King and pawn endings is one aspect of chess which needs plenty of home studies and practice.
It is also a part where precise calculations are needed as the difference between a victory and draw can just be an innocuous looking move!
Also in these endings, the position of the King with respect to his pawns and his opponent’s pawns plays a crucial role.
In the game which follows, it is interesting to see the end-part where White fixes up his opponent’s pawn on the queenside and ensures victory for him, courtesy a better placed King.
White: Alexander Onischuk (2610) – Black: Tong Yuanming (2505)
Tan Chin Nam Beijing ,1998
The Ruy-Lopez
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5
The Ruy-Lopez or the Spanish Opening which for centuries has remained one of the most popular Openings in chess
3. .. a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 Nxe4
Black decides to accept the centre pawn. He also had the option of playing 5. ..d6
6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 9.Nbd2 Nc5 10.c3 Be7 11.Bc2 d4
Instead of advancing this pawn, Black could have castled also.
12.cxd4
If 12.Nb3 d3 13.Bb1 Nxb3 14.axb3 Bf5 15.Be3 0–0
12...Nxd4 13.Nxd4 Qxd4 14.Nf3 Qxd1
Black exchanges off the queens. He had the option of retreating to 14. . ..Qd7 15.Bg5 h6 16.Qxd7+ Nxd7 17.Bxe7 Kxe7
15.Rxd1 Bg4
If 15...0–0 16.Nd4 Rfd8 17.Be3 Bd5 18.Rac1 Ne6 19.Nxe6 fxe6 20.Bb3 Bxb3 21.axb3 Rxd1+ 22.Rxd1 Rd8 23.Rxd8+ Bxd8
16.h3
If 16.b4 Nd7 17.Bb2 Rd8 18.a3 0–0 19.Rd2 Bxf3 20.gxf3 Nxe5 21.Re2 Nxf3+
16...Bxf3
The Ruy-Lopez is one of the most analyzed Opening and till now both players have played moves which were previously played. Now Black makes a new move which does not appear like a good idea. If 16...Bh5 17.b4 Ne6 18.Be4 Rd8 19.Rxd8+ Nxd8
17.gxf3 g5 18.f4 gxf4
He can also play 18. ..h6
19.Bxf4 Rd8 20.Rxd8+
The exchange of rooks works better for White
20. ..Kxd8 21.Rd1+ Kc8 22.Be3 Ne6 23.f4 Bc5
Now inviting the exchange of bishop. But this may not help as White has two connected pawns in the centre and his other bishop also looks promising
24.Kf2
White can also play 24.Bxc5 Nxc5 25.Kf2
24...Bxe3+ 25.Kxe3 Rg8! 26.Kf3
If 26.f5 Nc5 27.b4 (27.f6 Rg5 28.Kf4 Ne6 And if 27.Rd5 Nd7 28.f6 c6) 27...Nd7
26...h5 27.Bf5
White is in a commanding position now
27...Rd8
A mistake! But then the position is already bad for Black. If 27...h4 28.Bg4
28.Rxd8+ Kxd8 29.Bxe6
With a better pawn structure, White exchanges the last remaining piece to get a winning position
29. ..fxe6
Diagram 1
30.b4
A very important move which blocks Black’s pawns from any advance.
Here the White King is also better positioned, leaving no counter-play for Black.
It is interesting to note a variation here with 30.Kg3 c5 31.Kh4 c4; 30.b4 Kd7 31.Ke4 c5 32.bxc5 Kc6 33.f5 exf5+ 34.Kxf5 b4 35.e6 a5 36.e7 Kd7 37.Kf6 Ke8 38.c6 a4 39.c7.
1–0
Black decides to resign rather than prolong the agony.
Diagram 2
White to Play and checkmate
1.Ng3 Nxc7 2.Ng6 checkmate.