TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE
KEY TO SYMBOLS
FOREWORD
INTRODUCTION

PART I. SIMPLE IDEAS

a. Introduction to the Art of Understanding “One’s Thinking Process” in Chess
b. Exercises
Exercises 1-25
Exercises 26-50
Exercises 51-75
Exercises 76-100
Exercises 101-125
Exercises 126-150
c. Concluding Thoughts
PART II. THE ENDGAME
a. Introduction to a Few Endgame Themes
b. Exercises
Exercises 1-20
Exercises 21-40
Exercises 41-60
Exercises 61-80
Exercises 81-100
Exercises 101-120
c. Concluding Thoughts
PART III. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COMPLEX POSITIONS
a. Introduction to Complex Positions
b. Exercises

2
 Exercises 1-21
Exercises 22-42
c. Concluding Thoughts

GAMES INDEX

3
 SHERLOCK’S METHOD
THE WORKING TOOL FOR THE CLUB PLAYER

by
Elshan Moradiabadi and Sabina Francesca Foișor

www.thinkerspublishing.com

Managing Editor
Romain Edouard

Assistant Editor
Daniël Vanheirzeele

Graphic Artist
Philippe Tonnard

Cover design
Iwan Kerkhof

Typesetting
i-Press ‹www.i-press.pl›

First edition 2020 by Thinkers Publishing

4
Sherlock’s Method. The Working Tool for the Club Player
Copyright © 2020 Elshan Moradiabadi and Sabina Francesca Foișor

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise, without the prior written permission from the publisher.

ISBN 978-94-9251-091-4
D/2020/12730/17

All sales or enquiries should be directed to Thinkers Publishing, 9850 Landegem, Belgium.

e-mail: [email protected]
website: www.thinkerspublishing.com

5
 KEY TO SYMBOLS

! a good move
? a weak move
!! an excellent move
?? a blunder
!? an interesting move
?! a dubious move
™ only move
= equality
∞ unclear position
© with compensation for the sacrificed material
² White stands slightly better
³ Black stands slightly better
± White has a serious advantage
µ Black has a serious advantage
+– White has a decisive advantage
–+ Black has a decisive advantage
‚ with an attack
ƒ with initiative
„ with counterplay
… with the idea of
¹ better is
≤ worse is
N novelty
+ check
# mate

6
 FOREWORD

The year was 2001, and I was representing India in the Asian Junior Championship playing against
some of the best young talents in Asia. It was the penultimate round, and I was up against this young
Iranian player, Elshan Moradiabadi. Our ratings were similar indicating that our playing strengths
were about equal. I went in aggressive, but Elshan was able to fend off my attack and push me to the
brink of defeat with an extra pawn in a rook and pawn endgame. I had to fight for 81 moves before I
could get a draw in that game. When I shook his hand with a sigh of relief, I did not realize that we
would be entangled in this long journey of chess playing and teaching together. Over the years,
Elshan and I have faced off in several other games against each other. While we both share a great
friendship off the board, we have always fought hard over the board. That is how we have always
played chess; that is the passion we share for this beautiful game.
I remember watching the US Women’s Championship games live in 2017, and the clear favorite
going into the last game was WGM Sabina Foisor. She had to deal with a lot of nerves and was facing
an important game against the young and talented Apurva Virkud. I remember following the game
closely, and thinking it is never easy for the player in the lead to win such games because they have
everything to lose. I did not know Sabina personally at that time, but I was very happy to see that she
not only came out with a win, but that she played in style with a nice queen sacrifice in the end. Since
then, I have gotten to know Sabina personally, and I can say that she brings the same kind of sincerity
and passion to the game of chess. Elshan and Sabina make a great team, just like Sherlock and
Watson from their book.
The book covers exactly what it promises to cover; they have a bit of everything in the examples
ranging from silent knight maneuvers to fancy sacrifices. Their idea in the book is to help players
train for tournaments by working on all aspects of the game and looking at problems in a wholesome
way. They have a wide variety of topics from a wide variety of players. For example, there is an
exercise of beautiful tactical play by the former World Champion Viswanathan Anand against Super
Grandmaster Alexander Grischuk. As you solve the problem and move on, you will see another
exercise played by their students rated around 1300. This is a beautiful way to illustrate that chess is
chess, no matter who is playing the game. Just a heads-up to the reader, the latter is much harder to
crack! Some of the examples like Jeffrey Xiong missing a queen trap or Nihal Sarin missing a simple
way to control an open file to gain an advantage show that even the best of the best make mistakes.
Even though there may be easy puzzles you can solve in a few minutes or real Titanic’s that take
hours to sink in, you must consistently train with them.
In chess, there are two main methods to come up with the best move: one is abstract, think in terms of
ideas, and the other is exact, think in terms of moves and variations. In my opinion, this is one of the
most difficult skills to acquire — knowing when to think in terms of moves and when to think in
terms of ideas. Books usually try to address one or the other, but they do not give us the wholesome
picture of the game. As promised in their book, Elshan and Sabina focus on all of this. By mixing the
thinking process together, they keep the readers second guessing, and that is a very useful training

7
practice when you are getting ready for an actual tournament. When Ding Liren is playing a game, no
one is there to tell him to look for a forcing knight sacrifice to open his opponent’s king rather than
thinking about an abstract idea to improve his position. The same applies to Jobava’s brilliant queen
retreat to expose the Black king on a weak diagonal. In both cases, once the player found the
idea/move, the game was essentially over, but they had to do it in real time.
Adding a nice storyline with Sherlock and Watson adds to the entertainment value of the book; it is a
nice way to add fun to the hard chess training that readers are about to endure. By mixing the themes
and varying the difficulty level, Elshan and Sabina have found a good training tool for tournament
players. Most training methods focus on narrow topics to help familiarize the players with the hope
that the sheer amount of work done in that topic will help a player recognize the pattern in a practical
game. While learning each topic in depth is an irreplaceable method to study, it is always meant for
the longer run, and it is also quite time consuming. The best training that you can do right before a
tournament has to be something that can emulate the tournament situation as much as possible. In this
book, Elshan and Sabina have catered to that requirement for players.

Cary, NC — May 2020

GM Magesh Panchanathan

8
 INTRODUCTION

The book before you is a product of what happens when two chess players start a relationship (which
started over six years ago) and enter a dialogue about how to get ready for the next tournament.
The content of this book is a training program for players who plan to play an over-the-board
tournament a few weeks from the time they start training with this book. This book, unlike other
similar books in the field of improvement, does not have a central theme. In other words, we are not
focused solely on openings, middlegames or endgames. Moreover, the book does not only
concentrate on specific themes (calculation, positional decisions or other strategic aspects), though
many of these concepts are addressed throughout the book. Instead, this book offers a holistic view on
how to approach every single position in it, regardless of the phase of the game or the nature of the
position. We try to teach players how to identify types of decisions in various positions, while
pointing at the trade-off between a hardcore calculation and a heuristics judgment.
As you know, there is no replacement for hours of systematic training and months of planning. For
elite players, the aforementioned process is simply a routine. Consider the world championship
matches, where the champion and the challenger spend months preparing different openings with
their coaches, honing calculation skills and getting into shape, both physically and psychologically
for the demanding task of playing the highest level of chess.
We are aware that for most chess players, such extensive level of preparation is not pragmatic.
Several chess players may have other jobs, or may work as coaches. These players (of which some
are quite strong, and even include Grandmasters) do not spend as much time on chess as an elite
professional does on a daily basis. They also cannot devote various necessary resources to their
preparation as elite players can. This book is an attempt to help such players get into shape in a short
amount of time. We do not expect such high-end training, but hope to help you reinforce the skills
needed for your preparation process.
Like many books on practical chess, our method does not cover every single aspect of preparation. It
focuses mainly on training one’s brain to handle every position, as it is presented, in a timely fashion.
Thus, despite our efforts to make the content uniformly distributed across different chess concepts,
you may find more emphasis on certain topics than on others. These topics tended to appear more
frequently than others in tournament games.
The material included in this book has been hand-picked from games and positions we reviewed over
the past few years with the exception of a handful of older ones. While we wished to include all of
them in here, it would have made the book impractical for the purpose of preparing for a tournament.
This book is composed of three parts, each broken down into two subsections. The parts are as
follows: simple positions, endgames, and complex decisions. There are one hundred fifty (150)
positions in the first part, one hundred twenty (120) in the second part, and forty-two (42) in the third
part. The targeted readers for the book are players rated between 1700 and 2300. The range may seem
rather wide, but the variety of concepts addressed makes it possible for the players in the

9
aforementioned range to enjoy and learn from the book’s content. At the same time, they can improve
and adapt with the suggested ideas in the solutions. We believe the third part is rather difficult for
players below 2000, but of course, everyone stands to gain from it!
We strongly suggest that you write down everything you think about during the course of solving the
exercises. You are not just trying to find the right solution, but to think in the right direction with
respect to the position before you. Make sure to compare your thinking process to the moves and
comments in the solution section, as it is a quintessential part of training with this book.
While we are not setting a time limit for each exercise, we do not recommend exceeding fifteen (15)
minutes per exercise in Parts I and II, and not more than an average of twenty five minutes (25) on
each exercise in Part III. We advise the players below 2000 to complete each exercise in one sitting.
The solutions are very thorough and tailored to be like game commentary, so there are definitely
more than just moves in there. Thus, we highly recommend that the reader not check the positions
with chess engines and instead carefully read the answers at the end of each part. If you still have
doubts, check the answers with a strong engine, but be sure to let the engine reach as high of a depth
as a hardware allows.
Each part is also furnished with a set of lectures and content for the first subsection, in which we tried
to cover more overarching concepts. These sections include model games, endgames and positions
where you can train yourself on specific themes. This is where the readers embark on a short journey
with none other than the legendary character of Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who plays the role of the chess
master, training his good friend, Dr. John Watson, for his upcoming tournament. Two reasons
motivated this choice. The first reason was that Sherlock Holmes had a rather (in our opinion) fixed
approach to solving every single mystery, while having a sharp eye for details. The second was that
he had an equally famous character and narrator (Dr. Watson) next to him, which we thought could
amuse the readers while going through the book.
Finally, this is what we propose for how to read this book:
1. Pause for a few minutes on each diagram you reach, even the ones during a lecture or in the
solution part.
2. Write down your ideas and thoughts and keep them for comparison purposes.
3. Read the solutions.
4. Once you are done with the exercises, go back to them in a week’s time and repeat the same
process.
5. Compare the notes and ponder on how your thinking process may have (or have not) changed!
Good luck with the exercises and your upcoming tournaments!

Sabina Francesca Foișor & Elshan Moradiabadi

Durham, North Carolina 2020

10
 PART I. SIMPLE IDEAS

A. INTRODUCTION TO THE ART OF UNDERSTANDING “ONE’S THINKING

PROCESS” IN CHESS
THE NARRATOR: DOCTOR JOHN WATSON
It was only a few days since Sherlock had returned from a conference on cybersecurity and computer
crimes in Boston, where he made a presentation (God knows of what kind since he had never used
PowerPoint or Prezi before) about the thinking process and motives of cyber criminals with regard to
different digital infrastructures. I didn’t know much about the content of his presentation at the time.
Sherlock was not eager to talk about it, so I deduced it was due to my assertive behavior earlier that
month when I forced him to accept the invitation to that specific conference, despite his initial lack of
interest in it. Yet, I was sure that his presentation was a successful one.
It was a nice Saturday morning, and given my practice is closed during the weekends, I was eager to
learn more about Sherlock’s travel, so I decided to pay him a visit.
Right before entering his building, I ran into his postman, who handed me over the daily
advertisements, the papers, and Sherlock’s check in a chic envelope. It was a handsome sum (I have
to make sure Sherlock attends to these papers; he simply expects me to check his letters!) with an all-
praise thank you note from the sponsor of the event, the kind that one would frame and put in his
office. Knowing Sherlock long enough, I knew the paper would end up in his or Mrs. Hudson’s
fireplace next winter...
As I entered his office, I saw Sherlock grabbing his cup of coffee from his breakfast table and
walking towards the window. The breakfast plate was almost empty, a rarity in Sherlock’s case since
he doesn’t eat much in the first half of the day when he is at 221B Baker Street. His breakfast, which
consisted of sunny-side up eggs, bacon, and hash browns, was a new addition to his habits’
‘repertoire’ since he returned from Boston, or so I was told by Mrs. Hudson. Sherlock looked out of
the window and took a big sip from his cup. He looked dazed for a few seconds. The jet lag was still
haunting him even though he had been back for a week.
As I was hesitating between picking up a book or a newspaper to read (as a way to take a break from
my iPhone over the weekend), Mrs. Hudson walked in.
“Good morning, Dr. Watson!” said my kind and polite ex-landlady.
“Good day, Mrs. Hudson!” I said with a smile on my face.
“It was a delicious meal Mrs. Hudson! The coffee was OK too,” said Sherlock with his usual tone
when he wants to dismiss someone.
“I am glad,” muttered Mrs. Hudson, as she was putting the dishes back in her tray to leave.
Although there isn’t a difference between the basic preparation of an American and an English
breakfast, Mrs. Hudson wasn’t happy with this new addition to her home errands since Sherlock

11
wasn’t much of a breakfast person before. Mrs. Hudson could bear the whole breakfast menu change,
if Sherlock would have conceded to just that.
A couple of nights ago, while I was visiting Sherlock for the first time since he was back from
Boston, Mrs. Hudson approached me and politely complained about Sherlock’s desktop computer
noise and the heat in the basement. She was not happy with the utility bill either, given that Sherlock
would keep the computer on all the time so that he could analyze his correspondence chess games and
other interesting positions.
As I saw Mrs. Hudson reaching for the door, I rushed to help her open it.
She turned to me and murmured, “What is it with this chess thing?” nodding at Sherlock’s new
addition to his apartment’s furniture.
It was an antique chess set made of ivory on a board made of walnut wood. Mrs. Hudson was
uncomfortable with the ivory set as it was against her belief in animal rights, a cause she generously
donated to.
I smiled and said, “Just a new hobby, nothing more, Mrs. Hudson.”
As she was leaving the room she said, “Well it surely doesn’t pay the rent, but his expertise on
security and criminology does!”
Mrs. Hudson was referring to the two months delay in paying the rent and other expenses, which
Sherlock could finally attend to after his trip to Boston.
I turned my head back into the room toward Sherlock’s table, which was now all shiny and bright
after he had pulled open the curtains.
“John, take a look at this position!” he said with all excitement and joy, the dazed look was long
gone...
From a game between two 1300 USCF rated players, in a Scholastic tournament in Texas

12
 Black to play

“Sherlock, since when did you start to compose studies on middlegame tactics?” I said while being
amused by this Saturday morning’s pleasant surprise.
“I know you have been working much more on your chess recently Sherlock, but you should stop the
obsession; it is merely a hobby for you!”
“On the contrary, my dear fellow,” he uttered elatedly, “I am serious about it now as a
correspondence player, and I intend to knock the rust off my brain and hone my skills in the royal
game. I am even thinking about possibly playing in a few tournaments after ages away from the
board!”
This definitely came as a surprise to me. Through my correspondence with a childhood friend of
Sherlock’s, who resides now in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua and New Guinea, I learned that
Sherlock was a huge chess talent as a young boy, spending hours playing with his brother Mycroft at
the Diogenes Club. Sherlock’s friend noted that Sherlock was impressive at “spotting a position’s
need”, and although he was not “the brightest tactician” out there, “Sherlock would rarely lose a
game.” Nevertheless, Sherlock ended his over-the-board chess career altogether once he entered
college. It is only the emergence of online chess that brought back his passion years after he had
passed his prime, or so I thought.
In spite of leaving the chess scene for decades, Sherlock’s library was filled with as many chess
books as he had on subjects like criminology, chemistry, and forensic sciences. Thus, if he is studying
chess this way, there is a merit in his method. After all, it is Sherlock Holmes we are talking about!
“What do you make of this position, John?” he demanded.
I spent a good part of two minutes, trying to understand what is happening on the board before even
making a comment. I used to play chess regularly with my army fellows and I was a solid 1700 level
player. Thus, I wasn’t intimidated by seeing a position like this, but it seemed that the game had
developed in a random fashion.
“White is ahead a substantial amount of material: a rook and two pawns for a knight. The c6-pawn is
two squares away from promotion, so Black’s only hope is the attack along the a-file. Given the fact
that the bishop on b2 covers the checkmate square on a1, and Black’s knight is hanging on f6, a
knight jump should be the only and decisive solution for Black, focusing all of Black’s power over
the a1-square. The knight’s backward moves barely create any threat, so I guess the forward ...Nxe4
move should be the answer.”
“Great work, Watson! Excellent deduction!”
“Thank you, Sherlock,” I replied, delighted that I managed to dazzle Sherlock in the department of
intelligence and creativity.
“Now John, what would be your answer? Do you have a clear line in mind? What is your exact
conclusion? Remember, it is a position with a cut-throat answer, which makes it much easier to
calculate!”
“You are asking a lot of questions Sherlock. Do I at least get to spend a few minutes on this

13
position?”
“Absolutely, by all means!” he replied.
Consequently, I sat there looking at the ivory chess set with the shiny pieces. They were a bit greasy,
an indication their age or a result of a careless owner. Nevertheless, they were where they were
supposed to be. Sherlock’s dining table is where he studies chess and ponders his clients’ eccentric
cases. In fact, this very table I am sitting at is where Sherlock spends his days, except when he leaves
the room on two occasions: a refreshingly long stroll down Baker Street, or hours of analysis with his
noisy desktop in the basement.
Having my self-confidence boosted by Sherlock’s compliment, I carefully considered different knight
moves, and within a few seconds dismissed all of them in favor of ...Nxe4.
After about ten minutes of thinking and calculation I shouted with aplomb, “Nxe4! Bxg7 Kxg7 Rb2,
and now I cannot see anything particularly strong for Black. Then, I think after Nc5, he can go ahead
and win the c-pawn, after which White’s king is permanently weak! I think Black should be OK,
Sherlock!” I said with a sheepish smile.
“Bravo, John, what a remarkable deductive work! Could you be kind enough to elucidate your
thought process?” he said.
I looked back at the position and continued, “Well, as we discussed before, I started to think and
realized that nothing could be achieved unless Black manages to create meaningful threats along the
a-file. After all, Black’s only chance to justify material deficiency is to address White’s king safety.”
After a short pause I added, “I don’t think I have anything more to add here, Sherlock.”
“Splendid Watson! Let us now carefully examine the position.”
A game in Texas scholastic U1300, 2017

14
1...Nd5!!

“A delightful move, Watson,” said Sherlock contentedly, leaning back on his favorite chair.
“By process of elimination, one can simply deduce that if one of the two knight jumps doesn’t work,
the other should be the only remedy.”
1...Nxe4 2.Bxg7 Kxg7 3.Rb2 Nxg5∞ leads only to a complex position.

1...Nd5!! 2.e5

White needs his bishop to protect his king.

2.Bxg7 e5! The key move! Sherlock loved this move immensely. He continued showing me the line
with a feverish passion, his long fingers weeping across the board as he moved the pieces back and
forth. If his fingers were good enough to make him a mediocre violin player, their movements across
the chessboard were nothing short of magical. 3.Rb2™ (3.Kc1 Qd4 and the king has no way to get
himself out of the mating net.) 3...Ne3! Now White’s king is trapped. White cannot get out of the
mating net, unless he concedes to a colossal loss of material. 4.Kc1 Qa1+ 5.Rb1 Qd4 6.Qd2 Qc5+
[6...Ra2 is another tantalizing winning move, but it is less efficient. 7.Rb2 (7.Qxd4 Rc2#) 7...Ra1+
8.Rb1 Rxb1+ 9.Kxb1 Qxd2–+] 7.Kb2 Nc4+ 8.bxc4 Qxc4 And to my surprise and Holmes’s content,
White is out of defensive resources despite massive material advantage. One can easily see that the
bishop on g7 and the rook on h1 are of little use. White is hopeless and Holmes declared mate in
three. 9.Rbd1 (9.Qc3 Ra2+ 10.Kc1 Qxc3+ 11.Kd1 Qd2#; 9.Bxe5 Ra2#) 9...Ra2+ 10.Kb1 Qb3+–+.

2...Qa2+ 3.Kc1 Qxb3 4.c7

4.Qe4 Nb4 5.c7 Rc8 transposes.

4...Rc8 5.Qe4 Nb4 6.exd6

a) 6.Rc4 Na2+ 7.Kb1

15
7...d5! A cunning tactic based on double pins. 8.Qd4 dxc4 9.Qd8+ Bf8 10.Qxc8 Nc3+ 11.Kc1 Ne2+
12.Kd2 the king needs to run. 12...Qxb2+ 13.Ke3 (13.Ke1 Nf4 14.Qxf8+ Kxf8 15.c8=Q+ Kg7
16.Qxc4 Ng2+ And wherever the king goes the check on e3 wins the queen and the checkmate
follows soon.) 13...Qxe5+ 14.Kf2 Nf4 15.Qxf8+ Kxf8 16.c8=Q+ Kg7 17.Qxc4 Qxg5 and White’s
king doesn’t have the necessary means to keep himself covered from Black’s second wave of attack.
The h- and f-pawns will fall in a few moves. 18.Rb1 Nh3+ 19.Ke2 Qg2+ 20.Kd3 Qxf3+ 21.Kd2
Qf2+ 22.Kc3 Qxh2–+;
b) 6.Qc4 Qxc2+ 7.Qxc2 Nxc2 8.Kxc2 Rxc7+ 9.Kd2 Bxe5 with a winning two pawns up rook
endgame for Black.

6...Bxb2+ 7.Rxb2 Nd3+ 8.Kd2 Qxb2+ 9.Kxd3 Qa3+!

A key move, Black collects both c- and d-pawns, keeping the rest of his pawns intact.

10.Ke2 Qxd6 11.f4

11.Rc1 Rxc7 12.Rxc7 Qxh2+ A key in-between move which secures a two pawns up queen endgame.

11...Qxc7 12.Rd1

16
Here Holmes asked, “What do you make of this, Watson? Use our method, and don’t waste cognitive
resources on it!” I smiled and played.

12...Qc2+

“Marvelous, Watson!” shouted Holmes. While there are other moves, this move is much simpler.

13.Qxc2 Rxc2+ 14.Rd2

14.Kf3 Rxh2 The endgame is winning, though not-trivial.

14...Rxd2+ 15.Kxd2 h6 16.h4 f6 17.gxf6 exf6 18.Ke3 Kf7 19.Kd4 Ke6 20.Ke4 h5!

17
Using the last reserved tempo; f5 was equally good!

21.f5+ gxf5+ 22.Kf4 Ke7!

Important triangulation.

23.Kxf5 Kf7 24.Kf4 Ke6 25.Ke4 f5+ 26.Kf4 Kf6 27.Kf3 Ke5 28.Ke3 f4+ 29.Kf3 Kf5

And the h-pawn falls.

“Wow, I hope you didn’t expect me to see all of that, Sherlock!” I said, still enchanted while
examining the board.
“Not at all, John. In fact, I doubt any strong player, maybe even some GMs, would spend so much
time trying to see everything in these lines, although most of the lines are rather forced, except for
1...Nd5 2.e5!”
After taking a sip from the remainder of his now cold coffee he continued, “The most important thing
in studying positions like this one is to have a clear thinking process formulated for an over-the-board
game. It doesn’t matter how you reach the end as long as you find your way through the maze of
doubts, blind spots, and miscalculations. Some of these problems, a few of which I just mentioned,
could be improved over time with consistent practice of an existing training method. This is what
professional players do given enough time; they learn to work on those obstacles! Other problems,
such as blind-spots, the fear of an existing threat where there isn’t any, overconfidence and
disregarding the opponent’s resources, are carved in a human’s cognition and psychology and could
only be remedied by building good habits and working around them!”
“I can see where you are going with that, Sherlock. However, I still don’t hear any solution or
suggestion!” (I knew when to tease Sherlock.) With a swift move toward his desk, Sherlock Holmes
picked up his walking stick, cap, and his cell phone from his workstation.

18
“It is a good time to take a stroll, Watson, but I have a surprise for you! Don’t you play a tournament
in about two weeks’ time?” he asked.
The question came as a surprise, so I stammered, “I am supposed to, but what does that have to do
with a nice weekend walk?”
“Well, my dear fellow, I am afraid you have some work to do instead of joining me for a walk to
Madame Tussauds Museum,” he uttered, while carefully picking up a few printed pages with
positions and explanations, including hand-written notes added to them here and there.
That was the Sherlock Holmes I knew! You tease him and he puts you up to a challenge such that you
would regret what you had just said! I knew I could politely refrain from his challenge, but now I was
tempted to see what was in Sherlock’s stock for chess. I was sure Sherlock’s papers would offer a
method to improve over-the-board skills. I knew him well enough by then to recognize that for the
entire morning he had been cooking a plan on how to lure me into working on his method. Before I
got the chance to ask him any questions, I saw him closing the door swiftly.
I could hear him running down the stairs while almost yelling, “Good day, Mrs. Hudson!”
I looked away from the door and glanced through the open window, which was offering a splendid
sunlight reflection through the open curtains. Then, I looked back at the papers I was holding in my
hands. I ordered them numerically and started reading; it was easy to recognize Sherlock’s spidery
hand-writing:
My dear friend John,
I have recently noticed that you have started to take your over-the-board chess games
more seriously than just a chess aficionado. Whether it is your background in the army or
your competitive nature, you fight like a valiant warrior, but every fighter, my dear friend,
needs a well-crafted set of means to compete. You need a method to prepare ahead of your
competitions. To do so, I have developed a series of exercises and lectures for you. I will
gradually explain everything to you in the next two weeks.
First, let us start with your thinking process. My dear John, from the day I got the privilege
to know you, I found you a profound man when it came to observations. You have done a
great job of documenting my adventures and you have an impeccable eye for details.
However, when it comes to playing a game of chess where the clock is ticking, the
adrenaline is rushing through your veins, and your mouth is turning dry, you need a
simplified system — a list of heuristics for your thinking process to be able to solve the
position before you. While I don’t discount the great need for thorough calculation when
enough time is at your disposal (every single classical game you play for instance), you
need to learn when to trade off between accuracy and the practical aspects of a game.
From what I have observed, John, chess has become an extremely practical game these
days. Thus, managing one’s time, controlling nerves, ensuring suitable positions
(middlegames, endgames), and having a good grasp of technical positions are just a few of
many characteristics a player needs to excel at in order to maintain his/her
competitiveness within a class or level.

19
Here, I am going to present you with a few lectures on simple themes like development,
king safety, and the technique of creating and fending off an attack. More than the content
of these lectures, I would like you to adopt the thinking process I am going to address here.
Only a few in this world can play chess at such an exalted level, and it is absurd to expect
that regular players could ever see or calculate in this fashion. However, we can at least
learn the correct thinking process and calculate, although not perfectly, in the right
direction.
Knowing your ability to read and absorb knowledge rapidly, I trust that you can study the
following two annotated games by the time I am back from the museum.
Yours truly,
Sherlock Holmes
“Here they come!” I thought, and I turned to the next page.
Carlos Martin Sanchez (2367)
Frank Schubert (2393)
corr., 2010

1.e4

Maybe surprisingly for you, our first game is a correspondence game.

These games are known for their high quality (especially in the past 10 years) and accuracy. This
game as well as the game embedded within are good examples of taking advantage of a lead in
development.

1...c5 2.c3

Alapin is not a common guest at correspondence or elite level chess, but it is a simple opening. White
is trying to build the dream center.

2...Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nf3 d6 5.d4 cxd4 6.Qxd4?!

I am not sure if I like this move. We have all seen that capturing on d4 with the queen is a possibility
in the Alapin; however, I always ask myself, “Why should I choose an opening which advocates
bringing the queen out so early in the game?”
6.Bc4 Nb6 (6...dxe5 7.Nxe5 e6 and now both Qxd4 and cxd4 lead to normal positions. You may be
surprised as the reason why Qxd4 is fine here. The reason is simple: White has gained a tempo with
Bc4 compared to the game, while his knight is better placed on e5.) 7.Bb3 Nc6 transposes to the main
line.

6...e6 7.exd6 Nc6 8.Bb5 Bd7!

20
A strong move Watson!
Black is rapidly developing his pieces. It is almost sure that he will recoup his pawn by taking on d6 a
move or two later. Now White faces a critical decision. Should he let go of his bishop in favor of
faster development or should he opt for an additional queen move?

9.Bxc6?!

“I hope this was not your choice Watson. I can see two reasons why this move could be your choice,
but we will discuss them as we advance through the game.” 9.Qd1! White needed to concede to this
retreat. 9...a6 10.Ba4 Bxd6 11.c4 Bb4+ 12.Bd2 Bxd2+ 13.Nbxd2 Nde7 14.0-0 (14.Ne4?! Qa5+
forces Nc3) 14...0-0 and the position is balanced. Although White has not achieved anything out of
the opening, he has not given up anything either. 9.Qg4 Nf6 10.Qh4 Bxd6 11.Nbd2 0-0 12.Bd3 Re8
13.0-0 h6 14.Nc4 Bc7 15.Re1 Nd5. Luckily for White, his queen’s maneuvering around didn’t cost
him much, and the position is drawish by repetition. 16.Qh5 Nf6 17.Qh4=

9...Bxc6 10.0-0

10.c4? “This may be the first reason you considered Bxc6. You may have planned this followed by
c5, as a punishment for Black, letting White’s pawn to sit on d6 too long. Unfortunately, this move is
a tactical blunder.” 10...Nb4! threatening Nc2. 11.Qc3 Bxf3! and now Qxf3 is not possible while
12.gxf3 (12.Qxb4 Bxd6 13.c5 Bc7 alas, Ba5 is a strong threat! Beware of pins, skewers, and forks in
the openings! They are the most common tactical themes in this phase of the game. 14.0-0 Bc6
Black’s bishops are mightily aiming at White’s king. His majority on the kingside will gradually
decide the game.) leads to 12...Bxd6 13.a3 Nc6 14.Qxg7 Be5 15.Qg5 Qd3 and it is only a matter of
time before Black wins with a strong mating attack.

21
10...Qxd6 11.Rd1

“The second reason you may have chosen Bxc6 is that you probably thought that Black cannot move
his bishop because it would hang the pawn on g7.”

11...Qc7!

An attempt on play for a win.

a) 11...Qc5 as well as the pawn sacrifice with ...Be7 are two other possible options for Black;
b) 11...Be7 12.c4 Nb4 13.Qxd6 Bxd6 14.Rxd6 Nc2 15.Ne1 Nxa1 16.Be3 is an unnecessary
complication for Black.

12.c4?!

12.a4 was played in another correspondence game, which I will cover from this diagram after this
game. 0–1 Pospisil, L (2510)-Ljubicic, L (2630) ICCF email 2012

12...Rd8! 13.Ne5?

13.h3 Nb4 14.Qxd8+ Qxd8 15.Rxd8+ Kxd8 16.Ne1 and despite Black’s two bishops, White can
survive this endgame in a practical game.

“At this point, White has made too many errors. Now, my dear fellow, what do you think Black can
do in this position? I believe you also feel that something is not right with White’s position.”

13...Ba4!

Black wins with the power of threat on every move. From this point onward, his initiative has a

22
growing momentum like a ‘snowball effect’.

14.b3 Bc5

Black’s bishop comes into the game with tempo, even though he still has two minor pieces under
attack!

15.Qb2 Bd6 16.Re1

16.Nf3 fails to 16...Nf6 where Black is threatening Bxh2. 17.Nc3 Bc6µ. Black’s bishops are in place
and the threats against his minor pieces are gone. Black is far ahead in development and will soon
launch a strong attack against White’s kingside.

16...Nb4!

Black saves his piece by tactical means.

17.Bf4

17.bxa4 fails to 17...Bxe5 when White cannot take on e5 due to the back rank mate.

17...f6!

The only way. Otherwise Black is worse after retreating his bishop.

18.a3 fxe5 19.axb4 exf4 20.Rxa4?

Surprisingly this loses. White needed to take on a4 with the pawn. White’s pieces lack harmony and
Black easily takes advantage of this fact.
20.bxa4 f3 21.g3 0-0 22.Nd2 Qf7 23.c5 Be7 24.Ra2 a5µ

20...f3 21.g3 0-0 22.Nd2 Qf7

The attack against White’s king is far from trivial.

White is in serious trouble now.

23.Qc2

23.c5 Bc7 24.Nf1 Qh5 25.b5 Qh3 26.Ne3

23
26...g5! a strong prophylactic move, preventing Rh4. Now Black goes after the knight on e3. 27.Qc3
Rd5 28.Qc4 Re5 29.Qf1 Qxf1+ 30.Kxf1 Rxc5–+, and White’s pawns fall one after the other.

23...Qh5 24.Qe4 Rf6 25.Rxa7 Bf8 26.Nf1??

The final blunder, which puts a beautiful end to this game.

26.Ra5 was the last chance, though Black still picks up some material. 26...Qh3 27.Nxf3 Bxb4
28.Raa1 (28.Ng5?? Qh5–+) 28...Bxe1 29.Rxe1 Qf5 30.Qxf5 exf5 and Black should be able to win
this game with good endgame technique.

26...Qh3 27.Ne3 Rd4!

A beautiful deflection!

28.Qxb7

28.Qxd4 Rh6 29.Qh4 Rxh4 30.gxh4 Bd6 and mate in four follows. “Make sure you know how, my
dear fellow!”

28...Rd3

And White’s fate is sealed. Now please go back to move 12, so that we can examine the move 12.a4.

0–1

Ludvik Pospisil (2510)

Leonardo Ljubicic (2630)
corr., 2012

24
12.a4?!

A move which is hard to explain. White probably believed that Black cannot move his bishop on f8.

12...Be7!

Ljubicic had another opinion after days of careful consideration.

13.Qxg7?

“A typical psychological reaction, Watson. White believed that Black could not play Be7. When
Black accepted the challenge, White played this move which, my dear fellow, is erroneous. This is an
example of what some people call a cognitive bias. It is either called an ‘escalation of commitment
bias’ or a ‘sunk-cost fallacy’. It occurs in situations where one invests specific capital (e.g. money,
time, energy, or in this case, strategical decision) into an idea and then something other than the
expected results. Yet, despite getting negative results, we invest ourselves even more. We will talk
about this when I next see you my dear fellow.”
13.Na3 0-0 (13...Bf6 14.Qc5 and Black needs to retreat his bishop to e7.) 14.Nb5 Qb6 15.Qxb6
Nxb6 16.Ne5 Black has two bishops and better development, but the position still allows for
mistakes to be made on either side. It is easier for White to make a draw than for Black to win this
position.

13...0-0-0!

Now Black has a very strong attack against White’s king.

25
14.Qe5

14.Qxf7?? Nf4 15.Rxd8+ Qxd8 16.Nd4 Rf8 17.Qg7 Rg8–+ and White’s king will be mated soon.

14...Bd6 15.Qe2 Rdg8

16.Rd4

16.Na3 runs into 16...Bxh2+ 17.Kf1 (17.Nxh2 Rxg2+ 18.Kxg2 Nxc3+ 19.Qf3 Rg8+–+) 17...Nf4
18.Bxf4 Qxf4 19.Nb5 Kb8 and Black’s attack is close to decisive.

16...Bxh2+!

Same idea.

17.Kf1 e5 18.Rh4 Nf4 19.Bxf4 Bxf4 20.Na3 a6 21.Nc2 f5 22.Nb4 Be4

And Black converted his decisive advantage in a rather long game.

0–1

I was overjoyed reading the content of the printed material in my hands.

First of all, the games were printed from a PGN file, which meant that it was not the usual ‘Sherlock’s
mess.’ Secondly, it has been a while since I have studied chess, so this material came as a pleasant
surprise since I had no idea where to begin my preparation for the tournament. After reviewing the
two games, I was thinking on how interesting they were, when Sherlock opened the door and with his
usual agility, moved towards the bench next to the fireplace where he usually leaves his overcoat and

26
other accessories. The clock on top of the fireplace showed a few minutes after noon.
“Watson!” shouted Sherlock with a twinkle in his eye. It seemed that the walk had shaken off the
remaining jet lag.
“How did you like the beginning of your training?” he asked.
I could see that he was impatient for my answer. “I should admit, Sherlock, I liked it. Where did you
find these two games?”
“They are correspondence games, John!”
By now, Sherlock was already sitting in front of me.
“My dear John, you need to dedicate yourself to this training. All I am asking is your commitment to
train. I will take care of the rest.”
“So, am I the ‘guinea pig’ of your chess lab?”
“Not at all, John. You can definitely gain from the training. Think about it, it is better to train, even
inefficiently, than not to train at all, isn’t it?”
“That’s right, Sherlock!”
Sherlock reclined on the sofa and continued, “Tell me, John, what did you think of the games?”
“Well, I think you chose these two games to show me the value of development.”
“That is correct, John; however, there is a certain characteristic in the position: the center is open, so
the action is more volatile. Thus, a small increase in Black’s advantage has a bigger impact. I
specifically would like to discuss the second game with you, John.”
“I am all ears, Sherlock.”
“Have you ever heard of the expressions ‘escalation of commitment’ or ‘sunk-cost fallacy’?”
“I believe it is a business term or behavioral psychology concept which means committing to further
investing in a project that is deemed to fail.”
“Bravo, Watson, bravo! In this case, White shouldn’t have taken on g7, although it was his first
intention to keep the queen on d4 and take on c6 with his bishop. It may not be acceptable from a
correspondence player with an abundant amount of time, but such commitments and resulting
disasters happen more often than we expect in over-the-board situations. Thus, my dear friend, here I
want to give you a short list of heuristics, intuitive ideas, and scenarios. But first, let us finish our talk
on the matter of development. As we saw in these two examples, there is a magnitude of advantage
and initiative. In both games, White had sufficient chances to play for a draw, should they not have
fallen for the escalation of commitment. In open positions, it is mostly about the placement of minor
pieces and the control of important files, diagonals, and ranks, while in closed positions, these
concepts should be addressed in a more complex and detailed fashion. Let us have a look at a game of
the World Champion, where he shows that the value of key squares and other strategic fundamental
matters are more important than direct play.”
“By all means, Sherlock,” I said, while joining him at the ivory set.

27
 Magnus Carlsen (2855)
Wesley So (2770)
Bilbao Masters, 2016

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.Qe2

White threatens to take on e5 now. Black has two options to defend his pawn.

6...Qe7

Was the move played in the game. The other option is 6...Nd7 with the idea to play f6, or Qe7 later.
7.Nbd2 f6 8.Nc4 Nb6 with another reach and complex middlegame.

7.Nbd2 Bg4 8.h3 Bh5

“I am sure you don’t want to give up your bishop pair so easily, Watson.”
“I understand that I have a somewhat weaker pawn structure Sherlock, and thus, I need to stick to
whatever imbalance I have.”

9.a3!?

“What is this supposed to mean? Just to throw off the opponent?” I said with astonishment.
“I think it is a bit more subtle than that, Watson. White could play b4 in case Black castles long. I say
that because I have seen the World Champion’s comments on it!”

9...Nd7

28
Wesley So is after Nf8–e6 and f6.

10.b4 Bd6

a) 10...Bb6 “What about this move, Holmes?”

“Engines approve this move, but it is hard to accept that at some point you would play c5 as Black
and let White play b5. On the other hand, the bishop on b6 could be captured by White’s knight,
which has its own pros and cons. It is fair to say, that both moves are equally good Watson.”
b) 10...Bd4 11.Rb1 Bc3 12.0-0 (12.Rb3 Bxd2+ 13.Bxd2 Nf8 14.Qe3 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 Ne6 16.Rb2 0-0
17.0-0 f6=) 12...Bxd2 13.Bxd2 f6 14.Qe3 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 Nf8 16.Qh5+ Qf7 17.Qxf7+ Kxf7 18.f4².

11.Nc4 f6

“Why all the hesitation from both sides about castling, Holmes? I know it is a game between two elite
players, but can you explain why? Is it because the position is closed?”
“I certainly tend to believe so, Watson. On the other hand, it is also not easy to say on which side
Black should castle. The kingside is probably a good choice, as White has already weakened his
queenside and he is not going to leave his king in the center, so the World Champion might end up
castling on the kingside as well.”

12.Ne3!

“The right placement, Watson! The World Champion doesn’t even consider a5, which of course has a
tactical refutation.”
12.Na5 0-0 13.Nxb7 Bxb4+! 14.axb4 Qxb4+ 15.Bd2 Qxb7 is equal.

12...a5

“Wesley So challenges White’s pawn pushes on the queenside. Now it is becoming double-edged,
Holmes.”
“Indeed, Watson! Now, in the ensuing battle, the right placement of the pieces will play a very
important role in the final result of this game.”
12...0-0 “Why not castling?” I asked after moving the heavy king and rook to their proper squares.
“I think it is a timing issue, Watson.”
“How so?” I said, rather perplexed.
“White can actually start attacking on the kingside and keep his king in the center as he has a few
tempo winning moves! Let us give it a shot!”
13.Nf5 Qd8 14.g4 Bf7 15.Bd2! “Developing?” I asked.
“No, a prophylactic measure against the move a5. White’s plan is to push g5 of course, Watson!”

29
13.Nf5 Qf8?

“I really dislike this move, Watson.”

“Why did he block his king from castling? Aha, I see, Qf7 doesn’t help with castling either as White
has a Bh6 trick!”
“Splendid, Watson! I always admired your ability to spot cheapoes like this in no time.”
“If only that was all it took, Holmes! You know how much I’d love to become a 2000 or even a 2200
player!”
“Let us just focus on this for now, my dear friend! I am afraid, Watson, that Black could actually
castle!”
13...Qf7 14.Rb1 axb4 15.axb4 0-0 16.0-0 (16.Bh6?? Qa2 “Good Lord, Holmes, I missed it!”)
16...Rfd8 (16...Rfb8 17.b5 cxb5 18.Nxd6 cxd6 19.Rxb5 Nc5 with a small edge for White.) 17.b5
cxb5 18.Rxb5
“It is safe to say that Black is fine, John!”
“I agree, Sherlock.”

14.bxa5!

“Magnus Carlsen is trying to take advantage of the unfortunate position of the queen on f8!”
“Nice observation, John!”

14...Rxa5 15.0-0 Qf7

“Black, still cannot castle!”

30
16.a4

“White wants to play Bd2 and a5 after which the pawn on b7 is a fixed target on the b-file.”

16...Nc5

“Black needs two tempi in order to castle.”

16...0-0 still runs into 17.Bh6.

17.Qe1?!

“This was a rather odd move!”

17.Bd2 “Let us examine some alternative moves for Black before trying to find White’s best
continuation in this position.”
a) 17...Ra7 18.g4 Bg6 19.d4 Same idea, 19...Ne6 [19...Nxa4 20.dxe5 fxe5 21.Be3 Ra6 22.Qd3 Bxf5
23.Ng5 Qe7 (23...Qg8 24.gxf5 Kd7 25.Ne6 g6 26.Kh1+–) 24.exf5 0-0 25.Qb3++–] 20.dxe5 fxe5
21.Be3 Ra8 22.Rfb1 Rb8 23.a5+–;
b) 17...Bxf3 18.Qxf3 Ra8 19.Qg3 g6 20.Nxd6+ cxd6 21.f4±;
c) 17...Ra8 “This one is a bit different, Watson, but now White’s huge developmental advantage
shows its benefit. Black has a hard time defending his position. White controls the valuable b-file and
the important f5-square.” 18.Rfb1 (18.g4 Bg6 19.d4 exd4 20.e5 Bxf5 21.exd6+ Be6 22.dxc7 0-0∞)
18...Bxf3 19.Qxf3 g6 20.Nh6 Qe6 21.a5±;
d) 17...Rxa4

18.g4! “An energetic move which takes advantage of Black’s un-castled king in the center!” 18...Bg6
“It should be a breakthrough in the center, Holmes.”

31
“You are almost there, Watson.”
“I just cannot see it!”
“Process of elimination, John. Do you remember how we deciphered ‘The Code of the Dancing Men’
(from one of the short stories)? Through the process of elimination! Consider your choices, examine
them, and eliminate the bad ones!”
“Ok, Holmes. I have Rxa4, d4 and c3 as candidate moves.”
“You need to be more dynamic here, Watson!” shouted Holmes. “c3 is too slow, as Black will escape
by castling.”
“Then d4 must be it, Holmes!”
“Very well Watson, let us have a closer look!”
19.d4 exd4 20.Rxa4 Nxa4 21.e5 Bxf5 (21...fxe5 22.Nxe5 Bxe5 23.Qxe5+ Kf8 24.Bb4++–) 22.exd6+
Qe6 23.Re1 Qxe2 24.Rxe2+ Kd7 25.gxf5 cxd6 26.Nxd4+–
“How absurdly simple!”
“Every difficult problem becomes easy once explained to us.”

17...b6?

“Wesley So lost his last chance. Though the route to make a comeback is rather vague.”
a) 17...Ra6 18.d4 Bxf3 (18...Ne6 19.dxe5 fxe5 20.Ng5 Nxg5 21.Bxg5 0-0 22.f4±) 19.dxc5+–;
b) 17...Ra8 “This was probably a better try.”

18.Nd2!

32
“An excellent maneuver, Watson. The knight lands on c4 with tempo. Black has no chance to acquire
safety for his king.”

18...Rxa4 19.Nc4 Bf8?

19...Be7 “This would have been the logical move.” 20.Be3 Kd7 21.Rxa4 Nxa4 22.f4 “and White
definitely has the initiative, but Black is far from being lost.”

20.Be3 Kd7 21.Qc3

“Black’s king will never be safe and the World Champion converted with ease.”

21...Nxe4 22.Nxb6+ cxb6 23.dxe4 Qc4 24.Qd2+ Kc7 25.g4 Bg6 26.Rfd1 Ba3 27.Qd7+

“27.Rxa3 would win as well.”

27...Kb8 28.Rxa3 Rxa3 29.Qd6+

“If we reflect on the game, we once again see that several bad moves from Black gave White the
victory. Watson, as we learn from these games, it takes a lot of mistakes in the same direction to lose
a game. For instance, here Wesley So didn’t try to give his king the proper safety needed and most of
the bad moves were in that direction.”

1–0

“This was fun, Sherlock! OK, you have me hooked. What do you have in store for me next?” As he
was about to set the pieces back up and move on with our lesson, Mrs. Hudson walked in and
announced that Chief Inspector Lestrade has come to visit him.
“I think I have to attend to this one, John!”
This came to me as a surprise because Sherlock wasn’t so generous with his time when it came to
Lestrade.
“However, how about a challenge for the next few days? I have a set of 150 positions printed here for
you. Do you want to give them a shot?”
“Since our weekend ritual is undoubtedly altered, why not?”
“Excellent! Make sure you write down whatever you think about each position. We can go over them
on Wednesday afternoon. Do you think you can finish them by then?” he asked.
“Absolutely! Will you come back later for a game of Scrabble or should I take my newspaper to a
nearby coffee shop?”
“I will be back shortly with some blueberry scones,” said Sherlock with a grin on his face. He knows
I love blueberries.
“Fabulous!” was all I could say.

33
“Make sure you don’t forget to take the papers with you when you leave later today. We’ll continue
this conversation once you will have solved all the positions!”

34
 Show in Text Mode

B. EXERCISES
1
Magnus Carlsen (2832)
Hikaru Nakamura (2786)
Speed Chess Championship, 2018

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

This position occurred in a bullet game, and the correct solution would have been:

20...Bxc3!

At their level, they miss very few ideas and if this one was missed by one of the best blitz and bullet
players in the world, than the rest of us have to try to solve even more of such positions!
The game proceeded with 20...Nd4? 21.Rde1 Nf5 Of course, Black is still better here. However,
moments like these shouldn’t be missed so easily. Well, off to a good start? This exercise was chosen
in order to remind you that at times, you need to spot simple things in order to decide a game. The

35
game continued and White was able to turn the tables later on.

20...Bxc3! 21.bxc3 e2–+

And White doesn’t have a serious mate threat. Black is simply winning material.

2
Sabina Foisor (2258)
Olga Zimina (2364)
World Online Blitz FIDE Arena, 2015

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

24.Rxc5!+–

winning a piece, though this is another example of the winning move being overlooked in an online
blitz game.
Lapses like these happen more often than we expect.
24.Qg3? was played instead and the game ended eventually in a draw.

24.Rxc5!+– Qxc5 25.Rd8+

36
and of course the small finesse with the necessary deflection.

25...Rxd8

25...Kh7 26.Qxc5 Rxc5 27.Rxb8+– leaves Black down a piece.

26.Qxc5 Rd1 27.Kf1+–

3
Levon Aronian (2799)
Vassily Ivanchuk (2728)
FIDE World Cup, 2017

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

14.Nxd5!

The best continuation which was played by Aronian, taking advantage of Black’s pieces being
undeveloped and misplaced (Black is three tempos away from castling), something the current World
Champion considers a huge transgression.

37
14...Nxd5 15.e4 Bg7 16.exd5 Nf6

Black is ready to castle, but Aronian doesn’t let it happen. After all, chess is a tragedy of one tempo.
16...Ne7 17.d6+–

17.Qe2+

This is how Aronian managed it. The alternative, which we recommend, is as follows: 17.Re1+ Kf8
18.Bf4! bringing all the ‘dudes’ (pieces) to the party! (Elshan’s favorite expression) 18...Bxd5
(18...Kg8 19.Rad1 Nh5 20.Be5 and the end is near.) 19.Rad1 is of course winning.

17...Kf8 18.a4 b4 19.Be3

White has everything ready for his final attack. He only needs to bring the knight to the c4-square
now, for which he has enough time as Black’s miserable rook on h8 has a very difficult time finding a
way into the game.

19...Qd6 20.Rac1 Nd7 21.Nf3 h6 22.Nd2 Kg8 23.Ne4 Qf8 24.d6

And Black resigned.

1–0

4
Vassily Ivanchuk (2728)

38
 Anish Giri (2772)
FIDE World Cup, 2017

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

20...Rf5!

with the idea of ...Rh5. The simple theme is White’s misplaced queen, who happens to be the
caretaker of White’s king. White simply lacks the necessary cohesion among his pieces in order to
stop Black’s attack.
In this position Giri played 20...h5? taking away a great square for his rook 21.Bg5 Rh7? (21...Qg6
22.Bd3 Bf5 was essential and Black’s attack is still strong.) 22.Re3 after which White equalizes and
eventually went on to win the game.

20...Rf5! 21.Be2

21.Bb5 Maybe this is the move that worried Giri and prevented him from playing ...Rf5, although
after 21...Rh5 22.Re8+ Qxe8! 23.Qxg4 Qf7 White has no compensation.

21...Bxe2! 22.Rxe2 Qg6!

Once again taking advantage of the trapped queen on h4.

39
23.g4

Is the only move in this position, but it is sad when one must weaken one’s own king this much.

23...h5 24.Rbe1 Kb7!

Preventing the back rank exchange. White seems dead lost!

25.Re6

25.g5 Rf3 and now ...Qxc2 is an overwhelming threat.

25...Qxg4+ 26.Qxg4 hxg4µ

And Black does not only have an attack on the kingside, his king can also calmly march into White’s
weakened camp on the queenside with a much better position.

5
Sergei Azarov (2575)
Fabiano Caruana (2828)
PRO Chess League, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

40
14.Bxf6!

The typical and most straightforward way for White to obtain a tangible and long-term advantage.
The other ways are rather messy and less clear.
The game continued 14.Bf3 Ng4 15.Bg3 Rd8? (15...b5 16.h3 b4 is in White’s favor, but Black is still
in the game.) 16.Nb5 axb5 17.axb5 Bxe4 18.Bxe4 and though White had the advantage, he
unfortunately didn’t manage to convert the game.

14.Bxf6! gxf6 15.Nd5!

A typical Sicilian idea that everybody should remember.

15...exd5 16.exd5 Bxa4 17.Qe4+ Kf8 18.Qxa4 Qc7 19.d6 Bxd6 20.h3±

White’s domination over the light-squares combined with Black’s king weakness and shattered pawn
structure will give White a long-standing advantage.

6
Viswanathan Anand (2776)
Alexander Grischuk (2767)
Tal Memorial Rapid, 2018

White to move

41
 Show/Hide Solution

27.Ng5+!

A simple but beautiful idea executed by the former World Champion!

27...hxg5 28.Rxf7+! Qxf7 29.hxg5+ Kg7 30.Qh6#

1–0

7
Viswanathan Anand (2759)
Vladimir Kramnik (2792)
Paris GCT Rapid, 2018

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

26...Qa3!

42
Simple, but necessary.
The game continued with 26...Kd7? which allowed White to retreat his queen and maintain an
unclear position. Trading the queens, on the other hand, would have exposed White’s weak queenside
and unleashed the power of Black’s bishop. 27.Qa4 Ra8 28.Qb3. Of course, the trade now is much
better for White than it would have been a few moves ago. It also helps White to build a pawn chain.
28...Qg7 (28...Qxb3 29.axb3=) 29.Rg1 Ra3 30.Qb1 Qf7 31.Qc2 with an equal position although in a
time scramble it was Kramnik who blundered first.

26...Qa3! 27.Qxa3 Bxa3 28.d4 Rge8µ

Black dominates the center and will soon start targeting White’s pawns in the center and queenside.

8
Florian Handke (2514)
Arkadij Naiditsch (2684)
Bundesliga, 2017

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

24...Rxd4!

43
This would have been the correct continuation.
Instead 24...Bxb4?? was chosen by Black. OK, the ideas are easy, but not too easy! This is an
example of considering the opponent’s counterplay before committing to a non-forcing tactical
sequence. Black picks up a pawn, but White is not forced to take back immediately, and in fact
obtains a winning position with a critical in-between move. After 25.Ng5! g6 26.cxb4 Rxd4 27.Qc3!
the queen’s path is paved for her to be transferred to the kingside where Black is rather helpless due
to the numerous weaknesses and the lack of presence of his pieces to defend his king. After 27...Rd5
28.Qh3 h5 29.Bxh5!+– White is completely winning, but somehow ended up losing this winning
position after not committing to 29...Kg7 30.Bxg6! Rh8 31.Bh5!.

24...Rxd4! 25.cxd4 Bxb4³

Now White can continue with his attacking plan on the kingside. However after:

26.f5 exf5 27.Rxf5 g6 28.Rf2 Bxa5!

White’s idea with Nd6 is not so consequential as f7 is well-protected.

29.Nd6 Qc7 30.Rcf1 Bd5 31.Bf3 Be6

and White’s initiative is gone, while Black’s queenside will start to roll soon.

9
N. W. Jefferson
J. D. M. Tymms
corr., 2011

44
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

12.Nb5!

Double threats are a common tactical theme in open positions.

12...Qxd2+ 13.Nxd2!

Now the threats of taking on g7, taking on d6, and the fork on c7 cannot all be parried at the same
time. This should only take you 30 seconds at most to see, given that you know there is a solution in
this position. Also, it is noteworthy that Nxd2 has a subtle but important point to it.
13.Kxd2?? loses to: 13...Bf4+ 14.Kc2 f6 and Black secures his material advantage parrying all the
threats against his pieces.

1–0

10
Max Warmerdam (2480)
David Navara (2734)
GRE-ch Team, 2019

45
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

28.b4!

Either because of time pressure, the opponent’s level, or fixation on a certain idea, White misses the
biggest win of his career, which could have been achieved with a simple two-move tactic.
28.Qf7+? was played in the game. 28...Kh8 29.Qf6+?
[29.b4 would still have been annoying. 29...Qh6+ 30.Kg1 Qe3+ 31.Rf2 Qc1+ 32.Bf1 Qxc3 33.bxc5
Qxc5! (33...Qxg3+?? 34.Bg2 Bxg4 35.c6+–) 34.Bxa6 Rg8 35.Qf6+ Rg7 36.Qxe5±]
29...Qxf6 30.Rxf6 and unfortunately for White, he ended up losing this equal ending.

28.b4! Bxg4 29.Qf7+ Kh8 30.bxc5+–

Wins a piece!

11
Sabina Foisor (2273)
Sanan Sjugirov (2623)
Titled Tuesday Chess.com, 2017

46
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

30.g4!

The first deflection.

Sometimes we become so fixated on the idea of king safety that we forget ideas like this. Black’s
queen has no good squares to go to in order to defend his bishop.

30...Qb5??

30...Qf3 could have kept the game going. 31.Qxf3 Bxf3 32.Rxd8 Rxd8 33.g5±.

31.a4!

The second deflection.

31...Qxa4 32.Rxe4 Rxe4 33.Rxe4+–

White is up a piece.

1–0

47
 12
Sabina Foisor (2258)
Ashritha Eswaran (2225)
USA-ch (Women), 2016

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

In a still-theoretical position, Black played the blunder 13...Nd7, which seems to naturally finish her
development, but loses a pawn to

14.Nc6!

After deflection comes attraction and interference!

14...Qe8 15.Nxd5 exd5 16.Bxd5+ Kh8 17.Qd1

17.Qf3!± would have made things easier for White.

17...Qc8 18.Qf3 b5 19.Ne5 Bxd5 20.Qxd5 Bxe5 21.dxe5 Qe8 22.Bf4 Nb6 23.Qb3 Rc8 24.Rad1

The game eventually ended in a draw as White failed to convert her advantage.

½–½

48
 13
Nitish Belurkar (2302)
Karthik Venkataraman (2480)
Asia-ch U20, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

39.Bxg7!

Freeing the c3-square while capturing material.

The game continued 39.Qe4?? Rdxd6 40.R1d2 Rxd3 41.Rxd3 Rc8 and Black was able to convert his
advantage.

39.Bxg7! Rcxd6

The only move. 39...Kxg7 40.Rc3 loses a lot of material instantly.

40.Bxh6 Rxd3 41.Rxd3 Rxd3 42.Qxd3 Qe5

49
Now either 43.c3 or 43.b3 preserves an extra pawn for White.
In the actual game, White, a young prominent Indian player, didn’t find the idea while in time
pressure. Nevertheless, the fact that both players missed the ‘loose’ standing of the rook on c6 makes
this tactical example an important candidate for those who are doing tactics everyday, but to no avail
for over-the-board games. Noticing ‘loose’ pieces, like the rook on c6, in a matter of seconds doesn’t
require a sharp eye, but rather a trained eye.

14
Magnus Carlsen (2875)
Liren Ding (2805)
Stavanger Armageddon, 2019

50
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

40...Be6!–+

would have sealed the deal.

The bishop is untouchable due to the pin to the rook on f3. More importantly, Black is simply
threatening to capture twice on b3 and pick up the pawn on e4 with check, winning the knight on f5.
This is in fact the key theme to this simple ‘cheapo’. White is out of options here.
40...Bxf5?? A costly blunder for the Chinese superstar, who gave Magnus Carlsen a hard time in
2019. 41.Rxf5 h4? 42.Rxf6+ after which White has the initiative and eventually went on to win the
game.

40...Be6!–+ 41.Nh4

This loses immediately to:

41...Qh3+

41...Rxb3 42.Rxb3 Bxb3 43.Qxb3 Qxe4+ 44.Kf2 Qg4 followed by e4 and Ke7 consolidates Black’s
advantage, after which he would simply cruise to victory.

42.Kf2 Qh2+ 43.Ng2 Bh3

51
If this didn’t cross your mind, it is still OK to pick up the pawn on e4 earlier.

15
Jeffery Xiong (2658)
Vahap Sanal (2533)
Wch Team, 2017

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

51.Rxa4!

Wins the queen on the spot! 51.Qd3?? Xiong is one of the best up and coming junior players in the
world. In fact, he is one of the three who has crossed the mighty 2700 mark. Here, after hours of
maneuvering, Jeffery didn’t expect his opponent would leave his queen trapped among its own pieces
(Black’s last move was Rab7). In other words, Xiong got so focused on maneuvering that he probably
abandoned looking for simple ideas for a few moments. Otherwise, he would have seen it instantly.
Although we cannot be sure if he was sick or tired during this game, it is very much possible that it
simply slipped his mind that trapping a piece could be a theme in this position. 51...Qa8 52.Qe3 Ra7
and Black is back in the game. The game eventually ended in a draw.

51.Rxa4! Bxa4 52.Rxa4+–

52
And the queen is trapped.

16
Part of a Game Analysis
2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

The X-ray tension between the two queens is the tactical drive.

1.Na7+!

Now Black’s king cannot escape the rook check with the discovered attack, which will cost Black his
queen.

1...Nxa7

a) 1...Kb8 2.Rxb7++–;
b) 1...Kc7 2.Rxb7++–;

2.Rc3++–

53
 17
Viswanathan Anand (2757)
Anish Giri (2776)
Bucharest GCT Blitz, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

29.Qa2!

This move saves the queen from the threat and doesn’t create additional weaknesses. This also
maintains the same idea of Nf7 which cannot be stopped.
29.Nf7+?! was instead played by White 29...Kg8 30.Nh6+ (now, of course, 30.Qa2 does not work
because of 30...Qxe4+ followed by Nd5 and White’s attack is over while Black remains with three
pawns up.) 30...Kh8 31.Nf7+ Kg8 and here the players agreed on a draw.

29.Qa2! Qh5+ 30.Kg2 Qg5+ 31.Kh2 Qh5+ 32.Nh3 Nd5 33.exd5+–

Note: Not rushing is a very important factor when you seek tactical sequences. A lot of times we
know to look for the ‘what’, but rush and forget about the ‘how’ part! Given this was a blitz game, we
cannot expect anyone (even Anand) to carefully consider all the nuances. However, we can see that

54
even the most trained minds in chess have a tendency to fear checks (like the one on h5 in here) over
more hidden threats (the pawn on e4) under tournament pressure.

18
Sabina Foisor (2308)
Akshita Gorti (2252)
USA-ch (Women), 2018

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

30...g6!

After which Black would have created a fortress and maintained her material advantage.
a) 30...f6?? was played instead! This move prevents White from playing f6, but comes up short
against White’s mating threat. Black should have ejected White’s pieces. 31.Nf4 Be8 (31...g6
32.Nxg6+ Rxg6 33.fxg6 Qg7 34.Qh5+ Kg8 35.Bc4+ Kf8 36.h4) 32.Ng6+ Bxg6 33.fxg6 1–0.
b) 30...Rd8? is not good either because of 31.f6 gxf6 32.Nxf6 Kg7 33.Nh5+! Kf8 34.Nf6 and Black
should concede to a draw.

30...g6! 31.Ng3 Bd7µ

55
 19
Luis Jose Gonzaga Grego (2305)
Steffen Giesemann (2328)
corr., 2016

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

14...Rae8!

The first candidate move that comes to mind naturally.

The only thing you need to check in order to make sure this move works is whether White can take on
d6 or not.

15.Qh3

The key point.

As legendary Vasily Ivanchuk once said, “Knights’ retreating moves are the hardest to see and easiest
to miss.”
15.Qxd6?? Qf2! 16.Qxf8+ Ng8!

56
15...Qf2 16.Qf3 Qh4 17.d3 g5!

Black’s attack is overwhelming and he was able to convert his advantage soon after.

0–1

20
Sabina Foisor (2276)
Annie Wang (2304)
USA-ch (Women), 2019

57
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

White’s minor pieces are poorly placed and lack coordination. Black is in complete control of the
center. In such situations, every aggressive move becomes a candidate, and in this case a simple pawn
push becomes a decisive blow.

21...g5! 22.Bg3

22.Rc7 Re8 and White is still hopeless.

22...g4 23.Nf4 Qf5

There is no way for White to gain any counterplay. The game ended shortly after in Black’s favor.

0–1

21
Morteza Darban (2302)
Elshan Moradiabadi (2303)
Asia qualifier, 2001

58
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

22...d5!

A typical breakthrough.
22...f5 is another possible path, but a bit more risky.

22...d5! 23.cxd5

23.exd5 Rxe2+ 24.Qxe2 Nf4+–+

23...Bxd5!

The key point.

Only finding this move gives you full credit for your calculation. The rook capture is far less
impressive.
23...Rxd5?! was played in the game. 24.Qxd5 (24.Qc1! Luckily for Black, White didn’t find this
move and in the face of Black’s attack, gave up his queen and the game. 24...Qb8 25.Rxd5 Bxd5
26.Rd1 is still advantageous for Black, but much less effective.) 24...Bxd5 25.Rxd5 Nf6 26.Rd2 Qe5
and Black converted the game soon after.

24.Qc1 Qe5 25.Bd3 Bb7µ

59
And Black would have had an easier task realizing his advantage with more material left on the
board.

22
Levon Aronian (2772)
Viswanathan Anand (2757)
Tata Steel India Blitz, 2019

Black to move

60
 Show/Hide Solution

22...Rxe5!

This move opens the a7–g1 diagonal, which proves essential after the deflecting next move ...Qxd2.

23.dxe5 Qxd2 24.Bxd2 Bxf2+ 25.Kh2 Bxe1 26.Rxe1 Rf2 27.Be3 Rxa2 28.e6 Be4 29.Kg3 Rxg2+
30.Kf4 Bd3 0–1

Although this is an endgame with opposite-color bishops, with three extra pawns and not much
counterplay for White (as the e-pawn is easily stopped), Black went on to eventually win the game.

23
Magnus Carlsen (2872)
Azamat Utegaliev (2502)
Wch Rapid, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

18.d5!

61
White has two bishops and a huge lead in development.
In the game, White continued: 18.f4? and though it was played in rapid chess, and White’s advantage
is substantial after Black’s last move g6, one needs to know this theme quite well! 18...Bg7?? returns
the favor. (18...Be7 and Black can still fight a little bit longer.) 19.f5 exf5 20.Bc7 Qc8 21.Qd6 Ne4
22.Rae1 Qd7 23.Rxe4+ fxe4 24.Bxf7+ Qxf7 25.Rxf7 Kxf7 26.Qd7+ 1–0

18.d5! exd5

18...cxd5 19.Bb5+ Ke7 20.Bc7! and the queen cannot move due to the mate threat on d6.

19.Rae1+–

The king is totally exposed and colossal material loss follows soon!

24
S. P. Sethuraman (2638)
Vladislav Artemiev (2731)
Wch Rapid, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

62
24.Bd1!

A nice move that wins on the spot. Rerouting one’s bishops is a very common theme, but in this case
it is very hard to resist capturing a pawn while having the same threat.
24.Bxa6?! was played in the game, but was answered by 24...Bd3! White missed this move and,
despite still having reasonably good chances to win the game, wasn’t able to convert his advantage.
25.Nb7?! (25.b5 Ne6 26.Ba3 is advantageous, but far from decisive.) 25...Rd5 26.Bxd3? (26.b5 Ne6
27.Nd6+ Ke7 28.Ba3 Nd4 29.Nb7+ Kd7 30.Nc5+ Kd8 31.Nxd3 Ne2+ 32.Kf1 Nxc1 33.Nxc1 Nd7
Black is struggling, but he has good drawing chances.) 26...Rxd3 and soon after the game ended in a
draw.

24.Bd1! Bd3 25.Nb7 Rd7 26.Bxa4 Bb5 27.Nd6++–

25
Mateusz Bartel (2634)
Sergey Karjakin (2754)
Wch Rapid, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

63
24.Rfg3!

The simple solution. White cuts off Black’s queen from e1 and threatens to capture on g7.
a) 24.Bb2?? was played in the game 24...Rf7 (24...Nf6? would be a mistake 25.Rh3! Qxh3 26.Rxg7+
Kxg7 27.Qxh3±) 25.Rfg3? was finally played, but was too late. 25...fxe4? (25...Ne3 26.Rxg7+ Rxg7
27.Rxg7+ Kf8 28.Qg1 Ng4µ is even advantageous for Black.) 26.Rxg7+ Rxg7 27.Rxg7+ Kf8
28.Nc6 exd3 29.Rg3 d2 30.Bg7+

30...Kf7 and Black won a few moves later as White’s attack fizzled out.
b) 24.Rh3? wouldn’t be the same as after 24...Qxh3 25.Rxg7+ Kxg7 26.Qxh3 Kh7!∞ Black is OK.

24.Rfg3! Rf7

a) 24...fxe4 25.Rxg7+ Kh8 26.Bb2+–

b) 24...g5 25.exd5 g4 26.Nc6+–

25.exd5+–

64
 Show in Text Mode

26
Eltaj Safarli (2601)
Ruslan Shcherbakov (2527)
Wch Rapid, 2019

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

22...Ng5!

White’s king is weak and Black’s pieces are dominant in the center. All Black needed to do was
protect e4 and mobilize his pieces against White’s king.
Engines have made us very materialistic, so we hint toward ‘quality over quantity’ as being necessary
from time to time.
a) 22...Qf6? was played in the game 23.gxf5 gxf5 24.Nxf5 Qxf5 25.Nxe4 Ne5 26.Nxd2 Rxd2
27.Rxe5 Bxe5 28.Qg2+ and soon the game ended in a draw.
b) 22...Qf4!? 23.Ng2 Qh6 24.gxf5 Ng5–+ also works.

65
22...Ng5! 23.gxf5

23.f4 Qd4+ 24.Kh1 Rf2–+

23...Qf4–+

27
Rauf Mamedov (2659)
Alexander Huzman (2567)
Wch Rapid, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

29.Qb4!!

An important move utilizing two themes — deflection and back rank mate — while stopping any
potential discovery for Black!
29.Rxd5?? allowed the draw with 29...Rc2+ ½–½.

29.Qb4!! Qxb4 30.axb4

66
White wins a full rook.

30...Rd8 31.Kxf2+–

28
Bassem Amin (2689)
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2789)
Wch Rapid, 2017

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

Amin Bassem is the strongest African player ever. He is the first African player who has achieved the
coveted ELO rating of 2700. He has even obtained an M.D. degree, but he has never practiced it!
In his game against the innovative top-10 player Maxime Vachier Lagrave (known as MVL), he has
played very risky. White is behind in development and MVL exploits this with the following pseudo-
sacrifice.

18...Nb4!

And there is no way to protect the d3-pawn.

67
19.Nh4

a) 19.Ne1 Rxf1+ 20.Bxf1 Bxg5–+;

b) 19.Rd1 Qh5 20.Nxd4 Rf2!! 21.Kxf2 Qxh2–+

19...Qxd3! 20.Qxd3 Nxd3 21.Bxb7 Rxf1+ 22.Kxf1 Rb8!

all forced tempo-winning moves. The ...Rb8 move itself is very counterintuitive as we all tend to go
for the Rf8+.
22...Rf8+?? 23.Nf3 and White is a piece up!

23.Be4 Nxc1!

This is the kind of move we might miss. We tend to not capture a piece on its original square.

24.Nf3

24.Rxc1 Bxg5 and Black is up material and totally winning.

24...Nb3 25.Rd1 Rf8 26.Ke2 Rf4 27.Bc2 Na5 28.Nb5 Nxb5

And White resigned.

0–1

68
 29
Viswanathan Anand (2782)
Vladislav Kovalev (2639)
Wch Blitz, 2017

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

26.Nc2!

It is somewhat counterintuitive to move the knight away from the king, but keeping it close could do
more harm than good, as the knight itself could become a target.
a) 26.Ng2 f3 27.Ne3 d4µ;
b) 26.Ng4 Qg6 27.f3 h5³.

26.Nc2! f3

26...Rfb8 27.Qa3 Rb2 28.Rfc1 f3 29.Kh1 Rb5 30.a6 Rb6 31.a7 Ne5 (31...Rb7 32.Rg1+–) 32.Rg1+–

27.Kh1 Qh4 28.exd5 cxd5 29.d4

And White went on to win soon after.

