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 WIN
The position is complicated. White is attacking for the sacrificed piece.
21. ... Rac8?! Rather than undertaking further defen-
sive roles (though 21. ... Qf4! 22. Rh5 Ng8! seems to be working), he starts trades that lead to a slightly superior endgame.
22. e5 Bxe5 23. Nxe5 Rxc5 24. Ng6+ Nxg6 25. dxc5 Be4! 26. Rxd6 Bxc2 27. Bxg6 Bxg6
61. Kf7
This is the only possibility of creating some winning chances. 61. ... b1=Q 62. Bxb1 Kxd7 63. Ba2 Kd6! The only way to draw is to maneuver the
king behind the passed pawns. 63. ... Kd8 would lose after 64. Bc4 (but not 64. Kg6 Ke8 65. g5 Kf8 66. Kh6 Bxg5+ and Black draws with ease) 64. ... Kd7 65. Bb3! Kd8 66. Ba4 wins.
64. Kg6 Ke5! 65. Kh5 Be7! 66. g5 Kf4 67. h4 Kg3 68. Bc4 Bf8! 69. Be2 Bg7 70. Bc4 Bf8 71. g6 Kf4 72. Ba2 Bg7, Draw agreed
Black found the “only” moves to draw from the last diagram.
The wrong-corner bishop GM Levon Aronian (FIDE 2809, ARM) GM Vladimir Kramnik (FIDE 2810, RUS) FIDE Candidates, 2013
41. ... Kf8! Thus 41. ... Ke7 42. Kg6! Bxg4 43. Kxg7
Kd7 44. h6 Bf5 45. Kf6 Bb1 46. Ke5 Kxc7 47. Kd4 followed by c4 draws by exploit- ing the opportunity of the wrong-corner- color bishop.
42. Kf4 Ke7 43. g5 Kd7 44. Ke5 Bg8 45. c8=Q+ Kxc8 46. Kd6
Again the thematic 46. Kf5 Bb3 47. Kg6
28. Rxe6 White has two pawns and an active rook
for his piece, giving him drawing chances. Interesting is 28. b4!?.
28. ... Bd3 29. h4 a5 Again, interesting is 29. ... b4!?.
30. c6? A premature advance as there are no
real reinforcements. Either 30. Re3 or 30. Rd6 were better.
30. ... Rf1+ Simpler and better was 30. ... Rc8!
31. Kh2 Rc1 32. Re3! Bb1 33. Rc3 Rxc3 34. bxc3
The bishop ending means relief for
White. 34. ... Kg8 35. c7 Bf5 36. Kg3 Kf7 37. Kf4 Bc8 There is nothing better.
38. Kg5 Bd7 39. h5 Be6 40. g3 a4 41. g4
Bd1 48. h6 gxh6 49. gxh6 Kd7 50. Kf6 Bc2 51. Ke5 followed by Kd4 and c4 could have assured the draw.
46. ... Kd8 47. Kc6 Ke7 48. Kxb5 Ke6 49. Kxa4 Kf5 50. g6?
A miscalculation! 50. h6! g6 draws after
51. Kb5 Kxg5 52. a4 Kxh6 53. a5 Bd5 (or 53. ... g5 should draw also) 54. c4 since the black king cannot get back in time.
50. ... Kg5 51. Kb5 Kxh5 52. a4 Kxg6 53. a5 Kf6 54. a6
Neither does 54. c4 help since after 54.
... Ke5 55. a6 Kd4 56. c5 Bc4+ 57. Kb6 Bxa6 Black wins.
54. ... Bd5 55. c4 Ba8 56. Kb6 Ke5 57. Kc7 g5 58. Kb8 Be4 59. Kc7 g4 60. a7 g3 61. c5 Ba8 62. Kb8 Bc6, White resigned.
There is much to be regretted about
missed draws, even more so when you are fighting for a chance to play the world champion.
Return your USCF ballot by July 23 for the 2013 executive board election!
www.uschess.org 45 WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN
Problem I: Pal Benko Blitz, 1997
Problem II: Pal Benko Magyar Sakkelet, 1990
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