Skype coaching session, 19 April 2020. Four Sunday coaching sessions are planned for May, on the dates: 10, 17, 24, 31. Time: all sessions will start at UTC 14:00, which is, BST 15:00. The game discussed (62 moves) is given below with annotations, without annotations, a supplementary section on queen against rook endgame plus repeat annotations from 05 April notes. 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: W. Hanstein. Black: Baron von der Lasa. Event: Berlin 1839. Result: 1-0 in 62 moves. Opening: Philidor Defence, Philidor Counter-Gambit, C41. | Editorial. Back to 1839 again, same venue, same opening system, same players, only with colours reversed. Perhaps they were having a theme opening match? If so they were almost certainly in the process of writing history on a daily basis. There would of course be attempts to find improvements on previous games of the match, maybe this is such an instance? No annotations until move 10, for notes to these moves consult the supplementary section which copies those of 05 April 2020 session. || 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 f5 4. dxe5 fxe4 5. Ng5 d5 6. e6 Nh6 7. c4 Bb4+ 8. Nc3 d4 9. a3 e3 | So far repeating the game from coaching session 05 April 2020. There the game continued with, 10. Qh5+ g6 11. Qxh6 exf2+ 12. Kxf2 Bf8 13. Qh3 Qf6+ 14. Qf3 Qxf3+ 15. gxf3 dxc3, draw in 45 moves. There was however a strong feeling in the session that black had a massive improvement in, 10. Qh5+ g6 11. Qxh6 dxc3, the black queen being a strong influence in the attack. No Fritz and friends to assist in a post-mortem those days, but if the coaching group can find something then so should these players. White to play and deviate from the, 10. Qh5+, continuation. || 10. axb4 | Defusing all the tactical tension, the black pawn centre is about to be dismantled. Of course, white cannot have it all his own way, the advanced cramping e6 pawn is almost certainly similarly doomed. || 10. ... Qxg5 | Exposing the white king with, 10. ... exf2+, only gives the white g5 knight a protection from the c1 bishop, black would be a piece down. || 11. Qxd4 | White avoids, 11. Nd5 exf2+ 12. Kxf2 O-O+, when the white king is exposed while the black king gets out of the centre. Black to play must trade off the advanced e-pawn or lose it for nothing next move. || 11. ... exf2+ 12. Qxf2 Qe5+ | Black completes move 12 and there are only 3 developed units and neither king can feel safe. Does this imply the entire opening system should be banished to the rubbish bins? Not really, if both players feel they have chances to get at the opponent then such a system can be employed. However be warned, playing in this style demands good nerves backed up with an ability to calculate tactics in depth with accuracy. || 13. Be2 | White keeps control of the f-file to prevent black castling kingside. Instead, 13. Qe2 Qxe2+ 14. Bxe2 Bxe6, black will achieve either, O-O, or, O-O-O, white cannot prevent both. || 13. ... Rf8 | Black needed to prevent white, 14. O-O, but in doing so cannot now castle kingside himself. || 14. Qh4 Nc6 15. Nb5 | Targetting the black c7 pawn, fine, but surely it is defended by the black e5 queen? Yes, but pieces can be deflected or eliminated, which is a clue to the white strategy. A slower approach is, 15. Bd2, intending, O-O-O - Rhe1, but this will give black time for the counter-plan of, Bxe6 - O-O-O, gaining king safety. || 15. ... Bxe6 | There were tactics to be avoided, a couple of examples run: (A). If, 15. ... a6 16. Nxc7+ Qxc7 17. Bxh6 gxh6 18. Bh5+ Rf7 19. Bxf7+ Kf8 20. O-O, and white should quickly win. (B). Or if, 15. ... a6 16. Nxc7+ Qxc7 17. Bxh6 Bxe6 18. Bh5+ Bf7 19. O-O-O, with the black king still in the middle it will be white who has a strong initiative. || 16. Qh5+ | The defender of c7 is being eliminated. || 16. ... Qxh5 17. Bxh5+ Kd7 | The c7 pawn receives protection again but the black king is not going to be happy here. There is also the problem of finding a good square for the a8 rook. || 18. b3 | White keeps everything under control. Less clear is, 18. Bxh6, giving black doubled pawns, but this would also trade off the dark square bishop who might