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Monday, December 21, 2009

Endgame: Shielding Off

Pawn from my House of Staunton "Marshall&...Image via Wikipedia
White’s monarch can proceed toward Black’s pawn at a7, in the same number of moves, with three different first moves: Kd7, Kd6, or Kd5. Only 1. Kd5, however, prevents Black’s King from maneuvring to the critical diagonal of retreat (h2-b8) to connect to c7, which encloses White’s King at a7. The inexact play 1. Kd6?, for example, draws after 1….Kd4 2. Kc6 Ke5 3. Kb7 Kd6 4. Kxa7 Kc7 5. Ka8 Kb6 6. a7 Kc7 stalemate. Thus, when approaching an area or particular square with your King, try to find moves that also hamper the movement of the enemy King.
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Picture 1. White to move and win.
1. Kd5 Kb4
2. Kc6 Ka5
3. Kb7 Kb5
4. Kxa7 Kc6
5. Kb8 Kb6
6. a7        
(1-0)
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Picture 2. White played 6.a7 … winning for White.
(source: Pandolfini’s Endgame course,1988)
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