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This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves. Algebraic chess notation is used to record and describe the moves in a game of Chess.

An endgame study, or just study, is a composed chess position — that is, one that has been made up rather than one from an actual game — presented as a sort of puzzle, in which the aim of the solver is to find a way for one side (usually White) to win or draw, as stipulated, against any moves the other side plays. Chess is a recreational and competitive Game played between two players.

Contents

Overview

Richard Réti
Ostrauer Morgenzeitung, Dec. Richard Réti ( 28 May, 1889, Pezinok (now Slovakia) &ndash 6 June, 1929, Prague) was an Austrian 4th 1921
Image:chess zhor 26.png
Image:chess zver 26.png a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 kl Image:chess zver 26.png
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7
a6 kd b6 c6 pl d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5 pd
a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3
a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2
a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1
Image:chess zhor 26.png
White to play and draw. One of the most famous studies of all time.
Genrikh Kasparyan
Magyar Sakkélet, 1962
Image:chess zhor 26.png
Image:chess zver 26.png a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 Image:chess zver 26.png
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7 kd
a6 b6 c6 d6 bd e6 f6 kl g6 h6 bl
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5
a4 pd b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4
a3 pd b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3
a2 rl b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2
a1 b1 bd c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1
Image:chess zhor 26.png
White to play and draw. An example of a more complicated study.
Genrikh Kasparyan
Image:chess zhor 26.png
Image:chess zver 26.png a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 Image:chess zver 26.png
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7 kd
a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5
a4 b4 c4 bd d4 bl e4 kl f4 g4 h4
a3 pd b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3
a2 pd b2 bd c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2
a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 rl h1
Image:chess zhor 26.png
Position after 8. Rg1 (see analysis, left)

To the extent that they are composed positions and offer the solver a specific task, endgame studies are similar to chess problems in which the stipulation is to "checkmate black in two moves against any defence", for example. A chess problem, also called a chess composition, is a puzzle set by somebody using Chess pieces on a Chess board that presents the solver with However, while problems often present very artificial looking positions, studies often appear that they could occur in a game.

As with problems, for a study to be regarded as a good one, it must have only one solution. Some argue that White must only have only one move at each juncture to achieve one's aim, though some feel that minor alternatives (such as a choice of moving a knight b1-c3-b5 or b1-a3-b5) are permissible.

Various methods of classifying studies have been attempted; a commonly used indexing system is the GBR code. The GBR code or Guy-Blandford-Roycroft code is a system of representing the pieces on the board in a Chess position

Composed studies

Composed studies predate the modern form of chess. Shatranj studies exist in manuscripts from the 9th century, and the earliest treatises on modern chess by the likes of Luis Ramirez Lucena and Pedro Damiano (late 15th and early 16th century) also include studies. Shatranj is an old form of Chess, which has been popular in Persia and the Middle East for almost 1000 years The 9th century is the period from 801 to 900 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. Luis Ramirez de Lucena (c 1465 &ndash c1530 was a leading Spanish Chess player Pedro Damiano (in Portuguese, Pedro Damião; Damiano is the Italian form much like the Latin Damianus) was a Portuguese However, these studies often include superfluous pieces, added to make the position look more "game-like", but which take no part in the actual solution (something that is never done in the modern study). Various names were given to these positions (Damiano, for example, called them "subtelties"); the first book which called them "studies" appears to be Chess Studies, an 1851 publication by Josef Kling and Bernhard Horwitz, which is sometimes also regarded as the starting point for the modern endgame study. Josef Kling ( March 19 1811 – December 1 1876) was a German Chess master and Chess composer. Bernhard Horwitz (1807-1885 was a German English Chess master and chess writer The form is considered to have been raised to an art in the late 19th century, with A. A. Troitzky and Henri Rinck particularly important in this respect. Alexey Alexeyevich Troitsky, or Alexei, or Troitzky (Алексе́й Алексе́евич Тро́ицкий ( March 14, 1866 &ndashAugust Henri Rinck ( January 10, 1870 &ndash February 17, 1952) was a French Chess study composer, considered

