Chess/The Endgame

The Endgame is the final stage of a chess game, and arguably the most important. Even if you succeed in the opening and middle stages of the game, not knowing the skills to turn the resulting endgame into a checkmate can cost you many wins, turning many otherwise easily won positions into draws or even losses. For this reason, we recommend devoting a good portion of your study to endgames.

To do:
More endgames, and more comprehensive current endgames.
Examples: Bishop and Knight, Queen vs Knight

We first recommend learning the most basic checkmates, which include:

Then, it is best to move into studies of material relations that do not immediately include checkmate. These frequently include pawns, which complicate scenarios as they create possible winning chances for either side.

A Bishop or Knight and King vs. a King is always a draw, as a Bishop or Knight and a King is not enough to checkmate with accurate play. Any piece versus its own is a draw, unless pawns are present or one side blunders. For example, a Rook vs. a Rook is a draw.

However, a King and Pawn vs. King is either a draw or a win, depending on the circumstance. This is why it is highly recommended to study this ending and know the winning/drawing ideas by heart, as knowing them can save you in many circumstances.

Basic Checkmates

These include positions that have no pawns. When one side is ahead in material and has pawns, the easiest winning plan is typically to queen one or more pawns and use them to checkmate.

The situations where one has a king and queen, king and two rooks, or king and rook versus a lone king occur very often and it is essential to know how checkmate is achieved in such cases. The other cases, with minor pieces (bishops and knights) are more rare and more difficult to perform, but nonetheless are covered here for completeness.

More Advanced Endgames

These are situations that occur less commonly in games, but are still very important. Most intermediate to advanced players are expected to have at least a basic understanding of how these endings work. It is highly recommended to start studying these endgames starting with

Endgame Studies and Puzzles

Chess/The Endgame

Basic Checkmates

More Advanced Endgames

External links