Chien Ming Chess Blog

Yesterday I was playing Black in a 30 30 ICC game.


This is position at move 29th.

White's pieces are bind to the pinned Knight c3. White can't do anything beside Q move back and forth b2 and b3, otherwise he will lose the Knight c3. Black here make a King walk from g8-f7-e6-d6! to make sure Black's King is near enough to Q side (a5 pawn) before he trade all at c3, into a winning pawn endgame with extra passed pawn a5.

If White did the trade at once at move 29th in a hurry, then White King is close enough to a5 pawn, and Black will miss the win. NEVER HURRY in endgame, is one of the technique to remember.

Let's compare with a classic Immortal Zugzwang game. Alekhine vs Nimzowitsch, San Remo 1930.

This is position at move 29th.
All Black pieces are defending the b4-b5! threat well. White next sequences of move is brilliant idea of making Black run out of pawn moves at K side. 30.h4! h5 ,31 Kh2 g6, 32.g3!

This is the final position and Black resign as he is out of pawn moves at K side now, he is in zugzwang and any next move that made by one of his pieces, will cost him material.

By going over the classic master game, we will find many fresh ideas, and by understanding the idea, we can apply it in our game. The idea will guide us to find a plan.