Position Power Part 2

Position Power

The Vancura Position

Endgames are difficult to navigate but knowing a few positions can help you bag a draw in what might appear to be a losing position. All the way back in February, I published a short blog on the Lucena and Philidor position. But there are quite a few more positions that are helpful. One those positions that might be able to save you a loss in a pawn and rook endgame is the Vancura Position.

In this position, it looks like black will be able to promote, as white's king is too far away to get to the pawn. However, with precise play, this position is a draw. This position requires both sides to have one rook and one side to have a pawn that is either on the third or sixth rank, depending on which color they are playing. Black has his rook in front of the pawn to help it escort, but this becomes a weakness when the pawn has to occupy that square. 

The important aspect of the vancura position is that the opponent's pawn is still two squares away from promotion, giving you enough time to play Rg8 or the equivalent rook move that places your rook on the open file. This allows your rook far greater activity and prepares to keep the passed pawn in check later by occupying the same row rather than behind. 

Now, black can try to counter-attack by getting his king involved with the escort of the pawn, but the rook is a much faster piece than the king and can go to g3. This move is critical to cut off the king and keep a check on the advancement of the pawn. 

In this position, black can't promote as long as white controls the third rank because the moment the pawn advances to the second rank, white's rook goes behind the pawn and prevents promotion. This also goes into the importance of the pawn originally being on the third rank. 

The same position but with the pawn on the second rank is one move too slow for the rook to prevent promotion. It just goes to show the precision in calculation and nuances that endgames can bring. 

Black also has the option of trying to threaten white's rook with his king by marching his king in the attack. However, white can simply travel up and down the third rank. As long as white's king is keeping the back rank in check and the rook has access to the third rank, then the position is holdable. If white tries to march the king to support the pawn, white can give checks with his rook and drive the king away from the pawn. But remember to only do this if necessary and return to the third rank as quickly as possible. 

If you get too careless, one wrong move can result in a black giving out a nasty rook sack to get the rooks off the board and leave your king helpless to prevent the passed pawn from promotion. 

Black may also try to give a check to your king on the second row, but the king just has to make sure to keep the back ranks in check and prevent the rook from making any sneaky sacrifices. The moment that the black rook tries to move away, the white rook is able to capture the pawn. You can only lose if the opponent's king becomes to active so remember to check the king if he gets too close to the passed pawn. Eventually, the position will repeat or 50 moves will pass as white is able to shuffle their rook and prevent black from making any progress. 

The Centurini Position

The Centurini Position is another endgame that is really helpful for promoting a pawn in a pawn and bishop endgame. This position requires a lot of precision and intuition. Bishops have to be the same color and promotion on the opposite color. Your king also needs to be actively escorting your pawn to promotion. 

The bishops make this position difficult because black can simply sacrifice their bishop for the pawn in order to secure a draw. And since the bishop is long range, it is able to comfortably guard the square. What white has to do is find a way to cut off black's line of vision of the promotion square. Notice that if white's bishop were on c7 or b8, it would be able to force black's bishop off the diagonal. However, black's king is controlling a lot of the transition squares.

White has to try to reroute to get onto the b8 square, however, black's king is able to cut off white's ability to get onto the critical a7 square. And if white tries to reroute back to cut off the bishop by controlling the c7 square, black can walk their king back. In this position, there is only one move that is able break through, can you find the crucial move of the Centurini Position?

Did you find it?

Bc5 is the only move to make progress because it controls the d6 square and prepares to move to e6 and d8. Any other move allows counter play.

By preventing black from playing d6, white is able to get their opponent in zugzwang and force black to play their bishop onto the diagonal out of the corner. Then, white plays the move to sack their bishop. Black can't take the bishop because it takes their eye off the promotion square, but when they move out of the way, white has control of the g1-a7 diagonal. Black's king no longer controls a7, and white finds their way to b8 and takes control of the promotion diagonal. 

Black is forced to move off the diagonal. Now, white has to find a way to get their bishop off the promotion square, but black still has some counter-play. 

Black has one more trick up their sleeve. They move into the a7 square and regain control of the promotion square. Can you find the next move for white?

The best move is Bg1, and black finds themselves in a pickle. They can't take the bishop because white would promote, but they have no squares to go to. White goes on to promote on the next move and hopefully win the game with king vs king and queen. Just make sure not to stalemate.

But are your thoughts on these positions? What other endgame skills do you want to know? Let me know!