Csaba Balogh

Adrian Mikhalchishin

Mastering minor
piece endgames
Part 2

FIDE Chess
GENS UNA SUMUS Evolution
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First edition 2016 by Chess Evolution

Mastering minor piece endgames. Part 2

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents ..............................................................................................................3

Key to symbols ..................................................................................................................5
Introduction .......................................................................................................................7
Editorial preface ............................................................................................................... 9

Chapter 1. Knight vs pawn ............................................................................................11

1.1. Knight vs 1 pawn ......................................................................................................11
1.2. Knight vs multiple pawns .................................................................................... 17
1.3. Knight + pawn vs king .......................................................................................... 25
5.4. Knight + pawn vs king + pawn ..........................................................................28
1.5. Mate with two knights vs pawn ......................................................................... 44

Chapter 2. Knight vs Knight........................................................................................47

2.1. Knight + pawn vs Knight .....................................................................................47
2.2. Complex knight endgames with a passed pawn ..............................................54
2.3. Complex knight endgames on one flank .......................................................... 80
2.4. Complex knight endgames ................................................................................. 99

Chapter 3. Knight vs Bishop .......................................................................................113

3.0. Mate with Bishop and knight ............................................................................. 113
3.1. Knight + pawn vs Bishop ..................................................................................... 115
3.2. Bishop + pawn vs Knight ................................................................................... 129
3.3. Bishop + h, g pawns vs Knight ............................................................................139
3.4. Superior knight ................................................................................................... 143
3.5. Superior bishop......................................................................................................175
 KEY TO SYMBOLS

= Equality or equal chances

 White has a slight advantage
 Black has a slight advantage
 White is better
 Black is better
+- White has a decisive advantage
-+ Black has a decisive advantage
 unclear
 with compensation
 with counterplay
 with initiative
 with an attack
 with the idea
 only move

N novelty
! a good move
!! an excellent move
? a weak move
?? a blunder
!? an interesing move
?! a dubious move
+ check
# mate
 INTRODUCTION

The third book of the series “The Modern Endgame Manual” is about the fight
between the bishop and the knight, and also covers purely knight endings, and
is the 2nd book on ‘minor pieces endgames’: in the first one we focus only on
bishop endgames.

The knight is a short range piece, but a strong one. It is the only piece that can
“fork” several pieces at the same time, which can lead to a quick material win.
On the other hand, it takes 3 full moves to get the knight from the square e4
to e5 — and a full 4 moves to get the knight from e4 to c6!

Knight endgames can usually be evaluated in the same way as pawn endgames.

The most difficult pawns to handle for the knight are clearly the a- and h-
pawns, because they limit the knight’s activity — it can’t step off the edge of
the board!

However, when standing in the center of the board, a knight can be a very
powerful piece indeed: able to play on both flanks at the same time. Unfor-
tunately, in a battle of ‘stopping a running pawn’, for example, the knight is a
very slow and cumbersome beast.

In the section of the book where we look at Bishop vs Knight we do not have so
many theoretical positions to consider and so it comes down more to practical
knowledge. But still, a few basic rules clearly apply:

In open positions the bishop is a much stronger piece. For example, a bishop
can stop the a-pawn and at same time support his h-pawn, whereas the knight
can be useful only on one wing at a time. But in closed positions exactly the
opposite occurs, and the domination by the knight is often clear to see.

In pure knight endings, passed pawns usually play the crucial role — especially
the a- and h- pawns. A material advantage also usually gives the stronger side
very good chances to bring home the full point.
The material inside this book is very useful for players at every level, from the
complete beginner up to GM standard! After a deep study of this book you
will be able to call yourself quite an expert, something you will hopefully prove
in your future games!
 EDITORIAL PREFACE

In this series of nine endgame books, FIDE Senior Trainer Adrian Mikhal-
chishin, FIDE Senior Trainer Efstratios Grivas and IGM Csaba Balogh com-
bine their experience as trainers and as practical players to create something
very special.

