Erik asked me to be in charge of and doing the Chess Positions project.
His first task for me is to come up with a pretty good description of 100+ positions, without necessarily coming up with all the exact positions.
Drawing on the many excellent posts on this forum, I am proposing the below table, suitable for pasting into Excel. Numbers such as 3.1 are just for classification and reference; they do not indicate any kind of importance or learning order. Based on your comments and my time, I will edit this post to be more specific. (I tried to have my second post have diagrams and possible continuations, but found the diagrams were often messed up and weird formatting was inserted.)
Please suggest positions and their classification for me to add to this. Positions may be descriptions, inserted diagrams, or FEN codes.
SOME PRINCIPLES
1. Skip the positions that even a weak player could figure out over the board, such as K + Q vs. K.
2. Skip the positions that are very likely to not occur, such as K + B + N vs. K or puzzles.
3. Aim for the most instructive of the most common positions.
4. Avoid a lot of duplication.
5. Include need-to-know positions even if they could be handled by Tactics Trainer, so as to make it more likely that people will see them.
Note: The first number in the second line (i.e., 0) catches errors if I have any FEN without a result; then it would be non-zero. The second number in the second line (e.g., 36) is the number of specific proposed positions. The third number in the second line (e.g., 6) is the number of FENs actually entered. The first goal is for the second number to be 100+. Columns Result?, FEN? and FEN w/o Result may be ignored; they are intermediate columns used to calculate the three numbers above.
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#,Name,Hint,Category,Theme,Goal,FEN,Contributor,Source / Comment,Result?,FEN?,FEN w/o Result
,,,,,63,60,,"""win x in y"" means ""becoming x material ahead within y moves, and is not about to lose material"". E.g., ""win 3 in 10"" when starting a Rook down means winding up with e.g. a Knight ahead. Note that x could be negative. P=1 N=3 B=3 R=5 Q=9 checkmate=999. A stalemate, insufficient material for help-mate, and repetition of position is considered 0 material ahead, regardless of the pieces on the board. A ""move"" is 2 ply; a White move and a Black move (not necessarily in that order).",,,
,,,,,,,,"A simple draw in a pawn ending might be codified as ""win 0 in 10"" meaning White does not lose material within the next 10 moves. A drawn out ending might be ""win -500 in 70"" meaning is it OK for Black to win a lot of material as long as he does not mate you.",,,
,,,,,,,,"""draw"" is a generic placeholder for an incomplete problem. When the specific FEN and solution is determined, ""draw"" would be replaced by a ""win x in y"".",,,
,,,,,,,,"""mate in n"" means White needs to checkmate Black within 10 moves. Faster mates may be possible, in some cases. This would be the same as ""win 500 in n"".",,,
