Chess endgames are crucial because they are the last stage of the game, where every move counts. In the endgame, each player has a limited number of pieces on the board, which means that each piece is more valuable than in the opening or middle game. Endgames are often won or lost based on just a single move or two, so it is essential to have a good understanding of how to play in the final stages of the game.
Beginner: Checkmate with a queen
The basic strategy for winning with a queen and king against a lone king is to use the queen to control key squares and cut off the opposing king’s escape routes. This allows the king to move in and check the opposing king, forcing it to move to a square where it can be captured.
Beginner: Checkmate with a rook
Unlike an endgame with a queen, the rook cannot force the black king to get to the corner just by itself, and needs the own king’s help from the very start. Besides that, the basic winning strategy is basically the same – to control key squares and cut off the opposing king’s escape routes.
Intermediate: Checkmate with two bishops
Winning the chess endgame with a king and two bishops against a king can be achieved by following some basic principles and executing a specific strategy. The two bishops can work together to control a large number of squares on the board, which can make it very difficult for the opponent’s king to escape checkmate.
Advanced: Checkmate with a bishop and a knight
Chess is a complex game that requires patience, practice, and dedication to master. By focusing on the fundamentals and gradually building their skills, beginners can develop the foundation needed to tackle more challenging endgames like this one.
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Beginner: King and pawn vs king – the rule of the square
The rule of the square is a useful concept in chess pawn endgames. It helps players determine the maximum distance their king can be from an opposing pawn to be able to catch it before it promotes.
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Beginner: King and pawn vs king – the key squares
One important aspect of endgame strategy is identifying the key squares on the board. Key squares are those squares that, when controlled by one player, can make it difficult or impossible for the other player to make progress.
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Beginner: King and pawn vs king – the opposition
The opposition is a key concept in this endgame. The opposition refers to the situation where the two kings face each other on the same rank or file, with one square between them. The player who moves their king away from the center loses the opposition and can find themselves in a difficult position.
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Beginner: Rook and pawn vs rook – Lucena position
It is a position that has been analyzed extensively by chess players and theorists over the years, and it remains an essential concept for any serious chess player to understand. Make sure you understand the strategy, as its importance cannot be overstated.
Continue Reading Beginner: Rook and pawn vs rook – Lucena position
Beginner: Rook and pawn vs rook – Phillidor position
The defender’s primary strategy is to maintain the rook on the third rank until the pawn reaches that position, after which they can check the opposing king from behind.
Continue Reading Beginner: Rook and pawn vs rook – Phillidor position
Intermediate: King, bishop and pawn vs king – wrong rook pawn
Having a bishop in a chess endgame can create complications when dealing with a rook pawn, as it may be the wrong rook pawn. The bishop’s control over the promotion square of the pawn can determine the outcome of the game.
Continue Reading Intermediate: King, bishop and pawn vs king – wrong rook pawn
Intermediate: Rook and king vs bishop and king
While the rook versus bishop endgame may not be the most common scenario, it still occurs with considerable frequency, and it is quite possible that you may encounter it in one of your significant games.
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Advanced: Bishop and pawn vs bishop – the same colors
The game is a draw if the defending king can reach any square in front of the pawn that is opposite in color to the squares the bishops travel on.
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Advanced: Bishop and pawn vs bishop – the opposite colors
For the most endgames of this kind, let’s remember the fundamental rule: If you are defending against just one pawn, have your king block the opponent’s pawn from a square that cannot be attacked by the opponent’s bishop. 99% of such situations end up as draws, as the attacker cannot push your king away, so all you have to do is to make endless moves with your bishop.
Continue Reading Advanced: Bishop and pawn vs bishop – the opposite colors
Intermediate: King and queen vs. king and rook
Unless the rook or king can immediately capture the queen, a queen typically emerges victorious in an endgame against a lone rook. The game may end in a stalemate or perpetual check, however, which would result in a draw.
