Converting extra material
In short
When you are a piece up, the simplest path to victory is to trade pieces — not pawns. Each trade makes your extra piece relatively stronger and reduces the opponent’s chances for tricks.
By the end you can
- Trade pieces when ahead
- Keep pawns and avoids counterplay when converting
The lesson
When you are a piece up, the simplest path to victory is to trade pieces — not pawns. Each trade makes your extra piece relatively stronger and reduces the opponent’s chances for tricks.
Keep your king safe and your pieces protected; the losing side will try to create threats. Don’t rush: improve the position, create a passed pawn, and use the extra piece to support it.
Key points to remember
- Ahead: trade pieces, keep pawns
- Remove counterplay first
- Create and push a passed pawn
- No hurry — no blunders
Examples
Show the solution
36. Bxc5+ Ke6 37. Bxf8
Practise it
Solve puzzles on this idea: endgame tactic puzzles.
Homework
Play out “piece up” positions against the engine until you win them all.
More endgames lessons
- Mini-games: pawn wars and queen vs pawns (Foundation)
- Can the king catch the pawn? The rule of the square (Novice)
- King and pawn vs king: opposition (Class F)
- Passed pawns and promotion races (Class F)
- The Lucena position: building a bridge (Class E)
- The Philidor defence: holding rook endings (Class E)