Online Chess Exercises - Position 4

Alright, this time, we have an online chess exercise taken from an endgame

It's A Battle Between The Rooks And It's Black To Move. What Would You Do?

Stop Right There!

ANSWER

If you have gone for the most normal looking move - 41...Rab2 then surprise...you got it wrong sir!

Actually, this led to White's victory - 42.b6! Rxb6 (42...cxb6 doesn't change anything - 43.Rc1! Rbc2 44.Rxc2 Rxc2 45.Rg4! and the two free pawns are decisive: 45...Rf2 46.Rc4 with a huge advantage for White) 43.Rhg4 (threatening a quick knock out (mate in 3) after 44.Rg7+ Kh8 45.Rg8+ Kh7 46.R1g7#) 43...Rb8 44.Rg7+ Kh8 45.R7g6! Kh7 46.f6 Rf8 47.Rg7+ Kh8 48.Rxc7 R2xf6 49.Rd7 R6f7 50.Rb1 and White has a winning advantage.

So what is the correct move in the position? It's 41...Rac2! And after 42.f6 (Not 42.Rhg4? Rxh2#) 42...Rxf6 43.Rhg4 Rf7! And Black is able to keep the position pretty even.

The lesson?

Correct-looking moves are NOT necessarily correct! You need to confirm things by looking deep enough...AND you need to look at the right moves. If the right moves are ever elusive to you (even with all of those years of playing and studying chess), it's about time you focus on how you think in chess.

Watch how GrandMaster's think, learn how you can apply this in your games, learn how to find hidden resources, and a whole lot more! The GrandMaster's Secrets Course by GM Igor Smirnov will give you rock solid and step by step chess instruction on how to think correctly...and it comes with excellent exercises, too!