Endgame study
Encyclopedia
An endgame study, or just study, is a composed chess
position—that is, one that has been made up rather than one from an actual game—presented as a sort of puzzle, in which the aim of the solver is to find a way for one side (usually White) to win or draw, as stipulated, against any moves the other side plays.
s in which the stipulation is to "checkmate black in two moves against any defense," for example. However, while problems often present very artificial looking positions, studies often appear that they could occur in a game.
As with problems, for a study to be regarded as a good one, it must have only one solution. Some argue that White must have only one move at each juncture to achieve one's aim, though some feel that minor alternatives (such as a choice of moving a knight b1–c3–b5 or b1–a3–b5) are permissible.
Various methods of classifying studies have been attempted; a commonly used indexing system is the GBR code
.
studies exist in manuscripts from the 9th century, and the earliest treatises on modern chess by the likes of Luis Ramirez Lucena
and Pedro Damiano
(late 15th and early 16th century) also include studies. However, these studies often include superfluous pieces, added to make the position look more "game-like", but which take no part in the actual solution (something that is never done in the modern study). Various names were given to these positions (Damiano, for example, called them "subtelties"); the first book which called them "studies" appears to be Chess Studiels, an 1851 publication by Josef Kling
and Bernhard Horwitz
, which is sometimes also regarded as the starting point for the modern endgame study. The form is considered to have been raised to an art in the late 19th century, with A. A. Troitzky and Henri Rinck
particularly important in this respect.
Most composers
, including Troitzky, Rinck, and other famous figures such as Genrikh Kasparyan, are known primarily for their studies, being little known as players. However, some famous players have also composed endgame studies, with Emanuel Lasker
, Richard Réti
, and Jan Timman
being perhaps the most notable ones.
). At first sight, this seems an impossible task: if White tries to chase after Black's pawn he can never catch it (1. Kh7 h4 2.Kh6 h3 etc. is clearly hopeless), while it is clear that Black will simply take White's pawn if he tries to promote it.
White can draw however, by taking advantage of the fact that the king can move in two directions at once: towards Black's pawn and towards White's own. The solution is 1.Kg7! h4 (1...Kb6 2. Kf6! h4 3.Ke5! transposes) 2.Kf6! Kb6 (if 2...h3, then 3.Ke6 h2 4.c7 Kb7 5.Kd7 allows white to promote his pawn) 3.Ke5! Now, if 3...Kxc6, then 4.Kf4 stops Black's pawn after all, while if 3...h3 4.Kd6 allows White to promote his pawn. Either way, the result is a draw. (Also see King and pawn versus king endgame, the section Rule of the square.)
Not all studies are as simple as the above Réti example. The study to the right is by Kasparyan (first published in Magyar Sakkélet, 1962). White is to play and draw. The main line of the solution is 1.Ra1 a2 2.Ke6 Ba3 3.Bf4 Bb2 4.Be5 a3 5.Kd5 Bg6 6.Bd4 Bf7+ 7.Ke4 Bc4 8.Rg1, but there are various alternatives for both sides. For example, White could try 1.Bf4 on one's first move, with the idea 1...Bxa2 2.Bxd6 and 3.Bxa3 is a draw, but Black can defeat this idea with 1...Bxf4 2.Rxa3 Bc2, which wins. To understand why one move works and another one does not requires quite advanced chess knowledge. Indeed, it will not be obvious to many players that the position at the end of the given line (see the diagram below on the right) is a draw at all.
Another study is shown at the Alexey Troitsky
article. For what is sometimes reckoned to be the most famous study of all, see Saavedra position
.
Note: Russian names may be written with other spellings. The list is ordered alphabetically by surname.
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
position—that is, one that has been made up rather than one from an actual game—presented as a sort of puzzle, in which the aim of the solver is to find a way for one side (usually White) to win or draw, as stipulated, against any moves the other side plays.
Overview
To the extent that they are composed positions and offer the solver a specific task, endgame studies are similar to chess problemChess problem
A chess problem, also called a chess composition, is a puzzle set by somebody using chess pieces on a chess board, that presents the solver with a particular task to be achieved. For instance, a position might be given with the instruction that White is to move first, and checkmate Black in two...
s in which the stipulation is to "checkmate black in two moves against any defense," for example. However, while problems often present very artificial looking positions, studies often appear that they could occur in a game.
