Skype coaching session, 16 February 2020. Note: Daylight saving time will affect certain regions, check your calendar carefully to arrive on time (14:00 UTC). 5 coaching sessions are planned for March on Sundays: 01, 08, 15, 22, at 14:00 UTC, which is 14:00 GMT. And Sunday: 29, at 14:00 UTC, which is 15:00 BST. The game discussed (57 moves) is given below with annotations and without annotations plus a supplementary rook and pawn ending. Re-structuring of the sessions now offers the option for guests to bring their own games for group discussion. Recordings of some previous coaching sessions can be found at: http://www.open-aurec.com/Skype/PaulBenson/PaulBenson.htm Paul Benson. * * * Annotated Game. White: A. Kosteniuk, 2495. Black: H. Koneru, 2560. Event: Womens Grand Prix (Skolkovo) 2019. Result: 1/2-1/2 in 57 moves. Opening: Petroff Defence, Classical Attack, C42. | Editorial. Good advice is out there to be accepted or rejected. We expect Grand Masters to give us fine examples to follow. Sometimes those, "Unwritten Rules", can be bent a little and sometimes be broken. Perhaps the trick is to become a Grand Master after which wisdom might indicate when the good advice need not apply? || 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 | All players of the Petroff will of course have a line ready against, 4. Nxf7, the Cochrane Gambit. Is this bold strike sound? Not really, but it does have a tremendous plus score in the limited database referenced for these sessions. Here is a sample of the joys / horrors which can happen. S. Sulskis (2545) - T. Michalczak (2369), 6th European Individual (Warsaw) 2005, went: 4. Nxf7 Kxf7 5. d4 c5 6. Bc4+ d5 7. exd5 Bd6 8. O-O cxd4 9. Qxd4 Bf5 10. Bf4 Re8 11. Nc3 a6 12. Rae1 Rxe1 13. Rxe1 Qc7 14. Bxd6 Qxd6 15. Re5 Bxc2 16. Re6 Qd8 17. d6 Kf8 18. Nd5 Nc6 19. Qf4 Bg6 20. Nxf6 gxf6 21. Qh6+ 1-0. Cute, the light squares are toxic, that c4 bishop x-ray attack leads to fatal double checks: (A). If, 21. ... Kg8 22. Re8+ mate. (B). Or if, 21. ... Kf7 22. Re7+ mate. As stated above, players of the Petroff Defence should be prepared for the Cochrane Gambitt. The 65% white wins suggests some have not done their homework. || 4. ... Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bf5 | Up until here the game has been following, "Mainline Moves", that is the most popular choice has been repeated. But here black has deviated into an uncommon sideline, or to be more accurate, black has specifically prepared this variation for this opponent. Far more popular is, 6. ... Nc6, then comes, 6. ... Be7, 6. ... Bd6, and less popular than the game choice comes, 6. ... Bg4, 6. ... Nd6, 6. ... Nf6. The spread of choices tells us that the top players cannot agree on the best approach for black. So what should the club player do? Pick a line which visually appeals, study it, noting which piece exchanges are sought, which piece exchanges are avoided, which pawns move and which pawns stay at home until forced to move. In this way a general feeling of how to handle the variation should emerge, the only problem is to sort out over the board in which order to make the moves to arrive at the middlegame. Perhaps inspiration from a group of like-thinking minds might assist? City of Budapest - Paris Chess Club, Correspondence 1842, posted this imbalanced encounter: 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4 Be6 9. Qc2 f5 10. Qb3 dxc4 11. Qxb7 c6 12. Bxe4 fxe4 13. Ng5 Bf5 14. Nc3 Qd7 15. Qxd7 Nxd7 16. Ngxe4 Bc7 17. Re1 Rab8 18. Re2 Nb6 19. Nc5 Bd6 20. N5e4 Bc7 21. Nc5 Bd3 22. Re3 Bc2 23. Ne6 Rf7 24. Nxc7 Rxc7 25. Re2 Bd3 26. Bf4 Bxe2 27. Bxc7 Re8 28. Bxb6 axb6 29. Re1 Bh5 30. Rxe8+ Bxe8 31. Ne4 b5 32. a3 Bg6 33. f3 Kf7 34. Kf2 Ke6 35. Ke3 h6 36. g4 Kd5 37. Nc3+ Kd6 38. f4 Be8 39. f5 Bd7 40. Ne4+ Ke7 41. Kf4 Be8 42. Ke5 Bf7 43. h4 Bd5 44. g5 hxg5 45. hxg5 Bg8 46. g6 