Questions tagged [endgame]
Questions relating to the final stages of a game of chess, when only few pieces are left on the board.
518
questions
0
votes
1
answer
98
views
Is there a spreadsheet of all 5 or fewer men endgame tablebase continuations/results? How could one be made?
I am looking for a spreadsheet such as the one here: https://data.world/uci/chess-king-rook-vs-king, except that it covers all 5 or less men endgames. Ideally it would also have PGNs of the ideal ...
2
votes
1
answer
224
views
How to find 'Thermopylaes' with engines?
Motivation
“You must take your opponent into a deep dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one." – Michail Tal
I am looking for ways to systematically find ...
- 516
1
vote
0
answers
35
views
Endgame move frequency data?
If you want to know what moves humans play in a certain positions, any database with enough games in it can give you the answer.
This obviously only works for opening positions, as the chance of any ...
5
votes
2
answers
486
views
Sicilian endgames - favourable for which side and why?
I often come across statements like this:
Generally speaking, Sicilian endgames tend to favour Black for
structural reasons. The extra center pawn and the half-open c-file are
both advantageous for ...
- 1,156
2
votes
0
answers
99
views
I don't understand why this scenario is checkmate. The black rook cannot move, as it's protecting black king. Can someone explain? See photo [duplicate]
So in this scenario the White Queen put the black king in check, which was then blocked by the black rook. So, how is it that the black queen moving to the position of F1 is considered checkmate? The ...
5
votes
3
answers
208
views
Is this queen vs. pawn endgame position winnable for black?
Came across a puzzle that stopped at this point. How can black win from this position? White to move.
- 51
1
vote
0
answers
78
views
Mating with B+N+handicap
Elsewhere there was a discussion on "pass chess" (instead of making a move you can pass...if you don't happen to stand in check!). There are three sensible rule variants of pass chess:
on/...
- 10.2k
7
votes
7
answers
2k
views
How to learn endgame theory
Related: How to improve on the early endgame?
How exactly do I study or learn endgame theory? Is it just memorizing certain positions that are quite common and knowing how to attack and counter?
- 1,039
5
votes
2
answers
821
views
How does white win/get an advantage here?
In the board below, I'm not entirely sure who is winning, black's rook looks dangerous at the moment.
Its white to move
How does white have an advantage?
4rk2/5p1p/2p3pP/8/p7/PqP1Q3/1P1R1P2/1K6 w - - ...
- 1,039
2
votes
1
answer
79
views
What is a flanking maneuver in K+P endgame?
When is a move defined as a flanking maneuver? Are there certain rules that define it as that?
- 531
17
votes
6
answers
4k
views
How does Black win this position?
I recently ran across notes I made from a book on endgames (I don't remember the book). According to my notes, Black wins this position regardless of whose move it is. I don't see it, and Stockfish ...
- 339
5
votes
1
answer
178
views
Why is this position winning for White?
This position comes from Koivisto-Rubichess, TCEC Season 22 League 1, after 33...Qc2-Qc6.
[FEN "6k1/4b1p1/2q2p1p/r2n4/8/5QB1/5PPP/4RBK1 w - - 2 34"]
Material is equal
White has the bishop ...
- 21.7k
0
votes
2
answers
118
views
What is the DTM for White is this 7 piece position?
I know that is winning for White because of the Syzygy tablebases. But Stockfish 14.1 NNUE, without tablebases, returns an evaluation of only +3.23 at depth =72(!). What is White's DTM?
[FEN "8/...
- 297
2
votes
1
answer
146
views
Is the following same colour Bishop endgame position a win or a draw?
In a very recent European Team Championship, the following position appeared on the board. Is the following position a win for White or a draw? Help from FinalGen is welcome.
[fen "8/4k2p/1p6/p7/...
- 297
14
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Are resignations by expert players naive?
During recent online chat with gamers, I asserted that 'go' (and possibly othello) had a larger decision space than chess.
After reading Wikipedia, I realized I failed to account for othello and go '...
4
votes
1
answer
147
views
Finding all critical endgames
A winning position is called critical, if all moves - except one - draw or lose (assuming the opponent plays perfectly). Similarly, a drawn chess position is called critical, if all moves - except one ...
12
votes
2
answers
317
views
Need Techniques for Bishop and Knight Checkmate
I understand the process for how to checkmate once in this position:
[fen "7k/8/5K2/5B2/5N2/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
But I need a technique for reliably getting into that kind of position from, ...
- 121
4
votes
2
answers
117
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 ...
- 141
-5
votes
1
answer
62
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&...
- 31
6
votes
2
answers
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 ...
- 393
9
votes
3
answers
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?
user26887
5
votes
2
answers
152
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 ...
- 10.2k
-4
votes
1
answer
129
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.
- 29
7
votes
1
answer
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 ...
- 835
5
votes
1
answer
213
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 ...
- 950
6
votes
2
answers
921
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 ...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
138
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 ...
- 1
2
votes
1
answer
96
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 ...
- 711
-3
votes
3
answers
531
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
-1
votes
1
answer
112
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 ...
- 1
3
votes
4
answers
146
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 ...
user30256
3
votes
3
answers
557
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 ...
- 49
1
vote
0
answers
45
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 ...
- 10.2k
9
votes
3
answers
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 ...
- 830
2
votes
1
answer
234
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 ...
- 10.2k
-1
votes
1
answer
264
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
-1
votes
2
answers
195
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 ...
- 51
2
votes
1
answer
121
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 ...
- 297
2
votes
0
answers
47
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 ...
- 21
8
votes
3
answers
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)
- 2,338
6
votes
7
answers
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 ...
- 337
24
votes
3
answers
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
1
answer
146
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:...
- 1
2
votes
1
answer
159
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 ...
- 1
5
votes
1
answer
293
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 ...
- 1,350
0
votes
1
answer
190
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
2
answers
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 ...
- 99
4
votes
16
answers
982
views
(practical) Endgame resources: What's next after josh waitzkin's series in chessmaster? [closed]
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
2
votes
4
answers
226
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"]
- 37
22
votes
6
answers
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, ...
- 503
Hot Network Questions
- Git Push Bash script
- What is this "padding" on screws?
- What kind of US house vote was it that first upheld then struck down the Casey Amendment to Title IX? Can the Speaker always call for a revote?
- Solving a Simple 'Sum and Product' Problem
- Does Bitcoin fee depend on amount?
- Is it acceptable to include information in a poster that wasn't in the publication?
- Do countries (with rule of law) exist where a court can require the legislature to vote on a law in order to clear ambiguities?
- Why do pro gun and anti abortion (and vice versa) views go together in the USA?
- Is a clustered index of 3 columns too big?
- How to bend a straight strip into a complete circle?
- \scalebox in column specification operator >{...}
- After the fall of Roe vs. Wade, are women at risk of criminal prosecution?
- What is the function or benefit of including juggling mechanics in a fighting game?
- Check stock status at a retailer
- Why is the left/right spectrum defined so ambiguously? (Europe)
- "Unsupported OS" when using `open` command on M1 Pro
- Will Roadster ever encounter Mars?
- Is sound of USS Enterprise’s automatic door opening indeed toilet flushing sound?
- Is there a (better) way to repeatedly toggle between two font colors within a paracol environment, and compiling with XeTeX?
- What is the name of this creature?
- TCP - Why do RST packets not require acknowledgements (and FIN packets do)?
- JPL Horizons - "highly accurate measurements of planetary positions" - how do they do it?
- What is the point of term life insurance?
- Protecting Smoke Alarm Relay from Large (6.5 amp @ 120V) Inductive Load