Karsten Müller: Topical Endgames in St Louis

Using the active notation

You might be inclined to believe the game notations below are just to be looked at and the moves played through in your mind. But as most of you know you can click on the moves to get a separate replay board, which you can resize and move to the best place on your screen. The popup board has full controls, and you can use the navigation buttons to advance the moves, as well as use an engine or save the game or position to your computer. In the engine window you can ask for multiple lines, or what the threat is, or see the positional evaluation of the position. 

Pushy passed pawns

Knowing when to push one's passed pawns in an endgame is a conundrum that can challenge even the best in the world. The Iranian prodigy misses his chance by failing to seize his opportunity.

Russian Masterclass

The eight-time Russian champion seizes his chance when Caruana rushes his king, and does not spot his chance to build an eternal blockade. 

All rook endings are a draw

At least that is what conventional wisdom says, but an alert eye may spot the exception and be able to convert this into a full point.

Links

• Endgames from Miami: 1 | 2 | 3
• Endgames from Chennai: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
• Endgames from Madrid: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
• Notable endgames: Biel, Dortmund, Zagreb