The Board Room · Endgames

Chess Endgames: Checkmates & Key Positions

Games are won and lost at the end. These interactive trainers teach the endgames every player must know — the basic checkmates and the classic rook and pawn positions — by letting you step through the model line on the board, move by move, with the last move highlighted. Learn the idea, then the one rule that makes it work.

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Endgame · Checkmate Mate
Checkmate with King and Queen
Box the lone king to the edge and mate — the first checkmate to master.
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Endgame · Rook Mate
Checkmate with King and Rook
Build a wall with the rook, march your king up, and mate on the edge.
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Endgame · Rook Mate
The Two-Rook Ladder Mate
Two rooks walk the lone king to the edge, rung by rung.
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Endgame · Pawn Win
King and Pawn vs King: The Opposition
Lead with the king, take the opposition, and queen the pawn.
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Endgame · Rook Win
The Lucena Position: Building a Bridge
Cut off the king, build a bridge, and promote the pawn.
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Endgame · Rook Draw
The Philidor Position: The Drawing Defense
The third-rank defense: how to hold a rook-down draw.

Turn technique into instinct

Play any of these endgames out against the computer on ChessTrophies — free, no sign-up, right in your browser.

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