Elementary Endgames (part 2)
For the beginner, the opposition maneuvers are rather difficult to grasp and it is fortunate for him that the vast majority of pawn endings are of a much simpler form. The winning maneuver in these endings is easily explained and after understanding it the beginner can readily see the fundamental principle underlying every game. The following diagram shows a typical position on which the winning method should be studied.
White is a pawn ahead, but he cannot queen his passed pawn because his King is not in front of it. On the other hand, there can not possibly be any advantage in advancing the pawns on the other side of the board because Black has the same number of pawns there as White and there is no reason why one of the white pawns should succeed in breaking through. All the same, it is very easy for White to win and the strategy to use will be evident from the following consideration: Black's King is considerably confined in his movements because he has to constantly watch White's passed pawn.
White's King, however, is free to go wherever he likes without any immediate danger. There is nothing to hinder him attacking and capturing the black pawns, for if Black's King tries to stop White's advance, White's passed pawn marches on and forces the opposing King to catch him, thereby giving the way free to his own King. According to this scheme, play could proceed like this:
1. K-d3 K-d5
2. K-e3 K-e5
3. b4, g5
4. b5 K-d5
5. b6 K-c6
6. K-d4 Kxb6
7. K-e5 f4
8. K-f5 K-c6
9. Kxg5 K-d6
10. Kxf4 K-e6
11. K-g5 K-f7
Now White would win even without the pawn on g2 by playing 12. K-f5 and so on as explained earlier.
From the above, it will be clear to the beginner that if a player succeeds in winning a pawn he can win the game if he is able to exchange all pieces so that only the pawns are left. However, he will not yet see the way in which this exchange of pieces can be forced. The player who has lost the pawn will try to avoid the exchange, hoping that he may be able to regain the pawn with his pieces. Therefore, he will permit his opponent an exchange only if he would sustain an additional loss by avoiding it. The following diagram offers a simple example.
White on the move will play R-e5, offering the exchange of Rooks. If Black tried to avoid the exchange by playing R-b6, White would capture the pawn on f5 with the Rook and after Black's King moves out of check he would take the pawn on g4 too. Therefore, Black has to make the offered exchange of Rooks, and White then wins by advancing the c-pawn. This forces Black's King over to the Queen's side and leaves the pawns of the King's side unprotected.
The beginner might think that inasmuch as the loss of a pawn in most cases means the loss of the game on account of the final promotion of the pawn to the Queen, it may be advisable to sacrifice a piece if doing so avoids the loss of a pawn. However, this idea, which is frequently met, is altogether wrong as the additional piece will easily allow the opponent to capture as many pawns as he likes within the course of the game. The following diagram may serve as an example.
In the following line of play it is assumed that Black makes the best moves, but the method employed is the same for any defensive maneuvers which Black might try, with the only difference that White would win more quickly.
1. N-c5 B-c6
2. B-f3 Bxf3
3. Kxf3 b6
4. N-e6 c5
5. a4
This move retains the black pawns so that the Knight can attack them with better effect.
5. ... c4
6. N-c7 K-g7
7. N-b5 a6
8. N-d6 K-f6
9. Nxc4 b5
10. Pxb5 Pxb5
11. N-a3 b4
12. N-c2 b3
13. N-d4 etc.
Sometimes, a player can give up his additional piece to advantage for one or two pawns thereby enforcing an ending which is won on account of the pawn position. The following is an example.
Black is a piece down but his two connected passed pawns constitute a dangerous threat. White, therefore, does best to sacrifice a Knight for the two pawns, as he then remains with two pawns against one. Black must finally give up his Bishop for White's a-pawn who threatens to queen, and then White wins by capturing Black's g-pawn and queening his own. Play might proceed as follows:
1. Nxc2 Pxc2
2. Nxc2 B-d5
3. N-b4 B-a8
4. a6 K-g6
5. a7 K-f6
6. N-a6 K-e7
7. N-c7 B-h1
8. a8=Q Bxa8
9. Nxa8 K-f6
10. N-c7 K-g6
11. N-d5 K-h6
12. K-f5 K-h7
13. K-g5 K-h8
14. K-g6 K-g8
15. N-e7+ K-h8
16. N-f5 K-g8
17. Nxg7 K-h8
18. K-f7 K-h7
19. g5 K-h8
20. N-f5
White could not play P-g6 because Black would have been stalemate.
20. ... K-h7
21. g6+ K-h8
22. g7+ K-h7
23. g8=Q#
The game endings discussed to this point have illustrated the method of winning with a superior force and it is now possible for the beginner to understand that the leading rule for all maneuvers is to avoid the loss of material,no matter how small, because it will ultimately lead to the loss of the game by one pawn or the other queening.
Back to Chess Tutorials