Prokesh trick

Adrian Mikhalchishin:

Prokesh trick

In  Rook  and  pawn  endings  there  are  many
interesting and instructive manoevres. I want
to  show  few  interesting  examples,  which
show  some  problems  of  top  players  in  the
endgame.

There

are

strangely

many

mistakes,  practically  in  evry  example.  But
we  try  to  show  this  problems,  which  in
reality are quite simple and we hope that our
readers  will  not  make  similar  mistakes  in
their  future  games.  It  started  in  the  next
game:

Fridstein : Lutikov,
Riga, 1954
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-tR-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-zp-+-+K0
9-+-mk-+-+0
9+p+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1.Rb8 c4 2.Kg4 c3
And  white  resigned  here,  as  they  knew  the
development.
3.Rxb3??
Intermeditory  check  was  unkown  for  player
of Grandmaster level - 60.Tb4.
3...c2  4.Rb4+  Kd5  5.Rb5+  Kd6  6.Rb6+
Kc7 0:1.

We  could  compare  our  first  example  with
the modern game.

Gunina : Shadrina,
Russia, 2006
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-zP0
9+-+-+KzP-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+k+-+-0
9-+-+-+-tr0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1.g6 Rh5+!
Girls know the proper Prokesh!
2.Kf6 draw.

Next example is the tragedy itself.
Petrosian, A : Tseshkovsky,
Minsk, 1976
XIIIIIIIIY
9R+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+K+0
9+-+k+-+-0
9-zp-+-+-+0
9+-zp-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1.Kf5
And opponents agreed draw, as they was not
aware of the analysis of great Tarrasch.
1...b3 2.Rd8+ Kc5
2...Kc4? is not good, because of 3.Ke4.
3.Rc8+
Immediately  loses  3.Ke4  b2  4.Tc8+  Kd6
5.Tb8 c2.
3...Kd4 4.Rd8+ Ke3 5.Rb8 b2 6.Ke5 Kf3!
6...c2  7.Tb3  was  white's  last  chance  to  save
the game, which Black does not allow.
7.Kf5 Ke2! 8.Ke4 Kd1 9.Kd3 c2
And  Black  wins.  This  nice  manoevre,
discovered by Tarrasch, has to be known not
only  by  GM's.The  way  of  pushing  own
pawns  is  in  many  games  completely  wrong,
despite the fact that it looks so simple.

Samaganov : Zilberman,
USSR, 1970
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-tR0
9+-+-mK-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+p+0
9+-+-+-mkp0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1...Kg2??
1...Kh2  would  allow  to  promote  g  pawn,
with an easy win.
2.Kf6 g3 3.Kf5 h2 4.Kf4 draw.

Tsereteli : Epstein,
USSR, 1974
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-zp-0
9PmK-+-zp-+0
9+-+-+P+-0
9-zP-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+k0
9-+-+-+-+0
9tr-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1.a7??
Once more correct would be to push another
pawn: 1.b5 Kg4 2.Ka7 Kf5 3.b6 g5 4.b7 Rb1
5.b8Q Rb8 6.Kb8 g4 7.a7 g3 8.a8Q and now
White queened much faster than Black.
1...Kg4 2.Kb7 Kxf5 3.b5 g5 4.b6 g4 5.a8Q
Rxa8 6.Kxa8 g3 7.b7 g2 8.b8Q g1Q
White  managed  to  save  this  position.All  of
this  is  known  by  the  top  players,  but
sometimes it is well forgotten. Draw.

Topalov : Beliavsky,
Germany, 2000
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9PmK-+-+-+0
9+P+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-mk-+-+0
9tr-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
In  this  example  White  showed  the  correct
idea.  Strange,  that  such  top  player  as
Beliavsky, has forgotten it in the next game.
1.Ka7! 1:0.

Slobodjan : Beliavsky,
Germany, 2000
XIIIIIIIIY
9R+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-mK-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-zp-+-+-zP0
9zpk+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1...Kc4??
As  in  similar  cases  correct  is  king's  move,
making the way for own pawn: 1...Ka2 2.h5
b3 3.h6 b2 4.h7 b1Q 5.h8Q Qb2 6.Kf5 Qh8
7.Rh8 Kb2 8.Ke4 a2.
2.h5 b3 3.Ra4+!
A move, which famous Grandmaster haven't
seen. 1:0.

