Endgame Love
Teaching you to Love Endgames
NEW COLUMN ALERT!
Introducing Endgame Love! I’m passionate about endgames and excited to share that passion with you. For paying subscribers, I’ll offer a new, intriguing endgame puzzle every weekday. Each puzzle will be carefully selected from real games or celebrated compositions, bringing you a fresh challenge with serious value daily. All endgames will be checked with an engine for fidelity in the answer. PLUS, a little fun where I play around with AI pictures related to endgames.
For just $5 a month, you’ll receive unique value and entertainment you won’t find anywhere else. Plus, your support goes directly to a chess coach and independent filmmaker—Coach Q!
Ok, let’s check out our first endgame puzzle:
Black to Move and Win - Find the Key Move.
This puzzle is from one of the original endgame masters of the early 20th century, Akiba Rubinstein. Now, this will require a little bit of calculation but it is a fun, slightly shocking move that is certainly decisive. Scroll down for the ANSWER1.
While you are scrolling down to find the answer let’s see how funny these AI chess boards look. I have a feeling these will improve over time, but at the moment they are pure comedy:
Ok, now for the answer which I will always include the image for those that are not versed in chess-ese. For those that are, see the game notation below:
70…b4! 71.Kd2 b3 72.c3+ Ke4 73.Ke2 Kf4 74.Kf2 Kg4 75.Kf1 Kg3 76.Kg1 g4 77.Kf1 Kh2 78.Kf2 Kh1 79.Kg3 Kg1 80.Kxg4 Kxg2 0-1 was played in the game and is very good endgame technique!
70…b4 illustrates how we can create a passed pawn. If 71.axb4 c3! 72.bxc3 a3 and the outside passer will be unstoppable.