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Alexander Morozevich vs Dmitry Jakovenko
Ciudad de Pamplona (2006), Pamplona ESP, rd 5, Dec-27
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical. Berlin Variation Pirc Variation (E39)  ·  1/2-1/2
ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 3 OF 3 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Jan-02-07  FJCF: yes 69.b6! Kb5 70.b7 Kc6 71.Nc5! followed Kf7 is 1-0 easy.Is the time... :-)
Jan-02-07  FJCF: But 71.Nc5 Kc5 72.Kf7 Rb8 73.g8=Q Rb7 and another ending Q+R
Jan-02-07  malthrope: <FJCF: yes 69.b6! Kb5 70.b7 Kc6 71.Nc5! followed Kf7 is 1-0 easy.Is the time... :-)>

Followed by... <FJCF: But 71.Nc5 Kc5 72.Kf7 Rb8 73.g8=Q Rb7 and another ending Q+R>

The idea behind 69. b6! Kb5 70. b7 Kc6 (or Kb6 and if 70... Ka6 then 71. Nc5+ followed by 72. Kf7 wins) is (instead of 71. Nc5) 71. b8=Q Rxb8 72. Nf8! wins. This was all pointed out by <Mameluk:It looks almost impossible that Moro overlooked 69. b6-b7-b8. Something was already wrong.> on the previous page.

We surmised that Jako noticed this and decided it best to play on and try his luck once the 'Q vs. R' ending was achieved on move #71 with Kxb5, etc. Anyway, 'Good Luck' to Sasha in the '1st ACP World Rapid Cup' starting on January 4th, 2007! ;-) - Mal

Jan-08-07
Premium Chessgames Member		  Domdaniel: Q-vs-R looks very easy when you play through it with an engine, and see the wins on move 81, move 111 etc. It's a lot harder in practice, although clearly a super-GM like Moro should have the technique.

I saw the same thing happen in the 1980s, in the deciding game of the Irish championship between two players rated about 2300. The guy with the Queen had to win the game for the title, but it ended in a draw and somebody else won on tie-break.

The really incredible thing about this game is the way Jakovenko defends for so long with a lone Rook -- first against knight and four pawns, then against a queen. It's one of the finest sustained defensive efforts in the history of chess. The psychological factor -- when your opponent is dead but refuses to lie down -- should never be underestimated.

Jan-09-07  soberknight:


click for larger view

White to play at move 72: tablebase says mate in 28 (standard for this distribution of the pieces). Maximum distance to mate for this material is 35 moves in this position:


click for larger view

. Maximum distance to conversion, according to Monty Newborn and David Levy in "How Computers Play Chess," is 30 moves. GM Walter Browne played two queen versus rook games against a computer (maybe BELLE) in the 1980s, with the task for him to reach the conversion within the standard 50-move limit. Browne got stuck the first time, but he came back the next week after intensive practice, and captured the rook on the 50th move with no time to spare.

Jan-09-07  soberknight: Now tablebase comments on the moves of the ending:

72. Qc8 /28 (optimal)
...Rd5 /23 (suboptimal, makes mate 4 moves closer, hereafter -4) 73. Ke6 /26 (Qc3 was /23)
...Rd4 /24
74. Ke5 /24
...Rd3 /23
75. Qc2 /23
...Rd8 /22 (optimal by both players)
76. Qb3+ /22
...Kc5 /21
77. Qc3+ /21
...Kb5 /19
78. Ke6 /19
...Kb6 /18
79. Qc4 /18
...Rg8 /17
80. Qd4+ /17
...Kc6 /16

So far the play on both sides has been superb, almost without mistakes. Now Morozevich gets stuck.

81. Qc3+ /18 (-2, Ke7 or Qf6 were optimal)
...Kb5 /17
82. Kd6? /26 (-9, one of the worst moves that doesn't lose the queen, even though it looks aggressive. Qe5+ was optimal.) ...Rg6+ /26
83. Kc7 /25
...Rg4! /24 (The only move. The next best alternative was Ra6, allowing mate in 13.) 84. Qc6+ /26 (-2)
...Kb4
85. Qd6+ /28 (-2, but a good try)
...Kc3! /27 (other moves lose the rook quickly. Ka5 is mate in 10 after Qd2+!)

So now Morozevich must start all over again.

