29 Essential Endgames

Endgame Guide

Every endgame position you need to know, from basic checkmates to complex rook endings. Free, no account needed.

Pawn Endgames

K+P vs K

King & Pawn vs King

Key concept: Opposition

K+2P vs K

King & Two Pawns vs King

Key concept: Connected vs doubled pawns

K+P vs K+P

Pawn Endgames: Opposition

Key concept: Direct & distant opposition

K+PP vs K+PP

Pawn Endgames: Breakthroughs

Key concept: Pawn sacrifice to create passed pawn

K+PP vs K+P

Passed Pawn Endgames

Key concept: Outside passed pawn

K+P vs K+P

Pawn Endgames: Triangulation

Key concept: Losing a tempo with the king

Rook Endgames

R+P vs R

Rook & Pawn vs Rook

Key concept: Lucena & Philidor positions

R+P vs R

The Lucena Position

Key concept: Building a bridge

R+P vs R

The Philidor Position

Key concept: Third-rank defense

R+2P vs R

Rook & Two Pawns vs Rook

Key concept: Connected vs split pawns

R+PP vs R+PP

Rook Endgames: Piece Activity

Key concept: Active rook beats passive rook

R+PP vs R+PP

Rook on the 7th Rank

Key concept: Rook on the 7th paralyzes the opponent

Knight Endgames

N+P vs N

Knight & Pawn vs Knight

Key concept: Knight blockade

N+PP vs N+PP

Knight Endgames: Outposts

Key concept: Centralized knight dominates

NN vs P

Two Knights vs Pawn

Key concept: Forced win only with enemy pawn

Bishop Endgames

B+P vs K

Bishop & Pawn vs King

Key concept: Wrong bishop with rook pawn

B+PP vs B+PP

Opposite-Colored Bishop Endgames

Key concept: Drawing tendency with fortress

B+PP vs B+PP

Same-Colored Bishop Endgames

Key concept: Good bishop vs bad bishop

B+PP vs N+PP

Bishop vs Knight Endgames

Key concept: Open vs closed positions

Queen Endgames

Q vs P

Queen vs Pawn on 7th Rank

Key concept: Bishop pawn and rook pawn draw

Q+P vs Q

Queen & Pawn vs Queen

Key concept: Perpetual check defense

Q vs R

Queen vs Rook

Key concept: Winning by forcing separation

Major Piece Endgames

R vs B

Rook vs Bishop

Key concept: Drawn with correct defense

R vs N

Rook vs Knight

Key concept: Corner trap

RR vs Q

Two Rooks vs Queen

Key concept: Rooks need coordination

Fundamental Checkmates

K+Q vs K

Checkmate with King & Queen

Key concept: Drive king to the edge

K+R vs K

Checkmate with King & Rook

Key concept: Box method

K+BB vs K

Checkmate with Two Bishops

Key concept: Bishops work as a diagonal wall

K+B+N vs K

Checkmate with Bishop & Knight

Key concept: Drive king to correct corner

Practice endgames by analyzing your own games for free

Analyze with Stockfish free at chess.rodeo ↗