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Pathway extension · Endgame reference

Basic checkmate methods

A won ending still requires accurate technique. These compact methods show how to restrict the enemy king, bring your king forward and finish without giving stalemate.

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01

Use every sheet the same way

Identify, restrict, support, verify

Visual chess lesson

Back-rank mate

White to move

White to move. The black king has no escape square. Find mate in one.

e8: Mating squareg8: Boxed-in king1.Re8#
Reveal the explanation

1.Re8# mates. The rook controls the eighth rank and Black’s own pawns on f7, g7 and h7 prevent the king from escaping.

Verified line: Re8#

A boxed-in king and an unguarded back rank allow 1.Re8#.Position: 6k1/5ppp/8/8/8/8/8/4R1K1 w - - 0 1
1

Match the ending

Identify the material and find the sheet that fits the position.

2

Find the next job

Use only the current step rather than calculating the entire mate from the start.

3

Restrict the king

Each move should reduce the enemy king’s available squares or bring your king closer.

4

Check stalemate

Before a quiet move, confirm that the defender retains at least one legal move.

02

Sheet 1

King and queen: the three-step method

1

Restrict the king

Visual chess lesson

Restrict the king with the queen

Black to move

How has the queen confined the king without giving check?

h8: Confined kingg8: Queen-controlledg7: Queen-controlledh7: Queen-controlleda7: Legal pawn move remains
Reveal the explanation

The queen on f7 controls g8, g7 and h7, leaving the king on h8 inside a one-square box. Black can still move the a-pawn, so the position is not stalemate. This is restriction, not the final mate.

The queen uses the knight's-move relationship to confine the king while a pawn preserves a legal move.Position: 7k/p4Q2/8/8/8/8/8/2K5 b - - 0 1

Use the queen to confine the king to one region without giving unnecessary checks.

2

March your king

Visual chess lesson

Bring the king towards the mating net

White to move

The queen has confined the black king. Which white piece must now improve?

h8: Confined kingf7: Restricting queenc1: King must approachd2: First approach square1.Kd2
Reveal the explanation

White should march the king towards the corner while keeping the queen's box intact. For example, 1.Kd2 a6 continues the approach without giving stalemate or releasing the king.

Verified line: Kd2 a6

Once the queen restricts the king, the white king must approach to support the final check.Position: 7k/p4Q2/8/8/8/8/8/2K5 w - - 0 1

Bring the king close enough to support the mating net.

3

Deliver mate safely

Visual chess lesson

King-and-queen mate

Black to move

Why can the cornered king neither capture the queen nor escape?

h8: Mated kingg7: Protected queenf6: Supporting kingQueen gives checkKing protects queen
Reveal the explanation

The queen on g7 checks h8 and controls g8 and h7. The white king on f6 protects the queen, so ...Kxg7 is illegal. Restriction and king support make the final check safe.

The queen restricts the king and delivers mate only after its own king is close enough to support it.Position: 7k/6Q1/5K2/8/8/8/8/8 b - - 0 1

Give the final protected check only after confirming the king still had a legal move before the mate.

03

Sheets 2 and 3

King and rook: restrict by rank or file

Visual chess lesson

Ladder mate

Black to move

Notice how the two rooks create adjacent barriers.

h8: Mated kingg8: Escape square controlledRook checkSecond rook cuts off the king
Reveal the explanation

The rook on h6 checks along the h-file. The rook on g7 controls g8 and the king on f6 protects g7, leaving Black no legal reply.

The heavy pieces confine the king one rank at a time; the king protects the finishing rook.Position: 7k/6R1/5K1R/8/8/8/8/8 b - - 0 1

Visual chess lesson

Arabian mate

Black to move

Why can the king neither capture the rook nor escape to g8?

h7: Protected checking rookg8: Knight-controlled escapeKnight protects rookKnight covers escape
Reveal the explanation

The rook on h7 gives check. The knight on f6 protects h7 and controls g8, while the rook controls g7.

Rook and knight coordinate to cover every square around the cornered king.Position: 7k/7R/5N2/8/8/8/8/6K1 b - - 0 1
1

Cut off a rank or file

Place the rook far enough away to be safe while limiting the enemy king.

2

Bring the king up

Use the king to take the opposition and force the defender backwards.

3

Reduce the king’s area

When the kings oppose each other, use the rook to remove another rank or file.

4

Give the final rook check

With the enemy king on the edge and your king controlling the escape squares, check along the rank or file.

Keep sufficient checking distance: place the rook far enough from the enemy king that it cannot be attacked or captured.

