Soviet Grandmaster. World Championship Candidate. Tied for 1st in the Soviet Championship in three consecutive years 1967, 1968 and 1969 but lost to Petrosian in the playoff. In the 1970s he was among the top six players in the world but he could not get past Karpov or Korchnoi in the Candidates.

The Black Rook is tied to the b-file and the enemy King can only mark time. White wins because after advancing the b-pawn to b7 White will later be able to capture the e-pawn. The now powerful passed f-pawn will then be advanced to secure victory. In an earlier similar ending; position 197 between Bronstein versus Romanishin, a drawing method was indicated but here it doesn't work because of Black's poor pawn structure. The following solution is similar to how Polugayevesky played in the game:

(a) Basic Endings. These are theoretical positions in which we know the correct result with optimum play by both sides. They may consist of three pawns or less and also include all the non-pawn and five piece endings which have now been extensively analysed by computer and of which we have tablebases. In the days when we had adjournments some of these endings could be looked up in text books to give us some idea how to play the position. As we no longer can do this, knowledge and memory of these endings has become important in practical play. Fundamental Chess Endings (2001) by Muller and Lamprecht and Basic Endings (1992) by Balashov and Prandstetter and the earlier A Pocket Guide to Chess Endgames (1970) by David Hooper are good introductions to these endings.

(b) Practical Endings. These occur in over-the-board play where usually more pawns are present. The above ending is an example of this type. Some of these endings are in the process of being transformed to basic endings but often they finish before this stage is reached. Endgame strategy is very different from the middlegame and has its own set of rules and exceptions. Fine's book Basic Chess Endings (1941,2003) recently revised by Pal Benko and Batsford Chess Endings (1993) by Speelman, Tisdall and Wade are about basic and practical endings and both can be recommended.

(c) Endgame Studies. These are positions which have been composed and will contain elements of one or both of the above types of endings. But there are important differences between these types and the study, such as artistic form and economy of construction. An endgame study has to follow strict rules of composition, especially if it is entered into a composing competition. One of these rules states there should only be one solution. If there is an unintended second solution then the study is unsound and said to be "cooked".