Endgame Lab Saint LouisEndings
Gata Kamsky’s superior endgame techniquewas a crucial factor in his championship run. By GMPal Benko
Undefeated during the course of the
2011 U.S. Championship, GMGata Kam- sky repeated as champion. A deciding factor in his favor was his ability to take advantage of his opponents’ mistakes using his finely-honed, world-class endgame technique. However, as will become apparent,most of the field did not share his winning ways.
Minority attack
Caro-Kann Defense (B12) IM Daniel Naroditsky (2530) GM Gata Kamsky (2808)
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nd2 e6 5. Nb3 Nd7 6. Nf3 Ne7 7. Be2 h6 8. c3 Bh7 9. h4 a6 10. Bf4 Rc8 11. h5 c5 12. Nxc5 Nxc5 13. dxc5 Rxc5 14. Nd4 Rc8 15. Qa4+
Strategically, it is not prudent forWhite
to play for an endgame against the Caro- Kann
defense.More advisable is either 15. Qb3 or 15. 0-0.
15. ... Qd7 16. Qxd7+ Kxd7 17. Kd2 Nc6 18. Nxc6 Rxc6 19. Be3 Be7
+ + + r +p+klppl p+r+p+ p + +pP +P + + + +
+ P L + PP KLPP+ R + + +R
After 19. ... Be7 20. Bd3
Another trade that simply helps Black
build up a queenside initiative. Either 20. a4 or 20. b4 were better as preventive moves.
20. ... Bxd3 21. Kxd3 Rhc8 22. Rh3 Ke8 23. 54 Chess Life — July 2011
Bd4 b5! Black’sminority attack has started. In
case of 23. ... Bc5, 24. b3 would hold. 24. a3 Too
passive.More resistance is offered
by 24. b4.
24. ... a5 25. Rg3 Kf8 26. f4 Bc5 27. Bxc5+ Rxc5 28. Rf1
+ + +pp + +p+ p pprpP +P + + P +
P PK+ R P + +P+ + + +R+
After 28. Rf1 A playable alternative was 28. Rf3.
28. ... b4! This is the classical breakthrough Black
has to play for in this opening. After this, White’s defense becomes increasingly dif- ficult.
29. axb4 axb4 30. Kd2 d4 31. Rc1? Again, rather passive. Instead, 31. cxb4!
Rc2+ 32. Kd3 Rxb2 33. Ke4! Rxb4 34. Rd3 could have created practical drawing chances.
31. ... Rc4 32. Rf3 dxc3+ 33. bxc3 Rd8+ A check that causes White trouble.
Other alternatives, like the simple 33. ... Ke7 or the unpleasant 33. ... b3, would have also been effective.
34. Ke2? This loses a pawn. After 34. Kc2 Rdc8
35. Kb3, White, although confined and pinned, could have reached a defensible position.
+r+ k +
34. ... Re4+ 35. Kf1 Rc8 36. g3 Rec4 37. Ke2 bxc3 38. Rc2 f6 39. Re3 Kf7 40. Kf3 R8c5 41. exf6
Yielding Black another passed pawn. He
could have made life more difficult for Kamsky with 41. Kf2 fxe5 42. fxe5.
41. ... gxf6 42. Rd3 Ke7 43. Re3 e5 44. fxe5 fxe5 45. g4
The White position is now hopeless.
There is no way to stop the black king’s breakthrough.
45. ... Kf6 46. Kg3 Kg5 47. Kh3 Kf4 48. Re1 e4 49. Rf2+ Ke5 50. Rf5+ Kd4 51. Rf4 Kd3 52. Rd1+ Kc2 53. Rff1 e3 54. Rc1+ Kd3 55. Rfd1+ Ke4 56. Kg3 c2 57. Rd8 Rd4,White resigned.
Only Kamsky played according to the dictates of this opening.
The next endgame was the only loss for former champion GM Yury Shulman.
Something from nothing GM Gata Kamsky (2806) GM Yury Shulman (2699)
+ + + +p +p+p+p+
+ l +p+ p+P+ + + + L +PP P+K+P+ P + +R+ +
White to play It is hard to play the waiting game
when there has been no hint of an oppor- tunity for active play for quite some time. This endgame seems balanced, but for Black there is nothing to do while White has the option to create several threats.
34. h3!
uschess.org r +k+ +
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