf3 White wins
easily according to Geller and Mikhalchiskin. However pawn d4 is weak due to the
missing pawn d5!] 56.¤c7+ ¢d7? A second pawn will be lost. [Correct is 56...¢d6
57.¤xa6 ¥xf3 58.¢xf6 ¢d5 59.¤c7+ ¢xd4 60.¤xb5+ ¢c4 61.¤d6+ ¢b3 62.b5
¢xa3] 57.¤xa6 ¥xf3 58.¢xf6 ¢d6 59.¢f5 ¢d5 60.¢f4! The d-pawn is
saved. 60...¥h1 61.¢e3 ¢c4 62.¤c5 ¥c6 63.¤d3 ¥g2 [Or 63...¥e8 64.¤e5+
¢d5 (Averbakh and Taimanov).] 64.¤e5+ ¢c3 65.¤g6 ¢c4 66.¤e7 ¥b7
67.¤f5 The restriction of the black king has gone completely. [67.d5 ¥xd5
68.¤xd5 ¢xd5] 67...¥g2?? A blunder ends the game. [67...¢d5 68.¢d3 ¢e6
69.¤g3 ¥g2 and the game will be hard to win for White despite the two extra
pawns.] 68.¤d6+ ¢b3 69.¤xb5 ¢a4 70.¤d6 This endgame has been published

8
 T CHESS ZONE T
without criticism mostly. Restriction appears to be difficult for world champions too,
if proper analyses are made. 1–0

(8) Fischer,Robert - Taimanov,Mark

Vancouver cqf (4), 1971
[JvR]

Lesson eight. Restriction and time. Restriction limits mobility. Sometimes it leads to
an undesired surplus in time: zugzwang. White has a slight advantage in the
example.

24.¦e5! b6? [Radulescu suggests 24...¢d6! 25.a4! a5! 26.b3 b6 27.¥f1 ¦e8=]
25.¥f1 a5 26.¥c4! ¦f8 The mobility of the rook has been restricted. Taimanov
tells in a booklet how he only could admire, as 'Dr. Watson', the intelligence of
'Sherlock Holmes' Fischer in the rest of the game. 27.¢g2 ¢d6 28.¢f3 ¤d7
29.¦e3 ¤b8 30.¦d3+ ¢c7 31.c3 ¤c6 32.¦e3 ¢d6 33.a4! White has restricted
the queenside. 33...¤e7 34.h3 ¤c6 35.h4 The intention is the pawn avalanche
h5, g4 and g5. 35...h5 Black has to close the kingside. His pawns go to weak
squares. 36.¦d3+ ¢c7 37.¦d5 f5 The closure of the flank has liberated the rook.
38.¦d2 ¦f6 39.¦e2 ¢d7 40.¦e3 g6 41.¥b5 ¦d6 42.¢e2 ¢d8?! [42...¦f6!
avoids the exchange of rooks. 43.¢d3 ¦d6+ 44.¢c4 ¦f6 45.¦e1! The aim is an
exchange of moves. 45...¦d6 46.¦e2 ¦f6 47.¦e3! Zugzwang. 47...¦d6 48.¦d3 and
exchange.] 43.¦d3 ¢c7 44.¦xd6 ¢xd6 45.¢d3 The king penetrates. 45...¤e7
46.¥e8 ¢d5 47.¥f7+ ¢d6 48.¢c4 ¢c6 49.¥e8+ ¢b7 50.¢b5 ¤c8! The
restriction is not fatal right away due black's threat of mate in one. 51.¥c6+ ¢c7
52.¥d5 ¤e7 53.¥f7! ¢b7 54.¥b3! ¢a7! Black stands with his back against the
wall. 55.¥d1 ¢b7 56.¥f3+ ¢c7 57.¢a6 The restriction proceeds. 57...¤c8
58.¥d5 ¤e7 59.¥c4 ¤c6 60.¥f7 ¤e7 61.¥e8! Black has done a little as
possible so far. Now he should like to pass, but that is against the rules. He has a
surplus in time due to zugzwang. 61...¢d8 Black seems to have a last resource, but
Fischer strikes. 62.¥xg6! ¤xg6 63.¢xb6 ¢d7 64.¢xc5 ¤e7 65.b4 axb4

9
 T CHESS ZONE T
66.cxb4 ¤c8 67.a5 ¤d6 68.b5 ¤e4+ 69.¢b6 ¢c8 [69...¤d6 70.a6 ¤c8+ 71.¢c5
¢c7 72.¢d5 and the game is decided at the other flank.] 70.¢c6 ¢b8 71.b6 This
great win was the fourth in a series of six. 1–0

(9) Botvinnik,Mikhail - Euwe,Max

Groningen (9), 1946
[JvR]

Lesson nine. Consolidation. The protection of the own territory is called

consolidation. I distinguish passive consolidation, if the aim is only defensive, and
active consolidation, if an attack is prepared. Black has a distant passed pawn in a
rook endgame. He threatens to defeat the opponent by zugzwang. White has to try
to preserve his territory. He threatens to play h5, followed by exchange and a
decrease of the pressure.

