woldsmandriffield: A deceptively simple ending.
 click for larger viewWhite (to play) must choose between 64 Kg4 or 64 Kg5 defending the f-pawn or 64 f5. If White goes 64 f5 Black counters with 64..Bf4! and both Kings are held back. To make progress, White must go 65 Kg4 Bd2 66 h4 Ke7 67 h5 but now 67..f6! is an important defensive idea, creating a route to h7. after 68 h6 Kf7 69 Kh5 Bc1 Black has established an effective blockade. Hence White should go 64 Kg5! controlling f6 and exploiting the poor position of the Bg3. After 64..Ke6 65 f5+ Ke7 White's King infiltrates with 66 Kh6! and 65..Bh4 (64..Kf8 65 Kh7!) 66 Bb2 Bf6 67 Ba3+ Kd7 68 Kh7 Ke8 69 Kg8 Bh4 70 Kg7! Bg5 71 f6 Bh4 72 Bc1! (Zugzwang) 72..Bf2 73 Bg5 fails to hold. Chistiakov played the tempting 64 Kg4 attacking the Bishop and defending f4 but this move drives the Bishop to a better square. After 64..Be1 65 Kf5 Ke7 66 Kg5 Makogonov missed the resource 66..Bd2! 67 h4 Ke6 68 h5 f6+! 69 Bxf6 Bxf4 =. A passage of play then followed where both players made errors, missing the key winning and defensive ideas. For example 70..Ke8! 71 f5 Bd2+ 72 Kg4 f6 mounts another successful blockade.  click for larger viewChistiakov's last chance to win was 74 Kg6! Bxh4 75 f5+ and Black loses wherever his King goes as White can trade into a won K+P ending. For more analysis of the nuances of this ending, check the following video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ah... |