Endgames can be a silly dance on the knife's edge. Here is a snapshot from a recent training game (see below). Maybe Mr Fritz is in a joking mode or there are a lot of blunders to be made in the position.
Maybe Mr Purdy has some clever rule to help us survive similar endgames. I did not find the proper move but I did not get the proper(?) punishment for making the naturally looking loosing move (Kd5).
A great chess teacher Valeri Lilov pointed out the fact that this can be viewed as an example of Corresponding Square.There is a little more to be learned.
Pawns first?
7 hours ago
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Indeed - there is a lesson exactly on the position on ChessMentor (chess.com).
ReplyDeleteDid you restart your training lessons with Valeri, buddy?
Nope! I shot him a question thru Skype.
ReplyDeleteAwkward position. I Will never get it right.
It's not that difficult, Farbror. For White and Black there are only 2 plans: both want to protect their own pawn and capture the opponent's pawn.
ReplyDeleteFirst, find the squares from where the kings protect their own pawn. Found them? Good. Don't forget White's g+h pawns that will potentially take away squares from the Black king.
Now we have to consider the "Zugzwang" motive: what happens if one side reaches the protecting square? Right! In case there are no pawn moves anymore, the king has to move away and the pawn is lost! This helps you to find the right idea: be the last to reach the pawns.
Note that the position is only lost because of all the other pawns, which the king can now capture (I guess that this is the case, I haven't calculated it to the end). Otherwise you get an easy draw.
It is easy when you are smart. I still think it is awkward.
ReplyDeleteI find it easier to just remember that distinctive Trebuchet image, and remember that I never want to get into that and have to move. ;)
ReplyDelete