As with problems, for a study to be regarded as a good one, it must have only one solution. Some argue that White must have only one move at each juncture to achieve one's aim, though some feel that minor alternatives (such as a choice of moving a knight b1–c3–b5 or b1–a3–b5) are permissible.
Various methods of classifying studies have been attempted; a commonly used indexing system is the GBR code
GBR code
The GBR code or Guy-Blandford-Roycroft code is a system of representing the pieces on the board in a chess position. Publications such as EG use it to classify endgame types and to index endgame studies....
.
Composed studies
Composed studies predate the modern form of chess. ShatranjShatranj
Shatranj is an old form of chess, which came to the Western world from India. Modern chess has gradually developed from this game.-Etymology and origins:...
studies exist in manuscripts from the 9th century, and the earliest treatises on modern chess by the likes of Luis Ramirez Lucena
Luis Ramirez Lucena
Luis Ramírez de Lucena was a leading Spanish chess player. He wrote the oldest existing printed book on chess, Repetition of Love and the Art of Playing Chess , published in Salamanca in 1497...
and Pedro Damiano
Pedro Damiano
Pedro Damiano was a Portuguese chess player who lived from 1480 to 1544. A native of Odemira, he was a pharmacist by profession...
(late 15th and early 16th century) also include studies. However, these studies often include superfluous pieces, added to make the position look more "game-like", but which take no part in the actual solution (something that is never done in the modern study). Various names were given to these positions (Damiano, for example, called them "subtelties"); the first book which called them "studies" appears to be Chess Studiels, an 1851 publication by Josef Kling
Josef Kling
Josef Kling was a German chess master and chess composer. In 1851 he wrote Chess Studies with Bernhard Horwitz.-External links:* at Chessgames.com...
and Bernhard Horwitz
Bernhard Horwitz
Bernhard Horwitz was a German English chess master and chess writer.Horwitz was born in Neustrelitz, and went to school in Berlin, where he studied art. From 1837 to 1843, he was part of a group of German chess players known as "The Pleiades".He moved to London in 1845...
, which is sometimes also regarded as the starting point for the modern endgame study. The form is considered to have been raised to an art in the late 19th century, with A. A. Troitzky and Henri Rinck
Henri Rinck
Henri Rinck was a French chess study composer, considered one of the most important early figures in the field.-Biography:...
particularly important in this respect.
Most composers
Chess composer
A chess composer is a person who creates endgame studies or chess problems. He usually specializes in a particular genre, e.g. endgame studies, twomovers, threemovers, moremovers, helpmates, selfmates, fairy problems...
, including Troitzky, Rinck, and other famous figures such as Genrikh Kasparyan, are known primarily for their studies, being little known as players. However, some famous players have also composed endgame studies, with Emanuel Lasker
Emanuel Lasker
Emanuel Lasker was a German chess player, mathematician, and philosopher who was World Chess Champion for 27 years...
, Richard Réti
Richard Réti
Réti composed one of the most famous chess studies, shown in this diagram. It was published in Ostrauer Morgenzeitung 4 December 1921. It seems impossible for the white king to catch the advanced black pawn, while the white pawn can be easily stopped by the black king...
, and Jan Timman
Jan Timman
Jan Timman is a Dutch chess Grandmaster who was one of the world's leading players from the late 1970s to the early 1990s. At the peak of his career he was considered to be the best non-Soviet player and was known as "The Best of the West"...
being perhaps the most notable ones.
Examples
The first study, by Richard Réti, is one of the most famous of all time. It is White to play and draw (see Réti endgame studyRéti endgame study
The Réti endgame study is a chess endgame study by Richard Réti. It was published in 1921 in Kagans Neueste Schachnachrichten. It demonstrates how a king can make multiple threats and how it can take more than one path to a given location, using the same number of moves...
). At first sight, this seems an impossible task: if White tries to chase after Black's pawn he can never catch it (1. Kh7 h4 2.Kh6 h3 etc. is clearly hopeless), while it is clear that Black will simply take White's pawn if he tries to promote it.
White can draw however, by taking advantage of the fact that the king can move in two directions at once: towards Black's pawn and towards White's own. The solution is 1.Kg7! h4 (1...Kb6 2. Kf6! h4 3.Ke5! transposes) 2.Kf6! Kb6 (if 2...h3, then 3.Ke6 h2 4.c7 Kb7 5.Kd7 allows white to promote his pawn) 3.Ke5! Now, if 3...Kxc6, then 4.Kf4 stops Black's pawn after all, while if 3...h3 4.Kd6 allows White to promote his pawn. Either way, the result is a draw. (Also see King and pawn versus king endgame, the section Rule of the square.)
