you asked the other day what kind of videos to make, that we like. I mainliy like this.. very good instructional stuff. When i see a tumnail with a chess board with 150 pawns and 16 knights, i am very unlikely to watch that video.. but when there ar endgame instructive positions, puzzle training of live games with instructive commentatory. I love it.. and you are very good at it. This went strait into a study of zugzwang possitions that i will use for schooling on a lower (b group) club player level.
I was able to recently slowly and methodically outplay an opponent in a very similar endgame and it felt so satisfying after a 30 mins long rapid game. Great tips as always Nelson!!
By the way, another tricky fact of king and pawn endgame is that it often converts into queen and 7-th rank pawn endgame, in which your opponent's extra pawn may help you to win
...or to a queen endgame. I once had a queen end game at my local chess club championship. We later traded queens and converted into a pawn endgame. ...which lead to another queen endgame, which I was eventually able to win. Tablebases tell me that the first queen endgame was objectively a draw, while the second one was a win. I knew that the second one was a theoretically won endgame, but I would never be able to find a winning continuation against Stockfish. By the way, the first queen endgame resulted from another pawn endgame, which in turn was reached from a rook endgame. The rook endgame was at first winning for me, but I lost the thread.
It is a good lesson about basic endgames. Even at a glance, would never have assumed a draw. It's all about tempi, opposition of kings, zugzwang, penetration and pawn races.
00:00 my instict immediately told me b4 has the be the move as it is the one that capitalizes on all of white’s best assets. b4 does the following things: Block black’s pawn island on a and b files Maintains flexibility because allows the a pawn to “skip” a turn. Blocks the most “infiltrating” squares for black.
Endgames is the only part of chess I am actualy fairly strong in. I saw the right initial move, the king space and zugzwang principles , the pawn races on the opposite sides, etc. right off. I saw how the black king had to back off. But I did NOT see all the details of those pawn races and the exact timing with the checks, etc. I do appreciate the complexity and the beauty of such endings, but it's just AMAZING to me how even being an "endgame specialist" for 4 decades, how careful one must always be, even in "simple" K and P endgames, and how easy it is to mess up.
Endgames, including pawn endgames, can be _enormously_ complicated and tricky. Much, much trickier than this. Some time ago I purchased Dvoretsky's "Endgame manual", 5th edition, without realizing that it's actually an IM/GM level book, not a book for a medium-strength player like me. Many of the endgame problems there are astonishingly difficult, even though they often comprise of just a few pawns. It's actually incredible how complicated chess can be even with just a few pieces.
Coach Nelson you are amazingly good.....I like the way you explain the games and the puzzles. May the good Lord continue keeping you well,so we can learn more.
7:17 there is another alternative for white which I believe is best: just ignore the threat to b4 and play Kg6. After he takes on b4, it takes white a really long time to get past that lone pawn on a2 and white has easily enough time to promote on g8.
People who are interested in this will probably enjoy Silman's Endgame manual, where he discusses this principle of one pawn stopping two (as in the formations you have on the board flanks), or more advanced players will probably like Dvoretsky's endgame book. There are many positions that show how to utilize opposition, triangulation, waiting moves, etc. A similar theme is seen in the position Alekhine-Yates (1910). It would be an easy way to farm content for your channel to go through these books. I'd gladly watch you go over more cool endings.
when I was 1500 few years ago, there were huge eval swings during equal material king pawn endings (going from +1 to -3 to +0.5 to +10). They're tricky.
Yeah, ditto. I'm a chess enthusiast. I don't play. I like doing puzzles. I've played against programs. I feel like I don't have the patience or concentration or zen calm I would need to actually play.
Outstanding video -- very interesting. And I liked you're way of handling the endgame more than Stockfish! You don't have to worry about a pawn that isn't on the board. :)
First move that came to my mind was neither a3 nor bxa5+ but just Kg6, just giving up the b4 pawn, because the a2 pawn gives black enough trouble. In the end, it's also winning, although again, you need to use the trick of pushing the g pawn rather than the h pawn, so you can check the black king with g8Q+ after he took on a2.
For a brief moment (after black plays a6-a5), I thought white could just ignore it and keep going for the king side pawns. Essentially sacrificing the pawn on b4. But black still wins the race, and now has an extra pawn on b5 as well, so not a good idea.
