About this blog...
- What is this blog for?
This blog presents a collection of selected Chess endgame studies, the studies are carefully chosen based on both their consistency and the clarity of the solution. Solutions are checked and simplified to be pleasant for a large public of aficionados and players.
- How do you exactly select studies?
In this collection we consider each study for itself and we do not compare it to other compositions, in our mind competition is not relevant for studies, if a prize was obtained by the author it is mentionned for information and history only. Whether a study is simple or complexe is not important, a partial anticipation or a dual solution due to recent computer calculations is not considered to be a problem. We try to include at least one study of each composer when possible.
- What is a Chess endgame study?
A Chess endgame study, or study, is a chess endgame position with some extraordinary content.
- Where do studies come from?
Studies are puzzles created by composers, the "studyists", but a few studies may have been discovered by players over the board.
- Why do composers make studies?
Studies belong to art, the composers intend to impress the solvers and the readers by presenting extraordinary moves in lines of play already at the highest level. Endgame studies can be seen as an artistic staging of Chess.
- What kind of puzzle is this?
There are two main formulations for a study: "White to play and win" and "White to play and draw" but also sometimes: "Black to play, White win" and "Black to play, White draw".
- What are the rules?
All the rules of Chess apply, but the competition 50 moves draw rule is not used.
- Could a study position occur in a real game?
Yes, in theory since the rules of Chess are strictly followed, this may happen with studies having the material of standard endgames.
- What is the difference between a study and a combination?
A combination is a serie of forced moves that lead to an advantage on the board, while the solution of a study may contain very quiet and slow moves mixed with magic moves rarely found in real life. A study can be by far more difficult to solve than any tough combination.
- Should a study be difficult to solve?
Not at all, some studies are objectively impossible to solve while other are schematic and contain deep knowledge on Chess. For the solutionist a difficult study to solve should not have a disappointing solution.
- What is the difference between a study and a problem?
Studies belong with problems to the field of Chess composition, a study is a problem with a specific formulation, like "White to play and win". Studies specificity is the fact that it is very close to the game, for example the number of moves needed for a win or a draw is not important.
- Can I move the pieces on the board when solving a study?
Yes, this is the normal and most of the time only way to solve a study...
- Can studies help me improve at Chess?
Solving studies can help you improve your Chess abilities in several ways, it gives you the opportunity to analyse positions thoroughly while checking all Black defenses, it asks you to know the result of many theoretical endgames, it forces you to search for unusual and creative solutions for winning in an apparent drawish position or for saving a lost position by magic.
- Can I make my own studies?
Yes! If you are fond of studies as a reader and a solutionist you should some day feel like creating a new study of your own, when you are ready go ahead an be patient!
- Do I need to be a strong player to compose a study?
No, you don't need to be a competitor player to make studies, you preferably need to be a good analyst and extremely patient and motivated.
- How can I start to compose my first study?
There are several techniques for starting a new composition but the simplest way is by choosing a final position you like, as a nice mate or stalemate with the strictly needed material, then ask yourself what was the previous move for White, then for Black, etc. and go as far as possible.
- How else can I start working on a study?
Many composers start with improving and rebuilding flawed or imperfect studies, when you work on solving a study you will inevitably find new stuff to base a new composition on. Readind and/or solving studies from this blog will be a good source of inspiration.
- What about artistic rules?
If you propose a brillant puzzle to a competition player but at the end he finds an additional trivial win the good impression you expected will be spoiled. This is probably why study composition has a conventional rule that requires a unique solution at each white move. A dual solution is reducing or even killing the "artistic" value of the study.
- What else should I know when composing studies?
You will have to add captures for going forward in your composition, the material is the fuel of the study, but be careful since a good study is using as little fuel as possible and attempt to go as far as possible... Good luck!
- How can I contribute to the collection?
Your help is welcome since the collection should contain thousands of entries and will certainly need years to be completed, please send your favourite studies with solution (PGN format is even better!) to lodrac@gmail.com...
- Is there a database of studies?
This blog is not a database but a collection among the best studies, the solutions provided are not for proving the validity of the studies, so do no hesitate to consult the well known databases when a complete and detailed solution is needed. There are several databases dedicated to Chess endgame studies:
ARVES Chess Endgamesstudy Association.
If you are a study addict to you should consider acquire a licence for accessing the most complete database ever created (for a modest fee), by Harold Van der Heijden.