86. Kc6 /27
...Rd4 /26
87. Qa3+ /27
...Kd2 /26
88. Kc5 /26
...Re4 /24
89. Kd5 /24
...Rg4 /23
90. Qf3 /23
...Rb4 /22
91. Kc5 /22
...Ra4 /21 (Several consecutive optimal moves have just passed.) 92. Qf6 /25 (But not this one! Qf2 was best.)
...Kd3 /20 (Returning the favor, instead of Ke3.)
93. Qd6+ /28 (-8, Qf1! was mate in 20)
...Ke3 /27

I'm too tired to finish this analysis. You can do it yourself by using the Lokasoft tablebase at http://www.lokasoft.nl/uk/tbweb.htm. A couple of critical mistakes by Moro, and some beautiful defensive moves by his opponent, did the trick.

Jan-10-07  positionalgenius: Poor Morozevich...I've done this more than once.
Jan-10-07  malthrope: <soberknight: [...] GM Walter Browne played two queen versus rook games against a computer (maybe BELLE) in the 1980s, with the task for him to reach the conversion within the standard 50-move limit. Browne got stuck the first time, but he came back the next week after intensive practice, and captured the rook on the 50th move with no time to spare.>

I can verify that story... :-)

Shawn - Walter Shawn Browne - is an old friend (today is his birthday, btw, born January 10, 1949). It was all based on a bet (could he or couldn't he?). So, that's exactly what happened he drew the first 'Q vs. R' game (failed to win in 50 moves). Then he studied the 'clever computer defenses' and in the next game won the rook on move 50 (just in the nick of time)... ;-) Regards, - Mal

PS: Thanks for posting the 'Q vs. R' endgame Nalimov tablebase analysis highlights. Note: <Mameluk> did a very nice job previously (I also added some stuff here in the 'Moro vs. Jako' game in the past few kibitz pages), and also posted a recap over at Mig's ChessNinja Forums - International Events / "XVI Torneo Internacional - 'Cuidad De Pamplona' - Dec. '06" // http://www.chessninja.com/cgi-bin/u...

Jul-23-07  Ashram64: good learning game
Jul-24-07  argishti: WAT A BLOW!! wowww
Nov-01-08
Premium Chessgames Member		  Eggman: <<soberknight>> Those tablebase figures are misleading (though thanks for the effort), because they give the number of moves to reach checkmate when in fact, for intents and purposes, winning the Rook is good enough.
Jan-12-09  Lucid Faia: 114. Kxd2

...Whoops. >_>

Jul-09-09  YouRang: Yes, K+Q vs. K+R is not easy, but on the other hand, Moro had already done the hard part, and then let it get away at the end by allowing a crazy-rook stalemate.

In positions like the one Moro had after 110 moves, white must use zugzwang tactics to force black into tighter positions until the king can't defend the rook any longer, and eventually the rook falls to a queen fork, skewer or pin.

In this case, 111.Qe5! maintains the grip on a square next to the king (h2) while setting up checks at e1 or a1. This is typicaly of what to look for in such situations.

Jul-09-09  aragorn69: Was this rapid??
Jul-09-09
Premium Chessgames Member		  plang: <Was this rapid??>

No

Jul-10-09  popski: Oh man, that's a great ending to learn from!
Aug-17-12  geniokov: Is there any useful golden rule to drawn the game of K+Q vs K+R ending in favor who handles the K+R?
Aug-17-12  kasputine: 63. Kf4 would have easily won,
63. ... Rxa4+
64. Kf5
Aug-17-12
Premium Chessgames Member		  Black Vampire: <geniokov> Unfortunately, given the fact the ending K+Q vs K+R is a mathematical win for the strong side, there´s no useful golden rule for the weak side, except at certain stalemate positions, such as the one which happened in the game.
Jul-08-15  David2009: You can try your luck at winning the ending against Crafty End Game Trainer: http://www.chessvideos.tv/endgame-t...
Jul-10-16  Smothered Mate: Inspired by <Eggman>'s comment, here's analysis from a _DTC_ tablebase (http://chess.jaet.org/endings/), rather than a DTM tablebase:

​

​

1 move ​ = ​ 2 ply

PTC ​ = ​ ply to conversion , _not_ counting ​
the capturing or checkmating move

So, just after a capture,
​PTC = 99 ​ would be a win and ​ PTC = 100 ​ would be a draw. ​
​
​
71. ... Kxb5 ​ entered the KQKR ending.

