endgame-1

Bruehl, Count John - Philidor, Francois 0-1

Philidor

Modern positional play begins with the musician Philidor 1726-1795. He likes to support pawns by pieces from behind. His eyes are blindfolded in this game.

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 c6 3.Qe2 d6 4.c3 f5 5.d3 Nf6 6.exf5 Bxf5 7.d4 e4 8.Bg5 d5 9.Bb3 Bd6 10.Nd2 Nbd7 11.h3 h6 12.Be3 Qe7 13.f4 h5 14.c4 a6 15.cxd5 cxd5 16.Qf2 O-O 17.Ne2 b5 18.O-O Nb6 19.Ng3 g6 20.Rac1 Nc4 21.Nxf5 gxf5 22.Qg3+ Qg7 23.Qxg7+ Kxg7 24.Bxc4 bxc4 25.g3 Rab8 26.b3

Philidor has the better pawn structure in the endgame. He can attack on both flanks.

26... Ba3 27.Rc2 cxb3 28.axb3?

( A weakness is avoided by 28.Nxb3)

28... Rfc8 29.Rxc8 Rxc8 30.Ra1 Bb4 31.Rxa6 Rc3 32.Kf2 Rd3 33.Ra2 Bxd2 34.Rxd2 Rxb3

Black pressures on the queenside.

35.Rc2 h4!

The attack switches to the kingside.

36.Rc7+ Kg6 37.gxh4 Nh5 38.Rd7 ( 38.Rc6+ ( 38.Ke2 Ng3+ 39.Kf2 Nf1 leads to the game. 40.Kxf1 Rxe3 41.Rd7 Rf3+ 42.Kg2)38... Kf7 39.Rc7+ Ke6 40.Rc6+! )

38... Nxf4!

Philidor sees a combination despite of the blindfold.

( When Black plays38... Nf6 or (38... Rb5 he will make no progress.))

39.Bxf4 Rf3+ 40.Kg2 Rxf4 41.Rxd5 Rf3

Philidor has his favourite connected passed pawns.

42.Rd8 Rd3 43.d5 f4 44.d6 Rd2+ 45.Kf1 Kf7 46.h5 e3 47.h6??

( 47.Rd7+! 47... Ke6 48.Rd8! leads to an escape.)

47... f3

This is the first acceptable practical endgame that I could find.