Questions tagged [endgame]
Questions relating to the final stages of a game of chess, when only few pieces are left on the board.
481
questions
1
vote
1answer
62 views
What's the longest checkmate in a 7-piece tablebase?
What's the longest known 7-piece checkmate? That will appear in engine tablebases?
7
votes
2answers
936 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
121 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
133 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 (...
0
votes
0answers
125 views
With what opening can I force the opponent to a quick endgame?
I'd like an opening in which I can force the opponent, either white or black, to an endgame as soon as possible. Is there such an opening?
-2
votes
2answers
171 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
97 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
37 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)
7
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 ...
22
votes
2answers
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
134 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
142 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
215 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
176 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 ...
4
votes
13answers
589 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 ...
0
votes
3answers
150 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
194 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
196 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
188 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"]
...
2
votes
0answers
145 views
A classical Rook vs Bishop endgame (with pawns)
Karsten Muller 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. The ending is the following:
R7/5pkp/4b1p1/...
1
vote
0answers
60 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 ...
17
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
162 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
645 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 ...
8
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
573 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
143 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
3answers
179 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 ...
-4
votes
2answers
137 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 ...
-4
votes
1answer
185 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
179 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
242 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
202 views
Computer being right and human being wrong
Of course, computers have changed the evaluation of more than one endgame position (BB vs N being the most known, I guess), which humans thought to be drawn.
Having read another question here, I'm ...
19
votes
2answers
5k views
Is this a draw despite the Stockfish evaluation of −5?
I reached this position as Black:
[Title "Black to move"]
[FEN "8/8/8/3q4/6kp/7R/6P1/6K1 b - - 3 46"]
And I felt that I cannot make any progress and so it feels like a draw. ...
3
votes
1answer
892 views
Find a KNP-KQ endgame in which Black loses
How do I find a position where Black, on move, cannot save themselves from defeat, having a king and queen against White's king, knight, and pawn? Furthermore, Black is not in check.
3
votes
0answers
69 views
Finding every longest endgame for each material configuration
I can find statistics on the number of moves until checkmate in the Syzygy endgame table for each material configuration. Let's say I am interested in "KQQvK" endgames. The statistics show ...
6
votes
3answers
4k views
How do you play if both sides get a queen?
Here, I've read through the famous Réti endgame study. However, there is a possibility that both sides can get a queen. For example, take a look at this variation.
[FEN "7K/8/k1P5/7p/8/8/8/8 w - -...
15
votes
2answers
3k views
Can you solve this queen + 3 pawns vs bishop + 3 pawns chess problem?
[FEN "7k/8/8/8/6p1/4QpPb/5PpP/6K1 w - - 0 1"]
I found this interesting and unique chess problem online while surfing on the internet.
Disclaimer: This is not necessarily a position from a ...
2
votes
1answer
73 views
Time out question in a drawish endgame
With some extremely rare exceptions, KNN vs KR endgame should be a draw. However, I am wondering what if this endgame happens in a game with no increments. I think the following will happen at chess....
19
votes
2answers
3k views
Can you solve this chess problem of king and pawn against all opposing pieces?
[FEN "8/8/8/2p5/1pp5/brpp4/qpprpK1P/1nkbn3 w - - 0 1"]
I found this interesting and unique chess problem online.
Disclaimer: This is not a plausible position from a game, however it is ...
7
votes
1answer
2k views
Can you solve this chess problem of a lone knight against numerous opposing pieces?
[FEN "8/1nq5/bppp4/1p1k1K1N/1rrp3b/2pp2p1/8/n7 w - - 0 1"]
I found this interesting and unique chess problem online.
Disclaimer: This is not necessarily a position from a game. It's just a ...
34
votes
1answer
6k views
Can you solve this unique chess problem of white's two queens vs black's six rooks?
[FEN "3Q4/7Q/3rp3/2rkr3/2rrr3/7K/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
I found this interesting and unique chess problem online, on the internet.
Disclaimer: This is not necessarily a position from a game. It's ...
5
votes
2answers
512 views
Knight and 2 Pawn vs 3 Pawn Endgame
I got into this endgame as black (thinking that its a draw) and finally managed a draw by repetition:
8/5p2/4p1k1/7p/4N2K/6P1/7P/8 b - - 0 45
(8th rank is at bottom)
But the Lichess gives this ...
7
votes
1answer
428 views
How to think this end game puzzle and play this position
I encountered the following puzzle on Lichess. I instinctively knew I had to play Kc4 and then it would be about counting possible moves since neither king can move with out losing a pawn but I was ...
7
votes
2answers
2k views
How could I have prevented this long drawn out game?
Consider the following game. I am black.
[FEN ""]
1. e4 g6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 e6 4. Nf3 b6 5. Nc3 Bb7 6. Bg5 Be7 7. h4 Nc6 8. Bd3 Qd7 9. Qd2 O-O-O 10. Nb5 f6 11. exf6 Bxf6 12. a4 h6 13. Bxf6 ...
5
votes
2answers
2k views
Does a chess position exists where one player has insufficient material, and at the same time has a forced mate in 2?
I was thinking about the USCF and FIDE rules on flagging when the opponent has insufficient material. I think I came up with a scenario with the USCF-rule where the best move would be to let the clock ...
0
votes
1answer
151 views
A deceptively simple eight piece endgame
I am in the dark about the following endgame, with white to move. May someone with FinalGen (or a powerful engine) give me a response? Is it a White win or a draw?
[FEN "8/1k6/5R2/P7/1KP4p/5P2/8/...