1–0

69
 30
Apurva Virkud (2262)
Sabina Foisor (2272)
USA-ch (Women), 2017

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

23...e3!

The obvious start, but one needs to see the follow up carefully. The entire attack is built based on
White’s misplaced queen on a5, which is cut off from the rest of White’s army.

24.fxe3

24.Rb2 e2 25.Re1 Nd3–+

24...Qxe3+ 25.Kh1

25.Rdf2 Nd3–+

70
25...Rf6!!

White’s back rank is too weak, and she doesn’t have enough time to react properly. Black’s threat is
imminent.

26.Rg1

26.Rxf6 wouldn’t help White either as her back rank remains unprotected 26...gxf6! 27.h3 Qxg3 and
mate follows soon.

26...Qxg1+!

A nice way to end the game, but Black had already bagged the point with the strong ...Rf6!!

27.Kxg1 Re1+ 28.Bf1 Rfxf1+ 29.Kg2 Rg1+ 30.Kf2 Ref1+ 31.Ke3 Rf3+ 0–1

Here White resigned in view of

32.Ke2

32.Ke4 Re1+ 33.Re2 Rxe2# as the knight on b4 proves to be a great helper.

32...Rf6+ 33.Ke3 Re1+ 34.Re2 Rxe2#

31

71
 Elshan Moradiabadi (2534)
C. J. Arvind (2186)
Charlotte Open, 2018

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

19.Bd1!

The misplaced knight on h5 and White’s strongly placed knight on e5 create the theme necessary for
this position.

19...fxe3 20.fxe3 Qg5 21.Rxf8+ Rxf8 22.h4!

Only now you can say you had seen everything.

22...Qxh4 23.Ng6 Qg5 24.Nxf8 Kxf8 25.Bxh5 Qxh5 26.Qf2+

And twenty moves later, White won the game.

1–0

32

72
 Bassem Amin (2707)
Ernesto Inarkiev (2693)
Danzhou Masters, 2019

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

21...b5!

A very strong move, taking advantage of Black’s coherent pieces, White’s weak pawn structure, and
the a1–h8 diagonal.

22.cxb5 axb5 23.Qxb5

23.Nxb5 Ra8–+

23...Qa8!

The key point! Now White’s queen finds itself in an uncomfortable position.
23...Qxb5 was instead played in the game 24.Nxb5 cxb4 25.axb4= However, the game ended in
Black’s favor some thirty moves later.

73
24.bxc5

24.Qa4 Qxa4 25.Nxa4 cxb4 26.axb4 e4µ

24...Rb8 25.Qa4 Qxa4 26.Nxa4 Bb3 27.Nc3 Nxc5 28.Be3 Nxd3 29.Reb1 e4µ

And Black will soon be up an exchange.

33
Tamir Nabaty (2678)
Maxim Rodshtein (2685)
Netanya Masters, 2019

74
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

23.a4!

This one is all about timing.

White is targeting Black’s center in a timely fashion. It is essential to understand that Black’s pieces
are covering way too many squares behind his expanded pawn structure. Therefore, any strike to his
balance could come at a hefty price, like losing central pawns or giving away outposts.
23.Bh2 allows Bd6 23...Bg7 Although Black missed a chance to take advantage immediately, he
eventually won the game. (23...Bd6! 24.Nd3 Bxh2+ 25.Kxh2 g4µ) 24.Nd3 g4 25.hxg4 fxg4 26.Be2
d4 27.Na2 dxe3 28.Nc3 Nc4 [...] 0–1

23.a4! a5

Now b5 is accessible to White and his knights can jump around.

24.Ng6 Bg7 25.Nb5±

34
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2770)

75
 Irine Kharisma Sukandar (2402)
Gibraltar Masters, 2020

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

15...Nd7!

A good defensive idea. It lets White to plan for the move e6, but it is necessary to put pressure on e5.
The game continued 15...Nh5? 16.Qe3! after which MVL reinforced the e5-square and masterfully
converted his initiative, thanks to his opponent’s cooperation on a number of occasions. 16...Be6?
17.g4 Bg7 18.Bxg7 Nxg7 19.f5 and White was able to capitalize on his space advantage 19...Bd7
20.Nd5 Qc5 21.c4 [...] 1–0.

15...Nd7! 16.Nd5 Qc5!

The key move.

17.c4

17.Ra5? will be met by 17...b5µ

17...dxe5 18.fxe5 Bxe5 19.Be3 Qd6 20.Qf2 f6 21.Rad1∞

76
White’s initiative is daunting, but Black at least has a pawn for it!

35
L. R. Srihari (2302)
Aryan Gholami (2541)
Parsvnath Open A, 2020

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

14...0-0!

The only plausible way to continue the fight without added difficulty due to Black’s material deficit.
This is a simple decision because the only thing one has to recognize is the fact that Qxb4 prevents
Black from castling.
a) 14...exf3? This is refuted due to a cold-blooded engine line, yet it is wrong in essence as it prevents
Black from completing his development. 15.Qxb4 Nc6 16.Qd2?? loses by force. (16.Qc5! prevents
castling, denying Black the ability to mobilize the remainder of his army against White’s king.
16...Nxd4 17.Ke1 Bf5 18.Rc1 h5 19.Rc4+–) 16...Nxd4 17.gxf3 Qd5 18.Rg1 0-0 19.Rc1 Rd8 and
Black went on to win the game.
b) 14...Be7 15.Qxe4 is too slow.

77
14...0-0! 15.Rc1

Controlling the c6-square.

a) 15.Qxb4?? is now losing to: 15...Nc6 16.Qc5 exf3–+;
b) 15.Qxe4 Bd5! The only way to bring the knight into the game as soon as possible. 16.Qd3 Nc6
17.Rc1 Re8 18.Be2 Be4 19.Qc4=

15...exf3 16.Qxb4 a5 17.Qd2 Qb6©

And Black has enough compensation for the material deficit.

36
Elshan Moradiabadi (2552)
Aleksey Sorokin (2513)
Winter Chess Classic B, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

17.d4!

A typical idea based on Black’s overloaded queen in the center. Of all the pieces we may want to

78
centralize in the opening, the queens are the least expected ones, as the presence of numerous minor
pieces makes the queen an easy target.

17...Qb8

a) 17...cxd4 18.Rc1 Bb7 19.Ng4 Qd6 20.f6+–;

b) 17...Nxd4 18.Nd3 Qd6 19.e5+–.

18.Qh5 f6 19.Ng4 Bb7 20.e5 Kh8

a) 20...Qd8 21.Nxe7+ Qxe7 22.Bd5+ Kh8 23.Rf3+–;

b) 20...Qe8 21.Nxe7+ Qxe7 22.Bd5+ Kh8 23.Rf3 g6 24.fxg6 Nxd4 25.Rh3+–.

21.Nf4 Qd8 22.Bd5

And Black resigned.

1–0

37
Loek van Wely (2640)
Magnus Carlsen (2844)
Tata Steel A, 2016

Black to move

79
 Show/Hide Solution

36...e5!

36...Kg8?! Well, maybe you can afford to miss an immediate win if you are Magnus Carlsen, but we
strongly suggest for you to get good at finding simple solutions when they are presented. We don’t all
possess the nerve, energy, and deep understanding of the Norwegian genius. 37.Ne2 (37.Rc4 Rg3
38.Ng2 Qg5 39.Qf4 Qa5+ 40.b4 Qa1+ 41.Qc1 Qxc1+ And White is much worse but far from losing,
although probably not against MC! 42.Rxc1 Bxe4µ; 37.Ng2 Qxe4+ 38.Qxe4 Bxe4 39.Nf4µ Very
similar to the other line.) 37...Rxf1+ 38.Kxf1 Rd1+ 39.Kg2 Bxe4 0–1.

36...e5! 37.Nd3

a) 37.Ng2 Rxf1+! Even if you rejected e5 because of Nd5, you still should try to calculate these
‘fireworks’ 38.Kxf1 Qh1+ 39.Ke2 Bb5+ (39...f5 is even stronger.) 40.Ke3 Qh6+ 41.Nf4 Qg5 42.b4
b6 43.Rb3 Rd6 44.Rg2 exf4+ 45.Qxf4 Qxg2 46.Qxd6 Qh3+–+;
b) 37.Nd5 f5!–+

An odd kind of pin, loosening the knight on d5. It looks very weakening and having all of these
advantages makes 36...e5 a less likely candidate, but it is effective and decisive. 38.Nb4 Bxe4–+.

37...Rg3–+

80
 38
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2747)
Yifan Hou (2673)
Tata Steel A, 2016

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

This is a defensive tactic.

You can find this move through process of elimination only if you see what White’s next move could
be.

37...Be8!

would solve all the problems.

37...Nxa4?? 38.Rxb8 Nxc3 39.Bg4! This tactical resource was underestimated by Hou Yifan. Now
Black cannot avoid the loss of material. 39...f5 is the only way to save a piece. (39...Rxb8 40.Nxc6+
Ke8 41.Nxb8+–) 40.exf5 gxf5 41.Rxc8 Nxc8 42.Nxc6+ Kd6 43.Bxf5 Kxc6 44.Ne6+– Despite the
small material imbalance, the resulting endgame is hopeless for Black.

37...Be8! 38.Ba6 Nxa4 39.Rxb8 Rxb8 40.Nxa4 Bxa4 41.Rc7+ Ke6=

81
 39
Fabiano Caruana (2828)
Leinier Dominguez (2739)
USA-ch, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

Caruana managed to twice outplay his experienced elite opponent in this game, but each time
Dominguez managed to slip through Fabiano’s fingers. This is where Caruana came closest to victory
in this game.

38.Nef6+!

This move would have won the game on the spot.

38.Nxh6+ was the move played in the game, which still gives White a tangible advantage. This
inaccuracy was probably caused by time pressure. 38...gxh6 39.Nf6+ Nxf6 40.exf6 Rxg3+! 41.fxg3
Qxf6 42.Qg4+ Kh8 43.Ra6 Qd8 44.Ra7 Qf8 45.Qf3 Kg8 46.Qxc6 Qd8 47.Kh2?! A mistake by
Caruana. (47.Qf3+–)

82
47...Qf6! and eventually Black was able to draw the game.

38.Nef6+! gxf6

38...Nxf6 39.exf6 gxf6 40.Rxa3 Qxa3 41.Nxf6+ Kg7 42.Qe5!+–

39.Nxh6+ Kg7

39...Kf8 40.Nf5+–

40.Rxa3 Qxa3 41.exf6+ Nxf6 42.Qg5+ Kf8 43.Qxf6+–

83
 40
Vidit Santosh Gujrathi (2693)
Alexander Areshchenko (2652)
ESP-ch Team, 2017

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

33.Qd1!

Fantastic coordination!
It is hard to cover both the a1–h8 diagonal and the h5-square simultaneously. A great lesson in the
geometry on the chess board. Surprisingly, White didn’t have any other equally good alternative
despite his dominant position.

33...f4??

33...Qg6 might have been Black’s best try, but after 34.Bd5 Qf6 35.h4± White keeps the pressure and
has ideas to bring his queen into the game to h5 or via the c1–h6 diagonal.

34.Rb8!

84
A decisive deflection!

34...f3+ 35.Kh1

And Black resigned.

1–0

41
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2791)
Peter Svidler (2749)
Sinquefield Cup, 2017

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

32...d5!

Now Black is safe.

Svidler was on the verge of losing, but now a horizontal effect saves him!

33.Qxd5

85
33.cxd5 Rb4 34.Qf3 Qxh4+ 35.Qh3 Qg5=

33...Qxh4+ 34.Kg1 Qe1+ 35.Kh2 Qh4+ 36.Kg1 Qe1+ 37.Kh2 Qxe3 38.Qf7

The simplest. Now the game ends.

38...Qf4+ 39.Kh1 Qh4+ 40.Kg1 Qe1+ 41.Kh2 Qh4+ 42.Kg1 Qd4+ 43.Kh1

½–½

42
Vladislav Artemiev (2731)
Anish Giri (2776)
Bucharest GCT Rapid, 2019

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

20...Nxe5!

One of the simplest defensive mechanisms in chess is to eliminate the attacking pieces, something we
do less often than we should. This move may seem counterintuitive at first since it opens the f-file

86
and restricts Black’s bishop. However, Black’s strategy is more grand than it seems. White’s pawns
in the center are vulnerable and once Black fends of White’s attack, he can gradually target these
pawns.
20...Qxb2?? was played in the game, and White was able to build up a nice attack 21.Bxg7 Kxg7
22.f5 exf5 23.Rxf5 Ne5 24.Rxe5 (24.Rdf1?? Qxd4+ 25.Kh1 Ra7–+) 24...Bxe5 25.Qxe5+ Kf8
26.Qh8+ Ke7 27.Qf6+ Kf8 28.Qxh6+ Ke7 29.Qf6+ Kf8 30.Ng5! Qb7 31.Rf1 Ke8 32.Nxf7 1–0.

20...Nxe5! 21.fxe5

Now Black has to find a way to protect f7.

21...Ra7 22.Qg4 Kh8

and now it is hard to suggest anything concrete for White except him trying to repeat the moves by
playing.

23.Qh5

a) 23.Rf3?? runs into another horizontal pin. 23...Bxe5 24.Nc3 Qc4;

b) 23.Nf6? The knight is untouchable, but White is not really threatening anything here. 23...Rb7!
24.Qe4 gxf6 25.Rxf6 Bxe5! once again, the pin is a decisive factor. 26.Rxh6+ Kg8 27.Qh7+ Kf8 and
the checks run out! 28.Rf1 Bxd4+–+;
c) 23.Rf6?? Typical, but wrong. 23...gxf6 (23...Bxe5 Even this suffices, although it is unnecessary.
24.dxe5 Rxd1+ 25.Qxd1 Qxe5 is also winning for Black, as White’s attack has fizzled out and Black
will pick up the knight while being up two pawns.) 24.Nxf6 (24.Qh5 Bxe5 25.dxe5 Rxd1+ 26.Qxd1
Qxe5–+) 24...Bxe5 25.dxe5 Rxd1+ 26.Qxd1 Qc5+ 27.Kh1 Qxe5 28.Qd8+ Kg7–+ 1–0.

23...Kg8 24.Qg4 Kh8=

43
Alexander Grischuk (2777)
Matthias Bluebaum (2644)
Wch Rapid, 2019

87
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

22...e4!

A counterintuitive positional decision. It almost seems like a crime against the position, giving a nice
outpost to White on the d4-square and seemingly making the d5-pawn a target. We also have learned
that we are better off placing our pawns on the squares opposite the color of our bishop (should we be
left with only one of them). However, this case is very different. White’s rook on e1 has a clearer
target than the one on d1, while Black’s bishop can easily land on g4, after which he can trade for the
knight or just stay there, denying White from activating his g2-bishop. In the meantime, White lacks
enough space for his pieces.
22...d4? after which Black lost his advantage 23.Ng1! Bg4 24.Bf3 Bf5 25.g4 Bh7 26.fxe5 and the
game went in White’s favor.

22...e4! 23.c4!

Would be White’s best practical play.

After 23.Rd2 Bg4 24.Nc3 Rbd8 25.Nd1 Bxd1 26.Rexd1 f5–+, the g3-pawn is a major target. 27.Bf1
Kg7! Always think in terms of prophylactic measures. (27...Kf7? 28.a4 bxa4 29.c4 e3 30.Rd4 Nxc4
31.Rxd5 And Black’s advantage is gone because the pawn on f5 is hanging.) 28.a4 bxa4 29.c4 e3
30.Rd4 Nxc4 31.Bxc4 Rc8–+.

88
23...bxc4 24.Nc3 Be6 25.a4 Rfd8 26.Rd4 Kf8 27.a5 Na8 28.f5 Bf7 29.Red1 Bxh5 30.Rh1 Bf7µ

44
Dmitry Andreikin (2702)
Aryan Tari (2615)
Xtracon Helsingor, 2018

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

23.N3d4!

With all of White’s pieces close to Black’s king, tactical ideas start appearing left and right.
Black made a few inaccuracies and lost time maneuvering his knights earlier in the game, which led
to this unfortunate end for him.
23.Bxf7+ was maybe even stronger, but in either case White’s advantage is overwhelming.

23.N3d4! exd4 24.Bxf7+ Kxf7

24...Kh8 25.Bxe8 is just hopeless.

89
25.Qh5+ Kg8 26.Qxe8

Black threw in the towel despite the numerical material balance.

There is nothing that could be done against White’s threats.

1–0

45
Ray Robson (2682)
Dariusz Swiercz (2656)
Winter Chess Classic A, 2018

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

31.b4!

White’s rooks need space to operate and after this move they will both gain activity.

31...axb4 32.axb4 Qd2

is the only move that can cause more tactical problems for White, but White should come out on top

90
in either case.
32...Bxb4 allows 33.Rc6 Qd5 (33...Qe7 34.Rxb6 and White gets to g7 very soon.) 34.Ra7 or even
sooner! 34...Qxb5 35.Rxg7+ Kf8 36.Rxe6 And Black is just a few moves away from being mated.

33.Rb1!

White just needs to stay calm.

33.Ra8+? would make things unclear 33...Bf8 (33...Kh7? 34.Ba1 Bd6 35.Ra7 is surprisingly still
much better for White.) 34.Ba1 Qd5 35.Rc6 Qxb5 36.Rc7! Bf7 37.Rcc8 Qxb4 and Black saves the
day.

33...Bxb4

And the game concluded as follows:

34.Rc7 Ba2

34...Bf8 35.Bd4

35.Rxg7+ Kf8 36.Ra7 Qc2

36...Bxb1 37.Bg7+ is followed by mate.

37.Rc1

And Black resigned.

1–0

46
Veselin Topalov (2738)
Fabien Libiszewski (2522)
Gibraltar Masters, 2020

91
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

19...f6!

Black needs to beef up his initiative by further opening the game. We think he was too worried about
the h7-square and that is why he missed this move. It is easy to go wrong in this position with White.
It is not only the ultimate engine-generated value of a move, but how a move can change the trend of
a game, which determines the best continuation for over-the-board games.
Somehow Black gave too much credit to White’s meager attack, although his response is nevertheless
OK. 19...Ne4?! 20.Bxe4 dxe4 21.0-0-0 Bd3 22.Rxd3 exd3 23.Qxd3 g6?? weakens the king and Black
went on to lose. (23...Bxg5 had to be played instead 24.hxg5 Qd5 25.Rh2 Rfd8 26.gxh6 g6 and Black
would have kept the position balanced and his king safe.)

19...f6! 20.exf6

20.Bxc5 fxg5! You may have only considered capturing back on c5, which of course doesn’t work.
21.Bxe7 Qxe7 22.hxg5 Rxf4 23.gxh6 g6! an important tempo. 24.Bxg6 Rf3! and Black’s attack is
overwhelming! It is as if Black is up two rooks!

20...Bxf6 21.0-0-0!

a) 21.Bg8 Nd3+–+;

92
b) 21.Bxc5 Rxc5 22.Bg8 Bxc3+ 23.Kd1 g6 24.Qxg6 Rc7!–+ and White’s attack runs out of steam.

21...Bxd4 22.Rxd4 Qb6!

22...Qf6!? 23.Kb2 Be8! And now Black is threatening to play g6. 24.Bd3 Nxd3+ 25.Qxd3 Bg6
26.Qd2 (26.Qe3?? e5 27.fxe5 Qf2+ 28.Qxf2 Rxf2+ 29.Ka3 hxg5–+) 26...e5 27.fxe5 Qxe5∞.

23.Kb1

23.Bg8?? Ne4!–+.

23...Rf6 24.Bg8 g6 25.Bf7 Ne4 26.Nxe4 Rxf7 27.Ng5 hxg5 28.Qxg6 Qc7

The key behind Kb1 instead of Kb2.

29.c4 Bc6 30.hxg5+ Rh7 31.Re1=

And White is fighting to justify his piece sacrifice. White’s chances remain meager like in the
beginning of this problem.

47
Liren Ding (2766)
Loek van Wely (2640)
Tata Steel A, 2016

Black to move

93
 Show/Hide Solution

27...Nbd3!

Both knights can jump to d3 and following with pawn to g4 leads to a trivial win. How come this was
missed by two elite (one in top three in the world already) players? We speculate that Black gave too
much credit to White’s exchange sacrifice and sought a more cutting-edge continuation, and in the
process lost his chance to win the game. Adding a new piece to an attack should be on top of your list
of candidate moves. This way, you minimize the chance of missing golden opportunities like this.
27...Nxf3? Black misses a simple refutation: 28.Qxb4 after which the material balance has been
restored and the game starts anew. 28...Nh4 29.Ng3 Qb6 30.Rd4 a5 31.Qc4 eventually led to a draw
despite White’s advantage.

27...Nbd3! 28.Bxd3

a) 28.Qd4 We highly doubt that Black feared this pin; however, it could be missed, too. 28...Nxf3!
29.Qxf6 Nf2#;
b) 28.Qe3 Ng4 and f2-square cannot be defended.

28...Nxd3 29.Qe3

29.Rxd3 Bxd3 30.Ng3 g4 31.Ng1 Qe5–+ and Black will soon win the d-pawn after which back rank
mate will follow.

29...g4 30.Rxd3 Bxd3 31.Qxd3 gxf3 32.gxf3 Rd8–+

And Black should soon seal the deal.

48
Viswanathan Anand (2782)
Anton Demchenko (2660)
Wch Rapid, 2017

94
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

24...a3!

An important inclusion, addressing White’s ‘Achilles’ Heel’ — the b2-square.

24...Bf8 was played in the game, one move too early, after which Anand outplayed his opponent from
this equal position by showing a great tactical alertness. 25.Nh5 Ke7 26.Qg4 Bh6?? The decisive
blunder. (26...Qd4 27.Nxf6 Rxc4 28.Nxc4 Qxc4 29.Nd5+ Ke8 30.Qg5 Bc6 White doesn’t seem to
have more than perpetual.)

95
27.Nxf6 Bxd2 28.Nd5+ Ke8 29.Qg8+ and Black resigned.

24...a3! 25.b3 Bf8!

An important regrouping plan, improving the bishop that can attack the weak dark-squares in White’s
camp.
25...Na5 is interesting as well, though after 26.c3 Black should still improve the position of the
bishop on e7.

26.Nh5

26.c3?! Na5 27.Ba6 Rc6 28.Qd3 Bh6 29.Bb5 is the engine’s attempt to hold.

26...Ke7 27.Qg4

27.c3 bxc3 28.Rxc3 Qd4 29.Ng3 Bh6 30.Rc2 d5! and Black is completely dominant here after
31.Ne2 Qc5 32.Nc3 a desperate practical try. [32.exd5 Bxd2 33.Rxd2 Rh4 34.Rc2 Qb4 White has
way too many weaknesses to defend (the c4-bishop is pinned, the f5-pawn could be targeted with
Nd6, and the rook is tied to g2 to stave off the constant mating threats.)] 32...dxc4 33.Nd5+ Kd8
34.Nxc4 Qd4 and White’s activity peters out.

27...Qe3

a) 27...Bh6?? 28.Nxf6+– loses to the same tactic;

b) 27...Rh6 This prevents Nxf6 but after Ng3 Black has no way to improve his position other than
going back to h8 with his rook in order to re-enable his bishop to move to h6.

96
28.c3

28.Nf1 Qc3 and mate follows.

28...d5!

Black’s last misplaced piece, the knight on b7, enters the game with a lot of power.

29.exd5

29.Nf1 Qxe4+ 30.Qxe4 dxe4 31.Ne3 Bc6! 32.Ng3 Bh6 and White is out of any counterplay.

29...Nd6–+

A very rich and instructive position which teaches us about:

King safety,
Weak squares,
Improving minor pieces, and finally,
Mobility among the pieces in times of attack and defense.

49
Jules Moussard (2600)
Raja Panjwani (2444)
Gibraltar Masters, 2020

97
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

19...Rhe8!

A strong prophylactic move, which was much needed as Black’s advantage is close to decisive.
19...fxe5? was played in the game, but after 20.Nxe6! White survived a much worse position, thanks
to the X-ray on the e-file. 20...Bxe6 21.Rxe5 Rhe8 22.Rfe1 Bf6 23.Rxe6 Both Black’s center and
bishop pair are gone; luckily, opposite-color bishops save the day. 23...Rxe6 24.Rxe6 Kd7 and the
game ended in a draw moves later.

19...Rhe8! 20.Bg6 Rf8 21.Nf3

21.exf6 Bxf6 22.Nxe6?? Bxe6 23.Rxe6 Bd4+–+

21...Kc7µ 22.Rc1 b5 23.Bd3 Rc8

98
And Black will gradually progress.
We don’t want to put any emphasize on the engine’s evaluation here, but Black has a clear plan of
taking on e5 and playing Bf6 where it is hard to spot any good move for White.

50
Hari Madhavan (2093)
Nitish Belurkar (2353)
2nd Goa International, 2019

99
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

45...Qf6!

Not every simple tactical decision involves sacrifices and tantalizing moves. Correct exchanges and
liquidation are part of tactical alertness at which we all need to excel. We would especially like to ask
our readers to work on this concept on their own, as we are often short on time when we need to make
these kinds of decisions. Thus, a healthy heuristic around this factor could help players very much.
45...Qc8?? was played instead and the players soon agreed on a draw 46.Bxh6 Qg8 47.Qg6+ Kh8
48.Bf4 Qd5 49.Qh5+ ½–½.

45...Qf6! 46.Qxf6

is forced.
46.Qd7 Bxb4 and the a- and b-pawns will decide the game.

46...gxf6!

The key point. 46...Bxf6? 47.Bd2 blows away Black’s advantage as he cannot create a passer on the
queenside.

47.Bd6

Another only move.

47...a5!

100
And White cannot stop Black’s b-pawn.

48.bxa5 Bxa5 49.Kg2 b4 50.Kf3 b3 51.Ba3 Bc3–+

101
 Show in Text Mode

51
Anton Shomoev (2550)
Gata Kamsky (2676)
RUS-ch Team, 2017

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

24.Qd4!

This kind of move should come to mind in a matter of seconds. A lot of players consider the lateral
Qh5 with the idea of Ng5, which is still advantageous, but Black can put up a fierce resistance with
Qe8, and White’s advantage would evaporate. If you have a problem considering moves like Qd4, it
would be helpful for you to work on improving your thought process. If you considered the move and
failed to find the subsequent continuation, you should focus your efforts on improving your
understanding of tactical themes, in this case a double threat. However, the other lateral move Qg5
still maintains a substantial advantage, but a win is far from clear. Now the knight has to move.

102
24...Nb6 25.Nf6+ gxf6

25...Kh8 26.Qh4+–

26.Qg4+ Ng6 27.Rxd8 Rbxd8

In this position White went for

28.Bh6

and eventually won the game.

28.h4+– would have been an alternative winning idea.

1–0

52
Liren Ding (2805)
Wesley So (2754)
Stavanger Armageddon, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

103
25.Nf5!

With White’s bishops aiming mightily at Black’s king, it is just a matter of trading attackers for
defenders, in this case Black’s paltry pawn shelter and the bishop on e7. A valuable point to be
learned in this case is that Black has not made a mistake with regard to his development; his problem
is that his pieces are placed inefficiently with regard to his king’s safety.
How to excel at piece placement, though, is a subject we leave for another time and probably another
book!

25...Rxd2

25...gxf5 26.Qh5 Rxd2 27.Qf7+ Kh8 28.Bxf5+– and mate is inevitable.

26.Nxe7+ Qxe7 27.Qxd2 Kg7 28.Qf4

With White’s four pieces, the pawn on e6, and the h-pawn joining soon, Black is out of time to bring
in enough defenders.
The game continued...

28...Rf8 29.h4 Bc8 30.h5 Ne5 31.Rxe5 fxe5 32.Qxe5+ Kh6 33.hxg6 hxg6 34.Qh2+ Kg5 35.Qg3+

And Black resigned.

1–0

53
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2772)
Sergey Karjakin (2754)
Bucharest GCT Blitz, 2019

104
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

White is up a pawn and has the bishop pair. All he needs is to consolidate his advantage.
The lack of development here should be an alarming signal to not be overly ambitious and try to
finish off Black right away.

18.Be3!

18.f4?? was played in the game. We encourage you to think twice before committing to such moves.
Obviously Mamedyarov is aware of all we said earlier, but with the clock ticking in a blitz game, he
relied on his fast (yet in this case inaccurate) calculation. 18...Bg4 19.Bxg4 Nd3+! Probably the move
missed by White, after which the game is over. (19...Qxg4?? 20.Qxc5+– is probably what
Mamedyarov had in mind.) 20.Kf1 (20.Ke2 Qxg4+ 21.Kxd3 Qf3+ 22.Be3 Rfd8+ 23.Kc3 Rac8–+ is
equally losing.) 20...Qxg4 21.Qc3 Qf3 and White resigned 0–1.

18.Be3! Nb3 19.Rd1 Bh3 20.Rg1 Rfc8 21.Qg3

White has regrouped and has a sufficient number of pieces protecting his king, an extra pawn, the
bishop pair, and active pieces.

21...Qg6 22.f4 Qxg3 23.Rxg3±

105
 54
Peter Leisebein (2455)
Wolfgang Class (2448)
corr., 2014

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

Black’s last move was ...Rd8 trying to trade material, but he failed to see the tactical blow.

22.Qe5!

taking advantage of the back rank mate idea.

22...Qc7 23.Qxf6

Black resigns in view of 23...gxf6 24.Nxe6+.

1–0

55
Timur Gareyev (2620)

106
 Olivier Kenta Chiku Ratte (2332)
Calgary Open, 2017

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

18.Rxd8!

This wins immediately.

White probably thought about taking on f6 and then Qh4 which fails in face of ...Rh8, but this move
removes Black’s defense on the back rank. Often when we are attacking a king, we think of avoiding
the trading of the pieces, as we need them to deliver the final attack. However, this case is a matter of
Black running out of defensive resources. There is a difference between giving away your attack by
exchanging pieces and trading off the opponent’s defenders.
18.f4? was played in the game, missing this beautiful tactical idea 18...Rxd1+ 19.Qxd1 White still
went on to win the game after a few more mistakes by Black.

18.Rxd8! Rxd8 19.Nxf6 exf6

19...Kxf6 20.Qh4+ Ke6 21.e4+–

20.Qh4 Kf8 21.Qxf6+–

107
 56
Ernesto Inarkiev (2702)
Mikheil Mchedlishvili (2590)
FIDE World Cup, 2017

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

25.Rxe4!

This one is really easy, but we find it necessary to emphasize the concept of trading for the
opponent’s good pieces.

25...fxe4 26.Qxe4 dxe5 27.fxe5 Rbd8 28.Ng5 e6 29.Nf6+

And Black resigned.

1–0

57
Raja Harshit (2447)
Parham Maghsoodloo (2690)

108
 Sunway Sitges, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

We cannot emphasize enough how important it is to be tactically alert and consider thoroughly before
committing to a certain plan. Here, Black has sacrificed a pawn to obtain the bishop pair with a
particularly well-placed bishop on b6, but his ambitious plan of involving the g-pawn caused serious
damage to his king’s safety. Thus, it is necessary for Black to check his ideas every move before
committing to such a straightforward idea.

21.Nxe5! Qxe5 22.Rxd7 g3

One last try, but it’s not enough.

22...Rxd7 23.Qxg4+ Kh8 24.Qxd7+–

23.Qg4+

23.Rxf7 would have been even stronger.

23...Kh8 24.hxg3

And with three extra pawns, White went on to win the game.

1–0

109
 58
Alexander Grischuk (2808)
Matthias Bluebaum (2561)
Wch Rapid, 2019

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

17...Rb7!

An important intermediate move.

Now White has a hard decision to make regarding his king’s safety. Obviously castling long would
not help, so he is forced to castle short.
17...f6?! was played in the game, which is logical, but inaccurate in this position. We saw what
happened later in the game in a previous exercise! 18.exf6 Qxf6 19.Ne2 Nb6∞

17...Rb7! 18.Nd1

Preparing to meet ...Rc7. In either case, White is forced to castle short.

18.0-0 Rc7 19.Qe3 Nb6³ 20.Ne2 Nc4 21.Qd3 a5 22.c3 Bd7³

110
18...Rc7 19.Ne3 Bb7 20.0-0 Rfc8 21.Rad1

21.f5?? loses to 21...Qg5–+.

21...Nb8!³

Black’s pieces are regrouped, and he has a long lasting edge.

59
Hua Ni (2683)
Aleksandr Lenderman (2637)
Wch Team, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

29.Nb6!

Sometimes it is hard to realize that one’s initiative has actually fizzled out. In this game, Lenderman
was in defensive mode for a long time while the experienced Chinese GM Ni Hua was pressing.
However, in this very moment, Black has a number of tricks, which White should carefully attend to.
Fortunately for the American GM, Ni Hua didn’t feel this turn of events and fell for a nasty trap.

111
After spending a lot of time, Ni Hua played 29.N7e5?? It was time for him to bailout, but he
remained too optimistic. 29...f6 30.Nf3 e5! Positionally incorrect, but there is a beautiful trick hidden
behind this move that wins a piece for Black! 31.Qh4 The only move. Ni Hua realizes that after
(31.Qe4 f5! 32.Qxe5 Bf6 His queen is trapped in the middle of the board!) 31...g5! Lenderman plays
fast and well! 32.Nxg5 fxg5 33.Qe4 Qe6 34.Qxe5 Qxe5 35.Nxe5 Re8 and Black went on to win the
game [...] 0–1.

29.Nb6! Qb8

29...Nxb6?! 30.Qxb6 Rd7 31.Ra1² with an annoying endgame.

30.Nd7 Qc8

Leads to draw by repetition.

60
Alexander Motylev (2677)
Qingnan Liu (2435)
CHN-ch Team, 2011

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

112
19...0-0!³

gives Black a healthy edge and leaves White with passive pieces.
a) 19...Nxd4?? was played in the game as Black overlooked a great opportunity for White. This is a
huge blunder which loses on the spot and your job in this exercise was to spot it. 20.Nc4!! [A
wonderful idea (considering that after 20.Bxd4 Bxd4 21.Qxd4 Qxd4 22.Rxd4 Nb3 23.Rdd1 Nxa1
24.Rxa1 e5 25.f3 Ke7³ Black’s center and the existence of open files (for the two rooks) is going to
make this endgame hard to save for White.)] 20...Nxe2+ (20...dxc4? 21.Qg6+ Ke7 22.Ba3+ Kd8
23.Qxf6++–). 21.Qxe2 Suddenly, Black’s position is totally exposed. 21...dxc4 (21...Bxb5 is no
better. 22.Nxb6 Bxe2 23.Bxf6 Bxd1 24.Bxh8 Ra6 25.Nxd5 exd5 26.Rxd1+– and it is over.) 22.Bxf6
Rf8 The position is hopeless as Black’s king is exposed. Furthermore, his pieces lack harmony and
the knight on a5 is pinned. All of this happened due to an untimely capture of a pawn that appeared to
be a sacrifice. Whenever you have your king in the center where the pawn shelter is rather weak,
beware of counterblows whenever you decide to commit to a tactic in the center.
b) 19...Bxd4 could have been a better choice at least, where Black doesn’t necessarily end up losing.
20.Bxd4 Qxd4 21.Qxf5 exf5 22.Rxd4 Nb3 23.Rdd1 Nxa1 24.Rxa1 Ke7 25.f4∞.

19...0-0!³ 20.Nec2 Rac8 21.Ne3 Bxd4 22.Bxd4 Qxd4 23.Nxf5 Qxd3 24.Bxd3 exf5³

Although Black is up a pawn, White has decent drawing chances due to Black’s weakened pawn
structure.

61
Elshan Moradiabadi (2549)
Raja Panjwani (2456)
American Continental, 2018

113
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

21.e4!

Black’s pieces lack any coordination, and his king is rather exposed.
The central breakthrough is possible due to these two factors.

21...Ne6

None of White’s pawns are touchable due to the awkward placement of the rook on a6.

22.f4 dxe4 23.Qc4?!

23.f5+– would have sealed the deal for White.

23...Ra7 24.f5

With a winning advantage, though White missed several opportunities to convert his advantage and
the endgame ended in a draw.

½–½

114
 62
Anish Giri (2797)
Yangyi Yu (2751)
Shenzhen Masters, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

25.Nh4!

Redirecting the knight to a strong square. This is a rather simple decision, as most of White’s pieces
are already optimally placed. Thus, we only need to improve the knight. Two squares come in mind
immediately: c4 and f5. It takes a bit of thinking to realize that f5 is a better fit, which also enables
White to trade his knight for Black’s bishop that covers the weak c5-pawn.

25...Qe6 26.Nf5 Rfe8 27.Rf4 Nh5 28.Nxe7+! Rxe7 29.Rf5 Rd5 30.Rxd5 Qxd5

115
31.h3!

And White went on to win the game, as Black had a hard time bringing his knight back into the game
while White had an easy task of targeting the c5-pawn. The key theme here is the White bishop’s
superiority over Black’s knight.

1–0

63
Markus Ragger (2690)
Vitezslav Rasik (2458)
CZE-ch Team, 2018

116
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

It is not hard to see that White has to deal with Black’s last move, which was 21...b5. Therefore, that
simplifies the process of finding a candidate move. White must consider both captures and Bd2 since
no other move makes sense on account of Black’s threat to play bxa4.

22.cxb5!

a) After 22.axb5 axb5 23.cxb5 Rb8! 24.Nd4 Bxd4 25.Bxd4 Nc7! Black suddenly becomes very
active. 26.Rxe7 Nxb5 27.Ba1 Nc3 28.Bxc3 Qxc3 and Black wins the b3-pawn, leaving White with a
passive bishop on f3;
b) 22.Bd2 could have been played as an intermediate move, but Black is OK after 22...Qa3 23.cxb5
axb5=.

22.cxb5! axb5 23.Nd4

White chose this move, but after Black’s next forced move, the game dully ended in a draw.
23.a5!± would have been the right continuation, trapping the Queen on b4. The point is that Black
cannot capture this pawn. 23...Rc7 A ‘pass the turn’ move that allows White to consolidate rather
easily. (23...Nc7 24.Nd4! Bxd4 25.Qxd4 Qxd4 26.Bxd4+– With the bishop pair and the passed a-
pawn, White has a decisive advantage; 23...Ne4 24.Nd4 Bxd4 25.Qxd4 Qxd4 26.Bxd4 Nd2 27.Rb2
Nxf3+ 28.gxf3+– and the a-pawn is unstoppable.) 24.Nd4 Same idea. 24...Bxd4 25.Qxd4 Qxd4

117
26.Bxd4 b4 27.Rec1 Nf6 28.Bxc5 dxc5 29.Ra1± The a-pawn is still there, c5 is a target, and White is
ready to open the diagonal for the now well-placed bishop on f3.

23...Bxd4!=

Black keeps a balanced position.

24.Qxd4 Qxd4 25.Bxd4 bxa4 26.bxa4

And the game ended in a draw.

26.Rxe7?? Nxb3 27.Be3 Nf6µ

½–½

64
Aleksandr Lenderman (2640)
Jeffery Xiong (2691)
World Open, 2019

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

118
16...b5!

Simple and effective as it shatters White’s pawn structure and weakens his light-squares. Black also
threatens to play ...b4 which prevents White from playing b3.

17.cxb5?

This loses quite easily.

17.Bg2 bxc4 18.Nc1 may be losing as well but at least White can be sure that his king is safe.

17...Nxe4 18.Nxe4 Qxb5

And Black went on to win the game.

0–1

65
Alan Pichot (2606)
David Navara (2717)
Gibraltar Masters, 2020

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

119
27.Ke1

Getting closer to our own territory is always the first move to consider for the king.
a) 27.Kf3?? was played in the game.

A lot of times, when our opponent is attacking our king with fewer pieces than usual (in this case it is
mainly the queen and the knight), we lose our focus and sense of danger and become too bold while
trying to escape checks. Those are the moments when tragedies happen. 27...f5! White misses the
check on h5. (27...Qc6 28.Bg2 Nxc3+ 29.Kg3 Qd6+ 30.Kf2 and the best for Black is perpetual
check. Perhaps White was trying to avoid perpetual by entering this position.) 28.gxf6 Qh5+ 29.Kxe4
Qg4+ 30.Ke5 Re8+ 31.Qe7 gxf6+ and White resigned shortly 0–1;
b) 27.Kg1 Qe5 28.Bg2 Qg3 29.Na3= is equally good.

27.Ke1 Nc5 28.Kf2 Qe4 29.Nd2 Qxh4+ 30.Ke2

White holds on by a thread.

66
Erwin L’Ami (2606)
Anton Smirnov (2604)
Tata Steel Challengers, 2020

120
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

15.Rxa6!

A typical exchange sacrifice! One has to learn these ideas and implement them when given the
opportunity. The key here is Black’s weak pawn structure after Rxa6, his lack of access to any really
useful open file for his rooks, and White’s well-placed king and knights in the center. L’Ami
converted the game gradually.

15...bxa6 16.dxc5 Rfc8 17.b4 f6 18.e4 Nc7 19.Bc3 Nb5 20.Ra1 Rc6 21.e5!

Now White dominates the board and controls more space.

21...Bd8 22.Nd6

And White went on to win this game. 1–0

67
Levon Aronian (2774)
Arkadij Naiditsch (2702)
GRENKE Chess Classic, 2017

121
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

25.Rxd7!

White cannot afford to let Black castle. He has already burned some bridges, as he has let Black have
a strong bishop on e5. If you didn’t consider this move at all, you should work to improve your sense
of dynamics. If you considered it but it seemed vague, you should work to improve your calculation.

25...Kxd7 26.Qxf7+ Kd6 27.Bh3 Re8 28.Nb7+ Kc6 29.b4!

The key move as the knight is untouchable.

29...Rf8

122
30.Na5+!

would have been the winning move.

30.Qe7? was played in the game by Aronian which allowed 30...Bc7 a move that would have saved
the day for Naiditsch (30...Bd6? was instead played in the game allowing White the opportunity to
continue the attack with 31.Na5+! Kb6 32.Qxe6 Re8 33.Qd7 Bxb4 34.Nc6 Qd6 35.Qxe8 Qxc6
36.Qb8+ Qb7 37.Qxb7+ Kxb7 38.f4, and Aronian won this endgame 1–0). 31.Na5+ Bxa5 and
despite the king being in the center, Black should be able to keep it of harm’s way.

30...Kb6 31.Qe7 Qc8

123
32.Nc6!!

A picturesque move. This is definitely too difficult to see from the start. As long as you committed to
the exchange sacrifice and found the b4 idea , you can say you are doing great for the level of this
book. If you saw the Nc6 idea while calculating the lines, you should go to the Complex Decision
Part at once!

32...Qxc6

32...Kxc6 33.Bxe6+–

33.Qxf8 Qd6 34.Qc8

and White has more winning chances here than Aronian had in the game due to the queens still being
on the board.

68
Viswanathan Anand (2786)
Wesley So (2812)
Leuven GCT Blitz, 2017

124
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

32...Nxh3+!

would have saved the day!

32...Qg6?? was played in the game and eventually Black lost 33.Nxf4 exf4 34.Qb8 1–0.

32...Nxh3+! 33.gxh3 Qxh3 34.Qxc6 Qg4+=

with a typical perpetual check. It is not easy to immediately see that White’s king cannot avoid the
checks on d1 and g4! Perpetual check is a very strong tool and it is not so easy to utilize sometimes.
Train yourself to seek them when your position is passive or you have a slight disadvantage in
material. Usually, such measures can be sought through examination of an active continuation, which
may involve sacrifices (similar to this case).

35.Kh1 Qh4+ 36.Kg2 Qg4+ 37.Kf1 Qd1+=

69
Fabiano Caruana (2819)
Wesley So (2754)

125
 Stavanger Armageddon, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

46.Qe5!!

This was for sure a beautiful missed opportunity to remember, as c4 is a deadly threat, Black is lost.
46.Qh3 was played instead in the game. The players were playing an Armageddon game without
increment and they both had only a few seconds left, but it is interesting to see how a double threat
consistently appears in different levels and forms during a game.

46.Qe5!! Rxe5 47.c4++–

70
Sabina Foisor (2308)
Rusudan Goletiani (2306)
USA-ch (Women), 2018

126
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

41...Ne6!

Just defend against the mate!

41...Qc1+ Black went for the repetition in this position missing the possibility to take home the full
point. 42.Kf2 Qc2+ 43.Kg1 Qc1+ 44.Kf2 Qc2+ ½–½

41...Ne6! 42.fxg7+ Kg8 43.Qe7 Qb1+ 44.Kg2 Qe4+ 45.Kf2 Qf5+ 46.Kg1 Ng5–+

This may seem simple, but after defending a close-to-losing position for hours, it is not easy to switch
gears and play for a win. We hope you found the win almost immediately, yet in practice such moves
escape our eyes easier than we expect.

71
Changren Dai (2427)
Vladimir Kramnik (2803)
FIDE World Cup, 2017

127
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

The punishment for the weakening move g3 was swift:

44...Bxh3!

All of a sudden, all of Black’s pieces surround the enemy’s king.

45.Nxd6

45.gxf4 Qg4 and mate follows.

45...hxg3+ 46.fxg3 Qg4 47.Nf5

47.gxf4 Qg2#

47...Qh5!

Revitalizing the attack as White is defenseless.

48.gxf4 Bxf5+ 49.Kg3 Qg4+ 50.Kf2 Qxf4+ 51.Ke2 Qxe4+ 52.Kf1 Qb1+ 53.Kf2 Qc2+ 54.Ke3
Bg4

White’s 44th (44.g3) move was a major mistake, weakening White’s kingside and exposing it to a

128
direct attack. Such moves should be avoided and one way to do so is to have a sharp eye for moves
like 44...Bxh3.

0–1

72
Nikita Petrov (2585)
Dmitry Jakovenko (2698)
Wch Rapid, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

15.exd5!

15.Qg5? White might have played this in fear of Qh4, but Black’s attack is barely a threat at all.
White’s counterattack in the center is crushing. A lot of times during a game, we end up fearing the
opponent’s threats so much that we forget to assess the magnitude of their impact; in this case, Black
doesn’t really have any threats to make! 15...Qxg5 16.Bxg5 dxc4 17.e5 Be7 18.Bxe7 Kxe7µ and
Black went on to win the game 0–1.

15.exd5! Qh4

129
15...h4 doesn’t work either 16.Ne4! h3 17.c5! Bf8 (17...hxg2 18.Nxd6+ Qxd6 19.cxd6 gxf1=Q+
20.Kxf1 Bh3+ 21.Kg1 Nd7 22.Qe3++–) 18.Nf6++–.

16.Qe3+!

The most accurate.

16.Rf3 is also good, but is not as strong due to the weird move: 16...Be5?!? So, dxe5 doesn’t work,
but anything else does! 17.dxe5 (17.Qe3 Qxd4 18.Qxd4 Bxd4+ 19.Be3 Be5 20.Bf4 Bxf4 21.Rxf4 h4
22.Ne4+–) 17...Qh2+ 18.Kf1 Bh3³.

16...Kd8 17.Qg5+

Now the exchange works perfectly!

17...Qxg5 18.Bxg5+ Be7 19.Ne4 f5 20.Bxe7+ Kxe7 21.d6+ Kd8 22.Nxg3+–

73
Himal Gusain (2428)
Gata Kamsky (2637)
Chigorin Memorial, 2016

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

130
17...g5!

A typical exchange sacrifice! Black counts on White’s weakened king and his problem controlling
and covering the dark-squares.

18.hxg5 fxg5 19.Bxh8 Rxh8 20.Bg2

This loses rather quickly.

20.e5 was the best practical chance, but after 20...gxf4 21.gxf4 Bh4! White can try: 22.Bxc6 Bxc6
23.Rf3 where he is definitely worse, but it is far from clear if Black has anything decisive.

20...Nd4 21.Qg4 Nc2 22.Rac1 Ne3 23.Qe2 Nxf1 24.Rxf1 gxf4 25.gxf4 Rg8

And Black went on to win the game.

0–1

74
Vladimir Fedoseev (2680)
Alexandr Predke (2632)
Russian Higher League, 2019

Black to move

131
 Show/Hide Solution

Black certainly has a better pawn structure, but to win the game from this position, one should still
find the right plan and execute it correctly.

40...g5!

Restricting White’s dark-square bishop.

41.Bg3™

And now...

41...Be1!

42.Bxe1 Qxe1µ

Now that the dark-square bishops are off the board, Black will capitalize on the e5-weakness.
White’s defense is inadequate because he is running out of useful moves very soon. The queen cannot
move (except to b1), nor can the bishop or the king.
With only pawn moves, White will soon exhaust his options, leading White to concede the e5-pawn
for the sake of lessening the strain on his pieces. Black masterfully converted his advantage.
42...Qxe1 43.Qb1 Qa5 would have won the pawn anyway.

132
0–1

75
Carissa Yip (2293)
Elshan Moradiabadi (2534)
Charlotte Open, 2018

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

21...Bc8!

An important decision, which Black failed to see. After this move, White has a hard time dealing with
Black’s threats along the e-file and on the kingside. It is hard to convince yourself to leave the long
diagonal in favor of attacking on h3.
21...Bf4 was played in the game 22.Bxb7 Nxb7 23.Nf1 Nd6 24.Qa1 Ne4 25.Bxf4 Qxf4 26.Qb2 Re6
and eventually Black won with some help from his opponent [...] 0–1.

21...Bc8! 22.c4

22.Qb1 Bf5 23.Qb5 Qg6 24.Kh1 Bf4 25.Nf1 Bc2 26.Rc1 Nb3–+

133
22...Bf4! 23.Nf1 Bxh3

Not a difficult shot, but the idea was not evident when the bishop was on b7!

24.Qa1

24.gxh3 Bxe3–+

24...Bd7

And Black is up a pawn.

134
 Show in Text Mode

76
Liren Ding (2809)
Dmitry Jakovenko (2719)
Shenzhen Masters, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

24.Ne3

24.Rd5!? was played in the game and though it is also winning, it requires a bit more accuracy in the
later moves. 24...exd5 25.Rxd5 Ne5 26.Rxc5 dxc5 27.Ne3+– Rd3 28.h4! And accuracy is Mr. Ding’s
nickname! 28...Rxb3 29.h5 Rf8 30.Qf4 f6 31.Ng4 Nxg4 32.Qxg4 Now Black is exposed and the h-
pawn becomes an instrumental asset for White in this position, which White converted shortly [...] 1–
0.

24.Ne3 Ne5 25.b4! Qxb4 26.f4 Nxc4 27.Ng4 f5 28.Nf6+ Kf7 29.e5 dxe5 30.Rd7++–

135
 77
Philip Leszczynski (1621)
Sepehr Golsefidy
Rapid lichess.org, 2020

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

20...Ng4!

In a fast time control online game, the player with the Black pieces, a talented young boy with a great
future, missed his chance to ensure substantial advantage.

21.Bxd4 Be5!

A gorgeous move. Moves like this, where one leaves a piece under attack without apparent threat, are
not easy to spot.

22.Bg1

22.fxe5 fails to 22...Qxd4 where the “family fork” on e3 would at least cost White an exchange.

136
22...Bxa1 23.Rxa1 Qd7

White’s pawn structure and his king are too vulnerable to stand Black’s second wave of attack.
Black’s advantage is close to decisive.

78
Polina Shuvalova (2412)
Anna Afonasieva (2312)
World Youth Ch (Girls), 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

31.Rxg7!

The weaknesses around Black’s king call for tactics of all kinds. This is an exercise to improve your
imagination. You should try to see the end position in your head without moving the pieces.
31.Be3 wins too, but you shouldn’t even think about it before exhausting all the possibilities with
Rxg7.

31.Rxg7! Bxg7

137
31...Bh4 32.Rxh7+ Kxh7 33.f6+ Kh8 34.Qxh4+ Nh6 35.Qxh6#

32.Qxh7+ Kxh7 33.f6+ Kh6 34.Be3+ Kh5 35.Bf3+ Kh4

The mate occurs after

36.Bf2+

Afonasieva resigned here, but for the sake of completeness, let us see how the game could have
ended.
a) 36.Kh2 also mates, i.e. 36...Nxf6 37.Bf2# (37.Bg5#);
b) 36.Bg5+ Kh3 37.Bg4# is a variation on the same theme.

36...Kh3 37.Bg4#

1–0

79
Tigran Harutyunian (2540)
Mikhail Bryakin (2428)
Sunway Sitges, 2019

White to move

138
 Show/Hide Solution

31.h6+!

A pawn close to the opponent’s king is a very strong participant in a mating net. This reminds us of
the African proverb that says, “If you think you’re too small to be noticed, go and sleep in a room
which is full of mosquitoes.” In this case, a mosquito suffices!
31.hxg6?? was played in the game 31...Bxg6 32.Qg3 Qf5 and suddenly Black has an ample amount
of defensive resources. 33.Rhe4 Nf4 34.Qh4 h5 and eventually the game ended in a draw [...] ½–½.

31.h6+! Kh8 32.Bxd5! Rxh4

32...cxd5 33.Rxb4 axb4 34.g4+– and because of the f6-square, Black loses the bishop.

33.Bxc6 Re6

33...Rg8 34.Rxe5+– Again, all of these work because of the pawn on h6.

34.Bd5 Re8 35.Bf7+–

and Black is forced to give back the exchange, but his weak king, combined with the fact that White
still has the c-pawn, is going to lead to Black’s defeat.

80
Bala C. P. Dhulipalla (2414)
Marc Narciso Dublan (2516)
Sunway Sitges, 2019

139
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

28...Bd7!

It is crucial to control the f5-square.

28...Ba6? was played in the game, and the Spaniard was lucky to not end up losing in the end.
29.Ne7+ Kh8 30.Qc7 and surprisingly White has the upper hand. 30...Nxg2 (30...c4 31.Nf5 Qxb2
32.h5+– and White starts to spin a mating net around Black’s king. Please bear in mind that the queen
on b2 is stuck with defending the pawn on e5.) 31.Nf5 Qxb2 32.Qe7 Rg8 33.Qg5 Nf4 34.Nxg7 Kh7
35.Qf5+ Kh8 36.Qf6 Kh7 37.Qxf7 Kh8 38.Qf6 Kh7 39.Qf5+ Kh8 ½–½

28...Bd7! 29.Ne7+ Kh7 30.Qc7 c4

Astonishingly, Black’s queen and knight are much stronger than White’s.

140
31.Bf1

a) 31.Qd6 Re8 32.Qxb4 Na6 33.Qd6 Nc5–+;

b) 31.Na2 Nd3–+.

31...Qe3 32.Qxe5 f6! 33.Qc7 Qxf3+ 34.Bg2 Nxg2 35.Rxg2 Bh3–+

81
Alexander Areshchenko (2652)
Alexander Moiseenko (2648)
Bundesliga, 2019

141
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

34.e5!

In this position White missed this beautiful move, which takes advantage of Black’s badly placed
queen. It is indeed no mystery to see that Black’s pieces are not in accord with one another. White
takes the e5 retreat square away from Black’s queen, while also breaking apart Black’s king shelter.
34.Rd1 was the move that was played in the game, and though after 34...Qe5 White could have
repeated the position and gone for e5 once again. He chose to take things a little bit slower. 35.Kh2
Still maintaining his advantage, which helped him capitalize a little later [...] 1–0.

34.e5! fxe5

34...Rxd5 35.exf6+ Qxf6 (35...exf6 36.Re7+ Kh8 37.cxd5+– followed by Qe6 and Black’s king is in
big trouble.) 36.Rxe7+ Kf8 37.Re6+– and then capturing on d5.

35.Rd1+–

And the queen is trapped.

82

142
 Maxim Matlakov (2698)
Shardul Gagare (2481)
Gibraltar Masters, 2020

Black to move.

Show/Hide Solution

Although White’s king is really weak, the bishop on g5 and the queen on e7 seem to be able to defend
it well enough and Black doesn’t have an easy way to bring in more attackers. Therefore, getting
some material back first would have been necessary for Black in this position.

23...Qxf3!

a) 23...Nd2?? was played by the YOGA master (Indian GM), who missed the following idea for
White 24.Bxd2 Rg6+ 25.Qg5! and White is more than OK! (Gagare was probably just counting on
25.Bg5 which loses to: 25...f6 26.f4 fxg5 27.Be8 Qg4+ 28.Kf1 Rh6–+) 25...Qf5 26.Qg3 Rxg3+
27.fxg3 Qxf3 28.Bf4 g5 29.Bd1 intermediate move 29...Qd3 30.Be3 and White ended up winning
this position [...] 1–0;
b) 23...bxa3 would have been a plausible choice as well 24.bxa3 Qxf3 and we essentially get the
same position.

23...Qxf3! 24.e6!

The only defense. White has to prevent the rook from being transferred to the kingside.

143
a) 24.Bc2?? doesn’t work because of 24...Qg4+ 25.Kf1 b3! 26.Bxh7+ Kxh7 27.Qxf8

27...Rg6!!–+ and amazingly White is hopeless against Black’s threats;

b) 24.Bd1? is a better try, but nevertheless bad! 24...Qf5 25.Bh4 Rh6 26.Kg2 (26.Bg3? Nd2 and
White is helpless against the check on f3.) 26...Nxb2 27.Bf3 Nd3 28.Bg3 b3 29.Qb7 b2 30.Rab1 Rg6
and the check on f4 is deadly. You don’t need to see all of these from the beginning, but once White
plays Bd1 you need to be able to do so!

24...fxe6 25.Bd7 Qxf2+ 26.Kh1 Qf3+ 27.Kh2

And it doesn’t seem that Black has more than perpetual check.
You cannot expect yourself to see all of these lines, but you should be able to refute other moves in
favor of ...Qxf3 for Black — then your task would become much easier.

83
David Navara (2717)
Thomas Roussel-Roozmon (2473)
Gibraltar Masters, 2020

144
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

25.Qxf5!

An unexpected move, where White manages to utilize a momentary tactic to consolidate his
advantage over the dark-squares. Ideas like this one require a sharp eye.

25...Nxf5 26.Ne4! Red8

26...Rxc1 loses to 27.Nf6+ Kh8 28.Rxc1 Rd8 29.g4 Ng7 (29...Nh4 30.h3+– A vent for the king and
the next thing on the list is Rc7 or Be7 for White.) 30.Rc7+– where all of White’s pieces are
dominant.

27.g4 Nc4 28.Bb4 Nfd6 29.Nf6+ Kg7 30.Bc3±

With a much better position for White, and Navara eventually won.

1–0

84
Grigoriy Oparin (2657)

145
 Hovhannes Gabuzyan (2616)
Winter Chess Classic A, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

25.Qf6!!

An amazing move that helps trade to an endgame without giving Black any kind of counterplay.
25.Qa4 was the move played in the game, but it allowed 25...hxg5. However, White still has the
advantage and went on to win the game after 26.Qa3? Qxa3 (26...c5 would have made things much
more difficult for White.) 27.bxa3 gxh4 28.Ba5 Ra6 29.Bxc7 Re8 30.Bd6 and Black resigned after a
few more moves [...] 1–0.

25.Qf6!! Qc5+

25...Bxf6 26.exf6 Qc5+ 27.Bd4 and Black has to give up a colossal amount of material; otherwise,
the mate is inevitable when the pawn moves to f7.

26.Bd4 Qxd4+ 27.Rxd4 Rbxf6

27...Bxf6 28.exf6 hxg5 29.hxg5 and White’s pawn and bishop have already woven a nice mating net
around Black’s king. 29...Rxb2 30.Rxf4+– mate follows soon.

146
28.exf6 Bxf6 29.Rd2+–

85
Anish Giri (2773)
Dmitry Andreikin (2736)
Tata Steel A, 2017

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

37.e5!

Black king’s safety is permanently damaged and it is only a matter of proper coordination between
White’s queen and rook to lure Black’s king into its unavoidable fate. Luckily for Andreikin, Giri
missed this subtlety.
37.Rd2 was played in the game 37...Re8 38.Qh6+ Ke7 39.e5 Rg8 40.Qxd6+ Qxd6 41.exd6+ is how
the game proceeded and ended in a draw ½–½.

37.e5! dxe5

is rather forced as White has two threats: e6 and exd6.

147
37...Qd8 38.Qg7+ Ke7 39.exd6+ Qxd6 40.Re2++– falls to the same idea.

38.Qh8+ Ke7

39.Qxe5+

The coordination we talked about! Now both d- and e-files are open, and White manages to chase
Black’s king down one file at a time!

39...Kf8 40.Qg7+ Ke7 41.Re2++–

86
Alexander Donchenko (2644)
Elshan Moradiabadi (2539)
Sunway Sitges, 2019

148
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

Black is completely dominant while White’s only hope is to play Bd2 and Bc3.

28...Na1!–+

Remarkably strong. We have all heard that a knight on the rim is dim, or that the knight is the worst
piece in the corner and that we need to keep our pieces active. These seemingly correct heuristics
could become inhibiting measures that prevent one from considering the move Na1. If we had asked
you to evaluate Na1, you could notice the strength of it covering the c2-square, which helps the rook
move to c2. This is an exercise to help you hone your skills in choosing the right candidate move. We
all know that if Black manages to get his rook to the second or first rank, his attack would be very
hard to handle. So, if one starts asking oneself, “How can I get my rook into White’s camp?” then the
move Na1 poses itself as a suitable candidate.
28...Rc4?! was played in the game, and Elshan blundered into a lost position in time trouble a few
moves later [...] 1–0.

28...Na1!–+ 29.exf5 gxf5 30.f4 e4 31.Bxa7 Kf7

No need to rush.

32.Be3

149
32.Bd4 Rc2 Consistent with Black’s plan. [32...Nb3 is the way engines play it, but it is not so
intuitively understandable. 33.Be3 (33.Bc3 loses as well 33...e3–+) 33...h5 and Black can go back to
his plan with Na1 again!] 33.Re1 Bc4 34.b4 Bb3 35.Bxa1 Rxf2+ 36.Kc1 Rc2+ 37.Kb1 Rxg2 38.b5
Bxd5 39.Bd4 Rxh2, and Black still needs to show some technical skill to convert this position.

32...Rc2 33.Re1 Bc4 34.g4 Bb3–+

and White would either get mated or loses a lot of material.

87
Viswanathan Anand (2794)
Yifan Hou (2670)
Chess.com Isle of Man, 2017

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

18.Bh7+!

A very important tempo, which takes Black’s king away from defending the pawn on f7.
18.Bxf4 would have led to a balanced position after 18...Nxf4 19.Bf5 Qc7 20.Bxd7 Qxd7 21.Ne5
Qe7=.

150
18.Bh7+! Kh8 19.Bxf4 Nxf4 20.Bf5 Qc7 21.Bxd7! Qxd7 22.Ne5

and now the queen needs to protect f7 and f5 at the same time. A case of an overloaded piece!

22...Qe6 23.Re3 Kg8 24.Rae1±

White occupies the only open file (two rooks versus one), which gives him a considerable advantage.
Anand converted the game masterfully.

1–0

88
Pavel Eljanov (2755)
Radoslaw Wojtaszek (2750)
Tata Steel A, 2017

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

40.Qf3!

A lesson in not rushing, especially before the time control. Prophylactic thinking should become

151
ingrained in your thought process when you know you have obtained a winning position. White’s
pawns are a few moves from promotion and all he needs to do is to attend to his king before the final
march!
40.b6? was played in the game and loses the advantage for White 40...e4! 41.Qxe4 f3! Now there are
way too many open files against White’s king. 42.Qxf3 Rxd5 43.c7 Qe5+ 44.Rg3 Rxg3 45.Qxg3
Qh5+ 46.Qh3 Qe5+ and the players agreed on a draw ½–½.

40.Qf3! e4 41.Bxe4 Qxb5 42.Qc3+–

89
Elshan Moradiabadi (2537)
Daniel Naroditsky (2610)
US Masters Armageddon, 2019

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

The key idea is deflection, though it happens in an odd fashion because the deflection is a preventive
measure.

23...Nxe4 24.Bxe4 h5!

152
24...Rxe4? was played instead, allowing 25.Ng3!? Bxd5!? (25...Rxe3 26.Rxe3 Bxd5 27.Rd1 Bxg2
28.Nh5 Qg6 29.Rg3+–) 26.Rbd1!± and White went on to win the game after: 26...Rxe3 27.Rxe3
Bxg2 28.Nh5 Qg6 29.Rg3 [...] 1–0.

25.Qxh5 Rxe4 26.Ng3 Re7=

The h5-square is occupied by White’s queen, so White doesn’t have the tempo-winning Nh5 right
away. The position is roughly equal.

90
Tingjie Lei (2477)
Sabina Foisor (2276)
Wch Team (Women), 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

Black entered this position forgetting that her back rank is still weak. Her bishop doesn’t participate
in defending her king (it is developed and is active, but it doesn’t do what the position requires:
defending Black’s king).

36.Re1!

153
Simple — not trading and instead going for the back rank.
Black is defenseless.
36.Rxd2 Qxd2 37.Qb6 Qd5=

36.Re1! Qf8

36...Qb5 37.Nf5+–

37.Nf5!

It is hard to believe, but if Black’s rook wasn’t on d2 (for example, if it was on d3), White would only
have a good edge and nothing more!

37...gxf5 38.Qg5+ Kh8 39.Qxd2 f6 40.Qd7 Be4 41.Rc1

1–0

91
Elshan Moradiabadi (2567)
Dragos Dumitrache (2423)
Vaujany Open, 2015

154
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

21.Qg4

White’s king is heavily under fire and his bishop on b2 is more of a target than a help. White needs to
cover his king and seek counterattack, as Black’s attack doesn’t involve all of his pieces. You should
be able to find this move through the process of elimination, mainly seeing that Bf2 is a major threat.

21...Rxd2! 22.Bg6!

A shocking counterattack.
Moves like this have strong psychological impact: Black was thinking about the checkmate, but now
he needs to solve issues around his own king!

22...Kd8!

would have kept the balance!

22...Nf8?? was played in the game and Black fell for a nasty counterblow from White. 23.Bxf7+ Kd8
24.Bc1 Rxd4 25.Qxd4 Be5 26.Qg4 Bxa1 27.Qg8 Bd4+ 28.Kg2 Bc5 29.Bf4 Qb6 30.Re1 d4 31.Rxe6
Qb7+ 32.Kg3 Qh1 33.Re8+ Kd7 34.Qg4+ and Black resigned 1–0.

23.Bc1

155
The following chaos qualifies as a complex position.
Give a shot at finding the solution in this diagram before you continue reading the rest of the moves.

23...Rxd4 24.Qxd4 Be5 25.Qh4 Bxa1 26.Bxf7 Be5 27.Qh8+ Kc7 28.Qxb8+ Rxb8 29.Bxe6 Nxf6
30.Rxf6 Bxf6 31.Bf4+=

92
Viswanathan Anand (2767)
Fabiano Caruana (2811)
Tata Steel A, 2018

156
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

34.Ra2!

White covers the second rank while keeping open the option of charging forward with the a-pawn.

34...Qd1+

34...Rce4 was another option for Black, but after 35.Qd2 Qc4 36.Rc2 Qb3 37.Rc3 Qb1+ 38.Kh2 Re2
39.Qd3 and because of the g6-square, White fends off all of Black’s threats. 39...Qf1 40.Nh4 g5
41.Qg6 gxh4 42.Qxh6+ Kg8 43.Qg6+ Kh8 44.Qh5+ Kg7 45.Qg4+ Kf7. 46.Rb3!! Black was
attempting to checkmate White, but the hunter has become the hunted.

35.Kh2 Rc1 36.a4 f5 37.Qb7 f4 38.Bxf4 Rxc5 39.Rd2 Qxa4 40.Qf7 Rg8 41.Be5 Qc4 42.Rd6

and Black resigned.

1–0

93
Game analysis, 2017

157
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

28.h5!

A side analysis of the game Duda J-Gabuzyan H, Lake Sevan 2016: h5 prevents Black from
developing his h8-rook via h6. He also doesn’t have time to move his king in order to bring the h8-
rook into the game. Please bear in mind that if Black manages to fully mobilize his pieces, he will
have a tangible advantage thanks to his majestic bishop on e5.
28.Rhf1 h5 and Black is back in the game.

28.h5! Ke7

28...f6 29.Qc2 Qe3 30.Rde1 Qg3 31.c5+–

29.Rhe1

29.Qg4 Rhc8 and Black can try find shelter for his king to f8–g8–h8.

29...Rhc8 30.Qd3!

Another preventive move against Kf8. Defending the pawn on c4 doesn’t really help White much.

30...Qxc4

158
a) 30...Kf8 31.Qh7 transposes to the main line;
b) 30...Kd8 31.Qf5 Kc7 32.Qxf7+ Kb6 33.Rxe5 dxe5 34.Qg6+ Ka7 35.d6+–.

31.Rxe5+ dxe5 32.d6+ Kd8

a) 32...Kf8 33.Qh7 f6 34.Bb3+–;

b) 32...Kf6 33.Rf1+ Kg5 34.Rf5+ Kh4 35.Qh3#

33.Qh7+–

Mate will follow soon.

94
Nihal Sarin (2618)
Anton Smirnov (2604)
Tata Steel Challengers, 2020

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

For reasons unbeknownst, White accepted a draw in this position. He could continue risk-free from
this point onward.

159
31.a4!

Now a5 is a threat.

31...Nb7

31...Rc7 32.a5 bxa5 33.bxa5 Qa3 34.Nc5±

32.Bb3 Bd7

And now White goes on to trade Black’s queen which loosely holds his pieces together.
32...Bf6 33.Rc8 Rf8 34.Ra8 a5 35.Ra6+– And Black’s queenside falls apart.

33.Qc3! Rf8

33...Be8 fails to 34.Qc8+–

34.Qc7+–

95
Spartak Grigorian (2352)
Arkadij Naiditsch (2702)
Bundesliga, 2018

White to move

160
 Show/Hide Solution

14.e4!!

White doesn’t have a good pawn structure, while Black has very active pieces and a clear plan (h4-
h3). Therefore, White’s reaction should be swift and based on the cards he has in hand:
1. He has the bishop pair and
2. Black’s king is quite weak.

14...h4

a) 14...f4 15.Bxf4 h4 16.Nf5! gxf5 17.exf5± and White’s pawn avalanche will be a decisive factor in
the long-run;
b) 14...Bb7 15.exf5 h4 16.Bh6 hxg3 17.fxg3± is similar to the other line.

15.exf5!

This would have made things much better for White.

15.Nxf5?! This was played in the game, with an unfortunate finish for White. 15...gxf5 16.exf5 Bb7
17.Bh6? (17.Bg5 h3 18.f4 hxg2 19.Rf2+–) 17...Kh7? (17...h3! 18.f4 Neg4 19.Bg5 Bxg2∞)
18.Bg5!+– Qe8 19.Rbe1?? White played this and ended up losing.
Instead, pawn to f4 would have earned White back a winning position. (19.f4! Nxd3 20.Qxd3+–)
19...Nf3+! 20.gxf3 [20.Kh1 h3!–+ (or 20...Nxg5–+)] 20...Qh5!–+ [...] 0–1.

15...hxg3 16.fxg3 Bb7

16...Qe7 17.Bh6 Ba6 18.Qd2! White is committed to bringing his queen to g5. 18...Nxd3 19.Qxd3
d5 20.Qd2 Bxc4 21.Qg5 Bxf1 22.Rxf1 Qe8 23.Bxf8 Ne4 24.Qe3 Qxf8 25.f6 and the pawns are
unstoppable.

