PRACTICAL CHESS ENDGAME
30/4/2000
Welcome to this active site. Each week I am going to
present to you a endgame position for you to solve or to workout the
best continuation. Computer analysis will also be considered. Some of
these positions will come from actual historical games. Others will
be composed endgame studies, but all the solutions will be relevant
to the practical game.
The new position will occur each
SUNDAY and I
will always be pleased to receive POSITIVE
feedback about the positions and the
analysis and I will try to acknowledge these where
relevant.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Thanks to Henryk
Kalafut, Peter Bereolos and Olivier
Scalbert.
THIS WEEK
POSITION 138
White to play & WIN
FORSYTH NOTATION 4k3/rp3ppb/1np1p2p/N7/1PP5/6P1/4PPBP/3R2K1
LAST WEEK, POSITION 137
Rev. Horatio Bolton, (1793-1873).
Belonged to a group of Anglican clergyman who made a big impact on
English chess in the 19th century. He was regarded as the father of
Problem Art in his own country. He was a fine exponent of what became
known as "the Old School" method of composing.
Bolton, 1840
White to play & WIN
FORSYTH
NOTATION:8/8/8/5K2/7k/7p/7N/7N:
In this ending we see theory at work. The weaker king will try
to head for the drawing zone which is the upper left hand corner of
the board. The h2 Knight is left to blockade the h-pawn while the
other Knight goes to restrict the movement of the opposing
King. The combined effort of the King and Knight drive the
weaker side towards the blockading Knight and a mating net.
1.Nf2! ...
If the King is allowed to escape up the board then
the task becomes very long-winded. This Knight is going to g4 to
restrict the movement of the King.
1...Kh5
1...Kg3 2.Nfg4 Kh4 ( If
2...Kg2 3.Kf4 Kh1 4.Kf3 Kg1 5.Kg3 Kh1 6.Nf3 h2 7.Nf2#) 3.Kg6! ~ and
play proceeds as the main line.
2.Nfg4 Kh4
3.Kg6! Kg3
4.Kg5!...
The weaker King is in a cage from which there is no
escape.
4.... Kg2
5.Kf4 Kh1
5...Kg1 6.Kg3 Kh1 7.Nf3
h2 8.Nf2#
6.Kf3 Kg1
7.Kg3 Kh1
8.Nf3...
Black has to move the pawn.
8... h2
9.Nf2#
Historically this study is very important. It appeared in
Bergers first edition of Theory and Practice of Endgames and
made a very big impact on the great Russian composer Troitzky. Taking
the Bolton study as his inspiration he proceeded to work out the
theory of this class of ending. Troitzky's analysis of this difficult
ending NNvP is found in his book of 360 studies. Chess
Studies (1937). It remains the most
thorough examination of an ending, unaided by computer analysis, ever
carried out by a human analyst.
The ending NNvP is very rare in practical play but it does
occur from time to time. A serious student of the endgame should know
the theory. The Hungarian/Soviet Grandmaster Lilienthal obtained this
class of ending on a number of occasions and much to Botvinnik's
dismay (Championship Chess 1948) he was never able to discover
the path to victory !!
Endgame Solving Tournament
2000. This will
consist of 3 events: these will take place at Easter, Summer and
Christmas each consisting of 5 positions to solve, 15 in all.
Participants have to take part in all three events to be considered
for the prize of £100 or equivalent. In
case of a tie for 1st place, the prize will be shared. Present strict
rules will apply; no computer analysis.
Easter Endgame
Solving Tournament.
STARTS
NOW: Click here >>
positions
Have a go !! Closes
May 7th.
Federico Giallombardo
of Italy wins in March.
Click here for the
weekly >>
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