“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
Owing to the flexibility of the knight’s leap and possibility of approaching the target by two different routes, it is advisable, as a rule, to wait for the knight’s reaction by playing a useful pawn move rather than show one’s intentions by moving the king immediately. This is a study by F. Prokop, 1925.
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Knowing the drawing area makes the decision making much easier. A quite instructive case, showing the crucial relevance of opposition and shouldering, which happened in the Amelung – Erler game, Riga 1887. Position evaluation depends on who is to move! ← Basic EndingsBasic Endings →
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However, White to move wins because he can prevent checking with king’s driving to c8 and thus by creating zugzwang force the way of escape for the pawn. ← Basic EndingsBasic Endings →
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For the bishop and pawn against the knight theory of endgames, of great importance is the following critical position, studied by Y. Averbakh in 1955. ← Basic EndingsBasic Endings →
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White to move wins by ensuring the king’s position next to the knight, which is the essential condition to create the zugzwang that will cease the blockade of the b8 square. ← Basic EndingsBasic Endings →
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If the weaker side’s king cannot get in front of the pawn on time, and is forced to defend on its backside, the chances of escape are considerably smaller. But, when the Black king has a supporting knight to “keep an eye” on the pawn, chances to escape are much better. ← Basic […]
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With the b-pawn on the seventh rank White always wins irrespective of his king being on the shorter or the longer side since in both cases the black bishop has only one available square on the shorter defensive diagonal. White might face some difficulties in conversion of advantage only in the position researched by […]
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Despite being short-legged, the knight manages in most cases to catch up with and stop the outside passed pawn. Occasionally in this race the bad position of the enemy king plays a crucial role allowing the knight to gain the decisive tempo. ← Basic EndingsBasic Endings →
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In the case of the b- or g-pawn, a little finesse comes in handy. White to move wins by declining his king towards the edge of the board so as not obstruct the exit to his rival. Positions to remember: ← Basic EndingsBasic Endings →
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