The mating with Bishop and Knight is the most difficult of the “elementary mates” and sometimes even takes 33 moves, which is the reason that you can only afford some little mistakes before a draw is reached according to the 50 moves rule.
A lot of additional information regarding this mate can be found on Mostly [...]
This game between Howard Staunton and Elijah Williams is very illustrative of the importance of the different kind of oppositions in chess. If you haven’t read the lesson about the opposition it is probably better to read this first.
As you will see Staunton has lost the game, but you have to know that the virtual [...]
In the previous lessons we have discussed some pawn endgames and have introduced chess concepts like the King on the sixt rank and key squares. Another very usefull concept is the opposition.
We can distinguish the vertical and the horizontal opposition.
The vertical opposition occurs when two kings face each other on a file with only one square in between. This is the normal opposition and we have seen something from this opposition in the lesson about the King on the sixth rank.
The horizonal opposition occurs when two kings are on the same rank with only one square in between. This is something we have seen before in the lesson about the rook pawn.
Every Saturday an endgame study is published at ChessVibes, selected by Yochanan Afek: player, trainer, endgame study composer and writer. A week later the solution is published.
Some of these endgames are very interesting. Yesterday the 28th endgame study in this series has been published.
One way of making it easier to play the endgame is by using the concept of key squares. Key squares are squares that you have to occupy with your King. If you succeed in doing so you will win the game, regardless who’s turn it is to move.
A pawn who has not reached the fifth [...]
