Keeping an open mind

by Karsten Müller
11/7/2023 – Calculating precisely and keeping an open mind for possible candidate moves is an important skill in chess. In the diagram position it is White to move and win. What should she do?

Endgames of the World Champions from Fischer to Carlsen Endgames of the World Champions from Fischer to Carlsen

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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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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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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See also

The right exchange

10/31/2023 – Knowing when and how to exchange pieces is an important skill - not only in the endgame. In the diagram position it is Black to play and draw. What should Black do?
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See also

Almost always fascinating: Knight vs Bishop

10/24/2023 – Some people claim that it is the duel knight vs bishop that makes chess so interesting. True or not, the duel knight vs bishop is almost always fascinating, in the middlegame and in the endgame. In the diagram position the knight is better than the bishop and White has a hidden way to win. Can you find it?
More...
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Video

60m Caro Kann Exchange Variation

The Exchange Variation (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3) is a simple and easy to learn answer to the Caro-Kann. By clarifying the central tension White gives himself a clear plan of attack using the half open e-file and the e5 square. This is far from easy for Black to meet as Bobby Fischer, Jan Timman, Walter Browne and other leading Grandmasters have demonstrated in their games. Black too has his resources but he needs to know what he's doing. On this DVD you will find a clear explanation of the strategy for both sides as well as answers to popular treatments such as 4...Nc6 5.c3 Qc7. Whilst the main focus is on the White side of this opening you will also find ways for Black to defend.

Discuss

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Karsten Müller Karsten Müller 11/8/2023 02:28
The link itself is missing below:
https://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/lucena.html
Karsten Müller Karsten Müller 11/8/2023 02:26
Von Herbert Bastian:
"Lieber Karsten,

aus pragmatischer Sicht ist die Beibehaltung der Bezeichnung „Lucena-Position“ nachvollziehbar, aber aus schachhistorischer Sicht ist sie eine Katastrophe, weil sie jeden, der sich neu mit dem Thema befasst, in die Irre führt. Weder bei Lucena (1497) noch bei Damiano (1512), die beide auf Vicent (1495) zurückzuführen sind, kommt ein Turmendspiel vor. Zu diesem frühen Zeitpunkt wurde noch kein Turmendspiel im heutigen Sinne publiziert. Man könnte ja auch einfach auf die nichtssagenden Namen verzichten und durch eine konstruktive Formulierung ersetzen, z.B. „und gewinnt mit der Brückenbaumethode“. Ergänzen ließe sich optional das z.B. mit der Bemerkung „die von Scipione Genovino (Salvio, 1634) gefunden wurde“.

Hier der Link, wo man alles genauestens nachlesen kann: The Lucena Position by Edward Winter (chesshistory.com)

Besten Gruß,

herbert"
Karsten Müller Karsten Müller 11/8/2023 12:38
I will probably keep Lucena as it is already very established. But I will mention Salvio, like in Fundamental Chess Endings (together with Frank Lamprecht), GAMBIT 2001, position 6.35, p.178f.
Karsten Müller Karsten Müller 11/8/2023 12:36
Von Herbert Bastian:
"Lieber Karsten,

ich habe gerade dein interessantes Turmendspiel auf ChessBase gesehen. Auch wenn es sehr pingelig ist: Die Lucenastellung ist nicht von Lucena, wie du sicher weißt, und ich möchte anregen, diese Bezeichnung nur noch ergänzend in Klammern zu verwenden. Wie der Irrtum zustande kam ist bekannt, und man sollte dem wahren Autor (Salvio 1634) die gebührende Ehre erweisen. Was meinst du dazu?

...

Besten Gruß, herbert"
Karsten Müller Karsten Müller 11/7/2023 02:15
Frits Fritschy: Nice study-like line!
Frits Fritschy Frits Fritschy 11/7/2023 12:51
In the variation 51 Kd3? I tried to be smart with 56 Kd7 Kb7 57 Ke7 Ka7! 58 Ke8 Ka8 59 b5, but alas, 59... Kb7! saves.
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