04

Sheets 4 and 5

Promote the pawn

Use the rule of the square

Visual chess lesson

Square rule

White to move

Can the black king catch the pawn without help?

c5: Passed pawnc8: Promotion squaref8: Square-rule boundaryf5: Square-rule boundaryPromotion route
Reveal the explanation

No. Draw the pawn’s square from c5 to c8 and across to f8/f5. The black king on h8 is outside it, so after 1.c6 the pawn promotes before the king can catch it.

Verified line: c6

The highlighted promotion square shows the boundary the defending king must enter.Position: 7k/8/8/2P5/8/8/8/K7 w - - 0 1

Draw an imaginary square from the pawn to the promotion rank. If the defending king can enter, it can catch the pawn without help.

Escort from the front

Visual chess lesson

Opposition

White to move

The kings face each other with one square between them. Who has the opposition?

e6: Opposition square between the kings
Reveal the explanation

Black has the opposition because White must move. White’s king must give way, allowing Black’s king to resist the advance.

With one square between the kings, the player who does not have to move holds the direct opposition.Position: 8/4k3/8/4K3/4P3/8/8/8 w - - 0 1

Bring the king ahead of the pawn, use the opposition and advance the pawn only after the king has gained the critical square.

Queen-and-king coordination

Visual chess lesson

King-and-queen mate

Black to move

Why can the cornered king neither capture the queen nor escape?

h8: Mated kingg7: Protected queenf6: Supporting kingQueen gives checkKing protects queen
Reveal the explanation

The queen on g7 checks h8 and controls g8 and h7. The white king on f6 protects the queen, so ...Kxg7 is illegal. Restriction and king support make the final check safe.

The queen restricts the king and delivers mate only after its own king is close enough to support it.Position: 7k/6Q1/5K2/8/8/8/8/8 b - - 0 1

After promotion, use the knight’s-move rule to restrict the enemy king with the queen, then bring your king closer.

05

Critical endings

Two bishops and stalemate warnings

Two bishops mate

Visual chess lesson

Two-bishops mate

Black to move

How do the bishops and king cover the three squares around the cornered king?

h8: Mated kingg8: Controlled by the b3-bishoph7: Controlled by the kingChecking diagonalSecond bishop covers g8
Reveal the explanation

The bishop on c3 checks h8. The bishop on b3 controls g8, while the king on g6 controls g7 and h7. The bishops work on opposite colours and the king closes the remaining exits.

Opposite-coloured bishops form the mating net while the king removes the last escape squares.Position: 7k/8/6K1/8/8/1BB5/8/8 b - - 0 1

Coordinate the bishops on adjacent diagonals to make a shrinking barrier, drive the king towards a corner and bring your king to support the final net.

Corner stalemate

Visual chess lesson

Corner stalemate

Black to move

Black is not in check. Can the king make any legal move?

h8: King not in checkg8: Queen-controlledg7: Queen-controlledh7: Queen-controlled
Reveal the explanation

No. The queen controls g8, g7 and h7, but it does not attack h8. Because Black has no other piece and no legal king move, the position is stalemate rather than checkmate.

Removing every legal move without checking the king produces stalemate.Position: 7k/8/5KQ1/8/8/8/8/8 b - - 0 1

A queen or rook can remove every square without giving check. Leave a legal move until your king is ready.

Blocked-pawn stalemate

Visual chess lesson

Blocked-pawn stalemate

Black to move

Why does the pawn on h7 fail to give Black a legal move?

h7: Blocked pawng8: Bishop-controlled squareg7: King-controlled squareBishop controls g8
Reveal the explanation

The pawn cannot advance because the white king occupies h6. The bishop controls g8 and the king controls g7, while h7 is occupied by Black's own blocked pawn. Black is not in check but has no legal move.

A blocked pawn does not prevent stalemate when neither the pawn nor king can move.Position: 7k/5B1p/7K/8/8/8/8/8 b - - 0 1

A defending king with no squares and a blocked pawn may already be out of moves. Verify before advancing or capturing.

Lone-pawn stalemate

Visual chess lesson

Lone-pawn stalemate

Black to move

Black still has a pawn. Why is the position nevertheless stalemate?

g7: Blocked lone pawng8: Bishop-controlled squareh7: King-controlled squareBishop controls g8
Reveal the explanation

The pawn on g7 is blocked by the white king on g6. The bishop controls g8 and the king controls h7. Black's king is not in check, but neither the king nor the pawn has a legal move.

Possessing a pawn does not avoid stalemate when the pawn is blocked and every king move is covered.Position: 7k/5Bp1/6K1/8/8/8/8/8 b - - 0 1

When the last pawn cannot move and the king has no square, a careless quiet move draws immediately.

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