1-0. || 7. O-O Be7 8. c4 | A dynamic approach, white is willing to accept the, "Isolated Queen Pawn", and play around it with the pieces. Instead, 8. Re1 Nc6 9. Nc3, is a different way to start challenging the black central control. || 8. ... dxc4 9. Bxc4 O-O 10. Re1 | With now only a handful of games on the database it is not possible to judge, 10. Nc3, as better or worse. || 10. ... Nd6 | This is a key-move in the system beginning with black, 6. ... Bf5, on d6 this knight assists the defences of some light squares, in particular the f7 pawn. || 11. Bd5 | According to limited database this is a new move. Instead, 11. Bd3, led to a draw in 18 moves, meaning this bishop retreat was not seriously tested, However, 11. Bb3, still probing the black f7 pawn gave a lively early middlegame followed by a most fascinating endgame. So what is the point of centralising the white bishop on d5? Perhaps white was not completely prepared for the variation of black, 6. ... Bf5, and is selecting a move which no respecting chess engine would crunch through. In essence, if black had a new idea ready to spring on white, then perhaps this strange but safe shuffle is neutralising any dangerous preparation, both players must start thinking independently. || 11. ... Na6 | Perhaps this knight could have tried, Nd7 - Nf6, with options of, Nfe4, when appropriate. White to play is about to play an, "Annotator's Nightmare", of a move. || 12. Ne5 | With 4 unmoved pieces stretching from a1 - d1 white chooses to invest a 4th tempo on the king's knight. So much for the, "Apparent Rule", of get developed quickly moving each piece only once unless another move is required to avoid material loss. Or maybe this situation is not as clear as an average Grand Rabbit might suspect? White has held the Womens World Championship crown (2008 - 2010) and was awarded the Grand Master title earlier in 2004, this 4th knight move must be taken seriously. Perhaps it could deserve to be called a quadrupler? Firstly, another attack is placed on the traditional weak point in a black castled king defences, the f7 square, here still occupied by a pawn. Secondly, when a unit moves it vacates the square for someone else, white has options of, Qf3, as appropriate. Thirdly, a careless response from black will unleash a sneaky tactic. Fourthly, a backward defence has been placed on the d3 square, but was that square really weak? So where does this leave that good advice about speedy development? White has no weaknesses around the king and black has no coordination in that region. Black is several moves away from ganging up on the white d4 pawn. In essence, white knows there is no immediate danger in the lack of queenside development and instead focuses on skirmishing in the centre with a few pieces. Warning: Copy this style in your games at your own risk, or perhaps until your rating goes over 2200? || 12. ... Nb4 | Black avoids, 12. ... c6 13. Bxc6, losing a pawn, because going further with, 13. ... bxc6 14. Nxc6 Qc7 15. Nxe7+, black goes 2 pawns down. Note that, 12. ... c6 13. Bxc6 f6, is even worse as 14. Bxb7 Rb8 15. Bxa6 fxe5 16. dxe5, and black is 3 pawns down. || 13. Bb3 | And now the white light square bishop consumes a 4th tempo, must be something to do with starting life on the kingside, right? On b3 this bishop guards c2 against an exchange-costing, Nc2, fork. Black to play is about to produce another, "Annotator's Nightmare", move. || 13. ... Nc6 | The Grand Masters are giving Grand Rabbit a hard time today. Only move 13 and 2 white units have consumed 8 tempi, and the black c6 and d6 knights have taken up 6 tempi. Fine, but if there are no weaknesses to exploit in your camp then such extravagances are just about acceptable. So why the problem with annotating this black knight retreat? It is assessing all the long-term consequences