A fragment from the book by Y. Kirillov ‘Искусство защиты’. Part 46

02.10.2024

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. 231 (black to move) Black have found a good plan that equals chances. 1… BC5!! (the best move) 2.DB6 HG5 3.BC5!! (the only move) BA7 4.GF2 FE5 5.FE3! GF4 6.EG5 CD6! Draw. Good play for white and black.

	Diagram No. 232 Black pieces are in the center, however white have managed to find a draw. 1.GF4!! (the only move) EG3 2.HF4 BC5 3.HG5!! FH4 4.BA5! Draw.

	Diagram No. 233 Black have found a good draw! 1. AB6 GF4 (It is possible to play 1… EF6?! Draw.) 2.GH2 EF6 3.FE3! HD4 4.CE7 DF6 5.BC7 AB6 6.CA5 ED4 7.AB6 FG5. Draw.

	Diagram No. 234 Black have found a good defending plan. 1.DC5!! DB4 2.BA3 GE3 3.AC5 BC7! 4.FD4 CD6 5.CE7 FD6 6.HG7 AB4! 7.GH8 DE5 8.DF6 BC3! Draw.

	Diagram No. 235 (black to move) White have managed to find a good draw. 1… FE5 2.CD4!! EE1 3.ED4 CG5 4.HH8. Draw! The ending is drawish.