Exploring Endgames: A Guide to Hidden Treasures on Chess.com

Endgame Insights:
Delving into Chess.com Player Blogs

Dive deep into the realm of endgames with this curated collection of insightful articles from Chess.com's player blogs. From strategic planning to tactical maneuvers, these articles offer valuable perspectives and techniques to enhance your understanding and mastery of endgame play.

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Beginner - Intermediate Articles

Embark on your chess journey with our selection of beginner to intermediate articles. These articles offer a solid foundation in endgame strategies, helping you avoid common mistakes and understand key principles.

Endgame roadmap: 9 strategies on how to play chess endgames - GM Avetik Grigoryan
Explore the intricacies of chess endgames with GM Avetik Grigoryan as he unveils a comprehensive roadmap comprising nine strategic principles. Discover how to navigate the complexities of endgames and elevate your play to new heights, whether you're an aspiring player or a seasoned enthusiast. Join the journey of improvement as you delve into practical strategies designed to transform your endgame prowess. (Really Nice Article) Chess Endgames | 10 Principles for Beginners - IM Danny Rensch
Dive into the world of chess endgames with IM Daniel Rensch as he shares invaluable insights and strategies tailored for beginners. From mastering basic checkmates to understanding the importance of pawn majorities, this article offers a comprehensive roadmap to navigate the complexities of endgame play. The Top 3 Endgame Mistakes That New Chess Players Should Know - GM Gregory Serper
In this insightful guide, we'll uncover the top three mistakes that often plague beginner players and provide practical tips to overcome them. From stalemating opponents to navigating rook endgames with precision, learn how to navigate the final stages of the game with confidence and finesse. What Is The Most Important Endgame? - GM Gregory Serper
Dive into the heart of endgame strategy by mastering the king and pawn endgame. In this illuminating article, GM Gserper explores why the king and pawn endgame reigns supreme as the most important kind of endgame. Magnus Carlsen Knows This Endgame. Do You? - GM Gregory Serper
Learn from GM Gserper how mastering the concept of opposition in king and pawn endgames can prevent costly mistakes. A Prison For A King - GM Gregory Serper
Discover the power of imprisoning your opponent's king in endgames . Learn from instructive examples and find out how to exploit this concept for both winning and defensive purposes. The Amazing Geometry Of Chess - GM Gregory Serper
Discover how the unique dimensions of the chessboard offer creative solutions to seemingly impossible scenarios. Learn from famous studies and real-game examples where understanding chess geometry can turn the tables. Dive into this intriguing aspect of chess and enhance your strategic thinking! How Ding Liren Let Me Down - GM Gregory Serper
The blunder occurred in an elementary position where knowing the correct technique is fundamental. Drawing on historical games and personal experiences, the importance of mastering fundamental endgames is emphasized. How To Lose A Move To Win The Game! - GM Gregory Serper
In chess, losing a tempo can sometimes be beneficial, although it's a concept that even strong players can find tricky. The idea of losing a tempo to win the game is exemplified in various famous and lesser-known games, showcasing the importance of time management and maneuvering in chess. Pawn Endgames: A Practical Guide - GM Naroditsky
Provides valuable insights into the complexities of pawn endgames, offering instructive examples and analysis to help players navigate these critical phases of the game effectively. From understanding opposition and pawn races to recognizing the potential of pawn breakthroughs. The Two Rook Endings You Must Know - GM Naroditsky
The Philidor and Lucena Positions" delves into two crucial theoretical rook endings, offering insights and clarity on these complex endgame scenarios. Exploring key maneuvers and illustrating them through notable games, the article aims to demystify these positions and provide invaluable guidance for players of all levels. Heavy Piece Endgames - WGM Nitalia Pogonina
Exploring strategic plans in endgames involving only queens, rooks, and pawns. She outlines typical maneuvers, such as exploiting open files, attacking weak pawns, targeting the opponent's king, creating passers, and considering piece transformations. Pogonina illustrates these concepts with instructive examples from her own games, demonstrating practical application of these strategies in real tournament situations.

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Advanced Endgame Articles

Take your chess skills to the next level with our advanced endgame articles. These  delve deeper into complex strategies and tactics, offering a more nuanced understanding of endgame play.

