Endgame Fun

Hi guys

One of lads in Bates asked for help with end games.

HA! I told them not to mention end games.

Now GP31 is putting them through the grinder.

Lucena, Bridge Building, Opposition, Zuggers....

He posted this one which I thought some of you might enjoy.

White to play and win

I got that exercise from dvoretsky, really nice. It's very easy if you know the trick but this exercise will make sure you don't lose (or worse, draw when you're way better) basic (pawn) endgames in timepressure due to bad king handling.

Yeah, I saw the training value of it right away - a good example.

Glad you did not give the solution.

Reveal Hidden Content

is it not the case, that the rules of opposition states that if there is an even number of squares between the two opposing kings, the kings whose move it is, retains the opposition by creating an odd number of squares (1,3,5), and secondly that in rook and king v lone king endings, the king must be driven to the side of the board! therefore if we can drive the king, through the use and retention of opposition to the side of the board we should be able to deliver mate with the rook. hopefully I have not said too much.

Originally posted by greenpawn34
Yeah, I saw the training value of it right away - a good example.

Glad you did not give the solution.

Cute exercise

I have come across this move-only-the-Kings exercise at least five times, and I am proud to say I have never understood anything of it. 🙂

Hi too easy eh?

All the pieces can move as normal.

White, playing up the board, to play and draw.
(Yes it's a Black pawn on h2 about to promote)



As with the last one, once you see the idea all you have to do
is work out the moves.

Originally posted by greenpawn34
Hi too easy eh?

All the pieces can move as normal.

White, playing up the board, to play and [b]draw.
(Yes it's a Black pawn on h2 about to promote)

[fen]R7/7p/7p/8/P7/P1k5/K6p/8 w - - 0 1[/fen]

As with the last one, once you see the idea all you have to do
is work out the moves.[/b]

Of course I am missing something, but this is a possible scenario:

Originally posted by heinzkat
Of course I am missing something, but this is a possible scenario:

[pgn][FEN "R7/7p/7p/8/P7/P1k5/K6p/8 w - - 0 1"]1. Rc8+ Kd2! 2. Rd8+ Ke2! 3. Re8+ Kf2! 4. Rf8+ Kg2! 5. Rg8+ Kh3! 0-1[/pgn]

Gotcha!

OK up till Black playing Kg2 and then.......

White draws.

I can't imagine there being some trick once Black has promoted. The a4 pawn will always have a move so no stalemates either. No "geometrical" movement possible either. I guess it is either brilliant, or a silly diagram error 😉

Maybe after Kg2, Rb8?
If h1Q, Rb1, Queen has to go up the h-file and white can haunt the black king with checks until it's a draw or he wins the queen..

Edits: 'hidden' thing doesn't seem to work...