Endgame Lab/ Instruction
Transition
Making the move from the middlegame to the endgame. By GM PAL BENKO
THE DECISION TO MAKE THE TRANSI- tion from the middlegame to the endgame is a decisive choice in most cases. It may be done to escape from an inferior position or to preserve an advantage. What follows are examples from the Candidates’ tourna- ment held in late March (and covered in last month’s issue of Chess Life). Let’s take a look at how top players make the best of the opportunities given them, including times when there are opposite-color bishops (but where extra pawns and sometimes even an extra piece are not enough to win).
Active counterplay
GM Vladimir Kramnik (FIDE 2810, RUS) GM Magnus Carlsen (FIDE 2872, NOR) FIDE Candidates, 2013
A surprise. A better transition chance to
the endgame was 25. Qd4 (but not 25. Qxc7? because of 25. ... Rc8!), but the win is still not assured.
25. ... Nd5! 26. Nxd5 Bxd5 27. Qxc7 The first point is that after 27. Rxd5
Qe1+ 28. Kg2 Qxe2+ 29. Qf2 Rxe5, all is equal. The other is:
27. ... Qc4! 28. a3 All of the following draw, just like in
the actual game. Another likely line is 28. Qd6 Qxe2 (28. ... Bb7) 29. Qxd5 (29. Rxd5 Qe1+ 30. Kg2 Qe2+ 31. Kh3 Qxf3 is equal) 29. ... Rxe5 30. Qd3+ Qxd3 31. Rxd3 Re2.
28. ... f6 29. Qxc4 Bxc4 30. Bc3 Rxe2 31. Rd4 Bb5 32. Bb4 Re3 33. Kf2 Re2+ 34. Kg1 Re3 35. f4 Re2 36. Rd6 Rc2 37. g4 Bc6 38. Bd2 Bf3 39. h3 Ra2 40. Bb4 Rg2+ 41. Kf1 Rh2, Draw agreed.
Two pawns down
GM Vladimir Kramnik (FIDE 2810, RUS) GM Levon Aronian (FIDE 2809, ARM) FIDE Candidates, 2013
41. Ke3 The question is whether White could
22. Ra4
Carlsen seems to be in trouble as he is tied to defending the a7-pawn.
22. … Re8! But no—Carlsen recognized that 22. ...
Ra8 would be met by a strong strike on the other side with 23. Bxh6! gxh6 24. Rh4 Qf8 and then 25. Ne4 takes advantage of the undefended b7-rook when 25. ... Ng8 26. Ng5+ gives White a winning attack.
23. Rxa7 Rxa7 24. Qxa7 Qb4
Black finds a way to activate his pawn, causing White difficulties. 25. Be5
44 July 2013 | Chess Life White is at a crossroads. He can attack
with 24. Rxc8 Rxc8 25. Qxf5; this is prom- ising but rather complicated. Kramnik decided to transition into the ending even though he is a pawn down (but with a slight advantage), more suiting his style.
24. Qxd5 Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Qxd5 26. Bxd5 Ra5 27. Bf3 Ra3 28. Rc8
win after 41. d8=Q+ Bxd8 42. Bxd8 b1=Q, so he further refined his plan with an intended knight capture. But there lurks a surprise!
41. ... f6!
Black sacrifices another pawn so as to achieve opposite-color bishops, ensuring a draw.
42. Bxf6 Nd5+ 43. Kd4 Nxf6 44. exf6 Kf7 45. Bxh7 Kxf6 46. Kd5 Ke7 47. Kc6 Kd8 48. g4 Be1 49. h3 Bh4 50. Kd6 Be7+ 51. Ke6 Bh4 52. Bb1 Kc7 53. Be4 Kd8 54. Bc2 Kc7 55. Bb1 Kd8 56. Be4 Kc7 57. Bd3 Kd8 58. Kd6 Be7+ 59. Ke6 Bh4 60. Bf5 Kc7
(see diagram next page)
A sharp path that trusts in the passed
pawn but that underestimates the doubled b-pawns.
28. ... Rxb3 29. Kf2 Rc3 30. Rb8 b3 31. Rxb6 g5
Equal is 31. ... Rc2+ 32. Be2 b2.
32. Rb8 Also equal is 32. Bd1 f4 33. gxf4 gxf4 34.
Bxf4 Rd3. However, 32. d5? allows 32. ... Rxe3!.
32. ... Rc4 33. d5 Rb4 34. Rxb4 Bxb4 35. Bd1 b2 36. Bc2 Nb7 37. Bxg5 Nc5 38. Bxf5 Na4 39. d6 Nc3 40. d7 Ba5
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