Questions tagged [endgame]
Questions relating to the final stages of a game of chess, when only few pieces are left on the board.
501
questions
4
votes
2answers
107 views
How to find only-winning moves in the endgame?
Black to move here.
I played 1... Rf5. Intending to cut off the king.
But the only winning move in this position is e5.
My question is, how do you find such a move? Is it pure calculation, or is it ...
-5
votes
1answer
56 views
Can Black draw this game? [closed]
Carlsen-Svidler 2010 Blitz. Black to move. Can he draw by perpetual checks? In the actual game, he resigned two moves later.
[FEN "6R1/8/3B4/5K1k/r7/8/8/8 b - - 0 1"]
[StartFlipped "0&...
6
votes
2answers
1k views
Insufficient material rule [closed]
As I understand chess rules, insufficient material means K vs. K, K vs. KB, or K vs. KN. (Correct me if I am wrong.)
But what about KB vs. KB when both bishops are in the same colored square? Am I ...
9
votes
3answers
7k views
Is there a mathematical theorem that you can use to win a chess endgame?
Have mathematicians created any theorem that determines the outcome of a endgame? If so, how could it be used to win a specific endgame?
5
votes
2answers
140 views
2P winning against Q
Inspiration
BCLC guessed (see link) that even only 2P can win against Q, even if the Q side has the move, if they are advanced far enough. I quickly checked a few promising position candidates in a ...
-4
votes
1answer
126 views
What should be my move as white and what kind endgame should i target?
I played this game with an AI. I played brilliantly till this position presented itself.
7
votes
1answer
2k views
What will happen if you have a position where no one can lose?
What will happen if you have a position where no one can lose?
[fen "5k2/8/1p1p1p2/pBpP1Pp1/P1PpK1P1/1P1Pb3/8/8 b - - 0 1"]
Here is my game, I know it is live960 but I was wondering the ...
5
votes
1answer
191 views
Technique to draw this rook endgame
I'm familiar with the technique of drawing this endgame with White:
[fen "8/R4pk1/6p1/7p/7P/6P1/p4PK1/r7 w - - 0 1"]
However, I faced an endgame yesterday that's objectively a draw, but ...
6
votes
2answers
822 views
Before Qe6 in game 6 of the 2021 World Chess Championship, was it really a draw?
In game 6 of the World Championship 2021 between Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi, before Qe6 the engine says +0.9 at around depth 30/99, but I heard supposedly it's a (theoretical) draw. I know ...
0
votes
1answer
104 views
What's the idea of 'all rook endgames are drawn' ? i think opposite coloured bishop endgames and even queen endgames are more drawish
Quote: 'all rook endgames are drawn', 'All rook endings are drawn' or 'All rook and pawn endings are drawn.'
For queen endgames, Karsten Müller even gives a way of visualising this (not quite Karsten ...
2
votes
1answer
84 views
Has Explainable AI been applied to the endgame tablebases?
There's an ongoing trend towards building 'Explainable' AI so that not just the results of a decision process are generated, but also some form of human-readable explanation for it. The Wikipedia ...
-4
votes
3answers
501 views
On average, how many pawns are there at the start of the endgame?
Question: On average, how many pawns are there at the start of the endgame?
To answer:
You can choose your definition of the endgame as long as you can show a credible reference that supports your ...
-1
votes
1answer
94 views
How does Anna Rudolf beat Hikaru Nakamura in this rook vs queen endgame fortress that came from a choker game (chess + poker)?
Position that follows is from Anna Rudolf's video 'Challenging Top Chess Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura for a Choker Match!':
[FEN "8/5p2/8/2qkp3/4R1P1/5P2/3KP3/8 b - - 0 1"]
Also, here's a ...
3
votes
4answers
142 views
King's alternative routes to reach a destination square
What are the alternative routes that king can go to destination square like king can go from one edge to another edge in 7 moves but it has many alternative paths to reach there in 7 moves.
Please ...
2
votes
3answers
547 views
Is it possible for White to win in this rook and knight endgame?
In a game I recently played, I was playing White and I blundered quite a bit to reach this position.
[FEN "8/R1N4p/2k5/1pn1K3/8/3r4/P4r2/8 w - - 0 1"]
Is it possible for White to win at ...
1
vote
0answers
41 views
Long tablebase wins in tournament praxis
I very much assume that KBB/KN endgames already occurred often enough in OTB play, and I also bet the B side always played on for a win (regardless whether this was after the computer proved it was a ...
9
votes
3answers
1k views
Collection of short endgame rules
Are there any resources with a list of short endgame facts and rules ? For instance : "2 connected pawns on the 6th rank always win against a rook" , "rook's pawn results often in a ...
