Endgame Bootcamp 15

Get ready for a plethora of endings, get out the board and pieces, get out a timer and see how long some of these positions take to solve, get outside if you're not plagued with smoke from fires in your area.

I’d like to thank a couple people that have brought more inspiration to this post.

IM Marc Esserman (MassterofMayhem) aka whyyyyyyysoserious, has highlighted the importance of retaining the bishop pair, but also lectures on the importance of knowing when to give up the pair. You’ll often find me on his Twitch stream when I’m able to watch.

Elyne Lee for providing feedback on how to further improve the blog, who also blogs on Lichess, and streams on Twitch!

Thank you to my friend (not naming as I didn't ask) who has proofed and assisted with editing of this blog, as well as prior posts! I am very grateful to have a fresh pair of eyes review my ramblings....

Thanks to those who have provided endgames for me to review! (I also did not ask to specifically mention them)

The importance of Endgames!

There are some things players like to think of as they set the stage and start the play of endings. You should be focused on quality rather than quantity for endgames, that can be applied to so many games you will play. Sure broad and general ideas are known in endings, but practicing and perfecting your technique rather than regurgitating theoretical knowledge, that’s gold.

A critical strategic consideration in the endgame is always threatening to promote your pawns to queens.

It follows that you should be drilling your mates with Queen and King, short ones that usually occur after promotion. If you can calculate the promotion you should have a reflex memory for the mate. No such thing as a drill you shouldn’t do, it might be similar or exact to the next one you play.

Promotions often result from other types of endings, (major and/or minor pieces, rook-and-pawn, etc.), Queens appear, and do not always end in draws.

Studying pure pawn endings will help you post-liquidation and also allow you to identify faster wins when other pieces are on the board to assist. This is why endgame study is very instructive for beginning players, and as they anticipate checkmates, stalemates, or other form of draws, they are able to spot them. Ideally, you learn how to finish the game before you start it, otherwise what is the point behind the moves?

A pure pawn ending

One side is winning regardless of who moves first!

Key concepts to keep in mind:

You should be focused on the King being in the center (the four central squares being e4, e5, d4, and d5).

• Black’s outside a pawn's path to promotion is futile with White’s b pawn stopping the way.
• Black’s King is also on the other side of the board from their a pawn.
• Black’s g and h pawns are no match for the strong pawn chain supported by White’s King.
• Two weaknesses is a common theme for endings. The idea is capitalizing on an already established threat, and then creating a second threat. Eventually one threat will be unaddressed, and lead to a win.

Pay attention to having the majority on one side or another of the board, and if your King is already properly positioned to walk up unhindered. Knowing when to liquidate pawns is crucial in evaluating endgames, because it’s all about timing.

If White is to move.....

I shall touch on bad moves White should avoid.

If White starts fxg6 Kxg6......Ke5 allows a draw via Kg5. (White only has three winning King moves and two winning pawn moves after Kxg6)
In other words: Exchanging pawns and mispositioning the King allows a draw.

Similarly if White starts off with Kf3?!....gxf5 secures the draw for Black.

White recaptures with gxf5 the Black King recaptures on f5.

There's one critical move for Black in the line after Kxf5 b4 Kf4 Kc5 Kg3 Kb6 Kxh3 Kxa6 h5 b5 h4 b6

(hint: the only other drawing move for Black after b5, rather than h4, is the same move here)

Kg2, otherwise White is promoting with check if the Black King is on g3.

Enjoy the following drawn positional exercise: it never hurts to practice technique for speed chess!

Some good move analysis....Kf4

On f4 the White King still touches their pawn chain, even after g5+ the King protects with Ke4 or from Ke3 the White King can still prevent the Black King from crossing into the fourth rank. Make sure to push the b pawn if Black tries to edge its way close to it. Black’s h6 is always met by hxg6 and White will promote on the Kingside if Black chases the passed Queenside pawn.

The best move?

Hopefully you understand now how powerful b4 is in the starting position for White. It ensures that once we rid Black of move options better than a5, we will promote the Queenside pawn, or complete avoidance of a5 leads to a Kingside pawn promoting.

Something to understand after deeper calculation is that you won’t always capture the a pawn. Imagine the Black King may try to corner themselves on h8 and the White King is on g6 defending a pawn that made it to h7, we don’t want to stalemate with bxa5 because Black will not have a legal move! Don’t worry, the b pawn wins staying on its file. Knowing that you are stepping over the central divide of the board first, means you promote first when it comes to this pawn race. Black will have to play a5 and then won’t promote until four moves, whereas you will be playing b5 and then promoting in three moves and it’s checkmate when you do.

Breaking down some lines in this Mating net

b4 h5 gxh5 gxf5+ Kf4

b4 h5 gxh5 Kg7 and either pawn recaptures on g6

b4 Kg5 Ke5 gxf5 gxf5 Kh6 f6 Kg6 Ke6

b4 g5 Kd5 Ke7 Ke5, and we are positioned to promote like the prior line

Remember: Applying this analysis to Black to move in the starting position brings light to zugzwang.

A defensive ending

Black to move....

Bh2! Only move to keep the draw.

White can pick two sharp continuations for this endgame, forcing Black to make some only moves.

If White moves anything other than an f5 or g6 pawn move, it gives Black more breathing room.

If f5

Bd6 must be played so that the Bishop is able to prevent pawns from promoting on the b8 and f8 squares. Not only this, but if White advances the b pawn, the bishop can move to a3 and comfortably stop White from keeping a newborn Queen.

