All,
An interesting end-game.
Is this an advantage for white and if so, is it convertible?
Naturally, in tight time-controls, the player with the seemingly slight
advantage can push for the victory, putting the defender under tremendous
pressure to find the equalising lines.
This example of an end-game is illustrative, for black should be able to hold
the draw with relative ease. An appearance of confidence and the demonstration
that a proposed draw opportunity is clearly declined, puts doubt and
uncertainty into an opponent, being a catalyst for error-inducing inaccuracies.
Enjoy!
[Event "Woodhouse Cup 2016-2017"]
[Date "2016.11.05"]
[White "Ross, Chris"]
[WhiteTeam "York A"]
[Black "Gardiner, Eric"]
[BlackTeam "Hull A"]
Position after 35... Nb3
FEN description:
6k1/p5p1/1p2p2p/1P2Pp2/2P5/1n6/3B1PPP/5K2
Descriptive position
white: king f1, bishop d2, pawns b5, c4, e5, f2, g2 and h2.
black: king g8, knight b3, pawns a7, b6, e6, f5, g7 and h6.
Position assessment
White has the bishop verses the knight. It has been a fight to avoid the
good-knight vs bad bishop end-game. This has been avoided by keeping lines open
and offering pawn-breaks, which will open the position. It has taken some time
to force off the heavy pieces.
The black knight should be able to hold up all of the white advances, but white
still has pawn-breaks to create difficulties for black.
Importantly, it is the pawn-chain on the queen-side, which is of significant
relevance. The pawns on a7 and b6 are vulnerable to the white dark-squared
bishop. A small, but very significant point.
Continuing that train of thought, the black king-side pawns can be attacked, as
they currently stand on dark-squares. This can be rectified though, whereas the
black queen-side cannot be so easily.
The time control is fast approaching. Both players must reach move 42, and then
an additional 15 minutes is on the clock to conclude the game. A tough ask in
such a challenging end-game.}
36. Ke2
{The king and pawn end-game should be drawn, but white has tricks in hand,
which may prove difficult for black to solve. White can play c4-c5 and then run
the king up the C-file to quickly regain the pawn. The white king may have
penetration options if black is not careful. This is highly unlikely and black
should opt for this obvious and logical approach. Playing the text-move instils
a sense of insecurity though and black apparently did not trust that the K&P
end-game was tenable.}
36... Kf7
{Black rushes to bring his king to the queen-side to support with the
blockading of any opening lines.}
37. f4
{Solidifying the centre and ensuring that the e5-pawn is not loose to tactics.
The slight disadvantage of the text-move is that it puts a white pawn on a
dark-square, which is not desirable since the white dark-squared bishop wishes
to operate on unoccupied squares.}
37... Ke8
{Bringing the king further towards the queen-side. The advance of the c4-pawn
is highly unlikely now as white will not have sufficient tempi to run his king
up to regain the pawn if it were to be pushed to c5. Black is limiting the
white forces as much as possible.}
38. Bb4
{As the king and pawn ending is more likely to be drawn, since the black king
has reached the centre and is in reach of the queen-side, white preserves his
dark-squared bishop. White has ideas now of Bd6 and targeting the black
queen-side.}
38... g5?
{A serious positional inaccuracy. Black is obviously concerned about defending
both sides of the board. Black must be wary of the bishop landing on b8 hitting
a7 and b6. Also, Bf8 is an option were the black king to wander to the
queen-side too quickly. In that regard, black attempts to liquidate the
king-side pawns, trying to force white to create a backward pawn on f4, which
can be targeted by the black knight.}
39. fxg5
{An important dimension is introduced with this exchange. Although the e5-pawn
is seemingly left weakened, the most relevant feature to the exchange is the
potential passed H-pawn that white can generate in the position. With the
exchange, the black G-pawn is left vulnerable on a dark-square and white can
make some progress by targeting this undefended pawn.}
39... hxg5
40. h3
{White prepares the creation of a passed H-pawn. Black cannot be allowed to
play g5-g4 or f5-f4 in an attempt to blockade the position. White can take all
the time he needs in preparing his outside passed pawn. With this outside
passed pawn, it can be used as a distraction whilst the dark-squared bishop
targets the black queen-side pawns.}
40... Kd7
41. Ke3
{Bringing the king further into the centre and finding quick moves to reach the
time-control at move 42. The king steps away from any annoying checks that the
black knight can deliver.}
41... Nc1
{Introducing tactics. White has to be very wary of any annoying knight forks
that are available. In that sense, he must be incredibly careful that his king
and dark-squared bishop are never in L-shaped positions to permit forks.
