Hello everyone,
Just following on from Paul's latest with a little tidbit of my own. Simple but
worth knowing, and, yes, I may have posted it before.
Mordue-Easton, Bristol League Congress 1984.
White: King g3, Rook e7, Pawns f4 and g5,
Black, King g6, Rook e4, Pawn e6.
This ending has been drawn for a long time and, indeed, we were now in the
third session after two adjournments. Black now blundered with
91...Re3+??
Instead he should play 91...Re1 to answer 92 Kg4 with 92...Rg1+ forcing the
King off g4. The difference will become apparent in a moment.
92 Kg4 Re1
So we arrive at the same position but with the White King already on g4. Now
not 93 f5+?? because the reply 93...exf5 is check and White loses his Rook.
However, the sequence in the game wins trivially.
93 Rxe6+! Rxe6
94 f5+ Kf7
95 fxe6+ Kxe6
Now White has a won King and Pawn ending because he can post his King on the
sixth rank in front of the Pawn and gain the opposition.
96 Kh5 Kf7
97 Kh6 Kg8
Otherwise 98 Kh7 and White controls all three squares in front of his Pawn.
98 Kg6
Gaining the opposition - Kings two squares apart on the same file and the
monarch with the move must give way.
98...Kh8
If 98...Kf8 99 Kh7 etc.
99 Kf7 Kh7
100 g6+ 1-0
Ironically Black's opening choice had been the French Defence with 1...e6 so
his Pawn had stood there for 92 moves.
Regards,
Tyson