“In order to improve your game, you must study the endgame before everything else, for whereas the endings can be studied and mastered by themselves, the middle game and the opening must be studied in relation to the endgame.” – José Raúl Capablanca
Event: “43rd Olympiad 2018” Site: “Batumi GEO” White: “Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi” WhiteElo: “2711” Black: “L’Ami, Erwin” BlackElo: “2639” Result: “1/2-1/2” One of the most interesting things about queen endings is that the queen with g and h pawns versus queen cannot win with the best defence. Of course, in practical game, various factors such […]
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The most difficult in queen endgames is to realize minimal advantage. Queen and pawn can win against queen if the weaker side’s king is not in front of the pawn and if it is possible to prevent draw by repetition. The best chances to win are with the pawn on the seventh rank, and […]
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Queen easily wins against a rook alone. The winning plan is based on driving Black to the edge of the board, and creating zugzwang which forces the rook to separate from the king. Then a double blow or mating attack with decide. The winning strategy will be examined on the example of a Philidor’s […]
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Queen easily wins against one minor piece, and one should understand a strange position where the knight and bishop realize a positional draw by creating an impenetrable shield in front of his king. ← Basic EndingsBasic Endings →
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In a similar position, White wins even with the king on g4, because he can realize the same mating picture from the other wing. ← Basic EndingsBasic Endings →
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If his king is near enough, White may win in a mating attack after queening the pawn. ← Basic EndingsBasic Endings →
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Without the king’s help, queen cannot win against the bishop’s pawn on the seventh rank either, because Black has stalemate to defend. ← Basic EndingsBasic Endings →
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In a similar position with the rim pawn, white cannot win, because Black defends with stalemate. ← Basic EndingsBasic Endings →
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With white king on e4, White also wins. ← Basic EndingsBasic Endings →
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If white king is two steps away from key squares b3 or c2, then it is possible to construct mating net even after Black promotes. It means that winning area is bounded by fifth rank squares form a5 to d5, and e-file squares from e1 to e4. ← Basic EndingsBasic Endings →
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