Losing A Tempo
In some endgame situations, a player must actually lose a tempo to make progress. For example, when the two kings stand in opposition (a form of zugzwang), the player to move is often at a disadvantage because he must move. The player to move may be able to triangulate in order to lose a tempo and return to the same position but with the opponent to move (and put him in zugzwang). Kings, queens, bishops, and rooks can lose a tempo; a knight cannot (Müller & Pajeken 2008:40,175,189).
Timofeev vs. Inarkiev, Moscow| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
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In the position from a 2008 game between Artyom Timofeev and Ernesto Inarkiev, Black resigned because White will win with a tempo move. (Timofeev won the 2008 Moscow Open with this game.) White is threatening 118. Rh8+. If Black moves his king on move 117, White wins the bishop with 118. Rh8+, which results in a position which has an elementary checkmate. If Black moves 117... Bh5 then 118. Rh8 and Black is in zugzwang, and loses. So Black must move 117... Be2 to avoid immediately getting into a lost position. But then will come 118. Rh8+ Bh5 and now White makes a tempo move with 119. Rh7 (or 119. Rh6), maintaining the pin on the bishop, making it Black's turn to move, and Black must lose the bishop.
Read more about this topic: Tempo (chess)
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