41... Nc5 is the correct way for black to play on though. Exchanges on c5 will
lead to very little for white and the game should be drawn without too much
trouble. As it is, black seeks tactics in an attempt to win a position, that he
has no realistic prospects to do so. Naturally, the projection of white’s
confidence and quick-play portrayed that he believed that he had winning
opportunities.}
42. g3
{Once again, preparing the outside passed H-pawn. The white pawns are now
poised to begin operations on the king-side.}
42... Nb3
{The time-control has been reached. Both players had now 15 minutes to conclude
the game. The position should be drawn, but it is for black to demonstrate that
he has both the ability and know-how to do this. White has nothing to lose by
playing on a few moves, to put the question to black.}
43. Kd3
{Played quickly, with the sheer intent to ask black to find a path to move
forward. Time is ticking for him, so the pressure is hyped up that bit more.}
43... Nc1+
{An easy find, but black took precious minutes to play this, as naturally, he
has to be careful that the white king does not entrap the knight. Obviously,
the king cannot simultaneously stop the knight from fleeing either side of him.
He can only cover one flank at a time, so the check is fine, as playing the
white king to c2 allows Ne2 and Nd4 and the king-side becomes a problem for
white.}
44. Ke3
{repeating, as to gain valuable time on the clock.}
44... Nb3
{A big moment in the game. White can repeat the position here and it is evident
that black would be content to take the draw.
A quick check of the match score and it was made clear that the match was
already won. White had no reason to take a draw, as the individual result of
the game was unimportant.
Thus, with a time advantage on the clock, a confident approach, white can play
on and put the question to black. The black king-side pawns still need to be
resolved, so there is no harm in playing on and asking black to demonstrate his
drawing plan.}
45. Bf8
{White can tickle the black king-side pawns with a consequent Bh6. This will
force an advance by the black G-pawn, when exchanges on g4 can occur and the
white king can slip into f4 and snatch the errand loose pawn, thus giving him a
passed extra G-pawn.
The major disadvantage of the text-move, is that it loosens up the control of
the a5 square. This was previously under control, preventing the black knight
from retreating to a5 to target the backward c4-pawn.}
45... Na5?
{Black’s losing move. Black considered that the bishop’s protection of the
a5-square was important, as the white C-pawn is too vulnerable.}
46. c5
{The pawn is weak, but black should not have permitted it to advance. Captures
now would only leave the a7-pawn fatally weak.}
46... Nc4+
47. Kd4
{The e5-pawn requires protection. White can abandon the king-side, as there is
a little counter-trick to black’s desperate attempt to liquidate pawns there.}
47... Nd2
48. c6+
{Clamping down on the black king. The black monarch cannot cover both sides of
the board simultaneously, in the same vain that the white king is unable to do
so. Black reasons that the most dangerous side for him is the queen-side and
that Bd6/Bb8 cannot be allowed by white.}
48... Kc8
49. Ke3
{Played with the sheer intension of gaining time on the clock. The repetition
of moves has no other value.
49. Kd3 Nf3 50. Bg7 would be the most effective way to continue.}
49... Nc4+
50. Kd4 Nd2
51. Bd6
{Protecting the e5-pawn and keeping the black king pinned down to the defence
of the b8-square.}
51... Nf1
{Black has a last desperate attempt to save his position. No better would have
been
51... g4 52. hxg4 Nf3+ 53. Ke3 fxg4
as the white king will be able to wriggle in via f4 and g5.}
52. h4
{Pushing the outside passed pawn. Black will not be able to retreat his king to
the king-side as the c6-pawn will promote. If permitted, white will paralyse
the black knight to a defence of the H-pawn whilst infiltrating with his own
monarch.}
52... f4
{Black has found a clever resource in an attempt to salvage his position. With
minutes left on the clock for both players, an appreciation of positional
assets was essential to convert this advantage. Black has seemingly found a
tactic to force himself a dangerous passed pawn of his own.
Who’s passed-pawn will prove the most effective...
52. gxh4 53. gxh4 Ng3 54. Ke3
and the white king comes across to chase the black knight away and to
facilitate the pushing of the H-pawn.}
53. gxf4
{The simplest. White’s passed pawn is more effective, and importantly, crashes
through first! There is no time for the white king to retreat and pushing
onwards is the only way to go now.}
53... gxh4
54. f5 h3
{The last opportunity for white to mess it up. A quick calculation of the
geometry of the board and the knight forks that are available and the
conclusion is simple enough.}
55. f6
{55. Fxe6 allows Ng3 and Nf5+ and Nxe7 tricks. White could easily stumble into
this, which would be a shame after such a hard-fought game.}
55... Ng3
56. F7 1-0
Chris Ross
November 2016