The authors aim for very understandable explanations of every endgame posi-
tion in each book.

The specification:
◆ 1st book — Queen and pawn endgames.
◆ 2–3 — Minor piece endgames (bishop and knight endgames).
◆ 4–5 — These will feature the fight between different material constella-
tions.
◆ 6–8 — These books are going to focus on the most common endgames,
which are of course rook endings.
◆ 9th — This book will focus on exchanges and simplifications.

The main concept of each book is to provide theoretical knowledge which can
be used in practical games. It means the focus of the books will be on posi-
tions which are the most likely to occur - and the practical playing of them.

That’s why you will firstly meet the theoretical part, and secondly the practical
examples of how games actually continued in a particular endgame.

Yes, you’re right, you won’t find too many very complicated studies, stunning
manouevres or rarely-appearing positions — and there is a simple reason why
not!

How often do we see positions, for example two knights vs pawn where one
knight is blocking the pawn and the other one tries to get the king to the cor-
ner before releasing the second knight for the mate? Or constellations with
crazy material on the board? This might happen in one game out of 100! You
could spend hundreds of hours working on something that might bring you
“only” a single point more out of 100 games!
Our approach is quite different: let’s make more points in the other 99 games!
And who knows, we might also be lucky in the remaining one, but actually,
statistically, it would almost not matter.

“The Modern Endgame Manual” will make an expert out of you in most of
the endgames which are going to appear in your long career as a chess player!
 CHAPTER 1.

KNIGHT VS PAWN

The knight is a  short-ranged piece, 1.1. KNIGHT VS 1 PAWN

but even short distances can take it
quite some time. For instance, from
e4 to e5, it requires 3 moves, or from In this chapter we will examine how
e4 to c6, it takes 4 moves to arrive the knight can fight against a passed
there. On the other hand, sometimes pawn. Probably the most frequently
it is able to stop promoting pawns by seen practical example is when the h-
coming from the most distant part pawn has reached the 6th rank and
of the board, often winning a tempo the knight stands in front if it on h7.
with a check along the way. In this case the knight holds the pawn
even without the help of the king.
Knight endgames often have to be
evaluated in the same way as pawn
endgames, as passed pawns play per- 1
haps the most important role here as
well. Theoretical position

We must always take some time to 8 + + + +

consider the transpositions into pawn
endgames and we should also pay at-
7 + + + +
tention to how we spend our tempi 6 + + + +
with the pawns, because zugzwangs
are also common subjects and it is
5 + + + +
relevant to keep in mind that knights
4 + + + +
cannot lose a tempo. There is no tri- 3 + + + +p
angulation with the knight, because
the knight can only arrive to the same
2 + sN mK +
square in an even number of moves. 1 + + + +k
a b c d e f g h

A single knight cannot create a mate

by itself, however if the opponent has
12 MASTERING MINOR PIECE ENDGAMES. PART 2

an h-pawn and his king is squeezed 1.f2? only leads to draw because of
in front of it to the corner, the side 1...h1 As we have seen in the previ-
with the knight might win. Here is ous example, White must play f1 at
the classic example. this point, but he cannot achieve it.
2.g3+ h2 3.f1+ h1=
1.f1!
8 + + + +
and Black is forced to self-mate him- 7 + + + +
self with 6 + + + +
5 + + + +
1...h2 2.g3# 4 + + + +
3 + + + +p
2
2 + + mK +
1 + + +N+k
A. Troitsky a b c d e f g h
1906
White cannot checkmate as he cannot
8 + + + + give the right to move to Black — in
other words, he cannot lose a tempo.
7 + + + +
6 + + + + 1...h1 2.f2 h2
5 + + + + The last step is to get the knight to f1!
4 + + + + It cannot be reached in the most di-
3 + + mK +p rect way with g3 because of stale-
mate.
2 + +N+ mk
1 + + + + 3.c3
a b c d e f g h
Another route is 3.d4 h1 4.f5
The following study of Troitzky is an h2 5.e3 h1 6.f1+-
excellent demonstration of how the
knight cannot lose a tempo! 3...h1 4.e4