Example: b5 Kxb5 Kd5 Ba3

Either the Black King immediately captures White’s b pawn, or walks it up and captures the Queen. There are plenty of ways for Black to position the Bishop but a3 is thematic with realizing how many squares the Bishop could navigate to when placed on d6.

To keep Black on their toes, White could proceed with g6, forcing Be7 or Bf8, because promotion is a real threat otherwise.

Now it’s Black’s turn to force White’s possibilities after Be7, whereas Bf8 would allow two options.
Be7 forces b5 for the draw. If White avoids this move, Black’s winning idea is to connect their bishop and g pawn via Bf6.

After b5 it’s not over yet! Black can either take the pawn, forcing Kd5, otherwise Kc5 forces c4.

The position after b5 Kxb5 Kd5 Bf6

The forced c4!

Now Black has one King move or five bishop moves. Black cannot let White create a passed pawn so the bishop can’t go back to d6. Black cannot take the c pawn, because the bishop can’t stop the b pawn and the passer that would be created in the aforementioned position. Recall how well the bishop sat earlier on d6 at the beginning of the endgame.

Stick with Bf6!

This blockades the f pawn and makes b6 losing for White. Now of the four moves White has I like Kd3 Kxc4 b6 Bd4+ and after Ke4 Bxb6 White must play f6 or lose.

Rewind.....If g6

White could also proceed by playing g6 instead of f5, and this time Black must play Bg3 to retain the draw.

If White goes the b5 route, Black’s similar plan of immediate capture or walking along with the pawn still draws. White could instead play f5 and Black has two options for the draw. I like Be1 which threatens the c pawn, but the alternative is Bh4 which forces White to play b5 for the draw. White could proceed safely with f6 as a second option when Be1 is played.

What do we take away from this endgame?

Understand that there are very good squares for your pieces in endgames, in this case, for the black bishop. Identify when and how to stop promotion, by immediately recapturing after promotion when positioning your King and/or major-minor pieces. Armed with this knowledge you should be able to cruise through the next endgame......

An almost identical ending

How does White proceed with the win?

This should be a bit more clear after looking at how Black had to draw in the previous endgame. Less photos for reference...try to follow along without moving pieces if you can.

Pushing the b pawn loses it, but note the bishop is still on the first rank, and not positioned on d6. White is able to start pushing the Kingside pawns and use their centralized King effectively, without being neutralized by the bishop this time. Even if the bishop gets active, it was not properly positioned to begin with to stop White.

White can’t play g6 because Kxb5 is allowed, then the bishop will do exactly what it could in the prior ending, which is get to f8. For example: f5 (only move!), then Bc5 f6 Bf8.....White could let Black win if they play f7, because Black will reach the 6th rank before White can, and keep them out. The White King can’t stop pawn march, and Black will be able to scoop up White’s pawns. Never mind f7, as White’s safest bet is to take Black’s remaining pawn with fxg6.

Back to the WIN!

f5 is the way to go for White. Black could proceed with multiple options so we will look at a two.

Kxb5 can be a bit tricky after f6 is played, due to gxf6 g6 only move and f5+ the White King must not take the pawn! If the King doesn’t step to d3 or d5 they allow Bd4 to draw.

Instead of Kxb5 there’s Bd4 which forces g6, you may independently examine how Black draws otherwise. The White Queen will appear on g8.

Black cannot step away from their bishop, otherwise it’s lost. Black also lets White acquire d5 if Kc3 is played. Black could instead play Bf2 but f6 gxf6 g7 and there’s no way to stop the Queen on g8.

get ready to start your timers........

The first Mating Net-White to move

So many pieces on the board! Do not be intimidated....

A nice combination of moves by White with plenty of deviations for either side.

Starting with Rxg7 and Black's only move is Kh5. The quickest ending is via c7, and then Black can play Rf8 or R8d7, first deviation.

R8d7 leads to a couple different options for White, so lets look at Rf8 for a narrower path.

Rc6 or h3 become the best candidates.

For Rc6 it could end: Rd7 Rxd7 Kg4 Kf1 Kf3 c8=Q Rxc8 and it's mate in three after the rook recaptures.

What is White's winning idea?

White’s only winning move!

In the game they played cxb5 allowing Black to create a passed pawn with axb5, because any move by White leads to c4 and exchange or not, White cannot prevent a Queen from appearing on c1.

White’s pawns on the Queenside are strong enough to slow Black down, so we look to the Kingside. Moving the h pawn loses the g pawn.

g5 is the way, but it is still Sharp depending on how Black proceeds. Challenge yourself to finding the only moves for White after the following candidate moves for Black: a5, b4, Nxc4, and bxc4.

• If Black plays a5 in response, then a4 is the only winning move.

• Same can be said if Black plays b4.

• If Nxc4, then White’s only move is g6.

• If bxc4 then White’s only move is to take back with bxc4.

  Nd7+ 39. Ke6 Ne5 40. h4 Kd8 41. h5 Ke8 42. Kxd6 Nxc4+ 43. Kxc5

You must know when to properly push the g pawn in this endgame, as well as where you may step with your King after potential knight checks. Do not let Black create a passed pawn on the Queenside!

The second Mating Net-White to move

One continuation after the critical move by White:

Rxe6+ Qxe6 Qxe6+ Kb5 Qd5+ Ka4

e6 c2 Qa2+ Kb5 e7 c1=Q

e8=Q+ Rxe8

fxe8=Q+

Qc6 Qb8+ Qb6 Qe5+ Kc6 Qad5#

CONGRATS! You made it to the end of this Bootcamp, hopefully unscathed and with a few more tricks in your endgame bag.