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Mastering Pawn Endgames: 3 Essential Principles You Must Know

Mastering Pawn Endgames: 3 Essential Principles You Must Know

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FM Gertsog
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Dear Chess Friends!

This is FM Viktor Neustroev, and today I would like to share 3 vital principles that can revolutionize your approach to pawn endgames. Mastering these concepts can dramatically increase your confidence and improve your performance at this critical period of the game.

1. Conversion of a Pawn Majority

Creating passed pawns requires effective use of your pawn majority. By successfully advancing your majority, you can provoke an exchange of one or two pawns and distract the enemy king with the pawn left. After that your strategy becomes simple, just invade the enemy camp with your king and capture his pawns on the other side of the board.

2. Pawn Breakthrough

A well-timed pawn breakthrough can significantly change the outcome of a pawn endgame. Understanding when and how to carry out these breakthroughs enables you to construct unstoppable passed pawns, allowing you to win the game which seemed to be a draw.

3. Zugzwang

Zugzwang is an extremely powerful endgame weapon. Maneuvering your opponent into positions where every move makes their position worse might quickly result in victory. Recognizing and creating Zugzwang possibilities is a sign of good endgame technique.

Watch the principles in action

I created a comprehensive video that clearly shows these principles through practical examples. Observing these scenarios will improve your intuitive grasp of pawn endgames.

Applying these strategies consistently will improve your endgame play significantly. Feel free to comment or reach out with questions—I’d love to hear how these principles impact your games!

Best regards,
FM Viktor Neustroev

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FM Gertsog
Viktor Neustroev
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Hi!
My name is Victor Neustroev. I'm a FIDE Master with Elo rating 2305.


Experienced chess coach specializing in tactics and openings. An author of educational chess courses on different learning platforms.

The coach of the champion of Siberia among girls under 9!

Affordable rates! A test lesson is also possible!

I'm 34. I live in Russia, Novosibirsk. I learned to play chess when I was 5. I regularly won prizes at Novosibirsk region Championship and Siberia Chess Championship among juniors. I'm a champion of Novosibirsk City Chess Club at 2002 and a champion of Novosibirsk at 2019.


I got Master's Degree in Economics at Novosibirsk State University and also played for its chess team.


Today I am focusing on teaching chess online and offline. The reason why I do this is because I feel happy when see how my students achieve success.

 

I teach juniors since 2002. Almost all of my students were ranked. Some of them got prizes at Novosibirsk region Championship.
I also work with adults.

 

I will teach you how to find tactical strikes in certain position types and how to classify them. I can help you to improve you calculational ability. I also teach you chess openings and I believe you know how important they are. According to the statistics right-playing of the opening makes from 30 to 60% of your success (the exact number depends on your level).
Please, check my youtube videos to know how I teach and what you will achieve working with me.