Count Bruehl vs Philidor

Count Bruehl vs  Philidor

1.e4

The interesting part of this game begins at move 40.

1...e5 2.¥c4 c6 3.£e2 d6 4.c3 f5 5.d3 ¤f6 6.exf5 ¥xf5 7.d4 e4 8.¥g5 d5 9.¥b3 ¥d6 10.¤d2 ¤bd7 11.h3 h6 12.¥e3 £e7 13.f4 h5 14.c4 a6 15.cxd5 cxd5 16.£f2 O-O 17.¤e2 b5 18.O-O ¤b6 19.¤g3 g6 20.¦ac1 ¤c4 21.¤xf5 gxf5 22.£g3+ £g7 23.£xg7+ ¢xg7 24.¥xc4 bxc4 25.g3 ¦ab8 26.b3 ¥a3 27.¦c2 cxb3 28.axb3 ¦bc8 29.¦xc8 ¦xc8 30.¦a1 ¥b4 31.¦xa6 ¦c3 32.¢f2 ¦d3 33.¦a2 ¥xd2 34.¦xd2 ¦xb3 35.¦c2 h4 36.¦c7+ ¢g6 37.gxh4 ¤h5 38.¦d7 ¤xf4 39.¥xf4 ¦f3+ 40.¢g2 ¦xf4 41.¦xd5 ¦f3

This is an example of a rook and pawn endgame, also just called a rook endgame . Even though White has more pawns, they are scattered and isolated. The doubled pawns are particularly weak, so Black actually has the advantage.

42.¦d8 ¦d3 43.d5 f4 44.d6 ¦d2+ 45.¢f1 ¢f7

White's pawn has advanced down the board, but the Black king takes an active role in the defense.

46.h5 e3 47.h6 f3

Now Black has established mating net. The threat is Rd1 mate. White actually resigned, because the only escape from mate is to move the king away from the pawns, but then Black gets a queen:

48.¢g1 ¦g2+ 49.¢f1

49.Kh1 e2

49...e2+ 50.¢e1 ¦g1+ 51.¢d2 ¦d1+ 52.¢c2 e1£ 0-1