08 Feb '10 00:40>4 edits
Not me you bunch of clowns. Greepawn31 (Keith Ruxton FM).
I'm sitting here like a vulture waiting for my opponents to fall
into the traps I have set for them but none are moving.
So I'm clearing out all the junk from Bates Motel.
(the Greenpawn's School of Chess Exellence ).
Be a shame to ditch Keith's stuff. So here is his first bit on Endings.
===========================================
Hi.
You know those people who have nut allergies?
They even 'smell' a peanut and that's it, they're off?
Well that's Geoff. Except instead of peanuts think endgames.
So in this thread it will be down to me to run through some help with endgame
play. Don't worry, it will be quite painless and even (gasp) quite enjoyable!
First I should say a few words about why looking at endgames is important and
explode a few common myths.
MYTH 1: I never reach endgames so there is no point in studying them.
Well, if you never reach endgames then you go back and look at Geoff's advice on
the 'Pre Send Error Check' thread - invaluable stuff.
But even if you dont reach many endgames, the techniques and ideas used in
endgames can help your broad understanding of chess in all areas.
Don't believe me? Think I'm making it up to trick you into doing some endgames?
Then let me show you how a single piece on the board can help you play
openings...
One of the three basic principles of the opening is control of the centre (what are
the other two?).
But why should we control the centre? Let's ask our favourite piece, the knight...
Here's a glum looking knight in the corner, he can only move to two squares.
Here's a slightly happier knight, he has 4 squares to move to
And here is a knight happier than Geoff setting a trap.
he has 8 squares to move to.
So the knight that controls the centre is FOUR TIMES as strong as the knight in
the corner.
MYTH 2: Endgames are boring.
I think this usually happens because a player picks up some encyclopedia of
endgames which has position after position with lots of analysis and stuff that has
to be memorised.
In fact, good news!, the number of endgame positions that needs to be memorised
is really very small. Most of endgame skill is in understanding basic rules and
principles that apply in many situations.
MYTH 3: There are no tactics in endgames - I like tactics!
Actually, even the simplest looking endgame positions can contain lots of
interesting tactical ideas. Take just one example...
White has only one way to win this position. If he tries Kb6 then black just checks
him then puts his rook back to the a-file. The solution is 1. Rc8! Rxa7 2. Kb6+!
sweet.
I'm sitting here like a vulture waiting for my opponents to fall
into the traps I have set for them but none are moving.
So I'm clearing out all the junk from Bates Motel.
(the Greenpawn's School of Chess Exellence ).
Be a shame to ditch Keith's stuff. So here is his first bit on Endings.
===========================================
Hi.
You know those people who have nut allergies?
They even 'smell' a peanut and that's it, they're off?
Well that's Geoff. Except instead of peanuts think endgames.
So in this thread it will be down to me to run through some help with endgame
play. Don't worry, it will be quite painless and even (gasp) quite enjoyable!
First I should say a few words about why looking at endgames is important and
explode a few common myths.
MYTH 1: I never reach endgames so there is no point in studying them.
Well, if you never reach endgames then you go back and look at Geoff's advice on
the 'Pre Send Error Check' thread - invaluable stuff.
But even if you dont reach many endgames, the techniques and ideas used in
endgames can help your broad understanding of chess in all areas.
Don't believe me? Think I'm making it up to trick you into doing some endgames?
Then let me show you how a single piece on the board can help you play
openings...
One of the three basic principles of the opening is control of the centre (what are
the other two?).
But why should we control the centre? Let's ask our favourite piece, the knight...
Here's a glum looking knight in the corner, he can only move to two squares.
Here's a slightly happier knight, he has 4 squares to move to
And here is a knight happier than Geoff setting a trap.
he has 8 squares to move to.
So the knight that controls the centre is FOUR TIMES as strong as the knight in
the corner.
MYTH 2: Endgames are boring.
I think this usually happens because a player picks up some encyclopedia of
endgames which has position after position with lots of analysis and stuff that has
to be memorised.
In fact, good news!, the number of endgame positions that needs to be memorised
is really very small. Most of endgame skill is in understanding basic rules and
principles that apply in many situations.
MYTH 3: There are no tactics in endgames - I like tactics!
Actually, even the simplest looking endgame positions can contain lots of
interesting tactical ideas. Take just one example...
White has only one way to win this position. If he tries Kb6 then black just checks
him then puts his rook back to the a-file. The solution is 1. Rc8! Rxa7 2. Kb6+!
sweet.