1.f3! It is very important, when the king is

on h1, that White finds a square for
It is very important to move to f2 with his knight from where it prevents the
the king at the proper moment, be- self-stalemate idea with h2 by threat-
cause with a knight we cannot later ening g3 mate.
lose a tempo.
 CHAPTER 1. KNIGHT VS PAWN 13

4...h2 5.d2 h1 6. f1! h2 5.d2 h1 6.f1! h2 7.g3#

7.g3#

4
3
Theoretical position
Theoretical position
8 +
+ + +
8 + + + + 7 + +K+ +
7 + + + + 6 + +N+ +
6 + + sN + 5 + + + +
5 + + + + 4 + + + +
4 + + + zp 3 + + + +
3 + + + + 2 + mkp+ +
2 + + + + 1 + + + +
1 + + +K+k a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h
In the rest of this chapter we are go-
A  slightly more complex, but ulti- ing to study how the knight can fight
mately achievable, mate: against a  passed pawn. We should
never forget that the knight is a very
1.g4! h3 2.f2+! tricky piece, one which can always
give some unexpected checks. The
Only by this subtle maneuver can pawn cannot be stopped, but the
White reach the ideal setup of the draw can be held by
pieces.
1.d4!
2...h2 3.e4 h1 4.f2!
But not 1.g5? because of e3! tak-
And the rest we already know. ing control over the f3 square and the
pawn promotes.
4...h2
1...e1 2.f3+ e2 3.xe1=
4...h2 5.g3#
14 MASTERING MINOR PIECE ENDGAMES. PART 2

5 The story with the h-pawn is already

different as the knight is trapped in
Theoretical position the corner. If the pawn has reached
the 2nd rank, the only way to hold the
8 K+ + + + draw is if White can squeeze the king
7 +
to the corner. In this example, White
+ + + can achieve this by
6 + + + +
5 + + + + 1.c5! f3 2.d4 g2 3.e3 xh1
4.f2=
4 + + + +
3 + + mk +
7
2 + + +p+
1 + + + sN Theoretical position
a b c d e f g h
8 K+ + + +
Against the e-f-g-pawns, the knight 7 +
holds the draw even without the help + + +
of the king if it manages to get in 6 + + + +
front of it. 5 + + + +
1...f2 2.h3+ g3 3.g1 h2
4 + + + +
4.e2= 3 + + + +p
6
2 + + mk sN
1 + + + +
Theoretical position a b c d e f g h

8 + + + + Probably the most important posi-

tion from a practical point of view is
7 ++ + + the following one. If the pawn does
6 +K+ + + not reach the 2nd rank, the knight
5 + + + + holds the draw even without the help
of the king.
4 + +k+ +
3 + + + + 1.a7 g2 2.g4 g3 3.e3 f3
2 + + + zp 3...f2 4.g4+; 3...h2 4.f1+
1 + + + +N
a b c d e f g h 4.f1 f2
 CHAPTER 1. KNIGHT VS PAWN 15

4...g2 5.e3+ 9

5.h2= Prokop

The pawn cannot be promoted. 8 + mK + sN

7 + + + +
8 6 + + + +
Theoretical position
5 zp + + +
4 + + + +
8 + mK + + 3 +k+ + +
7 + + + + 2 + + + +
6 + + + + 1 + + + +
5 +n+ + +P a b c d e f g h

4 + +k+ + In the following study by Prokop,

3 + + + + the knight stands on the most dis-
tant part of the board from the
2 + + + + pawn — but surprisingly he still man-
1 + + + + ages to catch it.
a b c d e f g h
1.g6! a4 2.f4 a3
In the next couple of examples, the
knight manages to stop a seemingly If Black tries 2...c2 with the idea of
unstoppable pawn. If the black king controlling the d3 square, the knight
were on f4, White would be winning. takes another direction 3.d5 a3
Let’s see why... 4.b4+ b3 (4...c3 5.a2)
5.d3=
1.h6 d6 2.h7 f7+ 3.e7 h8
4.f6! 3.d3!=

