A study in a practical game

by Karsten Müller
7/1/2025 – Endgames studies often contain a surprising, unexpected idea that seem to be paradoxical. The diagram position is from a practical game that ended in a draw. However, White had a study-like way to win. Do you see what he should have done?
Let endgame expert Dr Karsten Müller show and explain the finesses of the world champions. Although they had different styles each and every one of them played the endgame exceptionally well, so take the opportunity to enjoy and learn from some of the best endgames in the history of chess.
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1.Nf3 d5 2.b3 Nf6 3.Bb2 c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.0-0 e6 7.d4 Rc8 8.a3 Qb6 9.Be2 c4 10.Nc3 cxb3 11.cxb3 Na5 12.b4 Nc4 13.Bxc4 Rxc4 14.Ne5 Rc8 15.e4 dxe4 16.Nxd7 Kxd7 17.Re1 Rxc3 18.Bxc3 Nd5 19.Qa4+ Kd8 20.Bd2 Be7 21.Rxe4 Kc8 22.b5 Kb8 23.Ba5 Qd6 24.Ree1 Qf4 25.Rac1 Bd6 26.g3 Qf3 27.Bb4 Bc7 28.Qd1 Qxd1 29.Rexd1 Nxb4 30.axb4 Rd8 31.Rd3 Bb6 32.d5 exd5 33.Re1 Rd7 34.Rc3 d4 35.Re8+ Bd8 36.Rc4 d3 37.Rc1 d2 38.Rd1 Kc7 39.Re2 Be7 40.Rexd2 Rxd2 41.Rxd2 Bxb4 42.Rd4 Bd6 43.Kf1 a6 44.bxa6 bxa6 45.Rc4+ Kb6 46.Rc8 f5 47.f3 a5 48.Ke2 a4 49.Kd3 Kb5 50.Kc2 Be5 51.Kb1 Kb4 52.Ka2 Bf6 53.Rb8+ Kc4 54.Ka3 Kd3 55.Re8 Bd4 56.Kxa4 Bg1 57.h3 Bf2 58.g4 f4 59.Re7 g5 60.Kb3 h6 61.Re6 Be3 62.Rxh6 Ke2 63.h4 gxh4 64.g5 Kxf3 A study in a practical game Endgame studies often contain a surprising, unexpected idea that seem to be paradoxical. The diagram position is from a practical game that ended in a draw. However, White had a study-like way to win. Do you see what he should have done?
White to move and win
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Lupulescu,C2596Levin,G2450½–½2025A06EICC 202510.35

Karsten Mueller in ChessBase Magazine

Do you like these lessons? There are plenty more by internationally renowned endgame expert Dr Karsten Müller in ChessBase Magazine, where you will also find openings articles and surveys, tactics, and of course annotations by the world's top grandmasters.

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Apart from his regular columns and video lectures in ChessBase Magazine there is a whole series of training DVDs by Karsten Mueller, which are bestsellers in the ChessBase Shop.

Karsten Mueller

Karsten Mueller regularly presents endgame lessons in the ChessBase Video Portal

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<< Tigran Nalbandian (1975-2025)
Endgame Magic #302: Highlights from Cairns Cup >>
Topics: ChessBase Magazine, Endgame, Karsten Mueller
Karsten Müller is considered to be one of the greatest endgame experts in the world. His books on the endgame - among them "Fundamentals of Chess Endings", co-authored with Frank Lamprecht, that helped to improve Magnus Carlsen's endgame knowledge - and his endgame columns for the ChessCafe website and the ChessBase Magazine helped to establish and to confirm this reputation. Karsten's Fritztrainer DVDs on the endgame are bestsellers. The mathematician with a PhD lives in Hamburg, and for more than 25 years he has been scoring points for the Hamburger Schachklub (HSK) in the Bundesliga.
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Video

60m English Anti-Bayonet

King’s Indian fans who choose the Mar del Plata attack (7...Nc6) against White’s classical system (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0) usually aim for a complex position with mutual attacks on open wings, requiring long-term strategic planning and tactical sharpness in critical moments. Computers often do not know how to handle the arising complex strategic positions, which suits players who like to think on their own instead of memorizing long variations. However, the fashionable Bayonet Attack (9.b4) interferes with Black’s ideas. After Black’s main move 9...Nh5 the positions opens, the lines get forced and computer analysis is important again. But this DVD offers an antidote against White’s Bayonet Attack, namely 9...a5! This move leads to sound positions with very few concrete lines, in which the focus is on strategy not on tactics. Objectively chances are equal but if Black knows what to do things might quickly become dangerous for White.

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