Endgames

White to move. Seize the direct opposition to escort the pawn through.

White to move — step up to seize the opposition three files apart.

White to move. Seize the diagonal opposition by stepping sideways.

White to move and promote. The black king is outside the square of the h-pawn.

White to move and win the race to promote. Don't be distracted.

White to move. Head toward your passed pawn to support its promotion.

White to move and win. Advance so each pawn defends the other's queening square.

Black to move and stop the a-pawn from queening.

White to move and win. Start the bridge-building technique with the rook.

Black to move and draw. Put the rook on the third rank to cut the king off.

White to move. Tarrasch's rule: the rook belongs behind the passed pawn.

White to move. Start the bridge building when the black rook covers from the wrong side.

Black to move and draw with the Vancura method — keep the rook on the long side of the rook pawn.

White to play. Use a knight-move distance with the queen to cage the king.

White to move. Maintain a knight-move distance from the enemy king — never check prematurely.

White to move. Careful — the wrong queen move is stalemate.

White to move. Use the rook to cut the king off along a rank or file.

White to move. Take a knight's-move distance to push the king toward the rim.

White to move and win. Head for the key square in front of the pawn.

Black to move and draw. The defender heads for the corner square.

White to move. Advance the pawn with the king right behind it.

White to move. A waiting king move hands black the turn and the win.

White to move and win. Promoting to a queen is stalemate — promote to a knight instead.

Black to move and hold the draw — the bishop can't touch the queening square.

White to move. Manoeuvre the bishop outside its own pawn chain to hit both wings.

White to move and post the knight on an unassailable outpost.

Black to move and stop the a-pawn with the knight.

White to move. Trade queens — the resulting pawn endgame is winning.

White to move. The king runs for a safe square so the queen can stop checking.

White to move. Centralise the bishop on an open diagonal.

Black to move. Blockade with the knight where the bishop can't breathe.

Black to move and hold the fortress. Put the bishop where the white king can't cross.

White to move. Push the passed pawn — opposite-colour bishops favour the side with initiative.

White to move. Skewer the king forces it off the same rank as the queen.

Black to move and save the game with a stalemate trick.

White to move. Any black response loses material — find the waiting move.

White to move. Cover the promotion square with tempo.