Tragicomedy in the Endgame : Instructive Mistakes of the Masters.

249 Pages·2013·8.869 MB·English

by  Dvoretsky, Mark

TRAGICOMEDY
IN THE
ENDGAME
INSTRUCTIVE MISTAKES OF THE MASTERS
BY
MARK DVORETSKY
Foreword by
Karsten Müller

2011
Russell Enterprises, Inc.
Milford, CT USA
Tragicomedy in the Endgame
Instructive Mistakes of the Master
by
Mark Dvoretsky
ISBN: 978-1-936490-04-2
© Copyright 2011
Mark Dvoretsky
All Rights Reserved
No part of this book may be used, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any manner or form whatsoever or by
any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the express written permission
from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
Published by:
Russell Enterprises, Inc.
P.O. Box 3131
Milford, CT 06460 USA
http://www.russell-enterprises.com
[email protected]
Cover design by Janel Lowrance
Printed in the United States of America
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Signs & Symbols ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 4

Foreword ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 5

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 6

Chapter 1 .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 7

“Swimming” in Theory .............................................................................................................................................................................. 7

Rook and Pawn (in the opponent’s half of the board) versus Rook ....................................................................................... 7

Rook and Pawn (in its own half of the board) versus Rook .................................................................................................... 17

Rook and Rook’s Pawn versus Rook: a- and h-pawns ............................................................................................................... 22

f- and h-pawns ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 27

Lasker’s Idea ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 40

An Extra Pawn on the Flank ................................................................................................................................................................. 44

Rook against Pawns ................................................................................................................................................................................. 55

Chapter 2 ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 77

The King in the Endgame ...................................................................................................................................................................... 77

Activity of the King ................................................................................................................................................................................... 77

Selecting the Path for the King ............................................................................................................................................................ 80

Shouldering ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 85

Cutting Off the King ................................................................................................................................................................................. 88

Chapter 3 ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 102

The Strength of Pawns ......................................................................................................................................................................... 102
Zugzwang
Chapter 4 ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 122

................................................................................................................................................................................................... 122

Chapter 5 ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 129

In Search of Salvation ........................................................................................................................................................................... 129

Chapter 6 ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 147

Tactics ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 147

Chapter 7 ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 164

Piece Play – Maneuvers and Exchanges ........................................................................................................................................ 164

Chapter 8 ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 182

Technique .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 182

Chapter 9 ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 208

Premature End to the Struggle ......................................................................................................................................................... 208

Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 225
Index of Players ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 232
SIGNS & SYMBOLS
! a good move
‼⁇ a brilliant or hard-to-find move
? a weak move, a mistake
⁉
a blunder
⁈
a move worth considering
□
a doubtful move
the only move
= the position is equal
⩲ White’s position is somewhat better
± White has the advantage
+– White has a won position
⩱ Black’s position is somewhat better
∓ Black has the advantage
–+ Black has a won position
∞ the position in unclear
=∞ with compensation for the material
zugzwang
# mate
⨀
m match
wm world championship match
zt zonal tournament
izt interzonal tournament
ct candidates tournament
cm candidates match
ch championship
ch(1) first league championship
wch world championship
ech European championship
f finals
sf semi-finals
qf quarter-finals
ol Olympiad
tt team competition
jr junior or youth competition
sim simultaneous exhibition
W? A position that may be used as a solving exercise, White to move
B? A position that may be used a solving exercise, Black to move
(D) See the next diagram
FOREWORD
Nowadays, many players neglect studying the endgame and focus mainly on opening preparation. I think that
this approach is flawed, as time invested in studying the endgame will repay high dividends. The point is that
not only will your technique improve – you will have the psychological advantage of looking forward to
reaching and enjoying an endgame – but your overall understanding of the game of chess itself will improve,
as in the last phase of the game, the real potential of every single piece may be seen much more clearly than
in a complicated middlegame position.
So the real question is, in my opinion, how to navigate the expansEinved goacmeaen M oaf neunadlgames, and how to learn the
important positions, methods and principles which can act as lighthouses to guide you. The main approach is
certainly to pick up a reference work like Dvoretsky’s excellent and study it thoroughly. Of
course, without having studied the principles of endings, even strong players may find themselves adrift at
sea, searching for the correct way to weather the storms. In fact this book is based on the well-known maxim
that one can benefit from one’s mistakes. And that also definitely applies to the mistakes made by others, as
this books so aptly demonstrates.
Mark Dvoretsky is ideally qualified for this project because of his vast experience in this area and his large
collection of excellent examples which have been tested with some of his exceptionally strong students. In
this book, he deals mostly with rook endgames as they occur most frequently; many valuable half-points can
be saved by being familiar with certain positions and methods in these endings. But an insight into the
essence of the errors regarding theoretical aspects of the endgame is of course not all this work has to offer.
Dvoretsky also looks at principles such as prophylaxis, whose importance can hardly be overestimated, or the
question of the when and how to exchange – especially simplification into a pawn endgame – where many
blunders often occur.
To get maximum benefit from this book, I advise you to just look at the diagrams first, contemplating the
possible strategy and moves. Only read on when you have reached a conclusion about which move you would
play and why. Then not only your understanding of the important final phase of the royal game will improve
but so will your overall results as well.
Grandmaster Dr. Karsten Müller
Hamburg
October 2010

