Endgames, Boy I Don't Know

Shout out to West Wing for anyone who gets the reference.

If there is one thing that I have learned this year it's that endgames truly are difference makers.  In January a friend of mine told me that if I just studied rook endings I'd add 200 points to my rating. 

At the time I shrugged that off thinking that I don't reach enough endings to really make that much of a rating difference.  After all, my games tend to have a wild flavor to them at times and rarely do I seem to make it to an endgame which is either equal or only slightly better for one side or the other.

Go figure that after I so arrogantly thought that to be the truth that I have noticed just how often I get into endgames where technique really matters.

I can think of four games in the last few months off the top of my head where endgames factored in a big way.

Mariano-Wainscott 48th Northeastern Open January 2013

In this game my opponent and I adjourned in a rook ending that was won for me.  However, I sealed a drawing move rather than the winning move.  Luckily for me my opponent blundered and I still won.

I will post this game later.

Wainscott-Cooper Waukesha Memorial March 2013

In this game I missed a draw against a master.  Had I played 47. Rxc6 I can draw the game.

See this game here.

Wainscott-Corcoran Waukesha Chess Club Championship April 2013

In this game my opponent blunders terribly with 28...b6, giving me an easy win in a king and pawn endgame.

See this game here.

And then just this past Thursday I had a club game where I was in an equal bishop and pawn ending and threw away any winning chances by locking up the kingside in a position where I couldn't break through on the queenside.  The game was likely to be a draw, but I didn't do myself any favors by removing all of my chances through inaccurate play.

Here is that game:

See more of my games and information at http://ontheroadtochessmaster.blogspot.com/