Welcome to this active site. Each week I am going to present to you an endgame position for you to solve or to workout the best continuation. Computer analysis will also be considered. Some of these positions will come from actual historical games. Others will be composed endgame studies, but all the solutions will be relevant to the practical game. The new position will occur each SUNDAY and I will always be pleased to receive POSITIVE feedback about the positions and the analysis and I will try to acknowledge these where relevant.

German Grandmaster. World Champion from 1894-1921. From 1895 to 1924 Lasker had a staggering tournament record. In ten tournaments he won or shared eight 1st prizes, one 2nd and one 3rd. In this long period his score was a remarkable 78% (+119 =46 -18).

White will create an outside passed pawn which will be supported by an active Rook. In contrast the Black Rook will be passively placed. This is one of Lasker's great endings against a formidable opponent.

2...g5? 3.f6 Rf7 4.b4+ Kc6 (if 4...Kxb4 5.Kd4 Rf8 6.f7 Ka3 7.Kxd5+-) 5.Kd4 Kd6 6.Ra1! Rc7 7.Ra6+ Kd7 8.Kxd5 Rc4 9.Ra8 Rxg4 (if 9...Rf4 10.f7 Rxf7 11.Ra7+ wins) 10.f7 Rf4 11.f8Q wins;

This ending is of some historical interest. Before the beginning of the tournament Rubinstein had challenged Lasker to a World Championship Match, and the date was set for the autumn providing the money could be found. But Rubinstein had a disastrous tournament in St. Petersburg. After losing this ending, he lost in the next round against Alekhine and so never made it into the final stage of the tournament which was won by Lasker ahead of Capablanca. The chances of a Rubinstein-Lasker match completely vanished when WWI started in the summer.

1. Cumulative 2002 Prizes: 1st £100 or equivalent, 2nd £50, 3rd £30; 4th £20. (Total Prize Money=£200) Entries limited to 20 solvers. This event will run from 6/1/2002 to 22/12/2002 with a recess in July. Present CUMULATIVE COMPETITION rules apply but note the prizes will go to those participants who climb the ladder the greatest number of times during the year. The relative position of the solver's name on the ladder will decide the allocation of prizes.

2. Endgame Solving Tournaments 2002. They will be directed at new or intermediate solvers and will not be too difficult. No money prizes but a book prize for the highest placed newcomer. Events will take place at Easter, Summer and Christmas each consisting of 5 positions to solve. Present strict rules will apply; no computer analysis.