When I counsel "up and coming" players to concentrate on endings, I am usually ignored - even as I once ignored my own elders. This is quite common: improving players usually prefer to work on their openings, hoping to catch an unwary opponent early and get an easy win. Unfortunately, chess isn't like football - even if you "score" in the opening, unlike a 1st Quarter touchdown, it isn't still on the scoreboard in the 2nd Half. Only mate or resignation counts. You can learn all the opening tricks you wish, but if you can't figure out how to queen that P in the ending, you may not win the game. Also, opening theory is constantly changing, like fashions in clothing. Hold onto your bell-bottoms, Argyle socks, and Earth Shoes long enough, and they'll be back in vogue. Endgame theory is only very rarely subject to adjustment. Once you know endings, you know them, and whatever opening becomes the newest trend will not affect that knowledge. Let's look at a few "simple" Pawn endings which are frequently misunderstood, so we won't get "Pwned" - but first, the dreaded B+N mate.
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Many players worry over mating with only a B + N. Mating with a Q, a R, or two Bs is fairly easy, yet most players will not work on their technique with B + N, even though they realize they don't know it. When it turns up in a tournament game, they may regret this lack of attention.
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Set up the current position - designed to be difficult, with Black's King centralized and the White forces scattered. The only challenge to this ending is doing it within 50 moves, so we should start with an unfavorable situation. Note that Black's defensive strategy should be to stay in or near the center if possible, and to run to the corner NOT of the Bishop's color when chased (because mate can only be forced in a corner the Bishop controls). Play it out yourself, then consult the analysis (there are any number of ways to carry out the mate, not just the specific moves shown). The Pawn endings are on the "drop-down" menu beneath the board, as usual.
1.Kb2
Kf6
Black seeks to attack the N in the corner, but he is not really at risk since his good friend, the Bishop, can rush to his aid (which may explain why all Knights go to church)
2.Be4
Ke5
3.Bc2
Kf6
4.Ng6
Kg5
5.Kc3
It's not really "B+N vs K" at all, because White's King must also be part of the mating net.
5...Kf6
6.Kd4
Kg5
7.Ke5
Kh5
[But not 7...Kg4
8.Bd3
Kf3
9.Nf4
Ke3
10.Bg6
and Black is already stuck near the right corner]
8.Bf5
Kh6
9.Kf6
Kh7
[9...Kh5
10.Ne5
Kh6
(10...Kh4
11.Bg4
Kg3
12.Kf5
Kh4
13.Nd3
Kg3
14.Kg5
and the end is near, as Black is trapped near the fatal corner. ) 11.Ng4+
Kh5
12.Ke5
Kg5
This is a place many players get excited and stop thinking - but don't worry: the Black K isn't going anywhere. Notice how the B+N cut off the retreat towards the dark-square corner. 13.Ke4
Kh4
14.Kf4
Kh5
15.Bh7
Kh4
16.Bg6
Kh3
17.Ne3
Kh4
18.Ng2+
Kh3
19.Kf3
Kh2
20.Kf2
Kh3
21.Bf5+
Kh2
22.Ne3
Kh1
23.Bg4
Kh2
24.Nf1+
Kh1
25.Bf3#
]
10.Be6
Kh6
11.Bg8
Kh5
12.Ne5
Kh4
Here is where it is easy to panic and lose the thread, as Black's King escapes the h-file. But the important point is to restrict him to the corner area, and this is readily accomplished. [12...Kh6?
only shortens the game after 13.Ng4+
Kh5
14.Kf5
Kh4
15.Kf4
Kh5
16.Bf7+
Kh4
17.Ne3
Kh3
18.Bc4
Kh4
19.Be2
Kh3
20.Bg4+
Kh2
21.Kf3
Kg1
22.Kg3
Kh1
23.Kf2
Kh2
24.Nf1+
Kh1
25.Bf3#
]
13.Kf5
Kg3
14.Ng4
Kg2
15.Bc4
Cutting off flight to the other dark-square corner at a1. I recall (then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) Gen. Colin Powell's response to a reporter's question, in the 1991 Gulf War, as to how we would deal with Saddam Hussein's elite personal army, then beating their own hasty retreat from Kuwait: "First we're going to cut it off, and then we're going to kill it."
15...Kf3
16.Bd3
Kg3
17.Be4
The noose tightens.
17...Kh3
[17...Kh4
again doesn't change the end: 18.Kf4
Kh5
19.Bc2
Kh4
20.Bg6
Kh3
21.Ne3
Kh4
22.Ng2+
Kh3
23.Kf3
Kh2
24.Bf5
Kg1
25.Ne3
Kh2
26.Kf2
& etc. as in the main line.]
18.Kf4
Kh4
19.Bg6
Kh3
20.Ne3
Kh4
21.Ng2+
Kh3
22.Kf3
Kh2
23.Kf2
Kh3
24.Bf5+
squeezing the Black King into the proper corner
24...Kh2
25.Ne3
Kh1
26.Bg4
Kh2
27.Nf1+
Kh1
28.Bf3#
It's not so hard if you know the method - but it would be very risky to assume you could find it over the board with the clock ticking if you are unprepared. A good exercise with a partner is to take turns playing offense and defense - one try each before you begin your usual speed chess session. Check the "drop-down menu" for some critical Pawn endings. 1-0