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What is a Chess Endgame?
Definition
The Chess Endgame is the final phase of the game, beginning when most pieces have been exchanged. It is distinct from the opening and middlegame because the King becomes an active fighting piece, and the primary strategic goal shifts to promoting a pawn into a Queen.
Why is the Endgame Critical?
Grandmaster Edmar Mednis famously said, "The opening is to get a playable game, the middlegame is to get a winning game, and the endgame is to win the won game."
Many players study openings for hours but ignore endgames, leading to the painful experience of "The Choke"—losing or drawing a completely winning position because of poor technique.
Top 100 Fun Facts & Trivia – Chess Endgames
1. Endgames Are Their Own Science
Chess endgames are so important they’re often studied as a separate branch of chess, with their own books, studies, and specialists!2. The “Pawn” Becomes a Hero
In endgames, humble pawns can decide the game—especially when they turn into queens!3. King Activity is Key
In endgames, the king becomes a powerful piece. An active king can often decide the result.4. The 50-Move Rule
If 50 moves pass with no pawn move or capture, either player can claim a draw.5. Two Bishops Can Checkmate
Two bishops and a king can checkmate a lone king—but two knights cannot (unless the defending side helps).6. “Philidor Position” Mastery
Knowing the Philidor position is crucial in rook endgames. It’s a basic defensive setup.7. “Lucena Position” = Winning Technique
The Lucena position is the key to winning most rook and pawn vs rook endings.8. Passed Pawns Must Be Pushed
Capablanca’s advice: in the endgame, push your passed pawns!9. Triangulation Trick
Kings can “waste time” by triangulation to gain the opposition or force zugzwang.10. Stalemate Is a Savior
Sometimes, a player who is hopelessly behind can escape with a stalemate.11. Endgame Studies Are Art
Many endgame compositions are beautiful puzzles created just to delight chess lovers.12. Tablebases: Perfect Play
Modern computers can play endgames perfectly thanks to “tablebases”—databases of solved positions.13. The “Underpromotion” Surprise
Sometimes promoting a pawn to a knight or rook (not a queen!) is the only way to win or draw.14. The “Rule of the Square”
In pawn endgames, you can quickly determine if a king can catch a passed pawn with this simple trick.15. Endgame Legends: Capablanca & Smyslov
World Champions Capablanca and Smyslov were famous for their flawless endgame technique.16. Rook Endgames: Most Frequent
Rook endgames are the most common type of endgame in practical play.17. Knight Endgames = Pawn Endgames
Many knight endings have similar logic to pawn endings—knight = slow piece!18. Opposite-Colored Bishops: Drawish
Bishop endings with opposite colors are often drawn, even with extra pawns.19. Queen vs Pawn Can Be Tricky
If the defending king helps the pawn, a lone pawn on the 7th rank can sometimes draw against a queen.20. The Power of “Zugzwang”
Zugzwang means “compulsion to move”—forcing your opponent into a worse position just because it’s their turn!21. Rooks Belong Behind Passed Pawns
“Rooks belong behind passed pawns”—an endgame rule by Tarrasch.22. Fortress Defense
Sometimes the defender builds a “fortress” that can’t be breached—even if behind in material.23. Two Pawns on the 6th Beat a Rook
Two connected pawns on the 6th rank usually win against a rook.24. The “Wrong Bishop” Draw
Sometimes a bishop and a rook pawn can’t win if the bishop doesn’t control the promotion square!25. Endgame Masterclass: Dvoretsky
Mark Dvoretsky is considered the greatest endgame trainer of all time.26. Double Rook Endgames
Endgames with both sides having two rooks are much rarer than single rook endings.27. FIDE Endgame Tablebases
FIDE now allows claims based on tablebases in official competitions.28. Endgame “Shoulders”
In pawn races, “shouldering” means blocking the enemy king’s path to help your pawn queen.29. Queen + Pawn vs Queen: Always Draw?