Incredible Bishop Endgame Played In Computer Chess Championship - GM Dejan Bojkov and IM Daniel Rensch analyze a thrilling endgame featuring zugzwang. Explore the intricacies of this concept and its application in high-level chess. How To Win 'Dead Drawn' Endgames - GM Gregory Serper In endgames with opposite-colored bishops, many consider them 'dead drawn.' However, as pieces are added, these endgames become less drawish. Examining classic and modern games, we see how the side with the advantage can make progress. Learn from Nimzowitsch, Lahno, and Karpov as they demonstrate the winning potential of opposite-colored bishop endgames. Don't underestimate these positions—opposite-colored bishops can lead to decisive results! What Happened To Elite Chess? - GM Gregory Serper In the past, deep analysis and discussion of chess games were common, but today's rapid pace of tournaments has led to a decline in such activities. With the abundance of games, many instructive positions are overlooked, and players often repeat mistakes. Examples from past and recent games illustrate this point, showing how fundamental errors persist over time. How To Build A Chess Fortress - GM Gregory Serper In chess, fortresses are often overlooked but can save seemingly lost positions. The recent Tata Steel chess tournament highlighted the importance of understanding fortresses, particularly in endgames. Sam Shankland's resignation in a book-drawn position garnered attention, emphasizing the need for players to study basic fortresses. Examples include the "bishop of the wrong color" scenario and positions where a lone king holds off an opponent's army. Recognizing and utilizing fortresses can turn the tide in challenging situations, making them essential knowledge for tournament players." In Pursuit Of Zugzwang - GM Naroditsky Delves into the intricate concept of zugzwang in chess, illustrating its profound impact through insightful analyses of notable games. From leveraging zugzwang to force concessions from opponents to unraveling impregnable fortresses. Pawn Endgames - Easy, Yet Difficult - GM Alexander Ipotov The article delves into the complexities of pawn endgames, showcasing how seemingly simple positions can become incredibly intricate. Also presented several other examples from grandmaster games where players have misjudged or mishandled pawn endgames, underscoring the importance of studying these positions thoroughly. How to Understand Pawn Races - GM Naroditsky The article discusses the complexities of pawn endings, emphasizing the importance of precise calculation and attention to detail in understanding and winning pawn races in endgames. It highlights key strategies such as not assuming simultaneous promotion leads to a draw and investing a tempo to induce concessions from opponents. WIM Iryna Zenyuk (Initiative in Endgame Series)

• Initiative in Endgames
• Initiative in Endgames, Part 2
• Initiative in Endgames, Part 3
• Initiative in Endgames, Part 4
• Initiative in Endgames, Part 5
• Initiative in Endgames, Part 6
• Initiative in Endgames, The End

In the 'Initiative in Endgames' series, we analyzed modern endgames, focusing on developing and defending against the initiative. Beginning with clear positions, we progressed to more complex games, honing the ability to spot critical moments and construct clear plans. Through studying this series, one can sharpen their endgame skills, improve assessment, and grasp the nuances of initiative in contemporary tournament play. GM Bryan Smith (Space in the Endgame Series)

• Space in the Endgame
• Space in the Endgame, Part 2

Explores the nuances of space advantage in chess, highlighting both its benefits and drawbacks. Through instructive examples and analyses of key positions, Bryan Smith demonstrates how advanced pawns can lead to victory or vulnerability, depending on the mobility of the pieces and the exploitation of weaknesses. From Mikhail Tal's strategic patience to Anish Giri's dynamic play, the series illustrates the dynamic interplay between space, pawn structure, and piece activity in the endgame. GM Bryan Smith (Defense in the Endgame Series)

• Defense in the Endgame, Part 1
• Defense in the Endgame, Part 2

Famous Examples of players hanging on in really tough positions. With detailed explanations and illustrative examples, the series offers valuable insights into the art of defensive mastery in the endgame phase of chess. (Lasker ,

GM Dejan Bojkov ( Typical Rook Endgames Series)

• Typical Rook Endgames: Winning with 4 v. 3
• Typical Rook Endgames (4 v. 3 on the same Flank: Part 2 Defense)
• Typical Rook Endgames 3 v. 2 on the Same Flank

Studying the typical situations that might appear in these endgames makes a lot of sense for the active tournament player. (Nice Articles) GM Alexander Ipotov (Rook Endgame Series)

• Rook Endgame Essentials - Part 1
• Rook Endgame Essentials - Part 2
• Rook Endgame Essentials - Part 3
• Rook Endgame Essentials - Part 4
• Rook Endgame: The Principles

Important Rook Endgame Ideas, Positions and Fundamental Principals.