Thanks to the e4 king, Black is able The knight has arrived just in time
to squeeze the other king to h8 after and it holds the a-pawn from the d3-
c1–a2-b4 squares.
4...d5! 5.g7 e6 6.xh8 f7=
16 MASTERING MINOR PIECE ENDGAMES. PART 2

10 time.) 3.c7 b3 4.b5 b2 5.c3 d4

6.b1=
Theoretical position
2.e8!!
8 ++K+ +
7 +
Brilliant manoeuvre. Seemingly the
+ + + completely wrong direction, but this
6 + + + + is the only way to stop the b-pawn.
5 +N+k+ + 2...b3
4 zp + + +
3 + + + + The alternative is 2...c5 taking the
d6 square under control, but now the
2 + + + + knight goes 3.f6! d4
1 + + + +
a b c d e f g h
8 ++K+ +
7 + + + +
Black is threatening c5, chasing 6 + + sN +
the knight away from the a3 and c3 5 + + + +
squares from where it could stop the 4 zp mk + +
pawn — and when it moves to c7, … 3 + + + +
b3 is already unstoppable. However
White can still hold the draw by a mi-
2 + + + +
1 + + + +
raculous maneuver.
a b c d e f g h
1.c7+!
And now again 4.e8!! b3 5.d6=
Other moves are losing, e.g. 1.f7? and the knight stops the pawn either
c5 2.c7 b3–+ from b5-a3 or from e4-d2.

1...c4 3.d6+ b4

1...d4 makes no sense because Black 3...d3 4.b5 b2 5.a3=

is not threatening …b3 because of
the knight retreat to b5-a3. 2.f7 b3 4.e4 b2 5.d2=
3.b5+=;
Never underestimate a knight!
1...d6 2.e8+! e5 (2...e7 3.c7
b3 4.d5+ d6 5.c3=; 2...c6
3.f6 b3 4.e4 b2 5.d2= just in
 CHAPTER 1. KNIGHT VS PAWN 17

11 Avoiding the trap of 2.f7 f5!

3.g8 h6+= There are no more
Theoretical position tricks left and a new queen will ap-
pear.
8 + + + +
7 mk + + zPK
6 + + + + 1.2. KNIGHT VS MULTI-
5 + +n+ + PLE PAWNS
4 + + + +
3 + + + + There are no theoretical positions for
this topic, but it is interesting to ana-
2 + + + + lyze some positions to become famil-
1 + + + + iar with new ideas. From a practical
a b c d e f g h point of view, the greatest importance
attaches to the final two examples,
In closing this chapter, here is my which might easily arise in a game.
favorite motif in this type of posi-
tion. The knight has just arrived to
d5 and it looks like Black holds the 1
draw. However White can promote
his pawn by playing the fantastic Practical position

1.g8!! 8 + + + +
7 + + + +N
The most unnatural move — going in
front of the pawn — is the only way 6 + + + +
to win! 5 + + + +
1.g8 f6+=;
4 + + zp +
3 + + + +p
1.g6 allows 1...e7+! 2.f7 (2.f6
g8+=) 2...f5! 3.g8 h6+=
2 + + mK mk
1 + + + +
1...e7+ a b c d e f g h

Otherwise f7 and the pawn pro- As we have already seen, a  single
motes. knight can deliver checkmate if the
opponent’s king is squeezed to the
2.f8! corner in front of an h-pawn. Some-
18 MASTERING MINOR PIECE ENDGAMES. PART 2

times the appearance of another 2

pawn on the board does not change
matters. Chekhover

1.f6! h1 2.g4! 8 K+ + + +

7 + + + +
Forcing the pawns to move.
6 + + + +
2...f3 5 + + +pzp
2...h2 is faster, 3.f1+- and f2 next.
4 +k+ sN +
3 + + + +
8 + + + +
7 + + + +
2 + + + +
1 + + + +
6 + + + + a b c d e f g h
5 + + + +
4 + + +N+ Normally such situations are quite
hopeless. The knight should not be
3 + + +p+p able to hold two connected pawns
2 + + mK + which are supported by the king with-
1 +
out the help of his own king. However,
+ + +k in this beautiful study by Chekhover,
a b c d e f g h
White still manages as if by miracle.