of the, "Obvious", white reply which cause the headache. || 14. Nxc6 bxc6 | Black has deliberately created doubled-isolated c-pawns, surely sitting targets on a semi-open c-file? True, but at least the annoyance of a strong white e5 knight has been eliminated. There is also the semi-open b-file just waiting for a timely, Rb8. And there is the tricky balance in need of assessing, do the positives outweigh the negatives? Only time will tell which opinion proves to be correct. || 15. Qf3 | Immediately getting after the black c6 pawn. Appropriate Fischerism: "In chess it is important to know when to punch and when to duck." Black to play, attack or defend? || 15. ... Bf6 | Attack, the c6 pawn is offered in trade for the white d4 pawn. Fine, but surely it will be white who will get some advantage with an open centre? This is not so clear, there is a really cute idea for black to find which does not come instinctively to a club player. || 16. Qxc6 | Again it is attack preferred over defence. Instead, 16. Be3 c5, and not only does the black target move, it actually becomes an attacker in the process. It seems chess pieces can change their persona in an instance. Black to play can take advantage of a weakness in the white position. Hang on there, was there a statement just a few moves ago that white had no weaknesses in the position to be exploited? Quite true, but the position has undergone a very serious alteration since then. Clue: A white unit has got herself into play, fine, but perhaps she has actually deserted an important post? || 16. ... Re8 | Instead regaining the pawn with, 16. ... Bxd4, is fine but misses the chance to test white. When the undeveloped white queen sat on d1 the white back rank was secure, now matters are not so clear. we have here support for the advice to develop pieces quickly, which would by default connect rooks, giving extra defence against back rank threats. || 17. Be3 | Evasive action lets black have good play, some examples run: (A). If, 17. Rf1 Bxd4 18. Nc3 Ne4, and black is very active, a timely, Qh4, will place much pressure on f2, other active plans are equally appealing. (B). Or if, 17. Rd1 Bxd4 18. Rxd4 Re1+ mate will not happen, so black gets the white d4 pawn due to the weak white back rank. Trading down seems equally unappealing, some ideas run: (C). Or if, 17. Rxe8+ Qxe8 18. Qc3 Bxd4, overloaded white queen cannot guard both d4 and e1, capturing is fatal, 19. Qxd4 Qe1+ mate. (D). Or if, 17. Rxe8+ Qxe8 18. Qxe8+ Rxe8 19. Be3 Bxd4 20. Bxd4 Re1+ mate, that weak back rank again. (E). Or if, 17. Rxe8+ Qxe8 18. Qxe8+ Rxe8 19. Be3 Bxd4 20. Nc3 Bxe3 21. fxe3 Rxe3, black has won a pawn. (F). Or if, 17. Rxe8+ Qxe8 18. Qxe8+ Rxe8 19. Be3 Bxd4 20. Nc3 Bxe3 21. Re1 Bxf2+ 22. Kxf2 Rxe1 23. Kxe1, black has again won a pawn. || 17. ... Bxd4 18. Nc3 Bxe3 | This bishop trade will inflict an isolated e-pawn on white, the only question is whether white wishes to throw in an exchange of rooks along the way. || 19. fxe3 | The difference between, "Grand Mastery", and, "Grand Mystery", is not always obvious. White is leaving rooks on. This means the black e8 rook is bearing down on the e3 pawn with options of moving elsewhere without loss, but the white e1 rook is tied down to a defensive position if the e3 pawn is to remain in play. Had white captured with, 19. Rxe3, and rooks traded, then the advantage of the black rook having flexibility of movement over the white e1 rook would not exist. And yet white rejected this possible trade, preferring to have a rook tied down to defensive duties. Perhaps sometimes, "Grand Mastery", and, "Grand Mystery", are actually the same? Time will tell us if declining a rook trade was wise. Clue: A pessimist will find negative consequences of a move, an optimist will find positive consequences of that same move. || 19. ... Re5 | A