Chess Skills: Three Blunders

24 April 2024

Three Blunders

In a ten minute game online, I struggled to get any advantage whatsoever against the Scandinavian Defense. Pieces were exchanged to lead to a rook ending with most of the pawns still on the board. Then rooks were exchanged. At the start of the pawn ending, there was some calculation needed because all of the pawns could move. I had White.

White to move

36.c4 e4+ 37.dxe4+ dxe4+ 38.Ke3 bxc4 39.bxc4

Black to move

39...Ke5??

This move was the first serious error of the game. 39...a4 was necessary. However, some calculation is needed to see that White gets no where after 40.Kd4 h5 (only move, and easy to miss) 41.c5 e3 42.Kxe3 (White could also opt for a queen ending that should be drawn with 42.c6 e2 and both pawns promote--Black's first; White's with check) 42...Ke5 43.c6 Kd6 44.h4

Black to move

Analysis diagram

44...gxh4 is the only move that holds the draw. 45.c7 Kxc7 46.gxh4=

Back to the game as played.

40.a4+- h5 41.g4 h4

White to move

White is in the driver's seat with a clear advantage and a clear plan. Sacrifice the passed pawn in order to penetrate on the kingside with the king and create another passed pawn. Promote it.

42.c5 Kd5 43.c6 Kxc6 44.Kxe4 45.Kf5 Kb4 46.Kxg5 Kxa4

White to move

47.Kxh4??

This seemingly obvious move throws away the advantage. Now both players get queens and White's extra pawn has no chance to advance.

47...Kb5 (or Kb4) 48.g5 a4 49.g6 a3 50.g7 a2 51.g8Q a1Q

White to move

Analysis diagram

47.Kf4! was the only winning move, but I did not consider it. Only after a quick and superficial glance at chessdotcom's computer analysis did I discover my error and begin the day's endgame lesson. The graph shows a brief moment of equality after I gained an advantage.

Play might have continued: 47...Kb4 48.Ke3 a4
If 48...Kc4 49.Kd2+-
If 48...Kb3 49.g5+-
49.Kd2 a3 50.Kc2 Kc4

White will eventually win Black's a-pawn and then return to the kingside with an easy winning pawn ending. Or, if Black tries to hang on to the a-pawn, White's g-pawn queens.

My blunder in a complex position was answered by the worst move of the game. My opponent placed his king where it would be in check when my g-pawn promoted.

47...Kb3??

The third and decisive error. The rest was easy.

White to move