Showing posts with label Chess. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chess. Show all posts

Friday, November 25, 2022

King, Bishop and Knight against King Endgame

64board
 
 
The purpose of this post is to put together some resources about this particular endgame.

I think every chess player should learn this checkmate, it requires several techniques that are present in every day chess play like piece coordination, kings opposition, value of waiting moves, etc.

Although this checkmate is consider as a basic checkmate I think it is the trickiest one, in particular because of the 50 moves rule that will help the defender in case the attacker makes a few mistakes.

The best explanation I found about this checkmate is in the book "Fundamental Chess Endings" by Karsten Muller and Frank Lamprecht. There is an Amazon paperback version and a cheaper Kindle one.

This is a very well explained YouTube video about the KBNK checkmate https://youtu.be/oRK7XLhGz_c

The following link will allow you to practice against the lichess engine. The method they explain is called Deletang's triangles, from the name of the person that formalized it. https://lichess.org/practice/checkmates/knight--bishop-mate/ByhlXnmM/D23EYigW

Personally I prefer Phillidor's method using the Knight's W route.

At chess.com I use the following link to create a custom position and challenge people to play, that way I use the randomness that humans introduce in the game, it is amazing to see how many players don't know how to deliver checkmate, https://www.chess.com/variants/custom

When perfectioning your endgame technique I found the following link to tablebases online very useful: https://www.shredderchess.com/online/endgame-database.html

For example the following endgame requires 30 moves with perfect play:

Since August 2021 chess.com also provide the tablebase feature, see announcement: https://www.chess.com/news/view/chesscom-announces-new-tablebase-feature

(This is a work in progress)

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Vidya Sagar and Anand

"For me Vidya Sagar , is a place where i go for inspiration. The laughter and the spark in each child's eye speaks of a struggle that has been overcome. A struggle from within and a struggle to exist as an equal in society. The need to be someone and not anyone. For me Vidya Sagar is about each child that wants to conquer and have that little piece of the world. I am very proud to be part of Vidya Sagar. It is an institution that has taught me to be humble. Each child at Vidya Sagar is different, Bright and all that they ask of us is a smile a healing touch and some compassion. Wishing Vidya Sagar and all the people who make it happen all the very best".

 Viswanathan Anand

Taken from: http://www.vidyasagar.co.in/viswanathan-anand.html

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Kasparov on Chess

"Chess helps you to concentrate, improve your logic. It teaches you to play by the rules and take responsibility for your actions, how to problem solve in an uncertain environment."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/8917352/Garry-Kasparov-Putins-just-like-Al-Capone.html