Introduction

A chess endgame is the stage of a chess game when there are only a few pieces left on the board. There is, however, not a well-defined line distinguishing the endgame from its predecessor, the middle game. But all configurations just consisting of five pieces in total can safely be considered as endgames and this is what we will take a look at here. There are configurations—like a king and a rook vs. the lonely king—for which there exist easy strategies resulting almost always in a win—except for some obvious drawing positions. But there are configurations for which it is very hard to decide who will win with optimal play. The emergence of computers allowed to give a definite answer to this question for all configurations with up to five pieces— simply by brute force computation of the whole tree of possible moves. But even for this small number of pieces the computations are very elaborate and intelligent algorithms are necessary to make them possible. Richard Bellman, Thomas Ströhlein, and Ken Thompson are the fathers of computational endgames analysis (see also the Wikipedia article on endgame tablebases). Eugene Nalimov has created a famous database of chess endgames with up to five pieces, and it is his data that we will present here in a condensed form.

The computational endgame analysis revealed some surprises. For example, whereas the endgame king and queen vs. king and rook was always considered as resulting in a win for the king and queen side—again except for some obvious bad positions—it turned out that with optimal defense it is unbelievably hard to win. In 1978 there was a competition between Grandmaster Walter Browne and the chess computer BELLE using a table base for this endgame, and Browne gave up after 45 moves realizing that he would violate the 50 moves rule—although he could have won with perfect play after 31 moves.

More of these kinds of surprises can be found in the table below which shows for each configuration—always abbreviated in standard notation like KQ vs. K for king and queen vs lonely king—some theoretical statistics obtained by the computational results by Nalimov.

Hint: You can filter the table by entering any search string in the text field above the top right of the table.

