Q-275
A far advanced passed pawn can sometimes compensate for more serious material loss. In the next position, Black missed out on taking advantage of his strong c-pawn by poor play.
Continue ReadingA far advanced passed pawn can sometimes compensate for more serious material loss. In the next position, Black missed out on taking advantage of his strong c-pawn by poor play.
Continue ReadingThe second case, when the weaker side is saved thanks to its far advanced pawn and strong counter-play on the isolated pawn, is seen in the ending of the game Arhipov-Blatny, Kecskemet 1991.
Continue ReadingThe fact that the piece activity is crucial in rook endgame is confirmed by the following tragicomic situation, which occurred in the telegraph match Petersburg-London 1886/87.
Continue ReadingFor the weaker side, the position with the rook behind the opponent’s outside passed pawn is most favorable. When his rook is laterally positioned, White can only win if the king can support the advance of the passed pawn. But this opens up the possibility of salvation by reducing the material. We see the […]
Continue ReadingThe tactical elements should not be underestimated in these endings. Sometimes salvation is hiding in completely unexpected mate threats. A great example on this subject is the ending of the game Dvoretsky-Kuprejchik (Minsk 1976).
Continue ReadingWhen an outside passed pawn is blocked by an opponent’s rook, the win can be achieved in two basic ways: by penetrating the king among the opponent’s pawns or by penetrating the king towards the passed pawn to break the blockade. In the latter case, the result depends on the pawn’s proximity to the […]
Continue ReadingThe crucial importance of placing the king in front of the opposing pawns comes to the fullest in the next position, which could have occurred in the game Portisch-Saidy (San Antonio 1972).
Continue ReadingWhen a black king is near his pawns, and his rook has an ungrateful “blocker” role, he most easily draws by creating his own passed pawn. We see such a case in the game Spaski-Speelman (London 1982).
Continue Readingb) Endings with passed pawns Also in the endings with passed pawns the condition for a win is a great positional advantage. The weaker side’s strategy depends primarily on the king’s position. If his king is near his own pawns, he usually draws by creating a passed pawn. When his king is not near […]
Continue ReadingIn similar positions, Black can only be saved by an active counter-play. This great truth is confirmed by the ending of the game Szily-Vajda’s, Hungarian Championship in 1952.
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