Chess Endgames on Mainline

17 essential endgames: opposition, rook endings, the Lucena and Philidor positions and more, each built on established theory and taught in plain English.

• K + P Opposition: Use your king to contest the other king’s advance.
• K + R vs K Mate: Restrict the king with your rook and bring your king closer.
• Philidor Position: Keep the king out, then check from behind.
• K + Q vs K Mate: Restrict the king, then bring your king into support.
• Lucena Position: Use your rook to block checks and help the pawn promote.
• Outside Passed Pawn: Use a distant passed pawn to draw the king away.
• Rook Behind the Passed Pawn: Support or attack a passed pawn from behind.
• Bishops of Opposite Colors: Use the colors to choose attack or defense.
• Key Squares in K+P Endings: Reach a square that lets your king secure promotion.
• Distant Opposition: Keep the useful king relationship as the kings approach.
• Fortresses: Hold a position the extra material cannot break.
• Square of the Pawn: Check whether the king can catch an unsupported pawn.
• Triangulation: Return to the position with the other side to move.
• Outflanking: Go around the king to reach a useful square.
• K + B + N vs K Mate: Coordinate the king, bishop and knight toward the right corner.
• Pawn Races: Count both promotion routes and the checks afterward.
• Rook on the Seventh Rank: Use the rook to attack pawns from the side.