17.Bg5 Nxd3 18.Qxd3 gxf5

18...Be4 19.Qxe4! Nxe4 20.Bxd8 Rfxd8 a sad necessity (20...Raxd8 21.e7 forks!) 21.f6 Rf8 22.f7+
Kg7 23.Rbe1 Nxc3 24.e7+–.

19.Rbe1! Be4 20.Qd2 Qe7 21.Bxf6 Rxf6 22.Rxe4 fxe4 23.Qg5+

and White is winning. The key was the right evaluation and making the most out of what White’s
position offered him. The complex calculation could be refined later by consistent work on the ideas.

161
 96
Evgeniy Najer (2682)
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2772)
RUS-ch Team, 2017

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

23...Nxf3!

This is a classic from none other than Mamedyarov! All Black’s pieces are taking part in an action
against White’s king. Thus, you need to focus on sacrifices and threats!
23...Nxg4?? 24.Nxg4 Bxg4 25.Rh1+–

23...Nxf3! 24.Bxf3

24.gxf5 Qh2+ 25.Kxf3 Rxf5+ 26.Ke4 Qe5#

24...Be5 25.Rh1

This is the only move.

25...Qg3+ 26.Kf1 Bd3+! 27.Be2

162
27...Rxb2!!

It’s hammer time!

28.Qxb2 Qxe3 29.Bxd3 cxd3–+ 30.Rc2

30.Re1 Qf3 31.Rh6 Bd4–+ 32.Rh2 Qf4 33.Kg1 Nf6 Even the knight participates! White is totally
paralyzed despite being a rook up!

30...dxc2 31.Qxc2 Rxf2+ 32.Qxf2 Qxc3 33.Kg2 Qc4

And White resigned.

0–1

97
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2770)
Leandro Krysa (2522)
Gibraltar Masters, 2020

163
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

20...hxg5!

This only works if one sees the next move in advance.

20...Bf8 21.Nh3 and White gradually consolidates.

20...hxg5! 21.hxg5 Nd5!

Once again, this is the process of eliminating the bad moves.

21...Nd7 22.Qh2 f5 23.g6+–

22.Nxd5 Bxd5 23.Qh2 Bc4+ 24.Kf2 f5!

The more space we have, the better off we are!

24...f6? is bad as well 25.Qh8+ Kf7 26.g6+ Ke6 27.Qh3+ Ke5 28.Rd1 a5 29.Qg3+ Ke6 30.Qc7 f5
31.f4 fxe4 32.Qe5+ Kd7 33.Rxd2+ Kc6 34.Rxd8 Bh4+ 35.Ke3 Rxe5 36.Rd6+ Kc7 37.fxe5± with a
close-to-losing endgame.

164
25.Qh7+

25.g6?? Kf8–+ and the bishop covers the g8-square.

25...Kf8 26.Qxf5+ Kg8 27.Qh7+ Kf8 28.Qf5+ Kg8 29.Qh7+ Kf8 30.Qf5+ Kg8 31.Qh7+ ½–½

98
Viswanathan Anand (2794)
S. P. Sethuraman (2617)
Chess.com Isle of Man, 2017

165
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

16...g5!

It does not matter who your opponent is. When the position calls for an action, you should go for it!
16...Bf5 was played in the game, but it was too slow. 17.Qb3 Be6 18.Bb4! and White was able to
convert the game later.

16...g5! 17.Ba5 g4 18.Nd2 Ng5³

166
With an annoying attack!

99
Ian Nepomniachtchi (2775)
Fabiano Caruana (2819)
Zagreb GCT, 2019

Black to move

167
 Show/Hide Solution

30...Bb5!

A provocative move.
30...Nxc3? Black maintains the advantage, but he missed a faster winning idea 31.bxc3 Ba4+ 32.Kb1
Bxd1 33.Bxd1 Qb5 [...] 0–1. Due to a few mistakes later, Caruana suffered one of his rare losses in
the past two years.

30...Bb5! 31.c4

31.Qe3 Nc5 32.Kb1 Bxe2 33.Qxe2 Qa4 34.Bxc5 dxc5 35.Nc4 Qa2+ 36.Kc2 Ra4 37.Ne3 Rb4!
38.Rb1 Bxc3 and White’s king’s meager shelter is gone. The bishop on c3 is not touchable due to
mate on b3.

31...Bd7–+

Now the a1–h8 diagonal is open and the bishop on b4 is not protected.
Every one of Black’s moves from now on is a threat that is hard to meet. On the surface, it seems that
Black lost two tempi (when he passed the move to White and White played c4); however, in essence,
it is White who suffered from further weakening his position. These kind of ideas are very important
and must be explored.

32.b3

32.Qxd6 Nxb2 33.Rb1 e3 34.f3 Ba4+ 35.Kc1

168
35...Qh5! and Black is attacking from every side, with the mate threat on h1 being a deadly threat.

32...Nc5 33.Qxd6

33...Nxb3 34.Kxb3

34.Nxb3 Ra2+ 35.Kc1 Rxe2 36.Qf8+ Does this stop Black’s attack? 36...Qxf8 37.Bxf8 Ba4 No! It
doesn’t!

34...Ba4+ 35.Ka2 Bc2 36.Qc6 Qb8 37.Qb5 Bxd1 38.Bxd1 Qe5–+

169
 100
Andreas Heimann (2617)
Karthik Venkatraman (2470)
Sunway Sitges, 2019

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

26...Kg7!

keeps the balance.

This is another example of finding the move by process of elimination. What you need to see is that
the move Rb4 doesn’t work.
26...Rb4?? was actually played in the game, allowing White to win shortly after 27.Qc7! Qxc7
28.dxc7 Bxc3?? one more blunder, though Black is already lost
[28...Rc4 29.Nd5 Bxb2 30.c8=Q+ Rxc8 (30...Bxc8 31.Nb6+–) 31.Ne7+ Kg7 32.Nxc8 Bxc8 33.Bd5
and White should be technically winning.]
29.Re7 Bf5 30.g4 and Black resigned 0–1.

26...Kg7! 27.Ne4

170
The point is that White doesn’t have any useful moves to gain an advantage.
a) For example, 27.Qa6 Rb4 28.Nd5 (28.Re2?? Bxc3 29.bxc3 Rb1+ 30.Kh2 Bb5–+) 28...Rxb2
29.Nxf6 Qxf6 30.Qxa5 Bxh3= (30...Qxd6?? 31.Rd1+–; 30...Qd4 31.Rf1 Rd2=);
b) Or 27.Rd1 Rd4 28.Ne4 Rxd1+ 29.Bxd1 Bd4= and White’s extra passed pawn is blockaded.

27...Rb4 28.Qa7 Bd4 29.Qc7 Bb6 30.Qxd8 Bxd8

Now the passed d-pawn is blockaded and Black’s counterplay is enough compensation for the extra
pawn.

31.Nc5 Bb5 32.d7 Rd4 33.Nb7 Bb6 34.d8=B Bxd8 35.Re5 Bc4 36.Nxd8 Rxd8 37.Rxa5 Rb8=

It is extremely difficult to find these moves and calculate them, so you need to find the right moves
by eliminating the bad ones!

171
 Show in Text Mode

101
Ido Gorshtein (2372)
Romain Edouard (2653)
Sunway Sitges, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

32.Ne7!

White needs to prevent Rbg8 and cut the rook off from the rest of Black’s army. This move should
come to mind with ease. Once again, prophylactic thinking should become a part of your thinking
process in every moment of the game: attack, defense, ending, or opening. No matter when, you
should stay alert about what your opponent wants to do.
32.Be4?? was played in the game and Black didn’t give White a second chance. 32...Rbg8! now
Black is winning. 33.Qh4

172
33...Nef3+! 34.Rxf3 Nxf3+ 35.Bxf3 Qd2+ 36.Kh1 Rg2! 37.Qf4 Qxf4 (37...Qb2 38.Rf1 R8g3 was
even faster.) 38.Nxf4 Rf2 39.Bd5 Rxf4 40.Bxf7 Rf8 41.Bd5 R8xf6 42.Kg1 Rg6+ 43.Kh1 Rf2 and
Black won 0–1.

32.Ne7! Qc3

32...Rh5 33.Qg3+–

33.Rac1 Qd3 34.Rcd1 Qc3 35.Be4! Rh5

Otherwise Qh4 was decisive.

36.Qg2 Ne6 37.Nd5 Qa5

173
Now that the queen has been expelled, White can mobilize his pieces for a final assault.

38.Rg1 Qd8 39.Qf2±

It is far from over, but White has very good winning chances.

102
Holden Hernandez (2542)
Elshan Moradiabadi (2559)
Texas Collegiate, 2013

174
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

The weakness along the a8–h1 diagonal cries for a tactical shot. White must have relied on his queen
and the knight on e3 to cover it and he simply may have considered Rd4 as Black’s only choice,
forgetting that c4 is a decoy for the knight on e3.
The main theme here is recognizing the coexistence of multiple tactical ideas: pin, decoy, and battery
along the diagonal.

27...Rxc4! 28.Nxc4

28.Rd3 Qf3 29.Qg2 Qxg2+ 30.Nxg2 Bxg2 31.Kxg2 Rec8 and then d5–d4 wins. You don’t need to
see this to realize that Rxc4 is winning.

28...Qf3 29.Nd5 Nf4

29...Bxd5?! Was good enough to win the game after 30.Rxd5 Nf4 31.Qf1 [...] 0–1.

30.Qf1 exd5 31.gxf4 d4!

Winning instantly.
Elshan didn’t see this move and panicked after analyzing dxc4, Qxc4+. Luckily for him, there was a
good enough alternative.

175
 103
Patrick McCartney (1952)
Sabina Foisor (2331)
Charlotte Open, 2017

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

16...Bxh3!

A typical sacrifice, and again, the overwhelming number of attackers versus defenders.

17.cxb4

a) 17.gxh3 Qxh3 18.Rf1 bxc3 19.Qxc3 Nh5 Same idea against 17.Kf1;
b) 17.Kf1 Bxg2+ 18.Kxg2 Qg4+ 19.Kf1 Nh5–+ and ...Nf4 cannot be prevented.

17...Qg4 18.Kf1 Qxg2+ 19.Ke2 Bxf2 20.Kd1 Bxe1 21.Nxe1 Bg4+ 22.Kc2 Qe2 0–1

104

176
 Vassily Ivanchuk (2690)
Ori Kochavi (2259)
Sunway Sitges, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

19.gxf5!

White has to counter the pin, so he just needs to follow the forced line. This is the simplest kind of
decision, and we hope it didn’t take you too long to find.

19...gxf5 20.Rg1 fxe4 21.Bh6 Rd7 22.e6 Re7

177
23.Bh5!

This is a move that one should be able to see from the start. Once again, White dominates by having
more attackers than defenders: 4 vs. 2, with the e6-pawn included in the party!

23...Be8 24.Bf7+ Bxf7 25.Rxg7+ Kh8 26.exf7 Nc6 27.f8=Q+

A classy finish by Chucky.

1–0

105
Viswanathan Anand (2776)
Erwin L’Ami (2605)
Bundesliga, 2017

178
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

24.Nf7

The key theme here is domination. White has more space and controls many more key squares. In
particular, his knight on e5 was much better placed than Black’s. All Anand needed to do was to
realize the power of the setup of his knight, bishop and queen.

24...Rd7 25.Ng5 Qh4 26.Qf4 Rh8 27.Bg3!?

Anand shows that the h-file is not that important and converted his dominant position into a full-
point.
27.Rd3 is even more accurate.

27...Qh6 28.Kg2 b6 29.Qe5 Re8 30.Rh1 Qf8 31.Ne6

1–0

106
Dmitry Andreikin (2708)
Pavel Potapov (2479)

179
 RUS-ch Rapid, 2017

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

White’s attention is obviously shifted towards the kingside where he has more space thanks to his
pawn on e5.

15.Qc4!

At first this move seems counterintuitive, but it has a simple idea behind it. White is transferring his
queen to h4, so that he can maneuver his bishop to h6 and knight to g5 for a mating attack
15.Bd2 was played in the game and it eventually led to White winning the game [...] 1–0.

15.Qc4! Nxb3 16.axb3 Ne3

This knight jump could be a cause of some discomfort while considering different candidate moves.
In any event, this move doesn’t really have a threat and White can stick to the same plan.

17.Qe4 Nf5 18.Nxf5 Bxf5 19.Qh4 Bxc2 20.e6

180
20...Bf6

20...f6 loses to 21.Qc4 Bf5 22.g4+–

21.Bg5±

And White has a very strong initiative.

107
Sabina Foisor (2276)
Ayah Moaataz (2036)
Wch Team (Women), 2019

181
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

In this position White’s pieces are all perfectly placed, but it is time to find a way to break Black’s
defense.

23.Nf5!

Forcing the capture and opening the g-file, while Black will have to give the piece back very soon to
avoid mating ideas.

23...gxf5 24.exf5 f6?

24...Qg5 would have probably posed more difficulty, but White has two ways to maintain the
advantage. 25.Qe1 is one of the options (25.fxe6 would allow for the trades of queens which is
something we try to avoid when attacking, but 25...Qxc1 26.exf7+ Rxf7 27.Rxf7! and now White has
serious mating threats, which are difficult for Black to stop 27...Qxb2 wouldn’t work due to 28.Rf8+
Kg7 29.R1f7+ Kh6 30.Rxh7+ Kg5 31.Ne4+ with four pieces restricting Black’s king, White is going
to checkmate soon!) 25...N6g7 26.f6 Nh5 27.Ne4 Qh6 28.g4 Nf4 29.Qd2 Nxf6 30.Nxf6+ Qxf6
31.Rxf4 Qh4 32.R1f3±.
The game continued.

25.fxe6 Bxe6

182
25...Qxe6 26.Qh6 Rf7 27.Rg3+ Kh8 28.Bxh7+–

26.Qh6 Rf7 27.Re1 Qd6 28.Ne4

28.Rfe3 was an alternative to continue the attack 28...Nc7 29.Ne4 Qxd4 30.Nxf6+ Qxf6 31.Bxh7+
Kh8 32.Bg6+ Kg8 33.Bxf7+ Kxf7 34.Qh7++–.

28...Qxd4 29.Nxf6+ Rxf6 30.Rg3+ Kf7 31.Qxh7+ Kf8

And now...

32.Rg8+

with Qe7# to follow.

1–0

108
Viswanathan Anand (2794)
Marc Esserman (2453)
Chess.com Isle of Man, 2017

183
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

21.Bc4!

Regrouping is a very important talent, of which the fifteenth World Champion is an absolute genius!
This one is a rather easy one for him. He stops Black’s progress on the queenside and occupies the
center next!

21...Qb7 22.Nf1 Ne8 23.Ne3 Nd6 24.Bd5! b5 25.Bxc6 Qxc6 26.Ncd5

With a great knight outpost on d5 and a terrible enemy bishop on f8, White went on to win the game.

1–0

109
Arthur Shen (2401)
Joshua Friedel (2523)
Washington International, 2016

184
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

17.Nxh6+!

With the knight on f5 being chased away, this is the best possible solution. The other sacrifice seems
to allow Black to defend after 17.Nxg7 Kxg7 18.Qh5 Ng8. Black is more than OK.

17.Nxh6+! gxh6 18.Qh5 Ng6

could have held on a little longer. 18...Nd5 was played in the game and White was able to convert in
a beautiful fashion 19.d4 Qf6 20.Bxh6 Nf4 21.Bxf4 Qxf4 22.Bf5 Nxd4 23.cxd4 Bxd4 24.Re4 Bxf2+
25.Kh1 Qxg3 26.Rg4+ Qxg4 27.Qxg4+ Kf8 28.Rf1 e4 29.Qxe4 Bxa2 30.Qa4 1–0.

19.d4 Qf6 20.Bxh6 exd4 21.Bg5 Qh8

21...Qg7 22.Ne4+–

22.Bxg6+–

110
Igor Kovalenko (2657)

185
 Vladimir Fedoseev (2690)
RUS-ch Team, 2017

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

43...f4!

A simple but important break to destroy White’s king protection. The follow up is only natural.

44.Qb1

44.exf4 e3 45.Bxg6 e2

44...fxg3 45.fxg3 Rf6 46.Bxe4 Qd6

0–1

111
Arseniy Nesterov (2482)
Pavel Ponkratov (2632)
RUS Top 16 Rapid, 2019

186
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

39...Nh7!!

39...Qc8+? Black was winning the entire game, but after some dubious choices, he found himself in a
situation where only one move keeps the win alive (which he missed). 40.Rd8 Qxd8+?? (40...Qc6+
41.Rd7 Nf7 42.Rfxf7 Qc8+ 43.Ke7 Qxd7+ 44.Kxd7 Kxf7 45.Ne4 g5 46.Nxg5+ Kf6 47.Nf3 would
have led to a draw.) 41.Kxd8 and now White has some chances for advantage though after 41...Kg7
42.Rf4 hxg3 43.Rg4 the game ended in a draw [...] ½–½.

39...Nh7!! 40.Rxg6+ Kh8–+

followed by the inevitable Qf8.

112
Christoph Lipok (2287)
Tamas Banusz (2606)
Bundesliga, 2018

187
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

31.Rg3!

would have given White great initiative.

31.Qg4? was played in this position, after which White lost the opportunity to attack Black’s king and
went on to blunder later and lose the game. 31...Ne6 32.Qf5 f6 [...] 0–1.

31.Rg3! f6 32.Rxg5!

The point, after which Black’s queen and rook are not coordinated to protect their king.

32...fxg5 33.Qg4!+–

113
Hrant Melkumyan (2668)
Koushnik Girish (2506)
Sunway Sitges, 2019

188
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

27...Rd8!

would have given Black a great position.

27...e3 was played instead and allowed 28.Qh5 e2 (28...h6 allows 29.f6 Bxf6 30.Rxf6! gxf6
31.Qg6++–) 29.Qxh7+ and White had perpetual [...] ½–½.

27...Rd8! 28.Qh5

28.a3 Qb5 (28...Qxa3 29.Qc4+) 29.Qxb5 cxb5 30.Rd1 Red7µ

28...h6 29.Bxd4 Qxd4 30.Qe2

30.f6?? Rf7!–+

30...Qd2–+

114
Viswanathan Anand (2794)
S. P. Sethuraman (2617)

189
 Chess.com Isle of Man, 2017

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

33.Nf6!

Now White is winning. Black cannot touch the knight!

33...Be6

a) 33...Rxf6 34.exf6 Rxe1+ 35.Rxe1 Qd2 36.Re8+ Bg8 37.fxg7+ Kxg7 38.Qg4+ Kf6 39.h4+–;
b) 33...gxf6 34.Qxh6+ Kg8 35.Qg6+ Kh8 36.exf6 (36.Rd3?? f3=) 36...Rxe1+ 37.Rxe1 and mate
follows.

34.Qh5

34.Qh4 Rd8 35.d5 is even better!

34...Bf7 35.Qh4 Rd8 36.e6!

wins a piece!

36...Rxd4 37.Rb1 Qa2 38.Ra1 Qb3 39.exf7 Qxf7 40.Ng4

190
And White went on to win the game.

1–0

115
Elshan Moradiabadi (2537)
Jesse Kraai (2493)
Cherry Blossom Open, 2018

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

15.Ne2!

d5 is a superfluous square for Black’s knights, while it also blocks the b7-bishop. The concept of a
superfluous square was thoroughly taught by Dvoretsky and Yussupow in their classic work
“Positional Play”.
The first classical game that comes to mind is the Zuckertort-Blackburne game played in Vienna back
in 1883. The game is thoroughly covered in the aforementioned book by Dvoretsky and Yussupow.
This game is a lesson in knowing your classics, internalizing the knowledge from them, and applying
it. White refrains from exchanging the knights and instead mobilizes his pieces against Black’s king.

191
15.Nce4? Nxe4 16.Nxe4 Nf4 17.Qg4 Bxe4³

15.Ne2! Rc8 16.Bd3 a5 17.Rac1?!

a) 17.e4?! Nf4 18.Nxf4 Qxf4 19.Nc4 Rab8 and White’s initiative is gone;
b) 17.f4! Ne7
[17...Ba6 18.e4 The move that Elshan missed. 18...Bxd3 19.Qxd3 Ne7 20.e5 Nfd5 21.Ne4 Rc6
(21...Nf5 22.g4! Nfe3 23.Ng5 g6 24.f5!+– White’s attack is overwhelming; 21...f5 22.exf6 Nxf6
23.Nxf6+ gxf6 24.Rf3 and White’s attack is still rolling.) 22.N2c3±]
18.e4 transposes after 18...Ba6.

17...Bc6?

This returns the favor.

18.f4!

with the idea e4–e5.

18...Ne7

19.g4!

Now White’s attack is simply crushing and White converted slowly, but surely!
19.e4 d5 20.e5 Ne4 21.Ng3 might be just as effective.

192
19...g6

19...d5 20.Rxc6 Nxc6! 21.g5 Ne4 22.Nxe4 dxe4 23.Bxe4 g6 24.Qg2 Ne7 (24...Qb7 25.Rc1+–)
25.Bxa8 Qxa8 26.Qxa8 Rxa8 27.Rc1+– with a winning endgame.

20.Qh4 Kg7 21.e4 b5 22.f5 exf5 23.gxf5 Neg8 24.e5 Nh5 25.Rf2

And Elshan went on to win the game.

1–0

116
Luke McShane (2647)
Niclas Huschenbeth (2596)
Bundesliga, 2017

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

22.Re4!

A beautiful rook lift and a good example of prophylactics and preparation before action.

193
22.Rb7? Qc6 23.Na3 Ne5 leads to nowhere.

22.Re4! Be7 23.Bf4

This move would have been decisive.

23.Ba3? was played in the game 23...d5 24.Bd6 Bxd6?? after which Black missed his chance to hold.
(24...Qd8 25.Bxe7 Kxe7 26.Qb4+ Kf6 and surprisingly White doesn’t have more than perpetual
check.) 25.Nxd6+ Ke7 26.Nxc8+ Qxc8 27.Rc6 Qb8 28.Qxd5 [...] 1–0.

23...Qc5

a) 23...0-0 24.Rb7+–;
b) 23...e5

24.Nxd6+! Bxd6 25.Rxd6 Qxd6 (25...0-0 26.Rxd7 Qxc3 27.Be3 and White is up a piece.) 26.Rxe5+
Kf8 27.Re8+ Kxe8 28.Bxd6+– and Black wishes he could castle, but he cannot;
c) 23...Rb8 24.Rxb8+ Qxb8 25.Qc6 g5 26.Nxd6++–.

24.Bxd6 Qxb5 25.Rxb5+–

And given Black’s inability to castle, White is winning.

117
Ajay Krishna (2302)
Elshan Moradiabadi (2539)

194
 Rilton Cup, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

38.Qd4!

Caissa took care of Elshan in this tournament on the very first day.
After a horrible opening and middlegame for Black, White is totally winning with a better pawn
structure and dominant rooks and queen. Black’s only hope is his e-pawn, and miraculously White
didn’t attend to it carefully.
a) 38.d6?? was played by White, a move that loses on the spot. 38...Rg8! and g3 is not defendable as
Rg1 lets go of the other rook on f5. 39.Kh1 Qxg3 40.Qe2 Rg4 41.Rh5 Qh3+ and White resigned 0–1;
b) 38.Qe2 e3 39.Qf3 is also good but rather counterintuitive. It makes more sense to centralize the
queen and go after Black’s king.

38.Qd4! e3 39.Rxf6 Rxf6 40.Rxf6 Qg7

195
This position seems unclear at first, but after:

41.d6! e2 42.Rxh6+ Kg8 43.Qd5+ Qf7 44.Qg5+ Qg7 45.Rg6+–

White is winning.

118
Viswanathan Anand (2768)
Alexander Grischuk (2766)
Saint Louis GCT Blitz, 2018

196
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

19...Nxc2!

It is not easy to calculate all the nuances of this position in a blitz game, but one thing is obvious:
retreating gives White time to regroup.
19...Bb7?! was the move played in the game, missing a great opportunity 20.Ra1 Qc7 21.Rg1 Rfd8
22.f4 Bf8 23.g6 h6 24.f5 e5 25.f6 exd4 26.Bxd4 Ne4 27.gxf7+ Qxf7 28.Qxh6 and Black resigned a
few moves later [...] 1–0.

19...Nxc2! 20.fxe4

20.Nxc2 leads to the complete destruction of White’s inadequate shelter. 20...Nxb3! With so many
pieces attacking and White’s king wide open, Black has a crushing attack. 21.Kxb3 Rb8+ 22.Bb5
Rxb5+ 23.Nxb5 Qxb5+ 24.Nb4 (24.Qb4 Bxc2+–+) 24...Bxf3–+ and Black will win a lot of material
in the next few moves, with the b4-knight being the first obvious target.

20...Qa3+

Grischuk may have forgotten about this check.

21.Kxc2 Nxe4–+

197
 119
Peter Svidler (2735)
Georg Meier (2628)
GRENKE Chess Classic, 2019

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

26...Rxg2+!

was the right continuation.

26...f4? was played in the game and although creating a path for the king may seem to be the right
thing to do for Black, it leads to a worse position after 27.g3 fxg3 28.Kc1+ Ke8 (as 28...Ke6 doesn’t
work due to 29.Rf3+–) 29.hxg3 and White went on to win the game [...] 1–0.

26...Rxg2+! 27.Kc1+ Ke8 28.Rc7

The critical continuation.

a) 28.e6 Rg6! and Black is safe and can even fight for some advantage;
b) 28.Rh3 Rc8 leads to perpetual on the second rank 29.Rxh7 Rcxc2+ 30.Kb1 Rb2+ 31.Ka1 Ra2+
32.Kb1 Rgb2+ 33.Kc1 Rc2+=.

198
28...Bc6 29.e6 fxe6 30.Rxh7 Kf8 31.h4 Kg8!? 32.Rh8+ Kf7 33.Rxa8 Kxf6 34.Rh1 Be4

And all three results are possible, but we personally prefer to be Black in this position.

120
Arkadij Naiditsch (2695)
Peter Svidler (2735)
GRENKE Chess Classic, 2019

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

28...Bc6!

The beginning of a deep concept.

Black regroups his bishop and knight to aim at White’s central pawn on e4. Given White’s weakened
pawn structure (due to the overextension in the center and weakness on b3), White can hardly take
any immediate measures against Black’s plan.

29.Rd2 Nd8!

The knight heads to d6 via b7.

199
30.Qd3 Nb7 31.Kh2 Nd6 32.Rd1

Now both of White’s knights are tied to the protection of the e4-pawn. It is time to kick them away!

32...h5!

The material is equal, but White is so passive and out of specific plans that the engines give Black an
advantage of almost four pawns in this position!

33.Re1 h4 34.Nf1 Qb3

The final assault, as White has no good moves to face Black’s queen infiltration! His entire queenside
is going to collapse in no time!

35.e5

35.Re2 Bb5–+

35...fxe5 36.fxe5 Qxb2 37.Re2 Qb5! 38.Qc2

38.exd6 Rxe2–+

38...Nc4 39.e6 Nxa3

A positional masterpiece by Svidler.

0–1

121
Anton Korobov (2668)
N. Sunilduth Lyna (2626)
Sunway Sitges, 2019

200
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

Black’s rook on b6 is active, but it seems detached from the rest of his army.
In order to achieve harmony, Black needed to act immediately, which he failed to do in the actual
game.

24...Qe8!

With a hidden cunning idea.

24...Rb5? was played in the game, but unfortunately for Black, White’s ‘Alekhine’s gun’ along the d-
file proved too powerful. 25.Qd4 Rg5+ 26.Kf2 Rg6 27.e5 Re6 28.f4 Rxd6 29.Qxd6 b5 30.f5 Re8
31.Kf3 h6 32.e6 fxe6 33.f6 gxf6 34.Qd3 f5 35.Qc3 e5 36.Qxc6 Qa8 37.Rb7 1–0.

24...Qe8! 25.Kf2

a) 25.Qd4 runs into: 25...c5! 26.Qxc5 Rxb2 27.Qd4 Rb1+ 28.Kg2 f6 and now White’s king is not
that safe. 29.Rd8 Qg6+ 30.Kh3 Qh5+ 31.Kg2 Qg6+=;
b) 25.e5 Rb5 26.f4 Rd5! 27.Rxd5 cxd5 28.Rxd5 Qe6 and White’s exposed king gives Black enough
counterplay.

25...c5!

201
The key point.

26.Qd2 Rxd6 27.Qxd6

27...b5!

Now Black has a lot of space to maneuver and he has already gotten rid of his disconnected rook.

28.Qe7 Qb8! 29.e5 b4=

And Black is active enough to hold.

122
Sabina Foisor (2264)
Antoaneta Stefanova (2490)
World Championship (Women), 2018

202
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

33.Qb3+!

would have led to a win for White. The key point is the e6-square. This is not an easy sequence to
calculate, but the plan is nevertheless simple. White’s main idea is the battery along the a3–f8
diagonal and Black cannot hold her position together unless she targets g2, which is the idea behind
not taking on g6.
33.fxg6? was played in the game, and White lost all winning opportunities. 33...hxg6?! (33...Qxc3
34.gxh7+ Kxh7 35.Bxc3 Ne6 is a simple draw. There is not much material left on the board to play
with.) 34.Qb3+ Qd5 35.Ne4 (35.Nc4 Ra6 36.Qb4 Now this move doesn’t work because of 36...Re6
37.Ba3.

203
37...Re2!! 38.Qxf8+ Kh7 and Black miraculously holds! 39.Ne3 Rxe3 40.Qxf6 Rxg3 41.Qh4+ Kg8
42.Qxg3 Kf7=) 35...Qxb3 36.Nxf6+ Kf7 37.Rxb3 Ba8 and the game ended in a draw [...] ½–½.

33.Qb3+! Qd5 34.Nc4 Ra6

34...Ra8 35.Qb4 threatening Nb6 35...Re8 36.Nd6 Re7 37.Ba3 and the battery along the diagonal is
decisive.

35.Qb4!

A hidden calm move which creates the annoying threat of Ba3 and Qe7.

35...Nd7

a) 35...Qxf5 36.Qxb7+–;
b) 35...Ra8 36.Ne3 Qc6 37.Ng4 Nd7 38.Qe7+–

36.fxg6+–

123
Viswanathan Anand (2782)
Alexander Grischuk (2772)
Wch Rapid, 2017

204
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

16.Bxf6!

Great judgment and a simple decision.

The pawn on e4 was under fire by Black’s pieces while Black was planning to exert more pressure by
playing ...Ba5. With this move and the next one, Vishy completely outplays Black’s bishop on b6.

16...Qxf6 17.Nc4

White gradually builds up his play on the kingside as the bishop on b6 does not take part in the game!

17...Ba7 18.Qd3

18.Re2 and Rfe1 is more straightforward.

18...h6 19.Re3 Rad8 20.g3 Bh7 21.Rfe1+–

And White went on to convert the game.

1–0

205
 124
Gregory Kaidanov (2596)
Alexander Onischuk (2664)
USA-ch, 2008

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

17...c5!

This is a must-see move.

Black has the bishop pair and his light-square bishop is particularly strong considering that White’s
doubled pawns on the f- and d-files are vulnerable to any sort of threats against them. Now, GM
Onischuk gives up two more pawns in order to activate his only poorly placed piece, after which
Black’s attack is irresistable. The key idea is to bring Black’s knight from the edge of the board to the
d4-square.

18.Rxe5 Nc6 19.Rxc5 Nd4 20.Nc3 Nxf3+ 21.Kh1

Now Black does not need to rush to capture his lost pawn.
Here ...Re8 would have been another option, but

21...Ne1

206
is nice as well, keeping White’s bishop on c1 and rook on a1 paralyzed. Black went on to win the
game.
21...Re8 22.Nce4 Nh4 23.d4 f5 would have addressed the back rank weakness in a better fashion.
The move in the game is good enough to win though.

0–1

125
Alexandr Triapishko (2531)
Peter Svidler (2738)
Wch Rapid, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

The most important thing one needs to realize in this position is that Black’s knight on b7 is
miserable, and White’s bishop is superior to it. Black is threatening ...Nd6 after which he can feel
much safer, so White’s approach is rather simple: he needs to seek a forcing line involving threats in
order to prevent Black from realizing his optimal setup.

20.Rc1!

207
20.Bxb7? This inexplicable move was played in the game, aiming to prevent the move ...Nd6, but
after 20...Qxb7 21.Qe6 Rc8 22.f3 Rc6 Black managed to regroup, and the game was eventually
drawn [...] ½–½.

20.Rc1! Qd7 21.Bc6 Qc7 22.Bd5

22.Ba4 is equally effective. 22...Qd8 23.Bb3 Nd6 24.Qe6 h5 25.h4± And it is hard to find any useful
move for Black in this position.

22...Qd7 23.Qe6! Rd8

23...Qxe6 24.Bxe6+– and White penetrates into Black’s camp via c7.

24.Qf7+ Kh8

24...Kh6 25.Rc4+–

25.Be6 Nd6

25...Qd6 26.Rc8!+– The unfortunate placement of Black’s knight on b7 is once again the key factor
here.

26.Bxd7 Nxf7 27.Rc7+–

White’s bishop and rook combination is much stronger than Black’s rook and knight, especially with
White’s rook already on the seventh rank aiming at Black’s pawn on a7. White technically has a
winning position.

208
 Show in Text Mode

126
Viswanathan Anand (2776)
Robert Ruck (2566)
Bundesliga, 2017

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

25...Nxf6!

The first move is rather simple. Black cannot afford to lose his king’s shelter.
25...gxf6? wouldn’t work as after 26.exf6, Black’s pieces are out of any useful moves while Rg7 is
hard to meet. 26...Nxf6 27.Qxf6+ Kh7 28.Re1 Rc1 29.Rxc1 Rxc1+ 30.Kh2. And White will
gradually grind Black down due to Black’s weakened king.

25...Nxf6! 26.exf6 g6! 27.h5?

Anand over-pressed.

209
27.Rf1 would instead keep the position balanced. White should first regroup and defend, and then
attack with 27...Rxa2 28.h5 g5 29.Qe5.

27...g5µ

Black’s kingside is safe and it is time to strike back on the queenside. If you realized that after this
move White’s attack is gone and Black can start his counterattack on the queenside, your job is done
here.
Black had a few mishaps and the game eventually ended in a draw.

½–½

127
Liren Ding (2809)
Pentala Harikrishna (2723)
Shenzhen Masters, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

44.Rh8!

210
Preventing Rh7, now Black has no counterplay. Prophylactic measures are one of the key concepts
that we cannot emphasize enough.

44...Rf7

44...Rdd7 45.Rcc8 Rh7 46.Rxh7 Rxh7 47.Kg2 f3+ 48.Kg1 Black’s counterplay on the kingside is
over and he cannot do much to defend the d5- and a7-pawns.

45.Ke2 f3+ 46.Kd2 Nf8 47.Rc8 Ng6 48.Rh6

And White went on to win the game.

1–0

128
Bassem Amin (2709)
Dariusz Swiercz (2655)
Wch Team, 2019

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

211
This exercise is about considering captures in calculations. We hope you didn’t give up after Rxb5.

23...Qxd3 24.Rxb5 axb5 25.Qxa5 e4–+

Black is about to recoup the pseudo-sacrificed knight and remains up two pawns.

0–1

129
Ernesto Inarkiev (2693)
Richard Rapport (2735)
Danzhou Masters, 2019

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

14...Na5

This is a lesson on initiative and the value of making moves with tempo (the value of threats) every
time the opportunity arises.

15.Qe2 f5!

212
It is time to challenge White’s center.

16.Rac1

Inarkiev doesn’t seem to realize how dangerous Black’s attack on his center will become, while
Rapport truly manages the Reti’s hypermodern dream in few moves!

16...Rae8!

The concentration of power is where the action is taking place!

17.Rfe1?

A rather decisive mistake.

17.c5! Was the last chance for White; a move which surprisingly occurred in another game two years
earlier and was played by Alexey Dreev! 17...fxe4 18.Bxe4 bxc5 19.dxc5 Bxe4?!. (However, now
19...d5! would give Black a great position. 20.Bb1 Nb3 21.Rcd1 e5µ) 20.Qxe4 d5 21.c6 Qxc6?
(21...Qd6 22.Qa4 Nc4µ 23.b4 e5³) 22.Qe1 Qb5 23.Rxc7 Nc4 24.Rxa7 Qb6 25.Be3 Nxe3 26.Qxe3
d4 27.Rxg7+ ½-½ Dreev,A (2664) -Lorparizangeneh,S (2468) Guilan 2016.

17...fxe4 18.Bxe4 Bxe4!

The game continued with 18...d5?! which would have allowed White back into the game. 19.Bb1
Nxc4 and now White played 20.Bd3? after which Black gains back the advantage (20.b3 and White
is back to the game.) 20...e5!µ and eventually won the game [...] 0–1.

19.Qxe4 Nxc4 20.Qb7 d5µ

130
Sabina Foisor (2272)
Anna Zatonskih (2451)
USA-ch (Women), 2017

213
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

31...Rf8!

Would have been Black’s best choice to force White to find only moves to keep the position
balanced.
a) 31...Rxf2 is better, but it hardly yields anything for Black. 32.Rxf2 Bxe3 33.Kf1 (33.Ng4 fxg4
34.Nxg5 Bxf2+ 35.Kh2 Rd7 36.Nxe6+ Kf6 37.Qxh6+ Ke7=) 33...Nxf2 (33...Bxf2 34.Nxg5 hxg5
35.Qxg5+ Kf7 36.Nh5 Ke8 37.Ng7+ Kd7 38.Nxe6 Kxe6 39.Qxd8 Bd5 40.Qc8+ Ke5 41.Ke2 Bc4
42.g4± and Black has chances to hold, but White has the upper hand thanks to her g-pawn.) 34.Ne5!
Bxg2+ 35.Kxg2 Kxf6 36.Nc6 Rh8 37.Qe2 Ng4 38.Qd3 Rf8 39.Qd6 and White is better again;
b) In the game Black played 31...Nxf2?? forgetting about White’s threat in a severe time scramble.
32.Ne5! Now White has too many threats to deal with! 32...Kxf6 33.Nxc6 Rdd2 34.Qxh6+ Kf7
35.Qh7+ Kf8 36.Qe7+ Kg8 37.Qxe6+ Kh8 38.Qh6+ Kg8 39.Qxg5+ Kh8 40.Qf6+ Kh7 41.Qxf5+
1–0.

31...Rf8! 32.Nh7

214
And here comes a cat and a mouse game in a 3x8 space on the kingside.
32.Nxg5?? Rxf6 33.Nxe6+ Rxe6 34.Qxf5 Rd6–+

32...Be8!! 33.Qh3 Rh8!

34.Nh4!!

And White holds miraculously.

34.Nf6 would be the first thought, but after 34...Kxf6 35.Nxg5 Kxg5 36.Qh4+ Kg6 37.Qe7 Bf7
38.Qxa7 Rd8³ Black seems to have an edge.

215
34...Rxh7

34...gxh4?? 35.Qxh4 Rxh7 36.Qe7+ Bf7 37.Qxa7+– and surprisingly White is winning because
Black’s pieces are totally uncoordinated.

35.Nxf5+ exf5 36.Qxf5 Rxf2

36...Bg6?? 37.Qd7+ Kh8 38.Qd8+ Kg7 39.Qe7+ Kg8 (39...Kh8 40.Qf8#) 40.Qe6++–

37.Rxf2 Nxf2 38.Kxf2 Kg8 39.Qe6+ Rf7+ 40.Ke2 Bd7 41.Qg6+=

131
Robert Ruck (2551)
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2752)
Wch Rapid, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

36.Qa2+!

A necessary in-between move. White got a bit greedy with his material. The easiest way to win was

216
to simply trade-off the queen for the rook in the most efficient way. Thus, winning with the extra
exchange which would be the most practical and in this case, most accurate way.
a) 36.Kf1?? was played in the game and White missed a very important win. In a dramatic turn of
events, he ended up losing, probably trying too hard avoiding Black’s checks. 36...Qh1+ 37.Ke2
Qe4+?? Mamedyarov gambled and it paid off. (37...Qf3+ 38.Ke1 Qh1+=) 38.Kd1 Qh1+ 39.Kc2
Be4+ 40.Kb3 (¹40.Kc3 Rxd8 41.Rxd8+ Kg7 42.Kd2+–) 40...Rxd8 41.Rxd8+ Kf7 42.bxc5 (42.Qd2
Qb1+ 43.Kc3 Qa1+ 44.Qb2 Qe1+ 45.Rd2± and the checks run out.) 42...Bd5+ 43.Kc2 Be4+??
(43...Qf3! would have been the correct choice 44.Kc1 Qd3= and Black obtains the perpetual once
again.) 44.Kd2 (44.Kc3+–) 44...Qf3 45.Qxe5?? White lets go of the win one more time. (45.Kc1!+–)
45...Qxf2+ 46.Kc3?? hallucination. (46.Kd1 Qf1+ 47.Kd2 Qf2+=) 46...Qe1+?? This returns the
favor. (46...Qc2+ 47.Kb4 Qb1+ 48.Kc3 Qa1+–+)

47.Kb2?? now there is no remedy! (47.Kd4 Qd2+ 48.Kxe4 Qxd8 49.c6+–) 47...Qb1+ 48.Kc3 Qa1+
0–1;
b) 36.Qxf8+? Kxf8 37.Kf1 Qh1+ 38.Ke2 Bf3+= Only leads to a draw similar to the game’s
continuation.

36.Qa2+! Kh8

36...Kg7 37.Rd7+ Kh6 38.Qh4+ and mate follows.

37.Qxf8+ Qxf8 38.Qe6+–

38.Qe6 Qf3 and Black doesn’t have time for this of course. 39.Qxe5+ Kg8 40.Rd8+ Kf7 41.Rd7+
and mate in one!

217
 132
Bator Sambuev (2513)
Timur Gareyev (2620)
Calgary Open, 2017

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

29...Qxg3+!!

A beautiful move to end the game in Black’s favor! However, the game continued 29...Kb7? Black
needed to commit to the idea of checkmating White’s king and then he would have considered the
winning shot, but in time pressure he went for a safe solution which denied him the victory. 30.Qf4
Rg8 31.Rexe2?? (31.Rfxe2 Qe6 32.Rf1 Black is still strategically winning, but White is also
continuing to fight for his life.) 31...Qh5?? and they went on to drawing the game ½–½. (31...Rd1
32.Rf1 Qg4! would have yielded a win for Black. 33.Ref2 Rxf1 34.Rxf1 Qe2+ 35.Rf2 Qd1 36.Rf1
Qd3–+ total domination).

29...Qxg3+!! 30.Nxg3 Rgxg3! 31.Rfxe2 Rh3+ 32.Kg1 Rdg3+ 33.Kf1 Rh1+ 34.Kf2 Rf3+

218
A beautiful geometry, worthy of its own diagram.

35.Kg2 Rc3+ 36.Kf2 Rxc1+–

133
Helgi Dam Ziska (2545)
Teimour Radjabov (2742)
FIDE World Cup, 2017

219
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

22...Nxg3!

A timely and well-justified tactic. The only other way is to concede to a slightly worse ending with
...Nxc3.

23.fxg3

a) 23.Bb6 Ne2+! 24.Kf1 Bxg2+–+;

b) 23.Nd5 exd5 24.cxd5 Bb5 doesn’t do anything for White;
c) 23.Bxc6 bxc6 24.Bb6 Qf4 25.Bxc7 Qxc7 26.Nb5 axb5 27.Qxg3 was White’s best practical choice
in order to avoid being mated.

23...Qxg3 24.Qc2 f5!

The main point. The attack is too strong and Black can afford the time to bring the rest of his artillery
within a few moves thanks to his well-placed bishops and his queen.

25.Bc5

25...f4!

220
If you saw this, then you can say that you managed to solve this puzzle.
25...Rf6 is less attractive. 26.Qf2 Qh2+ 27.Kf1 Bg3 28.Qg1 Bxg2+ 29.Qxg2 Qxg2+ 30.Kxg2 Bxe1
31.Rxe1 Rd8 and you still need the technique of a very strong GM to convert this position.

26.Qf2

26.Bxf8 f3 is of course hopeless.

26...Qg6 27.Bxf8 Rxf8

The victory of a well-organized army. Despite being down a rook, Black is completely winning.
You also can see that White is developed, but not in an efficient way so that he can protect his king.
A deep concept to have in mind: Development is not all about moving the pieces from their initial
square, but to place them on a better square coherent with the rest of the pieces.

28.Qe2

The only move was 28.Ne4, but 28...f3 29.Rc3 fxg2 30.Qxg2 Qh5 is probably still winning as those
bishops are monsters!

28...Bb6+ 29.Kh1 f3 30.Qxe6+ Qxe6 31.Rxe6 fxg2+ 32.Kh2 Rf1

A win in Radjabov’s style!

0–1

134
Viswanathan Anand (2773)
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2817)
Tata Steel A, 2019

221
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

20.c4!

An odd case of attraction that one can miss at any level!

20...Rxc4 21.Rxd5 Rf7 22.Rd3

Now the pin is deadly; even passive defense, couldn’t save Black.

22...g4

22...h6 23.Nbd2 Rc7 24.Ne4 Qe7 25.Rc1! Be8 26.Nd6+–

23.Nfd2

23.hxg4 Rxg4 24.Rc1 would have been faster, but Anand sees no reason to have a rook in front of his
king.

23...Rb4 24.hxg4 Ne7 25.Nf3 Nd5 26.Nbd4 Rf4 27.Nc2 Rbe4 28.Rxd5 exd5 29.Qxd5+

1–0

222
 135
Viswanathan Anand (2768)
Hikaru Nakamura (2777)
Saint Louis GCT Rapid, 2018

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

22.Rxf6!

Realizing the power of the bishop in b3.

22...gxf6

And the game continued as follows.

23.Bxc7 Qxc7 24.Qxh5 e3 25.Qg6+ Kh8 26.Qxf6+ Kg8 27.Qg6+ Kh8 28.Qh6+ Kg8 29.Bc2 f5
30.Bb3+ Rf7 31.Re1 Qe7 32.Qg6+ Kf8 33.Qxf7+ Qxf7 34.Bxf7 Kxf7 35.Kg2

Simple, right?!

1–0

223
 136
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2774)
Levon Aronian (2752)
Stavanger, 2019

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

25...g5!

Opposite-color bishop positions offer razor-sharp continuations, when it comes to straightforward

initiative. The 6th world champion and father of Soviet chess, Mikhail Botvinnik, has put it best: “It
is as if the side with the initiative is a piece up!”. Here, the Armenian superstar Levon Aronian,
demonstrated the weakness of the a8–h1 diagonal with his masterful breakthrough.

26.Bc3?

The passive defense does not work in this position. Mamedyarov needed to opt for a more drastic
approach.
26.Rab1 had to be played. 26...Bc6 27.e4 f4! is hard for Black to commit to such a counterintuitive
move. The key factor is to keep as many files closed as Black’s queen will find an entry one way or
another. 28.Bb4 (28.Bc3 Qd6 29.Rbd1 Qa3µ; 28.Kh1 a6 29.a5 Qd7 30.Bc3 Ba4! controlling the d-
file. 31.h3 h5µ. And Black has advantage, but it is far from over for White. By letting Black play g4,
Mamedyarov entered a defenseless position.) 28...Qe5 29.Rbd1 a5, and Black will win the a-pawn

224
and push his pawn down the board to c2.

26...g4 27.fxg4 Qe4 28.Ra2 Qd3?!

An unnecessary complication. The position remains close to winning, but Black’s task would have
been much more difficult had Mamedyarov not blundered here.
28...fxg4 29.Rf2+ Ke6 30.Bd4 a6 31.Rf6+ Kd7 32.Rf7+ Ke8 33.Rf2 h5–+ and Black’s domination
suffices.

29.Ba1??

Now the bishop gets buried.

29.Bd4

And now we wonder if Aronian had the move 29...h5!! in mind 30.gxf5.
a) 30.Rc1 hxg4 31.Bxa7 Be4 32.Bd4 Ke6 33.Rf2 (33.a5 f4–+) 33...Kd6 34.a5 f4!–+;
b) 30.gxh5 c3 31.Rf2 c2 wins with the same idea as in the line with gxf5.
30...c3 31.Rc1 [31.Rf2 c2 32.Rc1 (32.Bb2 Qd1 33.Rff1 Qd2 34.e4 Ba6–+) 32...Qd1+ 33.Rf1 Qd2–+]
31...c5!–+

29...c3 30.Rf2 Be4 31.Rc1 c2

A great and rich position from which one can learn a lot of advanced concepts and nuances. If you
saw g5, you are on the right direction of your training and if you saw that White can play Rab1 and
e4, you are on your way to surpass the level this book presents; if you saw ...f4 is the right response to
White’s idea, then you are very strong!

225
0–1

137
Hao Wang (2758)
R. Praggnanandhaa (2602)
Gibraltar Masters, 2020

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

When you have a knight and queen close to your opponent’s unprotected king, you should look for
ways to build an attack! White’s first move is obvious, but what follows requires much more tact than
it seems.

31.Bh6!

Surprisingly the game proceeded with 31.Bf4?! after which 31...N3e4 would have given Black
excellent drawing chances. (However, 31...Ne6? was played by the youngster Praggnanandhaa which
allowed 32.Bxd6 and with the queens on the board it was difficult to hold the game and Black went
on to lose [...] 1–0.) 32.Nxd6 Rc3 33.Nb5 Rxf3 34.Nxa7 Ra3 35.Nb5 Ra5 36.Rfb1 Ne6©.

31.Bh6! Ne6

226
31...Qa8 32.Bxg7 Qxf3+ 33.Kxf3 Re8 34.Rfc1 Rxc1 35.Rxc1 Nxa2 36.Rc4 is probably what Wang
Hao missed. White’s attack is still deadly. 36...Ra8 37.Rg4 h5 38.Rh4 Ne6 39.Bh6 f6 40.Rxh5 Ra6
41.Rh4 and White gradually regroups and converts his extra pawn.

32.Rac1!

Probably Wang Hao didn’t manage to see through everything in this line, although we doubt he
dismissed the line because of this move.
He probably had more concerns about 31...Qa8. If you considered 31...Qa8 and saw 32.Rac1 and
34.Rc4! in the mainline, you can consider this exercise a success for yourself.
32.Nxg7 Nxg7 33.Rac1 (33.Qg4 doesn’t work due to 33...f5–+) 33...Rxc1 34.Rxc1 Nxa2 35.Qf6
Ne8 36.Qg5+ Kh8 37.Re1 f6 38.Qd5 still yields something. Yet, this is far from over for Black.

32...Rxc1 33.Rxc1 Nxa2 34.Rc4!

Now taking on g7 is a deadly threat, against which Black has no good answer.

34...Qa8 35.Nxg7 Qxf3+ 36.Kxf3 Nxg7 37.Rg4 Rd8 38.Rxg7+ Kh8 39.Rxf7 Nc3 40.Rb7+–

And the extra pawn and Black’s weak king will prove sufficient for White to win this game.

138
Viswanathan Anand (2759)
Sergey Karjakin (2782)
Paris GCT Blitz, 2018

227
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

20.a4!

A typical breakthrough, which uses the ‘horizontal effect’ of the well-placed queen on h5. This is a
theme one has to remember as it happens more often than we think.

20...axb4 21.axb5 Be7 22.Bg3 Rxa1 23.Rxa1 Qb6 24.Qg4 Kh8 25.Qd7 Bg5 26.Qxd6 Rc8 27.bxc6
h6 28.c7 Qb7 29.h4 Be3+ 30.Kh2 Rg8 31.Qa6 1–0

139
Viswanathan Anand (2779)
Anish Giri (2797)
Gashimov Memorial, 2019

228
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

White has a better pawn structure and better control of the center.
In return, Black’s pieces are active and he hopes to create a blockade on the light squares if needed
(usually by employing the move f5).

23.Ne1!

The knight is heading to d3 where it entertains the idea of going to c5 while supporting White’s
pawns to be pushed further with the f-pawn included.

23...Bf7?!

A serious inaccuracy.
23...Bd6 24.Nd3 f5 25.e5 Be7 26.Nf4 Qf7² And despite White’s symbolic advantage because of his
better pawn structure, Black’s blockade in the center is rock-solid.

24.Nd3 Bd6 25.Rde1 Bb8?!

Another tempo is wasted, which cost Giri the game.

26.f4!

229
We believe that Giri probably underestimated White’s expansion in the center.

26...f5 27.Ne5! Bxe5 28.dxe5 fxe4 29.Qxe4

And because of the pawn structure it looks as if White has two extra pawns. White’s pawns seem
unstoppable and Rd2 could be handled by moving one of the rooks to e2, restricting Black’s
counterplay to his bishop and the queen.
Despite a few inaccuracies, the legendary “Vishy” Anand converted his advantage masterfully.

1–0

140
Aleksandr Ostrovskiy (2436)
Andrew Hong (2414)
Charlotte GM-norm, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

21.c5!

Even if you cannot see through all the tactical sequences afterwards, this move should make it to the

230
top of your candidate move list. You are simply planning to “quarantine” the pawn on b3 and then
capture it. White doesn’t have so much time for his rooks, while his knights are rather slow pieces
when it comes to open positions like this. If you saw White’s next response as well, you have done a
great job on this exercise.
21.Nf1? happened in the game, but after 21...Bc5, the position is balanced. However, after a few
mistakes by White, Black was able to capitalize and win the game [...] 0–1.

21.c5! Rd5

a) 21...Bxc5?? 22.Nxb3+–;
b) 21...Kc7 The most critical line. 22.Ra3! A move that was also enabled after c5. 22...Rxd2 23.Nxd2
Rb8 24.e3 Nd7
[24...Nd5 25.Be4 Bf6 26.Bxc2 Bxb2 27.Rxb3 Bxc1 28.Rxb8 Kxb8 29.Nc4 h6 30.Kf1 Kc7 (30...Nc3
31.Kg2 Kc7 32.Kf3 Kc6 33.Ne5+ Kd5 34.c6 Kd6 35.Nxf7+ Kxc6 36.e4 and Black will lose even
more material.) 31.Ke2 and Black’s bishop is trapped.]
25.Be4 Bf6 26.Bxc2 Bxb2 27.Rxb3 Bxc1 28.Rxb8 Nxb8 29.Nb3 Ba3 30.Bxh7 and White should be
winning;
c) but he also needs to be careful about the opposite-color bishops 21...Nd5.

22.Nxb3! again, the access to a3 is crucial. 22...Bxb3 23.Ra3 Nc3! 24.bxc3 Rd1+ 25.Rxd1 Bxd1
26.Bf1 Bxc5 27.Ra1 Bc2 28.e3 Kb7 29.Ne5±.

22.e3!

Preparing Nd4.

231
22...Rhd8

a) 22...Bxc5 23.Nd4+–;
b) 22...Rxc5 23.Nd4 after which b3 falls and with it Black’s position.

23.Nc4 Rxc5 24.Bf1 Nd5 25.Nd4 Nb4 26.Nd2

And White wins the pawn on b3.

Although the position is far from winning, White is a healthy pawn up.

26...e5 27.N2xb3 exd4 28.Nxc5 Bxc5 29.Rxc2 Nxc2 30.Rc1 Kb7 31.Rxc2±

141
Pavel Ponkratov (2687)
Johan Christiansen (2492)
Wch Rapid, 2019

232
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

This is the type of position where one can immediately decide that the a1-rook needs to be moved.
Therefore, White has to leave all other possibilities behind and only consider candidate moves for the
Ra1 or moving the king to h2. Here White has a very interesting idea that is easy to miss.

24.Nh4!

24.Re1 was the move played in the game after which Black allowed for the same idea 24...Qxc2?.
After this White ended up winning this game [...] 1–0. (24...Qb4 would have kept Black’s position
alive a little longer as the Bf4 has to be protected and White would have to give up the great place of
his Qh3 25.Qe3 d4 26.Qe4 h6±).

24.Nh4! Qxc2

Of course, 24...Qxa1+ fails due to 25.Kh2 Qd4 26.Nxg6+–. The f4-bishop is protected, and the d6-
rook is hanging as well as the f8-bishop, so Black would have to resign shortly.

25.Nxg6 Qxg6 26.Bd2+–

With a little bit of coordination, White should have no trouble winning this position.

233
 142
Sayed Javad Alavi (2467)
Maziar Bagheri (2283)
Iranian Higer League, 2017

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

27.Re8!!

Seemingly odd, but very familiar at its core. White utilizes the possibility of a fork on f6, and uses his
passed pawn to preserve his material advantage.
27.Bc6? was played and it allowed 27...Nb4! 28.Ba4 Be6 29.Rxe6 fxe6 30.Ne5 Kg7, and the game
eventually ended in a draw [...] ½–½.

27.Re8!! Rxe8 28.Bxe8 Rxe8 29.Rxd5 Kg7 30.Rxc5± Rd8 31.Ra5 Be6 32.Ne3 Rxd6 33.Rxa7+–

And the two extra pawns are sufficient for a victory.

143
Rauf Mamedov (2643)
B. H. Subramaniyam (2402)

234
 Aeroflot Open, 2020

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

31.Na1!

A strong and meaningful regrouping move. White needs to break the blockade on c5.

31...Ke6?

A mistake which made things much easier for White.

31...Ke8 had to be played. 32.Ke1 g6 (32...Nc8 33.Rxd7 Kxd7 34.Nb3 Ne6 35.Bd3 g6 36.h4² and
White tries to open the game with f4 or g4–g5.) 33.Nb3±.

32.Nb3 Nxb3 33.axb3 e4 34.Ra2 exf3 35.gxf3

And White went on to win the game.

1–0

144

235
 Fabiano Caruana (2827)
Boris Gelfand (2703)
Olympiad, 2018

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

25.Kg1!

A simple prophylactic move, stopping the threat of Nf4.

Black has no good moves here.

25...Rf8

25...Qa1+ 26.Kh2 Qd4 27.c3!+– And Black has to give up the e5-pawn.

26.Rxh5 Bxe4

26...Nf6 27.Rxf5 is equally hopeless.

236
27.Qd7+!

The most elegant!

27...Kf6

27...Rf7 28.Rh7+ Kxh7 29.Qxf7+ Kh6 30.Qf8+ Kh7 31.Rh3#

28.Qxc6+ Kg7 29.Qd7+ Kf6 30.fxe4 Nf4 31.Rf5+ gxf5 32.Qxf5+ Ke7 33.Rg7+

This is another example of a calm move deciding the game.

1–0

145
Levon Aronian (2780)
Anish Giri (2773)
Tata Steel A, 2017

237
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

12.c5

White’s pawn structure is shattered, but in return he has a monstrous dark-square bishop, which
Aronian masterfully put to use.

12...Nc4?! 13.Bf4

We believe that this is slightly more accurate.

13.Rxc4! was played in the game followed by 13...dxc4 14.Qc2 h6 15.Qxc4 b6? was too slow. (Black
needed to react in the center to stay in the game after: 15...e5 16.dxe5 Qe7 17.Bd4 b6∞) 16.Bf4! and
Aronian went on to win the game [...] 1–0.

13...b6 14.Rxc4 dxc4 15.Qc2

This also gives White a dangerous initiative after:

15...Ba6 16.Ng5 Nf6 17.Be5 g6 18.h4

with a very dangerous initiative for White.

238
 146
Baadur Jobava (2711)
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2764)
Beijing Sportaccord Rapid, 2012

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

Black’s king is exposed to all kind of threats. All White has to do is to reach out!

25.Qd1!

And the mate on a1 is inevitable!

1–0

147
Viswanathan Anand (2776)
Robert Ruck (2566)
Bundesliga, 2017

239
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

29...Qb2!

A tempo winning move which improves Black’s queen placement tremendously.

29...Rc1+ Checks are so easy to give, but are not always the best solution. 30.Rxc1 Qxc1+ 31.Kh2
Qxf4 32.Qxf4 gxf4 33.Rg7 and getting the rook active was enough for White to save the game! [...]
½–½.

29...Qb2! 30.Re1

30.fxg5 doesn’t work due to 30...Qxa1+ 31.Kh2 Rc1–+ and Black’s attack is much faster.

30...Rc1 31.Kh2

31.Rxc1 Rxc1+ 32.Kh2 Qb1! the key move. The main idea of this exercise was to learn about
counting the tempi and learn to check the order of threats. For instance, in this case Black has a threat
of mate in one, the only way White can beat this threat is by mating immediately, so as long as he
cannot do so, Black’s threat is more powerful! 33.Rf3 Re1! expelling the queen so that Black can play
Qe1 after Rh1.

240
34.Qb8+ Kh7 35.Qc7 (35.Kg3 Rh1 transposes.) 35...Rh1+ 36.Kg3 and Black is able to capture h5 as
well leading to his win soon after! 36...Qe1+.

31...Rxe1 32.Qxe1 Qxd4 33.fxg5 Qh4+ 34.Kg1 hxg5–+

And with f6 and h5 weak, the g3-rook pinned and the back rank inviting ...Rc1, Black should be able
to convert the game from here on.

148
Leinier Dominguez (2758)
Andre Diamant (2547)
PRO Chess League, 2020

241
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

16...a4!–+

This is an example of lack of coordination among pieces. White’s rook on d3 is misplaced and Black
should take advantage of that by attacking White’s queenside.
16...Rxc3? was played in the game. 17.bxc3 a4 18.Nc1 Qc7 19.c4!± and Black’s compensation was
insufficient [...] 1–0.

16...a4!–+ 17.Nd2

a) 17.Nxa4 Rxa4 18.Bxa4 b5 19.Bxb5 Qxb5–+ And White’s queenside will be bombarded once
Black plays d5 to unleash the power of his two bishops;
b) 17.Bxa4? Rxc3–+.

17...Qc7 18.a3 Qa5 19.Qe2 Rc5 20.Re3 Rac8

And White is out of any reasonable moves, as

21.Bd3

will be met by:

242
21...Rxc3 22.bxc3 d5–+

149
DeusX (1400)
EichhoernchenX (1900)
ICC Engine Rapid Ch, 2018

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

White is totally dominant in this French pawn structure (it is in fact from a French Defense game). All
of White’s pieces are mobilized except for the knight on c3. Given White’s dominant position, it has
(it is an engine game!) enough time to reroute his knight to e5!

29.Nb1!

after which the game continued:

29...Rf6 30.Nd2 Ba8 31.Nf3 Qc7 32.Ne5 Nf8 33.g4 Qa7 34.Qxa7 Rxa7 35.Rf1 Nd7 36.Nxd7
Rxd7 37.g5 Rf8 38.Rxe6

And White went on to win this endgame.

243
1–0

150
DeusX (2800)
WaspX (3100)
ICC Engine Rapid Ch, 2018

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

37.Qb5!

Liquidating into a winning endgame is a very useful technique that we need to excel at. In an over-
the-board game, it is very important to spot these moments, because at times we are so focused on
realizing our advantage and we forget that an assured win is still a win! We all do pay attention to the
idea of a ‘guaranteed win’ when it comes to trade off and going into a material up endgame.
However, not every liquidation is that simple. In this exercise, White’s two bishops support the newly
born passed-pawn in a swift fashion.

37...Qxb5 38.axb5 Bf4 39.Bd4

There is more than one way to win this position for White.

244
For instance, 39.Bb6 h5 40.Bxa5 h4 41.Bf7 Rb8 42.Bxg6 h3 43.Bxb4 h2 44.c4+– and the h-pawn is
of no consequence.

39...h5 40.Bf7 Rd8 41.Bxg7+ Kxg7 42.Rxd8 Kxf7 43.b6

And White was able to convert the game from here on.

43...g5 44.b7 g4 45.Rd4 Bb8 46.Rd7+ Kf6 47.Rd8 Bc7 48.Rc8 Bh2 49.Kc1 h4 50.Kd2 b3 51.cxb3
h3 52.Ke2 Kf5 53.b8=Q Bxb8 54.Rxb8 Kf4 55.Kf2 g3+ 56.Kg1 Kf3 57.b4 h2+ 58.Kh1 Kf2
59.Rf8+ Ke3

Black resigns.

1–0

245
 C. CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
Compared to our somewhat relaxed encounter over the weekend and to the beautiful day that
motivated work, the Wednesday afternoon on which I next walked into Sherlock’s office was rainy
and foggy. I know it was not an odd occasion for London’s weather to be that way; nevertheless, it
wasn’t helping with my mood for the day.
As I stepped foot into the building, I was welcomed by Mrs. Hudson. She gave me a pleasant smile
and asked if I fancied some tea, to which I had no answer but an enthusiastic “Yes!”
She took my coat and announced: “Mycroft is here; it must be important!”
“It must be indeed, Mrs. Hudson! Mycroft wouldn’t miss his Diogenes’ Club bridge game to spend an
evening with Sherlock.” I didn’t say it in a joking or sarcastic manner.
Mrs. Hudson announced my arrival, after which I entered the room. Sherlock and Mycroft were
seated at the table staring at the ivory chess set with a position set up in front of them.
“Ah, gentlemen, I didn’t mean to interrupt. Please proceed! It would be fun to watch Sherlock
actually playing a game, though I see no chess clock in here,” I said, pointing to the vacant spot next
to the board.
“Hello, John! My dear brother Mycroft stopped by for a quick chat on a family matter, and toward the
end, we happened to have some time to take a look at one of his Tuesday night games at Diogenes’
Club,” Sherlock answered in a monotonic voice.
“You know that I am an old-school person, John,” said Mycroft, nodding his head in a welcoming
manner. “As much as absolute truth fascinates me, I’d like to know more about my intellectual affair
from a practical perspective, which in this case means analyzing my game with my opponent or
someone better.”
The two brothers exchanged a feeble smile and then they looked at me. There was an awkward
moment of silence, after which Mycroft got up and said, “Well, I shall head out to the club before the
traffic defeats the purpose. It was good see you, John. Good luck in your tournament, Watson!”
“Thank you, Mycroft. Enjoy your evening!”
As I sat at the board, I was dumbfounded by the rather bizarre position. I looked back at Sherlock,
and he appeared to be very tired.
“Are you still jet-lagged, Sherlock?” I asked, a bit concerned.
“Not at all, John. I received your email regarding the exercises. Excellent work! Did you read the
answers carefully?” he asked, putting both hands around his head while reclining back his chair.
“I wouldn’t say excellent, Sherlock. I didn’t do that well on some of those exercises. They were
somewhat random in terms of the difficulty, the themes, and even the depth of understanding they
required.”
“So are our over-the-board games these days, my dear friend! The entire idea of this training is for
you to become your own kind of problem solver. You see, in my line of work, there are two possible
scenarios for each case coming my way: I have either seen a similar pattern or the whole case is

246
something of a novel nature. Either way, I need to rely on the knowledge I have built based on my
past experiences. I need to study others to build my own method. So, leave the rest to my method’s
exercises to help your frontal lobe with retaining more practical patterns and ideas.”
“Very well, Sherlock. You said you wanted to discuss my training from this point onward. Do you
have a follow up for me? We are a little over a week away from my tournament.”
“I am so glad you asked, John. It is time to thoroughly work on and improve your endgame skills.”
“Sure, I am certainly in need of reviewing some endgames!”
At this moment Mrs. Hudson walked in with her tea tray and a few delicacies from the nearby coffee
shop. As she was pouring some tea, I noticed a standard vinyl chess set on a plastic board, sitting on a
chair close to Sherlock’s lab.
“What is that, Sherlock? Are you trying to make Mrs. Hudson uncomfortable about environmental
concerns as well by using a plastic set?”
“It is nothing, my dear fellow. Let us study some endgames!”

247
 PART II. THE ENDGAME

A. INTRODUCTION TO A FEW ENDGAME THEMES

Aleksandra Goryachkina (2522)
Valentina Gunina (2506)
Candidates (Women), 2019
By the time we finished our tea and delicacies, Sherlock had set up the following position on the
ivory set.

“The tragedy of forcing lines. What do you think about this position, Watson?” muttered Holmes.
“Well, it is obvious that Black is fighting for his life. White has an extra pawn and a mighty knight on
f5. The h6-pawn is particularly dangerous and it is only two squares away from promotion. With all
that said, there is not much material left on the board, so if Black manages to stop the h-pawn, he
might as well save the game!”
“The player is a she, my dear friend. But anyways Watson, your logic was on par with a seasoned
grandmaster. You are definitely off to a great start. Nonetheless, the evaluation part is only half-way
to making a good decision. It is the ‘how’ part that makes the difference. How do you identify your
strategy as Black? How do you restrain the h-pawn?”
“Kg6 seems to suffice, though White can go Ra8 and Rg8, which forces the king to h7 and then h8. It
doesn’t look nice. Let me see if there is anything forcing. I should calculate taking on g4 too,
although after h7 the pawn seems too hard to stop.”

69...Kxg4??

248
“Unfortunately for Black, she went astray with this move. Instead, the move 69...Kg6, was a move
that could be chosen based on the process of elimination.”
“Great leap forward, Watson. I can already see that you picked up a few of my core thinking process
cues. However, what happens if one sees the Ra8–Rg8 threat and drops it, like you did half-way
through thinking about it, and comes back to Kg6 only when one realizes Kxg4 doesn’t work?”
“Good question, Sherlock. Then Kxg4 requires a detailed and delicate calculation.”
“As a result, John, this problem could be approached in two ways, and both start with the evaluation
that is not too hard to make. Either Black takes on g4 or goes back to g6 in order to stop the pawn. In
such a 50/50 shot, you can make the right decision by either seeing that ...Kxg4 fails due to 72.Nh4,
or simply realize that ...Kg6 doesn’t get her in any danger as White cannot spin a mating net around
Black’s king.”
70.Ra8 Kh7 71.Rd8 Be3 72.Rd7+ Kh8 73.Rf7 Bg5 74.h7 Rc2+ 75.Kf3 Rc3+ 76.Ke2 Rc2+ 77.Kd3
Rd2+ 78.Ke4 Re2+ 79.Kd5 Re5+ 80.Kd6 Bc1! To prevent Ne7 81.Rxf6 Re4

69...Kxg4??

“And Black wins one of the pawns, while her king is now secured. You don’t need to see all of this,
Watson! In fact, at this point in a game, you probably don’t have enough time to calculate everything.
Thus, you must either be sharp or develop an intuition. I already feel you’ve got a bit of both. Let us
look at how the game proceeded!”

70.h7 Rc2+ 71.Kf1 Rh2

“Oh, I see it now, Holmes!”

72.Nh4!!

249
“A great interference! I see the point of simple positions now. Such ideas repeat themselves in every
phase of the game. White is winning now.”
“She certainly is, John.”

72...Kg3

a) 72...Rxh4 73.Ra4++–;
b) 72...Kxh4 73.h8=Q++–.

73.h8=Q Rf2+ 74.Ke1+–

“And White won.”

1–0

“It was interesting, Sherlock.”