39...h6?! [Better chances are offered by 39...¦c5! (Flohr) 40.e5! The new move
40...h6! brings active consolidation. Black improves his position, while White
cannot do anything. a) 40...¢d5?! 41.¦e3? (Correct is 41.h5! ¦c6 42.hxg6 hxg6
43.¦e3 ¢e6 44.¦c3 ¦c8 45.¢g5 ¢xe5 46.¢xg6=) 41...c3 42.e6 c2? (An
improvement is 42...g5+! 43.hxg5 (43.¢xg5 ¢d4+) 43...c2 44.e7 c1£ 45.e8£ ¦c4+!
46.¢f3 £f1+ 47.¢g3 £g1+ (the original intention of Bodaan)) 43.e7 g5+! 44.¢xg5
¢d4+ 45.¢f4 ¦c8 (Bodaan) 46.¦e1 ¦e8 47.¦c1 ¢d3 48.¢g5= (Navara); b) The old
main line of Euwe is 40...¦c8 41.h5 ¢d5 42.hxg6 hxg6 43.¢g5 ¦c6 44.¦e3 ¦e6
45.¢f4 ¢d4 46.¦e1 c3 47.¦d1+ ¢c4 48.¢e4 c2 49.¦c1 ¢c3 50.¢d5 ¦e8 (I added in
1993 50...¦b6! 51.e6 ¦b1 52.¦xc2+ ¢xc2 53.¢e5 ¦f1 54.g5 ¦f5+ 55.¢d6 ¦f1
56.¢e5! ¢d3 57.e7 ¢c4 58.e8£! ¦e1+ 59.¢f6 ¦xe8 60.¢xg6 ¢d5 61.¢f7=) 51.e6
¢b2 52.¦h1 c1£ 53.¦xc1 ¢xc1 54.¢e5 ¢d2 55.¢f6 ¢e3 56.¢xg6! ¦xe6+ 57.¢f5!=;
41.¢e4! (41.h5? g5+ 42.¢e4 ¦c7! 43.¢d4 ¦f7!–+; 41.g5? h5 42.¢e4 ¦xe5+ 43.¢d4
¢f5 44.¦f3+ ¢g4 45.¦f6! ¦e7 46.¦xg6 ¦c7 47.¦f6 c3 48.¦f1 c2 49.¦c1 ¢xh4 50.g6
¢g5! 51.g7 ¦xg7 52.¦xc2 ¢f4 Black wins theoretically.) 41...¦c7! (41...¦xe5+
42.¢d4=) 42.g5 hxg5 (42...h5 43.¢d4 ¢f5 44.¦xc4=) 43.hxg5 ¦h7! (the maneuvers
43...¦c8 44.¢d4 ¢f5 45.¦f3+! ¢xg5 46.e6 c3 47.¦xc3 ¦xc3 48.¢xc3 ¢f6 49.¢d4

10
 T CHESS ZONE T
¢xe6 50.¢e4 draw) 44.¦f3! ¦h4+ 45.¢e3! ¢xe5 46.¦f6 ¦h3+ 47.¢d2 Black has
won a pawn but not the game.] 40.g5 h5 41.¢e3 ¢e5 White desires: 'They will
not pass!', but he seems to lose by zugzwang. 42.¦c2! c3 43.¢d3 An impressive
passive consolidation has started. 43...¦d8+ [The first point is 43...¦c7 44.¦xc3!
¦xc3+ 45.¢xc3 White draws when he rushes with his king to f6.] 44.¢e3 ¦d4
45.¦xc3 ¦xe4+ 46.¢f3 ¦xh4 47.¦c6 ¦f4+ 48.¢e3 ¦e4+ 49.¢f3 ¢f5
50.¦f6+ ¢xg5 51.¦xg6+! The second point secures the draw. ½–½

(10) Petrosian,Tigran - Bertok,Mario

Bled (14), 1961
[JvR]

Lesson ten. Fortification. If a player applies fortification, a fortress is built and

attackers are observed. The attacker has two narrow openings. "We will smoke
them out!" he claims. Notice Black's bishop of the sad figure.

37.¤g3 This makes the advance of black's g- or f-pawn unfavorable. White starts
activity on the queenside after the consolidation of the kingside. 37...¤db6 If
Black wants to liberate the bishop, the knights have to move to e7 and f7 as
preparation of ..g5 and ..Nxh6. This takes too long. So Black has to choose for
consolidation of the queenside. 38.¥c1 ¤c3 39.¢e1 ¢e7 40.¢d2 ¤ca4
41.¢c2 ¤c8 42.¢b3 ¤ab6 43.¥h3! [More natural looks 43.¥d3 but the bishop
remains inactive in that case.] 43...¢d7 44.¥d2 ¤e7 Black stops the intruders
easily, although his bishop has no positional value. 45.g5+! This a-positional move
is necessary for strategic reasons. White opens a second front. 45...¢e8 46.¥a5
¤ec8 The knights are needed for the defense of the queenside. 47.¤h1! The plan
is to play Be6 and Nf2-g4. It forces ..fxg5. 47...fxg5 Black complies and activates
his bishop.. 48.¤f2 ¥f6 49.¥g4 ¥d8 50.¤h3 ¥f6 51.¥d2 ¤e7 52.¤xg5
¥xg5 The bishop has done its duty. 53.¥xg5 Black can d o very little. One knight
has to stop the penetration of white's king on the queenside. If the other one jumps
to c8, exchange follows. One guard suffices at the moment. 53...¢f7 [Interesting is

11
 T CHESS ZONE T
53...¢d8! 54.¥e6 ¢e8 55.¥h4! Zugzwang. 55...¢d8?! (55...¢f8 56.¥e1 ¢e8 57.¥a5)
56.¥f7 ¢d7 57.¥g5! Zugzwang again. 57...¢d8 58.¥xg6!] 54.¥d2! The bishop goes
to a5, before the black king can reach c7. 54...¤ec8 55.¥xc8 ¤xc8 Cooperation
between the strong bishop and active king will decide the endgame quickly.
56.¥g5! Consolidation prevents a counteraction on the kingside. 56...¤b6
57.¥d8 ¤c8 58.¢a4 ¢e8 59.¥g5 ¢d7 60.¢b5 ¢c7 61.¢a6 ¤b6 This allows
an elegant move. 62.¥d8+! The exchanges have led to a won pawn ending. 1–0

