Originally posted by mazziewagI would buy a good book about endgames.
I really need help with my endgame, the rest of my game is ok but i lose games/draw games through a bad endgame when i should win. can someone please take me on and teach me please?
Then I would go through it carefully, giving a deep thought of every position.
After that I assure you that you'll do much better in your own end games.
Originally posted by FabianFnasAre there any websites which are just as good that i can get to straight away, or that are worth looking at before i get a book?
I would buy a good book about endgames.
Then I would go through it carefully, giving a deep thought of every position.
After that I assure you that you'll do much better in your own end games.
Originally posted by mazziewagI don't think there is any shortcuts here.
Are there any websites which are just as good that i can get to straight away, or that are worth looking at before i get a book?
Put a question here - "Can anyone recommend a good book about endgames, please" - and I'm sure there is a lot of people willing to help you with that one.
I think a good book is very much worth its price.
Originally posted by FabianFnasThere is one currentl;y going that looks to be drawn where i should have won during the endgame (i think) so i cant put it up yet obviously, but i will look for other games, thanks.
I don't think there is any shortcuts here.
Put a question here - "Can anyone recommend a good book about endgames, please" - and I'm sure there is a lot of people willing to help you with that one.
I think a good book is very much worth its price.
Another technique I have been using a lot lately, with quite a degree of success is when it is your move, look for any possible forks, pins, skewers or strong tactical moves you can make. Note down this move in your notebook. Then repeat the process with possible responses with your opponent, note this down as well. Obviously you do not want to go through every possible combination, but you will be just noting down the best moves you can find and the most likely responses. Once you have a line of maybe 5 or 6 ply ahead (or more if it is just a few pieces and it is quite obvious what the responses are likely to be), then work through the lines backwards to see what alternative moves your opponent could have made. Certain combinations I have managed to go up to about 20 ply and has helped me to spot forced mates.
Do this for every move and slightly refine your moves as you progress. This process will certainly avoid serious blunders and eventually it would help spot winning patterns intuiatively.
I know I am not a very strong player, but I have been using this approach more diligently for the past 4 or 5 games. These were against people who I would have certainly struggled a lot more against previously.
Even investigate lines where you might even be sacrificing an important piece, as you could see a forced mate that your opponent didn't see. Also look for situations where you can take a piece and they can't take back (e.g. when the piece they are taking with is pinned in front of the king).
EDIT: Here is a game where I spotted a win as far back as move 15 (opponent resigned on move 22). I was debating whether to take with the knight or the bishop on move 16. At the time I concluded that taking with the bishop would have been better, although when making the actual move I picked the wrong one. At the end of the game, an analysis with Fritz confirmed to me that taking with the bishop would have been the better choice.
Game 2575677
EDIT2: Here is what was still in my notebook for this game (although I am sure stronger players could have found much better moves):
20. Qh7+ Kf8 21. Bb4+ Nd6 (21. ..Ne7 22. Qh8# ) 22. Bxd6+
16. Nxh7 Re8 17. Qh5 Nf5 18. Bxf5 exf5 19. Nf6+ gxf6 20. Qxh6
16. Bxh7 Kh8 17. Qh5 g6 18. Nxf7 Nxf7 (18. ..Kg7 [18. ..Rxf7 19. Bxg6 Rg7 20. Qxh6+] Qxg6# ) 19. Bxg6 Kg7 20. Qh7#