tripler. Firstly, a queen lift with, Qe7, will place a double attack on the weak white e3 pawn, the black pieces must have the higher value queen supporting the lower value e5 rook. Secondly, black now owns the b5 square, preventing white, Nb5, trying to trade off the useful black d6 knight. Thirdly, the f5 bishop is given another defence, just in case, you never know how quickly attacks can emerge. White to play starts to justify the capture of, fxe3. || 20. Rf1 | Optimistic view of capturing with, fxe3, the f-file is semi-open for some rook action. But surely this could also happen had white permitted a rook trade on the e3 square? Yes, but white has greater plans concerning the f-file other than having this rook on it. || 20. ... Rb8 | A tripler. Firstly, the black queen's rook gets out of the glare of the white c6 queen, this gives the black d8 queen the option of, Qe7, if desired. Secondly, future options of a rook lift up the b-file are now available. Thirdly, the white b3 bishop must think carefully about moving as the b2 pawn would be left unprotected. Instead, 20. ... Rxe3, just feels wrong. White must get play with something like, 20. ... Rxe3 21. Nd5 Re2 22. Rad1 Rxb2 23. Nxc7 Rc8 24. Rxd6, and this time it is the black back rank which is weak as, 24. ... Qxc7 25. Qxc7 Rxc7 26. Re8+, is mate. || 21. Rad1 | A tripler. Firstly, an x-ray attack is placed on the black d8 queen, almost always a useful asset. Secondly, the black d6 knight is pinned, black must be careful regarding the f5 bishop, yes, the black e5 rook offers a defence, but defenders can be deflected. Thirdly, a simple rook lift of, Rd2, defends the b2 pawn freeing the b3 bishop for action if desired. || 21. ... Be6 | Black is hoping for a trade of light square bishops, white should not let this happen. || 22. Nd5 | Black is not given the luxury of a bishop trade, the white b3 bishop is a much better piece than the black e6 bishop, pressure on f7 must be maintained. || 22. ... Bxd5 | The white knight on d5 was too strong, elimination is the simplest option rather than trying to defend. || 23. Bxd5 Re7 | Every white piece is better than every black piece, so it is hardly surprising black chooses to defend. Attacking seems inadvisable, instead, 23. ... Rxb2 24. Bxf7+ Nxf7 25. Rxd8+ Nxd8 26. Qa8 Rd7 27. Qxa7, and white will make good use of the passed a2 pawn. (B). Or if, 23. ... Rxb2 24. Bxf7+ Rxf7 25. Rxf7 Nxf7 26. Rxd8+ Nxd8 27. Qe8+ mate. || 24. Rd2 | A doubler. Firstly, the b2 pawn is protected. Secondly, doubling of rooks on the semi-open f-file is a step closer. || 24. ... Rb6 | A move of mixed consequences. This rook lift is achieved with a gain of tempo on the white queen, black has plans of, Qb8, hitting the b2 pawn with another tempo-gain. However the white queen was out of play on the queenside, this game must now be fought on the kingside, this black rook-kick is pushing her to be just where she wants to go. || 25. Qa4 Qb8 | Doubly-attacking the singly-defended white b2 pawn, this must surely force a defensive response, right? || 26. Qh4 | Tempo-gain attack on the undefended black e7 rook. || 26. ... Qe8 | Giving an extra defence to the pinned f7 pawn, fine, but are not a couple of black heavy pieces now doing little other than defending? || 27. Bb3 | This might seem like an attempt to close-off the black b6 rook activity on the b-file. Perhaps so, but maybe by accident rather than design. Much more likely is the idea to gang up on the black h7 pawn with, Bc2, forcing a black kingside pawn advance somewhere. || 27. ... h6 | Black responds to the possible white threat of, Bc2, by moving the target before it is actually threatened. || 28. Rdf2 | White is massing pieces on the kingside, a few more moves and the f2 rook will be re-located to create tactical threats, black needs to find a means of