tag: endgame - Page 32

The imprisoned bishop

2/20/2018 – Endgames with opposite-coloured bishops are often paradoxical — sometimes they are drawn although one side is two or even three pawns up. This often leads to surprising tactical opportunities.

Meeting Karsten Müller

2/19/2018 – As we are privileged with so many interesting visitors and authors coming to the ChessBase office in Hamburg and frequenting our studio, we often try to grab them for a few quick questions to see how they are and what's new. Recently it was GM Karsten Müller who was sitting in the studio for an (off-camera) impromptu interview. | Photo: Pascal Simon

Study of the Month: February, 2018

2/17/2018 – At the World Congress for Chess Composition (WCCC) 2017 in Dresden it was decided to dedicate the second year of this “Study of the Month” series to the education about chess composition history. Following this, we look at the successors of Troitzky this time: The Platov brothers.

Endgame Magic with guest Erwin l'Ami

2/13/2018 – Erwin l'Ami is a Dutch Grandmaster and well known DVD author for ChessBase. He's in Hamburg to record a DVD. He played the B-Group in Wijk aan Zee in January and also is a second to Anish Giri. Today he joins Karsten to look at some fascinating endgame from recent tournament praxis! Live at 15:00 CET (9:00 AM EST)!

Pawns and kings and complications

2/13/2018 – Pawn endings often reveal how surprising and beautiful chess can be. But pawn endings also often reveal how complicated the game can be.

Checks — and how to escape them

2/6/2018 – "All rook endings are drawn", is an often quoted witticism. However, things are not that simple. In fact, a lot of rook endings are won — provided the side that has an advantage knows what to do with this advantage. Which, of course, is easier said than done.

The imprisoned king

1/30/2018 – Endgames with opposite-coloured bishops are often drawn but these endgames are also often very attractive because often material is less important than piece activity. This leads again and again to interesting tactical turns.

The king is a strong piece

1/23/2018 – Steinitz often emphasised the strength of the king. Of course, kings are particularly strong in the endgame because they are less vulnerable with fewer pieces on the board. But even if you can no longer mate the enemy king, you should keep a good eye on him.

Study of the Month: January, 2018

1/20/2018 – There is an old saying about dwarves on the shoulders of giants, traced back to Bernard of Chartres 1120, said most pointedly by Sir Isaac Newton in his letter to Robert Hooke on 5th February 1676: “If I have seen further it is by standing on [the] shoulders of giants.” A historical narrative from our study author Sigfried Hornecker, who reminds us (among other things) not to confuse Troitzky with "Trotzky"!

Hunting the bishop

1/16/2018 – In the endgame bishops are usually better equipped to fight against passed pawns than knights. After all, they are long-range pieces and not that easy to put into zugzwang. But bishops need room to manoeuvre.

Gareyev's garage

1/9/2018 – It is nice if you can dominate and paralyse the enemy pieces. However, this alone often is not sufficient for a win. Particularly, if only a few pieces are left on the board. A nice example from a game of Timur Gareyev.

Hidden exits

1/2/2018 – Some endgames look hopeless: the king cannot move, the pawns cannot advance and heavy material losses seem to be unavoidable. But sometimes, when everything seems to be lost, there is an escape.

Helpless pawns

12/27/2017 – Oh, the pawns! Every pawn is a potential queen but the way to the queening square is long and full of danger. "Zugzwang" and a powerful enemy rook are just two of them.

Study of the Month: December, 2017

12/23/2017 – In the final episode of this year, we will have a look at a some great enthusiasts among the chess composition community who by their work directly or indirectly made this monthly column possible. The first two of them are the former and the current chief editor of the magazine "eg" (or: EG), short for "end-game".

Not all detours lead to Rome

12/19/2017 – "Do not rush!" is a well-known rule of thumb in the endgame. Indeed, in many endgames the direct way often is often a dead end. To know which way to go usually requires precise calculation.

A brave bishop

12/12/2017 – "Chess is 99 percent tactics" is an often-quoted aphorism usually ascribed to Richard Teichmann. This number seems exaggerated but that does not change the fact that it pays to keep an eye on tactics — till the very end.

A (very) good bishop

12/5/2017 – Of course, a rook is stronger than a bishop. This is one of the first things you learn in chess. But sometimes rooks are helpless against bishops. Particularly so if passed pawns join the game.

The imprisoned king

11/29/2017 – Pawns are not particularly mobile: on the first move they can take two steps, after that only one. They know only one direction unless they capture enemy pawns or pieces. But sometimes the pawns are invisibly — and powerfully — connected.

Endgame Magic 100, live with Wesley So!

11/25/2017 – The 100th episode of Endgame Magic is airing on Monday. We have a special guest for this jubilee: None other than Wesley So. He joins Karsten to look at some fascinating endgame from recent tournament praxis! Live at 15:00 CET (9:00 AM EST)!

Running for cover

11/21/2017 – Usually it is good and fun to snatch the pawns of the opponent in an endgame. But sometimes the pawns of your opponents are your biggest help. Then you should think twice before snatching them!

Escape artist

11/15/2017 – Passed pawns often lead to exciting tactics. They invite sacrifices and can lead to mating attacks that have to be calculated carefully. But sometimes the tactical possibilities are even more sophisticated.

Endgame Magic with guest Lawrence Trent

11/14/2017 – Lawrence Trent is an Internation Master from The United Kingsdom. He's in Hamburg to record a DVD. He also has his own weekly show on playchess (this evening at 18:00 CET). He joins Karsten to today look at some fascinating endgame from recent tournament praxis! Live at 15:00 CET (9:00 AM EST)!

Endgame Magic with guest Rustam Kasimdzhanov

11/7/2017 – Rustam Kasimdzhanov is a Grandmaster from Uzbekistan. A former FIDE World Champion, Rustam is also and renowned author and trainer of top players like Fabiano Caruana. He joins Karsten to look at some of his own fascinating endgame from recent years! Live at 15:00 CET (9:00 AM EST)!

Two bishops and two outside pawns

11/7/2017 – Opposite-coloured bishops are a paradox. In the middlegame they favour the attacker. In the endgame they favour the defender. In fact, some endgames with opposite-coloured bishops are drawn even if one side is two pawns up. But they don't draw themselves! You still have work to do.
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