endgames

Endgame is the final phase of a game or process, following the middle stage when major action has concluded. In chess, the endgame begins when only kings, pawns, and a reduced set of pieces remain, and the outcome is determined largely by technique, activity, and precise calculation. The term is also used broadly to describe the concluding stage of strategic efforts in politics, business, sports, and game design.

Chess endgames place renewed emphasis on king activity and pawn structure. Rook endgames are the most common and have well-known theoretical lines; queen endgames are typically very demanding and require exact play; minor-piece endgames (such as bishop versus knight) depend on piece activity and pawn configuration. Pawn endgames can be protracted and decisive, often turning on passed pawns, opposition, and the ability to force promotion.

Endgame theory includes established positions and motifs, such as the Lucena position for rook endings and the Philidor position as a defensive technique. Endgame studies are composed problems that explore creative or instructive routes to promotion or checkmate, and are valued as demonstrations of strategic understanding beyond practical play.

In other contexts, the term endgame is used to describe the final stage of a campaign, project, or dispute where the remaining options are limited and success depends on achieving a crucial objective. The concept also appears in AI and computer science, where endgame positions are used to test search algorithms and evaluation functions.