Solution To Find White's Win

A really great combination.

Solution to White To Play

The position is from James Mason, a very strong English chess player in the late 1800's.

White To Play

White would really like to Queen the a pawn. But it seems the Bishop can always find a way to get on the h1-a8 diagonal to stop this. Can you find the solution?

Find White's Win

Black just played the shocker ..Nd3 threatening to win. You're White, what do you play?

The Donkey Defense

And the donkey has a nasty kick. The title is an inside joke for some of you element players. I won't repeat the after-game comments by the disgruntled player of the White pieces, except to saw he made an "ass" of himself.

Great Endgame

If you look at Fischer's games you'll notice how well he played in Bishop vs. Knight situations. Here's super GM Sergey Karjakin handling the same type of position. Note White has two pawns on light squares, b3 and e4, targets for the Bishop. Also White must defend two invasion points for the Black King, b4 and d4. But it appears White might be able to defend. But Karjakin shows great technique in forcing the win. One way to improve in the endgame is to study closely endgames like this, then set up the position versus a computer and try to do it yourself. You may have to restart a couple of times to get it done. But when you do succeed it's very satisfying. And later, in games of your own, you win positions like this.
Notes by GM Karsten Mueller for Chessbase.com

Slay The Dragon

Once in awhile you come across a new game in the Sicilian Dragon variation that inspires the players of the White side.

A Nice Finishing Touch.

Niobium Playoff Rd 1. A dubious opening choice by Black. Check out milesotoole's winning move. Very pretty.

Good Game By livis

Tellurium Playoff Rd 1. Very interesting.

Solution To White To Play

This is a endgame study composed by V. Sokov, 1940. My comments are based on the notes of IM Igor Khmelnitsky from his modern day classic book "Chess Exam and Training Guide".
The hint in the previous post was the mention of the key square b4 for the Black King. If he can control it then he can make a draw. But White has a solution to break this control.

Another Good Game From LittleWarrior

Bohrium Playoff Rd 1. LittleWarrior took advantage of his opponents confused play.

Solution To White To Play

The problem is that White's King is too far away to help stop the two passed pawns. The Rook can't do it alone. But if you think it's a draw then you are wrong. White does have a win here. But before I give the solution I will show the reasonable moves that don't work. But there are hints in the notes, so if you haven't figured it out yet, keep trying. I'll give the winning line tomorrow.

White to move. What result do you expect? What is White's best move?

Great Game By ben622

Technetium Playoff Rd 1. ben622 was a 200 point rating underdog here. A really fine game.

Playoff Games

Niobium Playoff Rd 1. Five Element teams made the playoffs. I usually don't post losses by our players But this is very interesting and instructive.

Good Win By Krysto

Rubidium Rd 6. Black made some bad choices. Krysto made him see the error of his ways.

Toukon Wins

Selenium Rd 6. A couple of interesting moments. One move 44 Black could have killed White's Bishop. Black then missed a mating net and let White off the hook. Near the end it's a complete draw but White returned the error.