“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
Rook against Bishop and Two Pawns Bishop and Two Pawns are in endgame usually much stronger than a rook. Evaluation of the position mostly depends on pawn structure, distance to promotion square and piece activity. We will divide these endgames accordingly: with connected pawns, with isolated (disconnected) pawns, with doubled pawns. a ) Endings […]
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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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7.2. Rook and Two Pawns versus Rook Like in knight and bishop endings, the advantage of two pawns is usually sufficient to win, but the final decision is on pawn structure and the activity of pieces. Thus, we will devide these endings in three groups: a ) Connected pawns, b ) Isolated pawns, c […]
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In a similar position with pawns one file more distant from the edge of the board Black is also saved by a stalemate combination, but here he must show some skill. White to move cannot win because Black can again cunningly make use of the shortage of space. ← Basic EndingsBasic Endings →
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All this superiority of White, this brilliant coordination between the king and the rook is not enough to win the game if the pawns are along the edge of the board or just one file away from its edge! When pawns are situated along the edge of the board, it is easy to notice […]
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When the black king stays with his far advanced pawns, he will most often win if the white king is not near enough. However, if the white king and rook control the promotion square, the situation is fundamentally changed. White to move wins since thanks to a brilliant coordination of his pieces, he can […]
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6.6.2. Rook against two pawns Even though, statistically speaking, rook is materially much more valuable than two pawns and most often than not, manages to prove its tactical merit and power, in these endgames the weaker side has quite good prospects to get saved. Position of pieces greatly effects the outcome of the game. […]
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A study by J. Bechting, published in 1894, is considered as the classic reference on the theme of the well-timed leaving of the pawn’s square. White’s pawns have advanced far but converting this advantage into victory is made difficult due to the good position of the black king. If the black king were at […]
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2.5. King and Two Pawns versus King and Two Pawns Although more material generally implies a widening of the scope of strategic and tactical ideas, these endings still belong to the simpler kind of endings; the choice of the plan is mostly determined by the elementary positional principles with which we have already become familiar. […]
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2.2. King and Two Pawns versus King The two pawns as a rule ensure a simple win. When the white king is near, the win is straightforward. However, with the rook pawns, some problems may arise. Connected pawns that mutually protect each other always win! Even when the white king is far away, the […]
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