The endgame and tactics are two of the most important areas of study for players who are below expert strength. In this week's quiz, engame concepts are combined with tactical motifs to create some deceptively difficult problems. Only five problems because their degree of difficulty is high. All white to move and gain a winning advantage or checkmate.

These problems were taken from the CD, Endgame Studies 2.0 by Convekta, Ltd.

Problem 1

Problem 2

Problem 3

Problem 4

Problem 5

Solutions

Problem 1

1.Rg7+ Kf8
2. Rh7 Kg8
3. f7 Kf8
4. Rh8++-

Problem 2

1. Rg7+ Kxh8
2. Rh7+ Kg8
3. g7 ++-

Problem 3

1. Kh7 Kf6
2. g7++-

Problem 4
1. b6 axb6
[1...cxb6 2. a6 bxa6 3. c6]
2. c6 bxc6
3. a6 ++-

Problem 5

1. Kh4 Kg6
2. Kg4 Kf6
[1. Kg4? Kg6 2. Kf4 Kf6 3. Ke4 Ke6 4. Kd4 b3 5. cxb3 Kd6=]
3. Kf4 Ke6
4. Ke4 Kd6
5. Kd4 b3
6. cxb3 Kc6
7. Kc4 Kb6
8. Kb4 Ka6
9. Kc5 ++-