Understanding before Moving 54: Pawn vs knight

by ChessBase
11/21/2021 – Herman Grooten is an International Master, a renowned trainer and the author of several highly acclaimed books about chess training and chess strategy. In the 54th instalment of his ChessBase show "Understanding before Moving", Herman shows a fascinating study, in which White wins a position that on first glance seems to be impossible to win. | Photo: Tommy Grooten
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.

Recently I came across an endgame study that brought back memories of rapid tournament in Nijmegen (Netherlands) in which I had played years ago, as a young player. Besides the open tournament, there was invitational tournament with top players such as Jan Timman, Robert Hübner, Vlastimil Hort and others.

During the breaks Timman liked to entertain his colleagues by showing them endgame  studies. One of these studies was so difficult that the gentlemen, who belonged to the best players of their time, to Timman's could not solve it.

The Grandmasters were close to the right solution but again and again rejected the crucial line because they did not believe that White had a win in the final position of this variation.

I have no idea what study Timman had shown but I remember very well how I followed the analysis as a spectator and watched in disbelief when the Dutch Grandmaster finally showed the  solution. A position that seemed impossible to win, was actually won!

I already talked about this anecdote in which "the impossible becomes possible" in the past in a column for the Dutch website schaaksite.nl but now invite you to try your luck with the position below! Of course, the theme of the study has appeared in a number of games. And in one them Timman himself was the victim...

 
M. Neumann, Shakhmatny Listok #149, 1926
White to move and win

This week’s show (for Premium Members only)

Links

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

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register

We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.