Questions tagged [endgame]
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.
336
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Which one is more important between endgame studies and tactics?
One strong player once told me that you can improve quickly if you focus more on endgame studies than on tactics training. His reasoning was that endgame studies use a few pieces to cover most of the ...
5
votes
1answer
1k views
In a KP-K endgame, if the enemy king is in front of the pawn, is it always a draw?
In a KP-K endgame, if the enemy king is in front of the pawn, is it always a draw?
I've tried it in various positions, yet my opponent always is able to get in front somehow and promote the pawn.
I ...
5
votes
1answer
204 views
How is endgame theory developed?
First of all, I am explicitly not asking for a list of endgame principles, nor am I asking for resources to study endgames from.
My question is: How does one develop endgame theory? The main ...
5
votes
1answer
221 views
Can a player capture en passant two times in a row?
Suppose that there are only two pawns that White can use to put the Black king in check that are on the board.
But in both cases, the pawns need to move past Black pawns, risking en passant capture to ...
2
votes
1answer
134 views
How to mathematically determine if king and pawn versus king endgame is a draw or a win?
I am aware of questions such as this one which discussed a method of determining if a king pawn vs king endgame is a draw or not. The accepted answer gave detailed guidelines but is not mathematically ...
3
votes
2answers
155 views
Fairy endgame statistics for KDDDDvKN (D=dabbaba; '2,0' leaper)?
The dabbaba is a '2,0' leaper fairy piece, only able to ever reach a quarter of the squares on the board. According to the linked Wikipedia page, a quartet of them can apparently "easily" force mate ...
0
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1answer
100 views
Could Ding win this endgame vs Carlsen?
Could Ding win this endgame vs. Carlsen (at this point in the diagram), in the game played yesterday at Lindores Abbey? Without using engines, it seems logical to me to play 41.Re3 or 41.Rd3 (instead ...
11
votes
1answer
982 views
Eight pawns vs seven exercise: how to win?
I had been thinking about exercises to help players <1400 gain confidence. For instance, they should feel confident they can always win with queen and king vs king, or rook and king vs king, even ...
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vote
3answers
154 views
Is this KBPP vs. KR position a draw or a win with perfect play?
I played a game on Lichess today as white, and me and my opponent reached this interesting endgame position.
Note: It is black’s turn currently. The board is shown from White's point of view.
[Title ...
2
votes
2answers
122 views
If we move white's bishop to a dark square in the Fisher-Taimanov (1971) bishop vs. knight endgame, can white still win?
My coach showed me a famous game Fisher vs. Taimanov (1971) where Fisher expertly used the bishop's advantage over a knight in an endgame.
[fen ""]
[White "Robert James Fischer"]
[Black "Mark ...
30
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4answers
4k views
Endgame puzzle: How to avoid stalemate and win?
I'm stuck on this problem a friend shared with me recently, with barely any pieces left and apparently white is able to force a win but I've been hitting a wall with everything I've tried so far, as ...
0
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1answer
203 views
Where is there a mate in four (pawn moves)?
From Fine's BCE:
I can only see the pawn getting to a2 after 1.d6+ Kd8 2.e6 a4 3.Kf6 a3 4.e7+ Ke8 5.Ke6 a2 6.d7#. That's three pawn moves, not four.
What is the more resistant defence I missed?
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1answer
101 views
What’s the total number of KNN vs K checkmate positions?
EDIT: What’s with all the downvotes people? I accept criticism, but I feel that someone needs to at least a say a little bit of why.
What’s the total number of KNN vs. K checkmate positions?
I ...
10
votes
3answers
298 views
Human-like engine for endgame training
I am doing endgame training with LucasChess (LC), but the problem is not really related to LC, but to chess engines in general.
I have this problem: See picture. When I move Kh6 in this position, ...
6
votes
1answer
175 views
Would certain checkmates be possible if the king could move into check?
Similar to a previous question of mine, let's suppose there's a piece that moves like the king, but isn't restricted from moving into check.
While a normal king and two knights can't force checkmate, ...
3
votes
2answers
884 views
What's the winning box for the King in a Queen against 7th rank Bishop-pawn endgame?
In a Queen vs Pawn endgame where the pawn is a Rook pawn on the 7th rank, it is a draw unless the King is inside the winning box, as shown here:
My question is what is that winning box if the pawn is ...
3
votes
2answers
241 views
Not in stalemate, but why is this a draw?
I was practicing with stockfish level 8, having two rooks in the endgame whereas stockfish has only one. At the 78th move, it was declared as a draw. But, it was not a stalemate. Can anyone please ...
0
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1answer
112 views
Can one win with two dark square bishops and two light square bishops and his opponent has only one queen?
Can one win with two dark square bishops and two light square bishops and his opponent has only one queen?
I remember seeing this endgame being analyzed in a video around 10 years ago (and I think ...
6
votes
3answers
167 views
LiChess puzzle 82753: can white win with a queen and two pawns vs. rook and four pawns?
LiChess puzzle 82753 involves a rook and pawn endgame where white sacrifices their rook to queen a pawn. The final position is the following (with black to move):
[FEN "2Q5/6p1/1K3pkp/8/8/4p3/r5PP/8 ...
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2answers
145 views
The computer said a game was drawn but I think it is won for me [duplicate]
It's white's move and the king can't move.
Why was this game drawn? I should have won it I think.
