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Four Pawns vs. Three on the Same Wing If all pawns are on the same wing, bringing the advantage home is frequently impossible (it is more precise to say, it should not be possible against correct defense). The fewer pawns, the easier the defense is. For example, with three pawns against two or even with four against three, with standard pawn structures, the task of the defender is not too difficult (once in a blitz tournament I managed to hold two such endings, one against Tal and the other against Vasiukov). As for the case of five pawns against four, the probability of losing is much greater. Petrosian – Keres USSR ch, Moscow 1951 [Diagram] 1...h5! In this way Black makes his task of reaching a draw considerably easier. The defender should advance his h-pawn. The stronger side, whenever possible should prevent this by means of g3-g4! The explanation consists in the fact that White's most logical plan is an advance of his e- and f-pawns in order to create a passed pawn. To accomplish this plan, he must sooner or later play g3-g4, allowing a pawn exchange on g4. But, as we know, pawn exchanges are usually favorable for the weaker side, and improve the drawing chances. Without ...h7-h5, the h-pawns would have stayed on the board. In this game, Petrosian gradually carried out another plan: h2-h4 followed with f2-f3 and g3-g4, but also could not obtain victory. 2 Rc2 Kg7 3 Kg2 Rb5 4 Kf3 Kf6 5 h4 Rf5+ 6 Kg2 Ra5 7 Kh3 Ra4 8 Rd2 Ke5 9 Rb2 Kf6 10 Rb5 Ra2 11 Kg2 Ra4 12 Kf3 Ra3 13 Kf4 Ra2 14 f3 Re2 15 e4 Re1 16 Rb6+ Kg7 17 Ra6 Rb1 18 Rc6 Rg1 19 Rc2 Kf6 20 Ra2 Kg7 21 Re2 Kf6 22 Re3 Kg7 23 e5 Kf8 24 g4 If 24 Kg5, the simplest is 24...Kg7, although 24...Rxg3+ 25 Kf6 Kg8 26 Rd3 Rh3 27 e6 fe 28 Kxg6 Rg3+ 29 Kxh5 Kg7=, or 27 Rd8+ Kh7 28 Kxf7 Rxf3+ 29 Ke7 g5 30 hg h4 31 e6 h3 32 Rd2 Kg6= is also playable. 24...hg 25 fg Kg7 26 Kg5 Rf1 27 Re4 Rf3 28 h5 (28 e6?? f6#) 28...gh 29 gh f6+ 30 Kg4 Or 30 ef+ Rxf6 31 Re7+ Rf7 32 h6+ Kg8= 30...Rf1 31 h6+ A little trap before the curtain falls. 31...Kxh6? loses to 32 e6 f5+ (if 32...Rg1+ then either 33 Kf4 Rg8 34 Kf5 or 33 Kf5 Rf1+ 34 Rf4 Rxf4+ 35 Kxf4 Kg6 36 Ke4) 33 Kh3! fe 34 e7. 31...Kg6! Draw. As can be seen, Black did not have serious problems. It should be mentioned that, when the white pawns had been set into motion, Keres used a typical strategic policy for this sort of position: attacking the pawns from behind.