04:30 hi,it may sound funny to you, but I would like to ask why it is good for white in this move? I am a newbie in chess so could you plz explain in detail😭
I have a bad case of tilt when it comes to chess, so I don’t always think my moves out. That being said, I saw the thumbnail and instantly spotted the first move (although I couldn’t tell you the next few), so maybe I am learning something from these 😂
after black plays a5, couldn’t white just ignore it and play Kg6? If black plays a4, white plays a3 and then continues his plan on the kingside. If black plays axb4, he still has to figure out how to deal with the a2 pawn before promoting, so white should have time to raid the kingside pawns before black can get the a2 pawn off the board and promote one of his b pawns.
Yeh I'm a bit disappointed he didn't talk about that line, then you cannot defend with white. I guess it's back to some main line, with no trick to win fast, that's why. I would go back to promoting the h pawn, just after black does, but with check. Then you manage to exchange the queens, but it will be a bit more work than the 2 moves skewer. You benefit a lot from the central positionning of your own king to force the trade. Stockfish says it doesn't matter, you can do it with the g pawn too, here's an example with the h pawn : b1=Q h8=Q+ Kc4 Qc8+ Kd4 Qd8+ Kc4 Qc7+ Kd4 Qe5+ Kc4 Qe4+ 1-0, forcing the queens trade then you can promote the g pawn.
black king is forced to b1, delaying promotion, white queen can take both pawns, and you promote your own. Qa8+ Kb1, Qb7 Kc1/Ka1, Qxb5 b1=Q, QxQ KxQ, h4 1-0
You just keep checking the king and whenever black king goes in front of It's own pawn you push the white pawn,,repeat it untill you get a queen,,I hope I got it correct
Hi love your content! I've moved from 600 elo to 900 over the last month. Thanks for everything!! Much love from Kenya 🇰🇪 Would love to see a collaboration or game between you and the other TH-camr's like Gotham or Hikaru
How do I play with you Sir. I want to participate in the XX elo vs National Master too. I never fought one before in my life and I always wanted to. Even just once.
Hey Nelson, I got a really cool game that I’d like you show the audience. I kindly ask that you actually show it. No personal analysis as with the gold mine opening. I want you to show it because of the endgame. I will email you the game. :)
Endgame is fascinating and completely underrated.
This looks like an endgame study which is composed by Grand Masters, but this is from a real game, how fascinating.
Yeah, such a simple -- seemingly symmetric -- arrangement.
Chess is too beautiful
I love puzzles that you analyze in detail!
Really nice video. Very useful, thank you Nelson!
Your king is in ‘the box’, his is out. Use that advantage. 10:22
you asked the other day what kind of videos to make, that we like. I mainliy like this.. very good instructional stuff. When i see a tumnail with a chess board with 150 pawns and 16 knights, i am very unlikely to watch that video.. but when there ar endgame instructive positions, puzzle training of live games with instructive commentatory. I love it.. and you are very good at it. This went strait into a study of zugzwang possitions that i will use for schooling on a lower (b group) club player level.
I was able to recently slowly and methodically outplay an opponent in a very similar endgame and it felt so satisfying after a 30 mins long rapid game. Great tips as always Nelson!!
By the way, another tricky fact of king and pawn endgame is that it often converts into queen and 7-th rank pawn endgame, in which your opponent's extra pawn may help you to win
...or to a queen endgame. I once had a queen end game at my local chess club championship. We later traded queens and converted into a pawn endgame. ...which lead to another queen endgame, which I was eventually able to win. Tablebases tell me that the first queen endgame was objectively a draw, while the second one was a win. I knew that the second one was a theoretically won endgame, but I would never be able to find a winning continuation against Stockfish. By the way, the first queen endgame resulted from another pawn endgame, which in turn was reached from a rook endgame. The rook endgame was at first winning for me, but I lost the thread.
Thanks for a super overview of how complex pawn end-games are!
It is a good lesson about basic endgames. Even at a glance, would never have assumed a draw. It's all about tempi, opposition of kings, zugzwang, penetration and pawn races.
00:00 my instict immediately told me b4 has the be the move as it is the one that capitalizes on all of white’s best assets. b4 does the following things:
Block black’s pawn island on a and b files
Maintains flexibility because allows the a pawn to “skip” a turn.
Blocks the most “infiltrating” squares for black.
A perfect illustration of why end-game databases are required as this is way too much to compute in real-time when clearing the board of all pieces!
required for what? end-game databases are irrelevant here
Endgames is the only part of chess I am actualy fairly strong in. I saw the right initial move, the king space and zugzwang principles , the pawn races on the opposite sides, etc. right off. I saw how the black king had to back off.
But I did NOT see all the details of those pawn races and the exact timing with the checks, etc. I do appreciate the complexity and the beauty of such endings, but it's just AMAZING to me how even being an "endgame specialist" for 4 decades, how careful one must always be, even in "simple" K and P endgames, and how easy it is to mess up.