3.f1! f2 4.xf2+ h2 5.e4! 1.e6! g4 2.g7! f4

The king must be kept in the cage. 2...g3 3.xf5 g2 4.e3+=

5...h1 6.f2 h2 8 K+ + + +

7 + + + sN
6...h2 7.g3# 6 + + + +
7.d2 5 + + + +
The knight goes to f1.
4 +k+ zpp+
3 + + + +
7...h1 8.f1 h2 9.g3# 2 + + + +
1 + + + +
a b c d e f g h
 CHAPTER 1. KNIGHT VS PAWN 19

3.h5! f3 4.f6! g3 2...e6 3.e7! f8 4.h6+ xh6

5.xf8+-
4...f2 5.xg4 f1 6.e3+=

5.e4 g2 4

5...f2 6.xg3= Gurgenidze

1970
6.d2+ d3 7.xf3 e3 8.g1=
8 + + + +
Just amazing! The c4 king was always 7 +
standing in the ‘motif’. + mk +N
6 + + + zp
5 +p+ + +
3
4 + + + +
Practical position 3 + + + +
2 K+ + + +
8 +
+ + + 1 +
7 +
+ + +
+K+ + a b c d e f g h
6 + + zP mk
5 + + + +P In this study of Gurgenidze’s, White
survives ‘miraculously’ thanks to an
4 + + sn + amazing knight maneuver. Actually
3 + + + + Black’s plan is not to trap the knight
with …f7-g7, because then White is
2 + + + + in time to eliminate the b5 pawn fol-
1 + + + + lowed by rushing back to the corner.
a b c d e f g h The main threat to deal with is the
plan of …e6-f5 followed by push-
The knight is a short range piece and ing the h-pawn, which can be only
therefore sometimes very unskillful. stopped by the knight. But how?!
White promotes his pawns now with-
out difficulties. 1.a3!!

1.f7 g7 2.e8! The only move. White must keep

the b3 square free for the knight. On
Not 2.e7 because of 2...d5+ 1.b2? White is not in time to get
back to the corner and Black can go
20 MASTERING MINOR PIECE ENDGAMES. PART 2

for the knight. 1...f7! 2.c3 g7 This is the point and the reason why
3.b4 xh7 4.xb5 h5–+; the b3 square had to be left free at the
very beginning. 5.d3? h3 6.f2 h2
1.b3? loses to 1...e6! 2. f8+ 7.b4 f4–+
(2.b4 f5 3.xb5 h5–+) 2...f5
3.d7 h5 4.c5 h4–+ 5...h3 6.d2 h2

1...e6! 6...f4 7. f1= As we know, the

knight holds the draw without the
The critical test for White. 1...f7 help of the king if it gets to h2.
2.b4 g7 3.xb5 xh7 4.c4=
with an easy draw. 7.f1! h1 8.g3+=

2.f8+! The glorious finish of the big circle!

2.b4? f5 3.xb5 h5–+ The knight

has no chance of catching the pawn. 5

2...f5 3.d7 Practical position

Only this long trip around the board 8 ++N+ +

helps. 7 + + + +k
3...h5 4.c5 h4 6 +p+ mK zp
5 + + + +
8 + + + +
7 + + + + 4 + +p+ +
3 + + + +
6 + + + +
5 +psN +k+ 2 + + + +
1 + + + +
4 + + + zp
a b c d e f g h
3 mK + + +
2 + + + + Three pawns are running and White
1 +
has also problems with saving his
+ + + knight. However, as we know by now,
a b c d e f g h
a knight can cause surprises.

5.b3!! 1.f7! e3 2.f6+ h8 3.h5!!

