As I sat down to build this week’s token challenge and what everyone did (or did not) complete last week.
No one tried the “learning mode’ with the chess tactics. So, let’s try this again. I will sweeten the tokens for this challenge. I will award one pawn for every 5 correct puzzles up to a maximum of 25 puzzles for 5 tokens. (Why 25? That is all Chess.com will show me for your unrated puzzles). So, here again, is how you use training mode. We are selecting Pawn Endgames.
How's your dressage? You have some advantage here, but the point is to practice playing knight endgames against the computer. It's going to try plenty of tricks so play strong sound chess, activating your king and your knight, and be especially careful about knight forks.
Have you heard that knight endgames are essentially pawn endgames? Seems silly, right?! However, if a pawn endgame is winning, adding knights should not change the evaluation. Practically though it is much harder to win knight endgames. The ponies are tricky and create many forks. Be wary and you will reap the win.
Do you know the biggest difference between knight and pawn endgames? When only a few pawns remain, you can sac the knight for the last pawns and draw. Careful attention to that resource should secure the draw here.
*Gasp* You are smothering Black here! Winning with a space advantage is a matter of patience. Don't rush, but use your bind to pressure Black on both sides of the board. In a cramped position, your opponent will be unable to defend both wings.
Make the most of your overpowered queenside! A queenside majority often provides a good plus since it is easier to create a passed pawn, and the passed pawn can be dangerous on the far side of the board.
Blech! It stinks to play a worse position, but this position can definitely be held. Your knight can't improve right away so address your king first. Your kingside pawns won't mobilize as easily as Black's queenside pawns, but don't forget about them.
Do you know the winning strategy with same-color bishops? Look to keep your pawns on the opposite color of your opponent's bishop and lock Black's pawns on the same color as the bishops. Avoid too many pawn trades, and don't allow your opponent to sacrifice the bishop for your last pawns!
We could have a long conversation about this position (I'm sure you are a scintillating conversationalist!), but I just want to say one thing: king activity.
It's a dark-square duel between the bishops! The queenside majority is a nice advantage. Create a passed pawn and you will be doing well. Don't forget to activate your king in the process.
This time it's a light-square duel between the same-color bishops! In this case, you have to defend against the potent queenside majority. Get your pieces to the scene of the action before things become dangerous and, in the right moment, look to use your own kingside pawn majority.
Mastering the bishop pair will bring you many points in your chess career. White can press for a long time. Make confident, patient progress knowing that as the game progresses, your bishops should only get stronger. Avoid the exchange of either bishop unless you get something concrete in return. The bishops are stronger together!
Can you draw two pawns down? What about three?! You must first recognize and choose the only correct drawing move order for White. Then practice holding this tough endgame while down several pawns.
Have you mastered opposite-color bishops? If not, you are leaving many half-points on the table! An endgame where each side has only one bishop left, and they are moving on opposite-colored squares, often means a draw even if one player has an extra pawn. Here, you will need to stop Black's dangerous a-pawn with your bishop at first, but then follow the normal strategy for these kinds of positions: blockade the most dangerous pawn with your king and use your bishop to defend your own pawns. If you...
Draw this and show that you have truly MASTERED opposite-color bishops. Position your kingside pawns correctly to get the best exchanges as Black advances. Be wary of a timely a5-pawn sacrifice to distract your bishop.
Not all opposite-color bishop endgames are drawn! You already have an extra passed pawn on the queenside, but you need one on the kingside too. Create it, and Black must slowly succumb, unable to defend both wings.
Copy and paste all successfully completed drills on the Pawn Stormer Forum for the Chess Token Challenge Week #11 (2019-2020)
Take care,
Jim
P.S. Dan will be leading the advanced study group next week while Arshaq is preparing for finals. I will lead the lessons for the main group during this time.
Hi Pawn Stormer Families,
As I sat down to build this week’s token challenge and what everyone did (or did not) complete last week.
No one tried the “learning mode’ with the chess tactics. So, let’s try this again. I will sweeten the tokens for this challenge. I will award one pawn for every 5 correct puzzles up to a maximum of 25 puzzles for 5 tokens. (Why 25? That is all Chess.com will show me for your unrated puzzles). So, here again, is how you use training mode. We are selecting Pawn Endgames.
Endgame Tactics: https://www.chess.com/puzzles/learning
So, I am only going to count tactics that you do, which are endgames. Here is how you set your tactics trainer to practice endgames.
Puzzles e.g. Rated Tactics (1 pawn for every 20 correct).
This is the tactics trainer, straight up, in “training” mode. The same challenge we have done since our first week.
