Black to move. What is the best plan for black? This is a complicated endgame so please DO NOT post a one-two move answer.
This position came from the game Grischuk, Alexander (RUS) – Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime (FRA)
Critical Endgame Improvement!
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To Susan Polgar. This position (from Grischuk – Lagrave game) is flipped: Black is the lower side (his pawns move up!) and Black is on the first move! But these two factors are not mentioned in the task of my Facebook (and I suspect on other’s FB). Please always point out who’s move and the “flipped” board (if any). Thank you!
This is a very interesting position. I played through the game and it took me a while to appreciate why this wasn’t a draw.
A. Black’s a-pawn is taboo, since either R:a4 or K:a4 at any point is met by Ra8+ and the h-pawn promotes.
B. White’s f-pawn may not move, since the 2nd passed pawn for black would make the ending easy. And if White were to arrange to get his K to a point where it can support the push of the f-pawn, gf: K:f3 Rf1+ would again result in promoting the h-pawn.
C. White’s R is stuck on the h-file, for obvious reasons.
So this is one of those endings where Black marches his K to the g-file, up the g-file, and then back across the board on the 7th and 8th ranks to seek shelter on g2. Then Black will be able to abandon the h-pawn in exchange for the f- and g-pawns, and march his g-pawn to victory.
In reality, Grischuk defended differently. The game concluded 47….Ke6 48. Ra8 Ke5 49. Re8+ Kd4 50. Re2 Kd3 51. Rb2 Ke4 52. Re2+ Kf3 53. Rb2 Kg2.
Now 54. f4+ K:g3 55. f5 h4 56 f6 Kh3 57. f7 Rf1 and Black is winning. So White has to allow instead
54. Rc2 rF1 55. R:a2 R:f2 56. R:f2+ K:f2 57. K:h5 K:g3 and Black wins.
I really enjoy playing chess and I hope to learn a lot from your article.