Welcome to this active site. Each week I am going to present to you an endgame position for you to solve or to workout the best continuation. Computer analysis will also be considered. Some of these positions will come from actual historical games. Others will be composed endgame studies, but all the solutions will be relevant to the practical game. The new position will occur each SUNDAY and I will always be pleased to receive POSITIVE feedback about the positions and the analysis and I will try to acknowledge these where relevant.

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.

 

Some players may think that these types of position offer an easy win for the stronger side but in practice they are tricky to play. White has to find a way to transfer the Rook to defend the a-pawn from the side. The Rook manoeuvre Rb6 ->Rc6 ->Rf6 -> Rf8 is worthy of note. In fact if the weaker side had managed to carry out the blockade at an earlier stage of the advancement of the passed pawns then White's winning method would not have worked.

  COMPETITIONS for 2004

1. Cumulative 2004 This event will run from 4/1/2004 to 19/12/2004 with a recess in the Summer. Present rules apply but note the book prizes will go to those participants who climb the ladder the greatest number of times during the year. The relative position of the solver's name on the ladder will decide the allocation of prizes.