NN vs P: unheard melodies

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NN vs P: unheard melodies
Compiled by David2009

The ending Two Knights versus lone Pawn fascinates me. The winning strategy is simple (blockade the defending P with one N; use K and remaining N to shepherd the defending K in a corner; bring over the blockading N to checkmate), it is the tactics - the shepherding of the defending K - that are complicated. Some patterns keep on recurring, but others are unexpected and counter-intuitive.

The ending is also very easy for the defender to lose. For example, mechanically trying to stay in the centre of the board does not work. L N Enequist vs M Fish, 1934 and Barcza vs P Rethy, 1953 are examples of wins from initially drawn positions. J Sarkar vs J Urbina Perez, 2011 is a near-victory from a drawn starting position. Topalov vs Karpov, 2000 shows that even former world champions can make defensive mistakes (in rapid play).

This game collection only scratches the surface. Like diamonds, many beautiful variations lie below the surface.

With grateful thanks to <Resignation Trap> for his splendid collection Game Collection: Two Knights versus Pawn

A key defensive resource is knowledge about corners. The distinction is really between corners that are lethal, corners that are dangerous and corners that are safe (because the blockaded Pawn is too far forward). Link: David2009 chessforum (kibitz #26). In A Bisguier vs A Matanovic, 1961 (which shows the struggle of blockaded P on h5 vs NN) White lost quickly by going to the wrong corner (an earlier mistake was voluntarily entering the ending, without which there would have been no story). Another hidden gem: with best play on both sides there was an immensely difficult 50-move-rule draw achieved by heading towards the a8, then a1 and finally h1 corner but never of course entering the first two. In the best-play variation White can claim his 50 move draw with no moves to spare.

J Salas Romo vs Eliskases, 1941 ends up as P vs NN and 0-1 but the unheard melody occurs at move 39.

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Does 39.Qxe3 dxe3 40.Nd3 draw for White?

Here's a trap worth knowing in the following position with White to play (taken from D Komarov vs Kasimdzhanov, 2010

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Intuitively the position drawn and, indeed, it should be drawn with best play. But Black can set a devilish trap. After the natural moves 77 Kc1 Ke1 78.Kc2 Ke2 79.Kc1 Black can try 79...Nf2! (the Botvinnk trap, see Smyslov vs Lilienthal, 1941 (kibitz #7)). Now the natural 80.Kc2 loses to 80...Nd1! (springing the trap). We have reached

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which is a position of mutual zugzwang (White to play loses, Black to play draws). To avoid this, White should play 80. Kb2! and Black can choose betwen the mutual zugzwang just discussed or chasing White with the King, but White can make for b6 via the a file and slip out of the net.

The first example of NN vs P
C Jaenisch vs Shumov, 1854
(C33) King's Gambit Accepted, 49 moves, 1/2-1/2
Seitz makes the win look easy
Znosko-Borovsky vs J A Seitz, 1931
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 96 moves, 0-1
A classic missed opportunity (in Fine's Basic Chess Endings)
G M Norman vs Lilienthal, 1934
(D45) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 82 moves, 1/2-1/2
NN vs WP on h6: too far forward, but the draw hangs by a thread
Smyslov vs Lilienthal, 1941
(C98) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 125 moves, 1/2-1/2
Wonderful endgame skill by Eliskases moves 39 to 100
J Salas Romo vs Eliskases, 1941
(E80) King's Indian, Samisch Variation, 100 moves, 0-1
White pulls off the win from a theretically drawn position
Barcza vs P Rethy, 1953
(A22) English, 137 moves, 1-0
99...Na7! would set White a real challenge
Bobotsov vs F Bohatirchuk, 1954
(A53) Old Indian, 106 moves, 1-0
NN vs WP on h5. White lost quickly going to the wrong corner.
A Bisguier vs A Matanovic, 1961
(E11) Bogo-Indian Defense, 89 moves, 0-1
Unheard melody: two Ns might have mated the bare K
V Vepkhvishvili vs Sikovsky, 1992
(B74) Sicilian, Dragon, Classical, 140 moves, 1-0
Defensive slip after choosing wrong corner in rapid play
Topalov vs Karpov, 2000
(D37) Queen's Gambit Declined, 74 moves, 1-0
NN vs BP on a6: White wrongly allowed the BK to approach WNa5
S Brynell vs Krasenkow, 2007
(D31) Queen's Gambit Declined, 122 moves, 1/2-1/2
Pc5 vs NN, 50 move draw when M4, kudos both sides
M Panchanathan vs Z Izoria, 2007
(B07) Pirc, 110 moves, 1/2-1/2
NN vs BP on b6. A really well played White win.
V Bondarets vs W Veer, 2008
(C05) French, Tarrasch, 130 moves, 1-0
NN v BP on e5: White started well then lost his way. Draw.
A Nukin vs I Enchev, 2008
(B88) Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin Attack, 163 moves, 1/2-1/2
Try 60...Kc3 intending to drive WK to a8
S Barbeau vs P Charbonneau, 2010
(A05) Reti Opening, 98 moves, 1/2-1/2
An exciting draw, with Black saved by 50 move rule
J Sarkar vs J Urbina Perez, 2011
(D35) Queen's Gambit Declined, 102 moves, 1/2-1/2
Thanks to Phony Benoni for discovering this game!
L N Enequist vs M Fish, 1934
(A46) Queen's Pawn Game, 101 moves, 1-0
The one that got away! (48...Nba6! gives winning chances)
A Dgebuadze vs Fedorov, 2006
(B53) Sicilian, 67 moves, 1/2-1/2
A grandmaster miscalculates
A Bebel vs V Malinin, 2007
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 95 moves, 1-0
Suicide by Black in two steps
B Bakos vs J Plenca, 2007
(E10) Queen's Pawn Game, 78 moves, 1-0
Wonderful play by Black but 80.Kb2!! draws
D Komarov vs Kasimdzhanov, 2010
(D44) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 93 moves, 0-1
Suicide at move 51 but who knows the circumstances?
P Velicka vs M Rojickova, 2012
(C97) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 88 moves, 1-0
Class A player takes 47/50 moves to force win against expert
W Noordkamp vs F Zeven, 2013
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 117 moves, 0-1
The changing of the guard
B Rabar vs Kostic, 1945
(A83) Dutch, Staunton Gambit, 86 moves, 1-0
Tense exciting ending, draw a fair result
J Szwed vs N Matinian, 2013
(B51) Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky (Rossolimo) Attack, 75 moves, 1/2-1/2
When to avoid the NN vs P ending
D Larino Nieto vs Fridman, 2013
(A46) Queen's Pawn Game, 87 moves, 1/2-1/2
26 games

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