End Game Notes

Six Piece End Games

In order to reach our goal of chess mastery we must study endgames. Ultimately most games can be exchanged down to an endgame and it is this part of the game where we could win or lose. We have compiled a list showing the top 100 of the most frequently occurring six piece end game combinations, ranked in order. You really don't need much more than this, as these cover about 92% of all 6-man combinations that actually happen. The idea is to set up positions involving the piece combinations shown in a random manner on your chess computer. Play the positions against the computer for endgame practice. If necessary consult endgame books or ask the computer for hints. This is a great way to strengthen your game and increase those rating points! Alternately you could obtain endgame books or look through the internet for endgame studies and pick out positions with the listed piece combinations.

KRP KRP
KRPP KR
KPP KPP
KRP KPP
KBP KNP
KBP KPP
KRPP KP
KRP KBP
KPPP KP
KQPP KP
KBPP KP
KBP KBP
KRB KRP
KNP KPP
KQP KQP
KQP KPP
KRBP KR
KNP KRP
KQRP KR
KRN KRP
KBPP KB
KNP KNP
KNPP KP
KBPP KR
KQP KRP
KRNP KR
KRPP KB
KQPP KQ
KQRP KP
KBPP KN
KQBP KP
KPPP KR
KNPP KB
KNPP KN
KQR KRP
KNPP KR
KQPPP K
KRPP KN
KRB KRN
KQRPP K
KQP KBP
KRPP KQ
KRPPP K
KQQP KP
KQPP KR
KRR KRP
KRRP KR
KPPP KB
KRBP KP
KQBPP K
KQNP KP
KQP KNP
KPPP KN
KRP KBN
KQQPP K
KQR KPP
KRB KBP
KRB KRB
KRB KPP
KQBP KB
KPPP KQ
KRBP KB
KRNP KP
KRBPP K
KBPPP K
KRN KRN
KRB KNP
KQB KQP
KBNP KR
KQPP KB
KQNPP K
KQRBP K
KQRP KB
KQB KPP
KRBP KQ
KQP KRR
KRN KPP
KBPP KQ
KQBP KN
KRN KBP
KQPP KN
KQBP KR
KRN KNP
KBNP KP
KQP KRB
KQN KQP
KPPPP K
KQRB KR
KRBP KN
KBN KBP
KQNP KB
KNPPP K
KNPP KQ
KQR KBP
KRRP KP
KQBP KQ
KRNPP K
KBNP KB
KQQ KPP
KQR KQP

End Game Positions--Notes & Comments

Rook & bishop versus rook: a difficult ending that occurs more often than other Pawn-less endings. Black draws, even though Philidor thought White always wins. Lolli, Cochrane, Kling & Szen are other analysts of the ending; sometimes requires 50+ moves.

Rook versus bishop: analysed by Zagler, when White may win when the Opposing King is driven & confined to the corner that the Bishop would control, so black usually heads for the other corners.

Rook & knight versus rook: Drawn, main exceptions are when Opposing King is driven & confined to a corner square, when Charles Forth of Castaldi & Centurini say that White has extra winning chances. Unlikely to occur in the Shulman ending.

Bishop versus pawns: Minor vs Singleton-Pawn is drawn; by indirect implication, minor vs Doubleton-P is better for Black than White, but still likely drawn.

Q vs 2 Bishops: (ie if Shulman sacks Q for R+P, etc), then Black can draw when he can build the Lolli fortress (warning: not always winnable under the 50 move-rule). With Q vs N+B, Black can draw or blockade with another fortress, but white usually can burn the fort before it ever gets built. Q vs 2*N has a few blockades, but largely unexplored, except that also here, is the winnability within the 50 move rule race can also occasionally occur.

Q vs P+R: Normally a White win with P@|a7|c6|d6|a5|c5|d5|a4|d4|, & guarding the R. Otherwise, normally drawn (ie see "fortress"), or, if a non-Rook-Pawn is well advanced, with the King well-placed, and the R behind the P. White often wins if the R takes a side-guard duty. Philidor, Guretzky-Cornitz & Cheron are the important contributors.

Q+P vs Q: Perps. often cause many draws. With white on move: 85%, 74%, 65%, 60% positions are wins with P@|7th, 6th, 5th, 4th| Rank, resp. Bishop-P is most favourable here, and Rook-P the least favoured. Black is best advised to either go: towards the P, or, to the corner furthest from the Coronation square. A presumption by them is that black to play has better drawing chances. The White King often requires to make long tours when evading perps., using the 50-move-rule as a drawing fortress strategy.

R+P vs B: Normally wins when the King is in touch with his P, not with a premature advance of the P. Black has good drawing chances. Copnin & Vancura are some of the analysts.

R+P vs B+P: Black has many good drawing chances. Normally occurring when the Ps are blockaded on the same file, when the P anchors the B, but easier for white to win in general when the situation is not a Rook-P blockade. Cheron found a 50+ move winning position, but when the Ps remain unmoved for > 50 moves. Recommended Website--Table Base Server