Not all studies are as simple as the above Réti example. The study to the right is by Kasparyan (first published in Magyar Sakkélet, 1962). White is to play and draw. The main line of the solution is 1.Ra1 a2 2.Ke6 Ba3 3.Bf4 Bb2 4.Be5 a3 5.Kd5 Bg6 6.Bd4 Bf7+ 7.Ke4 Bc4 8.Rg1, but there are various alternatives for both sides. For example, White could try 1.Bf4 on one's first move, with the idea 1...Bxa2 2.Bxd6 and 3.Bxa3 is a draw, but Black can defeat this idea with 1...Bxf4 2.Rxa3 Bc2, which wins. To understand why one move works and another one does not requires quite advanced chess knowledge. Indeed, it will not be obvious to many players that the position at the end of the given line (see the diagram below on the right) is a draw at all.
Another study is shown at the Alexey Troitsky
Alexey Troitsky
Alexey Alexeyevich Troitsky, or Alexei, or Troitzky is considered to have been one of the greatest composers of chess endgame studies. He is widely regarded as the founder of the modern art of composing chess studies...
article. For what is sometimes reckoned to be the most famous study of all, see Saavedra position
Saavedra position
The Saavedra position is one of the best known chess endgame studies. It is named after the Spanish priest Rev. Fernando Saavedra , who, while living in Glasgow in the late 19th century, spotted a win in a position previously thought to have been a draw...
.
Early example
Most of the earliest studies are not valid in modern chess because the move of the queen and bishop have changed. In addition, pawns promoted only to the predecessor of the modern queen, which was a weak piece with a limited movement. However the moves of the king, rook, and knight are unchanged. In this Arabic study from 1140, White wins because the black knight is poorly placed.Endgame study composers
- Yochanan AfekYochanan AfekYochanan Afek is an Israeli chess player, composer, trainer and arbiter. He described pioneering Israeli master Moshe Czerniak as "my teacher"...
(born in Tel AvivTel AvivTel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
1952). Israeli chess master and composer of endgame studies and problems. International Master for chess composition (1989). He published about 120 studies and won many awards, e.g. eleven first prizes.
- Iuri AkobiaIuri AkobiaIuri Akobia is a Georgian composer of chess endgame studies and chess problems. He was born in Anaklia, Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic, USSR, on May 20, 1937...
(b. 1937). Georgian composer of over 300 studies and author of many books on endgame composition, among which 4332 Studies with Stalemate, 4492 Studies with Mate, 4324 Studies with Positional draw. By profession a radiotechnical engineer, he worked for many years in the Georgian National TV station.
- Friedrich AmelungFriedrich AmelungFriedrich Ludwig Balthasar Amelung was a Baltic German chess player, endgame composer, and journalist.Amelung was born at Võisiku manor in Governorate of Livonia of the Russian Empire . He played a few games with Adolf Anderssen, Gustav Neumann, Carl Mayet, Emil Schallopp, Andreas Ascharin,...
(1842–1909). Estonian composer of about 230 studies.
- Ghamiet Amirjan (b. 1934). Armenian composers of over 300 studies.
- Yuri AverbakhYuri AverbakhYuri Lvovich Averbakh is a Soviet and Russian chess player and author. He is currently the oldest living chess grandmaster.-Life and career:...
(b. 1922). Russian Grandmaster (winner of a Soviet ChampionshipUSSR Chess ChampionshipThis is a list of all the winners of the USSR Chess Championship. It was the strongest national chess championship ever held, with eight world chess champions and four world championship finalists among its winners...
in 1954) and composer of over 200 studies, many of which giving important contributions to endgame theory. With Chekhover and others he published in 1956 a four-volumes encyclopedia on endgames: "Lehrbuch der Endspiele".
- Yuri Bazlov (b. 1947) . Russian composer of about 120 studies, winner of 16 first prizes. In 2005 and 2006 he won the PCCCPermanent Commission of the FIDE for Chess CompositionsThe Permanent Commission of the FIDE for Chess Compositions is the highest body governing the official activities in the chess composition, mandated by FIDE.Currently 39 countries are represented in the PCCC.Main duties of the Commission include:...
" Study of the Year " award.
- Alexander BeliavskyAlexander Beliavsky-External links:...
