Endgames

In the endgame the king becomes an active fighting piece. Bring it to the centre and use it with your pieces and pawns.

You must know the basic checkmates. With a king and queen against a king, drive the enemy king to the edge, bring your king close, and finish with a queen move next to the king while it is protected. Watch out for stalemate.

Other key ideas: rooks belong behind passed pawns, and the opposition (kings facing each other with one square between) decides many pawn endgames.