Basic chess endgames: learn to checkmate

Being up material is not enough. You have to know how to finish the game. These are the basic checkmates every player should be able to do quickly. In each one you play White, and the computer defends as well as it can. Press New game to start again, or Hint if you're stuck.

King and queen vs king

Quick answer

The basic checkmates every player should know are king and queen vs king, king and rook vs king and the two-rook ladder mate. In each one you push the lone king to the edge of the board, then deliver mate, while always leaving it a legal move so you don't stalemate it.

Watch out for stalemate. If the defending king has no legal moves but is not in check, the game is a draw. Always make sure the king has a square to move to until you deliver mate.

1. King and queen vs king

The most important basic checkmate. The method:

  1. Use the queen to shrink the box the king can move in. Stay a knight's move away from the king so you don't stalemate it.
  2. Once the king is on the edge, bring your own king closer.
  3. Deliver mate with the queen protected by your king.

With practice you'll mate in under 10 moves from almost any position.

2. King and rook vs king

Harder than the queen, but just as important. The rook can't do it alone, so your king does a lot of the work.

  1. Use the rook to cut the king off along a rank or file.
  2. Walk your king toward the enemy king until they face each other with one square between them (this is called the opposition).
  3. Give check with the rook to push the king back one row. Repeat until the king reaches the edge, then mate.

3. Two rooks: the ladder mate

With two rooks you don't need your king at all. The rooks take turns: one blocks a row, the other checks on the next row, and the king climbs down the "ladder" to the edge.

If the king gets close to a rook and attacks it, move that rook far away to the other side of the board and continue.

4. King and pawn: win by promoting

Your king is in front of your pawn, on the 6th rank. This position is a win no matter whose move it is. The plan:

  1. Use your king to clear a path for the pawn. Keep it in front of or beside the pawn.
  2. Push the pawn only when your king controls the square in front of it.
  3. Promote to a queen, then use the queen checkmate from drill 1.

Why learn endgames early?

Many beginners win a queen in the middle of the game and then can't finish. Some even give stalemate and only draw. Learning these four positions means your winning games actually end in a win.

Once you're comfortable, test yourself in a full game against the computer on the home page, or sharpen your attacking eye with tactics puzzles.