1.1.1,Lonely Rook!,1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bc5 6. Nxe5 Nxe5 7. d4 Bb4 8. dxe5 Nxe4 9. Qd4 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Ba5 11. Ba3 b6,Opening Traps,e4,win 2 in 10,r1bqk2r/2pp1ppp/pp6/b3P3/B2Q4/B1P5/P1P2PPP/R3K2R w KQkq - 0 12,,from 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bc5 6. Nxe5 Nxe5 7. d4 Bb4 8. dxe5 Nxe4 9. Qd4 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Ba5 $2 11. Ba3 b6; http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/variety-of-opening-traps-e4-d4-c4-nf3,1,1,0
1.2,,,Opening Traps,d4,,,,,0,0,0
1.2.1,Defenseless Bishop!,1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. cxd5 exd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bg5 c6 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. e3 h6 ,Opening Traps,d4,win 1 in 5,rnb1k2r/pp3pp1/2pb1q1p/3p4/3P4/2N1P3/PPQ2PPP/R3KBNR w kq - 0 9,,from 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. cxd5 exd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bg5 c6 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. e3 h6 ,1,1,0
1.2.2,Queen-in-a-closet,1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. cxd5 exd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bg5 c6 6. Qc2 Be7 7. e3 O-O 8. Bd3 Nbd7 9. Nf3 Re8 10. O-O h6 11. Bf4 Nh5,Opening Traps,d4,win 1 in 5,r1bqr1k1/pp1nbpp1/2p4p/3p4/3PnB2/2NBPN2/PPQ2PPP/R4RK1 w - - 0 12,,from 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. cxd5 exd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bg5 c6 6. Qc2 Be7 7. e3 O-O 8. Bd3 Nbd7 9. Nf3 Re8 10. O-O h6 11. Bf4 Ne4,1,1,0
2.1.1,When to Queen? When to capture?,How do you find the most favorable ending?,Middlegame,Complex win of material,win 3 in 10,3q4/pp3Pkr/4p1n1/3p4/3P2QP/8/P7/5RK1 w - - 0 1,immortalgamer,from http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/endgame-positions #17,1,1,0
2.1.2,Fork Rook and mate!,"Take advantage of White's vulnerable back rank, while knowing how to cope with your vulnerable back rank",Middlegame,Complex win of material,win 4 in 5,3r2k1/p4ppp/1q6/8/8/2R1P3/P3QPPP/6K1 b - - 0 1,Patzer24,from http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/the-classic-deflection,1,1,0
2.1.3,,See if you can play better than William Napier in his battle against World Champion Emanuel Lasker (with colors reversed).,Middlegame,Complex win of material,win 1 in 20,r3k2r/ppp5/2N5/2b2p2/2b1P1pP/8/PP2nPBP/R1B1R2K w kq - 0 20,DavidForthoffer,E.g. 20. Ne5 Ba6 21. Bg5 Bxf2 22. exf5 Bxe1 23. Rxe1 O-O 24. Nxg4 Kh8 25. Bf3 Rae8 26. Be3 Rxe3 27. Nxe3 Nd4 28. Bg4 Bd3 29. Kg2 Nxf5 30. Nxf5 Bxf5 31. Bxf5 Rxf5 32. Re8+ Kg7 33. Re7+ Kg6 34. Rxc7 *,1,1,0
2.2.1,,,Simpler Tactics,Pin,win 3 in 5,r2qk1r1/2p2pp1/2nbp2p/p4b2/Pp1P4/1Q2PN2/1P1BBPPP/R4RK1 w q - 0 2,costelus,formerly Tactics Trainer problem 41805. Not suitable for TT because of two ways to win.,1,1,0
2.3,,,,,,,,(many) King-side attack with enough preponderance of material on the King-side to win,0,0,0
2.4,,,Middlegame,Dragon-style attack,win 1 in 20,2rq1rk1/3bppbp/p2p1npB/1p5P/4P3/2N2P2/PPPQN1P1/1K1R3R w - - 0 18,DavidForthoffer,"Dragon-style attack, from Dragon Sicilian",1,1,0
