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.
5
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1answer
104 views
How does syzygy store it's information?
From reading everything I've found so far, I know that syzygy uses both win/draw/loss files and distance to zero files, but I haven't found any information on the internal file format that these files ...
0
votes
1answer
128 views
How to be more aware of smothered mate opportunities?
I've been playing Chesscademy's android app for a while when I'm bored: thought it could improve my chess to be solving their tactic challenges (not sure if it's working though..).
One pattern I ...
2
votes
5answers
96 views
Book recommendations on Pawn Endgame for intermediate and advanced level players?
I just started preparing Endgame using Dvoretsky Endgame Manual. I am wondering if there are more books online about Pawn Endgames that I can use side by side either as an additional study material or ...
3
votes
2answers
186 views
Is this a stalemate?
The gamepigeon app is declaring I lost (I am black). This simply does not make sense since it is white's turn and they are in check. The game abruptly ends.
Is this erroneous logic? How can I lose ...
0
votes
0answers
63 views
Marshall vs. Queen Endgame
In a game of "Sort of Almost Chess", the variant from Mr. Betza that replaces one of the queens with a Marshall (the Rook+Knight compound, also known as the Chancellor, or the Empress in Fairy Chess ...
4
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2answers
185 views
When checkmate is impossible in a position [duplicate]
The laws of chess say
1.5. If the position is such that neither player can possibly checkmate the opponent’s king, the game is drawn (see Article 5.2.2).
5.2.2. The game is drawn when a ...
11
votes
4answers
3k views
Are there rules for categorising all pawn-only endgames into won/drawn/lost?
If a situation containing only pawns and kings is displayed is there a simple set of rules for determining if the position is won/drawn/lost?
I know for single pawn and double pawn endgames this is ...
8
votes
1answer
1k views
What longest number of moves for a forced mate position (including draw rules)?
What is the longest (currently discovered) number of moves for a forced mate position where players will use both the 50-move draw rule and the 3-fold repetition rule if it will help them avoid losing....
1
vote
1answer
89 views
How to mate a king already in the corner with a knight and a bishop?
How can white mate black in 4 moves in this game. This might be easy but I am a beginner.
7k/7N/6K1/8/7p/7B/8/8 w - - 1 0
6
votes
2answers
331 views
Checkmating the bare king with 3 knights – can the mate be forced on any edge square?
In the case where White has King and 3 Knights, and Black has just the bare King, it is known that White can force checkmate. But can White in fact pick any edge square in advance, and force the ...
6
votes
2answers
181 views
How likely is it that a non-orthodox promotion is optimal?
Under promotion is an interesting aspect of chess, but there are other possibilities that aren't allowed under modern rules.
One is the so-called "dummy pawn", as this question discusses:
When (if ...
-3
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3answers
201 views
Forcing a draw with knight and king
Can white force a draw somehow from this position using only his knight and king?
4
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3answers
417 views
Are connected doubled (4 pawns on 2 files) a weak structure?
It seems to me to be a very solid structure that can play very good in the endgame.
Example: pawns on c2, c3, d2, d3.
0
votes
2answers
111 views
Advantage of Diagonal Opposition
Suppose there are only two pieces on the board, black king and white king. Black king is at g7 and white king is at e5. It's Black's turn to move. So in this case white has the opposition. Black now ...
6
votes
2answers
158 views
How often does each side win in Rook, Bishop and Knight versus Queen?
How often does each side win in Rook, Bishop and Knight versus Queen endings? It is a 6-piece endgame so the evaluation of each position is known but I could not find statistics on this endgame after ...
1
vote
3answers
241 views
How is this stalemate?
My friend played this game as white and wants to know how this is a stalemate. I do not know much about chess and both of us would like to know more about this rule.
k7/2Q5/8/P2P4/1R6/8/2P3PP/6K1 w -...
4
votes
1answer
122 views
Endgame analysis : white to play and..?
R3nk21B1K4/4r3/4P3/3Pb3/8/3P4/8/1B1K4 w - - 0 1
White to play and ?, D.Antonini 09/2017
I wouldn't qualify this position as a study, at least according to modern canons for study composition, as ...
5
votes
2answers
274 views
Can White win in this game (Q vs R+N+P)?
