"The Tactics of End-games" by Jeno Ban, 1997 Dover, English
Descriptive Notation, Softcover, 214pp., $7.95

Approximately eight months ago, Dover Publications released
about a dozen and a half chess books, all reprints or re-issues. Most
titles were well known and popular. They were briefly reviewed in
Oldies Part I and Part II (interested readers may find these reviews
in the Archives.) Most books were favorably reviewed; this week's
book will also be a welcome addition to your library.

Books on the endgames have traditionally received the least
attention by chess book authors and publishers. Opening books
have always had the most appeal, with good game collections next
in line. It is not until relatively recently that endgames have begun
to receive the attention that they deserve.

In 1963, Corvina Press in Budapest published "A Vegjatekok
Taktikaja" by Jeno Ban. It was soon translated in English under the
title "The Tactics of End-games". To this reviewer's knowledge,
that book represented the first attempt to discuss and explain the
tactics of play as the same were specifically related to endgames.
This re-issue by Dover is that very book, unchanged.

The book's objective is stated by the author in the Preface: "The
present book ventures to attempt what has been considered
virtually impossible: it endeavors to systematize and, by reducing
them to their elements, to classify the tactical motifs that constitute
the foundation stones of each and every combination, from the
simplest to the most deeply calculated. As the title shows, our
purpose is to examine the tactical motifs in end-games. These are
in no way different from those which may also occur in the
middle-game; it is only for the sake of better understanding and
clarity that the illustrative examples chosen are relatively simple
positions with a minimum number of pieces on the board. The
reader will be surprised to note how many interesting points,
finesses and subtleties are concealed in even these apparently
simple positions."

Since its initial release, Ban's book has been recognized as being
first-rate. In his terrific 1981 book ("Tactical Chess Endings")
dealing with the same topic, John Nunn said that "The Tactics of
End-games" was "...perhaps the best book in English for players
who have an interest in studies, since the positions have been
deliberately selected to be of relevance to the practical player." We
concur.

The book is divided into over three dozen mini-sections, each with
its own theme, e.g., "Zugzwang," "Discovery," "Closing of lines"
etc. With so many subdivisions of material, one might think that
instructive explanations would be lacking. Not so. Each section
explains clearly, if succinctly, its topic and goes on to illustrate the
point with examples. Typical is the following excerpt from the sub-
chapter entitled "Driving Off or Diversion":

...[I]t may already be stated that the purpose of the driving-off
manoeuvre is to scatter the opponent's defensive forces and to
secure for our own pieces free access to certain squares. With a
passed pawn on the board, our primary objective is, of course, to
assume absolute control of the queening square. The method
employed varies with the type of end-game.

In rook end-games a realizable pawn may decide the issue in two
ways, namely (a) it is escorted to the queening square under
adequate support so that the opponent cannot help giving up his
rook for it, or (b) we drive off the adverse rook, if need be by
sacrificing our own, from its post commanding the queening
square. In this way we may not only promote our pawn but also
retain the new-born queen against the hostile rook. The former
method is a general, strategic way of winding up a game, the latter
is a widely applied tactical possibility.

Diagram: White: Ke5, Rc1; pawns - a6, e4 Black: Kh7, Rg2;
pawns - a3, c7

A.A. Troitsky, 1909 White to move and win

[English Descriptive Notation has been converted here to algebraic
notation.]

1 a7! Rg5+ 

1...Rg8? would be wrong because of 2 Rh1+ and 3 Rg1+

2 Kf6! Ra5 

The driving-on manoeuvre enforced with threats is the first link in
White's combination. Now comes its reverse: the driving off of the
rook from the rook file with new threats. In case of 2...Rg6+ 3 Kf5
Ra6 4 Rxc7+ Kh6 the rook would be driven off by 5 Rc6+!! If
Black had tried to deviate with 4...Kg8, White would have
triumphed after 5 Rc8+ Kg7 6 a8Q.

3 Kf7! Kh6

There was no other defence against the mating threat. Now we see
why we had to spare Black's harmful c-pawn: it prevents Black
from escaping by Rxa7+.

4 Rc6+ Kh7

After 4...Kg5 the same driving-off sacrifice would follow.

5 Rc5!! Rxc5

Forced because White threatens mate after Rc3 or Rh5.

6 a8Q Rg5 7 Qxa3 and wins.

This is a splendid book that will provide many hours of pleasure
both for the student and the casual player. Two drawbacks,
however, should be noted: The design of the diagrams is not very
good; some readers may find that it takes some effort to determine
whether a piece is black or white. And, the notation is English
Descriptive. This last may put off a good many readers. Pity. This
extremely inexpensively priced book is a true diamond-in-the-
rough.

(Readers may wish to note that this week's Endgame Study also
features an illustrative excerpt from this book).