“Now you see, my dear fellow.”
He cut me off before I could reach out to the second half of my fruit tart.
“The point of this position is to teach us to make a good judgement call when much accuracy is
needed. Black had a fifty percent chance of going right, but the stakes were high. She couldn’t afford
to lose. However, there are other cases where less judgement and more finesse is necessary. We call
them ‘technical positions.’”
I grabbed my fruit tart and leaned back in my comfortable sofa, which was occupied by Mycroft not
long before. I took a bite and then gobbled it in a rushed manner.
“Holmes, these delicacies are amazing! I should thank Mrs. Hudson. And yes, Sherlock, I have heard
of technical positions. You see them in every commentary: ‘it is technically winning,’ or ‘the rest is a
matter of technique,’ and so on and so forth.”
“Bravo, Watson! Bravo! Obviously, you have been doing more than the training material I gave you
in the past week. Now let us have a look at this very instructive game between two elite players.”
Anish Giri (2776)
Wesley So (2760)
Bucharest GCT Rapid, 2019

250
“This endgame was played between Giri and So. White is much better in this endgame. The pawn on
b6 can be targeted by White’s bishop, which is superior to Black’s knight. Besides, White has a
better-placed king. The question left to solve is whether White is winning or not. However, it is not
our concern right at this moment. Given that White’s moves are simple to make, he can continue
improving his position and figure out the exact win later! For now, more progress can be made and
the moves are natural. Let us see how the game proceeded:”

28.Kc4 Kd6 29.Kb5 Kc7 30.Bb2!

“I am not going to spend a lot of time showing why g4 doesn’t work, though that was played in the
game. Instead, I am going to show you how to put Black in zugzwang. In fact, there is only one
zugzwang position here to create. Both sides will have to start pushing the pawns on the kingside
until they exhaust their pawn moves. Then, White brings his bishop to d8 when Black’s king is on b7.
At that moment Black, will be out of moves.”
30.g4? “It is hard to believe that move order matters in this position, Watson, but surprisingly, it
does! The key idea for White is to put Black in zugzwang.” 30...Nf6 31.Be3

251
31...Nd7? This was the decisive mistake. (31...Nxg4 “had to be played” 32.Bxb6+ “Black trades his
weak pawn for a pawn on the kingside. He has no worries about White’s a-pawn because his king is
completely covering its promotion square. The rest is easy for Black to hold.” 32...Kb7 33.h3 Nf6
34.Bd4 Ne4 35.f3 Ng3 36.e4 f5! 37.Be5 Ne2 “This position should end in a draw.”) 32.h4 f5??
(¹32...e5) 33.g5 (33.gxf5 exf5 34.Bd4 g6 35.f3 Kb7 36.e4 fxe4 37.fxe4 Nf8 38.Bxb6+–) 33...g6
(33...e5 34.f4 e4 35.h5 g6 36.hxg6 hxg6 37.Bd4 Kb7 38.a4 Kc7 39.Be3+–) 34.f4 Kb7 35.a4 Kc7
36.Bf2 Kb7 37.Bd4 Kc7 38.Bf6 h6? (38...Nc5? 39.Be5+ Kb7 40.a5 Ne4 41.axb6+–; 38...Kb7
39.Bd8 e5 40.fxe5 Nxe5 41.Bxb6+–) 39.Bd8+ (“Black resigned here in view of White being able to
create two far away passed pawns that cannot be stopped by the knight alone.” 39.Bd8+ Kxd8
40.gxh6 Nf6 41.Kxb6 Kc8 42.Kc6+–).

30...f6

a) 30...g6 31.g4 f6
{31...Nc5 32.Bd4 Nd7 33.g5 Kb7 34.f3 Kc7 35.Bf2 Kb7 36.Bg1 Kc7 37.a4 Kb7 38.Bf2 Kc7
39.Bg3+ Kb7 40.Bd6! “Black is in zugzwang.”; 31...f5 32.g5! “White needs to make as much
progress as possible based on the ‘principle of two weaknesses.’” 32...e5 33.Ba3 Nb8 34.Bb4 Nd7
[34...Nc6 “This move almost never works, Watson. It gives away the d5-square to White’s king.”
35.Bc3 e4 (35...Kb7 36.Kc4 e4 37.Kd5 b5 38.h4 Kb6 39.Ke6 Kc5 40.Kf7+–) 36.Kc4 Kd6 37.h4 f4
38.a4 “And Black is in zugzwang once again.”] 35.Bc3 Kd6 36.f3 Kc7 37.Bb4 Nb8 38.Be1 Nd7
39.Bf2 Kb7 40.a4 Kc7 41.h4 Kb7 42.Bg1 Kc7 43.Be3 Kb7 44.Bd2 Nb8 45.Bc3 Nd7 (45...Nc6
46.Kc4+–) 46.Bb4 Kc7 47.Be7 Nb8 48.Bf6 Nd7 49.Bg7 Kd6 (49...Kb7 50.Bh8 Kc7 51.Bf6 Kb7
52.Bd8+–) 50.Bh8! Nc5 (50...Kc7 51.Bf6 h5 52.Bg7 Kd6 53.e4 f4 54.Bh8 Kc7 55.Bf6 Kb7 56.Bd8
“Eventually Black runs out of moves.”) 51.Bf6 Nd7 52.Bd8+–.}
32.f4 Kb7 33.Bd4 e5 34.fxe5 fxe5 35.Bc3! Nf6 36.h3 Nd7 37.a4 Kc7 38.g5 Kb7 39.Bb4 Kc7

252
40.Be7 Nb8 41.Bf6 Nc6 42.e3 Na7+ 43.Kb4 Nc6+ 44.Kc4 Kd6 45.Kb5 Kc7 46.h4 “And the
zugzwang idea is completed” 46...Na7+ 47.Kc4 Kc6 48.Bxe5 b5+ 49.axb5+ Nxb5 50.Bb8 Na3+
51.Kb3 Nb1 (51...Nb5 52.Kb4 Kb6 53.Kc4 “And Black is in zugzwang, yet again!” 53...Kc6 54.e4
Na3+ 55.Kd4 Kd7 56.Ke5 Ke8 57.Kf6+–) 52.Kb2 Nd2 53.Kc3 Nb1+ (53...Ne4+ 54.Kd4 Nd2
55.e4 transposes.) 54.Kd4 Nd2 55.e4 Kd7 (55...Nf3+ 56.Ke3 Nxh4 57.Bg3 “And the knight is
trapped.”)

56.Bf4! Nb3+ 57.Kd5 Na5 “The knight is one tempo short from joining his king. White wins after
pushing his e-pawn.” 58.e5+–;
b) 30...e5? “This is definitely bad, Sherlock! It gives away the d5-square and makes the pawn a target
for White.”
“Excellent deduction, Watson, you already surpassed me at understanding this endgame.”
“I am not sure if you are being nice or sarcastic, Holmes. Anyways, carry on! This is such an
interesting position to learn from!” 31.g4! “fixing Black’s kingside and preparing the zugzwang.”
31...f6 32.Ba3 e4 33.Bb2 Kb7 34.h4 Kc7 35.Bc3 Kb7 36.Kc4 Kc6 (36...e3 37.f3 Kc6 38.Kd4 “And
White wins a healthy pawn.”) 37.Kd4 Ne5 38.g5 Ng4 39.Be1 f5 40.f3 “And the knight will be
trapped.”

31.g4 Nc5

31...e5 32.Ba3 g6 33.e4+– Kb7 34.Bd6 Zugzwang.

32.Bd4 Nd7 33.Be3 Kb7 34.h3

“There is no rush, Watson. Black is tied down.”

34...f5 35.f3 fxg4 36.fxg4

253
36.hxg4? h6 “And then after pawn to e5, it is not clear where White’s breakthrough is because if his
bishop leaves the c1–h6 diagonal, Black will go pawn to g6 followed by pawn to h5.”

36...g6 37.g5 e5 38.Bf2 Kc7 39.h4 Kb7 40.Be1 Kc7 41.Bb4 Nb8 42.Bc3 Nd7 43.a3 Kb7 44.a4
Kc7 45.Bb4 Nb8 46.Ba3 Nd7 47.Be7 Nb8 48.Bf6 Nd7

48...Nc6 49.e3 Na7+ 50.Kc4 transposes to the other lines starting with g6 and f6.

49.Bg7 Kd6 50.Bh8 Kc7

50...Nc5 51.Bf6 Nd7 52.Bd8+–

51.Bf6 Kb7 52.Bd8

“And Black is in zugzwang.”

“Wow, what a game and analysis! Thank you so much for this lesson, Holmes!”
“It is getting late, but I have two more positions for you, my friend. Do you think you can keep up?”
“Of course, Sherlock! I haven’t been this motivated in a very long time!”

1–0

Eros Riccio (2636)

René Raijmaekers C. H. (2483)
corr., 2014

254
“Let us look at this position, Watson. It seems quite odd — White has three passed pawns on the
queenside while Black has a four-to-one majority from the center to the kingside. Two factors dictate
the result of these kind of endings:
Whose pawns are faster in the race, and
Which side has better long-range pieces.
In this example White has a bishop, which makes him the favorite in this endgame.”

29...Kd8

“Let us just check what would have happened in case of a pawn race.”
29...f4 30.c5 f3 31.Nc3 Nxc3 32.Kxc3 Ra7 33.Bc4 e4 34.c6 Ne5 35.b5 Nxc4 36.Kxc4 “White is
simply winning with the extra tempo.” 36...f2 (36...e3 37.b6 “And White promotes first.”) 37.Kd4
Kd6 38.Ke3 Rxa2 39.c7 f1=Q (39...f1=N+ 40.Kxe4 “And Black cannot control the c-pawn.”)
40.c8=N+ Kd7 41.Nb6+ Kd6 42.Rxf1 Kc5 43.Nd7+ Kxb5 44.Rf5+ Kc6 45.Ne5+ Kd6 46.Rh5 Ke6
47.Nc6 h6 48.Kxe4 “From here on, White can gradually consolidate.” 48...Kf6 49.Rf5+ Kg6 50.h3
Ra4+ 51.Ke5 Kh7 52.Ne7 Rh4 53.Rf3 Ra4 54.Rd3 Rh4 55.Nd5 “We can stop here as we could go on
and on, but I think you get the point, John!”

29...Kd8 30.c5 Ra7 31.Bb5 Rb7 32.Bxd7!

“A nice move to win a tempo.”

32...Rxd7 33.c6 Rd2+ 34.Kb1 Kc8

“In the event Black tries 34...Kc7 then 35.b5 and White’s pawns are unstoppable. White wins the race
because his bishop earns him valuable tempos!”

255
35.Nb6+ Kc7

36.Na8+!

This is a small tactical finesse.

36...Kc8 37.c7 Nd6

37...Rd6 38.b5 and the b-pawn is unstoppable.

38.Nb6+ Kb7

256
39.Nc4!

“The only winning move! This is not a moment for greed, when Black’s pawns are about to start
rolling. Maintaining the initiative is more important than winning some negligible amount of material
here.”
39.c8=Q+?? “This would allow Black to save the day, as now it is White who has to be careful and
find a way to stop the pawns.” 39...Nxc8 40.Nxc8 e4 41.Ne7 f4 42.Rc2 Rd1+ 43.Rc1 and the position
is equal.

39...Nxc4 40.Rxc4 Kc8 41.b5 Rd6 42.a4

257
42...Rb6

“Black seems to have stopped White’s pawns, but now comes the beauty, Holmes! It is time to
transform the element of White’s advantage!”

43.Rc5!

“White helps his a-pawn join the race.”

43.Kb2?? Rb7 44.Rc5 Rxc7 45.Rxe5 Rf7 “And suddenly the f-pawn is too fast.”

43...Rb7 44.a5 Rxc7 45.Rxe5 Rf7 46.a6

White is two tempi ahead of 43.Kb2.

46...Kc7 47.Re6

“In practice, it is very easy to play this from the side that has the advantage. It is more a matter of
keeping the right pieces (the long-ranged ones) for the eventual pawn race, and White’s pawns are
still unstoppable.”

1–0

Piotr Nguyen (2413)

Borki Predojevic (2616)
Zadar Open A, 2019

258
50...Kh6

“A peculiar case of not panicking under pressure.”

51.Rg2!

51.Ra5?? f5+ 52.Ke5 f4!

“White’s king’s shelter is gone! A nice idea to remember, Watson!”

51...f5+ 52.Ke5 f4 53.Ke4?!

“This is already a sign that White doesn’t have confidence in his position.” 53.e4 f3 54.Rf2 Kh5
55.Kf4= “After capturing the pawn on f3 it is theoretically a draw.”

53...Kh5

259
“Once again, similar to the first position we went over, White has put himself in a position where he
needs to decide between two main candidate moves. All other moves are simply losing.”

54.Rf2??

a) “It is 54.Kf5 that saves the game!” 54...fxe3 55.Ke4 Kxh4 56.Re2 Kg4

57.Kxe3
[“57.Rg2+ also draws. 57...Kh5 58.Re2 Kg5 59.Kxe3 Kf5 60.Rf2+ Ke6 61.Kf4! (61.Re2?? loses to
61...Kd5 62.Rd2+ Kc4 and White has no shelter for his king.”)]
57...Kf5 58.Rf2+ Ke6 59.Kf3 Kd5 60.Kf4™ 60...Kc4 61.Kf5! Kc3 62.Kf4 (62.Kf6?? “White

260
cannot go too far.” 62...Kd3 63.Kf5 Ke3–+) 62...Kd4 (62...Kd3 63.Kf3) 63.Kf3 Kd3 64.Kf4= Kc3
65.Rf3+ Kc2 66.Rf2+;
b) 54.Rh2 “This transposes to the line with 54.Kf5.”

54...fxe3??

“Black blundered right back!”

“54...Kg4! would have won the game for Black and White cannot take on f4 because of 55.Rg2+.”
a) 55.h5 Kg3–+;
b) 55.Rxf4+ Kg3 “and f2 is controlled.” 56.Rf3+ Kg2 57.Rf5 Rb1 58.Ra5 a1=Q 59.Rxa1 Rxa1
60.Kf5

60...Kg3 (60...Kf3?? “The seemingly obvious move leads to a draw.” 61.e4 Ke3 62.e5 Kd4

261
63.h5! “And the second pawn saves the day.” 63...Rf1+ (63...Re1 64.h6 Rxe5+ 65.Kf6=) 64.Kg6!
Kxe5 65.h6 Ke6 66.Kg7 Rg1+

67.Kf8 “Always shouldering, Watson! Black’s king cannot approach White’s h-pawn.”) 61.e4 (61.h5
Ra5+–+) 61...Kxh4 62.e5 Kh5! “The only winning move! Black is trying to ‘outflank’ White’s king.”
63.Kf6 Kh6 64.e6 Rf1+–+.
55...Kh3 56.Re2 f3 57.Rf2 Kg3 “Zugzwang!”

55.Re2

“Now White has achieved a technically drawn endgame, Watson. This is one of those moments when

262
you should remain cautious and try your best to stay focused!”

55...Kxh4 56.Kxe3 Kg5 57.Ke4 Kf6 58.Rf2+ Ke6 59.Kf3 Ke5

60.Kg2??

“Was played by White, which is an inexplicable blunder. White simply gave up.
He might have missed that after:
60.Re2+ Kd4 61.Rf2 Kc3 62.Kf4 it is a draw because his rook has enough room to give checks to
Black’s king as it approaches the a-pawn.”

60...Rg1+ 61.Kxg1 a1=Q+

“And Black won.”

0–1

“I need more tea, Sherlock. That was a lot of endgame work for one day!”.
“Supper, my dear friend, is what you need. However, I don’t want to keep you for too long. This
time, I will email your training material. You must hurry; Mary wouldn’t be so pleased to have to
wait for you for too long.”
“How on earth were you aware I was supposed to meet Mary today?”
“My dear friend, it is the era of social media, and you have an account on every single one of them. I
noticed that you have an RSVP to an event at Charing Cross that starts in less than two hours.”
I was about to ask something when Holmes, in his usual way, raised his index finger and said, “And,

263
so does Mary. She is going to the very same event, my dear friend. I thought you had more faith in
me. This was like finding a primitive-mate-in-one. Please do not insult me any further by saying how
surprised you are!”
“Well, I am surprised Holmes. I have tight security on all of my social media platforms, and as far as
I know you are not on any of them, or at least not among my friends or followers there.”
“Every system or method has its own flaws, and these days, John, more than ever, we have access to
information about anyone. But let us leave this conversation to some other time. I hope you haven’t
had too much of that fruit tart. It would be a pity if you didn’t make the most out of the French
restaurant.”
“Now, how did you figure that one out?”
“My dear fellow, you wrote on the fan wall of a French cuisine on Facebook only a few days ago. I
think you can fill in the blanks to see where my deduction comes from!”
“I am surprised. Are you stalking me?” I tried teasing Sherlock.
Holmes winked at me and said, “As your coach, I reckon just a method doesn’t suffice for success.
One needs to have a healthy approach in order to be in the right state of mind. Anyway, I think it is
time for both of us to head out.”
“Where are you headed to, Sherlock?” I asked surprised.
Holmes wasn’t in love with London’s traffic during weekdays, so for him to be leaving to run an
errand in the middle of the week was out of the ordinary.
“I have a gala event to attend,” he said somewhat sheepishly.
“Nice, where is it and who is throwing it?” I eagerly asked.
“I think you should head out, John. I will send a note for the next hundred and twenty positions. I
hope you will enjoy them!” he said dismissively.
“Ah, come on, Sherlock! You cannot disregard me like that. Who is throwing the gala dinner?”
“Professor Moriarty, John.”

264
 Show in Text Mode

B. EXERCISES
1
Hikaru Nakamura (2736)
Lazaro Bruzon (2640)
PRO Chess League, 2020

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

To much of our surprise, Black can win in this position with

48...Kg5!

The key ideas here are shouldering and outflanking.

The two concepts are thoroughly explained by legendary Mark Dvoretsky in his Endgame Manual.
Instead Black played 48...c6?? allowing White to play 49.Kf4 where most of his advantage is gone
and he needs to be careful about not falling into a zugzwang. Yet 49...b5?? in the regular time
pressure of an online rapid game, Bruzon got himself into an irreversible trouble.

265
a) 49...Kf7! would have maintained the draw 50.Ke5 c5 51.Kd5 Kf6 52.Ke4!= and there is no
progress on either side. White cannot go after the pawn on b6 on account of: (52.Kc6?? Kxf5
53.Kxb6 g5 54.Kxc5 g4 55.Kd4 Kf4! 56.Kd3 Kf3 57.c5 g3 58.c6 g2 59.c7 g1=Q 60.c8=Q Qd1+
61.Kc3 Qc1+–+ and in a typical course of action, he ends up losing his queen.);
b) or 49...c5 would have drawn the game as 50.Kg4 Ke5 51.Kg5 Ke4 52.Kg4 Kd4 (52...Ke5
53.Kg5=) 53.Kg5 Ke5= (53...Kxc4?? wouldn’t work as White’s pawn is way more advanced
54.Kg6 Kb3 55.Kxg7 Kxb2 56.f6 c4 57.f7 c3 58.f8=Q c2 59.Qb4++–).
50.c5 Ke7 51.Ke5 Kd7 52.f6 gxf6+ 53.Kxf6 and now White is the one winning, which happened to
be the result of this game.

48...Kg5! 49.Ke5

49.c5 loses as well. 49...bxc5 50.Ke5 c4–+

49...c5! 50.Ke4 Kg4 51.Ke5 Kf3

Now, Black outflanks White’s king and shoulders it the next move.

52.f6 gxf6+ 53.Kxf6 Ke4–+

And Black is faster in collecting White’s pawns on the queenside.

2
Quang Liem Le (2737)
Rauf Mamedov (2709)
Wch Rapid, 2017

266
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

In a tough blitz game between two world-class blitz experts, the Vietnamese World Blitz champion
from 2013, Le Quang Liem found himself in a difficult position right out of the opening, though he
fought his way back into this pawn ending. With a few seconds left on his clock, he made a call for a
50–50 shot, which he might have thought desperate in either case. Little did he probably know that he
could save half a point with the right choice.

52.Kf3!

This would have been the correct continuation for White helping him save the game.
52.Kd3??–+ was played in the game leading to a defeat short after 52...Kf4 53.Kd4 Kg3 54.Ke4
Kxh3 55.Kf3 Kh2 56.Kf2 h3 and White resigned.

52.Kf3! Kd4 53.Kf2!

A very hard move to see.

53.Ke2 Ke4 Black gets the opposition and wins the h3-pawn without giving White any counterplay.
54.Kf2 Kf4 55.Kg2 Ke3–+ another example of shouldering.

53...Kc4 54.Ke3 Kb3 55.Ke4 Kxa3 56.Kf5 Kxb4 57.Kxg5 a5 58.Kxh4 a4 59.g5 a3 60.g6 a2 61.g7
a1=Q

267
62.g8=Q

Here, we want to refer you to the online tablebase which you can find on various platforms. If you
enter the current position, it will show you that it is drawn.
The h3-pawn saves the day for White as it prevents the check on h1 followed by check on g1, but of
course White has to be precise.

62...Qd4+ 63.Kh5 Kc3 64.h4 b4 65.Qc8+ Qc4 66.Qh3+

66.Qxc4+?? Kxc4 67.Kg6 b3 68.h5 b2 69.Kg7 b1=Q 70.h6 Qb2+ loses.

66...Qd3 67.Qc8+ Kd2 68.Qb7 b3 69.Kh6 Qd6+ 70.Kh7 Kc2 71.Qc8+

71.h5?? b2 72.h6 b1=Q–+

71...Kd1 72.Qc4 b2 73.Qb3+ Kc1 74.Qc3+ Kb1 75.h5

268
And White’s queen has perpetual check while he also threatens pushing his h-pawn.

3
Albalooshi Khalifa Essa (1581)
Ahmad Al Romaithi (1801)
UAE-ch, 2019

White to move

269
 Show/Hide Solution

Precise calculation is always important in pawn endgames; in this position White is a tempo short in
capturing Black’s pawns, so she needs to rely on her pawn moves in order to save the day.

48.g4!

This pawn push would have been the correct continuation.

a) 48.Ke7?? was played in the game which led to a devastating loss after 48...f5 49.f4 Ke3 50.Kf6
Kf3 51.Kg7 Kxg3 52.Kxh7 Kxh3 and White resigned;
b) 48.Ke5?? wouldn’t have worked either, as Black is much closer to capturing the pawns 48...Ke2
49.Kf4 Kxf2 50.g4 Kg2 51.h4 h6 52.Ke5 Kg3 53.h5 Kxg4–+.

48.g4! Ke2 49.f4 Kf3 50.f5!

Pushing the pawns first to try to trade them off was important.

50...gxf5 51.gxf5 Kf4 52.Ke7!

Not 52.f6?? because after 52...Kf5 53.Ke7 Kg6 the e7 and g6-squares are mined squares leading to
White’s demise after 54.h4 h5ʘ–+.

52...Kxf5 53.Kxf7

And Black is not in time to win this endgame despite the more advanced king.

53...h5

270
54.Ke7!

Not 54.Kg7?? as it is losing to 54...h4! 55.Kh6 (55.Kf7 Kf4 56.Ke6 Kg3 57.Ke5 Kxh3 58.Kf4
Kg2–+) 55...Kf4 56.Kh5 Kg3–+.

54...h4 55.Kd6!

As long as White maintains the closest L-shaped distance from Black’s king, she can draw the game.

55...Kf4 56.Kd5 Kg3 57.Ke4 Kxh3 58.Kf3=

4
Alexander Grischuk (2777)
Wesley So (2765)
PRO Chess League, 2020

271
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

White is certainly winning here, his king is better placed and he has a passed pawn which can become
protected. Above all, White is Alexander Grischuk, one of the best players in the world, and a regular
visitor to the Candidates tournament. Yet, all of these factors aren’t enough if we don’t pay attention
to the opponent’s resources.

37.f4!

37.a3?? was played in the game, losing a precious tempo and giving Black a chance to create a farther
passed pawn. 37...h5! and the game continued 38.Ke4 (if now White was to try 38.f4 it would be too
late 38...h4! 39.fxg5 h3! This pawn saves the day for Black, it is close to promotion and gives Black
the sufficient counterplay at this point. 40.Ke4 (40.g4?? even loses after 40...b5 41.Kc5 Kxe5
42.Kxb5 Kf4 43.Kxa4 Kf3 and Black is ahead at last 44.Kb3 Kg2 45.a4 Kxh2 46.a5 Kg3 47.a6 h2–
+) 40...b5 41.Kd4 Ke7 42.Kc5 Ke6 43.Kxb5 Kxe5 44.Kxa4 Ke4 45.Kb5 Kf3 46.a4 Kg2 47.a5
Kxh2 48.a6 Kg1 49.a7 h2 50.a8=Q h1=Q=) 38...h4 39.gxh4 gxh4 40.f4 h3 41.Kd4 b5 42.Kc5 g5
43.fxg5 Kxe5 44.Kxb5 Kf5 45.Kxa4 Kxg5 46.Kb4 Kf4 47.a4 Kf3 48.a5 Kg2 49.a6 Kxh2 50.a7
Kg1 51.a8=Q h2 and after a few checks, the players agreed on a draw.

37.f4! gxf4 38.gxf4

And regardless of Black’s answer, White is winning.

272
38...g5

This is the most natural response.

a) 38...h5 39.h4 b5 40.Kc5+– is simply hopeless;
b) 38...b5 seems to require some calculation, but in the end White is winning. 39.Kc5! g5 40.fxg5
hxg5 41.Kxb5 Kxe5 42.Kxa4 Kf4 (42...Kd6 43.Kb5 Kc7 44.h3 Kb7 45.Kc5+–) 43.Kb5 Kg4 44.a4
Kh3 45.a5 Kxh2 46.a6 g4 47.a7 g3 48.a8=Q g2 49.Qh8+ and because Black is left with the g-pawn,
White is winning.

39.f5+!

Grischuk may have missed this move in time-pressure.

39...Ke7

39...Kxf5 40.Kd5+– and White’s pawn is way ahead of any of Black’s.

40.Kd5 g4 41.f6+ Kf7

41...Kd7 42.e6+ Ke8 43.Kd6+–

42.Kd6 h5 43.e6+ Kxf6 44.e7+–

5
Marc Andria Maurizzi (2404)

273
 F. A. Rakotomaharo (2438)
Barreau de Paris GM, 2019

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

In this position after White’s 69.Kd4, Black resigned in the game. However, he has a miraculous
draw.

69...Kxd7! 70.Ke5 Kc6!

A counterintuitive response, but Black manages to hold.

70...h4 loses both pawns. 71.Kf4 e5+ 72.Kg4+–

71.b4 h4 72.Kf4 e5+ 73.Kg4 e4 74.Kxh4 e3 75.Kg3

The following is the key move.

75...Kd5!

This utilizes Reti’s 1921 idea with the king saving the game by having two threats, one to support
their own pawn to promote, while threatening the opponent’s passed pawns. And no matter what
White plays it only leads to a draw.

76.a5

274
a) 76.Kf3 Kc4 77.Kxe3 Kxb4=;
b) 76.b5 Kc4 and the king is in time to support the e-pawn. 77.b6 Kd3 78.b7 e2 79.b8=Q e1=Q+=.

76...Kc4 77.a6 Kd3 78.a7 e2=

6
Jinshi Bai (2600)
Hengyi Zhu (2238)
CHN-ch Blitz, 2019

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

In a king and pawn endgame with so many pawns on the board, we need to utilize three factors every
single time:
Count the tempos.
Get the opposition.
Spot the farthest passed pawns.

28...Kc5!

275
This is the move that would have helped Black draw the game.
a) 28...h5?? was played in the game losing two important tempi and allowing White to win as follows
29.b3! axb3 (29...a3 wouldn’t have worked either as 30.b4 c5 31.bxc5 Kxc5 32.Kb3 Kd4 33.Kxa3
Kc3 34.Ka4 Kc4 35.Ka5+–) 30.Kxb3! and now White will be much faster. 30...Kc5 Here White
repeated the position a couple of times to most likely gain some time 31.Kc3
[31.a4 would have won the game as well 31...Kd4 32.a5 Kc5 (32...c5 Black is way too behind 33.a6
Kd3 34.a7 c4+ 35.Kb4 c3 36.a8=Q+–) 33.Ka4! and now we can see the importance of those tempi
33...e5 34.g4 Kd6 (34...g6 35.g5+–; 34...f6 35.gxh5+–) 35.Kb4+–]
31...Kb5 32.Kb3 Kc5 33.Kc3 Kb5 Now, White exhausts the tempos on the kingside, forcing Black
to let go of the control of the c4-square. 34.g4 g6 35.gxh5 gxh5 36.f4 f6 37.a3 and White is ahead; a
few more moves were played before Black had to resign. 37...Ka4 38.Kc4 Kxa3 39.Kc5 Kb3
40.Kxc6 Kc4 41.e5 f5 42.Kd6 Kd4 43.Kxe6 Ke4 44.Kf6 Kxf4 45.e6 Kg4 46.e7 f4 and White won;
b) 28...f5?? would have the same sad end as ...h5. 29.exf5 exf5 30.h5 Kc5 (30...c5 31.a3 g5 32.hxg6
hxg6 33.f4 Kb6 34.b3!+– and White wins due to the farther passed pawn.) 31.a3 Kd5 (31...Kb5
32.Kd4 Kb6 33.Kc4 c5 34.b3! and White again wins with the farther passed pawn.) 32.Kb4!
(32.b3?? axb3 33.Kxb3 Kd4 and Black’s active king saves the day. 34.a4 c5 35.a5 Kd3=) 32...f4
33.gxf4 h6 34.Kxa4 g6 35.hxg6 Ke6 36.Kb4 h5 37.a4 h4 38.a5 h3 39.a6 h2 40.g7 Kf7 41.a7 h1=Q
42.g8=Q+ Kxg8 43.a8=Q+ Kf7 44.Qb7+ Kf8 45.Qxc6+–.

28...Kc5! 29.f4

White could try 29.b4+ as well, but after 29...axb3 30.Kxb3 Kd4, Black’s king is active and ensures a
draw with the c-pawn’s counterplay. 31.a4 c5 32.a5 Kd3! Black is in time to draw the game with
33.Kb2 Kd2 34.Kb3 (of course not 34.a6?? c4 35.a7 c3+ 36.Kb3 c2 37.a8=Q c1=Q–+ as now it is
Black who can fight for the win with the king being so much closer to White’s pawns.) 34...Kd3=

29...h5!

...g6 also draws, but this is the one in accordance to human’s understanding: this move takes away
two tempi from White: h5 and g4.

30.e5 f6 31.exf6 gxf6 32.Kd3 Kd6!

276
Beware of pawn breakthroughs!
32...Kd5?? 33.g4! hxg4 34.h5 g3 35.Ke3+– and Black is stuck in a web of his own pawns despite
having the right proximity to White’s h-pawn.

33.Ke4 Ke7 34.f5

34.Kf3 Kf7 35.g4 hxg4+ 36.Kxg4 Kg7 and White cannot make further progress. (36...Kg6?? loses
to: 37.f5+ exf5+ 38.Kf4ʘ+–).

34...e5 35.Kf3

And although White could create farther passed pawn on the h-file, it isn’t sufficient to win the game.

35...Kf7 36.Ke3

36.g4 hxg4+ 37.Kxg4 Kg7 38.Kf3 Kh6 39.Kg4 Kg7=

36...Kg7=

7
Jayaram Ashwin (2494)
Conrad Holt (2561)
Fall Chess Classic B, 2018

277
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

White has a much better pawn structure, and is thus, the favorite in this pawn ending. White needs to
carefully calculate different routes and count pawn tempi. One way of getting ahead and saving time
is to find the fastest route regardless of Black’s moves. That would immensely save on time and
simplify the thinking process.

32.Kh2!!

This would have been the winning move. Amusingly, it is a faster route for White’s king toward the
center. Probably the first thing that comes in mind is to centralize the king, but in chess unlike in
Euclidian geometry, the shortest route isn’t the direct link between two squares! If you want to
understand it better, try to get your king from e1 to e8 in different forms. As long as you are within
three files from the e-file, you will make it to e8 in seven moves in more than one way!
32.Kf1? was played in the game though it could have led to a draw. 32...Ke7 33.Ke2 Kd6 34.Kd3
Kd5 35.a3 (35.a4 wouldn’t work as it allows 35...Kc5 a line that leads to both players queening in the
same time. 36.Ke4 Kb4 37.Ke5 Kxa4 38.Kxe6 Kb3 39.f4 Kxb2 40.f5 b5 41.Kf7 b4 42.Kxg7 b3
43.f6 Kc3! 44.f7 b2 45.f8=Q b1=Q and this endgame should end in a draw.) 35...e5 36.f3 g5?? This
was played too fast by Black allowing (36...b5! and Black keeps an extra tempo with b6, which is
very important as it doesn’t allow White to put him in zugzwang and the game could have ended in a
draw. 37.b3 g5 38.g3 b4 39.axb4 b5 40.Ke3 h5 41.Kd3 Ke6 42.Ke4 Kf6 43.Kd5 Kf5 44.Kc5 h4
45.gxh4 gxh4 46.Kxb5 Kf4 47.Kc4 Kxf3 48.b5 e4 49.b6 e3 50.b7 e2 51.b8=Q e1=Q and despite the

278
extra pawn, this endgame should be a draw.).

White played b3 instead and allowed 37.b3? (37.a4 Would have been the winning move in this
position 37...b5 38.axb5 b6 39.g3 h6 40.h4+–) 37...b5! 38.Ke3 h5 39.g3

And here Black made a final mistake that brought him the loss. 39...h4??
[39...b4! would have saved the game once again. 40.a4 (40.axb4 b5! 41.h4 gxh4 42.gxh4 Kd6
43.Ke4 Ke6=) 40...Ke6=]
40.gxh4 gxh4 41.Kd3 Ke6 42.Ke4 Kd6 43.Kf5 Kd5 44.Kg5 Kd4 45.Kxh4 Kc3 46.b4 1–0.

32.Kh2!! Kf7

279
32...Ke7 33.Kg3 Kd6 34.Kf4 Kd5

35.a4! again making Black run out of moves. 35...Kd4 36.h4 e5 is almost never good because it gives
White an entry into Black’s camp via f5. 36...h6 37.h5 Kd5 38.g3 Kd4 39.g4 Kd5 40.Ke3 Ke5 41.f3
Kd5 42.f4 Kc5 43.Ke4 Kd6 44.g5+– and Black is in zugzwang.

33.Kg3 e5

33...b5 34.Kf4 Kf6 35.Ke4 b6 36.b4! g5 37.g4 h6 38.f3 Kf7 39.Ke5 Ke7 40.a3!+– The last
necessary tempo!

34.Kg4 Kg6

34...Kf6 35.a4! Ke6 36.Kg5 Kd6 37.Kf5 Kd5 38.h4 Kd4 39.h5 e4 40.g4 Kd5 41.g5 Kd4 42.g6+–

35.a4!

This is an important move to take Black’s tempi away.

280
35...Kf6

35...h5+ loses to 36.Kf3 Kf5 37.Ke3 Kf6 38.Ke4 Ke6 39.h4 g6 40.g3 Kd6 41.b3 Ke6 42.f3 Kd6
43.g4 Ke6 44.gxh5!
[44.b4??

Beware of this cunning trap! 44...g5!! 45.hxg5 (45.gxh5 gxh4 46.h6 Kf7–+) 45...h4 46.Ke3 b5!
Black doesn’t really need this, but this is the flashiest! 47.a5 (47.axb5 would have the same fate
47...Kf7 48.Kf2 Kg6 49.Kg2 Kxg5 50.Kh3 b6–+ and White is in zugzwang.) 47...Kf7 48.Kf2 Kg6
49.Kg2 Kxg5 50.Kh3

281
50...Kf4! 51.Kxh4 Kxf3 52.g5 White promotes first, but Black promotes with check! 52...e4 53.g6
e3 54.g7 e2 55.g8=Q e1=Q+ 56.Kh5 Qh1+ 57.Kg6 Qg2+ 58.Kh7 Qxg8+ 59.Kxg8 Ke4 60.Kf7
Kd4 61.Ke7 Kc4 62.Kd6 Kxb4 63.Kc7 Kxa5 and the game is over.]
44...gxh5 45.f4 exf4 46.Kxf4 Kf6 47.b4 b5 last try 48.a5!+– and White is winning.

36.h4 Kg6 37.Kf3 Kf5 38.g4+ Kf6 39.Ke4 Ke6 40.f3 g6 41.h5 g5 42.h6+–

And White’s king is entering Black’s camp winning the endgame.

282
 8
Samuel Sevian (2657)
Hovhannes Gabuzyan (2616)
Winter Chess Classic A, 2019

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

This is a pure calculation position.

One has to realize that trading queens does in fact lead to a draw and there is no need to give activity
to White’s queen.

54...Qxg1+

Although 54...Qe2 draws as well, but if you have time on the clock, you are better off to see a certain
draw!

54...Qxg1+ 55.Kxg1 Kg6 56.Kf2 Kf6 57.Kf3

Black is always in time for 57.g3 hxg3+ 58.Kxg3 Kg6 59.Kf3 Kh5 60.Kg3= (and White cannot
afford trying to use the h-pawn as a bait 60.Ke3?? Kh4 61.Kd4 Kxh3 62.Kd5 Kg3 63.Ke5 Kg4–+).

283
57...Kf7!

Black correctly calculates the mined squares. Also, it is a form of distanced opposition!
a) 57...Ke6?? 58.g3 hxg3 59.Kxg3 Kf6 60.Kf3 Ke6 61.Ke3 Kd5 62.h4 Ke6 63.Kd4+–;
b) 57...Kg6 58.Ke3+–.

58.Ke2

58.Kf2 Kf6 and Black maintains the proper opposition.

58...Ke6

58...Ke8! also works with a five-square distance opposition.

59.Ke3 Ke7 60.Kd3 Kd7 61.Kd4 Kd6

And the game went on a little bit longer, but the players did eventually agree on a draw.

½–½

9
Sabina Foisor (2235)
Alisa Melekhina (2235)
USA-ch (Women), 2015

284
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

Queen endgames can lead to a draw if one doesn’t take advantage of their winning chances while they
are ahead giving checks!

73.Qd8+!

This would have been the winning move.

73.e6?? was played in the game and after a few checks by Black, the players agreed on a draw.
73...Qh4+ 74.Ke3 Qe1+ 75.Kd3 Qd1+ 76.Kc4 [...] ½–½.

73.Qd8+! Qe8

a) As after 73...Kf7 74.e6+ Kg7 75.f6+, White is able to trade the queens into a winning king and
pawn endgame. 75...Kh7 76.Qc7+ Kg6 77.Qf7+ Kg5 78.Qxh5+ Kxh5 79.f7+–;
b) Similarly, 73...Kg7 74.f6+ Kh7 75.Qd7+ Kg6 76.Qe8++–.

74.Qd6+ Qe7

74...Kg8 75.e6! Now Black’s queen finds itself on a wrong path to checks. 75...Qh5 76.Qd8+ Kg7
77.f6++–.

285
75.f6!!

A move that would have forced the queens trade into a winning king and pawn endgame as White’s
pawns keep Black’s king in zugzwang allowing for White’s king to join and support them to promote
ahead of Black’s pawns.

75...Qxd6 76.exd6 Ke8

This is a necessary, but sad loss of time and it allows White to win the game.

77.Ke3 b5

77...c4 78.Kd4 b5 79.Ke5 c3 80.Ke6 c2 81.d7+ Kd8 82.f7 c1=Q 83.f8=Q+ Kc7 84.Qc8+ Kb6
85.d8=Q+ Qc7 86.Qdxc7#

78.Ke4 b4 79.Ke5 b3 80.Ke6 b2 81.f7+ Kf8 82.d7+–

10
Magnus Carlsen (2844)
Yifan Hou (2673)
Tata Steel A, 2016

286
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

The king and pawn ending is indeed a draw, but it requires a lot of finesse. It was easier to hold with
the queens on the board.

44...Qxc3+?!

In this position, Black should keep the queen on the board with 44...d4!, and then bring her king off
harms way, maybe to a7 to avoid dangerous checks which would allow for the trading of queens. In
case White tries to bring the king to d3 and capture the d4-weakness, Black can activate her queen as
follows. 45.Qc4 Kc7 46.Kc1 Kb8 47.Kd2 Ka7 48.Kd3 Qh4 and now it would be White who has to
go for the perpetual. 49.Qb4 Qxh3+ 50.Kxd4 Qf3 51.Qb6+ Kb8 52.Qd8+ Ka7=

44...Qxc3+?! 45.Kxc3

287
45...a5!

This would have saved the game on account of a simple logic: White’s king has only two plausible
entrances into Black’s camp, these two entries are b6 and e5. Since Black’s king is closing the entry
via e5 from e6 now the b6 entrance is closed as well which ensures the draw for Hou Yifan.
45...h5?? was played in the game, after which White won the game easily. 46.Kb4 Kc8 47.Ka5 Kc7
48.h4 zugzwang 48...Kb8 49.Kb6 Kc8 50.b4 Kb8 51.b5 cxb5 52.axb5 axb5 53.Kxb5 Kc7 54.c3 and
Black resigned shortly.

46.b4

46.Kd4 Ke6 47.c3 h5 48.h4 Kf6 49.b4 Ke6 50.bxa5 Kf6 51.a6 bxa6 52.c4 dxc4 53.Kxc4 a5=

46...Ke6 47.bxa5 Kd7 48.Kb4 Kc7 49.a6 bxa6 50.Ka5 Kb7=

11
Sabina Foisor (2276)
Irina Krush (2451)
USA-ch (Women), 2019

288
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

White can win simply with the move:

57.Kc4!

57.Nxe1? was played instead, and it is hard to understand how Sabina forgot about this simple idea.
Thankfully, the score-sheets were still signed with White’s victory on move 146.

57.Kc4! f1=Q 58.Qe5+ Kf3 59.Qxe1+–

And with a knight and pawn up, Black would soon have to resign.

12
Gawain Jones (2688)
Dinara Saduakassova (2481)
FIDE Chess.com Grand Swiss, 2019

289
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

A few moves back, White had two ways of trapping Black’s knight on a2 (now already captured in
the diagram before you).
Though despite losing several tempi and letting Black’s king close to his pawns, he still had a
beautiful way to win this position.

53.Bd5!

This move is the evident starting point.

No other move allows the win; not even the natural 53.f4 as after 53...Kxb4 54.f5 Kxc5=, and
Black’s connected passed pawns should be enough to keep White’s king away from supporting the f-
pawn.

53.Bd5! Kxb4 54.Bxc6 Kxc5

290
And now White missed the win.

55.Bb7!

The bishop move would have been the only winning move for White.
55.Be4?? was played instead and the few extra tempi for Black’s king did matter after 55...Kd4
56.Bc6 Ke3 57.Kc2 a5 58.Kc3 a4! 59.Kb4 Kf4 60.Bd5 Ke3 and it is a fortress! Whenever White
will capture b5, Black will be in time to give up the a-pawn deflecting the bishop and winning the f-
pawn 61.Bc6 Kf4 62.Bxb5 Kxf3 63.Kxa4 ½–½.

55...a5

a) 55...Kb6 56.Bc8! a5 57.f4 b4 58.Kc2 a4

[58...Kc7 59.Be6 Kd6 (59...a4 60.Kd3 Kd6 61.Bg8 Kc5 62.Ke4 b3 63.f5 Kd6 64.Be6+– and Black
is in zugzwang again.) 60.Bb3+–]
59.f5 Kc7 60.f6 Kd6 61.Bh3 a3 62.Kb3;
b) Black doesn’t have time for 55...Kd4 56.Bxa6 Ke3 57.Bb7+–, and one pawn will not be sufficient
to deflect White’s bishop.

56.Kb2!

56.Kc2 Kd4 57.f4 a4 58.Bc6 b4 59.Kb2 a3+ 60.Kb3 Kc5 61.Be8 Kd5 62.Bg6 (62.f5 Ke5 63.Bd7
Kf6 And White’s king cannot approach his own f-pawn, as Black’s pawns are way too advanced.)
62...Kd4 63.Bb1 Kd5=

56...a4

291
57.Ka3!

The key point, which may have escaped Jones’ mind.

57...Kd4

57...Kb6 58.Be4 Kc5 59.f4+–

58.f4

Creating an unexpected fortress, so Black’s king cannot approach the f-pawn.

58...Kc5 59.Bf3ʘ

Not 59.f5?? Kd6 60.Kb4 Ke5 61.Bc8 Kf6=, and White will not be able to win the connected passed
pawns in view of the deflection of the bishop from f5.

59...Kd6 60.Kb4 Ke6 61.Be4 Kf6

292
62.Bb1!

62.Kxb5?? It is always easy to blow your winning chances. 62...a3 63.Bb1 a2 64.Bxa2 Kf5=

62...Ke6 63.Kc5 Kf6 64.Kd4 b4 65.Be4 a3

65...b3 66.Kc3 Ke6 67.Kb4+–

66.Bd5+–

13
Sabina Foisor (2308)
Anna Sharevich (2281)
USA-ch (Women), 2018

293
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

The important rule to remember here is that White’s king should make it to d4 to prevent the trading
of the bishops on d3.
This is another example of the shortest route not always being the most direct line between two
squares. White employs Reti’s method by combining the threat with the approach in order to bring
her king to d4 in nick of the time.

64.Kg5!

An important move with tempo, forcing Black’s bishop to h7.

64.Kg3?? loses to 64...e3 leaves White two tempi behind in the pawn endgame. 65.Kg2 Bd3 66.Bxd3
Kxd3 67.Kf1 Kd2–+

64.Kg5! Bh7

If the bishop is moved anywhere else, White’s plan to draw is simple.

64...Bc8 65.Kf4 Bb7 (65...e3 could be tried in vain 66.Ke4 Bg4 67.Kd4 Right on time. 67...Be2
68.Be8 Ba6 69.Bh5=) 66.Bc4 White can wait for the moment Black plays e3 and only then bring the
king to d4. 66...e3 67.Ke5 Kc3 68.Bb5=

65.Kh6!

294
This move would have saved the game. The entire maneuver is fascinating and is based on a single
tempo! Isn’t that where chess starts? “Chess is a tragedy of one tempo,” said the master of chess
literature, Saviley Tartakower!
65.Bc6?? was played and White doesn’t manage to bring the king to d4 in time. 65...e3 66.Bf3 Be4
67.Bg4 Bd3 68.Kf4 Be2 69.Bh3 Bd1 70.Bf1 Bc2 71.Kf3 Bd3 White resigned.

65...Bg8

65...Bf5 only repeats the position 66.Kg5.

66.Kg7! Bb3

67.Kf6

And White makes it in time.

67...e3 68.Ke5

White is one tempo from getting to the d4-square, and sadly for Black, there is no time to play Bd3.

68...Bc2 69.Kd4=

14
Mario Guevara (1939)

295
 Ryan Wang (1853)
Boston Chess Congress, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

The position looks winning as White’s bishop and king are superior to their counter parts. However,
things are far from clear hereafter White missed the chance to win with:

44.fxe5!+–

Instead White played 44.f5? A seemingly a strategically sound move, but the game is drawn because
White’s king has no real entry. 44...Be7 45.g4
[45.Bxh6 wouldn’t help here, as Black can continue with 45...gxh6 46.Kxh6 Bf8+ 47.Kh7 Bd6 48.g4
Be7! The key point! White cannot put Black in zugzwang. 49.a4 Bf8 50.Kh8= (50.g5?? would lose to
50...fxg5 51.hxg5 Bg7! 52.g6+ — 52.f6 Bf8 53.Kh8 Kg6–+ — 52...Kf8–+)]
45...Bd8?? (45...Bd6±; 45...Bf8± was called for. 46.a4 Bd6 47.Bxh6 gxh6 48.Kxh6 Bf8+ 49.Kh5
Be7 50.g5 Kg7=)

296
Black allowed the win once again, but White missed the opportunity and played 46.g5? after which
the game continued.
[46.Bxh6!+– would have been the precise move to win! 46...Bc7 (46...gxh6 47.Kxh6 Be7 48.g5 fxg5
49.hxg5 Bf8+ 50.Kh7+–) 47.g5 gxh6 48.Kxh6 fxg5 49.hxg5 Kg8 50.Kg6 Bd6 51.Kf6 Bc7 52.Ke6
Bb8 53.f6 Kh7 54.Kf7+–]
46...hxg5 47.hxg5 Bc7 48.Bd2 Bd6 49.Bc3 and the game soon ended in a draw.

44.fxe5!+– Bxe5

44...fxe5? 45.Bxh6! Now this works. Because the h- and g-pawns are impossible to stop, while Black
has absolutely no counterplay. 45...gxh6 46.Kxh6 Bf8+ 47.Kh5 (47.Kg5 followed by Kf5 and
pushing the pawns works well too.) 47...Bd6 48.g4 Bf8 49.g5 Kg7 50.Kg4 Bd6 51.Kf5 Bc7 52.h5
Bd8 53.g6 Bc7 54.h6+ Kxh6 55.Kf6+–

45.Bf4! Bc3

45...Bxf4 46.gxf4 Kf8 47.Kg6 Kg8 48.h5 Kf8 49.e5 fxe5 50.fxe5+–

46.Bb8 Bd2 47.Kg4! Ke6 48.Bxa7 Ba5 49.Bb8! g6 50.h5! g5 51.Kf3 Bc3 52.Bc7 Ba5 53.e5 f5

53...fxe5 54.g4 Kf6 55.Ke4+–

54.g4 f4 55.Ke4 Ke7 56.Bd6+ Kf7

56...Ke6 57.Bf8±

57.Kd5 f3 58.e6+ Kf6 59.Bg3 Ke7 60.Ke4 Kxe6 61.Kxf3 Bc3 62.Bc7 Ba5 63.Ke4+–

297
 15
Gabriel Sargissian (2690)
Aryan Tari (2630)
EU-ch Team, 2019

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

Precise play in bishop endgames where one is in defensive mode requires us to focus on recognizing
our active plans and building a fortress, usually by maintaining our bishop on the correct diagonal. In
this case, f4 is a target on which Black can focus, before giving up his d4-pawn that was going to be
taken anyways.

38...Bd6!

This would have created a fortress despite losing the d4-pawn.

38...Ke8?? was played instead, and White is winning after 39.Bxd4 Bb4 (39...Bd6 doesn’t work
anymore because of: 40.f5 h4 41.fxg6 fxg6 42.f4 h3 43.Bg1 Kf7 44.Kf3 and the h3–pawn will be
lost.) 40.f5 Bd2 41.f4 and White creates another passed pawn when the h-pawn can barely create any
counterplay for Black. White went on to win the game a few moves later.

298
38...Bd6! 39.Bxd4 h4 40.Bf2

40.Bg1 h3 41.Bh2 Ke7 somewhat transposes.

40...h3 41.Bg3

And to make things easy for Black,

41...f5+!=

And there is no progress for White considering that the f-pawn is pinned, and the king has to stay near
the center to not allow the loss of the f-pawn.

42.gxf6 Kf7

And White is lucky that the threat of g5 isn’t that major. The position is drawish.

16
Wesley So (2760)
Quang Liem Le (2713)
Bucharest GCT Blitz, 2019

299
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

In spite of the strength of the bishop vs the knight when there are pawns only on one side of the
board, the side with the bishop should be careful for knight jumps. Here, White missed the
opportunity to save the game with:

60.Bf3!

a) 60.Ba6 could have drawn with the same idea of bringing the bishop to e2 to stop h5. 60...Ne1
61.Be2= and if Black cannot play h5, the position is drawn;
b) 60.Bc8?? was played instead, and it allowed 60...Nf2 61.Be6 h5! Now Ng4 is a strong threat
which White cannot meet. 62.Kg1 Kg3 White resigned.

60.Bf3! Nf2 61.Be2!

Now Black cannot improve his position with the move:

61...h5

Because of the following

62.Bxh5!

300
A small nuance.

62...Kxh5 63.Kg3=

17
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2803)
Yifan Hou (2649)
GRENKE Chess Classic, 2017

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

It is somewhat surprising that White needs to play extremely accurately in order to win this endgame,
despite being able to create passed pawns on two edges of the board. The key point is that the a-
pawn’s promotion square is the wrong color for White’s bishop.

53.Bd8+!

This would have been the winning move.

Instead MVL went for 53.b3?? after which Hou Yifan blundered back with 53...Kg5?? leading to a
losing position given the knight won’t be able to stop the passed a pawn.

301
[53...Nc5! would have been the saving move for Black 54.bxa4 (54.Bd8+ Kg7 55.bxa4 Kh6= leads
to the same story; 54.b4 Ne4 55.Bd8+ Kg7 56.Kb2 Kh6 57.Kc2 Kxh5 58.Kd3 Nd6= and the threat
over the a3-pawn gives Black enough to draw this game.) 54...Kg5 55.Bd8+ Kxh5 56.a5 Na6
57.Kb3 Kg6 and Black is in time as Hou Yifan’s blockade is very efficient against White’s king.]
Now MVL continued with 54.Bb4 after which all is over for Black! The game continued 54...Kxh5
55.bxa4 Nf6 56.a5 Nd5 57.a6 Nc7 58.a7 Kg6 59.Ba5 Na8 60.Kb3 Kf7 61.Kc4 Ke7 62.Kc5 Kd7
63.Bb6 Kc8 64.Kxc6 Nc7 65.Bg1 Na8 66.Bh2 Nc7 67.Kb6 Na8+ 68.Ka6ʘ and here Black
resigned.

53.Bd8+! Kg7 54.Be7!

An important move where the bishop dominates the knight.

54...c5

a) If 54...Kh6 55.b3 Nc3+ 56.Kb2 Nd1+ 57.Kc1 Nc3 58.Kc2 Nd5 59.Bd8 Ne3+ 60.Kc3 Nd5+
61.Kb2+–, and once the checks are over, White should be winning with the outside passed pawn;
b) 54...Kf7 55.h6+–.

55.b3 c4

an interesting last try, but...

56.bxa4! Nc3+

57.Ka1!

302
57.Kb2?? Nxa4+ 58.Kc2 Kh6=

57...Nxa4 58.Bg5!

With Black’s king stuck having to stop the h-pawn, White can make his way up with his king and win
the game. The line could go on as follows.

58...Nc5 59.Be3 Na4 60.Kb1 Kf6 61.Kc2 Kf5 62.Bf4 Kf6 63.Kd2 Kf5

63...Nb6 64.Be3 Na4 65.Bh6 Kf5 66.Bg7 Kg5 67.h6 Kg6 68.Ke3+–

64.h6 Kg6 65.Ke3 Nc3 66.Be5 Na4 67.Bg7 Kh7 68.Kd4 c3 69.Kd3 Kg6 70.Kc2+–

18
Tomasz Markowski (2546)
Jan Miesbauer (2390)
CZE-ch Team, 2020

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

46...a5!

303
This would have been the correct continuation, saving the game in spite of being a pawn down.
46...Nb6?? was played in the game, leading to a losing endgame, though White fell for a trick and
only drew the game later. 47.a5 Nc4 48.e5! Kg7 (neither pawn captures work because of 48...Nxe5
49.Bd5 and the bishop dominates the knight. 49...Kg7 50.Ke3 Ng6 51.Bb7+–; 48...Nxa5 49.Bd5
Kg7 50.Ke3 with Black’s knight trapped on a5, the only thing White has to do is march his king over
to capture it.) 49.Bd5 Nxe5 This move eventually had to happen. 50.Ke3 Kg6 51.Kd4 Kf6 52.Bb7
Ke6 53.Kc5 Nd7+ 54.Kc6 Ne5+ 55.Kb6 Nc4+ 56.Kxa6 f6 57.Kb5 Nxa5 58.Kxa5 Ke5

Inexplicably, in this position, White must have forgotten about the wrong corner color bishop and
played 59.Kb5?? (59.Bc8! would have stopped all counterplay and now all White has to do is bring
his king to the kingside. 59...Kf4 60.Kb4 Kg3 61.Kc5 Kxh3 62.g5++–) 59...f5 allowing 60.Bg2 Kf4
and the players agreed to a draw.

46...a5! 47.Bf1

47.e5 Kg7 48.Bb7 Nb2! 49.Bc6 Nc4 50.Bd5 Nxe5 51.Ke3 Kf6 52.Kd4 Ng6 53.Bc4 Nf4 54.Bf1
Ke7 [54...Kg5 holds as well. 55.Kc5 (55.Ke4 Ne6) 55...f5 56.gxf5 Kxf5 57.Kb5 Nd5 58.Kxa5
Nc3=] 55.Kc5 Kd7 56.Kb5 Kd6 57.Kxa5 Kc5=

47...Nd2 48.Bd3 Nb3

304
49.g5

49.Ke3 is another option for White to try to win, but is in vain. 49...Nc5! 50.Bc2 (50.Bb5 Ne6
51.Bc4 Ng5 52.Bf1 Ne6 And White has not made any more progress.) 50...Ne6 and the knight ties
Black’s position together and seems to be a great defensive piece for this position. 51.e5 Kg7
Surprisingly, White doesn’t have an entry square for his king in Black’s camp. 52.Be4 (52.g5 Nxg5
53.Bf5 f6 54.exf6+ Kxf6 55.Kf4 Nf7= The knight heads over to capture the pawn on a4.) 52...f6
53.Bd5 Ng5 54.exf6+ Kxf6 55.Bg2 Ke5=, and Black is in time to save the game.

49...Nc5 50.Bc2 Ne6 51.e5 Nxg5 52.Bf5 Kg7 53.Ke3 f6 54.e6 Kf8 55.Kd4 Ke7 56.Kc5 Nxe6+
57.Kb6 Nd4=

19
Jakub Pulpan (2421)
Robert Kempinski (2578)
CZE-ch Team, 2020

305
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

White is down a pawn, but luckily (unlike the previous example), all of the pawns are on the same
side. However, White’s defensive method is non-trivial.

42.f4+!

Surprisingly, passive defense doesn’t work in this position.

a) 42.Nf3+? The idea of just staying and waiting for the opponent to make progress doesn’t work as
Black has a clear winning plan. 42...Kf5 43.Ng5 f6 44.Nf3 e5 45.Ne1 Ke4 46.Nf3 Bb4! restricting
the knight and slowly improving the position. 47.Ng1 Bc3 48.Nf3 Kd3 49.Kf1 e4 50.Ng1 Kd2
51.Nh3 Be5 52.Ng1 Bc7 53.Ne2 e3 54.f3 (54.fxe3 wouldn’t help either 54...Kxe3 and now that the
king is on the same rank as the g-pawn, Black wins without much trouble.) 54...f5 55.f4 Ba5 56.Nd4
Kd1 57.Ne2 Be1ʘ–+;
b) 42.Kf1?? was played in the game and Black was able to slowly improve and win the game.
42...Bb4 43.Nc4+ Kd4 44.Ne3 Kd3 45.Ng2 Bd2 46.f3 e5 47.g4 e4 and White resigned in view of
48.fxe4 hxg4.

42.f4+! Kd5 43.Kf3

306
43...f5

43...e5 only helps White, as trading leaves Black with fewer pawns to play with in his quest of
winning the game. 44.fxe5 Kxe5 45.Ne4 Be7 46.Nf2 Kf5 47.Nh3 and the knight stays there!
47...Bc5 48.Nf4 f6 49.Nh3 g5 50.hxg5 fxg5 51.Nf4!=

44.Kg2 Bd4 45.Nf3 Bf6 46.Nh2!

The knight finds a hiding place and White has a simple fortress now.

46...Ke4 47.Nf3 Ke3

307
47...e5 allows the fortress once again! 48.fxe5 Bxe5 49.Ng5+ Ke3 50.Nh7 Bd6 51.Ng5 f4 52.gxf4
Kxf4 53.Kh3 Kf5 54.Nf3=

48.Ng1 e5 49.fxe5 Bxe5 50.Nf3 Bd6 51.Ng5 f4 52.gxf4 Kxf4

52...Bxf4 53.Nf7= with the inevitable play to play 54.Nh8

53.Kh3

And it transposes to the comment on move 47.

20
Baadur Jobava (2604)
Magnus Carlsen (2872)
Wch Blitz, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

In this position, White was able to create a fortress, as he needs to make sure that Black’s king and
bishop don’t find a way into White’s weakened pawn chain.

47.Kc4!=

308
This would have kept the position equal and all White needs to do is wait.
a) 47.Na2 works as well 47...Kd5 48.Nc3+=;
b) So does 47.Ka4 which keeps Black’s king and bishop away from White’s camp;
c) Instead, White played 47.Nb1?? trying to get the a-pawn, but most likely overlooking 47...Bb4!
48.Nc3 was White’s last try, but (obviously 48.Kxb4 loses to 48...a2; and 48.Nxa3 allows 48...Be1
and even if White’s king makes it in time to stop Black’s passed pawns with, 49.Nc2 Bxg3 50.Kc3
Bxh4 51.Kd2 Bg3 52.Ke2 h4 53.Kf1 h3 54.Kg1. Now Black brings in his final piece to win the
endgame 54...Kd5–+) after 48...a2 and we’re back to the variation above 49.Nxa2 Be1. White tried a
more active approach, but in vain. 50.Kc4 Bxg3 51.Nb4+ Kd6 52.Kd3 Bxh4 53.e4 fxe4+ 54.Kxe4
Bg3 55.f5 h4 56.Nd5 h3 0–1.

309
 Show in Text Mode

21
Aleksey Dreev (2649)
Ray Robson (2682)
Fall Chess Classic A, 2018

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

There might be a few moves that draw the game for Black. The simplest is to bring in the king closer.

47...Ke6!

This is one of the drawing moves.

a) 47...Nf3 trying to get the knight to stop the pawn from behind it before bringing in the king would
work as well. 48.Kb6 Nd2 49.Kb5 Nb3 50.Kb4 Ke6 51.Kxb3 Kd7= and the king makes it to a8 in
time;
b) Unfortunately for Black, he went for 47...Nf5?? which puts the knight on the wrong path and
loses, which is what happened in the game. 48.Kb6 Nd6 49.Be5 Nc4+ 50.Kb5! It is amazing that

310
White is four moves away from promotion, yet he can give up the bishop and Black’s knight will not
be able to make it in time to stop the a-pawn. 50...Na3+ (50...Nxe5 51.a5 Nf3 52.a6 Nd4+
53.Kb6+–) 51.Kc5 Ke7 52.a5 Kd7 53.a6 Kc8 and now a waiting move for the knight will put it even
further away from the pawn. 54.Bd6 Nc2 55.Kb6 Ne3 56.a7 (56.Kc6 could have done it a little bit
faster.) 56...Nd5+ 57.Ka6 Black resigned.

47...Ke6! 48.Kb6 Kd7

Now White can try to keep Black’s king away with either the bishop or with the opposition, but
neither work.

49.a5

49.Kb7 Nf5! 50.a5 Nd6+ 51.Kb8 Kc6 52.a6 Nc8!=

49...Kc8 50.Be5

Trying to restrict the king from getting in front of the pawn, but now the knight will make it in time.

50...Ng6 51.Bd6

51.a6 Nxe5 52.a7 Nd7+ 53.Kc6 Ne5+ 54.Kb6 Nd7+ 55.Ka6 Nc5+=

51...Ne7

This takes advantage of the wrong color corner bishop.

52.a6 Nd5+ 53.Kc5 Nc7 54.a7

311
54...Kb7!=

NOT 54...Na8?? 55.Kc6 Nc7 56.Kb6 Na8+ 57.Ka6+– and Black is now in zugzwang.

22
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2767)
Sebastian Bogner (2571)
EU-ch Team, 2019

312
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

49.Kd4!

Keeping the king closer to the b6-square is more important than winning a useless tempo.
In the game, White played 49.Kd3? after which the game as drawn after. 49...Be1 50.Nc3 Kg7 51.a5
Kf7 52.a6 Bf2 53.Nb5 Bc5 54.a7 Bxa7 55.Nxd6+ ½–½.

49.Kd4! Kg7

49...Ba5 50.Kc4 Kg7 51.Kb5 Bd2 (51...Bd8 52.Nb6 d5 53.Nxd5 Kf7 54.Nb6 Ke6 55.a5 Kd6
56.a6+–) 52.Nb4 Kf7 53.a5 Ke8 54.a6 Be3 55.Nd5 Ba7 56.Kc6 Kd8 57.Kb7+–

50.Nc3!

This is the key point.

50...Be1 51.a5 Bf2+ 52.Kd5 Kf7 53.a6 Ke7 54.Kc6

54...Ba7

54...Kd8 55.Kb7 Kd7 56.Nd5+–

313
55.Nd5+ Kd8 56.Kb7+–

23
Jan Christian Schroeder (2571)
Evgeny Alekseev (2620)
Bundesliga, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

After Black’s last move 38...f5, White’s best way to keep a fortress is to play:

39.g3!

A very strong contradictory move. In order to build a fortress, White needs to weaken his pawn chain!
The key point is that White needs to move his pawns on the kingside so that Black doesn’t get to fix
and attack them after playing f4.
39.Ke2? was played instead, allowing Black to improve his position step by step. 39...f4 40.Nc2
Bb5+ 41.Kf2 Kd5 42.Na3 Kc5 43.g3 b6 44.gxf4 gxf4 45.axb6 Kxb6 46.h4 Kc5 and Black was able
to convert the game [...] 0–1.

39.g3! Bd7

314
39...f4 wouldn’t help 40.gxf4 gxf4 41.Ng2 Ke5 (41...Kd5 is another option that doesn’t bring Black
more than a draw. 42.Nxf4+ Kc4 43.Ne6 g6 44.h4 Kxc3 45.f4 Kb4 46.f5! Be8 47.f6 Kxa5 48.Nd8
Kb6 49.f7 Bxf7 50.Nxf7 a5 51.Ke3=) 42.h4 Kf5 43.Ke2=

40.Ke2 Kd6 41.Nc2 Kc5 42.Nd4 b6 43.axb6 Kxb6 44.Kd3 Kc5 45.Nb3+ Kb5 46.f4 gxf4 47.gxf4
a5 48.Nd4+ Kb6 49.c4 a4 50.Kc3=

24
Aron Nimzowitsch
Akiba Rubinstein
Karlsbad Masters, 1911

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

Regardless of when they were played, endgames pass the test of time. Here, Nimzowich, missed a
beautiful win by first bringing his king closer. In fact, he missed the point of which pawn he needed
to preserve.

51.Kb4!

a) 51.Kb5

315
or 51.Kb3 works as well with the same idea;
b) 51.Nd3?? was the mistake played in the game. Nimzowitsch needed to wait one more tempo
before committing to the maneuver he had in mind. 51...f6! 52.exf6 Kxf6 53.Kb3 (53.Nf2 Kg5
54.Kb4 e5 55.Kc4 e4 56.Kd4 Kf4!= and e3 is inevitable.) 53...e5 54.Kc3 (54.Kc4 e4 55.Nf2 Kg5
56.Kd4 Kf4 Same idea.) 54...e4 here the players agreed to a draw.The continuation might have been
55.Nf2 Kg5 56.Kd4 Kf4=.

51.Kb4! Kf4

51...f6 doesn’t help because of 52.Ne4+ Kxg4 53.exf6+–.

52.Nd3+ Kxg4 53.Nc5! Kf5 54.Nd7!+–

This is the key move! Keeping the knight far from Black’s king’s reach and not only defending e5,
but also stopping f6. Nimzowitsch was after this position, but he forgot about Black having the
chance to play f6 first.

25
Vitaliy Bernadskiy (2593)
Petr Golubka (2479)
UKR-ch, 2019

Black to move

316
 Show/Hide Solution

With White’s king being far away, Black should be able to draw the game, but precise play is
required. In fact, Black has more resources in this position compared to the previous exercise. He
already has a passed pawn. Nevertheless, knight endings require delicate and thorough calculation.

77...Kf5!

is the only move that draws.

77...e4??

78.Ng1!!. Knights are best at defending the pawns from behind (of course, not 78.Nxh4?? e3 79.Ng2
e2 80.Kc5 Kg5 81.Kd4 e1=Q 82.Nxe1 Kh4=). The game continued 78...Ke5
[78...e3 would only transpose 79.Kc5 Ke5 80.Kc4 Kf4 (80...Ke4 81.Kc3 e2 82.Kd2!+–) 81.Kd3
Kg3 82.Kxe3 Kg2 83.Kf4 Kxg1 84.Kg4 Kf2 85.Kxh4+–]
79.Kc5 e3 80.Kc4 e2 (80...Ke4 81.Kc3 e2 82.Kd2 once again) 81.Nxe2 Ke4.

317
82.Ng1!! for the second time this knight goes back to g1, following the principle that the knight
should always support a pawn from behind. 82...Ke3 83.Kd5 Kf2 84.Ke4 Kxg1 85.Kf3 and Black
resigned.

77...Kf5! 78.Nxh4+

78.Kc5 Kf4 79.Ng1 (79.Nxh4 Kg3=) 79...Kg3 80.Kd5 Kg2 81.Kxe5 Kxg1 82.Kf4 Kf2! 83.Kg4
Ke3=

78...Kf4

And the typical idea of the knight protecting.

79.Ng2+ Kg3 80.h4 Kxg2 81.h5 e4

And Black promotes in time to draw the game.

82.h6 e3 83.h7 e2 84.h8=Q e1=Q=

26
Sabina Foisor (2301)
Thalia Cervantes (2087)
American Continental, 2018

318
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

When your opponent doesn’t have pawns left on the board, one can play without much worry.
Still, if you are ‘in it to win it’, you better consider your opponent’s drawing ideas.

53.Kg5!

This is the only correct move.

White needs to not rush into pushing her pawns. Black’s knight is far from the action and all White
has to do is to control the key f6-square.
53.e6+?? was played in the game, and it allowed Black to play 53...Kf6 which keeps White’s king
restricted. In order to continue trying to win, White has to give up one of the pawns, but the winning
idea is gone after 54.e7 Kxe7 55.Kg7 Nb5 56.f6+ Kd7 57.f7 Nd4! Black is in time. White cannot
win even with the underpromotion to a knight. 58.h4 (58.f8=N+ Ke7 59.Ng6+ Ke6= and Black’s
knight is close enough to stop the h-pawn.) 58...Ne6+ 59.Kf6 Nf8 60.h5 Kd6 61.h6 Kd7 62.Kg7
Ke7 63.Kg8 Nh7! and the game ended in a draw after a few more moves [...] ½–½.

53.Kg5! Nc4

53...Nb5 54.e6+ Ke7 55.h4 Nd6 56.h5 Ne4+ 57.Kg6 Nf6 58.h6+–

54.e6+ Ke7 55.h4 Ne5

319
56.h5

And with three advanced pawns, Black cannot create a fortress.

27
Jha Sriram (2422)
Elshan Moradiabadi (2597)
TTCA Open, 2016

320
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

Of course, the three linked pawns are dangerous. However, after

58...Kh5!

Black’s king and knight activity suffices to win the game.

58...Kg7?? was played instead, and with both the knight and the king passive, Black wasn’t able to
convert his material advantage. 59.Kd5 Kg8 60.Ke5 Nd7+ (Black could have tried 60...c4 but after
61.Kd4 Nd7 62.Kxc4 Ne5+ 63.Kd5 Nf3 despite Black getting the knight active, White is able to
draw. 64.f6 Nxh4 65.Kc6 Nf5 66.Kb7 Nd6+ 67.Kxa7 Nxb5+ (Black cannot afford to keep the b-
pawns on the board as White’s pawns on the kingside are advanced enough that the game would turn
in White’s favor! 67...Nc4?? 68.g6 Kf8 69.g7+ Kg8 70.Kb7, and all White needs to do in order to
win this position is bring back the king! 70...Kf7 71.Kc6 Kg8 72.Kd5 Na3 73.Ke6 Nxb5 74.Ke7+–)
68.Kxb6=) 61.Ke6 Nf8+ 62.Ke5 Nd7+ ½–½.

58...Kh5! 59.Kd5

59.Ke5 Kxh4 60.g6 Kg5 61.g7 Nd7+! Black missed this little nuance.

Now, the correct move has to be seen as well.

59...Kg4!!