,,,Middlegame,Dragon-style attack,win 1 in 20,r2q1rk1/1b1nppbp/p1pp1npB/1p5P/2PPP3/2N2P2/PP1Q2P1/2KR1BNR b - - 0 11,DavidForthoffer,"Dragon-style attack, from Saemisch",1,1,0
2.5,,,,,,,,Attacking base of pawn chain,0,0,0
2.6,,,Middlegame,d4-isolani,win 1 in 25,3r2k1/pp1q1p1p/3r2p1/3p4/1Q1b4/3RP2P/PP3PP1/3R2K1 w - - 0 27,DavidForthoffer,"classic play against the isolani; Korchoi - Karpov, 30th World Championship, Merano, 9th round, 1981, colors reversed.",1,1,0
2.6.1,,,Middlegame,d4-isolani,win 2 in 20,r4r2/pp3pkp/2bq2p1/3pR1N1/8/3Q4/PP3PPP/4R1K1 w - - 0 21,DavidForthoffer,"classic play with the isolani, Klaus Darga - Alberic O'Kelly de Galway, Madric, 1957",1,1,0
2.7,,,,,,,,"Queens Gambit Declined, Exchange Variation, classic play against c6; goal is to win a pawn",0,0,0
2.8,Invade and conquer!,Exploit Black's weak Queen side,Middlegame,Sieze the open file,win 1 in 10,1n1q1rk1/Nb2ppbp/pp4p1/3p4/3Pn3/BP1BPN2/P3QPPP/2R3K1 w - - 0 1,Patzer24,seize the open file; from http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/seize-the-file--penetrate,1,1,0
3,,,,,,,,MATING COMBINATIONS,0,0,0
3.1,,,,,,,,h7 sac,0,0,0
3.1.1,Nowhere to run!,Greek Gift,Mating Combinations,h7 sac,win 5 in 15,r1bq1rk1/pp1n1ppp/2n1p3/3pP3/3P4/P1PB1N2/5PPP/R1BQ1RK1 w - - 0 1,kurtgodden,Bxh7+ Ng5+ Kg8 Qh5 Black Rook cannot move out of way; from http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/greek-gift #5,1,1,0
3.1.2,,,,,,,,Bxh7+ Ng5+ Kg6 Qg4,0,0,0
3.1.3,,,Mating Combinations,h7 sac,win 3 in 20,r1bq1rk1/pp1nbppp/2n1p3/3pP3/3P3P/P1PB1N2/5PP1/RNBQK2R w KQ - 0 1,DavidForthoffer,"E.g., 1. Bxh7+ Kxh7 (1... Kh8 2. Ng5 g6 3. Nxe6 Qb6 4. Qd2 Nxd4 5. cxd4 Qxe6 6. Qh6 Nf6 7. Bxg6+ Kg8 8. h5 Re8 9. Bg5 Bf8 10. Bxf7+ Qxf7 11. Qxf6) 2. Ng5+ Kg6 (2... Bxg5 3. hxg5+ Kg8 4. Qh5 f6 5. g6 Re8 6. Qh8#) 3. Qd3+ f5 4. exf6+ Kxf6 5. Qf3+ Kg6 6. h5+ Kh6 7. Qd3",1,1,0
3.1.4,Death by torture!,"Instead of instantly mating or winning material, the classic sac can initiate a fierce attack that will eventually win material",Mating Combinations,h7 sac,win 3 in 20,rnb1r1k1/1p2qppp/pn6/3pP3/3P4/3B1N2/1P1B1PPP/2RQ1RK1 w - - 0 1,DavidForthoffer,Bxh7+ RxB(c8) to prevent Bf5 defense,1,1,0
3.1.5,,,Mating Combinations,h7 sac,win 2 in 20,r4rk1/1pqb1ppp/pbn1p3/3pP3/2nP4/2PB1N2/PP3PPP/R1BQ1RK1 w - - 0 1,DavidForthoffer,"E.g., 1. Bxh7+ Kxh7 2. Ng5+ Kg8 3. Qh5 Rfe8 4. Qxf7+ Kh8 5. Qh5+ Kg8 6. f4 Nxd4 7. cxd4 Ba5 8. Qh7+ Kf8 9. f5 exf5 10. e6 Bxe6 11. Nxe6+ Rxe6 12. Rxf5+ Rf6 13. Rxf6+ gxf6 14. Bh6+ Ke8 15. Qg8+ Kd7 16. Qxa8 Nxb2 *",1,1,0
3.2,,,Mating Combinations,mate,mate in 40,3r1r1k/6pp/q2N4/pp1Q4/2p5/2P5/PP4PP/2R3K1 w - - 0 1,DavidForthoffer,smothered Knight attack,1,1,0
3.3,Punish Black's greed,"This is from the Caro-Kann, with colors reversed. ""White"" pays the price of losing control of ""d4"" and its diagonal.",Mating Combinations,Unleashing the Rook,mate in 10,r1b2r1k/pp4pp/3q1n2/5p1P/3npN2/1QN1P3/PP3PP1/2R1KB1R w K - 0 20,DavidForthoffer,h-file discovered attack in closed Caro-Kann: http://www.chess.com/livechess/game.html?id=11679233,1,1,0
