Zugzwang - an unpleasant obligation

by Karsten Müller
3/9/2021 – In endgames with opposite coloured bishops creating a fortress often saves the defender. But in the diagram position Black's fortress is not strong enough and zugzwang forces him to self-destruct. White to move and win.
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.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0-0 6.Be3 Na6 7.Nf3 e5 8.0-0 Ng4 9.Bg5 Qe8 10.d5 f5 11.Nd2 h6 12.Bh4 g5 13.Bg3 Nf6 14.f3 f4 15.Bf2 Qg6 16.g4 fxg3 17.hxg3 Bd7 18.g4 h5 19.Be3 Rf7 20.Rf2 Raf8 21.Rg2 hxg4 22.fxg4 Bh8 23.Nf1 Rh7 24.Ng3 Rh3 25.Bf3 Qh6 26.Qd2 Nh7 27.Rf1 Qh4 28.Nce2 Rf4 29.Rff2 Nf6 30.Kf1 Bg7 31.Bxf4 exf4 32.Nf5 Bxf5 33.exf5 Nc5 34.Ng1 Nce4 35.Qe1 Ng3+ 36.Rxg3 fxg3 37.Nxh3 gxf2 38.Nxf2 Kf8 39.Kg2 Bh8 40.Qe6 Ne8 41.Nd3 b6 42.b4 Bd4 43.Qe4 Qh8 44.Bd1 Bc3 45.c5 Qd4 46.Qxd4 Bxd4 47.c6 Nf6 48.Bf3 Ke7 49.Ne1 Bc3 50.Nc2 a6 51.Kf2 b5 52.Ke3 Ng8 53.Kd3 Bb2 54.Ne1 Kf6 55.Ke4 Bc3 56.Nc2 Ke7 57.Kd3 Bb2 58.Ne1 Kf6 59.Kc2 Bd4 60.Nd3 Ne7 61.Kb3 Nc8 62.a4 bxa4+ 63.Kxa4 Nb6+
White to move and win
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Nepomniachtchi,I2784Radjabov,T27651–02020E94Airthings Masters KO 20202.4

Endgame theory constitutes the foundation of chess. You realize this in striking clarity once you obtain a won endgame but in the end have to be content with a draw in the end because of a lack of necessary know-how. Such accidents can only be prevented by building up a solid endgame technique. This is Karsten Müller‘s fi rst DVD and the grandmaster from Hamburg and endgame expert, here lays the foundation for acquiring such a technique. The fi rst part of his training series can be started without any endgame knowledge, only a knowledge of the rules of chess is assumed.

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.

ChessBase Magazine #200

 

ChessBase Magazine Extra #199

 

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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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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