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Concept
Chess endgame
Summary
In chess and other similar games, the endgame (or end game or ending) is the stage of the game after the middlegame. The endgame begins when few pieces are left on the board.
The line between middlegame and endgame is often not clear, and may occur gradually or with the quick exchange of a few pairs of pieces. The endgame, however, tends to have different characteristics from the middlegame, and the players have correspondingly different strategic concerns. In particular, pawns become more important as endgames often revolve around attempting to promote a pawn by advancing it to the eighth . The king, which normally should stay hidden during the game should become active in the endgame, as it can help escort pawns to promotion, attack enemy pawns, protect other pieces, and restrict the movement of the enemy king. Only some games of chess reach an endgame, whereas other chess games end earlier.
All chess positions with up to seven pieces on the board have been solved, that is, the outcome (win, loss, or draw) of best play by both sides is known, and textbooks and reference works teach the best play. Most endgames are not solved, and textbooks teach useful strategies and tactics for them. The body of chess theory devoted to endgames is known as endgame theory. Compared to chess opening theory, which changes frequently, giving way to middlegame positions that fall in and out of popularity, endgame theory is less subject to change.
Many endgame studies have been composed, endgame positions which are solved by finding a win for White when there is no obvious way to win, or a draw when it seems White must lose. In some compositions, the starting position would be unlikely to occur in an actual game; but if the starting position is not so exotic, the composition is sometimes incorporated into endgame theory.
Chess players classify endgames according to the type of pieces that remain.
Official source
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