5
DvoretskIyN’s ETndRgaOmeD MUanCuaTl ION
Many chessplayers have read (“DEM”). My new book will help them recall
important theoretical positions and technical methods, as well as study several sections on endgame theory
in depth (for example, rook and bishop versus rook, or rook endings with f- and h-pawns). It compels one to
think about the reasons for endgame errors that everyone – from ordinary amateurs to prominent
grandmasters – has made, with a view of avoiding similar mistakes.
For those who are not familiar with DEM, the present volume will serve as an introduction to the fascinating
world of endgames and, possibly, prompt them to take up the systematic study of endgame theory. I am
firmly convinced – contrary to popular opinion – that such an undertaking is much more effective than
endless reworking and memorization of opening material. And, as a result, there will be a significant increase
in rating and improved tournament results.
I have called those instances in which serious endgame errors occurred “tragicomedies” – sad for the
chessplayers themselves, but amusing for spectators. As was noted in DEM, in which a “tragicomedy” section
finished many chapters, such episodes will serve as an excellent warning against ignoring elementary theory.
Moreover, they become etched into one’s memory, thereby contributing to a better understanding of those
endgame concepts.
In every tournament, and in fact in virtually every round, there are more and more new examples of
instructive endgame errors. If desired, a multi-volume encyclopedia could be released on this theme. Several
authors, for example Leonid Verkhovsky or Adrian Mikhalchishin, would specialize in these endings. I have
not tried to familiarize the reader with fresh examples, although the book does contain a number of them –
on the contrary, I have gladly made use of fragments which have been previously published. Neither the
quantity nor newness of the material to be studied is that important. The level of comprehension that the
reader acquires from the lessons in this book is much more critical. Therefore many insufficiently significant
examples from my collection were not included in the book.
MLeatn muael note other self-imposed restrictions. Inasmuch as the book is basically an introduction (or, on the
other hand, a supplement) to DEM, to avoid repetition, I have chosen not to include examples from the
. Preference was give to examples from practice by very strong, or at least rather well-known
chessplayers. With rare exceptions, fragments from games with rapid time controls or blitz games were not
used, as chessplayers are capable of a lot of nonsense when their flag is hanging, and it is senseless to include
it in the ideological base. However nowadays it is almost always necessary to play endings in severe time
trouble. The principle reason for this is the radical change in the time controls as well as elimination of
adjournments. This is further aggravated by FIDE’s pernicious policy of having games played at as quick a
pace as possible, which inevitably leads to superficiality and poorly reasoned decisions. This in turn results in
the diminution of chess as an art, depriving the games played of both ideological and aesthetic value. But I
should also note that under such difficult conditions, a good working knowledge and understanding of
endings becomes especially important. In fact, in endgames played in time trouble, it will be possible to
regularly outplay less experienced opponents.
The following material should be studied by actively trying to solve, on your own, the problems posed in
these positions. Next to many diagrams appearing at a critical move you will find a question mark, indicating
that it may be used as an exercise. The majority of exercises are elementary, but some will pose quite a
challenge.
Mark Dvoretsky
Moscow
November 2010

