Hungarian endgame composer. Author of "The Tactics of Endgames" (1954). This is one of the finest books ever written on endgame studies. It is suitable both for the practical player and to those who are new to endgame studies.

The winning plan here for White is very simple: To win the Knight for the passed d-pawn. The Black King is tied down looking after the kingside pawns and the Knight has to watch the d-pawn. The pawn at h5 is safe from capture because the King cannot leave the "square" of the g-pawn. This is because the Black Knight would then become overloaded in trying to stop both the d and g-pawns from queening. White just has to be careful to decide the correct route the King will take towards the d-pawn in order to support its advance.

This is the key move to the study. It is difficult to believe that retreating the King is the way to make progress but check out the variations and you will see it is true. 2.Kh4? Kg7!! and White can only draw. 3.Kg5 (3.Kh3 Nxh5 4.d7 Nf4+ =) 3...Ne4+ =; 2.Kg2? Nxh5 3.d7 Nf4+ =; 2.Kg3? Nxh5 3. d7 Nf4+ and the Knight can get back to stop the pawn from queening. This idea is echoed in the variations.

White had a choice of moves after his King had reached the back rank. Black can only shuffle his King between the same squares and White can carry out his winning plan at anytime.  A beautiful ending by Jeno Ban.

White to play and WIN In order for White to win the Knight has to drive the enemy king from c7 and c8. For this to happen the Black King and White Knight must be on squares of the same colour when it is Black's turn to move. 1.Nd3 Kc7 2.Nb4 Kc8 3.Na6 Wins.  Black to play and DRAW 1...Kc7 2.Nd3 Kc8 3.Nb4 Kc7 4.Nd5+ Kc8 5.Nb6 Kc7etc. Draw.

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I would like to briefly summarise the type of endings found on the site. These are; (a) Basic endings. (b) Practical chess endings. (c) The Endgame study.

(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".