8X8 Basic Endings for Success

Fischer vs Taimanov Candidates, 1971 Black to Play

Taimanov in this very important match game failed to realize he could have drawn the ending. It was difficult to see because it meant offering the Knight for capture as a diversion for the White King. Taimanov had to get his King to h8 from where it can never be driven away because the Bishop is of the "wrong" colour. This means the h-pawn can never get to the queening square. 1...Nd3! (Taimanov played 1...Ke4? and soon lost) 2.h4 Nf4! 3.Kf5 Kd6! Black gives up the Knight in order to get to h8. 4.Kxf4 Ke7 and the King will arrive at h8. White cannot make progress. If the Knight is not captured the pawn cannot make any progress on the h-file. It will be taken by the Knight. 4.Kf6 Nd5+ 5.Kg5 Nf4! Therefore it is a positional draw.

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LAST MONTH, POSITION 359

Players, Authors and Endgame Composers. Originally from Germany but settled in England in 1846. They formed an important partnership which lead to the writing of Chess Studies (1851). This book made a very big impact on the chess players of the 19th century. It showed that charm and beauty were not only found in direct attacks at the King but also in practical and composed endings. It really marks the beginning of the modern history of the endgame study. It's importance to the student of the endgame cannot be over-emphasised. It really is a wonderful achievement for an age which was only just beginning to get used to the power of steam. The book contains 208 positions covering both the didactic and the more colourful endgame study.

All these are interrelated and important and you cannot understand (b) or (c) without a knowledge of (a).

(a) Basic Endings. These are theoretical positions in which we know the correct result with optimum play by both sides. They may consist of three pawns or less and also include all the non-pawn and five piece endings which have now been extensively analysed by computer and of which we have tablebases. In the days when we had adjournments some of these endings could be looked up in text books to give us some idea how to play the position. As we no longer can do this, knowledge and memory of these endings has become important in practical play. Fundamental Chess Endings (2001) by Muller and Lamprecht and Basic Endings (1992) by Balashov and Prandstetter and the earlier A Pocket Guide to Chess Endgames (1970) by David Hooper are good introductions to these endings.

(b) Practical Endings. These occur in over-the-board play where usually more pawns are present. The above ending is an example of this type. Some of these endings are in the process of being transformed to basic endings but often they finish before this stage is reached. Endgame strategy is very different from the middlegame and has its own set of rules and exceptions. Fine's book Basic Chess Endings (1941,2003) recently revised by Pal Benko and Batsford Chess Endings (1993) by Speelman, Tisdall and Wade are about basic and practical endings and both can be recommended.

(c) Endgame Studies. These are positions which have been composed and will contain elements of one or both of the above types of endings. But there are important differences between these types and the study, such as artistic form and economy of construction. An endgame study has to follow strict rules of composition, especially if it is entered into a composing competition. One of these rules states there should only be one solution. If there is an unintended second solution then the study is unsound and said to be "cooked".

Endgame studies are important to the practical player because they enhance his imagination and help him learn and enjoy areas of theory without too much effort.