Transforming an Advantage

Changing one advantage into another

In this lesson you will learn

Why advantages must sometimes change form
Exchanging into a winning endgame
Turning pressure into material
When to keep tension and when to cash in

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11.1 Advantages Change

Many games are won by a player who changes the type of advantage at the right moment: an attack becomes a material gain, the bishop pair becomes a better endgame, an extra pawn becomes a winning king-and-pawn ending. Holding on to the wrong advantage too long can let it slip away.

Before you exchange, evaluate the position after the exchange, not before.
Pawn endings are the easiest to calculate exactly — and the most dangerous to misjudge.
When the attack cannot break through, cash it in for material.
When the opponent’s counterplay is growing, simplify.

Diagram 11.1White to move

Into a won pawn ending

White is a pawn up in a rook ending. Rook endings are often drawn, but here White can exchange rooks.

After ♖xd8 the rook ending has become a winning position: White’s rook picks up the queenside pawns. Without the exchange White would only be slightly better. Always evaluate the position after the exchange.

Remember

Change the form of your advantage at the right moment.
Evaluate the position after the exchange.
Pawn endings must be calculated, not guessed.
Simplify when your opponent’s counterplay grows.

Exercises · Lesson 11

Every exercise has been checked with a chess engine. Find the best move or choose the right plan.

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Exercise 11.1Find the move

White to move

White to move. Find the move that turns the extra pawn into a winning position.

Exercise 11.2Find the move

White to move