be hoping for an unchallenged future on the dark squares in the endgame. || 18. ... Ng4 | There were several options here for black. When it is not clear what move to select, perhaps identify the poorest-placed piece and try to improve it. Black has plans for this knight to disrupt the white forces. Instead, 18. ... Bg4, seems to force white to trade bishops on g4, which gives black the e8 square for the a8 rook. Note that, 18. ... Bg4 19. Bxh6 Bxh5, creates an opposite colour bishop middlegame, whoever is attacking has an unchallengeable bishop. || 19. Bg5 | Denying the black rook access to the d8 square. Black in turn can use the kingside pawns to push the white bishop around, but will such a plan create strengths or weaknesses for black? || 19. ... Nf2 | Preventing white, O-O-O+, which would force black, Kc8, locking in the a8 rook. || 20. Rf1 Nd3+ | A doubler. Firstly, the white king is caught in the centre. Secondly, the d-file is blocked, white is not permitted, Rad1+, which would force the black king to the c8 square. || 21. Ke2 Rxf1 | Black chooses to concede the f-file to white, but as there is no good invasion square, especially f7, there is no great harm done. || 22. Rxf1 Ndxb4 | The white b4 pawn has been available to black since move 14, it could not easily run away, so black has been postponing the capture preferring to improve the position elsewhere. Note it is the d3 knight which captures, instead, 22. ... Ncxb4, leaves the d3 knight a target after, 23. Rd1, pinning and so becoming vulnerable to an increase in pressure from white. || 23. Rd1+ Kc8 | The black queenside is about to become tangled, much time will be spent trying to get the a8 rook into play. || 24. Bf4 | The weak-point previously focused on as the middlegame is again targeted, black can defend the c7 pawn, but pieces are failing to coordinate. || 24. ... Na6 25. Bf3 | Appropriate paraphrased Kasparovism: "Every white piece is better than every black piece." Especially the white bishop pair, who are dramatically superior to the black knight pair. Parallel bishops can be a potent force, also note how they attack the black queenside from the safety of the kingside. In contrast the black knights have no obvious targets to attack in the white position, assuming they could find a means of focusing on a potential target. However superior positions do not automatically win themselves, white must continue to prod and probe at black until something gives. Or just wait for black to try and fight his way out of a difficult position with some poorly-judged idea. || 25. ... h6 | A sign that black has little positive to do. || 26. h4 | Restricting the black kingside pawn expansion. || 26. ... Ne7 | A move of mixed consequences. Black is trying to get some play on the kingside, fine, but with the a6 knight tied down to protecting c7 and the a8 rook locked in this is fighting when outnumbered. When on c6 the black knight was preventing white from using the e5 square, when a unit moves it gains access to new squares and loses the fight for others. || 27. Be5 Nf5 | A doubler. Firstly, the black g7 pawn is backwardly guarded, though just how secure the f5 knight is in great doubt. Secondly, the white h4 pawn is attacked. || 28. g4 | Squeezing with, 28. h5, intending, 29. g4, might pick off both black kingside pawns for no cost. || 28. ... Nxh4 29. Bxg7 Nxf3 | A doubler. Firstly, the possibility of an opposite colour bishop endgame is created, but first the problem of activating and then exchanging off the black a8 rook needs to be solved. Secondly, the power of the white f3 bishop is eliminated, black can fianchetto the king to release the a8 rook. || 30. Kxf3 b6 31. Nd4 | Job done on the queenside, keep black constricted for as long as possible, the white knight is free to involve itself elsewhere. || 31. ... Bd7 | As white is about to create a kingside passed pawn with, Bxh6, perhaps this bishop should retreat to the g8 square immediately? || 32. Bxh6 Nc5 | A doubler. Firstly, black needs pieces on the kingside to prevent promotion of the white passed g-pawn. Secondly, the black a5 pawn is free to move. If black can use the 3 queenside pawns to