When I was preparing for one term’s work in the Botvinnik School I had to spend a lot of time on king and pawn endings. So when I came to a tricky position in my own games I knew the winning method. – Garry Kasparov<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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So why Endgame is so important? In my opinion, there are some main reasons:<\/p>\n
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- We would have more than a choice to convert our advantages.<\/strong><\/span> In fact, when we get some advantages in the Middlegame, we can either improve slowly to the winning position or at some point make a decisive attack and bring home a win by tactics. Now if you have strong Endgame knowledge, you could force your opponent to exchange pieces and thus reach an Endgame position which you know you can easily win. Most of you must know Magnus Carlsen, the amazing World Champion, who holds many record in chess up until now. If you look at his games against some strong Super Grandmasters, they are often about equal in the Middlegame, but somehow Magnus shows us many interesting winning paths in the Endgame.<\/li>\n
- Endgames requires much more accuracy since it is very easy to make mistake. <\/strong><\/span> Usually, Endgames phase is around 30th to 60th move, this is when your clock runs out of time and your body runs out of energy after a long hard fight. Facing this pressure, even strong Grandmasters lose their calmness and the possibility of making mistake increases extremely, unfortunately these kind of mistake is likely the last mistake of the game. By that I mean, if you make mistake in the Endgame, you may not have a chance to save the game anymore.<\/li>\n
- Endgames is beautiful.<\/strong><\/span> It’s true. The more you study the Endgame, the more you find it beautiful. There are ton of Endgame problems, where it looks losing but just a move after that, the defender can hold. Those saving moves are not only beautiful but also very difficult to figure out over the board in real games if you haven’t seen the pattern before.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Openings teach you openings. Endgames teach you chess – Stephan Gerzadowicz<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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About this Fundamental Chess Endgames problem series<\/h2>\n
This is not a complete guide through all Endgames knowledge because it requires much more effort to do so. Besides, there are many Endgames books out there, so it’s very easy to get one and start studying. This is more of a revision and discussion. I will post the problem, along with the answers in another page. If by doing the problem, you find any gap in your knowledge, go ahead and fill it by yourself or you can jump into the comment section and start a discussion, I’m willing to help. Now, let’s go to next page<\/a> and have fun with Endgames!<\/p>\n
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<\/a>#1: Is it a draw or win for Black? Why?<\/h3>\n
![\"fundamental](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/tranthanhtu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/fundamental-chess-endgame-problem-0001.png?resize=640%2C638&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Is it a draw or win for Black? Why?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n<\/a>#2: Is it a draw or win for Black? Why?<\/h3>\n
![\"fundamental](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tranthanhtu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/fundamental-chess-endgame-problem-0002.png?resize=640%2C645&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Is it a draw or win for Black? Why?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n<\/a>#3: Can White win in this position? If so, how?<\/h3>\n
![\"fundamental](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tranthanhtu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/fundamental-chess-endgame-problem-0003.png?resize=640%2C637&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Can White win in this position? If so, how?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n<\/a>#4: Black to play, can he hold? In general, in this type of endgame, what is the scenario the defender should avoid?<\/h3>\n
![\"fundamental](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/tranthanhtu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/fundamental-chess-endgame-problem-0004.png?resize=640%2C642&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Black to play, can he hold? In general, in this type of endgame, what is the scenario the defender should avoid?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n<\/a>#5: White to move, is it a draw?<\/h3>\n
![\"fundamental](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tranthanhtu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/fundamental-chess-endgame-problem-0005.png?resize=640%2C638&ssl=1\")
<\/a>White to move, is it a draw?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n<\/a>#6: White to move, is it a draw?<\/p>\n
![\"fundamental](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tranthanhtu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/fundamental-chess-endgame-problem-0006.png?resize=640%2C640&ssl=1\")
<\/a>White to move, is it a draw?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n<\/a>#7: White to move, can he win?<\/h3>\n
![\"fundamental](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/tranthanhtu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/fundamental-chess-endgame-problem-0007.png?resize=640%2C638&ssl=1\")
