tag: ChessBase Magazine - Page 43

Royal curiosity

8/3/2018 – What's the most natural way for Black in the diagram to parry the threat 27.Rd8+? Other than that, this time you won't be requested to do complicated calculations for a change — the rest of the game will be a cakewalk!

The sharpest endgame weapons

7/31/2018 – Dominating the enemy and zugzwang are often the sharpest weapons of the attacker in the endgame.

Rooks and knights and an unfortunate king!

7/27/2018 – Black has given a check on b2. Playing 44.Ka4 as White immediately gives one a very uneasy feeling (rightly so!). But the alternative 44.Kc4 also loses. Can you work out why?

A free path for the passed pawn

7/24/2018 – Rook endings require precision, rook endings with passed pawns even more. And precision sometimes requires to make moves that seem to be counter-intuitive, paradoxical, like retreating when you want to advance.

Open result

7/20/2018 – Not an easy situation for Black in the diagram position: the rook is hanging, and on top of that White threatens to promote his d-pawn. A good idea is required — or rather two. Your move, please!

Fateful pawn moves

7/17/2018 – Pawn endings are tricky. Theoretically, you can often calculate them to the very end - if you can calculate them to the very end!

Light summer mate V

7/13/2018 – No time to waste! 36.Rc7!! in the diagram position is the only move to give White an advantage, although Black's counterplay on the back rank might send a shiver down one's spine. However, after 36...Ng3+ 37.Kh2 Nf1+ 38.Kh3 Qg1 you are to checkmate in 7 - enjoy!

A light-footed knight

7/10/2018 – Knights are generally unable to cover a lot of ground in a hurry, but sometimes they can get a boost from tactical stricks and hustle across the board.

Light summer mate IV

7/5/2018 – In the diagram position White threatens to win the black queen with Bg4+. So far, so clear - but I bet you have already seen why after 30...Qf8 the bishop move leads to success as well!

Sometimes a good team: rook and knight

7/3/2018 – Usually, the endgame rook and knight vs rook is a draw when no more pawns are left on the board. But when the defending king is caught in the corner the attacking side sometimes has winning chances.

Light summer mate III

6/29/2018 – In the diagram position, Black is just fine — the only thing she should avoid is the game continuation 20...Ne5?? Are you itching to move some white pieces after that?

The fortress - real or an illusion?

6/26/2018 – Some players believe in fortresses, others do not. But no matter whether you are believer or not, some fortresses are real and really solid. In the endgame rooks are usually much better than a knight. But with pawns on one side, the defending side might build a fortress:

Light summer mate II

6/22/2018 – White's queen is threatening to take the rook e8 with a back rank mate, while his own exposed king might get ready to escape via e2. How would you continue as Black in the diagram position?

The fourth phase

6/19/2018 – Opening, middlegame, endgame — according to classical teachings these are the three parts of a chess game. In the opening and in the middlegame the king better hides, in the endgame, it can get active. But modern teachings stipulate that there is a fourth phase of the game — in which king safety is key again.

The final fork

6/15/2018 – Following 27...Nxc4 28.Nd5 Nb2 from the diagram, Black's knight is threatening two major pieces. Can you see already here how White turns the tables — or rather the fork — after that?

A strong outsider

6/12/2018 – "All rook endings are drawn" is a well-known and obviously wrong witticism. In fact, even drawn rook endings are not always drawn.

Light summer mate I

6/8/2018 – Despite being down a rook, Black is just winning! But there is only one path to victory starting from the diagramed position. How would you continue?

Winning a won game

6/5/2018 – Having a material plus in the endgame is sometimes not enough. Especially if only a few pawns are left on the board. How can Black win this position by carefully maneuvering his knight?

Hector's Achilles' heel

6/1/2018 – With his king running in the middle of the board, Black's position seems to be completely lost, and 34.Qe7+! Kd5 35.Rf2 in the diagram would indeed have sealed his fate. The immediate 34.Rf2?, however, could have (semi-) backfired for White. How?

King on the rim is dim

5/29/2018 – Knights on the rim are dim because they often do not have much room for maneuver. Kings on the rim can be dim because they might fall victim to a mating attack.

Adams' solutions

5/25/2018 – In the diagram position Black holds several trumps, above all his active queen on b6 which nails down the white king on f1. Can you see how the English super-GM increased his advantage decisively?

Dancing with rooks

5/22/2018 – People often believe that you do not have to calculate much in endgames because there are only a few pieces left on the board which reduces tactical possibilities. However, the opposite is true. Because there are only so few pieces left tactical precision is required.

In the long run

5/18/2018 – Following 22.Nxb7 in the diagram position, Black can get a clear edge — if he finds the right way to tackle White's strayed knight. Any ideas?

Knight on the rim is dim

5/15/2018 – "Knight on the rim is dim", is a well-known saying by Dr. Tarrasch. In modern chess general rules are less and less applicable but sometimes they nevertheless turn out to be true. Still, you have to find good moves to prove that.
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