Mastering the Endgame: 6 Simple Tips for the Final Phase of a Chess Game

ENDGAME! A word that has made a lot of chess players uncomfortable. I have heard a lot of my students as well as players/friends saying that "Vedant you know whenever it's an opening or a middlegame I know what to do or how should I play. I might not play the best moves, but def reasonable moves. The moment the game is transposing into an endgame, i start feeling uncomfortable, a bit nervous, not knowing what to do, how to continue?
Well if this sounds familiar to you then this article is for you!

When most of the pieces are exchanged and you're down to just a few pieces, well this is the endgame. At this stage, every move matters, and small decisions can decide whether you win, lose, or draw. Unlike the opening or middlegame, where you have multiple moves which will give you an advantage. Here you need to be precise, every move counts. One wrong move or a loss of tempo and change the outcome of the game. Here in endgame it’s no longer about flashy attacks, but about smart planning, better positioning, and making the most of what’s left on the board.
Remember "It's not over until its over"

Here I have selected some key principles to keep in mind during the endgame.

1. Bring Your King into the Game

• In the endgame, your king becomes a powerful piece. Because even your opponent has less pieces on the board, so the chances of your king getting checkmated are very less.
• Don’t just leave the king hiding in the corner, bring it to the center so it can move quickly to either side, depending on where the action is.

2. Passed Pawns are Pure Gold

• A passed pawn is one that has no enemy pawns blocking its way to promotion.
• Try to create one, support it with your king or other pieces, and push it forward.
• If your opponent has a passed pawn, be sure to block it or neutralize it early.

3. Keep Your Pawn Structure Healthy

• You should avoid unnecessary pawn moves that leave weaknesses on the board. (like isolated or doubled pawns).
• Try to provoke weaknesses in your opponent’s pawns and attack them. The more pawn island your opponent has, the better it is for you to target them.
  Do not push your pawns unnecessarily in the endgame. You don't need a lot of space in the endgame since there are very few pieces on the board.

4. Limit Your Opponent’s Piece Activity

• Even with limited pieces on the board it is quite possible to dominate your opponent on the board. You can make sure that the opponent's king stays in the corner, do not let him out easily.
• As we say knight on rim is dim! Try to trap your opponent's pieces so that they cannot be involved in the game.

5. Maximize the Power of Your Own Pieces

• Put your pieces on active squares where they control key areas. As we say "Centralized knights are good but it can cover 8 squares at once! We can also refer to that knight as an octopus knight!
• Rooks belong on the open files.

6. Plan, Don’t Just Play

• Don’t just move aimlessly. Think in which direction should you play. Where is the action going on? Is it on the queenside/kingside/center? Then make your plan accordingly. Try to keep your pieces active, every piece should have a role in the endgame. Make sure that the pawns, the pieces and the king are living to their fullest potential!

In Short...

The endgame is about patience, precision, and smart thinking. Small things make a big difference. Convert one advantage into another. Use your king actively, push your passed pawns, keep your pieces working together, and most importantly never rush. Every square and tempo counts!

ABOUT ME

I'm a Chess player and Coach with a current rating of 2242. Currently I hold the esteemed title of FIDE Instructor and Candidate Master. I have been a professional player for more than 15 years and have been coaching for the last 7 years. With online Rating well over 2700 on Chess.com as well as lichess!
If you're interested in getting better at the game feel free to DM me over here or mail me at pimpalkharevedant@gmail.com