3 Pawns on the 7th- A Win, Right? Think Again!

There are certain "advantages" in chess that are supposed to secure victory, or get you close to it:

A pair of rooks on the 7th rank, a knight on the 6th rank, an overwhelming material advantage, connected passed pawns in an endgame...the list goes on and on!

But chess, besides having basic characteristics and patterns, is also a game of exceptions!

In this short blog I will share with you two games that feature 3 connected, passed pawns on the 7th rank; in one game, it was the deciding factor. In the other, it was not quite enough! (As they say, you can't win them all!)

The first game is from the year 1834, and it is from the Alexander McDonnell vs Louis Charles Mahe De La Bourdonnais match! Actually, matches! In 1834 they played 6 matches, for a total of 85 games!

The following book has all the games, with comments, and is a jewel of a book!

So in the previous game, 3 connected, passed pawns on the 7th rank brought De La Bourdonnais victory!

However, in the following game, 3 connected, passed pawns on the 7th rank only brought Janowski a draw!:

And that is all I have tonight! Good night, everyone, and a Happy 2020 to all!