PTC = 44

72. Qc8 ​ slows down conversion by 1 move.
Kf6 and Ke6 were the PTC-optimal moves.

PTC = 45

72. ... Rd5 ​ speeds up conversion by 5 moves.
Kb4 was uniquely PTC-optimal.

PTC = 34

73. Ke6 ​ slows down conversion by 4 moves.
Qc3 was the only other move that does not slow it even more.

PTC = 41

73. ... Rd4 ​ speeds up conversion by 2 moves.
Rc5 was uniquely PTC-optimal.

PTC = 36

74. Ke5 Rd3 ​ was PTC-optimal, but not uniquely so.

PTC = 34

75. Qc2 Rd8 ​ 76. Qb3+ Kc5 ​ 77. Qc3+ ​ ​ ​ was uniquely PTC-optimal.

PTC = 29

77. ... Kb5 ​ speeds up conversion by 2 moves.
(There's only one other legal move.)

PTC = 24

78. Ke6 Kb6 ​ 79. Qc4 Rg8 ​ ​ ​ was uniquely PTC-optimal.

PTC = 20

80. Qd4+ ​ was PTC-optimal.
Qb4+ was the only other PTC-optimal move.

PTC = 19

80. ... Kc6 ​ was uniquely PTC-optimal.

PTC = 18

81. Qc3+ ​ slows down conversion by 2 moves.
The only moves to convert faster were Qe4+,Qf6,Ke7.
​Those 3 moves all give the same PTC.

PTC = 21

81. ... Kb5 ​ was uniquely PTC-optimal.

PTC = 20

82. Kd6 ​ slows down conversion by 10 moves.
Qe5+ was uniquely PTC-optimal.

PTC = 39

82. ... Rg6+ ​ was uniquely PTC-optimal.
Rg4 was the unique _next_-best, and
​would've sped up conversion by 9 moves.

PTC = 38

83. Kc7 ​ was PTC-optimal.
Kd7 was the only other PTC-optimal move.

PTC = 37

83. ... Rg4 ​ was uniquely PTC-optimal.
Ra6 was unique _next_-best, and
​would've sped up conversion by 13 moves.

PTC = 36

84. Qc6+ ​ slows down conversion by 2 moves.
Qe3 was uniquely PTC-optimal.

PTC = 39

84. ... Kb4 ​ was uniquely PTC-optimal.

PTC = 38

85. Qd6+ ​ slows down conversion by 3 moves.
Qb6+ was uniquely PTC-optimal.

PTC = 43

85. ... Kc3 ​ 86. Kc6 ​ ​ ​ was uniquely PTC-optimal. Ka5 was black's unique _next_-best, and only lasts 4 ply before the rook is taken.

PTC = 41

86. ... Rd4 ​ was PTC-optimal.
Rc4+ was the only other PTC-optimal move.

PTC = 40

87. Qa3+ ​ slows down conversion by 1 move.
Qg3+ was the only move that converts faster.

PTC = 41

87. ... Kd2 ​ was uniquely PTC-optimal.

PTC = 40

88. Kc5 ​ slows down conversion by 1 move, _and_ reaches ​
a rotation of the position from just after ​ ​ ​ 73. Ke6 ​ . ​
Qf3 was the only other move that does not slow it even more.

88. ... Re4 ​ 89. Kd5 ​ ​ ​ are the corresponding rotations ​
of the corresponding moves from that position.

89. ... Rg4 ​ speeds up conversion by 1 move.
Rf4 was PTC-optimal (but not uniquely so)
​_and_ would've kept the rotation.

PTC = 32

90. Qf3 Rb4 ​ 91. Kc5 Ra4 ​ ​ ​ was uniquely PTC-optimal.

PTC = 28

92. Qf6 ​ slows down conversion by 6 moves.
Qf2+ was uniquely PTC-optimal.

PTC = 39

92. ... Kd3 ​ speeds up conversion by 6 moves.
Ke3 was uniquely PTC-optimal.

PTC = 26

93. Qd6+ ​ slows down conversion by 9 moves.
Qf1+ was uniquely PTC-optimal.

PTC = 43

93. ... Ke3 ​ was uniquely PTC-optimal.
Kc3 was unique _next_-best, and
​would've sped up conversion by 8 moves.