wipe out the 2 white queenside pawns then black can afford to give up a piece on the white g-pawn to achieve a draw. There are rare exceptions where the side with the extra piece has sufficient superiority to force mate, but this position offers the black king many chances to centralise to achieve safety. || 33. g5 | Passed pawns should be pushed when safe to do so, the further up the board the more dangerous they become. || 33. ... Ne6 34. Nxe6 | White needs to eliminate the black knight if the passed g-pawn is to make progress. || 34. ... Bxe6 35. Re1 | Not a spite attack for the sake of it. This is the first step in a plan to re-attack a particular point in the black position. || 35. ... Bg8 | Black accepts the white g-pawn will almost certainly cost material, the g8 bishop, and accepts the king must stay on the queenside, which explains why, 35. ... Kd7, was rejected. It all comes down to black seeking to eliminate all the white pawns leaving white to try and mate with rook plus bishop against rook. What is the result of this, "Headache Ending"? Wrong question. Some positions can be won by force, but accurate attacking technique is required. Some positions can be drawn by force, but accurate defensive technique is required. The real question here is how many endgame books were there available in 1839? And if they were in print, did the players both have them and read them? How many books do you have with the intention of studying them on the next rainy day? || 36. g6 Kb7 37. Re7 | Focusing yet again on the black c7 pawn. Black to play must get some activity, but what? || 37. ... b5 | Threatening to wipe out the white queenside pawns after which the draw would be guaranteed. White to play similarly needs activity, but what? || 38. Bf4 | Doubly-attacking the black c7 pawn, fine, but is not black about to liquidate the white queenside? Playing on the queenside does not help white, a couple of ideas run: (A). If, 38. cxb5 Bxb3 39. Bf4 a6 40. Rxc7+ Kb6, white cannot keep the b5 pawn, a draw is on the way. (B). Or if, 38. c5 Bxb3, black will be able to create counterplay with the queenside connected passed pawns. || 38. ... bxc4 | Appropriate Fischerism: "In chess it is important to know when to punch and when to duck." Black plays actively, but maybe defending with, 38. ... Rc8, leaving white with the same problems of how to sort out the queenside was worth a try. || 39. Rxc7+ Kb6 40. bxc4 | White has won a pawn but needs to get some coordination. There are 3 strategic skittles to be kept in the air. #1. The threat of promoting the g6 pawn will drag black forces kingside, white must find a way of keeping this pawn for as long as possible. #2. Once the black army is drawn kingside white must make full use of the passed c-pawn. #3. Black has gained a passed a-pawn, this will not have any support to assist promotion, fine, but white cannot ignore this completely, a pawn on a home square can promote in 5 moves, this could be used by black to un-coordinate the white forces. || 40. ... Rf8 | Move 40 and the black queen's rook finally joins in to create a material-winning threat, but if the threat is executed it will only be a draw. The idea is black trades, Rxf4+, removing the defence of the white c7 rook, winning a piece. So why is this only a draw? After black captures, Kxc7, white immediately sprints the king to the a1 square to inflict black with the, "Impotent Pair", black has the wrong bishop to promote the passed a-pawn. But white is in no mood for a draw, this position must be carefully squeezed, units must slowly improve their position until tactics emerge. || 41. c5+ Kb5 | There is little point in black, 41. Ka6, this only blocks the a7 pawn from any activity which might just force white onto the defensive. Besides, if white falls into, Rxa7, black has, Kxc5, leading to a draw, even if white somehow manages to win a piece by promoting the g-pawn, the process will involve a trade of rooks, a lone bishop cannot force mate. White now has a series of small steps necessary to improve coordination. || 42. Ke4 | Step #1 - The pin is broken, the white bishop has freedom of movement again. || 42. ... a5 | black has