Same, my opening is totally garbage.
Endgames, including pawn endgames, can be _enormously_ complicated and tricky. Much, much trickier than this.
Some time ago I purchased Dvoretsky's "Endgame manual", 5th edition, without realizing that it's actually an IM/GM level book, not a book for a medium-strength player like me. Many of the endgame problems there are astonishingly difficult, even though they often comprise of just a few pawns. It's actually incredible how complicated chess can be even with just a few pieces.
Coach Nelson you are amazingly good.....I like the way you explain the games and the puzzles.
May the good Lord continue keeping you well,so we can learn more.
Jokes on you, I’m the kind of person to accidentally stalemate with 6 queens 😭
Just give checks.
@@indicicive4390tried that; I blundered all 6 queens: stalemate 😂😂😂
🤣
6 queens? I can get 9 queens without stalemate!
If you get more than 2 queens, you're asking for it. Just get 6 rooks.
Awesome lesson!! Thanks for sharing Nelson!
I found the move because I've been training similar positions. Do your puzzles, folks. They really make a difference.
7:17 there is another alternative for white which I believe is best:
just ignore the threat to b4 and play Kg6.
After he takes on b4, it takes white a really long time to get past that lone pawn on a2 and white has easily enough time to promote on g8.
try watching the video to the end before commenting
7:20 you can also just ignore the pawn and go for the kingside pawns. Hes not threatening to make a passer by on b4 or pushing to a4
People who are interested in this will probably enjoy Silman's Endgame manual, where he discusses this principle of one pawn stopping two (as in the formations you have on the board flanks), or more advanced players will probably like Dvoretsky's endgame book. There are many positions that show how to utilize opposition, triangulation, waiting moves, etc. A similar theme is seen in the position Alekhine-Yates (1910). It would be an easy way to farm content for your channel to go through these books. I'd gladly watch you go over more cool endings.
Great stuff. I created a Lichess study out of it. I've been studying pawn endgames and this video was a wonderful lesson for review.
Thanks v much Nelson ! The more info the better , much appreciated !
7:07 - 7:25 there is a better option ... You can get queen in 9 moves by sacrifice pawn at B4 and just move your king...
He mentioned it at the end, but still not easy
Yeah, I have not studied these endings and your video is definitely the best single resource I could have used. Thanks!
Nice stuff, thank you Nelson
when I was 1500 few years ago, there were huge eval swings during equal material king pawn endings (going from +1 to -3 to +0.5 to +10). They're tricky.
I managed to find that move: black has nowhere to go. Probably for the first time.
This is exactly why Capablanca commented that if we wish to improve our game, we must study endgames before anything else.
Another great endgame lesson!. Thank you.
Amazing tips! Thank you so much! 🤍
This is an extremely objective video. Well done.
That was a very efficient middle game
Your video are great and nice to watch not just because we are learning how to think in chess, But also because you have a kind nice personality ... ❤
Every time I get in these situations I forget Nelson’s tactics 😂
Ty Nelson, cool puzzle
I feel good with endgames... middle of the game, not so much 😅 love these videos and excited for the next one!
i dont play chess but it is fun to watch
Yeah, ditto. I'm a chess enthusiast. I don't play.
I like doing puzzles. I've played against programs.
I feel like I don't have the patience or concentration or zen calm I would need to actually play.
Fantastic instruction. Thank you!! 😎👍🙏
Outstanding video -- very interesting. And I liked you're way of handling the endgame more than Stockfish! You don't have to worry about a pawn that isn't on the board. :)
Thank you! That is super helpful!❤
loved this reti endgame. i can agree that endgames are tricky.
great video, thx
Levy said the same thing, The side that runs out of moves first, loses,
Very instructive
First move that came to my mind was neither a3 nor bxa5+ but just Kg6, just giving up the b4 pawn, because the a2 pawn gives black enough trouble. In the end, it's also winning, although again, you need to use the trick of pushing the g pawn rather than the h pawn, so you can check the black king with g8Q+ after he took on a2.
I completely ignored the attack on the queen side and just went ahead with Kg6 to eat up the black pawns and promote my H pawn.
I agree, there is no way to stop this
1:06 minutes in and I already see white's move; pawn to B4
Another great vid ... I hate it when I get draw in such endings, when you think should have won easily, but one move kills it all ....
Alternatively can we just ignore a5 and play g7?
Great lesson.
Definitely have to think it through before you move.