4.1.1,Keep his King out!,This classic maneuver is useful in many endings.,Pawn Endings,Opposition,win 0 in 6,8/8/8/8/4k3/1p5p/1P1K3P/8 w - - 0 1,ilovegambits,opposition,1,1,0
4.1.2,"Opposition, Shmopposition!",You don't need the Opposition if you can elbow him out of the way!,Pawn Endings,Flanking,win 10 in 20,8/8/4k3/5p2/3K1Pp1/6P1/8/8 w - - 0 0,DavidForthoffer,"P vs. P, flanking",1,1,0
4.1.3,,,,,draw,,,blockade and draw down material (Ozzie game?),1,0,0
4.1.4,Lure the King away,Sacrifice a pawn so you can later capture all of Black's pawns.,Pawn Endings,Outside passed pawn,win 9 in 20,8/8/p3k3/Pp2p3/1P2K3/6P1/8/8 w - - 0 1,DavidForthoffer,"even material, outside passed pawn",1,1,0
4.1.5,Sieze the square at the right time,Lose your pawn in a way you can successfully oppose Black,Pawn Endings,Sac to gain opposition,win -1 in 15,8/8/8/1k3p2/5P2/5K2/8/8 w - - 0 0,DavidForthoffer,"P vs. P, drawing by gaining opposition after losing pawn",1,1,0
4.1.6,,,Pawn Endings,King versus Rook-Pawn,win -1 in 10,8/p7/4k3/8/6K1/8/8/8 w - - 0 4,DavidForthoffer,"K + rook-P vs. K, drawing by reaching e.g. c8",1,1,0
4.1.7,Run!,Sometimes your pawn can Queen without any help from your King.,Pawn Endings,Pawn racing King,win 9 in 15,8/8/6p1/6P1/2K1k2P/8/8/8 w - - 0 0,,Break-through pawn wins race against King,1,1,0
4.1.8,No room for Black to dance!,"Although Black can seize the opposition after you win his pawn, you can still win when his pawn is captured on the 6th.",Pawn Endings,Pawn on 6th,win 9 in 10,8/2k5/1p6/1P1K4/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 0,camembert,"P vs. P, capturing pawn on 6th. Variation of http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/endgame-positions #16 KP v. K",1,1,0
4.2.1,,,Knight Endings,Knight vs. 3 pawns,draw,,,3xP+Ps vs. N+Ps,1,0,0
4.2.2,,,Knight Endings,pseudo-pawn ending,win,8/8/p2n4/Pp1k4/1P1p4/3K4/3N3P/8 w - - 0 0,DavidForthoffer,"even material, outside passed pawn",1,1,0
4.3.1,The Church wins!,Herd the Black King into a corner.,Bishop Endings,Pure mate,mate in 30,7K/3B4/8/8/8/3k4/3B4/8 w - - 0 1,camembert,K + B + B vs. K; http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/endgame-positions #15,1,1,0
4.3.2,Hide in the corner,"Give Black a rook-pawn, then stay in the corner.",Bishop Endings,Rook pawn and wrong Bishop,win -4 in 15,8/4b3/6p1/6P1/7P/5k2/8/5K2 w - - 0 1,,Draw by forcing wrong B + P vs. K; from camembert at http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/endgame-positions,1,1,0
4.3.3,,,Bishop Endings,Rook pawn and wrong Bishop,win -5 in 20,1bk5/8/8/1p1K3p/7P/8/8/8 w - - 0 6,DavidForthoffer,,1,1,0
4.4.1,Rook conquers King,Herd the Black King into a corner.,Rook Endings,Pure mate,mate in 25,7R/8/8/3k4/8/8/8/K7 w - - 0 1,camembert,Rook vs. King; http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/endgame-positions #15,1,1,0
4.4.2,,,Rook Endings,Lucena position,win 5 in 10,4k1K1/6P1/8/8/8/8/5R2/7r w - - 0 1,JG27Pyth,Lucena position (winning by building a bridge),1,1,0
4.4.3,Counterattack!,,Rook Endings,Philidor position,win -4 in 15,8/8/8/8/4pk2/R7/7r/4K3 w - - 0 1,JG27Pyth,Philidor position (drawing by checking from long side); from http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/philidor-position-rook-ending,1,1,0
