37. Quadrants
The board is divided in 5 quadrants. Quadrants are given shape by a rectangle. In the diagram quadrant 2 – 25 – 49 – 16 is marked.
The board consists of 5 quadrants:
The main diagonal (10 by 1)
Trictrac zone (9 by 2)
4/15/47/36 (8 by 3)
2/35/49/16 (7 by 4)
3/25/48/26 (6 by 5)
While playing an endgame it is often very useful to consider the quadrants.
Two of whites pieces are in quadrant 2/35/49/16.
Piece 26 also has a function in the quadrant as we will see. White wants to trap his opponent in quadrant 2/35/49/16.
1.8 – 2! 32 – 38
Black can’t go to 37: 32 – 37 2. 2 – 19 37 – 42 3.19 – 37! 42 x31 4.26 x 37 +.
2.2 – 19 38 – 43
3.7 – 2! 43 – 49
White added a second king to the quadrant.
Now he traps blacks king using piece 26.
4.19 – 35 49 – 32
5.26 – 21! 32 x 16
6.35 - 49
Most of the time you have to consider how to play in two quadrants. Black will get a king at 47 or 48 here.
1.3 – 20!
White has two kings in the 4/15/47/36 quadrant. After 1… 42 – 47 2.20 – 15 5 – 10 3.15 x 4 47 – 33 white locks his opponent by 4.25 – 20 33 x 15 5.36 – 47 +
1… 42 – 48
Now white has to make a catching position with 25. White must consider both 20 – 29 and 36 – 18.
2.36 – 18!
Black is caught in the 3/25/48/26 quadrant. At
48 - 26 white catches the king by 3.20 – 42! 26 x 48 4.18 – 34 48 x 30 5.25 x 34 +
The play is taking place in two quadrants:
quadrant 2/35/49/16 and the trictrac zone.
1.35 – 49! 16 - 11
At 1… 16 – 2 the king is caught by 2.34 – 30 2 x 35 2.23 – 40 +
2.23 - 1!
A very important move in this type of endgame. King 49 guards the trictrac zone. If black stays at the trictrac white will play 49 – 44 and 1 – 6 +. So black must leave the trictrac line.
2… 11 - 16
3.34 – 29 16 - 2
3.49 – 35 2 - 16
4.1 - 7 16 x 2
5.29 - 24 2 x 30
6.35 x 24
It’s smart to consider what your opponent is going to do. Black wants to play 31 – 37 and after that he has two ways to go to king (black can’t play 37 – 42 because of 25 – 48) ;
37 – 41 47 x 36 37 – 42
38 – 42 47 x 38 37 - 41
It is logical to get the second king at square 4 because you need a king in the 4/15/47/36 quadrant.
1.18 – 13 31 – 37
2.13 – 9 37 – 41
2… 38 – 42 3.47 x 38 37 – 41 4.25 – 14! 41 – 47 5.9 – 3! +
3.47 x 36 38 – 42
4.25 – 48 42 – 47
5.9 – 4 47 – 33
6.48 – 42 33 x 47
7.4 – 15
In the endgame of three kings against one it is strongly recommended to watch the quadrants! It is dangerous to put the single king in a quadrant in which enemy kings are present.
Black will go into the 4/15/47/36 quadrant or the 3/25/48/26 quadrant at his next move. Therefore white puts in two kings in both quadrants!
1.8 - 3!
King 9 is active in both quadrants.
1… 42 – 47
1… 42 – 48 2.9 – 25 48 – 37 3.4 – 31 48 x 26 4.25 – 48 +
2.9 – 36 47 – 33
3.3 – 20 33 x 15
4.36 – 47
A very interesting game position. White has to discover black’s plan: 24 – 30 48 x 25 31 – 36 35 – 14 37 – 42 47 x 38 4 – 9 14 x 3 36 – 41. This knowledge helps to establish whether 12 – 7 or 12 – 8 should be played. In the game white missed this defence and carelessly played 12 -7, drawing the game…
1.12 – 8! 24 – 30
2.48 x 25 31 – 36
3.25 – 14 37 – 42
4.47 x 38 4 – 9
5.14 x 3 36 – 41
6.3 – 14!
The point of the endgame: at 41 – 47 black’s king is caught by 8 – 3 +.
The position is a draw, but black didn’t defend well.
1… 34 – 43?
Black is in the same quadrant as king 35.
2.35 – 49!
The king is always caught. At 43 – 16 white plays 28 – 32 +. After 43 – 25 49 – 43! 25 x 43 28 – 37 + follows.
Exercise 37.1
Black to move. What should black play?
In this game position white could have won in a beautiful way. It seems as if the position is a draw, because white will lose piece 11. But he can keep the opponents king in the quadrant 2/35/49/16.
1.50 – 45! 2 x 16
2.6 x 44 16 – 2
3.44 – 39!
Threatening 39 – 30 45 – 40
3… 2 - 16 4.45 – 40!
Piece 45 is marching to square 29!
4…. 16 – 7
5.39 – 34 7 - 11
Taking control over the trictrac lines. White is threatening 49 - 44 1 - 6 +.
If black plays 5… 7 – 16 the fastest way to win is 6.49 – 44! (threatening 34 – 43 16 x 49 40 – 35 +) 16 – 2 7.34 – 30 2 x 35 8.44 – 49 +.
6. 34 – 1! 11 - 2
7.40 – 34! 2 – 16
8.34 – 29 16 – 2
9.49 – 35
Exercise 37.2
Show how white wins using the same strategy after black plays 2… 16 – 7
37.1 – 37.8 White wins the endgame. Watch the quadrants!
37.1
37.2
37.3
37.4
37.5
37.6
37.7
37.8