Chess endgame guides
Most beginner games are decided in the endgame. These 15 guides cover the positions that actually come up - no deep theory, just the ideas that win and draw real games.
King and pawn vs king
The most important endgame every beginner must know: can your pawn promote?
The opposition
Facing kings with one square between them - the key to winning pawn endgames.
The square of the pawn
A quick visual trick to decide if the enemy king can catch a passed pawn.
The Lucena position
The most important winning technique in rook endgames: building a bridge.
The Philidor position
The key defensive draw in rook endgames: hold the sixth rank, then harass from behind.
King and queen vs king
Force the enemy king to the edge, then deliver checkmate - no stalemate.
King and rook vs king
Cut the enemy king to a smaller and smaller box until mate on the edge.
Two rooks mate (lawnmower mate)
Mow across the board rank by rank - the easiest basic checkmate.
Rook and pawn endgames
The most common endgame in chess - understand the key positions to save half-points.
Passed pawns
Passed pawns must be pushed - they win endgames all by themselves.
King activity
In the endgame the king is a powerful fighting piece - activate it immediately.
Triangulation
Lose a tempo with the king to reach the same position with the opponent to move.
The wrong bishop
A bishop that cannot control the promotion square means a draw, even with an extra pawn.
Bishop and knight mate
The hardest basic checkmate - drives the enemy king to the corner the bishop controls.
Promotion technique
Getting your pawn to the eighth rank and choosing the right piece.
Practice endgames from YOUR games
Free. Chess2EZ finds the endgames you keep losing and drills them with your own positions.
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