(11) Keres,Paul - Portisch,Lajos

Moscow, 1967
[JvR]

Lesson eleven. Strong and weak squares. A square in or close to the own position is
strong if it can be controlled and possibly occupied (a definition after Euwe and
Reti). It is irrelevant if the square is occupied or empty. If a square is controlled by a
pawn, the opponent cannot control it (Euwe in Tijdschrift 1929). Therefore we
consider the pawn structure as essential when we search for strong squares. At the
start of the next endgame, the squares b3, b2, d3 and f4 are strong for Black. The
square d5 is strong for White. The squares b5, e5 and g6 are not strong for White,
because it is hardly possible to control them. So Black has four strong squares and
White one.

45...¤d3?! [45...¤b3! 46.¢e2 ¥f4 47.¤a6 ¥g3 utilizes the weak squares.] 46.¤d1
¥c1 47.¢e2! Keres has set a wonderful trap. 47...¤c5 [47...¤xb2? 48.¤xb2 ¥xb2
49.¢d2 ¥xa3 50.¢c2 ¥xb4 51.cxb4 Black has won two pawns, but White has an
impregnable fortress.] 48.¢f3 g5 49.hxg5 ¥xg5 50.¤a2 ¢e6 51.¤f2 ¢f6
52.¤d1 ¤d3 53.g3 ¢g6 54.¢g2 ¥d2 55.¢f3 ¢g5 56.¢e2 ¥e1 57.¢f3 ¥d2
58.¢e2 ¥e1 59.¢f3 ¢f6 60.¢g2 [Elegancy shows 60.¤b4 ¤xb4 61.cxb4 ¥d2!
62.¢e2 ¥c1! 63.¤c3 ¥xb2 64.¤xb5 ¢g5 (Barcza).] 60...¢g6?! [60...¤c5! 61.¢f3
¤e6 62.g4 h4–+] 61.¢f3 ¢g5 62.¢g2 h4 63.gxh4+ ¢f4?! [Black makes progress
in 63...¥xh4 64.¢f3 ¤e1+ 65.¢e3 ¢g4] 64.h5 ¢xe4 65.h6 ¤f4+ 66.¢f1 ¥h4
67.¤b4 ¥f6 68.¢e1 ¢f3 69.h7 ¥g7 Strong squares for Black are b3, b2, d3, h8

12
 T CHESS ZONE T
and h7. Strong for White are b5 and g8. Black's great positional can be expressed in
numbers this way. 70.¤c2? [70.¤c6! ¤d3+ 71.¢d2 The e-pawn will be stopped. It
is dangerous to conquer the h-pawn, because the active knight on c6 will attack
the weakness b5.] 70...¤d5! 71.¢d2 ¤f6 72.¤e1+ ¢e4 73.¤f2+ ¢f5 74.¤g2
¤xh7 Black has won a pawn and finishes the game quietly. 75.¤e3+ ¢e6
76.¤e4 ¥h6 77.¢e2 ¥xe3! 78.¢xe3 ¤f6 79.¤g5+ ¢d5 80.¢f3 ¤h5
81.¤e4 ¤f4 82.¤f6+ ¢c6 83.¢e4 ¤d3 84.¤g4 ¢d6 85.¤h6 ¤xb2!
86.¤f7+ ¢c5 87.¤xe5 ¤d1 88.¤d7+ ¢d6 89.¢d4 ¤xc3 The players
produced a great positional game despite the inaccuracies. Counting strong and
weak squares is a useful technique. If strong squares are found near the own
position, this gives information about the restriction of the opponent. Appropriate
consolidation leads to strong squares in the own territory. Strong and weak pawns
are found in the process. This approach gives a useful source of information to
human and computer. 0–1

(12) Euwe,Max - Sonnenberg

Amsterdam, 1923
[JvR]

Lesson twelve. Crossing a diagonal. The bishop has a special effect on the chess
board. Connected squares on a diagonal become strong, while the adjacent squares
stay weak. The limitations of a bishop become painfully clear in the endgame of the
weak bishop against the strong knight. Weak squares can be used by the opponent
as an entrance to the hostile position. A difficulty arises when a strongly defended
diagonal has to be crossed. An instructive endgame by Euwe clarifies this process.

35.¤f3 ¥d7 Black has an awful pawn structure on the queenside. 36.¤e5 ¥e8
37.f4 The strong knight has chased away the weak bishop. 37...¢f8 38.¢f2 ¢e7
39.¢e3 ¢d6 40.¢d4 The white king has utilized weak squares for an advance.
Black can hardly move. If he allows an exchange of pieces, the pawn ending will
be lost. He tries to create a defense line on the kingside instead. 40...g6 41.¤d3
¥d7 42.¤c5 White blockades on two squares. 42...¥c8 White seems to have
allowed a defense of the diagonal c8-h3, but Euwe crushes the opposition. He

13
 T CHESS ZONE T
crosses the Rubicon! 43.g4! h5 [43...h6 44.b3! and Black has to play 44...h5
anyway.] 44.f5! gxf5 45.gxh5 f4 46.¤d3 ¥xh3 [The alternative 46...f3 47.¢e3
¥f5 48.¤c5 a5 49.¤b7+ also offers little resistance.] 47.¤xf4 ¥f5 48.¤d3 ¥h7
49.¤c5 An immediate advance is fine, but Euwe decides to gain a pawn. It
increases the humiliation. 49...¥f5 50.¤xa6 ¥h7 51.¤c5 ¥f5 52.¤d3 ¢e6
53.¤e5 ¢d6 54.h6 The advance occurs. 54...¥e4 55.¤f7+ 1–0

(13) Matanovic,Aleksandar - Korchnoi,Viktor

Wijk aan Zee, 1968
[JvR]

Lesson thirteen. The battle for an important square. Sometimes the struggle in the
endgame is decided by the fight for one square. Naturally this will be a central
square in most cases. E4 is the crucial point in the example. Korchnoi has a
favorable position due to the control over this square.