(born in LvivLvivLviv is a city in western Ukraine. The city is regarded as one of the main cultural centres of today's Ukraine and historically has also been a major Polish and Jewish cultural center, as Poles and Jews were the two main ethnicities of the city until the outbreak of World War II and the following...
1953). Ucrainian Grandmaster and composer of about 40 endgame studies, many of which with Leopold MitrofanovLeopold MitrofanovLeopold Adamovich Mitrofanov was a Russian chess composer, an International Judge of Chess Composition and an International Master of Chess Composition . He was born in Leningrad Leopold Adamovich Mitrofanov (July 2, 1932 November 26, 1992) was a Russian chess composer, an International Judge of...
. Winner of many recognitions, e.g. three first prizes.
- Pal BenkoPál BenkoPal Benko is a chess grandmaster, author, and composer of endgame studies and chess problems.- Early life :Benko was born in France but was raised in Hungary. He was Hungarian champion by age 20. He emigrated to the United States in 1958, after defecting following the World Student Team...
(b. 1928). Born in France from Hungarian parents, he emigrated to the USA in 1956. A very strong master over the board, he composed many endgame studies, winning 24 first prizes.
- Charles BentCharles Bent (chess)Charles Michael Bent was an English composer of chess endgame studies. He was born in Newbury, Berkshire on November 27, 1919 and died on December 28, 2004 in a motorway accident. Bent was the most prolific English endgame composer and one of the top ten in the world...
(1919–2004) . English composer of over 800 studies, winner of seven first prizes.
- Johann BergerJohann BergerJohann Nepomuk Berger was an Austrian chess master, theorist, endgame study composer, author and editor.In September 1870, he won the first tournament in the Austro-Hungarian Empire at Graz...
(1845–1933) . Austrian chess master, composer of about 250 studies and author of many chess publications.
- Rinaldo Bianchetti (Genova 1882–1963). Italian endgame composer. In 1925 he published " Contributo alla teoria dei finali di soli pedoni " in which he proposed the theory of reciprocal squares in pawn endings.
- Filip Bondarenko (1905–1993). Ucrainian composer of over 400 studies, winner of 19 first prizes. Author of many books, among which Triumph of the Russian Study (1955).
- Vladimir BronVladimir BronVladimir Akimovich Bron was a Soviet chess master and problemist.Born into a Jewish family in Nikolaev , near Kherson, he was one of the leading scientists of the refractory materials industry...
(1909–1985). Russian composer of over 400 studies, winner of 29 first prizes. Grandmaster for chess composition and author of many books, e.g. Selected studies and problems (1969).
- Ignazio CalviIgnazio CalviIgnazio Calvi was an Italian patriot and chess player.After taking part to a popular insurrection in Modena and participating to a military campaign of the Savoia army, he was forced to expatriate. He moved to Paris in 1834, remaining there for 14 years...
(1797–1872). Italian chess player and composer. He was the first to use with some depth the theme of under-promotion in endgame studies.
- Oscar Carlsson (b. 1929). Argentinian International Judge for chess composition, author of about 80 endgame studies.
- Vitaly ChekhoverVitaly ChekhoverVitaly Chekhover was a Soviet chess player and chess composer. He was also a pianist.- Composing career :...
(1908–1965). Russian chess master and composer of about 150 studies. He is considered a major specialist on Knight endgames. Together with Averbakh he published in 1956 a four-volume encyclopedia on endgames.
- André ChéronAndré ChéronAndré Chéron was a French chess player, endgame theorist, and a composer of endgame studies. He lived in Switzerland for many years...
(1895–1980). French player and composer of over 300 studies. He won the France championship in 1926–27–29, then turned fully to endgame composition. Many of his studies are considered classics of endgame theory. Author of many books and a three-volume anthology of endgame studies (1952).
- Luigi Centurini (1820–1900). Italian player and composer born in Genoa, he gave notable contributions to endgame theory, e.g. Bishop vs. Rook and pawns, Queen vs. Rook.
- Emilian DobrescuEmilian DobrescuEmilian Dobrescu is a Romanian economist and chess composer.In addition to serving as one of the highly respected members of the Romanian Academy, which is an influential academic forum in Romania, Dobrescu has published a large numbers of books and articles on various topics in the field of...
(b. 1933). Romanian composer and author of many books, among which Chess Study Composition. He published about 400 works, winning 64 first prizes. By profession he is a University teacher of Economical Sciences.
