This was an actual position between Karjakin and Radjabov in the final round of Sochi Grand Prix. Black just played 45…Kd7. Can White save this game for a 2nd place tie? What is the best move for White?
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
- About Us
- Chess Improvement
- Chess Puzzles
- Chess Research
- College Chess
- General News
- Home
- Major Tournaments
- News
- Polgar Events
- Privacy Policy
- Scholastic Chess
- SPICE / Webster
- Susan’s Personal Blog
- Track your order
- USA Chess
- Videos
- Women’s Chess
- Contact Us
- Daily News
- My Account
- Terms & Conditions
- Privacy Policy
Karjakin played 46. Kb2 and lost. In the case of
46. Rxe4 f5
47. Re1 f4
48. Rg1 Ke6
49. Kb2 Kf5
50. Kc2 etc.
the white king manages to catch the pawns.
What after
50… Kg4
51.Kd2 fe
Looks pretty dangerous…
What after
50… Kg4
51.Kd2 fe
Looks pretty dangerous…
(That was supposed to be 51…f3, right?)
Looks dangerous, but isn’t:
52.Ke3 f2
53.Rd1 Kh3
54.Kf3 Kh2
55.Ra1
… and the Black pawns aren’t going anywhere.
There was no way that Karjakin could at least draw in this position…
I think black should still win if after the above line he plays
51… Kf3
Clearly, the white king cannot go the the back rank and Rf1+ does not seem to work either as the black king only then goes to g4, leaving the white rook awkwardly placed. Black wins.
I think black should still win if after the above line he plays
51… Kf3
Clearly, the white king cannot go the the back rank and Rf1+ does not seem to work either as the black king only then goes to g4, leaving the white rook awkwardly placed. Black wins.
46.Rxe4 f5
47.Re1 f4
48.Rg1 Ke6
49.Kb2 Kf5
50.Kc2 Kg4
51.Kd2 Kf3
52.Rf1+
… draws just fine. Black has two choices:
A) He can try to invade with 52…Kg2, but White counters with 53.Rxf4 — the g-pawn is still under control, and White’s king can still deal with the a-pawns;
B) He can retreat with 52…Kg4, but White simply repeats the position with 53.Rg1.
Agree to line (a) but not to line (b). After 53.Rg1 black can start advancing his a-pawn(s) while white cannot advance his king to black’s kingside pawn, e.g.
53… a3
54.Ke2 a5
and now what for white? Looks like a win to me but these endings are tricky and I might have overseen something.
Agree to line (a) but not to line (b). After 53.Rg1 black can start advancing his a-pawn(s) while white cannot advance his king to black’s kingside pawn, e.g.
53… a3
54.Ke2
54.Ke2 is premature — the sober 54.Ra1 is all that’s necessary. If 54…f3 55.Ke3 f2 56.Ke2 and White still has matters well under control.
After 54.Ra1 I would rather want to push 54… g2. The rook now has to remain on the back rank and black can move his king to g3 soon. Still think this wins for black.
After 54.Ra1 I would rather want to push 54… g2. The rook now has to remain on the back rank and black can move his king to g3 soon. Still think this wins for black.
54…g2
55.Ke2 Kg3
56.Rxa3+
… draws:
C) 56…Kh2 57.Rxa6 g1=Q 58.Rh6+ Kg3 59.Rg6+ Kh2 60.Rxg1 Kxg1 61.Kf3.
D) 56…f3+ 57.Rxf3+ Kh2 (57…Kg4 58.Rf8 g1=N+ doesn’t accomplish anything) 58.Rf2.
Your turn ….
In my view black wins in the following sample line:
46. Rxe4 f5
47. Re1 f4
48. Rg1 Ke6
49. Kb2 Ke5
50. Kc2 Ke4
51. Kd2 Kf3
52. Rf3+ Kg4
53. Rg1 f3
54. Ke3 f2
55. Rf1 g2
Or am I missing something?
DV
In my view black wins in the following sample line:
46. Rxe4 f5
47. Re1 f4
48. Rg1 Ke6
49. Kb2 Ke5
50. Kc2 Ke4
51. Kd2 Kf3
52. Rf3+
Sorry, but you’ve lost me. How does White’s rook get from 48.Rg1 to 52.Rf3+?
… in fact, White wins with 52.Rxg3.
Grrr. Scratch that. I have too many versions of this ending rattling around in my little brain.
Anon @ 11:43: typo, Rf1+ of course. But really, you could have figured THAT out yourself.
typo, Rf1+ of course
I apologize for my poor mind-reading skills. But yes, you are missing something:
46.Rxe4 f5
47.Re1 f4
48.Rg1 Ke6
49.Kb2 Ke5
50.Kc2 Ke4
51.Kd2 Kf3
52.Rf1+ Kg4
53.Rg1 f3
54.Ke3 f2
55.Rf1
… is a blunder, for exactly the reason you give (55…g2). 55.Ra1 (b1, c1, d1) draws.