29...e5 Black controls the centre. 30.¤bd2? White engages in the battle for e4.
[30.¤c5! ¤e7! 31.¤d7! ¤f5+ 32.¢f2 brings counteraction.] 30...¤e7 31.¦e1 ¤f5+
32.¢h3 ¤d6! Black controls the square e4. This causes white passivity. 33.¢g2
¢f7 34.¤f1 ¢e6 35.¤g3 g6 36.¤d2 ¦f8 37.¦e2 b5 The struggle for the
important square e4 reaches its highlight. 38.¦f2? White misses the last chance.
[The time is ripe for 38.e4! at last. 38...¦f4 39.exd5+ ¢xd5 40.¤f3 e4 41.¦d2+ ¥d3
42.¤e1 continues the battle.] 38...¥f5 39.¢f1 ¦c8 40.¢e1?! The king is more
active on e2. Slowly the white pieces move to poor squares. 40...a5 A minority
attack starts. 41.a3 b4! 42.axb4 [Korchnoi mentions 42.cxb4 ¦c1+ 43.¢e2 ¥g4+
44.¢d3 e4+ 45.¢d4 ¤b5# The combination ends with a wonderful point.]
42...axb4 43.¤e2 ¦a8 44.¤b3 ¤e4 45.¦h2 ¦b8 46.cxb4 ¦xb4 47.¤bc1
¤d6! [47...¦xb2?? 48.¤d4+] 48.b3?! [48.¤c3 aims the knight on the square e4.]
48...¤e4 49.¤g1 ¤c5 50.¢d1 ¤xb3 The knight maneuver has netted a pawn.
51.¦b2 ¦g4 52.¤ce2 ¤a5 53.¦b6+ ¢e7 54.¤f3 ¤c4 55.¦b7+ ¢e6 56.¢e1
¥e4 57.¤d2 ¤xd2 58.¦b6+ ¢f7 59.¦b7+ ¢f8 60.¦b8+ ¢e7 61.¦b7+ ¢e8
62.¢xd2 ¦xh4 63.¤c3 d4 64.¤xe4 ¦xe4 65.¦g7 ¦xe3 66.¦xg6 0–1

14
 T CHESS ZONE T
(14) Korchnoi,Viktor - Tal,Mikhail
Wijk aan Zee, 1968
[JvR]

Lesson fourteen. Overprotection. A chessman in the own position gets extra

support in the case of overprotection. The support to an advanced pawn in the
middle game is well-known. White gets support from behind in the following
endgame. The endgame is easily won, according to Keene. He is wrong as always.

44.¦a7 ¦b8 45.h5 ¢g8 [No use has 45...¦b4 due to 46.h6 ¢g8 47.¦g7+ ¢h8
48.¦f7] 46.¦xa4 ¦b7 [46...h6 47.¦g4+ ¢f7 48.¦g6 and White wins a pawn.]
47.¢g4?! The king stands slightly offside. Pawn f2 is the weakness in white's
position. [The win is achieved more quickly in 47.¢e4! ¦b2 48.f3 ¦b3 49.h6 f5+!
50.¢xe5 ¦xe3+ 51.¢f6 ¦e8 52.f4!] 47...¢g7?! Tal fails to set problems. [Korchnoi
analyses 47...¦b2! 48.f3 ¦b3 He finds the complex win 49.h6!! ¦xe3 (49...f5+
50.¢g5!) 50.¢f5! ¦b3 51.g4 ¢f7 52.¦a7+ ¢g8 53.¦g7+ ¢h8 54.¦d7 ¢g8 55.¢e6!
¦b6+ 56.¢e7 ¦b8 57.¦d3! ¦f8 58.¢e6 ¢h8 59.¢f5 ¢g8 60.¦d6 The win is clear at
last.] 48.¦a2! Pawn f2 gets overprotection. Now, the win has become easily.
48...¢h6 49.¢f5 ¦b6 50.e4 ¦c6 [The tactical justification is 50...¢xh5 51.f4! ¢h6
52.¦a7 exf4 53.gxf4 ¦b4 54.¦f7 An encircling movement brings the victory.] 51.f4
exf4 52.gxf4 ¦c5+ 53.¢xf6 ¢xh5 54.e5 ¢g4 55.f5 h5 56.¦a4+ ¢g3 57.e6 h4
58.e7 ¦c8 59.¢f7 1–0

15
 T CHESS ZONE T
(15) Korchnoi,Viktor - Ponomariov,Ruslan
Donetsk Donetsk (8), 23.01.2001
[JvR]

Lesson fifteen. Counterattack: Direct confrontation. If the opponent looks

menacing, a player can do more than strengthen his own position. A counterattack
can be started in order to create the own chances. If attack and counterattack take
place on the same flank, a direct confrontation begins. This way is symbolized by
the punk head of Viktor Korchnoi. He applied the approach in a match against
Ponomariov.