- Oldřich DurasOldrich DurasOldřich Duras was a leading Czech chess master of the early 20th century...
(1882–1957). A very strong Czech master, in 1914 he retired from over-the-board play and turned fully to endgame composition, winning 10 first prizes.
- Paul Farago (1886–1970). Born in Hungary, he moved to Romania at age 24 and lived there for the rest of his life. An engineer by profession, from 1936 he was editor of the Romanian chess review. He composed over 200 studies, winning 19 first prizes.
- Jindrich Fritz (1912–1984). Czech composer of over 500 studies and problems, 26 of which won first prize. Together with Richard Réti he was a follower of the famous "Bohemian School", in which most studies end in elegant checkmates or stalemates. He was a lawyer by profession.
- Tigran Gorgiev (1910–1976). Russian composer of about 500 studies. He is considered among the major reperesentatives of the grotesque genre, in which the initial position cannot be reached in practical play. He won 31 first prizes.
- Nikolay Grigoriev (1895–1938). Russian chess master and composer of over 300 studies. He is considered an authority for only pawns and Rooks and pawns endgames.
- Alexander Gulyaev–Grin (b. 1908). Russian endgame and problem composer. He adopted the pseudonym "Grin" for tourneys in western countries. Author of about 200 works and winner of many major prizes.
- David Gurgenidze (b. 1933). Georgian composer, FIDE Grandmaster for composition. He published more than 600 studies, winning 32 first prizes. He often worked together with Yuri Akobia.
- Abram GurvichAbram GurvichAbram Solomonovich Gurvich was a Russian composer of chess endgame studies. He was born in Baku on February 11, 1897, worked as literature and theatrical reviewer. His first chess study was published in 1926. Gurvich composed more than 100 endgame studies. Died in Moscow on November 18, 1962...
(1897–1962). Russian endgame composer, called "The Poet" for the beauty of many of his works, most of which were miniatures (with a maximum of seven pieces). Author in 1955 of "Soviet Chess Problems", by profession he was a theatrical and literary reviewer.
- Vitaly HalberstadtVitaly HalberstadtVitaly Halberstadt was a French chess player, problemist and, above all, a noted endgame study composer.Born in Odessa, Russian Empire , he emigrated to France...
(OdessaOdessaOdessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
1903 – Paris 1968). Ukrainian-born study composer, emigrated to France in 1925. Author of about 200 studies, some of which with Leonid Kubbel. With Marcel DuchampMarcel DuchampMarcel Duchamp was a French artist whose work is most often associated with the Dadaist and Surrealist movements. Considered by some to be one of the most important artists of the 20th century, Duchamp's output influenced the development of post-World War I Western art...
he published in 1932 "L'opposition et les cases conjuguées sont réconciliées". Nine of his studies were awarded first prize.
- Alexander Herbstmann (1900–1982). Russian composer, FIDE International Judge, winner of 18 first prizes. Sometimes spelled "Gerbstmann".
- Jehuda Hoch (b. 1946). Israeli composer of about 150 studies, three of which won first prize.
- David Vincent HooperDavid Vincent HooperDavid Vincent Hooper , born in Reigate, was a British chess player and writer. As an amateur, he tied for fifth place in the 1949 British Championship at Felixstowe. He was the British correspondence chess champion in 1944 and the London Chess Champion in 1948...
(1915–1998). English player and composer, author of A Pocket guide to chess endgames.
- Bernhard HorwitzBernhard HorwitzBernhard Horwitz was a German English chess master and chess writer.Horwitz was born in Neustrelitz, and went to school in Berlin, where he studied art. From 1837 to 1843, he was part of a group of German chess players known as "The Pleiades".He moved to London in 1845...
(1807–1885). German composer of ca. 400 studies and author with Josef KlingJosef KlingJosef Kling was a German chess master and chess composer. In 1851 he wrote Chess Studies with Bernhard Horwitz.-External links:* at Chessgames.com...
of the first anthology of endgames: Chess Studies London 1851.
- Velimir Kalandadze (b. 1935). Georgian composer of about 250 studies, winner of six first prizes.
- Genrikh Kasparyan (1910–1995). Foremost Armenian player (ten times winner of the Armenian Championship) and composer. He was the first studist to be awarded the title of Grand Master of composition from FIDE (1972). Author of about 600 works, many of which on the theme of domination, he won 57 first prizes.
