CADOGAN CHESS BOOKS
Vasily Smyslov: Endgame Virtuoso
Vasily Smyslov: Endgame Virtuoso by Vasily Smyslov
former World Champion Translated by Ken Neat
EVERYMAN CHESS
First published in 1997 by Gloucester Publishers plc, (fonnerly Everyman Publishers plc), Gloucester Mansions, 140a Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8HD English Translation Copyright
©
1997 Ken Neat
Reprinted 2003 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any fonn or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the publisher.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. ISBN 1 85744198 2 Distributed in North America by The Globe Pequot Press, P.O Box 480, 246 Goose Lane, Guilford, CT 06437-0480. All other sales enquiries should be directed to Gloucester Publishers plc, Gloucester Mansions, 140A Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8HD teI: 020 7539 7600 fax: 020 7379 4060 email:
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EVERYMAN CHESS SERIES
(fonnerly Cadogan Chess)
Chief Advisor: Garry Kasparov Commissioning Editor: Byron Jacobs Russian Series Editor: Ken Neat Typeset by Ken Neat, Durham
Printed by Lightning Source
Co ntents From the Author
6
Pawn Endings
7
2
Minor Piece Endings
10
3
Rook Endings
32
4
Endings with Rooks and Minor Pieces
43
5
Endings with Queens
75
6
My Studies
91
7
Illustrative Games
95
Index of Opponents Index of Openings
175 176
Fro m the Author Many chess games conclude in the endgame, and from ancient times this stage of the game has been analysed. There are monographs and reference books dedicated to the endgame, where a study is made of theoretical positions, a knowledge of which can assist the chess player. The endgame has its specific features. In the middlegame the king hides from the attacks of the enemy pieces, but in the endgame it participates actively in the play. The role of passed pawns increases. The small number pieces on the board creates an illusion of simplicity, but positions that appear simple often conceal deep and beautiful possibilities. In the practical endgame there remains broad scope for creativity, despite all the theoretical analysis. Skill in endgame play demands precise calculation and rich imagination . I have always enjoyed playing endings and have never avoided going into an endgame, if the logic of the struggle demanded it. The properties and peculiarities of the pieces are most clearly revealed in the endgame. Delving into the secrets of the endgame reveals an amazing world of chess hannony. Not without reason did study composition, which can rightly be called the poetry of chess, originate in the concluding stage of the game. This book includes 122 endings from my career, and 40 games played in international competitions and in my own country. In the illustrative games the reader can trace the connection between the opening, the middlegame and the endgame. A few studies com posed by me are also given. A knowledge of the endgame is the magic key to the secrets of chess m astery. Vasily Smyslov
1
Pawn Endi ngs
Pawn endings occur comparatively rarely in practice, because the outcome is usually determined before the minor and heavy pieces disappear from the board. However, the spectre of a pawn ending hangs over the board, when as a result ofexchanges the remaining pieces may leave thefield ofbattle. In this chapter only a few endings are given, but the reader will frequently encounter pawn ending motifs when examining the other types ofendings. Despite the limited material, pawn endings are often very difficult, abounding in study-like subtleties, and paradoxical ideas are sometimes encountered. Normally, pawn endings can be analysed exhaustively and a categorical evaluation of the position given. This makes studying the theory of pawn endings interesting, and even fascinating.
Aronin-Smyslov
19th USSR Championship Moscow 1951
This pawn ending is almost like a study. When my opponent made his next move, he was sure that he was going to win. 4S g4 Suppressing Black's counter-play associated with ...f6-f5 or ...g5-g4.
Now the white king intends to march across to c4. 4S... hxg3! 46 fxg3 g4! A paradoxical decision, since the h-pawn becomes a protected passed pawn. 47 h4 cS 48
