A fragment from the book by Y. Kirillov ‘Искусство защиты’. Part 59

04.03.2026

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. 296 Despite the fact that black have a strong piece on F4, they have to play carefully! 1.AB2!! ED6!! (the only move) 2.DC5 DB4 3.DC3 BD2 4.CE7 AC1 5.EF8. Draw!

	Diagram No. 297 White in a bad position have found a defending plan! 1.CD4 EF6 (It is possible to play 1… CB6 2.AC7 DB6 3.FG3!! (the best move) Draw.) 2.FG3 HF2 3.EG1 FG5 4.FE5!! CB6 5.AC7 BF4 6.CD6! Draw.

	Diagram No. 298 White are surrounded and have to find a defending plan. 1.BA3!! ED6 2.FE3! DC5! (the best move) 3.CB4!! AC3 4.DB2 BA5 5.BC3 AB4!! 6.CA5 FE7! 7.GF2 EF6 8.FG5 FD4 9.AB4! Draw.

	Diagram No. 299 Black want to take the center after an exchange 1.DC3? 1.DE3!! DF2 2.GE3 DE5 3.EF4!! EG3 4.HF4 EF6 5.CD2 CB6!! 6.AC7 DB6 7.DE3 BC5! 8.BD6 FE5! Draw.

	Diagram No. 300 White have found a beautiful draw! 1.ED2!! FG5 (If 1… CB6, 2.GF2 BC5 3.DB6 AC5 4.FE3! Draw.) 2.HB6 AG5 or 3… AC1 4.GF2 CG5 5.FE3, draw.