2014-11-07

A Theoretical Endgame


Grisjtjuk-Radjabov (Swedish transcription)

The diagram position has been reached in many top level games: Tal-Gipslis 1983, Grischuk-Radjabov 2008 and Bacrot-Robson 2011. The verdict has changed, most notably when a new winning idea was find for White starting with 1.Kd4 Rxf2 2.Rc7 Ra2 3.a7 Kf5 4.Kc4!! Kg4 5.Kb3 Ra6 6.Rc4+!. And as far as I know, the conclution has been a draw after Radjabov's 1.Kd4 g5!.
   A lot of analysis has been published by Pogoshyan in an article.

I wrote about this for the endgame chapter of the book, but another book was faster and the editor removed that part. Instead, I have used the annotations in an endgame database for some pupils.
   Some weeks ago I received an e-mail from Kjell-Tore Sandum, who had improved upon the analysis. After 1.Kd4 g5! 2.Kd5!? g4 3.Kd6 Rd2+ 4.Kc5 Rc2+ 5.Kb5 Rb2+ 6.Kc4 Ra2 7.Ra8 Ke6 8.Kb5 Rb2+ 9.Kc6 Rc2+ 10.Kb7 Rb2+ 11.Ka7 Rxf2 Komodo 8 pointed out that 12.Rh8! Wins.
   A better try for Black is 7...Ke7, but White still has ”winning chances”. And Komodo prefers 2...Kg6, Kjell-Tore told.

For the moment, I reorganize my weekday to get time for a new long-lasting book project. With that said, this blog will not be updated during the upcoming months. But Pump Up Your Rating is still there – now on it's third edition (with no changes).

Finally some great news: the World Chess Championship will be sent on SVT Play, the digital part of the national Swedish television!

PUMP UP YOUR RATING
Any man in the street knows how to increase his physical strength, but among most chess players confusion reigns when it comes to improving their playing strength. Axel Smith's training methods have guided his friends, teammates and pupils to grandmaster norms and titles. Hard work will be required, but Axel Smith knows how you can Pump Up Your Rating.

Every area of chess is covered - opening preparation, through middlegame play, to endgame technique. Smith delves into both the technical and psychological sides of chess, and shows how best to practise and improve.

International Master Axel Smith from Sweden has had great success as a coach. Using his methods on himself, in the space of two years he boosted his rating from 2093 to 2458. He is now closing in on the Grandmaster title

ISBN: 978-1-907982-73-6 - Released September 2013