321
Another illogical move, but the only way to win! The key point is to place the king on the right
square, and to not rush capturing back the pawns.
a) 59...Kxh4?? would lose to 60.g6+–;
b) and 59...c4 would not be enough for Black to win 60.Kxc4 Kxh4 61.g6 Nd7 62.Kd5 Nf6+
63.Ke5 Kg5 64.g7 Ng8 65.Ke6 Nf6 66.Ke5=.

60.g6

a) 60.f6 Kxh4 61.Kd6 c4–+;

b) 60.Ke5 Kxh4 61.g6 Kg5 62.Kd6 Nxg6–+.

60...Kxf5 61.g7 Nh7!–+

Thankfully for Black, this is an exception where the pawn on the seventh rank attacking the knight
loses instead of winning given the Nf6 fork, and if White promotes to a knight:

62.g8=N

The same thing happens.

62...Nf6+ 63.Nxf6 Kxf6

And Black wins the king and pawn endgame due to his protected passed c-pawn. Another example of
how dependent knight endgames are on move-by move calculation.

322
 28
Magnus Carlsen (2835)
Viswanathan Anand (2773)
Tata Steel A, 2019

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

In this position, trading is necessary to be able to draw the game.

70...bxa5!

This would have been the right choice, but for some reason the five-time World Champion didn’t go
for the simple solution this time! It may happen in one in a thousand cases that Vishy misses a draw
like this.
70...b5?? was played instead and with more pawns on the board, White is winning with an interesting
idea 71.Ne3 Nf4+ 72.Ke5 Ne2 73.Nd5+ Kc6

323
74.b4! which might have been the move missed by Anand. 74...Nxc3 (74...cxb4 75.cxb4 followed by
Ne7 and White will bring the king to win the b5-pawn and with two extra pawns, Black has no
chance to hold. 74...Nc1 75.Ne7+ Kc7 76.Kd5 cxb4 77.cxb4 Nd3 78.Nc6+–) 75.Nxc3 cxb4 76.Ne2
Black resigned.

70...bxa5!

Black must have overestimated White’s position.

71.Kd5

If 71.Nxa5, Black can draw with both 71...Nf4+ (and 71...c4 72.b4 Nf4+ 73.Ke5 Ne2= and White’s
c-pawn is lost, leading to a draw shortly after.) 72.Ke5 Ne2 73.c4 Kb6 74.b4 cxb4 75.Nb3 Kc6=

71...Nf4+ 72.Kxc5 Ne2

And now after:

73.Na3

Black has the following:

73...Nc1!

Of course not 73...Nxc3?? as it loses to 74.Nb5+ Nxb5 75.Kxb5+– and the king pawn endgame is
losing.

74.Kc4 Kb6 75.Nc2 Ne2 76.Nd4

324
76.Ne3 Nc1 and White cannot make further progress without trading his b-pawn with Black’s a-
pawn.

76...Nf4 77.Nf5 Ne6

And despite the extra pawn, there is no way White can go after Black’s a-pawn.

29
Sabina Foisor (2286)
Jeffery Xiong (2476)
Dallas Chess Club Open, 2015

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

Before Jeffery became one of the elite players in the world, Sabina had the opportunity to play him in
a weekend tournament in Dallas. The game led to this interesting knight endgame, where White has
to find precise moves to trade pawns in order to make a draw.

37.d5!

Would have been the correct continuation for White, giving up the pawn in view of keeping Black’s
knight and king incapacitated. Now Black can easily push his a- and b-pawns.

325
37.f5?? was played instead, and Black could have won the game after 37...exf5
[37...Nxf5? was the move White was hoping for 38.d5! Ng7 39.Nd4 (or 39.dxe6+ Nxe6 40.Kd6 a5
41.Kc6 a4 42.Na1=) 39...exd5 40.Kxd5 a5 41.Kc6=].
38.d5 f4?? led to a draw.
{The correct move to win the endgame would have been 38...Ke8! bringing the king to support his
passed pawns first, while keeping the f-pawn to sacrifice later and to push White’s king further the
queenside. 39.d6 would have been the natural continuation. [39.Nd4 could be tried as well, but in
vain as Black could now play 39...f4! 40.Kxf4 Nxd5+ 41.Ke5 Nb4! an important move that keeps
White’s king distant before bringing his own king. 42.Kd6 (42.Nb5 Kd7! 43.Nxa7?? Nc6+–+)
42...Kd8 43.Nb5 a6 44.Nd4 Kc8–+ Sometimes, one needs to stay a little passive before pushing the
opponent back.] 39...Nc6+ 40.Kxf5 Kd7–+ with the king and knight close by and White’s king and
knight uncoordinated, Black is winning.}
39.Kxf4 Nxd5+ 40.Ke5 Nc3 41.Kd4 Nb5+ (41...Na2 was another try, but White can still draw.
42.Kc4 a6 43.Nc5!=) 42.Kd5 Nc7+ 43.Kc6 Ne6 44.Nd2 (44.Kb7 would have worked as well, as
after 44...Nc5+. White can afford to give up the knight. 45.Kxa7 Nxb3 46.Kxb6=) 44...Nc5 45.Nc4
Na4 46.Kb5 Nc3+ 47.Ka6 Ke6 48.Nxb6 axb6 49.Kxb6 ½–½.

37.d5! exd5

If 37...Nxd5 then 38.f5 Nc7 39.fxe6+ Nxe6 and White’s king is much faster than Black’s to reach the
passed pawns. 40.Kd6 a5 (40...b5 41.Kc6 b4 42.Kb5=) 41.Kc6 a4 42.Na1 Nd4+ 43.Kxb6 Ke6
44.Kc5 Nb3+ 45.Kb4=

38.f5

With the idea of f6 and grabbing the d-pawn in the way to stopping the connected a and b-pawns.

38...a5 39.f6 Nc6+

39...a4 would lead to a draw as well. 40.Na1 b5 41.fxe7 Kxe7 (41...b4?? would turn the tables
42.Kd6! Ke8 43.Nc2 b3 44.Na3 b2 45.Ke6 b1=Q 46.Nxb1 d4 47.Nd2 a3 48.Nc4 a2 49.Nd6#)
42.Kxd5 b4 43.Kc4=.

40.Kxd5 Na7 41.Nd4 Kxf6 42.Kd6

And as soon as Black pushes the pawns, White will be able to stop them.

42...a4 43.Nc2 Kf5 44.Kc7 b5 45.Kb6 Ke4 46.Ka5 Kd3 47.Na3=

30

326
 Razvan Preotu (2469)
Gata Kamsky (2638)
Washington International, 2016

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

The placement of the kings is all that matters when deciding what to play in this position.

44...Kxh4!

This was the winning move.

44...g5?? was played in the game, but it gives away the win because Black’s king is a little too
behind, while White’s gets closer to the passed pawn. 45.hxg5 Kxg5 46.Ke3 Kg4 47.Kf2 Nc4
48.Nc6 Nd6 49.Kg2 Ne4 50.c4 ½–½.

44...Kxh4! 45.Nxg6+

327
45...Kg4!!

Zugzwang! This is, in fact, the beauty of this position.

45...Kg3 doesn’t win because of 46.Ke4 Nc2 (46...Nb1 47.Kd3=; 46...h4 47.Nxh4 Kxh4 48.Kd4
Kg5 49.Kc5= and Black’s knight is incapable of defending the last pawn on b5.) 47.Ne7= followed
by Nf5, and once the h-pawn is stopped, White can bring the king in to support the queenside pawn
trade for a draw. 45...Kg5 46.Ne5 Kf4 47.Ng6+ Kg4!! Back to the winning position!
With any move by White, Black wins!

46.Ne5+

a) 46.Kd4 Nc4 47.Kc5 Kg5 48.Nf8 h4 49.Ne6+ Kg4 50.Kxb5 Nd2 51.c4 h3–+ and Black’s pawn is
much faster;
b) 46.Ke2 Nc4 and the knight will be placed on d6 to keep White away from c4 ideas and keep b5
protected, while also looking into different ideas for winning the c-pawn should White’s king go too
far away on the kingside to stop the h-pawn. 47.Kf2 Nb2 48.Ne5+ Kf4 49.Ng6+ Kg5 50.Ne5 Kf5
51.Nf3 Kf4 52.Nd4 Nd1+ 53.Kg2 Nxc3–+ and White is not in time to attack both pawns. Black is
simply winning.

46...Kg3 47.Ng6 Nc4

47...h4 48.Nxh4 leads to a draw, as we showed earlier.

48.Kd4 Kg4! 49.Kd3

328
49.Kc5 Kg5 50.Nf8 (50.Kxb5 Kxg6 51.Kxc4 h4–+) 50...h4 51.Kxb5 h3 52.Ne6+ Kg4–+

49...Kg5 50.Ne7 h4–+

31
Vladimir Fedoseev (2703)
Ali Frhat (2402)
Wch Team, 2017

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

In knight endgames, similar to pawn endgames, what matters the most is how advanced the pawns
are. This is a great calculation exercise where Black has two moves with which he can draw here,
both involving pawn races to promotion. The order is not important, but understanding the necessity
for speed is!

46...b4!

a) 46...a4! also draws as 47.Ke2 (if 47.e5 a3 48.Nd4 a2 49.Nb3 Nc4 50.e6 Kg7 51.Ke2 Kf6 Black is
in time to stop the e-pawn and the remaining pawns are not advanced enough to create any danger.
52.f4 Kxe6 53.Kd3 Na5 54.Na1 b4 55.Kc2 Kf6 56.Kb2 b3 57.h4 and many moves draw here, but to

329
recap, this king and pawn endgame, let us go for 57...Kg7 and regardless of which pawn White
pushes, Black’s king will get in front of it! Yes, the king does stop three connected passed pawns,
provided that they are on the same rank and haven’t reached the sixth rank — or third rank,
respectively! 58.Kc1 Kg6 59.g5 Nb7 60.Nxb3 Nc5 61.Na1 Nd3+=) 47...b4 48.e5 b3 49.e6 Nd5
50.Kd3 a3 51.e7 Nxe7 52.Nd4 b2 53.Kc2 Nd5 54.Nb5 Ne3+ 55.Kb1 Nc4 56.Ka2 Nd2=;
b) 46...Nc4?? was played in the game. 47.Ne3 a4 48.Nc2 a3 49.Ke2 a2 and now White is able to not
only stop Black’s pawns, but also keep Black’s knight restricted and keep his four pawns intact. 50.f4
b4 51.Na1 Na5 52.Kd3 Kg7 (52...b3 is not helping as it allows 53.Kc3 and now Black’s knight has
to stay to protect the b-pawn and White’s four pawns cannot be stopped by Black’s king alone
53...Kg7 54.h4+–) 53.e5 Kf7 54.f5 and Black soon resigned.

46...b4! 47.Ke1 Nc4 48.Nd4 a4 49.Kd1 b3

And White has to play cautiously, or else he can lose given that Black’s pawns are way too advanced.

50.Kc1

50.f4?? b2 51.Kc2 a3 52.Nb3 a2–+

50...Kg7

50...b2+ 51.Kb1 a3 52.Nb3! White is lucky to have this resource. 52...Ne3 53.Nd2 Nd1 54.Ka2
Nc3+ 55.Kxa3 b1=N+ 56.Nxb1 Nxb1+ 57.Kb4 Nd2 58.Kc5 Nxf3 59.Kd5 (59.Kd6 Kg7 60.e5
Kf7=) 59...Kg7 60.e5 Kf7 61.Ke4 Nh4 62.Kf4 Ke6 63.Kg3 Ng6 64.h4 Kxe5=

51.f4 b2+ 52.Kb1 a3 53.Nb3 Nd6 54.Nd2 Nb5 55.Ka2 Nc3+ 56.Kxa3 Nxe4!

Just in time!

57.Nb1 Nf2 58.h4

58.Kxb2 Nxh3 59.f5 Nf2 60.g5 Ne4=

58...Nxg4 59.Kxb2

330
59...Kg6=

And White’s king and knight are too far to protect his pawns.

32
Georg Meier (2646)
Liren Ding (2702)
SPICE Cup, 2012

331
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

47.Nxb4+!

Would have been an easy cruise for White, as the h-pawn is too strong to handle.
47.h4? was played in the game 47...Ne4? Black made a devastating mistake instead, giving White the
chance to win the game once again (47...b3! would have been an important move which lures White’s
pawn closer to Black’s knight in case a sacrifice is required. 48.axb3 Ne6 49.Ke3 Kd5 50.Nb4+
Ke5= and White cannot make any progress.) 48.Kd3 was played instead 48...Ng3? (48...b3 would
have transposed to the previous line.) 49.Kc2 making sure the b-pawn will be captured by the king to
keep the potential passed pawn on the queenside as far away as possible from Black’s knight
49...Kb6 50.Nxb4 Ka5 51.Kb3 and White was able to soon convert the game [...] 1–0.

47.Nxb4+! Kc5 48.h4 Ne6 49.Nd3+ Kd4 50.h5 Ke4 51.Kd2 Kf5 52.Kc3 Kg5 53.Kb4 Nd4
54.Nc1 Kxh5 55.Kc5+–

And after winning the b-pawn, White should win easily given the distance of Black’s king from
White’s passed pawn.

33
Sergei Azarov (2586)
Elshan Moradiabadi (2552)
Winter Chess Classic B, 2019

332
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

46...Ng5

Draws the game on the spot. Sometimes you should just make the simple moves first and think later!
Unfortunately, wanting to force the position to be drawn faster, Elshan blundered with 46...c6??
missing the fact that White can trap his knight and block his c-pawn far enough back that it would be
possible to mate with two knights. 47.Nf6+ Kg7 48.Ne4! and now Black’s knight is trapped before
he was able to give up the c-pawn. 48...c5 49.Nc4 Kg6 50.Kxh3 And White was able to convert this
position [...] 1–0.

34
Alexei Shirov (2684)
Hikaru Nakamura (2736)
Wch Rapid, 2019

333
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

In this position, Black should go for the active defence.

23...Nd7!

23...Bb7? was surprisingly Hikaru’s choice — passive defense is not the way to go in this position.
Now Black’s bishop is stuck on b7 and White can continue making progress by improving his bishop,
bringing his king closer to the center, pushing his a-pawn, and eventually converting his advantage.
24.Bg3 g5 25.Kf2 h5 26.Ke3 Ng8 27.h4, and Shirov masterfully won the game [...] 1–0.

23...Nd7! 24.Nxc6

24.Bb4 Bb7=

24...Nxc5

The opposite-color bishop could ensure draw for Black although he is going to be down a pawn.

25.Bf2 Ne6 26.Bxa7

26.Nxa7 can be played as well, but without much change. 26...Kf6 27.a4 Bb7 28.Nb5 Bc6 29.Kf1 d4
30.Ke2 (30.Bxd4+ Nxd4 31.Nxd4 Bxa4 This is a draw, but probably the best practical chance.)

334
30...Ke5 31.Kd3 (31.g3 Kd5=) 31...Nf4+ 32.Kc2 Nxg2 33.Bxd4+ Kd5 with a close to a draw
position.

26...Bb5! 27.Nb4 d4 28.Kf2 h5 29.Nc2 d3 30.Ne3 d2 31.Nd1 Nf4

And active play should give half a point to Black.

35
Renier Castellanos (2563)
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2873)
Wch Rapid, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

White has two main advantages: a better bishop and more space. Besides, Black’s queenside is a
fixed target which White is focusing on diligently. The only issue is Black’s counterattack in the
center.

34.g5!

Would have given White winning chances.

335
34.Nbd2? was played instead and after 34...Nd7 35.Nb3 Nf6 the players repeated the position and
agreed to a draw.

34.g5! Nxe4

If Black doesn’t go for the pawn, his pieces are not able to do anything 34...Nd7 35.Ke2 and
eventually White should be able to win the a-pawn under good circumstances and win the game.
Here’s a potential line suggested by the engine 35...Ke8 36.h4 Kd8 37.Kd3 Kc8 38.Ncxa5 Bxa5
39.Nxa5 Nac5+ 40.Kc2 Nxe4 41.Nc4, and White grabs b4 and advances his pawns. 41...Kc7
42.Kb3 Ndc5+ 43.Bxc5 Nxc5+ 44.Kxb4 Nd3+ 45.Kb5 e4 46.a5 Nf4 47.Ne3+–.

35.Kg2

Now the knight on e4 is very uncomfortable.

35...h5

35...h6 is possible as well and would force White to take, but White is still winning as Black’s a-pawn
falls as well 36.gxh6 Kg8 37.Nbxa5+–.

36.Kf3

Black has to allow for some simplifications, which are in White’s favor.

36...Nec5 37.Bxc5 Nxc5

37...dxc5 38.Ke4+–

38.Nxc5 dxc5

336
39.d6!

39.Ke4 works as well.

39...Bd8

39...Bb8 40.Ke4 Ke6 41.Nxa5 Bxd6 42.Nc4 Be7 43.a5 Bd6 44.a6 Bb8 45.Nxe5+–

40.h4 Ke6

337
41.Ke4

And Black is almost in zugzwang.

41...b3 42.Nxe5 Bb6 43.Nc4

Of course, not 43.Nxg6? as it allows 43...c4 and a draw.

43...Bd8 44.Ke3

Followed by triangulation, putting Black in zugzwang.

44...Kd5 45.Kd3 Ke6 46.Ke4ʘ+–

36
Veselin Topalov (2740)
Liren Ding (2812)
Gashimov Memorial, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

98.Kh7?

338
This endgame is much harder than it seems. Words cannot help much in order to understand this
position. Thus, we leave you a few diagrams to memorize it. This is a must-know ending!
98.Kg7! Kf5 99.Nf6 Rb3 100.Ne8 Ke6 101.Kg6 Rg3+ 102.Kh6=

98.Kh7? Kf5! 99.Ng7+ Kf6 100.Nh5+

100.Kg8 Rg3 101.Kh8 Kf7 and mate follows.

100...Kg5 101.Ng7 Rh3+ 102.Kg8 Kf6 103.Ne8+

103...Ke7!

103...Ke6 104.Ng7+ (104.Nc7+ Kd6 105.Ne8+, and Black must play 105...Ke7! — see above)
104...Kf6

104.Ng7 Rh1 105.Nf5+ Kf6 106.Nd6 Rd1 107.Ne8+

107.Nb5 Rd8+ 108.Kh7 Kf7 109.Kh6 Rd3 110.Nc7 Rc3 111.Nb5 Rc6+ 112.Kh7 Rc5–+

107...Ke7 108.Ng7

339
108...Rd5! 109.Kh7 Kf8!–+ 110.Kg6

a) 110.Ne6+ Kf7 111.Ng7 Rg5–+;

b) 110.Kh6 Rd6+ 111.Kh7 Rd7 112.Kh8 Kf7 113.Kh7 Kf6 114.Kh8 Rd2 115.Kg8 Rg2 116.Kh8
Kf7 and mate follows.

110...Rd6+–+

37
Krzysztof Iwaszkiewicz (1768)
Pawel Gierech (1670)
YMCA Autum B, 2019

340
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

78...e2!?

In the position above, the pawn move would have been the best practical way as with the pawn on g4,
Black’s defense is much easier.
a) 78...Nxg3?? was played in the game and after losing the piece 79.Rb4+ Kf5 80.Kxg3 Black
resigned;
b) 78...Kh5 79.Rb5 e2 80.Re5 e1=Q 81.Rxe1 g4= Would lead to a draw in the same way as other
lines in here.

78...e2!? 79.Rb4+ Kh5 80.g4+

80.Re4 e1=Q 81.Rxe1

341
81...g4!= And White cannot breakthrough as Black’s knight keeps the g3-pawn under attack while
Black’s king protects his knight.

80...Kh6 81.Kf2

81.Rb6+ Kg7 82.Re6 e1=Q 83.Rxe1 Nh6 84.Kf3 Ng8 85.Re6 Nf6=

81...e1=Q+ 82.Kxe1 Ne3 83.Kf2 Nd5 84.Rb5 Nf6 85.Kf3

85...Kg6=

342
And now, similarly to the line above, Black keeps the g4-pawn under attack while protecting his
knight with the king, and White has no way to progress.

38
Amir Mallahi (2382)
Elshan Moradiabadi (2303)
Fajr Open, 2001

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

Despite the material disadvantage and White’s active king, Black has a way to save the game.

55...e4!

55...Nc2?? was played in the game and after 56.Rf1! White consolidates and Black’s pawns start
falling after Kd5–e4 maneuver. 56...Nd4 57.Kd5 Ne2 58.Ra1 Nc3+ 59.Kc4 Ne2 60.Ra6+ Kf7
61.Kd5 Nd4 62.Ke4 Kg7 63.Ra5 Kf6 64.Rxe5 and soon Black accepted defeat [...] 1–0.

55...e4! 56.fxe4 Nc4+!

The key move to create a blockade; that is what knights are good for!

343
56...Nxg4 is an option as well but makes Black’s life a little bit more difficult 57.e5+ Nxe5 58.Rxe5
f3 59.Re8.

And the important 59...Kg7! The move missed by Elshan, after which Black saves the game.
(59...Kf5?? would not work as White’s king is close enough 60.Kd5 Kf4 61.Kd4 g4 62.Rg8!+–)
60.Ke6 g4 61.Re7+ Kh6 62.Rf7 Kg5 63.Ke5 Kh4 64.Kf4 Kh3 65.Ke3 Kg2 66.Rf4 g3!

67.Rxf3 Kh2=

57.Kd5 Ne3+=

344
 39
Jayaram Ashwin (2475)
Elshan Moradiabadi (2597)
Pan Am Intercollegiate Team, 2015

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

40...f4!

Taking away the key f4-square was imperative for Black to be able to maintain winning chances.
40...Kg7? was played in the game and despite the material advantage for Black, White was able to
build a fortress. 41.Nd3 Rc3 42.Nf4 Kh6 43.Ke2 and eventually the game ended in a draw.

40...f4! 41.gxf4

41.exf4 Kg7–+ followed by Kf6–f5–e4.

41...Rc2+ 42.Kg3 f5

And Black’s king can make his way to d5 via f8–e7–d6–d5, though of course White can try to keep
putting up a fight.

345
 40
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2747)
Fabiano Caruana (2787)
Tata Steel A, 2016

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

Black is forced to play very precisely now.

42...Rg5!

The only reply.

a) 42...Rb1+? 43.Nb2+–;
b) After 42...Rd1? 43.b7 Rd8 44.Nb6 Ke7 45.Nc8+ Kd7 46.b8=Q Rxc8 47.Qb7+ Rc7 48.Qb4+– The
rook doesn’t get access to the fifth rank.

42...Rg5! 43.Kb4

After 43.Nd6!? Rg1 44.b7 Rb1+ 45.Kc4 Rxb7 46.Nxb7 Ke7 47.Kd4, this endgame is drawish, but
Black’s task is not that easy.

43...Rg1!

346
43...Rd5 44.b7 Rd8 45.Ne5 Kg7 46.Nc6 Re8 47.Kc5 f5 48.Kd6 Kh6 49.Kd7 Rg8 is also a draw but
feels a bit risky. Caruana’s choice is the best one.

44.Nd2

White’s best practical chance was 44.Nb2!? Rg2 45.Nd3 (45.Nc4 doesn’t make a difference, as
Black would respond in the same fashion.) 45...Rg1 46.Kb5 Rg5+ 47.Kc4 Rd5 48.b7 Rd8 49.Ne5
with the same type of endgame as was mentioned in the previous note.

44...Rd1! 45.b7 Rxd2 46.b8=Q+ Kg7=

White cannot make any progress.

47.Qe5+ Kg8 48.Qb8+

48.h4 Rd5! 49.Qe3 h5 and Black’s rook simply moves back and forth between d5 and f5.

48...Kg7 49.Qe5+ Kg8 50.Qb8+ ½–½

347
 Show in Text Mode

41
Anton Demchenko (2655)
Vasif Durarbayli (2617)
FIDE Chess.com Grand Swiss, 2019

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

In this position, Black surprisingly resigned in view of White promoting the a-pawn in the game.
However, there are a few moves that could have saved the game.

60...Kxb4!

a) 60...Rf4+! would have saved the game as well 61.Kh3 (61.Kxg5 Rxb4 62.a7 Ra4 63.c6 Kb6
64.a8=Q Rxa8 65.Bxa8 h3=) 61...Rxb4 62.a7 Ra4 63.c6 g4+ 64.Kxh4 g3+ 65.Kxg3 Rxa7 66.c7
Ra3+!=;
b) Lastly, the least probable 60...Rf8! as after 61.a7 Kxb4 62.c6 Kc5 63.c7, we get the same drawing
ideas as in the main line 63...Kb6=.

348
60...Kxb4! 61.a7

61.c6 Kb5 62.c7 Rxc7 63.a7 Rc4+! 64.Kxg5 Ra4=

61...Rf8 62.c6 Kc5 63.c7 Kb6=

And regardless of which pawn promotes, Black wins the other to draw the game.

42
Andrei Volokitin (2641)
Pavel Eljanov (2663)
UKR-ch, 2019

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

46...Kd7!

Active defense is Black’s only remedy, as his pawn is not that advanced yet.
46...Rf8?? was played in the game, and it allowed White’s king to march up the board to support its
passed pawns. 47.Bd4 Kd7 48.Kf4 Ke8 49.Ke5 Kf7 50.d6 Re8+ 51.Kd5 Rd8 52.h5 a5 53.h6 a4
54.h7 a3 55.Kc6 Rc8+ 56.Kb7 Rh8 57.d7 and Black resigned.

349
46...Kd7! 47.Bc5 Re1! 48.Kf4

48.h5 Rf1+ 49.Kg4 Rxf6 50.Kg5 Rf1=

48...Ke8

As the a-pawn doesn’t matter as much and making sure White’s king cannot march up the board.

49.Bxa7

49.h5 Kf7 50.Be7 a5 51.d6 Ke6 52.h6 a4 53.Kg5 a3 54.d7 Rg1+ 55.Kh5 Kxd7 56.Bxa3 Ke6=

49...Kf7 50.Bd4 Rh1

And Black should be able to recapture one of White’s pawns, and with only two passed pawns left,
Black should have no problem stopping them and drawing the game.

51.Kg4

51.Ke5 Rxh4 52.d6 Rh5+ 53.Kf4 Rd5 54.Be5 Ke6=

51...Rd1=

43
Luke McShane (2682)
Fabiano Caruana (2812)
FIDE Chess.com Grand Swiss, 2019

350
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

In this position the winning move would have been.

61.Rg3!!

Preventing Black’s king from getting into the center first, by keeping the g-pawn attacked and the h-
and b-pawns protected while preparing the march of his own king towards the queenside.
61.Kg3? was played in the game and after 61...Kg6 62.Kf2
[62.Kg4 would have posed more problems to Black 62...Bf7 63.Re5 Bxb3 64.Rxg5+ Kf6 65.Rb5 and
now Black has to find the amazing 65...Bd1+!! after which Black saves the game. (65...Be6+? loses
the game after 66.Kg3 b3 67.h4+– and Black’s bishop is too passive, so White is able to keep
pushing Black back.) 66.Kf4 b3 67.Rb6+ Kg7 68.h4 Kh7= the difference being that now White has
to stay with the rook on the b-file as soon as Black puts the bishop on c2, or else b2 will happen.
Tablebases agree that this position is a draw.]
62...Kf5 63.Rg3 Be6 Though White was able to trade the h-pawn for the b-pawn, it wasn’t sufficient
to win the game [...] ½–½.

61.Rg3!! Kh5

61...Kg6 allows White’s idea 62.h4+–.

351
62.Kg1 Be6 63.Kf2 Kg6

a) 63...Bd5 64.Rd3 Be6 65.Ke3 Bxh3 66.Rd4+– and the b-pawn is more dangerous than the g-pawn;
b) 63...Kh4 64.Re3! Bd5 65.Rd3 Be6 66.Rd4++– Once again, getting the queenside pawn wins the
game for White. 63...Bf5 64.Ke1 Kh4 65.Re3 Bg6 66.Re6 Bd3 67.Rb6 Kxh3 68.Rxb4 g4 69.Kf2+–.

64.h4 g4 65.Rd3 Kh5 66.Kg3 Bf7 67.Rd4 Bxb3 68.Rxg4

Followed by Rxb4 and it should be winning for White according to the tablebase even if Black is
technically in the correct corner to defend rook vs bishop.

68...Bc2 69.Rxb4+–

White wins with some caution, as his h-pawn shouldn’t be pushed to h5 without enough care.

69...Bd3 70.Rd4 Bc2 71.Rd5+ Kh6 72.Kg4 Bb1 73.Rd6+ Kg7 74.Kg5 Be4 75.Rd7+ Kg8 76.Kh6

76.h5?? Bh7=

76...Bf5 77.Rg7+ Kf8

77...Kh8 78.Rf7 Be6 79.Rb7 Bd5 80.Rb4 Be6 81.h5 Bf7 82.Rb8+ Bg8 83.Kg5+–

78.Rg5 Bd3 79.Kh5! Be2+ 80.Kg6 Kg8 81.Rd5!

Controlling the check on d3; now it is easily over.

81...Kf8 82.Rd4+–

352
And White promotes the h-pawn.

44
Diego Flores (2608)
Neuris Delgado Ramirez (2628)
Szmetan/Giardelli A, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

In this position, White should capitalize on the mating power of his central pawns.

51.Bxa6!

a) 51.Kc6 would have drawn the game as well with a similar idea just using the a-pawn. 51...Kd8
52.Bxa6 f1=Q 53.Bxf1 Rxf1 54.a5 Rc1+ 55.Kb5 h6 56.h5! Rh1 57.a6 Rxh5+ 58.Kc6 Ra5 59.e7+
Ke8 60.Kc7 Rc5+ 61.Kb7=;
b) 51.a5?? was instead played in the game losing to 51...Ra3 52.Kc6 Rxa5 and without being able to
create an additional passed and inability to create any threat with his connected passed pawns, White
was soon forced to resign. 53.Bd3 g6 54.h5 Rxh5 55.Bxa6 Rh1 56.Bb5 f1=Q 57.Kc7+ Qxb5 58.d7+
Ke7 59.d8=Q+ Kxe6 0–1.

353
51.Bxa6! f1=Q 52.Bb5+!

A beautiful intermediate move!

52...Qxb5+™

Both 52...Kf8?? or Kd8 lose to 53.e7+ Kg8 54.e8=Q+ Rf8 55.Bxf1 Rxe8 56.d7+–, and White
marches the king toward his pawns to win. 52...Kd8?? 53.e7+ Kc8 54.e8=Q+ Kb7 55.Qd7+ Kb8
56.Qc7+ Ka8 57.Bc6#

53.axb5

Now White has a nice fortress that keeps the Ke8 while White marches the b-pawn, forcing Black to
give perpetual check.

53...Rb3 54.Kc6 h6 55.b6 g5 56.hxg5 hxg5 57.b7 g4 58.Kc7 Rc3+

59.Kb6

And Black has to continue with the checks.

59...Rb3+ 60.Kc7=

45
Gawain Jones (2688)

354
 Suri Vaibhav (2597)
Chess24 Banter Blitz, 2020

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

Similar to the previous exercise, White could save the game by hindering Black’s pawns and pushing
his own. He just needs to parry the mating threats.

34.c3

34.Ke1?? was played instead by White, most likely not realizing that the two moves could not be
interchanged. 34...c3! and now White cannot stop the promotion of one of the c- or d-pawns. (35.Kd1
d2 36.g6 Rb8 37.Ke2 Rb1 38.Ke3 d1=Q 39.Kf4 Qf3+ 40.Kg5 Rb5+ 41.Kh6 Qxf6 42.Bg8 Ke7
43.Bh7 Rg5 44.f4 Rf5 0–1)
34.cxd3?? c3–+

34.c3 Ra8 35.Ke1 Ra1+ 36.Kd2 Ra2+ 37.Kd1

355
37...Rxf2

And despite losing the f-pawn, White creates enough problems for Black with his two connected
passed pawns to draw the game.

38.g6 g3 39.g7 g2 40.g8=Q Rf1+ 41.Kd2 g1=Q 42.Qe8+=

46
David Navara (2739)
Liren Ding (2812)
Gashimov Memorial, 2019

356
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

37...Nc5

This move would have kept Black’s drawing chances alive.

37...Nc1+? was played instead allowing White to keep Black’s knight trapped 38.Kf3 Ke6 39.Rb6+
Kf5 40.Rb5+ Ke6 41.Ke4 Ne2 42.Rb6+ Ke7 43.Kd3 Nc1+ 44.Kc4 Ne2 45.Rb1 and Black resigned
as Kd3 is inevitable.

37...Nc5 38.Rb8 f5 39.Rh8 Bg7 40.Rh7 Bd4 41.Rxf7+ Ke6∞

357
And it’s not easy for White to make progress as Black will bring their king to f7 once the rook is
chased away and then will keep White’s pawns attacked!

47
Hikaru Nakamura (2787)
Fabiano Caruana (2804)
Leuven GCT Rapid, 2016

Black to move

358
 Show/Hide Solution

This is certainly an interesting endgame where, despite being two exchanges down, Black can hold.
However, precise play is necessary.

75...b3!

75...Bd7?? was played instead, allowing 76.Rb7 Ne4+ 77.Kc1 Bg4 78.Rhb5 Nc3 79.Rxb4+, and
eventually White was able to convert his material advantage and win the game [...] 1–0.

75...b3! 76.axb3+ Kxb3

And now in order to stop the a-pawn, White can give up one rook for the two pieces, though it won’t
be sufficient for White to win.

77.Rbxb5+ Nxb5 78.Rxb5+ Kc4!

79.Ra5

79.Rb8 a2 80.Ra8 Kb3 81.Kc1 though this might be winning for White without the d-pawn, Black
manages to draw with the d-pawn in here with 81...d3=.

79...Kb3=

And neither side can make much progress.

359
 48
Dennis Wagner (2578)
Maxime Lagarde (2655)
Sunway Sitges, 2019

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

Rook and bishop vs rook endings are tricky, especially when the king is brought to the edge of the
board, as paying attention to mates becomes a very important factor. Here, Black misplaced his rook
and lost. The only drawing move was

93...Rh7!=

a) 93...Rh2?? was played in the game 94.Bb3 Ka6 95.Re7 Rh5+ 96.Bd5 Rg5 97.Re1 Ka7 98.Re8 and
given that there is no way to stop the mate, Black resigned;
b) 93...Ka6?? 94.Bd5 Ka5 (94...Ka7 95.Re8) 95.Re2+– Rh4 96.Re8+–;
c) 93...Rh8?? 94.Re3! c8 is covered. 94...Rh5+ 95.Bd5 Rh4 96.Re8 Rh6 97.Bf7! Everything is rotated
90 degrees with respect to the famous Phillidor position! 97...Rb6 (97...Ka6 98.Re7 Ka5 99.Re3 Rh4
100.Be8 Ka6 101.Re7+– threatening Bb5 and Ra7) 98.Ra8+ Ra6 99.Rb8 Rf6 100.Bc4 Rf5+ 101.Bd5
Rf6 102.Rb5+ Ka6 103.Rb3 Ka7 104.Rb7+ Ka6 105.Re7 Rf5 106.Re8+– and mate is inevitable;

360
d) 93...Rh1 94.Re2 Rh5+ 95.Bd5 Rh4 96.Rb2 Rg4 97.Rb1 Rh4 98.Rb7 Rh6 99.Bf7 Rf6 100.Bc4 Rf5+
101.Bd5 Rf6 102.Rb5+ Ka6 103.Rb3 Ka7 104.Rb7+ Ka6 105.Re7 Rf5 106.Re8+–.

49
Fabiano Caruana (2822)
Gadir Guseinov (2666)
PRO Chess League, 2020

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

The only move that saves the game is the following.

76...Ra6!

What is before you is a Philidor position (not the famous rook and pawn ending of course), where the
board has rotated 90 degrees counter-clock wise!
76...Rc5?? was played and after 77.Rd7+ Ke8 78.Rd6 Rc7 79.Ra6 there was once again no way to
stop the mate 1–0.

76...Ra6! 77.Rd7+ Ke8 78.Rc7 Rd6 79.Rb7

361
79.Rh7 Kd8=

79...Kd8=

50
Stepan Zilka (2536)
Jakub Rabatin (2303)
CZE-ch Team, 2020

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

In this position, White has more than just compensation for the exchange, but it is important to take
advantage of the passed pawns immediately.

34.e6!

34.Bd3? was played instead. White was probably thinking that improving the position of the bishop
would help, but the bishop was in fact greatly placed on e2, supporting the pawn push to f3 and with
that, the e4-square for the knight. 34...Re8 35.e6 Rd4 and now even though White captured with
36.Bxh7+, White’s pawns had been stopped from further advancements, after 36...Kg7, and Black
can take advantage of the d5-pawn, which remained weak. 37.Bf5 Bxd5 and the game eventually

362
ended in a draw [...] ½–½.

34.e6! Re8

34...Rd4 35.f3 followed by Kf2 to keep the h-pawn under control. White should then find the right
moment to bring the knight to f6 via e4.

35.f3!

Considering there are so many tactical motifs in this position, the missing piece that pulls it all
together is the knight, so bringing it to f6 is the way to go.

35...Bxf3

If Black prevents the knight from making its way to f6, the connected passes pawns should help
convert the game.

36.d6! Bxe2 37.Nxe2 Re4 38.e7+–

51
Rusudan Goletiani (2311)
Sabina Foisor (2235)
USA-ch (Women), 2015

Black to move

363
 Show/Hide Solution

After a long game that was more or less balanced, it is easy to think that you want to keep equal
material on the board in this position, but this is not the case when you are getting into a mating net.

82...Rxf6!

This should have saved the game.

82...Kh6?? was the move played in the game, which allowed White an easy win. 83.Kf5 Kh7
84.Rh2+ Bh6 85.Ke6+ Kg8 86.Rxh6 Re8+ 87.Kf5 Rc8 88.Kg6 1–0.

82...Rxf6! 83.Rg2+ Bg5!! 84.Rxg5+ Kh6

Stalemate is a great tool which we need to learn to utilize!

85.Rg3 Rf8

Black should be able to make a draw in this rook and bishop vs rook endgame.

52
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2801)
Magnus Carlsen (2842)
Biel Chess Festival GM, 2018

364
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

56...Bb4!

Simply stopping e7 and eyeing Bd2–g5.

There doesn’t seem to be a way for White to win despite the extra pawn and having two connected
and advanced passed pawns.
Instead Black played 56...Bc1?? forgetting about 57.e7, so he had to resign.
56...Bc5 would work as well, but it would lead to a rook and bishop vs rook endgame that Black
would have to defend. 57.Rxf6+ Kg7 58.Rf7+ Kh6 59.g4 Bf2+ 60.Kh3 Re3+ 61.Kg2 Bh4 62.gxh5
Kxh5 63.Rxh7+ Kg4 64.Bf3+ Kxf5 65.Rxh4 Rxe6=

56...Bb4! 57.Rxf6+ Kg7 58.Rf7+ Kh6 59.g4

a) 59.Bf3 Bd2 60.Bxh5 Bg5+ 61.Kg4 Re4+ 62.Kf3 Re3+ 63.Kg4 Re4+=;
b) 59.Kh3 allows 59...Kg5=.

59...Be1+ 60.Kh3 Re3+ 61.Kg2 Bb4= 62.gxh5

62...Kxh5=

Black successfully blocks the dark-squares.

365
 53
Jan Rubes (2363)
Vlastimil Babula (2559)
CZE-ch Team, 2020

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

33.Rd7+!

Forcing the trade of the rooks would have led to a win despite the opposite-color bishops.
33.exf6+? was played in the game, which allowed Black to have drawing ideas. 33...Kxf6 34.Rd7
Now Black is not forced to trade and help White bring his bishop a move closer to attacking and
capturing b7. 34...h5 35.Rxc7 Bxc7

366
36.Bd3
[36.Bd7 was another option, but it wouldn’t help White win due to 36...g5 37.Bc8 (37.bxa5 Bxa5
38.Bc8 b6! 39.c6 Ke7=) 37...b6!=]
36...g5 37.Be2 g4 38.hxg4 hxg4 39.Bxg4 and because Black was able to trade all of the pawns on the
kingside, Black now brings his king over to stop White’s majority and is able to create a fortress.
39...Ke7 40.Kc4 Kd7 41.Kb5 Bd8 42.bxa5

And in order to draw the game, Black lets go of another pawn, and since White has two pairs of
doubled pawns, the position cannot be improved by White, although he did try 42...Kc7! 43.Bxe6
Bf6 44.c4 Bd4 45.Bd5 Be3 46.Bf3 Bf2 47.Kb4 Be1+ 48.Kb5 Bf2 49.c6 bxc6+ 50.Bxc6 Kd6 51.Bf3

367
Be3 52.Ka6 Kc7 53.Kb5 Kd6 54.a6 Ba7 55.Bd5 Kc7 56.c5 Bb8 57.a7 Bxa7 58.a5 Kd7 59.Be6+
Kxe6 60.Kc6 Bxc5 ½–½.

33.Rd7+! Rxd7+ 34.Bxd7 Bxe5+ 35.Kc4 Kf7

35...axb4 36.cxb4 Kf7 37.a5 f5 and after capturing b7, White is winning due to his more advanced
pawns.

36.Bc8 f5 37.Bxb7 g5 38.Bf3 Kg6 39.bxa5 h5 40.a6 Bb8 41.c6 g4 42.hxg4 hxg4 43.Bg2+–

And White promotes first!

54
Borki Predojevic (2626)
Johan Salomon (2485)
NOR-ch Team, 2018

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

62...Rb3²

Was the move that would keep Black’s chances to make a draw alive as it cuts off White’s king.

368
a) 62...Bc4? was played in the game, and it allowed White to activate his king and eventually win the
game. 63.Rc6 Be6 64.Ke3 Bd5 65.Rd6 Rb3+ 66.Kf4 Rf3+ 67.Kg5 Be6 68.Bf4;
b) 62...Rb2+? would only help White 63.Ke3 Re2+ 64.Kf4 Re4+ 65.Kf5 Rg4 66.Bf4+–.

62...Rb3² 63.Ra7+

63.Rd6 Bf3 64.Rd7+ Ke6 65.Rxg7 Bg4= followed by Kd5–e4.

63...Rb7 64.Ra5 Ke6 65.Ke3 Rf7

Again restricting White’s king.

66.Ra6+ Kf5 67.Rd6 Be6 68.Bf4 Rd7 69.Ra6 Bd5=

55
Anton Korobov (2678)
Emil Sutovsky (2647)
Karpov Poikovsky, 2018

369
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

24.Rd1!

Not every opposite-color bishop endgame is a draw.

White is not even up a pawn, but his bishop is controlling Black’s passed pawn while his own h-pawn
has pinned down Black’s dark-square bishop. It doesn’t appear that Black made any mistakes from
here until the end of the game. He is just out of any resources to hold this position against White’s
outside passed pawn and superior bishop. There is not much to calculate, but the entire process is
very instructive.

24...Rxd1

24...Rh8 25.Rd7++– doesn’t work either.

25.Kxd1 g3 26.Ke2 Bf4 27.Kd3 Kd6 28.b4!

White creates the second passed pawn.

28...b6 29.c4 Bh6 30.Ke4 a5 31.a3 axb4 32.axb4 Bd2 33.Kd3! Bh6

33...Bxb4 34.h6+–

370
34.Kc3 Bf8 35.Kb3!

Now the king has an entry.

35...Ke7 36.c5 bxc5 37.bxc5 Kf7 38.c6 Bd6 39.h6

1–0

56
Samuel Sevian (2600)
Keaton Kiewra (2426)
Washington International, 2016

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

After an even fight, Keaton made a mistake around move forty. His position became critical and was
even losing at this point. Black’s rook on c7 is completely out of the game, while White’s rook on a8
is the star of the board. Black’s only hope is to find a way to push his advanced pawns, but White’s
king is fully covering them. Sam was probably ready to bag this point; little did he know that Keaton
was not in the mood for resigning.

371
45.Rh8!

This would have been the winning move.

The game continued with 45.a4? Bh5+ 46.Kg2 Bg6! Black had no other move, but this move
deserves praise anyways! The bishop goes to e4, and that is enough activity for Black to draw the
game. 47.Rg8 Be4+ 48.Kg1 Bg6? This move returns the favor, but it is very hard for humans to see
why this move loses while the bishop’s move to f5 would have maintained equality. (48...Bf5!
49.Rg7+ Kd8 50.a5 Kc8 51.a6 Kb8=) 49.Kg2? returns the favor! Again! (A similar idea could have
been used by White to win 49.Rg7+ Kd8 50.a5 Kc8.

51.Bc6!! A very hard move for the human eye to see. After the following forced continuation, White
reaches a winning rook endgame. 51...Rxc6 52.Rxg6 Ra6 53.Rf6 Rxa5 54.Rxf4 Ra1+ 55.Kg2 Rb1
56.Rf7 Rxb2+ 57.Kxg3+– with a straightforward victory for White.) 49...Be4+ 50.Kg1 Bg6 51.Rg7+
Kd8 52.Rg8+ ½–½.

45.Rh8! Bg6 46.Rg8 Ra7 47.Rg7+ Bf7

372
48.a4

And White can take his time grabbing every single pawn starting with f4, g3 and h7.

57
Noel Studer (2493)
Peter Leko (2678)
Biel Chess Festival GM, 2017

373
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

In this position, White has two moves that keep the position equal.

40.exf5!

a) 40.fxg4! forces some trades leading to a drawish rook endgame 40...Bxg4 (40...fxe4+ is another
option, but White wins the d2-pawn. 41.Kc3 Rb5 42.Kxd2 Rxd5+ 43.Ke1 e3 44.Ra3=) 41.Bxg4 fxg4
42.Ke2 d1=Q+ 43.Kxd1 Rxh2 44.Ke1 Ke5 45.Re7+ Kf4 46.e5! g3 47.Kf1 dxe5 48.Rf7+ Ke3 49.d6
Rxa2 50.d7 Rd2 51.Kg1 e4 52.Kf1 g2+ 53.Kg1= and Black cannot make progress because of
White’s Rf2 idea;
b) This was move 40, and White missed the importance of Black bringing the bishop to g2. 40.Rh7??
† 40...Bg2! Now all moves lead to a lost position for White. 41.Rh5
[41.exf5 Bxf3 42.Be2 d1=Q+ 43.Bxd1 Bxd1–+ and with the extra bishop, Black should be able to
convert the game; 41.e5+ is a nice trap, but Black can simply play 41...Kg6 (of course, not
41...Kxe5? 42.fxg4 fxg4 43.Re7+ Kxd5 44.Bxg4= surprisingly Black cannot find a way to promote
his d-pawn) 42.Rh8 Bxf3–+;]
41...Bxf3 42.Rxf5+ Kg6 White resorted to a final idea. 43.Rxf3 gxf3 44.Bxf3 Rxa2 45.Bd1 Kg5
46.Bc2 Kf4 47.Kxd2

47...Ra8 and although White was finally able to capture the d-pawn, Black was able to gain the h-
pawn in return and after many maneuvering moves, was able to win this endgame. 48.Kd3 Ke5

374
49.Bb1 Rh8 50.Kc4 Rxh2 51.Bd3 Rh8 52.Bc2 Rb8 53.Kd3 Ra8 54.Kc4 Ra3 55.Kb4 Rh3 56.Kc4
Rh2 57.Bd3 Kf4 58.Bb1 Rb2 59.Bd3 Rd2 60.Kc3 Ke3 61.Bb1 Rd1 62.Bc2 Rd4 63.Bb1 Ra4 64.Bc2
Ra8 65.Bb1 Rc8+ 66.Kb3 Rb8+ 0–1.

40.exf5! gxf3 41.Bxf3 Bxf5+ 42.Ke2=

58
Liren Ding (2812)
Rauf Mamedov (2701)
Wch Team, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

Black’s last move was g5, and now it is important to find White’s winning idea. We often think that if
we close down a position, the opponent will not have ways to get active, but here White has a
beautiful bishop maneuver to win the game, while of course Black has no counterplay.

39.Rh7+ Ke8 40.Bg3 Rd7 41.Bb8 Bf8 42.Rh1 Kf7 43.Ba7 Kg7 44.Bc5!

This was the first part of the plan, now on to activating the rook.

375
44...Bd6 45.Ra1 Bg3 46.a6 bxa6 47.Kc3 Rd8 48.Rxa6 Be1+ 49.Kc2 Rh8 50.Rxc6 Rh2+ 51.Kd1
Bd2 52.d5 Bc3 53.Rc7+ Kg8 54.d6

1–0

59
Elshan Moradiabadi (2539)
Ari Kiremitciyan (2270)
Sunway Sitges, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

34.e5!

White entered this endgame knowing that the rook endgame is winning, given that his massive center
is the decisive factor here.

34...Rd7 35.Bxb7 Rxb7 36.b4!

An important nuance: White weakens Black’s pawn structure and prevents Black’s king from
entering the game.

376
36...cxb4

36...axb4 37.axb4 Rc7 38.d4 c4 39.d5+– and White’s pawns are impossible to stop.

37.Rc8+!

An important in-between check. White couldn’t win without this move.

37...Kh7 38.axb4 Ra7

Black puts his hope in his a-pawn, but White’s king and pawns are much faster in this case.

39.Ke3?

White is lucky that he is still winning after this move.

39.d4! a4 40.d5 a3 41.d6 a2 42.Rc1+– would have sealed the deal.

39...a4 40.Rc2 g6?

The infamous 40th move blunder, which returns the favor.

40...a3 41.Ra2 Kg8 was Black’s last hope. 42.Kd4 g6 43.f6 Kf8 44.Kd5 Rd7+ 45.Kc4 b5+ 46.Kxb5
Rxd3 47.Ka4 is winning for White, but he still has to do some work in order to earn the full point.

41.d4

Now, White just pushes his pawns to victory.

41...h5 42.d5 a3 43.d6 Rd7 44.gxh5 gxf5 45.Kf4 f6 46.Kxf5 fxe5 47.Ke6

1–0

60
Vidit Gujrathi (2718)
Robert Hovhannisyan (2639)
FIDE Chess.com Grand Swiss, 2019

377
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

40...Bd5!

This move is a great judgment call, giving up some material in order to achieve a drawn endgame.

41.Rg4+ Kf8 42.Kd4 Bxb3!

Sacrificing the exchange to go into a fortress.

43.Kxe5 Bxa2 44.Kf6 Be6 45.Rh4 Kg8 46.Rxh6

And despite winning the h-pawn, White cannot win this position. After 50 moves, the players agreed
to a draw.

½–½

378
 Show in Text Mode

61
Surya Ganguly (2636)
Nodirbek Abdusattorov (2635)
Tata Steel Challengers, 2020

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

White is a pawn up and he needs to consolidate his position. Where does he need to start first?

24.Kf2!

This is the move that had to be played. Black is threatening to play f6 and bring his rook to White’s
second rank. However, with an active king, both threats could be stopped. Unfortunately for Ganguly,
his approach wasn’t based on having an active king.
a) 24.Rf3 is an alternative, activating the rook and allowing the king come into play through f2.
24...f6 (24...Rc8? 25.Rc3+–) 25.exf6 Bxf6 26.Bc3 Bxc3 27.Rxc3 b4 28.Rd3
[28.Rc4?! b3! 29.axb3 (29.a3 Rd8=) 29...Rd8 30.Rc2 Rd3=. Black’s rook is extremely active and a

379
draw is within his reach.]
28...Rc8 29.Rd2± Black is active enough to hold, but in a practical game White still has good winning
chances;
b) 24.Bf2? was played instead and after 24...Rc8 25.Be3 Black is in time to trade some pawns and
activate all of his pieces. 25...f6! 26.b3 fxe5 27.fxe5 Rc2 and eventually the game ended in a draw.

24.Kf2! f6!

Is the best practical try and probably Black’s best move.

Black most likely would have continued 24...Rc8 and now 25.Bc3 Stops Black’s rook and provokes a
weakness. 25...b4 is possible, after 26.Bd4 Rc2+ 27.Kf3 Rd2 Ganguly may have seen this position in
his head and was not satisfied with what he saw. Nevertheless, his king’s activity is going to be the
crucial factor here.

28.Ke4! Rxg2 29.Rf2 Rxf2 (if Black avoids the trade with 29...Rg1 30.Rc2 followed by Rc8–a8 and
White will create a passed pawn on the queenside which will be more dangerous than Black’s on the
kingside.) 30.Bxf2 Kf8 31.Kd5 Ke8 32.Kc4 (32.Kc6 g5 is not clear enough) 32...Kd7 33.Bc5!? b3
the only move 34.a4 Bd8 35.Kxb3 Ke6 36.Kc4 g5 37.Be3 gxf4 38.Bxf4 Bc7 39.b4 f6 40.b5 axb5+
41.axb5 fxe5 42.Be3 e4 43.h3 Bd6 44.b6 Bb8 45.Kd4 Kf5 46.Kd5+–.

25.Ke2 Kf7 26.Bc3 Rc8 27.Kd3

And White has much better winning chances given his king is handling Black’s counterplay.

27...h5!

Note: We believe that with best play, Black has drawing chances and a win is not easily attainable for

380
White. However, in order to enter this position a lot of good moves were required from Black’s side.
Playing f6 instead of Rc8, not falling for White’s king activity, and further holding this endgame. The
point of this endgame is to learn what the right approach is and what action is needed in any specific
position. It is easier to formulate heuristics in endgames, and trading activity for material is
something you need to consider in any endgame, especially when there are many pawns remaining on
the board.

62
Pavel Eljanov (2734)
Aleksandr Lenderman (2565)
FIDE World Cup, 2017

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

White was winning in several ways earlier in this game, but his advantage is now gone, and it is time
to concede to a draw. Unfortunately for Eljanov, he didn’t sense the danger.

54.Rxe3

This would lead to a draw.

54.Rd2?? was played inexplicably instead, allowing the simple tactic

381
54...Rxd4! 55.Rb2 (55.Rxd4 wouldn’t work as the passed pawns cannot cause sufficient trouble for
Black 55...Nc2+ 56.Kf2 Nxd4 57.b6 Kxe7 58.b7 Nc6–+) 55...Rd7 56.b6 Rb7 57.Ke2 Nd5 and now,
given that Black is about to start grabbing all of White’s pawns, White resigned.

54.Rxe3 fxe3 55.Nf5 Rd3

This is the only plausible move.

56.b6 Rb3 57.b7 Rb2 58.Kd1

And the players can simply repeat the position for a draw, as neither side can improve.

63
Emilio Cordova (2570)
Elshan Moradiabadi (2552)
Winter Chess Classic B, 2019

382
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

42...Rb8!

would have led to a draw. In fact, by process of elimination, Black should be able to find this move.
However, Black forgot one important endgame factor: it is always possible to have your king trapped
in a mating net.
In the game 42...Ne5?? was played, missing 43.Rh7 and the mating net. An immediate resignation
followed.

42...Rb8! 43.Nxh5

43.Rxf7 Rg8+ 44.Kf2 Kxf4 45.Rxf6+ Ke5 46.Rh6 Is what one of your authors worried about despite
seeing that after: 46...d3!= Black can easily draw thanks to his pieces’ activity; Elshan missed that
after 47.e3 (47.exd3 Kd4 48.Rxh5 Rd8! 49.Ke2 Re8+ 50.Kd2 Ra8 51.f4 Ra2+ 52.Ke1 Kxd3
53.Rxd5+ Ke4=) 47...Rg2+! The game is immediately a draw and in fact White is lucky to have Ke1.
(47...Rc8 48.Rxh5+ Kd6 is also a draw, but after five hours of playing, this position would require
some assessment. Moves like Rg2 shouldn’t escape one’s mind.)

43...Rg8+ 44.Kf2 Ne5=

Now Black is too active and he will manage to trade the remaining pawns.

383
 64
Georg Meier (2628)
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2773)
GRENKE Chess Classic, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

Surprisingly,

71.Rd1!

was the only way to save the game.

71.Ra1? was played in the game 71...g3+ 72.Kg1 (72.Ke2?? White loses the knight on g2 because he
cannot meet this move with Rd2. It is a small nuance, but easy to miss. White may have thought about
lateral checks as a common defensive method, while the key factor is actually White’s poorly placed
king on h1 after the check on f3. 72...Rb2+–+) 72...Nf3+ 73.Kh1 (73.Kf1 loses to 73...Rb2 and
despite White’s few checks 74.Ne3+ Kg5 75.Ra5+ Kh4 76.Ng2+ Kh3 77.Nf4+ When the checks
finally end, Black maintains the mating threat on f2 and the g-pawn is ready to promote. 77...Kg4
78.Ne2 Rb1+–+) 73...Rb2 74.Ra5+ Ke4 75.Ra1 Rf2
[75...Nd4 76.Kg1 Rf2 77.Ra4 Ke5 78.Ra5+ White is forced to check or else the rook will be bound to

384
stay to cover the back rank allowing Black’s king to march to h3 and win the knight. (78.Ra1 Kf5
79.Rb1 Kg4 80.Rb4 Rd2–+ followed by Kh3) 78...Kd6 79.Ra6+ Kc5 and from here, Black finds an
interesting way to win: he deprives White’s rook of all squares on the first rank. 80.Ra5+ Kb4 81.Ra1
Kb3 82.Rd1 Nf3+ 83.Kh1 Kb2ʘ and now the rook is out of moves. 84.Rg1 Nxg1 85.Kxg1 Now it is
time to bring back the king! 85...Kc3 86.Ne3 Kd3 87.Nf1 White regains the g3-pawn, but still loses
due to the poor position of his king and knight, which we covered earlier. 87...Ke2 88.Nxg3+ Kf3
89.Nf5 (89.Nf1 Rg2+ 90.Kh1 Ra2 91.Nh2+ (91.Kg1 Ra1–+) 91...Kf2 92.Ng4+ Kg3–+) 89...Rd2
90.Nh4+ Kg3 91.Nf5+ Kg4 92.Ne3+ Kf3 93.Nf5 Rd5 94.Ne7 Rc5 White’s knight had to go far
from his king and will soon be lost, and with that the game will be over.].

71.Rd1! g3+ 72.Ke2! Ke4 73.Rd8 Rb2+ 74.Rd2 Rxd2+ 75.Kxd2 Kf3

76.Ne1+!

But not 76.Nh4+?? Kf2 followed by Nf3 –+.

76...Kf2 77.Nd3+ Kf1

77...Kg2 78.Ke3=

78.Nf4 Ng4 79.Kd3

And surprisingly, Black cannot improve.

79...Ke1 80.Ke4 Kf2 81.Nd3+

81.Nh5?? Nf6+!–+

385
81...Kf1 82.Nf4=

65
Klaus Pohl (2003)
Elshan Moradiabadi (2546)
Land of Sky, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

54.Rxc7!

Black’s last move was Rc7??, and here White would have won the game by trading off the rooks and
simplifying into a dominant knight endgame.
However, he immediately played 54.Rb8+? throwing away his winning chances and after: 54...Kg7
55.Ra8 Rc3+ He blundered in a completely drawn position some 50 moves later [...] 0–1.

54.Rxc7! Nxc7 55.Ke4 Kf7

a) 55...a5 56.Ne7+ Kf7 57.Nc6+–;

b) 55...Kg7 56.Ke5 Kh6 57.Nf4 a5 58.Kd6 White needs to be careful. (58.Nxe6?? loses to

386
58...Nxe6 59.Kxe6 a4–+) 58...Nb5+ 59.Kc5 Nc7

60.Kc6! (60.Kb6? leads to a draw after 60...a4 61.bxa4 Nd5+ 62.Ka5 Nxf4 63.Kxb4 Kxh5 64.a5
Nd5+ 65.Kc5 Nc7 66.Kd6 Nb5+! 67.Ke5 Nc7 68.Kd6=) 60...a4 61.bxa4 Nd5 62.Nd3 b3 63.Kd6+–
(63.a5?? Nb4+ 64.Kd7 Nxd3 65.a6 b2 66.a7 b1=Q 67.a8=Q And luckily for White, he can hold
here, but that isn’t the point. This is a good example of the tricks involved in a knight endgame.)

56.Ke5 a5 57.Kd6 Nb5+ 58.Kc5 Nc3 59.Ne5+ Kf6 60.Nc6+–

66
Thomas Beerdsen (2317)
Elshan Moradiabadi (2567)
Dutch Open, 2015

387
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

31...d3!

A simple idea, but involves a delicate execution.

32.Nxf8 d2 33.Rb1

33.Ra1 Nc2 34.Rd1 e3 35.Kf1 Nd4–+ wins at once.

33...Kxf8 34.Kf2 d1=Q 35.Rxd1 Nxd1+ 36.Ke2

388
36...Nb2!

The simplest way!

37.Ke3 Nd3!

Now Black holds the b-pawn and doesn’t let go of his e-pawn.

38.Kxe4 Nc5+ 39.Ke5 Nxb3

Now this position is simply winning. Black’s winning method is instructive.

40.f5 Kf7 41.fxg6+ Kxg6!

Black needs to keep his pawn farther in order to avoid trading it.
41...hxg6?? 42.g4 Nc5 43.h4 Nd7+ (43...Ne6 44.h5 g5 45.Kf5) 44.Kf4=

42.Kf4 Nc5 43.g4 Ne6+ 44.Kg3 Kg5 45.h4+ Kf6 46.Kf3 Ke5 47.Ke3 Nd4

47...Nf8 works as well 48.Kf3 Ng6 49.h5 Nf4–+

48.h5 Ne6!?

Followed by Kf6–g5. There are many ways to win here, though it is nice to win with a blockade.
Knights are the best pieces for that!

49.Kf3 Kf6 0–1

389
 67
Irina Krush (2444)
Sabina Foisor (2272)
USA-ch (Women), 2017

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

51...Rc2+!

For a long time in this game, White was advancing her pawns on the kingside with annoying
pressure, but in the ensuing ending, White’s kingside pawns are now simply weaknesses to be
targeted.
In such dominant positions where Black has all of her pieces active (including the king), it is not easy
to think about retreating moves. This was the case in this game. Black first needs to exchange the
rooks and then start winning White’s pawns.
51...Nf3? was played in the game and White gained some counterplay due to her rook becoming
active on seventh rank. 52.Rd7 Rc2+ 53.Kd1 Rxa2 54.Rxh7 Kxe3 and in a few moves, Black
blundered in time pressure and lost the game [...] 1–0.

51...Rc2+! 52.Rd2™

390
The only move.
52.Kf1 Rxa2–+ and White’s king is immobilized on the back rank, which will lead to White needing
to keep her rook passive while Black’s a-pawn can just be pushed.

52...Rxd2+ 53.Kxd2 Nf7!

A simple move that Sabina missed in time pressure. She only considered: 53...Nc4+? which leads to a
draw 54.Ke2 Nxe3 55.Nf8 Nc4 56.Nxh7 Ne5 57.Nf8 Nf7 58.h7 (or 58.Nxg6 Nxg5=) 58...Nh8=
and neither side has enough material to win.

54.Ke2 Ke5 55.Nd4 Kd5!

Nc6+ must be prevented.

56.Nf3

56.Nb5 a5 and White’s g- and h-pawns will be gone soon.

56...f4! 57.exf4

57.Kd3 Ne5+! and now liquidates into a winning pawn ending.

57...Ke4–+

68
Jonny Hector (2479)
Baadur Jobava (2705)
SWE-ch Team, 2018

391
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

When your king advances too much into the opponent’s territory, make sure you keep your king safe!
In this case, White should also watch his vulnerable pawns, but the king is first! The small amount of
material, especially the number of pawns on the board, give White excellent drawing chances.

60.Ka7!

The move would have kept the king from harm’s way.
a) Instead White played 60.Bg6?? missing an unexpected mating net. 60...Kb6! 61.Kc8 Rc6+ and
White resigned in view of 62.Kb8 (or 62.Kd8 Ne6+–+) 62...Nd7+ 63.Ka8 Rc8#;
b) 60.Ka8?? wouldn’t work either after 60...Kb6! 61.Rg8 a4 62.Rh8 Rc6 63.Bf5 Na6 64.Be4 Rxc3–+
and White loses both pawns and the game;
c) 60.Rg6?? Moves like this usually work well, but in this case White’s king is too far away.
60...Rxg6 61.Bxg6 Kb6! Opposition is a strong tool! (61...a4 62.Ka7! and the king enters the game
via the a-file pressuring the b-pawn) 62.Bc2 (62.Kc8 Na4–+) 62...a4! 63.Kc8 Nb3 64.Kd7 Nd2
65.Bd3 Kc5–+.

60.Ka7! Rd7+

60...Rd2 61.Bf5 Ra2 62.Rg6+ Kd5 63.Kb6 Rxa3 64.Kxb5=

392
61.Ka8 Kb6 62.Rg6+=

69
Elshan Moradiabadi (2552)
Eddy Tian (2130)
National Chess Congress, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

This is a simple calculation.

37.Rxb6!

Of course, Black cannot immediately pin the bishop due to his misplaced king, but that one tempo
gives White enough time to create a passed pawn.

37...Ke7

He is threatening Nc5 and Nd8.

38.b4!

393
This is the key move.

38...axb4 39.a5 Nc5

39...Rd8 would have put up a better fight; however, after 40.a6 Rd1+ 41.Kf2 Ra1 42.Bd5 Nc5 43.Bc4
b3 44.Ke3 b2 45.Rxb2 Nxa6 46.Rb7+ Kd8 47.Ra7+– White wins the knight.

40.Rxb4! h6

If 40...Rxb7 41.Rxb7+ Nxb7 42.a6+–, and we have one of those versions where the knight cannot
stop the pawn.

41.Rb5 g5 42.a6 Nxa6 43.Bxa6 Ra8 44.Rb7+ Kf8 45.Rb6 gxf4 46.Rxh6 Ke7 47.Kf2 Rd8 48.Bc4
Rd4 49.Rh7+ Kd8 50.Bg8

1–0

70
Sergei Yudin (2508)
AL Muthaiah (2367)
Chennai Open, 2020

394
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

In this position, White is planning to improve his knight via f2–e4 or f2–h3, and if he captures the g-
pawn, there shouldn’t be any problem winning the game.

53...Rd3!

Was necessary.
Instead, Black played 53...Bf7? after which White is able to progress. 54.Rf5+ (54.Nf2 Bg6 55.Nh3
is also winning as there is no way to defend g5.) 54...Kg6 55.Nf2 Be6 56.Re5 Bc8 57.Ne4 Bb7
58.Re6+ Kf7 59.Nxg5+ and with the two extra pawns, White was able to convert the game [...] 1–0.

53...Rd3! 54.Nf2 Rd5

This maneuver keeps the g5-pawn out of danger.

55.Ne4+ Kg6 56.Rc6 Kf7 57.Ra6

395
57...Re5

Due to the lack of pressure on the g-pawn, White’s only chance here is to try to chase the rook off of
e5 by bringing the king over, but it won’t be sufficient.

58.Kf2 Kg6

58...Rd5 is good as well.

59.Ke3 Kg7 60.Kd4 Rd5+ 61.Ke3 Re5

And White cannot put Black in zugzwang!

62.Rd6 Bf7 63.Rc6 Ra5=

71
Michael Adams (2744)
Pavel Eljanov (2760)
Tata Steel A, 2016

396
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

This position is purely based on move-by-move calculation which relies on a simple idea: knights are
not comfortable around the pieces that constantly threaten them. That is why we seek outposts for the
knights!

72...Kd2!

72...Ke4? was the move played in the game after which Adams continued 73.Na2! which forms an
odd, but effective defensive mechanism for White by controlling the c3-square. 73...Ke5 74.Rxa4
Be4 75.Ra8 Bg6 76.Rf8 Ra1 77.Rf2 Be4 78.Re2 Kf4 79.Nc3 Bf3 80.Re7 Rc1 81.Kd4 c5+ 82.Kd3 c6
83.Ne2+ Bxe2+ 84.Rxe2 Kf5 85.Re8 ½–½.

72...Kd2! 73.Kxc6

73.Nxc6 Rc1+ 74.Kd5 Bd7 75.Nd4 Rc3–+

73...Rc1+ 74.Kb5 Bd7+ 75.Ka5 Rc5+ 76.Ka6 Rc3–+

72
Elshan Moradiabadi (2436)

397
 Mikhail Ulybin (2579)
Dubai Open, 2004

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

28...Kf7!

Was a necessary move for Black in this position bringing in the king quickly to be able to block
White’s c- and d-passed pawns.
28...Rb8?? was played in the game, though White went for 29.Na5?! giving Black one more chance
to bring the king closer to the center. However, Black’s rook is now misplaced and in the path of the
c-pawn, which will eventually play c7 with tempo. (29.Nd6! would have been more accurate.)
29...Kf7 30.c5 f4 (30...Ke6 invites 31.d5+!+–) 31.c6 Ke7 32.d5? a mistake that could have cost
White half a point, as now the g1–a7 diagonal is opened for the Be3, and it can retreat to c5 or b6 and
stop White’s pawns from advancing further. However, it should be done in a timely fashion!
(32.Nb7! was an important intermediate move, followed by d5. This wouldn’t allow Black to block
the pawns.) 32...Bc5?? (32...Kd6! had to be played 33.Nc4+ Kc7 and although White is better, he has
to keep finding the best moves to win the game. 34.Ne5 and only now 34...Bc5 35.Nd7 Rb5) 33.Nb7
Bd6 34.Kxf2 Bc7 35.d6+ Bxd6 36.Re1+ and Black resigned.

28...Kf7! 29.c5

398
29.d5 would allow Black to block the pawns 29...Rb8! 30.Na5 Rc8 31.d6 Ke6 32.c5 Rxc5 33.d7 Bg5
34.Nb7 Rc2 35.d8=Q Bxd8 36.Nxd8+ Ke5©.

29...Ke6 30.d5+ Kd7 31.c6+ Kc7 32.Na5 Rd8 33.d6+ Rxd6 34.Rxd6 Kxd6 35.Nc4+ Kxc6
36.Nxe3 f4

And White isn’t fast enough against Black’s queenside activity.

37.Nd1 Kb5 38.Nb2 a5 39.Kxf2 a4 40.Ke2

40.Kf3?? White must be careful 40...a3 41.Nd3 b3–+.

40...a3 41.Nd1 b3 42.Kd3 Kb4 43.Nc3 bxa2 44.Nxa2+ Kb3 45.Nc3

45...h5 46.h4 h6 47.Kd4 Kc2 48.Kc4 Kd2 49.Kb3 a2 50.Nxa2 f3=

The main thing one has to understand in order to hold this endgame is the need for an active king.

73
Piotr Piesik (2417)
Sabina Foisor (2274)
Rilton Cup, 2019

399
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

In this position, Black (Sabina) was been able to place her pieces on optimal squares, making it
difficult for White to improve. In such positions, one should not change what is working just fine.
Therefore, all Black has to do is wait and avoid making weaknesses.

41...Kd6!

41...a5? was instead played 42.Be2 Rf6 43.a4 Nxe2 44.Kxe2 bxa4 45.bxa4 Kc4 46.Ke3 Kb3 47.Re8
and finally White was able to get active and create potential winning chances [...] 1–0.

41...Kd6! 42.a4

This could be a way for White to try to create a new weakness, but once again, Black can just wait.
And if 42.Re5 Rh7 43.Ke3 Nd5+ 44.Kd2 Rh2+ 45.Re2 Rh4=.

