Chess endgame puzzles: technique that wins points
Winning a pawn in the middlegame means little if you can't convert it later. Endgame puzzles train the precise, calm technique that turns small advantages into full points and saves positions that look lost.
In the endgame every tempo counts and the king becomes a fighting piece. Ideas like the opposition, outside passed pawns, active rooks and zugzwang decide games again and again, at every level.
The guides below cover the six endgame families you'll meet most often. Each one explains the key ideas, the classic mistakes and how to recognise the winning plan, followed by puzzles you can play through.
Endgame types
-
Pawn endgames
Kings and pawns only: learn opposition, key squares and the races where every tempo decides.
9,249 puzzles in the app -
Rook endgames
The most common endings in chess: active rooks, cut-off kings and the bridge-building win.
10,054 puzzles in the app -
Bishop endgames
Long diagonals, colour complexes and zugzwang: learn when bishop endings win and when they fade into a draw.
3,124 puzzles in the app -
Knight endgames
Hopping pieces, sudden forks and pawn races: knight endings play a lot like pawn endings with surprises.
2,225 puzzles in the app -
Queen endgames
Endless checks, hidden cross-checks and racing pawns: learn to steer queen endings to a clean finish.
2,235 puzzles in the app -
Queen and rook endgames
Queens and rooks on both sides: back-rank threats, seventh-rank raids and sudden mating nets.
1,679 puzzles in the app
How to study endgames without getting bored
- Start with pawn endgames. Everything else eventually turns into one, so they are the foundation.
- Activate your king early. It is often worth more than a minor piece once the queens are off.
- Count tempi. In races, a single move decides whether a pawn queens or gets caught.
- Revisit endgame puzzles you missed. Technique grows through repetition, not memorised lines.
Your first brilliant move is free
200,000 puzzles, 60 courses and 16 bots. No paywall, no subscription, no catch.
Coming soon to the App StoreFree on iPhone. No subscription.
