ArcaMax

Since we started this column in 2006, there have been 2700 puzzles put up here. It was always my hope that they would be either instructional or entertaining or challenging or all three. However, the encompassing desire was that they would make the reader a better player who could take the lessons learned and their concepts into one’s own ...

The material in “points” may be equal, but the position isn’t as White has the move.

This is a great puzzle with the rook vs. bishop struggle. The key first move may surprise you.

There’s only one first move that wins. It’s one of the most important K+P endgames you can study.

There’s only one first move that wins.

There’s only one first move that wins.

Here’s a basic king and pawn ending you should know.

This is one of my favorite endgames to give students because even strong players have taken a while to solve this. It’s actually pretty simple if you know one handy endgame principle. It’s White to Play and Draw.

Rook and pawn endings require planning and often subtle maneuvering. This position is no different. Can you see it all the way to the end? In a tournament game you would have to.

It’s the New Year! Of course, the best chess new year’s resolution you can make is to do the one thing chess players don’t really do very much, but should: study endgames!! We’re going to do king and pawn endings on our first submission of the week, rook and pawn endings the second submission of the week and a mixed bag for the third ...