Endgames

Chess endgames you learn by playing them

Every position here is played live against Stockfish. Any correct technique counts; a move that throws away the result is caught and explained.

touch_appTry the first one: Queen Checkmate.

Checkmates

  • Queen Checkmate: Use queen and king together to drive the lone king to the edge and mate it.
  • Rook Checkmate: The Box: Shrink the enemy king's box with the rook, then use opposition to mate on the edge.
  • Two Rooks: The Ladder: Two rooks mate without the king's help by taking turns, one rank at a time.
  • The Bishop Pair: Two bishops side by side form a wall the enemy king can't cross. Drive it into a corner and mate.
  • Bishop + Knight Mate: The hardest basic mate: you can only mate in a corner of your bishop's color.

Pawn promotion

  • King in Front of the Pawn: With your king on the 6th rank in front of your pawn, you always win. Show it.
  • Key Squares & Opposition: Reach a key square in front of the pawn, and the pawn will queen.
  • Lucena: Build a Bridge: The most important rook endgame win: shelter your king with the rook to promote.

Saving the game

  • Defend: Rook-Pawn Fortress: You're Black. A rook's pawn can't win if your king reaches the corner in front of it.