4.4.4,,,Rook Endings,Bishop- and Rook-pawn,win -2 in 40,1R6/7p/5pk1/8/8/6K1/r7/8 b - - 0 5,DavidForthoffer,"R vs. a-Pawn + c-Pawn + R, from http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PDJoseph/masteryinchess.htm",1,1,0
4.4.5,,,Rook Endings,Rook vs. 2 pawns,win -5 in 20,8/8/8/3P4/2P1K3/8/3k4/r7 w - - 0 5,DavidForthoffer,"R vs. 2xP; variation from analysis of chess.com game, Karpovian vs. DavidForthoffer",1,1,0
4.5.1,,,Queen Endings,Queen vs. Rook-Pawn on 6th,win 9 in 10,6QK/8/8/8/8/p7/1k6/8 w - - 0 1,DavidForthoffer,White wins by preventing Black's pawn from reaching the 7th,1,1,0
4.5.2,,,Queen Endings,Queen vs. Rook-Pawn on 7th,win 9 in 15,Q7/8/8/5K2/8/8/p7/k7 w - - 0 0,DavidForthoffer,White's King is just barely close enough to deliver mate on f7 after Black Queens,1,1,0
4.5.3,,,Queen Endings,Queen vs. Rook-Pawn on 7th,win -8 in 10,8/5K1P/8/8/2k5/8/8/7q w - - 0 1,DavidForthoffer,Black's King is too far away for his Queen to deliver mate on f7 after we Queen,1,1,0
4.5.4,,,Queen Endings,Queen vs. Bishop-Pawn on 7th,win 9 in 10,8/8/8/8/6K1/8/2p4Q/2k5 w - - 0 2,DavidForthoffer,Our King is just barely close enough to deliver mate on e2 after Black Queens,1,1,0
4.5.5,,,Queen Endings,Queen vs. Bishop-Pawn on 7th,win -8 in 10,5K2/q4P2/8/1k6/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 2,DavidForthoffer,Black's King is too far away to deliver mate on e2 after we Queen,1,1,0
4.5.6,,,Queen Endings,Queen and a5-pawn vs. Queen,win 9 in 30,8/5QK1/2k5/7P/8/8/4q3/8 w - - 0 6,DavidForthoffer,verified by tablebase,1,1,0
4.5.7,,,Queen Endings,Queen vs. Queen and a4-pawn,win -1 in 20,8/4Q3/8/8/7p/2K5/5qk1/8 w - - 0 6,DavidForthoffer,verified by tablebase,1,1,0
4.5.8a,,,Queen Endings,Queen and g7-pawn vs. Queen,mate in 50,8/6PK/8/5Q2/1k6/8/7q/8 w - - 0 6,DavidForthoffer,http://www.horizonchess.com/FAQ/Winboard/egtb.html#%5BA.5%5D,1,1,0
4.5.8b,,,Queen Endings,Queen vs. Queen and g2-pawn,win -1 in 30,8/4Q3/8/8/7p/2K5/5qk1/8 w - - 0 1,DavidForthoffer,verified by tablebase,1,1,0
4.5.9a,,,Queen Endings,Queen and f7-pawn vs. Queen,win 9 in 30,5K2/4QP2/8/8/8/8/q7/6k1 w - - 0 1,DavidForthoffer,verified by tablebase,1,1,0
4.5.9b,,,Queen Endings,Queen vs. Queen and f2-pawn,win -1 in 30,6K1/Q7/8/8/8/8/4qpk1/8 w - - 0 1,DavidForthoffer,verified by tablebase,1,1,0
4.5.10,,,Queen Endings,Queen and d7-pawn vs. Queen,win 9 in 50,3K4/Q2P4/8/8/8/8/4q1k1/8 w - - 0 1,DavidForthoffer,verified by tablebase,1,1,0
4.5.11a,,,Queen Endings,Queen and d6-pawn vs. Queen,win 9 in 50,8/Q2K4/3P4/8/5q2/8/7k/8 w - - 0 1,DavidForthoffer,verified by tablebase,1,1,0
4.5.11b,,,Queen Endings,Queen vs. Queen and d6-pawn,win -1 in 30,8/7K/8/5Q2/8/3p4/3k4/1q6 w - - 0 1,DavidForthoffer,verified by tablebase,1,1,0
4.5.12,,,Queen Endings,Qeen & P vs. Queen & pawns,win,8/8/p4PK1/3p1Q2/1kp5/8/3q4/8 w - - 0 1,DavidForthoffer,"Q + advanced P vs. Q + several not-advanced Pawns, winning",1,1,0
4.6.1,,,Miscellaneous Endings,Queen vs. Rook,win 9 in 20,8/8/8/5r2/5k2/8/8/6KQ w - - 0 1,DavidForthoffer,Q vs. R,1,1,0