Gligoric : Popovic,
Belgrade, 1998
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+R+-+0
9+-+-+-zP-0
9-+-zp-mK-+0
9+-mk-+-+-0
9pzp-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+r+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1.Ra8 Rxg7 2.Kxg7 a3?
The  winner  was  2...b3  3.Ra4  b2  4.Ra5  Kc6
5.Ra6 Kb7.
3.Kf6 Kc4 4.Ke6 b3
4...Kb3 now does not help: 5.Kd6 Ka2 6.Kc5
b3 7.Kb4, with draw.
5.Ra4+
Gligoric is not Lutikov, or he simply studied
on  the  mistakes  of  the  others.In  the  next
example, classic proudly showed the correct
way, how to promote own pawn. Draw.

Tarrasch : Janowski,
Ostend, 1907
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+R+-+-+-0
9r+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+P+-0
9-+-+-+P+0
9+-mk-mK-+-0
9-zp-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1...Ra4 2.Rxb2
Threat was to cut b file with Rb4.
2...Kxb2  3.f6  Ra1  4.g5  Rf1  5.Kd4  Kb3
6.Ke5
6.Kd5 Rf5+ 7.Ke6 RXg5 8.f7 was simpler.
6...Kc4 7.g6
7.Ke6  Re1+  8.Kf7  Kd5  9.g6  Ke5  10.Kg7
Ke6  11.f7  was  winning,  but  a  bit  more
complicated.  7...Re1+  8.Kd6  Rd1+  9.Ke6
Re1+ 10.Kf7
But in just few years it was impression, that
he has forgotten his own analysis. 1:0.

Maroczy : Tarrasch,
San Sebastian, 1911
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-tR0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9zPK+-+-+-0
9-zP-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-mk-0
9-+-+-+-zp0
9tr-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1.Kc6??
It  was  possible  to  transfer  into  classical
winning Rook end: 1.Ka6 Ra4 2.Rxh2 Rxb4
3.Rh6  Kf4  4.Rb6  Ra4  5.Kb5  Ra1  6.a6  Ke5
7.Kc6,  or  to  sacrifice  Rook  immediately  -
1.Rxh2 Kxh2 2.Ka6 Kg3 3.b5 Kf4 4.b6 Ke5
5.b7  Rb1  6.Ka7  Kd6  7.b8Q+  Rxb8  8.Kxb8
Kc6 9.a7 winning.
1...Rc1+ 2.Kb6
Now it was too late to try to return back, as
sometimes  is  still  possible  in  some  ends.
Chess  is  timing  -  used  to  say  great  Robert
Fischer:  2.Kb5  h1Q  3.Rxh1  Rxh1  4.a6  Kf4
5.a7 Ra1 6.Kb6 Ke5 7.Kb7 Kd5.
2...Rc4 3.Rxh2 Rxb4+ 4.Kc5 Ra4 Draw.

Glek : Lputian,
Dortmund, 1992
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-mk-+-0
9P+-+-+-+0
9+PmK-+-+-0
9-+-+-zP-+0
9+-zP-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-zp0
9+-+r+-+L0
xiiiiiiiiy
1.a7??
Correct  would be to keep Bishop and not to
transfer into Rook against pawn. 1.Be4! Re1
(1...h1Q  2.Bxh1  Txh1  3.a7  +-)  2.Bb7  Ra1
3.Kb6 and 4.a7 +-.
1...Rxh1  2.a8Q  Rd1!=  3.Qe4+  Kd8!
4.Qa8+ Ke7 5.Qb7+ Kf6 6.c4 h1Q 7.Qxh1
Rxh1 8.b6 Rb1

It was possible to have different moves order
- 8...Kf5!=.
9.Kc6  Kf5  10.c5  Ke4  11.f5  Kxf5  12.Kb7
Ke6 13.c6 Rc1 14.Kc7 Kd5 15.b7 Draw.

Prokesh
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
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9-+-mk-+-+0
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1.Rc4+
First Prokesh manoevre.
1...Kd3 2.Rd4+!
Second Prokesh.
2...Kxd4 3.Kxe2 Kc3 4.Kd1 Kd3 Draw.

Sikora Gizynska : Peng Zhaoqin,
Novi Sad, 1990
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-mkp0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-tR-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-zppzPP0
9-+-+-+-mK0
9+r+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White  resigned,  as  they  haven't  seen  that
with  checks  it  would  be  possible  to  drive
opponents  King  to  the  f  file,  after  what  f
pawn can be stopped with check.
1.Re7+  Kg6  2.Re6+  Kg5  3.Re5+  Kf6
4.Rxe3 0:1.

