Chess Endgame: Opposition Quiz

[SuperPeristilo]

Very important knowledge!

[PhnixHAMsta]

I learnt so much. Thanks. =)

[sighisoaraa]

scored 75, great video, make more like this XD

[AwesomeSeanable]

From The Help Of Jrobi, I scored 95. My only loss was where I moved 3:25 Kg6, now I know it is a loss. I should of missed every single one, but I just woke up, and looking at my subcriptions, as I do, I found this in the VIDEOS BEING WATCHED NOW and I liked it the first time so I watched it again. Great video!

[clapandtouch]

I didn't too bad. I didn't keep track, but for a total chess newbie, I didn't do too bad.

[bakingbaker]

Wow, I scored 75 and thought I did well until you said I would have lost the game. Are there any websites you would recommend to practice opposition?

[serrie85]

what happens if white try to run back to lure to black king beyond rank 4. It is won if white gets his king on e3 or d3, correct?

[evilshit90]

This is a great video for anyone who wants to learn end games.

When you learn the basics, the principles of end games, the best way to study is by watching famous games' endings.

I'm 2182 rated. If you have any questions regarding chess openings/end games/tactics, just pm me.

[crashfreze]

Does scoring 100 points make you a super dork? If so count me in cause I scored 100 :P

I must admit question #2 seems like it has 2 easy correct answers d5 and f5 seem equally good. However i put the position in shredder endgame database and Kf5 does indeed create a forced loss in like 26 moves. White has to play perfectly to score a win though. For all intents and purposes I think 2... Kf5 is fine versus humans but 2... Kd5 is in fact the only true path to a forced draw.

[crashfreze]

Ha! After I closed the web browser I figured out why 2... Kf5 loses. Because of 3. Kb4!! and black has to give up the opposition or the critical square. Bingo ;)

[macewindu210]

I have to agree with crackerjack. Matt is a tournament player, and if my memory is correct, jrobi is only 1400.

I love how at the beginning, the black king says "What is Opposition???"

[OneeyedJohn]

very informative, but unfortunatley my games never get that far, some kinda blunder prevents me doing so.

Would like to know more about KEY squares..............please.

Do they occur throughout the game?

[Alpunk]

Great video! Every newbie player should see this video to understand the relation between the two kings. 5 stars, mate, 5 stars.

[Myleanne14]

This was a brilliant video, i really enjoyed it and only scored 55. I would have scored a lot less had it not been for your initial intro.

Is D4 the important position as it is the outside of the pawn square, and F4 cannot be used for direct opposition due to the oawn on G4?

[GreenCastleBlock]

Yeah that's why

[dragonheadofthewest]

@GreenCastleBlock yeah thank you for the vid i know its easy stuff but i still getting confused you video helped a lot....

[bboyxchristian]

this is a great video. extremely helpful. thanks.

[GreenCastleBlock]

"Key squares are squares whose occupation by the King assures victory, regardless of whose turn it is to move." --Dvoretsky

[waparker4]

so let me get this straight.. the key squares are those for which the squares of opposition are controlled by the pawns?

[Davisdigi]

an easy 100 points :P

although I've never heard of virtual opposition, but it just seemed logical to me

[hurikai]

thank you, very educational

[yousini]

awesome vid

[eisaatappaa]

oh my god excellent video. Dude i'd have lost in a real game cause i didnt see the key squares correctly. :D

[rschwieb]

Please make a video with tips on spotting "key squares". I always thought key squares were in front of pawns, so that d4 is considered key was a surprise to me. I understand this had to be glossed over here (since the main topic was keeping opposition) so it would be a great video by itself. In fact, it's a necessary prequel because you can't properly keep the opposition if you're ignorant of where the key squares are.

[billbrock1958]

Very nice. A key squares video would be a good thing.

[GreenCastleBlock]

Good idea

[jackfruit22]

Nice Video Green castle.. Thanks,!!

[srn347]

In a real game, even someone with less than 100 points might have drawn since the same distant opposition position was repeated 3 times.

[schwaglr]

Hey, Matt. I am overwhelmed by the quality and education value of this video. Incredible work. After only one viewing, I feel so much more confident with opposition in the endgame. I'm looking forward to the first chance I get to put this into practice. Great job.

[HiFiVibe]

challenge Jrobichess to a match and make a vid of it :)

[crackerjack113]

nah

although jrobi's videos are informative, matt is definitely much more knowledgeable about chess

[ctian1]

I like this idea. It helps us practice endgame ideas and improve our play.

[arb05ajc]

i thought i could do this easily... but i only got 75 meh. great idea for a video though! maybe there could be other quiz videos which discuss other endgame themes?

[xylyze]

1... Ke5 2.Kb5 Kd5 3.Ka4 Ke4 4.Ka3 Ke5

In the video white now plays 5.Ka4 which is a dead draw, but Kb4 is better. (Which doesn't really matter because either way it ends up drawn)

[GreenCastleBlock]

In what sense is it better then? :-|

[srn347]

That was an excellent quiz and I fully understand opposition. For the next quiz, how about a queen vs rook endgame?

[xylyze]

It takes longer to reach the book draw position, hence giving your opponent more chances to make mistakes.

[savis99]

I got 55%...i think i need to work on my opposition nice video keep em coming

[ubu2600]

Fantastically instructive video!  Well done!

[GreenCastleBlock]

Cool, glad people are enjoying it, I was wondering how well this would work.

[elbay2]

Once again, good job Matt! This was a LOT of fun, thanks!!

I got many of the questions, but less than 75% I'm sure.. Endgames... they are SOOOOO important!

Comment: knowing that d4 and g7 are key squares is obviously something that's very important to know, so my question is:

Why are d4 and g7 key squares? Is it because of the presence of the white pawns which prevents the black king from opposing on f4 and g5, or is there a more complicated calculation that you have to make to determine this?

[GreenCastleBlock]

Nope, your observation is spot on. Those are key squares because Black cannot take opposition in a way that prevents White from achieving his goal.

And since from d7, White can force his way to either d4 or g7, does that mean d7 is a key square too? hmmm.

[Slatteryan]

Fantastic idea! Fun to go through also!

[djtrousdale]

I got 95! :(

But I learned some useful stuff. Thanks

[Gebonner]

This helped me out about opposition, was a tricky one too cause you gotta baby sit that passed pawn. Great video 5 stars.

[DantePeeks]

great idea, thanks