Endgame Lab/ Instruction Benko’s Bafflers
Most of the time these studies resemble positions that could actually occur over the board. You must simply reach a theoretically won or drawn position for White. Solutions can be found on page 71.
Please e-mail submissions for Benko’s
Bafflers to:
pbenko@uschess.org
WHITE TO PLAY AND DRAW WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN
Problem I: A. Gunter, ChessBase 25 JT, I Prize, 2012
Problem II: A. Gunter, ChessBase 25 JT,
III.Prize, 2012
back is that it weakens the g5-square. 11. Rd1 Be7 12. Ne4 Bd7 13. b3 h4
This blockades the kingside, but the pawn may later become a weakness.
14. Bg5 Rd8 15. c4 b6 16. Rd2 Bc8 17. Rxd8+ Kxd8 18. Rd1+ Ke8 19. Bf4!
Though 19. Bxe7 would eliminate the
bishop pair, it allows the black rook to enter the fray.
19. ... c5
Underestimating White’s response. Now the queenside pawns are in danger.
20. e6! Bxe6 21. Bxc7 f6?
There is no time for this. 21. ... Rh6 was needed.
22. Bb8 a6 23. Ba7
Judit told me she can’t explain why she did not play the simpler 23. Bc7. Then after 23. ... b5 24. cxb5 axb5 25. Nxc5! could have been played.
23. ... Bd8 24. Nc3 Kf7
Gives up defending the b-pawn but 24. ... Ne7 25. Na4 Nc8 26. Bxb6 Bxb6 27. Nxb6 Nxb6 28. Rd6 Bc8 29. Rxb6 Kd7 was, relatively, the best defense.
25. Na4 b5 26. Nxc5 Bc8 27. cxb5 axb5 28. a4 bxa4 29. bxa4 Re8
towards promotion is not easy.
30. ... g5 31. Bb6 Be7 32. a5 Bxc5 33. Bxc5 Re6 34. Rb6 Ng7 35. Be3 Nf5 Possibly 35. ... Rxb6 36. axb6. 36. Rb8 Re8 37. Ra8 Bb7 Or 37. ... Nxe3.
38. Ra7 Re7 39. Bc5 Rd7 40. a6 Bc6 41. Rxd7+ Bxd7 42. Nd2 Ke6 43. Nc4 Bc6
The try 43. ... Kd5 44. Nb6+ Kxc5 45. Nxd7+ Kc6 46. Nxf6 was equally hopeless.
44. Nb6 Nd6 45. Bxd6 Kxd6 46. a7 Kc7 47. a8=Q Bxa8 48. Nxa8+ Kb7 49. f4!, Black resigned.
Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense (C67) GM Gata Kamsky (2821) GM Varuzhan Akobian (2710) 2012 U.S. Championship
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. 0-0 Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Rd1+
Presumably the goal of this immediate check is to avoid a later ... Kc8.
9. ... Ke8 10. Nc3 h6
A cautious move designed to keep the g5-square under control.
11. b3 Ne7 12. h3 Ng6 13. Ne2 a5 14. a4 Be6 15. Bb2 Bc5 16. Nd2 Rd8 17. Ne4 Rxd1+ 18. Rxd1 Be7 19. f3 h5
Activation of the h8-rook is often prob- lematic and sometimes only possible with ... Rh6 or ... Rh5.
20. Kf2 Bd5 21. N4g3 Bc5+ 22. Bd4 Bf8 23. c4 Be6 24. Ne4 b6 25. Bc3 c5 26. Bb2!
At last White sees a way to hit Black by aiming to control the b5 or d5 squares.
26. ... Be7 27. N2c3 c6 30. Rb1 White has won a pawn but pushing it
If 27. ... Nxe5, then 28. Nb5 comes. 27. ... Bd8 looks passive.
40. Ke3
White still has the structural advan- tage due to the scattered black pawns and the white pieces’ superior mobility. Black accordingly begins a reorginization of his pieces.
40. ... Rg6 41. Kf2 Rg8 42. Ne4 Nh7 43. Kf1! Rg6 44. Re2 Nf8
Black is again in a difficult situation. Also, 44. ... Kd7 45. Bxa5! f5 46. Bxb6 (46. Nf2?!) 46. ... fxe4 47. Rxe4 with an advan- tage that does not look promising for Akobian.
45. f4 Nd7 46. Be1 Rh6 47. f5 Bf7 48. Bd2 Rh8 49. Nxf6+ Kd8 50. Bg5, Black resigned.
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28. Nd6+ Kf8 29. Nce4 h4 30. Nb7 Ke8 Possibly 30. ... Rh5. 31. Nf6+
Nice, but this gives Black some (tempo- rary) relief. 31. Ke3 followed by f3-f4 could have increased the pressure.
31. ... gxf6 32. exf6 Rg8? 33. Ke3 Nf8 34. Rd2 Nd7 35. fxe7 Kxe7 36. Nd6 f6 37. Kf4 Nf8 38. Bc3 Ng6+ 39. Ke4 Nf8
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