Three More Endgames

     Yesterday's game between Cheparinov and Firat from the European Championship rekindled memories of working on Aronian-Dubov World Cup game. Here, the position has a slight difference, both sides have f-pawns instead of g-pawns.

                           Cheparinov-Firat EU Championship 2018

This position was reached after White's 57th move Kd5.

Black continued with 57...Bc3? which is an instructive mistake. White won the game cleanly with 58.Ra7 + Kf6 59. Ra3 Bb2

60.Ra2 Bc3 61.Kc4! Be162.Ra6 1-0  with the idea 63.Kd4 next move and getting the same Zugzwang as in Aronian-Dubov game which I had analyzed earlier in the "Tale of Three Endgames".

However Black could have drawn this game if he had continued with 57...Bg7! or 57... Bh8! 
                           An Important position to remember!

The difference between this position and the one with g-pawns for both sides is that Black's Bishop has two hiding squares behind his King on f6, namely g7 and h8. White's Rook and King duo can never force a Zugzwang as Black always has the moves Bh8-g7-h8. Although this seems counter-intuitive Black should know that he should hide his Bishop in the rear to hold this game! There were 2 more games from very similar positions.



                Sarasadat-Zhukova Tehran Women Grand Prix 2016

This is the position after Black's 74th move. According to the database, the game ends abruptly here, am assuming that White lost on time rather than resigning. But as we know from the previous position White can draw with 75.Kf2 Rb3 and 76 Bg2! or 76 Bh1!

                           Goganov-Kovalenko Eu Ch 2016

This is the position after Black's 73rd move in a game between two strong Grandmasters. White went wrong once again instructively with 74.Bc6? ( as we know White can draw with 74.Bg2 or 74.Bh1) 74....Ra7? (Black returns the favor, he could have won with 74... Ra2+! It is an important technique to force opponent's king to block the safe squares of his own Bishop. 75.Kf3 Ra6 76. Bb7 Ra7 77.Bc6 Kc5! as in the Aronian Dubov game, driving the Bishop out of the key diagonal and winning the game soon 78 Be8 Ra3+ 79.Kf2 Kd5 wins)

75.Ke2?( again 75.Bg2 or 75. Bh1 draws) 75...Ra2+! 76. Kf3 Ra6 77.Bb7 Ra7 78. Bc6 Kc5! forcing the Zugzwang 79. Be8 Ra3+ 80. Kf2 Kd5 0-1

The study of these three endgames show the beautiful resources hidden in the simplest of positions!