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Vasik Rajlich likes to play chess in Hungary "An American in Budapest"
After his words I understand him and agree also with him, why he likes so much the Hungarian chess events. „ While in America on the Open Chess Tournaments the strength of the entered contestants are usually pretty uneven, one finds some really strong players but very weaks too on the same tournament, in Hungary the general level of the contests are much higher..."- Rajlich said. „That’s the reason, while I pass so long time ideling in Budapest." The following position came from his game, played in May, against another „First Saturday" tournament player, Hoenig, A. Vasek Rajlich with Blacks demonstrated, how to win simple, equal looking endings with some fine strategy, involving the King, who is a „strong piece" anyway, as GM. Tartakower, a Frenchmen told it frequently.  31.h6!,Kd6 32.g4,fxg4 33.Kg2, Kc5 34.Kb3,Kb4 35.Kxg4, Ka3 36.Kg5, Kxa2 37.b4, Kb3 38.b5,Kc4 39.Kf6, Kxb5 40.Kg7, g5 41.Kxh4, g4 42..Kg6, g3 43.h7,g2 44.h8=Q, g1=Q+ 45.Kf5, Qf2+ 46.Ke4, Qe2+ 47.Kf4, a5!  Now or never! This is the moment, when Blacks have to start with up-marching of his pawns toward the Promise Land. Whites haven’t good check now to force a perpetual check and draws.... 48. Qd8, Qe6 (Blacks would like to trade the Queens indeed, since the pawn-ending is won for him...) 49.Kg3, Qe3+ 50. Kg2, Qe4+ 51. Kg1, a4 (always in the best time!) 52. Qd7+, Kb4 53.Qd6+, Kb3 It’s worthwhile to observe and stick in the mind, how superior the centralized Queen of Whites is, it protects the b7 Pawn, threats with some interfering check, which could force the trade of the Queens, bringing instant winning... 54. Qd1+, Kb2 55. Qd2+, Ka1 56.Qc3+, Kb1 Very clever play by Blacks, now Whites are incapable to do anything. 57.Kf1, b5 58. Kg1, b4 59.Qd2, b3 and Whites resigned, he hasn’t useful move. Very well played endgame, highly recommended to advanced young players because it shows in its own simplicity the importance of an active King and clever strategy using the energy of passed Pawns to winning. |