The endgame is the part of the game when there are only a few pieces left on the board. Usually play revolves around one or both players trying to promote a pawn. Alternatives are the opening and middlegame tags.
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Can this exchange-down endgame be explained succinctly?
I am interested in the following exchange-down endgame (assume White to move):
[fen "6k1/5ppp/8/8/1r6/5KP1/5P1P/5B2 w - - 0 1"]
In particular, I am wondering whether this is objectively drawn (my ...
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1answer
100 views
Is this endgame position a draw?
White to move.
[FEN "8/8/8/3k3p/3P3K/2P3R1/8/7r w - - 0 1"]
I was white, and this was a blitz game which ended up drawing because I didn't know what to do. My friend and I later analyzed this ...
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4answers
324 views
Systematic approach to learning opening/endgame theory?
Some relevant information: I've been playing chess for 4 years, and for 3 in tournaments, although I've only played in about 10 tournaments so far (3 big ones, like the Pan Ams and Chicago Open). My ...
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0answers
36 views
King, Bishop and Knight versus King [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is it possible to force checkmate with K, N, and B vs. K?
I recently played a game against a computer and ended up with having my King, Bishop and Knight against the ...
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2answers
209 views
Sharp pawn endgame - can it be calculated to the end? With Computer engine?
White to move, here is a brief summary of my analysis where I attempted to determine exact evaluation. Number of pawns is equal but White's 2 pawns on the queenside are held by one Black's pawn, so in ...
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1answer
89 views
Typical Good Bishop vs. Bad Bishop endgame - how to decide if stronger side has a definite win
Black here has 3 weak pawns; if any one of them falls - he will very likely lose the game as well. If he lets White king break through via c4-c5(d5) - White will also likely win. c5 pawn is a passed ...
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167 views
Computer endgame strength without tablebases
I have seen that engines aren't particularly strong in the openings without access to a book.
How strong are modern engines in the endgame when they are not allowed access to tablebases? E.g., can ...
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115 views
KBN vs K checkmate
I know how to win the endgame with bishop and knight, but it is a slippery process and seems to be just barely a win, with the enemy king very nearly escaping. For this reason, I am curious about the ...
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1answer
143 views
Can SCID be configured so that engines use Endgame Tablebases?
I set the options in Scid VS. PC 4.8, so that Tablebase information shows up in game information window (when 5 piece endgame is reached. But when I turn on an analysis engine, it still does not ...
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176 views
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162 views
Endgame: Rook + Knight vs Rook
What happens in the endgame Rook+Knight vs Rook? Is it a draw, or can the side with the knight win? I came across this a few days ago, and I managed to win with the Rook+Knight, but I am not sure if ...
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300 views
Chess games that advanced endgame theory
Single games of chess can routinely have a significant impact on opening theory, of course, but it should be quite uncommon for a single game to significantly advance endgame theory, since that's a ...
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235 views
How do grandmasters prepare against computer endgames?
This question is a sequel to an earlier one . Just as in the openings, computers dominate endgames. Endgame tablebases provide an exhaustive analysis of endgame positions with a small number of ...
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2answers
166 views
What color squares should pawns be on with one bishop left?
This slightly confuses me. If I have one bishop left - let's say it is the light-squared bishop - ss it better for my pawns to be on the light squares or dark squares? Let's assume also that my ...
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1answer
266 views
What are Key Squares or Critical Squares?
What is your best definition of Key Squares in King and Pawn vs King Endgame Theory? Please provide graphics if possible. Is there a difference between "Key Squares" and "Critical Squares" or are ...
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183 views
Improving the endgame: Principles
I find I am weakest in the endgame, which is arguably the most important part of chess. Usually when I reach the endgame I have an advantage, often a pawn or a "winning" pawn formation, but I am not ...
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242 views
Which openings give a winning pawn-structure in the endgame?
For example in the Exchange Variation of the Spanish 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6, White gives Black the Bishop pair, but gains a potentially winning pawns-only endgame. Are there other ...
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242 views
Basic endgame: K + Q vs K + R
What's the technique behind the moves of the stronger side in order to win?
Are there situations where the side with K+R can force a draw against K+Q?
I've read plenty of examples of K+Q vs K+R, but ...
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338 views
Can a rook win against a knight in the endgame?
Suppose we have just rook and our opponent has just one knight which is near to his king is it possible to win this game theoretically?
For example, in the following position (white to move), is it ...
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5answers
698 views
Why would one promote a pawn to a knight?
I know that it is makes no sense to promote a pawn to a bishop or a rook as the queen can compensate for both but a knight is something different. However, the queen is still much more powerful. So ...
3
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1answer
98 views
In how many cases of K, P vs. K, N, N endings can the stronger side force checkmate?
For instance, it wouldn't be possible if the Pawn was on the verge of queening. But is it always possible if the Pawn started off on its original square? Is it usually possible? Or is it only ...
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3answers
149 views
What is the importance of pawns in the endgame?
How important is it to have more pawns in the endgame phase? Does the power of the individual pawns decrease or increase as the game progresses and why?
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280 views
Is it a draw by insufficient material if the board is K vs K, N & N?
It isn't possible to force checkmate with King vs. King, Knight & Knight. A checkmate position, however, is still possible to achieve, so does that mean the 50 move rule applies, or does ...
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2answers
203 views
Is this endgame position a theoretical win or draw?
The following tactics problem comes from ChessTempo, and was taken from a game between Anatoly Karpov and Alexey Kuzmin. It's white's move.
The idea of the problem is to find white's best move from ...
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What is the status for seven man end game table bases?
There are complete (or nearly complete) six man end game table bases available for download, and even online.
What is the status of seven man table bases? Is there still active development in this ...
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174 views
Are there endgames which could be forced wins if not for the 50-move rule?
Wikipedia's article on the fifty-move rule states:
In the 20th century it was discovered that some positions of certain endgames can only be won in more than fifty moves (without a capture or a ...
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267 views
When does the middlegame end and the endgame begin?
Is there any specific point where the middle-game ends and end-game begins? E.g. after x number of pieces are exchanged, or say 40 moves, etc.
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288 views
Is it possible to force checkmate with King, knight, and Bishop vs. King?
If a King, Knight, and Bishop are pitted against the opposing King, is it possible to force checkmate? I find it very hard to do, enough so that I'm not sure whether there's a clean method.
