Questions tagged [endgame]
Questions relating to the final stages of a game of chess, when only few pieces are left on the board.
465
questions
2
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0answers
51 views
+50
What's next after josh waitzkin's endgame series in chessmaster?
Tactically, of course there's lichess endgame puzzles. But Josh Waitzkin says in the endgame you think more strategically than tactically, iirc.
Strategically, what's next?
Besides books (r/chess has ...
0
votes
3answers
137 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
158 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 ...
2
votes
3answers
183 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
175 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
134 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
54 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 ...
16
votes
6answers
5k 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 ...
2
votes
2answers
152 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
623 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 ...
7
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
568 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 +...
2
votes
1answer
131 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
174 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
135 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
176 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
178 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
228 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
198 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
888 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
65 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
66 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
493 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
426 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
1k 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
146 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/...
5
votes
1answer
96 views
Increase in pawn value towards endgames
I’m writing my own chess engine where I’ll be implementing something called a tapered eval which is one that evaluates the position with an endgame specific evaluation function and a middle game ...
4
votes
2answers
454 views
Can a KB vs. KB endgame be declared drawn if a checkmate can occur and the 50-moves-rule doesn't apply in a Blitz game?
Bishop and King vs Bishop and King, with opposite-colored bishops, is usually a draw unless a serious blunder happens.
[FEN "8/8/8/3b4/8/7k/8/6BK w - - 0 1"]
What is the requirement for an ...
10
votes
1answer
225 views
Is this position a fortress?
I am unsure how to break through as white here. There seem to be no way to get a passed pawn on the e file. Stockfish evaluates this as +3 at high depths but gives no plan. Any plans?
[fen "3Q4/...
11
votes
3answers
5k views
I'm new to chess-what should be done here to win the game?
[FEN "8/8/8/8/3k1KB1/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
I am new to chess and have no clue as to how to win this game. Which moves can be done with what is on the board in order to win? Could anyone explain?...
4
votes
1answer
212 views
Obtaining the correct move from syzygy tablebases (Python)
I have created a chess engine in Python and now want to start using the endgame tables in syzygy. I have downloaded all the relevant files and is now ready to start.
I have found how to access the ...
14
votes
2answers
4k views
How many pawns make up for a missing queen in the endgame?
My partner and I are newbies, and recently found ourselves in this position:
[FEN "8/8/8/6kp/p5p/8/K/6Q w - - 0 1"]
I expected white would easily win because of the queen (and point) ...
-1
votes
1answer
97 views
A historical computer chess endgame
In Season 11 Superfinal Game 78 the following opposite color Bishop endgame was reached:
[FEN "8/2p1k3/1p6/p4B2/P2P1bP1/2P5/1P3K2/8 w - - 0 1"]
In that Superfinal Stockfish smashed Houdini ...
1
vote
1answer
103 views
An interesting eight pieces Queen endgame
Looking at a human game between strong players, one of the variations reached the following endgame WHITE to move.
[FEN "4Q3/8/2pK4/1p6/1P4k1/P7/8/7q w - - 0 1"]
Since Qxc6 is a draw (...
2
votes
1answer
142 views
Puzzle - Mate in 5 - #001
I've been writing some chess puzzles lately and I thought I would post some of them up here. I'm quite fond of this one so I thought I would share. I traditionally am not a fan of problems that are a &...
-1
votes
2answers
229 views
Stockfish vs Leela zero
In the TCEC Cup 7 , Stockfish and Leela Zero played the below position;
Is this a win for White or is Black able to defend this position? Black to Play
[Event "TCEC Cup 7"]
[White "...
1
vote
2answers
299 views
What is the best way to research openings and endgames in a browser?
Basically, I just want to know if there’s any easy way to use websites to practice endgames and openings by just opening my browser. I keep finding downloads to Windows programs, which is a problem ...
2
votes
1answer
170 views
Beginner book that has endgame scenarios
I’ve been looking for free online books on endgame scenarios, since I'm very bad at them. So far, I haven’t gotten any luck.
By the way, I only know the pieces moves and some other basic stuff.
3
votes
1answer
175 views
Candidates for the longest 8 man checkmates?
Are there proven 8 men checkmates that have a good chance to be the longest checkmates? How were they proven and why are they good candidates?
1
vote
4answers
605 views
How does b4 fix pawns in this endgame?
Here, it is said that after 1.Re7 Rb8 2.Kd3 a6, white plays b4 to fix the enemy pawns. But I don't understand: how does it fix pawns? How is b3 any different? What does it mean to fix enemy pawns?
5
votes
2answers
2k views
Why doesn’t Stockfish evaluate this fortress as 0.0?
I'm going through the 100 endgames you must know book on Chessable and stumbled upon something I don't understand. This position with white to move is described as a draw starting with 1. Kh1. I ...
1
vote
2answers
284 views
Why does White play g5?
As a total newbie, I've been solving some medium-level problems on chesstempo. This one caught my eye. We play as Black after White's first move.
[FEN "6k1/5p1p/5bp1/p7/P1r3PP/2n2N2/4NP2/1R4K1 w -...
