Position of King crucial in end game

Chess Checks

The end game in chess, where almost all the pieces are exchanged, can be decided by the position of the King. If the King is well advanced or placed at the centre or in the opponent’s territory, then the game is well and truly won. At such times a player has the liberty to sacrifice even a piece or two to settle the issue in his favour.

In the game which follows, Black has distinct advantage on the queen side and forces the exchange of pieces. The Black King then boldly marches into the opponent’s territory to pocket a victory.

White: Sergey Smagin (2575) – Black: Zlatko Ilincic(2565)
Belgrade,1998
The Sicilian Defence
1.e4 c5 The Sicilian Defence

2.c3 The slow way!

2. ..Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bc4 Nb6 7.Bb3 d6 Black has options like 7. ..d5 or 7. ..dxc3
8.exd6 Qxd6 9.0–0 If 9.Nxd4 Nxd4  10.cxd4 Be6
9...Be6 Black could have played 9. ..dxc3  10.Qcd6 exd6
10.Bxe6 Qxe6 11.Nxd4 Qd7 12.Nb5
White had several options at his disposal like 12.Nxc6 Qxc6 13.Qe2 e6 14.Nd2 Be7 15.Nf3 Bf6 16.Bg5 Bxg5 17.Nxg5 h6 or even 12.Be3 Nd5 13.Nd2 Nxe3 14.fxe3 e5 15.Nxc6 Qxc6  
12...a6 13.Qxd7+ Kxd7 The Queens have been exchanged early and the position remains more or less equal

14.Rd1+ Kc8 15.N5a3 e6 White’s queen side is totally undeveloped
16.Be3 If 16.Bf4 Be7 17.Nc2 Rd8 18.Rxd8+ Kxd8 19.Nd2 Ke8 20.Kf1 Rd8 21.Ke2 Na4
16...Kc7Black has not castled but after the exchange of queens, this is not a problem and so far the position remains balanced. However black can try to press on the queenside  
17.Bxb6+If 17.Nc2 Be7 18.Nd2 (18.Bxb6+ Kxb6 19.Nd2) 18...Na4 19.Nc4 f6 20.Nd4 Nxd4 21.Rxd4 b5
17...Kxb6 18.b4White could have brought his sidelined knight into play with 18.Nc4+ 18...Be7 19.Nc4+If 19.Nd2 Kc7
19...Kc7 20.a4 Rhd8 21.Nbd2 If 21.Re1 Bf6 22.Ra2 Rd3  is better for Black  
21...b5 22.Na3For some strange reason White simply decides to give up the pawn. If 22.Nb2 f5  
22...bxa4 Black has no hesitation in accepting the pawn offer
23.Nac4 If 23.Nab1 a5 24.b5 Na7 (24...Ne5 25.Rxa4 Kb6) 25.c4 Nc8 26.Rxa4 Nb6
23...Rd3A strong move into the enemy territory!
24.Rxa4 Rad8If 24...Rxc3 25.b5 axb5 26.Rxa8 bxc4  
25.Rxa6 If 25.Rb1 Rxc3 26.Rxa6 Bxb4 And if  25.Rc1 Bg5 is better for Black
25...Rxc3 26.Rb1 If 26.b5 Rxc4 27.Rxc6+ (27.bxc6 Rxd2) 27...Rxc6 28.bxc6 Bb4  
26...Bxb4 27.Rb6 If 27.Kf1 Bc5; 27.Rxc6+ Kxc6 28.Rxb4 Rc1+  
27...Rc2 28.Rxc6+ If 28.R6xb4 Nxb4 29.Rxb4 Rc1+ 30.Nf1 Rd4  
28...Kxc6 29.Rxb4 Rc1+ 30.Nf1 Kc5 Black has got a stranglehold on the game now!
31.Rb7 Rxc4 32.Rxf7 Rd1 33.g3 Rcc1 34.Rc7+ Kd4  
Diagram 1
Note the march of the Black King from here on!
35.Rd7+ Ke4 36.Rxd1 Rxd1 37.Kg2 Kd3 The King is a fighting warrior now and boldly marches into enemy territory!
38.Ne3 Re1 39.Kf3 Things have become very difficult for White now!
39...Rxe3+ Black sacrifices the knight to get a simple winning ending
40.fxe3 e5 41.h4 h5 42.g4 e4+ and White resigned. White is also simply winning with  42...hxg4+ 43.Kxg4 Kxe3 44.h5 (44.Kf5 e4 45.Kg6 Kf4 46.Kxg7 Kg4 47.Kg6 Kxh4–+) 44...e4 45.Kf5 Kf3 46.Kg6 Kg4]  
Diagram 2
White to play and win
1.Rxd7+ Kxd7 2.Nc5+ Kc7 3.Nxe6+ and White wins.