4
votes
1answer
163 views
Heavy piece endgame with 2 extra pawn, how to convert?
1r6/5pk1/2q1p1pp/3p4/r2P4/2P4P/PPQ2PP1/R3R1K1 w - - 0 1
White to move.
White is 2 passed pawns up, but black is very active. I'm sure objectively white is winning, but how? Black will attack and ...
9
votes
3answers
219 views
How to improve on the early endgame?
The late middlegame/early endgame is by far my weakest point.
I often get some kind of advantage in the opening, but then struggle to convert. I do study endgames, for example I am currently reading ...
3
votes
3answers
327 views
Stuck around 2000 rating. Concrete advice for improving? [closed]
I've been stuck around the 2000 rating mark on various different online chess websites for a few years now. I seem to have hit a wall. I'm quite busy so when I do find time for chess I tend to just ...
6
votes
5answers
482 views
At what playing strength level should one be able to mate with King Bishop and Knight vs King?
As in title above, at what playing strength level should one be able to mate with King, Bishop and Knight vs King without much effort (with reasonable time left for the game)?
5
votes
1answer
112 views
How does black ensure a draw in this R+3P vs. r+2p endgame with all pawns on the same side?
From a recent world-championship game Fabiano Caruana vs Magnus Carlsen (2018), the players agreed to a draw here:
[Title "Black to move"]
[FEN "8/1r3kp1/7p/7P/4R1P1/6K1/5P2/8 b - - 2 54"]
However, ...
2
votes
1answer
106 views
How does the last move in the Michael Adams vs Anatoly Karpov game result in the end of the match?
In the Michael Adams vs Anatoly Karpov (1994, Dortmund GER, rd 1, Jul-15 ) match (moves listed [here][1]), the last move is indeed a check to the black king, but why did the match end after that ? I ...
5
votes
2answers
574 views
What is the simplest method to win Queen vs Knight endgame?
What method requires the least amount of memorisation (doesn't have to be shortest path to victory) for the queen vs knight ending?
I have looked at tablebases but the moves are somewhat bizarre and ...
0
votes
0answers
63 views
Perfect strategy for winning simple endgames by premoving [duplicate]
I am a regular bullet player, so I am looking for a perfect strategy in which you only premove to win simple endgames, given that you only premove one move at a time (i.e. you can see what your ...
6
votes
3answers
2k views
Can a King and Queen mate a King and Knight or is this a drawn game?
White has a King and a Queen.
Black has a King and a Knight.
It is White's move. Can White win or is this ending a draw?
3
votes
1answer
328 views
2 Knights against 1 pawn (endgame)
Why is it important to leave the opponent's pawn in this situation?
From over 7kk games only 426 ends with KNN against KP, of which 286 games (67.1%) is draw.
In the two knights endgame, how should ...
0
votes
3answers
106 views
On the feasibility of mating with knight and bishop within 50 moves using a particular method
Prove that it is possible, from any starting KBNK position, to accomplish the mate by manoeuvering to arrive at key positions from a well-known method or strategy whilst
the losing king actively tries ...
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votes
1answer
111 views
How is a game of chess won?
My understanding is that there are basically two ways in which a game of chess is won.
(1) One side gives (or forces) checkmate, regardless of material situation on the board. He may be in material ...
10
votes
3answers
491 views
Endgame technique: How to win with rook + g and h pawn vs rook?
The tablebase suggests it's a win for White, but I struggle to beat my phone. Black's rook seems to always be able to harass the white king to stop white make any progress.
What's the technique to ...
-13
votes
2answers
205 views
Why are masters so bad at endings? [closed]
The other day I witnessed a National Master fail to checkmate using a queen vs rook.
I witnessed some of the worst technique known to man by a 2200+ player. It's clear he didn't know Philidor's ...
2
votes
2answers
95 views
Which openings (black/white) should man play against a player, who is not good at endgame but a tactical beast?
I'am looking for openings with white and black against strong junior players, which are mostly tactical beasts but not good at endgame.
5
votes
1answer
301 views
What's so important about the h4 square in this endgame?
I'm reading John Nunn's book Grandmaster Chess Move by Move, and it stresses the importance of the h4 square in the following endgame.
8/2p2p2/5k1p/2B1p1p1/4P3/1P3P2/2n1K1PP/8 w - - 0 1
1. Kd2? Nd4 ...
4
votes
1answer
131 views
Is there a database of endgame positions with known perfect play?
Perfect play as in, it leads to checkmate in the least moves possible. Not just forced mates.
3
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1answer
92 views
What was Nakamura thinking with 62…g5 against Carlsen in Senquefield Cup 2018 rd. 9?
I (a 2300 player) would never consider 62...g5 in this position giving White a protected passed pawn. Nakamura either thought it was a drawing method, or the toughest defense, but Carlsen showed ...
9
votes
1answer
556 views
How does syzygy store its 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
185 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
245 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 ...
4
votes
2answers
274 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
243 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 ...
10
votes
2answers
717 views
When checkmate is impossible in a position
Edit This question is not a duplicate, as mentioned in my comment. The linked supposedly-duplicate question addresses neither my below question #1, nor question #3, nor question #2 except tangentially ...
11
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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 ...
9
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
114 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
416 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 ...
7
votes
2answers
281 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 ...
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votes
3answers
283 views
Forcing a draw with knight and king
Can white force a draw somehow from this position using only his knight and king?