nothing better, there is no real hope of promotion, this is purely to deflect the white forces from coordinating to promote the passed c-pawn. || 43. Bd6 | Step #2 - Not intending to attack the black f8 rook, but instead over-protecting the white c5 pawn which releases the c7 rook for activity elsewhere. || 43. ... Re8+ 44. Kd4 | Step #3 - Controlling the c4 square, preventing the black king from wandering up the board in the hope of supporting the advance of the passed a-pawn. || 44. ... a4 | Advancing with the black king gets no advantage. Instead, 44. ... Kb4 45. Rb7+, and the black king would be trapped on the a-file, there is no way to promote the passed but blocked a-pawn. Or an immediate, 44. ... Ka4, 45. Rb7, only transposes, the black king is still a prisoner. || 45. Rb7+ | Step #4 - The black king is in the process of being forced onto his back rank. || 45. ... Kc6 46. Rb6+ | Step #5 - White pushes the black king further back, thoughts of a mating net with a 6th rank pawn and bishop are in the air. Step #6 - An x-ray defence is given to the white g6 pawn, not immediately relevant, but positions can quickly change. || 46. ... Kd7 47. Ra6 | Step #7 - The black passed a-pawn is kept under control, white can capture whenever appropriate, though black has an idea of letting kingside tactics give the pawn protection. || 47. ... Re6 | A move of mixed consequences. The gain: Black needs the rook behind the white g-pawn. This is to have a double-protection on the g8 promotion square should white play, pawn g7 - Ra8, which could win material with promotion if black had only a single protection on the g8 square. The loss: If the black rook sits unprotected on g6 there will be a mutual rooks x-ray attack through the white d6 bishop, white does not have to worry about this but black might find it very awkward. || 48. g7 Rg6 | White to play can, despite appearances, achieve a pawn promotion in 7 moves. Clue: X-ray attacks can be deadly, but surely the attack through the d6 bishop is of no value to white? If so, then think about setting up a slightly different x-ray attack. || 49. c6+ | White exploits the unprotected state of the black g6 rook. The black king has 5 choices, some more disastrous than others. || 49. ... Ke8 | Black finds the line of most resistance, the others fail as follows: (A). If, 49. ... Kc8 50. Ra8+ mate, demonstrates the power of a pawn plus bishop on adjacent squares on the 6th rank. (B). Or if, 49. ... Kd8 50. Ra8+ mate, same story, the white pawn plus bishop cover 4 squares on the black 2nd rank. (C). Or if, 49. ... Ke6 50. c7 Kd7 51. Ra8 Rxd6+ 52. Ke5 Kxc7 53. Rxg8 Rg6 54. Ra8 Rxg7 55. Ra7+, white is going a rook up, the passed a4 pawn has no chance of promotion. (D). Or if, 49. ... Kxd6 50. c7+ Kxc7 51. Rxg6 Kd7 52. Rf6 Ke7 53. Rf8 Be6 54. g8=Q Bxg8 55. Rxg8, again, white is a rook up and the black a4 pawn is of no threat. to white. Note that if black tried to push the a4 pawn at any point once white had won the black rook in lines (C) and (D), then white replies with king moves to step a file closer to the a-file and so prevent promotion. || 50. Ra8+ Kf7 | White has both the g7 pawn and d6 bishop en prise, it seems black is about to save the game. White to play must find some inspiration, but what? || 51. Rf8+ | Sheer madness, right? White is forcing the loss of the g7 pawn, when it falls the d6 bishop will still be be en prise, if it moves the c6 pawn goes, if white protects the bishop with the king, then black plays, Be6, covering the promotion square. This flow of strategic logic means white can win a bishop, it is then up to the black king to get as close to the, "1st Tier", as possible. For how the ending of rook plus bishop against rook is to be handled you are advised to visit Wikipedia which presents it very well. It is to complex to summarise here, but suffice it to say in this game the black king should achieve sufficient activity to gain the draw. But be warned, it is very easy to go wrong despite having a theoritical draw. You ask, what is the, "1st Tier"? Imagine the chess board having a 3-dimensional structure, similar to a square-based pyramid. The "4th Tier", the lowest: A