4.6.2a,,,Miscellaneous Endings,Knight vs. Rook,win -2 in 40,8/8/5r2/8/8/3N2k1/8/6K1 w - - 0 3,DavidForthoffer,"N vs. R, drawing (verified by tablebase)",1,1,0
4.6.2b,,,Miscellaneous Endings,Rook vs. Knight,mate in 40,6k1/8/3n2K1/8/5R2/8/8/8 w - - 0 2,DavidForthoffer,"R vs. N, winning (verified by tablebase as mate in 25)",1,1,0
4.6.3a,,,Miscellaneous Endings,Rook vs. Bishop,mate in 40,5k2/8/6K1/8/8/R7/7b/8 w - - 0 3,DavidForthoffer,"R vs. B, winning (verified by tablebase as mate in 26)",1,1,0
4.6.3b,,,Miscellaneous Endings,Bishop vs. Rook,win -2 in 40,8/8/r5B1/8/8/6k1/8/5K2 w - - 0 4,DavidForthoffer,"B vs. R, drawing (verified by tablebase)",1,1,0
4.6.13,,,Miscellaneous Endings,Rook and Pawn vs. Queen,win -4 in 40,1q6/8/3k4/8/R7/1P6/1K6/8 w - - 0 4,DavidForthoffer,tablebase confirms the draw,1,1,0
4.6.5,,,Miscellaneous Endings,Queen vs. Rook and Pawn,win 4 in 60,8/1k6/1p6/r7/8/3K4/2Q5/8 w - - 0 4,DavidForthoffer,tablebase confirms winning the pawn in 45 moves,1,1,0
4.6.7,,,Miscellaneous Endings,"Queen & Ps vs. R, N, P",win -1 in 20,8/6q1/8/4k3/4p3/3p3R/5NP1/5K2 w - - 0 1,DavidForthoffer,R + N + P vs. Q + Ps (by sacrificing N to reach drawn Q + P vs. R + P draw),1,1,0
4.6.8,Keep his King away!,"This is the conclusion of an epic struggle between the aging World Champion Emanuel Lasker and his namesake, Edward Lasker. Edward calculated a win for Black after White captured his pawn, but the wily old fox found the draw.",Miscellaneous Endings,Knight vs. Rook and Pawn,win -3 in 25,8/3r4/6P1/2k5/4KP2/1p6/1N6/8 b - - 0 82,DavidForthoffer,"[Event ""New York""] [Site ""New York""] [Date ""1924.??.??""] [Round ""?""] [White ""Lasker, Emanuel""] [Black ""Lasker, Edward""] [Result ""1/2-1/2""] [ECO ""C99""] [PlyCount ""206""] [EventDate ""1924.??.??""] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 cxd4 13. cxd4 Bd7 14. Nf1 Rfc8 15. Re2 Nh5 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Nxe5 Bxh3 18. Nxf7 Be6 19. Ng5 Bc4 20. Bd3 Rd8 21. Rc2 Nf4 22. Bxf4 Qxf4 23. Nh3 Qe5 24. Bxc4+ Nxc4 25. Qe2 Rd4 26. f3 Rad8 27. Rac1 Bc5 28. Kh1 Bb4 29. b3 Nd2 30. Ne3 Ba3 31. Rd1 Bb4 32. a3 Ba5 33. b4 Bc7 34. f4 Nxe4 35. Kh2 Rxd1 36. Nxd1 Qe7 37. Rxc7 Qxc7 38. Qxe4 Qc4 39. Qe7 Qc8 40. Ndf2 h6 41. Qa7 Qe6 42. Qb7 Qd5 43. Qb6 Rd6 44. Qe3 Re6 45. Qc3 Qc4 46. Qf3 Qc6 47. Qd3 Rd6 48. Qb3+ Qd5 49. Qb1 Re6 50. Ng4 Re2 51. Nxh6+ gxh6 52. Qg6+ Kf8 53. Qxh6+ Ke8 54. Qg6+ Kd8 55. Qg3 Re8 56. Qf2 Rg8 57. Qb2 Qd6 58. Qc3 Kd7 59. Qf3 Kc7 60. Qe4 Rg7 61. Qf5 Re7 62. Ng5 Re3 63. Ne4 Qe7 64. Nf6 Kb8 65. g3 Rxa3 66. Kh3 Ra1 67. Nd5 Rh1+ 68. Kg2 Qh7 69. Qxh7 Rxh7 70. Kf3 Kb7 71. g4 Kc6 72. Ke4 Rh8 73. Ne3 Re8+ 74. Kd4 Rd8+ 75. Ke4 a5 76. bxa5 b4 77. a6 Kc5 78. a7 b3 79. Nd1 Ra8 80. g5 Rxa7 81. g6 Rd7 82. Nb2 {White to play and draw.} Rd2 83. Kf3 Rd8 84. Ke4 Rd2 85. Kf3 Rd8 86. Ke4 Kd6 87. Kd4 Rc8 88. g7 Ke6 89. g8=Q+ Rxg8 90. Kc4 Rg3 91. Na4 Kf5 92. Kb4 Kxf4 93. Nb2 Ke4 94. Na4 Kd4 95. Nb2 Rf3 96. Na4 Re3 97. Nb2 Ke4 98. Na4 Kf3 99. Ka3 Ke4 100. Kb4 Kd4 101. Nb2 Rh3 102. Na4 Kd3 103. Kxb3 Kd4+ 1/2-1/2",1,1,0
