HELP, my endgame is horrible.

I finally won a game, but it took me much longer than it should have. I've always found it much easier to end a game in stalemate than to get a checkmate. I imagine I need to understand the pieces a bit better so I can create a solid plan of attack.

Comments, criticisms, advice... all welcomed and appreciated. Thank you. Oh, it was around move 25 that I began working towards checkmate. I know I need to work on strategy as well.

4. cxb4 wins immediately.

is this a joke game? do people really play like this?

-edit- sorry i know this is not helpful. but what is the black player doing? i had only looked up to move 4 when i made the first post.

Why not just 27.Qe7+?

If 27...Kc8, then 28.Bxd7+ Nxd7 29.Rxd7 with mate coming, either 30.Qe8#, or if 29...Kb8, then 30.Rxb7+ and mate in a couple.

If 27...Kc7, then 28.Be5+ Kc8 29.Qe8#

Yes, Immryr, I was thinking the same thing. I probably wouldn't have won if the other player hadn't played like he did. He was probably even more beginner than I am. I can't believe he didn't take my knight with his rook though. The first thing he did was sacrifice his queen... I don't know what was going on, lol. Apathy maybe?

Thanks ThrillerFan, I knew it had to be so much easier. I guess I was so caught up in keeping the king cornered and defending my pieces that I wasn't thinking of using the queen to it's full capacity.

4.Nf3 wa correct! 

General attitude comment:

I skipped toward the end, as I wanted to get to the endgame, and expected just pawns and kings, with maybe one or two pieces.

Your probem is not "endgames" as most people mean them.  It is mating.  You missed 35 Qb6++.  When you find yourself missing mates-in-one, your thoughts are incorrect.  Try playing with your eyes, not your brain.  Imagine each piece moving to each square, and then, look at the situation.

Without looking, I can say with some certainty, that the advice holds thoughout your game.

Very true Escapist, I'm still learning my terminology. Mates are exactly what I have a problem with. I appreciate the feedback. Should one expect to see mostly just pawns and kings in the typical endgame?

Where was this played?

The general rule is to look at all checks first, before looking at captures. You should look at captures, and other non-checking moves, only after making sure that the checks don't lead to mate.

For example, after 25 ... Nb8 you should look at

26. Bf6+, 26. Qe7+,  and 26. Rd7+ . The latter two force quick mate.

26. Qe7+ Kc8 27. Qe8+ Kc7  28. Rd7+ Nd7  29. Qd7+ Kb8  30. Qd8#

or 26. Rd7+ Nd7 27. Qe7+ Kc7 28. Qd7+ Kb8 29. Qd8#. 

thanks!

very enjoyable game!

i didn't see the point of accepting the sacrifice with 4.cxb4 since you could pick the Queen off whenever you liked, as your opponent obviously didnt want the black Queen.

Sorry, i want to be helpful so being honest is needed.You need too explore openings and their importance.Some basic concepts have too be understood .Openings,middle game and endgame theories. Then practice,practice and practice----then worry about how your games look.

I'd follow NM Splane's advice here.  Even though your opponent played badly you can still learn something.  If you see the pattern mate both Qe7+ and Rxd7+ leads you there.  If you didn't see the pattern mate then probably following the principle of activating your Queen (strongest piece no less) which Qe7+ does, will lead you to a strong attack.

His opponent didn't play badly, he played a textbook game of antichess.

He could probably become an antichess GM on evidence of this game alone, terrific display.

Don't be a snob, the guy is asking for help; everyone starts from somewhere, so sarcastic and unhelpful posts are not really required in my opinion.

black had only 2 knights left, for crying out loud!

10.Qb3 all the way!!!!

I think these are the most usefull links for gmecomber

gmecomber, I assume you know the queen is the most important piece. What could you have done in move 4 and move 5?

*edit: in an earlier post you say he sacrifices his queen. But he doesnt. He just gives it away. Sacricing gives an advantage. If you didnt see that you could instantly take his queen, you should spend more time evaluating your opponents move. At least ask yourself:

1) what can the piece that just moved do next?
2) can I take the piece?

It's hardly being a snob to criticise a game where the 'opponent' threw all his pieces away consecutively, the poster didn't analyse the game at all themselves, and the game isn't even in his archive.

31. Rxd7 Kc8 32. Qe8, any effort to look yourself will find.

Or 35. Qb6#

Spend a while on my replies to 2 of his earlier threads, wish I hadn't have bothered. He's clearly just wasting everyone's time and I think anyone that believes this game is serious is a bit gullible. Even ignoring the early queen moves 20...Rg8. 23...Rd8. No explanation.