Winning won positions

cavedave

When i get ahead on material I usually just start trading off to get to a won endgame. I have started to do computer analysis of all my games and this trading off comes out as a blunder a lot of the time.

What do you do when ahead on material and with a better position?

dyl10

Yeh, I've picked up a habit of doing the same.
I usually end up with long drawn out games that gets decided by pawn play

Jam-Fly

eh, need a little more specifics tbh.

In general, when up on material, it is correct to swap off.

Are you swapping off into a won ending, or, from a won position swapping off into an ending?
If your swapping off into a won ending, then that's obviously fine. Just work on your endgame technique!

If your swapping off into a drawn ending (eg up a pawn in an opposite coloured bishops ending is often drawn), then that's different. Before you start the swapping off, make sure it is a won ending you'll be in. Otherwise just keep the pieces on and grind your opponent down with your material advantage.

cavedave

Jam-Fly

In general, when up on material, it is correct to swap off.

Are you swapping off into a won ending, or, from a won position swapping off into an ending?
If your swapping off into a won ending, then that's obviously fine. Just work on your endgame technique!

I suppose the question is do you always play the best move on the board or do you just do enough to win? You are up roughly two points, a rook for a minor piece or a piece for a pawn say. If you start swapping material you get to a won ending. But is this just laziness?

But is it the right strategy to just cruise along? Is it not better to play the best moves?

Bubs101

I'm the same as CaveDave, always start swapping off when I'm ahead. One thing I'm very reluctant to do though is swap a Bishop for a knight when the end game is approaching, particularly if there are pawns on both sides of the board