CBM Endgame training: the octopus, Kosteniuk's combination, races

by ChessBase
10/25/2011 – This edition of GM Karsten Müller's endgame instructions is devoted exclusively to the ladies. Three former women's world champions feature in the games he has selected for our attention, two from the recently concluded Grand Prix in Nalchik. Studying examples like these in the regular deliveries of ChessBase Magazine will do your practical playing strength a world of good.
Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.

The octopus

Sometimes a strong knight is also called octopus as it can reach eight squares which are compared to the arms of an octopus:


GMs Antoaneta Stefanova and Zhu Chen in the press conference after their game

Kosteniuk's combination

With far advanced passed pawns often typical tactical motifs arise:

Races

A rook has often difficulties to win, when fighting against passed pawns, which are supported by the king. In many cases everything hinges on a single tempo:


GM Antoaneta Stefanova, former women's world champion


Alexandra Kosteniuk – she too a former women's world champion

Karsten Müller 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.

Click to go to the ChessBase Magazine page

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

Reports about chess: tournaments, championships, portraits, interviews, World Championships, product launches and more.

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register