<\/a>White to move, can he win?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n<\/a>#8: Black to move, is it holdable?<\/h3>\n
![\"fundamental](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tranthanhtu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/fundamental-chess-endgame-problem-0008.png?resize=640%2C638&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Black to move, is it holdable?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n<\/a>#9: White to play, what should he do?<\/h3>\n
![\"fundamental](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/tranthanhtu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/fundamental-chess-endgame-problem-0009.png?resize=640%2C640&ssl=1\")
<\/a>White to play, what should he do?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n<\/a>#10: Black to move, is it a draw?<\/h3>\n
![\"fundamental](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tranthanhtu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/fundamental-chess-endgame-problem-0010.png?resize=640%2C637&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Black to move, is it a draw?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\nEasy? Let’s check the answers in the next page<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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#1: Is it a draw or win for Black? Why?<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Is it a draw or win for Black? Why?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n <\/a>Solution #1<\/strong>: It’s a draw because Black cannot drive White King away the corner.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n#2: Is it a draw or win for Black? Why?<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Is it a draw or win for Black? Why?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n <\/a>Solution #2<\/strong>: Black can win by transfer his Knight to f3.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n#3: Can White win in this position? If so, how?<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Can White win in this position? If so, how?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n <\/a>Solution #3<\/strong>: Yes, White can win because Black King is in the “wrong” corner. Chase Black Bishop with your Rook then at some point you will find a way to attack the Bishop, in the meantime threaten checkmate in the last rank.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\n#4: Black to play, can he hold? In general, in this type of endgame, what is the scenario the defender should avoid?<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Black to play, can he hold? In general, in this type of endgame, what is the scenario the defender should avoid?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n <\/a>Solution #4<\/strong>: Yes, Black can hold by 1…Nf7+. In general, there are 2 scenarios the defender should avoid: placing his King in the corner; separating his Knight far away from his King. In this position, even if Black King is on f8, it is still draw, although Black must defend precisely.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\n#5: White to move, is it a draw?<\/h3>\n
<\/a>White to move, is it a draw?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n <\/a>Solution #5<\/strong>: Yes, it is a draw. For 6th-rank rook’s pawn, the only way to defend is somehow place the Knight in front of it, this case is h2. Then the King can not drive it away because it just follows the right circuit: h2-g4-e3-f1
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\n#6: White to move, is it a draw?<\/h3>\n
<\/a>White to move, is it a draw?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n <\/a>Solution #6<\/strong>: No, although the Knight is closer to Black pawn than in problem #5. White Knight can not reach the right circuit.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\n#7: White to move, can he win?<\/h3>\n
<\/a>White to move, can he win?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n <\/a>Solution #7<\/strong>: Yes, because White King is inside the winning zone.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\n#8: Black to move, is it holdable?<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Black to move, is it holdable?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n <\/a>Solution #8<\/strong>: Yes, 1…Re1! =. This is called Kling & Horwitz defensive technique for central pawn.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\n#9: White to play, what should he do?<\/h3>\n
<\/a>White to play, what should he do?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n <\/a>Solution #9<\/strong>: 1. Nf2, White sets up a barrier: e5, e4, e3, d3. So Black has to find another way and White King has enough time to support.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\n#10: Black to move, is it a draw?<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Black to move, is it a draw?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n - Endgames requires much more accuracy since it is very easy to make mistake. <\/strong><\/span> Usually, Endgames phase is around 30th to 60th move, this is when your clock runs out of time and your body runs out of energy after a long hard fight. Facing this pressure, even strong Grandmasters lose their calmness and the possibility of making mistake increases extremely, unfortunately these kind of mistake is likely the last mistake of the game. By that I mean, if you make mistake in the Endgame, you may not have a chance to save the game anymore.<\/li>\n