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Endgame themes

#1
We already have positional themes and tactics theme thread.
Let's have an endgame thread as well.

I just played two games with end-games, and I'd like to share the ideas :

In this game I first thought that I had gone too far, and black was going to eat all my queen side pawns, but I got the chance to lock out the black king, and then there was a winning pawn break coming on the kingside :

en.lichess.org/KGWdtwZL/white#83

#6
During the last two days a lot of my games were decided in the long-long endgames:

en.lichess.org/qYIghrtn/white#73 (rooks and pawns)

en.lichess.org/fbRb48eF/black#50 (light pieces in a very closed position, not sure if I could win by force without opponent's mistakes)

en.lichess.org/3HzqSyRq/white#73 (pawns and then queens + pawns - actually, I planned to play winning a5 in the right moment, but somehow overlooked that my opponent can also play a5 to prevent me from it - luckly he overestimated his chances in the break-throw afterwards)
#7
@alex_1987 Thanks for sharing, really interesting endings.

On the first one, you showed great technique up to move 43, clamping down on his position and stopping any counterplay, then starting to push the h and g pawns.

You seemed to lose the thread a bit from there (though you did well to pick it back up again!). Interested to know why you decided to change tack after move 43 (if there is an answer)?

On the second, I agree it's going to be difficult to win with best play from your opponent - your Bishop is nominally a bit better than his but the extra e-pawn is backward so you're going to struggle to get a passer going. You did well to win it in the way you did.

On the last, that's a really rich pawn ending - worthy of a study in itself!
#8
@FletchMK64 thank you for your interest!

Concerned the first game, yes, probably you are right. That's how computer would play - it does not need to simplify winning position, a lot of material on the board is not a problem for machine. For me it is easier however to come to a simple endgame with just 2 connected passed pawns, which is just a question of technique. Also he obviously pushes a5-a4-a3 (coming), to put the rook on b2 trying to create some difficulties. I was concerned about this thread, though probably it was just a phantom, as in any case I did not have to take it.

In third, I think 39. a5 would win by force without any questions. This was exactly the right moment as my king was coming into the square a5-e1. However, for some reason, I believed that I could play that a5 just at any time when I want. That's funny, how I overlook such a simple things like a5 from my opponent himself (I think he should have started from this move actually on 37 or 38 turn).
However, it has to be calculated precisely if I could win after move 42 by force with the right defence (black king is coming to defend h7) - sure I could come and take this h7 pawn thanks to my passer on e5, but then when my king is too far he also has break with b5. Not sure if I would not actually lose trying to win in this way... But I did not calculate it precisely yet.
#9
I thought this game just played had an interesting endgame.
Even though I got a doubled pawn, I tried to trap a bishop with it.
en.lichess.org/URoMj508/black#43

After 26.Nd5 the move c7c6 looked tempting for a moment, but I realized after a little while that c7c6 didn't lead to any advantage, and I had to give up the bishop pair (sob..) to continue using the almost trapped white bishop.
#10
"A tempo is everything..."


A fun domination of a knight by a king and a pawn, followed by a very tricky knight vs pawn ending.

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