42...Rf6 43.Be2 Nd5 44.axb5 axb5=

74
Viswanathan Anand (2783)

400
 David Navara (2737)
Saint Louis GCT Rapid, 2017

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

47...Bf1+

Is the correct move which have drawn the game, as Black can force the trade of pawns on the
kingside and, even if he loses one, he shouldn’t encounter many problems drawing the game.
47...f3+?? loses the game. Black might have been hoping for some sort of mating net, but
unfortunately for him, White’s king hides on h4 48.Kg3 Rg1+ 49.Kh4 Rg2 50.Nh6+! He also may
have missed this check 50...Kf4 51.Ng4 and without being able to win the f-pawn, Black’s position
collapsed. 51...Rxg4+ 52.hxg4 Bxc4 53.Rf6+ Ke5 54.Rf5+ Kd6 55.Kg3 and after a few more moves,
Black resigned.

47...Bf1+ 48.Kh2 e3 49.fxe3

49.Nd6+ won’t help White 49...Kg5 50.fxe3 Rc2+ 51.Kg1 Bxh3 52.exf4+ Kxf4 53.Rh6 Bg4
54.Rxh7 Ke5= and White’s pawns will soon fall.

49...Rc2+ 50.Kg1 Bxh3 51.Nd6+ Kg4 52.exf4

401
52...Kf3=

And Black is one step away from perpetual check.

75
Alireza Firouzja (2723)
Viswanathan Anand (2758)
Tata Steel A, 2020

402
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

Black has a better pawn structure and the pawn on f3 is a fixed target. If White waits for too long,
Black consolidates (like he did in the game) and simply targets white’s kingside. White needs to take
drastic measures.

25.f4!

25.Kd2? was played in the game and it allowed 25...e5! after which White’s f3-pawn is rooted in
place and Black has chances to push for a win. 26.Ke3 Rxd6 27.cxd6 Ke6 28.c5 and now 28...b6!
putting in practice the ‘principle of two weaknesses’. 29.h4 h6 30.hxg5 hxg5 31.cxb6 Rb8 32.Rd1
Rxb6 33.Kf2 Ba4 34.Rd2 Rb8 35.Kg3 Rc8 36.Kf2 Rc4 37.Kg3 Rc8 38.Kf2 Rh8 39.Kg3 Rh1 40.Kg2
Rb1 41.Kg3 Bc6 42.Kf2 Kd7 43.Kg3 Rf1 44.Rd3 Ke6 45.Kg4 Rb1 46.Rd2 Rg1+ 47.Kh3 Rf1, and
with f3 about to fall, White resigned.

25.f4! g4

This is the most natural continuation to support an eventual creation of a passed pawn on the g-file.

26.Bd4 h5 27.Bf2

Making it right on time to stop h4.

27...Rxd6 28.cxd6 b5!

Although this move seems to help White create two connected passed pawns, it gives Black the
ability to play a5 and open up his rook; besides, the Bc6 is well placed, as Black wouldn’t want to
allow any b5-push idea for White.

29.c5 a5 30.Kd2 axb4 31.axb4 Ra4 32.Kc3 Ra3+ 33.Kd2 h4

33...Rh3 34.Bg1 h4 35.Ra1 g3 36.hxg3 Rxg3 37.Ra6 and White’s counterplay is sufficient.

34.Bxh4 Ra2+ 35.Ke3 Rxh2 36.Bg3 Rg2 37.Bh4 Rb2 38.Ra1

And again, active play saves White.

38...Rb3+ 39.Kf2 g3+ 40.Bxg3 Rf3+ 41.Ke2 Rxg3 42.Ra6=

403
 76
Jeffery Xiong (2634)
Matthieu Cornette (2611)
PRO Chess League, 2018

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

21...Kf8!

21...c5?? was played in the game, and it gave White a much better position. Not all endgames require
active defense; sometimes it is important to choose passive defense! 22.Rxd8+ Rxd8 23.Bxb7 h5
24.Bf3 g6 25.Rb5 Rd2 26.Rxc5 Bh3 27.Rxa5 Rc2 28.Rd5 Rxc3 29.Bd1 Ra3 30.Rd2 Kg7 31.e4 g5
32.f3 g4?? was an unexpected blunder.
[32...Kf6 would have been Black’s last chance 33.Kf2 Be6 34.f4 (34.h4?! g4 35.f4 Ke7 36.e5 Ra1
and there isn’t a way for White to improve.) 34...h4 35.e5+ Kg7 36.gxh4! (36.fxg5 hxg3+ 37.hxg3
Kg6=) 36...gxh4 (36...gxf4 37.Rd4 Ra2+ 38.Kf3 Rxh2 39.a5) 37.Ke1 Re3+ 38.Kf2 Ra3 39.Rb2 Kh6
and Black’s drawing chances are high!]
33.f4 Re3 34.Kf2 Rxe4 35.a5 Rb4 36.Ra2 and with the Bh3 trapped and the a-pawn marching
forward, Black resigned.

21...Kf8! 22.Rxb7 c5

404
After which the following line could happen.

23.Rxd8+ Rxd8 24.Bc6 c4 25.Ra7 Rd3 26.Rxa5 Ke7 27.Kf1 Rxc3 28.Bd5 Ra3 29.Bxe6 Kxe6 30.h4
c3 31.Rc5 Rxa4 32.Rxc3 h5 33.Rc5 g6 34.Kg2 Kf6

This endgame is a simple draw. For acquiring further knowledge look at Capablanca-Yates from
Hastings, 1930!

77
Karthik Venkataraman (2470)
Kushager Krishnater (2308)
Sunway Sitges, 2019

405
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

24...Bf6!

The key concept is to keep Black’s kingside safe and activate his majority on the queenside.
24...Be5? looks like a simple reasonable move, but Black seems to almost be losing by force. 25.Bg5
at first this move may seem harmless, but the game continued: 25...Bf6 26.Bxf6 gxf6 27.Rxe8! Rxe8
28.Rh4 Re7 29.Rh5 Re5? the final mistake in an already very difficult position. (29...Rf7 Was the last
chance, though after 30.Rxf5 b6 31.Ke3 Kc7 32.Ke4 White has a good chance to win here.) 30.Rxh7
Ra5 31.Rh4 Kc7 32.Rb4 Re5 33.Rb5 Re7 34.Rxf5 Rh7 35.Rxf6 Rxh3 36.f4 a5 37.Ke2 Rh5 38.Re6 b5
39.Re5 1–0.

24...Bf6! 25.Bf4+ Ka8 26.Rxe8 Rxe8 27.Rc5 b6!

27...g6? 28.Rc7 h5 29.Rf7 Bb2 30.Rd7!± And the d-pawn is a major threat.

28.Rxf5 Kb7 29.Be3 Kc6©

And Black has sufficient compensation.

78

406
 Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2789)
Viswanathan Anand (2776)
GRENKE Chess Classic, 2018

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

In this position, it is important to realize that White is better due to Black’s weaknesses on a6 and d7,
so White should immediately take advantage of them by playing:

28.Ne2!

The move allows the rook to be improved on d6.

28...Rc7

Of course 28...d5? is possible, but despite the wish to play the move, Black would get into a much
worse position after 29.Nd4! as the e6 is the new weakness. With every pawn push, something is
often left behind 29...Rb6 30.Rde2+– and given that there is no way to protect the e6-pawn, Black
cannot afford to push d5.

29.Rd6!

The key idea!

407
29...Ra7 30.Red3 Be8

Now that every single piece of Black’s is passive and White has activated his rooks, it is time to try to
create a new weakness and find a good square for the knight as well.

31.f5! exf5

31...Kf7 would have been the alternative, but 32.Nf4 g5!? (32...e5 33.Nd5± trying to play a5 and
Nb6) 33.fxe6+ Ke7 34.Rb6! Rxb6 35.Nd5+ Kxe6 36.Nxb6 d6 37.Re3+ Kf7 38.c4± and White
maintains active pieces and Black remains with the weak d-pawn.

32.gxf5 Rc8 33.Nc3 Rc5 34.R3d5 Rc6 35.Ne4 Kf7 36.Rd3 Rac7 37.c4

37...g6??

A blunder in a much worse position.

Although 37...a5 could have been played, White could continue improving his position as follows
38.R6d5 Ra6 39.Nd6+ Kf8 40.Rb5 Rca7 41.Kc3 and Black’s pieces are immobilized.

38.fxg6+

And Black resigned in view of 38.fxg6+ hxg6 39.Nxf6+– Black remaining with three weaknesses a6,
d7 and g6, which were bound to fall shortly.

1–0

408
 79
Francisco Vallejo Pons (2693)
Magnus Carlsen (2845)
GRENKE Chess Classic, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

White is in a bit of trouble and there is only one way for this to maintain the balance!

37.Na3!

Instead Vallejo played 37.Ne3? which allows 37...Rd2+ (37...f4! would have given Black a bigger
advantage as White has to give up some material 38.Be4 Nf8 39.gxf4+ Bxf4 40.Rb6 Bxe3 41.Rxb5+
Kf4µ) 38.Kh3 Rd3 39.Be2 Rxc3 40.Bxb5 f4 and eventually Magnus was able to convert his
advantage.

37.Na3! f4 38.Be4 Nf8 39.Rb6 fxg3 40.Rxb5+ Kf4 41.Rd5 Re8 42.Bf3 Ng6 43.Rd4+ Kf5 44.Nc4!
Nf4+ 45.Kxg3 Ne2+ 46.Kf2 Nxd4

409
47.cxd4

Here, the extra pawn makes it possible for Vallejo to hold against the World Champion, only in
theory!

80
Sabina Foisor (2202)
Nico Zwirs (2346)
Dutch Open, 2015

410
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

47.Nf4+!

This would give White the best winning chances out of all the moves. The position remains equal, but
Black has to deal with more practical problems involving the h-pawn.
b) 47.Nd5!? is another option with a similar idea, but Black has a good drawing idea against this
move. 47...Bxd5! (47...Rh8 48.Nhf4+ Kd7 49.Nxe7 Kxe7 50.Re2+–; 47...Bxh4+ 48.Kxh4 Bxd5
49.Nf4+ Ke5 50.Nxd5 Rb8 51.Rb2±) 48.Nf4+ Ke5 49.Nxd5

411
49...Bxh4+! (49...Bd8? 50.Kxg4 Rb8 51.Rf8+–) 50.Kxh4 Rb8 51.Rb2 Kf5∞;
b) 47.Ng7+? was played in the game and Black got some counterplay as White’s knights lost
coordination and the game eventually ended in a draw. 47...Kd7 48.Nd5 Rb8 49.Rf7 Bxd5 50.cxd5
Rxb3+ 51.Kxg4 Rb4+ [...] ½–½.

47.Nf4+! Kd7 48.Nfd5 Bd8

48...Bxd5 49.Nxd5 Bxh4+ 50.Kxh4 Rb8 doesn’t work because Black’s king is badly placed.
51.Kxg4 Rxb3 52.Rf7+ Ke8 53.Re7+ Kd8 54.Kf5+– White is going after checkmate.

49.h5 Rb8 50.h6 Bg5 51.Rf7+ Ke6 52.Rg7 Bxd5 53.cxd5+ Kf6 54.Nxg4+ Kf5 55.h7 Rh8=

412
 Show in Text Mode

81
Viswanathan Anand (2776)
Hikaru Nakamura (2787)
Tal Memorial Rapid, 2018

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

Of course Black wants some trades to happen, but which ones are in his favor?

27...Rxd5!

This move would have been the best choice for Black.
27...Bxe5? was instead played in the game, which, despite leading to an endgame with opposite-color
bishops, gives White a simple plan to improve 28.Rxe5 Re8 29.f4! and once the king is brought to d4,
White’s advantage is a winning one. The game is not over yet here as Black can try 29...g5, but it
fails to:

413
30.Rxe8+! Bxe8 31.fxg5 hxg5 32.g4! Fixing the weakness. 32...Kf7 33.Kf2 Ba4 34.Ke3 Bd1 35.Kd4
(35.Bd2 also works 35...Ke7 36.Kd4+– and White will create two passed pawns.) 35...Bf3 36.Kxc4
Ke7 37.Bxg7 Bg2 38.h4 gxh4 39.Be5 Bf3 40.g5 Kf7 41.b4 Kg6 42.d6 1–0.

27...Rxd5! 28.Nxg6 Kf7 29.Nf4 Rd6 30.Bxd4 Rxd4 31.Re5 Bc6 32.Rc5

32...Ba4

and with b2- and c4-pawns about to get traded off, Black would have more chances drawing in this
endgame than he had in the actual game!

414
33.Nd5 Rd1+ 34.Kh2 Bb3 35.Ne3 Rd2 36.Kg3 Rxb2 37.Nxc4 Bxc4 38.Rxc4 Ra2=

82
Study
by Jean Dufresne
1882

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

We came across this nice study that we had to share!

1.g8=Q+

White makes a ‘cocoon’ around his king. Stalemate is a powerful tool in the endgame!

1...Kxg8 2.Rxg6+ Rxg6 3.Na1+!! Kg7 4.b3 ½–½

83
Fabiano Caruana (2828)

415
 Leinier Dominguez (2739)
USA-ch, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

This is the only moment one can find a concrete win for White.

64.Re6!!

White spins an unexpected mating net. This move is in fact a fascinating prophylactic move and
prepares a regrouping between the queen and the rook.
64.h5 was played instead 64...b4 65.h6 b3 66.h7 b2 67.Rb7 Kd2 68.Qg2+ Kc1 69.Rc7+ Kb1 and this
may seem surprising to you, but White can make no progress in this position. White pushed a little
more in the game, but eventually the players agreed to a draw [...] ½–½.

64.Re6!! b4

64...Kd2 65.Re2+ (65.Qe2+ Kc3 doesn’t get anywhere.) 65...Kc3 66.h5 b4 67.Qc6+ Nc5 68.Rg2!
and Black’s king doesn’t have a good square to hide on. 68...b3 69.Rg3+ Kc2 (69...Kb4 70.Rg4+–)
70.Qg2++–

65.Rc6+ Kb2

416
65...Kb3 66.Qd1+ Ka3 67.Ra6+ Kb2 68.Qa1++–

66.Qe2+ Ka3 67.Ra6+ Kb3 68.Qa2+ Kc3 69.Rc6+ Nc5 70.Qa1++–

84
Ian Nepomniachtchi (2773)
Vidit Gujrathi (2722)
Tata Steel India Rapid, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

40.Nb3!

This is the only winning move, giving back the extra pawn to trade into a winning knight vs bishop
endgame.

40...Qxc4 41.Qxc4 Bxc4

And the game continued as follows.

42.Kc3 Bd5

417
The king and pawn endgame is clearly lost due to White’s outside passed a-pawn. 42...Bxb3
43.Kxb3+–

43.Nc5 Kb6 44.Kb4 h5 45.a5+ Ka7

Now Black’s king is immobilized because it has to stop White’s a-pawn. In the meantime, Black’s
counterplay with the c-pawns is blocked by White’s knight. Thus, all White has to do is to bring his
king to the other side of the board.

46.Kc3 Ba2 47.Kd4 Bd5 48.Ke3 Ba2 49.Kf4 Bd5 50.Kg5 Ba2 51.Kf6 Bd5 52.Ke7 Ba2 53.Kd6
Bd5 54.Nd3 Be4 55.Nb4 Kb7 56.Kc5 Bg2 57.a6+ Ka7 58.Nxc6+ Kxa6 59.Nd8 Bh3 60.Kd6

1–0

85
Grzegorz Gajewski (2628)
Zahar Efimenko (2650)
Bundesliga, 2017

418
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

27.Qxc2!

Would have been the best decision in this position, keeping the bishop and knight on the board and
playing on the superiority of the bishop to compensate for being a pawn down.
27.Bxd5? was the move played in the game, and White lost due to Black being able to take over the
second rank immediately. 27...Nxd5 28.Rxd5
a) 28.Qxd5 would fail due to 28...Qxb2 29.Rd2 Rc1+ 30.Kg2 (30.Kh2 Qc3!–+) 30...Qb1–+ keeping
a few ideas alive: back-rank threats, queen pawns pushing, and a potential rook trade on the second
rank. (30...Rc2 directly is tempting, but 31.Rxc2 Qxc2 32.h4 and White could try to destabilize
Black’s kingside.)
b) 28.Qxc2 though this would lead to a rook endgame, Black should be winning after 28...Rxc2
29.Rxd5 Rxb2 30.Ra5 a6 31.f5!? gxf5 32.Kg2 Rb4 and despite the pawns being tripled, Black should
be able to to trade the off soon enough. 33.Kf3 Kg6 34.Ke3 h5 35.h4 Re4+ 36.Kf3 Re5 37.Ra3 a5µ.
28...Qe2! and now White made a devastating mistake. 29.Kg2?
[29.Qe3 would have put up more of a fight 29...Qxb2 30.Rd7 Qxa2 31.g4 (31.Rxb7 Qd5 32.Rb1 a5–
+) 31...Qc4 32.Rxb7 Qd5 33.Re7 stopping Qd1 and preventing Black form taking over the first rank
33...a5 34.g5 fxg5 35.fxg5 a4. Black should not have much trouble converting his advantage.]
29...Rc1!–+ and Black won soon enough. 30.Qd3 Qe1 31.g4 Qg1+ 32.Kf3 Qh2 33.Ke2 Qh1 34.Qd2

419
Qf1+ and White resigned.

27.Qxc2! Rxc2 28.a4!?

Since White is going to lose the pawns anyway, he should look for the move that causes the most
discomfort for his opponent.

28...Nxa4

The idea after 28...Rxb2 is 29.a5 Na4 (29...Nc4 30.Rxd5 b6 31.Rd4! first 31...Nxa5 32.Rd7 winning
the a-pawn, and though Black would still have an extra pawn, and the fact that there are pawns on
both sides of the board means that the bishop should be able to keep Black from making too much
progress.) 30.Rxd5 f5

31.a6! an important move that destroys Black’s pawn structure. 31...bxa6 32.Rd7 recouping one of
the pawns. White should be able to draw the game.

29.Rxd5

And now White has either Rd7 or Ra5 to get back one of the pawns, giving him drawing chances.

29...Rxb2 30.Ra5 Nc3 31.Rxa7

And once the b-pawn is pushed, White takes advantage of the f7-pawn.

31...b6

31...b5 32.Bc6 b4 33.Be8=

420
32.Bc6∞

And Be8 is not easy to stop.

86
Mircea Parligras (2623)
Sergey Karjakin (2760)
Chess.com Isle of Man, 2018

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

81.Rd4!!

Would have been the only winning move, utilizing the rook to cover the lateral checks.
81.Rd3? was played in the game, but it allows Black to give lateral checks similar to the Vancura
position. 81...Ra2! 82.Kg5 Ra5+ 83.Kg4 Ra4+ 84.Kg5 Ra5+ 85.Kg6 Ra4 and even if White has
Black’s king cut-off from the h-pawn by 4 files, it isn’t enough to win the game as the pawn isn’t
advanced enough 86.Kf6 Kc7, and White’s king cannot take cover from the checks. 87.Kg5 (If
White’s rook moves behind the pawn to support its push, it will allow Black’s king to approach and
draw the game. 87.Rd1 Rh4 88.Rh1 Kd7 89.Kg5 Rh8 90.h4 Ke7 91.h5 Kf7 92.h6 Rg8+ 93.Kh5 Ra8
94.Rg1 Ra5+=) 87...Ra5+ 88.Kg4 Ra4+ 89.Kg3 Ra8 90.h4 Rd8 91.Rxd8 ½–½.

421
81.Rd4!! Ra2 82.Kg5 Ra5+ 83.Kg4! Kc5

84.Rd1

And now that the fifth rank is blocked by Black’s king, White can use the rank to shield his king from
checks.

84...Ra4+ 85.Kg5 Ra8 86.h4 Rg8+ 87.Kf6 Rh8 88.Rh1 Kd6 89.h5+–

87
Fabiano Caruana (2822)
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2772)
Bucharest GCT Blitz, 2019

422
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

59.Kd1ʘ

This is the saving move, after which the game should end in a draw given that Black cannot get his
king in front of the pawn anymore.
a) 59.Rc8+?? was the move played by Fabiano, allowing the king to threaten to hide on b2, and Black
won the game shortly after 59...Kb4 60.Ra8 b2 61.Kd2 Rc5 62.Rb8+ Ka3 63.Ra8+ Kb3 64.Rb8+
Ka2 65.Ra8+ Kb1 66.Rb8 and now Lucena’s position 66...Rd5+ 67.Ke2 Kc2 68.Rc8+ Kb3 0–1;
b) 59.Kd2?? does not work either as it allows the important 59...Rc2+ 60.Kd1 and now 60...Kc3–+
allows Black to reach Lucena’s position to win the game.

59.Kd1ʘ 59...Rh3

59...Rc2 doesn’t work here as White can get into a basic drawing king and pawn endgame 60.Rc8+
Kd3 61.Rxc2 bxc2+ 62.Kc1 Kc3=.

60.Kc1!

And White enters the Phillidor position.

60...Kc3 61.Rc8+=

423
 88
Fabiano Caruana (2822)
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2772)
Bucharest GCT Blitz, 2019

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

54...Kc6!

This is the only winning move! Black should stop White’s rook from getting back behind the passed
b-pawn.
54...Rc1?? was played in the game, with a similar idea to the previous example of getting the Lucena,
but it allows White time to make a draw 55.Rb5 Rc3 with the idea of course Kc6–c5–c4–d3–c2, but
White is in time 56.Kf2 Kc6 57.Rb8 Kc5 58.Ke2 Kc4. Now Black wants to play Rc2 and Kc3 and
win the game, but 59.Kd1! is the saving move which you should have found in the previous position!
(instead, White played 59.Rc8+?? Please check the game above for the final moves).

54...Kc6! 55.Rg8

Lateral checks would only help Black bring his king closer and reach a Lucena position.

424
55...Kc5 56.Kf2 b2–+

This is a moment where White would have had at least one of the two pieces on the correct squares:
the king on g2 or h2 and the rook behind the b-pawn.
Give that neither of them is there, the position is lost for White!

57.Rb8

57.Kg2 Rg1+ 58.Kxg1 b1=Q+–+

57...Rh1 58.Rxb2 Rh2+–+

89
Tansel Turgut (2506)
Gino Franco Figlio (2462)
corr., 2006

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

51.Rb4!!

425
And White wins given Black’s poorly placed rook and king on the seventh rank.

51...Ka6

51...Rb6 52.Rf4 Rb7 53.Kh4 Kb8 54.Kg5 Kc8 55.Kf6! (55.Kh6?? doesn’t help win the f-pawn after
55...Kd8 56.Kg7 f5+=) 55...Kd8 56.Re4! Rc7 57.g5 Ra7 (57...Rb7 58.Ra4) 58.Rb4+– and Black is in
zugzwang.

52.Rf4

Winning either the king and pawn or rook endgame after winning the f7-pawn, as this is a simple
Lucena.

1–0

90
Liren Ding (2759)
Xu Zhihang (2369)
CHN-ch Team, 2017

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

426
42...Ra1!

This would have been the winning continuation.

42...e2?? was played in the game and allowed White’s king to capture the pawn in time. 43.Kf2 Ra1
(43...e1=Q+ 44.Kxe1 Ra1+ 45.Kd2 a2 46.Kc2=) 44.Kxe2 a2 45.h6 Rh1

Black was probably relying on the typical skewer, but 46.h7! was played. 46...Rxh7 with no rook
controlling the promotion square, White can bring the king a bit closer and escape the skewering idea
to draw the game. 47.Kd3 Ke5=.

42...Ra1! 43.Kf3 a2 44.Ke2 Rh1

And White cannot use the h-pawn as bait, given that it isn’t advanced enough to cause Black trouble.

45.h6 a1=Q 46.Rxa1 Rxa1 47.h7 Rh1–+

91
Aleksandra Goryachkina (2473)
Sabina Foisor (2235)
Wch Team (Women), 2015

427
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

Black’s defense seems insufficient given that White has two connected passed pawns in the center
and a well-placed rook on b8. However, Black’s defensive mechanism is simply a reaction to White’s
plan. Therefore, when White tries to quickly push her pawns, Black tries to promote as well, and
when White maneuvers around, Black holds her ground.

59...Kc5!

Capricious at the first glance, but astonishingly logical! Black prevents d6.
59...Kc4?? was played instead, losing an important tempo and allowing White to trade the d-pawn for
the b-pawn, entering into a winning Lucena position given Black’s king is positioned on the long
side! 60.e4 b2 61.d6 Kc5 62.d7 Rxd7 63.Rxb2 Re7+ 64.Kf5 Rh7 65.e5 Rh5+ 66.Kf6 Rh6+ 67.Kg5
Rh1 68.Rd2 Kc6 69.e6 Kc7 70.e7 Re1 71.Kf6 Rf1+ 72.Kg7 Rg1+ 73.Kf7 Rf1+ 74.Ke8 Rf3 75.Rc2+
Kb6 76.Rc4 Kb5 77.Rd4 Kc5 78.Rd1 Ra3 79.Kd7 Ra7+ 80.Ke6 Ra6+ 81.Kf7 Ra7 82.Kf8 1–0.

59...Kc5! 60.Rc8+

This causes the most practical problems for Black.

a) 60.Rxb3 Rxd5+ 61.Ke6 (61.Ke4 Rd1 62.Rb8 Kc6= and the king arrives on the d7-square to draw
the game) 61...Rd6+ 62.Ke7 Ra6= 63.Rd3 Ra7+ 64.Ke6 Ra6+ 65.Ke5 Ra8! and Black keeps the right
distance for checks. 66.Ke4 Re8+ 67.Kf3 Rf8+ 68.Ke2 Re8 69.Rd4 Kc6 70.Kd3 Kc7 71.e4 Kc6

428
72.Ke3 Kc5! Preventing Kf4. 73.Rd1 Kc6 74.Rd5 Kc7=;
b) Now White can try various moves, but with a good play, Black should be able to hold the draw.
60.e4 b2! with the pawn advanced so much, White’s rook has to stay behind it to stop the b-pawn
from promotion. Thus, it cannot help her own connected passed pawns to go any further. 61.d6
[61.Ke6 and Black can draw with different moves or 61...Rd4! 62.Rxb2 (62.Rc8+ Kb5 63.Rb8+ (not
63.e5?? Rb4–+) 63...Kc5=) 62...Rxe4+ 63.Kf5 Kxd5 64.Rb5+ Kc6=]
61...Kc6 62.Rb3 (obviously not 62.Rc8+??–+ to lose the game 62...Kb7) 62...Re2= and all king
moves would give up one of the pawns.

60...Kb5

We chose this move as the main line since it shows both aggressive and passive defensive aspects of
Black’s play.
a) 60...Kb6?? 61.Kd6+–;
b) 60...Kb4 is equally good. 61.e4 b2 62.Kd6 Rd1 63.e5 b1=Q 64.Rb8+ Kc4 65.Rxb1 Rxb1 66.e6
Re1=.

61.e4

a) 61.Ke6? Re2=;
b) 61.Kd6 b2 62.e4 Kb4 Only move, naturally. 63.e5 Rd1 64.Rb8+ Kc3;
c) 61.d6 b2 62.e4 Kb6 63.Ke6??
[63.Rb8+ Kc6 64.Rb3 Rxd6 (64...Rh2 also holds) 65.Rxb2 Rd1! Black wants to play ...Kd7. 66.Kf5
(66.Ke6 Rd6+ 67.Ke7 Rd7+ 68.Ke8 Rd4=) 66...Kd7=]
63...Kb7 and Black promotes!

61...b2

429
62.Kd6

The most critical moment! 62.d6 Kb6 63.Rb8+ Kc6 64.Rb3 Kd7=

62...Kb4 63.e5 Rd1 64.e6 b1=Q 65.Rb8+ Kc4 66.Rxb1 Rxb1 67.Kc6 Re1=

92
Vladimir Kramnik (2812)
Viswanathan Anand (2770)
Leuven GCT Rapid, 2016

430
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

38...Ke4!

This would have been the easiest way to draw for Black, keeping the king active.
a) 38...Kf4?? was played in the game, after which White is winning. 39.Rd2! Ra8 40.b4 Rc8+ 41.Kb3
Rb8 42.Rd6?! is a small waste of time for White.
[42.Kc4 would have led to an easier win as after 42...Rc8+ 43.Kd3 White swaps the tasks of his king
and rook (the rook will support the b4-pawn and the king will protect the f2-pawn), allowing him to
make progress 43...Rd8+ 44.Ke2 Rb8 45.Rb2 and now regardless of what Black does, White is
winning 45...Rb5 (45...Ke4 46.b5 Kd5 47.b6 Kc6 48.Ke3+– — of course not 48.b7?? Rxb7 49.Rxb7
Kxb7 50.Ke3 Kc6= and Black reaches his pawn in time to draw the game.) 46.Kd3+– will push
Black’s rook back and start the advancement of the b-pawn.]
42...Ke4 43.Rd2 Kf3 44.Rb2 now returning to the correct winning idea of swapping tasks of the rook
and the king. 44...e4 45.Ra2 Rh8 46.b5 Rh2 47.b6 Rh6 48.Ra6 Rh1 49.Kc2 Rh6 50.Ra3+ Kxf2 51.b7
1–0;
b) 38...Ra8 is the other way, but it doesn’t make sense to make a move like this when it is not
necessary.

38...Ke4! 39.Rd2 Ra8!

431
Maintaining the maximum distance from the king in order to give checks from the front.

40.b4 Rc8+ 41.Kb3 Rb8

42.Ka4

42.Rd6 Rf8! The key point, which prevents White from making further progress. 43.b5 Rxf2 44.b6
Rf7= and Black’s e-pawn insures the draw.

42...Ra8+ 43.Kb5 Rb8+ 44.Kc5 Rc8+

And there is no progress for White as the typical Kd6 is not possible.

93
Wesley So (2770)
Hikaru Nakamura (2787)
Leuven GCT Blitz, 2016

432
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

In this position, Black should try to obtain the Vancura position.

The fact that the h- and g-pawns are still on the board won’t affect the outcome of the game should
Black get his rook on the sixth rank.

54...Rb5+!

This is the easiest way to get the Vancura position.

a) 54...h4 works as well, since White’s h-pawn would be irrelevant. 55.gxh4 Rb5+ 56.Kc3 Rb6
57.Kc4 Rf6!= maintaining the optimal distance;
b) In the game, Black lost a precious move 54...Ra4?? 55.Kb3 Ra1
[55...Rg4 does not help as Black’s king is misplaced; it should be on h7 to allow checks on the g-file
56.a7 Rxg3+ 57.Kb4 Rg4+ 58.Kb5 Rg5+ 59.Kb6 Rg6+ 60.Kb7 now that the checks are over, Black
should give up his rook for the a-pawn, but White will be in time with his king to win the game
60...Rg1 61.Rc8 Rb1+ 62.Kc7 Ra1 (62...Rc1+ 63.Kd7 Rd1+ 64.Ke6 Ra1 65.a8=Q Rxa8 66.Rxa8+–)
63.a8=Q Rxa8 64.Rxa8 Kf6 65.Ra5!+–]
56.Kb4 Rb1+ 57.Kc5 Rc1+ 58.Kb6 Rb1+ 59.Ka7 Rb3. To see how to win this position with White
and how the game ended, please see the solution to the next exercise.

54...Rb5+! 55.Kc3 Rb6 56.Kc4 Rf6 57.Kb5 Rf5+ 58.Kb6 Rf6+=

433
 94
Wesley So (2770)
Hikaru Nakamura (2787)
Leuven GCT Blitz, 2016

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

Following up on the previous example, Black blundered (in a blitz game, anything can happen) into
this position, where White can win by moving his rook and building a bridge. Astonishingly, there is
only one good square for the rook.

60.Rc8!

This prevents Black from having sideways checks. There is a difference between the b8- and c8-
squares indeed! Please be sure to take your time to understand it!
60.Rb8?? was instead played in the game, where Black could make a draw. This is another example
of a move being intuitively correct, but wrong in essence. It is also another typical case of being
cautious and accurate in a completely winning position. 60...Rxg3 61.Rb5 Kh6 62.Kb6

434
And now Black could have saved the game with the Vancura idea 62...Rg6+!
[62...h4?? was played instead and Black soon lost as there is no way to stop the a-pawn from
promoting. 63.a7 Rg8 64.Kb7 Rg7+ (64...h3 fails due to 65.Rb3 and Black’s king has stayed too far
away from the pawn. 65...Rg7+ 66.Ka6 Rg6+ 67.Rb6+–) 65.Ka6 Rg8 66.Rb8 Rg1 67.Rb5 (67.Rh8+
Kg7 68.Rh5 is faster.) 67...Rg8 68.Rc5 Rh8 69.Kb7 Rh7+ 70.Kb8 h3 71.a8=Q 1–0.]
63.Ka5
[63.Kb7 Rg7+ 64.Ka8 Rg8+ 65.Rb8 Rg7 66.a7 Kg5 67.Rh8 (67.Rb5+ Kg4 68.Kb8 Rxa7 69.Kxa7 h4
70.Kb6 h3 71.Kc5 h2 72.Rb1 Kf3=) 67...Kg4 68.Kb8 Rxa7 69.Kxa7 h4 70.Kb6 h3 71.Kc5 Kg3
72.Kd4 h2 73.Ke3 Kg2 74.Rg8+ Kf1=]
63...Rg7 64.Rb7 Rg5+= and White doesn’t have a place to hide other than in front of his pawn, but in
that case, Black simply starts pushing the h-pawn.

60.Rc8! Rxg3

White will be able to use his rook as a shield to promote his a-pawn.

61.Rc5! h4

61...Rb3 is another try for Black, but it will transpose to an even better endgame for White than the
endgame where the king is cut off by at least four files.

435
62.Rxh5 Kf7 63.Rh7+ Ke6 64.Rb7 Ra3 65.Rb6+ Kd7 66.Kb7 Rc3 67.a7 Rc7+ 68.Ka6 Rc8 69.Rb8+–

62.Kb6 h3 63.a7 Ra3 64.Ra5+–

And Black is one tempo short in the promotion race.

95
Loek van Wely (2695)
Dmitry Andreikin (2736)
Tata Steel A, 2017

436
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

49...Kf3!

Black needs to keep White’s king passive; otherwise, there are many drawish positions after trading a
pair of pawns.
Andreikin played 49...Kg3?? losing an important tempo, while probably thinking he was winning one
with the mate threat. 50.Kf1 Kf3 51.Ke1 c5 52.Kd1 c4 53.Kc1 c3 54.Rb7 f4 55.Rb8?? Van Wely
returned the favor, but Andreikin didn’t take advantage of it. (55.Kd1 would have drawn the game
55...Kf2 56.Rf7 f3 57.b7 Kg2 58.Rg7+ Kf1 59.Re7 f2 60.Rg7= and Black has no way to progress in
this position.) 55...Kg3??
[55...Kf2! was the winning move as zugzwang plays an important role in this position 56.Rf8 (56.b7
f3 57.Kd1 Rd2+ 58.Kc1 Rd7! a better placement of the rook, which now allows Rg7 to cover the king
and Black will be ready to promote the f-pawn. 59.Kc2 Rc7 60.Kd1 c2+ 61.Kc1 Re7 62.Kxc2 Ke2–
+) 56...f3 57.Rf6 Kg2 and the difference is now that White’s pawn and rook are a file behind, so
Black has sufficient time to win the game. 58.Rg6+ Kf1 59.Rf6 f2 60.Rg6 Ke1 61.Re6+ Re2–+]
56.Rg8+?? (56.Rb7! A hard move to commit to. It is hard to accept that White shouldn’t try to do
anything, until he can push his pawn to the seventh rank with the rook defending it horizontally.
56...f3 57.Rg7+ Kf2 58.b7 Kf1 59.Rf7 f2 60.Rg7!=) 56...Kf2?? Andreikin thought that he was
improving his position. Little did he realize (after the fatigue of a long fight, time pressure, etc.) it
was a matter of zugzwang. 57.Rb8 Kf3 (57...f3 58.b7 and Black cannot progress any further.

437
58...Kg2 59.Rg8+ Kh1 60.Rh8+ Kg1 61.b8=Q Rxb8 62.Rxb8 f2 63.Rg8+ Kh1 64.Rf8 Kg2=) 58.b7
Kf2 59.Rf8 Rxb7 60.Rxf4+ Ke3 ½–½.

49...Kf3! 50.b7

50.Rb7 doesn’t help much as 50...Rb1+ 51.Kh2 f4 52.Rb8 Kf2–+.

50...Rb1+!

50...f4 51.Rc8 Rb1+ 52.Kh2 Rxb7 53.Rxc6= With a theoretical draw. White has his king on the short
side and rook on the longer side.

51.Kh2

51...Kf2!

White is in zugzwang. White’s rook must move, as the king cannot move due to checkmate on h1.

52.Rf8 Rxb7 53.Rxf5+ Ke3 54.Kg2 Kd4 55.Rf4+

55.Kf2 Re7–+

55...Kd3 56.Rf3+ Kc4 57.Rf4+ Kb5

And the c-pawn creates a shelter while the rook cuts White’s king off from the e-file.

58.Kf3 Re7–+

438
 96
Rauf Mamedov (2641)
Sabina Foisor (2212)
National Open, 2016

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

64...Rh7!

This move works because it hinders White’s king from approaching. Due to the excitement of
potentially drawing such a strong player, Sabina miscalculated the position and lost by one tempo
64...Rh1?? 65.c7 Rc1 66.c8=Q Rxc8 67.Rxc8 g5 68.Re8+ Kf3 69.Rf8+ Ke3 (69...Kg3 would have
lost as well 70.Kb5 g4 71.Kc4 Kh2 72.Kd3 g3 73.Ke2) 70.Rg8 Kf4 71.Kb5 g4 72.Kc4 g3 73.Kd3
Kf3 74.Rf8+ Kg2 75.Ke2 a5 76.Ra8 a4 77.Rxa4 Kh2 78.Kf3 g2 79.Rh4+ Kg1 80.Rg4 Kh1 81.Kf2
1–0.

64...Rh7! 65.Rd7

a) 65.Rc8? Kd5 Black’s king is close enough. 66.c7 (66.Kb5 Kd6=) 66...Kc6=;
b) 65.Rg8 Kd5 66.Rxg6 Kc5–+ and now we can see how the a-pawn prevents White’s king from

439
helping his c-pawn.

65...Rh8 66.c7 Rc8 67.Kb7 Rxc7+ 68.Kxc7

68...g5

Black’s king is perfectly placed.

69.Rg7 Kf4 70.Kd6 g4 71.Kd5 g3 72.Kd4 Kf3

White’s king is not close enough to win the game.

440
73.Rf7+ Ke2!

Shouldering! White’s king cannot get any closer!

97
Anish Giri (2798)
Yifan Hou (2673)
Tata Steel A, 2016

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

White’s only counterplay is to play Kb5 and attack Black’s a-pawn.

70...Ke4!

A multifunctional move as it clears the path for the f-pawn, cuts White’s king off from approaching
and keeps Black’s king close enough to White’s a-pawn. Most importantly, the king is closer to
White’s rook, narrowing its scope of checks from behind of the f-pawn.
70...Ke3? was played in the game and it allowed White to draw. 71.Kb5 f3 72.Re6+! The key move!
72...Kd4 73.Rf6 Rb1+ (73...Ke3 74.Re6+ Kd2 75.Rf6 Ke2 76.Re6+ Kf1 77.Re7!= and White has
sufficient time to grab the a-pawn and then give up the rook for the f-pawn to draw the game)

441
74.Ka4! (of course, not 74.Ka5?? Rf1 75.Kb5 f2–+ and White’s king has nowhere to hide.) 74...Rf1
75.Kb3 Ke4 76.Rf7 Ra1 77.Re7+ Kd4 78.Rf7 Ke3 79.Re7+ Kd2 80.Rd7+ Ke1 81.Re7+ Kf1
82.Rxa7 f2 83.Kc4 Ke2 84.Re7+ Kd2 85.Rf7 f1=Q+ 86.Rxf1 Rxf1 87.Kb5 Kc3 88.a7 Rf8 89.Kc6
Kb4 90.Kb7 Rf7+ 91.Kb6 Rxa7 ½–½.

70...Ke4! 71.Kb5 f3 72.Re6+

72.Rg7 loses to 72...f2–+

72...Kf5 73.Re8

73...Ra2!

And now White is stuck with the king protecting a6 and the rook having to stop the f-pawn, so White
cannot create any counterplay and Black gradually promotes.

74.Rf8+ Ke4 75.Re8+ Kd3 76.Rd8+ Ke2 77.Re8+ Kd1!

Now the rook on a2 creates the necessary shield for the king.
77...Kf1?? 78.Re7 f2 79.Rxa7= And White is able to draw.

78.Rd8+ Ke1

78...Rd2 79.Rf8 f2 80.Kc6 Ke1–+ also works.

79.Re8+ Re2–+

442
 98
Piotr Piesik (2417)
Sabina Foisor (2274)
Rilton Cup, 2019

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

This position is a follow up from an endgame discussed earlier.

58...Kb1!

This would have been the saving move.

58...Kb2?? was played in the game and due to the unfortunate placement of the king on b2, Black’s
queen on a1 does not have access to g7. 59.d7 Rd3 60.Ke6 a1=Q was played in the game, but it loses
as Black will not be able to stop both d- and f-pawns as she initially thought she could.
[60...Re3+ would have been a better try as per the main line 61.Kf6 Rd3 62.Ke7 Re3+ 63.Re6 a1=Q
(63...Rxe6+ would lead to a winning queen endgame 64.Kxe6 a1=Q 65.d8=Q+–) 64.Rxe3 and given
...Qg7+ is not possible, Black should go for 64...Qa7 which is the best practical chance 65.Re5!+–
followed by the push of the f-pawn 65...Qa3+ 66.Ke8 Qa4 67.f5 Qc6 68.Re6 Qb5 69.f6+–]

443
61.Rxa1 Kxa1 62.f5 Re3+ the next moves are natural as White tries to promote the d-pawn and Black
has to stop him with checks. 63.Kf7 Rd3 64.Ke7 Re3+ 65.Kf8 Rd3 66.Ke8 Re3+ 67.Kd8! Rf3 and in
her previous calculations, Sabina forgot about 68.f6! which is winning the game!

68...Kb2 was played in the game. After (68...Rxf6 White wins with 69.Ke7 and there is no way to
stop the promotion of the d-pawn.) 69.Kc7 Rc3+ 70.Kb6 White was able to get queen vs rook
endgame which he soon converted.

58...Kb1! 59.d7 Rd3 60.Ke6 Re3+ 61.Kf7 Rd3 62.Ke7 Re3+

And White can’t make progress in promoting the pawn other than trying to trade the rooks.

63.Re6

63.Kd8 Rf3=

63...a1=Q 64.Rxe3

And now Black has only one move to draw the game.

64...Qg7+!

This allows a perpetual check.

Any other move, such as 64...Qa7 loses to 65.Re5! and now any checks will be made in vain and
White can slowly push his f-pawn to queen and win the game. 65...Qa3+ 66.Ke8 Qa4 67.f5–+

65.Ke8 Qg8+ 66.Ke7 Qg7+=

444
 99
Neuris Delgado Ramirez (2634)
Pablo Ismael Acosta (2416)
Marcel Duchamp Cup, 2020

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

43.Kd1!

Simply bringing the king closer to the b-pawn.

43.Rc8+?? the rook was perfectly placed to give lateral checks. If White had the opportunity to win
the b-pawn this might have been a solution, but here it doesn’t work because of the back rank mate.
43...Kd4 44.Rc4+ Ke3 45.Kd1 Rd2+? was played in the game giving White the opportunity to draw
(here Black should have continued 45...d5! 46.Rxb4 d4 47.Rb8 Ra1+ 48.Kc2 d3+ 49.Kb2 d2 and
despite the rook being attacked, it controls the promotion square so Black is winning. 50.Re8+ checks
won’t help (50.Kxa1 White cannot build a fortress because his pieces lack the necessary
coordination. 50...d1=Q+ 51.Ka2 Qd2+ 52.Kb1 Qd7–+ and Black’s king approaches to convert the
position.) 50...Kf4 51.Rf8+ Ke5 52.Re8+ Kf6 53.Rf8+ Ke7–+) 46.Kc1! Rd4 47.Rc6 Kd3 48.Kb2
Kd2 49.Rc2+?? the final mistake leading to a lost position. (49.Rb6! it was important for White to
keep pressure on the b-pawn 49...d5 50.Rb8 Rh4 51.Rb5 and the only progress can be made by

445
pushing the d-pawn 51...d4 52.Rxb4 Ke2 53.Rc4=) 49...Ke3 50.Rc6 (50.Kc1 Rf4! Opening the path
for the d-pawn to be pushed while keeping the rook ready to cover against potential lateral checks.)
50...d5 51.Rb6 (51.Rc5 would lose as well 51...Rd2+ 52.Kc1 d4 53.Rc4 d3–+) 51...Rh4 52.Rb5 Rh2+
53.Kc1 d4 54.Re5+ (54.Rxb4 Rh1+ 55.Kb2 d3–+ and the d-pawn is unstoppable.) 54...Kd3 55.Rc5
Ke4 56.Rc8 Kd3 57.Rc7 Rh5 58.Rc8 Rh4 59.Rc7 Ke3 60.Re7+ Re4 61.Rb7 d3 62.Kd1 Rh4 63.Re7+
Kd4 64.Rc7 Rh1+ 65.Kd2 Rh2+ 66.Kc1 Rc2+ 0–1.

43.Kd1! Rb2 44.Rh5+ Kc6

44...Kd4 45.Rh4+ Kc3 46.Rh3+=

45.Rh3 d5 46.Kc1 Ra2 47.Rh4 Kc5 48.Rg4=

This is a draw, as Black cannot improve his position.

100
Levon Aronian (2792)
Anish Giri (2782)
Leuven GCT Rapid, 2016

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

446
48...Rb4!

Black is threatening Ra4. You should be able to realize that active defense is Black’s only chance in
such positions. One form of active defense is to create a bridge, and another one is finding perpetual
checks (lateral, behind or front checks with enough distance from the enemy king!).
48...h4?? was played instead allowing White to get into a winning king and pawn endgame after the
following forcing line. 49.f7 Rb8 50.Kf6 Kb2 51.Kg7 a1=Q 52.Rxa1 Kxa1 53.f8=Q Rxf8 54.Kxf8
Kb2 55.Kg7 and White is closer to the h-pawn, which wins the game. 55...Kc3 56.Kf6 Kd4 57.Kg5
1–0.

48...Rb4! 49.f7 Rg4+! 50.Kxh5 Rf4 51.Kg6 Rg4+!

52.Rg5

52.Kh7 Rh4+ 53.Kg7 Rg4+ 54.Kf6 Rxg2=

52...Rxg5+

52...a1=Q 53.f8=Q just transposes to a queen endgame later.

53.Kxg5 a1=Q 54.f8=Q Qe5+ 55.Qf5 Qg7+ 56.Qg6 Qe5+

And Black should be able to draw this position.

447
 Show in Text Mode

101
Winston Darwin Cu Hor (2307)
Sinisa Drazic (2371)
Carlos Torre Memorial, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

60.Rf8+!

White needs a counterplay and the f-pawn gives enough of it.

a) 60.Rh8?? was played in the game allowing 60...h3! after which h2 is a threat 61.Kf2
[61.a5 h2 62.a6 Kxf4 and the checks are not helping 63.Rf8+ Ke5 (not 63...Kg3 64.Rg8+ Kh3
65.Rh8+ Kg2 66.Rg8+ Kh1?? 67.Rg6= and Black cannot make progress.) 64.Re8+ Kf5 65.Rf8+ Kg6
66.Rg8+ Kf7–+]
61...Rf3+ 62.Ke2 Kxf4 63.Rf8+ Kg3 64.Rg8+ Kh2 65.Rg4 Rg3 66.Rf4 Ra3 67.Rxe4 Kg2 68.Rg4+
Rg3 69.Rf4 and Black is able to play 69...h2 just in time to win the game 70.Rf2+ Kh3 71.Rf8 h1=Q;

448
b) 60.a5?? h3 61.a6 h2 62.Rh8 Rxa6 and the h-pawn is untouchable.

60.Rf8+! Kg4 61.f5 h3

61...Kf4 trying to use the ‘umbrella method’ isn’t enough for Black to win the game as White’s f-
pawn is quite advanced. 62.f6 Ra2+ 63.Kd1! Rxa4 64.f7 Ra7 65.Rh8 Rxf7 66.Rxh4+ Ke3 67.Ke1!=
The Philidor position is obtained.

62.f6 h2 63.Rh8 Rh3 64.Rxh3 Kxh3 65.f7=

102
Sandhya Goli (2021)
Sabina Foisor (2301)
US Open (Women), 2018

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

51...Kxe5!

All Black needs to do is to push her e-pawn. White’s king is not taking part in the action.
51...Rg3?? was played in the game, and it allows White to draw. 52.Kh5?? instead of going for the

449
draw, White gave Black the opportunity to win once again (52.e6! would have saved the game as it
draggs Black’s king farther back in the previous line 52...Ke5 53.Kh5 Kxe6 54.Kh4! and White’s
king is now close enough to save the game 54...Rb3 55.Rxh3 Rxb2 56.Kg4 Ke5 57.Re3+ Kf6
58.Kf3=) 52...Kxe5 53.Kh4 Rb3?? was actually played in the game, transposing to the drawing once
again (instead 53...Kf4!–+ was the winning move, keeping Rf3 available in case of Rf2+.) 54.Rxh3
Rxb2 55.Re3+?? final blunder! Now because Black’s king is in e5 as opposed to e6, White loses.
(55.Kg4= or; 55.Rh1= would have saved the game, allowing White’s king to make it in front of the
pawn or allowing his rook to check Black’s king to stop the advancement of the e-pawn.) 55...Kf4
56.Rg3 Rh2+ 57.Rh3 Rxh3+ 58.Kxh3 Kf3 0–1.

51...Kxe5! 52.Rxh3 Kd4–+

White’s king is far from the action and Black will push her pawn with the help of her king, while
White is denied such a chance.

53.Rh4+

53.b4 e5 54.Rb3 (54.b5 e4 55.b6 e3 56.b7 Rb1 the simple key point. Black controls White’s pawn.)
54...e4 55.b5 e3 and Black promotes first.

53...Kd5 54.b4 e5 55.b5 e4 56.b6 e3 57.Rh2 Rb1 58.Kg5 Ke4! 59.Rh6 e2 60.Re6+ Kf3 61.Rf6+
Kg3–+

103
Joachin Mouhamad (2293)
Quentin Loiseau (2470)
Barreau de Paris GM, 2019

450
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

A beautiful save by Black happened after:

55...d5!

Where Black simplifies into a drawn pawn ending.

55...Re7 Also holds, but is annoying from a practical standpoint.

55...d5! 56.Ra7+

56.e5 would not help 56...fxe5+ 57.Kxe5 Rf1=

56...Ke8 57.Ra8+

57.Rxf7 Kxf7 58.exd5 (58.e5 fxe5 59.Kxe5 Ke7=) 58...Ke7=

57...Kd7 58.exd5 Kd6 59.Ra6+ Kxd5 60.Rxf6 Rxf6+ 61.Kxf6 Kxd4

½–½

451
 104
Anish Giri (2798)
Fabiano Caruana (2787)
Tata Steel A, 2016

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

Rook endgames that involve a passed pawn race require a precise calculation. One cannot solely rely
on the evaluation of their king and rook placement, nor on material.

55...Ra3!!

A brilliant but not-so-obvious idea. The most important thing in this position to keep the king cut off
from the e-pawn on the third rank, something Black cannot achieve by having his rook on h3.
55...Rxh3?? was played in the game, and it allowed White to play 56.Ra8 seeking to advance the a-
pawn as soon as possible to catch up in the race with Black’s e-pawn 56...Rh1.
a) Now 56...e3 would have allowed the king to approach close enough to draw the game 57.Kd3=;
b) 56...Ra3 would have been the best way for Black to continue trying to win, though taking the h-
pawn will prove to not be worth it. 57.Kb4 Ra1 58.Rf8+ Kg3 59.Rg8+ Kf3 60.Rh8 e3 61.Rxh5 e2
62.Re5 Now Black will not make it in time with their king approaching the a-pawn. Of course, White
still has to be careful, but he can save the game. 62...e1=Q+ 63.Rxe1 Rxe1 64.a5 Ke4

452
65.Kc5! is the only move that saves the game. 65...Ra1 66.Kb6 Kd5 67.a6 Kd6

68.Kb7! (once again don’t be fooled by 68.a7?? many have fallen for this trick 68...Rb1+ 69.Ka6
Kc7!–+ and Black is winning) 68...Rb1+ 69.Kc8! Kc6 70.a7 Ra1 71.Kb8=.
57.a5 h4 58.a6 Ra1 59.a7! The best way, forcing Black’s king to seek shelter in front of his own
pawn. 59...Ke3 60.Kb5 h3 61.Kb6 Rb1+ (61...h2 wouldn’t have helped either 62.Rh8= stops the h-
pawn.) 62.Kc6 Ra1 63.Kb6 ½–½.

55...Ra3!! 56.Ra8

a) 56.Rxh5 e3! 57.Rh8 e2 58.Rf8+ Kg3 59.Re8 Kf2 60.Rxe2+ or else Re3 would win the game

453
60...Kxe2 61.Kb5 Ke3 62.a5 Kd4 63.a6 Kd5–+ and Black is just in time;
b) 56.Kb4 e3–+.

56...e3 57.a5

57.Rf8+ Kg3 58.Kb4 Rd3 59.Kc4 Rd7–+ and the e-pawn will decide the game.

57...e2 58.Rf8+ Kg3 59.Re8 Kf2 60.Kb5

60.Rxe2+ Kxe2 61.Kb5 Rxh3–+

60...Re3–+

105
Sabina Foisor (2326)
Christian Valette (2022)
Reykjavik Open, 2018

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

After pressing for the entire game, Black made the wrong choice in this position and lost the game.

454
The correct move was

53...Kg7!

At first it may seem contradictory as this move is giving away a free tempo that he could use to push
his pawn one square farther toward promotion.
53...d2?? was played and after 54.Rd6! White is able to stop Black’s pawns and win with the e-pawn
54...Kg7 [54...c4 wouldn’t have helped either 55.e7+ Kg7 56.Rxd2! (of course, not 56.e8=Q??
Rxd6+ 57.Kxd6 d1=Q+ 58.Kc5 Qd3 and with good play, White should be able to make a draw.)
56...c3 57.Re2+– and the e-pawn is unstoppable.] 55.Rxd2 Rh1 56.e7 Re1 57.e8=Q Rxe8 58.Kxe8
Kf6 59.Rd5 and White is in time to stop the pawns and Black Resigned.

53...Kg7! 54.Rd6

This is the most practical, but still leads to a draw.

a) Not 54.e7?? as it loses after 54...d2! 55.e8=Q d1=Q+ 56.Kc7 Rxc6+ 57.Qxc6 Qd4µ and with the
two extra pawns Black has very good winning chances;
b) 54.Rxc5 The only other reasonable move.

54...Rh1!
[54...d2?? 55.Rd5! Rh2 56.e7 Re2 57.e8=Q (57.Rxd2?? Rxd2+–+) 57...Rxe8 58.Kxe8 Kf6 59.Rxd2
Kf5 60.Kf7 h5 61.Rd5+ Kg4 62.Kg6 h4 63.Rd4++–]
55.Rd5!
[55.e7? d2 56.e8=Q (56.Rd5?? d1=Q 57.Rxd1 Rxd1+–+) 56...d1=Q+µ]
55...Ra1!= This is an important idea (putting the king on the short side and the rook on the long side)

455
and Black can save this position, as White cannot both push e7 and use the rook to cover horizontal
checks. 56.e7
[56.Rxd3 Ra7+ 57.Kd6 Ra6+ 58.Ke5 Ra5+ (not 58...Kf8?? 59.Kf6 Ra8 60.Rd7+– with the pawn on
the sixth rank and Black’s rook immobilized on the eighth rank, White has no problem winning this
position.) 59.Rd5 Rxd5+ 60.Kxd5 Kf8=]
56...Ra7+ 57.Kd8 (57.Ke6 Ra6+=) 57...Ra8+ 58.Kd7=

54...c4 55.Rd4 Rh2 56.e7

56.Rxc4 d2 57.Rd4 Re2 58.e7 Kf7 59.Rf4+ Kg7 60.Rd4 Kf7=

56...Re2 57.e8=Q

57.Rxc4 d2 58.Rd4∞

57...Rxe8 58.Kxe8 Kf6 59.Rxc4

59...Ke5!

And Black is able to save the game as the d-pawn is advanced, and Black’s king makes it in time to
support it.

60.Rc1 Kf4 61.Kf7 h5 62.Kg6 h4 63.Kh5 h3 64.Kh4 d2 65.Ra1 Ke3=

456
 106
Rhys Cumming (2155)
Sabina Foisor (2326)
Reykjavik Open, 2018

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

Black can only rely on two things — her active king and the passed f-pawn — while hindering
White’s pawns as much as possible.

62...Ra1!

Stopping White from pushing the a-pawn. The other important idea missed by Black is that White’s
king will be checked horizontally and it won’t have a hiding place.
62...Kc4?? was played instead. Black not only takes the king away from supporting her passed f-
pawn, but also gives White an important tempo to take the h-pawn. Though White didn’t take it
immediately, Black made a few other mistakes that led to losing this endgame. 63.Rxh5 Kxb4
64.Ke2+– [...] 1–0.

62...Ra1! 63.Ke2

63.Rxh5 f3 64.Rf5 Ra2+ 65.Ke1 Ke3= 66.Re5+ Kf4 67.Re8 f2+ 68.Kf1 Kf3 and White has to give a
perpetual. 63.Rf5 Ra2+ 64.Kc1 Ke4 65.Rf8 (65.Rxh5?? loses 65...f3 66.Rh8 f2–+) 65...f3 66.Kd1

457
Ke3 67.Re8+ Kf2=

63...Ke4 64.Rxh5 f3+ 65.Kf2 Ra2+ 66.Kf1

66.Kg3?? loses to 66...Rg2+ 67.Kh3 Rg1–+ with the unstoppable threat: of ...f2 after which Black is
winning.

66...Ra1+ 67.Kf2 Ra2+=

107
Rhys Cumming (2155)
Sabina Foisor (2326)
Reykjavik Open, 2018

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

Following up on the previous position, as White didn’t take advantage of the winning idea by
capturing the h-pawn, Black was now given another chance to save the game.

64...Rh2!

458
It is hard to believe, but Black actually has enough time to grab this pawn and go back to stop
White’s pawns. Sometimes Gordon Gekko (from the movie Wall Street) is right! To find this move,
you need to arrive at this solution by process of elimination, as every other move would simply fail
against White’s two pawns.
Instead, 64...Ra2?? was played, and now it is too late for Black 65.a6 f3 66.b5 Kd4 67.Rb7 Ke3
(67...f2+ 68.Kf1 Ke3 69.Kg2+–) 68.Re7+ Kf4 69.a7 Ra1+ (69...f2+ doesn’t help either 70.Kf1 Kf3
71.Rf7+ Kg3 72.b6 Ra1+ 73.Ke2 Re1+ 74.Kd3+–) 70.Kf2 Ra2+ 71.Kg1 Ra1+ 72.Kh2 Kg4
[72...Ra2+ 73.Kh3 Ra1 74.Rf7+ Ke3

75.Kg3! (75.b6?? allows Black to draw 75...Kf2 76.Rxf3+ — 76.Kh2 Ra4 77.Rxf3+ Kxf3 78.b7
Ra2+ 79.Kh3= — 76...Kxf3 77.Kh2 Ra2+=) 75...Rg1+ 76.Kh2 Ra1 77.b6 Ra2+ 78.Kg3 Rg2+
79.Kh3 Ra2 80.b7+–]
73.b6 Ra2+ 74.Kg1 Ra1+ 75.Kf2 Ra2+ 76.Kf1 Ra1+ 77.Re1+– and White won.

64...Rh2! 65.a6 Rxh4 66.b5

66.a7 could be tried as well, but to no avail 66...Rh1+ 67.Kf2 Ra1 68.Rb7 h4 69.b5 h3 70.b6 Kb5
71.Rb8 h2 72.Rh8 Kxb6=

66...Rh1+ 67.Kf2 Ra1 68.Rb7 h4!

It is funny that Black holds because of the h-pawn.

69.a7 h3 70.b6 Kc5 71.Kf3 h2 72.Rh7 Kxb6 73.Rxh2 Kxa7=

459
 108
Liren Ding (2809)
Richard Rapport (2726)
Shenzhen Masters, 2019

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

41...f5!

Black just needs to activate his pieces; greed has no place here!
41...Rxf2?? 42.b5 f5
[42...Rd2+ 43.Kc5 f5 44.b6 Kg6 (44...Rd8 45.b7 Same idea.) 45.b7 Rc2+ 46.Kb5+–]
43.Rb4 f4 44.g4!+– and White’s b-pawn is unstoppable.

41...f5! 42.f4 Kg6

Now Black is active enough on the kingside. Ding Liren’s queenside pawn push is simply not fast
enough.

43.Kc5 Rc2+ 44.Kd5

44.Kb6 gxf4 45.gxf4 Rc4=

460
44...Rd2+ 45.Kc6

There is no progress for White given that as soon as the king tries to hide in front of the pawn, Black
will go for counterplay on the kingside!

45...Rc2+ 46.Kd6 Rd2+ 47.Kc7 Rc2+ 48.Kd6 Rd2+ 49.Kc5 Rc2+ 50.Kd4 Rd2+

And that is exactly what happened, only instead of hiding in front of the pawn, White opted to
approach Black’s rook, but the result was the same.

51.Kc3 Rg2 52.b5 Rxg3+ 53.Kc4 Re3 54.b6 Re8 55.Kc5 gxf4 56.Rxf4 Kg5 57.Rb4 f4 58.b7 Rb8
59.Kc6 f3 60.Kc7 Rxb7+ 61.Kxb7 f2 62.Rb1 Kf4 63.Kc6 Kf3 64.Kd5 Kg2 65.Ke4 f1=R 66.Rxf1
Kxf1 67.Kd5 ½–½

109
Fabiano Caruana (2784)
Magnus Carlsen (2843)
GRENKE Chess Classic, 2018

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

461
Although Black has his pawns much farther advanced, White seems to have been able to stop them
right on time. Therefore, we might be under the impression that this is the moment where Black
should take advantage of his extra a-pawn. This is exactly what Magnus did in this position. Of
course, this is a complex endgame and thorough analysis and calculation is important to get to the
correct evaluation.

54...Rh7!!

An important prophylactic move out of the blue, but it not only stops White’s pawns from advancing,
but also all of White’s active plans.
54...a5? was Magnus’ choice in this position 55.h6 Re2+
[55...a4 could have been tried as well, but now 56.g5 a3 57.g6 Kb2 (57...a2?? loses to 58.g7+– as g8
is promoted with check) 58.h7 Re8 59.Rc7 a2 60.Rb7+= leads only to repetition. 60...Ka1 61.Rc7
Kb2 62.Rb7+ Ka3 63.Ra7+ and Black should accept the repetition. 63...Kb4 doesn’t help as 64.Rxa2
Re2+ 65.Kxd3 c1=Q 66.Rxe2= and White should be able to draw.]
56.Kxd3 and the players agreed on a draw soon after.

54...Rh7!! 55.Rc5

Might seem the way to go for White, to also stop Black’s a-pawn. White has a few other choices, but
they all lead to defeat.
a) 55.Kxd3 Rd7+ 56.Ke4 a5 and Black’s a-pawn is unstoppable compared to White’s h-pawn. 57.h6
a4 58.g5 a3 59.g6, and now the beautiful 59...Rd8! (59...a2 doesn’t work because White will promote
with check after 60.g7=) 60.Rc7
[60.Rxc2 Kxc2 61.g7 a2 62.h7 a1=Q 63.g8=Q.

462
And now there are a few winning ideas 63...Rd4+ (63...Qa8+–+ is another beautiful idea that is often
missed.) 64.Kf5 Qf1+–+]
60...a2 61.Rb7+ Kc4 62.Rc7+ Kb5–+ with one of the pawns getting promoted;
b) 55.Rb8+ doesn’t work either 55...Ka2 56.Rc8 a5 Now Black has time to use his extra pawn.
57.Kxd3 Kb1 58.Rb8+ Kc1 and despite 59.Rc8 White doesn’t stop the c-pawn. 59...Kd1! 60.Rxc2
Rd7+–+

55...a5!

This can still be played.

56.Rxa5 Rc7 57.Ra1 Kb2 58.Rh1

And now there are two winning moves.

58...Rg7!

58...Rc4 also wins after: 59.g5 Rc5 60.g6 Rxh5–+.

59.Kxd3

59.h6 Rxg4 60.h7 Rh4!–+

59...Rxg4 60.Rh2 Rg3+ 61.Ke4 Rg5! 62.h6 Kb1–+

110
Tao Pang (2367)
Nikita Afanasiev (2516)
Orsha GM, 2020

463
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

Black missed a simple win when he forgot about an in-between move.

56...Kd7!

After which Black is able to push White’s king back and fight for the win.
56...Rf5+? was played in the game, but now White is not forced back, instead going for the natural
57.Kxe6 Rxf4 58.Rc8+ Kb5 59.Kxd5 Rf2 60.Rb8+ Ka4 61.Kxc4 Rxb2 62.cxb4 Rxb4+ and the
players agreed to a draw.

56...Kd7! 57.Ra8

57.Kxf6 loses immediately to 57...Kxe8 58.Kxe6 d4–+.

57...Rf5+ 58.Kd4 Rxf4+ 59.Kc5 Rf2

A few checks to push Black’s king away, though they are helping Black improving his king’s
position as well.

60.Ra7+ Ke8 61.Ra8+ Ke7 62.Ra7+ Kf6 63.Rxa5

63.cxb4 axb4 64.Kxb4 Rxb2+ and with three connected passed pawns, Black is clearly winning.

464
63...Rxb2 64.cxb4 c3 65.Kd4 c2 66.Rc5 Rxb4+ 67.Kd3 Rb2–+

111
Sabina Foisor (2264)
Irina Bulmaga (2386)
Romgaz Blitz (Women), 2018

White to move

465
 Show/Hide Solution

In this position, Black’s only winning idea comes down to finding a way to create two connected
passed pawns (c- and d-) or being able to play d2 without White meeting it with Ke2. Therefore, it is
very important to stop Black’s idea.

45.a3!

And now White can simply wait.

45.Ke3?? was played instead 45...a3! 46.bxa3 Re2+ 47.Kf3 Rc2 48.Ke3 a small repetition to gain
some time, and now 48...d2! was played, after which the rook and the connected passed pawns
advance by themselves. 49.Ke2 c3 50.a4 Rc1 51.Rd6 Re1+ 52.Kf3 d1=Q+ and White soon resigned.

45.a3! Kf8 46.g4 Ke7 47.Ke3 Re2+ 48.Kf3 Rc2 49.Rc5 Kd6 50.Rc8 Kd5 51.Rd8+

And repetition ensues since there is no way for Black’s king to advance farther in order to support the
d-pawn.

112
Dean Ippolito (2331)
Elshan Moradiabadi (2549)
National Open, 2018

466
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

This is one of those positions where the placement of the king is the key difference between winning
or drawing the game. It is almost impossible to look for the right idea here unless one is familiar with
the hidden plan at the end of the sequence.

49.Kc4!

This would have helped White draw the game.

Instead after 49.Kc5? White is losing 49...g4 50.Ra4
[50.b6 seems the way to go given the rook placed on the fifth rank could cover the pawn, but Black
can play 50...g3! 51.Rb5 (51.Kc6 doesn’t work either 51...Kg7 52.b7 Rxb7 53.Kxb7 f5–+ and White
cannot stop all the connected marching pawns; 51.Ra4 trying to take advantage of Rg4 wouldn’t work
51...f5–+) 51...g2–+ and Black promotes first with check.]
50...f5 51.b6 g3 52.Ra2 f4 53.Rg2 Kf7 54.Kc6 Kf6 55.b7 Kf5 56.Rc2 e5 0–1.

49.Kc4! Rb1 50.Kc5 g4 51.b6 Kg7

51...g3 52.Ra3! a move which couldn’t have been played in the game due to Black’s rook being
placed on b3. Thus, Black has no other option but to opt for a queen’s ending. 52...f5 53.Rxg3+ Kf7
54.Kc6 and White should be able to draw this position.

52.Kc6 f5 53.Rb5!! Rxb5 54.Kxb5 g3 55.b7 g2 56.b8=Q g1=Q 57.Qc7+=

No one will see that this can be a draw from that far! However, seeing that Kc4 hinders Black’s pawn
push (the Ra3 idea on move 52) could have saved White.

113
Evgeny Postny (2601)
Boris Gelfand (2676)
Netanya International GM, 2019

467
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

32...g5!

Black breaks his pawn chain in favor of active defense and reducing the amount of material on the
board. Gelfand’s method is very efficient and self-explanatory.
32...Kf6? 33.Kd4 Rd5+ 34.Kc4 Rd2 35.Rxa5 Rxe2 36.Rc5 gives White winning chances.

32...g5! 33.hxg5 Rxg5 34.Kf4 Rc5 35.e4 Kg6 36.Ra8 f6 37.Ra7 Rg5 38.Rc7 Rc5 39.Ra7 Rg5

It is hard for White to bring his king to the queenside as Black constantly harasses his kingside pawns
with his active rook.

40.Ke3 Rxg3 41.Rxa5 h4 42.Kf2 Rh3 43.Kg2 Rg3+ 44.Kf2

½–½

114
Alireza Firouzja (2723)
Anish Giri (2768)
Tata Steel A, 2020

468
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

Black is a little worse in this rook endgame due to his passive rook, slightly worse pawn structure and
White’s passed pawn, but it isn’t over should he play:

40...a5!

Instead, Giri played 40...Kf5?? allowing White to transpose into a winning king and pawn endgame
41.Rxh4 Kxe5 42.Re4+ Kf6 43.Rxe7 Kxe7 44.Kf4 Kf6 45.g4 a5 Black must have missed 46.a4!
after which Black’s majority is stopped and White can simply play g4 and h4 and push Black’s king
back.
[46.b3? allows 46...a4 after which Black can draw 47.bxa4 c5 48.h4 c4 and there is no difference
between White’s to responses 49.a5 first (or 49.Ke4 as both lines end in a draw 49...c3 50.Kd3 Ke5
51.Kxc3 Kf4 52.a5 Kxg4 53.Kb4 Kxh4 54.Kb5 h5 55.Kb6 Kg3 56.Kxb7 h4 57.a6 h3 58.a7 h2
59.a8=Q h1=Q+=) 49...c3 50.Ke3 c2 51.Kd2 Ke5 52.Kxc2 Kf4 53.Kd3 Kxg4 54.Kc4 h5 55.Kc5
Kxh4 56.Kb6 Kg3 57.Kxb7 h4 58.a6 h3 59.a7 h2 60.a8=Q h1=Q+=]
46...h6 (if Black tries 46...b5 now, then 47.b3! bxa4 48.bxa4 c5 49.h4 Ke6 50.Ke4+–) 47.h4 Ke6
48.g5 hxg5+ 49.Kxg5 Kf7 50.Kf5 b5 51.Ke5 1–0.

40...a5!

469
Now, When White goes to capture the h-pawn with:

41.Kg4

Black can push:

41...b5

as well to create potential counterplay for later in the game. Of course, when White plays:

42.Kxh4

then

42...Kf5 43.Re2

And in order to be safe, Black can simply play:

43...Ke6=

Followed by c5–c4 and create his own passed pawn. Black now has an ample amount of activity to
secure the draw.