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Player Articles: Mastering Chess Endgames with the Greats

Here, we delve into the endgame strategies of some of the greatest players in the history of chess. From Capablanca’s timeless simplicity to Karpov’s prophylactic precision, these articles offer a unique opportunity to learn from the masters themselves.  7 Chess Endgame Magicians - Colin Stapczyski Delve into the realm of endgame mastery with a spotlight on seven legendary chess players renowned for their exceptional skills in the endgame. From Jose Raul Capablanca's timeless simplicity to Anatoly Karpov's prophylactic precision, each player showcased a unique blend of patience, strategy, and tactical finesse that set them apart as true endgame magicians. Magnus Carlsen's Best Endgame Wins - GM Naroditsky A masterful analysis of Carlsen's endgame prowess, highlighting his ability to turn seemingly equal positions into wins through precise calculation and relentless pressure. The article meticulously dissects three of Carlsen's most impressive endgame victories, showcasing his strategic depth and tactical acumen. Kamsky's Endgame Play - GM Bryan Smith Gata Kamsky's distinctive style and deep understanding of chess mechanics through analyses of his games from the Philadelphia Open. Smith highlights Kamsky's unorthodox yet effective decision-making, showcasing his ability to create problems for opponents and exploit positional advantages in the endgame. GM Bryan Smith (Lasker Endgame Series)

• The Endgame Cunning of Emanuel Lasker, Part 1
• The Endgame Cunning of Emanuel Lasker, Part 2

Through in-depth analyses of Lasker's pivotal games, Smith uncovers the subtleties of Lasker's play, revealing how he leveraged his deep understanding of the game and his opponents' psychology to secure victories in critical moments. With a focus on Lasker's endgame prowess and tournament strategies, Smith offers both historical insights and practical lessons for chess enthusiasts seeking to enhance their understanding of the game. Karpov - Endgame Virtuoso - WIM Iryna Zenyuk Emphasizes efficient study techniques and practical application of learned concepts during actual games. Through analysis of specific positions from Karpov's games, readers gain insight into his strategic prowess, even when his moves may not align with computer recommendations, highlighting the nuanced nature of endgame play.

Openings teach you openings. Endgames teach you chess!

Chess Counting Mastery: Resources to Sharpen Your Tactical Vision

Elevate Your Chess:
 Counting & Calculation (Resources)

"Pins and forks...usually occur a few times a game. Counting takes place whenever possible exchanges exist – almost every move after the early opening." - Heisman Novice Nook

Unlock the Power of Chess Counting!

 As Heisman suggests, counting material and evaluating exchanges are fundamental skills for chess improvement. This comprehensive guide equips you with a variety of resources to master this crucial aspect of chess:

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Counting and Calculation Chess Videos

Unlock the secrets to evaluating positions and making strong moves with video lessons from top instructors.

IM Alex Astaneh

• Why counting Material is important for Chess Beginners | Chess Fundamentals | - 8 Min - IM Astaneh - sharing with you the fundamental chess skill counting. Based on practical examples you will learn how counting works and how to determine whether any sequence of exchanges leads to a gain or loss of material on any square.
• Chess Vision and Calculation Training 1 | Alex Astaneh - 12 Min
• Chess Vision and Calculation Training 2 | -8 min

IM Kostya Kavutskiy

Kostya’s Blueprint: is a comprehensive guide to improving chess calculation skills.

• Kostya's Blueprint: Calculation - 36 Min 

• Kostya's Blueprint: Analytical Skill - 24 Min

• Kostya's Blueprint: Wisdom - 32 Min

• Kostya's Blueprint: Visualization - 28 Min

• Kostya's Blueprint: Evaluation - 32 Min

The SuperGM Skill Set - Chess Calculation with GM Sam Shankland - 27 Min - Improve your calculation, sacrifices, positional play, strategy, pattern recognition, and more... with coaching from one of the top players in the world today.