Actually, queen and pawn versus queen is usually drawn with correct defense—but still tough to hold!30. Endgame Book: 100 Endgames You Must Know
Jesús de la Villa’s “100 Endgames You Must Know” is a modern classic.31. Famous Stalemate Tricks
Elite players have drawn hopeless games by sacrificing pieces for stalemate.32. Chess960 Endgames
Endgames are more important in Chess960, where opening theory is minimal.33. King + Bishop + Knight vs King
This is a win, but requires a precise checkmating technique known as the “W-pattern.”34. Connected Passed Pawns Are Deadly
Two connected passed pawns can be unstoppable in many endings.35. Endgame Time Trouble
Many grandmasters have blundered in winning endgames due to the clock!36. Pawn Endgames Are Pure Calculation
Unlike openings, pawn endgames often require precise calculation—one tempo can decide the game.37. Opposite-Side Castling = Race to Promote
Endgames with pawns racing on both sides often turn into dramatic queen races!38. “Vancura Position” – Rook Defense
The Vancura position is a defensive drawing method in rook and pawn vs rook endings.39. Sveshnikov’s Rook vs Three Pawns
Three connected pawns on the 6th rank can sometimes draw versus a rook.40. Endgames in World Championships
Many world titles have been decided by a single endgame mistake!41. King in the Corner
The defending king in a rook ending often heads for the “short side” to avoid checks.42. Endgame “Rule of Five”
The “rule of five” helps estimate if a king can catch a pawn in a race.43. Zugzwang Studies
Some endgame studies use incredible zugzwang themes to force wins or draws.44. Fortress in Queen Endgames
Sometimes even a queen can’t break a fortress, leading to a draw.45. Pawn Promotion Traps
A player may get a queen only to be stalemated immediately!46. “Reciprocal Zugzwang”
A position where whoever moves loses—classic in endgame studies.47. Blunders Still Happen
Even world champions have let wins slip in simple endgames.48. Stalemate with Only a King
The king alone can sometimes cause a stalemate if the attacker is careless.49. Chess Endgame Composers
Endgame composition is its own art form, with annual prizes for the most beautiful studies.50. “Pawn Breakthroughs”
Pawn breakthroughs, such as the classic “c4! bxc4 d5!” motif, decide many endings.51. Queen vs Two Bishops
Queen versus two bishops is usually drawn, but can be very tricky!52. The “Long Side” Rule
In some rook endings, the defending king should go to the long side of the pawn to avoid checks.53. Draw with Bishop and Wrong Rook Pawn
Even with an extra bishop, you might not win if your pawn is on the rook file and you have the “wrong bishop.”54. FIDE 75-Move Rule
In FIDE play, if no progress is made after 75 moves, the game is drawn—even in theoretical wins.55. “King’s Path” Calculation
Sometimes the only way to win is to walk your king across the board at the right moment!56. Rook vs Bishop and Pawn
Many rook vs bishop + pawn endgames are draws, but some are wins—knowledge is power!57. Famous Endgame: Fischer–Taimanov 1971
Fischer’s legendary endgame technique was key to his World Championship run.58. Smothered Mates in Endgames
Even in endgames, rare smothered mate patterns can appear!59. Piece Sacrifices for Passed Pawns
Sometimes you must give up a piece to secure a winning pawn promotion.60. Rook Endgame “Cutting Off” the King
Use your rook to cut off the opposing king from the action.61. Endgames with Few Pieces = Calculation
The fewer the pieces, the more important pure calculation becomes.62. Steinitz’s Principle: Don’t Rush!