Timman : Ivkov,
Amsterdam, 1971
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-+-+0
9+-zp-zP-tR-0
9-+-mk-zP-+0
9+P+-+-+p0
9-+-+-+-zP0
9zp-+-+-+-0
9-+P+-+P+0
9+-+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1.Rg8??
Too  beatiful  to  be  true!  It  was  possible  to
stop  a  pawn  with  different  measures.  For
example: 1.Rg3 a2 2.Rd3+! Ke6 3.e8Q Rxe8
4.Ra3  Rb8  5.c4  (5.Rxa2  Rxb5  6.Ra6  Kf7
7.Rc6  was  still  easily  winning)  5...c6!
6.Rxa2  cxb5  Rxb5  7.Rf2  Kf7  and  it  is  not
easy to progress.
1...Rxg8 2.f7 a2??
2...Rxg2!!  -  Prokesh  trick  at  that  time  was
unknown for both worldclass players!
3.fxg8Q a1Q+ 4.Kh2 Kxe7 5.Qg5+ 1:0.

Shehter : Aloni,
Israel, 1962
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-zp-0
9-+-+-+-zp0
9+-mk-+-+P0
9p+-+-zPP+0
9zP-zppmK-+-0
9-tR-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1.Kxd3??
1.Rb5+! Kxb5 2.Kxd3 - Prokesh trick - was
winning.
1...cxb2 2.Kc2 Kd4 3.Kxb2 Ke4 0:1.

Naiditsch : Kuzubov,
Warsaw, 2005
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-zP-+-+-0
9-mK-+k+-+0
9+R+-+-zp-0
9-+-+-zp-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-tr-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1...g4?
Correct  was  to  push  far  own  pawn
immediately:  1...f3!  2.Rxg5  (2.Rc5  Rxc5
3.Kxc5 Kd7 4.Kb6 Kc8 –+) 2...Rxc7 3.Kxc7
f2  4.R6+  Kf7  –+,  winning  as  in  the  first
example.
2.Rg5?!=  g3  3.Kb7  Rb1+  4.Kc6  Rc1+
5.Kb7  Kf6  6.Rg8  Ke5  7.c8Q  Rxc8  8.Kxc8
Ke4 9.Kd7 f3
Other maoevre does not help: 9...Kf3 10.Ke6
g2 11.Ke5 and King is in time.
10.Rg4+! Ke3 Draw.

Harikrisna : Dreev,
Khanty Mansiysk, 2005
XIIIIIIIIY
9-sN-+-+-tR0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-zp-+p+-+0
9+-+-+kzp-0
9-+-mK-+-zp0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+r+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1...g4 2.Rh5+!
Much stroner than immediate capture on h4.
2...Kf4  3.Rxh4  Rd1+  4.Kc3  Kf3  5.Rh6  g3
6.Rf6+ Kg4 7.Rxe6?
Another  option  was  to  bring  Knight  back
into defence. It looks to be stronger: 7.Rg6+
Kf4 8.Na6 e5 9.Nb4 e4 wwith advantage for
Black.
7...g2 8.Rg6+

Not  sufficient  to  achieve  draw  was  8.Rxb6
Kh5  9.Tb5+  Kh6  10.Rb6+  Kg7  11.Tb7+
Kh8 –+. 8...Kh3?
Of course not 8...Kf3 9.Rxg2 Kxg2 –+.
9.Rh6+ Kg3 10.Rg6+?
And opponents  agreed draw, but  fight  Rook
aainst  Knight  (10...Kf3  11.Rxg2  Kxg2)  was
clearly  winning  for  the  stronger  piece.
Draw.

Krumpacnik : Lenic,
Rogaska Slatina, 2009
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9zP-+-snk+-0
9-mKPsN-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+pzp-0
9-+R+-+-+0
9tr-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Sometimes  happened,  that  Prokesh  idea  is
performed by other piece.
1...Ke6??
1...Kg6  was  avoiding  all  opponents  Knight
tricks.  Now  white  performed  trick  with
Knight! 2.Ne4! Nc8+
Did  not  worked  2...g2  3.Ng5+  Kf5  4.Nxf3
and both pawns are stopped!
3.Kb7  Nxa7  4.c7  Ke5  5.Nxg3  Kf4  6.Nf1
Ke4  7.Rc5  f2  8.Nd2+  Ke3  9.Rf5  Kxd2
10.Rxf2+  Ke3  11.Rf8  Nb5  12.Re8+  Kf4
Draw.

Conclusion:  knowledge  of  the  key  Prokesh
trick  is  necessary  for  players  of  every  level.
But  quantity  of  mistakes  support  our
opinion,  that  many  players  have  to  study  it
much more seriousely.