3
votes
0answers
131 views
Opening and endgame experts in chess
There are famous players who are called endgame experts ("opening expert" IMHO is less used), e.g. Rubinstein. Now obviously, to be a GM, you have to know a bit of all game phases, and a ...
-1
votes
1answer
253 views
Pogchamps: How does Michelle Khare beat Pokimane (rook and knight vs rook pair)?
From pogchamps, specifically semifinals of consolation bracket of pogchamps 3:
[FEN "4k3/7p/5p2/8/P2rr3/5N2/6PP/4R1K1 w - - 0 1"]
Black (Michelle Khare) just blundered a rook, but white (...
-1
votes
2answers
188 views
Why do people say you can't mate with just a bishop? [closed]
I mean, looks pretty checkmate to me.
Everywhere I look this up, they never speak about the fact that it is at least theoretically possible to win with just a bishop and a king. Why is that? I mean ...
2
votes
1answer
109 views
Rook vs Bishop endgame
In the following endgame position, from Dautov vs Heinemann, from the book FUNDAMENTAL CHESS ENDING, what happens with perfect play?
[FEN "R7/5pkp/4b1p1/3p4/8/5P2/5KPP/8 b - - 0 1"]
The ...
2
votes
0answers
42 views
How can I query an endgame tablebase for multiple positions using loops/conditional statements?
In textbooks you find diagrams about key squares and similar concepts. For example, white can promote a pawn if white's king can control three particular squares infront of the pawn. I would like to ...
7
votes
3answers
3k views
Can black win this pawn ending?
Black to move. My computer gives the evaluation -2.5 but I can't find the winning sequence for black.
[FEN "6k1/6pp/4p3/3pP3/2pP1PP1/1p6/1K5P/8 b - - 0 1"]
(Black goes up the board)
6
votes
7answers
3k views
Are tactics or endgames more important?
I’ve seen a lot of strong players say at lower levels all you need to do is get really good at tactics, but, I’ve also seen a lot of people say that you should study the endgame before the opening or ...
23
votes
3answers
9k views
Why does chess.com consider this promotion a blunder?
I've just played a game on Chess.com, and I'm surprised that the engine considers a promotion that I made a huge blunder. Like, my position was rated -62.8 (basically a won game), and after I promoted ...
4
votes
1answer
144 views
Ulf Andersson vs Robert Huebner 1981 rook endgame: the mistake here is Rd8 right?
Click here for engine re position below
8/3r4/1kp2p1p/ppRp2pP/3PP1P1/3K1P2/PP6/8 w - - 0 1
From hanging pawns in The Principle of Two Weaknesses in the Endgame at 9:02 (the game is discussed from 0:...
2
votes
1answer
152 views
akiba rubinstein vs alexander alekhine 1911 rook endgame: the mistake here is Rxb5 right?
Current 4 follow-up questions for the answer (currently just 1 answer):
A - engine says Kf5 is a blunder. Did you mean Kf6?
B - engine says Kf5 Re7 is a blunder. Did you mean Kf5 Rd7? Kf5 Re7 blunders ...
4
votes
1answer
256 views
When can a player with just a bishop/knight vs overwhelming material claim a win on time?
Is there any program or algorithm that determines conclusively whether or not a person at severe material disadvantage can claim a win on time?
This question got me thinking about precise parameters ...
0
votes
1answer
183 views
What constitutes a draw?
I know what makes a game a stalemate, and I know that stalemate is 1/2 point to everyone, and I assume draw is the same, but can there be a draw without a stalemate?
8
votes
2answers
3k views
Why is this position drawn?
This position was reached in semi-final game 1 of FIDE world cup 2021. With black to play the players agreed to a draw. The white is up a pawn and looks to be winning? I am not able to figure out a ...
5
votes
15answers
854 views
(practical) Endgame resources: What's next after josh waitzkin's series in chessmaster?
Note: Don't upvote all the answers at once because your votes may be reversed!
Tactically, of course there's lichess endgame puzzles. But Josh Waitzkin says in the endgame you think more ...
1
vote
4answers
209 views
Is this endgame a draw?
I reached this position in a game. I don't think either side can force a win?
White to move.
[FEN "8/pB6/P7/4pK2/3b1p2/5P2/3k4/8 w - - 0 1"]
21
votes
6answers
2k views
How do I handle drawn positions in zero time increment games?
I recently found myself in a drawn position (king and rook for each side) in a zero increment online game. I had about 10 seconds on my clock, my opponent had about 20 seconds. He ignored draw offers, ...
3
votes
1answer
222 views
Why does Stockfish evaluate this position as equal?
