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King and Pawn
vs. a Pair of Pawns
Test Yourself:
The question -
Review each position for 30 seconds - 3 minutes (the higher your rating, the less time you should spend). What result do you expect (White Win, Draw, Black Win) and why?
Next, analyze to check your initial decision. Then read my article below.
#1. Black to Move
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IM Igor Khmelnitsky
Igor is a winner of many national and international tournaments in Europe and the United States. At various points during his career, he has won individual encounters with many of the game’s best players - including Lev Alburt, Boris Alterman, Viorel Bologan, Roman Dzindzikhashvili, Vasily Ivanchuk, Alexander Ivanov, Oleg Romanishin, Alexander Shabalov, Evgeniy Sveshnikov, Patrick Wolff, and Alex Yermolinsky. In total, Igor has beaten over 30 different Grandmasters. He has been a participant in the Ukrainian National Championship as well as a three times contestant in the US National Championship.
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| #2. Black to Move |
#3. Black to Move |
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| #4. Black to Move |
#5. Black to Move |
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| #6. Black to Move |
#7. Black to Move |
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| #8. Black to Move |
#9. Black to Move |
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STOP - answers begins below.
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| #10. Black to Move |
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STOP - answers begins below.
Recently, while I was working on a Training course for www.Chess.com, I saw the following endgame from the Geller -Fischer (1965, Capablanca memorial):
White to move
Geller had to make a decision - to capture the Bishop (1.Qxf3) immediately, or play 1.Qe5+ forcing the transposition into the pawn endgame. My guess that his decision wasn't that difficult as soon as he saw that he would be able to separate Black pawns after:
1.Qe5+! Qxe5 2.fxe5+ Kxe5
2...Kc6 3.gxf3 Kxb6 [3...g5 4.e6 and the King can't stop both White pawns] 4.f4 then the White K captures the Ph4, arrives to g5, and wins the Pg6 via a timely e5-e6+
3.gxf3 Kd6 4.f4! (diagram 1-a)
...and now the Black g-pawn can't defend the h-pawn. Fischer resigned here, not waiting for:
4...Kc6 5.Kh3 Kxb6 6.Kxh4 Kc6 (diagram 1-b)
7.Kg5 Kd6 8.Kxg6 Ke7 9.f5! (diagram 1-c) Kf8 10.Kf6 etc...
| I don't know about Geller, but as I was reviewing the above example, I immediately thought of another position that you may have seen before from the game:
Nimzowitsch, A - Tarrasch, S
1911, San Sebastian
Black transposed into the pawn endgame after 1...Rxf5 2.Kxf5 and then played 2...a5 3.Ke4 f5+!!
White resigned as his pawns will be separated after 4.Kd4 (4.Kxf4 a4) f4! and then easily picked off by the Black King.
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I provide very high-level answers for you to compare to what you should have come up with in 30 seconds - 3 min. Please check every position in detail on your own.
Solutions:
The #1 White wins as shown in Geller - Fischer above (1a).
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The #2 White wins - the White King will easily win the Pawns while the Black King is dealing with the a-pawn.
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The #3 White wins - he needs to send his King forward 1...Kc6 2.Kf4! (2.f4 g6 and Draw as White can't stop 3...g5) g6 (else 3.Kf5) 3.Ke4, then Kd5-e6 etc... When you do your analysis, one defensive idea you must check is - if the Black king has enough time to capture the a-pawn and then attack the f-pawn from e4.
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The #4 White wins - he can freeze the Black pawns after 1...Kc6 2.g5!, then the White King will easily win the Pawns.
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The #5 Draws - White can't make progress as Black's push g5 can't be stopped.
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The #6 Black wins - the white King can't leave the g-pawn, so the Black King can take time in capturing the a-pawn and then coming over the K-side, wining the f-pawn and the game. When you do your analysis, one defensive idea you must check is - if the White King has enough time to go after f-pawn, allowing the g-pawn to Queen, but getting his f-pawn advanced too. White is too slow!
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The #7 Draw - similar to #6, but here the white King can go after the f7 pawn. Check your analysis.
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The #8 Draw - the Black pawns securely defending each other and the best White can do is to trade 1 for 2. After 1...Kc6 2.Kh4 Kb6 3.Kg5 Kxa6 4.f4 Kb6 5.f5 gxf 6.Kxf5 and then Kg5-Kxh5
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The #9 White wins - like in #8, the Black pawns securely defending each other, but they are not far advanced and White can forgo controlling the h-pawn. 1...Kc6 2.f5! (2. Kg4? g6=) Kb6 3.Kg4 etc... Please check the variation for yourself.
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The #10. White wins - the White King will easily win the Pawns while the Black King is dealing with the a-pawn.
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================================================================
Summary
When one King is far away, busy dealing with opponent's pawn or pawns, the other King with a single pawn can successfully battle against two pawns. You need to be familiar with several possible setups and know what the expected results are. Then, you must be able to support your initial impression with accurate calculations as frequently there are specific situations that don't follow the normal flow. I presented only a handful of examples. Please use your favorite endgame books for future learning.
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Comprehensive answers includes diagrams for easy reading away from the chessboard.
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Distributions of answers, percentiles and other statistical reports by rating group from unrated to 2400+. Match yourself against players of all levels, up to grandmaster and see how you stock up.
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Results evaluated and Rating assigned overall & by 29 distinct categories: Motive: Misplaced Piece, Advanced Pawn, Lack of Protection, Back Rank Mate, Mating Net, Simplification. Theme: In-Between Move, Decoy, Interference, Clearance, Deflection, Discovered Attack, Double Attack, Removal of the Guard, Pin, Skewer, Trap.Objective: Checkmate, Force a Draw, Win Material, Pawn Promotion, Reaching Standard Endgame. Stage: Opening vs. Middlegame vs. Endgame Situation: Attack vs. Defense Result: Win vs. Draw
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Chess Exam and Training Guide:
Rate Yourself and Learn How to Improve
IM Igor Khmelnitsky's book, Chess Exam and Training Guide: Rate Yourself and Learn How to Improve (2004, IamCoach Press) - winner of Book of the Year from CJA - Chess Journalists of America (2005).
"...will quickly and accurately test your combinational ability, positional judgment and endgame expertise... Instructive and Entertaining!" - Alex Yermolinsky, Grandmaster, former US Champion and Olympic team member.
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See more articles at Chessville by IM Igor Khmelnitsky
Center Squares
Copyright © 2005-2008 by Igor Khmelnitsky & www.IamCoach.com and is used here by permission.
It may not be reprinted or reposted in any format without the express written permission of the author.
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