Challenges

Twelve famous endgames. No account needed.

The Lucena position
White to win
The most important rook endgame. Most 1500s cannot finish it.
The Philidor position
Black to hold
Hold the draw a pawn down. Club players lose this every week.
The classic 3 v 3 breakthrough
White to win
Three pawns against three. One move wins on the spot.
The Saavedra study
White to win
The most famous study in chess. Promote to the wrong piece and it is a draw.
The Vancura position
Black to hold
Rook and pawn against rook. The defence almost nobody knows.
Centurini
White to win
Same-colour bishops. Drive the defender off the diagonal.
Two knights versus pawn
White to win
Two knights cannot mate. Unless there is a pawn.
Bishop and knight mate
White to win
Bishop and knight mate. Fifty moves on the clock.
Lasker–Reichhelm 1901
White to win
Lasker's 1901 study. Only one first move wins.
Queen and pawn versus queen
White to win
Queen and pawn on the seventh. Win through the checks.
Rook and bishop versus rook
White to win
Rook and bishop against rook. The winning method from 1749.
Rook behind the passed pawn
White to win
Rook behind the passed pawn. Now walk the king over.