Endgames that even Super GMs mess up!
I recently posted a blog about 3 rook endgames that every club player should know. Here is that blog:
http://www.chess.com/blog/CraiggoryC/rook-endings-that-every-tournament-player-should-know
I related how my friend and chess teacher told me that my endgame knowledge was clearly lacking. Imagine my surprise when two very strong GMs misplayed one of the endgames (the Vancura defense) in the Gibraltar tournament currently going on!
Please click the "?" when done with the puzzle to see the rest of the analysis of the above diagram.
Also play around on http://www.shredderchess.com/online-chess/online-databases/endgame-database.html to get used to how to defend this endgame
The actual game did not go as smoothly; although it did finally end in a draw. Here it is from the diagrammed position above:
How could Black have won? Take a crack at the next puzzle!
Luckily for Nakamura, he's having the tournament of a lifetime and hasn't his highest live rating ever after his win today! So congrats Naka for an amazing tournament, and thanks for showing us "lower level" players that it's not only us that can misplay these tough endgames!
