A fragment from the book by Y. Kirillov ‘Искусство защиты’. Part 38

01.11.2023

It is not always possible to come out of the opening with the best position and at the end to fight for the victory, you also have to defend. Sometimes it seems that the position is already ‘impossible to save’, after a while you will have to give up, but there is the only plan that still leads to a cherished draw.

The art of defense in the draughts game is certainly one of the indicators of the player’s skill. We express our gratitude to Yuri Kirillov for the book of paradoxically drawish positions ‘Искусство защиты’. Perhaps in this book you will find the game that was ‘not saved’.

Diagram No. 191 (black to move)

Black have a weak flang, but they have come up with an interesting defense!
1… DE5 (the only move)  2.ED2 (the best move)  GH6!!  3.BC3 HG7  4.ED4 GF6!!  5.FE3 HF2  6.EG1 ED6!  7.DE3 HG5  8.GF2! GH4  9.FG3 HF2  10.EG1 EF4  11.GH2 DE5  12.DC5 FE3, draw.

 

Diagram No. 192 (black to move)

Black can reach an easy draw in this position! 
1… BA7!!  2.ED2 ED4  3.EF4 DE5!1  4.FD6 DC3. Draw! (You can play 1… BC7  2.ED2 ED4  3.EF4 DC3  4.DE3 CA5  5.GF6 EG5  6.HF6 AB6!  7.FG5 AB4  8.FE7 CD4!! Draw.)

Diagram No. 193 (black to move)

White pieces are placed well, however, black have found a weakness!
1… DC5!! (the best move)  2.BA3 AB6!!  3.FE5 BA5!  4.ED6 EF6  5.DB4 HG5!!  6.BC5 FE5  7.CD6 EC7  8.CD4 CB6!  9.DC3 BC7. Good defense!

Diagram No. 194

Black have found an opportunity to reach a draw!
1.GF2! (the best move)  GF4!!  2.FG3 (If 2.CB4, CB6  3.DE5 FD4  4.CG5 HF4  5.BA5 BC5  6.FE3 AB6!!  7.EG5 CD4  8.AC7 DB6, draw)  2… FE5  3.DF6 CD6!!  4.CE7 AB6  5.GE5 HG5! Great defense.

Diagram No. 195 

White have found a good defending plan! 
1.FE5 (1.AB4 is possible with the same ideas)  FG5 (the best move; if 1… HG5, 2.EG7 CD6  3.CE7 DH8  4.AB4, draw)  2.AB4! Draw! 

 

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