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Chess Endgames
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To become a better player, improve your endgame.
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It's a paradox, but some of the most difficult positions have the fewest pieces.
How can you expect to handle 32 pieces when you have trouble with 5 or 6?
Elementary Endgames
Part 1
You've reached a position where there are almost no pieces left on the board. Do you know how to notch the win or how to escape with a draw? Here are elementary mates and the simplest King and Pawn vs. King, including the 'Rule of the Square'.
Part 2
Pawnless endgames may not appear in many games, but they are important when evaluating more complex endgames. Here are the simplest -- Rook vs. minor piece, Rook & minor piece vs. minor piece, Queen vs. Rook -- you should know them.
Part 3
The final battle in a chess game can be a single piece against a lone Pawn, assisted only by the two Kings. Here are positions worth knowing for
Part 4
The game has been fought hard and the armies have been reduced to the bare minimum. Both players have single pieces of equal value, while a lone Pawn is on the board. What now?
Part 5
Although King and Pawn endgames look simple, they have their special features and can be tricky. Here we look at the simplest King and Pawn vs. King (and maybe a Pawn). The ideas in these examples are also seen in more complicated endgames.
Part 6
When an endgame position is an exception, there is often a Rook's Pawn involved. The edge of the board provides a natural barrier which nearly always results in exceptional positions. Here we look at some of those exceptions.
Part 7
An extra Pawn is an advantage; when it's an outside passed Pawn, it's a big advantage. Endgames with outside passed Pawns are elementary because they illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of the different pieces.
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