...specifically between the middle- and end games.
How are you gentlemen?
This, gentle commentators, is a game I played on ICC (for those of you who play on ICC, it was against the computer Tortoise, rated 1773 at the time)
It's somewhat long. I was hoping for a draw by the 50 move rule, but as it turns out, someone set us up the bomb, and I was mated.
My question for the group is: What are some general guidelines for transitioning into the endgame, and what, if any, material is there to study this aspect of the game. I'm not really looking for what I specifically did wrong in this game, or, rather, if you are going to point out specifics from this game, please explain what principle I've violated. For example, telling me that I took off every zig too quickly is all well and good, but I'd rather understand why it's wrong. That way me get signal.
I've not yet had a chance to review the above game in depth, so I don't know if I blundered away a won endgame or if I was lost in it from the start of it.
move 25 I suggest, instead of e4:
25. ... Ra8 26. Bc3 Rxa4
and if 27. Bxe5 Re4 you win
and if not you have a much more confortable position...
my random impressions:
apart from this, I don't really see the interest of exchanging bishops, I have the impression that you are wasting time.
and once it is exchanged, I guess it should be draw for I don't see how he can promote his b pawn (he would need to bring his king, which seems difficult).
I would say that your mistake is that you do not bring your king closer to your pawns when you push them... and this is how he (it) traps you... I guess that could be a rule of thumb: before pushing your pawns, bring you king close to them...
but I am not a reference in endings though...
Originally posted by MacpoThanks for the responses.
move 25 I suggest, instead of e4:
25. ... Ra8 26. Bc3 Rxa4
and if 27. Bxe5 Re4 you win
and if not you have a much more confortable position...
my random impressions:
apart from this, I don't really see the interest of exchanging bishops, I have the impression that you are wasting time.
and once it is exchanged, I guess it should be draw for I ...[text shortened]... your pawns, bring you king close to them...
but I am not a reference in endings though...
I've looked into 25 ...Ra8 and I do think that it's the superior move. Even after 26. b4 c5 27. c3
And behold the majestic pawn-rricade, stolidly bearing down upon the enemy monarch .