Last updated: November 15, 2022 at 19:28 pm
ConfigurationWhite configurationBlack configurationNumber of white piecesNumber of black piecesPercentage of positions white to move winsPercentage of positions white to move drawsPercentage of positions white to move losesLongest mate for white to movePercentage of positions black to move winsPercentage of positions black to move drawsPercentage of positions black to move losesLongest mate for black to movePercentage of positions white wins (no matter who moves first)Percentage of positions white draws (no matter who moves first)Percentage of positions white loses (no matter who moves first)Number of mutual zugzwang positionsNumber of mutual zugzwang positions in which white to move draws and black to move losesNumber of mutual zugzwang positions in which black to move draws and white to move losesNumber of mutual zugzwang positions in which whoever moves first losesOccurrence of this endgame in games per million
KQKKQK21100.00.00.0100.010.389.7-94.95.20.00000257
KRKKRK21100.00.00.0160.09.990.1-95.15.00.00000542
KBKKBK210.0100.00.0-0.0100.00.0-0.0100.00.00000194
KNKKNK210.0100.00.0-0.0100.00.0-0.0100.00.00000224
KPKKPK2176.523.50.0280.041.958.1-67.332.70.08080002352
KQKQKQKQ2241.757.80.51341.757.80.51321.157.821.10000222
KQKRKQKR2299.00.80.23528.75.865.51982.33.314.50000400
KQKBKQKB2299.70.30.0170.023.176.9-88.311.70.0000025
KQKNKQKN2299.30.70.0210.019.580.5-89.910.10.0000074
KQKPKQKP2299.40.60.0287.712.180.22989.86.43.90000937
KRKRKRKR2229.170.20.71929.170.20.71914.970.214.90000423
KRKBKRKB2235.264.80.0290.096.83.2-19.280.80.05500322
KRKNKRKN2248.451.60.0400.089.011.0129.770.30.0181800397
KRKPKRKP2291.48.40.22616.417.566.14378.813.08.31212002146
KBKBKBKB220.0100.00.010.0100.00.010.0100.00.0000049
KBKNKBKN220.0100.00.010.0100.00.010.0100.00.0000087
KBKPKBKP220.094.85.2123.676.40.029???1010387
KNKNKNKN220.0100.00.010.0100.00.010.0100.00.0000068
KNKPKNKP220.087.112.9732.667.40.0290.077.322.8292270497
KPKPKPKP2243.433.323.23343.433.323.23333.333.333.3121106106152810
KQQKKQQK31100.00.00.040.02.197.9-99.01.10.0000013
KQRKKQRK31100.00.00.060.01.198.9-99.50.60.0000018
KQBKKQBK31100.00.00.080.09.490.6-95.34.70.0000036
KQNKKQNK31100.00.00.090.09.790.3-95.24.90.0000041
KQPKKQPK31100.00.00.0100.02.897.2-98.61.40.00000156
KRRKKRRK31100.00.00.070.00.399.7-99.90.20.000008
KRBKKRBK31100.00.00.0160.08.891.2-95.64.40.0000046
KRNKKRNK31100.00.00.0160.09.290.8-95.44.60.0000015
KRPKKRPK31100.00.00.0160.02.597.5-98.81.30.00000333
KBBKKBBK3149.350.70.0190.058.841.2-45.354.80.0000031
KBNKKBNK3199.50.50.0330.018.181.9-90.79.30.00000206
KBPKKBPK3196.04.00.0310.016.883.2-89.610.40.00000453
KNNKKNNK310.0100.00.010.0100.00.0-0.0100.00.0000020
KNPKKNPK3196.33.70.0270.018.581.5-88.911.10.0757500426
KPPKKPPK3198.41.60.0320.07.992.1-95.34.80.0434300563
KQQKQKQQKQ3299.10.80.1300.632.866.61382.916.80.4000051
KQQKRKQQKR32100.00.00.0350.10.299.71999.90.10.100000
KQQKBKQQKB32100.00.00.0150.00.199.9-100.00.10.000000
KQQKNKQQKN32100.00.00.0190.00.199.9-100.00.10.000000
KQQKPKQQKP32100.00.00.0220.00.799.31399.70.40.000007
KQRKQKQRKQ3297.02.80.26724.421.254.43875.712.012.3110036
KQRKRKQRKR3299.80.10.0340.317.182.12091.08.60.20000132
KQRKBKQRKB32100.00.00.0290.011.688.4-94.25.80.0000012
KQRKNKQRKN3299.90.10.010.07.792.3196.13.90.000002
KQRKPKQRKP32100.00.00.0400.31.498.34399.20.70.2000025
KQBKQKQBKQ3255.744.00.33330.562.37.22431.553.215.425250028
KQBKRKQBKR3299.30.60.0400.727.571.83085.614.10.4000021
KQBKBKQBKB3299.70.30.0170.019.880.2290.010.10.000002
KQBKNKQBKN3299.50.50.0210.016.783.3191.48.60.000002
KQBKPKQBKP32100.00.00.0321.014.184.92492.57.10.5000025
KQNKQKQNKQ3250.149.60.34133.562.24.32427.255.916.938380074
KQNKRKQNKR3299.20.70.0383.027.269.84184.514.01.5000012
KQNKBKQNKB3299.80.20.0170.020.979.1189.510.60.000007
KQNKNKQNKN3299.40.60.0210.017.882.2190.89.20.0000013
KQNKPKQNKP3299.90.10.0301.915.083.12991.57.61.0000046
KQPKQKQPKQ3268.431.20.412435.251.213.62941.041.217.8640640001179
KQPKRKQPKR3299.60.30.13819.76.174.13386.93.29.91100216
KQPKBKQPKB3299.90.10.0280.016.783.3291.68.40.0000016
KQPKNKQPKN3299.70.30.0300.012.587.5893.66.40.0000041
KQPKPKQPKP32100.00.00.01053.37.389.43494.73.71.70000622
KRRKQKRRKQ3258.236.85.12952.037.011.04934.636.928.61010008
KRRKRKRRKR3299.20.70.0310.433.466.22082.717.10.2000038
KRRKBKRRKB3299.30.70.0290.022.477.6-88.511.60.011008
KRRKNKRRKN3299.70.30.0400.015.085.0192.47.70.000008
KRRKPKRRKP32100.00.00.0331.05.793.35096.72.90.500003
