The Human Gnome Presents
Basic Endgame Traps


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      Until I have time to put up some more complicated endgame positions here are a few basic traps which should be remembered.


ROOK'S PAWN AND WRONG BISHOP

Draw: White can't force the black king away from a8 and therefore can't queen.


OPPOSITE COLOURED BISHOPS

Draw: Black controls the squares infront of the white pawns. Whites bishop unable to attack these squares and therefore black can set up a blockade on them preventing the pawns advancing. If you're really bored try setting this up against a computer. It remains convinced its winning until fifty moves have passed and it has to declare a draw.


STALEMATE ONE

White to play cannot stop the pawn queening. However white can easily force the draw by: 1. Rg7+ Kf8 2. Rg5 f1=Q 3. Rf5 QxR stalemate.