Is there any percent chance for the white to win?
Seems like greed for the opposite queen on behalf of sacrificing his pieces has cost him this game.
The view is from the white player's end.
6
votes
3answers
271 views
How can an Elo 1300 player improve his or her endgame?
I have noticed that, among opponents of Elo strength about 1300 (USCF class C to D), many play the opening and midgame almost as well as a 1400- to 1500-strong player but seem suddenly to drop to, say,...
2
votes
1answer
90 views
Is it possible to get DTM of a position from sygyzy tables?
This is a programming question related to chess endgame tables.
As far as I know syzygy tables allow me to get WDL and DTZ information for a given position. Is it possible to somehow (without access ...
4
votes
1answer
281 views
Where can I download gaviota endgame tables?
I am looking for a link to download all 5 pieces gaviota endgame tables (which can give me DTM values).
A few links from google search (like this) lead me to the site which does not exist.
4
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3answers
153 views
Which pieces do I have to keep on the board, to win this endgame?
This will be my first question, so please correct me if I do something wrong.
How to win this endgame?
More specifically, I want to ask, whether I should trade off pieces and in case of a trade, ...
19
votes
1answer
3k views
Stockfish blunders away a piece
Using stockfish_8_x64 with Arena 3.5.1, I see a weird pick by Stockfish. Start here:
White, Stockfish, to move. It plays bb6-g1,losing the bishop and the win.
Also strange: the same engine ...
2
votes
1answer
141 views
Endgame study - how much time per exercise
I've decided to give endgame study high priority, and I'm studying Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual, though also glancing around in other books. The issue is, that I'm finding Dvoretsky's exercises really, ...
34
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4answers
4k views
Is this endgame (sort-of Q vs K) a draw?
I think the following endgame is a draw.
[FEN "7k/5BpP/3K2P1/8/8/8/8/4q3 w - - 0 1"]
My reasoning: I'm playing white. I will only move my king, always. Black's king cannot move. If the queen decide ...
3
votes
1answer
156 views
2 rooks vs 2 minor pieces in a pawnless endgame
I know that 2 rooks vs 2 minor pieces is a win for the rooks (at least from the endgame tablebases), but found nothing about the winning strategy.
For example, consider the 2 rooks vs 2 bishops ...
4
votes
2answers
220 views
Syzygy 6 man Tablebase Files Question
Is anyone familiar with the .wdl and .dtz formats for the 6 man tablebase that are available?
I already confirmed that both aren't needed, however they both store different information. Goal is to ...
-2
votes
1answer
86 views
Was there anyway better to play this endgame?
[fen ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[ICCause "2"]
[ICEcause "4"]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nxe4 4.Qe2 Qe7 5.Qxe4 Nc6 6.d4 b6 7.d5 Nxe5 8.Bf4 Nf3+ 9.gxf3 Bb7 10.Nc3 f5 11.d6 cxd6 12.Qxe7+ Bxe7 13.O-O-O O-O ...
2
votes
2answers
459 views
Where to download a 6 man Nalimov endgame tablebase?
Can anyone tell me whereabouts I can download a 6 man Nalimov endgame tablebase? I've seen some websites with 6 man Nalimov (case in point: http://contentdb.emule-project.net/view.php?pid=1630). ...
4
votes
2answers
213 views
Is this tactics puzzle flawed?
While solving puzzles on ChessTempo, I came across this puzzle:
[FEN "8/8/1p6/p1p3p1/P1P1B1K1/1P2kP2/5n2/8 w - - 9 1"]
1. Kf5
I played the intended correct answer,
[FEN "8/8/1p6/p1p3p1/P1P1B1K1/...
7
votes
1answer
196 views
Amazon vs Chancellor endgame
Many online sources (such as Wikipedia) state that the endgame of amazon (piece that moves like Queen and knight) and chancellor (piece that moves like rook and knight) is a draw. I did some ...
1
vote
1answer
103 views
Longest forced win with just a Knight or Bishop
A single knight or bishop usually isn't enough to force checkmate. However, I know there are certain positions where the defending side has his king in front of a rook pawn where a win can be forced.
...
