Are there any online programs where one can create a scenario to solve against a computer? For example: I wish to strengthen my endgame specifically when it involves lines of two or three opposing pawns each but I don't want to use a game as practice. Of course, I could just set that up on a regular chess board but I'm not going to make the challenging moves against myself that a stronger opponent would. I want to learn what the logical, optimal moves would be. Perhaps what I'm looking for is in a book? I'd be happy with that, as well.

Any ideas?

Thanks and Seasons Greetings to all.

If you have a chess engine, they will usually let you start with any position you wish. You can then play against the engine at maximum strength and see what you can do. This is definately possible with Fritz, and one of the earlier versions of this is available for download on this site: Click Here

Thank you for your swift response. Unfortunately, the download wouldn't work on my Apple computer. Nonetheless, that gives me a road to travel and I'll look around for something similar that is compatible to my Mac.

Perhaps this would be for you- Sigma Chess. I havent tried it, due to the fact I dont have a Mac, and I dont know if it allows you to start from any position, but give it a go!

Well, bless you, Nytik... I was able to download and promptly able to create my own problems (that's what my wife says I do all the time) and get to the task of learning how to deal with them. You have given me an early Christmas present and I am grateful to you for your advice. 

For others with Macs this is the way to go unless there's something better out there... and it was free! 

I'd just like to go on record as saying this is a great way to train. I have an older Palm loaded with a program called Chess Tiger, which is fairly strong, and a whole set of endgame positions I drill with over and over again. I have a couple of K+P v K problems, a couple K+3P v K+2P, some other random ones, and about ten K+R+P v K+R. I think this has been very helpful, particularly in my blitz play.

The most fun/obnoxious of these is a P v P study from Fine's Basic Chess Endgames (#11). The interesting thing is that after 5 a8=Q, it's clear that black can't play 5...f1=Q because he'll lose it right away to 6 Qa6+ followed by 7 Qxf1. So anyway, I plug this into my Palm and play it over and the computer has the gall to play 5...f1=N+! This gives black the necessary time to move his promoted piece, and makes me have to mate him with K+Q v K+N...and while this mate is not terribly difficult, it would certainly be easier if black just resigned on move 5.

DimKnight, the reason being that computers always look for the way they can hold you off the longest, and when that knights around your job does become a little harder! Also, anything else loses the promoted piece so the computer sees a better drawing chance this way.

Sigma Chess is definitely the best program out there for MAC. It is especially useful if you pay the extra bit for the Hiarcs Chess Engine, which makes it considerably stronger.

Also, software that is good for MAC is the "Think Like a King" series, which has a good interactive interface with a series of problems that are probably like what you are looking for.

For an endgame book, I would look at Jeremy Silman's "Complete Endgame Course." I love the way it is organized by playing level, giving you just enough info about the various openings you need to know as you move up in your ratings quest.

Good luck.