<p>The endings in chess require intensive study or homework as more often it is technique which plays the important role in the eventual result. The ending with one rook each is pretty complicated as even the slightest inaccuracy can lead to either a draw or loss.<br /><br />In the game which follows the players reach an ending with a rook each and here Black with precise technique cuts off the White King from getting into action. Black has a couple of passed pawns on the queen side but the White King is forced to stay on the King side and Black gains an easy victory.<br /><br />White: Joel Lautier (2645) – Black: Jan Timman (2635)<br />Moscow , 1994, Nimzo-Indian Defence <br />1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 Ne4 7.Qc2 Nc6 8.e3 e5 <br />Straight out of the Opening theory book<br />9.Nf3 <br />If 9.cxd5 Qxd5 10.Bc4 <br />9...Bf5 <br />If 9...exd4 10.cxd5 Qxd5 11.Bc4 Qf5 12.0–0 dxe3 13.Bd3 exf2+ <br />10.Bd3 <br />If 10.Qb3 Na5<br />10...exd4 11.0–0 <br />If 11.cxd5 Qxd5 12.Nh4 Ne5<br />11...Bg6<br />An interesting decision to retreat the bishop. If 11...dxe3 12.Bxe3 0–0 13.Rad1 <br />12.exd4 0–0 13.b4 <br />White is expanding on the queen side<br />13. ..Re8. If 13...a6 14.c5 Bh5 15.Bxe4 dxe4 16.Qxe4 Re8 17.Qf4 Bxf3 18.Qxf3 Nxd4 19.Qg4 Ne2+ <br />14.c5 a6<br />If 14...Bh5 15.b5 Na5 16.Nd2 Qf6 15.Be3 Bh5<br />15.Bb2 <br />If 15.Be3 Qf6<br />15...Ng5 16.Ne5 Bxd3 17.Qxd3 Qf6 18.Rae1 Rad8 <br />If 18...Nxe5 19.dxe5 Qg6 20.Qxd5 Rad8 21.Qb3 <br />19.Qd1<br />White could keep things on an even level by going in for simplification with 19.Nxc6 Qxc6 20. Bc1 <br />19...Nxe5 20.dxe5 Qf5 21.f4 <br />If 21.Bd4 or 21.f3 then 21...Ne6 <br />21...Ne4 22.Bd4<br />If 22.g4 Qg6 23.f5 Qg5 24.Bc1 Qe7 <br />22...Re6 23.Re3 ; If 23.g4 Rg6 24.h3 h5 and Black gets better <br />23...Rg6 24.Qe1 Rc8 25.Qe2 h5 26.Kh1 Ra8 27.Rd3 b6 28.Be3 If 28.cxb6 cxb6 29.Bb2 Rc8 30.Rxd5 Rc2<br />28...b5 <br />If 28...bxc5 29.Bxc5 <br />29.a4 <br />If 29.Rxd5 Nc3 30.Qd3 Qg4 31.Rd8+ Kh7 (31...Rxd8 32.Qxd8+ Kh7 33.Qd2<br />29...bxa4 30.Ra1 Rb8 31.Rxa4 d4 32.Bxd4 If 32.Rxd4 Nc3 And if 32.Bd2 Nf2+<br />32...Qxf4 33.Rf3<br />White could have maintained equality with 33.Qf3 Qh4<br />33...Qg4 <br />Doubling on the crucial ‘g’ file<br />34.Re3 <br />This does not look like a good move!<br />34. .. Qd7 <br />Black also misses a good move in 34...Nf2+ 35.Qxf2 Qd1+ 36.Re1 (36.Qe1 .Qxa4) 36...Qxa4<br />35.Ra2. If 35.Rxe4 Qxa4 36.e6 Qe8 gives advantage to Black <br />35...Rxb4 36.Rxe4 Rxd4 37.Rxd4 Qxd4 38.Rd2 Qg4 <br />If 38...Qf4 39.Rd8+ Kh7 40.Qxh5+ Rh6 also works for Black <br />39.Qxg4 Rxg4 40.Rd8+ Kh7 41.Rd7 Rc4 42.Kg1 <br />A forced move as the Black rank is vulnerable and Black was threatening checkmate<br />42. ..Rxc5 43.Rxf7 Kg6 44.e6 a5 <br />The race of the pawns to reach the last rank and gain promotion! However Black is distinctly better now!<br />45.Rf8 Re5 46.Ra8 <br />If 46.Rc8 Rxe6 47.Rxc7 Ra6<br />46...Kf6 <br />If 46...Rxe6 47.Rxa5 <br />47.Ra6 g5 48.Kf2 c5<br />Diagram 1<br />Note here that Black has cut off White’s King and he cannot move to the queen side to stop the pawns<br />49.Kf3 <br />If 49.Rxa5 Kxe6<br />49...c4 50.Rc6 a4 <br />If 50...Rxe6 51.Rxc4 Ra6 52.Ra4 Ke5 <br />51.Ra6<br />If 51.Rxc4 Ra5 52.Re4 <br />51...a3 52.g3 <br />If 52.Rxa3 Kxe6 53.Ra8 Kd5<br />52...a2 53.h4 g4+ 54.Kf4 Re2 0–1 <br />Diagram 2<br />Black to play and win<br /> 1... Qxe4 2.Nxe4 Ne2+ 3.Kh2 Nxc3 4.Bxc3 and Black should win.<br /><br /><br /></p>