- Alexander KazantsevAlexander KazantsevAlexander Petrovitch Kazantsev was a popular Soviet science fiction writer and ufologist.-Biography:Born in Akmolinsk, Imperial Russia . He graduated from Tomsk Polytechnic University, and worked in Soviet Research institute of Electromechanics. Kazantsev was a member of Soviet delegation at the...
(1906–2002). Russian composer of about 120 studies, winner of 11 first prizes. He was also a successful science-fiction writer.
- Paul KeresPaul KeresPaul Keres , was an Estonian chess grandmaster, and a renowned chess writer. He was among the world's top players from the mid-1930s to the mid-1960s....
(1916–1975). A very strong Estonian Grandmaster, he composed about 60 endgame studies.
- Josef KlingJosef KlingJosef Kling was a German chess master and chess composer. In 1851 he wrote Chess Studies with Bernhard Horwitz.-External links:* at Chessgames.com...
(1811–1876). German master and composer of some 400 studies, most of which together with Bernhard HorwitzBernhard HorwitzBernhard Horwitz was a German English chess master and chess writer.Horwitz was born in Neustrelitz, and went to school in Berlin, where he studied art. From 1837 to 1843, he was part of a group of German chess players known as "The Pleiades".He moved to London in 1845...
.
- Theodorus Kok (1906–1999). Dutch composer of about 300 studies. Winner of two first prizes, one of which in 1934 with a famous miniature.
- Viktor Kondratjev (1945–2001). Russian composer of over 200 studies, many of which together with A. Kopnin.
- Nikolai Kopayev (1914–1978). Russian composer of about 80 studies, one of the major experts in Rook and pawns endgames.
- Attila Koranyi (1934–1997). Hungarian composer of about 150 studies, FIDE Judge for composition (1984), winner of 34 first prize awards.
- Vladimir Korolkov (1907–1987). Russian composer of over 300 studies, he was a chief representative of the paradoxical and romantic genre. FIDE Grandmaster for composition and winner of 27 first prizes.
- Vladimir Kos (1928–2007). Czech composer of about 60 studies, International Judge for composition (1991). He was an engineer by profession.
- Nikolaj Kralin (b. 1944). Russian Grandmaster of composition. Author of some 300 studies, he won more than 30 first prizes.
- Josif Krikheli (1931–1988). Georgian/Hebrew composer of about 70 studies, winner of six first prizes in international tourneys.
- Leonid KubbelLeonid KubbelLeonid Ivanovich Kubbel was a Russian composer of chess endgame studies and problems. He was born in Leningrad at the end of 1891, or beginning of 1892 and died in the same city on April 18, 1942...
(1891–1942). Foremost Russian composer of over 500 studies, many of which were awarded first prize for their great beauty and original conception. Also his brothers Ardid and Evgeny were chess players, Ardid being a strong master (he played in the first four USSR championships) and Evgeny a chess composer. Both Leonid and Evgeny Kubbel died of starvation during the Nazi siege of Leningrad.
- Mark Liburkin (1910–1953). Russian composer of studies of supreme elegance, many of which won first prize.
- Harold Lommer (1910–1980). British player and composer of over 100 studies.
- Jan Hendrik Marwitz (1915–1991). Dutch composer of about 150 studies, winner of 16 first prizes.
- Hermann Mattison (1894–1932). Latvian player and composer.
- Leopold MitrofanovLeopold MitrofanovLeopold Adamovich Mitrofanov was a Russian chess composer, an International Judge of Chess Composition and an International Master of Chess Composition . He was born in Leningrad Leopold Adamovich Mitrofanov (July 2, 1932 November 26, 1992) was a Russian chess composer, an International Judge of...
(1932–1992). Latvian composer of over 200 studies, winner of 40 first prizes.
- Gia NadareishviliGia NadareishviliGia Nadareishvili was a Soviet chess composer of Georgian nationality, and author of many books on chess studies....
(1921–1991). Georgian composer of a few hundred studies, many of which together with Yuri Akobia. Editor of an anthology of 312 studies commented by famous Grandmasters. International master of composition, winner of 27 first prizes.
- Virgil Nestorescu (b. 1929). Romanian Grandmaster of study composition. Author of about 200 studies, he won 26 first prizes.
- John NunnJohn NunnJohn Denis Martin Nunn is one of England's strongest chess players and once belonged to the world's top ten. He is also a three times world champion in chess problem solving, a chess writer and publisher, and a mathematician....