Endgame Drills: https://www.chess.com/drills/endgame-practice
I would like those who did not complete the King & Pawn endgame drills from last week’s challenge to first do those. Here is a link to the list: https://www.chess.com/clubs/forum/view/chess-token-challenge-week-10-alternative-2019-2020
Copy and paste all successfully completed drills on the Pawn Stormer Forum for the Chess Token Challenge Week #11 (2019-2020)
Instructions are posted in this google doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1w_aCQ2Az0ttsagzSFOBpLRSvghcAxvQlzN0p4KislE0/edit?usp=sharing
After completing at least six King & Pawn endgame drills, you may move on to endgame drills with Knights and Bishops.
Minor Piece Endgame Drills
https://www.chess.com/clubs/forum/view/minor-piece-endgame-drills
Knight Endgame: Symmetrical Pawns
How's your dressage? You have some advantage here, but the point is to practice playing knight endgames against the computer. It's going to try plenty of tricks so play strong sound chess, activating your king and your knight, and be especially careful about knight forks.
Knight Endgame: An Extra Pawn
Have you heard that knight endgames are essentially pawn endgames? Seems silly, right?! However, if a pawn endgame is winning, adding knights should not change the evaluation. Practically though it is much harder to win knight endgames. The ponies are tricky and create many forks. Be wary and you will reap the win.
Knight Endgame: Few Pawns Remain
Do you know the biggest difference between knight and pawn endgames? When only a few pawns remain, you can sac the knight for the last pawns and draw. Careful attention to that resource should secure the draw here.
Knight Endgame: Space Advantage
*Gasp* You are smothering Black here! Winning with a space advantage is a matter of patience. Don't rush, but use your bind to pressure Black on both sides of the board. In a cramped position, your opponent will be unable to defend both wings.
Knight Endgame: Queenside Majorities
Make the most of your overpowered queenside! A queenside majority often provides a good plus since it is easier to create a passed pawn, and the passed pawn can be dangerous on the far side of the board.
Knight Endgame: Kingside Majority
Blech! It stinks to play a worse position, but this position can definitely be held. Your knight can't improve right away so address your king first. Your kingside pawns won't mobilize as easily as Black's queenside pawns, but don't forget about them.
Same-Color Bishops: An Extra Pawn
Do you know the winning strategy with same-color bishops? Look to keep your pawns on the opposite color of your opponent's bishop and lock Black's pawns on the same color as the bishops. Avoid too many pawn trades, and don't allow your opponent to sacrifice the bishop for your last pawns!
Same-Color Bishops: Gruenfeld Endgame
We could have a long conversation about this position (I'm sure you are a scintillating conversationalist!), but I just want to say one thing: king activity.
Same-Color Bishops: Queenside Majority
It's a dark-square duel between the bishops! The queenside majority is a nice advantage. Create a passed pawn and you will be doing well. Don't forget to activate your king in the process.
Same-Color Bishops: Kingside Majority
This time it's a light-square duel between the same-color bishops! In this case, you have to defend against the potent queenside majority. Get your pieces to the scene of the action before things become dangerous and, in the right moment, look to use your own kingside pawn majority.
Same-Color Bishops: Centralization
Can you give the engine pawn odds?! Here you are actually better thanks to your central control and central passed pawn. Make them count!
The Bishop Pair
Mastering the bishop pair will bring you many points in your chess career. White can press for a long time. Make confident, patient progress knowing that as the game progresses, your bishops should only get stronger. Avoid the exchange of either bishop unless you get something concrete in return. The bishops are stronger together!
Opposite-Color Bishops: Making A Blockade
Can you draw two pawns down? What about three?! You must first recognize and choose the only correct drawing move order for White. Then practice holding this tough endgame while down several pawns.
Opposite-Color Bishops: Drawing Technique
Have you mastered opposite-color bishops? If not, you are leaving many half-points on the table! An endgame where each side has only one bishop left, and they are moving on opposite-colored squares, often means a draw even if one player has an extra pawn. Here, you will need to stop Black's dangerous a-pawn with your bishop at first, but then follow the normal strategy for these kinds of positions: blockade the most dangerous pawn with your king and use your bishop to defend your own pawns. If you...
Opposite-Color Bishops: Down Pawns On Two Wings
Draw this and show that you have truly MASTERED opposite-color bishops. Position your kingside pawns correctly to get the best exchanges as Black advances. Be wary of a timely a5-pawn sacrifice to distract your bishop.
Opposite-Color Bishops: Two Extra Pawns
Not all opposite-color bishop endgames are drawn! You already have an extra passed pawn on the queenside, but you need one on the kingside too. Create it, and Black must slowly succumb, unable to defend both wings.
Copy and paste all successfully completed drills on the Pawn Stormer Forum for the Chess Token Challenge Week #11 (2019-2020)
Take care,
Jim
P.S. Dan will be leading the advanced study group next week while Arshaq is preparing for finals. I will lead the lessons for the main group during this time.