Pawnless Chess Endgame - Examples With An Extra Minor Piece

Examples With An Extra Minor Piece

An extra minor piece on one side with a queen versus queen or rook versus rook endgame is normally a theoretical draw. An endgame with two minor pieces versus one is also drawn, except in the case of two bishops versus a knight. But a rook and two minor pieces versus a rook and one minor piece is different. In these two examples from games, the extra minor piece is enough to win.

R. Blau vs. Unzicker, 1949
a b c d e f g h
8

8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
Black to move, wins

In this position, if the bishops were on the same color, White might have a chance to exchange bishops and reach an easily-drawn position. (Exchanging rooks would also result in a draw.) Black wins:

1... Re3
2. Bd4 Re2+
3. Kc1 Nb4
4. Bg7 Rc2+
5. Kd1 Be2+
6. resigns, because 6. Ke1 Nd3 is checkmate (Speelman 1981:108–9).
Vladimorov vs. Palatnik, 1977
a b c d e f g h
8

8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
Black to move, wins

In this position, if White could exchange bishops (or rooks) he would reach a drawn position. However, Black has a winning attack:

1... Rb3+
2. Kh2 Bc6
3. Rb8 Rc3
4. Rb2 Kf5
5. Bg3 Be4
6. Re2 Bg5
7. Rb2 Be4
8. Rf2 Rc1
9. resigns, (Speelman 1981:109).

Speelman gave these conclusions:

  • Rook and two bishops versus rook and bishop - thought to be a win
  • Rook, bishop, and knight versus rook and bishop - good winning chances, probably a win if the bishops are on opposite colors
  • Rook, bishop, and knight versus rook and knight - thought to be a win (Speelman 1981:170).

Read more about this topic:  Pawnless Chess Endgame

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