19...g5! The position is equal. Black starts an attack. He cuts potential support to e5
in order to conquer the pawn later on. 20.¦fe1 ¦ac8 21.h4!? [The own position
can be strengthened by 21.¤d4 ¦c4 22.f3 Then Korchnoi has achieved little. He has
to win in order to equalize the match. Therefore he chooses the confrontation.]
21...g4 22.¤h2!? The counterattack on the same flank continues. 22...h5 23.f3!?
g3! 24.¤f1 ¤eg6 25.¦d4! White increases the counterattack. The exchange of the
black g- for the white h-pawn is unfavorable. 25...¦c4? Black is confused and
blunders a pawn. [Ribli prefers 25...¦c1!? 26.¦xc1 ¤e2+ 27.¢h1 ¤xd4; I like the
finish 25...f5! 26.exf6 e5 27.¦d2 ¤xh4 28.¥a2 ¤h3+ 29.¢h1 ¤f2+ 30.¢g1 ¤h3+ and
perpetual check.] 26.¦xc4 dxc4 27.¥xg6! fxg6 [27...¤xg6!? 28.¤xg3 ¦c8!
29.¤xh5 ¦c5 is interesting.] 28.¤xg3 ¤d3 29.¦e2 ¦d8 30.¤e4! White returns
the extra pawn in order to activate his knight. 30...¤xe5 31.¤g5 ¦d5 32.a4 ¢g7
33.¤xe6+ ¢f6 34.¤g5 ¢f5 35.¤e4 ¦d3 36.¤c3 ¦d4 37.¤e4 ¦d3 38.¢h2
White does not repeat the moves again. 38...¦b3?! [The restriction of the white
pieces is continued by 38...¦d4! 39.¦c2 ¢e6 40.¢h3 ¤d3] 39.¤d6+ The
counterattack has changed in an attack without restriction. 39...¢f6 40.¤e8+ ¢f5
41.¤d6+ ¢f6 42.¢g3 ¦b4 43.¦e4! ¢e6! [Avoids 43...¦xb2? 44.¦xe5!; and
43...¦xa4 44.b3] 44.¤c8 ¢f6! 45.¤xa7 ¦xa4 [Korchnoi analyses the
counterattack 45...¦xb2? 46.¤c6! ¤d3 47.¦xc4 ¤e1 48.¦e4 ¦xg2+ 49.¢h3 ¦g1
50.a5] 46.¤c6 ¤d3 47.¤e7 ¤xb2 48.¤d5+ ¢f7? Hereafter Black is lost.
[48...¢f5 49.¤xb6 ¦b4 keeps Black in the game (Korchnoi).] 49.¦e7+ ¢f8 50.¦b7

16
 T CHESS ZONE T
¤d1 51.¦xb6 c3 52.¦c6 ¦a5 53.b6 ¦b5 54.¦c7 ¦xd5 55.b7 ¦b5 56.¦c8+
¢f7 57.b8£ ¦xb8 58.¦xb8 c2 59.¦c8 ¤e3 60.¢f2 ¤f5 61.g3 ¤d4 62.g4
¢e6 63.¢e3 ¢d5 64.¦c3 g5 65.hxg5 hxg4 66.fxg4 1–0

(16) Schlechter,Carl - Lasker,Emanuel

Berlin (7), 1910
[JvR]

Lesson sixteen. Counterattack: the flight forwards Sometimes a player experiences

great problems by an attack of the opponent on a certain area of the board. Only a
counteraction in another area might give solace. Schlechter adopts a flight forwards
hereafter.

15.c4 0–0 [The line 15...¥e5 16.¥xe5 ¤xe5 (Bernstein) 17.¦ac1 leads to a
defendable position for White.] 16.¦ad1 ¥f6 17.¦fe1 g5! Lasker grabs the
initiative. Schlechter changes the intended attack in a flight forwards. 18.¥xd6!?
[He wants to avoid 18.¥d2 ¤e5 but 19.c5! would have be a fine answer. Carl meets
an unfair tratment in Berlin and plays too sharp. He wants to silence his critics.]
18...exd6 19.¦xd6 ¥e5 20.c5! [20.¦xc6? ¥b7 21.¦c5 ¥d4! ends in a disaster.]
20...¦fe8?! Suddenly the great fighter becomes shy. [The crucial line is 20...¥xh2+
21.¢h1 ¥xd6 22.cxd6 ¤xf2+ 23.¢g1 ¤e4 24.e7+ ¢g7 25.exf8£+ ¦xf8 A variation
of Tarrasch continues by 26.d7 ¦d8 27.¦xe4! fxe4 28.¤c5 ¢f6 29.¤xa6 ¦xd7
Huebner regards 30.¤c5 ¦d4 as better for Black.] 21.g3 ¥f6 22.¦xc6 ¥b7?!
[22...¥b5 keeps a plus (Capablanca).] 23.¦c7 ¥e4 24.¤c3 ¥xc3 25.bxc3 ¤e5
26.¦d1 ¤f3+ [26...¢h8?! (Bernstein) 27.f4 gxf4 28.gxf4 ¤d3 29.¢f1 (threatens
Bc4). White has a sharp attack.] 27.¢f1 ¤xh2+ 28.¢e1 ¤f3+ 29.¢e2 ¤e5
30.¦dd7! White has conquered the initiative by a fine charge in the centre. 30...f4!
[30...¤xd7? 31.exd7+ ¥d5+ 32.dxe8£+ ¦xe8+ 33.¢f1 loses material for Black.]
31.¦g7+ ¢h8 32.¦xg5 ¥d3+ 33.¢d1 fxg3! 34.fxg3 [Not 34.f4? ¦g8!
(Bernstein).] 34...¤g6 35.¦d5 ¥e4 36.¦d6 ¥f5?! [36...a5 37.¦d2 a4 38.¥c4 ¦ac8
brings a better defense.] 37.¥d5?! White will lose his advantage. [Better is 37.¢d2!
a5 (37...¤f8?! 38.¦f7! ¥xe6 39.¦xf8+! ¦xf8 40.¥xe6) 38.¦f7 ¥h3 39.¥d5 ¦ac8 40.c6