challenging this piece. Clue: Who in the black camp is not working for the defence, and how can they assist? || 28. ... a5 | It is the b6 rook who needs to get kingside as quickly as possible, with a pawn on a5 the b4 square is now an anchor-point to challenge the white h4 queen. Instead capturing, 28. ... Rxe3, seems undesirable, some ideas run: (A). If, 28. ... Rxe3 29. Rxf7 Nxf7 30. Bxf7+ Qxf7 31. Rxf7 Kxf7 32. Qf4+, picks off the loose black e3 rook. (B). Or if, 28. ... Rxe3 29. Rxf7 Rexb3 30. Rf8+ Qxf8 31. Rxf8+ Kxf8 32. axb3 Rxb3, black might have unbalanced material equality, but the white queen is very likely to have much joy in amongst the scattered black pawn formation, difficult defensive task ahead for black here. || 29. Rf4 | White creates a4th rank battery, if black tries, Rb4, it will simply lose a pawn for no compensation. Surely black is not going to let this stop the idea of getting the b6 rook into play? || 29. ... c5 | A move of mixed consequences. Another support is given to the anchor-point b4 square. However when a pawn moves gains and losses of control result, back on c7 the d6 knight was protected, now it is loose, but does this matter? Instead lashing out on the kingside with, 29. ... g5, seems risky: (A). If, 29. ... g5 30. Qxh6 gxf4 31. Rxf4 Rb4 32. Qg6+, and whichever way the black king dodges the check, white has, 33. Qh6+, when a 3-fold repetition the best available to white. (B). Or if, 29. ... g5 30. Qg4 Kg7 31. Rf6, black king safety seems worse then before, pawn g5, was thrown in. || 30. Rg4 | Pinning the black g7 pawn, white threat of, Qxh6, needs neutralising. || 30. ... Rb4 | Aha, all pins are equal, but some pins are more equal than others, right? White now dare not try, 31. Qxh6, as the g4 rook would fall. White to play is not going to be so easily put off, there will be kingside activity. || 31. Rxg7+ | An combination designed to expose the black king, anything else permits black to slowly unravel. || 31. ... Kxg7 32. Qf6+ Kh7 | Keeping a defence on the h7 pawn. || 33. Qxd6 | White has won only a knight plus pawn for a rook, this is a material loss. However the only pieces to challenge the white light square b3 bishop are the black rooks. In essence, the white b3 bishop virtually owns the light squares, a very powerful piece indeed. Instead, 33. Bc2+ Ne4, white is a rook down for little compensation, black will push the white queen away with, Re6, this would be resignable. Black to play must act and act quickly or the opportunity might never arise again. || 33. ... Rxb3 | Totally necessary. Returning an exchange to be able to fight on the light squares is the only logical continuation. || 34. axb3 Rxe3 35. Qxc5 | Instead trying to exploit the black kingside fails: (A). If, 35. Rf6 Re1+ 36. Kf2 Qe3+ mate, should not happen. (B). Or if, 35. Rf6 Re1+ 36. Rf1 Qe3+ 37. Kh1 Rxf1+ mate, should not happen. || 35. ... Re1 | Mistakes are always just a move away. Instead, 35. ... Rxb3 36. Qc2+, picks off the straying black b3 rook. Black now has options of a rook ending or a queen ending, but which offers the better chances? || 36. h3 | With so little material remaining it would be reasonable to think not much can happen, right? Not so, some blunders to avoid were: (A). If, 36. Rxe1 Qxe1+ mate. (B). Or if, 36. Qxa5 Qe3+ 37. Kh1 Rxf1+ mate. || 36. ... Qe3+ | Queen endings are notoriously difficult to assess. Instead, 36. ... Rxf1+ 37. Kxf1 Qd8, both kings are a little open but black needs to take care over the future of the a5 pawn. || 37. Qxe3 Rxe3 38. Rxf7+ Kg6 | Black is 2 pawns down but has an active king. White to play must choose between attack and defence. || 39. Rb7 | Defending offers no winning chances. Instead, 39. Rf3 Re2 40. Rf2 Re3 41. Rf3 Re2, heading for 3-fold repetition. Different aggression fails, 39. Rf5 Rxb3 40. Rxa5 Rxb2, a theoretical