We have all learned that when we are ahead in material, we should consider simplifying the position to reach a winning endgame. Most times, this strategy leads to victory, but some endgame setups make it difficult (or sometimes impossible) to make the most of our material advantage, as seen in the following two examples.
Vladimir Kramnik reached the following winning position against Wesley So in round 9. It is White to move. How to proceed?
Here, improving the king with 50.Kc2 wins, while 50.f5, as played by Kramnik, allows Black to escape with a draw. Further mistakes were made (as seen in the replayer below), but So nonetheless managed to get a half point despite the material disadvantage!
Again, White is winning and it is his move. And again, improving the king with 66.Kf5 would have likely led to a victory. Peter Svidler, however, pushed his passed pawn (like Kramnik) with 66.b4, and saw his opponent, Boris Gelfand, managing to escape with a draw!
These are only two of the five instructive endgame positions which you can study and enjoy in our dynamic replayer below.