2
votes
1answer
138 views
Is a forced draw by 50 moves possible with Bishop and Knight endgame?
Excepting the variations where there is a capture or fork possible for the defending side. Is a position possible where this kind of endgame will last more than 50 moves?
Is somewhere a calculation in ...
6
votes
5answers
2k views
Why is this King and Pawn ending lost for White?
[FEN "8/8/8/3pk3/1K6/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
Even with White to move, the game is lost. OK, but according to what rule/principle?
With 1. Kc3
I'm able to get first to one of the key squares (c3,d3,e3)
I ...
4
votes
2answers
187 views
How to analyse an endgame quickly?
I am a relatively new player (less than 1 year, ungraded) but I feel I have made good progress so far. I am playing competitively with players in the 1300-1500 region and would like to continue my ...
2
votes
2answers
103 views
Book recommendation on Zugzwang
I am looking for a book recommendation on end-games, more specifically how to avoid the Zugzwang and what to do in case they arise.
If you have any book, which has in-depth case study on endgames ...
1
vote
1answer
196 views
Middle game and endgame principles
In the opening, it's helpful for me as a beginner to remember some basic principles: develop your pieces, castle, knights before bishops (generally), don't move the same piece twice, etc. Are there ...
1
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0answers
61 views
Chess RSS feeds
Would anyone have any recommended RSS feeds for chess strategy? Specifically tactics, middle game and end game strategies. When I look on Google search I see a decent amount come up and would prefer ...
8
votes
5answers
1k views
Why are opening books so popular?
As title above, why are opening books so popular? I am sure that most players know that middlegame and endgame books are ultimately much more important for improving one's chess strength. That is not ...
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votes
3answers
345 views
What is the source of the house-rule 18-moves?
In my area, most kids including me grew up with a very popular house-rule: After all the pieces of either of the players are removed besides the king, the opposing player has 18 moves to checkmate him....
3
votes
1answer
1k views
Where can I download a 6 man endgame tablebase
I just cannot seem to find a link to a 6 man download endgame tablebase from syzygy. If anyone could provide me with a link it would be greatly appreciated.
3
votes
2answers
180 views
Rook and minor piece endgames, with pawns
Where can I find resources on how to play these types of endgames?
I've done a google search, but all I came up with was repeated results for a Fritz Trainer dvd, and a similar, unanswered, question ...
0
votes
1answer
7k views
King move to other side
During a game of chess, after several moves. Is it an automatic win as soon as you get your king all the way across the board?
I was told this is a tournament rule.
2
votes
3answers
181 views
Can black make any progress in this end game?
I have been analyzing this endgame for a while now, but I can't seem to make any progress. The engine evaluation is -2.5, but I'm wondering if this is one of those weird evaluations that is wrong ...
5
votes
2answers
264 views
can someone explain me this endgame puzzle with words?
I came across this puzzle today: white to play and win.
For those who don't know this, it's a drill from chess.com: you have to play against the computer and win this.
The thing is, I really have no ...
4
votes
1answer
234 views
How to iterate over all FENs in Syzygy table?
This is a programming question related to chess syzygy endgame tables. I believe that it is better suited on chess stack exchange than on SO because it is too specific to chess and asks for a ...
6
votes
1answer
4k views
Is always possible to win King + Queen vs. King + Rook?
Does every situation (except where the Queen team gets mated or the Queen is captured immediately) result in a win for the Queen team? Or can the Rook team, by perfect play, force a stalemate?
0
votes
2answers
208 views
How to win against queen with queen+rook, avoiding the draw with multiple checks
I recently played the game where I was playing black and during end game I had queen and rook remaining and white had queen and two pawns.
I thought since I had more material, it would be easy for me ...
1
vote
1answer
62 views
From which top class game is the endgame motive?
I think this happened in Kasparov game but I am not sure about that. It was minor piece endgame with quite blocked queenside. Black took pawn on the kingside (h4 maybe) and white, instead of 'obvious' ...
1
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1answer
75 views
Jesus De La Villa's 100 Endgames book: Ambiguity
Here we have two scenarios where the stronger side has one passed pawn in a KPP vs. KP ending. The other pawns block each other.
In Ending 83, the author states that rook's pawns, if they're not ...