draw is on the way. || 39. ... Re2 | Black is getting a pawn back, but there are still a few little tricks in the air. White to play needs to find the plan about to emerge, actually this needed to be in mind before choosing activity with, 39. Rb7. || 40. b4 | Surely this is about to fall into a self-pin? Yes, but there is an escape plan for white which will give a strong position. Black to play needs to be accurate here. || 40. ... a4 | The apparent white self-pin which could arise after, 40. ... Rxb2, is answered with, 41. Rb6+ Kg5 42. bxa5 Ra2 43. a6, when the passed a6 pawn needs the support of the white king to cost black the rook. White would need to march the king across the back rank to b1, the black rook responds, Ra5, it must stay on the a-file, the white king marches up the b-file, slips round the white b6 rook to b7, then the passed a-pawn is ready to roll, lengthy but the only way to proceed. Instead, 40. ... axb4 41. Rxb4, the passed white b2 pawn should be a decisive factor. || 41. Ra7 | The only way for white to keep a queenside pawn. || 41. ... Rxb2 42. Rxa4 Kg5 | A brief summary of strategies might assist. White. #1. Get the king active, ideally helping the b-pawn through to promotion. #2. Try to create a passed pawn on the kingside, far better having a g-pawn, edge-pawns come with problems when an attacker tries to make use of them. #3. Seek an indirect pawn trade of passed b-pawn for black h-pawn, this will give white connected passed pawns with a rook each, a book win. Note: Should the indirect pawn trade occur giving white connected passed pawns with a rook each, then some good technique is required. Advance the pawns together as a team, do not let more than 2 ranks appear between them as they advance. The white rook will at some point take the 7th rank, when this happens do not, repeat, do not, ever advance with, pawn h7. Instead advance the g-pawn to the 7th rank, if you play, pawn h7, you hand the opponent a potential draw by perpetual rook sacrifice, assuming they are alert to the opportunity. Aha, you would like an example of this 7th rank edge-pawn trap? Sure, consult Section 3 given below. Now, how about the black strategy in the coaching game? Black. #1. Use the rook to prevent the white b-pawn advance. #2. Use the rook to prevent the white king entering the centre of the board, yes, this rook must work hard. #3. Squeeze the white kingside with king and h-pawn, either to keep the white king inactive, or to leave white with a passed h-pawn, the worse option for black is to let white achieve a passed g-pawn. || 43. Kh2 | Trying to run into the centre using the g3 and f3 squares. || 43. ... h5 | Squeezing the white kingside. || 44. Ra5+ | A white rook check designed to draw the b4 pawn a square closer to promotion next move. Instead, 44. Kg3 Rb3+, denies the white king the opportunity to use the f3 square, whether white retreats with, 45. Kh2, or, 45. Kf2, black keeps the rook on the white 3rd rank. || 44. ... Kh4 | Appearances might suggest this king advance is some form of attack, or at least another means of squeezing the white kingside. Not quite so, it is more of a mood-enhancer, giving the impression of doing something positive. Had black retreated with, 44. ... Kg6, the next white and black moves would have been exactly the same. || 45. b5 Kg5 | Remember those strategic duties the black rook needed to perform? #1. Stay on the b-file to prevent the advance of the white passed b-pawn. #2. Keep the white king from escaping into the centre. It is these duties which mean the black king must retreat into an x-ray attack. Instead, 45. ... Rc2 46. b6 Rb2 47. b7 Rxb7 48. g3+ mate, shows us that king activity must not overrule king safety, both skittles always need to be within grasping range. || 46. Kg3 Rb3+ | Forcing the white king backward, escaping with, 