World Champion 1935-37. Dutch Grandmaster. It is little realised that Euwe made a major contribution to the theoretical investigation of many endings. In this field alone he contributed far more than any other World Champion with perhaps the exception of Smyslov. In the late 1950’s Max Euwe, collaborated with David Hooper to produce, “Guide to Chess Endings.” This was the first major book in the West on endings for twenty years. It was well received and enhanced their reputations as endgame theorists.

This game took place in the penultimate round of the Nottingham tournament. It is of historical interest because the result had a bearing on the allocation of prizes. At the start of the round both Botvinnik and Capablanca were the joint leaders with nine points closely followed by Euwe and Fine with eight and a half points. In the previous round Euwe had thrown away his game against Lasker with an elementary blunder in a drawn position. Perhaps he was low in confidence when he came to play the above ending because he missed the winning line (and possible share of 1st prize) as shown below. 

8.Bxc5 Ke8 9.Kxa5 b3 10.Ba3 b2 11.Bxb2 Ke7 12.Kb6 Kxe6 13.Kc7 Ke7 14.Bc3 Ng5 15.Kc6 Ke6 16.Kc5 Nh7 17.Kd4 Ng5 18.Bb2 Nh7 19.Ke4 Ng5+ 20.Kf4 Nh7 21.Ba3! WINS.

(a) Basic Endings. These are theoretical positions in which we know the correct result with optimum play by both sides. They may consist of three pawns or less and also include all the non-pawn and five piece endings which have now been extensively analysed by computer and of which we have tablebases. In the days when we had adjournments some of these endings could be looked up in text books to give us some idea how to play the position. As we no longer can do this, knowledge and memory of these endings has become important in practical play. Fundamental Chess Endings (2001) by Muller and Lamprecht and Basic Endings (1992) by Balashov and Prandstetter and the earlier A Pocket Guide to Chess Endgames (1970) by David Hooper are good introductions to these endings.

(b) Practical Endings. These occur in over-the-board play where usually more pawns are present. The above ending is an example of this type. Some of these endings are in the process of being transformed to basic endings but often they finish before this stage is reached. Endgame strategy is very different from the middlegame and has its own set of rules and exceptions. Fine's book Basic Chess Endings (1941,2003) recently revised by Pal Benko and Batsford Chess Endings (1993) by Speelman, Tisdall and Wade are about basic and practical endings and both can be recommended.

(c) Endgame Studies. These are positions which have been composed and will contain elements of one or both of the above types of endings. But there are important differences between these types and the study, such as artistic form and economy of construction. An endgame study has to follow strict rules of composition, especially if it is entered into a composing competition. One of these rules states there should only be one solution. If there is an unintended second solution then the study is unsound and said to be "cooked".