In Wednesday's Morning Membership tournament, my round two game ended quickly because my opponent hung a piece early and gracefully resigned on move 20. That gave me time to watch Twitch, where Chris Bird was broadcasting the event. The top rated played in the event was struggling against a player who has given me trouble. The lower rated player exchanged queens into an endgame that Chris was sure should be winning for Black (the higher rated player), but the game finished in a draw.
Given that both players had perhaps twenty seconds remaining plus the two second increment when queens were exchanges, it is not surprising that both of them missed wins in the pawn ending. I found the errors instructive.
After the tournament, I downloaded this game, set up what I thought was a critical position where Black might have played differently, and proceeded to easily beat Komodo 13. I was less successful playing the queen ending, sustaining a slight advantage with White, but unable to find the win.
Live Chess Chess.com, 26.08.2020
30.Qxe8+
White exchanged into a lost pawn ending, but Black must play correctly to win.
One of my efforts against Komodo continued: 30.Qxb7 Qa4 31.Qd5 h5 32.Qc5+ Kf7 33.a3 h4 34.Qd5+ Kf8 White is better, but such positions are hard to play on a short increment, and I managed to find ways to lose.
30...Kxe8 31.Kg3 Ke7 32.Kf3 b5 33.Ke4 Ke6
34.d5+
White's move is technically best, but 34.g4!? presents Black a problem. 34...Kd6 is the only move. For instance, 34...a5 35.d5+ Kd6 36.Kd4 b4 37.Kc4+- and Black is the one in zugzwang.
34...Kd6 35.Kd4
35...a5??
Yes, the queenside majority is the decisive advantage in the position. However, the position of the kings makes all the difference. The extra pawn on the queenside must be used to take the White king out of action long enough for Black's king to gobble up pawns on the kingside. See "Fox in the Chicken Coop". Or watch this video on my Facebook page: "Fox in the Chicken Coop".
A little patience reducing White's choices to gain a tempo or two by placing White in zugzwang is necessary to win this ending.
35...f5 would be my instinct, and the computer confirms that this move (or 35...h5) is necessary. My play against Komodo continued 36.Kc3. Why did the computer give up the pawn so easily?
In analysis of my game with the engine, I examined 36.g3 h5 37.f3 a5 38.g4 fxg4 39.fxg4
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| Analysis Diagram |
39...h4 is the only move. 40.a3 a4 41.Ke4 b4 and Black will win.
Continuing my game with the engine: 36...Kxd5 37.Kb4 Kc6 38.Kb3 a5 39.Kc3 Kc5.
Black's 35...a5 was not only not the way to win, but it gave White an opportunity.
36.a3??
36.g4! and White is winning.
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| Analysis Diagram |
Black is in zugzwang. For instance, 37...b4 38.Kc4 and White will have the outside passed pawn on the queenside. 37...a4 is met with 38.a3.
Back to the game as played.
36...b4??
I also played this position against Komodo: 36...f5 37.Kd3 Kxd5 38.Ke2 b4 39.a4 Ke4 40.Kd2 f4 41.Kc2 f3! 42.gxf3+ Kxf3
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