Continue Reading Intermediate: King and queen vs. king and rook
Beginner: King and queen vs. king and pawn
The king and queen versus king and pawn endgame highlights the importance of controlling the board and preventing the opposing king from escaping the queen’s influence. Make sure you remember these specific situations, as to know the defending strategy can help achieve at least a draw in a seemingly hopeless position.
Intermediate: Knight and pawn vs. knight
Typically, knight and pawn endgames result in a draw, as the knight can be exchanged for the pawn. However, for the pawn to advance, the king and knight must work together to cover the squares along its path. If the pawn manages to reach the seventh rank with support from its king and knight, it usually promotes and secures a win.
Advanced: Bishop vs. knight endgames (with a pawn)
As a general rule, a bishop versus knight (and vice versa) with a pawn on the attacking side is a draw if the defending king is capable of blocking the pawn advance. Let me demonstrate both cases.
Continue Reading Advanced: Bishop vs. knight endgames (with a pawn)
Advanced: Rook vs. two pawns – Prokeš maneuver
The Prokeš maneuver is a technique that allows a rook to achieve a draw against two pawns that have advanced significantly in an endgame. This tactic was first demonstrated by Ladislav Prokeš, a Czech chess expert born on June 7, 1884, and who passed away on January 9, 1966, in a 1939 endgame study that he composed.
Continue Reading Advanced: Rook vs. two pawns – Prokeš maneuver
Advanced: Checkmate with two knights
Ironically, even though a king accompanied by two knights cannot compel a checkmate against a single king, there are scenarios where this combination can successfully force checkmate against a king and other pieces. The additional material of the defending player allows for moves that obstruct the defending king from being stalemated.
Advanced: Bishop and pawn vs. knight and pawn
We know that in open positions, a bishop is stronger than a knight. This rule is also reflected in the endgame, where one player has a bishop and a pawn, while the opponent defends with a knight and a pawn. The bishop can not only stop the opponent’s pawn, but also control the space around his own pawn, while the knight is forced, due to his short range, to limit himself to only one task.
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Intermediate: King and two pawns vs. king and pawn
If the stronger side has an extra pawn on one flank and pawns are blocked on the other flank, the attacking player almost always wins. If they cannot directly claim a free pawn, the player wins by surrendering that pawn and gaining the opponent’s blocked pawn.
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Intermediate: Pawns vs. pawns, even doubled ones
Why do I mention it here? Note the pawn structure – White dominates the king side (four pawns against three), while the black pawns on the queen side are fully blocked by the white ones, thanks to the doubled pawns on the d-file. Let’s have a look at the possible outcome that could appear at the endgame.
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Advanced: Queen vs. rook and pawn
We have already seen that the queen is clearly stronger than the rook. But often a single pawn is enough to force a draw against the queen together with the rook. However, it is necessary to prevent the king of the attacking side from getting close to the defensive formation. Let’s look at both basic situations.
Advanced: Rook and bishop vs. rook
Endgames of this type are difficult and often end in a draw, especially if the attacking side has a rook and a knight against the rook. Apart from specific situations where the king is pushed into a mating net, the prospects of a rook with a knight tend to be slim.
Advanced: Rook and two pawns vs. rook
We need not further reason that most positions are won for the stronger party. In particular, the two connected passed pawns are naturally extremely strong. If they are supported by their own king, they win almost automatically.
Intermediate: Checkmate with three knights
This article contains an element of humor, since encountering such a situation in an actual game is highly unlikely. Nevertheless, it remains beneficial to develop proficiency with knights, as their unique abilities can prove advantageous in various tactical scenarios.
Intermediate: Two minor pieces vs. rook – win or draw?
In the endgame, the value of two minor pieces is roughly equal to that of a rook and an additional pawn. The configuration of pawns on the board plays a crucial role. When the opponent’s pawns are vulnerable, the two minor pieces hold an advantage.
Continue Reading Intermediate: Two minor pieces vs. rook – win or draw?
The most important strategy to strengthen your endgame skills is to study common endgame positions. Chess endgames have been studied for centuries, and there are many standard positions that occur frequently. By studying these positions, you can learn how to play them correctly and gain a better understanding of the underlying principles of endgames.