I don't understand this Endgame - why does Stockfish want me to move my knight to the Kingside? • page 1/1 • Game analysis • lichess.org

I just played this Blitz game (I was Black). I thought I played alright, but I clearly did not understand the endgame. The computer keeps suggesting I move my knight over to the kingside, and I honestly don't understand why.

Did I have an obvious plan in this endgame that involved preserving my knight? My idea was just to use my extra pawn at some point, but I couldn't see a clear way forward. I definitely thought White's bishop was worth more than my knight here...

The problems start around move 47:

https://lichess.org/Hu10VDt9#47

I appreciate any input on how to understand this endgame :)

I just played this Blitz game (I was Black). I thought I played alright, but I clearly did not understand the endgame. The computer keeps suggesting I move my knight over to the kingside, and I honestly don't understand why. Did I have an obvious plan in this endgame that involved preserving my knight? My idea was just to use my extra pawn at some point, but I couldn't see a clear way forward. I definitely thought White's bishop was worth more than my knight here... The problems start around move 47: https://lichess.org/Hu10VDt9#47 I appreciate any input on how to understand this endgame :)

tpr

#2

"The computer keeps suggesting I move my knight over to the kingside, and I honestly don't understand why." - To protect pawn h6 against the white king.

"Did I have an obvious plan in this endgame that involved preserving my knight?"
If white trades his bishop for your knight, then the white king is the first to capture your pawn h6 and then queen his pawn h2.

"My idea was just to use my extra pawn at some point, but I couldn't see a clear way forward. " -- You have an extra pawn, but you have no way to create a passed pawn. So you should first activate your king and your knight.

"I definitely thought White's bishop was worth more than my knight here..." Yes, but by trading his bishop for your knight he wins the pawn ending as he captures your weak pawn h6 and queens his pawn h2.

"The computer keeps suggesting I move my knight over to the kingside, and I honestly don't understand why." - To protect pawn h6 against the white king. "Did I have an obvious plan in this endgame that involved preserving my knight?" If white trades his bishop for your knight, then the white king is the first to capture your pawn h6 and then queen his pawn h2. "My idea was just to use my extra pawn at some point, but I couldn't see a clear way forward. " -- You have an extra pawn, but you have no way to create a passed pawn. So you should first activate your king and your knight. "I definitely thought White's bishop was worth more than my knight here..." Yes, but by trading his bishop for your knight he wins the pawn ending as he captures your weak pawn h6 and queens his pawn h2.

InvincibleX17

#3

Move 47 ?

Game ended in 41 moves

Move 47 ? Game ended in 41 moves

DEFAULT08

#4

Γιατί το κάνεις αυτό ολόκληρη συζήτηση; Έλεος πια! Σταματήστε να κάνετε τη κάθε παπαριά μια συζήτηση!

cweis edited

#5

@tpr Thank you, that's very helpful! I thought I could block in the White King on the h-file if need be and then create a passed pawn using my doubled g pawns, but that was a bit too optimistic of me: my king and pawns are in each other's way...

@InvincibleX17 Ooops I meant ply 47.

@DEFAULT08 I don't speak Greek, but Google does, sort of: Ευχαριστούμε για την ευγενική συμβολή σας!

@tpr Thank you, that's very helpful! I thought I could block in the White King on the h-file if need be and then create a passed pawn using my doubled g pawns, but that was a bit too optimistic of me: my king and pawns are in each other's way... @InvincibleX17 Ooops I meant *ply* 47. @DEFAULT08 I don't speak Greek, but Google does, sort of: Ευχαριστούμε για την ευγενική συμβολή σας!

ply 47?

White's 24th move, I think

cweis

#8

@MrPushwood I was taught that ply was the usual way to refer to a half-move in chess. Wikipedia seems to agree with me, but maybe it's not as common to use that word as I thought.

The reason I wrote move 47 is that when you copy the lichess URL at a specific position in a game, the number at the end is the number of the ply you're on. In particular, the URL I pasted for the game ended in "#47".

@MrPushwood I was taught that ply was the usual way to refer to a half-move in chess. Wikipedia seems to agree with me, but maybe it's not as common to use that word as I thought. The reason I wrote move 47 is that when you copy the lichess URL at a specific position in a game, the number at the end is the number of the ply you're on. In particular, the URL I pasted for the game ended in "#47".

bulletidiot

#9

My Stockfish instance recommends 24... Nd2