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.

Important Message: The next ending plus analysis and cumulative results for the above position will appear on Sunday August 4th. Have an enjoyable break !!

It would be a great help if regular solvers could send in their answers within the usual weekly deadline. Many thanks.

Black is aiming to win or sacrifice his Rook for the h-pawn. His two passed queenside pawns will secure him at least a draw. White's task is to prevent this from happening. With a systematic manoeuvre the Black King is forced down the board until the Rook can no longer threaten a skewer along the h-file.

6...Rc4+ 7.Kh3 Rc8 (if 7...Rc1 8.Rg2+ Kb3 9.h8Q Rh1+ 10.Rh2 wins) 8.Rg8 Rc3+ 9.Kh2 wins;

Black has run out of space and no longer has any skewer threats and the h-pawn will promote leading to an easy won ending. These systematic manouvres often occur in Rook endings and it is worth looking out for them. They are present in both defence and attack. The most famous example is the Lasker manoeuvre which we have seen here in endgame competitions.

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.