Endgame Lesson by FM Michael Kleinman
Endgame Lesson by FM Michael Kleinman
Hello! My name is Michael Kleinman, and I decided to make this column focus on the practical applications of theoretical rook endgames. To start off, I will show you two theoretical endgame positions, and then I will pose a difficult problem (which occurred in one of my recent games) that applies the knowledge of both theoretical positions. I hope you enjoy this column!
Little warm-up : White to play. Is it a draw? (Note : these two exercises will be useful to understand the analyzed endgame.)
Spoiler: Highlight to viewThis position is critical for players of all strength to understand fully. It is the slightly more challenging (though it should be memorized/understood entirely) version of the Philidor's position. Sometimes, the basic version of the Philidor's position cannot be achieved, and this position arises. 1.Kg1! This move is critical. The king NEEDS to go to the short side, so that the rook is able to give checks from the longer side. [1.Ke1 Let's see what happens if the king goes to the long side. Never, ever, do this. Though, it is important to know in case you are on the Black side of the pieces. 1...Ra1+ 2.Kd2 Rf1! 3.Rf8 (3.Rh7 Kf2 4.Rh2+ Kg3–+ and there aren't enough squares, which is why the rook needs to be on the LONG side.) 3...Kg2 4.Rg8+ Kf2–+ with a theoretical win, which may be explained in a later post, or can be seen in endgame manuals.] 1...Ra1+ 2.Kh2 Rf1 After this winning try, we see why the king needed to go to the short side. There needs to be enough separation between the opponent`s king, and the checking rook. 3.Ra7 Ke2 [3...Re1 The side can attempt to confuse the defending player, however we can return to the standard position. 4.Rf7 Re2+ (4...Re4 Another try, Black is trying to protect his pawn from the side in order to advance it. However, it is not too worrisome as long as we simply wait. 5.Rf8 Ke3 6.Kg2 Re7 7.Rf6 Rg7+ 8.Kf1 Kf3 9.Rf8 Ra7 10.Kg1 And again we go to the short side, returning to the starting position.) 5.Kg1 Ra2 6.Rf8= And we have returned to the starting position] 4.Ra2+ Kd3 5.Ra3+ Kd2 6.Kg2=
White to play. Is it a draw?
Spoiler: Highlight to viewThis position is winning for Black, since the white king, although well placed protecting the first rank, is three files between the Black rook and pawn. To draw, it needs to be two files away, and you will see why. 1.Rg6 Ra7 heading for g1 2.Kd2 Ra1 3.Ke2 Rg1 4.Rh6 Kg2 5.Rg6+ Kh3–+ And the king escapes. However, if the king were only two files away, the white king would have made it to f2, and the Black king would be unable to escape. Line
Kleinman-Izoria endgame
[Kleinman,M]
This was a position from my game against GM Izoria from the recently concluded Chicago Open. It's not ideal, but I had seen that it would be enough to make a draw armed with the knowledge of the above theoretical positions and precise calculation. Find the correct move (as well as the critical idea), and calculate all variations, as if you were playing the game. Note that this is a difficult position.
1.Kf2 Rf3+ the critical try [1...Rxg3 makes my task simpler 2.hxg5 fxg5 3.Rxg5+ Kxg5 4.Kxg3; 1...Ra2+ 2.Ke3 Kxg3 3.hxg5=] 2.Ke2 Rxg3 3.e5! My drawing idea 3...fxe5 [3...Kxh4?? 4.exf6= Black can probably still draw by checking with the rook.] 4.Rxg5+ Kf4 [4...Kxh4 5.Rxe5 where the king is so close that the draw is obvious. 5...Kg4 6.Kf2 h4 7.Re4+ Kh3 8.Ra4=] 5.Rxh5 Rg2+ 6.Kf1 Ra2 7.Rh8 e4 8.Rf8+ Ke3 9.Re8= And the Phillidor position #2 occured, with my king on the short side (as well as an extra pawn on h4) Spoiler: Highlight to view
