Endgames

The part of chess that can actually be known rather than guessed.

20 topics, all written

• 61Opposition
  Knight
  Kings facing each other with one square between: whoever must move gives way.
• 62Triangulation
  Rook
  Walk the king in a triangle to hand the move back to your opponent.
• 63Corresponding Squares
  Queen
  Every square your king takes has one square the defender has to answer with.
• 64Queen vs. Pawn on 7th
  Bishop
  Lone queen fighting an advanced pawn near promotion.
• 65Lucena Position
  Rook
  The winning rook endgame set-up, and the bridge that gets the king out.
• 66Philidor Position
  Bishop
  The drawing set-up a pawn down: rook on the third rank, then checks from behind.
• 67King and Pawn Endgames
  Pawn
  Kings and pawns only, where one square of king placement decides the game.
• 68Square of the Pawn
  Pawn
  A box drawn from the pawn: step inside it and the king catches the runner.
• 69Key Squares
  Knight
  Squares in front of a pawn that win the game once your king stands on one.
• 70Rook vs. Two Pawns
  Rook
  Two connected pawns on the sixth beat a rook. Anywhere earlier, they do not.
• 71Minor Piece Endgames
  Bishop
  Bishops and knights escorting pawns, and the wrong bishop that draws it all.
• 72Bishop of Same Color
  Knight
  Both players have a single bishop operating on identical squares.
• 73Bishop of Opposite Color
  Knight
  One player has a light bishop; the other has a dark bishop.
• 74Knight vs. Pawn
  Bishop
  Whether the knight gets back in time is a counting exercise, not a feeling.
• 75Queen Endgames
  Queen
  Decided by checks. Find shelter for your king before you push anything.
• 76King Activity
  Pawn
  Once the queens are off the king is a fighting piece. Walk it forward.
• 77Pawn Breakthrough
  Rook
  A pawn sacrifice that opens the road for the pawn behind it.
• 78Zugzwang in Endgames
  Queen
  Spare pawn moves are tempi in reserve. Whoever runs out first gives ground.
• 79Dead Drawn Endgames
  Pawn
  The positions no amount of good play wins, and why knowing them saves hours.
• 80Tablebase Basics
  King
  Chess with seven pieces is solved. What that teaches, and what it cannot.