Rook and Knight endgames – Tactics part 1

Rook and Knight Endgames - Strategy and Tactics book looks at endings with rook + knight Vs. rook + knight. This material balance occurs quite frequently in tournaments, and some classical ideas and endgames have become well-known. Nonetheless, there is some lack of discussion of this topic in chess literature. The book covers both the strategic themes, and gives the reader a chance to practice their tactical skills. Mikhail Botvinnik was well known for his great technique in this type of endings; the book includes several relatively unknown examples from his career to illustrate the typical ideas, but also games by other famous players such as Korchnoi, Morozevich and Anand are featured. Here are some sample tactical positions (scroll down for solutions):
Arnason, Jon L    --    Adams, Michael
Manila ol (Men)   1992     1-0

# White's turn 1-0

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Zelcic, Robert    --    Gleizerov, Evgeny
Montecatini Terme op   1997.08.08     1-0

# White's turn 1-0

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Apicella, Manuel    --    Vaisser, Anatoli
FRA-ch Final stage   1999.08.28     1-0

# White's turn 1-0

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Reinderman, Dimitri    --    Chuchelov, Vladimir
Mondariz zt 1.1   2000.09.05     1-0

# White's turn 1-0

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Solutions:
Arnason, Jon L    --    Adams, Michael
Manila ol (Men)   1992     1-0

# Solution: 37. Rxg4 Rh2

( 37. ... Rxg4 38. Nf6+ Ke7 39. Nxg4 +- leaves White with two extra pawns. )

38. Ng7+ Ke7 39. Nf5+ Kf6 40. b3 +- a5 41. Rg8 Ke5 42. Rf8 Nd6 43. Nxd6 Kxd6 44. Rf4 b5 45. a3 Ke6 46. Rg4 Ke5 47. Rg6 Rxh4 48. Rxc6 Kd4 49. a4 bxa4 50. Rc4+ Ke3 51. Rxa4 Rh5 52. Kb2 Rg5 53. Rc4 Rh5 54. Ka3 Re5 55. Ka4 Kd2 56. Rc8 Kc1 57. c4 Kb2 58. Rb8 Kc3 59. Rb5 1-0

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Zelcic, Robert    --    Gleizerov, Evgeny
Montecatini Terme op   1997.08.08     1-0

# Solution: 39. Rc7+! Kxc7 40. Nxe6+ Kd7 41. Nxf4

With the pseudo sacrifice not only has White regained the pawn, but he also achieved a knight endgame, which is winning for him due to the dangerous 'a' pawn, and more active placement of pieces.

41. ... Nc6

( Defending the 'd' pawn allows White to collect both pawns on the kingside. 41. ... Kc6 42. Nxh5 +- )

42. Nxd5 Nxe5+ 43. Ke4 Nc6 44. Nxb6+ Kc7 45. Nd5+ Kd6 46. Nf4

Black resigned as his kingside pawns cannot be defended.

1-0

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Apicella, Manuel    --    Vaisser, Anatoli
FRA-ch Final stage   1999.08.28     1-0

# Solution: 34. Nd8+! Kd7

( 34. ... Nxd8 35. a7 +- )

35. Nxc6 Kxc6 36. Rxf6+ Kc5 37. a7 Rg8 38. Ra6 +- Ra8 39. Kf2 Kd5 40. Kf3 h5 41. h4 Ke5 42. Ke3 Kd5 43. Kf4 Rf8+ 44. Kg5 Ra8 45. Kf5 Rf8+ 46. Rf6 Ra8 47. Rf7 Kc6 48. Kg6 Rh8 49. Rh7 Ra8 50. Kxh5 Kb6 51. Kg6 Ka5 52. h5 Ka4 53. h6 Kxa3 54. Rb7 Kb3 55. Rxb5+ Kxc3 56. h7 1-0

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Reinderman, Dimitri    --    Chuchelov, Vladimir
Mondariz zt 1.1   2000.09.05     1-0

# Solution: 34. Nxa5! g5

( 34. ... Rxa5 35. Rd8# )

35. Nc6 +/- gxf4 36. gxf4 Ra6 37. Nd4 Rd6 38. Rg1+ Kf8 39. Nxc2 Rd2+ 40. Ke3 Rxc2 41. Ra1 Rc3+ 42. Kd4 Ke7 43. a5 Kd6 44. a6 Rc8 45. a7 Ra8 46. Kc4 Kc6 47. Kxb4 Kb6 48. h4 h5 49. Ra2 f6 50. Ra5 Kb7 51. Kc5 e5 52. fxe5 fxe5 53. Kd5 Rd8+ 54. Kxe5 Ka8 55. Kf6 Rd3 56. Kg6 1-0