4.6.9,,,Miscellaneous Endings,Good Knight vs. Bad Bishop,win 3 in 25,3b4/8/1p6/1PpNk1p1/2P3P1/4PK2/8/8 w - - 0 1,,Good Knight vs. Bad Bishop: http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/chess-positions,1,1,0
4.6.10,,,,,draw,,,stalemate techniques,1,0,0
4.6.11,,,Miscellaneous Endings,Rook + Knight vs. Rook,mate in 20,k7/7R/K7/2N5/8/8/8/1r6 w - - 0 1,,R + N vs. R; http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/endgame-positions #13 (Nunn),1,1,0
4.7,,,,,,,,Exchanging down to won endings,,,
Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess_endgame
(particularly valuable to understand frequency of different kinds of endings;
for example, B + N vs. King occurs in only 2 per 10,000 master games.
Edit History:
2008-11-27: Added diagram for defending K + N + pawns vs. K + R + pawns
2008-11-27: Added K + R vs. K
2008-11-27: Added K + B + B vs. K
2008-12-03: Added Principle # 5.
2008-12-03: Added position 3.3.
2008-12-03: Added position 4.6.9. Numbered 4.6.x.
2008-12-03, 0245: Numbered 4.1.x.
2008-12-03, 0256: Added position 4.1.1 (from http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/endgame-positions)
2008-12-03, 0304: Reinserted diagram for 4.6.8, plus added PGN (in case diagrams get messed up, like this one did).
2008-12-03, 0315: Added position 4.1.7 (diagram + PGN)
2008-12-03, 0322: Noticed that the added diagram played out variation instead of main line; re-added diagram 4.1.7.
2008-12-03, 0329: Noticed that the new diagram remained a "place-holder". Giving up on working diagrams; will just use PGN text.
2008-12-03, 0340: Noticed that even adding PGN text winds up with strange results. Will maintain PDF file off-line.
2008-12-03, 0447: Replaced body with .cvs file (from my local .xls formatted spreadsheet). Gutting my second post.
2008-12-03, 0544: Added FEN for 4.1.4, 4.1.5, 4.3.2, 4.6.11, 4.1.8, 2.1.1, 3.1.1.
2008-12-13, 0622: Added FEN for 4.4.3, 2.1.2, 1.1.1, 1.2.1, 1.2.2
2008-12-04, 0930: Reformatted spreadsheet per erik's request. Removed duplicate position, leaving 22 of 100 done. (3 hours)
2008-12-05, 0937: Added column for Contributor. Added more positions, 30 of 100 done. Need to average 5.4 positions per day to complete by December 18. (1 hour)
2008-12-06, 0830: Added category 2.2, 'Simpler Tactics', for refugees from Tactics Trainer that have turned out to have multiple solutions. Added 2.2.1, 4.5.4, 4.5.5, and Q+P vs. Q endings (verified by tablebase). Need to average 4.8 positions per day to complete by December 18. (2 hours)
2008-12-07, 1030: Added 4.1.6, 4.6.1, 4.6.2a, 4.6.2b, 4.6.12, 4.6.13. Removed 4.6.4 as being impractical. 50 of 100 done. Need to average 4.5 positions per day to complete by December 18. (1 hour)
2008-12-11, 0930: Added several more positions, especially middlegame. 60 of 100 done. Need to average 5.7 positions per day to complete by 12/18. (3 hours)
(Logically deleted for reasons explained above. Not actually deleted in case I need to rejuvenate it.)
Do we need fen codes?
Erik will need FEN codes. This thread is to cooperatively flesh out the list of positions. After we do that, I'll make sure Erik gets the FEN codes.
