Saturday, October 24, 2015

How to use the King effectively in the Endgame

White: M. Tal
Black: G. Lisitsin
USSR Championship 1956
Sicilian Defense, Dragon Variation (ECO Code B71)

1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 d6
3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 Nf6
5. Nc3 g6
6. f4 Nc6
7. Nxc6 bxc6
8. e5 Nd7
9. exd6 exd6
10. Be3 Be7
11. Qf3 d5
12. 0-0-0 Bf6
13. Bd4 0-0
White has a slightly better position due to the space advantage but Black has counter chances
14. h4 Rb8
15. Qf2 Rb4
16. Bxf6 Nxf6
17. a3 Qb6
18. Qxb6 Rxb6
Both players have reached the Endgame early. It is instructive to observe how Tal takes advantage of Black's dark square weaknesses during the rest of the game. Also the best pieces to occupy weak squares are Knight and King.
19. Na4! Rb7 
20. Bd3 Nh5 
21. Rhf1 Re7 
22. f5 gf5 
23. Rfe1 Rfe8 
24. Re7 Re7 
Now the White King moves up the board to occupy the weak dark squares
25. Kd2! Ng3 
26. Kc3 f4 
27. Kd4 Bf5 
28. Rd2 Re6 
29. Nc5 Rh6 
30. Ke5! Bd3 
31. cd3 Rh4 
32. Kd6 Rh6 
33. Kc7 Nf5 
The White King is fully participating in the fight and is now an important attacking piece
34. Kb7 Nd4 
35. Rf2 a5 
36. Rf4 Ne6 
37. Rg4 Kf8 
38. Kc6 Nc5 
39. Kc5 Re6 
40. Kd5 Rb6 
The position has changed to a winning position for White, he is a pawn up with a passer on d3. All this was possible due to effectively using the King
41. b4 ab4 
42. ab4 Ke7 
43. Kc5 Rf6 
44. Rd4 Rf5 
45. Kc6 Rf6 
46. Kc7 Rf5 
47. Re4 Kf6 
48. Kc6 Rf2 
49. g4 h5 
50. gh5 Kg5 
51. b5 f5 
52. Rb4 f4 
53. b6 f3 
54. b7 Black Resigns
1-0
Play through this game on Chessgames
Below is an instructive Video on important points to use the King effectively

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