17
 T CHESS ZONE T
continues the attack.] 37...¦ab8 38.c6 ¤f8 39.¦b7 ¦bc8 40.e7 ¤g6 41.¥f7
¦xe7 42.¥xg6 ¥g4+! 43.¢c1 ¦e1+ 44.¢b2 hxg6 45.¦xg6 ¥f5 46.¦f6 ¥e4
47.¦xa7 ¦b1+ 48.¢a3 ¥xc6 A great fight with chances for both sides ends
peacefully. ½–½

(17) Pillsbury,Harry - Gunsberg,Isidor

Hastings (21), 1895
[JvR]

A chess position can be described in terms of matter, space and time (wood stands
on the board at a move). If you want to achieve something, you have to devise a
pocket strategy. If you give matter in order to win time, a development sacrifice is
made in the opening. It often happens to be a breakthrough in the endgame.
Lesson seventeen. The breakthrough by pawns. A breakthrough is essential in
warfare. After trenches had been dug in World War I, an advance became
impossible. An opening emerged, when tanks were used in Cambrai. Tanks and
infantry moved forward. However, the hole was too small for the cavalry to reach
the green fields beyond. A similar case developed in piece time. Pillsbury had to
win in the last round of a legendary British tournament. Little happened in the
game. Suddenly he got an opportunity. The black pawn structure seems secure, but
Harry scores by a breakthrough. A famous combination begins.

27.f5! g5 [Lasker analyses 27...gxf5 28.gxf5 exf5 29.¤f4; and 27...exf5 28.gxf5 g5
29.¤b4 Pawn d5 falls each time.] 28.¤b4 a5 Black has to attack the knight. 29.c6!
¢d6 30.fxe6! ¤xc6 [Or 30...axb4 31.e7! ¢xe7 32.c7] 31.¤xc6 ¢xc6 32.e4!
dxe4 33.d5+ ¢d6 34.¢e3 b4 35.¢xe4 a4 36.¢d4 White has punched a hole in
the centre. 'The green fields beyond' come in sight. Still the troops are stopped
despite the local superiority. Black threatens to break through on the flanks and
reach his own 'green fields'. 36...h5 [The main line continues with 36...¢e7! 37.¢c4
b3 38.axb3 a3! 39.¢c3 f5 40.gxf5 h5 41.b4! g4 42.b5 h4 43.b6 a2 44.¢b2 g3 45.hxg3
hxg3 46.d6+ ¢xd6 47.b7 ¢c7 48.b8£+ ¢xb8 49.e7 a1£+ 50.¢xa1 g2 51.e8£+
(Lasker). A check decides after a combination of twenty-five moves.] 37.gxh5 a3

18
 T CHESS ZONE T
38.¢c4 f5 39.h6 f4 40.h7 Pillsbury had won Hastings 1895 by a victory in the last
round! The combination became an evergreen. 1–0

(18) Karpov,Anatoly - Kortschnoj,Viktor

Baguio City (28), 1978
[JvR]

Lesson eighteen. The breakthrough by pieces. The previous time pawns advanced.
This time the elephants make an opening. Kortschnoj has a deficiency of 2-5 in
won games. This is almost fatal. It stimulates a fighter like Kortschnoj enormously.
He would like to stampede his elephants from a5 and h5 into the hostile position,
but the openings are too small.

28...¦h4 29.¦ad1 ¢e7 30.f3 ¤e6 31.¤e3 ¦d8! An obvious plan is to double
the rooks on the h-file, but that does not create a threat. 32.¤g4 ¤g5 33.¤e3
¤e6 34.¤g4 ¤g7 35.¤e3 ¤f5! 36.¤c2 If White exchanges the knights, the
restraint will increase. 36...¦c4 Black utilizes a hole. 37.¦d3 d4! Black applies a
pawn breakthrough under time pressure. 38.g4 ¤g7! 39.¤xd4 ¤e6 40.¦ed1
¤xd4 41.cxd4 ¦xb4 Black has regained the pawn. The opening on the
queenside becomes bigger. 42.¢f2 c5! Kortschnoj has set a new problem with his
sealed move. 43.d5! [Analysts regard 43.¢e3 as drawn, but 43...¦dxd4! 44.¦xd4
cxd4+ 45.¦xd4 ¦b2 wins for Black.] 43...¦b2+ 44.¢g3? Karpov and his seconds
have analyzed the adjourned position incorrectly. [A draw can be forced by
44.¦3d2 ¦xd5! 45.¦xb2 ¦xd1 46.¦xb5 ¦d2+ 47.¢e3 ¦xa2 48.¦xc5] 44...¦xa2 The
intruder has cleared the pawns on the queenside. 45.¦e3 b4 46.e6 ¦a3! The aim
is to pin the f-pawn. 47.¦e2 [Langeweg analyses the alternative 47.¦xa3 bxa3
48.exf7 ¦b8! 49.¦a1 ¦b3 50.¢f4 ¢xf7 51.¢e5 ¢e7! 52.d6+ ¢d7 and Black wins.]
47...fxe6 48.¦xe6+ ¢f7 49.¦de1 [Timman mentions the prophylactic 49.g5 ¦d7!]
49...¦d7 [Not 49...¦xd5 50.¦e7+ drawn.] 50.¦b6 ¦d3 51.¦ee6 ¦3xd5 52.¦xg6
a3 53.¦bf6+ ¢e7 54.¦e6+ ¢f8 55.¦ef6+ ¢e7 56.¦e6+ ¢d8 57.¦a6 ¦b7
58.¦g8+ ¢c7 59.¦g7+ ¦d7 60.¦g5 b3 61.¦xc5+ ¢b8 Black has avoided