combination of the squares running from, a1 - a8, then, a8 - h8, then, h8 - h1, then, h1 - a1. The "3rd Tier": A combination of the squares running from, b2 - b7, then, b7 - g7, then, g7 - g2, then, g2 - b2. The "2nd Tier": A combination of the squares running from, c3 - c6, then, c6 - f6, then, f6 - f3, then, f3 - c3. The "1st Tier", the highest: The 4 central squares of, d4 - d5 - e5 - e4. The, "4th Tier", will be the lowest in the 3-dimensional shape, the, "1st Tier", will be the highest, thus replicating the general shape of a pyramid. If the defending king is trapped on the, "4th Tier", there are still defensive resources, but again, there are numerous instances of players missing opportunities on both sides due to lack of knowledge. It is not called the, "Headache Ending", for nothing. || 51. ... Kxg7 | Instead, 51. ... Ke6 52. Rxg8 Kxd6 53. Rd8+, and whatever black replies, white promotes with, 54. g8=Q, forcing black to give up the rook, white wins. White to play must produce that inspirational idea which forced black to capture the valuable g7 pawn. || 52. Rxg8+ | A deflection, white wants the black king on his back rank. Instead, 52. c7 Be6, white can win a bishop but once the black king centralises it should be a draw. || 52. ... Kxg8 53. c7 | The game began with white getting a passed pawn after the black 5th move. And to reference the generalisation: "Passed pawns must be pushed", white continued back then with, 6. e6, to cramp the black c8 bishop. Here the generalisation also applies, white is willing to give up the d6 bishop to achieve promotion. Instead, 53. Kc5 Rg7, as soon as white pushes, pawn c7, black instantly replies with, Rxc7, leading to a draw. || 53. ... Rxd6+ 54. Kc5 Rg6 | Black must take great care of the rook. Attempts for activity by trying to support the a4 pawn fail, the white queen will soon pick off a rook distant from the black king stranded on the kingside. || 55. c8=Q+ Kh7 56. Qd7+ Rg7 57. Qxa4 | A straight queen against rook ending, a forced win unless there is either an immediate rook skewer on the royal pair or a clever stalemate resource, neither are present here. Black can only sit and wait to discover if white has the necessary technique. Some hints as how matters can proceed might assist. Black: Flick in annoying checks if you like, make sure the king can get to a corner, there can be easier finishes if the king is caught away from a corner, but once the white king gets close to the black king keep the rook and king in contact for as long as possible. White: March the king toward the black king and shuffle for the, "Zugzwang Position", to force the black rook out of contact with the black king. Once the rook is forced to a distant, and therefore unsafe, square there is a forcing sequence to either get a mate or pick off the undefended rook, no matter where the black rook runs. || 57. ... Rg5+ | Hoping white will blunder by stepping onto the white 4th rank when, Rg4+, wins the white a4 queen. || 58. Kd6 Rg6+ 59. Ke5 Rg5+ 60. Kf6 Rg6+ 61. Kf5 | The white king is now safe from checks, next move the white queen can start to set up the, "Zugzwang Position". || 61. ... Rg7 | Black sets up the safe formation, keep the king and rook in contact. We now need only find out if white knows how to win. || 62. Qe8 Black resigns, 1-0 | An anti-climax, but remember this is the era of being a, "Gentleman". The black king has been caught on the edge and cannot test white with the, "Zugzwang Position", play could have concluded: (A). If, 62. ... Rg8 63. Qh5+ Kg7 64. Qg6+ Kh8 65. Qh6+ mate. (B). Or if, 62. ... Rg8 63. Qh5+ Kg7 64. Qg6+ Kf8 65. Qf6+ Ke8 66. Ke6, and black has no sensible way to prevent, Qe7+ mate. || * * * ## Unannotated Game. White: W. Hanstein. Black: Baron von der Lasa. Event: Berlin 1839. Result: 1-0 in 62 moves. Opening: Philidor Defence, Philidor Counter-Gambit, C41. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 f5 4. dxe5 fxe4 5. Ng5 d5 6. e6 Nh6 7. c4 Bb4+ 8. Nc3 d4 9. a3 e3 10. axb4 Qxg5 11. Qxd4 exf2+ 12. Qxf2 Qe5+ 13. Be2 Rf8 14. Qh4 Nc6 15. Nb5 Bxe6 16. Qh5+ Qxh5 17. Bxh5+ Kd7 18. b3 Ng4 19. Bg5 Nf2 20. Rf1 Nd3+ 21. Ke2 Rxf1 22. Rxf1 Ndxb4 23. Rd1+ Kc8 24. Bf4 Na6 25. Bf3 h6 26. h4 Ne7 27. Be5 Nf5 28. g4 Nxh4 29. Bxg7 Nxf3 30. Kxf3 b6 31. Nd4 Bd7 32. Bxh6 Nc5 33. g5 Ne6 34. Nxe6 Bxe6 35. Re1 Bg8 36. g6 Kb7 37. Re7 b5 38. Bf4 bxc4 39. Rxc7+ Kb6 40. bxc4 Rf8 41. c5+ Kb5 42. Ke4 a5 43. Bd6 Re8+ 44. Kd4 a4 45. Rb7+ Kc6 46. Rb6+ Kd7 47. Ra6 Re6 48. g7 Rg6 49. c6+ Ke8 50. Ra8+ Kf7 51. Rf8+ Kxg7 52. Rxg8+ Kxg8 53. c7 Rxd6+ 54. Kc5 Rg6 55. c8=Q+ Kh7 56. Qd7+ Rg7 57. Qxa4 Rg5+ 58. Kd6 Rg6+ 59. Ke5 Rg5+ 60. Kf6 Rg6+ 61. Kf5 Rg7 62. Qe8 Black resigns, 1-0 * * * ## Supplementary Section - Queen Against Rook Ending - The "Zugzwang Position". What is the, "Zugzwang Position", you ask? In the above game, had the black king chose to claim the corner square as part of the early defence, and white pushed the black king off the h8 square, it would have been: White: Kf6, Qe8. Black: Kh7, Rg7. It is also a position with 8-fold symmetry. The defending king can be in any of the 4 corner regions of the board, fine, but how can this produce 8 positions? Imagine a massive letter, "X", drawn on the chessboard with the points of the, "X", being on the squares, a1 - h8 and, h1 - a8. There is a reflection across the lines of the, "X", in each corner. . For this position, with black to move, the reflection across the, "X", will be: White: Kf6, Qh5. Black: Kg8, Rg7. Should you learn the formation of a specific, "Zugzwang Position"? It will do no harm, but maybe recognising the general pattern might be better? With the defender to move, the attacker must create a position with the following features: #1. The attacking king must be on the, "2nd Tier", corner square in the region of the board where the attack is happening. . This is any of, c3, c6, f6, f3, depending on which corner region of the board the defending king is hiding. In the descriptive notation, on any of the bishop-3 squares. #2. The defending king must be a, "Knight's Jump", away from the attacking king. That is, is either monarch suddenly turned into a knight, that knight would be giving check. #3. The attacking queen must be a, "Knight's Jump", away from the attacking king, and not giving check to the defending king. This is any of, e1, d1, a4, a5, d8, e8, h5, h4, depending on which corner region of the board the defending king is hiding. #4. The defending rook is on the, "3rd Tier", in contact with the defending king. This is any of, b2, b7, g7, g2, depending on which corner of the board the defending king is hiding. In the descriptive notation, on any of the knight-2 squares. So from the final position of the above game simply transfer the white king to f6 and we have black to move caught in the, "Zugzwwang Position". Black has 4 general options, blunder, another blunder, run near to the attacking queen, run far from the attacking queen. Option #1 - Blunder. 1. ... Rg8 2. Qh5+ mate, the defending rook takes away the g8 flight square. Option #2 - Another Blunder. (A). If, 1. ... Kh6 2. Qf8, pinning and winning, 2. ... Kh7 3. Qxg7+ mate. (B). Or if, 1. ... Kh6 2. Qf8 Kh5 3. Qxg7 Kh4 4. Qg2 Kh5 5. Qg5+ mate. Option #3 - Run Near To The Attacking Queen. Any of, 1. ... Rc7, or, 1. ... Rb7, or, 1. ... Ra7, run near to the attacking queen. It does not matter which is played, the attacking answer is the same for all, use the symmetry of the chessboard to your advantage. 1. Qh5+ Kg8, the attacking queen has transposed into option #4, Run Far From The Attacking Queen, now just follow the strategy given in the next option. It might well be possible to force a win with moves other than transposing to Option #4, 1. Qh5+ Kg8, unfortunately my earlier teaching source only gave instruction on winning with the method about to appear in Option #4, the attacking queen begins by being far from the defending rook. From the defensive perspective in this, "Zugzwang Position", choose to run near, with either, 1. ... Ra7, or, 1. ... Rc7, and wait to find out if your opponent knows a transposition is required. Option #4 - Run Far From The Attacking Queen. Now it is simply a matter of learning the 4 main variations to catch the defending rook or give mate. (A). If, 1. ... Rg4 2. Qh5+ Kg8 3. Qxg4+ Kf8 4. Qc8+ mate. For the remaining 3 variations in