 CHAPTER 1. KNIGHT VS PAWN 21

3.g4? fails to 3...e2 4.e5 with the 1.f4!?

idea of giving perpetual check on g6-
f8, but Black parries it by playing 4... A very tricky attempt, in order to pre-
h5 5.f3 h4–+ White cannot stop the vent the …h6 move after 1.xf5.
running pawns. 1.xf5 h6! The only way to draw!
The Black king should try to get be-
3...e2 tween the pawns. If it was his move,
…h5 would easily secure the half
3...c5 4.f4 h7 5.f6 c4 6.e5 c3 point. (First, let’s examine why oth-
7.e4 c2 8.e2= er moves are losing... 1...g6 2.f4 The
waiting policy is not a good idea as
4.f4! e1 5.g6+ h7 6.f8+= White slowly advances his pawns.
2...f8 (2...e7+ 3.e6 c6 4.f5
d4+ As we will see, this idea of go-
6 ing around with the knight is correct,
but now Black gave up too many tem-
Practical position pi for White to advance his pawns...
5.e5 f3+ 6.f4 d4 7.g4+- fol-
8 + + sn + lowed by g5 and then h5.) 3.g4 g6
4.h5 h4+ (4...f8 5.g5 d7 6.h6+
7 + + + mk h7 and here the easiest is to trans-
6 +
+ + + fer the king to h5, and the pawns pro-
5 + + +pmK mote automatically. 7.g4+-) 5.e6
g2 The right strategy is to create
4 + + + zP a hole between the pawns and then
3 + + +PzP occupy it with the king. Unfortunate-
ly for Black, he is already too late to
2 + + + + arrange the correct setup. (5...h6
1 + + + + 6.f5+- Black cannot stop the f-pawn.)
a b c d e f g h 6.f5 Black should play now …g5,
but it is illegal. That is why it is so
A very interesting practical endgame. important to play 2...h6! 6...f4+
After all the analyses, it becomes 7.d6! f7 has a  very nice refuta-
clear that Black can hold the draw by tion. (7...h3 8.e7 g5 9.f6+ g8
extremely precise defense. In a prac- 10.h6+- and Black is in zugzwang! 7...
tical game, however, White’s chanc- f6 8.h6 h3 is also late by just one
es for the win are clearly higher than tempo. 9.h7 g7 10.f6+ xh7 11.f7
Black’s are to hold. This is simply be- g7 12.e7+-) 8.h6 f6
cause it is too easy to go wrong — and
one mistake is decisive.
22 MASTERING MINOR PIECE ENDGAMES. PART 2

8 + + + + using the fact that the pawn end-

7 + + + + game is drawn, Black ties the king to
6 +mk zP mK his pawns. This motif also works well
5 + +P+ + if we move all the pieces one rank
4 + + snP+ further up. 8.g5+ xh5 9.gxf6 g6
3 + 10.e4 xf6=
+ + +
2 + + + + 1...e6+!
1 + + + +
a b c d e f g h This and the following two moves are
the only way to survive!
(8...h3 9.h7 g7 10.f6+ xh7 11.f7
g7 12.e7+-) 9.d7! and the king 2.xf5 d4+!
goes around to support the h-pawn.
9...d3 (9...f7 10.g5+-) 10.e8! e5 The knight must disturb White’s plan
11.f8! The king arrived in time to of pushing his pawns.
control the g7 square. 11... xg4
12.h7+-) 2.g4 (2.f6 h5 White can- 3.e4
not make progress.) 2...g6! Another
only move! As was mentioned before, 3.e5 f3+! 4.e4  h2! Th is is
Black should try to create holes be- a nice achievement for Black. This way
tween the pawns and occupy them he gets enough time to rush with the
with the king! 3.h5  h4+ 4.f4 king to h5. 5.f5 h6 (But not 5...f6?
g2+ 5.g3 (5.e4 g5= Black because of 6.f4+- and the pawns are
reaches the ideal blockading posi- rolling.) 6.f4 h5 The draw seems
tion.) 5...e3 6.f4 to be close, but White can still create
some problems... 7.e5! f3+ 8.d5
8 + + + + The king must control the d4 square.
7 + + + + (8.e6 d4+=)
6 + m k+ +
5 + + + +P 8 + + + +
4 + + zPP+
7 + + + +
3 + + sn mK
6 +
+ + +
2 + + + +
5 ++K+P+k
1 + + + +
4 + + + zP
3 + + +nzP
a b c d e f g h
2 + + + +
1 + + + +
6...d5! This is a very important de-
fensive method! Black must prevent a b c d e f g h
the h4, g5 plan... 7.f3 f6! and
 CHAPTER 1. KNIGHT VS PAWN 23