19
 T CHESS ZONE T
perpetual check. When this game occurred, I visited Chicago for medical research.
An American of a chess club and I were highly impressed by Kortschnoj's play. 0–1

(19) Edinburgh Chess Club - London Chess Club

London - Edinburgh corr 1824-28 (5), 1826
[JvR]

Lesson nineteen. The positional maneuver. If a player sacrifices time in order to

improve the own position or weaken the opponent, I call it a prophylactic or
positional maneuver. This maneuver occurred in an old match of Edinburgh and
London which started in 1824. The moves were sent weekly per postal coach. A
cup of 25 Guineas was the prize. The Scotch Gambit Cup still exists. Three years
after the start, the decisive phase in the fifth and last game had been reached. Both
cities play for mate. Black has progressed best. Therefore, White has to give two
moves in order to strengthen the own position.

37.f4! ¥d2 38.g3! White has answered the threats. 38...¥a5! [Not 38...¦c2? 39.g5!
(Lewis).] 39.¦e3! White sacrifices his bishop. 39...¦c2 40.g5! ¦hxh2+ 41.¢g4
h5+ 42.¢f3 ¦hf2+ 43.¢e4 Suddenly White can develop a winning attack. 43...g6
44.¦c7+ ¢g8 45.¢e5! ¦c5+! [45...¥c3+ 46.¦xc3! ¦xc3 47.¢f6! mates (Lewis).]
46.¢f6 ¦xf5+ 47.¢xg6 ¦f8 48.¦g7+ ¢h8 49.¢h6 ¥b4! 50.¦e6! White
threatens to mate in two. 50...¦f5 51.¦h7+ ¢g8 52.¦g6+ ¢f8 53.¦xc6 ¦c5
54.¦f6+ ¢e8 55.g6! ¦c3 56.g4! ¥f8+ A fascinating finale follows. 57.¦xf8+!
¢xf8 58.g7+ ¢f7 59.¦h8 ¦c6+ 60.¢h7 A fine game concluded the match. The
white king was chased over the board and emerged as winner. The Edinburghers
had won with 2–1 and got the cup. Analyses by Lewis remained worthwhile. Some
later matches have been selected for this review, but the level of the first one
remained unsurpassed in the nineteenth century. 1–0

20
 T CHESS ZONE T
(20) Umansky,Mikhail - Berliner,Hans
World Champions Jubilee ICCF Email 2001–04, 2001
[JvR]

Lesson twenty. Zugzwang. The aim of a positional maneuver is to lose time in order
to strengthen the own position or to weaken the opponent. This time such a
maneuver leads to zugzwang. The tormented chess player would like to skip a
move but that violates the rules. The next fragment stems from a chess tournament
among nine world champions of correspondence chess.

31.h4! Umansky can win the exchange but he betters his position firstly. 31...¦c8
32.h5! c4! 33.¢g2 a5 34.a4! Black has to weaken his position due to mutual
zugzwang. [Premature is 34.e7? ¢f7 35.e8£+ ¦xe8 36.¤xe8+ ¢xe8 37.¢f2 due to
37...¤g4+!] 34...g4!? He takes square g4 from his knight. [The complex variation
34...¦a8!? 35.¤d7! ¤xd7 36.¦f7+ ¢g8 37.¦xd7 ¦c8 38.¢f3! c3 39.¢e3 c2 40.¢d2 c6!
41.¢xc2 cxd5+ 42.¢d3 ¢f8 43.¢d4 ¦c4+ 44.¢xd5 ¦xa4 45.¦f7+ ¢e8 46.¢xd6 ¦a3
47.g4 ¦d3+ 48.¢e5 ¦e3+ 49.¢f6 ¦f3+ 50.¢g7 leads to a White win (after
Umansky).] 35.e7! ¢f7 36.e8£+ ¦xe8 37.¤xe8+ ¢xe8 38.¢f2 ¢e7 39.¢e3
c6 40.¢e4 ¤f3 [Or 40...c5 41.¢f5! ¤d3 42.¢g6 c3 43.¢xh6 and the h-pawn
decides the game (Umansky).] 41.¦c1 c5 42.¢f5 ¤e5 43.¦c2! ¢f7 44.¦b2
¤d3 45.¦b7+ ¢f8 46.¢f6! ¢e8 47.¢e6 ¢f8 48.¦f7+ ¢g8 49.¦f1 The win
caused a sensation. Umansky became the champion of champions by an impressive
score of 7/8. Palciauskas, Timmerman and Baumbach shared rthe second
place.[49.¦f1 c3 50.¢xd6! c2 51.¢c7 c1£ 52.¦xc1 ¤xc1 53.d6 and the d-pawn
rules.] 1–0

21
 T CHESS ZONE T
(21) Kramnik,Vladimir - Bareev,Evgeny
Wijk aan Zee (5), 2003
[JvR]

Lesson twenty-one. Positional sacrifice: win. Material is sacrificed in order to

strengthen the own position or weaken the opponent. This sacrifice rarely occurs in
practice. A bishop is given in order to achieve the win in this example. White
controls the d-file and exerts pressure of the f-file.