(b. 1955). A very strong English Grandmaster and composer of over 300 studies, he is a major expert in compiling endgame tablebases for chess-playing engines. Two times World Champion for solving of chess compositions (2004 and 2007).
- Enrico PaoliEnrico PaoliEnrico Paoli , was an Italian chess master.He was born in Trieste, Italy, and learned chess when he was nine years old. He won his last Italian Championship at age 60, and organized the famous Reggio Emilia chess tournament...
(1908–2005). Italian Grandmaster "Honoris Causa" (1996) and composer of about 150 studies. Author of many books on the endgame, e.g. 96 Studi Scacchistici and Il Finale negli Scacchi.
- Edmund Peckover (1897–1982). English/American composer of over 100 studies.
- Pauli Perkonoja (b. 1941-07-19). Finnish study composer, International master of composition from 1969 and world champion in 1995 of problems solution.
- Oleg Pervakov. Russian composer of about 100 studies, winner of more than 20 first prizes. One of them, a study of with only pawns, is quite famous. He works as a chess journalist for the Russian chess magazine "64".
- Platov brothers Mikhail (1883–1938) and Vassily (1881–1952). Latvian brothers, they composed over 300 studies, most of them together.
- Ernest Pogosjants (1935–1990). Also spelled Pogosjanz. Latvian Grand master of composition, he published 1790 studies, making him the most prolific of all composers. He won 22 first prizes.
- Frantisek Prokop (1901–1973). Czech composer of about 300 studies. Author of many books, e.g. The Magic of Chess Diagrams in 1968.
- Richard RétiRichard RétiRéti composed one of the most famous chess studies, shown in this diagram. It was published in Ostrauer Morgenzeitung 4 December 1921. It seems impossible for the white king to catch the advanced black pawn, while the white pawn can be easily stopped by the black king...
(1889–1929). Czech Grand Master and composer of some 100 studies, one of which, an ending with only pawns, is very famous (see diagram in this article).
- Henri RinckHenri RinckHenri Rinck was a French chess study composer, considered one of the most important early figures in the field.-Biography:...
(Lyon 1870 – Badalona 1952). French study composer, he emigrated to Spain in 1910. He published 1670 studies, winning 58 first prizes. A chemist by profession, he devised the Rinck Code for diagrams classification.
- Pietro Rossi (b. 1924). Italian composer of over 100 studies. The Italian Chess Federation (FSI) awarded him a gold medal in 2007 for his merits in the field of chess composition.
- John RoycroftJohn RoycroftArthur John Roycroft is an English chess endgame study composer and author, who lives in North West London. He is married to Betty Roycroft...
(b. 1929). English Grandmaster of chess composition. Author of many publications and editor of the study and problems section of New in ChessNew In ChessNew In Chess is a chess magazine that appears eight times a year with chief editors International Grandmaster Jan Timman and Dirk Jan Ten Geuzendam. It contains notes by top players and chess prodigies on their own games...
. Founder (1965) and editor-in-chief of the quarterly magazine EGEG (magazine)EG is a magazine that publishes endgame studies and discusses various aspects of the endgame in chess. The letters "EG" stand for "End Game."...
, entirely dedicated to endgame studies.
- Jan RusinekJan RusinekJan Rusinek is a Polish mathematician and chess composer, particularly noted for his brilliant endgame studies.He was editor of the study section of Szachy from 1971 to the magazine's closure in 1990. Rusinek became an International Judge of chess composition in 1983, and a Grandmaster of chess...
(b. 1950). Brilliant Polish Grandmaster for chess composition, winner of 32 first prizes.
- Fernando SaavedraFernando SaavedraFernando Antonio Saavedra Valencia is an a Chilean football defender and his currently playing for San Felipe.Between 2006 and 2007 he played for Quilmes of the Primera División Argentina.-External links: at Futbol XXI...
(1847–1922). Spanish composer, later settled in Britain. Famous for a study demonstrating that an underpromotion to Rook wins an endgame previously considered as drawn (Glasgow 1895). See diagram in this article.
- Boris Sakharov (1914–1973). Russian composer of about 70 studies. By profession an electronics engineer, he was the first Vice-President of the FIDE Problems Commission.
- Alexander Sarychev (1909–1987). Russian composer of over 100 studies, most of which with minor pieces and pawns, often with brilliant ideas. Winner of 10 first prizes.
