Page 14 - The Villager March 2021

Lifestyle the endgame – isolated and backwards means that two kings are a single square

Chess by pawns are still weak, bad bishops are very apart facing each other. See Diagram b. In

much a liability, and a knight in the centre
Diagram b, if it is black’s move, he loses the
is usually better than a knight on the
game but if it is White’s move, he draws
the game with the pieces ending up in a
edge of the board. there are, however,
Diagram of stalemate. See Diagram C.
a number of differences that give the
endgame a unique character.
THE KING IN THE ENDGAME
one of the important principles in
although in the opening and middle THE OPPOSITION
the endgame is the ‘opposition’. the
game the king is vulnerable to attack and opposition in chess is defined as the
The endgame must be hidden away behind a fortress of situation occurring when two kings
face each other on a rank or file, with
pawns, in the endgame he takes on the role
of attacker. Many novice players make the only one square between them. In the
he word ‘endgame’ has many mistake of leaving their king in the corner Diagrams, I have taken all pieces off the
different meanings and is usually during the endgame while continuing to board to simplify this concept. here,
Tassociated with the final stages of play only with the other pieces. this is a it all depends on whose move it is. If
life or before the conclusion of a game. big mistake, which can prove costly. once it is black’s move, then White has the
In many ways, the endgame is the most there is no longer a danger of the king opposition. If it is White’s move, then
exciting part of the game in which the being attacked, he should rush into action, black has the opposition. See Diagram b.
winner or the loser is decided. In a game heading for the centre of the board, or to the idea of the opposition is very useful
of chess there is mounting tension and attack weak points in the enemy position. when checkmating with a castle against
nerves are jangled from hours of hard a lone king. the black king in Diagram D
thinking and this is when mistakes often CHECKMATE IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL is forced to retreat. White moves his king
occur, at the end of the struggle. OF CHESS and castle in such a way to repeatedly
It is paradoxical that many general In the endgame, victory is often gain the opposition until the black king
books on chess and chess coaches begin achieved by promoting a pawn to become is checkmated on the side of the board.
with the end when explaining the moves a queen so that one of the sides has an these positions look simple but
of the pieces and realtive streghtens and overwhelming material advantage. It is require careful calculation. even at
weaknesses of the pieces. this is often not easy simply to advance a pawn from grandmaster level, players have lost
done on an open board when the moves the second rank to the eighth rank even games because they failed to maintain
of individual chess pieces are explained. when there are few pieces on the board. the opposition. once a player has gained
a fault of many coaches is that they show Let us consider the following position of the opposition, he need not lose. all the
the beginner the moves to achieve the a king and pawn against a lone king: player needs to do is remain on the same
promotion of a pawn or some of the basic Diagram a, if White tries to move the colour squares as his opponent. try this
checkmates but the they fail to explain pawn through to eighth rank by itself, the out for yourself on the chess board.
some of the principles and procedures black king will be able to capture the pawn there are many youtube videos that
behind the moves. the problem is, if it advances too far. the secret is that the explain the principles of endgame
although there are fewer pieces on White king must move in such a way that it technique. the best way to improve is
the board, endgame positions can be is in front of the White pawn as it advances. practise and solve endgame problems.
just as difficult as any other position If it was black’s move, White would be If you are looking for a chess coach,
in chess. Many of the same strategical unable to achieve this because the black or have any questions and suggestions,
themes from the middle game apply in king would have the ‘opposition’ – this please contact Knight at 079 575 8636.

Diagram A Diagram B Diagram C – stalemate if Diagram D
Black has to move
12 • Issue 3 2021 • The Villager