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Chess Endgame Studies

The art and science of winning with fewer pieces

Chess endgames distill the game to its purest form. These interactive studies teach fundamental techniques from opposition and triangulation to the legendary Saavedra study. Each demo lets you play through classic positions and discover winning (or drawing) strategies.

King & Pawn Fundamentals

Master the essential building blocks of pawn endgames: opposition, the rule of the square, and tempo manipulation.

01
King & Pawn vs King: Opposition
Learn opposition and the rule of the square. Guide your king to promote the pawn against defensive play.
05
Triangulation: Losing a Tempo
Move your king in a triangle to waste a move and force your opponent into zugzwang.
04
Zugzwang: The Compulsion to Move
Explore positions where the obligation to move is a disadvantage. Toggle who moves first to see the difference.

Rook Endgames

Rook endings are the most common in practice. Master the two most critical positions: Lucena (winning) and Philidor (drawing).

02
Lucena Position: Building the Bridge
The most important rook endgame. Build a bridge with your rook to shelter the king and promote.
03
Philidor Defense: The Drawing Technique
Defend with the 3rd-rank rook technique. Hold the line, then check from behind when the pawn advances.

Famous Studies

Legendary endgame compositions that reveal the hidden beauty and depth of chess.

06
Reti Endgame Study: The Hunt of Two Hares
A king pursues two goals at once by moving diagonally. The 1921 masterpiece that defies intuition.
07
Saavedra Study: The Underpromotion
The most famous endgame study ever. Promoting to Queen loses; only a Rook wins. Can you see why?

Advanced Concepts

Deep endgame theory: the Troitzky line, tablebase analysis, and fortress defenses.

08
Troitzky Line: Two Knights Checkmate
Two knights can't force mate alone, but with an enemy pawn they can. Explore the boundary line.
09
Tablebase Explorer: Depth to Mate
Drag pieces to see DTM heatmaps. Explore how position affects the number of moves to checkmate.
10
Fortress Defense: The Unbreakable Draw
Build an impenetrable defensive zone. Despite being down material, the right setup holds a draw forever.