Endgame study
An endgame study, or just study, is a composed position—that is, one that has been made up rather than one from an actual game—presented as a sort of puzzle, in which the aim of the solver is to find a way for one side (usually White) to win or draw, as stipulated, against any moves the other side plays.
Composed studies
Composed studies predate the modern form of chess. Shatranj studies exist in manuscripts from the 9th century, and the earliest treatises on modern chess by the likes of Luis Ramirez Lucena and Pedro Damiano (late 15th and early 16th century) also include studies. However, these studies often include superfluous pieces, added to make the position look more "game-like", but which take no part in the actual solution (something that is never done in the modern study). Various names were given to these positions (Damiano, for example, called them "subtleties"); the first book which called them "studies" appears to be Chess Studies, an 1851 publication by Josef Kling and Bernhard Horwitz, which is sometimes also regarded as the starting point for the modern endgame study. The form is considered to have been raised to an art in the late 19th century, with A. A. Troitsky and Henri Rinck particularly important in this respect.
Most composers, including Troitsky, Rinck, and other famous figures such as Genrikh Kasparyan, are known primarily for their studies, being little known as players. However, some famous players have also composed endgame studies, with Emanuel Lasker, Richard Réti, Vasily Smyslov, and Jan Timman being perhaps the most notable ones.
Examples
Ostrauer Morgenzeitung, Dec. 4th 1921
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| 8 |      | 8 | |||||||
| 7 | 7 | ||||||||
| 6 | 6 | ||||||||
| 5 | 5 | ||||||||
| 4 | 4 | ||||||||
| 3 | 3 | ||||||||
| 2 | 2 | ||||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||
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Richard Réti's study is one of the most famous of all time. It is White to play and draw (see Réti endgame study). At first sight, this seems an impossible task: if White tries to chase after Black's pawn he can never catch it (1. Kh7 h4 2.Kh6 h3 etc. is clearly hopeless), while it is clear that Black will simply take White's pawn if he tries to promote it.
White can draw however, by taking advantage of the fact that the king can move in two directions at once: towards Black's pawn and towards White's own. The solution is 1.Kg7! h4 (1...Kb6 2. Kf6! h4 3.Ke5! transposes) 2.Kf6! Kb6 (if 2...h3, then 3.Ke6 h2 4.c7 Kb7 5.Kd7 allows white to promote his pawn) 3.Ke5! Now, if 3...Kxc6, then 4.Kf4 stops Black's pawn after all, while if 3...h3 4.Kd6 allows White to promote his pawn. Either way, the result is a draw. (Also see King and pawn versus king endgame, the section Rule of the square.)
White to play and draw. An example of a more complicated study.
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Position after 8.Rg1 (see analysis, left)
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Not all studies are as simple as the above Réti example. The study to the right is by Kasparyan (first published in Magyar Sakkélet, 1962). White is to play and draw. The main line of the solution is 1.Ra1 a2 2.Ke6 Ba3 3.Bf4 Bb2 4.Be5 a3 5.Kd5 Bg6 6.Bd4 Bf7+ 7.Ke4 Bc4 8.Rg1, but there are various alternatives for both sides. For example, White could try 1.Bf4 on his first move, with the idea 1...Bxa2 2.Bxd6 and 3.Bxa3 is a draw, but Black can defeat this idea with 1...Bxf4 2.Rxa3 Bc2, which wins. To understand why one move works and another one does not requires quite advanced chess knowledge. Indeed, it will not be obvious to many players that the position at the end of the given line (see the diagram at far right) is a draw at all.
MT Rustaveli, 1967 (corrected)
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
| 8 |    | 8 | |||||||
| 7 | 7 | ||||||||
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| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
One of the most notable studies is one Leopold Mitrofanov's 1967 first prize winner.[1] Unfortunately, Mitrofanov's original study was subsequently found to have a cook, a miraculous defense that enabled Black either to obtain perpetual check or reach a drawn ending.
Solution:
1.b6+ Ka8 2.Re1! Nxe1 3.g7 h1Q
(3...Nc4+ 4.Kb5 h1Q 5.g8Q+ Bb8 6.a7 Na3+ 7.Kc6 Qh2 8.axb8Q+ Qxb8 9.b7+ Ka7 10.Qg1+ Ka6 11.Qb6 mate)
4.g8Q+ Bb8 5.a7 Nc6+ 6.dxc6 Qxh5+ Not 7.Ka6? Qe2+ or 7.Kb4? Qh4+ with perpetual check, but
7.Qg5!! Qxg5+ 8.Ka6 the Queen is deflected from the white diagonal where she could give check.
