“I detest the endgame. A well-played game should be practically decided in the middlegame.” ~ Dawid JANOWSKI “In order to improve your game you must study the endgame before everything else; for, whereas the endings can be studied and mastered by themselves, the middlegame and the opening must be studied in relation to the endgame.” ~ CAPABLANCA…
An endgame puzzle with a long solution is usually called a study. Here’s the most famous of them all. White can’t catch the h-pawn nor force through their own passed pawn. But it’s White to play and draw: Here’s a really neat one with the same limited material. White to play and win, but I…
Rooks on the seventh (both if you can) [br]Use your King [br]Do both if you can! Here’s some examples: Click […] to see list of games
OPENING RULES 1. Open with a centre pawn.2. Develop with threats.3. Play knights before bishops.4. Castle as soon as possible.5. Avoid developing the queen too early.6. Do not move the same piece twice without a good reason.7. Use your minor pieces to fight for the centre.8. Maintain at least one pawn in the centre.9. Make…
Some to learn, some to test yourself and some just to enjoy Do you know this one? Or can you work it out? White to play and win See the position in the final list for the solution. Here’s the same idea in a real game. Black to move (click E7 to flip). again, answer…
How to turn a win into a draw How to turn a draw into a loss How to turn a win into a loss Two players show how to make wins and draws into losses How to arrange an accident Know or find a position you want to steer for Keep a straight face!
The first Hastings tournament in 1895 was the strongest tournament up to that time. Every top player was invited and they all turned up: World Champion Lasker, ex-champion Steinitz, Steinitz’ challengers Chigorin and Gunsberg, Lasker’s future challengers Schlechter and Janowsky, the old British Champions Bird, Blackburne and Burn, and the new US Champion, Pillsbury, whom…
