Study Puzzle of the Day 20/1/2021
Check every possibility! White to move and draw (O. Duras, 1920) (First try to solve the study without moving the pieces!)
Continue ReadingCheck every possibility! White to move and draw (O. Duras, 1920) (First try to solve the study without moving the pieces!)
Continue ReadingBlows and counterblows. White to move and win (D. Petrov, 1989) (First try to solve the study without moving the pieces!)
Continue ReadingHow to make good use of those far advanced pawns? White to move and win (Kalyagin & Mitrofanov, 1993) (First try to solve the study without moving the pieces!)
Continue ReadingIf everything fails ask yourself why are all those h-pawns here. White to move and draw (S. Rumyantsev, 1987) (First try to solve the study without moving the pieces!)
Continue ReadingThe fact that the piece activity is crucial in rook endgame is confirmed by the following tragicomic situation, which occurred in the telegraph match Petersburg-London 1886/87.
Continue ReadingWhen both passed pawns are on the same side, it is preferable to have an outside passed pawn, because by distracting the enemy pieces it will make the transition to the endgame with much better placed king. For the outcome of the game, it is crucial if the weaker side is able to quickly […]
Continue ReadingWhen white passed pawn is very far away and the black king is late in supporting his passive rook, the only Black’s chance is to reduce the material. Then White most often wins if his pawns are not weakened or exposed to attack by the opponent’s king. We see a typical example in the […]
Continue ReadingWhen Black also has a far advanced passed pawn, then the most common outcome is draw, especially when his king can help his rook to fight against opponent’s passed pawn. It is crucial that after the distraction and reduction of the material, the white king can slip among the enemy pawns and conquer them. […]
Continue ReadingWhen both sides have passed pawns, victory is only possible with a clear positional advantage. It is most often expressed through a better pawn structure (less distance of passed pawn from the promotion square), and better support for the passed pawn (more active position of rook and king). We see all of these elements […]
Continue ReadingWhen passed pawn is not on the edge of a board but is closer to opponent’s pawns, his strength and value are noticeably less. Interestingly, in a position analogous to that in examples 711 and 712, White cannot win even if Black is weakened by a h-pawn’s two-step, provided the f-pawn did not do […]
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