Sometimes we have bad positions, and we need to try to save them. One way to get a draw in the endgame is to ensure that your opponent doesn’t have enough material to checkmate you.
In this week’s problem, White has been put in no less than two pins. This type of pin is called a cross-pin and it can be deadly.
White is going to lose material. However he can save the game if he takes drastic steps to ensure Black doesn’t have enough material left to checkmate him with. How does White rescue half a point?
The solution to last Monday’s problem is that Black plays b4. When White plays Rxb4, Black plays b5 and then plays Bd6 and b4 to trap the White Rook. The moral is to be sure your Rook is active in the endgame.