Lesson 2: Practical Endings

The Principle of Two Weaknesses

Chess is a game of exploiting small advantages. To convert subtle advantages into a win, often it is necessary to play against at least two weaknesses. Sometimes, subtle advantages (e.g. better space and mobility) can be used to create and exploit a second weakness. The following endings illustrate this principle.

Position 1: Alekhine-Zemish

White (to move): Kb1, Qc3, Be4, b2, f3, g2, h2
Black: Kg7, Qe8, Nc8, f6, g6, h7

1 Qd4 Qe7
2 Bd3 Qc7
3 g4 Kf7
4 h4 Nb6
5 h5 gh
6 gh Qc6
7 Be4 Qb5
8 h6 Qb3
9 Bc2 Qb5
10 Qd3 Qd3
11 Bd3 Nc8
12 Bh7
1-0

Position 2: Faibisovitch-Vesterinen

White (to move): Kf3, Rd1, Be4, a4, b3, c2, f4, g3, h4
Black: Kf6, Re7, Bc3, a5, c5, c7, d6, g6, h5

1 Rd5 Rg7
2 Rg5 Bd2
3 Ke2 Bc3
4 Kd3 Be1
5 Kc4 Kf7
6 Kb5 Bc3
7 Rd5 Be1
8 Rd3 Kf6
9 c3 Re7
10 Bb7 Re2
11 Ka5 Rc2
12 Kb5 Bc3
13 a5 Be1
14 a6 c4
15 bc Bf2
16 Ra3 c6+
17 Kc6 Rc4
18 Kd6 Ba7
19 Bc6 Rb4
20 Kd7 Rb1
21 Ra5 Rb3
22 Rg5 Re3
23 Kc7 Re7+
24 Bd7 Bf2
25 f5 Re3
26 Rg6+ Kf7
27 Be6 Ke7
28 Rg7+ Kf6
29 Rf7+ Ke5
30 a7
1-0

Position 3: Bologan-Smirin

White: Ke3, Rc8, Nf3, a2, b3, f4, g3, h2
Black (to move): Kg7, Rb4, Bd6, a3, b7, d5, e6, f7, h6

33 ... h5
34 Nd4 h4
35 Kd3 Kf6
36 Rh8 hg
37 hg Bc5
38 Nc2 Re4
33 Rb8 b6
40 Rg8 Ke7
41 Kd2 b5
42 Kd3 b4
43 Rb8 Kf6
44 Rg8 Bf2
45 Rg5 Ke7
46 Rg8 f6
47 Rg7 Kf8
48 Rb7 f5
49 Rb4 Ke7
50 Re4 fe
51 Ke2 Bg3
52 Ke3 Kf6
53 b4 Bh2
54 Na3 Kf5
55 Nb5 Bg1
56 Ke2 d4
57 a4 d3
58 Kd2 Kf4
59 a5 Kf3
60 Nc3 Be3
61 Kd1 Bf4
0-1