Most composers, including Troitzky, Rinck, and other famous figures such as Genrikh Kasparyan, are known primarily for their studies, being little known as players. A chess composer is a person who creates endgame studies or Chess problems He usually specializes in a particular Genre, e Genrikh Gasparyan (Գենրիխ Գասպարյան February 27, 1910 in Tbilisi &mdash December 27, 1995 in Yerevan) However, some famous players have also composed endgame studies, with Emanuel Lasker, Richard Réti, and Jan Timman being perhaps the most notable ones. For other persons named Lasker see Lasker#People with the surname Lasker. Richard Réti ( 28 May, 1889, Pezinok (now Slovakia) &ndash 6 June, 1929, Prague) was an Austrian Jan Timman (born December 14, 1951) is a Dutch Chess Grandmaster who was one of the world's leading players from the late 1970s to

Examples

The first study, by Richard Réti, is one of the most famous of all time. Richard Réti ( 28 May, 1889, Pezinok (now Slovakia) &ndash 6 June, 1929, Prague) was an Austrian It is White to play and draw. At first sight, this seems an impossible task: if White tries to chase after Black's pawn he can never catch it (1. Kh7 h4 2. Kh6 h3 etc. is clearly hopeless), while it is clear that Black will simply take White's pawn if he tries to promote it.

White can draw however, by taking advantage of the fact that the king can move in two directions at once: towards Black's pawn and towards White's own. The solution is 1. Kg7! h4 (1. . . Kb6 2. Kf6! h4 3. Ke5! transposes) 2. Kf6! Kb6 (if 2. . . h3, then 3. Ke6 h2 4. c7 Kb7 5. Kd7 allows white to promote his pawn) 3. Ke5! Now, if 3. . . Kxc6, then 4. Kf4 stops Black's pawn after all, while if 3. . . h3 4. Kd6 allows White to promote his pawn. Either way, the result is a draw. (Also see King and pawn versus king endgame, the section Rule of the square. Rule of the square The first thing to realize is that the pawn may be able to queen unassisted by his king simply by advancing to the queening square before the opposing king can Rule of the square The first thing to realize is that the pawn may be able to queen unassisted by his king simply by advancing to the queening square before the opposing king can )

Not all studies are as simple as the above Réti example. The study to the right is by Kasparyan (first published in Magyar Sakkélet, 1962). Genrikh Gasparyan (Գենրիխ Գասպարյան February 27, 1910 in Tbilisi &mdash December 27, 1995 in Yerevan) White is to play and draw. The main line of the solution is 1. Ra1 a2 2. Ke6 Ba3 3. Bf4 Bb2 4. Be5 a3 5. Kd5 Bg6 6. Bd4 Bf7+ 7. Ke4 Bc4 8. Rg1, but there are various alternatives for both sides. For example, White could try 1. Bf4 on one's first move, with the idea 1. . . Bxa2 2. Bxd6 and 3. Bxa3 is a draw, but Black can defeat this idea with 1. . . Bxf4 2. Rxa3 Bc2, which wins. To understand why one move works and another one does not requires quite advanced chess knowledge. Indeed, it will not be obvious to many players that the position at the end of the given line (see the diagram below on the right) is a draw at all.

Another study is shown at the Alexey Troitsky article. Alexey Alexeyevich Troitsky, or Alexei, or Troitzky (Алексе́й Алексе́евич Тро́ицкий ( March 14, 1866 &ndashAugust For what is sometimes reckoned to be the most famous study of all, see Saavedra position. The Saavedra position is one of the best known Chess Endgame studies.

Endgame study composers

Nikolaj Kralin and Yochanan Afek
Nikolaj Kralin and Yochanan Afek

Note: Russian names may be written with other spellings. The list is ordered alphabetically by surname.

A. A. Troitsky
A. A. Troitsky

Further reading

External links

Irving Chernev (1900-1981 was a Russian born American Chess author
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