47. Kf3, must not be allowed. || 47. Kh2 | Transferring the king queenside beginning with, 47. Kf2, will be too slow. The black rook will first clean up the white kingside pawns, then give itself up when the white b-pawn promotes, the combined white king plus rook will be too slow to get back to the kingside, the white rook will have to give itself up when the black h-pawn promotes. || 47. ... h4 | A move which required careful consideration. When on h5 this pawn could be defended with a king on either of the g5 or g6 squares. On h4 it can only be defended by the king on either of the g5 or h5 squares, does this make a difference? || 48. Kg1 | If white is going to do anything with the passed b5 pawn then king assistance is required. But if this is the white plan then why did the king not sprint queenside when the black rook gave a 6th rank check? Instead, 48. b6+ Kf4 49. Ra4+ Kg5 50. Ra6, and the white queenside activity grinds to a halt, the white king must go queenside, but the black king will invade and pick up the white kingside pawns, each remaining pawn will cost the opposing rook. || 48. ... Kf4 | Amazingly black is actually threatening a mate in 2 with, Kg3, and, Rb1+, easily preventable, but shows why king activity in the endgame is an asset. White to play can take advantage of an awkward formation in the black position. || 49. b6 | Throwing away the passed b-pawn, there had better be a good reason for this. Clue: When a unit moves previously closed lines become open for others to use. || 49. ... Rxb6 50. Rh5 | Remember those strategic aims? White #3 reads: Seek an indirect pawn trade of passed b-pawn for black h-pawn, this will give white connected passed pawns with a rook each, a book win. And this is exactly what is about to happen, sort of. Black did not have to advance with, pawn h4, and similarly the king could have retreated with, Kg6, covering the h5 square. So appearances suggest a player rated 2560 can make the sort of moves we often find in our own games, right? Black to play is in need of inspiration, but what is there? || 50. ... Rb4 | On the grounds a long-term loss is your fate, then perhaps an immediate loss is less painful? With everything lined up on the black 5th rank it seems just a couple of moves will leave black with a bare king. || 51. Kh2 | And now a 2495 rated player misses the win of a pawn plus rook, right? Perhaps not. Instead, 51. Rxh4+ Kg3 52. Rxb4 stalemate. Even worse, 51. Rxh4 Kg3 52. Rh8 Rb1+ mate. It seems the black kingside activity has produced strengths rather than weaknesses, the final ingredient was the inspirational, Rb4, setting up a defence to h4 combined with a potential stalemate. || 51. ... Ke3 | Protecting the h4 pawn, there are just a few more tries for white. Instead black had to avoid, 51. ... Kg3 52. Rg5+ Kf4 53. Rg4+, picking off the black b4 rook. || 52. Rg5 | White cannot actually make progress here, but instead hands black the opportunity to go wrong. || 52. ... Rc4 | The chess equivalent of saying: "Pass." Black keeps the rook protecting the h4 pawn, handing back the opportunity to try to make progress to white. Instead, 52. ... Rb2, blunders away the black h4 pawn as, 53. Rg4 Kf2 54. Rxh4 Kf1 55. Rg4, white keeps the g2 pawn and wins. || 53. Rf5 | Trying to cut the black king off from the kingside. Liquidating fails, a couple of ideas run: (A). If, 53. Rg4 Rxg4 54. hxg4 Kf4 55. Kh3 Kg5 56. g3 hxg3 57. Kxg3 Kg6, when forced to retreat the drawing method is: "Stay On The File Of The Passed Pawn". (B). Or if, 53. Rg4 Rxg4 54. hxg4 Kf4 55. Kh3 Kg5 56. Kh2 Kxg4, a simple draw. || 53. ... Rf4 | Ensuring the black king is not cut off from the kingside. || 54. Rxf4 | There is nothing better, instead, 54. Ra4 Rb4, how can white make progress? || 54. ... Kxf4 55. Kg1 Kg3 56. Kf1 Kf4 57. Kf2 Draw, 1/2-1/2 | Black holds with, 57. ... Ke4 58. Ke2 Kf4 59. Kf2, heads for repetition. Or, 57. ... Ke4 58. g4 hxg3+ 59. Kxg3 Kf5 60. h4 Kg6, is drawn. || * * * ## Unannotated Game. White: A. Kosteniuk, 2495. Black: H. Koneru, 2560. Event: Womens Grand Prix (Skolkovo) 2019. Result: 1/2-1/2 in 57 moves. Opening: Petroff Defence, Classical Attack, C42. