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Endgames you must know

Checkmate with queen and with rook, the opposition, the rule of the square, the outside passed pawn, Lucena and Philidor. Each one explained, then played out against a perfect defender.

• How to checkmate with king and queen: Shrink the box: put your queen a knight's move away from the enemy king and follow it as it moves, so its space gets smaller.
• How to checkmate with king and rook: The rook cuts the king off along a rank or file; your king walks up to stand opposite it; then the rook checks along the edge.
• King and pawn endgame: king in front of the pawn: Your king on the sixth rank in front of the pawn wins whoever is to move.
• The opposition: drawing king and pawn against king: You are Black and this is a draw if you stay in front of the pawn.
• The rule of the square in pawn endgames: Can your king catch the pawn? Picture a square from the pawn to its promotion rank.
• The outside passed pawn: how to win with it: Your a-pawn is far from the black king.
• The Lucena position: how to build a bridge: Your king sits in front of the pawn and needs to step out.
• The Philidor position: the third-rank defence: You are Black, a pawn down, and this is a draw.

Opening lines with their plans

Every position's result, and every move the text recommends, was checked against the Lichess 7-piece tablebase. Part of Chess Path, a free chess course.