Wilhelm Steinitz advised: In endgames, don’t rush—think carefully and use your time!63. Karpov’s Endgame Mastery
Anatoly Karpov was renowned for his nearly flawless endgame technique.64. Opposition Isn’t Just for Pawns
Opposition applies in many endgames—even with other pieces on the board.65. The “Queen Sacrifice to Promote” Motif
Sacrificing a queen for promotion is a recurring theme in studies.66. Endgame Books Are Classics
Some of the most famous chess books focus on endgames—like Fine’s “Basic Chess Endings.”67. Chess960 Endgames: Familiar Patterns
Despite shuffled pieces, many Chess960 endgames transpose into standard positions.68. Stalemate Defense
A defender can often force stalemate by careful pawn and king placement.69. “Shouldering” in King and Pawn Endings
Maneuvering your king to block the opponent’s king is called “shouldering.”70. Queen and Bishop vs Queen
Endgames with queen and bishop vs queen can last up to 50 moves!71. Three Knights Cannot Checkmate
Three knights alone cannot force checkmate against a lone king.72. Endgame Tactics Still Matter
Even in simplified positions, tactics like forks and pins can appear.73. The Centurini Rule
Two bishops and a king can force mate—known since Centurini’s 19th-century analysis.74. GM Draws: Hard Fought Endgames
Many grandmaster draws come only after deep endgame struggle—not just short draws.75. Rook vs Bishop: “Safe Corner” Defense
The defending king should head to the bishop’s corner for best drawing chances.76. The Longest Endgame Ever?
Some theoretical endgames last over 500 moves with perfect play (but are drawn by FIDE rules).77. Endgame Fortresses: Unbreakable Walls
Building an unbreakable fortress is an art in itself.78. Passed Pawns on Opposite Flanks
Racing pawns on opposite sides can produce wild results.79. “Pawns are the Soul of Chess”
Philidor’s famous quote—especially true in the endgame!80. Famous Endgame: Lasker vs Bauer 1889
Lasker’s brilliant queen sacrifice and pawn promotion wowed the chess world.81. The “Bishop’s Wrong Corner” Trap
Even masters have failed to win due to the wrong-colored bishop!82. Defense by Perpetual Check
Sometimes the defender can force a draw by perpetual check, even when behind.83. Endgame “Mates in the Corner”
Many mate patterns force the king into a corner.84. Rook and Pawn vs Rook: The Philidor & Lucena
Learn both for maximum practical endgame power.85. Knight and Bishop Checkmate: Rare but Learnable
This mate is rare, but essential for serious tournament players.86. Stalemate in Queen Endgames
Queen endings are full of stalemate tricks for both sides!87. King in the Center for Endgames
Don’t be afraid to centralize your king in simplified positions.88. Chess Engines Have Revolutionized Endgame Study
Tablebases and computer analysis have solved many mysterious endings.89. Rook’s “Third Rank” Defense
In rook endings, the defender often puts the rook on the third rank to block pawns.90. Winning with the “Outside Passed Pawn”
An outside passed pawn can distract the defender and help you win.91. “Pawnless Endings”
Even with just pieces left, knowledge of basic mates is vital.92. The Queen’s Power in Endgames
The queen can check from far away—look for forks and skewers!93. Repetition Draw Rule
If a position repeats three times, either player may claim a draw.94. Smothered Mate: Not Just for Openings!
Rare but possible in some endgame studies.95. “Bodnaruk’s Fortress”
Some modern fortress positions are named after the players who first demonstrated them.96. The "Reti Maneuver"
A famous king move trick that allows a pawn race to be won or drawn!97. Pawn Promotion “Underpromotion”
Promoting to a knight or rook can sometimes be the only way to win or draw.98. Longest Practical Endgame: Nikolić–Arsović (1989)
Lasted 269 moves and led to FIDE’s introduction of the 50-move rule!99. Pawnless Checkmate Patterns
You must know basic checkmates—king and queen, king and rook, and bishop + knight.100. Endgames Teach Patience and Precision
The endgame is where many games are truly won—or lost. Mastering it is a lifelong journey!🎓 Kingscrusher Chess Courses Index (All Courses + Discounts)
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♔ Chess Endgames Guide
This page is part of the Chess Endgames Guide — Learn the essential endgame principles and techniques that convert small advantages into wins, with clear explanations and classic master examples.