Following buddy2's comment that there are many threads on openings but few on endings....
The opposition: It took me a while to get to understand this but I find it very useful in king & pawn endings.
In this position if it is black to move then white "has the opposition" and black has to concede ground. This is winning for white as white has the king in front of the pawn.
Now if it is white to move then black has the opposition - but white has a trick: 1.e3...now white has the opposition and black must lose ground by either stepping back or moving to the side and allowing the white king to move forward...from here whites king can protect the pawn all the way to the queening square.
The corrolory to that is that if black has the opposition, and white doesn't have the pawn move then it's a draw. This (nearly) came up in this game Game 3236996, on my last move I played 67. ... Kc6, but I could also have kept the draw with 67. ... Kc8 as after 68. Kb5 I have 68. ... Kb7 and if 68. Kc5 Kc7 and pushing the pawn creates the same end position as in the game but with everything shifted down a rank.
Originally posted by MahoutHowever, if the setup is white king on the 6th rank, black king on 8th, then white always (except for rook pawns) wins even without the opposition.
Following buddy2's comment that there are many threads on openings but few on endings....
The opposition: It took me a while to get to understand this but I find it very useful in king & pawn endings.
[fen]8/8/4k3/8/4K3/8/4P3/8 w - - 0 1[/fen]
In this position if it is black to move then white "has the opposition" and black has to concede ground. ...[text shortened]... move forward...from here whites king can protect the pawn all the way to the queening square.
It's an excellent exercise to start with a white king on e1, a white pawn on e2 and a black king on e8. First play with White and make sure you can win every time, even against a strong computer, then play the Black side but with Black moving first, and make sure you can draw every time.
You should be able to work out all the rules very quickly and perhaps some of the tricks. For example triangulation to waste a move - if you are playing a human they will sometimes play too quickly and let you gain the opposition.
Originally posted by Fat LadyWill do that! 🙂
It's an excellent exercise to start with a white king on e1, a white pawn on e2 and a black king on e8. First play with White and make sure you can win every time, even against a strong computer, then play the Black side but with Black moving first, and make sure you can draw every time.
Originally posted by RegicidalI really like the idea of the key squares in these, just get your king there before your opponent and it's over. no need to make sure you have the opposition, or to think whether the current opposition is 'meaningful' or not. across the board, around obstacles if need be, just blitz your way on any of those sweet three squares and "no earthly power can save your opponent" as karsten müller put it.
However, if the setup is white king on the 6th rank, black king on 8th, then white always (except for rook pawns) wins even without the opposition.
Originally posted by Fat LadyYes, I learnt (and in the meantime forgot - it's complicated and tricky!) the procedure for winning K + B + N vs K by watching and then copying endgame table bases.
It's an excellent exercise to start with a white king on e1, a white pawn on e2 and a black king on e8. First play with White and make sure you can win every time, even against a strong computer, then play the Black side but with Black moving first, and make sure you can draw every time.
You should be able to work out all the rules very quickly and perha ...[text shortened]... f you are playing a human they will sometimes play too quickly and let you gain the opposition.
Originally posted by RegicidalIf whites king is two spaces in front his pawn against a lone king, he can force the promotion of the pawn regardless of opposition. If his pawn is at the 5th rank or beyond and his king is one square in front, he can force the promotion regardless of opposition.
However, if the setup is white king on the 6th rank, black king on 8th, then white always (except for rook pawns) wins even without the opposition.
Originally posted by zebanoPrecisely.
If whites king is two spaces in front his pawn against a lone king, he can force the promotion of the pawn regardless of opposition. If his pawn is at the 5th rank or beyond and his king is one square in front, he can force the promotion regardless of opposition.
Originally posted by DeepThoughtYes I had a time when I tried to learn this...not sure if I could do it now. I think it is an excellent way to learn how to get knight, bishop and king working together. There is something quite beautiful about the final mating net, clamping the king onto the side and forcing it along.
Yes, I learnt (and in the meantime forgot - it's complicated and tricky!) the procedure for winning K + B + N vs K by watching and then copying endgame table bases.
I don't know if theres an explanation of how to do this somewhere on the web. It's a little to complex to explain here.
However in "Silmans Complete Endgame Course" he deliberately leaves it out because it's such a rare ending.
Originally posted by MahoutI wrote a post on how to do it at some point. don't know if it helps anybody, but here's a link anyway:
I don't know if theres an explanation of how to do this somewhere on the web. It's a little to complex to explain here.
Mating With KNB vs. K
http://burncastleburn.blogspot.com/2006/12/mating-with-knb-vs-k.html
Originally posted by MahoutHere's a thread I wrote on it.
I don't know if theres an explanation of how to do this somewhere on the web. It's a little to complex to explain here.
Thread 32573
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Originally posted by DeepThoughtAnother point that should be learned early on in endgame study is that if you can get to a position with a lone K vs K+p, if your opponent's K is behind the p it is a draw. (eg Game 2791376 ) I'm not sure if opposition matters.
The corrolory to that is that if black has the opposition, and white doesn't have the pawn move then it's a draw. This (nearly) came up in this game Game 3236996, on my last move I played 67. ... Kc6, but I could also have kept the draw with 67. ... Kc8 as after 68. Kb5 I have 68. ... Kb7 and if 68. Kc5 Kc7 and pushing the pawn creates the same end position as in the game but with everything shifted down a rank.