Benko’s Bafflers
Most of the time these studies resemble positions that could actu- ally occur over-the-board. Youmust simply reach a theoretically won or drawn position for White. Solutions can be found on page
79. Please e-mail submissions for Benko’s Bafflers to:
pbenko@uschess.org
Problem I Richard Becker, 2007
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+ + + + P+P+ + + +r+ + + +p+ N + k K + +
White to play and win Since there is no way to break into the
Black camp, White intends to open files for his rook.
34. ... h5 35. g4 hxg4? Black, obviously in time-pressure, sim-
ply helps White achieve his goal. 35. ... fxg4 36. fxg4 Rb7 37. Rf1 Rf7 could have kept equality.
36. hxg4 fxg4 37. fxg4 Rd8? Better is 37. ... Be7.
38. Rb1
The expected 38. Rh1 could have been answered by 38. ... Bd4, but now that move would be answered with 39. Rb4!, keeping the weak pawn under pressure.
38. ... Kd7? Somewhat better is 38. ... Ke7, but
there are problems after either 39. Rb7+ Rd7 40. Rb8! or 39. g5.
39. Rb7+ Kd6 40. Rg7 Rh8 41. Rxg6 Rh2 White has won a pawn, but Black has
generated some activity in return. It is not yet over.
42. Kd2 Rh3 43. Rg8 Rg3 44. Kc2
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After 44. Kc2
44. ... Be3?? This natural move loses the game.
Black did not repeat moves with 44. ... Rg2 lest 45. g5 comes, but there was another alternative he missed: 44. ... e5
uschess.org + + +R+
and after either 45. g5 Bd4 or 45. Rg6+ Kd7 46. Bxe5 Re3, Black obtains some measure of counterplay.
45. Rd8+ Ke7 46. Rd3! This pin forces the easily-winning,
bishop ending for White.
46. ... Bf4 47. Bb4+ Kf6 48. Rxg3 Bxg3 49. Kb2!
That’s it! The passed a-pawn means Kamsky repeats as U.S. champion.
49. ... Kg5 50. Ka3 Kxg4 51. Kxa4 Bf2 52. c5 Kf4 53. Ka5 Ke3 54. Kb6 Kxe2 55. Kxc6 Kd3 56. Kb5 Kd4 57. a4 Kd5, Black resigned.
The most successful next-generation
player is GM Robert Hess. The former pupil has gradually reached the level of his teachers.
King Misteps GM Alexander Onischuk (2751) GM Robert L. Hess (2665)
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White to play Black, with a well-placed, active rook,
is better, but this normally should not be enough to win.
46. Kf3 The first move towards a wrong plan.
The king was best placed on e3 to be ready to play Kd4, then Ke5, in case of ... Ra3+. Thus 46. h3 is better.
46. ... Kg6 47. Rd5 + + + + + + + +
Problem II Richard Becker and C. Bill Jones, 2007
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+ + n +p + + + + +N+ +nR White to play and win
White offers a pawn in hopes of active
counterplay, but this was not yet urgent. 47. Ke3 was a better defensive alternative.
47. ... Ra3+ 48. Kg2 a4 Keeps the white king back for the time
being.
49. Ra5 Kh5 50. h3 Rxa2+ 51. Kg3 Ra3+ 52. Kf2
Also playable was 52. Kg2 Kh4 53.
Rxf5. 52. ... Rxh3 53. Rxa4 Kg4
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After 53. ... Kg4
54. Kg2?? The crucial mistake. 54. Ra6! h5 55.
Rg6+ Kxf4 56. Kg2! leads to a theoretical draw, though in practice it would not be easy to hold.
54. ... Rb3 55. Ra2 White realizes the danger, but too late.
After 55. Kf2, Black would win with 55. ... h5 56. Ra8 h4 57. Rg8+ Kxf4 would win.
55. ... h5! But not 55. ... Kxf4? because either
56. Ra4+ or 56. Ra8 is still a draw. 56. Ra8 Rb2+ 57. Kg1 When the king is pinned down on the
first rank there is no more hope.
57. ... h4 58. Rg8+ Kxf4 59. Rh8 Kf3 60. Kh1 f4 61. Ra8 Kf2 62. Kh2 f3,White resigned.
Chess Life — July 2011 . 55 + + + +
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