44.Kg5 c5 45.Rc2 c4 46.g4 Rc7=

And next, Black can play b4 and c3.

115
Viswanathan Anand (2783)
Ian Nepomniachtchi (2742)
Sinquefield Cup, 2017

470
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

Activity is not always the answer in rook endgames. Here,

31...Rb8!

had to be played.
Nepo must have overestimated his position after 31...b4?? as after 32.cxb4 Rcc2 33.b3 Rb2+ 34.Ka1
White’s pawns on the queenside are safe and will start being pushed, while Black’s pawns are way
behind and his rooks won’t be able to create any more threats on the second rank. In addition, in order
to pave the way for his pawns, Black needs to trade a pair of rooks, which only simplifies White’s
task. 34...Rxg2 35.Rxg2 Rxg2 36.b5 Re2 37.b6 Re8 38.b7 Rb8 39.Rb5 f5 now one more important
move is necessary for the players to sign the score sheets. 40.Kb2 and White’s king is in the box and
he can focus on pushing the a-pawn. 1–0.
[40.a4? might be tempting, but Black would get his counterplay given that White cannot stop the
pawn with Rf5. 40...f4 41.a5 f3 42.Rb4. (42.a6?? obviously loses after 42...f2–+) 42...g5 43.Rb5 Kg6
44.Rb6+ Kf5 45.Rb5+ Kf4 46.Rb6=].

31...Rb8! 32.a3

32.Ra3 Anand said in the post-mortem he was considering this move 32...Rd8 33.Rb3 Rd5! with
excellent counterplay again, f5–g5 is coming.

471
32...Rb6 33.Ra7 Rf6 34.Rb7 Rf5 35.Ka2 Kh6

Black’s activity should suffice for a draw.

116
Elshan Moradiabadi (2552)
Melikset Khachiyan (2493)
Winter Chess Classic B, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

37.R1f4!

Was the correct answer here.

Elshan rushed to activate his rook expecting his opponent to resign, but as Black’s last move was
...g4, he was able to play 37.R1f6 Rg5! and surprisingly there is no way for White to promote the e-
pawn. 38.e7 and the players agreed on a draw here. In view of 38...g3 39.Rf8+ Kg7 40.R8f7+ (as
40.Rxe8?? doesn’t work 40...Kxf6 and with the rook immobilized in e8 to protect the e7-pawn, Black
is the one to win here.)

37.R1f4! h5

472
37...Rg5 loses immediately after 38.e7 g3 39.Rf8+ Kg7 40.Rxe8 g2. Now White doesn’t have to
worry about their rook being attacked by Black’s king so the simple: 41.Rg8+ Kxg8 (41...Kh7
42.Rf7+ Kxg8 43.e8=Q#) 42.e8=Q++– wins the game.

38.R4f6

When Black plays:

38...Rg5

The rook is not protected anymore.

39.Rf5 Rxf5

If 39...Rg6 40.e7+– wins once again.

40.Rxf5 Rf8

40...Re7 41.c5+–

41.Rxh5 Rf4+ 42.Ke3 Rf3+

42...Rxc4 43.Rh8++–

43.Ke4

This should be winning for White.

117
Aanjaneya Phatak (1776)
Azer Mirzoev (2457)
Bhopal International Open, 2019

473
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

49.dxc6!

Would have won the game. It is essential to keep both of Black’s rooks passive. It’s as simple as that!
White’s rook on c4 defends a4- and c6-pawns at the same time!
49.Rxc6?? was played instead allowing Black to simplify to a drawn endgame. 49...Rxc6 50.dxc6
Ra7! Now, not only did Black get rid of one of his bad rooks, but he also activated the other one.
51.Rxd6 Rxa4 52.c7 Rc4 53.Rxb6 Rxc7= and despite the extra pawn, the game ended in a draw.
54.Rg6 Rc3 ½–½.

49.dxc6! Rdd8 50.Kf2

And White’s two rooks are dominating; all White has to do to win this game is to bring in the king.

50...d5 51.Rb4 Re8 52.Rd6+–

118
Arjun Erigaisi (2544)
S. P. Sethuraman (2638)

474
 Sunway Sitges, 2019

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

This is a critical position where,

59...Ke8!

Would have saved the game.

59...b3?? was played in the game, probably envisioning the game should end in Black’s favor, but
missing White’s mating threat. 60.Rf2+! Ke7 61.Rg7+ Rxg7 62.hxg7 Rc8 63.d6+ Kd7 64.Rf7+ Kc6
65.Rf8 1–0.

59...Ke8! 60.Rg8+

60.Rcg2 would force 60...Re7+! 61.Kd6 Rd7+ 62.Ke6 Re7+ 63.Kf6 Rf7+ 64.Kg6 (64.Ke6=) now
Black stops White’s pawns with 64...Rcc7 65.d6 Rcd7 66.Re5+ Kf8 67.Re6 b3 68.Rg5 Rf1 (68...c2??
69.Rc5+–) 69.Rc5 Rg1+ 70.Kf5 Rf1+ 71.Kg6 Rg1+= Finally, you obviously cannot calculate all of
these in a double-rook ending, but dodging the threat was essential in the starting position. There’s a
lot at stake in such endings!

60...Kf7 61.Rb8 Rxh6 62.Rf2+ Kg6 63.Rb6+ Kh7 64.Rb7+ Kg8 65.Rg2+ Kf8

475
And Black is safe.

119
Gad Rechlis (2490)
Shaked Tifferet (2232)
Jerusalem Open, 2019

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

45...a4!

This would have been the correct continuation for Black! The sooner he trades the pawns, the better!
Thus, making moves with tempo is important! Black probably thought he would have enough time to
prepare ...a4 with 45...Ra7?? but after 46.Rexe6 Rxe6 47.Rxe6 a4 48.Re5 axb3 49.axb3 Ra1+ 50.Kg2
Kg6 51.Rxc5 Rb1 52.Rb5 White is up two pawns and was able to convert his advantage [...] 1–0.

45...a4! 46.Rc6

46.bxa4 can be tried by White as well 46...Rc7! Now the c-pawn is powerful and gives Black enough
active play to hold. 47.Kf1 c4 48.Rc2 e5 49.Rd5 Rf5! Somewhat awkward, but Black needs to keep
an eye on f2. 50.Rb5 Kf6 51.Rb4 c3 52.Ke2 Ke6 53.a5 Kd5 54.a6 Rf6 55.Ra4 Ra7 56.Rxc3 Rfxa6

476
57.Rxa6 Rxa6 58.a3 Kd4 And Black is active enough to hold the game and draw.

46...axb3 47.axb3 Rb7 48.Rxc5

48...Rf5!

An important move.
If you are aware that the 3 vs. 2 pawn majority on the kingside is a draw, it shouldn’t be hard to find
moves like this.

49.Rc3 Rfb5 50.Ree3 Kf6 51.Rc6 Re5 52.Rxe5 Kxe5 53.Rc5+ Kf6 54.Rxh5 Rxb3 55.h4 gxh3
56.Rxh3

And this is a theoretical tablebase draw. We suggest that you play several blitz games in this position
with a training partner or try to hold it against an engine in a customized game. Do not give yourself
more than five minutes with a few seconds of increment.

120
Zhongyi Tan (2522)
Wenjun Ju (2571)
Wch (Women), 2018

477
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

36...Rc7!

Our wrap up of this part is a game from the 2018 Women’s Would Chess Championship match.
Black has three passed pawns and the best policy is to push them with proper support.
36...b6? was played in the game, and though with the same idea, it allows 37.Ra6 c5 (if 37...Rb7
38.Rb1 d3 39.Ke1 c5 40.Raxb6 Rxb6 41.Rxb6 c4 42.Kd1 Ra8 43.Rc6 Ra1+ 44.Kd2 Ra2+ 45.Kd1=)
38.Rxb6 Ra7

478
(38...Rc7 could have put additional pressure on White) 39.f5?? The final mistake which lost the game.
(39.Rc6! would have immediately saved the game, as Black cannot hold on to both connected passed
pawns. 39...d3 (if 39...Rb8 40.e5 Rb2+ 41.Kf3 d3 42.Rxc5 Rxh2=) 40.Ke3 Ra2 41.Rc7+ Kh6
42.Rxc5 Re2+ 43.Kf3 Rxh2 44.Rd5!=]
39...gxf5 40.exf5 d3! 41.Rc6 Ra2+ 42.Kf3 d2 43.Rc7+ Kf6 44.Rc6+ Ke7 (capturing the pawn with
44...Kxf5? would have allowed 45.Rxc5+= followed by Rd1 and Re5–e2 and White should be able to
save the game.) 45.Rd1 (45.Rc7+ Kd6 46.Rb7 Ke5 47.Rd1 c4–+) 45...Rc2 and given that Black’s c-
pawn cannot be stopped, White resigned shortly [...] 0–1.

36...Rc7! 37.Ke2 c5 38.Kd2 b6

Although 38...c4 should win as well 39.Rb1 now 39...b6! and Black can support all three pawns with
her rooks.

39.Rb5 Ra7!

479
Giving the pawn in the right moment to get the rook on 2nd with a winning position.

40.Rxb6 c4–+

480
 C. CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
It was a Sunday afternoon and I had mixed feelings. I was partly happy, mainly because of Mary’s
visit not long ago. However, apart from her visiting me, I wasn’t feeling that joyful as the dinner on
Wednesday night with Mary didn’t go as planned. The food turned out to be delicious and the
conversation was very pleasant, except that I couldn’t focus much. Mary was a sweetheart for not
holding a grudge and remained pleasant and kind for the entire evening.
At some point during the dinner, I couldn’t keep it to myself anymore. I had spelled it out to her that I
couldn’t wrap my head around the last words Sherlock had told me: “Professor Moriarty, John!”
It was like I was thrown into one of the meres in Musgrave. I was overwhelmed by the feelings. Why
should Holmes go to his enemy’s gala dinner, and more importantly, why would he go meet a man
who threatened Mary and me?
Knowing Sherlock, I knew there must be a reason. He may do a lot of eccentric things, but he is
nonetheless a principled man when it comes to those who are close to him. Not knowing the details
regarding Sherlock’s attendance of Moriarty’s gala was bothering me too much. In any case, I
couldn’t do much on the matter. I trusted Sherlock’s judgment regarding good friends: that they trust
without asking and wait for the outcome of one’s decision. I am going to have a conversation with
Sherlock on this matter. He is not going to escape this conversation, but I will leave the matter for
now — maybe until after the tournament, I thought to myself as I picked up my cup of cold tea with
lemon. It was some leftover brew from Mary’s visit.
As I sat in front of my laptop, I noticed I had an email from Sherlock. It was a rather long email for
his taste, which was encouraging. I opened the email and it read as follows:
Dear John,
Please excuse me for dismissing you impolitely like that last Wednesday. I hope you had a
good dinner with Mary. I had a good time at the gala dinner. It was a peculiar gathering
as everybody was there: Maude Adler, Mycroft, Lestrade, and even V.I. Lebowson. (the
infamous blackmailer who once got caught by Sherlock, having been lured to a fake case
due to his greed).
I would call this group of people ‘the sum of all contradictions’. There were a lot of
dramatic moments that evening, including Lestrade slapping Lebowson and being escorted
out by his own constable. Before vanishing once again, Maude sent her best regards to you
and Mary. However, my dear friend, we will talk about this matter on another occasion.
Let us see how you performed on the endgame problems.
I shall trust that you have examined the answers carefully. It is of the utmost importance to
notice that the decisions at hand are comprised of four motifs: prophylactic moves, only
moves, fortresses, and gradual improvement. This list doesn’t exhaust all types of
endgames, yet they can help you get a good grasp of the endgame decision-making
process.
Endgames are the ultimate part of the game, John, so evaluating them is even more

481
important than the evaluation process in the opening and middlegame stages, as one step
in the wrong direction could lead to disastrous results. When a mistake is made in an
endgame, the likelihood that the opponent will return the favor is much smaller, so we
always have to be on high alert. For several of the endgames we can use heuristics, which
can help us figure out whether we play for a draw or a win. Therefore, I trust you can
learn that part with an ample amount of books and other forms of chess material at your
disposal. Here, I only want to make a note about how to approach your decision-making
process.
First and foremost, preventive measures are a regular motif in endgames. As you can see,
a lot of themes and motifs have such essence. You should think twice about your opponent’s
resources: once before you start to calculate and once after you finish your calculation. If
you don’t have enough time, focus on finding candidate moves based on neutralizing your
opponent’s resources.
Secondly, when you are dealing with a dynamic position, almost certainly decide on your
candidate moves as soon as you can and start calculating. You cannot afford to go too deep
by having too many candidate moves. Focus on three candidate moves at most and, if the
main idea escapes you, that is just tough luck.
Thirdly, work on basic endgames and fundamental positions. There are many books out
there that cover these positions. They help you build the proper heuristics. I suggest not
memorizing too many different positions. Instead, learn some deep and thorough. For
instance, learn the rook vs rook and bishop endgame in all four corners of the board in
order to get accustomed to all of its nuances.
Finally, review the ideas that prevent your opponent from making progress. I suggest
revisiting the game Giri-So, which we analyzed together, and then hand-pick the positions
in which one of the sides holds by creating a fortress.
This is all I have for you in the books for now, John. I hope the positions were challenging
enough!
See you in two days for the final and the hardest part of your training!
Yours truly,
Sherlock Holmes

482
 PART III. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COMPLEX POSITIONS

A. INTRODUCTION TO COMPLEX POSITIONS

I remember looking forward to meeting Sherlock for what he had announced to be the toughest part
of my training. It was a very nice day, warm and sunny — a surprise and a treat for this time of the
year in London. I had a busy schedule in the morning, but my very smart and intelligent assistant,
Dax Reddington, did a great job (as usual) of clearing my afternoon schedule. As a result, after four
hours of non-stop working, I got to leave my office at a quarter past one. Given the general trend of
London’s traffic, I had enough time to spare before visiting Holmes in the residence we used to share.
Thus, I took a detour on my way to Sherlock’s apartment and had a light lunch with Mary during her
break. We ate at a new Peruvian restaurant. I had a piquant chicken sandwich, while Mary had a rich
salad with portobello mushroom.
After we were done and saying our goodbyes so that we could return to our errands, she asked me
with some hesitation in her voice, “Are you going to ask him, John?”
“Ask him about what, Mary?” I questioned, a bit perplexed.
I was still thinking about a few of the endgames in my training. The actual question had long left me
since our encounter last Wednesday. Mary looked into my eyes innocently. I looked at her while still
unable to understand her question. Another moment passed, and then it dawned on me: Professor
Moriarty...
“Oh, that!” I shouted feverishly.
It was so loud that I could tell that every single customer in the restaurant was startled and turned to
us. I managed to rebound from the situation by acting aloof to prevent further drama, and we left the
restaurant quietly.
Once outside, I turned to Mary and said, “I think I need to have that issue out of my mind in order to
play a good tournament, don’t I?”
Mary gave me a pleasant smile and agreed. “I think you do, my dear. By the way, you are so adorable
when you act like you really don’t care, when in fact you very much do.”
“I hope you don’t get that vibe from Holmes as well, because he is not trying to act like he doesn’t
care. He simply doesn’t!”
Mary chuckled and said, “See you later, John!”
As Mary disappeared from my sight after turning right at the junction, I started tormenting myself
once again about the meaning of Sherlock’s encounter with the genius (yet corrupt to the core)
professor.
I strolled down the street and turned left at the same junction where Mary had turned right. It was half
past two, and I was supposed to meet Holmes an hour later. It was still such a nice day, I had just
eaten some typical food under an exotic name, and given that Sherlock’s place was less than a forty

483
minute walk away, I looked at my watch and pondered Why not?, so I decided to walk there.
I passed by the coffee shop near Sherlock’s place at five past three. I looked through the window and
was nonplussed with what I saw: Professor Moriarty and Maude Adler. It was the first time I was
seeing Moriarty since my last encounter with him, which involved a fist-fight following the threats he
made to Mary. The fiasco ended with Sherlock and Lestrade acquitting us.
What on earth is going on? What is happening around Sherlock?
Before this, I was a jealous friend feeling back-stabbed by his good buddy, but now I was worried
about him. We all knew that Maude would rarely be seen in public, but twice in a week’s time with
Moriarty, and a block away from Sherlock’s apartment? I thought harder. The two don’t even know
each other that well, I am sure. Besides, Maude spends most of the year in the US.
I kept walking faster. I was sure they didn’t see me, and I knew I could not bring it up with Holmes
immediately. If we meet to work on chess, then we should work on chess first! I can discuss it at the
end of the session if I don’t get interrupted, like I have been on these past few occasions by Mycroft
or Lestrade.
I rang the doorbell and my anxiety was substantially mitigated as Mrs. Hudson opened the door.
She seemed to be having a good day and greeted me with a big smile. “Good day, John!”
“It’s such a pleasure to see you, Mrs. Hudson. How are you doing?” I said, smiling back at her.
“You know, the old knee problem, but the rest is pretty OK. It is a beautiful day, John!”
“Splendid indeed, Mrs. Hudson.”
“Come on in, John. I know you are here to see Sherlock and prepare for your chess tournament. Don’t
you worry — I won’t bother to ask about Mary until you have finished your training!” she said as she
invited me in.
This house on 221B Baker Street seemed the very same as the day I walked into it for the first time
years back. I remember how surprised I was when I realized the photos I had seen in the ads on the
website were unrepresentative of the actual house and its facility.
I followed Mrs. Hudson as if the place was completely new to me — as if I was stepping in it for the
first time — not as a former long-term tenant.
Mrs. Hudson knocked at the door and announced, “John is here.”
“Welcome to the lab, Watson!”
I walked into Sherlock’s room. It was bright, as the sunlight was pouring into the room through the
curtains. Even Sherlock’s thick curtains couldn’t keep the beams of light from illuminating the room.
I passed through another door and I was in my old bedroom, which was now completely transformed
into Sherlock’s lab.
“Good to see you Watson. You are here early!”
“I am lucky to have a good assistant, Holmes. He can make the most efficient schedule for me.”
“I am sure Lestrade would add an entirely new HR department to Scotland Yard should he be able to

484
find such an efficient assistant for himself. He always shows up in an untimely manner.”
I could read between the lines of Sherlock’s sarcasm: Lestrade never scheduled an appointment. He
would simply show up whenever he needed some help from Sherlock.
“Look at my new toy, Watson!” shouted Holmes, overjoyed.
I am not a hardware guru (in fact, I know as little as an MD my age could know about technology),
but I could spot a reasonably large computer cluster before me.
“Good Lord, Sherlock! How do you get rid of the heat it generates?” I asked, before even thinking
about where he got the money to pay for all of that hardware.
“It has water cooling, John, and I even get to run Neural Network on it!”
“I told you to keep the money for the rent!” I exclaimed bitterly.
“Not a single penny of that money has been touched, John. It is a treat from my dear brother Mycroft
for my birthday, of course!”
That meant no further questioning, as few people knew exactly when Sherlock’s actual birthday was.
Officially, it is on January 6th, yet in all these years, he has never received a gift or a birthday call
from his parents. Both Mrs. Hudson and I were aware that they were still alive; however, they never
called him on January 6th (they had called him on other occasions, though).
I was thinking about what I should do next. Should I broach the subject about the overwhelming issue
with Moriarty or delve into training?
However, Sherlock had already made up his mind as he brought out the vinyl set and said, “Let us
begin, Watson. It is time to wrap up your thinking process and come up with a conclusive thinking
method for you.”
“Sure, Sherlock. What do you have in store for me today?”
“We are going to embark on a trip illustrating how to examine complex positions. They are especially
difficult when you are the one who has to deal with the opponent’s initiative. I am anticipating that
we will have to spend some time to understand that one cue is not enough to make a decision, so we
will have to catch sight of something else that might be important in the decision making process.”
“I am all ears, Holmes!”
Baadur Jobava (2634)
Sarunas Sulskis (2525)
Olympiad, 2018

485
Holmes placed the pieces on the board with an agility and eagerness of a thirteen year old boy.
“This is a game of two exuberant players, Watson,” he said.
“As you can see, there isn’t much of a typical opening position in here. What do you think about this
position, Watson? By the way, it is Black to move. Spend some time to calculate lines and consider
different candidate moves.”
I pondered for ten minutes and then I said, “Very well, I can see that the two players are castled on
opposite sides, making pawn breaks a possibility. I also see that Black is ahead in development, while
White has this beautifully placed bishop on g2. So, Black can play either Rb8 and b5 or c6–d5.”

13...b5!!

Holmes placed the pawn on b5 and looked at me. I was so focused that I must have not shown much
emotion, which disappointed Holmes a bit.
Nevertheless, he continued, “A curious case by the Lithuanian GM. White has already given up too
much in regards to king safety, b3 is an obvious target, and Black’s pieces are well-developed and
ready for the action.”
13...c6?! If White takes on d6 with 14.Qxd6 Qb6 15.Ba3 (15.Nge2 Holmes went back to this move
and asked what I thought of it 15...Rad8 16.Qf4 Nfd7 “And?” Sherlock asked.
“Is it safe to say Black has compensation.”
“I think you are right, Watson. But then it makes c6 unnecessary, as even Qxd6 is not a forced move.
However, my dear friend, you thought about the right idea, but went for the wrong execution.”)
15...Nxb3! and Black is winning.
“Marvelous, Watson,” Holmes muttered.

486
13...b5!! 14.g5

“The best choice, both in terms of absolute truth and practicality.”

a) 14.axb5? loses to 14...a4 15.g5 Nh5 16.Nxa4 Nxa4 17.Bxg7 Nxg7 18.bxa4 Rxa4 and White’s
king is under mate threats;
b) 14.Nxb5 Nfe4 15.Qe1 Bxb2 16.Kxb2 Qf6+ 17.Ka3 c6 18.Nd4 (18.Nxd6 “loses to” 18...Nxa4
19.bxa4 Nxd6 20.Rxd6 Rab8–+ and mate follows soon.) 18...Qxf2µ and Black is much better.
“Give yourself a few minutes to think here, John.”

14...bxa4!!

14...Nfd7 This move was played in the game and is consistent with Black’s plan, so it is very hard to
criticize. However, Black had a spectacular continuation based on the same key ideas — advantage in
development and White’s meager king shelter. 15.Nxb5 Bxb2 16.Kxb2 Rb8 “And in the highly
double-edged game that ensued after this, Black managed to outplay his opponent and win the game.
I will leave the rest for you to review in its full length later.” 17.Ne2 Qxg5 18.Nf4 Nb6 19.Qd4
Ncxa4+ 20.bxa4 Nxa4+ 21.Qxa4 Rxb5+ 22.Kc1 Rb4 23.Qc6 Rxf4 24.exf4 Qxf4+ 25.Rd2 Rb8
26.Qc3 Ba2 27.Kd1 Bc4 28.Qa1 Qg5 29.f4 Qf6 30.c3 Qf5 31.Kc1 Bd3 32.Rb2 Qxf4+ 33.Kd1 Bb5
34.Rd2 Qf5 35.Re1 Bd3 36.Rb2 Bb5 37.Be4 Qxh3 38.Qxa5 Qg4+ 39.Kc2 Qg5 40.Ra2 d5 41.Qxc7
Re8 42.Ra7 Qf6 43.Qc5 Bc4 44.Rc7 Qh4 45.Bxd5 Qh2+ 46.Kd1 0–1.

15.gxf6 Bxf6 16.Bxa8

16.Ne4 Nxe4 17.Bxe4 Rb8 18.Ne2 axb3 19.c4 Bxc4µ and Black has four pawns and an attack for the
piece!

487
16...Qxa8 17.Nd5

17.Nge2 axb3 18.Nd4 Rb8 Black has way too many attackers compared to the number of White’s
defenders. 19.Qc1 a4–+

17...Bxb2 18.Kxb2 axb3 19.c4

19.Nf6+ This counterattack doesn’t work on account of: 19...Kg7 20.Qd4 Rb8 21.Nd5+ Kg8
22.Nf6+ Kf8 23.Nxh7+ Ke8 24.Nf6+ Ke7 and White’s attack is gone, while Black’s attack will be
decisive soon. 25.Ne2 bxc2+ 26.Kxc2 Bb3+ 27.Kd2 Bxd1 28.Nd5+ Kd7 29.Kxd1 Rb1+ 30.Kc2
Rxh1 31.Qg4+ White tries a last trick as Black’s king is not completely safe. 31...f5 32.Qg2 a double
threat along the diagonal, but 32...Qa6! and Black is winning thanks to his strong mating threat.

19...a4!

Black has no time to waste, so he is having a threat every move he makes!

20.Ra1 Bxd5 21.Qxd5

21.cxd5 loses to 21...Qa6 and the check on d3 is deadly.

21...c6!

“Taking on d6 is bad, as it loses to Qa5 followed by Rd8.”

22.Qd2 d5!

“Naturally! Black is opening up the a6–f1 diagonal.”

488
23.Qd4

23.cxd5 Qa6 24.Nf3 Ne4 25.Qb4 Nxf2–+

23...a3+! 24.Rxa3 Na4+ 25.Kb1 dxc4 26.Ne2

26.Qxc4 Nc3+ 27.Qxc3 Qxa3 28.Nf3 Rd8 29.Qb2 Qa4 and White is dead lost as the check on e4 is
impossible to meet.

26...c5 27.Qd1 Rd8–+

“That was a very difficult game, Holmes.”

“Very thorough too, Watson.”
“So, the verdict is that White is lost after pawn to b5 as per your analysis.”
“That is not the point, John. The human brain cannot process all that information to the point where
Sulskis played the fascinating b5 idea, not with the amount of time you have at the board nor with the
amount of brain power you can allocate to understanding this position. Let us reflect on this position a
bit longer. You see, in complex positions, whatever we see in our evaluation at first is not going to be
there until the end. Complex positions, like this one, tend to have several turns of events. That is why
we call them complex. They can shift from one positional/dynamic cue to another without us having
enough control over the entire process. You see, in a lot of the positions we have worked on so far,
we had a degree of control over the course of events. However, there are positions, John, regardless of
whether they are positional or (like this one) dynamic, whose entire course of events are outside of
our control. In such positions and situations, we need to have a flexible mind to switch fast enough
from one cue to another and prioritize ongoing short-term concepts. Sometimes we need to move
from prophylactic thinking into a dynamic mode, from defense to material sacrifice and counterplay,
or from an active mode to a passive one or vice versa. In either case, the predominant thinking
process requires a preparedness for these swinging points. A lot of times in chess, like in life, things
don’t appear the same way down the road as they seemed in the beginning. I know it is a no-brainer,
John, yet we tend to lose focus due to these drastic shifts, and underestimate or overestimate the
situation before us. Obviously, a lot of emotions kick in as we move from one phase to another, and
they are beyond our control. What we can control, my dear fellow, is our awareness of these changes
and adaption to these scenarios.”
Holmes took a deep breath and continued, “Let us continue with one more game, but an even more
thorough one!”
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2780)
Alexei Shirov (2684)
Wch Rapid, 2019
“Here, Watson, we do deep work on a topical opening debate at the highest level of chess.”

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 0-0 6.0-0 d5!?

489
“What is Black’s strategy here, John?”
“He seems to start an immediate fight for the center, Holmes. The d3-pawn is weak and Black
appears to have a better structure here. So, what is White’s play like in this game?”
“Excellent question, Watson. First of all, White can expand his pawns on the queenside. He can go b4
and a4 with care. Secondly, he also has e5 as a target in return for his weak d3-pawn. In fact, the
pawn on e5 is more accessible than White’s pawn on d3.”
6...d6 7.Nbd2 a5 8.h3 h6 9.Re1 Be6 is another line where the players are expanding a fashionable line
in the Italian.

7.exd5 Nxd5 8.Re1 Bg4!?

This is an indirect way of defending the e5-pawn.

9.Nbd2

a) 9.b4? Ndxb4 10.cxb4 Bxf3 11.Qxf3 Bd4–+;

“And Black wins, Watson.”
“Wait, Holmes. What is the difference between this position happening after first h3, and then b4?”
“Good question, John. Let us take a look!”
b) 9.h3
“This is a move White should play sooner or later, Watson. You would be fascinated by how much of
a difference it could make to play this move here compared to a move later. Let us have a quick look
at some of the hand-picked lines in this position.”
9...Bh5 10.Nbd2

490
[10.b4 Be7 “This is the strongest move according to the engine and it has been recently employed by
one of the top Indian youngsters — Nihal Sarin — who plays remarkably solid.”
(10...Ndxb4 “Why not this, Holmes? Could White play g4 or something?”
“It appears to be the case, John.”
11.g4 e4 12.cxb4 “And Black doesn’t seem to have sufficient compensation for the lost piece.”) 11.b5
Na5 12.Rxe5 Nf6 13.Nbd2 Bd6 14.Re1 Re8 15.g4 Bg6 16.d4 Nxc4 17.Nxc4 Qd7 (17...Rxe1+!?
18.Qxe1 Qd7 19.Nce5 Qxb5 20.c4 Qa4 and Sarin could maintain a slight advantage here.) 18.Nce5
Qxb5 19.c4 Qa6∞ led to a complicated position that was eventually won by White.” [...] 1–0;
10.g4?! “A rather risky move, yet it requires careful consideration, John. It permanently damages
White’s king safety and it seems to give Black more than enough compensation, but let us first go
through a few more moves and see what happens after white picks up the pawn on e5.” 10...Bg6
11.Nxe5 Nxe5 12.Rxe5 c6 13.Qf3 Bd6 14.Re1 f5!
“This appears to be a novelty, Watson!”
“Holmes! I am not a theoretician. Please, show me how this works. I can see that taking on d5 is
disastrous. How about if White decides to close the game with g5?” 15.g5 f4
“Alright, now h4?” 16.h4 Qd7 17.Nd2 Kh8 18.Ne4 Rae8 19.Bd2

19...Ne3! 20.fxe3 fxe3 21.Qxe3 Qg4+ and Black checkmates.]

10...Nb6 11.b4 (11.Bb5 Bd6 12.a4 a6 13.Bxc6 bxc6 14.Ne4 f5 15.Ng3 Bxf3 16.Qxf3 Qd7=)
11...Be7 12.b5 Na5 13.g4 Bg6 14.Nxe5 Bf6 15.Nxg6 hxg6 16.Ne4 Naxc4 17.dxc4 Nxc4 18.Qxd8
Rfxd8 19.Nxf6+ gxf6 20.Bf4 Na3!= “This was played in the game. Though here the position is equal,
Black was able to turn it in his favor later.” [...] 0–1

9...Nb6 10.h3 Bh5

491
10...Nxc4?
“What about this, Holmes?”
11.Nxc4 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 Bd6
“Doesn’t that simplify things a bit?”
“It certainly does, Watson. However, White will keep going with the queenside expansion, while
Black doesn’t have a real plan in the center. For instance, 13.a4 Qd7 14.b4 Rae8 15.b5 Nd8 16.Qd5
Qe6 17.Qxe6 Rxe6 18.Nxd6! cxd6 19.c4 f5 20.Be3 a6 21.Rab1 Black’s queenside will fall apart
fast.”
“Wow, that wasn’t easy to see at all, Holmes. One tries to consolidate in one part and soon another
problem ensues.”
“True, John. Here, both dynamic and positional play are in progress.”

11.Bb3

“Ok, so after the maze of all these lines we are back to the main line. This move doesn’t seem that
challenging though, Holmes. Can’t we just trade d3 for e5?”
“We certainly should, Watson.”
a) 11.Bb5 “Isn’t this in accordance to your ideas Holmes?”
“It is one of the sound possibilities indeed. However, the line itself is too developed to interest me at
this point. The verdict is that Black is totally fine here.”;
b) 11.b4
“This is again another equally plausible choice here, Watson. Black obviously has two responses
here.”
“Holmes, why should we even consider Be7, when Bd6 defends the pawn?”
“What do you think Watson?”
11...Be7! “Besides, this is a transposition, John. We have already looked at the game Libiszewski-
Vallejo, so let us examine some other moves.” (11...Bd6?! 12.Bb3! “Now White can gradually
progress on the queenside. Bear in mind, Watson, that if Black doesn’t get to play Rae8 and f5, he is
simply passive. In this case, White is just farther ahead in his queenside plan than Black is in the
center and on the kingside.) 12.Qe2 Nxc4 13.Nxc4 “Now White is targeting the e5-square.” 13...Bf6
[13...f6 14.b5 Nb8 15.d4 “It is hard to convince one to commit to this continuation even when you
know it works.” 15...a6 16.bxa6 (16.b6 cxb6 17.dxe5 b5 18.Rd1 Qc7=) 16...Rxa6 17.dxe5 Nc6
(17...Rc6 18.Bb2 Bxf3 19.Qxf3 fxe5 20.Qe4² [...] 1–0 Vocaturo, D (2574)-Hammer,J (2689)
Gjakova 2016.
“Wow, all of this has been played before, Holmes!”
“The theory is way more developed than we expect, Watson.”) 18.Bf4 fxe5 “And Black is just fine

492
thanks to his control of the light-squares and the threat of taking on f3.”]
14.b5

14...Nb4 15.cxb4 e4 16.Bg5! “An interesting concept, John!” 16...exf3 17.Bxf6 fxe2 (17...Qxf6 “Is
slightly bad in face of Qe5.”) 18.Bxd8 Rfxd8 19.f3 Rxd3 20.Rxe2 f6 21.Na5 b6 22.Nc6 Be8 23.Nxa7
Kf8 24.Nc6 Rd6 ½–½ Mulligan,B (2379)-Miettinen,K (2429) ICCF email 2017.

11...Qxd3 12.Nxe5 Qf5 13.Nef3

“That doesn’t look nice. What does White want to do now, Holmes?”
“g4, Watson!”
“Is it safe to do so?”
“Only a thorough examination would tell us, but what else could he hope for? Sometimes the course
of the game is dictated to us by the process of elimination.”

13...Rad8

“An ostensible choice.”

a) 13...Rfe8 14.g4 Bxg4 15.hxg4 Qxg4+ 16.Kh1 Qh3+? “The first choice in human’s intuition.”
[16...Bxf2 17.Rf1 (17.Nh2 Rxe1+ 18.Qxe1² ½–½ Low,Z (2413) -Stany,G (2525) Biel 2019 “We had
this position earlier Watson.”); 16...Ne5 17.Nh2 Qg6 18.Bc2 Nd3 19.Bxd3 Qxd3 20.Nb3 “All of
these accurate moves have been played by my fellow correspondence players.” 20...Qxd1 21.Rxd1
Bxf2
“So, Holmes, how do you assess this?”
“Black still has a hard time proving himself here, Watson, but it is better than when the queens were

493
on the board. At least here, he can try to push his pawns.” 22.Ng4 ½–½ Rohs,R (2318)-Larsson,M
(2287) ICCF email 2016.
“Let us stop here and say White is slightly better. What if Black tries something else?”]
17.Nh2 Ne5 18.Ne4 (18.Qe2?! “A good move, but White could consolidate his advantage after:”
18...Ng4 19.Qxe8+ Rxe8 20.Rxe8+ Bf8 21.Ndf3± 1–0 Raghunandan,K (2352)-Sanal,V (2511) Dubai
2019). 18...Nd3

19.Re3!! Bxe3 20.Qxd3 Qf5 21.Bxe3 Rad8 22.Bd4 Qxe4+ 23.Qxe4 Rxe4 24.Rg1 g6 25.Ng4+– “And
White is winning. Of course you don’t have to see the entire thing”;
b) 13...Rae8 14.g4 Bxg4 15.hxg4 Qxg4+ 16.Kh1 Bxf2 17.Nh2 Rxe1+ 18.Qxe1 Qg3 19.Qf1 Re8
20.Ndf3²
“And White’s extra piece is more worthy than Black’s three pawns.”
“How do you know that, Holmes?”
“John, White’s pieces are on the kingside or could arrive there quite fast, while I am not sure if Black
has all the necessary means for his knights. Also, it is safe to say that I have analyzed this game prior
to our meeting!”
“Of course!”

14.Qe2

14.g4!? “The most principled continuation, Watson, but this time it works for Black.” 14...Bxg4
15.hxg4 Qxg4+ 16.Kh1 Qh3+ 17.Nh2 Bd6 18.f4 “Otherwise there is no way out of mate.” 18...Bxf4
19.Re2 Ne5 20.Qf1 Qxf1+ 21.Ndxf1 Nd3 22.Bxf4 Nxf4 23.Re7 “and after a few more accurate
moves on both sides, the game ended in a draw.” 23...Nbd5 24.Re5 Rfe8 25.Rxe8+ Rxe8 26.Rd1 c6
27.Nf3 Kf8 28.Rd4 Re2 29.N1d2 f5 30.Bc4 Re7 31.Bxd5 ½–½ Michalik,P (2565)-Shirov,A (2667)

494
Prague 2019.

14...Qc8!

“Why Holmes?! Oh, come on! Why should Black do that?”

14...Nd5?! “How can this be bad Holmes?”
“Let us see what MVL himself has done here.”
15.Ne4 “Engines like this move.” (15.Qe4 “Surprisingly, MVL had tried this move a few days earlier
against a formidable opponent.” 15...Qxe4 16.Nxe4 Bb6 17.Bg5 f6 18.Rad1 Bf7 19.Bc1 Nde7
20.Bc2 Rxd1 21.Rxd1 Rd8 22.Re1 Ng6 23.b3 Nge5 24.Nxe5 Nxe5 25.Bf4 Bg6 26.Bxe5 fxe5 27.Re2
Bxe4 28.Bxe4 c6 29.g3 g6 30.b4 Kf7 31.a4 a6 32.Kg2 Rd7 33.Rb2 Bd8 34.h4 Rc7 35.c4 Ke6 36.b5
cxb5 37.cxb5 Rd7 38.b6 a5 39.Rb5 Rd6 40.Rxa5 Rxb6 41.Ra7 Rb2 42.a5 Kf6 43.Bxb7 Bxa5 44.Bd5
Rxf2+ 45.Kg1 e4 46.Ra6+ 1–0 Vachier Lagrave,M (2774)-Jakovenko, D (2681) Khanty-Mansiysk
2019) 15...Bxf3 16.Qxf3 Qxf3 17.gxf3 Bb6 18.a4!? “White has a risk-free edge: he has two bishops
and can make gradual improvement on the queenside.”
“It is not that apparent, Holmes.”
“I didn’t say it was, Watson. I just said White has a risk-free edge. Let us say this is a 15% chance of
White winning and otherwise it is a draw, should White avoid making a huge mistake. This is called a
grand complex strategy. Even after careful accurate play by top-notch GMs, MVL still secured
something to play on for. However, Shirov had a better solution.”
(18.Kf1 “Was another idea tried by MVL.” 18...Nde7 19.Bg5 h6 20.Bxe7 Nxe7 21.Nf6+ gxf6
22.Rxe7 Rd2 23.Re2 Rfd8 24.Rae1 Kf8 25.Rxd2 Rxd2 26.Re2 Rxe2 27.Kxe2 Ke7 28.f4 f5 29.Kf3
Kf6 30.Bd5 c6 31.Bb3 ½–½ Vachier Lagrave,M (2774)-Aronian,L (2758) Khanty-Mansiysk 2019).

495
15.Ne4 Be7?

“This was a little too passive, Watson. Let us see how Shirov could do better here.”
a) 15...Rde8 “This move was tried forty-five days after this game.” 16.Bf4 (16.Qf1?! somewhat
passive. 16...Bxf3 17.Nxc5 Rxe1 18.Qxe1 Re8 19.Be3 Ne5 20.Qf1 Bc6 21.Re1 Qf5 22.Bd4 Nf3+
23.gxf3 Qg5+ 24.Kh2 Qf4+ 25.Kg1 Qg5+ 26.Kh2 Qf4+ ½–½ Ragger,M (2669)-Vidit,S (2722)
Germany 2020) 16...Bg6 17.Nfd2 Nd7 18.Qf1² “And we can agree that White has some pressure,
John. Correct?”
“He does indeed, Holmes.”;
b) 15...Rfe8 16.Bg5 Be7 17.Bxe7 Rxe7 “And Black seems to be fine Watson.”

16.Bf4 Nd5 17.Bh2 Nf6 18.Ng3?!

18.Rad1 Rde8 19.Nxf6+ Bxf6 20.Qd3 Bg6 21.Qd5 “would have given White a substantial
advantage.”

18...Bg6 19.Nh4 Bd6 20.Nxg6 hxg6 21.Qc2?! Na5!= 22.Ba4 c5 23.Rad1 a6 24.Qc1 b5 25.Bc2
Qc7 26.Nf1 Bxh2+ 27.Nxh2 Rxd1

“I will leave the remainder of the game for you to review at your own pace, once you have returned
home.”

28.Bxd1 Re8 29.Rxe8+ Nxe8 30.Ng4 Nf6 31.Ne3 Qd6 32.Bf3 Nc6 33.Qd1 Qxd1+ 34.Nxd1 Ne5
35.Bb7 a5 36.Ba6 b4 37.f4 Ned7 38.Kf2 Kf8 39.Kf3 Ke7 40.cxb4 cxb4 41.Ne3 Nc5 42.Bb5 Ne6
43.Bd3 a4 44.Nc2 Nd5 45.g3 Kd6 46.Bc4 Nec7 47.Ke4 Kc5 48.Kd3 f6 49.h4 Ne7 50.Nd4 Nf5
51.Nxf5 gxf5 52.Bf7 a3 53.bxa3 bxa3 54.Kc3 Nb5+ 55.Kb3 Nd4+ 56.Kxa3 Ne2 57.Kb3 Nxg3

496
58.Bg6 Ne2 59.a4

½–½

“I hope you enjoyed these two examples, John. I will be emailing you the positions for your last
assignment before your tournament. Give it your best shot, Watson! I know you’ve got it in you!”
“Thank you, Sherlock. I am more motivated than ever!”

497
 Show in Text Mode

B. EXERCISES
1
Sabina Foisor (2202)
Thomas Beerdsen (2317)
Dutch Open, 2015

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

23...f6!

White’s pieces don’t have enough harmony, and this move surprisingly addresses this issue. Black
could find this move by process of elimination, since both Rg4 and Rxh6 are dangerous threats.
a) 23...Bxa2?? This move doesn’t really create any threats. White wins after 24.Rg4 Qb1+ 25.Kd2
Qxb2+ 26.Nc2 Bb3 27.Rxg7+!+–;
b) 23...Qh7?? was played in the game, after which White obtained a substantial advantage. 24.Rxh6!
gxh6 25.Rxh6 Qg7 26.Kxb1 Rae8 27.Nf3?!

498
[27.Nd3! Re6 28.Rh3 Rg6 (28...c4 loses to 29.Nc5 Rxe5 30.Rg3+–) 29.Nxc5 Rxg2 30.Nd7 and
White is winning as Black doesn’t have any threatening checks.]
27...Re6 28.Rh3 Rg6?? A time pressure blunder; White won after 29.Nh4 Rg4 30.Nf5 1–0;
c) 23...Qe4 would have sufficed to maintain equality. However, 24.Qg3 Qg6 25.Rg4 Qh7 26.Qe3
Kh8 27.Rgh4 Kg8 is only good enough for engines.

23...f6! 24.Rg4 Qf5 25.Qf3!

Luckily, White holds after this.

25.Qxf5? Bxf5 26.Rg3 Rae8µ

25...Kh8 26.exf6 Rxf6 27.Qxf5 Bxf5 28.Rf4 Re8³

Black is better in this endgame thanks to his bishop, but White is solid enough to hold after a few
accurate moves.
Sometimes finding a complex move is not all about finding a win, but just about being able to
navigate through different choices and not get lost in the maze of lines.

2
Rasmus Svane (2597)
Benjamin Haldorsen (2455)
Sunway Sitges, 2019

Black to move

499
 Show/Hide Solution

29...c4!

And White is in a complete zugzwang.

29...Qxd5? was played in the game after which White continued 30.Bf1
[Instead White could play 30.h4!? Rb4 (30...gxh4 31.Qc1 throws the game into chaos.) 31.hxg5 Rg4
32.Qh3 is still not so clear.]
30...Rb8 31.Qg3 Kh8 And despite good winning chances for Black, the game ended in a draw [...] ½–
½.

29...c4! 30.h4

An attempt to muddy the waters.

30.Qa5 Qa7 31.Qa4 Kg7 32.h4 gxh4–+ White has absolutely no threat. 30.h3

30...Kg7!! A strong prophylactic move, preparing the push of the c-pawn. This is a must-see idea.
Throughout this book, we have addressed the idea of prophylaxis and preparation a number of times.
(30...c3? 31.Qa5 Qa7 32.Qxc3± doesn’t work because of the check on c8.) 31.Kh2 c3 32.Qa5 Qa7–+
and the c-pawn costs White his bishop.

30...gxh4 31.f4 Qa7!

A valuable tempo-winning move.

500
32.Kh1

32.Kh2 is even worse 32...Ng4+ 33.Kh1 h3 34.gxh3 Rb3–+

32...Nd3–+

White’s king is stuck and he gradually runs out of good moves.

3
Vassily Ivanchuk (2690)
R. Praggnanandhaa (2586)
Sunway Sitges, 2019

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

This position has a story of its own. This is a rich but unclear middlegame. Nothing is decisive, so we
hope you started evaluating your options first. White is about to embark on an attack on the kingside
as White’s pieces are ready for action; however, his pieces are skewed toward the kingside and not
attending to the center. Thus, it is natural that Black’s counter would take place in the center, and here
he needs an indirect approach. Unfortunately for Praggnandhaa, he chose a more drastic and less
fortunate approach.

501
19...a5!

19...d5? was played by Black and after 20.e5 Ne4 21.f5 Black runs into a dangerous attack. For a
similar case where d5 doesn’t work, you can check out the game Kamsky-Mamedyarov from the
World Cup in Tromso, Norway in 2013. 21...Nc5 22.f6 Nxb3 23.cxb3 a5 24.Re3 and White went on
to win the game [...] 1–0.

19...a5! 20.Bxf6

a) 20.Ree1 could lead to similar positions. 20...b4 21.axb4 axb4 22.Bxf6 Qxf6 23.f5 Qh6! an idea we
have seen in other lines. 24.fxe6 fxe6 25.Qxh6 gxh6 26.Ne2

26...Rc5! 27.Nf4 Re5 28.Nd3 Rxe4 29.Nf4 Kh8 30.Rxe4 Bxe4 31.Nxe6 Be7=;
b) 20.Nxb5 An unlikely line. This is more of an engine line, as it is against a human’s intuition. We
believe that inadequate examination of this move could lead one to choose the erroneous move d5.
20...Nxe4 21.Na7 Ra8 22.f5 e5 23.Bxf7+ Kxf7 24.Qb3+ d5 25.Rxe4 Qd7 26.Bg1 Kg8 and Black
has a strong initiative thanks to his two bishops and rolling center.

20...Qxf6

502
21.Nxb5

21.f5 a4 (21...b4 22.axb4 axb4 23.Ref2 Qh6 is adequate for a comfortable position for Black.) 22.Ba2
g6 is engine’s solution, yet we don’t need this.

21...Qxb2 22.f5 Qe5 23.fxe6 fxe6 24.Nd4 Qxd4 25.Qxe6+ Rxe6 26.Bxe6+ Kh8 27.Bxc8 g6!
28.Bxb7 Bg7 29.Ref2 Qb2 30.Bd5 Qxa3

With a balanced yet ultra-sharp position. The verdict here is simple: 19...a5 is the critical move. Black
really only had two moves to choose from at that point, since any other move would have failed
against White’s up-and-coming attack. Seeing that a5 fends off White’s attack and d5 gives it a
snowball effect was the key to this decision. Therefore, this is an exercise of fewer candidate moves
and deeper calculation.

4
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2773)
Arkadij Naiditsch (2695)
GRENKE Chess Classic, 2019

503
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

24.Re3!

Black is positionally lost. His light-squared Berlin defense bishop is gone, his pawn structure is bad,
and his pieces are not developed. Immediate action should lead to the collapse of Black’s position.
The best approach is to regroup White’s pieces to exploit Black’s lack of development. MVL realized
the need of the position, yet his execution was too radical.
24.f4 Rf8 25.Nf6+ was MVL’s choice, which unfortunately didn’t work out for him and the game
ended in a draw after a hard-fought battle. 25...gxf6 26.exf6 Bd6 27.Rxe6+ Kf7 28.Rde1 Rd8 29.g4
hxg4 30.h5© [...] ½–½.

24.Re3! Nd7 25.Rg3 Rh7

Sad but forced. Now Black doesn’t have any chance to create harmony among his pieces. White now
mobilizes his pieces in an orderly fashion.

26.Rgd3

Naturally!

26...Nb6

504
The only practical way. Otherwise, Black is out of any reasonably purposeful moves.
26...Rd8? 27.g3 Rh8 28.f4 b6 29.Nc3+– loses material.

27.Bc1!!

A brilliant move! White’s bishop rejoins his army while planning to go to g5, which threatens to trade
for the bishop on e7 in order to exploit several weaknesses in Black’s position!

27...g6

27...Nxc4 28.Rd7 Rc8 29.Bg5!

505
and Black runs out of moves 29...Bxg5 30.hxg5 Nxe5 31.Nf6++–

28.Bg5 Nxc4 29.Rd7 Rf7 30.Rxc7 Bxg5 31.Rxc5 Bxh4 32.Rxc4 Be7 33.Rd6 Kf8 34.Rd3 g5 35.b6

And White’s domination in the center and on the queenside should be decisive. This position was a
case of regrouping in an advanced fashion. The harmony among pieces when one has an advantage is
a key repetitive theme. It is OK if you could not calculate everything, especially given that MVL
himself missed this nice idea!

506
 5
Baskaran Adhiban (2683)
Nils Grandelius (2694)
Wch Team, 2019

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

22...Rfd8!

This appears to be a 50–50 decision and both rook moves are equally good when it comes to absolute
assessment of the position.
However, the other rook move poses further practical difficulties, which Black could have avoided.
a) 22...Rad8 Was played in the game. 23.Re1 Nf5 24.Bg5!? A gamble that paid off in the game.
(24.Rf4 Ne7 25.Nh4 and White could maintain his edge.) 24...hxg5 25.Nxg5 Qc8 26.Rf4 g6 27.g4
Here Black missed a miraculous draw. However, the key issue is that he could have avoided this
problem in the first place. In fact, a strong professional player should be able to consider a move like
this one, but it is not an easy one to spot and calculate over-the-board.

507
27...Ne7??
[27...Ne3! 28.e6!? (28.fxe3 dxe3 29.Qb3 Qc7 30.Rf6 Qxe5 31.Rxg6+ Kh8 32.Rh6+ Kg8 with a
draw. — 32...Kg7? 33.Rh7+±) 28...Qc6 29.fxe3 dxe3 30.exf7+ Kh8 31.Qe4 e2+ (31...Rd1??
32.Qe5+ and mate follows; 31...Qxe4? 32.Rxe4 Rd1 33.Rxd1 e2+ 34.Rdd4 Bxd4+ 35.Kg2+–)
32.Kg2 Be3 33.Rf6 Qxf6 34.Qxe3 Rd5 35.Qe8 Rd8 36.Qe3 Rd5=]
28.Qg3 Kg7 29.Qh4 Rh8 30.Rxf7+ Kg8 31.Rh7 1–0;
b) 22...Nc6? This is a bit hasty and untimely. White’s pieces build a strong attack against Black’s
king. 23.Re1 Bc5 24.a3 and suddenly White has several annoying threats. For instance, it is not easy
to meet Nh4 followed by Nf5.

22...Rfd8! 23.Re1 Rac8 24.Nxd4

a) 24.Bg5?? hxg5 25.Nxg5 Qf5–+;

b) 24.a3 Rc6 and the Black pieces are well-placed and protect each other.

24...Qc4

An important move that keeps the balance in the position!

25.Qxc4 Rxc4

And Black recoups his material with comfort.

26.Nb3

26.Nf3 allows 26...Rc2 and White hands the initiative to Black.

508
26...Rxg4 27.hxg4 a4 28.Ba5 Bxa5 29.Nxa5 Rd2=

Compare this equality with what Grandelius had to handle during the game after choosing Rad8.
This is the hardest kind of decision in chess. You could not find everything to distinguish between
Rad8 and Rfd8, but you could see that Rac8 gives Black the chance to play Qc4 after which Black is
in a good shape. That could nudge you toward looking deeper into Rfd8.

6
Alexander Ipatov (2472)
Mikhailo Oleksienko (2585)
Vasylyshyn Memorial, 2008

509
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

25.Nh5!

Of all the engines out there, only Fat Fritz found White’s idea. Elshan was shown this position by GM
Ipatov himself three years ago and he was told that engines cannot find this move by the former
World Junior Champion. Over the years, we kept checking this position with different engines and
even the most recent ones have difficulty finding the idea behind this move. We waited for Stockfish
11 until it reached depth 42 and it was still unable to see White’s follow-up move.

25...Kh8 26.Nf6!!

A typical idea, which shows the power of space and pawn chains close to the opponent’s king. This is
another example of domination, where White continues after this piece sacrifice with gradual
improvement. He can afford to do so, on account of Black’s badly placed knight on a5, which is far
from the action.

26...gxf6 27.gxf6 Rg8 28.Rg5!

510
28...Rg6

This was the best move for Black, yet it falls short against White’s numerous threats.
a) 28...Nc4 29.Rh5 Rg6 30.Rxh7+ Kxh7 31.h5 and mate will follow soon;
b) 28...cxd4? was played in the game and led to Black’s resignation shortly 29.Rh5 Rg6 30.Rxh7+
[...] 1–0.

29.Rh5!

Threatening Rxh7.

29...h6 30.Qc1 Kh7 31.Rg1 Rag8

511
32.Rxh6+! Rxh6 33.Rxg8 Rg6 34.Rxg6 fxg6 35.Qf4 Kg8

Stopping f7, but White’s pawns are too strong. Please pay attention to how the power of a threat
prevented Black from making any move with his extra knight.

36.h5 gxh5 37.Qg5+ Kf8 38.Qh6+ Kg8 39.e6

And mate will follow shortly.

7
Komodo (3229)
Stockfish (3243)
CCRL 40/40 Match, 2014

512
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

18.Ra5!

Plain and simple.

Black’s only active plan is f5, and White’s only target on the queenside (where he has the space
advantage) is the b7-pawn. White tries to reach out to the b7-pawn while controlling the b5-square,
denying Black’s knight from getting to the d4-square. Here, White has a simple plan: prepare to
double the rooks and control the b5-square.
In the event that Black captures on a5, we can target b7 with much more ease. It is OK if you cannot
find the next accurate moves in this sequence. After all, they are all engine moves with high accuracy,
but this move reinforces White’s advantage and is fundamentally necessary to arrive at.
18.Nc4 Bb5 19.Ra5 is also promising.

18.Ra5! Rxa5

The most direct approach. If you had difficulty calculating this line and opted for Nc4 and then Ra5,
you are still on the right track.

19.bxa5 Nb5

19...Ra8 20.Rb1 Bc8 (20...Rxa5 21.Rxb7–+) 21.Nc4 Bf8 22.Nb6+–

513
20.Bd3!

A decisive prophylactic move! Now Rb1 is an annoying threat. Once again, the main line has more
educational value. If you didn’t see this move and went for one of the other ones, you are just golden!
20.Rb1 Nc3 21.Rxb7 Nxe2+ 22.Kf1 Bc8 23.Rb6 Nc3 24.a6 Nb5 and White needs to fight once again
to prove his advantage.

20...Ra8 21.Rb1 Rxa5

514
22.Rb4!

Another prophylactic move, preparing Nb3.

22...Ra1+

22...Nd4 23.Rxb7 Be8 24.Rb8 Kf8 25.Bxd4 exd4 26.f4 f6 27.Nc4 Ra6 28.e5 fxe5 29.fxe5 dxe5 30.d6
Kf7 31.Rb7+ Kf8 32.d7 and White is winning.

23.Nf1 Ra5 24.Bd2!

Another calm move.

24...Nd4 25.Rxb7 Bc8 26.Rb8 Rc5 27.Ba6+–

This line is absolutely impossible to calculate. It is extremely hard even for elite players. For the most
part, we believe that strong players would opt for Nc4 and Ra5, but the key is the move Ra5 which
fights for the a-file, and b5-square. We tend to miss simple concepts more often than we expect.

1–0

8
Neal Harris (2106)
Elshan Moradiabadi (2541)
Land of Sky, 2020

515
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

Black needs to take immediate action; otherwise, his king’s situation is dire. White is attacking full
steam, and Black’s pawn structure is anything but solid. Thus, Black’s candidate moves cannot be
anything other than the moves ...c4 or ...fxe5. In either case, the move should be the kind that requires
a reaction or causes a threat. In the case of the actual game Black found ...c4, which threatens the
bishop on d3 and opens a route for his queen to e7 via c5. ...fxe5, although stronger, is a hard move to
commit to. It is hard to believe that opening up a file against Black’s queen could be part of the
solution to make it safe.

29...c4!

29...fxe5 30.Rg3 (30.fxe5 c4 31.Nd4 Qc5 32.Kh1 Qxd4 33.Qf7+ Kh8 34.Qxd7 cxd3 35.Qxd8+ Kh7
36.Rg3 Qxe5 37.Qe8 Ra1 38.Qg6+ Kg8 39.Qe8+ and the game would end in a draw! Easy, isn’t it?!)
30...Nf8 31.Qxh6 is extremely scary to even consider. Engines may keep cool, but even the World
Champion, who is known for his control over his nerves, would most likely not feel comfortable here
at all! 31...Qb7 and White’s attack means nothing to Stockfish!

29...c4! 30.Nd6!

Cutting Black’s queen off from his king.

White blundered with 30.Rg3?? Qc5+ 31.Kh1 Qe7–+ and now Black’s king is safer and he will pick
up a minor piece next move [...] 0–1.

30...cxd3 31.Qf7+

31.Rg3 A challenging and entertaining line for Black: 31...Nxe5 32.fxe5 Qc7 33.cxd3 Bxd3 34.Rxd3
fxe5 35.Ne8 Qc2 (35...Qf7?? 36.Nxg7!+–) 36.Rf1 Rf4 and Black holds on by a thread.

31...Kh8 32.Rg3 Qc5+ 33.Kh1 Rg8 34.Qg6 Qxd6 35.exd6 d2

516
Elshan had seen this position and concluded that White is winning after Rd3, but:

36.Rd3 Bxd3 37.Qxd3 Rb8!

This is an important subtle point.

38.Rf1 Rb6 39.Qxd2 Rxd6

And Black has adequate play to put up a long fight for a draw. In fact, the position is barely better for
White.
Note: As you could see, Black (after having spent forty minutes on ...c4) missed a lot of ideas and
nuances. What is important to learn from this position is that Black was on the right track with respect
to defending his king and giving up the necessary material. Once again, the right approach to the
problem helped Black maintain his king’s safety in an example where he needed to find only-moves.

9
Sabina Foisor (2369)
Annie Wang (2295)
Saint Louis IM, 2017

517
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

This position resulted from a side-line analysis of the aforementioned game.

21.Re3!!

Sabina decided not to enter this line because she couldn’t find a good way to defend the g2-pawn
here. Astonishingly, White has a crushing attack. First, she secures the e4-square, preventing Be4
(prophylactic one more time). She also plans to go ahead with her kingside attack Bf4, Rg3 or f4–f5.

21...Bxg2

No other move makes any sense. White’s threat is f4.

22.Bh4

Rg3 is a major threat now. 22.Bf4 works as well.

22...Nd7

The most logical move.

22...Bb7 23.Rg3 Kf8 24.Nxf7! Kxf7 25.Bg6+ Kf8 26.Qxe6 Bd5 27.cxd5 Qxd5 28.Qxd5 and White
wins at least an exchange.

518
23.Bxe7 Rxe7 24.d5!

Engines suggest that this move is stronger; however, d5 is more in accordance to the human way of
thinking and luckily, it suffices.
24.Ng4 h5 25.Nh6+ gxh6 26.Rg3+ Kf8 27.Qe3+– Another example of Black’s out-of-the-picture
queen.

24...exd5 25.Nxd7 Rxe3 26.Qxe3 Rxd7

27.Rd4!

The position is picturesque after this move and the bishop is trapped!
The main point in this exercise was to realize how poorly the black queen was placed and that
White’s attack had overwhelming power compared to Black’s defense.

10
Fabiano Caruana (2832)
Samuel Shankland (2724)
Bundesliga, 2019

519
 Evaluate Bxb4

Show/Hide Solution

17.Bxb4

This is a great example in order to learn about forced sequences.

17.b3 was played in the game and after 17...Bd7 18.Nb2 Bc5 19.Be3 0-0 the players ended up
drawing on move. 50 [...] ½–½.

17.Bxb4 Bxb4

Forced! What else can Black do?

18.Qxg7 Rf8 19.Qxh6

White is up two pawns, so Black needs to create an immediate threat.

19...Bd7 20.f5

20.a3 Bxa3 21.bxa3 Bxa4 22.Qh7 is another forced line to analyze. We consider the other line to be
the main line, since it is more practical to keep our own king safe.

20...Bxa4 21.fxe6

520
If you succeeded in reaching this position, you have managed to handle this position well. Black has
to find a few good moves to secure a draw, which we are sure that both players were aware of, but for
a player unaccustomed to this position, it is harder to make a move with Black than with White.

21...Rd8!

Developing and threatening ...Rxd4.

a) 21...Bxc2? 22.exf7+ Rxf7 23.Qe6+ Be7 24.Nxc2 Rc8 25.Rd2 e3 26.Re2±;
b) 21...0-0-0?? 22.e7+–.

22.exf7+ Rxf7 23.Qxa6 Ba5

23...Bd2+! another way to a draw. Quite classy indeed. 24.Rxd2 Rxd4 25.Rhd1 Rxd2 26.Qxa4+ Qd7
27.Qa8+ Ke7 28.Qa3+ Ke8= (28...Ke6?? 29.Qa6+ and then Rxd2 wins the game for White.)
29.Qa8+ Ke7 30.Qa3+ with perpetual.

24.Qe6+ Kf8 25.Qh6+ Ke8 26.Qe6+=

Why did we give you this exercise? Once again, the position is extremely complex and if you have
not seen this position before, it is advisable to calculate the forced lines first. If you manage to
calculate the threats and counterattacks, that means you have a good sense of timing. If not, we
recommend that you review this position in more detail or play training games in positions with
opposite-side castling.

11

521
 Magnus Carlsen (2840)
Anish Giri (2773)
Tata Steel A, 2017

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

59.Bc4!

Again, this is a choice between two candidate moves for White. Black can give checks on d2, e2, or
f2, so the thinking process should start with parrying the checks.
59.Rh6+? Ke5 60.Bh3 Qd2+ 61.Bg2 Qxh6 62.Rxc6 This endgame is theoretically drawn. 62...Qh7
and the game ended in a draw after White has tried to win for quite some time [...] ½–½.

59.Bc4! Ne5

This is definitely the most practical concern.

The next move is forced, too.
a) 59...Qd2+ 60.Kh3 Ne5 61.Rh8+–;
b) 59...Qf2+ 60.Kh3+– and Black is out of checks.

60.Rh6+! Kf5

522
We hope you arrived at this position whether you found the next move or not, as there is a simple
logic behind it. If you found White’s continuation, it shows you are tactically alert; if not, then
continue solving more tactics!
Nevertheless, it is important to see this position or at least consider it when you first see the exercise
diagram.

61.Bd3+!

Exposing Black’s queen shelter, after which White uses his skewers (with the rooks) efficiently.

61...Kg4

61...Nxd3 62.Rf7+ Kg4 (62...Ke4 63.Re6+ Ne5 64.Rxe5+ Kxe5 65.Re7++–) 63.Rg7+ Kf3 (63...Kf5
64.Rg5+ Ke4 65.Re6++–) 64.Rf6+ Ke4 65.Re6+ Ne5 66.Rxe5+ Kxe5 67.Re7++–

62.Rg7+ Kf3 63.Rf6+ Ke3 64.Bf1 Nf3+ 65.Rxf3+ Kxf3 66.Bg2+ Kf2 67.Rf7++–

12
Richard Rapport (2702)
Yi Wei (2706)
Tata Steel A, 2017

523
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

19.Nxg4!

The position is highly volatile, and Black’s attack seems fast. Nevertheless, White is up two pawns,
so captures and exchanges are good candidates in this position.
19.Nc7? was played in the game. We think that Rapport had too much faith in his attack with Bxb7.
19...h3! Wei Yi kept his cool and saw that after 20.Bxb7+?? Kxb7 21.Qxa6+ Kc6. White has only a
few checks and no mate.

524
He went on to win after: 22.Nxg4 Bxg4 23.b7+ Kxc7 24.Qa5+ Kb8 25.Qa8+ Kc7 26.Qa5+ Kd6
27.Qb6+ Kd5 28.Re3 h2+ 29.Kh1 Qc6 30.Rb1 Qxb6 31.Rxb6 Bd6 32.Bb2 Rde8 0–1.

19.Nxg4! Bxd5

a) 19...Bxg4 20.Bb2! We also hope you have considered this position. It is simply forced as White
needs to complete his development and eliminate Black’s defenders. Again, the logic rules in this
chaotic position. It doesn’t always work this way, but it is at least necessary to consider it! 20...h3
21.Bxd4 cxd4 22.Nf6+–;
b) 19...h3 20.Ndf6+– leaves Black hopeless.

20.Nf6 Bxg2 21.Nxd7

We believe this may have been a concern for Rapport. If you arrived at this position, you have done a
good job.
This exercise is important for its showing the importance of trading when one is under attack.

21...Nf3+

525
22.Qxf3! Bxf3 23.Bb2!

An important nuance.

23...Rh5 24.Nxf8 Rxf8 25.Re7! hxg3 26.fxg3

White is up two pawns and he is the one who is going to spin a mating net very soon!

13
Karthik Venkataraman (2470)
Elshan Moradiabadi (2539)
Sunway Sitges, 2019

526
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

12.Nxe6!

a) 12.Qh5?? Surprisingly, this blunder was played by Vitiugov, a French defense guru, a few weeks
after Elshan’s game! 12...f5! 13.0-0 (13.Nxe6 loses to 13...Nxe5) 13...Nxe5 14.cxd4

527
14...Nc6! There is no point to let White control the e5-square with his knight. 15.Be3 Bf6 16.Ne2
Qb6 17.Kh1?! Bd7 White has no compensation for the pawn and Black gradually won the game [...]
0–1.
b) 12.b4?? isn’t good either as 12...Qc7 13.cxd4 Qc3+ 14.Bd2 Qxd4–+ and White loses his center
and the game.

12.Nxe6! fxe6!

This would have been the right continuation.

Black mistakenly went down a different path, which luckily for him didn’t cost him much. 12...dxc3?
13.b4! somehow, Black forgot to evaluate this move. 13...Bxb4 14.axb4 Qxa1 15.0-0 in an extremely
complex middlegame, both players had very little time left on their clocks and after several
inaccuracies, the game ended in a draw [...] ½–½.

13.Qh5 h6

13...g6 14.Bxg6 hxg6 15.Qxg6+ Kh8 16.Qh6+ (16.Bh6?! Rg8 17.Qh5 Rg7 18.Bxg7+ Kxg7 19.0-0-0
Nxe5 20.Qxe5+ Bf6 21.Qg3+ Kf7µ) 16...Kg8 17.Qg6+=

14.Bxh6 Nc5

This is an engine line, which is hard to calculate.

14...Nxe5 15.Qxe5 gxh6 (15...Bf6 would have sufficed for a draw. 16.Qh5 gxh6 17.Qg6+ Bg7
18.Qh7+ Kf7 19.Qg6+=) 16.Qg3+ Bg5 17.h4 dxc3 18.0-0 cxb2 19.Rab1 was the line both players
had calculated, and Black declined on account of a strong attack for White.

15.Rd1

528
15...Rf5

15...Ne4 16.Qg6 Rf7 17.0-0 and the position remains extremely complicated. This line is of no
interest to our topic, as White has already obtained a good position.

16.Bxf5 exf5 17.b4 Qa6 18.Qe8+ Bf8 19.bxc5 Qxh6 20.cxd4 f4

With initiative for Black. Is this all forced? Probably not. Do we care calculating it from White’s
side? We don’t! Leave it to Black to figure out!
This exercise tests how you can create complications when needed. White’s center was almost
destroyed and keeping the complications helped him stay in the game.

14
Mark Biernacki (1881)
Elshan Moradiabadi (2534)
NC Closed Championship, 2018

529
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

19...f5!=

Black’s best chance is to react in the center. Black overlooked this possibility without calculating
much on account of fearing White’s initiative. Black was worried about both exf5 and gxf5 followed
by d5, which are both bad for White. Let us see what he missed.
19...f6? Was played in the game and Black won after several blunders from both sides [...] 0–1.

19...f5!= 20.g5!?

20.exf5
a) 20...Rf7!! Astonishingly strong. No one is expected to discover this move. The line itself, though,
has high educational purposes. (20...Re8!? 21.fxe6 Nd5 22.0-0 Nf8³; 20...Re8!? Not as strong, but
easier to see. 21.0-0 Nd5 22.fxe6 Nf8! 23.Bf5 Nf4 24.Qe3 N8xe6ƒ and Black has a strong initiative
due to White’s exposed king.) 21.0-0 (21.Rc1 exf5 22.0-0 Rxc1 23.Bxc1 fxg4µ and Black is much
better; 21.fxe6? Rxf3 22.exd7 Qxd7 23.d5 Bxd5 and White is hopeless against Black’s
developmental advantage. 24.Kd2 Rcf8 25.Rhf1 R8f7!µ consolidating! Black starts picking up pawns
left and right.);
b) 20.gxf5 exf5 21.d5 Nc5 22.Rg1 Rf7 23.e5

530
Elshan panicked when he saw this position in his head, though Black is winning here!
It is easy to say so when the engine is running and you are not at the board! The point is simple:
White has only one threat and Black can stop it! 23...Nxd5! 24.Bc4 (24.e6 Re7–+ The forgotten move
after the knight departs from e7.) 24...Ne6 25.exd6 Qxd6 26.Ne5 Re7 27.Rg6 (27.Ng6 Ree8–+)
27...Ndf4 28.Rd1 Bd5!µ As cool as a cucumber.

20...fxe4 21.Bxe4 Bxe4

21...Nd5 22.gxh6 Nf4 the position looks winning, but White has a miraculous save.

23.Rg1! Nxe2 24.Rxg7+ Kh8 25.Rh7+ Kg8 26.Rg7+=

531
22.Qxe4 Nf5 23.gxh6 Nxh6 24.Rg1 Qe8∞

And despite the dynamic equality, we find Black’s task to be easier in an over-the-board game.
Note: This exercise is a good example of starting with an intuitive idea and not dismissing a
potentially correct strategy too early. Obviously, these lines were all difficult to see. However, Black
just needed to figure out that White cannot create any mating threats immediately on g7 or h7. This
could have been achieved with a bit of calculation.
Black’s inept conclusion stems from his lack of consideration for imbalances: he saw that White’s
bishops are strong, yet he didn’t consider the weakness along the h1–a8 diagonal, White’s king in the
center, and his developmental advantage.
Verdict: When there is an imbalance, seek to carefully examine the trade-offs.

15
Viswanathan Anand (2783)
Fabiano Caruana (2807)
Sinquefiled Cup, 2017

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

20.Bxc6!