this precise position the attacking queen always chooses the same central, "1st Tier", square to start the process. (B). If, 1. ... Rg3 2. Qe4+ Kh8 3. Qh4+ Kg8 4. Qxg3+ Kh8 5. Qg7+ mate. (C). Or if, 1. ... Rg3 2. Qe4+ Kg8 3. Qc4+ Kh7 4. Qh4+ Kg8 5. Qxg3+ Kf8 6. Qc8+ mate. (D). If, 1. ... Rg2 2. Qe4+ Kh8 3. Qxg2 Kh7 4. Qg7+ mate. (E). Or if, 1. ... Rg2 2. Qe4+ Rg6+ 3. Qxg6+ Kh8 4. Qg7+ mate. (F). If, 1. ... Rg1 2. Qe4+ Kh8 3. Qa8+ Rg8 4. Qh1+ mate. (G). Or if, 1. ... Rg1 2. Qe4+ Kg8 3. Qa8+ Kh7 4. Qa7+ Kh6 5. Qxg1 Kh5 6. Qg5+ mate. (H). Or if, 1. ... Rg1 2. Qe4+ Kg8 3. Qa8+ Kh7 4. Qa7+ Rg7 5. Qxg7+ mate. There is a common theme to be noted in the 8 positions of symmetry. The attacking queen will give check on the, "1st Tier", any of the squares, e4, d4, d5, e5, depending on which corner region of the board the defending king is hiding. When the defending rook runs all the way up the board to the edge of the board, the attacking queen uses diagonals to fork it. When the defending rook stops a couple of squares from the edge of the board, any of, c2, b3, b6, c7, f7, g6, g3, f2, the attacking queen stays on the file / rank to fork it. This ending is fairly easy to learn, if you only teach yourself the analysis given here there could be problems if any of the other 3 corner regions are where the defending king is located you might not switch the position around in your head correctly. Answer: Recognise the patterns, learn how to quickly hammer these above lines out, then transpose to the other 3 corners of the board. The entire process of chasing the defending king with an attacking queen is too complex for these notes, consult Wikipedia for a good source. However, a few hints might assist to understand what is happening during the chase. The rook moves on files and ranks, the queen moves on both of these plus diagonals. It is the advantage of either moving on diagonals, giving check on diagonals, restricting the defending rook or king by claiming diagonals, which gives white the win. Note the varying manoeuvres taken by the queen and understanding of why it works should begin to occur. Lastly there is the, "Pre-Zugzwang Position", which might arise if the black king is wise enough not to get caught in the middle of an edge rank or file. All of the units line up on the longest diagonal of the board. This time there is only 4-fold symmetry for the attacker, but the defender has a choice which way to go, bringing the patterns to recognise back up to 8-fold symmetry. . White: Kf6, Qe5. Black: Kh8, Rg7. Discovered checks are in the air, black dare not move the rook. With black to move in the, "Pre-Zugzwang Position", it is easy. (A). If, 1. ... Kh7 2. Qe8, we have the, "Zugzwang Position". (B). Or if, 1. ... Kg8 2. Qh5, we have the, "Zugzwang Position". (C). Or if, 1. ... Rh7 2. Kg6+ Kg8 3. Qe8+ mate. (D). Or if, 1. ... Rg8. 2. Kf7+ Rg7+ 3. Qxg7+ mate. (E). Or if, 1. ... Ra7 2. Kg6+ Kg8 3. Qe8+ mate. With white to move a queen-shuffle similar to triangulation is required, a move must be lost, the trick is to keep the discovered check threats in the position, some ideas run: (A). If, 1. Qa1 Kh7 2. Qb2 Kh8 3. Qe5, white has passed the right to move onto black, we have the, "Pre-Zugzwang Position", just analysed. (B). Or if, 1. Qa1 Kh7 2. Qb2 Rg6+ 3. Kf7, the attacking force now owns the g7 square, 3. ... Kh6 4. Qh2+ Kg5 5. Qg2+, picks off the defending g6 rook. (C). Or if, 1. Qa1 Kh7 2. Qb2 Ra7, losing contact with the defending king is never a good idea, 3. Qh2+ Kg8 4. Qb8+, watch those diagonals at work, this picks off the defending a7 rook. (D). Or if, 1. Qa1 Kh7 2. Qb2 Rd7. 3. Qc2+, more work on the diagonals, 3. ... Kg8 4. Qc8+, this picks off the defending d7 rook. (E). Or if, 1. Qa1 Kh7 2. Qb2 Rd7 3. Qc2+ Kh6 4. Qh2+ mate. There are more lines to be found, hopefully these will give ideas of what to seek. Has the queen against rook chase ever occurred in my games? Yes, once in a FIDE-rated event in the Channel Isles sometime in the mid-1990s. My opponent, rated approximately BCF 160, about Elo 1880, was defending. We reached the, "Zugzwang Position", he threw his rook near to my attacking queen, it soon fell according to analysis given here. He commented on his poor choice of sending the rook near to the queen, suggesting going far from the queen would have saved the game. Our post-mortem discussion corrected this poor judgement combined with a confession as to lack of knowledge of the entire ending. Yes folks, players rated BCF 160, FIDE Elo 1880, do not know endgame theory as perhaps they could or should. Now where is that article on a bishop pair against a lone knight? * * * ## Repeat annotations from 05 April 2020 coaching session up to white move 10. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 f5 | Immediately injecting tension into the position. Calmer approaches are available, 3. ... exd4, 3. ... Nf6, 3. ... Nd7, are the top 3 choices on the limited database, other moves are played by black but do not score well. A more modern move order by black in the Philidor Defence might be, 1. ... d6, 2. ... Nf6, 3. ... Nbd7, 4. ... e5, with some quite interesting middlegames available if black can find the courage to play, 5. ... h6, and then, 6. ... g5. || 4. dxe5 | Also possible is, 4. exf5 Bxf5, but with only a handful of games on the limited database it is difficult to give judgement. A different approach is, 4. exf5 e4 5. Ng5 Bxf5 6. f3, immediately challenging the black centre. || 4. ... fxe4 | The only sensible response, black is about to build a pawn centre. || 5. Ng5 | White begins the, "Light-Square Fight", the black e4 pawn is attacked, it can easily be defended, but this only sets the scene for the initial skirmish. || 5. ... d5 | It is only move 5 completed and white already has a passed pawn, how many openings can do this? White to play can similarly continue with the, "Light-Square Fight". Clue: The central black pawns are restricting white pieces from using several light squares, has white a similar option available? || 6. e6 | Only move 6 played by white and there is a passed pawn standing quite safe, at least for the moment, on the 6th rank, how many openings can do this? White now has powerful threats of, Nf7, available as well as preventing the black c8 bishop from developing. || 6. ... Nh6 | Defending, there is an attacking option, 6. ... Bc5, when white should reply, 7. Nxe4, because, 7. ... dxe4 8. Qh5+ g6 9. Qxc5, but what about 7. Nf7, winning at least an exchange? Consider the following miniature. T. Barnes - P. Morphy, London (Casual game) 1958, showed that falling behind in development can place oneself in danger: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 f5 4. dxe5 fxe4 5. Ng5 d5 6. e6 Bc5 7. Nf7 Qf6 8. Be3 d4 9. Bg5 Qf5 10. Nxh8 Qxg5 11. Bc4 Nc6 12. Nf7 Qxg2 13. Rf1 Nf6 14. f3 Nb4 15. Na3 Bxe6 16. Bxe6 Nd3+ 17. Qxd3 exd3 18. O-O-O Bxa3 19. Bb3 d2+ 20. Kb1 Bc5 21. Ne5 Kf8 22. Nd3 Re8 23. Nxc5 Qxf1 24. Ne6+ Rxe6 0-1. Perhaps white, 14. f3, caused some unnecessary headaches,14. Qd2, or, 14. Nd2, give white an acceptable game, nevertheless, bold play by black throughout eventually gave rewards. || 7. c4 | Not many examples now, other moves have been tried, the common factor of very active play seems consistent no matter the variation, examine such a sample here. E. Mortensen (2423) - J. Hvenekilde (2267), Politiken Cup Copenhagen, 2001, went: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 f5 4. dxe5 fxe4 5. Ng5 d5 6. e6 Nh6 7. Nc3 c6 8. Be3 Qf6 9. Nxd5 cxd5 10. Bb5+ Nc6 11. Qxd5 Bb4+ 12. c3 Bxc3+ 13. bxc3 Qxc3+ 14. Kd1 Nf5 15. Rc1 Nxe3+ 16. fxe3 Qxe3 17. Rf1 1-0. Life in this opening system often seems to be short and brutal. || 7. ... Bb4+ 8. Nc3 | Probably the best. The disastrous, 8. Nd2 Qxg5, losing the g5 knight is not recommended. Instead, 8. Bd2 Qxg5 9. Bxb4 Bxe6, does not seem worth a pawn. || 8. ... d4 | Pinning and winning a piece, right? || 9. a3 | The standard way to avoid losing a pinned knight, expand with both queenside pawns if necessary, options of queenside pawn formation imbalances are are on offer. Black to play can start stirring it up. Clue: Interference is the name of the game. || 9. ... e3 | A doubler. Firstly, the white c1 bishop defence to the g5 knight has been blocked. Secondly, the option of, exf2+, exposing the white king is available. || * * *