Counting in Chess - 17 Min - IM Erik Kislik -  how to count the material while working your way through complicated variations w/ 2 example game Variations.

Chess Math? | Learning to Count! | ChessKid - 9 Min -  FM Mike Klein explains the key chess concept of counting how many pieces attack and defend your target. Learn how to make one of the most important decisions in chess by simply adding things up. Trading and Counting | Beginner Breakdown - 60 Min - St.Louis CC - a beginner chess class on trading pieces and counting their worth. When is it a good time to trade and when is it best to leave the material on the board?

NM Dan Heismith

• The Counting Tactic - Back to Basics - 27 Min - An introductory video on the tactic "Counting". NM Dan Heisman describes how tactics are determined by analysis, and that a forced maneuver that wins material or checkmates is a tactic. The video then gives several basic examples of one-square Counting before progressing to multi-square tactics and more difficult Counting issues such as desperado pieces.

• The Common, Important, and Not-So-Easy Tactic Counting - 29 Min NM Dan Heismith - NM Dan Heisman discusses 3 methods to keep track ("count") material during a sequence of exchanges:

How To Calculate In Chess - 32 Min IM Rozman (Gotham) - comprehensive guide on how to improve your chess calculation skills, tailored for players of all levels. It begins with fundamental concepts for beginners and progresses to advanced techniques for more experienced players.

How to Master Chess CALCULATION 💯 Best Techniques - 28 Min - provides a comprehensive guide on mastering chess calculation, detailing techniques used by top masters and methods to improve and train calculation skills. It emphasizes the importance of thinking ahead, considering candidate moves, and anticipating the opponent’s responses. The video includes examples from actual games to illustrate key concepts like the order of moves, emergency exits in complex positions, and the importance of evaluation in choosing the best line of play.

Counting trick in pawn endgames [Starter chess lesson] - 7 Min - Most king and pawn endgames are very tricky, but sometimes when there is a single long line of play, you can save energy by skipping the visualization and just counting the moves that it takes to execute the plans -- with the caveat that you should look out for opportunities to use checks to steal free moves.

Precise Chess Calculation Secrets 🕵️ with GM Bryan Smith! [Master Method] - 32 Min - can you learn to calculate long variations accurately? And how do GMs calculate them so easily 🥇?That’s the topic for this chapter from GM Bryan Smith’s “4 Pillars of Chess Strength”. Stop Counting 'Attackers' vs 'Defenders'! - 18 Min - IM Andreas Toth - In the world of chess education, it's easy to get caught up in the traditional approach of counting attackers versus defenders on the board. However, Coach Andras challenges the norm and provides an instructive chess lesson that will transform your chess strategy. Discover why you should rethink the way you evaluate positions and understand that chess improvement goes beyond mere numbers. Video Below

Classical Dutch Defense: Free Resources & Video Lessons

 Unlocking the Dutch Defense: A Repository of Classical Variation Resources

The Classical Dutch ( or the Ilyin-Zenevsky System as it is also called) covers the Dutch Defense ( 1.d4  f5  ) where the Bishop is placed on e7 and the pawn on d6.

 It is characterized by Black's pawn structure of f5, e6, d6, and White's pawn structure of d4, c4, e3. 

This setup aims to control the center and create counterplay on the flanks.

Classical Dutch

Bishop's Bounty Main Dutch Defense Page Link

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Books & Lessons (FREE)

Internet Archive

• Classical Dutch by Jan Pinski - 164 Page PDF - In this book, -- Pinski delves into the secrets of the Classical Dutch, studying both the positional motives and tactical nuances for both sides1. 
  He deals with the theoretical main lines as well as the crafty side variations, updating the reader on all the new important wrinkles1.

Chessable

• Short & Sweet: Classical Dutch - FREE Chessable Course - (18 Trainable Variations w/ 58 Min Video) - GM Simon Williams - Learn the Classical Dutch step-by-step as GM Williams guides you through his choices, giving you an overview of structures and practical play within the opening.

