Endgame Study

N.N. - T. Lassila (D04 - Colle System)

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c5 {best} 3. e3 Nf6 4. Be2 e6 5. O-O Nc6 6. c3 b6 7. Na3 Bb7 8. Nc2 Bd6 9. dxc5 bxc5 10. Bd2 O-O 11. b4 c4 12. Nfd4 Nxd4 13. exd4 Qc7 14. g3 a5 15. a3 Rfe8 16. Bf3 e5 17. dxe5 Bxe5 18. Rc1 axb4 19. axb4 Ne4 20. Bxe4 dxe4 21. Nd4 Bxd4 22. cxd4 Qc6 23. Be3 f5 24. Qc2 Rac8 25. Rfd1 Red8 26. h4 h6 27. Kh2 Rd7 28. Ra1 Ra8 29. Rxa8+ Bxa8 30. Ra1 g5? 31. Qa4 Qxa4 32. Rxa4 Bd5 33. hxg5 hxg5 34. Bxg5 c3 35. Ra5 Be6 36. Be3 Rc7 37. Rc5? {37. d5 wins} Rxc5 38. dxc5

Position after 38. dxc5

Here we've reached a position that appears very inbalanced. White has two passers, Black has one. The kingside looks stagnant but Black will have to worry about the two connected passers. The saving grace is the drawing power of the bishops of opposite color. As long as Black controls the light squares b5 and c6, White can make no progress. With that in mind, the right idea was (not found by me in the game):

38...Bd7!

38...Kf8? 39. b5 Ke7 40. g4 fxg4 41. Kg3 Kd7 42. Kf4 Kc7 43. Kxe4 c2 44. Kd3 Bf5+ 45. Kc3 Bg6 46. Kb4 Be4 47. c6 Bd5 48. Kc5 1-0 didn't work for Black in the game.

39. g4 fxg4 40. Kg3 Kf7 41. Kf4 Bb5 42. Kxe4

Wasting time grabbing the g-pawn secured Black the draw immediately: 42. Kxg4 Ke6 43. Kf4 Kd5 44. Kf5 Bc6 45. Kf6 Kc4 46. Ke6 ½-½

42...Ke6 43. Kd4 c2 44. Kc3

44. Bc1 Kd7 45. Kd5 Kc7 46. Be3 Kd7 47. Bf4 Ba4 ½-½

Now Black draws by keeping his king on b5-c6 and using the bishop to keep out White's king.

44...Kd5 45. Kxc2 Kc6 46. Kc3 Be2 47. Kd4 Bf3 48. Ke5 Kb5 49. Kd6 Be4
50. Bd2 Bc6 51. Kc7 Be4 ½-½

(Thanks to Mike Ogush for pointing out the idea.)