MSK Chess's video: Schematic thinking in the endgame Capablanca v Ragozin

In the middle game due to the attacking and defensive possibilities, calculation of variations are paramount as we concern ourselves with looking at and evaluation all the forcing lines. In the endgame technique becomes of primary importance and in so called practical endgames schematic thinking becomes paramount with variations playing a secondary role. In the above game Jose Raul Capablanca the Cuban master and former world champion demonstrates in a very clear and lucid way how to think schematically and how to realise in practical terms the advantages inherent in the position. Rather than looking at specific variations Capablanca envisions where the optimal placement of his pieces should be, first of all to control the chessboard and secondly to facilitate the advancement of his queenside pawn majority. Here is his own thought process. 'Whites plan is to prevent the advance of the c pawn (after which the b pawn becomes weak) and to control the entire board up to the fifth rank. This is achieved by moving the king to e3, by placing the rook on c3, the knight at d4 and the pawns at b4 and f4.' - Capablanca After Capablanca has secured the fifth rank he is then able to redeploy his knight and king in facilitating the advancement of the queenside pawn majority with great effect. Its the hope that you too can make use of schematic thinking in the endgame and elevate your chess play. My thanks go to Aldo who sent me the book from which this video was taken, Endgame strategy by Mikhail Shereshevsky. To the artists who made the original animation which I have used to liven up what can be an otherwise dry subject. To Shelly May who provided the encouragement. To the musicians for the audio and for the open source software community for their untiring devotion to making quality software available to everyone regardless of economic constraints. You are all truly awesome people. I provide the links for the original material below should anyone wish to view the original animation and music - kind regards MSK Chess https://vimeo.com/16668477 https://soundcloud.com/bluewhitewings/twist-in-my-sobriety https://www.facebook.com/msk.chess http://www.chess.com/blog/robbie_1969... chess, echecs , ajedrez , xadrez , shahmati , szachy , sjakk , schach , schaken , satranj , шахматы , شطرنج