Below is a list of the most common endings :

1. King vs. King : This ending is drawn by default.

2. King + Knight vs King : This ending is drawn (insufficient material to mate).

3. King + Bishop vs King : This ending is also drawn (insufficient material to mate).

4. King + Rook vs King : This ending is always winning. To win this ending WHITE pushes the black king towards an edge of the board, say the eighth rank. The resulting position will be similar to the following :

     WHITE : Kb6, Rc7
     BLACK : Kb8

If this is BLACK's move, he must play 1…Ka8 (forced) and get mated by 2.Rc8#. If this is WHITE's move, he can 'lose' a tempo by 1.Rc1 and after 1…Ka8 (again forced) he mates by 2.Rc8#.

To push the enemy king to the eighth rank WHITE checks him along the ranks when the kings are in "opposition",

For example :

   WHITE : Ke4, Rh1
   BLACK : Ke6

Checking the black king by 1. Rh6+ will push him on the seventh rank. A later check will push him to the eighth rank.

5. King + Queen vs. King : Always winning, similar to King + Rook vs. King.

6. King + Pawn vs. King : This ending is either winning or drawn, depending on the positions of the pieces. If the black king is not close enough to the pawn it will promote by itself. If the white king is not close enough to his pawn while the black king is, BLACK will be able to capture the pawn for a draw.

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