Endgame Study #919

Golembek’s Encyclopedia of Chess defines an Endgame Study as “a composed position where the play shows a forced win or draw in a unique manner.” Golembek writes, “at its highest level the study is an art form where strict canons of originality, variety, harmony and beauty may apply.” The Oxford Companion to Chess by Hooper and Whyld suggests that “study composition reached a high level during the great days of Islamic chess in the 9th and 10th centuries” and “lay almost neglected until the 19th century.”

Studies differ from chess problems in that they are more closely related to positions that could arise over-the-board and the solution does not require a pre-determined number of moves. Compared to positions that could arise in actual play, the study is usually more subtle and every unit should be essential to the solution. As Beasley and Whitworth write in Endgame Magic, “a study has the cultivated intensity of a short story.” The World Chess Federation, FIDE, now recognizes skill in study composing by awarding GM, IM, and FM titles for study composition.

The aim in each position is to achieve a win or a draw, and, unless it is otherwise noted, it is always White to move. ChessCafe.com is pleased to present a weekly endgame study for your enjoyment.

J. Zukertort

Neue Berliner Schachzeitung 1868

White to Play

Many of the featured endgame studies can be found in the fourth edition of Harold van der Heijden’s endgame study database. With 76,132 entries, it is the most comprehensive collection of endgame studies available.

If you are interested in endgame studies, look into the endgame study magazine EG. The complete PDF archives of EG Volumes 1-152 are available online, as is the complete run of British Endgame Study News.

Solution

1.f6 Be5! 2.f7 Bg7 3.Bxa3 Bf8 4.Bc1 Kg7 5.Kg5! Be7+ [5…Kh8 6.Kf6 Bg7+ 7.Ke7 Bf8+ 8.Ke8 Bg7 9.Bf4] 6.Kf5 Bd6 7.Bg5 Bf8 8.Bf4 Be7 9.Be5+ Kh6 10.g7 c1Q 11.g8Q Qf1+ 12.Bf4+ 1-0

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