Lesson 13: The battle for an important square

Sometimes the struggle in the endgame is decided by the fight for one square. Naturally this will be a central square in most cases. E4 is the crucial point in the example. Korchnoi has a favourable position due to the control over this square.

[ 31. Nc5 ! Ne7 ! 32. Nd7 ! Nf5+ 33. Kf2 brings counteraction. ]

Ne7 32. Re1 Nf5+ 33. Kh3 Nd6 ! Black controls the square e4. This causes white passivity. 34. Kg2 Kf7 35. Nf1 Ke6 36. Ng3 g6 37. Nd2 Rf8 38. Re2 b5 The struggle for the important square e4 reaches its highlight. 39. Rf2 ? White misses the last chance.

[The time is ripe for 39. e4 !at last. Rf4 40. exd5+ Kxd5 41. Nf3 e4 42. Rd2+ Bd3 43. Ne1 continues the battle. ]

Bf5 40. Kf1 Rc8 41. Ke1 ?! The king is more active on e2. Slowly the white pieces move to poor squares. a5 A minority attack starts. 42. a3 b4 ! 43. axb4

[Korchnoi mentions 43. cxb4 Rc1+ 44. Ke2 Bg4+ 45. Kd3 e4+ 46. Kd4 Nb5# The combination ends with a wonderful pointe. ]

axb4 44. Ne2 Ra8 45. Nb3 Ne4 46. Rh2 Rb8 47. cxb4 Rxb4 48. Nbc1 Nd6 !

[ Rxb2 ?? 49. Nd4+ ]

49. b3 ?!

[ 49. Nc3 aims the knight on the square e4. ]

Ne4 50. Ng1 Nc5 51. Kd1 Nxb3 The knight manoeuvre has netted a pawn. 52. Rb2 Rg4 53. Nce2 Na5 54. Rb6+ Ke7 55. Nf3 Nc4 56. Rb7+ Ke6 57. Ke1 Be4 58. Nd2 Nxd2 59. Rb6+ Kf7 60. Rb7+ Kf8 61. Rb8+ Ke7 62. Rb7+ Ke8 63. Kxd2 Rxh4 64. Nc3 d4 65. Nxe4 Rxe4 66. Rg7 Rxe3 67. Rxg6 0-1