6
CHAPTER 1
“SWIMMING” IN THEORY
this theory. As far as theory is concerned, I only
An analysis of the possible causes of endgame
understand the core knowledge necessary for the
mistakes must naturally begin with a weak grasp
skilled, practical chessplayer. My overall
of theory. And this is not only because of what
objective when writing DEM was to identify and
can be seen from a great number of tragicomic
as best as possible offer a precise explanation of
episodes from chess praxis. The parsing (for
this core theory.
experienced players – repetition) of some of the
most important theoretical positions and ideas
In the majority of the different endgames, the
will be useful in other parts of the book and it will
amount of theoretical knowledge necessary for
be necessary to refer to them repeatedly.
the practical player is not great. However, this is
not so with rook endings. Here it is necessary to
At times, all the information about endgame
master more information than all of the other
theory seems to be stored in innumerable
parts combined. It is also the most important and
endgame encyclopaedias and reference books. No
difficult section and that is where we will
one – including the authors of these kinds of
therefore begin.
books – can possibly know or remember all of
ROOK AND PAWN (IN THE OPPONENT’S HALF OF THE BOARD) VERSUS ROOK
“The long and short side.” 1. Svidler – Pelletier
A center pawn
divides the board into two unequal parts: one
Biel 2001
part contains four files, the other three.
If the weaker side’s king does not manage to
get in front of the pawn, then it should try to
get on the short side,
so as to be able to check
from the long side with the rook.
The pursuit of the enemy king by a rook is
effective when, between the rook and pawn,
there are at least three open lines
(files, as in
this case, or ranks). If there is less distance, the
king will approach the rook without straying too
far from its pawn, maintaining the possibility of
defending it if necessary.

Let’s take a look how these principles are applied
(and alas, frequently not applied) in practice. The black king is positioned where it should be,
on the short side. However, if it were to be cut off
along the g-file (51.Rf7-g8‼), the fact that it is on
the short side would not matter: White would
advance his king and pawn without any difficulty.
But those kinds of moves are usually are made
only by some especially sharp blitz players. In a
normal game, the black king inevitably gets to g6
(or g7). That is why it is important to prevent the
only effective defensive plan, checking from the
long side. With this in mind, the rook must take
the a-file (the black rook will be too close to the
king and pawn on the b-file).
7
51.Ra7! Rf2+ 52.Ke6 Kg6 53.Ra8!, etc., would
have won. We will become more familiar with
this kind of position in the analysis of the next
example
51.Kf6⁇ ⁇
×
Peter Svidler chose (also wrong is 51.e6
51...Rf2+ 52.Ke7 Ra2!
Rf2+ 52.Ke5 R f7 53.ef Kg7 54.Ke6 Kf8=)

The black rook has taken up the long side and the
position is now drawn.
53.Rf1 Kg6!
(not allowing the king to be cut off
54.Rd1 Ra7+ 55.Rd7 Ra8

by 54.Rg1 – now Black is ready to start with the
56.Rc7 Kg7 57.e6 Kg6 58.Kd6 Ra6+ 59.Kd7
checks from the side)
Ra8
An important theoretical position has arisen, one
which is well worth noting. I reproduce my
Draw.
comments from DEM. The black rook is only two
files from the pawn and this situation provides
White made the same kind of mistake as in the
White with real chances for success.
previous ending.
2. Bolland – Euwe
However, the immediate 76.Ra1? (with the threat

