The Greatest Endgames in Chess History
The endgame is chess at its most honest. There are no opening novelties to lean on, no tactical tricks to hide behind, just pure technique, precise calculation, and deep understanding. Here are ten endgames that represent the highest level of the art, each teaching a principle that will improve your own play.
Capablanca vs. Tartakower, New York 1924
The textbook rook-and-pawn ending. Capablanca, up a pawn, demonstrates perfect technique: centralise the king, advance the passed pawn, use the rook actively. Every move is the best move. This endgame should be the first one every improving player studies.
Fischer vs. Taimanov, Candidates 1971, Game 4
Fischer converts a small advantage in a bishop endgame with the precision of a surgeon. Every pawn push is timed, every king move deliberate. This endgame shows why Fischer's 6–0 result was not just tactical superiority but deep technical mastery.
Carlsen vs. Anand, WCC 2013, Game 5
Carlsen grinds a "theoretically drawn" rook endgame into a win against the former World Champion. The technique: create a passed pawn, tie down the defender, use the king as an attacking piece. This game illustrates why Carlsen wins equal positions.
Karpov vs. Kasparov, WCC 1984, Game 9
A queen endgame of extraordinary complexity. Karpov demonstrates that even in the most "drawish" endgame type, precise play can create winning chances. The technique: centralise the queen, create pawn weaknesses, and exploit the opponent's time pressure.
More legendary endgames
- Rubinstein vs. Lasker, St. Petersburg 1909: The rook-and-four vs. rook-and-three endgame that defines the "outside passed pawn" technique.
- Smyslov vs. Ribli, London 1983: A knight endgame masterclass.
- Kramnik vs. Aronian, Candidates 2018: A modern rook endgame won with Lucena technique.
- Botvinnik vs. Smyslov, WCC 1954, Game 7: Botvinnik's king activity in a bishop ending.
- Anand vs. Carlsen, WCC 2014, Game 11: Rook endgame technique under maximum pressure.
- Gukesh vs. Ding Liren, WCC 2024, Game 14: The endgame that crowned the youngest World Champion.
Study these endgames
Play through these games in the legends archive. Focus on the why of each move, every move in a great endgame has a concrete purpose. Then practice the key positions on the analysis board.