MULTI-PIECE ENDGAMES II
This type of ending arises out of several openings. Let s name a few of the better-known cases:
1) Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d4 exd4 6.Qxd4 Qxd4 7.Nxd4).
2) King s Indian Defense, Classical Variation (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8).
3) English Opening (1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 c5 3.Nf3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Qxd1+ 7.Kxd1).
4) Grunfeld Defense (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5 8.Be3 Qa5 9.Qd2 cxd4 10.cxd4 Qxd2+ 11.Kxd2).
As you can see, the scope is very wide. Basically, a player has to be prepared to play endings in almost every opening and must have some idea about underlying endings in his repertoire.
There are some differences between ending with one or two pieces and the ones mentioned above.
1) First of all, there are some elements of typical middlegame play, so necessary measures must be taken to secure the King. At the same point the King becomes a strong piece in the ending, but it usually happens as more pieces are exchanged. The power of the King usually equals that of a Knight or a Bishop.
2) Pawn structure is extremely important in such endings. One has to be very careful when making pawn moves, and must prevent his pawn structure from been damaged.
3) A crucial part of successful endgame play is to make a plan and follow it.
Simply put, make some goals you would like to achieve. For instance: get your Knight/Bishop/Rook/etc. to a strong central position, or attack a weak pawn, or fight to obtain control over some open file, etc. Even more importantly, be consistent and follow those goals.
4) Any kind of sacrifice must be weighed very carefully and calculated thoroughly, because even one pawn may provide a decisive advantage in the endgame.
5) Trading and exchanging pieces: what piece to trade and which one to keep. Botvinnik once said: A chess game is the art of exchanging pieces.
Try to exchange your poor pieces (like a Bishop without a good diagonal, or a Knight standing at the corner of the board) for your opponent s good pieces (like a powerful centralized Knight, or a Bishop controlling a long diagonal, or Rook controlling an open file).
6) Take your time, don t rush your decisions, and play slowly. It is much harder to fight back from the bad position in the ending than in the middle game.
Do not be afraid of the endgame! As with most things in chess, it s just a matter of experience. Try it and you will like it!
The following very instructive game was played by Bobby The Great.
Robert Fischer Lajosh Portisch, Havana, 1966.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.0-0 f6 6.d4 exd4 7.Nxd4 c5 8.Nb3 Qxd1 9.Rxd1 Bd6
Let s take a look at the diagrammed position. White s general plan is to trade all the pieces and to achieve a pawn ending where he can take advantage of his pawn majority on the kingside. However, there are many obstacles in White s way. Among them: Black s pair of Bishops.
Before this game was played, theory had considered this line as being harmless for Black, but Fischer had prepared a novelty.
10.Na5!!
A great move! White slows his opponent s development and sets up a little trap at the same time. If here 10...Ne7 then 11.Nc4 and if 11...0-0 (11...Kd7 12.Bf4) then 12.Nxd6 Rd8 13.Bf4 Ng6 14.Bg3 Ne5 15.Bxe5 fxe5 16.Na3! followed by Nc4, winning a pawn.
10...b5
It looks like this move is necessary if Black wants to develop his light Bishop. Now if Black could get his pawn to c4, the a5-Knight may be in danger. White s next move prevents this advance and also freezes the enemy c-pawn on c5 where it will become an easy to attack target.
11.c4! Ne7 12.Be3
Now White s plan is Nb1-d2-b3 winning the c5-pawn, so Portisch decided to try some active counterplay.
12...f5! 13.Nc3 f4
Another line, 13...b4 14.Na4 fxe4 15.Bxc5, is bad for Black, also if 13...Bd7 then 14.Nb7! hits c5 and d6 at the same time.
14.e5!
If 14.Bd2 then 14...Ng6, and Black holds on.
14...Bxe5
In case of 14...fxe3 15.exd6 exf2+ 16.Kxf2 0-0+ 17.Kg1 cxd6 18.Rxd6, Black would still have problems defending his queenside pawns.
15.Bxc5
Now there is a threat of 16.Re1, so Portisch decided to trade his Bishop. Remember point number one about King safety?
15...Bxc3 16.bxc3 Ng6 17.Nc6 Be6
At first, it looks like Black has overcome his problems, but Fischer calculated further.
18.cxb5 axb5 19.Na7! Rb8 20.Rdb1
Now it is clear that the b5-pawn will be lost as 20...Bc4 is met by 21.a4! Black decided to give it up and connect his Rooks.
20...Kf7 21.Nxb5 Rhd8
White finally won a pawn, but the game is far from over. Black s pieces are active and opposite colored Bishops are on board (this factor always gives some hope to the weaker side). Fischer s technique was legendary; it is very interesting to see how he capitalized on his small advantage.
22.Rb4!
White keeps an eye on the f4-pawn and has h2-h4 in mind, as ...Nxh4 would be met by Rxf4+, winning a Knight.
22...Bxa2 23.Nxc7 Rbc8 24.h4!
Fischer prepares to hit the Knight on g6 and also gives his King room on the back rank. Black decided to invade the second rank in return.
24...Rd2 25.Bb6 f3?
Black has become too optimistic, he should play 25...h5 instead. Fischer immediately strikes back.
26.Be3! Re2 27.Nb5!
Suddenly there are some forks in the air. White threatens Nb5-d6+ and also Nb5-d4. Black defends his Bishop with a second Rook, but his pieces get tied up defending each other.
27...Ra8 28.h5 Ne5 29.Rf4+! Ke7
Another way is 29...Kg8, but after 30.Nd4 it would not be much better.
30.Rd1!
Suddenly Black s King is getting mated. White threatens checkmate in two, starting with Be3-c5+.
30...Rc8 31.Re4 Kf6 32.Rd6+ Kf5 33.Rf4+ Kg5 34.Rxf3+, 1-0.
