Clerical Error

Winning Endgame Strategy by GMs Alexander Beliavsky and
Adrian Mikhalchishin, 2000 Batsford, Softcover, Figurine
Algebraic Notation, 208pp., $16.95

In the last few months, there has been a spate of new endgame
books flowing from chess publishers. The latest entry by Batsford
in this area is Winning Endgame Strategy by GMs Alexander
Beliavsky and Adrian Mikhalchishin. It really is an expanded
version of Winning Endgame Technique, produced by the same
authors about six or seven years ago. According to the
Introduction, Winning Endgame Technique is in fact the first part
of the present Winning Endgame Strategy. "The present book is a
direct continuation of Winning Endgame Technique and to some
extent the second part in the sense that many themes, such as
queen, knight and complex endings, were not dealt with in the
previous book."

The densely packed 200+ double-column pages are divided into
twelve chapters: (1) Pawn Endings; (2) Knight Endings; (3) Rook
Endings; (4) Shouldering: the struggle of the kings; (5) Complex
Endings; (6) Defence in the Ending; (7) The isolated pawn in the
Ending; (8) Rook and bishop against rook and knight; (9) Rook
and two pawns against rook and knight; (10) Two minor pieces
against a rook; (11) Rook against knight and pawn; and (12) Queen
endings. A few chapters are rounded out by Exercises whose
solutions may be found in the back of the book. With one glaring
exception - bishop endings - most commonly encountered
endgames are covered.

The book's back cover claims that it "...presents a golden point-
scoring opportunity to players willing to learn..." An examination
of the book, however, reveals that any student who wants to get
much out of it will have to be willing to do more than learn.
Unfortunately, the presentation of the material is hardly conducive
to easily learning endgame theory. The text is awkward and clunky
in many places, and while many current examples are presented,
we really must question their instructive value. Principles of
endgame play are rarely discussed and when they are, it is doubtful
that they will be of benefit to most readers.

In fact, what we really have here is a collection of annotated
endgame positions grouped by material. The annotations are good,
no question, but the continual failure of the authors to explain the
underlying principles of endings calls the idea of this book having
any use as an instructional manual into serious doubt. The
following excerpt is typical:

From the Complex Endings chapter (See Diagram)

White: Kf2, Ra6, Nf3, Be3; pawns - b2, e4, f5, g5, h4
Black: Kg8, Rd7, Be7, Bf7; pawns - b5, e5, f6, g7, h7

Nezhmetdinov-Luik, USSR 1950

White has the advantage on the king's flank plus a more active
deployment of pieces - there followed

1 b4!

With the threat of 2 Bc5, whereas 1...Bxb4? is impossible because
of 2 Ra8+ Bf8 3 Bc5.

1...Be8 2 Bc5 Kf7 3 g6+!

Completely cramping the opponent - not possible is 3...hxg6 4
fxg6+ Kxg6 5 Nxe5+.

3...hxg6 4 fxg6+ Kf8 5 h5 Bxc5

Already he has to allow White to create a passed pawn.

6 bxc5 Rc7 7 Ra8 Rxc5 8 h6!

Here also an advantage on the king's flank expresses itself in a
tactical form.

8...gxh6 9 Nh4 Rc6 10 Nf5 Re6 11 Rb8

White plans to go with his king to h5, therefore he places his rook
to hold up the b-pawn.

11...h5 12 Kg3 b4 13 Kh4 b3 14 Kxh5 b2 15 Kh6 Kg8 16 Rxb2

And as Black is in Zugzwang, he resigned. 
                                        
In short, this book does not live up to its billing. It is neither
complete nor instructive. As far as endgames are concerned, your
winning strategy would be to get something else. Books by Alburt,
Pandolfini, Nunn and Smyslov come readily to mind. They will
also help if you happen to find yourself in a bishop ending...