Endgame Essentials
The endings every chess player must know · by Kapilash Chess Academy
The basic mates, king and pawn endings, the opposition, pawn races, queen and minor pieces against pawns, the wrong bishop, and the two key rook endings: Lucena and Philidor. Every example and every exercise has been checked with a chess engine, and each exercise has exactly one move that wins or draws.
Lessons
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1
The Basic Checkmates — Queen and rook against a lone kingOpen →
Mating with king and queen and with king and rook; the knight's-move box; making the opposition for the rook mate; the two-rook ladder; the stalemate traps you must avoid.
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2
King and Pawn against King — The square and the key squaresOpen →
The rule of the square; key squares for every pawn; why the king leads and the pawn follows; the king on the sixth rank; why a rook pawn is usually a draw.
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3
The Opposition — The fight between the two kingsOpen →
What the opposition is; how it decides K+P vs K; outflanking the enemy king; king marches in blocked pawn endings and the spare tempo.
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4
How to Defend Pawn Endings — Saving K+P vs KOpen →
The defender's plan in K+P vs K: king in front of the pawn, taking the opposition, attacking a lonely pawn and going straight back when the pawn checks.
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5
Pawn Races and Breakthroughs — Counting tempi correctlyOpen →
Counting pawn races; queening with check; the classic three-against-three breakthrough; Réti's famous study and the diagonal king march.
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6
Pawn Endings with More Pawns — Outside passed pawn and active kingOpen →
The outside passed pawn as a decoy; the active king; counting tempi before you go into a pawn ending.
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7
Queen against Pawn — When the pawn reaches the seventh rankOpen →
How the queen beats a pawn on the seventh rank with checks and pins; the stalemate defence with rook and bishop pawns; when the attacking king is close enough.
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8
Knight against Pawn — Stopping pawns with the knightOpen →
How a knight stops a passed pawn; checks that gain time; why the rook pawn on the seventh is the knight's worst enemy.
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9
The Bishop and the Wrong Rook Pawn — When an extra piece is not enoughOpen →
The wrong bishop with a rook pawn; how the defender reaches the corner; the bishop against pawns from a distance.
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10
Rook against Pawn — Cut off the king or lose the raceOpen →
When the rook wins against a pawn and when it does not; cutting off the king; counting the race back; under-promotion and stalemate tricks.
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11
Rook Endings: the Lucena Position — Building a bridgeOpen →
The Lucena position and building a bridge; cutting off the defending king; how to win rook and pawn against rook.
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12
Rook Endings: the Philidor Defence — How to hold rook and pawn against rookOpen →
The Philidor position; the switch to checks from behind; keeping the king in front of the pawn; the most common defensive mistakes.
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13
Test Yourself — Mixed endgame positions from every lessonOpen →
Thirty mixed endgame positions from every lesson: win, draw or mate with the only correct move.