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Schematic thinking in the endgame (Capablanca v Ragozin)

Schematic thinking in the endgame (Capablanca v Ragozin)

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RoobieRoo
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In the middle game due to the attacking and defensive possibilities, calculation and variations are paramount as we concern ourselves with looking at and evaluation forcing lines.  In the endgame technique becomes of primary importance and in so called practical endgames schematic thinking becomes paramount with variations playing a secondary role.  The following position was reached in Capablanca v Ragozin, Moscow 1936 with white to play.  Have a think about the position and compare it with Capablanca's own thought process.

How did you get on? Well Capablanca rather than looking at specific variations thought schematically. Here is his own thought process. 'Whites plan is to prevent the advance of the c pawn (after which the b pawn becomes weak) and to control the entire board up to the fifth rank. This is achieved by moving the king to e3, by placing the rook on c3, the knight at d4 and the pawns at b4 and f4.' - Capablanca


My thanks go to Aldo who sent me the book from which this video was taken, Endgame strategy by Mikhail Shereshevsky. To the artists who made the original animation which I have used to liven up what can be an otherwise dry subject.  To Shelly May who provided the encouragement.  To the musicians for the audio and for the open source software community for their untiring devotion to making quality software available to everyone regardless of economic constraints. You are all truly awesome people.


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