Just Rewards

Just the Facts! Winning Endgame Knowledge in One Volume, by
GM Lev Alburt & GM Nikolay Krogius, 2000 Chess Information
and Research Center, Softcover, English Algebraic Notation,
408pp., $26.95

It has long been understood by masters that, when playing
non-masters, if the game gets to an equal ending, the chances are
very good that the stronger player will have a better understanding
of that ending than the weaker player. Opening lines may be
memorized and the nature of middlegame complications may be
such that a winning advantage is not forthcoming. But endgames
operate on principles that need to be understood. 

When playing stronger players, we have all had a similar
experience: The opening is left behind, no progress is made in the
middlegame, the pieces begin to leave the board and suddenly,
with fewer pieces and pawns, an apparently even game begins to
slip away. For the winner, the application of experience,
knowledge and understanding has prevailed; for the loser, it
becomes another "could've-should've-would've".

Three-time United States Champion Lev Alburt has already
established himself as one of the premier instructors in this
country. GM Alburt has gone far beyond just being an outstanding
chess teacher, however. The first six volumes of his
Comprehensive Chess Course Series take the student from the
most elementary levels through most major tactical and strategical
concepts of the game. His easy-to-follow approach has resulted in
this series being immensely popular. The seventh and final volume
in the series has just been released. Just the Facts!, Winning
Endgame Knowledge in One Volume, puts the finishing touch on
this outstanding series. (The title comes from a statement made by
the character Joe Friday - portrayed by Jack Webb -  in the popular
television crime drama series Dragnet when interviewing
witnesses, trying to get to the point as quickly as possible. Every
episode featured at least one instance of him saying: "Just the
facts...")

This 408-page book is comprised of eleven chapters: (1) What Is
an Endgame?; (2) Pawn Endings; (3) Pawns against Pieces; (4)
Rook Endings; (5) Knight Endings; (6) Bishop Endings; (7) Knight
against Bishop; (8) Queen Endings; (9) Mixed Bags; (10) Multi-
Piece Endings; and (11) Transitions. Each chapter finishes with
"Learning Exercises" which are positions that the reader may
attempt to solve and of course their solutions. You should note that
you will not find the basic mates in the book. No K+Q versus K,
etc. You have to go to the first volume in the Comprehensive
Chess Series for that.

Each chapter is divided into smaller sections. So, for example,
Chapter 6, Bishop Endings, has two main parts, (1) Bishops of the
Same Color; and (2) Bishops of Opposite Color. The first part has
the following seven sub-sections: Pawn on the sixth or seventh
rank; Pawn not yet on the sixth or seventh rank; Bishop and two
pawns against bishop; Both sides have pawns - the "bad" bishop;
Both sides have pawns - the "good" bishop; Same-Color Bishops:
Drawing and Winning Methods; and Other Strategies.

An effort has been made to present the material so that the reader
may study and analyze without having to set up a board and pieces.
Although this works most of the time, occasionally even the most
alert minds will be challenged. However, there is no doubt that the
542(!) diagrams greatly assist the reader. (More about this at the
end of this review.) Special positions and concepts are highlighted
in distinctive blue throughout the book.

As regular readers of our reviews know, we like to present excerpts
from the book being reviewed so that you may get a better idea of
what the book is about. Several weeks ago, we played in a small
local tournament and saw an endgame between two "A" (1800-
2000 Elo) players. It was a B+P versus B ending and the Bishops
were of the same color. It was clear that the side with the extra
pawn had no idea how to win the ending, while the defending side
had no idea how to defend. The game's result, a draw, therefore
somehow seemed justified. Here is this week's excerpt, from the
Bishops of the Same Color chapter. We also give diagrams as they
appear in the book...

It is not hard to conclude ... that side pawns are more dangerous
than central ones, because of the shortened diagonal side pawns
provide to the defending bishop. With a knight-pawn on seventh
rank, where the short diagonal has only two squares, the defender
can't save himself, even with vertical opposition. (See Diagram)

White: Kc8, Bd8; pawn - b7 
Black: Kc6, Bh2

White to move

1.Bh4

To win, White should first take the long diagonal under control,
and then deflect his opponent's bishop from the very short a7-b8
diagonal. Here's his winning plan if Black simply waits:

1...Bf4 2.Bf2 Bh2 3.Ba7 Bg3 4.Bb8 Bf2 5.Bh2 Ba7 6.Bg1 (See
Diagram)

This last move "distracts" or decoys Black's bishop away from his
last lane of defense to the queening square. If Black doesn't stop
this plan, White wins easily.

Back to the first diagram. Black, by controlling the a7-square, plays
to prevent White's maneuver.

1...Kb5 2.Bf2 Kb6 3.Bc5! (See Diagram)

Black is in zugzwang. His bishop has to leave the safe haven of h2.

3...Bf4 4.Be7 Kb5

White threatens to bring his bishop to c7, so the Black king must
rush back to c6.

5.Bd8 Kc6 6.Bg5

Another "distracting" maneuver. 6.Bg5 wins a decisive tempo,
confirming the importance of the tempo-passing 3.Bc5. (See
Diagram)

After 6...Bh2 7.Be3, White gets his bishop to a7 and wins.

[The following appeared in contrasting blue print at the end of this
example.]
With a knight-pawn on the seventh rank, where the short diagonal
has only two squares, the weaker side can't save himself, even with
vertical opposition.

[The following sidebar appeared after 3.Bc5!.] 
Move all the pieces in the first diagram one square to the left (into
the corner) and Black holds because White's bishop can't get to the
only - and very long - diagonal. (See Diagram)

When it comes to the explanation of pure endgame theory, there
may never have been a better book than Reuben Fine's Basic Chess
Endings. We await the day an algebraic notation reprint will be
produced. (Are you listening David McKay?) For bringing clear
and simple endgame instruction to the masses, however, Just the
Facts! is terrific.

At the risk of venturing where perhaps no reviewer should go, but
understanding that everyone's time is at a premium, we have come
up with the following interesting idea: As previously noted, the
book is loaded with diagrams and is quite user-friendly. Read
through chapters 2-7 of Just the Facts!. Use a chess set for
positions you are not able to follow with the book alone. (The book
is designed to be used without a set, but as mentioned earlier, this
is probably not going to be possible for many players.) When done,
repeat. Continue this cycle until you are able to follow all the main
lines and variations in these six chapters without using a set at all.
At that point (and with the occasional brushing up before
tournaments) you should have increased your ability to play
endings so that you will begin to see a marked improvement in
your endgame technique.

At any rate, Just the Facts! is splendid in its simplicity and
instructional value. You will not find detailed discussions of the
rule of corresponding squares and the like. You will find a useful
hands-on approach that may well reap deserved rewards. They will,
of course, be your Just rewards...