Chess is a fascinating game indeed with many intricacies 😃
So the point is to save a room for useful moves to not loose initiative
You make good content, but this one was fantastic. Nicely done.
thanks for this video
great video
Nelson never misses the Zugzwang in Chess Lessons.😎
For a brief moment (after black plays a6-a5), I thought white could just ignore it and keep going for the king side pawns. Essentially sacrificing the pawn on b4. But black still wins the race, and now has an extra pawn on b5 as well, so not a good idea.
That's what I went with. I think it is a win for white.
B4 is always the move
I enjoy it when you show your games 😁
Nelson is like that super cool teacher that's trying to make you like that super boring subject
very nice King pawn endgame! GG!
15:00 yeeeeeeeeeah! I wanted to ask until the very end about my first idea ;D
Par excellence!😊
I'm glad someone else knows the pain😂😂
04:30 hi,it may sound funny to you, but I would like to ask why it is good for white in this move? I am a newbie in chess so could you plz explain in detail😭
I have a bad case of tilt when it comes to chess, so I don’t always think my moves out. That being said, I saw the thumbnail and instantly spotted the first move (although I couldn’t tell you the next few), so maybe I am learning something from these 😂
beautiful
Wow, I basically saw it the whole way through! I'm proud of myself on that one!! :D
wow it's crazy how complicated they can be lol
Nice win!
So easy to slip, even with a lot of time
Love it
I can't believe I figured out B4 quickly. 😂 It is intuitive pushing back the King though.
I love endgames
this is sweet!!
06:53 Would Kd6 or Kd5 bring the victory just with the King, without nail biting pawn race?
I saw b4 and the waiting moves,... didn't see that I need to trade the central pawns :(
Interesting, I've just realized how many times I've gotten zuksfon..
Forced Mate in 38.
Nice video
what if you ignored the a5 push and went for your own business king side? It looks to me like you queen first.
saw others replies, and apparently had to watch 5 additional seconds to the video before it was shown...
I swear I had this exact position a week ago as white and I lost
after black plays a5, couldn’t white just ignore it and play Kg6?
If black plays a4, white plays a3 and then continues his plan on the kingside. If black plays axb4, he still has to figure out how to deal with the a2 pawn before promoting, so white should have time to raid the kingside pawns before black can get the a2 pawn off the board and promote one of his b pawns.
b4 wins because black is in zugzwang!
Took a minute to find b4.
9:40 He could play Kc3.😎☝🏻
Yeh I'm a bit disappointed he didn't talk about that line, then you cannot defend with white.
I guess it's back to some main line, with no trick to win fast, that's why.
I would go back to promoting the h pawn, just after black does, but with check.
Then you manage to exchange the queens, but it will be a bit more work than the 2 moves skewer.
You benefit a lot from the central positionning of your own king to force the trade.
Stockfish says it doesn't matter, you can do it with the g pawn too, here's an example with the h pawn :
b1=Q h8=Q+
Kc4 Qc8+
Kd4 Qd8+
Kc4 Qc7+
Kd4 Qe5+
Kc4 Qe4+ 1-0, forcing the queens trade then you can promote the g pawn.
Thanks for explaining me this.😁
I can't thank you enough.🙂
I am not sure if the last position 15:36 is a winning position. Seems to be a draw.
black king is forced to b1, delaying promotion, white queen can take both pawns, and you promote your own.
Qa8+ Kb1, Qb7 Kc1/Ka1, Qxb5 b1=Q, QxQ KxQ, h4 1-0
You just keep checking the king and whenever black king goes in front of It's own pawn you push the white pawn,,repeat it untill you get a queen,,I hope I got it correct
B4?
Zugzwang
in the Kg6 Kd5 line after black captures on b4 how to win after Kc3?
Hi love your content! I've moved from 600 elo to 900 over the last month. Thanks for everything!! Much love from Kenya 🇰🇪 Would love to see a collaboration or game between you and the other TH-camr's like Gotham or Hikaru
900 bana fanya practice mzee
@@leroydanny4072hahaha! Ndio nimeanza chess maze. But soon nitakuwa above 1000 😂 Wewe uko elo gani?
1670
How do I play with you Sir. I want to participate in the XX elo vs National Master too.
I never fought one before in my life and I always wanted to. Even just once.
Hey Nelson,
I got a really cool game that I’d like you show the audience. I kindly ask that you actually show it. No personal analysis as with the gold mine opening.
I want you to show it because of the endgame. I will email you the game. :)
I’m hosed
❤❤❤
I don't enjoy chess, and I have no desire to ever play it, but I like your videos nevertheless. 🤷♂️
This pawn to b4, hmmmmm, it just makes the game a win for white.
Forced zugswang
g5?? is a shocking blunder, shows your opponent's total lack of positional understanding.
Who's watching this video in 2024?
Just kidding 😂