PTC = 42

94. Qg3+ ​ was PTC-optimal.
Qd1 and Qh6+ were the other PTC-optimal moves.

PTC = 41

94. ... Ke2 ​ was uniquely PTC-optimal.

PTC = 40

95. Qc3 Rf4 ​ were PTC-optimal, but not uniquely so.

PTC = 38

96. Kd5 ​ was uniquely PTC-optimal.

PTC = 37

96. ... Rg4 ​ speeds up conversion by 4 moves.
Rh4 was uniquely PTC-optimal.

PTC = 28

97. Ke5 ​ was uniquely PTC-optimal.

PTC = 27

​
​

continued below

Jul-10-16  Smothered Mate: continued from above
​
​
​
PTC = 27

97. ... Rh4 ​ reaches a reflection of the
​position from just after ​ ​ ​ 77. Kb5 ​ .

98. Kf5 Kf2 ​ 99. Qd3 Rh7 ​ 100. Qd4+ Kf3 ​ ​ ​ are the corresponding reflections of the corresponding moves from that position.

101. Kg5 ​ was PTC-optimal.
Qd5+ and Qf6 ​ were the other PTC-optimal moves.

PTC = 17

101. ... Rh2 ​ was uniquely PTC-optimal.

PTC = 16

102. Qf4+ ​ was PTC-optimal.
Qf6+ was the only other PTC-optimal move.

PTC = 15

102. ... Kg2 ​ was obviously uniquely PTC-optimal.

PTC = 14

103. Kg4 ​ was PTC-optimal.
Qe5 was the only other PTC-optimal move.

PTC = 13

103. ... Kg1 ​ 104. Qd4+ Kg2 ​ ​ ​ was uniquely PTC-optimal.

PTC = 10

105. Qd3 ​ slows down conversion by 2 moves.
Qe5+ was uniquely PTC-optimal.

PTC = 13

105. ... Kg1 ​ was uniquely PTC-optimal.

PTC = 12

106. Qe3+ ​ slows down conversion by 1 move.
Qd4+ was uniquely PTC-optimal, but
​repeats the position from 2 moves ago.

PTC = 13

106. ... Kf1 ​ was uniquely PTC-optimal.

PTC = 12

107. Qc1+ ​ slows down conversion by 2 moves.
Qd4 was uniquely PTC-optimal, but
​lets black repeat the position from 3 ply ago.

PTC = 15

107. ... Kf2 ​ was uniquely PTC-optimal.

PTC = 14

108. Qd2+ ​ was PTC-optimal, though not uniquely so.

PTC = 13

108. ... Kg1 ​ was obviously uniquely PTC-optimal.

PTC = 12

109. Qe1+ ​ was PTC-optimal.
Qd4+ was the only other PTC-optimal move, but
​that one repeats the position from 5 moves ago.

PTC = 11

109. ... Kg2 ​ was the only legal move.

PTC = 10

110. Qg3+ ​ slows down conversion by 1 move.
Qe5 was the only other move that does not slow it even more.

PTC = 11

110. ... Kh1 ​ was obviously uniquely PTC-optimal.

PTC = 10

111. Kf3 ​ throws away the win.
Qe5 was uniquely PTC-optimal.

111. ... Rf2+ ​ was the only drawing move.

Black's subsequent moves _would be_
​only-drawing-moves if not for the 50-move rule.

(Playing ​ 112. ... Rb2 ​ would _just barely_ reach the 50-move rule, but none of the other alternatives for that move draw. ​
Black had 5 alternatives for it's 113 that reach the 50-move rule.)

Dec-06-18
Premium Chessgames Member		  Jonathan Sarfati: 111. Qe5 suggested by Jesse Kraai in a basically identical position (with colours and corners different) in a 2001 game between Boris Gelfand and Peter Svidler. For example: 111.Qe5 Kg1 112.Kg3 Rg2+ 113. Kh3. Black soon loses the R or worse.
Sep-16-19
Premium Chessgames Member		  kbob: Morozevich, Svidler, Navarra, Meier. These are really monster names not to have this ending at their fingertips.
Jul-10-21  Whitehat1963: Great little swindle!
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