Lesson 1: An attack in the centre

Strategy in the endgame can be simple. I consider a usual situation. One player seeks the struggle by moving the pieces forwards and another person reacts to the attack. Such uncomplicated strategies of struggle will be treated in several lessons. Difficult strategies will be discussed later. An attack in the centre is a very simple strategy. The successful advance of centre pawns has been shown by Philidor. This example is more recent. Black has a broad pawn centre. He can start a direct attack, if he advances the pawns properly and uses the pieces for support.

[Kotov prefers 26. Kd2 in order to play Ra1. However, Black can play ..e4 and ..d4 in that case. ]

Bxf5 27. Rxf5 Rfc8 ! 28. Rd2 d4 Black threatens ..d3. 29. Kd1 ?!

[ Slightly better is 29. Kb1 !? although this move gives less protection to an advance in the centre. ]

Rb8 !The threat ..a4 decides the game. 30. g4 h6 31. Rdf2 Rbb6 32. Kd2 a4 ! 33. bxa4 Rxb2 34. Kd3 Kg7 35. Rxe5 !?A sacrifice brings the last chance. fxe5 36. Bxe7 Rc3+ 37. Ke4 d3 ?

[ Re3+ 38. Kd5 d3 39. Ke6 dxc2 Black wins, because White has no drawing mechanism. ]

38. Bf6+ ?

[ Coincidences contribute to the great escape 38. Bd6 ! Kg6 !

[ dxc2 39. Bxe5+ ]

39. Rf6+ !! Kxf6 40. Bxe5+ Kg5 41. Bxc3 Rxc2 42. Kxd3 Rxh2 43. a5 Kxg4 White narrowly draws. 44. Kc4 h5 45. a6 h4 46. Kb5 Re2 47. a7 Re8 48. Kc6 h3 49. Be5 !Spassky didn't know this combination. "You were lucky" I teased him. He nodded with a smile. ]

Kg8 39. Bxe5 Rb4+ 40. Kd5 Rxc2 41. Rf1 d2 42. Rd1 Rxg4 43. a5 Ra4 44. a6 ! Kh7

[ Rxa6 ? 45. Bf4 ! Raa2 46. Bxh6 (Kotov ). ]

45. Bb8 Ra1 ! 46. a7 Rxd1 47. a8=Q Re1 Black's strategy in the centre has led to a complete success. 0-1