<p>The endings in chess require intensive study or homework as more often it is technique which plays the important role in the eventual result. The ending with one rook each is pretty complicated as even the slightest inaccuracy can lead to either a draw or loss.<br /><br />In the game which follows the players reach an ending with a rook each and here Black with precise technique cuts off the White King from getting into action. Black has a couple of passed pawns on the queen side but the White King is forced to stay on the King side and Black gains an easy victory.<br /><br />White: Joel Lautier (2645) – Black: Jan Timman (2635)<br />Moscow , 1994, Nimzo-Indian Defence <br />1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 Ne4 7.Qc2 Nc6 8.e3 e5 <br />Straight out of the Opening theory book<br />9.Nf3 <br />If 9.cxd5 Qxd5 10.Bc4 <br />9...Bf5 <br />If 9...exd4 10.cxd5 Qxd5 11.Bc4 Qf5 12.0–0 dxe3 13.Bd3 exf2+ <br />10.Bd3 <br />If 10.Qb3 Na5<br />10...exd4 11.0–0 <br />If 11.cxd5 Qxd5 12.Nh4 Ne5<br />11...Bg6<br />An interesting decision to retreat the bishop. If 11...dxe3 12.Bxe3 0–0 13.Rad1 <br />12.exd4 0–0 13.b4 <br />White is expanding on the queen side<br />13. ..Re8. If 13...a6 14.c5 Bh5 15.Bxe4 dxe4 16.Qxe4 Re8 17.Qf4 Bxf3 18.Qxf3 Nxd4 19.Qg4 Ne2+ <br />14.c5 a6<br />If 14...Bh5 15.b5 Na5 16.Nd2 Qf6 15.Be3 Bh5<br />15.Bb2 <br />If 15.Be3 Qf6<br />15...Ng5 16.Ne5 Bxd3 17.Qxd3 Qf6 18.Rae1 Rad8 <br />If 18...Nxe5 19.dxe5 Qg6 20.Qxd5 Rad8 21.Qb3 <br />19.Qd1<br />White could keep things on an even level by going in for simplification with 19.Nxc6 Qxc6 20. Bc1 <br />19...Nxe5 20.dxe5 Qf5 21.f4 <br />If 21.Bd4 or 21.f3 then 21...Ne6 <br />21...Ne4 22.Bd4<br />If 22.g4 Qg6 23.f5 Qg5 24.Bc1 Qe7 <br />22...Re6 23.Re3 ; If 23.g4 Rg6 24.h3 h5 and Black gets better <br />23...Rg6 24.Qe1 Rc8 25.Qe2 h5 26.Kh1 Ra8 27.Rd3 b6 28.Be3 If 28.cxb6 cxb6 29.Bb2 Rc8 30.Rxd5 Rc2<br />28...b5 <br />If 28...bxc5 29.Bxc5 <br />29.a4 <br />If 29.Rxd5 Nc3 30.Qd3 Qg4 31.Rd8+ Kh7 (31...Rxd8 32.Qxd8+ Kh7 33.Qd2<br />29...bxa4 30.Ra1 Rb8 31.Rxa4 d4 32.Bxd4 If 32.Rxd4 Nc3 And if 32.Bd2 Nf2+<br />32...Qxf4 33.Rf3<br />White could have maintained equality with 33.Qf3 Qh4<br />33...Qg4 <br />Doubling on the crucial ‘g’ file<br />34.Re3 <br />This does not look like a good move!<br />34. .. Qd7 <br />Black also misses a good move in 34...Nf2+ 35.Qxf2 Qd1+ 36.Re1 (36.Qe1 .Qxa4) 36...Qxa4<br />35.Ra2. If 35.Rxe4 Qxa4 36.e6 Qe8 gives advantage to Black <br />35...Rxb4 36.Rxe4 Rxd4 37.Rxd4 Qxd4 38.Rd2 Qg4 <br />If 38...Qf4 39.Rd8+ Kh7 40.Qxh5+ Rh6 also works for Black <br />39.Qxg4 Rxg4 40.Rd8+ Kh7 41.Rd7 Rc4 42.Kg1 <br />A forced move as the Black rank is vulnerable and Black was threatening checkmate<br />42. ..Rxc5 43.Rxf7 Kg6 44.e6 a5 <br />The race of the pawns to reach the last rank and gain promotion! However Black is distinctly better now!<br />45.Rf8 Re5 46.Ra8 <br />If 46.Rc8 Rxe6 47.Rxc7 Ra6<br />46...Kf6 <br />If 46...Rxe6 47.Rxa5 <br />47.Ra6 g5 48.Kf2 c5<br />Diagram 1<br />Note here that Black has cut off White’s King and he cannot move to the queen side to stop the pawns<br />49.Kf3 <br />If 49.Rxa5 Kxe6<br />49...c4 50.Rc6 a4 <br />If 50...Rxe6 51.Rxc4 Ra6 52.Ra4 Ke5 <br />51.Ra6<br />If 51.Rxc4 Ra5 52.Re4 <br />51...a3 52.g3 <br />If 52.Rxa3 Kxe6 53.Ra8 Kd5<br />52...a2 53.h4 g4+ 54.Kf4 Re2 0–1 <br />Diagram 2<br />Black to play and win<br /> 1... Qxe4 2.Nxe4 Ne2+ 3.Kh2 Nxc3 4.Bxc3 and Black should win.<br /><br /><br /></p>