After solving the puzzle while I was analyzing this endgame, I was just surprised to see stockfish evaluates this position as equal.
After Ke4, Ke6 (Opposition); Kf4, and f5 -- I can't find out any ...
3
votes
3answers
203 views
Why is there association between a queenless position and the endgame?
Why does there seem to be some idea that trading queens is the start of the endgame? What does trading queens have to do with the endgame? Why are queenless positions often considered to be endgame ...
1
vote
1answer
195 views
Interesting knight vs bishop endgame
The following endgame, from Almasi vs Sanikidze, is becoming a real riddle. The position, after the 43th move by Almasi, is the following:
[fen "8/1N4k1/7p/4ppbP/4P3/1PP5/1K6/8 b - - 0 1"]
...
4
votes
1answer
215 views
A classical Rook vs Bishop endgame (with pawns)
Karsten Müller and Lamprecht give the following ending as a win in Fundamental Chess Ending. However, Houdini 6.02 does not find a win as far as I analyzed.
[FEN "R7/5pkp/4b1p1/3p4/8/5P2/5KPP/8 b ...
1
vote
0answers
110 views
Better-known term for "cyclic" zugzwang?
What's the term for a zugzwang position P where
White is winning, with or without the move
White's best way to win from P is to execute a tempo-losing manoeuvre which leads back to P with Black to ...
18
votes
6answers
6k views
How difficult is it to win a winning endgame against an engine?
Consider an endgame like the one shown below (white to move):
[fen "5k2/5p2/r7/8/6R1/4b1PP/8/5R1K w - - 0 50"]
Stockfish gives white a solid +3 advantage here and that seems appropriate ...
3
votes
2answers
170 views
Can this '+3.9' advantage be converted to a win?
I reached this endgame, which Stockfish 10+ evaluates as +3.9, but failed to convert it to a win. I feel that it may be a draw after all. Is that the case?
[Title "White to move"]
[FEN "...
7
votes
2answers
658 views
Description of rectangular opposition in Silman's Complete Endgame Course
In Silman's Complete Endgame Course, the author gives this rule in order to gain the Opposition when there isn't a direct connection in between the kings:
In this type of situation, the rule is to ...
9
votes
8answers
4k views
Would there be more decisive games if we began to see stalemates as checkmates? And hence more "interesting" chess? [closed]
I think it is up for debate as to whether a stalemate should be a win or a draw. I agree stalemates make beginner chess more interesting but we rarely see games at international level end in stalemate....
4
votes
1answer
581 views
An important and interesting Bishop endgame
In a 1993 game played by Wojtkiewitz vs Khalifman, the following endgame appeared on the board. Black to move.
[FEN "5k2/1p4p1/1p2bp1p/3p4/5PP1/P3P2P/1P1K2B1/8 b - - 0 1"]
Stockfish gives +...
3
votes
1answer
144 views
How did chess change over the 2010s and should I keep anything in mind for buying books from before 2010?
I presume I am being overly paranoid regarding this, and I definitely don't intend to turn away from older books at all, but were there any developments opening-wise, middlegame-wise, or endgame-wise ...
4
votes
1answer
188 views
Queen versus rook endgame: to check or not to check?
Most tutorials the K+Q versus K+R endgame claim that at some stage, the key is to force the rook away from the king, then it is supposed to be easy: give a series of checks and fork/skewer the rook.
...
4
votes
3answers
180 views
What is the correct way to play this endgame?
[FEN "4k3/1pp2ppp/p1p5/8/4P3/8/PPP2PPP/4K3 w - - 0 1"]
I win this position vs the computer sometimes, and sometimes not. But I assume there is a principal way to play this endgame that ...
-3
votes
2answers
138 views
An incredibile endgame
Is the following position
[FEN "8/P1R5/K3p3/4k3/B3b3/8/8/1r6 w - - 0 1"]
a win ( for White) or a draw? The position above is derived from a variation of Stockfish vs Komodo TCEC Season 19 ...
-3
votes
1answer
190 views
How did I get a checkmate in this game?
This is a position from an endgame I played that I do not understand. How did I get a checkmate in this game? Is this a glitch? I ask this because I am pretty sure that Black's queen could take my ...
4
votes
1answer
182 views
Kramnik vs Topalov 1996
Kramnik vs Topalov 1996 King Indian Bayonet Attack. After a ferocious Attack Kramnik did gain a pawn indeed on move 29, but failed to increase his advantage further and only drew the game. According ...
2
votes
2answers
256 views
Karpov vs Kasparov, Game 41
In the common literature, it appears as truth that Karpov missed the winning a6! instead of Rxd1 on move 33, Game 41, in the first Karpov vs Kasparov match. But is the following position, derivate ...