27.¦h3! ¤e7 28.¦f3 ¦hf8 29.¦d6! a5 30.g5! The attack on the kingside begins.
30...hxg5 [The immediate 30...¤f5?! allows the positional sacrifice 31.gxh6 gxh6
32.¦xf5! exf5 33.¦xh6! ¦h8 34.¦f6 (Kramnik).] 31.¥xg5 ¤f5! The knight has to
control h6. Pawn f7 needs indirect protection. Black has lost the struggle for the d-
file, because the knight cannot go to d5 and square d8 cannot be occupied by a
rook. 32.¦d1 a4 33.b4 Black has to look for counter-play, if he wants to survive.
33...¢c8? Black becomes completely passive. [The counterattack 33...¦h8! 34.¦fd3
¦af8! develops the rooks and attacks a pawn. 35.¦d7+ ¢b8! White has not a
decisive attack (Lukacs).] 34.¦fd3 ¦a7 35.¦d8+ ¦xd8 36.¦xd8+ ¢b7 37.¢c3
¢a6 38.¢d3! ¦c7 39.¢e4 ¢b7 40.¦d1 ¢c8 41.¦d8+ ¢b7 42.¢f4! ¦c8
43.¦d7+ ¦c7 44.¦d3 ¢c8 [Black repeats the moves because 44...¦c8 fails due to
45.¥d8] 45.¦d8+ ¢b7 An unexpected decision occurs. 46.¥f6!! White brings a
magnificent positional sacrifice. He threatens with the continuation 47.Bxg7. 46...g6
[46...gxf6 47.exf6 ¦c8 48.¦xc8 ¢xc8 49.¢g5! ¢d7 50.h6 ¤xh6 51.¢xh6 e5 52.¢h7!
and White wins the tempo play (Kramnik): 52...e4 53.¢g7 ¢e6 54.a3] 47.hxg6
fxg6 48.¢g5 Kramnik plays a perfect combination of combinatory struggle and
subtle prophylaxis. 1–0

22
 T CHESS ZONE T
(22) Schlechter,Carl - Nimzowitsch,Aaron
San Sebastian (4), 1912
[JvR]

Lesson tenty-two. Positional sacrifice: draw. Material is sacrificed in order to

strengthen the own position or weaken the opponent. A pawn sacrifice often
occurs in a rook ending in order to improve the own position. A pawn sacrifive
even happens twice in the example. White is weak on the c-file.

20.¥d4 ¥xd3 21.¦xd3!? He makes a choice between two evils. [The alternative
21.cxd3 ¤d5 leads to positional misery.] 21...¦xc2 22.¦b3 b5 23.¥xf6 gxf6 The
ending of four rooks gives fine drawing chances. 24.¦d1 ¦ac8 25.¢f1 f5!?
[25...¦8c5! wins, according to Tarrasch, but White plays 26.¦d8+ ¢g7 27.¦a8 and
the game continues.] 26.¢e1 ¦8c4 27.¦d2! ¦c1+ 28.¢e2 ¦a4 29.a3 ¦g1
30.¦g3+ ¢f8 31.b4!? ¦a1 32.¦dd3 ¦a2+ 33.¢e1 f4 34.¦h3 ¢g7 35.¦b3
¢g6 36.¦hc3 f5 37.g3 fxg3 38.hxg3 e5 39.¢f1 ¢g5 40.¢g2 h5 41.¦d3 e4
42.¦e3 ¦c2 [More consistent is 42...h4 43.gxh4+ ¢xh4 but the winning chances
are minimal.] 43.¢f1 a5 44.bxa5 ¦xa5 45.¦b4 ¦a2 46.¦eb3 ¦c2 White could
have captured on b5, but he follows the motto: "I do not do anything, because I do
not have to think in that case". 47.¢g1 ¦a2 48.¢f1 ¦c2 49.¢g1 ¦d2 50.¢f1
¦a2 51.¢g1 h4 52.gxh4+ ¢xh4 53.¦xb5 ¦xb5 54.¦xb5 ¢g4 55.¦e5!
Schlechter gives another pawn. [He avoids the trap 55.¦a5 f4! and Black wins.]
55...¢f4 56.¦a5 ¢g4 57.¦e5 ¦xa3 58.¢g2 ¦a8 59.¢f1 ¦a1+ 60.¢g2 ¦b1
61.¦e8 ¢f4 62.¦a8 ¦c1 63.¦b8 ¦a1 64.¦c8 ¦d1 65.¦a8 ¦d2 66.¦e8 ¦a2
67.¦e7 ¦e2 68.¦a7 ¦d2 69.¦e7 ¦d8 70.¦a7 ¢e5 71.¢f1 f4 72.¦e7+ ¢d4
73.¢e2 ¦a8 74.¦d7+ ¢e5 75.¦e7+ ¢d5 76.f3!? Nimzowitsch does not accept a
draw. So Schlechter contemplates for a minute. 76...e3 [The point is 76...¦a2+
77.¢e1 exf3 78.¢f1] 77.¦e4 ¦f8 78.¢e1 ¦f5 79.¢e2 Black cannot make any
progress. It is a positional draw. ½–½

23