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Classical Dutch Articles

Refine your understanding of the Classical Dutch with insightful articles:

• Classical Variation (3.e6 and 6.d6) - Simplify Chess Article (Basics) - Grasp the foundational concepts of the Classical Dutch with a beginner-friendly guide.
  
  
• Do You Know Your Opening's Main Ideas?: The Classical Dutch Defense - Chess.com Blog - NM Craig Clawitter - Delve deeper into the core strategic ideas of the Classical Dutch with analysis from National Master Craig Clawitter.

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Classical Dutch LiChess Studies

Deepen your understanding of the Classical Dutch with these interactive Lichess studies:

• The Classical Dutch -10 Chapter Study
  
  
• The Dutch Defense - 10 Chapter Study (Ginger GM Study)

New to Lichess studies? These interactive tools allow you to explore chess concepts and variations move-by-move, perfect for testing your understanding and deepening your knowledge.

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Classical Dutch Puzzles:  Sharpen Your Tactical Vision

Test your tactical prowess with these challenging puzzles:

WTHarvey.com

• Dutch, Classical Variation (ECO A96) - 23 Puzzles

LiChess Opening Puzzles

• Dutch Defense: Classical Variation - 375 Puzzles - Challenge yourself with a massive collection of puzzles focusing on the Classical Dutch.

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Game Databases

Dive Deeper: Classical Dutch Game Databases & Collections

Chess Tempo

• Dutch Defense, Classical Variation, Buenos Aires Variation (A96) - 955 Games
• Dutch Defense, Classical Variation, General (A96) - 1075 Games
• Dutch Defense, Classical Variation, Huisl Variation (A96) - 1212 Games

Chess365.com

• A96: Dutch, classical variation 1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O d6 - 2620 Games

Chessgames.com

• Dutch, Classical Variation (A96) 1 d4 f5 2 c4 Nf6 3 g3 e6 4 Bg2 Be7 5 Nf3 O-O 6 O-O d6 - 994 Games

Game Collections

• Classical Dutch - 20 Games -Practice the ideas presented in Simon Williams' "Play the Classical Dutch" and "Killer Dutch" alongside other resources. 
• Dutch defense - classical - 30 Games - Focus on Black's victories, particularly those achieved by GM Simon Williams.

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Classical Dutch Video Lessons

Embrace the aggressive Classical Dutch! This section offers a variety of video lessons catering to players of all levels, empowering you to conquer the center with confidence.

• Learn the Classical Dutch in under 25 minutes! - 24 Min - GM Simon Williams -Master the fundamentals of the Classical Dutch in a concise and informative video by GM Simon Williams.
  
  
• The Killer Dutch - Rebooted - 45 Min - GM Simon Williams - Take your Classical Dutch to the next level with in-depth analysis from GM Simon Williams.
  
  
• Classical Dutch - 20 Min -  Explore a comprehensive guide to playing the Classical Dutch.
  
  
• Opening Basics #33: Dutch defense - Classical and Stonewall variations - 23 Min- Jim's Chess Channel - Delve into the Classical Dutch alongside its close cousin, the Stonewall variation, with historical context from famous games.

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Classical Dutch Game Videos (W/Analysis)

Unlock the Secrets of the Classical Dutch: Dive into a collection of analyzed games, revealing the strategic and tactical possibilities within the Classical Dutch Defense.

The Dutch Defence in Action!!! - 8 Video playlist - Gm Simon Williams

• Amazing e4 pawn break || Mikhail Tal vs Segal || Dutch Defense: Classical Variation - 6 Min - kingscrusher
  
  
• Rook sacrifce! - Wojtaszek vs GM Simon Williams - Dutch Defense: Classical (A96) - 21 Min - kingscrusher
  
  
• GM Simon Williams Blitz Speed Run 39 - How to play the Classical Dutch! -  Learn from GM Simon Williams' insights on common mistakes players make around the 2000+ level.
  
  
• Longer Chess Games #31 Opening, Middlegame and Endgame lessons in the Classical Dutch - 37 Min - GM Simon Williams -Analyze a typical Classical Dutch game with GM Simon Williams, focusing on thematic plans.
  
  
• Longer Chess Games #69 Dutch em Up - GM Simon Williams - Enjoy a move-by-move analysis of a Classical Dutch game against a Reti setup by GM Simon Williams.