ENDGAME TRAINING

By Andrew Martin

This month, something different. Instead of the usual opening analysis, I thought I would provide some of my favorite endgame problems for your entertainment. I recommend you have a serious attempt at solving them before running over the answers. You will notice a distinct improvement in your perception of the game if you do.

PROBLEM ONE

SILAEV, 1983

Here's a brilliant finish from a 1983 study by Silaev. It’s White to play and win. Watch out for stalemate!

1.Rb7!!

I hope you didn't fall for 1.Rxg1 Rf8+ 2.Qxf8+ Kg6+ 3.Kg8 Rh8+ 4.Kxh8 stalemate!

1...Rf8+

Looks like it leads to the same conclusion but there is a remarkable twist!

2.Qxf8+ Kg6+ 3.Kg8 Rh8+ 4.Kxh8 Qh1+

Black is aiming for the same stalemate trick. The next move is very tough to spot.

5.Qh6+!!

A SPECTACULAR MOVE

Oh, to be able to play such a move in our own games!

5...Qxh6+ 6.Kg8, 1-0.

BLACK IS HELPLESS

It is quite amazing that Black has no moves here. The threat of Rb6 mate is completely decisive.

PROBLEM TWO

Problem-like resources are often possible in our own games. We must strive very hard to search for them – particularly in apparently hopeless positions. The cut and thrust of the play in our next problem, and the shocking conclusion is quite remarkable.

GORGIEV, 1963 (after H. Mattison)

It's White to play and draw. The problem is that White's Knight is trapped. What can he do?

1.a4!  

The clear idea is to play a5 and Nb6, extricating the Knight and setting up a drawn King and Pawn ending.

1...a5!

Thus 1...Kc8 2.a5! Kb7 3.Nb6 Bxb6 4.axb6 axb6 5.Kc3, =, shows the mechanism in action.

2.Ke2!

Gaining a tempo and chasing the enemy King away from its control over e1. This might seem puzzling at first, but the importance of the e1-square will eventually become clear.

2...Bg1

No better is 2...Bc5 3.Kd3 Kd7 4.Kc4 Kc6 5.Nc7!

3.Kd3

Heading for b5, which would draw easily. Black aims to prevent this idea.

3...Kd7 4.Kc4 Kc6

IS BLACK WINNING?

The position appears extremely difficult now. Can you see the saving resource?

5.Nc7!!

White loses after 5.Kb3 Be3! (The point of this move is revealed later.)  6.Kc4 Bf2 7.Kb3 Kb7 8.Kc4 Kxa8 9.Kb5 Be1. Black needed to improve the position of his Bishop in order to protect the a-pawn.

5...Kxc7 6.Kb5 Bb6

We finally see the idea behind White’s 2.Ke2 – it was very important that Black could not play 7...Be1 here.

7.Ka6!

WHITE FORCES A DRAW!

7...Kc6. The game is drawn by stalemate. Surprising! A position with similar ideas could easily crop up over the board.

PROBLEM THREE

RICHTER, 1953

White to play and win. Something paradoxical...

1.Kb7+!!

It is very difficult to see this move. We are conditioned to put the King into the thick of the action in an endgame. Even now you might not see White's winning idea. The theme is domination of the Black Queen. On b7, the White King keeps out of range and controls key squares on a8, b8, and c8 (After 1.Kd7+ Kh7 White can check till Kingdom Come but he does not win.).

1...Kh7 2.Qh2+ Kg8

Forced, since 2…Kg6 3.Qxh8 can’t be allowed.

3.Qa2+ Kh7

Again forced. Black’s Queen would again fall off the board after 3…Kf8 4.Qa8+ Kf7 5.Qxh8.

4.Qf7

ZUGZWANG!

Black does not have a single move and must resign! After 4...Qg8 5.Qh5 is checkmate!

PROBLEM FOUR

NISSL, 1910

Well, the Black King is in a tight spot and it is mate in six moves. The White Bishop needs to get into the action. 

1.Bh4! Rd1

Black's defense is easy to understand. The Black Rook prevents a winning check from the Bishop.

2.Bg3 Rc1

Stopping the threatened check on c7.

3.Bf4

More torment – both 4.Bxc1 and 4.Bd2+ are hanging over Black’s head.

3…Rc2 4.Bg5!

Overloading the poor Black Rook, who cannot now cope with the twin threats of Bd8 and Bd2.

4...Rc8 5.Bd2+ Rc3 6.Bxc3, mate.

A very difficult problem to compose with such limited material.

PROBLEM FIVE

SAM LOYD

An elegant problem from an acknowledged genius. In this simple setting, it's White to play and mate in 5!

1.Qf8+ Ke1 2.Qd6! Kf1 3.Qf4+ Ke1 4.Qd4 Kf1 5.Qg1, mate.

Perhaps you found that simple. I know I struggled with it for a long time as a kid. The winning maneuver of the Queen is as striking to me today as it was all those years ago.

PROBLEM SIX

MOLLER 1920

The mates are getting shorter but no less easy. This one is mate in three!

1.Qg7!

White threatens Qxd7 and mate. The movements of the queen impress. 1.Qb1? would have failed to 1…Bg3! when the prescribed mate in three no longer exists.

1...Be7

1...Kb7 2.Qxd7+ Ka6 3.a8=Q, mate.

2.Qb2 Bd6 3.Qg2, mate.

Problems such as these fire the imagination and inspire. One can take many ideas with us over to the competitive game. One senses the beauty of chess. I hope you like the positions that I have chosen and that you seek out the world of problems and studies for yourself. Back to the opening moves next time. Have a great month!