I just received my copy of Endgame Virtuoso Anatoly Karpov written by Tibor Karolyi and Nick Aplin. Ordered from Overstock.com, this book cost me less money than if I ordered it from Amazon.com. It normally cost $29 on the shelf, but I got it online for $18.92 plus $3 shipping. It is not big savings, but savings nonetheless. Amazon.com does not have the best prices out there, and it pays to shop around online. Furthermore, Amazon sells items pertaining to animal cruelty, like items encouraging dogfighting and cockfighting. Forget Amazon. Don't patronize them.

Let's get back to chess.

On page 57, you'll find Karpov's game against Eugene Torre, Asia's first grandmaster. They played this game at the world junior chess championship in Stockholm in 1969. The book devoted ten pages to this 77-mover Ruy Lopez with Torre playing white. Heck, that must be some endgame and it was. Rook, bishop & pawns and the outcome remained unclear until the end. You breeze through most of the game until 44. Kf4 and you have the position shown here. Torre was about to win another pawn, but can he win the game? Play continued wtih 44... Be6 45. Rg7+ kH6 46. g4 hg4 47. fg4 Rf8+ 48. Kg3 Rf7 and I'll leave the rest for your investigation and delectation.