8...h6! and the White king has 5...c4+ 6.d3

strayed too far from the h-pawn, so
the Black king must also turn back White should try to keep the knight
to stop the f-pawn. I know that this away from bothering his h-pawn.
is very difficult! 9.e6 (9.e4 h2 6.d4 d2 7.h5 h6= The same as
10.f4 h5= We already saw this.) before.
9...g7! (After the tempting 9...
d4+? White gets his winning posi- 6...d6 7.d4
tion again. 10.e5! f3+ 11.f4+- and
g4 next.) 10.f6+ f8 and White can- 8 + + + +
not improve his position. 11.h5 (11.f5 7 + + + mk
f7=) 11...d4+ 12.e5 c6+ 13.f5
f7 14.g4 d4+ 15.e5 c6+=
6 + sn + +
5 + ++ +
8 + + + + 4 + mK zPPzP
7 + + + mk 3 + + + +
6 + + + + 2 + + + +
5 + + + + 1 + + + +
4 + snKzP zP a b c d e f g h
3 + + + zP
2 + + + + Everything seems to be going well
1 +
for White. He is progressing with the
+ + + pawns step-by-step without creating
a b c d e f g h
a hole, but Black has an amazing and
difficult only move again... 7.h5 h6=
3...b3!
7...f6! 8.h5
Probably the most difficult ‘only’
move in this whole endgame. Of Trying to make use of the fact that
course, it would be amazingly hard Black has no …h6. 8.d5 b5 9.h5
to play it over the board without com- c3+ 10.d4 (10.d6 White cannot
puter assistance. l the pawns alone... 10...e2=) 10...
b5+ transposes to the main line.
4.g4 d2+ 5.e3
8...b5+
5.f5 would ease Black’s defensive
task. 5...f3 6.h5 h6= with an easy ‘transposes to the main line.’
draw. 7.f6 h2
9.e3 d6 10.f3 c4
24 MASTERING MINOR PIECE ENDGAMES. PART 2

All the Black moves have a goal. The 15.f4

knight now heads for the e3 square...
15.h5 g3+=
11.h6
15...d6 16.e5
11.g3 e3 This is the ideal position
for the knight. It attacks one of the The last attempt to make progress.
pawns and prepares for g2 check
after …h4. 16...f7+ 17.f6 d6

11...g6 12.g5 d6 13.g4 and White must settle for a draw.

and again, it seems to be over, but... 18.e6

13...e4! 18.g6+ xh6 19.g7 e8+=

Of course not 13...f5? 14.h7+- 18...e4 19.g6+ xh6=

14.f5+
7
8 + + + +
7 + + + + Practical position
6 + + +kzP 8 + + + +
5 + + +PzP 7 + + + +
4 + +n+K+ 6 mkn+ + +
3 + + + + 5 + + + +
2 + + + + 4 PzPP+K+ +
1 + + + + 3 + + + +
a b c d e f g h
2 + + + +
14...h7 1 + + + +
a b c d e f g h
and just like in the 12. g3 e3 line,
Black has managed to attain his ide- Similar to the previous example, but
al setup. The king is ahead of the h- White achieves his ideal position.
pawn, while the knight attacks the g-
pawn and prevents the …h5 move 1.c5+ c7 2.b5 a5
by g3.