532
This move should come to mind at once. Whether you see Anand’s genius continuation or not.
20.Be4 exf4 21.Qxf4 f6 and Black is fine. White doesn’t really have anything on the kingside and
Black’s rooks are holding back White’s center. We have a dynamic balance here.

20.Bxc6! bxc6 21.fxe5

White is up a pawn — now, here comes the challenge.

21...f6?

Losing, but what else could he do? Black has offered a pawn and he needs to justify it. If you have
not gone further than this point in your calculations, give it a shot now!

22.exf6!

Anand had seen the consequences of this move before committing to Bxc6. Otherwise, White’s
advantage is all gone. We just hope you considered this move at least, even if you dismissed it on
account of ...Rxe2.
22.Qe3 fxe5=

22...Rxe2 23.f7+

The only sensible move in this position!

23...Kf8 24.Bxg7+!

If you did well in the ‘simple ideas’ part, you should be able to spot this idea.

533
24...Kxg7 25.Qc3+

Here comes the hard part!

25...Re5

25...Qe5 26.Rxe2!! Qxc3 27.Re8 Qd4+ 28.Rf2 and White promotes. Difficult? You bet it is! Work on
calculating the forced lines!

26.Qd4!!

This is a beautiful deflection! We served you a few of them earlier!

26...Qg5 27.Rc5 Rxd4 28.f8=Q+ Kg6 29.Qf7+

And Black resigned.

1–0

16
Zbynek Hracek (2583)
Stefan Bromberger (2482)
Bundesliga, 2018

534
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

29...Rh3!

This move and the move in the game are the only two possibilities for Black. Hence, this complex
position is all about finding the right candidate moves one after the other. If you have problems
selecting candidate moves, review Part I.
Finding Black’s first move is not too hard; once again, the continuation is where the problem lies.
29...Rh2? was played in the game, but it leads to a loss 30.Rd2 (30.Ka3! Bf8 31.Qxf8+ Kxf8
32.Nxe6++–) 30...Qc7? (30...Nxd4 Was Black’s last chance to stay in the game, but White would
have most likely continued with 31.Bxd4 Bxd4+ 32.Rxd4 Rxc2+ 33.Ka3!±) 31.Rxa6 Nxd4 32.Bxd4
Qxc2+ 33.Rxc2 Rxc2+ 34.Ka3 Bf8 35.Rd6 and Black resigned.

29...Rh3!

White has two ways to unpin himself, and they should be easy to spot, though the position remains
equal.

30.c3

a) 30.Ka3 Bxd4 31.Bxd4

535
31...Bxc2! This one escapes the mind easily. 32.Bf6 Bxd1 33.Bxd8 Rxb3+ 34.Qxb3 Bxb3 35.Kxb3
Kxd8 36.Rxa6 Nd4+ 37.Kc4 Nf3 38.Ra5 Ke7= with a drawn endgame. White is lucky he did not
lose his last pawn;
b) 30.Kb1?? Rxe3–+ and now the knight is pinned.

30...Rxe3!

A great example for the imagination. Enjoy the rest of the moves!
30...Qc7 31.Nxe2 Rxe3 32.Nd4 Qh2+ 33.Ka1= also holds

31.Nc6

536
31...Bd4!!

Another picturesque position!

32.Rxd4 Nxd4 33.Nxd8 Re2+ 34.Kc1 Re1+ 35.Kb2 Re2+ 36.Kc1=

Black didn’t need this classy line to make a draw. In fact, as we mentioned on move 30, Black had
two ways to continue playing in an unclear position.
The key to this exercise was to break down the problem into simpler parts and address them one
move at a time. The initial position is very daunting, but when you go through the steps explained in
here, you realize that if you had considered each issue separately, there would have been a good
chance for Black to find the right continuation.

17
Christopher Yoo (2449)
Elshan Moradiabadi (2552)
Winter Chess Classic B, 2019

537
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

16...Nd7!

Black needs to play very actively in the center and go for the d5-plan should he have the time.
16...Nc8 was played in the game. And Black ended up losing a much better position. 17.Na4 Nf4
18.Bxf4 (18.Bf1 d5 19.Bxf4 exf4 20.e5²) 18...exf4 19.h5 c5 20.hxg6 hxg6 21.Rh1 Bd7?? (21...cxd4!
would have led to a much better position. 22.Nxd4 d5–+ and White would have a difficult time
defending against Black’s bishop pair attacking his king from afar!) 22.Qxf4 Bxa4 23.bxa4 cxd4
24.Rh3 Qe7 (24...d3 25.Bxd3 Qc3 with a strong initiative for Black.) 25.Rdh1 Qxe4 26.Qh2 Kf8
27.Bc4 Ne7?? (27...d3! 28.Re1 Qxe1+ 29.Nxe1 Rxe1+ 30.Kd2 dxc2 31.Kxc2 Ne7∞) 28.Rh7+–.

16...Nd7! 17.Na4

The key move!

17.d5? This move doesn’t make sense and is hard to even consider in calculation, but it has an
interesting refutation: 17...cxd5 18.exd5 (in case of 18.Nxd5 Bxd5 19.exd5 Rc8–+ and after b5, Black
has a free attack.) 18...Bf5 19.Na4 Nc5! 20.Bxc5
[20.Nxc5 dxc5 21.d6 Qd7 and very soon, Black opens the a1–h8 diagonal with Nf4. White’s king
safety will soon be gone. 22.Kb1 Rc8 23.Bc4 e4 24.Nh2 Rc6 25.Bd5 (25.Nf1 Be6 26.Be2 b6–+)
25...Rxd6 26.Bxc5

538
26...Kh8!! we cannot emphasize enough on prophylaxis! 27.Nf1 Rc8 28.Bxd6 Qxd6µ and White is
lost weakness of the dark-squares.]
20...dxc5 21.Bc4 e4 22.Ne1 (22.d6 Qb8 and Black wins after Bd4.) 22...Qe5 23.c3 Nf4–+

17...d5!

And Black realizes his plan.

17...Nf4 is also a complex engine move to play, but Black doesn’t need to deviate from his plan.

18.Nxe5 Nxe5 19.Bxh5

19.dxe5 dxe4–+

19...gxh5 20.dxe5 dxe4 21.Qc3 Bxe5µ

539
Why did Black fail to play the correct candidate move?
He decided to go with his gut feeling and keep the d-file open rather than spend the time calculating
(we can surely tell you that, as one of the authors of this book played as Black!).
When a position is complex, take your time and calculate thoroughly!

18
Alexander Grischuk (2759)
Liren Ding (2811)
FIDE World Cup, 2019

540
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

14...Bd5!

Another case of forced lines! White has only one plausible choice.
14...Rb6 was played in the game allowing 15.Nxb6 cxb6 16.h4 Nxe5 17.Qf4 Ng6 18.Qe4 Be7 and
after a complex battle, the two giants agreed to a draw [...] ½–½.

14...Bd5! 15.Rxd5™

15.Qe2? h4–+ and you can check for yourself in how many ways Black can win here. 15.e4?? loses
to 15...Bxc4–+

15...cxd5 16.Qxd5 Qf5!N

16...Be7 was played in 1998, and after a not very good game, White won. 1–0 Tukmakov,V (2610)-
Mikhalevski,A (2485) Biel 1998.

17.Qc6+ Kd8 18.f3

18.Qg2 h4 19.Nbd2 hxg3 20.hxg3 Rh2–+ and White is hopeless.

18...Qc2 19.Nbd2

541
19.Bd2 Qd1+ 20.Kg2 Qe2+ and mate follows.

19...Qd1+ 20.Nf1

20...Nxh2! 21.Kxh2 Rh6!

The key in-between move!

21...Qxf1? 22.e6 fxe6 23.Ne5 and Black should concede to perpetual check.

22.Qe4 Qxf1

And Black is winning.

Note: They key is to find Qf5 and Qc2, the rest comes naturally. This is another example of the
process of elimination.

19
Yuriy Kuzubov (2655)
Eric Hansen (2629)
Fall Chess Classic A, 2018

542
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

30...f4!

If this is not your first choice, then you need to work on your evaluation and review Part I.
Black is down a pawn, he has two bishops, and he desperately needs a target. White’s structure is
solid, so Black needs to undermine it.

31.exf4 Nxf4 32.gxf4!

32.Nxe4? was played by Kuzubov, which is too optimistic allowing Hansen to react in a superb
fashion, which due to time pressure, he missed. 32...Ne6 33.Rbd1 d5! contradictory, but powerful.
The knight has no good square to go to! 34.Bh3 dxe4? a mistake in time pressure. (34...Nf4! Would
have shattered White’s shelter. 35.gxf4 dxe4 and Black’s attack would have been very dangerous.)
35.Bxe6 Rf6 36.Qb3 Rf3?? and though he could keep the advantage by playing Bh6, he blundered
into a lost position. 37.Re3 Rxe3 38.fxe3 Ra6 39.Kg2 Bh6 40.Nc4 Qe7 41.d5 and Black resigned.

32...Rxf4 33.Bg2 Qg5 34.Re3 Rg4 35.Rh3+

35.Rg3?? Rxg3 36.fxg3 Qe3+ 37.Kh2 Bxd4–+

35...Bh6 36.Rg3 Rxg3 37.fxg3 Qxd2 38.Qxd2 Bxd2 39.Nc4=

543
A very good example of dynamic play. We hope you chose ...f4 and ...Nxf4. You should also start to
calculate a little bit deeper and consider more moves in your head. However, in terms of the thinking
process, we hope you have become comfortable with your decision making.

20
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2778)
Pentala Harikrishna (2729)
Bundesliga, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

20.b3!

This is a move one needs to find by process of elimination. Deflection is one of our favorite basic
ideas. The knight has nowhere to go!
a) 20.Nb3?? Bxd6 21.Rxd6 Rc7 and c2 is extremely weak, Black is actually winning;
b) 20.Bxf8 Rhxf8 21.Qf3 (21.Nb3 loses to 21...d5) 21...Rfe8 22.Nf5 Re6 and the position is unclear.

20.b3! Qa5 21.Qh3!

Another important defection!

544
21...Rd8 22.b4! Qa4 23.Qb3+!+–

White achieves a winning endgame. Black’s entire queenside and d-pawn will be targeted in no time.
A strategic masterpiece!

23...Qxb3 24.Nxb3 Bf5 25.Nc5 Be7 26.Nb7 Ra8 27.Bxe7 Kxe7 28.f4 Rab8 29.Nd6 Be6 30.fxe5

And White went on to win this game with ease. Did you find all the moves from 20 to 23? By now,
we are hoping that you have started to think about accuracy and realizing your plan. This problem in
particular had a solid underlying idea that required attentiveness. Credit yourself if you found the
entire maneuver. Otherwise, work on tactics with regard to in-between moves.

1–0

21
Viswanathan Anand (2757)
Thomas Beerdsen (2468)
Bundesliga, 2019

545
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

19.Qa3!

Prophylactic thinking! It looks like an odd square for the queen, but the idea is simply defending the
bishop and being able to play Nd2 in case of a4. If you didn’t see this move, you should review the
great work of Mark Dvoretsky on prophylactic thinking.
19.Qc3 This is how Anand won from an almost losing position. 19...exf4 20.Bxf4 0-0 21.Rd6 Qc8∞
[...] 1–0.

19.Qa3! a4 20.Nd2 Ra5 21.fxe5 Nxe5 22.Rhe1 h5

Black has no real useful move.

546
23.Nf1!

This knight is heading to f5.

23...Bc8 24.Ne3 Be6 25.Rd4 Ned7 26.Red1 Rc5 27.h3!+–

And White’s position is dominant. He will take on c5 after some preparatory moves like Ka1.

547
 Show in Text Mode

22
Valentin Dragnev (2550)
Maxim Rodshtein (2684)
CZE-ch Team, 2020

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

32.Rxe8!

We have not covered this topic yet, but it is a very common one that we miss too often: multiple
threats and their proximity to one another.

32...Bxe8 33.Qa6!

The easiest way for White to play for a win!

After 33.Qa4?! which was played in the game, White maintains a big advantage, but it become
practically difficult and after some mistakes on both sides, the game ended in a draw [...] ½–½.

548
33...Qb8 34.Qa3! c5 35.Qc3+ Kg8 36.Ne5 Qd6 37.Ng4+–

And with Black’s weak king and uncoordinated and passive pieces, it shouldn’t be long before White
converts the game!

23
Fidel Corrales Jimenez (2540)
Elshan Moradiabadi (2538)
US Open, 2018

549
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

23...cxd3!

With so many pieces hanging (and knowing there is a solution), this move should be on top of your
candidate moves list; one should consider all of the captures.
23...Bxa5?? a terrible miscalculation which led to the game ending in a draw after 24.bxc4 Rg5 25.h4
Rc5 26.Ne4 Bxc4 27.Nxc5 Bxf7 28.Bxh7 Rxd1+ 29.Kxd1 g6 30.Nd3 [...] ½–½.

23...cxd3! 24.axb6 Rd5!!–+

Weaving a mating net!

25.bxa7+

25.Nxg4 d2+ and Black wins.

25...Kxa7 26.Bxg7 Rg6–+

Now, ...d2 and ...Be2 will follow.

24
Jorden van Foreest (2615)
Markus Ragger (2700)
Bundesliga, 2017

550
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

12...Qa3!

The beginning of a deep idea.

a) 12...b6 is also possible, but is practically more difficult;
b) 12...Ne8? This move was played on three occasions, where Black surprisingly managed to save all
of them, yet it is not a good decision. The knight is passive and it interrupts Black’s development.
Black has a much better idea of trading material instead. 13.Rb3 Qf6 14.Bg3± Bd8 (14...Rd8 15.Nf3
Qh6 16.Ba4 Na5 17.Bxd7 Nxb3 18.Bxe8 Nxc5 19.Nxc5 Bxc5 20.Bb5+– ½–½ Naiditsch,A (2702)-
Buhmann,R (2633) Dresden 2017) 15.Ba4 Bc8 (15...b6 16.e4 ½–½ Mamedov,R (2678)-Pijpers,A
(2465) Antalya 2017) 16.Nf3?! ½–½ Van Foreest,J (2615)-Ragger,M (2700) Bundesliga, 2017.
(16.Bxc6! would have given White huge winning chances 16...bxc6 17.Nf3 Qe7 18.Nd4 Bd7 19.Rb7
Rc8 20.Rxa7 f6 21.c4+– and Black is totally hopeless.)

12...Qa3! 13.Rb3 Qxa2 14.Nb1

White could also repeat, but if he decides to trap Black’s queen, Black has a way to keep the balance.

14...Rfc8 15.Nc3 Qxb3! 16.cxb3

551
16...Rxc7

Now Black has a rook, a bishop and a pawn for the queen.
The material is balanced; however, we believe that Black has a better perspective as it is not easy to
find a good and clear plan for White.
Note: One way to maintain the balance or get rid of the pressure on your position is to go for the lines
with material imbalances where you can eliminate your opponent’s good and effective pieces.

17.Qa1 Rcc8 18.Rc1 a6∞

25
Leinier Dominguez (2760)
Kaido Kulaots (2560)
Dortmund Sparkassen, 2019

552
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

23...Qb8!

Simple decision, isn’t it?

There’s nothing complex about it, right?
That is the point: the players reached this position after a complex tactical sequence where both forgot
about this simple move, which ensures Black’s victory due to White’s weak king, as he will retrieve
material balance after taking on b5.
Here, GM Kulaots played 23...Qxb5? and missed his chance to get the advantage as after the queen
trade the endgame is equal and after fighting for another 20 moves the players agreed to a draw [...]
½–½.

23...Qb8! 24.Nc3

24.Rhd1 Rxb5 25.R1d2 Re5!µ

24...Rxb2+ 25.Kc1 Qb3

553
And Black is winning!
Note: After a long tactical sequence, take a moment and reflect on the position. The answer may seem
easier than you initially thought!

26
Liren Ding (2777)
Anish Giri (2772)
Wenzhou Match, 2017

554
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

28...Rxg3+!

The complexity of this position lies in the realization that Black can simply carry on his attack despite
being a rook down!

29.Nxg3 Nf4+ 30.Kh2 Qxh4+ 31.Kg1 Rf6

White’s rooks are hopeless.

32.Rd8+ Kh7 33.Rd2 Rg6 34.Rg2 h5!

White is out of moves.

35.Rh2

35.Ree2 Rxg3–+

35...Rxg3+ 36.Kh1 Qg5 37.Qf1 h4 38.Re1 h3 39.Rd1 Qh5 40.Rd7 Qxf3+ 41.Qxf3 Rxf3 42.Rhd2
Kh6 43.Rd8 Kh5 44.Rh8+ Kg4 45.Rd1 Ne2

A great example of the importance of quality over quantity!

This theme is very common in complex positions and trade-offs are the key to understanding
positional sacrifices.

0–1

27
Vladimir Fedoseev (2724)
Vladimir Kramnik (2777)
Tata Steel A, 2019

555
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

It is no mystery that Black is better. He controls the e-file and his pieces are harmoniously placed,
while White’s pieces seem to lack coherence. If you spot this fact, you are on your way to embark on
a successful journey, following Kramnik’s footsteps in his last classical victory!

31...c5! 32.Qg4 Qe7

Naturally!

33.dxc5 bxc5 34.Ba5

The bishop is out of the game now for the next few moves, and Kramnik masterfully addresses this
issue.

34...Ne5! 35.Nxe5 Qxe5

Now White’s king is far from being safe!

36.Ra1 Re6!

Black is freeing the back rank, attacking a6 while at the same time preparing a nice maneuver: Be7
and Bd6 to take advantage of White’s king weakness.

556
This is a classy example from none other than the former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik.

37.Rd1 Bd2?³

A small inaccuracy, though Kramnik went on to win the game. 37...Be7!–+ would have sealed the
deal.

0–1

28
AlphaZero
Stockfish 8
Computer Match, 2018

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

27.Ng1!

We gradually reach complex positional maneuvers. Here, AlphaZero shows us a deep idea: it reroutes
the knight to h3, followed by Bc1, then brings the knight to f4 to attack the d5-pawn, consolidating
White’s pressure in the center as well as potentially developing an attack on the kingside. Its calm and

557
rather time-consuming plan works on account of White’s superior pawn structure, specifically its
ability to target the d5-pawn.

27...Qf7 28.Bf3 Rd8 29.Nh3 Kg8 30.Bc1! Rfe8 31.Qb5 Bb7 32.Rd1 Na5 33.Qb1 Bc8 34.Nf4±

White’s set up is now complete.

34...Bg5 35.Ng6 Bxc1 36.Qxc1 Be6 37.Ne5±

Stockfish resigned on move 43, but White is simply better: it has better minor pieces, and strong
pressure against the d5-pawn.

1–0

29
AlphaZero
Stockfish 8
Computer Match, 2018

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

558
33.Rf6!

An example of domination, something the AlphaZero is good at. As GM Korobov once pointed out in
an interview, Leela and all the Neural Network engines ‘love to eat space’!

33...Nxg5 34.hxg5+ Kh7 35.f4!

A great example of domination!

35...Rae8 36.Qd3 Rg7 37.f3 Kg8 38.Qd4!

White is completely in control. The rook on g7 looks very ugly.

38...Kf8 39.Bc3 Rg8 40.a4 Rd8

40...h4 doesn’t help either. 41.Qf2 h3 (41...Qd7 42.Qxh4 Re6 (42...Ke7 43.Rxf7++–) 43.Qh6+ Ke8
44.Qh7 Rf8 45.Kg3±) 42.Qh4+–

41.Kh3!

The king blocks Black’s only counterplay.

41...Rd7 42.f5 gxf5 43.Rxf5 Qe6 44.Kh4

White has so much more space that its king can easily take part in the attack.

44...Re7 45.Qd5!

559
The ending is winning for White after:

45...Rg6

45...Qxd5 46.cxd5 Re8 47.Kxh5 Ke7 48.Rf6 Rh8+ 49.Rh6+–

46.Kxh5 Re8 47.Bf6 Qd7 48.Kg4 Rc8?!

49.Qc6!

The beauty of this position is that Black has no counterplay whatsoever!

49...Qe8 50.Qxe8+ Kxe8 51.Rd5 Rxf6 52.gxf6 Kd7 53.Kf5 c6?

Loses on the spot. Nevertheless, Black is hopeless after Rh8 as well.

53...Rh8 54.f4 Rh1 55.e5 Rh5+ 56.Kg4 Rh1 57.Kg5 Rg1+ 58.Kf5 Rh1 59.Rd4 Rh8 60.Re4+–

54.bxc6+ Kxc6 55.f4 Rh8 56.e5 1–0

30
Rauf Mamedov (2650)
Vladislav Artemiev (2761)
Karpov Poikovsky, 2019

560
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

15.g4!

Black has created too many weaknesses. White can exploit Black’s position with g4. Although this
might seem like a move that is hard to commit to, it gives White the advantage! Black’s king will be
weaker than White’s as the position opens up on the kingside.
15.Bd2 was played in the game, though it eventually led to a draw. 15...Bd7 16.h3 Bf8 17.Rad1 Bg7
and Black was safe [...] ½–½.

15.g4! hxg4

15...h4 16.g5! This is a committal line for learning purposes. White could easily play Bd2, h3 and
double on the e-file. 16...Be7 (16...Bd7 17.Ng4+–; 16...Qxg5+ loses to 17.Ng4+–)

561
17.Kh1! Another strong prophylactic move. 17...e5 (17...Bxg5 18.Nxd5+–) 18.Nxd5 Be6 19.Be4
exd4 20.Bf4 and White has a strong initiative.

16.Nxg4 f5

17.Bxf5!

This is the main idea that needs to be calculated. If Black doesn’t take on g4 on move 15, we know
that White is better anyway.

17...gxf5 18.Nh6+ Kf8 19.Qh5 Re7 20.Nxf5! exf5 21.Bh6+ Kg8 22.Kh1+–

562
And mate should soon follow.

31
Samuel Sevian (2613)
Peter Prohaszka (2613)
Summer Chess Classic A, 2018

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

19...bxa5!

An ugly yet strong move! Black opens his rook and threatens to shatter White’s kingside majority
with Rb4 and h5. Sometimes we get too comfortable with our position, forgetting about dynamic
concepts.
19...Kb7? After this seemingly natural move, Black lost without much of a fight. 20.f5 Be8 21.a6+
Ka8 22.Rad1 Rxd3 23.Rxd3 Rc8 24.Kg2 Kb8 25.Kf3 c5 26.Nd5 Bf8 27.c4+– [...] 1–0

19...bxa5! 20.Rxa5

20.b3? and White could end up losing after 20...h5 21.gxh5 (21.f5? hxg4 22.hxg4 Rb4µ) 21...Bf5 and

563
Black has the upper hand.

20...h5 21.f5 hxg4 22.hxg4 Rxb2 23.Rxa7 Kb8∞

The position remains sharp, but Black has managed to improve his piece activity substantially in
exchange for the creation of some pawn weaknesses. The trade-off is a worthy one for Black!

32
Darko Babic (2485)
Heinz Polsterer (2469)
corr., 2019

564
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

15.d5!

A typical idea. The key concept is the opening of the h2-b8 diagonal for tactical purposes.

15...Nxe5

15...exd5 16.Bxb6 cxb6 17.cxd5+–

16.Nxe5 fxe5

565
17.Na2!

Retreating moves are difficult candidate moves. Now White wants to take on b4 and play a5–a6.

17...Qd6

a) 17...exd5 loses a piece. 18.Nxb4 axb4 19.Bxb6 cxb6 20.Qxe5++–;

b) 17...Nc8 18.Nxb4 axb4 19.Rad1± is positionally hopeless for Black.

18.Nxb4 Qxb4 19.Qxe5 Rhe8 20.d6!

As soon as White weakens Black’s dark-squares, Black is positionally lost.

20...cxd6

20...Qxd6 loses to 21.Qxa5+–

21.Qd4 Nd7

21...Nc8 Was probably better, but it wouldn’t matter in a correspondence game.

22.Bd2 Qc5 23.Qxc5 Nxc5

566
24.Bxa5±

And White would have good winning chances in an over-the-board game, and is definitely winning in
a correspondence game!
We leave the rest of the game for you to look over so that you can learn the technical aspect of
applying the power of two bishops.

24...Rd7 25.Ra3 Rc8 26.Bb6 Ne4 27.a5 h5 28.b4 Bg4 29.Bd3 Nf6 30.h3 Bf5 31.Bxf5 exf5 32.Rxf5
Rxc4 33.Re3 Rc8 34.b5 Rc4 35.Kh2 d5 36.Re6 h4 37.Rf1 Re4 38.Rxe4 dxe4 39.Rf4 Re7 40.Kg1
Nd7 41.Rxh4 Nxb6 42.axb6 Kc8 43.Rg4 Kd7 44.Kf2 Kd6 45.Rg5

1–0

33
Fabiano Caruana (2842)
Ivan Saric (2646)
PRO Chess League, 2020

567
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

23...Ne4!

Another example of domination and the fact that quality is more important than quantity!
23...Qe4? was played in the game, and it led to a nice victory by Caruana! 24.Nd4! Nxd5 25.Bd3
Qe5 26.Bxh4 [...] 1–0.

23...Ne4! 24.Bxh4

568
24...Bf6!!

Now, all of Black’s pieces are aiming at White’s king and in a few more moves, White’s position will
collapse.

25.Be1

25...Bxb2! 26.Kxb2

a) 26.Bd3 Bg7–+;

569
b) 26.Qxh6 Bg7 27.Qh2 Qa3–+

26...Rxc2+! 27.Kxc2 Qa2+ 28.Kd3 Qxb3+ 29.Kxe4 Qxd1–+

34
Viswanathan Anand (2774)
Georg Meier (2628)
GRENKE Chess Classic, 2019

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

29.Rdf1!

It is hard to see that the rook ending that Anand entered into is losing.
29.Qxb4 was played in the game, and Anand lost after: 29...Rb8 30.Qa4 Rcb5 31.Qa7 R8b7 32.Qxe3
Rxb2 33.Qe5+ Qxe5 34.Rxe5 Rxg2 35.Rd4 Rg1+ 36.Kc2 Rgb1 0–1.

29.Rdf1! Rc7 30.Qxb4 Qa6 31.a3 Rfc8

Now Black is threatening to play Rb7 and trap the queen; however, White has a miraculous save.

570
32.Re5!! Rb7 33.Re7 Rxb4 34.Rfxf7+

And White saves the game with perpetual check. As coaches, we often see that our students do not
consider this defensive mechanism. Perpetual check is a very strong defensive method which can save
you in worse positions.
Note: If you decided to keep the queens, you made the right judgment call. The expectation was that
you see that the endgame is not easy to hold. Please carefully check how the actual game was played.

35
Dusan Poljak (2422)
Alessandro Querci (2320)
corr., 2011

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

21...Ne5!

You should be able to find this move by process of elimination. The idea is to eliminate one of
White’s bishops, while Bg6 doesn’t work because the queen on d4 is not en prise due to the fork on
f3.
a) 21...Rf8? was played here by MVL, who may have forgotten about his prep in this position. The

571
correspondence player in this game, though, got it all right! 22.0-0 Rxf3 23.Ne3 Kd7 24.Rd1 Raf8
25.Qe2 Qc5 26.Be4 and MVL was in deep trouble. 1–0 Giri,A (2779)-Vachier-Lagrave,M (2775)
Paris 2019;
b) 21...0-0 this could be an alternative for many players and is better than MVL’s choice. 22.0-0 Rxf3
23.Ne3 Raf8 24.Rd1 (24.Kg2 Rxg3+ 25.fxg3 Rxf1 26.Kxf1 Kf8 with an unclear endgame where
White can claim a bit more comfort.) 24...Rxg3+ 25.fxg3 Rf3 26.Bh7+ Kg7 27.Qxd4+ Nxd4
28.Rxd4 Rxe3 29.Bd3 Rxg3+ 30.Kh2 Re3 31.Rxd6 b5 and Black should be able to hold this position.

21...Ne5! 22.Bxe5 Qxe5+ 23.Ne3 Qa1+ 24.Nd1 0-0 25.Qb4 Qe5+ 26.Ne3 b5 27.0-0 Rf4 28.Qb1
Rc8 29.Ng4 Qc3 30.Bg6 Rc7 31.Rd1 Qxf3 32.Rd3 Qc6 33.Qe1 e5 34.Be4 Qc1 35.Rd1 Qc5
36.Nxh6+ Kf8 37.Kg2 Qc3 38.Qe2 Qc4 39.Bd3 Qe6 40.Ng4 Rc3 41.Ne3 g4 42.h4 Qf7 43.Qd2
Qb7+ 44.Kh2 b4 45.Bc2 Rd4 46.Qe2 a5 47.Rg1 Qf7 48.Bb3 Qf4+ 49.Rg3 Rc1 50.Qb2 Rc3 51.h5
Qg5 52.Qb1 Rd2 53.Kg2 Rxe3

½–½

36
Milos Perunovic (2628)
Alojzije Jankovic (2549)
BIH-ch Team, 2014

Black to move

572
 Show/Hide Solution

Another training in calculating the forced lines.

19...Rc8!

Black develops with tempo, disregarding White’s threat. If you focused on gxf6 to find a solution,
you should practice finding your candidate moves.
19...fxg5?? was played in the game 20.Rg4! These kind of moves should come to mind, almost
immediately. (20.Rxg5?? is obviously a blunder after 20...Bxc2+ Black wins on the spot.) 20...Bf3
21.Rc4 Qb6 22.Rxb4 (22.Be2 is also good 22...Bxe2 23.Qxe2 f6 24.Qf3 Ra7 25.Qd5+– complete
domination!) 22...Qc6 23.Rb7+ now White is completely winning 23...Kd8 24.Qa5+ Kc8 25.Rb6
Qc7 26.Bxa6+ Bb7 27.Bxb7+ Qxb7 28.Qc3+ 1–0

19...Rc8! 20.Bd3

20.gxf6+?? Kd7 and Black is actually winning.

20...Rxg5 21.Rxg5 Bxd3 22.cxd3 fxg5 23.Qxg5+ f6™ 24.Qxf6+ Ke8 25.Qe6+ Kd8 26.Qb3

Leading to an interesting position with chances for both sides!

37
Peter Leko (2679)
Luke McShane (2667)
Bundesliga, 2018

573
 White to move

Show/Hide Solution

13.e5!

Surprisingly, this move had been played twice prior to this game. We also want to remind you of the
importance of deep knowledge in specific openings. If a former World Championship contender can
forget things, then we’d better review our openings every day!
13.h3? Nxe4!µ [...] 0–1

13.e5! Qxd4 14.exf6 Nf2

14...Nxf6 is hopeless as White can create threats one move at a time. 15.Be3 Qe4 16.Nb6 Rb8 17.f5
d6 18.Nc4 a nice natural ‘human move’ (18.Nxc8 Rxc8 19.Bd3 Qg4 20.Qe1± Engines like this
position better.) 18...Nh5 19.Qxd6 Qxe3+ 20.Nxe3 Bxd6 21.Rxd6 exf5 22.Nd5 0-0 23.Ne7+ Kh8
24.Nxc8 Rfxc8

574
25.Bxa6 and White has a much better endgame!

15.Qf3 Rb8

15...d5? does not work due to 16.Bc3 Qxd1+ 17.Qxd1 Nxd1 18.fxg7 Bxg7 19.Bxg7 Nf2 (19...Rg8??
20.Bd4+– traps the knight.) 20.Bxh8 Nxh1 21.Bd4 f6 22.Be2± and the knight on h1 will be buried.

16.Bc3 Qxd1+ 17.Qxd1 Nxd1 18.fxg7 Bxg7 19.Bxg7 Nf2

19...Rg8 20.Bd4+–

20.Bxh8 Nxh1 21.Be5 Rb5!

A strong defensive move.

575
The main line up to here was forced, deeply rooted in captures, recaptures, and threats. If you had too
much trouble finding the continuation, do a lot of simple tactics! At this point you are not expected to
find any more moves, but we recommend trying to find further ideas in here. Should you be able to
do that, you are on your way to becoming a very strong player!

22.Bxb5 axb5 23.Nc5 Nf2 24.Kd2

Probably the best practical chance.

24...Ke7 25.Bd4 Ng4 26.h3 Nh6 27.Ne4±

Black has drawing chances, but with the knights on the board, White is going to press for a long-time.

38
Quang Liem Le (2714)
Paulo Bersamina (2444)
Asian Continental, 2018

576
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

Just because one of your pieces is attacked, it doesn’t mean you have to move it, especially when you
are on your way to destroy your opponent’s king protection.

34...h3!!

A nice idea leading to a forcing line.

This could be found by process of elimination. Black doesn’t have any good moves from his queen
anyway!

35.Rxc7

35.g3 wouldn’t keep White’s king safe for much longer as 35...h2+ follows and after 36.Nxh2 Rxh2!
37.Rxc7 (37.Kxh2 won’t change the fate of the game 37...Rh8+ 38.Kg1 Bf3 followed by mate.)
37...Bf3 mate is imminent.

35...hxg2 36.Nh2

36.Ng3 Bf3 and here comes another mating pattern on h1.

36...Bf3

577
And White resigned.

0–1

39
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2773)
Vincent Keymer (2516)
GRENKE Chess Classic, 2019

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

This is a case of a deterministic continuation. It is a hit-or-miss situation. How do we know? Black’s

king is weak, so the only solution is to find an accurate counterblow. Obviously, there is no time to
move the queen or the knight due to the h6-weakness.

37...fxg4!

If you considered it, then you might as well dig deeper.

37...Rc8? was played by the young German super-talent. Unfortunately for him, Black loses after:
38.gxf5 Rg8+ 39.Kh2 Nxf5 40.Nxf5 exf5 41.Qb3+ an important move, which leads to a dominating
position for White. 41...Kf8 42.Qb4+ Kf7 43.Qc4+ Kf8 44.Qc5+ Kf7 45.Ra1! Ra8 46.Ra6 White’s

578
major pieces are dominant, and MVL won after a few moves. 46...Qe8 47.Qxf5 Qb8+ 48.Kh3 Qc8
49.Rxf6+ 1–0.

37...fxg4! 38.Qxh6 g3!

Another forced move! Otherwise, White will checkmate Black’s king!

39.Qh7+ Ke8

We can see that White doesn’t have more than perpetual as the threat of ...gxf2 is imminent and can’t
be ignored.

40.Qh8+ Kf7=

Not a hard line to calculate, yet we sometimes focus too much on building a fortress, covering our
king and so on, that we let go of useful counterplay ideas!

40
Milad Salar (2247)
Khalil Mousavi (2458)
Avicena Open, 2018

White to move

Show/Hide Solution

579
This is an exercise that demonstrates the pressure of psychological burden. When put in a situation
where our king is somewhat weak and our opponent has some pieces ready to attack and potential
sacrifices at hand, we often have the tendency to react in a way that focuses on their attack, rather
than what is best for us.

20.Rxe8+!

Would have been the best decision for White here. Going into defensive mode is good for
neutralizing the opponent’s resources, but we should keep an eye on counterintuitive ideas as well.
Here, White could take his time and not rush into developing his pieces.
20.Be3? was played in the game and was a step in the wrong direction. White develops his last minor
piece and connects his rooks; however, it gives Black enough time to avoid material loss and build
some active plans on the kingside. Even if Black’s counterplay was insufficient, White shouldn’t have
allowed it either way. 20...Be5 21.Nxf5 Bxf5 22.Bxf5 Qxf5 23.Rad1 White is still better, but Black is
back in the game after ...Rab8 and ...Rxb2. After a wild turn of events, Black ended up winning this
position. [...] 0–1

20.Rxe8+! Rxe8 21.Bxf5!

Obviously, lines in this book are checked with engines without the pressure of a tournament setting.
However, the question at hand could be formulated quickly and easily: can White take Black’s bishop
or should he secure his king first?

21...Bxf5

21...Re1+ 22.Kh2 Bxf5 loses to 23.Bg5+–

22.Qxc7 Re1+ 23.Kg2 Qg6

The position looks daunting, despite White being up a piece.

The pin on the back rank cannot be undone unless the king himself takes charge!

580
24.f3!

This is a strange case where Black has more attackers than defenders (queen, rook, and bishop versus
queen, knight, and bishop), but his attack fails. The reason is that White’s king actively takes part in
the defense. He can also do so because there isn’t much material left on the board.

24...Bh3+!

The only practical try!

24...Qh5 fails to 25.Qd8+ Kh7 26.Qh4 Qg6 27.Kf2+–

25.Kf2 Rf1+

25...Rh1

581
26.g4! a very bold choice 26...h5
[26...Bxg4 27.fxg4 Qxg4 28.Nf3 Qf5 29.c4 Qc2+ 30.Kg3 Qg6+ 31.Kf4 A very brave king! 31...Rf1
(31...f5 fails to 32.Qc8+ Kh7 33.Qxf5+–) 32.Qc8+ Kh7 33.Qh3 Qd3 34.Qf5+ Qxf5+ 35.Kxf5
Rxf3+ 36.Ke4 Rf1 37.c5 and White’s pawn is much faster.]
27.Qd8+ Kh7 28.Qh4 Bg2 29.gxh5 Qd3 30.Qe4++–

26.Ke2 h5 27.b3 Rh1

The entire line until here is forced. So, here is where you have to make a decision, even if you don’t
see White’s next move. Is White winning or not?
27...h4 28.Qd8++–

28.Qb8+ Kh7 29.Qf4 Kg8

582
30.c4!

Planning for Kd2–c3! The rest is pure intuition. You need to realize whether you have time to make
all these maneuvers with your king, queen, and pawns.

30...Bf1+ 31.Kf2 Bh3 32.Qe4

32.Qe5 This is more accurate, but at some point we all want to get our king away from the war zone.

32...Rf1+ 33.Ke2 Qxg3 34.Kd2 Qg1 35.Kc2 Re1 36.Qa8+ Kh7 37.Qd5 Qg6+ 38.Kb2 Rd1 39.Bg5
Rxd4 40.Qxd4 Qxg5 41.Rg1

And White is winning.

Obviously, even the analysis here doesn’t exhaust all the possibilities and tricks Black has in the
positions that arose after 25..Bh3. We suggest that the readers, in order to better understand the
resources of both sides, study the 8th game of the 2004 match between Vladimir Kramnik and Peter
Leko.

41
Levon Aronian (2794)
Fabiano Caruana (2784)
Candidates, 2018

583
 Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

The most recent World Championship contender and number 2 in the world, the American Fabiano
Caruana, shows a great example of consistent defense in this game. Though not all of his moves are
optimal according to the engines, he consistently pursues a systematic way to keep his king safe while
he improves his position.

20...Bd7

Completing his development. Black is two pawns up in exchange for White’s attack so he is trying to
secure his king and make use of his extra material afterwards.

21.gxh6 g6!

Keeping the king’s shelter and avoiding any unnecessary complications.

22.h5 Kh8!

Again securing the king!

23.Kh2?

Aronian needed a win to maintain reasonable chances in the tournament, so he went all in.
Nevertheless, he needed to look for a way to draw.

584
23.hxg6 fxg6 24.Nc5 offers White compensation, although Black can survive. 24...Bxc5 25.Rxc5 Bc6
26.Rg5 Qf6 27.Qg4 Rg8 and Black is safe. 28.h7 Rg7= and he remains so!

23...Bc6 24.Rf3 Qd5!

Would have given Black a better position: 24...Bd6 was played in the game by Fabiano. We decided
not to give move a dubious sign because it still follows a strategy consistent with Black’s previous
moves. However, the lateral effect, which we have mentioned previously, is a strong motif in a
position like this one where both kings have their own vulnerabilities. Black eventually ended up
winning the game after a number of mistakes by both sides in time pressure. [...] 0–1

25.Rg3 Qxh5+ 26.Qxh5 gxh5 27.Rg7

It may seem unclear at first, but

27...f5!

It is easy to forget about this move! How to find it? The process of elimination again! White
threatened Nf6, and after Bxf6 then Rh7+ followed by a check on g1.

28.Ng5 Bxg5 29.fxg5 Rg8

Black is simply winning.

The key take-away from this exercise was to find the simple yet effective moves — Bd7, Bc6, g6,
Kh8 and Qd5.

585
 42
Jan Krzysztof Duda (2730)
Jeffery Xiong (2707)
FIDE World Cup, 2019

Black to move

Show/Hide Solution

32...Qd7!

The queen needs to come back in order to protect the king. As you will see later in the analysis, it is
not possible to see all the details of White’s threats against Black’s king. Yet, it is easy to see that
they are lethal, so this decision could be made through careful evaluation without needing to see all
the way to the end.
32...Ra4? was played in the game. It is not very apparent at first that Black needs to retreat his queen
33.Ne6 Rac4 34.Re1 now White’s threat is Qa7, which is hard to meet.
a) In the game, Xiong tried 34...g5? When Duda came up with a spectacular continuation of

586
35.e5! dxe5 36.Qa7 Qh6 37.d6 Rc1 38.Rxc1 Rxc1+ 39.Kg2 g4 40.h4! luckily the last move before
time control for White is a forced one. 40...gxh3+ 41.Kh2 and White won one move later after.
41...Qg6 42.Qa8+ 1–0.
b) 34...a5 was a better try and in fact engines on lower depth show it as a remedy for Black.
Nevertheless, White wins with the same idea. 35.Qa7 Qh6 36.h4! a prophylactic measure, securing
White’s back rank (36.Kg2 g5∞ is not clear at all!) 36...a4 37.Kg2 g5 38.h5 g4 39.Qd7 Rc2

40.Re2! Rc1 41.Rb2+– and Black is helpless against Rb7.

32...Qd7! 33.Ne6 Rac2

587
34.Rb3!

Avoiding the rook trade in case White’s goes to d4.

34...a5 35.Qd4 a4 36.Rf3 Ra8 37.Qxf6 Rcc8 38.Qa1∞

The position remains sharp and double-edged.

Black’s best choice is probably to go for Re8 and Rxe6, aiming for a technically drawn yet complex
position.

588
 C. CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
It was a busy Tuesday. My tournament had just finished and it went well for my measure. I had a
positive score and won a decent amount of rating points. I managed to have an upset and a good run
against a few stronger players. Overall, I was pleased with my performance.
I was heading to Sherlock’s place to use his server and discuss my result. I didn’t need all the
computational power of his computer, but I didn’t have an engine installed on my laptop (which
happens to be a Mac computer), so I decided to visit him earlier than discussed.
Mrs. Hudson welcomed me and walked me to Sherlock’s office, as usual. Mycroft was there, which
wasn’t a surprise, though he rarely visited Sherlock.
I could still feel the satisfaction from my reasonable tournament running through my veins, so I
enthusiastically greeted them both. “Hello, gentlemen!”
“Watson! Good job, my dear friend. You did well at the tournament.”
“Thank you, Holmes. You can say your method worked!” I said with admiration for my friend. I
really didn’t care much about the result. I was happy that Sherlock’s method of training had helped
me to have a clearer and more efficient thinking process.
I was contemplating about my thinking process when Sherlock said, “Statistically, your result was
within the realm of chance. It means that your result is not out of ordinary. Obviously, the training
helped, but you didn’t necessarily do better because of the method of training. It was more because
you trained at all.”
“So what are you saying, Sherlock?”
“I am saying it was good to see you push yourself to get better at something that is so intellectually
rewarding. I am very proud of you! Consistency in future events will show if this result will make
you a better player or not. Though I am confident it will!”
That was the Sherlock I knew: objective, but confident.
“I meant to ask you a few questions, Sherlock,” I said, looking hesitantly at Mycroft. I wasn’t sure if I
should ask my questions or not with him being present. I took my chance. After all, Mycroft was at
the gala dinner with Sherlock as well.
“What is all this business with Professor Moriarty, Sherlock?”
“I meant to talk to you about it, John. In fact, it was a peculiar visit that night, but I didn’t want to
distract you before your tournament.”
“Not to mention it was a matter of national security, which he was bound to not share with anyone,
even you,” interrupted Mycroft to my surprise.
“Well, now that the matter is solved and the criminals have been contained, I can share with you this
little adventure of mine, Watson. In fact, we very much owe our success in such a short time to you.”
I almost fell out of my chair! “What do you mean?” was all I could say.
“It all started in Boston when, during the conference, I was approached by a couple of officers: one

589
British and one from the United States. They were there as investors with a shield company interested
in funding the infrastructural assessment of cybersecurity. They were looking for organized hackers
who would write programs for them with prepared scenarios as a test for infrastructural security of
different firms. What they were really after, however, was an organized criminal hacking group,
which was going by the name of ‘The Vigilantes’.”
“I have heard of them Sherlock. They don’t exactly steal the money. They steal it for a short period of
time and make a solid investment with it, then take the profit and put the actual money back in the
account they took it from in the first place. It’s a bizarre story.”
“They do have a bizarre story. They would take the money from different resources, turn it into a
Cryptocurrency, and then make it disappear off the radar. At the end of the business day, the money
would be deposited back as a donation through a fake ID. The officers told me that they managed to
trace their operation and they believed that the group operates between the US and the UK. Their
recent behavior had become erratic and reckless, and they had started to do more ambitious things,
which in turn left electronic footprints behind. The officers had collected enough data on The
Vigilantes’ activities to narrow down their task to some extent. However, they made a gruesome
mistake of asking for a scenario similar to what the hackers were doing regularly: they had an
‘unknown bidder’ who backed-off at the last minute. Here is when I joined the investigation, having
Mycroft and Lestrade as my point of contacts here in London. Our initial work showed that the group
had been relocating to London for quite some time, although no apparent information was available
on that matter. Luckily, my precollege activities came in handy at this point.”
“Are you suggesting they were communicating through chess games?!” I had to try hard to keep my
jaw from dropping.
“You nailed it, Watson! Splendid deduction!” Sherlock continued, “There were correspondence
tournaments played by fake players. They were only playing among themselves with certain
openings. However, we started noticing that there seemed to be a pattern in their play: the results
were circulating, but the openings and strategies remained the same despite small tweaks in the
games.”
“Wait, how did the two intelligence agencies arrived at such conclusions? That is somewhat random.”
“I told them, my dear friend, that I had observed it and had my suspicions. Obviously, I couldn’t
know what the codes were used for, but I had managed to decipher them some time before my trip to
Boston. I knew that they were transferring their operation over here, to London.”
“So the many hours in the basement...” I didn’t get to finish my sentence, as Sherlock interrupted me.
“I was running decoding algorithms, John. You know what a lousy correspondence player I am.”
Sherlock took a big sip from his tea cup and continued, “Well, I knew the code had some criminal ties
and I was going to pass the information I had discovered to the police at some point. However, once I
was told about the nature of organized hackers, I immediately knew where to look next.”
“And then we had Moriarty,” interrupted Mycroft.
“And we surely had his help,” said Sherlock.

590
“I cannot believe it!” I shouted with such astonishment that poor Mrs. Hudson ran up the stairs like
Usain Bolt. The poor lady would probably need weeks of rest before she fully recovers.
After attending to and dismissing Mrs. Hudson, Sherlock continued, “Yes, Lestrade had caught
Moriarty on tax fraud, and was using him as an informant inside the criminal organization.”
“Lestrade busted Moriarty? He went down like Al Capone?”
“It is fair to say that Lestrade received a couple of good tips from which he managed to build a
compelling case. Anyways, we then had Moriarty throw the gala party announcing his hundred-
million-pound investment in the cybersecurity branch. He almost got to meet an anonymous hacker,
who we believed was one of the masterminds of ‘The Vigilantes’. The meeting didn’t go as planned
because Lestrade moved on them too early. Thus, all we got was a clue: a shredded business card that
didn’t convey very much information. Nevertheless, it gave us an important clue: the group had no
problem having a shield company in the US, which meant the US citizens of the group created a
company to run in there. As much as an LLC is easy to start in the US, the UK has a tight policy on
LTD employment. These guys couldn’t have an LTD business, so they needed to have newly-made
service industry jobs. The best cover could be restaurants or something of a sort where they could
shield the identity of their employees in different forms. Here is when you gave us the decisive tip.”
“And what was that?” I asked impatiently.
“Your lunch with Mary at the Peruvian restaurant was the key to this case, John. You told me that
your chicken sandwich was spicy, which was quite alarming. The restaurant was new and it was
offering chicken sandwiches, which is not a typical Peruvian Sandwich. Furthermore, you said that
the food was quite spicy and the waiter had told you that it was made with standard Peruvian Chili.
Well, my dear Watson, here is when they made their second blunder.”
“What was the first blunder?”
“They didn’t invest in their shield operation by at least recruiting a Peruvian chef for a while!
Anyway, I paid them a visit and after my meal, I knew they were not a real restaurant despite that fact
that what they were serving was reasonably fine.”
“How so?” I demanded to find out more details.
“I ordered the ‘ceviche’ and ‘pisco sour’ to authenticate their food.”
“We also sent him on a date with a food specialist,” said Mycroft.
“The ‘ceviche’ was good but apparently, according to the food expert, it was not authentic, but made
from a recipe. The biggest drawback was the drink, which had no ‘pisco’ in it. It was made of white
tequila. After asking the waiters a few questions, we confirmed their American accent and after that,
Lestrade needed a warrant to search their kitchen.”
After a short pause, Sherlock continued, “Lestrade found a major server and fourteen laptops being
used at once by hackers. In order to avoid IP detection, they would hack into the internet connections
of nearby businesses and use different connections on different days. They even would sometimes
hack into the laptops of their customers and later use them in random places as a starting point.”
“So you caught them because I had a spicy sandwich?” I said while laughing aloud.

591
“Well, it was the last cue. Like in complex positions, you go one step at a time and see what the
position throws at you. You see the nature of the position and you react accordingly!”
“How surprisingly simple!”
“A plain sailing when explained, John!”
“Ah, another question was bothering me, Sherlock: What was Maude doing with Moriarty in the
nearby cafe?” I asked and confessed, “I was worried sick, Sherlock.”
“My dear friend, I think the two of them are dating.”
“Dating?! I thought you were dating Maude!”
“You were dating Maude?!” said Mycroft surprised.
“I spend time with Maude, but that is it — strictly professional.”
Mycroft said, “Since when have you two been seeing each other?”
“Are you saying you are ok with this?” I asked.
Mycroft and I looked at each other, puzzled.
After a moment of silence, Sherlock demanded, “Stop it, gentlemen! Let us review John’s games. He
won’t stop playing chess after last weekend! He needs to develop his newly acquired method!”

592
 GAMES INDEX

Aanjaneya Phatak (1776) — Azer Mirzoev (2457)

Ajay Krishna (2302) — Elshan Moradiabadi (2539)
Alan Pichot (2606) — David Navara (2717)
Albalooshi Khalifa Essa (1581) — Ahmad Al Romaithi (1801)
Aleksandr Lenderman (2640) — Jeffery Xiong (2691)
Aleksandr Ostrovskiy (2436) — Andrew Hong (2414)
Aleksandra Goryachkina (2473) — Sabina Foisor (2235)
Aleksandra Goryachkina (2522) — Valentina Gunina (2506)
Aleksey Dreev (2649) — Ray Robson (2682)
Alexander Areshchenko (2652) — Alexander Moiseenko (2648)
Alexander Donchenko (2644) — Elshan Moradiabadi (2539)
Alexander Grischuk (2759) — Liren Ding (2811)
Alexander Grischuk (2777) — Matthias Bluebaum (2644)
Alexander Grischuk (2777) — Wesley So (2765)
Alexander Grischuk (2808) — Matthias Bluebaum (2561)
Alexander Ipatov (2472) — Mikhailo Oleksienko (2585)
Alexander Motylev (2677) — Qingnan Liu (2435)
Alexandr Triapishko (2531) — Peter Svidler (2738)
Alexei Shirov (2684) — Hikaru Nakamura (2736)
Alireza Firouzja (2723) — Anish Giri (2768)
Alireza Firouzja (2723) — Viswanathan Anand (2758)
AlphaZero — Stockfish 8
AlphaZero — Stockfish 8
Amir Mallahi (2382) — Elshan Moradiabadi (2303)
Andreas Heimann (2617) — Karthik Venkatraman (2470)
Andrei Volokitin (2641) — Pavel Eljanov (2663)
Anish Giri (2773) — Dmitry Andreikin (2736)
Anish Giri (2776) — Wesley So (2760)
Anish Giri (2797) — Yangyi Yu (2751)

593
Anish Giri (2798) — Fabiano Caruana (2787)
Anish Giri (2798) — Yifan Hou (2673)
Anton Demchenko (2655) — Vasif Durarbayli (2617)
Anton Korobov (2668) — N. Sunilduth Lyna (2626)
Anton Korobov (2678) — Emil Sutovsky (2647)
Anton Shomoev (2550) — Gata Kamsky (2676)
Apurva Virkud (2262) — Sabina Foisor (2272)
Arjun Erigaisi (2544) — S. P. Sethuraman (2638)
Arkadij Naiditsch (2695) — Peter Svidler (2735)
Aron Nimzowitsch — Akiba Rubinstein
Arseniy Nesterov (2482) — Pavel Ponkratov (2632)
Arthur Shen (2401) — Joshua Friedel (2523)
Baadur Jobava (2604) — Magnus Carlsen (2872)
Baadur Jobava (2634) — Sarunas Sulskis (2525)
Baadur Jobava (2711) — Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2764)
Bala C. P. Dhulipalla (2414) — Marc Narciso Dublan (2516)
Baskaran Adhiban (2683) — Nils Grandelius (2694)
Bassem Amin (2689) — Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2789)
Bassem Amin (2707) — Ernesto Inarkiev (2693)
Bassem Amin (2709) — Dariusz Swiercz (2655)
Bator Sambuev (2513) — Timur Gareyev (2620)
Borki Predojevic (2626) — Johan Salomon (2485)
Carissa Yip (2293) — Elshan Moradiabadi (2534)
Carlos Martin Sanchez (2367) — Frank Schubert (2393)
Changren Dai (2427) — Vladimir Kramnik (2803)
Christoph Lipok (2287) — Tamas Banusz (2606)
Christopher Yoo (2449) — Elshan Moradiabadi (2552)
Darko Babic (2485) — Heinz Polsterer (2469)
David Navara (2717) — Thomas Roussel-Roozmon (2473)
David Navara (2739) — Liren Ding (2812)
Dean Ippolito (2331) — Elshan Moradiabadi (2549)
Dennis Wagner (2578) — Maxime Lagarde (2655)

594
DeusX (1400) — EichhoernchenX (1900)
DeusX (2800) — WaspX (3100)
Diego Flores (2608) — Neuris Delgado Ramirez (2628)
Dmitry Andreikin (2702) — Aryan Tari (2615)
Dmitry Andreikin (2708) — Pavel Potapov (2479)
Dusan Poljak (2422) — Alessandro Querci (2320)
Elshan Moradiabadi (2436) — Mikhail Ulybin (2579)
Elshan Moradiabadi (2534) — C. J. Arvind (2186)
Elshan Moradiabadi (2537) — Daniel Naroditsky (2610)
Elshan Moradiabadi (2537) — Jesse Kraai (2493)
Elshan Moradiabadi (2539) — Ari Kiremitciyan (2270)
Elshan Moradiabadi (2549) — Raja Panjwani (2456)
Elshan Moradiabadi (2552) — Aleksey Sorokin (2513)
Elshan Moradiabadi (2552) — Eddy Tian (2130)
Elshan Moradiabadi (2552) — Melikset Khachiyan (2493)
Elshan Moradiabadi (2567) — Dragos Dumitrache (2423)
Eltaj Safarli (2601) — Ruslan Shcherbakov (2527)
Emilio Cordova (2570) — Elshan Moradiabadi (2552)
Ernesto Inarkiev (2693) — Richard Rapport (2735)
Ernesto Inarkiev (2702) — Mikheil Mchedlishvili (2590)
Eros Riccio (2636) — René Raijmaekers C. H. (2483)
Erwin L’Ami (2606) — Anton Smirnov (2604)
Evgeniy Najer (2682) — Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2772)
Evgeny Postny (2601) — Boris Gelfand (2676)
Fabiano Caruana (2784) — Magnus Carlsen (2843)
Fabiano Caruana (2819) — Wesley So (2754)
Fabiano Caruana (2822) — Gadir Guseinov (2666)
Fabiano Caruana (2822) — Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2772)
Fabiano Caruana (2822) — Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2772)
Fabiano Caruana (2827) — Boris Gelfand (2703)
Fabiano Caruana (2828) — Leinier Dominguez (2739)
Fabiano Caruana (2828) — Leinier Dominguez (2739)

595
Fabiano Caruana (2832) — Samuel Shankland (2724)
Fabiano Caruana (2842) — Ivan Saric (2646)
Fidel Corrales Jimenez (2540) — Elshan Moradiabadi (2538)
Florian Handke (2514) — Arkadij Naiditsch (2684)
Francisco Vallejo Pons (2693) — Magnus Carlsen (2845)
Gabriel Sargissian (2690) — Aryan Tari (2630)
Gad Rechlis (2490) — Shaked Tifferet (2232)
Gawain Jones (2688) — Dinara Saduakassova (2481)
Gawain Jones (2688) — Suri Vaibhav (2597)
Georg Meier (2628) — Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2773)
Georg Meier (2646) — Liren Ding (2702)
Gregory Kaidanov (2596) — Alexander Onischuk (2664)
Grigoriy Oparin (2657) — Hovhannes Gabuzyan (2616)
Grzegorz Gajewski (2628) — Zahar Efimenko (2650)
Hao Wang (2758) — R. Praggnanandhaa (2602)
Hari Madhavan (2093) — Nitish Belurkar (2353)
Helgi Dam Ziska (2545) — Teimour Radjabov (2742)
Hikaru Nakamura (2736) — Lazaro Bruzon (2640)
Hikaru Nakamura (2787) — Fabiano Caruana (2804)
Himal Gusain (2428) — Gata Kamsky (2637)
Holden Hernandez (2542) — Elshan Moradiabadi (2559)
Hrant Melkumyan (2668) — Koushnik Girish (2506)
Hua Ni (2683) — Aleksandr Lenderman (2637)
Ian Nepomniachtchi (2773) — Vidit Gujrathi (2722)
Ian Nepomniachtchi (2775) — Fabiano Caruana (2819)
Ido Gorshtein (2372) — Romain Edouard (2653)
Igor Kovalenko (2657) — Vladimir Fedoseev (2690)
Irina Krush (2444) — Sabina Foisor (2272)
Jakub Pulpan (2421) — Robert Kempinski (2578)
Jan Christian Schroeder (2571) — Evgeny Alekseev (2620)
Jan Krzysztof Duda (2730) — Jeffery Xiong (2707)
Jan Rubes (2363) — Vlastimil Babula (2559)

596
Jayaram Ashwin (2475) — Elshan Moradiabadi (2597)
Jayaram Ashwin (2494) — Conrad Holt (2561)
Jeffery Xiong (2634) — Matthieu Cornette (2611)
Jeffery Xiong (2658) — Vahap Sanal (2533)
Jha Sriram (2422) — Elshan Moradiabadi (2597)
Jinshi Bai (2600) — Hengyi Zhu (2238)
Joachin Mouhamad (2293) — Quentin Loiseau (2470)
Jonny Hector (2479) — Baadur Jobava (2705)
Jorden van Foreest (2615) — Markus Ragger (2700)
Jules Moussard (2600) — Raja Panjwani (2444)
Karthik Venkataraman (2470) — Elshan Moradiabadi (2539)
Karthik Venkataraman (2470) — Kushager Krishnater (2308)
Klaus Pohl (2003) — Elshan Moradiabadi (2546)
Komodo (3229) — Stockfish (3243)
Krzysztof Iwaszkiewicz (1768) — Pawel Gierech (1670)
L. R. Srihari (2302) — Aryan Gholami (2541)
Leinier Dominguez (2758) — Andre Diamant (2547)
Leinier Dominguez (2760) — Kaido Kulaots (2560)
Levon Aronian (2772) — Viswanathan Anand (2757)
Levon Aronian (2774) — Arkadij Naiditsch (2702)
Levon Aronian (2780) — Anish Giri (2773)
Levon Aronian (2792) — Anish Giri (2782)
Levon Aronian (2794) — Fabiano Caruana (2784)
Levon Aronian (2799) — Vassily Ivanchuk (2728)
Liren Ding (2759) — Xu Zhihang (2369)
Liren Ding (2766) — Loek van Wely (2640)
Liren Ding (2777) — Anish Giri (2772)
Liren Ding (2805) — Wesley So (2754)
Liren Ding (2809) — Dmitry Jakovenko (2719)
Liren Ding (2809) — Pentala Harikrishna (2723)
Liren Ding (2809) — Richard Rapport (2726)
Liren Ding (2812) — Rauf Mamedov (2701)

597
Loek van Wely (2640) — Magnus Carlsen (2844)
Loek van Wely (2695) — Dmitry Andreikin (2736)
Ludvik Pospisil (2510) — Leonardo Ljubicic (2630)
Luis Jose Gonzaga Grego (2305) — Steffen Giesemann (2328)
Luke McShane (2647) — Niclas Huschenbeth (2596)
Luke McShane (2682) — Fabiano Caruana (2812)
Magnus Carlsen (2832) — Hikaru Nakamura (2786)
Magnus Carlsen (2835) — Viswanathan Anand (2773)
Magnus Carlsen (2840) — Anish Giri (2773)
Magnus Carlsen (2844) — Yifan Hou (2673)
Magnus Carlsen (2855) — Wesley So (2770)
Magnus Carlsen (2872) — Azamat Utegaliev (2502)
Magnus Carlsen (2875) — Liren Ding (2805)
Marc Andria Maurizzi (2404) — F. A. Rakotomaharo (2438)
Mario Guevara (1939) — Ryan Wang (1853)
Mark Biernacki (1881) — Elshan Moradiabadi (2534)
Markus Ragger (2690) — Vitezslav Rasik (2458)
Mateusz Bartel (2634) — Sergey Karjakin (2754)
Max Warmerdam (2480) — David Navara (2734)
Maxim Matlakov (2698) — Shardul Gagare (2481)
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2770) — Irine Kharisma Sukandar (2402)
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2773) — Arkadij Naiditsch (2695)
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2773) — Vincent Keymer (2516)
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2778) — Pentala Harikrishna (2729)
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2780) — Alexei Shirov (2684)
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2789) — Viswanathan Anand (2776)
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2791) — Peter Svidler (2749)
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2803) — Yifan Hou (2649)
Michael Adams (2744) — Pavel Eljanov (2760)
Milad Salar (2247) — Khalil Mousavi (2458)
Milos Perunovic (2628) — Alojzije Jankovic (2549)
Mircea Parligras (2623) — Sergey Karjakin (2760)

598
Morteza Darban (2302) — Elshan Moradiabadi (2303)
N. W. Jefferson — J. D. M. Tymms
Neal Harris (2106) — Elshan Moradiabadi (2541)
Neuris Delgado Ramirez (2634) — Pablo Ismael Acosta (2416)
Nihal Sarin (2618) — Anton Smirnov (2604)
Nikita Petrov (2585) — Dmitrij Jakovenko (2698)
Nitish Belurkar (2302) — Karthik Venkataraman (2480)
Noel Studer (2493) — Peter Leko (2678)
Patrick McCartney (1952) — Sabina Foisor (2331)
Pavel Eljanov (2734) — Aleksandr Lenderman (2565)
Pavel Eljanov (2755) — Radoslaw Wojtaszek (2750)
Pavel Ponkratov (2687) — Johan Christiansen (2492)
Peter Leisebein (2455) — Wolfgang Class (2448)
Peter Leko (2679) — Luke McShane (2667)
Peter Svidler (2735) — Georg Meier (2628)
Philip Leszczynski (1621) — Sepehr Golsefidy
Piotr Nguyen (2413) — Borki Predojevic (2616)
Piotr Piesik (2417) — Sabina Foisor (2274)
Piotr Piesik (2417) — Sabina Foisor (2274)
Polina Shuvalova (2412) — Anna Afonasieva (2312)
Quang Liem Le (2714) — Paulo Bersamina (2444)
Quang Liem Le (2737) — Rauf Mamedov (2709)
Raja Harshit (2447) — Parham Maghsoodloo (2690)
Rasmus Svane (2597) — Benjamin Haldorsen (2455)
Rauf Mamedov (2641) — Sabina Foisor (2212)
Rauf Mamedov (2643) — B. H. Subramaniyam (2402)
Rauf Mamedov (2650) — Vladislav Artemiev (2761)
Rauf Mamedov (2659) — Alexander Huzman (2567)
Ray Robson (2682) — Dariusz Swiercz (2656)
Razvan Preotu (2469) — Gata Kamsky (2638)
Renier Castellanos (2563) — Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2873)
Rhys Cumming (2155) — Sabina Foisor (2326)

599
Rhys Cumming (2155) — Sabina Foisor (2326)
Richard Rapport (2702) — Yi Wei (2706)
Robert Ruck (2551) — Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2752)
Rusudan Goletiani (2311) — Sabina Foisor (2235)
S. P. Sethuraman (2638) — Vladislav Artemiev (2731)
Sabina Foisor (2202) — Nico Zwirs (2346)
Sabina Foisor (2202) — Thomas Beerdsen (2317)
Sabina Foisor (2235) — Alisa Melekhina (2235)
Sabina Foisor (2258) — Ashritha Eswaran (2225)
Sabina Foisor (2258) — Olga Zimina (2364)
Sabina Foisor (2264) — Antoaneta Stefanova (2490)
Sabina Foisor (2264) — Irina Bulmaga (2386)
Sabina Foisor (2272) — Anna Zatonskih (2451)
Sabina Foisor (2273) — Sanan Sjugirov (2623)
Sabina Foisor (2276) — Annie Wang (2304)
Sabina Foisor (2276) — Ayah Moaataz (2036)
Sabina Foisor (2276) — Irina Krush (2451)
Sabina Foisor (2286) — Jeffery Xiong (2476)
Sabina Foisor (2301) — Thalia Cervantes (2087)
Sabina Foisor (2308) — Akshita Gorti (2252)
Sabina Foisor (2308) — Anna Sharevich (2281)
Sabina Foisor (2308) — Rusudan Goletiani (2306)
Sabina Foisor (2326) — Christian Valette (2022)
Sabina Foisor (2369) — Annie Wang (2295)
Samuel Sevian (2600) — Keaton Kiewra (2426)
Samuel Sevian (2613) — Peter Prohaszka (2613)
Samuel Sevian (2657) — Hovhannes Gabuzyan (2616)
Sandhya Goli (2021) — Sabina Foisor (2301)
Sayed Javad Alavi (2467) — Maziar Bagheri (2283)
Sergei Azarov (2575) — Fabiano Caruana (2828)
Sergei Azarov (2586) — Elshan Moradiabadi (2552)
Sergei Yudin (2508) — AL Muthaiah (2367)

600
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2747) — Fabiano Caruana (2787)
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2747) — Yifan Hou (2673)
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2767) — Sebastian Bogner (2571)
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2770) — Leandro Krysa (2522)
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2772) — Sergey Karjakin (2754)
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2774) — Levon Aronian (2752)
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2801) — Magnus Carlsen (2842)
Spartak Grigorian (2352) — Arkadij Naiditsch (2702)
Stepan Zilka (2536) — Jakub Rabatin (2303)
Surya Ganguly (2636) — Nodirbek Abdusattorov (2635)
Tamir Nabaty (2678) — Maxim Rodshtein (2685)
Tansel Turgut (2506) — Gino Franco Figlio (2462)
Tao Pang (2367) — Nikita Afanasiev (2516)
Thomas Beerdsen (2317) — Elshan Moradiabadi (2567)
Tigran Harutyunian (2540) — Mikhail Bryakin (2428)
Timur Gareyev (2620) — Olivier Kenta Chiku Ratte (2332)
Tingjie Lei (2477) — Sabina Foisor (2276)
Tomasz Markowski (2546) — Jan Miesbauer (2390)
Valentin Dragnev (2550) — Maxim Rodshtein (2684)
Vassily Ivanchuk (2690) — Ori Kochavi (2259)
Vassily Ivanchuk (2690) — R. Praggnanandhaa (2586)
Vassily Ivanchuk (2728) — Anish Giri (2772)
Veselin Topalov (2738) — Fabien Libiszewski (2522)
Veselin Topalov (2740) — Liren Ding (2812)
Vidit Gujrathi (2718) — Robert Hovhannisyan (2639)
Vidit Santosh Gujrathi (2693) — Alexander Areshchenko (2652)
Viswanathan Anand (2757) — Anish Giri (2776)
Viswanathan Anand (2757) — Thomas Beerdsen (2468)
Viswanathan Anand (2759) — Sergey Karjakin (2782)
Viswanathan Anand (2759) — Vladimir Kramnik (2792)
Viswanathan Anand (2767) — Fabiano Caruana (2811)
Viswanathan Anand (2768) — Alexander Grischuk (2766)

601
Viswanathan Anand (2768) — Hikaru Nakamura (2777)
Viswanathan Anand (2773) — Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2817)
Viswanathan Anand (2774) — Georg Meier (2628)
Viswanathan Anand (2776) — Alexander Grischuk (2767)
Viswanathan Anand (2776) — Erwin L’Ami (2605)
Viswanathan Anand (2776) — Hikaru Nakamura (2787)
Viswanathan Anand (2776) — Robert Ruck (2566)
Viswanathan Anand (2776) — Robert Ruck (2566)
Viswanathan Anand (2779) — Anish Giri (2797)
Viswanathan Anand (2782) — Alexander Grischuk (2772)
Viswanathan Anand (2782) — Anton Demchenko (2660)
Viswanathan Anand (2782) — Vladislav Kovalev (2639)
Viswanathan Anand (2783) — David Navara (2737)
Viswanathan Anand (2783) — Fabiano Caruana (2807)
Viswanathan Anand (2783) — Ian Nepomniachtchi (2742)
Viswanathan Anand (2786) — Wesley So (2812)
Viswanathan Anand (2794) — Marc Esserman (2453)
Viswanathan Anand (2794) — S. P. Sethuraman (2617)
Viswanathan Anand (2794) — S. P. Sethuraman (2617)
Viswanathan Anand (2794) — Yifan Hou (2670)
Vitaliy Bernadskiy (2593) — Petr Golubka (2479)
Vladimir Fedoseev (2680) — Alexandr Predke (2632)
Vladimir Fedoseev (2703) — Ali Frhat (2402)
Vladimir Fedoseev (2724) — Vladimir Kramnik (2777)
Vladimir Kramnik (2812) — Viswanathan Anand (2770)
Vladislav Artemiev (2731) — Anish Giri (2776)
Wesley So (2760) — Quang Liem Le (2713)
Wesley So (2770) — Hikaru Nakamura (2787)
Wesley So (2770) — Hikaru Nakamura (2787)
Winston Darwin Cu Hor (2307) — Sinisa Drazic (2371)
Yuriy Kuzubov (2655) — Eric Hansen (2629)
Zbynek Hracek (2583) — Stefan Bromberger (2482)

602
Zhongyi Tan (2522) — Wenjun Ju (2571)

603
Table of Contents
TITLE PAGE 4
KEY TO SYMBOLS 6
FOREWORD 7
INTRODUCTION 9
a. Introduction to the Art of Understanding “One’s Thinking Process” in
11
Chess
b. Exercises 35
Exercises 26-50 65
Exercises 51-75 102
Exercises 76-100 135
Exercises 101-125 172
Exercises 126-150 209
c. Concluding Thoughts 246
a. Introduction to a Few Endgame Themes 248
Exercises 1-20 310
Exercises 41-60 348
Exercises 61-80 379
Exercises 81-100 413
Exercises 101-120 448
a. Introduction to Complex Positions 483
Exercises 1-21 548
GAMES INDEX 593

604