- Alexey SeleznievAlexey SeleznievAlexey Selezniev was a Russian chess master....
(1888–1967). Russian player and study composer.
- Vasily SmyslovVasily SmyslovVasily Vasilyevich Smyslov was a Soviet and Russian chess grandmaster, and was World Chess Champion from 1957 to 1958. He was a Candidate for the World Chess Championship on eight occasions . Smyslov was twice equal first at the Soviet Championship , and his total of 17 Chess Olympiad medals won...
(1921–2010). Russian Grandmaster, World Champion 1957–58. Composer of many studies and author with Levenfish of a work on Rook and pawns endgames.
- Edward Cecil Tattersall (1877–1957). British composer and author in 1910 of the first English-language collection of selected studies: A Thousand Endgames.
- Jan TimmanJan TimmanJan Timman is a Dutch chess Grandmaster who was one of the world's leading players from the late 1970s to the early 1990s. At the peak of his career he was considered to be the best non-Soviet player and was known as "The Best of the West"...
(b. 1950). Dutch Grandmaster and composer of 145 endgame studies.
- Alexey TroitskyAlexey TroitskyAlexey Alexeyevich Troitsky, or Alexei, or Troitzky is considered to have been one of the greatest composers of chess endgame studies. He is widely regarded as the founder of the modern art of composing chess studies...
(1866–1942). Foremost Russian composer considered the father of the contemporary school of study composition. Author of over 1000 studies with important contributions to endgame theory, especially of Knights vs. pawns.
- Harold van der HeijdenHarold van der HeijdenHarold van der Heijden is a Dutch composer of chess endgame studies. He was born in Veghel, The Netherlands, on December 18, 1960. By profession, after finishing his PhD in 2009, he is head of the R&D department of a veterinary institute....
(b. 1960). Dutch composer of about 100 studies and author of a database containing 67691 studies (2005).
- Julien Gustave Vandiest (b. 1919). Belgian composer of 398 studies, winner of 10 first prizes.
- Milan VukcevichMilan VukcevichMilan Radoje Vukcevich was a Yugoslav scientist, chess International Master, Grandmaster chess problem composer, and writer....
(1937–2003). American player and composer born in Yugoslavia. He was the first American citizen to be awarded the title of FIDE Grandmaster of composition (1988). Third in the US championship 1975 above Reshewski, Byrne and Evans, for many years he was considered the strongest in the world for problems solution. By profession an electrical engineer, he was for many years in the scientific staff of the General Electric company.
- Vitold Yakimchik (1911–1977). Russian master and composer of about 150 studies. In Kasparyan's own words: "He created works of outstanding quality which will forever hold a high place in the history of composition". He won 15 first prizes, though he rarely participated in non-Soviet tourneys.
- Alois WotawaAlois WotawaAlois Wotawa was an Austrian composer of chess problems and endgame studies. He was born and died in Vienna.-Composition career:...
(1896–1970). Foremost Austrian composer of about 300 studies, often with brilliant, paradoxical and very hidden solutions. He never won any prize for he didn't participate to official tourneys.
- Gleb Zakhodyakin (1912–1982). Russian composer of about 200 studies and winner of many first prizes.
- Mikhail Zinar (b. 1951). Ukrainian composer of about 280 studies, most of which of the king-and-pawns type. Considered by many as the greatest expert in pawn endgames. Author of "Harmony in Pawn's Studies", Kiev 1990.
Further reading
- John Beasley and Timothy Whitworth, Endgame Magic (Batsford, 1996), an introduction to the subject
- A. J. Roycroft, Test Tube Chess (Faber, 1972), a general overview of studies, including 433 examples
- Flemish miniatures. 123 chess endgame studies, composed, compiled and published by Ignace Vandecasteele, Julien Vandiest and Roger Missiaen, 1998, ARVES ‘book of the year’ 1997, ISBN 90-901161-2-5. The best studies of the three musketeersThe Three MusketeersThe Three Musketeers is a novel by Alexandre Dumas, first serialized in March–July 1844. Set in the 17th century, it recounts the adventures of a young man named d'Artagnan after he leaves home to travel to Paris, to join the Musketeers of the Guard...
of the FlemishFlandersFlanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
endgame community.
- 360 Brilliant and Instructive End Games, by A. A. Troitzky, 1968, Dover Pubns. ISBN 0-486-21959-3. A collection of 360 endgame studies by Troitzky.