of 77.Rg1+) does not work: 76...Rb7+ 77.Kd8
Rb8+ 78.Kc7 Rb2 (threatening 79...Kf8 or
Weston 1924
79...Kf6) 80.Rf1 Ra2! 81.e7 Ra7+ with a draw,
since the rook has managed to check from the
long side as needed.
To win, his opponent must be on move. In fact, on
76...Rc8, 77.Ra1 decides matters; on 76...Rb1, the
white rook occupies the important a8-square;
bad is 76...Kg8 77.Kf6 Rf8+78.Rf7. There remains
only 76...Kg6, but that move, as we shall see,
worsens Black’s position.
76.Kd6+!
But not 76.Kd7? Kf6⨀ 77.e7 Kf7=.
72.Kd7⁇ Ra3
73.Rc2 76...Kf6 77.Kd7⨀ Kg7 (77...Rb1 78.e7; 77...Kg6
(Black is able to save himself
Ra5 74.e6 Ra7+ 75.Rc7 Ra8! 76.Rc1 Ra7+ 78.Ra1) 78.Ke7!⨀
inasmuch as his rook is on the long side)
77.Kd8 Kf6 78.e7 Ra8+
White has reached his goal by triangulation.
Draw.
78...Kg6
Seizing the important a-file with the rook would
have decided matters.
On 78...Rb1, 79.Ra8! Rb7+ (79...Rb2 80.Ke8 Rh2
81.Ra7+ Kf6 82.e7 Rh8+ 83.Kd7) 80.Kd6 Rb6+
72.Ra2! Rb3 73.Ra7+ Kg6 (73...Kf8 74.Ra8+ Kg7
(80...Kf6 81.Rf8+ Kg7 82.e7) 81.Kd7 Rb7+ 82.Kc6
75.e6+–) 74.Ke7! (premature is 74.e6? in view of
Re7 83.Kd6 Rb7 84.e7 decides.
74...Kf6! 75.Rf7+ Kg6 76.Rf8 Rb6+ 77.Kd7 Rb7+
78.Kc6 Ra7=, and the black rook occupies the
79.Ra1! Rb7+ 80.Kd8
long side.) 74...Rb8 (74...Rh3 75.Ra6+ and 76.e6)
75.e6 Kg7
Also good is 80.Kd6.
8
The rook moves
80...Rb8+ great French chessplayer François-André Philidor
along the sixth rank
may be employed: 52...Rh6!.
If 80...Kf6 instead, the route to victory is until White plays f5-f6,
instructive: 81.e7! Rb8+ (81... R×e7 82.Rf1+) after which it drops back to the first rank and
82.Kc7 Re8 83.Kd6! Rb8 84.Rf1+ Kg7 85.Kc7 Ra8 starts checking from the rear. The king will not be
86.Ra1!+–. able to be protected from them on f6.
81.Kc7 Rb2 In practice, the weaker side often does not
manage to take the sixth rank in a timely manner.
placing the rook behind the passed pawn
Then another defensive method is necessary:
.
With the king on e6, 52...Rf2! draws easily: 53.Kf6
Kg8! (the king of course goes to the short side)
54.Ra8+ Kh7. The basic idea behind the defense is
shown after 55.Ke6 Kg7! – and thanks to the
rook’s position on f1, the pawn cannot advance
and the moves must be repeated: 56.Ra7+ Kf8
57.Kf6 Kg8! 58.Ra8+ Kh7, etc. If White plays
55.Rf8, preparing 56.Ke7, then the rook goes to
the long side, 55...Ra1 with an obvious draw.
52...Re2+?

82.Re1!
The Hungarian chessplayer playing Black is not
familiar with the established method of defense.
The point! With the king on g7, Black would reply
However, the position still remains drawn.
53.Kf6
82...Kf8, but now the pawn cannot be stopped.

82...Rc2+ 83.Kd7 Rd2+ 84.Ke8 Ra2 85.e7+–
“Philidor’s Position” – Two Methods of
Defense
. This discussion is about those
situations in which there is a white pawn on the
fifth rank.
3. F. Portisch – Biro

Zalakaros 1996

Necessary was 53...Kg8! 54.Ra8+ Kh7 55.Kf7
Rb2!. There are three free files between the b-file,
from which the black rook will operate, and the
white pawn, and this distance is sufficient. With a
center pawn (e.g., if the kings and pawn were
moved one file to the left) Black would lose, as we
saw in the analysis of the previous example.
53...Re8?

With the white king on e5, a defensive system
demonstrated back in the 18th century by the
9