KRBKQKRBKQ3238.748.013.42171.225.63.27021.036.842.33723720023
KRBKRKRBKR3241.358.70.0650.894.15.13023.276.40.4171700649
KRBKBKRBKB3298.21.80.0300.031.168.9283.616.50.0000020
KRBKNKRBKN3298.91.10.0400.024.076.0187.512.60.000005
KRBKPKRBKP3299.10.90.0282.417.180.57089.89.01.2110033
KRNKQKRNKQ3235.441.123.42078.219.72.16918.830.450.84550455015
KRNKRKRNKR3236.763.30.1373.293.63.24120.078.51.7101000430
KRNKBKRNKB3297.72.30.0310.032.467.6182.717.40.000007
KRNKNKRNKN3299.01.00.0370.024.675.4187.212.80.0330012
KRNKPKRNKP3298.51.50.0294.517.178.46888.59.32.3000032
KRPKQKRPKQ3237.711.850.56891.07.11.810419.89.570.824322410367
KRPKRKRPKR3266.633.00.47420.154.425.53346.143.710.3209209009184
KRPKBKRPKB3296.43.60.0730.032.667.4281.918.10.022522500626
KRPKNKRPKN3297.52.50.0540.024.775.3886.413.60.041341300397
KRPKPKRPKP3299.40.40.35610.06.683.510391.53.55.230211092
KBBKQKBBKQ3215.320.264.52196.52.90.6818.011.680.510103
KBBKRKBBKR3216.583.40.1231.397.21.5319.090.30.7330013
KBBKBKBBKB3215.684.30.0220.098.61.428.591.50.0000035
KBBKNKBBKN3248.251.80.0780.066.133.9141.159.00.0110028
KBBKPKBBKP3248.050.21.87411.454.134.58341.352.26.6110023
KBNKQKBNKQ3225.06.468.63697.61.70.75312.94.183.1101013
KBNKRKBNKR3226.073.80.2363.894.61.64113.884.22.0862064
KBNKBKBNKB3225.574.50.0390.098.81.2213.486.70.045450054
KBNKNKBNKN3232.267.80.01070.096.13.9118.182.00.09229220036
KBNKPKBNKP3291.45.53.210414.723.062.45576.914.39.0626110165
KBPKQKBPKQ3221.311.567.23596.82.80.45010.97.282.0160160117
KBPKRKBPKR3230.967.31.84523.473.13.53917.270.212.63064302451
KBPKBKBPKB3241.358.70.0510.086.913.1327.272.80.016016000570
KBPKNKBPKN3253.746.30.01050.076.423.6838.761.40.021252112130497
KBPKPKBPKP3286.49.54.16716.724.159.25172.816.810.4406403211443
KNNKQKNNKQ320.042.857.1194.06.00.0720.024.475.6229022905
KNNKRKNNKR320.099.60.436.393.70.0410.096.73.425025015
KNNKBKNNKB320.0100.00.040.0100.00.010.0100.00.000002
KNNKNKNNKN320.199.90.070.0100.00.010.1100.00.0362362008
KNNKPKNNKP3231.366.42.311512.873.613.67422.570.07.63143312419071
KNPKQKNPKQ3217.911.970.24197.22.30.5559.27.183.7520520130
KNPKRKNPKR3226.769.34.04429.368.52.26714.568.916.711812311580433
KNPKBKNPKB3238.861.20.0420.088.111.9925.474.70.064264020728
KNPKNKNPKN3249.250.80.0970.077.222.8736.064.00.041914128630781
KNPKPKNPKP3278.313.68.15721.827.650.65864.520.615.0230322811481410
KPPKQKPPKQ3216.012.671.412498.41.50.1418.17.184.92020726
KPPKRKPPKR3235.420.144.55475.218.26.64021.019.259.9119189921652
KPPKBKPPKB3254.445.60.0430.075.424.6439.560.50.021221110519
KPPKNKPPKN3264.735.30.0500.062.437.61751.248.90.010779201570705
KPPKPKPPKP3277.110.312.612727.719.153.24365.214.720.2423741795265080
KQQQKKQQQK41100.00.00.030.04.096.0-98.02.00.000000
KQQRKKQQRK41100.00.00.040.03.196.9-98.51.60.000000
KQQBKKQQBK41100.00.00.040.02.797.3-98.71.40.000003
KQQNKKQQNK41100.00.00.040.02.497.6-98.81.20.000002
KQQPKKQQPK41100.00.00.040.02.197.9-99.01.10.0000012
KQRRKKQRRK41100.00.00.040.02.098.0-99.01.00.000000
KQRBKKQRBK41100.00.00.050.01.798.3-99.20.90.000003
KQRNKKQRNK41100.00.00.050.01.498.6-99.30.70.000003
KQRPKKQRPK41100.00.00.070.01.198.9-99.50.60.0000026
KQBBKKQBBK41100.00.00.060.05.095.0-97.52.50.000003
KQBNKKQBNK41100.00.00.070.01.198.9-99.50.60.000005
KQBPKKQBPK41100.00.00.090.01.298.8-99.40.60.0000031
KQNNKKQNNK41100.00.00.080.09.190.9-95.54.60.000000
KQNPKKQNPK41100.00.00.090.01.099.0-99.50.50.000000
KQPPKKQPPK41100.00.00.090.00.799.3-99.70.40.0????64
KRRRKKRRRK41100.00.00.050.00.999.1-99.60.50.000002
KRRBKKRRBK41100.00.00.0100.00.899.2-99.60.40.000000
KRRNKKRRNK41100.00.00.0100.00.699.4-99.70.30.000000
KRRPKKRRPK41100.00.00.0140.00.399.7-99.90.20.000007
KRBBKKRBBK41100.00.00.0120.04.395.7-97.92.20.000000
KRBNKKRBNK41100.00.00.0290.00.599.5-99.80.30.000003
KRBPKKRBPK41100.00.00.0160.00.699.4-99.70.30.0000023
KRNNKKRNNK41100.00.00.0150.08.591.5-95.84.30.000000
KRNPKKRNPK41100.00.00.0170.00.599.5-99.80.30.0000015
KRPPKKRPPK41100.00.00.0150.00.298.8-99.40.10.00000119
KBBBKKBBBK4174.026.00.0160.031.668.4-71.228.80.000000
KBBNKKBBNK41100.00.00.0330.04.195.9-98.02.10.000003
KBBPKKBBPK4198.31.70.0300.06.893.2-95.84.30.000005
KBNNKKBNNK41100.00.00.0340.08.491.6-95.84.20.000000
KBNPKKBNPK41100.00.00.0330.00.899.2-99.60.40.0000026
KBPPKKBPPK4199.80.20.0250.01.398.7-99.30.80.06600100
KNNNKKNNNK4198.71.30.0210.025.075.0-86.913.20.000000
KNNPKKNNPK4198.41.60.0280.012.888.0-93.27.20.000007
KNPPKKNPPK41100.00.00.0320.01.099.0-99.50.50.093930096
KPPPKKPPPK4199.90.10.0330.00.699.4-99.70.40.011110097