Distraction

This morning’s tactics session was suboptimal. After solving the first one correctly, I did so poorly that I dropped my rating 98 points from 3038 to 2940. I continued to solve with increased determination, ending at 3004. The last exercise, which I solved correctly in 4:59, offers a case study in distraction. How often do we focus on one area of the board, completely oblivious to what else is happening somewhere else.

I spend most of five minutes trying to make something work on the queenside, noting the threatened knight fork if my queen strayed. I looked at the contact between the bishops. In the last few seconds after expending so much time looking at unproductive lines, I noticed Black’s fatal problem on the kingside and executed the simple mate in two.

Self-propelled Pawns

For several years, I have used the term "self-propelled pawns" for two connected passed pawns in rook endings. I do not know whether I made up the term or read it in a book. Nonetheless, it is usually fairly easy to win such positions. Reuben Fine, Basic Chess Endings (1941) wrote, "connected pawns always win unless they are blockaded" (317).

During the 25% off sale earlier this week, I took the plunge and upgraded from ChessBase 15 to ChessBase 17. The new version lacks a feature that I regularly use: endgame keys. However, the help files suggest a different method of finding particular types on endings: similar endgames under report (see image).

I tried the new method this morning and was not surprised that Megabase 2024 contains many thousands of games with two connected passed pawns in rook endings. Naturally, I started looking for games when the stronger side failed to win. In most cases, the ending was misplayed.

I had the position above a year ago in a 16 minute game on Playchess. I finished the game checkmating my opponent 20 moves later using 3 seconds per move or less on all but five moves. 9 seconds was the longest.

I do not have access to the time per move nor time remaining for those games that were drawn, although winnable. Even so, perhaps the errors are instructive.

Black to move

This position was reached in a game played in 1998. Black, rated 1355, played 69...f4 and the game was drawn after 70.Rf8. 69...Kg4 would have been my choice and Stockfish confirms that Black is winning.

In a game played in 2003 between two 1500s, the two pawns plus rooks ending was reached on move 47. Black made progress advancing his pawns over many moves. Even here, after 87.Rd5+, Black was winning.

Black to move

87...Rd3 88.Rxf5 Rf3+

This move throws away the win. 88...e3 was the only way to keep the win in hand.

Black to move

Black, rated 1598, spoiled the win with a move that reminded me of a position from Kling and Horwitz (1851) and posted as "Elementary Technique" a month ago.

62...Re5+

I would have played 62...Re1, which is one of several winning moves.

63.Rxe5 fxe5 64.Kxg5 and drawn.

White could have erred with 64.Kxe5, when the idea in Kling and Horwitz would secure the win for Black.

The final example is from a 2010 game between two stronger players in the championship of Chili.

Black to move

55...Kg8

There is nothing wrong with the move in the sense that it does not spoil the win. However, 55...h4 can be played. However, 56.Ra7 forces Kg8. 57.Rg7+ Kf8 58.Rh7 Ke8 and this line begins to resemble the game as played.

56. Rg7+ Kf8 57.Rh7 Ke8 58.Ke6 Kd8 59.Kd6 Kc8 60.Kc6 Rc4+ 61.Kd5

Black to move

61...Rc7 spoiled the win, which is not entirely simple. Tablebases assure us that 61...Rf4 leads to checkmate in 42 moves. Black's king is still cut off, though.

White found 62.Rh6! and a draw was agreed.

Exchanging rooks leads to an elementary winning pawn ending, while 62.Rh8 allows the Black king to become active.

Easy Exit

This morning in an online 10 minute game, I knew I had an advantage, but suffered a failure of confidence without a clear checkmate. I forced a draw. The rating difference was such that the draw lifted me 6 points.

I had Black

White to move

32.a6

While replaying from the diagram against Stockfish, the machine played 32.Qc6. A queen ending was reached after the subsequent moves: 32...Ng3+ 33.Kh2 Ne2 34.Rxe2 Qxe2 35.Bc1 Qd1 36.Qc5 Qxb3 37.Bd2 h5 38.Bxb4 Rb8 39.a6 Rxb4 40.a7 Ra4 41.Qc8 Kh7 42.a8Q Rxa8 43.Qxa8

Black to move

Analysis diagram

My failure to convert the advantage in this ending highlights an area that deserves some study.

Returning to this morning's game.

32...Qe1+

32...Ng3+ is better.

33.Kh2 Qg3+ 34.Kg1

Black to move

At this point, I knew that I had an advantage and spent 58 seconds looking for a clear path forward. 

34...Qe1+

I opted to force a draw.

34...Ng5 created threats, but did not force matters towards a favorable conclusion.
I missed the option of returning to a previous position and easily winning White's rook. To wit, 34...Qe3+ 35.Kh1 Ng3+ 36.Kh2 Ne2 and White must give up the rook to stop checkmate.

The same situation would have occurred after 32...Ng3+

After the rook exchanges itself for the knight, Black's queen forks bishop and pawn.

White to move

I had no difficulty winning this position against Stockfish in my second battle with the silicon beat today.