I welcome you all to post suggested positions and classifications, which I'll add to the second post above.
while rare, these might be useful to include.
underpromoting a pawn to mate, (knight)
underpromoting a pawn to avoid drawn (stalemated) position.
a thought: While very rare as an ending of itself, learning and understanding King/Knight/Bishop vs king will give insights to manipulating the board properly to put away an opponent's king - say in middlegame, using knight and bishop in tandem with some other material. Useful technique in chasing down a king once you roust him from behind his pawn.
Beginners need to learn king plus bishop plus bishop (opp color) vs king as well.
i know you think K+R v. K is too easy, but that kind of stuff needs to be included. this is for ALL levels of play - from total beginner on up :)
don't forget double hanging pawns (Moving them weakens them)
Ret: Can you propose a practical position for each of your two underpromotion techniques?. Also, I am reserving judgement on K + B + N vs. K.
erik: I've added K + R vs. K and K + B + B vs. K.
Webgogs: Can you propose a practical position for double hanging pawns? Maybe NOT
Hmm... I wonder why my diagram did not come out. Here is the PGN:
[Event "Moscow game"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1914.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bernstein, Ossip"]
[Black "Capablanca, Jose Raul"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D63"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1914.??.??"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[FEN "r2r2k1/p4ppp/1q3n2/3p4/1bpN4/2N1P3/PP2QPPP/2RR2K1 w - - 0 18"]
18. b3 Rac8 19. bxc4 dxc4 20. Rc2 Bxc3
21. Rxc3 Nd5 22. Rc2 c3 23. Rdc1 Rc5 24. Nb3 Rc6 25. Nd4 Rc7 26. Nb5 Rc5 27.
Nxc3 Nxc3 28. Rxc3 Rxc3 29. Rxc3 Qb2 0-1
David,
the 'underpromotion' to a knight is a piece of cake. here you are. right out of our VERY OWN TACTICS TRAINER.... Came across this a couple weeks ago.
pick off all the details (FEN, moves) you need there. easier to see it work too...
http://www.chess.com/tactics/server.html?id=38098
the other one, I recall seeing in at least two chess puzzles books, will have to search harder for that one - but remember something about pawn on rook file, and king in predicament such that if the pawn on the bishop file becomes a queen, the king is stalemated.... but if it becomes a rook instead, then he can win over the pawn. anyone reading this and finding it, please feel free to post for us all... thanks.
erik: Can the mechanism be set up so the criterion for solving the position is "Win a pawn"?
I believe I have incorporated all applicable (basic) positions from this forum except some opening traps in http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/variety-of-opening-traps-e4-d4-c4-nf3
I will be leaving town Monday, December 22, for about four weeks.
I'll aim to complete all 100 starting positions a few days before that.
So far, we have 23 ready-to-go positions (with FENs) plus 26 described positions.
awesome - i can't wait for these! the format should be:
Let me know if you have any questions!
I assume those fields get fed into the system. I'll still include the position number, which will be an easy way for us to find and reference positions within the table.
The goal "defend attack" seems a little ambiguous from a computer perspective. Should we have something like "avoid checkmate for 30 moves" instead?
Could we have goals such as "win a pawn", or "do not lose material within 10 moves"?
sure, i'm open to having more interesting goals :)
OK, I updated the spreadsheet with the new columns, though my brain was getting a bit fuzzy on appropriate Position Names and Descriptions.
For Descriptions, should we give clues to the solution?
As for goals, it seems that all the goals may be codified as "win x in y", where that means: "becoming x material ahead within y moves, and is not about to lose material". E.g., "win 3 in 10" when starting a Rook down means winding up with e.g. a Knight ahead. Note that x could be negative. P=1 N=3 B=3 R=5 Q=9 checkmate=999. A stalemate, insufficient material for help-mate, and repetition of position is considered 0 material ahead, regardless of the pieces on the board. A "move" is 2 ply; a White move and a Black move (not necessarily in that order).
I realize "is not about to lose material" is not precise. Maybe that could be simplified at a slight cost to the player to something like, "White has not been in check or lost any material for the past 8 moves". That would clarify that where White is up material but Black has threats against material that induces White to repeat the position 3 times.
If you'd like to contribute, such as with opening traps, King-side attacks, or complex piece play winning material, as a minimum please supply an FEN or diagram, and the goal.
Feel free to describe the goal in English, and I'll find an appropriate "win x in y" form. The goal might be "force Black to give up material to avoid mate".
cool! i'm excited to see this come together.
Can you post the full endgame after the underpromotion.
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