8...Bxa7 (or 8...Qb5+ 9.Kxb5 Nc2 10.c7 and wins) 9.c7! A silent move. The double threat c8Q+ and b7 mate forces Black to sacrifice the queen. 9...Qa5+ 10.Kxa5 Kb7 11.bxa7 and White wins.
Early example
Arabic manuscript, 1140[2]
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| 8 | | 8 | |||||||
| 7 | 7 | ||||||||
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Most of old Shatranj studies are not valid in modern chess because of changed rules. However the moves of the king, rook, and knight are unchanged. In this Arabic study White wins because the black knight is poorly placed. With White to move the best move is 1.Rd1, but it is not the only winning move. If Black to move 1...Kb8! 2.Kc6! Na5+! 3.Kb6! Nc4+ 4.Kb5! Ne5 5.Re1! Nd7 6.Kc6! wins.
Studies and special moves
The special moves or rules of chess, such as castling, underpromotion, double-square pawn advance, and en passant are commonly a key feature of studies, as are sacrifices.
Castling
Castling in the endgame occurs seldom and more often seen in studies. Here is one example where White wins by privilege of castling rights.
Try: 1.0-0-0? Ra2! 2.d7 Ra1+ 3.Kc2 Rxd1 4.Kxd1 Kc7 drawn. White needs 1.d7! Kc7 2.d8Q! Kxd8 3.0-0-0+ simultaneously attacking the king and rook that is captured next move.
Studies and chess engines
L’Italia, Scacchistica, 1946
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
| 8 |    | 8 | |||||||
| 7 | 7 | ||||||||
| 6 | 6 | ||||||||
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| 3 | 3 | ||||||||
| 2 | 2 | ||||||||
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| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
With the creation and popularization of chess playing computer software programs, a number of which having achieved elo ratings higher than top human players, many composers collaborate with them both in composing and solving compositions. Though proven to be helpful, positions have been found which cause even the strongest engines to incorrectly evaluate the outcome. Chess master Frédéric Lazard's 1946 composition is White to play and draw.[3] Top chess engines evaluate the position as clearly won for Black.
Solution: 1.Ne4+ Kh4 2.Ng3! Qf8 (2...fxg3 3.Bb6) 3.Be1 fxg3 4.Bf2! d4 (4...Qxf2 stalemate, 4...gxf2 5.g3+ Kh3 stalemate) 5.Bxd4 c5 6.Bxc5 Qf1+ 7.Bg1 Qf2 8.Bxf2 gxf2 9.g3+ Kxg3[4] drawn.
See also
References
- ↑ Krabbé, Tim. "A genius' bad luck". Tim Krabbé's Chess Curiosities. Retrieved 2016-10-22.
- ↑ Müller & Lamprecht, p. 257
- ↑ Kavalek, Lubomir (2011-02-22). "King Tut in Chess Puzzles". Chessbase.
- ↑ Kavalek, Lubomir (2011). "Lazard, Frederic - White draws. L'Italia Scacchistica, 1946". Chessbase.
Further reading
- Müller, Karsten; Lamprecht, Frank (2001), Fundamental Chess Endings, Gambit Publications, ISBN 1-901983-53-6
- Timmer, Robert (1997), Startling Castling!, Batsford, ISBN 0-713481-37-4
- John Beasley and Timothy Whitworth, Endgame Magic (Batsford, 1996), an introduction to the subject
- A. J. Roycroft, Test Tube Chess (Faber, 1972), a general overview of studies, including 433 examples
- Flemish miniatures. 123 chess endgame studies, composed, compiled and published by Ignace Vandecasteele, Julien Vandiest and Roger Missiaen, 1998, ARVES ‘book of the year’ 1997, ISBN 90-901161-2-5. The best studies of the three musketeers of the Flemish endgame community.
- 360 Brilliant and Instructive End Games, by A. A. Troitzky, 1968, Dover Pubns. ISBN 0-486-21959-3. A collection of 360 endgame studies by Troitsky.
- Chernev, Irving (1989), 200 Brilliant Endgames, Dover, ISBN 0-486-43211-4
- Dvoretsky, Mark; Pervakov, Oleg (2009), Studies for Practical Players, Russell Enterprises, ISBN 978-1-888690-64-4
External links
- Video Lectures on Classic Endgame Studies
- ARVES biographical data on composers
- Handbook of Chess Composition
- Composers Photoalbum
- List Of Chess Videos About Endgame Studies
- ARVES many themes, history, examples and explanations