Endgame problems

Hi

 my greatest weakness in chess are endgames. Here is an example game against a 2000 that could have been won or at least drawed at the beginning of the endgame (move 26.), but I screwed it up:

 Please have a look at it to get an idea

any hints how to get better at endgames? what to look for?

I am a "think ahead move by move player", I don't even really know any openings, just the basics - and in endgames movebymove-thinking is rather useless.

Also I have troubles with the defensive opening being played here (I don't know what it is called). Can I avoid this opening / are there any aggressive variations?

Hi :) We played two games in the Chess.com 2nd tournament and drew both, I thought you played well, although my own ranking has been lowered since then, hehe :P

The sicilian has a number of more aggressive opening variations and you should consider, instead of 2. c4, playing Nf3. After black's Nc6, d6 or e6, you play d4, followed by cxd4 and Nxd4, leading to some interesting tactical games. This is the main variation in the "open sicilian". You can probably find some more detailed descriptions somewhere on the net.

To practice endgames, it is always good to get a hold on some collection of puzzles and just practice variations and learning the basic patterns. One thing to remember is that material is often a lot more important so make sure your own pieces are protected before you try going on the offensive. It is almost always justified sacrificing material in order to advance a passed pawn (which black did here, that pawn cost you the game.) Also, remember to activate your king by bringing him into the game more than you would in the middlegame. Your king is locked in the h1-corner for a very long time. In the endgame, the king is a very powerful piece.

Yeah, that's probably just some basic stuff off the top of my head but it's a few things to think about.

// Marcus 

I have some tips:

You played Kh1, it is always good to get you King to the centre in the Endgame.

It would also be a good idea to double you rooks on the seventh rank, also called pigs on the seventh rank. 

I think 27. Td3 would have been good, so that you can get it down on the seventh rank. Perhap followed by Kf1 and then Td7 and getting the other rook down too. 

 26.Rb1?! - Strategy 101: Rooks to open files. Rd1 is an improvement over Rb1.

27.Rd1 - Yes! Rd3 as furrer suggested is also good.

28.Rc4?! - This does nothing to help you control or use the d-file, and does nothing to stop your opponent from using the e-file. In fact, on c4 your rook is worse positioned to help with either of these goals. 28.Kf1 was better.

29.g4?! - The same problem with your last move.

29...Re2 - Despite your advantages, you allow your opponent to control the e-file and use it to penetrate to your seventh rank. 

30.Rf1?! - Your idea was, protect the f2 pawn. Did it really need protecting? Consider a more active move like 30.Rd7! Now, if 30...Rxf2? you have 31.Rxc5 and if 30...Bxf2 you have 31.Kf1!, both winning.

So basically how to play these endgames more effectively can be summed up as:

1. Put your rooks on open files

2. Use the open files to penetrate to your opponent's 7th rank

3. From there, do some damage

4. If your opponent's rooks are on open files:

   a. Contest them and trade off a pair of rooks

   b. Defend the 'penetration squares' so his control is useless

It's realy sad that u lost this possition! U played against a basic principles for rooks: open lines, 7th rank, as likesforests said. And also: dont play your pawns withot a deep reconsideration and a good reason! g2-g4 was bad - an attack has no sense, and u overlooked your Pa4.

 And, of course, u need to prevent your oponent to do it! In the game, his rook penetrat to your 2nd rank! U needed to play Kf1, then prepare Re2 or Re1 to exchange rooks, for his pressre to f2 sqeere is unpleasant. Or g3, to prevent a mate at the first rank, then u can play with your rooks more freely. 

The position after 25th move is probably a draw. He has a bishop and a pawn agaist a rook, it is only a small lack, and his a- and b- pawns and bishop make the best patern, protecting themselves. However, only you normally can try to win! White can try to exchange rooks, then his king travel to the squeere b5, with an iddea to give a rook for a pawn and bishop and to win a pawn's endgame.

And u miss an oportunity two moves ago, with 24. Bxc5?! You had to play 24. Bxa8! Rxa8 25. a5! Na4 26. Rc6. White take a pawn and it's easy win! It's a nice position for a puzzle section of the forum!

 There are varius boks about endgames, I stil ussed an old of Reuben Fine, you can find them easy using google. Obtain one of them!

I published it as a puzzle: A tactic to win a pawn in an endgame .

in addition, about the principles of endgames, 24. Bxc5?!: if pawns are on both sides and without a blockade, a bishop is stronger then knight - so, don't trade it!

And 25. a5! is about tactics, which u need to practise (Tactics Treiner is a great tool!). U need to see a motive: Nc5 is exposed to double attack; it's defended twice too, but can I disturb the defence? If u take such kind of motives into consideretion (and they happen in every game), u wiil find a way sometimes!