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bf5 7. O-O Be7 8. c4 dxc4 9. Bxc4 O-O 10. Re1 Nd6 11. Bd5 Na6 12. Ne5 Nb4 13. Bb3 Nc6 14. Nxc6 bxc6 15. Qf3 Bf6 16. Qxc6 Re8 17. Be3 Bxd4 18. Nc3 Bxe3 19. fxe3 Re5 20. Rf1 Rb8 21. Rad1 Be6 22. Nd5 Bxd5 23. Bxd5 Re7 24. Rd2 Rb6 25. Qa4 Qb8 26. Qh4 Qe8 27. Bb3 h6 28. Rdf2 a5 29. Rf4 c5 30. Rg4 Rb4 31. Rxg7+ Kxg7 32. Qf6+ Kh7 33. Qxd6 Rxb3 34. axb3 Rxe3 35. Qxc5 Re1 36. h3 Qe3+ 37. Qxe3 Rxe3 38. Rxf7+ Kg6 39. Rb7 Re2 40. b4 a4 41. Ra7 Rxb2 42. Rxa4 Kg5 43. Kh2 h5 44. Ra5+ Kh4 45. b5 Kg5 46. Kg3 Rb3+ 47. Kh2 h4 48. Kg1 Kf4 49. b6 Rxb6 50. Rh5 Rb4 51. Kh2 Ke3 52. Rg5 Rc4 53. Rf5 Rf4 54. Rxf4 Kxf4 55. Kg1 Kg3 56. Kf1 Kf4 57. Kf2 Draw, 1/2-1/2 * * * ## Supplementary Rook And Pawn Ending. Position, white to move: White: Kf5, Rc7, Pg6, Ph6. Black: Kh8, Ra8. | White blunders into the trap with... || 1. h7 | Stalemating the black king, if black had no rook it would be a draw, which points to the black strategy. || 1. ... Ra5+ 2. Kf6 Rf5+ | Black offers the rook. || 3. Ke6 Re5+ | Pplease, I insist, you take my rook. Note that, 3. ... Rf6+, and if white captures, 4. Kxf6, stalemate, and if white runs away with, 4. Ke5 Rxg6, is a book draw. But for the exercise of how to chase a king we shall have an inferior move and so a longer line. || 4. Kf7 Rf5+ 5. Ke6 Re5+ | Hints of 3-fold repetition, but surely the white king can dance round his c7 rook? || 6. Kd6 Rd5+ 7. Kc6 Rc5+ 8. Kb7 Rb5+ | The black rook should now choose his checks carefully. Note that trading rooks is a draw, purely because the black king is on a corner square, but for the sake of the exercise we examine less accurate moves. || 9. Ka8 Rb8+ | Simpler than, Ra5+, which is still a draw, but do not give white the chance to alter the position of either pawns or the rook. || 10. Ka7 Rb7+ | Forcing matters, this offer dare not be declined. || 11. Kxb7, or, 11. Rxb7, both stalemate. We go back to the original diagram, white to move: White: Kf5, Rc7, Pg6, Ph6. Black: Kh8, Ra8. | Can the white king hide elsewhere on the board? It should not work, the black rook will always find a means of offering itself until eventual acceptance. || 1. h7 Ra5+ 2. Ke4 Re5+ 3. Kd3 Rd5+ 4. Kc2 Rd2+ | Avoiding, Rc5+, white captures, Rxd5, the stalemate-pattern is broken as the rook retreats from the 7th rank. || 5. Kb3 Rb2+ | Avoiding, Rd3+, white interferes with, Rc3, and the stalemate-pattern is again broken. || 6. Ka4 Rb4+ 7. Ka5 Rb5+ 8. Ka4 | Heading for 3-fold repetition, but, 8. Ka6 Rb6+, picks off the undefended white g6 pawn, another draw. Has this ever occurred in my personal games? I can remember 3 times. The first time it was in a casual game at the club, I with black and pushed, pawn h2, my opponent immediately started offering the rook, he knew about the trap, highly amusing to those watching our game. The next time, some 9 years later, the opposing pawns were connected as in the given examples, I knew what to do for the draw. The last time was some 10 years after that, a weekend tournament game, I am 3 pawns down scattered across the board, single rook each. My opponent has the 7th rank rook and advances, pawn h7+, my king goes to h8. The very next move my rook gives a check, after that it offers itself with a check next to the white king, similar to the lines given above. The white king ran around for some 25 moves, trying to dance round his rook and pawns, it did not help, there was always a black rook check which offers itself while maintaining the stalemate pattern. || * * *