Fine Chess Academy

Endgames

The endgame ideas every player needs: the rule of the square, the opposition, key squares, and the two most important rook endings. In the king and pawn positions, the board knows the exact result of every move, so it tells you the moment a win slips into a draw. Take the move back, or play it out to see why.

King and pawn endings

Learn the rule, then play it out against the computer. It defends perfectly.

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The Rule of the Square

  • Count the squares from the pawn to its promotion square, then picture a box that many squares wide.
  • If the defending king can step into that box on its move, it catches the pawn. If not, the pawn queens. (This is for when the pawn's own king is too far away to help.)
  • A pawn that hasn't moved yet can jump two squares, so count from one square ahead of it.
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The Opposition

  • The kings face each other with one square between them. Whoever does not have to move has the opposition.
  • Kings can never stand next to each other, so the king that has to move must step aside.
  • With the opposition, the attacking king gets past. The defending king uses it to block the way.
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Key Squares

  • Every pawn has a few key squares. Get your king onto one and the pawn will queen, whoever's move it is.
  • While the pawn is still on its 2nd, 3rd or 4th rank, its key squares are the three squares two ranks ahead of it. A pawn on e2 has key squares d4, e4 and f4. (Pawns on the a‑ and h‑files work differently.)
  • So bring your king to a key square first, and push the pawn after. They're shaded green on the board.
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The Rook-Pawn Draw

  • An a‑ or h‑pawn (a rook pawn) can't force the defending king out of the corner.
  • If the defending king gets to the corner in front of the pawn, it's a draw, even with the other king close by.
  • So when you're defending against a rook pawn, run for the corner.

Rook endings

Two positions every player should know by heart. Watch the method, then play it yourself.

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Lucena Position: Building a Bridge

  • White's king sits on the promotion square with the pawn right behind it on the 7th rank. Black's king is cut off on the side.
  • First, use the rook to push Black's king one more file away. Then put the rook on the 4th rank.
  • Now walk your king out. When the checks start, block with the rook on the 4th rank. That's called building a bridge.
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Philidor Position: The Third-Rank Defense

  • Keep your king in front of the pawn and your rook on your third rank, so the enemy king can't come forward.
  • As soon as the pawn steps onto that rank, move your rook all the way back and check from behind.
  • With the pawn that far up, the enemy king has nowhere to hide from the checks, so it's a draw.

The king and pawn trainer uses a complete table of every king and pawn versus king position, built by Fine Chess Academy and cross-checked against the Stockfish chess engine. The rook ending lines were checked move by move with Stockfish.